Hitman Scam

2021-04-01T18:47:00.010-07:00

©Sakib Rahman

Hitman Scam

One day you receive an email from someone attesting that somebody hired him to kill you. He knows everything about you; emailed you all the information about your personal life including your picture. You believed and panicked. He says he has already been paid half the amount to do the job and if you pay him the rest, it is possible to save your life. But, if you report it to the police, your death is certain!

Such stories are real. Hitman scammers are easily manipulating huge amounts of money by exploiting people's emotions and fears. What do you do if you ever fall victim to such a situation?

Be sagacious. You are forced to believe him and do what he says. Now the question is how did he know so much about you? It’s shallow and schematic! You have previously published this information on social media or any online platform. And these are tools to subdue you. What to do then?

· Do not reply to such emails, simply avoid.

· If a phone number is given, never call it.

· Don't connect online with strangers.

· Never disclose your personal information including your password, email id, bank information to anyone.

· You might think you're safely surrounded by friends online. Not at all, it’s completely open. Even if your profile is locked, someone from your friendlist can smuggle your information into the crime cycle. Further, there is hacking!

· Ignore unsafe, unfamiliar links.

· If things go awry, get help from the cyber police and the respecting authorities as soon as possible.

Be aware, stay safe!

Japanese tea ceremony

2021-02-23T17:57:00.017-08:00

©Sakib Rahman

Japanese tea ceremony

Japanese tea ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony (茶道, sadō or chadō, lit. "the way of tea" or 茶の湯, chanoyu) is Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. It is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking green tea typically in a traditional tea room with tatami floor. Beyond just serving and receiving tea, one of the main purposes of the tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the hospitality of the host in an atmosphere distinct from the fast pace of everyday life.

History

It is said that the tea culture in Japan started after tea seeds were brought along with Zen Buddhism from China about 800 years ago. Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the Japanese tea ceremony. Sennorikyu established tea ceremony in Japan about 400 years ago. Then it developed into the Japanese tea ceremony in connection with various aspects of Japanese culture. Much less commonly, Japanese tea practice uses leaf tea, primarily sencha, a practice known as senchadō (煎茶道, lit., "the way of sencha") in Japanese, as opposed to chanoyu or chadō.

How psychic Japanese tea ceremony is?

Tea ceremony is called 'moving Zen meditation', which means preparing our minds. Around the time when the culture of tea ceremony was established in Japan, Japan was in the era of samurai and they mainly conducted tea ceremonies. Samurai could not enter through the little entrance of the tea room called 'Nijiriguchi' with their sword on. So when they used to come here, all the samurai had to put their swords down and bow their heads no matter their status. So it was peaceful and everybody was equal inside the tea room. Apart from this, concentrating single-mindedly on making the tea by oneself makes the mind calm. And just being in this atmosphere one gets relieved. It's almost a meditation. There's so much thought in every motion and in every action. There are four words based on this ceremony-

· Harmony

· Respect

· Purity and

· Tranquility

Everything is done for the wellbeing and enjoyment of the guests. All movements and gestures are choreographed to show respect and friendship. Beautiful ceramics with seasonal motifs are hand-picked to match the character of individual guests. Even the utensils are laid out at an angle best admired from the viewpoint of the attendees. It’s important that each tea gathering is a unique experience, so the combination of objects is never used twice. Rooted in Chinese Zen philosophy, the tea ceremony is a spiritual process, in which the participants remove themselves from the mundane world, seeking harmony and inner peace. It takes decades for the host to master the art of serving tea, through study of philosophy, aesthetics, art and calligraphy, as well as learning the meticulous preparations.

Types of tea ceremony

Tea gatherings are classified as either an informal tea gathering (chakai (茶会, lit., "tea gathering")) or a formal tea gathering (chaji (茶事, lit., "tea event")). A chakai is a relatively simple course of hospitality that includes confections, thin tea, and perhaps a light meal. A chaji is a much more formal gathering, usually including a full-course kaiseki meal followed by confections, thick tea, and thin tea. A chaji may last up to four hours.

Equipments and necessaries

The following are a few of the essential components:

· ‘Chakin’, a small rectangular white linen or hemp cloth mainly used to wipe the tea bowl.

· ‘Chawan’, tea bowls are available in a wide range of sizes and styles, and different styles are used for thick and thin tea

· ‘Natsume’, the small lidded container in which the powdered tea is placed for use in the tea-making procedure.

· ‘Chashaku’, tea scoops, generally are carved from a single piece of bamboo.

· ‘Chasen’, tea whisk. This is used to mix the powdered tea with the hot water.

· 'Fukusa', red cloth, used for cleaning tea ceremony tools by folding it into various shapes

The process of making matcha tea

Gather the ingredients and tools. Purify all the utensils with the silk cloth called ‘Chakin’. Bring about 1 cup of water to a near boil; measure out 1/4 to 1/2 cup and reserve for making the tea. Fill the matcha bowl about halfway with the remaining hot water. Gently move ‘Chasen’, the bamboo whisk around in the water to soak while the water warms the bowl (about 30 seconds). Discard the water, in the bowl then wipe the bowl dry with a 'Fukusa', a red cloth. Place a fine-mesh strainer over the bowl. Using ‘Chashaku’, the bamboo scoop, sift 2 to 4 heaping piles of matcha into the bowl. Sifting produces a fluffier powder that helps ensure your tea is free of clumps and reduces the amount of whisking required. Ideally, the reserved water should have cooled down to about 175 F after a few minutes. Pour a couple of tablespoons into the bowl and over the matcha. Using your thumb and index finger, grasp the bamboo whisk with your dominant hand just above the strings (use the other fingers for support). Hold the bowl with your other hand and then whisk to make it a frothy nice green tea drink.

Is there any traditional method of drinking matcha tea?

First have a little bit of Japanese sweets. These are confections using a very traditional Japanese sugars. Sweets first because the tea is bitter. Pick up the bowl with your right hand place it in the palm of here left hand and then turn the bowl clockwise twice. The idea is that you don't put your lips on the beautiful design on the cup. From here you're going to take a sip of freshly made macha tea. Drink the matcha directly from the bowl or pour it into a small cup. It should be drunk immediately and, traditionally, in three sips while cupping the bowl with both hands.

How does matcha tea taste?

It's a very rich tasting green tea. It has a little bit of a bitter flavour to it but it's not overly bitter. The tea is mixed very nicely, the top is very frothy. It's texture is similar to latte. It has a lot of antioxidants as well. It is delicious and so refreshing.

What are the main steps of a typical tea ceremony?

· Step 1: On the day of the tea ceremony, the host rises very early in the morning to start preparations.

· Step 2: When guests arrive, they are led through the garden, then wash their hands to cleanse themselves symbolically of the dust of the outside world. They have to step through a small door, which ensures the guests bow in respect. The door is also a barrier to the outside world, helping to create a sense of sanctuary.

· Step 3: Kneeling on a cushion, the host cleans his or her tools with graceful movements. Purified water is boiled in an iron kettle on a stove sunk into the floor.

· Step 4: A silk cloth (fukusa), representing the host’s spirit, is taken from their kimono sash. It’s symbolically inspected, folded and unfolded, before being used to handle the hot iron pot.

· Step 5:Matcha – green tea ground to a fine powder – and several ladles of hot water are added to a bowl and whisked thoroughly.

· Step 6: The bowl of matcha is handed to the first guest, who rotates the bowl 180º in two turns before taking a sip, so as to avoid drinking from the decorative front of the bowl. Each guest wipes the bowl before passing it on.

· Step 7: Pretty wagashi sweets, sometimes made from azuki bean paste, are served to complement the bitterness of the tea.

· Step 8: After the bowl is handed back to the host, the tools are cleaned and the ceremony is brought to a close.

What are the dos and don’ts?

The guest is not a passive participant; everyone has a role and etiquette is an important part of the ceremony. Here are the basic rules:

· Wear a kimono or, failing that, dress conservatively.

· Make sure you arrive a little early.

· Remove your shoes at the entrance and put on a pair of slippers, then wait to be invited in.

· Avoid stepping in the middle of the tatami and use closed fists when touching the mats.

· All guests should show their appreciation by complimenting their host on their efforts, admiring the room and the delicious tea and sweets.

· Don’t make small talk; conversation is expected to focus on the ceremony itself.

· Finally, if you're one of several guests, don’t forget to make a quarter turn of the bowl before you drink and wipe the lip of the bowl afterwards. This is mainly for hygiene reasons, to avoid drinking from the same place as the other guests."

Do Japanese people still celebrate tea ceremony?

People in today's Japan, especially the young, prefer the western lifestyle and for the drink for example, they like the matcha tea Latte from Starbucks better than Japanese traditional matcha. Today, the tea ceremony is practiced as a hobby, and there are places where tourists can experience it, as well.

The significance of the tea ceremony in Japanese culture

Tea ceremony is kind of a philosophy not just a traditional culture and it's about setting your heart and your mind and your soul at peace. So this is definitely something to do to distract yourself from busy bustling daily life. It really is a symbol of peace and harmony. In today's world the time passes by so quickly and information is overflowing. When we feel overwhelmed with everything, going to the tea room and making and enjoying the tea will help us feel relaxed.

“In Japan, I took part in a tea ceremony. You go into a small room, tea is served, and that's it really, except that everything is done with so much ritual and ceremony that a banal daily event is transformed into a moment of communion with the universe.” - Okakura Kakuzo

References-

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony#:~:text=To%20prepare%20usucha%2C%20matcha%20and,is%20shared%20among%20several%20guests.

· https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-matcha-4842785

· https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2096.html

· https://www.roughguides.com/article/a-rough-guide-to-the-japanese-tea-ceremony/

· https://youtu.be/--mxjzQggx0

· https://youtu.be/4fY1_DCu_t4

Image:

· https://images.app.goo.gl/zMPcUhGyeEbNWRV87

•infoholic•

Hitman Scam

Japanese tea ceremony