Tsunami...

Mengapa Lempeng Bumi Bertumbukan?

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INDONESIA memang area gempa. Hal itu karena nun jauh di dasar samudera kepulauan di negeri ini, terdapat tiga lempeng, yakni Eurasia, Indo-Australia, dan Pasifik, yang bila bertumbukan akan menghasilkan gempa tektonik.

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Itu baru gempa tektonik, Indonesia pun kaya akan gunung berapi yang tercatat aktif dan yang belum ketahuan aktif tidaknya. Aktivitas gunung-gunung itu pun berpotensi menimbulkan gempa yang disebut sebagai gempa vulkanik.

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Bisakah kita yang tinggal di Indonesia ini terhindar dari gempa? Secara ilmiah, fenomena alam tersebut tidak bisa dihindari. Sebab, lempeng-lempeng bumi yang ada di negara kita itu merupakan bagian dari kerak bumi yang bergerak aktif. Pergerakan itu dipicu antara lain oleh air laut dan samudera. Perlu diketahui, 71 persen wilayah bumi kita ini terdiri atas laut dan samudera, atau dengan kata lain berupa air.

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Pergerakan lempeng-lempeng itu antara lain menimbulkan gempa bumi. Mengapa lempeng-lempeng itu bergerak dan bahkan bertumbukan? Lempeng-lempeng itu sebetulnya bagian dari kerak bumi yang terdiri atas berbagai jenis bebatuan. Pergerakan itu berlangsung terus selama berjuta-juta tahun usia bumi. Bentuk gerakan berupa lipatan, pergeseran, dan patahan. Setiap gerakan, menghasilkan antara lain benua, pegunungan, pulau-pulau kecil.

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Tentang pergeseran lempeng, pergeseran memang tidak bisa dihindari sebagai bagian dari evolusi bumi. Efek dari pergeseran itu adalah berupa getaran yang disebut gempa. Gempa terjadi karena ada perpindahan massa dalam lapisan batuan bumi. Kekuatan suatu gempa bergantung pada jumlah energi yang terlepas, saat terjadi pergeseran dan tumbukan.

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Pergeseran tersebut memang memungkinkan terjadinya tumbukan. Ada kalanya pergeseran itu menyebabkan perubahan bentuk yang tiba-tiba, sehingga terjadi ledakan dan patahan yang menimbulkan gempa hebat yang disebut sebagai gempa tektonik. Keadaan itu tidak bisa kita hindari karena memang bagian dari evolusi bumi.

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Hasil dari gempa dimaksud antara lain menghasilkan lipatan bumi. Bentuk dari lipatan bumi itu tidak serta-merta terlihat secara fisik. Sebab, untuk membentuk satu kali lipatan dibutuhkan ratusan juta tahun Tentang lipatan itu, sepanjang sejarahnya, bumi telah mengalami empat kali periode lipatan.
Itulah yang pada akhirnya menghasilkan pulau-pulau baru dan menghilangkan pulau-pulau yang pernah ada.

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Karenanya, tak mengherankan, apabila diukur setiap tahun, suatu wilayah daratan ada yang berkurang dan ada yang bertambah.

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Tentang posisi Indonesia, ada yang menyebutnya sebagai efek dari lipatan Alpin. Lipatan itu merupakan periode lipatan bumi yang keempat yang sampai sekarang terus bergerak aktif. Secara geografis, lipatan Alpin membentang dari Eropa, Asia hingga Indonesia. Lipatan Alpin sudah dikenal sebagai kawasan yang tidak tenang secara geologi, karena pada proses pergerakannya selalu memunculkan gempa bumi dan gunung berapi.

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Tentang gempa yang terjadi di barat Aceh dan menimbulkan gelombang dahsyat tsunami, hal itu merupakan akibat dari tumbukan lempeng-lempeng bumi yang menimbulkan gempa tektonik di dasar laut. Bisa dipastikan, menurut NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), setiap gempa tektonik yang terjadi di dasar laut, akan menghasilkan gelombang Tsunami. Beberapa wilayah di dunia yang rawan Tsunami, biasanya dilengkapi dengan pos atau kantor yang dilengkapi pencatat getaran/gempa, seismograf.

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Selamat dari Tsunami
Bagaimana menyelamatkan diri dari Tsunami? Bagi masyarakat pesisir, atau yang tinggal di wilayah pantai, sebaiknya memang memperlengkapi diri dengan pengetahuan tentang gelombang dahsyat yang tingginya bisa mencapai 30 meter itu. Sebetulnya, Tsunami bisa diprediksikan. Ingat, sekali lagi, setiap gempa di laut, berpeluang menghasilkan Tsunami. Patut diwaspadai, bahaya dari Tsunami bisa berlangsung berjam-jam setelah hempasan gelombang dahsyatnya yang pertama terjadi. Itu karena sifat gelombang yang datangnya bergulung, tidak serentak satu kali hempas.

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Bagi Anda yang tinggal di pesisir dan yang menyukai wilayah pantai sebagai tempat berlibur, waspadai gejala Tsunami. Bila tanah tempat Anda berpijak bergetar, segera lari ke tempat yang lebih tinggi. Hal itu karena kita tidak bisa memprediksikan berapa menit yang dibutuhkan gelombang laut menjadi bergulung tinggi membentuk Tsunami.

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Kemungkinan Tsunami datang minimal dalam waktu lima menit setelah getaran yang dirasakan. Tetapi di kawasan Kepulauan Hawaii yang juga sering dilanda gempa vulkanik, karena banyak terdapat gunung berapi di dasar laut, Tsunami muncul sekitar beberapa jam kemudian. Kekuatan gempa di dasar laut yang besarannya lebih dari 6 Skala Richter, biasanya berpeluang menimbulkan Tsunami.

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Bagaimana apabila saat terjadi Tsunami Anda tengah berada di laut, di atas kapal? Getaran gempa barangkali tidak terasa karena kapal yang bergoyang-goyang, tetapi biasanya kapal-kapal pesiar dan kapal-kapal yang dilengkapi peralatan yang modern, tentunya dilengkapi alat komunikasi. Petugas pelabuhan biasanya akan mengumumkan bila telah terjadi gempa di dasar laut.

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Untuk mengantisipasi Tsunami pada saat sedang naik kapal di tengah laut, Anda diminta segera mengenakan pelampung, terjun ke laut lepas, dan membiarkan diri Anda mengapung di atas air, pasrah mengikuti datangnya gulungan ombak. Jangan melawannya, ikuti saja arus ombak! Hal itulah justru yang memungkinkan Anda selamat.(Berbagai sumber/N-5)

You CAN take it with you

This very interesting article is taken from Newsweek issue: December 27 / January 7: Periscope by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop

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I dream of owning it all. A big condo. A silver Mercedes. All the latest gadgets. And I've just found out how to do it. The catch? I have to be dead.

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My fater has always nagged me to sort out my affairs and prepare a will. Tend to my afterlife, he says. But i've put it off. Too creepy. Now another birthday has rolled by, and at long last I've decided he is right. It's time.

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So it was that i delicately raised the subject with a few Singaporean friends. A revelation! Rather than morbidly worrying how to divide my meager possessions among my nearest and dearest, I can do what they do - revel in dreaming about what goodies I should take with me into the Great Beyond. You can't take it with you, as the old saying goes? nonsense. Taoists send off their dead with anything (and sometimes everything) they could conceivably require. yes, the Mercedes. And the color TVs with karoke, too.

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Not really, of course. These are paper facsimiles of things - houses, cars, what have you - that mourners burn to send as smoke (along with you, the dearly departed) into the afterlife. I'd oftern seen them hanin in shops and assumed they were just toys, not paying much attention. Now I pass Mr. Nam's religious-paraphernalia shop with more care, realizing that I could be window-shopping for eternity.

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Alas, Mr. Nam is something of a relic. Taoist (here) tradition is fast disappearing in Singapore. Blame it on the economy, perhaps, but only one in 10 funerals theres days is conducted along Taoist lines.

Most locals opt for the simpler Buddhist version: a few monks' chants with fruit and vegetable offerings. "I know people who have switched from Taoist to buddhist because they don't want to spend the money", another shopkeeper tells me.

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Even in the afterlife, it seems, condos don't come cheap. The deluxe version (four meters long) can cost $800. (Two maids are "thrown in" to keep the ash and soot out.) It's also very clear that ancestors know their Nikes from no-name flip-flops. "People are quite specific about their choice of brand," says Mr. Nam, adding that Mercedes outsells BMW when it comes to the dead and that Nokia phones are preferable to Samsung.

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As for myself, I plan to go out with a bang, or at lease lots of smoke. I'll reserve the gaudiest offerings - full-size planes, yachts and cars with "chauffeurs." Already I'm advising friends on which little extras will keep me happy and entertained. Want my spirit protection - or, better yet, my gravelike silence on certain indiscretions? Put a little treat in the fire for me. From fine cognac to sexy red lingerie (you never know whom you'll meet) to Game Boys for those lonely nights, Nam's has it all - including such mundane items as cigarettes, cans of beer and spare dentures.

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On the day I visited, he was jovially packing four large chests with $65 worth of gold and silver paper money. All of which would soon go up in smoke. He proudly pointed to the "customs" declaration banner, presumably to be collected by the proverbial bargeman over the River Styx, ensuring that the package gets to the right ancestors. "Bank of Hell" money had also been thrown in to distract evil spritis, who reputedly have a penchant for the finer things in life. It seems that even in death you must beware of thieves. The only problem: you have to pay for all this phony loot with real money, hard earned in the here and now.

rain rain

Photos were taken few weeks ago, raining - Sunday afternoon.


Playing in the rain - fun, fun!


children are posing to the camera - action!

Apologize?

Things a woman should never apologize for :

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1. Never apologize for pursuing what makes you happy. Even if you need to quit your job, transfer schools, or move across country, always do what you really want.

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2. Never apologize for using proper English. Keeping it real doesn't mean speaking Ebonics.

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3. Never apologize for giving your best in a relationship that just didn't work out.

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4. Never apologize for being successful. Only haters want to keep you at their level.

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5. Never apologize for crying. Wear waterproof mascara and express yourself.

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6. Never apologize for ten pounds you need to lose. People who truly care about you will accept you as you are.

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7. Never apologize for being frugal. Just because you save your money instead of blowing it on the latest fashion emergency doesn't mean you're cheap.

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8. Don't apologize for being a single mom. Babies are a blessing.

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9. Never apologize for treating yourself to something special. Sometimes you have to show yourself some appreciation.

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10. Never apologize for leaving an abusive relationship. Your safety should always be a priority.

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11. Never apologize for keeping the ring even if wedding bells won't chime.

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12. Never apologize for setting high standards in a relationship. You know what you can tolerate and what simply gets on your nerves.

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13. Never apologize for saying NO.

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14. Never apologize for asking for what you want in bed. If you don't, then who will?

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15. Never apologize for wearing a weave. You bought it so it's yours.

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16. Never apologize to your new friends about old friends. There's a reason she's been your girl from day one.

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17. Never apologize for ordering dessert. Or more than one dessert.

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18. Never apologize for dating outside your race. Just because you found Mr. Right across the color line doesn't mean you don't love your brothas.

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19. Never apologize for not knowing how to cook. Even if you can't burn like Grandma you know how to order good take out.

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20. Never apologize for your taste in clothes. It's your style.

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21. Never apologize for changing your mind.

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22. Never apologize for exercising your right to choose. It's your body and your right.

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23. Never apologize for making more money than your man, you work hard and you deserve to get paid.

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24. Never apologize for being you!

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"KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD"

health: sleep, bold

My brother told me that our sleeping position should follow the earth magnetic axis : from North to South - this supposedly will improve body's circulation & health in general. However, this link says that the magnetic field is from South to North. ???

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I am trying to find any info on the connection between coffee and baldness - still unsuccessful. It is said that applying coffee in your scalp will make hair healthy. In the meantime, you can read this very useful site about HAIR HEALTH.

AR 6

Happy that I finally have time to update my blog. Super busy lately.

This favorite show on TV, Amazing Race 6, keeps me going on Sunday morning....

Have not decided what is the best team - but i do like the sisters, however they were eliminated on the 'hay fever' road block :(

My brother is staying with me while waiting for a job offer to show up. Hope good things will happen SOON!!

To grow old together

On my wedding day, I carried my wife in my arms. The bridal car stopped in front of our one-room flat. My buddies insisted that I carry her out of the car in my arms. So I carried her into our home. She was then plump and shy. I was a strong and happy bridegroom. This was the scene of ten years ago.

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The following days were as simple as a cup of pure water: we had a kid, I went into business and tried to make more money. When the assets were steadily increasing, the affections between usseemed to ebb. She was a civil servant. Every morning we left home together and got home almost at the same time. Our kid was studying in a boarding school.

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Our marriage life seemed to be enviably happy. But the calm life was more likely to be affected by unpredictable changes.

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Dew came into my life. It was a sunny day. I stood on a spacious balcony. Dew hugged me from behind. My heart once again was immersed in her stream of love. This was the apartment I bought for her. Dew said, "You are the kind of man who best draws girls' eyeballs. Her words suddenly reminded me of my wife. When we just married, my wife said, "Men like you, once successful, will be very attractive to girls."Thinking of this, I became somewhat hesitant. I knew I had betrayed mywife. But I couldn't help doing so. I moved Dew's hands aside and said, "You go to select some furniture,O.K.? I've got something to do in the company." Obviously she was unhappy, because I had promised her to go and see with her.

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At the moment, the idea of divorce became clearer in my mind although it used to be something impossible to me. However, I found it rather difficult to tell my wife about it. No matter how mildly I mentioned it to her, she would be deeply hurt. Honestly, she was a good wife. Every evening she was busy preparing dinner. I was sitting in front of the TV. The dinner was ready soon. Then we watched TV together. Or, I was lounging before the computer, visualizing Dew's body. This was the means of my entertainment.

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One day I said to her in a slight joking way, "Suppose we divorce, what will you do?" She stared at me for a few seconds without a word. Apparently she believed that 'divorce' was something too far away from her. I couldn't imagine how she would react once she got to know I was serious.

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When my wife went to my office, Dew had just stepped out. Almost all the staff looked at my wife with a sympathetic eye and tried to hide something while talking with her. She seemed to have got some hint. She gently smiled at my subordinates. But I read some hurt in her eyes. Once again, Dew said to me, "He-Ning, divorce her, O.K.? Then we live together." I nodded. I knew I could not hesitate any more.

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When my wife served the last dish, I held her hand. "I've got somethingto tell you," I said. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. "I want to divorce." I raised a serioustopic calmly. She didn't seem to be much annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, "why?". "I'm serious." I avoided her question. This so-called answer turned her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, "you are not a man!"

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At that night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer, because my hearthad gone to Dew. With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. I felt a pain in my heart. The woman who had been living ten years with me would become a stranger one day. But I could not take back what I had said. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer.

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A late night, I came back home after entertaining my clients. I saw her writing something at the table. I fell asleep fast. When I woke up, I found she was still there. I turned over and was asleep again. She brought up her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but I was supposed to give her one month's time before divorce, and in the month's time we must live as normal life as possible. Her reasonwas simple: our son would finish his summer vacation a month later and she didn't want him to see our marriage was broken. She passed me the agreement she drafted, and then asked me, "He-Ning, do you still remember how I entered our bridal room on the wedding day?" This question suddenly brought back all those wonderful memories to me.I nodded and said,

"I remember".

"You carried me in your arms", shecontinued,

"so, I have a requirement, that is, you carry me out in yourarms on the day when we divorce. From now to the end of this month, you must carry me out from the bedroom to the door everymorning."

I accepted with a smile. I knew she missed those sweet daysand wished to end her marriage with a romantic form.

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I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. "No matter what tricks she does, she has to face the result of divorce," she said scornfully. Her words more or less made me feel uncomfortable. My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. We even treated each other as a stranger.

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So when I carried her out for the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, "daddy is holding mummy in his arms." His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sittingroom, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, "Let us start from today, don't tell our son." I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for bus, I drove to office.

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On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. We were so close that I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this intimate woman carefully for along time. I found she was not young any more. There were some fine wrinkles on her face.

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On the third day, she whispered to me, "The outside garden is being demolished. Be careful when you pass there."

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On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I seemed to feel that we were still an intimate couple and I was holding my sweetheart in my arms.The visualization of Dew became vaguer.

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On the fifth and sixth day, she kept reminding me something, such as,where she put the ironed shirts, I should be careful while cooking, etc.I nodded.

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The sense of intimacy was even stronger. I didn't tell Dew about this. I felt it was easier to carry her. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. I said to her, "It seems not difficult to carry you now."

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She was picking her dresses. I was waiting to carry her out. She tried quite a few but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, "All my dresses have grown fatter." I smiled. But I suddenly realized that it was because she was thinner that I could carry her more easily, not because I was stronger. I knew she had buried all the bitterness in her heart. Again, I felt a sense of pain. Subconsciously I reached out a hand to touch her head. Our son came in at the moment. "Dad, it's time to carry mum out." He said. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had been an essential part of his life. She gestured our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face because I was afraid I would change my mind at the last minute. I held her in my arms, walking from thebedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, as if we cameback to our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.

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On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. She said, "Actually I hope you will hold mein your arms until we are old." I held her tightly and said, " Both you and I didn't notice that our life was lack of such intimacy."

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I jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my decision. I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door. I said to her, "Sorry, Dew, I won't divorce. I'm serious."

She looked at me, astonished. The she touched my forehead.

"You got no fever." She said.

I moved her hand off my head. "Sorry, Dew," I said,"I can only say sorry to you, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of life, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I understand that since I carried her into the home, she gave birth to our child, I am supposed to hold her until I am old. So I have to say sorry to you."

Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into cry.

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I walked downstairs and drove to the office. When I passed the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet for my wife which was her favorite. The salesgirl asked me to write the greeting words on the card. I smiled and wrote, "I'll carry you out every morning until we are old."

"True" side of Horoscope

"TRUE" SIDE OF HOROSCOPE

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
You are rather materialistic and it is fueled by your fears of financial disaster. This makes you complain about monetary woes, irritating many with your obnoxious attitude. You can also be a social climber, manipulating your way up the ladder; name- dropping all the way to the top. Once in a while, you'll have morbid thoughts about Death, something that scares you because you have no control over it. You tend to be obsessive about your mortality sometimes.
Advice:
Stop worrying about losing money, and you'd rid yourself of unfounded nightmares. Stop manipulating others and you'll be free to concentrate on attaining your goals. Get rid of your phobias and you'll be able to relax more and enjoy yourself.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
You tend to be too idealistic and naive sometimes. Practicality gets thrown out of the window by you many times. Cool and aloof, you rarely want to deal with deep emotions. You like to give advice but don't like to receive it. And ideas and inspirations that you sometimes neglect or follow through with them are constantly bombarding you. Or else you are constantly shifting focus, giving people the idea with no staying power.
Advice:
Take time to explore your private feelings. Not all people see things your way. And just because you come up with ideas, don't expect other people to do all the work for you. Learn to trust people and accept advice.

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)
You are an escapist - you have this knack of avoiding issues if they seem unpleasant. You delve into past memories to escape your present woes. There is also a tendency towards alcoholism and even drug abuse - you are on a search for some kind of 'high'. You also love to flirt and too much of it may send the wrong, dangerous signals out to other people. Once in a while, a dark mood will descend on you and you become rather unsociable and withdrawn.
Advice:
Trust your instincts, but also be in control of your perceptions. Whenever the escapist tendency hits you, join a seminar or get a pep talk from a friend to get your perspective right.

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 20)
A warrior at heart, you thrive on challenges and any strife and dramas, you are tempted to stir things up, just to keep yourself happy. You are also rather intolerant of mistakes and don't have patience for weakness or failings in others. And sometimes, you can be quite a snob as well you like to be seen at the right places or wear the right clothes. And you're also prone to bossiness. Your restless nature may make you quit a project suddenly if you can't sustain the interest.
Advice:
Get off your high horse and pay your dues before people will accept you. Learn to be more tolerant of others and try to see the other person's side of the story. If you believe in what you do, you can move mountains.

Taurus (Apr 21 - May 20)
You are stubborn and like to hold onto things, not wanting to let go of anything or anyone. You are slow to anger, but when you do get worked up to a rage - everyone step aside! You also have a selfish streak and can be quite sneaky as well. And although people may see you as helpful and agreeable, you sometimes have an inner struggle wanting the approval of opinions. You also tend to be suspicious of others and question their motives.
Advice:
Stop being mean and try to be nice. Learn to forgive and let go of your past disappointments. Learn from your mistakes and have faith in yourself and others as well.

Gemini (May 21 - Jun 21)
Your devil-may-care attitude sometimes could bring harm to yourself - you tend to live on the edge sometimes. Many of you believe that you don't deserve success, somehow feeling guilty for it. You may give others too much of yourself sometimes that you lose yourself. ! You may be prone to suppressing emotions as well. And at times that makes it difficult for you to accept affection and love.
Advice:
Work at listening to others and don't be tempted to try dare devil stunts all the time. And try doing something for yourself and once in a while, in between, doing favors for others. You're human, after all.

Cancer (Jun 22 - Jul 22)
You can get carried away with emotions - your anger is overwhelming and your sadness can depress all those around you. You're also ultra-sensitive to other people's emotions and are affected by these as well. You tend to react before you think and then brood about what you may have done or said wrong. You are also prone to periods of morbidity,thinking dark thoughts. Feelings of insecurity creep in now and then,making you snappish or else you try to win the approval of everyone at your expense.
Advice:
Accept that you are hypersensitive to emotions and work with yours. Go with the flow and by doing the right thing, you set an example for others. Work with others and this will help build your confidence and open you up.

Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22)
On the rare occasion you lose your temper, you can turn into a savage beast. You seem to need an audience as well, to help boost your confidence and ego, sometimes. Other times, you get caught up in the outward dramas of your life that you neglect what you're feeling inside.This results in a delayed reaction when emotions sneak up on you and you get hit with a whammy. You also tend to be proud and aggressive, cloaking these with your charm. When things don't go your way, you get impatient and may even throw a tantrum.
Advice:
Learn to spend some time alone with yourself and get to know yourself better. And learn to experience your emotions at the moment, don't store them up for another time. And know that not all means justify the ends.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)
You have a martyr complex, feeling that you were put on this earth to do good work and not receive any credit for it. You tend to be ultracritical of yourself and others and you also worry about things that are beyond your control. A little pessimistic sometimes, you tend to be an intellectual snob. You bottle up all your insecurities and fears, and
hesitate to reach out for help. And once in a while, you become a busybody - that's when you also feel responsible for other people's problems.
Advice:
Modesty has its own limits - take credit for your efforts. Give yourself a break and know that you do not have to be successful in everything you do. Keep focused and don't get tangled in other people's affairs too often.

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 23)
Your inability to reach a decision in matters of personal action are legendary. You like to weigh all the alternatives and hear every side of an argument - but this may take time and opportunities may pass you by because of it. You also like to expand energy on people who may not deserve it - You want to help the underdog. You are also sensitive to criticism and may take mild statements of fact very personally.
Advice:
Follow your instincts and act on them - stop sitting on fences. Don't blindly trust people, learn to be a little more discriminating in your offers of help.Learn to think for yourself and don't be swayed by persuasive tongues

Scorpio (Oct 24 - Nov 21)
You have a revengeful streak and a long memory for past hurts. Sometimes you're downright spiteful. When you suffer, you make sure others suffer along with you. Sometimes, you may even use deception to get what you want and to influence others to stay out of your way. You may even believe these untruths and unrealistic fears will grow on you. Once in a while, you may come across someone that just rubs you on the wrong side for no apparent reason and you make it your mission to bury him or her.
Advice:
Flight the negative emotions that arise in you, and resentment will not sour your life. Don't' give into temptation to tell lies, learn to conquer your strong tendency towards revenge and things will fall into place for you.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
You've got a big mouth and unwittingly hurt an insult people with it. You can even go to utter strangers and give unsolicited advice and comments. You also seem to enjoy verbal duels with others whenever you can. And you sure can make sore losers, even suspecting foul play if things don't go your way. You have a knack for confrontation and you can't resist being sarcastic. You also don't think too much of many people, because you have a mild superiority complex. Vanity is also a trait in many of you.
Advice:
Learn with whom you can be frank otherwise keep your comments to yourself.Discretion is the better part of valour. Curb your cockiness,and you can combine it with your concern for serious issues, aiding in your search for truth.

Holiday mode

Today is the 3rd day in office after 10 days public holiday and I'm so in holiday mode...

Check this "Losari Coffee Plantation" -- would be great to go there! Anyone?

Mamma Mia!

This is the musical show that I REALLY REALLY want to see but I can't :( as must take days off + fly to Singapore... - wish it was in Jakarta!

STORY
A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads.
And a trip down the aisle you'll never forget!

Over 18 million people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make

MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show!

Writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale unfolds on a tiny Greek island. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone's having the time of their lives!

With more productions playing internationally than any other musical, MAMMA MIA! is the world’s No.1 show !

DANCING QUEEN
THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL
SOS
KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME
I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO
THE NAME OF THE GAME
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
SUPER TROUPER
GIMME! GIMME! GIMME!
MAMMA MIA

Eye cream

Do it now!

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, didn’t know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn’t suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched something on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gasp and stammer, "I can’t. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday; I had a late breakfast. It looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "It’s Monday."

She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because people cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained. We’ll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We’ll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for! Our lives is a litany of "I’m going to," "I plan on" and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit."

When anyone calls my "seize the moment" friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you "want to," not something on your "should do" list.

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry-go-round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask, "How are you?," do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie on your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?

Ever told your child, "We’ll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die?

Just call to say, "Hi!"?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift...thrown away. Life is not a race.

Take it slower! Hear the music before the song is over.

Why yellling?

Mengapa Berteriak?

Suatu hari sang guru bertanya kepada murid-muridnya; "Mengapa ketika seseorang sedang dalam keadaan marah, ia akan berbicara dengan suara kuat atau berteriak?"

Seorang murid setelah berpikir cukup lama mengangkat tangan dan menjawab; "Karena saat seperti itu ia telah kehilangan kesabaran, karena itu ia lalu berteriak." "Tapi..." sang guru balik bertanya, "lawan bicaranya justru berada disampingnya. Mengapa harus berteriak? Apakah ia tak dapat berbicara secara halus?"

Hampir semua murid memberikan sejumlah alasan yang dikira benar menurut pertimbangan mereka. Namun tak satupun jawaban yang memuaskan. Sang guru lalu berkata; "Ketika dua orang sedang berada dalam situasi kemarahan, jarak antara ke dua hati mereka menjadi amat jauh walau secara fisik mereka begitu dekat. Karena itu, untuk mencapai jarak yang demikian, mereka harus berteriak. Namun anehnya, semakin keras mereka berteriak, semakin pula mereka menjadi marah dan dengan sendirinya jarak hati yang ada di antara keduanya pun menjadi lebih jauh lagi. Karena itu mereka terpaksa berteriak lebih keras lagi."

Sang guru masih melanjutkan; "Sebaliknya, apa yang terjadi ketika dua orang saling jatuh cinta? Mereka tak hanya tidak berteriak, namun ketika mereka berbicara suara yang keluar dari mulut mereka begitu halus dan kecil. Sehalus apapun, keduanya bisa mendengarkannya dengan begitu jelas. Mengapa demikian?" Sang guru bertanya sambil memperhatikan para muridnya. Mereka nampak berpikir amat dalam namun tak satupun berani memberikan jawaban. "Karena hati mereka begitu dekat, hati mereka tak berjarak. Pada akhirnya sepatah katapun tak perlu diucapkan. Sebuah pandangan mata saja amatlah cukup membuat mereka memahami apa yang ingin mereka sampaikan."

Sang guru masih melanjutkan; "Ketika anda sedang dilanda kemarahan, janganlah hatimu menciptakan jarak. Lebih lagi hendaknya kamu tidak mengucapkan kata yang mendatangkan jarak di antara kamu. Mungkin di saat seperti itu, tak mengucapkan kata-kata mungkin merupakan cara yang bijaksana. Karena waktu akan membantu anda."

daily life

Heard that it is common for women here to be harrased - ok, only bum ... WHAT? ONLY???
This will happen in rickshaw and taxi... this is scaaarryy!!!

We went to pizza Hut yesterday. As usual, there are so many beggars on the street, and they start to 'force' us to give money - very very disturbing...

oh, my fish fingers are here ..yummy!!

Dhaka, Bangladesh & Great Romantic

Quick recap on my first few days in Dhaka.

Finallly arrived in ZIA International Airport at 9.15 pm on 20th Oct 04 with Biman Air.

In Plane:
1. There were only 5 woman in our Airbus plane (from Singapore-Bangkok-Dhaka)
2. Toilet: The men always let me go in first no matter how long the q is!
3. The food is YUUUUMMMYYY!!
4. Strict, tense, fierce atmosphere between cabin crews + passengers...

In airport:
Immigration: I get to q in Diplomatic Officer line - good to be different!


Look what i found :)

Artist: Tunde
Album: Altre Canzoni
Title: Great Romantic

Hey, so you threw your heart right in
and it turned out less than perfect
a losing streak is starting in your mind
you let yourself believe the pain
its never going to be worth it
don't beat yourself up
know that you were never wrong for wishful thinking
So now that you've lost the battle
should we just cross out your name and let you sink?

chorus:
You've got me feeling like the last surviving great romantic,
Just stop the dreaming and the world stops spinning around
You feel foolish cos love never turns out
like you planned it
stop believing and the world stops letting you down.

So you had to let it go
it clearly wasn't working
new love leaves you trembling
you hide behind the door
so unsure of what you used to know
so now you think your every move ten steps ahead and you are frozen
caught inside yourself
You're drowning as the anger overflows....

Chorus:

definitions

OXFORD DICTIONARY'S LATEST DEFINITION OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

- Divorce : Future tense of marriage.

- Cigarette : A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end & a fool on the other.

- Lecture : An art of transferring information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through "the minds of either"

- Conference : The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.

- Compromise : The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.

- Tears : The hydraulic force by which masculine will-power is defeated by feminine water power

- Dictionary : A place where success comes before work.

- Conference Room : A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on.

- Classic : A book which people praise, but do not read.

- Smile : A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

- Office : A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

- Yawn : The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth. Etc. : A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.

- Committee : Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

- Experience : The name men give to their mistakes.

- Atom Bomb : An invention to end all inventions.

- Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead.

- Diplomat : A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip.

- Opportunist : A person who starts taking a bath if he accidentally falls into a river.

- Optimist : A person who while falling from Eiffel tower says in midway "See, I am not injured yet."

- Miser : A person who lives poor so that he can die rich.

- Father : A banker provided by nature.

- Criminal : A guy no different from the rest....except that he got caught.

- Boss : Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

- Politician : One who shakes your hand before after.

- Doctor : A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you with his bills.

Silver Fawn, racer, fasting month

This is the colour checking - cool link ... try it out, try!

And this is my color checking result :)

----
You are Silver Fawn, who tends to give an impression of being difficult to grasp what you really mean.

People find it hard to know what you think and what you like, no matter how often and how much they talk to you.

Your mysterious atmosphere makes you look like a cold hearted woman, but all the more, you stand for femininity.

You are composed of both natural caution against men and passion for your own life.

A feudalistic ideas and passion for artistic things exist along side each other inside you, and are kept in good balance.

You are full of fantasist ideas, and tends to be rather dreamy sort of person. Nevertheless, your attitude towards life is extremely steady. You are not interested in real life, and you don't have many relationships.

You can show astonishing vital power when it comes to long term businesses. But you tend to withdraw into your shell, and be unable to bring out the trust you have among other people.

You should try and mingle more often with others.

Although you are very unique and have the mysterious atmosphere around you, you tend to get interested in natural and ordinary things.

You should create an environment at home, where you could make use of your personal interest and your life mission.After getting married, you will lead a steady life.

There may be a possibility that you may take an active part outside your home.

----

Pictures of racers to be ....

Note:
Fasting month starts tomorrow = office hours = 8 am - 4 pm :) loveeeelyyy!!!

Conquest ...

Still in my conquest to find the GREAT ROMANTIC lyrics by Tunde.

JB sent me the link to Lighthouse Family lyrics - very nice of you, Thank you...., can't find it there though! Help...help....

-------

Tunde - The Great Romantic

The voice and soul of the Lighthouse Family, Tunde Baiyewu finds a voice of his own with his gorgeous debut solo album, ‘Tunde’, out October 25th, featuring the captivating first single, ‘Great Romantic’ out October 4th.

This debut self-titled solo album is written by Tunde with further collaboration from Grant Lee Phillips (former frontman of Grant Lee Buffalo) and Floetry collaborator, Sebastian Rogers. The album is produced by Mike Peden who has worked extensively with the Lighthouse Family and was the man behind The Chimes.

Going solo with his own material has always been a dream for Tunde and the new album is undoubtedly the sound of an artist exploring new territory as both a vocalist and lyricist.

Says Tunde: “For me, it was all about the songs. They reflect a lot of the stuff I’ve been through over the past four years, plus my Nigerian heritage is in there too. The lyrics are very personal. I think I’m doing things with my voice now that people won’t have heard before; it’s more expressive. Playing safe would have been… too dangerous.”

Highlights range from the first single, ‘Great Romantic’, with its anthemic and infectious chorus to the groove and hook laden, ‘Shouldn’t Be Like This (according to fairness)’. ‘Letting Me Down Gently’, featuring Catherine Feeny, is a sensuous and affecting song and just one of many of the stand out tracks on the album. ‘Anaesthetic’ is a powerful and personal song about grief which showcases Tunde’s vocal range and power of expression to stunning effect. ‘Our History’ is a soulful gem, while, ‘Miles Ahead Of Me’, manages to be sensitive and enervating all at once. Tunde’s voice has never sounded so rich and strong and emotive as it does on this album. From up tempo tracks like, ‘Cover Me’, to more introspective numbers like, ‘Can’t Make The World Disappear’, ‘Tunde’ is a rare treat; an intelligent, passionate album packed with classic songs, delivered in Tunde’s own unmistakable style.
--------------

For the past few days, I've been busy arranging my ticket for next wednesday 20th Oct.
Jakarta-Singapore --> Garuda Indonesia Airline
Singapore - Dhaka --> Biman Air

Problems:
1. No Biman Air sales office in Jakarta.
2. Cash only - and it is cheaper by Sin$30, good price!
3. Ticket can only be issued by Biman sales office in the city.
4. No time to go into city and collect ticket.

Then a name came up in my head. I contacted this fellow, Ed, whom I have never met before but he helped me with ticket arragement for my boyfriend last April. Guess what? He said ok that he will pay for me first, collect the ticket and send it to airport! Unbelievable eh? There is stll a nice person in this world!

Great Romantic

I have been googling for the lyrics of Great Romantic by Tunde, vocalist of the Lighthouse Family. Zero till today...

Bought a cute play board... it comes with the chess & tiny buttons : SHE, HE....


Panasonic camera will be used by papa. I'll keep the tiny phone, it is my GREAT ROMANTIC...

Superman&Bali photos

Superman "long time ago" star - Christopher Reeves passed away. He was on The Practice , guest appearance, two weeks ago ... We really don't know our future, do we?


Bali trip - 5 - 8 Oct 04
Tues, 5/10/04
Half day at work. Rushed to airport. Flight on time. Welcome to Bali :)


Nusa Dua Beach Hotel - before checking in.

Wed, 6/10/04

Left wing view from room ...


Statue of Bima Mencari Air Suci ...


Bali dancers -- love the dances, love the costumes!

Thurs., 7/10/04
Garuda Wisnu Kencana complex

The magnificent clay hill, the highest spot in South -- buildings are made of same material! look at the details!


The beautiful scenery at night time to see the foot of Bali island -- still lovely at day time....


Miniature of Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue - suppose to be 140 m in height!

It is in slow progress due to lack of PRIVATE funding ...


Every piece will be assembled once done, currently only body & bird are ready...

Uluwatu

BEEEAUUUTIIFFUUULLLL scenery! it's 60 m above sea! breathtaking view!!

In front of Nusa Dua Beach hotel

Day time & night time

Fri, 8/10/04
Back to Jakarta :(

Bromo mountain, active volcano - taken from plane ....

"Hectic" week - Bali

It has been a hectic week ..

Monday = can't remember what did i do,
Tuesday = documents for Directors' Meeting. Left office at 12.30 pm.
Tuesday pm - Friday am (just arrived this morning!) = in Bali - yippieeee.....

Photos will be uploaded next week. It is nice to be away from office and city life!

Brothers:
Norman, will come to Jakarta by end of October ...
Yanto is back at home now, after 4/5 days in hospital.

ok, now I have to keep up all the reading in JB blog - always amusing :)

mailing list & mooncake

A useful link that I found on the Buddhism mailing list: alternative medication: Juice fasting is an advanced method of detoxification that speeds the elimination of toxins from the body - this method is called: Detox - juicing. Funnily enough, the advertisement on this page is McDonald "i'm lovin' it"- premium breast strips.

Today is the mooncake festival!
THERE are several stories about the origins of mooncakes and the myths and legends behind the Mooncake Festival.

One of the more romantic myths is that Chang-O, the most beautiful woman of Chinese mythology stole the elixir of life that her husband had obtained with great difficulty from the Royal Mother.

------
The story goes like this:

Long ago, the earth was in a state of havoc because there were 10 suns in the sky, and these were the sons of the Jade Emperor.

Rivers dried up, the land became barren, and many people died.
Seeing the death and destruction caused by his sons, the Jade Emperor took this matter to the god Hou Yi. The Emperor asked Hou Yi to persuade his sons to rise up away from the earth to end the catastrophe.

When Hou Yi asked the suns to leave the sky, they refused. Made angry by their defiance, Hou Yi, a great archer, launched arrows at the suns, shooting them down one by one until his wife Chang-O pleaded with him to save one sun to keep the earth warm and bright.
Knowing that the Jade Emperor was furious at the slaying of his sons, Hou Yi and Chang-O were forced to stay on earth.

Chang-O was unhappy, so her husband tried to win back her favour by gathering herbs that would give them once again the power to ascend to heaven. Chang-O remained angry, however, and ate all the herbs herself. She flew up to the moon, where she remains alone, living in the Moon Palace. The Tang poet, Li Shang-yin wrote the above verse on Chang O's sad story three thousand years later, and the story of Chang-O's flight to the moon has persisted since among the people of the world. There are several versions of this story, but this is the more popular version.

On the 15th of the 8th lunar month every year (this year it falls on September 24), when the moon is at its brightest and loveliest, Chinese people around the world look at the moon and remember Chang-O and her legend. The occasions is celebrated as the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as
the Moon Festival.
-----

Mooncakes

Mooncakes became part of the Mid-Autumn Festival because during the Yuan dynasty (1280 1368 A.D.) when China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (960-1280 A.D.) were unhappy at submitting to foreign rule, and set out to co-ordinate the rebellion without it being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Packed into each mooncake was a message with the outline of the attack.

On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels succesfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.).

Today, mooncakes are eaten to commemorate this event.

For generations, mooncakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes, a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert.

What does this festival mean and when did it start?
asnwers:
------
Sharing a mooncake with your family by dividing i into four pieces -- a tradition that Chinese believe will ensure a harmonious family. A festival for reunion The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the year according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

The custom of worshipping the moon can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia (21st century-16th century BC) and Shang dynasties (16th century-11th century BC). In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), people began to send round mooncakes to their relatives as gifts as an expression of their best wishes of family reunion. In addition to mooncakes, Chinese also eat taro, fragrant ``maodou'' (young soybean) and duck at the festival. At the end of a meal, people often have fresh lotus roots. Tonight the moon should be at its lowest angle to the horizon, making the moon appear brighter and rounder than any other time of the year.
-----

Unfortunately, the meaning of this tradition is fading away - full report.

***
My friend shared her little secret on how to "find" a husband by following these steps during the mooncake festival:

1. Put a pail of water at the open space of the house i.e. roof or yard

2. Leave it there for 24 hours and MUST get direct moon & sun lights.
3. Bathe with water from the pail & make a wish - for a perfect husband :)

Woman...

THE ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

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 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 FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Results AR 5

Amazing Race 5 finale was aired 2 days ago ... I am still thrilled with the results that I could not sleep on Wednesday night -- too excited! I was too 'involved' in the game...

My second favourite team, Chip & Kim, won the AR 5! Brandon & Nicole, my first favourite, arrived in the 3rd place. Colin & Christie got the recognition to be the most competitive team in the whole AR history - and i agree, that is so trueeeee !

m

I googled lyrics of GREAT ROMANTIC by Tunde (the vocalist of Lighthouse Family), no luck. The album will be released on 4th October 2004, perhaps I should wait until later?

Just got sms from mom: the food package will arrive tonight at hostel :) happy ! I love my mom - she is the BEST!!!

m

My colleague gave me a "hand-me-down" (this is how Rob described it) cool Panasonic GD88.

fotos: graduation & jap food

Went through folders few days ago and found photo of my youngest brother graduation in end 2003.... - my parents look happy here !


Oh, this tiny octopus is in Japanese food belt ... interesting, i didnt have the courage to eat it though...


My friend, Lieke, is enjoying her teriyaki -- yummy....

helping hand ...

Story below is taken from post-bomb blast in front of Australian Embassy last week.

There are still people with golden hearts out there....

-----------

Dia Membopongmu, Nunuk...PANDANGAN pria bertopi hitam itu nanar. Wajahnya tegang mengeras. Kedua tangannya membopong Elizabeth Manuela Babina Muzu alias Nunuk, 5 tahun, yang penuh luka. Setengah berlari dia menyibak kerumunan massa. Wartawan mengabadikan aksinya. Foto itu esoknya menghiasi halaman depan media massa.

m

Siapa pria penolong itu? Manuel Muzu, ayah Nunuk, pria asal Italia, mencarinya ke mana-mana. Diantar mobil Toyota Kijang, sembari menenteng koran buram yang memuat foto itu, Manuel menyusuri kawasan Kuningan, Jakarta. Kerumunan tukang ojek di depan kampus Perbanas hanya menggeleng ketika disodori gambar itu.Jawaban sama didapat dari tukang ojek di samping Rumah Sakit MMC. Wartawan Gatra juga berupaya mencari pria yang menolong Nunuk itu. Pedagang kaki lima di sekitar Kedubes Australia tidak ada yang mengenalnya. "Mungkin orang jauh yang kebetulan lewat," kata seorang tukang ojek di depan kampus Perbanas.Seorang petugas satpam Kedubes Australia mengatakan, pria itu adalah anggota Brimob. Memang, perawakan laki-laki berkumis itu kekar. Tapi, ketika ditanyakan pada anggota pasukan Brimob yang berjaga di kantor perwakilan Australia itu, mereka serempak menggeleng. "Bukan anggota kami," kata seorang dari mereka.Lalu, siapa pria yang menolongmu, Nunuk?

m

Titik terang muncul ketika seorang tukang ojek di samping Rumah Sakit MMC mengaku lupa-lupa ingat dengan wajah pria itu. Dia mengundang teman-temannya untuk mencoba menggali ingatan. "Sepertinya pekerja proyek di Pasar Festival," katanya. Yang lain menimpali bahwa pekerja di proyek itulah yang pertama kali berlari menuju lokasi setelah ledakan.

m

Akhirnya Gatra bertemu dengan Achmad Usman. Ya, inilah dia. Pria berusia 37 tahun ini adalah teknisi saluran udara air conditioner di lantai dasar Pasar Festival, 300 meter dari Kedubes Australia. Achmad sedang asyik bekerja ketika tiba-tiba ada suara ledakan."Tubuh saya bergetar. Saya kira ada lift jatuh," katanya. Ayah empat anak itu kontan menghambur keluar bersama teman-temannya. Pekerja PT Trikarsa itu mendekati lokasi ledakan. Ia mendapati tubuh-tubuh sudah bergelimpangan di jalanan. Bau bahan kimia menyengat hidung.Achmad Usman berusaha menolong orang-orang yang terluka. "Kami dahulukan yang hidup," katanya. Ketika itu, dia melihat teman-temannya tengah menolong korban bertubuh besar. "Saya berusaha membantu karena kelihatan berat," katanya.

m

Saat itulah matanya mengarah pada Nunuk, bocah cilik yang penuh luka.Saat itu sebenarnya sudah ada orang yang memangku Nunuk. "Orang itu saya dengar berteriak minta tolong," ia menjelaskan. Bocah itu lantas direngkuhnya dalam gendongan. "Saya memilih jangan sampai menyentuh lukanya," katanya. Karena itu, dia menyangga bagian kaki dan leher.Saat itu, Nunuk pingsan. Pria asal Mangga Besar, Jakarta Barat, ini membopong Nunuk ke sebuah mobil, karena mengira bocah cantik itu telah meninggal.

m

Begitu dibaringkan di jok mobil, tiba-tiba Nunuk bergerak. Matanya terbeliak, tubuhnya mengejang."Mama, Mama...," Nunuk merintih lemah.Pria yang membopongnya teringat anaknya yang tak tertolong.Kontan air mata Achmad berlinang. "Mirip saat anak saya akan meninggal," katanya dengan raut muka sedih. Menurut dia, saat itu putri bungsunya baru berusia tiga bulan. Tiba-tiba sakit panas, dan kejang. "Matanya terbeliak persis dia," katanya. Saat itu, dia terlambat membawa anaknya ke rumah sakit.Tidak mau kehilangan "anak" kedua kalinya, Achmad menggendong Nunuk kembali, dan setengah berlari menuju rumah sakit terdekat. "Allahu Akbar!" teriaknya berulang-ulang. Orang-orang yang berkerumun menepi memberi jalan. Orang-orang yang bergerombol di depan rumah sakit juga memberi jalan. Akhirnya Nunuk dibaringkan di ruang gawat darurat. Saat itu, Achmad baru sadar tangannya yang tadi menyangga leher Nunuk berlepotan darah.

m

Sore harinya, ketika pulang kerja, Achmad langsung menuju pusara anaknya. "Saya berdoa di sana," katanya. "Jika Nunuk hanya akan menjadi beban keluarga, silakan ambil, ya, Allah. Namun, jika dia kelak berguna bagi keluarganya, maka selamatkanlah." Sejak itu, Achmad selalu terbayang pada Nunuk. "Anak itu selamat nggak, ya?" tanya Achmad kepada Gatra.

"Alhamdulillah," katanya bersyukur ketika diberitahu bahwa Nunuk dirawat di Singapura.

..Gatra

Election week & ;)

Election was fine. No bomb thread, all safe - GOOD! My president candidate is winning by 30% difference on the quick count..

Went to a book shop - Aksara in Plaza Indonesia on Saturday night and read about Tantra/Tantric Sex - very very interesting.
Another article:
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THE good book, Sexual Secrets for Men (What Every Woman Will Want Her Man to Know), says that by the time I’ve finished reading it – and I have – "you are going to know more about lovemaking than 98 per cent of men on the planet".
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Oh, this is the Indonesian version of Don't sweat the small stuff for Woman that i posted few days ago - here. Wonder why they did not the title as well?

Friends

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

~Oprah Winfrey

m

Come to think about it, I totally agree that it is very important to have friends. Especially - girlfriends as they will keep you sane. I suppose the conquest of finding true friends will never end in life?

m

This is my Snoopy fridge magnets collection :)

Monday, 20th September 2004 is our Presidential Election - this is the FIRST in history that President will be elected by people.

The candidates are:

1. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

2. Megawati Soekarnoputri

This is the proof that I can VOTE this Monday!

amazing race 5

Brief report on family: mama said papa is thinner. Not to worry, my papa has started to have nutritious meals since yesterday!

This is my favourite show, Amazing Race 5 - see the left box, you can click details for every episode. Latest is episode 11.

The loveliest couple on this episode is Brandon & Nicole - I love these people. Brandon is a extremely patient, never shouts at Nicky - no matter how HUGE the pressure is, Nicky is a sweet darling. They do have a God-centered loving relationship! On every occassion, Brandon cites "God loves us".

Below is the gem of the day:
Guncangkanlah hal negatif yang menimpa dan melangkahlah naik !!!
Ingatlah aturan sederhana tentang Kebahagiaan :

1. Bebaskan dirimu dari kebencian

2. Bebaskanlah pikiranmu dari kecemasan

3. Hiduplah sederhana

4. Berilah lebih banyak

5. Berharaplah lebih sedikit

6. Tersenyumlah

Shake off all the negatives and step up!! Remember simple rules on Happiness:
1. Free yourself from hatred
2. Free yourself from worries
3. Live simple
4. Give more
5. Expect less
6. Smile

don't sweat over small stuff

check out this link -- another enlightenment....
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For the most part, women have never had it so good. Thanks to our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers, we've achieved equality with men (even if some men don't think so). We've made incredible strides in white- and blue-collar professional arenas, and we have broken strict gender barriers in nearly all industries. More than ever, we're respected by others and we respect ourselves. And we deserve it! We have more independence, options, and conveniences than ever, as well as the capacity to live rich, full lives.

ourselves, however, comes some very real confusion accompanied by a sense of being overwhelmed. Unlike the women who came in generations before us, we are lacking a concrete paradigm to live by. Instead, we are expected to do it all -- all the time. We have taken our ability to multi-task, and to accomplish a tremendous amount, to new levels. We are "super women" with much to celebrate -- yet we are exhausted!

One thing that hasn't changed very much is that many of us have a tendency to sweat the small stuff! Women are incredibly strong and, ironically, we do really well when the stakes are high. If there's a crisis, we're on top of it. If a friend is in need, we'll be there. If there's a sick child, turn to a woman for strength. If a sacrifice needs to be made, chances are, we will rise to the occasion and find a way to do what needs to be done.

On the other hand, we're the first to "lose it" over fairly small stuff! We can be nitpicky, petty, uptight, and tense. Many of us are perfectionists, overly controlling, and easily offended. We take things personally, and can be very reactive and dramatic. We're often quick to get bothered, irritated, and frustrated.

I had a great experience as Richard's co-author for Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love. I have to admit, however, that when Richard asked me to write solo for the first time for this book, a part of me wanted to hightail it as fast as I could in the other direction! However, I knew, after some contemplation, that this would be a challenge and a part of my own spiritual journey that I simply could not refuse. It gave me a chance to reflect upon and put into words those things that I had been attempting to practice for a lifetime.

I'd like you to know that the advice in this book is not coming from a woman who has any sort of superiority complex or any illusion that she has it all together. Far from it: I'm a normal everyday person who has either dealt with, or is currently dealing with, most of the issues and challenges in this book. To one degree or another, most of us have struggled with body image, family choices, budgets, men, friends, lifestyle, time management, communication issues, parenting, and balance. I certainly have. This is the stuff life is made of, and from which none of us are exempt!

I suppose that my greatest asset is that, like Richard, I'm a genuinely happy person most of the time. I tend to see the glass half full instead of half empty. I've always felt grateful to be a woman and to be alive. Happiness and peace of mind have always been a priority. Because of my basic nature and the efforts I've taken in this direction, I've come to see that it's not necessary (most of the time) to sweat the small stuff. My goal in writing this book is to point you in that general direction. I've found that the less bothered I become, the more I'm able to celebrate being female.

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Mom is back! Everybody is happy....my dad & brothers can't wait to have a healthy meals after 1 month, sister is grateful that now her reliable baby sitter is around, and I am happy that my sms partner is in town now. Mom brought back 9 luggage in total!! This time, mom gained 2 extra kgs - she always gains weight everytime she is back from Taiwan!