The Idea Dilemma

Is anyone familiar with the phrase, 'don't search the roots, pick the fruits'? Well the manner at which I came across this phrase was rather awkward. Coming across it in one of them Locked Up Abroad Shows in National Geographic was quite surprising. For a channel that emphasized so much on wildlife and nature, the discovery of such profoundly beautiful idiom of the English Language is just unbelievable. Sadly though I'm a wee bit addicted to the show. Never missed an episode of it; not that I remember of missing any. Since this being my first post after two months of being absent in the virtual world, I shouldn't have started my paragraph by wallowing about idioms; though I am capable of commencing with even more ghastly beginnings. But what the heck? Honestly, I haven't much to write actually. I'm in a 'what people say' an idea-less state. All my brains had some how been sucked out of my head leaving behind a vacuum, with nothing inside it except nothingness. I may sound exaggerative a little, but I speak all excluding lies on this matter. Technically only me and The Almighty knows whether or not I'm truth-telling but I assure you, that ti's I speak of is no old wives tale.

Oh my God, wait! Something just popped into my head. An inspiration I believe so. I hope dear readers that you are least or not annoyed by my style of writing. I know a spoonful who are, but what benefit will it bring to me if I do commence with backbiting? Little or else none, I'm afraid. You know amidst my severe obsession with the social networking site, 'Facebook', I so happen to have stumbled upon a blog of a jeune fille. It was surreal; trust me on this one. Her blog was so harlequin and not as dull as mine. Honestly, blogs that are of a girls acquirement, are far more attractive than that of a boy's. I'm not quite sure why; probably genetics (smirk). By the way, whatever the reason, I still will raise a white flag if my blog were to compete with a blog of a lass. End of story, goodnight folks.

5 Things You Should & Shouldn't Do While On A Date (For Men)

1. Always remember to bring along your wallet. Not only is the wallet an important asset, it can also be a lifesaver in various situations, like for instance a date. Failing to take your wallet along on a date may evoke unwanted thoughts in the mind of the lady you are dating. She may think you of being an irresponsible or a forgetful person. I believe we are aware of the popular saying which states that 'nobody is perfect', but guys, please try and make your date as faultless as possible. Because making a lady get the bill is no gentleman's work. It highlights you as to being a horrid Romeo. Plus, ladies prefer men who are responsible and underwrite; as such qualities will make them feel financially secure amidst the presence of such men.

2. Never flirt with the waitress, even if she is irresistibly hot. This is what most men do unconsciously. Flirting with another woman on your date is the last thing on earth you would want to do, especially in front of the lady that you are dating with. Such behavior will indubitably piss her off. You wouldn't want to be sitting next to an angry lady; trust me. In lieu of that, she may also think of you of being a 'multitask-er' or a womanizer. Short stints like a passionate smile or an unusually sweet manner of talking, directed to another woman can provoke many unexpected thoughts in the mind of your date. Hereon, she'll undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on you. If this persists then she might be walking out on you.

3. Always dress neatly. First impression is very important, especially on your first date; although the dates that follow may be of equal importance, but the first usually gives her a clue of what kind of guy you really are. Dressing yourself in a fancy 'Pierre Cardin' shirt with a pair of 'Crocodile' slacks, followed by a pair of 'Peter Kaiser' shoes, will undoubtedly make you look snappy. Most importantly, you're date will think you of being a very neat, tidy and meticulous person. Also, remember that the manner at which you dress yourself also highlights the cleanliness level of the place you reside in. Neatly dressed men usually equates with homes that are spick-and-span. However, if you do attend your first date shabbily dressed, then it is advisable not to dream of having a second with the same lady. So, to avoid this from occurring, 'dress smart!'

4. Be a gentleman, and pull the chair out for the lady. A tireless act like this will literally put a smile on her face, every time you perform it, as ladies love to be treated in this sort of manner. Like a princess in other words. Please be aware that you may look like her personal assistant or something like that at times but, it is worth every penny, 'trust me.' If your date so happens to wear a coat, then help take it off once she has taken her seat, for this will immaculately highlight your 'Casanova' attributes. 'Action speaks louder than words' is a popular saying that inevitably summarizes all of the above. Also, bear in mind not to try too hard, for she may think of her as to being a burden to you.

5. Always remember to smile. Smiling ensures 'the Senorita you are dating' that everything is fine and she need not worry herself over anything. Even if the bill is costly, 'pay it in a happy manner!' to let her know that you've got it all under control and that paying for it is no big deal; so that she may not regard herself as to being a bit of a burden to you. Apart from that, smiling also delineates that you are having a cracking time. This is what you want 'Miss X' to perceive you of having while on a date with her, as it will make her feel that you are comfortable being amidst her presence. By the way, try to make your smile seem as sincere as possible, because some ladies can tell the difference between a nolens volens smile.

Trying To Dissipate Shameful Memories

Everyone has a shameful experience that they would love to dissipate. But it is not easy, as it is firmly imprinted in our mind. The absurdness of such thought is just too hard to be forgotten. The best way to get over it is to express it to others. Well, that is exactly what I am about to do. This memory of mine that I am going to tell you is just bizarre in an eldritch sense. It happened a couple of years back when I was 7. The morning sun shined luminously above the 'Methodist Anglo-Saxon Chinese School', the school which I once wore its proud colors. Under the raincloud absent skies, birds perched high up on an electrical cable wires near one of the schools block chirped melodiously to signify a day that seemed almost perfect. The 7 year old me was courageously answering questions that a persistent Mr. Lingson(mathematics teacher) was kept throwing. This went on for a few minutes by my reckoning. The sharp ringing sound of the recess bell echoed through the school walls, which brought a halt to all teaching sessions. Before Mr. Lingson let us off, he gave us a bunch of homework that was to be handed out to him on the following week.

Failing to do so is an option many students will not think twice of taking; as the punishment will be just reproachful. The moment Mr. Lingson stepped out of the class, the class went helter skelter; as usual. My classmates were just overwhelmed with the joy of recess by my reckoning and not to forget the absence of a teacher. That's the case with students; they just go ecstatic when there is no pedagogue in class. Amidst the hoo-ha, I got hold of my water bottle, and made my way out of class. I then walked down a staircase which I find to be unique in a sense, as it mimicked the grand staircase of the Great Paris Opera House from Gaston Leroux's award winning novel, 'The Phantom Of The Opera.' This was a feature not many of the British schools around town acquired. Having made my way down the 80 year old staircase, I jauntily paced myself past the bookshop which was on my right. With my nose pointing skywards, I arrogantly ignored all attentive discount offers by one of the salesman, who was probably trying to get rid of all ancient stationery items. Passing the bookshop meant that I was now closer to the school canteen.

Knowing that the eatery was just a short whiles walkaway, I quickly paced myself towards its direction cause I wanted to get there as soon as possible. My primary objective of doing so was, so that I could consume my food faster, rendering me more time to spot iguana's at a bushy area, next to the school toilet. Spotting iguana's is just a weird aspiration of mine; I'm not sure why(smirk). Thus, having finished eating my breakfast, which comprised of two slices of bread with strawberry jam and butter, I went to the place that I told you of earlier. While there, I didn't happen to spot any iguana's. The rustling of dead leaves made me believe that there was something out there. Much to my dismay, it turned out to be a common household lizard not an iguana after all. A short while later I succumbed to my boredom and decided to leave for class. I thought to myself, 'today, the iguana's are just too obscure.' The moment I turned my head, I saw a large fist that came crashing into my face. The force at which I was subjected with sent me crashing to the hard concrete ground. The pain was no doubt excruciating really. But what pissed me off was the loss of one of my molars.

The blood that was unstoppably flowing out of the wound in my mouth sent me to tears. Well, this can be excused as a childish act for I was just 7 when it happened. My assailant was then apprehended by one of the schools prefect. I on the other hand lost a tooth. Thank God it was a baby tooth or else I'll be a tooth short by now. The irony of this incident is just inconceivable. Till now, I cannot seem to figure out whether the guy who punched me did it willingly or unwillingly. But, the fact is just comprehensible; I was literally punched in the face, by some unknown dude!. Well this is basically it. My shameful memory; being smacked in the face during recess while hundreds of eyes watch in shock. How about you?

5 Things You Should & Shouldn't Do While Conversing With A Girl

1. Always pay close attention to her while she is talking. Girl's like people regarding whatever they say as relevant to the topic being discussed of. If it does not relate to the thing that you are talking about then, just smile and nod your head; try making it correlate somehow with whatever your conversation is based upon. The last thing you want to do is, interrupting a girls lines by saying that there is no real relationship between what she is saying and you previously said. This will definitely burn the gasoline inside of her; or in other words, piss her off. Trust me, the last thing you want in front of you is an angry lady. Also, by paying attention to whatever a girl is uttering to you, you can also make her happy. 'Well, at least there's someone who cares!' Thoughts like this will definitely run through her mind if you do so. Other than that, she'll also regard you as to being a thoughtful individual for sparing your ears and precious time hearing her utterance.

2. Try not to let your eyes deviate elsewhere while you are talking to her, because wandering eyes is no good sign while engaging in a conversation with a girl. This point may sound a little like the first, but I'll try my level best to make it seem as distinctive as possible. If your eyes are not fixed on the girl you are conversing with, then it signifies rudeness as well as disregardfulness; these are the hindmost two things that you want running through her head. If you have accidentally done so then, apologize. This will make her feel a whole lot better. If you are lucky then she might even regard you as to being a very sweet person; erasing her every memory of whatever you had previously done. Such will also make you feel as if you're in seventh heaven. If this happens, then you'd probably be running on the streets like a starstruck geezer overwhelmed by something others know not of.

3. Stand still, but not too still; also, try not to strut and fret amidst her presence. Standing too still will give her the impression of you being an un-versatile bugger, like a robot or a rock. Move a little, especially your arms. Let them sway swiftly in the air instead of being subjected to petrifaction. Calm hand movements will make you seem like a confident bloke. Such mannerism in terms of body language and gestures can also at times, attract the hearts of many; especially women. However, try not to over do it as it will just make you look weird. On the other hand, strutting and fretting in front of a girl is also a 'no no.' Actions of this sort easily shows that you're nervous. I understand that talking to a girl is sometimes nerve-racking but try not show it as much as possible. The opposite sex might sometimes perceive that you are feeling uncomfortable or uneasy amidst their presence. You wouldn't want that happening right? Thus, try to avoid strutting and fretting while conversing with a girl.

4. Do not monopolize the conversation. This is something many Romeo's do without noticing. Also, this is bad in a sense that you're shutting out any space for her to give her view on the subject matter. Such will make her feel dejected or fed up. If this persists, then if she was your girlfriend, she'll be walking out on you in no time. To avoid this from becoming a reality, let her monopolize the conversation instead of you doing it. Plus, let her give her views and opinions about the topic you both are discussing of. Treat her like a princess, and do not intervene. After she has vomited whatever thoughts she has, then you proceed. This will make her feel gratified. Engulfed by the joy of finally being able to express her views, she'll definitely be coming back for you; as you're 'easy to talk to.' Oh, and try not to sleep if she goes on talking for hours.

5. Always smile, smirk or laugh when she cracks a joke that at times, isn't necessarily funny. By doing so, you'll make her feel good in a sense that she managed to make you laugh; even if the joke she cracked wasn't really comical. If her joke was really bad, then a little smirk might even suffice. Tolerating a girls jokes will also make her feel comfortable being around you. Plus, she'll also be very fond of you as you appreciate the jokes that she cracks. Remember, nolens volens, try to laugh when a girl says something humorous to you; even if it isn't really ludicrous.

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

The first day of any school usually starts off with a prominent ice-breaking session. It hasn't gotten anything to do with breaking ice or anything like that; more or less like an acquaintanceship session, although the ironic understanding of ice-breaking would've made the whole session seem a whole bunch funner. But, yeah most schools begin with such session so students would not feel lonesome or alienated once the school program commences. Such sessions are usually intended for the learners so that they may feel secure enough going to that specific educational institution. All in all, ice-breaking sessions usually work out well for many but there are still a handful of students that still find it a better option to resort to solitariness. Sad to say, I am one of those who still prefer to work with myself than to do so with the many Jacks who attend school. Resorting to solitary confinement rather than social freedom wasn't something that I intended to do at first; its also not that I'm training to become an espionage of a secret spy society or anything like that. But the irony of being rendered a job as one would not be that bad as it would land me a lucrative sum of money. Its just that the fear of mixing with the wrong clan encompasses my mind during these sort of circumstances.

Social problems and bad ethics are at rise in today's society. These unpleasant behavioral aspects of an individuals life is usually caused by peer pressure. Peer pressure is so deadly, that it can emulsify a saint into a devil and a law abiding citizen into a covenant breaker. This can be regarded as one of the many arsenal of weapons that Satan possesses to destroy the every moral value that a pious person acquires. Well this is just a rough picture of what could happen if you get hooked with the wrong colleagues of your academic institution. Technically, I'm not preaching you guys to live a 'Cougar like' lifestyle, its just that be cautious when you make new friends. They may look pleasant at first but, don't always judge a book by its cover. The thought of such just makes me shudder at times. Nonetheless, I still try to make loads of friends with the necessary precautionary steps that are needed. However, the feeling that emblems you while you're making new friends is indescribable really. There's this sort of joy that arouses within you when you make new acquaintances. After all, we are not made to live a solitary life but the contrary. Taking precautions is just a norm to ensure a long lasting, productive, meaningful and beneficial friendship.

I Should Express Gratitude More Often

Well, I'll be starting school tomorrow. The irony of it is just unorthodox for someone like me who didn't really find past schooling experiences to be pleasant. Actually, I'm not prejudice against schools or anything of that sort of manner. Its just that, the school that I'm going to is a wee bit far from my place. Like my previous schools, transport was always a problem, courtesy of the remoteness of my neighborhood. Going to school never was a problem as my parents would usually spare some time of theirs to send me. However, coming back to school was. My previous school usually ended at around two o'clock in the afternoon. But the funny thing is that I'd usually be back home at around four-thirty in the evening. Why? Because my house is located in an area that is beyond the radar of any sort of public transportation. A couple of weeks ago, I was interviewed by this guy, whom much to my surprise asked me a series of questions regarding school life. The following is part of the interview, based on my vague memorial recall;

Interviewer: So tell me, did you enjoy your time at school?
Me: Well yeah, I actually adored it a lot. But there was this one part that made the whole schooling experience seem unpalatable.
Interviewer: What might that be?
Me: Transport.
Interviewer: How so?
Me: Well, basically I reside in a rural jungle. I mean its not technically a jungle, its just that I'm using the jungle as a metaphor to signify inaccessibility by any means of public transport. Luckily for me, there was this bus driver who volunteered to send me to my very much isolated housing estate. But, before he could do so, there was this other bus driver that will send me to a specific location where that guy will pick me up from.
Interviewer: Well, that sounds like a hassle.
Me: It sure does.

Thus, if the interviewer thinks that my schooling life was a bit of a mess due to transportation reasons, then there is no absolute rationale why anyone else should think otherwise. But as I recall it, the distance from the school that I am about to attend tomorrow to my place is way further if compared relatively with the distances from my previous schools to my place. So, in a way I should be grateful of having attended schools that I felt was way further from my place but in actual fact was closer, if I were to compare it to the school that I am pending to go to. Apart from that, in a positive perspective, starting school again is really great in a sense; excluding everything that is related to transportation. One of my primary objective of going to school tomorrow is to salvage my mind from total obliteration, given the fact that I've been doing nothing much at home for the past three months or so that is mentally benefiting. In conclusion, I am really excited by the fact that I am starting school in ten hours time but the prospect of having another transportation dilemma is likely to commence again.

Spotlight: Global Warming

The spotlight is currently on global warming. This is possibly one the most talked about issues at late, for it involves the increase in the earths average temperatures. It all started back in the mid 20th century, and is projected to continue till God knows when. Some people may say that a small increase in the earths temperature doesn't really matter but what they do not realize that even the slightest change in the earths temperature can bring about magnanimous effects. I bet we are all aware of the melting of polar ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctic region due to an increase in the earths average temperature. What even more worrying is that the ice caps are melting even faster than predicted. This terrifying truth makes movies such as 'Water world' likely to manifest itself in the coming 100 years or so. Sadly, I may not be alive to see such happening; for I'd probably be reduced to bones. Many scientist say that the rise of the sea level by 3 feet or so is imminent in the coming years. If such happens, then many species of flora and fauna will be greatly affected. Animals that depend on a delicate balance of saltwater and freshwater will be the ones facing greater impairment. These sort of animals are usually found at estuaries where freshwater and saltwater mixes with each other.

In this sort of ecosystem, mangrove trees are usually found growing at the river banks, providing the perfect shelter and home for certain species; for instance the American crocodile, the Manatees, the Giant Land crabs and many more. Aside from that, human beings will also find the increase in sea levels to be troublesome. Areas such as New Orleans will be underwater if such were to happen. These sort of unavoidable consequences will force many who currently reside in low lying areas to evacuate their present residential homes in search of new ones which are located in much higher land. If these people fail in accomplishing such, then they will perish. The reality of having innocent souls dying for no real good reason is really unpleasant to hear of. But what can we do? This is a cruel world and as said on National Geographic, only the strongest and the fittest will survive. Hence my dear readers, this is what according to the many scientists is bound to happen. But if you look at the present, the signs of sea level rise as a result of global warming are already exhibiting itself in the form of floods that usually hit areas that are below sea level.

Apart from the destruction of properties and other forms of material, flooding can also bring about deadly diseases. Cholera is one of the many diseases that is brought by the floods once it subsides. Cholera which is caused by the bacterium, Vibrio Cholerae, usually affects the small intestines. Symptoms include diarrhea and severe vomiting which can lead to dehydration. If water is not replenished, then death may follow. What a cruel way to end your life right? But I'm afraid that's reality. This is due to the mixing of drain water and septic water with the rising flood water. Other than that, global warming has also caused the melting of glaciers. Before I proceed, didn't you know that 70% of the worlds freshwater supply is locked in ice? If you ask me, that's a lot of freshwater. So, where does this ice normally originate from? Glaciers of course; plus they call it glacier ice. Well, basically glaciers are the main reason for the continuation of the existence of many species of flora and fauna. This is because, glaciers provide the various species of flora and fauna with much needed freshwater. However, global warming has decreased the size of the many glaciers in the world at late.

The streams that flow from glaciers as a result of the melting of glacier ice generates a unique ecosystem around it. Imagine, what will become of the plants and animals that depend on the glaciers for their much needed water supply, once all the glacier ice has melted completely? Total eradication if you ask me as the whole ecosystem will perish together with its supplier. All these are some of the mere examples of the sort of destruction that global warming is going to bring in the not too distant future. Indirectly, we are the ones who should be blamed for such that is happening and will happen.

What I Saw Today, Didn't Please Me At All

There is a pond which is just a stones throw away from where I reside. In the pond, there are loads of fishes that are of various species and sizes. The purpose for the placing of these fishes in the lake was to help prevent mosquito larvae from breeding in the murky waters. Well, its sort of like a biological control method which doesn't really involve the usage of chemicals which could cause pollution or stuff like that. All in all, its really effective. Anyway, today, I decided to take a stroll to the pond to say 'Hi' to my fish mates who have helped in preventing the spread of Dengue in the area. On my way to the lake, I bumped into a stray dog which kept staring at me pitifully. I wanted to give it a snack but sadly, I hadn't anything edible in my pockets. Instead, I tried approaching it so I could give it a pat on the head, but unfortunately, it just wouldn't let me. So, seeing that there was no real way that I could get close enough to the dog, I decided to continue making my way to the pond. In order to get to the pond from my current position during the time of happening; I had to walk straight till I come to a first junction at which I had to take a right then walk straight till I reach a second junction to which I had to take a left.

Thus, having made the right turn, I noticed something very strange. Many cars were neatly parked at the side of the street. This is an unusual sight, especially on a weekday. Despite the strangeness, I continued marching forward. In my head I kept wondering, what sort of agenda is capable enough to attract the hearts of many to a neighborhood pond? I tried to come up with many reasonable explanations for the saturation of people at such pond. But then, when the lake was finally in my sight, I felt my heart being crushed into a million pieces, for what I saw didn't please me at all. People were literally fishing there. I am actually not against fishing or anything but the fact that those people were actually fishing at a neighborhood pond really caused displeasure in me. Well, I am actually not sure what kind of joy they get by proceeding with such ruthless activity. Maybe its the kind that a sane person would not be able to comprehend. The fish were put in the pond for a purpose, that is to serve as a predator to feast on mosquito larvae not to be feasted upon by cruel and senseless beings.

By the way, there was this one moment where this guy, who so happened to have caught a fish walked right past me with the fish in his arms. While he was passing me, I noticed the pain that was beaming in one of the fishes eye. Hereupon, I felt that the fish which was amidst the savage mans arms realized what will soon become of it.

Robert Frost's, 'The Road Not Taken'

Two years back, I recalled of having read a poem entitled 'The Road Not Taken', written by the great Robert Frost. Published in 1916, I find this poem to be very interesting in terms of its content. The poem is more or less about a traveler who chose the second path instead of the first, for it had the better claim. This poem is indeed closely related to decision making. In short, you make a decision and you don't turn back and don't regret. This is because the deed is done and there is no real way to go back in time and alter paths. Once you've made a decision you'll have to stick with it even if you despise it at first. For if you were to turn back for instance lets say that at first you specialize in anatomy and then you find it to be unpleasant and if you wanted to specialize in some other field it will be a waste of time and money for you'll have to start back from scratch. Also, if you were to read line 15 of the third stanza you'll find the speaker saying the following, 'I doubted if I should ever come back.' This line tells us that the speaker is unsure or uncertain whether or not he wanted to alter paths once he has made his decisive call. Probably feeling that it will be somewhat pointless, to turn back after he had familiarized or made himself comfortable with the path he had chosen; Even if given the circumstances that the other path may be of greater benefit if he were to stray to the other side in time to come.

This is basic human nature, for once someone has made themselves comfortable to a certain environment that they're put into, it will be difficult for that someone to adapt to a totally different environment that is completely foreign to the first for most people are less susceptible to change. So this is probably the most reasonable explanation why the speaker said that he doubted if he should ever come back, once he has made his decision. In short, never look back at a finished business, always look forward to an unfinished business. Apart from that, there is this popular saying which is, 'All roads lead to Rome.' So my question is, how does this saying apply to the context of Robert Frost's poem, 'The Road Not Taken'? Well in my perspective, if you apply this saying to the context of the poem, then whichever road the traveler opts to take, it would not make a big difference for he'll end up in the same spot. This is actually a question asked by an individual who has a shallow understanding of the poem. The understanding is such because the individual looks only at the surface of the curtain but not underneath it where true understanding of the poem lies. This invisible opaque curtain is what that separates ironic understanding and literal understanding of the poem.

Hence, based on an ironic understanding of the poem, the popular saying, 'All roads lead to Rome', would definitely make all the decisions that were made by the traveler seem pointless for either way, he'll end up at the same place; this also reflects the actual meaning of the saying. If based on a literal understanding of the poem, then you would see that the popular saying does not really correlate with the exact meaning that the poet is trying to convey through his poem. This is due to the fact that when you choose a specific path in life, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll end up where you started. Because that one path that you take will definitely lead to another and the chain reaction will keep going on; similar to an endless Polyisoprene structure. Like what John Masefield once said, 'One road leads to London, one road leads to Wales, my road leads me seawards, to the white dipping sails.' Thus, whichever road we take, it is unlikely that we will end up in the same spot again. Also, we should take note that different roads tell different stories. Anyway, if you look at lines 19 and 20, you'll notice the speaker saying that he 'took the one less traveled by', which then succeeds with 'And that has made all the difference.'

This highlights the importance of independence in terms of decision making. If you look at our present day society, you'll notice that such quality(independence) is lacking. This is because, many fear of being deemed as to being the 'odd one' or being left out if the decisions that they make does not abide to the prior. That is why most people comply to following the majority. Well, if you study the poem carefully especially in the last two lines, you will notice that Robert Frost is indirectly encouraging change, which definitely is intended for the better.

Our Ever Degrading Environment

There is a jungle not too far from my place. It is densely saturated with trees, weeds and other types of wild growth. The jungle is also home to a pack of dogs. I reckon they are strays which found shelter amidst the blanket of green leaves that prevent many drops of water from touching the floor of the jungle at one go during a shower. The jungle is also very cooling. Probably because of the tiny droplets of water that are lost through the leaves through a process called transpiration. Relative humidity, intensity of sunlight, temperature and wind movement are all factors that affect the rate of transpiration in leaves; well, that's what I learned during my time at high school. However, snakes are quite hard to find in the jungle. Maybe they're well camouflaged or something like that. Monitor Lizards on the other hand are abundant in the jungle near my house. They can also be seen crossing the roads on a number of occasions; to get to the nearby lake which is a abundant with aquatic lifeforms. So now we know where the monitor lizards get their protein from. Besides that, there are also loads of interesting insects in the jungle. I can't name them for you as I am not that very knowledgeable on the recognition of six legged creatures.

Also, the various types of trees and plants that grow in the jungle flow create a harlequin scenery, which is pleasant in a sense. But at late, bits and bits of the jungle has been disappearing due to human activities. Trees which provide many animals and insects shelter are chopped down mercilessly to make room for the construction of new houses to accommodate the ever rising population of man. The chopped trees are then dumped at a specific corner where it is then left to rot and decay. One hill, which had loads of trees once was also shaved bald by heartless lumberjacks. The scenery now is less appealing to thine eye as the green mountains are now reduced to reddish-orange sand hills. The absence of trees have also made the area warmer. When you look back at it, these are all the result of mans greed and lust for money. If you do pay a visit to my neighborhood, you will notice that it looks very much like a mining site. Although around 60% of the jungle(its an estimation) has been cleared up, there are still remaining plots of jungle land that still lie untouched by human hands. But I'll give it around about 5 years or so, till that to subjected to total eradication.

What pisses me off is the fact that most construction workers aren't aware that whatever they're doing is having an adverse effect on the environment. They're actually contributing to the increase in carbon dioxide levels which are unable to be converted due to the absence of trees in the area. This will then trigger a chain reaction which will cause the temperature of the surrounding area where trees are absent or at a low number to rise. The rising temperatures then force occupants to install air conditioners in their homes. Little do they know that by doing so, they are actually contributing to the destruction of the ozone layer and global warming. Some may argue that their air conditioners use HCFC(Hydrochlorofluorocarbon) instead of CFC(Chlorofluorocarbon), but if you ask me, there is no real difference in the damage that it can do to our already depleting ozone layer. The difference between HCFC and CFC is that HCFC destroys less ozone molecule(Oxygen trioxide) during its lifetime whereas CFC destroys even more ozone molecules. In short, HCFC destroys lesser ozone molecules in relative to CFC, which helps in reducing the rate of ozone layer depletion.

Another alternative was to use HFC(Hydrofluorocarbon) as it contains no chlorine at all. But the problem with HFC is that it is expensive and more difficult to work with compared to our destruction prone CFC. Man's desire for material wealth can also be portrayed in the recent environmental disaster which is the drying up of the Aral Sea. Driven by lust, the Soviet Union, cut one of the main water supplies that fed the sea with freshwater for irrigation purposes. Now the once 4th largest sea in the world is reduced to a wasteland where decomposing bodies of dead fish and abandoned vessels lie lifelessly on. This news not only caught the United Nations Officials by surprise but also, people from every corner of the globe. The disappearance of 90% of a sea is no joke and should not be looked upon lightly. In order to restore the Aral Sea to its original magnitude will cost around 30-50 billion dollars; this folks is no small sum. Once the remaining 10% of the Aral Sea is gone, where would the residents who reside amidst the Aral Sea region get their supply of freshwater from? Aside from being a freshwater haven, the Aral Sea is also rich with aquatic life which is a rich source of protein.

Just look at what man's greed has driven them into doing. They've managed to annihilate a sea, an ecosystem and a source of life just by diverting the rivers which fed the sea with freshwater. The receding water levels has also left large plains covered with salt and toxic substances, which is the result of fertilizers and pesticides. These are then picked up and carried away by the wind to the surrounding areas. Fertilizer and pesticide residues which is heavily concentrated with radioactive substances has caused the inhabitants of the area to suffer from various health problems. This is no pretty site, and the cause of it is none other than mans lust for material wealth. In my perspective, the drying of the Aral Sea is sort of like a sign or a warning. Take care of the existing water sources we have or have it taken away from us. The only thing left is for us to choose. Thence, no matter water source, jungle or air, it is all part of the environment. We should take note that these are also equally important to us as they are to the people who specialize in conserving them. Imagine, what would become of us if the last fresh water source has dried up, or if the last tree has been chopped, or if the ozone layer that protects us from the suns harmful Ultraviolet Rays have been destroyed?

The answer is simple, we will be definitely subjected to extinction. That is a certainty.

The Primary Objective For Our Very Existence

Before I go to bed every night, I'd usually ponder upon one peculiar question, over and over again. What is the objective of our living on earth? In the past, during the time when mammoths still roamed the face of planet earth, our primary objective was usually to survive. The absence of modern day medicine and the ineffectiveness of traditional medicine usually meant that the sick and the weak have no real chance to survive. Indirectly, they are usually deemed dead and there is no real point in sacrificing precious time in looking after them. The hostile conditions of the past millenniums are definitely not for the faint heart-ed, and normally only the fittest and the strongest survive. But we should not forget that there will come a time when all must die. This 'there will come a time when all must die' concept does apply to everyone, but the primary goal for people in the past was to avoid premature death. If those neanderthals, wanted to avoid such deaths from enrapturing them, then they had to have a strong immune system which would help fight off diseases. Though the diseases back then during the time of the cavemen weren't that dangerous, however, even the slightest contraction of a flu or any minor influenza virus would be potentially life threatening as the medicines back then weren't that very advance.

If survival or avoidance of premature death was the primary objective for the people in the past, then what is the objective of living for the people at present? In my opinion this is a very subjective question, as its response varies from individual to individual. Some people may think that the objective to their living on this planet is to create history. In doing so, that person has to perform something extraordinary before his passing. For instance, writing an award winning novel or inventing something remarkable to name a few. Others on the other hand, may feel that this world is all about performing good deeds which will help your soul progress in the worlds to come. Although the first opinion of mine sounds like the more spicier of the two, but still the latter is the real precise objective for our existence in this planet. We all realize that human beings have a soul; this differs us from all other beings on the face of this planet. The apprehension of such knowledge is courtesy of past Prophets, that were sent to earth by God to convey His teachings. In close relation to the Baha'i context; every good deed that you perform in this lifetime will bring you closer to God. The Writings also state that the purpose for the existence of the soul is to attain the presence of God; this is as a matter in fact, a valid explanation for the subsistence of the soul.

Apart from that, there are also loads of other things that we can do on earth to make our living a commemorative one. Climbing a mountain or making another person happy does make us happy, hence making our lives seem meaningful. However, during our existence, we also find this planet to be a very cold place. What has made it such? Well, the answer is mans greed and his lust for material and earthly desires. This has actually made man to be feared by his own kind. Driven by materialism, man has managed to become more savage than the beasts that once roamed this land. They are very unpredictable in short. The primary reason for the arousing of greed is jealousy. There are two kinds of people in this world; one is the rich and the other is poor. The rich, possess loads while the poor possess very little in relative comparison to the rich. We should take note that in order to survive in this competitive society, we must be in possession of sufficient amounts of money. Without money, you perish amidst the rich and famous. Thus, in order to survive, the poor will need to acquire some degree of wealth right? And to acquire such is no easy task, if it were done the legal way. Hence, this obstruction has driven some to acquire cash the illegal way; which is easy, but it comes at price which some ware willing to pay.

I guess you guys get the picture by now right? By the way, this doesn't really occur frequently; only on rare occasions. Although danger is lurking not very far from us, we still live our lives with the absence of fearful thoughts in our minds. For there are loads more to think and do in this planet we call earth. Thence, there are a lot of stuff that we can occupy ourselves with. This place we call home is and will never be a boring place. As long as we still reside here, we should carry out activities that will be beneficial to ourselves the other souls around us. Plus, we should cherish every moment of this subsistence of ours. Before I end, if you would like more information on the life of the spirit, you could pay a visit to the following website; http://www.bahai.org/. This site is the 'International Website Of The Baha'i s of The World.'

Knowledge

I often wonder, what actually makes a wise man? Is it experience? Knowledge? Or is it the mixture of of both knowledge and experience? Well, usually in close reference to history, experience and knowledge are the two essentials that make a wise man. Experience, is always the best tutor one can acquire. Knowledge however, is another key essential that is gained through experience. For instance at first, when you were a child, you knew not that you'll get scalded if hot water touches your skin. Only at the very moment you experience such, then only you will realize, 'Oh, hot water does scald my skin! How very silly of me.' But please note that this is just a mere example and you need not necessarily be scalded by hot water to gain such knowledge. In the medieval ages though, there were just a handful of wise people on the face of this earth. Okay, I mean not wise people but people that are deemed to being wise by other individuals. The condition is such in the past, because not many people are in position of receiving true education unless if they are from loyal families or families with a high position in the middle aged societies. The so called 'true education' are usually more or less related to those language studies that we learn today. The only difference is that theirs is of greater emphasis and not to forget ancient.

Some other teachings that are offered in the past days are religious teachings. If you did discover something scientific such as magnesium is a very reactive metal, then you are deemed to being a black magician. This usually ends with the fellas head being chopped off or his entire torso being subjected to the gallows. Such was the barbarity of rulers or men back then. This was probably why many feared to reveal their scientific discoveries back then for they feared that it may come at the cost of their lives. Not worth dying for I guess? Nowadays, there are numerous people who we deem as to being wise walking the face of the earth. The education system these days are so lenient as it allows people even those who aren't from a royal background to receive a proper education. It is the choice of the individual, whether or not he chooses to acquire such knowledge offered at a very cheap and affordable price. Back then, when there weren't such policies, many people have been longing to gain the very knowledge that every Jack does today. However,k the individuals at present aren't that very keen at gaining or acquiring such knowledge that is offered by the magnanimous amounts of educational institutions built for the very purpose of channeling knowledge to students.

Why has such happened? How come the people who do not receive much are even hungrier than does blessed with loads? You see the purpose for the existence of man is to learn; of spiritual and material knowledge that is. The very moment man has learned such in a theoretical form, they must then apply what they have learned in a practical form in order for its benefits to manifest itself in an altogether different formation. For example, if you learn the theoretical method of making a light bulb, and you apply it, then you will be able to construct a real light bulb, and if you sell it, then you will able to gain some form of financial profit. But please take note that I did not specify whether the light bulb created is an operating one or not. Besides that, in the context of the invention of a light bulb, experience also plays a vital role. Thomas Alva Edison, the man who first invented the light bulb, had 99 failed attempts before he finally invented a working light bulb. Only after having experienced 99 ways not to invent a light bulb did he only succeed. Thus, knowledge and experience paid off for the guy who gave the world the 'giver of light'. Without the invention of the light bulb, we'd probably still be using candles and lanterns to light up the interior of our houses during the night.

Hence, we should be grateful for such invention. Going back to the right track, I guess that the knowledge that is channeled by the school is not really the sort of knowledge that some are hungry for. There are actually loads of other sot of knowledge that catches the eye of the individuals who are not after the type of knowledge that is learned from the various educational institutions. I reckon that they find that the knowledge that is given by the teachers and lecturers from schools and varsities aren't really their forte. This is mainly due to the fact that different people have different preferences. You can't really force a person into liking what he dislikes; in short.

Answering The Telephone

Answering the phone is a painstaking task, for you never know what to expect. Sometimes the calls might be of benefit to you and in other occasions, its just pointless to have picked the phone up. Prank calls are by far the most irritating of them all. At times, these sort of calls come in the middle of the night or at other times when you least expect to receive one. People who specialize in prank calling are probably people who have nothing else better to do with their boring and unproductive life. Who could blame them though for being such jerks? They're just wanting a little attention I guess. Prank calls are one of those phone calls that is eligible enough to be listed in the least beneficial category. Nonetheless, I still find picking up the phone to be a very painful experience. I receive loads of phone calls in the morning part of the day whence I'll usually be fast asleep. The moment the phone starts ringing, it will feel as though thorns had just pierced through them fragile eardrums of mine; current emotions that I am feeling will literally vanish the moment my phone starts ringing and I'll start mumbling like a grumpy old man. What even worse is to have a sweet dream distorted by the ringing of a phone. I really hate when that happens.

But, when I look at the bright and sunny side of things, the less favorable ringing sound of a phone does help me loads in terms of waking up early. If it wasn't for Alexandre Graham Bell's life altering invention, I'd probably be late or not turn up at all for appointments or other daily errands that are of importance to me. Although the ringing of a phone may be of less pleasure to me, it still is an integral part of my life. It has served me as a friend, a loyal servant and a precise alarm clock with a ringing sound that is less appealing to thine ear. However, my phone hasn't been functioning for the past three days. I'm not sure what caused this malfunction though. My trusty companion now lies on the desk as silent as a mute. It rings no more. In the past, I always wished that my phone malfunctions so that I may be left in peace, but now, after having my aspirations turned into reality, I now live with regret. My hand phone on the other hand, uses prepaid instead of a fixed line. To make matters even worse, I have no credit in it. This makes it impossible for me to contact other people who are related or in close acquaintance with me in case of an emergency. Thus, I hope that my phone comes back to life again for without it, I am just a lost and lonely soul.

Monopoly

It has been raining relentlessly for days now. Small puddles of water start to form on roads, which birds then fly into to take a shower. Homes of the smaller creatures such as ants were destroyed by the onrushing water, leaving them no choice but to abandon their homes in search of higher grounds. Furred animals such as cats and dogs, especially the stray ones are forced to seek shelter to keep themselves dry and away from the rain; probably a precautionary step to avoid catching a cold or something like that. The plants and trees were probably dancing in the streets, as they were able to receive much needed water after having to survive for months without water. Aside from that, household lizards were also having the time of their lives whilst feasting on the helpless insects which took cover from the rain. Not too far from my place, workers from nearby construction sites had to stall their work for the fear of landslide occurrences. Workers of construction sites are also often told by their bosses that apart from the occurrence of landslides, the damp and muddy soils which have no real support can also lead to the happening of unwanted accidents; which could cost the construction company dearly.

The rainy conditions outside forced me to seek shelter amidst the comfort of my own home. The thunder and lightning which followed after the rain had started made it impossible for me to use the internet; which if I did, would lead to unwanted scenarios. Well, being a LAN network user, I find it not advisable to surf the net during the occurrence of a lightning; cause its pretty hazardous. Thus, I decided to read a book instead. Shakespeare's, 'Romeo & Juliet' was my primary choice. This celebrated novel is probably the most well-known, if compared to Shakespeare's other works, such as Hamlet or Twelfth Night. It did not take me long to grow bored of reading. So, I then decided to divulge in another activity which is seemingly unproductive if compared to the previous activity that I was occupying myself with. It was none other than playing games on my mobile phone. In my mind, I felt it as a waste of time, and it did not take me long to abandon that too. Being bored and feeling that my mind is not being put to good use, I decided to talk my sisters who were busy with their homework into playing a game of monopoly with me.

My youngest sister, who saw this as an opportunity to avoid doing her homework for the time being welcomed my request with open arms. My other sister who was the 2nd eldest in the family, didn't really see the idea of playing monopoly to be a good and useful way to spend her time. But after much persistence, my youngest sister managed to convince my 2nd sister that playing monopoly was a great idea. My youngest sister is very good with words and really knows how to convince other souls into doing stuff which at first, they(the other people) did not feel like doing. With that sort of talent, she ought to become a lawyer or something. Honestly, I'm the biggest crook when it comes to games that involve money and business dealings. Also, I've cheated in a few occasions. But who cares, its only just a game right? Anyway, my youngest sister chose to car, while my youngest sister chose the ship. I on the other hand, chose the basket. I'm not sure why but I seem to like the basket, for its more stable than the other characters in the board game. We started not long after we had chosen our characters. My youngest sister started first as the number she had acquired was the biggest amongst us. I was last though.

In truth I ain't really a lucky bugger when it comes to tossing dices. It never was and will never be my forte I guess. A round passed and I was the sole remaining player who was behind the others, probably by a mile. My youngest sister who was leading the pack, did not hesitate to buy whichever property she landed on. She's just giving us a tough time. Psychologically, I was disturbed for I feared all the good places will be gone by the time I passed 'GO'. My greatest fear was that the property of my preference would be purchased by either one of my sisters. The property which I admired most was Boardwalk. The magnanimously high rents, were a painstaking task that every opponent wouldn't like to comprehend; especially if a hotel was erected on it. The mouthwatering rental sum of $2000, is something everyone who plays monopoly would love to avoid. My fears turned into reality not long after as my youngest sister also known as 'the relentless purchaser of properties' bought Boardwalk for $400. The hefty price of Boardwalk was something that my sister was willing to pay for, even if it required her to mortgage properties that she already possesses.

By the time the fifth round had commenced, I was probably the player with the least number of properties. I also owed to bank $150 courtesy of me landing on Luxury Tax in a number of occasions. A rounds fee might probably pay up my debts. But unluckily, I kept landing on the Income Tax column on the board. Owing the bank $150 and not being in possession of 6 or more properties was pretty embarrassing for a person like me; who had devoted the most part of my childhood playing monopoly with my uncles and cousins. By the end of the thirteenth round I was declared bankrupt, after having landed on Boardwalk for the second time in a row. Losing monopoly probably concluded my day as being an ill-fated one. My youngest sister, who had won the game, was dancing in the streets; overwhelmed by the joy of triumphing over her elder brother. Nonetheless, I still find the board game by Parker Brothers to be a very good game. It is also one of those game that can help people who find mathematics to not being their forte. As soon as we finished packing, the rain subsided. Within seconds, the sun shined brightly above the horizon.

I was probably the happiest person of all to have witnessed absence of raindrops and the presence of the big round sun, for I can now the surf the net; which I had been dying to do a couple of hours ago. My sisters though weren't that very keen on the idea of continuing their homework; but they haven't any other choice.

The Poem Of Randomness

You can't see the day-stars shine,
Likewise you can't see the good in people,
For you're no Mighty God,
Just an ordinary human being,

Living your life till its time,
To pass on to the next world,
Where you'll be united with the souls,
Of the dead of this world,

Ti's is the only opportunity that you'd get,
To catch a glimpse of God,
For you've never seen Him before,
In the world that is of the highest degree of materiality,

You'd also find it hard to catch a Humming Bird,
Perched high up on a branch,
That is of a wooden Oak Tree,
As you aren't created for that sole purpose,

But you'll be able to do so,
Whence you are asleep,
And that is when you are in total control of a virtual world,
That is known also as the dream world,

At times when you were a kid,
You'd often wonder; Why do people cry during funerals?
And when you ask your mom,
She'd reply; Do not ponder upon those unnecessary thoughts of yours,

Get a definite answer you do not,
So you'll then carry on to wonder,
Why do people cry during funerals?
Until you are mature enough to understand and need not wonder no more,

Love is like an ionic bond,
Between two people who are very much fond of each other,
For they see something special in each other,
Only they can see while others can't,

When you were a kid, you know not of love,
And those goodnight kisses that your parents often render you,
Before you go to bed,
Is what you actually perceive love to be,

'School is cool!', well that's what grownups say,
But to a kid it is just hell,
And to a parent it is heaven,
But still, it often puts a parent through hell whilst getting their kid to school,

Jack and the beanstalk,
Oh, what a wonderful tale! That of a boy who got rich,
While stealing a giants priced possessions,
Imagine, just how pleasant would it be, if life were that easy!

Mr. Grasshopper sir, why are you crying?
I cry for I am in pain, deep down in my heart,
Why are you in pain, if you don't mind me ask?
Cause the humans have destroyed my home rendering me no place to lay me head,

Plants give us oxygen,
We give plants carbon dioxide,
And we chop plants, but for what good reason?
To build homes and speed up our annihilation,

The world is just big,
Too big for a tiny bloke like me,
There's loads of stuff going on in it as what the newspaper states,
But sadly, its going on around me,

In ancient Egypt there lived the Pharaohs,
Who wanted their bodies to be preserved,
But for what good reason?
Well, so that they'll be found by scientists 3000 years in the future,

Ponder upon this; If the world were in black and white,
Like them old movies you see on television,
Would it be fun or would it be boring?
If everyone looked the same,

At times wouldn't it be nice,
If the roads of usually congested freeways be empty,
And you can drive with no real obstruction,
Reaching your workplace in the nick of time,

Dictionaries! What would we do without them?
If it weren't for these thick books,
We'd probably be cracking our heads finding definitions,
Through people whom we perceive to be way knowledgeable than ourselves,

If it weren't for boats,
How would we cross the deep blue seas?
And if it weren't for snowmobiles,
How would we cross the tundra in one piece?

Weddings are thought to be a joyous occasion,
Whilst funerals are thought to be a sorrow-stricken occasion,
Weddings involve the joining of hands of two people who are madly in love with each other,
Funerals involve the departure of the soul from its material body,

Thence, if the soul departs from its material cage,
Is it not free then?
As it can now fly elsewhere, to the Celestial Kingdom of God,
To attain his Beloveds presence.

Thereto, I've reached the end,
Of my so called random poem,
Which is filled with stuff relating not to its previous stanza,
But to the random life of me, myself and I.(a little smirk)

One Word Is All It Takes

There is an old saying which says, 'the pen is mightier than the sword'. This is very true indeed for the words you write down using only a pen, has the capabilities of destroying a persons heart and disrupting the tranquility of their very soul. So yes, words do have a strong impact on individuals. Hence, you should be very cautious whilst uttering words to another individual, for the wrong manner of utterance could bring about devastating consequences. Anyway, there is no exact definition for words, besides it being the smallest free form in a language. But do not worry, I am not going to dwell so much into the definition of words, for if I were to explain them, I will take loads of time. Anyhow, words as we all know it, can be combined to form a sentence or phrase. These sentences can then be combined with another sentence in correlation to the first using coordinating conjunctions to form compound sentences. Examples of coordinating conjunctions include the words; and, but, or and nor. Thus, with the help of our devoted teachers who have sacrificed so much of their precious time teaching us the wonders of words, we now know how to put them to use.

But the big question is, do we put them to good use or to bad use? I am not specifically directing this question towards the career point of view but towards how we converse to people. You see, at times we subconsciously feel that what we try to deliver to another individual in the medium of speech sounds pretty UN-obscene to our ears but we cannot tell how the individual that we are directing the speech to would feel. We do not possess the power to read the minds of others, so we can't tell what is exactly going on in another persons mind. Hereto, everything that we say must be carefully analyzed in our minds so that we do not say anything offensive. You see, the minute you've uttered words out of your mouth, its out for good. There's no way of taking them back, for we haven't gotten a time machine yet. By the way, I too utter words aimlessly at times without pondering upon it in my mind, and frankly speaking, it has cost me dearly. For I feel that at times I've hurt another persons heart unintentionally. Luckily though, after a short space of time, those people forgive me for my impertinence. But this does not apply to all individuals for some of them are hard to buy.

Well I've been wasting my precious time talking of the negative stuff, so now I shall move on to the positive stuff. You see, making a person smile through the usage of mere words ain't that difficult. A simple 'hi' and 'bye' would suffice in most occasions. Saying nice stuff about another individual whether it is about their exterior or interior features is indirectly a good deed. This because you are actually sort of making another person happy. Putting a smile on a gloomy individuals face or giving encouragement to an individual whence all hope is lost, will not only enlighten their hearts but yours as well. For it always feels like a job well done when you are able to do such thing. Thereto, you're happy, they're happy, everyone's happy and no one looses. Well, there's this one girl that keeps putting a smile on my face with the messages that she sends. Although, it is pretty long, I still do not mind spending my time reading them for they are written in a very sweet manner. Thus, my point is, whether it is written or spoken, words do leave an irremovable stain in our hearts and souls.

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

Everything from a mere dot is a work of art. Why do I say so? Well, when you draw a simple dot on a blank piece of A4 sized paper, it puts you under an artists impression of being a very empty and lonesome person. The dot represents a soloist. It is also often depressing to see something or someone alone or without companionship. Thus, to an artists point of view, this dot is the mere example of the depressing feeling that a person feels when he or she is alone. I've acquaintanceship with a girl who spends her free time painting and going for art lessons. It is very heart warming in actual fact to hear someone spend their free time in such manner. I feel it a very productive way to spend your free time. At a very young age, I was very much in love with art, courtesy of me mom. She thought me how to draw and at the age of four, I drew my very first master piece which was of a train. I was very fond of trains back then. Probably because of their sheer size due to the addition of numerous number of coaches behind the power coach.

Anyway, I find drawing to be less of a problem to me. What I face much difficulty in is painting. Painting has always seemed like an impossible task to me for I haven't gotten the 'painters touch'. But having not the painting skills hasn't forced me to stop trying. I attempted painting the pictures which I've drawn for that sole purpose(painting) but they all turned out pretty horrid. Although I am aware of the fact that any artwork produced whether ghastly or less appealing to the eye is still a genuine work of art; those paintings of mine didn't exactly turn out the way I pictured them to. My paintings would probably give Piero Della Francesca a heart attack. Honestly speaking, them paintings of mine are pretty bad. By the way, the girl that I told you I'm in acquaintance with, well her artwork is way better than mine probably by a mile's length; trust me, I've seen it.

Anyway, I find drawing, painting or art as a whole to be the best way for a person to express themselves. This is because from a painting, you can actually tell whether a person is happy, sad, sorrow, confused, crazy, tranquil or lonely; kindly note that these are just examples as there are loads of other emotions that a person may experience. People who find it hard to express themselves verbally can choose art as an alternate medium through which they can vomit their innermost feelings or emotions through. In rare occasions, people who are supposedly skilled writers also find it easier to express themselves through painting or drawing. Remember, a picture's worth a thousand words. The popular saying, 'a picture's worth a thousand words' is a Chinese proverb. Besides that, instead of me writing posts, it would probably be a better alternative for me to draw pictures right? It could possibly save me loads of time, but truthfully I still adore writing even more for I ain't that good an artist(smirk).

Help Can Come In Many Ways

Everyday, when I first open my eyes, I see the same the same bed that I've been sleeping on, the same pillow that I've been resting my head on, and the same room that I've been sleeping in for the past couple of years. Although it isn't much, I am still grateful for having a place where I can call home. I consider myself to be very fortunate for some people do not possess the kind of luxury that I do. But it is pretty saddening at times, to look at the people of other countries, that are poverty-stricken. At times I feel like landing a hand to them, but in reality I haven't gotten much to give. I am still a student and I've no degree nor diploma yet. My career aspirations however is to become a doctor. I hope that with the help of God, The Almighty, I'll be able to achieve this life-long dream. God-willingly, upon the completion of my studies, I will be rendered the opportunity to serve in a very poor country where its people is in much need of medical attention.

Serving in the sub-Saharan parts of Northern Africa will be my primary choice. My secondary choice will be to serve in Ethiopia for the country is concentrated with many infectious diseases, so named; tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis A, measles, Epstein-Barr virus, rabies, human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), rubella and mumps. What even more less appealing to the ear is that they've short supply of doctors. This shortage of doctors and medication has caused the mortality rate in Ethiopia to rise to a staggering 30000 per year. This is no small figure. You'll feel even more depressed whence you see a child suffer from this sort of disease. Lack of food, water and vitamins, has made children in the Ethiopian provinces to be more prone towards illness and infectious diseases. The lack of food, water and vitamins is probably the major reason why the immunity level of the citizens of Ethiopia is deteriorating. Luckily, where I live, medical aid can be easily acquired. Most places you go, even to the most remote parts of my country, there is bound to be a clinic or a medical center. The medical fees here are also considered to be adequate for every citizen here regardless whether poor or rich, can still afford. Besides that, the health minister in my country came up with a policy where every student below the age of 18, will be given free tetanus, rubella and bacillus-calmette guerin shots. This is one method which managed to reduce the death tolls in my country.

But its pretty understandable if this policy is not implemented in poorer countries because the Government in those countries which are struck by poverty don't possess a sufficient amount of funding to acquire a large amount of these vaccines. Also, keep in mind that these vaccines aren't cheap. They're actually pretty expensive. For instance, one bottle of tetanus alone costs around about $20, and will give around about 20 shots. So its not really advisable for a country which has a population of around about 81 million people to spend their money on tetanus shots whence they're facing financial problems. But, I believe that this problem will soon subside in the near future for more and more wealthier countries are lending a helping hand to the less fortunate countries. Honestly, I actually find this very appeasing to hear for the prayers of the civilians of all the less wealthy countries have been answered in the form of financial and medical assistance handed over by the more financially superior countries. Also, not to forget manpower in the form of qualified doctors. Hopefully, someday I'd be able to add to the number of doctors that are already serving in those countries which are in need of medically qualified assets.

The Headless Golfer

I can't see clearly without the visual aid of my glasses. Being short sited, I find it hard to spot distant objects. But then, luckily I can still see the words that appear on the screen of my computer, which is the result of my typing them. At times I feel that I type rubbish as the certain stuff that I type, has no relevance whatsoever to me. My imagination is to be blamed for this. I believe everyone who is reading this post at this very moment, do ponder or fantasize about the places which they've seen but never been to. In order for this to happen, that particular place should enthrall or captivate the mind of the fantasist. It must be special in a certain perspective or appealing to be fantasized of. Anyhow, I believe everyone would love to go to that special place which they portrayed of being in in their mind. Besides that, my dreams are also to be labeled as the culprit for letting my thoughts run wild. That is probably the main reason why I am so passionate of sleeping; so I can ever so often.

Usually I sleep like 10 hours on average. I know, that it is not good for my health, but I'd do anything for those 'loco' ideas that I get whilst dreaming; this only proceeds if the dream is a good one. When I was a kid, my dreams usually evolved into nightmares. One of them was about this golfer who terrorized the locals; as he was wanting to acquire a head, after losing his on one Halloween night. What terrified me even more was that he used a huge golf ball as a temporary head, until he'd find a real head. There was this one incident that happened in the early hours of Saturday. In my dream, the headless golfer had literally caught me by the scruff of my neck. The golfer then reached for his golf stick, which he'd use to knock off my head.

As he was about to decapitate me, thankfully I woke up. I was heavily sweating. Trembling with fear, I checked my room a couple of times to see if anyone was sharing it without my knowledge. But to my relieve, no one was in it except me. The headless golfer was just a character in a bizarre nightmare of mine. He does not exist in reality. By the way, this was a somewhat crazy dream. It was all my cousins fault for telling me the tale of the headless golfer. I was also a little imbecilic to believe such thing existed. Anyhow, I still gotta hand it to my cousin whom I am so grateful of having for telling me the tale which has left a me a little paranoid at times. But anyway, if it wasn't for that ridiculed story, my dream would not have had any spice in it at all. Thus, rendering me a boring and unfruitful sleep.

Driving Lessons

When I was a kid, I was always very fond of driving. I would often visited the arcade around twice a week or so to play them racing video games. It was probably the next best thing to driving an actual car. It was not long after that I became addicted to video games of the racing genre for it involved driving. I purchased loads of racing video game CD's which I later installed in my computer. The video games that I purchased were those developed by Electronical Arts(EA) Studios. The video games that they developed seemed very realistic. Also, I watched Formula One(F1) very frequently back in the days. At times I often aspired to become an F1 driver. This passion that I had towards Formula One was mainly because of the cars, which were designed to go fast. Another reason why I so desperately wanted to become an F1 driver was probably because of my childhood idol, Micheal Schumacher; a racing legend in the Formula One history books. He is also by my reckoning the best driver in the world, for he drives so very well on both wet and dry track conditions.

When I turned 17, my dreams of learning to drive a real car was made into reality, as I finally reached the legal age of learning to drive in my country. I was so anxious of starting my driving lessons. At times I would sleep restlessly for, the thought of how my first day of driving would turn out, kept crossing my mind frequently. When it finally came to my first day at driving school, my passion for driving was immediately turned off by the condition of the school itself. The driving school was in quite a bad shape and the stench of cigarette smoke was unbearable. The stench however was so concentrated that when you get back home, you'll be literally smelling like a smoker. That's not all. The bathroom on the other hand was 'GHASTLY'! It is probably the most horrid thing that I've ever seen hitherto. Anyhow, there was no turning back, for I've already signed up for the lesson. It was a do or die thing in actual fact. The first few lessons though were all about rule's and regulations, plus the 'do not do' stuff while you're driving on any tarred surface called a road. The lecture was in actual fact, pretty boring indeed.

The other students which shared the same classroom with me, weren't the least bothered of whatever the lecturer babbled during that 3 hours of torture. I on the other hand tried to fix my eyes on the whiteboard as much as possible; and hoped it did not deviate elsewhere. After the lecture had finished, I had to sit for a preliminary exam on the following week before I could acquire my Learning(L) license. The place at which the examination was held wasn't too far off the school. The exam was nerve racking as it was all computer based. One wrong click and you're 'carne muerta' baby. I only managed to get by the test on my 3rd attempt; not too shabby by my reckoning. A week or so later, I finally got my Learning(L) license. I was dancing in the streets when I finally got hold of my license. However, all did not go as according to plan when I finally found out that my driving instructor was none other than 'Mr. Foo'! Oh, how I shudder every time I hear his name. He was an old lad, who has been a driving instructor for more than 30 years. He was pretty hard on me; most of the times.

He probably treats all boys the same way. Anyway, the nicest thing he probably said to me was, 'your gear change from 2nd to 3rd was good, that's the way its done!'. Well it was sort of pleasant hearing him utter those words to me. Apart from that, if it wasn't for him(my driving instructor), I wouldn't be holding a Probationary(P) license on this very day.

Traveling

The earth is huge. Traveling from one corner of the earth to another will take days. This is excluding the time that is consummated for site-seeing, topping up fuel and other stuff relevant to the above situation. The approximate time to travel from California to Philadelphia itself would take around about 21 hours; excluding stops for any sort. If that is long, then imagine traveling from Moscow to Beringovskiy. It would literally take days, as some parts of Russia are virtually inaccessible by road vehicles. Thus, snow mobiles or helicopters are a must if you want to get around the remote parts of Russia. If you were to make your way through the snow cloaked forests of Russia, it would probably best to bring along something that will be able to keep you warm(a thick cloak) and something that will be able to protect you(an AK-47 or other kinds of reliable sniper rifles). For if you do not bring these along, you'd either die of frost bite or probably get mauled by a Siberian Tiger. If you ask me, the best possible alternative to make your way through Russia is via snow mobile. With the aid of a snow mobile, you'd be able to catch a great 1st person's view of the Russian Pine Forest, which you as a tourist wouldn't want to miss. But be sure to look out for powder snow, for you would not want to ride your snow mobile above one of those. Trust me.

Now let us talk more of the Sahara Desert. Possibly one of the driest places on the earth. At over, 9000000 square kilometers, it covers the most of Northern Africa, and is almost as big as the States. This is one place you would not want to take your wife to for you honeymoon. Not many tribes reside in the harsh environment of the Sahara Desert, due to the lack of water and rain that it receives all year long. But there are a few tribes that dwell in this almost inhospitable desert, and they are so named; The Berber people, the Tuarag Pastoralists and the Beja. Them previously stated tribes are the only three that I can recall staying amidst the third largest desert. If you wanted to go on a holiday to the Sahara Desert, be sure you bring along a GPS(A Global Positioning Satellite), light Snake-proof boots and lots and lots of drinking water. You can however obtain water from the very few plants that are built to withstand the seemingly unbearable conditions of the Sahara Desert. But the quantity of water that you'll be able to obtain from those plants are very little. Also, bring along sun-block, if you do not wanna get sunburn. By the way, this is just a fun fact for you guys; a human being can live up to three to four days in the absence of water. So if you're lost in the Sahara Desert without water supply, then make sure you get out of there within three to four days.

Walking Down A Dark and Lonesome Path

Do you feel as though you are walking down a dark and lonesome path at times? I know I do. Everywhere I look, I see people attaining their goals while I am still stuck here, abandoned in the darkness of desolation. At times I feel imbecilic as to not being able to fulfill my true potentials. But my life is probably set in that sort of manner and nothing can I do to alter this prerequisite condition. Since January hitherto, I've been lazing around the house, performing activities that bring little benefit to me. I cannot proceed to studying a certain book for I am still awaiting my matriculation results. Get that, and I'm on an express route to University. If I do not, then I'd have to progress into doing my STPM(Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia) or probably my Advanced Levels. The latter however is much more expensive as it can only be done in a private college. The pro of doing Advanced Levels is that you get the opportunity of furthering your studies in a foreign university. The con however is that you have to obtain an excellent result if you'd want to enter a recognized foreign university, and trust me, this ain't an easy task. STPM on the other hand is like the Holy-Grail of examinations. The papers are also said to be far more formidable than them A-Levels.

If you do well in STPM though, both local and foreign universities will definitely welcome you with open arms. So there's quite a good chance of being rendered a very good university if you do well in your STPM examinations. The best possible alternative is to getting matriculation. This is because upon completion, you're definitely guaranteed a spot in a local university. If you do well in matriculation, you can also try registering yourself in a foreign university. Well this is because matriculation is well recognized by some foreign universities. Thence, I'll pray hard and hope for the best. Even though nothing works according to plan, there's always a route that one can take to succeed in life. For there is no specific path to accomplish great things. If you look back at history, the many people who's faces appear in the textbooks are people who were no one at one point of time. They were actually very observant and vibrant individuals; often asking questions for the most part. This lust they had for answers for their unanswered questions drove them into being the very figure of society.

How Do You Identify A Tourist?

I was listening to Mix.FM(An English Radio Station) in the evening; around about four o'clock by my reckoning. It was at that moment of time Prem(the Mix.FM DJ) asked listeners the following question; How do you identify a tourist? The question seemed a little ridiculed to me at first but looking back at it, how do you actually identify a tourist? Although simple as it seems, the question does seem pretty subjective though. The main reason why the Radio DJ asked this question is because apparently, he and his crew members went to Hong Kong; probably for a spontaneous holiday. While at Hong Kong, the only navigation tool that the cavalry had in their hands was just a map. According to Prem, the whole group would often have a round table discussion in the middle of the street every time they feel as if they're heading the wrong way. What even more hilarious is that each member of the entourage would force their way into the tiny circle in order to catch a glimpse of the A4 sized map. The cities inhabitants who happen to pass this man-sized donut, would often stare back awkwardly.

Thoughts like for instance, 'the inseparability between tourists and maps' would probably be running through their minds at that instant. By the way, this human-donut display in the middle of the pavilion is probably the best way to identify a tourist; so there's one way. The second, is probably by listening to the difference in terms of a foreigners accent and that of the locals. This is probably a more difficult way to comprehend whether a guy who seems a little foreign is a tourist or not. The third is probably by observing the way a person dresses. If the person who's face seems a little new, dresses differently than others in town, he could also by my reckoning be a tourist. For now, those above are probably the only answers that I can conjure up to the following question; how do you identify a tourist? In actual fact, I'd like to actually know more ways of identifying a tourist. Thence, if anyone has any other ways of recognizing a tourist, please do feel free to write them down via the comment application.

The Brief Lifespan Of An Insect

The life of an insect is brief. Much briefer than that of a human beings. This is because these creepy crawlies don't get much press attention for they are feared by many people. This fear people have towards insects often cost these little helpless creatures dearly. For instance, most human encounters with cockroaches often end up with the latter being squashed into little tiny bits of minuscule sized pieces. I'm not too sure why people fear cockroaches though? Its probably because they look freaky and are often regarded as creatures of filth. But what can the cockroach do about this? It can't just change into Tom Cruise or something right? This is due to the fact that it is already created in that sort of manner. Thus we can't just go around killing cockroaches because they look freaky to us. Picture this; if the cockroach looks weird in our perspective, what would the cockroach think of us in their point of view? Definitely the cockroach will think of us as being severely huge retarded individuals; this is just an opinion. I ain't a cockroach so I wouldn't be able to know the exact opinion they have of a human being in their microscopic sized minds. That's probably the major reason why they flee at the very sight of us.

But is this how we come to respect the existence of an insect that's been here for millions and millions of years? By trampling them, or by smashing them with a roll of unused paper? This approach clearly doesn't show forth our gratitude to the tiny creatures which inhabit our planet. The most heartless of methods to end the life of an insect is by far the spraying of insecticides. This approach is deemed heartless in a sense that it renders the insect a slow and painful death. If you want to kill somebody or something, it is better carried out instantaneously than to let the person die a slow and painful death. The same thing applies for the insects. If you want to put an early end to an insects already brief lifespan, it is more comforting for the insect if it is done immediately rather than for it to be prolonged. But guys, try to smash the insect that you despise most in a more docile manner for we do not want its hemolymph to be flying all over the place. We don't want CSI to find out that you murdered an innocent creature amidst your premises right?

Weddings and Funerals

A wedding is deemed always to be a joyous event. A funeral however is regarded more as a sorrowful event. A wedding normally see's a couple joining hands in holy matrimony, whilst the latter usually see's the deceased off to the burial grounds or the cremation chamber. Without a doubt a wedding is always a delightful and happy occasion. It provides the opportunity for two people who are madly in love to tie the knot in respect of each others love for the other, and swore an oath to live together until death alone brings them apart. The wedding ceremony usually houses a very lively surrounding, with people mingling around with each other while carrying a glass of champagne on one hand. A wedding is also a once in a lifetime experience for the couples to whom the wedding is intended for, and these are the sort of things which they can ponder upon in 30-40 years time and tell the tale to their grandchildren of that once upon a time. Provided that it all goes according to plan.

A funeral on the other hand is an occasion that many may regard to being a sorrowful one. This is due to the fact that some beloved family members of the deceased will feel that the world is meaningless with his(the deceased's) absence. Yes, at times the world does seem a little meaningless without your love's presence but at some point of time you ought to move on right? This is because time waits for no man. The deceased has lived his life to the fullest, what about you? Do you want to spend the rest of your life mourning his death? I bet he(the deceased) would want you to move on as well. He(the deceased) wouldn't want to see you in pain and agony, but on the contrary he would want you to live a happy and meaningful life; thus at times it is best to let go of your loved ones. In the Baha'i Writings, death is actually a messenger of joy. At first I didn't believe this, but after going through The Writings in detail, I found that death really is a messenger of joy.

This is because the soul will be freed from the material body which it was living in all this time, rendering it the opportunity to move closer to God, The Almighty and The All Wise. After all, we all have to go back to our Creator at some point of time right? Hence it is best to put on a smiling face during a funeral, for the soul of the deceased is finally freed from the material cage which it has been in for the past 60 years or so; its just an estimation really. Thence the next time you attend anyone of the above occasion, be sure to be even more delighted to attend the latter.

The Bright and The Dark side Of Life

Well like Keri Hilson said, when love knocks you down, just get back up. Do not succumb to it for if you do, you'll end up living a disastrous life. Trust me on this one, for I've been there a couple of times. Many people in the world today feel as if at times that they're with the perfect guy or perfect girl, but in actual fact, there is no such thing as to being with a 'perfect' partner. Everyone has their flaws, but some people just don't see through those glittering eyes of their spouses. This definitely backs the statement stating that love is blind. You only see what your partner wants you to see. However there's more than them than meets the eye. There's always to sides in a person. There is the bright side and there is the dark side. The bright side is the good deeds that a person performs in his or her life; usually in the presence of another individual. The dark side on the other side is the complete opposite of the bright side. It is usually like a hidden secret amongst family members only, and rarely does reveal itself in the presence of many. This is because there's a fear that if exposed, this dark side will consummate the families much precious remaining dignity.

For instance, I bet no one, straight enough would want to dwell in a relationship with a partner who's been involved in several relationships in the past; most of which ended up with a big fight or some sort of prodigy right? So if that's the case why do certain relationships still proceed? Oh yeah, they're partner has no knowledge at all about his spouses dark past. If he knew, he'd be adamant in knowing why such abnormality occurred in the past. Honestly speaking though, this dark side should be kept a secret and not to be told to anyone, even to the person you swore an oath to share your life's secrets with. For if you do, you're in for a real roller-coaster ride honey. And I ain't bluffing when I say a 'real roller-coaster' ride. Because if everyone did admit of what deep secrets they had, the people whom you are with will feel a little strange being around you. Not that its a bad thing telling the truth, but its just that some secrets should just remain a secret. Anyway, I've never been consummated by any of my deepest darkest secrets, not that I know far too many of them, but I have never been that good in enduring times when love has knocked me down.

Truthfully I'm pretty bad on that account, often losing my appetite and being emotionally disturbed, but when I look back at it, why did I not endure it? Why have I succumb to it when I know that there's more in life than meets the eye? I was clearly not matured enough I guess, but now having experience as my teacher, I am now well prepared for the next time if history were to repeat itself.