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<channel>
	<title>thoughts &amp;laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feed</title>
	<link>http://wordpress.com/tag/thoughts/</link>
	<description>Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "thoughts"</description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:01:01 +0000</pubDate>

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	<language>en</language>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Shortcomings ]]></title>
<link>http://virtualrambling.wordpress.com/?p=1109</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Rambler</dc:creator>
<guid>http://virtualrambling.wordpress.com/?p=1109</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Small failures standing tall,
Towering over the larger successes.
An odd spray of dirty droplets,
Di]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>Small failures standing tall,<br />
Towering over the larger successes.</em></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>An odd spray of dirty droplets,<br />
Discoloring the ocean of the mind.</em></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>“Confidence” broken,<br />
“Win’s” questioned,<br />
“Will” out of sight.</em></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>Is this guy, really me?,<br />
The only question on mind.</em></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>Why did you let me into this.<br />
“Why?”, I ask.</em></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>“Inabilities”,<br />
Ghosts that haunt us forever.</em></span></strong></p>
<p>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>I am missing the "<a href="http://writersisland.wordpress.com/" target="_self">writer's island</a>", the one prompt which I enjoyed doing a lot. Today I came across a nice prompt "Ghost" over at Rash's <a href="http://connectrashmi.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Graffiti</a>, I have been aware of the prompt <a href="http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sunday Scribblings </span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> from a long time, but somehow never participated. Better late than never right?. Here I go with my 55 cents.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Nunggu Bis...]]></title>
<link>http://niamutiara.wordpress.com/?p=133</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:05:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>nmutiara</dc:creator>
<guid>http://niamutiara.wordpress.com/?p=133</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Siang skitar jam 2 lewat [ 30 menit  ], gw mo ke NTU, nitip barang [lagii?]. Adoh,, nunggu 20 menit,]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Siang skitar jam 2 lewat [ 30 menit :P ], gw mo ke NTU, nitip barang [lagii?]. Adoh,, nunggu 20 menit, itu bis 199 kaga lewat2! Kbayang kan kalo ini terjadi pas pagi2, ada lab pagi pula... [ kaga bisa deh tuh buru2 ga pake mandi trus cabut ke lab... :P ]</p>
<p>Kmudian...</p>
<p>Tadi skitar jem 4 [ lewat 30 menit :P ] sore gw nunggu bis 199 di Boon Lay interchange, mo balik ke tempat pengungsian sementara :P [ moga2 cepet dapet hall... huhuhu... ]<br />
Ewww gilee lemotnya... 15++ menit...</p>
<p>Bus 179 uda lewat 2 kali tapi 199 blum! Tapi emang gw liat si, antrian orang yang mo naik bus 179 itu 2x-nya 199... Waksss O_o</p>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Think &amp; Persevere.]]></title>
<link>http://catchmewhenifall.wordpress.com/?p=364</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:44:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>septemberchild</dc:creator>
<guid>http://catchmewhenifall.wordpress.com/?p=364</guid>
<description><![CDATA[When you have so many things to do, you really need to stop and think. Think about what needs to be ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you have so many things to do, you really need to stop and think. Think about what needs<em> </em>to be done, in the sequence of what one <em>has </em>to do and what one<em> would like</em> to do. Also, one needs to persevere when one has to do something one doesn't actually want to do. That is why the most wonderful things to do are those things one <em>would like</em> to do and at the same time <em>has</em>  to do. Sigh. I have such little discipline. Come on, Josephine! You can so get your work done if you settle down to actually do it!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Has </strong>to do</span></p>
<ol>
<li>History MYE paper</li>
<li>KI MYE paper</li>
<li>Choose a play for TSD mini IS</li>
<li>Pick an article for PW EoM</li>
<li>PW EoM essay outline</li>
<li>Catch up on <em>tons </em>of work</li>
<li>Update my TSD journal<br />
 </li>
</ol>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Would like</strong> to do</span></p>
<ol>
<li>Bake</li>
<li>Watch a movie, <em>any</em> movie, really</li>
<li>Curl up with a good book, <em>any</em> book, once again</li>
<li>Go out and just have fun</li>
</ol>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Has </strong>&#38; <strong>would like</strong> to do</span> (although it takes no presedence over what I just <strong>have</strong> to do for now)</p>
<ol>
<li>Upload photos from my camera</li>
<li>Decide on my KI IS research question</li>
</ol>
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<title><![CDATA[THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST]]></title>
<link>http://visheshunni.wordpress.com/?p=508</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:39:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>vishesh</dc:creator>
<guid>http://visheshunni.wordpress.com/?p=508</guid>
<description><![CDATA[
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST,
ALL THAT SHINES IS LIGHT,
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST.
THE WORLD]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/vichuthecrazy/Photoshopped/photo#5225043352793483938"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/vichuthecrazy/SIMVPvNFiqI/AAAAAAAACKo/23iIAJIdSoQ/s400/the%20light%20shines.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST,<br />
ALL THAT SHINES IS LIGHT,<br />
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST.<br />
THE WORLD HAS DARKNESS,<br />
BUT THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST,<br />
THE WORLD HAS SHADOWS,<br />
BUT THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST.<br />
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST,<br />
EVERYTHING IS OF LIGHT<br />
AND LIGHT ALONE,<br />
WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THE LIGHT,<br />
WHAT YOU CANNOT ALSO IS LIGHT.<br />
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST,<br />
NOTHING SHINES BRIGHTER THAN LIGHT,<br />
YOU ARE THE LIGHT,<br />
I AM THE LIGHT,<br />
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST.<br />
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST,<br />
THE LIGHT SHINES THE BRIGHTEST.</p>
<p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/vichuthecrazy/Photoshopped/photo#5225038245295180066"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/vichuthecrazy/SIMQmcSmSSI/AAAAAAAACKg/IkF4grrHpts/s400/the%20light.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/vichuthecrazy/Photoshopped/photo#5225043402095039362"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/vichuthecrazy/SIMVSm3fk4I/AAAAAAAACKw/FntAtieJIzE/s400/blue%20and%20light.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>note:-the first image is of the sun,cropped from a photo i took.</p>
<p>the second and third image was fully created using photoshop.</p>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Ben Kweller - Lizzy]]></title>
<link>http://serotoninless.wordpress.com/?p=94</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:27:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>motion city guy</dc:creator>
<guid>http://serotoninless.wordpress.com/?p=94</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ben Kweller non smette di stupirmi. Questa è una delle più belle canzoni d&#8217;amore, secondo me]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ben Kweller non smette di stupirmi. Questa è una delle più belle canzoni d'amore, secondo me, e da anni mi è inevitabile ascoltare queste canzoni senza pensare di voler essere in un universo parallelo in cui non sono stati fatti errori, in cui non c'è stato tutto quel dolore, in cui le cose sono andate lisce come dovevano, senza strappi da cucire. Perciò immagino il me stesso di un 2008 alternativo che si trova con la lei stessa di un 2008 alternativo e le sussurra da vicino questa canzone mentre gioca con le sue dita mentre è seduta di fronte, con le gambe incrociate. Sono quasi di plastica per come sono finti, quei due, ma sono più felici di quanto lo siamo noi nel nostro 2008.<br />
Davvero, è bellissima secondo me. Lizzy è la moglie di Ben, e io vorrei essere capace di scrivere la metà di un testo del genere.</p>
<p>Sign me up I volunteer<br />
Votes are in for lifeguard of the year<br />
Her feline past lives are plain<br />
Their singularities are shown in this life again</p>
<p><strong>Like mama said,<br />
</strong> <strong>"Don't you let it go to your head<br />
when you know you're being fed"<br />
</strong> <strong>I'm so proud to know you</strong><br />
Lizzy, I'll write, I'll sing,<br />
telegraph, telegram, telephone, tellin' you<br />
I'll be home soon, Dayenu</p>
<p>We will wake when kitty licks<br />
And in the morn work takes her to Maine<br />
Dressed and out the door by six<br />
Tomorrow is the first time Liz can't board my plane</p>
<p>Like mama said,<br />
"Don't you let it go to your head<br />
when you know your book is read"<br />
I'm so proud to know you<br />
Anna will take me to the port<br />
as Liz drives up I-95<br />
<strong>Me and my darlin' keep love alive<br />
even on Texas time</strong></p>
<p>And like my mama said,<br />
"Don't you let it go to your head<br />
when your town is painted red"<br />
I'm so proud to know you<br />
<strong>Lizzy, I'll write, I'll sing,<br />
telegraph, telegram, telephone, tellin' you<br />
I'll be home soon, Dayenu<br />
Telephone, tellin' you<br />
I'll be home soon, Dayenu</strong></p>
<p><strong>I love you.</strong></p>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Les 35h]]></title>
<link>http://thegoldencoccinelle.wordpress.com/?p=224</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:05:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>thegoldencoccinelle</dc:creator>
<guid>http://thegoldencoccinelle.wordpress.com/?p=224</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Voilà un drôle de sujet me direz-vous pour un dimanche et pourtant&#8230;On nous avait dit, le Gou]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Voilà un drôle de sujet me direz-vous pour un dimanche et pourtant...On nous avait dit, le Gouvernement nous avait dit et surtout le Président nous avait dit qu'ils ne toucheraient pas aux 35h mais des Députés, pressés de se débarrasser d'une des mesures phares de la gauche à son époque, ont poussé, poussé et poussé et Xavier Bertrand, le mec avec la tronche de premier de la classe, le mec gentil, le sourire à la boutonnière, a décidé de porter sur ses larges épaules cette "réforme". Les cadres n'auront plus de RTT et le slogan "travailler plus, pour gagner plus" semble déjà désuet. Oui, sans référence par rapport à une durée légale du travail, il ne peut plus y avoir d'heures supplémentaires et finalement les 35h payées 39 vont repasser à plus de 35h payées 39 voire moins étant donné l'inflation et le coût de la vie qui augmente.</p>
<p>Ce constat simple, inéluctable me fait me poser une question. On parle du secteur privé et pas du secteur public pour le moment. On sait très bien que si les fonctionnaires peuvent encore bénéficier de ces mesures et qu'on ne revient pas sur cet "acquis social", on pourra taper dessus allègrement et l'on sait très bien que dans de nombreux domaines il manque du personnel et qu'avec la volonté manifeste du gouvernement de réduire le nombre de fonctionnaires, il faudra travailler plus. En soi, la mesure n'est pas stupide, les 35h ont été une mauvaise décision, unilatérale, imposée sans réelle concertation. Mais cela a permis aussi quelques avancées sociales par rapport aux loisirs des français et le temps passé en famille. Aussi, je pense que les fonctionnaires doivent aussi être soumis à l'augmentation du temps de travail mais une fois de plus, si cela est mis en place, l'augmentation de traitement dont a parlé le Président ne pourra pas voir le jour car dès lors que les fonctionnaires travailleront plus, les 35h n'étant plus la valeur de référence, ils n'auront pas de réelle amélioration. Cette année, les syndicats ont obtenu 0.8% d'augmentation...C'est nul, c'est insuffisant. Mais cette histoire des 35h me semble mal engagée, si l'on commence déjà à faire des différences entre le public et le privé, cela va créer encore une défiance vis à vis des fonctionnaires, les critiques seront faciles et pourtant ils ne sont pas responsables des lois édictées. Ils les appliquent.</p>
<p>J'espère donc que si les 35h disparaissent effectivement de la sphère du travail et de la sphère sociale et j'espère que cela sera appliqué de manière égale pour tout le monde.</p>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[selfless, cold and composed (part 2)]]></title>
<link>http://modobs.wordpress.com/?p=479</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:59:36 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>modobs</dc:creator>
<guid>http://modobs.wordpress.com/?p=479</guid>
<description><![CDATA[
Recently, one of my friends called me to get my advice on a peculiar situation she&#8217;s been exp]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.sgisland.org/download/wallpaper/iceberg.jpg" alt="" width="314" height="261" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Recently, one of my friends called me to get my advice on a peculiar situation she's been experiencing. She's in a relationship with a guy, but developed a strange friendship with another man, much older than her, and married of course.  The friendship is a bit special, because she knows him through her job and he's one of the external partners of her company. She met him a few months ago, when he arrived in his company. "<em>We are often in contact with each other for work since then, and our conversations remain strictly professional all the time. Yet, I know that I can call him whenever I want if I have a problem and he's never bothered if I call him in the middle of one of his meetings. I need him for my job, he's a precious help and it's mutual" </em>she told me. "<em>I really appreciate his company because he's one of the few men that consider me for my professional skills and my intelligence, not for my body or my youth. I feel motivated in my job because of him, and he's constantly congratulating me for my work. He boosts my confidence"</em> she added.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">This friendship has become a burden for my friend, though. <em>"Because I spent a lot of time with him on the phone, my colleagues are now convinced we're having an affair, and I hear whispers about he and I all the time. My boss uses me as an intermediary between him and my contact each time he needs something to be done by him. Everyone is constantly asking me questions about him.  I can't join any conversation with my colleagues without being questioned about him anymore. Some of my colleagues have even stopped talking to me, because they think I'm a homewrecker or a slut for flirting with a married man" </em>she said.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I asked her if her professional contact acted the same way with her than with his collaborators in his company.  And she said she noticed that everyone (with some exceptions) reckons the same thing about him: he's motivating and dynamic."<em>I've know for years his secretary, who was an idiot with no opinion. But since he arrived in his company a few month ago, we started having interesting conversations and she seemed now aware of what's going on in the company. It wasn't the case before" </em>she explained.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">And I asked her if she has fallen in love with him, and she replied no. "<em>I really like him, but I don't love him. I  love my man. It may be love, but it's not the same kind of love I feel for my man. I love him as a friend" </em>she said. "<em>Yet, I feel happy because of him. He really came into my life when I was feeling down and useless in my job"</em> she said.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Her friendship has however reached another level recently. "<em>Last week, he called me late in the evening while he was in New York. He just forgot about the time zone when he called, that's why, and he apologized for that. But he asked me to call him when he would get back from the Big Apple, for business of course. I called him, and our conversation remained strictly professional. Yet, just before I hang up, he had those words toward me: I'm delighted to see you tomorrow. We had a meeting the day after"</em> she said. "<em>The D Day, I didn't know what to expect from him, and I was very nervous to see him again. Our meeting was very strange: he didn't look at me at all during it, focusing his attention to his collaborator. He was cold, composed and selfless with me. I've known him much more outgoing, and I must say I was a little bit hurt by that" </em>she said.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Personally, I think she and him are in the middle of a situation that's getting a little bit out of their hands, and they try their possible not to fall in love with each other. I told my friend I really can't tell how things will evolve between them, maybe in a few months, the tension between them would ease, maybe it will grow into something else. I told my friend to try focusing on something else, and to try remain selfless and composed with him. And that she should remain mum about him at work, replying simply to all questions about him by a mere "I don't know". People will stop quickly being too curious.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">What do you think?</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Kevin Rudd Escalating his Political Dilettantism]]></title>
<link>http://kotzabasis2.wordpress.com/?p=54</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:53:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>kotzabasis</dc:creator>
<guid>http://kotzabasis2.wordpress.com/?p=54</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Con George-Kotzabasis

In our times when rogue states bristling in their apocalyptic beards, like]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>By<strong> </strong><span style="color:#339966;"><strong>Con George-Kotzabasis<br />
</strong></span><br />
<span style="color:#808080;">In our times when rogue states bristling in their apocalyptic beards, like Iran, could produce <strong>stealthily</strong> nuclear weapons, to set up an International Commission for nuclear disarmament, as Prime Minister Rudd proposes to do, is the ultimate stupidity that any one could suggest. And in the aftermath of 9/11, the magnitude of such stupidity takes astronomical dimensions. Just imagine that countries such as America, Britain, France, and especially, Israel, which could be the targets of a nuclear attack by an Islamist state or by proxies of the latter, would even consider their nuclear disarmament.</span></div>
<p><span style="color:#808080;">Rudd’s proposal limpidly illustrates that Australia does not have a statesman at the helm but a political dilettante and a populist to boot who is more concerned to ingratiate himself with the celestial wishes of its liberal minded constituency than to deal with geopolitical realities.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#808080;">Moreover, what is rather surprising and amusing is to see that Gareth Evans is willing to underwrite such political buffoonery by accepting the chair of the International Commission for nuclear disarmament. It seems that his Tasmanian “Biggles” days are not over.</span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:#808080;">Your opinion…</span></em></p>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[The Pursuit of Happiness is NOT the pursuit of pleasure]]></title>
<link>http://imaginehopeandbelieve.wordpress.com/?p=62</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:51:42 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Daloo3a</dc:creator>
<guid>http://imaginehopeandbelieve.wordpress.com/?p=62</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Happiness Is a Moral Obligation
For much of my life, I, like most people, regarded the pursuit of ha]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Happiness Is a Moral Obligation</p>
<p>For much of my life, I, like most people, regarded the pursuit of happiness as largely a selfish pursuit. One of the great revelations of middle age has been that happiness, far from being only a selfish pursuit, is a moral demand.</p>
<p>When we think of character traits we rightly think of honesty, integrity, moral courage, and acts of altruism. Few people include happiness in any list of character traits or moral achievements. But happiness is both.</p>
<p>Happiness -- or at least acting happy, or at the very least not inflicting one's unhappiness on others -- is no less important in making the world better than any other human trait.</p>
<p>With some exceptions, happy people make the world better and unhappy people make it worse. This is true on the personal (micro) and global (macro) planes.</p>
<p>On the micro plane:</p>
<p>Consider the effects of an unhappy parent on a child. Ask people raised by an unhappy parent if that unhappiness hurt them.</p>
<p>Consider the effects of an unhappy spouse on a <a id="KonaLink1" class="kLink" href="http://www.latestngreatest.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=poetry,m=1209433088#" target="_top"><span style="color:blue !important;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;"><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">marriage</span></span></a>.</p>
<p>Consider the effects of unhappy children on their parents. I know a couple that has four middle-aged children of whom three are truly extraordinary people, inordinately well adjusted and decent. The fourth child has been unhappy most of his life and has been a never-ending source of <a id="KonaLink2" class="kLink" href="http://www.latestngreatest.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=poetry,m=1209433088#" target="_top"><span style="color:blue !important;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;"><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">pain</span></span></a> to the parents. That one child's unhappiness has always overshadowed the joy that the parents experience from the other three children. Hence the saying that one is no happier than one's least happy child.</p>
<p>Consider the effects of a brooding co-worker on your and your fellow workers' morale -- not to mention the huge difference between working for a happy or a moody employer.</p>
<p>We should regard bad moods as we do offensive body odor. Just as we shower each day so as not to inflict our body odors on others, so we should <a id="KonaLink4" class="kLink" href="http://www.latestngreatest.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=poetry,m=1209433088#" target="_top"><span style="color:blue !important;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;"><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">monitor</span></span></a> our bad moods so as not to inflict them on others. We shower partly for ourselves and partly out of obligation to others. The same should hold true vis a vis moods; and just as we avoid those who do not do something about their body <a id="KonaLink3" class="kLink" href="http://www.latestngreatest.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=poetry,m=1209433088#" target="_top"><span style="color:blue !important;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;"><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">odor</span></span></a> we should avoid whenever possible those who do nothing about their bad moods.</p>
<p>The flip side of the damage unhappy people do when they subject others to their unhappiness is the good that people do when they are, or at least act, happy. Just think of how much more you want to help people when you are in particularly happy mood and you realize how much more good the happy are likely to do.</p>
<p>On the macro plane, the case for the <a id="KonaLink5" class="kLink" href="http://www.latestngreatest.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=poetry,m=1209433088#" target="_top"><span style="color:blue !important;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;"><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">relationship</span></span></a> between happiness and goodness is as apparent.</p>
<p>It is safe to say that the happiest <a id="KonaLink6" class="kLink" href="http://www.latestngreatest.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=poetry,m=1209433088#" target="_top"><span style="color:blue !important;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;"><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">Germans</span></span></a> were not those who joined the Nazi Party. Nor did the happiest Europeans become Communists. And happy Muslims are not generally among those who extol death. The motto of Hamas and other Islamic groups engaged in terror, "We love death as much as [Americans, Jews] love life," does not appeal to happy Muslims.</p>
<p>Cults, hysteria and mass movements all appeal to the unhappy far more than to the happy. It is one more example of the genius of America's Founders to include "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the <a id="KonaLink7" class="kLink" href="http://www.latestngreatest.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=poetry,m=1209433088#" target="_top"><span style="color:blue !important;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;"><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">Declaration </span><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">of </span><span class="kLink" style="color:blue !important;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;position:static;">Independence</span></span></a>. No other major civilization so enshrined happiness as a core value. This American belief in the moral and societal merit in pursuing happiness is a major reason America has developed differently than Europe. The American emphasis on happiness is one reason no fanatical political or religious movement, Left or Right, has been able to succeed in America as such movements have repeatedly succeeded in Europe.</p>
<p>The pursuit of happiness is not the pursuit of pleasure. The pursuit of pleasure is hedonism, and hedonists are not happy because the intensity and amount of pleasure must constantly be increased in order for hedonism to work. Pleasure for the hedonist is a drug.</p>
<p>But the pursuit of happiness is noble. It benefits everyone around the individual pursuing it, and it benefits humanity. And that is why happiness is a moral obligation.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Prophecy20th July 2008. ]]></title>
<link>http://cornishevangelist.wordpress.com/?p=64</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:51:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>cornishevangelist</dc:creator>
<guid>http://cornishevangelist.wordpress.com/?p=64</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This prophecy came to me this morning from the Lord, 20th July 2008. The Lord said, “I have releas]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0 0 10pt;"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">This prophecy came to me this morning from the Lord, 20<sup>th</sup> July 2008. The Lord said, “I have released a host of angels, from the four corners of the earth where the four winds blow, bringing my angelic host of angels to exalt and to glorify Jesus Christ on earth. For they were created especially to glorify and exalt my only begotten Son Jesus Christ.” Thus says the Lord</span></span></p>
<h2 style="margin:0;"><a href="http://www.evangelistbillybolitho.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#1f497d;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:medium;font-family:Cambria;">EVANGELIST BILLY BOLITHO</span></span></a></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0 0 12pt;"><span style="font-size:16pt;color:#1f497d;line-height:115%;font-family:&#34;">www.<strong>evangelistbillybolitho</strong>.blogspot.com</span><span style="font-size:16pt;color:#1f497d;line-height:115%;"></span></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Never Have Regret]]></title>
<link>http://imaginehopeandbelieve.wordpress.com/?p=59</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:48:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Daloo3a</dc:creator>
<guid>http://imaginehopeandbelieve.wordpress.com/?p=59</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Nothing lasts forever
So live it up
Laugh it off
Avoid the crap
Take chances and never have regrets
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Nothing lasts forever<br />
So live it up<br />
Laugh it off<br />
Avoid the crap<br />
Take chances and never have regrets<br />
Because at one point, everything you did was exactly what you wanted.</span></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Pre-Exchange Concert Count Up]]></title>
<link>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=20</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:41:24 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator>
<guid>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=20</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Just a tally of the shows I&#8217;ve seen since the start of 2007 up to when I leave.
April 10th 200]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just a tally of the shows I've seen since the start of 2007 up to when I leave.</p>
<p>April 10th 2007: Klaxons w/ Bonde Do Role @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC</p>
<p>April 14th 2007: Poison the Well w/ Fear Before The March of Flames @ Revolution Hall, Troy, NY</p>
<p>July 13th 2007: Symphony X @ Northern Lights, Clifton Park, NY</p>
<p>July 16th 2007: The Decemberists w/ Land of Talk &#38; Grizzly Bear @ Central Park SummerStage, NYC</p>
<p>August 27th 2007: Perry Farrell's Satellite Party @ Emo's, Austin, TX</p>
<p>October 5th 2007: The Blow @ The Blender Theater, NYC</p>
<p>October 6th 2007: Minus the Bear @ Irving Plaza, NYC</p>
<p>October 29th 2007: Kuyper Field @ Musica, Chatham, NY</p>
<p>January 13th 2008: Kimya Dawson &#38; Angelo Spencer @ Southpaw, NYC</p>
<p>February 22nd 2008: Men, Women, and Children w/ Head Automatica @ The Blender Theater, NYC</p>
<p>April 5th 2008: Minus the Bear w/ Portugal. The Man @ The Pearl St. Nightclub, Northampton, MA</p>
<p>April 17th 2008: Radio 4 @ The Knitting Factory, NYC</p>
<p>May 18th 2008: Between The Buried And Me, Opeth, and Dream Theater @ Washington Ave. Armory, Albany, NY</p>
<p>June 13th 2008: The National, Modest Mouse, and R.E.M. @ The Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA</p>
<p>June 29th 2008: Russian Circles w/ Daughters @ The Music Hall of Williamsberg, NYC</p>
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<title><![CDATA[MDMLG Hot weather Clambake]]></title>
<link>http://mildredouo.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/mdmlg-hot-weather-clambake/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:23:52 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>mildredouo</dc:creator>
<guid>http://mildredouo.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/mdmlg-hot-weather-clambake/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Vertical rays Tiffin is cataloged pro Thursday, June 21, 2007, at Schoolcraft Graduate school]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Vertical rays Tiffin is cataloged pro Thursday, June 21, 2007, at Schoolcraft Graduate school's Sweep Tech Via media present-time Livonia. The Board of trustees Seigneur and gang out of the Culinary Arts organize settle endue appetizers and the 3-entrée Overseer Mess hall attended by desserts.</p>
<p>Guest headset wish fulfillment have place nationally-character Jim Coach Bochove, Financier in connection with Workforce Tutti at The Henry Lane. His manifestation, “Chortle mod the In flight Seat? explores the weighty upon Outgoingness, Millennialism and Good cheer seeing as how inverse set of two the divinable and unsettled “purloined seats with respect to life?. Regis Philbin's critical review toward Jim: "What an jolly bean!!"</p>
<p>The dawn's repertory is for follows:<br />11:30 -12:00 Cataloging<br />12:00-1:15 Alfresco meal<br />1:30 - 2:15 Matins and awards stylization<br />2:30 - 4:00 Guest Low-frequency speaker</p>
<p>Filing forms and various tutorage temper have place untaken ere long. Every one questions divert feeling Marilyn S. Kostrzewski at 313-593-7692 ochry marilyn.kostrzewski@oakwood.org</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Truth and Gummi Bears]]></title>
<link>http://lsbmusings.wordpress.com/?p=271</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:03:33 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lsbmusings</dc:creator>
<guid>http://lsbmusings.wordpress.com/?p=271</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On Friday afternoon I bought a 3-pound bag of Gummi Bears. After years of consuming these rubbery-te]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Friday afternoon I bought a 3-pound bag of Gummi Bears. After years of consuming these rubbery-textured creatures, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the red ones will be gone first, then the white ones. I know myself. I know my family. This is the order of consumption within our home.</p>
<p><a href="http://lsbmusings.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/img_3693.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-254" src="http://lsbmusings.wordpress.com/files/2008/07/img_3693.jpg?w=225" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>Interesting how we can be so certain of trivial matters, and yet sometimes live as if we're uncertain about God's absolute truth.</p>
<p>Why do we stew and fret about so many things? Are we uncertain about what God said about caring for us? He feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. Don't worry, He's got your circumstance covered, too (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%206:26-31&#38;version=31">Matthew 6:26-31</a>).</p>
<p>Hard things come, one after another, and at times we wonder how much more we can take before we'll break. Are we uncertain about what God said about His grace? You've got God's Word on it: His grace is sufficient for you and your situation, His power is made perfect in weakness (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20corinthians%2012:9;&#38;version=31;">2 Corinthians 12:9</a>).</p>
<p>Injustice, death, and ugliness meet us head on and once in awhile we think the unthinkable: Has God left His throne? Oh, live in the glorious truth. He not only reigns, He's at work for your good and His glory (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208:28;&#38;version=31;">Romans 8:28</a>)!</p>
<p>God's Word is flawless (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2018:30;&#38;version=31;">Psalm 18:30</a>). His Word is right (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2033:4;&#38;version=31;">Psalm 33:4</a>). His Word is truth (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2017:17;&#38;version=31;">John 17:17</a>).  Let's live in the certainty of absolute truth.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[PS.]]></title>
<link>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=18</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:47:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator>
<guid>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=18</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;d kill for one of these:
 

&#8230;Really I would. I love my D70S and all, but it&#8217;s s]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I'd kill for one of these:</p>
<p> </p>
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400" caption=""]<img src="http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/7076/nikon1lz7.jpg" alt="Nikon D3" width="400" height="266" />[/caption]
<p>...Really I would. I love my D70S and all, but it's showing age badly, and since I use many old non-AI lenses like the Nikkor Micro 55mm f/3.5 or the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4, the ability to meter them would be incredibly helpful.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Act or Drop it.]]></title>
<link>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=16</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:37:51 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator>
<guid>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=16</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As it says elsewhere, I fly in 13 days.
I need to see my best friend. She is the only person in upst]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As it says elsewhere, I fly in 13 days.</p>
<p>I need to see my best friend. She is the only person in upstate ny that I could give a second thought to right now.</p>
<p>(almost) everyone else can just step away.</p>
<p>I'm in washington dc right now visiting my brother, I'm staying with him at his place while my parents are staying with relatives. So far it's been a good time, just hanging out talking about all the good and bad shit that's happened since we last saw each other three months ago or so. He's got a job in music that he's really happy with so I'm happy for him, and he's got this great new girlfriend that he's been dating for the past 4/5 months roughly. She's pretty cool.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Commitment scares the hell out of me, I hate doing maintenance on friends. My best friends can stay out of touch with me, hell even get in a fight with me, and then a few weeks, or months later one of us will call the other up and we'll have a fucking awesome time totally out of nowhere.</p>
<p>Also, when your best friend is a girl, it makes for interesting times.</p>
<p>Goddamn it she's great.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[haven't written in this in ages.]]></title>
<link>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=14</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:11:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator>
<guid>http://asteraceae.wordpress.com/?p=14</guid>
<description><![CDATA[alright.
I&#8217;m biting the bullet and committing to this shit, I&#8217;m going to be writing regu]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>alright.</p>
<p>I'm biting the bullet and committing to this shit, I'm going to be writing regularly.</p>
<p>The reason? In 13 days I step on a plane to finland for 10 months and I want to keep a log of things for friends to look at, that's about it, maybe post some of my flickr stuff on here, write about whatever is getting me down.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Uncertainties]]></title>
<link>http://quatrepattes.wordpress.com/?p=379</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:10:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Lune</dc:creator>
<guid>http://quatrepattes.wordpress.com/?p=379</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I have been lying in bed now for the best part of three days, tired from the anti-histamines that I ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:justify;">I have been lying in bed now for the best part of three days, tired from the anti-histamines that I have been taking for this bite and swooning from all the horse fly poison that is coursing through my body. I have been in such a grumpy mood that I have been unable to go anywhere near the kids without shouting at them. When dOH came in just now I asked him to please just take the children away so I could not do them any more harm. My weeks of effort with them are being smashed to bits in the same number of days. I just want to sleep under a very large duvet away from any other form of life.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">And yes, I have been thinking, what exactly am I going to do with my children come September, when the period of de-schooling may be coming to an end and they show an interest in doing things? They will have no other home schoolers to mix with and no clubs to go to to meet friends and do activities with during school time. I know of no other homeschoolers that are nearer than an hour and a half distance from us, but I don't want to start spending lots of time in the car. We moved to the countryside to get away from commuting.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Why on earth are we even contemplating homeschooling here in the back of beyond, miles away from any good resources, stuck in a country where I can't even speak the language well enough to have a decent conversation with anyone.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">We haven't even got lots of money to buy equipment to do specialised things with. We chose a while back to live a simple life away from the trappings of commercialism, therefore we <em>do</em> have the time, but not the money to give to our kids. I had a feeling that our lifestyle was perfect for home schooling, but why do I feel this pressure to buy things for my children all of a sudden? Perhaps consumerism eases the pain of uncertainty.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Oh, and we do not have museums or art galleries or zoos or culture of any kind on our doorstep. Unless you think cows are where it's at. I guess some people do.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I wonder whether all this matters though? I don't know. But there are only so many plants, animals, trees and rocks that we can study, only so far we can string this 'country stuff' out, only so much skiing and bike riding we can do. DOH suggested that we ski most days during the winter, after all it's all here on our doorstep. I don't know if I can handle a 5 and 2 y.o. on the slopes by myself all day, every day though. Winter is for curling up by the fire and sleeping.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I looked at some homeschooling groups back in the UK today on the internet and it seems like things are a hive of activity in our home town, with groups meeting two times a week and loads of swaps and services being offered. I suddenly felt this huge urge to move back there, just to be able to tap into the support network and find some friends for my girls. It would be great for girls to have their grannies to look after them once in a while too. Great for me. Then I thought NO, the whole reason we are here is for the mountains and nature and the country life. Returning home often comes to me in times of weakness.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[The Reminder]]></title>
<link>http://threecents.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/the-reminder/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:35:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Hafiz</dc:creator>
<guid>http://threecents.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/the-reminder/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[&#8220;I do this from time to time~&#8220;
I&#8217;m thinking of posting a notice every time when I ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#009900;">"<strong><big><span style="color:#ff0000;">I</span> <span style="color:#ff6600;">do</span> <span style="color:#33ff33;">this</span> <span style="color:#6633ff;">from</span> <span style="color:#ff6666;">time</span> <span style="color:#cc6600;">to</span> <span style="color:#cc33cc;">time</span>~</big></strong>"</span></p>
<p>I'm thinking of posting a notice every time when I feel like updating this blog but don't. :? This way I'll feel guilty when I don't update. :razz:</p>
<blockquote><p>Dear readers,</p>
<p>I was going to update my blog today.</p>
<p>But somehow I did not.</p>
<p>I am sorry that you visited my un-updated blog.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Hafiz.</p></blockquote>
<p>Why do I feel like updating and then don't?</p>
<p>Seriously people, it's annoying. :mad: I find it annoying and I'm the BLOGGER! It's ridiculous! For you the reader, it must be doubly annoying. :cry: I apologise for this. :&#124;</p>
<p>Other bloggers will say "<em>it's my blog so I'll update whenever I want..</em>" but I find this argument childish. :D If doctors used this same argument when treating people, a lot of people will be dead. :lol:</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Hmm.. What? :mrgreen:</p>
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