http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php Copyright 2012, David Pye David Pye en-US SPHPBLOG 0.5.1 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110303-230553 It was unfortunately using up too many resources on the shared server I am on. I have been with this host for several years, and seen it grow into a large money hungry giant and gradually whittle away at what can be put on my site. It probably won't be much longer before the constant restrictions they place on customers will force me to simply close the site down.
As an example:
They provide "unlimited bandwidth (but throttle my bandwidth if too many people use my site at once).
They provide unlimited storage space (but will close the account if one has too many files hosted).
When I first started with Bluehost, it was a fledgeling company and the service was good - but now that they have become quite profitable, the customers get less and less.

Anyway, I'll keep this going as long as possible, but as soon as Bluehost starts hassling me about my site, then I'll simply close it down and they can have one less customer. Until that day comes - please enjoy ...

]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110303-230553 David Pye Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:05:53 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=11&m=03&entry=entry110303-230553 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110223-155712
This should be required reading for every man, woman and child in the UK, United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand .


"I'm 63 and I'm Tired"
By Robert A. Hall


I'm 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari’a law tells them to.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America and Canada , while no American nor Canadian group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off?

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.

Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.

"Never complain about growing old, far too many people have been denied that privilege".]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110223-155712 David Pye Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:57:12 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=11&m=02&entry=entry110223-155712 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110201-144251 Android .apk mime type to the WAP upload/download page.
Unfortunately I have no way of testing it so let's hope it works.
::happy2::]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110201-144251 David Pye Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:42:51 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=11&m=02&entry=entry110201-144251 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110128-232703
Recently on the 27TH January 2011 an elderly woman (84 years old I believe) was killed at her home at Seacliff (an inner suburb of South Australia).
First of all the media said she was killed while going outside to investigated her electricity meter box being switched off.

Then the next news was that apparently she was killed after someone "broke" into her house and nothing was stolen.

Next we are told by the Police Authorities to be "vigilante"and not to confront assailants (even in our own home?).

Next we are told by the "police authorities" to call emergency services and wait. (Although I don't know how this would have helped this poor woman).

Next we are told NOT to turn our homes into a "fortress". Although it seems to me that this would be the wisest thing to do.

So the end result is that we are told to be "vigilant" with our neighbours, but not to interfere. Stay in our homes (even if someone has broken in). Call emergency services and do nothing but wait!!. And not to go outside if you hear a noise.

I don't know about the rest of you in Australia and unfortunately we lack the rules of self-defence that the Americans have. But I have various innocuous, but potentially lethal objects placed strategically around my house, plus an instant alarm system on every door and window. And remember, it only needs to happen ONCE to you to ruin the rest of your life.

No-one knows what they will do in any given situation until that situation happens, but I do know that my home is my castle - it is my one place in this world where I consider myself safe and shut off from the outside world.
And I believe I will defend my home and family to my dying breath - despite what any overpaid, overweight egocentric politician or pinhead cop says.!!

That's my two cents worth... ::robot::
]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110128-232703 David Pye Sat, 29 Jan 2011 06:27:03 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=11&m=01&entry=entry110128-232703 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110124-204851 Thin Red Line (1998). It's not one of the gung-ho Rambo or Hollywood macho movies that glorifies war, it's a movie that shows the horrors of war and makes one wonder why the hell we do it.
It's set during the second World War at Guadalcanal, but it could be any war. I was a grunt in Vietnam and apart from the clothing etc, it could just have easily been there.
The characters are real, the emotions and feelings it produces are real. It shows the boredom, fear, hopelessness and feelings of futility.

For anyone who has been in a war, you will immediately become engrossed and saddened at the feelings it produces in you. For others, I can only say, try to become the characters in the movie. Imagine yourself in their position and try to understand.

This is a more than just a war movie - it's a testament to the incredible stupidity and hopelessness of war and an insight into what we are all capable of.

Live peacefully and safely.
David]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110124-204851 David Pye Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:48:51 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=11&m=01&entry=entry110124-204851 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry101114-161132
Am I the only person who would like to know the name(s) of the .1% of bacteria that can't be killed!!

Is it a super bacteria that is going to wipe out the world? Can hospitals kill it, or does that mean that we are all in danger even in a sterile operating room.

Of course we all know that the reality is that no advertiser can make a claim that their product can kill 100% of bacteria, so the advertisements are simply misleading advertising. Because not one of the advertisers can name the .1% of bacteria that their product can't kill!!

This may seem kinda petty, but it's just an example of the misleading, erroneous crap that we are constantly being fed.

Am I the only person who resents being treated like a complete imbecile by these large companies who say absolute crap in order to sell a product.

::say_what::]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry101114-161132 David Pye Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:11:32 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=10&m=11&entry=entry101114-161132 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry101018-191005
The petition is here: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39006.html.

You can read about what happened here: http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2010/10 ... istan.html.

No-one except the guys who were there will ever know what really happened, but for anyone who has never been in a war - the normal rules of society do not apply and bad things happen, quite often to innocent and good people.

The thing to remember is that I do not believe for a second that these men deliberately killed innocent women and children, and while what happened is grossly regrettable, I do not believe these men should be made scapegoats.

If anyone should be prosecuted it should be George Bush for starting this unwinable war and killing and maiming countless thousands of people. The (ex) Prime Minister of Australia should also be prosecuted for sending Aussie troops to another Vietnam!

I know what it's like to fight in a war where the enemy doesn't wear a uniform, and the guys in Afghanistan have the added problem of fighting in a suburban area. We at least fought in a jungle where no-one lived.

Remember, if it wasn't for blokes like these, we would all be goosestepping to Hitler's Third Reich. Freedom isn't free - it comes at a price...
::sad::]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry101018-191005 David Pye Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:10:05 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=10&m=10&entry=entry101018-191005 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100912-015058
I guess that's the biggest single difference between people of science and religions of any sort. I cannot recall ANY war ever being started by Atheists, but I could easily list several pages of wars all in the name of GOD!

I realise that this will probably upset a lot of Christians, Muslims, Jews etc, but it is a fact. If it's not, then perhaps someone would like to list just one war that was started by Atheists (any country and any time in history).

There are a couple of interesting links here that some of you may care to look at:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen048.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa5b.htm

You can make your own decisions about the information provided.

There is also an interesting movie that was made in 2008 with Bill Maher called "Religulous", which I would urge everyone to watch. Since this movie questions much about religion, I do not expect anyone who has "faith" will watch it because it would require an open mind, which I have noticed, appears to be lacking in religions.

Here's a bit of a blurb about the movie:

"While this film is not as funny as Borat, Religulous (which, at times is actually pretty scary) is a more powerful film because this film is true. For a project written by and starring Maher, the clips in the film are (for the most part) surprisingly fair. Maher does not try to make any of the people in the film look stupid (at least no more stupid than himself); in fact, he (usually) tries to help people consider the position not that their personal/religious beliefs are incorrect but that their personal beliefs may be incorrect. Most people in the film will not consider this possibility (these are the people Maher is warning us about), but several important and seemingly wise religious figures also featured in the film agree with Maher about the danger of certainty.

I recommend Frailty to anyone who would like to see a fictional, story-line illustration of the main theme of this documentary/propaganda film. I recommend Religulous to anyone who is comfortable enough with himself/herself to doubt their personal beliefs, to consider the possibility that (s)he might be wrong."

I am happy that I am an Atheist. I don't kill other people because they believe something different to me, I don't need to find the "meaning of life", I won't go to "hell" (I'll just go to sleep and not wake up when I die), but best of all, I have the freedom to believe (or not believe) whatever I like.

So, whatever your belief, I wish you all the peace and happiness possible. Remember, it doesn't matter if you believe in God, spacemen, goblins, fairies or Santa Claus - just live your life in peace, and let everyone else do the same.

::yes::
]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100912-015058 David Pye Sun, 12 Sep 2010 07:50:58 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=10&m=09&entry=entry100912-015058 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100625-164646 I must say that I am extremely thankful for the most kind and appreciative comments both here and in my Guestbook, they really make me feel better knowing that there are so many nice people in this world. But I have yet to understand what it is that so many of you find so fascinating about what I consider an extremely insignificant website in the vastness of the Internet.

Most people outside Australia wouldn't realise what has just happened here. We have our first female Prime Minister running this country in it's history, and she got there because of the existing Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) making a complete idiot of himself. Now please bear with me as there is a point to this that really affects everyone on this planet.

About 3 years ago, Kevin Rudd was elected as being the most popular Prime Minister in the history of this country - he couldn't do a thing wrong and when elected he started to keep all of his promises. After several months, hes was always overseas on "important issue", he very publicly became known for his bad temper and disregard for others and seemed to have "foot and mouth disease", meani9ng that he always shot of his mouth before thinking and subsequently had no idea what he was talking about. As happens to many others placed in positions of high authority, he became overawed with his own self-importance and chose not to listen to anyone else (because HE knew better than everyone else?).

In 3 short years he went from the most popular Prime Minister in this country to the most unpopular and in a matter of 24 houre he was out on his plump little bum - in disgrace and crying (what a pansy).

The point of all this is a lesson to us all - "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". There is no-one on this planet who is any better than anyone else. Some may be better at one thing, excel in spots, science, philosophy etc, but the end result is that this planet is a closed system and we all breathe the same air, drink the same water, eat the same food. We are born - live and die and there is no way to change that.

We may be placed in a position of authority, but it is an extremely fragile position over which we have very little control and it';s important to remember that in the blink of an eye our whole world can change (and that includes you!).

So if you are in a powerful position in society, just be aware that it's only on loan and while you're there, be nice to others as you're really no better that them - and they're no less as good as you.

We are ALL equal.

Live in peace people... ::thumbs_up::]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100625-164646 David Pye Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:46:46 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=10&m=06&entry=entry100625-164646 http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100312-181708 It's a video on youtube, made about 3 years ago by a 13 year old boy named Declan Galbraith. The song is called "Tell me Why" and the words are something that all of us need to listen to and be reminded of.
He reminds me very much of a young Michael Jackson, his voice is very similar.

Take a few minutes out of your day, watch and listen to it and understand.

Declan's Video Link ::vacant::]]> http://www.david-pye.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100312-181708 David Pye Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:17:08 GMT http://www.david-pye.com/blog/comments.php?y=10&m=03&entry=entry100312-181708