America Needs To Begin Dreaming Again – The American Dream and How To Restore it
In every recession or economic downturn, naturally, negativity prevails and our worries overcome our goals. The pressures of “right now” surpass the desires of our “dreams”. I, for one, am exhausted from the daily news reports about the current economic situation, the stock market, the stimulus, and worst of all – joblessness, as in this country we often define ourselves by our jobs. To believe that the American dream has become unreachable has become a logical, somewhat rational conclusion.
However, it is not true. We are a country that fought the bloodiest civil war in history, broke down the system of slavery and decades later elected the first black president, fought for the right to vote for all, and landed on the moon, among many other accomplishments. Life is circular, as are all of our situations; be it economically or even emotionally. I wanted to cite some possible ways of restoring the American Dream which seems so far deferred.
First and foremost, I want to credit the brilliant writer, Newsweek’s Fareed Zakaria, an American citizen from India, for bringing up this subject, and personalizing it. He writes, “The American dream for me, growing up in India in the 1970s, looked something like the opening credits of Dallas. The blockbuster TV series began with a kaleidoscope of big, brassy, sexy images — tracts of open land, shiny skyscrapers, fancy cars, cowboy businessmen and the very dreamy Victoria Principal. We watched bootlegged copies of the show, passed around on old Betamax cassettes. America (certainly the CBS soap-opera version of America) seemed dazzling and larger than life, especially set against the stagnant backdrop of India in the 1970s. Everyone I knew was fascinated by the U.S., whether they admitted it or not. Politicians who denounced the country by day would go home in the evenings and plot to send their kids to college in “the States.”
Of course, as the times progressed and we went to war, our heroes were assassinated, Watergate exposed a corrupt government, Zakaria understood that this American Dream is a little more complicated than meets the eye. But to his credit, not only did he never give up, he is one of the smartest, foremost writers and speakers in the media today. And so in his own way, he achieved that American Dream.
By now, you are familiar with the core issues as to why we are in the economic state of affairs we are in. What we ignore far too much is evolving globalization, and how, as Friedman cites, “The World if Flat”. In fact, the other day Tom Brokaw, an American patriot if I ever there was one, suggested that college graduates apply for jobs overseas!
While we are in fact a global world, America must grasp this, accept it, and figure out ways to excel in it; whether it is in education, trade, or foreign diplomacy, just to name a few key issues.
Let’s Dream Again
The first issue to tackle, and Zakaria makes this point as well, may be the toughest one. We need to downsize our lives. What is important to you? What happened to eating with the family at the dinner table? Now, it’s take-out or running to a restaurant for a quick, be it expensive, bite to eat.
We consume gas and buy luxury cars despite the damage this causes the environment, not to mention what it does to our global standing. It is time now, and I mean now, to make the cuts and edits in our lifestyles so that we can try to balance the deficit and the stimulus, to fix our personal and national budget, and get back on the rails to economic and spiritual recovery. Otherwise, the American Dream is nothing but that… a dream.
So, How? What Do We Do?
We invest in ourselves. Thomas Friedman and Fareed Zakaria have been arguing for years now that investing in start-ups (look at Facebook, Google, and Apple), is the way for us to grow. Let’s invest rather than consume. Let’s bet on ourselves. “Made in America” should not just be an economic goal, but it should be a stamp that represents true quality.
We need to invest in research and development in all fields. While this has to start by improving our education system, particularly in math and science, America – not China or India – should be discovering the drugs to eradicate diseases such as cancer.
This country should see itself as one big research lab where we not only come up with new medications, but new ways to live green, to get off of our addiction to foreign oil, and so many other ideas that American ingenuity has brought the world.
By investing in start-ups, we are investing in people. This is the key to getting back to “our America”.
The Government
If the Democrats and Republicans were my children, well, I would have to put them on a time-out. Enough campaigning and time to start legislating. Americans are losing faith in the very system we created – the democratic process that other countries admire. Let’s stop with the partisan politics and work to get things done.
Fareed Zakaria pointed out the following fact: “The term American Dream was coined during the Great Depression. The historian James Truslow Adams published The Epic of America in 1931, in an atmosphere of even greater despair than today’s. He wanted to call his book The American Dream, but his publishers objected. No one will pay $3.50 for a book about a “dream,” they said. Still, Adams used the phrase so often that it entered the lexicon. The American Dream, he said, was of “a better, richer and happier life for all our citizens of every rank, which is the greatest contribution we have made to the thought and welfare of the world. That dream or hope has been present from the start. Ever since we became an independent nation, each generation has seen an uprising of ordinary Americans to save the American Dream from the forces which appear to be overwhelming it.”
Well, I say we start dreaming again. We look at one another, we invest in one another, and we get the train running again. Complacency is the death of dreams, and too many people have become complacent. Help your friend find that job, or bail out a family member in danger of loosing their house.
Whatever you do, Fight Back! to keep the American Dream alive. [Fightback]
Words of Wisdom....."Realize we are all insignificant....And get your nose out of the air"
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Monday, 25 October 2010
Autumn calls you to its bosom...do not deny its call!
Suddenly theres an autumn chill in the air and golden brown everywhere! I do love the changing seasons and autumn being one of my favorites. That first step out the door at 6am to greet an orangey sunrise illuminating a pale blue sky..no artist could make it more perfect. That sharp cold chill on your nose and steamy breath making you feel so alive. A smell of damp rotting vegitation and a smouldering bonfire from the night before stimulating your senses. Fallen leaves scatter beneath your feet marking your presence and hopping rabbits in the distance scouring for food along the sheltered hedge rows. Large black crows and larks tune up for the morning chorus that announces another new day with its own unique soundtrack. The whole landscape tones down and changes to a melancholy mood and strangely this effects us too...Its as if we batton down the hatches for the next 4 months and watch tv!
Dont crawl under a stone this winter force yourself out the door to experience this changing theatre of nature with its change of scenery in colors sounds smells and moods. Theres a strange enchanting beauty in its melancholy with trees stripped bare exposing their powerful wrinkly skinned limbs and a carpet of rich brown golden leaves crunching beneath your feet in the morning frost. The barren brown ploughed fields that gave up their rich harvest just a few months before and now lay bare to the elements. That seething chill in the air that penetrates to your very soul and makes the nerve endings on your skin feel so alert.
Suddenly along the hedge rows you stumble across a flash of color in this moody landscape..its a Holly bush with a flash of blood red and still green foliage like a rebel in the rough refusing to give into natures Autumn ravages...defiant in bold bright color. Suddenly theres a stirring amongst the trees and the Larks flee screaming from the tall trees warning of danger...your adrenaline causes you to stiffen! Probably one of natures shyest creatures are slowly creeping through the undergrowth ie a herd of Deer. Their watery fearful eyes darting in every direction as they tread forward in unknown ground. Smooth brightly colored fine fur coats that fashion houses envy glisten in the early morning sun. They pass by quietly with their young hugging their tails and you are reminded we share this Earth with beautiful creatures.
As we head for home on this brisk early morning walk we feel surprisingly exhausted but exhilarated inside. Our nose is runny and feet cold but they dont distract from a warm feeling inside. Hard to explain but its a feeling similar to when something suddenly inspires your thoughts out of the blue. Modern life shields us from our natural rhythms that are meant to be in tune with the nature around us. We cut ourselves off in cushioned environments with artificial heat and light that stifle our natural instincts. We are an animal and need to connect with our natural environment to know who we are. Do not hide away this Autumn/winter...get out there you will feel better for it! CALLEN
Words of Wisdom..... "Cut your own path....Only dead fish swim with the tide"
Dont crawl under a stone this winter force yourself out the door to experience this changing theatre of nature with its change of scenery in colors sounds smells and moods. Theres a strange enchanting beauty in its melancholy with trees stripped bare exposing their powerful wrinkly skinned limbs and a carpet of rich brown golden leaves crunching beneath your feet in the morning frost. The barren brown ploughed fields that gave up their rich harvest just a few months before and now lay bare to the elements. That seething chill in the air that penetrates to your very soul and makes the nerve endings on your skin feel so alert.
Suddenly along the hedge rows you stumble across a flash of color in this moody landscape..its a Holly bush with a flash of blood red and still green foliage like a rebel in the rough refusing to give into natures Autumn ravages...defiant in bold bright color. Suddenly theres a stirring amongst the trees and the Larks flee screaming from the tall trees warning of danger...your adrenaline causes you to stiffen! Probably one of natures shyest creatures are slowly creeping through the undergrowth ie a herd of Deer. Their watery fearful eyes darting in every direction as they tread forward in unknown ground. Smooth brightly colored fine fur coats that fashion houses envy glisten in the early morning sun. They pass by quietly with their young hugging their tails and you are reminded we share this Earth with beautiful creatures.
As we head for home on this brisk early morning walk we feel surprisingly exhausted but exhilarated inside. Our nose is runny and feet cold but they dont distract from a warm feeling inside. Hard to explain but its a feeling similar to when something suddenly inspires your thoughts out of the blue. Modern life shields us from our natural rhythms that are meant to be in tune with the nature around us. We cut ourselves off in cushioned environments with artificial heat and light that stifle our natural instincts. We are an animal and need to connect with our natural environment to know who we are. Do not hide away this Autumn/winter...get out there you will feel better for it! CALLEN
Words of Wisdom..... "Cut your own path....Only dead fish swim with the tide"
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
The price of Liberation + Freedom $7.500
It was just another every day event in downtown Afghanistan in 2010. Our brave Coalition forces were doing their brave duty for their country and helping to keep the free world free although I'm not quite sure what that means anymore? I sat in the comfort of my UK living room on a lazy Autumn afternoon watching my TV as events unfolded on just another day in some back water dusty village in Afghanistan. Some TV camera crew were following a Platoon of American Marines on their latest mission. Apparently some Afghan farmer familiar with the American routine of paying Yankee Dollars for any information regarding the Taliban told a local patrol that he saw the Taliban resting in a nearby village so....B-Platoon who were exhausted after a recent mission where they had lost a friend to an IED [improvised Explosive Device] were ordered to move in and investigate. There were the usual moans about not having enough rest time....that they'd only just got back from the previous mission..had lost a comrade etc all ignored by their commander who told them to get off their asses and make some kills as theres bad guys in that village yonder.
It was a blistering hot afternoon and the mood amongst the Platoon was sombre as they slowly paced forward across the dusty field at the north of the village. They knew the drill after countless other missions in this never ending game of cat + mouse with the enemy. Trouble was they can never distinguish the Taliban from the innocent locals because they all wore the same Tribal garb of flowing sack like gowns and cloth head dress. The guys in the Platoon all called them Ragheads and had little respect for their traditions. All they could think of was witnessing the bloody human remains of fellow Marines blown up by IED's over the past 6 months of tour duty. it made the most compassionate of men hardened and insensitive to human suffering. such ugly unthinkable scenes caused a trauma and weariness in war torn men and they knew it paid to be ready for immediate action..oh yes they were trigger happy because it kept you alive in this place.
They crept up to the perimeter of the village and ahead of them were a small group of children playing which was the norm. a few Afghan men having noticed the approaching soldiers scurried away in fear although this could so easily be mis-interpreted as suspicious to the untrained eye. a while later others rushed inside buildings slamming the door and covering windows. There was only one thing in the Marines minds as they broke cover and rushed forward in a group shouting out orders with guns at the ready and that is the report says there are Taliban here! Doors were kicked in and amongst the sudden chaos a few stun grenades were thrown into dwellings causing screams and shouts amongst the terrified locals. Shots were fired and no one really knew if it was from your fellow Marines or the enemy....tension..fear..mayhem..all the ingredients of this situation. It was almost a normal reaction that one Marine heard firing and thought it was coming from a nearby dwelling so fired a propelled grenade from his assault rifle through the window. A huge bang and it was all suddenly quiet.
Fifteen minutes later and it was alover. All buildings were declared cleared and safe. the locals had been rounded up in the centre of the compound and were being interrogated. some were sitting on the ground placid with their hands tied by plastic ties while mothers were crying and children shaking in fear. A few Afghan men were shouting in agitated tones and waving their arms around but as far as the Marines were concerned it was a successful mission with no casualties taken. The village elders managed to speak in broken English that they had been mistaken..that there were no Talban here at all..that they had mistakenly killed innocent people.
Then it all came to light...The two buildings where grenades had been fired into one of them contained a mother and her two children..they had been frightened and were afraid to come out of the building. The distraught father of that family was lead forward by an Elder and could barely stand up in his sobbing grief. The Marine Lieutenant was shown inside one of the buildings to find the scattered bloody bodies of two small children..one a little girl of around 10 in her ragged dress and a boy of 5 or so..in the corner lay the mother with her stomach ripped open and flies were already feasting on her warm blood in that damning heat. The Lieutenant barely showed any emotion as he scanned the scene...he'd seen it all before so many times and it was a consequence of war.
He ordered the medic to give the father some sedative to calm him down. through the village elder he tried to console him and explain as best he could that sadly mistakes happen in this war environment and his men were there to protect them and not harm them. The father looked up with a cold expression and dead eyes filled with tears...it was his wife..his son..his daughter. His life was destroyed in an instant and why?
It is standard procedure with the Marines that if such incidents occur then the commander of any Platoon are authorized to pay instant compensation to any innocent surviving victims of comflict and they carry an amount of money for this very purpose. The standard amount per life is $2,500 each....so the Marine private carefully counted out $7,500 and handed it to the almost lifeless father while explaining through the village elder that this was monetary compensation in order to help him get over his loss. shorty after this the Company departed from the village and headed back to base for some much needed rest time..they were relieved they had survived another day in this hot hell hole and upheld the flag of Freedom for these backward people. CALLEN
Words of Wisdom......"Great minds have always encountered violent opposition from.....mediocre minds"
It was a blistering hot afternoon and the mood amongst the Platoon was sombre as they slowly paced forward across the dusty field at the north of the village. They knew the drill after countless other missions in this never ending game of cat + mouse with the enemy. Trouble was they can never distinguish the Taliban from the innocent locals because they all wore the same Tribal garb of flowing sack like gowns and cloth head dress. The guys in the Platoon all called them Ragheads and had little respect for their traditions. All they could think of was witnessing the bloody human remains of fellow Marines blown up by IED's over the past 6 months of tour duty. it made the most compassionate of men hardened and insensitive to human suffering. such ugly unthinkable scenes caused a trauma and weariness in war torn men and they knew it paid to be ready for immediate action..oh yes they were trigger happy because it kept you alive in this place.
They crept up to the perimeter of the village and ahead of them were a small group of children playing which was the norm. a few Afghan men having noticed the approaching soldiers scurried away in fear although this could so easily be mis-interpreted as suspicious to the untrained eye. a while later others rushed inside buildings slamming the door and covering windows. There was only one thing in the Marines minds as they broke cover and rushed forward in a group shouting out orders with guns at the ready and that is the report says there are Taliban here! Doors were kicked in and amongst the sudden chaos a few stun grenades were thrown into dwellings causing screams and shouts amongst the terrified locals. Shots were fired and no one really knew if it was from your fellow Marines or the enemy....tension..fear..mayhem..all the ingredients of this situation. It was almost a normal reaction that one Marine heard firing and thought it was coming from a nearby dwelling so fired a propelled grenade from his assault rifle through the window. A huge bang and it was all suddenly quiet.
Fifteen minutes later and it was alover. All buildings were declared cleared and safe. the locals had been rounded up in the centre of the compound and were being interrogated. some were sitting on the ground placid with their hands tied by plastic ties while mothers were crying and children shaking in fear. A few Afghan men were shouting in agitated tones and waving their arms around but as far as the Marines were concerned it was a successful mission with no casualties taken. The village elders managed to speak in broken English that they had been mistaken..that there were no Talban here at all..that they had mistakenly killed innocent people.
Then it all came to light...The two buildings where grenades had been fired into one of them contained a mother and her two children..they had been frightened and were afraid to come out of the building. The distraught father of that family was lead forward by an Elder and could barely stand up in his sobbing grief. The Marine Lieutenant was shown inside one of the buildings to find the scattered bloody bodies of two small children..one a little girl of around 10 in her ragged dress and a boy of 5 or so..in the corner lay the mother with her stomach ripped open and flies were already feasting on her warm blood in that damning heat. The Lieutenant barely showed any emotion as he scanned the scene...he'd seen it all before so many times and it was a consequence of war.
He ordered the medic to give the father some sedative to calm him down. through the village elder he tried to console him and explain as best he could that sadly mistakes happen in this war environment and his men were there to protect them and not harm them. The father looked up with a cold expression and dead eyes filled with tears...it was his wife..his son..his daughter. His life was destroyed in an instant and why?
It is standard procedure with the Marines that if such incidents occur then the commander of any Platoon are authorized to pay instant compensation to any innocent surviving victims of comflict and they carry an amount of money for this very purpose. The standard amount per life is $2,500 each....so the Marine private carefully counted out $7,500 and handed it to the almost lifeless father while explaining through the village elder that this was monetary compensation in order to help him get over his loss. shorty after this the Company departed from the village and headed back to base for some much needed rest time..they were relieved they had survived another day in this hot hell hole and upheld the flag of Freedom for these backward people. CALLEN
Words of Wisdom......"Great minds have always encountered violent opposition from.....mediocre minds"
Thursday, 30 September 2010
TV Celebs who get my goat in the UK [Humorous Rant]
TV persons that get my goat...
JONATHON ROSS This ego ponce isnt good at anything but you couldnt get away from him before the BBC booted him off. The reason was that he used to be on one of the new contracts that means he was paid ridiculous amounts of money and they used him as much as possible. He has a motor mouth and loves the sound of his own voice..which is surprising as he has a lisp. listen to his radio shows and music hardly gets a play he could talk for hours. on his chat shows hes dragged them down to a new low with his 6th form sense of humor which is embarrassingly childish and every other sentence is a sexual innuendo you can see some of his sophisticated guests cringe. hes just not good at them. he pops up presenting at award ceremonies where presentation skills and clarity of speech is vital yet he lisps and pronunciation is poor. He pops up on endless quiz shows and trys to take over. every time a camera catches him even if its in the street he has to be loud and the centre of attention. Smug..arrogant..loud..ego..everything the BBC didnt used to represent.
EAMON HOLMES used to be the housewives chubby pin-up a few years ago on daytime TV because of his easy manner and soft Irish tones. but now hes ballooned in size and lost his sense of timing. hes also become smug and developed a patronising manner that irritates. hes never seen now without a clip board that he reads from. he has a habit of looking off camera and looking totally disinterested with the subject matter he presents which is so unprofessional. Lacking in any type of humor he often slips in little condescending remarks when presenting and trys to be-little his partner Ruth Langsford. smug and miserable!
JEREMY CLARKSON used to be funny but now hes grown into a bigot. a scruffy middle aged man whos a loud mouthed ranter that still thinks hes 19..the sort of dad any kid would be embarrassed over. he talks over everyone and thinks only his opinion counts. a petrol head whos breathed in so many fumes the logical part of his brain has evaporated. he slags every world car manufacturer off yet forgets that Britain dosent own or make their own cars anymore and that his livihood depends on them. I've heard also that in reality hes a crap driver. He represents a dinosaur image of yesterdays aggressive macho chauvinistic hetro male with his bad hair cut and bad dress sense...faded denims and suit jackets...His presenting style relies on gimmickry and corny soundbites rather then concise motoring facts with a dose of adult humor..hes an embarrassment. Big mouth and Bigot.
GORDON RAMSEY we cant get away from fecking cookery shows..whats going on!? This glorified cook who acts likes hes on cocaine or Speed all the time makes me steam...watch him next time hes on he cant keep still. his craggy lined face that looks like its been grilled on gas mark 6 for 2 years is always sweaty. his mouth never stops rabbiting. he has made arrogance and swear words fashionable on his own. he smugly charms the ladies on camera and humiliates men when they're off guard. To me he epitomises an arse-hole and has helped dumb down television with his TV F-Word shows. He has been criticised for defamation of women in the past as well as cheating on his long suffering wife. His presenting style is to goad and be-little those he is supposed to be training just for the cringe effect. Bully and Chauvinist.
Davina McCall. Where on earth did this manic idiotic woman come from? Shes incapable of an intelligent normal consistent conversation without falling into a hissy fit like some deranged teenager. Her facial expressions during such fits are a cartoonists dream. Famous for presenting TVs reality show 'big Brother' where she struts and animates before the shaky hand held cameras she is the perfect training example of how 'not to present'. Whenever she appears on a TV screen I feel like being violent. Stupid and Manic
These above are some of the reasons I've gone off TV...who irritates you on the small screen?? CALLEN
Words of Wisdom..." Its a crime in British eyes....to rise above your station."
JONATHON ROSS This ego ponce isnt good at anything but you couldnt get away from him before the BBC booted him off. The reason was that he used to be on one of the new contracts that means he was paid ridiculous amounts of money and they used him as much as possible. He has a motor mouth and loves the sound of his own voice..which is surprising as he has a lisp. listen to his radio shows and music hardly gets a play he could talk for hours. on his chat shows hes dragged them down to a new low with his 6th form sense of humor which is embarrassingly childish and every other sentence is a sexual innuendo you can see some of his sophisticated guests cringe. hes just not good at them. he pops up presenting at award ceremonies where presentation skills and clarity of speech is vital yet he lisps and pronunciation is poor. He pops up on endless quiz shows and trys to take over. every time a camera catches him even if its in the street he has to be loud and the centre of attention. Smug..arrogant..loud..ego..everything the BBC didnt used to represent.
EAMON HOLMES used to be the housewives chubby pin-up a few years ago on daytime TV because of his easy manner and soft Irish tones. but now hes ballooned in size and lost his sense of timing. hes also become smug and developed a patronising manner that irritates. hes never seen now without a clip board that he reads from. he has a habit of looking off camera and looking totally disinterested with the subject matter he presents which is so unprofessional. Lacking in any type of humor he often slips in little condescending remarks when presenting and trys to be-little his partner Ruth Langsford. smug and miserable!
JEREMY CLARKSON used to be funny but now hes grown into a bigot. a scruffy middle aged man whos a loud mouthed ranter that still thinks hes 19..the sort of dad any kid would be embarrassed over. he talks over everyone and thinks only his opinion counts. a petrol head whos breathed in so many fumes the logical part of his brain has evaporated. he slags every world car manufacturer off yet forgets that Britain dosent own or make their own cars anymore and that his livihood depends on them. I've heard also that in reality hes a crap driver. He represents a dinosaur image of yesterdays aggressive macho chauvinistic hetro male with his bad hair cut and bad dress sense...faded denims and suit jackets...His presenting style relies on gimmickry and corny soundbites rather then concise motoring facts with a dose of adult humor..hes an embarrassment. Big mouth and Bigot.
GORDON RAMSEY we cant get away from fecking cookery shows..whats going on!? This glorified cook who acts likes hes on cocaine or Speed all the time makes me steam...watch him next time hes on he cant keep still. his craggy lined face that looks like its been grilled on gas mark 6 for 2 years is always sweaty. his mouth never stops rabbiting. he has made arrogance and swear words fashionable on his own. he smugly charms the ladies on camera and humiliates men when they're off guard. To me he epitomises an arse-hole and has helped dumb down television with his TV F-Word shows. He has been criticised for defamation of women in the past as well as cheating on his long suffering wife. His presenting style is to goad and be-little those he is supposed to be training just for the cringe effect. Bully and Chauvinist.
Davina McCall. Where on earth did this manic idiotic woman come from? Shes incapable of an intelligent normal consistent conversation without falling into a hissy fit like some deranged teenager. Her facial expressions during such fits are a cartoonists dream. Famous for presenting TVs reality show 'big Brother' where she struts and animates before the shaky hand held cameras she is the perfect training example of how 'not to present'. Whenever she appears on a TV screen I feel like being violent. Stupid and Manic
These above are some of the reasons I've gone off TV...who irritates you on the small screen?? CALLEN
Words of Wisdom..." Its a crime in British eyes....to rise above your station."
Silly thinking tee hee......
It may be wishful thinking on my part but I think natures got it wrong as regard humans being born as wee babies! we should be born old! Consider these advantages for a moment....... The average age of death in this country stands at around 75 because of our current diet and lifestyle so the chances are You are gonna die of heart attack/cancer/organ failure around that age so.......for arguments sake we should be born at 75.
There would be little difference as regards care..like a baby we'd still need looking after by mum/dad [they'll be younger than us] will need to wear a nappy as baby would due to incontinence. would need to be pushed around in a wheelchair instead of a pram/pushchair. would need to learn things again and be educated like a child as old age causes senile dementia. would have to be spoon fed etc etc so overall little difference in care at the beginning of life.
But the great advantages are......as we grow younger and learn lifes skills which takes time. along the way we will perfect our skills in every area and gain wisdom but this will combine with us being at our best physically too..what a great combination! that the mind will be at its best along with youthful good looks stamina enthusiasm sexual prowess energy.
with everything our brain has learned and our physical best we would be unstoppable!
Other advantages would be we would die as a baby and need less burial space. smaller young peoples homes [yap] at the end of our lives. less food as we would only need to be bottle fed with liquid foods. a few cheap plastic toys would amuse us etc etc less resources needed overall. there must be other advantages I've missed...can you think of any if this was possible??? CALLEN
Words of Wisdom..." Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow.....it only saps today of its joy "
There would be little difference as regards care..like a baby we'd still need looking after by mum/dad [they'll be younger than us] will need to wear a nappy as baby would due to incontinence. would need to be pushed around in a wheelchair instead of a pram/pushchair. would need to learn things again and be educated like a child as old age causes senile dementia. would have to be spoon fed etc etc so overall little difference in care at the beginning of life.
But the great advantages are......as we grow younger and learn lifes skills which takes time. along the way we will perfect our skills in every area and gain wisdom but this will combine with us being at our best physically too..what a great combination! that the mind will be at its best along with youthful good looks stamina enthusiasm sexual prowess energy.
with everything our brain has learned and our physical best we would be unstoppable!
Other advantages would be we would die as a baby and need less burial space. smaller young peoples homes [yap] at the end of our lives. less food as we would only need to be bottle fed with liquid foods. a few cheap plastic toys would amuse us etc etc less resources needed overall. there must be other advantages I've missed...can you think of any if this was possible??? CALLEN
Words of Wisdom..." Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow.....it only saps today of its joy "
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Political games
Here in the UK at the moment theres a media circus going on because one of our main Political parties are electing a new leader. 'New Labour' which lost the recent Election after governing for the past 13 years are suddenly out of Political fashion and bad news so...its the normal rush to clear out the old faces and re-invent themselves in the hope of attracting back the defecting voters. its all a Political PR game of course which happens every time a party is defeated but...worryingly the game usually works on the British public.
What makes the 2010 edition of the game more interesting is that the main two contenders for the leadership of the Labour party are in fact brothers ie
Edward and David Miliband. both middle class public school boys and opposites in character, David the older brother being very forth right and outgoing. A sharp mind and quietly confident with leadership qualities etc where as his younger Brother Edward is the quiet introvert one who has always stayed in his older brothers shadow in the past. always in the back ground working away quietly without a fuss. they couldnt be more different. Older brother David has been in the forefront of the last governments success having helped in the initial planing at their 1997 victory. Indeed he was tipped by the party and the media alike to be the next leader of the party.
Well surprise the leadership contest is over..voting is counted. The media whipped up a circus about it and it was truely a political soap being played out on our TV screens. Everyone could relate to two siblings scrapping it out in the media glare and everyone thought the more wise experienced older brother would triumph..it was already on the cards wasnt it..you could see on their faces the older brother supremely confident and the younger one almost shyly blushing at all the fuss being made in front of the cameras, Well another surprise the younger brother won by a slim margin of 1% and it was put down to Trade Union members backing. everyone was shocked at the outcome no more so then the younger brother winner himself..he looked almost embarrassed by the outcome.
Well no real surprise to Political watchers really ie you just got to sift through the facts behind the medias bright lights. Older brother David was a strong supporter of ex Prime Minister Tony Blair and publicly stated he wanted to carry on New Labours policies. what was he thinking? did he not notice that Tony Blair and New Labour were in fact bad news this year? People in their millions have realised the illegal wars in Irag/afghanistan were in fact illegal and wrong in the first place..that Labour got us into the biggest debt through bad management since the Second World War..that Labour has willingly allowed this country to develope a Big Brother police State..that their policies have made this world an unsafer place from attacks from terror-ism. On those issues alone which older brother David supported were enough to see him lose even though it was a slim margin.
Younger brother Edward did not support many of Labours far right wing policies including the illegal wars although he towed the party line at the time and kept quiet so the unions backed him. but...the important theme here is that its all a game. Its well written that todays Politics are governed by well established guidelines. ie to be sure of any victory these days you have got to ensure two things..one is be popular to the middle ground or mainstream voters which translates as middle of the road Politics without veering to left or right policies because the middle ground voters make up the biggest voting mass. secondly the same rule applies that you have to be media savvy and liked. The media success wins elections so again it has to be middle of the road. Its little surprise younger brother Edward is a good choice because hes a clean sheet and not much is known about him. what better way to invent a new start? The party can write whatever they wish onto that clean sheet where as his brothers support for old Blair policies was yesterdays news and even the party feared mass non support of the illegal wars/economy measures would turn voters away. They know Edward is the safer bet to attract old and new voters at the next Election.
Bad news is of course that Britain is stuck in the muddy middle ground for the forseeable future as thats the working model thats been moulded. I believe the 2-party system we have been stuck in the past 50s years is part of our problem in this country. we cant escape it and nowadays they are indeed both the same ie middle ground because they have to be to win. its a sham and isnt true Democracy when you weigh it all up. The last 'New Labour' government set the mould. The old Labour party with its Socialist aims were hijacked by the gang of 4 [Tony Blair-Gordon Brown-Peter Mandleson-Alastair Campbell] in the 1990s. They used the old Labour brand and re-invented a new 'Tory' party and used well proven American Election techniques to win the election. With a huge majority in the House of Commons at their election win in 1997 they could do what they liked and indeed totally ditched Socialist ideals in favor of 'Tory' policies which they most copied from the Conservative Party. We are in a Political mess in this country and theres no real Domcracy anymore..worse still joe public mostly dont see it! CALLEN
Words of Wisdom....." Ignore the warnings of past history....and you are doomed to repeat it."
What makes the 2010 edition of the game more interesting is that the main two contenders for the leadership of the Labour party are in fact brothers ie
Edward and David Miliband. both middle class public school boys and opposites in character, David the older brother being very forth right and outgoing. A sharp mind and quietly confident with leadership qualities etc where as his younger Brother Edward is the quiet introvert one who has always stayed in his older brothers shadow in the past. always in the back ground working away quietly without a fuss. they couldnt be more different. Older brother David has been in the forefront of the last governments success having helped in the initial planing at their 1997 victory. Indeed he was tipped by the party and the media alike to be the next leader of the party.
Well surprise the leadership contest is over..voting is counted. The media whipped up a circus about it and it was truely a political soap being played out on our TV screens. Everyone could relate to two siblings scrapping it out in the media glare and everyone thought the more wise experienced older brother would triumph..it was already on the cards wasnt it..you could see on their faces the older brother supremely confident and the younger one almost shyly blushing at all the fuss being made in front of the cameras, Well another surprise the younger brother won by a slim margin of 1% and it was put down to Trade Union members backing. everyone was shocked at the outcome no more so then the younger brother winner himself..he looked almost embarrassed by the outcome.
Well no real surprise to Political watchers really ie you just got to sift through the facts behind the medias bright lights. Older brother David was a strong supporter of ex Prime Minister Tony Blair and publicly stated he wanted to carry on New Labours policies. what was he thinking? did he not notice that Tony Blair and New Labour were in fact bad news this year? People in their millions have realised the illegal wars in Irag/afghanistan were in fact illegal and wrong in the first place..that Labour got us into the biggest debt through bad management since the Second World War..that Labour has willingly allowed this country to develope a Big Brother police State..that their policies have made this world an unsafer place from attacks from terror-ism. On those issues alone which older brother David supported were enough to see him lose even though it was a slim margin.
Younger brother Edward did not support many of Labours far right wing policies including the illegal wars although he towed the party line at the time and kept quiet so the unions backed him. but...the important theme here is that its all a game. Its well written that todays Politics are governed by well established guidelines. ie to be sure of any victory these days you have got to ensure two things..one is be popular to the middle ground or mainstream voters which translates as middle of the road Politics without veering to left or right policies because the middle ground voters make up the biggest voting mass. secondly the same rule applies that you have to be media savvy and liked. The media success wins elections so again it has to be middle of the road. Its little surprise younger brother Edward is a good choice because hes a clean sheet and not much is known about him. what better way to invent a new start? The party can write whatever they wish onto that clean sheet where as his brothers support for old Blair policies was yesterdays news and even the party feared mass non support of the illegal wars/economy measures would turn voters away. They know Edward is the safer bet to attract old and new voters at the next Election.
Bad news is of course that Britain is stuck in the muddy middle ground for the forseeable future as thats the working model thats been moulded. I believe the 2-party system we have been stuck in the past 50s years is part of our problem in this country. we cant escape it and nowadays they are indeed both the same ie middle ground because they have to be to win. its a sham and isnt true Democracy when you weigh it all up. The last 'New Labour' government set the mould. The old Labour party with its Socialist aims were hijacked by the gang of 4 [Tony Blair-Gordon Brown-Peter Mandleson-Alastair Campbell] in the 1990s. They used the old Labour brand and re-invented a new 'Tory' party and used well proven American Election techniques to win the election. With a huge majority in the House of Commons at their election win in 1997 they could do what they liked and indeed totally ditched Socialist ideals in favor of 'Tory' policies which they most copied from the Conservative Party. We are in a Political mess in this country and theres no real Domcracy anymore..worse still joe public mostly dont see it! CALLEN
Words of Wisdom....." Ignore the warnings of past history....and you are doomed to repeat it."
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Lifes a personal journey of private thoughts
During quiet reflective moments when we find ourselves alone..maybe listening to a piece of music and having a glass of wine etc our thoughts can so easily drift off to another place. Maybe thinking about our lives... families....mistakes we've made and how different we would have handled things if we had the benefit of hindsight....we have both good and bad in every one of us..its a choice we have which we allow to surface in any given situation..strength of character help us decide which comes through.
We may think of lifes disappointments....be it a lost opportunity....a partner who betrayed our trust...an illness or death in the family or friend.....a stab in the back from a person you thought was a friend....that life hasnt turned out how you had hoped it would etc etc it can be painful to look back too deeply sometimes but hard not to do because the past has shaped us. I have suffered all the above and more that I wouldnt dare disclose but......I think the consistant thread through it all is that people not events are the biggest disappointment in life.
Lifes journey is a personal one along a bumpy winding road. along the way we will come across influences good and bad the secret is to distinguish between the two which isnt always easy because some carry the characteristics of fun....attractiveness...goodness etc but this shouldnt be a surprise because Chameleons are there to tempt us. We also at times seek guidence from others and again there are dangers to be aware of....it seems in this crazy hectic fast moving modern world of ours we sometimes secretly need a figurehead or god which has become a weak crass thing to admit for many. but it is in our nature to seek leaders for we are fundamentally a herd like animal. because religion is on the decline in western society we drift toward false gods whom we relate to in different ways usually from the world media..people like music/movie stars...politicians....fashion icons etc etc I was reminded of the madness involved in such things a while ago when pop star Michael Jackson died. The mass hysteria and outpouring of emotions went far beyond the norm and was what you might expect from the passing of a Messiah..but than he resembled a Messiah to many people but to me hes a clear example of a false god and the vulnerabilty and need of some people.
We travel through lifes journey and inevitably make mistakes along the way..its a learning process. we need to be aware and recognise such things..at times reflect on them. We hopfully will come to learn that this journey is one that can only be travelled alone. we seek warmth and comfort along the way from materialism... friends...lovers...family etc but life is lived inside our mind. its an intimate environment of thoughts..feelings..drives..instincts...physical experiences. At the end of the day material things are only props along the way they're not real. only other people are real yet we find it so difficult to connect with others with love...why? ha ha this sounds a little like a religious text but..I'm not religious at all. These private thoughts are spoken outloud in a searching way..we are all searching if we are honest..we must all have similar thoughts and questions that need to be answered..the ultimate goal is surely understanding..peace of mind...the yearning for contentment and self happiness. have you found a tranquil place in this thing called life? have your questions been answered? are you still searching?? yes life is a long windy bumpy road tis true...
PS. words of wisdom......" if a person does wrong things it dosent make them bad..just human! "
We may think of lifes disappointments....be it a lost opportunity....a partner who betrayed our trust...an illness or death in the family or friend.....a stab in the back from a person you thought was a friend....that life hasnt turned out how you had hoped it would etc etc it can be painful to look back too deeply sometimes but hard not to do because the past has shaped us. I have suffered all the above and more that I wouldnt dare disclose but......I think the consistant thread through it all is that people not events are the biggest disappointment in life.
Lifes journey is a personal one along a bumpy winding road. along the way we will come across influences good and bad the secret is to distinguish between the two which isnt always easy because some carry the characteristics of fun....attractiveness...goodness etc but this shouldnt be a surprise because Chameleons are there to tempt us. We also at times seek guidence from others and again there are dangers to be aware of....it seems in this crazy hectic fast moving modern world of ours we sometimes secretly need a figurehead or god which has become a weak crass thing to admit for many. but it is in our nature to seek leaders for we are fundamentally a herd like animal. because religion is on the decline in western society we drift toward false gods whom we relate to in different ways usually from the world media..people like music/movie stars...politicians....fashion icons etc etc I was reminded of the madness involved in such things a while ago when pop star Michael Jackson died. The mass hysteria and outpouring of emotions went far beyond the norm and was what you might expect from the passing of a Messiah..but than he resembled a Messiah to many people but to me hes a clear example of a false god and the vulnerabilty and need of some people.
We travel through lifes journey and inevitably make mistakes along the way..its a learning process. we need to be aware and recognise such things..at times reflect on them. We hopfully will come to learn that this journey is one that can only be travelled alone. we seek warmth and comfort along the way from materialism... friends...lovers...family etc but life is lived inside our mind. its an intimate environment of thoughts..feelings..drives..instincts...physical experiences. At the end of the day material things are only props along the way they're not real. only other people are real yet we find it so difficult to connect with others with love...why? ha ha this sounds a little like a religious text but..I'm not religious at all. These private thoughts are spoken outloud in a searching way..we are all searching if we are honest..we must all have similar thoughts and questions that need to be answered..the ultimate goal is surely understanding..peace of mind...the yearning for contentment and self happiness. have you found a tranquil place in this thing called life? have your questions been answered? are you still searching?? yes life is a long windy bumpy road tis true...
PS. words of wisdom......" if a person does wrong things it dosent make them bad..just human! "
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