I don't know about you, but the latest Gaia improvements are not all winners.
Take for instance the Big Towel Ad --
Instead of having 20 lovely Gaia friends showing - now there's only 8.  .
And this big White Rolled up Towel has taken up the space where  12 friends lived.

I mean, come on folks, there's already a huge banner across the top. no I think it's 2 banners, and enough crazy things that if you are not accurate pointing and clicking the mouse, you get some crazy ad for something.  The darn cinema thing is one i keep hitting. 

Really, do we need more ads inserted on our home page?  I would rather see the glowing faces of my friends, not a damn towel.  Yikes, now it "affordable furniture." 

Thank you..

Well, Gosh, Golly,, Darn it!  watching The Debate last night, I thought I was in Mayberry  and any moment Barney Fife would coming running out on the stage with Aunt Bea  trailing behind, carrying an apple pie 

All that "aw shucks", winking at the crowd, joe six pack, hockey mom,, ordinary person stuff does not inspire confidence in her leadership abilities to handles major world  crises.

As many have said before me, "I don't want someone like me to be the President.

David Letterman made me laugh last night.  He said Biden couldn't concentrate during the debate, because he kept thinking of what Sarah Palin looked like naked.  I think the President of Pakistan was thinking that too. When people in Pakistan were asked what they thought or knew about Palin, the only thing they mentioned was that their president thought she was beautiful. 

"Doggone it! "  What next, Paris Hilton for Secretary of State? 

What's the deal with the inability of Sarah Palin and George Bush to pronounce the word "nuclear"? Shouldn't the person with their hand on the button at least be able to pronounce the word "nuclear?

how does one look at the word ''n u c l e a r'
and get ---  nuke YOU lure  --like--
nuke YOU
fuck YOU 
NO...
think!!-- NEW
think!!-- CLEAR 
NUCLEAR! 

FROM THE MODERN HUMORIST WEBSITE:

MISPRONOUNCING "NUCLEAR"
				If you use the word "nuclear" and then find yourself facing accusations of mispronunciation, it is best to attack at once. Using whatever you have with you-a stick, a camera, a harpoon gun, or your fist-make quick, sharp, repeated jabs at your opponent's face.
				Break free and run through bushes or high weeds, which will give some cover.
				Do not use the words "espresso," "homage" or "Pinochet" for at least 24 hours after the incident.

AND --is is too much to ask ??!??---that the possible VP/gawdforbid Pres should be able to pronounce the word  "YOU"     ( remember ? --as in nuke YOU  lure)

ok, ok --- i will shut up and make another pie -  apple with peanut butter oatmeal crisp top.

               

 WHO IS JOE SIX-PACK? 

Am I the only one that thinks the idea of a 72 year old maverick a little ludicrous?

Wishing you a small tranquil day,

Bob

One of my favourite books of all time is The Tao of Leadership - Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age,  by John Heider.  It has 81 separate topics and #69 has been my favourite and I have used it in my own life at times when there was conflict.   Here it is -- it makes me think that Obama is familiar with this wisdom and McCain/Palin are not.

#69.
"If a group member wants to fight with you, consider the strategy of the guerrilla commander:
Never seek a fight.  If it comes to you, yield; step back.

It is far better to step back than to overstep yourself.

Your strength is good intelligence:  be aware of what is happening.  Your weapon is not a weapon at all.  It is the light of consciousness.

Advance only where you encounter no resistance.  If you make a point, do not cling to it.  If you win, be gracious.

The person who initiates the attack is off center and easily thrown.  Even so, have respect for any attacker.  Never surrender your compassion or use your skill to harm another needlessly.

In any event, the more conscious force will win."
=======================================

I hope this proves to be true in the November US election.

That we/some/society  have given up morality, manners, ethics, truth, respect for all living things in exchange for immediate gratification, merchandise, ME first, shoot first,  entertain me.
Our value system is haywire. Violence is rampant and entertains us.  We are not progressing intellectually, culturally, and spiritually.  We need a spiritual (not religious) revolution to bring us back to caring FOR  each other - not just about each other.

I would like to see more organized opportunities (easy to find on the site)  for group ACTION here at Gaia.  That we truly try to make a difference by taking action NOW  and HERE. Otherwise, all our good ideas  wishes for a better world are just a lot of talk.-yadaa yadaa yaa

How they are helping others--
right Now
Or will be in the Future.

As you go about your daily chores And the anger comes and goes, Try not to feed that anger. For, what you feed grows. I've often heard it said That what man reaps he sows. So, be careful of rotten seeds. For, what you feed grows.

YIKES YIKES YIKES YIKES YIKES YIKES
YIKES! YIKES! YIKES! YIKES!
This has to be a Monty Python skit,

 The Tent

Outside, the freezing desert night.
This other night inside grows warm, kindling.
Let the landscape be covered with thorny crust.
We have a soft garden in here.
The continents blasted,
cities and little towns, everything
become a scorched, blackened ball.

The news we hear is full of grief for that future,
but the real news inside here
is there’s no news at all.

Not a thing.  We are ordinary beings.  Nothing special.

The only thing I can think of is --we have had lots of good cooks who loved to feed people - always sharing food.  We shared whatever we had with others.  No one left our house without a bag with something in it.  I carry on this tradition today.  No one leaves my home empty-handed. 

We've had our fair share of crazy aunts, drunken uncles, teenagers who crashed cars, or went to jail, mental illness, cancer, suicide, Alzheimers.

There is no group happy-ending to this family saga.  We all struggle.  Some make it, some don't, some get struck with illness, some rise up the corporate ladder, some get out of jail in a few months, some collect $200 in tips bartending. 

Some delight in every moment, some are stuck in the past,
some roll with the punches.
Some eat..........
Some get eaten

Emotions come from responses to our senses. They  give us signals about what is happening around us.  From this we get  our own perceptions of what is happening. We imagine this is reality.

 Our brain then tries to make sense and order from these signals, using an existing data base and throwing any new stuff into the mix. When we get a danger/fear signal - we may have an automatical reponses - run, hide, strike.

We imbed beliefs about what we experience emotionally and act on these beliefs, for good or for bad.  We can be easily roused to anger - cut off in traffic, My Rights!!, misinterpreted words or actions by another, or lack of action.  We have a lot of irrational beliefs about what is actually taking place. .

I think the secret is not to have a knee-jerk reaction to negative emotions that may cause harm to another --and ourself.  Even so called positive emotions do not always create a positive result or outcome ===oooooo, I'm in love!

I am a middle way person - and try to find the place of calm before acting on any emotion. When I feel rattled, I sit and breathe through it.  I avoid a lot of stress to my body, mind, and spirit this way. 

TIMOO ;>)  --this is my opinion only

My neice Aly sent me this one today!.  I laughed so hard.  Wouldn't this be a Hoot!

What happens when and if the Federal government sends each one of us a $600 rebate as was done in the US?

 If we spend it at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China.

If we spend it on gasoline, the money will go to the Arabs.

If we purchase a computer it will go to India.

If we purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala

If we purchase a  car, it will go to Japan.

If we purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan and none of it will help the Canadian economy.

The only way to keep the money here at home is to spend it on prostitutes, weed, beer and tattoos since these are the only products still produced in CANADA.

Thank you for your help and please support your country!