Bhutto’s assassination leaves Pakistan in turmoil, sparking widespread riots
It's hard to tell when all the news will come to light regarding the details of Benazir Bhutto's assassination in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday. Certainly, from the standpoint of someone who has only secondary access to the horrible events, I (most of us, really) am in no position to analyze what happened, who was involved, what the future holds, etc. If you've turned on a television today, you'll know that many other people more qualified than most of us have been doing that all day.
It is crucial, I'm sure, for someone to step in immediately to bring stability to the country in the midst of the chaos surrounding this woman's tragic death. In case you've missed thinking about this so far today, let me be the first to point it out to you: We are talking about a country tossed between military dictatorship and terrorism which just happens to have nuclear weapons. Oh, and they have an ongoing warring relationship with their neighbors, India, who also have nuclear weapons.
Not to push the point, but this seems to me at least as volatile and dangerous as the U.S. v. U.S.S.R. face-offs of the old Cold War Days.
May the world work together at this frightening time to keep the insanity at bay.
[tags]Bhutto assassination, nuclear powers, Pakistan, India, terrorism, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Here’s a useful website for those who love the outdoors — ‘Rocky Mountain Trail’
Here's a "Useful Website" for you if you're an outdoorsman (outdoorsperson?), or if you just like to be outside or have a need to be outside a lot. They're a good hiking/camping/clothing store, "Rocky Mountain Trail," and they took that name because they're located at the foot of some of the Rocky Mountains' highest peaks in Buena Vista, Colorado. Their website, however, is located wherever you are, and if you go there, you'll find everything from parkas to tents to snowshoes, and even some back to school backpacks.
Right now they have some special offers and discounts on packs, tents, and other gear suitable for winter use. The website also offers a monthly "On the Trail" feature where they review a specific product, tell about a unique or interesting hiking/climbing trail, and offer some "how-to" tips for outdoor living. This month's tip, for example, is about how to avoid dehydration and how the various sports drinks or trail drinks measure up. The monthly trail is the Avalanche Trail (sounds ominous), and they give detailed locations and highlights about it, for all of you living in or near Colorado who wish to tackle it. And the gear they review for December is the Columbia-Science Park Backpack, which seems to be out of stock. Sounds like the review was very successful!
Take a close look at their site if you're in the market for some quality outdoor gear and good prices. And you couldn't ask for more convenience -- they offer free shipping on all orders over $35.
That's my "Useful Website" for now. Check it out.
[tags]Rocky Mountain Trail, back to school backpacks, outdoors gear, winter clothing, winter hiking, winter camping, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Of zoos and tigers — we must remember that these are wild animals
Over the years, I've read all sorts of bizarre stories of people jumping into zoo pens/cages/whatever to be with the animals. Not long ago, I think I read of someone dropping into a pen with polar bears, or perhaps it was just black bears (JUST black bears??), or something.
In every case I've heard of, I don't recall a happy ending for the people nutty enough to do such things. Almost always the person is injured, sometimes maimed.
Yesterday's tiger incident in San Francisco was a bit different. The Siberian tiger somehow got out of it's habitat, killed one teenager, and injured two others. Police are investigating how the tiger got out of the enclosed, protected habitat, into an area where it could attack anyone. That's scary to me, the idea that someone would for any reason release a 350 tiger into a public area. But that's another story.
My biggest concern is this: People who go regularly to zoos tend to forget that these are WILD animals, not pets. They may be conditioned to depending on people to get their food, but they also have innate, inbred instincts to thrive, survive, and behave as wild animals.
I won't get into all the varied and valid arguments against the whole concept of zoos. I would just say this -- pay attention and be sensible when you're around wild animals. Don't let yourself or those you love become victims of bizarre zoo horrors in any case.
Ah, well, what do I know? I'm just a guy who reads the papers.
[tags]zoo death, tiger escapes at zoo, San Francisco zoo death, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Live in Atlanta? Interested in church? Check this website
Perhaps the "downer" events in the news today turned me toward thoughts of faith, religion, and church. So I'll share a bit of "religious news" with you.
I just found out about an interesting, exciting sort of church you might want to look into if you live near or visit Atlanta, Georgia. We have some neighbors and long-time acquaintances who moved to Atlanta a year ago, but I don't know whether they're involved with this church or not.
The church I'm talking about is the Free Chapel Worship Center, one of the churches in Atlanta area that seems to be growing and filled with enthusiasm to serve God and serve people. I don't know much about the church, though their website gives a lot of information about where they are and what they're doing to minister to families, kids, and all levels of adult needs.
If you're in or near Atlanta, and church is something you're seeking, the Free Chapel Worship Center's website is worth a look.
[tags]religion, churches, useful websites, writing tips at garyspeer.com[/tags]
‘Tis the season to be less than jolly about a lot of the day’s news
It doesn't take long for holiday cheer to turn into sadness, does it? Looking around the Internet and watching TV news today, I've seen a litany of violence and horror following yesterday's Christmas joy: an escaped tiger at a zoo in San Francisco killed someone, a terrible plane crash took the pilot and a father and his young teen daughter, and I just saw a story from Washington state regarding three generations of a family found dead in their rural home.
My wife and I were especially struck by the deaths in Carnation, Washington. When we were first married, many years ago, we lived in the "east lake" area near Seattle, i.e., those communities along and near the east side of Lake Washington. Carnation was probably 30 miles east of us, and my wife taught fourth graders in an elementary school the parents in this tragedy may well have gone to. We now live far away from the Seattle area, but we're keeping an eye on Internet coverage, with the awful fear the people who were murdered could be names she recognizes.
Most days, the news is just sort of a "downer" experience due to mayhem and madness, but it almost is overwhelming to read such stuff the day after Christmas.
For what it's worth, I make a motion that the national media folks be required to share only good news the day before and the day after Christmas. Couldn't hurt, could it? Not that it'll ever happen.
Ah, well, what do I know. I'm just a guy who reads the papers.
[tags]bad news, holiday tragedies, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Looking for property in New York? Benefit from these experts
If you're serious about hunting for a home in or near New York City, Prudential Douglas Elliman is New York's Largest Real Estate Company and is definitely the place to start your adventure. As a New York real estate broker, this firm is without equal. They have 60 offices in New York, with a bevy of agents and staff who are located in New York City are are experts on every borough of the city.
Take a look around their website. In addition to wonderful pictures of some beautiful properties currently for sale, let them impress you with the quality of people and the broad range of properties they offer. And since they are part of the Prudential Real Estate Network, the Prudential Douglas Elliman firm is able to assist you in finding that beautiful home which is a perfect fit for you anywhere you may be looking outside of New York throughout all of North America.
[tags]New York real estate brokers, New York City, real estate, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Rude behavior by religious, business leaders? Who could imagine such a thing?
Here's a reader's opinion from our local newspaper: He says business leaders and religious leaders are becoming more unresponsive and more rude to those trying to contact them.
There's a shocker, isn't it? No, not really. If you include basic "incivility" in your understanding of rudeness (and the man's letter seems to do that), I think you're talking about something far more widespread than religion, business, and/or our part of the country. America has become about as polarized as I could imagine. From religion, to business, to politics, to sports and entertainment, there is a lack of tolerance (bipartisanship, if you will) in every area of our culture. And when you lack tolerance or understanding of those with whom you disagree, you have little basis for kindness, civility, or courtesy.
In simpler terms: If people who disagree with you are seen on some level as "the enemy" or "the bad guys," discourtesy and rude behavior become the norm for dealing with them.
So, what are we to do about it? I would suggest the letter writer I referred to above has the right idea for all of us, whether as individuals, business leaders, religious leaders, or in whatever role we find ourselves:
"It is bad manners, bad etiquette, and I hope and pray that these folks read this and glean something from it."
Ah, well, what do I know? I'm just a guy who reads the papers.
[tags]incivility, rudeness, business leaders, religious leaders, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Smile, my friends, you may be on FBI’s version of ‘Candid Camera’
Am I giving away my age when I remind you of the old TV series, "Candid Camera"? If you aren't old enough to remember the original, you may have seen reruns, perhaps?
The show involved someone caught up in an absolutely ridiculous situation by a host and a hidden camera crew. The fun involved watching how "normal" everyday people would react to ludicrous situations. Then at the end, the host would spring the setup on them with a line that usually went, "Smile, you're on 'Candid Camera.'" Something like that.
Now I read where the FBI is going to spend $1 billion on a new, high-tech master system of databases which will collect just about everything about us -- fingerprints, photos, physical characteristics of every possible kind -- all in a single system. This gigantic database of all physical traits ("biometric information") would be better and bigger than anything used before.
Why, just reading about it makes me realize that finally, FINALLY, we'll be able to solve all crime, catch all the terrorists, and peace, joy, and love will reign throughout the world.
Or, perhaps, all of us are at risk of losing every last vestige of privacy. Perhaps, as the article mentions, peoples' worst fears will be realized and our "bodies will become de facto national identification cards."
Oh, please. Next, we'll need to worry about airport x-ray machines that show our nekked bodies in all their splendor. Uh, well. Hmmm ...
[tags]FBI database, privacy fears, crime solvers, candid camera, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Here’s a good place to plan your next holiday travel and hotel reservations
Christmas is over, but you may well be looking for hotel reservations, car rentals, and even some New Years' vacation rentals or vacation packages. For any and all of your remaining holiday travel needs -- how about taking your sweetie on a vacation for Valentine's Day? -- check out "HotelReservations.com."
Hotel Reservations is a very straightforward, useful website. They offer step-by-step instructions for focusing in on exactly the package you need, from travel reservations to hotel or resort accommodations. They make it easy to pick the exact location you need and to browse available properties in each location.
Whether you need car, airline, or resort reservations for this holiday season or upcoming vacation plans, take a good look around the Hotel Reservations website.
[tags]HotelReservations.com, hotel reservations, resorts, airline travel, car rentals, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Oscar Peterson, greatest jazz pianist of all time, dies at age 82
If you're a jazz piano fan, you may already have heard the sad news: Oscar Peterson died today at the age of 82.
I only regret that I never saw Peterson play in a live concert. I have probably more than 20 of his CDs, ranging from remastered versions of his older stuff from the 1950s to more recent live concerts in Paris from the 1990s. If you ever heard Peterson, especially if you ever got to watch him either live or on television, you know why I say he was the greatest of all jazz pianists. He dominated the keyboard. He made the keyboard come alive. He played so well and so majestically that it almost wasn't human -- you'd swear as you listened and watched him that the piano had disappeared and the music was coming straight from his soul, through his heart, into his hands and on into your innermost being. His artistry fills you with unspeakable joy that God has created such a thing as jazz piano music.
I swear, watching and listening to Oscar Peterson, that the man must have had at least eight fingers on each hand to totally control the keyboard as he did.
We who loved his music so will sorely miss Oscar Peterson. But, oh the joy, that he played among us and left such a majestic body of music behind!
[tags]Oscar Peterson, jazz piano, greatest jazz pianist, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
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