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Saturday, January 31, 2009

The First Summit for the Fourth World (Part One)


Ten years later, after the World War III.

No human being has left alive in the world, but thousands of kinds of animals have been already living in both of in the water and in land as well. To make appropriate progress of the world, new human being generation is essentially needed, at least two humans; a man and a woman.
There is a summit of the five persons: the agents of the Jesus Christ, the Vishnu, the Buddha, the Prophet Mohammed and Charles Darwin himself. The prime mission of the summit is to create the first human being in the world. They make their summit in Mars, in order to be fair or to avoid the future problems, which may be created by those human beings about the original location of the history of human. They all know that humans are such crazies with those kinds of matters.

Part One: Charles Darwin’s Report

This is the contribution of Charles Darwin, which the Part One of discussion in the summit. In the past ten years after the World War III, Darwin was making researches and interviews with several kinds of animals who are the nearest to become human beings.

The following is the keynotes from Darwin’s research and conversations with animals in the world. All agents of the Gods are also reading this report.

The Birds

The first animal group, which Darwin met, was birds. From pelican to sparrow, from eagle to penguin, from kingfisher to goose, there were hundreds of kinds of birds in the place of discussion with Charles Darwin on that day.

The first proposal came from an eagle. One of the giant eagles proudly said that, “Dear Mr. Darwin, if you think for new evolution of human being, this time, you should consider about the birds as priority.”

Darwin said, “Alright. Let us discuss the possibilities why you guys can become new human beings.”

The giant eagle said, “Because we are the closest ones to become new human beings, probably even cheaper and better than the humans of the past world. Sir, in the past world, we were humans’ the most admirable animals because we, the birds, eagles, pelicans, doves, garudas and many other kinds of birds were occurred in the National Flags, Arms, banknotes and coins of more than forty countries of all continents, from the United States to Chile, from Bolivia to Egypt, from Czech Republic to Thailand in the past world. At least ten states, such as Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, New York and so on had the birds in their state flags in the United States, the Super Power of the past world, along. This means we are the closest to humans and humans love us, respect us and admire us.”

“Very interesting!” Darwin remarked.
“Let me give you another example, dozens of kinds of birds can speak all languages of humans very well, more than any other kinds of animals, even we can sing songs, sir, which means we are the closet to become humans,” a parrot came up with very fluent English speaking.
“That’s interesting, too” Darwin said.

After that, a pelican came up near to Darwin and said, “Mr. Darwin, that’s why, you should consider that there are no too much differences between humans and birds. They build and live in their houses. We build and live in our nests, too. They eat rice and wheat. We eat rice, wheat and grins, too, even we don’t need to cook, which means much easier and cheaper. Most of them married when they grown up. We all married when we are grown up, too. They send their children to schools in order to learn how to successfully survive in their lives. We also teach our children how to fly, in lower level, higher level, in the windy, in the rain, in the snow; how to catch the flies, insects, fishes, grins and other foods; how to defend our enemies’ attacks; how to build a nice, warm and secure nest; how to live in unity and harmony with others; you may sometimes see how we fly with huge flocks, with V shapes. Humans walk and run. Not only we can walk and run, but we also can fly, even better. They drink. We don’t drink, sir. They smoke. We don’t smoke. So, do you see, sir? What is difference between the birds and the humans? The actions and styles could be difference, but the reasons for surviving as longer as we can and to get successful lives are almost exactly the same, sir.”

“You are right. It is very similar.” Darwin said.

(All agents of the Gods also think some facts of these are considerable whether they create humans from birds or not.)

Then, the giant eagle approached with more reasonable facts, “Not only that, Sir, if we become humans, it will be very cheaper and better than the humans of the past world, as I told you before. You can see here, Sir.”
In this point, many birds showed their beautiful, light and useful wings. Some birds were even beautifully flying around with skills.

The eagle continued, “What I mean here is – we can fly. We don’t need cars, motorbikes, trains, helicopters and airplanes. We have our wings to reach for one place to another quickly, lightly and naturally. Probably, we will use helicopters and airbuses for long distance trips but basically we don’t need motorbikes and cars. Only not using the cars means tons, sir, because no gasoline, no pollution, no traffic lights, no road policemen, no super high ways and so on. How much it will be cheaper, cleaner and healthier society, can you imagine about it?”

“I see. Yes, it is really very interesting. In the past world, people were having so much problems and troubles for this gasoline and energy. Even sometimes, they made war for that. Ummm, in this point, it is really interesting,” remarked Charles Darwin.

(In this case, the agent of Prophet Muhammad thinks that if humans were created by this way, most of Islamic countries in the Middle East could probably be the poorest countries in the past world.)

The giant eagle made clear of his throat and said again, “Not only that, sir, the benefits and great consequences are more and more. Because of humans are flying, there will be likely no specific territory, no boundary, no visa, no passport, no gates, no busy, which makes much less problems. Instead, more freedom and peace that humans always were hungrily looking for in the past world.”

A sparrow added up with the other reasons. She said, “Mr. Darwin, I would like you to consider these reasons, too – sometimes, we fight for food and sex. And rarely, we fight for territory. In the past world, humans were fighting all the time. They fought for food, they fought for territory, they fought for energy, they fought for power, they fought for opinions, they fought for reasons, they fought for possessions, they fought for greediness, they fought for angriness, they fought for ignorance, they fought for colony, they fought for independence, they fought for beliefs, they fought for isms, they fought for money, they fought for hungry and they fought for sex as well, sir. Fundamentally, they were fighting each other all the time. That’s why the whole history of the past world was full with the wars, tragedies and stories of the victims. For this reason, even we are much better and greater than humans of the past world, sir.”

(Agents of Gods are quietly thinking in this point and look at each other silently but nobody gives any opinion.)

Finally, all birds give a respect to Darwin and said that they all are willingly ready to participate in Darwin’s new or second Evolution Theory. They also repeated to consider the birds as priority to become new human beings.
Charles Darwin was imagining the picture of new human beings with the wings if he recreates new evolution theory with the birds.

(The second group, which Charles Darwin met, was elephants.)

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/nature/formation/snow-geese.jpg


Note: Main idea based in a Burmese short story.

Friday, January 30, 2009

A Piece of Song

Today, I am singing a piece of song;

“Wanting everybody to be happy is - my weakness.
It is not the easy way at all – ‘No break the stick, No dead the snake.’
Finally, who cannot sleep at night is – only by me.”


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Quote of the Week: A New Era of Responsibility


“What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.”


From President Barak Obama’s historic inaugural address on January 20th 2009
Source: Chicago Tribune (January 21, 2009)

Picture: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/images/politics/jan-june09/0120_swearingin.jpg

Monday, January 19, 2009

What do I learn from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?


(Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)


“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

“When we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

(Excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I have a dream’ speech.)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most powerful thinkers, speakers and visionaries in human history, especially in the twentieth century. His many ideal thoughts impact my life.

Dr. King’s words, which firstly introduced me, were “Love your enemy!” When I heard these words, I could feel - “It is strange” “It is impossible,” and “I don’t understand.” Actually, these words represent a real human being’s kind heart and high moral standards. Since I heard and thought about these words, I heartily admired Dr. King. Yes, as we are human beings, we suppose to love any of our friend or foe. We do not have to like our enemy but we can love them. Then, I think, sometimes, I may not like my wife, my children and even myself, but I love them. We can practice on our enemies in this way, too. As a traditional Buddhist, I worship almost everyday before I sleep. I always worship the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, Mada Pida (parents) and Arsariya (teachers). In the line of Arsariya, (among the teachers), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is always included because of his highest moral teachings. After I worship, I also always spread the good impact, which I could get something from the worship, to everybody of the whole world, which included all my supporters and even those opposed to my ideals.
(Dr. Martin Luther King and former U.S. President John F. Kennedy)
(Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill)

The second ideal, which I learned from Dr. King, was ‘Non-Violence,’ which was based upon his high moral values. As we are human beings, we should try to solve problems without violence. Nevertheless, actually, non-violence process can be practiced only for high moral people of both sides between activists and authorities. Therefore, only a few non-violence movements successfully met their goals in the world’s history, such as between Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence movement in India and government of the United Kingdom; between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil-rights movement and John F. Kennedy’s American government; between Nelson Mandela’s anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and South African government. Unfortunately, most of other non-violence movements have been brutally and systematically destroyed by the powerful violent authorities both nationally and internationally. Whether non-violence movements are successfully accomplished or not, we all must accept its high moral and ethical values in all societies of the world and we also must make the effort to change our world to become a moral world or spiritual universe.
(South African Non-Violence Leader Nelson Mandela)

Third ideal, which Dr. King left for us was, “Love is principle of the world.” We, as human beings, could reach for the Moon, Mars, Venus and Jupiter within one hour; but without respect and love for each other, it is nothing! We could have incredible modern terms and innovations; but without respect and love for each other, it is nothing! We could have and practice dozens of government systems; but without respect and love for each other, it means nothing. We all could be millionaires; but without respect and love for each other, it means nothing!

Fourth ideal, which Dr. King pointed, was about the globalization. He said that even before the breakfast, we depend on the half of the world because many materials in our bathrooms and kitchen come from several countries of world’s continents. For example, small tower in bath room come from Nicaragua, South America, while big tower and toothpaste are imported from Kenya, Africa and China, Asia. Stove in the kitchen come from Canada, North America, while glasses and silverware are imported from Australia, Australia and Iceland, Europe. The world is perfectly formed by itself. We have several skin colorful peoples. We have several religions and beliefs. We have several languages, foods, cultures, places, climates and products. One thing, which we have - does not have in the others; and another thing, which they have – does not have in our country; and vice-versa. This means we depend on each other. Nobody or no nation is perfect. We suppose to fill each others’ needs; we suppose to support each others’ weak points; we suppose to respect and love each other.

There are many spiritual and moral ideals of Dr. King, which taught and demonstrated for me and for us as well. Most of them are based upon great moral steps, such as tolerance, patience and non-violence. All these matters are also based upon compassion. Compassion based upon Love. As conclusion, what we have to heartily learn from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is – Let us try to construct a moral society, which based in recognize, support, respect and love for each other among us in both of nationally and internationally.

Thank you!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Note for my former advice for Mr. President-Elect

In my suggestion,

First: We do need unity.

Sometimes, I am thinking that it will be good to have a strange and tough war with Mars or other planet/s, if it is possible. Probably, the whole world could be standing as one human being at that time.

Second: I am not talking it is that easy to rule a country but what I mean is, we need some spiritual leadership in this downturn period. Thousands of Americans died already in the wars. Millions are jobless. Hundreds of thousands of American youths are dropping high school out year by year. Obama’s administration has 1.2 trillion budget deficits. Many tough challenges are already existed in both of inside and outside of the United States. Like this period, we must fill not only the needs in the material blanks, but also morally leading. The leaders need to regards the people like their children, to feed, to take care of, and to defense from dangers. If leaders have their own discipline with confidence, that will help for themselves and for the people as well, since keeping silent self-promises always have unseen powers.

The darkest hours of the countries have passed by the spiritual leaderships, such as Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the United States, Winston Churchill in the United Kingdom, and Mao Zedong in China. They all gave incredible leaderships, which are based upon moral principles for their people. That’s what we need today.

Hopefully, our moral and material strengths those we have, are enough to smartly pass these dark hours!

Thank you.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Two Special Advices for Mr. President Elect


On January 20th 2009, a new page will be turned in the history of the United States. Newly president-elect, Barack Obama will swear to faithfully serve for the people of the United States and people of the world, as well. Many people are eagerly and excitingly preparing to be part of this historic event. Great!

Any way, I have two special advices to give Mr. Obama in this point.

First: To use the words - ‘Let Us’ and ‘Together’ more than two times in your inauguration speech because it is the NEED.

Second: To stop your smoking by the best way, which will create the situation of win-win-win-win-win. I know how it is difficult to stop smoking because I do like smoking and I have tried several ways to stop. This is the best or the most appropriate way to stop smoking.
How?
This is sort of Administration-Resolution. The thing is - Mr. President-Elect needs to take an oath by himself that “I won’t smoke the whole period of my administration! If I can keep my promise by myself, my administration must be successful administration! If I cannot keep my promise by myself, my administration must be unsuccessful service!”
This is tough. Mr. Obama needs deep thinking and enough courage for this inspirational bow. But if he can do this, it will create incredible condition for his leadership because
(1) It will make him to be healthier. (Win)
(2) It will create ‘Powerful Self-Confidence’ for him. (Win)
(3) So, the United States will have young, strong, healthy and confident commander-in-chief. (Win)
(4) Obama administration will be one of the most successful administrations in the US history. (Win)
(5) Since the United States plays by the vital role in the world stage, it will create the healthier, wealthier and cleaner world. (Win)

WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN!

Through out my experience, many people cannot do it. As I told above, the process needs un-bounding-determination, courage and self-belief of the oath-taker, especially for a great leader.

I highly expect that our president-elect will do it. Let us create a great world!

Thank you. Have a wonderful, successful and happy new year 2009!


Picture: http://hugemagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/shepard-fairey-barack-obama.jpg

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Movie Discussion: Black Rain


Story by Masuji Ibuse
Directed by Shohei Imamura

I. Introduction
Many awards winning movie, which included Japanese Academy awards – ‘Black Rain’ is one of the most remarkable movies ever. The movie is directed by Shohei Imamura, based on the same name novel by Masuji Ibuse. Though the movie based upon atomic bombing at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, theme of the film, is – the social and psychological consequences of the war and that attack, such as radiation sickness, social segregation, mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder and so on and so forth.

II. Brief expression of the Film
Yasuko, a young and beautiful Japanese woman was in a tea party where several
miles away countryside from Hiroshima when the A-bomb blasted on the city. Shigematsu, Yasuko’s uncle was in one of the trains at Hiroshima. He was directly affected from the explosion. After Yasuko saw the mushroom shade - huge explosion in Hiroshima, she came back to the city in order to be reunion with her family. Yasuko, her uncle Shigematsu and her aunt Shigeko run away from the disaster area.
The family resettled in Fukuyama in May 1950, which was about five years later, after the Hiroshima’s nightmare. They escaped from the direct impact of the attack, but they became the victims indirectly. Shigematsu tried to get a cleaned and healthy certificate for Yasuko by several ways. In order to be available to get marriage, Yasuko needed a certificate, which will prove her good and healthy condition, though she was outside of Hiroshima when the exact time of the attack. Actually, though she was away from the city in the bombing time, since she came back to the city during the black raining period, she got radiation sickness.

III. Consequences and Lessons
A. Sudden Deaths and effects
According to the film, there were tons of thousands of sudden deaths in
Hiroshima at the time of bombing and after the bombed. Many people were walking around with blinded eyes, with abnormal brains and almost useless memory. One of the senses showed that a brother could not remember well his younger brother.
B. Psychological Impacts
In the film, actually, all of Yasuko, Shigematsu and Shigeko got
psychological effects. They all had abnormal feelings inside of them though they were living like they were happy. The worst thing was - they did not trust by themselves. Another psychological damaging view has occurred with a poor man, Yuichi who was a Japanese soldier during the war time. Nevertheless, his mental problem was not directly concerned with A-bomb, but it was direct impact of ‘war.’ How he was attacking the motor vehicles as ‘tanks’ because of the sound of engines. It was one of anti-war statements of the film.
C. Physical Impacts
Many people became physical disabilities was also expressed in the film. Some people who had damages from bombing were looks strong and healthy but actually, they were not. The sense of three men’s fishing revealed about it. They said that they wished they could be working. But it was impossible because they could not be available to work the hard works for scientific damages, which they got from explosion.
D. Lessons
The first lesson, which the film gave, could be simply - “War is Bad!” At
one of senses in the film, even Japanese soldiers said that “war is bad.” War always brings deaths, physical and mental disabilities, long term negative impacts, broken hearts, tears and so on.
We fight for territories. We fight for race and ethnicities. We fight for beliefs. We fight for isms. We fight for power. We fight for possessions. The second lesson could be “War was born together with our human beings!”
The third and final lesson could be a question, which we all have to ask
and brainstorm by ourselves that - “Is war evitable or inevitable, and why?”

IV. Conclusion
With fabulous actors; based in one of unforgettable events in world history; dramatic
actions and senses; giving many lessons, “Black Rain” makes two statements – “Anti-War!” and “Hiroshima was lost!”

Note: This was one of my essays in my class and just sharing with my dear readers. Thanks!
Picture: http://www.posteritati.com/jpg/B4/BLACK%20RAIN%20JP%20DIFF.JPG

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Law Maker, Law Breaker and Re-Resolution


On January 1st, I made my resolution and one of them was ‘free alcohol till April 30, 2009.’
Last Sunday, I went to an Asian market (H mart) for grocery shopping. Near to the entrance of the store, a beautiful girl was standing with a little table and there were few wine bottles on the table.

After I shopped, I stopped in front of the table and asked her what were they? She said those were Korean wine. I have never been tasted Korean wine before, so I asked her if I could taste. She said of cause, and I did. It was sweet and delicious. I asked her how to speak ‘thank you’ in Korean? She said she did not know because she was not a Korean. Then, I just smiled and said ‘thank you, happy new year.’ I totally forgot my resolution.

That Sunday evening, I did not remember about it, either. In the Monday morning, I woke up at about 5 a.m., because of my dream. I dreamed about that wine tasting. Then, I realized that – though I did not have any conscious mind and any ambition while I was drinking that little tiny cup of wine, I did something wrong.

I fully govern my body and my mind. I am law maker for myself. Therefore, I should not be law breaker for myself, too. I fondly accept that I deserve something for that little tiny cup of wine tasting.

I was thinking first to avoid drinking for the whole year of 2009. Then, I re-thought it was not fair because I did not mean anything about it. I was not doing it intently. I just remembered in the next morning about the connection between that tasting and resolution. So, I thought to stop my drinking till August. I was still feeling it was unreasonable. Finally, I decided to extend my ‘free alcohol period’ only two more months, till the end of June, for my unconsciously tasting of a tiny cup of wine.

So, I won’t drink / taste any kind of alcohol till June 30th of this year.
At least, I totally learned something from this event.
Law Makers should not be Law Breakers.

Picture: http://www.bouge.ca/img/law-school.jpg

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Book Discussion: Beauty and Sadness


I. Introduction
Beauty and sadness is kind of literature, which catering to aesthetic enjoyment and
pleasure indeed. In this novel, readers have the opportunity to learn about the deeper and broader meanings of the words, such as love, hate, sex, intimacy, marriage, family, young, old, art and so on. Moreover, the positive and negative parts of love; similarities and differences between love and intimacy; interesting relationships between old and young, single and married, different sexes and same sexes, also could be fondly explored in this book.


II. Main Characters
Oki Toshio:
He is key character of the story. Oki is a novelist who became well-known with the book, which has ordinary and straightforward name – ‘A Girl of Sixteen.’ He is a married man and has two children; Taichiro and Kumiko. Oki fell in love with a teenage girl, Otoko who gets pregnant but the child was not born. Oki also has intimacy with Keiko, an artist who is a pupil and roommate of Otoko. Any part of the story is related with Oki Toshio as one way or another.
Ueno Otoko: Otoko is a teen girl who is the lover of married man, Oki Toshio. She is main shadowed character of the book, ‘A Girl of Sixteen.’ She grown up in Tokyo but later moved to Kyoto and becomes an artist. She has a pupil and roommate, Keiko. After Otoko moves to Kyoto, she has several opportunities to get marriage but she stay as a single artist, lives together with Keiko.
Keiko: Keiko is a young female artist who is a pupil and roommate of Ueno Otoko. Actual relationship between Otoko and Keiko is more than the relationship between roommates, or, more than the relationship between pupil and teacher, or, more than the relationship between friends. Keiko strangely but deliberately tries to revenge on Oki and his family, for her teacher, lover, Otoko. She tries to have sexual relationships with both of Oki and his son, Taichiro. It is assumed that she did something dastardly in Taichiro’s death in the water, while they are boating.
Fumiko: She is novelist Oki’s legal wife. They have two children, Taichiro and Kumiko. Fumiko is some intelligent and she has sharp intuition about the relationships, especially for her husband, Oki’s. She knows unseen, but real stories of Oki. Because of children and family ties, she lives as Oki’s wife, but with sadness and doubts. She lives her whole life in darkness with unclear feelings and trusts.
Taichiro: Son of Oki Toshio and Fumiko. He is some educated person. He introduced with Keiko when she came to visit at his father, Oki. Later, Taichiro has intimacy with Keiko when he visits in Kyoto. He dies in the water, while he is boating together with Keiko.
Kumiko: Daughter of Oki and Fumiko. After she graduates from the university, married with somebody from London and she moves and lives there.


III. Opinion and Analysis
Love, especially sex is like a fire. When we use it in the right and appropriate way, it works fantastically and creates beautiful lives with win-win conditions. If we practice it in the wrong and unsuitable way, it makes blunders dramatically and generates lose-lose situation. At the same time, when we have enough chance and condition to control or avoid the touch between different sexes is very tough. Since then, people often fell in love; have the wrong intimacy or immoral sexes, and it also often produces worse consequences. Sometimes, it destroys certain persons’ lives. Sometimes, it destroys society and morality of human being. That could probably be theme of this book, ‘Beauty and Sadness,’ which Yasunari Kawabata primarily wants to give us.
The protagonist of this story, Oki who is a married man with two children has the immoral sex with a teenage girl till that girl gets pregnant. Love and attachment between the old man and teenage girl destroy lives, trusts, truths, clear feelings, respects of all family members of both sides. All lives are buried in darkness.
The unborn child of Oki and Otoko dies. Otoko’s family has to move to the different place. Otoko’s mother gets psychological suffering from it, till she dies. Otoko, by herself gets huge pain from it. Oki, by himself also has to live with the lies for the rest part of his life and could never trust by himself because we all know firstly - which is right and which is wrong; which is real and which is fake; which is true and which is lie, before we practice it over someone. He could not have true enjoyment and clear feeling and thinking in his life, after he makes the wrong sex, because that black shadow is following him in his mind and heart, all the time, as a backlash of its consequences. Fumiko, Oki’s wife is living with pain for the whole her life. Keiko, the pupil and roommate of Otoko is also mentally ill with Otoko’s life and untold feelings. Even she decides to take a revenge for her teacher, and she really does. Taichiro, Oki’s son has to give his life as part of consequences of it.


IV. Conclusion
Beauty and Sadness; Sweet and Suffer; Short Term Gain for Long Term Pain.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year 2009!


We left 2008, which had both of cheers and tears.
We are eagerly entering into the 2009, which also will have both of Ups and Downs.
My Dear Friend,
Be more Ups, rather than Downs!
Be more Cheers, rather than Tears!
Be more Happiness, rather than Sadness!
Be more Lightness, rather than Darkness!
Be more Prosperous, rather than Poorness!
Be more Peaceful, rather than Hullabaloo!
Be more Equalitism, rather than Unilateralism!
Happy New Year 2009!

My New Year resolutions?
Only three things.
Free Alcohol in January, February, March and April of 2009.
I will try to be more a doer, rather than a sayer.
I will post some Arakanese pages in this blog.
Thanks and again; Happy New Year 2009!


Picture: http://westpalmbeach.com/activities/images/2009-calendar.gif