Hello 2009

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Let the morning of the first day of 2009 be bliss and that this innate bliss in you continues to surface for the rest of the year.

--- michael

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The Preacher Man Can

I have a friend who calls me regularly for coffee. During that time, she will ask me if I would like to go to paradise or heaven. She would also add that there is not much time left, so I better decide to join them in their journey. Paradise, it is said, is free from attachments in our Earthly existence of illusions. What we experience on Earth is but a paltry comparison (to paradise). She said that once I have been to paradise, I won't want to come back to live on Earth again.

Then, as we were talking, an old lady interrupted to sell us some tissue paper. As I was digging into my pockets, I was shocked that my friend waved the old lady away. Luckily, the old lady persisted and by the time I recovered from the shock she was still there to complete our transaction. Did my friend realise that it is very likely that this old lady needs the money badly and that what she is doing is not begging, but an honorable business? We don't always have to buy tissue papers from them, but to refuse one in the middle of all the preaching just seem out of place to me somehow.

My friend is always preaching to me and yet she says that her practice is not a religion. I find that hard to reconcile. Anyway, her group is not the only one claiming to have exclusive tickets to heaven and that they are not a religion.

Why can't we let everyone live the way they want and walk their own spiritual paths? We are all unique and therefore our paths are all different. Why must religions, spiritual practices, 'fellowships' or call what you may, go out and 'convert' people? Is it so that they score some browny points with their god or merits to get closer to the heavenly gates? If one is so conscious about 'helping' others, does these 'merits' or browny points make any sense? Eventually and inevitably, these browny points will lead to promoting Fear and yet another conscious collection.

Perhaps to be in paradise, we just have to stay away from paradise and live the way we think it is worthy. I think what is worthy is only Love. The basis of all worthy and all we encounter is Love. In fact, if we take away all the sex and money, we will easily see that what is worthy is only Love. Conversely, if you want to follow any crime, follow the money and the sex.

Incidentally, I got this message from the Daily Contemplation (an email subscription):

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One filled with joy preaches without preaching.

-- Mother Teresa

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It's a Dog's Life - Puppy Love

We had new kittens when I was in Europe six months ago, now back in Singapore, we get three new Shetland pups from Cookie. They are just six days old in the picture, eyes still closed and relying entirely on their mother's milk.

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On the first day of their birth, the mother kept herself in the same position till late at night, forgoing her meals, so that her pups can have her milk. It was till the pups were well fed and that she was so hungry that she had her supper that night.

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On the second day, as the maid went to change the towel in her den, Cookie thought that she was going to take her pups away. By the time the maid came back with the fresh towels, two of the pups where missing from her den and hidden elsewhere (under the bed).

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It is fascinating to observe the motherly love instinctive in all animals. Cats do the same caring for their kittens when they are very little, they will let their kittens eat first, and only when her kittens are well-fed that the mother cat will eat what is left.

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Bucky Group 34 - Christmas 2008

Since it is Christmas, we have a feast this Saturday at the Salon. Everyone brought something to share.

After the usual Christmas songs, we switched to Bob Maley's "One Love" video.
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We even connected with one of our Bucky member, Rochele, her two Vietnamese friends doing PhD in Atlanta and another friend working for CNN in Atlanta to join our session. Together we danced and sang across the Internet. Perhaps this marks the start of the Bucky Group's Webcast to people elsewhere or anywhere. Isn't technology wonderful? We did this without any additional costs.
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In 2008, many of our topics pertained to "Happiness". In 2009, we will be focused on "Creativity". To start it off, we watched and listened to Ken Robinson's TED talk on "Do Schools Kill Creativity?"

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Discussion:

Our education system in the Polytechnics seem to prepare our students for fixed vocations and therefore focuses on the implementation specific technical skills rather than conceptual and fundamental skills.

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Some years ago, the government aimed to get into the IT industry in a big way, but they didn't succeed. (We are not cheaper and bigger than the Indians.) Then they tried media, which was also not successful as there were not so many employers hiring journalists in a small country like Singapore. So they went into gaming, which is also not successful. They are now aiming for technology for "Visual Effects". Bureaucrats in their present form of conditioned and constrained thinking will never catch up with the market demand in real time. If only they had focused on the fundamentals of bringing up creative minds, will they be able to adapt to changing needs of industries. Someday they will learn.

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One of my dreams is to start a Buckminster Fuller Institute/University and Cafe in the city centre as a meeting place for entrepreneurs, technologists, artists, musicians and investors. There, we will have a Bucky library, artifacts (like the geodesic dome and isocahedran), Bucky sessions and seminars. Artists can sell their wares by displaying them in the cafe and budding musicians can jam up for added exposure and to entertain. Outside the cafe in the open, we can run exercises to build some of Bucky's artifacts, like constructing the geodesic domes perhaps with bamboo sticks or to play the World Game. These sessions can be webcast via the Internet so that member cafes elsewhere can join in.

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From time to time, entrepreneurs with revolutionary and creative products can also demonstrate them at the cafe premises. Revolutionary products need good sounding boards to test their business models, and meeting other entrepreneurs and artists to debate and synergise will be invaluable.

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Such a cafe will broaden the minds of people who (sadly) have been educated in a highly industrialised, structured, narrow and specialised system; to become more comprehensive in their approaches. Bucky called this type of people, "Comprehensivists". A Comprehensivist is one who considers the Universe as one system obeying a set of generalised principles, and not many human-perceived systems obeying different principles.

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This cafe will also offer life long continuous learning to people who have missed out on education in the earlier part of their life, or are late bloomers. There isn't such a cafe in Singapore so far, so let there be one! Perhaps it is kind of a "Cafe 2.0", akin to "Web 2.0".

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Note:

The Bucky Group is one that anyone can join and there are no formal memberships nor fees to pay, but just the receptivity to life long learning and fun. The Group meets every Saturday and Sundays, and has been doing so for the last 13 years. Please send in your comments and suggestions for the Bucky Cafe above. Thanks.

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For more of what the Bucky Group does in the past meetings, click here.
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Usury 4

I had the good fortune to speak to a wise old man, who was looking for investments into a commerical property development. Investors for properties are hard to come by in a credit crunch. When I asked why he did not look into borrowing money from the bank, he told me that it is not wise to play the 'financial game'. He wouldn't even borrow in US dollars as this will mean exchange risks with his local currency. His grandfather lost billions playing the financial game.

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Too many people are playing the financial game and he thinks that this is fundamentally the problem leading to the current global economic and financial crisis we are in. In other words, we are living in a society of borrowed money, not always used for legitimate investments. A "legitimate investment" is one that essentially creates life supporting wealth. When we move away further and further from creating life supporting wealth and the true objectives of money, an economic crisis will be inevitable.

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"There is money found in the project itself", he said.

"The investor can make his profits in the project and that is better than borrowing from the bank and incurring interests and charges", he continued.

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Not unless if he seek money from an Islamic bank - one that shares the project risks and profits. In Islamic banking, trading of financial risks is forbidden as it is 'haram' like gambling.

Read more about "Usury" here

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In Sickness and In Health 9 - Project Life

I was shocked when I saw Zoe's picture in Today newspaper. She is now in fourth stage of cancer. I met her in May and knew she got cancer then, but she appeared so positive I thought she would have recovered.

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I sms-ed her when I reached Singapore on Saturday, but didn't get any replies.

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She is continuing her fight against her illness and has many close friends and alternative healers helping her.

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Read more about her here

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Staged Magic

I lost my wallet to a pickpocket thief in the train from Brussels to Paris' Charles De Gaulle Airport last Friday. I think it was done by the guy who sat next to me. He was unusually friendly. Then I think he picked my pocket when I stood up to reach for my luggage from the overhead shelf when the train reached the airport. This is the time, when most people are more anxious to pack up and leave quickly.

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When I felt the sudden hollow in my pockets, I thought that I may have lost my wallet in the station or dropped on my seat. Everyone around was very concerned, except the friendly chap who sat next to me. He was no longer friendly nor concerned. But I realised that only later, by that time, he was gone.

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It must have taken him one or two seconds to pick my wallet from my trousers pocket. His demeanour, his hand skills and his patience to wait for the right moment, is no mean feat. Why doesn't he go into stage magic and show business? He could make some decent money legally.

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But that's how it is. Many people do not know who they really are. They often underestimate their self worth. Don't we sometimes? This thief can be a lot more worthy serving and entertaining others in stage magic. But they do not know who they really are and the higher potentials they can reach by serving others and themselves.

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Technology 9 - Breaking up is hard to do...

I am an information security consultant. We outwit hackers for our customers. Before we get to do so, we submit proposals to explain how we can help them.

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One way of helping our customers is to break their information systems non-destructively. However, it is hard to say how we do so. Commonly quoted 'methodologies' are too general to be informative and useful.

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Yet, common business practice dictates that we submit a 'methodology' for the customer's perusal before we attempt to break their systems up. This goes against the grain that building something is systematic, but breaking something is hardly so. It depends on what turns up and what patterns we recognise at the very moment. It is mostly unsystematic! So, in effect, a structured methodology is just to get us pass the 'front door'.

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But this is understandable why the customers do not think the same way as we do, as the same system of thoughts that have created the security loopholes and vulnerabilities tend to be a different type of mind that identifies vulnerabilities.

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In Sickness or In Health 8 - Influence

Today is an exceptional day for swinging moods. I woke up fairly relaxed. Then a miserable friend rang and poured out his grievances and heartaches to me and I felt down after that. Later in the afternoon, I chatted with a friend online. She was very happy and without being conscious about it, I became happy. Unfortunately, in the evening, another friend came online and chatted. She was very nervous and stressed, and after chatting with her, I felt the same.

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I behaved like a radio, receiving their signals and playing their songs. I have to be more careful not to let that happen.

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The mind by its nature is peaceful and still. It is our moods that make the mind flutter. Much like the leaves on the trees when the wind blows.

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I shall now let my mind return home to Peace... Om Shanti.

Technology 8 - The Oldies

The other day, as I was clearing my room, one of the things I had to throw away was the old PC. The old machine (bought in 1999) is still running, but without a USB port, a big enough memory, a fast enough modem and and low flicker flat screen, it just doesn't make much sense to keep these days. So, it is going to the scrap heap.

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As I was salvaging some old data from the PC, I came across many quaint old stuff that I hoarded back those days. I had Microsoft Encarta, World Atlas, Chess Games...etc. Back then, they cost a lot of money to buy. Now, they are all superseded by faster, better, more user-friendly services, and most of all - Free!

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And it was not only software that were local, but I also hoarded articles and emails, because I didn't think that I can easily access them from the Internet. It was a sense of insecurity akin to the common and inherent fear that I cannot tap into the Akashic Records or the universe, to be informed or inspired, and therefore cannot be free from attachments. If we trust, then the fear becomes no more.

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Now Wikipedia, Google Earth and many online games have replaced the old stuff. Even those exclusive offline business directory memberships are now superseded by business and social networking sites, instant messenging and video conferencing.
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Technology has rapidly changed our way of doing business and our social life. Personally, I have made many valuable business contacts online. People I would otherwise have little chance of meeting in person, as they reside in the other corner of the world.

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The old "Request for Information" from big companies to suppliers, is now but replaced by searches on Google or Youtube. Most good technologies are now better explained on video in Youtube, than texts and brochures.

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Some technology suppliers go a step further to allow potential clients to get a ballpark quotation of what they want, by answering a few simple questions. Thus, simplifying the RFP (Request for Proposal) that follows. Perhaps one day this part will also be superseded by online auctions, which is already happening for more standardised commodities and services. These e-auctions are efficiently executed, self documenting and are paperless - saving some trees.

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Consultancies are also affected, as many people now choose to tap the collective brains of specialist forums to get quick answers - what was formerly obtainable only from paid consultants. More and more, services are offered free online. To earn the buck now, more value has to be added. Perhaps one day, these freebies will also be offered in the offline world, working towards what Bucky envisioned in World Game and also expressed in Alvin Toffler's Revolutionary Wealth. This is more reasonable than what many people think, since technology has made many things cheaper, not more expensive. Inflation is a consipiracy.

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Even age old vices, like gambling and pornography have moved online, hosting their servers in more laxed jurisdictions, to escape tax and prohibitive laws. All this without the need to invest billions in an integrated resort (IR) too! Makes me wonder if the IR under construction in Singapore is a has-been business model, better run online. Likewise, porn magazines are almost wiped off the shelves these days. Well, at least the trees are safe! *laughs* (Note: That is not to say that I agree with these vices, especially gambling, which one way or another, necessitates that for one to win many have to lose. )

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Even the power and authority of politics and governments are not spared the impact of technologies. The Malaysian ruling party was almost knocked out by the many political blogs and satire that sprung up during their elections. The Singapore government will also wake up to a rude shock come the next election, when they realise they have underestimated the power of online blogs and citizen podcasts. Up till now, the media is largely government controlled and censored. It will become more and more difficult for dictators to survive in the new world.

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In India, bureaucratic corruption is also cut down by the advent of e-government, and also cutting queues, time and labour.

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Fathers will realise that to communicate and develop a closer relationship with their sons, it will be easier to understand the online games that their sons are playing. It may be hard for many fathers, but their sons are more likely than not have their minds living in Cyberspace. Some more chronic cases will actually have their second lives in Secondlife, and the father induldged with second wives in second lives. :)

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Then, as I lugged the bulky screen and PC into the truck, I still have a little remorse for retiring the faithful machine, while it is still in working order, to the scrap heap. It feels like I am administering euthanasia. Moreover, I was also not sure how environmentally responsible the scrap yard operator is. Admittedly, after all these years of the PC having served me well, I do sense a bit of attachment and loss. :(
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Patience 4 - Time

How long do you take to brush your teeth each time?

Five minutes? Ten minutes?

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I thought I take five minutes, but how wrong I realised I was when I set the two-minute timer (the blue light in the picture). The light will turn out by itself at the end of two minutes. That two minutes was the longest two minutes I have experienced in my life! It just went on and on.

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Don't believe me?

Try it yourself. Check how long you take to brush your teeth. If two minutes feels so long, chances are that you are not spending enough time for yourself. Enough time to keep your teeth clean and your body healthy.

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Note:

Dentists recommend that we take three-minutes to brush our teeth each time.

Patience 3 - The Message?

I got this message from a fortune cookie in a Chinese restaurant in London:

"Time and patience are called for, many surprises await you."

Very timely. Let's see what happens next and what surprises await.

Happiness - Smile

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Synchronicity 4

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Someone I know was recently unfairly dismissed from her job. Naturally, she was upset, but I immediately knew that she will get another role more suited to her aspirations. I don't know why, but I just knew.

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A month before she lost her job, she decided to study Chinese. So it seems timely, as now she is freer to pursue that.

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Last week, she got a new role to teach in a local university. Unsual, because she does not have a PhD nor the experience of teaching in a university, but she got the position. She has always wanted to teach in a university.

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Yesterday, she found out that she was selected against the better qualified candidates because she came prepared with a programme and also that she has a background in the Chinese language. She will be teaching (art) aesthetics, and the department prefer someone who can also compare aesthetics from the perception of cultures distant from Europe.

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So listen to yourself. What are the keywords in your thoughts recently? We all have a voice within. A voice some call the "Holy Spirit". Then go with the Flow.

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Winter

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It has been snowing. Trees that have shed their leaves earlier are less burdened by the snow. Pine trees, which are evergreen, do not shed their leaves and therefore catch more snow. Many of them got too heavy their branches snapped and fell.

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Then, it occurred to me that likewise, if I were to shed my attachments, I will have less emotional pains when adversity snow down on me. Perhaps, we humans too should have our personal 'autumns' when we shed our attachments, such that our emotional burdens will be manageable and that we won't snap and fall!

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It is the Law of Cycles.

It says:

The world of nature exists within a larger pattern of cycles, such as day and night and the passing of the seasons. The seasons do not push one another. Neither do clouds race the wind across the sky. All things happen in good time. Everything has a time to rise, and a time to fall. Whatever rises, falls and whatever falls shall rise again. That is the principle of cycles.

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Patience 2 - The reward

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Yesterday, someone I know got what he wanted after putting up with waiting for it for one year. He has shown patience and understanding of the delays amid acute difficulties and the impending financial turmoils.

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As for the other party who had screamed, shouted and threatened with police reports and legal injunctions, they got nothing but a bad name. It's normal, most people avoid storms, but love gentle breezes.

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Patience

[Writing in progress... be patient! :) ]

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I have hurried to post this here before I lose my patience. Also, it is so that I can still capture my feelings about the subject accurately and understand what still keeps me (and my patience) going. :)
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What is 'patience'?
If I still think of when 'something' is going to happen everyday, am I still patient?

Hmmm... I am not obsessive, so I guess I still am.
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An impatient person is one that runs 'out of character' and loses his peace. He is the sort that would dig out the germinating seeds just because he cannot see the green shoots coming out from the ground. An impatient person lacks the trust that the seeds will grow on their own. And of course, having dug out the seeds, the seeds die.
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We have all seen impatient people at some point in our life. For instance, the wife who could not take it any more and left her eternally optimistic entrepreneur husband struggling with his fledging business. Or the impatient business partner who throw insults at his associates because of the prevailing frustrations without offering any better solutions to the problems. Some have even led to law suits over problems that neither party have a fair solution to.
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Conversely, I also have heard of the wife who has been patient and understanding and accepted her husband back, after he has strayed in the marriage. Her motivation for her patience is love.

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Most people are impatient because they have limited themselves to what they can 'see' and their lacking in their 'trust' in the bigger scheme of things.

There are many processes that we cannot see with our naked eye or five senses and we therefore have to based on 'trust' if we want to get anywhere. 'Trust' is easier when we understand more about what is around us. More importantly, 'trust' also means understanding that we are not alone to make things happen.

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For instance, all my achievements, will not be possible without the help of others. Along the process, many of my friends have come forward to offer me encouragement, help and even money to make things happen. They all seemed to trust me totally. This is perhaps because I, in turn, have total trust in what I do and that they will work. I 'trust' because I know everything I can conceive and believe will work. It may take many steps of refinements to work, but they will. And unless I continue to emit this energy, and attract the same to me, success will not come to me.

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So I shouldn't be surprised that 'patience' is considered a virtue by the major religions of the world. (I was surprised, when I first read the Wikipedia about the subject.)
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The Wikipedia defines 'Patience' as:
The state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.

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Patience is often described as a core virtue in religion or spiritual practices.

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In the Jewish Bible, Christian Bible and the Koran, Job endures near-apocalyptic calamities without losing his patience or reproaching Divine Providence.

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In Judaism, Patience in God, it is said, will aid believers in finding the strength to be delivered from the evils that are inherent in the physical life.

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In Christianity, increasing patience is viewed as the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian who has accepted the gift of salvation (salvation = self elevation). The Proverbs note that "through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone" (Proverbs 25:14-16, NIV);

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Through patience, a Muslim believes that an individual can grow closer to God and thus attain true peace. The Muslim faith believes that without a good spirit while enduring, the struggle will not bear its full reward, thus, patiently persevering, striving and going forward, despite the difficulty, is the pinnacle of behavior during challenging times.

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In Buddhism, patience is one of the "perfections" that a bodhisattva trains in and practices to realize perfect enlightenment. Patience is recognized within Hinduism in the Bhagavad Gita. In both Hinduism and Buddhism there is a particular emphasis on meditation, aspects of which lead to a natural state of mindfulness that is conducive to patient, effective and well-organised thought.

Comedy - Patience

Do you get angry with 'stupid people'?
I do. But less so nowadays. I used to be really really angry with 'stupid' people. Why don't they use their brains? or commonsense...etc?
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Well, there are many reasons for that, which we won't analyse exhaustively here.
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Take a look at the following videos of the infamous Ali G on Youtube.
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Here's the same person, Sasha Baron Cohen, explaining what he did as Ali G, the character he played, which is a rapper wannabe from Buckshire, UK, mocking important people and what they do.


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So, take life seriously, but not too seriously. Life is a game. Enjoy it!
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Oh, by the way, the actor himself is a graduate from Cambridge University and not stupid at all!

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Comedy - Religion

Warning: This posting contains opinions that may be considered unacceptable by some people. If you are easily offended by unconventional views about religion and spiritualism, then DO NOT READ FURTHER THAN HERE. If you do, then do it at your own risk! If you do not agree with the views expressed below, it does not mean that you have not 'arrived', rather it just mean that you 'do not agree'. Meanwhile, try to be open. There are lots to discover about ourselves when we are open. Do feel free to leave comments. BELIEVING IS NOT NECESSARY!

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More Warnings!!!

Foul Language is used in both the videos.

Religion - by the late comedian George Carlin
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Take away the foul language and the baseball bat, and what he said makes a lot of sense. What do you think?.
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The Ten Commandments
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If there is a "Ten Commandments", I would rather have it as "Ten Commitments". "Commandments" come from a purported supreme being imposing it on us based on Fear.

"Commitments" come from within.

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Technology 7 - Solar Powered Car

I have found three Youtube videos about solar powered cars worthy of watching. They don't use any fossil fuel and don't emit any carbon-dioxide. There is also no need to stop the car to refuel as it constantly does so on the move.
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This one is most impressive. He constructed the whole car from scratch!
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This one is a little more odd ball, but with the right investors, it can be a fun car to watch.
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This one, a golf cart fitted with solar panels, is already commercially available for US$7,000.
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All three cars are small cars, since bigger cars will need more power. Current solar cell efficiency is only 10%. Prototypes are now at 42% efficiency. When they come to production, we may see bigger solar cars on the road.

Technology 6 - Air Car

A car that runs on compressed air and emits cold air. No pollutants. Takes three minutes to charge up, costing about $3 and will last 200 kms on the road. It is at prototype stage at the moment and will sell around end of 2009 for less than $20,000.
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It will still need electricity to compress the air, but that can be more easily controlled compared to combustion engines.
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Wikipedia Reference, click here

Autumn Colours 3

How do you feel when you see this pix?

(You can click on it to enlarge.)

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I feel peaceful. Several of my friends who saw this pix told me it is beautiful and likewise they feel tranquil and peaceful after looking at it.

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A few days ago, a friend asked me, via instant messenger, how I am. I decided to depict it with this pix and sent it to her. I told her I felt like in the pix. Then, to my surprise...

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She: So sad!

Me: Why?

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She: The leaves are dry and the trees are dying. So sad!

Me: The trees shed leaves to be efficient during winter and the leaves fall and enrich the ground. How can it be sad?

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She: 'Sad' means SAD. Why so defensive? It's a feeling you have.

Me: *puzzled* I don't think I am sad and the pix is very beautiful.

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She: Admit it and take a deep look at your subconscious. It will help.

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At that point, I decided to leave the conversation.

We only feel what we are inside and what we see is a reflection of ourselves. So, we have the same pix, but two diametrically opposite emotions resulted.

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Note: I shot this photograph during one of my daily walks in the woods behind where I stay. I love the colours of autumn.

Obama

Normally political speeches are not included here, as this is not a political blog. However, Obama's speech is an exception because it is inspiring.

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Obama is the unlikeliest candidate to be nominated, let alone to win the US Presidential Elections. He won in a country where the majority are Caucasians and the political establishment still dominated by the Caucasian race. Black Slavary was abolished only in 1865, and up till the 60s, Afro-Americans were only allowed to ride at the back of buses. He also come from a humble beginning, where his father left him when he is born.

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His victory shows that with determination and a worthwhile belief, success is possible.

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I am inspired that at last there is courage for another major change in America, and perhaps changes to global affairs. I think he has succeeded because he has included everyone in his Campaign, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual preference and physical abilities. He even spoke specifically about those who have voted for the Republican and that he too will be their President; and that he will listen to everyone especially when there are disagreements.

Let's hope this is a turning for America and also for the world to emulate.

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And as for Vic's schoolmates who have been taunting him because he is from an ethnic minority, they should do some self-reflection. How much Love we have is demonstrated by how much we include, not exclude. The students who taunt Vic are excluding Vic, and without being conscious of it, are somehow ultimately motivated by Fear. By embracing all, Obama won the US Presidential race. Those who taunted Vic ought to re-member that. "Re-member" to return to be "One".

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Connect

Slides by Oribel
Text from Daily OM

Connect - slideshow with music and animation

View more presentations from Oribel38.

If you have trouble viewing it, click here
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Vacuum State 3

Visitors today...
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%age Country

30% UNITED STATES

29% SINGAPORE

15% BELGIUM

03% SAUDI ARABIA

02% CANADA

02% UNITED KINGDOM

02% PORTUGAL

02% ITALY

02% HONG KONG

02% MALAYSIA

02% VIET NAM

02% SLOVAKIA

01% GERMANY

01% CZECH REPUBLIC

01% HUNGARY

01% -

01% INDONESIA

01% AUSTRALIA

01% INDIA

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Thank you for visiting. Come back again!

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Daily Contemplation

Deep down we must have real affection for each other, a clear realization or recognition of our shared human status. At the same time, we must openly accept all ideologies and systems as a means of solving humanity's problems. One country, one nation, one ideology, one system is not sufficient.

-- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Reiki 4 - Usui Pilgrimage

Mr Parag Pattani is my Reiki master. He has written the following account of his recent trip to Dr Mikao Usui's shrine in Japan. I have posted this here because Master Parag is one who follows his heart, and it often lead to interesting and enlightening results. I would be following up on his story in the months ahead, so watch this space...

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For the last few months the calling had been very strong, to pay a visit to Dr.Usui’s (he re-discovered Reiki) grave in Tokyo and Mt.Kurama near Kyoto where he received his enlightenment. Since it entailed a special trip to Japan from Singapore, the cost was high but with involvement in Reiki at an all time high, both in passion and profession, I had to do it. Finally on 13th October,2008 I flew to Japan.
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Grave & Memorial in Tokyo

My first stop was Tokyo. Part of Dr.Usui’s remains are buried at a graveyard in Saiho-ji temple ( He is originally said to have been buried at another private site in Tokyo). There is also a memorial stone erected by some of his disciples in 1927. The inscription in Kanji on the stone speaks about Dr.Usui’s life in brief, especially about his achievements in the field of Reiki. Various Master have travelled to this place before me and some translations of the inscription on the stone are available on the internet. In a nutshell, the following emerges from various translations provided -... read more

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For more about Reiki, read here

Environment 7 - Global Warming?

By now, many of you are probably convinced that the global climate is warming up. The famous Al-Gore documentary, "The Inconvenient Truth" (which I did a private screening last year to a small group), sold the idea that the world is warming and that there are disasters looming.

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Is that really true?

Some prominent scientists believe otherwise. This video shows how they substantiate their claims against the rise in global temperature due to the build-up of carbon-dioxide in the Earth's stratosphere.
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So what do you think?

Do you think you have been sold FEAR?

If it is so, what do you think is the motivation for selling this FEAR?

Is it to support a set of expensive policies that will benefit some people peddling solutions to the perceived problems?

If carbon-dioxide is not the culprit for temperature rise, what will happen to the proposed carbon-credit exchange? Will it work?

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I think, we should clean up the air and water ways against pollution, that are detrimental to our health. At the same time, we should remain open to other scientific evidence against the (now) mainstream perception that climate change is largely due to the amount of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere.

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For posts related to the environment, click here

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Social Enterprise 3a - Appropriate Technologies

I have found more Youtube videos on implementing appropriate technologies in developing countries and empowering the poor...
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Appropriate Technologies.

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Appropriate Technologies Gaining Ground in Developing Countries

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Renewable Energy Opportunities for Women

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Myths about the Global Poor

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Finally,... Is it 'Simple'?

Social Enterprise 3 - Simplicity

Problem: Lack of clean water for a remote village without electricity or affordable energy source. River water is some distance away and has to be laboriously carried manually in buckets.

My immediate idea to a solution is to install pumps and pipes to bring water from the river, through a water treatment unit, to the villagers for consumption. I think most engineers would think of doing just that. However, it is a solution the village cannot afford. They do not even have the resources to buy diesel to operate the pump.

I am therefore very impressed with what an organisation called PlayPump International does. See the video below...

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What's more the solution is fun, self-sustainable and serves the villagers' needs.

Bucky Group 33 - Play

Here is a letter from a member from the Bucky Group...

Hi Bucky Fellows

Yesterday, I meet up with 2 kids ( above 50 years old ). Kid JH was telling Kid R, "I like to show off my toys to you." Then, he booted up his notebook and showed Kid R his blog and the web sites he goes to...

What I observed:

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing - George Bernard Shaw
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Toys that are build for sharing gets shared.

What is the connection to me as a Bucky Group member?
Bucky Group members should play to stop being old. Instead of Jim Collin's build to last, think build to share.We should think of how to build toys that can allow playing to be shared. Bucky Group is a toy build to share.

Regards :-)

WhatIDiscover

ps. Someone else subsequently commented that "share to build" would be a full-cycle complement to "build to share".

Autumn Colours 2

My first autumn was spent in Australia. Then, a group of us city-slickers who are born in the tropics, drove all the way from Sydney to Canberra to see the beautiful autumn colours, which it is known for. There, we were fascinated by the breathtaking scenaries of varied shades of autumn, of carefully selected types of trees planted next to each other to show their colour contrasts and accentuate the beauty of autumn.

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One of my housemates was so amazed he brought back a selected leaf, which he carefully held between his thumb and index finger throughout the 1,000 km trip back to Sydney.

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When we reached home, he realised that we had the same type of tree right in our own garden! The leaf looks like this one below... :)

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Maple Leaf

The moral of the story is that it pays for us to open our eyes and admire the moment wherever we are, otherwise there will be much that escape right before our very own eyes.

Kids Play 17 - Belief

Vic (12 years old) believes that he will be super rich. He believes that it is already happening and the path ahead of him is already laid. He shows enthusiasm for everything and therefore always get what he wants. As to why he thinks like this, it surely beats me. He is just a natural optimist. He told me he is going to make money and love people.

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The other day, he told me he is going to be rich selling oxygen to space going vessels, as fuel. He will make CO2-O2 converter machines, and they will have to buy from him because rockets need oxygen, as fuel. Though I know rockets run on hydrogen rather than oxygen and also that he will have to face the tedium of commercialising such technologies, among many other problems, I encouraged him with his dream.

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I know that with a strong belief, he will overcome all associated problems and also will sort out the technicalities and find out that he needs hydrogen instead, or may be he will discover a technology that uses oxygen. We don't know what may come in the house that the children of today will live in, in their future. We can't even see this house in our dreams now. So what we can do is only to encourage them to do their best and believe in what they want to do.

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Actually, if you look into it, it is not very far off from the way religious people place their absolute trust in God, in whatever they do. Replace the word 'God' with 'Self' and the concept is identical.

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This is very different from how I was brought up. For some reason, Chinese parents love to discourage their children and make them feel small. Subconsciously, they are transfering their fears to their children. May be to them, it is also a way of protecting their children - that just in case they do not make it, it won't be so hard on the kids, since they have been 'forewarned'. So, unless such parents have very strong minded kids, they would succeed in cowing the children's dreams into oblivion.

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That's probably one reason why I had such a bad temper. I had many ideas and things that I love to do as a kid, but was always discouraged. Even after I had my driver's licence, I was consistently spoken into fear about the dangers of driving. And eventually, they succeeded, and I almost got into a serious accident, which becomes a self-fulfiling prophecy that proved that driving a motor vehicle was dangerous.

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We must always be careful with what we burn into the minds of people, especially young minds. Once burned in, they will be conditioned to be fearful instead of feeling the omnipresent and mighty glory to succeed, which is our true nature. So nowadays, I choose my words carefully when I speak. I would always ask, "Does this encourage Love or Fear?"

Autumn Colours

Kid's Play 16 - Boarding School

Attended a talk by the principal of a boarding school recently, that welcomes its students for the new semester In it, he says that the school is not one that promotes elitism and would accept students from all backgrounds that are willing to learn. It is true as it has a means-tested fee structure, such that both the rich and poor can afford to attend the school.

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In true Catholic fashion, he said that the school is not a place that teaches students to earn a lot of money in the future, but rather to be educated and responsible human-beings. I differ with him a little on the part about money, in that, children should be taught about abundance and financial prudence early in their life, so that they can have a life comfortable enough to focus on spiritualism. Also, emphasising that the school is not a place to learn about making money, gives a negative impression about money to those young minds. They might grow up thinking that money is evil. I believe that we can be well-moneyed and spiritual. We don't have to be poor in order to be spiritual.

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Further, he enumerated two directions which the school takes, akin to the two recent Olympic Gold Medals Belgium has won in High Jump and 4x100m relay. That is, though the students may come from varying educational backgrounds, the school endeavours to bring the standards as high as possible, just like in High Jump. Then, as each student is stretched to their highest standard possible, there shall be no prima donna, but team players who will excel together, just like in 4x100m relays.

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The compounds and the buildings can do with some refurbishment, but then I think they would not have enough funds as they do not want to charge high fees such that only the rich can study there. They take students from all races and religions, like Muslims, Christians, Buddhists,...etc. As I departed, I could see families leave in big Mercedes and Porsche, but also Toyotas and other ordinary cars. There are also some who walked down the slopes from the school and departed by train. I think the school has set its priorities to love all and serve all. My blessings to them.

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Cat's Play 3

Go play with a cat when you have time. It is a great escape from the daily grind if you are a busy person forgetting about yourself.

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I know of someone who was very depressed until one day when she saw three kittens in a cardboard box outside the supermarket, with a sign, "Please take one". The three kittens were lovely and were shivering in the cold, or perhaps also out of fear in the strange surroundings waiting for someone to adopt them. She picked up one of the kittens, and since then, has gradually recovered from her depression. When we 'turn the other cheek' to face love, in this case, of loving the kitten, the darkness and depression disappears. We can't move darkness, but by shining light on it, the darkness disappears.

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The kitten was her saviour. Saviours do not have to come with supernatural powers, a bolt of lightning and a deep thunderous voice that echoes across the skies. They can be as simple as an abandoned and helpless kitten. Actually, if we look around in our daily life, there are many seemingly ordinary mundane entities that have much to offer us, waiting for us to respond and acknowledge,... that is, if we really listen hard enough.

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Daily Contemplation

Did you ever see the Law that causes a plant to grow? Of course, you did not, and yet you believed in the hidden Law of growth. Why did you believe? Simply because, every year, out of the seed time comes the harvest. To these souls who have dared to believe, has come a definite answer.
-- Ernest Holmes
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Daily Contemplation is a free email service from Bodhi Fellowship / Center For Inner Peace to inspire and empower you to live a spiritually-centered and loving life...
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Invite A Friend: subscribe@bodhifellowship.org
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Autumn is here again, and so is the chestnut season...
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yummy.... :)

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Environment 3b - Flowers vs Weeds

These are bramberries. They are lovely fruits found in abundance and also sold in supermarkets. Since they are highly perishable, they are not that cheap either. However, in the wild, they are mostly considered as 'weeds'. I think this is because they have long thorny vines that take over your land quickly. They are so robust that your other garden shrubs would die in competition with them.

This is a blueberry plant. They are low shrubs and bear these blueberries which are very good for taking out the toxicity in your guts. We had those in the garden bearing lots of fruits when we first moved in. It was a wild garden. Then as we organised the garden and shifted it to a discreet shaded corner, they bear less fruits. They like their natural spot to grow. In a prominent spot, we treated them as 'weeds', and that's why had them shifted.

These are morning glory flowers. Lovely flowers, but as they are such robust plants they can take over the undergrowth of the forest too.

These are wild strawberries. They are about 1cm in diameter on average, but very fragrant and sweet. More so that their cultivated cousins. They grow together with grass. Actually in Chinese, strawberries are called, "grass berries". So, they can easily be seen as weeds, until you see them bearing those delicious fruits.

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Bucky Group 32 - 3W's

This post is from WhatIDiscover:

Hi Bucky Fellows

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I attended the mind of Buckminster Fuller's talk today. The talk isconducted by fellow Bucky Group member - Titus Yong. He shares what heseen at the Buckminster Fuller's exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

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He also talks about what he thinks about how Bucky thinks. I recall what he says and express it in 1 diagram.See attached Bucky Mind Triangle diagram before read on.

Whole Wide World

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Whole - seek synergy

Wide - seek knowledge across disciplines

World - seek inspiration from our World

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Thanks for sharing Titus.

Please correct me if you feel I have misquoted you.

Regards :-)

Kids Play 15 - Colours

It's difficult to teach Hadri about colours when he was two and a half.
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Me (pointing to a leaf): Hadri, this colour is green. Now what is the colour?
Hadri: Colour.
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Me: No, I mean, what is the colour? The colour... is it 'green', 'blue' or 'red'?
Hadri: Colour.
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Haiz. I was a little concerned. It is one thing getting confused with colours, but yet another not understanding even the concept of colours!!! Alarms!!!
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As we strolled down the path in the woods, I saw some bramberries and decided to use them to illustrate to Hadri.
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Me (pointing to the black bramberries and very slowly...): Now this bramberry is BLACK.
Hadri (suddenly interested): Yes, black ones can be eaten, red ones can't be!
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I was stunned and speechless! So he knew it all along!!! It all comes down to 'motivation' isn't it?
Sometimes I wonder what goes on in their little heads.
It would be wonderful if we know exactly what goes on.
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Bramberries.

Cat's Play 2b - Up the tree

I was in the kitchen when I saw my neighbour's cat sitting there waiting and meowing, trying to tell me something. As soon as I opened the door, he went around my legs. I thought he needed a cuddle and picked him up, but when he was in my arms, he struggled, jumped down and ran towards the tall pine tree. He then leaped up the tree for about 1.5 metres then came back down on the ground and looked up the next tree.

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Up the tree was about five storeys high, was... guess who? My silly kitten, crying for help! Haiz! Will she ever learn? This is the third time. I will wait till I later to bring her down. Right now, I was busy.
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About half an hour later, I went to the tree to take a picture of my kitten, but to my astonishment, she was gone! Did she jump? I looked around, and to my relief, saw her playing with the neighbour's cat in the far end of the garden. Saves me the hassle of climbing up the tree with a basket again! So she has finally learned how to back track down the tree. Not so silly after all! :)

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These is about what it looks like (re-enacted pixs):

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What amazes me was the clarity of what my neighbour's cat communicated with me. It was just that we don't have a common language to talk to one another.

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A Tao master once told me that everything (including the so called 'non-living' things) around us have intelligence. Their intelligence is their nature. But at present, we don't know how to communicate with them. For more of the Tao master's talk, click here

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The hero

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For other Cat's Play posts, click here

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