Digital Narcissism

During the past few months, while walking on the sidewalk, numerous people bumped into me while staring down at their "smartphones". I asked a few what they were doing and not paying attention to where they were going; and they said they were "tweeting" or "texting".
So I decide to dig a bit deeper into this "digital narcissistic" tendency, and what I discovered was amazing, so I decided to share what I found.

"Digital Narcissism is a term that some use to describe the self-indulgent practices that typify all-too-much user behavior on blogs and social networking sites. People often use these mediums as tools to tune out much of the external world, while reinforcing and further rationalizing overblown esteem for their own mundane opinions, tastes and lifestyle choices"

Additionally, and to the point of this post, the digital documentation of ourselves also means that we exist. There is a common adage that if something is not on Google, it does not exist. As the world is increasingly digital, this becomes increasingly true. Especially for individuals. One adolescent told her mother, “If you’re not on MySpace, you don’t exist.”

The Internet isn’t killing anything. It’s tools, and it’s controlled by people. We are killing our culture through our miss-use of the Internet. . It’s not that I think services like blogs or twitter in themselves have a tendency to make people more self-conscious, but that more often than naught, people use the services for promotional purposes, and in the process, a lot of the personal glitter that made the early days of web-self-publishing so innovative and interesting are losing the sparkle.

Social networks aren’t doing their job. I suppose it’s because the “social” in “social network” has multiple meanings. Although people are socializing on a certain level, I find that more and more people are just using the network as a platform to boost their ego and promote themselves. This kind of digital narcissism greatly affects the kind of content they post their sites, since they are hugely interested in how others perceive them.
We are increasingly afraid of being nothing or unimportant so we develop narcissistic impulses to become real. The explosion of new ways to document ourselves online allows new outlets for importance, existence and perhaps even immortality that living only in the material world does not permit. The simple logic is that increased digital documentation of ourselves means increased digital existence. More than just social networking sites, we document ourselves on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and even increasingly with services that track, geographically, where one is at all times, often via one’s smart phone.

Take a look at this


What do you think, is it ?  "Digital narcissism" or "a new kind of shared national experience?

Walk Good

2010 is Ending

Hi
If I may take this opportunity to wish everyone, who ventures into this space, a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and safe New Year. It does not matter what religion or creed you are, the wish is given with a free and compassionate heart.
To all those going through tough times, remember that He gave his life to save ours, therefore, our hardships pale in comparison.
No one person can change the world, but one person can make a difference within a community, and in doing so, provide some happiness to one person within that community.
As the song says:
This night
We pray
Our lives
Will show
This dream
He had
Each child
Still knows
We are waiting
We have not forgotten


Please take a moment to listen and watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cP26ndrmtg

May God Bless whoever cares to read this blog.

Walk Good

The Eagle Has Landed

I wrote about her some time ago, in this session
http://morpheusramblings.blogspot.com/2008/06/ode-to.html

The time had finally arrived and I had to let her go. She was costing more to maintain, than her trade-in cost and certain expensive items were to be done in the near future, after the 2010 winter months.
I did not want to do it until next year ( 2011), but the deal was right for me to get a 2011 model with all the bells and whistles, AWD and NAV system to name a few.
The eagle landed a last week, and I had the winter tires/rims installed, undercoated.and the front clearshielded.
I will take it out in the snow and try the AWD system.
Walk Good

Lest We Forget

They fought (still fighting) and died so that I have, what I have.
FREEDOM
Walk Good

Corporate Responsibilities

The new KFC Double Down sandwich is real! This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!

Sandwich Calories Fat (g) Sodium (mg)
KFC Original Recipe® Double Down 540 32 1780
KFC Grilled Double Down 460 23 1730

Read This
Exceeding the recommended sodium intake is known to worsen hypertension, so it is important to know how much salt your body can take. According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended sodium intake (per day) for each age group is:
- 1000 mg for children aged 1 to 3
- 1200 mg for children aged 4 to 8
- 1500 mg for people aged 9 to 50
- 1300 mg for adults aged 51 to 70
- 1200 mg for seniors aged 70+
As you can see, the DD exceeds the minimum Sodium Intake for ANY age group.

Too much salt or excess sodium intake will elevate the blood pressure and cause edema (usually ankles and feet swelling). This particularly occurs in person who is more sensitive to sodium.
The kidneys regulate the amount of sodium by retain or excrete it as needed. When there’s a high amount of sodium in the body, the kidneys will excrete more sodium to balance body fluid volume while when it’s too low, the kidneys will retain more of it to maintain a normal fluid volume.
However, when the kidneys can’t excrete enough of sodium, excess sodium starts to accumulate in the body. The accumulated excess sodium then leaks to the surrounding tissues causing swelling especially in the ankles and feet. In addition, because sodium pulls and holds water, high sodium concentration in the body will lead to an increase in the blood volume. The heart then needs to work harder to maintain normal circulation thus resulting in high blood pressure.

Read This
Amid growing concerns over excessive fat and salt in the Canadian diet, KFC has launched the nutritional equivalent of a bunker-buster bomb, a package of chicken, bacon and melted cheese that delivers a mega-payload of sodium and grease. How much sodium? A total of 1,740 milligrams, which is more salt than a fully grown adult ought to eat in an entire day.
And that’s just the sodium. The Double Down also packs 540 calories, which, is the energy equivalent of two shot glasses of gasoline. A single Double Down, if burned efficiently, could heat a small bucket of ice-cold water to the point of boiling. If the “sandwich” were renewable, it would put Exxon out of business.
The point is this: Fast food has always been unhealthy. At least now it’s, ahem, interesting.
There is, alas, a problem with the Double Down, and it’s a problem no one seems to be talking about: the taste. It is salty. It’s salty the way crunching road salt between your teeth is salty. Imagine two dry but very salty pieces of otherwise flavourless chicken with salty processed cheese and salty (but oddly non-smoky) bacon in between, and you have a pretty good idea.
By selling this to customers, is KFC being greedy, do they lack corporate sensibilities and responsibilities or is this a great marketing ploy?

Walk Good

The Dance

It is that time of the year, late fall, that I often use the term “The Waltz of the Winter Readiness”.
To those in the tropics this has no meaning for you.
It is the time during which you do everything to prepare for what you know is coming…. the freezing cold weather and lots of snow.
Let me separate it into three distinct areas, namely, personal, residence and transportation.
Personal
Do not let fashion be foremost, let “warmth” be the overriding factor.
If you have stored your warm (winter) clothing in containers, then this is the time to bring them out and store the summer clothes in the containers.
You check all your warm clothing, which includes thermal long johns, winter coats, winter gloves, winter socks and/or winter boots. If you have any that needs attention e.g. cleaning, then get it done or replace the worn out ones that will not keep you warm in the winter.(mitts are warmer than gloves in winter)
Because everything is seasonal, if you need to buy new items, this is the time to go shopping for those specific items, if any needs replacing.
Get your blanket(s) washed and cleaned.(replace if required)
Have your flannelette sheets washed and cleaned.(replace if required)
Do not use any sheets with thread counts of more than 400. (the higher the thread count, the colder the sheet).
Cost range $150 - $1000
Time 10 hours (approx)

Residence
If you rent, this is not required. However, if you own your residence the dance continues.
The purpose is to prevent any cold air from entering your internal space, and stop any warm air from escaping to the outside.
If you have an A/C, then it is time to turn it off and cover the outside unit.
You will need to have your furnace cleaned and serviced.
You will check ALL windows and doors to make sure that ALL cracks to the outside (or potential cracks) are caulked and sealed. The external and internal electrical outlets are plugged.
Outside plants are winterized. This involves wrapping evergreens (to prevent wind burn), covering the roots of sensitive plants and tying/wrapping shrubs to prevent breakage when the snow is on top during the winter. If you had an indoor plant stationed outside, it will need to be sprayed (to get rid of any bugs) and taken indoors.
If you are going to shovel the snow yourself, you will need to check and replace any worn winter shovels. If you are going to have a company remove the snow (snow plow), then you need to make the arrangements now.
You will need to turn off ALL inside water taps leading to the outside. (if you don’t it may freeze and create a severed pipe and subsequent flooding)
Shut off BBQ and store the cylinder. (if you are planning on doing BBQ during the winter, then leave it available)
Cost $50 - $1500
Time 15 hours (approx)
Transportation
The basic premise is to be able to go from point A to Point B, without you freezing.
In public transportation, make sure that your walking route to or from the bus stop is the shortest available, as it will be freezing during the walk.
If you own a car, the options are different. The intent is not to get stuck in the snow/cold.
Replace the tires with winter tires. Change the oil and filter. Have the battery checked and certified for the long winter months. Have the car thoroughly checked from bumper to bumper and should include, but not limited to the following:
-brakes
-fluids (oil, transmission, differential, radiator and washer)
-suspension
-lights
-wipers
-door locks and hinges
Never let your car run with gas gauge on ¼, as this creates condensation in the tank and leads to premature rusting. Follow the rule of filling the tank as soon as the gauge reaches ½.
Cost $150 - $2000
Time 20 hours

The Winter Readiness Waltz

Walk Good.

Smartphone or not to Smartphone

SmartPhone or not
I dislike SMARTPHONES (let me get that out of the way). Let me rephrase that, I dislike the iphone and the Blackberry.
My employer provides me with a BLACKBERRY BOLD 9700 (with certain restrictions).
-Limited Texting
-No long distance calls (I must pay for them if I need to make a long distance call).
-No applications to be installed (unless approved by management).
-Units must be replaced every three months.
We got the new Blackberry Torch 9800, to trial, before we agree to do the replacement.
The Torch’s coming out party has been unprecedented for RIM, and it shows just how much the company needs this Smartphone to be a hit.
As a moderate but welcome evolution of the Blackberry line, the Torch succeeds. The question is, is that enough to fend off Apple and Android in the all-in one mobile phone market?
A smidgen thicker and heavier than the svelte Blackberry Bold 9700, the TORCH is a hybrid device with an 8:1 touch screen that slides up to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. It also boasts the latest version of the Blackberry OS, which makes the already simple task of navigating through the phone’s features more intuitive. It will take current Blackberry users time to adapt to using both touch and typing to interact with the TORCH, but overall it’s more logical.
The TORCH will be great for those who dwell in the RIM’s realm, either by choice or by the will of their corporate departments (read me). Better music & video playback features, a slick universal search function and a combined timeline of social media updates are welcome new features (had to get approval to test that one), but nothing compromises Blackberry’s greatest strength: Fast and easy e-mail.
Will the TORCH draw in customers? The keyboard-plus-touch screen combo is fantastic, but when placed side by side with iPhone/Android, the TORCH feels almost primitive. The touch screen is not as high resolution nor as responsive as the competition, and the web browsing and multimedia features, while much improved, re still not nearly as robust.
As a current Blackberry user, I find the TORCH to be more finicky than my current Blackberry Bold 9700. Little things, like Blackberry Messenger being slower to respond and the dreaded clock icon appearing more frequently, make me wonder if the slick new OS is perhaps straining the hardware a bit.
I can’t remember the last time a Blackberry caused so much of a stir. There’s still a lot of love out there for the old ‘Berry, and the TORCH will surely fan those flames.

Walk Good

Catfish Movie

THE OTHER FACEBOOK MOVIE

This is not intended as a Movie Review.

Read This

One of the truly wonderful things about social media is that it enables you to connect with people you might never have met otherwise and, in some cases, might never meet in an off-line setting at all. But how do you know the people you are connecting with over, Facebook, Twitter or even LinkedIn are, in fact, who they say they are?

Read This

CATFISH is a film that conveys the social inaccuracies and dangers of Facebook in a compelling and even disturbing way.
The subject matter on display is very timely and important. It is important in a way that will hopefully open the eyes of the younger generation that use and flaunt themselves far too heavily in the social networking age.

Read This

Fiction or non-fiction, the movie’s message is one of importance for today’s wired generation. As social networking becomes more and more a part of every day life for people of all ages, Catfish is a reminder that it’s wise to wonder what’s truly going on at the other end of the line.

Although the social networking craze is bona fide, it must be used with some basic caveat(s).
-Privacy
-Security
It would appear that most people who are using social networking fail to ascribe to either privacy or security. Whenever the user(s) privacy or security is breached, then it will be too late.

Walk Good

Do we complain too much?

B-Bitch
M-Moan
W-Whine
Some call it "ranting".
"If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it." ~Anthony J. D'Angelo,

com•plain
Is to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.
Job 10:1 - I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

What do we complain about? You name it - we can complain about it. My flight has been cancelled. The auto insurance company refused to hear my claim. It's too hot. It's too cold. My dog is in a bad mood.
People, who complain, trap themselves in a reality that constantly gives them more to complain about. Life keeps being unfair to them. Their luck is below average. They never get any real breaks. Unfortunate circumstances, seemingly beyond their control, keep manifesting. It seems totally unfair, but it isn’t. The complainers are merely witnessing the fulfillment of their own requests.
We complain about our wealth, or lack of it. I just saw a bumper sticker that said, "I'm too poor to vote Republican." Who ever has enough money? It's not fair that others have more than we do and that they have better opportunities to earn it.
One of the juiciest topics of complaint is others' actions and personalities. We're all like mental gossip columnists:
"My colleague at work doesn't turn in his work on time."
"My boss is too bossy."
"My employees are ungrateful."
"After everything I did for my kids, they moved to another town, and they don't come home for holidays."
"I'm fifty, and my parents are still trying to run my life."
"This person talks too loud."
"That one doesn't talk loudly enough, and I always have to ask her to repeat what she said."

What is the difference between complaining and discussing certain topics in a constructive way? It lies in our attitude - our motivation - for speaking. Discussing a situation involves taking a more balanced approach, in which we actively try to understand the origin of the problem and think of a remedy. In our mind we become proactive, not reactive. We assume responsibility for what is our responsibility and stop blaming others when we cannot control a situation.

For Buddhist practitioners, several meditations act as healthy antidotes to the habit of complaining. Meditating on impermanence is a good start; seeing that everything is transient enables us to set our priorities wisely and determine what is important in life. It becomes clear that the petty things we complain about are not important in the long run, and we let them go.

If you can’t influence or change something, don’t complain …. LET IT GO.

Walk Good

A War For Your Soul

The attached video covers a topic which we do not want to discuss, but discuss it we must.
If we do not, then history is bound to repeat itself.

A War For Your Soul-regular version from Erisai Films on Vimeo.

Walk Good

Paraprosdokian

This came across my desk, so I thought I would share.

Paraprosdokian sentences

A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect.

Ø I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

Ø Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Ø I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Ø Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Ø The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

Ø Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Ø If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

Ø We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.

Ø War does not determine who is right -- only who is left.

Ø Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Ø The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Ø Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

Ø To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

Ø A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. My desk is a work station.

Ø How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

Ø Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.

Ø Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.

Ø I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted paychecks.

Ø A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it.

Ø Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR."

Ø I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

Ø I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it... So I said "Implants?"

Ø Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Ø Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut and still think they are sexy.

Ø Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

Ø Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

Ø A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

Ø You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

Ø The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

Ø Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.

Ø A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

Ø Hospitality: making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were.

Ø Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

Ø I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot.

Ø Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.

Ø There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

Ø I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.

Ø I always take life with a grain of salt... plus a slice of lemon... and a shot of tequila.

Ø When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

Ø You're never too old to learn something stupid.

Ø To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

Ø Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Ø A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it.

Ø If you are supposed to learn from your mistakes, why do some people have more than one child?

Ø Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

Walk Good

The Rag Doll

THis came across my desk, and I thought I would share it with all who care to read it.

The Puppet
If for a moment God would forget that I am a rag doll and give me a scrap of life, possibly I would not say everything that I think, but I would definitely think everything that I say.

I would value things not for how much they are worth but rather for what they mean.

I would sleep little, dream more. I know that for each minute that we close our eyes we lose sixty seconds of light.

I would walk when the others loiter; I would awaken when the others sleep.

I would listen when the others speak, and how I would enjoy a good chocolate ice cream.

If God would bestow on me a scrap of life, I would dress simply, I would throw myself flat under the sun, exposing not only my body but also my soul.

My God, if I had a heart, I would write my hatred on ice and wait for the sun to come out. With a dream of Van Gogh I would paint on the stars a poem by Benedetti, and a song by Serrat would be my serenade to the moon.

With my tears I would water the roses, to feel the pain of their thorns and the incarnated kiss of their petals...My God, if I only had a scrap of life...

I wouldn't let a single day go by without saying to people I love, that I love them.

I would convince each woman or man that they are my favourites and I would live in love with love.

I would prove to the men how mistaken they are in thinking that they no longer fall in love when they grow old--not knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love. To a child I would give wings, but I would let him learn how to fly by himself. To the old I would teach that death comes not with old age but with forgetting. I have learned so much from you men....

I have learned that everybody wants to live at the top of the mountain without realizing that true happiness lies in the way we climb the slope.

I have learned that when a newborn first squeezes his father's finger in his tiny fist, he has caught him forever.

I have learned that a man only has the right to look down on another man when it is to help him to stand up. I have learned so many things from you, but in the end most of it will be no use because when they put me inside that suitcase, unfortunately I will be dying.

Walk Good

Smoke Free Society

This is NOT original...exerted from Sympatico News, by Daniela Syrovy
It depicts my quitting and outlook on the "quit" smoking movement.

A subsidized quit-smoking policy for all of Canada.

According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, there are approximately 5.5 million adult smokers in Canada. Many countries give unrestricted quit-smoking drug coverage to their entire population. With respect to smoking cessation drugs in Canada, only Quebec subsidizes ALL anti-tobacco products. While the Yukon and PEI both reimburse people for their purchases.

No matter how much smokers are taxed, no matter how hard we try to ostracize them in public, and no matter how many studies are done confirming the ill effects of cigarettes, it is unlikely that we can achieve a 100% non-smoking society. Smokers know the health risks of their habit, and will continue to light up. As a former smoker myself I understand the addiction and its sociological aspects, and I would think that it is safe to say that most smokers have tried to quit, or have wanted to quit, at some point in their smoking career. For me personally quitting was a decision I made one day, cold turkey.

Anyone I know who has quit or tried to quit usually all agree on one thing. ‘Quitting smoking is not easy.' There are a plethora of quit-smoking drugs on the market today and if the government has to foot the bill to help get people to quit smoking, so be it. Of course ‘wanting to quit' is a very important mental aspect, but sometimes a helping hand is what someone really needs to take the next step. A subsidized quit-smoking system is that hand.

It seems blatantly obvious that a country with fewer smokers is a healthier one. The cost of cessation treatments is far, far less than dealing with all the health problems (heart disease, stroke, cancers) that typically occur to the habitual smoker. Economically it is extremely advantageous to a country's health care system in the long run.

I am not one of those self-righteous people who used to smoke and now preaches the evils to any smoker I come across. Nor have I sworn a blood oath to destroy all tobacco companies on the planet. However I do know smoking is not cool. It is a disgusting habit and has no health benefits. Aid in the battle to break their habit should be available to anyone who wants it. As the broken record of non-smoking spins, just remember that when you light up, it is really only ‘BIG Tobacco' who wins.

Walk Good

Political Hypocrisy

This is my caveat.....I am not versed in the American political structure. I am not a Democrat or Republican, therefore my comments are based on what I have seen or heard, based on logic.
The war in Irag & Afghanistan is not going according to plan.
Blame it on the Obama Administration.
The economy is not working.
Blame it on the Obama Administration.
Oil spill in the Gulf.
Blame it on the Obama Administration.
There is a financial crisis in the US.
Blame it on the Obama Administration.
The banks in the US are not treating its customers properly.
Blame it on the Obama Administration.
The unemployment rate in the US is at 9-10%.
Blame it on the Obama Administration.
The US is in debt(just add zeros).
Blame the Obama Administration.
The racial divide is wider.
Blame it n the Obama Administration.

Does he do anything right, read
this

They say he was not born in the US (BTW he was born in Hawaii)
The Birthers were formed.
They say he is not doing what he promised.
The Tea Party Movement was formed.
They say he is not "black enough".
They say that he is afraid of whites?
What does that mean?...he is the President of the NATION, what does the colour of his skin have anything to do with governance?

The pundits use phrases like the following:
Right, left, conservative, liberal, independent, centre etc.
Do they know what those compartmental phrases mean or are they trying to sound intellectual.?

My question is simple.

Are they doing all this "back stabbing" because he is black?
Are they making sure that he does not get a second term because they do not want a "black" President in the White House?

Racism in the USA is alive and well.

Walk Good.

I Pray, I Weep, I Hurt

The news I received this morning was not what I wanted to hear, but I expected to hear it.
Let me try to explain, through the fog of my brain.
I have a neighbour who has always been kind to me, and when I was hospitalized in the fall on 08', she would make the time to come and see me.
She didn't have to do that.
Her husband and I would talk and exchange ideas on lawn care and other mundane stuff.
They were our friends.
Over the past few years, she has had two battles with cancer, and she survived both attacks. Seven months ago, they told me that the cancer had returned and she was booked to get radiation treatment.
I prayed and hoped that she would win another battle.
This morning I saw her husband and was given the news which hit me like a tonne of bricks.
Gloria had passed away and gone to a better place.
I wept and I hurt.
In one's life, you meet people who have an impact on you and make you a better person.
Gloria was one of those people.

To paraphrase Robert Frost
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. She has kept her promises and earned her sleep"

She is now in the arms of the angels.

My Disconnect

In this world we often see/hear stuff that begs the response of "What were they thinking".
In this case it is "What in the world are they doing"

"Ryanair wants passengers to stand during its flights so the budget airline can squeeze more people on board."

Read more here
Airline Seating

We all know that a number of airlines charge extra for each piece of luggage, including your carry on luggage.
To add fuel to the fire (so to speak), the same airline is proposing another charge.
"For customers of the airline, it appears even going to the bathroom will cost extra. Starting within several months, the airline will begin charging up to one pound, or 1 euro, for the use of the on-board airplane lavatory. In a controversial move, Ryanair has begun negotiations with Boeing, the airplane manufacturers, to lower the number of lavatories on the plane from the typical three down to just a single bathroom for up to 189 passengers."

Read the article here
Airline Charges

What next are they planning?

Walk Good.

Good Friday

My Prayer
O Jesus, Who by reason of Thy burning love for us
hast willed to be crucified
and to shed Thy Most Precious Blood
for the redemption and salvation of our souls,
look down upon us here gathered together
in remembrance of Thy most sorrowful Passion and Death,
fully trusting in Thy mercy;
cleanse us from sin by Thy grace,
sanctify our toil, give unto us and unto all those who are dear to us our daily bread, sweeten our sufferings,
bless our families, and to the nations so sorely afflicted,
grant Thy peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Thy commandments
we may come at last to the glory of heaven.

Amen.

Walk Good

Patriotism

This is the Canadian way of expressing patriotism.

"......it certainly seems as though something new and different has been happening in Canada these past two weeks - at the very least, a sudden loss of national self-consciousness."
In past Olympics, the visual media(origin USA)gave us their unbridled sense of patriotism. They only showed on TV the US athletes and nobody else mattered or counted.
It was biased and one sided, only the U.S.A did anything in the Olympics (or so they would have us believe). Now the shoe is on the other foot.

".......for all of the preparation, and all of the packaged, premeditated tugging of heartstrings, this hasn't really proceeded according to script."

"It would have been no surprise in those circumstances for the country to curl up in the fetal position, to experience a great national cringe: We weren't good enough; in the big moment, we hadn't come through; we weren't up to the task; we should never have become involved (or spent the money) in the first place."

For the entire commentary, please read Brunt's Corner

Walk Good EH!

Only In Jamaica!!!

This came across my desk, and I thought I should share.

An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the World. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to China .

On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read '$10,000 per call'.

The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for.

The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for
$10,000 you could talk to God.
The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Japan . There, at a very large cathedral, he saw
the same golden telephone with the same sign under it.

He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in China and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was.

She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for
$10,000 he could talk to God. 'O.K., thank you,' said the American.

He then traveled to Pakistan , Srilanka , Russia , Germany and France . In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same '$10,000 per call' sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel
to Jamaica to see if Jamaicans had the same phone.

He arrived in Jamaica , and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read: 'One cent per call.'

The American was surprised, so he asked the priest about the sign. 'Father, I've traveled all over world and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in the US the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?'

The priest smiled and answered, 'You're in Jamaica now, Son.
IT’S A LOCAL CALL '.

This is the only heaven on Earth.
!!KEEP SMILING!!

Tek time an walk good

Canadian Privacy commissioner reviewing Google Buzz

Concerns around Google's recently unveiled Buzz feature are deepening with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada looking into the social-networking tool.

Valerie Lawton, a spokeswoman for the privacy office, said the office is looking into concerns about Buzz.

"We understand the public concern about privacy issues related to Google Buzz," she said. "Our office is looking at the issue."

Lawton added that the office may comment further on Wednesday.

Google has ignited a hailstorm of criticism with Buzz, which adds real-time communication and media-sharing features found on popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to its Gmail service.

Buzz users can share status updates, news stories, videos and photos, and they can link in feeds from sites such as Twitter and Picasa.

In the United States, the Electronic Privacy Information Center said it plans to lodge a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission because Buzz is forcing Gmail users into a social networking service they don't necessarily want.

Read here

A common Web programming error could give hackers a way to take over Google Buzz accounts. The flaw is a "medium-sized problem" with the Buzz for Mobile Web site, said Robert Hansen, CEO of SecTheory, who first reported the issue.

Read here
Tek Time Fi Walk Good

Down The Road

"One can resist an intrusion of armies but not an idea whose time has come."
The spammers have invaded this blog, with anonymous postings in older sessions. I have been rejecting these postings as they have no legitimacy to the topic(s), however, it would appear that whoever is doing this has this blog name on a mailing list.
I do not believe in censorship, however, in this case "word verification" will be turned on, and if that fails, other methods will be utilized to stop the spamming.

If this constant spamming continues, then resistance is futile and the timely idea has come to consider closing this blog.
Whatever I have to say, has now been drowned out by the daily rejection of 5-10 anonymous postings.

Tek time fi walk good

Black History Month-2010

"This photograph was taken on King Street about 1930"

"Jamaica Public Service Co. closed the Kingston tramway system on 10 May 1948. JPSC claimed that it could not afford to maintain the right-of-way or construct needed extensions. The entire system, all lines, ran until the end. Company records indicate that, because of a public protest, the Rockfort Gardens line [see map] continued operation for a few more months, until approximately August 1948."

To see the article/research in its entirety, please read Allen Morrison's interesting page
The Tramways Of Kingston, Jamaica

© Mr Allen Morrison

Tek time fi walk good

Remember

Thanks for opening my eyes and mind with your productions at the National Dance Theatre Company(NDTC).

RIP

Tek time and walk good

The Company We Keep

This appeared in the Trinidad Guardian a few days ago. You can interpret the meaning of AJ being overweight.
The Air Jamaica History can be seen here

In 2008 this article appeared in the Gleaner Air Jamaica Bankrupt

In 2007 the newly elected Government, made it clear that it intended to divest Air Jamaica. Why would anyone try to sell an entity such as a national carrier? The simple answer is overweight. No Government could continue to subsidize an entity to the tune of $30 to $50 million per year. The is just plain wrong and insidious.

Fast forward to 2010 and the government has to go begging to the IMF. The IMF has placed certain condition(s) (usual and expected), one of which is the divestment of Air Jamaica. The deal to sell AJ to the Trinidad owned airline is almost complete (minus the enormous debt load) and now people are coming out of the woodwork wanting to stop the sale.

Please take the time to read here and
here and finally
this

-Where were they in 2007-2009?
-If the sale of AJ is not completed, the IMF will not provide the loan, so what are these people with their brilliant ideas going to do about that?
- Is the Jamaican Government supposed to consult the diaspora every time the elected representatives make a decision? These people have the gall to say that they were not consulted?
-The divestment of AJ has been going on since 2008, now they also say that they are not aware of the haste in selling AJ?
I have always maintained that the Jamaican Diaspora is looking at Jamaica through rose colored glasses and they should wake up. They cannot and will not succeed by trying to institute solutions based on North American standards, which (in most cases) are opposite to the Jamaican culture. Jamaicans do not want the diaspora to dictate to them what must be done to solve their problems.

Here is a quotation from the Observer
"The diaspora has good people who decided to live, work and contribute abroad - not in their birth land. We rejoice that they "made it" but they must not burden us with duty waivers, conferences or be self-serving dictators in our lives."
You can read the article in its entirety here

Give me a break.

Walk Good

Need I say More?

The fault line in Haiti

My thanks to Lowrie for bringing this up.

"In 1825, in return for recognizing Haitian independence, France demanded indemnity on a staggering scale: 150 million gold francs, five times the country's annual export revenue. The Royal Ordinance was backed up by 12 French warships with 150 cannon.
The terms were non-negotiable. The fledgling nation acceded, since it had little choice. Haiti must pay for its freedom, and pay it did, through the nose, for the next 122 years."

Please take a second to read the rest of the article

The Imperialists (US, France, Britain) should be ashamed of themselves.

Donkey seh dis yah worl nuh level, hill an gully yah so, hill an gully deh so.

Tek Time an Walk Good

What Did He Really Mean?

The diatribe coming out of some people has always amazed me.
Some are so entrenced in their controversal teachings, that they forget their own miniscule place in the big picture.
Let us consider the words coming from Pat Robertson, on the recent earthquake in Haiti.
"They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal [...] ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other."

Am I to believe that Mr. Robertson has had a personal conversation with the Devil?
Did God appear to Mr. Robertson and give him the whole story, note he says "true story"
Is Mr. Robertson trying to create a nominated place for himself in history and before God or the Devil?

What did he REALLY mean?

A wise man once said that tragedy is not what we
suffer, but what we miss
- Anonymous


To hear the entire interview, please listen here

Walk Good

Say WHAT!!!??

Hi
There was an article in the Jamaican Observer today (01/07/2010), in which the Prime Minister of Jamaica is quoted as asking the people to pray for God's Intervention

Now where did I hear this before..... oh yes now I remember.

I said the same thing in a blog session last year. If you are interested go read it here

Do I hear the echo of "A FAILED STATE"?

Walk Good