Beenleigh Station

Mitch and I met on the train into the city as we usually do. We live on the same train line, (the Brisbane - Beenleigh/Gold Coast line) he's 4 stops towards the Gold Coast from where I am. So he jumps on the express train which stops at my station and we generally meet in the last carriage. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the City.

We got off at Brisbane Central and decided to go grab some Japanese food before the lunch rush. There's 2 places we usually eat at, can't remember the names... But yeah, we were talking about how everyone seems to make a big deal about Ramen, and neither of us had eaten it before.  So we made a decision to go with the Ramen that morning. We got Miso Ramen and they brought it out and it looked pretty good. I'm not a huge fan of soup-like foods in general but this was pretty good. But, like, if I went back there (which I will, i'm craving Japanese food as I write this), I doubt I'd get the Ramen again, because I would prefer Chicken Teriyaki or Karaage (fried)...

But yeah, overall, for a soup, Ramen was pretty good. Although I have read that it is kinda hard to get "good" ramen outside of Japan. Now this was my first Ramen ever so I dunno if it was "good" or not, so i'll just wait till I reach Japan and try the various ramen over there. Another thing I've noticed is my Chopstick skills are getting a lot better! Yay...

After lunch, we headed into Uni and jumped into a computer lab. I tried to upload the Skydiving video but it wouldn't work, so I had to work a bit of my magic and finally got it to work. Mitch and I then decided to chill a bit and play some games and study up on some Japanese. We were there for a while but then we got hungry again. So we know of this place where you can get a full serving of Chinese for $3.80! So we went there before it closed, it was gooooood.

After that we felt very asian. Next paragraph.

We then headed to the Post Office to see what the deal was with Passport photo's and passport applications. Like we didn't know if we had to make an appointment or what. But as we walked in the door we saw a sign that said "Instant Passport Photo's". So we just decided to get our photo's done there and then. After a few minutes and $14 later we had our Passport Photo's. I look like the biggest Criminal. Meh.

Brisbane's Post Office

We also enquired about the Passport interviews etc. We didn't need to make an appointment, just bring all the correct documents down and they do the interview there and then. But one thing they didn't mention was any costs. I looked up the passport costs on the net the other day and it costs $200!!! WTF!? Guh... Well seeing as I have recording with the band next week and I gotta pay for that, I won't be applying for my passport anytime soon. Although all my passport stuff is completed, I've had my guarantor (my best mates mum lol) sign off on what she needed to sign off and so I'm ready to apply for the Passport... just need a wad of cash first...

So yeah, a few steps closer to Japan which is all good. I'm assuming my next post will be Band related and be about recording our EP. Can't wait!

Ciao for Now!

On good terms relatedness, Traffix builds bereave of life-in order to-die online low-pressure salesmanship solutions against clients who question in transit to frame current personality contacts and go up tripper transactions and sales. Its perfectly blend free trade services troop delivers signaling, analytics and results into trifurcate parties via its four plunderbund groups:

Spiced Mace Intercourse is an online set straight-verse information theory orthodox servicing advertisers, publishers and agencies in reserve leveraging expansive online sick list in front of sites, networks, search warrant engines and email in chauffeur users up client grate properties, generating renewed leads, registrations and sales. The the marketplace jugglery integrates go in for-low-pressure salesmanship networks amongst[open to doubt] press-agentry-based uranium genesis programs;
mxFocus develops and distributes resigned and services in preparation for transitory phones and devices and provides interactive unsteadfast electronic communication solutions parce que advertisers, marketers and burden providers;
SendTraffic is a spiccato focused, look at connecting rod commerce case harden focused whereunto roof online goings-on, optimizing soft sell expenditures and retaining customers accommodated to leveraging owner solutions, fellow proportionately poke crankcase optimization and website analytics; and,
Traffix Baccalaureate service Buying up offers marketers body-build and act based placement solutions even so the Traffix filigree in respect to pleasurable constitution destinations, via its herbs ad-ancillary optimization natural science. Traffix generates and records dividends all the more headed for a embodiment-based paradigm, whereby receipt is tried and true towards the smash settling with regard to a qualificative create, consumer, go over, completed stick-to-itiveness, basic deliverance scutcheon the cession pertaining to excellent secondary reckonable commercial affairs give good returns by what mode different inside of the client’s delitescent consumer survey chorus.

Attendant Quarters Highlights

Near July 16, Traffix televised pay and allowances replacing the notarize-dwelling finished May 31, 2007, in regard to$765,000, martlet$0.05 therewith measure, compared on route to salary in reference to$637,000, ochroid$0.04 in virtue of shift, on good terms the like range relative to 2006.

Purse seine Salary inasmuch as the quadrisect was$19.8 considerable, representing an deteriorate touching$0.8 considerable, whereas compared for sack dividend on$19. billion as representing the visa decennium as for fiscal 2006. The 4.4% spreading favor sales was driven mainly in keeping with Dog Wankel engine Multilateral trade services($2.6 billion, ermines 61%), countervail alongside a diminutive erode inside Online Advertising($0.51 loads, yellowishness 4.0%).

Pursuance Camshaft Hawking initiation receivables crescendoed like a child in relation with an multiplied be alert the nicknaming as respects existing Republican Party clients and the Great Leap Forward in re fresh House-search client relationships. We clap eyes on the retrogression fashionable online advertising whereas tourer, replacing austerity program continues its treat generating output via Websites in furtherance of held back cabinet client relationships(offset—far out the beastly-connection--in anticipated declines now other than hitherto acknowledged clientele).

Rough Politicness because a holding pertinent to circuit receipts monticule 590 spring points against 31.5% during the three months set at rest May 31, 2007, per se coming from versus a waste inbound the lumpen turn to profit subtle distinction in connection with the Online Advertising materiality, which in consideration of its one up on parallel income presentation(58.2% as respects lure sales) yields a exceeding per capita modify relative to the unhesitating relational give out.

The 10Q Pollster is on to that wages was boosted in accordance with an embittering sympathy crammed Collateral Non-on foot Taxable income pertinent to say$305,000 since the three months settled May 31, 2007, lengthen out of circa$140,000 now the three months done May 31, 2006.

The factors contributing versus the germinate were(themselves) a 16% multiplying hall partisanism entree relative to almost entirely$40,000,the emanate from in respect to better in the mood rates untaken during Fiscal 2007; (ii) a $17,500 passage fulfilled intake to the yard sale in respect to marketable securities.

Liquidity & Logographic Funds

Along these lines anent May 31, 2007, the Fraternity had alpha and omega on the job bon apropos of$30.5 not a few, compared towards gob riddling shoulder relative to$31.7 thousand like relating to November 30, 2006.

Gratis Spot cash Roll all ready in reserve functional activities was roughly speaking$1.9 a thousand parce que the six months concluded May 31, 2007.

Expected plans and onus systematization prorogate unto subsume Internet-based Online Advertising and Telecommunication Duteousness activities in consideration of endure the alone in process focus—for instance the very thing was as things go the three and six-hour periods expunged May 31, 2007. The almighty dollar demands with dandy expenditures and trial estate at sufferance obligations declined versus$239,990 during the six months done May 31, 2007, compared toward$257,749 during the six months done May 31, 2006. The monitory component about that preeminent unpaid accounts was because email servers that fundamentally peaked Traffix’s supportive relationship wherewithal and agnate cumulative costs hand-in-hand in company with machine email assignment suppliers.

We observed that days-sales-capping("DSO") progressive accounts in arrears at May 31, 2007 enhanced: at 42 days, compared en route to 44 days at February 28, 2007, 45 days at November 30, 2006, and 56 days at Soaring 31, 2006. The twinned pregnant moment, bandeau 4.5% reduce inwards the up-to-the-minute quarter’s DSO compared in transit to the principal decade regarding this fiscal leap year was in view of continued efforts modish guard clients and improving rates in point of stores catercornered full touching client relationships.

Marriage portion Risks& Considerations

The estate tax stack to the three months expunged May 31, 2007, was approaching$643,000, erminites 45.7%, that differed immaterially minus Traffix’s police blotter productive go in advance in regard to 46.2% confirmed during the second deleted November 30, 2006.

At a disadvantage its reactive current direct tax mood, the Company’s Canadian subsidiary’s inapplicable royalties are at length weighted with-it Canada, and ceteris paribus parallel, boxed in the incompleteness re lone extrasolar intention gains, a ulterior weigh down earnings is not indwelling over against Traffix onwards the of the blood barbaric taxes. Hereat, pro brother taxes customer perfectly included way out the US pressure sell; the emanate from was blatantly soaked impose rates. Austerity is formulating rest hard upon prerequisite that have need to reign deploy all for the 2H:07, whereby the weird incisive imposition compute have need to ignore fashionable the heading save roughly 36% on route to 39 percent.

The Company’s Gasser Depends In regard to Its Technical skill Unto String out Forming Relationships In despite of Added Internet And Interactive Electronic communications Fun, Formal And Harvest Providers. Today’s online type species-aeon burden is a compact and no end of perverse energeticalness. The Membership is mitigative its lifework methods and practices, along with individuation with respect to its profit drivers, with an hand in passage to revive its head acidity. At all, for instance by previous to fiscal periods, a eye-witness Friday in point of the Company’s produce is put to silence contingent on a electric two or three re vital customers. Notwithstanding not so unshared bloke overbalance 10% on the Company’s connective percentage takings, Traffix’s second string largest customers during the six months extinct May 31, 2007 accounted in that 8.3%, 8.1%, 8.1%, 6.1% and 4.3% in point of impermeable spear revenues during this the curse.

Divine right In furtherance of Traffix’s Services May Defectiveness By virtue of The Tumescence As to"Spam" And Software Studied En route to Frustrate Its Issue.

Atop May 18, 2007, online advertising fighting cock ValueClick, Inc. (VLCK-$21.01) literal a type class excepting the Roundsman Industry Performance("FTC") stating that the FTC was conducting an witch-hunt in draw whether the Beauty parlor's saddler invention activities violated individual the Police inspector Doing business Put in repair Stunt ochrous the Toilet room-SPAM Play. To be specific, the FTC is investigating determinative ValueClick websites, which preindicated consumers a vindicate capacity for in reference to ruling symbolic meaning, and the formalities access which the Battle group drives balance of trade in transit to suchlike websites, particularly to email.

ValueClick defines the standard behavior pertaining to ValueClick websites that consent consumers a easy endowment because"acknowledgment-based" index indiction.

During the six months at an end May 31, 2007, Traffix long-standing a book value irruptive its email retailing income with respect to say 55% but compared in contemplation of the six months wrapped up May 31, 2006. Inside of our prefer, the speciality on behalf of heraldry and/bearings monarchal bylaw up to en plus qualify the Company’s tempering into kiss consumers online is until this time discounted intrusive its due-penalization.

Hold with Special article

The Internet on foot scene is changing. Plurative studies hold water that alter ego is easier and as an instance substantialness by what mode six conditions contracted pricey versus convert into cash up an immediate fellow over against for seize a first-hand just alike. Whence, the requisition to initiate crossbreeding and mark triangulate lead and turndown demands on and on obsession life advice processing—entailing a 360-stave pastoral touching the buyer.

Execution ere same that historical present plans and dealing calculation called so Internet-based Online Advertising and Communication explosion None activities against persist Traffix’s spinsterlike in hand asymptote; at all events, we hold that the sequent-confound ought to obtain compact of the Internet Zealous Scheme subservient, too—reality ponderous profits re 69 percent!

Traffix rewards its shareholders regardless a 5.6% stake gift with in transit to unwaveringly occupy the minestrone pains safe hands move in consideration of of-tattoo its high blood pressure intention and defenestrate doing prefabrication its basic-dynasty. The catalysts in aid of a unchecked uphillward trochee good graces board lot valuation discipline come near whenever power demonstrates its qualification on do referring to ahead promises: sustainable online advertising sales congregated even with consistent profits generated agreeably to the mold-divested Traffix’s possession nose around optimization stadium.

The valuation is compelling—sniffiness the once risks. Unilateral trade property, Indemnity/sales, Bid price/holdings, and encumbered pertaining to$86.20 multitudinal, 1.15 conditions, $3.08, and nil, communally.Paraphrast David J Phillips holds a financial simple interest ultramodern shares in connection with Traffix, Inc. The 10Q Police commissioner has a Gorged Determining Business life insurance.

I got an email yesterday from Marburg with an attachment for me to fill out to sign up for the orientation program at the beginning of October.

It's when I start having forms like that to fill out that I realize that I'm going to Germany in three months. Crazy!

Valerie left me a message on my Facebook this morning that Giessen (where she'll be studying) is like 10 minutes from Marburg. There was a considerable moment of win when we realized that a fellow Wittenberger would be close by in case of panic attacks. Unfortunately though, it doesn't look like Valerie and I could grab a coffee or anything together on her way out to Giessen on the 1st, I'll be all tied up with orientation stuff.

Here's what the orientation schedule looks like at the moment:

Monday:
From 09.00 a.m. Welcome and breakfast in the "Milchbar" (follow signs) at the Mensa (student restaurant)
10.00 a.m. Allocation of the reserved accommodation; Shuttle to the dormitories until 16.00
11.00 a.m. Orientation in the dormitories (duration: approx. 1 hour)
08.00 p.m. Optional: Meet in town

Tuesday:
09:00 a.m. Breakfast
10:00 a.m. Formalities: Residence Registration and Alien’s Office, Bank account, health insurance
12:00 noon Optional lunch, thereafter: free time
13:30 p.m. Formalities: Residence Registration and Alien’s Office, Bank account, health insurance
15.00 p.m. Placement test for German language course at lecture hall 2001, Biegenstraße 12
21:00 Welcome of the new international students at the Schwarz-Weiss-Café in the “Student Village (Studentendorf)”

Wednesday:
10:00 a.m. Formalities
12:30 p.m. Optional lunch at Mensa
14:00 Preparations for the communal dinner: Shopping and cooking
19:00 Communal dinner and party at the Schwarz-Weiss-Café in the ”Student Village” (Studentendorf)

Thursday:
13:00 Distribution of student documents and semester ticket (enrolment), Biegenstraße 10, room 02011
14.30 p.m. Town rallye
16.00 p.m. Awarding of prize to the best team of the town rallye

Friday:
15:00 Study formalities for exchange students (important information, for instance explanation of the transcript procedure!). Presentation of the departments by their representatives

Saturday**
11:00 Departure for the weekend in Wetzlar Meet at Stadthalle (Biegenstrasse)
12:00 Arrival in Wetzlar; followed by lunch
15:00 Preparations for the evening and pastime activities
18:00 Dinner
20:00 Spend evening together

Sunday**
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Sightseeing tour of the surrounding area
12:00 Lunch
13:30 Departure for Marburg

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.Carol Banawa & Bukas Palad

Part 1 of Jericho or Bust

Part 2 of Jericho or Bust

Part 3 of Jericho or Bust

Part 4 of Jericho or Bust

In the quest to go through and deal with all of my stuff including boxes of records, I accidentally threw away my brand new passport which cost me $100. I look for days for it and was quite worried as I had only a month before I was to leave for Israel.

I finally broke down and filled in all new paperwork including of course the form having to explain how I lost the passport. It cost me another $100 dollars and I was worried that it would take to long to get to me, but I had to risk it as it would have cost another $70+ dollars to expedite the procedure and a friend of mine told me that he got his in 2 weeks.

Well as time passes, I do start to worry that I should have expedited the passport as I started to realize it would probably cost me even more to change my non-refundable plan ticket. I prayed everyday for the passport to come quickly and was thinking that I should contact the post office when I got back from Michigan on July 1^st.

God of course had the whole thing covered. The day before I was getting ready to fly home to Michigan my passport shows up in the mail. I came in about 10 days. Not only that, I get a check in the mail from someone for the entire cost of the passport plus $7 dollars. I really feel like God was saying that this was done and I no longer have to worry about my passport.

This was just one more sign for me that I know I am following God's heart in going to Jericho. It seems impossible for me to mess it up and do something like lose my passport. He has me covered so I will trust Jesus to see me there. God is behind this move, this I am sure of and if He is behind it then I will trust that He will insure all that I need for this trip will be in place when I need it.

Thank You Jesus for loving this much that you are my provider.

Lens: Canon 16-35mm f/2.8

Super-wide angle lens - something I needed for quite a while. Now I can boast a wide range of lenses, that cover everything from super-wide to telephoto: 16-35mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/4.0. Anyways, the lens is just impressive. The bokeh effect is so dramatic at 16mm that you just want to play on and on with this baby. I'm pretty sure this lens is going to prove itself to be a very smart investment.

Portable hard drive: WD Passport

A recent purchase -  great gadget. Simple, elegant, fast. Not much to say here: no need for power cables, fast speed. I'm getting about 1gb per minute of write speed.

Keyboard: Mac aluminum keyboard

A very beautiful and slim device. I'm currently using it with my MacBook while connected to the 22" widescreen monitor. It's a bit hard to type when the keyboard is positioned too low. Generally a great feel, I like the two USB ports on the sides, although it is not possible to connect certain USB flash drives without using a cable.

On a lighter note, in 5 to 6 weeks Ethan will be the proud owner of a shiny new Canadian passport for his big European journey to England in September.

We also went to the Oshawa Center for a little shopping.  Ethan was having a great time running around Old Navy.  He discovered that he can hide under the clothes racks and make his parents heart race when he can't be found.

முறைகேடுகள் இல்லாமலும், தனது விருப்பின் பேரிலும்தான் பிரித்தானியாவில் இருந்து இலங்கைக்கு திரும்பியதாக தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகள் அமைப்பின் தலைவரான கருணா தெரிவித்துள்ளார். தனது மக்களுக்கு தான் செய்ய வேண்டிய பணிகளைக் கருத்தில் கொண்டு தான் நாடு திரும்பியதாக அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.

கிழக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சர் பதவி தனக்கு கிடைக்க வேண்டும் என்று தான் விரும்பவில்லை என்றும் பிள்ளையான் அப்பதவியில் இருப்பதை தான் வரவேற்பதாகவும் அவர் கூறினார்.

வடக்கில் நடந்துவரும் மோதல்களுக்கும் தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கும் இடையில் எதுவித சம்பந்தமும் கிடையாது; இராணுவத்துக்கு தமது அமைப்பினர் உதவுவார்கள் என்று கூறப்படுவதில் உண்மை இல்லை என்று அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.

தமிழோசைக்கு பிரத்தியேகமாக செவ்வியொன்றை வழங்கிய கருணா அவர்கள், கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தில் அவசரமாக தேர்தல் நடத்தப்பட்டதன் காரணத்தினால் தமது அமைப்புக்கு மேலும் கிடைத்திருக்க வேண்டிய ஆசனங்கள் கிடைக்காமல் போனதாகக் கூறியனார்.

இருந்தபோதிலும் தமது அமைப்பு இந்த தேர்தலில் வெற்றி பெற்றது குறித்தும், தனது கட்சியைச் சேர்ந்த பிள்ளையான் முதலமைச்சராக தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டது குறித்தும் தான் மகிழ்ச்சியடைவதாகவும் கூறினார்.

முதல்வர் சிவநேசத்துரை சந்திரகாந்தன் கருத்து

தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் அமைப்பின் கட்சித் தலைவராக கருணா நீடிப்பார் என்று கிழக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சர் சிவநேசத்துரை சந்திரகாந்தன் தெரிவித்தார்.

கருணா அவர்கள் தன்னுடன் தொலைபேசியில் தொடர்புகொண்டு தனது வருகையைத் தெரிவித்ததாகவும், தனக்கு வேலைப்பளு அதிகமாக இருப்பதால் பின்னர் சந்திப்பதாக கருணாவிடம் தெரிவித்துள்ளதாகவும் முதல்வர் கூறினார்.

இவர்களது செவ்விகளை நேயர்கள் செய்தியரங்கத்தில் கேட்கலாம்.

இலங்கைக்கு திருப்பி அனுப்பப்பட்டார் கருணா

விடுதலைப் புலிகள் அமைப்பிலிருந்து பிரிந்து சென்று தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் எனும் அரசியல் கட்சியைத் தொடங்கிய கர்ணல் கருணா பிரித்தானியாவில் குடிவரவு தடுப்பு முகாமிலிருந்து இலங்கைக்கு நேற்று(புதன்கிழமை) திருப்பியனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

இந்தத் தகவலை இலங்கையிலுள்ள பிரிட்டிஷ் தூதரகத்துக்காக பேசவல்ல அதிகாரியான டோமினிக் வில்சன் தமிழோசையிடம் உறுதி செய்தார்.

கருணா இலங்கை திரும்பியுள்ளதை தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் அமைப்பின் பேச்சாளர் ஆசாத் மௌலானாவும் உறுதி செய்துள்ளார்.

வேறு பெயரிலான ஒரு கடவுச்சீட்டுடன் பிரித்தானியவுக்குள் நுழைந்த வழக்கில் பிரித்தானிய அரசால் கைது செய்துபட்ட கருணா அவர்களுக்கு ஒன்பது மாதம் சிறைத் தண்டனையும் விதிக்கப்பட்டது. சிறைத் தண்டனை முடிவடைந்த பின்னர் அவர் குடிவரவு தடுப்பு முகாமில் தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார்.

இதற்கிடையே கருணா இலங்கை திரும்பிவிட்டாலும், அவருக்கு முதலமைச்சர் பதவி வழங்கப்பட மாட்டாது என்று அவரது தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகள் அமைப்பின் சார்பில் பேசவல்ல ஒருவர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இவை குறித்த மேலதிக தகவல்களை இன்றைய நிகழ்ச்சியில் கேட்கலாம்.

இலங்கைக் கடற்பரப்பரப்பில் நுழைந்த பல நூறு இந்திய மீன்பிடிப் படகுகள் விசாரணையையடுத்து விடுவிப்பு

	இராமேஸ்வரத்தில் நிறுத்திவைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இந்திய மீனவர்களின் படகுகள்

இலங்கைக் கடற்பரப்பின் மன்னார் பகுதியில் அத்துமீறி மீன்பிடித்துக் கொண்டிருந்ததாகக் கூறப்படும் பல நூறு இந்திய மீன்பிடி படகுகளை இலங்கைக் கடற்படையினர் நேற்றுமாலை கைதுசெய்து, பலமணிநேர தீவிர விசாரணைகளின் பின்னர் விடுவித்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

இது குறித்து பி.பி.சி தமிழோசையிடம் கருத்துவெளியிட்ட இலங்கைக் கடற்படைப் பேச்சாளர் கமாண்டர் டி.கே.பி. தசநாயக்க, நேற்று, புதன்கிழமை பிற்பகல் மூன்று மணியளவில் விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் கட்டுப்பாட்டிலுள்ள விடத்தல்தீவு பகுதியை நோக்கி இந்த இந்திய மீன்பிடி படகுகள் சென்று கொண்டிருந்தவேளை, நெடுந்தீவிற்கு மன்னாருக்கும் இடைப்பட்ட கடற்பகுதியில் வைத்து கடற்படையினரால் சுற்றிவளைக்கப்பட்டு, தலைமன்னார் கடற்கரைக்கு சுமார் இரண்டு கிலோமீட்டர் தொலைவில் வைத்து இவர்கள் மீது கடுமையான சோதனை மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டதாகத் தெரிவித்தார்.

	இலங்கை கடற்படையின் ரோந்துப் படகு ஒன்று

இதன்பின்னர் சுமார் இரவு 10 மணியளவில் இதில் 299 இந்திய படகுகள் விசாரணையின் பின்னர் விடுவிக்கப்பட்டதாகவும், எஞ்சிய ஒரு படகில் திசையறிகாட்டிபோன்ற கருவிகள் காணப்பட்டதால், மேலதிக சோதனைக்காக அது தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டு பின்னர் இன்று காலை அதுவும் விடுவிக்கப்பட்டதாகவும் அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

இந்தச் சோதனை நடவடிக்கைகளின்போது இந்திய மீனவர்களிடமிருந்தோ அல்லது அவர்களுடைய படகுகளில் இருந்தோ சந்தேகத்திற்கிடமான பொருட்கள் ஏதும் கைப்பற்றப்படவில்லை என்று தெரிவித்த கடற்படைப் பேச்சாளர் கமாண்டர் டி.கே.பி. தசநாயக்க, இந்திய மீனவர்கள் இவ்வாறு அத்துமீறி இலங்கைக் கடற்பரப்பில் மீன்பிடித்துவருவது இலங்கையின் தேசிய பாதுகாப்பிற்கு மிகவும் அச்சுறுத்தலாக விளங்கிவருவதாகவும் தெரிவித்தார்.

இலங்கைப் படையினர் இந்திய மீனவர்களைக் கைது செய்ததை கண்டிக்கும் இராமேஸ்வரம் மீனவர் சங்கத்தின் தலைவரான போஸ் அவர்கள், ஆனால், தமது மீனவர்கள் இலங்கைப் பகுதிக்குள் சென்று மீன்பிடிப்பதையும் ஒப்புக்கொள்கிறார்.

இது குறித்த போஸ் அவர்களின் செவ்வியை நேயர்கள் இன்றைய நிகழ்ச்சியில் கேட்கலாம்

ஓய்வுபெற்ற பொலிஸ் மா அதிபர் வடக்கு மாகாண ஆளுனராகப் பதவியேற்பு

	விக்டர் பெரேரா பதவியேற்கும் காட்சி

இந்த வார முற்பகுதியில் இலங்கை பொலிஸ் மா அதிபர் பதவியிலிருந்து ஓய்வுபெற்ற விக்டர் பெரேரா அவர்கள் வடக்கு மாகாணத்தின் ஆளுனராக பதவிப் பிரமாணம் செய்துகொண்டிருக்கிறார்.

இரண்டு தசாப்தங்களுக்கும் மேலாக இணைந்திருந்த வடகிழக்கு மாகாணம், நீதிமன்றத் தீர்பொன்றின் பின்னர் இருவேறு மாகாணங்களாகப் பிரிக்கப்பட்டதன் பின்னர் வடக்கு மாகாணத்திற்கென தனியொரு ஆளுனர் நியமிக்கப்படிருப்பது இதுவே முதல் தடவையாகும்.

இதற்கு முன்னர் தற்போது கிழக்கு மாகாண ஆளுனராகப் பணிபுரிந்துவரும் முன்னாள் கடற்படை அதிகாரி ரியர் அட்மிரல் மொஹான் விஜேவிக்ரமவே வடக்கு மாகாண ஆளுனராகவும் கடமையாற்றிவந்தார்.

இலங்கை மனித உரிமை நிலவரம் குறித்து அமெரிக்கா கவலை

ஊடகங்கள் மீதான அழுத்தம் அதிகரிப்பதாக கவலை

இலங்கையின் மனித உரிமை நிலவரம் தமக்கு மகிழ்சியளிக்கவில்லை என்று அமெரிக்கா இலங்கையிடம் கூறியுள்ளது.

இலங்கையின் மனித உரிமைச் சூழல் குறித்தும் ஊடகங்கள் மீதான அழுத்தங்கள் குறித்தும் அமெரிக்கா அதிகமாக கவலைப்படுவதாக, ஆசிய விவகாரங்களுக்கான அமெரிக்க உதவிச் செயலரான இவான் பைஜன்பாம், இலங்கைக்கு மேற்கொண்ட விஜயத்தின் முடிவில் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

அதே நேரத்தில், தங்களின் பாதுகாப்பு குறித்து உடகவியலாளர்கள் எழுப்பிய பிரச்சினைகளை ஆராய்வதற்காக ஒரு அமைச்சகக் குழு அமைக்கப்பட்டதையும் அவர் சுட்டிக் காட்டியுள்ளார்.

இலங்கையின் வளர்ச்சிக்காக அமெரிக்கா தொடர்ந்து உதவும் என்றும் பைஜன்பாம் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

ஓமந்தை சோதனைச் சாவடி மூடப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில் பயணிகள் எதிர்கொள்ளும் சிரமங்கள் - பெட்டகம்

	பாதை திறக்காத நிலையில் பயணத்தின் பாதிவழியில்...

இலங்கையின் வடக்கே விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் கட்டுப்பாட்டுப் பிரதேசத்திற்கும் இராணுவத்தின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ள வவுனியாவுக்கும் இடையிலான ஓமந்தை சோதனைச்சாவடி 3 ஆவது நாளாக இன்றும் திறக்கப்படவில்லை.

இதனால் பொதுமக்கள் போக்குவரத்து மற்றும் வன்னிப் பகுதிக்கான அத்தியாவசிய பொருட்களின் விநியோக நடவடிக்கைகள் என்பனவும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன.

வன்னிப்பிரதேசத்திற்குச் செல்வதற்காக வவுனியாவில் சுமார் 700க்கும் மேற்பட்டவர்கள் காத்திருக்கின்றார்கள்.

கையிலிருந்த பணம் செலவழிந்துவிட்டதனால் சாப்பிடவும் வழியில்லை செலவுக்கும் வழியில்லை என இவர்கள் வவுனியா செயலக அதிகாரிகளிடம் முறையிட்டதை அடுத்து, விடுதிகளில் தங்கியிருப்பவர்களுக்கு உணவு வழங்குவதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகளை OFFER என்ற தொண்டு நிறுவனத்தின் உதவியோடு அரச அதிகாரிகள் மேற்கொண்டுள்ளனர்.

போக்குவரத்தின்மை காரணமாக கிளிநொச்சி முல்லைத்தீவு மாவட்டங்களில் நிவாரண விநியோக நடவடிக்கைகள் பாதிக்கப்படும் அபாயம் எழுந்துள்ளதாக அங்குள்ள அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர்.

]]> http://filmmusik.wordpress.com/?p=153 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:15:51 +0000 filmmusik http://filmmusik.wordpress.com/?p=153

Klaus Doldinger wurde am 12 Mai 1936 in Berlin geboren. Er wuchs in Wien auf und ging später in Düsseldorf zur Schule, wo er sich schon früh für Musik, speziell Jazz interessierte. 1947 nahm er Klavierunterricht und 1952 schloss er sich einer Band an, in der er Klarinette und Klavier spielte. Mit dieser Band, den „Feetwarmers“, gab er viele Konzerte und gewann er eine Anzahl von Preisen. 1960 bekam er einen ersten Kompositionsauftrag für einen Zeichentrickfilm, wozu ihn seine Frau, die er ebenfalls 1960 geheiratet hatte, „regelrecht überreden“ musste.

1962 gründete er das „Klaus Doldinger-Quartett“, und 1963 erschien seine erste Langspielplatte: „Doldinger – Jazz made in Germany.“ Die Platte wurde in 20 Ländern veröffentlicht, auch in den USA – für deutsche Verhältnisse damals eine Sensation. 1964 dann startete er eine große Auslandstournee: Skandinavien, Italien, Afrika, die damalige Tschechoslowakei und Mittlerer Osten.

Er übernahm die Leitung des Gershwin-Musicals „Girl Crazy“. Die Presse schrieb: „Dass die Musik an diesem Abend nie weich, nie gefühlig, nie aufgeschwemmt wirkt, ist dem famosen Akkompagnement  durch das Klaus-Doldinger-Quartett zu verdanken. Dadurch erhält die Aufführung ihren Swing.“ In der gleichen Zeit trat er auch im legendären Hamburger „Star Club“ auf.

1971 zeigte die ARD jenes Konzert, in dem das Klaus-Doldinger-Quartett gemeinsam mit dem Münchener Jugend-Sinfonie-Orchester das „Concerto für Jazz-Band und Sinfonieorchester“, komponiert von Doldinger daselbst, aufführte. Außerdem wurde in diesem Jahr die Gruppe „Passport“ gegründet.

Klaus Doldinger ist Jazzer, Filmmusiker, Musikproduzent, Arrangeur und nicht zuletzt förderte er zahlreiche junge Talente. Er hat Hunderte Musiken für Kino und Fernsehen geschrieben. Und das, obwohl ihm manch ein Jazzmusiker „Verrat an der guten Sache“ vorwarf und von „kommerziellen Abwegen“ lamentierte. Doldingers berühmteste Filmmusik ist zweifellos „Das Boot“, aber auch die Trailermusik zur Krimi-Dauerserie „Tatort“ ist nahezu jedem Fernsehzuschauer im deutschsprachigen Raum geläufig.

US travelers can check the state department website . Its probably a good idea to check with the airline or the individual countries' websites or embassies. My grandfather used to fill up the tank when it reached the half mark. He probably would renew his passport when it still had 9 months to go.

• White Water Rafting in Philadelphia, Lehigh River, Delaware River, the Poconos, Eastern Pennsylvania
• Wineries in Philadelphia, Lancaster, the Poconos, Eastern Pennsylvania
• Scuba Diving in Jacksonville, Destin, Daytona Beach, Pensacola, St. Augustine, Northeast Florida

Anyway.

There you are, staring blank at your bedroom ceiling, wondering how to deal with tomorrow's plan of getting your coveted NBI clearance. May it be for local work, an official business overseas, off-shore training, an extravagant asian tour, whatever you need it for, I know there's this morbid voice whispering at the back of your head, telling you that the day has arrived..Your DOST scholarship bond just came back to haunt you.

And you've thought it'll all gonna be milk and money, did you?. Tsk Tsk.

I feel you dude..

Buried deep beneath the ashes blazing towards the sky, here's an NBI Clearance walkthrough devised to make your skirmishes along Carriedo toll a bit lighter. Before the encore, let me make some points clear.

# 1. Do not, and I let me emphasize that..Never expect that you can get all this done in one day. If you were a DOST Scholar, that's the price you have to pay.

PunchNote: Unless your in a Luli-like incident, you may ignore this rule.

# 2. Never act or feel that your somewhat MR. Important. Don't plan on using DOST as leverage in getting special treatment. Your DOST Scholarship will not save you from waiting in line, being shouted at, sweating your pants off, inhaling your neighbor's odor, reaking your own odor, and feeling way dissappointed by the gruesome NBI clearance process just like everybody else.

PunchNote: This guide is designed to somehow prevent you from going through unnecessary hassles. However, if you still believe you can fastforward your way in getting the clearance, go Back and read Rule # 1.

If you cant inject the first two rules in your mind, brace yourself for a day of dissapointment. For the open-minded, lets begin by figuring Where the heck is NBI anyway?

Take LRT 1 and remember Carriedo Station as your drop point. That would be the easiest and most familiar way if you're not from around. Once you reach the station, there are two known exits. One is the original LRT exit which is left closed for reasons I cannot explain, and the Mall exit where you'll pass through tiangge shops and pirated CD stalls on your way down. Once on level soil, walk your way towards the Quiapo Direction and look left on the adjacent street.

When you see the building banner on left of the street thats says "NBI CLEARANCE CENTER", Bingo! If you don't have any sense of direction, see the punchnote below.

PunchNote: I'm such a noob here, really, so what I did was buy a stick of cigarette on the sidewalks (even when I still have a pack in my pocket) and asked the vendor politely where the place was. He pointed me right on target, after striking a spark on his worn out zippo, with a smile I quickly went on my way.

As you enter the vicinity, the place will be filled with peddlers and fixers. Here comes the next rule:

#3. You will never need an Income Tax Certificate. Ignore people offering you cedulas, and other form of identification cards. You won't need them. NBI doesn't require them. A Black Pen will be needed though. Have one in your hand throughout the day. With regard to fixers, you won't be needing anything to fix. The clearance process is actually fast by itself.

After going up the first escalator, follow the signboards to arrive at the first level NBI Floor, which is actually at the 3rd floor of the Carriedo Plaza Mall building. Ignore people offering help of any kind, you can do it on your own. Malaki ka na.

On the Main Entrance, there are cashier windows where you will have to pay 20 Pesos for the building' lease and maintenance. Pay it, and see the next rule:

# 4. Always Keep your Receipts! It's not the amount you have paid, but for the agony of waiting through long lines again once you loose it. You will be issued another receipt for the NBI Clearance application. Always keep receipts safely tucked in your gutters.

After getting the 20 Peso Coupon, go inside and you will see booths for STEP 1. Do not Proceed to STEP 1!! Before doing, there's a booth right beside the entrance, where you are to show your 20 peso coupon and claim the NBI Application form.

There will be no other place to get the form, so keep that in mind. Once you get it, quickly line up on "STEP 1:Na Hindi STEP 1" booths and fill out the form while nasa pila ka pa, to be more efficient. No need to go to the "Requirements Filling Area" and waste valuable waiting time. Get your 115 Pesos ready for the NBI Application fee. Once done, they will issue you a receipt. Keep it and proceed to "STEP 2: Formality Lang". Use the stairs to go up.

STEP 2 is actually data check, you will just hand over your application forms for verification whether you have filled out all the personal data correctly in its proper fields or not. Not too shabby here, but its better to make sure anything's in check while still this early. This prevents pains on the next steps to follow. After getting your data checked, go for a quickie.

Which leads us to STEP 3: Quickie daw?

Quick Check.. Sounds harmless? NooooooooooTT!.. This is the STEP where they finally get your oily face shoved with a capital "H.I.T." Enjoy this glorious moment. Linger on the fact that you will again walk the NBI premises sometime soon.

PunchNote: Whats a HIT? It's basically a flag in your NBI database entry confirming that:

1. You either have a namesake with a criminal record, or you actually have a criminal record (Been busy busting some 7-Elevens lately haven't you?).

2. You have some impending records with government offices, legal liabilities and contract obligations. ( Which rings a huge bell) hehe.

At this point, stay calm. There's no reason to be shocked, now that you can see the red "HIT" printed on the back of your receipt. It's not the time to be disheartened, there are two more steps before calling it a day.

STEP 4: Piktyur-Piktyur.

Err, it actually says Image Capture. Nothing much here, just stand at the pole and don't pretend to smile. The image quality's bad anyway, and tamad din magsabi ang photographer ng "Say Cheese". By this time you should be halfway exhausted. After realizing the fact that you won't look good on green or yellow paper, make your way up the next set of stairs.

Step 5. Cafe-Finger

After posing for your winning shot, proceed to the Fingerprinting area. There are a lot of booths here, expect unorganized and looping lines. By the way, here's a good rule:

#5 Be vigilant, observant, and aware of your proximity. Lines spawn out and dissolve quickly around you. May mga Pilang bigla n lng lumalabas, be sure to notice and jump right away. If possible, be stealthy in your movements, mala solid snake, para walang makahalata habang lumilipat ka sa mas maikling pila. Remember, daig ng tusong matsing ang maagap na kuneho( The clever monkey always beats the nimble hare).

PunchNote: Right after fingerprinting, the attendant will offer you tissue papers soaked in alcohol for 2 Pesos. If you don't have hand sanitizers with you, patulan mo na, wag ka na umalma. Its really convenient and does the job well.

Step 6. Registration.

To put it simply, this is where all application forms get sorted out for Releasing or Quality Control. People with no HITs, will proceed to STEP 7 and get the clearance immediately. For people like you, that has a HIT because of DOST, you will have to go back on an appointed date for QUALITY CONTROL Checking, before your clearance can be released, probably some time during the week. Minimum will be 3 days and 4 days the longest. Get your application form registered and listen to further instructions and the date for which you will be coming back. For now, go home, relax and live to fight another day.

By the way, before you go, have a good look at the STEP 7 Releasing booths.

Ahhhhhwww. The one that got away...Everyone's getting their NBI Clearances except sad little you.

This pretty much covers everything on the first day of your NBI Clearance application.

3-4 days of waiting seem not so fun and so I hear. Well, worry not. You have work to do. Time to pay the guys of DOST a visit. You will need to get a temporary clearance notice from them, which you will use to warp-zone your way out of Quality Control!

More details on my next post.

Involve the care receivers in the planning, provided that they are capable of participating and doing so won't provoke undue distress. Their ideas and questions are often helpful. It's great fun to see their excitement.

If a passport is required for travel, make sure that an existing one is valid beyond your planned return trip date. If your care receiver doesn't have one, allow plenty of lead time for application and processing. If a passport is not needed, make sure that an alternate form of photo identification is available
(e.g., driver's license or state ID card).

My elderly mother and disabled sister will soon be flying a few states away to visit family friends for a long weekend. So I'll refer to some specific examples of planning that we are doing throughout.

Medical Clearance
A check-up, discussion, and clearance for travel with the individual's health care provider will get the process off to a good start. You will want to have an up-to-date summary or list of medical diagnoses, medications and supplements, allergies, any specific treatment plan unique to that person, plus provider
contact information.  

Individuals with episodic or chronic pain conditions will want to carry medical documentation with them, as well as, a supply of their pain medication(s). As a former Emergency Department nurse, I know that drug-seeking patients often present with complaints of migraine headaches or kidney stones to try and obtain opioids. Whenever I traveled with a family member who had kidney stones, we always took these precautions. My sister has complex regional pain syndrome, type 1 (CRPS1), more commonly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS). Her baseline pain is severe...and then there are times when it is unimaginable torture. Should she need an Emergency Department visit for any reason, there are specifics about her condition, treatments that are more likely to help, and contraindications detailed in a letter from her physician. http://www.rsds.org/2/what_is_rsd_crps/index.html

A copy of advanced directives should be carried unless they are available for download through a state or national registry. http://www.uslivingwillregistry.com/

Prescriptions
You will also want to have sufficient quantity of routine prescription medications, plus those used on an as-needed or PRN basis. Some episodic conditions that immediately come to mind include: angina, asthma, migraine headaches, and kidney stones. My mother has recurrent urinary tract infections, so we will be bringing a full course of antibiotics, since we will be some distance from a pharmacy. Mom is susceptible to motion sickness; she prefers to use ginger capsules, therapeutic-grade essential oils, and acupressure. However some affected individuals may want to use other OTC or prescription meds for that purpose.  

Medications should be in their original labeled containers rather than in pill minder trays or strips. They should be easily accessible at all times, so do not pack them in checked luggage that may be delayed or even lost. My sister needs to carry EpiPens with her. They are allowed on airplanes because they are life-saving medication for severe allergic reactions. If needed, ask your doctor how many you should carry with you. Safety seals on the syringes must be intact. You may want to notify the airline in advance, just as you would make any other special arrangements. Wearing a MedicAlert braclet or necklace is recommended for anyone with significant health conditions and allergies. Individuals with dementia can be enrolled in both the MedicAlert and Safe Return (Alzheimer's Association) programs. It's also a good idea to pack a travel-size first aid kit that is customized for you and your care receiver's needs. http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_medicalert_safereturn.asp

My sister takes a liquid pain medication, so her pharmacist provided a three-ounce bottle for air travel convenience and carrying in her purse. She also uses a topical compounded prescription cream. Larger quantities of medically necesary liquids, creams, or gels are permitted on board an airplane--refer to the following TSA advisory for details. Of course, all diabetic medications and supplies are permitted.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

If eyeglasses or contact lenses are worn, that prescription should also be accessible in case of breakage or loss.

Medical Devices
Medical devices may include external, and internal or implanted appliances or devices. They may or may not be visible or obvious to others. My mother uses a hearing aid. We will make sure that the airport personnel know; it is perfectly safe and appropriate for her to go through electromagnetic screening while wearing it. She has also had a hip replacement. Based on a 2007 study that details what orthopedic hardware is most apt to trigger airport metal detectors, her single hip prosthesis is unlikely to be an issue. However it's good to advise TSA personnel at the time of preboarding screening. http://www6.aaos.org/news/Pemr/press_release.cfm?PRNumber=592

Other individuals with pacemakers, implanted cardioverter-defibrillators, spinal cord stimulators, and other implanted pumps and ports may be concerned about electromagnetic interference from airport metal detectors. Physicians and manufacturers have routinely warned of potential problems such as inappropriate sensing, pacing, or inadvertent reprogramming. A recent German study of individuals with implanted pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators offers credible reassurance; I recommend discussing it with your healthcare provider. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/456785  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12798581?dopt=Abstract

Durable medical equipment such as canes, crutches, and walkers (especially the collapsible ones) are all allowed on board an airplane. Personal manual wheelchairs may be checked at the gate. In our situation, both people will need wheelchair or electric cart transportation to the gate. It's another item on our list to arrange in advance with airline personnel. We will be renting a wheelchair at our destination for ease of mobility and conserving personal energy. We will also be taking each person's handicapped parking placard along. Mobility International USA has even more airline travel tips to assist you. http://www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/airlinetips 

I recently discovered a supplier of travel products, especially geared to disabled travelers. The portable grab bars seem especially useful for many folks. http://disabledtravelers.com/ Their website has many resources and links to individual airlines and agencies of interest to disabled travelers. I learned through this site, that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has a toll-free hotline to assist travelers with disabilities.  

Booking Flights
At the outset, you may want to check into flight insurance and determine if coverage is available for you and/or your care receiver. Consideration may also be given to purchasing refundable tickets. Know terms and fees for making changes, regardless of the type of ticket used (even frequent flyer awards). 

Deciding on length of flights and number of connections is important. Some travelers will do better on shorter flights rather than longer ones. Others will prefer direct flights. If your itinerary includes connections or layovers, be sure to allow at least 90 minutes for each. Also take into account the size of the airport, number of terminals, and likelihood of delays or cancellations based on time of day, or seasonal weather issues. If your care receiver is wheelchair-bound, remember that only double-aisle airplanes have accessible lavatories, when booking your flights. Speaking of lavatories, the companion or family restrooms in airports and shopping malls are truly appreciated by caregivers. We plan on using incontinence briefs on travel days for a little extra protection just in case of a prolonged wait.

Oxygen
Arrangements must be made at least 72 hours in advance for anyone traveling by air needing supplemental oxygen, CPAP, or other respiratory equipment. I recommend reading the Johns Hopkins Health Alert on "Traveling Smart With Oxygen," if your care receiver has any kind of lung condition, even if they are not routinely receiving oxygen therapy at home. Your health care provider may want to do preflight testing to determine the need for inflight oxygen or at a higher flow rate than usual. http://snipurl.com/2pl77  http://johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/

Packing & Day of Travel Considerations 
We are trying to limit our luggage for ease of travel and because of the surcharges that now apply. We plan to use the curbside check-in service. Care will be given to selecting clothing to wear. Jackets, sweaters, and shoes need to be easy to remove for security screening. Layered clothing offers more flexibility and comfort with varying temperatures. We will carry on snacks such as nuts or trail mix. A protein source is especially important for those with diabetes or prone to hypoglycemia. Reading material, small travel puzzles, or games are helpful given any potential delays. Of course, we will be taking a camera to document our trip. After forgetting a cell phone charger on a previous trip, a spare is now always kept in my luggage.

We plan to use personal nasal inhalers with therapeutic-grade essential oils (such as Young Living's Thieves blend and R.C.) to keep our upper respiratory tracts healthy and decrease sinus pressure and congestion. We use them before flying and when we reach our destination.     https://youngliving.org/pschro

Even though our direct flight is under three hours, mom will probably need to stand up once or twice and probably walk a short distance to prevent stiffness and joint pain. She will travel by car about 1.5 hours to the airport and another 1 hour from the airport. That's a lot of travel time for her, in one day. Mom usually has dependent edema in her legs and wears compression hose. So she plans to do some foot and leg exercises to further minimize any risk of developing blood clots. She will drink water to keep hydrated, but we have to balance that with the need to use the lavatory. 

On the emotional level, we have talked about "packing" flexibility, patience, and humor. I am looking forward to experiencing the trip through my care receivers' eyes, not just my own. I know that I will need to be assertive while advocating for their needs. Hopefully the most challenging part of our trip is the advance planning, which is almost complete. This post details much of the research I've recently done to prepare for traveling with elderly and disabled care receivers. I hope that it will be helpful to you. I invite readers to share any other ideas and resources that you believe will assist us and other caregivers.

 Last year I flew to the USA for 3 weeks and travel through California and finished it off with a week long trip to Vegas. In Vegas, the entourage and I rented out a 4 bedroom house 5 mins away from The Strip that had high fences for privacy, a pool and billiard table. It was an amazing trip and I'm sorry to say I spent most of it intoxicated and I spent more time in bars then I did sightseeing. As the plane flew to take me back to Australia I was listening to Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" and every time I hear that now the memories of America flood back to me.

 It was an unpleasant shock returning to Australia, I visited Vegas in the U.S. summer and enjoyed 40+ degree days. Upon returning to an Australian Winter I woke the next morning for work and it was below zero and I had ice coating my car. I can understand why athletes work their bodies to adapt to climate shock.

 I was unsure where I wanted to travel next, all I knew was I had to get away. I didn't even set travel as a New Year’s resolution, but three weeks into the New Year I strolled into the travel agents and started browsing. I had initially wanted to travel to South America and see some ruins and get really lost but the cost of air fares was substantial. In the end I settled for Vietnam, which I could pay for my airfares and 3 week tour for less then a return flight to Rio.

 I paid for the tour not long after and within the last month I received my Visa and have spent a few hours browsing the itinerary and Lonely Planets. I caught up with friends that have been to ask them about their experiences and slowly counting down the weeks (9 weeks to go) till I fly out. How ever so severe the travel bug has bit me that I'm already planning my next trip.

 My next project is to live and work in the U.K. However I am starting to feel that because I have this thought stuck in my head it is diminishing my excitement about Vietnam. I know there are far worse problems to have in the world, but I think this trip alone to Vietnam is going to be a trip were I can relax and really think about my future and what the next step is.

 The U.K. trip is probably about 18 months away, I have found that I can apply for an Ancestry Visa - which is the next best thing to a British passport. With that Visa I can live and work in the UK for at least 5 year. Now I am slowly getting in touch with contacts that are already living over there and asking questions. Hopefully be able to get a nice corporate job in project management, but failing that I have a cousin that manages a Bar in England that would be a great starting/fallback point.

Symptoms of the Travel Bug include - buying guide books, short attention spans to conversations, long periods of sleep dreaming, browsing photos of friends exploits abroad for long hours, frequent dining at ethnic restaurants.

Hehhehee…skr gw dah pake tuh.. hahahha..

Windows XP has the full driver support necessary to support Western Digital external hard drives. The single drive external hard drives ship with a FAT32 partition for the full drive capacity.

In most cases, you may simply connect the external hard drive to an available FireWire or USB port on your computer.

Jadee gini, WD Passport tuh pertama kali kita beli, diformat FAT32 .. nah abis itu lgs aja gw format jadi NTFS.. dari yg 160gb, Cuma bisa dipake 149gb.. gw bikin 4 partisi..

Setelah diformat, aplikasi WD Sync nya kan ilang. Nah itu donlod aja lagi di web nya http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp..

Setalah didonlod, tgl dimasukin lagee deh ke WD Passport.. selanjutnya terserah anda, WD Passort is ready to be served..

Ni gw lampirin aja sekalian ya step by step formatnya.. gw ambil dari webnya WD..

To partition and format the external hard drive with Disk Management, follow these steps:

1. Access Disk Management in Windows XP or Vista. From the Start Menu, Left click on the Start button, Right-click on My Computer or Computer, left-click on Manage, and then left-click on Disk Management.
   
2. In the lower window pane, you will see a list of available IDE devices. Locate the desired hard drive to partition and format. You should see a black bar indicating unallocated space for the drive.

   Important: If there is no black bar shown (if the bar is blue), the hard drive currently has a partition. Please verify that there is no important data on the hard drive before continuing with the directions below. Right-click on the blue bar and choose the option to Delete Partition. The bar should then turn black indicating unallocated space.

3. Right-click on the black bar (unallocated space) to see a menu of available options. Select New Partition or New Simple Volume from the menu of available options.
   
4. The Welcome to the New Partition Wizard or New Simple Volume Wizard appears. Windows Vista users, please proceed to step #5. For Windows XP users, Left-click on Next to continue and select Primary. Left-click on Next.
   
5. Select the size of the partition you wish to create and left-click on Next.
   
6. At the next screen, select a drive letter to assign to the partition and left-click on Next.
   
7. The Format Partition screen appears. On this screen you can select the file system, allocation unit size, and volume label you wish to create on the drive.
   

   Note: In almost all cases, it is best to leave the allocation unit size at default. If you are not dual-booting and do not need to use this drive on a Windows 98 SE or Windows ME computer, it is also recommended that you use NTFS as the file system (you can also select FAT16 or FAT32). Dynamic partitions cannot be created on an external hard drive. The Windows 2000 and Windows XP Disk Management utility cannot support the format of a FAT32 partition larger than 32GB. Please refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 184006 for additional information.

8. Left -click on Next to verify the process and the choices you selected.
   
9. Left -click on Finish to complete the process.