Saturday, May 30, 2009
DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?
To my readers who may not be able to understand my cryptic satire, you may go to http://www.trinidadexpress.com or http://www.tv6tnt.com for the Trinidad news
ADAGES
The Bright Side
It seems that our President is a man of adages.
Seems like he believes and loves to practice the following:
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
“Silence is Golden.”
Let us add another:
“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”
Our President is truly a great source of folk wisdom.
It seems that our President is a man of adages.
Seems like he believes and loves to practice the following:
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
“Silence is Golden.”
Let us add another:
“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”
Our President is truly a great source of folk wisdom.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
THERE IS BEAUTY EVERYWHERE
Port of Spain by Night(Click to enlarge)The Bright Side
“With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
Desiderata
There is beauty if we look for it.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
COMING SOON TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU!
Please click on the "Arrow". Feel free to let the video load and play it again.
THERE IS HOPE YET
The Bright Side
For those of us who shudder and grieve as we scan the panorama of our political and national landscape, allow me to share an apt quote from the great Mahatma Ghandi.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won."
There have been tyrants (*wanna be and real dictators and arrogant politicians*) and murderers and for a time, they seem invincible but in the end they always fall.
Think of it! Always!”
(* my words*)
Things can change but we must act (not talk) differently. Do something different and positive even if those actions may seem insignificant.
For those of us who shudder and grieve as we scan the panorama of our political and national landscape, allow me to share an apt quote from the great Mahatma Ghandi.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won."
There have been tyrants (*wanna be and real dictators and arrogant politicians*) and murderers and for a time, they seem invincible but in the end they always fall.
Think of it! Always!”
(* my words*)
Things can change but we must act (not talk) differently. Do something different and positive even if those actions may seem insignificant.
It is drops of water that create an ocean. Do you think that the single drop understands his being and significance?
I think, most likely not. But when it congeals with all the other drops, it becomes part of a powerful force.
I implore you, start acting today!
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the followers of “My Silver Lining”. The interest shown has been a great source of support and motivation.
I have received many emails about posting comments and would like to share the following:
To post a comment, you must have a Google account.
IF YOU HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT
- Open http://mysilverliningtt.blogspot.com and click on
“comments” at the bottom of the post you want to comment on.
- In the “Post a comment” box, type in what you want to
express.
- When finished, click on the small black arrow in the right side
of the “comment as” box and select “Google Account”.
- Click on “Post Comment”. You will be prompted to type in a
word for verification. Click on “Finish” after you have verified
the word.
- Enter your username and password in their respective boxes
(selecting the “Remember me on this computer” box will sign
you in automatically whenever you open
http://mysilverliningtt.blogspot.com ) and then click on “Sign
in”.
- Congratulations...you have just made a valuable contribution
to the blog.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT
- To create an account open www.google.com and select
“Gmail” in the top left corner of the page.
- Click on “Create an Account” box in the lower right side of the
page.
- Enter the relevant information in the different boxes and click
on “I accept. Create my account” at the bottom of the page.
- Congratulations...you have another email account and can
now make a valuable contribution to
http://mysilverliningtt.blogspot.com by following the steps in “I
HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT”.
If you have any questions about the above step, please feel free to contact me at jhsmfg@hotmail.com.
I have received many emails about posting comments and would like to share the following:
To post a comment, you must have a Google account.
IF YOU HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT
- Open http://mysilverliningtt.blogspot.com and click on
“comments” at the bottom of the post you want to comment on.
- In the “Post a comment” box, type in what you want to
express.
- When finished, click on the small black arrow in the right side
of the “comment as” box and select “Google Account”.
- Click on “Post Comment”. You will be prompted to type in a
word for verification. Click on “Finish” after you have verified
the word.
- Enter your username and password in their respective boxes
(selecting the “Remember me on this computer” box will sign
you in automatically whenever you open
http://mysilverliningtt.blogspot.com ) and then click on “Sign
in”.
- Congratulations...you have just made a valuable contribution
to the blog.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT
- To create an account open www.google.com and select
“Gmail” in the top left corner of the page.
- Click on “Create an Account” box in the lower right side of the
page.
- Enter the relevant information in the different boxes and click
on “I accept. Create my account” at the bottom of the page.
- Congratulations...you have another email account and can
now make a valuable contribution to
http://mysilverliningtt.blogspot.com by following the steps in “I
HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT”.
If you have any questions about the above step, please feel free to contact me at jhsmfg@hotmail.com.
Friday, May 22, 2009
WHEN THINGS GO RIGHT
The Bright Side
I believe that it is good to give thanks and praise when things go right.
The following is true.
Around 1:00am on Wednesday May 21, 2009, an 85 year old resident of a Senior Citizens’ Home in upper Santa Cruz seemed to be having a heart attack.
They called the EMS ambulance who responded promptly (see below). They took her to the General Hospital in Port of Spain.
The doctors and nursing staff were prompt, attentive and courteous in delivering the medical attention which was investigative with many tests and thorough.
By 8:00am, our Senior Citizen, having been kept a few hours for observation, was on her way back home. Luckily, it was only a severe angina attack.
This was all reported by our Senior Citizen’s niece who was present at all times.
“And all this was for free,” she said. ”The next time I have an emergency. I am going to the General Hospital. Do you know that a private ambulance quoted a cash up-front price of $900.00 to take her to a private nursing home? ”
It was a lack of this resource that lead to a hesitant and concerned resort to the free public service.
Well done, guys and gals at the General Hospital. I give you the credit where it is due.
The Dark Side (pun intended)
You would not believe this one. The EMS insisted that the people from the Senior Citizens’ Home stand at the dark roadside (at that hour) to flag them down. They were not sure where the home was located (next to the Santa Cruz Fire Station).
Aw, fellas, come on! We are grateful that you were prompt but you do not where the Santa Cruz Fire Station is?
I believe that it is good to give thanks and praise when things go right.
The following is true.
Around 1:00am on Wednesday May 21, 2009, an 85 year old resident of a Senior Citizens’ Home in upper Santa Cruz seemed to be having a heart attack.
They called the EMS ambulance who responded promptly (see below). They took her to the General Hospital in Port of Spain.
The doctors and nursing staff were prompt, attentive and courteous in delivering the medical attention which was investigative with many tests and thorough.
By 8:00am, our Senior Citizen, having been kept a few hours for observation, was on her way back home. Luckily, it was only a severe angina attack.
This was all reported by our Senior Citizen’s niece who was present at all times.
“And all this was for free,” she said. ”The next time I have an emergency. I am going to the General Hospital. Do you know that a private ambulance quoted a cash up-front price of $900.00 to take her to a private nursing home? ”
It was a lack of this resource that lead to a hesitant and concerned resort to the free public service.
Well done, guys and gals at the General Hospital. I give you the credit where it is due.
The Dark Side (pun intended)
You would not believe this one. The EMS insisted that the people from the Senior Citizens’ Home stand at the dark roadside (at that hour) to flag them down. They were not sure where the home was located (next to the Santa Cruz Fire Station).
Aw, fellas, come on! We are grateful that you were prompt but you do not where the Santa Cruz Fire Station is?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
STATES OF BEING
I took some time off for a most inspirational weekend in Tobago. No, I have not run out of things or ideas to write.
I want to thank my readers for their comments, guidance and responses. They were all very encouraging, including the critiques.
The Bright Side
This weekend, I had the privilege to see and hear Dr. Myles Munroe.
My subsequent research on the internet revealed that he is not without his detractors.
However, I was impressed by his message. I would like to simplistically share just one aspect of his message with you.
He says that all things are capable of multiple states. That state depends on the environment.
He used the example of water (liquid). It can also be ice (solid) or steam (gaseous). Each state exhibit different visible properties but it is still just water. It is also true that in each state it possesses energy.
As steam, it may be at the pinnacle of its energy potential. It has reached its boiling point. It is hot. It can scald you. Yet in this state, it is a great source of energy – moving engines and turbines, creating other forms of energy like electricity.
Crises, he says, are boiling points and can create conditions of high potential energy. Instead of running scared or becoming depressed or frustrated, we can recognize the potential of crises to generate positive energy.
So, the next time you face a crisis, think of it in this way. Use the crisis energy constructively to overcome instead of going under.
The Light Side
Money, Money, Money!
Here is the formula for making tons of money in La La Land.
Be from up north, be a private dick available for hire (at least pretend t be) and call yourself Bub Linktwist (or something like that).
Man is easy money as you get encore after encore after encore.
I want to thank my readers for their comments, guidance and responses. They were all very encouraging, including the critiques.
The Bright Side
This weekend, I had the privilege to see and hear Dr. Myles Munroe.
My subsequent research on the internet revealed that he is not without his detractors.
However, I was impressed by his message. I would like to simplistically share just one aspect of his message with you.
He says that all things are capable of multiple states. That state depends on the environment.
He used the example of water (liquid). It can also be ice (solid) or steam (gaseous). Each state exhibit different visible properties but it is still just water. It is also true that in each state it possesses energy.
As steam, it may be at the pinnacle of its energy potential. It has reached its boiling point. It is hot. It can scald you. Yet in this state, it is a great source of energy – moving engines and turbines, creating other forms of energy like electricity.
Crises, he says, are boiling points and can create conditions of high potential energy. Instead of running scared or becoming depressed or frustrated, we can recognize the potential of crises to generate positive energy.
So, the next time you face a crisis, think of it in this way. Use the crisis energy constructively to overcome instead of going under.
The Light Side
Money, Money, Money!
Here is the formula for making tons of money in La La Land.
Be from up north, be a private dick available for hire (at least pretend t be) and call yourself Bub Linktwist (or something like that).
Man is easy money as you get encore after encore after encore.
More Money, Money, Money!?
According to the Trinidad Guardian, two shareholders of the “Penny Bank”, in 1993, refused a Central Bank offer of ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) for each share that they held. The total pay-out would have been $12,000,000.00.
They went through the legal process right up to the Privy Council. The Privy Council, it seems ordered an independent valuation and a mutually agreed independent valuator was appointed. His finding would final and binding on all parties.
What is the independent valuator’s finding, today, in 2009, some 16 years later?
He found the value to be Fifty Five Cents ($0.55) per share. The total pay-out is now $6,600,000.00.
It seems like a bird in the hand is really worth two in the bush.
Money, Money, Money!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
ARE THEY ANIMALS OR HUMANS?
The Bright Side?
A young man pumps five more bullets into the already lifeless body of another young man. Believe or not, the shooter is a human being. There are people that he loves dearly and cherishes.
A young woman acts as a decoy to lure unsuspecting people to their deaths. Believe or not, she is a human being. There are people who dearly love and cherish her.
According to media reports, an “innocent” who was shielded by his community has one criminal charge pending.
I have heard many a discussion that would berate the common lamentations, “He was a good boy.” “She never uses to be involve in nuttin.” “Dah was meh bes chile.”
Naturally, these discussions are nearly always highly critical of those making such statements.
“Dey too hypocrite,” is a common response.
It is rare that you would find one who even tries to understand the basis of these lamentations.
Let’s face it. These young men and women are not animals but human beings. These persons are human beings where something has gone radically wrong. They are a part of the “Lost Generation” that Ella Andell warned about in song, approximately twenty years ago.
I recall Erica Williams (the daughter of the true Father of the Nation and the first Caribbean Godfather), made some statements around the same time. She predicted that we would reap the whirlwind of the seeds that we were sowing at the time.
She was talking about our youth and racism, among other things. If my recollection is correct, she was in Miami and was responding to attempts to woo her into Trini political life.
Notwithstanding the many warnings, we sowed the seeds. We created today’s monsters either by our acts of commission or omission. This is a fact.
A full discussion of this would fill many books. However, it is time that we stop washing our hands and take the responsibility that is truly our own.
The bright side is that since we created the situation then we can change it.
Remember the African proverb that says it takes a village to mind a child? I know this to be true, as I find support for this in my own upbringing.
If each of us takes up the mantle of just one Child, it will make a difference. It would mean one less soul heading down the path of destruction. There are children going to Primary School tottering on the edge and in need of your help. It is not too late.
Select one such Child. Devote some of your time and resources (no matter how limited you think that these may be) to that Child. As a starving child, there were many days when I got food from a very poor neighbour.
Act today and make a difference.
A young man pumps five more bullets into the already lifeless body of another young man. Believe or not, the shooter is a human being. There are people that he loves dearly and cherishes.
A young woman acts as a decoy to lure unsuspecting people to their deaths. Believe or not, she is a human being. There are people who dearly love and cherish her.
According to media reports, an “innocent” who was shielded by his community has one criminal charge pending.
I have heard many a discussion that would berate the common lamentations, “He was a good boy.” “She never uses to be involve in nuttin.” “Dah was meh bes chile.”
Naturally, these discussions are nearly always highly critical of those making such statements.
“Dey too hypocrite,” is a common response.
It is rare that you would find one who even tries to understand the basis of these lamentations.
Let’s face it. These young men and women are not animals but human beings. These persons are human beings where something has gone radically wrong. They are a part of the “Lost Generation” that Ella Andell warned about in song, approximately twenty years ago.
I recall Erica Williams (the daughter of the true Father of the Nation and the first Caribbean Godfather), made some statements around the same time. She predicted that we would reap the whirlwind of the seeds that we were sowing at the time.
She was talking about our youth and racism, among other things. If my recollection is correct, she was in Miami and was responding to attempts to woo her into Trini political life.
Notwithstanding the many warnings, we sowed the seeds. We created today’s monsters either by our acts of commission or omission. This is a fact.
A full discussion of this would fill many books. However, it is time that we stop washing our hands and take the responsibility that is truly our own.
The bright side is that since we created the situation then we can change it.
Remember the African proverb that says it takes a village to mind a child? I know this to be true, as I find support for this in my own upbringing.
If each of us takes up the mantle of just one Child, it will make a difference. It would mean one less soul heading down the path of destruction. There are children going to Primary School tottering on the edge and in need of your help. It is not too late.
Select one such Child. Devote some of your time and resources (no matter how limited you think that these may be) to that Child. As a starving child, there were many days when I got food from a very poor neighbour.
Act today and make a difference.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
THIS CAN’T BE TRUE
The Light Side?
People worldwide love to make fun of their politicians.
Trinis are no different and Patrick Manning is far from immune from being the subject of such comedy.
Here is once such instance that has made the grapevine recently. Admittedly it looks like an adaptation of a George Bush joke.
‘A farmer named Beharry was overseeing his herd in a big field not too far from Valencia stretch when suddenly a brand-new black Prado advanced toward him out of a cloud of dust. In the back seat, a man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Serengetti sunglasses and YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the farmer, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?"
Beharry looks at the man, who obviously feels he is a hotshot Big Boy, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Yeah, why not?"
The Big Boy instructs his driver to park the PCL Prado, his assistant whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Blackberry cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. The assistant then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany ... Within seconds, he receives an email on his PDA that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry Storm and, after a few minutes, receives a response.
Finally, he prints out a full-colour, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer, hands it to the Big Boy who turns to Beharry and says, "You have exactly 586 cows and calves."
"That's right. Well, Ah guess you could take one of my calves, then" says Beharry with a bemused smile.
He watches the Big Boy in his suit select one of the animals and looks on with amusement as his driver and assistant stuff it into the back of the PCL Prado.
Then Beharry says to the Big Boy, "Aye! If I tell you exactly what your job is, will you give me back my calf?"
The Big Boy thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"
"You're the Prime Minister, right?" says Beharry.
"Wow! That's correct," says the Big Boy, "How did you guess that? You have seen me on television, haven’t you?"
"Nah! Ah didn’t have to guess." answered Beharry. "Look, yuh show up here even dough nobody call yuh; yuh want to get paid for an answer Ah know already, to a question Ah never ask yuh. Yuh use millions of dollars of equipment dat yuh pay for wid taxpayer money ,trying to show meh how much smarter dan me yuh is; and you ain’t know a ting bout how hard working people make a living - or bout cows, for dat matter.”
“In de fust place, dah is a herd of sheep!”
“Now, geh me back meh dog.”
People worldwide love to make fun of their politicians.
Trinis are no different and Patrick Manning is far from immune from being the subject of such comedy.
Here is once such instance that has made the grapevine recently. Admittedly it looks like an adaptation of a George Bush joke.
‘A farmer named Beharry was overseeing his herd in a big field not too far from Valencia stretch when suddenly a brand-new black Prado advanced toward him out of a cloud of dust. In the back seat, a man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Serengetti sunglasses and YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the farmer, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?"
Beharry looks at the man, who obviously feels he is a hotshot Big Boy, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Yeah, why not?"
The Big Boy instructs his driver to park the PCL Prado, his assistant whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Blackberry cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. The assistant then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany ... Within seconds, he receives an email on his PDA that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry Storm and, after a few minutes, receives a response.
Finally, he prints out a full-colour, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer, hands it to the Big Boy who turns to Beharry and says, "You have exactly 586 cows and calves."
"That's right. Well, Ah guess you could take one of my calves, then" says Beharry with a bemused smile.
He watches the Big Boy in his suit select one of the animals and looks on with amusement as his driver and assistant stuff it into the back of the PCL Prado.
Then Beharry says to the Big Boy, "Aye! If I tell you exactly what your job is, will you give me back my calf?"
The Big Boy thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"
"You're the Prime Minister, right?" says Beharry.
"Wow! That's correct," says the Big Boy, "How did you guess that? You have seen me on television, haven’t you?"
"Nah! Ah didn’t have to guess." answered Beharry. "Look, yuh show up here even dough nobody call yuh; yuh want to get paid for an answer Ah know already, to a question Ah never ask yuh. Yuh use millions of dollars of equipment dat yuh pay for wid taxpayer money ,trying to show meh how much smarter dan me yuh is; and you ain’t know a ting bout how hard working people make a living - or bout cows, for dat matter.”
“In de fust place, dah is a herd of sheep!”
“Now, geh me back meh dog.”
Monday, May 11, 2009
ACADEMICS AND RUSHED DEADLINES
Is this The Light Side?
I am rushing to meet a deadline for this blog.
Lest, God forbid, I make an error, let me acknowledge that a Victor Jardine wrote this letter to “The Bomb”.
He was writing about one of the major occurrences during the recently heavily locked down “Summit of the Americas.”
Out of an abundance of caution let me advise the CIA, British Intelligence, the Trinidad anti-terrorist squad and those know who do not know, “The Bomb” is not a weapon of mass destruction or a terrorist organization. It is a mere Trinidad & Tobago weekly newspaper. The letter was published on page 14 of the May 6, 2009 edition.
“An open letter to acting Police Commissioner James Philbert.
Sir, you should recommend that our Prime Minister issue medals of distinguished merit to the entire squad of valiant officers who, at risk of their lives, defended innocent citizens.
The hordes of citizens, who assembled in the St. James Amphitheatre with drums poised to unleash terror and destroy the eardrums of innocent citizens, were stopped in their tracks.
Plans were halted. These brave officers at risk to their own lives, forced then to unplug their deadly speaker boxes!”
Well done Mr. Jardine. You are a true patriotic Trini. I hope that the Prime Minister reads and acts upon your fine recommendation.
The Bright Side
Our President continues to enjoy a fantastic vacation away from all the noise, haste, bother and controversy here in Trinidad & Tobago.
To paraphrase the words of Fagin, in the musical “Oliver”:
“Cheerio and be back soon”
Max, the country is in trouble
Good to know that you that you are rested
And growing to full bloom
But Hurry home and get back soon.
I am rushing to meet a deadline for this blog.
Lest, God forbid, I make an error, let me acknowledge that a Victor Jardine wrote this letter to “The Bomb”.
He was writing about one of the major occurrences during the recently heavily locked down “Summit of the Americas.”
Out of an abundance of caution let me advise the CIA, British Intelligence, the Trinidad anti-terrorist squad and those know who do not know, “The Bomb” is not a weapon of mass destruction or a terrorist organization. It is a mere Trinidad & Tobago weekly newspaper. The letter was published on page 14 of the May 6, 2009 edition.
“An open letter to acting Police Commissioner James Philbert.
Sir, you should recommend that our Prime Minister issue medals of distinguished merit to the entire squad of valiant officers who, at risk of their lives, defended innocent citizens.
The hordes of citizens, who assembled in the St. James Amphitheatre with drums poised to unleash terror and destroy the eardrums of innocent citizens, were stopped in their tracks.
Plans were halted. These brave officers at risk to their own lives, forced then to unplug their deadly speaker boxes!”
Well done Mr. Jardine. You are a true patriotic Trini. I hope that the Prime Minister reads and acts upon your fine recommendation.
The Bright Side
Our President continues to enjoy a fantastic vacation away from all the noise, haste, bother and controversy here in Trinidad & Tobago.
To paraphrase the words of Fagin, in the musical “Oliver”:
“Cheerio and be back soon”
Max, the country is in trouble
Good to know that you that you are rested
And growing to full bloom
But Hurry home and get back soon.
Friday, May 8, 2009
VISIONARIES
As one who held leadership positions, I am keenly aware of the challenges and risks.
Getting your people to accept new ideas and change old behaviours and attitudes, may well be the greatest challenge of all. Being misunderstood might be the greatest risk.
Your people may think that you are weird. Your concepts and ideas are often misunderstood.
Didn’t people initially think that Thomas Alva Edison had a few loose screws? The lights were on (pun intended) but nobody’s home. What about Bill Gates? Was not the situation the same? Ask Steve Job, another brilliant man himself.
At times visionaries may even appear arrogant.
Winston Churchill loathed Mahatma Ghandi (“It is alarming and also nauseating to see Mr. Gandhi, a seditious middle temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a type well known in the east, striding half-naked up the steps of the viceregal palace, while he is still organizing and conducting a defiant campaign of civil disobedience, to parley on equal terms with the representative of the king-emperor.” 1930). He thought the Mahatma arrogant among other things.
The Light Side
If visionaries are misunderstood and thought to be arrogant, history may reveal that our Mr. Patrick Manning is a visionary extraordinaire.
A CHEWED up Shilling
Recently my last daughter, bless her heart, was trying to console me about out of step about something.
“Come on,” she said, “you don’t have to feel like a chewed shilling in a one cent party.”
Trying to under the expression, a rather philosophical discussion ensued. I tried to explain to her why I could not agree with it.
Our minds just could not meet on this matter and having failed to convince her on my point of view, she gave up on me in exasperation. “Do you go to primary school?” she finally said. “Then you will never understand the saying,” she quipped in response to my negative reply.
Anyway, being out of step has never been a problem for me. The fact is that even up to today I still revel in it.
The Bright Side
As to the expression, I still feel that a chewed up shilling (25 cent piece) is worth more (proverbially and otherwise) than a mint quality one cent any day. Just take it back to the Central Bank for exchange.
Getting your people to accept new ideas and change old behaviours and attitudes, may well be the greatest challenge of all. Being misunderstood might be the greatest risk.
Your people may think that you are weird. Your concepts and ideas are often misunderstood.
Didn’t people initially think that Thomas Alva Edison had a few loose screws? The lights were on (pun intended) but nobody’s home. What about Bill Gates? Was not the situation the same? Ask Steve Job, another brilliant man himself.
At times visionaries may even appear arrogant.
Winston Churchill loathed Mahatma Ghandi (“It is alarming and also nauseating to see Mr. Gandhi, a seditious middle temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a type well known in the east, striding half-naked up the steps of the viceregal palace, while he is still organizing and conducting a defiant campaign of civil disobedience, to parley on equal terms with the representative of the king-emperor.” 1930). He thought the Mahatma arrogant among other things.
The Light Side
If visionaries are misunderstood and thought to be arrogant, history may reveal that our Mr. Patrick Manning is a visionary extraordinaire.
A CHEWED up Shilling
Recently my last daughter, bless her heart, was trying to console me about out of step about something.
“Come on,” she said, “you don’t have to feel like a chewed shilling in a one cent party.”
Trying to under the expression, a rather philosophical discussion ensued. I tried to explain to her why I could not agree with it.
Our minds just could not meet on this matter and having failed to convince her on my point of view, she gave up on me in exasperation. “Do you go to primary school?” she finally said. “Then you will never understand the saying,” she quipped in response to my negative reply.
Anyway, being out of step has never been a problem for me. The fact is that even up to today I still revel in it.
The Bright Side
As to the expression, I still feel that a chewed up shilling (25 cent piece) is worth more (proverbially and otherwise) than a mint quality one cent any day. Just take it back to the Central Bank for exchange.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
TRAFFIC EASE UP
The Bright Side
Yesterday morning I experienced the shortest school day commute in years, along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway.
Returning from dropping my daughter to school in Tunapuna, there was very minimal traffic from Tunapuna to the Uriah Butler intersection on the Highway. This was at 8:15 am. Wow!
Just prove that yesterday was no fluke, this morning’s commute was also easy.
A colleague living in the southland reports on the west-south traffic, “The very bright side is that once pass (the) Aranguez (intersection), the drive to south is almost non-stop.”
Things can and do get better.
The Light Side
You remember that I told you that we “never see-come see” Trinis were parking on the new flyover bridge to take in the view?
Well, yesterday the Police responded to deter motorists from this dangerous practice.
What did they do? Wait for it – they parked a Police car on the bridge. This is absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes.
FINDING GOOD NEWS
The Bright Side
Good news exists. Finding it may be the problem.
On May6, buried on page 22 of the Trinidad Express (does anyone read that far inside the newspaper?) I found this:
Packing House Boosting Farm Profits.
Very quietly, improvements in our agro-industry are happening.
Things are not always bad. I think that our focus is.
So the front pages are filled with bad news and there is sport on the back pages.
Where do you find the good news? Just go to the center pages.
Yesterday morning I experienced the shortest school day commute in years, along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway.
Returning from dropping my daughter to school in Tunapuna, there was very minimal traffic from Tunapuna to the Uriah Butler intersection on the Highway. This was at 8:15 am. Wow!
Just prove that yesterday was no fluke, this morning’s commute was also easy.
A colleague living in the southland reports on the west-south traffic, “The very bright side is that once pass (the) Aranguez (intersection), the drive to south is almost non-stop.”
Things can and do get better.
The Light Side
You remember that I told you that we “never see-come see” Trinis were parking on the new flyover bridge to take in the view?
Well, yesterday the Police responded to deter motorists from this dangerous practice.
What did they do? Wait for it – they parked a Police car on the bridge. This is absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes.
FINDING GOOD NEWS
The Bright Side
Good news exists. Finding it may be the problem.
On May6, buried on page 22 of the Trinidad Express (does anyone read that far inside the newspaper?) I found this:
Packing House Boosting Farm Profits.
Very quietly, improvements in our agro-industry are happening.
Things are not always bad. I think that our focus is.
So the front pages are filled with bad news and there is sport on the back pages.
Where do you find the good news? Just go to the center pages.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Are These Winds Of Change?
The Bright Side
Yesterday, two refreshing breezes blew over the Trinidad political landscape, according to media reports.
Amid the controversy surrounding his controversial appointment by the President to the Integrity Commission, Jeffrey McFarlane stepped aside pending a resolution to the controversy.
In another rare event, Member of Parliament, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in an apology to the House of Representatives, admitted that she acted on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, Basdeo Panday.
She got into hot water when she severely criticized the President for failing to appoint Members of the new Integrity Commission. The serving Commissioners resigned since February following a Court ruling knocking their approach on the Rowley issue. The Speaker referred Persad-Bissessar to the House’s Privileges Committee for possible disciplinary action.
On the bright side, the President acted swiftly following Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s statement in the House and appointed the new Commissioners (albeit controversial) by the following Friday.
I must compliment Mr. McFarlane and Mrs. Persad-Bissessar for their actions (so rare in this Nation) and look forward to more refreshing winds of change.
The Dark Side
The President continues on vacation overseas, seemingly unperturbed by the swirling controversy he provoked by his appointment.
Mr. Panday remained uncharacteristically mute following Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s apology.
TRAFFIC EASE UP
The Bright Side
The new flyover (part of the proposed highway interchange) opened with great fanfare on Friday. Comically, the ceremonial opening created a massive traffic backup during the event.
Trinis travelling to south can now look forward to a great ease at what used to be a long wait at this major junction.
The Light Side?
I saw Trinis who drove onto the two-lane flyover, parked, took photos, limed and took in the new view from the bridge.
Other news
Some Light Sides
White supremacists prophets in the USA always predicted that there will be a black President when pigs flew. Within the first one hundred days of Obama’s presidency, swine flu (internet joke).
In a land bereft of road signage, our major highways and the streets of Port of Spain are now generously populated with road and street signs in Spanish. Now all the Latin American prostitutes and drug dealers easily find their way from their illegal entry at Cedros to and around Port of Spain.
Yesterday, two refreshing breezes blew over the Trinidad political landscape, according to media reports.
Amid the controversy surrounding his controversial appointment by the President to the Integrity Commission, Jeffrey McFarlane stepped aside pending a resolution to the controversy.
In another rare event, Member of Parliament, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in an apology to the House of Representatives, admitted that she acted on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, Basdeo Panday.
She got into hot water when she severely criticized the President for failing to appoint Members of the new Integrity Commission. The serving Commissioners resigned since February following a Court ruling knocking their approach on the Rowley issue. The Speaker referred Persad-Bissessar to the House’s Privileges Committee for possible disciplinary action.
On the bright side, the President acted swiftly following Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s statement in the House and appointed the new Commissioners (albeit controversial) by the following Friday.
I must compliment Mr. McFarlane and Mrs. Persad-Bissessar for their actions (so rare in this Nation) and look forward to more refreshing winds of change.
The Dark Side
The President continues on vacation overseas, seemingly unperturbed by the swirling controversy he provoked by his appointment.
Mr. Panday remained uncharacteristically mute following Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s apology.
TRAFFIC EASE UP
The Bright Side
The new flyover (part of the proposed highway interchange) opened with great fanfare on Friday. Comically, the ceremonial opening created a massive traffic backup during the event.
Trinis travelling to south can now look forward to a great ease at what used to be a long wait at this major junction.
The Light Side?
I saw Trinis who drove onto the two-lane flyover, parked, took photos, limed and took in the new view from the bridge.
Other news
Some Light Sides
White supremacists prophets in the USA always predicted that there will be a black President when pigs flew. Within the first one hundred days of Obama’s presidency, swine flu (internet joke).
In a land bereft of road signage, our major highways and the streets of Port of Spain are now generously populated with road and street signs in Spanish. Now all the Latin American prostitutes and drug dealers easily find their way from their illegal entry at Cedros to and around Port of Spain.
Monday, May 4, 2009
What do you think?
Here is something that troubles me.
Why is “news” nearly always bad? Murders, kidnapping, rapes and such always grab the headlines.
Is it that this is all that can “grab” our attention? Or, is this what we have become trained to look for and relish? I wonder.
Recently, someone said that they no longer read or look at the news because it is always bad.
Well that means there is at least one person who would like to see, read or hear some good news for a change. This raises the question: Is it wise to live in blissful ignorance?
Personally, I am also fed up. I realise that the “news” depresses me. It causes me to complain and gripe and moan and groan about our existence, our way of life, about almost everything. Living is becoming oppressive.
If it is true that focussing on negative things causes stress, ill health and depression, why then do we so willingly continue to absorb all the bad and negative things around us? Does this make us feel any better? Does this change the way things are? Does it make us want to do something to make things improve?
Candidly, I don’t think so.
In physics, the first and third of Newton’s laws of motion are as follows:
· First Law: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.
· Third Law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I truly believe that this equally applies to life and living.
Under the first law, we remain consistent with the “news” that we consume. We remain in a state of uniform (negative) motion with our environment.
I would like to apply an external force to make things better.
Under the third law, there is an equal and opposite perspective. This is the proverbial “Silver Lining” behind the dark clouds.
In this newsletter, I would try to find my “silver linings” in the news and may also take the opportunity to make suggestions to ease things into a more positive movement.
I would also like to look at the news from a lighter side.
As we journey along this path, please free to share any comments or news with me.
I will get back to you soon.
Why is “news” nearly always bad? Murders, kidnapping, rapes and such always grab the headlines.
Is it that this is all that can “grab” our attention? Or, is this what we have become trained to look for and relish? I wonder.
Recently, someone said that they no longer read or look at the news because it is always bad.
Well that means there is at least one person who would like to see, read or hear some good news for a change. This raises the question: Is it wise to live in blissful ignorance?
Personally, I am also fed up. I realise that the “news” depresses me. It causes me to complain and gripe and moan and groan about our existence, our way of life, about almost everything. Living is becoming oppressive.
If it is true that focussing on negative things causes stress, ill health and depression, why then do we so willingly continue to absorb all the bad and negative things around us? Does this make us feel any better? Does this change the way things are? Does it make us want to do something to make things improve?
Candidly, I don’t think so.
In physics, the first and third of Newton’s laws of motion are as follows:
· First Law: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.
· Third Law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I truly believe that this equally applies to life and living.
Under the first law, we remain consistent with the “news” that we consume. We remain in a state of uniform (negative) motion with our environment.
I would like to apply an external force to make things better.
Under the third law, there is an equal and opposite perspective. This is the proverbial “Silver Lining” behind the dark clouds.
In this newsletter, I would try to find my “silver linings” in the news and may also take the opportunity to make suggestions to ease things into a more positive movement.
I would also like to look at the news from a lighter side.
As we journey along this path, please free to share any comments or news with me.
I will get back to you soon.
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