Man's Best Friend

Reminiscence for White

2009-07-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

It’s a reminiscence of a poor dog, which has truly shapes my thought about the life of stray, either a cat or a dog, they’re about facing the same fate in their entire life – they fear to hungry, they fear about the weather, they fear when they sick, and they fear from getting caught of all time. Thus, survive might be an only term rather than live a life mean to these homeless creatures, when fear has becoming the dominator throughout their life.

Occasionally, there is a picture reminds me the moment where a stray dog that would run by silent houses and pass over unmoving cars in the quiet night whenever she saw me ridding my bike in the way back to my home. Such a delightful greet had became a fixture along this particular street that spring out every night. And she was the first one that fills the gap and reshapes my emotion after a whole day long I sank under the work pressure. With her ears perked backward while she is chasing me, and took a bow after arrived at the gate which told me that she was ready to play. Soon, there came my two pooches to join the game without hesitantly and then they started out “talking” to each other, and soon, my neighborhoods dog would cut in their “conversation” and paws “meeting” will heat up just right…

…back to the old days…

…she wanders down the street since she was a puppy, in search of narrow places where rusty bowl might have dropped a morsel or two for her hasty dinner. But whatever the place is, she was compelled to let loose her dinner to other dogs which outsized her. All she can do was to starving aside and wait for another lucky day to strike. Without a charming looks and lacked of the shinning fur, her destiny was wretched, and many strays were share the same fate in the rest of their life. Not too long, her body was ridden with fleas, and in turn, scratching and biting of self-mutilation will become the cause for any damages that she did on herself. As the remainder of her life, pain and itchy will relentless to leave the scars itself on her body from time to time.

However, the real nightmare was sent after her when the time she went matured and comes into the heat cycle. A large pack of male dogs that lead by a huge size of alpha male appeared from nowhere and marched beside her as she was the Queen who got protected during some sort of drill, though, it wasn’t that magnificent. Those eyeballs would just keep close in any direction that she would move to, without lose any chance that their sex drive urged them to do so. I believe such a scene was common to witness in any places that full with strays. But one might actually feel her place within the pack wasn’t safe or even her life got threaten after the alpha male set in motion, where he won’t let she stay away from the pack, even for a second. Whenever she went somewhere out of sight at the pack, she got bitten by the alpha male as the warning.

Because of her body size was too small for the alpha male led the mating couldn’t be successful. Whilst, the alpha male wouldn’t let other males taking a chance either, and it seems none of the rest would take any step further as the price itself has already named by their pack leader. For few nights when the moon is the highest in the sky, her crying sounds along with moaning howls has waken the silence over the lonely night. Spontaneous empathy for her shiftless defense would form immediately in anyone who heard its hail of yelped, which cannot help but only prayed to nature for its better course.

She wasn’t in good shape after the stubbornness treat by the mafia-like alpha male. Her neck was bitten severely and blood stains were spotted all over her body where it concludes me the existence of “bad guy” among the animal couldn’t be denied and I was never thought this is the manner should an on heat female dog that supposed to end up with. But her journey wasn’t wholly rough, as one of my neighbors has taken care for her wounded area with some sympathetic support.

In wandering around and waiting for any left dishes that she might found, her stomach was catching my attention while she passed by my house. Oooh…she was pregnant!! Whenever she walked by my place, we’ll gave her a bowl or two of food and water to fueled her up. But heated arguments often threw by others regarding the righteous of social feeding. Their main concern was the increasing of stray population that will never curb if we insist on feeding them. In fact, as the Nomadic hunter as it were their brother in the wild, their reputable survival skill will keep them moving in order to survive if no more food is being offered. If say, they can no longer having anything eatable should the law of restraint of stray feeding would be enforced one day, then their fate is sealed and the tendency of dog eat dog will be happen, and the weakest will be starve to death.

It’s not just an assumption in illustrating the consequences of the cause but a true occurrence which taking place at Pulau Ketam, Malaysia on May this year where money has been spent to grease the palms of local resident in a dog catching project by the local management. The residents had become dogcatchers after every single stray dog on the island and up to 400 had been trapped and sent to a deserted island. It was said to provide these four-footed fellows an uninhabited island as their new home as well as for their freedom. There is nothing around except fish they could hunt for their hunger, but dog always have problem to eat fish and even some of them are never can. Few of them weren’t survived upon this savage ground, they died; for those survived, has only left skeleton beneath their skin. But the hardest part of the test is they needed to feed with carcass among themselves further for not being fell down – God will never ask them to survive this way in nature, but human did. Whosever plan was this, it implies the moral depravity with a kindness excuse masking an ugly thought behind. The man who raised the idea should be put to shame for his responsibility to these inhumane acts that going to have few hundred of innocent souls perish indirectly. Was this scenario…an only option in control the population of strays that the best our mankind can have to the name of animal welfare?

Every day after two months later, she was punctually stopped by at my house in hoping her dinner will be prepared ever since her delivery. But sadly we could never locate her den for the puppies after all. By looking at her wagging tail and its laid-back tongue every time she responded to her meal, we thought she was paid up her due and ready for another new chapter of life. Initially we had planned for her neuter surgery which should happen two months later after her delivery. Unfortunately, she couldn’t wait until the day to come as the God of death has lent His hand through our local authority to cast the death execution upon her. After that call, we no longer share the joy with this regular visitor and the fixture of greeting has been broken into pieces that couldn’t be fixed anymore. Why the relevant authorities must conducted the shot and kill to stray dogs and cats in minimizing its number of population, for Pete’s sake?

They neither pleased to wander nor rummage of the residential area if they’re never left behind with no option. On the contrary, the owners that intended to leave their dogs to its fate by loose leash and stuffed them onto street was unlikely to get blamed but their dogs instead will be charged for the punishment that so cruelty to them they need to undergoes. How ironic our society may be about the conception of humanity as we defined when we failed to distinguish between the genuine “payer” who issued the “rubber cheque” and the innocent “payee” whom the cheque will go to within this simple logic. I’m not throwing dirt against the relevant authorities just because of my personal judgment nor did they shot the stray dog that I fed for a period, however, it was indeed our human created problem.

As a matter of fact, we should responsible to the cause after our reason. By implementing the ATIGARO project, we can slow down the exponential growth rate of the population and in turn, we will able to halt the mass reproduction globally. And in doing so, we’ll see things through rose-colored glass where the value of all mundane object has come to equal and answer that evaluate from this equation will enlightens us about the respect and care a stray life deserved when we come to understand the plight of a human who lived with no home. With the best outcome that this project might turn out to be is we can mark down the line of animal euthanasia which seems inevitable for them with a firm full stop.

The first man started in this milestone was a Buddhist monk, Phra Atigaro who used to be a successful Malaysian businessman that gave up all his assets and commit to make the difference in strays concern in Phuket Island. Dr. Alison Montgomery continue to pursue his noble cause with a much more effective way to help these homeless strays after Atigaro had passed away. The strongly-held value in restoring the basic rights for these sentient creatures in continue living under the healthy condition while we have the need in confronting their amount in the man-made city, which is the core of this project that could make the world a better place down the road.

To outreach efforts on this long-term basis solution to this long-term man-made problem, we need participation from everyone in the entire world. I sincerely hoping that all nations, any relevant authorities and every one of us would come along to cherish and protect these creatures that known for their notorious loyalty and selfless love with tremendous compassion that had been domesticated by human since 13,000 years ago. Let’s hope…with gather our boundless passion, align toward one purpose, and endure with persistence throughout, will harmoniously give these survivals a lift and perhaps, strive to end the stray poverty in someday.

Guner

Here are the links where you could make the difference in animal welfare:

Pulau Ketam - http://www.adriantai.com/stray-dogs-on-pulau-ketam/
ATIGARO project - http://www.thaiwave.com/atigaro/
World Society for the Protectio of Animals (WSPA) - http://www.wspa-usa.org/

"Uninvited Second life"

2009-05-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Online games were getting popular and became the hottest (I bet it was!) activity for today’s young who just can easily tap into it with their home computer connected to the internet or sitting around in cybercafé with only a few bucks to pay after. It is something that has been seen in the mainstream like daily newspaper, magazine, radio and etc. Was this kind of new “stuff” that arouses many young’s interest could be encouraging in their life or sort of serious matters that lie behind the fascinated graphics which might ruin away their real world instead?

While entering into the virtual world, one would really enjoy the connection among all cyber friends and a fantasy world that could not be found in the world we inhabit. You may not interest into a specific online game if you wasn't get the hang with it and stood as an outsider; but for whom I ever played with in last 3 years were telling me the fact that they couldn’t stand for the temptation calls, and made them fall into line just like a soldier who cease to disobey orders in all times. In fact, I’m one of the "soldiers" too…

For nearly 1 month, I've played an online game and I thought I was the one who controlled it but in fact, I was been controlled unconsciously and have no day and night in that period. Believe it or not I was eating and sleeping in my computer room everyday and even unwillingly to leave my computer desk for a short bath. Oh my…!! Yet I sensed the worrier from my parent despite their silence but still it deters me from stepping out of my virtual world. For God sake, I can’t access to the game once due to its server down after playing 1 month long and I believe the proper word to describe me at that time was “zombie” which could only fit my condition. Then a question had just knock off my head after I was so desperately tried to login to the game. “What was it like when the server of that game would shutdown in one day no matter how well I’d been there?” I asked. Apparently, NONE! There was nothing left behind regardless how much energy, time, money and everything that I’ve invested into it and all were end up ZERO for the return, nothing but only regret, perhaps. Gee! It’s likely a big slap that made me awaked from a never ending dream…

I guess I was blessed enough to able to get rid as a hardcore online gamer after that moment. But some people have their life ruined after for the cause of curiosity to try. It was a very sad story when a mother of 26 years old boy whom saw her brilliant and good child was to be turning into another stranger that only lives in the virtual world. In my opinion, there was no difference in a way to a mother who saw her children walking on the path as a drug addict in the real world. None of us should under estimated or overlooked the capable threat that might deliver from the online games as it could change to digital drug into one’s life if one couldn’t find the will to resist it whenever he wants to. We’re fighting against drugs criminal in the real world over centuries and still we’re seeing so many innocent life that just vapor once they’re contacted with drugs; and now, we should be cautious for not being puppet to the company that toying us with just the sake of money making that spread globally.

Please bear in mind that the likelihood of a company that creating and shutting down the different games once at a time for just to make money from yours is possible in the current world. But it still has positives concern to some reason apart from the facts that mentioned above. However, you’re more than welcome if you treat your games no matter online or offline as merely an activity to goof with your friends or even your family. Anyway, practice to take some times to predict the consequences of the cause and you won’t stay off the right track of where you are.

Guner

Another Ice Age?

2008-09-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hurricane IKE...horrible damage...hits Galveston Island on September 13!

After trying to recover the impact of three prior 2008 system, Fay, Gustav and Hanna...IKE strikes US again with its deadly speed. It is estimate that 27 billion USD had taken away by IKE, it will be the fourth costliest Atlantic hurricane and third costliest US hurricane of all time, behind both Hurricane Andrew of 1992 and Hurricane Katrina of 2005 - from Wikipedia.

Year 2008 has to be the most disaster happening year that I ever see...check out the disaster LIST here !!

Why is the Mother Nature for being so relentless to us...? Oh wait...or we are the one should us blame to...These are the consequences of exhausting the resources from our Mother earth in the jet-like speed whilst ONLY few of them has snail-like moving in the replant progress.

But let's not forget about the global warming, as it had became a major issues that causes the climate goes wrong insanely all over the world in this century. In fact, the impact of global warming are underestimated, it turn all the four elements of natural world which known as air, fire, earth and water into maladjustment with its exponential curve. As the news reported, lives that live on the surface of Arctic get threaten by the fragile of the iceberg as temperature rise.

A young polar bear is sitting in the brown tundra without SNOW in sight...they are just wandering around the tundra, hungry and sleepy. As soon as the weather turns cooler the bears got more active and excited. The problem of global warming affect the ice arrives later and leaves earlier.

This means that the polar bears have to wait longer till they can start feeding again and they have to swim further to reach shore again as well as their hunting season is shorted and the 'non eating period' became longer after the end of the winter. It is a very sad story and it shows clearly the impact of global warming in the Arctic and the fate of all lives that habitat in it. Let's hope we could find a way to keep them alive before they are extinct.

But how sadly is that many of us would not take this matter too personally! People would start argue that they couldn't makes any significant changes even they start cycling instead of motoring, saving some electricity, or consume meat less meal and all in all, they are too TINY to adapt these small changes to untie the chain of global warming. Honestly, I thought the same fact in the earlier day as well. But it prove me wrong...if all the people in every nations decided to work together, imagine ONLY one single dollar from everyone, there would be an enormous collection in the end of these one single dollars addition.

Mainly, the emission of greenhouse gases had going uncontrollably due to great growth of industry and human activity increases. This has to be taken seriously and quickly ahead the hidden risk that coming in, while still effective. You might question on what you could do for greenhouse gases in reduce your personal carbon emission...great! Here are few things we can do about it: Save energy-try to turn off the electricity whenever it is not needed; Limit waste-which mean recycle, reduce and reuse of all possible material in everyday life; Vegetarian-what...? Indeed, report shows that total 18 percent of global warming emission comes from raising animals for food, so this is the simplest and elemental things that you can do to help reduce the emission and even take meat less meal everyday do the difference though; Go carbon neutral-walking, cycling, etc. We certainly can't fix the emission in overnight, but if we make up these small changes in everyday living, the result will show up slowly. And please don't forget the changes we make could ever affect our next generation and the polar bear destiny.

After 4 years the crashed of Asia Tsunami, the phase of recovery and rescontruction in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia still carried out until today through one of the primary support which is Tzu Chi Foundation. Master Zheng Yen was a founded of Tzu Chi Foundation and she had very persistence in her motto which is "instructing the rich and saving the poor". Over forty years, Tzu Chi had shoulder the burden of poverty over people by people, family to family, even reach nations, and today, their LOVE had reached wherever the places that needed help. Many people had sever from suffering because of her guidance and enlighten. In DaAi TV, she always emphasized one of the chinese proverb: "As the water can float a boat, so can it capsize it", to interpret of the four elements that giving life to every single being on the earth, so it could destroy any of them as well. Disaster that happened lately like, Cyclone Nargis that landfall in Myanmar on May that caused the worst catastrophic destruction; summer 2008 California wildfire which causes many home were lost; nine days after Nargis strikes, China faces the heaviest earthquake that reach 7.9 magnitude in Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan Provinces, several aftershock that destroyed more than 70000 houses; after one month, southern china had the worst flooding in 50 years that wipe away acres of crop and kills over 60 people. Were it all the aftermaths that condemn by the angry world? The way we dirtily the water, polluted the air, illegal disafforestation for crazy money making...and now we shouldn't complaint to all the sudden death disaster before any self-questioning make ahead!!

In the end, there is a wise quote from Master Zheng Yen which must be stickey it, she said "Stupendous disaster should have caution consciousness". It still not too late to aware these messages that telling us how SICK is our earth right now...before the arrival of another ICE AGE!!

Guner

But i have promises to keep, and miles to go before i sleep.

2008-09-19T07:31:00.001-07:00

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Here is the great review from Heather Ray.
And thanks a lot for find me the full poem, Bill!

They're getting older....

2008-09-13T00:43:00.000-07:00

Already two years from now, but there's an impression still left deeply in my mind, which is something I was incapable to change but could only watch it happened. I still remember that day, I've read an article that talks about parents, in that moment, and it reminds me how hard my parents were bring-up four of us all the way until today.

In today's world that full with technology, some of the grand old man had left behind and were not capable to catch up most of the equipment that integrate with electronic, mechanical, and computer technology. Sometimes, they don't know how to slow down the volume of the television, and they ask for our help. And sometimes, they ask us for help to set the alarm clock at the mobile phone that we buy for them. Yet, they still need our assistance in helping to tune their favorite radio channel all the times.

Please do not feel even a single bother to help them out whenever they needed. Don't mind to use a little of your time to comfort them when they're lost in this high-edge society. Just try to think back how are they sacrifice their priceless time to comfort us when our diapers are wet; how they rush us to the clinic or even hospital without a single querimony when we're endanger; how hard they've work in the rest of their life time just for our welfare. All of these selfless efforts from our very kind parents seem had forgotten by most of the posterity today.

If this article resumes some of the reminiscence that you had left for sometimes, I would be very glad! If there is a long period that you never heed upon them, it would be good for you to keek them for a while NOW. You will notice they had already white-headed, you even can observe it from far! They're getting older...and older...which is something I couldn't change upon this law of nature. And the only thing I can do is try to spare more time with them; comply their little requests, listen to their kindly advice, and talk to them. You probably know that, most of our grand old man was feel loneliness almost in their time. Especially our very own parents....

Everday that passes, is a day they get closer, to leaving us...Please spare some of a little time from your busy schedule to accompany them while they are still here...even if only a 5 minutes talking with them.

Guner

Is not merely a game!

2008-09-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

I've come across this game, Professor Fizzwizzle and the Molten Mystery after it published to the public that nearly 1 year old. Is a bit late, I know! And this review is coming late after 1 year as well...but I can't take this as an excuse to lose my faith to review this great game that I ever played! So...tight up your seat belt, we're going to explore the core in this game.

Here is the review by Michael Scarpelli, posted on Friday August 03, 2007 which I found his superb works to described all the cool stuff in this clever, stupendous, and ingenious puzzle game that I never seen before. For sure, I'm not going to cover again for what had already reviewed by Micheal. Complying with modern science and simple physic in this puzzle game, with few magnets, crates, barrels and the utmost amazing teleports feature, you might found it how tricky, wacky and amazing in every puzzles that carefully design by all the game designers. Beside all the cool gadgets and stuff, with the combination of some variation tricks, skills and I like the most (but only sometimes), timing feature, it makes some puzzle became much harder which I can't describe them in words. You'll never know how the curry taste is although I keep telling you how spicy it was...does it make sense?

"The review is too short!! You still want more?? Yes, I still have more!!" The best of the rest in this game is it had a built-in level editor, which is you can design your very own simple look yet complex puzzles, and submit it to a designated website which all the players around the world are able to download and play it. Currently, total of the levels that had submitted from all of the players around the world were more than 1700 puzzles. And the levels does gear for all the ages which were; 'Kids' friendly levels for kids, 'Easy' simple puzzles for players who would like to take a break, 'Regular' elegant design yet complex solution for those who want a deeper challenge, and the 'Advanced' insane difficulty for those hardcore brainteaser gamers. Moreover, CEO of the Grubby Games and one of the designer to this game, Ryan Clark; had given away many free games to the winners who had participate in the particular contests that held in the forum itself. Indeed, there were few great fellow judges who decide which levels make it in to the Hall Of Fame in every month, which is the best of the best user-made levels that had submitted!! You won't believe how good the contest was once you see it with yourself. Trust me, because I am one of the forums resident.

We had come to this far, include the review by Micheal, and do you still think that it is just merely a game? We had all ages players from the entire world; include a 7 year's old little boy who did submit a custom levels that created by himself. If you have children's that keen to learn or you had a hard time to teach them use their little brain works, then this is what the best game I would recommend to you to educate them. Believe me, they will learn through the passage of this game and all in all, they're having a very good chance to practice their creativity, imagination and their analytical skills. So, this is not merely a game, but it is a great education material as well.

In the conclusion, I would rate it 9.6, 'untouchable' out of 10 for this game. Okay, don't trust me, but trust yourself; give yourself a chance to download the demo for 60 minutes play time. Like Micheal said, this game is truly fit for a whole family and it will not disappoint. Thanks to Ryan and his teams for brought us this brilliant, small game that ever made.

Guner

Where's the justice?

2008-09-11T14:11:00.001-07:00

Is more than a month now, we yet still felt bad about the incident that strikes us with no REASON. It happened on Saturday, August 9, 2008, the time was around 8.35pm. My brother was driving alone in the busy night street. Suddenly, he heard the siren from an ambulance that far away from behind. Of course, all the cars on that street had to pull aside temporary to give away a lane for the ambulance, and there was no exceptional for my brother too neither for any driver who was there that time.

After the ambulance had drive away, all the cars and motorcycles were back to normal. And my brother starts to drive towards to home. Suddenly, there's a motorcycle follow my brother's car and started to kick the car door. That time, my brother told me that he was totally in shock and keeps driving the car to a place that flood with people to seek for help. That moment, he was about to get rid from the attacker and all but to hit the tree beside the roadway. For the God sake, he was able to avoid that accident to be happened.

When he reaches the place that full of people, the attacker which is an Indian, uses his motorcycle (PDY 9263) to blocked my brother's car right in front of the Pusat Rawatan Dialisis Foyi-NKF (unit II) Lintang Hijau 11600 Penang. Guess what? He then took out a BATON (a weapon that use by our resident policemen) and started to hit my brother's car for no reason. Moreover, he was so dreadful to tried to get my brother out off the car while the door was in locked....he then shouted to all the people who was in the scene, said "He was blocking me just to allow the ambulance to passed by!" Apparently, this is the most idiot reason that I ever heard in my life time! After the car suffered more than 10 hits, he then finally ran away.

What?? No one at that place offer for help, even dial 999!! Because I saw there were no any police car arrive after the incident. Where is the justice? Where is the conscience? I had much doubt about the so called humanitarianism in today's society. I would dare to say, if my dog had come along with my brother that time, she will definitely ready for help, at least to bark the attacker. Please don't say that this is none of your business, because you might need the same kind of help in one day too! The earth is round, what goes around comes around. Try to judge it!

Guner

And these are the few shots we've taken from our poor car.

Save the DOG!

2008-09-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Once a while, I still remember that I and my brother were having a jogging in the park that near to my house. Not surprising, the watch was showing 7.30pm already after we jog for a while, and we're ready on the way back to home. Just the second we want to cross over the road, suddenly we saw a stray dog that lies on the roadway. We then quickly rush ahead to him (I will not call them 'it' anyway), he then stare on us with his helpless body. We found out he actually get hit by the vehicle and fell down. We straightly carry him to our nearest vet without any doubt.

The moment when I pull out my hand to him, he actually knew that we're here to help him. He didn't show out his bare teeth, never ever groan, the only one thing I knew is I have to rush up to the vet quickly. While on the run, we're keep exchange to carried him when either one had exhausted. His weight was more than 20kg I think. Finally, we can't hold him to the vet for being too exhausted, we just put him on the ground and I quickly rush up to the vet to call for help.

Someone is riding a motor here and get him up slowly. And all of us were rush to the vet as fast as we can. Luckily, he had reached the vet and had the veterinarian for urgent check up. Guess what?? The veterinarian told me that the dog had serious injuries that cause the entire organs already ruin up. He then told me that "We can only do animal euthanasia for it." We're feeling so bad for why the veterinarian did not try as much as he can before him saying this....honestly, I would happy to pay the bill if the dog able to save and cure. I am very fed up with that irresponsible driver who hit the dog and ran away!! I'm sure you have the same feeling as well. Please help 'them' as much as you can whenever 'they' need the help...
Try to stand on their shoes and think again!!

Guner