[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-8506668136396723343&hl]

Hi. I've been getting bored updating this blog - perhaps oversimplified wordpress templates can't really wholly please dirty, perverted, muddled and imaginative human minds for so long. Anyway, these past few weeks have been relatively more stressful than any other week I've had so far this year. Firstly, I had to extract the essence of 500 pages of my maths textbook and drink it like chicken essence - you know, when you position your index finger and thumb in the shape of a clothespin, and squeeze the nostrils tight to prevent the olfactory nerves from working along with your taste buds as you swallow liquified cock (male chicken), or hen (female chicken),  - in ten days, in order to do my IB Maths Internal Assessment. Okay, I know typical human beings should not be doing these kinds of things, but I guess being atypical is typical within the IB world. And then secondly, EXAMS. End-of-year exams. The good thing about these examinations, is that they're not a dreadful as the JCs' promotional exams (since the shit inside you won't be scared out of you by the prospect of being retained in JC1) or as hyperventilating and exhilarating as the counterpart IB school's - you know which school I'm talking about.

Anyway, to summarize my oh-so-enjoyable week:

Sunday - Tuesday: STUDY STUDY STUDY!

Wednesday: English SL paper 1. Wrote two pages of literary crap. I think I did quite well. Essay wasn't so much well-organized, though.

Thursday: Mathematics HL paper 1. Disaster. A cataclysm of undecipherable questions. As expected.

Friday: Chemistry HL paper in the morning. Chemistry rocks. Economics HL paper in the afternoon. Comme ci comme ça.

More exam papers next week.

Anyway,

there comes a point in time when everything you have written inside an exam hall seems convincingly worthy of getting the allocated marks. And then, at the moment you grab that precious time to meditate about the swift chain of events, where a year's worth of learning had been mercilessly compressed into a 2-hour 20-page examination paper, you begin to think, "Oh. Damn. Oh well."

Generally, I think I did way better for Chemistry and Economics than for Mathematics, which is like, umm, expected, since Mathematics was written in Greek. or Latin. Maybe French?? I wasn't really sure. There is something about this subject which frustrates me so much. No matter how much similar the math questions you practice are with the exam questions themselves, when the paper is set in such a way that the questions are twisted in a slightly different way, your brain refuses to twist along the same degree of insanity. And to think that I practised maths every single day for the past two or three weeks...

Well, perhaps the best possible explanation was that I sat on the tenth chair of the second column from the left. Whatever that signified.

Arellano wins 'Square Off' CVC Law Debates

Printer-friendly version | Send to friend

Arellano University swept aside Ateneo de Davao University to take the crown in the finals of the CVC Law Debates on ANC's Square Off. (Actually, Arellano did not sweep off Ateneo de Davao, the judges fooled themselves in believing that a flimsy medical reprieve without factual basis is the best argument against term limits) Haaaa!!!

Opposing the proposition that term limits of elective officials should be lifted, Arellano countered the two main arguments of ADDU - that term limits curtail the citizen's freedom of choice and that they encourage family dynasties - with an unothodox premise and plenty of chutzpah. (The thing is, they didn't even provide data to show that indeed everybody in office is hypertensive. Unorthodox as it is illogical and baseless.)

Some analysts failed to grasp how Arellano could claim ( See?!!)- complete with medical descriptions of stress-related ailments - ( excuse me, there was no clear description given. they did not even explain how stress can cause stroke, because not all stress can bring about illness) that the framers of the Constitution had meant term limits to serve as state-imposed "sabbaticals" for potiticans to get needed rest and rejuvenation before running again. But maybe because ADDU - unable to move beyond its memorized speeches (excuse me! where you really watching?  or you are not used to see eloquent speakers)- didn't effectively refute Arellano. What? or is it the other way around?) Maybe it was because Arellano appeared so much more poised and confident than ADDU. ( who was poised, the third one who fumbled or the bullies in the club with no more arguments than the magic of stroke) Or maybe the judges felt refreshed (or surprised?) by the sheer audacity ( who was audicious among the three?) of Arellano's position. At any rate, the judge gave the win to Arellano, unanimously. (Waaa!!! )

And while many scratched their heads for awhile, all eventually conceded (really?) to the unassailability of the decision coming no less from the biggest of CVC Law's bigwigs,  Raoul R. Angangco, Simeon V. Marcelo, and Avelino J. Cruz, Jr.

Head Judge, former defense secretary Avelino "Nonong" Cruz, Jr.  prefaced his announcement with congratulations to both teams.

"There is ample evidence here that there will be enough defenders of the rule of law in the future and that bodes very well for the future of this country where we need a lot of defenders of the rule of law because of the many transgressions that are going on."  (Excuse me! Such delusions perturb this already-ailing nation)

Then he announced that Arellano's Luis Warren, who was already the Texters' Choice for Best Speaker, (oh are your text results really reliable?) was also the Judges' Choice for that honor, winning an LG Viewty cameraphone,  a trophy and a 3-day trip for 2 to Boracay.

And then Arellano was declared the Winner and Champion, taking home Acer laptops  and the CD-ROM Lex Libris Law Library Series.

As the raucous Arellano contingent formed a victory parade towards the alma mater - their good luck Mama Mary statu e (Wooooh! I wonder what Mama Mary felt whenoisted up?) she was h hoisted high - and while Square Off producers' phones buzzed non-stop with text complaints in Cebuano, Marcelo, Angangco and Cruz repaired, unperturbed, to the steakhouse next door.

Cruz is prodded about why, given that the scores for Best Speaker were tied between Warren and ADDU's Therese Gemelo, he didn't choose to make the charitable gesture (charity? he already gave it to Arellano) when he knew that Arellano had won the Grand Prize anyway. "I suppose that would have been the Solomonic decision. But I made what I believed was the right decision".

Marcelo reveals that even though the judging in the Finals seemed to favor Arellano so decidedly, it is an ADDU debater that has caught CVC's recruiting eye. Angangco muses that the earlier eliminations of top-ranked Ateneo de Manila and U.P sent the heartening meassage that every (under)dog has his day.

Cruz waxed prophetic; " The response to the CVC Law Debates has been so strong that I'm sure students everywhere are inspired. The quality of public discourse will get better and better. This is good for the country, I tell you." (Ngek, how so?)

Pancho Villaraza, the law firm's senior partner who wasn't on the show, sent a telepathic note:  Thse debates are worth doing again. We will do this again.  (Why the hell should they join when logic and facts  don't count in your debate? Kakahiya!)

"I don’t like to know what the ending is. Very often you have a provisional ending. You have an idea of a temporary ending. You just kind of erect this idea because you think you’re going in some direction. It usually changes. In fact I sort of have this thing where, if I, at a certain point in the writing of it, if I see the ending, then by definition that’s not the ending. It gets eliminated as a possibility. It’s too conscious and I’ll start steering toward it and it’s too arranged. If I can see it that easily then it’s not subtle enough. It’s not even worthy of being an ending. I have to be a little bit surprised by where it goes.

"It’s one of the questions I pose to myself. There are times in certain stories I was purposely doing that and I wondered to myself if that was the way to go. Some of the endings are really open-ended and all the tightness is in the first two-thirds, and then there’s this last couple of pages that are very, very unresolved. I don’t know. Well, life doesn’t resolve itself, but stories are different. But I was right in that place between how little can I do this, how open-ended can I be?

"Am I doing something that’s right within the story or am I abandoning the story’s need? There are two endings to every story. There’s the one that’s the story, the tidy, and you could push it toward a morality, but then there’s the need to resolve it aesthetically. My question is: I don’t care about resolving the tidy moral life of a story, but did I end it aesthetically?"

I could make broccoli and penne noodles for supper - I imagine that is what I will do - but having beef in there sounds so good.  I hate when I get these cravings and can't satisfy them - I will continue to crave it now until I break down and order it.  Hopefully, I can be strong until next month...

The tree directly in front of my apartment has already lost about 1/4th of it's leaves which is great for Bennie who likes to romp through them.  One tree on the end of the walk has lost almost all of it's leaves already which seems a bit early to me but guess it does that each year.

Geese have flown south for the winter - I haven't heard any since day before yesterday.  Hopefully as the weather cools, the fleas, flies, boxelder bugs, and, especially spiders, will die or go where ever they go this time of year. 

I can't say I'm looking forward to winter this year.  If I were rich and had a house in the country - I think I would be because I wouldn't have to worry about being out on icy roads.  Why can't I be rich???  I would so love to have a country home with fireplaces, big yard, big kitchen and no neighbors.  It would be awesome. 

I was thinking today that, even if I were rich, I wouldn't permanently leave Iowa.  As Iowa is in the mid-west, I would use it as my base home and go visit other areas I'm interested in.  Before when I thought about being rich, I always thought I'd move someplace like Colorado or Montana.  I may have a cabin in one of those states but my home would always be here in Iowa.  Moving away really has made me appreciate how much I love it here.

One of the biggest benefits of social media is the willingness of those who use its tools to share insights and information. It makes us all smarter. As you’ve probably heard, a rising tide lifts all boats.

I was thinking today about some of the great nuggets other smart professionals have shared with me during my career so far, things they’ve learned along the way that have shaped how they do business and that have contributed to their success. That led to this idea…

What if we all shared some valuable insight that we think makes us better professionals and people? Combined, we have a wealth of knowledge and passing along a little piece of advice can help make us all better at our jobs. And maybe at life, too.

So please share your gem in the comments area. I’ll kick it off.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

For me, that quote made clear the fact that accomplished goals are the result of smart planning, hard work and perseverance. And that most things – in work and in life – don’t come easy. I repeat it to myself often.

Ok, now it’s your turn. What's your gem?

*Image by Lohengrin.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed, either by reader or by e-mail.

All the years spent, wondering why I liked someone and not understanding how they could possibly not feel the same about me! If only I'd known! But then how do you know? What is it about a relationship that makes you say "There's some chemistry here"? I don't know, but I know it when I feel it. So the point is that if you can't make it, you just have to find it.

Where competing law school students from Ateneo de Davao University and Arellano University showcased witty arguments and utmost resourcefulness in defending their motions.

Clearly, the Ateneo de Davao team, had better speakers and resources. But it ended with an incredible choice for best speaker, and debating team, that is, Arellano's. While the choice for best speaker was actually tied and decided upon by Avelino Cruz the head of the three judges, it was surprising that he chose the mestizo-looking lad, when his arguments did not consistently hold water.  mmmmm... between him and the lady in his team, I prefer the lady. She was more calm in demeanor. and rather cool and attractive.  Mmmmm. Of course, their 3rd speaker did not seem to help. He has yet to learn more. But he seemed nice and childlike.

But of course, I preferred the last speaker from Ateneo de Davao University. She had more raw sources to defend her argument. She was quick, eloquent  smart and focused. The other 2 were also held their ground despite the bullying stance of the first two speakers from Arellano. The first one, got her groove when the lad from Arellano, wanted to look more logical than he truly was. Of course, it was obvious that his sources were not as voluminous and sturdy.

At least the Ateneo de Davao team did not zero in on hypertension and other illness because sadly, this was a very weak argument.  In the first place, no politician should be allowed to run or practice if his health is weak, as it will eventually affect his constituents.  Of course, the Arellano University team  had no raw data that can otherwise prove how many of our politicians were rendered ill and needed rest as a result of their duties. They must have checked how  Juan Ponce Enrile, Sec. Ermita, and of course, Justice Sec. Gonzales why they did not rest. Hahaha! But heck, this is their sole and prime intention that truly holds no water in any debate forum, since as they said, things are very idealistic. So in any event, they will also stick to sloppy argument as they must have presumed or settled with the ideal that no political measure can be exerted, for instance, in the case of Marcos, the Dy's of Isabela and now the Dutertes. Bwahahahha! A lesson in history they failed to rebut.

It doesn't take a lawyer or a law student to figure out the nuances and contradictions of term limits.

The thing  is, though their arguments appeared ludicrous, and their palpable lack of case research and analysis seemed their best weakness, it was the judges' call. And judges didn't seem to remember the principles of debate, and well, justice.

But of course, like those judges,  this is just my opinion.

“ Clay is molded into vessels, and because of the space where there is nothing, you can carry water,  Space is carved out from a wall, and because of the place where there is nothing, you can receive light. Be empty, and you will remain full….”  -Lao Tsu

When my husband and I moved to Wisconsin, I felt like I had been exiled into a limitless wasteland.  I never felt so alone and unprotected as I looked around the flat surface of this state.  My children and everyone I knew now lived a couple of thousand miles away.  We came to live in this small little town of five thousand, three thousand of which were prisoners in the local prisons, and all I could think of is how to get back home.

After a few years, I knew I was not going back.  At least not in the near future. I had been colleting art materials for years and toward the end of my job in the prison running a literacy program, all I could do to keep sane was draw. I couldn’t draw the prisoners, they had eyes in the back of their heads, and it is not good to stare at them without some darn good reason, so I managed to draw the dull rooms and furniture around me.

It came as a slow fever when I started making bowls as a way to express myself artistically at home.  It was a strange obsession that seemed to take a hold of me. I didn’t have much money, and I couldn’t afford to take a pottery class so I used what materials were close at hand. I had a never ending supply of old news papers and brown paper sacks. So, I started layering my paste and paper over and over on balloons and old glass bowls I used for molds.

When I started making the bowls, I felt so alive. Each night I went to bed thinking about the next bowl. It is almost embarrassing now to think how I seemed so completely taken over, but all I could think about then was how to shape, color, and decorate my bowls. It was almost as though I was on a mission.

Interestingly, before I made my poor little papier-mâché bowls, nothing seemed possible.  I was always struggling.  My job at the prison had been robbing me of my physical and emotional health.  They had a recycled air system in the prison and the smoking of the prisoners and guards passed through every air vent. Before I left my prison position,  I had a deep cough for months that doctors were unable to treat successfully. I used up all my sick leave trudging back and froth form doctor to doctor.  I never really felt alive, but when I began to make my bowls I started to feel everything was possible. It was like they were taking on a life of their own, and I was starting to feel happy.

My making bowls seemed to make everyone around me crazy, but I was just not willing to let go of my creativity, my health, and new happiness. The questions I heard repeatedly were, “Why are you making papier-mâché bowls? What good are they?”

Even after I went on my bowl making rampage,  I never really understood what was going on in me.  What was it about the bowls that compelled me?  What was I finding in their empty shapes?

I started to think about what bowls had meant to me in my life.  I remembered the blue of the bowls that held the hot white milk steaming over sweetened bread on cold morning before school. There were the  bowls my mother used to put our Christmas candies and Easter eggs in on those few special days when there was peace in the house.  I thought about my sisters how they sat with their friends and told their stories with old stained bowls filled with purple globs of goop.  That purple pasty substance then faded  black on their heads only to magically transformed their brown hair into golden blond.  There were bowls to hold straight pins and safety pins, buttons, and thread when mom made us new dresses.  There were large yellow bowls that were filled with icing and cake batter that I used to scrape with my fingers while I sat quietly on a square of news paper on the floor.

Was the bowl making about feeding , nourishing, and transforming myself?  Was I finding in the bottom of those empty bowls the biggest gift of all, myself and my creativity?

Now, what I need to remember when I struggle or come to empty spaces in my life is the beginning of my love affair with my empty bowls and what I call coincidence, synchronicity, or, most probably, God and his way of encouraging me.  Since my bowl making days, I have came across two books involving bowls quite by accident. These books were about bowls being symbolic of life, women, and ourselves. The book Everyday Sacred A Women's Journey Home by Sue Bender literally fell off a book shelve into my hands. She starts her book by saying, "This story is about a bowl." The other book is called Wisdom Bowls Over Coming Fear And Coming Home to Your Authentic Self by Meredith Young-Sowers which I also came across in a surprising way on the Internet.

To me, these books not only affirmed my attraction to bowls, but they helped clarify what I somehow knew on a subconscious level. It also led me to other books on the subject and maybe to write about my own journey.

I don’t know what you would find in your empty bowls, or empty spaces, but maybe you would find a bit of yourself and your story?

I've been yearning to eat pancakes for breakfast. This morning, I was nearby a Jollibee outlet and recalled that they, too offer panc akes for breakfast.

Well, I usually prefer McDonalds for I like their pancakes and I like their welcoming ambience, which, is seemingly less in jollibee.

But to frustration, what is liberal and free in McDonald's was not at Jollibee. I mean to inflict the frugal treatment of pancakes at jollibee. Syrup makes pancakes more meaningful to eat. Jollibee  only provides a tablespoon, I assume for the 2 pancakes, and if you intend to add some more for flavor you need to pay for another tablespoon more.

I don't understand the significant difference. Because if McDonald's was always to give it for free and liberal in amount why can't Jollibee?

As I sliced my pancake with a pang of regret I entertained some thoughts, is it possible that syrups in McDo are all sugar and water without honey or anything? While Jollibee, has pure honey, that's why they only serve a tablespoon or so? Well, I certainly cannot tell the difference between the two syrups whether or not my conjecture bears reality.

All I know is, I surely, won't make Jollibee as a choice for my morning pancakes.

Well....this is a bit lame, but heck, pancakes make my day you know, especially when setbacks are up. And surely, this morning Jollibee pancakes did not do good to my ill feelings towards, instead, I felt worse. And worst, Jollibee's pineapple taste less pineappley. Mmm. their own concoction I was told. I am always partial to  Del Monte or Dole's kasi.

If you're in Davao, try Merco's pancake....they serve one large pancake, A plateful, with liberal amount of syrup at a lesser cost.

Here's to pancakes... and beyond!!!!

ITS RELATIVE !

"Sit on a hot fire for a minute , it ll seem like an hour but sit next to a pretty chick for an hour it ll seem like a minute ! - Albert Einstein"

Modern versions -

"Sit in a lecture for a minute it will seem like an hour , sit in a cinema hall for 2 hours it ll seem like  minute"

" A walk to the HOD's cabin [ which is 20 steps away ] seems like an eternal journey , a trip to nandhi hills "only 2 hours macha ! "

" Healthy hygenic food prepared by mom , tasteless , food available throughout the city on roads " Heavenly!"

" Submit assignments on time which were given 2 weeks in advance , " time is too less to complete " , friends call you for night out at 8 pm " will be there boy!"

" Dad says come to relatives place " Have to study ! " , catch up with old friends " lot of time left for studies !"

" Take your neighbours dog to hospital , " i get nausea" , go to hospitals after hospitals for you need a medical certificate to show in college for a reason for bunking your exams " PLease help Sir ! "

" Look up on the internet and get information of tomorrow' s lecture" - " Computer is not proper sir " , " Orkut, Facebook , GTalk, Yahoo , Skype - Unlimited broadband also seems insufficient!"

Cost of 5 th sem college fees - 25000 + 1000 [ ushus ] + 350  [ CSA ]

Cost of Books , notes bag etc - 5000

Cost of clothes & accessories-  15000

Vehicle Expenses - 10000

Entertainment and dining expenses - 6000

Telephone expenses - 3000

Internet expenses - 4000

Exams in 5 days , you scramble around college and with intelligent students trying to get study materials , call up friends and find out how screwed they are , decide to meet up to boost each others confidence , blow the whole day indulging in stupidity , open your books start day dreaming and curse yourself for wasting time, bunking mid sem exams , not attending lecture and curse all your friends who led you to your doom and end up praying to all religions n all gods to get you throught this time and wouldnt repeat the same mistake in next sem !

PRICELESS!

There are some things money cant buy ! , for everything else there's your dad!

Hahahaha all seems humourous , but trust me am literally shitting in ma pants [ i know u too! ]

Signing off for exams!

Peace

Nevertheless, I would very much appreciate it if some of you college males out there would spare us the air pollution that you seem to find necessary in order to compensate for your uncertainties. No, I am not speaking of cigarette smoke or exhaust from your souped up, glorified sedans. There is just one word for this culprit.

Cologne

Seriously, guys - lay off the cologne overdosing. Granted, I once dated one of these misguided gentleman who sometimes got a bit carried away with his Curve for Men cologne from Wal Mart, and that experience may have biased me a little bit. Still, when I feel dizzy after walking through a copy room populated by a few college guys, I can tell you two things: first, it ain't because of their looks, and second, the cologne is not fulfilling its intended purpose. Unless its purpose is to thicken the air so much that it has a taste.

I kid you not - I once detected a student's presence in my office by smelling him before seeing him. If only he knew how awkward that moment really was. Even graduate students seem to lose all self control when they perform their daily dousing ritual. When they come to my office to ask about proctoring duties or to get me to fix the paper jam in the copier, I give the briefest answers of my life. Most people who know me wouldn't describe me as particularly concise, but man, I sure can cut through the fat for these strong-smelling dudes.

One reason college guys should avoid cologne is that all cheap cologne smells exactly the same. Since all they can afford is cheap cologne, it is better just to lay off it altogether. Give me a bland-smelling man any day. Too many more of these guys who are drenched in scent, and anosmia may begin to sound better more and more.

Timing is off so much now with me. It's cost me quite a bit - blows to my pride, my intelligence, my integrity. But I'm through with it. Time for that has run out, ran out long ago. As of today, I am no longer going to just sit there. Still a procrastinator and probably sloppy and managing my time, sure - but no longer like before; always getting better from this point forward. I am not going to leave highschool worse than I entered. That would be so sad, pathetic - despicable. I refuse to do so.

As soon as I post this, I have a math packet, an essay, and more than a bit of research for 3 different subjects all waiting for me. And I refuse to make them last minute like I would have.  The clock stopped waiting, but I catch up now.

The difference for me is that I have no financial backstop.  I have no salary.  I live virtually hand-to-mouth, which is terrifying.  BP, technically, is my financial backstop -- but that just makes my life more complicated. It means I will never actually starve, but I suffer mightily along the way.

Today, he decided that I needed to have my ass kicked a bit to encourage me to resolve an outstanding issue with which we are dealing.  We had a miscommunication on the nature of the issue, which happens.  The longer he is gone, the more we tend to miss things.  It's sad but true.  We're still 75% connected when we're apart, but when you're used to operating at 90% or more of total intuitive comprehension, that missing 15% can feel overwhelming.

I heard from the new new man today, but briefly and plainly.  I think he may be down because of something that is still extremely cool.  I suppose coming in second, twice, sucks no matter how cool the competition.  It sucks worse when you know you will not be invited to compete again.  It's difficult since we do not know each other well, yet.  I do not know how he prefers to be comforted in the face of disappointing news.  I expressed my regret and wished him the best.

My only real stress relief is exercise, so I look forward to hitting the trail or "exercising" my demons on my aerobic step.

I have no idea what will improve our economic situation as a nation.  I have no idea if my new business(es) with BP will work.  I have no idea how to get out of this messy financial turmoil.  That's really what BP is here to figure out.  Sadly, he's not here, so I have to figure it out myself with imperfect information, which leads to miscommunication, which leads to phone calls where he feels the need to challenge me and to make me fight back.  He keeps forgetting that I am a planner, not a fighter.  His little digs just make me think he's more of an asshole, rather than make me think of ways to improve myself.  I know who I am and what I am doing.  I know what his role is supposed to be.  He needs to do his damn job and let me do mine.

I have heard the expression many times that parents want to present their child to his or her future spouse “pure at the altar”. And while it is a parent’s duty to do everything within their God-given ability to help their children make good choices regarding purity and abstinence, I think this phrase personifies a misconception about purity that is prevalent in the church. That misconception is that by saving yourself physically for your spouse means that you are pure. And while this is a noble endeavor (in fact, one of the best things you can do for your spouse and yourself), I think we’re missing something when we imply that simply saving sex for marriage is the end of purity. When we say we want to be pure, we should mean that we strive to be pure in body, mind, and heart.

Can you stand at the altar on your wedding day and be pure physically, but not mentally and spiritually? Yes. In fact, unless we’ve been conformed into Christ’s image by the time we reach the altar, most of us will enter marriage in this state. So what does it mean to be pure in mind and heart? Body is easy to understand, but mind and heart?

Purity of body, mind and heart means being completely formed to image of Christ. To be pure means that we no longer have iniquity, or the part of ourselves that causes us to want to sin. Iniquity is our flesh nature. It is the part of our hearts and minds that is not on track with God’s program. It’s the selfish desire that causes us to lie to protect ourselves from discipline, the innate desire to see ourselves succeed while a friend or coworker fails, and the deep, lurking fear inside us that says God cannot be trusted. Iniquity is a very underhanded, deceitful thing. It is that thing inside us that tells us: “No, you’re not wrong. You are completely right. You did the right thing. Everyone else is wrong. They are sinning.” In short, iniquity is impurity, and in order to live in God’s Kingdom, it must be denied and crucified.

One of the major schemes of the enemy is to convince us we don’t have iniquity. Part of this scheme is to get us to believe that we sin solely because of his influence. It isn’t anything in us that agrees to sin—no, of course not. Didn’t Satan force the apple down Eve’s throat? Your iniquity would have you believe that nothing is your fault. You are not responsible for your choices. It is the ultimate blame-shifter.

Purity is not merely a commitment to save yourself for your spouse, although this is a part of it. Abstinence is an expression of purity; a heart that is free from iniquity and idols is the ultimate pursuit of purity. Purity is a process that takes time and requires one to forsake one’s own agenda, selfish motives, and resistance to the Holy Spirit for the sake of following Christ. A person who has a pure heart will willingly wait for God’s best. They will also abstain from anything that might pull their heart away from God. Purity is not a state of being—it is a goal for us who live in a fallen world. Until we can stand before God and be declared pure, we should never stop in our pursuit of purity.

If you genuinely desire to be pure, ask the Lord to search you and cleanse you. Iniquity is so deceitful it is impossible to see without the light of God. David understood this when he said in Psalm 19:12 "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." But let me warn you: if you are serious about your pursuit of purity, God is going to show you some things that are going to make you uncomfortable. Don't give up! God is faithful and good and just. If He shows you something you need to work on, it means you're ready to change, and it also means that He is giving you the tools necessary to change.

More to come!

~Megan

Kenya Wildlife Service had reluctantly killed 5 of the rogues in the past two years.  Kimani was the last marauder and was headed for the same fate until the group Save the elephants stepped in.

They put a mobile phone SIM card in the elephants collar and set up a virtual "geofence" around the conversary with a global positioning satellite.  Now whenever Kimani approaches the fence with thoughts of plundering crops, a text message is sent directly to the Game Warden who goes out to gently explain to him the conversary's boundaries.  They do this by shining lights mounted on their jeeps at the elephant.

They have intercepted Kimani 15 times since the project began, leaving the villages elephant free for the past four months.

Kenya is the first country to try elephant texting as a way to protect both a growing human population and the wild animals that now have less room to roam.  Elephants learn from one another thus Kimani is inadvertently training the other elephants to stay away from the villages.

The experiment has been so successful that another virtual fence was set up for an elephant named Mountain Bull in another part of the country.  The draw back of the program is that the chip wears out after two years and must be replaced with a new one.

Hooray for Kenya for valuing their wildlife and implementing a way to prevent Kimani's death.  If it works on their elephants, I think the US should consider using it for their problem wildlife.  Not only does it warn officials when an animal is about to wander into a populated area, the officials can also track the animal in the wild using the Google Earth software.

I'm not suggesting all animals be tagged - that would be too expensive.  However, rather than killing those who cross over into human areas (though they use to be animal areas so ideally they should have the right) causing panic and chaos, they could tag the animal with the phone card before dropping it back into it's wilderness (that keeps shrinking) home.  If it comes down to tagging or killing - I'd rather tag.

Kudos Kenya - though you are such a poor country, you find the resources to save your greatest treasures, your wildlife!  Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.  :-)

Note: The indented quotatons are from the candidates’ own words in the Oct. 8 Richmond News.

Raymond Chan, Liberal

Raymond Chan took credit for the Garden City Lands agreement on the home page of his website for two years.  If the Lands are not saved, he will have contributed to that setback for the environment and food security. At the Sept. 29 all-candidates meeting, he did briefly state that he will accept the people’s wishes if the community wants to keep the Lands green, but he is not likely to transform into a strong "Save Garden City" advocate. (However, times change and people change.)

Dale Jackaman, New Democratic

Dale Jackaman has been a supporter of saving the Garden City Lands in response to both of the  applications to exclude them. With his long-standing interest and his attendance at the public hearings in March, he must be knowledgeable about the issue. However, at the Sept. 29 all-candidates meeting it was though he didn't really want to be there.  If Dale actually wants to be the MP, he could be a good advocate for the Garden City Lands.

Michael Wolfe, Green

Just down No. 4 Road I witness the Garden City lands nearly every day, a place that connects our glacial past with our concerning future. Conserving biodiversity is the best economic deal humanity has ever had placed before it since the invention of agriculture.

More than any other candidate, Michael Wolfe has been active in working to save the Garden City Lands. Besides his campaign emphasis on the issue, the ways include making presentations to council, leading eco-tours and volunteer clean-up crews, cataloguing the plant and animal life, and promoting the “Save Garden City” message at the Garden City Lands open houses and community events. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Since Michael is running in two elections at once, an additional effective way to support him would be in his fight for a seat on city council. As an MP or city councillor, he would be a good advocate for the Garden City Lands.

Alice Wong, Conservative

The economy has to be balanced with environmental concerns. In Richmond, I have been a major proponent of supporting greenspace for the Garden City Lands, a view shared by many. I do not want to see the lands removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve. I do not want to see any high density development on the lands, and I do not think Richmond’s character will be enhanced with another 10,000 cars on the streets.

Alice Wong has said she cares deeply about the Garden City Lands, and her actions consistently back that up. Alice attended almost all of the lengthy public hearings in March, she promoted the Kwantlen urban agriculture education proposal at a press conference, and she has campaigned on the Garden City Lands issue. In the Richmond News, she even mentioned taking the opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Stephen Harper about it when he made a campaign stop in Richmond last Thursday. Alice has been clear that she would make a priority of working for a new Richmond-friendly arrangement for the Garden City Lands. As an MP, Alice would be a good advocate.

Independents

There are two independent candidates, Wei Ping Chen and Dobie To. They seem to have no publicized views about the Garden City Lands.

My choice as best for the Garden City Lands

So which candidate would make the best Member of Parliament for the Richmond Riding? It was looking like a tie between two excellent candidates— Alice Wong and Michael Wolfe.  Then Michael told the media that he wants Alice Wong to replace Raymond Chan.  That (thank you, Michael!) makes my choice easier:

·        Alice Wong for Member of Parliament

·        Michael Wolfe for Richmond City Councillor

Note: The indented quotations are from the Candidates’ Own words in the Oct. 10 Richmond News.

Szilvia Barna, New Democratic Party

I will protect the Garden City Lands and the Agricultural Land Reserve, which was created by the NDP to ensure we would be self-sufficient food producers.

Early in her candidacy, Szilvia Barna took the time to learn about the Garden City Lands issue from Coun. Harold Steves, her fellow New Democrat. Since then, she has made a point of expressing her “Save Garden City” commitment. One can tell from all-candidates meetings that Szilvia is smart and tenacious. As a Member of Parliament, Szilvia would be a good advocate for the Garden City Lands.

John Cummins, Conservative Party

I have long fought to work out a better deal in securing the federally-owned Garden City lands for the benefit of the Richmond community. Hopefully, the Provincial Agricultural Commission will soon decide to continue protecting these valuable agricultural lands.

We can then look for ways for the federal government to re-deploy the lands in a way that would complement the goals in Richmond of permanent open space in the city’s downtown and productive urban agricultural activity to strengthen local food security. I intend to continue pushing the federal government for such long-term uses on the Garden City lands, governed with true local input, producing local economic and other quality of life benefits.

John Cummins’ Richmond News statement (above) about his ongoing role is correct. That role has included helping to make the “Save Garden City” case to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods, who was supportive (to the extent that protocol permitted) in the minister’s letter to the Garden City Lands Coalition and similar letters to individuals. Leading environmental advocate Donna Passmore of the Farmland Defence League has strongly encouraged voting for John because of his courageous environmental work even though she frequently opposes the Conservative government. If re-elected as an MP, he would continue to be a good advocate with the federal government for the Garden City Lands.

 
Matthew Laine, Green

Matthew Laine is a pleasant and enthusiastic young man with the repeatedly expressed goal of changing the world. He is basically supportive of the Garden City Lands and everything else green, although he does not yet appear knowledgeable about the issue. As an MP, Matthew would no doubt aim to be a good advocate.

Dana Miller, Liberal

Dana Miller has expressed the view that the Garden City Lands are not part of the jurisdiction of the MP for Delta-Richmond East,* but she has indicated that she would work on this issue if elected. At all-candidates meetings, she grew in political skill to complement her analytical approach and determination, and that combination of qualities would help her to deal with the complex Garden City Lands issue. As an MP, Dana would probably be a good advocate for the Garden City Lands.

* Note: The Lands happen to be within the Richmond riding boundary, but they are on the edge of the Delta-Richmond East riding. Furthermore, no one’s constituents live on the property. What matters is that the Lands are important to all Richmond residents, regardless of where an electoral official happened to draw the boundary between ridings. Garden City Lands Coalition people have assumed they can reasonably expect both of Richmond’s MPs to work for their Richmond constituents on this matter. After all, it is of great environmental and food-security importance to all Richmond citizens as well as to a much wider community.

This writer’s choice as best for the Garden City Lands

John Cummins, with unique savvy and a history of dedication, ranks first in a strong field.

Szilvia Barna is a solid second, with  Dana Miller close behind and Matthew Laine showing longer-term promise.

Today, I was talking to my sister about my recent epiphany, and about the way my competitiveness and my people-pleasing can combine to stifle my art (for want of a better term). To some degree, I have to fight myself to write what I need to write -- on some level, I want to be the most popular writer ever, but I have an imagination that wants to go where it wants to go, and it's not in the least bit interested in popularity or in winning any kind of contests. My sister is a great sounding board, not least because she doesn't let me b.s. either of us, and that means I have to be ruthlessly honest when talking to her.

But she's also very wise. I was explaining that the story's now about religion and faith, and who's going to want to read that?

She said, "BSG [Battlestar Galactica]. I think that's about faith, but not God-faith."

I immediately recognized what she meant -- BSG is about faith and not just religious faith, even though that's a strong thread throughout -- and it felt as if the petals of my mind opened up, revealing a central truth about my story. Like BSG, it's about faith: faith in oneself, faith in one's companions, faith in a whole bunch of things. Holding onto that insight will help me as I shift the story onto its new, truer path, and it will help me as I write new scenes and chapters.

My sister's not a writer, and she's not interested in the technical nuts and bolts, but I couldn't do any of this without her.

This is the view outside my window. The little light spots are rain drops reflecting the flash of my camera. I was reading yesterday when I saw it was raining and I thought the rain was so beautiful that I decided to take a picture. As I was shooting I noticed something - the leaves of the big tree had turned yellow. All of them.

When did that happen? I clearly remember the tree was all green when I first came to Edinburgh. Somehow I have missed this whole transformationg while obsessing about studying, obsessing about career, obsessing about my weight, and about a ton of other things that, come to think of it, don't really matter all that much. I've really been missing out on life lately, so I'd better catch up. I related that to my idea to redo the blog, and make it something different...something with more personality. So I'll make it a photo blog with snapshots from my life and all the little journeys I embark on. I'm excited. This kind of thing stimulates me to go out and explore the world, and not just sit in and muse on my last meal.

Let's see how this new chapter unravels.