Breathe Fire

Article: BBC, 16 Nov 2006, Doctor to pay for unwanted baby

“A doctor who carried out a failed contraceptive operation has been ordered by a German court to pay financial support for the child.”

The article reports on a German court case recently reviewed by the highest judicial court in Germany. A Gynecologist has been ordered to pay $767 (600 euros/ £400) per month until the child reaches 18. The doctor was found liable for providing contraception that did not prevent pregnancy.

The couple is no longer together. The father who has been paying maintenance (child support) will be compensated by the doctor for the money he has already provided.

Doctors in Germany are understandably nervous.  The logic confounds me but I guess the USA is not the only litigious society!

Article: BBC South Asia, 16 Nov 2006, ‘Mad’ Indian Man’s Life In Chains

“A 56-year-old man in the eastern Indian state of Orissa has spent 26 years in chains because his family and doctors say he is mad and a danger to others.”

The article highlights a man in India who is chained because of psychiatric conditions. The family has sold all of their family land and property to pay for treatment. Yet the condition worsens and the family is without hope for him to improve.

“When the money ran out, treatment was abandoned and he remained in chains to protect others, they say.”

Oh that the Man of Peace would walk through the alleys of that village and bring healing and wholeness to this man and his family.

Photo of the London Metro area from the International Space Station taken at approximately 7:22 p.m. local time on the evening of February 4, 2003.

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Recently found this clip via Steven Fuller’s blog. I was so intrigued I went and found the movie.

The movie is called Waking Life. Very esoteric, philosophical themes.

Are you a dreamer? Does the clip provoke anything in you?

You have been invited to meet

The Friend.

No one can ever resist a Divine Invitation.

That narrows down all our choices

To just two:

We can come to God

Dressed for Dancing,

Or

Be carried on a stretcher

To God’s Ward.

~ Hafiz

Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Originally uploaded by Ran Chakrabarti.

When we went to the Taj Mahal, I was most amazed to look over the back wall at the river Yamuna behind it. Before that time, I had never seen images of what lay behind it.

This photo reminded me of those moments looking over the wall.

“The church leaders’ call for some children to be allowed to die - overriding the presumption that life should be preserved at any cost” (LINK)

“Church of England leaders want doctors to be given the right to withhold treatment from seriously disabled newborn babies in exceptional circumstances.” (LINK)

The article stopped me in my web tracks while I swallowed my bile. I have a three year old son who has faced death more times in his three years more than most people face in their whole lifetime. He would qualify as one of these special cases the article speaks to. I’ve stood at the moment when a decision is required on whether to ‘pull the plug’ or not. I don’t need somebody’s ‘policy’ affecting my life or death decision with my son.

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What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

OK…

So…uh…what exactly are you waiting for?

This isn’t a dress rehearsal…

Wake up!

Here’s the deal: What we can be, we MUST be.

Period.

There’s no getting around that one.

So, turn off your TV. Put down your drink. Get off the medication.

Quit numbing yourself. The pain’s not going away.

Not until you thinkarete.

“thinkarete�?

Yep.

Gandhi got it. Einstein got it. Mother Theresa got it.

Tiger gets it. Gates gets it. Oprah gets it.

The Greeks got it.

Get this: Guys like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle said that if you want happiness you better live with areté–a word that literally means virtue or excellence but has a deeper meaning…something closer to “constantly striving to reach your highest potential.â€?

areté.

How beautiful is that? It was one of the highest ideals of Greek culture.

It should be one of ours.

Tragically, it’s not.

We seem to be more interested in resumes, accolades and 401k’s.

Speaking of retirement…

Who came up with that? Work like crazy doing something we’re not passionate about so we can accumulate enough money to pay the bills from our stress-caused illnesses while we complain about what we should have done when we were still young.

Hmmm…We can’t quite figure that one out. Seems like it makes a bit more sense to go ahead and dare to live now…

Why not thinkarete?

Live to your highest potential–moment to moment to moment.

Not in the mood?

Fine. Then live with regret, anxiety, and disillusionment.

Your call.

Think about it. When do we feel most alive?

Exactly. When we’re being ourselves–our highest selves.

You want happiness?

thinkarete.

Dream. Grow. Stretch yourself.

Rip off the tie. Jump out of the cubicle.

Dream. Think. Dare to be crazy.

What are you waiting for?

thinkarete.

Are you crazy enough to think you can change the world?

Good.

Now go out and do it.

Live. Love. Smile. Hug. Laugh. Dream. Do. Create.

Have fun. Be intense. Be audacious. Be unreasonable. Act impeccably. Breathe.

Be you. Be different. Get paid to do what you love. Dance in your underwear on your way to work…

Why not?

Ditch the tie. Escape the cube. Leave the 8-5. Trash the resume.

Ignore the critics. And the cynics. Burn the corporate ladders. Laugh at the ceilings.

Quit the bitching. Open your mind. End the laziness. Overcome the fear. Transcend the conditioning…

Why not?

Move the world.

Change the world.

Push the human race forward.

Whatever you call it, go out and do it.

When?

Now.

Not when you have enough money or once you do this or do that. That’s nonsense.

It’s not gonna be easy, but go out and live your dream. Now.

You deserve it.

And, if that doesn’t move you: The world deserves it.

thinkarete.

Credit: thinkarete.themanifesto, www.thinkarete.com

What’s your favorite part of the message above? (I know, I know - you may not agree with every word. But is there something up there that nudges you?)

“Religion should be outlawed because it lacks compassion and promotes hatred of homosexuals” says gay music sensation Elton John in a recent interview.”

In a recent interview for the monthly music magazine of The Observer, Elton John perceives hatred from the church towards the gay and lesbian community. He also complained about a lack of leadership from religious leaders at a critical point in history.

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Found this image on the BritBlog site to add images to your page.

“Wannabe Expat?”

“Yes, desperately.”

BLOG READER - Do you have any connections in London who might be able to help me find a tech job? Corporate, Recruiters, Head Hunters, Family Members…any connections appreciated.

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