that got her feet leave the hustle and bustle between the dhows and dunes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to make fresh imprints in the sands of Cebu and Camotes Islands again.
To have a closer and refreshing look of one of the most recognized structures of this world, once called an ‘eyesore’ by many, and only meant to stand for twenty years; the Paris Eiffeltower, this clip to celebrate its inaugeration on this day, the year 1889, and the fact we still can enjoy its presence.
There are lots of machines around us that we aren’t aware of, till things go wrong. It might be a pure technical reason, or a matter of the wrong choice of purchase. Such a setback is a good moment to ask ourselves what we really need. Take printers, for instance. To make the right choice between an inkjet printer, laser printer, label printer, receipt printer, thermal printer, impact printer, and who knows what other printer, isn’t that difficult, providing we get things in the right perspective. Before one realizes, it can run away with a lot of money. It happened to me when I had to buy a new set of cartridges. It seemed that the set I had to buy for my inkjet printer was far more expensive than the other sets I saw. The day I need a new printer, I first get assured of the price of the matching cartridges. Get that in print.
To be without pain is a blessing. Although pain can be useful as a warning that something’s wrong. To be without that sensation, such as pain is, or anesthesia (greek for without sensation) has known a long history, that’s having a highlight today, in the year 1842, when ether was used in the USA for the first time to make childbirth more bearable. From the 4000 BC Sumerian poppy fields, Incan coca leaves, Islamic Spain’s narcotica soaked sponges, to creepy mandrake (Harry Potter knows, ask him if you see him), to less sophisticated ways such as biting on a simple piece of wood after a sip of rum, to morphine, chloroform and all the latest we use today, a modest hit-on-the-head can be helpful. At the age of 10 I had the honour to get sedated. I can’t remember much of it, only that the hospital staff was trying to soften the anxiety by singing some songs for me. I’m sure ‘Dry Bones’ wasn’t one of them.
There seems to be a more musty downside to our success as a species, than I realised. Allergies are on the rise, and our (too) clean houses shared by less and less family members and more and more pets are blamed for it. Likely, in some way, the Sick Building Syndrom at some of our offices is explained? Next to some other important causes of course, such as heredity, sex and age. To find some allergy relief is not getting easier when other allergic reactions can show up from the use of certain food and medication. Or from the encounter with particular creepy insects like wasps or teeks coming out of the blue. On the other hand: we shouldn’t overreact, and perhaps not make ourselves prisoners of our own lives, for instance, allow our toddler to get dirty in the garden, having a good time, and get his immune system working all by itself?
What better name to drop on the stage than Shakespeare, with this World Theatre Day having opened its curtains today? Because this man is Theatre. During his life, and five centuries after, his writing is still subject of the tongue and pen, sweet or sour, not to mention lethal. Till this very day, new characters come to the scene with new interpretations of his work, or about his person. They doubt, deny or defend him. There are hints of madness and conspiracy. Jealousy and jest. Clamour and glamour. And it all still makes us amused, horrified and intrigued. Isn’t that theatre at its best?
To celebrate the first driving test in the UK, today, in the year 1934, this clip that shows some tricks that life can have in store for us. I’m not sure there’s an insurance for all of these accidents. You better be careful and read the small print.
In life, not many things are sure. Life’s after all a ‘living thing’. And like all things alive, it comes and goes in a very rich variety of nuances. In a simple environment, things will, on average, be simple and easy to manage. When the rules get more complicated, it becomes a different story. Having possessions for instance requires more time and attention in order to keep them. Things like insurance quotes have been introduced to help us to keep track. But it remains a matter of keeping an eye, if possible, all two, open to see the nuances that make a difference to us at that particular moment.
Otto Kaiser – Oskar Krause – Aux Cayes – Oikea – Ola Kala – Houcky – Ohne Korrektur – Oak-a – Okeh – Old Kinderhook – Oll Klor – Oll Korrect – Ole Kurreck
Whatever the origine, today, in the year 1839, the first recorded use of the word OK got in the Boston Morning Post. Since then it’s on everyone’s tip of the tongue. But that’s ok.
Whatever we’re looking and waiting for in a shop, restaurant or any other service related business environment, there’s a moment to pay for what we got. To the average customer today’s POS systems, or points of sale, won’t show much more than the smile behind the desk, the monitor, the register and the credit card device. It depends on the branche of business and the used software, but those systems handle a lot more.
Being connected with computers they collect and pass on all kinds of information. Much of it will be strictly related to the products, and be beneficial to both parties. But some of that information could be linked together, stored and be used in a less civil manner. To have my cravings for a certain brand of peanut butter exposed, is one thing, but there are limits.
Something else we should be ensured of, with our bodies mainly consisting of it, and our planet as well, is the supply of water. Nearly 1 percent of the world’s fresh water is accessible for direct use. More than 800 million people don’t have this access, 3.5 million of them are estimated to die each year, because of this. Today is World Water Day.
So, Mr. B.O. has done it. Good for him. And for 30 million Americans. But millions of other Americans aren’t happy with it, so it seems. It underlines the thin line of many things in life. And if that line snaps, what happens then? You better be covered, I guess. Anyway, it remembers me of the feeling for responsibility in general that we all should have, and the search for the best life insurance rate last year. I’m still single, have no family of my own, so, where does my responsibility begin? Right now, I think. Knowing it could be possible that I’m going to work thousands of miles away from here, later this very same year. I better make sure certain things get insured.
With a night ahead of me and not knowing if I can have a sound sleep, or have to witness the first morning birds singing, this clip for you all, showing a few seconds of the Master of Suspense himself. Not all sleepless nights end up in Seattle, or in disaster. Take care of yourselves.
The world of drugs doesn’t know limits. It doesn’t stop at geographical borders, also doesn’t discriminate; background, age and gender won’t matter and won’t make a real difference. It doesn’t end where your front door is. Very likely you got some in your home at your disposal right now. Obviously I’m not talking hard drugs here. Not even soft drugs. But having read some of those sleeping pill reviews, and a bit beyond, then you know what I mean. Hypnotic drugs, because that’s what they are, are habit-forming and can cause a careless attitude, confusion and a lethal danger to the body, yours, and of others. Don’t let them shush you, be on the alert. Better try a natural way, a different sleeping pattern or try not to get disturbed that often and easily in the day time.
Some words need lots of time to chew on to be digested, fully understood and give you some new insight. Metabolism was such a word to me, and seems to be of Greek origin and meaning ‘change’. That got me to the song’s title ‘we never change’ by Coldplay. Hanging on this descending parachute of time, my eye gets hold of sixteenth century Italian physician Santorio Santorii who’s seen as being on the cradle of the understanding of metabolism, having weighed himself for thirty years, comparing the weight what he head eaten to that of his waste products. To account for the difference, he thought it was because of ‘insensible persperation’. We still had a long way to go by then. Some things never change.
The idea of the tens of billions of dollars annually spent on products related to weight loss almost literally makes my metabolism jump to a higher and faster level. Which would serve my body’s condition nicely. If. Because it’s not that simple to get the balance right between consuming energy and gaining energy. Basically, that’s all it takes to prevent the need to look for the best fat burning supplement. The latest offspring of this health boom, food that eats fat, might sound a bit too good to be true, but I think it’s worth a try. Because these calcium and protein rich and high fibered products don’t just look good but make my mouth water and they’re supposed to burn some lazy too comfortably settled calories as well.
All creams, lotions and other precautions such as wearing sunglasses and applying used teabags on your weary eyes will contribute to the benefit of those eyes of yours. I’m sure of that. But I can’t imagine a more relaxing and fun way than listening to this kind of music. With the weekend approaching, I can recommend you to try.
From what I’ve read and been told so far about what’s the best under eye creams available, I only can recommend to read the labels of all of them carefully before you even start to dip your finger in one of them. That’s not because there are really bad eye creams. That’s because among the ingredients that have been used, there could be one or more that will cause an allergic response. Allergies can cause a dark smudge around the eyes, and rubbing them because they’re itching makes it even worse. When you want to be sure, test it on a small piece of skin, wait and see. One last very helpful and almost too obvious tip: wear sunglasses! The dirt, dust and drought won’t effect your eyes that much, and in case you might have some puffy eyes, they won’t be noticed that easily.
All things you shouldn’t do with your hair are in this clip. But I have to admit it’s colorful and you’ll stand out in the crowd. And a tuft of hair less won’t be noticed.
There’s a small number of ways in which hair loss prevention is a possibility. A small number, but some are very easy and affordable to obtain, because it’s in your own hands. Be aware that your hair is an organic vulnerable tissue is a good start. That will keep it far from lethal hair dryers, too hot water, over coloring and modelling. A bit harder to achieve, seen the everlasting hot issue of (over)weight: a proper diet will help and avoiding stress is another. Now it gets more tricky; but if possible, to avoid certain medicines and get them replaced by your doctor (and don’t try this at home) might show lots of change and the resurrection of shiny hair. An admiring whistle or your colleague’s fingers through your hair is something you might not be able to avoid as well.
You just don’t want to know how I got from acne to this clip! It’s been a adventure that got me to singing animals that looked like fruits and veggies, singing fruits and veggies that looked like animals, the history of Dionysus, abricots French Style, a child’s choir, marshmellows that looked like sish-kebab and last but not least: some very outspoken shaped fruits and vegs again that I can’t show here in public. Finally I got hold on a tip of an iceberg and an egg, resulting in a failure, and I chickened out...
Everytime I think I cracked the Acne Code, I have to bite some dust. Not in shame, because this stubborn and hard to avoid menace is more or less comparable with the tip of the iceberg. One tries to solve a problem visible on the surface, but the real culprit lies beneath. A best treatment for acne requires some serious attention and cautious digging. Although there are two large groups of skin: the oily and the dry, this simple division alone won’t result into a solution. Don’t hesitate to try the home made cures, like the aloe vera, rose water and if you dare: fresh garlic. You might be among the lucky ones. If it gets more serious, then don’t continue, don’t despair, don’t get stressed, don’t start scratching, but get yourself to a dermatologist, but walk to his office, this exercise will do your skin good, so will the free-of-charge sunlight.
Today, March 16, in the year 1521, navigator Magellan, having left the Spanish city of Seville in 1519, had rounded the most southern tip of Latin America, had crossed the Pacific, had lost more than seventy of his crew and a few vessels, got steady Philippine ground under his boots for the first time on the island of Hemonhon near today’s Samar. Meandering his way through the isles in search of a way to the Indonesian spice islands, he got picked up by natives from Limasawa, southern Leyte, and got chaperoned to Cebu where he landed on April 7. In other words: he could have landed on any other island as well. But it was Cebu, where he got killed on April 27, more precisely on Mactan, a spear throw away from the place I’m living now, and where you’ll land if you ever come to this place. We still are a bunch of noisy people, but we don’t throw spears at foreigners anymore. Be our welcomed guest.
Next to all advantages of an online university, there are a few pitfalls. The hardest, deepest and sharpened one is very likely the one that defines one’s character and mind set. Where the actual buildings of such an institution, or the presence of its tuitors and fellow students can provide a grip and structure, it’s the being online that requires a skill that might be proven a very hard to get and to hold. To be young doesn’t yoke well with discipline all year through. On second thoughts; those very typical qualities of an online university with flexibility on top, might be what youngsters and other restless minds are looking for. It’s to learn how to manage with the opulence this world is offering to all of us, that might be the bonus that awaits us all. For those who are having a job already or running a household and are looking forward to get that bachelors degree online at last: there are accredited degree programs started every month that are especially designed for you, making it very convenient to mark the day.
Like all youngsters who think that the internet and cell phones have always been around, for once, and possibly one of the last times, I felt very young lately. That was when I found out that the world’s first domain name got registered today, in the year 1985. (it’s still there if you like to check it: symbolics.com with a much longer story of the history). With an estimated 40,000 registrations each day, the said 19 million names so far must be ‘stale bread’? For sure, it’s an evergrowing and expanding universe. And in such web it’s a good thing to have some points of reference and recognition: today, in the year 1906, was the day that Rolls Royce got registered. We might not have one in the garage at our disposal, but we all fly, don’t we, very often with RR. It’s a small world after all... if we only had wings.
They have come a long way, security cameras; once a very expensive labour consuming and bulky novelty for professionals like police forces and for surveillance in public spaces like banks and subway stations. From there they appeared in shopping malls and offices. They finally got their way to our homes, after becoming smaller, faster and cheaper. Not to mention; easier to install and being controlled from any place with internet access. The digital age has made it possible for us to check anyone anytime we think is necessary. Perhaps we should think again.
One of the assignments of the primary school that I’ve never forgotten was the one that asked what would be heavier: two pounds of feathers, or two pounds of flour? Because I imagined that feathers could make me fly, and therefor far more lighter, I opted for the flour. An understandable assumption for an onrushing adolescent. For all of you who are interested to buy gold bars, the question what’s more comfortable and valuable: two pounds of banknotes or two pounds of gold, is a very easy one to answer. Perhaps the banknotes are much handier to accommodate in the pockets, but they’ll be blown away much easier in these strong winds of recession. To keep the feet comfortably on solid ground those gold bars will be of far better use.
On March 9, 1964, the world got the Ford Mustang. ‘Born’ in Dearborn, Michigan, the sales got sky rocketed to 1 million in the first 18 months. One could say that the American taste buds that got hooked on baseball and home made apple pie, had tasted a third flavour that would survive the times. Till now, after 9 generations it’s still produced and running. The more interesting to see what the rest of the world would do with this icon. Take the French...
Today, in the year 1876, Graham Bell was granted a patent for the telephone. I’m sure he would be gobsmacked to hear I’ve walked to this very place because someone from the other side of this world texted to my flimsy cellphone in my pocket, and that I picked this clip to honor him, and to wish you all a great Sunday.
After having read numberless of miles of newspaper ads, walked even more miles to find me some decent room to rent, and finally found one, it’s the next step that worries me. In fact, all that walking gave me the chance to look around for some job as well. And it’s not looking good. Trying to find one of those admin jobs, or any other job for that matter, got me back to the newspapers, and perhaps pretty soon to one of those agencies that are offering jobs in places like the Emirates.
That chandeliers are much more than some awesome bunch of bulbs hanging on a ceiling has been proven by many film already. This one I’d never seen myself. If you got some ball-room classes this weekend: watch out, keep an eye upwards.
From the days mankind mastered the skill of firemaking, light has been its companion. Not just to peer through darkness, but also for protection against predators, coldness and to cook meals. To posess fire meant being in power. Since then, many inventions have seen the light, like those of people like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison, and eventually we all have got that power to use light whenever and wherever we need it. If you like to shed some light on the enormous variety of traditional lamps, go to a place like Golden lighting fixtures. They switch from one classic to the other, casting many others into the shade.
The first mechanical long distance communication line, the semaphore, standing on high grounds such as towers and hills, got its arms signing the French skies today, in the year 1791. Later on, one could find them, a bit altered, alongside railway tracks all over the globe. Of course, it were the much older smoke signals that got ‘on air’ first. Today was also the very first King Kong film that got premiered. Kong got himself a pretty high ground too. The giant gate used in this 1933 film was burned along with other old studio sets, being redundant, for the burning-of-Atlanta-scene in the Hollywood classic ‘Gone With the Wind’. Those 500 feet high flames must have been quite a smoke signal. At least to the surrounding residents who jammed the telephones lines, thinking MGM was burning down. They got on the wrong track, one might say. To prevent mistakes and get the wrong idea, always allow the other side to speak out, is still rule number one in communication.
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