Like It Is

I found this very interesting article in the International Herald Tribune. It’s about moves afoot in India which would see children either fined or jailed for not taking care of their elderly parents. India already has a tradition of respect for the elderly. But now it is taking this to a new extreme… with legislation to boot.

You would have to have been living under a proverbial rock (or on another planet) to be unaware of how India’s economy has been powering ahead on the world stage. With that has come social change more akin to Western models, such as the nuclear family which is replacing the extended family model. The grandparent used to be the head of the family – that’s changing.

Under the proposed bill – touted by one publication as the “bill to protect aging parents from ungrateful children,” Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: India, tradition

One of my readers sent me this link a while ago. Called Prejudices are difficult to kill by Gabriella Coslovich in The Age it’s yet another example proving that, unless you are busy breeding – oops – reproducing your view really doesn’t count one whit. Parents views, however certainly do. Many have tried to convince me that parents have such a hard time of it, have needs that we as childfree persons haven’t a clue about, and are entitled to whatever they want/need to make their lives (when having and raising kids) easier. Read the rest of this entry »

Seems to be Women’s Week with another first and another story that I thought worth highlighting.

First woman deputy follows heavy pressure from African states

Now this is what I call a rather more balanced write-up of a recent woman appointee, even though the appointment itself isn’t met by jubilation from all. This is because this appointee comes from the previous UN cabinet that had more than a few failings and most were hoping for a new broom.

“Sources said that Ban Ki Moon, the new UN chief, met her when he visited Tanzania, then on the 15-nation UN Security Council, during his campaign for the top UN job last year. She will be responsible for managing the unwieldy UN bureaucracy that has been plagued by corruption and sexual abuse scandals in recent years.

Mr Ban, a former South Korean Foreign Minister who began his five-year term at the United Nations this week, has promised “bold steps” to reform the organisation but his early appointments have disappointed UN staff.

They had called on him to bring about a “fundamental change in the mindset of senior management . . . from a relationship based on dominance, disregard and fear to a real partnership.” Instead, Mr Ban named two insiders from the scandal-scarred administration of Kofi Annan, his predecessor, to key internal posts.”

Doesn’t augur well, does it? But I like the bio,myself. Not a word about fluffy hair,make up or high heels at least in this report. No brood of children in her wake. All about her achievements and just one bullet point about her family status. That’s more like it. Maybe that’s why it didn’t make the wider networks. No sexy angle to be had here:

First lady

It seems that that the drive to pay people to have more children and bigger families becomes more intense. The sums of money being paid to them of course are getting larger and larger. Childfree people, meanwhile, while their numbers may be growing, have no such incentives. The taxes of childfree people will continue to be re-distributed to those who have children. Is it me or is this grossly unfair?

Many German mothers-to-be are reportedly trying to delay labour so their births coincide with a generous new government scheme. Parents of babies born on or after 1 January will be entitled to up to 25,200 euros (£16,911, $33,300) to ease the financial burden of parenthood. But those born even a minute earlier will not be covered by the scheme. The cash subsidies are part of a government initiative to boost Germany’s dwindling birth rate.

German women have an average of 1.37 children, well below the average of 2.1 needed to keep a population stable. One minister recently warned of “the lights going out”.

Hmm. Why bother working? Just have babies, get paid for it, and keep the lights on.

Original article

The Times Online reported today that Pope Benedict XVI is considering “concessions” over the use of condoms to fight Aids.

Before we get all hopeful that this means that perhaps the millions of Catholics are going to reduce their rate of breeding, or that at last the Catholic church has at last stopped to listen to anyone other than the Catholic church, you might want to hold your horses. Crush that flicker of hope. The Vatican intends to keep perfectly intact the overall ban on condoms, the use of which is, of course, considered a sin even if you are married. Because condoms are a from of contraception. And contraception is banned. According the the Times report, medical and theological experts advising Pope Benedict have suggested that:

“married couples could be allowed to use condoms when one of the spouses is HIV positive or a drug user”

A chink in the armour? Or a false dawn? Read the rest of this entry »

Want more? Here it is…

Calling All Movie Buffs was such a success and you made such great contributions that I’ve compiled a list of YOUR favourite film/movie quotes (and included a few more of my own ). So now you have to guess each other’s favourite quotes. I will highlight the ones that have gone as before, to help you spot the ones that are left. Look out for tips, hints and edits in both the post and comments. And if you want to see which bloggers provided which quotes, check out the comments in the original post. I can’t wait to answer some of these quotes…

Go for it – and have fun!

Edit!! October 13th- I’ve added some more of yours to the list! There are now85 and the list is almost full. I will add them to the list - up to 100 as Mosh suggested and highlight them when they’re gone. After that, you’ll need to keep your eyes on your comments to see who’s got what. Everyone’s invited to the movies!

1. “Fucking Cock-er-roach!”
2. “Those who can’t do, teach and those that can’t teach, teach gym.”
3. “When I meet Eisenhower, should I give the Nazi salute, or shake his hand?”
4. “You know, for kids.”
5. “You must be on stage when the curtain falls.”
6. [demonstrates faux karate moves] “they call that the quart-a-blood technique; you do that, a quart of blood drop out a man’s body.”
7. “Lewis, we’ve had presidents who were beloved, who couldn’t find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don’t drink the sand because they’re thirsty. They drink the sand because they don’t know the difference. “
8. “You’re the duke! You’re the duke! … buy you ain’t number one.” (at least that’s how I always heard the line)
9. I’ll have what she’s having” Read the rest of this entry »

Fancy yourself a film (movie) buff? Think you know your stuff? Listed below are 40 memorable quotes… can you say which films (movies) they are from and who said them? Some quotes are a little more obscure than others, but all the films (movies) are very well known and, in most cases, classics.

Tip: if you’re offended by profanity, then best to stop reading right here.

Tip: Sometimes there is more than one quote from a movie! You can use any resources you feel you need to guess them. It can be hard dredging them up from memory I have seen every film in this list bar one, some many times - they are among my all time favourites.

Edit! Look out for the next post…

Edit!! All the ones that have gone are highlighted. Check the comments as well, so you’ll know which ones people have already guessed. Thank you for also sending in your favourite quotes… I am going to do a second compilation and include them, particularly since I won’t get them all! That way, others can guess them as well.

Have fun!

1. “I meant to do that…”
2. “Your husband ain’t dead lady, he’s hiding…”
3. “That ain’t right…” (Tip: Mal said it. The same character said “Mister, you ever seen what a Henry rifle can do in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?”)
4. “Yippee-ki-yay… motherfucker!!”
5. “Awright, we’ll call it a draw…”
6. “Where’s your Messiah now?”
7. “We’re on a mission from God…”
8. “I’ve got two words for you – “SHUT THE FUCK UP!!”
9. “Surely you can’t be serious.” “I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.”
10. “You’ve got two modes of expression: Silence and rage…”
11. “You do know how to whistle, don’t ya? You just put your lips together and…blow”
12. “Here’s looking at you kid…”
13. “God Damn Army!”
14. “Round up the usual suspects…” (Add this first : “Major Strasser has been shot…”)
15. “Play it Sam… You played it for her, you can play it for me…”
16. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship…”
17. “I don’t know nuthin’ about birthin’ no babies..”
18. “You’re good. You’re very good.”
19. “Birdie Num-Nums?”
20. “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges.”(Tip: I put in badges, which was what they were trying to say - it was pronounced in the movie as “baeches”) Read the rest of this entry »

I can’t remember a day when I don’t think to myself “this is a beautiful world and it’s great to be in it.” Daily, I find so many things to be thankful for and I’m sure most people can do the same.

Yet, thinking about the horrible tragedy in the Amish Community, ( the latest addition to the dismal roll call of school shootings) where this time five little girls, aged between five and thirteen were brutally executed, it is hard not to think about the evil there is in this world as well. To me, the killer who did this is beyond sick. That is too kind. While reports are busy focusing on all the seeming “reasons” for his terrible act Read the rest of this entry »

I am no fan of the Pope, nor the Catholic church. But the recent hoop-la by some Muslims over his speech about religion and violence had me thinking that on this one, he had a point.

Strikingly reminiscent of the Danish cartoon furore, where over a hundred people died in the frenzied reaction to the cartoons, once again we had some Muslims violently protesting, demanding apologies, fire-bombing Christian churches, burning an effigy of the Pope, and issuing veiled threats of death and destruction.

When I read the now familiar headline “Muslim World Angered…” I thought, here we go again. Whether or not the Pope’s decision to quote the 14th Century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleaologus speech to illustrate the contradiction between religion and holy war was the right one will no doubt occupy the intellectuals for months to come. They’ll have a field day.

The fact is, if you read the entire speech, what he said (quoted) was taken out of context and blown up into yet another reason for some reactionary zealots to show their worst side. And of course it seems the Western Media (and yes, sadly the BBC is among the ringleaders) is only to happy to assist them in doing so, focusing air time on the rabble-rousers, the angry protesters and vapid talking heads, even implying that the Pope should apologise, while the moderates keep silent – as usual.

The contradiction the Pope was referring to also applies to Christianity. In other words, violent conversion of another to any faith goes against God’s nature. If anyone was interested, his points were open to debate. This weekend’s extreme reactions, around the world, particularly in the Muslim Press show that many Muslims and their leaders have no interest in any such debate. Debate is forbidden. Almost with one voice they united in attacking the Pope’s speech. Some of the reactions in Muslim papers in Pakistan are truly alarming:

This from Pakistan’s NAWA-I-WAQT

“We say people like the Pope should not get involved in such provocation without reason. This statement is a warning of serious danger in the future. In this situation, if Muslims fail to unite for protection of their religion and natural resources, they will face serious repercussions”.

Hmm. I thought what the Pope was saying was that religion doesn’t justify violence.

Or this from HUSAYN SHABAKSHI IN LONDON-BASED AL-SHARQ AL-AWSAT

“If the new Pope’s manners remain the same, the Catholic church will be subject to upheavals that it has never seen before… It is up to the wise men in the Catholic church to rectify the stance and make a prompt apology in order to resolve a hot issue”.

Or what? They’ll all be blown up? There’ll be stabbings?

You can read more reactions from the Muslim press on the BBC web site.

To me, it seems clear that this is a head on clash between nations that encourage religious diversity and those that practice religious intolerance; those who favour and welcome open debate and those who think free speech should not be tolerated – except, of course, if it’s criticism of Christians and Jews in the Muslim press.

I wonder, is every speech, everything governments and people do now to be edited and censored for fear of offending the easily offended “Muslim World” and seeing the now common eruptions into violent protest? Are we going to allow Muslim zealots to impose restrictions on free speech in the West? We are in big trouble if we allow that to happen.

Whether or not the Pope knew of the hornets nest he was stirring up there was nothing inappropriate, taken in context, in what he said. The question isn’t whether what he said offended Muslims. That much is obvious. The question is whether he is right that there is a debate to be had.

The Pope has apologised that his remarks caused such offence to Muslims. Predictably, they are saying that isn’t enough. They are demanding a retraction.  I for one hope he isn’t pushed into giving one.

On the day my article “What’s The Skinny On Jeans” climbed into my most viewed post category, I was more than a little exultant to find this article on MNSBC (thanks Geekigirl for highlighting).

“Fashion Trends Matter, but it’s still got to fit. New skinny jeans, leggings not for everyone, but colours can work for all” By Kathryn Cannon.

“While the catwalks have long dictated the important colors, fabrics and silhouettes for a season, they also have intimidated women by showcasing styles only matchstick-thin models could consider wearing and only trust-fund trollops could fathom purchasing…”

No! Really? We could have told them that for nothing. Could this possibly be an admission that perhaps it really isn’t the best thing for the fashion industry to blindly push a fashion trend that many of their core market isn’t going to feel comfortable even thinking about, let alone wearing? Maybe.

Still, since no one can quite bring themselves to kill the skinny jean right now a bit of a salvage job pep talk is necessary to lift the despairing spirits of those women, who desperately want to wear the “fabulous skinny” but really, really shouldn’t. Or can’t.

Cannon advises women to:

“Go ahead and buy those skinny jeans but just wear them correctly..”

Wearing them correctly means women should, according to Fashion Director Tiffany Wilt:

“Wear a longer top over it or something with a lot more volume.”

Like…erm… Bat-wing tops? Something even more voluminous?

“Or wear it with the jean tucked into a boot so you will get a little bit of balance at the bottom.”

Oh, you mean, so I don’t look like a… a funnel? Right…But how to get into the damn things?

Take heart ladies. If the article is to be believed there are plenty of camouflage options coming your way.Not before next Spring though. Trouble is, if you’re not the shorty swingy baby-doll type (skinny) or trapeze dress type (skinny) you’re going to be out of luck.

And busty girls are advised to beware.

And how about this to make your day: hemlines are going to be shorter.

Ladies are advised to do a few extra squats at the gym if considering the bare-legged look.