Wonderful news from CNN…

South African Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee,  just won the right to be eligable to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing after sport’s highest court backed his appeal against a ban imposed by athletics authorities.

Judging by the photo above, you’d see nothing but determination… running through his life.  He’s been a double amputee since he was a baby.  Nothing makes him give up, he runs on shock-absorbing carbon-fiber prosthetics that resemble bent skis — earning him the nickname “Blade Runner.”

He’s been running with those blades for a long time, this man is currently a Paralympic Games champion and world record holder even.  Athletics authorities previously banned him by deciding that his blades were considered as “technical assistance”, which was against the rule book.

Still from CNN:

Appeals of court decisions are allowed, but on very limited grounds. But the CAS said it did not exclude the possibility that future scientific tests could be developed which might enable the IAAF to prove that the blades provided Pistorius with an advantage over able-bodied athletes.

The South African won gold in the 200 meters, and bronze in the 100 meters at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. He holds the Paralympic world records in the 100, 200, and 400 meters.

I keep picturing this scene from Music and Lyrics where Hugh Grant (playing an 80’s singer Alex Fletcher) hires Drew Barimore (as Sophie Fisher, who plays as plant caretaker) to water his apartment plants.  Obviously, Alex doesn’t care less what time his plants are fed and just keeps it for the “girls” so to say.

Well, for the Alex Fletcher’s out there, here’s a terrrific idea to consider.  While I myself would take on any Sophie Fisher over this gadget, chances may be too slim to find one… even by accident.

Your solution… THE THIRSTY LIGHT

A simple gadget that addresses a simple need.  It tells you when you need to water your plants.

It has a Drypoint digital circuit that continuosly monitors conditions and tests the moisture level in the soil once per second. It’s simple to use too, because it has no gauges or complicated readouts, just a blinking light telling you to add water.

I think nothing says “Go Green” more than a product that saves the greens we have left on earth.  I’ve seen this JavaLog while watching Discovery Channel tonight.  I am very impressed.  This product alone must have saved millions of acres of trees.  Sure, everyone needs to warm up and enjoy the crackling fire by the fireplace during chippy winter nights.  One just needs to remind himself that everytime he throws a 5 lbs. log into the fire, it contributes to the environment… whatever left we have of it.

Java-Log is the most innovative, funky new fireplace item that has quickly become the people’s choice firelog including even Ellen Degeneres’. It offers a wonderful solution to the much detested chemical smell associated often with other firelogs since Java-Log has No Chemical Smell, contributes positively to several environmental concerns and burns beautifully, hassle free. We have Java-fans all over North America who daily thank us for such a great product. Below are just some reasons fans everywhere choose Java-Log as their preferred firelog.

Better/Brighter Flames - most natural flame; coffee has 25% more energy than wood and 3x the flame per unit of energy

No Chemical Odor/ Better Scent - has “NO CHEMICAL SMELL”, some people claim to smell a faint sweet aroma!

Reduced Emissions - Java-Logs produce significantly fewer emissions than firewood

We all need to pause to think about what we do to make life comfortable for us… and think ahead if what we do for this diminishes our future chances to keep it up.  Does it?  We need to re-think how we use and sometimes abuse mother earth.  And the Java Log is a great step to consider using from here on.

Has been quite some time since my last movie out.  I’ve always wanted to see The Bucket List too.  Is the film really good?  There are some Jack Nicholson movies that I skipped because reviews weren’t really great.  I’d make The Bucket List an exception BUT hey, if some of you would say it’s not worth the time.  I’d skip this one too.

Jumping to a related topic I’ve asked a few of my friends about what’s on their bucket list.  Some came back with hilarious answers like the following:

1. Die my hair red - which he actually did a month ago, then shaved it off
2. Scuba dive
3. Embrace a traffic policeman for doing a good job
4. Taking a pee off the tallest building in the city
5. Walk the beach in his underwear
6. Talk to a total stranger on the train
7. Sing the anthem at a ballgame
8. Be in a ballgame
9. Take time to kill time
10. Die!

Well that last one will sure come wouldn’t it???  But if heaven will punish the guy, I hope he lives forever!  Remember that 300 line?  Classic.

Well, anyway… here are some tips on making that bucket list a progressing reality, check it out:

• Write it down - you have to have an actual list!
• Schedule it - except for #10 you can actually make #s 1-9 happen
• Recruit others to help you tick your items - someone has got to push you to sing, to pee, to embrace (to die? LOL).  You need people to help you do your thang!

You know what they say, a man is as good as the tools he has.  What’s a man to do if he couldn’t say “ok darling no problemo”… or “leave it to the Hulkster sweetheart”

The Wenger Giant Swiss Army Knife - oh yeah… it’s really a giant (no fun putting this in your pocket, really) - has no fewer than 85 implements capable of performing over 100 separate functions, from scaling fish to fixing bicycles. All of which makes it impossibly useful. Want a laser flashlight? No problem. Torch? Can do. Universal Wrench? Yup. Golf divot repair tool? Si. Double-cut wood saw? Uh-huh. And so it goes. On and on and on and on. There’s almost no indoor our outdoor emergency which could not be tackled with this comprehensive if somewhat unwieldy device.

It’s currently in stock, thankfully just in time for Father’s Day perhaps?  Haha… now that’s a comfortable 3 months away, I think.  Reason I am giving you this lead is due to its bashful price of about US$900!  Yep, you can turn your dream superhero moment, the man of her dreams, the boyscout of the future…  turn it all on if you can shell the cash.

Gadget sold here…

And here are the specs of course:

Features
- Weighs 2lbs 11oz
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Made in Switzerland
- Ideally suited to giant Swiss people

Specification
- Dimensions: Height: 3.0cm Width: 8.5cm Depth: 24.0cm
- Weight: 1.5Kg
- Age : 18 years +

I thought that it only happened in the movies, but lately I’ve visited this website from MSN Lifestyle that says the movie plot isn’t really that far from what’s happening in reality.

Here’s a great intro to this story from that website:

In 2006, America’s honeybees started mysteriously abandoning their hives, never to return. Farmers — many of whom rely on the pollinator to help their crops grow (almonds, apples, avocados, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cherries, and onions are just a few of the foods that require pollination) — are understandably worried, as are scientists, who fear the honeybee may be a modern-day canary in a coal mine. Although the bee die-off, also known as colony collapse disorder, continues to alarm and puzzle scientists and beekeepers, experts hypothesize that the likely culprits are pesticides, dwindling food supply, and a new virus that appears to target the bees’ immune system.

Now if we are to associate this phenomenon to the movie, I think we’d have a good clue of where this news is leading to.  Why is this happening?  Is it also because  of a “bee strike”?  No.  According to the website, bees are slowly migrating elsewhere, mostly in areas where they see a more hospitable environment.  Progress on to what the website summarizes as a clear antidote to the mass exodus and you’d see that YOU can play a major role.  That’s right, if we can provide them with the right habitat, no bee is leaving town for sure.

Start in your backyard, make sure that there are enough flowers to go around every major season in your area.  Make it bloom and the bees will come flying by once more.

During my school days my teacher would always catch one of my classmates sleeping during lecture. I kid you not, and I know you have fond memories that are alike. Sleep is important, it recharges the body with needed “idle” time. Muscles flex and contract the whole day and they just need to be put into “neutral” position. When the body says you need a shut-eye, it is hard to resist. To avoid embarrassment of being caught sleeping at inappropriate times follow these suggestions:

- set a schedule
- exercise
- avoid caffeine, nicotine & alcohol
- relax before bedtime
- sleep until sunlight
- don’t lie in bed awake
- control your room temperature
- see a doctor if your sleeping problems continue

If you have trouble falling asleep night after night, or if you always feel tired the next day, then you may have a sleep disorder and should see a physician.

This disorder will surely affect your health and the quality of your life.

Your primary care physician may be able to help you; if not, you can probably find a sleep specialist at a major hospital near you. Most sleep disorders can be treated effectively, so you can finally get that good night’s sleep you need.

You read it right, cool eh, I think this name will catch on real soon.  Specially that the world’s focus are on how oil prices that seem to be steadily rising (as of press time greater than US$100/barrel).  And the weak US dollar isn’t helping one bit too.

(Funny, but I don’t think there is “oil shortage” these days.  I haven’t really heard any of the Middle Eastern oil rich countries saying “There’s just too less oil we’re pumping up”)

Well the world is finally taking notice of a worthwhile alternative, BIO-FUEL, or the more popular tagged “Grassoline”.  It’s been a hot topic for months now from water coolers to board rooms, cocktail parties to locker rooms, the canteens to the lavish restaurants.  Everyone wants to know what the heck is it!

Here’s the textbook definition:

Biodiesel is a vegetable oil based fuel that can be used as a replacement for petroleum diesel in any diesel engine with little or no modification to that engine. Biodiesel is rapidly gaining acceptance around the world, in large part, due to the its many health and environmental benefits, when compared to the effects of regular diesel.
Here’s what the environmentalists say:

Bio-diesel is not only renewable and economically feasible but it is also considerably cleaner for the environment as a liquid or when burned. Petroleum products create significantly higher levels of greenhouse gasses and other emission toxins than their plant based counter parts.

Here’s what your momma will say:

Vegetables are good for you… you eat it and you become healthy.  Use it as fuel, you still become healthy.  So quit yapping and open wide honey!
I think everyone needs to look at alternative fuel.  We can only remain dependent to oil for a few more decades.  I remember the movie “Back to the Future”, how it made me laugh to see the Professor feeding his car “garbage”.  At least it’s an alternative to oil.  But seriously, when he lodged a banana in the bio tank to feed the “reactor” isn’t the future starting now?

Ah, I hope to live that day.   For the meantime, growing fuel sounds like a good idea that may spark the brains of tomorrow!

According to Wall Street Journal, big technology firms are putting all their chips in and investing in wireless technology.  Every major thing in the future will be built on wireless.  Shopping, tourism, health, insurance, business, retail, communication, clothing… every major industry will be doing things wirelessly.  While I do think most of these businesses are there already, WSJ is predicting that everyone will be there… everyone.

Here’s an excerpt from WSJ:

“As early as Wednesday, an unlikely alliance of titans from the cable, Internet and chip industries will disclose they are investing $3.2 billion in a company that will deliver Web access for cellphones and laptops at speeds much faster than what is available today using a technology called WiMax.“

It will define a lot of things in wireless technology.  It will support future demands,  building a stage for the next century today.

If you’re wondering why sexual perversions are happening left and right, front and back and every which way in the world today, why we have such a hideous sexual predator as Austria’s Josef Fritzl, one of the clues is staring at you right now.

Well, it’s not Miley Cyrus’ fault. Definitely not. This 15-year Disney megastar has simply been used and abused by people around her. Why didn’t her parents object?

Who is his right senses would ask a 15-year-old girl with a wholesome public image, who is the darling of kids as young as five or six years old, to pose semi-nude and to have such so-called “artistic” but sensationally provocative picture on the cover of a widely read magazine?

That’s what Vanity Fair magazine did.

Poor, poor Miley. After realizing what she’s done, the star of “Hannah Montana” is drowning in remorse. She could not apologize enough for allowing herself to be used and abused by people who are only a shade less monstrous than that guy from Austria.

Imagine. Using a 15-year-old celebrity to entice the beasts in the magazine’s male readers. The devil is really everywhere.

Photo caption:
Singer and actress Miley Cyrus arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. (AP)