Now, this is an old post, however, it made me laugh again today when i reread it. So , I’ve decided to re-post it. Sometimes I lead a church youth/teen class and I really enjoy it, but I think younger kids speak their minds out with a lot more freedom that is beautiful hearing - its always a hilarious experience! I just love kids, they are so unpredictable and funny. Throughout the years I’ve read some funny quotes and prayers from children and as I was cleaning my files today …

Umberto Eco’s sumptuous inquiry into how memory and identity are constructed can very easily be read as a whimsical memoir of his reading life. The novel opens with 59-year-old Giambattista Bodoni waking up in a hospital bed with no remembrance of who he is. All he has are copious references from literature. His doctor must acquaint him with his name, with the year he inhabits (1991, in the aftermath of the America-led invasion of Iraq), and his intelligent, dutiful wife, Paola, his city (Milan), and his thriving business as an antiquarian bookseller.

Bodoni, it transpires, is on the mend after a stroke and, in the prognosis of his doctor, has suffered total loss of episodic — or autobiographical — memory. To hasten recovery, he is discharged to the care of his psychologist wife. But a tour of the locales of his life — his well-appointed apartment and his book studio — summons no sense of familiarity, only words and descriptions once read. “I only remember words,” he says, summing up his reduced ability to engage with the world. Sessions with his best friend and with his grandchildren fail to help him identify with the given version of his past. To do so, recommends his wife, he should go to Solara, to his ancestral home in the hills.

Jo and I are now proud parents of Isabella Lucy! Born on Monday 13th of July at 18:47 weighing 8.7 lb at the QE II hospital near our home in Harpenden. I can’t quite believe that she is already one month old, gosh how the time flies.
Isabella is doing fantastically well, so is Jo. Our little princess is feeding well and everyday she draws smiles and awe from mum and daddy.
I remember coming home, having Isabella in the sofa and spending a long time just looking at her…admiring every tinny …

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A liberator is one that sets people free from bondage or oppression. They are typically great followers more than self-proclaimed leaders. These liberating leaders have affected and will affect people for centuries.

1. Jesus Christ - While Jesus is a non-traditional leader in a Western worldview, he is the best liberator in the history of mankind. His life continues to liberate the souls of men and women. No one has, nor ever will impact the world as much as Jesus.

2. Moses - This historic leader led people who didn’t want to be led into the nation of Israel. He liberated the people from Egypt with great humility and wisdom. He shows how great following leads to great leading.

3. George Washington - This American general and president represents the will and character of American leadership. He liberated the colonists from the tyranny of England and established the new nation.

4. Abraham Lincoln - One president maintained unity in the midst of civil war and led the liberation of the slaves to become Americans.

5. Ghandi - This Indian leader related to his people and led with ultimate humility and a complete lack of greed.

6. Martin Luther King - This man’s influence continues to impact people around the world. His influence continues to inspire Americans, most recently in the U.S. election of President Obama.

7. Winston Churchill - This amazing British prime minister held England and the Allied forces together against the evil Nazi empire, which ultimately led to the liberation of Europe with the help of the U.S. forces and other leaders such as General Eisenhower and General Bradley.

8. FDR - Franklin Roosevelt faced some of the harshest circumstances in U.S. history - the depression and WWII. His leadership liberated America to become a world leader and pull the people out of the malaise.

9. Ronald Reagan - His presidency is best known for his leadership and liberation of totalitarianism in our world. His leadership best describes the desire of American’s to truly liberate companies from bad leaders for the prosperity of the people and the world.

10. King David - A giant named Goliath held a people hostage until a little boy with five stones and a heart and mind of faith entered the battle field. From that moment on he liberated his people and led them effectively. He is a great leader for all times.

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It has been said that a great leader’s influence can last for centuries. I know this is true of evil dictator’s. In fact, if you think about it, a leader (everyone for that matter) will be judged at the end of time by the impact they have made - positive or negative.

These leaders have been chosen because of their negative impact over the course of time.  While you may argue about who was worst, I think you will agree with the overall list. 

1. Joseph Stalin - USSR/Russia - Stalin was a paranoid, ruthless tyrant that killed more people than Hitler and was an authoritarian dictator well into his seventies.

2. Adolf Hitler - Germany - His negative impact continues to be felt. He embodies evil more clearly than any dictator in our modern history.

3. Ghengis Khan - Mongolia - One of the most feared taskmasters in history.

4. Pol Pot - Cambodia - The mastermind of the “killing fields” where he killed over 30% of his own people.

5. Chairman Mao - China - He ruled over the largest population of people and used fear and murder in order to overpower his own people.

6. General Pinochet - Chile - Knicknamed the General of Death, Auguste Pinochet led a regime of horrendous human rights sins.

7. Idi Amin - Uganda - Known as the ‘Butcher of Africa’, Amin is a prime example of the worst leadership for Africa. Unfortunately, many current African leaders have emulated Idi Amin and his evil.

8. Saddam Hussein - Iraq - Hussein is the best example of Stalin in the Middle East. When your own people are deathly afraid of you that is never good.

9. Hideki Tojo - Japan - The Emporer was a partner with Hitler and led his people into a suicidal spree of terror that brought shame and defeat to this Island nation.

10. ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier - Haiti - He was literally possessed. This leader used voodoo and other evil tactics to squash his enemies, whom he thought was everyone.

* Sources: Various online lists, personal reading and Time magazine article.

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So, a Christmas post is in order. I have been thinking about it for days, no kidding, and have had no success in the arenas of Big Ideas. Or little ideas. And I am ever so fearful-horrified of glibness at this particular moment.

Let’s start with the fact that a lot of people who deserved better (or didn’t, for that matter) are having truly crappy-rotten Christmases. And it pains me personally—one case at a time ad infinitum.
Sure, the auto industry made its own mess by and large, but I honestly teared up yesterday listening to a little (”little”?) NPR story about a 15-year-old family-run restaurant-tavern directly across from the main gate to a GM plant that closed down indefinitely last night.

Ooh-ooh-ooh
The sky hides what I wanna see
Stars are like eyes, they’re watching the dark
Passion and fear run all over me
Night is a ghost accusing my heart
This life can be such a lonely place
I hear the laughter as I fall from grace
I fall from grace
Now I am branded with original sin
World without end
(chorus)
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Who’s gonna fight for innocence
When we’re always denying the proof?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Who’s gonna fight for justice
When we wash our hands of the truth
Like to go back to a simple life
Be as a child in the Promised Land
Wish i could sleep when …

On USA Today which it was said to have Nelson Mandela’s on America’s terrorist list. Funnier than that? well I dont think it gets more than this..
Read more below
by Mimi Hall
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Nobel Peace Prize winner and international symbol of freedom Nelson Mandela is flagged on U.S. terrorist watch lists and needs special permission to visit the USA. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls the situation “embarrassing,” and some members of Congress vow to fix it.
The requirement applies to former South African leader Mandela and other members of South …

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