HAPPY 2011

THE BEER HALLS OF PRAGUE, THE MAGIC OF BEAUTY & THE BEAST, THE SANDS OF CAPE COD AND THE BLIZZARDS OF BETHESDA: THE INGREDIENTS OF ANOTHER MEMORABLE YEAR.

AND I THINK TO MYSELF.....WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD


WITH BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2011

The Rise and Fall of Alexandria - Justin Pollard / Howard Reid

"Most of us take it for granted that two cities, Athens and Rome, completely dominated the classical world," opines Justin Pollard and Howard Reid. "In fact, there was a third city that, at its height, dwarfed both of these in wealth and population as well as in scientific and artistic achievement. " That city was Alexandria, the Greco-Egyptian capital of the Ptolemaic empire. The authors call the city "the greatest mental crucible the world has ever known," the intellectual foundation upon which the later Renaissance forged the minds of modern men. "The Rise and Fall of Alexandria" is a delightful and informative read that effectively waves the banner of an unappreciated aspect of the Western legacy.
The author's preface and epilogue recount how the scholar Claudius Ptolemy indirectly changed the world. At the end of the thirteenth century a Byzantine monk in Constantinople managed to procure an Arabic copy of a book once contained in Alexandria's famous library. The book was Ptolemy's Geographia, a tome purporting to have mapped out a spherical globe. From Constantinople, a copy found its way to the Vatican, and Latin editions were then circulated to royal courts in Western Europe. One Christopher Columbus, intrigued by the possibilities, contemplated a great expedition to sail west around the globe.
With this point of the Alexandrian legacy having been made, the next few chapters trace the birth and development of the city. Chapter one highlights the exploits of Alexander the Great, and his founding of a new Greek city in Egypt off the coast of a trading island known to Homer. Chapters two and three recount how the wily Ptolemy, son of Lagos and general of Alexander, wrestled control of Egypt and forged a new culture to compliment the new capitol. Chapters four and five inquire into the philosophical upbringing of Alexander and Ptolemy via Aristotle, and how an inspired Ptolemy attracted some remarkable scholars and philosophers to Alexandria in its nascent phases. The next chapter illustrates how Ptolemy II presided over the city's enduring landmarks: its Museum, Library and light house.
The remaining bulk of the book then discusses Alexandria's various intellectual achievements. The authors call the city's Library and Museum the world's first university and integrated scientific research complex. The native Egyptians had already developed a considerable expertise in medicine, astronomy and engineering; the Greeks had led the world in advances in mathematics, biology and philosophy. These trends converged in the new Greco-Egyptian port city. Funded by the largesse of the Ptolemaic regime, intellectuals throughout the Mediterranean could live a comfortable life of scientific inquiry and scholarly interaction. Nor were Greeks the only participants; Alexandria the cosmopolitan world city beckoned members of every race, including a large Jewish population.
With its impressive array of mathematicians, astronomers, doctors, biologists, geographers, mechanical engineers, theological thinkers and literati, Alexandria produced scientific and artistic heights not approached until modern times. While a long list of intellectual notables might be too unwieldy, a highlight of their fruits of labor can be offered here. Among other things, Alexandrian scholars proposed that earthquakes were the result of natural phenomenon and not angry gods; they suspected the heliocentric nature of the solar system; they accurately predicted the circumference of a spherical earth; they discovered the nature of the human body's circulatory system; they invented a type of working steam engine that, if properly applied, would have witnessed the beginning of the Industrial Age centuries before it otherwise happened. In architectural terms the massive Lighthouse of Pharos, which beckoned Mediterranean commercial ships to Alexandria's dual harbors, went down in history as a worthy engineering achievement in its own right. Sadly, these triumphs are only dimly recognized in the modern West, taking a back seat to Athen's extolled legacy.
In terms of abstract intellectual movements, Alexandria was no stranger either. Egyptian mysticism had long been a source of fascination to Greek intellectuals, and it is said that Pythagoras had learned the nature of his doctrines in the land of the Nile. Plato's philosophy held common strands with Pythagoras, and it was in Alexandria that Platonism experienced a revival. Plotinus the Neoplatonist, a product of the city's intellectual heritage, developed a philosophical corpus that would serve as the last great Pagan intellectual movement of the Roman Empire. Ascetic and otherworldly, Neoplatonism was the mental hinge between classical Pagan thought and Christianity.
Speaking of Christianity, the world had been well prepared for it when the Jewish Bible was famously translated in Alexandria into the common Greek dialect. From there Hellenized Jews in Egypt's considerable Jewish population could introduce a new Christian religion to Gentiles. The theologian Origen was a son of a Greek father and Jewish mother. He reworked the Jewish based Christian religion into a Neoplatonic intellectual framework that Alexandrian intellectuals could understand. In so doing he earned the wrath of not only the Pagan state, but the leaders of the later Roman Catholic Church. Nonetheless his intellectual defense of Christianity is one of early Christianity's most honored tomes.
But the intellectual demise of Alexandria coincided with the rise of an intolerant breed of Christianity. Eager to purge the entire Pagan legacy, Christian monks and laymen destroyed temples everywhere, including the famous Serapeum, a city landmark and one of the greatest religious complexes of Antiquity. When Hypatia, a female intellectual prodigy and Neoplatonist thinker, was tortured and killed by Christian monks, a new age dawned. Alexandria had slowly been nudging the world from irrational mythos to scientific logos, but the ascendancy of Christianity reversed the trend.
The emphasis of the book is on Alexandria's intellectual accomplishments. However, political history is skimmed where appropriate. The authors make it clear that Alexandria's intellectualism was fueled by the political and economic prosperity of the Ptolemaic regime. While the first three Ptolemies were worthy rulers, the later degeneration of the regime relative to its Hellenistic competitors and to the rise of Rome would place a damper on the city's greatness, above and beyond the stifling anti-intellectualism of early Christianity.
Another factor in the collapse of Alexandria was its failure to truly integrate the native Egyptian population. The Ptolemies ran Egypt as a state controlled economic machine, whose profits existed solely for the benefit of the Greco-Macedonian elite. To the Egyptian peasants, Alexandria was a foreign city on their soil. Their frequent rebellions and strikes betray that this "city of the mind", as the authors ubiquitously call Alexandria, was erected first and foremost for the prestige of the Ptolemies and their functionaries. Its intellectual benefactions to humanity were secondary and subordinate to that end.
The book is written in a clear and enjoyable prose. Primary sources are quoted to good effect. There are maps, a chronology and an appendix, but regrettably no photographs or illustrations. On the whole this is an excellent book to read on Western Civilization's forgotten child. It is informative and enjoyable, and now Amazon.com has graciously placed it on its bargain bin.

Six Ways to Enlarge Your Breasts

If you are one of those women who are not satisfied with the size of their breasts there is no need to worry as there are certain methods through which you can surely increase your breast size. It mainly depends on the type that will suit your body the most. As you know, our body reacts to various things in different ways. You should put this into consideration when thinking of the method that will be best for you to increase the size of your breast.

 

Consume herbs
There are varieties of herbs which you can take to increase the size of your breast. Some of them are saw palmetto, Red clover, fenugreek, and the rest of others. You can find them at your nearest store. Go for the high quality ones and don't go for the cheap ones. If you are on herbal pills then it is advisable to avoid substances like alcohol, nicotine and caffeine as these tend to interfere with the functioning of the herbs.

Surgery
Breast augmentation surgery had become very popular amongst women to enhance their size but slowly the ill side effects of the surgery came into light which created a confusion in the minds of women on whether to go ahead with the surgical procedure or not. Also surgery does not come for a penny you need to have at least $5000 in your pocket to go ahead with the surgery.

Take pills
There are some breast enhancement pills which you can take to increase the size of your boobs. You should keep in mind that there are some pills that have side effects. Pills work very well for enlarging the breast once you get your hands on the effective ones.

Exercise
Simple breast exercise like massaging can have a great impact on your breast. It will aid you breast to remain healthy and attain its maximum growth rate. You can also try exercises like push ups and dumb bell flies to strengthen the muscle tissue behind breasts, it will help firm up the breasts and make them look more beautiful.

Breast pumps
There are pumps made exclusive for the enlargement of the breast. There is a strong debate whether breast pumps work or not. As you know, most things in the market are for profit maximization. You can try them out and see whether they will work for you.

 

Foods
There are some foods that will make your breast to grow even if you have attained your maximum growth rate. Foods like flax seeds, whole grains, fruits and vegetables are all good for breast growth. Also avoid junk food and eat fresh fruits and vegetables as often as you can. Start having flax seeds because amazingly they have been found to be a magical food for breast enhancement.

 

Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All

CNN Heroes

So last night a new HERO was announced on CNN...how cool...reminded me of the great song by Whitney Houston....."The Greatest Love of All"
Watch this space

Bat For Lashes live on Later with Daniel

7 Things Your Teeth Say About Your Health

Some messages coming out of your mouth bypass the vocal chords. Turns out that your teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues also have plenty to say -- about your overall health.
"Your mouth is connected to the rest of your body," says Anthony Iacopino, dean of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. "What we see in the mouth can have a significant effect on other organ systems and processes in the body. And the reverse is also true: Things that are going on systemically in the body can manifest in the mouth."
Sexless After 40? Don't Be!
So stay attuned to the following warning messages, and have worrisome symptoms checked out by a dentist or doctor.

Dental warning #1: Flat, worn teeth plus headache

Sign of: Big-time stress
Many people are surprised to learn they're tooth-grinders. After all, they do this in their sleep, when they're not aware of it. And they underestimate the physical toll that stress can place on the body. "Crunching and grinding the teeth at night during sleep is a common sign of emotional or psychological stress," says Iacopino.
You can sometimes see the flatness on your own teeth, or feel it with the tongue. Or the jaw may ache from the clenching.
What else to look for: Headaches, which are caused by spasms in the muscles doing the grinding. Sometimes the pain can radiate from the mouth and head down to the neck and upper back, Iacopino says. Mouth guards used at night can relieve the symptoms and protect teeth.

Dental warning #2: Cracking, crumbling teeth

Sign of: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Older adults, especially, are vulnerable to teeth that appear to be cracking or crumbling away. The enamel becomes thin and almost translucent. But this erosion isn't a normal consequence of aging. In fact, it can happen at any age.
Disintegrating teeth are usually caused by acid that's coming up from the stomach and dissolving them, Iacopino says. The cause: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, also called acid reflux disease). GERD causes stomach acid to back up into the esophagus -- and from there, it's a short distance to the mouth for some of the damaging acid. GERD is a chronic disorder caused by damage or other changes to the natural barrier between the stomach and the esophagus.
What else to look for: Dry mouth and heartburn are related GERD symptoms. (But in an older adult in someone else's care -- in a nursing home, for example -- these complaints may go unreported.) Cracking or chipping teeth in a younger person is also a telltale sign of bulimia, the eating disorder in which the sufferer causes herself (or himself) to vomit before digesting. Same net result: Stomach acid washes up into the mouth, over time disintegrating the tooth enamel.

Dental warning #3: Sores that won't go away

Sign of: Oral cancer
Many people bite the insides of their mouth as a nervous habit. Others sometimes bite the gum accidentally, creating a sore. But when an open sore in the mouth doesn't go away within a week or two, it always warrants showing to a dentist or doctor. "We all injure our oral tissues, but if an area persists in being white or red rather than the normal healthy pink, this needs to be evaluated to rule out oral cancer," says Susan Hyde, an associate professor of clinical dentistry at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry.
More than 21,000 men and 9,000 women a year are diagnosed with oral cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Most are over age 60. Oral cancer has a survival rate of only 35 percent, Iacopino says, but this is mainly because cases are often detected too late. Smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancer, but one in four oral cancers develop in non-smokers.
What else to look for: Suspicious oral ulcers tend to be raised sores and often have red or white (or red and white) borders. They may lurk underneath the tongue, where they're hard to see. Bleeding and numbness are other signs, but sometimes the only sign is a sore that doesn't seem to go away. A biopsy usually follows a visual check.

Dental warning #4: Gums growing over teeth

Sign of: Medication problems
If you notice your gum literally growing over your tooth, and you're taking a medication for heart disease or seizures or you take drugs to suppress your immune system (such as before a transplant), it's well worth mentioning this curious development to your prescribing doctor.
"A swelling of the gums to where it grows over the teeth is a sign the dosage or the medication need to be adjusted," the ADA's Anthony Iacopino says. Certain drugs can stimulate the growth of gum tissue. This can make it hard to brush and floss, inviting tooth decay and periodontal disease.
What else to look for: The overgrowth can cause an uncomfortable sensation. In extreme cases, the entire tooth can be covered.

Dental warning #5: Dry mouth

Sign of: Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes
Many things can cause dry mouth, from dehydration and allergies to smoking and new medications. (In fact, hundreds of drugs list dry mouth as a side effect, including those to treat depression and incontinence, muscle relaxants, antianxiety agents, and antihistamines.) But a lack of sufficient saliva is also an early warning of two autoimmune diseases unrelated to medicine use: Sjogren's syndrome and diabetes.
In Sjogren's, the white blood cells of the body attack their moisture-producing glands, for unknown reasons. Four million Americans have Sjogren's, 90 percent of them women. Twenty-four million people in the U.S. have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a metabolic disease caused by high blood sugar.
What else to look for: Other signs of diabetes include excessive thirst, tingling in the hands and feet, frequent urination, blurred vision, and weight loss. In Sjogren's, the eyes are dry as well as the mouth, but the entire body is affected by the disorder. Because its symptoms mimic other diseases (such as diabetes), people are often misdiagnosed and go several years before being properly diagnosed.

Dental warning #6: White webbing inside cheeks

Sign of: Lichen planus
The last thing you might expect to discover while brushing your teeth is a skin disease. But it happens. Lichen planus, whose cause is unknown, is a mild disorder that tends to strike both men and women ages 30 to 70. The mucus membranes in the mouth are often a first target.
Oral lichen planus looks like a whitish, lacy pattern on the insides of the cheeks. (The name comes from the same roots as tree lichen, a lichen that has a similar webbed, bumpy appearance.) Seventy percent of lesions appear in the mouth before they strike other parts of the body, says professor Anthony Iacopino.
What else to look for: Another common area where a lichen planus rash may appear is the vagina. Lichen planus often goes away on its own, but sometimes treatment is necessary.

Dental warning #7: Crusting dentures

Sign of: Potential aspiration pneumonia
Most people don't connect dentures (false teeth) with pneumonia, other than to think they're both words that often refer to the world of the elderly. And yet the two have a potentially deadly connection. "A leading cause of death in older people is aspiration pneumonia, often from inhaling debris around the teeth and dentures," Iacopino says.
In aspiration pneumonia, foreign material is breathed into the lungs and airway, causing dangerous (even fatal) inflammation. Too often, the problem stems from people in the care of others -- those in nursing homes, for example -- who fail to clean dentures properly. Dentures need to be removed daily from the mouth, cleaned with a special brush, and stored in a cleansing solution.
What else to look for: A soft, crusty material developing around dentures. With proper cleaning, though, you don't have to worry about other red flags. "It's amazing. You can get a 100-percent reduction in what's otherwise a leading cause of death for denture wearers," Iacopino says.

Run baby, run

So today my baby was gruesome, phewww...!!!!
I did 20 mins on the treadmill at 9.0 m.p.h for the first 10mins, then 10.0m.p.h for the last 10 mins, then did 3 quick sets of bench press with 135lbs for 15 reps each set(that's two 45lbs plates on a 45lbs bar), then went back to the treadmill for 5 mins at 6.0 m.p.h, then repeated the bench press and the 5min runs for 6 more times.
All this took me a little over 1 hour, my plan was to go till I couldn't go anymore, maybe past cloud number 9, I got smoked after the 7th round, talk about rough, gruesome love affair!!!! 7 rounds! Wow....I love it......run baby, run.....
Today was a change of venue, change of settings, change of everything, just to spice it up a lil bit. You got to spice it up sometimes.....
then I didn't go to sleep like most guys would do after an hour of passion, I did some good stretching, that was the icing on the cake... but I missed the whip cream and peaches(abs)....I was tired......
Now am off to get me a nice glass of lemon water(oooh!!! I love lemons), that will get me started again...looking forward to more gruesome, rough, passionate, lovely workout....that's my baby.....
Run, baby, run

O shoot...my song just came on.....it's called "Daniel"-by Bats for Lashes....I love that song, it makes me go wild....talk about my best present....that song is...mmmmhhhhwwwwaaaa!!!!! Lol Now I can't move till the song ends....mmmhhhhwaah......that's my song......
Run, baby...run

Truths For Mature Humans

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

  2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

  3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

  4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

  5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

  6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

  7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

  8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

  9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

 

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

 

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything  productive for the rest of the day.

 

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

 

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that swear I did not make any changes to.

 

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

 

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

 

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

 

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

 

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

 

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a  word they said?

 

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong,  brothers and sisters!

 

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

 

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

 

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

 

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important. Ladies.....Quit Laughing.

Television comes alive with 3D technology.

By Brittney Miller and Thomas Ochieng Odhiambo-10/09/2010

The monumental changes in research and technology is leading to  great experiences in the 21st Century. It is a revolution of sorts as television moves from viewing to experiencing with the launch of 3D TV in homes and pubs.

Just recently, Panasonic launched a new High Definition 3D television for Africa and the Middle East in Media City, Dubai. This comes weeks after Samsung and LG launched their version of 3D television in the US market.

The launch of the 50-inch TV also saw Panasonic introduce a new 3D blu-ray player set to consign DVD players into trash technology. Blu-ray demos on a 50-inch television proved every bit as engaging as it did on the 152-inch screen display.

Building on the success of Avatar (last year’s Sci-Fi Hollywood film that was epic in visual effects and technology), Panasonic is hinging on 3D innovation to drive TV sales.

"We are targeting a 50 per cent market share for large screen 3D TV by 2012, and 25 per cent market share for over 37-inch televisions in Africa and Middle East region," said Seiji Koyanagi, Managing Director, Panasonic Marketing Middle East.

Koyanagi says this year, 3D technology is moving from the preserve of cinema halls to homes and pubs.

"We expect 3D TV to be common in homes within five to 10 years," he said, adding that 3D is the biggest technology coming to television and home movies soon.

It is this 3D technology that crafted the Avatar – a skit of Utopian depiction into a near-real and lush world of dense forests, floating mountains, creepy creatures and giant, blue-skinned humanoids in Hollywood.

Kenji Yasuhara, Group Manager Networks Company, Panasonic Corporation, compared the transition from 2D to Full Time High Definition 3D television to the switch from black-and-white to color television and the shift from standard to high-definition images.

"Thanks to a large number of technological innovations, television has undergone a constant evolution over the years," he said.

While at the start, television was regarded as a means for reproducing images and a passive exercise, its significance increased when connectivity with other audio visual devices was added. It has since moved from watching to experiencing TV with all the senses enlivened.

Live television

The innovation relies on the idea that if separate images are presented to the left and right eyes, the brain combines them and creates the illusion of a third dimension.

Panasonic uses "active eye glasses" and large TVs with high refresh rates to achieve the same effect.

Two images, one for the right eye and one for the left eye, alternate quickly on the TV. Shutters on the 3D glasses swap the viewer’s vision from right eye to left eye at the same rate. The TV connects with the glasses through a sensor that is placed between the lenses on the glasses.

"The effect moves so quickly and the brain is triggered into merging the images and creating the extra perspective needed to see images in 3D", Yasuhara said.

Other TV makers use glasses with polarizing lenses.

Attempting to differentiate Panasonic’s 3D innovation from LG and Samsung, Yasuhara said Panasonic developed a new panel generation called NeoPDP 3D with a high eye-speed drive technology.

While we could ill-fit our .heads into the giant kooky eye glasses, the 3D pictures of young men and women playing beach volleyball was splendid, even disturbing sometimes, as they repeatedly ‘jumped’ off the oversize screen and bumped onto our chests.

The visuals were also powerful on gaming and high-energy movies but the technology loses vitality with less dramatic episodes like news.

Watching a footage of skiers for instance ticked off our adrenaline as we concentrated on ‘dodging’ snow ‘flying’ off the screen, but an episode of a CNN prime time news anchor in 3D lacks the same effect.

The 3D plasma technology offers a number of advantages including reduced cross-talk, crisp and clear high quality moving pictures, enhanced luminance efficiency and improved picture quality even when viewing 2D content.

But 3D is more than just unmatched visuals. The Panasonic 3D innovation is moving from watching to using TV and thinning the line between a picture box and a computer. The 3D TV connects with a compatible keyboard for use as a computer without the need for processor.

The new Panasonic 3D TV also comes with such social networking functions like Skype, Youtube, and Picasa — a software that helps organize, edit, and share photos. The TV is also enabled to read a memory card and Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash.

World Cup Euphoria

Keen to cash in on soccer World Cup rapture back in July, Anthony Peter, Associate Director Group General Manager-Panasonic Middle East and Africa, said, "3D televisions will be hitting the stores in the region just before June, but at a price".

While it is not clear yet how much the 3D television on African markets cost, it debuted the US market a few months ago at $2,500. Consumers also shelled out an extra $150 for a pair of 3D eye-wear glasses.

Besides investing in the TV, a family of seven for instance – parents and five children (the average number of births per African woman), will each need their own glasses.

The glasses themselves have an extra expense of energy consumption. Their batteries need to be replaced after every 100 hours of viewing.

Until the prices  come down dramatically, pubs would be the most ideal to buy these TVs, but they also need to buy the glasses for their patrons.

Those who can afford the technology will still have the crucial matter of infrastructure to deal with.

The process of making live television work in 3D will involve a major conversion of broadcast system to digital transmission — a move that some African countries like Kenya have already taken. But this is just half the trek.

Some commentators posit that 3D broadcasts require twice the data and therefore gobble up an unworkable amount of television bandwidth. This, in a country with sky-high costs of bandwidth like Kenya, does not bode well for 3D TV enthusiasts.

Despite the hurdles, a number of broadcasters have started experimenting with 3D technology in transmission of their programs.

Sky is touting one version that requires use of a new television and ‘live’ glasses. The glasses are made of two lenses; one having horizontal stripes, and the other vertical strips.

BBC, which already runs a high definition (HD) channel, is also toying with introducing 3D broadcasting.

Al Jazeera is also said to be laying ground to test 3D broadcasting.

In Korea, it is reported that two TV channels, KBS and SBS, are embroiled in a tussle on who becomes the first station to beam stereoscopic images to homes.

Despite its sky-high price, 3D television is set to change the face of home entertainment. Many technology enthusiasts have hailed the invention as the next generation of home theater systems.

DREAM

My Fellow Americans,
President Obama has made it clear: He wants Congress to deliver the DREAM Act to his desk before the year is out.

This important step forward on immigration reform would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented youth willing to work for a college degree or serve in our armed forces -- people who are Americans in every way but their legal status.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have supported this change for years -- and it would be law today if it weren't for political posturing in Washington.
The American people showed this month they were tired of the gridlock -- but right now, members of Congress are wondering if people like you are going to hold their feet to the fire.

Stand with President Obama today -- and support the passage of the DREAM Act.

We all know that not everyone in Congress agrees on comprehensive immigration reform.

But that is exactly why we must move forward now in areas where there is broad support across the board.

President Obama has already moved ahead, toughening enforcement of the laws on the books. But that alone is not enough. This issue is too important for Congress not to act -- especially when 70 percent of voters support passing the DREAM Act and giving these hardworking youth a path forward.

It's a reform rooted in basic fairness.

Americans do not believe in punishing innocent children for their parents' actions. We believe in rewarding the folks who work hard to get an education; we believe in honoring the people who make great sacrifices to serve their country.

These are principles we take pride in -- principles that have made this nation great. And these are principles we need to stand up for today.

The President has taken a stand. Now he needs us to get his back.

Add your name to the sign-on letter and show that we will not stop fighting until the DREAM Act is sent to the President's desk:

http://my.barackobama.com/DREAMact3?keycode=b7821bf8ea38130cd68929a323c18e9f8971b12c4b7cd22f5a5b4c3003d52ea7&firstname=Thomas&lastname=Odhiambo&email=thomsseh@yahoo.com&zip=79705

What is life!!!!!!!

What is Life?
It's today full of sorrow,
Face this eye to eye-
Joy will come tomorrow.

What is Life?
It's a puzzling riddle,
Go on solving it-
Don't stop in the middle.

What is Life?
It's a tearful road for miles,
Still walk with faith and honor-
You'll reach the land of smiles.

What is Life?
It's stormy and cold tonight,
But across this awaits-
A morning warm and bright.

What is Life?
It's a fairy tale about,
A seed of baby now-
In the future to sprout.

What is Life?
It's a bag of dreams,
Of vanilla skies-
And chocolate streams.

What is Life?
It's a chance to love,
So spread your arms-
The world is yours, just love.

What is Life?
It's a journey through a way,
Through which we must go-
Away and away.

Progress!!!!

With every passing hour our solar system comes 43000 miles closer to the globular cluster 13 in the constellation Hercules, and still there are some misfits who continue to insist that there is no such thing as progress......
Really!!!!Give me a break.......
So, how do you measure progress?
Just look around you....

Running

So someone asked me today..." how long will you run?'
My honest answer...."I will run till I die".....am Kenyan.....we don't play...we go hard.....lol
and we love lemons too.....yap....all natural baby...no additives....no drugs....no science.....off we go....sometimes on bare feet....most of the time...wow...that's rough.....

Workout

So I had my sweetheart for dinner tonight, it was gruesome.
Started out with a 20min run, then hit the floor hard with some incline dumbells upto 100lbs, then heavy kickbacks.....then we had to change the settings coz am more into functional stuff as opposed to heavy lifting, so we moved to pull-ups and chest-dips, then explosive push-ups on power plate, oohh, rough. Then came the bent-over flies on power plate, my baby felt good tonight, so sweet and juicy, and tight, then came the bent-over rows....I love them bigtime. Nobody can ever take me from those, thats my vice...lol....my beef and potatoes....lol. Heavy!!!!!
Then came the fun part....core....ooohhhh...and stretches.
I stretched my baby tonight...it felt really good.
I love you workout....you are my best.......
So how long do this last?.....I don't know....maybe 1hr 30mins total, maybe longer...shoot..... I don't even know.....
Talk about falling in love....I am in love with workout.....that's my baby.....
Now am off to sit in the hot tub for 30mins before my sweetheart(workout) sends me to sleep....it's gonna be a long night....but it feels really good...I love that....
Ohhh...I need my lemons to spice up this night....

Friendship

Friendship is like peeing on yourself : everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings!!!!
Yak!!!

Football...really!!!! Germans call it fuzball

"Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life. Violence and committee meetings." -George F

Third World

"Third World is a state of the mind and until we change our attitude as Africans, if there is a fourth, fifth and even sixth world, we will be in it.”
- by DR. PLO Lumumba - Kenya

Lemons again

“God has given us lemon, let us not ask for oranges. Let us make lemonade.”
- by DR. PLO Lumumba - Kenya

Tea P****ty

"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward." -Franklin D. Roosevelt

Failure

"If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down." -Mary Pickford

Against Forgetting

"Carolyn Forche's "Against Forgetting" is a masterpiece. She is gloriously gifted with the magic of an eloquent, generous, great talent".- Thomas Ochieng
....I love the book so much I can't get my hands off it

I LOVE LEMONS

Considerations

According to Dr. Karl S. Kruszelnicki of ABC Science, the concentration of citric acid in lemon is not enough to burn fat by itself. However, lemons increase metabolism, generating an internal heat to burn fat.

Drinking Lemon Water

Mary Meyer, nutritionist, states on the website RealSelf that drinking lemon water is a natural way to lose weight.

Detoxification

According to RealSelf, lemons help to detoxify the body, cleansing the body of its stores of toxins from food and the environment that may lend to weight gain and water retention.

Cholesterol

Lemons reduce cholesterol and stimulate the cleansing function of the liver and pancreas, according to the website Worldwide Gourmet.

Citric Acid on Fat

Lemons have high levels of citric acid, and according to Totally Explained.com, citric acid is an important component of the Citric Acid Cycle (Kreb's Cycle), during which citric acid is involved in the breakdown of fats--as well as carbohydrates and proteins--into carbon dioxide and water.

Effects

Though high in citric acid, lemons have alkalizing effects on the body. According to the website Ageless, lemons improve the body's circulation and have anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. For weight loss, lemons may reduce swelling and help the body get rid of excess water retention.