SAVE,SAVE,SAVE

Click the chart to view larger image. Let's all do our part to save the Earth!! :)

BLACK FRIDAY

I watched Chuck the other day and I have to admit, it was the first time I ever heard of Black Friday. Thanksgiving is of course, not our holiday but I am aware of it and I do have American friends who celebrate Thanksgiving in the Philippines (although I never got to experience one yet). Anyway, while watching Chuck and hearing about this Black Friday, I of course, asked Ruther, "What is that?" The only time I know colors (well the color black specifically) associated with the days of the week is during Holy Week (Black Saturday). Anyway, being curious about it, I just had to Google it. And this is what I got from Wikipedia:

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Because Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday occurs between the 23rd and the 29th of November.

Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees have the day off, which increases the number of potential shoppers. Retailers often decorate for the Christmas season weeks beforehand. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1960s.

The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. More recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).

The news media frequently refer to Black Friday as the busiest retail shopping day of the year, but this is not always accurate. While it has been one of the busiest days in terms of customer traffic, in terms of actual sales volume, from 1993 through 2001 Black Friday was usually the fifth to tenth busiest day. In 2002 and 2004, however, Black Friday ranked second place, and in 2003 and 2005, Black Friday actually did reach first place. The busiest retail shopping day of the year in the United States (in terms of both sales and customer traffic) usually has been the Saturday before Christmas.

In many cities it is not uncommon to see shoppers lined up hours before stores with big sales open. Once inside, the stores shoppers often rush and grab, as many stores have only a few of the big draw items. On occasion, injuries and even fatalities are reported; in 2008, a worker at a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, New York was trampled to death by shoppers who broke through the store's glass doors minutes before the store's scheduled opening at 5:00 am; a pregnant mother was hospitalized from injuries in the same human "stampede", though early reports of a resultant miscarriage were determined to be in error. And in Palm Desert, California two people shot each other after arguing over an item in a Toys R Us store.

Electronics and popular toys are often the most sought-after items and may be sharply discounted. Because of the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, many choose to stay home and avoid the hectic shopping experience. The local media often will cover the event, mentioning how early the shoppers began lining up at various stores and providing video of the shoppers standing in line and later leaving with their purchased items. Traditionally Black Friday sales were intended for those shopping for Christmas gifts. For some particularly popular items, some people shop at these sales in order to get deep discounts on items they can then resell, typically online.


Pretty interesting. The injuries and fatalities are a bit worrisome though. I don't recall any special sales in Manila that resulted in injuries or death. But then again, there have been a lot of stampedes that resulted in fatalities so I suppose you can say we've also had our share of wasted deaths. Anyway, I suppose Black Friday is the newest thing I learned this week.

So, how was your Thanksgiving?

26 THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP SAVE PLANET EARTH

http://www.geocities.com/enchantedforest/8319/savethearth.html

26 things we can do to help:

1. Turn off lights.
2. Turn off other electric things, like TVs, stereos, and radios when not in use.
3. Use rechargable batteries.
4. Do things manually instead of electrically, like open cans by hand.
5. Use fans instead of air conditioners.
6. In winter, wear a sweater instead of turning up your thermostat.
7. Insulate your home so you won't be cold in winter.
8. Use less hot water.
9. Whenever possible, use a bus or subway, or ride your bike or walk.
10. Try to buy organic fruits and vegetables if you're concerned about pesticides. (Organic food is grown without man-made fertilizers and/or pesticides).
11. Don't waste products made from forest materials.
12. Use recycled paper and/or recycle it. Reuse old papers.
13. Don't buy products that may have been made at the expense of the rainforest.
14. Support products that are harvested from the rainforest but have not cut down trees to get it.
15. Plant trees, espessially if you have cut one down.
16. Get other people to help you in your cause. Make and/or join an organization.
17. Avoid products that are used once, then thrown away.
18. Buy products with little or no packaging.
19. Encourage your grocery store sell environmentally friendly cloth bags for people to use when they shop, or bring your own.
20. REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE.
21. Compost.
22. Buy recycled products.
23. Don't buy pets taken from the wild.
24. If you have a good zoo nearby, (if the animals are healthy and the zoo takes care of them), support it! Espessially if they help breed endangered animals.
25. Don't buy products if animals were killed to make it.
26. Cut up your six-pack rings before throwing them out.

SYMBOLS OF JAPANESE SUMMER

http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa081901a.htm

August is the hottest month of the year in Japan. Not only is the temperature high, so is the humidity. The word for "hot" is "atsui （暑い）," and "humid" is "mushiatsui （蒸し暑い）." Although the northernmost Hokkaido is much cooler, the temperature there goes up to 30 degrees or more on an almost daily basis in August. This is called "manatsubi（真夏日）" or midsummer days. Let's look at symbols for the hot Japanese summer.

Yukata　（浴衣）

Yukata is an informal, unlined kimono made of cotton and worn with a narrow sash (obi). It is usually worn to the bath or in the summertime. Unlike ceremonial kimono, yukata is casual and comfortable to wear. It can be worn next to the skin. Wooden clogs (geta) are usually worn without Japanese socks (tabi) when wearing a yukata. Today many people wear yukata at summer festivals (matsuri), fireworks displays (hanabi-taikai), and the Bon Festival Dance (bon-odori). Recently the yukata has become fashionable among young women.

Bon-odori　（盆踊り）

O-bon is a Buddhist festival in honor of the spirits of the dead who return to their families. It was originally cerebrated in mid-July according to the lunar calendar, but is now held from July 13 to 16, or from August 13 to 16 depending on the area. It is the biggest yearly holiday in Japan after New Years (shougatsu), and is a time for family and relatives to get together.

One of the events that customarily accompany o-bon is the bon-odori (Bon Festival Dance). Originally the dances were held to console departing spirits, but today they are simply enjoyed as entertainment. In open public spaces, communities build a platform (yagura) and lanterns are tied to it. People dance in a circle around the platform.

Hanabi　（花火）

Firework displays (hanabi-taikai) are a typical summer scene in Japan. They originated in the Edo period (1603-1867), and it started with the competitive exhibition of fireworks between two fireworks factories, Tamaya and Kagiya.

Large-scale fireworks displays are held regularly at various locations, but enjoying small hand-held sparklers and low-risk fireworks in backyards is also very popular.

Semi　（蝉）

The cry of the cicadas (semi) is one of the piercing sounds of summer. When Japanese hear semi singing, they realize that summer has arrived. When there are many cicadas, the sound becomes like a shower, which is called "semi-shigure" (shower of cicadas). There is a famous haiku poem about cicadas written by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694).

Shizukesa ya 静けさや	The tranquility
Iwa ni shimiiru 岩に染み入る	Permeating the rocks
Semi no koe 蝉の声	Voices of cicadas

Since cicadas die only about a week after birth, they are compared to the transient life of man.

Kakigoori　（カキ氷）

Kakigoori (shaved ice flavored with sweet syrup or snow cone) is a popular summer snack. It seems everywhere has a version of it. In Japan it comes in green tea flavor with an azuki (sweet red bean) topping. Some condensed sweetened milk also can be added on top. Fruit flavors like strawberry and melon are also popular.

Other popular foods in summer are somen (cold noodles), hiyashi-chuuka (cold ramen noodles), zaru-soba (cold buckwheat noodles), mugi-cha (cold roasted barley tea) and so on.

HOLY WEEK IN THE PHILS- GOOD FRIDAY

I know some may complain about this ritual we have here in the Philippines but it is still a part of our culture (accepted or not) and I wish to post it here... (WARNING! Some photos may make you squeamish...)


Body of Christ: Ritual Crucifixions in San Fernando
By Susi O'Neill

Christian religious festivals rule daily life in the Philippines, particularly in the countryside. San Fernando is a good example, just 40 miles from the city of Manila on Luzon island, this town is famous for being the site of the crucifixion ceremony that takes place on Good Friday each year. To some the event is a display of piety and to thank God for blessings; to others, they are gruesome displays of outdated religious fervour.

What Happens at San Fernando

As many as ten men each year volunteer to be Jesus and are nailed to the cross with slender silvery spikes. Spectators act out the events of the three days that led up to Christ's crucifixion that shaped the structure of the whole Christian faith. If you're in Manila at this time, it's easy to get to San Fernando early in the morning of the Good Friday. Come prepared for gore and blood, as it is quite an intense and emotional experience. Like the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand, where people do all sorts of painful things with sharpened knives and hooks (apparently painlessly slipping these sharp objects through cheeks, shoulder blades, and other sensitive areas) more than 1,000 participants in San Fernando beat themselves (flagellations) with sharpened chains that bring forth spurts of blood and exposed skin.

Similar Events

The island of Luzon is not the only place this practice occurs; on the island of Marinduque there is a custom called Moriones, where people perform similar acts of self-flagellation in order to commemorate the Roman centurion who was apparently cured when a drop of Jesus' blood fell into his eye. Participants wear centurions clothes and repeat this every Easter for a whole night.The Catholic Church actually forbids such forms of extreme piety, but it can't stop those who want to show thanks to their God for a healed relative, or for a life saving cure for their child. There has even been talk of local officials bribing people to keep the show alive by pushing up the number of participants, realising the financial gains brought in by curious foreign tourists. This is, of course, denied by these government officials who say it's just another uniquely Filipino tradition.

The festival climaxes with the crucifixion, and several hours after being nailed to their crosses, the men are taken down. Though traveller's may not follow the strongly held religious beliefs of the Filipino people, attending the Easter festival in San Fernando gives a good indication of how deep Christianity runs in this isolated converted country.

http://www.pilotguides.com/destination_guide/asia/philippines/san_fernando.php

SAVE MOTHER EARTH

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080317-125163/Join-worldwide-lights-out-Filipinos-urged

Join worldwide lights-out, Filipinos urged
By Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:14:00 03/17/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Save the Earth. Turn off your lights for a full hour on March 29.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines is encouraging every Filipino household to switch off their lights and electrical gadgets when the “Earth Hour” strikes at 8 p.m. on the 29th as a way of joining global efforts to address climate change.

To manifest the country’s participation in the global movement, a portion of well-lit Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City will be plunged into darkness simultaneously with Sydney, Toronto, Chicago, Copenhagen and 28 other cities across the world, said the environmental group.

“Earth Hour is about awareness-raising and empowering people to make a difference, while aiming for a 5-percent reduction in power usage,” said Gregg Yan, WWF-Philippines information and communication officer.

The global movement was first launched in Australia on March 31, 2007, moving 2.2 million people and 2,100 business establishments in Sydney to shut off all the lights for one hour.

Even Sydney’s famous landmarks such as the Harbor Bridge and Opera House descended into darkness.

Yan said the collective effort reduced the city’s energy consumption by 10.2 percent, which had the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for an hour.

Citing the Filipino’s distinctive bayanihan (cooperative) spirit, the group was hopeful that the country would accomplish the same feat. It warned that the country’s 7,107 islands were exposed to rising sea levels and unpredictable weather patterns brought about by climate change.

“Throughout the Philippines, the idea is snowballing—with e-mails circulating and promulgating the concept to as far as Tawi-Tawi,” Yan said.

Meanwhile, Bernarditas Muller, a senior negotiator of the Philippine government on climate change, called on national leaders to train their attention to drawing up adaptation measures in relation to climate change.

Muller, in a dialogue with the media on Thursday, said the government must not concentrate on efforts to mitigate climate change because “it is already here.”

“We can no longer do anything to stop it because it is already happening,” she said.

Muller suggested that the government instead work for an efficient public transport system if it wants Filipinos to cut back on their use of cars to lessen greenhouse gas emissions.

She also noted that since the Philippines is surrounded by water, the government should seriously consider the zoning of flood-prone and coastal areas.

DISTURBING

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080202/ap_on_re_af/60_acres_a_minute_i;_ylt=AhgtxtbrK1krHH5_H1NjMLis0NUE

Rain forests fall at 'alarming' rate
By EDWARD HARRIS, Associated Press Writer

ABO EBAM, Nigeria - In the gloomy shade deep in Africa's rain forest, the noontime silence was pierced by the whine of a far-off chain saw. It was the sound of destruction, echoed from wood to wood, continent to continent, in the tropical belt that circles the globe.

From Brazil to central Africa to once-lush islands in Asia's archipelagos, human encroachment is shrinking the world's rain forests.

The alarm was sounded decades ago by environmentalists — and was little heeded. The picture, meanwhile, has changed: Africa is now a leader in destructiveness. The numbers have changed: U.N. specialists estimate 60 acres of tropical forest are felled worldwide every minute, up from 50 a generation back. And the fears have changed.

Experts still warn of extinction of animal and plant life, of the loss of forest peoples' livelihoods, of soil erosion and other damage. But scientists today worry urgently about something else: the fateful feedback link of trees and climate.

Global warming is expected to dry up and kill off vast tracts of rain forest, and dying forests will feed global warming.

"If we lose forests, we lose the fight against climate change," declared more than 300 scientists, conservation groups, religious leaders and others in an appeal for action at December's climate conference in Bali, Indonesia.

The burning or rotting of trees that comes with deforestation — at the hands of ranchers, farmers, timbermen — sends more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than all the world's planes, trains, trucks and automobiles. Forest destruction accounts for about 20 percent of manmade emissions, second only to burning of fossil fuels for electricity and heat. Conversely, healthy forests absorb carbon dioxide and store carbon.

"The stakes are so dire that if we don't start turning this around in the next 10 years, the extinction crisis and the climate crisis will begin to spiral out of control," said Roman Paul Czebiniak, a forest expert with Greenpeace International. "It's a very big deal."

The December U.N. session in Bali may have been a turning point, endorsing negotiations in which nations may fashion the first global financial plan for compensating developing countries for preserving their forests.

The latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) helped spur delegates to action.

"Deforestation continues at an alarming rate of about 13 million hectares (32 million acres) a year," the U.N. body said in its latest "State of the World's Forests" report.

Because northern forests remain essentially stable, that means 50,000 square miles of tropical forest are being cleared every 12 months — equivalent to one Mississippi or more than half a Britain. The lumber and fuelwood removed in the tropics alone would fill more than 1,000 Empire State Buildings, FAO figures show.

Although South America loses slightly more acreage than Africa, the rate of loss is higher here — almost 1 percent of African forests gone each year. In 2000-2005, the continent lost 10 million acres a year, including big chunks of forest in Sudan, Zambia and Tanzania, up from 9 million a decade earlier, the FAO reports.

Across the tropics the causes can be starkly different.

The Amazon and other South American forests are usually burned for cattle grazing or industrial-scale soybean farming. In Indonesia and elsewhere in southeast Asia, island forests are being cut or burned to make way for giant plantations of palm, whose oil is used in food processing, cosmetics and other products.

In Africa, by contrast, it's individuals hacking out plots for small-scale farming.

Here in Nigeria's southeastern Cross Rivers State, home to one of the largest remaining tropical forests in Africa, people from surrounding villages of huts and cement-block homes go to the forest each day to work their pineapple and cocoa farms. They see no other way of earning money to feed their families.

"The developed countries want us to keep the forests, since the air we breathe is for all of us, rich countries and poor countries," said Ogar Assam Effa, 54, a tree plantation director and member of the state conservation board.

"But we breathe the air, and our bellies are empty. Can air give you protein? Can air give you carbohydrates?" he asked. "It would be easy to convince people to stop clearing the forest if there was an alternative."

The state, which long ago banned industrial logging, is trying to offer alternatives.
Working with communities like Abo Ebam, near Nigeria's border with Cameroon, the Cross Rivers government seeks to help would-be farmers learn other trades, such as beekeeping or raising fist-sized land snails, a regional delicacy.

The state also has imposed a new licensing system. Anyone who wants to cut down one of the forest's massive, valuable mahogany trees or other hardwoods must obtain a license and negotiate which tree to fell with the nearby community, which shares in the income. The logs can't be taken away whole, but must be cut into planks in the forest, by people like David Anfor.
He's a 35-year-old father of one who earns the equivalent of 75 U.S. cents per board he cuts with a whizzing chain saw. "The forest is our natural resource. We're trying to conserve," he said. "But I'm also working for my daily eating."

A community benefiting from such small-scale forestry is likely to keep out those engaged in illegal, uncontrolled logging. But enforcement is difficult in a state with about 3,500 square miles of pristine rain forest — and few forest rangers.

On one recent day deep in the forest, where the luxuriant green canopy allows only rare shards of sunlight to reach the floor, the trilling of a hornbill bird and the distant chain saw were the only sounds heard. As forestry officials rushed to investigate, the saw operator fled deeper into the forest, sign of an illegal operation.

Environmentalists say such a conservation approach may work for rural, agrarian people in Nigeria, which lost an estimated 15 million acres between 1990 and 2005, or about one-third of its entire forest area, and has one of the world's highest deforestation rates — more than 3 percent per year.

But lessons learned in one place aren't necessarily applicable elsewhere, they say. A global strategy is needed, mobilizing all rain-forest governments.

That's the goal of the post-Bali talks, looking for ways to integrate forest preservation into the world's emerging "carbon trading" system. A government earning carbon credits for "avoided deforestation" could then sell them to a European power plant, for example, to meet its emission-reduction quota.

"These forests are the greatest global public utility," Britain's conservationist Prince Charles said in the lead-up to Bali. "As a matter of urgency we have to find ways to make them more valuable alive than dead."

Observed the World Wildlife Fund's Duncan Pollard, "Suddenly you have the whole world looking at deforestation."

But in many ways rain forests are still a world of unknowns, a place with more scientific questions than answers.

How much carbon dioxide are forests absorbing? How much carbon is stored there? How might the death of the Amazon forest affect the climate in, say, the American Midwest? Hundreds of researchers are putting in thousands of hours of work to try to answer such questions before it is too late.

PLAGUE ALERT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080115/sc_nm/plague_threat_dc

Plague a growing but overlooked threat: study
By Michael Kahn
Mon Jan 14, 8:06 PM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Plague, the disease that devastated medieval Europe, is re-emerging worldwide and poses a growing but overlooked threat, researchers warned on Tuesday

While it has only killed some 100 to 200 people annually over the past 20 years, plague has appeared in new countries in recent decades and is now shifting into Africa, Michael Begon, an ecologist at the University of Liverpool and colleagues said.

A bacterium known as Yersinia pestis causes bubonic plague, known in medieval times as the Black Death when it was spread by infected fleas, and the more dangerous pneumonic plague, spread from one person to another through coughing or sneezing.

"Although the number of human cases of plague is relatively low, it would be a mistake to overlook its threat to humanity, because of the disease's inherent communicability, rapid spread, rapid clinical course, and high mortality if left untreated," they wrote in the journal Public Library of Science journal PloS Medicine.

Rodents carry plague, which is virtually impossible to wipe out and moves through the animal world as a constant threat to humans, Begon said. Both forms can kill within days if not treated with antibiotics.

"You can't realistically get rid of all the rodents in the world," he said in a telephone interview. "Plague appears to be on the increase, and for the first time there have been major outbreaks in Africa."

Globally the World Health Organization reports about 1,000 to 3,000 plague cases each year, with most in the last five years occurring in Madagascar, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United States sees about 10 to 20 cases each year.

More worrying are outbreaks seem on the rise after years of relative inactivity in the 20th century, Begon said. The most recent large pneumonic outbreak comprised hundreds of suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006.

Bubonic plague, called the Black Death because of black bumps that sometimes develop on victims' bodies, causes severe vomiting and high fever. Victims of pneumonic plague have similar symptoms but not the black bumps.

Begon and his colleagues called for more research into better ways to prevent plague from striking areas where people lack access to life-saving drugs and to defend against the disease if used as a weapon.

"We should not overlook the fact that plague has been weaponized throughout history, from catapulting corpses over city walls, to dropping infected fleas from airplanes, to refined modern aerosol formulation," the researchers wrote. (Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Maggie Fox and Ibon Villelabeitia)

FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS AS CELEBRATED IN THE PHILIPPINES

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/festivals/three_kings.htm

For Centuries, the magical bearers of gifts for Filipino children were the Three Kings, not Santa Claus. Shoes were brightly polished and left on the window sills together with the cleanest socks, fresh from the laundry. The children knew that the Three Kings, on their way to Bethlehem, would pass by their homes to fill their shoes and socks with gifts. Some would thoughtfully leave some straw or dry grass for the camels; if these were gone in the morning, surely the camels must have been terribly hungry.

The Feast of the Three Kings (Araw ng Tatlong Hari) is celebrated on the First Sunday of January. It is also known as the Pasko ng Matatanda (Feast of the Elderly), the day specially honors senior citizens. The feast is also called "The Epiphany" which commemorates the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.

They were called Melchor, meaning "king of light", Gaspar, "the white one", and Balthazar, "the lord of treasure". In the Middle Ages, Gaspar was depicted young, Mechor as middle-aged, and Balhtazar as ancient. They came bearing gifts or gold, frankincense and myrrh.

In the city of Manila, it has been a tradition for dacades for the prestigious club Casino Español to organize a Three Kings' parade on January 6 or the first Sunday of January. Dressed in royal robes, the Three Kings ride on stately horses as there are no camels in the Philippines. They parade down the block, and end at the clubhouse where children of the Spanish community await them to receive more Christmas gifts. There are gifts prepared for the poor children and orphans, too.

In the town of Gapan in Marinduque, a religious folk play is presented in which the Three Kings follow a star and meet Herod who later "runs amok" by chopping off the heads of infants, as well as demolishing his own palace. The Kings eventually find the holy manger with the Infant Jesus.
This feast of the Three Kings marks the official end of the litrurgical Christmas of the Philippines.

Source: Pasko by Alejandro and Chorengel

NEW YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES

http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-customs/new-year-customs-philippines.html

New Year Customs In Philippines

In Philippines the families gather together at midnight on New Year and eat a midnight meal. This is believed by Filipinos that it would ensure plenty of food in the coming year. The children follow a custom of jumping up and down 10 times to grow tall in the coming year.

Fireworks are an important part of the New Year celebrations. The Filipinos set off fireworks as a symbol of happiness on New Year. The fireworks are seen as a traditional way to greet the New Year with joy.

The preparations for the New Year begin a few days ahead. Although the customs of celebrating New Year in Philippines may have changed a little but the spirit of the New Year celebrations remains the same.

The custom of wishing everyone luck and happiness and seeing off the old year and welcoming the New Year is still prevalent in Philippines. Dance music and other amusements are the other customs that Filipinos follow on New Year.

Media Noche or midnight is an important custom that is followed. On New Year's Eve families gather to have this midnight mass. This midnight mass is believed by the people in Philippines to symbolize their hopes for a prosperous New Year. The custom of making noise and merrymaking is not only meant to have all the fun on New Year but also to drive away evil spirits.
The Filipinos believe banging on pots and pans and blowing on car horns to be the safer methods of merrymaking on New Year.

The wide populaces in Philippines believe displaying colorful fruit and wearing clothes with dots and other circular designs would be lucky as they symbolize money. Just like the New Year custom of other countries Filipinos believe in following the custom of eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year. This would bring them good luck for the coming year. Opening the doors during the first day of the New Year is a custom that is followed to bring good luck for the New Year.

2008

Just in case you wanted to know... (from Wikipedia)

2008 has been designated as:
International Year of Planet Earth;
European Year of Intercultural Dialogue;
Australian Year of the Scout;
International Year of the Potato;
International Year of Sanitation.

In Chinese astrology, most of 2008, starting with February 7 will overlap with the Year of the Rat (Dates before February 7 are Year of the Pig). The next Year of the Rat will be in 2020.


United Nations proclaims 2008 International Year of Planet Earth The United Nations General Assembly, meeting in New York, has proclaimed the year 2008 to be the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth. The Year's activities will span the three years 2007-2009.
The International Year of Planet Earth was approved by general acclamation of the General Assembly, and no vote was taken. The Year's purpose, encapsulated in it strapline Earth sciences for society, is to:

Reduce risks for society caused by natural and human-induced hazards
Reduce health problems by improving understanding of the medical aspects of Earth science Discover new natural resources and make them available in a sustainable manner
Build safer structures and expand urban areas, utilizing natural subsurface conditions Determine the non-human factor in climatic change
Enhance understanding of the occurrence of natural resources so as to contribute to efforts to reduce political tension
Detect deep and poorly accessible groundwater resources
Improve understanding of the evolution of life
Increase interest in the Earth sciences in society at large
Encourage more young people to study Earth science in university
(http://info.see.leeds.ac.uk/news-items/localnewsitem.2006-05-11.1757975817)

MISA DE GALLO

misa - mass
gallo - rooster

Something interesting about Philippine Christmas traditions, December 16 marks the first day of dawn masses. Read more: (from Wikipedia)


Misa de Gallo is the Spanish phrase for Midnight mass, more literally translated as "Rooster's Mass".
It is told that the "Rooster's Mass" owes its name in the idea that a rooster would have been among the first to witness the birth of Jesus, and thus be the one to announce it.
In most Spanish speaking countries, Misa de gallo entails a typical midnight mass, starting at around 12:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
However, as practiced in the Philippines, this custom lasts for nine days, starting on December 16 up to December 24, during which Filipinos attend dawn masses, usually starting at around 4:00-5:00 a.m. This practice started centuries ago during the Spanish colonial period when priests held early dawn masses for the farmers who wanted to attend Christmas mass but could not leave their fields. These masses were held before daybreak, hence the Filipino term "Simbang Gabi" (Midnight Mass). Even today, Filipinos wake up very early in the morning to attend the Misa de Gallo as an expression of devotion to God. It is also an expression of the devotion of the Filipino to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Star of the Morning who will bear and give birth to Jesus.
One of the customs related to the Philippine Misa de Gallo is the selling of traditional Philippine food, such as puto bumbong (a purple colored rice pastry, seasoned with grated coconut and brown sugar),tsokolate (a hot cocoa drink), bibingka (flour and egg cakes cooked on top and under), and salabat, or ginger tea, which are sold by vendors outside churches to the faithful.

PAROL

Parols are Christmas ornaments from the Philippines. They are traditionally made out of bamboo and paper although plastics are sometimes preferred and elaborate ones are made from capiz shells. They are traditionally star-shaped, and is thought of to symbolize the star of Bethlehem. They are usually hung outdoors on doors, patios, windows and other. They are the equivalent of Christmas wreaths in the western world. (from Wikipedia)

Filipinos adorn their houses with parol (Christmas lantern influenced by the Mexican piñata) during Christmas. Most of these lanterns are made of bamboo sticks and thin sheets of paper (called Japanese paper in the Philippines). They are lighted up at night. More recent innovations of the parol are those made of capiz (seashells) that have dancing lights, which originated in Pampanga. (http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Tagalog_Default_files/Philippine_Culture/paskong_pilipino.htm)

UH-OH!

Oh no... And I so love watching Desperate Housewives... =(

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=94508

Malacañang to 'Desperate Housewives': Apologize for slur

The furor over a slur uttered against Philippine medical schools on the premier episode of the fourth season of the American TV show "Desperate Housewives" has prompted a response from Malacañang Palace.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the TV show belittled the abilities of Filipino doctors and sent a message that Philippine medical schools produced "substandard, inferior" medical practitioners.

The offending remark was made by one of the show's desperate housewives, Susan Mayer (played by American actress Teri Hatcher). In one scene Mayer asks for the credentials of the gynecologist who examined her and told her that she was approaching menopause.

Mayer said, "Can I check those diplomas 'coz I just want to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines." The premiere episode, which has been posted on YouTube.com, drew criticisms from the Filipino community on the Internet.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon meanwhile has proposed a ban on the popular TV series. Biazon, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, said he doesn't watch the show himself but pointed out that a ban on the show or a boycott by Filipino viewers are possible responses.

Earlier, Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the slur will tarnish the good image of Filipino doctors in the international community. He added that the slur was both irresponsible and without basis.

The Philippine Consulate in New York has said it will send a letter of protest to ABC Network and ask for an apology for the slur. The move came after the consulate office received complaints from the Filipino community, particularly health workers, in the US about the show.

Angry doctors
"It's not good for us. They shouldn't have said those [insulting] words, because we all know that there are good doctors who graduated in the Philippines. That's uncalled for," PMA president Dr. Jose Sabili told ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda" on Monday.

Earlier, the president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said he will urge his counterpart in the US to demand an apology from the people behind the TV series.

Sabili, who was attending the World Medical Associations General Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, said he will seek an audience with the president of the American Medical Association to compel the TV producers to issue an apology for the insulting remark.

The doctor said the slur might even create a rift in the relationship of the two medical associations.

"I will meet with the president of the American Medical Association to air our feelings and ask them to tell [the producers of the TV show] that they should not insult doctors in the country," Sabili said.

Sabili said the PMA will study the possible cause of negative perceptions of medical schools in the Philippines. He said "diploma mills" and negative writeups of medical schools in local newspapers could have contributed to the negative perception.

"I have to verify this. We will definitely act on this because this will destroy the reputation of Filipino doctors," he said.

Online petition
Filipino Americans have expressed their outrage over the remark and have launched an online petition demanding an apology from ABC Network.The petition also demands that the episode be edited to remove the "ignorant and racist" remark. As of 4:16 pm (Manila time) some 15,533 people have signed the petition.

The petition also points out the major contribution that Filipinos and Filipino Americans make in healthcare in the United States:

"[A] statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. (and successfully passing their U.S. licensing boards!) as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.

"In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is extremely disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant. Many of the hospitals in major metropolitan areas of the U.S. (and the world) would not be able to operate without its Filipino and Filipino American staff members."

Jay Ngo, a Filipino health professional from Riverside, California in the United States ABS-CBN News that the episode was an outrage, saying, "the healthcare industry, including the best hospitals, is full of Filipino medical professionals."

Forum reactions
The message board of the "Desperate Housewives" website is being peppered with threads regarding the issue.One poster, using the alias "hunnybee07" wrote:

"America has been very fortunate to have been served by many [Filipino] nurses and physicians. It is quite ungrateful of Americans to make such remarks. Even if it were meant to be a joke, it apparently hurt an entire nation. The Filipinos deserve an apology. One day, when you are old, it could just be a Flipino nurse by your bedside and then you would know why you should have taken back any insults against Filipinos, especially Filipino medical practicioners."

Another poster, "MommyDO12", who claims to be a doctor in the US said:

"As a Filipino-American who is both a doctor and trained here, I get that your comment is quite ignorant. True, many Americans go overseas for medical school because they could not get in to schools here. However, there are a GREAT number of Americans and Europeans who go to so called "third world" countries because the education there is cutting edge AND affordable. I'm up to my eyeballs in student loans.

"Why do you think Americans are now rushing to the Philippines and India for surgeries unavailabe here in America? There are hip surgery techniques that have been developed there that result in less recovery time and have less mortality.

"Please, get educated before jumping onto the obvious bandwagon of "get over it" because you can't possibly understand being berated. Even my husband, who is caucasian, took great offense to the comment and is the one urging me to stop watching the show in protest."

One poster, who used the alias "berikyut", was long on passion but fell short on English skills."What the hell...Talking but about the philippines in your premier... "Let me see your degree making sure is now from somewhere in the philippines"? For you information if you go to hospitals most nurses/doctors there is from philippines & is hard worker & very good...So I suggest you think about your comment before you say it or if it's a joke It should be funny ( that is why it's a joke) DUH!!! I usually like you in the show specially watching you in superman before...NOW forget it....that's why you never win an emmy!!"

This prompted a reply from "Dr.Java02" asking, "Do the nurses/doctors learn grammar and spelling over there?"

With that development, do Filipinos now need to prove that they can master English grammar as well as Western medicine?

OCTOBER 1 EVENTS

959 - Edgar the Peaceable becomes king of all England
1788 - Nguyen Hue declares himself emperor of Vietnam.
1795 - Belgium is conquered by France.
1811 - The first steamboat to sail the Mississippi River arrives in New Orléans, Louisiana.
1869 - Austria issues the world's first postcards.
1880 - First electric lamp factory opened by Thomas Edison.
1885 - United States begins special-delivery mail service.
1890 - The Yosemite National Park is established by the U.S. Congress.
1910 - Los Angeles Times bombing: A large bomb destroys the Los Angeles Times building in downtown Los Angeles, California, killing 21.
1918 - World War I: Arab forces under T. E. Lawrence (a/k/a "Lawrence of Arabia") capture Damascus.
1940 - The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens to traffic.
1949 - The People's Republic of China is declared by Mao Zedong.
1957 - First appearance of "In God We Trust" on U.S. paper currency.
1964 - Japanese Shinkansen ("bullet trains") begin high-speed rail service from Tokyo to Osaka.
1969 - The Concorde supersonic transport plane breaks the sound barrier for the first time.
1971 - Walt Disney World opens near Orlando, Florida, United States.
1975 - Thrilla in Manila: Muhammad Ali defeats Joe Frazier in a boxing match in Manila, Philippines.
1989 - Denmark: World's first legal modern same-sex civil union called "registered partnership"
2005 - Bombing kills 23 people in Bali.


source: Wikipedia

THE FLIGHT THAT FOUGHT BACK

Last night, I watched a show on the Discovery Channel honoring those people onboard United 93 who gave up their lives to stop a terrorist act. It was sooo sad. It was as if I felt what it was like to be on board that ill-fated aircraft. Then I ended up thinking, what would/could I have done if I was in the same situation? Would I have done something different? How would I be taking it all knowing I would/could die in a few minutes? I thought about those and more and really, I just cried. I cried for the people who bravely fought til the end, I cried for their families, I cried for those people selfish enough to include innocent people in their evil plans. It was just a really really agonizing night for me. Everytime a family member would talk about their departed loved one, I would not stop crying. I wondered, if I were in that plane, would I have stayed on the phone talking to Ruther until the end? Would I have had the courage to do what these brave people did? Sometimes it takes things like these (terrible though they may be) to question the principles and choices we make and will make in life. Sometimes, the situation will be dropped in front of us without warning and we have to rely on our judgment and morals to make the right decision. I cannot say for sure that when that time comes, I will make the right choice. I would want to, but I will never know until I am right smack in the middle of it. I hope these people will always be remembered. They deserve to be remembered. They were just ordinary people who just wanted to go home to their families but fate intervened and they became heroes.


The 40 Heroes of Flight 93 - Passengers & Crew

Christian Adams - The 37-year-old husband and father from Biebelsheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, was flying to San Francisco for a wine-tasting event as part of his job as director of export for German Wine Institute. Christian Adams left behind a wife, Silke; son, Lukas; and daughter, Theresa.

Lorraine G. Bay, Crew - a 37-year United veteran and senior flight attendant of Flight 93, Lorraine Bay, 58, from East Windsor, N.J. had chosen Flight 93 over another flight because it was nonstop. Lorraine Bay left behind her husband, Erich, and no children.

Todd Beamer - An account manager for Oracle Corporation, this 32-year old father of two was traveling to Redwood Shores, California for a business meeting, and planned to return home on a red-eye flight that night. Todd Beamer left behind his wife, Lisa, and two young sons - David and Drew. Lisa was pregnant with their third child - daughter Morgan - on September 11, 2001. Famous for his "Let's roll" statement made to the passengers as they prepared to try and overpower the hijackers of Flight 93.

Alan Beaven - Alan, a environmental lawyer from Oakland, California, was headed to San Francisco to try a case before leaving on a planned year-long sabbatical to do volunteer work for the SYDA Foundation in Bombay, India. Originally born in New Zealand, Alan Beaven left behind his wife, Kimi; daughter, Sonali; and two sons from a previous marriage, Chris and John.

Mark Bingham - The world-traveling, fun-loving owner of The Bingham Group in San Francisco, California, was heading home after a weekend in New York City on Flight 93. The 31-year-old Mark Bingham left behind his mother, Alice Hoglan, father, Jerry Bingham, and step-mother, Karen Bingham.

Deora Bodley - A junior at Santa Clara University, in San Diego, California, 20-year-old Doera Bodley was returning home from a visit with friends in New Jersey and Connecticut. Deora left behind her mother, Deborah Borza; father, Derrill Bodley; and a half-sister, Murial.

Sandra W. Bradshaw, Crew - A flight attendant on United Airlines Flight 93, Sandy Bradshaw, 38, lived in Greensboro, North Carolina, with her husband, Phil; daughter, Alexandria; son, Nathan; and stepdaughter, Shenan.

Marion Britton - Headed to San Francisco for a computer operations conference with fellow Flight 93 passenger, Waleska Martinez, 53-year-old Marion Britton was an assistant regional director for the U.S. Census Bureau in New York City. She lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. and left behind a brother, Paul, and half-brother, John.

Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. - The 38-year-old family man from San Ramon, California was senior vice president and COO of medical devices company, Thoratec Corporation. Tom Burnett was a passenger on Flight 93, heading home from a business meeting in New Jersey and a weekend in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He left behind his wife, Deena, and three young daughters, Madison, Halley, and Anna Clare.

William Cashman - This fun-loving Ironworker was headed out west, for hiking in Yosemite National Park with his old friend, Patrick Driscoll. William Cashman, age 60, left behind his wife, Margaret, in West New York, N.J.

Georgine Rose Corrigan - A hard-working mother and grandmother, Georgine Corrigan made her living buying and selling antiques, vintage jewelry and clothing. She was returning home to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she lived with her daughter, Laura Brough, after an antiques buying trip to New Jersey.

Patricia Cushing - Mother of five, Patricia Cushing, was traveling on vacation with sister-in-law Jane Folger on Flight 93. Patricia Cushing, 69, was a retired service representative for New Jersey Bell and lived in Bayonne, N.J. She left behind sons Thomas, John and David, and daughters Alicia and Pegeen.

Jason Dahl, Captain - The Captain of United Airlines Flight 93, 43-year-old Jason Dahl was piloting that flight in order to have time off to take his wife to London to celebrate their wedding anniversary on September 14. Jason Dahl is survived by his wife, Sandy, and son, Matthew.

Joseph DeLuca - A trip to California wine county with his new girlfriend, Lindo Gronlund, put Joseph DeLuca on Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. The 52-year-old computer program designer for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare lived in Succasunna, N.J. and left behind parents Joseph Sr. and Felicia, and his sister, Carol Hughes.

Patrick Driscoll - He retired in 1992 from his job as director of software development for regional Bell telephone companies, and started traveling. Flight 93 was the start of a trip with friend and fellow Flight 93 passenger William Cashman to hike in Yosemite National Park, Patrick "Joe" Driscoll, 70, was from Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., and is survived by his wife, Maureen; sons Stephen, Patrick, and Christopher and daughter, Pamela.

Edward Porter Felt - A computer engineer for BEA Systems from Matawan, N.J., Edward Felt was taking Flight 93 to get to a business meeting in San Francisco. The 41-year-old left behind his wife, Sandy, and daughters, Adrienne and Kathryn.

Jane C. Folger - Jane Folger, 73, a retired bank officer from Bayonne, New Jersey, was traveling to San Francisco on vacation with her sister-in-law, Patricia Cushing. She is survived by her children: sons, Robert, Thomas and Michael, and daughter, Kathleen Kulik.

Colleen L. Fraser - A passionate lobbyist for the disabled, Colleen L. Fraser, was born with an inherited bone disorder that kept her height at 4 feet, 6 inches, and made it a little harder for her to get around. The 51-year-old from Elizabeth, N.J., served as executive director for Progressive Center for Independent Living, and vice chairwoman of the New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council and was on her way to a grant-writing seminar in Reno, Nevada. Colleen Fraser left behind a sister, Christine Fraser; brother, Bruce James Fraser; two stepsisters and six stepbrothers.

Andrew Garcia - He was 62, but most people wouldn't have believed it if they met him. Andrew Garcia kept active, both physically and mentally, and loved to play tricks on people. The President and founder of Cinco Group, Inc. was returning home from a business meeting on September 11, 2001. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughters, Kelly Garcia and Audrey Olive; and son, Andrew.

Jeremy Glick - This fun-loving sales manager for Vividence, Inc. lived in Hewitt, N.J. with his wife, Lyzbeth and infant daughter, Emerson. Jeremy Glick was on his way to California for a business trip.

Lauren Grandcolas - A 38-year-old advertising sales consultant for Good Housekeeping magazine, Lauren Grandcolos was returning home on Flight 93 from her grandmother's funeral in New Jersey. She left behind her husband, Jack.

Wanda A. Green, Crew - The proud mother of son, Joe Benjamin, and daughter, Jennifer, United Airlines flight attendant also worked as a real-estate agent, and had plans to open her own real-estate office. Wanda Green, 49, was from Linden, N.J.

Donald F. Greene - Executive vice president and chief financial officer of Safe Flight Instrument Corporation, Donald Green, 52, lived in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was on Flight 93 on a trip to join four of his brothers for a hiking trip before attending an aviation industry convention. Donald Green is survived by wife, Claudette; son, Charlie; and daughter, Jody.

Linda Gronlund - It was to be a short business trip, and then a birthday tour through California wine country with boyfriend, Joe DeLuca. But for 47-year-old Linda Gronlund from Greenwood Lake, N.Y. it didn't quite work out that way. The manager of environmental compliance for BMW North America, Linda Gronlund left behind her mother, Doris; father, Gunnar; and sister, Elsa Strong.

Richard Guadagno - A longtime employee of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rich Guadagno was employed as manager of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Service. He was headed home to Eureka, California, after celebrating his grandmother's 100th birthday. Rich Guadagno left behind his parents, Beatrice and Jerry, and sister, Lori.

LeRoy Homer, Jr., First Officer - A graduate of the Air Force Academy and veteran of the Persion Gulf War, First Officer LeRoy Homer, Jr., 36, was in his sixth year with United Airlines. He left behind his wife, Melodie, and a young daughter, Laurel.

Toshiya Kuge - Following a summer vacation in America and Canada, student Toshiya Kuge was headed back for his second year of college in Japan when he boarded Flight 93. The 20-year-old from Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, was a sophomore at Waseda University in Tokyo. He is survived by his parents, Yachiyo and Hajime.

CeeCee Lyles, Crew - Former police officer and United Airlines flight attendent CeeCee Lyles was a 33-year-old wife and mother from Fort Myers, Florida. She left behind husband, Lorne and sons, Jerome Smith, Jevon Castrillo, Justin Lyles and Jordan Lyles.

Hilda Marcin - Born Hildegarde Zill in Schwedelbach, Germany, Flight 93 passenger Hilda Marcin was a retired teacher's aide and bookkeeper from Mount Olive, N.J. She was traveling on Flight 93 to California to live with her younger daughter, Carole O'Hare. She is also survived by her other daughter, Elizabeth Kemmerer.

Waleska Martinez - She was traveling with co-worker Marion Britton to a computer operations conference in San Francisco when Flight 93 went down in Shanksville, PA, on September 11, 2001. The 37-year-old Puerto Rican from Jersey City, N.J. worked as a supervisory computer specialist for the New York regional office of the U.S. Census Bureau. Waleska Martinez is survived by parents, Juan and Irma Martinez; brothers Juan Jr. and Reinaldo; and sister, Lourdes Lebron.

Nicole Miller - A 21-year-old senior at West Valley College in San Jose, California, Nicole Miller was returning home after a vacation in New York and New Jersey with her boyfriend, Ryan Brown. She leaves behind her mother, Cathy Stefani; stepfather, Wayne Stefani; father, David Miller; stepmother, Catherine Miller; sister, Tiffney Miller; half-sister, Danielle Miller; half-brothers, Wayne Stefani Jr. and David Miller, Jr.

Louis J. Nacke, II - A distribution manager for Kay-Bee Toys, Lou Nacke, 42, from New Hope, Pennsylvania, was on his way to Sacramento for a business trip. He leaves behind wife, Amy and sons, Joseph Nicholas and Louis Paul II.

Donald Peterson - Half of the only married couple on Flight 93, Don Peterson, 66, was a retired president of Continental Electric Co. He worked with his wife, Jean, as a church and community volunteer in their town of Spring Lake, N.J. The couple was on their way to a family reunion at Yosemite National Park. Don Peterson left behind his sons, David, Hamilton and Royster Peterson, and stepdaughters.

Jean Hoadley Peterson - Wife of Don Peterson (above), Jean Peterson also devoted herself as a church and community volunteer. She was a retired nurse and nursing teacher, and this was her second marriage. Jean Peterson is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Grace and Catherine Price, and stepsons.

Mark Rothenberg - Called Mickey by his family and friends, Mark Rothenberg was on his way to Taiwan for business for his company, MDR Global Resources. The 52-year-old from Scotch Plains, N.J. is survived by his wife, Meredith, and daughters, Sara and Rachel.

Christine Snyder - Native Hawaiian Christine Snyder, 32, worked as a certified arborist for The Outdoor Circle, a nonprofit environmental group. She was returning home to her husband, Tom, in Kailua, Hawaii, after attending the American Forestry Conference in Washington, D.C. and a visit to New York City.

John Talignani - Retired bartender John Talignani, from Staten Island, N.Y., was headed to California on Flight 93 to claim the body of his stepson, Alan Zykofsky, who had just died in a car crash. John Talignani is survived by his stepsons, Mitchell Zykosfky and Glenn Zykosfky.

Honor Elizabeth Wainio - A 27-year-old regional manager for Discovery Channel stores from Watchung, N.J., Honor Wainio was on her way to a company-wide business meeting on September 11, 2001. She left behind her father, Ben Wainio; mother, Mary White; stepfather, Jay White; brother, Tom Wainio; and sister, Sarah Wainio.

Deborah Ann Jacobs Welsh, Crew - Debbie Welsh, the 49-year-old United Airlines flight attendant who served as purser on Flight 93, was a native of New York City, N.Y. She is survived by her husband, Patrick.

Kristin Gould White - This freelance medical writer from New York City was on her way to visit friends in California. Kristin White, 65, is survived by her daughter, Allison Vadhan.

ALARMING

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/08/17/arctic.ice.reut/index.html

Arctic sea ice expected to hit record low

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The extent of Arctic sea ice will likely have melted to a record low this September partially due to man-made greenhouse gas emissions, researchers at the University of Colorado said on Thursday.

There is a 92 percent chance that Arctic sea ice extent in September will melt to its lowest level at least since the 1970s, when satellite measuring efforts began, the researchers said.

They had predicted a 33 percent chance of a record low in April, but changed the forecast after a rapid disintegration of sea ice during July.

Such high levels of ice melting could have wide implications in coming years such as changes in temperature and rain patterns across much of the United States.

"Similar to the way the El Nino pattern affects weather in the United States, more ice melt could change rain patterns and temperature patterns in the middle of the United States, which could have economic impacts on farmers," Sheldon Drobot, who leads Arctic ice forecasting at CU-Boulder's aerospace engineering department, said in an interview.

It could also open the Northwest Passage along the northern coast of North America and connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to shipping by as early as 2020 or 2025, he said. That could be a cheaper option for many shippers than the Panama Canal.

Whatever the effects, a rise in heat-trapping emissions such as carbon dioxide is partially responsible, the university said.

"There is an element of human activity in the cause of this melt," said Drobot. "Natural variations can't explain everything."

High levels of greenhouse emissions from smokestacks and tailpipes have combined with natural fluctuations, such as an increase in cloud-free days over the Arctic this summer, to spur the melt, he said.

Arctic sea ice researchers pay particular attention to the months of September and March because they generally mark the annual minimum and maximum sea ice extent, respectively.

Sea ice extent, the area of an ocean covered by at least 15 percent ice, has been declining at least since the late 1970s.

The CU-Boulder department used satellite data from the U.S. Department of Defense and temperature records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the ice forecasts, which it has been producing for five years.

The record low September minimum for sea ice, set in 2005, is 2.15 million square miles. For 2007, the highest probability minimum extent is 1.96 million square miles, and there is a 25 percent chance the low will fall to 1.88 million square miles, Drobot said.

The melt itself can act as a feedback loop and cause ever more melting, because water has a darker surface than snow. "Water acts like a sponge sucking up a lot more solar energy," Drobot said.

GETTING TO KNOW THE FILIPINOS

http://www.tourism.gov.ph/discover/people.asp

The Filipino is basically of Malay stock with a sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish, and Arab blood. The Philippines has a population of 76.5 million as of May 2000, and it is hard to distinguish accurately the lines between stocks. From a long history of Western colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders, evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and culture.

The Filipino character is actually a little bit of all the cultures put together. The bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous for is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese. The piousness comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century. Hospitality is a common denominator in the Filipino character and this is what distinguishes the Filipino. Filipinos are probably one of the few, if not the only, English-proficient Oriental people today. Pilipino is the official national language, with English considered as the country's unofficial one.

The country is marked by a true blend of cultures; truly in the Philippines, East meets West. The background of the people is Indonesian and Malay. There are Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The history of American rule and contact with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of East and West, both in the appearance and culture of the Filipinos, or people of the Philippines.

Hospitality, a trait displayed by every Filipino, makes these people legendary in Southeast Asia. Seldom can you find such hospitable people who enjoy the company of their Western visitors. Perhaps due to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian.

The Spaniards introduced Christianity (the Roman Catholic faith) and succeeded in converting the overwhelming majority of Filipinos. At least 83% of the total population belongs to the Roman Catholic faith.

The American occupation was responsible for teaching the Filipino people the English language. The Philippines is currently the third-largest English speaking country in the world.

THE OLD YOU

I saw this article and thought that it would be nice to share. Maybe we all need to go back to our younger selves from time to time. I guess that would be a lot of fun! =D

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/balancing/recapture-your-youth

Three Ways to Recapture the Girl You Used to Be
By Barbara Sher

The life you want is probably the life you have -- but with the best of your younger days added in. How do you revive the "you that you used to be"? By looking back at the things in your life that once gave you pleasure. To get started, do the easy exercises below.

1) Think about a small object or article of clothing you've kept over the years. Write down three things that you associate with it. Let's say the object you have in mind is a vase that you picked up at a gallery in Santa Fe when you were driving across the country with your senior-year roommate.
Close your eyes and think. Then write. You may find that you've jotted down "college pottery class," "time with girlfriend," and "figuring out how to read a map."

2) On the same page, write down at least three things you enjoyed doing when you were a child. Then write at least three more activities you enjoyed as a teen, and another three from your days as a young adult. These can be big or little things, solo or group undertakings. Don't censor yourself; sometimes the silliest-sounding items can open a rich path of association.

3) Add anything you've tried and liked as an adult but just haven't found time for in a while. You should have a list of at least 12 activities, maybe even 20 or more. Now comes the fun part: Do everything on the list -- once. Do only one thing a week if you like, but don't stop until you've done every single thing. Ride a bike. Sing a song. Write a song. Read under the piano. Travel -- if not cross-country, then to a town or neighborhood you've never visited.

Okay, you can probably think of a million stumbling blocks to getting started, so here's my advice: Stop thinking! If you feel you have no time, try dropping your most hated chore from your to-do list. Or maybe you think you're too old. We're all traumatized by birthdays. But think of how foolish you will feel at 60, 70, or 80 if you thought 30, 40, or 50 was "too old."

Why should small actions like the ones you've listed be such a big deal? Because they will wake up the senses that filled your life when you were in your most creative years. You'll learn -- or remember -- how powerful it is to do even the simplest thing you love, instead of just thinking, talking, or writing about it.

-- Barbara Sher is the author of It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now

LET'S DO OUR PART

I got this from Inquirer. We all have to do our part.

10 WAYS TO FIGHT GLOBAL-WARMING
By Queena N. Lee-Chua
July 22, 2007

1. Choose energy-efficient lighting. The old incandescent light bulbs in our homes are inefficient; only 10% of their energy generates light (the rest is lost as heat). Replace them with efficient, compact fluorescent lights that may cost more at first, but which lasts 10 times longer and use 66% less energy.

2. Maintain appliances properly. Do not place the fridge next to the oven; the fridge works harder to keep cold. Clean air-con filters. Unplug appliances when not in use. Twenty-five percent of the energy our TVs use is consumed when they are plugged but not turned on.

3. Conserve water. Take showers instead of baths. Install low-flow showerheads. Use the more efficient front-load rather than top-load washing machines. Better still, wash clothes by hand, in cold water rather than hot.

4. Use computers wisely. Computers are usually left on when not in use, but keep them in low-power mode. Laptops and inkjets are more expensive than desktops and lasers but they are 90% more energy-efficient. Choose multi-function devices that print, fax, copy and scan, since they use less energy than individual machines.

5. Reduce driving miles. Walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation. Avoid commuting in rush hour to lessen traffic time and fuel burned. Keep cars in good condition. Plan and combine different errands into one trip.

6. Reduce air travel. With today's communications technology, I often wonder why business people need to travel so frequently when they can telecommute or conference-call instead. Take the bus, train, boat or even car instead of the plane.

7. Buy less. Energy is consumed in making and transporting everything we buy. Borrow, rent, recycle or use an item secondhand. Choose durable items over disposable ones. Repair rather than discard. Filter tap water instead of buying imported botteld water, since it has to be transported from long distances.

8. Bag groceries in a reusable bag. Gore says, "Americans use more than 12 million barrels of oil each year just to produce plastic grocery bags that end up in landfills after only one use and then take centuries to decompose. Paperbags require cutting down 15 million trees annually." Bring a reusable bag when shopping.

9. Compost. Organic waste such as kitchen scraps and raked leaves usually end up in landfills. Without oxygen to make them decay, they ferment and give off methane, 23 times worse than carbon dioxide in global warming terms. Compost organic waste in gardens - this even makes the soil richer and gives us a good workout too.

10. Eat less red meat. Aside from health risks, a diet rich in meat requires more energy to produce and transport. Most of our forests have been cleared to create graazing land for livestock, at the expense of our trees. Eat fruits, vegetables and grains instead, which are healthier for us, and which require 95% less energy than meat to produce.

from An Inconvenient Truth (Rodale, 2006)