Pls take a few minutes to appreciate semiconductors & how difficult it's made

Photo memo: 'Dangerous work. Despite improvements in the semiconductor industry, chip making still requires the use of hazardous materials such as toxic solvents and metals, and few companies have adopted international occupational safety standards.'

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This made me think how our society often throws old computers & replaces it with new ones simply to have faster & bigger computer capacities. With competitive pricing, it's easier than ever to purchase one and throw the old one away. However, we need to get a grip of where we send our old computers to. We often think our old computers are sent to legitimate recycling centers. Think again people! It's not always that easy. Especially in our financial crisis, government agencies are pushing their limitations to save anything! This would then conclude that we are shipping our computers to developing nations such as China or Africa and let them do the work. Do you know how DIFFICULT it is to remove semiconductors?!? Third world countries do it manually! Do you think they have the most updated protective safety equipment?!? NO! It's hard as it is to come by a rubber glove or a face mask...These poor people who live near the removal sites are exposed to greater exposures to major injury for themselves and their families! Please take a moment to consider this...

Please check out http://www.ban.org/ & consider where our technological waste go to.

The coming of a 2-0-0-9

2008 has been wild. To our current economic tough times, new president, and natural disasters, this year has seen a bit of everything. As we proceed 2009, let us welcome the new year with a rejuvenated energy; A positive feeling so great that no negative energy can zap it away. Doesn't matter how much turmoil we may be feeling right now so long as we attract positive thoughts. The more we render on positive thoughts, it will attract us to give us good health, healthy financial background, and love all around.

As I did last year, I will reflect on my own successes/doings this year:

• Walked graduation during Spring semester (last semester of coursework) with a cummulative CSUF 3.45 GPA
• Successfully finished two internships (county of Orange & American Heart Association) & one graduate class (Geographic Information Systems for Public Health)
• Attended my first American Public Health Association conference (APHA)
• Went on a 3-day cruise to Mexico with Jose
• Went to Illinois for work/my 29th bday with Jose
• Continued to volunteer with CSP, Inc as Sexual Assault Counselor & voting volunteer with Orange County Asian & Pacific Islander Community Alliance during the election

As I ruminate in my own accomplishments, I am thankful for all that I have been blessed with. The opportunities, my family & friends, the everyday people that I come across to, and the inspiration I find in life.

Living with Inupiaq Eskimo's- Could I handle it?

So I stumbled upon this website as I was researching for occupational environment injuries & found it interesting. It made me question my own survival skills if I were to live in the ice with the Inupiaq Eskimo's. What a facinating group of people!

Luminous Landscape Forum _ Landscape & Nature Photography _ Home Sweet Home @ 50 below zero

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?act=Print&client=printer&f=1&t=18236

I hope you find this site as I interesting as I did!

The Truth About Gratitude (from the Secret)

A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne- Creator of The Secret

The greatest thief of human happiness and abundance is ungratefulness. Any lack in our lives - whether in money, health, or relationships - is simply the evidence of a lack of gratitude. If you focus on lack you are not being grateful, and that will bring more lack into your life. Yet the simple state of radiating gratitude summons everything to you.

No matter who you are or where you are, you can change your life with gratitude, but you must feel it with your whole heart and radiate it from every cell. Gratitude is not a mental exercise, and in fact, if you simply use your mind for gratitude it will have little or no power. True gratitude comes from your heart! You must think gratitude through your heart, speak gratitude through your heart, and feel it intensely in your heart.

Then practice gratitude relentlessly. As you practice gratitude you will attract more thoughts and feelings of gratitude. In a short time your entire being will be saturated with it, and you will experience a happiness that is beyond what you can imagine. This is what is ahead for you when you choose gratitude as your way of life. And if you can really live in this highest state of gratitude, you will never have to ask for anything. Everything you want will be given to you before you even ask, because gratitude is the magnetic substance that opens every single door in the Universe.

"Thank you" in as many ways as you can.
-Write a list of all the people and events you want to give thanks for.
-Return thanks today to those who have done things for you.
-As you walk say "Thank you" in your mind with each step you take.
-As you drive, make each time you stop your cue to say "Thank you."
-At various times in the day, think and feel "Thank you" inside you seven times in a row.
-Look for every opportunity to say "Thank you" to other people, and say it with so much meaning that the person looks right at you.

Thank you" - two words, inconceivable potential power, and all they need is you to put the power into them by expressing them.