Rolling stoned

You can't always get what you want. I often find myself singing this Rolling Stones line these days. It’s true. You, instead, get what you need. Sometimes, when you’re not so lucky, you even get something distressing. But always, it’s something you can handle. So oks lang.

Terry's run

Terry Fox’s run across Canada to raise money for cancer research in 1980 was commemorated this morning here at Al Mamzar Park with the 2008 Dubai Terry Fox Run. Around 10,000 people walked, ran, biked or skated the 8.4 km and shorter distances.

I walked and ran up to the roundabout with the 2.3 km mark and went back. So did my taichi master Dr. Chen and his son Harry who was on bike. DTFR, by the way is chaired by Judy Rickatson, who is also a member Dr. Chen's taichi group.

There were lots of Pinoys who participated in the fund-raising event. It was a kabayan group that led the warm-up with aerobic exercise. And helping direct vehicle and human traffic throughout the event, in their neon green vests, were barangay tanods.

Rock on

I’d been looking for a t-shirt with a slogan “Rock On” for a couple of months now but couldn’t find any. Yesterday, I was at the Mall of the Emirates and saw this little store in the middle of the aisle selling t-shirts with slogans in them. I asked the saleslady if she has one with a “Rock On” design. She said no but she could print anything I wanted. I chose a beige-colored t-shirt but hesitated to have “Rock On” printed. I went out to smoke and think of what to print in the t-shirt.

For some reason, I thought of

“And in the end,
the love you take
is equal to
the love you make.”

and had it printed. It’s the complete lyrics of the Beatles’ song The End from the Abbey Road album. The End is the last in a medley of short songs which begins with Golden Slumbers. It follows the jam where all three of the band’s guitarists play licks one after the other for 3 rounds.

I still don’t know why I chose the quote. Maybe because it sounds like a re-statement of Newton’s Law of Reciprocal Actions, which every engineer knows by heart. Well, anyway, keep on rocking.

Green Issues

The earth’s environment is now deteriorating. Rich nations will never have their political will to hold back their sustained economic and industrial growth thus kept on expanding, turning bare lands into a city or suburban jungle leaving no mercies for a naturally balance biosphere.

Developing nations will not allow themselves to be left over also building and constructing so many infrastructures eating up virgin landscapes.

Poor nations will do everything to survive, scratching everything from all their resources thus also harming the ecosystem.

Something must be done, everything must be regulated, events must be monitored and somebody must be in control.



In Dubai, things have started to take shape, last 2 January 2008 we are able to be a part of a gathering of developers, government departments, contractors, designers, manufacturers and consultants to witness the government trust to save the environment and extend the supply of limited natural resources.

The event was held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, inside one of its ballroom. Speakers are international experts particularly from USA and one is based in Abu Dhabi. They shared what are the organization responsible for energy conservation and management to minimize use of depleting resources and manage emission of environmental pollutant. They also laid ongoing programs training and licensing engineers and personnel for this purpose.

Some local speakers which are head of known land developer and government agencies promote green certification which now will be a must for the entire future project.

The way I understand, for an efficient and energy saving/conservation design project to be constructed an equivalent certification shall be release for that project. Any design and construction that will fail the set guidelines will not be given a permit.



I heard and read articles such as this one before. Domestic waste water shall now be recycled and reused, building cooling system to be properly utilized and electricity usage shall be managed properly. Lighting illumination will now be controlled with reference to outside natural light contribution, presence, location and sound technology control to be promoted for lighting.

Great new information and challenges now awaits those who are into this new movement. Meanwhile, in conclusion, the foods are sumptuous and the place is great for our snapshots.