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The definition of friends differs vastly on-line when compared to real life. On-line friendship appears to be a pseudo relationship that will last for only as long as it is beneficial to both parties and what may appear to be your best friend today, may become a sworn enemy overnight.

The farcical relationship between two on-line friends displays a zero tolerance to the imperfections of the other parties. It will only survive for as long as you tickle the ears of your on-line friends. Friendship in real life is much more robust and resilient against differences in opinion or views while minor squabbles are laid to rest so much easier.

On-line friendship is volatile and turbulent; it needs something to feed on. We strive to say what pleases our on-line friends, in fact we try so hard to sound politically correct to our friends that don’t say what we really mean; all in an effort to preserve the friendship, but it real life we’re not scared of such issues and such frail friendships are not even worth mentioning.

Friendship on-line is an illusion. In real life, you won’t even count cyber friends as acquaintances; simply because you don’t know them. Yet, we call strangers our friends while we don’t know anything about them. For all we know, our best friends on-line may be perverts, p*dophile, ex-convicts, scammers or any of the likes.

It is true that birds of feather flock together; we communicate with those with more or less the same outlook, but can we really call them friends? I'm not so sure if they satisfy the general criteria of being friends.


I hope you enjoy this day.

Who is looking forward to/dreading it?

I am dreading it lol.

As you may have heard, the Palestinian State and the Vatican (both nonmember observers) were added to the list of nations and had their flags added to flag staffs at the UN this week; the first time the protocol has been changed since the United Nations was formed, October 24, 1945, in place of the League of Nations. It originally had but 51 members and has grown to 193 (plus 2). As part of it’s charter the UN has participated in nearly all major and most minor conflicts, primarily as a keeper of peace between disputing groups. Depending upon your point of view, the organization is known for peace and human development while others claim it to be ineffective, corrupt or biased.

The UN is the seat of some impressive offices including The General Assembly, The Security Council, UN Secretariat, International Court of Justice, UN Economic & Social Council and the UN Trusteeship Council. With the affirmation of the two newest members will come all privileges including voting privileges which will take a new shape depending upon the view points of the new member states.

Needless to say, both Israel and the US voiced significant protests to the addition of the Palestinian’s for all the obvious reasons. While neither are a part of the security council, their allegiances will most certainly play an important part of future decisions, no matter how good or bad they might be.

While the addition of new members to the UN is certainly a reason to celebrate, such a breach of protocol after 70 years would certainly seem more politically motivated rather than the motivation of a well-meaning body. After all, if you were one of the nations that had to jump through the hoops required for membership, wouldn’t you feel a bit cheated to see two nonmember organizations being given membership so easily?

It all may simply be a gesture of good will, but only time will tell if these new inductee’s will serve the charter well or if they will only be interested in their personal agendas.

Do we need revolution, or evolution. Maybe both.

I try to look after my money, hence I check what I buy and I also check the price I have to pay ...

I encountered the following scenario at one of the shops in my town...

I saw coffee mugs and it was on sale...was R 69.00 and Now R29.00 ... I liked the mugs and bought it for R29.00 per mug.

When I got home I removed the packaging I saw there was a price at the back of the price tag I saw/and paid in the shop ... I remove that and I saw a first price which is Was R39.00 and Now R21.00.

I went back to the shop and asked them to see the original retail price of this mug. My concern was that the up mark an item only to sell this at a perceived lower price. They could give me the retail price as R69.00 but this retail price dates 11 months back. In the meantime this item is on the list of discontinued items and was on different 'sales' at different sales prices the past 11 months...is this 'fair' and should I be happy?

My concern remains that a perception is created on an item that the saving is high only to find it is old stock which sold even at a lower price I paid for it...

Americans have never had a problem making it clear what they want and what they don’t want. Years ago, the country wrestled with the idea of a Catholic presidential candidate named John F. Kennedy. Eventually, cooler heads determined that they young man could indeed think for himself and would not be taking orders from the Pope on how to serve the office of President. Many of those same principles have helped us vote into office a number of “different” people including the first black president. Race, color, creed, and political belief rarely have a serious impact on the capability of the individual to serve their nation and the daunting task of the Presidency.

All of that being said, one must also be aware of the all too important factor of timing. The timing of when a person can and should run for president is essential. Essential to gain political, financial, and emotional support to stay in and be victorious in such a daunting task. Some would say that the presidency is really all about acceptance by the majority but those that have studied the office as well as those that have served in it realize that it is really all about being able to represent the American people. Not just the majority but the minority as well. Insuring that every voice is heard and all are considered. Certainly not easy when a person tries to stay true to their own beliefs as well as represent those of others then not only might not agree with, but with whom they might have serious reservations about.

A Muslim president would face even greater scrutiny. Not only from every non-Muslin but from the devoted Muslims who claim the Quran directs all sort of things that would be in direct conflict with other major religions here that must be given equal representation without reservation. A Muslin president would have to defend the rights of others where it would also directly conflict with the views of Clerics who would certainly demand strict obedience to their own interpretative point of view.

So, while a Muslim certainly has every legal, ethical, and moral right to run for and hold the office, the challenges and difficulties of the same would seem to be insurmountable. We can only add that similar opinions were held against the idea of a Catholic president, yet we had a very successful one.

My own father used to always tell me that just about everything in life boils down to a matter of politics or timing. At this point in time it would certainly appear that here is a case where both politics and timing are all wrong. Perhaps in the future, a very moderate person of that faith might be able to be elected, but they would most certainly find the challenges to be great. We can only hope that we will once again see a day when all faiths are at peace with each other and such a person might be able to measure up in the eyes of the American public, but sadly, that day is not now nor does it appear that it will be in the near future.

Me and my son offered a prayer and a box of one of Nagoya's famous rice crackers. The altar has a large rectangular scroll with a kanji writing which I failed to ask my son about. At both sides were a vase of mint like leaves. No flowers as this particular Buddhist sect refrain from flowers and I wonder why yet I never ask why. (Those were one of the things that I just accept unquestioningly.) On the lower tier were the goodies and drinks left as offerings for the dearly departed. Then a notice caught my eyes as it was written in English. It says"Security camera in operation." I was really dumbfounded. First, the room was not more than 3 meters by 4 meters. There was a slim table and 2 chairs at one side where people can write the name for whom the offering was to be given. secondly, other than the scroll , 2 vases and goodies which I don't think would cost much, there was nothing of so great a value. There was no monetary offering hence the place seemed to have nothing of value. Not unless if the scroll i s worth a fortune. But that I don't know. So even churches have lost trust in humanity? To think that the people who came there looked moneyed and we were the only ones who were not! Really puzzling! Nevertheless, we enjoyed the day as we spent the rest of the day in the nearby city of Kyoto.

Quite often when someone older passes on...I hear people will say..."He/she had a full life"...

But this makes me confused...and I do have a couple of questions...
1) is there an age limit or minimum (60, 70, 90...) to say a person had his/her life?,
2) will we ever be 'ready' (and not referring to religion or psychological, illness), to die..., and
3), what is the definition of a 'full' life for You?

I exist on a infinite plain of selfishness and immediate compulsive sense of necessity!

Crazy morning lol. I volunteer to give people rides to work if they just call. And they may chip in for gas. So I started today with a really nice lady who's nickname is DllrBill. She lives on one end of town and then works clear on the other end of town lol.

Well the alarm went off, the cat pawed me gently as she meowed, telling me the alarms going off and I need to shut the dang thing off. lol and I rose to the sun shining in my window and smeeling the fresh breeze of the day. Nope no coffee, just a smoke and throw the clothes on grab the keys and hit the hallway, and out to the suv. Sunglasss and license and smokes n lighter in hand. Doing good cause she needs to be there at 0700!


Long story short, got her...dropped her off. And proceded on my lazy way. And with in two minutes it's----Don, come get me, they changed my schedule. I'm not working today lol. And thank goodness I was only three blocks away, when I got the call.

And back to her place we go.

And now its like 20:50 and

... where did all the time go today lol.