Things Inspire

Making a Perfect Personal Space

2012-02-03T10:48:00.000Z

“A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever“-- John Keats

You need your own personal space – a special area that reflects your personality, uniqueness, and personal tastes.

Why a personal space? To re-energize yourself, at least 10-15 minutes daily. Whether it’s a corner of a room, an entire room or a house, it should be as private as you can make it.

Your personal space is a place to relax, feel warm, listen to your favorite music, and be surrounded by your favorite things: photos of family and friends, art work, collections, books, etc. Adding a pot of fresh flowers will bring charm and outdoor aroma into your private life.

Your personal space should not only be comfortable and pleasing, but also beautiful to inspire your inner sense to bring out the best in you. Though beauty is subjective - it means different things to different people - try filling your personal space with anything and everything that pleases you. Beauty could be found in art objects, books of poetry, photos, flowers, furniture, etc. but the key is that it should appeal to your senses and make a statement about you.

You can actually transform your space into your dream world in a short amount of time, and quite affordable all on your own without a lot of skill, tools or decorating expertise.

Here a few suggestions for making your personal space perfect for you:

1. Colors – bright colors make your room look warm and cheerful. If your favorite color, like purple or black, is too strong for the room, then paint the interior of a cabinet in your favorite color.

2. Statement – your uniqueness can be shown in a statement piece. Make your statement piece bright and bold. If you’re proud of your artwork or hobby, display it as a room centerpiece. If you have a favorite armchair, adorn it with an attractive, cozy seat covering. And if you like animals, paint your furniture in zebra stripes, cheetah spots or penguin tuxedo.

3. Hiding clutter - To make your personal space inviting and spacious, use ottomans, window seats, armoires, and bookcases with enclosed compartments to hide everyday clutter.

4. Freshness – focus on bringing fresh energy into your space, whether it’s fresh air, flowers, fruits, recent photos, new books, etc.

By making your private world roomy, beautiful and personal, the quality of your life will considerably improve and you’ll feel healthier and happier.

Mushroom Home: Art in Nature

2012-01-02T08:56:00.000Z

As one of the most fascinating homes in the world, the Mushroom house not only demonstrates an architect's ingenuity in creating a beautiful and comfortable home but also in blending art with nature in its unique design. The result is a dream home made up of five interconnected pods, in a natural environment surrounded by trees.

Built in 1971 by James H. Johnson, the five pods sit on concrete and steel "stems". Two pods are used as bedrooms, the center pod holds the kitchen and sitting room, the fourth pod serves as a living and dining area with a fireplace, and the fifth pod is used as a deck.

As a local landmark in Perinton, New York, the Mushroom Home attracted the attention of several artists who contributed 9,000 ceramic tiles for the interior of the home.

This home may not be totally eco-friendly, but the concept of building a home that blends in with nature is indeed inspirational. It's possible to build a beautiful home without destroying the natural surrounding. We should have more homes like this!

Best dancing on ice: Daisuke Takahashi at GPF 2011

2011-12-17T01:22:00.002Z

One of the most impressive men's figure skating ever was by Daisuke Takahashi of Japan in the Men's Final Grand Prix 2011. He performed brilliantly - dancing on ice!

The music itself was not the ordinary classical but the blues (Blues for Klook). Takahashi captured the feel of the blues with smooth and expressive moves, high jumps and timely gestures beautifully. It's rare nowadays to watch figure skaters perform their numbers as though they are REALLY dancing, not just doing their routine of jumps, spins and footsteps.

Though he messed up the quad jump at the beginning, but for the rest of the program he made everyone in the audience feel the music through his skating. He was sensational! It's no wonder that he received a standing ovation for his great performance.

What an inspirational skater!

Winter art of Nature: Snowflakes

2011-12-16T06:18:00.003Z

Winter is here. In some colder places, snow quietly falls from the sky.

Snow consists of millions and millions of snowflakes which are crafted by the elements of weather. Each snowflake is as individual and unique as people are or any living thing on this planet.

Though as common as raindrops from the clouds or sand grains on the beach, snowflakes seem to be shrouded in mystery. Scientists have tried to solve the puzzle: "Is it really true that no two snowflakes are alike?"

The birth of a snowflake begins when a tiny dust or pollen particle comes into contact with water vapor. Then, the water vapor freezes the particle as a tiny crystal of ice high up in Earth's atmosphere.

Interestingly, the molecules of water that form each ice crystal naturally arrange themselves into a hexagonal shape. All snowflakes start out as a hexagonal crystal of ice and then "grow" delicate extensions (arms) forming intricate patterns. As snow crystals tumble through the air, they enlarge their shapes in an infinite number of ways of being six-sided.

The patterns of snowflakes can be grouped into the following:

1. Hexagonal plate - six-sided flat shapes, sometimes with a star pattern in the center of a hexagonal plate

2. Stellar plate: hexagonal plates that have bumps or unbranched arms, giving the snowflake a "star" appearance

3. Stellar dendrite: branching six-sided shapes

4. Fernlike stellar dendrite: branches of a snowflake that look feathery or like the fronds of a fern

5. Needles: look like needles which may be solid, hollow, or partially hollow

6. Column: six-sided columns that may be short and wide, long and thin, capped or even twisted

7. Bullets: column-shaped snowflakes tapered at one end, forming a bullet shape

8. Irregular: snowflakes that may have grown unevenly, broken, melted, or stuck to other snow crystals

What researchers know is that snowflakes form different shapes at different temperatures. In addition, pollution and other impurities in the air may contribute to the shape of a snow crystal. Believe it or not, most snowflakes are imperfect!

The weather temperature plays a major role in shaping the snowflakes. Here's a list of different temperatures that influence the patterns of ice crystal growth:

thin plates: 32-25F
needles: 25-21F
hollow columns: 21-14F
sector plates: 14-10F
dendrites: 10-3F

So, back to the question: "Is it really true that no two snowflakes are alike?"

What do you think?

Why a hobby is good for you?

2011-12-06T05:08:00.002Z

Humans are part of Nature's creation. Thus, humans have innate creativity which should be expressed in one way or another. The best way for any human to express his/her creative side is to have a hobby that suits his/her personality.

As a healthy approach to opening ourselves up to imaginative thinking, discovery and exploration, having a hobby is to spend hours a day or days a month or weeks a year in a "specialized pursuit" for pleasure. A hobby is never a waste of time because it involves you in making things of your own, gaining personal knowledge and learning new skills.

A hobby could be anything as long as it gives you pleasure in doing it. Having a hobby gives you self-esteem, satisfaction, a sense of achievement as well as a sense of personal growth. It has been proven that a hobby can improve memory and alleviate the effects of aging.

The things that a hobby could do for you:

- gives relief from over-working or stress
- gives you private time to have with yourself
- gives you independent and pleasure from within, not depending on entertainment or friends
- reveals your unique talent
- challenges you to improve yourself
- gives you a chance to meet and share with people of similar taste
- gives you an alternative career if you have mastered it

The Keirsey Temperament Theory developed by educational psychologist, David Keirsey, identifies four main personality temperaments that have their own traits, behaviors, preferences and tendencies. Knowing your type of personality can be useful for determining the kind of hobby that would appeal to you.

1. Guardians - practical, hardworking individuals who take responsibilities seriously. They are productive, making things run smoothly and doing voluntary work. They enjoy acquiring knowledge that can be put into practical use. Suggested hobbies: carpentry, photography, model building.

2. Artisans - fun-loving and creative individuals with a natural inclination for the arts. These people are usually identified as the ones with natural "talent". Suggested hobbies: drawing, painting, sculpting, fashion design, cooking, horticulture, music or theatre performance.

3. Idealists - deep thinkers who seek self-improvement as well as improvement for the world at large. Some idealists may be visionaries and healers and they are drawn to the "unknown". Suggested hobbies: reading on psychology, mystery or social justice; writing, designing, art, music, dance.

4. Rationals - logical problem-solvers who enjoy gaining theoretical and practical knowledge. They incline to be inventors who show an appreciation for technology and mental exercise. Suggested hobbies: computer programming, car mechanics, electronics.

Here's a list of well-known hobbies:

1. fishing
2. sewing
3. handicrafts
4. playing music
5. bird watching
6. restoring cars, fixing things
7. carpentry
8. reading, writing
9. collecting
10. model building
11. painting, drawing, designing
12. photography
13. gardening
14. cooking, baking

Instead of being a couch potato or moping around doing nothing during your spare time, think of a hobby you want to master for life. Put your precious time to better use. Get a hobby!!!

War protest: Sade's "Why Can't We Live Together?"

2011-11-28T17:32:00.010Z

As one of the most unique sounds that came out in the 1980s is the group from Britain, Sade. The song written by Timmy Thomas, "Why can't we live together?", beautifully performed by Sade in their Diamond Life album, still fascinates and the lyrics ring true.

Sade (collectively, the vocalist Sade Adu and her band) composed 8 out of 9 tracks in their award-winning debut album, Diamond Life (1984). What grabs your attention is not only the singer's stunning looks and cool vocals, but also the band's music itself - rhythmic style, laden with jazz and African beat. Seen as sexy and intelligent, Sade have enjoyed a great success in the U.S. and Europe.

Like most anti-war rock & roll songs, "Why can't we live together?"
contains simple lyrics to remember and a clear message: World Peace. Unlike most anti-war songs, this song delivers an unforgettable percussion buildup and instrumental accompaniment.

It's a classic.

"Why Can't We Live Together"

Tell me why tell me why tell me why
Umm why can't we live together
Tell me why tell me
Umm why can't we live together
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together

No more war no more war no more war
Umm just a little peace
No more war no more war all we want
Is some peace in this world

Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together

No matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
I said no matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother

Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together

Everybody wants to live
Everybody's got to be together
Ooh everybody wants to live
Everybody's got to be together

Ooh Ooh laaa laa laa laa
Everybody's got to be together
Everybody wants to be together

I said no matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
I said no matter no matter what color
You are still my brother

Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together

Gotta live together
Together!

Song for Occupy Movement: What's Going On

2011-11-28T01:13:00.006Z

When there's a peace movement in the country, we think of John Lennon's famous phrase: "Give peace a chance."

As the momentum of the Occupy movement spreads in the major cities around the United States, there is one inspiring song that captures the gist of why people protest. This song is timeless and forever empowering.

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today, yeah

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going
What's going on
What's going on

Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Come on talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
What's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you ya, what's going on

Right on, baby
Right on, baby
Right on, baby

Get to know the persimmon fruit

2011-11-14T07:29:00.002Z

Persimmon is a deciduous tree, which can grow up to 25 ft. in height. Scientifically known as Diospyros virginiana, the persimmon trees grow best in places with moderate winters and mild summers.

During the fall season, trees bear numerous fruits that vary in shape and size. Persimmon fruits come in spherical, heart, or squash shapes and weigh from as little as a few ounces to more than a pound. The color of the fruit is generally orange - ranging from light yellow-orange to dark orange-red depending on the variety. The entire fruit is edible, except for the seeds and the calyx. However, the skin is usually removed before consumption.

Persimmon fruits are classified into two general categories: "astringent" and "non-astringent".

Originated from China, the oriental fruit is popular in Japan known as "hachiya". An unripe "hachiya" contains a hight level of tannin making it taste tart. As the persimmon fruit matures (soften and color deepen), the tannin level goes down, leaving the fruit sweet and delicious. Astringent persimmons are harvested when they are hard and ripe. They can continue to ripen at room temperature. The hard astringent variety can be stored in the refrigerator for several months.

On the other hand, the non-astringent persimmon fruit containing less tannin is treated with alcohol to remove astringency. They are ready to be harvested when they are ripe and slightly soft. The non-astringent variety can only last a few days at room temperature.

Although persimmon fruit is not well known in other parts of the world, the fruit is gaining attention for its nutrients. It's low in calories and fats but serves as a rich source of dietary fiber. This remarkable fruit contains vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, all of which are necessary for health.

calcium
iron
potassium
manganese
copper
phosphorus
protein
catechins
vitamin A (for eyes and skin)
vitamin C (tooth, gum, tissue growth & repair)
B-comple vitamins

Like many fruits, persimmons can be eaten fresh, dried, or cooked. Fresh picked persimmons can be cut into quarters like an apple. Dried fruits are eaten as snacks or used in desserts. Persimmons are also used in recipes for puddings, pies and cakes as well in health drinks and jams.

Here's an excellent recipe for cookies using ripe persimmons.

2 ripe persimmons, pureed
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Dissolve baking soda in persimmon pulp and set aside.
Sift flour, spices and salt together, set aside.
Cream together butter or margarine and sugar until fluffy, beat in egg and persimmon. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in nuts and raisins.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

However you want to consume the persimmon fruit, you'll be delighted by its sweet taste!

The power of music on living things

2011-11-06T03:34:00.002Z

Music is a form of communication as well as entertainment for all living things.

We all know that music has a powerful effect on human's emotions. The ancient Greeks even believed that music has the power to form character.

We also know that animals have their own form of music - birds sing songs, humpback whales vocalize stanzas, bats squeak supersonic melodies, etc.

In an experimental study on tamarin monkeys in Central and South American rain forests, psychologist Charles Snowden recorded the tamarin calls and composed music tailored to those monkeys.

As expected, tamarins didn't show any reaction to human songs, but they clearly displayed signs of emotions and reacted strongly to Snowden's composed music for tamarins.

Although plants don't make their own music, they do respond to music. In 1968, researcher Dorthy Retallack used many musical styles to show the effects of music on plant growth. She drew an interesting conclusion, the plants grew well in every type of music, except rock and roll. The plants that were exposed to rock or acid rock withered and died.

How can plants "listen" to music?

Music is made up of sound waves that are frequencies oscillating through air. It has been discovered that plant stomata respond to music.

The function of stomata is to allow gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor and oxygen to move into and out of the leaf. It has been found that resonant frequency causes stomata to open under the influence of music or specific tones.

However, if rock music or high pitched tones that cause the plant to vibrate, the stomata will close and open after a lapse of time. Thus, the wrong kind of music will interrupt the natural rhythmic process of photosynthesis in a plant, which in turn affects plant growth.

All living things have a natural gift to be influenced by music. Yes, music is that powerful!

Think of the mood you'd like to be in before you select your next song!

Balcony Farming For City Dwellers

2011-09-03T15:18:00.002+01:00

Living in a concrete jungle, you can still feel connected with nature by growing your own food right in your own cozy balcony environment. Growing food just needs a little space, and even the smallest apartments have windowsill space for a pot of salad plants or a container of delicious strawberries.

For whatever reason - saving money, worrying about safe market food products, or simply enjoying the experience of growing your own food - nurturing balcony farming is not only practical, but also challenging and inspirational.

Anyone can be a farmer. You don't need a green thumb to grow fruits and vegetables as food on your plate. It's really quite simple. If you have pots, soil and water supply, you can grow many popular edible vegetables. Most vegetables will grow in well-drained, rich soil and need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Here's a list of various crops (in alphabetical order) that can be successfully grown from your small apartment balcony:

artichokes
asparagus
broccoli
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery
cucumbers
eggplants
green beans/peas
lettuce
leeks
onions
parsnips
peppers
potatoes
radishes
tomatoes
turnip
spinach
squash
strawberries
sweet corn
Swiss chard
zucchini

Herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, peppermint and rosemary, thyme

When our lives have become so complex, saturated with technology and materialism, we need to return to the basics of nature to understand the meaning of life. By growing our own food, flowers or plants, we learn to appreciate and cherish deeply what nature has given us - nourishment, beauty and life.

Ten Popular Natural Scents

2011-08-07T05:03:00.006+01:00

According to the mystics, the sense of smell gives pleasure and relief to the soul.

Unfortunately, we, humans, perceive the world mainly through our visual and audio senses, while downplaying our sense of smell. We've lost the animal instinct for the sense of smell to make us want to know another or repel us to avoid one another - all part of the biology of attraction.

Nevertheless, smells hold an uncanny power over us - a sniff of food makes our mouths watery, a whiff of a long-forgotten scent takes us back to memory lane, or a long inhale of natural scent alleviates stress while soothes our soul.

In aromatherapy, these are the ten most popular natural scents in alphabetical order for relaxation and sleep. Nature offers its best for natural cures without any side effects.

1. Bergamot - used in perfumes, and tea, popularly known as Earl Grey and Lady Grey - helps digestion, inflammation as well as treats depression.

2. Chamomile - used in tea and medicinal herbal treatment - has antispasmodic and antiinflammatory effect. Chamomile, used for inhalation or as tea, produces a calming agent for relaxation.

3. Jasmine - used in as fragrance as well as antidepressant - induces warm, calming emotions and sensuality.

4. Lavender - used in soaps, shampoos, lotions, potpourris, tinctures and teas - has multiple functions. It can be used as an antiseptic. It also relieves anxiety, rids of insomnia and eases depression. Lavender oil in massage helps one to sleep better, to stabilize moods, and to have better focus.

5. Lilac - used in perfumes and as a tonic - brings serenity, pleasurable memories and peaceful slumber.

6. Mandarin - outer peel extraction used in oils and fragrances - has a balancing, uplifting and calming effect.

7. Rose - used in oils and fragrances - calms nervous tensions and gives one a positive feeling about oneself.

8. Sandalwood - used in fragrances and wooden products - pacifies anxiety and anger while promotes relaxation, sleep and meditative states. In fact, sandalwood’s fragrance is closest to human pheromone. It is traditionally considered as an aphrodisiac.

9. Vanilla - used in food and oils - increases the levels of adrenaline, stimulating and invigorating one as well as producing a calming, relaxing and comforting effect.

10. Ylang-ylang - used in fragrances - has both stimulating and calming effect. It is known for its ability to slow down the sympathetic nervous system and stimulates mental alertness.

Nature offers many wonderful remedies through the sense of smell to cure one's mental anxieties and troubled soul in this stressful world. As Oscar Wilder aptly put it: "To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul!"

Inspiring Victory: Japan vs. USA Women's World Cup Final 2011

2011-07-26T06:07:00.005+01:00

It's incredible, inconceivable, and inexplicable that the Japanese women beat their American rivals in the best ever Women's World Cup played in history!

Both sides have their own remarkable stories of getting to the World Cup final and both thought it was their destiny to win. The dramatic and magical winnings in quarterfinals and semifinals of both teams were thrilling and shocking. And the climax of the two teams played in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 17, 2011, was just as cliff-hanging and surprising! But destiny could only choose one winner. The ending seems to be a page torn from a Hollywood script.

It was a Women's World Cup final between two inspirational teams whose paths through the tournament seemed guided by fate. They were both underdogs pulling out wins when it didn't seem possible to reach the final. They were both dark horses, upsetting their international rivals with their remarkable resiliency, drive and talent. Both teams were sensational in capturing the hearts of their homeland with stunning victories and attracted devout fans in such a short period.

On one side, the U.S. team was favored to win its first and America's third World Cup title since 1999. On the other, the Japan team "Nadeshiko" in its first Women's World Cup final poured its heart out to play for a country ravaged by the devastating March tsunami and earthquake as well as nuclear radiation leaks.

In the unforgettable Women's World Cup final, the United States twice took the lead, but Japan tied the score with nine minutes to go in regulation, then tied it again with three minutes to go into overtime. The late scores by Japan were reminiscent of earlier U.S. matches.

No one could forget the highlights of the game: when Alex Morgan ran to score following Megan Rapinoe's long pass; when Aya Miyama tied the score by tapping the ball in with the outside of her foot; when Morgan passed to Abby Wambach for a lethal forehead score; when Homare Sawa's knee knocked the ball in for a timely equalizer.

Finally, when the Japan team was faced with the daunting task of scoring in penalty kicks against the world's best goalkeeper, Hope Solo, the Japanese players demonstrated their greatest strength -- technique. They beat the Americans in penalty kicks. The final score: Japan 2 (3) U.S. 2 (1).

As they had done all tournament, the Japanese proved that they are the most highly skilled players in women's soccer.

Many records have been broken in this historical sports epic:

1. Japan is the first Asian nation to win the Women's World Cup.
2. It was the first time for Japan in the Women's World Cup final.
3. Going into the final, Japan team never had beaten the U.S. women - they held a record of 0 win, 22 losses, and 3 ties.
4. It was the first time for the U.S. to lose a World Cup match in which it scored first.
5. It was the first time for the U.S. team to fail in clearing the last hurdle in the Women's World Cup once they reached it.

In reality, there are really no losers in the World Cup final. They are the best two teams in the world and they deserve to be remembered and appreciated for getting there. And the trophies they've received tell them so!

Congratulations to both Japan and the U.S.!

One Word Power for Change

2011-07-07T06:20:00.001+01:00

We all know words have power.

One word quotes are not only powerful but effective to motivate and inspire the soul. One dynamic word can trigger your mind to comprehend the whole situation or to conjure up the imagery of how things could be.

One word can give you confidence and self esteem. One word can move you to tears or make you smile. And just one word can guide your decisions and choices in your path of life.

The beauty of one word quotations is that each word brings different interpretations and meanings to different people. That is to say, we view each word with our personal point of view.

For example, "peace" could mean - making peace with family, friends or coworkers; wanting to be left alone; being complacent and calm; declaring no more wars in the world, and others....

Here's a list of powerful one word quotations in alphabetical order to use for your daily routine, projects, or goals.

Believe
Change
Commitment
Focus
Forgive
Good
Grateful
Happy
Hope
Listen
Live
Love
Nice
Nurture
Peace
Promise
Smile
Success

Make each day for the rest of your life with just one word to live by!

Michael Jackson’s Magic Touched Kento Mori

2011-06-24T12:42:00.004+01:00

The amazing story of Kento Mori is not only inspirational but also attests to the lingering magic of Michael Jackson, the music icon of the century.

In a very special way, Kento’s twisted fate brought him worldwide recognition from the death of the King of Pop. He dreamed of working with Michael Jackson all his life, instead, he ended up dancing as the King of Pop for Madonna’s world tour!

Kento was born on March 3, 1985 in Aichi, Japan. Michael Jackson had a huge following – adored, loved and cherished by Japanese fans. As early as his childhood years, Kento had been obsessed with Michael Jackson. He loved everything about Michael and dreamed of dancing with him. With a supporting family and a loving grandfather (his hero), Kento pursued his dream. Even after making it as a professional dancer in his twenties, Kento said in an interview that the goal of his life was to work with Michael Jackson.

Kento’s own meteor rise in the dancing field was phenomenal. At the age of 21, he danced his way to the top. Three years later, he signed a two-year contract with Madonna, the Queen of Pop, to dance with her in a world tour in 2008. She told Kento that he danced like Michael Jackson.

When Michael Jackson announced his final world concert tour of his life, Kento wanted so badly to audition for his “This is It” concert. Interestingly enough, Michael Jackson selected Kento to join his concert tour but Madonna refused to let him go.

Heartbroken over his broken dream of working with the King and his beloved grandfather’s death, Kento reached the lowest point in his life. When Michael suddenly died on June 25, 2009, Kento was devastated. Fate dealt him a cruel blow when he lost both men he loved - his idol and his hero.

In his darkest hours, Kento got a shocking phone call from Madonna. She wanted him to dance like Michael Jackson in a special tribute to the King on her Sticky & Sweet Tour concert!

On July 4, 2009, Kento had a fated opportunity to be Michael in front of millions of viewers. Dressed in one of Jackson's trademark outfits, including a fedora and shortened black pants, he WAS Michael Jackson in the spotlight, dancing to a roar of the crowd with a medley of Jackson hits.

Michael Jackson’s inspiration and magic touched Kento and catapulted him to the limelight as a dancer. His dancing career took off and he has worked with other celebrities, such as, Chaka Khan and Chris Brown.

In the spirit of Michael Jackson, he taught many children to dance to the beat of Jackson’s songs.

Kento was blessed to be a dancer wanted by both the King and the Queen of Pops. Kento’s autobiography, "Dream & Love", tells this incredible story.

ECO-pioneer man builds floating island

2011-06-08T07:13:00.002+01:00

A true artist with creativity and inspiration, British expatriate Richart "Rishi" Sowa has successfully built artificial floating islands. His latest one is to be launched into the ocean this year.

Rishi describes himself as a musician, artist, and carpenter. But he's more than that - a visionary with a global purpose. The environmentalist Rishi puts his belief in cleaning our planet into practice by constructing islands made out of recycled materials which float entirely on plastic bottles.

The first island was located in a lagoon near Puerto Aventuras in Mexico. In his first attempt, Rishi failed to get the appropriate permits from the Mexican government and the locals ran him out.

His second attempt, off Playa Del Carmen, again in Mexico, was more successful with the backing of the local people. Some 250,000 bottles were used to keep the 66 feet (20 m) by 54 feet (16 m) island structure afloat. Rishi tied together bundles of nets filled with empty discarded plastic bottles to give support to the island structure of plywood and bamboo, on which he piled sand and planted mangroves. Rishi planted mangroves for shading on the island but also for their roots to serve as a locking system to bind the bundles of plastic bottles beneath the island. The amazing island hosted a livable two-story palapa structure, a solar oven, fruit trees and three beaches. Unfortunately, the island was destroyed by Hurricane Emily in 2005. See the video below:

Rishi's third floating island, "Joysxee", is the largest and the most ambitious - with the goal to "sail" in the ocean. Rishi's vision is to provide a livable island blueprint that can float around the world to show others how to turn trash into treasure.

Gaining fame and recognition for his forward-thinking, people from all over the world come to Rishi’s dock for a tour, which is now his primary source of income.

Your next trip to the Yucatan Peninsula should include a stop at Isla Mujeres to see the island for yourself before it "sails" away!

Innovative Solar-powered Houses

2011-05-29T07:03:00.003+01:00

After the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster, people of many nations are fed up with nuclear energy and are turning to renewable energy sources for their homes. Solar houses are no longer a thing of fiction.

Every year, Europe Solar Decathlon Design Competition, a counterpart to the U.S.-based Solar Decathlon, challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses. The best designed solar-powered house is evaluated for its cost-effectiveness, energy-efficiency, and aesthetic beauty while providing functions related to comfort of modern living and absence of harmful impact of fossil fuels dependence.

One of the most stunning designs of 2010 solar homes is the FABLAB house built by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia from Spain. This unique curvature-shaped wooden abode stands on three legs and has space underneath for a shaded patio. With a spacious interior, FABLAB contains a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a livingroom, while using smart energy and temperature-monitoring systems as well as a rainwater collection system on its roof.

The Japanese government is also promoting renewable energy sources for homes in the near future. By 2014, a group of companies recently announced the eco project - Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town - a development of 1000 homes based on smart energy integration and smart grid system.

Located 50km west of Tokyo, the entire town will act as a single energy system - using Panasonic's "entire solutions" technology to reduce energy, produce solar electricity and use battery storage at each home. Every household will manage and balance the energy needed for the occupants. Communication systems and electrical transportation will be integrated as well as other shared community resources - all linked to a central square displaying the town's real time energy status.

The eco town is aiming to reduce CO2 by 70% from the 1990 baseline.

How much do you know about moonrise?

2011-05-22T07:29:00.003+01:00

Everyone knows that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

How about the moon?

The sun and the moon remain relatively stationary in relation to the earth's rotation from west to east, so both of them seem to rise from the eastern horizon and set in the western horizon.

Why does the moon appear in different colors?

The natural color of the moon is grey as seen in space, however, it appears in different colors during the course of its path across the sky.

Viewed during the day on Earth, the moon looks faint and white in the blue sky. At night, the moon appears bright and yellow.

At moonrise near the horizon, the particles in the atmosphere scatter certain wavelengths of light, mainly the blue end of the spectrum. The moon passes through much more atmosphere than when the moon is directly overhead, thus you see the moon appearing orange or red. As the moon gradually climbs directly overhead, its color changes to yellow. In addition, high volume of dust, smoke, or pollution in the atmosphere could cause the zenith moon to appear orange.

Moreover, the moon appears in certain colors during certain times of the year. The earth's atmosphere goes through seasonal changes due to human activities and the earth's changing tilt toward the sun. Subsequently, the moon rises and sets at different angles and appears in different colors. Sometimes, the moon remains close to the horizon, never rising above your head!

As many farmers harvest their crops in autumn, adding dust particles to the atmosphere, and the moon being in a lower position in the sky during the bumper season, the full moon appears very large and orange, known as the "harvest moon."

The color of the moon could even be blue. They are rare occurrences known as Tyndall Effect, probably due to particles in the air because of many volcanic events around the globe or massive forest fires.

The term "blue moon" commonly refers to a month wherein there are two full moons.

The moon's surface is illuminated by direct sunlight as it revolves around the earth. The luminosity of the moon depends on the phases of the moon. There are 8 phases of the moon seen in one month. The moon is at its brightest during its "full moon" phase.

Why the moon appears larger at the horizon?

Like the sun, the moon appears larger at moonrise and moonset at the horizon. To this day, there's no satisfactory answer for the "moon illusion'.

To solve the mystery is an inspiration itself!

Placido Domingo Sings to Comfort Japanese

2011-05-15T12:09:00.005+01:00

Placido Domingo, the great opera tenor, didn't cancel his tour in Japan after the earthquake/tsunami devastation and Fukushima nuclear plant disaster that had scared most foreigners away. He gave a touching performance in Tokyo on April 11, 2011.

Placido sang a Japanese song that has been immortalized by the famous Misora Hibari. Kawa no Nagare no Yoni (Like the River Flow) is a beautiful and elegant song about the meaning of life. (Domingo sings an abbreviated version of these lyrics.)

Translation

Part 1:

Without knowing it, I have walked here
This long and narrow road
Looking back, long distance away
I can see my hometown

On the uneven and winding road
There is no map to follow.
Again, life is the same way.

See both Placido's and Hibari's videos below.

Placido sang "Furusato" in Japanese as an encore, dedicating the song to the sufferers of the recent catastrophic event. "Furusato" is known to every Japanese. When he sang the song, it brought tears to many Japanese in the audience.

The performance brought comfort to the Japanese in hard times. Placido Domingo, a kind and giving soul, will always be remembered...

The Most Interesting Bird Nests

2011-05-10T13:46:00.002+01:00

Birds are natural creative archictects in the wild. The various designs, shapes, and sizes of bird nests testify to the ingenuity and adaptivity of the warm-blooded creatures in the air.

Bird nests come in a wide range:

- simple nest made of either plant material, normally sticks or stones

- hole in the ground nest or hole in a tree trunk nest

- round-shaped nest consising of leaves, grass, twigs cemented together with mud and lined with moss and feathers in the interior

- domed nest with only an entrance hole

- hanging nest, often woven, basically round-shaped hanging from a tree limb or suspended between two twigs

- floating nest in the water

- edible nest made of mainly bird's saliva

The birds that are most creative in building their nests for protection from predators are as follows:

- Red-breasted Nuthatches apply pine tree sap below the nest hole to restrict predator access.

- Great Crested Flycatches diplay a shed snakeskin at the entrance of the nest to ward off predators.

- Megapodes build a large compost heap of vegetation to cover their eggs inside for incubation

- Hoatzins construct a nest of sticks on a tree branch hanging over water, where chicks could leap into the water when in danger and later climb back into their nest.

The most interesting condominium abode for birds is built by the Social Weaver. These amazing birds, up to 300 pairs, combine efforts to build a large compound of community nests, housing each pair with its own chamber. The highly structured complex, which could take over an entire tree, is permanent home for Social Weaver of several generations.

May is a month of many historical events

2011-04-30T16:51:00.001+01:00

May is a time of great celebrations for the beginning of summer. It's a month that marks many new beginnings and important historical events.

May 1: May Day, International Workers' Day, or Labour Day - celebrations of the labour movement.
The Empire State Building opened in 1931.

May 2: Artist Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519.

May 3: Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister in 1979.
Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for "Gone With The Wind" in 1937.

May 4: Four student anti-war protesters were killed at Kent State University by Ohio National Guardsmen in 1970.

May 5: Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821.
John T. Scopes was arrested for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in 1925.
Astronaut Alan Shepard went on the first manned space flight in 1961.

May 6: The Hindenburg crashed in Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937.

May 7: Germany surrendered to the United States in 1945.

May 8: First transatlantic flight in 1919.
WWII Victory in Europe in 1945

May 9: First United States newspaper cartoon published in Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette in1754.

May 10: The first Mother's Day observance took place in West Virginia and Pennsylvania in 1908.
Paul Revere died in Boston in 1818.

May 13: Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded in St. Peter's Square in 1981.

May 14: The first vaccination against smallpox was administered in 1796.

May 16: The first Academy Awards held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1929.

May 17: The New York Stock Exchange was established in 1792.
The first Kentucky Derby was held in 1875.

May 18: Alexander the Great died in 323 BC.

May 19: Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England's King Henry VIII, was beheaded in 1536.

May 20: Christopher Columbus died in poverty in Spain in 1506.

May 21: Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881.

May 23: Gangsters Bonnie & Clyde were killed in 1934.

May 24: The Brooklyn Bridge opened to traffic in 1883.

May 25: Babe Ruth hit his 714th and last home run in 1935.

May 26: The first legal casino opened in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1978.

May 27: The first recorded American execution of a witch took place in Massachusetts in 1647.
The Golden Gate Bridge was opened to the public in 1937.

May 28: The first black regiment from the North left Boston to fight in the Civil War in 1863.

May 30: Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in France in 1431.

May 31: The last Ford Model T automobile was made in 1927.

Let May be a month of reflection, action and inspiration!

Fukushima radiation: Sunflowers to the rescue

2011-04-23T05:39:00.002+01:00

On April 22, 2011, the area within a 20-kilometer radius of the troubled Fukushima nuclear power plant was designated as no-entry - a dead zone contaminated by high radiation.

However, even the radioactive cesium-137 with a half-life about 30 years can be removed by a natural product - sunflower. Widely known as a source of food (oil, seed) and for its therapeutic purposes, the sunflower has one more remarkable property that is not so well known: it can absorb radioactive cesium in the soil.

Along with rape blossoms, sunflowers were used to decontaminate soil in Ukraine after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

First, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency plans to use hyperthermophilic aerobic bacteria to decompose the sunflowers to about 1 percent of their previous volume - slashing the amount of radioactive waste. Then the decomposed plants can be burned to disburse radioactive cesium through smoke.

The sunflower with its large, bright yellow flower head like the sun, brings hope and a bright future to the wasteland of Fukushima!

Japan: Exemplary civilization in crisis

2011-04-13T08:01:00.001+01:00

No words could describe the Japanese great pain, loss, and despair when 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, followed by a devastating tsunami that poured in from the sea which led to the long unpleasant stays in temporary shelters and the ongoing effects of the radiation leaks from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

At one point, about half million people were stuck in shelters, more than 26,000 people were missing, and the aftershocks, some over 6.0 kept on coming...

Yet, the Japanese have proven to be a civilization with exemplary behavior in time of a national crisis.

In the first week after the calamity...

Calm - survivors and citizens alike remained calm without showing any tears or wild grief, but burying their sorrow in silence. Only when they were interviewed, they quietly sobbed about their losses and misery.

Dignity - Long lines for water, groceries, and petrol. There was even a long queue for taxi at the Sendai train station on that very night of the dreadful earthquake and tsunami. No pushing, shoving to get ahead or even a harsh word.

Order - No looting in abandoned shops or houses. They acted morally and properly without the need of law enforcement.

Grace - No hoarding. People bought only what they needed for the present, leaving the rest for everyone else.

Conscience - When the power went off in stores, people put things back on the shelves and departed quietly.

Sacrifice - Tepco workers, policemen and firemen were willing to sacrifice their lives to the exposure of high radiation in order to pump sea water in the nuclear reactors.

Care - Neighbors helped each other. Restaurants cut prices. Donations of goods poured in from all parts of the country. Volunteers signed up to help.

The world has much to learn from them.

Song for Japan: We Shall Overcome

2011-03-30T08:58:00.002+01:00

As Japan faces its dismal aftermath of the horrific devastation in the northern part of Honshu, one song comes to mind for all the Japanese as they face a multiple of crises caused by earthquakes, tsunami, the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, and now radiation leak.

For all the Japanese victims, survivors and citizens, here's the powerful lyrics of the song that can lift your spirit: "We Shall Overcome"

"We Shall Overcome" - adaption from Charles Tindley's gospel song "I'll Overcome Some Day" (1900).

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day

(CHORUS:
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day)

We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand some day

(CHORUS)

We shall all be free
We shall all be free
We shall all be free some day

(CHORUS)

We are not afraid
We are not afraid
We are not afraid some day

(CHORUS)

We are not alone
We are not alone
We are not alone some day

(CHORUS)

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day

Hope Inspires Positive Change

2011-03-23T12:09:00.001Z

Hope is much more than desire or motivation because it requires the belief in the possibility of a favorable outcome. As a vital psychological resource in our lives, hope sustains us, sometimes desperately, under even the bleakest of circumstances. But when all hope fails, there is nothing but despair.

Most current theories of emotion do not include hope as an emotion. James Averill, a social constructivist, states that "hope is not associated with any specific physiological responses or reflex-like actions". It appears that hope is a cultural concept that includes learned behaviors and thought processes through the socialization process.

In addition, many studies have shown strategies used by hopeful persons: positive self-talking, having an uplifting spirit, envisioning hopeful images, listening to uplifting music, and being able to laugh.

Hope is a powerful motivator as it inspires people to take positive action.

Where to find the sources of hope for inspiration?

1. Children give us hope to make our world a better place for them.
2. Family and friends give us hope as we reach out to each other, help one another - sharing a sense of belonging.
3. Nature gives us hope to appreciate its glory and accept our small role as part of its master creation.
4. Religion and spirituality give us hope to have faith in God or ourselves.
5. A sense of purpose for living gives us hope to make our existence worthy and meaningful.
6. Dreams give us hope to make them a reality.
7. Music, art and literature give us hope as they uplift our spirits and move us to express our creativity.

Having hope is part of being alive!

The Magic in Auroras

2011-02-27T23:06:00.004Z

One of the most awe-inspiring natural phenomena on earth is the light display of aurora in the polar regions. Aurora borealis (the northern lights) is highly visible in Iceland, Norway, Greenland, Alaska or any other northern-latitude country, and aurora australis (the southern lights) can be seen from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, South America, or Australasia.

The collisions between the solar wind particles streaming from the sun and the charged particles from the earth’s magnetic field cause energy releases in the form of auroras to appear in large rings around the poles.

Although the appearances of auroras are all year round, they are only visible closer to the poles due to the longer periods of darkness and the earth’s magnetic field. The aurora could appear either as a ghastly glow in the night sky or as "curtains" that unfold in the east-west direction.

The range of color light emissions depends on the composition, the density of the atmosphere and the altitude of the aurora. Besides green, the most common color, you can also see pink, red, yellow, blue and even purple.

Auroras are more frequent and brighter due to the intensity of the solar wind when the sunspot activities and coronal flares are at their maximum. Nearing its 11th year solar cycle, the sun is about to reach its solar maximum in 2012.

Let this beautiful magic of nature inspire you as it has done so to so many photographers, artists and writers for years! Make it a "Must See" in 2012!

Away with cold and gloom in winter!

2011-02-15T11:30:00.002Z

In winter, it can be rather gloomy when the world outside is frozen and gray. The lack of sunlight combined with being stuck indoors makes it more dismal. But there are ways to chase the cold and dreariness away while making your home or private space cozier and more cheerful.

1.    Highlight a spot in the room with a vase of freshly cut flower blooms in bright colors. Nowadays, flowers can be bought all year round in nurseries.

2.    Light up your room by drawing open your curtains to let in the full light reflection from the snow outside. This can save your electricity bill.

3.    Keep fire burning in the fireplace to warm the room. The dancing orange flames make the room brighter and more cheerful.

4.    Invest in light bulbs that provide a natural glow by filtering out yellow rays to make your room more cheerful and inviting.

5.    Use scented candles that remind you of spring and summer.

6.    Make a comfortable seat by covering it with a blanket made of extra soft fleece and position it next to a lamp with a room enhancing light bulb.

7.    Listen to uplifting or inspiring music.

8.    Wear bright colors to uplift your mood.

9.    Do your favorite thing indoors that is constructive to make yourself happy, whether it’s a hobby, social networking, or just plain singing a song.

10.    Make a list of things you’d like to accomplish during the winter season and see to it that they are done. Looking forward to something is always uplifting feeling.

So, enjoy your winter!

Benda Bilili: The Miracle in Congo

2011-02-10T08:00:00.003Z

When a real fairy tale comes true, its magic touches everyone!

Such is the story about Staff Benda B‎ilili, a sensational group of disabled musicians living off the streets of Kinshasa, Congo. Their story of survival and rise to fame as musicians was recorded in the documentary "Benda Bilili", filmed over the course of five years by Renaud Barret and Florent de la Tullaye. The documentary appeared in Cannes Film Festival in 2010, an inspiring film for all those who believe that nothing is beyond the impossible.

The name of the group, 'Benda Bilili', which mean “beyond appearances”, has a profound meaning. The band consists of four disabled middle-aged men, formed by Ricky Lickabu and Coco Ngambali, as singers/guitarist who suffered from poliomyelitis when they were young and backed by a younger rhythm section consisting of abandoned street children. The ingenuity of the band is that some members created their own unique instruments made of tins, cans, sticks and wood. One young 19 year-old member, Roger Landu, designed an electrified one-stringed lute out of a tin can. They have natural talent in composing songs and writing lyrics. The wonderful music they produce is described as a mixture of rumba, blues and reggae.

They used to live around the zoo in Kinshasa, sleep on cardboard and play their music in the streets. It was by chance, Vincent Kenis, a Belgian record producer specialising in Congolese music, heard them playing in front of a restaurant. Kenis arranged for the band to record their debut album, Tres Tres Fort ("Very Very Strong"), which was released in March 2009. Since then, they have been on tour around the world.

Band member Coco Yakala once said, “One day, we will be the most famous disabled men in all of Africa.” It looks like they are on their way!

Smile like a baby!

2011-02-01T08:01:00.002Z

Why do you smile back at a baby?

Whether you're young, old, rough, gentle, male or female, your heart melts when a baby beams a smile at you. You turn soft in face of a genuine smile of innocence, warmth, and purity of heart and mind.

Babies naturally smile during sleep or in the process of falling asleep from the day they’re born. An interesting inborn behavior that is void of emotional content. After a month, babies smile in response to social interaction - auditory stimuli before visual. It’s delightful to watch a small curve of the lips signaling the beginning of a developmental journey that transforms an innate reflex into an expression of joy.

Why do we smile?

In our complex society, people smile for all sorts of reasons, only one of which is to signal happiness. Many kinds of smiles come from our feelings – the fear smile, the dampened smile, the contempt smile, the miserable smile, nervous smile, etc.

Psychologist Dr David Lewis said that a happy smile can trigger powerful emotions that help us remember other happy events and make us feel good - optimistic, positive and motivated. He also pointed out that a fake smile can be detected and construed as untrustworthy and hypocritical.

This is what French anatomist Duchenne de Boulogne wrote about the happy smile: “The emotion of frank joy is expressed on the face by the combined contraction of the zygomaticus major muscle and the orbicularis oculi.” He also concluded that “… fake joy, the deceitful laugh, cannot provoke the contraction of this latter muscle.. . .The muscle around the eye does not obey the will; it is only brought into play by a true feeling, by an agreeable emotion.”

In the Scientific American article, The Mirror Neuron Revolution: Explaining What Makes Humans Social, neuroscientist Marco Iacoboni explains: “. .. we are hardwired to smile, a real smile can’t be faked and it is contagious because our brains have mirror neurons that make us “simulate” within ourselves the states of others around us.”

As a universal language expressed in the form of a gesture that greets and welcomes other people, a smile can make all the difference in the world. It creates an atmosphere of unity and camaraderie. A smile of joy brings sunshine to the sad, hope to the discouraged, and rest to the weary.

Most importantly, a smile is contagious, just like laughter. So, pass it on…

Sunrise Inspires Each Day

2011-01-26T08:37:00.002Z

“With each sunrise, we start anew”

Life begins again at sunrise.

In a year, you could see the sunrise 365 times if the sky is clear. By the time you reach 65 years old, you could enjoy watching the sunrise 23,725 times. No matter how many times you've seen the sunrise, watching it each time leaves you calm, pensive, happy, hopeful or just plain awestruck by its magnificence.

In space, we know that the earth rotating on its axis around the sun looks the same from day to day. But on the earth, the sunrise paints the sky with surprisingly splendid art form that photographers and artists for centuries have been trying to capture or duplicate in their masterpieces.

The sunrise frames the sky dome differently in each season as it emerges in vivid colors with various surrounding cloud patterns. You know that sunrise varies from day to day depending on the location,
ambiance, and your mood when viewing it.

Moment to moment of sunrise

The transition of night into day is one of the most inspirational and miraculous of all phenomena in the vast universe. The entire spectacle of sunrise begins at the moment of greatest darkness, midway between sunset and sunrise with billions of stars still twinkling overhead at night. Then, darkness slowly begins to wane as more and more stars begin to fade when dim whiteness edges up the horizon in the east.

As the whiteness intensifies and spreads across the sky over hours of time, a touch of orange glows in the horizon. The light of dawn changes from white to yellows, then blending into reds, and other
rainbow colors become more perceptible. Dust, moisture, and clouds also leave their traces as pigments to the celestial palette in the open dome.

The intensity of light builds, then brilliance flares as the sun emerges in the horizon. At this moment, the temperature of the air changes, breezes blow, morning dew condenses on leaves... and LIFE awakens! The color, sound and energy expressed in that one tiny moment is awe-inspiring. As the ground warms, life responds in a glorious symphony - birds sing melodies, leaves rustle in the light breeze, flowers bloom in the direction of the sunrays, a rooster crows in the distance, etc.

Because sunrise holds such wonderful promises, many people around the world watch the sunrise on New Year's Day. It's a time to make new wishes, start a new year with hope or renew life with a fresh beginning.

In the same vein, you can watch a beautiful sunrise to start anew each day. Look forward to every new thing you see, feel, smell, and taste. Look at your worries and troubles with a new understanding, perspective or approach in finding a solution. Life is a joy when you can celebrate it every day!

And it's the sunrise that brings a new beginning to life!

Japan: A trend of heart-felt giving

2011-01-16T07:48:00.002Z

It's heartwarming to read story after story of anonymous donors under pseudonyms give from the heart to the needy and the underprivileged children in Japan. It appears to be an inspiring trend of spreading material wealth, love, and good cheers among the Japanese.

So far, over 300 anonymous donations as charity gifts ranging from school bags to food, and even cash have appeared at facilities for underprivileged children and at public places under the names of cartoon heros since the Christmas season to almost 100 locations across Japan.

Donors identified themselves under different names - Date Naoto: a cartoon pro wrestler, "Tiger Mask", who uses part of his earnings for anonymous donations to the orphanage where he grew up; Yabuki Joe, a working-class cartoon boxer; Momotaro: a Japanese folklore "peach boy" hero who beats up terrible demons; and Kimottama-Kasan, a TV drama heroine.

Even cash is left at times with a note: "Do not think of bad things, have a pure heart and be encouraged in all manner of good deeds."

What a wonderful way to start a new year!

The magic of the oldest living tree

2011-01-10T08:44:00.003Z

Trees have been known to be some of the longest living organisms on Earth. In general, trees rarely die of old age like humans do, but they can die from insect infestation and environmental destruction,
such as forest fires, logging or construction.

A single tree able to that stand on its own for millennia, witnessing the rise and fall of civilizations, surviving climate changes, and enduring the escalating development of human industrial destruction of our environment is nothing short of a miracle. Its symbol of beauty, peace and strength is a testament to what Mother Nature does at her best.

Such awesome living thing is probably the world's oldest tree, Sunland Baobab, which stands 22 meters tall and is around 47 meters in circumference, "the record holder for the species", according to the SA Dendrological Society. Unlike most trees with consistent annual growth rings, this tree has had its age carbon dated to approximately 6,000 years.

As the largest succulent plant in the world, the baobab tree can provide food, water, shelter and healing from sickness. It is steeped in mystique, legend and superstition in Africa - as traces of evidence of Bushmen and Voortrekkers found in the hollow center floor of the tree.

Although a Baobab tree seldom exceeds a height of 25 meters, the massive cylindrical trunk gives rise to numerous tapering branches that resemble a root-system -- earning its nickname as the "upside-down" tree.

The largest widespread variety is the Adonsonia Digitata, found in 20 sub Saharan countries. As a deciduous tree, Baobab blooms in spring and loses its hand-sized 5 leaflets in winter.

The large white flowers are pendulous and emerge for only a day. The large egg-shaped fruit consists of a hard outer shell on the outside and a dry, white powdery substance covering the seeds on the inside. The white powdery substance - rich in calcium, anti-oxidants, and vitamin C - is mixed with water or milk as a drink to treat fevers and other ailments. The seeds also produce edible oil.

Interestingly, large Baobab trees with hollow stems have served bees and humans for centuries. Honey bees have being using them to make their hives while people have been using them as homes, prisons, bars, rainwater well, and even storage.

An entity that exists on the earth with rich resources to give to humanity and to nature is not just inspirational but also very magical!

Remember You're Born Free

2010-12-23T09:58:00.002Z

We often feel trap in our own little world surrounded by four walls that we built for ourselves. The invisible cage that we don't see.

We thought we could be safer or feel more secure by being with others and tying ourselves down with responsibilities for others. Instead of seeking self-reliance and freedom to live a life of our own choosing, we cling to the so-called security blanket under the guise of protection and security.

How do you know if you're in a cage? The fear grips you when you think of leaving your lousy job, moving out of an unhappy situation, or doing something totally different from what others expected of you. Fear is the only thing holding you back from being you!

We have forgotten that we were born free and should remain free by being independent and self-reliant. Imagine, if everyone could be independent and self-sufficient, we no longer need to care for others, except for the young, the old and the sick!

Here's an inspiring story to remind us what it means to be "born free". The movie, "Born Free" is based on a true story of a British couple who raised a lion cub named Elsa. When Elsa became fully grown, they decided to train her to live like a wild animal in Kenya rather than be put in the zoo.

Born Free

Born free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born free to follow your heart

Live free, and beauty surrounds you
The world still astounds you
Each time you look at a star

Stay free, where no walls divide you
You're free as a roaring tide
So there's no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
Cause you're born free

Inspiration Classic: It's a Wonderful Life!

2010-12-21T04:05:00.002Z

One of the most inspirational movie ever made: It's a Wonderful Life! An uplifting, timeless story about an angel helping a desperate, depressed man by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. This classic delivers several messages about life:

1. Your life not only is important to existence but also plays an essential role in other people's lives. No man is an island. Without your existence, things will be quite different. You play a small but an important part in the whole scheme of things.

2. No man is a failure who has friends. Although George Bailey, the main character, was poor and in debt, he was the richest man in town with family and friends who loved him. They were there to help him when he needed them the most.

3. Karma collects its dues. Doing a good deed for someone will come back to you in ten-fold. Baily was such a person who had done good deeds all his life and at the end of the story, karma paid him a visit with a miracle.

As we embrace our family and friends during the holiday season, we ought to be glad for what we have and shared with our dear ones. This film reminds us to celebrate our existence along with the existence of others who have been with and for us.

Live a Life in Colors

2010-12-18T04:47:00.003Z

We live in a Technicolor world. Colors and their shades have distinct effects and meanings in our daily lives. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning to the time we close them to sleep at night, we're constantly bombarded with colors by our surroundings whether in the house, office, school, or the outside environment. We're confronted daily with choices of outfit colors to wear and sometimes an array of colors for clothes or items to buy. Our appetites are often stimulated by the colors of the food on the table, in the markets, or on TV commercials. Undoubtedly, color affects us both physiologically and psychologically in our daily lives.

How much do you know about colors?

Here is a quick run down on the basics of the color palette.

Colors that cannot be created by combining other colors are primary colors: red, blue and yellow. Combining equal amounts of primary colors can create the secondary colors: green, orange and purple. Adding white or black to primary and secondary colors can create darker and lighter hues. An equal combination of a primary color and its closest secondary color can create tertiary colors: blue-green, blue-purple, and yellow-green.

Colors convey different meanings in different cultures. For example, the color yellow means joy and happiness in the West but sacred and imperial in the East.

In the western culture, sending a red rose to someone has a different meaning than sending a yellow or white rose. A red rose stands for love, respect and courage. A yellow rose stands for joy and inspiration. A white rose stands for humility, innocence and purity as well as secrecy and silence.

Here is a quick run down on the meanings for each color in western culture.

Red - passion and desire

Orange - excitement and stimulation

Yellow - creativity, imagination, and inspiration

Green - nature and harmony

Blue - intuition and peace

Brown – stability and security

Purple – royalty, wisdom, and mystery

Black - power and formality

White - virtue and purity

Research has shown that warm colors (yellow, orange and red) increase your temperature, making you feel warm. Yellow increases energy flow and inspires creativity, orange inspires excitement and enthusiasm and red stimulates adrenaline rush. The cooler colors (blue, green and purple) have a calming effect as they tend to slow your heartbeat and relax your muscles, making you feel cool. Blue helps to induce peace and tranquility, green is refreshing and encourages emotional growth, and purple brings healing and balance to the mind.

What colors mean in fashion?

Colors take on a different set of meanings when it comes to fashion. What we choose to wear reflects our personalities as much as the style of our clothing.

Red - a fighter, tough and unstoppable. A single red accessory like a red tie is very effective.

Orange - energy, passion, and happiness. Wearing orange says you're warm and cheerful. Orange and peach are popular colors for weddings.

Yellow - optimism, energy and creativity. Wearing yellow says you're positive and full of potential.

Green - money and success. Wearing green says you're ambitious and ready to succeed.

Blue - hard work and loyalty, making it a good color to wear for job interviews.

Brown - trustworthiness and stability. Wearing brown says you're reliable and realistic.

Purple - nobility, wisdom, and wealth. Wearing purple gives you an aura of class, respect, and individuality.

Black - power, elegance, and authority. Wearing black says you're worldly and authoritative.

White - cleanliness, innocence, and purity. A white gown on a bride symbolizes innocence and purity. White smocks on doctors, nurses and scientists symbolize sterility.

What are the psychological effects of colors?

Red - increases blood pressure and stimulates the adrenal glands. Red gives you vitality and ambition and on the negative side, anger.

Orange - stimulates sexual organs, digestion and strengthens the immune system. Orange has a positive effect on emotions and works as an antidepressant.

Yellow - stimulates the brain and activates the lymph system. Yellow is associated with intellectual thinking: understanding, memory, decision-making and good judgment. On the negative side, a dull yellow can be associated with the feelings of fear.

Green - brings physical equilibrium and relaxation. Green reminds us of nature, creating feelings of comfort, relaxation, and peace. On the negative side, olive green color symbolizes decay and death.

Blue - lowers blood pressure and links to the throat and thyroid gland. Blue has a calming effect, making us feel relaxed and serene. On the negative side, dark blue can be depressing.

Brown - brings feelings of stability and security. On the negative side, brown can also be associated with holding back emotions and withdrawn from the world.

Purple - suppresses hunger and balances the body's metabolism. Purple has been proven to balance the mind and transform obsessions and fears. This color is also associated with psychic power and spirituality.

Black - brings feelings of comfort and protection. On the negative side, black is associated with mystery, silence and death.

White - brings feelings of comfort, freedom and uncluttered openness. On the negative side, white can be associated with feelings of separation, coldness and isolation.

Knowing which color gives you the effects you want can make you more confident and positive in life. Try to surround yourself with colors that make you what you want to be by choosing the right color clothes, accessories, home decoration, office interior, etc. Colors are inspirational! Living in Technicolor is NEVER boring!

A Story of Life for All Ages: Freddie the Leaf

2010-12-10T08:06:00.008Z

Sometimes, it takes a simple story to explain a complex concept. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscalgia is such a tale that is simple and timeless. The beauty of this story lies in its simplicity and clarity in explaining the complex meaning of life through the simple language written for young readers.

This story also tackles some profound philosophical questions on life:

-Purpose of existence? "To make things more pleasant for others is a reason for being."
-Why the leaves turned different color on the same tree? "Each of us is different."
-Fear of death? "It's natural that we all fear what we don't know."
-What is death? "Everything dies. No matter how big or small, how weak or strong." Death is part of the life cycle.

Enjoy the story.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf

Spring had passed. So had Summer. Freddie, the leaf, had grown large. His mid section was wide and strong, and his five extensions were firm and pointed. He had first appeared in Spring as a small sprout on a rather large branch near the top of a tall tree.

Freddie was surrounded by hundreds of other leaves just like himself, or so it seemed. Soon he discovered that no two leaves were alike, even though they were on the same tree. Alfred was the leaf next to him. Ben was the leaf on his right side, and Clare was the lovely leaf overhead. They had all grown up together. They had learned to dance in the Spring breezes, bask lazily in the Summer sun and wash off in the cooling rains.

But it was Daniel who was Freddie's best friend. He was the largest leaf on the limb and seemed to have been there before anyone else. It appeared to Freddie that Daniel was also the wisest among them. It was Daniel who told them that they were part of a tree. It was Daniel who explained that they were growing in a public park. It was Daniel who told them that the tree had strong roots which were hidden in the ground below. He explained about the birds who came to sit on their branch and sing morning songs. He explained about the sun, the moon, the stars, and the seasons.

Freddie loved being a leaf. He loved his branch, his light leafy friends, his place high in the sky, the wind that jostled him about, the sun rays that warmed him, the moon that covered him with soft, white shadows. Summer had been especially nice. The long hot days felt good and the warm nights were peaceful and dreamy. There were many people in the park that Summer. They often came and sat under Freddie's tree. Daniel told him that giving shade was part of his purpose.

"What's a purpose?" Freddie had asked.

"A reason for being," Daniel had answered.

Read the rest of the story here.

John Lennon - An icon with a vision

2010-12-09T04:25:00.002Z

December 8th was the anniversary of John Lennon's passing twenty years ago. Born on October 9, 1940, John Lennon was one of the members of the legendary The Beatles.

"Imagine", released in 1971, is a song written and performed by John Lennon. Since its release, "Imagine" has been included in many greatest-songs-of-all-time lists. Rolling Stone ranked "Imagine" the 3rd greatest song of all time in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

As a visionary and a true artist, Lennon believed that "we are all one country, one world, one people" on this planet as he penned his immortal lyrics of world peace in "Imagine". This song is known in every part of the world. "Imagine" has become a legend in its own right.

Here are the lyrics of "Imagine":

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one