|posted by Kevin Bedward|of byitsizepro.co.uk
Well blow me down...just when I thought it was safe to go driving again,...the European Union put the brakes on logic and common sense. Their current ideas for member states of the European Union, of which England is a member as you know,..not only seeks to collect yet more money from us as a country but seemingly in more subtle individual ways too. David Cameron made headlines yesterday and claimed to have achieved a "spectacular success" over European spending, despite accepting that Britain would have to hand over £430m more to Brussels next year.
And as Jamaican would say, dat nat even de worse part a it. Young women drivers could see their insurance premiums soar in an upcoming new ruling that will stop insurance companies from asking the sex of its customers. If this happens, young women drivers, who currently benefit from lower rates because they are deemed far less likely to have road accidents than males of a similar age, could see their insurance premiums soar.
What do you make of all this? for starters,...what exactly do we pay the EU to do FOR us? ...let me know your thoughts as I continue to monitor this and give you my byitsize view on things. Till next time, take it easy out there..IRIE.
| posted by Kevin Bedward |17th October 2010
You know, there was a time not so long ago when Sunday morning began with a certain quiet that reminded me that today wasn't going to be a day filled with anything other than the activities formed by habit, mixed with choices, and stirred by the sweet lazy beats of reggae music. Bob Marley would then remind me ' Everything in life got it's purpose, Find it's reason in every season,' - thanks to the HIFI system from a nearby Rastafarian that lived not far from my parents house; and who amongst us would dare disregard Bob's wisdom eh; well not me, and the tone of the day was set. After breakfast came the drive to pick up a Sunday newspaper,...wash the car on my return, get ready for church...aahh...great memories forever loving Jah (in reference to God)..and of course i'm forever loving my dear JAMAICA.
I know it's true that Happiness is a state of mind and not something which can be defined objectively but that means I can change my state of mind in many ways. Like if I'm uncomfortable or frightened about a situation,..well,..I just find my happy place - forever.
|posted today byt kevin bedward - byitsizepro.co.uk (website solutions company)
Tropical Storm Nicole dumped more rain on Jamaica for the past two days and sadly there are deaths caused from the heavy rains which have been lashing the island since Tuesday, leaving several families in mourning. And as communication is hampered with the loss of electricity in many parts of the island people anxiously await news from friends and family...I started thinking about the long term.
I was speaking with my mother by text messages last night (she lives in St.Mary,Jamaica) - we enjoyed being able to text each other and stay in touch since land-line phones aren't working and in her words, 'the light still gone', - but the appreciation of mobile phones was suddenly hindered by the realisation that as the utility companies struggle to restore electricity (and running water) to most of the island, how is she going to keep her mobile phone battery charged!?. Yikes -
So as I await a text back from her on what make and model mobile phone she has, I'm on ebay ...buying a wind up mobile phone torch and charger combination gadget. They're priced around the £10 mark (or less) and will be a good buy since unless we figure out a way to attach a chain to Jamaica and tow it out of the storm path that it dwells in, or improve the entire country's infrastructure - this won't be the last time a situation like this arises. Another alternative is a car charger for those who own a car, so I'm adding that to the cart list. - ....send me your comments on any other long term solutions regarding similar aspects of the problems which arise from storms that affect developing nations like Jamaica.
Can it really be true that everything happens for a reason? As amazing as it sounds I believe it's true, but what I'm careful to point out here, is that I'm not saying I feel that everything happens for a good reason - but just that there is 'a' reason. And by-the-way, I don't want to get into the far more complicated matter of what 'good' means, since the word itself relies heavily on ones' perspective. After-all, me finding money for instance is good for me...the person who lost it might hold the opposite view. Poor example, okay I know...but I'm using that to say this: I believe there is a significance in every event of life, from the most joyful and empowering to the inexplicable and sorrowful to the downright unfair and unjust.
Of course, sometimes it's easier than other times for me to believe that everything happens for a reason, like when the plans I make come together in some crazy way at the last minute. Then I may say 'ah yes, ..that's why such and such happened'...And then there are those times when I got really sick, or lost my job or a loved one died - it's painful and nothing seems to make any sense. In such times I may remember feeling confused or angry and in those moments I'll believe easily that there is no reason behind any experiences. But then I think. Hang on a second, I don't need to understand everything. I'm not kept awake with worry about my car because I don't understand how it works...I know all I need to know about my car - which is where the fuel goes. So I'm finding that I'm comfortable with living life with a greater appreciation of the questions that it throws up, which I find far more interesting and rewarding ...than chasing after answers.
Here we need absolutely new perspective to view our lives . All material things are transient but few things which will be always associated with us e.g. virtues ,wisdom and pure heart . If we know how to curb our material hunger and feel content with whatever we have with us, we will enter an aura of peace and State of tranquility .
Its been a year of ups and downs for Bounty Killer, with this latest incident being well on the downside. Most of my Jamaican friends will know that Bounty Killer is no stranger to assault charges or violence and this latest drama sees him arrested by the police after a female companion turned up at the Constant Spring Police Station bleeding and badly bruised, and reported that he had assaulted her with a hammer. Since then a series of songs have been released about this incident with the most popular being titled 'lick her wid di hammer'. Violence and abuse are used for one main purpose: to gain and maintain total control. An abuser doesn’t "play fair" and while the physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of abuse are also severe. In Jamaica and many parts of the world it is all too often the men, not exclusively, but usually the men, who engage in physical and/or emotionally abusive behaviour in their day to day living or relationships. It happens, I know...and it's wrong. Ask the victim and they will tell you what you should already know. You are destroying self-worth, causing anxiety and depression, and making a person feel helpless and alone. And for what?...why?...are you thinking that it's because of provocation?.. economic hardship, family dysfunction?..or maybe the truth is that you have poor communication skills - you can't get out of you what you feel in order to be understood, so you get frustrated and all worked up then BAM! you explode. Well, it's got to stop. Maybe it's a lack of spirituality and a healthy fear of God that should be the starting point. Maybe it's a good kicking yourself that you need in order to....no...stop right there. God said if we live by the 'eye for an eye' rule soon no-one will have an eye left....let's make some right moves today and start looking inward on our thoughts and actions,..start moving forward towards harmony by controlling ourself first. It's a rocky road out there, so walk good mi brother. One love.
