Hope never stops to sing

I was in the city centre yesterday noon, in Citibank Building,the 13th tallest building in the country, 190 meters tall and 50 storeys high, when I got a phone call from Apple. I was in the midst of a queue to get my lunch, my tears just flowed when Apple, in a very excited manner, told me the good news that the doctor confirmed that for the first time in 3 months, Mr Tan's blood test was good and he could be on the way to recovery! Some in the queue were staring at me when I took out my tissue to wipe away my tears.

My earlier posts on Mr. Tan: Hope abides dated 16 November and A question hard to answer dated 15 August.



"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all

- Emily Dickinson

A poor life this, if full of care

That's Teh Kechik next to a X'mas tree.

Spent a leisurely morning yesterday with Teh Kechik, a friend of over 20 years in the Mid valley Megamal. Except for the food outlets, there were hardly any shoppers. A reflection of the times or is it just because it was a Monday morning?

This leisurely morning reminds me of this poem I came across in my younger days:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

...

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars like skies at night.

...

A poor life this if, full of care

We have no time to stand and stare.

My periwinkles in full bloom

Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun.
- Kahlil Gibran

The barbarians only got 2 years and 8 months!

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/21/2426809.htm

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is appealing against the sentences handed down to a Perth couple who imprisoned a 6-year-old boy in their garage.

The boy weighed just 12 kilograms when he was found in a portable cot in the darkened garage last year. He had been deprived of food and had bruises all over his face and body.

The couple was sentenced to two years and eight months jail for what the Judge described as the cruel and appalling neglect and abuse of the boy. The man was given an additional six months for assaulting the boy.

My opinion: Even adding 20 years is not punishment enough!

Many clear benefits of exercise for the elderly

Extracts from article entitled The Age Antidote

by Len Kravitz, Ph.D.

"There are clearly many benefits that can be derived from participation in an exercise program for the mature exerciser. It is well-recognized that many deleterious physical and psychological conditions that commonly occur during aging can be prevented or delayed in asymptomatic persons with regular physical activity .

Physical activity in elders has been linked to playing a role in the prevention of some cancers as well as reduced risk to heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, obesity, type II diabetes, osteoarthritis and abnormal cholesterol.

Mature adults who maintain high levels of cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility are also less likely to be dependent for long-term care. Strength and flexibility exercises may prevent falls and injuries by improving balance and mobility. Improved strength also helps individuals function independently, with improved gait and bodily control.

Additionally, exercise is associated with effective stress management, fewer sleep disorders, enlightened mental outlook, reduced loneliness, and lowered depression and anxiety."

There is something about dolphins

Do you know?

Outside of its striking friendliness, the Dolphin seems to have been blessed with a well developed sense of humor.

Dolphins live in social groups dominated by a leader.

A dolphin's skin is extremely delicate and easily injured by rough surfaces--very similar to human skin.

Comparing dolphin's brains to ours and others we can claim that it is deductible that dolphins could be intelligent enough to communicate.

If brain weight is a true measure of intelligence, Man is superior, followed by dolphins with the chimp trailing third.

Ever since the first time man ventured into the sea, dolphins have been man's friend. Throughout history mentions are made showing this.

You may be interested to read a 1970 article on dolphines by Regina Blackstock: Dolphins and Man.....Equals?

I confess a fascination for dolphins

Some of my dolphins collection

She was laced with wounds that stretched from her feet to the fingertips!

Extract from the San francisco Chronicle dated 21 November:

Fifteen-year-old Jazzmin Davis' badly scarred, emaciated body was found nude, lying on the floor in a bedroom where she had been confined in her aunt's Antioch home, a coroner's report on her death said.

The foster child died Sept. 2 of severe malnutrition, exacerbated by multiple blunt-force injuries and burns, according to a Contra Costa County coroner's report released this week.

The girl's body, weighing only 78 pounds, was laced with scars and wounds that stretched from her feet to her fingertips, the report said. She had multiple burns that appeared to be from a clothes iron on her chest and stomach, a tangle of scars on her neck that extended to her cheek and five broken teeth that "were probably struck by some type of hard object," the report said.

Read the full story: Questions about how girl's horrid abuse went unnoticed

Why?

In Eagle Mountain, Utah, USA a 33 year old woman and her 37 year old live-in boyfriend were arrested Oct. 14 after a neighbor noticed the woman's 9-year-old niece naked in the couple's backyard.

The girl told police she had dropped from a 12-foot-high window to escape the bathroom she was locked in. Her 6-year-old brother was at first mistaken for dead when police found him lying in another locked bathroom. They let the children go hungry, beat them with a leather belt and locked them in the bathrooms for long periods.

Read full story: Woman pleads guilty in Eagle Mountain child abuse

Breeding babies for sale!

Recent police raids in Nigeria have revealed an alleged network of clinics, dubbed baby "farms" or "factories"!

It was reported that in one such clinic, the doctor in charge, who is now on trial, reportedly lured teenagers with unwanted pregnancies by offering to help with abortion. They would be locked up there until they gave birth, whereupon they would be forced to give up their babies for a token fee of around 20,000 naira (170 dollars, 135 euros). The babies would then be sold to buyers for anything between 300,000 and 450,000 naira (2,500 and 3,800 dollars) each.

Another category of young women, driven by deep poverty, lease out their wombs and volunteer themselves, as regularly as is biologically possible, to produce babies for sale.

Read the full article Babies bred for sale in Nigeria

No day in your life will you be alone

I always feel comforted by this small poem.

Faith by Miller, Wayne

Faith is not a rose to see,

a stone to touch,

or a place to be.

Instead it's something deep inside,

that gives your soul strength to confide.

Faith is the power over life's confusion,

some will tell you it's only an illusion.

No more real gift will you ever own,

than the freedom to be one of God's own.

Faith gives us love and peace within,

it guides us clear of pain and sin.

Let it drive your every deed,

and give you vision of things to be.

Faith will shadow all your fears,

and allow Gods hand to dry your tears.

Open your heart and give faith a home,

and no day in your life will you be alone.

Hope abides

Saw Mr. Tan for the first time since he as diagnosed with acute leukemia AML-5 about 3 months ago in August. He has undergone 4 courses of chemo, lost 12 kg and most of his hair. Apple Teoh cooked him a dish of eel, supposed to be good for his health. His appetite seems to be quite good, he finished the eels and the organic rice and soup that Apple brought. His chemo has been stopped for the time being but he has to undergo blood transfusion about twice a week.

He has all the time been an active and organized person. Today, on his order, many workers were in his house cutting down all the big trees in his garden and he was giving the instructions, even though he needs to rest. Except for his physical appearance he has not changed. We really hope this nice man will overcome the disease and live the life that he deserves.

Hope abides; therefore I abide.

Countless frustrations have not cowed me.

I am still alive, vibrant with life.

The black cloud will disappear

The morning sun will appear once again

In all its supernal glory. - Sri Chinmoy

Getting my leotards on!

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

Source: http://www.1funny.com/seniorjokes.shtml

Exercises the elderly can do at home

I came across some very useful tips on exercises for the elderly and would like to share with you.

There are some simple strength exercises that the elderly can do at home. Each exercise should be done 8 to 10 times for two sets.

Complete all movements in a slow, controlled fashion.
Don't hold your breath.
Stop if you feel pain.
Stretch each muscle after your workout.

PICTURE 1. Wall push-ups.

Place hands flat against the wall.
Slowly lower body to the wall. Push body away from wall to return to starting position.

PICTURE 2. Chair squats.

Begin by sitting in the chair. Lean slightly forward and stand up from the chair. Try not to favor one side or use your hands to help you.

PICTURE 3. Biceps curl.

Hold a weight in each hand with your arms at your sides. Bending your arms at the elbows, lift the weights to your shoulders and then lower them to your sides.

PICTURE 4. Shoulder shrugs.

Hold a weight in each hand with your arms at your side. Shrug your shoulders up toward your ears and then lower them back down.

Read the full article at http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/staying/754.html

How we may learn wisdom

By three methods we may learn wisdom:

First, by reflection, which is noblest;

Second, by imitation, which is easiest;

and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

-a Confucius quote.

My exasperation

"Exasperation"is defined in Dictionary.com as irritation; extreme annoyance. For example "Her exasperation at being a clean up slave to her grown up children was understandable".

I hope my outburst to my children on 3 November 2008 will be understood, well taken and will inspire them to play their part in the cleanliness and hygiene of the house which we share.

Thanks Zarina for remembering

Received a SMS from Zarina early morning today. Every year, at this time of the year since I retired, Zarina, my former collegue would never fail to send me a greeting! Thanks Zarina, for remembering.

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness - Lois L. Kaufman

Justice Bao would turn in his grave

"Over the moon", screamed the headlines today. A beautiful young lady was murdered, infact blown to pieces with explosives, the alleged murderer, her former lover, acquitted, not even called for his defense. "I just want to go home..." he said, smiling from ear to ear. What about the poor girl blown to pieces who could never again go home to her children and parents? I know this is not a gracious thought...I hope he goes home and sleeps with his eyes wide opened every night! Then again, people like that do not have the privilege of a conscience!

Is this a joke or for real? Justice Bao would turn in his grave!