Coincidence?

If I follow what the letter has led me to believe, it seems this is not a coincidence but fate. However, the mind only sees what it wants to see. So far, the story has been gathering numbers 9, 11, 254, etc. Okay, what about those numbers that did not match? The numbers that matched make up only a small percentage of the total numbers in question. Maybe there really was a message amidst the chaos.

The 'Q33 NY' part, that I cannot explain. Only an experiment will prove this. Paint 'Q33 NY' on your car, house, neighbor's walls -- and wait for September 11 this year. See if something happens. These are all random events. And even if it was supposed to happen, you cannot know beforehand. So it's useless to know this. All the more useless is to worry about this. What's useful is to tighten airline security and public safety in general. Trains, planes, buses, etc. and what about the bombing of LRT in Manila? What were the numbers involved? Of all the bombings in history, we had to pick the 9/11 bombing. And of all the numbers involved in all the bombings we had to pick 9, 11, 254, etc. Why? Because we wanted to believe this was not coincidence.

The 'coincidence' here as we want to believe, is only a small percentage of the bombings in human history. If someone out there wants to send a message, a simple email will do. Don't you think so? Or maybe I'm wrong. :)

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Thoughts about going abroad

I'm sorry. I'm just messing with you.

Personally, I'd say:

"Pack up your things, go abroad. All of you."

But deep inside me, I'd say:

"Please stay."

But that's just me.

I have radical ideas.

If you want to get rich, go abroad. Go now.

When you get rich,

give some back to "the country that shaped you".

As for me, I'm not leaving because I'm stuck in this country...

Or to put it in the brighter side, I'm needed here.

Working abroad is better than being jobless here.

The problem is, when those who have jobs here go abroad.

Instead of genius little Pedro researching some inexpensive, self-supporting nuclear energy source for future generations to enjoy, he now studies care-giving so he could go to North America to take care of some old Canadian and earn green Canadian dollars.

Don't you see the talent drain? Don't you see it? No. Really. Don't you see it?

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All in the family

Healthy families generally produce healthy children. It's a simple equation; if children have a warm, stable and supportive environment to grow up in, they will most likely grow into emotionally healthy adults. And if they grow up in a home of conflict and instability, they will probably struggle to adjust to the challenges of life. Now of course, there is always free will. Rotten eggs can come from the best homes, and stars can shine forth from the worst. Abraham, whose father owned an idol store, is a classic example of this. 

Family is so important in the development of a child. Parents do have a great deal of influence on how their children turn out. It is a very big responsibility. My favorite coach in high school used to say that the best thing you can give your children is happily-married parents. Parents who are happy with each other usually bring up happy children. A happy home is a wonderful environment in which to grow up. 

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Life's meaning

Life is indeed, so short. And, oddly enough, it is much shorter for those whose lives they find meaningful while it is too long for those whose lives they find meaningless. 

Couldn't it be that life is what meaning we put into it? 

Now and then, I also ask what meaning has my life really. Often, I feel like I know but at other times, my thinking looks like a useless mental exercise. Life is just so vast, so full of mysteries that before I can put meaning to my life, part of it is gone and the meaning I try putting on it is already partly exhausted. 

Life, so it seems, is like dry sand slipping through my fingers. When I try to hold on to itvery tightly as if squeezing it, it slips away faster. But when I try to cast it away, it sticks on my hands. Sometimes, I think, to appreciate life best, one has neither to hold on to it tightly nor to let it go so carelessly. The sand in the hourglass is life. It is better to let it flow freely, although not carelessly. 

How we take life is often dictated by what priorities we have. And life, being so vast, offers everything which can be a priority to us. A student ever so eager to get out of poverty would say, "Life will be meaningless if I don't finish my studies." A terribly-in-love woman would say, "Should I lose him now, life will be meaningless to me." And an alcoholic, trembling with the urge to drink, would be ready to give anything he has, even his dignity, for a bottle of liquor. Then, there is this young ambitious businessman who desperately wants to make his first million before reaching forty. He easily forgets he has a wife, children and friends. Only the first million seems to matter. 

But now, what are the things that last which could have real meaning in one's life? Have you ever thought of this? 

As they say, there are in the end three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest is love.

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Philippine poetry

Ang Pagpupugay: Pambansang Alagad ng Sining at Literatura celebrated the 2008 Philippine Arts Month Celebration and it showcased the promotion of literature through lectures and performances and the living National Artist for Literature Dr. Edith Lopez Tiempo with her poetic works were staged during the said event.

According to Tiempo, creating a poem means the proper structuring of its two basic constituents, the form and the content, and poetry writers know that in the actual performance, the emphasis is concentrated on the structuring of form rather than on content, and the reason is obvious: At the very start, it is taken for granted that the writer has something to say; the content is therefore early established and takes a back seat while the form and its craftsmanship, gets the writer’s prominent attention.

She scrutinized the works of a number of seasoned writers, and fortunately – at least for her as a writer of poems - she has isolated four ways of enriching the poetic content: 1) by reverberating the theme of the poem; 2) by including indigenous wit and humor; 3) by using very learned and scholarly esoteric materials; and 4) by adopting an unusual and startling idea or concept to serve as the core of the poetic content.

Tiempo also added that there is so much concentration on form in our poetry writing today, so that crafting has become more and more refined through the use of subtle and intricate devices such as indirection, tone control, suggestiveness, ambivalence and ambiguity, thematic tension, understatement, among many others. This is not to say that the writer should reduce his attention regarding form; what we are saying is that all this meticulous crafting on the poetic form has been at the cost of poetic content, the constituent that has largely been taken for granted.

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Tragedy of the commons

The "Tragedy of the Commons" is a metaphor which should not be taken too literally as defining the concept. The phrase is a shorthand for a phenomenon, not an accurate description of it. Hardin himself said that he used the word "tragedy" in the sense that the philosopher Alfred North Whitehead used it: "the remorseless working of things". The "tragedy" should not be seen as tragic in the conventional sense, nor must it be taken as condemnation of the processes that are ascribed to it.

In the course of his essay, Hardin develops the theme, drawing in examples of latter day "commons", such as the atmosphere, oceans, rivers, fish stocks, National Parks, advertising and even parking meters. A major theme running throughout the essay is the growth of human population, with the Earth's resources being a general commons.

Hardin draws attention to problems that cannot be solved by technical means (i.e. as opposed to those problems with solutions that require "a change only in techniques of the natural sciences, demanding little or nothing in the way of change in human values or ideas of morality"). Hardin contends that this class of problems includes those raised by human population growth and the use of the Earth's natural resources.

To make the case for no "technical solutions", Hardin notes the limits placed on the availability of energy (and material resources) on Earth, and also the consequences of these limits for "quality of life". To maximize population, one needs to minimize resources spent on anything other that simple survival, and vice versa. Consequently, he concludes that there is no foreseeable technical solution to increasing both human populations and their standard of living on a finite planet.

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An inconvenient truth

One of the powerful lines in the film of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" comes toward the end when Al Gore sent out the problem of global warming. He said that there's a scientific consensus in which all the scientists who have written about this agreed global warming as a problem and the people sometimes move from denial, pretending that there's no problem, to despair, they think that there's nothing they can do. Al Gore begins to set out in the film what people can do to avoid despair and to solve the problem.

In his documentary, he pointed out what individuals can do to reduce this huge global threat to our planet. Conservation and greater efficiency in a way people use energy and resources is the number one step. Being a conscious consumer and being aware of the environmental implications of everything that we buy and of every transaction we make in the market place including in an individual's pattern of investing. And then becoming politically active regardless of what party you may be aligned with by insisting that the politicians in all parties take this huge global threat as their top priority. One individual who makes that commitment can make an incredible difference.

These facts are stated by Al Gore. "There is no controversy about these facts," he says in the film. "Out of 925 recent articles in peer-review scientific journals about global warming, there was no disagreement. Zero."

The documentary ended with Gore noting that if appropriate action is taken soon, the effects of global warming can be successfully reversed by releasing less carbon dioxide and growing more plants or trees. Gore calls upon viewers to learn how they can help in this initiative.

Global warming is real. It is caused by human activity. Mankind and its governments must begin immediate action to halt and reverse it.

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Happy 20th!

My dear fellow, 

I have to tell you something that you perhaps don't know. I have been thinking about how to make this news less difficult to hear - how to paint it in brighter colors, add to it promises of Paradise, visions of the Absolute, provide esoteric explanations - but they do not apply.

Taking a deep breath, and prepare yourself. I have to be blunt, and I assure you, I am absolutely certain of what I'm telling you. It is an infallible prediction, without any doubt whatsoever. It's the following: you are going to die. It may be tomorrow or fifty years from now, but - sooner or later - you are going to die. Even if you would rather not. Even if you have other plans. Think carefully about what you are going to do today. And tomorrow. And  with the rest of your life. Live as long as you may, the first twenty years are the longest half of your life.

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The 90/10 principle

Have you read this before? Discover the 90/10 principle. It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations.) What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean?

We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.

How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't letp people fool you, you can control how you react.

Let's use an example. You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over.

She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.

You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home. When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it?

The answer is "D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened:

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's okay honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same, both ended different.

Why? Because of how you reacted. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off.

Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? Who cares if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passengers. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90/10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90/10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It can change your life!

Author: Stephen Covey (Management Guru)

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Microwave threat

Attached is a science fair project that a student did for 2006. In it she took filtered water and divided it into two parts. The first part she heated to boiling in a pan on the stove, and the second part she heated to boiling in a microwave. Then after cooling she used the water to water two identical plants to see if there would be any difference in the growth between the normal boiled water and the water boiled in a microwave. She was thinking that the structure or energy of the water may be compromised by microwave. As it turned it out, even she was amazed at the difference.

_____________________________________________

I have known for years that the problem with microwaved anything is not the radiation people used to worry about, It's how it corrupts the DNA in the food so the body can not recognize it. So the body wraps it in fat cells to protect itself from the dead food or it eliminates it fast. Think of all the Mothers heating up milk in these "Safe" appliances. What about the nurse in Canada that warmed up blood for a transfusion patient and accidentally killed them when the blood went in dead. But the makers say it's safe. But proof is in the pictures of living plants dying.

FORENSIC RESEARCH DOCUMENT

Prepared By: William P. Kopp

A. R. E. C. Research Operations 

TO61-7R10/10-77F05 

RELEASE PRIORITY: CLASS I ROO1a

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven

From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:

 

1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].

2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.

3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.

4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.

5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.

7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America .

8). The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

9). Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

Have you tossed out your microwave oven yet? After you throw out your microwave, you can use a toaster oven as a replacement. It works well for most and is nearly as quick. The use of artificial microwave transmissions for subliminal psychological control, a.k.a. "brainwashing", has also been proven. We're attempting to obtain copies of the 1970's Russian research documents and results written by Drs. Luria and Perov specifying their clinical experiments in this area.

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Science? Bible? Who decides?

Not so long ago, we were assigned to make a reaction paper in our Biology 1 class about the two most debated modern day theories: the theory of evolution and creationism. It really bothered me up until now.

We make a lot of notions about how the world began and we seem to contradict each one's opinions. Here is what I have in mind and certainly my own point of view so any reactions, may it be complimentary or otherwise, are welcome.

Logic should decide what's right and what's wrong. That is how we make better men out of ourselves. There is no end as to what a person might believe.

You may believe in God. I may believe in fairies. He may believe in Sauron and the rings. Somebody might believe in vampires and werewolves...

Anybody can believe in anything...

So how do we keep ourselves sane? As Tobias pointed out, "REALITY". Yes, plain and simple reality.

How real is God? How real are the fairies? How real is Sauron and the rings? How real are vampires and werewolves? And then, how real is science? You decide.

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The genius among geniuses

One thing that fascinates me most about Albert Einstein was his inconsistency brought about his childhood life. Considering the fact that he flunked out his academic life, he was nevertheless able to manufacture ideas at an early age far beyond what human understanding could grasp.

In a century dominated by the scientific community, I had met a complete genre of intelligent and profound gurus, professors and teachers who devote most of their time in certain areas of specialization. They always have this commonality of philosophic doctrine: getting your life connected with your chosen career and the kind of profession you want to pursue. "Grades are merely requirements, it can't measure personal wit," one teacher told me. True enough, Einstein was able to become a living legend even if he had such low university grades. The thing here is that perhaps it was his creativity that propelled him to accomplish the feats he did, or was it his ingenuity and intuitiveness. One thing is for sure: Albert Einstein intrigued me more than anyone else. Now the possibilities are seemingly endless for a student like me who still hopes for a life worth analyzing. He he

Einstein recalled 1905 as the year when he said "a storm broke loose in my mind". That year, he proved the existence of the atoms, devised the theory of relativity, showing that e equals mc^2 and laid the foundations of quantum physics. Fifty years after his death, Einstein's reputation is only improving with age. His theories of the universe continue to be supported by new generations of scientists and the technological tools that Einstein could only imagine.

Einstein always appeared to have a clear view of the problems of physics and the determination to solve them. He had a strategy of his own and was able to visualized the main stages on the way to his goal. He regarded his major achievements as mere stepping-stones for the next advancement of human thought.

Albert Einstein still manages to dazzle the world and leaves the scientific community aghast with his Theory of Relativity. The reality that behind many scientific geniuses, there is at least on other genius, and often a number of them. He was the genius among geniuses.

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Happy Mother's Day!

It takes a long time for a person to grow, to mature, and to understand what life is all about. Perhaps that is why it is only now that I have begun to really conceive of how much you have given me, how hard you have worked, how often you have laughed, strived, cried, ached, rejoiced, and smiled -- all for me!

I know I may not have shown it as often as I should have, but the things you have done have meant more to me than anything ever has...

Thank you, Ma. And I love you. Happy Mother's Day!

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