Life is so short - 生命はとても短い

Signs of Life

2011-04-05T19:21:00.000+04:00

CX906 - CX731

2011-04-05T18:51:00.001+04:00

Mountain Side, Philippines

Calcutta, India

Hong Kong Air

Hanoi

Back to the desert again?

2011-03-17T07:21:00.000+04:00

Sponsoring Thoughts

2010-10-13T08:04:00.000+04:00

It is clearly defined in the book "Communications With God" by Neale Donald Walsch that it is the secret thought behind the thought or simply the controlling thought. In connection to my previous topic about prayer it is somewhat if somebody pray to God by means of begging and supplication, there seems much smaller chance that they will experience what they think they are choosing or aiming it's because the sponsoring thought behind every supplication is that they do not have now what they wish. Meaning to say that the thing or things whatever they are praying to God does not or did not never ever existed or happend at all in any aspect or to anyone's life in the entire history of the humanity. For that the Sponsoring Thought will become the reality.

BSBT's Touch Therapy

2010-10-02T13:02:00.005+04:00

Got the Experience
BSBT's passion for massage therapy is becoming matured while some of the students working on their way to perfectness. Making their clients feel better is the focus of their work; not the clock, assuring a generous and thorough therapeutic treatment. The perfect opportunity arose at a private studio conveniently located in the heart of BSBT school campus along Halsema high way and near the beautiful Bell Church area. For them to expand their practice and focus on giving clients a thorough treatment. A great care and concern for clients and that comes through in their attention to each individuals' specific needs as well as therapeutic touch of some beautiful students. Karera wa tottemo kerei desu yo!!!

Okay! I have a bad back I also have a bad neck, bad arms bad hands and headaches. But it could be worse! I attribute all the above mostly to overuse syndrome that I have achieved by working 4 straight years in the field of Import and Export as well as in Real Estate in Arab world. It is an unforgiving kind of job and the more you use, it seems ‘the more you lose'. Add to that a few athletic blunders (shocking considering I'm so buff) and I have always been a set up for painful muscles, headache and back. All this said, over the years though, I’ve been fortunate I try and keep things on an even keel by exercise, diet, braces if need be, and therapy. Surgeries have been recommended to me several times which I have politely declined. In my quest for obtaining relief, however, I found myself at one point being referred to a chiropractor which is out of reach on my budget. I wasn’t too keen on this recommendation because I have never embraced the idea of purposefully letting someone well – embrace me – and squeeze the living crap out of me while calling it an adjustment! It took many people a long time to convince me but I finally succumbed – and surprisingly I found my chiropractor to be a Godsend at a time when I could barely turn my head! If anyone out there has never had a massage before, check it out before you go – make sure someone can vouche for the massage therapist and that they are not able to bench press your weight – 50 times. Make sure that have has not grown up on a farm lifting veggies onto a lorry to load them! Make sure that they are not a woman on testosterone! Seriously – just check it out – and bring flash cards or aids with you to the initial interview and quiz them as to what the big X means - so that if you don’t want a certain part of your body massaged they’ll actually cease and desist! Well - they say your first time is special – wow – what an understatement! Unfortunately, BSBT therapeutic massage last for only one day.. Thanks and kudos to you ladies….

Mr. & Miss BSBT

2010-09-14T13:49:00.009+04:00

Miss Aquino

BSBT

2010-08-20T11:08:00.001+04:00

On my Student mode...

For Sale: Canon SX20 IS Power Shot

2010-04-03T15:25:00.009+04:00

Specifications
IMAGE SENSOR
Type - 1/2.3” CCD
Effective Pixels - Approx.12.1M
Colour Filter Type - Primary Colour
IMAGE PROCESSOR
Type DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology
LENS
Focal Length 5.0 - 100.0 mm (35mm equivalent: 28-560mm)
Zoom Optical 20x. Digital approx. 4x (with Digital Tele-Converter approx. 1.5x or 2.0x and Safety Zoom¹)². Combined approx. 80x
Maximum f/number f/2.8-f/5.7
Construction 13 elements in 11 groups (1 UD and 1 single-sided UA element)
Image Stabilisation Yes (shift-type)
Ultrasonic Motor (USM) Yes, zoom

FOCUSING
Type TTL
AF System/ Points Face Detection, 1-point AF (Any position is available, fixed to centre or Face Select and Track)
AF Modes Single, Continuous, Servo AF/AE¹
AF Point Selection Manual selection using FlexiZone AF/AE, Size (Normal, Small)
AF Lock On/Off Selectable
AF Assist Beam Yes
Manual Focus Yes
Focus Bracketing Yes
Closest Focusing Distance 0cm (W) from front of lens in Super Macro
EXPOSURE CONTROL
Metering modes Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame), Centre-weighted average, Spot (centre or linked to Face Detection AF or FlexiZone AF frame)
AE Lock Yes
Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments Enhanced i-Contrast for automatic dynamic range correction
AEB 1/3 - 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments
ISO sensitivity* AUTO, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
SHUTTER
Speed 1 - 1/3200 sec (factory default) 15 - 1/3200 sec (total range - varies by shooting mode)
WHITE BALANCE
Type TTL
Settings Auto (including Face Detection WB), Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Custom
VIEWFINDER
Viewfinder EVF (0.44" type), approx. 235,000 dots
Dioptre Correction Yes
LCD MONITOR
Monitor Vari-angle 2.5” PureColor VA (TFT), approx. 230,000 dots
Coverage 100%
Brightness Adjustable to one of five levels. Quick-bright LCD
FLASH
Modes Auto, Manual Flash On / Off
Slow Sync Speed Yes. Fastest speed 1/500 sec
Red-Eye Reduction Yes
Flash Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments. Face Detection FE. Safety FE.
Flash Exposure Lock Yes
Manual Power Adjustment 3 levels with internal flash (up to 19 levels with external EX Speedlites 270EX and 430EX II. 22 levels with 580EX II¹)
Second Curtain Synchronisation Yes
Built-in Flash Range 50cm-6.8m (W) / 1.0m-3.7m (T)
External Flash E-TTL with EX series Speedlites¹, Canon High Power Flash HF-DC1
SHOOTING
Modes Auto*, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Portrait, Landscape, Night Snapshot, Sports, SCN (Indoor, Sunset, Night Scene, Fireworks, Beach, Aquarium, Foliage, Snow, ISO 3200¹, Color Accent, Color Swap), Stitch Assist, Movie *with Scene Detection Technology and Motion Detection Technology
Photo Effects My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color)
Drive modes Single, Continuous, Self-Timer, FaceSelf-Timer
Continuous Shooting Approx. 1.0 shots/sec.¹, AF: Approx. 0.7 shots/sec.¹, LV: Approx. 0.7 shots/sec.¹ (until memory card becomes full)²
RECORDING PIXELS / COMPRESSION
Image Size (L) 4000 x 3000, (M1) 3264 x 2448, (M2) 2592 x 1944, (M3) 1600 x 1200, (S) 640 x 480, (W) 3840 x 2160. Resize in playback (M3, S, 320 x 240)
Compression Fine, Normal
Movies (HD) 1280 x 720, 30fps, (L)640 x 480, 30fps, (M)320 x 240, 30fps
Movie Length Up to 4GB or 29 min. 59 sec (HD)¹ Up to 4GB or 1 hour (L, M)²
FILE TYPES
Still Image Type JPEG compression, (Exif 2.2 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system, Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
Movies MOV [H.264 + Linear PCM (monaural / stereo)]
DIRECT PRINT
Canon Printers Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and Canon Inkjet Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Fixed Size Print and Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP & ES printers only)
PictBridge Yes
OTHER FEATURES
Red-Eye Correction Yes, during shooting and playback
My Camera / My Menu Start-up image and camera sounds customisation. Menu customisation
My Category Image tagging feature
Intelligent Orientation Sensor Yes
Histogram Yes, live histogram
Playback Zoom Approx. 2x – 10x
Self Timer Approx. 2 or 10 sec., Custom or FaceSelf-Timer
Menu Languages English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Chinese (traditional), Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Ukrainian, Romanian, Farsi
INTERFACE
Computer Hi-Speed USB (Mini-B, MTP, PTP)
Other HDMI Mini Connector. A/V output (PAL/NTSC)
MEMORY CARD
Type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus.
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM
PC & Macintosh Windows XP SP2-3 / Vista (including SP1-2) Mac OS X v10.4 - 10.5
SOFTWARE
Browsing & Printing ZoomBrowser EX / ImageBrowser
Other PhotoStitch
POWER SOURCE
Batteries 4x Size-AA Alkaline or NiMH Batteries(NB4-300) (Alkalines supplied)
Battery life Approx. 340 shots (with supplied batteries)¹ Approx. 600 shots (with optional Canon NB4-300 batteries)¹ Approx. 720 min. playback (with supplied batteries)¹ Approx. 840 min. playback (with Canon NB4-300 batteries)¹
A/C Power Supply Optional, Power adapter CA-PS700
ACCESSORIES
Cases / Straps Soft Case DCC-800
Flash Canon Speedlites (including 270EX, 430EX II, 580EX, 580EX II¹), Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, Off-Camera Shoe Cord OC-E3 High Power Flash HF-DC1
Power Supply & Battery Chargers Compact AC power adapter CA-PS700, Battery Charger Kit CBK4-300, Ni-MH Batteries NB4-300
Other Canon HDMI Cable HTC-100
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Operating Environment 0 – 40 °C¹, 10 – 90% humidity
Dimensions (WxHxD, excl. protrusions) 124.0 x 88.3 x 86.9 mm
Weight (body only) Approx. 560g
Zoom Depending on the image size selected. Digital zoom available for still image and standard movie modes only. Optical zoom may not be available during movie recording.
AF Modes Some settings limit availability
Manual Power Adjustment Not all functions of the flash are supported.
External Flash Not all functions of the flash are supported.
Modes Recording pixels fixed at 1600 x 1200 (ISO 3200 Mode) and 1824 x 1368 (Low Light Mode).
Continuous Shooting Under conditions where the flash does not fire. Depending on memory card speed / capacity / compression setting.
Movie Length The following Speed Class memory cards are required for maximum record time: 1280 x 720, 30fps Speed Class 4 or above. 1920 x 1080, 30fps Speed Class 6 Depending on memory card speed / capacity / compression setting.
Battery life Using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera (where included), except where indicated.
Flash Not all functions of the flash are supported.
Operating Environment 0 – 35 °C when NB-3AH is used

Free:
Tripod, Battery and Charger

Price:
AED 1900/ Negotiable

Witness the fountain from Dubai Mall with Julie

2010-03-17T15:04:00.007+04:00

To cost cut the consumption of electricity, Dubai government opens to the public 3 minutes & 47 seconds of live entertainment once everyday between 7 - 8 pm...

UAE Cordillera (Igorot Org.) Dance & Sports Fest

2010-03-13T12:33:00.005+04:00

Boku no Kazouko

2010-03-09T15:26:00.003+04:00

King Size Bed For Sale

2010-03-09T13:11:00.005+04:00

Has been used for a short period of time but condition is like new.
Slats included and in perfect condition (sold separately at IKEA).
All assembly parts accounted for.
Currently in storage and is flat-packed.

Buyer to pick up from Al Quoz Industrial Area.

Contact:
Email - admin@cavendish.ae
Phone - +971 4 345 2851
Mobile - +971 55 397 6499

And on the News...

Oh! la!la!

Discover Grand Hyatt Dubai

2010-03-07T17:23:00.004+04:00

Located in the Bur Dubai district, Grand Hyatt Dubai hotel towers majestically the edge of Dubai's historic creek. The hotel is close to financial and entertainment districts, the Dubai Creek, Dubai WTC and Wafi City Shopping Mall, while Dubai International Airport is only 7 km away.

Set within 37 acres of landscaped gardens, our Dubai hotel is an outstanding combination of resort facilities, luxury hotel rooms & suites, residential apartments and one of the most advanced conference hotels in the United Arab Emirates and Middle East.

The hotel hosts a wide array of restaurants, bars and cafés, most of them located around the tropical garden of the atrium. Favourite outlets include Awtar Restaurant, Manhattan Grill, iZ Indian Restaurant, Singaporean Peppercrab, The Market Café and Cooz Bar.

The Grand Spa is a comprehensive wellness centre with a wide offering in spa treatments complemented by saunas, steam rooms, indoor & outdoor pools, squash & tennis courts and fitness centre.

Uncovering the rich history of Iraq’s past

2010-02-21T15:06:00.001+04:00

The buried antiquities of Ur, Biblical birthplace of Abraham and one of the cradles of civilisation, could one day outshine those of ancient Egypt, archaeologists and workers on the site believe. With Iraq ravaged by war and strife since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Baghdad’s struggling government has had greater priorities than funding large-scale digs at Ur, where only small teams have been working since 2005. “When the (large-scale) excavations restart, tonnes of antiquities will see the light of day, filling entire museum wings,” enthused Dhaif Moussin, who is in charge of protecting a site that has been prone to looting. “This site will become perhaps more important than Giza,” he added, referring to the plateau outside the Egyptian capital of Cairo where some of mankind’s most treasured antiquities have been unearthed, including the Sphinx and several notable pyramids. That may not be just an idle boast. In the early 1900s, American archaeologist Charles Leonard Woolley made some stunning finds when he unearthed 16 tombs of Ur’s elite. Inside he found some of the greatest treasures of antiquity, including a golden dagger encrusted with lapis lazuli, an intricately carved golden statue of a ram caught in a thicket, a lyre decorated with a bull’s head and the gold headdress of a Sumerian queen. Those treasures have been compared to the riches from the tomb of the Egyptian boy-king, Tutankhamun, but they excite archaeologists even more because the graves at Ur are more than 1,000 years older. To date, hardly 20 per cent of the site has been excavated, mainly by American and British archaeologists. “Some archaeologists estimate it will take more than 30 years to dig out the entire city,” said Moussin. Ur lies near a US airbase just outside of Nasiriyah, a major battle ground of the American invasion. “It is certain that much more material remains to be discovered,” said Steve Tinney, professor of Assyriology at the University of Pennsylvania which, together with the British Museum, sponsored Woolley’s excavations between 1922 and 1934. Ur of the Chaldees, as it is mentioned in the Bible, was one of the great urban centres of the Sumerian civilisation of southern Iraq. The kingdom was governed by a real administration and code of laws. Sumerian script, called cuneiform, is the earliest known writing system in the world. Tinney said he hoped for the discovery of texts that would shed light on the culture and polytheistic religion of the Sumerians. The site would be unequalled in the world if it proves to be the birthplace of Abraham, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, said Moussin. But for all of its former glory, Ur is likely to remain buried under the site that is protected by a fragile barrier and some guards, lost in a country rocked by violence and more worried about rebuilding its present capital. “Much remains to be done, and an endeavour must be authorised together with the central government if Iraq wants to benefit from its enormous potential as a Mecca of tourism,” said Anna Prouse, an Italian diplomat in charge of a regional rebuilding team in the Iraqi province of Dhi Qar. In addition to Ur, the province has 47 other sites “of great archaeological value”, she added. The provincial authorities do not have the budget to start titanic archaeological excavations because they are focusing on restoring electricity, sewerage systems, schools, roads and drinking water for their war-ravaged population, Prouse said.

Holy Smoke!!

2010-02-02T13:45:00.002+04:00

I smoke. Yes, I know how bad it is and what it does to me to my poor dear pair of lungs. I've been smoking for 14 years. I can't even believe I've been ALIVE that long.

Well, the time has come. I am going to totally quit. Julie is not smoker. She does really concern very much about on how I will stop it.

Julie and I are planning to take a home vacation at the beginning of April. We will end up being on 4 planes total for the entire vacation. I brought up quitting because of the hectic schedules like she will be having her 2nd DOH examination most probably in the mid or end of March. Now in my case, at work we received a memo containing about all the details on our consignment this coming March. So meaning to say that the opening of the company's 2nd garments shop will be soon. And according to the info after the board meeting the maturity date will fall in the month of April.

Oh! no... how about our itinerary. We already planned for that thing since last year. Please naman walang ganyanan... !!

The Second In the World After China

2010-02-01T18:52:00.003+04:00

"You know Prajith if the government put doors on these thing we could all sit inside" (India on its booming population season)

Mind Thoughts

2010-01-31T11:33:00.005+04:00

No. I'm not dead. But I did take an extended internet break. Still kinda on break, especially from friendster and that evil nasty craptastic site called FaceBook. I rarely if ever get on there anyway, so that was no biggie not an issue, I'm not addicted to pc slowing application FARMVILLE. I do miss messenger, but I'll be back on that soon.

Why? I needed to regroup.

But now, I think it's time for an update. Let some know what's going on, how its been, etc.

Picture irrelevant to the post - Day when Batawa is still with us wandering around Dubai for good times

Last year was a kick in the NUT. Yes, considering we're down one nut, it was a kick in the one NUT we have left between the two of us.

I figured out that last year, one of us has been sick/down/ psychologically since May. No breaks. One health crazy after another. Last year, I decided I was taking charge of my mental capacities, little did I know what a nut so ride that was going to be.
Christmas was very stressful days on every Christian community. We did make it through alive and with reminders that we have lots of freakin amazing families surrounding us and supporting us. It was fun, we went out for a while and played a bunch of memories travelling around Emirates and mountain and wadi ranges of Oman. I got blessed (NO REALLY???) and found my self fell asleep on the nowhere of Wadi Khamees. Yeah, that was me hoggin up the cold morning of fresh, mind touching breeze in a strange place. It was a total blast though and I did have a lot of fun.

Something happened with the New Year though... it was like a weight was down to earth that I even felt my self float like a cloud on the distant mountain peak. 2009 was just so heavy, and I'm glad its gone.

THAT is what changed. I stopped looking at the bad. Nah, I didn't stop. But when it starts to overwhelm me, I remind myself of people that have been there supporting me, us, for the past year, all the GOOD things that did happen, and that helps me change my mindset.

I guess it's time to spill my plans for 2010...

1) 29 for 29. I intend to lose this last 29 lbs before my 29th bday.
2) Quit smoking. Listen, the last fucking thing I want to hear when I quit is "how's it goin?" or "my friend did this and it worked" OR any crap related to ME SMOKING at all. DO NOT need it, that will just drive me back to smoking. Try to remember that when I actually quit. Thoughts sometimes drives me in the warehouse to puff for one stick.
3) Get back to the peeps I love. 3 trips I hope to plan this year. (excluding month vacation to HOME!)

I'm also hoping to be a little more reliable here with posting. Not sure when I'll get that going, I need to change my site up a little bit and that requires work I don't have time for right NOW, but it's on my list. Anyone want to make me a new header??

That's about it. I know, as always I'm soooo exciting...

So until next time I get a hair up my ass to post... (soon I'm sure, I hope), have a great day. Happy New Year (KUNG HEI FAT CHOI)and lets all remember THE LOVE. Cause it's all around us.

End of month

2010-01-31T11:06:00.004+04:00

Well, this has been a pretty good blogging week if I must say so myself! I've been reading a bunch and catching up and have posted here a whole 2 times! (including this post)

Thought I would pop in and let you know I won't be around at all tomorrow. Yeah, I'm usually pretty scarce on Friday anyway, but this coming days will be very special - I'll be drugged.

Something I haven't ever talked about here... I have severe problem and severe addiction. I've been on it for oh!, about 2 years now to control it. Well over the past few months the methods don't seem to be working as well as they have in the past so I am going to have an Intensive Experimental Procedure to help figure out what is going on and how to fix it.

This addiction has a lot to do with my daily life including all people that concerns me especially my love ones, how and what I react and show to them and how I sleep on it(or really don't these thing is very humiliating). So it's a good thing. But they do knock you out for it and you can't drive yourself home.

The addiction is extremely painful and causes nausea every day to me and to somone whom I loved so much. Some days it's really really bad, and some days it's just bad. Other days it's *$%# awful. The thought hits out of nowhere, usually in the morning, and all that happens is well.

Just another health issue to add to my growing list. This getting old stuff sucks ass.

And oh, just a little follow up to this month's event - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my youngest brother DENVER last 16th

I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth

2010-01-31T10:54:00.003+04:00

The past few weeks I mean months worst even year have been very hectic for me, and as a result this blog has gathered some dust. My bad. I had suddenly become preoccupied with the company responsibility as well as the church, had two choices: work on it or get a negative response from the directors and other goings-on in life. The works finally over with, and things have generally settled down, which means that I can now finally start writing blog posts again! *papaya dance* So, here we go with one of those lengthy write-ups aggregating the entirety of my life and thoughts since my last posting. Brace yourselves.

A Video Footage of the Tallest Burj Khalifa

2010-01-05T10:10:00.006+04:00

The Video is widely distributed around the world courtesy of our friends in the media fields..

From Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa

2010-01-05T09:58:00.004+04:00

Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, has just been renamed to Burj Khalifa on its opening ceremony. Burj Dubai’s change of name is in honor of Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi which recently bailed out debt-ridden Dubai in the amount of $10 billion.

Burj Khalifa boasts the most stories and highest occupied floor of any building in the world, and ranks as the world’s tallest structure, beating out a television mast in North Dakota.

Burj Khalifa is more than 50 stories higher than Chicago’s Willis Tower, the tallest building in the U.S. formerly known as the Sears Tower.

In the opening ceremony yesterday January 4 2010, 8:00 pm +4GMT time, Burj Khalifa’s official height is announced at 828 meters.

Common Scene (Super Amateur)

2010-01-02T11:43:00.008+04:00

Bursting multicoloured sparks exploded high in the air. Fireworks lit up the night skies. Seems all places across Dubai were fully booked, packed to the brim with residents and spectators crowding to celebrate the beginning of a new decade, and for some the end of 2009. Welcome to 2010, the beginning... It's the usual thing every Nations to welcome the new year. fountains, firecrackers, fireworks & paputok. "Paputok? what's that thing?"
Anyway, the sound effects are contributed by the members & staff of G.U.L.F. Herald namely Raymund, Rebbie, Arlene, Cecil, Ditha & ofcourse us Julie and Me..

A Twilight To Remember

2009-12-24T11:18:00.010+04:00

A Lesson About Prayer

2009-12-23T18:24:00.004+04:00

It was a cold Monday evening, I was on my way to my wife's work place to do the same task. The Queen needs to accompany by her knight with shinning forehead (almost). Inside the clinic where I used to watch a television show that keeps on repeating every week instead I opened the book which I bought from Arabian Centre while delivering the garments for Gini & Jony (it's a brand name). I am scanning some of the pages at the same time glancing on the telivision hanged on the wall for some good news when suddenly my attention brought me to something that concentrate on it. In the book it say "Does that mean I cannot ask for anything I want? Are you saying that praying for something actualy pushes it away from us?
This is a question which has been asked through the ages and has been answered whenever it has been asked. The question is answered again, in today's terms, and today's language, thusly:
You will not have that for which you ask, nor can you have anything you want. This is because your very request is a statement of lack, and your saying you want a thing only works to produce that precise experience wnating in your reality.
The correct prayer is therefore never a prayer of supplication, but a prayer of gratitude
When you thank GOD in advance for that which you choose to experience in your reality, you, in effect, acknowledge that it is there in effect. Thankfulness is thus the most powerful statement to GOD. An affirmation that even before you ask, I have answered. Therefore never supplicate. Appreciate.
To GOD be the glory!!

Celebrating Christmas In U.A.E.

2009-12-23T17:52:00.002+04:00

The clock is ticking and Christmas is arriving within couple of days. All Dubai's shopping malls are impressively decorated to celebrate the festive season and the kids are enjoying Santa. Gulf News asked Christian shoppers about their views of and preparations for the occasion.
Canadian Gabriela Gosse said Christmas revolves around two fundamental aspects, spiritual and social. "The core factor of Christmas is celebrating the birth of the Christ and this day acts as a reminder to make us recall and practice the noble principles that Jesus taught us, while the social aspect is obviously seen in the extensive visits among families and friends.
"It's an interesting series of plans — perhaps the Christmas tree takes the lion's share, and we make sure to decorate it beautifully. Also the turkey and many various yummy types of cookies must be presented on the table.

Snowy weather

"The feeling of being surrounded by loved ones is one of Christmas' essential features." On whether there's any difference between spending the Christmas in Dubai or Canada, she said: "Back home the snowy weather makes you feel the eve perfectly well.
"However, speaking of Dubai, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ruler of the emirate for allowing us to freely enjoy celebrating." Jonathan Caddick, a 15-year-old British student at Dubai College who has spent nine years with his family in Dubai, said the festive season means a lot to them.
"Christmas is a synonym of togetherness; I love to see my whole family around one table and enjoying such precious annual ceremony." Caddick also likes getting gifts. "Last Christmas I got an iPod and this year I impatiently wait to see what I'm going to get."
On differences in spending Christmas in England and Dubai, he said, "The only two main angles missing in Dubai is that not all my family is here and the other is the snow — I pretty much miss playing with the snow at Christmas." Yuliya Ivanishchava, 25, from the Republic of Belarus, said, "Christmas means many happy things to me, like going to church and being surrounded by family and friends.

Indigenous Igorots of Cordillera remain squatters in their own land

2009-12-21T09:52:00.003+04:00

By Artemio Dumlao, Correspondent
Published: 00:00 August 18, 2003

A copy paste but worth a lot to me

They would gaily pose with tourists for souvenir pictures. They are known for wearing g-strings and walking barefoot even on sun-scorched pavements of Baguio City, but what the public doesn't seem to know is that the country's estimated 1.5 million Igorots (Cordillera mountain people) are suffering from "inappropriate" development.

"Our ancestral lands are threatened by so-called development aggression that we consider as inappropriate for our growth a national minorities," Wyndle Bolinget, secretary-general of the Cordillera People's Alliance based in Baguio City said.

Bolinget led an Igorot ritual on Thursday as a tribute to struggling minorities in the Philippines. The UN declared August 9 as World Day of Indigenous People in 1994 as part of the Indigenous People Decade.

A ceremonial animal was slain as "curses" were chanted against "aggressors" of Igorot homeland which include large mines, dam projects, tourism, logging, even official development aid from abroad and government-established special economic zones.

According to Bolinget, multi-national firms are eyeing at least 433,377 hectares of Igorot ancestral lands for largescale mining operations in the Cordillera while at least 13,000 hectares were already approved for mining.

"Igorots will not tire from making endless beating of their gongs until President Gloria Arroyo heeds their demands for protection of their ancestral lands and rights as indigenous peoples," Bolinget vows.

Even UN Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Staavenhagen during his probe on the impacts of largescale development projects on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cordillera indigenous communities last year led to his conclusion that these projects had been devastating with loss of indigenous territories and land, forced evictions, large-scale migration and resettlement.

He also found out that indigenous peoples in the Cordillera suffer from depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation and harassment and violence against those in the communities opposing such projects.

Staavenhagen pointed out in his report that lack of consultation to the affected indigenous communities and not involving them in the decision making process oftentimes bred conflicts.

"Government's prevailing deceptive laws and policies on land and resources under the context of the colonial Regalian Doctrine treat indigenous peoples as "squatters‚ in their own land", Bolinget claims.

Fernando Mangili, secretary-general of the peasant group APIT-TAKO or Alliance of Peasants in the Cordillera Homeland said that the situation of the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera has become more and more severe as development on agriculture driven by the GATT-WTO worsened the already woeful living of the peasants.

Merry Christmas in many different languages

2009-12-20T17:49:00.004+04:00

Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Milad Majid
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Bengali: Shubho borodin
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Ruumsaid juulup|hi
Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal
Eritfean/ Tigrinja: Rehus- Beal- Ledeats
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Greenlandic: Juullimi Pilluaritsi!
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Baradin ki shubh kamnaaye
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Lao: souksan van Christmas
Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island) :Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Romanian: Craciun Fericit
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Serbian: Hristos se rodi
Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serbian: Hristos se rodi.
Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym or Z RIZDVOM HRYSTOVYM
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!
Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic

Filipino found at sea after Lebanon ship sinking

2009-12-20T15:34:00.001+04:00

By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 12/19/2009

A survivor from a ship that sank earlier this week off the northern coast of Lebanon was found on Saturday near the Syrian coast farther north, a Lebanese port official said.

A survivor from a ship that sank earlier this week off the northern coast of Lebanon was found on Saturday near the Syrian coast farther north, a Lebanese port official said.

"Syrian authorities found a survivor off the coast of Tartus aboard a raft; a Philippines national named Wilson Vincent," Tripoli port authority chief Ahmad Tamer told AFP.

"We have checked and his name was on the list," Tamer said. "His condition is stable."

The find came as rescuers' hope to find more survivors dwindled after a two-day search in tough conditions for crew members and passengers from the Danny F II, a freighter carrying 82 people which went down in a storm on Thursday.

Saturday's rescue brings the count to 40 survivors and 11 dead, and search efforts are to continue throughout the day.

The Danny F II capsized about 11 nautical miles off Tripoli after sending a distress signal at 3:55 pm (1355 GMT) on Thursday.

It had left Montevideo on November 29 with about 10,000 sheep and almost 18,000 cattle bound for Tartus, north of Tripoli, but was forced to change course because of the bad weather.

It was trying to reach Beirut when disaster struck.

The ship's operator, Agencia Schandy, told AFP in Montevideo that it had a crew of 76 and six passengers -- four Uruguayans, one Brazilian and an Australian.

5 Behaviors of Manipulative People ( A Copy Paste From Yahoo dot com )

2009-12-15T12:32:00.004+04:00

Many of us like to think the best of people. We like to think that they shoot straight and are forthright in their intentions. We also like to believe that they will ask for what they want and not resort to crazy tactics to get it. Unfortunately, however, there are times when we come across those who will do whatever it takes to get what they want…including manipulation. Being manipulated never feels good, but the worst part of manipulation is that often, we don’t even realize that it is happening. Here are a few ways to know if someone is trying to manipulate you:

1. Buttering You Up: To get their way, manipulators will often make you feel good so that they can then ask you to do something that they want. The person may first compliment you or tell you what a wonderful job you did on something. Making you feel good will, in their mind, make it difficult for you to say no…after all, you wouldn’t want to disappoint them or give them reason to think you didn’t deserve the compliment in the first place. What you can do: Return the compliments and the niceties before saying no.

2. Guilt: This doesn’t only pertain to Catholics and Jewish Mothers; guilt trips have been a successful manipulation tactic for centuries. The saddest part of this strategy is that the victims of this tactic succumb to the manipulators’ demands because they feel they HAVE to, not because they WANT to. In personal relationships, this sets up a co-dependency that is extremely unhealthy. What you can do: Ask the individual if they want you to do something because you have to or because you want to. If they say they want you to want to do it, tell them that you don’t and that they are trying to force you into something you don’t feel comfortable with.

3. Broken Record: Probably the most obvious of formats is the broken record tactic. If a person asks you enough or pushes their agenda enough…constantly repeating the question or request over and over again…in slightly different ways, the victim will inevitably give in and give them what they want. Oye! What you can do: Ask the individual what they don’t understand about the word “no.” Tell them that asking you over and over again isn’t going to change anything and that they are inappropriately over-stepping boundaries.

4. Selective Memory: This one gets me the most. You swear you have a conversation about a plan and everyone is on the same page, and then one day, the manipulator pretends to remember the conversation completely differently, if at all. What you can do: Record your conversations…seriously! Okay, maybe not. At least have a witness that you can count on to back you up if the person pulls this shenanigan. Call them out on the fact that they conveniently change the game to fit their needs.

5. Bullying: If a person doesn’t get their way, they make you out to look or feel like the bad guy…like you are the wrong one. What you can do: Be firm and tell them that their bullying tactics are inappropriate and unacceptable.

Keep your eyes open for these behaviors and continue to stand your ground to ensure that you aren’t a victim of manipulation. Have you seen any other types of manipulative behavior?

More rain predicted by UAE weathermen

2009-12-12T11:07:00.003+04:00

Staff Report
Published: 15:12 December 11, 2009

From 7pm on Friday to Sunday evening there is a chance of rain, and also of isolated showers and thunderstorms. Cooling rain fell on Dubai and across UAE on Friday, although it measured only 0.2mm across the emirates, according to a duty forecaster, Dubai Meteorological Office. “Driving conditions are not really a problem at the moment, but people still have to be careful,” the forecaster said. From 7pm on Friday to Sunday evening there is a chance of rain, and also of isolated showers and thunderstorms. There are no reported delays at Dubai International Airport. Temperatures will remain at a cool minimum of 19C and a maximum of 24C, with temperatures in Sharjah measuring slightly lower.

Your Yahoo! Time Capsule tile is ready

2009-12-11T07:05:00.003+04:00

From: "donotreply@yahoo-inc.com" Add to Contacts
To: andresjeric@yahoo.com

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

Congratulations! Your tile is now ready to be viewed. Visit your contribution at
http://timecapsule.yahoo.com/capsule.php?i=153880&t=you&l=en.

Thank you for sharing a piece of your world and contributing to the Yahoo! Time
Capsule, the first-ever electronic anthropology project

Please note that your submission may take up to 10 minutes to process.

Again, this is me. I used a lot of alias.. The message contains an "aud to my family.."

Greetings from CHPVOS Chairman

2009-12-11T06:56:00.002+04:00

Seasons greetings
From: Gabriel Albino View Contact
To: Profco / ; Gabriel D Albino ; Venus Albino-Bayas ; erwin alcaraz ; francis altamirano ; Marvin Banwa Aplod ... more

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GREETINGS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

LOVE,

GABRIEL D. ALBINO
CLINICAL NURSE PRACTITONER
SANDWELL AND WEST BIRMINGHAM HOSPITALS NHS TRUST
(CITY HOSPITAL/SANDWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL/ROWLEY REGIS HOSPITAL)
BIRMINGHAM, GREAT BRITAIN

Birthday celebrant for this day ( An old time friend from CCDC )

2009-12-10T11:54:00.003+04:00

Today is my friend's Birthday.. Happy Birthday Sister Juvy!!

To see her Friendster Page just click somewhere here LOL!!

Something Smells Fishy and Ratty!!!

2009-12-10T11:25:00.002+04:00

Do you want to wear these slippers? I'll give you my spare..

CHPVOS - I Was There, It Was Written

2009-12-09T18:31:00.004+04:00

hi to everyone From: Gabriel Albino View Contact
To: jhun labnas ; jovelyn elpidio ; bember mayapit bagangan ; EDUARDO SOLIS ; melvin a tiwaken ; gabby caps ... more

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I don't have all your email address registered on my email though kindly share my messages to all the officers and members of the organization. Actually, I posted a message in our website not the new one. So, what's the feeling of everyone after the medical mission.Have you notice a great feeling after all we work as a team helping people with their needs? Have you felt the pressure on both your mind and your physical on the realization of the medical mission..too difficult was it? but this is just a bit tear to your muscle's heart and a gradual squeez to your brains if you can cope or not..,but the great things is that we've done so far the best we can to help CONGRATULATIONS!! ladies and gentle men for the time, effort and your dedication to public service. I'm back here safe and sound in England and I'm a little bit depressed for a day brought by bad weather as it is all gray and wet but most of all is that I missed you all. We will start again a new day and looking forward to another project for medical mission late this year.I have some proposal project that hopefuly all of you will agree and co-operate. I'm thinking a Musical concert tour for each municipality of Benguet for fundraising. Which will start in 1. Municipality of Itogon,2. Municipality of Tuba,3.Municipality of Sablan,4. Municipality of La Trinidad,5.Municipality of Tublay,6.Municipality of Kapangan,7.Municipality of Atok,8.Municipality of Kibungan,9.bakun,10.buguias,11.Mankayan,12 Kabayan and Bokod. If we are prepared for our musician and the band as a whole then we will be coordinating to the respecrive mayors of each municipality in this case the preeceding will be added to our budget to cover medicines and equipments in preparation for a grand medical outreach back to the said municipalities as we will be implementing these project late this year for christmas. If you have any comments would you mind to email me so I will know your thoughts and your feelings. Mom's mobile was been stolen so I can't retrieve all your mobile numbers but please send it to me so I can speak to all of you. To all board examiners this June Good luck and do your best. If i have shortcomings that i was not able to intertain you well then kindly accept my apology.This is all for tonight and see you later. Rogel Kindly ask doctor Manzano the tracking number of the medicine she sent from thailand and I want her email address too kindly ask her please. Brian I don't understand your hand writing did I got your email correctly..is it elf_ruriko Why ruriko doesn't sound good but awefull just kidding alay!! jokpy/sluggerz kindly keep in touch. Mr. Melvin Tiwaken kindly confirmed that you have resigned from your post thank you. Marvin ket kumusta ti rekreknam pasensiya kan kabsat no kurakurang ti communication ko kenka but I'm proud of you don't worry I'l promised to send you one tin of cadbury chocolaite made from Birmingham. Basta agpapigsa ka ketdi Congrats to jolly too. Arnel/Juverth and the rest of the band..you are being popularized over here..Talaga gayam nga mayat ti voice ni Arnel ya...talagang pang gold award ang boses.. well the rest thank you for all your support to the medical mission esp. those people from abroad Kuzumaki,November and others..Chinese kenny thanks for the ride and the organic veg..extend my thanks to your parents ta amok haan nga sika nagmula heheheheh..malutong at masarap!! Gabriel and roger haan kayu met nga makikunkuntis kanyak nga tumabtaba...physical lang ng kunti diyannnn oooy paano kayu makahabol sa poooll mga tabastingsting...hahahah.. and of course to nona...regards to her..Jokpi haan ka nga agpa ararem ken alquinn ken kenny pasaway ang mga yan..aysus karkaru ken eric..ngem no kayat mo ti aglipstik kay eric ka lang tay agmamama...this is all guys i have to go and do some work..later again guys ket sapay kuma ta si Apo dios di mang bendisyon en datako am in. Good luck and God Bless us all.

The Day I Was Accused

2009-12-09T13:33:00.003+04:00

Next time I will not do it again. I was doomed..

From My Yahoo Inbox (The Fence)

2009-12-09T11:32:00.002+04:00

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Mary
To: sweet-lady@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, November 5, 2007 5:36:54 PM
Subject: [sweet-lady] THE FENCE

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence". The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how may times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to suceed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

U.A.E. Climate Forecast

2009-12-09T10:16:00.004+04:00

By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief, Gulf News
Published: 14:06 December 8, 2009

Al Ain: Strong winds kicked up sand and dust yesterday, reducing visibility considerably across the emirates amid the forecast of thunderstorms and rain in some parts of country.

Temperatures have fallen across the UAE and motorists faced difficulties on highways due to strong winds, dust and poor visibility. According to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), wind was blowing at a speed of 20 knots in Al Ain at around midday on Tuesday. Similar conditions were faced in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and some other cities where visibility was down to 2,000 metres almost the entire day. Sea conditions were rough too, with wind speeds at 32 knots, generating nine-feet-high waves. People were seen covering their eyes and mouths from sand flying in the air. Doctors have also warned people with breathing problems to take proper care in the open to avoid health problems. A forecaster said: "The sea is rough and very dangerous for small boats and fishing trawlers." He advised people, particularly fishermen, to stay away from the sea as conditions are more unstable in coastal areas and over the sea. Outdoor risk The NCMS also issued a warning for the general public asking them to be on the lookout if they go for outdoor activities. "They may involve risks in the event of bad weather from time to time," said the centre. According the weather forecast, there are chances of thunderstorms and rain in some parts of the UAE including Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and the northern emirates. Conditions would continue to be cloudy, with the cloud cover gradually increasing during evening and night. "There are chances of rain over islands and northern areas and that may be associated with thunderstorms during late in the night over the mountains," said the forecast. Fresh southerly winds over sea but they will continue to blow dust over interior open areas reducing the horizontal visibility. The daytime maximum temperature has also dropped down to 30 degree Celsius and below in the coastal and interior areas while it went further down to 21 degree Celsius in the mountainous region. The lowest maximum temperature was just 16 degree Celsius recorded in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, followed by 17 in Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. Where the weather is coming from An unstable weather system over Iran has been sucking in clouds and moisture from Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf. A trail of clouds is currently moving from Africa, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, and UAE and towards Iran. The system has been giving heavy rain over Southern Iran. Unstable weather over the western Mediterranean Sea has also been contributing to the weather conditions in the Gulf region. Bad weather is expected to last a few more days. Take care: Doctors' advice With the sands blowing and a dust haze cloud over most parts of the emirates doctors advise people with upper respiratory tract problems and allergies to stay indoors for the duration of the bad weather. "If that's not possible and you have to go to school, wear a face mask," said Dr Lalit Uchil, specialist family physician. The doctor advises asthmatics to use the full dosage of their inhalers before venturing outdoors. "Don't wait till you have difficulty in breathing," he said. The other advice is to keep the homes clean and vacuum off the dust particles filtering through the windows and doors. Dr Ayman Markoly, a specialist in internal medicine, advised wearing eye glasses during the dusty conditions and use anti-allergic drops if eyes start itching. He said the bad weather could flare up conditions of those suffering from skin allergies also. Doctors noted that as the weather changes dramatically over the weekend, residents will have to prepare for coughs and colds as winter kicks in. — Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter

Dubai shows the way in special needs travel

2009-12-06T15:02:00.004+04:00

By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter, Gulf News

Dubai has become the first city in the region to have an integrated public transport system fully accessible to people with special needs, said a senior official.

"All modes of public transport including the Dubai Metro, public buses, marine transport and even some taxis meet mobility requirements of people with special needs," said Abdul Mohsin Ebrahim, CEO of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

He said the RTA has prepared comprehensive standards and guidelines to assist planners, engineers and developers to meet mobility requirements of people with special needs.

"Now, people with special needs can move around in most parts of the city without any help and freely access the public transport including buses, the Metro and water buses," said Ebrahim.

Equipped taxis

He said the RTA has already launched taxis fitted with equipment to provide an easy ride for wheelchair-bound passengers. "We have modified the walkways and even pedestrian crossings have elevators to help special needs people cross the road," he added.

The RTA is one of the first entities in the country to apply article No 25 of the UAE federal law No 29, 2006 that requires cities in the UAE to be friendly to people with special needs.

"The RTA is committed to providing safe and smooth transport for all and we are continuously improving the transport and road network following international best practices to incorporate people with special needs," Ebrahim added.

He said all the government departments and even private buildings and shopping malls have access ramps for wheelchair users. "We are also modifying the footpaths and roads in the older part of Dubai to provide easy access to special needs people," he explained.

The Dubai Metro's facilities for people with special needs include tactile floor paths to guide visually impaired people at the stations. All ticket-selling booths are designed to be accessible to wheelchair users.

There are dedicated seating areas for people with special needs. Audio-visual signs have been installed to guide people throughout their Metro journey. There is close-circuit television help for hearing-impaired people and audio notices for the visually impaired.

Special parking spaces have also been provided on all the roads, offices and shopping centres clearly marked for "disabled persons" within close proximity of the doors. Also, the parking is free for cars with disability stickers and they are not charged any Salik toll fee.

The RTA has also reduced pavement heights to help wheelchair-bound people cross the road and provides free parking for people with special needs.

The Billion Dollar (?) - Sa katagal mong nagbabayad ng iyong TAX sa yong lupang sinilangan. Meron ka na bang nakitang proyekto ng gobyerno na kagaya nyan? O baka naman puro mga ambulansya lang na pag siniyasat mo ng mabuti ang pasyente ay hindi pala maysakit kundi mga pamilya, anak, kamag-anak o kaya sa ingles kung tawagin ay mga concubines ng mga pulitiko (a.k.a. BUWAYA) na wala ng ginawa kundi ibulsa ang mga pera ng buong bansa kasali narin kami na nasa labas ng bansa. Bansag ko sa kanila ay mga desente pero pusakal na negosyante.. Haka haka lang po ito wala pong pikunan. Kung sakali mang ito ay tutuo eh! di ano ang aking magagawa bilang kasapi sa ating inang bayan?

Philippine president to run for Congress in 2010

2009-11-30T12:48:00.001+04:00

Arroyo says she'll run for the lower house - the first Philippine president to do so. AP Published: 11:34 November 30, 2009 Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo greets her townmates as they troop to the Presidential Palace in Manila PhilippinesImage Credit: APManila: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says she'll run for Congress next year, opting to stay a political player after her term ends. Arroyo is barred by the constitution from seeking a second term, and said Monday she'll step down following national elections in May at the end of nine tumultuous years. She says she'll run for the lower house - the first Philippine president to do so. Arroyo's lawyers have refused to speculate on her plans beyond running for the second congressional district in her home province of Pampanga, where her family and supporters dominate. ang kapal talaga ayaw iwanan ang pulitika.. ginawa pang parang negosyo nya..

Dubai court gets first Facebook libel case (From Gulfnews)

2009-11-18T08:46:00.003+04:00

This is believed to be the first court hearing, which involves suspects abusing Facebook for unlawful acts, to be highlighted in the media. By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter, Gulf News Published: 00:00 November 18, 2009

The 26-year-old Syrian partner admitted that he uploaded several pictures on Facebook of the Lebanese claimant and posted libellous comments below them. Dubai: A business partner has admitted cursing and defaming his former employee on Facebook during the first-of-its-kind trial involving the worldwide electronic social networking tool.

This is believed to be the first court hearing, which involves suspects abusing Facebook for unlawful acts, to be highlighted in the media. The 26-year-old Syrian partner admitted before the Dubai Misdemeanours Court yesterday that he uploaded several pictures on Facebook of the Lebanese claimant and posted under each of them a libellous comment. Provoked

"I am guilty and I did defame him because he provoked me," the partner, A.A. admitted, when he defended himself before Presiding Judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma in courtroom seven. Prosecutors charged the defendant with cursing and dishonouring the claimant, A.R., on Facebook by posting slanderous comments under his pictures. When the judge confronted the suspect with the charges, the defendant said: "Your Honour, please let me explain what happened. I had a partnership with his brother in a restaurant … later I discovered that he was stealing the money from the cashier. He also used to inform customers that the restaurant had been sold and that I had nothing to do with the restaurant anymore. His behaviour provoked me and that's why I posted the comments on Facebook …"

The judge intervened and ordered the suspect to stop talking and let his lawyer mention what he had said in a written defence. Gulf News learnt on Tuesday that the defendant's alleged slanderous comments under four photos posted on Facebook read: "Hey man look at all the people, imagine how much we're gonna steal. [A name which Gulf News won't publish] with the thieves. The man who robbed us of Dh1.4 million to open his own restaurant. A.R. here seen plotting, looking stupid, but plotting."

Records said the defendant pleaded guilty before the prosecutor who questioned him. "The claimant worked for us as the restaurant's manager. One day, Dubai police's Combating E-crime Section summoned me for questioning. I was informed that A.R. complained against me and claimed that I slandered him on Facebook. I escorted a police patrol to my house from where they confiscated my laptop and took it for examination. We have an ongoing financial dispute between us at Dubai courts … I did libel him because he agonised me," said the defendant in his statement to prosecutors.

Records said the Leban-ese reported to the police that A.A. slandered him on Facebook. "He uploaded my photos and published slanderous and dishonourable comments underneath them on Facebook," the claimant told the police. The judge adjourned the case until A.A.'s lawyer presents his defence.

Psycho Effect

2009-11-16T16:41:00.003+04:00

A Crossed Boarder to Sharjah

2009-11-16T16:39:00.001+04:00

Julie's mind seemed wholly taken up with reminiscences of past in Sharjah that made a quick respond to me to publish her photos

U.A.E. for the mean time

2009-11-15T17:47:00.000+04:00

Miss World fashion show brings glamour to Abu Dhabi

Dubai Airshow opens

Photograph by: dubaiairshow.aero

The Good, The Bad and The Worst

2009-11-15T10:35:00.004+04:00

LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao staked his claim atop boxing's mythical throne as the pound-for-pound best, using his lightning hand speed to beat and batter Miguel Cotto into submission Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down once in the third round and again in the fourth, pummeled him repeatedly and easily lifted the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from the Puerto Rican with a 12th-round stoppage. The time was 55 seconds into the final round, as referee Kenny Bayless leaped between the fighters to save Cotto a more savage beating and ignominious end.

Other Popular Sports StoriesControversial decision in main event at UFC 105 LeBron James to switch jersey number next year More From Kevin IolePacquiao, Cotto prime to hit proving grounds Nov 13, 2009 Pacman-Cotto will be punch to gut for Arum Nov 11, 2009 Cotto came out strong and landed some hard punches, but Cotto couldn't deal with the speed. Pacquiao was landing three shots for every two Cotto did early. After the knockdown in the fourth, Cotto's offense was nonexistent as he spent most of the last two thirds of the fight fending off Pacquiao's onslaught.

"This is a very good news to all Feylipenose - We is being well known in the world of sports"

Cotto landed in single digits in power shots in every round from the fifth forward.

Pacquiao nearly had the stoppage after the 11th when Cotto trainer Joe Santiago walked onto the ring apron and waved his hand at Bayless.

It appeared he was going to stop the fight, but then Bayless and ringside physician James Game spoke and allowed it to continue. It was only extending the misery as Pacquiao poured it on in the 12th.

Santiago said Pacquiao hit harder and was stronger than expected. Cotto injured his left shoulder in the eighth.

Katok kayo amin!!

"And this is the bad news to all Feylipenose - Pacquiao will resume to replace Glorya Macapal Arinola in the future"

When the fight ended, the crowd began to chant, "We want Floyd!" It was a reference to Floyd Mayweather Jr., The other man with a claim to the top of the boxing pound-for-pound list.

Pacquiao, who has won championship belts in five divisions and beat the linear champion in two others, can no longer be knocked as a small man who was beating washed up fighters.

In Cotto, he took on an elite and powerful welterweight whose only loss came under suspicious circumstances to Antonio Margarito last year. There is suspicion that Margarito's gloves were loaded for that fight, though it has never been proven.

But Pacquiao proved he was able to not only take a welterweight punch, but rock him repeatedly. It was a magnificent performance and will create public demand for a fight with Mayweather.

"I want to see him fight Mayweather," Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said.

"The wost - He will replace all images in the Feylipin currency to hes very own futu"

News and photos courtesy of google (feylipeno media men not included)

Orphans and Widows

2009-11-14T12:33:00.001+04:00

Contributed by: Glo A. Tuazon
Email: Twilight_glo@yahoo.com

A month after the tragedy that devastated most parts of Benguet, the families that are most affected are scrounging around trying to rebuild their lives. After the sorrowful lamentations of having to lose family members and properties, the slow and painful process of starting again from scratch and the will to hang on to sanity is a fight against self itself.

Adriel Martin Ngoloban is only 46 years old but lately felt a lot older with the death of her husband. Her husband Siegfried is one of the two firemen who perished during the rescue operations in Buyagan, La Trinidad. With two young daughters to care for and feed and put to school, an endless barrage of worry dominates her thoughts these days. For the past years Adriel had stayed a plain housewife, a decision she and her husband had to contend with nine years ago after working abroad for a long time. She had travelled to Dubai, Singapore and Hongkong to work as do most who cannot find better employment here. Though she finished a degree in elementary education (BSED), work was scarce so she had to join the hordes of OFWs going in and out of the country seeking for greener pastures. In 2000 she came home for good to start life with Siegfried, and life was good until that fateful day in October when the relentless rains pushed the grounds to cascade, burying houses...and people.

Siegfried for Adriel is everything. A loving, hard-working man. Though life was hard, he never complained much and did his job the best way he could. Like his colleaugues at the La Trinidad Fire Station, their lives were something they have to trade in the line of duty if they have to. The code that they have to live with was something their families almost always dread everytime they got distress calls. At 47, he died saving people. At 47, he died a hero. His wife said he only had one important goal left unfinished, that is to have their kids finish their education in a private school.

Richard Balusdan is the other fireman who died with Siegfried on that fateful day. In fact they were cousins, and very good friends. Richard on the other hand had 4 kids, McKlein, Emelrey, Richard and Homer. McKlein is only 16 but now feeling the weight on his shoulders. Being the eldest, he now has to be both brother and father to his siblings. Overseer of the household like his good Dad was. Trauma is the first word that comes to our minds when tragedies like these happen, and suddenly takes away the most important people in our lives. To McKlein and his siblings that is inevitable, but life has to go on and they have to move with a will as ferocious as their father’s drive for life had been.

Education too is a foremost need they have to deal with now that the sole breadwinner of the family is gone. What little resources left the family now have to make do with and find ways to push on with their dreams.

Education and work for the orphans and the widows are silent screams wafting in the cold air today. Perhaps they will have it, perhaps not. But for those who have extraordinary ears to listen to the unheard voices, hands are reaching out to you with a plea.

Road Survey

2009-11-13T10:11:00.000+04:00

Last picture above is like from Loo, Buguias

Wanted Pussy

2009-11-12T09:54:00.000+04:00

Unlike some people who have experienced the loss of an animal, I did not believe, even for a moment, that I would never get another. I did know full well that there were just too many animals out there in need of homes for me to take what I have always regarded as the self-indulgent road of saying the heartbreak of the loss of an animal was too much ever to want to go through with it again.

To me, such an admission brought up the far more powerful admission that all the wonderful times you had with your animal were not worth the unhappiness at the end.

Please help in finding SPATCHEY!!. A plea to all Satwa Residence...

Olde Ye Times

2009-11-11T09:48:00.000+04:00

The Replication of Being Meee....

2009-11-10T11:57:00.000+04:00

What Haram?

2009-11-09T00:07:00.001+04:00

They say pornography is strictly banned in Arab countries. Web sites are blocked.

I say, what's next?

Arachnids

2009-11-08T16:16:00.000+04:00

My friend from Korea.. Arachnids mahilig ti arak ken inom..

Wanted Tenants

2009-11-07T08:21:00.001+04:00

A Proud Teypikal Felipeno

2009-11-06T07:15:00.000+04:00

Arabs are UNFAIR

2009-11-05T18:30:00.000+04:00

Judge me!!!

Capital L-Q

2009-11-05T18:10:00.003+04:00

Do you consider yourselves just like them? After that what was the result? Matinding ehheemm!! diba? aminin mo na..

The Bitch Rules & Regulations

2009-11-05T17:43:00.002+04:00

Please consider this in your plan when you go and take your last plunge before the real brr!!! month in Dubai.. Avoid violations "U" bitch!! I have already infringe one... try it too..

Yoshi's Adopted Friends

2009-11-04T22:39:00.005+04:00

Yoshi, however she pretty much enjoying her new fluffy friends..

Pachyderm News

2009-11-04T20:16:00.000+04:00

My Pachyderm friend reads the news about his Pachyderm friend Gloria Macapal Arroyo's false statement on the net.. Patulong tulong daw ehe!!

Educating Arabs

2009-11-03T18:11:00.003+04:00

Embraced by most Arabs as a source of their child's education.... hhhmm.. kaya pala ganun!!!..

Star Wars Parade - Nad Al Sheeba

2009-11-03T15:12:00.003+04:00

The Star Wars Dubai Edition - Come watch in Nad Al Sheeba
Photo courtesy of Gulfnews

Haloween Halidi

2009-11-02T15:19:00.000+04:00

No Posts - to respect the day of Saints & Souls

Haloween Halidi

2009-11-01T15:14:00.000+04:00

No Posts - to respect the day of Saints & Souls

It'z A Sayote Thing!!!

2009-11-01T10:12:00.002+04:00

Presyo ng sayote sa Dubai
1kg - 11.50 Dirhams => 138.00 Pesos
Ik pis (1pc.) - 3.50 Dirhams => 42.00 Pesos
Shuhada maskara!!!!

British Inglis

2009-11-01T09:59:00.002+04:00

I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to explain what we feel.
It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word. This is a mixture between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Archbishop Tutu.

Sister Elizabeth (Beth) In K-4

2009-10-31T14:18:00.007+04:00

Yoshikuzu was so deeply saddened and shocked to read the sms about the demise of one of our closest friend way back in K-4 Deira. We extend our deepest sympathy to her family at this sad and difficult time.
We all know that her death will be very hard for her family and love ones. We are thankful for the many wonderful moments that we spent together. She always managed a beautiful smile even when we're sure she was not feeling her best. She was a joy to be around especially when we arrived home from work. We will always remember our long conversations in the kitchen, the drinking times and also the creating of her Friendster account until uploading of her photos on the net. She had so many interesting and delightful stories and I enjoyed the time we had together.

May she rest in peace with the Lord God forever..
We pray for her...

All photos are from her Friendster only. Above last image is the last photo message that uploaded by her only.

See Her on Friendster - Please click here...

Dubai's Adopted Voltes V

2009-10-27T15:11:00.002+04:00

Apparently the Voltes V Ugly robot comes back to life and it is here in Dubai. Yoshikuzu is just quietly having a swimming lion and flying tiger robots at home in Felifines.. Leyts bolt innnnnn!!! tanat-tat-tat-tanattt!!! tat-tat!!!

The Fun of Magic (please don't mock the animals)

2009-10-26T13:10:00.002+04:00

On Salt Water Wishers & Ramesses II ???

2009-10-25T11:58:00.001+04:00

The Preditor & The Maker

2009-10-24T11:37:00.000+04:00

It's the iron monkey

Friday Night Life

2009-10-23T20:45:00.007+04:00

Yoshikuzu is not fond of his own delicacies "masyadong lokal nakakasawa" We finally chose our favourite butchered meat. tan tan tanaaan!! very foreign as a typical felipenos often choose.. And after half an hour waiting... hhhmmm... savoury patan and itik meat..... Yoshikuzu is soooo impressed that he even took click on his new housemeats... And for the finale before home home time.. We have to visit our missed ukay ukay all the way from our friend in low low places..

The One Flaw In Women

2009-10-22T13:00:00.002+04:00

By the time the Lord made woman, He was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, 'Why are you spending so much time on this one?' And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that t can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart-and she will do everything with only two hands.'

The angel was astounded at the requirements. 'Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish.'

'But I won't, ' the Lord protested. 'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days.'

The angel moved closer and touched the woman. 'But you have made her so soft, Lord.'

'She is soft,' the Lord agreed, ' but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.'

'Will she be able to think? ', asked the angel.

The Lord replied, 'Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.' The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. 'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.'

'That's not a leak,' the Lord corrected, ' that's a tear!' 'What's the tear for?' the angel asked.

The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.' The angel was impressed. 'You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing.'

And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don't take 'no' for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE TINY FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Sudanese cargo plane crashes

2009-10-21T23:50:00.001+04:00

The Sudanese registered plane veered sharply to the right after take-off and flipped before crashing.

A Boeing 707, aircraft, carrying general cargo, bound for Khartoum, crashed two minutes after take-off, which was at 3.29pm, from Sharjah International Airport, according to the Sharjah airport authorities.

Photos are courtesy of GN

Al Rigga

2009-10-21T00:51:00.003+04:00

It's Al Rigga well known as colony for trollop.. here they feast.. yoshikuzu say they are pest..

In the Cock-Pit

2009-10-20T19:08:00.002+04:00

The salary pilots make is another thing they like. They make more money than they know what to do with. This is because most people think that flying a plane is dangerous, except pilots don't because they know how easy it is. And with these ladies onboard with you, you will surely enjoy..

A Plea From My Hometown

2009-10-19T23:30:00.002+04:00

Urgent Call for Donations: Brgy. Pasdong, Atok, Benguet
Oct 15, 2009 at 1:51 PM

Yesterday, Oct. 14, Christy Aban, the president of IYAMAN an NGO based in La Trinidad came to the CGN office together with Mr. Imaizumi to report the case of Brgy. Pasdong in Atok, Benguet. Pasdong is a small farming community located 30 Km going down from the Halsema Highway. A big landslide occured in the area wherein 4 persons were killed, 1 is still missing and 8 were injured. These injured men were trying to save an old man and woman and were checking for the water level of the river. They brought the rescued villagers to the community church but unfortunately the men, the church, the clinic, the Brgy.Hall, the school, 10 houses and 6 hectares of rice field went under tons of mud and rocks when a whole mountain facing the village suddenly eroded. All the evacuees in the church were found dead and the injured men were brought to Sayangan Hospital on foot for first aid treatment and then brought to Km16 also on foot where vehicles were waiting for them to be transferred to Baguio General Hospital.

It took 2 days before the injured men reached BGH and they suffered massive blood loss, infection and are in great need for blood and financial help for medicines and food. Brgy. Pasdong remains isolated due to the large landslides along Km 16 to Km35 of Halsema Highway and are in much need of relief goods. According to one of the officials, they have only received 2 sacks of rice as of Oct. 13. The community has lost a big part of its farm lands and all roads leading to it are destroyed. There is no electricity in the area now so communication with the people is impossible.

We would like to ask for any help for the residents and the surviving victims from Pasdong, Atok specially food, medicines, and blood donations. We will be closely working with IYAMAN and bring any donations we have directly to the victims of Pasdong, Atok.

To reach Cordillera Green Network:

Address:
Cordillera Green Network
14D General Lim St.
Baguio City

Postal Address:
P.O. Box 540, Baguio City
2600, Philippines

Bank Account:
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Cordillera Green Network INC.
0573-3058-76 - Saving
Baguio-Session Branch

Email: cgn@skyinet.net
Tel. No.: 074-423-0839

A Professional Call Fom A Doctor

2009-10-18T22:10:00.002+04:00

A Dawg's Thought of You

2009-10-18T22:03:00.003+04:00

I talk to him when I'm lonesome like and I'm sure he understands. he looks at you so attentively. From his point of view, you is an elongated and abnormally cunning creature. His great pleasure is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.

Comfort Food In Uncomfortable Times

2009-10-18T01:22:00.003+04:00

One Friday talks on Typhoon's effect at the Philippines

Yoshikuzu's Lighter Side (A God's Plan)

2009-10-17T22:51:00.005+04:00

3^rd Issue
Actually to be fair I am not qualify to reveal this in my very own blog. The reason is that, I never contributed not even a cent or a counted caption to it from the start. But as a member and as a promising Christian to be I am claiming it as my pleasure as well as a challenge to include this in my article to tell the world that someone or I generally say a group of Christians are here in the part of the world where most of the non believers are living. We do exist here and it is not our decisions, unplanned by either one us or it is not intentional . All what I remember is that I came here to earn my living. No Idea or premonitions that I will be involving myself in a mission that God had planned to my life. Although I need to endure the consequences as a result, at present I am living my recurrent life. Now I am waiting on the final step in order for me to fully accept Jesus Christ as my savior and God of my life. Whatever the reason why I did this, Jesus is the answer.

Diwali

2009-10-17T11:10:00.014+04:00

Find this year's date in the multi faith calendar Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia, and is also the occasion for celebrations by Jains and Sikhs as well as Hindus.

The festival of Diwali extends over five days. Because of the lights, fireworks, and sweets involved, it's a great favorite with children. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance, although the actual legends that go with the festival are different in different parts of India.

The Times of India summed up the modern meaning of Diwali:

Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple - and some not so simple - joys of life. Times of India editorial

Diwali lanterns
Diwali UK

In Britain, as in India, the festival is a time for thoroughly spring-cleaning the home and for wearing new clothes and most importantly, decorating buildings with fancy lights. The British city of Leicester is noted for its Diwali celebrations. Diwali dates The date of Diwali is set by the Hindu calendar and so it varies in the Western calendar. It usually falls in October or November. Diwali is a New Year festival in the Vikrama calendar, where it falls on the night of the new moon in the month of Kartika. Business people regard it as a favorable day to start a new accounting year because of the festival's association with the goddess of wealth. Diwali is also used to celebrate a successful harvest. A row of lights The name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning row of lights. Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights' because houses, shops, and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called diyas. These lamps, which are traditionally fueled by mustard oil, are placed in rows in windows, doors and outside buildings to decorate them. The lamps are lit to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into people's homes. They also celebrate one of the Diwali legends, which tells of the return of Rama and Sita to Rama's kingdom after fourteen years of exile. In towns (and in Britain) electric lights are often used in Diwali displays. In India oil lamps are often floated across the river Ganges - it is regarded as a good omen if the lamp manages to get all the way across. Fireworks Fireworks are also a big part of the Diwali celebrations, although in recent years there has been a move against them because of noise and atmospheric pollution and the number of accidental deaths and injuries.

Goddesses
Two Goddesses in particular are celebrated at Diwali: Lakshmi and Kali.
Lakshmi

For many Indians the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. People start the new business year at Diwali, and some Hindus will say prayers to the goddess for a successful year. Some people build a small altar to the goddess and decorate it with money and with pictures of the rewards of wealth, such as cars and houses. Celebrating Lakshmi Hindus will leave the windows and doors of their houses open so that Lakshmi can come in. Rangoli are drawn on the floors - rangoli are patterns and the most popular subject is the lotus flower. This because images of Lakshmi traditionally show her either holding a lotus or sitting on one. There is much feasting and celebration and the Diwali lamps are regarded as making it easy for Lakshmi to find her way to favored houses.

Kali

The goddess Kali is celebrated at Diwali in the Bengali and Oriya areas of India. Gambling The downside of the festival is that many Indians see it as an occasion to gamble. This comes from a legend that the goddess Parvati played dice with her husband on this day and she said that anyone who gambled on Diwali night would do well.

Gifts

Like Christmas in the West, Diwali is very much a time for buying and exchanging gifts.

Traditional Indian sweets

Traditionally sweets and dried fruit were very common gifts to exchange, but the festival has become a time for serious shopping, leading to anxiety that commercialism is eroding the spiritual side of the festival. In most years shopkeepers expect sales to rise substantially in the weeks before the festival.
Diwali is also a traditional time to redecorate homes and buy new clothes.

Some Diwali legends

The night is black.
Kindle the lamp of love.
With thy life and devotion.

Two of the legends of Diwali show the triumph of Good over Evil, and tell of the destruction of two monsters that preyed on humanity.

The killing of the demon Narakaasura

The demon was the evil king of Pragjyotishpur, near Nepal. He ruled with a reign of terror, abducted 16,000 daughters of the gods and stole the earrings of Aditi, mother of the gods. The gods asked Lord Krishna for help, and after a mighty battle he killed the demon, freed the girls and recovered the earrings. The rescue of the 16,000 girls is said to be the origin of the story that Krishna had 16,000 wives. After his victory Krishna returned very early in the morning and was bathed and massaged with scented oils. Taking an early morning bath with oil is still a Diwali tradition.

The killing of the demon Ravana

Ravana, who had ten arms and ten heads, was the wicked king of the island of Sri Lanka, who kidnapped the wife of Rama. Rama had been in exile for 14 years because of a disagreement as to whether he or his brother should be the next king in Ayodhya. After a great battle Rama killed the demon and recovered his wife. Rama's return with his wife Sita to Ayodhya and his subsequent coronation as king is celebrated at Diwali.

When Rama and Sita first returned to Ayodhya it was a dark moonless night and they couldn't see where they were going. Their people put little lamps outside their houses so that the new king and queen could find their way, thus beginning the tradition of the festival of lights.

Source: Internet and actual interviews with my some devoted Hindu. Images: From google images.

Kabayan - The Mobile Preacher...

2009-10-16T09:02:00.005+04:00

Snap photo while Yoshikuzu is in the bus going to work somewhere in Hamarain Centre Deira. Me not sure if this male specie is preaching or executing the pinoy's diskarte technique to prey on its victims..

Dubai Bus Stop (Before & After Yoshikuzu's Existence)

2009-10-16T08:55:00.002+04:00

A Testimony from Butch (Japanese Version)

2009-10-16T08:27:00.003+04:00

私は頑強なカトリック教家族で育てられ、教区学校に私の全体の学校のキャリア通った。私は私の大学3年の終わりに私が17才だけだったときに高等学校を途中でやめ、空軍で入隊した(大きい間違い-私は大学に続くべきである)。私の最初勤務地は彼女がただ州に得たいと思ったように)私が私が会った最初の女の子に結婚したクラーク航空基地、フィリピンだった、(より大きい間違い。

私が育てられたカトリック教徒だったのに、私は何か他のもの、何かよりよく」、実質何かが「そこに、all the盛儀盛宴なかったことを知っていた。

私の妻および私の後で私達によってがノースカロライナに行ったそれから赤ん坊は来始めたフィリピンを去り。私はそれらで私のカトリック教の相続財産を与えたいと思った従って私は私達がローマを経験し、多分法皇に会うことができるイタリアに旅行に申し込んだ。

私はBrindisi、南イタリアのPugliaの近くでサンVitoのdeiのNormanniの空中撮影点に、割り当てられた。私は私が眠らせることができなかったし、子供の養樹園にそれらに祈ることを入らなかった1夜を覚えている。睡眠図で間、私のそれらによいよ作るように頼んだ神に… 私は単語のクリスチャンに私はクリスチャンではなかったことを私が意識したのでつまずいた! 私は基盤のカトリック教の牧師にすればいいのか何を、従って私を行った彼の助言を求めることを知らなかった。彼は私が基盤の特定宗派に属さない聖書の調査に出席することを提案した。私は法皇および司祭だけそれを理解できるので子供の多数の教師が聖書を読まないと言ったように教区学校にいつ通ったか覚えていた! 私は決してそれを信じなかったし、第8等級で現在の確認として聖書を頼むことを限りでは行った; 私は夏休暇の読書が聖書を言ったこと使った! 従って私が考えたのでこの提案に私をされた私の牧師が意気盛んである前に私は精神的に「着いた」! 私は1年間この聖書の調査に行き、アドリア海のバプティスト教会に出席した他の関係者の何人か彼らのサービスに私、私を興味を起こさせられなかった誘ったが。

私は私の妻および子供との旅行の一部としてクリスマス1986年のローマそしてバチカンを、見るチャンスを得た。法王ヨハネパウロ二世が付いている出席された固まり、また私達は視力を見た、私の宗教歩行のこの表面上は小尖塔は満足しなかったが、従って私は勧誘をと、水曜日の夕方のアドリア海のバプティスト教会に行った、1987年1月14日。そこに私は牧師Bryan Stensaasに会った。私は彼がその夜を説教したが、サービスの後で私と話すことを尋ねたもの覚えていない。彼は私に彼の聖書を単に示し、言った: 「乱暴者は、この聖書神の単語である; それを信じるか。「私は肯定で答えた。

彼は次に私にちょうど1つの詩、ジョン14:6 「彼にイエス・キリストのsaithを、私である方法、真実および生命示した: 父に、しかし私による人のcometh無し。「彼は言った、「乱暴者、信じるそれをか」。私は再度賛成した。牧師Stensaasはそれから言った、「の乱暴者良い、私は紙切れで」。「天に得るかもしれない」ことをカトリック教徒が言う7つの秘跡を書いてほしい私はそれらをおろす書いた。私が書かれていて彼を持っていたもの彼が見たときに言った、「乱暴者は、それ印象的である。多くのカトリック教徒は秘跡を示すことができない! 聖書が神の単語であることを信じることをわかりました、今言った。詩に照し合わせて私達ちょうど、イエス・キリストは言った彼自身および幼児洗礼を読んだか。「私は衝撃を与えられた! 私は、NO言わなかった。彼は次に、「の乱暴者、ここに私との滞在良い言った: イエス・キリストは彼自身および聖餐を言ったか。「私は再度断った。「彼自身および告白を言うためにしたイエス・キリストをか」。いいえ。「彼自身および確認を言うためにしたイエス・キリストをか」。

私はイエス・キリストは既に負債を支払ってしまったことを意識していない私は私の救助のために働いていたことを私が知っていたのでリストを終えることを許可した彼を! 私がしなければならなかったすべては!キリストのこの終了する仕事を信頼することだった! 私は地獄に…自分自身の信頼によってすべてのそれらの無駄にされた年行って、神は方法を提供した!

その夜私はキリストの終了する仕事に私の信頼を置いた! それは水曜日、1987年1月14日であり、私はその後見なかった! 私は神があることができないので私が死ぬとき私が天に行っていることを認知している!

私達がイタリアからのPCS'd DC区域に(動く)私達行った後; 次にそこにからへの韓国と日本。

14年間の私のフィリピンの妻への結婚後に彼女は有しなかったし、離婚をことを彼女がクリスチャンになることの興味をほしいと思ったと彼女に本当の意思を知られ、言われてに。彼女はとにかく、それに私子供があることができることを彼女はアメリカの市民権だけがほしいと思ったことを言い。

1995年に私は単一の父として日本と信頼のバプテストに来た。私は主で待ち、彼は1997年にセイコーのGodlyキリスト教の妻を私に与えた; 彼女は日本語であり、また夫の神の意志で待っていた。ともに私達は私の最初結婚からの私の子供を育てた。私達の子供は今すべての成人彼らの生命であり、が州に住んでいる、セイコーを彼らのお母さんと考慮する。私達の娘Arleneは教会の信者とここに結婚し、それらは今忠実にネブラスカの主に役立っている。私達の息子ケネディはPCC (Pensacolaのキリスト教の学校)からの卒業生、南テキサスのキリスト教の学校の教師である。神は決してセイコーおよび私を私達の自身の物理子与えなかったが、私達は彼の完全な意志の中心にありたいと思う。 2000セイコーではお父さんは大きい打撃に苦しみ、今私達は彼を世話している。セイコーはピアニストと同様、信頼のバプテストの秘書として役立っている、彼に役立つために従って私達は日本にとどまって喜んでである! 今のところ14年!!

私の親はまだ(彼らの意見で)私の去るカトリック教義と気分を害するが、神は関係がほしいと思うことを、ない宗教理解しない。救助のために祈りなさい。神が信頼でセイコーそして私をここに使用し続けることまたは彼は私達がほしいと思うところはどこでもまた祈りなさい; それらが主に忠義を守ることまた私達の子供Arleneおよびケネディのために祈りなさい

A Testimony from Butch (Romaji Version)

2009-10-16T08:24:00.002+04:00

Watashi wa gankyou na katorikku kyou kazoku de sodaterare, kyouku gakkou ni watashi no zentai no gakkou no kyaria kayotta. Watashi wa watashi no daigaku 3 nen no owari ni watashi ga 17 sai dake datta toki ni koutou gakkou wo tochuu de yame , kuugun de nyuutai shita ( ookii machigai - watashi wa daigaku ni tsuduku beki de aru ) . Watashi no saisho kinmuchi wa kanojo ga tada shuu ni e taito omotta youni ) watashi ga watashi ga atta saisho no onnanoko ni kekkon shita kura^ku koukuu kichi , firipin datta , ( yori ookii machigai.

Watashi ga sodaterareta katorikku kyouto data no ni , watashi wa nanika hoka no mono , nanika yori yoku ), jisshitsu nanika ga ( soko ni , zenbu jougi jou utage na katta koto wo shitte ita .

Watashi no tsuma oyobi watashi no ato de watashitachi ni yotte ga no^sukaroraina ni itta sorekara akanbou wa rai hajimeta firipin wo sari. watashi wa sorera de watashi no katorikku kyou no souzokuzai san wo ata e taito omotta shitagatte watashi wa watashitachi ga Ro^ma wo keiken shi , tabun houou ni au koto ga dekiru Itaria ni ryokou ni moushikon da.

Watashi wa Brindisi, minami Itaria no Puglia no chikaku de San Vito no dei no Normanni no kuuchuusatsuei ten ni, wariaterareta. Watashi wa watashi ga nemuraseru koto ga dekinakatta shi, kodomo no youki sono ni sorera ni inoru koto wo iranakatta 1 yoru wo oboeteiru. Suiminzu de kan , watashi no sorera ni yoi yo tsukuru youni tanon da Kami ni ... watashi wa tango no kurisuchan ni watashi wa kurisuchan de wa nakatta koto wo watashi ga ishiki shita no de tsuma zuita ! watashi wa kiban no katorikku kyou no bokushi ni sureba iinoka nani wo , shitagatte watashi wo ittaka no jogen wo motomeruko to wo shiranakatta . Kare wa watashi ga kiban no tokutei shuu wa ni zokusa nai seisho no chousa ni shusseki suru koto wo teian shita. Watashi wa houou oyobi shisai dake sore wo rikai dekiru no de kodomo no tasuu no kyou shi ga seisho wo yomanai to itsutta youni kyouku gakkou ni itsu ka yotta ka oboeteita! watashi wa kesshite sore wo shinji nakatta shi , dai 8 toukyuu de genzai no kakunin toshite seisho wo tanomu koto wo kagiri dewa itta ; watashi wa natsu kyuuka no dokusho ga seisho wo itsutta koto tsukatta ! shitagatte watashi ga kangaeta no de kono teian ni watashi wo sareta watashi no bokushi ga ikisakan de aru mae ni watashi wa seishinteki ni ( tsuita ) ! watashi wa 1 nen kan kono seisho no chousa ni iki , Adoria umi no baputeisuto kyoukai ni shusseki shita hoka no kankeisha no nannin ka karera no sa^bisu ni watashi , watashi wo kyoumi wo okosaserare nakatta sasotta ga.

Watashi wa watashi no tsuma oyobi kodomo to no ryokou no ichibu toshite kurisumasu 1986 nen no ro^ma soshite bachikan wo, miru chansu wo eta. houou yohane pauro nisei ga tsuiteiru shusseki sareta katamari , mata watashitachi wa shiryoku wo mita , watashi no shuukyou hokou no kono hyoumenjou wa shousentou wa manzoku shinakatta ga , shitagatte watashi wa kanyuu wo to , suiyoubi no yuugata no Adoria umi no baputeisuto kyoukai ni itta , 1987 nen 1 gatsu 14 nichi . Soko ni watashi wa bokushi Bryan Stensaas ni atta. Watashi wa kare ga sono yoru wo sekkyou shitaga, sa^bisu no atode watashi to hanasu koto wo tazuneta mono oboeteinai. Kare wa watashi ni kanoseisho wo tan ni shimeshi , itsutta : ( ranboumono wa , kono seisho Kami no tango de aru ; sore wo shinji ruka .( watashi wa koutei de kotaeta.

Kare wa tsugi ni watashi ni choudo 1 tsuno shi , john 14:6 ( kare ni Iesu . Kirisuto no hanashi wo , watashi de aru houhou , shinjitsu oyobi seimei shimeshita : chichi ni , shikashi watashi ni yoru nin no kitta nashi .( kare wa itsutta ,( ranboumono , shinji rusorewoka ). watashi wa saido sansei shita.

Bokushi Stensaas wa sorekara itsutta ,( no ranboumono yoi , watashi ha Kami kire de ).( ten ni erukamo shirenai ) koto wo katorikku kyouto ga iu 7 tsuno hi ato wo kaite hoshii watashi wa sorera wo orosu kaita . Watashi ga kakarete ite kare wo motte ita mono kare ga mita toki ni itsutta, (ranboumono wa, sore in shouteki de aru. Ooku no katorikku kyouto wa hi ato wo shimesu koto ga dekinai! Seisho ga Kami no tango de aru koto wo shinji ruko to wo wakarimashita, ima itsutta. Shi ni shou shiawasete watashitachi choudo, Iesu. Kirisuto ha itsutta kare jishin oyobi youji senrei wo yonda ka .( watashi ha shougeki wo ata e rareta ! watashi wa , no iwa nakatta . kare wa tsugi ni ,( no ranboumono , koko ni watashi to no taizai yoi itsutta : Iesu . Kirisuto wa kare jishin oyobi seisan wo itsutta ka. (Watashi wa saidotatta. (Kare jishin oyobi kokuhaku wo iu tameni shita Iesu. Kirisuto wo ka). Iie. (Kare jishin oyobi kakunin wo iu tameni shita Iesu. Kirisuto wo ka.

Watashi wa Iesu. Kirisuto wa sude ni fusai wo shiharatte shimatta koto wo ishiki shiteinai watashi wa watashi no kyuujo no tameni hataraite ita koto wo watashi ga shitte ita no de risuto wo oeru koto wo kyoka shita kare wo ! Watashi ga shinakereba naranakatta subete wa ! Kirisuto no kono shuuryou suru shigoto wo shinrai suru koto datta! Watashi wa jigoku ni ... jibun jishin no shinrai ni yotte subete no sorera no muda ni sareta nen itte, Kami wa houhou wo teikyou shita!

Sono yoru watashi wa Kirisuto no shuuryou suru shigoto ni watashi no shinrai wo oita! sore wa suiyoubi , 1987 nen 1 gatsu 14 nichi de ari , watashi wa sono kouken nakatta ! Watashi ha Kami ga aru koto ga dekinai no de watashi ga shinu toki watashi ga ten ni itte iru koto wo ninchi shiteiru! Watashitachi ga Itaria kara no pcs'd dc kuiki ni (ugoku) watashitachi itta nochi; tsugi ni soko ni kara heno kankoku to Nippon.

14 nen kan no watashi no Firipin no tsuma heno kekkongo ni kanojo wa yuushi nakatta shi , rikon wo koto wo kanojo ga kurisuchan ni narukoto no kyoumi wo hoshii to omotta to kanojo ni hontou no ishi wo shirare , iwarete ni . Kanojo wa tonikaku, sore ni watashi kodomo ga aru koto ga dekiru koto wo kanojo wa America no shiminken dake ga hoshii to omotta koto wo ii.

1995 nen ni watashi wa tan’ itsu no chichi toshite Nippon to shinrai no baputeisuto ni kita. Watashi wa shude machi , kare wa 1997 nen ni Seiko^ no godly Kirisuto kyou no tsuma wo watashi ni ataeta ; kanojo ha nihongo de ari , mata otto no Kami no ishi de matte ita . Tomoni watashitachi wa watashi no saisho kekkon kara no watashi no kodomo wo sodateta. Watashitachi no kodomo wa ima subete no seijin karera no seimei de ari, ga shuu ni sun de iru, Seiko^ wo karera no okaasan to kouryo suru. Watashitachi no musume Arlene wa kyoukai no shinja to koko ni kekkon shi, sorera wa ima chuujitsu ni Nebraska no omo ni yakutatte iru. Watashitachi no musuko Kenedei wa pcc (Pensacola no Kirisuto kyou no gakkou) kara no sotsugyousei, minami tekisasu no Kirisuto kyou no gakkou no kyou shi de aru.

Kami wa kesshite Seiko^ oyobi watashi wo watashitachi no jishin no butsuriko ata e nakatta ga, watashitachi wa kanokanzen na ishi no chuushin ni ari taito omo. 2000 Seiko^ de wa otousan wa ookii dageki ni kurushi mi, ima watashitachi wa kare wo sewa shiteiru. Seiko^ wa pianisuto to douyou, shinrai no baputeisuto no hisho toshite yakutatte iru, kare ni yakudatsu tameni shitagatte watashitachi wa Nippon ni todomatte yorokonde de aru! Ima no tokoro 14 nen!!

Watashi no oya Hamada (karera no iken de) watashi no saru katorikku kyougi to kibun wo gaisuru ga, Kami wa kankei ga hoshii to omo koto wo, nai shuukyou rikai shinai. Kyuujo no tameni inori nasai. Kami ga shinrai de Seiko^ soshite watashi wo koko ni shiyoushi tsudukeru koto mata wa kare wa watashitachi ga hoshii to omo tokoro wa doko demo mata inori nasai; sorera ga omonichuugi wo mamoru koto mata watashitachi no kodomo Arlene oyobi kenedei no tameni inori nasai

A Testimony from Butch (English Version)

2009-10-16T08:19:00.002+04:00

I was raised in a staunch Catholic family and attended parochial school my entire scholastic career. I dropped out of high school at the end of my junior year and enlisted in the Air Force when I was only 17 (big mistake - I should have gone on to college). My first duty station was Clark Air Base, Philippines, where I got married to the first girl I met (an even bigger mistake as she only wanted to get to the States).

Even though I was raised Catholic, I knew there was something else, something better, something 'real' out there, not all the pomp and circumstance.

After my wife and I left the Philippines we went to North Carolina and then the babies started coming. I wanted to impart on them my Catholic heritage, so I signed up for a tour to Italy where we could experience Rome and possibly meet the pope.

I got assigned to San Vito dei Normanni Air Station near Brindisi, Puglia, in southern Italy. I remember one night I couldn't sleep and went into the kids' nursery to pray over them. While looking down on their sleeping figures I asked God to make them good ... I stumbled over the word Christian because I realized that I was NOT a Christian! I didn't know what to do, so I went to the Catholic chaplain on base to ask his advice. He suggested I attend a non-denominational Bible study on base. I remembered when I attended parochial schools as a child numerous teachers said NOT to read the Bible because only the pope and priests can understand it! I never believed that and even went so far as to ask for a Bible as a confirmation present in the 8th grade; I even spent that summer vacation reading said Bible! So when my chaplain made this suggestion I was elated because I thought I had 'arrived' spiritually! I went to this Bible study for a year and some of the other participants who attended Adriatic Baptist Church invited me to their services, but I wasn't interested.

I got the chance to see Rome and the Vatican on Christmas Day, 1986, as part of a tour with my wife and children. We saw the sights as well as attended mass with Pope John Paul II, but this seemingly pinnacle of my religious walk didn't satisfy, so I took up the invite and went to Adriatic Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 14, 1987. There I met Pastor Bryan Stensaas. I don't remember what he preached that night, but after the service he asked to talk with me. He showed me his Bible and simply said: 'Butch, this Bible is God's Word; do you believe it?' I answered in the affirmative.

He next showed me just one verse, John 14:6 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' He said, 'Butch, do you believe that?' I again said yes.

Pastor Stensaas then said, 'Okay, Butch, I want you to write down on a piece of paper the seven sacraments that the Catholics say 'might' get you into Heaven.' I wrote them down. When he saw what I had written he said, 'Butch, that's impressive. A lot of Catholics cannot name the sacraments! Okay, now you said you believe the Bible is God's Word. In light of the verse we just read, did Jesus say Himself AND infant baptism?' I was shocked! I said, no. He next said, 'Okay, Butch, stay with me here: did Jesus say Himself AND communion?' I again said no. 'Did Jesus say Himself AND confession?' No. 'Did Jesus say Himself AND confirmation?'

I didn't even let him finish the list because I knew that I was working for my salvation not realizing that Jesus had already paid the debt! All I had to do was trust this finished work of Christ!! I was going to hell by trusting in myself...all those wasted years, and God had provided a way!

That night I placed my trust in the finished work of Christ! That was Wednesday, January 14, 1987, and I haven't looked back since! I know I'm going to Heaven when I die because God cannot lie!

After we PCS'd (moved) from Italy we went to the DC area; from there to Korea and then on to Japan. After 14 years of marriage to my Filipino wife she made her true intents known and said that she had no interest in becoming a Christian and wanted a divorce. She said she only wanted American citizenship, anyway, and that I could have the kids.

In 1995 I came to Japan and to Faith Baptist as a single father. I waited on the Lord and He provided me with a Godly Christian wife in Seiko in 1997; she's Japanese and she was also waiting on God's will in a husband. Together we raised my children from my first marriage. Our kids are all grown-up now and living their lives back in the States, but they consider Seiko their mom. Our daughter Arlene married a church member here and they're now faithfully serving the Lord in Nebraska. Our son Kennedy is a graduate from PCC (Pensacola Christian School) and is a teacher at a Christian school in south Texas.

God never gave Seiko and me our own physical children, but we want to be in the center of His perfect will. In 2000 Seiko's dad suffered a massive stroke, and now we're taking care of him. Seiko is serving as the secretary of Faith Baptist as well as the pianist, so we're willing to stay in Japan to serve Him! 14 years so far!!

My parents are still upset with (in their opinion) my leaving Catholicism, but they don't understand that God wants a RELATIONSHIP, not RELIGION. Pray for their salvation. Pray also that God continues to use Seiko and I here at Faith or wherever He wants us; also pray for our children Arlene and Kennedy that they'll remain faithful to the Lord.

- Royal A. "Butch" LeFave, Member FBC

Midget - The misshapen man

2009-10-15T23:58:00.002+04:00

Woman Sold Twice, Pushed into Flesh Trade

2009-10-15T23:47:00.002+04:00

A woman was allegedly lured to the UAE on a job offer, sold twice and forced into prostitution by a racket run by five arrested persons and two absconding women, the Court of First Instance heard on Thursday.

The defendants in custody — two Uzbek women (visitors), two Afghan men (unemployed) and a Pakistani watchman — pleaded not guilty in the court to the charges of human trafficking and running a brothel.

The two women are also accused of indulging in prostitution while one Afghan and the Pakistani are also accused of raping the complainant.

A Kyrgyz woman and another woman whose nationality is not known have absconded and are being tried in absentia on human trafficking charge.

One of them is accused of selling the Kyrgyz woman to the other absconder, who allegedly sold the complainant to one of the arrested defendants.

According to the case, the 22-year-old Kyrgyz woman was offered the job of a pastry chef with $700 monthly salary by a compatriot woman, a visit visa, flight ticket and accommodation in Dubai, according to her statement to the police. When she arrived in Dubai on April 28, a woman other than the one who offered her the job was waiting for her. When she enquired about her woman acquaintance, she was told that she had sold her for $32,000.

“The woman (whose nationality is not known) who picked me up from the airport told me that I belonged to her from then and that I should settle her the money which she had paid to buy me. I could go back to my country only then,” she told the police.

The woman who bought her told her that she had to work as a prostitute to pay her dues. “When I said no, she beat me up,” the Kyrgyz said.

“I was forced to have sex with 10 men the first day. They beat me on provocation from that woman when I refused to have sex with them.”

The Kyrgyz alleged that the woman told the men to tame her. One of the Afghan men threatened her with a knife which he placed on her neck.

“He threatened he would kill me. He said the woman had paid lots of money on me and I should work in prostitution to pay her back,” she said, claiming that the same man raped her.

The other Afghan defendant burned her hands with cigarettes and threatened her that she would die if she did not do as they said. Even the women members of the racket used to assault her if she resisted.

One day, she was told that the Pakistani defendant would be her boyfriend. “That man said that he had paid Dh500 to have sex with me. He raped me which caused bleeding. He raped me twice even after I bled,” the complainant said.

On May 2, the ‘boyfriend’ put the complainant in a cab and paid the driver asking him to drive her to his place. As the driver saw assault marks on her face and upon her request for help, he took her to the Kyrgyz consulate. From there, she was brought to the Naif police station.

Air Hostess Raped by Man Who Gave Lift from Nightclub

2009-10-15T23:44:00.001+04:00

The Dubai Police has launched a hunt for an unidentified person who is accused of raping a 23-year-old air hostess. The British woman told police officers that on Tuesday night, she and her 24-year-old sister went to a nightclub in Bur Dubai.

Around 3am, she came out looking for a cab and the suspect offered to drop her home. The man spoke very little English.

She got inside the car and asked him to drop her in Garhoud. However, the suspect drove in some other direction. When she tried to get out of the car, he locked the doors.

He took her to a sandy area on the outskirts and raped her. He left her there and drove away.

The woman called her sister who informed the police. The police took her to a hospital where forensic tests were conducted.

Rape Suspected in Maid’s Death

2009-10-15T23:39:00.001+04:00

A Sri Lankan housemaid is believed to have been raped to death in Fujairah on Thursday morning.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official at the Directorate-General of Fujairah Police said the tip-off came from a UAE national who said a maid under his sponsorship had died under suspicious circumstances.

Forensic findings, the source said, suggested she had been raped in her Murbeh locality house early in the morning.

Search is on for unidentified perpetrators, the source added.

Food for Tots

2009-10-15T23:27:00.002+04:00

Mmmmmm.. now I know how parrots feels when they feels hooot..

UAE’s First Frozen-egg Baby Born in Sharjah

2009-10-15T22:58:00.003+04:00

From: Asma Ali Zain

DUBAI —The first baby to be born from a frozen-egg technique in the UAE and Gulf region was recently delivered at Al Qassimi hospital, Sharjah.

The baby boy is healthy and weighs 3.30kg.

His Emirati mother, 40, had been undergoing infertility treatment at the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre for some time before doctors used the new technique to help deliver her first child.

This delivery gives a huge boost to the frozen-egg technique which was previously known to have a very poor success rate the world over.

“This is a huge development for us,” said Dr Samer Radi, Senior Embryologist and head of the section at Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre.

He explained that the woman’s eggs were frozen a few months before the actual procedure took place. “Until now, the cryo (egg) survival rate has been low due to the freezing and thawing process but with the new technique we have achieved a near 100 per cent success,” said Dr Radi.

“Three other women who used this technique are pregnant and will be delivering their babies in the next few months,” he added.

Dr Radi said that until recently the frozen-egg technique only gave a two per cent success rate per oocyte (female germ cell) and this dissuaded doctors from around the world to use this form of treatment. Instead, doctors substituted this technique with freezing embryos which was known to have a higher success rate.

“However, the problem with the frozen embryo technique was that it could not be used in certain cases, such as for unmarried females undergoing chemotherapy or even due to religious or legal issues,” said Dr Radi.

He said all this changed with the recent development in the frozen-egg technique which drastically improved the success rate and gives hope to many couples dealing with infertility. Dr Radi believes that the technique may replace the earlier process of freezing embryos.

A Letter From Einstein

2009-10-14T13:13:00.002+04:00

Translated Transcript
Princeton, 3. 1. 1954

Dear Mr Gutkind,

Inspired by Brouwer’s repeated suggestion, I read a great deal in your book, and thank you very much for lending it to me ... With regard to the factual attitude to life and to the human community we have a great deal in common. Your personal ideal with its striving for freedom from ego-oriented desires, for making life beautiful and noble, with an emphasis on the purely human element ... unites us as having an “American Attitude.”

Still, without Brouwer’s suggestion I would never have gotten myself to engage intensively with your book because it is written in a language inaccessible to me. The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still purely primitive, legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this. ... For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstition. And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong ... have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything “chosen” about them.

In general I find it painful that you claim a privileged position and try to defend it by two walls of pride, an external one as a man and an internal one as a Jew. As a man you claim, so to speak, a dispensation from causality otherwise accepted, as a Jew of monotheism. But a limited causality is no longer a causality at all, as our wonderful Spinoza recognized with all incision...

Now that I have quite openly stated our differences in intellectual convictions it is still clear to me that we are quite close to each other in essential things, i.e. in our evaluation of human behavior ... I think that we would understand each other quite well if we talked about concrete things.

With friendly thanks and best wishes,

Yours,

A. Einstein

FYI Ladies

2009-10-10T20:32:00.003+04:00

When purchasing a gift to yoshikuzu please buy only the one that is shown below.. and don't forget the "puki ring" hano kaya yon?

Driver behaviour - please discipline your children before it's too late

2009-10-10T19:58:00.006+04:00

Early fresh Saturday morning on my way back to office from post as I jumped off from the bus that took me almost 1 hour to reach back I witness another one usual event that involved a teenage ugly ambitious Arab man driving a Lexus 4x4 car struck and almost killed a young beautiful black Indian lady.Unluckily yoshikuzu is no press so those gentle Dubai police men did not allowed me to take even a single click from my dearest T650 too closed on the victim. But what they don't know is that yoshikuzu is no typical feylipino that he is an Ygorotte so I manage to sneak a click from a far distance.
kleyk the image for closer view

This made me cry

2009-10-10T11:35:00.003+04:00

150 die in Benguet slide
Baby’s body in sack moves mayor to cry

By Delmar Cariño, Vincent Cabreza, Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 00:26:00 10/10/2009

Filed Under: Landslide, Disasters (general)

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Close this LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Gazing at a mountainside that had collapsed, La Trinidad Mayor Artemio Galwan was moved to tears on seeing the ruins of houses swamped by mud.

Then he asked what was inside the sack being carried by a trolley. He was told it contained the body of a baby. It was killed in the landslide that smashed into the community of Little Kibungan.

The mayor’s eyes moistened, he bowed his head and uttered a prayer. On a normal day, the trolley would have been carrying vegetables from highland farms.

Galwan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday more than 20 houses were swept away by the mudslides that occurred on Thursday night, and he feared around 150 people might have been buried in the avalanche that hit his town.

“Kakaasi da piman [They are pitiful],” Galwan, who was supervising rescue operations, said as the first batch of bodies were brought in from the other side of the mountain.

Entire village gone

“I really feel sad. It’s an entire village that was washed out,” he said.

Rescuers yesterday struggled through mud and pounding rain to clear mountain roads and retrieve scores of people dead from the landslides that buried villages and cut off towns in the rain-soaked Northern Luzon.

Reports from the regional Office of Civil Defense and the Cordillera police placed the death toll at 122. Estimates of the number of missing ran as high as 70.

The latest calamity brought the death toll to more than 450 from the Philippines’ worst flooding in 40 years after back-to-back storms started pounding Luzon, including Metro Manila, on September 26.

Rescuers buried

The Associated Press, quoting provincial officials, said more than 160 people were killed in the landslides in Benguet and Mountain Province.

The fatalities included 120 in Benguet, according to Governor Nestor Fongwan, the AP said. It said another 23 died in Mountain Province, according to Governor Max Dalog. Twenty-five 25 people died in Baguio.

Agence France-Presse put the death toll from the landslides at 181.

In Sitio (sub-village) Buyagan in Barangay (village)Poblacion, Johnny Dulnuan was trapped under the rubble of his house on Thursday but managed to send a message to his brother, Edward, an engineer.

The area was pitch black because power had been cut off and rains were pouring down. Edward managed to round up volunteers, including a local fireman, but they themselves were buried as more slides occurred.

Johnny survived. He was pulled out of the ruins by other volunteers. But he lost his wife and his child was missing.

Another team searched for Johnny’s brother Edward. They found a baseball cap near the rubble -- then they saw Edward and two other volunteers buried near the cap.

One of the bodies belonged to the La Trinidad fireman.
But there was a bright side to the tragic tales.

At 10:30 a.m. yesterday, rescue volunteers pulled out alive four members of a family -- among them a 4-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy -- who were pinned by mudslides in Cresencia Village along Bokawkan Road.

Rescued with the two children were a teenager and their grandmother, Elvira Ventura.

One of the volunteers said that earlier, he heard Ventura’s weak voice coming from beneath the rubble.

“We had no time to find out who they were at first. We wrapped them in blankets and sent them straight to the hospital,” the volunteer said.

Landslides elsewhere

Reports gathered by the Philippine Daily Inquirer from various disaster response agencies, local officials and rescue workers placed the number of fatalities initially at 92. The number of missing and feared dead in Benguet and Mountain Province was more than 70.

Benguet suffered the most fatalities, with 62 people buried from separate landslides that occurred at around 10 p.m. Thursday.

At least 55 residents of the Little Kibungan community were killed. More than 40 others were missing.

Seven people were buried in the rubble of four houses in Barangay Buyagan.

A massive landslide also hit Tadian town in Mountain Province on Thursday night, killing five people. OCD reports said 32 others were missing.

Even mountainside communities around Baguio City were not spared as at least seven landslides occurred from 8:30 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. yesterday, claiming the lives of 25 people.

Earlier Thursday, landslides buried nine people, two of them children, in Tublay and Mankayan towns, also in Benguet.

Higher death toll

Superintendent Elmer Soria, deputy chief for operations of the Cordillera police, said the death toll could increase as reports of new landslides in Benguet and Mountain Province continued to come in.

Soria said it was difficult to gather reports from Mountain Province because of power blackouts and because roads had been cut.

Mayor Galwan said the landslide was the worst disaster to hit this capital town. He said the area in Puguis hit by the landslide was a gulley, whose slopes were dotted by houses.

Cars and other vehicles were buried. Roofs of houses jutted out of the mud. A concrete house was swept away by cascading dirt and rocks.

John Danglipen, a village councilor in Puguis, said around 40 people might still be buried in the area.

Only roofs visible

“Much as we wanted to help, we could not do anything. Flashlights were no match to the darkness and we could not determine the magnitude of the slide,” he said.

La Trinidad Councilor Francis Lee said residents heard people screaming at past 10 p.m. but they couldn’t come to their rescue owing to the strong rains and the power blackout.

Elsewhere, three people died in another landslide that hit Dominican Hill on Thursday night.

As of noon yesterday, the city public information office reported that 10 evacuation sites in the city were sheltering 260 families or 1,329 people.

Floods around the City Camp Lagoon rose to about 20 feet. Only rooftops could be seen.

Aside from the City Camp Lagoon, other flood and landslide-prone communities being monitored in Baguio were Marville Subdivision, Lourdes Extension, Palma Street, Queen of Peace, Irisan, Mirador and M. Roxas.

Blocked by trash

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said the government built a tunnel system that was supposed to discharge lagoon water through the Crystal Cave, but the tunnel was clogged by trash.

The four major routes to Baguio City—Kennon Road, Marcos Highway, Naguilian Road and Ambuklao Road (Baguio-Nueva Vizcaya Road) -- were rendered impassable by landslides.

In Ifugao, landslides struck rice terraces and hillside communities in the towns of Banaue, Hingyon, Hungduan, Tinoc and Mayoyao, said Gov. Teodoro Baguilat Jr.

He said Ifugao had a lone typhoon-related fatality -- a man who drowned in Aguinaldo town.

Olive Luces, Office of Civil Defense regional director, said the Department of Public Works and Highways would prioritize the clearing operations of Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road. Reports from EV Espiritu, Gobleth Moulic and Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Landslides kill 181 in north Philippines

2009-10-10T10:51:00.006+04:00

A series of landslides triggered by heavy rains killed at least 181 people in mountainous provinces of the northern Philippines, officials said on Friday.

The number of confirmed deaths, across three provinces in the Cordillera region, rose sharply from 91 dead listed earlier in the day by police.

A total of 120 people were confirmed dead in Benguet province alone as landslides struck on Thursday night and Friday morning in five towns, said provincial governor Nestor Fongwan.

In the mountain resort city of Baguio, 38 people were killed and one person was missing as landslides buried houses in different parts of the city, said city Mayor Reynaldo Bautista.

A landslide also left 23 dead in Mountain Province with 20 dead in one town alone, said provincial governor Maximo Dalog.

The northern Philippines has been pounded by heavy rains since Typhoon Parma hit the country on Saturday.

Parma weakened into a tropical depression but has lingered over the north of the Philippines' main island of Luzon.

Yoshikuzu on Sex Education

2009-10-09T22:58:00.004+04:00

Size matters?

To the average man, his penis is, consciously or unconsciously, one of the most important things in the whole world. At an early age he discovers it and immediately becomes fascinated by it.

But then a note of uncertainty enters his mind: 'Isn't mine rather small?' Look at Dad's, look at big brother's, look at those in the men's changing room - and he asks himself if he will be as big as that.

see below

Yoshikuzu for Pwesident..

2009-10-09T22:12:00.004+04:00

It's shameful but true - the average person, (igorots) or others, knows very little about yoshikuzu's existence.

Masama tuloy ang tingin ng tito kong nakakalbo..

Dear Puberty, here is your Reccession Solution

2009-10-09T21:20:00.005+04:00

But according to Gillette expert Dr. Kristina Vanoosthuyse, there's nothing else on any market that has quite as much science behind it... It say here that puberty can shave on your 2 dirhams only...