The Dash Board

                                                             The Dash Board



2a.m.  Eastern Standard time, I fumble for coverings, casual comforts over sheets and bedspreads. Fly out the door and crash with the night air. The blackness is interrupted by pinpricks of light and the full moon is odd shaped like a glass orb-fortune telling, mine, I imagine. Accuracy in future predictions are those flakes of gold that swirl and sparkle  in clear liquid filled shapes. Wrecking balls are fire in buildings and that is where I am headed now.

Streetlights negate the darkness in some spaces. My body chemistry is an electric current as adrenalin surges through my veins, jolting me awake.  Every sense is a razor's edge. I toss my duffel bag into the passenger's seat. My side kick, a canvas companion, comforts, and protects, gives relief and activates the seatbelt signal on the dash board. The red stick figure flashes red in time to  incessant beeps from two sources, one is my pager,  alarm harmonies. The engine idles as I reach over and buckle up the bag to end the noise. Hand check, good,  steady as a rock.

I  loosen my grip on the steering wheel and release my shoulders, level. The figure in red has disappeared from my dashboard. In my mind it is every person I have ever helped- the hurt, the battered, the bleeding, despairing, crying, stoic and brave.

The message on my cell phone is there still, fire in an apartment complex...scant details. I will know more soon enough. The engine roars, vibrates as I approach the intersection. The green light, a point, morphs into a circle and I press down hard on the accelerator.  The flicker of yellow gold reflects off the hood as I pass under the overhang of the caution signal. I gotta beat the red. See green.

My wife says Batman never looked so competent in the reds, blacks, tans, reflective light strips and Xs. She says this marks the spot where firemen, policemen, city workers and my crew, the volunteers from the Red Cross, become the treasures. She gave me the golden globe last week. Placed it on the headboard as I slept. Found it there. It reminds me to search for gold inside of  myself, shine brightly and avoid the pitfalls that come from tough surroundings, living in glass balls, getting shaken up. I think she should have included soldiers in her  Batman listing. I think they are like me in a way.  I keep driving towards elements out of control. I notice that I am sweating, -22 degrees Celsius  outside- heat in the cab is off. Preparedness is only one layer in the turn of the rubric when you walk into the misalignment.

On site I wrestle  with the duffel bag, who really has a utility belt in EMS, and slide into my "cape", a bright red vest with a white cross and block lettering. I fit the cap on the back of my head and yank down on the brim. Feels good. My mind locks and loads into this choice, this hat at 2:32 a.m. Indecision is the magic and pleasure of court jesters or  shopping mall excursion.  It  has no place here. The other hats, father, son, professional, neighbor, husband are hooked on the hat stand of my collective and diverse identity.

I skid to a halt in my thoughts and and stop the stride near a young woman with a child nestled into her slight frame. She is shivering. Her face is blackened with soot , a mask forged in smoke and fire. I grow close, there is no real moving, and wrap a blanket around her shoulders. Two perfect lines made from the  rivulets of tears glow pasty white next to smudges,  shades of  grey of her face and the circles, large green traffic lights, of eyes. I breath and dive in. Her expression says bewildered as she stares  transfixed at a home now crumbled and fierce with flames. I draw her away.

She is rubbing her lower lid with one slim blistered finger as I try to find out her name, if she is OK. She is watching the path of a stretcher, now, strung with IV tubes. Another mask, oxygen is strapped to a face that must be familiar to her as I hear her gasp and her hand flies to her throat. The boy tucked into the folds of her stretched knitted sweater is so quiet. Fire creeps then roars through structures obliterating windows and doors, licking frames, deadly  but not beyond the abilities of heroes.  Science of elements tucked in a back pocket of our minds in the event that gas, or chemicals complicate.  Every roll of the dice brings a new configuration.

                                                                         

                                                                                  ***

Stella from one floor down, I think. 
"Oh God, Oh God, is she OK?" 
"Steady," he says. "What's your name?"  He is dressed in kindness but I am with Stella in my thoughts.
Stella has a voice like a Mockingjay, melodic and sweet.
I heard her sing in  an  imitation that turned  to interpretation of a popular tune.Through the thin slices of  pine floor boards, I listened to her belt  out the song as if the bills were music sheets to be mastered by the instrument of her vocal chords. I did not recognize the melody as it bounded into her own invention, beautiful, just as I knocked at the door. We drank from heavy mugs. Mine had a dishwasher worn icon of a tower: Eiffel, CN, Pisa, Burj Kalifa, Empire... one of those. The coffee was instant. We were hoping to rise above ground level too. On the shiny side of her mug was the logo of her 7a.m. to 7 p.m. existence. The reason she could pay the bills and sing, I suppose.

She had opened up to me her news headlines, The Abandonment and the Found. I had shared with her a few articles and infestation of my own. My hand fluttered to the base of my throat as my stomach churned and my words ran dry.

"Ohh no, " I breath...I feel the firm but soft touch. Kindness is on my shoulder. Ethan squirms and groans and I swell in the happiness that he is there resting against my shoulder. I turn to the man in the red cape, um ,oh, I mean vest and feel relief like millions of  tiny bubbles caressing the most sensitive spot, the pad of  my finger tip and moving up over my skin.  

                                             Nikon Nuance moment.


                                                                         ***

I place my hand on her shoulder and she stops swaying. Her eyes are now alert with the sound of the child. She speaks to him softly.

I am the team lead. The scars, slashes of lights, slick pavement, and  buildings that fold and furnace exacerbate the sense of urgency.  The ladders length, motorized to swing is  attached to the best getaway car, a fire engine, and  rivals  Bonny and Clyde "s vehicular transports. The construction worker on the top floor makes it out.  No time to set up the nets. The police have cordoned off the area as systems begin to form in the face of fire and sometimes we just go with the gut feeling against misanthropic flames. Too bad fire, the damaging kind,  is more than just  the  myth  of dragons breathing. 

                                                                            ***
I approach the team lead, the woman and the child. Walking out of hell is never easy.
"Hey big guy, I'm Willis. You're gonna be driv'n that truck soon."
The boy takes the colouring book I offer.  His eyes bore into me. What does he see?


                                                                             ***

Nice man in red,    stains    on his clothes,                      Ok  other man got me out of the building, TRUST yes. Same people, good, help.               OK.                 It was so hot hot ...                   Eyes burning can't breath  <intake of breath>   Mom  ??!!??? Brought me to mom.   Yes, I remember.             Safe                        !


                                                                               ***

I sprinkle the corrugated metal of the flatbed truck with sticks of yellow, orange and red.  They crisscross jumbled on the pan of the black flatbed where she sits, shoeless, swinging her legs.  The little guy unwinds himself from the trust that is MOM.  He reaches for the lemon yellow, then peacock blue gradually supplanting solid blank spaces with streaks of colour.  The crayon leaps and careens outside of  design guide lines. He clutches each crayon more tightly in a fist. As we visit and start to talk,  he loosens his grasp on the crayon and the colour floods into the interior spaces. He circumvents the tear made by his earlier efforts and smooths it over with his hand. I rummage around the truck for for a flat board and come up with a piece of plywood for a table.
"You're doing good kid."
He offers me a smile of sorts. I want to tell him that his stuffed animals, video games, favorite shirt and money chest are neatly stacked in the cab of  the truck. All I have is a plank of board, a book for colour, caring, accommodation.  His smile is the greatest return.

                                                                        ***

Lidiya takes the water that I offer to her. She hands it to her son who is looking up at Willis smiling. Good!
I give her a second bottle from the pack. We begin the kind of conversation that nails down the next small beginnings after the collapse. The fire has let go of its hold against the weapons of spray and the intelligence and technique  of the fire officials. Their moves are as calculated and polished as a Metropolitan Opera . Fire is an unpredictable and vicious foe.  I can hear the human chords of  deficits and gains as we hope for the wind to die down and approach a tall man with his head in his hands. Lydia and the boy are on their way to the hotel as arranged. - respite from a storm.

2:45 a.m. turns to 6 then 7 and the fires are finally under control. The emergency teams and a few bystanders circle the contained morass.  The fire chief tells us that everyone got out as far as he knows.

I know that I've been held in a too tight embrace by Katrina and Sandy. Felt their sloppy kisses and the bite, cut  of their sharp teeth on lips and throat. I left a piece of me and my team in New York. Slave Lake fires, floods in Alberta and Haiyan have challenged level crossings.

Midnight was long ago receding in the face of the dawn of a new day.

I swing my duffel bag onto the passenger seat, fasten the seat belt sign and hit the road. The beep and red light figure stays silent on the dashboard. ....Used to be Paradise By the... .I was just a kid. Hmmmm mmm ...the dashboard light, aww Meat Loaf .   

The porch lights tell me I'm home. My wife is framed by  the soft light of the living room window. She is as strong as me but different and I will lean on her now - just for a little while, for a bit of rest. The door opens in another place. The second door to a Home is well filled, well designed and sturdy, a hat rack in the corner. The rack ,  where I hang my hats,  is the people, professional and personal that support me. Support all of us ...  They are who  we are  gonna call if the ghosts bust in.

 The Lion Rests in Light: To all those that work to keep us safe through their fight with  fire, floods, crime and to keep the peace, preserve our freedoms. Thank you and enjoy your times of rest. You earned them.


This is a work of creative nonfiction,  a genre that is part fiction and part non. The ratio of imagined to real varies in accordance with the design of the piece and the individual style of the author.

 I did have an opportunity to interview one of the members of  the Red Cross. My next blog will  be nonfiction for those that like a choice and it  will circle that conversation.  This is the creative piece that sprang from the meeting.  The character builds pertain to the idea of being an emergency worker or soldier and  are wholly fictional.  PST is an important issue in our times and is touched on as a part of the thematic.

                                                        A Look at Clouds from New Sides... now

Taken on a blue sky day  for a Nikon Nuance moment by me.

 all rights reserved Donna Thompson copyright 2014 . See also The Glitch Factory

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Islam and Women: Disturbing thoughtss

Recently a friend of mine married a handsome Arab. He was rich, had a yatch and a Rolls Royce. Before marriage she converted to Islam and the couple went for a racous honeymoon to France and Spain. The trouble commenced after she went with him to Saudi Arabia. She realized her access was limited and she was confined in special part of the house called the zenena. She also discovered she was wife no 3 and the rich Arab had 2 other wives. She was appalled at this. Her access to the outside world was also restricted and she was confined to the house. I will not dwell further on this tale, suffice that as she was a bold woman she escaped by bribing a taxi driver a Punjabi Muslim from Pakistan and none knew where she went away. She was lucky but there are tens who regret their mistake and spend a life time in the harem. The fact is the status of women in Islam is lower than man.The Sharia gives a subseverient position to women and that cannot be discussed. But non-Muslim women who dream of happy life with a rich Arab finally realize its just a pipe dream 12320

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Ovid, the Roman Poet and his concept of Love and Rape

The Roman Empire is one of the largest and most enduring empires. It spanned a gigantic area from France to Asia Minor. It also produced a retinue of classical writers and philosophers. One of the classical poets of this period is Ovid. This man was born in 43 BC in Rome. This was during the reign of Augustus. Many consider this as the golden age of Rome. It was a period when the Roman empire consolidated and many artists and poets emerged. One of these was Ovid who is recognized as one of the immortals as far as verse is considered. His relationship with Augustus was not very happy. It is possible he was implicated for lovong a high class Roman girl. Many conjecture that this girl was relayed to Augustus or his daughter. But Ovid wad exiled from Rome by Augustus. Ovid died at the age of 57 or 58 in 15-17AD. But in his span of 58 years Ovid created some lovely poetry. In the modern age Ovid is recognized as the last of the classical poets of the Roman era.images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT9JSi44FUP_TwOYa5Q3_K Ovid wrote a number of books with verses. His'Art of love` is a stand out verse. Ovid describes love and allows the reader to infer about rape with his verses on the `Gaze.` Ovid was of the view that a rape can only commence after a man gazes at a woman. A gaze by a man in which he takes stock of the woman for carnal knowledge is the beginning of rape. Ovid himself does not describe the rape in his verses, but as a master poet leaves it to the imagination of the reader. This is classical poetry and proves that Ovid was a master of the verse. His other works are Heroides, Amores and Ars Amatoria, and o Metamorphoses, Ovid wrote other works as well, but his forte was poetry and verse. There is no doubt he wad the pulse of poetry creation in his grip. Ovid was perhaps a great lover himself. Ther is no doubt that to write love poetry an element of personal experience is always a great help. Ovid died at the age of perhaps 56 or 58. Despite a relatively short span Ovid is recognized as one of the great romantic poets from the classical age from Rome Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/746890_ovid-the-roman-poet-love-and-rape#ixzz2wkm33bXk 12320

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My Tryst with a Catholic Nun

I am going to relate is a factual account of a happening when I had just joined the Air Force and was under training. The Air Force administrative College is located at Red Fields in Coimbatore. It’s a hallowed college and has been there since the days of the Raj and the Royal Indian Air Force. All pilot trainees were supposed to spend 3 months at this college to get a basic understanding of service life like parade, drills and small arms practice before going on the learn to fly at the Air Force academy. Accordingly I reached Coimbatore and the Drill instructor Sargent Thevar began to put us through our paces. There was no booking out for 4 weeks and that too after passing the Drill test. I passed and heaved a sigh of relief as I could book out. There was however a caveat and the booking dress were a white pant and shirt with the striped blue Air Force Tie.

I remember I saw a movie. I think it was ‘Conon the Destroyer’ and I left the cinema hall to get back to the college before the booking in time of 10pm. Then it began to rain and thunder reverberated and reverberated again and again. I ran to a small shelter and took refuge there. As lightening flashed across the sky, I saw that I was in the foyer of a dilapidated building. I was further intrigued when I saw a nun in one corner of the foyer. She was absolutely drenched and her gray smock clung to her. She was young perhaps not more than 20 and I was also of the same age. My tie was a give way and I think she knew I was from the Air force college. I also made out she was slightly darkish and I concluded she was a Malayali from Kerala. The rain now increased in intensity and I walked to the nun and suggested that we move inside as the rain was lashing all around and she and I were getting wetter. I held out my hand she caught it and we went inside the dilapidated building. It was dark inside and the heavens were roaring. I realized it was rain storm. The nun sneezed and I suggested she remove her smock or she would get a cold. This was an innocent suggestion and the nun began to remove her robe. Lightening flashed across and in the split second I saw the nun naked with just a bra and panty.

God now took a hand and what happened after that has remained a blur in my memory. After the act was over, I could sense that there was some blood and the rain had stopped. I kissed and got up to dress and when I turned around the girl was gone. It was a silent withdrawal, more like a feline cat. I reached the guard room, 30 minutes late and my Course Commander Squadron Leader DL Dhār awarded me 2 pack parades. I will not dwell on what a pack parade is, but it’s a tough punishment. I didn’t regret the punishment one bit. I finished my training and left and as a Flight Lieutenant came again to Red Field 5 years later. I went to the seminary and met the mother superior and was told that many nuns had been sent to USA. It is an episode that is in my mind. Something that happened that was to happen for as Lord Krishna says in the Gita” Not a leaf moves without my will”. Posted on my personal blog Dracula fun 12320

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Did Someone Say Aliens?

by Donna Thompson author and staffer at  The Glitch Factory 

Did Someone Say Aliens?

When a Boeing 777 vanishes with 239 people aboard in 2014, the full force of our advanced technology bears down on the problem. The backyard pool of expertise and resources rapidly expands into oceanic proportions and nations cast aside their differences to form  global teams. The fact finders  in the shape of P-3, P-8s surveillance aircraft,  ships,   satellites,  computer consoles, drones, scouts,  rovers and, of course, the funds behind this, are gradually organized into an orchestra of pitch perfect precision. Decisions are made to remain agile in the process of investigation for best practices over remaining in stasis with a fixed premise. Eg. The U.S. realized that surveillance planes were more effective than ships and sent  home the "boats", -sometimes more means less and strategy wins out over sheer quantity.

The details began to spill out over social platforms, blogs, newscasts and other means allowing the public to formulate their own theories, engage in the mystery. We continue to imagine and speculate beyond our kitchen tables plunging deep into Arthurian rounds located in the multi-leveled castle of cyberspace. The stories build on each other or repeat.  The responses are immediate as the sheer number of people involved reaches into the millions and crosses over continents.  We are greedy for the fire hose flow of information, logistics and conclusions without letting this eclipse the empathy we feel for the individuals on the plane and their families.

 This rapid synthesis of data by the masses and the pros is no longer a domino or snowball effect that denotes a single starting point. The notes are splayed out into a series of events not sequestered within a single point. These hypothesis scatter and then builds into a solution, like 1000s and 1000s of pixels in the perfect complex image.The more pixels you have the greater the clarity and resolution of the views. We see multi-sequential means that surround  the vanished plane as opposed to just the disappearance itself.  Information and delivery are that fast. This is what I would call the spray effect.   Together we accumulate the facts and emotions based on our own storehouse of suppositions and an initial share from a myriad of resources. We continue to pass this data around, digest, regurgitate and or formulate new until more ground is covered in a shorter time. Yet, this time our communications discussions and opinion acquisitions  have not yet brought results.  The largest piece is missing, the physical evidence of a plane or wreckage of any kind.    The image has an enormous             hole, not a tiny   tear.       We also now know  the flight navigational system that is used to  set the course for the Boeing was overridden or reprogrammed. This task is nothing like tying our shoelaces and therefore points towards a certain skill set.   Have we evolved the system enough to have a series of checks and balances that allows for codes or keys which prevent the manipulation of an aircraft or change in flight plan without the added input or keys from the ground, or air traffic control?  Is there, too much left to the control of the two in the cockpit and whoever else may want to commandeer  a ride , isolated as they are in their airspace. Is this the next evolution for flight safety?-Too early to know. 

In 2014, we are savvy enough to ask the question how much of the information, during the distribution process, is first hand, or third.  Did anyone along the way skimp on a few details in order to steer, lead and or protect us from a knowing that would ultimately rock our world or place us on a far greater tilt than the current natural one?  The conspiracy theory is always part of the package during the examination as it has become the standard go to  expression in modern times.  The topic has been the subject of film, art, music, books and journalism for as long as have known the meaning of the word. Did they also know of this word or one like it as part of regular communication when using the Rosetta Stone for translations of ancient languages? Aww I digress and yes divert from my set course to prove how easily this could happen not  only in aviation but as a metaphor for life and possibly the very thing that happened to the 2 person crew. 

Were the 2 pilots  threatened on the ground, ahead of time or during the flight, to comply with a plot? Did they refuse and ditch the plane?  Was one or the other  psychotic or depressed, no, not according the facts.  We know the skill set and parameters required for a communication/radar shut down on a large high tech aircraft.  The transponder and ACAR are also subject to any number of mechanical errors despite the number of built in compensations but it is the human component that seems to be the focus.   Premeditated, deeply rooted plot, diverted thinking,  or mechanical failure we continue to wait it out for the solution beyond theory, speculation and in the absence of complete proofs. 

  There are a few that may still doubt that we will ever find the answer. I would say that the globe is much small than it ever has been and in time we will come to know a truth and hopefully it is the correct one.  We will continue to hope that the people on board are alive because we cannot digest the other idea when there are still so many questions, so many gaps, rents and tears in the re-creation of the series of events that led to MH370 exiting the skies. “All right, Goodnight”  is becoming a film, books and exhibits in the near future. The phrase is, in fact, a  title for chaos on March 8, 2014 and  haunts the radio signals and recesses of our minds  as a reminder that  perceived regularity can so easily transition into  the bizarre.  

The disappearance and the inability to solve the mystery faster is frustrating but not daunting.  More time is needed but should no answer be found, then we may begin to explore new regions of thought more purposefully or in parallel. This would mean delving into the ethereal of the speculative with difficult suppositions into subterfuge, Bermuda Triangles now Indian Ocean Quadrilaterals, wormhole, and or dare we look up, way way up into space.  Did someone say aliens?  

May the answers come to us soon in this our informational, high tech age that is also graced with a real caring for the people on flight MH370.   This is the view from a plane at sun set, the beauty, wonder and energy evoked by the image  is unsurpassed in my experiences. I send this out as a beacon of light and hope for the safe recovery or at least the solution to the crisis of  the missing plane.

The compilations of resources that allowed for this summation of facts are CBC , BBC, and the many interested parties that commented with facts across the net. The analysis is my own.

 I believe it was a commenter with a profile pic of an avitar that suggested the idea of the alien- part joke part serious. I did not have their name but I liked the sense of fun and the spark of  something more.

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Star So Bright

Submitted by dogula on March 16th, 2014 –
Category: Ideology

Star so bright, please come out tonight, and show us the signs of a raised moon. The planet of our dreams, will be close to our hearts, and allow our souls to glisten. The brightness we see, will reflect our thoughts, to be favoring an Ora of delight. We will walk in the valley of people, that have a reflection of ones mind. The direction we take, will support a unity between us and G-D. The path we take, will be measured with substance. Every step we take, will bring us closer to the horizon of matter. A point of despair, will be gaged, but the solution will come from all over. The last message we get, will resemble a time in our lives, to be happy and proud, on the direction we want to take, as respect, will be at our grasp, and the finalization between two people, will have us understand, why we have a purpose on earth, and our lives.
+Star
+So brite

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Why Cassius Clay Converted to Islam

Cassius Clay was the world heavy weight boxing champion when he was drafted to serve in Vietnam with the US Army. At that time military service was compulsory in the USA and everybody had to spend time in the army. This was called the draft. Clay refused to be drafted to go to Vietnam and as a punishment his boxing title was taken from him. This embittered him and he felt the white race was always treating the Negroid race in a demeaning manner. In addition he wanted to cock a fist at the white racial supremacists. Clay in his child hood had grown up in an era of racial segregation and this had told on his psyche. Moreover he felt the church had done nothing for the blacks and he thought it best to convert to Islam. America was shocked when Clay converted to Islam and took the name Mohammed Ali. From then on he taunted the white race and asked them to put a fighter against him. There is no denying that Ali was a great boxer and he retained his boxing titles on the strength of his ability. In fact he is the only boxing champion in the world to have won back the heavyweight crown 3 times. Ali gave up boxing after some time , but he continued to believe in Islam. In fact many celebrity men like Cat Stevens also converted to Islam. These conversions are brushed aside by the American government, but the fact is the blacks are disenchanted with the church, which stood as a passive onlooker when racial policies were at their peak. 12320

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The Emotional Tale of a Friend for 50 Years Having a Heart Attack

When I was younger, I found a friend that I knew was special. We got to know each other, and we had disagreements, and even got into a fight once. But because we had that fight, we learned a lot about our friendship. We learned that we are 2 different individuals, because we had thoughts about the same subject, but understood that values doesn't only go one way. From that point on, we both said we are sorry, because when it comes down to it, a friendship is worth more, then anything else. We played in little league together for 4 years. I was the pitcher, and he was my catcher. It was something special, as he was my battery mate. He even cached a perfect game I threw, when I was 10 years old. We continued our friendship , and end up working at the same place in Brooklyn, at a local delicatessen.

We had so much fun, as at the end of the night, when we stocked out the pickles, we just was zany, as we had pickle fights, and throwing at each other. We made enough money doing this for 2 years, when we both decided to visit Florida for the first time. I was 17 and he was 16. I forgot to tell you, that his birthday is the same day as mine. One year later, we decided for the summer, to be Camp Counselors at a sleep away camp upstate New York. We helped children have a wonderful summer, and we were both appreciated for our work, and to show all a friendship, that is truly special. That summer, my best friend met a woman called Leslie, and I kept our friendship close as possible, as he got involved with her, and got married seven years later at the age of 25.

I got involved with a few other friends I met from the camp, and sadly my best friend and I parted ways for 2 years. We met one day at a bowling alley, and I told him I am sorry for feeling jealous of his marriage. He also told me he was sorry, as he was as much to blame for our friendship not being close,during those 2 years apart. We rekindled our friendship from that point forward, and never looked back. I ended up getting married to my first wife a few years later, and he was my best man. I moved to Florida in 1980, and stayed married for 18 years, until my values as a husband was not there any more. I wasn't happy as my first wife didn't care about being a mother to my first child called Melanie. Today this brilliant girl, lives in Washington DC, as the copywriter to Dow Jones..

Well it was a bitter divorce, as my first wife was to negative, and she wanted to commit suicide, and leave her own daughter.She said I am not a mother. Well she is still alive, but we don't talk about our daughter. Moving along, as we had visits from my best friend Harvey every few years, and we went to Disney World a few times together in the ages. We talk baseball, and hockey over the phone every few weeks, and he came down to Florida and met my new wife Elizabeth. This may, my new marriage is going on 15 years, and I understood at that point, what a true friend meant. We are still friends going on our 51st year, and this friendship, despite all conditions, is staying as close, as any friendship could be.One week ago, I got a call from Harvey's wife, and told me that Harvey had a heart attack, and is in ICU.

When I heard this devastating news, I cried for hours, as part of me was being torn away from my heart. The next day, I took a flight, despite not having funds, and went to the airport to plead with them to let me go. Out of the blue, I got a call from my friends brother Bruce. He knew my situation was very bad, not only because of my Parkinson Disease I have since 2007, but because of my heart and soul meant so much for his brother, on our friendship, and the desire to always be there for each other, regardless of all obstacles that crossed our path. I thanked him so much, and he said what I did for you, was for a friendship that was made by God, and we don't want to take something away from either of us. He picked me up at the airport and drove me right to the hospital, and when I saw Harvey, it was hard, as I started crying again, and had to step out of the room.

His Mother came over to me to comfort me, as she is as important to us, as she kept us together as well. He was in a Coma, which he was for 3 days. When all of a sudden, he heard my voice, and he woke up crying, as I was there for him, in time of need. Everyone was happy, and Leslie came over to me to hug me, because even his doctor told me, that it was a miracle, as thy didn't know if he was going to survive. I went down to my knees, and cried and prayed to god to thank him, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing him to wake up. He was coherent, and we hugged each other for a few minutes, and we both looked up at the same moment, to thank God once again, for allowing our dearest friendship to go on. It was 3 days later, that I had to go back home to Florida, and we knew we felt in our heart, that our life's and friendship together will go on.

I thanked his brother and mother and his wife, for allowing me to come, and allowed me to sleep somewhere, and fed me as well. The miracle of my friendship, will be deep in my soul, because God had let me live and for me to be where I had to be, when it was more important, then anything in my life, at the very deepest time in my life.

Published by David Cohen

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Ayub Khan and the Starlet Christine Keeler

Field Marshal Ayub Khan was the first military general to lead Pakistan. This is certainly a well deserved title, but the General was also a flamboyant man who lived life to the hilt. He frequently traveled abroad and one of his favorite places was London. In London he was often the guest at the imposing estate of Clivedon in Buckinghamshire. One may wonder what the Pakistan president was doing at this estate. ? Unlike later Pakistan presidents like Zia and Mushraff who dabbled in sending Jihadi fighters into Kashmir, Ayub Khan was more interested in other matters. This concerned a string of girls who frequented the swimming pool at Buckinghamshire. The girls were allowed to swim in the pool with the condition that to swim it had to be in the nude. This was loved by the girls who frolicked nude in the pool. This was to the liking of general Ayub Khan who loved to swim and have fun in this pool. It was here he met Christine Keeler. This girl was a beautiful and sexy model. In addition she was not averse to sex with anybody and one of her lovers was the war minister John Profuma. Christine Keeler met Ayub Khan at this pool and she was mighty impressed with the tall and heavily built Punjabi. In fact in an interview later she complimented the looks and masculine charm of Ayub Khan. He may have also swum with Rice Mandy Davis, a girl one third his age. Christine Keeler was involved in the sex scandal of the early sixties that led to the suicide of Dr Ward. But Ayub had nothing to do with the suicide of Dr Ward. He was a simple man , out for fun. One can't grudge him that ! 12320

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Nocturnal Grease Devils, Sex and Tamil Women in Lanka

Darkness is a cloak that some times covers many nefarious activities. One set of events in the north east of Lanka defies solution. The fact that it is confined to Tamil women is an enigma. What is happening is really weird. Many Tamil women have reported that certain men in skimpy underwear prowl at night. These nocturnal men are covered with grease and mind you in case you attempt to catch them, your hands will not be able to grip them and these nocturnal visitors will slip away: thanks to the grease smeared on their bodies. If the grease covered men now referred to as the grease devils were only prowling around, it would still not be that serious. But now reports have come in of women being assaulted in the dead of the night, single women or women staying alone. Rumors abound in such times and many people swear that two women were attacked and their breasts cut off. Though nobody saw it happen with his own eyes.

But a few cases of sex have been reported where the grease covered men have entered a house and while one man held the arms of the woman the other unraveled her sari with obvious consequences. The enigma is that the assaults seem to only be directed against Tamil women, pointing to the fact that perhaps these grease devils are Sinhalese young men out for a lark with a Tamil girl and resultant fun. Maybe it’s a hang over of the civil war, which resulted in the defeat of the extremist Tamils in the form of the LTTE. My friend rang me up from Lanka and informed me that his maid who was sleeping alone in her house awoke to find two grease covered men hovering over her. While one gagged her and held her by the arms and waist, the other untied her sari and petticoat. On further question he could not confirm it. But these acts have allowed rumors to spread and the local Tamils approached the police. They dismissed it as a prank and did not take it seriously. In one case the Tamils, after an alarm had been raised ran after two grease covered devils who escaped into a Lankan Naval base, raising suspicion that these devils are in reality soldiers. But again nothing is proved. There was even a clash with the police and this led to some arrests. But the mystery of the grease covered devils remains. Wonder who they are, misguided young Sinhalese or soldiers. Nobody is sure. Also read http://madangsingh.expertscolumn.com/article/nocturnal-grease-devils-sex-and-tamil-women-lanka Photo from wiki free commons 12320

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Star So Bright - News - Bubblews

Star So Bright - News - Bubblews

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Why were Adam and Eve Expelled from Heaven

The story of Adam and Eve is famous all over the world. God created Adam in his own image and as he was lonely gave him a partner. He created Eve from his rib and both lived in idyllic surroundings. Adam and Eve to live life happily, but they broke a cardinal promise of God. They as per popular mythology ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The result was that God banished them from heaven and they came down to earth. The man to earn his bread by toiling and the woman to bear children and attended suffering. This is the tale that is generally accepted by all people (mostly Christians ) all over the world. But references to this tale in some form are in all religions, but for Christians it is part of their sacrosanct belief. This tale is simple and popular. By the reason that God expelled Adam and eve could be something else. I will her venture a conjecture. If one reads Genesis2:9 it reveals a little bit of something else. It says “And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now, therefore, lest perhaps he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. And the Lord God sent him out of the paradise of pleasure, to till the earth from which he was taken” this is the literal translation without any change. An interpretation of the above is that Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden not because they ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but in order to prevent them from eating from the tree of life - both forbidden trees as in Genesis 2:9 - which would have made them eternal and Gods. The crucial point is that God feared that Adam and Eve would eat from the Tree of life and thus become an immortal. So perhaps God feared that Adam would become immortal and than you cannot have two immortals ! So maybe God feared competition. Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/737957_why-were-adam-and-eve-expelled-from-heaven#ixzz2w7em9Oro 12320

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Writers Continuing to Help Writers

My fellow writers, a new and innovative site has arrived! It is like nothing seen in any other writing community to date. It is a further development of all you see here on PreferredWritersGroup Blogspot. We continue to grow and improve daily. 
Be a part of it! Register today! It will cost you nothing, and you can instantly share your existing work with the world. Share links to your blog, your site, your books, anywhere on the web that your work is present. What other writing site will allow that?
If you choose to write good quality work here on the site itself, you may even become a staff writer, and be payed fairly for your efforts. Either way, there are many resources available to you at PWG, absolutely free! There is no way to lose here, we are writers helping writers. 
Try it today! You won't be sorry you did! For further details, visit the site, and see "How it Works"...

http://preferredwriters.enjin.com/news/m/1899537/article/2140380

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The Peanut Cart

My last blog, "Mixology of Life" was a splash into the splendor of  a 7 star hotel, the Burj Al Arab, in Dubai. The glimpse into solid gold paneling, arcing water of fountains, a single red rose and a city behind glass was an indelible memory.Optics and resplendence aside, I still harbored a fascination, a craving for fresh roasted peanuts straight from the cart, at street level.       I was aware that anaphylaxis was on  the rise possibly due to increased sensitivities to air quality, food stuffs and water quality, but so too was the new medicine. Small measured doses of peanuts could be administered to the patient within a highly functional medical setting.A careful and thorough monitoring of all signs and symptoms was the safety net to walking the high wire of building a physiology of resiliency against the harmful effects of the nefarious nut. My father went through this treatment years ago as a solution for the ambulance in the driveway and completely swollen breathing passages following a bee sting. The little pollen pocketed yellow and black striped insects of the fields and flowers became just that, for my father and our family,  as opposed to precursors to an alarming and traumatic reaction that was as deadly as a  gun shot.       Ahh science innovations and the consequential conquests can be so endearing in the battlefields of human health care.Even the most genuine of peace lovers can appreciate that fight.

In Montmartre, Paris  steps from  the Basilica De Sacre Coeur the wrinkled , amiable and carefree countenance of the peanut vendor was as welcoming as spring rain after a cold hard winter.Sunbeams glinted off the metal bars at his back.The chiseled,smudged gray stones radiated warmth in collaboration with the earthy enticing aroma emanating from the pan on the cook stand.      The place swirled with illustrious visitors, enticing characters, no doubt,  who had the good sense to flip the page, and gather in the reality of the steps, the narrows and open spaces of this historic, well preserved, spiritually minted edifice. From  behind radiated spokes of the wheel, and the fitted block of his  cart the peanut man flipped, adjusted and attended to the roasting process with an attention and ease that made time stand still   -not like the time you were caught in the maelstrom, as is often the case, but similar to watching children play, an elder smile, or noticing dappled light on a forest path.       When he spoke, the words were clipped and decorated with a melodic french accent and meaning was dipped in the chocolate of clear and simple as he explained the process in depth. The fellow, tied with a fresh apron newly splotched and crinkled  in the centre, lingered over the idea of keeping the temperatures constant, and the consistent careful rotation of the denizen of the deep, the well rooted peanut. The result was a  perfect taste sensation,   cart caviar of the streets from this contented gentle man in a fastidiously  tilted felt black cap and a coat of cultural data.

The essence of his simplicity embellished the colour in  the scarves and clung to feathery fringes of  hairstyles of  passerbyers for an  upbeat, rosy feeling like the red nose fastened to a clown or the moment you decide to turn off the mobile, if only for 20min.       The quick fix of phones momentarily set aside to give your fave five, the senses, a moment to dial in and your 6th sense a chance to get a little exercise.  Hunter- gathers of information portals, content,stimulus and digital connections do not ever really nullify their tech , completely. These days  tech  enhances our experiences when it remains a complement as opposed to an adversary or companion for life.   I say this while still respecting the craft and pleasure of peanuts roasted near the steps of the Basilica on a blue sky day, as this is a reminder to change directions or at least slow the run to a walk for a moment.

People, sauntered  haunted  and raced through the ramparts, steps and structures  arm in arm, in captured stills, motion, emotion, and or poised for reflection.The heights were  alluring as in Dubai  but the city was Paris and the views were formidable in the light.We were out of the fishbowl, rather the magnificent aquarium of one city behind glass, as beautiful as a starry night.We felt , now, like birds on the wing or perched on the buttresses with pillars of stone and exceptional architecture framing  panoramas. You could reach out your hand and feel the breath of the currents that shaped the clouds overhead and brushed the objects below.      The windows on cities ,behind glass or open air, are a boundless source of amazement, and yes, I would say cities are the personification of agility for human habitation, when well planned.

                                                                               

The peanut vendor standing tall behind his rustic cart shared his visions, there, at ground level of a peaceful peopled zone. He would continue to wheel his roasted recipe of arachnids to this location and that around the city gathering the pulse of the places. Now he would, engage with others over roasted peanuts and glance over his the layered padding of his shoulders, eye to eye with  the Sacre Coeur,  in all her glory. She had his back. The ornate wrought iron fencing were monkey bars for child's play not barriers .  His joy,  love for life and comfortable space in the crowd conformed easily to his surroundings. He reminded me of an intricate, animate and carefully designed puzzle piece fitted into the masterpiece of  the most complex and breathtaking jigsaw that was his city.

                                                                           The Center

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The Odd Story of Dame Alice Kyteler, the First Witch in Ireland

Photo © Kathryn Darden

The strange but true story of Dame Alice Kyteler of Ireland is a very interesting, little-known Irish tale. Alice Kyteler is recorded in history as the sorceress of Kilkenny and the first person accused and condemned for witchcraft in Ireland.

Born in 1280, Kyteler's family was a noble Irish family and an important part of the Kilkenny community. Alice Kyteler first married William Outlaw. She was married again in 1302 after Outlaw died. For a short time, Kyteler and Adam le Blund (husband #2) were accused of killing Outlaw.

When her second and third husbands also died, Kyteler was wed to John le Poer. When le Poer became seriously ill in 1324, he told people he was being poisoned and that he had found her chest full of potions and satanic instruments. At this point his children and the children of Dame Alice's other husbands accused her of sorcery and witchcraft.

What followed was a convoluted tale and trial built upon intrigue, family ties, politics, and religion all centered around a woman who had four husbands die under strange circumstances. The investigation led to the first woman being burned alive for sorcery and witchcraft in Ireland.

Read the full story at: The Strange History of Irish Witch Dame Alice Kyteler--the Sorceress of Kilkenny

Related:

• Irish Quotes for St. Patrick's Day
• Top Ten Most Amazing True Facts About Ireland & the Irish
• Ireland Acrostic: A Poem About the Emerald Isle
• Seven Lucky Songs for St. Patrick's Day
• Irish Barbie dolls for St. Patrick's Day 

Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing the link to this article with others. This article is © Kathryn Darden, all rights reserved,  and is not available to repost on websites, blogs, discussion boards, Facebook, or to translate and post elsewhere without written permission. If you have questions about skin care, email me!

Post ID KD214

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Josef Stalin's Victory parade at the End of world war II in 1945

The Second World War is receding from the minds of the younger generation. It is becoming more and more distant, but some events of that period can even now rouse the spirits of old soldiers. One of the famous events was Stalin’s victory parade at the end of the war. The parade took place on 24 June 1945 more than a month after the surrender of Nazi Germany to Russian commaqnders. it was a stupendous victory achieved at great human cost. The Russians lost 20 million dead and their contribution to the cause of allied victory was substantial. It was fitting thta a parade be held to commomorate this great victory The order for the parade was issued by Josef Stalin himself. Earlier as per noted historian Anthony Beevor Stalin himself wished to lead the parade, but then gave up the idea as the horse on which he was to ride unseated him. After that he commented that let Zhukov lead the parade as he is from the cavalry.

Stalin thus in his operational order appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov as the parade inspector and MarshalKonstantin Rokossovsky as the parade commander. The organization of the parade was the prerogative of Colonel General Pavel Artemyev. The parade took place on a rainy day and later the fly past was cancelled. Stalin himself took the salute standing atop Lenin’s mausoleum. Units of all Russian federation groups as well as a small Polish contingent took part in the parade. The parade commenced with both Zhukov and Rokossovsky riding down Red Square on a white and Black chargers. A statue of Zhukov on a horse adorns the state historical museum in Moscow.Columns of Soviet soldiers and tanks sped past Stalin atop the mauseleum of lenin. The vigor and energy displayed by teh troops was exemplary. The high point of the parade was when at the end some 200 captured banners of the German army army were placed at the entrance of Lenin’s mausoleum. These included a personal banner of Hitler’s body guards. The parade highlighted the hold of Stalin and the contribution of the Russians to the Allied victory. Also read http://expertscolumn.com/content/stalin-and-7-november-1941-victory-parade -the-end-of-world-war-ii#ixzz2vdpS4lbB Follow us: @bukisa on Twitter | bukisa on Facebook

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The Emotional Tail Of A Friend For 50 Years Having A Heart Attack

When I was younger, I found a friend that I knew was special. We got to know each other, and we had disagreements, and even got into a fistacoff once. But because we had that fight, we learned a lot about our friendship. We learned that we are 2 different individuals, because we had thoughts about the same subject, but understood that values doesn't only go one way. From that point on, we both said we are sorry, because when it comes down to it, a friendship is worth more, then anything else. We played in little league together for 4 years. I was the pitcher, and he was my catcher. It was something special, as he was my battery mait. He even catched a perfect game I threw, when I was 10 years old. We continued our friendship , and ende up working at the same place in Brooklyn, at a local delicatesson. We had so much fun, as at the end of the night, when we stocked out the pickles, we just was zany, as we  had pickle fights, and throwing at each other. We made enough money doing this for 2 years, when we both decided to visit Florida for the first time. I was 17 and he was 16. I forgot to tell you, that his birthday is the same day as mine. One year  later, we decided for the summer, to be Camp Counselors at a sleep away camp upstate New York. We helped children have a wonderful summer, and we were both appreciated for our work, and to show all a friendship, that is truely special. That summer, my best friend met a woman called Leslie, and I kept our friendship close as possible, as he got involved with her, and got married seven years later at the age of 25. I got involved with a few other friends I met from the camp, and sadly my best friend and I parted ways for 2 years. We met one day at a bowling alley, and I told him I am sorry for feeling jealous of his marriage. He also told me he was sorry, as he was as much to blame for our friendship not being close,during those 2 years apart. We rekindled our friendship from that point forward, and never looked back. I ended up getting married to my first wife a few years later, and he was my best man. I moved to Florida in 1980, and stayed married for 18 years, until my values as a husband was not there any more. I wasen't happy as my first wife didn't care about being a mother to my first child called Melanie. Today this brilliant girl, lives in Washington DC, as the copywriter to Dow Jones.. Well it was a bitter divorce, as my first wife was to negative, and she wanted to commit suicide, and leave her own daughter. She said I am not a mother. Well she is still alive, but we don't talk about our daughter. Moving along, as we had visits from my best friend Harvey every few years, and we went to Disney World  a few times together in the ages. We talk baseball, and hockey over the phone every few weeks, and he came down to Florida and met my new wife Elizabeth. This may, my new marriage is going on 15 years, and I understood at that point, what a true friend meant. We are still friends going on our 51st year, and this friendship, despite all conditions, is staying as close, as any friendship could be.

One week ago, I got a call from Harvey's wife, and told me that Harvey had a heart attack, and is in ICU. When I heard this devastating news, I cried for hours, as part of me was being torn away from my heart. The next day, I took a flight, despite not having funds, and went to the airport to plead with them to let me go. Out of the blue, I got a call from my friends brother Bruce. He knew my situation was very bad, not only because of my Parkinson Disease I have since 2007, but because of my heart and soul meant so much for his brother, on our friendship, and th desire to always be there for each other, regardless of all obstacles that crossed our path. I thanked him so much, and he said what I did for you, was for a friendship that was made by God, and we don't want to take something away from either of us. He picked me up at the airport and drove me right to the hospital, and when I saw Harvey, it was hard, as I started crying again, and had to step out of the room. His Mother came over to me to comfort me, as she is as important to us, as she kept us together as well. He was in a Coma, which he was for 3 days. When all of a sudden, he heard my voice, and he woke up crying, as I was there for him, in time of need. Everyone was happy, and Leslie came over to me to hug me, because even his doctor told me, that it was a miracle, as thy didn't know if he was going to survive. I went down to my knees, and cried and prayed to god to thank him, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing him to wake up. He was coherent, and we hugged each other for a few minutes, and we both looked up at the same moment, to thank God once again, for allowing our dearest friendship to go on. It was 3 days later, that I had to go back home to Florida

, and we knew we felt in our heart, that our lifes and friendship together will go on.I thanked his brother and mother and his wife, for llowing me to come, and allowed me to sleep somewhere, and fed me as well.   The miracle of my friendship, will be deep in my soul, because God had let me live and for me to be where I had to be, when it was more important, then anything in my life, at the very deepest time in my life.

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