International Polar Year

Portuguese Scientist José Xavier is presently on a Antarctic scientific cruise onboard of the British Antarctic Survey RRS James Clark Ross between the 31 of December 2007 and 16 of February 2008 in the Scotia Sea, Antarctica, within the International Polar Year research initiatives.

http://cientistapolarjxavier.blogspot.com/

Jose Xavier is a marine biologist from the Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve. Carries out Polar research since 1997, focusing primarily on predator-prey interactions in the marine ecosystem in relation to climate and environmental changes. See more here.

Reliability of Food

Today we are shocked to hear that ten people from different prefectures came down with food poisoning.
They ate frozen meal made in China.
Not only food from China,but lately the deception of food ingredients is a social problem in Japan.
How do we trust the food company?....

Superbowl XLII

This coming Sunday, the New England Patriots (19-0 record) will meet the New York Giants (10-6 record) in the 42nd Superbowl of American Football. You can read and hear about the game everywhere, as well as the official site.You can still get tickets (if you have a bunch of money). But most of the 1 billion people who will watch it, will watch it on TV. Even folks who don’t care about the game will tune in to watch the half-time show, this year featuring Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Clips of some of the better past shows are here. And the advertisements get as much attention as some of the players. They ought to, for they are expensive!

If you are interested in the game, I hope your favorite team wins :)


Photo source

The world largest Reclining Buddha Image(length 400cubits)

We went Staff Vacation to Kyaikhtiyo-Mawlamyine-Paan from 4th Januray to 9th Jaunrary.
On 6th Janurary, we went Win Sein Hill Missionary where there is The Zinathukha Yan Aung Chantha Reclining Buddha Image. Now, I want to describe about it.

The Word Win Sein in Mon mean Sin-Lu-Eying. Its area is about 499.62 arces. It is situated beside the Mawlamyine-Than phyu Zayat road about 14 miles from Mawlamyine. The Sayadaw first founded the Ma-She-Ma-Shoke Pagoda and kept on building, the Aung Lin Pagoda, Seik nine yoke pine pagoda, Ba-Hu-Dei-War, Khan-Ti-Sa Pagoda including other 450 Pagodas. He also constructed religious buildings such as the Ka-Lya-Ni-Thein, Bonmi-ya-zar Hall' 500 statues of monks Dat-Say-Kan monestary, Wut Monestary, Sa-Laung Bon Monestary, Ma-Ni-Au-Ga Monestary.

The Image of the Reclining Buddha was established by Sayadaw himself on the 10th Warning Moon of Pyatho, 1353(myanmar year) and the construction is continuing up to present day. The image is 110 feet in height, including 8stories and 182 rooms with statues, reliefs and paintings depicting the events in the history of buddhism. At present, decoration of over 100 rooms has finished.

Where as, the Head of the Reclining Buddha lying westwar(the Nayraban posture) is intended to pict the delivery of sermons for attaining the ultimate bless of Nibbana. The laying of the Right Hand to the side signifies the peace and harmony the people of Myanmar enjoys, engaging in their own activities unconcerned.

At present, 85% of the image has been completed, at a cost of over 180million kyats up to December 2001.

The world largest Reclining Buddha Image(length 400cubits)
(There is 8stories inside Buddha Image)

It is located in Myaing-kone Village, Mudon Township, Mon State. I did donate slabs for suitable construction. I want to share my good deeds so as to receive it equally with me. Please call Sardu three times. And, when you go to Mawlamyine, don't forget to visit there.

I Have A Dream

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Although the struggle for desegregation and racial equality had been ongoing for many years, Dr. King brought the various groups together, garnered media attention, inspired new efforts, and brought about real change. Himself inspired by Mahatma Ghandi, he was able to tear down the ideas of bigotry and force the removal of legal barriers by peaceful resistance. He was a powerful speaker who could weaken even the staunchest resistance, who could make people rethink ideas that they had been taught all their lives.
He was taken by a sniper’s bullet in 1968, but his words, his life, and his ideals will not be forgotten. His work will continue.

About our US Holiday, About Dr. King, photo source

Butterflies and orchids tour

(ICT) - With the purpose of promoting tourism in the province of Alajuela and offering a new and different product to visitors, the Butterfly Farm located in the Guacima de Alajuela and the Botanical Garden of Orchids in La Garita, joined their efforts to offer a new combined tour: Butterflies and Orchids.

The trip begins early from any hotel in San Jose directly to the Butterfly Farm where the tourists walk among thousands of butterflies flapping their wings all around.

The tour continues to the Botanical Garden of Orchids, located 10 minutes from the Butterfly Farm. This place offers the opportunity to walk through exotic gardens and look at the beauty of a great variety of orchids. Tourists can also learn about the cultivation and natural history of these flowers. The tour finishes with a lunch at Cafe Vanilla located inside the gardens.

After lunch, the buses leave towards the different hotels in San Jose. The tour is for all ages.

(Photo: Butterfly in Costa Rica. Shot taken by Dave Cross)

Putin in Bulgaria

Vladimir Putin and Georgi Parvanov, photo Reuters

The Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Sofia yesterday on his last official visit as President. He came with his proposed successor Dmitry Medvedev, key ministers, heads of the major Russian energy corporations, and the mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov. The purposes of the visit are:

• signing a contract for the International Project Company "Bourgas—Alexandroupolis" for constructing a 285-km long fuel pipeline between the Bulgarian city Bourgas and the Greek Alexandroupolis that is to ease the overloaded Bosphorus Straight.
• signing a contract for the construction of the nuclear power plant "Belene" — a project that is financed partly by the EU and going to be constructed by the Russian company "AtomStroyExport".
  

There are negotiations about a second pipeline project — "South Stream" — that is an alternative to the EU and US backed "Nabucco". The main concern is that Bulgaria and Europe are becoming more energy dependent on Russia instead of ensuring diverse and alternative energy sources.

[Update: News just came that Bulgaria has agreed to join the "South Stream" project in exchange for 50% share.]

These deals come at a time when both our Government and President are pro-Russian. The opposition, some NGOs, and the Association for freedom of speech "Anna Politkovskaya" organized a protest against Putin [video]. During Putin's visit there were major security measures, restrictions and police presence. Here is a photo gallery from Dnevnik.bg and a news report from Reuters.

The Land of Trembling Earth

In Southeastern Georgia, a large depression gathers waters that eventually flow into the St Mary and Suwannee Rivers. In this depression, the peat floor can be 15 feet thick and unstable, inspiring the Native American name of Okefenokee or Land of Trembling Earth. The area can be eerie and has inspired many interesting tales.
The 700 square miles (1700 sq KM) area is a National Wildlife refuge, which will preserve it for future generations Severe droughts for the last two years brought fires to the area, but they were contained within the park and have helped to naturally renew some of the prairie areas.
The rich variety of wildlife make this a fascinating place for eco-tourists who can take limited camping trips through the swamp.

Photo source

Dancing Bush

Good times..

Knowing me though, put your spoiler alert on:

Click here for the opposition's open letter to Bush on the progress of reform, democracy, and human rights in Bahrain (don't ask me why it's in Arabic... maybe they saw the dance and assumed just a bitttt too much).

I live here on the earth

Hello from Tokyo

Uncle Bush is in Town

Congratulations to all of us on the auspicious occasion of our beloved uncle's visit to Dubai. We are so happy that we have declared a public holiday in his honour. He really deserves this, after all he is here to preach the message of peace & love. Peace & harmony in the region can be fully achieved by killing few thousand more people. Then all of us will live happily ever after.

Bush warned that Iran was the main "threat" to regional security, a theme he repeated during his current tour in the region, despite Arab opposition to any military solution to Iran's controversial nuclear project.

"Iran is today the world's leading state sponsor of terror. It sends hundreds of millions of dollars to extremists around the world while its own people face repression and economic hardship at home," he said.

I can really feel his concern for our region. Despite so many economic problems at home, he has made efforts to send thousands of his troops to our region & spent billions of dollars so that we the oppressed people of the middle east can enjoy the fruits of "freedom". He really is a God fearing person, as can be seen from his speech yesterday where he said,

"A great new era is unfolding before us. This new era is founded on the equality of all people before God. This new era is being built with the understanding that power is a trust that must be exercised with the consent of the governed - and deliver equal justice under the law. And this new era offers hope for the millions across the Middle East who yearn for a future of peace and progress and opportunity."

I couldn't agree with you more, I really love you Uncle Bush. But I really hope that your words were reflected in your administrations foreign policy towards the region too. Hope you enjoy our hospitality :-)

China will build Costa Rica's new National Stadium

(Xinhua) - Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno and China's ambassador in San Jose, Wang Xiaoyuan, interchanged notes on Friday for China to build Costa Rica's new National Stadium.

The diplomatic act officialized the mission headed by Chinese experts to study the plan to build this Central American country's new National Stadium, expected to be concluded in late 2009.

"It is Costa Rica's most important sports infrastructure," said Costa Rica's Health and Sports vice minister Osvaldo Pandolfo.

The construction of the 40,000-seat stadium forms part of the agreementss signed between the presidents of Costa Rica and China, Oscar Arias and Hu Jintao, respectively, during Arias' first visit to the Asian nation in October of 2007.

"This is the first step to comply and follow up the accords and to benefit Costa Rica's people. We also expect it is a friendship symbol between both countries," said Wang.

Stagno highlighted that "all the accords signed during President Arias' visit to Beijing contribute to strengthen the relations between both countries."

Egyptian Church bells..!

The 7th of Jan.

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Church bells ! It's Christmas time for the Orthodox in Egypt and the Middle East! People are rejoicing around, and children's faces are lit with wishes whispered to Santa! The great ancient churches are all dressed up to embrace the solemn prayers and hymns! The whole spiritual atmosphere creates some kind of serenity all over the country, with Muslims celebrating along with their fellow Christians!

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This should also recall to the mind the journey of the Holy Family to Egypt.When Christ was an infant,the Holy Family found haven in Egypt for nearly four years after their flight out of fear from the persecution of King Herod, and set out from Palestine, heading to Egypt, through Sinai. The Holy Family, throughout their stay in Egypt, moved through many towns in Upper and Lower Egypt. Many churches and monasteries were built in the locations which have been blessed by the visit of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary , and St. Joseph the carpenter.

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The lovely coincidence lies in that on the 9th of Jan. the Muslims are to celebrate the new Lunar year that has great religious significance due to the Migration of Prophet Muhammed 'PBUH' from Mecca to Madina! Thus, the perfect celebrations for all Egyptians , all Christians and Muslims,wrapped in serenity and peace.

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In those peaceful holidays, and Egypt is all in celebrations, one should cross his fingers for such blessings to be scattered all over the world!

____

p.s. you can read more of the Holy Family's flight to Egypt and their landmarks here.

And they are off.....

After an entire year of declarations, fund-raising, and debates, the American presidential elections officially began with the Iowa caucuses (what is a caucus?), on Jan 3. We now look forward to primary selection processes in the rest of the states. This will lead to the party conventions, where the presidential candidate will be selected for each party. The democrats will meet in Denver in August, the republicans will meet in Minneapolis in September, the other parties will have various selection processes.
Then the real campaigning begins. Each candidate and his or her running mate will be on the go continuously from the convention until Nov 8 when voters will go to the polls. If you wish to keep up with who is who and what is happening next, I think this site does an excellent job of presenting the facts in an easy to read format.


PS: I do not plan any more posts about the USA elections, unless someone requests information.

Hakone Ekiden

Trained college students run Hakone Ekiden at the New Year.

Ekiden is a Japanese word which means marathon relay.

Hakone is a place-name which is 108km away from Tokyo.
Each college team with 10 students runs both ways in two days.

Hakone Ekiden is a popular spectator sport that receives full network television coverage nationwide.

I'm writing this post watching Hakone Ekiden.