Back in the 1980’s there was no one in the world that influenced the budding Generation ‘X’ like that of Michael Jackson. Yes, there was President Ronald Regan, Bo Jackson, MTV, Boy George, Madonna and those funky heavy metal hair bands. But no one topped the power of Michael Jackson.
He was not just a star; he was phenomenon. He commanded your attention, weather you were a music fan or not. Where he went, legions of fans followed, screaming for a glimpse. The world had not seen that since the Beatles and Elvis.
Now deceased, Michael Jackson is more powerful than ever before. This story has made frontline news in all the world’s paper for 3 days straight now. No other news is seemingly is so captivating; not Jon and Kate, not US economic woes, not even the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Michaels’ death has suddenly revived his career. Yes, revived. In all likelihood, he may generate more money then he ever did alive. Already record stores, iTunes, and Amazon have experience enormous demands. Elvis, John Lennon, Jim Morrison all experienced the same.
Michael’s legacy will most likely focus on the days he produced Off the Wall and Thriller. Those two albums alone produced more hits then most musicians have in their entire careers. His music videos ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’, and ‘Thriller’ transformed music videos from a mere promotional tool to an art. It helped ignite MTV. His career in a nutshell: 2 time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a solo artist and member of the Jackson 5), 13 Grammy Awards, 13 Number one singles, over 750 million albums sold worldwide, and billions of dollars generated.
The Lost Childhood As the world learned, however, was that Michael Jackson had a dark side that involved child abuse, neglect, and accusations of child molestation. You find can an entire populace of people with similar history in prison.
It wasn’t enough that Michael suffered a lost childhood. He was never allowed to be own person. His spirit was never free. Instead, his life became a tool for others to make profit of his enormous talent. His father, Joe Jackson, was not a successful man on his own by any means. He was a steel worker during the day, hardly carrying enough change in his pockets for lunch.
To his credit, however, Joe Jackson was a driven man. He played in a band and was a talented guitarist. Perhaps he had dreams playing for record label, but fell victim to the circumstances in his day: poverty, racism, and missed opportunities.
To some, growing old and not fulfilling your lifelong dream is intolerable. Joe Jackson may not have wanted any of that. So, his kids became the pawns for his success. According the Michael and his sister LaToya, Joe Jackson was a tyrant with an iron fist. He ran the household with fear, intimidation, and complete lack of concern about his children’s feelings.
In addition, Michael had to endure the challenge of being in a one-income household with ten kids. Normally with large families siblings would play and fight with each other. In the Jackson household, it seemed that band practice took precedence to growing up and living a normal childhood.
Despite the hardship, Michael was born to be an entertainer. For years the Jackson 5 played in local venues and won numerous competitions. It was not till Michael joined the band did MoTown Records take notice.
The Baton is Passed Smokey Robinson said, “Michael had the talent of someone years his age.” Which Michael at the realm, the Jackson 5 attracted television and record deals. Like many child stars, however, Michael was forced into world that God never meant for children. Michael never experienced a childhood. He was busy making money for his family and for the record labels. He was a moneymaker. Despite the claims from those who say they loved him and showed genuine concern, he was a music moneymaking machine. The self-worth was solely based on that. If he stopped producing, they stopped caring.
In 1979, the record ‘Off the Wall’ was a solo act without Michael’s tyrant father or his brothers. Quincy Jones was the man behind the project. Together, Jones and the 20 year old Jackson produced the first ever album to generate US top 10 hits including blockbuster songs like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You”.
The man was only 20!
At 20 years old most people are in college, partying, studying for college exams, or thinking of their careers. Michael remained what he was since he was 10, a money making machine. Not a man with feelings, not a man with a spirit, and a human being. He was money making machine, the darling of the media, a man with billions of dollars, yet no life.
At 24, Thriller was released. It’s the greatest album I have ever purchased. For Michael, the arrow had reached its peak and is now failing.
Energy Released – His deal with Children It’s little wonder why Michael had that special relationship with children. He wanted to be around them, especially young male boys. Why? Because he was never allowed to experience having a ‘best friend’, or play outside with friends after school, like normal kids do.
It’s just human nature to make up for lost experience. It not unusual for teenage moms, as soon as their children are grown, to dress up in sexy garbs, hang out at bars, and date younger men.
Michael’s inner demons were not demons. They were yearnings. Yearnings to have the God given right to a normal childhood.
Did he molest young boys? I’m not sure, but then I wonder why an innocent man would pay the family of one of his so-called victims $20 million to keep their mouth shut. I don’t know the details, nor will I speculate.
His Career Revived in Death In years to come there will be speculations if Michael did actually die? The same theories floated around about Elvis and Jim Morrison. Elvis and Jim Morrison made more money in death then they did alive.
Will that happen to Michael? Most likely yes.
The greatest gifts Michael left us his music. He is the ‘King of Pop’ and the greatest entertainer since Elvis and the Beatles. More important, for those who wish to live their successful through their children, look at Michael’s life and where it went.
He became a lost soul with billions of dollars. As it was mentioned in the Bible,
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? – Matthew 16:26
Rest in Peace Michael and thanks for the music and the lessons learned.
Jim Hague is an author, lecturer, owner of Crystal Digital Images LLC, has no party affiliation and is a moderate. He is the author of ‘Abandoned Son: Roe vs. Wade is overturned.’
This is the second article of the series:” The Wind in Bible versus Quran”.
The Bible says that the Almighty Creator 1) made the Winds His Angels, 2) His servants are flames of fire, 3) He has chariot, 4) He walks on the wings of wind and 5) He made the earth never moves etc. The Noble Quran says that Naught is as Allah’s likeness in attributes. Any form, picture, thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely mistaken.
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The Wind in the Bible (2)
In Psalm 104:1-8, Kind David says:
“Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty: Who covers himself with light as with a garment; Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain; Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who makes the clouds his chariot; Who walks upon the wings of the wind; Who makes winds his Angels; Flames of fire his servants; Who set the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved for ever. You cover it with the deep as with vesture; the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; At the voice of your thunder they hasted away. They flowed over the mountains; they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.”
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Herein, there are some important points:
1) The Bible describes the lord God, the Almighty Creator as:
He has clothes
He covers himself with light as with a garment
He stretches out the heavens like a curtain
He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters
His chariot is made of clouds
He walks upon the wings of the wind
He makes winds his Angels
His servants are flames of fires
He set the foundations of the earth
His voice is the thunder
2) The Bible says that the earth has foundations and it should not be moved for ever.
3) The speed of the Lord God was that of the wind.
4) The wind has wings!
Moreover, there are some discrepancies in the translation of some words in the many versions of the Bible e.g.:
In some Bible’s versions, the word “Angel” is translated to “messenger”.
In some Bible’s versions, the word “wind” is translated to “spirit”.
In some Bible’s versions, the word “curtain” is translated to “tent”.
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On the other hand, all of the above points are ABSOLUTELY rejected in the Noble Quran because:
1) The Noble Quran says that Naught is as Allah’s likeness in attributes. Any form, picture, thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely wrong.
2) The Almighty Creator is not a body
3) The thunder is not the voice of the Almighty Creator.
4) When the Almighty Creator decides upon a matter, when He wants to do anything, He only says to it ‘Be!’ and it is.
5) The speed of the Lord God was that of the wind; for instance, does not He know the speed of the light? However, Naught is as Allah’s likeness in attributes.
6) The wind has no wings!
7) the Angels are created from the Pure Light.
the Angels are the servants of the Almighty Creator and they never disobey Him.
9) The earth has No foundations and it is rounded and it moves
10) The Great Prophet King David can not say that about the Almighty Creator simply because he knows better who Allah is.
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Aside from the Bible and the Quran, boys in schools know very well that the earth moves and it has two types of movements: the first one is around the sun at about 100,000 km/h. It takes 365 days (1 year/12 months) for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun. and the other around itself. It takes 24 hours for the earth to spin around itself.
These two movements are responsible for the seasonal changes and the day and night respectively.
I really do not believe that the Lord God or King David says that the earth foundations and it should not be moved for ever. .
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Psalm 104:1-8 in three different versions of the Bible:
New International Version
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.
King James Version
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Young’s Literal Translation
1Bless, O my soul, Jehovah! Jehovah, my God, Thou hast been very great, Honour and majesty Thou hast put on.
2Covering himself [with] light as a garment, Stretching out the heavens as a curtain,
3Who is laying the beam of His upper chambers in the waters, Who is making thick clouds His chariot, Who is walking on wings of wind,
4Making His messengers — the winds, His ministers — the flaming fire.
5He hath founded earth on its bases; It is not moved to the age and for ever.
6The abyss! as with clothing Thou hast covered it, Above hills do waters stand.
7From Thy rebuke they flee, From the voice of Thy thunder haste away.
8They go up hills — they go down valleys, Unto a place Thou hast founded for them.
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The Wind in the Noble Quran (2)
In this article, the following three points will be discussed:
1) The Historical destructive wind as a Punishment for the disbelievers of the Ancient nation of Aad
2) What if Allah wants to do anything?
3) The Precious verse (faith-wise) of the Quran that describes the Almighty Creator
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1) The Historical destructive wind as a Punishment for the disbelievers of the Ancient nation of Aad.
Verses 69:4-8 of the Noble Quran describe this destructive wind!
Historical Background:
Aad was an ancient nation. Aad nation is always mentioned in the Noble Quran as a nation that came after Noah. Allah sent his Prophet Hud to the people of Aad; some of them believed and many of them disbelieved. Allah punished the disbelievers of Aad by the wind and He saved the believers. The people of Aad were famous by their outstanding might.
It is said that Aad nation lived at the south of Saudi Arabia, nearby Yemen.
The Prophet Hud was Arabic.
The nation of Aad and the Prophet Hud are not mentioned in the Bible.
Thamud was an ancient nation. Thamud nation came after the nation of Aad; it is always mentioned in the Noble Quran as a nation that came after Aad.
Allah sent his Prophet Salih to the people of Thamud; some of them believed and many of them disbelieved. Allah punished the disbelievers of Thamud when they killed the Camel which was the miracle of the Prophet Salih who warned his people not to hurt that Camel and they agreed but they never kept their word. The miraculous Camel emerged from a big rock and it has no father and no mother; it came out as an intact adult Camel following Allah’s will when He says to anything He wants: Be! And it is.
The people of Aad were famous by the might and transgression.
It is said that Aad nation lived at the northern part of Saudi Arabia, nearby Yemen.
The nation of Thamud is too not mentioned in the Bible may be because the Prophet Salih was Arabic too.
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The meanings of verses 69:4-8
Verses 69:4
The nation of Thamud and the nation of Aad both disbelieved in the Resurrection to come and they denied their Prophets and refuted the Day of Judgment.
Verses 69:5
As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overwhelming Roar, an excessively severe shout of the Angel Gabriel. They were destroyed because of their transgression and idolatry; and it is said that their transgression drove them to disbelieve until they were destroyed.
Verses 69:6
And as for Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind. The wind was deafening, intensely clamorous, violent wind, [that was] powerful and severe [in its assault] upon Aad, despite their power and might.
Verses 69:7
Allah forced and imposed that wind upon them uninterruptedly for seven nights and eight days with the same force so that you might have seen the people therein lying prostrate, lying dead on the ground, as if they were the hollow, collapsed, trunks of palm-trees.
Verses 69:8
So do you O Muhammad see any remnant of them? Do you see one remaining?’ No!
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Verses 69:4-8 of the Noble Quran in four different translations:
Verses 69:4
QARIB: Thamood and Aad belied the clatterer.
SHAKIR: Samood and ad called the striking calamity a lie
PICKTHAL: (the tribes of) Thamud and Aad disbelieved in the judgment to come.
YUSUFALI: the Thamud and the ‘ad people (branded) as false the stunning calamity!
Verses 69:5
QARIB: Thamood, they were destroyed by the violent shout (of Gabriel),
SHAKIR: then as to Samood, they were destroyed by an excessively severe punishment
PICKTHAL: as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning.
YUSUFALI: but the Thamud, – they were destroyed by a terrible storm of thunder and lightning!
Verses 69:6
QARIB: as for Aad, they were destroyed by a howling, violent wind
SHAKIR: and as to ad, they were destroyed by a roaring, violent blast
PICKTHAL: and as for Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind,
YUSUFALI: and the ‘ad, they were destroyed by a furious wind, exceedingly violent;
Verses 69:7
QARIB: that he subjected upon them for seven nights and eight days consecutively and you might have seen them struck down as if they were the stumps of palm trees that had fallen down.
SHAKIR: which he made to prevail against them for seven nights and eight days unremittingly, so that you might have seen the people therein prostrate as if they were the trunks of hollow palms
PICKTHAL: which he imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees.
YUSUFALI: he made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession: so that thou couldst see the (whole) people lying prostrate in its (path), as they had been roots of hollow palm-trees tumbled down!
Verses 69:8
QARIB: can you see any remnant of them now?
SHAKIR: do you then see of them one remaining?
PICKTHAL: canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them?
YUSUFALI: then seest thou any of them left surviving?
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2) What if Allah wants to do anything?
Verse 36: 82 says:
QARIB: when he wills a thing, his command is to say to it ‘be’, and it is!
SHAKIR: his command, when he intends anything, is only to say to it: be, so it is
PICKTHAL: but his command, when he intendeth a thing, is only that he saith unto it: be! and it is.
YUSUFALI: verily, when he intends a thing, his command is, “be”, and it is!
The meanings of the verse:
His command, His affair, when He wills a thing, that is, [when He will] to create something, or to do anything is just to say to it ‘Be’, and it is.
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3) The Precious verse (faith-wise) of the Quran that describes the Almighty Creator
Verse 42: 11 says
QARIB: the originator of the heavens and the earth, he has given you from yourselves, pairs, and also pairs of cattle, thereby multiplying you. there is nothing like him. he is the hearer, the seer.
SHAKIR: the originator of the heavens and the earth; he made mates for you from among yourselves, and mates of the cattle too, multiplying you thereby; nothing like a likeness of him; and he is the hearing, the seeing
PICKTHAL: the creator of the heavens and the earth. he hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby he multiplieth you. naught is as his likeness; and he is the hearer, the seer.
YUSUFALI: (he is) the creator of the heavens and the earth: he has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by this means does he multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto him, and he is the one that hears and sees (all things).
The meanings of the verse:
He (Allah) is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the One Who created them [without precedent]. He has made for you, from your own selves, pairs, when He created Eve from Adam’s rib, and [also] pairs, males and females, of the cattle and whereby He multiplies you through marriage. There is nothing like Him; there is no likeness of Him, exalted be He). He is the Hearer, of what you say, the Seer, of your works. Naught is as His likeness in attributes, knowledge, power and providence etc.
The basic point of faith is that Naught is as your Almighty creator.
Since man is a creature which has Spirit that gives him like; and since Naught is as the likeness of your Creator, then the Almighty Creator has NO SPIRIT.
Hence, the Almighty Creator is not a body or material like us. Any form, picture or thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely wrong.
According to the Islamic Rule of Faith, if any one put the Almighty Creator in any form, picture or thoughts, he or she is Disbeliever and has No faith; and he will end up in the Hereafter as a dweller of the Eternal Fire.
This is in spite of what name(s) you are giving to your Almighty Creator e.g. Allah, Lord, God, Jehovah etc.
On the other hand, the vice versa is absolutely True!
========================
Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:
Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
? Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
? Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt,
? President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors,
? Member of the Egyptian union of Writers,
? Published some 60 Medical Articles,
? Supervisors for 79 PhD theses,
? Supervisors for 111 Master Degree theses,
? Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine,
? Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society for Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt)
Charlie Davies an American soccer player had a fatal car accident in Virginia last early Tuesday. The accident causes a great impact to the United States hope for achieving prominent awards in soccer’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
**Without Charlie Davies, Do Think The Team Has A Chance To Win?**
(Just vote above for your chance to win a Dish Network – Satellite TV)
The American forward Charlie Davies is amongst the top and most promising soccer player for the past few years. He got a fatal accident that severely injured him. The incident happened around 3:15 in the morning, and crashed along George Washington Memorial Parkway. The other passenger namely Ashley J. Roberta, 22 years old of Phoenix, Md., was killed in the crash. According to the police, the driver that they did not identify lost control of the car, which hit a guardrail and split in half.
Charlie Davies underwent five hours of surgery and describes as “serious condition” at Washington Hospital Center. The spokeperson of the United States Soccer Team Neil Buethe said the Davies injuries are not life threatening but will eventually affects Davies future games. Davies plays a great role for the FC Sochaux in French League and paves way to the debut of his team in June 2007 and played in 17 major games for U.S scoring four goals. The team felt sad when they learned the news and felt sorry for Charlie and his family.
Charlie Davies is great player, he will be a great lost for the team. His partnership with Jozy Altidore is the best dual combination in the game that makes Davies’ speed matches the opponent, and they surely do great in the coming league in South Africa.
Poll:
Without Charlie Davies, Do Think The Team Has A Chance To Win?
(Just vote above for your chance to win a Dish Network – Satellite TV)
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The study of the economy of Cuba can be divided into four phases. The first phase consists of the occupation of the island by the Spanish, which led to the extinction of the aboriginals and the bringing of African slaves to work on the sugar plantations. At this point of time, Cuba provided for the highly profitable business of sugar cultivation and its exports. Sugar industry was the crux of Cuba’s economy and Cuba rose to become one of the largest producers of sugar in the world.
The second phase pertains to the years following the wars of independence against the Spanish and also the invasion of Cuba by the US. It is marked by the sweeping powers of intervention obtained by the US in 1902, with the Cuban economy being controlled by the growing investment of the US citizens in the sugar plantations of Cuba. Now, again, money and profits from the sugar plantation, sugar refineries and subsidiary sugar products such as rum went to the many American investors and a few Cuban elite. The other major industries also included tourism, tobacco, transportation, mining and the communication industry.
The third phase begins with the Cuban revolution and the beginning of Fidel Castro’s rule in the year 1959. All plantations that were more than 400 hectares became state owned and all industries including the petroleum and the telephones became nationalized. This lead to the US trade embargo towards Cuba. Cuba lost its traditional international market. However, Cuba found a trade and political ally in the USSR when the Cuban-sugar for Russian-oil package worked well. Cuba reoriented itself to the Russian and pro-Russian market and did over 80% of its international trade with them. The next 30 years saw tremendous improvement in health care, education and social welfare. Cuba boasts of a 97% literacy rate and the life expectancy increased to 76%. There was an egalitarian distribution of income and Cuba’s income inequality index became the lowest in the world.
All was well until 1989 when it became clear to Cuba that sooner or later Cuba would have to learn to do without any subsidies or trade relations with the USSR and the eastern European countries. The fourth phase begins here with the government dubbing it as the ‘Special Period in Peacetime’. The economic reforms include:
(i) the opening and gearing up of tourism as an industry
(ii) diversification of the agricultural sector by producing fruits and vegetables and rice along with live stock for local consumption that include the visiting tourists.
(iii) production of more of citrus food and less of sugar
(iv) focusing on that sector of fisheries which sent its fleets to nearby seas and exporting spiny lobsters to Japan
(v) State-owned lands have been converted to agricultural cooperatives that are managed to a certain degree by the workers. Retail outlets at a small scale have been allowed for the food market. In the field of food production, allowing the of excess production (which is above the state-fixed production quota) in the free market has brought down black markets, in addition to enhancing production
(vi) Foreign investments in various industries such as tourism, mining, telecommunication, construction and manufacturing sectors have been allowed
(vii) Self employment has been legalized for around 150 occupations.
Investment into biotechnology and pharmaceuticals during the third phase reaped returns when products of this industry were available for export now at the fourth phase.
The other Cuban industries include cement, steel, agricultural machinery and construction.
Fisheries, nickel and ore production, growing agricultural products such as fruits, tobacco are some areas that have shown growth in the export sector. Cuba now exports to European countries (50%), Canada and Latin America (20%), and Asia (20%).
Spain, France, and United Kingdom have invested in the tobacco and cigar production. Spain and Canada have invested in the exploration of oil off the shores of Cuba. Mexico, Canada, Australia, South-Africa, Netherlands, Brazil, and Chile are the other major countries that have invested in the various industries of Cuba.
Cuba has entered into an agreement with Venezuela whereby thousands of Cubans who are doctors, teachers and sports trainers, and engineers would move in to Venezuela to assist their development program in return for 53,000 barrels of oil per day being shipped to Cuba for the next five years.
“Energy revolution” where apart form changing the entire system of power generation and distribution, energy conservation is also aimed at, has been in vogue in Cuba for the last two years. The quality of life of the Cubans are improving with the volunteers of the government replacing on a door-to-door campaign, the existing electric stoves and lights with the ones that are more efficient and less energy consuming. Energy efficient refrigerators and television sets have been distributed and would be installed in all the thousands of housing units that the government is building. Energy efficient buses from China would soon be available for the Cuban public transport. It is just a matter of some time when power generation would take place at hundreds of units that are well synchronized, thus avoiding wastage of power while distributing it through very long distances. Generation of natural gas while exploring for oil at oil rigs is also considered.
Cuba has also legalized the US dollars. Further, the Venezuelan inputs for domestic oil production and upgradation of existing power stations have raised the level of optimism. Cuba is also hoping to find oil off its shores. Apart from the sugar industry and its related products, there are various industries such as tourism (also called the lung of the Cuban economy), fisheries, nickel and ore production, production of tobacco, Cuban cigar, citrus fruits, pharmaceuticals, coffee, besides basic manufacturing industries which have earned Cuba foreign exchange. Cuba has learned to manage its post-USSR economic condition and is steering towards a more prosperous economy.
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This was my first Sonicare Toothbrush that I bought after reading some of some of the positive reviews here. I was replacing an old Braun that I had for over 10 years. This one seems to have more and faster movements of the brush and it does a better job of cleaning my teeth. You know that feeling after you come out of the dentist’s office for a cleaning where your teeth have that polished, smooth feeling when you run your tongue over them? Well, even after the first time using this toothbrush my teeth felt that way. My old toothbrush never did that. After using it for a few weeks my teeth looked whiter to me. Now I never did a real test, like brushing one half with this toothbrush and one half with the old, but when I look at myself in the mirror, I can see a difference.
I like the timer thingy on this toothbrush. I thought it would be like a bell or a beep, but it’s more like a little pause after each of four 30 second segments. So you do each area of your mouth for 30 seconds and then if you want to do the “whitening” segment, you push the bottom button and it’ll time those segments. This part is a different type of vibration or movement that is supposed to do an even better job of polishing your teeth. I don’t know if it’s this part or just spending enough time on each section, but it works. My teeth feel cleaner and look whiter.
Another thing that I noticed with this toothbrush is that my gums don’t bleed when brushing my teeth anymore. I’ve had that problem for probably the last 30 years, whether I used my old Braun electric toothbrush or whether I brushed my teeth by hand. After the first couple days with this toothbrush it just stopped. I’m not sure if it’s because of the texture of the brush or if it’s just contributes to the health of my gums, but it’s a nice bonus.
The toothbrush is very easy to clean and the brushes snap on and off very easily. It’s lightweight which makes it easy to use and it’s reasonably quiet for a power toothbrush. I’m completely sold on this brand. When I need to replace it at some point, it will be with another Philips Sonicare product. Two thumbs up!