Inspiration 365 Days!

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TOKYO - A Japanese man who developed the world’s smallest helicopter will take flight in the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci in tribute to the Renaissance genius’ original idea.

Gennai Yanagisawa, 75, said Thursday that a demonstration flight of his one-man helicopter is planned in the city of Vinci, near Florence, Italy, on May 25.

Yanagisawa developed the GEN H-4 helicopter — with rotors, a chair, footrest and handle bar — in the late 1990s.

Poor doesn’t necessarily mean empty pockets. Those with empty heads are also poor.

— Author Chang Hsiao-feng appealing to Taiwan’s new administration to work on both the economy and education.

ASIMO, a robot designed by Honda Motor Co., met its latest challenge Tuesday evening: Conducting the Detroit Symphony in a performance of “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”

Read full story in “Take A Bow, Asimo Roboto“.

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The lights dimmed, the sold-out hall grew hushed and out walked the conductor — shiny, white and 4 feet, 3 inches tall.

ASIMO, a robot designed by Honda Motor Co., met its latest challenge Tuesday evening: Conducting the Detroit Symphony in a performance of “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”

“Hello, everyone,” ASIMO said to the audience in a childlike voice, then waved to the orchestra.

As it conducted, it perfectly mimicked the actions of a conductor, nodding its head at various sections and gesturing with one or both hands. ASIMO took a final bow to enthusiastic shouts from the audience.

Tom was a 9-year old boy. He had a temper so bad that even boys much older than him were afraid of him.

Tom’s father was very concerned. He kept thinking of how to help Tom correct his behavior. One day, he gave Tom a bag of nails.

“What’s the nails for?” Tom asked in puzzlement.

“Son, let’s play a little game,” his father said. “From now on, every time you lose your temper, go hammer a nail in the back fence.”

“Oh, a game!” Tom was delighted that his dad wanted to play with him and took the bag of nails happily.

How often do you take time to reflect on the things you’re grateful for? Once a month? Once a week, at church, perhaps? Maybe you say “grace” at mealtime every day. But even prayers that do express gratefulness, such as a traditional mealtime prayer, are often expressed by rote. Growing up, my family wasn’t very religious, but when we had dinner with family or friends, we’d usually say grace. I was probably well into my teens before I understood what “blessusolordforthesethygiftswhichweareabouttoreceivefromthybounty” actually meant.

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There was this old lady living on a tropical island. No matter rain or shine, she was very unhappy. She kept worrying over her two sons.

Her elder son owned an umbrella shop. Whenever it was a bright sunny day, the old lady would go, “Oh no! The weather is so nice and warm. Nobody is going to buy any umbrella from my elder son today. If this continues, he’ll have to close his shop soon.” These thoughts worried her so much she cried ever so often.

Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.

— Luke 11:9

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Some people call completing a 200m swim, 10km cycle and 2km run a challenge.

For Fiachra MacFadden, 13, it is a privilege and a joy.

He is among the 1,000 or so people who have signed up so far for July’s Osim Singapore International Triathlon.

He is unlikely to win the race. But, for Fiachra, just starting it at the East Coast Park will be a triumph in itself. The Irish boy was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia (CML), which is cancer of the bone marrow, in April last year.

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If your joy is derived from what society thinks of you, you’re always going to be disappointed.

— Pop star Madonna