At the last hours of 2006, in this town in USA, I have decided that I want to share my predictions for 2007 with all the 4ts,4teens, and all the in betweens that are out there.
I predict that 2007 will be a year full of a lot of action, and I know that the good guys will be the winner in the long run. This is after all 2007 and that means that we have 2 times more 007 and everything always go right with one James Bond, just imagine this year we have two!
I also predict that for the forthcoming year, people will realize the importance of inner peace and humanity and will start to make extra efforts to pursue more of the happiness and less of the money. Religion and faith will have a more dominant role in the society, and for the first time maybe the religions of the world will learn to co exist in a peaceful manner. Tolerance will be practiced through out the world and understanding will rule.
I prophesize that 2007 will promote a sense of well being in people that prompts living a healthier lifestyles, like eating healthier, exercising more and stopping all the bad health habits like smoking and drinking excessively. As a result of this, people will become kinder and more compassionate. They will value other people lives more and will give helping hands to each other more often.
I predict that the new UN secretary general, with the help of the members of united nation, despite the rocky road, will be able to find a resolution to the roots of all the troubles of the world and with small but steady steps will communicate and resolve the issues of hunger, power conflict, nuclear power and many other difficulties that ail the world every minute.
I prophesize that the environmental issues will be somewhat eased and the population of the world will all give a little to save the other living things that populate this earth. I also know that the citizens of planet earth will do everything in their power to ease the global warming, because they do not want another tsunami, earth quake or a hurricane to take thousands of lives and leave millions homeless.
I know that creative minds will take the technology further and will come up with more gadgets to make the world smaller and to keep people closer for better or worse. The scientists will continue to save more lives by finding more cures to numerous illnesses, and by experimenting and researching issues that seem impossible. Yes they will succeed.
Ultimately,I wish you a healthy, peaceful and happy 2 x 007. I just know that 2007 will be a good year, you just wait and see.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Monday, December 25, 2006
What we need is just a bit of luck!
4teen believes that I have an illness. I constantly complain that news never changes; it just happens in another part of the world and maybe the number of the dead or injured varies. Yet, I can not stay away from the radio or the paper. Maybe this is a sickness, and I put it out there for all the scientists in my adopted homeland that have a name for every different odd behaviors like mine. Maybe I can be named after something after all!
Since I am aware of this shortcoming, I have tried to seek some cure for it; therefore, I have started to look for some good news in the paper. Believe it or not, it is a very challenging task. I have recently discovered a pet corner section in a local free paper. I never had a pet in my life and I thought that this can be a good start to read more about something different. I just did not know what I was bargaining for!
This section has a variety of different articles concerning all kinds of pets and nutrition and promotional ads. It does not necessarily have good news at all times, for instance last week a new baby’s 4toes were chewed, and the parents are not sure whether their pit bull dog is to be blamed or the ferret, but apparently the cops got it right, because they have arrested the parents. But there are times that I wish that I was a pet and not a human being!
A few high lights:
• Veterinary clinics painted in soothing tones of sage, ochre and salmon with soft lights reduces anxiety for the sick animals coming to seek treatment. Reception rooms with scented candles.
• Aromatherapy for your cat when she is sick let her inhale different scents so that she can choose which scent soothes her best.
• Therapeutic massage for horses.
• Acupuncture for the dog whose left part of the body was parallelized by stroke.
• And my favorite, braces for dogs.
This is amusing news, because it confirms my theory that everyone needs a bit of luck in life. In all honesty, these pets have much more luck than any human beings. When I was down and stressed two summers ago, no one gave a horse shoe if I needed to be distressed with scented candles or aromatherapy. I was just grateful if no one added more to my misery!
And in all amusement, I can not end this piece without sharing another piece from another paper:
NEW YORK — By studying blindfolded college students who crawled through grass to sniff out a chocolate-scented trail, scientists say they've found evidence of a human smelling ability that experts thought was impossible.
The study indicates the human brain compares information it gets from each nostril to get clues about where a smell is coming from. And it suggests dogs, mice and other mammals do the same thing, contrary to what most scientists have thought.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Just tell me that you do not find the irony of the two stories amusing. I just hope that you would use the link to see the picture posted for this piece.
Since I am aware of this shortcoming, I have tried to seek some cure for it; therefore, I have started to look for some good news in the paper. Believe it or not, it is a very challenging task. I have recently discovered a pet corner section in a local free paper. I never had a pet in my life and I thought that this can be a good start to read more about something different. I just did not know what I was bargaining for!
This section has a variety of different articles concerning all kinds of pets and nutrition and promotional ads. It does not necessarily have good news at all times, for instance last week a new baby’s 4toes were chewed, and the parents are not sure whether their pit bull dog is to be blamed or the ferret, but apparently the cops got it right, because they have arrested the parents. But there are times that I wish that I was a pet and not a human being!
A few high lights:
• Veterinary clinics painted in soothing tones of sage, ochre and salmon with soft lights reduces anxiety for the sick animals coming to seek treatment. Reception rooms with scented candles.
• Aromatherapy for your cat when she is sick let her inhale different scents so that she can choose which scent soothes her best.
• Therapeutic massage for horses.
• Acupuncture for the dog whose left part of the body was parallelized by stroke.
• And my favorite, braces for dogs.
This is amusing news, because it confirms my theory that everyone needs a bit of luck in life. In all honesty, these pets have much more luck than any human beings. When I was down and stressed two summers ago, no one gave a horse shoe if I needed to be distressed with scented candles or aromatherapy. I was just grateful if no one added more to my misery!
And in all amusement, I can not end this piece without sharing another piece from another paper:
NEW YORK — By studying blindfolded college students who crawled through grass to sniff out a chocolate-scented trail, scientists say they've found evidence of a human smelling ability that experts thought was impossible.
The study indicates the human brain compares information it gets from each nostril to get clues about where a smell is coming from. And it suggests dogs, mice and other mammals do the same thing, contrary to what most scientists have thought.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Just tell me that you do not find the irony of the two stories amusing. I just hope that you would use the link to see the picture posted for this piece.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Happy Holidays!
I was reprimanded last week by 4teen! Two fronts of 4teen attacked me claiming that this is the holiday season after all, and life is always full of unpleasant surprises and why should I be a party pooper especially around this time of the year. Well, I do apologize if I made anyone think about the less unfortunate. I always thought that this blog is about me, apparently I am mistaken again! So this week, on a cheerful note, maybe with some creativity, it can be the most wonderful time of the year.
Last weekend, I tried to get in the holiday mood and spread some holiday cheer. What better way than to experience the thrill of shopping for the holidays in the crowded shopping malls, trying to grab on sale items out of people’s hands and push and shove the shoppers in front of me in lines. The gift of giving!
My excursion started very early in the morning in a crowded highway heading for a popular mall. After going a couple of miles in a circle to find parking space, I did find one about 20 minutes walk away from the entrance. We started looking around by maneuvering the busy halls and trying to find the right sizes and the colors of any thing that we really did not need, but desired very much. By noon time, we were exhausted of hustling in the crowd unsuccessfully finding the right gift for the right person. So we decided to grab a bite and rest our exhausted feet. With great effort, the 4teens found a place to sit and as they rested, they sent me, 4t, to stand in more lines to get them something to eat. I was having a blast of a good time, with a very high holiday spirit.
To make a very long and tiring story short, thanks God, the long day ended and there were many lessons learned as I was tuning into the holiday spirit.
1. For one thing, I did get enough exercise for my daily dose of the day.
2. We saw so many friends and relatives that there is no need to send card or mass letters explain how everyone is doing, because they saw all the family and they had the chance to talk to them and find out how we are all doing. It was even better, because they saw us in person and not in pictures.
3. I did not have to cook that day, which is a blessing within itself.
4. And the best thing yet, I was so exhausted that I dropped dead that night and the next thing I know it was 9 am next morning when I woke up from a deep dreamless sleep. Something that some people have to take sleeping pills for!
Will I do it again? No fat chance, I am still sticking to my giving cash gift policy. I want them to take the trip to the mall and stand in long lines to buy the object of their desire. I do not want to deprive them from this experience of holiday shopping. After all it is about them and not me!
Happy holidays to you all!
Last weekend, I tried to get in the holiday mood and spread some holiday cheer. What better way than to experience the thrill of shopping for the holidays in the crowded shopping malls, trying to grab on sale items out of people’s hands and push and shove the shoppers in front of me in lines. The gift of giving!
My excursion started very early in the morning in a crowded highway heading for a popular mall. After going a couple of miles in a circle to find parking space, I did find one about 20 minutes walk away from the entrance. We started looking around by maneuvering the busy halls and trying to find the right sizes and the colors of any thing that we really did not need, but desired very much. By noon time, we were exhausted of hustling in the crowd unsuccessfully finding the right gift for the right person. So we decided to grab a bite and rest our exhausted feet. With great effort, the 4teens found a place to sit and as they rested, they sent me, 4t, to stand in more lines to get them something to eat. I was having a blast of a good time, with a very high holiday spirit.
To make a very long and tiring story short, thanks God, the long day ended and there were many lessons learned as I was tuning into the holiday spirit.
1. For one thing, I did get enough exercise for my daily dose of the day.
2. We saw so many friends and relatives that there is no need to send card or mass letters explain how everyone is doing, because they saw all the family and they had the chance to talk to them and find out how we are all doing. It was even better, because they saw us in person and not in pictures.
3. I did not have to cook that day, which is a blessing within itself.
4. And the best thing yet, I was so exhausted that I dropped dead that night and the next thing I know it was 9 am next morning when I woke up from a deep dreamless sleep. Something that some people have to take sleeping pills for!
Will I do it again? No fat chance, I am still sticking to my giving cash gift policy. I want them to take the trip to the mall and stand in long lines to buy the object of their desire. I do not want to deprive them from this experience of holiday shopping. After all it is about them and not me!
Happy holidays to you all!
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Subject of the week - Shakespeare 101
On a more serious note, in the past couple of weeks all I can think of is “Now is the winter of our discontent”, the opening line from of William Shakespeare's Richard III.
Despite all the beauty of the lights and decorations in the streets and the holiday songs with lyrics like “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, I can not stop observing the people around me and feel their unhappiness. I look around my circle of family and friends and I see that some how everyone has developed one serious problem or another. Smiles have turned to frowns and sigh are heard non stop. I do not chit chat with my friends anymore, and as they claim they are busier, I know that they are all struggling with either a health problem or a family one, because that they are not quite their own selves. It was not like this last year or the ones before, or so I believe.
It is not only the family and friends, it is the neighbors, colleagues and the circle grows bigger and I can not help but wondering why they are singing it’s the most wonderful time of the year, while it is not. How can it be, if for the past few months I have attended more funerals that in the past two decades of my life? How can it be, while all I recently hear is friends having illnesses, surgeries and serious problems? My colleague who is one of the happiest people I have ever met, hardly ever smiles anymore, because he is battling with his own kind of demons. And I can not do anything for any one of them; I can not prevent deaths, illnesses and other serous family issues. The only thing that I can do is to listen, visit, and to keep in touch and try to brighten their day with a phone call, a joke or a card. Basically to let them know that I care and that I am here.
Today was indeed a gorgeous day in December. A warm and delightful day in the middle of winter. I decided to take a long walk and enjoy the warmth and the beauty of this gorgeous day. I figured that today, I know that it is lovely and fun, so I will enjoy the warmth and whatever this day has to offer me to the fullest, because I do not know the forecast for tomorrow. The way I see it, today, at least for me, was the most wonderful time of the year, despite the winter of our discontent.
Despite all the beauty of the lights and decorations in the streets and the holiday songs with lyrics like “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, I can not stop observing the people around me and feel their unhappiness. I look around my circle of family and friends and I see that some how everyone has developed one serious problem or another. Smiles have turned to frowns and sigh are heard non stop. I do not chit chat with my friends anymore, and as they claim they are busier, I know that they are all struggling with either a health problem or a family one, because that they are not quite their own selves. It was not like this last year or the ones before, or so I believe.
It is not only the family and friends, it is the neighbors, colleagues and the circle grows bigger and I can not help but wondering why they are singing it’s the most wonderful time of the year, while it is not. How can it be, if for the past few months I have attended more funerals that in the past two decades of my life? How can it be, while all I recently hear is friends having illnesses, surgeries and serious problems? My colleague who is one of the happiest people I have ever met, hardly ever smiles anymore, because he is battling with his own kind of demons. And I can not do anything for any one of them; I can not prevent deaths, illnesses and other serous family issues. The only thing that I can do is to listen, visit, and to keep in touch and try to brighten their day with a phone call, a joke or a card. Basically to let them know that I care and that I am here.
Today was indeed a gorgeous day in December. A warm and delightful day in the middle of winter. I decided to take a long walk and enjoy the warmth and the beauty of this gorgeous day. I figured that today, I know that it is lovely and fun, so I will enjoy the warmth and whatever this day has to offer me to the fullest, because I do not know the forecast for tomorrow. The way I see it, today, at least for me, was the most wonderful time of the year, despite the winter of our discontent.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Fortune Cookies and More
This week, I am saluting the ingenious idea of an Asian community in one of the states of this country. To me, this is why they call America the land of opportunity and possibilities. If you have the drive, the will and know how to work hard, then anything is possible. Well, kind of!
An Asian in the state of XOX saw a need for a center that catered to the need of this minority group. After numerous meetings and debates with the state and city and district authorities, a bill was created pending approval based on the results of the election on November 7, 2006. If the bill would pass, then the state would provide the funding to build the center and provide a certain annual budget for a fixed period of time.
To get enough votes for their bill, the Asian community needed to raise awareness of this bill, and the dire need for “yes” votes. But a minority group that did not have an extravagant campaign or a savvy lobbyist and enough monetary means to promote the idea was at its rope end, when a light bulb went on and an ingenious idea was formed!! The owner of the idea went to a printer and for $240.00 printed a batch of messages that are inserted into the fortune cookies in the Asian restaurants. On one side of the paper, the regular fortune was printed, and on the other side, instead of the customary lottery number, it said to vote for XOX (the bill). The message was inserted into the fortune cookies and was distributed throughout the state in every Asian restaurant that carried and distributed them. People did notice, because it did start a commotion and a debate about the legality of the nature of promotion. But in the meantime, the bill passed and the creation of the center is in full swing, thanks to the fortune cookies!
The way I see it, new ideas and creativity is the foundation of this new world that is about two centuries old. I can’t but wonder if this Asian person could have done the same in his own country. But then again, if he could, would he have been here?
On the other hand, if he were not living here, would there be a need for this center and all the brainstorming for a creative idea to fund it? The need is the mother of every invention. Either way, Kudos to the brilliant mind who saw vast potential in fortune cookies.
An Asian in the state of XOX saw a need for a center that catered to the need of this minority group. After numerous meetings and debates with the state and city and district authorities, a bill was created pending approval based on the results of the election on November 7, 2006. If the bill would pass, then the state would provide the funding to build the center and provide a certain annual budget for a fixed period of time.
To get enough votes for their bill, the Asian community needed to raise awareness of this bill, and the dire need for “yes” votes. But a minority group that did not have an extravagant campaign or a savvy lobbyist and enough monetary means to promote the idea was at its rope end, when a light bulb went on and an ingenious idea was formed!! The owner of the idea went to a printer and for $240.00 printed a batch of messages that are inserted into the fortune cookies in the Asian restaurants. On one side of the paper, the regular fortune was printed, and on the other side, instead of the customary lottery number, it said to vote for XOX (the bill). The message was inserted into the fortune cookies and was distributed throughout the state in every Asian restaurant that carried and distributed them. People did notice, because it did start a commotion and a debate about the legality of the nature of promotion. But in the meantime, the bill passed and the creation of the center is in full swing, thanks to the fortune cookies!
The way I see it, new ideas and creativity is the foundation of this new world that is about two centuries old. I can’t but wonder if this Asian person could have done the same in his own country. But then again, if he could, would he have been here?
On the other hand, if he were not living here, would there be a need for this center and all the brainstorming for a creative idea to fund it? The need is the mother of every invention. Either way, Kudos to the brilliant mind who saw vast potential in fortune cookies.
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