Transgender Group - Korea

Saw this group of 'beautiful-looking' transgender singers : "LADY" on TV last night. They can sing, dance and they are stuningly pretty!!

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Woman, be afraid ... be veeeeryyy afraiiiddd......

Other side of the world Lyrics

Long distance relationship?

Other Side of The World by KT Tunstall

Over the sea and far away
She's waiting like an Iceberg
Waiting to change,
But she's cold inside
She wants to be like
the water,

All the muscles tighten in her face
Buries her soul in one embrace
They're one and the same
Just like water

Then the fire fades away
But most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world
to me

On comes the panic light
Holding on with fingers
and feelings alike
But the time has come
To move along

Then the fire fades away
But most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world

Can you help me?
Can you let me go
And can you still love me
When you can't see me anymore

Then the fire fades away
most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world
Ohh.... the other side of the world
You're.... the other side of the world
To me.

weekend ...

My friend told me that he and girlfriend are off to a lodge this weekend -- this is the link ... beeeeaaauuutiifuuuuullll!!!!

Shirley Bassey

Bought the Platinum CD of Shirley Bassey - one of the tracks: "Diamonds are forever"

Lyrics:
Diamonds are forever
They are all I need to please me
They can stimulate and tease me
They won't leave in the night,
I've no fear that they might desert me
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Diamonds are forever
Hold one up and then caress it
Touch it, stroke it and undress it
I can see every part,
nothing hides in the heart to hurt me

I don't need love
For what good will love do me?D
iamonds never lie to me
For when love's gone
They'll lustre on

Diamonds are forever
Sparkling round my little finger
Unlike men, the diamonds linger
Men are mere mortals
who are not worth going to your grave for
I don't need love
For what good will love do me?
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Diamonds never lie to me
For when love's gone
They'll lustre on
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Diamonds are forever, forever, forever
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever
Forever and ever

Chemical Romance

Group: Chemical Romance
Song: Helena
Video music rating : 5 STARS !!

Insight...

Learn to love the people who are with you at present.
Forget the people in the past and thank them for hurting you, which led you to love the people you have right now.
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When you love someone, you'll do crazy things you can't explain, you'll deny the truth and believe in lies. When you love someone, you sacrifice, give everything you've got and don't think twice. You risk it all no matter what.
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Everything in life is temporary because everything changes. That is why it takes courage to love, knowing it might end anytime...having faith will make it last.
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Friends are not the one who laugh when you laugh and cry when you cry. They are the ones who make you laugh and stop you from crying.
Love is the feeling we fall in and out of, and every time we fall off, we learn to hold on tighter...hoping that next time, we may never have to let go.
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They say when love knocks at your door, open it. But do you know that sometimes love enters through the back door and before you begin to notice it, it's on it's way out.
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Have you ever loved only to let it go?..
Have you ever hated someone and loved him so?..
Have you ever missed someone so bad it made you cry?..
Have you ever seen someone left alone without knowing why? ..
True: Lucky is the man who wins the first love of a woman but luckier is the woman who wins the last love of a man.
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Love is not the right word to say when you feel guilty nor the right word to say when you like a person but love really matters when we share our thoughts, our minds, and our hearts...
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Life has a way of changing things but not the joy that friendship brings, for friendship is like the shining moon, makes each night a brighter one.
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Love is not for beauty or color of the skin, but for a heart that is loyal within, for beauty fades and the skin would grow old but a heart that is loyal will never turn cold.
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If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
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A love is easy to feel, so hard to explain; so easy to get, so hard to let go; so easy to spell, so hard to define...and yet everyone is still taking the risk. That's love !
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We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in love in mutual weirdness and call it LOVE!
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Never be afraid to fall in love. It may hurt a lot, it may give you aches and pain, but if you don't follow your heart; in the end you will cry even more for not giving love a chance.
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If someone loves you, love them back not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you have never seen or felt without them.
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The past is meant to be used as a tool for the future. Bad experiences indeed make you bitter but the lessons learned should make you better.
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On letting go: it hurts to see someone you love happy with somebody else; but wouldn't it hurt you more to see that person unhappy...with you?
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When you find arms that will hold you at your weakest, eyes that will see you at your ugliest, lips that will kiss you in both instances, and a heart that will love you at your worst, then you have found true love.
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Someday, someone might come into your life and love you in a way you always wanted.
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If your someday was yesterday.. LEARN
If your someday is tomorrow.. HOPE
If your someday is today.. CHERISH.

Bengali

Today is my 8th day in Dhaka.

Traffic is not so bad here compare to Jakarta, BUT...the honking can cause nervous breakdown! I get used to being stared at now :)

Went for field trip on Sunday - Monday to Rasjhashi (unsure how to write the word?), anyways it was an interesting experience to meet the farmers...

Some words from the trip:
- Kudahafiz = goodbye
- Sushadu = delicious

With the Female Farmers


With Local People

Fantastic Four

Another Marvel comic - movie: FANTASTIC FOUR - in Mid June 2005

Book Worm

Books to read:

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- He's just not that into you by Greg Behrendt

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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers WeeklyIt’s a classic single-woman scenario: you really like this guy, but he’s giving mixed messages. You make excuses, decide he’s confused, afraid of commitment. Behrendt, a former executive story editor for Sex and the City—and a formerly single (now happily married) guy who knows all the excuses—provides a simple answer: he’s just not that into you. Stop kidding yourself, let go and look for someone else who will be. After all, as Behrendt sensibly puts it, "if a (sane) guy really likes you, there ain’t nothing that’s going to get in his way." If you’re not convinced yet, by all means read this smart, funny and surprisingly upbeat little book, full of q’s and a’s covering every excuse woman has ever made to avoid admitting to herself that a man just wasn’t that smitten with her.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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- Five people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom

- Tuesday with Mory by Mitch Albom

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Happy readiiinggg.....!!!

AR 7

Amazing Race 7 was on last night. Another unpredictable winners but I'm TOTALLY happy for the them! Uchenna & Joyce will get going with their baby plan :) good things happen to good people!

b a n a n a s

you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again.

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Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

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Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

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PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

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Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

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Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make officialclaims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke

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Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-pack! ed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

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Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives,

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Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

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Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

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Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

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Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

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Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and stress at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady

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Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

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Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensuretheir baby is born with a cool temperature.

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural moodenhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recov! er from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

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Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

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Banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

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PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

Fransiscan Brothers

More about Fransiscan Brothers, and here.

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On giving their last respect to Pope John Paul II yesterday, they had to queue for 18 hours ....Apparently the Fransiscan Brothers are famous for their patience.

Idol - Idol

my Rob Thomas!!

His profile here

He is adorable than ever now - the way he dances :) yummy!!

The latest single: Lonely No More

unconditional love - mom...

There is only one pretty child in the world and every mother has it.

---Chinese Proverb

Aikido

My brother, Norman, had to witness a terrifying incident in the bus last week. A high school girl was molested by a group of guys!

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Coming back home, he asked me to join the Aikido (self defense - highly RECOMMENDED for women) class instead of aerobics class.

More about Aikido; FAQ and more here

Introduction

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (often referred to by his title 'O Sensei' or 'Great Teacher'). On a purely physical level it is an art involving some throws and joint locks that are derived from Jujitsu and some throws and other techniques derived from Kenjutsu. Aikido focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using their own energy to gain control of them or to throw them away from you. It is not a static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement.

Upon closer examination, practitioners will find from Aikido what they are looking for, whether it is applicable self-defense technique, spiritual enlightenment, physical health or peace of mind. O Sensei emphasized the moral and spiritual aspects of this art, placing great weight on the development of harmony and peace. "The Way of Harmony of the Spirit" is one way that "Aikido" may be translated into English. This is still true of Aikido today, although different styles emphasize the more spiritual aspects to greater or lesser degrees. Although the idea of a martial discipline striving for peace and harmony may seem paradoxical, it is the most basic tenet of the art.

We could attempt to pigeonhole Aikido into a synopsis of X number of words, but that would not do it justice, so we leave the practitioner of Aikido to find out what Aikido is for themselves without any preconceived notions.

Diary: Woman vs Man

WIFE's DIARY
Sunday night. I thought he was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a cafe to have coffee. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset that I was a bit late, but he made no comment. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed but he kept quiet and absent. I asked him what was wrong. He said: "Nothing." I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry. On the way home I told him that I loved him. He simply smiled and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior; I don't know why he didn't say: "I love u, too." When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there and watched TV; he seemed distant and absent. Finally, I decided to go to bed. About 10 minutes later he came to bed. I could not take it anymore, so I decided to confront him with the situation but he had fallen asleep. I started crying and cried until I too fell asleep. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.
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HUSBAND's DIARY

Today, Manchester United lost the match. DAMN IT..!!

lovely mondae

A lovely monday!

Our visit to the orphanage yesterday was successful :) The 65 children are extremely happy with the school bags + milk + choc from us. The best program was the question & answer session and games -- full of gifts!!

It is so good to experience this whole thing, makes us realize how grateful we are in life!

And this morning, i got a present from my boss from his Hong Kong: a beaaaauuuutiffuuullll apron with chinese pattern :)

Wedding 5/3/05

Yesterday was Pison & Alice's wedding in Novotel Coralia Bogor. Even though it rained in the afternoon, the wedding was packed with guests - it was a lovely-lovely wedding!

My favorite part is the holy matremony - the groom cried when he promised to take care of Alice through bad and good times -- I found it very romantic :)

-- 17/3/05 --

I FINNALY got the photo of me & the cutest bestman (ever!) on duty - 5 Mar 2005.

The make-up was horrific - I WAS a ghost!

Angels ...

BLUE MONDAY


Robbie Williams
Angels

by Unknown

I sit and wait
there's an angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're grey and old
'cause I've been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel that love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

Chorus:
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look aboveAnd I know
I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

Healthy Gums = Healthy heart?

Research: Brushing, flossing might reduce risk of heart attack, stroke (Source: MSN)

Keeping your pearly whites and your gums healthy may be key to keeping your heart in good health, too.

Researchers have found a link between gum disease and increased risk for atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque in the walls of the arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

In a study published in February in the journal Circulation, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center measured specific bacteria that are known to cause periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease, as well as other bacteria, in the mouths of more than 600 people ages 55 and older with no history of stroke or heart attack. The scientists also looked at the thickness of the carotid arteries, the two major arteries on each side of the neck that supply blood to the brain. Thickening of the carotid arteries can lead to stroke and heart attacks.

The results showed a clear link between the bacteria that cause serious gum disease and thicker carotid arteries, even when other factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes were accounted for, says lead researcher Dr. Moise Desvarieux, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.

So how does what's in your mouth affect your heart? Theories vary. "Studies have shown that in people who have gum disease, the bacteria migrate to the bloodstream. So, down the line, that may lead to adverse events" like heart attack and stroke, Desvarieux speculates. The bacteria may attach to fatty plaque in the arteries of the heart, contributing to clot formation, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).

Another theory, adds Desvarieux, involves a hyperinflammatory response to the abundance of bacteria in the mouth. "People don't realize that there are no other places in the body where so many bacteria are in contact for a long period of time, which constantly stimulates the immune system." The immune system, in turn, may over-respond, creating hyperinflammation, which stresses the heart and blood vessels. Then there's C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein released by the body in response to injury or inflammation. Higher levels of CRP are a marker for increased heart-disease risk. Desvarieux says CRP levels are higher in people with periodontitis.

The research is just the latest in a slew of studies pointing to a link between bad oral health and a bad heart. But it's the first to show a direct connection to these bacteria, Desvarieux says. "In our population it was only those bacteria that cause periodontal disease - and not the seven control bacteria" that were associated with a thicker carotid artery. "That's pretty good evidence."

But it's still not a given that that trouble with your gums means a heart attack will strike. That's because researchers don't know yet which came first - the bacteria or the thicker carotid artery. Desvarieux is following up with the study's participants to determine whether, over time, those with the highest level of bacteria also have the highest level of stroke and heart attack - and if low bacteria levels are heart-protective. "The research is not at the stage of recommending changing practice," adds Desvarieux. "Having said that, though, it is hard to be against people taking good care of their teeth and gums."

Brushing upFinding the precise connection is important because gum disease is so common. At least half of Americans over age 55 have periodontitis, according to the AAP.
Because the main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque - a sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth - it's essential to keep plaque at bay, especially the subgingival kind that's below the gums. Root planing and scaling - a nonsurgical therapy using fine instruments to clean the roots and break up subgingival plaque - will significantly reduce the level of oral bacteria for most people, explains Gordon L. Douglass, a past president of the AAP and a periodontist in Sacramento, Calif.

Just as important is regular brushing (twice a day), regular cleanings at the dentist (twice a year) and a practice many of us neglect: flossing. "Flossing gets into the spaces between the teeth and the gums. That will break up the bacteria and never let them get established," says Douglass. Even toothpicks can be used to clean between teeth. "Most periodontitis starts between the teeth," Douglass adds.

Medications, including painkillers, antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants and high-blood-pressure medications, can cause side effects that increase your chances for periodontitis. If you notice changes in the soft tissue in your mouth or if food and drinks taste differently, talk to your dentist or see a periodontist - especially if side effects include a dry mouth. Explains Douglass, "Saliva buffers the effects of acid on teeth and adds lubrication to protect against gum disease. The drier the mouth, the more inflamed it gets, and it's harder to clear plaque from your mouth."