Best Job in the World

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From CNN:
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Life's a beach with dream Australian island job

By Glen Scanlon

(CNN) -- It sounds far too good to be true: a salary of more than $100,000, a free home on a palm-fringed island and all the snorkeling you can be bothered with.

The successful applicant will have plenty of time to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

However, it is true and a very clever marketing ploy to boot.

Australia's Tourism Queensland has garnered worldwide media coverage by advertising the "best job in the world" -- the post of caretaker on Hamilton island in the Great Barrier Reef.

The six-month contract, according to Tourism Queensland, comes with flexible working hours and the successful applicant's "key responsibilities" include exploring the area to discover what is on offer and to report back weekly via blogs, photo diaries, video updates and media interviews.

Sounds taxing doesn't it?

The group said other responsibilities would include cleaning the pool, which comes with your free home, feeding the fish and collecting the mail (this would be done by joining the aerial postal service for a day or two to get a good view of the neighboring islands).

You might also take time out from your busy schedule to check out the turtles and passing whales.

On top of the six-figure salary you'll get return airfares from your nearest capital city, transport on the island, travel insurance, computer and camera gear and travel to other islands in the Great Barrier Reef.

No academic qualifications are required but you must be a good swimmer and enjoy snorkeling, be adventurous and have good communication skills.

Where do I sign up I hear you ask?

Tourism Queensland is asking for a 60-second video explanation of why you'd be great for the job and that you fill out their online application form at www.islandreefjob.com

Applications close on February 22, by which time you may be able to get on the Web site -- unsurprisingly it is proving very hard to load at the moment (not that I'm trying... that often).

To apply for this job go to http://www.islandreefjob.com/en/.

Aching Knee, There, Everywhere

After playing tennis in Meralco Ortigas this afternoon, I decided to visit Gold's Gym which is just walking-distance away from the tennis court. I ran a couple of KMs and lifted a few weights to at least shed the remaining pounds I accumulated during the holidays. I didn't finish my target 3K run on the tread mill because I felt a prickling pain on my left knee. I can tolerate the chronic pain on my right big toe joint (may be caused by uric acid - haha ayaw pa kasi mag-pacheck-up), but the one on my knee is excruciating (yes naman, excruciating daw o, hehe).

So I just went to Megamall to canvass prizes of latest sportswears, winter clothes and luggages and to buy groceries and stuff my father told me to purchase for him. While strolling, the hurting was aggravated by the low temperature inside the mall and the fact that I was just wearing a knee-level shorts.

Now at home, the weather is causing more severe pain and if this should become worse tomorrow, I might follow Cholle's advise to ask for Alaxan's help. Harhar.

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P.S.
To-do's for 2009:

1. Improve serve and groundstroke shot.
2. Heal this aching knee before the 5K run on January 25.
3. Focus on Gebze and on Gebze alone!

Every Month of 2008

January

Crude oil prices surge past US$100 per barrel. Benazir Bhutto is assassinated. 6.5 earthquake hits Greece. Hillary Clinton wins first US primaries held in New Hampshire. Sun Microsystems acquires MySQL AB. Millions are stranded ahead of Chinese New Year. Neil & Moanna tie the knot. Actor Heath Ledger dies of medication overdose. Novak Djokovic wins maiden grand slam at Melbourne as Maria Sharapova bags 3rd distinct major title.


February

New York Giants upset New England Patriots 17-14 in Superbowl XLII. UP Fair stages Loverage 2. Blu-ray replaces HD-DVD. Kosovo declares independence from Serbia. Egypt wins Africa Cup of Nations over Cameroon 1-0. Fidel Castro retires and resigns as Cuban president and is succeeded by his brother Raul. Academy honors No Country For Old Men as best motion picture and the Coen Brothers as best in directing. Leap year day is observed.


March

Forbes names Warren Buffet as world's richest man. Wales achieves Grand Slam by defeating France 29-12 in their Rugby Union RBS Six Nations match. Tibetans claim 80 people killed in the continuing unrest. Manny Pacquiao scores a split decision over Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBC super featherweight crown. Corazon Aquino is diagnosed with colon cancer. Liechtenstein, Norway and South Korea recognize Kosovo as a nation.


April

Protesters confront Olympic torch in Paris. I celebrate my first year anniversary in HP and as an electronics engineer. Trevor Immelman wins The Masters ahead of second-place Tiger Woods. Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to win in IndyCar's 2008 Indy Japan 300. Joe Calzaghe earns a split decision victory over Bernard Hopkins for The Ring light heavyweight belt. HP Labs announces the creation of the memristor - the fourth basic electronic element.


May

George Bush calls for US$700m relief aid for global food crisis. Cyclone Nargis devastates Myanmar. Dmitry Medvedev assumes Russian presidency. Olympic torch reaches peak of Everest. Over 70,000 killed by 7.9 quake in China's Sichuan province. Nel & OJ tie the knot. HP buys EDS for US$13.9b. Bloodiest bank robbery in the Philippines claims 10 lives. David Cook wins Idol. ManU pulls a 1-1 (6-5 p.s.o) victory over Chelsea to grab UEFA trophy.


June

Barack Obama wins Democratic nomination. Ana Ivanovic secures first major as Rafael Nadal earns 4th Roland Garros. Limping Tiger Woods ends season prematurely after US Open triumph. Boston Celtics defeats old rivals Los Angeles Lakers for their 17th NBA ring. UP@100. Typhoon Fengshen leaves 155 dead in the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao KO's David Diaz to become the first Asian 4-division titlist. Spain beats Germany 1-0 in Euro 2008 final.


July

Inquest on the MV Princess of the Stars disaster continues in the Philippines. Venus Williams thrashes sister Serena for her 5th Wimbledon crown while Rafael Nadal dismisses Roger Federer in the longest men's final in The Championship's' history 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates World Youth Day in Sydney. Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela is Miss Universe 2008. Carlos Sastre of Spain wins Tour de France.


August

Magnitude 6.0 tremor once again strikes Sichuan. Conflict in South Ossetia worsens. The Bird's Nest hosts the start of the Summer Olympics on 08-08-08. ARMM holds first electronic voting in the Philippines. Michael Phelps sets 7 world records and bags 8 gold medals in swimming as Usain Bolt goes 3-for-3 in athletics in Beijing. Rafael Nadal supplants Roger Federer as world number 1 tennis player after triumphs in Toronto Masters and the Olympics.


September

Serena Williams wins her 9th slam; Roger Federer salvages year with 5th straight US Open. I celebrate my 24th birthday. Civil war erupts in Bolivia; power-sharing pact in Zimbabwe calms the situations. World remembers 9/11. Russia claims Fed Cup. Sebastian Vettel becomes youngest F1 grand prix winner after topping the Italian GP. Milk scandal further intensifies China's bad year. USA wins Ryder Cup. Mortgage crisis triggers US recession snowball.


October

Dow Jones records biggest intraday drop finishing below the 10,000-point mark. European markets fall steeply while Asian stock exchanges tumble. Nobel Prizes are awarded to the discoverers of papilloma and HIV viruses, among others. Macedonia, Malaysia, Montenegro, Portugal and UAE recognize Kosovo. Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother are murdered. Philadelphia Phillies edges Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in 2008 World Series.


November

Lewis Hamilton edges Felipe Massa 98 to 97 becoming the youngest F1 Drivers' Champion. Sebastien Loeb wins WRC for fifth consecutive time. Barack Obama is USA's first African-American president. Chrysler, Ford and GM testify before US Congress for bailout package. Peru hosts APEC Summit amidst global financial crisis. Protesters lock up Bangkok airports. Spain wins Davis Cup. Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams prevail in yearend championships.


December

Zimbabwe cholera outbreak claims 425 lives. Micronesia recognizes Kosovo. Manny Pacquiao ends season as Fighter of the Year with 3 victories in 3 weight classes after a lopsided win over Oscar Dela Hoya. Toyota announces first operating loss in 70 years. Israel launches offensive strikes against Palestine in Gaza Strip in the middle of holiday season. Glenn and May tie the knot. CKT01 reunites. Eustaquio Family welcomes 2009 together.