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Literature Network Forums - Blogs http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php The largest classic literature discussion forum on the Internet. Read Write Teach Share. en Tue, 21 May 2013 18:41:55 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Literature Network Forums - Blogs http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php The negative things about this time of year http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12969-The-negative-things-about-this-time-of-year Mon, 20 May 2013 17:59:18 GMT Well my second year is over, one more to go and than off to get another degree, hopefully. I really don't like this time of year. I never like attention so my birthday in April was just the start of a very anxious time of year for me. I am always very stressed out for some days before my birthday and I hate the itself. I don't want people around but for some reason everyone wants to see me on that day and visit even though they know I don't like it. I know it's because they care about me but I don't enjoy peoples company on that day.
Then after that I have exams and essays to do. I felt awful during my exams this year, it gets worse with every test. I feel like I have to throw up, scream and cry at the same time, it's the worst feeling. Then exams were finally over and spring is in the air, I don't like the summer (I guess I have said that a few times) I always feel bad in the summer.
My son had a school trip, two nights and that truly is a time I feel anxious and stressed. I try to fill my time with tv cause I can't settle down to read and if I stop I start thinking about what he is doing and I feel the stress and nerves, ugh, I just have a hard time handling it.
Then he comes home and I need to prepare his birthday! I know it sounds terrible but his birthday is worse than mine because I have to have a party and welcome people into my home. I hardly sleep for days before it. It's next Friday and I am planning a party for his classmates and then family.
After his birthday he will go to his dads and another thing I hate will happen, I have to go to work again in the home for the elderly. I so hate that job but I have to do something this summer when he is with his dad. I will only work every other weekend so that is good but I sooooo hate it.

so to sum it up, I don't like this time of year and I just want winter to come back and start school again.

Now the negative side of me has rambled on enough.

My son has agreed to put all the money he'll got on his birthday and then I'll add to it and we'll get a trampoline. I really want one and so does he, so we are going to get one after his birthday. I have a bunch of books I'm gonna read this summer, already finished two and gotten well into the third one. I am trying to be positive about this summer but it's just not my favorite time of year but my son loves it. He has asked me a few times now to be happy about it, and I am really trying. I am not gonna be working a lot because my son will be off almost all summer, now that he is in school his holiday is for almost 3 months.

I am looking forward to August, I'll be in England for a few days then and I just can't wait! the bookstores I want to check out and all the books I want to buy.

Well I have to go make dinner for the kid ]]> Helga http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12969-The-negative-things-about-this-time-of-year Beginning at the End http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12968-Beginning-at-the-End Mon, 20 May 2013 03:03:32 GMT So, I've finished my PhD in Chinese. I've submitted it, done my defence, and after a few minor edits over the next few weeks, I'll be a Doctor of Rambling Somewhat Coherently about my field of expertise.

But it's really only a beginning for me. I'm a late starter, and have lots to do. After the edits, I've got some translation work to do, technical manuals, from English TO Chinese. Then looking for work, doing international business, there's lots of things on my plate.

The poetry never really left, just never came here. There are scrolls with wild scrawlings on them awaiting my attention. Something will come soon.

I need to return to my poetry lunchbreaks, my mind is starving without them.

Later,
Silas ]]> Silas Thorne http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12968-Beginning-at-the-End The Trouble With Friends http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12966-The-Trouble-With-Friends Sat, 18 May 2013 23:25:53 GMT As some of you may know I tend to be a private person, and so I usually do not publicly talk a great deal about the mores personal aspects of my... As some of you may know I tend to be a private person, and so I usually do not publicly talk a great deal about the mores personal aspects of my life. But now and then I will feel the need to vent about something.

First here is a bit or a recap to get everyone up to speed and which will probably make my life sound like some kind of Soap Opera or something. You may recall from previous things I have mentioned here, as well as from some of my writings that I had been involved in a long distance relationship with someone. Well last year we parted ways, and well it was for reasons that are personally just between the two of us, so I did not feel like discussing it. But we bore each other no ill will and agreed to remain friends, and we irregularly kept in touch.

In the meanwhile during this time of our separation I happened to become good friends with an individual who will be known as David. He seemed really cool, and nice, and we got along quite well, but for the record, I only ever saw him as a friend. For various reasons I did not have in inclination to pursuing a relationships beyond friendship with him. Though I am aware that he harbored certain feelings for me, he also knew that I just saw him as a friend and we were able to maintain a good friendship with each other.

He lives in Dallas but he comes out to CA a lot on business, and in fact he was here in March, and we made arrangements to get together, though incidentally my sister was also here at the same time he was, so we did not have a lot of time together, but we had a very nice visit which each other that was also perfectly platonic.

And he told me that he would be here again in mid-May (of which it just about is now) and we were going to make arrangements to see each other again, and hopefully have more time to spend together.

Now in the meantime I receive and email from my ex, telling me he has been thinking about me, and really wants to talk to me, so I respond and we talk, and he really wants to work things out again, and during the time of our separation from each other, we have maintained very strong feelings for each other, so we had a very serious conversation, and he really wants to work things out, try and fix some of the problems we had the first time and make things work, and I would really like that as well, so we have been in regular communication with each other since then and getting to know each other a lot better then we did the first time around.

David was aware of some of my history with the relationship, and so I told him about my ex getting in touch with me, and the two of us wanting to work things out. So David started really grilling me about my choice to get back together with my ex. Now to one extent I cannot entirely blame him, because even though my ex and I parted on favorable terms, people rarely offer very flattering pictures of their exes and obviously things were not perfect or we would not have broken up so during the period of the serration I did tend to focus on some of the more negative aspects of the relationship. Taking responsibility for some of the things I said about my ex, and our relationship before our reconciliation I can understand David as a friend having certain concerns but he was starting to get a bit heavy handed with it, to the point where I was getting annoyed, because ultimately it is my own choice to make and to do as I feel is best, and I did in a nice way express this to him.

Since all of that, I have barely had a word with David throughout the majority of this month. So no I do not even know if he still plans on coming out here this month, if we are still on to see each other, if he still wants to get together. In a couple of brief conversations we have had he said that work had been killing him lately. I don't know if he really has just been busy this month, or if even though he knew I was not inclined to perusing a relationship with him, now that I am in fact getting back with my ex, he is simply choosing to avoid me. ]]> Dark Muse http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12966-The-Trouble-With-Friends Dog Park #13 ~ The Dog Park Meets the Felony Lane Gang. http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12965-Dog-Park-13-The-Dog-Park-Meets-the-Felony-Lane-Gang Sat, 18 May 2013 17:14:16 GMT Unfortunately this is no joke. Back in July of 2012 the Worthington Dog Park experienced its first smash and grab break-in to a car parked in the... Unfortunately this is no joke. Back in July of 2012 the Worthington Dog Park experienced its first smash and grab break-in to a car parked in the lot. Then the number of break-ins increased and the nerve of the thieves to steal in broad day light in a filled parking lot with people coming and going with their dogs is incomprehensible. I have reported 6 such break-ins where shattered glass is the only evidence and I know there have been more that have happened when I was not there.

Picture the scene. It is a beautiful, Spring, mid-morning on Saturday and everyone with a dog is coming to the Dog Park where their dog can run free and play to theirs heart’s content. No one it thinking that today they will be robbed.

We have a parking lot that is connected to the lower lot and an over-flow lot across the street; often people end up parking on the road side as well. I probably see 100 to 150 dogs on a given Saturday or Sunday. That’s a lot of dogs. Each dog must be checked for proper tags in order to gain access to the park not to mention the new visitors to the park who need an orientation so they know the requirements and rules. On this particular Saturday which was 27 April there was even more going on at the Dpk as The American Cancer Society was having a fund raiser in the park across the street (known as the Upper Park) and there was an adoption event setting up in the back of the lower parking lot. I arrived early to help Sam (the other park attendant) with the over flow. I had just pulled in and stepped out of my vehicle when a man approached me and said,

“Looks like a car was broken into.”

The Felony Lane Gang had struck again. Even with all the traffic, coming and going, they had smashed another car window and stolen a purse. According to police, the Felony Lane Gang is a group of thieves from Broward County in South Florida who travel up and down I-95 and target vehicles in parking areas where moms are most likely to leave their wallet or purse. They target parks, day care centers, public gyms - where people feel safe leaving their valuables. I don’t know how many times after a break-in dog park patrons have said to me
“But this is a dog park!”

Authorities say women then take the identification, credit card and bank checks, alter their appearance to match the victim and use rented cars to go through the outer lane (or the “felony lane”) of the drive thru. They talk on cell phones while making the transaction to distract the teller.

This is not your typical break-in where the thief runs to an outlet store to buy electronics, clothes or food. This group is out to steal your life’s earnings. They try to cash checks for tens of thousands of dollars and wreck your life with identity theft…… Even at the Dog Park.

So the message here is to never, ever leave any valuables in plain sight in your car. Be smart, be safe and spare your life from being ruined.

Words from The Dog Park….
Woof!
Kittypaws ]]> kittypaws http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12965-Dog-Park-13-The-Dog-Park-Meets-the-Felony-Lane-Gang Restoring The Middle http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12961-Restoring-The-Middle Thu, 16 May 2013 20:15:24 GMT Over the decades I have noticed a lot of loose talk about the “Middle Class”. Most recently I read something by a computer geek who claims that... Over the decades I have noticed a lot of loose talk about the “Middle Class”. Most recently I read something by a computer geek who claims that computers eliminated the Middle Class. My immediate comment was that the MC was doomed to decline from its first moment. After further consideration, I realized that the problem is with definition. What has been called the MC since WW II may be near the middle of the socio economic spectrum, but is what was more accurately called the Working Class, and that tem should still be used, if we define the Middle Class based on what people do? If we decide to define Middle Class as that class of people who are between the higher and the lower classes, then sure the middle class is there and it is a third of the people. If we decided to make the definition based on the status of what people, then the situation becomes shaky, because the middle class is, or was, the bourgeoisie, above the peasants and manual workers and below the aristocracy. Regardless of how one defines it, the Middle Class has lost economic strength over the last few decades.

The worst part of the problem was the expansion and contraction of the upper part of the Working Class, especially industrial workers. There aren’t many of them left. With the loss of factory jobs in the U.S. workers don’t have nearly as many options left, and the options don’t pay much. Most of those jobs have left the country, and pay has dropped on the ones that remain. Just fifty years, people in the U.S. didn’t have to ever buy imported goods, unless they wanted to. All types of clothing, tools, household goods, etc. were produced in the U.S., and the goods were of good quality and reasonably priced. Today few things are produced I the U.S.; it’s easy for someone to have no clothing not made the U.S. Federal tax policies are the main reason why manufactures have let the U.S. It has become cheaper to ship things ten thousand miles than to make them in Lowell, Pittsburg, or Montgomery. As a result, many people have trouble buying such goods. Manufacturing clothing and general merchandise was never a tremendously profitable or well-paying part of the economy, but people could make a living.

Since 1950 the good paying manufacturing jobs migrated first from the North to the South, then they migrated to other countries, but that migration excluded the very best manufacturing jobs, aerospace, defense, and parts of the computer industry. We were left with an economy that produced little of its day-to-day things, which were shipped in from far away, and many workers were permanently put out of work. That situation has continued and gotten worse. As a result of the dotcom bust of 2000 many, many web artists and coders lost jobs and have not been able to get comparable work since.

I started this as a counter argument to the idea that the internet destroyed the Middle Class, and the more I think about that assertion the less rationale I can see for it. The internet is one of the few parts of the economy where there are jobs available that are suitable for the Middle Class, and those are truly Middle Class, rather than Working Class. Rather than arguing about what has gotten rid of the Middle and Working Class, it might be a good idea to think about how we could restore the U.S. economy, including the Middle Class and/or Working Class. I think that it would be easy. Both Federal and State laws would have to eliminate most of the barriers to starting a new business, and taxes would have to be made fairer. If there were a simple income tax in which everyone paid the same percent over a fairly high basic exemption, then it would be easier to tell how a business would do, and the workers would make more in after tax income. We would have to get rid of benefits that were not applied equally to everyone, so it would be worthwhile for people to work, and we would have to provide an effective “safety net” for those who had conditions that didn’t allow them to work. Today most of the people who are permanently unemployed could work, if there were jobs, and most of them would be happy to work.

So make me emperor, ad everything will be wonderful. ]]> PeterL http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12961-Restoring-The-Middle Glad tiding: The Dream - The Sea of Faithful in Los Angeles; Regional Source Point http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12959-Glad-tiding-The-Dream-The-Sea-of-Faithful-in-Los-Angeles-Regional-Source-Point Wed, 15 May 2013 15:34:32 GMT Peace be on you. In the dream, the area was Los Angeles. It was filled with sea of people from the Community of Promised Messiah Mahdi (on whom be... Peace be on you. In the dream, the area was Los Angeles. It was filled with sea of people from the Community of Promised Messiah Mahdi (on whom be peace). The dream was communication of God with Fourth Khalifah of Promised Messiah many years ago.

The Current Khalifah of Promised Messiah is visiting USA West coast. In his Friday sermon on Friday, the 10 th of May, 2013 in Chino, California, he said he foresees the spiritual revival, brought by Promised Messiah, will spread in all region from this very area. In this regard he reminded the Community to keep trust on Allah and look for their responsibilities:

(A) The real message of Islam, reminded by Promised Messiah Mahdi, will win hearts and minds of people of USA and whole world.

(B) God always support His Messenger. The Promised Messiah was given promise in the words of Quran: ‘Allah has decreed: Most surely I will prevail, I and My Messengers……..’ (chapter 58, verse 22).

He wrote:
Quote:
‘God has ordained from the very beginning and has declared it His law and His Sunnah that He and His Prophets will always triumph. Since I am His Prophet and am sent by Him, though without any new Shariah, new claim or new name. Rather, I have come in the name of the Holy Prophet, Seal of all the Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and as his manifestation. This is why I say that just as from ancient times, that is, the time of Adam to the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) the purport of this verse has been fulfilled, similarly it will be fulfilled for me.’………..‘Can these people stop God’s true plan, which has been testified by all the Prophets from the beginning, by their disregard? Certainly not; in fact God’s prophecy is about to come to pass that: ‘Allah has decreed: ‘Most surely I will prevail, I and My Messengers.’

(C) There are two parts of victory given to a Prophet.
First part is when Prophet is sent and he sow the seed of divine message. He shows existence of God by Signs. He brings unmatchable arguments…… The Promised Messiah was accompanied by Signs. The promised eclipses, earthquakes and other Signs were witnessed.

Second part is fulfilled after him when God propagate his teachings and the seed sown by Prophet becomes great tree….. Promised Messiah foretold the establishment of Khilafat after him. It is serving his cause.

(D) THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMUNITY, ACCORDING TO THE HOLY QURAN, ARE:
-1- To exercise Taqwa (applying divine teaching for the sake of God), seek God’s help with prayers, understand success comes with the grace of God.

-2- To reform the selves, improving spiritual and moral conditions, get moral excellence.

-3- To convey the Message of Unity of God which was brought by The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and now being reminded by his ardent devotee Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). The purpose is to establish the kingdom of God on earth and overcoming Shirk i.e. making associates with God.

-4- To understand that one appointed by God becomes victorious.

-5- To call the world towards God with good deeds, paying God’s and people’s rights, complete obedience of God with seeking His pleasure. ‘And who is better in speech than he who invites (people) to Allah and does good works and says, ‘I am surely of those who submit?’ (Holy Quran ch41:v34)

-6- Exercise the pledge ‘I shall give precedence to faith over worldly matters’.

-7- Fulfill the expectations of Promised Messiah and his Khulafa (Successors).

-8- In addition to expert clergies, all faithful should convey the divine Message to world. They should prepare young ones by sending them to Community’s religious institution (Jamia)……There are exemplary faithful already working hard --- like those small stall holders who give the information-literature to the seekers --- like the newly joined one who knows arguments from Bible and now learning arguments from Quran; he notices that people are turning away from Christianity but not from God --- like the Ahmadiyya Muslim from Guatemala who demands literature in South American Spanish dialect distribution.

-9- To reach to Hispanics in USA and South America.

-10- To develop dialect specific Spanish literature for Hispanics in USA and South America.

-11- To avoid false impression that people in (West) USA have no interest for religion; people are seeking Truth. The Holy Khalifah of Promised Messiah foresees spiritual revolution of Promised Messiah (a.s.) in America will be from this region.

-12- To progress from simple faith to practical faith.

-13- The children of long-term Ahmadiyya Muslims should maintain the standards of faith and sacrifices of their elders.

-14- Immigrant faithful who came to USA to avoid persecution in their homelands should well practice their faith and convey the divine message to the locals. If they can not find job, start conveying divine message with pamphlets; God will improve them.

-15- To get increase the faith in God is the purpose of making of The Ahmadiyya Community; Faithful should regularly read Holy Quran with reflection; read the vast literature [which explains real Islam].

-16- To get benefits from Signs of God. Promised Messiah was told by God that seekers would come to him from very far places and in abundance. It happened in his life time. Latter it continues when seekers comes from far places to attend Jalsa Salanas [annual spiritual gathering in each country]. On the very Friday (May 10, 2013) faithful attended the Prayer they came form far locations to pray behind the Khalifah of Promised Messiah.

-17- The love of God should increase after taking Bai’at, said by Promised Messiah. He said: ‘God Almighty has sent a truthful person at this time and has willed to prepare a community that loves Allah the Exalted.’

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said:
Quote:
‘I know very well what we and our Jama’at is. Help and succour of Allah the Exalted will be with us if we tread on the right path and perfectly follow the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), make the teaching of the Holy Qur’an our modus operandi and prove this with our practice and condition and not merely with words. If we adopt this way, then be assured that even if the entire world joins forces to destroy us, we will not be destroyed, because God will be with us. However, if we are disobedient to God and have severed ties with Him, no opponent is needed and no one need make plans for our destruction; God will Himself destroy us’……………………… ‘Do not ever rely on and be proud of the fact that you have taken Bai’at. Unless you fully adopt Taqwa, you will not be saved. God Almighty is not anyone’s relation nor does He accept concessions for anyone. Our opponents are also created by Him and you are also His creation. Mere creed will never avail unless your word and deed is the same’…………………….. ‘There is no excellence in merely avoiding sins. Our Jama’at should not suffice on this. Rather, they should endeavour to attain both excellences with effort and prayer, that is, avoid sins and adopt piety’……………………… ‘Know for certain that those people are not beloved of Allah the Exalted who wear fine garments, are wealthy and epicures. On the contrary, people who give precedence to faith over worldly matters and devote themselves to God are beloved to Him. Thus you should reflect on this aspect and not the first aspect. Allah the Exalted has stated: ‘…and will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection…’ (ch3:v56) It is true that He will triumph my followers over my detractors and opponents, but it is worth reflecting that each person who takes Bai’at on my hand does not become my follower. The word follower is not applicable to him unless and until he develops complete compliance, unless he follows with total obedience and walks in my footsteps. This signifies that God Almighty has destined a community for me which will be passionately obedient to me and will completely follow me. This assures me and my sorrow changes into hope.’

Reference : From California USA, Friday sermon 10 May 2013, Khalifah of Promised Messiah Mahdi, alislamDOTorg ]]> YALASH http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12959-Glad-tiding-The-Dream-The-Sea-of-Faithful-in-Los-Angeles-Regional-Source-Point All Things Mothers Say In A Day http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12958-All-Things-Mothers-Say-In-A-Day Tue, 14 May 2013 02:57:23 GMT Yesterday was Mother's Day in the US. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. I offer this neat video clip, titled, "All Things Mothers Say In A Day" sung to the exuberant finale of Rossini's William Tell Overture.

Belated Mother's Day Wishes! ]]> Virgil http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12958-All-Things-Mothers-Say-In-A-Day BlaaauhhH! How ya like me Now!? http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12956-BlaaauhhH!-How-ya-like-me-Now! Fri, 10 May 2013 11:11:21 GMT Grades came in early and I got 4 A's and 1 B! I guess letters on a page adequately compensate for sleep deprivation, weight loss, and vagaries. What I lack in monetary debt (thank God mum's got cheddar!) I gain in being a caged rat at my mother's abode for a decade. At least there'll be plenty of cheddar for this rat! This calls for a poem!

Cares
Adol09

[F]ree are we to express beliefs
[U]nder the halo of impartiality
[C]ollege is wonderful since it
[K]ills stupidity with arsenic wit

[C]ognizant of where we'll go
[O]n the path of manifest glory!
[L]oving life 'til we grow old
[L]oving to bag others' groceries

[E]at well of fruit for it is not forbidden
[G]race your with borrowed credit
[E]asily learn to love then love to learn to be a slave
---

I would have started the next 2000 lines with exclamation points but the exclamation points would slowly lose their excitement. ]]> Adolescent09 http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12956-BlaaauhhH!-How-ya-like-me-Now! <![CDATA[Stones Play "Emotional Rescue" Live]]> http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12955-Stones-Play-quot-Emotional-Rescue-quot-Live Fri, 10 May 2013 01:17:50 GMT The big news from the new Rolling Stones tour is that they have included the song "Emotional Rescue" into their set list. You may wonder why that is such big news, especially since the song reached number three on the US charts when it came out as a single back in 1980. It’s certainly not every song that breaks the top ten. The album, also called “Emotional Rescue” broke to number one. Not bad for an album where the band doesn’t follow it up with a tour. I remember that summer it came out. I loved the song the moment I heard it.

The reason it’s news is because in the thirty-three years since the song was written the Stones have never played it live. Well why not if the song was fairly successful? Well there was no immediate tour. It would have been natural to play your top song off the current album. But if I remember correctly Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had one of their famous spats, and according to Wikipedia Jagger just refused:

“The recording of the album was reportedly plagued by turmoil, with Jagger and Richards' relationship reaching a new low. Richards, though still using heroin according to former keyboardist of The Small Faces, Ian McLagan, wanted to tour in summer or autumn of 1980 to promote the new album, which Jagger declined.”

So why didn’t they play the song on subsequent tours? Well first off, the song did and still does divide a lot of Stones fans who at the time felt that the band had turned disco. It’s got a dance beat, and in the late 70’s and early 80’s there was this rivalry between traditional rock and dance music. A real rocker had to remain pure. But more important than that Keith Richards has always detested the song. Yes, he was more the pure rocker and Jagger has always experimented with dance music. But I have to say that “Emotional Rescue” is a very quirky song (more on that further down), and I can see how Keith (and others) just don’t get it. Keith once famously punned on the title, calling it “Emotional Doo-Doo.” Yes, he’s got writing credit for the song, but that’s because Jagger/Richards is a contractual (not sure if that’s the correct term) song writing team, and anything either writes for the Stones is a shared credit, whether one contributed or not. But if you check out the studio credits, he’s got no part in playing on the song, no guitar or bass or even backing vocal, except for a quick mention of a backing vocal at “song’s close.” That was probably something desperately needed to polish off the song at album mixing, since he’s always intimately involved with the final production. He has not ever wanted to have anything to do with it, and I'm sure he's squashed any suggestion of playing it live.

I can understand why some don’t like the song. It doesn’t have a big sound, either in dynamics or range (except for the vocal). It’s minimalist. It’s really hard to categorize. It’s got a disco beat but no big disco drum sound, and guitar phrasing sounds more like reggae. Even the drums seem to alternate between a disco beat and a reggae rhythm. The melody is driven by the bass, as is the musical “hook.” Listen to the song.

The most apparent musical interest is Jagger’s vocals. He starts with a falsetto, part way moves to his natural voice, and concludes with an echo inflated, lowered register, which gives his tone a peculiar pomposity. I love the way the drums shift rhythms and the sax imbues the chorus section with so much suggestion. Jagger has said the song is about "a girl who's in some sort of manhood problems", not that she was going crazy but she's "just a little bit screwed up and he wants to be the one to help her out.” Perhaps that’s part of it, but really the person who is mentally off is the male narrator persona as he fluctuates between “you could be mine,” “you should be mine,” and “you will be mine.” He’s the emotionally disturbed one, going from fantasy ("knight in shining armour") to breaking down into tears “like a child.” The irony is that the person who is here to bring the girl emotional rescue is the one in most need of emotional rescue. That sax just drives home the disturbed inner nature, and the changing vocal register fragments the verse sections, further suggesting a fragmented, disturbed mind. All the elements of this song work masterfully together. I love it!

The lyrics are just so supple and dexterous. It’s not easy writing a song around a four syllabic word, “emotional,” and who would think the word “Pekinese” could fit into a rhythmic phrase. I just love this verse, “I come to you, so silent in the night /So stealthy, so animal quiet /I'll be your savior, steadfast and true /I'll come to your emotional rescue.”This song is Jagger the lyricist at his best.

Here are the song’s lyrics, taken from Keno’s Rolling Stones Website.

EMOTIONAL RESCUE
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
Is there nothing I can say
Nothing I can do
To change your mind
I'm so in love with you
You're too deep in
You can't get out
You're just a poor girl in a rich man's house
Yeah, baby, I'm crying over you

Don't you know promises were never made to keep?
Just like the night, dissolve in sleep
I'll be your savior, steadfast and true
I'll come to your emotional rescue
I'll come to your emotional rescue

Yeah, the other night, crying
Crying baby, yeah I'm crying
Yeah I'm like a child baby
I'm like a child baby
Child yeah, I'm like a child, like a child
Like a child

You think you're one of a special breed
You think that you're his pet Pekinese
I'll be your savior, steadfast and true
I'll come to your emotional rescue
I'll come to your emotional rescue

I was dreaming last night
Last night I was dreaming
How you'd be mine, but I was crying
Like a child, yeah, I was crying
Crying like a child
You will be mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, all mine
You could be mine, could be mine
Be mine, all mine

I come to you, so silent in the night
So stealthy, so animal quiet
I'll be your savior, steadfast and true
I'll come to your emotional rescue
I'll come to your emotional rescue

Yeah, you should be mine, mine, whew
Yes, you could be mine
Tonight and every night
I will be your knight in shining armour
Coming to your emotional rescue
You will be mine, you will be mine, all mine
You will be mine, you will be mine, all mine
I will be your knight in shining armour
Riding across the desert with a fine Arab charger

So here’s a bootleg video of the live song from a couple of days ago someone uploaded to Youtube. There are several versions, but I think the sound quality is best on this one, though you can find other videos who had a better angle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMxuJ5SnsIo

They better produce a live album out of this tour because I want a live version in my collection. Fantastic! ]]> Virgil http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12955-Stones-Play-quot-Emotional-Rescue-quot-Live Apathy and Disgrace http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12953-Apathy-and-Disgrace Thu, 09 May 2013 19:20:53 GMT What change a year can bring. Leaving behind the failure, frailty, and disgrace. Change typically frightens me beyond reason, yet this time I feel... What change a year can bring. Leaving behind the failure, frailty, and disgrace. Change typically frightens me beyond reason, yet this time I feel good about it. A foreign experience. Not one change, but many. I have the out, I have the in, I have the means. Everything I want, I can have. There is, of course, one problem (Only one?! How unusually optimistic).

In one aspect of my life, I find myself feeling apathetic. Apathy was unknown to me until this. It has taken me a while even to recognize it in myself. And now I have no idea what to do. I think perhaps its a coping mechanism; a stereotypic behaviour. Am I trying to protect something? Someone? I'm surprised at myself that I feel the need to cope. Why don't I just fix it? That is what I do, no? Decide what I want and then live for the pursuit of accomplishment? A cattle vet in a sundress? If it's not right, just walk away. Don't walk, run- like you know something they don't.

I think I know how to fix this, and yet I don't. Instead, stereotypy. Performing the behaviour reduces the stress of the environment. Stockholm syndrome? Wildly unfair, though uncomfortably correlative. Perhaps I'm being dramatic. I wouldn't say I'm suffering- simply not flourishing.

Ha, and instead of fixing the problem, I am attempting to use all the good changes to enrich the impoverishment. I think it unlikely to succeed, but I ought to test the hypothesis. I don't quite justify it, but I feel like I ought to. Ugh. Dangling prepositions.

I know for sure that my return to LitNet is part of the coping. An added enrichment. A fulfilled need, or at least an attempt to do so. I suppose we'll see. ]]> *Classic*Charm* http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12953-Apathy-and-Disgrace U. S. Politics After the End http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12952-U-S-Politics-After-the-End Thu, 09 May 2013 00:08:47 GMT The shape of government will change everywhere after the Great Pandemic will decrease population by 80%, and the politics involved with the... The shape of government will change everywhere after the Great Pandemic will decrease population by 80%, and the politics involved with the governments will also change. Teasing apart the results of the changes is difficult, and it is likely that new elements will arise, but the general political culture of most countries would be unchanged, and that means that there will be cut-throat politics in the U.S. Just as one can read the political satires of Jonathan Swift from the early 18th centuries and see parallels with today's politics in the UK, there will be a huge amount of similarity between today's politics in the U.S. and what we will see after the Great Pandemic. But it is likely that some things will change. The issues probably will be different, but it will be a matter of who gets to profit from the government. The parties probably will have new names, or they might switch sides again. The Democrats derived from the Anti-Federalists, who were firmly opposed to a strong government, but they had become the party of the establishment by the time that the Republican Party arose, as a populist party that opposed the status quo, especially slavery.

In addition to the major parties we now have a large collection of minor parties, and one, or more, of those might present the right program to become important after the pandemic. While a highly regulated economy will be undesirable then, there may be a desire for a protectionist import policy, or there may an imperialist trend. There are good reasons for thinking that imperialism will be seen as desirable in some parts of the world. So the U.S. my have a big government – small government split that would be defined by positions in regard to Manifest Destiny. There are good reasons for the U.S.A. to take over Canada and Latin America, and those reasons will be more valid after the pandemic, and the population of Canada will between six and seven million (34 million now), so it would not be difficult to reverse that bit of bad luck of December 31, 1775. I am not necessarily advocating the conquest of Canada; I am mentioning it as a distinct possibility.

Any expansion to the south would be difficult, and there would be no real value it for the U.S.’ although it might be desirable for other reasons. The conquest of Mexico would be somewhat more difficult than conquering Canada. Mexico probably will have a population of between twenty and twenty-five million (probably toward the low end of that range). It would be more useful to eliminate any criminal gangs that might remain and to set up a government that would work reasonably well. Establishing U.S. control in South America would be much less likely, because Brazil would also be working at that. The economic value of combining the Americas would be considerable, but the cultural complications might be insuperable. Federation might be a practical answer, and it might be a step toward eventual world government. (Oh horror! Suggesting one world government!). Adding the Canadian provinces to the U.S. would be fairly easy, and the legal systems are not all that terribly different. Expanding beyond that would require making the Mexican economy stronger and less corrupted by crime. That would require a complete change in drug policy in the U.S. And in many other countries, and the cost of starting a new business would have to drop. These two steps would greatly improve the Mexican economy now, but they will become essential after the Pandemic.

Another issue in U.S. politics would be local versus central government. How that would play with regard to issues probably would vary with the region, and that support, or not, should be an economic issue, but there would be complications. For practical reasons it would be difficult for the Feds to intrude as much into local issues, because there wouldn’t be enough people to enforce the federal intrusions.

Issues regarding rebuilding the country’s credit rating and whether equality before the law would be enforced would be important internally and externally, but it would take considerable time for things to settle down... ]]> PeterL http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12952-U-S-Politics-After-the-End Root of Troubles – Root of Success. http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12951-Root-of-Troubles-–-Root-of-Success Wed, 08 May 2013 07:49:28 GMT Peace be on you. Rise in family breakups, drinking and gambling related issues, spending hours in watching late night lewd movies etc are some of... Peace be on you. Rise in family breakups, drinking and gambling related issues, spending hours in watching late night lewd movies etc are some of modern day losses. From religious point of view, these things are due to weakness in the spiritual state which is called Taqwa in the Holy Quran. Taqwa is summarised as the state when Unity of God is believed, precedence is given to pleasure of God, believing God as source of all powers, paying rights of God and rights of His creation for the sake of His pleasure.

Going away from Taqwa is trouble and practicing Taqwa is success in this life and in Hereafter.

When one spends life according to Taqwa, Merciful God listens to them and makes the way out for His humble servants and provide for thems from where they do not expect.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said:
Quote

‘None can be purified unless God Almighty purifies him. When the very soul of a person falls on God’s door with humility and meekness, God Almighty will accept his prayer and that person will become righteous and will be worthy of understanding the religion of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Otherwise, whatever proclamations about religion he makes and his worship etc. is of customary nature that he follows by merely emulating his forefathers without any essence of reality or spirituality.’ (Ref: Malfuzat)

‘The true Unity of God, the affirmation of which is demanded by God and upon which salvation depends, is to believe that God in His Being is free from every associate, whether it is an idol or a human being, or the sun or moon or one's ego, or one's cunning or deceit; and to conceive of no one as possessing power in opposition to Him, nor to accept anyone as sustainer, nor to hold anyone as bestowing honour or disgrace, nor to consider anyone as helper or assistant; and to confine one's love to Him and one's worship to Him and one's humility to Him and one's hopes to Him and one's fear to Him. No Unity can be complete without the following three types of particularisation. First, there is the Unity of Being, that is to say, to conceive the whole universe as nonexistent in contrast with Him and to consider it mortal and lacking reality. Secondly, the Unity of attributes, that is to say, that Rububiyyat and Godhead are confined to His Being and that all others who appear as sustainers or benefactors are only a part of the system set up by His hand. Thirdly, the Unity of love and sincerity and devotion; that is to say, not to consider anyone as an associate of God in the matter of love and worship and to be entirely lost in Him.’ …….(Ref: ‘Essence of Islam’, Vol. I alislam.org)

Benefited from Friday sermon 3 May, 2013, Holy Khalifah of Holy Propmised Messiah. (mta.tv) ]]> YALASH http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12951-Root-of-Troubles-–-Root-of-Success Economics After the End http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12949-Economics-After-the-End Thu, 02 May 2013 18:46:47 GMT When the Great Pandemic will eliminate 80% of the population the demand for goods and services will be reduced at the same rateand that will have a... When the Great Pandemic will eliminate 80% of the population the demand for goods and services will be reduced at the same rateand that will have a proportional effect on the economy. The drop in demand will result in an immediate drop in prices of everything that is bought and sold. Prices of food and other perishable goods will drop greatly, but the prices will rebound, because supplies will need to be replenished regularly, but durable goods do not need frequent replacement. Production machinery will eventually need to be replaced, but that won’t be for years, which may lead to other problems. The biggest effect will be in Real Estate, which has an even longer useful life than machinery, and residential real estate outlasts people.

Manufacturing and distribution After the End There would be major problems for the economy and society, but it would create huge opportunities for the people who would remain. The biggest problems would relate to mismatches between needs and people and things available, but there would be surpluses of many kinds of goods for a considerable time.

We can expect that the distribution of goods would stop for some time, and it probably would take some time before the transportation sector settled into the new reality. There might be piles of goods in some places that were needed in other parts of the world. The matter of transporting energy products would be a mess for a short time, but in a few months the extra wells would be shut down, and shipments would be rerouted to get crude oil and LNG to places where it might be useful.

The drop in real estate prices will be the big thing that will kill the banks. Banks will be hurt by the drop in clientele, but when trillions of dollars in collateral will become mere millions of dollars’ worth of collateral, and the loans will default, so the banks will have to simply give up and walk away, instead of the borrowers walking away. To make things even worse, there will not be enough new borrowers to make up for the losses. But don’t mourn too much. The banks have been gambling for thousands of years, and they nearly always win, and there will be new banks that will take up where the old banks ended.

One interesting and related development will be that currencies and sovereign debt will also fail rather dramatically. The U.S. will default on its sovereign debt for the first time, and there will be no way to avoid the default. With the loss of 80% of the U.S. population the drop in tax revenue will be proportionate. The demands for Federal money will also drop, but just doing the basics will be all that the Feds will be able to manage; debt service will be out of the question. The international complaints about this and other sovereign debt defaults will be barely noticeable, because all countries will default. At present most currencies are backed by sovereign debt rather than hard assets, but that might change.

There isn’t enough precious metal in the world to back all of the money, but the demand for money will drop after the pandemic, and there might be enough precious metal to cover the demand that pertain to that era. That doesn’t make a huge difference, but it will be one of the oddities.

The collapse of the banks, currencies, and so on would make international trade impossible for a time. It is impossible to determine how long that paralysis would continue, but it probably would not be long, because there are always to make a deal. Put this paralysis together with lower demand, and we probably will see a long-term reduction in international trade. It simply won’t make sense to have so many things produced in other countries when the economy of scale will have disappeared. The cost of transportation probably will change relative to the cost of production, but it is impossible to tell by how much. Then there is the question of how large the labor pool will be in countries that are presently doing production; will there be enough people to provide for local needs and to produce large amounts for export? In the case of China it is likely that there won’t be enough people available, but there might be in other countries. In India, for example, the biggest difference might be that there just won’t be as many people, but the economy is well diversified, and the labor force is reasonably flexible. Parts of sub-Saharan Africa would also see little change except in population. Western Europe and the U.S.A. would see major changes to the society and government structures. I can’t imagine what would happen to the Russian economy.

Putting all this together, we should all plan to take up subsistence farming at tree the end. It will be a good idea for people to take up raising some of their own food; although most things will be available through commercial channels. Within a few years there probably will be a good market for specialty foods and for fine wine and other luxury items.

Comments may be left at either site.
http://thoughtsfromthe28thcentury.blogspot.com/ ]]> PeterL http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12949-Economics-After-the-End Trees were Given to Land Workers - High Standards of Justice Ensures Peace-Yardsticks http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12948-Trees-were-Given-to-Land-Workers-High-Standards-of-Justice-Ensures-Peace-Yardsticks Thu, 02 May 2013 06:17:34 GMT Peace be on you. To whom those trees belonged? In a dispute between his family and their land-workers, he upheld the truth and testified in front of... Peace be on you. To whom those trees belonged? In a dispute between his family and their land-workers, he upheld the truth and testified in front of the judge that trees belonged to the land-workers. Then the decision came against the family; they were unhappy with him……..This was the person who, latter, was commissioned by God as the Promised Reformer of Faith – The Promised Messiah Mahdi (upon whom be peace). He learned this high standard of justice by his master Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Allah teaches about justice:

Quote:
== ‘O ye who believe! be strict in observing justice, and be witness for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or against parents and kindred. Whether he be rich or poor, Allah is more regardful of them both than you are. Therefore follow not low desires so that you may be able to act equitably. And if you conceal the truth or evade it, then remember that Allah is well aware of what you do.’ [Holy Quran, Surah Al Nisa, chapter 4, verse 136]

== ‘O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.’ [Surah Al Ma’idah, chapter 5, verse 9]

== ‘Allah has promised those who believe and do good deeds that they shall have forgiveness and a great reward.’ [Surah Al Ma’idah, chapter 5, verse 10] ….. alislam.org/quran

Repeatedly, the world is being targeted of various acts of terrorism, committed by any people or by so called jihadi groups who are abusing the name of Islam. Certain opportunists use it as base and take advantage; they attribute the on going terrorism to Allah, Holy Quran, Holy Prophet and Islam.

When the real teaching of Islam is presented and allegations are replied by Promised Messiah’s Ahmadiyya Community, fair minded people appreciate it and the acquaintances testify that Community practices it but they also want to see other Muslims to practice the teachings visibly.

Holy Ahmadiyya Khalifah asks his Community to self reflect, self-examine and analyze that how much they practice the teaching when difficult situation arises. He mentions that they should check:

?- If their words and deeds are in harmony –
?- If they do justice in matters of life –
?- If they maintain high standards mentioned in above verses –
?- Do they testify truthfully, only for the pleasure of God, even it is against self or dears --
?- In the matter of justice, do they follow the commandment of Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) which says: Like for others what one likes for self –
?- Do they uphold honesty and fairness in justice, even if opponent is concerned –
?- Are they steadfast in dispensing justice with depth and continuity –
?- Is there is lack of confidence in their homes –
?- Is there no love and affection in their marital relations and which effects their children –
?- Are their business relations normal –
?- Do the disputes to-be-resolved are on the rise.

Establishing peace, justice, truth and security in the world is the task of Community as they believe in Imam of the age.

Imam of the age, Promised Messiah (as one believes) said:
Quote : ‘There is no other secure place like the fortress and sphere of God Almighty’s protection. However, advantage cannot be availed through incomplete means. Can anyone say that when one is thirsty, drinking a mere drop is sufficient? Or when extremely hungry a crumb or a mouthful will satiate? One is most certainly not satisfied unless one eats and drinks to one’s fill. Similarly, unless excellence is attained in deeds, desired fruits and outcomes are not generated. Defective deeds do not please Allah the Exalted and they are not blessed either. It is indeed Allah’s promise that if deeds are performed which please Him, He will grant blessing.’

In the end Holy Khalifah summed up the duties of his Community for the sake of their own peace and international peace. Once again he warned against hanging-over great War. He said:

Quote: God has given us the responsibility of taking the message of peace and security to the world. For this, we have to abide by fairness and truthfulness. Fairness can be maintained when one reflects over God’s commandments in-depth. It is required that we deeply ponder over discharging rights of God and rights of mankind. May God enable us to do so and may we make our homes and society like paradise and in light of the beautiful teaching of Islam also fulfil the dues of Tabligh. May we explain the teaching of real justice to the world and save it from destruction! The world is indeed fast moving towards most frightening destruction. Justice remains neither among Muslims nor non-Muslims, not only is there no justice but they are all exceeding limits in cruelty. At such a time only Jama’at Ahmadiyya can play the role of saving the world from destruction. For this everyone should make practical efforts within their sphere and of course turn to prayer with great focus. The injustices in Muslim countries have embroiled them in internal strife as well as external dangers are impending. It appears as if a great war is menacingly looming. The world may not be unaware of its dangers, but it is definitely careless about it. In such circumstances, servants of the Muhammadan Messiah need to play their role and pray profusely. May God enable us to fulfil our responsibilities and save the world from destruction!

Reference: Based on Friday sermon by Holy Khalifah (26 April 2013), mtaDOTtv and alislamDOTorg ]]> YALASH http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12948-Trees-were-Given-to-Land-Workers-High-Standards-of-Justice-Ensures-Peace-Yardsticks Government After the End http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12946-Government-After-the-End Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:48:53 GMT Governments have several legitimate functions these days: to try to regulate activities, to provide services that are not profitable but are still... Governments have several legitimate functions these days: to try to regulate activities, to provide services that are not profitable but are still essential, and to fill the pockets of the higher-ups; in addition, governments try to tell every Harry, Sue, John, and Jane how he or she should live his life in all details. After the population drops to 20% of its present level there won’t be enough people available for government service, so government will not be able intrude into the lives of people as much as it might like, but there will still be those who think that the world will end (completely) if everyone doesn’t do everything according to their dictates. Those people will be very disappointed when their case-loads drop to a tiny fraction of what they presently are, and there is a fair chance that a larger than typical percent of these people will be lost in the pandemic, because they think that they have to have a hand in everything. But in addition to there being fewer people around who will need or want government services, and there will less activity that will need government regulation. Put it all together, and there won’t be nearly as much government after the Really Great Pandemic.

There will still be a few services that government will have to produce, but I fear that the ideological struggles that we presently are afflicted with will not go away; there will still be people who will think that individuals are incapable of living their own lives without government oversight and approval. It is also likely that the imperialists will feel that having less opposition will make it an excel time to be active. We can only hope that a higher percent of the population will realize that socialism and fascism are synonyms.

On the other hand, there will be many people who will notice that there isn’t much that will need government regulation. While there will not be nearly as many people to regulate, but the people who feel the need to regulate people would be strongly inclined to tell people what to do, and the pandemic would give plenty of ammunition to both sides. The regulators would assert that it would have been worse without regulation, while the liberals would point out that government intervention had made things worse in some places and no better anywhere. We probably would be stuck with government that pokes into places where it will not be needed. But there probably would be less economic regulation, mostly because there would be so much less economy to regulate, and some kinds of activity probably would cease to exist.

The law enforcement business probably will be vastly smaller, because there won’t be nearly as much crime. Sure there will still be robberies, assaults, murders, etc. but there won’t be many criminals left. Criminals are generally less intelligent than the average, and the pandemic probably will discriminate by intelligence; i.e., intelligent people are more likely to have followed the intelligent path and avoid other humans during the virulent stage of the pandemic, while people of less intelligence are more likely to seek medical assistance, which would bring them into contact with contagion. The re-spreading of liberalism after the pandemic will result in many laws being repealed. Fewer laws to break means fewer crimes. Then there is the matter of there being less economic rationale for criminal activity. There will be jobs for everyone, so crimes will be less attractive.

The great struggle for government will be eliminating old laws that will have become irrelevant. Considering that Massachusetts is still working at getting rid of Puritan inspired laws from the 1600’s, it is likely that the excessive laws of this period will remain until we completely overthrow the old order.

One part of the old order that is likely to remain is the existence of many independent countries, and there will be less need for international cooperation, because most trade is still local. The call for a New World Order probably will continue, but the rationale for it will have largely disappeared. It will be ironic, if the order of the new world will be classical liberalism. ]]> PeterL http://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12946-Government-After-the-End