Becoming a Green Millionaire on a few dollars a day?

A few dollars a day can make you a millionaire? The maths doesn't make sense but what does in this brilliant book Go Green, Live Rich is that the rich people of the future are those who know how to optimise their needs and resources instead of those who remain steeped in the culture of rich means being able to afford to waste.

Fact of the matter is we are living in a pressured planet. Pressured by pollution and by human population explosion. Any which way we may look at it, it all boils down to realising that we live in a finite planet. Scientists agreed and declared in the 2007 UN Convention on Climate Change in Bali,  that we have yet a small window to change our ways before drastic impacts of global warming set in. Have we lost that window in 2015. We are experiencing the warmest El Nino event this year. Extreme weather is a monthly occurrence somewhere in the globe–yes! Nature is breaking records as far as human history can tell. Check out these links–Angry Summer, Super Typhoon Haiyan, History making California drought, Hottest El Nino yet.

Are we there yet? Well no, life on Earth is becoming less convenient every so many days of the year because of local weather issues, but not yet unbearable. Unfortunately the scientists in Bali gave ominous numbers–greenhouse gas emissions MUST START DECLINING in 10 to 15 year and must become HALF of what the numbers were in 1990 (!!) by 2050. This is to prevent even worse and more frequent extreme weather events and mass extinction of plants and animals at an alarming rate.

If you are looking for a way to motivate yourself to start on a personal green agenda and scientists and data simply doesn't do the trick, perhaps making money going green might. Pick up this book. Granted many of the tips are common sense such as buy an energy efficient vehicle, use energy saver bulbs, take your own shopping bags, turn off electrical devices at the wall socket. Yet what makes this book valuable is that it has calculations of how much you can actually save in dollars per year and quantifies reduction of carbon footprint for each step.

If you ever wondered if what you did can actually make a significant difference to Earth's climate this is the book that can give you an idea of the immense significance of ones seemingly insignificant habits. Plus you will have in your hands information to inspire others to also save and become wealthier and healthier going green. Its amazing that our collective lifestyle is shaping the future of our planet. It is a serious responsibility we all carry.

David Attenborough on Creation–Really I could not have said it better

Sir David Attenborough is in my opinion living legend. Amongst all the people we call celebrities today who are adored by fans in the millions, I hope the world does not overlook this man. Very few people have been so passionate about nature and have endeavoured to share their passion with the world. If there was a Noble prize for him I think he deserves it. I have been an avid fan of Sir David and have followed his work for decades, and even now, late in his 80's he continues to amaze. Thanks to Youtube we have this brilliant piece on his personal thoughts on God, his response to how he explains away (without being condescending) literal interpretations of creationist myths hits the nail on the head. The following video highlights other amazing moments in his career. I am keeping it in my blog as a record so I can refer to it quickly whenever I need to be inspired. Don't be fooled by the butt-naked screenshot, it is really an inspiring video.

Fareed Zakaria vs. Bill Maher–Bill wins

Bill Maher provokes Fareed Zakaria, one of CNN's bright sparks among its otherwise dismal cast by instigating a response to his, "Islam is the mother load of bad ideas." In my opinion Fareed loses this round because of his apologist response. His response–I paraphrase–Look Bill, I am not religious and I believe Islam needs reform but you are not going to reform the religion by insulting it and pushing it against a wall, anyway if it was the mother load of bad ideas you will have a 100s of millions of terrorists all over the world instead most muslims are peaceful people who simply want to get on with their lives.

If I were Fareed put on the spot like that and if I disagreed Bill's provocation I simply would have started out with a condescending laugh and replied–Well if it is that bad I am thankful that we are not dealing with 100s of millions of muslim terrorists, otherwise they would rule the world. If I agreed with Bill I would have simply said–I'm with you on that Bill, in fact I believe the concept of religion itself is the mothership of bad ideas. Instead Fareeds centrist response of–I kind of agree with you but....don't insult Isam–is lame.

This short tit for tat session on Islam was an introspection on the Charlie Hebdo massacre which brings to the forefront freedom of speech and Islam terrorists ideology. Most of the muslim response to the quandary they face with living in countries that practice freedom of speech is that even moderate muslims favour limits to freedom of speech–such as don't insult their religion or their luminaries. Muslims need to wake up and appreciate the liberties they enjoy in the developed Western countries. In fact most muslims who packed their bags for these countries from their Islamic homes ran away because they preferred social freedoms afforded to them by modern Western style humanity especially social stability and economic opportunities for themselves and their children. Part of the deal in accepting such liberties is that there is no cap to the freedom of speech. You can say what you want, the other person can also say as he or she wishes. Either way nobody has the right to bludgeon the other no matter what they say. This is simply what being civilised means these days.

Most countries have accepted laws that do not allow one person to be violent against another because of what was said or implied. It is accepted that you can sue the person in a court of law if you feel offended or hurtfully affected. One may also respond freely with intelligence to counter another's point of view. Many Islamic countries draw the line on civilised response when it comes to insults against Islam. To me that is their prerogative. If you are in an Islamic country–follow their laws. In fact if they feel an author or publisher has insulted Islam they can even send them an official warning not to enter their country lest they be charged with a crime that could carry the death sentence–this to me is ok. But for muslims living in their Islamic countries declaring fatwas of blood beyond their borders, thats simply plain dumb arrogance. How dare they assume extraterritoriality on any matter, let alone Islam. It can be considered an act of war if one country imposes its peculiar laws on another without permission.

And for muslims living in countries which guarantee EVERYONE freedom of speech, stop being an apologist who goes "ok but...". Remember that freedom of speech is afforded to you also. If you feel offended by what someone else says or writes or draws or acts you can also whack them back the same way–or try to sue their pants off in court. Muslims living in the West–you don't need to force yourself to feel not-offended when your religion is insulted, you just need to educate yourselves sufficiently so you feel satisfied channelling your outrage using the tools afforded to you by the freedom of speech.

Charlie Hebdo was a business on the verge of bankruptcy before the massacre. The attack however has emboldened them, made them stronger. Thats the thing about the freedom of speech, the more you try to curtail it the stronger it becomes. Easier to accept it and live with it. The world will become a more peaceful and fun place if more and more of us learn to laugh at each other as we hurl insults and disparities at each other. Freedom of speech will be for now and forever. 

Did you know your credit card info is in your hotel keycard? Swipe it off with a magnet

Something to think about. This is pretty good info.

Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room!



HOTEL KEY CARDS.



Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

 Answer:

A. Customer's name

B. Customer's partial home address
.
C. Hotel room number
. Check-in date and out dates
.
D. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!



When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.


Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process.

 But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!


The bottom line is: Keep the cards (if you can), take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader. 

For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip! 

If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card.


Information courtesy of: Police Service.


MORAL : CARRY A MAGNET/ BUY A MAGNET ( ie A FRIDGE MAGNET) AND THEN SWIPE THE STRIP...MATTER SOLVED!!!!)

The Way to Master Chess - Memorise

As much as we think that chess is a strategy game you cannot master it without memorising some patterns of opening moves, patterns of attack and distraction tactics. To get good at chess one just has to keep playing the puzzle and remembering strategies as opportunities avail themselves. Without over intellectualising moves and techniques The Complete Chess Workout by Richard Palliser has 1200 actual game situation by masters. It organises the chess puzzles into chapters–Attack!; Opening Tricks and Traps; Skill in the Endgame; Loose Pieces and Overloading; Fiendish Calculation; Test Yourself. All the chess situation come with solutions, so don't worry if all you want to do is memorise them. Chess is an ancient game that has never lost its draw on inquisitive minds, it is certainly a game that will endure as a human legacy plus it is one of the coolest ways to show off genius.

Coloring Atlas of the Human Body - For Medical Students

Need help revising human anatomy and physiology? Here is a novel way to do it, try colouring to help you with memorising labels and processes. With all you need colouring plates to help you master  anatomy and some physiology here and there it can turn your massive memorising chore into a well deserved brake. Click here or on any of the pix below for more information.

Alternative - The ability to change ethnicity

ADULT: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle. BEAUTY PARLOR: A place where women curl up and dye. CHICKENS: The only animals you eat before they are born and after they are dead. COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours. DUST: Mud with the juice squeezed out. EGOTIST: Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation. HANDKERCHIEF: Cold Storage. INFLATION:  ads by future of futures Cutting money in half without damaging the paper. MOSQUITO: An insect that makes you like flies better. RAISIN: A grape with a sunburn. SECRET: Something you tell to one person at a time. SKELETON:  A bunch of bones with the person scraped off. TOOTHACHE:The pain that drives you to extraction. TOMORROW:  One of the greatest labor saving devices of today. YAWN:  An honest opinion openly expressed. And MY Personal Favorite!! WRINKLES: Something other people have.

Malaysia Road Rules–As practical as it goes

A guide for expatriate drivers in Malaysia

Since arriving in Malaysia in 1997, I have tried on many occasions to buy a copy of the Malaysian road rules, but have come to the conclusion that no such publication exists (or if it does, it has been out of print for years). Therefore after carefully observing the driving habits of Malaysian drivers, I believe I have at last worked out the rules of the road in Malaysia. For the benefit of other expatriates living in Malaysia, and the 50% of local drivers who acquired their driving licences without taking a driving test, I am pleased to share my knowledge below:

Q: What is the most important rule of the road in Malaysia?

A: The most important rule is that you must arrive at your destination ahead of the car in front of you. This is the sacrosanct rule of driving in Malaysia. All other rules are subservient to this rule.

Q: What side of the road should you drive on in Malaysia?

A: 99.7% of cars drive on the left hand side, 0.2% on the right hand side, and 0.1% drive in reverse (be on the look out for drivers reversing at high speed in the left hand lane of freeways, having just missed their exit). Therefore on the basis of 'majority rules', it is recommended that you drive on the left. However, be aware that only 90% of motorcyclists travel on the left hand side - the other 10% ride in the opposite direction or on the sidewalk. Fortunately, motorcyclists traveling in reverse are rarely seen.

Q: What are the white lines on the roads?

A: These are known as lane markers and were used by the British in the colonial days to help them drive straight after consuming their gin and tonics. Today their purpose is mainly decorative, although a double white line is used to indicate a place that is popular to overtake.

Q: When can I use the emergency lane?

A: You can use the emergency lane for any emergency, e.g. you are late for work, you left the toaster plugged in at home, you are bursting to go to the toilet, you have a toothache or you have just dropped a hot latte in your lap. As it is an emergency, you may drive at twice the speed of the other cars on the road.

Q: Do traffic lights have the same meaning as in other countries?

A: Not quite. Green is the same – that means “Go”, but amber and red are different. Amber means “Go like hell” and red means “Stop if there is traffic coming in the other direction or if there is a policeman on the corner”. Otherwise red means the same as green. Note that for buses, red lights do not take effect until five seconds after the light has changed.

Q: What does the sign “Jalan Sehala” mean?

A: This means “One Way Street” and indicates a street where the traffic is required to travel in one direction. The arrow on the sign indicates the preferred direction of the traffic flow, but is not compulsory. If the traffic is not flowing in the direction in which you wish to travel, then reversing in that direction is the best option.

Q: What does the sign “Berhenti” mean?

A: This means “Stop”, and is used to indicate a junction where there is a possibility that you may have to stop if you cannot fool the cars on the road that you are entering into thinking that you are not going to stop.

Q: What does the sign “Beri Laluan” mean?

A: This means “Give Way”, and is used to indicate a junction where the cars on the road that you are entering will give way to you provided you avoid all eye contact with them and you can fool them into thinking that you have not seen them.

Q: What does the sign “Dilarang Masuk” mean?

A: This means “No Entry”. However, when used on exit ramps in multi-storey car parks, it has an alternative meaning which is: “Short cut to the next level up”.

Q: What does the sign “Pandu Cermat” mean?

A: This means “Drive Smartly”, and is placed along highways to remind drivers that they should never leave more than one car length between them and the car in front, irrespective of what speed they are driving. This is to ensure that other cars cannot cut in front of you and thus prevent you from achieving the primary objective of driving in Malaysia, and that is to arrive ahead of the car in front of you. If you cannot see the rear number plate of the car in front of you, then you are not driving close enough.

Q: What is the speed limit in Malaysia?

A: The concept of a speed limit is unknown in Malaysia.

Q: So what are the round signs on the highways with the numbers, 60, 80 and 110?

A: This is the amount of the ‘on-the-spot’ fine (in ringgits - the local currency) that you have to pay to the police if you are stopped on that stretch of the highway. Note that for expatriates or locals driving Mercedes or BMWs, the on-the-spot fine is double the amount shown on the sign.

Q: Where do you pay the ‘on-the-spot’ fine?

A: As the name suggests, you pay it ‘on-the-spot’ to the policeman who has stopped you. You will be asked to place your driving licence on the policeman's notebook that he will hand to you through the window of your car. You will note that there is a spot on the cover of the notebook. Neatly fold the amount of your fine into four, place the fine on the spot, and then cover it with your driving licence so that it cannot be seen. Pass it carefully to the policeman. Then, with a David Copperfield movement of his hands, he will make your money disappear. It is not necessary to applaud.

Q: But isn’t this a bribe?

A: Oh pleeease, go and wash your mouth out. What do you want? A traffic ticket? Yes, you can request one of those instead, but it will cost you twice the price, forms to fill out, cheques to write, envelopes to mail, and then three months later when you are advised that your fine was never received, more forms to fill out, a trip to the police station, a trip to the bank, a trip back to the police station, and maybe then you will wish you had paid ‘on-the-spot’.

Q: But what if I haven’t broken any road rules?

A: It is not common practice in Malaysia to stop motorists for breaking road rules (because nobody is really sure what they are). The most common reasons for being stopped are: (a) the policeman is hungry and would like you to buy him lunch; (b) the policeman has run out of petrol and needs some money to get back to the station; (c) you look like a generous person who would like to make a donation to the police welfare fund; or (d) you are driving an expensive car which means you can afford to make a donation to the police welfare fund.

Q: Does my car require a roadworthy certificate before I can drive it in Malaysia?

A: No, roadworthy certificates are not required in Malaysia. However there are certain other statutory requirements that must be fulfilled before your car can be driven in Malaysia. Firstly, you must ensure that your windscreen is at least 50% obscured with English football club decals, golf club membership stickers or condo parking permits. Secondly, you must place a tissue box (preferably in a white lace cover) on the back shelf of your car under the rear window. Thirdly, you must hang as many CDs or plastic ornaments from your rear vision mirror as it will support. Finally, you must place a Garfield doll with suction caps on one of your windows. Your car will then be ready to drive on Malaysian roads.

Q: What does a single yellow line along the edge of a road mean?

A: This means parking is permitted.

Q: What does a double yellow line along the edge of a road mean?

A: This means double parking is permitted.

Q: What does a yellow box with a diagonal grid of yellow lines painted on the road at a junction mean?

A: Contrary to the understanding of some local drivers, this does not mean that diagonal parking is permitted. It indicates a junction that is grid-locked at peak hours.

Q: Can I use my mobile phone whilst driving in Malaysia?

A: No problem at all, but it should be noted that if you wish to use the rear-vision mirror to put on your lipstick or trim your eyebrows at the same time as you are using a mobile phone in the other hand, you should ensure that you keep an elbow free to steer the car. Alternatively, you may place a toddler on your lap and have the child steer the car whilst you are carrying out these other essential tasks.

Q: Is it necessary to use indicator lights in Malaysia?

A: These blinking orange lights are commonly used by newly arrived expatriate drivers to indicate they are about to change lanes. This provides a useful signal to local drivers to close up any gaps to prevent the expatriate driver from changing lanes. Therefore it is recommended that expatriate drivers adopt the local practice of avoiding all use of indicator lights. However, it is sometimes useful to turn on your left hand indicator if you want to merge right, because this confuses other drivers enabling you to take advantage of an unprotected gap in the traffic.

Q: Why do some local drivers turn on their left hand indicator and then turn right, or turn on their right hand indicator and then turn left?

A: This is one of the unsolved mysteries of driving in Malaysia.

Have you watched How China Fooled The World?

That was a BBC TWO documentary presented by Robert Peston that highlighted how much of China's economic might during the 2008 global financial crisis was fuelled by domestic construction projects. With immense infrastructure projects like building more bridges, lots of high-speed rail, airports, military expansion, even brand new cities China mobilised the money it had to spur growth to unprecedented levels in global economy. It plan was nothing new, America did the same thing to get itself out of the great depression in the 1930s. They build roads, the Hoover dam and then World War 2 came along and really helped pull the US out of the depression by giving its citizens jobs fighting the war or making arms.

To a large extent China's growth spree in their country has slowed, but elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Africa and Sri Lanka, Chinese companies are making huge construction investments with borrowing from their government. In Malaysia the Chinese Railroad Company, Country Garden Holdings and Guangzhou R&F Properties caused a building spree and real estate speculation that continues to raise home prices beyond affordable reach of the middle-class.

China is now on the brink of a stock market crash. It seems it is because small investors are pulling their money out because of the big bear in its markets. So the governments is opening up its purses again to shore up its exchanges.

Just how much money does China actually have? Unlimited perhaps that it can continually shore up economic growth, take wild risks like creating ghost cities, building islands in the Spratlys or pumping money into unaccountable Third World nations. Economist have been predicting a crash to correct Chinese economy for a while now. If that happens it could possibly be a good thing for the environment. The price of oil will plummet further, there will be oversupply of construction material causing a drop in construction cost and real estate and there will be less incentive to destroy the environment for cash. It may be the respite we need to shift our consciousness towards environmental concerns. The Chinese government is rich and authoritarian, they literally believe they can do whatever they want, lets see if they still have a rabbit in their magic hat. The weeks and months to come will be crucial for the global economy. What China will not be able to hide right now is whether their economic growth since 2008 was spurred by real wealth surplus or simply by printing money like the rest of us could do with our printers, but cannot...if only we had a big stick!

One of the best articles I have read on the Chinese stock market crash, click here.

Expand your economic knowledge of our amazing world, comic style like the pix above check out this book–well worth your time!

A collection of ancient monuments lost to current wars

CNN did this photo piece highlighting 20 ancient monuments in the Middle-East and Central Asia that were lost in recent times. Click here for the link. Most are in Syria and Iraq and are being destroyed (or already destroyed) by ISIS. Like the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan many will be beyond repair so all we may have are photos. At least we can use them to preserve the history of human grandeur for future generations. History is important, without a legacy we become shallow and uncaring.

776 Stupidest Things Ever Said

Do you believe in the 'foot in the mouth syndrome'? Those entertaining gaffes that goes to show that no matter who one may be, celebrity or high and mighty politician, we are all simply humans. Here are some excerpts from this book 776 Stupidest Things Ever Said by Ross and Kathryn Petras.

“I can’t think of any new existing law that’s in force that wasn’t before
President George Bush, discussing import laws"

“A great Irishman has passed away. God grant that as many great, and who wisely love their country, may follow him.
Times of London, as reported in Handybook of Literary Curiosities, 1925”

“The chairs in the cabin are for the ladies. Gentlemen are not to make use of them till the ladies are seated.
instructions posted in a river cruise ship, Suir River, Ireland”

“Even Napoleon had his Watergate.
Danny Ozark, Philadelphia Phillies manager, commenting about a Phillies’ ten-game losing streak”

“Don’t confuse me with the facts. I’ve got a closed mind.
Earl Landgrebe, Republican Congressman from Indiana and Nixon supporter, when told about incriminating conversations on the Watergate tapes”

“The similarities between me and my father are different.
Dale Berra, Yogi Berra’s son”

“The first would be our family. Your family, my family—which is composed of an immediate family of a wife and three children, a larger family with grandparents and aunts and uncles. We all have our family, whichever that may be.
Dan Quayle, then vice-presidential candidate, during the 1988 campaign in a speech to Virginia schoolchildren”

“Freedom of speech of the individual citizen must be based on the four basic principles of insisting on the socialist road, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the leadership of the party, and Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong thought. The citizen has only the freedom to support these principles and not the freedom to oppose them….
People’s Republic of China prosecutor, during the Wei Jingsheng case in 1979, in which defendant Wei, a human rights champion, cited the Chinese constitution guaranteeing free speech in his defense. He lost.”

“We have to pursue this subject of fun very seriously if we want to stay competitive in the twenty-first century.
Singapore Minister of State for Finance and World Affairs George Yeo”

It must have taken lots of research and time to produce this entertaining gem. Great resource for finding handy quotes to spice up your speech or presentation with laughter.

I am a fan of Sir David Attenborough and thanks Mr. Obama

Sir David Attenborough has been an important person in my life since my childhood and so too it seems for the President of the USA. His natural history series–Life on Earth and The Living Planet  introduced me to the wonder that is our beautiful and diverse planet. Ever since his documentaries I started learning deeper about animals, plants and geography. This fascination with nature has not left me since and I singularly thank Sir David for this. Even now one of my favourite past times is looking up BBC nature documentaries on Youtube. Today I found this video just posted a few days ago of Sir David being interviewed by Mr. Obama on his 89th birthday.

When Obama asks David what drives his passion for nature, he simply says he never lost the natural curiosity that all kids have about animals and nature. When asked about what he should think we should do for the next generation–emphatically he says we need to find a way to harness renewable resources of energy, stop using fossil fuels and store electricity. His answer to his most inspiring moment in nature alone makes this video worth a watch. While I believe Obama is using this video to help boost his credibility over us greenies–politicians must be politicians–his recognition of David Attenborough and his effort to bring nature into people's living rooms is much appreciated by us fans of Attenborough documentaries. So thank you Mr. Barack Obama and do more to push for green energy.

Maths with a heart–Basic Math and Pre-Algebra for Dummies

"I humbly ask you to put aside any doubts. Remember, just for a moment, an innocent time – a time before math-inspired panic attacks or, at best, induced irresistible drowsiness. In this book, I take you from an 'understanding' of the basics to the place where you're ready to enter any algebra class and succeed." An excerpt from the introduction of this book that is heartfelt and does as it promises.

Whenever it comes to tutoring young students who are confounded by basic maths higher maths like algebra the teacher also equally gets confounded. I find maths fun because the questions are basically puzzles, and for me algebra where words can represent numbers is not a difficult concept. But when I started teaching students from different levels of basic understanding of maths, I find many of them have difficulty in algebra simply because there are word and numbers. The equations look so strange from an all numbers based equation that many students simply get put off. In my search for a solution on helping students overcome this hurdle I found the explanations in Basic Math and Pre-Algebra for Dummies a blessing (though I am not a dummy). If you are trying to teach someone algebra you won't find a better and more fun guide than its step by step chapters which are on Part V of the book.

The book also has other chapters that deal with all of basic maths from Number Operations to Decimals to Statistics. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a handle on maths be you a student, teacher or parent. The goal of the book is to bring the fun back in maths that usually gets lost after sometime usually because it just got too tough to be taught right. Mark Zegarelli who is a math test prep teacher had done many of us teachers and students a big favour by writing this book. 

Being Generous is Being Selfless

This story was circulating in emails in the days when email was the vogue. I had saved it because it inspires generosity. Nowadays I hear radio announcers advising young people to be generous by "paying for someone (random stranger) else's meal." It seems when you do something kind for someone you can feel good about yourself and put your kindness on Facebook and see how many people think you are a wonderful person. How shallow! First of all an act of kindness must go to someone in need and secondly it should be selfless–not as a selfish act to show off to your friends. Here is a story I saved from the days when emails were the vogue.

A nurse took a tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. 
'Your son is here,' she said to the old man.
 She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened, 

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent.

He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones,
squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

 The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.  Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. 
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. 

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

 Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

 Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

'Who was that man?' he asked.   
The nurse was startled, 'He was your father,' she answered.
'No, he wasn't,' the Marine replied. 'I never saw him before in my life..'
' Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?'

' I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his 
son just wasn't here. 
When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, 
knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.'


SpaceX's Falcon 9 may have gone KABOOM, but it is still an important event for our future

On July 1 a rocket that was on its way to resupply the International Space Station, exploded 139 seconds after launch. Falcon 9 is SpaceX's ship, it follows a couple of disastrous space launches last year that Russia and NASA had to endure. In SpaceX's case I can imagine that the agony of the failure must have been difficult for its founder Elon Musk, who was probably anticipating a successful launch as part of his 44th birthday celebration. Instead it had turned to a moment of reflection. Fortunately the mission was unmanned but unfortunately the International Space Station Astronauts who should be venerated as global heroes will need to wait longer for another essential resupply mission.

If the mission was a success I would have been eagerly anticipating news on whether SpaceX was able to successfully retrieve their launch vehicle which will be a major breakthrough for our collective future on Earth. This recent string of expensive rocket failures goes to show just how dangerous and expensive venturing into space still is. However challenging this tragedy must be for SpaceX, I can bet Mr. Musk must be cooking up something to turn this tragedy into a victory; like setting a record recovery period to the next successful launch. I think it will a valuable lesson that would propel SpaceX into greater heights.

Check out retrievable Falcon rocket boosters in this SpaceX video.

As earthbound as 99.999% of us are, there is an important future for mankind in space. There will probably be a human colony on Mars by the turn of this century and substantial career opportunity in space from mining asteroids to manning cargo ships and space operations. For this to happen there is only one company in the world invested in making space travel more affordable–SpaceX. If we are all hoping for the kind of life that we are living today to get better for the coming generations Mother Earth herself will eventually be in need of resupply. So for the sake of the future–Go SpaceX, Go Elon Musk.