Month: June 2010

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Obama From Britain (via Peter Reynolds)


A View of Our Pres. Obama from a British viewpoint. Nice to see a view other than american on Obama.

Obama From Britain After Bush, to my knowledge, the worst US President ever, I was excited about the prospect of Hilary Clinton in the White House.  The election of Barack Obama was simply stunning.  For me, it rejuvenated the whole idea of America – the noble principles of the  Constitution, the idea that anyone can rise to the very top based on merit alone.  It updated that dream by transcending race, prejudice and history. [caption id=”attachment_1696″ align=”al … Read More

via Peter Reynolds

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The 3 F’s of Life


The 3 F’s of life, Friendship, Fairness and most importantly faith. A real friend will be there to support you when times are tough. The same friend will be right beside you when times are grand. Friendship is a valuable tool in the wellbeing of your mental and emotional health. Fairness instills humility and a unselfish mentality. The virtues of being humble and selfless has been written about both in the religious papers and in philosophies from ancient times Faith is bringer of hope and  the sustainer of the weary. The 3’fs are just the basic tools one needs to make it through this world and through this life.

Without friendship one will be lonely. Without fairness there would be cruelty. and without faith there would be despair.  So the 3 F’s of life are needed in order to maintain happiness and instill humility.

 

Just something to think about is all….

Peace
Ray Barbier – A.K.A. Verum Peto 

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Here we go again – New Fuel Tax


Well if this don’t take the cake, not only does BP get a tax write off for their oil disaster the government is proposing a tax hike on oil (Oil Disaster relief fund now at .08 per barrel) between 30 and 40 cents. That could equate to 1 dollar or better in price raises to gas at the pump. Not only that it can increase the cost of most goods and services between 10% to 20%. The taxes will be directed at oil companies but it will pass on to us consumers. Doesn’t our government realize the economical impact this will have? Already in a recession and trying to recover from it this tax hike will only put us further into recession. The Oil disaster should financially fall completely on B.P. not on consumers directly or indirectly. And i see no reason to give companies a tax break on accidents created by their own negligence. Write your senators and tell them to vote no. The house already passed there proposed tax hike but the senate is set to vote on it soon. and write Obama let him know we are tired of bailing out companies and paying for their negligence.

Just a note to those boycotting BP gas stations you are not hurting BP, most BP stations are franchised and buy fuel from multiple fuel suppliers not directly from BP itself. You are only hurting the local gas station owner and the employees he has employed. Boycott long enough many people will loose there jobs.

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A day to remember Dad


I lost my father several years back to C.O.P.D. and heart failure. Unlike the previous fathers days that i just tried to ignore and get through this fathers day I am giving my deceased father a gift of remembrance. His body is gone but I feel his spirit from time to time around me and i see him in my reflection and in the face of my older brother and his son Jesse. So for all the years my dad toiled at his job to pay bills and was there for me and my brother when exhausted from work and his outgoing lifestyle i thank him. My father wasn’t perfect and many flaws but he did always love us. A alcoholic and workaholic he didn’t have as much time to spend with us. My biggest regret is I allowed anger and the bitterness from the problems between us to stop me from being there for him when he needed me. My brother also was distant with dad for different reasons than mine and he too suffers regrets. I am writing all of this not as much to face my mistakes and regrets but in hope that those out there with their fathers still alive will not repeat my mistakes. Just like my dad, other dads out there wont be perfect and neither will be his children. Forgive, forget and love your father while he is here and don’t let him leave this world with him or you having any regrets.  Let him know you don’t care that he isn’t perfect and you understand being a father is a hard job in itself.

To my Father Stephen M. Barbier R.I.P., Happy Fathers day and i love you
To all other Fathers out there Happy Fathers Day

Raymond Barbier

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International Help / Aide offered but with a cost


  It is nice to see the other countries out there offering help in the oil cleanup in the gulf but its offered with a price tag. Why is it when America offers help to other nations they do so for free but when its us that needs help we have to pay for it.  So should America start charging for their assistance for now on or should these other countries give us help for free?  B.P. would be the one paying for the help if accepted so in this case I may side with the countries offering help. This is more of a disaster caused by the lack of safety and a lack of quality control due to the possible greed of company shareholders. I do believe if it was a natural disaster or a catastrophe from uncontrollable circumstances that the nations of the world would be offering free help / aid.

  It is very reassuring to see that we as a world can come together to solve problems when they are immediate, now if we could do the same for the problems that are present now and will worsen in the future. We still need to deal with the world economy and the state of the earths environmental changes such as global warming and the melting of ice caps etc. .Hopefully we will learn from the B.P. oil incident and impose more safety regulations and governmental inspections.Even if we clean up the oil there is the methane gas and the possible dead zones that can happen from the gas.So much marine life has been and will be effected by both the oil and methane gas and it will take years if not decades  for the marine life to recover.

Well hats off to the global community for offering help. And here is to the hope the global community will come together to figure ways to reduce the impact on the marine life in this disaster.

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Then we are not as Civilized as we think


The only way the world will find peace and fix the economic and ecological problems we face is if we come together as a world to face them. No I am not referring to a one world government, I am referring to the co-operation and focused collaboration of all nations to solve the problems at hand. It seems though there is so much mistrust between nations that it will be a tremendous task in it self. First off The U.S. needs to wrap up their middle east campaign and return the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan to their own people and Governments. The Financial strain on the U.S. economy and our civilian population will keep America in a recession. Also our presence in those countries keep the middle east in a state of war and also fuels mistrust in our government in that region.

  Its time to get the middle eastern countries involved in the process of reestablishing those countries. Though I know the U.S. and the U.N. still need to play a part in the process. Iran needs to comply with the U.N. charters and cease all attempts at nuclear weapons and continue with their nuclear power plants. There is no need to have nuclear weapons to defend themselves against their neighbors or even the U.S. .  I do not believe any nation would risk starting a nuclear war due to the fact the radiation would render both their enemies land and their own inhabitable. Of course there are mad men with little care for life at all that could trigger such a war I would hope that common sense and compassion would prevent such a war.

To be fair I will state that all nations should destroy, dismantle and discontinue the production of nuclear weapons. With conventional weapons we could still cause the near extinction of man and all other life. The process would take longer but still is possible. We need to stop saber rattling and start negotiating a compromise that all sides can live with.  So many problems to face in this modern world and too many to address in this post. Let us all be adults and find ways to bring peace to all nations and solve the current problems that we face. If we can not join together to fix the problems in this world then we are not at civilized as we think we are.

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Coal, Green Energy and Change


The change over to a more environmentally friendly and renewable energy source from the reliable source of coal will happen in the near future.
The cleaner energy source may make a good impact on the environment but it could have a negative impact on the economy of many coal mining towns across America. We should take in consideration the jobs that will be lost and the impact of the lost industry as we start the transition to the greener and cleaner energies. If we are to close mines that many citizens rely on for income then we should retrain the miners for new jobs and move new industries into the area to keep the economy of those towns alive. The government only can provide unemployment benefits and maybe the training for new jobs the building of new industry in the mining towns would be up to big business and investors. Though both federal and state governments can offer incentives for businesses to choose mining towns for new locations.

The future is uncertain for those in mining towns and I really hope that our government realizes that its not only clean air or water that is involved in this greener future but also the livelihoods of many Americans. I am all for green and renewable energy but not for unemployed and hungry Americans. There has to be a solution to our energy crises that wont leave so many out of work.

 

Well until next time

PEACE
Ray Barbier A.K.A. Verum Peto

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Ramblings on Change and Energy


All change begins with yourself. For instance if we are to ever get America to be more energy efficient and use more green energy technologies then we have to start home. Though most of us may not be able to afford solar panels to power our homes we can afford to use the more efficient florescent light bulbs and energy star appliances. We also can use a heat pump instead of a energy hogging furnace and air conditioner. We also can turn off appliances when not in use if not unplug them.

If more people did as described above we probably could cut energy consumption by 1/3 if not more. By setting an example for family and friends we can encourage them to follow the same path. We can also write our government officials constantly about going to green and renewable energy/ fuel sources. If enough of us write and keep bugging them there is a good chance it could create a change. Even a small change can trigger larger ones kind of like a domino effect.

Being informed is the best way to create change, To inform others creates change of mind that begets change of action. The more informed the public becomes the more they act. A good example is Greenpeace they use grassroots efforts to educate the public and also to raise funds. They succeed both in raising awareness and getting donations. So educating the public about the facts is a proven method to create change.

The seriousness of our energy crisis is really not understood by most people. The fact oil is not a never ending source of energy eludes most people. When the oil becomes scarce there will be wars over the remaining supply if we don’t find an alternative fuel. If were to find a viable renewable source of fuel to replace oil then we wouldn’t have to worry about the shrinking oil supply.

Well those are my thoughts on the subject anyway.

Peace

Ray Barbier A.K.A. Verum Peto

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I Stand,I Walk and I Live.


I stand alone against the very persistent tide of time. As years pass I feel my vitality slip away. I stand alone in this world that is full of hate, greed and little hope. I struggle to keep myself  free of the hate and greed but it is so easy to fall into those traps. I walk alone on my path of peace in a world of turmoil. But I am no different than any other person, we all stand alone against time on the path we have chose to walk. Alone but surrounded by others, separate but a part of the whole. Individual but also a part of the collective consciousness. Pursued by fear and grasping onto hope while seeking understanding.

I stand in a crowd and walk a path others walk upon. Facing time down like all those before me and those who shall follow. I am a part of all creation from the smallest to the greatest. My body is made of stardust like all physical things. My mind is a reflection of the collective consciousness and my heart seek out love,peace and understanding. I Stand, I walk  and I live.

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Happiness and Self Esteem


The origin of happiness is within ones own self, No external force can take away nor bring one happiness. Some feel happiness when they acquire possessions and or wealth. This is really an illusion, the possession of items and wealth makes one feel secure and also successful so that gets transferred to your self esteem which then boosts your happiness. This of course is temporary due to the fact possessions and wealth both fluctuate and change through time. Some believe that having a life partner brings them their happiness but this too is an illusion. Having some one who gives you love and support boosts the ego / self esteem and once again can either fade or be lost. The illusion of happiness from these things is that they bring the happiness when in fact its your own mind that makes the happiness they just trigger it. To be happy one must first decide to be happy and then realize happiness is a self created state of mind. You are the source for your own happiness and your own peace of mind. Self esteem and self image are two main factors that effect happiness and so is your perception of your environment. Also how you are programmed to respond to situations and your environment also can play a big part on regulating your happiness. Luckily you can always change your self image,Self esteem and your how you respond.

I have observed that people who take life and everything too seriously seem to have a lower happiness level than say a care free individual that just makes the best of all situations. Also those who tend to take everything personally and who allow other peoples opinions affect their self image have the lowest happiness levels. So theoretically if you don’t care what others think of you and you take every thing in stride then you should be a happier person. And for the most part that seems to be true from what I have observed and experienced.

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