tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133008832024-03-07T16:47:58.702+08:00This is NOT a job for superheroesCaped wonders with super powers have been created throughout history during times when people were in dire need of "heroes". They could fly or do a Houdini from the arch-rival's snare. But, these heroes stay on the comic book (or the silver screen). Hence, we in the real world face challenges ourselves--sans super powers. Whether it's families breaking apart or declining literacy in the country, it is we who answer the call from where we are, with what we have.sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.comBlogger993125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-31192335762009879502017-05-28T17:05:00.000+08:002017-05-28T17:07:46.916+08:00My favorite chocolate ambassador featured in a superb story that has nothing to do with chocolate<div>
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Engaging. Well-researched. Candid. Written in the first person sans the all-about-me tendency. </div>
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That's what I think of GQ Magazine's<b><a href="http://www.gq.com/story/roger-federer-cover-story-2017" target="_blank"> cover story</a></b> on Swiss tennis player Roger Federer for its annual Style Bible issue for 2017, written by Rosecrans Baldwin. Reading it truly awakened in me the desire to write again. That, and reinforced my admiration for the often-referred-to-as-The-Greatest-Tennis-Player-of-All-Time and chocolate ambassador of sorts. </div>
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<a href="http://www.gq.com/story/roger-federer-cover-story-2017" target="_blank"><b>Will Roger Federer ever be done?</b><br />By Rosecrans Baldwin</a></div>
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<i>Photo by Craig McDean</i></div>
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sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-14552808473441975142017-05-28T16:19:00.002+08:002017-05-28T16:23:53.614+08:00Dipping my fingers in dirt<br />
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Well, hello! This is the longest I've been away from blogging and actually typing something to be published in a while is giving me some sense of accomplishment already. That's not to say that I've been idle and watching the grass grow all this time -- though the latter sounds like somewhere in the vicinity of my latest preoccupation. More than watching grass grow, I have been finding joy in taking care of succulents. Container gardening is something I have come to appreciate, with cacti and other succulents being my focus.<br />
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I thought I'd share two videos from gardening enthusiasts who know their business. One is from Laura of Garden Answer which shows her making a fairy garden, while the other provides some wonderful ideas for mini-cactus gardens courtesy of Christine Kobzeff. I stumbled onto Garden Answer about a year ago in one of my link-hopping sessions on YouTube and simply loved Laura's way of explaining how to go about creating floral arrangements, some of which include succulents. The videos -- particularly the "speedy" versions -- are fun to watch! As for Christine Kobzeff, I think I came across her cactus how-to's when I was trying to learn more about succulent care, and her simple and minimalist dish gardens made me want to try them myself (I haven't yet).</div>
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sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-90487154798896116232016-02-24T00:28:00.001+08:002018-01-22T09:27:39.826+08:00Marry, marry, quite contrary: Must we change the law to welcome bride-bride / groom-groom nuptials?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>Just let them marry whomever they wish.</i></b><br />
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This line -- and other statements expressing a similar sentiment -- makes its way into conversations more often these days, whether such conversations are face-to-face or virtual. You'd think it's a plea or a piece of advice directed at a concerned parent hesitant to let go of offspring who are of proper age to make up their own minds about life decisions. Dad believes grownup daughter isn't ready for wedded life and is jumping into it with the wrong guy (imagined scenario). But no, the statement in this case is being directed -- on one level -- at citizens who recognize marriage as something meant to be entered into by one man and one woman. On a higher level, <i>Just let them marry whomever they want<b> </b></i> is being directed at the State, to persuade decision-makers to legally recognize marriage between members of the same sex. <br />
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It's simply a civil union, some say, and everyone has the right to be in a partnership that is recognized by society.<br />
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It seems quite simple, and adjusting the law to accommodate the request of some individuals insisting on their preference may be regarded as a step toward justice for all. Is it simple? And would it be just to make such adjustments on the law? Most importantly, would it be the right thing to do?<br />
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Give them what they want, seems the easiest route to take. But think about what my friend Mark pointed out here, about whether believers that marriage should be between one man and one woman, should seek to stop the legislation of same-sex "marriage". I quote his written remarks:<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>It has been said that
state-sanctioned marriage is civil, not religious in nature. Christians
will not be forced to solemnize same-sex "marriages". We will not be
forced to attend those. In short, we will not be affected. Hence, we
have no reason to oppose same-sex "marriage". Worse, they say, the only<span class="text_exposed_show"> reason we oppose [it] is our homophobia, our fear and hatred of same-sex couples.</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>But is this the case? No.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>The motivation for us to take a stand in the political and legal arena
is that we recognize the Law as one of the highest expressions of our
collective beliefs. Modern liberals believe that the Law is simply the
rules of the game. We do not believe so. We believe that the Law
embodies what our people believe in. It forms the collective teaching we
impart to the generation after us.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>If we legislate same-sex
"marriage", we in effect as a people say that same-sex relations, in the
context of marriage which is inherently a sexual relationship, are OK.
But that is precisely what we do not want to say. We do not think such
relationships are OK. We do not think people will find complete
fulfillment in those relationships. Hence, we are committed by our
conscience to fight such a legislation. And we have a right and a duty
to do so as citizens of this nation, to participate in the debate as we
chart our nation's direction.</i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>This is not yet an argument against
same-sex "marriage". Rather, this is an argument against those who seek
the passage of a law allowing same-sex "marriage" on the mere basis that
we believers in "traditional marriage" will not be affected anyway.
The basic answer to those people is that that is not true. We will be
affected, as our children and children's children will be affected.</i></span></blockquote>
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Apparently, it takes a broader perspective to see the entire picture, and a more other-centered mindset to learn to consider the repercussions of one's actions on the rest of society.<br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-62759310426200903802016-02-08T18:33:00.000+08:002016-02-08T19:06:31.522+08:00To starve for Eternal Sustenance<br />
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every week, on the Lord's day, a Eucharistic minister pays
my family a visit to enable my mother to receive Holy Communion despite her
temporary inability to go out and attend Holy Mass in church. My mother had
been hospitalized in 2015 for a heart ailment, and though declared well enough
to be discharged after a couple of weeks, her doctor was emphatic about
limiting physical exertion and avoiding all sources of stress. This warranted
significant adjustments on her lifestyle, including doing away with trips to
the nearby church – on Sundays and any day for that matter. As any Catholic
faithful knows, being deprived of the Eucharist all of a sudden is akin to
going on a hunger strike when one has been accustomed to taking three squares a
day. One simply becomes weaker in the spiritual sense when the soul isn’t
nourished by the Lord in the Eucharist. Hence, my mother’s reception of Holy
Communion was soon worked out after making arrangements with the parish in our
community.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HojKLtHHenqf11K-JYucIwgxGvzyKXGkC-Mm-yazy8vEHe8m8olw2ym4St6qTIJpZILSFuBfo2fac6JvQ2INRAS4FpkeiDWvqA4TJLDCE_astx62pXmerGMRlKJ1vbmdU9X5/s1600/Eucharist+pyx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HojKLtHHenqf11K-JYucIwgxGvzyKXGkC-Mm-yazy8vEHe8m8olw2ym4St6qTIJpZILSFuBfo2fac6JvQ2INRAS4FpkeiDWvqA4TJLDCE_astx62pXmerGMRlKJ1vbmdU9X5/s320/Eucharist+pyx.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The weekly visits by the Eucharistic minister have been
going on for four months now, and while one may fall into momentarily taking
them for granted, the implication of those few minutes that Brother Gil – the
Eucharistic minister -- spends with us is not lost to me. They may be brief –
not more than 10 or 15 minutes each time – but who is timing when one realizes
Who really enters the gate, is carried up the few steps toward the front door
and waits patiently to be received into a soul ready for such an important
Guest? </span></span></div>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One Sunday, as Brother Gil walked into the living room and
cheerfully greeted my mother, I felt somewhat overwhelmed. “I should’ve done
some dusting… straightened the throw pillows, smoothened the upholstery…” I quietly
lamented, chiding myself for forgetting the details of preparing for the
arrival of a Special Guest. In that
moment, I had been mulling over the fact that instead of my mother and I making
the effort to approach Jesus in His house, it was God coming to us and entering
our home. Those moments were immensely humbling, and at the same time also very
reassuring – reassuring of God’s love for us to the point of being willing to
approach us in those times we are unable to go to Him. Who would not want to
cultivate and continually nourish a relationship with such a Person, when He
obviously knows how to love? And who wouldn’t want to be friends with Someone
like that? At this thought I am reminded of a point that I always find
encouraging; it’s from the book <i>Jesus as Friend: Meditations</i> by Salvatore
Canals:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="textexposedshow">“You and I know by experience
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brings him closer to God, it keeps him away from evil. And if a good friendship
links us not just to a good man but to a saint, the good effects of that kind
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well then: think what can happen
if you become close friends of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist: think of the deep
impression that can make on your soul. You will have Jesus as a Friend, Jesus
will be your Friend. He – perfect God and perfect Man – who was born and worked
and wept; who has stayed in the Eucharist; who suffered and died for us!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last week my mother and I attended Sunday Mass in church again for the first time in many months. Her
health has improved significantly; she has ditched the wheelchair for some time
now and is comfortable walking slowly – and over short distances – with the aid
of her cane. This Sunday instead of the Lord “making the trip” to our home, we
will be going to His house, taking part in the Liturgy, worshipping with the
community, and approaching the altar to receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. For
a long time it was He approaching us, and from time to time we, sadly, took
this act of love for granted. Fortunately, such instances are temporary;
apparently, hunger for the Lord eventually overpowers everything else. Perhaps
one merely needs to experience being deprived of that which truly feeds the
soul and quenches our thirst, to keep on seeking it. As the Most Rev. Robert
Barron, DD, said during the recent International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City,
“We have to remember what is like to starve for the Bread of Life.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Memories of starvation of this
sort are things I would gladly hold on to. For remembering the hunger seems to
be what drives us to keep seeking the Lord in the Eucharist with fervor.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_eKIJVt9b2vwaUPAZWUBnKY8yyieaS-YhNymdEEWhGzj7_oWSgWsnd7dovrEfYQGbpUIG1l-o8blwd00ixX3miURIS_kOpufI2elIt9mzjc1eXbsn8N7khqauJGAcKzEzfwT/s1600/Eucharist-Korean+War+1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_eKIJVt9b2vwaUPAZWUBnKY8yyieaS-YhNymdEEWhGzj7_oWSgWsnd7dovrEfYQGbpUIG1l-o8blwd00ixX3miURIS_kOpufI2elIt9mzjc1eXbsn8N7khqauJGAcKzEzfwT/s400/Eucharist-Korean+War+1950.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the din of battle only a half mile away, these Korean War soldiers pause to receive communion during mass. (Source: <a href="http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/view.php?id=26862" target="_blank"><i>Harry S. Truman Library & Museum</i></a>)</td></tr>
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sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-3564720263378496682016-02-08T15:44:00.002+08:002016-03-04T09:04:08.133+08:00Turning over a new leaf<br />
Well, it's been over a week since I started this post, saving the pictures and deciding to continue another day. For the most part of January I was preoccupied with foliage -- well, plants in general, but to be more specific, plants that could provide cover and protection for particular portions of our home. In a nutshell, someone who seemed to plan to break into our house nearly succeeded, and what could have been his access point into the property was a portion of the fence in which the lantana hedge had thinned out after excessive trimming. Furthermore, the formerly narrow and weak stems of the plant had developed into thick and hardy branches over the course of five years, thereby providing a convenient aid to scale the wall.<br />
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So, due to this incident, my concern has been to make our home more secure and less attractive to elements with less-than-noble intentions. Plants with plenty of thorns (and no thick trunks/branches to serve as possible ladders for would-be intruders) were on my mind, and I asked family and friends for ideas. Bougainvillea came up several times; thorns plus the aesthetic factor made it the final choice as replacement for the picture-perfect lantana, which had to go soon. Cacti came to mind, too, and so began the search for (and research on) the perfect kind to suit our purpose.<br />
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In the course of all this, Pinterest had also been giving me lots of ideas. I was mentally drooling over pretty floral arrangements and creatively landscaped gardens. What beauty! What's more, the proliferation of DIY projects eventually made those quirky and (mostly) doable stuff appealing and not that hard to accomplish -- even by me! So, short version -- I spent quite a lot of time looking around garden shops to see what's out there, to admire all those floral beauties, and decide on what could go into our garden.<br />
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One of the plants I saw and instantly selected had wonderful multi-colored leaves. I had seen a similar plant before but didn't know what it was, and up close the foliage was even more interesting. It feels like autumn in the tropics! <br />
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This pink one is among my favorite leaves:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0krmkhTh72JTxecdY5VFbqYRz9vc1GGt4K7RIg5Gr-Pr744hC738gXgzycFAY_nnUx6adqSJ1ppqXmdob86_Joi62nyj1hyphenhyphenuddkilFs0d_pdkHoD_enoyOwqxcLa7WHdGQoC/s1600/gumamela-leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0krmkhTh72JTxecdY5VFbqYRz9vc1GGt4K7RIg5Gr-Pr744hC738gXgzycFAY_nnUx6adqSJ1ppqXmdob86_Joi62nyj1hyphenhyphenuddkilFs0d_pdkHoD_enoyOwqxcLa7WHdGQoC/s640/gumamela-leaves.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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And this has a watercolor feel going on:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF0Kp5NmkdXQDyFMLefKk46YVU0cwbCJ8kJuKaKdVJT8gIJM6T4FzZ9-PhdC7khimj2i-lwIwmedXzdrREASaKPzU4UHer-sHysDZx7C8ih7JV9MeUsyXTEoGEqFDZ3khPumn/s1600/gumamela-watercolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF0Kp5NmkdXQDyFMLefKk46YVU0cwbCJ8kJuKaKdVJT8gIJM6T4FzZ9-PhdC7khimj2i-lwIwmedXzdrREASaKPzU4UHer-sHysDZx7C8ih7JV9MeUsyXTEoGEqFDZ3khPumn/s640/gumamela-watercolor.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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A light-colored one, with jagged edging like the pink one earlier:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAHb8o4zJrs3n4hitOnWVMtzZDfgFMENXLLJ5Jib9pgMtuBR69nw7GDulFEWNk5VlSu5tH-5MmH1ockjzY736M7IOAJwJcbJJroGkpFCSCWD-E9VY3eVUbKGK_2V268ImCl2g/s1600/gumamela-white+leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAHb8o4zJrs3n4hitOnWVMtzZDfgFMENXLLJ5Jib9pgMtuBR69nw7GDulFEWNk5VlSu5tH-5MmH1ockjzY736M7IOAJwJcbJJroGkpFCSCWD-E9VY3eVUbKGK_2V268ImCl2g/s640/gumamela-white+leaf.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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Several days after being planted in pots, one of the leaves dropped to the soil, dead. And this is how it looked:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy1d6PdzebE4soEgJoSrW3hpFS8SOWhcdX6iVHpDBBd216s-qVkd2M_RCamU-KeLeLy1NqHX2ghiivsTx_f5K9fYjgGKR1rzALhS-gM5AlvzHWzvmtjkNUVvGLksPUtljA0fW/s1600/gumamela-dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy1d6PdzebE4soEgJoSrW3hpFS8SOWhcdX6iVHpDBBd216s-qVkd2M_RCamU-KeLeLy1NqHX2ghiivsTx_f5K9fYjgGKR1rzALhS-gM5AlvzHWzvmtjkNUVvGLksPUtljA0fW/s640/gumamela-dead.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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By the way, I learned that these are the leaves of a gumamela (hibiscus) plant! At least now we get to delight in pretty foliage <i>and</i> the occasional buds and blooms.<br />
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It's amazing how I see ladybugs in artwork always portrayed as red and black, yet I haven't seen a single one with that color combination. Those that I've seen -- one of which I spotted on the pretty leaves -- always look like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJnBywLU1Vcdf9WdYe3BgEaO9adNN8_xshNnX3yOvEnpfuXSrcR1C4x0JYR9t0NgPLkT_lc9Ekq9PkS6o5zO_DkPl_bhEkgtSnqo_nliYe9lNjxn0pnquhzytZmnehyphenhyphenc_9HyH/s1600/gumamela-ladybug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJnBywLU1Vcdf9WdYe3BgEaO9adNN8_xshNnX3yOvEnpfuXSrcR1C4x0JYR9t0NgPLkT_lc9Ekq9PkS6o5zO_DkPl_bhEkgtSnqo_nliYe9lNjxn0pnquhzytZmnehyphenhyphenc_9HyH/s640/gumamela-ladybug.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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In the same garden shop where I purchased the gumamela was something else that caught my fancy. The first time I visited the place to look for hanging plants, and on the next visit to buy some potting mix, I had seen a fascinating plant with holes on its leaves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotzzBLAMrqFKib5h2gDp_Vk17-oLl9YTyqGc7O1gLjZNbskmVuhThzR7bSduQSjAMYPCeVKFMb-LZrDZm3SMLAWhqaYxgNKo9gxHXOnZsNmWbJ9ekC5ApFEdjX0lqKlcFUp6u/s1600/swiss+cheese+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotzzBLAMrqFKib5h2gDp_Vk17-oLl9YTyqGc7O1gLjZNbskmVuhThzR7bSduQSjAMYPCeVKFMb-LZrDZm3SMLAWhqaYxgNKo9gxHXOnZsNmWbJ9ekC5ApFEdjX0lqKlcFUp6u/s640/swiss+cheese+plant.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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"Oh, what's that? Did some pest do that or are they natural holes?" I asked the lady who was helping me with the things I needed.<br />
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"They're natural," she replied with a smile.<br />
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I ended up buying a few of these Swiss cheese plants -- scientific name: <i>Monstera deliciosa</i>. They sure are fascinating, and it's even more interesting to know that<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21059874" target="_blank"><b> those holes aren't there merely for a quirky overall look</b></a>.<br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-85629226464713683802015-11-30T12:18:00.001+08:002015-11-30T12:20:18.698+08:00Sage advice for us plodding on in the 21st century <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRckBrBRZeUBk4Sro_GifKOglp8qwTeUw7Ac3L4HM2S1AuJbKQ2ytqVty0N1AmY0vxeyn6EcBq3xpUBzHbpowWtZypmbuOwuIa4VNYVfizHEObo7GxYlrGVD7C1VTmsxWDFB1/s1600/Audrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRckBrBRZeUBk4Sro_GifKOglp8qwTeUw7Ac3L4HM2S1AuJbKQ2ytqVty0N1AmY0vxeyn6EcBq3xpUBzHbpowWtZypmbuOwuIa4VNYVfizHEObo7GxYlrGVD7C1VTmsxWDFB1/s400/Audrey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One word that may sum it up: decency<br />
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Should the lady whose image appears above be unfamiliar to you, it is quite easy to find out all about her and the things she stands for. Fortunately, in this day and age in which the development of technology happens much faster than the passing on of values such as decency, that technology gives us the opportunity to look up that which we ought to know and live.<br />
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If the other name included in the advice above is unheard of, you may look it up as well. Or not.<br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-5747946575396272232015-11-27T10:30:00.000+08:002015-11-27T10:31:13.370+08:00By nature<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love
to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>through which
God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. </i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">~George Washington
Carver</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5fnw18k4g6ft1kxsmlwAjHRNzD7VUPlfPastAKb9IcovyXxZ7FXpkUgVljwAUBjvyPJYN2AXdoDVdowHOZGj4uS1cKlUB4z9-KdeKtcSvfa4iQFf3gYDwJlU_EAIX6wf6ulK/s1600/Pilar-shire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5fnw18k4g6ft1kxsmlwAjHRNzD7VUPlfPastAKb9IcovyXxZ7FXpkUgVljwAUBjvyPJYN2AXdoDVdowHOZGj4uS1cKlUB4z9-KdeKtcSvfa4iQFf3gYDwJlU_EAIX6wf6ulK/s640/Pilar-shire.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. </i><b><br /></b><span style="font-size: small;">~Albert Einstein</span><br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-81741244688560540872015-11-23T11:31:00.002+08:002015-11-23T11:31:48.130+08:00Gunfire & explosives -- and combatting extremism with 'Rick Astley'<br />
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The number of fatalities is often one of the factors which determine whether or not an incident makes it on the news. It's lamentable, but that's reality. Sure, "hundreds killed" grabs more people's attention than saying that the death toll numbers half a dozen. But then lives mean individual persons, and each person matters, so here is news about some of last week's ISIS-related attacks in Africa, regardless of the body count. Nigeria (Nov. 17 and 18), Mali (Nov. 20), Cameroon (Nov. 21)<br />
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<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/11/18/female-suicide-bombers-strike-nigeria-second-mass-casualty-attack-two-days/" target="_blank"><b>Female suicide bombers strike Nigeria with second mass casualty attack in two days</b></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Two female suicide bombers launched a deadly attack that killed an
estimated 15 people at a packed mobile phone market in Kano, Nigeria, on
Wednesday. Kano is the largest city in Northern Nigeria. The explosion
ripped through Farm Centre market just after 4:00pm local time and comes
only a day after a terrorist attack killed 32 and wounded 80 in the
Northeast city of Yola.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34886537" target="_blank"><b>Mali hotel attack: Hunt for three suspects</b></a></span><br />
<div class="story-body__introduction">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Malian security forces are hunting
three suspects connected to the attack on a hotel in the capital,
Bamako, on Friday, in which 19 were killed.</span></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Two militants were also killed, after special forces stormed the hotel, freeing dozens of trapped guests.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/22/eight-dead-after-suspected-boko-haram-attack-in-cameroon" target="_blank"><b>Eight dead after suspected Boko Haram attack in Cameroon</b></a><br />Four civilians were killed in northern Cameroon on Saturday in a suicide bomb assault by suspected <a class=" u-underline" data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="auto-linked-tag" href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/boko-haram">Boko Haram</a> militants in which three female attackers and one man blew themselves up, security officials said.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/23/us-france-shooting-belgium-idUSKCN0TA03H20151123" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Belgian police mount raids in Brussels and other towns</b></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="focusParagraph">Belgian
armed police mounted raids across the country late on Sunday after the
prime minister announced another day of lockdown in the capital for fear
a new, Paris-style mass attack may be imminent.</span></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span id="midArticle_1"></span></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Shortly
before midnight, the public broadcaster, announcing several arrests,
said the operations had concluded and the mayor of a Brussels borough
that is the focus of a manhunt for a key suspect in the Paris attacks
said shots had been exchanged.</span><br />
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And, via a story included in a <a href="http://notjustforsuperheroes.blogspot.com/2015/11/federer-weather-anonymous-hackers-plus.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, Anonymous -- the group of online hackers -- is taking on ISIS online. Now the group has started its quest with a spunky method: by <a href="http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/28512/1/anonymous-are-apparently-rickrolling-isis" target="_blank">"rickrolling" the terrorists' online presence.</a> If the goal is to disrupt communications between the terrorists and to foil as many attempts at promoting its cause as possible, it certainly is accomplishing much -- and with some entertainment along the way. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyrp93Tb5pmXfquRgA5us0xYY4Wyb2G4pZiLychHQonyrKRgx79kZJ1OWBj_ynUtqAWbhawZ1aMaArzNiYQOvYTVwRt7yzeRjurn4kKzCdY3EzilIATxBqUDZNj2fBgeFTOiO/s1600/blog-rickrolling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyrp93Tb5pmXfquRgA5us0xYY4Wyb2G4pZiLychHQonyrKRgx79kZJ1OWBj_ynUtqAWbhawZ1aMaArzNiYQOvYTVwRt7yzeRjurn4kKzCdY3EzilIATxBqUDZNj2fBgeFTOiO/s400/blog-rickrolling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-88154424704612783972015-11-20T10:56:00.003+08:002015-11-20T11:11:39.355+08:00Federer, the weather, Anonymous hackers.... plus others<br />
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Some news can make our day, while others tend to make us stop and lament over what the world seems to be coming to. Then we can hear of some things that are just the things we need to give us a laugh for a few minutes before plunging into the next task of the day. Whatever the case, it pays to inform ourselves -- and do what we can to be part of the solution, from where we are, with what we have. <br />
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Here's a glimpse of some things that have happened during the past several weeks in different parts of the planet -- <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqHVVt2237OLcGLlVUZ8JQgtKTiB69o48XWwbx4i0zrQ6k6scsjIONRcIDGBTQSWOPiEq3wYLeN9UY2BXzrgIubWQqRDMGQjAF8ALWS7mR5yfT6nEsEM5pr9A_WAjLqAMFxnL/s1600/blog-federer.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqHVVt2237OLcGLlVUZ8JQgtKTiB69o48XWwbx4i0zrQ6k6scsjIONRcIDGBTQSWOPiEq3wYLeN9UY2BXzrgIubWQqRDMGQjAF8ALWS7mR5yfT6nEsEM5pr9A_WAjLqAMFxnL/s400/blog-federer.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/11/kei-nishikori-beats-tomas-berdych-in-3-sets-at-atp-final/56836/#.Vk1Lb16Gu43" target="_blank">Federer hands Djokovic first loss at ATP World Tour Finals since 2011</a></span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/faith-on-the-football-field-fargo-high-school-stands-up-for-religious-freedom-62601/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Faith on the football field -- Fargo high school stands up for religious freedom</span></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/world/europe/isis-claims-responsibility-for-paris-attacks-calling-them-miracles.html?mwrsm=Facebook&_r=0" target="_blank"> ISIS claims responsibility, calls Paris attacks 'First of the Storm'</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/11/13/1521341/victims-bare-naia-extortion-tanim-bala-probe" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Victims bare NAIA extortion in 'tanim-bala' probe</span></span></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/alisoncaporimo/lego-or-land-mine?bffbnews&utm_term=.fpbo525ZYM#.woV5A1AnR8" target="_blank">Lego is now making extra-padded Lego-proof slippers because they feel your pain</a><br />
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<a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2015-11-19-october-breaks-global-heat-record" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">October breaks global heat record</span></i></b></a><br />
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<a href="http://liveactionnews.org/abortion-facility-shuts-down-on-halloween-becomes-a-pro-life-clinic/#more-80477" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Abortion facility shuts down on Halloween, becomes a pro-life clinic</span></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/9-11-heros-widower-returns-woman-of-the-year-citing-bruce-jenner-insult" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 9/11 hero's widow returns 'Woman of the Year' award over Bruce Jenner 'insult'</span></span></b></a><br />
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<a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2015-11-19-anonymous-hackers-could-be-islamic-states-online-nemesis" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Anonymous hackers could be Islamic State's online nemesis</i></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJ47o-h3-MdZXnM5clTgXMJj_Z6INcu49fdX2U-nVRoCx3ZMieVek9NnI89BktDy1Iua_KGYGyJeWk1WjuozpuaRKS028xsUQXKZ_C31TwtEgQI4Ks64XAMNKeFZjPMNSqzl4/s1600/blog-anonymous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJ47o-h3-MdZXnM5clTgXMJj_Z6INcu49fdX2U-nVRoCx3ZMieVek9NnI89BktDy1Iua_KGYGyJeWk1WjuozpuaRKS028xsUQXKZ_C31TwtEgQI4Ks64XAMNKeFZjPMNSqzl4/s400/blog-anonymous.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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* Photo of Roger Federer from <a href="http://www.tennis.com/" target="_blank">Tenni<i>s</i></a><br />
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* Photo of Guy Fawkes mask associated with Anonymous from <a href="http://mg.co.za/" target="_blank"><i>Mail & Guardian</i></a><br />
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<b>* * * * *</b></div>
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If you fancy a look at another post of various headlines from a month ago, they're<a href="http://notjustforsuperheroes.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-hodgepodge-of-headlines.html" target="_blank"> <b>here</b></a><br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-33371589070093119252015-11-09T09:46:00.001+08:002015-11-09T09:57:07.693+08:00When it's love that saves the day (or the kid)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJFftlwViJYuIXh8tXDOfbcYuJiTx8JWG1WIer7QSkO4yfi2L9mgNqPWTL3W87usQVPQ6tr-f0PMjPR3g8GNFrLHJUz3X1gzL9wv1gwg75VFb3k4L0gqfMutW4hMR1S6POYh6/s1600/blog-calvin+and+hobbes+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJFftlwViJYuIXh8tXDOfbcYuJiTx8JWG1WIer7QSkO4yfi2L9mgNqPWTL3W87usQVPQ6tr-f0PMjPR3g8GNFrLHJUz3X1gzL9wv1gwg75VFb3k4L0gqfMutW4hMR1S6POYh6/s640/blog-calvin+and+hobbes+cartoon.jpg" width="499" /></a></div>
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sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-21620566132883557512015-11-03T17:02:00.000+08:002015-11-03T17:03:31.449+08:00Silver bullets for the bullet-planting <br />
Now that I'm looking at that title up there with (almost) undivided attention, I'm certain it's more the result of too much viewing of zombie-ghost-vampire-murderer fare than a manifestation of what I actually think of the people responsible for the bullet-planting happening in Manila's main international gateway (and for the lack of action being taken to deal with the situation).<br />
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This post isn't to provide updates on the situation, but to share a couple of articles that may prove useful to anyone passing through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while the situation is still basically the same. It pays to be informed and prepared. Go ahead and read, and feel free to share with others who may need this information:<br />
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<a href="http://pinoytrendingnews.net/an-american-shares-his-top-4-effective-tips-to-curb-laglag-bala-modus-in-naia/" target="_blank"><b>An American shares his 4 effective tips for curbing Laglag Bala modus in NAIA</b></a> is a quick read and was supposedly written by a retired police officer.<br />
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<a href="http://www.plazolaw.com/criminal-law/evidence-planting-rife-at-naia-how-to-defend-yourself/" target="_blank"><b>Evidence-planting rife at NAIA -- How to defend yourself from Laglag Bala scam</b></a> contains practical tips as well while providing legal information about your rights, relevant portions of the law, etc. Infographics and some videos also equip you with pertinent information. This one was written by a lawyer.<br />
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And here's something posted by a Persida Acosta on Facebook on Nov. 2, 2015 which may just come in handy (you'll never know!):<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Attention OFWS/ Travellers: Re: Laglag Bala in Airport</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> Please call PAO hotline 929-94-36 or 029299436 in case you are being charged of alleged "laglag bala". A<span class="text_exposed_show">ny
incriminatory act of planting evidence can be criminally charged of
"incriminatory machinations" under Article 363 of the Revised Penal Code
(arresto mayor) and Section 38 of the Comprehensive Firearms Act R.A.
No. 10591 Re- planting of ammunitions punishable of the penalty of
reclusion perpetua(30yrs).</span></span></blockquote>
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If you'd like an article to give you the lowdown on the issue, I believe <a href="http://www.manilatimes.net/naia-screeners-suspended/226968/" target="_blank"><b>this one</b></a> dated Nov. 2, 2015 is exhaustive enough.<br />
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Bon voyage!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpIFJBKFudn0b4LMuJaUYM3OJocyrv5TXuwMejq4woPWJCAhtV4neDnicAW2U8e7cbgLjpYTlXtAs2ljxkE7X8YcqV1mdhtgH9ROnYW04BnAAuuphZdVuyfEa_wtQg3YpGsbk/s1600/airport+aliens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpIFJBKFudn0b4LMuJaUYM3OJocyrv5TXuwMejq4woPWJCAhtV4neDnicAW2U8e7cbgLjpYTlXtAs2ljxkE7X8YcqV1mdhtgH9ROnYW04BnAAuuphZdVuyfEa_wtQg3YpGsbk/s400/airport+aliens.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-30887041631792731632015-10-28T14:07:00.001+08:002015-10-28T14:07:34.835+08:00Learning aboard the schoolbusGrandma and the school kids -- what a heartwarming story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5CGaDGKvwVz1iWOOY54i3ke9cZAZ8uaHpzpPBRljCo2r_mEsxmd9CI7Prk8OYITGTcFvWDMV3T87gMB4BAdpgm-2xauftL1f3YWFGKAQAKB1JM19ARSTNge1H5ppSRBmVt3T/s1600/grandma_window_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5CGaDGKvwVz1iWOOY54i3ke9cZAZ8uaHpzpPBRljCo2r_mEsxmd9CI7Prk8OYITGTcFvWDMV3T87gMB4BAdpgm-2xauftL1f3YWFGKAQAKB1JM19ARSTNge1H5ppSRBmVt3T/s400/grandma_window_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Read <a href="http://www.faithtap.com/4551/kids-learn-kindness-from-grandma-in-the-window/?v=1" target="_blank"><b>Kids learn kindness from Grandma in the window</b></a><br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-62076696855059623832015-10-16T14:16:00.000+08:002018-09-28T18:25:55.588+08:00Reel time<br />
I've been spending a couple of hours a week with some college students lately, and it's fun to chat with them. Well, I also got to talk with a few girls in their early 20s in a seminar I attended in September, and listening to them reminded me of just how fast I used to talk and how much I jumped from one topic to another when I was around their age. Conversing with dudes who have lived for half a century or more does have its striking moments, primarily because the wisdom they've acquired over the course of decades is evident. There's much to learn from them; the perspective they present, even from brief remarks they make about seemingly superficial topics, can make one reconsider previously held opinions.<br />
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Hanging out with fellows who are at the stage of pursuing formal education in their chosen field, on the other hand, has been delightful as well. We spent a good deal of time talking about movies and what we thought of them. I found it amusing that many of the titles they mentioned were unheard of as far as I was concerned, and I listened fondly as they gushed over what was a superb flick and why it was so, or lamented over some disappointing film that was a mistake to give the time of day.<br />
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<i>Who's your favorite actor? What are your top movies?</i> Such questions came up when we first delved into<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYcxf0O1eaD6OVILR0rZcWwgcmPa9o75Pph85Q8PgggenIS7Nr1lSKCYNACpXEATsodzWs7UEqyIoqymD-fMZOTW1LZIQDvE3NDkEKdGhPuWgtlBRWFgxChUbPs8r9fkiG34x/s1600/blog-3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYcxf0O1eaD6OVILR0rZcWwgcmPa9o75Pph85Q8PgggenIS7Nr1lSKCYNACpXEATsodzWs7UEqyIoqymD-fMZOTW1LZIQDvE3NDkEKdGhPuWgtlBRWFgxChUbPs8r9fkiG34x/s320/blog-3d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
the subject of the celluloid world, and just like when I'm asked what restaurant I'd like to go to, I was at a loss. It's funny, because movies are something I consider essential in life -- in a manner of speaking, of course, and not to be mistaken as being placed on the same level as food, clothing and shelter in the hierarchy of needs -- and there I was, drawing a blank when asked for my favorites. Why is that?<br />
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Well, at the risk of sounding like a page from those old slum books where you're asked about favorite food, favorite song, favorite singer, favorite everything... there really are too many to mention when it comes to movies. Of course, there are the critically acclaimed blockbusters such as <i>Lord of the Rings</i> and <i>The Hobbit</i>, unforgettable ones that somewhat "define" your decade (<i>Back to the Future</i>, among several), and the much-loved or funny but not really awards-material (for me that would be <i>You've Got Mail</i>, and some films that I wouldn't broadcast being a fan of due to the absolute lack of substance). And, though I don't think I've met any other fan of movies about hijacking, I thoroughly enjoy watching the likes of <i>Air Force One, Executive Decision</i> and, more recently, <i>Non-Stop</i>. <br />
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In one of our conversations, though, I remembered <i>Argo</i> and told my young companions how I found it to be immensely engaging (I even blogged about it <a href="http://notjustforsuperheroes.blogspot.com/2015/07/when-based-on-true-story-spells.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>, if you'd care to read what I wrote).<br />
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Lest this becomes an enumeration of favorite movies, let me go to the point that got me started on this whole post: when I mentioned what a great team-up Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were in a lot of their movies, the girl I was chatting with was unfamiliar with Meg Ryan. I was positively amused by this and realized how old the movies I had in mind were! Well, Meg Ryan is not among your multi-awarded actors, and comical though she is in her rom-com films, she doesn't have the same caliber and/or high-profile blockbuster resume as, say, Meryl Streep, Robert de Niro or Tom Cruise. So, come to think of it, it should hardly be surprising that today's teens and twentysomethings have never heard of her.<br />
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Okay, that was the first thing that stunned me about our celluloid <i>tete-a-tete</i>. The other one was when I mentioned <i>The Karate Kid</i>, and the girl said something about Jackie Chan, so I realized she had the post-2000 version in mind. Danny LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi are it for me, and though I'm sure the movie's newer version has its merits if considered more closely, the original will always be <i>the only one</i> for me. <br />
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Here's a scene from the1984 movie.
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bg21M2zwG9Q?rel=0" width="525"></iframe>sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-40915836546334522452015-10-13T21:44:00.000+08:002015-10-13T22:12:51.901+08:00Another hodgepodge of headlines<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBJ9ZmlSvtY48ywbL3CkgQ6N8rDvOnBMql3_JoW4tP9KRdX33cOYK8RW4olRJ1UdDmu_bFy3DmEkF1OcBw8m7Yd0rn2OvlaL3umo9xu_h8YN6kVvKGWXD_zDkMg1AhyphenhyphenHF0AOC/s1600/extra-extra-read-all-about-it1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBJ9ZmlSvtY48ywbL3CkgQ6N8rDvOnBMql3_JoW4tP9KRdX33cOYK8RW4olRJ1UdDmu_bFy3DmEkF1OcBw8m7Yd0rn2OvlaL3umo9xu_h8YN6kVvKGWXD_zDkMg1AhyphenhyphenHF0AOC/s400/extra-extra-read-all-about-it1.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/oct/07/harvards-prestigious-debate-team-loses-to-new-york-prison-inmates" target="_blank"><b>Harvard's prestigious debate team loses to New York prison inmates</b></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/gosnell-movie-begins-filming" target="_blank">Filming begins on movie about Kermit Gosnell starring 'Lois and Clark' actor Dean Cain </a></span><b> </b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.lokalbuzz.ph/2015/10/11/maine-wally-receive-catholic-social-media-awards-in-aldens-hometown/" target="_blank">Maine, Wally receivce Catholic Social Media Awards in Alden's hometown </a></span></span></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/federer-shanghai-presser" target="_blank">Federer: Draw analyst, pizza chef</a></span></span></i><br />
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<a href="http://dailysignal.com/2015/10/11/across-america-people-protested-planned-parenthood/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Across America, people protested Planned Parenthood</span></span></a><br /><br />
<b><i><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/10/05/eyewitness-u-s-army-encouraged-soldiers-to-ignore-afghan-child-rape/" target="_blank">Eyewitness: US Army encouraged soldiers to ignore Afghan child rape</a></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/girl-pays-it-forward-by-selling-100-of-her-books" target="_blank">Girl pays it forward by selling 100 of her books</a></span><br />
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sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-13963101667087778642015-10-12T09:57:00.001+08:002015-10-12T10:00:21.519+08:00Cheetos, chili, and a man's courage<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn_1_1e3wJu3xde7ks7Z_7eXzpj0_0nn60LM_J7yKwBNKodKtwKTpky7QarNdTisx8f_XSbm166hDzgYCQVaF2utkQqkm2oMpKrFIqMIiFMRCmLITqcdZzpGU7uEHyfri3pJg/s1600/cheetos+flamin+hot+inventor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn_1_1e3wJu3xde7ks7Z_7eXzpj0_0nn60LM_J7yKwBNKodKtwKTpky7QarNdTisx8f_XSbm166hDzgYCQVaF2utkQqkm2oMpKrFIqMIiFMRCmLITqcdZzpGU7uEHyfri3pJg/s400/cheetos+flamin+hot+inventor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Richard Montanez, the man with the brilliant idea </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I love Mexican food. I love Cheetos. And I certainly love stories of people who, by dint of hard work or indefatigable faith or both, beat the odds and come out successful while keeping their humility and sense of service to continue helping others.<br />
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So I love the story of <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/workplace/article329551/%E2%80%98Flamin%E2%80%99-Hot-Cheetos%E2%80%99-idea-takes-janitor-away-from-mopping-floors-and-into-the-executive-jet.html" target="_blank"><b>how Flamin' Hot Cheetos came about!</b></a><br />
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<i>Photo from <a href="http://russtowne.com/2013/10/17/poor-hungry-and-determined-were-his-phd/" target="_blank"><b>A Grateful Man</b></a></i><br />
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<b> </b> sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-78715539742288289012015-10-09T01:48:00.001+08:002015-10-09T07:28:54.207+08:00On forgiveness, reconciling, and the view from the tabletop<br />
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Two of my sisters and I were sitting around one day, talking about movies we had seen, and <i>Dead Poets Society</i> came up.<br />
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"Do you remember that scene where the students in Robin Williams' class get up and stand on the table?" one of them asked.<br />
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"Yeah...." my other sister replied.<br />
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"I don't like that," said the first one, grimacing.<br />
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I couldn't believe my ears! <br />
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"Me neither!" my other sister chimed in agreement with such vehemence that I was even more flabbergasted. At the same time, it was kind of amusing that something I found almost movingly refreshing had the opposite effect on my two sisters. Of course they were a year apart in age, and I was a full decade younger, which probably accounted for the difference in perspective and preference. While they abhorred the scene in question from the critically acclaimed movie from the late 1980s (which I guessed did not impress them one bit), I found it delightfully striking.<br />
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"Huh? I love that scene!" I said, letting my disbelief and amusement show. "I think it's a great way to show that we have to constantly look at things from another perspective..." I said something like that -- I don't remember exactly what I said but I do remember how funny I found the whole thing. They hated the scene, and I thought it was brilliant. We spent the next couple of minutes laughing at our obvious difference in tastes.<br />
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Well, isn't the ability to look at things from a different perspective a great way to expand one's horizons? To learn something new? To see something in a whole new light? You may not need to stand on a tabletop to acquire a fresh context as regards things you previously took for granted, but another vantage point sure can help bring out the finer details that previously went unnoticed.<br />
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That's what this video did for me as far as an invaluable friendship is concerned:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/tvo0OCcp600?rel=0&controls=0" width="520"></iframe>
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Think about it. And here's something else worth considering:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6lZPLapRFk2YHH9wXfNF2DgCtrqfCDqhuETHH8e3PEFKDUMdnTtlY8j7eO4QWUsPHE1tqO25ajX9mZHwYVHA-ozdTqGJ0ni67ePsiOR10lUmtt3pgMGivpCqjBjrzwmabEv1/s1600/blog-confession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6lZPLapRFk2YHH9wXfNF2DgCtrqfCDqhuETHH8e3PEFKDUMdnTtlY8j7eO4QWUsPHE1tqO25ajX9mZHwYVHA-ozdTqGJ0ni67ePsiOR10lUmtt3pgMGivpCqjBjrzwmabEv1/s400/blog-confession.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-11404102217848724392015-10-06T10:03:00.001+08:002015-10-07T09:10:56.064+08:00Busy signals and party lines<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBx6YQeJVTBnKlV1E6I9tFBBZueqe-rQ_2UPPlw6jP8To0bgqGEAx8hgiF7ULNUGxWqKOOyG66ybxyC98XtMVzuAKbNWJHaerbwdzooH1QQnqOKJKBKts41QMuqRbSzzaDUb3/s1600/covers-telephone+cover+blurbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBx6YQeJVTBnKlV1E6I9tFBBZueqe-rQ_2UPPlw6jP8To0bgqGEAx8hgiF7ULNUGxWqKOOyG66ybxyC98XtMVzuAKbNWJHaerbwdzooH1QQnqOKJKBKts41QMuqRbSzzaDUb3/s400/covers-telephone+cover+blurbs.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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Making calls on a rotary-dial telephone is one thing I would love to do again regularly; alas, I'm told that installing such a device today would not facilitate phone conversations but merely add a vintage touch to a home's aesthetic style. I heard "analogue," "digital" and other such phrases in the exchange about why a rotary dial-phone would not work anymore in these times, but I didn't really understand it. So, thinking back to the days of party lines and seemingly endless dialing (specifically when lots of zeroes are on the phone number) seems more nostalgic than ever!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOR4VpGBZjwfZiGp6tbsalYLht9jLFwsq4HU64ThGxsgQ89XSF4kgIgUFPDdhl06sMxEV59FzZE8qqAKuqrZo2beswHOOfsiaZflyIwUUg_vFRMnOYWytdwFr9T5xngcXJcaP/s1600/phones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVGq9FSMbUKyQmsUa-X91zLS889XJs1Oa7kcc_4yVNrBXqwlSsB1uMKPT0H8fTSJHAnd347tCtEm6MddlM_6FTLTwwv-Ym0W8vPTH_LO91AKQ_YT9ppalT1pU6pWXyYXVEtgt/s1600/phones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVGq9FSMbUKyQmsUa-X91zLS889XJs1Oa7kcc_4yVNrBXqwlSsB1uMKPT0H8fTSJHAnd347tCtEm6MddlM_6FTLTwwv-Ym0W8vPTH_LO91AKQ_YT9ppalT1pU6pWXyYXVEtgt/s1600/phones.jpg" /></a></div>
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Seeing the images above reminded me of <a href="http://notjustforsuperheroes.blogspot.com/2011/07/vintage-with-value.html" target="_blank"><b>this experience</b></a> which would probably make no sense to anyone who grew up in the age of smartphones (or even just mobile phones) without the benefit of perspective provided by experiencing the use of rotary-dial. Well, in the grand scheme of things, it is merely a person-to-person communication device from a different stage in the history of technological advancement. But as in any change in society's lifestyles, the virtues that were acquired and developed in the course of using such devices are invaluable. You'll probably see a little of what I mean if you read about my experience of making song requests on the radio (that's the link provided above) over the course of decades -- and that means doing so using different gadgets, depending on what era you're talking about!<br />
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If you fancy a closer look at the telephone experience, check this out as well:<br />
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<a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/62876/10-aspects-old-telephones-might-confuse-younger-readers" target="_blank"><b>10 aspects of old telephones that might confuse young readers</b></a><br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ADDENDUM:</span></b><br />
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A page from history --<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTk7mA9xdSvyYC87ApPoYwFfK5V5M63ppHvMt6-iYeWZEbtd-JCwmC4DsoY3PbNY0HqpdZt4zPvm-f6EmPbFJb7zNv0qM-INill0_7a2uf3dGsI_vscm6WmgHrUGvc-nbKfxl/s1600/queen+elizabeth+phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTk7mA9xdSvyYC87ApPoYwFfK5V5M63ppHvMt6-iYeWZEbtd-JCwmC4DsoY3PbNY0HqpdZt4zPvm-f6EmPbFJb7zNv0qM-INill0_7a2uf3dGsI_vscm6WmgHrUGvc-nbKfxl/s400/queen+elizabeth+phone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dec. 1958: Queen Elizabeth becomes the first person in Britain to make a long-distance call sans the help of an operator. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The first long-distance call made in Great Britain without the help of an operator was made by Queen Elizabeth in 1958. It was a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3548287/Long-distance-telephone-call-without-the-help-of-an-operator-is-50-years-old-today.html" target="_blank"><b>big event</b></a>!<br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-38347874718459832192015-10-05T13:54:00.000+08:002015-10-06T14:08:56.971+08:00Beyond the broomsticks and horcruxes<br />
I caught the second half of <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i> on TV recently. And just like what happened after I had watched <i>Into the Storm</i> not too long ago either on HBO ( I went link-hopping for materials on Richard Armitage and ended up watching <i>The Hobbit</i> clips and Thorin interviews), I spent a good deal of time watching old interviews with cast members and some other decade-old materials. I harkened back to the years when the Gryffindor kids were just that -- kids -- and the three lead actors were just giving their first interviews as mere 11- or 12-year-olds.<br />
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One of the videos I came across was a 2001 BBC Christmas special for which author J. K. Rowling was interviewed. This is particularly interesting to me because rather than being some kind of promotional material for the books and movies, it clarifies -- in Rowling's words, no less -- the truths and falsehoods reported in the media about her and about the process of coming up with the books. It sure is fascinating, too, to see the notebooks and tons of notes she has accumulated in the course of doing her work.<br />
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So, in the interest of accuracy, here it is:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/SrJiAG8GmnQ?rel=0&controls=0" width="520"></iframe>
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-59133940214256200372015-10-04T14:12:00.001+08:002015-10-04T15:09:15.119+08:00Leave the leaves alone... no more<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtHECTZCXhJO9Syv21Hk9E8C3exyDAZEykkXdeQnYZ3ysJha4DjfQVxBx_wbpHEY7ge-zz29H5k8ZDwP0DE6ELIjcpMC4oPLvzmleQm1XhBBnWaSKeBNsEkQTFZQ9lNInkKAY/s1600/leaf+art+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtHECTZCXhJO9Syv21Hk9E8C3exyDAZEykkXdeQnYZ3ysJha4DjfQVxBx_wbpHEY7ge-zz29H5k8ZDwP0DE6ELIjcpMC4oPLvzmleQm1XhBBnWaSKeBNsEkQTFZQ9lNInkKAY/s640/leaf+art+1.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Leaf art</b></i> -- that's what I have come to call it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdmjRY6GbG9ikYbUs0kDvI5OxgI1HoRxrro_ixD5gvJlx-703FJdnLmhpcnC2CoTs3TFv512tucV5-kAfHi5CZSGGvmm5vtFna90JdFc4b1F6P6ycuPKAvVr00eNdzV6nvreX/s1600/leaf+art+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdmjRY6GbG9ikYbUs0kDvI5OxgI1HoRxrro_ixD5gvJlx-703FJdnLmhpcnC2CoTs3TFv512tucV5-kAfHi5CZSGGvmm5vtFna90JdFc4b1F6P6ycuPKAvVr00eNdzV6nvreX/s400/leaf+art+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the last couple of months, the sight of heavily munched-on leaves became more common around our garden -- ubiquitous almost. Admiring the pretty lavender hibiscus blooms, I noticed quite a few leaves with jagged patterns; every morning while waiting patiently for signs of new yellow hibiscus buds to show up in the nearby pot, the number of chomped up greens seemed to increase. I was accustomed to seeing half-eaten leaves; for some time, Oleander Hawk-moth and Vine Hawk-moth caterpillars made the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharanthus_roseus" target="_blank"><b>chichirica</b></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabilis_jalapa" target="_blank"><b>a las cuatro</b></a> plants their home and main source of sustenance. I even made a few of them my pets, keeping them in jars and regularly giving them a stash of greenery for their meals till it was time for them to cocoon. Eventually they transformed into marvelous winged beauties.<br />
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But this time it was different. It was like whatever was responsible for the uniquely fashioned foliage plodded on with gusto. The result was almost like art -- munching here and there, never staying on the same spot for long, hence the punctuated surfaces and interestingly irregular edges. It was partly amazing, partly exasperating. Though leaves naturally grew a certain way, who said they had to stay that way, especially when some tiny creatures were designed to feed on foliage? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qSuiI4xyXNisgwjIAIMJ01v1cgDmDGBYIOv7XIVQiqDJLGyIHuDT9N3E6EC1nVIOgb34BjHmDaLcPaFoPXv_pfbgWH3T7HL9uC9Un5z9-O9fWLMD24xdfU34eSsLcQErbp6R/s1600/leaf+art+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qSuiI4xyXNisgwjIAIMJ01v1cgDmDGBYIOv7XIVQiqDJLGyIHuDT9N3E6EC1nVIOgb34BjHmDaLcPaFoPXv_pfbgWH3T7HL9uC9Un5z9-O9fWLMD24xdfU34eSsLcQErbp6R/s400/leaf+art+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KXhqzaFCuWKRa75NchCAmsu5OH9MJIQbfbYXeAUb20XsGJVoDX2f5C9XljOqyyUaA_pt-w6yhaVpdB0zXeVPb8_hkI4XelPbX17EW0PkhBMRS5sjA3gztb5E-9YbwETJ__r0/s1600/leaf+art-ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KXhqzaFCuWKRa75NchCAmsu5OH9MJIQbfbYXeAUb20XsGJVoDX2f5C9XljOqyyUaA_pt-w6yhaVpdB0zXeVPb8_hkI4XelPbX17EW0PkhBMRS5sjA3gztb5E-9YbwETJ__r0/s400/leaf+art-ghost.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4pXaFpDp10xtyHSxtUz4KgdLsMza8NNi2LgVQIxd_YCg6GBLesRgqZMg8n4iD3xJ59wni7Nin_L2jl3AbARIYmELSZLOxlF0LFcsRheYwDut0EBq5axTh1LxyGo5KXRNHD-b/s1600/leaft+art+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4pXaFpDp10xtyHSxtUz4KgdLsMza8NNi2LgVQIxd_YCg6GBLesRgqZMg8n4iD3xJ59wni7Nin_L2jl3AbARIYmELSZLOxlF0LFcsRheYwDut0EBq5axTh1LxyGo5KXRNHD-b/s640/leaft+art+2.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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Even the <a href="http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/40566007" target="_blank"><b>Dona Aurora</b></a> wasn't spared from the "bullet-riddled look". At the same time I noticed that too many hairy caterpillars were showing up in our garden. There they were, crawling on the leaves of nearly each of the half dozen potted plants. A swipe of the coconut tree frond mid-rib broom (okay, let's just call it by its usual name -- <i>walis tingting</i>) yielded three or four <i>higad</i> at a time from the santan hedge. And, they weren't simply resting, snoozing, or anything unproductive like that -- most of the time they were eating away, jagged leaves and flower petals presenting the evidence! I therefore concluded that controlling the population of the "backpacker caterpillars" -- the name with which I've come to refer to them as they looked like they carried backpacks -- for the time being was called for. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmf70p4zoW_d7iEv-o8c5CotFH0Hp06pjCoFUT0lfa2FjuUlUPx0XCzPNztPM0MCqlyhNTMhsG4pG9tHRL9wG21PqWRG4QrB0zrDspxx_N-V9-nCzOkFHgIZbWTcAZVnNR9s_/s1600/blog-tussock+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmf70p4zoW_d7iEv-o8c5CotFH0Hp06pjCoFUT0lfa2FjuUlUPx0XCzPNztPM0MCqlyhNTMhsG4pG9tHRL9wG21PqWRG4QrB0zrDspxx_N-V9-nCzOkFHgIZbWTcAZVnNR9s_/s400/blog-tussock+closeup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"<i>Higad lang po 'yan. Hindi nagiging paru-paro</i>," chirped one of the
street kids who stopped by our gate, hanging around me as I took
snapshots of some plants and being jolted when a backpacker caterpillar
reared its hairy body from the santan hedge, almost touching his
fingers. "<i>Namaga nga po itong kamay ko nung umakyat ako ng puno ng
bayabas tapos nahawakan ko bigla</i>," the little boy added, stretching out
his hand to reveal the subsiding inflammation on his right palm.<br />
<br />
So,
potential skin allergy trigger, plant destroyer, imminent invasion, and non-winged future as a moth or butterfly --
could all these and a potential infestation not point to a need to
eliminate the hairy crawlies? I don't know what technically constitutes an infestation but getting to observe several of these little backpackers everyday seems to come close! So, I set to work: I took pictures (I was still fascinated by their atypical physical features) then proceeded to (gulp!) kill each one that I spotted among our plants. This went on for about a week...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6OMx-BPIvmPIqrE-oYmn5nsR28YOQ19jZYeeOEwwgOtwuOquDAuWODLHnC4vq7QphiKh3heUnyN2EL6_UnWtvloI4saGCuaZkj83q9hTiFejJpvLc3R_eK-g2ny7cKcb_HyB/s1600/yellow+tussock-gravel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6OMx-BPIvmPIqrE-oYmn5nsR28YOQ19jZYeeOEwwgOtwuOquDAuWODLHnC4vq7QphiKh3heUnyN2EL6_UnWtvloI4saGCuaZkj83q9hTiFejJpvLc3R_eK-g2ny7cKcb_HyB/s400/yellow+tussock-gravel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
A little backpacker and an even tinier one (frankly, I'm not sure if it's an offspring, sibling, or a mere appendage/shed "fur") under a bougainvillea leaf)...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY1y29jj9xzPRmzHPpE0o4jXrqJGtMzZMQYPKe4A28DSoRQ9eeR5AAGS_Dn5LQes5_PLcT9MT_mNDSH4JQ5n3jR4jAL7d60oMtHGWz45ZyaaDX_dn-4mOAIDhzx_aKkOf_OqT/s1600/tussock-stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY1y29jj9xzPRmzHPpE0o4jXrqJGtMzZMQYPKe4A28DSoRQ9eeR5AAGS_Dn5LQes5_PLcT9MT_mNDSH4JQ5n3jR4jAL7d60oMtHGWz45ZyaaDX_dn-4mOAIDhzx_aKkOf_OqT/s640/tussock-stairs.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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... another one that was making its way around the pots...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqMUnMX5jM_BLQL7EJhyphenhyphenqdWJsPv4vw9Qfhlr4ZDn8pyXD6B04qBOOZRPhWUYGBLF_ZjYmJkzpG58XWtUbh-H0nvGprlDAWEoc6H8PkjtVvB2oMvvAJIwz-DJo6kc3VE3UxV9v/s1600/tussock+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqMUnMX5jM_BLQL7EJhyphenhyphenqdWJsPv4vw9Qfhlr4ZDn8pyXD6B04qBOOZRPhWUYGBLF_ZjYmJkzpG58XWtUbh-H0nvGprlDAWEoc6H8PkjtVvB2oMvvAJIwz-DJo6kc3VE3UxV9v/s400/tussock+group.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A bunch of them that I gingerly picked off with a stick from the foliage (lest one of them give me a taste of the venom from its backpack should my hand accidentally touch the prickly tufts on its back)... and that was it. Till now I haven't seen a single one of these backpackers in our midst.... which I have come to regret after making a discovery three days ago:<br />
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The "backpacker caterpillar," I learned, is called the Tussock caterpillar, which -- after cocooning -- becomes a Tussock moth.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS-2RX3im9tWniSjvMfVPO66Scy9JELcZPf4AnFUu4fYqluvEI2Lq5XtPgomMGnu9J7HPe2UqtLd67b5UkzC0juBoZ-6FfsFOmSl2D3StTQB9m7UMx0CBVmhOm37LEziHmm0Z/s1600/tussock-nice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS-2RX3im9tWniSjvMfVPO66Scy9JELcZPf4AnFUu4fYqluvEI2Lq5XtPgomMGnu9J7HPe2UqtLd67b5UkzC0juBoZ-6FfsFOmSl2D3StTQB9m7UMx0CBVmhOm37LEziHmm0Z/s400/tussock-nice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow tussock moth</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After coming across the discovery online, I felt crestfallen. <i>I've killed about a dozen of them already.</i>.. I told myself. <i>All those potential moths, gone.</i> Well, I learned two things that day: first, those backpacker caterpillars don't remain caterpillars all their life but become moths; second, always verify your information. Maybe I should let that little boy who hurt his hand from a <i>higad</i> also learn two things like I did if I should ever run into him again.<br />
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Oh, there's a third thing I learned (or more accurately, was reminded of) that day: God made everything with a purpose in mind. I've yet to find out if Tussock moths are pollinators, but even if it turns out they're not, is that the gauge we ought to use in determining the importance of their existence?<br />
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At around this time, I was also reading a booklet that centered on <i>Laudato Si</i>, Pope Francis' latest encyclical. And after the vital discovery concerning the backpacker caterpillars, the Pope's words as contained in the booklet "<i>Laudato Si</i>: An integral ecology for contemporary man" -- a <a href="http://theologicalcentrum.org/aboutus/ds.htm" target="_blank"><b>Documentation Service</b></a> publication -- resounded with me:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">84. Our insistence that each human being is an image of God should not make us overlook the fact that each creature has its own purpose. None is superfluous. The entire material universe speaks of God's love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God (...) </span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">85. God has written a precious book, "whose letters are the multitude of created things present in the universe". The Canadian bishops rightly pointed out that no creature is excluded from this manifestation of God: "From panoramic vistas to the tiniest living form, nature is a constant source of wonder and awe. It is also a continuing revelation of the divine" (...)</span></blockquote>
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So, little backpacker caterpillars, you are again most welcome in our
little garden. Now I am not about to allow our home to be infested with
hairy, creeping creatures; for now, though, let's just say I appreciate
leaf art enough to let those caterpillars live out their gustatory
tendencies to leave artistic marks on our plants for more unconventional
foliage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsUmdU4lJ2IjXCOOxtyyLxBqt6lsxJrFUfK9_B4eiN9KaZcralfa_krBBrFlDeJ5m7a5BzUGaiVvjVt4hseeW5m2F4nK47FW_EOjKKKiOWo2HuFwzZDcYibzXQImlj1DQ7s5g/s1600/blog-baby+tussock+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsUmdU4lJ2IjXCOOxtyyLxBqt6lsxJrFUfK9_B4eiN9KaZcralfa_krBBrFlDeJ5m7a5BzUGaiVvjVt4hseeW5m2F4nK47FW_EOjKKKiOWo2HuFwzZDcYibzXQImlj1DQ7s5g/s400/blog-baby+tussock+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tiniest Tussock moth caterpillar I've seen so far</td></tr>
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-5191899331669092182015-09-30T15:18:00.001+08:002015-09-30T20:26:35.529+08:00Be a man -- break the rules<br />
Be a <i>real</i> man, that is.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>For Boys Only: The Man Talk</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The November 6, 1-4 pm gig really is for boys only, and it's best to secure your tickets early due to limited seating.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Here's a bit about the Matt Fradd-headlined event, so gentlemen, this one's for you:</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">We are inviting you to join us in an<b> </b>all-boys<b> </b>chastity talk with highly sought-after international speaker and
Catholic apologist, Matt Fradd. Find out how true manhood is expressed
in becoming who God meant you to be, and discover the FIVE RULES you
must BREAK if you want to fulfill your deepest desires and follow God's
commands! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">This will be held on Nov. 6 (Friday) at 1-4 pm, at St. Mary's College Auditorium, 37 Mother Ignacia Ave., Bgy. Paligsahan, Quezon City. Tickets are now available at P300 each. Limited seats only, so secure your tickets early by calling/texting 0922-8276662 or emailing all4life.life4all@gmail.com</span></span><br />
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sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-76506439952674860612015-09-29T11:08:00.000+08:002016-02-22T15:59:57.552+08:00Maybe bathroom door signs should be "Male DNA" and "Female DNA"<br />
There have been some topics in the past that I'd wanted to blog about but just couldn't, simply because I had nothing else to say beyond one sentence -- maybe two. For example, lately I've noticed a disturbing number of adults who cross the street with a child in tow, and with the little one on the dangerous side. Sometimes it's an adult and a child strolling on a sidewalk, with the child on the dangerous side and whose hand his/her older companion isn't even holding. I had wanted to write about it because to me that's a pretty important matter to point out. But I couldn't think of anything else to say besides "Don't people know the concept of 'the dangerous side'? Why do grown-ups cross the street with kids and let the little ones stay on the dangerous side?" Nothing else comes to mind, because in my opinion, this is something basic. <br />
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Another example is littering. You probably see a lot of them, too, specially if Manila is your home -- dudes flicking a cigarette butt just anywhere while walking, tossing a candy wrapper out of a car or jeepney window, and other such sights. Even now that care for the environment has become a concern that's broadcasted and marketed in the mainstream, these things still happen a lot. But I can think of only one thing to say regarding this:<br />
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"Don't litter."<br />
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That's it. Ah but there's one other thing:<br />
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"I am tempted to make a citizen's arrest each time I see some fellow toss litter just anywhere."<br />
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As you can see, elaborating on the point is difficult for me. It's just so basic that more words seem superfluous.<br />
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Now lately, there have been instances which demonstrate that something I consider one of the most basic of all basic principles in life is not so basic to some people after all. And that is: boys belong in the men's room, and girls belong in the ladies' room. By that of course I mean males -- biological, natural-born -- and females -- biological, natural-born. The only exceptions I would consider are instances involving toddler and pre-schooler boys (and maybe a year or two more) in which the absence of their dad, uncle or any male relation necessitates their mom, aunt or any female relation bringing them to the ladies' room to do their bathroom business. So, basically, in my mind it's as simple as what I stated above: boys belong in the men's room, and girls belong in the ladies' room. Nothing else to say.<br />
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However, even in these times that the basic principle seems to be questionable in some quarters, I couldn't think of anything else to say to drive home the point. And then I saw this on Facebook:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYSoXbSbfEa6RxOPu29vz3MzakyLX3ynf3fKkgxWUff8AWoLJ3x_-HDONqnIxjP0FQvCnVWs4LKTFEP1Si6Dyrfk8ObqI2kugR2eeIterGFBtf2FmnUNyINsEx7MSpquijPaK/s1600/do+you+mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYSoXbSbfEa6RxOPu29vz3MzakyLX3ynf3fKkgxWUff8AWoLJ3x_-HDONqnIxjP0FQvCnVWs4LKTFEP1Si6Dyrfk8ObqI2kugR2eeIterGFBtf2FmnUNyINsEx7MSpquijPaK/s400/do+you+mind.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cute baby huh? The little one made me realize that it's largely about privacy.<br />
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And then, recent developments in other parts of the world regarding what have come to be referred to as "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" have helped me see that just because a person says and believes he is something doesn't mean it is so. More specifically, just because a guy says he feels that he's a girl does not mean that he is a girl and that he should expect the environment and everyone else to make adjustments to suit his belief about himself. As a matter of fact, those of us who know better are aware that condoning such a person by affirming his ideas about himself is akin to telling a dude who believes he is a superhero who can fly that he should be proud of himself for being a superhero and to go ahead and launch into flight. It simply is not helping the person any. What he needs is compassion, treatment, and to cultivate a life of faith. What he does not need is other people telling him that his delusions are real and congratulating him for being delusional. That does not sound compassionate to me; if anything, it sounds convenient -- for the people around him, because of course helping the person become grounded in reality can be immensely difficult and will require much effort.<br />
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That being said, here is one of the incidents involving the matter of bathroom privacy and the rest of society being forced by institutions to compromise their privacy (not to mention, safety and hygiene) for the sake of individuals who insist on their delusions and therefore demand that rules be adjusted to cater to these delusions. If I may say so, individuals with such a psychological condition need and deserve treatment (psycho-spiritual), not special treatment. <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">In this situation, a 17 year old boy
decided he was actually a girl, and thus should be entitled to use the
girls’ locker room and bathroom. The school bent over backwards trying
to find a compromise, even offering the guy a private, unisex facility,
but that wasn’t good enough. He wanted the girls’ bathroom, and of
course, what the girls wanted was entirely irrelevant.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Encouragingly, some of the students in the school didn’t stand for
it. They protested this week, insisting it’s not fair to expect girls to
use the bathroom or undress around a boy. They’re right, obviously, but
it’s worse than that. Let’s be clear: it is ABUSIVE to coerce,
intimidate, or otherwise force young girls to share their facilities
with a boy. I don’t care if he’s gender confused or not. I don’t care if
he wears a wig or not. All I care about, all that matters, all that
make a difference, is that he is a boy with boy parts, a boy’s body, a
boy’s genetic makeup, a boy’s brain, a boy’s everything. He’s a boy.
That’s all. That’s it. That’s the whole story.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Girls (and boys) deserve and are entitled to a safe and private place
to change and do their business. It is simply unconscionable and
despicable to take that away from them. </span></blockquote>
<br />
<a href="http://themattwalshblog.com/2015/09/02/forcing-girls-to-share-a-bathroom-with-a-gender-confused-boy-is-abuse/" target="_blank"><b>Read Forcing girls to share a bathroom with a gender-confused boy is abuse</b></a></div>
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Here's more food for thought -- involving <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2015/09/civil_case_involving_transgend.html" target="_blank"><b>privacy in locker rooms</b></a> this time.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">"Women and men being naked together in the same locker room, taking
showers and doing all this and they're saying that doesn't have any
component of a sexual nature to it," [Atty. David] Kallman said.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">"You don't have those facts in this case," [Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael] Beale replied.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Kallman said "we don't have to wait for that to occur" and that
the transgender-friendly locker room policy itself is "sexual in nature
by allowing men in the women's locker room."</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Beale came back to the threshold required for sexual harassment
claims several times and Kallman continued to respond by saying the
policy itself is sexual in nature and that no actual sexual incidents
needed to occur for that to meet the threshold.</span></blockquote>
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-34296920790858000262015-09-28T18:46:00.000+08:002015-09-28T18:47:38.059+08:00Love better, live better<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The superior man thinks always of virtue; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">the common man thinks of comfort. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Confucius</span></div>
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<br />
I came across this quote on <a href="http://getitpure.blogspot.com/2015/08/more-than-rule.html" target="_blank"><b>one of Petrufied's blog posts. </b></a><br />
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-64789518984552036082015-09-24T12:10:00.000+08:002015-09-25T18:01:40.937+08:00Following the Shepherd along "greener pastures"<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DmqciOWA2zQI6mAdS76PU4_IF51WnIijx6HDcSk-f1Iyh18WTxUdz1Va3W5B5eHJjbOXhWr4tV5q8KPfYJzjrX-R1aJGgLtUd2IPiLTv1DrnOjtnDBAbu61967xC_h54cnwk/s1600/Pope+doll.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DmqciOWA2zQI6mAdS76PU4_IF51WnIijx6HDcSk-f1Iyh18WTxUdz1Va3W5B5eHJjbOXhWr4tV5q8KPfYJzjrX-R1aJGgLtUd2IPiLTv1DrnOjtnDBAbu61967xC_h54cnwk/s400/Pope+doll.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">REUTERS/BRIAN SNYDER</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
Pope Francis is currently in the United States, having just planed in from Cuba where he spent three days of his 8-day apostolic journey in America. No doubt this is one of the most vital trips he is taking, since the United States is where much of the developments in the political and social spheres worldwide originate, whether we like it or not. Indeed, when the US sneezes, the whole world catches a cold (well, the "whole" can be an exaggeration but you know what I mean).<br />
<br />
If you're active in social media, you'll see loads of materials (articles, videos, memes, opinion pieces, news reports, etc.) on the 78-year-old Pope's apostolic visit and the response of the people of Cuba and the United States. So much to sift through, quite a lot to figure out. To help anyone interested to at least know a little of what's been going on and what the Pope has really been saying, below are links to a couple of speeches and transcript of an in-flight interview which he has made on the trip.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>Excerpt from the Pope's speech to families in Cuba (Sept. 22):</b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">It is in the home that we learn fraternity, solidarity, and not to
be overbearing. It is in the home that we learn to receive, to
appreciate life as a blessing and to realize that we need one another to
move forward. It is in the home that we experience forgiveness, that we
are continually asked to forgive and to grow. In the home there is no
room for 'putting on masks': we are who we are, and in one way or
another we are called to do our best for others. That is why the
Christian community calls families 'domestic churches'. It is in the
warmth of the home that faith fills every corner, lights up every space,
builds community. At those moments, people learn to discover God’s love
present and at work.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #93c47d;">In many cultures today,
these spaces are shrinking, these experiences of family are
disappearing, and everything is slowly breaking up, growing apart. We
have fewer moments in common, to stay together, to stay at home as a
family. As a result, we don’t know how to be patient, we don’t know how
to ask permission or forgiveness, or even to say 'thank you', because
our homes are growing empty. Empty of relationships, empty of contacts,
empty of encounters.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;">...</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;">The family is a school of humanity which teaches us to open our hearts
to others’ needs, to be attentive to their lives. Amid all the
difficulties troubling our families today, please, never forget one
thing: families are not a problem, they are first and foremost an
opportunity. An opportunity which we have to care for, protect and
support. </span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /><a href="http://www.romereports.com/2015/09/22/text-of-the-pope-s-speech-to-families-in-santiago-cuba" target="_blank"><i><b>Text of the Pope's speech to families in Santiago, Cuba</b></i></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">* * * * * * * * * * </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Excerpt from the Pope's in-flight interview from Cuba to the USA: </b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Jean Louis de la Vaissiere, AFP:</b> In the last trip to
Latin America, you harshly criticized the capitalist liberal system. In
Cuba, it appears that your critiques of the communist system weren’t
very strong, but “soft.” Why these differences?</span><br />
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Pope Francis:</b> In the speeches that I made in Cuba, I
always put the accent on the social doctrine of the Church. But the
things that must be corrected I said clearly, not “perfumed,” or soft.
But, also the first part of your question, more than what I have written
– and harshly – in the encyclical, also in <i>Evangelii gaudium</i>,
about wild, liberal capitalism – I didn’t say it. All that is written
there. I don’t remember having said anything more than that. If you
remember, let me know. I’ve said what I’ve written, which is enough,
enough.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-transcript-of-popes-in-flight-interview-from-cuba-to-us-78637/" target="_blank"><i><b>Full transcript of the in-flight interview from Cuba to US </b></i></a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">* * * * * * * * * * </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Excerpt from the Pope's speech to the bishops of the USA (Sept. 23):</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="292" data-total-count="10057" id="story-continues-7" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">We
all know the anguish felt by the first Eleven, huddled together,
assailed and overwhelmed by the fear of sheep scattered because the
shepherd had been struck. But we also know that we have been given a
spirit of courage and not of timidity. So we cannot let ourselves be
paralyzed by fear.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="292" data-total-count="10057" id="story-continues-7" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="249" data-total-count="10306" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">I
know that you face many challenges, that the field in which you sow is
unyielding and that there is always the temptation to give in to fear,
to lick one’s wounds, to think back on bygone times and to devise harsh
responses to fierce opposition.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="249" data-total-count="10306" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="240" data-total-count="10546" id="story-continues-8" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">And
yet we are promoters of the culture of encounter. We are living
sacraments of the embrace between God’s riches and our poverty. We are
witnesses of the abasement and the condescension of God who anticipates
in love our every response.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="240" data-total-count="10546" id="story-continues-8" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Dialogue
is our method, not as a shrewd strategy but out of fidelity to the One
who never wearies of visiting the marketplace, even at the eleventh
hour, to propose his offer of love (Mt 20:1-16).</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/us/pope-francis-speech-to-the-bishops-of-the-united-states-of-america.html" target="_blank"><i><b>Text of the Pope's speech to the bishops of the USA </b></i></a></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;">* * * * * * * * * *</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
Two interesting articles:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/pope-francis-is-not-a-progressive-or-a-liberalhes-a-priest/406519/" target="_blank"><b>Pope Francis is not 'progressive' -- he's a priest</b></a></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<i><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/pope-francis-is-not-a-progressive-or-a-liberalhes-a-priest/406519/" target="_blank">How to read the pontiff as he visits the United States of America</a></i></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/us/pope-francis-popularity-bridges-great-divides.html?ribbon-ad-idx=3&rref=us&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&pgtype=article" target="_blank"><b>Pope Francis' popularity bridges great divides</b></a></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<b> </b></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>* * * * * * * * * *</b></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
And here's something that will certainly delight a lot of infanticipating moms:</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<b><a href="http://www.romereports.com/2015/09/22/the-pope-delivers-a-rare-blessing-to-pregnant-women-from-cuba" target="_blank">The Pope delivers a rare blessing to pregnant women from Cuba (text and video)</a></b></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<a href="http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/papal-visit-2015/2015-papal-visit-schedule.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Schedule of the papal visit in the USA </span></a></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ADDENDUM:</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Excerpt from the Pope's speech at the US Congress (Sept. 24)<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In this land, the various religious denominations have greatly
contributed to building and strengthening society. It is important that
today, as in the past, the voice of faith continue to be heard, for it
is a voice of fraternity and love, which tries to bring out the best in
each person and in each society. Such cooperation is a powerful resource
in the battle to eliminate new global forms of slavery, born of grave
injustices which can be overcome only through new policies and new forms
of social consensus.<br />
<br />
Here I think of the political history of the United States, where
democracy is deeply rooted in the mind of the American people. All
political activity must serve and promote the good of the human person
and be based on respect for his or her dignity. “We hold these truths to
be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Declaration of
Independence, 4 July 1776). If politics must truly be at the service of
the human person, it follows that it cannot be a slave to the economy
and finance. Politics is, instead, an expression of our compelling need
to live as one, in order to build as one the greatest common good: that
of a community which sacrifices particular interests in order to share,
in justice and peace, its goods, its interests, its social life. I do
not underestimate the difficulty that this involves, but I encourage you
in this effort.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.romereports.com/2015/09/27/read-pope-francis-speech-before-the-u-s-congress" target="_blank"><i><b>Pope Francis' speech before the US Congress</b></i></a><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * * * * * * *</div>
<br />
<br />
More interesting articles:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ncregister.com/blog/matthew-archbold/pope-francis-awesome-drop-mic-moment-on-religious-liberty" target="_blank"><b>Pope Francis' awesome drop mic moment on religious liberty</b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/24/pope-francis-makes-unscheduled-visit-to-little-sisters-of-the-poor-to-show-his-support/" target="_blank"><b><br /></b></a>
<a href="http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/24/pope-francis-makes-unscheduled-visit-to-little-sisters-of-the-poor-to-show-his-support/" target="_blank"><b>Pope Francis makes unscheduled visit to Little Sisters of the Poor to show his support</b></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/24/pope-sees-face-st-joseph-homeless/72730952/" target="_blank"><b>Away from Capitol, Pope Francis sees face of St. Joseph in homeless</b></a></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="196" data-total-count="10742" itemprop="articleBody">
<br />
<br /></div>
sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-29849573486436873232015-09-22T11:38:00.000+08:002015-09-22T11:45:58.296+08:00Before September ends...<br />
<br />
... here are some news and features from around the planet. They either delve on happenings in September or were penned this month though tackling incidents from previous months. Lots to digest, lots to be aware about, lots to be thankful for, lots to spur us on to concrete action.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoQhwfeTkLOR4indxk6Tpsj1uXp5vSjEufCQe4ZppCrNhXgop_YDkjwUtazuSYYR7HAjgUZtq1MiUjwOyxQ-Bi3ETbIcx2qLv0osb7EoxX_cfA0TuCdJF1uyLHRdLnkPylVJ5/s1600/lion+etc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoQhwfeTkLOR4indxk6Tpsj1uXp5vSjEufCQe4ZppCrNhXgop_YDkjwUtazuSYYR7HAjgUZtq1MiUjwOyxQ-Bi3ETbIcx2qLv0osb7EoxX_cfA0TuCdJF1uyLHRdLnkPylVJ5/s400/lion+etc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/world/a-hunting-ban-saps-a-villages-livelihood.html?_r=1" target="_blank"><b>A hunting ban saps a village's livelihood</b></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">SANKUYO, Botswana — Lions have been coming out of the surrounding bush,
prowling around homes and a small health clinic, to snatch goats and
donkeys from the heart of this village on the edge of one of Africa’s
great inland deltas. Elephants, too, are becoming frequent, unwelcome
visitors, gobbling up the beans, maize and watermelons that took farmers
months to grow.</span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-parish-welcomes-first-refugee-family-following-popes-appeal-21465/" target="_blank"><b>Vatican parish welcomes first refugee family following Pope's appeal</b></a><br />
<br />
<span class="noticia_byline">Vatican City, Sep 18, 2015 / 11:57 am (<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/" target="_self">CNA/EWTN News</a>)</span>.-
A
family of four has been welcomed by the community of the Vatican's St.
Anne parish after Pope Francis' made an appeal earlier this month for
every church in Europe open their doors to refugees.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/unfpa-foiled-by-nigeria-on-abortion-sexual-rights" target="_blank"><b>Nigeria refuses to give in to UN pressure on abortion, 'sexual rights'</b></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">NEW YORK, September 18, 2015 (<a href="https://c-fam.org/">C-Fam</a>) A
powerful and controversial UN population agency told the Nigerian
government to change its position on reproductive health last week after
setbacks in advancing abortion and sexual rights for adolescents in
Africa.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australian-pm-turnbull-calls-for-more-women-mps-as-he-defends-reshuffle" target="_blank"><b>Australian PM Turnbull calls for more women MPs as he defends Cabinet reshuffle</b></a><br />
<br />
CANBERRA (AFP) - New Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull defended
his major shake-up of the Cabinet on Monday (Sept 21) and said he
wished the percentage of women in Parliament were higher so he could
have appointed more to key roles.<br />
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<b></b>
<b></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcPVsFIJ5c0Pya2k_busP1zA8G0guUNVOvfa641wOcpxDprltREfoOTiiObYHEIevSCSb2hGXt6nHAa3Dnl76-dcsWHdFRwj9bzo71n2FwUudCmmJtK69TdMqmqXXLh3C1Vw7/s1600/Pope+in+Cuba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcPVsFIJ5c0Pya2k_busP1zA8G0guUNVOvfa641wOcpxDprltREfoOTiiObYHEIevSCSb2hGXt6nHAa3Dnl76-dcsWHdFRwj9bzo71n2FwUudCmmJtK69TdMqmqXXLh3C1Vw7/s400/Pope+in+Cuba.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><a href="http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/09/21/pope_calls_for_conversion_of_hearts_and_minds_in_cuba/1173634" target="_blank">Pope calls for conversion of hearts and minds in Cuba</a></b><br /><br />(Va<span id="testo-articolo" itemprop="articleBody" tabindex="0">tican
Radio) Conversion of hearts and minds to Christ: this was the central
theme of Pope Francis’s homily at Mass in the Cuban city of Holguin on
Monday, the day the Church marks the feast of St Matthew.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://liveactionnews.org/louisiana-officially-cancels-planned-parenthood-funding-light-baby-parts-scandal/" target="_blank"><b>Louisiana officially cancels Planned Parenthood funding in light of 'baby parts' scandal</b></a><br />
<br />
This week, the state of Louisiana sent a<a href="http://www.adfmedia.org/files/LaDefundForCauseLetter.pdf" target="_blank"> letter</a>
to Planned Parenthood, detailing reasons for the state’s termination of
Medicaid funding to the abortion giant. The letter lists numerous
scandals involving Planned Parenthood (including those uncovered by the
Center for Medical Progress videos), citing Planned Parenthood’s illegal
actions and dishonesty as reasons for the termination.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/nepal-adopts-new-constitution-as-protesters-clash-with-police" target="_blank"><b>Nepal adopts new Constitution as protesters clash with police</b></a><br /><br />KATHMANDU • Nepal adopted a new Constitution yesterday aimed at
bolstering its transformation into a peaceful democracy after decades of
autocratic rule and a long civil war, even as protests raged over its
terms.</span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<i>Photo of Africa images from The New York Times / Photo of Pope Francis from Agence France Press</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13300883.post-29934943215626859942015-09-19T23:00:00.001+08:002015-10-04T18:14:09.414+08:00You make my heart beat faster: thanks for the scare, you big, black bee<br />
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Since <a href="http://notjustforsuperheroes.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-i-stopped-and-smelled-roses.html" target="_blank"><b>discovering the amazing beauty of the flowers in our garden</b></a> a couple of years ago and finding myself fascinated by the various insects (namely, butterflies, moths and caterpillars) and the way they quietly carry out their "work" day after day, I've come to see the natural world as yet another mirror that reflects God's wisdom. The minutest details have been taken care of, even the ones to which human eyes are oblivious but which are there for reasons only the Creator knows. I have also come to appreciate the little creatures that don't exactly exude breath-taking beauty but which -- so I learned later -- play an indispensable role in the grand scheme of things. Here's one such creature:<br />
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After seeing a couple of photos of bees I posted on Facebook, my friend<a href="http://www.andthesethygifts.com/" target="_blank"><b> Stef </b></a>gave me a link to a BBC documentary on just how vital the existence of bees (in this case, honeybees) was to ours. It was mind-blowing. It's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wO_6EagjvA" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> if you'd like to watch it.<br />
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Well, a recent experience led me to appreciate these<a href="http://notjustforsuperheroes.blogspot.com/2013/08/whats-all-buzz.html" target="_blank"><b> formerly-thought-of-as-ugly creatures</b></a> all the more, though fear had something to do with my change of heart..<br />
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One morning about a month ago, I decided that I would continue my quiet time out in the garden amid the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantana_camara" target="_blank"><b>lantana</b></a> hedge, atop a ladder. The brightly colored flowers were a-plenty, and butterflies and moths had been "visiting" more frequently again, making for a marvelous sight that could probably prompt even the most hardened heart to contemplate the beauty of the natural world. It suffices to say that it can be an immensely tranquil scene to witness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibsEIt2FpICJFSFKZFAs2pw8zsrkz3So5omtttDID3WZPkxsFBIK9kABPqhd2Gdz2rkKkowZY2E1iDitRyyt0ng6bLc69Muvw0FghHCNpFvlVfHQJOYyl0o-d_8gFjMrcsfq7/s1600/blog-ladder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibsEIt2FpICJFSFKZFAs2pw8zsrkz3So5omtttDID3WZPkxsFBIK9kABPqhd2Gdz2rkKkowZY2E1iDitRyyt0ng6bLc69Muvw0FghHCNpFvlVfHQJOYyl0o-d_8gFjMrcsfq7/s400/blog-ladder.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the world: More accurately, top of the ladder</td></tr>
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Done with prayer inside my room, I headed out the front door, set the ladder near the hedge, and tucked my phone securely in my pocket (I figured taking a snapshot or two of a pretty butterfly would be a nice bonus). As I climbed the steps, I already admired the sight before me. Sure, the vibrant colors of petals please the senses, but greenery can be magnificent, too, in its simplicity. Reaching the top of the ladder afforded me a view of the entire hedge. I slowly turned and settled into a comfortable position from where I could continue my quiet time. <i>Things sure look different from up here</i>, I remember thinking
while bringing out my phone and setting it on camera just in case some
pretty butterfly happened to land near enough.<br />
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How relaxing it was. By this time I had grown accustomed to seeing things like hairy caterpillars around our garden that rather than being irked or agitated by the sight of the creepy crawlies, my reaction would be pure fascination.<br />
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I snapped away with each remarkable sight. "Now that's something you don't see everyday," I muttered as a hairy caterpillar slowly made its way toward a smaller, non-hairy caterpillar on a neighboring leaf. Would this constitute a petty quarrel in the insect world? A "Match of the Century" of sorts? Caterpillar Armaggedon?<br />
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I was content with sitting on my post, savoring the quiet and watching as butterflies zoomed past but none sticking around long enough to photograph. Perhaps I had been there for some 10 or so minutes when a bee appeared at the far end of the hedge. From flower to flower it hovered and landed for a few moments, doing its thing. I wasn't really concerned because I had seen bees all the time, though I admit I was always on the ground and they were up there, far from the ground.<br />
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As the bee slowly grew closer, I started taking photos... until I realized it was much too close for comfort. At this point I had visions of being stung by the creature, which of course sent me into a semi-panic (the bee, after all, was not your average bee but a huge, black, furry one. In a span of, oh, 15 seconds maybe, I thought of how best to fall from the ladder so that I don't sustain a broken leg or hip or any of my precious limbs: <i>Wait, should I fall foward, that way I land on these santan bushes, thereby cushioning me a bit? How do I avoid those pots? Should I lean back? Yikes, that will tip the ladder over. Ack! Here it comes.... oh my God. Maybe I'll shut my eyes so it doesn't sting me there. I don't want to go blind! Oh no....</i> were the thoughts that raced through my head as the bee hovered closer and the buzzing sound grew louder.<br />
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At one point, the bee seemed to stare right at me, and I -- with phone a few inches from my face and trying to maintain my balance on top of the ladder -- sat still and all the while wondering if my racing hearbeat would send a warning to the menacing-looking thing. I remember starting to utter the Memorare softly in a pleading tone (and quite rapidly) and then cutting it short to say "Oh, God..." because I thought the bee would actually fly straight toward me.<br />
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Well, it didn't.<br />
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It turned its attention on the flowers again, hovering over some that were on another part of the hedge. Best moment of the entire experience. My pulse rate decreased and for a few seconds I just sat there.<br />
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<i>I think I'm invading their space</i>, I concluded, and with that I slowly made my way down the ladder, still dazed that I escaped a possible stinging from a very big, very black and very furry bee. <br />
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<i>"Hindi ka naman aanuhin basta hindi mo sila sasaktan</i> (They won't do anything to you as long as you don't hurt them)," was my mother's casual remark after I related the nerve-wracking incident that left me all sweaty (not from the sun exposure or humidity, but from nervousness). Well, I didn't know that. Besides, I had made up my mind to let the winged creatures frequenting our garden have their own space. You know, respecting the fact that they have their own jobs to do and that I might be interfering even when I think I'm simply admiring them and their realm, and trying to capture them in photos.<br />
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Well, now that I think about it, I've captured enough images of the wondrous sights I've been fortunate to see in our small garden. And what ultimately counts doesn't lie in perfectly composed pictures or witnessing butterflies and other little creatures carry out their part in the ecosystem. If I'd ask myself if seeing all this has been keeping me on the path of a virtuous life directed toward Heaven, I would definitely want to be able to say a resounding "Yes!"<br />
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But then, keeping hundreds and hundreds (more like over a thousand) of photos of flowers and insects from every angle in my computer doesn't sound very virtuous, so let me share some of them here before I delete them for good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC52bFA_r9nuun_2CAZCHH_OHAqH0vvxYydVaAZtcztpeDqmM-4Blz3vgRWN-zTQIFHCnT0UU1O787WhAF1TeTW0fRB6c8iJVyiok4Zvker_2TzwkeAb9dLAsgocnLolPfeF0L/s1600/blog-bright+orange+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC52bFA_r9nuun_2CAZCHH_OHAqH0vvxYydVaAZtcztpeDqmM-4Blz3vgRWN-zTQIFHCnT0UU1O787WhAF1TeTW0fRB6c8iJVyiok4Zvker_2TzwkeAb9dLAsgocnLolPfeF0L/s400/blog-bright+orange+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One sunny day at the lantana hedge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up from under the hedge, this is what I see</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LxaVGt1N5YMQ0Lg8wnsBdk7UqW9uTHT7nO4VHMgwnUKUWEQdhNQeR_WgcRuNznp4n1TSqb_yRjLPubMHE9DHLldQx50LvdsmVQyNm1WQbh_5IGfZnIuMION2w4emkXMPjiOl/s1600/blog-lantana+vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LxaVGt1N5YMQ0Lg8wnsBdk7UqW9uTHT7nO4VHMgwnUKUWEQdhNQeR_WgcRuNznp4n1TSqb_yRjLPubMHE9DHLldQx50LvdsmVQyNm1WQbh_5IGfZnIuMION2w4emkXMPjiOl/s400/blog-lantana+vert.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several kinds of Amata wasp moths</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Common Lime Butterfly, one of the pretty pollinators in our garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not so common: lavender hibiscus ("gumamela")</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Philippine Common Snow Flat (I have no idea why it's called that) is pretty rare; I've seen one in our garden only twice so far</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTbhS5d07ViJB-FNNAipjFMMUMWBzEQ1uqUHa_1PG93Ariab-Qf0zQO0quXpjJesBU8yEvjhhYFFwOwnZVCmL6WsyBJcatySMSU46dsHjvAsfhPg_cjIt4wn3yXBGdtGv2HA5/s1600/petal+a-super.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTbhS5d07ViJB-FNNAipjFMMUMWBzEQ1uqUHa_1PG93Ariab-Qf0zQO0quXpjJesBU8yEvjhhYFFwOwnZVCmL6WsyBJcatySMSU46dsHjvAsfhPg_cjIt4wn3yXBGdtGv2HA5/s400/petal+a-super.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lantana hedge was bursting with color on the day after a thunderstorm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjOYG7FIN5_S6RrL_7mflDf8asGRaDKpo3Ij8f6rD5EbxErrDcBKk0vv_AHz06zSQhvzTiQKRhPeQs7SGOOVIKarJ5cMHTjYhx7AaCSkHpr5ESmairqLFcVXYJEqH4rLOSURY/s1600/fb-nature+eggfly+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjOYG7FIN5_S6RrL_7mflDf8asGRaDKpo3Ij8f6rD5EbxErrDcBKk0vv_AHz06zSQhvzTiQKRhPeQs7SGOOVIKarJ5cMHTjYhx7AaCSkHpr5ESmairqLFcVXYJEqH4rLOSURY/s400/fb-nature+eggfly+leaves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such pretty leaves providing a resting place for this Great Eggfly butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE6cC0XMGhOLPUHKmBlC6Zu93xebQyOqcz2D-cyISap8881EjnDRMuk7hVKo7l1QUkxpTmZloY-mkZxh4EobXJgX6SF7bkINXlIHV4LqkUC4bgiWX4ZbdeLZta5Elb03ep4S3/s1600/fb-tiger+moth+nice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE6cC0XMGhOLPUHKmBlC6Zu93xebQyOqcz2D-cyISap8881EjnDRMuk7hVKo7l1QUkxpTmZloY-mkZxh4EobXJgX6SF7bkINXlIHV4LqkUC4bgiWX4ZbdeLZta5Elb03ep4S3/s400/fb-tiger+moth+nice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see a lot of these wasp moths flying around our garden. This was taken right after it rained.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY9UkARTBzGoehyEKEZbECqUI404Mfrd8gQ-x-zQLdFtweEs-Qu95ZFZxh-fe1MUWfltRRbE9_6IP4Cu_4k9MaIzppuTe2uCRzMu7CsdZcXoYbWiK6IwmCfldbh9escSvU6b3/s1600/blog-army+hawk+caterpillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY9UkARTBzGoehyEKEZbECqUI404Mfrd8gQ-x-zQLdFtweEs-Qu95ZFZxh-fe1MUWfltRRbE9_6IP4Cu_4k9MaIzppuTe2uCRzMu7CsdZcXoYbWiK6IwmCfldbh9escSvU6b3/s400/blog-army+hawk+caterpillar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Army Green caterpillars love the plants in our yard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rws4taG-0y-pVElgEPm5XzTq2TLKJwF3XqVnNvkFdyJkqXhc1DE3MbJqEgUE6WJMgMO_wnnsn-vnuPoWr6GXlvVmuBpC3DwwT8AxfTMbQAu7SGL5PHmdLeAUNjaspO6h6JHE/s1600/blog-army+hawk+caterpillar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rws4taG-0y-pVElgEPm5XzTq2TLKJwF3XqVnNvkFdyJkqXhc1DE3MbJqEgUE6WJMgMO_wnnsn-vnuPoWr6GXlvVmuBpC3DwwT8AxfTMbQAu7SGL5PHmdLeAUNjaspO6h6JHE/s400/blog-army+hawk+caterpillar+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the Army Green caterpillar changes color, that means it's ready to pupate soon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuC5JD02Ea0-JGRPaNK_niQ7T3m3K-9vVbr83wkOc7UNmpkncwLkzngeDKIlgq6YnHoniQ4zWoQ-qO86R2IaQJk60GHnyc-7DyG6sFtltOCYB7tM7BzgYgeGi4SLi2vZbMH5M/s1600/blog-army+hawk+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuC5JD02Ea0-JGRPaNK_niQ7T3m3K-9vVbr83wkOc7UNmpkncwLkzngeDKIlgq6YnHoniQ4zWoQ-qO86R2IaQJk60GHnyc-7DyG6sFtltOCYB7tM7BzgYgeGi4SLi2vZbMH5M/s400/blog-army+hawk+moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Army Green Hawk-moth, the morning after emerging from its cocoon! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJNk9qkekf9sphBK6Vv_WVkKgN101g4oH061TbEeqI7OuBSh6RjyxWg0ZqbSYCl6vVJ3VoniEMLI2sphmA9FBZd3MmSpH2iU6dDOPiwIBZ3sTbP2d1H3d3mFYKmmO826hrXFP/s1600/bee-yellow+orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJNk9qkekf9sphBK6Vv_WVkKgN101g4oH061TbEeqI7OuBSh6RjyxWg0ZqbSYCl6vVJ3VoniEMLI2sphmA9FBZd3MmSpH2iU6dDOPiwIBZ3sTbP2d1H3d3mFYKmmO826hrXFP/s400/bee-yellow+orange.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bee busy at work, oblivious to any observer like me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gIaDY7vNM-fa3ttB8AvcQbd0zbXSdEzK9R5dlkcAuXfM5iER1_BB9-j5372O_GKsghPXpCpiqRyNOMSjnckfHtCT2PzUyAD2g5RjOmqIYcRlyLIRX3RCGABPtron5v9aTzT_/s1600/tattered+sept+14-low+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gIaDY7vNM-fa3ttB8AvcQbd0zbXSdEzK9R5dlkcAuXfM5iER1_BB9-j5372O_GKsghPXpCpiqRyNOMSjnckfHtCT2PzUyAD2g5RjOmqIYcRlyLIRX3RCGABPtron5v9aTzT_/s400/tattered+sept+14-low+res.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I find butterflies and moths with tattered wings truly fascinating as the injury doesn't seem to faze them. This is a Great Eggfly butterfly, which I see a lot of in our garden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRat4G8l0aRB7PGg1lVCekibAC4ldfVn0-LVa7WvvKAk9yUjBvxRx1AsZwxIZDDoaPNdhKQdXaufA7V0bM7YNLdj4td8dXfP56okYTcg2XwIbYe72HCLjs5d6NHuscOzOa_OY/s1600/blog-creepy+on+leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRat4G8l0aRB7PGg1lVCekibAC4ldfVn0-LVa7WvvKAk9yUjBvxRx1AsZwxIZDDoaPNdhKQdXaufA7V0bM7YNLdj4td8dXfP56okYTcg2XwIbYe72HCLjs5d6NHuscOzOa_OY/s400/blog-creepy+on+leaf.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hairy caterpillar that, I'm told, does not transform into a butterfly or moth but simply remains a caterpillar all its life. Boy, I shouldn't have believed that. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eXVlrmbo0W9rXRX1-td-UrKK4mDShey5wh3KhDVB-XmX-2z3unOY7yIDjBGVRK6CNgHYdpb4_6g9LIP4VdmOLnnzcE57enm3XslvPaooAz2nQ0R3ExygNJgusSLWAjHF6LUA/s1600/add-bee+santan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eXVlrmbo0W9rXRX1-td-UrKK4mDShey5wh3KhDVB-XmX-2z3unOY7yIDjBGVRK6CNgHYdpb4_6g9LIP4VdmOLnnzcE57enm3XslvPaooAz2nQ0R3ExygNJgusSLWAjHF6LUA/s400/add-bee+santan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hardly noticeable honeybee among the santan petals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSfLgJG_arOaTdML0R8eZ_7XvAcrrOSL-rQAkrYfAzSWJ_nC83pDrz80FZiw-3secKDELiRDExE89UtLza47u1Bl3aw21WVi1kgKOrkgP9wklaTqJyTsiAmqa57mdLeOyDbuP/s1600/wow+nice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSfLgJG_arOaTdML0R8eZ_7XvAcrrOSL-rQAkrYfAzSWJ_nC83pDrz80FZiw-3secKDELiRDExE89UtLza47u1Bl3aw21WVi1kgKOrkgP9wklaTqJyTsiAmqa57mdLeOyDbuP/s400/wow+nice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charming light-colored lantana</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h_aqRUYj78qbz22DA-V4KeWpddnm8g0vJcTSpbSYlmaZp8Km5R19PjSP17S-uqFWuqFIeQBHMduZH4gGSjnYa4OVRC4b_E_NeXpiGWpkzZBE4k2bbZlT5Pr58RmYP-KApNzK/s1600/fb-skipper+layers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h_aqRUYj78qbz22DA-V4KeWpddnm8g0vJcTSpbSYlmaZp8Km5R19PjSP17S-uqFWuqFIeQBHMduZH4gGSjnYa4OVRC4b_E_NeXpiGWpkzZBE4k2bbZlT5Pr58RmYP-KApNzK/s400/fb-skipper+layers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These Skipper butterflies can test one's alertness and patience in photographing them, since they dart from place to place and their rapid movements are quite unpredictable.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkYkUwUDw6tLNNHWv-3nxQHD-oA8-9WMCtoUZTfa6xfWQ2-nvwN5y20AZCtXINNcMnOrNDYq27jNkh9avwNKwmAEtWeaVEHG-1liqdMmhxft9dz8ADxvj1p9LEZZ350C1jIMG/s1600/blog-lantana+plenty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkYkUwUDw6tLNNHWv-3nxQHD-oA8-9WMCtoUZTfa6xfWQ2-nvwN5y20AZCtXINNcMnOrNDYq27jNkh9avwNKwmAEtWeaVEHG-1liqdMmhxft9dz8ADxvj1p9LEZZ350C1jIMG/s400/blog-lantana+plenty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjSgC248bfQxJ1w4KI9tX4a6vHGzuV740hcC35wL7Nf9P0suMjQDsf2cFwIZCZPO-4fls_Oo57LPg6q2biK6QZy3DZB5W9He-TT9h8R0_1Paw0W4dSGgEI-GgbdvKmgCKj0ik/s1600/butterfly-June+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjSgC248bfQxJ1w4KI9tX4a6vHGzuV740hcC35wL7Nf9P0suMjQDsf2cFwIZCZPO-4fls_Oo57LPg6q2biK6QZy3DZB5W9He-TT9h8R0_1Paw0W4dSGgEI-GgbdvKmgCKj0ik/s400/butterfly-June+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 4, 2013: the first snapshot that got me hooked on these winged creatures </td></tr>
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<br />sunnydayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15866905031172910302noreply@blogger.com0