Lifestyle Archive Nov 2003 - Dec 2007 - Go to the New section begun Jan 2008

---

Contemporary Life

Politics & Comment

Lifestyles: 2007 Chandlerville Sam North You can't get there from here without opening a book A Paler Shade of White Anita Sheard Labels reflect only the extent of our ability to describe a disparate group and can only be an approximation, but changing them also reflects our ambivalence and discomfort Queen of Vernon 1993-2007 James Campion She was regal. Not in any preordained, systemic, lordly manner, but there was a distinct nobility to her that was able to transform you. Washed out in Palawan Will O'Neil on Gap travel We discovers the true nature of the Philippine monsoon season. A Letter to Mr Bush Colin Todhunter I was thinking about writing a letter to George Bush recently The Customer isn't always right J A Laraque Have you ever been somewhere such as a store or a bank and someone in front of you is getting all loud and making a scene about something that is completely their fault? Not Pregnant Enough Juliana Perry I hurried through the mud room and out onto the porch, nearly sashaying my pregnant self right off the deck on an inch of solid ice. The Benefits of Warm Sake Tony Alexander This winter, as you pour warm sake into her belly button, reflect on her curvaceousness. The Jon Courtney Grimwood Interview Aby Davis His passion is evident in this desire to get the English Language a star on the Magical Realist walk of fame. Reality Bites: Big Brother Culture Alana Hebenton The 21st century can be defined as a mass media society where people are obsessed with celebrity The Ali Tal interview Dr Marwan Asmar 'If I am not honest about my feelings, I don’t think I’ll be honest about my writings. When I sit in my study, it’s not Portsmouth I see, I see the Golan Heights, and the hills of northern Jordan'. Soul Searching: Why Not Bring in the Clones? Michael Levy Most people looking for success on planet earth with only a physical self-image of who they believe themselves to be Searchlight Simon Bishop We all know, and most of us love, Google. It is by far the most visited website in the world. Kitchen Wisdom & Student Cooking tips Simon Bishop Having friends over and need to know how to provide for a vegetarian, a coeliac and a fussy child all in one go? Are you Websafe? Holly Christodoulou Is that really you out there? Life Lessons from Cinema James Skinner Hollywood has been advising us for years on the frailty of mankind and the injury humanity inflicts upon the rest of the life on the planet. Recipes for Life Kunal Ghose According to my mother I came out screaming "Hungry!" When pondering my insatiable appetite for things I can put in my mouth, I’m convinced it all goes back to my grandfather's Jamaican feast To Laugh and To Weep Bruce Rutherford I haven’t talked to anyone of "advanced age" who think they're old Compassion In Action Krista Rausin I never imagined that my beautiful blonde curly haired daughter with her vibrant personality and smile that could melt my heart would one day be confinded to a wheelchair. Mailer, Norman - appraised Dean Borok The funny thing about Norman Mailer’s antagonism towards women is that he always felt the need to keep them around him.  He married six times. Postioning The Heads Frank Sloan Soaring costs bite us, plunging incomes snipe at us and garish banks polarized thinking infects us.  The last thing anybody wants are poems- right? How To Be Ladylike Aby Davis I grew up in a girls school where we had to wear skirts instead of trousers cos it was more 'ladylike', I wonder what my old headteacher would say if he knew me now.... Chick Literati Emma King I looked over the books I own; stack upon stack of over predictable, classically cheesy and a somewhat pathetic collection of chick-lit novels. I love chick-lit - I am an addict Tabytha Towe takes Europe Whirlwind adventures for our Vancouver Girl 'Never fly with a hangover'. From Horror to Gore - the transformation of the horror film Richard Parry Though films from the horror genre rarely top the annual box office charts they still remain big business within the industry; with film writers frantically trying to shock the new generation, their new audience. Some Days Are Like This Juliana Perry Plaguing my mind more often than not these long evenings are those five simple words. The phone is silent and the remains of my own dinner sit hapharzly in the sink Planner to the Frying Pan American experience of Spanish Life Caroline Hunter I was standing in a bar with three middle-aged women. I realized that it was half past one in the morning; my homework for class at nine a.m. sat untouched Watchmen Written by Alan Moore- Illustrated by Dave Gibbons Jack Clarkson I thought I might introduce you to Watchmen before 2009 and potentially the most awesome film in all history, past, present and future disappears in a wave of obscurity, not unlike Serenty before it. Linda Regan - Passion Killer The Aby Davis interview "I was inspired by Jimmy Perry (writer of hit series Hi Di Hi, in which Linda had a starring role) who always told me to just go for it!" Gods of Garbage Dean Borok NY City Council members are spending thousands of dollars to buy new garbage cans bearing their names Koko the smoking dog - a catalyst to a new life Sara Towe I was separated, lonely and needed to get out and meet new people. My children for years had been begging for a dog and cat Indian Wedding Journal Heathrow Airport Takes On New Dimensions Linda Albert On the way back, we were scheduled with a five hour layover at Heathrow airport. Witches Brew Dean Borok The meaning of art is to enhance a miserable and brutish natural existence by the flowering of culture Amersham Holly Christodoulou My humble county full of rolling countryside hills, huge mansions, acres of farmland and some of the best schools in the country Abbots Langley Michael Luzanycia Whilst being a calm and peaceful town of seclusion during the day, Abbots Langley of Hertfordshire has had growing problems of division over the years. Gravesend David Alexander Not many people outside of Kent have heard of Gravesend Bedford - Historic town of, Laura Kerrigan The only famous person to come form Bedford is Paula Radcliffe. And she hasn’t stopped running. Though I am doing Bedford an injustice if implying it is a hard place to live The Other Twin Ross Cavins It was 1968, a summer of love, and so it was with Martha and Odell. They had three girls, the youngest at sixteen months, and another child on the way. Back then, you didn't know what you were going to have until it popped out screaming at the world Fat Chance Ross Cavins I was once on a reality TV show where the contestant who lost the most weight won the prize money. I never saw so many fatties in one place making fools of themselves Adventure in House Sharing Margaret O'Day I met her for lunch at a pub near St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and I liked her immediately. She reminded me of most of the other women I had rented rooms to, smart, no nonsense types A Place to Call Home Casey Manes in Zambia Along painted brick street fronts and sprawled against stretches of sidewalk, young boys make their beds, napping in what has become their pseudo-home. Their lean bodies and ragged clothes depict a small slice of the difficult life they lead. Interview with Nancy Bradley - Legendary Psychic to the Stars by Paul Dale Roberts Californias' Celebrity Ghost Whisperer Little Brother Wayne Shannon I used to think he’d always be there. His voice rumbling like a Harley-Davidson engine idling Ramadan virtues Marwan Asmar During Ramadan I read the Koran maybe five to six times A Dog's Life Dean Borok Labor Day in New York City The Blair-Witch Legacy Colin Todhunter As the smug Tony heads off into a potential Middle Eastern nuclear sunset, you are already probably aware that there are a huge number of similarities between him and Thatcher. Pencil Sketch On A Boarding Pass Natalie Neville on Cuba Cuba is special. As the Oxford defines the term, special is exceptional in quality or degree, unusual, out of the ordinary, excelling in some positive quality, exceptionally good or talented. Cuba is indeed all of those and a great deal more. Havana is intoxicating and inspiring and decrepit and soiled... Oddities of India Meera Manek With a Muslim President, Sikh Prime Minister and an Italian-born Catholic as Head of the largest political party, diversity and tolerance appear to work hand in hand Dreaming Dubai Marwan Asmar I had been to Dubai twice in my life: In 1998 and 2003, the latter was a harrowing experience. Failure at the lake Eric D Lehman When I was sixteen, my brother Andy and I hiked up the summer Sierra in the backcountry near Lake Tahoe. Our parents had left us with two water bottles and worried instructions to stick to the trail Cutting the pages Eric D Lehman Having taken a walking holiday in England, I began searching the local libraries for accounts of similar journeys. I happened across Afoot In England by W H Hudson Being French Dean Borok - real power revealed No amount of money can induce a French woman to go along with the program if it’s against her nature. Just How Flawed is the Education System? Michael Levy  I was talking recently with a middle school teacher from Louisville, Kentucky and she was telling me all the problems that face her educating her class just to read and write. The Murphy within us Sara Towe Last year I wrote about how Murphy's Law was having way too much fun with me, broken ankles, pain, promises broken and turmoil’s in abundances. I realized that he left an imprint on me, The Re-Election of Mayor Edward Hagedorn Antonio Graceffo The environmentally conscious Mayor Hagedorn was sworn into office to the backdrop of the Pista Y Ang Kueban, the annual Feast of the Forest, tree planting festival. Mobile India: The Hollywood Connection Colin Todhunter Colin Todhunter talks to Anthony Loder, son of Hedy Lamarr described as the most beautiful woman in the world. But not many know that she was also an inventor. Smile Even When Your Heart is Breaking Lola Haze "The teelim fall everyday here," he says, "but they don’t always hit something." He is referring to the missiles launched from Gaza into the neighboring areas of Israel The Guns of Central America Alex This bizarre trip, from Havana to San Salvador, took me through five levels of Central American gun culture. My journey started in Havana – probably the safest capital in Latin America. Burning Man Annie Lalla Burning Man… most have barely heard of it, many are intrigued, few are brave enough to go.  If this is your first encounter with the phenomenon of Burning Man, welcome. Mi Conchita Jenny Wright We first encountered the mucky off-white dog hanging around outside a well lit government building, on a Cuban side street. Memoir de Mumbai Lalita kakanadan It has been three months since I began living in this neat and tidy room, all by myself, like "Alice in wonderland". Valencia – The City That Has It All Alex Valencia gets to be in the circuit of world music, arts and cultural events. Modern Odysseus Lauren Smith It seems unlikely that many cars would stop for a lanky, 6-foot-4-inch hitchhiker with wavy hair falling past his shoulders and only a backpack to his name. Chinatown/Koreatown - Flushing, Queens, NY. Ulle Trautvag I rush to take the #7 subway train in order to make lunch at East Buffet and Restaurant in Flushing, changing at Queens Plaza to the express that will let me off at Main Street, the last stop. On the Road Mike Blake I remember I first spotted him standing behind the store, smoking a cigarette. He had spotted me first, as I quickly made my way to the clothes dumpster, which was overflowing with discarded goods. Hassam Al Karmi, the intellectual I knew Marwan Asmar I first met Hassan Al Karmi when he was in his 90s. He was still as sharp as a tack. He was living another of his golden ages. He had already 14 Arabic-English, English-Arabic dictionaries under his belt and he was now writing treatises on Islam and the West. Fail and Fail Again: the choice is yours Colin Todhunter I used to feel really great. Then I started to watch TV on a regular basis. I didn’t know it previously but I’m ugly, have bad hair and don’t possess the latest gadgetry that will make me supremely happy. Teaching in China Sharon Lockwood I abandoned my Canadian way of life, traveling thousands of miles across the ocean to central China to teach English. The further from home I traveled, the more second thoughts I had... Reading in Aqaba Marwan Asmar One of the best places to read is along the promenade in Aqaba. Just sit on one of the benches, and open your book, nobody will bother you, the traffic is light, so no noise, the breeze is pleasant, and every once in a while you can turn around to look at the beach and the distant sea. The world and the Arab world Marwan Asmar ... laughter, jokes, and mirth is what characterizes human development, and makes us cope with the intricacies and problems of life. DALHALLA –Opera in a Quarry Eva Bell About 300 kms northwest of Stockholm is the beautiful region of Dalarna, spread out all around Lake Siljan Recovery Diary Roxy Williams under the knife Op of Doom minus 20 hours: The day before an op you should be taking it easy, not sat on a freezing platform in Southampton. Burning my tongue on an overprized latte I realise that hours sat on a packed platform, in the rain, are not ideal - because once again the trains are late - very late. Black Lake Sophia Hardy The underground/indie music scene is still thriving in the good ol’ US of A Car Thieves Alice Vonsimson So, Saturday was the big day. Two driving tests taken when I was living in Hawaii had come back with negative results due to technical problems (wasn't sure which pedal was the brake), poor preparation (confused about whether red lights were suggestions or orders)... Les Vamps - a celebration of the mysterious Marianne de Nazareth Wendell Rodricks has put the tiny Indian state of Goa firmly on the fashion map Chinese Bathhouse Valerie Sator Come along with us. We're going to take a bath. We made our way downtown to Ao Wei – the Miraculous Transformation Bathhouse. Hope At Dawn James G Skinner In March 2003, María Teresa, a perfectly healthy Spanish sixty year old, was diagnosed by a leading orthopaedist, Doctor Domingo Rueda of Povisa Hospital in Vigo, with Spinal Stenosis, a disorder of the spinal duct caused by Primary Osteoarthritis. Wishes for 2007 by James Campion Living With Aids: Britain’s Battle Review by Rosie Wheatcroft What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)?

Opinion: 2007 It's a Mad World James Skinner 31.12.2007 how do we feel about what’s being going on and what lies ahead? You say Tomato Dean Borok Don’t tell me that American presidential politics has not entered The Twilight Zone.  Baseball Through the Looking Glass James Campion - Hypocrisy & Incongruities in 'The Mitchell Report' Mitt Romney: Don't Ask - Don't Tell James Campion - The voice of enlightenment bellows from Mitt Romney Bloomberg in China Dean Borok Michael Bloomberg is getting ready to present himself as the only viable challenge to Hillary Clinton Countdown to Pay Dirt Iowa Caucuses Loom For GOP & Dems - James Campion There's been over a year of white noise and revelry and backbiting and futile positioning rhetoric between 16 candidates The Rise of Women Power James Skinner Female power in the 21st Century Interview with Free Burma Rangers by Antonio Graceffo  “If I get discouraged, I can go home, the Karen tribe cannot.' The true price of cheap meat Asta Audzijoynte Meat has become a ubiquitous part of our diet. In the last thirty years global meat production has nearly doubled Is Christmas Shopping Evil? Lisa Timmerman The idea of actively searching for new things to buy for people that don’t need anything is really kind of sick. Musharraf Sweats & Mailer Dies James Campion Jersey Pedro and myself watched in relative horror as General Musharraf, the acting president of a crumbling government, spoke to his nation The web, it's secrets and Me Laura Patrica My dad, with all due respect, is crazy paranoid. Dollar Sinks Dean Borok The future prospects for the American economy Disparities of Culture Shock Rachel Boone The Tower of Babel started a phenomenon that we are still dealing with today. One race, one language, one culture Expat Windfall How Renouncing Your Citizenship Can Save You Big $ James Campion Driving Ms Crazy The Hilary Machine James Campion- Madam Shoo-In On The March The Democratic Party is officially scared The End of Real Estate - and what can take its place Josef Graf Woven within the term "real estate" there lives a hint that the nature of the modern land transaction game has little authentic bearing in the real world James Campion Readers Feedback Oct 2007 Democracy in action New York City Report Dean Borok OK, I killed myself after the Yankees lost last night, and now I’ve come back from the dead and I feel better.  Mishima Tony Alexander The last samurai's belly that kissed the tip of a sword was Mishima Yukio on November 25, 1970 Flying Bankers Dean Borok The Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster ride may be closed for the season but don’t worry, your bank account is getting ready for the ride of its life Burma’s Long Neck Karen Hill Tribe chose exploitation rather than civil war - Antonio Graceffo The Burmese civil war, often viewed as a genocide, committed against Burma’s tribal minorities, has been raging off-and-on for a period of nearly fifty years. Mass Media Democracy James Campion The entire planet is televised, web-cammed, You-Tubed, Google-Earthed, camera-phoned, amateur-videoed, and 24-hour cable networked. We're being watched. Four Corner Petraeus James Campion In a staggering eighth Oval Office address since the beginning of military action in Iraq, the president went on to list further benchmarks for a "return on success" set to unfurl in March 2008 Pot and Kettle Revelations James Campion Why does Idaho Senator Larry Craig have to resign? Tell me. You can't and he doesn't. American Intervention and the Middle-East Brian Appleton I think that it does Iranians a grave disservice to dismiss their 70 million population as Islamic fanatic madmen The Emperor's New CDOs Dean Borok explains sub-prime lending Broken down into bite-sized pieces that even I can understand, this is how the racket was set up: Ten Years of Reflections James Campion Pt 11 'Know this, as long as this nation is at war the truth can no longer be considered an absolute Decayed at the Desk James Campion 10 Years Of Treachery & Mockery This is not a job description or any kind of reasonable vocation, it is a lifestyle, no, a malady, no, more like a virus one accepts to live with... The Blame Game Powerless Senate Debuts Finger-Pointing Show James Campion Now that the latest surge of U.S. troops to Iraq has reduced our boy president to a cold-blooded murderer, The Crash of '08 is coming Dean Borok Industrial capacity, driven by China’s need for natural resources, is not keeping up with demand.  There are not enough freighters to transport essential commodities like iron ore and liquefied natural gas.  As a result freight prices are rocketing through the roof, adding to inflationary pressures. Triangulation Dean Borok Russia has a huge nuclear arsenal to prevent Chinese penetration, but with China now a nuclear power too, can a Sino-Soviet standoff over the Russian far east be far in the future? Al Qaeda & Gunga Din James Skinner ‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you' Rudyard Kipling Song of a Dying Whale James Campion How A Decomposing Beached Sea Mammal Came To Bury A Presidency Michael Moore and his 'Sicko' Utopia James Campion Michael Moore is one of the few completely moral public figures left. He really is. Everything you read about him, his over-zealous bending of truth, his leftist propaganda, and his antipatriotic rhetoric, pales in comparison to his impeccable moral structure On Cuba and Castro Dean Borok The revelations disclosed in CIA documentation released this week about the Agency’s plot to kill Fidel Castro do not go far enough. The Nifong Chronicles James Campion In our continuing series on "The Law Is Bullshit", we cast our collective eye on the sad and sordid tale of Michael Nifong, former Durham County District Attorney of North Carolina Paris Hilton James Campion Paris Hilton is being railroaded. Period. She deserves to be in prison as much we do for putting her there. What the hell is the point of making a ton of cash in this society if you can't get your wretched progeny off? Why Are We in Iraq? Dean Borok Forty years ago Norman Mailer wrote “Why Are We In Vietnam?” in which he seemed to imply that we had engaged in that war out of a neurotic, predatory god complex. Latin America Report Dean Borok Nobody ever said that transforming this former fiefdom of Standard Oil into a freestanding socialist model economy was going to be easy.. Strong Leadership Dean Borok I believe in a republic of independent thinkers. That’s an easy thing to do when you’re sitting at an outdoor café - a ride on the subway, with its population of put-upon commuters, quickly disabuses you of the concept that people are going to educate themselves enough to arrive at their own conclusions on the issues of the day. Independence 08 James Campion calls for a big political change I give you the latest Gallup poll, which paints a split electorate: Republicans, 27 percent; Democrats, 34 percent; Independents, 38 percent. Muscle Bound: Baseball in a fix Matt Alison As Barry Bonds approaches to surpass Hank Aaron’s career home run record, a question arises of his legitimacy... Frat House Fracas James Campion A Month Of Peeling Back White House Mayhem This is truly a country run by lunatics. It is the only explanation. Kurt Vonnegut,Jr 1922-2007 James Campion All this happened, more or less Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. "Slaughterhouse Five" The greatest living American author is no more. Who's left? NBC & Network Rubber Necking The Virginia Tech Killer's 15 Minutes Of Infamy James Campion Random violence is really interesting. Especially epic slayings by lone nuts for no fathomable reason. Big ratings. Big talk. Big headlines. Big reasoning. Tons of that. Why? How? Cert Ed For Post-Compulsory Teaching Chris Philipps 'The Importance of Teacher Training'. The above statement is used as a diagnostic tool in the assessment of trainee teachers’ literacy skill and/or acumen in order for them to qualify – irrespective of their previous training or qualifications. Villains, Victims and Vengence A Radio Has-Been and Student Athletes James Campion Condescending. Patronizing. Exploitive. Hypocritical. Disingenuous. All the words that make this supposed democratic society of equals so pathetic. Why I should be a Juror James Campion Unfortunately the author did not experience the privilege of serving as a juror. He was dismissed for being a freelance journalist Free Trade Propaganda James Campion Have you seen the new ad for the Armed Forces? CBC has been running it incessantly during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Prime audience. Good demographic. No doubt. Democrats 2008 James Campion Sixty days is a long time in Washington. In 600 days there might not even be a Washington. Bush 1 - Democrats - 0 James Campion "The president needs a check and a balance. This president hasn't had one, hasn't listened to others, including his top military commanders, and it's about time he did..." Let's Interface Colin Todhunter on how corporate jargon invades daily life and politics A Sales Career Can Pay Big Money, No Matter What Your Major - Antonio Graceffo If you get a degree in engineering, you graduate and work as an engineer. But if you graduate with a degree in English, do you work as an English? What do you actually do with a degree in history or political science? Gerald Ford James Campion For some sad reason only known to the gods of misfortune, I found myself listening to the "Imus In The Morning" radio broadcast sometime during the surreally long week of funeral events surrounding the passing of our 38th president. A Challenge to the 110th Congress James Campion "What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that the people preserve the spirit of resistance?" Thomas Jefferson Will lack of market demand save Icelandic whales? Iwona Roman "We are back in business with about 100 tons of excellent eco-friendly whale meat and blubber ready for the market.", said Kristjan Loftsson The French Do it Weekly Neil Smith on strife in Paris On March 30th 2006, nearly two thousand Parisian youths proceeded to block off highways and streets... Dead Man Talking James Campion 'This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in'. - George W. Bush 1/23/07 A death rattle echoed through the chamber Tuesday night Shilpa Shetty in the House Colin Todhunter Pay a volatile mixture of famous personalities a shedload of money to live in an enclosed house, hope they’ll get on each other’s nerves, and let the nation vote them off the show one by one. The last one in is the winner. Hot House Rising James Campion on how Oil Money crushes Global Warming Science Snow Day James Campion Frozen precipitation has a way of bending the mind. Terror rules the day. Otherwise functioning humans with nary a care in the world become jabbering loons, dangerous to themselves and others almost immediately. Tranquil Coup d' Etat Eliot Ballard I am standing in front of a smashed car. Its hood is crumpled like wadded paper, and someone has spray painted a Thai slogan over its caved windshield. Soldiers file past. To my left, protestors are waving signs. "No To Dictatorship," they scream silently, "No Thaksin No Coup." "Restore Democracy NOW." Dream Surgery Eric D Lehman Subhash began regaling Andy with plans for the trip that he and I would take when we’re thirty. "We’re leaving the wives in Sydney or Melbourne and renting an old Army Jeep, and just going, heading into the outback, Midnight Oil blasting on the stereo, seeing Ayer’s Rock, the desert, maybe going all the way to the wilds of the west coast." The Poor Always Pay Back:Capitalism for the Poor Ginette Ballard on Muhammad Yunus "Credit is so important in the lives of all people that I have been arguing that credit should be accepted as a human right." The Citrus Heights Vortex Paul Dale Roberts The location is Citrus Heights, near Sacramento - one critical moment the occupant felt like she was almost possessed Heddy Lamarr Colin Todhunter I have just had the privilege of spending an evening with the most beautiful woman in the world. I had been watching a Hollywood film from 1949, the biblical epic “Samson and Delilah” starring Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature in the two lead roles Chip for Brains James Skinner Many moons ago, some astute XX century futurologist stated that Man would eventually be dominated by machines. He was obviously referring to the computer age Exile On Main St Nasty, Funky, Junky,Country Blues I gave you diamonds, you give me disease. James Campion On May 12, nineteen hundred and seventy-two, the greatest rock and roll album by the greatest rock and roll band, smack dab in the middle of the genre's golden age, hit the streets. You think the British Government will look after you James Skinner ‘I’ve finally decided to retire as Her Majesty’s governmental representative in this remote part of Europe known as Galicia after nearly 5 years of rescuing Brits from the gallows... Cereal Ethics Eric D. Lehman On the first night of my "Meatless Meals" cooking class, the casually dressed chef told us that she was vegan for health reasons The Other Adams Family Eric D. Lehman On a bright August morning, my girlfriend and I drove into downtown Quincy, Massachusetts, searching for the Adams National Historic Site. Where was this house? The map displayed the icon in the center of the downtown, and we circled the blocks, confused... The Joy of Audiobooks Eric D Lehman I always hated the idea of audiobooks. I’m afraid that as a younger man I was a bit of a purist, loving the feel of the pages and the musty smell of the paper. But one summer, having little to do and little money, I began to explore my local library a bit, and found their enormous "audio" section, taking up a whole room. Where the Well-Oiled Wheel Still Squawked Michael Bober For all of the riches that Nigeria holds, to the people it means little, a sad truth across much of Africa. Banking On Greed Michael Levy Almost everyone I speak to these days has a continuing story to tell on how they are being ripped-off by erroneous charges and hidden fees Clever versus Wisdom Michael Levy Science has yet to define the meaning of wisdom in scientific terminology. I guess they require some type of theoretical proof that wisdom exists? Rock On Jeffrey Beyl If a marriage ends in divorce, is the diamond disappointed? The Squatter, The Pacer, Bride & Groom Paul Dale Roberts There is a full moon out this night.  I can only wonder what is in store for me as I get together with H.P.I. (Haunted and Paranormal Investigations) of Northern California. The Toilet Tour of the Universe Brett Hardman I fought with my son this morning, again. At eight-going-on-nine he knows more about everything than anyone on earth ever has or will, and defends his positions with unassailable conviction and his own brand of inarguable logic. On Thomas McGuane and 'Gallatin Canyon' Paul Burga When I first read Thomas McGuane’s "Gallatin Canyon" (in The New Yorker) I was baffled. Despite its straightforward presentation of plot and character, I was left with a "What’s wrong here?" feeling. Memories of Honey Natalya Popova I was lucky to witness the process of honey making at my dad’s honey farm situated in the Fergana Valley region of Tajikistan many years ago. The Other Side J.A. Laraque I truly believe it is brighter here. The sun shining on my face feels warmer more welcoming

2006 Celebrity Overdose Colin Todhunter wants out Lost – How can you break a broken heart? Natalie Tehrani Albuquerque Barrie Singleton on evolution THE NSA Tapes James Campion on secret calls at night The Gueem James Campion celebrating a special life The Fungus of Friendship Eric D Lehman Money has ruined many frendships... Day in the Life of a Tour Leader Tariq El Kashef Imagining Pain Sagar Sanyal would rather not Lousy Vacation Deals on-line Andy Fetterhof recommends the phone book Epic Life Changes Sara Towe on love and 'emit' Syd and Arthur R.I.P. James D Evans Shine with Blairpaste (whilst stocks last) Colin Todhunter Sara Towe's Big Test Murphy's Law strikes again New Orleans - One Year on from Katrina Jack Shenker Ward 9 - a Nation's Shame Mickey Mouse Degrees Ben Macpherson on Creative Arts Baku Wedding Jim Solan in Azerbaijan Iran in a Football Frenzy Kevin Widdop Working in WTC and 9/11 James Skinner Iranians in Israel 20.09.06 Ali Beach - the future of Iran Voices of Louisiana Rose Marie Sand Impressionist Affair Eric D Lehman discovers Monet et al Lollopalooza 2006 Jesse Johnson Climb the Mountains Joshua H Silavent Reflections on reflection Simon Mussell At the Grave of the Roosevelts Eric D Lehman Bath House Etiquette Alexander In Search of the Rainbow Jayne Pearson Night on Kobe Tower David Tavernier CBGB - RIP James Campion on the passing of a Rock Institution Water James Skinner One Planet - One Water Supply Infidelity and the Whistle Blower Lesley Mathews Carny Kevin Morra on the road sleeping rough Pink Girl Natalie Tehranie is a softy A Wandering Traveler Joe David There is only one explanation for my wanderlust Balance Michael Bernard A concept that has cropped up a lot recently in my life has been "balance" A Chill to Make You Think M. Blake Cold enough for you? A Reconciliation of Space: The Parisian Apartment Erin B. DeBernardo Space is at a premium in Paris Say Yes to Dungeon Majesty The addictive drama now on PBS Aiko Misaki A Haunting in Jackson Paul Dale Roberts This is my first time experiencing a true paranormal investigation. The Red Coat Alaina R. Alexander It’s my junior year in college and my  footlocker from back home has just arrived and  the most important item of all… a new winter coat. Transistor Radio Jeffrey Beyl John Lennon once said that the transistor radio (if I may paraphrase) made him what he was.

2006 Management Newspeak Dave Angus more is done by less staff Punchline Iraq James Campion on the Iraq Study Group Report Democratic Sweep - GOP Weep Jame Campion the smell of victory on Capital Hill Conservatism v Fundementalism Final Battle for the soul of the Republican Party James Campion Senate See Saw James Campion 10.16.06 2006 Midterm Election Dilemma James Campion Working the Impulse Curve Antonio Graceffo Praise Be to Oil Barons James Campion has a relgious experience Speed Generation James Campion on fast living Welly and the nukes James Skinner - is nuclear option inevitable? Fear and Loathing in the UK Colin Todhunter Yenna Acharama? (Are you that traditional?) Kiran Kannappan in Subway Why the Democrats won't surge in '06 James Campion - GOP rule forver? The Al Qaeda Shell Game James Campion - How do you defeat chaos? The Israeli Defense Force Summer Tour James Campion on Lebanon Dogpile on the Loons James Campion on al- Qeada now Middle East Solutions James Campion The Liberman Experiment James Campion The Killing of a Westchester Institution James Campion champions Ray Gallagher 09.1.06 Become a Better Public Speaker Antonio Graceffo Africa on the Move James Skinner on refugees Goats on the line Kit Chapman in Kenya Cashing in on Tragedy James Campion on corporate corruption The Bull and Penelope Cruz E S Morford on barbarism in the ring Inconvenient Truths Michael Levy on we can all save the planet Fight Fire with Fire in South Africa Julie Thompson on volunteers in Africa Charming Irregularities of Brussels Bureaucracy Stefanie Stiles Mex Rex Holiday James Skinner - airport terror 22.10.06 On Prejudice and Japan Alexander A Jolie Good Time Colin Todhunter on a silverspoon Open Letter to Senator Joe Lieberman Joshua Lineberry Downsizing Christopher Parrish He was called Fatty by the jeering kids at school. OJ Simpson James Campion on media hype Clock Abi Davis on wasting time Terror is Winning James Skinner on air-safety Walking Home Natalie Tehrani I hate walking home alone at night Does size really matter? Too fat, too thin, will women ever win? Carly McClain On being Uber Cool in Beijing  Paul Haire needs a drink Olive Oil - DOC Raymond k Clement The finest wines of Italy carry the DOC (Denominazion di Origine Controllata) designation In Rhythm with Wolves: From A Calendar of Nature and Soul Josef Graf a starving hunter is given the first pair of snowshoes by a mysterious man who turns out to be the Spirit of the Wolf. The Parable of the Square Egg James Skinner ‘I’m tired of writing about politics, warfare, imbecile terrorists, do-gooders

Scottsdale: Arizona Paradise Kelsey Havens on USA's best city? What's Up Doc? Trita Mrema consults her Doctor The Full Treatment Trista Mrema on Dutch Medical Practice Pt 2 How to become a travel writer Antonio Graceffo Cool by Cooler than Thou: Lost in Austin Sara Whelan Mother Africa Trista Mrema discovering Arusha at election time Welcome to Arusha Part One Trista Mrema Welcome to Arusha