Remember the Thai farmworker massacres

 One little covered story about Gaza attacking Israel is that they didn't just attack Israelis but attacked Thais working at a nearby farm.

Why were they there? Because in the past local Palestinians were hired, but had participated in terror attacks., so foreign workers were cheaper and safer to use.

Here is the article from 2025 about them:

Why were so many Thai farmers among the hostages held by Hamas?  

 

 Nattapong Pinta was among 31 Thais taken by the Hamas militant group. Thailand’s foreign ministry in a statement Saturday confirmed that Pinta, the last Thai hostage in Gaza, was confirmed dead. It said the bodies of two others have yet to be retrieved.

so how did they die? No one is asking. 

The ministry has said 46 Thais have been killed during the war. Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive by Hamas

 

They were among tens of thousands of Thai workers in Israel. 

So why did I bring this up? Because a lot of ]folk living in Qatar and the middle East are foreign workers who will be kilked by Iran in this war, not just other Muslims or Israelis. 

china moving in on Korean waters

 

It appears Lee Jae-myung did not defend South Korea’s rights in the Yellow Sea. https://t.co/QnW69XgvS3

— Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) January 6, 2026

Tibet news

the Delai Lama is denying that the Chinese government can appoint the next Dalai Lama, and he says that he will reincarnate and let an independent board find him.

 More background here at India Express which discusses the geopolitical background (including dam building plans to control the local water supply to India and SE Asia).

most people know about the story of Tibetan traditional culture and the Chinese takeover from the Brad Pitt movie.

legendary explorer? Heh. He was a Nazi.

But it is a good story. The original story can be read here on internet archives.

a documentary by the author is on youtube:

another version of the story was done by Martin Scorsese for Disney but made the Chinese so angry that it was not really publicized a lot so sort of has been forgotten:

the terror inflicted on that country and the cultural destruction by China is sort of known in the west.

however, China points out that they consider their attempt to change the culture is to bring them into the modern world.Their point of view can be found HERE.

Their point of view points out that a theocratic dictatorship government was replaced with a benevolent government that is trying to lift people out of poverty... by relocation, education, e commerce, getting rid of corrupt monestaries (gee didn't Henry VIII do this?) but also  relocating Chinese there (it is a hardship area for Chinese working there) and the Chinese policy encouraging intermarriage that has long term consequnces, as is China's polcies raising the status of women.

So what is the truth? Nostalgic views of primitive countries by those who didn't have to suffer from the poverty of those countries is the rule. And although China didn't have the right to take over Tibet and their takeover was brutal to those living in monasteries etc, don't be fooled that the place was a ShangriLa before the Chinese takeover.

earthquakes and rumors in southern Japan

from the The Asahi Shimbun​:

Residents of quake-hit isle in southern Japan begin evacuating

Residents of Akusekijima island in the remote and sparsely populated Tokara chain began evacuating voluntarily early July 4 following a strong earthquake the evening before. The southern Japan island chain has been hit by an earthquake swarm over the past two weeks.

earthquakes are common in Japan but this one is making experts worry:

and then you have this manga prediction making some who believe in prophecies worried;

.....

so should we here in the Philippines worry? if there was a superquake in that area, it would affect not just Japan but Taiwan and the Northern Philippines. 

....

ScienceTimes discusses

What is happening seems to be a slow slip earthquake...

The article notes that these small earthquakes are not only in the Tokara Isalnd area but in the in Southwest Japan, because the news notes that an earthquake swarm continues near Ryukyu Island

The earthquakes are making the government advise people to take precautions but there already has been an impact: Lost tourism.

... the Phil Inquirer discusses LINK

“The real disaster will come in July 2025,” followed by “the ocean floor between Japan and the Philippines will crack,” aren’t exactly very comforting words to see on a book said to have previously and accurately predicted natural disasters.

“The Future That I Saw” by Ryo Tatsuki, first published in 1999, gained notoriety after a baseless premonition, “massive disaster in March 2011,” ended up coinciding with the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

the good news?

seers don't always get things right: One famous lady predicted the big one for Manila in 2024, only to have a minor tremor occur, which of course these minor tremors happen all the time...but of course if the prediction is vague enough or you make enough predictions, eventually one will happen.

well, anyway, right now the problem is a tropical storm bringing oodles of rain into Luzon, and we are worried the rain will wash away the rice seeds that we recently planted. 

Traditionally farmers plant seedlings for the main harvest, but the price of rice is so low that we literally can't afford to buy and plant (by hand) the seedlings. But even the farmers who planted seedlings could see their crop endangered:

Sigh.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

follow up: Lots of small earthquakes but no major earthquake or tsunami yet as of July  9--

-------------

more here:

Before there were AirCons, there were fans

  Medievalist net has an article on fans: Mainly Chinese fans, which were flat. 

And yes these palm fans are mentioned (we have one hanging on our wall to use when the electricity is off).

A modern palmetto fan from southern China. Photo by WikiCantona / Wikimedia Commons

but what about those folding hand fans?

According to Wikipedia:

The folding fan (Chinese: 折扇), invented in Japan...In 988 AD, folding fans were first introduced in China by a Japanese monk from Japan as a tribute during the Northern Song dynasty; these folding fans became very fashionable in China by the Southern Song dynasty....

While the folding fans gained popularity, the traditional silk round fans continued to remain mainstream in the Song dynasty.   

 

,,,,

but folding fans have also been used as weapons. 

and fans are also used in the war of the sexes:

asphalt? They used it

 I am continueing to read about Ancient Japan

I downloaded the book from Scribd: 

 Japan to 1600

A S OCIAL AND E C O N O M I C HISTORY

  WI L L I A M W A Y N E F A R R I S

I am still in the first 100 pages, and the author is discussing trade, and mentions asphalt.

Asphalt?  CiNii research   

During the Jomon period asphalt was used as a binder to fix a harpoon or a fishspear in its shaft, to tie a sring with a spoon-shaped lithic knife or a stone weight, and to mend broken pottery

 

The use of asphalt began about 3, 300 B. C., saw its climax in the latter part of the Late Jomon and Final Jomon periods (about 1, 500-300 B. C.), and was suddenly abandoned in the Yayoi period.During the Jomon period, asphalt was collected only in the oil-fields along the Japan Sea side areasof the Tohoku district where it came out to the surface. Tukinoki and Komagata in Akitaprefecture and Yunodai in Yamagata prefecture are well-known locations of the surface asphalt. InNiigata prefecture oil-layers lie near the surface and, therefore, crude oil came out to accumulate inponds located on foothills and is found half-soild along the pond shore. During the Jomon period, the asphalt collected in the oil-producing areas was distributed in the whole Tohoku district alongseveral trading routes

Grok says the same thing, so I guess they found the same article and summarized it nicely,

But Grok mentions the oil fields of Akita and western Japan. 

Oil fields? I wasn't aware that Japan had oil fields, but apparently they do.

and since Gork noticed I was asking about the Jomon period added the history as above, including mentioning the trade 

• Trade Networks: Asphalt from Akita was traded across the Tohoku region and as far as the Kanto region, indicating a sophisticated exchange system. Archaeological evidence from 67 sites confirms its widespread use, peaking in the Late and Final Jomon periods (c. 1,500–300 BCE).

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bitumen vs asphalt: almost the same thing, but not quite:

Asphalt is a composite of aggregates, sand, and bitumen; where bitumen acts as a liquid binding material that holds asphalt together.

Actually there was a trade in bitumin in the Middle East that goes back 40 000 years: as a glue to fix flint to their tools, and much later to waterproof things, and also a glue in construction.

more HERE.

and get out your Herodatus and your Livy and your Bible: Bitumen was why King Sargon (and Moses and Romulus/Remus) didn't sink into rivers and drown.

An ancient legend tells that, as a baby, King Sargon of Accad was placed in a reed basket coated with asphalt by his mother, Itti-Bel, and set adrift on the waters of the Euphrates river around 3800 B.C. This legend corresponds closely with the story of Moses being set adrift in the Nile river in an asphalt-coated basket.

Cynics who hate the idea that the Bible might be accurate would say that this proves the Bible is just made up. But I would say that women would place unwanted babies in such boats (or in the case of Moses, hide him in the rushes from inspector searching houses looking for illegal kids). 

In ancient times, infanticide happened, but too many legends suggest it was looked down upon:  often unwanted babies were left at crossroads (or in baskets on rivers), so the parents could  say they didn't kill the kid, but that they left it to the gods if the kid should live or die. But legends of heroes saved by ordinary folk (Sargon, Moses, Romulus and Remus, Oedipus) were probably told to caution against the practice. 

well, anyway: Bitumen in the middle East was used for construction, 

The early uses of asphalt include cementing bricks together for the construction of buildings and pavements and for protecting exterior masonry surfaces. It was also used for trowling the surface of interior floors and stair treads, and for waterproofing baths and drains.

  not only traded, but the ability to waterproof boats led to the ability to trade.

 

Grok also has a long essay on the use of asphalt/bitumen in ancient South America, but I will have to read that later.

.................

update: There is something in the bible about Sodom and tar pits. But this article is about Bitumen from the Dead Sea are found in Nubia.1300 BC

and what about those tar pits in California?

The Chumash and Tongva people used tar from the pits to build plank boats by sealing planks of California redwood trunks and pieces of driftwood from the Santa Barbara Channel, which they used to navigate the California coastline and Channel Islands.[5]

Bog Iron?

Since I am retired, it gives me time to dig into history stuff out of pure curiosity.

 Sometimes what sets me off is a TV show or book I am reading.

 
Right now, I am digging into ancient Japan before 1000 AD, inspired by the Tale of Genji. 

This has led me into all sorts of side roads: Feminism including the loss of rights for women as the Heian period evolved into the Samurai culture, psychiatry ( conversion reaction for frustrated women), silk and other textile history, beriberi (nobility ate polished rice...hmm did Kashiwabi die of beri beri?) and other nutritional diseases (from the low protein diet thanks to Buddhism... This lowers your ability to fight off TB and other infectious diseases, and the character Murasaki probably had TB), and the various epidemics that ravaged Japan in those days (the husband of the author of Tale of Genji died of smallpox). 

But it also brings up non medical questions: No mention of technology so how did they get their iron pots etc?

 So today, as an aside while digging into the pre Heian period, i.e. the Kufun period keyhole shaped burial sites I ran into a discussion of Iron. 

Technology borrowed from Korea, and using the older technology using a bloomery instead of a blast furnace, which required a bellows and was used by that time in China.

series of videos on bloomery vs blast furnace:

 

Wikipedia even has an article on this. 

The traditional Japanese furnace, known as a tatara, was a hybrid type of furnace. It incorporated bellows, like the European blast furnace, but was constructed of clay; these furnaces would be destroyed after the first use.

but what is that about bog iron? Here is a video about one way to find it (from water, but in some bogs it is in the sand).....

.

...a series of videos on how to do this from scratch:...

,,,,,,,

I am posting here because I will follow up a lot of this on my tablet that I use for reading.

I enjoy digging into these things: but of course, now adays I don't have to do all that surfing: Grok can dig a lot of this up quickly but it's not so much fun.

In ancient Japan, smelting bog iron was a key process for producing iron, particularly during the Yayoi (c. 300 BCE–300 CE) and Kofun (c. 300–710 CE) periods, when iron tools and weapons became widespread. '

 

Bog iron, a type of iron ore found in wetlands and marshes, was a primary source due to Japan’s limited high-grade iron ore deposits.

 

Here's a concise overview based on available evidence:

Process of Smelting Bog Iron in Ancient Japan Collection of Bog Iron: Bog iron, formed by iron oxides precipitated in bogs or swamps, was gathered from wet lowlands. It appeared as rusty, nodular deposits and was relatively accessible compared to mined ores.

 

Tatara Furnace: The primary smelting method involved the tatara, a traditional Japanese furnace. This was a low, rectangular clay furnace fueled by charcoal and air-blown using bellows. The process, known as tatara sei-tetsu (tatara iron-making), combined bog iron with charcoal in the furnace, heated to around 1,200–1,500°C. Air was blown in to raise the temperature and reduce the ore to iron.

 

Bloomery Smelting: Ancient Japan used a bloomery process, producing a spongy mass of iron called a "bloom." The bloom contained iron and slag (impurities), which was later hammered to remove slag and consolidate the iron into workable metal.

 

This was distinct from later, more advanced methods like blast furnaces, as it didn’t fully melt the iron, keeping the process labor-intensive but suited to small-scale production.

 

Fuel and Materials: Charcoal was the primary fuel, sourced from abundant forests. Its high carbon content was crucial for reducing iron oxides. Sand or clay was sometimes added to create slag, aiding in separating impurities from the iron.

 

Historical Context Yayoi Period: Iron use began with imported tools from the Korean Peninsula, but local smelting likely started as communities learned to exploit bog iron. Archaeological sites, like those in northern Kyushu, show evidence of early iron-working.

Kofun Period: Iron production expanded, supporting the creation of weapons, armor, and agricultural tools. The tatara system became more refined, with regional centers of production.

 

Cultural Significance: Iron was vital for agriculture (e.g., plows, sickles) and warfare, contributing to social stratification and the rise of elite classes, as seen in Kofun burial goods. Limitations and Challenges Low Yield: Bog iron was impure and yielded less iron compared to mined ores, requiring significant labor. Environmental Impact: Charcoal production led to deforestation in some areas, as smelting consumed large amounts of wood. Technological Constraints: The bloomery process limited output, and high-quality steel (like that used in later samurai swords) required advanced forging techniques developed in later periods. Archaeological Evidence Excavations, such as at sites in Okayama and Shimane, reveal tatara furnace remains, slag heaps, and iron tools, indicating widespread bog iron smelting. The San’in region (modern Tottori, Shimane) was a hub due to its bog iron deposits and proximity to forests for charcoal. Additional Notes While bog iron was critical in early Japan, by the Heian period (794–1185 CE), iron sand (satetsu) became more prominent, refined through advanced tatara techniques to produce high-quality steel for swords. If you want more details, such as specific archaeological finds or comparisons with Korean or Chinese smelting, I can search X or the web for recent discussions or studies. Alternatively, I can generate a diagram of a tatara furnace if you’d like a visual (please confirm). Would you like me to dive deeper into any aspect or provide a visual aid?

Maybe Later Grok.

I have enough to read/study at present.

..............

update:

  Jesse Cunningham has an article on the modern tatara furnace to make steel. 

Asian financial crisis redux?

my previous post was about the wonderful K drama when life gives you tangerines. The plot is about a family and much of it is about trying to make a living, starting in poverty and working their way up to a middle class existance.

One of the major subplots in the middle of the drama was the unemployment and hardships suffered by the family due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997.

that lesson should be noticed by the Yanks who are opposing the DOGE cuts and the financial problems in the USA.

..

........

  many Asians think that rich people manipulating the stock market for gain either precipitated the crisis or made it worse.

And high on the list of those manipulating the crisis was Soros.

TBSPanorama/Bloomberg:

At the combined annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in September 1997, a conflict raged over who was to blame for the nascent financial calamity, and what kind of economic model would emerge after it. The main protagonists were Mahathir Mohamad, at the zenith of his power as prime minister of Malaysia, and George Soros, the billionaire who made bold bets against the currencies of Thailand and Malaysia in the run-up to the crisis. A few years earlier, Soros had defeated the Bank of England's efforts to prop up the pound. Mahathir, for his part, had presided over high growth rates for much of his 16 years in office that were now at risk of being undone. With Thailand already subject to the strictures of an IMF-led bailout and Indonesia hurtling down the path toward one, Mahathir feared Malaysia could be next. Soros was portrayed by Mahathir and other nationalists as representing global capital, in all its fickleness — and drew scrutiny (and sometimes praise) for his ability to spot countries and assets that were starting to go awry.

Investopedia also discusses manipulation and interference that made the crisis worse.  

The Bottom Line In 1997, decades of economic policy planning that featured close relationships among government policy planners, regulators, the industries they regulated, and financial institutions came to a head when markets began putting downward pressure on Asian currencies.  

italics mine....the markets did it.  

This is like those headlines that shout a car drove into a crowd, or an AK47 killed people: as if these things were independent of human intervention.

Which is why the president of Malaysia blamed Soros:

ah, but hedge funds and Soros various funds didn't make a profit: They broke even so you are wrong, says this article. 

Except of course everyone else went broke, so breaking even is sort of winning isn't it?,,, or maybe the aim was not to get rich, but to gain power?

 

this Bangkock post article looks back and says that one result was:

With contagion, the risk of financial crisis to a country is not limited to its own vulnerabilities, but can be a result of market contagion that turns the underlying weaknesses into a crisis. This means, under globalisation, a financial crisis is no longer an isolated individual country problem but a collective problem that needs to be tackled collectively -- through an organised regional or global body whose job it is to prevent and resolve financial crises. so welcome to the New World Order.

italics mine.

So did big shots controlling the world manipulate things so that the ultimate result would be centralized control of the world economy? 

are we seeing "markets" manipulating the economies of the world again, this time in the USA under an incompetent Biden, and no one except for conspiracy sites dare to ask the question: What is really going on?

Trump knows business, and knows how to play dirty in business: so right now he is manipulating the world wide financial situation by threats of tariffs: He points out that other countries take advantage of tariffs on the US while the US is not supposed to notice. So since what is good for the goose is good for the gander, he says change or else. Drop the tariffs or else. And saying to companies: Invest in the USA.

Not popular, but a fast way to equalize things to stimulate fair trade.

But China could be the problem: They are calling in the debts from a lot of countries who they sent "AID" but actually what they did was did stuff and it was a loan to be paid back and now the loan is due. And they are threatening war against Taiwan, the Philippines, and India (and if Russia doesn't watch out, Siberia is next on the list of lost Chinese possessions).

which is why Trumpieboy calls Russia crazy for not trying to make peace.  

the kerfuffle about Greenland and Canada was actually a headsup that China was expanding their economic control of these countries so they could take over the Arctic trade routes. And this only makes sense if you know that they are also infiltrating Eastern Siberia with a lot of migrant workers. 

Well, never mind. 

I don't understand economics, but if you read history, you know that economic problems and depressions cause revolutions and wars.

The Chinese curse/blessing goes: May you live in interesting times.

 

Give Peace a chance

 

What did India and Pakistan gain and lose in their military standoff? https://t.co/Qz9NopWVjX pic.twitter.com/xP34H5H9jm

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 14, 2025

....

AlJazeerah has the full story

both sides ae claiming to win, but both sides suffered loses too... and the ceasefire is fragile.

But this part caught my eye:

Then, as the world braced for total war between the nuclear-armed neighbours, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire, which he claimed had been mediated by the United States.

Pakistan express gratitude to the US, even as India insisted the decision to halt fighting was made solely by the two neighbours without any third-party intervention. 

....On Monday, senior military officials in India and Pakistan spoke by phone, pledging to uphold the ceasefire in the coming days.

lead in makeup

 I am reading about the Tale of Gengi and the various  women's diaries from this time in medieval Japan.

One of Murasaki's diaries mentions a man knocking at her room asking for a poem, and she declined to see him because she hadn't put on her makeup yet. 

Well, I was aware of blackened teeth but did women back then use white lead makeup such as we see in Geisha photos? 

and did lead poisoning make people sick?

That, plus infectious diseases, especially smallpox, tuberculosis, and beriberi from white rice, might explain why so many characters tended to die a lingering death at a young age in her novel.

Grok answers:

Yes, makeup during the Heian period (794–1185) in Japan often contained lead.

The most prominent example is oshiroi, the white face powder used by aristocratic women to achieve a pale complexion, which was a symbol of beauty and status. This powder was typically made from ground rice or other starches, but in many cases, it was mixed with white lead (basic lead carbonate) to enhance its opacity and smoothness.

Lead-based cosmetics were common across many cultures at the time, including Japan, due to their desirable texture and color.

While the Heian period's records don’t extensively detail the exact composition of all cosmetics, historical accounts and later studies of traditional Japanese makeup confirm that lead was used in oshiroi. For example, the Genji Monogatari and other Heian literature describe women applying thick white makeup, which aligns with the use of lead-based powders.

The toxicity of lead wasn’t understood then, so its use persisted despite health risks like skin damage or systemic poisoning over time. Other makeup, like beni (red lip and cheek pigment made from safflower) and sumi (black ink for eyebrows and teeth blackening, or ohaguro), didn’t typically contain lead, but the white base was the primary culprit. If you’re digging deeper into this, I can look for specific sources or analyze related content for you.

so what led me to ask this? Well this video popped up on my youtube feed.

Queen Elizabeth probably had smallpox scars and heavy make up would cover it up. 

But what about modern makeup/cosmetic customs?

well, one well known problem is arsenic in skin whiteners:

So what does Grok say about this?

Modern makeup can sometimes contain trace amounts of lead or other toxic metals, but it’s heavily regulated in many countries to minimize health risks.

uh, Grok: not only is there a risk of arsenic in skin whitener, this.BBC article is about mercury in skin whitener in Africa 

Third world women use skin whitener, but it is often from shoddy manufacturers in China or India where regulation is lacking, and of course, as the BBC article above points out, is often smuggled into third world countries and therefore there is a problem of makeup toxicity in the third world ..\\

So when asked about the third world, Grok answers:

Heavy metals in makeup, particularly in products from less-regulated markets often associated with developing countries, pose significant health and environmental risks.

These metals—such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium—can contaminate cosmetics through impure raw materials, poor manufacturing practices, or intentional addition for effects like skin lightening.

The problem is amplified in regions with lax regulations, limited testing, and economic pressures that prioritize cheap production over safety.

Health-wise, these metals are toxic even in small amounts.

Lead, found in lipsticks and powders, is a neurotoxin that can impair cognitive development, especially in children exposed through maternal use or direct contact.

Mercury, common in skin-lightening creams, damages kidneys and the nervous system and is absorbed through the skin.

Cadmium and arsenic, sometimes present as colorants or impurities, are linked to cancer and skin irritation.

Chromium can cause allergic reactions or, in its hexavalent form, act as a carcinogen.

Chronic exposure from daily makeup use can lead to bioaccumulation, where metals build up in the body, causing long-term harm like reproductive issues or immune system damage.

Economically and socially, the issue thrives in developing nations due to high demand for affordable beauty products, particularly skin-whitening creams driven by cultural preferences for lighter skin. These products, often produced locally or imported cheaply, bypass stringent checks.

For example, studies have shown mercury levels in some fairness creams in South Asia and Africa exceeding safe limits by thousands of times, yet they remain widely sold due to weak enforcement. Consumers, often unaware of the risks, are exposed to aggressive marketing that downplays dangers.

Environmentally, heavy metals from cosmetics contribute to pollution. Improper disposal of products releases these persistent toxins into soil and water, affecting ecosystems and food chains. Manufacturing processes in under-regulated regions also emit metal-laden waste, compounding the problem.

The root causes include inadequate regulatory frameworks, corruption, or lack of resources to enforce standards. Global trade loopholes allow contaminated products to cross borders, especially into markets with less oversight. Unlike developed nations with agencies like the FDA or EU’s strict cosmetic laws, many developing countries lack equivalent systems or prioritize economic growth over safety. Solutions are tricky but not impossible.

Strengthening local regulations and aligning them with international standards (like WHO or EU limits) is a start, but enforcement is key—random testing and hefty penalties could deter violations.

Public awareness campaigns, tailored to cultural contexts, can shift consumer behavior away from risky products. Supporting ethical brands that test for metals and use clean ingredients could drive market change, though affordability remains a barrier.

Tech like blockchain for supply chain transparency or portable testing devices could help regulators and consumers verify product safety. On the flip side, overregulation might stifle small businesses in these economies, and blanket bans on certain products could fuel black markets, where even worse quality control prevails.

Cultural attitudes toward beauty standards also resist quick fixes—skin lightening, for instance, is deeply entrenched in some societies, and change requires addressing systemic biases.

The problem isn’t just “third world”—global supply chains mean these issues can spill into any market. It’s a messy intersection of health, economics, and culture, and tackling it demands both local grit and global cooperation.    

sigh..... 

when one reads about skin whiteners, one thinks: For the face.

but you know, even deodorant here for women has skin whitener. ? 

lots of explanations why, but I suspect Acanthosis nigricans? That is associated with the gene for metabolic syndrome.

well, anyway, I don't need it, so I usually use Old Spice: I have used it for years because it was easier to just buy a man's brand when I lived in a household of men, since the boys would always end up just using the one in the bathroom.

------

 a longer version of this discussion can be read at my Medical blog.

=================

UPDATE:

Isabella Bird describes using makeup in rural Japan  Written in 1878.

The barber’s work was only partially done when the hair was dressed, for every vestige of recalcitrant eyebrow was removed, and every downy hair which dared to display itself on the temples and neck was pulled out with tweezers. This removal of all short hair has a tendency to make even the natural hair look like a wig. Then the lady herself took a box of white powder, and laid it on her face, ears, and neck, till her skin looked like a mask. With a camel’s-hair brush she then applied some mixture to her eyelids to make the bright eyes look brighter, the teeth were blackened, or rather reblackened, with a feather brush dipped in a solution of gall-nuts p. 202and iron-filings—a tiresome and disgusting process, several times repeated, and then a patch of red was placed upon the lower lip. I cannot say that the effect was pleasing, but the girl thought so, for she turned her head so as to see the general effect in the mirror, smiled, and was satisfied. The remainder of her toilet, which altogether took over three hours, was performed in private, and when she reappeared she looked as if a very unmeaning-looking wooden doll had been dressed up with the exquisite good taste, harmony, and quietness which characterise the dress of Japanese women.

How to grow rice: It ain't easy

 we are rice farmers, but a lot of the rice land, including the terraces in the mountains, were built slowly, with irrigation and enriching the soil with weed debris, ash from burning, etc.

Science has an article on how Indonesia's attempt to make huge areas of former swamps and forests into productive rice land may be doomed.

the problem seems to be that these soils are thin and acidic.

this can be treated but much of the rice land in use has been lovingly improved over hundreds of years by irrigation, weed control, manure and rotting organic matter for fertilizer, and sometimes adding minerals like lime to sweeten the soil

IRRI book on soil problems for you to download.

it instructs about caring for the soil in a way to limit chemicals and discusses the wet /dry method of growing rice.

one way to improve acidic soil is to use lime in the fertilizer.

but opening new areas for rice cultivation requires soil analysis and working with local farmers on the best way to improve the soil. You need to find a type of rice that will grow with the climate, and you need to decide if you want wet or dry or wet/dry method of irrigation. And of course, you need the government to dig you irrigation canals, and government assistance to keep you going in the bad years: because it may take years until the fields are evolved from brush into productive land.

China did this two thousand years ago, so it's not impossible.

when I read Science article I interpreted the problem as being too ambitious: sort of let's destroy the forest and just import farmers from another area to plant rice and voila, instant crop.

No. It's more complicated than that. 

The article goes into previous mega plans that failed; much of the failure is from magical thinking, but when the authors keep mentioning that the indigenous need the forest, as if hunter gathering lifestyle would feed the growing population, it shows another bias: the love of the primitive in NGOs who are supposed to help farmers to  modernize. 

the love of the primitive. Nice in theory but hell in reality.

I remember a nice happy film about a village in the Visayas where the happy happy people assured the film makers they loved their traditional rice growing style. 

Two problems with that film however. 

One: In Filipino culture, one tends to tell the questioner what he wants to hear, not the truth.

Two: Our relatives are from that area and people are always asking us if we can hire them to work on our farms in Luzon. That area is poor. Poor is nice to visit, but hell on the locals, who see their malnourished kids die of infections, and who are old and arthritic by age 50. Obviously the film makers didn't ask any of these people about how they like their traditional lifestyle.

Indeed, this is why ten percent of the Philippine population work overseas, either as permanent migrants, temporary workers, or as sailors in international shipping.

 we have two rice businesses here in Luzon: 

One on the fields once owned by our family but distributed to local farmers under land reform. We grow rice on the small plots we own, and subcontract with these farmers to grow rice organically and buy it from them and distribute it to the supermarkets in Manila.

And because of this expertise, Joy, who has business background, was asked to start a coop to work with farmers in nearby Bulacan to grow organic rice and vegetables.

well, anyway, it is late an I am too lazy to go into details of how to make thin acidic soil into productive rice land, so I asked Grok how to do this

 

grok answer to how to change acidic soil into productive rice land:

Converting acidic soil into suitable land for rice growing involves adjusting the soil's pH and improving its fertility and structure. Rice typically thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.5–7.0), though some varieties can tolerate more acidic conditions. If your soil is highly acidic (below pH 5.5), you'll need to take steps to neutralize it and create a favorable environment. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Test the Soil

• Why: Determine the current pH and nutrient levels of your soil.
• How: Use a soil testing kit (available at garden stores) or send a sample to a local agricultural extension service.
• Goal: Aim for a pH range of 5.5–7.0, ideal for most rice varieties.

2. Raise the Soil pH (if too acidic)

• Liming: Apply agricultural lime (calcium carbonate) or dolomite lime (calcium magnesium carbonate) to neutralize acidity.
  • Amount: Depends on soil type and current pH. For example:
    • Sandy soil: 2–3 tons/ha to raise pH by 1 unit.
    • Clay soil: 4–5 tons/ha to raise pH by 1 unit.
  • Application: Spread evenly over the soil and incorporate it 15–20 cm deep using a plow or tiller. Do this 2–3 months before planting to allow the lime to react with the soil.
• Recheck: Test the pH again after a few weeks to ensure it’s in the target range.

3. Improve Soil Fertility

• Organic Matter: Add compost, manure, or green manure (e.g., decomposed rice straw or legumes) to boost nutrients and improve soil structure.
  • Rice needs nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which organic matter can supply.
• Fertilizers: Based on your soil test, apply:
  • Nitrogen (e.g., urea) for growth.
  • Phosphorus (e.g., superphosphate) for root development.
  • Potassium (e.g., potassium chloride) for overall health.
  • Typical rates: 100–150 kg/ha nitrogen, 40–60 kg/ha phosphorus, 40–60 kg/ha potassium (adjust based on soil needs).

4. Prepare the Land for Rice

• Water Management: Rice grows best in flooded or waterlogged conditions (paddy fields). Ensure your land has access to water and can retain it.
  • Build bunds (small walls) around the field to hold water.
  • Level the land to ensure even water distribution.
• Tilling: Plow the soil when moist to break up clumps and create a muddy, puddled texture ideal for rice transplanting or sowing.

5. Choose the Right Rice Variety

• Some rice varieties tolerate acidic soils better than others (e.g., upland rice for drier, acidic conditions vs. lowland rice for paddies). Consult local agricultural experts for varieties suited to your region.

6. Maintain the Soil

• Flooding: Keeping the field flooded can naturally suppress soil acidity over time by limiting oxygen and altering chemical reactions.
• Monitor: Regularly check pH and nutrient levels, especially after each growing season, and amend as needed.

Tips

• Work with local farmers or agricultural advisors—they’ll know what works best in your area.
• Avoid over-liming, as a pH above 7.5 can lock up nutrients like iron and zinc, which rice needs.

With these steps, your acidic soil can be transformed into productive rice-growing land over one or two seasons, depending on how acidic it starts out. Let me know if you need specifics for your location or soil type!