Philippine Islands – Discover the beauty of its 7,107 islands

IF ANGELIC photographers had been at work in the Garden of Eden, their wildlife pictures would not have looked much different from those one can take in the Ngorongoro Crater today.” So writes Reinhard Künkel in his book about this fascinating attraction in Tanzania. Ngorongoro Crater is indeed a beautiful place, and it is teeming with thousands of wild animals. Come along with us and enjoy the sights!
A Breathtaking View
After traveling four hours by car on dusty roads, we finally arrive at the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. We take in the magnificent view from the balcony of our hotel. The panorama is truly unique. Naturalists have even called it “the eighth wonder of the world,” and we can see why.

Where did the name Ngorongoro come from? No one knows for sure. According to the Conservation Corporation of

Long ago in a city located in what is today the land of Turkey, there lived a girl named Leah. Leah was plain in appearance, but her younger sister, Rachel, was beautiful.

RACHEL met a man who loved her so much that he agreed to work for her father for seven years to gain her hand in marriage. On the wedding night, however, the father of the girls substituted Leah for her sister. We do not know how Leah felt about her father’s scheme, but she must have known that this was hardly an ideal entry into marriage.

Upon discovering what had happened, the new husband protested. The father explained that it was customary to give the older daughter first in marriage. Hence, Leah now found herself married by deceit to a man whose first love was for her younger sister, whom he also married. How sad Leah must

MANY people the world over seem to believe that the keys to happiness are a fancy car, a fat bank account, a prestigious career, a big house, and the latest electronic gadgets, along with an attractive figure or muscular physique. Yet, does happiness really depend upon such material and physical assets?

There has been “an explosion of research on happiness, optimism, positive emotions and healthy character traits,” says a special report in Time magazine. The results of such studies have been surprising to many. With remarkable consistency the evidence shows that people who are governed by the premise that money, fame, or beauty will make them happy are deceiving themselves. In fact, they are building their lives on a foundation that may be detrimental to their mental health and may even lead to their suffering depression.

In the United

Inaugurations may be full of pomp and circumstance, but they can also set the tone for where a presidency is headed. Certainly much has been said about all of the preparations for Obama’s big day, but will it be a  full-blown hit? We’ll defer to one of the first daughters, Malia, who advised her dad while discussing his upcoming speech: “First African American president — better be good.” So, until we know, here’s a list of hits and misses from inaugurations past.

Hit: Expanding the guest list
Many presidents have taken the whole “first” thing to heart. In 1865, Abraham Lincoln became the first to include African-Americans in his parade. Woodrow Wilson took a swipe at the glass ceiling by including women in his 1917 inaugural parade. In 1977, Jimmy Carter’s parade had solar heat … and the former peanut farmer

It doesn’t really matter which poll you consult — Zogby, Pew, Gallup — they all show the same thing: Incoming president Barack Obama is hitting new highs in public support, while outgoing President George W. Bush is hitting new lows.

To be fair, it’s like comparing apples and oranges: Bush’s record includes 9/11, Katrina, two wars, a controversial re-election, and an economic meltdown of historic proportions. Meanwhile, Obama’s record includes a low-key decade as a state senator and U.S. senator.

But there’s no denying the numbers are impressive. Even Obama’s incoming numbers are handing Bush’s a thrashing — a pre-inaugural poll by Pew Research Center finds that 79 percent of Americans have a “favorable impression” of the incoming leader. In 2001, George W. Bush had to make do with 60 percent. Pew reports that Obama even has more optimists on his side:

As

As the recession continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy and inauguration celebrations ramp up, a lot of people are asking: “How much will this shindig cost?”

The short answer? More than $150 million — and yep, that’s the most expensive ever. (By comparison, George W. Bush’s 2005 inauguration cost $42.3 million. Bill Clinton managed with $33 million in 1993.)

For the first time, President Bush has declared an emergency in Washington, D.C. to supplement the $15 million Congress has already allotted for security measures. It’s no surprise that security costs are sky-high — Barack Obama received Secret Service protection very early in his presidential run and record crowds (likely anywhere from 1.5 to 3 million people) are expected for the record number of events. In fact, the Secret Service will be in charge of security not just for inauguration day, but for four days, starting Saturday with Obama’s train ride