Cornucopia Of Rights Supersede Responsibility ?

 Every day more and more people seem to be screeching about their rights, while neglecting their responsibilities. Like financial responsibilities to their spouse, children, their employer and to other members of society. The list is endless.

One example is the legions of single parents. More often women left with the children to struggle alone to make ends meet every single day
by "daddies" away somewhere enjoying their rights.

Where are the men who sired these children? What about their sense of responsibility to their flesh and blood? Perhaps they are somewhere out there enjoying their rights.

What will it take to restore the notion of responsibility and to establish balance both between rights and responsibilities and between individuality and community in our lives and communities?

These days we are consistently  brainwashed by the media, some educators and “intellectuals”. With measurable success they are trying to make us accept the notion that somehow "responsible" now usually just means "conscientious," that you take care to execute your "responsibilities," i.e. duties, faithfully.

Some people water this down to the point that "taking responsibility" has come to mean no more than acknowledging that one did something, or that one feels good about it. Not that one is really answerable or accountable for it.

If we walk with open eyes we can see this all around us..- while getting our daily dose of  injection during our couch potato sessions glued to
the flickering light of the idiot tube.

Mr.Trump and Bernie Sanders - The Odd Couple?

As most of us know,  in the world  of American politics right now the Republican and the Democrats primaries  dominating  the news.

Mr.Trump, the Republican forerunner is adamantly promising that if elected President, he will build a wall between the United  States and Mexico. And to top it off, he will make Mexico  pay for it.

On the Democrats' side, Bernie Sanders is in seconds place in the contest for winning  the primaries, behind  the front runner Ms Clinton.

Mr.Sanders is called the Socialist Candidate by some pundits and many others.

Small wonder! Mr.Sanders promises all kinds of free goodies for the folks if he is elected. The actualization of the Socialist dream.

Such as free education for all, including university. And what good is free education if you cannot have free medicare if you get sick from all that studying, protesting or whatever you do ? So, Bernie Sanders promises free medicare for all. Who would not love that?

As for who would pay for all that wonderful education and free  medical care? Bernie Sanders thinks that there is mountain of money piled in the piggy banks of the super rich. Therefore, they and the mighty corporations can pay the lion share of the costs of the promised and mostly free world promised by Mr.Sanders.

I leave the debate for the ones in the know. However, people are creative and one promising genius came up with the solution in the form of a bumper sticker.

-It reads:

" Trump and Sanders On The Ticket - Everything Will Be Free, Mexico will pay for it."

There you have it. See? It's simple.

Human Rights In Theory And In Practice

Citizens of countries and jurisdictions blessed with effective mechanisms in place to protect human rights are fortunate, Canadians included.

It is a fact of life that the tendency to discriminate against other people for various reasons is wrong but it is part of the human condition.

In Canada the Federal and Provincial Human Rights Commissions are responsible to address complaints concerning human rights violations filed by individuals or groups.

Over the years they have resolved many touchy situations involving real or perceived denial of human rights, in many cases by mediating instead of ‘throwing the book” at the party that erred.

Unfortunately, there are individuals and groups of people who shout loud about denial of their human rights, yet act in the most provocative ways, claiming they are discriminated against because of this or that.

Judging from their behavior or system of belief, such people  would not hesitate to deny even the most basic of human rights of others who may disagree with their views or way of life.---should they be able to do so.

Fortunately, in Canada, the issue of Human Rights is taken seriously for the benefit of all people.

Climate Change And The Prevailing Reality

                                                                         


The other day while paying attention to one of these debates, shortly following the introduction of the panel of apparently "qualified" people the captioned subject  was mentioned, when a sceptic in the audience remarked, "Yeah, dream on!"

Something  is happening  with the climate. To deny it would be unreasonable when faced with the data fed to us without  end.

The trouble begins when the solutions are turned over. But before solutions are debated in the conversation, one must admit  there is something going on like perceptible change in the climate and our activities, mainly our carbon foot print does contribute to a situation that is not improving.

Indeed, the problem must be serious when some scientists pushing the envelope and demand that nonbelievers in the scientific community should be charged and convicted of something along the lines successfully used in the middle ages. Like heresy.

As for those convicted?  Thanks goodness burning  at the stakes
up to now was not recommended.  Perhaps is only  the question of time?

If the community  of nations is sincere  about addressing  the issue of climate change, first, the current state of cooperation  between countries should be put under the microscope

Wars and conflicts are going on non-stop in the Middle East. Attempts to solve these problems date back for decades. Conferences, meetings, U.N. sanctions, did not create the necessary cooperation.

The problems in Europe, the illegal hunting of whales, the killing of rare animals, the conflict of on the African continent are all waiting for almost universal cooperation between many factions of people across national borders.

The burning of the Amazon forest, the ruthless clearing of the land in places in Indonesia and in many other places just goes on without stopping.

Billions of dollars are spent in attempts to improve the few mentioned situations. Have we solved them? You be the judge.

Yet, we are to believe that somehow, we, meaning all the countries on this planet, will be able to stop or at least mitigate the results of the ongoing climate change.

I for one would like to believe that we can really try. What seem to be odd to many people is that the main ingredient for achieving this is dollars and dollars what the people of mainly the developed people should pay.

So, if we pay in the form of carbon taxes and similar ways, we are to believe that we are doing something positive to save our planet.

Never mind that a main ingredient is missing from the noble and expensive endeavour of influencing the ongoing climate change:

The missing component is cooperation. Common resolve needed among all the countries  in the U.N. to succeed.

The effort must extend beyond flowery oratory, self righteous accusations, shifting of the blame and pocketing funds in the name of improving the conditions in a given country. Thus their environment will improve and their leaders will dedicate every penny of the received funds for improving the living conditions of their people.                 

At this point turn to the media, TV, online, printed form, radio and observe; Within minutes you experience our world, where cooperation, even in minor matters is almost an impossible dream among the countries of this world.

However, we are asked to believe that we, that is all of us, will cooperate and together will fight and succeed dealing with  the climate change. But first. we pay our dues in the form of some appropriately named tax.

Biology Exam In Scotland

From the Mail:

This is straight from Scotland.  Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam.  The last question was, 'Name seven advantages of Mother's Milk.  The question was worth 70 points or none at all.  One student, in particular, was hard put to think of seven advantages.  However, he wrote: 

          1) It is perfect formula for the child.
          2) It provides immunity against several diseases.
          3) It is always the right temperature.
          4) It is inexpensive.
          5) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
          6) It is always available as needed.
          

          And then the student was stuck.
          
          Finally, in desperation, just before the bell rang indicating the end of  the           test, he wrote:
        

           7) It comes in two attractive containers and it's high enough off the       

               ground where the cat can't get it. 

          He got an A.

The Birthday Present - ( Can You Top This?)

Four brothers left home for University, and they all became successful doctors and lawyers.

One evening, they chatted after having dinner together. They discussed the 95th birthday gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who had moved to the Gold Coast.

The first said, "You know I had a big house built for Mom."

The second said, "And I had a large theatre built in the house."

The third said, "And I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her."

The fourth said, "You know how Mom loved reading the Bible and you know she can't read anymore because she can't see very well. I met this Minister who told me about a parrot who could recite the entire Bible. It took ten Ministers almost 8 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $50,000 a year for five years to the church, but it was worth it. Mom only has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it."

The other brothers were impressed. After the 95th Birthday celebration Mom sent out her "Thank You" notes.

 She wrote: "Michael, the house you built is so huge that I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway."

"Mervin, I am too old to travel. I stay home; I have my groceries delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks."

"Mark, you gave me an expensive theatre with Dolby sound and it can hold 50 people, but all of my friends are dead, I've lost my hearing, and I'm nearly blind. I'll never use it.  Thank you for the gesture just the same."

"Dearest Mitchell, you were the only son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you so much.

Love, Mom

Social Media May Make Or Keep You Stupid?

Most of us already know, especially if the boss already had a chit-chat with you, that social media can make you unproductive. If you are blabby or unpleasant, it may snarl up your relationships.

Then, the question pops up;  How can spending more time on searching Google, chatting on Facebook or Twitter end up making us stupider? 

According to ongoing research, the problem is not just the hours spent clicking on Google for answers and solutions  to utilize like a spoonful of instant coffee to materialize a cup of the brew.

The problem is  the time spent clicking the keyboard for answers, is time that could be spent, say, reading a book and actually learning something. The greater problem seems to be the human tendency to copy others.

Researchers believe being able to copy from other people in vast networks means analytical responses rapidly spread, fulfilling their promise of improved decision-making for well-connected people.

That is not the case with individuals. Here, the implications are less positive. Social networking probably isn’t making you smarter. In fact, it could be making you dumber by supplying answers and insights without requiring any actual thinking, so that your analytic powers begin to waste away like an unused muscle.

As for the rumours that we, the holloi-poi, are dumbing down and looking for instant results? Don't be too concerned.

Contemplate this; Even the institutions whose job it is to help us become smarter are dumbing it down. Case in point: the “earn your college degree in your pyjamas” commercials I’m forced to sit through during nearly every television show.

And for me that fits the category of cruel and unusual punishment.

Planners Should Enlist Residents To Deal With City Growth

Today, a majority of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2055, two-thirds of all people on the planet are projected to call urbanized areas their home. This trend will be soaring in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America: More than 90% of the global urban growth is taking place in these regions, adding  at least 65 million new residents to urban areas every year.

No matter what we hear, mindless "Growth" in the long run does not improve the average well - being of the population. It causes significant pollution, paves over farmland and enhances the growth of crime and causes a host of problems.

Burgeoning populations always reduce the quality of life as pressure on the natural environment becomes intolerable, and like it or not, water quality deteriorates to the point when people start to pay more for well advertised bottled water than they pay for gasoline and the haze of smog even pacifies the banned "Patio smokers" as they will find it difficult even to see the end of the cancer stick they will light where they still can do it.

As societal problems multiply, government costs increase with the inevitable social and material infrastructure cracks, like access to education, Medicare, even the simple pleasure of strolling down the street without being worried of being a victim of crime becomes a rarity.

However, if higher population numbers bring prosperity and an enviable and sustainable life-style, then we should be able to see examples.-

Otherwise we may be assured that there is no country and very few cities on this rapidly warming planet that needs growing populations.

Especially, when millions of unfortunate people already begun the potentially greatest migration of all times to areas where the think they can survive as people and as preservers of their culture.

We should listen. We should think. The future is looming on the horizon. It will shape up without regard for what we can tolerate or what the politician running for office wants us to believe.

They Walk Among Us !

The Darwin’s are out!!!! Yes, it's that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honouring the least evolved among us...   Here is the glorious winner  1. When his 38 calibre revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked. And now, the honourable mentions:  2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.   3. A man who shovelled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.  4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies... The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.   5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.  6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]  7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.   8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."   9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger king in Ypsilanti, Michigan at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away. [*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]   10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline, but he plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had. In the interest of bettering mankind, please share these with friends and family...unless of course one of these individuals by chance is a distant relative or long lost friend. In that case, be glad they are distant and hope they remain lost. *** Remember .. They walk among us!***

Mindless Greed Or Something Else?

If you click on the URL below, you will read an interesting story about a practice in Niagara Falls, Canada, by some merchants. They shamelessly but legally charge a so-called DMF tax. You are not told up front you will be charged the fee. It just appears on your bill. They are voluntary fees, not taxes, consumers have the right to ask to have the fee removed from their bill.

 One customer said, " “I’m being ripped off,” she says. “There’s no notice. I didn’t see a sign saying there’s a hidden cost.”

Another visitor reacted, " Not only does a tourist in Niagara Falls need to understand the taxes of another city, in many cases it is a different country,” he says. “Most do not figure out they have been fleeced until they get home. To some, this can ruin an otherwise wondrous encounter in one of the greatest attractions on Earth.”

 The CBC's Market Place program just run a segment on this creeping manifestation of greed.

How sad! Canadians are proud of the wonders of this beautiful place, known all over the world.-- The same cannot be stated of tthe emerging new way of squeezing money out of good natured visitors.

 Read the article published in the Toronto Sun and you will get a better picture:

 http://www.torontosun.com/2016/03/31/niagara-falls-tourism-improvement-fee-angers-visitors#.Vv8cXjEg4HA.facebook

On A Lighter Note....

A man returns home a day early from a business trip.  It's after midnight. While en-route home, he asks the cabby if he would be a witness.  The man suspects his wife is having an affair, and he wants to catch her in the act. For $100, the cabby agrees.

Quietly arriving home, the husband and cabby tip toe into the bedroom.  The husband switches on the lights, yanks the blanket back and there is his wife in bed with another man!

The husband puts a gun to the naked man’s head. The wife shouts, 'Don't do it! I lied when I told you I inherited money'.

HE paid for the Porsche I gave you. HE paid for your new 20 ft. Ranger Fishing Boat.
HE paid for your Packer season tickets.
HE paid for our house at the lake.
HE paid for your Golf Trip to St Andrews and your new 4 x 4.
HE paid for our country club membership, and HE even pays the monthly dues!'

Shaking his head from side-to-side, the husband lowers the gun. He looks over at the cabby and says, ‘What would you do'?

The cabby replies, 'I'd cover him with that blanket before he catches a cold.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

A computer could soon tell you when you're going to die

No kidding. This is the newest breakthrough on the horizon. Researchers in the United Kingdom are working hard on a project to predict a person's longevity.

The motivated and well financed scientists claim their discovery will create a better existence. We'll be living in a world where people like you or I will be empowered to spend our often meagre resources wisely in accordance with the time table dictated by their longevity report. - Sounds nice.

Surprisingly, the enthusiasts of the project ignore an obvious drawback; Most people, simply don't want to know when they are going to die, especially predicted by a computer program.

Moreover, many people have had bad experiences with hacked and virus infected computer programs.

However, the use of such longevity predictive programs would be welcome by a multitude of companies, institutions.

Imagine your friendly insurance company, the one with the sympathetic face on the TV commercial, notifying you that based on your longevity, predicted by the "Program", your premiums will be going up-- or your policy may be cancelled, although for years you have conscientiously paid the premiums?

What about the employer who is unwilling to hire you for whatever reason, but simply hand you a copy of your longevity report. The report that cruelly shows you that you are not worthy of their expensive training program. Well, because according to the longevity report you won't be around long enough to generate enough profit for their financial plans?

Our innate defense mechanism whispering, this sounds like sci-fi. But strangely these things have habit of becoming unpleasant reality !

On the other hand we should be pragmatic and remember: Life insurance companies are in the business of predicting death wholesale. These researchers claim they are doing it at the retail level. - For us.