Dameyo

America Misunderstood

// April 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // General

Why people abroad have this frightening image of us?
We export equivocated “foreign” culture.

You may be surprised to find out how often and why “AMERICA” is so misunderstood by so many people around the world.Misunderstandings result from the peculiar way we see the world and from the peculiar way the world sees us. “How come?” you may say, “American films, books, and television programs are well known all over the world.” Exactly, the fact that we downpour our culture on so many peoples creates most of those misunderstandings!

The causes for misinterpretation vary. However, we provide almost all of them. The world sees us through fun-house mirrors provided by us. Through similar mirrors we see the world and even ourselves in a peculiar way, too. The most noticeable of these fun-house mirrors is our language.

After listening to claims and complaints from people all over the world, I found out that English, our English, causes most of these misunderstandings. “But English is almost universally spoken!” you may say. Basic English yes! English, no. In fact, most English speakers do not believe that those who are not native to the language will ever get to learn it well. Furthermore, being a language, which is not mutually intelligible with any other, English instills in us a sense of alienation characteristic to such languages.

England created the English language, but the USA was the nation that turned it into the richest language on earth and a formidable communication tool. It was our nation, open to changes, immigration, new mores and new ideas that made English universal. We have ethnic groups from every corner of the world and each of them has contributed to make English what it is today.Nevertheless, absorption has been too fast sometimes, leaving no room for analysis. Once the majority accepts a simple word or phrase, that word — or phrase — freezes, allowing no correction or adjustment in spelling, meaning or pronunciation. Rectification rarely happens in English. This inability to rectify and correct words is the dark side of the English language. The expression “coining” clearly describes what usage does to a new word or phrase: it makes it metal solid. Incorrigible usage gave us a multitude of traditional errors nailed them so deeply into our minds that no one can hammer them out of our heads.
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10 DNA Testing Myths Busted

// March 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Science and Technology

1. Genetic genealogy is only for hardcore genealogists.

Wrong! If you’ve ever wondered about the origins of your DNA, or about your direct paternal or maternal ancestral line, then genetic genealogy might be an interesting way to learn more.

Although DNA testing of a single line, such as through an mtDNA test, will only examine one ancestor out of 1024 potential ancestors at 10 generations ago, this is a 100% improvement over 0 ancestors out of 1024. If you add your father’s Y-DNA, this is a 200% improvement. Now add your mother’s mtDNA, and so on. However, please note the next myth:

2. I’m going to send in my DNA sample and get back my entire family tree.

Sorry. DNA alone cannot tell a person who their great-grandmother was, or what Italian village their great-great grandfather came from. Genetic genealogy can be an informative and exciting addition to traditional research, and can sometimes be used to answer specific genealogical mysteries.

3. I would like to try genetic genealogy, but I’m terrified of needles.

Good news! Genetic genealogy firms don’t use blood samples to collect cells for DNA testing. Instead, these companies send swabs or other means to gently obtain cells from the cheek and saliva.

4. I would like to test my ancestor’s DNA, but they died years ago.

You don’t always need your ancestor’s DNA to get useful information from a genetic genealogy test. If you are male, you contain the Y-chromosome (Y-DNA) that was given to you by your father, who received it from his father, and so on.

Both males and females have mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which was passed on to them by their mother, who received it from her mother, and so on. Everyone of us contains DNA (Y-DNA and/or mtDNA) from our ancestors that can be studied by genetic genealogy.

5. I want to test my mother’s father’s Y-DNA, but since he didn’t pass on his Y-chromosome to my mother, I’m out of luck.

Wrong! There is a very good chance that there is another source of that same Y-DNA. For instance, does your mother have a brother (your uncle) who inherited the Y-DNA from his father? Or does your mother’s father have a brother (your great-uncle) who would be willing to submit DNA for the test? Sometimes there might not be an obvious source of “lost” Y-DNA, or no one in the family is willing to take a DNA test.

The secret to solving this problem is to do what every good genealogist does – use traditional genealogical research (paper records, census information, etc) to “trace the DNA”. Follow the line back while tracing descendants in order to find someone who is interested in learning more about their Y-DNA. This applies to finding a source of mtDNA as well.

6. Only men can submit DNA for genetic genealogy tests, since women do not have the Y-chromosome.

Wrong! Most genetic genealogy testing companies also offer mtDNA testing. Both men and women have mtDNA in their cells and can submit that DNA for testing. In addition, women can test their father’s or some other male relative’s Y-DNA to learn more about their paternal ancestral line, even though they did not inherit the Y-chromosome.

7. My genetic genealogy test will also reveal my propensity for diseases associated with the Y-chromosome and mtDNA.

Wrong, thank goodness. Most of the information obtained by genetic genealogy tests has no known medical relevancy, and these firms are not actively looking for medical information. It is important to note, however, that some medical information (such as infertility detected by DYS464 testing or other diseases detectable by a full mtDNA sequence) might inadvertently be revealed by a genetic genealogy test.

8. I don’t like the thought of a company having my DNA on file or my losing control over my DNA sample.

This is, of course, an understandable concern. However, most testing firms give a client two options: the DNA is either immediately destroyed once the tests are run, or it is securely stored for future testing. If the DNA is stored, the firm will typically destroy the DNA upon request. If the long-term storage of DNA is a concern, be sure to research the company’s policy before sending in a sample.

9. If my test reveals Native American ancestry, I plan to join a particular Native American affiliation group.

Although genetic genealogy can potentially reveal Native American ancestry (for instance, my mtDNA belongs to the Native American haplogroup A2), it is incredibly unlikely that this information will be sufficient to positively identify the specific source of the lineage (such as a tribe) or allow membership in a particular Native American affiliation.

10. My DNA is so boring that genetic genealogy would be a waste of time and money.

Very wrong! A person’s DNA is a very special possession – although everyone has DNA, everyone’s DNA is different (okay, except identical twins – if your identical twin has been tested, you should think twice about buying the same test!). As humans settled the world, Y-DNA and mtDNA spread and mixed randomly. As a result, it is impossible to
guess with 100% assurance that a person’s Y-DNA or mtDNA belongs to a particular haplogroup (a related family of DNA sequences) without DNA testing.

BONUS MYTH: My genetic genealogy test says that my mtDNA belongs to Haplogroup A2. Juanita the Ice Maiden, a frozen mummy discovered in the Andes Mountains in Peru, also has Haplogroup A2 mtDNA. Therefore, she must be my ancestor!

Unfortunately, although genetic genealogy can reveal that a person is RELATED to an ancient DNA source, it cannot prove that a person is a DESCENDANT of an ancient DNA source. For instance, perhaps you are descended from Juanita’s sister, or her 5th cousin. Thus, although Juanita might be your great-great-great-great…great-grandmother, she might instead be your great-great-great-great…great-aunt. And since Juanita died when she was just 12 to 14, it is unlikely she
has any descendants.

If you understand the risks associated with genetic genealogy (such as the detection of non-paternal events) and other risks) and are ready and willing to embrace the results to learn more about your genetic ancestry, then genetic genealogy might be for you. I recommend that you read archived posts here at The Genetic Genealogist, and do some online research through one of the many companies that offer genetic genealogy testing

Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D.

10 Filthy hotels in Asia

// March 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // General

10 Filthy hotels in Asia
10. Aseania Resort, Langkawi, Malaysia.
Location: Simpang 3, Jalan Pantai Tengah, Langkawi 07100, Malaysia.
Filthy Degree: 3.5
How Filthy: Looks are deceptive.
Review: broken toilet, dirty sheets, ancient furniture, broken kettle, numerous mosquitoes, dark and depressing room, the internet does not work, the breakfast is limited in both selection and quality, hotel has no lift, filthy with dead cockroaches on the floor, the restaurant is infested with roaches.

9. Royal Parkview Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
Location: 19/9 Sukhumvit soi 20 Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Filthy Degree: 3.5
How Filthy: Hell Hole
Review: The rooms are old dirty, food terrible, rude staff, they refuse to take responsibility when something missing from the room, bad shower, smelly elevators, and cockroaches.

8. City Gate Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam
Location: 10 Thanh Ha Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Filthy Degree: 3
How Filthy: It’s a big joke!
Review: Hot water, fridge and air-con don’t work, the manager is rude, and should be avoided at all costs. Reserved a room online for $18/night and arrived to be moved to another hotel for $25 a night, fake City Gate hotel in Hanoi.

7. Oxford Hotel, Singapore.
Location: 218 Queen Street, Singapore 188549, Singapore
Filthy Degree: 3
How Filthy: If all you need is a place to sleep
Review: Rooms are old, mini bar is empty, no bellboy, small rooms, and bathroom is really small, rooms are not cleaned, burn holes in sheets, dirty pillowcases, the towels are not clear white, a few TV Channels, bed have fleas, avoid at all cost.

6. Colmar Tropicale, A French-Themed Resort, Bentung, Malaysia
Location: KM 48, Persimpangan Bertingkat Lebuhraya Karak, Bentung 28750, Malaysia
Filthy Degree: 3
How Filthy: If you think Genting Highlands is tacky, wait till you see this!
Review: From a distance, it looked quaint and charming but horror upon horrors, the service is very slow, the sofa is old and dusty, bed sheets and towels are not so clean, the windows don’t close properly, the beds and bedding are old and worn, the bathroom is a disgrace, and food choices are limited.

5. Woraburi Sukhumvit Hotel and Resort, Bangkok, Thailand
Location: 128/1 Sukhumvit Soi 4 | Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Filthy Degree: 3.5
How Filthy: Better values elsewhere
Review: Bed bugs, staff are not helpful, steal money, stains on the sheets, the curtains, the walls, bed is lumpy and is not clean, bad food, no service, tiny creatures around the sinks, cracks, mosquitoes in the room, the bathroom is dirty (could hardly take a shower without throwing up).

4. Royal Peacock Hotel, Singapore.
Location: 55 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089158, Singapore.
Filthy Degree: 3
How Filthy: Why go to Disneyland when this place is so Micky Mouse
Review: Prison cell type if a room, the room is disgusting, moldy, filthy, damp, old, no hot water and air-conditioner noise, no window, poor lighting, small room, dusty walls, old stained carpet in the hall and room, no shower curtain, no room safe, burned ceilings and scuffed carpets, the shelves are dusty, the bathroom towel rail keep falling off and the bedding looks so worn and shabby.

3. The Imperial Hotel, Hong Kong, China
Location: 32-34 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Filthy Degree: 3
How Filthy: You Can’t Pick A Winner Every time. A Pig-Sty
Review: The hallways smelt musty, the room smelt even more musty, the room is so tiny, the bathroom is filthy and old, there was mold on the walls and curtains, the sheets have stains on them, no tissue in the bathroom, the room stinks, the AC doesn’t work, the shower is leaking and the bed is small, the room is awful, small, dirty and dingy. The bed cover is old and caused to itch, the bedsheets have a stain which look like blood. The hotel is very stingy with shampoo and does not care much for customer service.

2. Hotel Grand Central, Singapore.
Location: 22 Cavenagh Road | Orchard Road, Singapore 229617, Singapore.
Filthy Degree: 3
How Filthy: A Nightmare Stay To Remember For Life
Review: Receptions are unfriendly, the room is small, stink, old, with black, dirty carpet and furnishings. The top bed covers were dark brown fabric with white stains all over them, and the yellowing bed-sheets are all covered in brown stains, the bathrooms are worn out and leaking, the breakfast is worst.

1. First Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
Location: 2 Petchburi Road | Phayathai, Ratchatevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Filthy Degree: 3.5
How Filthy: First Hotel = Last Hotel
Review: Many bedbugs of all sizes, crawling ants in the bathroom, the corridors stink of smoke, the place is full of white people having mid life crisis, the TV set doesn’t work, the bathroom is tolerable but not memorable, thief, strange screaming sound in the middle of the night, rude receptionist, the bathroom has more mold and rust than tiles, the sheets are stained and the rooms stink badly.