Living la vida loca

For those who cares! Stellar Rich cannot be reach currently... AKA is OUT OF ACTION for a bit! I’m in South Africa folks! Reason for no show - Living la vida loca *wink-wink* Business will resume.... hopefully in a couple of weeks time!

Adieu for now. Indeed parting is such sweet sorrow yes even among virtual friends. My sweet virtual friends whom I have since hold dear to heart. The pang of missing the ache is no less real till one is able yet again to be among friends. Adieu till it be morrow...adieu

This poem is inspired the morning after......... *contented sigh* I love you my baby!

YOU

From our first hello
I feel a rush a soft gentle glow
My heart began to mellow
I am in love with you, of this I know
I was not looking, I was not searching

Quite un-expectantly

Alas… Love found me
Almost instantly
I was swapped away
On that faithful day

There you were
With the sweetest smile ever
Strangers, friends, lover
To have and to hold
Two heart, one soul


Spring ends, summer comes, fall will go & winter will follow
Yesterday, today and all of tomorrow
Baby… you and I know
Its destiny, YOU & ME… we are meant to be

My love…
I know then, like I know now
I love you, I want you, I need you…
Know this… I don’t ever want to be without you

YOU… to me
Will always be.
My one, my only, my sweet Valentine!

Baby, Be mine.

Boys Don't Cry

I was minding my own business enjoying a cup of cappuccino and people watching on a lazy afternoon. I noticed a young mother walked in seems in a hurry towards the information counter near by. I suspect it is yet another case of missing child in the mall. True enough seconds latter I hear announcements for a missing boy. Fortunately someone found the missing child and brought the poor terrified kid to the counter.


Mother and child united all is well and happy, yes? Noooo…. to my horror the young mother reprimanded the child almost immediately and slaps the boy smack across the face! When the boy started to cry the young mother got even fiercer, she yanked the child’s arm and shouted “Don’t cry! I’m telling you stop it! Shame on you! Boys don’t cry!

Excuse me... say what! Boys don’t cry … and pray tell why not?

No seriously… why the hell not? Why do parents insist on this boys don’t cry nonsense. Firstly, the poor thing is a child for crying out loud! Secondly had you been more vigilant perhaps the kid would not have wondered out of your sight. From the numbers of carrier bags the mother was carrying I’d say the woman was doing some serious shopping. Third, duh! Aren’t you glad that some decent chap found your child and the poor kid is safely back with you? The scene attracted quite an interest for the on lookers and passer by. The mother insisted the child to stop crying which did not help much as the angrier she got the more the child cried. Honestly I pitied the child, poor kid!

What is my point here? I don’t think if a boy or a grown man cries that makes him sissy or less of a man. On the contrary, I think it is brave of a grown man to not be ashamed to feel the need to express emotions like, to cry. Fear, sadness, disappointments and grief are all human emotions are they not? These human emotions do not discriminate gender. Why use a different standard for daughters and another for sons! Why deprived sons emotionally and psychologically in life. As if being tough means, to continue to hide true emotions and acting unfeelingly. Parents in general it seems are in cahoots in this generally accepted behavioral pattern and belief “men don’t cry” thingy and societies in general it seems share this common consensus what a man should be like.It’s as if, life changing events like sons sent off to war, loosing one’s job, the break up of a relationship, or even death of a love one or family members, are feelings to be suppressed simply because men- don’t-cry? What rubbish!

Now I’m no psychologist mind you but surely we don’t need one to tell us that as a child we tend to response to our parents counter psychological messages. An emotionally distant father though unconsciously creates a template on which a male child will build his characters and behavioral pattern later in his own life. Perhaps cultural stereotyping is to be blamed. Even today, you see a heroic male figure so often represented in most films and even television.

Parents tells sons things like, ‘you have to be strong and stand up for yourself’ or "to succeed in life you have to work hard, life is s struggle the better equipped you are the more likely you are to succeed". Duh! Life is a struggle regardless of your gender!

Followings are what researchers found and reported in a brief article in a recent health magazine journal.
The restriction of emotional expression can lead to many problems including:

• Health issues, due to carrying chronic tension in the body.

• Relationship difficulties due to an inability to resolve emotional conflicts and/or a perceived lack of ability to be intimate.

• Psychological problems such as depression, insomnia and anxiety.

• Behavioral issues such as violence when bottled up emotions are channeled into violence.

Pssst...psssst... come closer... closer... YES YOU!

Once upon a time not so long ago all was not well in my tiny claustrophobic world!

In a nut shell, simply put, major life changing events caught me totally off guard and places me in a downward spiral. For a while there I thought I would never get out of it. Simply put, life threw me one curve ball after another. They came so rapidly unexpectedly fast and furious. Its like I was on a life support machine and some one suddenly pulls the plug on me. Like a nightmare, only it goes on even when you are awake. My world it seems came tumbling down pretty much like a stack of cards crashing. At least that’s how it was for awhile back then. I was disheartened, disappointed, confused, afraid and even felt defeated. I guess in retrospect, I was mostly angry. Angry at whom, what specifically I don’t know but I allowed and let anger totally consumed me.

Good thing.. I am stubborn and bless with a thick skin! I recall someone very dear to me said once” anger is the devil’s best friend” Sure… laugh away if you may but it is true. You see.. when you are angry your emotion takes control and the more angry you get the more blinded you become of any sight of the reality you are caught in and you just cant think right. Anger robs you of any sense of reason. Anger muddles everything so badly that you are not able to see any solution but mostly anger blinded you of a way out even when the way out are staring you right in the face!

A cliché as this statement may be, the thing is in life obstacles and road blocks need not be all that bad or necessarily ending disastrous all the time. Infect, one should be thank full that, the fact that you fall flat on your face from time to time and sometime blows after blows of one whammy after another with determination and perseverance with sheer grit and mostly God’s grace lets not forget that, you bite the bullet and hang on for your dear life. Sure you stumble and fall and wobble but faith yes faith is what makes the whole world of difference. Faith will get you to get up again. Faith gives you that last bit of will power and strength to brave it all. Sure you get up with great difficulties but what is important is, you pull yourself up together.

Without being overly mellow dramatic I ‘d sum up what I went through back then as my personal journey of rude awaking, life changing ride of emotional tsunami. For now the storm has simmer down and pass through it seems. Sure the road ahead is much clearer of debris leaving only bits and pieces and remnants of partially broken dreams, shattered what took years to build but I guess I hate to admit it, it’s just bruised ego mine that is, that need a lot of work on still. But you know what? Even with all that happened I’d still say I am most fortunate to have gone through and experience it.

The sky is clearer these days. Not so perfectly blue for you can still see rain clouds looming here and there. But you know what? It’s OK! That’s right… it’s OK!I think with faith the human spirit can be rock solid if we want it to be! You stumble, you fall. You pick yourself up again, dust your battered spirit which for the most part if you can be honest with yourself upon taking a closer look and examine is actually a bruised ego.

I take my leave for now and part with a personal message and only have this much to add. What ever obstacles, difficulties, and bumps you may be going through, take a breather STOP and have a conversation with yourself.

Tell yourself, I WILL NOT LET UNFAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES ROB ME OF MY SANITY, I WILL NOT SUCCUMB IN DEFEAT!

Pssst… psssst come here… no closer … you know something else?

FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE *wink-wink*

OUT & about in South Africa

The term Rainbow Nation was first coined by an Anglican Archbishop name Desmond Tutu during the post – apartheid South Africa era. Nelson Mandela later in 1996, in his speech proclaimed” "Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world” The term 'Rainbow Nation' is mostly applied in the context of democracy. Today people the world over know South Africa by this term.

At the other end of the rainbow shall we say a much wider and alternative interpretation if you may is the international recognition of the rainbow widely known as an alternative symbol and adopted by the LGBT community as the colors of the rainbow symbolizes multiculturalism, diversity and tolerance! In South Africa, a Civil Union bill was introduced allowing two persons, which is solemnized and registered by either a marriage by civil union and finally the South Africa’s parliament voted and legalizes same-sex marriage in the country. To date, South Africa joins the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada among the nations in the world to allow same-sex marriages.

I love the rain. As a child I remember sneaking out of the house when it rains. When the rain stops and the sun comes out, I would wait with such excitement for the rainbow to make its appearance. Even today as an adult the soothing pitter patter of the rain falling on the roof soothes me. There is something magical about the rain and the rainbow to me. Till this very day every time it rains, I make it an effort to stop what I am doing for a while to free my mind and simply enjoy the beauty of the rain.

I was in South Africa not long ago. I fall in love with the simplicity of life while I was on an extended break there. The country itself is colorful indeed. That’s not to say that the harsh side of life is absence in South Africa. No, no… no… you can see people struggling to make their daily living everywhere. The absence of easy excess of mobility in terms of public transport somehow does not in any way taint my wonderful experience the whole time I was there. Everywhere I go, I see people with this easy, laid back, que sera… sera outlook to life. You can see the harshness of life in many of them but you know what ...gosh they are happy people! It was totally an eye opener for me! It made me want to reexamine my own take on life and happiness. It made me question why I am such a chronic procrastinator. The trouble with me is I think and plan too much. I have always held dearly to this philosophy; if you fail to plan then you have plan to fail. But guess what, everything do not always worked out like you map it out to be! I have always been prudent. I always preempt the “what-if” scenario and quite frankly I am getting sick of planning all the what-ifs. Over the years it has gotten worst. A, shall we say unexpected series of turn of events was the rude awakening I badly needed. When realizations sink in, regrets came flooding in. I went into that, I should have or I wish I had mode. I am tired and sick of preempting, planning and planning yet never executing much in the end.

I had to say goodbye to South Africa momentarily. But my heart never left her! She gives me the clarity I have long search for. She embraces me for what I am and I left her a different woman. Life will never be the same again for I will not let it be. Yesterday is history, today is all that counts while tomorrow life’s lessons and adventure awaits me! South Africa, my beautiful soul savior!

Adieu ... past life.... hello new beginning. I’m traveling light these days. I’m leaving all my baggage behind me. I hear her calling. My bold, beautiful South Africa beckons.. awaits me at the end of my journey. Soon… soon my lovely. Soon when I am coming home, I’m coming home to you… my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

WHO AM I

I am an individual of few words. This poem is inspired when an online friend asked me, who are you? Friend... embrace me with an open mind, open your heart as with each words I give you a private glimpse into my world, understand and read between the line, indeed who am I. Enjoy!

WHO AM I

I look into the mirror
A reflection smiles back at me

I am YOU
I am ME
I am also who I want me to be…

Like YOU…
I look for answers to life’s mystery
Like ME…
You search for your place in life’s beautiful journey

I am weak and I am strong
I am invincible, vulnerable, RIGHT and many a time I am WRONG
Meek, powerless like the tiniest creature
Aggressive…. fearless when faced with danger
The devil sneaks a peek from time to time within me
I too struggle to be as good as I can be

Life is an exciting journey
An endless window of opportunity
YOU, ME, & the rest of the world
We are all bind to our destiny

I know not what tomorrow will be
I know not what the future holds for me
BUT I know….
If I set my mind free
If I open my heart and embrace what’s meant to be
Anything and everything is a possibility

I am a survivor
I WILL NOT DIE AN UN-LIVED LIFE
Of this I know for sure….

MY SOUL SPEAK

To step out, to say out loud or to scream and shout is a personal choice. The poem is inspired from a brief reminiscence of a journey once upon a time. The closet is dark and claustrophobic. The trouble with small space is, it imprisoned and confines the mind. Truth is, life is never absence of choice... to each their own. Love is grand, love is life and life is divine... it is the human heart that is unkind.

MY SOUL SPEAK

Ask me not when, why or how

Wherefore had I known then what I know now
Of bitter… hateful torturous journey
Of pain … ugliness…
Guilt and discovery

O… pitiful me…

What a wretched soul was I
‘Twas a worthless existence…
My body lives yet my soul dies
The unseen winter wind…
They blow and blow
Whilst these hidden restlessness… just grow and grow

YOU
Who claim to speak of truth
… in truth… YOU are but blind to see

YOU, venomous holier than thou YOU
Preaching…
Never sympathizing
Teaching…
Never understanding
Telling….
Never listening
Blaming….
Never nurturing….

Such arrogant … hypocritical tact
Yet few of YOU want to hear
Of sins YOU… yourself act!

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Would you consider one?

If it is available in your country would you consider buying it? Yes I’m talking about the new kid on the block, the Tata Nano! It is said to be the world cheapest car. Nicked named the “people’s car” the Tata Nano merely cost about $2’500 and it is said that this price is set to enter the automatic industry making it affordable to the mainstream. The base price for the Nano will be 120,000 rupees, including road tax and delivery.

Hmmm that would mean a high end notebook for example would be more expensive than the Tata Nano. Interesting!

A four door Nano is… get this… a meer 10 feet in length and 5 feet wide. With 33 horsepower the Nano is capable of 65 miles an hour or a max speed of 75 miles/hr and this little cutie is powered by a 623cc two cylinder engine placed at the back of the car. Making the 4 wheels situated at the absolute corners of the car this is said to improve the car’s total handling and the trunk is described as “big enough for a duffel bag” According to Mr. Taneja, the president of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India, the car lacks a tachometer but uses an analog rather than digital speedometer instead. The Nano uses wheel bearings that are strong enough to drive the car up to 45 miles an hour, but will wear quickly above that speed, reducing the car’s life span but not threatening consumer safety. The Nano has no radio, no power steering, no power windows, no air-conditioning and only one windshield wiper instead of two.

Why the Nano? This is the statement from Mr. Ratan Tata the chairman of Tata Motors. “Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions,” Mr. Tata added. “We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”

So would you be interested to own the Nano? Imagine, trade in your laptop for a car? I'm thinking sure in many countries a car is not a luxury item but rather is a necessity. If everyone living in the city owns a car or two or three and car owner ship is made possible to the mass what than! Car ownership is still much desired by many but would it not create a much bigger problem in the long run?

Aren’t cities the world over congested and polluted enough already as it is? Hooray car ownership for everyone, no… yes? I don’t know folks, on second thought I’m thinking more cars on the street equals more annoying traffic jams is just simply not what the world need at this point and than again eh...what do I know....

MAY 14th

My love

My heart
My soul
I come to thee all of me…

It all begin but four summers ago
A simple hello
Cupid set two hearts aglow

a sweetest smile
Instantly... I know
Sweetness.... Anrè is thy name
In thy heart never should thee doubt
Thy is the one and only.. I never want to be without

Before thee
I live yet am not alive
A life void of emotion
Plodding through the motion of mundane daily living
Numb and void of any true feelings
Nothing makes sense around me
Life was empty
Before thee

Oh merry month of May
Just around the corner yet seems so far away
Be still oh heart of mine
For the month of May thy shall be mine

We both.. doth desire from the start
Each promising the other a lifetime... never apart
Two broken heart brought together, previous pain... present laughter


Bless the heavens ‘tis divine interventions
Be gone! away, away with thee oh lonely nights
Desire met…a dream come through
‘Tis true… ‘tis true
A journey ending in lovers meeting
Love... thy doth truest is... many a splendid thing

WILD THANG

Okay call me a party-pooper. A stick in the mud but don’t people learn from mistakes! Only a couple of month ago in Stamford, Connecticut a woman was brutally attacked by a chimp and last reported the woman though stable is still in a critical condition.

While I applaud those who relentlessly worked tirelessly on animal rescue efforts, sure rescue the poor animals yes but leave them be as they are supposed to be! What is my point here? My point is don’t people learn that no matter how tamed, domesticated a wild animal is IT IS STILL A WILD animal! I’m no expert but it does not take a rocket scientist to tell you that even animals have mood swings. Yes like you and me they too have good and bad days! God forbid if this poor lion got on the wrong side of the bed one day the turn of events could go so wrong! A lion do not have to make a moral decision if it should attack it just attacked!

If the animal could talk I wonder what they would say? Remember the film, Planet of the Ape? THAT…… Is exactly I’ll bet what would happen if animals could talk and turn the table on us human. Hmmmm….

Wild animals are unpredictable, why can’t some people understand that!

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

A good book is a good book it’s as simple as that! I try to catch up with some reading as often as I can. But I must confess after the birth of the internet my reading habits has somewhat took a beating. But still, when push comes to shove, forced to choose between good book and a nights out clubbing with rowdy friends I’d gladly pass the latter especially if I am on a roll in the reading department when the book is one of those you just simply can’t put down until you are done.

The book I’m taking about this time is no juicy mystery murder. No, it’s not about love gone wrong either. No deceits, no one got betrayed. No, sex, lies, scandals no video tapes! No body got killed and above all no creature great or small got harmed in the process of making the book…. errr...I think! Still, that’s my point. A good book is a good book regardless the topic. What’s the book yours truly is talking about then. It is simply an idiot book!

No… silly... I am referring to the book title! You know one of those many Idiots’ Guide books and I must confess… I love Idiot’s guide book, I kindda dig them. I find Idiot’s guide book cool, there I said it out loud... so sue me, bite my head off already if you must! This one is titled... The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting out of Debt.

No one got harmed true, except my ego and I still got a little ding on my self-esteem. But, that’s good. I mean a ding every now and then to one’s self-esteem is a good thing after all me think, "a life not examined, is a life not worth living" It is true you know, not all debts are bad debts and no… it is not an attempt to make myself feel better here but seriously… if you got the time check out the book ...

I’m not going to talk at length what you can find and learn from the book because you will have to do it all on your own! All I will say is this, the mind is like a parachute if you refused to open it you will crash and plunge ever so quickly and will only find that it’s too late for any attempt of rescue to safe you from falling to a possible certain disastrous end. Times are bad, the recession is going to be around longer than expected. More and more people are getting laid off from their jobs. These are difficult time and people are feeling it all over the world. Moral are getting lower than low.Don't get me wrong, I am not cheering you on to accumulate as much debts as you can no…no…no… that’s financial suicide. If I was to quote one line from the book it would be; “If you are drowning in debts that does not make you a bad person, you just took a wrong turn”

On that note this is my two cents take; Good thing about making a wrong turn, you can reverse, recalculate, put your feet firmly on the pedal, reduce speed just for good measure than start again for the road ahead.

Easier said than done sure… but better late than never!

SIMON SAYS

Simon says. You sound horrible! Simon says. You look ridiculous! Simon says. Get Out!

Only difference is this is not just quite a simple game of Simon Says. With this particular Simon, it appears what Simon says has a lot of clout whether you like it or not. Some say he is obnoxiously rude. Others call him Mr. Nasty. Sure the man could exercise a tad bit of tact here and there. But have you notice, Mr. Nasty also automatically becomes Mr. Nice to many a contestant and this he does not once, but almost every time to people with a genuine pleasant disposition even though these people do not quite make the cut so to speak. If many a heart were broken, many a dream shattered surely you can’t point all blame to this guy yes even though the man can be brutally honest. Notice also that Simon was not nasty or rude to the girl here. No... this is not about Simon rather it’s about those who should know better.

Have you ever head of the term helicopter parents? I promise you, I am not making this up! According to psychologists, helicopter parents are those who hover over their children, worry about everything that their children does or does not do. They are often aggressive or overbearing. Helicopter parents tend to make a lot of noise in their bit to rescue their offspring whenever difficulty arises or so they think. They absolutely have no qualms about intervening on behalf of their off spring yes even if that said off spring is a 30 year old. In a nut shell, experts believe that such parents contribute to the development of psychological problems in their children. By overprotecting them and keeping them from learning how to cope with adversity. This intrusiveness in turn breeds anxiety. Because it implies to the child that he or she is fragile constantly needing continued help. You can imagine what that does to a child self esteem.

Take the case of the kid in the video for example. I wonder who is it that wants to be famous here, the parents or the child. I mean surely the parents know that the girl can’t sing if her life depends on it! No, I am not trying to be Ms. Nasty here people. The girl just can’t sing, period! Simple as that! The girl said in the video “I’ve been told by my mom and dad that I am a good singer”. The mom later in her own word said”We just literally push her and push her until we got her to sing”

It is one thing to encourage your child and be supportive. But come on already! If you can’t realize your own unfulfilled dream don’t push your goal onto your children. In the long haul, the child ends up even more disappointed because you put it into her head that she has what it takes when she clearly do not. You falsely inflate her ego, give unrealistic hope. You drum it into the child head making her believe that it is also what she wants. Yeah… yeah we all know the saying; every parent just wants what’s best for their children. Want their children to be regarded as special in the eyes of the world the way the child is special to them.

Honestly I’m inclined to give Simon the thumbs up here. The girl is not to be blame well at least not her alone. The parents should just wake up already. Moms and dads out there if you are reading this watch the video too. Do some soul searching! It’s good to encourage your child to dream just don’t push your child to dream the impossible dream! Spare your kids the humiliation!

A HOG FOR A LITTLE SAUSAGE

These days I dont watch the tele all that much. There are a couple of shows I do try not to miss like 60 minutes! Andy Rooney’s tongue in cheek reporting style but full of punch and substance makes him one of my favorite TV news journalists. I recall in this one particular show, a brief report from good old Andy makes me like the guy even more!

Ladies if you are not there yet, some day you will so you would want to read this! If you are approaching that magical number then this one’s for you! On the other hand, if you are already there then ladies ... YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO LOVE THIS!

THIS IS PRICELESS! I just had to share it here, enjoy!

Some of you might have already watched the show but for all those fine ladies in case you missed it on 60 Minutes, here's the transcript of what good old Andy Rooney thinks about women over 40.


As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think. If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it. Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her. Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal.

For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?', here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why?Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!

YESSSSSSSSSS Thank you Mr. Rooney and now to all

FINE, FUN, FABULOUS, FANCY-FREE FEMALE over 40

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

X Factor - Fear Factor

To believe in one-self is a positive thing. Mostly when someone is said to be a person with confidence we would associate qualities such as strength and courage. Many people would even be envious of people who seem to display this solid confidence, this feeling of unshakable security, a firm belief in one’s own power, abilities or one’s capacities to succeed in what ever task one chooses to undertake.

Yet on the flip side having an excess of self assurance as in being too bold to a fault could result in being too imprudent and overly presumptuous hence would very likely result in a disastrous outcome and bring about one’s own downfall.

That said… it is truly sad when some one with an excessive or inflated confidence comes into the picture and sadder even still when they think confidence is being brash, cocky or even down right obnoxious and rude when in reality its just plain ugly. Blind confidence and arrogance usually come hand in hand. What you see in the end is an offensive display of superiority or self-importance and an overbearing pride.

Unfortunately, we all have at some point in our life been up against or come across people who walks around this earth with that "I’m gorgeous, talented, smart, everybody admire me and everybody wish they can be like me" attitude. Yep, I'm talking about those, head -it -all, done- it- all and know- it- all sort, I think you know what I mean here.Basically such characters walk around thinking the sun shines from their you know where... and in their own twisted mind seem to think that everything and everyone else are jealous of them, sad actually... nope make that very... very sad actually.

Quote: "The smaller the mind the greater the conceit" - Aesop

Watch the video. Confidence? .... you decide

RIGHT TO LOVE

Thought I'd look up the word gay in the dictionary the other day. Followings are what I found;

1. Having or showing a merry, lively mood.
2. Bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
3. Given, to social or other pleasures.
4. Licentious; an old rogue with an eye for ladies.
5. Indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues.

Much has been said about same gender marriage. For me, regardless of how you personally view it

Marriage = one man one woman
Marriage = one man one man
Marriage = one woman one woman

My personal stand on the subject is simple. I mean, enough already cant we us all, just play nice and get along! I know…I know I’m just a simpleton for saying that. But you know what simpleton me think; it seems the more educated people are the less educated they become. It boils down to arrogance yep! That, I am right and you are wrong arrogance! Or perhaps it’s just plain ignorance.

That one group of people has the audacity to claim that the way they love is more pure is the right and only way to love regardless is pure blind ignorance. I’m thinking, marriage is a basic need, a basic human right no? It’s an individual’s personal choice no? Regardless of your beliefs and religious background doesn’t religion advocates compassion, empathy, tolerance and to treat others as you want to be treated!

I’m going to take the stand here and now! I am not going to sit on the fence on this one. No, I am not trying to do the politically correct thing for fear of being bombarded with nasty comments or who knows death threats send via my email, nope!

Final say from simpleton me. I’m going to state it just plain and simple; marriage is a basic human right and an individual personal choice end of discussion, RESOLVED!

Think what you want or choose to think. Take some time to listen to the speech in the video. I dare you to not see that the fine lady doth speakest and accite much truth. Indeed... if only we would listen and not just hear, if we would see and not just simply look, feel people.... feel..... don't just simply touch! Adieu

Britain’s Got Talent-Susan Boyle

I think it’s not presumptive for me to say that by now at least millions of you out there have watched her sing if not on TV perhaps on YouTube. Lets be honest now people! What’s the first reaction you have when Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent walked onto that stage? I can tell you one thing. I bet many probably have already decided and pretty much made up their mind about this woman even before they hear her sing.

Simon Cowell brief chat with her further sealed some peoples’ perception I’ll bet. If you watch the performance you can clearly see the smirks, cynical and even scornful that Oh PULEASE look coming from some of the audience well at least those caught on tape and who’s to say there are no others. Others who absolutely refused to give this woman a chance or the benefit of doubt.

Here’s the honest truth. This is ugly I know but truth of the matter is, people are hateful by nature! Sure, argue all you want. The fact is it is not uncommon for people to associate a pretty face with intelligence, grace, beauty. I’ve read somewhere that according to a survey people are more likely to be voluntarily helpful to someone handsome, pretty and so forth. As if some one plain, someone less attractive or someone who does not quite have a drop dead gorgeous body can not be interesting, intelligent, talented etcetera, etcetera.I am not going to pretend to be holier than thou here! I have my shallow moments and my flaws are countless in all honesty. I too have been at times guilty of being selectively kind simply put, guilty of stereotyping. I’m not proud of it needless to say. I tell myself I need a lot of work still that’s right I am work in progress because flaws I have plenty yes sirree!

One thing though, I have been since as far as I can remember always been rooting for the underdog. When Paul Pott came on stage and sing! Wow! Wow! Wow. I was so incredibly moved. It’s that sheer innocence, unassuming attitude, that plain everyday guy on the street people think nothing of, people simply ignored, somewhat invisible to the mass. All these factors and above all that sincere humbleness that tugs at your heart string, makes you want so bad for this person to make it, to win big and as we know Paul Pott indeed win big, I mean big time! Susan Boyle is one of them. I mean you are 47 virtually an unknown, you don’t have that x factor many would give you a 0.001 percent of a chance to even give you a second look! But you have that never say die attitude. You put yourself in front of those cruel judgmental eyes sheering crowd and when someone as intimidating as Simon Cowell ask “what’s the dream, in her own words I quote Susan simply stated “I’m trying to be a professional singer” Simon ask again “And why do you think it has not work before” Again Susan simply said I’ve never ever been given the chance before lets hope this time things will change”.

There you have it! That’s the honest truth folks. In general people are most likely will not be too kind to the likes of Susan Boyle of the world!

Call it crazy, call it foolish call it what you want! I see it as pure determination and guts! When all the odds are stacked against you, when the entire world around you seems to not want to give you even an ounce of confidence and simply brush you aside purely base on your outer appearance people decided that you do not have anything special to offer. You step up to the world and simply stick to your ground! Susan, as we now know blew all of them watching her perform that day away pure and simple!

We can’t predict what’s going to happen next. Susan may or may not move on to the next level and the next and eventually win the title this time around. Personally for me, I am rooting for Susan Boyle even if the turn of events should not favor her in the end. The ugly truth is, in the entertainment industry it seems the outer appearance does influence success or otherwise. Look at the so many eye candy performances out there. Let’s not pretend that many do falls short in terms of quality. Infect some are pure eye candy with a so, so voice. But because of fierce marketing they boom into stardom and sells like hot cake.

As for me, I will and always will be rooting for the underdog. I want t h is brave, gutsy lady to win period! But even if Susan Boyles’s faith turn otherwise I’d still say no one and I mean no one will ever forget that incredible voice that incredibly gutsy lady who came, sing, humbled, inspired conquered and captured the hearts of many!

For those who miss the buzz watch here the YouTube video of Susan Boyle’s performance. Enjoy!

CELLPHONE HELL

Do you realize these days’ people are less patient somehow? Just an example the mobile phone has replaced the need to write letters. If people used to write love letters for example now you simply sent text messages. Thanks to technology we have become even more impatient it seems. Now we don’t bother to call but chooses instead to send SMS umhmm that wonderful Short Message Service.

Apparently people don’t even bother to spell right these days again thanks to SMS mania. What is my problem? No don’t get me wrong. I am not against modern technology! Infect I love the fact that thanks to technology now I don’t have to buy an IPOD, MP3 Player, Camera, Radio, Video player, I can surf the net, check my email anywhere. I don’t need a real calendar, I don’t need to buy a calculator and I can go on and on but I think you are getting the picture here. Yes indeed, mobile phones these days come packed with so many limitless multimedia capabilities. Plus telecommunication providers now offers all sorts of cell phone plans, freebies and give-away along with a bundle of other accessories you are just simply spoil for choice. Contract no contract cell phone plan or simply prepaid if you do not want to be tied to rigid terms and conditions in a written contract. Cell phones models changes so fast here you think you’ve got the latest state of the art the ultimate model next day you surf the net and you find a new even better model and suddenly you feel the urge to change a new cell phone yet again. So! It’s all wonderful no? Yes and no actually.

Coming back to my question what is my problem?

You see, the problem is no I don’t have a problem with technology in this case the mobile phone let me be more specific here. But, but I do have problem with some people with mobile phones. I’m talking about how annoying it is when you are trying to enjoy a movie someone’s cell phone rings. Or when you are in a concert which you pay not quite so little and again someone in the audience so conveniently forgets to switch off their cell phone. Imagine you are trying to explain something to a business partner and his or her phone keeps on ringing ever so often. You start the conversation again and a text message comes in and he or she stops to answer it. You are in the library trying to enjoy some nice peaceful quite time boom, someone’s cell phone rings! Or when you are enjoying a nice cup of cappuccino with a friend in a really nice hang-out engaging in a light relaxing conversation someone some where is talking loudly on the cell phone. That’s the problem I’m talking about.

I supposed you can argue it’s a free world. If you feel you have the right the other party too feels that he or she has the right as well. I sometimes gather enough courage to give the person a, what my friends call the “dirty look” stare. Some times it works many times it does not. You may think my ranting about cell phones is lame but look around you this mobile madness is every where you go!

I guess it boils down to values. I mean the individual’s personal value that is. I think it’s pointless to try to reason with some people about cell phone etiquette because for me personally you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that it’s simply basic courtesy.

MONEY MAKES MONEY

Make money while you sleep! Stay at home and make money! Easy step to making millions from home! Home base job pay day, every day, and the list goes no.

In all honesty, I’ve tried for a long and I mean very long time to find that ideal money making sites out there in the big bad world- wide- web if there is any to begin with that is! Is there really such a thing as making money for free?

Everyone scream this over used disclaimer MAKE MONEY ON LINE FOR FREE- NO SCAM Is their really such a thing? Well if there is perhaps it’s just me that can’t seem to be able to find one that really is FREE plain and simple. That’s it, must be me I guess because others seems to find those sites quite easily. I mean just read the satisfied customer section from most of these sites. They all seem to be making money, seems. After searching and searching and searching and searching and searching I think you catch my drift here, today I am running on half tank and a broken ego yep! Still cant find me one of those “make money while you sleep” money making web site!

If by luck anyone of you good net-citizen out there chance upon this article do let me know if you are one among the billion people out there fortunate enough to have indeed found a web site that helps you make money while you sleep!

Although I must confess, I can’t say hours and hours of search is a total lost however. I learn that the more the disclaimer claim “For Real - No Scam” aah those are likely the ones that has strings attached to them. I got burnt many times too. Let me share with you good folks out there my personal experience. OK folks sit back, make sure you are all cozy and relax; here is how the story goes.

I get all excited each time I found me a money making web site it’s becoming like a habit almost. It’s almost like an adrenalin rush. I would get all excited. In most cases I would register almost immediately especially if the word FREE registration is there. Sometimes I would even register even though I have to pay. My credit card will be somehow always near by. I would register and wait for the email with high hopes and now that I think of it almost with a childlike eagerness and almost every time I would fail time and again.

This all change on that fortunate Monday morning. That morning I got a call from the bank. The customer service officer at the end of the line asks me, Madam are you on line right now? Mind you it was 3:30am when I received the call. I of course said, No I am not and who is this? The voice then replied I am from the XXX bank! He asked again, have you been making any on-line transactions of late or within this short period? I replied, No, is there a problem? That’s when my heart almost stopped when the bank officer said, there appears to be some fraudulent transactions using your credit card. All the transactions seem to be conducted within 30 minutes and there are in total 25 transactions in US dollars! Oh My God! If I was sleepy and all groggy from the sleep my heart went instantly boom, boom, boom, yep I was wide awake after that news!

To make the story short, the bank officer was really helpful. The bank had to freeze my credit card account and reissue me a new card with a different account number. Till this very day, I thank God the bank was diligent and immediately contacted me. The bank took care of things and put a stop to the fraudulent deductions from my credit card account! Phew!

Maybe I am just naive. Call me gullible if you so chooses! But hey, what can I say who will not be interested when there is an opportunity to make a few honest second in-come on the side? After all I figured, I spent a lot of time on-line. I love the inter-net so why not make some money from my hobby. Yeah right! Truth is folks’ things are not that easy I’m afraid.

Maybe there are sites out there that do make you some money some spare change perhaps. But sadly most don’t. What’s even sadder is there are people who do really badly need to make that extra pocket change especially during these difficult times. The economic tsunami is felt all over the world. People are let-off from their job.

Retrenchments are rampant and this is happening all over the world. Imagine a chap after being retrenched making ends meet and searching the net in the hope to earn that extra change that will come in handy to only find out that it’s yet another hoax!

I don’t know! People can be cruel! I guess it’s true like the saying goes! “Only the toughest of the tough survives”

As for me, I have not find that elusive “earn money while you sleep” money making web site! But I guess I will continue to search. Only difference is, I’d be more careful I supposed after being burnt several time. Painful lesson but make no mistakes its a lesson learned for sure!

Having been disappointed but still people tries and continues to search for that ideal money making web site? Why? Indeed why? Why,simply because money is still that one basic but awfully essential tool that can make things a little in some case a lot more smoother. Bottom line is, whether you want to admit it or not WE ALL NEED MONEY, PERIOD!