Sex education in the good old days often took the format of talking about the “Birds & the Bees”. In school we learnt about it without any greater interest, as the subject was treated technically & diagrammatically.
Modern dads are likely to teach sex education in keeping with cyberspace time . . . and this is so funny to resist my sharing.
A little boy goes to his father and asks “Daddy, how was I born?”
The father answers, “Well, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway! Your Mum and I first got together in a chat room on Yahoo. Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mum and we met at a cyber-cafe. We sneaked into a secluded room, and googled each other. There your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive. As soon as I was ready to upload, we discoverted that neither one of us has used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the Delete button, nine months later a little Pop-Up appeared that said:
Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,550 km2, including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets.The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. (Wikipedia)
Halong City, a reformed coal-mining town, is gateway to one of the most majestic sites in Vietnam. Capital of its province, it now capitalises its greater profits by promoting tourism. Its nearby Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is attracting tourists both domestically & internationally.
“Halong Bay is the kind of rare site that inspires fairy tales and landscape paintings. It centres on a field of limestone karst towers jutting out the bay and soaring high over green waters. These rock formations take a number of odd, often surreal shapes. The name itself means ‘descending dragon’, and looking out over the myriad rock shapes, its easy to imaging the undulating tail of a dragon snaking its way through the water. “
Source: Wikipedia Pictures
A first visit to Halong Bay, with craggy, forested spires and perpetual mists, requires a few moments’ processing. After that initial gaze, visitors descend for all kinds of activities. Weaving through the pillars by kayak or rappelling off a limestone precipice are especially popular pursuits. Old Chinese junks launch sightseeing cruises from the pier.
The best hotels near Halong are on Cat Ba Island – an enviable place to spend a night or two. It’s an oasis of jungle in the midst of the bay, home to sandy beaches, lakes, Buddhist grottoes, waterfalls and five-star resorts.
Here below is a laughable illustration on the question of “Value Vs Valuable”. With old things in Australia, we have a market for “Trash & Treasure” – what’s trash to you maybe treasure to others.
“Sir, anything you see down there is 75 years old.
I just bought this hat yesterday!”
There is a thing or two about the collection of old vintage, antique or classic. Amateurs will not be able to value such items – only the experts & antique appraisers are called upon for such valuation.
However in an auction where collectors assemble, bids can go higher than the estimated value. It all depends on “What is it that you really want? And what’s the price you are willing to pay for it?”. When it meets with the heart’s desire, it becomes priceless!
In another light, to me the question of sentiment is held topmost in my mind & heart. When I was in college those days in England, I did woodwork as an option subject. For it I chose to do a needlecraft work-table out of teak, all crafted with joints only. Though not an exceptional skilful handyman, I laboured with all my heart and was credited in giving it to the girl of my heart, who became my wife. Now . . . how would you appraise such a priceless piece of art?
This needlecraft work-table will always remain in my heart
At the abattoir, quite often strange happenings of animals crying go unnoticed by human beings. I was talking to my wife about the story below “of a sorrowful buffalo suddenly standing still, refusing to move forward, kneeling on its two front knees, and with tears streaming from its eyes,” when she recalled of her young days living in Taiping, Malaysia. She too had observed in the nearby abattoir of cows awaiting to be slaughtered crying aloud, seemingly knowing their fateful demise.
But this water buffalo had real tears that touched the hearts of the butchers & changing their lives!
The Buffalo was standing still, sad and frightened to tears.
According to China’s People’s News, whether people believe it or not, this incident actually happened in Hong Kong. TheWeekly World News reported that a group of workers were bringing a water buffalo into a packaging factory, ready to slaughter it to make steak and beef stew.
When they approached the front door of the slaughterhouse, the sorrowful buffalo suddenly stood still, refusing to move forward, kneeling on its two front knees, and had tears streaming from its eyes.
How could the buffalo be aware that it was going to be slaughtered, before entering the slaughterhouse? This shows that it was even more alert than many a person. “When I saw what is believed to be a stupid animal actually crying, and when I noticed that its eyes were full of fear and sadness, I could not help but shiver.” Extremely shocked by this, butcher Shiu Tat-Nin recalled: “I quickly called the other people to come and see, and they were as surprised as I was! We pushed and pulled the water buffalo, but it would not move; it just sat there crying constantly.”
Billy Fong, the boss of the Hong Kong packaging plant said, “Mankind has always thought that animals are not like people who can cry, but this buffalo is really sobbing like a baby!”
At that time there were at least a dozen strong, burly men present, but their hearts were softened by the buffalo’s crying, and those who were responsible for killing water buffaloes were even more touched by this, tears welling out of their eyes.
Buffalo weeping non-stop – When workers from other slaughterhouses heard the news, they also ran to the crying and kneeling buffalo, and the site was soon crowded with people who were astonished at what they saw. Three of them were so shocked that they said that from now on, even when they slaughter other kinds of animals, they will never forget that buffalo’s tears.
At the point when a buffalo is crying and people are crying as well, we can all be sure that none of them will kill the buffalo now. Then the question was how to take care of this matter. Finally, they decided to buy the water buffalo with cash, and then they sent it to a Buddhist temple, for the monastic to take good care of it, so that it could be assured of living out its life peacefully.
When this decision was made, an amazing thing happened again: “When there was an assurance that the buffalo would not be killed, it finally agreed to move, got up, and it’s here with us.” How could a water buffalo understand human words? Shiu said: “Whether you believe it or not, this is really true, although it sounds really incredible.
Undoubtedly, this buffalo has changed the lives of these butchers.
It’s said that some are born rich, others achieve riches and
still others have riches thrust upon them.
It’s found however, that if you’re gifted with a special talent
then riches will be yours to have.
Ten of the world’s richest persons are without college degree. They range from sportsmen, actors, singers, technologists and others. The common denominator is talent or special skill.
Now the question is whether education is at all essential for the road to riches. Not necessary so. There are evidences of professors or highly educated persons ending in poverty. In short, education is supposed to equip you for the life ahead of you. Really education is an unending process, that is why from the womb to the tomb, you’re always learning. Knowledge is dynamic & expandable.
Here are some questions to consider:
Need you go to school from the cradle to the grave?
What benefits do you hope to get out of education?
Will you really be able to apply your acquired knowledge to your life’s practical activities?
Can skill, talent, attitude & other positives be acquired through education?
In a word, will education ensure riches?
The following Ten are some of the world’s richest persons:
The
Most ‘First Grade’ students get technical seats, becoming Doctors . . .
. . . and some others ending as Engineers
Here’s to show you the ‘Irony of Life’ :
Most ‘First Class’ students get technical seats, some become Doctors and some Engineers.
* The ‘Second Class’ pass, and then get MBA, become Administrators and control the ‘First Class’.
* The‘Third Class’ pass, enter politics and Become Ministers and control both.
* Last, but not the least, The ‘Failures’ jointhe underworld and control all the above.
And those who do not attend any school, become Swamis and Gurus and Everyone goes to them.
Every Wife is a “Mistress” for her Husband. “Miss” for one hour & “Stress” for the rest of the 23 hours!
The are 2 times when a Man doesn’t understand a Woman.Before Marriage and After Marriage.
My Husband and I Divorced over Religious Differences. He thought he was God, and I didn’t.
Marriage Is like a Public Toilet.Those waiting outside are desperate to get in & those inside are desperate to come out.
Why Were Hurricanes Usually Named After Women?Because when they arrive, they’re wet and wild, but when they go, they take your house and car …
A Man Goes To The Wizard To Ask If He Can Remove A Curse He Has Been Living With For The Last 40 Years. The Wizard says, “Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words that were used to put the curse on you. ” The man says without hesitation, “I now pronounce you Man And Wife.”
Husband Searching Keywords on Google `How to Tackle Wife? Google Search Result, “Still Searching.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY . . .
Women are like phones: They like to be held, talked to and touched often. But push the wrong button and you’re disconnected . . .
Romantic SMS Romantic . . . SMS She sends the following message: My love if you’re sleeping, send me your dreams. If you’re smiling, send me your smile. If you’re crying, send me your tears. I love you. He Replied: I’m in the toilet. What do I send?
Gone are the days when only junk boats plied the waters of Singapore. Today Marina Bay boasts of a spectacular ship in the sky – a ship that Sands finds it hard to sail in the arid landscape of Les Vegas. SkyPark sits on top of the US$5.7 billion ($A6.8 billion) Marina Bay Sands Hotel & CasinoIntegrated Resort.
In Singapore, June 24, 2011 dawned the opening of a new wonder of the world. “Sky Park” Marina Bay Sands. It’s located on the 200-meter height on the three skyscrapers, as if on three pillars. Here is the most expensive & spectacular Integrated Resort in the world of casinos, bars, restaurants, the largest outdoor swimming pool, 150 meters long and even the Museum of Modern Art.
Stretching longer than the Eiffel tower laid down or four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3900 people. The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world. From this privileged observation deck, hundreds of visitors at a time can feast their eyes on the unforgettable panorama view of Singapore.
The resort employs 10,000 people directly and generate up to £48m each year. Entrance to the casino alone is nearly £50 a day – but an average of 25,000 people have visited the casino daily since its initial phased opening two months ago.
Thomas Arasi, president and chief executive officer of the resort, said he expects to attract an astonishing 70,000 visitors a day once it is fully open. It was due to open in 2009, but was delayed thanks to labour and material shortages, and funding problems due to the global financial crisis.
Just take a look at these wonderful photographs of Singapore pride:
As though things weren’t bad enough for the Americans, Russian Prof. Igor Panarin, 50 years old, a former KGB analyst, Dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry‘s academy for future diplomats, invited to Kremlin receptions, lectures students, publishes books, and appears in the media as an expert on U.S.-Russia relations, predicted the breaking up of the United States of America in 2010.
Greed & cut-throat politics have left the United States in political stalemate.
Bankruptcy covers the US political landscape.
Source: RCG illustration/Paula C. Rondeau
Generally, all politicians initially start off with similar idealistic goals like peace, prosperity, health & success for everyone. The problem is not with the question of policy but implementation and polarisation results.
Democracy is “Demo Crazy” as demonstrated crazily all over the world.
With crippling unemployment, home foreclosures, years of overspending, and the makings of a second Great Depression, American citizens have called on politicians to do just one thing – unite & work together.
However, over the decades, political rift between left & right has grown from the size of a sidewalk crack to opposite ledges of the Grand Canyon – with miles of desolate, rocky terrain between the two . . . making it increasingly difficult to work in unity. Something has to give. Either the nation discovers the way to true unity, or it will disintegrate or dismantle itself from within.
It’s not a question of being “too big to fall or fail” but more so of being “falling harder.” The larger and more complex a system, the more likely it is to break down. A simple pendulum with few moving parts could last many more years.
America now has a population of some 300 million people, 50 states, and more federal, state and local agencies than anyone can possibly list. It is hard to govern such a large, complex and populous system when anything goes seriously wrong.
A lot is going wrong right now.
The U.S. military agrees that the chance of a break down in the system is real:
the use of American troops to quell civil unrest is likely if worsening economic crisis persists
warning that the U.S. military must prepare for a “violent, strategic dislocation inside the United States” that could be provoked by “unforeseen economic collapse” or “loss of functioning political and legal order.”
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned of riots and unrest in global markets if the ongoing financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are beset with credit constraints and rising unemployment, the Phoenix Business Journal reported.
The Defence Department has made plans to deploy 20,000 troops nationwide by 2011 to help state and local officials respond to emergencies.
In other words, the government is predicting that systems will break down.
Here’s an amazing outlook, hilarious too!
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a convenient way of measuring and comparing the size of national economies. Annual GDP represents the market value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year. Put differently:GDP = consumption + investment + government spending + (exports – imports)
Frank Jacobs loves maps, but finds most atlases too predictable. He collects and comments on all kinds of intriguing maps—real, fictional, and what-if ones—and has been writing the Strange Maps blog since 2006, first on WordPress and now for Big Think. His map “US States Renamed For Countries With Similar GDPs” has been viewed more than 587,000 times. An anthology of maps from this blog was published by Penguin in 2009 and can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Not since 1917 has the United States of America been faced with the downgrading of its Credit Rating until this fateful Friday on 5 August 2011 from its AAA standing to AA+. Standard & Poor’s well justified its action evidently by US’ ceaseless mounting national debt & its inability to pay.
Europe and the US are both wrestling with the reverberations of the GFC as the various governments on either side of the Atlantic confront the reality that throughout 2008 and 2009 they were obliged to bail out the privately run financial miscreants with massive injections of taxpayer moneys, just to prevent a complete meltdown of the global financial system. It has been a close-run thing, and the latest aftershocks are an indicator that we have further to go. (National Times AU).
Setting aside all political rhetoric, just through simple common sense of the “Man in the Street” as against the “Men in Wall Street” – great financial wizards or more correctly manipulators & crooks, the game of living it up beyond the economic limit cannot go on & on. The world at large cannot be held at bondage to keep on supporting the glamour & luxuries that’s been put on show.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul
Cutting the cloth according to your fit
Simple economic rule of supply & demand
Over-subscription hits on pride & plight
are all familiar to the layman, but completely thrown out of the window by the game that politicians play!
Take a close look at the above map of “National Debt by Country”. The key to take note is the debt percentage to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). With the exception of Russia, most of the great rich countries, show a dismal performance in this economic aspect.
They say that the “Gate of Hell” has three main entrances: anger, lust & greed. In this case, GREED is the biggest culprit. The Romans had their fall. Similarly, such fate awaits the mighty & tall. For far too long, US has been pulling the economic wool over the eyes of the world – its currency has no tangible value as backed by gold . . . only the world’s confidence support it as the reserve currency. It’s really “toilet” paper money which US Treasury resorts to printing in plentiful amount in short term measures for long term benefits.
I remember the days during the Japanese Occupation in Malaysia, my father was landed with bags & bags of Japanese notes that were worthless as toilet paper! These days in Zimbabwe, people are going around with bundles of paper money for just daily shopping needs. Want to own a Zimbabwe billion dollar note?
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