The Presence of War
March 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Throughout the history of mankind, there have been wars. Times of peace, although the preference of most people, seem to exist all too briefly. Prior to the Industrial Age, war was much less sophisticated, in terms of weaponry. War was fought on specified battle grounds, with much conducted in hand-to-hand combat. Civilians were not injured. In even the most ferocious of campaigns, the casualties sustained were nothing like modern warfare.
Today, civilians are fair game in war, acquiring the cold hearted moniker of ‘collateral damage’. Weaponry may be fired from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Weapons used in modern warfare are not confined to bullets and ordinary bombs. Lethal gases, cluster bombs, depleted uranium and biological weapons are now a matter of course. Such weapons are indiscriminate, killing innocent men, women and children simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. How is it that we, as citizens of the world, have come to accept such appalling conditions as the standard operating procedure in times of war?
If the issue of war and peace were put to a vote of all of the citizens, it’s certain that peace would win by a landslide. Unfortunately, the common man has little to say when heads of state decide to make war on one another. When it comes to a choice between war and peace, those in power stay at home in safety and comfort, while sending young men and women to do the fighting and dying. When Tolstoy wrote his masterpiece, ‘War and Peace’, it would have been unthinkable for the leaders to sit in safety and allow the indiscriminate slaughter we suffer today.
It’s interesting to note that Jimmy Carter once echoed a sentiment expressed in ‘War and Peace’. While Tolstoy wrote, The strongest of all warriors are these two ” time and patience, President Carter is quoted on the subject as follows: “Short-circuiting the long-established principles of patient negotiation leads to war, not peace.”
As for peace, it’s left to small activist groups and musicians to try to ‘Give peace a chance’. When individuals speak out in favor of peace, they are scoffed at shamelessly by those in favor of war and marginalized by those in power.
Perhaps one of the most puzzling aspects of the war and peace issue is that some groups and individuals who adhere to Christianity are sometimes the most vociferous proponents of war. Tolstoy eloquently addressed this, writing, It seems as though mankind has forgotten the laws of its divine Saviour, Who preached love and forgiveness of injuries–and that men attribute the greatest merit to skill in killing one another. It must be asked, how do we, as a Christian nation, justify war at all?
As for leaders of the nations, ‘War and Peace’ contains a statement which they should all debate before opting for war: There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth. Who can disagree?
U.S. Political News
March 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Finally, the U.S. Presidential campaign is over. We’ve elected a new President, who will, hopefully, bring to fruition the changes everyone has been looking for, all across the board, from a better and more stable economy to improved foreign relations. Most Americans realize that the new President is inheriting a rather full plate.
Who, in their right mind, would want to tackle the problems we now face? You’ve got to feel grateful that someone is willing to shoulder these massive problems. You hope that the new President will be effective. Change is the platform upon which our new President ran. The fact remains that our U.S. political news is now world news. In the past, the transition of power between one administration and the next has been smooth and seamless. This time, this process seems to be happening rapidly, long before the actual inauguration - and the world is listening and watching closely. U.S. political news is a hot topic, around the world.
Economic chaos, food shortages, environmental crises and war has put the world on alert. Many nations are blaming the U.S. for the many crises we now face. It’s no wonder that the world continues to pay close attention to the U.S. political news.
President-elect Obama has stated that he intends to take immediate steps to stabilize the economy here at home, as well as developing a plan to create 2.5 million new jobs, primarily in alternative energy, or green, jobs. He’s also said that he will have a stimulus package proposal which he’ll present to Congress on his first day in office. He’s already chosen his team of economic advisers, charged with determining how best to invest and manage the multi-trillion dollar funding required to straighten out the foreclosures, credit markets and auto manufacturer’s currently bleak outlook.
Abroad, another issue in the U.S. political news is making headlines. That is the choice of the new Secretary of State. This person, under the direction of the President, will be helping to shape foreign policy, currently in shambles, with foreign relations in a dire state, with certain countries, formerly allies, now uncertain as to where they stand in the whole scheme of world politics.
For example, Afghanistan is calling for a drawing down of the U.S. presence there, while Pakistan and India are becoming less stable, with violence coming from new and previously unknown militant groups. The question of Iran has not been addressed. Russia no longer has a good rapport with the U.S., incited by the recent agreement with Czechoslovakia to build a missile defense installation on Russia’s western borders. North Korea is again exhibiting instability and the health of Kim Jong-Il creates even more concerns.
Historically, America has been admired throughout the world, for both its generosity in helping other nations, as well as its stabilizing influence in world affairs. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. We need to restore our reputation and credibility, throughout the world. We must also address the economic fallout we are all experiencing and being felt around the world.
It’s clear that U.S. political news will remain in the spotlight for some time to come. Yes, this new President has much to do to effect change that really makes a positive difference in the coming years. It can’t happen too soon.
Online dating websites and online dating with a stranger
February 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Hookmeup has all the very best features that rsvp, redhotpie, eharmony and aussiematchmaker offers, with one main difference being you wont at any stage be asked to pay. Hookmeup now has several thousand members. Registration is short and simple, and who knows, you might just find a friend or a hot date.
Let me tell you how I first discovered online dating and why I firmly believe it fits in with our modern day lifestyles.
With such an over supply of online dating sites out there hookmeup has taken all the nonsense out of the online dating experience. Many singles are taking advantage of this free and state of the art website. The owners of hookmeup have done thorough research in providing online daters what they want. Free, simple, with loads of features.
The research showed that they used an in house selection system to weed out those unsuitable matches. This same selection method though often sidelines many perfect matches as the artificial constraints do not take into account information not held online. Andrew, one of the study participants quoted in the daily telegraph said “I got the distinct feeling, it’s a lot like shopping, they’re thinking he’s rather nice, but lets see if theres anyone better emailing or smsing me”.
Online dating is a way of life for many singles. As a result so many dating sites have popped up over the years. The tide is turning back to favour the online daters given all the choice thats available. I personally cant think of any other industry, be it related or not, where you can find some companies offering it all for free. The trick for the consumer is to find the online dating sites that are truely free.
Obviously, the distance didnt make the relationship ideal but the spark was there and she enjoyed 6 months dating someone with similar interests, shared romantic weekends together and had a fantastic holiday.
There are thousands of real and honest singles using online dating sites throughout the world. Online dating offers singles a convenient way to find romance although their are some dangers associated with online dating.
Spanish - 7 Easy Steps
February 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment
1) There are many websites that offer free online lessons for beginnners. Look for one that has a lot of audio, such as our site: LearningSpanishCentre.com. Use the forums to ask questions, and make friends with other students at your level.
2) Some people spend as many as 10 hours a week commuting to work. Instead of listening to the radio, try an MP3 or Audio/CD course in your car. Be sure and say the words aloud, even if you are alone in your car; it may look silly to others, but you will learn faster.
3) Don’t waste time standing in line or waiting on people. Instead, create your own flashcards on 3×5 notescards. Carry 25 or so with you, and review them several times per day.
4) Get a book. This may seem obvious, but while you are learning from audios, it’s always good to a good reference book (with a good Spanish dictionary in the back). Some people are audio-learners, but others must see the written words to learn.
5) Use language software on your computer. Most people enjoy the multimedia aspect and the immediate feedback. The computer is typically a patient trainer; it will allow you to click the same word dozens of times without tiring.
6) Check your local school systems, both high-schools and college, for continuing education or community “fun” classes. Many offer multiple levels of Spanish, from beginner to advanced. You will look forward to working with a “live” teacher and fellow students.
7) If you get a chance, visit a Spanish-speaking country, especially if you can stay in the home of a family. You will learn so much more than the typial tourist/hotel experience. The site-seeing, museums, culture and foods will all help you learn your new language.
Selecting the Right Online College; What Questions Should you Ask
January 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment
With the growth of online education, students have more and better choices than ever before.
While that’s a good thing, it can be difficult for students to narrow down the choices to those best meeting their needs.
But, the selection process is generally much less difficult than students anticipate. The first step in that process is determining what a student wants in an online college or university. After that, it’s pretty easy to put together a list of questions in need of an answer.
Below are questions that all students should want answered. The questions you add to them will depend on your personal preferences, goals, and concerns.
Accreditation should be a primary concern. Institutions not accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved agency should be crossed off your list without delay. Any time spent investigating such institutions will be wasted. Rule them out and move on.
Next is the question of majors? Which colleges offer the major in which you are interested? How strong are their programs? Do they offer concentrations or specialties of interest to you? What are the backgrounds of faculty? All are questions worth asking.
Unless finances are not a consideration for you, you will need to determine the cost of tuition, fees, and textbooks. And, you’ll need information about the availability of financial aid (including scholarships and student loans) and tuition installment plans. Only then will you be able to see which colleges and universities are within your financial reach. Generally, if you are willing to borrow, most colleges will fall into that category.
If you have done prior college coursework, or if you have experience for which you might be granted college credit, ask about colleges’ credit transfer policies. Specifically, be sure you understand what you must do to determine which transfer credits you might receive and the number of such credits which might be applied to your degree. In addition, ask if you can be informed, in writing, which credits will be accepted before you enroll.
The final “must” questions are about student services. Is anyone available to help you with filling out financial aid forms? How tough is it to contact a professor if you have a question? Does the college offer free job placement, and if so, how effective has it been?
A bit of introspective thinking will help you identify your short and long term goals; both educational and professional. Then, you should have at least a few questions to add to those we have already listed. As your research yields answers to these questions, some colleges will be eliminated almost immediately, some will seem to merit further investigation, and the others will be revealed as a potentially great fit for you.
For most students, getting their questions answered turns out to be pretty easy. The harder job is being certain they are asking the right questions. Luckily, that should not now be a problem for you.