rehna May 30th, 2009
Ok, after Susan Boyle’s Youtube phenomenon here was Holly Steel last night on Britian’s got talent. She’s divided the nation with this performance - was that a real breakdown or the biggest, most manipulative scam this side of, well the last media scam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzW-CB3036w Continue Reading »
rehna May 28th, 2009
Orangeburg, S.C. –Dr. Carol Apt, professor of sociology at SC State University, has been selected as a Holocaust Educational Foundation Fellow for the 14th annual summer institute on the Holocaust and Jewish Civilization. Continue Reading »
rehna May 27th, 2009
Boxer Mike Tyson’s four-year-old daughter has died after accidentally strangling herself on a treadmill. Continue Reading »
rehna May 21st, 2009
Ah Cannes! All aquamarine sea, palm trees,, sun, sand and er, snow. Snow? Yep. Continue Reading »
rehna May 16th, 2009
With her sizeable bump on show, this is Elizabeth Adeney - Britain’s oldest mother-to-be.
At 66, she is four years older than the previous record holder. Continue Reading »
Peach May 13th, 2009
I’ve been on a rant for the last two years with a neighbor over a pitbull. When he moved in I said “I’m afraid of pitbulls” Oh not to worry says the owner, she’s a good dog” I said yes sir, she’s a puppy and unless your willing to put a lot of work into this dog when she hits puberty around age 2 she’s going to be hard to handle. “Oh no she’s a good dog” As she aged and lost her cute puppy look she also learned/sensed my fear of her. I think she could hear my heart thumping in my chest, or see the white of my terror filled eyes, so the stalking began. If she saw me she would run into my yard and leave a solid surprise while never taking her eyes off of me. Or she would just suddenly appear if I left my yard. I’ve never called animal control on a neighbor but I’ve called them three times in the last two years on him. Him because I don’t know his name. I know his son has a record - breaking into houses and such. And such. So do I complain and become the son’s target?
Funny thing, we went to the firing range Monday, it builds up my confidence because I know I’m a good shot even when shaking, I’ll need to be a good shot because it’s for sure if I ever need to fire the gun I will be shaking. So I was feeling pretty good about myself as I trotted off for my evening walk with Mo. My other two dogs are to old to hoof it anymore so I just walk Mo the 3 year old. So I’m walking - huffing and puffing chatting on the cell phone with my brother when suddenly I see the pitbull running towards me. Well the scene wasn’t pretty, my only defense was my mouth and I used it to the best of my ability. I screamed, cursed, yelled, threatened both owner and dog. The owner was up the road chatting with a neighbor and his dog jumped out of his van and attacked my dog. At this point things went into slow motion. As the pit grabbed my dog by the throat, my dog resigned herself to her fate and went limp. I beaned the dog with my cell phone and she backed away. The owner put the dog back in the van… at least 4 times, it went like this… dog attacks my dog - yelling starts - owner gets dog back in the fan - dog goes around to the side and jumps out of the van, finally a neighbor yells’ “close your windows and shut the door.
Long story short, we are going to go to court. Thing is I love dogs. Instead of putting the dog to sleep I think they should put the owner to sleep. For all the times he made the dog stay in a tiny cage in the garage no matter how cold or hot, for all the times he let her roam free, for all the obedience classes he never took her to and for all the times he’s said “oh my dog won’t hurt you” he should be the one to be punished not the dog. I resent him for making me one of “those neighbors that causes trouble” I resent him for every pile of dog pooh I have to get up from my yard and I resent him for making his dog aggressive because he was to lazy to train her. I’m hoping the judge can do something because I’m at the end of my rope.
Prairiefire May 5th, 2009
Ok, this one is going to be controversial, and I’m not trying to start a fight but to get people to think about the meaning of a commonly used phrase and explain what they think it really means, in terms of actions or the expression of opinions.
I have always kind of had a problem with being admonished to “support the troops, whether or not you support the war (this could mean the war in Iraq and/or the war in Afghanistan).” However, I’ve been thinking about it more lately due to Canadian media coverage of people lining up on the so-called “Highway of Heroes” to welcome the coffins of dead soldiers, and a recent review of a documentary in which elderly people found meaning in their lives by volunteering to welcome troops home.
My question is this: if the idea of “supporting the troops” has nothing to do with politics, than why a) are the people who admonish you to do this inevitably supporters of the war, and b) is the heavily loaded term “hero” amost always used? Now, I’m not saying individual soldiers are responsible for the wars. And in the case of the American army, I often have sympathy for the soldiers because they’ve been lied to and told their duty in Iraq was up and then sent back, or signed up under false pretenses, or joined the National Guard only to be sent to Iraq, etc. But I don’t think the “support the troops” message simply means not blaming the soldiers or feeling sorry for people who are stuck fighting a war they don’t agree with. My nagging suspicion is that “support the troops” either means support the war or at least shut up about your opposition to it. If I’m wrong, then why are we told in the same breath that these people are “heroes” and they are doing something worthwhile overseas? If I disagree with the reasons for these wars, and think that the wars are doing more harm than good, then obviously I disagree with the notion that the soldiers who invaded Iraq and Afghanistan are doing good - and I think doing good is implied when you call someone a hero. In fact, I would argue that in this context, the word “hero” is a politically loaded one. If I disagree with the idea that invading countries without provocation is somehow keeping North America safe (and I do disagree), then again, how can I say that the army is doing something noble?
My question to you all is: is the “Support the Troops” movement just another way to muffle dissent and have people support these wars - at least through their silence? For those of you who disagree with me, what does “Support The Troops” mean to you, and if you don’t think it’s political, then how is it not? I’m really interested in hearing people’s opinions on this.
rehna May 4th, 2009
Well, what kind of hopeless mother am I???? I completely forgot that it was our 3rd birthday in April. Yep, Assetsworld is 3 whole years old!
Huge slices of cake and drinks all round.
Thank-you for reading us. Thankyou for posting comments. Thank-you for your emails. Thank-you for your support!
rehna May 3rd, 2009
I confess when I was first sent the press release for this book, I thought, hmmm, a book of newspaper front pages - how interesting can that be?
Well, since being sent a review copy, it’s rarely been in my hands. Continue Reading »
rehna May 3rd, 2009
Gentle Healing for the Exhausted Woman by Roslyne Sophia Breillat Continue Reading »