Seriously sexy man, with his shades! That's my sweetie! Whoo hooo!
The following excerpt is from the article "Law and Disorder," from the June 16, 2008, issue of TIME magazine:"Just a few decades ago, Mexico City boasted some of the lowest crime rates on the continent. That changed when the Mexican economy crashed in 1995, throwing millions out of work. In the following years, Mexico usurped Colombia as the drug-trafficking center of the Americas, unleashing heaps of crack cocaine, guns and narco dollars onto the street. Kidnappings, crajackings, rape, auto theft, burglary and murder followed and have become a near daily menace, creating an atmosphere or fear and suspicion in the streets. Despite a decade of periodic crackdowns, including a nationwide war against the drug trade launched by Mexican President Filipe Calderón in 2006 and mammoth anticrime marches, crime is still one of the key difficulties afflicting the 20 million people living in Mexico City's greater urban sprawl.I can't help but wonder if many of the cities and towns in the United States are headed towards a similar fate if something isn't done to improve the economy of this country. Just this week, Yahoo News carried an Associated Press story Biggest jobless jump since '86 which states that the national unemployment rate "zoomed to 5.5 percent in the biggest one-month jump in decades." Also, another news release this week reported that, "United Airlines, the second-largest US carrier, said it will lay off 950 pilots amid plans to reduce domestic flights in the face of skyrocketing fuel prices." That, coupled with other airlines probably following suit, will make the situation worse. Every month, more and more companies are moving Call Centers and manufacturing facilities overseas to reduce costs.
"Similar stories can be heard from urban jungles the world over. In Moscow, Lagos and Johannesburg, violent crime is one of the top fears of residents and visiting businessmen. It raises the cost of commerce, scares off businesses and clients and causes immense suffering. In Mexico, the insecurity has continued into the 21st century even as the economy stabilized -- violent crime is, in a sense, and industry -- and police have appeared powerless to stop it, with 95% of crimes going unsolved."
© 2008 Sapphire Words @ Blogspot.com
I didn't really do much "solsticing" this past weekend since I am still recuperating from the sinus infection. I am mostly okay now, but still have one place on my back where soreness remains, as if someone pummelled me with their fists. Sometimes it hurts to just to move and its been like that for several days. And then, clumsy me, I ran into a table with quite a bit of force two nights ago and have been limping from the pain in my leg. Given another day or so, my leg will be fine, though, especially after I work tonight and walk a bit more on it. So, I drummed a little bit and looked up at Mother Moon, but that's about all I did. Kinda blah for a solstice celebration, really, but hey, we do what we can.
Those of you who read my blog regularly (and I am really not sure who all of you are) probably noticed a small change recently — the addition of a "SUBSCRIBE" button at the top of this blog. If you have clicked on it, you will see that you can now have blog entries sent to your email automatically every time a new entry is published. That will keep you from having to remember to come here every so often to see if I have published some new entries or not.
Summer Solstice.
Thanks to my friend Heron, I found a fun website.
If you don't believe that Jesus was a Liberal, then you haven't been reading your Bible. How would Jesus vote? In favor of big-business, war, and tax cuts for the rich? Or with compassion for the common people, bringing about much-needed change and social reform?
© 2008 Sapphire Words @ Blogspot.com
Believe it or not, there is only one "walk-in" clinic left in my city. All the others that we had have converted to clinics that require appointments, like people can plan when they get sick. Sheesh! So, anyway, I went to that one clinic and amazingly I was the only patient there! Whoo hooo!
I am exhausted, but I am hurting too badly to sleep. I tossed-and-turned for a solid hour in the bed and was so feeling so miserable I got back up. I feel like someone has pounded their fists into my back and legs until it hurts to move even one little muscle. My throat hurts every time I swallow and it feels like there is a tangerine stuck in my throat. I feel feverish and swimmy-headed. Isn't it strange how a microscopic organism can do that to ya?
"Although the rules of English grammar indicate that the holiday should be called "Fathers' Day" (as it is a plural possessive), common usage dictates that the ostensibly singular possessive "Father's Day" is the preferred spelling."Stupid ostensibility.
© 2008 Sapphire Words @ Blogspot.com
Someone called and offered to give me a pink elephant because they make good pets. Pink elephants like to eat strawberries. Can I have a pink elephant?
© 2008 Sapphire Words @ Blogspot.com
So, I get this text message last night from one of my girlfriends who lives far, far away. She was at her local airport to meet someone. Her text message read:OMG! There's a woman at the airport who looks EXACTLY like you! And she's with a man who looks just like Don but with black hair. It's freaking me out!"I would have loved to have seen a pic of the couple that looked so much like my darling and me! Even more, though, I would have loved to see the look on my girlfriend's face when she saw them!
Wow, getting back into the routine of work and such. Going back in tonight for the "Graveyard Shift" for the first time in a couple of weeks. Hope it's not too hard a night. Since my boss has been working extra hours so that I could have time-off to be with my family, I offered to work tomorrow night for him (it is one of my regularly-recurring days-off each week, per the schedule). He said he would let me know.
