Give Real Presents This Christmas

Here’s a thought. Be honest, most of the presents you will buy for people will be unwanted and unused right? Just like most that you will get. So how about not buying any or at least restricting how many you buy? Do what my family does. Everyone’s name in a hat, you all pick one name and buy that person something. Or what about doing something for someone instead? Like taking them out to a place they’ve always wanted to go to – create some memories you know?

Try and make your gifts, REAL gifts – an expression of your love for someone else and not just an empty mindless activity done just because you think you must.
Happy Christmas when it comes!

Funny Signs

Check out these ridiculous signs http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/travel_images/article6814134.ece.

Race and science

Very interesting programme on Channel Four last night. Rageh Omaar took head on the lies people tell about black people being genetically dumber than whites.

As intelligent people know, how smart you are depends on many factors – all contributing to your intellectual capabilities. He was very brave for doing it. He spoke to some pretty disgusting people but his investigative approach to this topic was refreshing. Channel Four is having a week of documentaries on race and science. They are on at about 10pm UK time. If you can – worth watching. Tonight’s is on the myth that the standard of beauty is white.

Rat Trap

Only in Jamaica! Check out the community of Rat Trap http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091014/news/news1.html

Thanks God for some commonsense.

It would seem that the government has seen sense and will allow friends to make reciprocal child care arrangements without the need for vetting by the authorities.

Duh! People have been doing this for years and it has been helpful in the extreme. There have been no statistics that say that these reciprocal arrangements have contributed to rising paedophilia. Apparently parents are OK as long as no money changes hands. This is stupid too I think. How does money changing hands put your child at risk? The focus is on the wrong things. If the authorities really care about the well being of kids they need to attack those things that put that well being at risk. Not waste time making up stupid rules.

PS. Rest in peace Sonny Bradshaw

Why does New Technology Take so Long to Come to the UK?

The Kindle was unveiled in 2007. The Sony book reader also about a couple of years ago. Here in the UK the Sony reader has just become available a few months ago and now there's news the UK friendly Kindle will be available in two weeks - but only through Amazon.com so we'll have to pay import duties for it!

Why did it take 2 years for these items to become available in the UK?

When I was living in Jamaica I could get access to all kinds of things as son as they were released. Now that I'm what's known as a first world country I have to wait 2 years! That makes sense to anyone?

Is the answer that we aren't producing new technology - the Americans are?

Come on - in this global world surely we should be able to have access to the best the world has to offer right here in our own back yard? Yeah sure, over the past two years I could have bought a Sony reader in the States and brought it back here but I live here. I should be able to buy this stuff here shouldn't I?

A No Brainer

The country is in debt. Many, many people are out of work. Within this context, digest the following:

1) Our population will be made up of more and more pensioners in the coming years. They will need to be supported.
2) Age Concern brought a case to abolish or amend the retirement age – they lost and people are still often forced to stop earning a living at 60 or 65.

Now it seems a no brainer to me. In this day and age many people over the age of 60 are more than capable of contributing to the economy by working. Many prefer to keep active – yet they are often prevented from doing so.
In a time when we will be having more pensioners to care for and a time when we are running out of cash – surely anyone who isn’t brain dead would allow all people to work until they feel they don’t want to?