Independence Day of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Today is the Independence Day of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo gained her independence on June 30, 1960 from Belgium.

Official Name: Democratic Republic of the Congo (former name – Zaire)

Area: 905,564 sq miles. (2,345,410 sq. km)

Cities: Capital – Kinshasa; major cities – Lubumbashi (Elizabethville); Mbuji-Mayi (Bakwanga); Kananga (Luluabourg); Kisangani (Stanleyville)
Population: 62.6 million (UN, 2007)

Religions: 50% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant, 10% Kimbanguist, 10% Muslim, 10% other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs
Languages: French (official), Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba

Type of Government: dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government

GDP: $ 40.67 billion (2005 est.)

Monetary Unit: 1 Congolese = 100 centimes
President: Joseph Kabila

Internet domain: .cd

International Dialing Code: +243

Official Web Pages: http://www.presidentrdc.cd/

Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1076399.stm
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/

The New York Times Almanac 2007

Picture:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/mz-flag.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/cg-flag.html
http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/images/photos/photo_lg_demrepcongo.jpg

Congratulations – Spanish Team!

Today, I was watching the European Cup 2008 final match.
Before the match was started, I was thinking Germany could win in this match because German Team is one of the tops in the world and they are just like ‘host’ in Austria.
Each player of German team was good but not enough in team work.
Most players in Spanish team were young, fresh and could run very fast with soccer skill. And yet, they owned such a great team work!
Congratulations!

Picture: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport

P.S: I have a clip of video of this match and I will post it in soon. Thanks!

Independence Day of Mozambique

Today is the Independence Day of Mozambique. Mozambique gained her independence on June 25, 1975 from Portugal.

Official Name: the Republic of Mozambique

Area: 309,404 sq miles. (801,590 sq. km)

Cities: Capital – Maputo
Population: 21.4 million (UN, 2007)

Religions: 50% Indigenous beliefs, 30% Christian, 20% Muslim
Languages: Portuguese (official), Indigenous Languages

Type of Government: Republic

GDP: $ 23.4 billion (2004 est.)

Monetary Unit: metical (plural – meticais) (1 metical = centavos)
President: Armando Emilio Guebuza

Internet domain: .mz

International Dialing Code: +258

Official Web Pages: http://www.mozambique.mz/

Sources:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1063120.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/

The New York Times Almanac 2007

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/mz-flag.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/mz-flag.html
http://www.tagasafaris.co.za/images/mozambique-resorts-matemo-island-pic1.jpg

The Strength

Today, I am reading one of the Buddha’s teaching books.
The following is some translation from the book about the ‘Strength’ as much as I understand. Sometimes, you may interpret 'strength' as 'power.' And sometimes you also may interpret 'is' as 'depend on.' Enjoy with the reading and it is good to find it out – what is your strength?

The Strength of a baby is ‘crying.’
The Strength of a woman is ‘anger.’
The Strength of a rebel is ‘weapon.’
The Strength of a government is ‘rule.’
The Strength of a wise man is ‘sense.’
The Strength of a knowledgeable person is ‘consideration.’
The Strength of a religious person is ‘tolerance.’
The Strength of a foolish man is ‘blaming.’


Picture: http://www.crmvet.org/crmpics/fist.jpg

Meanings of the Given Names (K)

Karen = Pure

People often ask me - what does my name mean?Sometimes, I also ask the others 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 (K)

Karl: (Germanic) Manly
Keith: (Gaelic) The wind; woods
Kelvin: (Celtic) Warrior friend
Kenneth: (Celtic) Handsome or comely
Kent: (Old English) Open country
Kermit: (Celtic) God of arms
Kerwin: (Germanic) Love, friend
Kevin: (Celtic) Handsome birth
Kirby: (Germanic) Village with a church

Women’s Names (K)

Karen: (Greek-Danish) Pure
Karla: (Germanic) Man
Katharine, Kathleen: (Greek) Pure
Kay: (Greek, Latin) Pure; rejoicing
Kirsten: Latin) Christian


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

Picture: http://www.visionpublicationsltd.com/catalog/images/pure.jpg

Independence Day of Kuwait

Today is the Independence Day of Kuwait. Kuwait gained her independence on June 19, 1961 from the United Kingdom.

Official Name: State of Kuwait
Area: 6,880 sq miles. (17, 820 sq. km)
Cities: Capital – Kuwait City, Other cities – Salmiya, Hawalli, Faranawiya, Abraq Kheetan
Population: 2.9 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: Muslim 85%, (30% Shi’a, 70% Sunni), 15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other.
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Type of Government: nominal constitutional monarchy
GDP: $ 48 billion (2004 est.)
Monetary Unit: Kuwaiti dinar (1 dinar = 1000 fils)
Emir: Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah
Internet domain: .kw
International Dialing Code: +965
Official Web Pages:
http://www.moc.kw/
http://mall.gov.kw/beta1/index.html
http://www.majlesalommah.net/


Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/791053.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/
The New York Times Almanac 2007

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

Happy Father’s Day: A Chair of A Founding Father

This is a chair of George Washington, founding father of the United States. I took this picture in the St. Paul’s Church of New York where Washington was worshipping. When he came to the church, he sat on this chair, according to the note.

George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. He was born on February 22, 1732 at Fredricksburg, Virginia and died on December 14, 1799 at Mount Vernon, Virginia. Washington was an excellent horseman and Commander in Chief who married a wealthy widow, mother of two children.

George Washington was the president of the United States for two terms. Although the American public encouraged him to seek a third term, he refused to run again.

During the General Henry Lee’s speech, “Funeral Oration Upon George Washington,” Lee claimed that Washington was “a citizen first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

My dear reader,
Please allow me to take a photo of your chair, too, as a historical heritage of your village, of your community, of your state, of your country, of our world and universe, at least - of your family.

Happy Father’s Day!!!

New York! New York! New York! Watering Taxi Makes me to miss Arakan

(I took some pictures at New York, city of the cities, during our trip in May 2008 and I will write the picture stories of the trip in this series. Thanks!)

While I was watching this view with a water taxi in New York, the phenomenon made my mind to visit to my homeland, the Arakan where I was born and lived till I was a high school student.

Arakan has many streams and rivers, especially the streams. Boats and ships can be very commonly found in the Arakan land where I left almost twenty years ago.

With miss to my grandma, mom, dad, brothers and sisters, friends and RaKhaing Pray!

New York! New York! New York! Company Names in Old Style

(I took some pictures at New York, city of the cities, during our trip in May 2008 and I will write the picture stories of the trip in this series. Thanks!)

At New York, you also can find these kinds of company names in old style, probably 16th / 17th century style.

It is good to maintain historical matters.

Politics for all

Politics is a hope
Politics is a future
Politics is a dream
Politics is an art of state-building

Politics is for freedom
Politics is for self-determination
Politics is for democracy
Politics is for a dignity of all people

Without human beings
There is no politics
Any political problem created by people
Can be solved by people

One man one vote
All are decision makers
Everyone is leader

Working together
Collective activity is a real people power

Difference is beauty
Tolerance is a culture of polity



Nyi Nyi Htwe
31.5.2008


Picture: http://blog.nau.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/art_politics.jpg