Which place is the most dangerous in our world?

 

Peter Wade

 

visited all 50 U.S. states (at least 13 times each)

To best answer this question, let’s consider danger to be not only a location that is inherently dangerous, but one that is also surrounded by danger. The goal would be to define a place a very long way from safety, from which someone is least likely to reach refuge without being seriously injured or killed. If the question implyies that a person will be teleported to the single most dangerous location in the world, including nearly inaccessible places, then any North Korean prison camp would probably win the competition. That’s the easy answer.

In that regard, you could also be teleported to the top of a mountain that is impossible to descend where you’d eventually starve to death. You could be placed into a prison cell with one of the most dangerous humans, like Timothy Joseph McGhee who kills people as a hobby (I wrote his Wikipedia article). I’m going to go in a different direction. The average human wouldn’t find themselves imprisoned in North Korea, or placed atop a mountain, and I feel like the question seeks a location that could realistically be visited.

The most dangerous place anyone could visit

Certain neighborhoods in Mexico would be horrific at night for an outsider, but wouldn’t be as dangerous for a local. Even in a North Korean labor camp, the prison guards are not in danger as long as they follow the rules. So I’ve challenged myself to find a place that is dangerous for absolutely anyone of any background, not just outsiders.

In my opinion, based on all my world travels, the single most dangerous place in the world would be deeply embedded in an unsafe country with the risk of human attack, coupled with the terrifying combination of natural dangers and merciless wildlife. While places in Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and the Darien Gap would certainly rank near the top, locals are again safer than visitors. Walking alone through the Serengeti amongst lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, and hippos might be even worse. But at least Tanzania is a safe country. I think I can beat all of them.

The winner

After some serious consideration, the place a human would be least likely to escape unharmed would probably be GPS coordinates 6.311697, -64.488869.

You’re standing at the top of Pará Falls perilously perched on a rock. It’s located in Venezuela’s Jaua-Sarisariñama National Park. You’re right in the middle of the powerful Caura River relentlessly blasting past you. If you fall, humans would very likely be injured by a 200-foot drop into water, especially with the river pounding you at the base. The Caura also has piranhas and crocodiles. If you don’t fall right away, there is a precarious walk across one of the widest waterfalls in the world back to the banks while trying to avoid losing your footing. You’re probability of escape is extremely low already.

If you survive round one, now you’re forced to hike out of an expansive tropical rain forest with venomous snakes and jaguars in a desperate search for any road. Tourists rarely visit this park except by helicopter because of its inaccessibility, and the rare hikers in these dense woods suffer bug bites from insects not recognized by scientists. By the way, the nearest remote dirt road is a grueling 74 miles away if you can walk in a straight line.

And now, round three. Even if you make it back to civilization, you’re still in the middle of one of the world’s most dangerous countries! Good luck getting a ride to the nearest town of Ciudad Bolivar without being robbed and either beaten or killed. The crime rate there scores a 92 out of 100! They do have an airport if you can make it.

The country of Venezuela dropped four places in 2022 on the Global Peace Index. So essentially one of the scariest nations on the planet is getting more dangerous as we speak, among the most dangerous in the world. I think few people would escape this location unscathed!

What are your favorite German expressions and what do they mean?

 

Chris Ebbert

Knows German

My all-time favorite German expression is Schrottwichtel.

It literally means “scrap gnome”, and describes the kinds of awful things we stuff into closets or keep in garages for decades, because they were perhaps given to us with good intentions by someone at some stage, yet we can’t bear to look at them. Or we won them, or bought them while drunk.

Either way, this misery has sparked a whole new event in Germany’s more humorous corners, mostly North Rhine Westphalia, where I feel somewhat more at home than in the rest of the country, due to their whacky humour and creative use of the language. It’s called Schrottwichteln, simply turning the noun of Schrottwichtel into a verb by adding an “n”.

Typically, you’d do this at company dinners.

Everyone is expected to bring the most godawful thing they can find in their attic, something they are gagging to get rid of, and then they are being given to each other - the fun of it being that you are exchanging one monstrosity for a new one, lovingly prepared for you by a colleague.

I actually have two of them myself. They are hanging in my garage, and they are the kind of terribly tacky clocks made of injection moulded plastic designers less mentally robust than me may commit suicide over being seen with, or worse, being responsible for as designers.

Here they are. One was found in the garage attic when I had bought the house, the other somehow turned up together with various used items from a Loppis, a Swedish second hand market, probably as a sort of freebie.

Note that fir trees and roaring elks are a huge bonus for any Schrottwichtel. Whatever increases the corniness makes the Wichtel more Schrott.

Failure

 

By Quel Valencia

THIS STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER ON JULY 9, 2009.

“The man I failed to help.” That was how Lisa Marie Presley described her ex-husband Michael Jackson in a recent blog post on his shocking death.

Among the millions of stories that made the rounds in the Web recalling moments shared with the King of Pop while he was still alive, it was this particular entry written by Presley that moved me to tears. Not simply because I was awed by it, but more so because her words touched my heart in an intimate manner. And her pain seemed somehow very familiar.

Presley, in her Myspace blog entry entitled “He Knew,” described how hard it was for her to make the decision to give up on MJ back then. Instead of continuing to reach out and help him overcome certain issues, Presley chose to live her own life separately, not only for her own good but also for the good of their children. She worked hard to remain indifferent towards MJ since the time they parted ways, but with his recent passing, all the pain came back to her again as she grieved for her ex-husband. His death served as a stark reminder of how, once in her life, she had failed to help a great man.

It wasn’t so long ago when I myself gave up on a brilliant yet self-destructive man. He may not be as big as MJ, but back then he meant the world to me, and my life exclusively revolved around him. He was my version of the man I failed to help. And although it has been some time since we parted ways, reading Presley’s memory of MJ brought him back to my thoughts once again.

He was the sweetest boy I knew—when he was being sweet, of course, which was for most of the time we knew each other, and especially during the time we were together. But when he was enraged, which he easily became once he found something to be irritated about, he was really in rage.

For two years, I encouraged him to change his ways and tried my best to understand where he was coming from. I saw him try to wrestle with his personal demons. And change, he did, albeit very, very slowly.

Baby steps, I proudly assumed. I saw him become a better man compared to how he was before. He learned to devote less time to his vices and more time to his work, to his music band, and best of all, to me.

But while he became mature in some ways, old habits just cannot be easily abandoned. Our fights became more frequent, and the reasons for them became more petty. He became more impatient and unreasonable, too. And then I simply snapped.

After struggling with my own monsters, torn between reaching out and giving up, I suddenly wanted out. And out I went, no ifs, and or buts about it, and no more excuses to further endure being in a rocky relationship. In short, I gave up—but with very good reasons.

I had done my part. Two years of sticking with him was no joke. Yes, it was a rewarding relationship in many respects, but it also required a lot of hard work. He never learned to fully acknowledge his issues, we never ran out of things to fight about, but the blame somehow always found its way to me.

My patience was severely tested, but every battle we fought taught me to become a stronger person. My love for him didn’t get any less, but reason found a way to make me see the bigger picture more clearly. I saw how I was always at the losing end of things. No matter how hard I tried to reach out, I never could get my point across to him fully. I extended an arm, and all he needed was to grab hold of it and pull himself in my direction. Instead he pulled me down.

I left, knowing fully well that I had failed to help him. It was with a bruised heart that I decided to finally leave.

Like Presley, I am guilty of failure, of not finding the right way to lead a man out of a hole which he had dug for himself in the very first place. At first, I thought I chose the easy way out. I thought I ended the relationship abruptly to make it easier to stop the pain and just forget. Now, more than ever, I have come to realize that I actually chose the harder route.

It is no joke to let go of a man you truly love, knowing fully well how much you love him and yet knowing clearly that you have to let him go. Because you’ve done more than enough and you can do nothing more, and it is time for him to make the change by himself.

Like Presley, I may have failed to help a man, but in retrospect, I know I did the right thing—and not just for my own good, but more importantly for his own growth as well.

Presley’s realization came too late for MJ, but for the man I failed to help, I know there is still time. Even if I may have failed to change him, I sincerely hope he finds ways to change himself.

Being able to laugh, cry, love, and express frustration openly is deeply human

 Being able to laugh, cry, love, and express frustration openly is deeply human. But do you see that emotional openness as a strength or a weakness?

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NEGATIVITY KILLS

 Chronic negativity harms physical and mental well-being by increasing stress hormones like cortisol, weakening immune function, and raising the risk of cardiovascular disease. Constantly focusing on the bad drains your energy, damages relationships, and stops personal growth.

Sometimes, we feel our life is turning miserably. Our negativity doesn't allow us to keep our eyes, ears - and, most important! -  our minds, hearts and souls opened. We're reaching our breaking point.

As I said several months ago here: this breaking point can be the prelude to our strongest moment. It is when we reach our breaking point, that we discover our real strength. Allow me to ask you, my dear readers, "What happens to you or with you when you reach your breaking point?" Do you face it or do you run away?

I'll be giving you a very simple answer: If you face it - you break it. If you run away (and/or close your ears, eyes and mouth) - it surely breaks you!

Everyday - a dull reality! Many of us will answer this question with a big YES! Actually we do like to cover a newborn's day already with a grey veil? Each day has a new face, but sometimes we don't have the strength to watch its countenance. Of course, not every day has adventures and highlights.

But we enjoy quarreling and arguing. With other people and even with ourselves.

Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that, at the same time, seemed especially desolating and painful with a particular satisfaction. Indeed, everything I have learned, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness. 

If it ever were to be possible to eliminate affliction from your earthly existence, the result would not be to make life delectable, but to make it too banal and trivial to be endurable. 

By observation, we can feel that many of us need help to manage our everyday life. We need something that would keep us going as we journey through life. Many times we can also learn from other people and their experiences.

Blue eyed or very philosophical but so very true: If the world is to be brought to order, a nation must be first changed.  If the nation isn't changed, my home town is to be reordered and must first be set right, my dear brothers and sisters. And, one step further: If my family is to be regenerated, I MYSELF MUST FIRST BE!

And here is one more thing: Affection is the humblest love - it gives itself no airs. It lives with humble and private things: soft slippers, old clothes, old jokes, and the thump of a sleepy dog's tail on the kitchen floor. The glory of affection, the disposition of mind, the good will and tender attachment, is that it can unite those who are not "made for one and another", people. Who, if not out down by fate in the same household or community, would have nothing to do with one and another.

For me life has been a thing of ups and downs in approximately equal measure. I don't have something sensational to report every day about my progress. Often, I wonder if fulfillment in life is necessarily tied to change for the better.

Alas Pilipinas closes breakthrough worlds campaign in style

 Physiotherapist Hannah de Luna, Resty Olaguir, Jhenica Sadia, Nadeth Herbon, Xyz Rayco, Madele Gale, Jhaynna Bulandres, Sharina Lleses, Caera Celis, Jello Mauricio, (front) Taj Teves, Khaira Manzano. (Volleyball World)

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Aug 20, 2026 01:36 pm

SANTIAGO, Chile — Built on just days of preparation and modest financial support, Caera Celis, Xyz Rayco, Jhaynna Bulandres, Irish Mahinay, Khaira Manzano and the rest of Alas Pilipinas Girls reached uncharted territory.

At the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship, Alas Pilipinas—supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Asics—showed the talent and resolve to compete among the best, entering the tournament ranked No. 25 and finishing in 15th spot.

The Alas Pilipinas Girls closed the tournament on a high, shaking off early troubles to defeat Czechia, 21-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22, on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Parque Estadio Nacional.

The victory capped a campaign that included a historic berth in the Round of 16 and gave the Philippines its best finish in any volleyball world championship.

Celis noted that while every moment of the tournament was special, nothing beats the feeling of winning.

“We learned a lot from every game, even when we made mistakes,” Celis said. “But the victories were for sure the most fun we had here.”

Celis, who scored 25 against Czechia, had a tournament average of 18 points per match. She matched the tournament’s third-highest total score of 162 and was fourth in total attack points at 141.

Rayni Merab Mondesi Arias of the Dominican Republic topped both departments with 217 attack points and 235 total.

Rayco, meanwhile, matched the ninth-best total in the tournament for successful receives at 38, while averaging 9.33 points. Nadeth Herbon matched the 14th-best total at 33. Chinese Taipei’s Ting-yi Chen had the highest total of 88.

Herbon, who played outside hitter twice while taking the role of libero in the other matches, was 11th in the digs department with 95. Peru’s libero Vannia Giordana Adrianzen Ocrospoma led the field with 166.

Mahinay had 15 aces to match the sixth-highest total. Italy’s Beatrice Scalzotto topped the list with 23.

While they are being celebrated back home for breaking new ground, the team that also features Madele Gale, Megan Hernandez, Sharina Rhyza Lleses, Nadeth Herbon and Resty Olaguir were quick to keep the focus on the experience they shared rather than comparisons with previous national teams.

The Alas Pilipinas team featuring Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas came within a couple of points of reaching the Round of 16 before finishing 19th at last year’s FIVB Men’s World Championship. The 1974 Philippine women’s team placed 18th in the 1974 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Mexico.

Frances Ramos, Jello Mauricio, Jhenica Sadia and Taj Arkhea Teves also played key roles as Alas Pilipinasmade it to the Round of 16 with a 2-3 record, beating world No. 8 Mexico in four sets and sweeping past No. 20 Tunisia.

The USA won the gold medal match against Turkiye, 25-23, 25-11, 25-23.

Jennylyn Mercado on returning to music: 'It's in my DNA'

By Neil Ramos

Published Aug 20, 2026 06:53 pm

At A Glance

• Jennylyn Mercado returns to music with "Jen Deluxe," opening up about her first love, her family, and why she chose to put her singing career on hold.

Jennylyn Mercado may have built a successful career as an actress, but she still wants to be known as a singer.

“Kasi nasa DNA ko na siya,” she told us. “Music is my first love and siguro, kahit saan ako dalhin ng kapalaran, I will always return to music. Ito ako e, ito ang passion ko.”

Long before she became an actress, Jennylyn was already singing in lounges and bars.  

“Parang sa pamilya kasi namin hindi puwede na hindi ka marunong kumanta,” she said.

She rose to fame after winning “StarStruck” in 2003. From there, she went on to become one of the country’s most successful actresses, starring in several hit films and series.

But she never really left music behind.

Jennylyn released several albums and scored hits including “Sa Aking Panaginip,” “Basta't Nandito Ka,” and “Kahit Sandali,” among many others.  

Then came a long lull.

It may have seemed like she was done with singing, until she announced “Jen Deluxe,” a new compilation under Star Music that will be released on streaming platforms on Aug. 21.

“Na-excite talaga ako dito kasi for the first time, hands-on talaga ako sa music ko,” she said. “Dati kasi yung process, pinapapili ka lang ng kanta then yung gusto mo, yun yung gagawin mo. With ‘Jen Deluxe,’ I was able to participate dun sa process, nakakatuwa.”

But why the long break?

“Naging busy rin talaga ako with so many things. Sunod-sunod ang naging trabaho and, of course, we got a new member of our family, Dylan. So, nag-focus ako sa family.”

“Para sa akin kasi ang music, gaya ng acting, andiyan yan e, puwede mong balikan. Pero yung panahon mo sa pamilya, lalo na sa mga bata, hindi mo na maibabalik yan e.”

Her family also became part of the inspiration for the new album.

“Because my new album is all about love, love for family, self-love, sa partner mo,” she said.

“Tsaka parang ano rin ito, reintroduction ko as a singer and performer na tipong ito na ako ngayon.”

For Jennylyn, music was never really something she left behind. It was simply something she knew she could return to when the time was right.

That time, it seems, is now.