One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who have only interests. – John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873
More evidence of global warming comes from a flotilla of icebergs floating into the proximity of New Zealand. There were such appearances recorded in 2006 and, perhaps of some little comfort, they were also recorded back in 1931. Click for the full story. Another interesting debate has been engineered by the those needing to fill space. They ask whether the Beatles were overrated. The fact of the matter is that quality lasts and everything will always have critics. The views expressed, however, are quite interesting. Let´s get the weather for Alicante province……….
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
 22° C | 11° C
|
 21° C | 12° C
|
 23° C | 9° C
|
 19° C | 8° C
|
21° C | 8° C
|
There´s a very revealing insight into Depression on British TV tonight. Apparently, the idea for the programme was triggered by the depression endured by cricket international, Marcus Trescothick. The programme makers then went to interview various other high-profile sports stars including the well-documented troubles of Frank Bruno. He, in the clip I saw this morning, was told by his manager that his greatest fight would come when he retired from boxing. I think we all face this fight and the key to a happier long life is the ability to stay mentally active.
I need to thank Peter and Bob who have been doing some work for me. If anyone else is like me, pretty useless at jobs like pointing, then I can provide you with a number for two guys who provide great work at affordable prices. We´ve had another beautifully sunny day and I have managed to get a lot of jobs done. I also read a very good article about how to keep clients for life. The author, G King, sees customer service as follows…
“Customer service is more than just smile training — it’s about treating people the way they wanted to be treated. It’s also about giving the client what they want, when they want it and how they want it. It really comes down to the fact that good communication and human relations skills equals good customer relations.”
Moving on….Liverpool tried their best……Sheenagh has sent us a friendship letter from her best friend, Sheila, in Australia…….
True Friendship “Aussie Style–” None of that Sissy Crap
Are you tired of those weak ‘friendship’ poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cute little smiley faces on this card — Just the stone cold truth of a great friendship.
1. When you are sad – I will help you get pickled and plot revenge against the bastard who made you sad.
2. When you are blue — I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you..
3. When you smile — I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.
4. When you are scared — I will rag you about it every chance I get until you’re NOT.
5…. When you are worried — I will tell you stories about how much worse it could be until you stop whining.
6… When you are confused — I will try to use only little words.
7… When you are sick – Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don’t want whatever you have..
8. When you fall — I will laugh at your clumsy backside, but I’ll help you up.
9. This is my oath…. I pledge it to the end. ‘Why?’ you may ask;
because you are my friend.
Friendship is like wetting your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
Send this to 10 of your closest friends, Then get depressed because you can only think of 4
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You Could Have Heard a Pin Drop
JFK’S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60′s when DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible. Rusk responded, “Does that include those who are buried here?” DeGaulle did not respond.
You could have heard a pin drop
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There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying ‘Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?’
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly:
‘Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?’
You could have heard a pin drop.
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A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?’
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied,
‘Maybe it’s because the Brit’s, Canadians, Aussie’s and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.’
You could have heard a pin drop.
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AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE…
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
“You have been to France before, monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.”
The American said, ‘The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.”
“Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !”
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained,
”Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
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Word of the Day
insoportable een-so-por-tah’ (adjective)
intolerable, unbearable
EXAMPLES
Lo engañaba con su mentira insoportable. – She deceived him with her intolerable lie.
Mi hermana es un tostón insoportable. – My little sister is an unbearable pain.
For more information and examples, visit the SpanishDict.com entry for insoportable.
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Next, a beautiful story from Ian K from Villamar
An elderly man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma
of his favourite scones wafting up the stairs.
He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning on the wall, he slowly made his way
out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort, gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs.
With laboured breath, he leaned against the door-frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death’s
agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon the kitchen table were
literally hundreds of his favourite scones.
Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his devoted Irish wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left
this world a happy man?
Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in rumpled posture.
His aged and withered hand trembled towards a scone at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked by his wife
with a wooden spoon …………………..
**** off” she said, “they’re for the funeral.”
