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Lakaw is a journey is a step is a move. I love to travel around the world and this is my travel and travel gadget site. Welcome and Enjoy!

0 comments | Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Thought of the day: Do not believe in the meteorologist.

How many times have I heard in daily radio weather forecast, by a certain meteorologist named Paul, that a snow storm is coming or a snow fall is happening in the evening or a freezing rain is gonna hit Brookings? How many times have I anticipated a heavy snow fall yet, most of the times, failed because of a very inaccurate forecast.

I know it is a forecast and an estimate of the day's weather. But such an estimate seems to be fooling lots of people. If people can't expect a heavy snow fall, when these forecasters say there will be one coming, at least, they will expect a slight snow to occur -- if we talk about variance in prediction.

However, when weather forecasters say "we would expect a snow as we head towards mid-day", it actually means, "we would expect sunshine and snow will be tomorrow".

Do not trust these meteorologists!









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0 comments | Monday, December 25, 2006

Thought of the day: Do good this Christmas.

Here is my post-Christmas posting. Is doing good enough?

"You always say I can reach heaven by simply doing what the Supreme Best asks, not to do evil. But can I assure myself of even a single place there up above?"

Yes, you, like everyone, can.

We say, that it is indeed easy to be among the millions who are now rejoicing and enjoying another life in the vast kingdom of God. That all we have to do is to assist in establishing His empire here on earth, to believe and to know that a savior came for us and to become His disciple to qualify for it.

We all crave and desire to be where He is now. Just as the song I have learned in a religious community which goes I just want to be where you are in your dwelling place foreverdont want to worship from afar, draw me near to where you are How satisfying is it to know that a place has already been set for us. A place surrounded by all His blessings and infinite goodness. But can the grace be granted to those who are unprepared and undeserving individuals?

There is a moral foundation of the universe that in every effect there is always a cause. Or vice-versa. In physics, it is said that in every action there is always a counterpart reaction. It equally applies to anyone and to every human being. In every religion I presumed youll hear that as ye sow, shall ye reap. You get what you deserve.

To do good and not evil is a thing God wants us to do. But the same question goes along with it. Is it enough of just doing such?

Many people in our society today are doing charity works. Others devote their time for the service of other fellowmen. Some extend their help to the less fortunate by giving them houses through government programs. Almost all obey traffic rules and regulations and avoid having argument on men with authorities.

They play fairly and enjoy the essence of sportsmanship. And even to the smallest thing, they want not to deviate from an upright and blameless way. What will then be the returns for these be worthy of honor individuals? Read: he who plants melons will reap melons, he who does good begets good.

God is happy for these people. But the more He is happy for those who knows how to acknowledge His presence. True, there are those who do generous deeds but very poor in spirit. I do not say the Most High hates them. NO. Others do good works for the sake of garnering respect, in political aspect for example. They maybe unaware that doing good must always come from the heart.

God wishes to let Himself shine in the midst of ourselves. So by the time we do noble works, it should not be ourselves that we must have to project but He and He alone.

Now, will God open His arms for them in acceptance? Sure He will. No doubt. His mercy is incomparable and beyond measure.

An article once published a very amazing story of a lady who was sick of sclerosis (a hardening of a body part or tissue), was wearing a full body brace and had to be physically carried to places. Doctors had given up hope on her and that she almost died a couple of times already. But alas, she survived it, outlived the doctors death sentence and bears no trace of having the disease even. How did she do it? Did she spend all her days healing her body? Not at all.

The lady is a deeply spiritual person. For years she has prayed religiously, despite her own helpless state, not just for her own but for others as well who need most of her prayers. Her concern is not focused on her own health alone. Her heart and mind went out for others. Today, she has recovered and enjoyed sharing meaningful services to everybody else. With the miraculous event that happened in her life, she did not forget to thank the one responsible for it. She believes that by doing good and at the same time experiencing Gods power, it will create in her a happiness that no one could ever, ever give and achieve.

She was healed and got well, because she qualified for it. Not only that she became a true disciple of God but also as a true servant to all.

We sometimes continue to do evil not considering the consequences behind our actions. We bury ourselves in the darkness of sin. Killings and massacres rule the headlines of every newspaper. Rape, child molestation, prostitution all are rating high. We are also aware of abortions and sex slaves. Many are unmindful of the destruction they have brought to the God-given nature. Drug and other related substance abuse have been the favorite pastime of most of the youngsters today. Bank robberies, kidnappings name other evil-doings and surely they exist.

Are these occurrences give us hints that some people are really unconcerned of their life (not the life on this earth but the life after death)? They have gone astray. What will be their returns? What then will be their expectations, their rewards?

The law is so simple and just. None can easily inherit the kingdom. The good thing is, the deserving had already been reserved.

We claim that if the sun shines both the sinner and the saints, how come that most of the time the good suffers while the immoral and the corrupt turns out well and prosper. Well, this is just an illusion. And mistakably and continuously, life keeps books and records on all of us. If we have our own tally sheets so does life. In there can be found all our liabilities and holdings. In there can be revealed all our strengths and weaknesses, our triumphs and defeats, failures and accomplishments. After all, we are the sum total of all our actions.

When we serve humanity for quite a long time and be of service to Him, then maybe we are worthy and entitled of the High Intelligence's assistance and rewards, which come in various forms and many folds including a place set in heaven.

Finally, to reserve a space up above, let us aim for good and not evil. Let us ask ourselves what we can do to serve the Supreme Best and His flock. Is it enough not to do evil? Yes, we just couple it with faith and trust, praise and thanksgiving to the one and only source of all good things to come. Only then we can draw our rewards when we have saved enough.

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0 comments | Saturday, December 23, 2006

Thought of the day: Doing the laundry can be oh-so fun.

What would you do in a boring Saturday morning? You do not want to go out because it is freezing cold. You do not want to work because you think you have overworked yourself for the last days and you just need to be away from your PC for a while.

I woke up thinking about friends who have left for home this Christmas season. Mark is surely enjoying his stay in Germany, Marcela in Czech Republic and Adam in St. Louis. I am missing people whom I never fail to see and have conversation with everyday.

Since blogging seems to be part of my daily routine, I thought of coming up with a photo blog, just for this BORING morning - to get rid of this world-weariness that has been hovering over me lately.

Looking at my laundry slowly heaping, I was sure I had to wash them all -- today. So, welcome to the tale of a guy trying to kill boredom through photo blogging his morning tasks. The story goes like this:

I gathered my dirty clothes. I had to make sure I won't leave anything unwashed. Down the basement, I went, from the second floor. There was a long hallway before arriving to the washing room. I heard nothing aside from a machine somewhere inside one of the rooms in the basement that could be controlling the power of the building.


I checked each of the washing machine just to make sure I won't be picking something that would stop in the middle of the spinning process, get my clothes stuck in it and I would be left without any underwear for the weekend. After few minutes, I opted for two machines -- one for my whites, the other for the colored. With $0.75 per machine, it wasn't bad at all. Pressed a couple of buttons and there they went spinning and were timed to be finished in 26 minutes.


26 minutes at the basement is awfully long if you don't tinker on anything. Glad that I brought with me a book I bought at the Student Union for only 2 dollars. And so I read.


I read about 5 pages only and decided to check out some areas at the basement which I haven't done in the past months for two reasons: 1) students crowd the area 2) students just crowd the area. I found out that there is a study area in one end of the hallway. It's spacious and couches may look old but they still work fine -- for sitting and sleeping. Great! There's a place for table tennis too!



Further, I went. I headed to the lobby. You know, I seldom pass through the building's entrance door. Since my department office is just a stone's throw away from the back door, I normally take that door for entrances and exits. Thus, I wasn't really able to see what the lobby has to offer. Excited. So, I ventured.

Benches are provided along the short hallway that leads to the stairs. At the main entertainment area, I was impressed at the amenities existing for student's free use. It has a big-screen TV, a pool table and a soccer game table (I only see this in Time Zones at home).






Aside from that, it has few more pleasantries, surely, students would enjoy. A photo-copying machine, a microwave oven (warm anything you like), a wireless connection (oh, I need my laptop) and a comfy couches to sleep on.




At the lobby are the mailboxes. Look where my letter goes in...

Pause. Take a sip of water.

I also checked the advisory boards. Everything was about the holidays, the break, the fun. Oh, yeah, the FUN! Can i just shake this vending machine?!





Time ran so fast. I went back to the washing room, took the wet clothes out and put them in the dryer. Another $0.50 for drying them! And 40 minutes of waiting!

I could do lots of things in 40 minutes, so I thought. I went upstairs to my room. Well, I had to pee first...hahaha.


I looked at the wall clock.

Pondered on few things while staring at something afar.

Then, decided to cook something for lunch. Yes, I can cook. I know how to cook. I wanted a rice and chicken for a meal. Rice, check! Ran to the freezer: chicken breast, check!




Cooking time. Here in Brookings, cooking is as easy as ABC. Everything is only a push of a button. Or am I just so lazy to cook it in a regular way?! I took the chicken breast strips (already cooked, by the way) and placed them in the microwave oven. Set the timer to 3 minutes and wait for the beep. Done. The rice required a lot of patience, though. I had to adjust the heater every now and then to make sure I'd get the perfectly cooked rice, just like at home. Unfortunately, I think I forgot few learnings from Mom, I burned it, well, a bit.



I ate. Yes, this is the only photo of me eating. You don't want to see how hungry I was, do you?

An hour passed. I almost forgot I still have a laundry to check. Went quickly downstairs and, yehey, drying was done. Took all the clothes out and smelled them one by one (I don't know why I did that). Even when I was still in the Philippines, I always smell freshly dry clothes. The thought probably that it is clean is what makes me do it. I folded them, neatly and properly.


And off I went up smiling...

That's how my morning ended. Boring still? Yes, at some point. I thought of a fairy that would appear in front of me that time and would give me a wish.

Then I would have wished the holidays to be over and all of my friends to come back!

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