Segway inventor Dean Kamen meets Colbert

I watched the Colbert report last night and as usual found it funny and enlightening. I am posting this as a footnote to myself to not forget that we have many inventions in-the-bag that can be enormously helpful to the world.

Dean Kamen has invented a devise that cleans 1000 liters of water a day for nearly no cost. This could help eliminate nearly all disease in certain parts of the world at an extremely low cost.

Watch Colbert show it off with his special humor at this link.

http://gizmodo.com/370698/colbert-first-vid-of-dean-kamens-miracle-water-distiller

I found it interesting the idea of spying on oneself.

I found the concept of spying on yourself to see what others see from your cookies an interesting idea. I haven't used the software yet, but I am downloading it to get an idea of how much my privacy is compromised by cookies. So far, this only works on Firefox or Flog.

It would be nice to see some discussion on this. The subject line above links to the site which tells more about this:

http://attentiontrust.org/

Perhaps losing ones privacy is a silly idea, maybe we already have lost it and nobody has told us.

A Little Humour

It makes a nice change to receive an email with true sentiment, and not the usual ones where you're threatened with ill luck if you don't pass it on

Five lessons about the way we treat people

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:
'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?' Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?
I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
'Absolutely,' said the professor. 'In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello.'
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2 - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain.

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Even days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached.
It read: 'Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.'
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked.
'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired.
By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.
'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins.
'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away the boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t' have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables… Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition and could be a blessing in disguise, no matter how serious.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts.

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it, if it will save her.' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.
He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away.'
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.


Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching. Somebody loves you, even if it seems not to be the case. Treat and love others the same way you want to be loved and treated, because this is the way to be wonderfully blessed!

A different way of looking at old age

The following is an email I received today from my good friend Annie.

Old age I decided is a gift

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, and my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.
They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat a dessert every single day (If I feel like it)

The Plight Of Unwanted Anilmals

Vietnam has launched a crackdown on hamsters, a wildly popular pet here in the current lunar Year of the Rat, fearing an influx of the foreign-bred rodent fur balls could spread disease and destroy crops.

Why oh why do us humans never learn? Whose fault is it? Not the hamsters for sure! Did they ask to be taken from the desert and bred for captivity? NO!



We can learn so much from animals and the world would be a far better place if we did! Us humans think we're so superior but, truth be known animals are far more intelligent!

Do animals go to war? NO!

Are animals responsible for climate change? NO!

Animals need our help!

Hamsters are cute little creatures and make great pets. Their bred for the purpose for adults and kids the world over, to give loving homes to. Then in so many cases the novelty wears off and they become a nuisance! The feeding and the cleaning out become tiresome, and the poor little hamsters are left neglected and uncared for!

In some cases owners in there ignorance don't separate their hamsters, and this can lead to fights between the pets, resulting in injury and sometimes even death! On the other hand if the hamsters do get along and indulge in the mating ritual, two hamsters can soon become four or six! So what started out as two little pets can soon multiply into an entire family!

Ignorance is a terrible thing and you should never get a pet unless you've truly thought it through!

The little puppy or kitten doesn't stay that way forever, they grow up into adults! They need care and attention and not just when you feel like it and can be bothered!
Pets are a pleasure, they give you unconditional love 365 days a year, and all they ask for in return is to be cared for!

I've had the the honour and privilege of three wonderful cats which I had from kittens. Scruffy (whose mum was a feral cat) I got from a friend. Tish and Tosh I got from a pet shop. They all had long and happy lives.

When I decided about a year ago, it was time for me to get another cat I stopped and thought about it. Why not get an adult cat this time, one who needed re-homeing? There are so many unwanted pets looking for good homes!
So I contacted the Basildon and Brentwood Cat Protection League.

They did a home visit and I was accepted as suitable to adopt. Two weeks later I got Sooty and Whiskey.
They've made my life complete and I've been honoured and privileged once again! I couldn't wish for two better companions!

So where is all this leading?

There are thousands of animals the world over who desperately need our help!
They need a good homes. Organisations like the RSPCA, The Cat Protection League and The Humane Society (to name but three) are constantly looking for people to adopt unwanted animals!

All I'm asking is if you're thinking about getting a pet please, please consider going through an animal organisation. Pet shops are all very well, but there's no comparison when it comes to knowledge of a pet.
These people get to know an animals temperament and can give valuable advice! Plus they are always there if you have any problems. They keep in touch and you can depend on them! How many pet shops offer such a service? Their responsibility ends once you've handed them your money!

Sue CNN, Sue MSNC, Sue Fox, Jail for reporters

Someone needs to sue these cable stations for attempting to disrupt the presidential elections. They are engaged in several tactics that affect the outcome. To drive up ratings they want to extend the races so they talk badly about the front runner and dig up dirt on them.

Then they change focus if the lead changes. Their only goal is in extending the races and interfering in the elctorial process.

Someone definately needs to organize a class action suit against these stations. At first it seemed all in good fun to have a bunch of blow hards running the cable news networks and allowing profit to drive everything. But, now their motivations are not to diseminate the news but to make the races longer and distorting the news to do so.

This type of thing could destroy this democracy. If the cable stations mess up Obamas run for office, and 60% of the democratic and independants supporting him get disaffected, who is gonna take the blame? Is the electorate going to take the short end again?

I really think someone needs to sue them to stop manipulating the news by exposing the parts of the news most frequently that will result in extending the race. This type of total corporate greed is a new animal on the horizon of ways the people get cheated out of their vote.

If its not the lobbiests companys running scare ads, or the politians lying, or the any of another 100 things that ruin the chances of candidates to get a fair chance or the public to vote in a somewhat fair environment.

This year watching the TV stations filled with gree over the huge profits they are making from the extended primary season and how they are trying to make the Democrats go to the convention could result in them losing the national election due to the infighting they must uncessarily endure because the news channels grossly put their FAT finger on the scales of the news before each primary.

It would not be so bad if they were simply bias, because you could realize that this person is right wing or left wing, but they aren't. They are pro underdog and anti leader so as to force more money to be spent on their advertising they sell during this type of coverage. This is reality TV perverted and the news people participating willfully should be forced to pay fines and go to jail.