WATER ON MARS

WATER ON MARS

September 30, 2015

The world is seriously excited this week as NASA confirmed that there is water on planet Mars, even if only saltwater, and even if it happens only during summer when the ice caps on its tallest mountains melt. 

My initial reaction was, WOW, just like Earth, Mars is also undergoing warming sometimes, as in Mars-ial warming like our global warming.  I am not sure whether this is a new phenomenon though because Mars before was believed to be completely ice-covered due to a very thin atmosphere, or whether just discovered only now when the Probe and our satellite are at their closest to the planet for the first time ever.

If a new phenomenon, then that would mean that it is true that the Sun is still in midlife and is still undergoing an increase in temperature and intensity as a star, as opposed to its cooling when it starts to die.  That should ease up on all the pressure and blame the greenhouse gases get from environmentalists, when we realize that the warming Earth experiences is not only caused by an internal (within our atmosphere) factor, but outside too (the ever-increasing magnitude and strength of ultraviolet rays the Sun so graciously throws our way).

If just discovered only now, could it be possible that these waters be treated to be potable, like what the relief agencies did after Super-typhoon Haiyan when it treated the seawaters in Leyte in order to give drinking water rations to the survivors?  However, as compared to the millions of dollars spent for the seawater treatment equipment used in natural disasters here on earth, the cost to treat the seawaters in Mars could run in the trillions of trillions, naturally covering from materials, to construction and assembly, to logistics. Whew! Living in an ordinary city surely costs a lot, how much more living large within the solar system?

A friend asked if anybody could live there? I said practically no because of the lack of oxygen.  Sure, some oxygen is trapped in the ice but the one in the atmosphere is very small and could not support the quantity needed for normal living.  If we go by his dream of someday going to live there for good, he would bring huge containers of oxygen tanks, not to mention tons and tons of food and agricultural materials and implements, and all the necessary metallic elements in order to build a house-and-garden-bubble.  Science fiction at its most horrific scenario.

But as a Christian, I believe the Bible which says that all of GOD’s creation were made for HIS people.  And I truly believe that includes all the planets in all the solar systems within the Milky Way, Andromeda and all the trillions of galaxies within the expanding Universe.  This would be the real stuff of dreams, to be able to live somewhere in a wonderfully-better-than-Earth planet, in the farthest regions trillions of light years away within the ever-growing and expanding Universe.  As long as GOD is there and my loved ones will be there too, that will be true paradise.

BELLY FATS AND LOVE HANDLES

BELLY FATS AND LOVE HANDLES

September 29, 2015

I have a friend who was self-conscious because her belly fat from her second pregnancy still has not been eliminated even though it has been 3 months since she gave birth.  She is being teased that maybe her husband will leave her for a sexier and younger woman.

I have nothing against sexy women, but only on the word itself.  I understand the word to be somebody who is good with the ACT itself.  In my case who is (unashamedly) single and a virgin, or one who has zero sex life, how can I be sexy? 

But most people associate the word with razor thin women who (as a former boy-friend said) look fierce as models because they literally have nothing to eat and are perpetually hungry. 

I take exception to that.  I admit I have belly fats and love handles, my butt rivals that of J.Lo or Beyonce while my boobs are only frustratingly A-cup, and I am not sexy, but please do not take it to mean that I am less of a woman or somebody who is less desirable because of a plus-sized lower body.  Frankly, I really don’t care if people frown on my more than zero size, because I am proud to be earning a living and showing off to the world that yes, a significant part of my salary goes to the food on the table (no offense meant, but as a joke, does one not wonder why frontline sales people who are earning less than or equal to the minimum wage have smaller waistlines and larger lower legs?).

I give more premium to being healthy (normal blood pressure, no allergies, not easily getting sick, clear skin, able to think clearly and act with responsibility to any given situation), than being presentable in the latest fads.  I am comfortable with my own skin, not only because I know what I am doing but because I am grateful to GOD who perfectly and wonderfully made me.  I may not be perfect in the eyes of people, but when GOD created my first parents who were the prototype of who I am, HE said, IT IS GOOD.  That GOOD was definite and not relative.  It is not subject to changing trends and philosophies, and for that, I am eternally content and grateful.

I would like to tell my friend not to fear if her husband leaves her for a sexier and younger woman because she can find another more handsome and with a job that earns a higher and more secure pay.  However, I would like her to remember instead that she has two adorable kids, priceless gifts and treasures from GOD who need to be inspired and see an example of their mother who is comfortable in her own skin, in order for them to be confident in themselves.

More than being sexy, I believe that that is where the essence of a woman is fully expressed.  In being a good mother, sister, teacher or friend, one who leads the way in showing to others all the good virtues of a godly, responsible, smart and intelligent human person.

TRAFFIC WHISTLE

TRAFFIC WHISTLE

September 28, 2015

A funny incident happened today while I was commuting home from work.  I had a couple of co-passengers who were nursing students.  They were both on the chubby side.  Maybe due to exhaustion, the guy fell asleep leaning on the shoulder of his girlfriend.  As we were about to turn left towards the national highway leading to our town, the jeepney slowed down. The traffic enforcer at the intersection who was standing by the side of the road was also along the side of the jeepney and directly behind the couple, suddenly blew on his whistle startling the guy and literally shaking him up to wakefulness, much to everybody’s mirth.  Hay naku! Moment of PDA interrupted by one unforgettable comic moment. Sometimes life talaga literally catches us unaware. At times we think that we can rest easy, relax and be comfortable in the presence of friends, loved ones and familiar situations, but sadly, some warning or interruption happens that shakes us from our comfort zone and forcefully wakes us.  Not all people are entertained by it though.  Oftentimes, we resist the interruption and the change it brings, not knowing that with vigilance we may be alerted to danger and we may gain the wisdom to know how to do things right.  Sir Ben Franklin cautioned not to give too much to a whistle, and it is one of my lifetime lived-advices. But then in the humdrum of everyday life, I admit I too sometimes forget my goal and veer off the right path.  I need to be checked at times by THE WHISTLE in order to realize where I am lacking and to correct myself.  So indeed, by THE WHISTLE principle, we must learn how to assess the proper value of things, act upon what is right, and be ever aware that though we make mistakes in life, it is never too late to check ourselves and correct our wrongs so we do not continue on the road to perdition and get home safely.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS...092715

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

September 27, 2015

After some hours working on her computer, she stood up and slightly tugged at the drapes on the window. She could see that dusk has set in.  Any moment now and the lights of the house on the opposite side of the street will turn on.

How long has it been since they were neighbours? He doesn’t even talk to her when they pass each other every morning on their way to the morning commute.  Merely a slight nod on the head, and only once to murmur an apology, when they accidentally bumped each other. He seems to be a very busy man, carrying around his laptop bag and seemingly lost in thought as they wait for the traffic light to turn pedestrian-green.

She has been in this neighbourhood for quite some time but apart from the landlady and the grocer down the street, she too doesn’t know anybody that much.  At least the postman would be familiar with her name, when he delivers her magazine subscriptions once a month. It’s like everybody is busy with their lives around her, while she does her work of editing other people’s online stories from home.

Technology is a convenience for her who has a troubled past. After being rejected by her over-achieving family for not being good enough to graduate from high school with flying colors, she worked her way through college by being a student assistant at the community library.  Although she’s not that dumb though, as she enjoys reading, but the lack of encouragement and support from those who should have given them drove her deeper to escape more into the adventures and alternate worlds that fiction and travel books bring.

She turned to look again at the house on the other side of the street.  She heard some laughter on the street and saw that he had company.  There was one man who looks like he may be around the same age as him. Is he an officemate?  There were two ladies too, who looked pretty and chic. Is the woman with light-brown hair his girlfriend, or is it the one with the dark hair? The man opened his door and they all went inside.  Their laughter and singing lasted for some hours until she drifted off to sleep.

-- by Ivy Daluperit Beronilla Lubiano --

GUARDING DOWNTIME

GUARDING DOWNTIME

September 27, 2015

Our guard dog Summer didn’t properly ate breakfast and lunch today, but just sniffed on his food and turned away. Mom and I thought he might have a sore throat from his overnight barking at all the revellers passing by the house during midnight after attending a festive wedding reception. After some gentle stroking on his head, I hand-fed him with biscuits and he started eating eagerly.  Mom also prayed over him and stroked his head. Then, when dinnertime came, he ate with gusto. Sigh! Dogs are just like people. Sometimes our work (in his case, being our very efficient guard dog who roams around the house all night and barks strongly and loudly with a warning at all passersby) exhausts us to no end.  We all just need a little rest and downtime to get our zest back for life.  We also need the understanding of those who love us, and their gentle care and affection, for us to remain strong and steadfast.  Perhaps because his girlfriend is pregnant, Summer is already a father as of this moment, not to mention the Big Brother who has to protect and instruct and care for Chikay the girl puppy, we sometimes think he is all mature and grown up.  Even if he is already more than 4 feet long from head to tail, still he is young and still needs care and love whenever he feels down and sad.