Good Luck and Bad Luck Matters

You won lottery. Wow! You are lucky guy! Everybody also will say that good luck is with you.
You pass the exam with high score. You tried hard. But yet, you are lucky.
You lost money for buying lottery tickets. You did not win. You are unlucky guy.
You failed the exam. You did not try enough or you did not have chance and time enough to do it to pass. But yet, you are unlucky guy. Bad luck is with you.

Alright. I have stories, which are I have read, heard, seen and faced through out my life about those ‘lucky’ and ‘unlucky’ matters. Let us begin with the story of an old man and his son. This is the story that I have heard in a tape.

Once, an old man had a teenage son and a horse.
One day, the only horse that the old man had was lost. Old man and his son were very sad and people said that the old man was unlucky; the bad luck was with him.

Wait a minute, how can you say that losing a horse was an unlucky matter?

A few weeks later, it was surprise. The losing horse unexpectedly came back home and yet, she took another horse with her. Nobody knew who has owned that horse but the new horse was young, strong and beautiful. The old man owned it.
Old man and his son were very happy and people said that the old man was such a lucky guy.

Wait a minute, how can you say that having two horses was a lucky matter?

A couple days later, teenage son tried to ride the new horse. He failed down from the horse and his right leg was broken.
The old man and his son were very sad and people said that those father and son were very unlucky.

Wait a minute, how can you say that being broken of a person’s right leg was such an unlucky matter?

One year later, the boy’s broken leg was recovered and even he could run and ride horses. During that year, there was a war between the old man’s country and its neighbor. Every adult who was over 17 years old ordered to join the army by the government to fill the emergency need of army in order to go for the war. The old man’s son was 19, exactly. Nevertheless, because of his broken leg record, he was legally escaped from going for war.
The old man and his son were very glad and people said that they were very lucky.

Wait a minute, how can you say that just escaping from going for war was a lucky matter?


Picture: http://7art-screensavers.com/screenshots/Graceful_Horses/playfull-horses.jpg

Too Much: Just ‘Numbers’

Recently, one of my classmates discussed about event of Titanic. She said that dying a lot of people in Titanic was not that sorrowful. Yes. There were almost two thousand people (I think) died with Titanic. So, I said that it became number, instead of (usual) funeral.

Not only Titanic, but also many other tragedies, such as 9/11, earthquakes (such as in Mexico of 1980s), Tsunami (in 2004/5) were included in that ‘number’ list.

When it is too much amount, it becomes just ‘numbers.’ Even about money; Money is always one of the most attractive matters of us. Nevertheless, let me tell you here. When we say fifty thousand dollars ($ 50,000), one hundred thousand dollars ($ 100,000), one million dollars ($ 1,000,000), these amounts are very attractive; either you see or hear.
When we say one thousand billion dollars ($10,000,000,000,000), even though it is money (a lot of money), it is not attractive at all. Why? Probably, because of the amount is extremely huge, it became ‘numbers.’ Overwhelmed!

What do you think?


Picture: http://mysciencehomework.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/numbers.jpg

Meanings of the Given Names (G)

George = Earth Worker

People often ask me about - what does my name mean.
Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if his or her name means something.
These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind.
For my friends who want to know, the meanings of (Western) given names:

Men’s Names (G)

Gabriel: (Hebrew) Man of God; God is my strength
Garland: (Old French) Crowned for victory
Garrett, Garrick, Garth: (Germanic) Spear, firm
Gary: (Celtic) Hunting dog
Gascon, Gaston: (Old French) Native of Gascony
Geoffrey: (Germanic) God, peace; district of land, peace
Geordie, George: (Greek) Earth worker or farmer
Gerald: (Germanic) Spear, rule
Gerard: (Germanic) Spear, hard
Gilbert: (Germanic) Pledge, bright
Giles: (Greek) Shield bearer; young goat
Gilroy: (Latin-Celtic) Servant of the king
Glen: (Welsh) valley
Godfrey: (Germanic) God, peace
Godwin: (Germanic) God, friend
Gordon: (Old English) Old English) Spacious hill; three-cornered hill
Graham: (Old English) Gray homestead
Grant: (Latin) Great or large
Granville: (Old French) Large town
Gregory: (Greek) Watchman
Griffith: (Welsh) Strong fighter; ruddy
Grover: (Old English) Dweller in or near a small wood
Gustav: (Germanic) Goth, staff
Guy: (Germanic) Sensible; leader; wood

Women’s Names (G)

Gabrielle: (Hebrew) God is my strength.
Gail, Gale: (Old English) Gay
Gay: (French-Germanic) Merry
Genevieve: (Celtic) White or fair lady
Georgia: (Greek) An earth worker or farmer
Geraldine, Germaine: (Germanic) Spear, rule
Gertrude: (Germanic) Spear, strength
Gladys: (Latin-Welsh) Lame; ruler
Gloria: (Old English) Song of praise to God
Godiva: (Old English) God, gift
Grace: (Latin) Thanksgiving
Greta, Gretchen: (Greek) A pearl
Guenevere, Gwynne: (Celtic) White, fair lady
Gwendolyn: (Celtic) White-browed

Source: Smith, Elsdon C. “Vocabulary of Given Names.” The World Book Dictionary. 1968 edition. 1968.

Picture: http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2007/0710/dune_earth.jpg

Happy Earth Day!

Each month, let us consider something for earth.

Air, which is essential for our survival can found only in our motherland, the EARTH.

Rewards should be with the earth; but not the burdens.

Think and take action for goodness of the earth.

Humans can make the earth better. Humans can destroy the earth, easier.



Picture: http://3dshaders.com/shaders/Earth-1tex.jpg

Honesty: the Divine Power

During last year and this year, I have listened several self-improvement audio books (at least 20 books). Some books were about time management. Some books were about psychology. Some books were about the markets. Some books were about making friends, and so on.

From those several books of several authors, I found a common thing that they all wrote or saw the same. It is about the great peoples’ true value, which is the ‘HONESTY.’ In the world history, there were hundreds of thousands of leaders, but only a few were recognizable, such as Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, General George C. Martial Napoleon, etc. Why they were remarkably recognized and well known in the world history? They were only a few leaders among hundreds of thousands of others.

It is the same in the business world, too. Dishonest businessmen are eventually, simply disappeared. Only honest businesspersons have been remaining.

Those great peoples and leaders may vary, as presidents, prime ministers, religious persons, national leaders, generals, businessmen and so on. Nevertheless they all had one thing, all the same. It was ‘honesty.’ They all had ‘honesty’ with integrity. Hence, they all had the true courage, which has always come from honesty. Without honesty, we cannot have true courage. And it is the only thing we really own in our lives, while we are temporarily visiting in this world, as a part of mankind. All other things will be disappeared eventually, but ‘honesty’ will remain in our feels and thoughts, in our hearts and history, as well.

If I don’t have ‘honesty,’ I am not there, yet. I will simply die with other millions. Nobody will recognize me. If you don’t have it yet, you will join with the normal club, too. But when you really really have the true honesty, you will join with the Mother Theresa’s club. I will be there, too.

Honesty is truly Divine Power!


Picture:
http://www.rokkorfiles.com/photos/EO-Lincoln-Statue.jpg
http://www.newint.org/features/2005/08/01/gandhi.jpg
http://www.excerptsofinri.com/images/mother_teresa2.jpg
http://www.cotswolds.info/images/woodstock/churchill.jpg

Independence Day of Zimbabwe

Today is the Independence Day of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe gained her independence on April 18, 1980 from the United Kingdom.

Official Name: Republic of Zimbabwe
Area: 390, 580 sq km. (150, 760 sq. miles)
Cities: Capital – Harare. Other cities – Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Marondera.
Population: 13.3 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Christianity 75%, offshoot Christian sects, animist, and Muslim
Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele.
Type of Government: Parliamentary
GDP: $ 7.2 billion (2000 est.)
Monetary Unit: 1 Zimbabwe Dollar = 100 cents
President: Robert Mugabe
Internet domain: .zw
International Dialing Code: +263
Official Web Pages:
http://www.gta.gov.zw/
http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/

Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1064589.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/zi-flag.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html

Independence Day of Syria

Today is the Independence Day of Syria. Syria gained her independence on April 17, 1946 from France.

Official Name: Syrian Arab Republic
Area: 185, 170 sq km. (71, 504 sq. miles)
Cities: Capital – Damascus. Other cities – Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Lattakia
Population: 20 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Sunni Muslims (74 %), Alawis (12%), Christians (10%), Druze (3%), and small numbers of other Muslim sects, Jews, and Yazidis.
Languages: Arabic (official), English and French (widely understood), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian.
Type of Government: Republic, under Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party regimes since March 1963.
GDP: $ 17 billion (2000 est.)
Monetary Unit: 1 Syrian pound = 100 piastres
President: Bashar Al-Assad
Internet domain: .sy
International Dialing Code: +963
Official Web Pages:
http://www.kolmic.com/?dn=nice-online.org&pid=2PO8CKNZQ&prvtof=8b2VkUqfXDCVzkFFvAxvcY9I%2F%2FfcCJndhUZh
http://www.syriatourism.org/


Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/801669.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sy.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/sy-flag.html

Meanings of the Given Names (F)

Frank = Freeman

People often ask me about - what does my name mean.

Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if his or her name means something.

These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind.

For my friends who want to know, the meanings of (Western) given names:

Men’s Names (F)

Fabian: (Latin) Bean-grower
Farley: (Old English) Fern-covered clearing
Felix: (Latin) Happy or fortunate
Ferdinand: (Germanic) Journey, venture
Fergus: (Celtic) Manly strength; man’s choice
Flavian: (Latin) Yellow
Flobert: (Germanic) Wise, bright
Floyd: (Celtic) Gray
Franchot, Francis, Frank: (Germanic) Freeman or freeholder
Frederick: (Germanic) Peace, rule

Women’s Names (F)

Faith: (Latin) Faithful
Fanny: (Germanic) Free
Fay: (Latin-Old French) Faithful; fairy or elf
Felicia: (Latin) Happiness
Felipa: (Greek) Lover of horses
Fifi: (Hebrew-French) He shall add
Flavia: (Latin) Yellow
Flora: (Latin) A flower
Florence, Florenda: (Latin) Flourishing; of Florence
Frances, Francesca: (Germanic) Free
Freda, Frieda, Frederica: (Germanic) Peace, rule


Source: Smith, Elsdon C. “Vocabulary of Given Names.” The World Book Dictionary. 1968 edition. 1968.
Picture:http://lh3.google.com/_FF-zwSCizjI/RyzqEaiFqzI/AAAAAAAACL4/-NrkImZLE5U/s800/To+Fly+Free+in+Space.jpg

Dependence

My wife has an electronic sewing machine, which cost about $ 2,000. This evening, she was sewing something with that machine. I asked her if the machine could work without electric or not. She said ‘No.’ It was not a manual one.
So, I am thinking that if I send this very valuable sewing machine to my sister who is living in very poor and remote area of Burma, how it will be? Nothing. They do not have electric. So, what is value of this machine in that area? It still will be cost, but not to use in the area, but to sell to people who will carry that machine in the other area where the electric works. I mean the potential of that machine in that village is ‘nothing.’
Then, I remembered my life in Army. Sometimes, I was thinking about a gun without bullet. Without bullet, a gun means almost nothing. A stick is much better and useful than a gun without bullet. Then, I am also thinking about a car, a brand-new car without gas. Again, it is also almost ‘nothing.’
Can you imagine about that how things are essentially but terribly depending on each other? Naturals. Manmade. Especially manmade materials; there are many things- without something, another one is almost nothing.
Without a buyer, a seller means - nothing.
Without a listener, a speaker means - nothing.
Without a follower, a leader means - nothing.
Without a receiver, a giver means - nothing.
Without a viewer, beauty means - nothing.
Without a shorter, nothing will be taller.
Without a smaller, nothing will be bigger.
Without a lower, nothing will be higher.
Without an afraid, nothing will be brave.
Without a trickery, nothing will be honesty.

What do you think?

Picture: http://www.louienep.com/images/spirit.jpg

An Excerpt of Arakan History from Books I

The following excerpt is from “1688: A Global History” by John E. Wills, Jr. The book was copyrighted in 2001 and this excerpt is expressed on page 286.

---- But any old Asia hand knew that such matters were personal, had their ups and downs, and that force should be used judiciously, as a last resort, and with local allies firmly in place. The directors had none of this in hand in January 1686, whey they dispatched ten ships with six companies of infantry to sail directly to Bengal, occupy a port, ally with the king of Arakan (now part of Myanmar), declare war on the Mughal Empire, and march on its provincial capital. It was assumed that the Mughal governor would flee from this fearsome assault and then world be agreeable to a restoration of peace and all the privileges previously granted.


Picture: http://www.booksense.com/readup/imagesb/1688.jpg

Dance of Mahla

Meanings of the Given Names (E)

Emma = Universal

People often ask me about - what does my name mean.

Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if his or her name means something.

These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind.

For my friends who want to know, the meanings of (Western) given names:

Men’s Names (E)

Earl, Earle: (Old English) Nobleman
Ebenezer: (Hebrew) Stone of help
Eden: (Hebrew) Delight
Edgar: (Old English) Rich, spear
Edmund: (Old English) Rich, protection
Edsel: (Old English) Rich, self
Edward: (Old English) Rich, guardian
Edwin: (Old English) Rich, friend
Egbert: (Old English) Sword, bright
Egmont: (Old English) Sword, protection
Elbert: (Old English) Noble, bright
Eli, Ely: (Hebrew) My God; Yahveh is God; the highest
Elias, Elijah, Eliot, Ellis: (Hebrew) Yahveh is God.
Elmer: (Old English) Noble, fame
Elmo: (Greek) Amiable
Elsdon: (Hebrew-English) Ellis’ valley
Elson: (Hebrew) son of Elias
Elwin: (Germanic) Elf, friend
Emanuel: (Hebrew) God is with us.
Emery, Emory: (Germanic) Work, rule
Emil: (Germanic) Industrious; work
Emile: (Latin-French) Affable
Emmet: (Germanic) Industrious
Enoch: (Hebrew) Follower; initiated
Enos: (Hebrew) Mortal man
Erasmus: (Greek) Beloved; amiable
Eric: (Old Norse) Ever king
Ernest: (Old English) Grave, serious
Errol: (Latin) Wandering
Erwin: (Old English) Sea, friend
Esmond: (Old English) Grace, protector
Ethelbert: (Old English) Noble, bright
Eugene: (Greek) Well-born; noble
Eustace: (Greek) Steadfast; rich in harvest
Evan: (Hebrew-Celtic) Gracious gift of God
Evelyn: (Celtic-Latin) Pleasant; life; hazel
Everett: (Germanic) Boar, hard
Ewen, Ewan: (Celtic) Well-born; a youth
Ezra: (Hebrew) Helper

Women’s Names (E)

Easter: (Old English) From Eostre, the Old English goddess of spring
Eda, Edith: (Old English) Rich, war
Eden: (Hebrew) Delight
Edna: (Hebrew) Delight
Effie: (Greek) Of fair fame; worship of the gods
Eileen, Elaine, Eleanor: (Greek) Light; bright one
Electra: (Greek) Bright or shinning
Elizabeth, Eliza, Elissa: (Hebrew) Oath of God
Ella: (Old English, Norman-French) Elfin; all
Ellen: (Greek) Light; the bright one
Elma: (Greek) Amiable
Eloise: (Germanic-French) Hale, wide; hear, fight
Elsie, Elsa: (Hebrew) Oath of God
Emerald: (Latin) Transparent green beryl, the emerald
Emily: (Latin-Germanic) Affable; worker
Emma: (Germanic) Universal
Enid: (Welsh) Soul of life; woodlark
Enrica: (Germanic) Home, rule
Erica: (Germanic-Latin) Rule, heather
Ermentrude: (Germanic) Grave or serious; earnest
Esme: (Greek) The emerald
Esmeralda: (Greek-Spanish) The emerald
Estelle: (Latin) A star
Esther: (Hebrew-Persian) Myrtle; a star
Ethel: (Old English) Noble
Etta: (Germanic) Small or little
Eunice: (Greek) Happy victory
Euphemia: (Greek) Of fair fame; worship of the gods
Eva, Eve: (Hebrew) Life; lively
Evangeline: (Greek) Bearer of good tidings
Evelyn: (Celtic-Latin) Pleasant; life; hazel


Source: Smith, Elsdon C. “Vocabulary of Given Names.” The World Book Dictionary. 1968 edition.
Picture: http://www.northamericatravelservice.co.uk/images/other/Universal_01.jpg

Izana and World Map II

To watch Izana and World Map I and more videos, please click the following:

http://thazon.blogspot.com/2007/12/izana-and-world-map.html

http://thazon.blogspot.com/2007/12/country-song-of-kids.html

http://thazon.blogspot.com/2007/12/izanas-yoga.html

http://thazon.blogspot.com/2008/02/izana-and-ka-kha.html

http://thazon.blogspot.com/2008/01/izana-and-arakanese-1234.html

http://thazon.blogspot.com/2007/12/izana-and-arakanese-song-lakranmri.html

THANKS!!!

Americans’ Interest on Australia

For book discussion of our Readers’ Advisory class in this week, we discussed about four genres: two books of travel, and two books of adventure.

One of the books, which we all had to read for travel genre, was ‘In A Sunburned Country,’ by Bill Bryson. This is very good book and I will say this is more than ‘travel.’ The book is written thickly and readers can get bunch of information from only one sentence or from one paragraph. This is a book about Australia and if you read this book, you may smell of the natural plants of Australia, you may see the specific animals of Australia (such as Kangaroo), you may know part of Australia’s history and you may have the chance to explore the geography and people of this huge island, which is the sixth largest country in the world.

I am going to talk here is not about that book, but about one of the categories in that book, which is the ‘measurement.’ I like it. Bill Bryson made a research on “Americans’ interest in Australia” before he visited the country. He measured American people’s interest in certain country with - how many news and articles were expressed within one year in New York Times about that country. In the year he did research (I think in 1999), there were only 20 news and articles about Australia in NY Times. Bill remarked that - interest of Americans on Australia was between banana and ice cream.

Then, I curiously made a research yesterday, ‘how about now?’ ‘How about Americans’ interest on Australia nowadays? I explored a little bit about it in the website of NY Times. I made a research on all countries, which have beginning letter of A, from Afghanistan to Austria. There are 10 countries with the beginning letter A and the date limit that I set up was from January 1st 2007 to April 9th 2008. Guess where is the (Americans’ interest) rank on Australia?

According to the numbers those occurred at NY Times webpage, the Australia has ranked the second, after Afghanistan. You can see the ranks as below with numbers:
(1) Afghanistan – 2281
(2) Australia – 1504
(3) Argentina – 621
(4) Austria – 511
(5) Algeria – 176
(6) Angola – 110
(7) Albania – 92
(8) Armenia – 75
(9) Andorra – 17
(10) Antigua and Burbuda – 0

Then, I also did a little bit further research, which is about Americans’ interest on ‘banana’ and ‘ice cream.’ Ice cream marked the number of 805 (between Argentina and Australia), while banana’s number was 404 (some less than Austria), which means – nowadays, Americans’ interest on Australia is much more than both of ice cream and banana.

Have Fun!


Picture: http://www.immigration2australia.com/australia_kangaroo.jpg

Moon Over a Modern City

Awake in the early morning,
I see the moon is shinning.

Remembering a villager’s life,
Without any electric light.
Our lives at night,
Totally depended on moonlight.

Shinning moon over a modern city,
No more important than a kitty!

Fancy Light is brighter and preety!

Picture: http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/brisbanelife/photos/albums/userpics/normal_1193185859.JPG

Meanings of the Given Names (D)

DAWN

People often ask me about - what does my name mean.
Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if his or her name means something.
These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind.
For my friends who want to know, the meanings of (Western) given names:

Men’s Names (D)

Dale: (Old English) Valley
Damon: (Greek) Taming
Dan: (Hebrew) Judged
Dana: (Scandinavian) From Denmark
Daniel: (Hebrew) Judge of God
Daryl: (Old English) Beloved; darling
David: (Hebrew) Beloved; friend; commander
Dean: (Old English) Valley
Dennis, Denis: (Greek) Of Dionysus, god of wine
Derek, Derrick: (Germanic) Folk, rule
Doane: (Old English) Hill slope
Dominic: (Latin) Of the lord; Sunday
Donald: (Celtic) World mighty; proved chieftain
Dougal: (Celtic) Dark stranger
Douglas: (Celtic) Dark gray; dark blue
Dudley: (Old English) Dudda’s meadow
Duff: (Celtic) Dark; black
Duke: (Latin) Leader
Duncan: (Celtic) Brown warrior
Dunstan: (Old English) Brown, stone; hill, stone
Durward: (Scottish) Doorkeeper
Dwight: (Germanic) White


Women’s Names (D)

Dagmar: (Danish) Glory of the Danes
Dahlia: (Swedish) Valley; flower dahlia
Daisy: (Old English) Day’s eye; flower daisy; pearl
Dama: (Latin) Lady
Damaris: (Greek) Gentle
Daphne: (Greek) The laurel tree
Darlene, Daryl: (Old English) Tenderly beloved
Dawn: (Old English) Break of day
Deanna: (Latin) Bright as day
Deborah, Debra: (Hebrew) The bee
Deidre, Deirdre: (Celtic) Sorrow
Delia, Della: (Greek) From the island of Delos
Delicia: (Latin) Delightful
Delight: (Germanic) Pleasurable
Denise: (Latin) Belonging to Dionysus, Greek god of wine
Desiree: (Latin-French) Desired
Diane: (Latin) From Diana, Greek moon goddess
Dinah: (Hebrew) Judgment
Dolores: (Spanish) Of the sorrows (Mary)
Donna: (Latin) Lady
Dora: (Greek) Gift
Dorcas: (Greek) Gazelle
Doris: (Greek) Of the sea; of the Dorian people
Dorothy: (Greek) Gift of God
Dulcia: (Latin) Sweet



Source: Smith, Elsdon C. “Vocabulary of Given Names.” The World Book Dictionary. 1968 edition. 1968.Picture: http://www.palmyria.co.uk/art/dawn.jpg

National Day of Senegal

Today is the National day of Senegal. Senegal gained her independence on June 20, 1969, as a result of the independence and the transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960.

Official Name: Republic of Senegal
Area: 196,840 sq km. (76,000 sq. miles)
Cities: Capital – Dakar. Other cities – Diourbel, Kolda, Kaolack, Louga, Saint-Louis, Thies, Tambacounda, Ziguinchor
Population: 12.4 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Muslim 95%, Christian 4%, Traditional 1%
Languages: French (Official), Wolof, Pulaar, Serer, Diola, Mandingo, Soninke.
Type of Government: Republic
GDP: $ 4.1 billion (2000)
Monetary Unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
President: Abdoulaye Wade
Internet domain: .sn
International Dialing Code: +221
Official Web Pages:
http://www.gouv.sn/


Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1064496.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sg.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/sg-flag.html

Liberation Day of Hungary

Today is the Liberation day of Hungary.

Official Name: Republic of Hungary
Area: 93,030 sq km. (35,910 sq. miles)
Cities: Capital – Budapest. Other cities – Debrecen, Miskolc, Szeged, Pecs
Population: 10 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Roman Catholic 68%, Calvinist 21%, Lutheran 4%, Jewish 1%, others, including Baptist Adventist, Pentecostal, Unitarian 3%
Languages: Magyar 98%, other 2%
Type of Government: Republic
GDP: $ 51.68 million (2001)
Monetary Unit: Forint
President: Laszlo Solyom
Prime Minister: Ferenc Gyurcsany
Internet domain: .hu
International Dialing Code: +36
Official Web Pages:
http://www.meh.hu/
http://www.mkogy.hu/
http://www.mkab.hu/


Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1049641.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2004

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/hu-flag.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/hu.html

Lose HOPE = DIE

“We must not lose ‘the HOPE’ because if we lost ‘the hope,’ we DIE."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Note: On April 4, 1968 (40 years ago), Dr. King was assassinated.


Picture: http://www.aishamusic.com/Judiciary_Report/images/martin_luther_king_jr.JPG

Meanings of the Given Names (C)

(Crystal Candle Holder)

People often ask me about - what does my name mean.

Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if his or her name means something.

These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind.

For my friends who want to know, the meanings of (Western) given names:

Men’s Names (c)

Caesar: (Latin) Hairy
Caleb: (Hebrew) Dog
Calvert: (Old English) Herdsman; calf herd
Calvin: (Latin) Bald
Carl: (Germanic) Man
Carlton: (Old English) Peasant’s farm
Carlyle: (Germanic) Fortified city
Carlyle: (Germanic) Fortified city
Carol: (Celtic) Battle-mighty; warrior
Casey: (Celtic) Valorous
Caspar: (Persian) Treasure
Cecil: (Latin) Blind
Cedric: (Celtic) Chieftain
Charles: (Germanic) Man
Chauncy: (Old French) From Chancey in France
Chester: (Old English) Fortified town
Christian: (Latin) Follower of Christ
Christopher: (Greek) Christ-bearer
Clarence: (Latin) Illustrious
Clark: (Old English) Learned man; clergyman
Claude: (Latin) Lame
Clayton: (Old English) Town on clay bed
Clement: (Latin) Merciful
Clifford: (Old English) Fort at a cliff
Clinton: (Old English) Hill enclosure
Clyde: (Welsh) Fame
Colin: (Greek-Irish) People’s victory
Conard: (Germanic) Bold, counsel
Constantine: (Latin) Constant or firm of purpose
Cornelius: (Latin) The cornel tree; hornlike
Craig: (Gaelic) Mountain crag
Curtis: (Old French) Courteous
Cuthbert: (Old English) Famous, bright
Cyril: (Greek) Lordly
Cyrus: (Persian) The sun; throne


Women’s Names (c)

Camilla: (Etruscan) Attendant at a sacrifice
Candace: (Latin) She who blesses
Candita: (Latin) Glowing
Cara: (Celtic) Friend
Carla, Carlotta: (Germanic) Man
Carmen: (Hebrew, Latin) Garden of God; song
Carol, Caroline: (Germanic-Old French) Man; song of joy
Cassandra: (Greek) Helper of men
Catherine: (Greek) Pure
Cecelia, Celia: (Latin) Blind; The Heavens
Celeste: (Latin) Heavenly
Chris: (Greek) Loving; grace
Charity: (Latin) Charitable
Charlotte: (Germanic) Man
Charmian: (Greek) A little joy
Chenoa: (American Indian) White dove
Cherry: (Latin) Charitable
Cheryl: (Germanic) Man
Chloe: (Greek) Bloom
Christabel: (Greek) Christ’s beauty
Christiana: (Latin) Christian
Christine: (Old English) Christened one
Cindy: (Greek) From Mt. Cynthus; Diana, moon goddess
Clara, Clare, Clarissa: (Latin) Bright
Claribel: (Latin) Bright and fair
Claudette: (Latin) Little lame one
Claudia: (Latin) Lame
Clematics: (Greek) Clinging vine
Clemence, Clementine: (Latin) Mild, merciful
Cleopatra: (Greek) Fame of her father
Clotilda: (Germanic) Loud, battle
Colette: (Latin-French) People’s victory
Colleen: (Celtic) Girl
Columbia, Columbine: (Latin) Dove
Concordia: (Latin) Harmony
Constance: (Latin) Firm of purpose
Consuela: (Spanish) Consolation
Cora, Corinne: (Greek) Bright colored stone
Cordelia: (Celtic, Germanic) Sea daughter; heart
Cornelia: (Latin) Hornlike
Crystal: (Greek) Clear ice; frost
Cymbaline: (Celtic) Lord of the sun
Cynthia: (Greek) From Mt. Cynthus; Diana, moon goddess


Source: Smith, Elsdon C. “Vocabulary of Given Names.” The World Book Dictionary. 1968 edition. 1968.
Picture: http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50259350/Crystal_Candle_Holder.jpg

Have and No-Use II

There was an Aesop’s story.
A miser who sold all his possessions and, with the money, he bought a great lump of gold. He dug a hole and buried it at the corner of the garden. Every day, he went to the garden, dug up the gold and fondled lovingly.
A gardening worker wondered what was his master doing in the garden once per day. He secretly followed the miser. The worker found and stole the gold.
When the miser found the empty hole, in the next day, he cried out loud.
One of the miser’s neighbors said to the miser that what he had was of no more use than what he did not have.


Picture: http://moliere-in-english.com/MISER.gif