The 90/10 secret is incredible! Very few know and apply this secret. The result? Millions of people are suffering undeserved stress, trials, problems, and heartache. They never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. Theirs is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time, anger breaks friendships, and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest.. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different!. Understand and apply the 90/10 secret. It will change your life! What is this secret? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react.
What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane may be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%.
The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%! How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction.
Don't let people fool you, YOU can control how you react!
Let's use an example.
You're eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react.
You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the coffee cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup to close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt.
Back downstairs you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit zone.
After a 15 minute delay and throwing $60 (traffic fine) away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs to the building without saying good-bye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase.
Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to going home. When you arrive home you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.
Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.
Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the Policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?
The answer is D. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.
Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say "It's OK honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase. You come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You and your spouse kiss before you both go to work. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good of day you are having.
Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% is determined by your reaction.
Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 secret.
If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You do not have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out, etc.
How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you loose your temper? Pound the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the blue car ruin your drive. Remember the 90-10 principle, and do not worry about it!
You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep or get irritated? It will work out. Use your "worrying" energy and time into finding another job. The plane is late. It is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, to get to know the other passengers, etc. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.
You now know the 90-10 secret. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results!!!
-Author Unknown-
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! May your 2010 be filled with showers of blessings daily!
December 31, 2009
December 30, 2009
YOU STILL HAVE HOPE
If you can look at the sunset and smile,
then you still have hope.
If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower,
then you still have hope.
If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,
then you still have hope.
If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope.
If you can see the good in other people,
then you still have hope.
If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep,
then you still have hope.
If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder,
then you still have hope.
If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips,
then you still have hope.
If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism,
then you still have hope.
If you give people the benefit of a doubt,
then you still have hope.
If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life,
then you still have hope.
If receiving an unexpected card
or letter still brings a pleasant surprise,
then you still have hope.
If the suffering of others still fills your with pain and frustration,
then you still have hope.
If you refuse to let a friendship die,
or accept that it must end,
then you still have hope.
If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection,
then you still have hope.
If you still buy the ornaments,
put up the Christmas tree or cook the supper,
then you still have hope.
If you can look to the past and smile,
then you still have hope.
If, when faced with the bad,
when told everything is futile,
you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase..."yeah...BUT.,"
then you still have hope.
Hope is such a marvelous thing.
It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides,
but rarely does it break.
It sustains us when nothing else can.
It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead,
when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.
Hope puts a smile on our face
when the heart cannot manage.
Hope puts our feet on the path
when our eyes cannot see it.
Hope moves us to act
when our souls are confused of the direction.
Hope is a wonderful thing,
something to be cherished and nurtured,
and something that will refresh us in return.
And it can be found in each of us,
and it can bring light into the darkest of places.
NEVER LOSE HOPE!
-Author Unknown-
then you still have hope.
If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower,
then you still have hope.
If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,
then you still have hope.
If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope.
If you can see the good in other people,
then you still have hope.
If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep,
then you still have hope.
If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder,
then you still have hope.
If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips,
then you still have hope.
If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism,
then you still have hope.
If you give people the benefit of a doubt,
then you still have hope.
If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life,
then you still have hope.
If receiving an unexpected card
or letter still brings a pleasant surprise,
then you still have hope.
If the suffering of others still fills your with pain and frustration,
then you still have hope.
If you refuse to let a friendship die,
or accept that it must end,
then you still have hope.
If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection,
then you still have hope.
If you still buy the ornaments,
put up the Christmas tree or cook the supper,
then you still have hope.
If you can look to the past and smile,
then you still have hope.
If, when faced with the bad,
when told everything is futile,
you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase..."yeah...BUT.,"
then you still have hope.
Hope is such a marvelous thing.
It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides,
but rarely does it break.
It sustains us when nothing else can.
It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead,
when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.
Hope puts a smile on our face
when the heart cannot manage.
Hope puts our feet on the path
when our eyes cannot see it.
Hope moves us to act
when our souls are confused of the direction.
Hope is a wonderful thing,
something to be cherished and nurtured,
and something that will refresh us in return.
And it can be found in each of us,
and it can bring light into the darkest of places.
NEVER LOSE HOPE!
-Author Unknown-
December 26, 2009
DEAR DAD...
My father was diagnosed with cancer almost 2 years ago and through the really, really hard times, I tried to keep my sanity by writing. Your site on grief made me cry, but also made me realize that I am definitely not alone as I'm dealing with my father's cancer. I'd like to share a letter that I wrote late one night when my father was going in for his 4th brain surgery.
Dear Dad,
I want to say thank you for being such a wonderful father. Though you've brought us many a struggle with your various ailments over the years, you've taught me more about life than any other experience could have. It's been tough. You've thrown more at me than I ever thought my 21 years could handle. You've taught me that nightmares can come true.
Finding out that you have terminal stage IV cancer, out of nowhere, on Christmas Day; what does one even do with that as part of reality? But it was from that pit of desperation and fear that hope somehow sprang forth. My life did not end at that moment and neither did yours.
Dad, you've taught me what heroes are made of: how to go in and do what you have to do, even when it's hard and scary and you know it's going to be painful. As I sat at your feet through many chemo sessions, I saw an incredible person. I learned how precious life is. It was worth the toxic chemicals that were pumped into your vein. It was worth the horrible side effects including loss of hair, strength, and abscessing finger nails.
As I am constantly immersing myself in the world of medicine as a pharmacy major, you've taught me to always remember the personal aspect of what I will soon be calling my career; the part that seems to get lost amid the exams, labs, and lectures. This is what pharmacy is about, people like you, Dad, who are alive today because of what I read in my textbooks.
You've taught me that world isn't about money. What good is a 401K that gives you 10 million at age 60 if you die at 59? Life is too precious, too unpredictable, to be put on hold for 40 years.
You've taught me never to give up...even when it seems that all odds are against you and medical professionals only give you a few months to live. Don't believe in anyone who doesn't believe in you. As long as their is a tiny chance, you can be the exception because you are like no one else. But, you've also taught me not to fear death. Fight the good fight, but know that you can never beat God.
Dad, you've taught me how amazing and resistant the human body can be. Surgeons have opened you up and touched your lungs, heart, and brain...and they are still working enough to sustain life. God has done an incredible job in creating us, why mistreat this wonderful gift? No one is made perfect though. True beauty is shown on the inside.
As I look at you now, Dad, I don't see the pale, bald, slow man before me, I see my father; the person who taught me how to ride a two wheeler, and how to drive a standard shift car. The person who drove me to swim meets and sat there for hour upon boring hour in the hot, humid pool bleachers, never complaining. The person who built my loft freshman year at college in the hundred degree heat. The person who went to work everyday, even though he felt physically worse than I could ever imagine, to his daughter a wonderful chance at a promising future. That's who I see--and that whom I see is the most beautiful person I can imagine.
Though it's been hard getting through the days after learning of your diagnosis, I'm thankful that from this disease I have grown to appreciate every day of my life at such a young age.
Love,
Christine
--- Christine M. Walko --- Pennsylvania
Dear Dad,
I want to say thank you for being such a wonderful father. Though you've brought us many a struggle with your various ailments over the years, you've taught me more about life than any other experience could have. It's been tough. You've thrown more at me than I ever thought my 21 years could handle. You've taught me that nightmares can come true.
Finding out that you have terminal stage IV cancer, out of nowhere, on Christmas Day; what does one even do with that as part of reality? But it was from that pit of desperation and fear that hope somehow sprang forth. My life did not end at that moment and neither did yours.
Dad, you've taught me what heroes are made of: how to go in and do what you have to do, even when it's hard and scary and you know it's going to be painful. As I sat at your feet through many chemo sessions, I saw an incredible person. I learned how precious life is. It was worth the toxic chemicals that were pumped into your vein. It was worth the horrible side effects including loss of hair, strength, and abscessing finger nails.
As I am constantly immersing myself in the world of medicine as a pharmacy major, you've taught me to always remember the personal aspect of what I will soon be calling my career; the part that seems to get lost amid the exams, labs, and lectures. This is what pharmacy is about, people like you, Dad, who are alive today because of what I read in my textbooks.
You've taught me that world isn't about money. What good is a 401K that gives you 10 million at age 60 if you die at 59? Life is too precious, too unpredictable, to be put on hold for 40 years.
You've taught me never to give up...even when it seems that all odds are against you and medical professionals only give you a few months to live. Don't believe in anyone who doesn't believe in you. As long as their is a tiny chance, you can be the exception because you are like no one else. But, you've also taught me not to fear death. Fight the good fight, but know that you can never beat God.
Dad, you've taught me how amazing and resistant the human body can be. Surgeons have opened you up and touched your lungs, heart, and brain...and they are still working enough to sustain life. God has done an incredible job in creating us, why mistreat this wonderful gift? No one is made perfect though. True beauty is shown on the inside.
As I look at you now, Dad, I don't see the pale, bald, slow man before me, I see my father; the person who taught me how to ride a two wheeler, and how to drive a standard shift car. The person who drove me to swim meets and sat there for hour upon boring hour in the hot, humid pool bleachers, never complaining. The person who built my loft freshman year at college in the hundred degree heat. The person who went to work everyday, even though he felt physically worse than I could ever imagine, to his daughter a wonderful chance at a promising future. That's who I see--and that whom I see is the most beautiful person I can imagine.
Though it's been hard getting through the days after learning of your diagnosis, I'm thankful that from this disease I have grown to appreciate every day of my life at such a young age.
Love,
Christine
--- Christine M. Walko --- Pennsylvania
December 25, 2009
THE PERFECT GIFT
It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree at this time of the year for the past 10 years or so.
It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it. You know, the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma, the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.
Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner city church. The kids were mostly black.
These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without head gear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously couldn't afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.
Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids-all kids. He understood kids in competitive situations, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.
That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.
His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition - one year sending a group of mentally challenged youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas - on and on...
The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.
As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. Still, the story doesn't end there.
You see, we lost Mike last year due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. Yet Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.
The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further, with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation, watching as their fathers take down their envelopes.
Mike's spirit, like the spirit of Christmas, will always be with us.
MERRY CHRISTMAS dear reader and friend...May the love that came down that first Christmas fill your heart and mind today and always.
It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it. You know, the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma, the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.
Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner city church. The kids were mostly black.
These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without head gear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously couldn't afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.
Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids-all kids. He understood kids in competitive situations, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.
That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.
His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition - one year sending a group of mentally challenged youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas - on and on...
The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.
As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. Still, the story doesn't end there.
You see, we lost Mike last year due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. Yet Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.
The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further, with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation, watching as their fathers take down their envelopes.
Mike's spirit, like the spirit of Christmas, will always be with us.
MERRY CHRISTMAS dear reader and friend...May the love that came down that first Christmas fill your heart and mind today and always.
December 24, 2009
ROSES FOR A DIME
Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't like them and anyway he didn't own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold.
Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don't have any money to spend."
Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn't because his mother didn't care, or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far.
What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sister, who ran the household in their mother's absence.
All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother. Somehow it just wasn't fair. Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing.
Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn't easy being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to.
Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun's rays reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime.
Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment. As he held his new found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw. His excitement quickly turned cold when salesperson after salesperson told him that he could not buy anything with only a dime.
He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother's Christmas gift. The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby's shoulder and said to him, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you."
As Bobby waited, he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers.
The sound of the door closing as the last customer left, jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid.
Suddenly the shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby's eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby's heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box.
"That will be ten cents young man." the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime! Sensing the boy's reluctance, the shop owner added, "I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them?"
This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say, "Merry Christmas, son."
As he returned inside, the shop keepers wife walked out. "Who were you talking to back there and where are the roses you were fixing?"
Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, "A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway. Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime.
"When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars.
"When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses."
The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn't feel cold at all.
Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don't have any money to spend."
Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn't because his mother didn't care, or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far.
What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sister, who ran the household in their mother's absence.
All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother. Somehow it just wasn't fair. Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing.
Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn't easy being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to.
Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun's rays reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime.
Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment. As he held his new found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw. His excitement quickly turned cold when salesperson after salesperson told him that he could not buy anything with only a dime.
He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother's Christmas gift. The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby's shoulder and said to him, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you."
As Bobby waited, he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers.
The sound of the door closing as the last customer left, jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid.
Suddenly the shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby's eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby's heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box.
"That will be ten cents young man." the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime! Sensing the boy's reluctance, the shop owner added, "I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them?"
This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say, "Merry Christmas, son."
As he returned inside, the shop keepers wife walked out. "Who were you talking to back there and where are the roses you were fixing?"
Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, "A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway. Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime.
"When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars.
"When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses."
The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn't feel cold at all.
-Author Unknown-
December 23, 2009
THE GOLD WRAPPING PAPER
Once upon a time, a man punished his five-year-old daughter for using up the family’s only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper before Christmas.Money was tight, so he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve, he saw that the child had used the expensive gold paper to decorate a large shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree.
Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, “This is for you, Daddy!”
As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her.
But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. “Don’t you know, young lady,” he said harshly, “when you give someone a present there’s supposed to be something inside the package!”
The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: “Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full.”
The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.
An accident took the life of the child only a short time later. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each of us as human beings have been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God.
There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.
————————————————–
Dear friends,
I don’t know if the following story is true, but whether or not it actually happened, it is a wonderfully inspiring Christmas story. In this season of love, may we all remember the beautiful love of a small child. I wish you all a meaningful and love-filled holiday season and new year ahead. May your days be filled with love, joy, growth, and inspiration.
With boundless love and joy,
mws
Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, “This is for you, Daddy!”
As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her.
But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. “Don’t you know, young lady,” he said harshly, “when you give someone a present there’s supposed to be something inside the package!”
The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: “Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full.”
The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.
An accident took the life of the child only a short time later. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each of us as human beings have been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God.
There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.
————————————————–
Dear friends,
I don’t know if the following story is true, but whether or not it actually happened, it is a wonderfully inspiring Christmas story. In this season of love, may we all remember the beautiful love of a small child. I wish you all a meaningful and love-filled holiday season and new year ahead. May your days be filled with love, joy, growth, and inspiration.
With boundless love and joy,
mws
December 22, 2009
A CHILD'S REQUEST TO SANTA
Snowflakes softly falling, upon your window they play.
Your blanket is snug around you, into sleep you drift away.
I bend to gently kiss you, when I see that on the floor,
There's a letter neatly written, I wonder whom it's for.
I quietly unfold it, making sure you're still asleep.
It's a Christmas list for Santa; one my heart will always keep.
It started just as always, with the toys seen on TV,
A new watch for your father and a winter coat for me.
But as my eyes read on, I could see that deep inside,
There were many things you wished for, that your loving heart would hide.
You asked if your friend Molly could have another Dad.
It seems her father hits her, and it makes you very sad.
Then you asked dear Santa, if the neighbor down the street,
Could find a job that he might have some food, and clothes, and heat.
You saw a family on the news, whose house had blown away.
"Dear Santa, send them just one thing, a place where they can stay."
"And Santa, those four cookies, that I left you for a treat,
Could you take them to the children, who have nothing else to eat?"
"Do you know that little bear I have, the one I love so dear?
I'm leaving it for you to take to Africa this year".
"And as you fly your reindeer, on this night of Jesus' birth,
Could your magic bring to everyone, goodwill and peace on earth?"
"There's one last thing before you go, so grateful I would be,
If you'd smile at Baby Jesus, in the manger by our tree."
I pulled the letter close to me, I felt it melt my heart.
Those tiny hands had written what no other could impart.
"And a little child shall lead them," was whispered in my ear,
As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve, while Santa Claus was her
Your blanket is snug around you, into sleep you drift away.
I bend to gently kiss you, when I see that on the floor,
There's a letter neatly written, I wonder whom it's for.
I quietly unfold it, making sure you're still asleep.
It's a Christmas list for Santa; one my heart will always keep.
It started just as always, with the toys seen on TV,
A new watch for your father and a winter coat for me.
But as my eyes read on, I could see that deep inside,
There were many things you wished for, that your loving heart would hide.
You asked if your friend Molly could have another Dad.
It seems her father hits her, and it makes you very sad.
Then you asked dear Santa, if the neighbor down the street,
Could find a job that he might have some food, and clothes, and heat.
You saw a family on the news, whose house had blown away.
"Dear Santa, send them just one thing, a place where they can stay."
"And Santa, those four cookies, that I left you for a treat,
Could you take them to the children, who have nothing else to eat?"
"Do you know that little bear I have, the one I love so dear?
I'm leaving it for you to take to Africa this year".
"And as you fly your reindeer, on this night of Jesus' birth,
Could your magic bring to everyone, goodwill and peace on earth?"
"There's one last thing before you go, so grateful I would be,
If you'd smile at Baby Jesus, in the manger by our tree."
I pulled the letter close to me, I felt it melt my heart.
Those tiny hands had written what no other could impart.
"And a little child shall lead them," was whispered in my ear,
As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve, while Santa Claus was her
December 21, 2009
THE GOLD SLIPPERS
It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot of our local discount store.
Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today? I wondered.
My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained names of several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if didn't buy them anything.
Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift-buying anything but fun. Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait.
In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face.
She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed along, off-key but happily.
When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a treasure.
The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09," she said. The boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put them back, " he bravely said.
"We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow." With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes, " she cried. "Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry. We'll come back," he said.
Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you lady."
"What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked.
The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus." The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes."
"Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?"
My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes" I answered, "I am sure she will."
Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit of giving." 'Tis the Season!! Remember that it's better to give than receive.
Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today? I wondered.
My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained names of several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if didn't buy them anything.
Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift-buying anything but fun. Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait.
In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face.
She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed along, off-key but happily.
When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a treasure.
The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09," she said. The boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put them back, " he bravely said.
"We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow." With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes, " she cried. "Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry. We'll come back," he said.
Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you lady."
"What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked.
The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus." The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes."
"Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?"
My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes" I answered, "I am sure she will."
Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit of giving." 'Tis the Season!! Remember that it's better to give than receive.
December 20, 2009
JUST DETOURS
I have a little story I thought I would share with all of you. I recently relocated, bought a house and moved in the first weekend of July.
Since I have been in my new neighborhood, I have had the pleasure of meeting a few of my neighbors who seem to be extremely nice people. For Christmas, I thought I would do something nice for each of the neighbors that I know. I sat down and counted. There were nine neighbors whom I knew by name or spoke with often when I was out in my yard. I also knew which houses they lived in.
I decided to add one more person to my list for a total of ten. This lady that I decided to add lives down the street from me. I meet her every morning walking to work as I drive down the street. She always manages a contagious smile and a hearty wave. I had no idea what her name was and not even sure which house she lived in.
My gift idea was to make small fruit baskets and leave them on each of my neighbor's front porches or door steps the night of Christmas Eve for them to find, either that night or the next morning. I signed the cards: "Happy Holidays from 5104 Northumberland Road."
I saved the friendly lady for last, since I was still not exactly sure where she lived. I finally decided upon a house down about where I met her each morning and felt relatively sure that it was hers.
My neighbors really appreciated the baskets and would tell me as they saw me in the yard or they would call, and a couple even came by to thank me.
This morning on my way to work, I placed my mail in the mailbox and noticed a small note inside. It was addressed simply -- Resident, 5104 Northumberland Road.
I opened the envelope and took out a Thank You card. I opened the card and read the message which really caught me by surprise.
The card said. "Thank you for the lovely fruit basket you left on the porch of Richard Kelly. It was very thoughtful. Richard Kelly passed away on January 19, 1999. He never stopped talking about how nice it was that someone remembered him in his time of illness. He really appreciated it."
I was sincerely stunned. I had no idea who Richard Kelly was or that he had been gravely ill. I had left that nice lady's basket on Mr. Kelly's porch by accident. I wanted to say by mistake, but that would be wrong. I believe that Richard Kelly was meant to have that basket and the Lord knew that he only had less than a month to live. I hate that the nice lady did not get to receive a fruit basket from me this Christmas, but I believe that if she knew what happened, she would have had outcome no other way.
I feel blessed to have helped Richard Kelly's last days be more cheerful. This just further reinforces my belief that there are never any mistakes in life -- just detours, shortcuts, and small excursions along the way.
by: A. Brian Fielder, , Heartwarmers4u
Since I have been in my new neighborhood, I have had the pleasure of meeting a few of my neighbors who seem to be extremely nice people. For Christmas, I thought I would do something nice for each of the neighbors that I know. I sat down and counted. There were nine neighbors whom I knew by name or spoke with often when I was out in my yard. I also knew which houses they lived in.
I decided to add one more person to my list for a total of ten. This lady that I decided to add lives down the street from me. I meet her every morning walking to work as I drive down the street. She always manages a contagious smile and a hearty wave. I had no idea what her name was and not even sure which house she lived in.
My gift idea was to make small fruit baskets and leave them on each of my neighbor's front porches or door steps the night of Christmas Eve for them to find, either that night or the next morning. I signed the cards: "Happy Holidays from 5104 Northumberland Road."
I saved the friendly lady for last, since I was still not exactly sure where she lived. I finally decided upon a house down about where I met her each morning and felt relatively sure that it was hers.
My neighbors really appreciated the baskets and would tell me as they saw me in the yard or they would call, and a couple even came by to thank me.
This morning on my way to work, I placed my mail in the mailbox and noticed a small note inside. It was addressed simply -- Resident, 5104 Northumberland Road.
I opened the envelope and took out a Thank You card. I opened the card and read the message which really caught me by surprise.
The card said. "Thank you for the lovely fruit basket you left on the porch of Richard Kelly. It was very thoughtful. Richard Kelly passed away on January 19, 1999. He never stopped talking about how nice it was that someone remembered him in his time of illness. He really appreciated it."
I was sincerely stunned. I had no idea who Richard Kelly was or that he had been gravely ill. I had left that nice lady's basket on Mr. Kelly's porch by accident. I wanted to say by mistake, but that would be wrong. I believe that Richard Kelly was meant to have that basket and the Lord knew that he only had less than a month to live. I hate that the nice lady did not get to receive a fruit basket from me this Christmas, but I believe that if she knew what happened, she would have had outcome no other way.
I feel blessed to have helped Richard Kelly's last days be more cheerful. This just further reinforces my belief that there are never any mistakes in life -- just detours, shortcuts, and small excursions along the way.
by: A. Brian Fielder, , Heartwarmers4u
December 19, 2009
THE STORY OF MAX
"Merry Christmas Carol" Bernadette told her friend and co-worker of twenty years. It had never occurred to Bernadette to buy Carol a Christmas present, they'd been working together for so long that it was understood that it wasn't necessary.
"I was in the Toys R Us and he just fell off the shelf, right into my arms. I thought of you as soon as I saw him!" With all the grace and maturity one can muster upon the arrival of a gift, Carol opened the box.
"Max!" Carol exclaimed, hugging the sandy-brown Teddy Bear. She held him close as if to finally see a long lost friend.
"That's your name, Max."
Carol had worked at DOT for 20 years and was fast reaching retirement age. So it was time to begin preparations for her and her husband Sam's dream. One which may not have happened if not for a tragic event a couple of years earlier. Their 22-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver on a nearby highway. She and her friends had been very careful and responsible that night and had designated a driver for the night. Regardless of how careful they had been, the man driving the semi was not quite as responsible.
Because of the money they'd received in settlements, they could now afford they're dream to move to Oregon and own a traveling vacation home. The vacation home was to be 40' long sleeps 10 comfortably, had a shower and toilet, kitchen with a stove and refrigerator and all the basic luxury's of life. The home had been ordered and it was now time for Sam to drive to California to pick it up.
Sam had spent most of his working life as a truck driver. With an impeccable record of only one accident in 15 years of driving, and that accident was the result of a man running a red light and slamming into the side of his rig. Needless to say they decided to save a few thousand dollars and Sam would pick it up himself. He knew all the roads, shortcuts to take and dangerous spots to avoid.
Now regardless of how well a driver Sam was, or how careful he promised he would be, Carol was understandably uneasy. We had all grown accustomed to her uneasiness about driving any long distances. Before you left her house, you were sent off with adamant "BE CAREFUL!!!" It honestly worried her that you may not have heard her the first time so she always repeat it, even more adamant than the first time.
"Here take Max" she told him before he walked out the door "He'll protect you." Sam loved his wife dearly, and even though this was only to pacify her, he belted Max into the front seat and gave her a kiss goodbye.
Things went well for the next couple of weeks. Carol got lonely, so I went out to eat with her almost every night for a week, just so she didn't feel lonely. We invited her and her son over to watch movies so they'd forget how much they missed him. Every couple of days, Sam would call and give her a list of his expenses and then spend 15 minutes telling each other how much they missed and loved each other.
One Saturday afternoon, I had gone to my mother's house for the day. I had bought her an Internet unit and was busy showing her how it worked. The phone line was busy all day, so Carol could not get through. At about ten that night, we'd both decided to turn the machine off and give it a rest for the night. Within minutes, the phone rang.
"Lee, Sam's been in an accident." My heart sank. Suddenly, the memory came rushing back.
"Lee, Carol's been in an accident." was what she'd told me 3 years earlier. She'd woke me up at about 6 in the morning to tell me that she'd died before the ambulance even arrived. It was one of the worst days of my life. Carol Marie was my best friend. We held each other up when things got hard. I'll never forget seeing her later that morning, standing in the spot in front of my house where she used to park her car. She was just standing there, crying "my baby"!
This was not a memory flood. This was real stuff. Sam was on his way back from California and had hardly had the home for two days when a big storm hit the area that Sam was supposed to travel to get home. He decided to avoid the storm and take an alternate route, through Nevada. The road was in the middle of a desert with a 25-foot embankment to either side of him. The road was well known for it's high winds and had a reputation for blowing cars off the road as if they were made of paper. The road was not closed today, so this was the route he took.
Sam drove a semi for many years and was quite experienced in pulling the kind of load he had. Sam was an impeccable driver and what happened next was an act of God. A gust of wind came along and threw the Ford-Diesel and the 40-ft vacation home over the side and down the 25-ft embankment. Immediately, the home came unhitched from the truck. Sam, being belted in the end was OK with a broken hand and a couple of broken ribs.
Once all had landed, the propane tanks on the vacation home exploded immediately and the truck and home were ablaze instantly, and Sam had to crawl out a broken window for his life.
The insurance company paid for a bus ticket home (they'd offered him a plane ticket, but figured he'd had enough excitement for one lifetime) so Carol and I went down town to meet him. On the way home from the bus station, we were of course relieved that he was now home and safe. So it was then we began our barrage of questions.
We'd asked what you might have asked.
"What happened, did you see it burn, how long till help arrived..." Most of the answers he gave were to say in the least, forgettable and predictable. We merely asked as if it was the thing to do. No one really wanted to think about it. But I'd asked him what he was thinking as the truck was rolling down the hill.
He said once the truck landed, and he noticed that it was on fire, he'd written himself off for dead. At this point, now that his dream was going up in smoke, he'd figured that this was it. Only, in the process of the truck rolling and tumbling down the hill, Max landed on his lap.
It was this he said, that reminded him it was not the end. In my own mind, it was the bear that saved his life. The bear reminded him, in that critical instant, that he had a family that loved him, and he had moments to get out.
So, here we were, on our way home. Sam had left the house with so much. Forty thousand dollars worth of truck, and fifty-five thousands worth of vacation home. But walking back into his house, he came in a little bit poorer, wiser...maybe. But what was important was that he'd walked into the house with the same thing he left with: his life, his hat, and a Teddy Bear. And one thing extra, firsthand knowledge of the power of love.
"I was in the Toys R Us and he just fell off the shelf, right into my arms. I thought of you as soon as I saw him!" With all the grace and maturity one can muster upon the arrival of a gift, Carol opened the box.
"Max!" Carol exclaimed, hugging the sandy-brown Teddy Bear. She held him close as if to finally see a long lost friend.
"That's your name, Max."
Carol had worked at DOT for 20 years and was fast reaching retirement age. So it was time to begin preparations for her and her husband Sam's dream. One which may not have happened if not for a tragic event a couple of years earlier. Their 22-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver on a nearby highway. She and her friends had been very careful and responsible that night and had designated a driver for the night. Regardless of how careful they had been, the man driving the semi was not quite as responsible.
Because of the money they'd received in settlements, they could now afford they're dream to move to Oregon and own a traveling vacation home. The vacation home was to be 40' long sleeps 10 comfortably, had a shower and toilet, kitchen with a stove and refrigerator and all the basic luxury's of life. The home had been ordered and it was now time for Sam to drive to California to pick it up.
Sam had spent most of his working life as a truck driver. With an impeccable record of only one accident in 15 years of driving, and that accident was the result of a man running a red light and slamming into the side of his rig. Needless to say they decided to save a few thousand dollars and Sam would pick it up himself. He knew all the roads, shortcuts to take and dangerous spots to avoid.
Now regardless of how well a driver Sam was, or how careful he promised he would be, Carol was understandably uneasy. We had all grown accustomed to her uneasiness about driving any long distances. Before you left her house, you were sent off with adamant "BE CAREFUL!!!" It honestly worried her that you may not have heard her the first time so she always repeat it, even more adamant than the first time.
"Here take Max" she told him before he walked out the door "He'll protect you." Sam loved his wife dearly, and even though this was only to pacify her, he belted Max into the front seat and gave her a kiss goodbye.
Things went well for the next couple of weeks. Carol got lonely, so I went out to eat with her almost every night for a week, just so she didn't feel lonely. We invited her and her son over to watch movies so they'd forget how much they missed him. Every couple of days, Sam would call and give her a list of his expenses and then spend 15 minutes telling each other how much they missed and loved each other.
One Saturday afternoon, I had gone to my mother's house for the day. I had bought her an Internet unit and was busy showing her how it worked. The phone line was busy all day, so Carol could not get through. At about ten that night, we'd both decided to turn the machine off and give it a rest for the night. Within minutes, the phone rang.
"Lee, Sam's been in an accident." My heart sank. Suddenly, the memory came rushing back.
"Lee, Carol's been in an accident." was what she'd told me 3 years earlier. She'd woke me up at about 6 in the morning to tell me that she'd died before the ambulance even arrived. It was one of the worst days of my life. Carol Marie was my best friend. We held each other up when things got hard. I'll never forget seeing her later that morning, standing in the spot in front of my house where she used to park her car. She was just standing there, crying "my baby"!
This was not a memory flood. This was real stuff. Sam was on his way back from California and had hardly had the home for two days when a big storm hit the area that Sam was supposed to travel to get home. He decided to avoid the storm and take an alternate route, through Nevada. The road was in the middle of a desert with a 25-foot embankment to either side of him. The road was well known for it's high winds and had a reputation for blowing cars off the road as if they were made of paper. The road was not closed today, so this was the route he took.
Sam drove a semi for many years and was quite experienced in pulling the kind of load he had. Sam was an impeccable driver and what happened next was an act of God. A gust of wind came along and threw the Ford-Diesel and the 40-ft vacation home over the side and down the 25-ft embankment. Immediately, the home came unhitched from the truck. Sam, being belted in the end was OK with a broken hand and a couple of broken ribs.
Once all had landed, the propane tanks on the vacation home exploded immediately and the truck and home were ablaze instantly, and Sam had to crawl out a broken window for his life.
The insurance company paid for a bus ticket home (they'd offered him a plane ticket, but figured he'd had enough excitement for one lifetime) so Carol and I went down town to meet him. On the way home from the bus station, we were of course relieved that he was now home and safe. So it was then we began our barrage of questions.
We'd asked what you might have asked.
"What happened, did you see it burn, how long till help arrived..." Most of the answers he gave were to say in the least, forgettable and predictable. We merely asked as if it was the thing to do. No one really wanted to think about it. But I'd asked him what he was thinking as the truck was rolling down the hill.
He said once the truck landed, and he noticed that it was on fire, he'd written himself off for dead. At this point, now that his dream was going up in smoke, he'd figured that this was it. Only, in the process of the truck rolling and tumbling down the hill, Max landed on his lap.
It was this he said, that reminded him it was not the end. In my own mind, it was the bear that saved his life. The bear reminded him, in that critical instant, that he had a family that loved him, and he had moments to get out.
So, here we were, on our way home. Sam had left the house with so much. Forty thousand dollars worth of truck, and fifty-five thousands worth of vacation home. But walking back into his house, he came in a little bit poorer, wiser...maybe. But what was important was that he'd walked into the house with the same thing he left with: his life, his hat, and a Teddy Bear. And one thing extra, firsthand knowledge of the power of love.
December 18, 2009
LIGHTS
In line with the Christmas season, I have scheduled Christmas inspirational stories in all my three blogspot blogs here, Masterwordsmith@Writers.Inc. and masterwordsmith-unplugged every morning. Do visit the sites when you are free. I have also included children's Christmas stories to add variety to the posts. I will still put up jokes and socio-political posts as usual. This evening, I'd like to share with you a very touching tale which I posted last year.....Take care and have a lovely evening.
_____________________________________________
My father died in April of 1997 after a 10 year battle with Cancer. In September, of that year, my husband and I made our annual trek from Massachusetts to York, Maine for our wedding anniversary vacation. York, Maine is where I spent my summer vacations as a child with my family, into my teenage years. It is a very special place for us with so many wonderful memories and one of the places where I said goodbye to my Dad after his passing.
Well, my husband and I invited my mother to join us for a couple days knowing that this was a very special place for her as well. We all had a fun day of exploring around the rocks, looking for treasures from the sea; watching the tide ebb and flow; we re-visited some of the places we used to go to when I was a little girl and of course, we dined at a lovely restaurant in Perkins Cove, overlooking the ocean.
We returned back to the cottage after supper and to our delight the Nubble Lighthouse, was all aglow with white lights! And the Christmas tree inside the light-keepers house was aglow as well. This was an unusual occurence, as the Christmas lights don't usually get put on until after Thanksgiving for the Christmas holidays. I began thinking that this is a true sign of my Dad's presence with us. Here we were all together, enjoying a place which means so much to us and meant so very much to my Dad, and we were all being blessed with this beautiful gift of a Christmas light display in September!
I was just beaming with happiness at these warm thoughts! These lights were on again the following night after my Mom's departure back to Massachusetts.
The next day, I walked over to the Visitor's Station, and questioned this unusual occurence with the Hostess. She was unaware that the lights had been going on for those two nights and very sternly said to me that they shouldn't be on; that they don't usually go on until after Thanksgiving.
I told her that my husband and I had been going to Nubble Light, York, Maine, for the past 5 years in September, and we've never seen the lights displayed this early and that we certainly were enjoying this beautiful display. She insisted this was a mistake.
That very night, the lights went on as usual. My husband and I went out to dinner and when we returned, we noticed that the lights which had been gracing the lighthouse had been turned off!
Let this be a lesson to all of us, not to question the precious gifts from God! I certainly learned my lesson!
-Author Unknown-
_____________________________________________
My father died in April of 1997 after a 10 year battle with Cancer. In September, of that year, my husband and I made our annual trek from Massachusetts to York, Maine for our wedding anniversary vacation. York, Maine is where I spent my summer vacations as a child with my family, into my teenage years. It is a very special place for us with so many wonderful memories and one of the places where I said goodbye to my Dad after his passing.
Well, my husband and I invited my mother to join us for a couple days knowing that this was a very special place for her as well. We all had a fun day of exploring around the rocks, looking for treasures from the sea; watching the tide ebb and flow; we re-visited some of the places we used to go to when I was a little girl and of course, we dined at a lovely restaurant in Perkins Cove, overlooking the ocean.
We returned back to the cottage after supper and to our delight the Nubble Lighthouse, was all aglow with white lights! And the Christmas tree inside the light-keepers house was aglow as well. This was an unusual occurence, as the Christmas lights don't usually get put on until after Thanksgiving for the Christmas holidays. I began thinking that this is a true sign of my Dad's presence with us. Here we were all together, enjoying a place which means so much to us and meant so very much to my Dad, and we were all being blessed with this beautiful gift of a Christmas light display in September!
I was just beaming with happiness at these warm thoughts! These lights were on again the following night after my Mom's departure back to Massachusetts.
The next day, I walked over to the Visitor's Station, and questioned this unusual occurence with the Hostess. She was unaware that the lights had been going on for those two nights and very sternly said to me that they shouldn't be on; that they don't usually go on until after Thanksgiving.
I told her that my husband and I had been going to Nubble Light, York, Maine, for the past 5 years in September, and we've never seen the lights displayed this early and that we certainly were enjoying this beautiful display. She insisted this was a mistake.
That very night, the lights went on as usual. My husband and I went out to dinner and when we returned, we noticed that the lights which had been gracing the lighthouse had been turned off!
Let this be a lesson to all of us, not to question the precious gifts from God! I certainly learned my lesson!
-Author Unknown-
December 17, 2009
I'LL SEE YOU...
In line with the Christmas season, I have scheduled Christmas inspirational stories in all my three blogspot blogs here, Masterwordsmith@Writers.Inc. and masterwordsmith-unplugged every morning. Do visit the sites when you are free. I have also included children's Christmas stories to add variety to the posts. I will still put up jokes and socio-political posts as usual. This evening, I'd like to share with you a very touching tale which I posted last year.....Take care and have a lovely evening.
_____________________________________________
There are many occurrences in our day to day lives that go unnoticed, but there is one which will remain clear in my mind for the rest of my life, and I would love to share it with you, as a Christmas story.
Throughout much of 1996 and 1997 I was forced to watch helplessly as Parkinson’s disease claimed my father. It is a horrible disease which strips its’ victims of their dignity, but not their will to live.
My father had not lived an easy life, but he never complained or tried to lay blame elsewhere. He was a warm and loving father and husband who would spend many hours of every day working on our farm, but each fall he loved to take a breather and enjoy his favorite sport, hunting. It was like he was totally transformed when hunting season opened. It was his holiday and you could see how much he loved to get out with some of his friends or my brothers for a few days away from the daily demands of farmlife. He was always happy if lady luck smiled on him and he were able to bring home a nice deer, but it was just the release that brought out that special something in him at that time of year.
Then as he got older and hunting became too hard for him he would spend hours going for drives in the evening just to see if he could catch a glimpse of some deer. He loved to sit and watch them graze and see if there may be a fawn appear with the doe.
Towards the end, he was confined to hospital for a long time and there were days when he would simply lay there looking out the window towards the hills, and you could see a tear trickle from his eye. I often thought that he must just be wishing he could be out there again, but it was not to be. He passed away on October 22, 1997, and just before he died he looked directly at me and with a final effort said, “I’ll see you.”
My father and I had always been especially close, and it was so hard for me to accept he was finally gone. The thought of getting life back to normal just didn’t seem possible. Then before we knew it, it was time to begin preparations for Christmas. That winter proved to be a harsh one and we were buried under mounds of snow. Time slipped away and when Christmas day arrived a storm made travel very difficult and we decided to stay home.
All day I kept busy with preparations, and by early afternoon the storm seemed to subside. Just before supper the sky cleared, the wind died down, and everything was so still.
Then, just as I was about to call everyone to sit in to the table, I looked out our big living room window. I was nearly blinded by the brilliance of the sunset on the fresh snow, but out of the corner of my eye I saw some movement. It was a beautiful whitetail doe, and she seemed to have her mind set or at least her eye set on something. She had her head held high, and she jumped the fence and plunged through the heavy snowdrifts heading directly towards the house. I called for everyone to come and see her. She didn’t stop until she was right up to the window. We all stood side by side at the window looking face to face at her only three feet away. Then she took a step to the right and it was like she was staring straight into my eyes. In that instant, and I do not know why, it was like my mind was bombarded with this intense image of my father saying “I’ll see you.”
We stood there in such close contact with this beautiful creature for several minutes, and then she just slowly turned and went back the way she had come.
No one will ever know why she paid us that special visit, but in my heart and in my mind I will never forget the impact it had on me, because I had been wishing all day that my Father were with us.
It will remain a cherished memory for me throughout my life, a wonderful Christmas gift.
Written by Maria Poncsak
_____________________________________________
There are many occurrences in our day to day lives that go unnoticed, but there is one which will remain clear in my mind for the rest of my life, and I would love to share it with you, as a Christmas story.
Throughout much of 1996 and 1997 I was forced to watch helplessly as Parkinson’s disease claimed my father. It is a horrible disease which strips its’ victims of their dignity, but not their will to live.
My father had not lived an easy life, but he never complained or tried to lay blame elsewhere. He was a warm and loving father and husband who would spend many hours of every day working on our farm, but each fall he loved to take a breather and enjoy his favorite sport, hunting. It was like he was totally transformed when hunting season opened. It was his holiday and you could see how much he loved to get out with some of his friends or my brothers for a few days away from the daily demands of farmlife. He was always happy if lady luck smiled on him and he were able to bring home a nice deer, but it was just the release that brought out that special something in him at that time of year.
Then as he got older and hunting became too hard for him he would spend hours going for drives in the evening just to see if he could catch a glimpse of some deer. He loved to sit and watch them graze and see if there may be a fawn appear with the doe.
Towards the end, he was confined to hospital for a long time and there were days when he would simply lay there looking out the window towards the hills, and you could see a tear trickle from his eye. I often thought that he must just be wishing he could be out there again, but it was not to be. He passed away on October 22, 1997, and just before he died he looked directly at me and with a final effort said, “I’ll see you.”
My father and I had always been especially close, and it was so hard for me to accept he was finally gone. The thought of getting life back to normal just didn’t seem possible. Then before we knew it, it was time to begin preparations for Christmas. That winter proved to be a harsh one and we were buried under mounds of snow. Time slipped away and when Christmas day arrived a storm made travel very difficult and we decided to stay home.
All day I kept busy with preparations, and by early afternoon the storm seemed to subside. Just before supper the sky cleared, the wind died down, and everything was so still.
Then, just as I was about to call everyone to sit in to the table, I looked out our big living room window. I was nearly blinded by the brilliance of the sunset on the fresh snow, but out of the corner of my eye I saw some movement. It was a beautiful whitetail doe, and she seemed to have her mind set or at least her eye set on something. She had her head held high, and she jumped the fence and plunged through the heavy snowdrifts heading directly towards the house. I called for everyone to come and see her. She didn’t stop until she was right up to the window. We all stood side by side at the window looking face to face at her only three feet away. Then she took a step to the right and it was like she was staring straight into my eyes. In that instant, and I do not know why, it was like my mind was bombarded with this intense image of my father saying “I’ll see you.”
We stood there in such close contact with this beautiful creature for several minutes, and then she just slowly turned and went back the way she had come.
No one will ever know why she paid us that special visit, but in my heart and in my mind I will never forget the impact it had on me, because I had been wishing all day that my Father were with us.
It will remain a cherished memory for me throughout my life, a wonderful Christmas gift.
Written by Maria Poncsak
December 03, 2009
BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS
I received the following post from my dearest friend Angela via email. Please read it and pass it on to your loved ones. Have a nice day and leave a comment if you wish.
Thanks!
_____________________________________________________________
BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS
1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
2 . Overeating=2 0
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.
3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.
4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our 20 body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
6 . Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest.. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells..
7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.
10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain
The main causes of liver damage are:
1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3 . Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.
As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is20very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'
The top five cancer-causing foods are:
1.. Hot Dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.
2. Processed meats and Bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.
3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble.. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams, may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.
4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .
5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.
PASS THIS TO ALL WHOM YOU LOVE & CARE FOR.
Thanks!
_____________________________________________________________
BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS
1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
2 . Overeating=2 0
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.
3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.
4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our 20 body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
6 . Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest.. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells..
7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.
10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain
The main causes of liver damage are:
1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3 . Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.
As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is20very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'
The top five cancer-causing foods are:
1.. Hot Dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.
2. Processed meats and Bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.
3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble.. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams, may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.
4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .
5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.
PASS THIS TO ALL WHOM YOU LOVE & CARE FOR.
November 27, 2009
SPECIALLY FOR MY MUSLIM FRIENDS AND READERS
Eid al-Adha "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is a holiday celebrated by Muslims (including the Druze) worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Eid al-Adha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from the Quran. Like Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon (khuṭba).
Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for three days or more depending on the country. Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.
I would like to wish all Muslim friends and readers, Selamat Hari Raya Eid al-Adha. May the Almighty accept all the sacrifices and good deeds you have made in the past year.
Special wishes to my blogger friends, readers and followers:
*My apologies if I have left out your name - it does not mean you are not important to me but it is due to my forgetfulness :-)
Datin Mamasita and Dato'Sakmongkol
Cat-in-Sydney
Saudara Nick
Chahya
Oldstock
Nerdcore
Kak Ezza
Kak Teh
Shinelight
Kak Pah
Saya/Freda
Ahan
Dr. Tranquility
caupcakesconfetti
Nazli Bakht
Wafi Selamat
dinwaja
Arshad Ahmad
and all other followers listed in invisible mode and other Muslim readers who read my blog
If there be any of my Muslim friends and readers who are presently in the Holy Land as the guests of Allah, I pray for your safe return and may you have spiritually meaningful experiences in the Holy Land.
Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for three days or more depending on the country. Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.
I would like to wish all Muslim friends and readers, Selamat Hari Raya Eid al-Adha. May the Almighty accept all the sacrifices and good deeds you have made in the past year.
Special wishes to my blogger friends, readers and followers:
*My apologies if I have left out your name - it does not mean you are not important to me but it is due to my forgetfulness :-)
Datin Mamasita and Dato'Sakmongkol
Cat-in-Sydney
Saudara Nick
Chahya
Oldstock
Nerdcore
Kak Ezza
Kak Teh
Shinelight
Kak Pah
Saya/Freda
Ahan
Dr. Tranquility
caupcakesconfetti
Nazli Bakht
Wafi Selamat
dinwaja
Arshad Ahmad
and all other followers listed in invisible mode and other Muslim readers who read my blog
If there be any of my Muslim friends and readers who are presently in the Holy Land as the guests of Allah, I pray for your safe return and may you have spiritually meaningful experiences in the Holy Land.
November 24, 2009
TO CANE OR NOT TO CANE?
I have never caned any of my children, neither has my spouse. We use other means to discipline our kids. We have always felt that caning children contributes to a brutal society, now thanks to THIS STUDY AT THIS LINK, we know it also contributes to a dumb society.
written by Pakac Luteb
------------------------------------------------------------------
"September 24, 2009 — Groundbreaking research suggests children who are spanked have lower IQs than those who are not, and that the difference is large enough to lower national IQ scores in countries where corporal punishment of children is routine.
Murray Straus, PhD, head of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, told Medscape Psychiatry that his landmark 32-nation study of corporal punishment by parents and IQ also suggests that recent increases in IQ in many nations may have been partly a result of the worldwide decrease in the use of corporal punishment by parents.
"The longitudinal part of our study showed that children who were spanked the most fell behind the average IQ development curve, and those who were never spanked advanced ahead of the average," Dr. Straus said. He presented his results at the 14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma in San Diego, California.
"That suggested to us that nations that use more corporal punishment of children would have more kids falling behind what they could have achieved, which might result in lower average national IQ, and that is what we found when we looked at data from 32 countries," he added.
To determine the longitudinal effects of spanking, Dr. Straus and colleague Mallie Paschall, PhD, senior research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, studied nationally representative US samples of 806 children aged 2 to 4 years and 704 children aged 5 to 9 years. Both groups were retested 4 years later.
The IQs of children aged 2 to 4 years who were not spanked were 5 points higher 4 years later than the IQs of those who were spanked. The IQs of children aged 5 to 9 years who were not spanked were 2.8 points higher 4 years later than the IQs of children the same age who were spanked.
Slows Mental Development
"How often parents spanked made a difference. The more spanking, the slower the development of the child's mental ability. But even small amounts of spanking made a difference," Dr. Straus said.
Next the researchers examined data from the 32-nation International Dating Violence Study, which included 17,404 students at 68 universities in 32 nations. This study included 2 questions asked to massess experiences of corporal punishment:
* "I was spanked or hit a lot by my parents before age 12."
* "When I was a teenager, I was hit a lot by my mother or father."
Possible responses were strongly disagree, disagree, agree, and strongly agree.
The researchers used the percentage of students who agreed or strongly agreed to estimate the corporal punishment rate in each nation. They then correlated those rates with data on national average IQ. The analysis controlled for 10 variables including mother's education level and socioeconomic status.
The analysis showed a lower national average IQ in nations where spanking was more prevalent. Dr. Straus said that the strongest link between corporal punishment and IQ was for those whose parents continued to use corporal punishment even when subjects were teenagers.
"I was surprised that this link was so strong," Dr. Straus said. "It was logical, but lots of logical things don't work out."
Economic Implications
The correlation between corporal punishment and IQ has major economic implications, as several studies have shown that gross domestic product is closely related to national average IQ, Dr. Straus said.
The researchers suggest 2 possible explanations for the association between corporal punishment and lower IQ.
First, corporal punishment is extremely stressful and can become a chronic stressor for young children, who typically experience corporal punishment 3 or more times a week. For many, it continues for years.
Research shows that the stress of corporal punishment shows up as an increase in post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as being fearful that terrible things are about to happen and being easily startled. These symptoms are associated with lower IQ.
Second, a higher national level of economic development underlies both fewer parents using corporal punishment and a higher national IQ.
The good news is that the use of corporal punishment has been decreasing worldwide, which may signal future gains in IQ across the globe.
"The worldwide trend away from corporal punishment is most clearly reflected in the 24 nations that legally banned corporal punishment by 2009. Both the European Union and the United Nations have called on all member nations to prohibit corporal punishment by parents. Some of the 24 nations that prohibit corporal punishment by parents have made vigorous efforts to inform the public and assist parents in managing their children. In others, little has been done to implement the
prohibition," Dr. Straus said.
"Nevertheless, there is evidence that attitudes favoring corporal punishment and actual use of corporal punishment have been declining even in nations that have done little to implement the law and in nations which have not prohibited corporal punishment," he added.
Problem Child? Ask Whether Parents Are Spanking
Dr. Straus says the findings have immediate clinical implications. One of the first things physicians should do when working with a child who has behavioral problems is to ask the parents about spanking.
If parents are spanking in an attempt to control behavior, they need to be told this is not effective and only serves to model an aversive style of interaction, said Dr. Straus. Instead, clinicians should ask how much punitive vs positive discipline is applied.
"You want to shift the balance away from punitive discipline, such as corporal punishment or verbal violence...toward positive discipline, such as explaining, praising, and rewarding the kid, and not just paying attention when the child is doing something wrong," said Dr. Straus.
Dr. Straus strongly emphasized that foregoing punitive discipline does not mean halting other forms of discipline. He also noted that "one of the most closely held secrets in child psychology" is that with children age 2 years or under, no form of discipline really works.
"The recidivism rate for bad behavior is about 50% within 2 hours and 100% within 24 hours in 2-year-olds," Dr. Straus said. "This is true no matter what you do, because those children might understand that what they have done is wrong, but they do not have the developmental control of their behavior that enables them not to repeat it. With 2-year-olds, you just have to be consistent and keep using positive discipline over and over."
Correlation Clear, Cause Uncertain
Elizabeth Gershoff, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, who herself conducted research into the effects of corporal punishment by parents on children, told Medscape Psychiatry that Dr. Straus has observed "an interesting association between national levels of corporal punishment of children, experiences of stress, and IQ," but that it is premature to suggest a causal connection.
She noted that other phenomena that might explain why corporal punishment has gone down and IQ has gone up include increasing levels of education. Better-educated parents use less corporal punishment and are more likely to engage in activities that support children's IQ such as reading to them or helping them with homework, she noted.
Dr. Gershoff added that the model Dr. Straus has suggested is in line with previous research, but that the mechanism by which spanking may lead to lower cognitive abilities remains unclear.
"I am cautious about making causal conclusions about what reducing corporal punishment would do at a country level," Dr. Gershoff said. "It is possible that reducing parents' reliance on corporal punishment may improve children's IQ scores, but I would suggest that would only be the case if parents are able to substitute positive and non-punitive discipline in the place of corporal punishment."
The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the University of New Hampshire. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma:
Presentation KF3. Presented September 25, 2009."
---------------------------------
written by Pakac Luteb
------------------------------------------------------------------
"September 24, 2009 — Groundbreaking research suggests children who are spanked have lower IQs than those who are not, and that the difference is large enough to lower national IQ scores in countries where corporal punishment of children is routine.
Murray Straus, PhD, head of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, told Medscape Psychiatry that his landmark 32-nation study of corporal punishment by parents and IQ also suggests that recent increases in IQ in many nations may have been partly a result of the worldwide decrease in the use of corporal punishment by parents.
"The longitudinal part of our study showed that children who were spanked the most fell behind the average IQ development curve, and those who were never spanked advanced ahead of the average," Dr. Straus said. He presented his results at the 14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma in San Diego, California.
"That suggested to us that nations that use more corporal punishment of children would have more kids falling behind what they could have achieved, which might result in lower average national IQ, and that is what we found when we looked at data from 32 countries," he added.
To determine the longitudinal effects of spanking, Dr. Straus and colleague Mallie Paschall, PhD, senior research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, studied nationally representative US samples of 806 children aged 2 to 4 years and 704 children aged 5 to 9 years. Both groups were retested 4 years later.
The IQs of children aged 2 to 4 years who were not spanked were 5 points higher 4 years later than the IQs of those who were spanked. The IQs of children aged 5 to 9 years who were not spanked were 2.8 points higher 4 years later than the IQs of children the same age who were spanked.
Slows Mental Development
"How often parents spanked made a difference. The more spanking, the slower the development of the child's mental ability. But even small amounts of spanking made a difference," Dr. Straus said.
Next the researchers examined data from the 32-nation International Dating Violence Study, which included 17,404 students at 68 universities in 32 nations. This study included 2 questions asked to massess experiences of corporal punishment:
* "I was spanked or hit a lot by my parents before age 12."
* "When I was a teenager, I was hit a lot by my mother or father."
Possible responses were strongly disagree, disagree, agree, and strongly agree.
The researchers used the percentage of students who agreed or strongly agreed to estimate the corporal punishment rate in each nation. They then correlated those rates with data on national average IQ. The analysis controlled for 10 variables including mother's education level and socioeconomic status.
The analysis showed a lower national average IQ in nations where spanking was more prevalent. Dr. Straus said that the strongest link between corporal punishment and IQ was for those whose parents continued to use corporal punishment even when subjects were teenagers.
"I was surprised that this link was so strong," Dr. Straus said. "It was logical, but lots of logical things don't work out."
Economic Implications
The correlation between corporal punishment and IQ has major economic implications, as several studies have shown that gross domestic product is closely related to national average IQ, Dr. Straus said.
The researchers suggest 2 possible explanations for the association between corporal punishment and lower IQ.
First, corporal punishment is extremely stressful and can become a chronic stressor for young children, who typically experience corporal punishment 3 or more times a week. For many, it continues for years.
Research shows that the stress of corporal punishment shows up as an increase in post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as being fearful that terrible things are about to happen and being easily startled. These symptoms are associated with lower IQ.
Second, a higher national level of economic development underlies both fewer parents using corporal punishment and a higher national IQ.
The good news is that the use of corporal punishment has been decreasing worldwide, which may signal future gains in IQ across the globe.
"The worldwide trend away from corporal punishment is most clearly reflected in the 24 nations that legally banned corporal punishment by 2009. Both the European Union and the United Nations have called on all member nations to prohibit corporal punishment by parents. Some of the 24 nations that prohibit corporal punishment by parents have made vigorous efforts to inform the public and assist parents in managing their children. In others, little has been done to implement the
prohibition," Dr. Straus said.
"Nevertheless, there is evidence that attitudes favoring corporal punishment and actual use of corporal punishment have been declining even in nations that have done little to implement the law and in nations which have not prohibited corporal punishment," he added.
Problem Child? Ask Whether Parents Are Spanking
Dr. Straus says the findings have immediate clinical implications. One of the first things physicians should do when working with a child who has behavioral problems is to ask the parents about spanking.
If parents are spanking in an attempt to control behavior, they need to be told this is not effective and only serves to model an aversive style of interaction, said Dr. Straus. Instead, clinicians should ask how much punitive vs positive discipline is applied.
"You want to shift the balance away from punitive discipline, such as corporal punishment or verbal violence...toward positive discipline, such as explaining, praising, and rewarding the kid, and not just paying attention when the child is doing something wrong," said Dr. Straus.
Dr. Straus strongly emphasized that foregoing punitive discipline does not mean halting other forms of discipline. He also noted that "one of the most closely held secrets in child psychology" is that with children age 2 years or under, no form of discipline really works.
"The recidivism rate for bad behavior is about 50% within 2 hours and 100% within 24 hours in 2-year-olds," Dr. Straus said. "This is true no matter what you do, because those children might understand that what they have done is wrong, but they do not have the developmental control of their behavior that enables them not to repeat it. With 2-year-olds, you just have to be consistent and keep using positive discipline over and over."
Correlation Clear, Cause Uncertain
Elizabeth Gershoff, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, who herself conducted research into the effects of corporal punishment by parents on children, told Medscape Psychiatry that Dr. Straus has observed "an interesting association between national levels of corporal punishment of children, experiences of stress, and IQ," but that it is premature to suggest a causal connection.
She noted that other phenomena that might explain why corporal punishment has gone down and IQ has gone up include increasing levels of education. Better-educated parents use less corporal punishment and are more likely to engage in activities that support children's IQ such as reading to them or helping them with homework, she noted.
Dr. Gershoff added that the model Dr. Straus has suggested is in line with previous research, but that the mechanism by which spanking may lead to lower cognitive abilities remains unclear.
"I am cautious about making causal conclusions about what reducing corporal punishment would do at a country level," Dr. Gershoff said. "It is possible that reducing parents' reliance on corporal punishment may improve children's IQ scores, but I would suggest that would only be the case if parents are able to substitute positive and non-punitive discipline in the place of corporal punishment."
The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the University of New Hampshire. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma:
Presentation KF3. Presented September 25, 2009."
---------------------------------
November 18, 2009
BELIEVABLE BALA?
The 1st Statutory Declaration (SD) preamble is that of someone proud of their length of service and promotions, look at the length and detail of the preamble. The 2nd SD preamble is short, it's just a formality, not a personal expression. The style (wording) of the preambles and SDs gives the impression they were written by different persons.
I conclude Bala wrote the first SD but somebody else wrote the second SD.
Various blogs have focussed on the money Bala was paid, saying he is not credible, the SD was done merely for money.
As i recall, several days ago, it was revealed Bala's family was being held hostage.
I think the safety of his family motivated Bala, not money. I think Bala is credible. If Bala's tale was not credible, then why didn't Najib counter the tale with evidence?
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
You can read more at THIS LINK.
I conclude Bala wrote the first SD but somebody else wrote the second SD.
Various blogs have focussed on the money Bala was paid, saying he is not credible, the SD was done merely for money.
As i recall, several days ago, it was revealed Bala's family was being held hostage.
I think the safety of his family motivated Bala, not money. I think Bala is credible. If Bala's tale was not credible, then why didn't Najib counter the tale with evidence?
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
You can read more at THIS LINK.
November 10, 2009
NOT AN OPTION
A lot has been written lately by many parties regarding judicial reform. The writers focus on independence of the judiciary and the integrity of judges. Those are absolutely essential components of a judiciary in a democratic society.
However, they are far from sufficient.
If all the judiciary has is independence and judges who have high integrity, what will result is decisions that are merely the administration of law: if someone commits offence X they receive punishment Y. Justice will be absent.
Laws are made by the Legislature. Members of Parliament, however noble their intent, may fail to be aware of some consequences of laws they create.
They may lack the imagination to see the consequences or the situation causing a particular consequence may not be foreseeable. For example, the technology involved in the unjust situation may not yet exist when the law was created.
Sometimes unforeseen consequences can result in great injustice if laws are blindly administered.
There is a remedy that injects justice into the administration of laws. It is called a Jury.
Juries inject common sense and flexibility into the administration of law. They do that with their collective wisdom and intelligence.
Abraham Lincoln reportedly said "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time".
That is very true in the case of juries. Jurors are likely to understand the facts of a case, no matter how convoluted the arguments of the lawyers.
In addition to juries injecting justice into a judicial system, they also give credibility to the judicial system and the decisions reached.
In simple terms, which is less likely to be bribed, coerced or intimidated into arriving at a particular decison, 1 or 2 judges, or a jury of 10 (or 12) members of the rakyat?
To have a judiciary in Malaysia that is fit for a democratic society, trial by jury is NOT an option, it is a necessity.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
However, they are far from sufficient.
If all the judiciary has is independence and judges who have high integrity, what will result is decisions that are merely the administration of law: if someone commits offence X they receive punishment Y. Justice will be absent.
Laws are made by the Legislature. Members of Parliament, however noble their intent, may fail to be aware of some consequences of laws they create.
They may lack the imagination to see the consequences or the situation causing a particular consequence may not be foreseeable. For example, the technology involved in the unjust situation may not yet exist when the law was created.
Sometimes unforeseen consequences can result in great injustice if laws are blindly administered.
There is a remedy that injects justice into the administration of laws. It is called a Jury.
Juries inject common sense and flexibility into the administration of law. They do that with their collective wisdom and intelligence.
Abraham Lincoln reportedly said "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time".
That is very true in the case of juries. Jurors are likely to understand the facts of a case, no matter how convoluted the arguments of the lawyers.
In addition to juries injecting justice into a judicial system, they also give credibility to the judicial system and the decisions reached.
In simple terms, which is less likely to be bribed, coerced or intimidated into arriving at a particular decison, 1 or 2 judges, or a jury of 10 (or 12) members of the rakyat?
To have a judiciary in Malaysia that is fit for a democratic society, trial by jury is NOT an option, it is a necessity.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
November 07, 2009
Letter - "Nizar vs Zambry"
In the case of Nizar vs. Zambry in Perak, the court hearing should include a jury of members of the Perak rakyat. If the BN/UMNO government wants to be fair and if it does not fear the rakyat, the hearing will be conducted with a jury.
The absence of a jury at the hearing will speak volumes about what
BN/UMNO thinks of the rakyat.
Written by PAKAC LUTEB
The absence of a jury at the hearing will speak volumes about what
BN/UMNO thinks of the rakyat.
Written by PAKAC LUTEB
November 04, 2009
Nolah - Nalla!
Here's an article AT THIS LINK so ludicrous I laughed until I cried.
Isn't Nalla the same guy who about a decade ago testified against Anwar in exchange for a reduction of sentence on a charge involving ammunition?
People were sceptical of Nalla then and are even less naive now.
Nalla, you think people believe you now?
No-lah, Nalla!
Nalla, please enlighten us, what was the inducement this time for you to speak against Anwar?
Written by Pakac Luteb
Isn't Nalla the same guy who about a decade ago testified against Anwar in exchange for a reduction of sentence on a charge involving ammunition?
People were sceptical of Nalla then and are even less naive now.
Nalla, you think people believe you now?
No-lah, Nalla!
Nalla, please enlighten us, what was the inducement this time for you to speak against Anwar?
Written by Pakac Luteb
A SPORTING CHANCE
Is it good sportsmanship to keep moving goalposts to favour one's own team? BN/UMNO seems to believe it is. Witness the many instances of when in the course of a trial the Prosecution has amended the charges.
Often it's done when the charges clearly can't be sustained in the face of the evidence.
An infamous example is Anwar's first sodomy case, where the building the sodomy allegedly happened had not yet been built at the date of the offence as stated in the charge.
Any proper court would have thrown out the charge and acquitted Anwar.
But the courts of Malaysia are anything but proper and permitted the Prosecution to amend the date of the charge.
Sometimes the Prosecution amends the charges to harass a defendant,the changes to the charges being intended to send the accused and their lawyer from pillar to post, even though that is blatant abuse and misuse of the Court.
The Prosecution must, if a trial is to have any legitimacy at all, give the defendant a sporting chance, by not amending charges during a trial.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
Often it's done when the charges clearly can't be sustained in the face of the evidence.
An infamous example is Anwar's first sodomy case, where the building the sodomy allegedly happened had not yet been built at the date of the offence as stated in the charge.
Any proper court would have thrown out the charge and acquitted Anwar.
But the courts of Malaysia are anything but proper and permitted the Prosecution to amend the date of the charge.
Sometimes the Prosecution amends the charges to harass a defendant,the changes to the charges being intended to send the accused and their lawyer from pillar to post, even though that is blatant abuse and misuse of the Court.
The Prosecution must, if a trial is to have any legitimacy at all, give the defendant a sporting chance, by not amending charges during a trial.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
November 01, 2009
ANWAR'S SECOND SODOMY TRIAL
November 6 2009 is Anwar's date in court for the second sodomy case. The government of Najib/UMNO/BN intends to swiftly convict and jail Anwar. The plan of the government is as follows:
Clause 24 of the DNA Bill prevents contesting DNA evidence IN COURT, however, it does NOT prevent contesting DNA evidence BEFORE a case is tried in court.
Because of that, the prosecution is withholding evidence, including DNA evidence, from Anwar's defence team.
Anwar's defence team will see the DNA evidence only in court, when it's already too late to challenge the evidence.
Clause 24 also states the DNA evidence is to be considered conclusive. In the context of a trial, what does conclusive mean?
It means the DNA evidence has priority and if there is any other evidence that is contrary to the DNA evidence, the contrary evidence is ignored and the accused is convicted solely on the DNA evidence.
In Anwar’s sodomy trial, it means the medical examination that shows Saiful was NOT sodomised will be ignored by the court.
Doctors learn psychology in medical school and are trained to observe patient’s behaviour and doctors can detect when someone is stressed and upset following being sexually assaulted.
A doctor observing Saiful after the alleged forcible sodomy noted that Saiful did not behave as someone who had been sexually assaulted. The court will ignore that observation by the doctor.
The trial will be before a judge, NOT a jury, because the government knows that a jury would never sokong such a sham trial.
The role of the police will to be to ensure the entire charade goes smoothly, including by suppressing protests against the government's shameful sham trial of Anwar.
With the Altantuya case, the IGP has Najib by the balls and Najib has given the IGP carte blanche (a figurative blank cheque) to run Malaysia.
Anwar is the enemy of both Najib and the IGP, thus Najib and the IGP are conspiring to eliminate Anwar as a political threat.
The government pretends to be not worried about Anwar, when actually it is terrified of Anwar.
That is why the government and others, such as Ezam, have of late made many disparaging comments about Anwar.
The government hopes the rakyat will believe those comments and not support Anwar. The government fears convicting Anwar, if he has a lot of support amongst the rakyat, as the government fears the possibility of a "people power" revolt such as ended the Marcos regime.
Now you know what the government's plan is.
From it’s inception, the DNA Bill has been intended to eliminate Anwar as a politician.
What Najib may not be aware of is the DNA Bill has the potential to be used against Najib.
DNA of Najib can be compared with DNA from the bones of Altantuya and if there is a match it is conclusive uncontestable evidence that Najib is the father of the baby that was inside Altantuya when she was murdered.
A previous article of mine explains how and why in detail, I shall summarise here:
When a woman is pregnant, some cells of her baby travel through her bloodstream and go everywhere in her body. That is a medical fact.
Now, Najib, do you still love the DNA Bill so much?
written by Pakac Luteb
Clause 24 of the DNA Bill prevents contesting DNA evidence IN COURT, however, it does NOT prevent contesting DNA evidence BEFORE a case is tried in court.
Because of that, the prosecution is withholding evidence, including DNA evidence, from Anwar's defence team.
Anwar's defence team will see the DNA evidence only in court, when it's already too late to challenge the evidence.
Clause 24 also states the DNA evidence is to be considered conclusive. In the context of a trial, what does conclusive mean?
It means the DNA evidence has priority and if there is any other evidence that is contrary to the DNA evidence, the contrary evidence is ignored and the accused is convicted solely on the DNA evidence.
In Anwar’s sodomy trial, it means the medical examination that shows Saiful was NOT sodomised will be ignored by the court.
Doctors learn psychology in medical school and are trained to observe patient’s behaviour and doctors can detect when someone is stressed and upset following being sexually assaulted.
A doctor observing Saiful after the alleged forcible sodomy noted that Saiful did not behave as someone who had been sexually assaulted. The court will ignore that observation by the doctor.
The trial will be before a judge, NOT a jury, because the government knows that a jury would never sokong such a sham trial.
The role of the police will to be to ensure the entire charade goes smoothly, including by suppressing protests against the government's shameful sham trial of Anwar.
With the Altantuya case, the IGP has Najib by the balls and Najib has given the IGP carte blanche (a figurative blank cheque) to run Malaysia.
Anwar is the enemy of both Najib and the IGP, thus Najib and the IGP are conspiring to eliminate Anwar as a political threat.
The government pretends to be not worried about Anwar, when actually it is terrified of Anwar.
That is why the government and others, such as Ezam, have of late made many disparaging comments about Anwar.
The government hopes the rakyat will believe those comments and not support Anwar. The government fears convicting Anwar, if he has a lot of support amongst the rakyat, as the government fears the possibility of a "people power" revolt such as ended the Marcos regime.
Now you know what the government's plan is.
From it’s inception, the DNA Bill has been intended to eliminate Anwar as a politician.
What Najib may not be aware of is the DNA Bill has the potential to be used against Najib.
DNA of Najib can be compared with DNA from the bones of Altantuya and if there is a match it is conclusive uncontestable evidence that Najib is the father of the baby that was inside Altantuya when she was murdered.
A previous article of mine explains how and why in detail, I shall summarise here:
When a woman is pregnant, some cells of her baby travel through her bloodstream and go everywhere in her body. That is a medical fact.
Now, Najib, do you still love the DNA Bill so much?
written by Pakac Luteb
October 24, 2009
THE OTHER TWENTY PER CENT
Dr. Porntip gave an 80 percent chance that Teoh Beng Hock had been murdered by the MACC. I believe I have the remaining 20 percent. Looking at the information available publicly since Teoh's death, including the findings of Dr. Porntip, I have made certain deductions about the matter:
Teoh was said to have fallen from the 14th floor to a roof at the 5th floor level. That's a fall of 9 floors.
A fall of that distance would often produce some splatter of blood at the scene, but such blood was apparently absent in the photos of Teoh's body on the roof.
Dr. Porntip testified that there were marks indicating dragging across a "hard and rough surface".
The stairs, doorways and pathways to and along roofs of a building don't receive the smooth beautiful finishes given areas inside the building, they are left rough, bare cement and gravel.
From the above, I think a reasonable deduction is that Teoh did not fall to where his body was shown on the roof, but rather was killed elsewhere and dragged to the point on the roof shown in the photos. That's the remaining 20 percent.
It appears that his body was placed on the roof below a window to attempt to make Teoh's death appear a suicide.
In other words, Teoh's death was 100 percent murder.
Why was Teoh killed?
Did he know "too much"?
Could he have implicated someone in a corruption case?
Perhaps he was called to the MACC not to give evidence but rather to learn what he knew and then permanently silence him.
Teoh's death will understandably make people reluctant to provide information to the MACC, which would hamper the ability of the MACC to combat corruption.
It appears that the MACC (formerly known as the ACA) is not really interested in combating corruption, but rather interested in suppressing evidence of corruption, to the extent of committing murder to achieve that end.
What to call a country ruled by thieves and murderers? Malaysia has become such a country.
Written by Pakac Luteb
Teoh was said to have fallen from the 14th floor to a roof at the 5th floor level. That's a fall of 9 floors.
A fall of that distance would often produce some splatter of blood at the scene, but such blood was apparently absent in the photos of Teoh's body on the roof.
Dr. Porntip testified that there were marks indicating dragging across a "hard and rough surface".
The stairs, doorways and pathways to and along roofs of a building don't receive the smooth beautiful finishes given areas inside the building, they are left rough, bare cement and gravel.
From the above, I think a reasonable deduction is that Teoh did not fall to where his body was shown on the roof, but rather was killed elsewhere and dragged to the point on the roof shown in the photos. That's the remaining 20 percent.
It appears that his body was placed on the roof below a window to attempt to make Teoh's death appear a suicide.
In other words, Teoh's death was 100 percent murder.
Why was Teoh killed?
Did he know "too much"?
Could he have implicated someone in a corruption case?
Perhaps he was called to the MACC not to give evidence but rather to learn what he knew and then permanently silence him.
Teoh's death will understandably make people reluctant to provide information to the MACC, which would hamper the ability of the MACC to combat corruption.
It appears that the MACC (formerly known as the ACA) is not really interested in combating corruption, but rather interested in suppressing evidence of corruption, to the extent of committing murder to achieve that end.
What to call a country ruled by thieves and murderers? Malaysia has become such a country.
Written by Pakac Luteb
October 21, 2009
Will "UTUSAN" RUN DOWN DR. PORNTIP?
Well-known Thai pathologist Dr Porntip Rojanasunan told the coroner's court today that there was an 80 per cent possibility of homicide and 20 per cent chance of suicide in the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock.
This flies in the face of local investigators who were so insistent on pushing the suicide theory, they even went to the extent of insisting Teoh's parents undergo psychological evaluation
In the light of this will "UtusanMeloya" tell the whole truth of her testimony, give barebones info or spin ?
Below are some hypothetical headlines for the sake of satire (or are they) ?
"Maksud nama Dr.Porntip adalah "Hujung Lucah" dan rambutnya ala punk, dia adalah musuh orang Melayu"
" Hujah Dr.Porntip hanya merujuk pada kes Thai, keaadaan di Malaysia lain, di mana tulang tenkorak kita lebih kebal"
"Daripada 10,000 kes yang dikaji Dr.Porntip hanya 100 shj yang membabitkan terjun mati, jadi dia bukan pakar"
"Si-rambut pelangi Porntip mungkin bersubahat dengan ejen yahudi cawangan DAP, pastinya angkara DSAI lagi"
"Dr.Porntip lebih prihatin terhadap simati, tetapi kita prihatin terhadap yg hidup dan di salah tuduh"
"Dr.Porntip menghina kewibawaan pakar tempatan, jom boikot produk Thai"
'Dr.Porntip kelihatan muda walaupun menjangkau usia lebih 50 tahun - mungkin kerana memakai susuk dan ilmu-hitam"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer -above is for the purpose of satire and is not intended to bear any semblance or insinuate our Local Daily- Utusan Malaysia which has been hailed by no less than our Prime Minister for their level of professionalism. Read more HERE and also OVER HERE.
Written by Vijay Kumar Muragavell
This flies in the face of local investigators who were so insistent on pushing the suicide theory, they even went to the extent of insisting Teoh's parents undergo psychological evaluation
In the light of this will "UtusanMeloya" tell the whole truth of her testimony, give barebones info or spin ?
Below are some hypothetical headlines for the sake of satire (or are they) ?
"Maksud nama Dr.Porntip adalah "Hujung Lucah" dan rambutnya ala punk, dia adalah musuh orang Melayu"
" Hujah Dr.Porntip hanya merujuk pada kes Thai, keaadaan di Malaysia lain, di mana tulang tenkorak kita lebih kebal"
"Daripada 10,000 kes yang dikaji Dr.Porntip hanya 100 shj yang membabitkan terjun mati, jadi dia bukan pakar"
"Si-rambut pelangi Porntip mungkin bersubahat dengan ejen yahudi cawangan DAP, pastinya angkara DSAI lagi"
"Dr.Porntip lebih prihatin terhadap simati, tetapi kita prihatin terhadap yg hidup dan di salah tuduh"
"Dr.Porntip menghina kewibawaan pakar tempatan, jom boikot produk Thai"
'Dr.Porntip kelihatan muda walaupun menjangkau usia lebih 50 tahun - mungkin kerana memakai susuk dan ilmu-hitam"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer -above is for the purpose of satire and is not intended to bear any semblance or insinuate our Local Daily- Utusan Malaysia which has been hailed by no less than our Prime Minister for their level of professionalism. Read more HERE and also OVER HERE.
Written by Vijay Kumar Muragavell
MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS!
Meetings seem a necessary evil of working life.
They are needed to share information but take away time from productive work.
There are various expenses involved, air pollution (if driving or flying to a meeting) and the way meetings are conducted often leaves much to be desired.
For example, what is the point of the Minutes of a meeting being distributed only at the next meeting?
Shouldn't the Minutes be distributed soon after the meeting, so they can be acted upon before the next meeting?
Are there alternatives to meeting face to face?
With the internet and e-Government and email, can't video conferencing and email be used?
If the meeting is to discuss a survey, the above electronic communications should suffice.
The actual survey form could be an email attachment that is filled up and emailed back to the sender.
That would save a LOT of time and expense compared with face to face meetings.
The above i believe is generally applicable, although what caused me to write on the topic was the apparent arrogance and short-sightedness of the Health Ministry, as revealed in a letter from a doctor to Malaysiakini at THIS LINK.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
They are needed to share information but take away time from productive work.
There are various expenses involved, air pollution (if driving or flying to a meeting) and the way meetings are conducted often leaves much to be desired.
For example, what is the point of the Minutes of a meeting being distributed only at the next meeting?
Shouldn't the Minutes be distributed soon after the meeting, so they can be acted upon before the next meeting?
Are there alternatives to meeting face to face?
With the internet and e-Government and email, can't video conferencing and email be used?
If the meeting is to discuss a survey, the above electronic communications should suffice.
The actual survey form could be an email attachment that is filled up and emailed back to the sender.
That would save a LOT of time and expense compared with face to face meetings.
The above i believe is generally applicable, although what caused me to write on the topic was the apparent arrogance and short-sightedness of the Health Ministry, as revealed in a letter from a doctor to Malaysiakini at THIS LINK.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
INVESTING IN MALAYSIA
Investment always has some risk.
Companies try to minimise risk when deciding where to invest.
Would Malaysia be attractive as a place to invest?
Do the slow internet speeds make it attractive? Australians don't think so.
Does the lack of an independent judiciary make it attractive?
Since Mahathir wreaked havoc on the judiciary, it has been under the control of the Executive, meaning under control of the Prime Minister.
Let's imagine we are a foreign company considering where to invest.
We look at Malaysia and note it has a large, fairly educated, fairly literate population, English is widely spoken.
That is good, the workforce won't be much problem.
The government offers large tax breaks as incentives. Again good, though artificial, as taxes are created by the government.
Companies don't operate in a vacuum, they need to liaise with suppliers, distributors, etc.
Legal disputes may arise.
Let's imagine a legal dispute with a GLC (government linked company).
The legal system in Malaysia is NOT independent, it is under control of the Prime Minister.
Government officials, or their relatives, may have financial interests
in the GLC.
So, will the court be fair and objective or favour the GLC?
It makes investing in Malaysia a gamble.
There's the DNA Bill.
It could be a tool to catch people stealing inventory.
What else could it be?
Could it be used for blackmail?
Could the company be pressured to give away trade secrets, such as
secret formulas?
An executive of the company could be told if they don't give certain information to a rival company, which just happens to be a GLC, the executive will be charged with adultery and DNA proof of adultery will be presented in court, where DNA evidence, under Clause 24 of the DNA Bill, can't be challenged.
The company considers other countries, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand as alternatives to Malaysia.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
Companies try to minimise risk when deciding where to invest.
Would Malaysia be attractive as a place to invest?
Do the slow internet speeds make it attractive? Australians don't think so.
Does the lack of an independent judiciary make it attractive?
Since Mahathir wreaked havoc on the judiciary, it has been under the control of the Executive, meaning under control of the Prime Minister.
Let's imagine we are a foreign company considering where to invest.
We look at Malaysia and note it has a large, fairly educated, fairly literate population, English is widely spoken.
That is good, the workforce won't be much problem.
The government offers large tax breaks as incentives. Again good, though artificial, as taxes are created by the government.
Companies don't operate in a vacuum, they need to liaise with suppliers, distributors, etc.
Legal disputes may arise.
Let's imagine a legal dispute with a GLC (government linked company).
The legal system in Malaysia is NOT independent, it is under control of the Prime Minister.
Government officials, or their relatives, may have financial interests
in the GLC.
So, will the court be fair and objective or favour the GLC?
It makes investing in Malaysia a gamble.
There's the DNA Bill.
It could be a tool to catch people stealing inventory.
What else could it be?
Could it be used for blackmail?
Could the company be pressured to give away trade secrets, such as
secret formulas?
An executive of the company could be told if they don't give certain information to a rival company, which just happens to be a GLC, the executive will be charged with adultery and DNA proof of adultery will be presented in court, where DNA evidence, under Clause 24 of the DNA Bill, can't be challenged.
The company considers other countries, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand as alternatives to Malaysia.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
October 19, 2009
A COMMON TOOL
Police often lie to suspects when questioning them, to mislead the suspect to reveal information they would otherwise not give the police. Lying is a common tool of police.
Despite the PI Bala being ex-police and knowing that police lie, Bala still believed his ex-colleague and friend in the Brickfields police who invited Bala for a teh tarik after Bala's first SD.
What Bala found instead of teh tarik was that the machinery of government had moved hyperfast and prepared a second SD negating the first SD, also Bala found the government had engaged a different lawyer for the second SD.
After presenting the second SD, Bala, his wife and children disappeared. Some time later, there was also no news of Bala's nephew, who had been close to Bala and very worried when Bala disappeared.
What happened to Bala and his relatives?
Because the police lie as a normal thing in police work, they could very well lie when presenting DNA evidence in court.
For example, the police could lie that a suspect's DNA matches the DNA from a crime scene when in fact there is NOT a match. The police could also simply decide to avoid the trouble and expense of DNA testing and claim there is a match with a suspect's DNA when actually a DNA test was never performed.
A general question: What court or judge or lawyer would allow a Bill that removes the right to challenge something in court? If no challenge is possible, the courts, judges and lawyers will be
unemployed, as they would have nothing to do.
Clause 24 of the DNA Bill prevents challenging DNA evidence in court, however, other challenges might be possible.
A court, or Parliament, may be able to challenge the validity of the Bill itself.
The validity of the Bill is suspect because of the removal of judicial review.
Removing judicial review and putting handling of DNA evidence under the police violates the separation of powers of the Executive and the Judiciary.
The lack of judicial review is a characteristic of police states, NOT democracies.
With passage of the DNA Bill, Malaysia is officially a police state, although it has been an unofficial police state for some decades, thanks in large part to Mahathir's molest and rape of the judiciary, including ending trial by jury.
Malaysia URGENTLY needs a return of trial by jury.
Have you noticed, in all the talk by the government about judicial reforms, trial by jury has NEVER been mentioned?
That's because trial by jury is what the government fears MOST.
The absence of trial by jury is the MOST powerful tool the government has against the rakyat, even more powerful than the ISA.
That is why the government has talked of reviewing the ISA but NEVER, not even ONCE, spoken of considering a return of trial by jury.
When there is trial by jury, the rakyat, not a judge, decides guilt or innocence of an accused.
The government can control a judge but it can't control the rakyat, that's why the government is truly terrified of trial by jury.
Please excuse any typos i may have missed, my cat Claws 24 was helping me write by stepping on the keyboard.
Written by Pakac Luteb
October 18, 2009
A BASIC PRINCIPLE
Although this article is on a serious matter, Clause 24 of the DNA Bill, I will begin on a light note that is a pun and conclude with yet another pun.
My cat has six toes on each foot. It's a rare mutation that led me to name my cat Claws 24.
Now for the serious stuff. A court is the appropriate forum, in fact the only forum, to challenge evidence in a trial. That's a basic principle.
Because of that, any ban on challenging evidence in court makes the court useless and irrelevant. The effect of such a ban is to make the court non-existent, because such ban makes possible conviction of an accused on evidence that contains an error, is fabricated or in fact even non-existent although claimed to exist.
Some problems with convicting an accused solely on the basis of DNA: DNA evidence can be easily contaminated with other DNA or damaged (the strands of DNA broken into smaller pieces) and it can even be fabricated, please refer to THIS LINK.
Clause 24 makes the DNA Bill a tool to convict anyone of anything, by claiming that there is DNA evidence of guilt of the accused.
Malaysia Today has a nice article AT THIS LINK about how a mistake can come back later with a painful bite:
Clause 24 may be such a mistake, a mistake that may come back to bite Najib and Rosmah.
Here is a way they may become bitten:
First, 2 facts:
Fact 1: Everywhere we go we are leaving samples of our DNA. The samples are small, but they can be amplified by a method called PCR, until there is sufficient DNA for testing.
Fact 2: When a woman is pregnant, some cells from the baby inside her circulate in her blood. Thus, cells from her baby can be found throughout her body, in any tissue where there is blood supply, including in her bones. Remember, it is in the bones, in the bone marrow, where blood is made. Those cells from the baby of course
contain DNA from both it's parents, including the father. Bones of Altantuya are in Mongolia and her father is a medical doctor, he would know who can extract DNA from her bones.
Taken together, those 2 facts potentially could lead to DNA of Najib being compared with DNA from the bones of Altantuya.
If there is a match, because of Clause 24, it would be conclusive evidence, not allowed to be challenged in any court, that Najib made Altantuya pregnant.
Even if the DNA match were to be totally fabricated or non-existent, it would still be impossible for Najib to challenge in any court, because of Clause 24.
Thus Najib, because of Clause 24, could be found, without any means to challenge the evidence, to have impregnated Altantuya, giving motive for Rosmah to want to kill Altantuya.
With motive to kill Altantuya and Rosmah being present at the place Altantuya was killed, her presence at the murder scene being claimed by both Bala's first SD and by RPK, presumably Rosmah wanted to be there to be confident that Altantuya was truly dead, Rosmah could be convicted of murder and sent to the gallows.
The long saga of the murder of Altantuya would thus finally conclude.
Malaysians might gain a new peribahasa (saying) from the sordid tale,
"It's not over until the fat lady hangs".
Written by Pakac Luteb
My cat has six toes on each foot. It's a rare mutation that led me to name my cat Claws 24.
Now for the serious stuff. A court is the appropriate forum, in fact the only forum, to challenge evidence in a trial. That's a basic principle.
Because of that, any ban on challenging evidence in court makes the court useless and irrelevant. The effect of such a ban is to make the court non-existent, because such ban makes possible conviction of an accused on evidence that contains an error, is fabricated or in fact even non-existent although claimed to exist.
Some problems with convicting an accused solely on the basis of DNA: DNA evidence can be easily contaminated with other DNA or damaged (the strands of DNA broken into smaller pieces) and it can even be fabricated, please refer to THIS LINK.
Clause 24 makes the DNA Bill a tool to convict anyone of anything, by claiming that there is DNA evidence of guilt of the accused.
Malaysia Today has a nice article AT THIS LINK about how a mistake can come back later with a painful bite:
Clause 24 may be such a mistake, a mistake that may come back to bite Najib and Rosmah.
Here is a way they may become bitten:
First, 2 facts:
Fact 1: Everywhere we go we are leaving samples of our DNA. The samples are small, but they can be amplified by a method called PCR, until there is sufficient DNA for testing.
Fact 2: When a woman is pregnant, some cells from the baby inside her circulate in her blood. Thus, cells from her baby can be found throughout her body, in any tissue where there is blood supply, including in her bones. Remember, it is in the bones, in the bone marrow, where blood is made. Those cells from the baby of course
contain DNA from both it's parents, including the father. Bones of Altantuya are in Mongolia and her father is a medical doctor, he would know who can extract DNA from her bones.
Taken together, those 2 facts potentially could lead to DNA of Najib being compared with DNA from the bones of Altantuya.
If there is a match, because of Clause 24, it would be conclusive evidence, not allowed to be challenged in any court, that Najib made Altantuya pregnant.
Even if the DNA match were to be totally fabricated or non-existent, it would still be impossible for Najib to challenge in any court, because of Clause 24.
Thus Najib, because of Clause 24, could be found, without any means to challenge the evidence, to have impregnated Altantuya, giving motive for Rosmah to want to kill Altantuya.
With motive to kill Altantuya and Rosmah being present at the place Altantuya was killed, her presence at the murder scene being claimed by both Bala's first SD and by RPK, presumably Rosmah wanted to be there to be confident that Altantuya was truly dead, Rosmah could be convicted of murder and sent to the gallows.
The long saga of the murder of Altantuya would thus finally conclude.
Malaysians might gain a new peribahasa (saying) from the sordid tale,
"It's not over until the fat lady hangs".
Written by Pakac Luteb
October 16, 2009
DEVILS - A BRIEF TUTORIAL
People tend to choose the Devil they know instead of the Devil they don't know.
They do that because they don't THINK before choosing.
Devil we know, such as BN: We know it's a DISASTER and will ALWAYS be a DISASTER.
Devil we don't know, such as PKR/PAS: May be a DISASTER, may be EXCELLENT, may be just OK-lah. Those are the odds by mere chance. We can't predict the future accurately, so let's allow chance to guide us.
Devil we know, BN: 3/3 chance [100%] DISASTER
Devil we don't know PKR/PAS: 1/3 chance of DISASTER, 1/3 chance of OK-lah, 1/3 chance of EXCELLENT.
Thus we can see that the Devil we don't know has a 2/3 chance of being better than Devil we know.
Let us embrace the Devil we don't know and avoid giving the BN another landslide victory.
Come what may, DON'T vote BN, vote anything else, vote the Devil you don't know, proven above to probably be better than the Devil we know.
Written by Pakac Luteb
They do that because they don't THINK before choosing.
Devil we know, such as BN: We know it's a DISASTER and will ALWAYS be a DISASTER.
Devil we don't know, such as PKR/PAS: May be a DISASTER, may be EXCELLENT, may be just OK-lah. Those are the odds by mere chance. We can't predict the future accurately, so let's allow chance to guide us.
Devil we know, BN: 3/3 chance [100%] DISASTER
Devil we don't know PKR/PAS: 1/3 chance of DISASTER, 1/3 chance of OK-lah, 1/3 chance of EXCELLENT.
Thus we can see that the Devil we don't know has a 2/3 chance of being better than Devil we know.
Let us embrace the Devil we don't know and avoid giving the BN another landslide victory.
Come what may, DON'T vote BN, vote anything else, vote the Devil you don't know, proven above to probably be better than the Devil we know.
Written by Pakac Luteb
October 15, 2009
JUNK SCIENCE
An article from The Star (refer to the end of the post for the copy of the letter)claims that LBA is NOT junk science, BECAUSE LBA uses some of the same technical terms that medical science uses and BECAUSE someone doing LBA sees the same features of RBCs (red blood cells) that a medical lab technician sees.
To see the falsehood of those claims by the article consider the following analogies:
If someone says "myocarditis" for inflammation of the heart muscle and "hypertension" for high blood pressure, does that make the person a doctor? Of course not!
When someone watches an English Premier League game on Astro and sees the same goal kick a referee at the game sees, does that make a viewer seated in a Mamak shop watching the game an EPL referee? Of course it does not!
RBC defects can have many causes, genetic, parasites, medicines, etc. Doctors are trained to do the proper differential diagnosis, meaning determining the cause of the RBC defect, because obviously the treatment is different for different causes.
The author is a homeopathic doctor (an oxymoron). Homeopathy is NOT scientific, as you shall see.
Homeopathy claims to cure people by giving extremely dilute doses of a substance that would cause a healthy person the same symptoms as the ill person if the substance were given in larger concentration to the healthy person. (The homeopathic "law of similars".)
Thus, homeopathy states that if an ill person has a fever, treat them with a substance that would cause a healthy person to have a fever, but give the ill person an extremely dilute dose, literally diluted perhaps to 0.001 percent concentration, meaning one part in 100,000 parts.
Firstly, the "law of similars" is illogical, secondly how can anything extremely diluted have any effect?
Well, it CAN'T, not directly.
Any effect of homeopathy is the placebo effect, whereby someone's expectation of getting better makes them feel better OR the well-known fact that most fevers go away on their own after a few days, homeopathic treatment or no treatment.
LBA is truly junk science, anyone who says otherwise is either ignorant or lying.
written by Pakac Luteb
"Thursday October 15, 2009
Live blood analysis is not really junk science
I AM a homeopathic doctor. Although we do not need to do live blood
analysis (LBA) in our practice, it has helped me to understand so much
more about the conditions of my patients.
When I took up this course, called live blood morphology, my teacher
and trainer stressed again and again that it is not to be used as a
diagnostic tool, but rather as a screening tool at most. We know that
certain people abuse LBA for monetary gains, but that does not make it
less scientific.
By looking at a drop of blood under a brightfield microscope, we will
be able to see the conditions of the blood, especially the red blood
cells (RBC’s). If the size and shape of the RBC’s are not normal, it
will surely affect their oxygen-carrying capacity.
When the RBC’s are too big (macrocytes) or too small (microcytes)
their oxygen carrying capacity diminishes.
When there is a mixture of macrocytes and microcytes, the condition is
called anisocytosis. Macrocytes and microcytes are most likely caused
by deficiencies in iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12.
Many times an operator will see cells with rough edges, a condition
called poikilocytosis. These are cells damaged by free radical
possessing agents such as chemicals, smoke from cigarettes,
preservatives, etc.
Target cells are indicative of a deficiency in hemoglobin “Hb” content
and are therefore incapable of delivering oxygen. The causes could be
lack of iron in the system and are common in menstruating women with
heavy blood flow.
The terms microcytes, macrocytes, anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, target
cells that often appear under the blood film report of a normal blood
test. When the knowledge and analysis of the RBC condition is already
in the mainstream of medical science, how can it still be called ”junk
science” ?
What we truly need now is regulation so that LBA is not abused in
whatever way. We have reached a stage when we can no longer brush it
aside as being unscientific or brand it as “junk science”.
STALLION CHAN,
Alor Star."
Source: THE STAR
To see the falsehood of those claims by the article consider the following analogies:
If someone says "myocarditis" for inflammation of the heart muscle and "hypertension" for high blood pressure, does that make the person a doctor? Of course not!
When someone watches an English Premier League game on Astro and sees the same goal kick a referee at the game sees, does that make a viewer seated in a Mamak shop watching the game an EPL referee? Of course it does not!
RBC defects can have many causes, genetic, parasites, medicines, etc. Doctors are trained to do the proper differential diagnosis, meaning determining the cause of the RBC defect, because obviously the treatment is different for different causes.
The author is a homeopathic doctor (an oxymoron). Homeopathy is NOT scientific, as you shall see.
Homeopathy claims to cure people by giving extremely dilute doses of a substance that would cause a healthy person the same symptoms as the ill person if the substance were given in larger concentration to the healthy person. (The homeopathic "law of similars".)
Thus, homeopathy states that if an ill person has a fever, treat them with a substance that would cause a healthy person to have a fever, but give the ill person an extremely dilute dose, literally diluted perhaps to 0.001 percent concentration, meaning one part in 100,000 parts.
Firstly, the "law of similars" is illogical, secondly how can anything extremely diluted have any effect?
Well, it CAN'T, not directly.
Any effect of homeopathy is the placebo effect, whereby someone's expectation of getting better makes them feel better OR the well-known fact that most fevers go away on their own after a few days, homeopathic treatment or no treatment.
LBA is truly junk science, anyone who says otherwise is either ignorant or lying.
written by Pakac Luteb
"Thursday October 15, 2009
Live blood analysis is not really junk science
I AM a homeopathic doctor. Although we do not need to do live blood
analysis (LBA) in our practice, it has helped me to understand so much
more about the conditions of my patients.
When I took up this course, called live blood morphology, my teacher
and trainer stressed again and again that it is not to be used as a
diagnostic tool, but rather as a screening tool at most. We know that
certain people abuse LBA for monetary gains, but that does not make it
less scientific.
By looking at a drop of blood under a brightfield microscope, we will
be able to see the conditions of the blood, especially the red blood
cells (RBC’s). If the size and shape of the RBC’s are not normal, it
will surely affect their oxygen-carrying capacity.
When the RBC’s are too big (macrocytes) or too small (microcytes)
their oxygen carrying capacity diminishes.
When there is a mixture of macrocytes and microcytes, the condition is
called anisocytosis. Macrocytes and microcytes are most likely caused
by deficiencies in iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12.
Many times an operator will see cells with rough edges, a condition
called poikilocytosis. These are cells damaged by free radical
possessing agents such as chemicals, smoke from cigarettes,
preservatives, etc.
Target cells are indicative of a deficiency in hemoglobin “Hb” content
and are therefore incapable of delivering oxygen. The causes could be
lack of iron in the system and are common in menstruating women with
heavy blood flow.
The terms microcytes, macrocytes, anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, target
cells that often appear under the blood film report of a normal blood
test. When the knowledge and analysis of the RBC condition is already
in the mainstream of medical science, how can it still be called ”junk
science” ?
What we truly need now is regulation so that LBA is not abused in
whatever way. We have reached a stage when we can no longer brush it
aside as being unscientific or brand it as “junk science”.
STALLION CHAN,
Alor Star."
Source: THE STAR
October 03, 2009
BROADBAND or BROADFRAUD
The recent Oxford report (sponsored by Cisco) and reported in Malaysia Today regarding Broadband service of many countries, confirms what many Malaysians have long suspected.
The blogs and forums are full of tales of slow and unstable and intermittent Malaysian internet service.
Malaysian ISPs tell their customers that service is provided on a "best effort" basis, meaning there is no benchmark, whatever the speed or uptime may be, the ISP is doing it's best, so don't expect more.
Customers of Malaysian ISPs should explore the website of the Malaysian Multimedia Commission regarding the matter.
In the website they will find that a benchmark actually exists, so many percent of advertised speed so many percent of the time.
The website notes that ISPs can be fined for failing to provide the required level of service.
3 problems:
1) Malaysians don't demand for the service promised.
2) The quality of service required of ISPs is not enforced by the
Multimedia Commission.
3) There is no real competition amongst Malaysian ISPs.
In countries overseas ISPs compete for customers vying to offer the best service at the lowest price.
Overseas ISPs give the customer COMPETENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE when there is a problem, otherwise they will LOSE that customer to a RIVAL ISP.
Malaysian ISPs, like many Malaysian companies, usually provide clueless customer service, that is, when it's possible to contact customer service.
One word describes the situation (and the situation with Proton cars too):
MONOPOLY
Competition leads to excellence, monopoly leads to mediocrity.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
The blogs and forums are full of tales of slow and unstable and intermittent Malaysian internet service.
Malaysian ISPs tell their customers that service is provided on a "best effort" basis, meaning there is no benchmark, whatever the speed or uptime may be, the ISP is doing it's best, so don't expect more.
Customers of Malaysian ISPs should explore the website of the Malaysian Multimedia Commission regarding the matter.
In the website they will find that a benchmark actually exists, so many percent of advertised speed so many percent of the time.
The website notes that ISPs can be fined for failing to provide the required level of service.
3 problems:
1) Malaysians don't demand for the service promised.
2) The quality of service required of ISPs is not enforced by the
Multimedia Commission.
3) There is no real competition amongst Malaysian ISPs.
In countries overseas ISPs compete for customers vying to offer the best service at the lowest price.
Overseas ISPs give the customer COMPETENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE when there is a problem, otherwise they will LOSE that customer to a RIVAL ISP.
Malaysian ISPs, like many Malaysian companies, usually provide clueless customer service, that is, when it's possible to contact customer service.
One word describes the situation (and the situation with Proton cars too):
MONOPOLY
Competition leads to excellence, monopoly leads to mediocrity.
WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB
September 30, 2009
AVOID BECOMING A VICTIM
Letter from Pakac Luteb
There are as many scams as there are dishonest people.
Fortunately there is information available to help people avoid
becoming the victim of a scam.
As a public service I provide below links to such information.
MLM watch
Pyramid Scheme Alert
Scams
It is my wish that you never become the victim of a scam.
Don't expect others to protect you.
Protect yourself.
A word (a few words, actually) of warning.
One of the sites tells how can give the scammers a headache by tricking them.
Actually tricking the scammers may be dangerous, some of the scams are done by Nigerians and the Nigerian gangsters are well known to be extremely violent.
Warm regards,
Pakac Luteb
There are as many scams as there are dishonest people.
Fortunately there is information available to help people avoid
becoming the victim of a scam.
As a public service I provide below links to such information.
MLM watch
Pyramid Scheme Alert
Scams
It is my wish that you never become the victim of a scam.
Don't expect others to protect you.
Protect yourself.
A word (a few words, actually) of warning.
One of the sites tells how can give the scammers a headache by tricking them.
Actually tricking the scammers may be dangerous, some of the scams are done by Nigerians and the Nigerian gangsters are well known to be extremely violent.
Warm regards,
Pakac Luteb
September 27, 2009
BIG BROTHER STRIKES
Malaysia loves to be the tallest or biggest in something.
Now Malaysia continues that practice by trying to act like cybercriminals.
Malaysia is launching denial of service (Dos/DDos) attacks on Malaysia Today. According to Wikipedia:
Those attacks overload the Malaysia Today site server denying access by legitimate visitors.
Denial of service attacks are a cybercrime. (CLICK THIS LINK for more information)
Such attacks in effect put a wall between a site and its users.
Why are such attacks a cybercrime?
For example, a company could attack the site of a competitor. That would be in effect a business welding a shutter covering the door of a rival business.
That would not be tolerated, for obvious reasons.
The Malaysian government is committing a cybercrime by blocking Malaysia Today.
The Malaysian government is also once again demonstrating its utter contempt for civil society and the law by engaging in cybercrime.
Whatever damage Malaysia Today inflicts on the Malaysian government, the Malaysian government is inflicting additional damage on itself by engaging in cybercrime.
Malaysia Today is merely exposing wrongdoings of the Malaysian government.
The Malaysian government can stop Malaysia Today without resorting to cybercrime, very simply actually, just become a responsible government, end corruption, deaths in custody, cheating in elections, exploiting the poor and the myriad other misdeeds of the government.
Independent media such as Malaysia Today have a vital role in democratic societies, the role of keeping the government honest and exposing official wrongdoing.
Malaysians are truly fortunate to have Malaysia Today and other sites that provide receiving information from sources other than state-controlled sources.
Written by Pakac Luteb
Now Malaysia continues that practice by trying to act like cybercriminals.
Malaysia is launching denial of service (Dos/DDos) attacks on Malaysia Today. According to Wikipedia:
A denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the means to carry out, motives for, and targets of a DoS attack may vary, it generally consists of the concerted efforts of a person or people to prevent an Internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at all, temporarily or indefinitely. Perpetrators of DoS attacks typically target sites or services hosted on high-profile web servers such as banks, credit card payment gateways, and even root nameservers.
One common method of attack involves saturating the target (victim) machine with external communications requests, such that it cannot respond to legitimate traffic, or responds so slowly as to be rendered effectively unavailable. In general terms, DoS attacks are implemented by either forcing the targeted computer(s) to reset, or consuming its resources so that it can no longer provide its intended service or obstructing the communication media between the intended users and the victim so that they can no longer communicate adequately.
Denial-of-service attacks are considered violations of the IAB's Internet proper use policy, and also violate the acceptable use policies of virtually all Internet Service Providers. They also commonly constitute violations of the laws of individual nations
Those attacks overload the Malaysia Today site server denying access by legitimate visitors.
Denial of service attacks are a cybercrime. (CLICK THIS LINK for more information)
Such attacks in effect put a wall between a site and its users.
Why are such attacks a cybercrime?
For example, a company could attack the site of a competitor. That would be in effect a business welding a shutter covering the door of a rival business.
That would not be tolerated, for obvious reasons.
The Malaysian government is committing a cybercrime by blocking Malaysia Today.
The Malaysian government is also once again demonstrating its utter contempt for civil society and the law by engaging in cybercrime.
Whatever damage Malaysia Today inflicts on the Malaysian government, the Malaysian government is inflicting additional damage on itself by engaging in cybercrime.
Malaysia Today is merely exposing wrongdoings of the Malaysian government.
The Malaysian government can stop Malaysia Today without resorting to cybercrime, very simply actually, just become a responsible government, end corruption, deaths in custody, cheating in elections, exploiting the poor and the myriad other misdeeds of the government.
Independent media such as Malaysia Today have a vital role in democratic societies, the role of keeping the government honest and exposing official wrongdoing.
Malaysians are truly fortunate to have Malaysia Today and other sites that provide receiving information from sources other than state-controlled sources.
Written by Pakac Luteb
