Online Resolution

Christmas is a time for family warmth and home coming, but for some people, it is the season of much stress with traveling, spending, preparing, among other reasons. Thankfully, these days, keeping in touch is no longer limited to a telephone call or occasional meeting up. We can stay connected with our loved ones and friends through channels such as the social media or online video calling. We can also communicate, share text, photos, videos, music and other media files with just about everybody around the world using mobile phones, digital tablets, or computers.

Nevertheless, when we share about our private lives to the public, we need always to be careful because such sharing can affect others and how they think of us. Our bosses, colleagues, relatives, and friends, for example, might see us as weak or ill-mannered reading some of our status update on social networks. Leaks through words of mouth by people sharing what they read from our social media postings and blogs can also spread and cause damage to relationships.

When I first started a blog, it was not something I wanted to do, but because I was assigned as a journalist by my editor to write an article on blogging and to interview people to find out their thoughts on the subject. A number of people I interviewed gave their reason for blogging as wanting to make friends who share similar interests, while some said they blog to de-stress or fight for a cause.

“Of course, we run the risk of facing ridicule and criticism from people posting their comments,” said an ardent blogger. “But we can deal with it.”

Like many bloggers, I frequently offload my burdens writing about the things that happened in my life. Many people came to know me and my innermost thoughts reading my blog. Today, my life is an open book, found within the pages of my writings. Blogging is my medium of choice to reach out to the masses in the world. With my blog linked to various social network communities, every blog entry I post gets to reach out to the masses and the targeted people.

Of course, once in a while, I would receive some argumentative or negative comments at my blog or social network pages. Thankfully, those were dealt with without quarrel or hurtful feelings.

What about the rest of us? How do we participate online?

As we prepare ourselves for the coming year, let's remember not to let negative words proceed from us, for such can hurt others and expose us to ridicule.  Whether we are conversing, sharing videos, images, music or other types of media files, let's share only whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or praiseworthy.

Merry Christmas 2013

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father.

Lost and Not Yet Found

Ten years ago, I have the confidence that if I dropped something without knowing, someone behind me who saw it would pick it up and give it back to me or at least inform me I've dropped something. Today, I cannot say the same would happen in this nation-state.

Just yesterday, I unknowingly dropped a fanny pack. After walking more than 50 meters, I realized it was lost and quickly walked back the trail to search. I also went to where I suspect I dropped the fanny pack as I felt then something came loose.

Unfortunately, nothing was found. I've lost my ATM/Debit card, driving licence, Android phone, and a few other items. A police report was filed and I am praying that some kind soul would return the items to a police station.

It was a sad day for me after canceling my debit card and obtaining a replacement SIM card. Till now, I am still hoping that I don't have to do the same for my driving licence and a few other cards.

What do you think? Is it possible there is still some redeeming grace for the people living in this nation to do the right thing?

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Celebrity Living

Paparazzi seem to be the name of the game with the famous even though they have come under constant fire for invasion of privacy. In an article by Orthry Torres at Voices.Yahoo.com some years ago, the author questioned the reason for the inordinate attention and negative talk about those who make celebrities famous by the publicity they gave them. Should not celebrities expect being famous is accepting both their personal and professional lives will be watched and criticized from the media? If celebrities feel the paparazzi make them feel as if they are being stalked, is it fair to say they only mind being stalked when they have a book, movie, or album they need help in promoting?

Getting the publicity one desires and losing one’s privacy are two sides of the same coin when it comes to celebrity living. On the one hand it is a way of getting famous, on the other it may be deemed as invading private lives.

Today, many of us in a sense are celebrities online. Whether it is peer pressure or the need to stay in touch, we join social networks and leave behind trails of digital footprints of what we do and where we visit on the Internet. Our movements are tracked down by our followers and we are ‘stalked’ by different kinds of people. If we leave trails because we desire attention or to be followed, we might just get our reward or lose our credibility in full, depending on how well we handle our online activities and behavior. If we do not do well, our sin will find us out. If we blabber or share about the things we do in our private lives on the social networks, we should not expect to live our lives with absolute privacy.

Are we feeling we are under the scrutiny of the public eye? Are we making ourselves famous for the wrong reasons or are we doing it out of concern for others? Not all things in life can be done in secret, so we need not hide what must be done even in public. Our intent is what is important—are we doing it to show off or to care?

Christmas Up North

Christmas is coming!

Here's looking at Causeway Point's
Christmas decoration.

Are you feeling the Christmas mood yet? (",)

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is around the corner.

Here's taking a look at one of the more
interesting Christmas decoration at JEM.

Are you feeling the Christmas mood yet?

SpideY n Venom Web Designers

"It’s hard to get any work done with these two hanging around."

Source: BuzzFeed.com

Halloween Scare

The party's about to begin, and the scariest of all the Halloween decorated houses thus far appears to be the one with a lifelike zombie crawling out from the ground with arms stretched out, ready to grab any passerby. The zombie, dressed in military uniform with a skull for his face, seems to be like one coming out from the movie, World War Z. Among the many other houses in the area, there are also those with pumpkin faces and heads, screaming ghost masks, cheese cloth ghosts, and cobwebs sprayed on gates.

It's like the Western version of the lunar calendar seventh month celebration—Festival of the Hungry Ghost. I sometimes wonder how many of us really know the origin of Halloween, and whether we should be involved in such a celebration. Here's taking a look at an extract from the article 'Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?' by Elliott Watson at CBN.com.

The origins of Halloween are Celtic in tradition and have to do with observing the end of summer sacrifices to gods in Druidic tradition. In what is now Britain and France, it was the beginning of the Celtic year, and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.

But what about today? Perhaps we can still learn from history. In the fourth century, Christians attempted to co-opt the holiday by celebrating the lives of faithful Christian saints the day before Halloween. This was a conscious attempt to provide an alternative and re-focus the day away from ghouls, goblins, ghosts, witches and other “haunted” experiences. Since that time many Christians have decided to allow their children to dress in more “innocent” costumes of pumpkins, princesses, Superman or as a cowboy. Part of this is due to the simple reality that in today’s Western culture it is nearly impossible to “avoid” Halloween.

As Christians you and I are placed in this world to be a light in a world of darkness. There is no lasting benefit to ignore a holiday that exists around us, but it also does harm to celebrate Halloween as it has originated and grown over the centuries.

My suggestion? Christians should be teaching their children (age appropriately) that:

• there is a spiritual world filled with goodness from God and evil from Satan (Eph. 2:1-10);
• life with Christ has power over darkness (I John 4:4); and
• those who celebrate Halloween either are unaware of its roots, or are intentionally promoting a world where evil is lauded and viewed as an ultimate power.

To counter the evil influence of Halloween, we need to join together and celebrate the reality of the heroic efforts of Christian saints over the evil in their day. Many leaders in the past—and present—have fulfilled the mandate of destroying the works of the devil through their sacrificial commitment to Christ and His Kingdom.

Too, rather than “hide” in the face of evil, we should unabashedly and boldly create an alternative that is positive and uplifting; that celebrates good over evil and the triumph of God over Satan. We need to provide an environment that also makes room for heaps of fun while using the day as a “teachable moment” to celebrate God’s protection, provision and purpose for our lives.

Halloween came from the word Hallowe'en which is a contraction of "All Hallows' Eve" or the day before All Saints Day. All Saints Day is the day dedicated to the remembrance of the saints (hallows) and martyrs of the faith.

So what do you think? Should you celebrate Halloween with the occult or do away with Halloween altogether or just the devilish decoration and masquerade?

A Soulless Nation-State

In retrospect ten to twenty years ago, I must admit that today I no longer have that sense of belonging which I used to have in the past. My sentiments tend to agree with the people who deem us a soulless nation-state which has lost its identity.

Taking an extract from the article 'The End of Identity' by Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh, I can comprehend what he meant when he wrote:

Put another way, Singapore is possibly the only country in the world where there are more migrants — including temporary workers, permanent residents and foreign-born citizens — than native-born people. Some like to call the US a country of migrants. Singapore is much more — it is a country for migrants.

While diversity must be cheered, it would be callous to ignore immigration’s impact on feelings of identity and belonging. Singaporeans welcomed “Others” when they were a small minority; now that “Others” are flooding in, completely dissolving native-born Singaporeans in places such as Marina Bay, the core feels vulnerable.

“My Singaporean Chinese friends used to speak only English to me,” says Farouk Khan, a Singaporean who lives in Kuala Lumpur. “Now whenever we meet, they are always trying to litter their conversation with Malay words and phrases. They are trying to show that they are local Chinese, different from the Mainland Chinese.”

Some suggest that when Singaporean Chinese try to differentiate themselves from Mainland Chinese — or, for that matter, Singapore Indians from India Indians — it is because of classism or racism or some other prejudice. While perhaps true in some instances, the most basic instinct that is driving these actions is the loss of identity. Singaporeans are desperately clawing onto any vestiges of Singaporeanness.

The pro-migration camp does not seem to understand these grumblings. The common refrain is that many countries welcome migrants, and so Singapore should be no different. But this harks back to the earlier point about magnitude. While migration does occur globally, no other country has enacted such dramatic demographic change.

If you are a native born Singaporean, share with me your thoughts on this. How do you feel as the minority in this nation-state?

Iron Man 3 beats The Avengers

‘Iron Man 3′ Beats ‘Avengers’ International Box Office Numbers

Marvel Studios’international marketing strategy is paying off and the cast and crew of Iron Man 3 can feel happy knowing their time investment required to conduct a comprehensive world press tour leading up to the theatrical release of the first post-Avengers production was worthwhile.
Where last summer’s The Avengers broke not only the domestic opening weekend record, but in a dozen international markets, Iron Man 3 is already beating it out with $195.3M at the international box office.
Disney and Marvel Studios are happily sharing Iron Man 3′s impressive overseas box office numbers before the weekend’s out, emphasizing the importance of the summer-start release date and Robert Downey Jr. as the quintessential face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here are the highlights Disney noted:
International Highlights

• Biggest opening weekend ever in: Argentina, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore
• Biggest opening day ever in: Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia
• Biggest Marvel opening weekend in: Australia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Hungary, Romania, New Zealand, Argentina, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines and Malaysia
• #1 film in every market and is the biggest opening weekend of all time in Asia Pacific and Latin America

The $195.3 million estimated haul beats out The Avengers international opening of $185.1 million and is a sign of things to come. The biggest highlight we’re noting is that the film hasn’t even opened in China, Germany or Russia yet and that’s crucial because Disney and Marvel are banking hard in the Chinese box office with their partnership with Beijing-based DMG Entertainment to make Iron Man 3 a co-production. China is even getting a slightly different version of the film with added footage.

• UK – $21.5M
• Korea - $19.2M
• Australia - $18.4M
• Mexico - $16.1M
• France - $14.7M
• Brazil - $12.3M
• Italy - $11.2M
• Taiwan – $8.4M
• Philippines – $7.4M
• Japan - $5.4M
• India - $5.2M
• Spain - $5.0M
• HK - $4.9M
• Malaysia - $4.6M
• Indonesia - $4.5M
• Other - $36.5M
• Total - $195.3M

Iron Man 3 of course hits its biggest market (North America) next Friday and as of last week, MovieTickets.com claimed opening day sales already had more than 400 theaters sold out. That was then. The increased buzz since and closer proximity to its release will increase demand of opening weekend pre-sales even further. Iron Man 2, the last non-3D title from Marvel Studios had a domestic opening of $128,122,480 and the 3D-boosted openings of Captain America and Thor couldn’t compare. It wasn’t until The Avengers brought back Robert Downey Jr. and everyone else together for the record-breaking $207,438,708 domestic opening (the biggest domestic opening of all-time). According to The Wrap last week (before the international numbers came in), Iron Man 3 was tracking for a $160 million U.S. opening which is a safe bet considering the success of Iron Man 2, the international numbers, the post-Avengers boost and the early positive reviews.

It’s safe to say Iron Man 3 will cross the billion dollar mark, justifying its role as the first chapter of Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also raises expectations for Thor: The Dark Worldand Captain America: The Winter Soldier, while also emphasizing the importance of Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle, all of whom have contracts ending with this film. As RDJ is acutely aware, he and his agent are in the best position in Hollywood and were smart to wait for the film to open before renegotiating contract extensions. For the Disney camp, like Johnny Depp with Pirates of the Caribbean, RDJ is crucial to the future of the franchise and they will need to sign him for The Avengers 2 and possibly even Iron Man 4. The film’s domestic performance will be very telling and may alter the course of the future of the franchise.
Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black based off of his and Drew Pearce’s screenplay, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Stephanie Szostak, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, William Sadler, James Badge Dale and the voice of Paul Bettany.
Iron Man 3 releases May 3, 2013, Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014, The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015, Ant-Man on November 6, 2015, and Doctor Strange sometime after that.
Let me know on Twitter @rob_keyes your box office predictions for Iron Man 3!
Sources: Disney, The Wrap

Hire and Fire Employees Using the Social Media

Social Screening: How Companies Are Using Social Media To Hire & Fire Employees
Source: Mindflash.com

How Employers Use Social Media To Screen Applicants

Source: TheUnderCoverRecruiter.com

Has life come down to this? Is this the way to go in the future?

Our nations's solution to Public Transport Congestion ... free train rides for commuters who travel to the city area before 7.45am. Read more ...

Stress Reliever

One of the many advantages of being a writer or
journalist is the freedom to express unhappiness
and frustrations in writing — an excellent
way to finding relief from distress.

Puzzling Notice in Toilet

A common notice placed above the toilet bowl in Greece.



My question is, what about toilet paper?

Graffiti or Art

The difference between Graffiti and Art
is a mere line across the margin

Photo: A wall near Tras Street

Fabulous Food Up North

D' Rubinah Restaurant
South Indian & Thai Muslim Seafood
592 Sembawang Road
Singapore 758451

Taste
Beef Satay 4 ☆☆☆☆
Chicken Satay 4.5 ☆☆☆☆+
Ketupat 3.5 ☆☆☆+
Thai Seafood Fried Bee Hoon 3 ☆☆☆
Indian Rojak 4 ☆☆☆☆

Overcrowding and Patience

Healthy living is about keeping your cool amid overcrowding
in public transport and other places, despite having
your patience tested over and over again

Exaggerated Resumes

The Truth about Lying on Resumes

by Visual.Ly

Last Supper ... Singapore Style

A picture by Temasek Review ...

The Last Supper ... Singapore Style
at a Hawker Centre before it closes for renovation

The Last Supper ... by Leonardo Da Vinci

Learning from the Smokers

I don't smoke, but ...

Gadgets in the Movies

News from ScreenJunkies.com ...

7 Best Homemade Gadgets In Action Movies

Tuesday, October 30 by Penn Collins

At the end of a long month, there’s very little better than kicking back and indulging in a long article about movie gadgets. Good news! It’s happening RIGHT NOW. We’ve scoured some of the most iconic action films (and one drama with a crazy-ass gadget…see if you can spot it) and from them harvested some of the most bad-ass weaponized contraptions of all time. Sure, the gadgets listed aren’t always designed for destruction, but we feel that it’s always a device’s highest and best use. Enjoy.

Peter Parker’s Web Slingers – The Amazing Spider-Man

In the latest edition of Spider-Man, coming out on Blu-ray™ and DVD November 9, Parker takes the easy way out and builds mechanical web slingers, rather than develop them genetically, like a TRUE superhero. Just kidding. I actually find the mechanical web slingers much more impressive than the evolved ones, if only because this Peter Parker had to work to develop them, rather than just let it happen to him like another Spider-Man portrayer. Let’s just call him “Toby M.” for the sake of anonymity.

Batterang – The Batman Movies and TV Show

What’s remarkable about this homemade gadget is that it simply defies explanation. It explodes, it sometimes returns, sometimes it’s remote controlled, and it can travel incredible distances at ridiculous speeds. Why? Because Batman. That’s why.

The Tim Burton and Chris Nolan installments have done their best to distance themselves from the campy TV show, but no one can resist the subdued charm of the batterang. Not sure if I should capitalize “batterang…”

Ash’s Chainsaw Hand – Evil Dead 2

While it might not be the most ingenious weapon, it is the most hard-core and bad ass. In the series, Ash (played by Bruce Campbell) undergoes a series of unfortunate catastrophes that cause his hand to be possessed, then cause him to cut it off, replacing it with a chainsaw. It’s not exactly rocket science, but, coming from a guy that calls a shotgun his “boom stick,” it’s to be expected.

The Bolt Shooter – The Good Son

Sometimes bad people make great weapons, and nowhere is that more apparent than in The Good Son, a film that stars Macauley Culkin as the bad guy (boy). And oh, is he ever bad. He does lots of terrible things, like causing wrecks on the freeways by throwing dummies off of bridges, but the most heartless thing he can muster up is taking out a ferocious dog with a weird bolt-gun-crossbow hybrid. He’s a horrible, horrible boy, but his fabrication abilities are off the charts.

Charlie Kelly’s Rat-Bashing Stick – It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

(I am aware this isn’t his actual rat stick, but I figured an action sequence was more profound than gadget accuracy.)
When you kill as many rats as Charlie does, you get that thousand-yard stare in your eyes that comes hand-in-hand with the crushing pain of recognizing your own mortality. Fortunately for Charlie, killing rat families just got a whole lot easier with his rat-bashing stick, a modified baseball bat that features a whole slew of pointy nails and a chain or something. It’s probably the crudest device on this list, but when you see how it warms Charlie’s heart, it might also be the most endearing!

Data’s Telescoping Boxing Glove – The Goonies

I’ll be honest. This is the first device that came to mind, but I’m having a really hard time coming to terms with the efficacy of it. First of all, if you’re going to punch someone to cause them harm, using a padded glove to do it sort of defeats the purpose and mitigates the damage done. Sort of cartoon-y for a film that otherwise offers a sincere and real look at a, um, group of kids that are hunting for treasure and who accidentally stumble upon a pirate armada.

Ok. So the boxing glove is probably in keeping with the premise of the movie.

The Proton Pack – Ghostbusters

Please don’t tell me how a Proton Pack works. Not interested. All I know is that they suck ghosts into a backpack, where they are held until it’s time to more or less incinerate them in a big ghost oven. Or something like that. You know how I know these Proton Packs are homemade? Well, for one, they look like crap. And two, they’re not foolproof. In fact, they’re downright dangerous.

Never ever cross the streams of two Proton Packs. You won’t like the result.

Man of Steel (2013)

Release Date: June 14, 2013 (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D) 
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures 
Director: Zack Snyder 
Screenwriter: David S. Goyer 
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni, Russell Crowe 
Genre: Action, Adventure 
MPAA Rating: Not Available 
Official Website: ManofSteel.WarnerBros.com 
Review: Not Available 
DVD Review: Not Available 
DVD: Not Available 
Movie Poster: Comic-Con Art 
Production Stills: View here 

Plot Summary: Henry Cavill plays Superman in director Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel." The film also stars Amy Adams as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Laurence Fishburne as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent's adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Diane Lane and Kevin Costner. 

Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Michael Shannon, and Faora, Zod's evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman's native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman's mother, played by Ayelet Zurer, and Superman's father, Jor-El, portrayed by Russell Crowe. Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Release Date: May 17, 2013 (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D)
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: J.J. Abrams
Screenwriter: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Damon Lindelof
Starring: John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve, Peter Weller
Genre: Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: Not Available
Official Website: StarTrekmovie.com
Review: Not Available
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Movie Poster: View here
Production Stills: View here

Plot Summary: In Summer 2013, director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes "Star Trek Into Darkness."

In the wake of a shocking act of terror from within their own organization, the crew of The Enterprise is called back home to Earth. In defiance of regulations and with a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads his crew on a manhunt to capture an unstoppable force of destruction and bring those responsible to justice.  

As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Not Just Emotionless

Breaking news from The Straits Times ...
Published on December 20, 2012

S'poreans not only emotionless but unhappy as well
By Hoe Pei Shan

As if being least emotional nation in the world was not enough, Singapore has claimed yet another title - we are the most unhappy one as well.

That's according to international pollster Gallup, at least.

Based on a poll of nearly 150,000 people worldwide conducted in 2011 - the same one that branded Singapore as emotionless - Gallup's reading into the results put Singapore at the top of the list of countries where the fewest adults experienced positive emotions.

Singaporeans were apparently less upbeat than the people in places like Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Haiti.

Influenza

If you care, don't share your cold or flu with those around you!

Know how to fight influenza!

Happy 50th Birthday, SpideY

On August 10, 1962, Spider-Man made his debut to the world to become the iconic superhero he is today. Since then, movies about the Marvel character have brought in billions of dollars worldwide and his comics remain coveted collectors items. This is according to Samantha Murphy who wrote the article 'The Many Looks of Spiderman Over the Past 50 Years.'

Pornography: Children at Risks

Pornography threatening 'downfall' of church
by Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post - Sunday, May 27, 2012

Apologist and author Josh McDowell launched Just1ClickAway.org, a new website to raise awareness about online pornography which he says is a problem big enough to cause the downfall of the church.

"The downfall of the church will not come from a lack of apologetic teaching; it will come from disintegration of the families in the church," says a video posted on the website, launched in time for summer vacation when students' media consumption significantly increases.

"The greatest threat to the cause of Christ is pervasive sexuality and pornography," said McDowell.

"Today we have, by and large, lost control of the controls because an intrusive immorality is just one click away from our children. With just one keystroke on a smartphone, iPad, or laptop, a child can open up some of the worst pornography and sexually graphic content you can imagine. There's never been such access in history."

McDowell, who has written or co-authored 120 books since 1960, backs his claims with stunning statistics about the destructive impact of pornography on the Christian family.

More than 1 billion pornographic websites are one click away, and the average age of first-time viewers of pornography is 9 years old. About 80 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds have been exposed to hardcore porn, and the adult pornography industry reports that 20-30 percent of their traffic comes from children. More shockingly, half of all Christian families report that pornography is a problem, and 30 per cent of pastors have viewed pornography in the last 30 days.

The newly produced video on the website shows that pornography aggressively preys on and attacks its victims.

It features a boy, who looks below 10 years old and is seated on his bed with a tablet computer in the privacy of his bedroom. "Doing your homework?" asks a young woman, portrayed as a tempter. The boy, seeing her in his imagination, nods to say, "Yes." "Can I ask you something?" the girl says. "What's your favourite part about me? Do you wanna see more? I can show you whatever you want." Just then the mother comes into the room and tells him, "Honey, dinner is almost ready." Seeing her child's surprised reaction, she asks, "What's wrong?" "Nothing," he replies, pressing his laptop against his chest. "Finish up what you're doing and come on downstairs," his mother says.

The video goes on to feature a husband as well as a teenage girl as consumers of pornography and whose family members are also unaware of the dangerous viewing.

The video, which has a warning label for its mature content, later portrays each consumer being tortured by their addiction to pornography.

Offering hope and help, McDowell has made available resources to both spread awareness about the pervasiveness of pornography viewing and offer solutions. The Bare Facts, McDowell's "biblically based, medically sound and culturally relevant campaign" provides youth and those who influence them with an understanding of love, sexuality and relationships.

As part of a 45-city speaking tour in 15 countries throughout 2012, McDowell is touring Latin America with his Bare Facts campaign. With over 50 years in ministry, he has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries.

An Overcrowded Nation

Here's something for us to think about too as a nation ...

 

Half of Australians want end to immigration: poll

by AFP 2 days ago

SYDNEY — Some 50 percent of Australians want an end to the nation's immigration programme because they believe the country has too many people, a poll showed on Tuesday.

The survey of 2,000 people, conducted for the tabloid Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper, found 51 percent thought "our population is too high (and) we should stop immigration".

Australia has some 23 million people, compared to 19.6 million a decade ago.

Canberra set its immigration programme for the year to June at 185,000 places, with another 13,750 slots available to refugees on humanitarian grounds.

But in the poll only 32 percent of respondents felt Australia should welcome more immigrants and almost two thirds, some 65 percent, said "migrants should adopt the Australian way of life".

The responses revealed a marked swing away from the more tolerant attitudes of previous surveys conducted in 2005, 2001 and 1995, the newspaper said.

Immigration expert Bob Birrell said fears over job security in the shaky global economy and local pressures on infrastructure were behind the shift in opinion.

The poll came as two asylum-seeker boats carrying some 82 passengers were intercepted off northern Australia on Monday -- taking the number of boats to arrive to four in as many days.

A total of 42 boats carrying 3,261 asylum seekers have arrived so far this year, causing Australia's refugee detention budget to spiral to more than Aus$1 billion (US$1 billion).

Though they come in relatively small numbers by global standards, the issue of asylum-seekers is a political flashpoint in Australia, dominating national elections in 2010, when a record 6,555 boatpeople arrived from Asia.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the rush this year was "unsurprising" given the failure of a planned refugee swap deal with Malaysia in 2011 intended to deter people smuggling, after the High Court of Australia struck it down.

The government was forced to abandon offshore processing of asylum-seekers and release many detainees to live in the community after the conservative opposition blocked attempts to get around the ruling.

Bowen said it was essential to find more effective deterrents to stop people making the perilous maritime journey, usually from Indonesia.

"You are going to continue to see people arriving by boat which means you're going to continue to see deaths at sea," he said.

Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved

Fame and Reputation

When someone says our reputation precedes us, we know that person has heard about us and what we have done or achieved prior to meeting us.

In a sense, it means we have earned ourselves a certain amount of fame—good or bad. If we are known for being charitable, we are doing fine, unless all our works are done in pretense, just for hype. If we, on the other hand, have a reputation for doing the exact opposite of what is right, then we are in a sad state, often accompanied by dishonor. Beyond these two opposites is a third outcome of fame which is seemingly undesirable, yet absolutely necessary. This is the earned reputation for doing the right thing and suffering for doing it.>

Are we reputed for doing the right things or wrong? Are our good works publicity stunts to gain popularity and praise from men or are we genuinely interested in helping the needy? Is fame and face more important to us than doing the right thing? Where do we stand if we know we are to suffer disrepute or be disadvantaged doing what is right?

Mildly Amusing © Aaron Joseph

Controversial Magazine Cover

'Time' breast-feeding cover uncovers a parenting taboo?
By Natalie DiBlasio, USA TODAY - Thu, May 10, 2012

A Time magazine cover story that shows a mother breast-feeding her 3-year-old son is drawing criticism for breaking social taboos.

Jamie Lynne Grumet, the 26-year-old Los Angeles mother pictured breast-feeding on the cover of Time magazine, spoke on NBC's Today program this morning.

"We knew exactly what we were going to get into," Grumet says. "I do understand why Time chose this picture because … it did create such a media craze to get the dialogue talking." Grumet says breast-feeding advocates are upset about the cover because the image does not "show the nurturing side to attachment parenting."

"This isn't the way we breast-feed at home," she said. "It's more of a nurturing, cradling situation."

Grumet says she plans to breast-feed until Aram self-weans, but she hopes the fourth year will be the final year. Grumet was breast-fed by her own mother until she was six.

"It's a big commitment and its not right for everybody," she says. "You need to do what is best for your baby and for your own family."

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The story has drawn many critics on social media, and from noted celebrities such as actress Alyssa Milano. The controversy stems from the graphic nature of the photo, and from concern from some that the child in the picture is too old to be breast-feeding.

Milano tweeted that she feels the cover "is exploitive and extreme."

"You missed the mark," the actress wrote. "You're supposed to be making it easier for breastfeeding moms."

The picture on the Time cover shows a 3-year-old boy standing on a chair to nurse on his mother's exposed breast.

Parenting expert Joani Geltman says she isn't surprised that people are upset about the cover.

"People have an issue with nursing in public anyway, even with an infant. Here they add a 3-year-old child when most children are weaned between 6 months and a year," Geltman says. "People are up in arms simply because it depicts such an intimate act between a mother and child."

The cover story is about "attachment parenting" a trend that, Time reports, has been on the rise over the past two decades.

Attachment parenting includes extended breast-feeding, co-sleeping and "baby wearing," in which infants are physically attached to their parents by slings.

"To me, the whole point of a magazine cover is to get your attention," Time's managing editor, Rick Stengel, said in an interview with Forbes. "From the moment that we started talking about this story as a cover possibility, it was like I couldn't get out of the meetings. There was so much opinion and passion about it and discussion. What that told me is, boy, this is a story that people care a lot about."

Stengel said he hopes stores don't cover the magazine or refuse to carry it altogether. "I would hope they wouldn't cover it up in any way," Stengel says. "It's certainly a possibility."

Unusual News: Super Cool Bra

Japan iced bra aims to keep everywhere cool
AFP - Thu, May 10, 2012
 

TOKYO — A bra with built-in ice packs, a wind chime and a sprig of mint that was unveiled in Japan on Wednesday is promising to keep women cool this summer.

In a nearly-naked publicity stunt, underwear firm Triumph Japan had models parading around showing off its "Super Cool Bra", featuring what appears to be a pair of small fish tanks encompassing the breasts.
These cups are filled with a gel that remains soft and supple even when frozen, giving the wearer "a cool sensation against her skin", the company said in a statement.

A traditional Japanese wind chime -- and a mint leaf -- dangle between the cups giving an impression of cooling "by way of its refreshing fragrance and sound".

The company, which has a long tradition of novelty launches that are never made available for public sale, said it conceived of the bra in response to a need to save energy during the hot summer.
With no working nuclear reactors amid heightened public mistrust over atomic power in post-Fukushima Japan, the country has once again begun its "Cool Biz" campaign, urging people to dress down for work and avoid the need to crank up the aircon.

Watch Spider-Man Animated Series

One of the TV series I like best of Spider-Man is the animated version of 1994.

Although not in HD, if you like, you can now watch this series free online at www.marvel.com.

Fossilized Dinosaur Eggs Found

Dinosaur eggs said found in Russia's Chechnya
Reuters – Tue, Apr 17, 2012

GROZNY, Russia (Reuters) - Geologists in Russia's volatile Chechnya region have discovered what they believe to be fossilized dinosaur eggs laid by one of the huge extinct reptiles that roamed the Earth more than 60 million years ago.


"We've found about 40 eggs so far, the exact number has not been established," said Said-Emin Dzhabrailov, a geologist at the Chechen State University.

"There could be many more laying under the ground."

The find was uncovered when a construction crew was blasting through a hillside to build a road near the region's border with former Soviet Georgia in the Caucasus Mountains.

A team of geologists stumbled across the smooth, oval rock-like forms, which range from 25 cm to one meter coincidentally on a recent trip to the area, said Dzhabrailov.

He said paleontologists were needed to determine which species of dinosaur had laid them.

Dzhabrailov said that the regional Chechen government, which is eager to shed the region's reputation for violence, is considering turning the area into a nature preserve and seeking to attract tourists.

Federal forces fought two separatists wars between 1994-2001 in Chechnya, and an Islamist insurgency persists in the mostly Muslim region and surrounding provinces of Russia's North Caucasus.

However, violence has declined under the strong-arm rule of Ramzan Kadyrov, whose multi-million dollar construction projects are aimed at raising the region's profile and boosting the tourism potential of the troubled area.

(Writing By Thomas Grove, editing by Paul Casciato)

Have a Blessed Easter

Wishing All of You ...