Professor Randal C. "Randy" Picker at the University of Chicago Law School suddenly passed away on August 15, 2026. I was shocked by this tremendous loss for our alma mater and academia. I still remember what happened in his law and game theory seminar in the winter quarter of 1999. It was late in the afternoon. Randy showed us his latest findings about a strategic tactic that he was planning to write about for a book on antitrust and economic analysis. A classmate of ours, who had just completed a master's program in pure mathematics at MIT, politely pointed out that a mathematical formula Randy had written on the blackboard seemed to have a flaw. Randy frankly asked him to clarify it for the class. The classmate promised he would bring a better solution the following week. In the next session of the seminar, he brought in his laptop—a rare sight for a student presentation back in 1999—and demonstrated an animation showing that his alternative mathematical formula performed better than Randy's. Randy openly admired what the student had done and appreciated him for correcting his mistake in front of all of us. I was deeply impressed by how humble and honest a giant in academia like him could be. I made up my mind that someday I would follow his example if I were to hold an academic position somewhere. Randy was, is, and always will be my compass in academia. I am truly heartbroken to have lost him. We all love you so much, Randy!

I found my paper published online, and opened its PDF version through IEEE xplore. The PDF didn't show any math formula or algorithm! What is this? 

The conference is "the 6th International Conference on Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Applications (CSAIA 2025), IEEE Press, Changsha, China, Hybrid, November 7 - 9, 2025." 

The conference organizer sent me the camera ready file of my paper in 27th May 2026.

I quote, 'Dear Dr. Sasaki,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am very pleased to inform you that your revised manuscript has now been successfully finalized. Thank you very much for your careful revisions, patience, and kind cooperation throughout the entire process.
Please find the final PDF version of your paper attached. Please review the file at your earliest convenience and reply to this email with confirmation that all contents and formatting are correct.
If there are no further issues, we will proceed with submitting this final version to IEEE Xplore for publication. After publication, IEEE will submit the paper for indexing in EI Compendex and Scopus.
Once the paper is officially available online, we will inform you again by email.
I would also like to thank you again for your support of CSAIA 2025 and for your understanding and cooperation with our editorial work.
Wishing you continued success in your research, and a flourishing academic career.
Best regards,
CSAIA 2025 Organizing Committee' quote ends.

They've never informed me about its publication yet. I found it by myself! 

What are they doing? They have another conference CSAIA 2026 online. What would they do next?! You should watch what they are doing!

I found a lovely English song of 'tanuki' (Japanese raccoon dogs): SHO-JO-JI (The hungry raccoon) by Eartha Kitt [RCA Victor 47-6245] 1955. 

Two weeks ago, I acquired a Japanese Zen monk's scroll. To verify its authenticity, I thoroughly investigated the quote and examined the paper's physical texture. Forgers frequently use period-accurate paper from the monk’s lifetime to deceive buyers, including museum experts. Consequently, textual analysis alone is insufficient. A proper appraisal requires physical scrutiny of every component: the paper, wood, lacquer, silk, and cords. By the way, would you be interested in hunting for your own hidden treasures in Japan?

It was nearly 19 years ago when I first visited Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Sakamoto, Otsu, Japan. I headed to the shrine office, a building built in a traditional Japanese style. It was around 5:30 am when I stepped into the entrance hall and saw a woman dressed in a kimono walking upstairs. I assumed she was the person presiding over the meeting I was invited to. So, I stayed in the hall and waited for her to come back down. However, she never reappeared, even after half an hour. Then, a group of ladies arrived and asked why I hadn't gone upstairs to wait for them. I explained that another lady was using the upper floor to change or prepare. Puzzled, they called over a staff member of the office. He informed us that no one had entered the building before me. We all went upstairs together but found the floor completely empty. When I described what I had seen, the clerk replied, "That happens quite often here. The 'tanuki' (Japanese raccoon dogs) like to play tricks on people."

Today I asked Google Gemini, "If I were to die and be reincarnated as a raccoon, should I feel happy?" Gemini said, "You should be reincarnated as a pampered puppy or kitten relaxing with their kind owner." Do you agree with Gemini?

I am delighted to add a scroll by Japanese Zen monk Sessou Soueki (1776–1859) to my collection. It was written around the 1850s, during his tenure as abbot of Daitokuji Temple. Interestingly, many art dealers dismissed it as a forgery, simply because the quote comes from the Book of Rites instead of popular Chinese Zen texts. They were unaware that the exact phrase was actually recorded by a Chinese Zen monk of the Yuan-Ming era, who had originally referenced the book.

The phrase reads, 'Tiān wú sī fù'—'Heaven overspreads all without partiality.' The Chinese monk had incorporated this teaching of Confucius into his own Zen verse (January 1372) to mourn the victims of the wars during the Yuan-Ming transition: 'Tiān wú sī gài, dì wú sī zài, shān hé dà dì, jìn bèi ēn guāng, cǎo mù kūn chóng, xián zī huà lì'—'Heaven covers all without partiality, and Earth sustains all without partiality. The mountains, rivers, and the vast lands are completely bathed in nature's grace. Every plant, tree, and tiny insect relies on this universal, life-giving power to thrive and transform.'