To love one's enemies is the most difficult directive of Jesus, even loving one's neighbour is fraught with difficulty, especially when we realize how broad a definition of 'neighbour' is given by Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could live without prejudice?
I hate prejudice and yet, my own life is so full of it! I'm just watching "Frost" (ITV1), a programme I always enjoy but, I find almost from the off my prejudices come to the fore. I almost cringe at the 'piety' of the victim's brother in law; a former lover of the victim I instantly sympathize with, recognizing his all too human frailty. Of course, in this case a forensic pathologist is called in and, she's frightfully middle-class, I take an instant dislike. The priest in the picture acts very guiltily and, I think that must be par for the job!
My bets are on the pious brother-in-law ... not that I've got any evidence but, he's pious isn't he? In a situation like this, loving one's enemy is certainly hard but, it's almost equally difficult to know who's the real friend!
*********************************
PS (10.19 pm) : I can't stand "know-alls" but, I was right!
- living and frequently struggling with moderate M.E. -
where (bad) health, faith, politics and the joys and troubles of daily life collide.
ME
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Idling Around and finding a bargain
After a very lazy start to the day, it has been a really good day. No sudden relief from my regulation tiredness but, I’ve enjoyed the day. Having found a bargain 512Mb Usb2 Flash Drive online, Helen drove me down to collect it from PC World … the assistant in the store seemed quite bemused that an item on the shelves for £50 could be collected and bought for £20 if ordered on-line.
After the visit to PC World, we drove into town to collect a book that Helen had ordered. Immediately on return, I set to preparation of the turkey steaks, that I’d marinated earlier, ready for Sunday lunch. The reason for this promptness was, the (not unreasonable) expectation that fatigue may have set in if I left the task any later. As it happens … fatigue hasn’t occurred yet! A fluctuation of body temperature, from over-heated to very cold, within an extremely short time-span has recurred this evening … perhaps that’s the bodies reaction in lieu of fatigue!
Once again, this evening we’ve been entertained by the ‘X-Factor’ auditions and, I’ve remembered to set up the DVD recorder, for the repeat showing (BBC4) of the two Loudon Wainwright III programmes we so enjoyed last night.
***********************************
It was good to see that The Fox had re-entered the blogosphere last-night and, here’s hoping that normality is soon restored to his domicile after the recent re-wiring.
After the visit to PC World, we drove into town to collect a book that Helen had ordered. Immediately on return, I set to preparation of the turkey steaks, that I’d marinated earlier, ready for Sunday lunch. The reason for this promptness was, the (not unreasonable) expectation that fatigue may have set in if I left the task any later. As it happens … fatigue hasn’t occurred yet! A fluctuation of body temperature, from over-heated to very cold, within an extremely short time-span has recurred this evening … perhaps that’s the bodies reaction in lieu of fatigue!
Once again, this evening we’ve been entertained by the ‘X-Factor’ auditions and, I’ve remembered to set up the DVD recorder, for the repeat showing (BBC4) of the two Loudon Wainwright III programmes we so enjoyed last night.
***********************************
It was good to see that The Fox had re-entered the blogosphere last-night and, here’s hoping that normality is soon restored to his domicile after the recent re-wiring.
Friday, September 23, 2005
A Little Light Music
Hilarious, poignant, gently cynical, that’s Loudon Wainwright III currently providing some exhilaration to lift me from my humdrum routine. First we have one hour of a special concert, interspersed with interviews, courtesy of BBC4, to be followed on the same channel with some archive footage for a further hour. Fortunately, both programmes will be re-shown from midnight on Saturday so, I’ll remember (hopefully) to set up the DVD recorder. Thanks Loudon, thank-you BBC.
It’s truly amazing how he’s resurrected this fatigued soul! Tiredness had, once more, been the keynote of the day, exacerbated in no small way by an afternoon brief brisk walk. That relapse was overcome by a little kitchen creativity, a new variant on my celebrated Salmon Savoury Rice.
Afraid Mr Wainwright is distracting me from the serious matter of blogging so, I bid y’all a fond farewell!
It’s truly amazing how he’s resurrected this fatigued soul! Tiredness had, once more, been the keynote of the day, exacerbated in no small way by an afternoon brief brisk walk. That relapse was overcome by a little kitchen creativity, a new variant on my celebrated Salmon Savoury Rice.
Afraid Mr Wainwright is distracting me from the serious matter of blogging so, I bid y’all a fond farewell!
Food For Thought
Although I got up reasonably early this morning, I've not yet felt ready to have any breakfast. Sure, I know all the arguments about the importance of this first food input of the day but, quite honestly, I'm just not hungry!
As I've been surfing the web, I came across this powerful and well presented PDF - Hunger In A World of Plenty: Facts Have Faces - and, once more it hit home just what a privileged life I lead! Whereas I can skip a meal, simply because I don't feel like it, there are millions who would love to have that luxury.
I am totally convinced that, if only we in the developed world had the political will, hunger could be abolished. An accompanying scandal is the degree of poverty prevalent in the most affluent nations.
Strange, how suddenly I begin to feel both hungry and, not a little, guilty!
As I've been surfing the web, I came across this powerful and well presented PDF - Hunger In A World of Plenty: Facts Have Faces - and, once more it hit home just what a privileged life I lead! Whereas I can skip a meal, simply because I don't feel like it, there are millions who would love to have that luxury.
I am totally convinced that, if only we in the developed world had the political will, hunger could be abolished. An accompanying scandal is the degree of poverty prevalent in the most affluent nations.
Strange, how suddenly I begin to feel both hungry and, not a little, guilty!
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Getting Nowhere Slowly but enjoying the trip?
Although I've had no fresh incidence of the Security Centre/AntiVir conflict this evening, I did finally get around to entering a question about it on the AntiVir Support Forum as their support team still haven't bothered to reply!
Today has passed amazingly quickly, in spite of experiencing some incredibly disruptive technological misbehaviour. A very human trait of computer technology seems to be its temperamental nature.
Yes, I've got to admit that I can be temperamental too!
Today has passed amazingly quickly, in spite of experiencing some incredibly disruptive technological misbehaviour. A very human trait of computer technology seems to be its temperamental nature.
Yes, I've got to admit that I can be temperamental too!
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Kein Vorsprung Durch Technik
Sought advice on the PC Advisor forum re the apparent conflict between AntiVir Personal Edition Premium and Windows Security Centre. Received a response which pointed out how common a problem slow startup can be. Problem is I'd been aware of that difficulty for some time; the current problem is that the recent warning messages have been received whilst the Anti-Virus is already up and running.
At least that response was much quicker than AntiVir's support service. We are still waiting to hear from them. If that's the level of German customer service it's not surprising that their economy is encountering difficulties.
At least that response was much quicker than AntiVir's support service. We are still waiting to hear from them. If that's the level of German customer service it's not surprising that their economy is encountering difficulties.
AntiVir Personal Edition Premium - lack of support!
I wrote a couple of days ago about a problem, that both my wife and myself were having with AntiVir Personal Edition Premium and the messages that it was "turned off" we were receiving from Windows Security Centre. It has become increasingly difficult to know which statement we believe, that it is turned off or that, according to the programme itself, it is "active"!
Both of us have contacted support at AntiVir but, two days later, no reply is forthcoming. By now, it seems quite definite we will not be renewing our Premium payments next year. As I said previously, this sort of problem never occurred when we were using the same companies free Anti Virus.
Both of us have contacted support at AntiVir but, two days later, no reply is forthcoming. By now, it seems quite definite we will not be renewing our Premium payments next year. As I said previously, this sort of problem never occurred when we were using the same companies free Anti Virus.
The mysteries of ad-free broadcasting
Following closely on a 7.00am news bulletin, on Radio 2, which mentioned the scandal of some BBC programmes (eg 'Coupling') using product placement, Sarah Kennedy, in her review of the papers, gave a plug to a proprietary brand of nasal spray, going so far as to state the products full name and retail price. It was claimed that this product can prevent a cold, if used at the first sign of a sniffle.
Methinks an advertisement feature, from a newspaper, has been presented as a news item. So, no product placement there!
Perhaps straight advertisements are now permissible on the beeb whilst product placement is a no-no.
Methinks an advertisement feature, from a newspaper, has been presented as a news item. So, no product placement there!
Perhaps straight advertisements are now permissible on the beeb whilst product placement is a no-no.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Strange Phenomena
Tiredness is such a strange phenomenon, the more hours I spend in it's presence the less inclined am I to claim any understanding of it's modus operandi! Yesterday my withdrawal from the duvet-realm was a quite protracted affair, owing more I trust to genuine fatigue rather than lethargy (don't ask me to explain that word, I'm far too lazy to seek a definition).
Despite an overwhelming sense of tiredness prevailing, my brief brisk walk proved much easier than it has done for some time. My beloved and I have a mutual sense of currently being in a struggle with the common cold; this struggle of itself promotes weariness so by later evening we both felt quite shattered. In fact, I was too tired to apply my emollient cream before retiring but, I did manage to keep my eyelids propped open whilst I cleaned my teeth.
So, the story so far; I got into bed feeling "tired out" and, guess what ... I found it well nigh impossible to get to sleep fo several hours. Whatever my posture, it seemed to be the wrong one for attracting Morpheus. Night-sweats also played their part in my restlessness. My body should soon be tiring of its stupid game whereby, I suddenly become overheated and perspire profusely and so, remove myself from the covering of the lightest (lowest tog rated) duvet for a few blissful minutes before the cold shivers commence!
Surely, if I'm really tired the body should wean itself away from these ritual games and, allow me to sleep. Tiredness truly is a strange phenomenon.
Despite an overwhelming sense of tiredness prevailing, my brief brisk walk proved much easier than it has done for some time. My beloved and I have a mutual sense of currently being in a struggle with the common cold; this struggle of itself promotes weariness so by later evening we both felt quite shattered. In fact, I was too tired to apply my emollient cream before retiring but, I did manage to keep my eyelids propped open whilst I cleaned my teeth.
So, the story so far; I got into bed feeling "tired out" and, guess what ... I found it well nigh impossible to get to sleep fo several hours. Whatever my posture, it seemed to be the wrong one for attracting Morpheus. Night-sweats also played their part in my restlessness. My body should soon be tiring of its stupid game whereby, I suddenly become overheated and perspire profusely and so, remove myself from the covering of the lightest (lowest tog rated) duvet for a few blissful minutes before the cold shivers commence!
Surely, if I'm really tired the body should wean itself away from these ritual games and, allow me to sleep. Tiredness truly is a strange phenomenon.
Monday, September 19, 2005
A Sad Farewell
Today, the realization suddenly dawned on me that I have had to bid a sad farewell to three of my favourite journalists. So, it's farewell to Bob Herbert, Paul Krugman and Maureen Dowd all of the New York Times. The reason is the introduction of Times Select, a subscription only service which happens to include the Op-Ed contributions of these three journalists. Although on a low income, and living in the UK not the USA, I would be quite happy to pay a subscription to read these three journalists words but, unfortunately I would also be paying for services which are not of the least interest.
A 14 days free trial is currently on offer for this service but, that would only be postponing the inevitable
The contributions of this trio made me feel that there was perhaps something good to come out of America, whereas the policies of George Dubya have always contradicted this gut instinct. So, I bid a fond farewell.
A 14 days free trial is currently on offer for this service but, that would only be postponing the inevitable
The contributions of this trio made me feel that there was perhaps something good to come out of America, whereas the policies of George Dubya have always contradicted this gut instinct. So, I bid a fond farewell.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)