MY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE – 2009

My dear Brothers and Sisters:

Today, December 1st 2009 is my birthday.   Over the last year I have completed my book:  “My Story” – Reminiscences during my life beginning 1914, and published it on this Weblog.   We also celebrated the second anniversary of the Weblog on October 21, 2009.  This Weblog has connected with old friends, former students and made me new friends as they discover its contents and communicate with me.  I truly look forward to your e-mails and kind words of encouragement, as they give me the energy and will power to carry on.

In August, I was also awarded the “Graypow Award” as the oldest blogger on the Internet and for “an outstanding website, which inspires everyone, and especially senior citizens, to be active and embrace continuous learning”.   In October, an award was presented by the Indian High Commissioner to me,  on behalf of the Guyana Hindi Prachar Sabha for my work in helping them in the propagation of Hindi in Guyana, for doing all the Hindi correspondences, and for editing  Gyanda, their monthly journal.

On this my birthday I must say: Providence has permitted me to remain on this beautiful planet Earth for ninety-seven years and has provided the means for my sustenance, has preserved me from many dangers, but most of all has afforded me good companions, friends and mentors who have helped to shape me into the being who I now am. It is unfortunate that it is only now I am able to see clearly how much each of these good people has contributed to whatever I have accomplished and what I have taken for granted.  I never thanked them the way I should.  It would have meant so much happiness to them.

During my lifetime, I have learnt that it is better to make friends than enemies; and though we may need an enemy to test our patience, our tolerance, our courage and forbearance, we must consider him a friend. Our tolerance and other virtues will eventually wear him down and make him a friend. I have also learnt that the negative emotions of anger, hatred, malice, greed and revenge come from the ego, from pride that does not want to see others better than ourselves.

I have been able to work on my anger and to succeed; I hate no one and I would like to see the world a better place where all men live like the brothers they really are and, instead of building weapons to kill and to maim one another, will instead, “beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks

The world has enough, even in these conditions where the environment is diminishing to provide for the basic needs of everyone; but greed will not allow that.  Wealth that is not shared is wasted.  Baba says that if a manure heap is not scattered in the fields to fertilise it, it is of no use.

Finally I would say; cultivate Love, for Love will keep you from fear.  Unconditional Love makes everyone your friend and whatever the circumstances, you will be at Peace.

–  Randall Butisingh

Supporters of victims of the world’s worst industrial disaster, which happened 25 years ago this week, are releasing new scientific studies claiming a continuing environmental disaster in the central Indian city, Bhopal…. From VOA. Full story

This site may contain information about: virginia city. The blog is also related to: florida city.

Wassup People!!

You heard right, the huge $10 til 2010 sale is finally here.  And you know what that means!! Every shirt on our website is on sale for just $10!!! That’s right, shirts that usually cost $20 are now only $10, that’s $10 for any Handmade masterpiece you want!!! So hurry up and head on over to the store.  Sale Ends January 1st 2010.

SEE YOU AT THE SHOP: www.tuxedocoolclothing.com/shop

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

If you are planning to tour Europe, you should really consider the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area might be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. Some parts of Lombardy are relatively undiscovered by tourists. This article presents Lombardy outside of its capital Milan or the beautiful Lake districts, which are described in companion articles in this series.

Over the millennia Lombardy has been invaded by many nations including the Etruscans and the Gauls, then the Romans, Franks, and Goths, and finally the French, Spaniards, and Austrians. Did we forget the Lombards? All of these invaders left their mark, some more and some less. Keep local history in mind as you tour this impressive region.

We start our tour at Pavia about twenty-five miles (forty kilometers) south of Milan. Then we proceed southeast to Cremona. We continue east to finish this short tour at Mantua near the Veneto border.

Once upon a time little Pavia (population about 70 thousand) was a major rival of nearby Milan (city population about 1.3 million and metropolitan population over 5 million.) Its defeat by the Barbarians in 476 commonly marks the end of the Western Roman Empire. Almost nine hundred years later the internationally known University of Pavia was founded, based on a law and divinity school established by the year 825. Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta was the most famous individual associated with this university. It was Volta who discovered methane gas and invented the electric battery. When you think about volts and voltage, think about Pavia.

Arguably the most famous native of Pavia was Benedetto Cairoli, the 13th and 15th Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy. He was somewhat of a hero during Risorgimento (the fight for Italian independence) but had a relatively undistinguished career as Prime Minister with a single exception. Cairoli risked his life and was severely wounded when he successfully protected the unpopular King Umberto I from assassination early in his reign. Now let’s consider Pavia’s sights.

Pavia is home to several other churches worth seeing. The Lombard-Romanesque San Michele Maggiore Church was built on the site of a preexisting Lombard church. First destroyed shortly after the turn of the first millennium it was rebuilt during the Twelfth Century. The Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro (St. Peter in Golden Sky) actually originated in the beginning of the Seventh Century. Its name refers to gold leaf mosaics that formerly decorated parts of the ceiling. This basilica was featured in Bocaccio’s Decameron. You may also want to see the Thirteenth Century brick Santa Maria del Carmine Church and the Renaissance Santa Maria di Canepanova Church.

Head about five miles (eight kilometers) north of town to see Pavia’s number one attraction, the Fifteenth Century Certosa di Pavia (Charterhouse of Pavia) monastery. This complex, which took over one hundred years to build, is considered an excellent expression of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. It includes a great collection of paintings and stained glass windows. The church was meant to house the tombs of its owners, the noble Visconti family but only one family member is actually buried there. His tomb took over sixty years to build. Nearby is the tomb of another Duke and his wife Beatrice d’Este, a real Renaissance woman and a beauty as well, who died in childbirth at age 22. You may have heard of her sister-in-law, Lucrezia Borgia.

The city of Cremona, population about seventy thousand, was first settled well over two thousand years ago. The famous Roman poet Virgil went to school there and owned a family farm in the vicinity. Another name is indelibly linked to this city, that of Antonio Stradivari, the world’s greatest violinmaker. His masterpieces are simply the world’s best-known and most expensive stringed instruments. As they say about yachts, if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it. It’s not sour grapes, but what would I do with a Stradivari violin, or mandolin? Perhaps trade it for vintage wine and Champagne.

The violin as we know it was invented in Cremona around 1564 by Andrea Amati who died more than sixty years before Stradivari was born. The Guarneri family created world famous violins here and elsewhere in Italy. Even today there are more than 50 violinmakers in Cremona. The Piazza Roma square near Stradivari’s house and workshop contains his tombstone and grave. The city includes the Scuola Internazionale di Liuteria (International School of Violin Making) and the Museo Stradivariano (Stradivarius Museum)

Our next and final stop is the city of Mantua whose population is slightly under fifty thousand. Some say that Mantua was founded about four thousand years ago. The great Roman poet Virgil was born in a nearby village. In the Twelfth Century Mantua adopted a novel means of protection against invasion, namely four artificial lakes that ringed the city. Three of them exist to this day; the fourth dried up in the Eighteenth Century. If you remember your Shakespeare, Romeo fled to Mantua after killing Juliet’s cousin in a swordfight. Talk about a family feud.

Mantua’s Palazzo Ducale was built between the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Centuries and boasts some 500 rooms. Its centerpiece is the Camera degli Sposi (The Wedding Chamber) room that took Andrea Mantegna about seven years to paint. When you see it, you’ll know why. Since you’re only allowed ten minutes to admire this marvelous, unique room you should familiarize yourself with the painting before your allotted time slot. One more thing, don’t forget to look at the ceiling.

Finish your tour at the suburban Palazzo Te built in the Sixteenth Century. Unlike many other historic Italian buildings this one was completed in only ten years. In fact its shell went up in eighteen months. In spite of its speedy construction it is considered one of the greatest Renaissance palaces. Don’t forget to tour the Camera di Amore e Psiche (Cupid and Psyche’s Room) showing a wedding with quite interesting and unusual guests and the Camera dei Giganti (Room of the Titans) in which Jupiter expels the Titans from Mount Olympus. The walls contain graffiti dating back to the Seventeenth Century. Please don’t add your own.

What about food? Of Italy’s twenty regions Lombardy trails only Emilia-Romagna in food production. A lot of the food is of foreign origin, not surprising given the frequency with which Lombardy fell under outside domination. But there are also local specialties. For example, Cremona is known for Mostarda, mustard flavored candied fruits that accompany Bollito Misto, mixed boiled meats. A local version of this treat calls for calf’s head, veal tongue, and pig’s foot among others. Cremona also claims to have invented ravioli.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Zuppa alla Pavese (Soup with Bread, Butter, Eggs, and grated Parmesan Cheese). Then try Bollito Misto (Mixed Boiled Meats). For dessert indulge yourself with Colombe Pasquale (dove shaped Easter Bread with Candied Fruit). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We conclude with a quick look at Lombardy wine. Lombardy ranks 11th among the 20 Italian regions for both acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. The region produces about 62% red and rose and 38% white wine, but there is little rose. There are 15 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Over 47% of Lombardy wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. There are three DOCG wines: the sparkling Franciacorta said to compete with French Champagne and priced accordingly, the red Sforzato di Valtellina, and the red Valtellina Superiore.

Lambrusco Mantovano DOC is a red or rose dry or sweet fizzy wine produced southeast of Mantua from local grapes. The San Colombano al Lambro DOC is red or white still or fizzy wine made from a variety of local grapes about halfway between Milan and Cremona. The area’s best-known wine is the Oltrepo Pavese DOC grown south of Pavia, across the Po River, hence its name. This wine, the favorite of Milan, is made in several styles from multiple grape varieties.

There is a site, it’s called, www.Okcupid.com that has lots of fun tests (not as fun as the ones on Blogthings though!) but it is also a dating/social networking site. It’s very creepy. I’ve been getting messages from guys that are 25+ on there that are very straight forward and they’re like, “Before we hang out, I wanna know…”. And I’m thinking, “Who said anything about hanging out? Who said anything about me even LOOKING for someone? Especially someone 12 years older than me?”

It’s weird. I mean, yeah, blame me for signing up. But I thought it was only about quizzes. When I realized it wasn’t like that, I wasn’t too freaked out cause tickle.com was also a dating site that had quizzes and I never got a creepy message like that. I don’t know…strange, isn’t it?

And it’s almost as if they don’t even read on the little details thing below my face that I am 18. It says 18/F/single. Yes, it means legal, but it also means…ugh. I don’t know what it means. I see why I’m getting messages now. Well, I still blame them – most 18 year old girls don’t feel comfortable about dating a 28 year old guy. Geez. I should change my status for “not looking, never will look, shut up.”

Sigh…but I humor them. I answer their stupid questions, like, “Do you like to ride beach cruisers?” Sometimes I realize that’s why those people are on dating sites. They’re looking for all the wrong things. Doesn’t it matter more if they’re loyal, intelligent, attentive? They ask insignificant things. And if you answer one question wrong (God forbid!!) – BAM! – they stop replying to your messages. Funny world. It doesn’t require you to put much effort in the person you want as your one and only companion. Except, most of those guys probably are for polygamy, so, never mind.

The air is good tonight, crisp and clear like it should be for the time of year, like it would be at home. The moon is half full but bright and casts long shadows as i crest the thirty-seventh hill. Perhaps there is only one hill and the view is always changing or perhaps i’ll not know the truth of either until i reach the final summit. i try not to dwell on the mount, just take a quick look and move on. Though i’m in the alpine corps, i prefer to launch blindly over the top like a boy in the trenches driven not so much by courage but duty.

i prefer to sled down the other side, through the snow and ice and into the valley below. That is how it always is, this endless cycle of ascent and descent until we are well worn or pained enough to give into the terrain regardless of what side of the hill we may be on. Today, though, i feel stronger and more at wit than ever atop this freshly conquered butte, pictures in my head and notebook swelling, an army of Sherpas at my side. i climb a hell of a lot slower than i used to but notice more along the way and i will strike a spiral anti-clockwise along the ridge line and take the next hill in my own time and maybe a fair few more after that.

How old are you? Twenty-one again? Some of us (ahem) have been twenty-one twice over, with a few years added on…

Would it sound any better if I told you that I am 16,544 days old? Or 22,823,360 minutes, perhaps? While I’m not sure that I feel any better, if you would like to see how old you are in days or minutes, click the link below:

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html

And here’s a website that I DO like – it tells you how old you would be in days and years if you lived on any of the given planets in the Universe… If I lived on Mars for example, I would be a mere twenty-four years old - and if I lived on Jupiter I’d have just turned three! All I have to do now is get there. TARDIS, anyone?

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/edu/age.htm

Buy Cheap Health in the Later Years with PowerWeb: Aging

Buy Low Price From Here Now
Health in the Later Years prepares students to meet the needs of an aging population as both participants of an aging society and in their careers as health professionals. The text provides a broad overview of health and aging, addressing concerns of those working with elders, and covering psychological, sociological, biological, and political factors affecting older populations……..

Health in the Later Years with PowerWeb: Aging Details

 “Health in the Laster Years” 2009-06-14
By Kanyarat Ubolwan
1. The details of condition of the book.

2. Where is the book? or the book will be sent from what state. Do not indicate the state for this book.

3. Some details of content in the book.

 “Excellent textbook” 2000-11-02
By Linda Rarey (Petaluma, CA United States)
I’ve been using this book for several years as a recommended text in my gerontology classes. It is really excellent. It’s quite readable and very helpful for the layperson or the health care provider.

 “Excellent textbook” 2000-11-02
By Linda Rarey (Petaluma, CA United States)
I’ve been using this book for several years as a recommended text in my gerontology classes. It is really excellent. It’s quite readable and very helpful for the layperson or the health care provider.

 “A textbook with mass appeal” 1998-09-03
By
Originally designed as a text for those who want to work with those over 65 years, this softcover book is a comprehensive, well-referenced guide to issues and concerns of the growing elder population. Chapters cover demographics, theories of why and how we age, how age affects each body system and common illnesses. Also included are discussions of diet, exercise, sexuality, medications, health care, nursing home care and death and dying. Excellent, up-to-date reference. Written by a mother-daughter team (gerontologist and physician), the book provides a lot of information in a format that is easy to understand and presents a holistic approach to successful aging. A third edition is in the works.

Buy Health in the Later Years with PowerWeb: Aging Now Buy Health in the Later Years with PowerWeb: Aging Now

Buy Cheap Health in the Later Years

Buy Low Price From Here Now
Health in the Later Years is geared to help people make better-informed health choices to increase the quality of their later life. Further, knowledge of health and aging assists individuals to better manage the aging process of their family members. Finally, the study of aging and health enhances professional opportunities in the field of gerontology. The text provides a comprehensive overview of the most important topics in health and aging. The latest edition of the textbook is completely revised to assure all information is up-to-date and accurate and well-referenced. This edition provides extensive and reputable web-associated resources to supplement the written material in the text, reflecting the needs of adult learners and allowing for more in-depth study of many topics. Interactive exercises, such as “What is your Opinion” and end-of-chapter activities have been expanded to provide teachers and students an opportunity to expand their classroom reading into real-life experiences……..

Health in the Later Years Details

 “Health in the Laster Years” 2009-06-14
By Kanyarat Ubolwan
1. The details of condition of the book.

2. Where is the book? or the book will be sent from what state. Do not indicate the state for this book.

3. Some details of content in the book.

 “Excellent textbook” 2000-11-02
By Linda Rarey (Petaluma, CA United States)
I’ve been using this book for several years as a recommended text in my gerontology classes. It is really excellent. It’s quite readable and very helpful for the layperson or the health care provider.

 “Excellent textbook” 2000-11-02
By Linda Rarey (Petaluma, CA United States)
I’ve been using this book for several years as a recommended text in my gerontology classes. It is really excellent. It’s quite readable and very helpful for the layperson or the health care provider.

 “A textbook with mass appeal” 1998-09-03
By
Originally designed as a text for those who want to work with those over 65 years, this softcover book is a comprehensive, well-referenced guide to issues and concerns of the growing elder population. Chapters cover demographics, theories of why and how we age, how age affects each body system and common illnesses. Also included are discussions of diet, exercise, sexuality, medications, health care, nursing home care and death and dying. Excellent, up-to-date reference. Written by a mother-daughter team (gerontologist and physician), the book provides a lot of information in a format that is easy to understand and presents a holistic approach to successful aging. A third edition is in the works.

Buy Health in the Later Years Now Buy Health in the Later Years Now

You kiss me and you think the harmony it brings me is enough. But what about the aftermath of the kiss? What about the mass of feelings I get when I go back and remember that I’m not really yours. That it is just for a moment when you come unannounced. That you’re only a ghost that will leave and go back. To wherever you came from. And that place isn’t with me.

I know now it is too late. Even if my desire to ask you to come to your senses and pick me back up was greater than it is, I can’t tell you anymore. Because you have been out of my life and I don’t know how to squeeze myself back in. Why did I let this much time go by? I thought it was right. And now it’s too late, both ways. Too hard to go back, too painful to move forward. So what do you expect me to find in my future? I’m full of questions. Are you? It’s a stabbing pain when I think at night of how you are everything good without me. And that you’ll be okay. I pray for your happiness but still ask whoever is up there in the sky, why can’t that happiness be with me?

Look at the things you make me write. Look at the way you make me cry. Do you think I want to feel unhappy? No. Not one inch of me wants to cry every night and miss your presence, your advice, and your talking. Not one tiny little part of me wants to wonder what you’re doing, with who, and how. And not one last minute wants to be spent alone. And I want things to look up. I want school to be done with so I can go on to do what I realized I want to do with the rest of my life. I want my family to be happy and healthy. I want to have the friends I’m building up to have. I want all that. But I’m not having it because the fact that I’m still mourning over you has every wilting effect on me it can possibly have. I don’t energy, motivation, or desire to do any of those things. The progress is what I’m dreaming of, but I’m not getting any of it.

Come by sometime soon. Remember that I still exist. Make a little room in your life. I was that girl you kissed.

Aujourd’hui, c’est l’anniversaire de mon ami l’Alsaco, un de mes petits camarades d’échanges musicaux.

(Hip) Hop la !

Les biscuits de mon enfance clamaient “si l’Alsacienne a de grandes oreilles, c’est pour mieux écouter les gourmands”. Et ben c’est pareil pour lui. De très grandes oreilles, une curiosité qui confine souvent à la psychopathie, et une gourmandise sonore insatiable.

L’alsaco (aka Ear Division) passe la plus grande partie de son temps libre (quand il ne fabrique pas des ballons de foot dans un sweatshop) à chercher du son, et à organiser ses découvertes en compilations thématiques.

La dernière en date, c’est “Years”, qui concentre a peu près tous les bons morceaux uniquement composés d’une date (ce qui exclut par exemple “en 1990” de Jean Leloup, ou heureusement “cette année là” de Cloclo). Il a fait une exception pour Sexcrime (1984) parce que bon, c’est lui qui décide, quoi.

L’individu ne s’étant pas encore décidé à devenir bloggiste-conseil, je vous droppe la playlist en question. La prochaine fois, il s’en chargera lui-même, j’ai pas que ça à foutre.

Ear Division – Years

1901 Phoenix
1941 Harry Nilsson
1957 Buck 65
1958 Skalpel
1963 New Order
1969 Boards Of Canada
1973 Tahiti Boy & The Palmtree Family
1974 Rubin Steiner
1976 RJD2
1979 Smashing Pumpkins
Sexcrime (1984) Eurythmics
1984 Uffie
1986 (Unreleased) Kavinsky
1989 The Rakes
1999 Prince
2012 Gossip
3000 Dr. Octagon
3030 Deltron

Je complète d’un petit Yeasayer-2080, c’est cadeau ça me fait plaisir.

Bon anniversaire Vrefi. Je t’offrirai ton gâteau préféré dès qu’on se croise.

oui, il boit de la Kro et habite dans une cabane dans un arbre (©DVLS)

When I was a teenager, I thought that adventure was going to places like Fez, Chiapas or Vancouver Island. Well, I went to those places and had adventure but over the years I learned that going thousands of miles from home to a completely alien culture and language is not the only route to adventure.

Before I was 20 I was a veteran world traveler that pushed the limits of adventure and was ready for more. But it occurred to me even back then there was a fly in this ointment. It had to do with anecdotal evidence or what I observed in the ‘real’ world. Adventure wasn’t as simple as buying a ticket and going somewhere.

Many people I met would go to exotic places and not be effected at all. Part of this was their means of travel and accommodations and another part their mindset. It goes something like this: ‘by golly we are going to see and do but let’s not let down our hair lest we interact in ways that are not culturally comfortable for us.’ Summary: we gonna travel but we ain’t gonna experience.

Consequently I met world travelers that were no more world wise than my neighbor across the street that never leaves the county.

But, hey, don’t be surprised if you find out you started a tad late. 20 years after I took those youthful trips I took another trip. The wife and son spent the summer down at the farm in Veracruz but I had to stay in California to work. During that span I took off ten days to drive up to Canada. It was the first trip I had taken by myself in 20 years.

But it wasn’t the same. I never hitchhiked. I had a car and not a motorcycle. I had a credit card and not just some tightly budgeted cash. I stayed in a hotel and did not once sleep on the ground or beach or someone’s kitchen floor. I even came back before my 10 days was up. On every other trip I had ever taken I was always late getting back home. The reality was I just wasn’t the same person I was 20 years before.

If you are young, do your adventuring as soon as you can. Don’t listen to those that say all you should be doing is studying and working. There will be plenty of time for that but adventure is a fragile thing and not something you can postpone forever. Over time it can be lost.

In fact if you are lucky like I was you will meet people that will tell you how much they regret not adventuring more when they were young. Now, many middle aged men my age have become obsessed with trying to find adventure before they die. They went from college to corporation and finally in their late fifties and early sixties can adventure and do what they want. Good luck. If they had done their adventuring when they were younger they wouldn’t be so ornery and stubborn and angry and frustrated. Tough attitude to start out with on an adventure…

But I also met folks that were having fantastic adventures while never leaving their communities. So much for adventure being only found in exotic places. I met many different types of people for whom each day was an adventure. If their day was anything but adventurous, they made it adventurous. They could have boring jobs and live in boring communities and have boring families but they were always so excited about life and adventure that they could hardly stand it.

What they do is create and customize their own adventure and become engaged by it. For them every minute is sheer joy at celebrating being alive. They are too busy being grateful to complain. They are too busy being humbled to be presumptuous. They understand that the greatest gift a human can extend is friendship and the here and now is nature’s greatest gift. What me worry?

I came to understand being engaged one hot Moroccan night in Rabat as I lay awake drenched in sweat on my hotel bed. I had been to the interior and gotten a most nasty case of amoebic dysentery; diarrhea, fevers, shakes and all.

I did not worry that I was a teenager with little money and very sick in a strange country so very far from home. In fact I did not worry at all. I knew I would be fine. I would survive this ordeal and anything else in the future.

And I did. I continued a life of one adventure after another. I had arrived. I was engaged.

No Matter

what
the cobwebs               spider groceries
all return to the corners
of the basement
my apartment
that blacks out with me
and smiles at the thought of you
also constricts
my urge to scream
and tear away
this veil of conformity.

whats’s yours? what do you aspire to do? where do you see yourself in five years? ten?

leave a comment with your thoughts!

Brian has always been a dreamer. Even as a small boy, playing Cowboys and Indians with the other children, his imagination would run riot. The village green became the Wild West as he galloped around, astride a fantasy Silver, and he was the Lone Ranger, with his best pal George as the loyal Tonto.

Whilst never really a scholar, some years later Brian discovered a fascination for Geography. He couldn’t wait to learn about all those far flung places of the earth; places he thought he would probably never see. He would close his eyes, hungry to taste all those experiences for himself… the pyramids of Egypt, the skyscrapers of New York, the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal, Niagara Falls… he was totally bitten by a wanderlust that would never leave him.

Now, as an adult, Brian’s desire to travel the world is even stronger than ever. The only thing is that he’s a man who likes his creature comforts. Not for him sleeping rough under the stars, cold and wet. That might have suited him some years ago but not now, with his rheumatism. Even caravanning doesn’t really appeal – could be a bit cramped for someone intent on touring the globe – and there’s always the worry of whether or not the caravan has been securely coupled to the car. The last thing he’d want would be to see it overtaking him on the freeway.

A luxury motor home (or recreational vehicle, as they’re often called) would be just the answer – the ultimate freedom machine for the open road. Introduced into the UK some thirty years ago, today’s RV is truly a home from home with stylish décor and just about every ‘mod con’ imaginable… fully equipped kitchen and dining areas, ducted air conditioning, double glazing, built-in quiet diesel generators, stylish lounge areas with sumptuous leather upholstery, beautiful wood cabinetry, huge and luxurious bedrooms with copious wardrobe capacity, washer/dryers, plush showers and toilets. Some even have walls that slide out ingeniously, making yet more of the available space, and exterior locker storage. Despite their size, they’re easy to manoeuvre with automatic transmission and will access any camp site without difficulty.

Brian’s heart starts to pound as he steps onboard and slips behind the wheel of his motor home to experience the adventure of a lifetime. The miles melting away effortlessly beneath his wheels, his journey begins in la belle France, in the heart of the Loire Valley – an area of beautiful countryside, studded with historic, royal fairytale chateaux, mansions, palaces and fortresses. Taking in the charm of the picturesque villages and later sampling the light refreshing wine and the superb local cuisine before retiring to the cosy bed in his RV, Brian plans the next leg of his journey. It’s on to Germany. As he travels in total comfort through the unspoilt, enchanting countryside, he discovers a host of natural wonders, vineyards, castle ruins and medieval villages. Feeling almost as if he’s in a time warp, crossing into Switzerland, he cannot fail to be spellbound by the sheer majesty of the snow-sprinkled mountains, lush pastures, awe-inspiring lakes and quaint towns. Brian’s tour takes him to so many of the places he yearned to see, as a boy. He strolls along the golden, sandy beaches in Spain, plays golf in the Algarve and takes in the incredible, panoramic views of the Italian Lakes. He takes brisk walks through the well-marked network of trails in Austria, breathing in the fresh Alpine air and relishing the beauty and splendour of its regions. In Slovenia, right in the very heart of Europe, he uncovers a country full of amazing contrasts; lively, historic cities, primeval forests and gently undulating, winegrowing hills.

Waking from a deep and happy sleep, our intrepid explorer contemplates his travels. So that’s Europe done and dusted, more or less. And as for all the other continents as yet uncharted, well, that’s maybe for another time. After all, there’s a limit to how many countries you can visit in one dream. But hold on to your dreams, Brian – they can come true…

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

‘Shameful Flight’ relates the history of the final years of the British Raj in India, including the partition of India into both Pakistan (West and East) and India, and the early hostility of the two new nations destined for perpetual warfare in such regions as the Kashmir.The history of this era of political instability on the subcontinent includes all the main players from Great Britain, India and Pakistan.These main players include Winston Churchill, Viceroy Louis Mountbatten, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah. There is not a single figure in this history of India’s partition who comes out of it in a good light, though several seem to have had very well-intentioned aims and motivations. It is the true story of lost opportunity and the devastating consequences of human pride and selfishness that have reverberated down through the decades to the present day and remain visible in the continuing clashes between India and Pakistan, as well as in the extremism expressed in both the Islamic and Hindu communities throughout the sub-continent. It is a story of perpetual tragedy and human suffering with no end in sight.

This book is extremely easy to read, passes on a wealth of historical information and whets the appetite for further research on the India/Pakistan situation. It provides enlightenment, by bringing understanding to the current political instability in both India and Pakistan, by clearly revealing the root of the problem – the manner of the birth of both nations out of British imperialism and that nation’s final haphazard departure aptly described as a ‘Shameful Flight.’ This is a great book for understanding the sub-continent and the wounds it still carries to this day.

This book was provided to me for review by Oxford University Press – www.oup.com

We Want Boosie!!!!

How easy it is to forget about things when you’re busy. I have forgotten about my writing, about my meetings. Can you believe that last night I didn’t even realize that it was Wednesday and the thought that the meeting would be that night didn’t even cross my mind? I felt guilty afterward, but I guess all I can do is try harder.

With school stuff taking over, I hardly write anymore. Right before I fall asleep I have words all over my head. And I recite phrases that are really unlike me to think or feel. It’s weird. It’s like when I’m about to go to sleep or when I’m in the shower, or cooking or doing random stuff, I have the most inspiration of all. Maybe not inspiration. Maybe it’s just talent. I’d like to think so.

Anyway, I plan on writing much more from now on. But sometimes my hand is afraid to touch a paper. I’m afraid of knowing my thoughts are sad again, that deep inside, I’m not ready to face what I am old enough to face now.

I was telling a friend the other night that I am afraid of how I’ll end up. That I might get a crappy career that I’m not happy with. That I’ll marry the first guy that comes along and treats me right – just to make my parents unworried about me, just to check another thing on the list of my senseless illusions. I don’t want to live my life on auto-pilot anymore, you know? I want to know what I’m loving and put all the passion I can into it. I want to do better and wish well for others. I think I’m not doing so bad in trying, but for some reason, I’m just not succeeding.

I want to move away, far away…I want to go to a place where I can be me all over again. But then I remember one of my favorite but most true lyrics…”every step that you take could be your biggest mistake; it could bend or it could break, but that’s the risk that you take”. All I wonder is, should I let that truth cripple me while I try to make decisions, or should it make me strong? I think it’s telling me to be strong. I think it’s saying that no matter what you do, it’s all hanging on a piece of thin wire, and your life could change for the worse or the better….so I might as well do what I want the most and see which way that takes me.

The Master D>K has stated that one of the greatest forms of service that we all can give to each other is the mastery over the astral-emotional body ,for it is one of the most difficult aspects of the human nature .96% of the human race are still very astrally polarized as it has taken over 12 millions of years to develop,and that was during the Atlantean root race.So well we have perfected this vehicle that the majority of  today’s humanity are still Atlantean in consciousness ,and will be for a very long time to come.

The next stage of evolution is the development of the mental planes and body which will take a very long time and will include two rounds of evolutionary effort,and will take many millions of years  and many incarnations to achieve,for we are the ‘Sons of Mind’who have issued forth from the heart of Brahman ,and hence the name ”Mind Born Sons of Brahma”.Each and everyone of us is at this time engaged in the evolutionary journey of self discovery and are rising higher with each and every eon that passes by.Each and everyone of us must learn to master the forces and the elementals which go into the make up of our body,such as the fire elementals who go into the make up of our lower passions and the animal herd instinct which keeps so many ego’s earthbound and unable to rise above the lower astral planes which are very dark and more  miserable than that which we find right here on earth.

The control and mastery over the astral planes are of the most difficult to achieve,hence making  the second initiation the most difficult task due to the fact that man is at this time polarized in his emotion-astral body, and is making effort to wrestling his way into the clear light of the soul where all is revealed as the glamour no longer distorts his outlook on life, just as mist dissolves in the light of day and thus see our way ahead.It is after the first initiation that we begin to enter the battlefield upon the astral planes and can take 6-7 lives to go  from the first to the second initiation which is a long journey in itself.

Only those who have a sound mind and who are not obsessed by any disembodied human being who are always trying to get into contact with with those who are still incarnated within a earthly body.The astral plane is ,as I have said before,is the major battlefield for those who have taken the first initiation and will continue for several incarnation which usually about 6-7 lives ,or incarnations.Once the second initiation has been taken then the processes of spiritual evolution is speed ed up with incredible energy.After the second initiation the whole thing is then positive and the initiate begins to work upon the astral planes with ease,and then comes the ability to read the akashic records which is to be found on the highest astral and mental planes.The initiate as well has the power to look from above to see the whole picture as to what really happend by reading the akashic records and can help people in this way..

There are at this time many very highly advanced ego’s that are now coming into incarnation who will [when they get older]have major roles to play, for some of them have at least taken the first and second initiation and therefore have many gifts that can be put to use in the construction of the coming new world civilization and will have much to do with the beautifying of our great cities of the world.

Paris is one of the premier capitals of the world especially the romantic amongst us; over the years it has become one of the most visited cities in the world. Many couples decide to take short stay in Paris as it is probably the most romantic city in the world; with a great deal to see and do that really a week is needed.

Visitors flock to see its many wonderful buildings; it has much to offer visitors who adore culture, even if it is only for a long weekend. Traveling through the city of Paris can be very enjoyable; the underground train system or Metro can take you to anywhere within the city and is simple to use.

It wouldn’t be possible to visit this city without a trip to the top of the famous steel structure known as the Eiffel Tower; it’s visible throughout most of the city but the views from the top of this huge steel structure are even more impressive. You can be assured of an even more beautiful sight if you visit in the evening when it is illuminated; taking a tour at the same time will teach you much more about this remarkable structure.

On your Paris trip ensure you add the famous Champs Elysees to your list of places to visit; it’s where you will find all the top class hotels, shops and restaurants. This avenue may be select but it attracts large numbers of visitors daily; the exclusive five star hotels situated in this more select part of the city might be out of most visitors’ price range.

The city’s famous museum, the Louvre is huge and worth a visit if you have the time; it holds in excess of 300,000 pieces of art, which cannot possibly be seen in a single visit. If you are in Paris on a short stay you must plan your time well; approximately 8 million visitors a year come to see the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa, both of which are on display. Over the years, Paris has been home to many of the world’s famous artists; painters like Monet and Picasso spent many years here and a large number of their art works can be seen in Paris today.

The famous 19th century edifice built on Napoleons instructions, the Arc de Triomphe, is also in Paris; to honor his generals (and his troops) he had their names inscribed upon it. It also features an observatory to take in surrounding views; in particular those obtained along the lanes that lead from it.

Certainly it is not fair to believe that these are the only places in the city worth visiting; these are however, the most popular with regular tours arranged, many of which are either free or at a subsidized cost. It is fair to say that you won’t see everything on a Paris short stay of two or even three day break; that would require a longer visit as you probably won’t have time to visit the gothic churches and castles in only a few days.

One year after ten Pakistani gunmen attacked India’s financial capital, many say they still feel vulnerable… From VOA. Full story

This site may contain information about: recession or not. The blog is also related to: countries in recession.

5 years left…

and after that???

After 3 long years, well they seem long enough to me, i Have finished my uni degree. Three long years. All that studying and stress, i hope it’s all worth it.

Still have to wait a couple of week until I get the final results. Can’t wait.