I recall with fond memories the days of my globe trotting. Anyone else remember all those youth hostels, where for less than the price of plastic flip flops, one had a safe harbor in a strange city, and a launching point for clued and value oriented exploration? The real value in these places was in the ability to get to know others and to benefit enormously from each other's travel experience. One can get some of this by reading The Lonly Planet travel guides, but the fun of commeraderie is absent. Totally different world from staying in fancy hotels. Sadly, hosteling is a little different now a days, but one still do some of it as we did a few decades ago. Same for hitch hiking, no? Aa.
Most of us know of how valuable house cats can be in country/farm environments. Pesky rodents, go to the home down the road. But what about in out heavily populated towns and cities? Noisy fighting all night long, marking up lawn furniture and other things, killing our lovely songbirds, and lots more. And perhaps the indoor life is best for the kitties themselves, with ectoparasites, combat scars or worst, and even predator danger. We have eagles and ospreys, not to mention foxes and hawks, here by the ocean, and all have been known to take little Pumpkins for lunch from time to time. Should our laws on pet ownership reflect these facts? We do have leash and clean up regulations for dogs. A few yeas ago, while we were away for a month on family vacation, we had a lady friend care of the kitties here. Our cats live indoors, but this lady's enabling tendencies got the best of her, and she let them roam outdoors. Fleas, cuts and diseases awaited us on returning. Aa.
The place has been a tinderbox for decades, ever since the forced occupation and shoving of occupants into the new pale. Excepting perhaps for the changes in Egyptian school books, precious little brings these folks reasons for optimism on peace with justice---the kind with real legs. So, what do you all think about the situation? Will wise and just stateswoman ship triumph, or will the Jews someday be pushed into the sea, first turning the neighborhood into a bunch of nuclear parking lots? And should such a nightmare occur, who will take them in this time? Historically a pretty short list of volunteers, sadly. D-AHM.
JH Christ pebbles! Anyone been seeing the news about how the public safety and other aspects of formerly high quality of life have been sinking in these countries? It doesn't seem to be caused by young men who arrive with families intact, whether illegally or not. Looks like young MUSLIM men arriving alone, forming ethnic violent gangs, prowling streets, parks, malls, etc., carrying blades and possibly more, and fighting, raping, killing. Sort of what the Donald said about Mexicans. Good fences make for good neighbors. Prayers for the decent people of Europe.
Attractive or a put off? Some anatomical sites more than others? Still feel the same about it now as you did when you were younger. Beards, bushes, chrome domes, etc. This morning on the Beeb they featured the trend among Sikh women to wear the turban, and ditch the razor.
In this day and age, even by a few health professionals, behaviors drenched in denial, even with well known harmful effects around their own kids, led around by their noses by big tabacco business adverts, and lots more. Interested in comments.
Several episodes of severe bad luck since began hanging with latest tomato. When first met her, began having intrusive thoughts warning me away. Thoughts?
Several episodes of severe bad luck since began hanging with latest tomato. When first met her, began having intrusive thoughts warning me away. Thoughts?
Happen all the time. Many of your parents and other family members have met foreigners, and developed wonderful lives together. One noted example is the phenomenon of war bride (husband). There are lots of reasons why foreigners are desirable. Yet many barriers exist. What are your feelings about relationships with foreigners? What are the positive and negative considerations? It's easy to list many such factors. What are yours?
Folks, in this day and age, do any of you look over an interesting profile, only to see that the person smokes, and say to yourselves, no, think I'll pass. You've heard it all,--- how expensive the addiction has become, the health effects, how smoking is associated with lower social and educational class, how bad second hand smoke is for others (especially kids), etc. For me, I seem to be getting allergic to the smoke, and dislike the odor remaining all over the smoker, and how kissing one tastes. Just interested in everyone's thoughts here, and want to say that if smokers really want to quit, there's never been a better time, with so much help available.
As a public health measure, I sometimes encourage women who smoke in their efforts to quit. Some are nurses, and many have little ones at home. Few are matches, the habit correlating so strongly with low levels of income and education. Sure, I've received some angry responses. It's none of my business. Not true, as it costs us all in insurance costs. Most say they are trying, but that it isn't easy, and they are right. It is hard to quit, but lots of help is available on line, in your provider's office, etc. And health care providers just expressing concern about a patient's smoking results in a small but real number of smokers moving in better directions of their health. Quitting the coffin nails is one of the best things you can do for your kids, family, finances and yourself.
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