If a magic genie appeared from a lamp and asked me what I would wish for most I think I would probably ask for the normal things:

-May my adult children be happy in their lives. I am pleased that they have grown up in a loving environment and that peace in the home has been so important. I wonder how many families realise that a peaceful, supportive home life is so important. Many may say that conflict teaches children to deal with it but I believe children need stability. My two adult childr...

Myanmar, formerly, Burma, has a record--- stretching back 50 years--of an oppressive government forcing its will on the people. I am reminded of the North Koreans , the Cubans (to a lesser extent), and modern Zimbabwe.

When a disaster like the dreaded cyclone of a week ago strikes such a country the leaders are suspicious of any attempts to provide aid. In fact they think they have everything under control --not realising that this is a disaster of massive proportions AND they cannot possibly...

More results are flowing in from Zim after a re-count aimed at boosting Mugabe's lead in the recent elections. There was no parliamentary gain for Comrade Robert, and the MDC, Morgan Tsangvirai's party, has clearly won. However, in a country like Zimbabwe nothing is regarded as normal. While the President in waiting sits outside the country, Mugabe's thugs clamp down on the MDC and brutally beat the winning party faithful. Like Sese Seko and Tshombe and countless others the thugs appea...

If George Bush, Condoleeza Rice and Tony Blair--and many others before them--cannot solve the Palestinian problem, why criticize Jimmy Carter for trying to do something about it by meeting Hamas.

I doubt Carter will make significant headway but the US government feels he should not be talking to the "bad boys". How do you make any progress if you don't talk to the enemy? How do you justify criticism when your own policy on Palestine is ineffective and goes no further than "peace-speak'" ...

Of course if Thabo Mbeki says there is no crisis in Zimbabwe then there cannot be a crisis. And if the neighbouring leaders gathering in Zambia say there is no crisis there cannot be one.

These gracious fools have only one agenda: Support Mugabe in his time of need. After all he is a comrade--a fool yes, but still a comrade. Comrade commander (Iron Cross of the Third Reich), Mugabe is right and the violence perpetrated by his brutal police and military is pie in the sky!

Naturally&nbs...

It is crunch time for Zimbabwe. Like no other election before, the people of Zimbabwe have spoken. They want to get rid of a tyrant who has reduced their country to a shell. However, the senile despot Mugabe, will not accept the results--I knew that would happen--so, like Tshombe and Sese Seko and many others, Mugabe has brought out his army, police and war veteran thugs to bring everyone into line. I predict that the people of Zimbabwe are tired of this mega-thug. I predict that the people will...

Recently there was a "hullabaloo" --ergo, fuss, about the waste of money spent on anti-depressants by the NHS (National Health). No argument from me as I suppose many people are asking for anti-depressant drugs as their lifestyles get out of hand. Financial problems, emotional problems and stress seem to be modern day life-style maladies and many people are looking for a quick fix.

The genuinely depressed count in amongst the figures of drugs dispensed and they are the people who really need ...

I read Brad's blog with interest and he makes many important points. I thought I'd tell you what piracy in the third World is like. I live in the Middle East . Most computers bought here have copies of Windows that serve a warning every time you open your computer: "This copy of Windows is not authentic. Please contact us for advice." Fact is every computer leaving the shop has a non-authentic copy of Windows pre-installed. The same applies to Microsoft office.

It is the norm in Egypt and pr...

The President of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, regarded by many as a war criminal, has decided to whip his flock into a frenzy over a re-print of the Danish cartoons . He has banned Danes and Danish products from his ravished country and has brought thousands of Sudanese out in protest into the streets of Khartoum. Don't these people work? Don't they have nothing better to do than march through streets promising to cut Denmark's throat.  These are the protestors who marched a few months ago in out...

My wife (God bless her), intrigues me with some of her housekeeping habits. I tend to ignore most but she is a hoarder, "destroyer " of appliances, and, at times, a threat to the household.

So I'll set the scenes and Joeuser wives can have a go at their husbands in response!

Why do wives:

Try to stuff 15kg of washing into a 7 kg washer and complain that the machine is producing dirty clothes and trying to bounce itself all over the laundry room?

Try to soften butter in a microwave in...

At long last some of the suspects behind the most vicious attack on American soil will stand trial. Personally, as I believe in the death penalty. I hope they will be executed. However, and I often seek advice from my American friends---so please enlighten me- I wonder why they are being tried at Guantanamo. Here are the things that worry me:

Egypt kicks off against Cameroun in twenty minutes time. It is the final match of the African Cup Of Nations tournament and this city of Cairo has been feverish, itchy, jubilant and excited since they qualified for the final a few days ago. You cannot get away from the flag waving, marching supporters,wedding-like groups of cars hooting in unison. This is a huge city--twenty million people and counting--and they are all thinking about the same thing-Football. My typing is slow and the kick-off i...

Recently one of my students told me that he was using his mother's Facebook account. I was quite shocked because this (very savvy), child is only 9 years old. I have had to tell young children that Facebook and other sites which expose your persona are dangerous. In fact I think Facebook itself can be dangerous for adults too. It sounds fun and it can encourage friendships between mates but don't Joeusers think that we are exposing ourselves to people with ulterior motives. OK, so as an adult yo...

Remember, you guys get more insight than I do. Nevertheless another bash at predictions including the dropouts:

Clinton: Going strong into Super Tuesday.
Obama: Ahead in SC but loses Florida to Clinton. I think both are neck and neck into Super Tuesday.
Huckabee: Hopes on Missouri. I think he'll be out soon.
Romney: Still there and getting nasty with McCain campaign.
Thomson: Out.
Edwards: Out.
Guiliani: Out.
Last but not least , my man McCain is still there after FLA.

A s Super Tu...