It looks like there is a new format that the SPAMmmers are using to invade our personal cyberspace.
In the past, my Internet Service Provider had done a good job on filtering junk mails. This is why I seldom had unwanted e-mails. But recently, I saw SPAMS started to surface. The ones I received now always included legitimate business names, like my IPS’s, in the subject line, to bypass detection, I think, whatever the security software has in place.
Remember in the old days when we first started e-mailing to each others. The number of junk mails I had in my e-mail account was insurmountable. Although it took a bit of times to delete them, it was rather easy to do so without any perceived risks.
But to delete unwanted e-mails now, I must click on them first before I can zap them. This makes me feel I may expose myself to the unwanted message whenever clicking on any of these intrusive e-mails. Of course, this becomes a concern for me.
Even though I realize whether they are SPAMS or not, there is no such thing as a secure site in the virtual world. I always consider e-mail the invention of the century. It takes over the indispensable role our telephone uses to be in our lives. Now instead of phoning our friends and family members, we e-mail them. I find it is a rather neat medium through that I can send not only words but videos to others without visiting a post office.
Besides, in a globalized business community, e-mail enables us to communicate with our worldly partners both efficiently and effectively. The e-mails are our words. They can be used as evidences in courts.
Therefore, it is so incomprehensible to me that someone would want to spoil the good things that e-mail has to offer. - Ayee
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Hooded Larks
The other day in the park, I saw a flock of small birds feeding on some bread crumbs. They with dark brownish feathers are the types of the birds we often see in our back yard and the shrubs around the cities. While foraging, the group chirped out some pleasant notes. But one of them stood out on its own. It did not join the others after the trails of broken-up breads. Finally, this timid bird got its picks and disappeared.
This little flying machine may not belong to this flock. It does look a bit different from the others in the group. There are some soft plumes like a paper fan sticking out from the sides of its wee head. They are not unlike the head dresses that many Catholic nuns wore in the old days. And this little bird with a habit-like hood got me excited. I thought I had come upon the hooded larks that were very dear to a thirteen-century saint from Assisi, Italy.
Because these hooded larks dressed like nuns, they symbolized what Brother Francis had preached: humility. Sister larks became very special to the most reverend saint in the Catholic church.
We all know Saint Francis of Assisi for the poor was akin to animals too. There were incredible stories of him negotiating a truce between a big bad wolf and the townspeople. So both the man-eating beast and its prey could live side-by-side in the same neighborhood peacefully. He once set free a live tench that was given to him into the water. And when Brother Francis spoke, the birds listened.
As it is told in God’s Fool*, during the last Christmas celebration before the humble Saint’s passing, Brother Francis was wishing the festivity in which the rich put on splendid feasts for the poor and other creatures would never end. For his love of the birds, he declared if he was to see the emperor, he would ask him to order grains be scattered on the roads on Christmas day for the birds, especially his sisters, the larks.
To my great disappointment, I never saw that hooded bird again. But the chance sighting of this little creature prompted me to revisit these brotherly interactions between the late Saint and many wildlifes around him. - Ayee
*From Julian Green's God’s Fool, translated by Peter Heinegg in 1985
This little flying machine may not belong to this flock. It does look a bit different from the others in the group. There are some soft plumes like a paper fan sticking out from the sides of its wee head. They are not unlike the head dresses that many Catholic nuns wore in the old days. And this little bird with a habit-like hood got me excited. I thought I had come upon the hooded larks that were very dear to a thirteen-century saint from Assisi, Italy.
Because these hooded larks dressed like nuns, they symbolized what Brother Francis had preached: humility. Sister larks became very special to the most reverend saint in the Catholic church.
We all know Saint Francis of Assisi for the poor was akin to animals too. There were incredible stories of him negotiating a truce between a big bad wolf and the townspeople. So both the man-eating beast and its prey could live side-by-side in the same neighborhood peacefully. He once set free a live tench that was given to him into the water. And when Brother Francis spoke, the birds listened.
As it is told in God’s Fool*, during the last Christmas celebration before the humble Saint’s passing, Brother Francis was wishing the festivity in which the rich put on splendid feasts for the poor and other creatures would never end. For his love of the birds, he declared if he was to see the emperor, he would ask him to order grains be scattered on the roads on Christmas day for the birds, especially his sisters, the larks.
To my great disappointment, I never saw that hooded bird again. But the chance sighting of this little creature prompted me to revisit these brotherly interactions between the late Saint and many wildlifes around him. - Ayee
*From Julian Green's God’s Fool, translated by Peter Heinegg in 1985
Monday, August 1, 2011
“Free Willy”( III)
A few nights ago on television, I saw three whale watchers risked their lives to save a humpback whale off the California coast.
It looked like the huge whale was already dead. When one of these three good people snorkeled to get a closer look at the lifeless body, he was surprised to see a distressed animal tangled in fishing nets was looking at him too. Sometimes, direct eye contact can be intimidating. But this one between a man and a beast put this near-death humpback at easy. It seemed to know that it was in good hands. It did not panic while its rescuers leaned over the edge of their boat to free it from some greenish nets.
Once the great whale was out from the deadly entanglement, before swimming away from its elated rescuers, it put on a spectacular show by jumping in and out of the water or breaching for umpteen times. Scientists said whales use breaching to communicate with others. So by frolicking in and out of the blue sea, this awesome creature was displaying its huge gratitude to three selfless lifesavers.
- Ayee
It looked like the huge whale was already dead. When one of these three good people snorkeled to get a closer look at the lifeless body, he was surprised to see a distressed animal tangled in fishing nets was looking at him too. Sometimes, direct eye contact can be intimidating. But this one between a man and a beast put this near-death humpback at easy. It seemed to know that it was in good hands. It did not panic while its rescuers leaned over the edge of their boat to free it from some greenish nets.
Once the great whale was out from the deadly entanglement, before swimming away from its elated rescuers, it put on a spectacular show by jumping in and out of the water or breaching for umpteen times. Scientists said whales use breaching to communicate with others. So by frolicking in and out of the blue sea, this awesome creature was displaying its huge gratitude to three selfless lifesavers.
- Ayee
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
To Rent or Not to Rent
It’s encouraging to learn that the US government is considering a new strategy to handle the glut of unsold homes.
Resulting from many defaulted mortgages, the Fed through its mortgage insurance agencies, Federal Home Mortgage Corporation (also known as Freddie Mac), and Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), has become the de facto owner of about a quarter of a million of foreclosed homes. And efforts to sell these vacant homes only depressed the house prices further. So instead of dumping additional homes to an already oversupplied housing market, the government is considering renting out the homes it owns.
By reducing supply, the people behind this idea think renting out the excess inventory can help the housing market to recover. In addition, demands for rentals are rising and so are the rents. The steady rental income can definitely help defray some of the expenses the government spends on maintaining the unsold inventory.
At present both Freddie and Fannie have already rent out many of the homes they own. Therefore, it is really a nonissue when the people against this idea consider both these two mortgage insurers are unfitted landlords.
When and if the Fed follow through with this idea, it can implement this measure expediently by simply changing the laws without outside investors. So both Freddie and Fannie can rent out all the homes they still own.
I remember seeing on television that showed many Americans are now living in motels and hotels. Therefore, I think it is high time the US government make good uses of many vacant homes to house millions of its homeless populations.
Moreover, many bankers and accountants would know that value of a property increases when it generates income. Schemes to rent or rent-to-own can also be a savior for lenders with many foreclosed properties.
Therefore, I think in this case to rent is a win-win proposition - Ayee .
Resulting from many defaulted mortgages, the Fed through its mortgage insurance agencies, Federal Home Mortgage Corporation (also known as Freddie Mac), and Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), has become the de facto owner of about a quarter of a million of foreclosed homes. And efforts to sell these vacant homes only depressed the house prices further. So instead of dumping additional homes to an already oversupplied housing market, the government is considering renting out the homes it owns.
By reducing supply, the people behind this idea think renting out the excess inventory can help the housing market to recover. In addition, demands for rentals are rising and so are the rents. The steady rental income can definitely help defray some of the expenses the government spends on maintaining the unsold inventory.
At present both Freddie and Fannie have already rent out many of the homes they own. Therefore, it is really a nonissue when the people against this idea consider both these two mortgage insurers are unfitted landlords.
When and if the Fed follow through with this idea, it can implement this measure expediently by simply changing the laws without outside investors. So both Freddie and Fannie can rent out all the homes they still own.
I remember seeing on television that showed many Americans are now living in motels and hotels. Therefore, I think it is high time the US government make good uses of many vacant homes to house millions of its homeless populations.
Moreover, many bankers and accountants would know that value of a property increases when it generates income. Schemes to rent or rent-to-own can also be a savior for lenders with many foreclosed properties.
Therefore, I think in this case to rent is a win-win proposition - Ayee .
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Food for Thought (V) - Food Allergy
Recently, a case of acute urticaria (hives) got my attention to what I eat when taking antibiotics.
It all started in the middle of the night when my sweet dream was interrupted by some unbearable itches. Thereafter, some reddish patches on me spread like a wild fire. While medicated talcum powder, aloe vera and calamine locations did give me some reliefs, I was determined to figure out what has caused my skin to irrupt into red itchy splotches!
Quickly, I narrowed down to the new antibiotics I took that day for a cat bite. Not many hours after I took a blue-colored capsule, my very first one, the outer layer of my body exploded. We all know some antibiotics do cause rashes. Based on my past experiences, it would take more than one dose for the rashes to surface. And my switching to another antibacterial drug did not help either.
Then I remembered what some elderly family members had told us in the past. They said that seafood can cause itchy skin. I have also learned that sometimes berries can give us havoc too.
It looks like seafood, fresh berries and antibiotics do not complement each others well. On that memorable night, I did have my favorite fish for dinner. Making a bad situation worse, while on a different antibiotic, I snacked on bowls of natural yogurt topped with those juicy raspberries. - Ayee
It all started in the middle of the night when my sweet dream was interrupted by some unbearable itches. Thereafter, some reddish patches on me spread like a wild fire. While medicated talcum powder, aloe vera and calamine locations did give me some reliefs, I was determined to figure out what has caused my skin to irrupt into red itchy splotches!
Quickly, I narrowed down to the new antibiotics I took that day for a cat bite. Not many hours after I took a blue-colored capsule, my very first one, the outer layer of my body exploded. We all know some antibiotics do cause rashes. Based on my past experiences, it would take more than one dose for the rashes to surface. And my switching to another antibacterial drug did not help either.
Then I remembered what some elderly family members had told us in the past. They said that seafood can cause itchy skin. I have also learned that sometimes berries can give us havoc too.
It looks like seafood, fresh berries and antibiotics do not complement each others well. On that memorable night, I did have my favorite fish for dinner. Making a bad situation worse, while on a different antibiotic, I snacked on bowls of natural yogurt topped with those juicy raspberries. - Ayee
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Food for Thought (IV) - A Balanced Diet
According to a posting on The Fool on The Hill website, we may prevent and cure cancer by maintaining a certain level of alkaline in our body chemistry*(1).
That posting, Combat Cancer*(2), tells us what a Chinese doctor had discovered in the blood chemistry of cancer patients. Dr. Lu Geling, who is said to have practiced at Majie Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, in the forties, found body chemistry of 600 cancer patients all acidic.
In addition, the good doctor observed that there were no reported cancer cases amongst Chinese monks and nuns. As we know, the serene and benevolent Buddhism followers live ascetically on strict vegetarian fares. They also invariably reside close to nature where the air is fresher and the grass is greener.
Together with the knowledge that cancer cell cannot survive in an alkali environment, Dr. Lu concluded that besides living a simple and caring life, maintaining a "weakly" alkali body chemistry can help prevent and cure cancer.
Somehow there is very little background information on Dr. Lu, his hospital and his research on cancer and body chemistry. But an alkaline-rich diet did help two lung cancer patients became cancer free and healthy.
To reflect what this fool has just learned from reading Combat Cancer, now I also know cancer is not a modern-day ailment. But thirty or forty years ago, I had never heard of anyone I knew died of cancer. I wonder why?
Finally, let’s put aside the debate on whether a diet change can or cannot prevent and cure cancers. Just think how relieved and joyful many cancer sufferers will be if they know there are other simpler and gentler alternatives they can choose to fight this dreaded disease. - Ayee
*(1) At pH level between 3.35 and 3.45
(2) From http:/dfoolonthehill.com/health-Combat Cancer
That posting, Combat Cancer*(2), tells us what a Chinese doctor had discovered in the blood chemistry of cancer patients. Dr. Lu Geling, who is said to have practiced at Majie Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, in the forties, found body chemistry of 600 cancer patients all acidic.
In addition, the good doctor observed that there were no reported cancer cases amongst Chinese monks and nuns. As we know, the serene and benevolent Buddhism followers live ascetically on strict vegetarian fares. They also invariably reside close to nature where the air is fresher and the grass is greener.
Together with the knowledge that cancer cell cannot survive in an alkali environment, Dr. Lu concluded that besides living a simple and caring life, maintaining a "weakly" alkali body chemistry can help prevent and cure cancer.
Somehow there is very little background information on Dr. Lu, his hospital and his research on cancer and body chemistry. But an alkaline-rich diet did help two lung cancer patients became cancer free and healthy.
To reflect what this fool has just learned from reading Combat Cancer, now I also know cancer is not a modern-day ailment. But thirty or forty years ago, I had never heard of anyone I knew died of cancer. I wonder why?
Finally, let’s put aside the debate on whether a diet change can or cannot prevent and cure cancers. Just think how relieved and joyful many cancer sufferers will be if they know there are other simpler and gentler alternatives they can choose to fight this dreaded disease. - Ayee
*(1) At pH level between 3.35 and 3.45
(2) From http:/dfoolonthehill.com/health-Combat Cancer
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Not A Dog's Day
July Fourth always reminds me of my late friend’s little dog: Kiku. But I would never consider this rumbustious furry ball a patriotic pooch, she loathed the nation’s birthday.
On the night of one particular July Fourth, while everyone else was embracing the display of bursting fireworks, this wee doggie squeezed through the garage door and escaped. The next morning she, with cuts and bruises all over her small body, was found on the door mate of a neighbor she knew. Kiku must have quite an ordeal before she reached her friend’s house. Definitely, the July Fourth celebration was a very painful experience to this pint-size but wise dog.
And Kiku is not the only one who fears abnormal noises. I remember one of our cats ran away one night when one of our neighbors decided to light up a few fire crackers in their back yard. It took us a long, long time before the frightened kitty was coaxed out from his hiding place. In this instance we were lucky. Our pet did not run too far away from home. Unfortunately, to escape from this unusual and scary noises many other family pets may not end on a happy note. This explains why animal shelters everywhere are inundated with many disoriented dogs and cats days after the July Fourth holiday.
So this year, when we are ready to set up the sizzling grills for the July Fourth party, be sure keep close eyes on our pets too. - Ayee
On the night of one particular July Fourth, while everyone else was embracing the display of bursting fireworks, this wee doggie squeezed through the garage door and escaped. The next morning she, with cuts and bruises all over her small body, was found on the door mate of a neighbor she knew. Kiku must have quite an ordeal before she reached her friend’s house. Definitely, the July Fourth celebration was a very painful experience to this pint-size but wise dog.
And Kiku is not the only one who fears abnormal noises. I remember one of our cats ran away one night when one of our neighbors decided to light up a few fire crackers in their back yard. It took us a long, long time before the frightened kitty was coaxed out from his hiding place. In this instance we were lucky. Our pet did not run too far away from home. Unfortunately, to escape from this unusual and scary noises many other family pets may not end on a happy note. This explains why animal shelters everywhere are inundated with many disoriented dogs and cats days after the July Fourth holiday.
So this year, when we are ready to set up the sizzling grills for the July Fourth party, be sure keep close eyes on our pets too. - Ayee
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