30/12/2011 by Ted.

Here we are at the doorway to year 2012, or as much of it as we get - for 2012 is, according to some, the year the world comes to an end - again. I have no doubt, however, that I will be updating this blog at this time next year. This particular “end of the world”  is just one more item of the untested media-driven information overload to which we are subjected on a daily basis. For me there are too many crackpots out there, each being listened to and publicised by the media without any justification whatsoever. I suppose it sells newspapers.

The advantage of science is that when a scientist has an idea, perhaps a seemingly crackpot idea, it is tested to see whether it is in fact demonstrably true. If so it is publicised - if not it is discarded.  The trouble with so many “discoveries” today is that they are publicised to millions of people as facts whilst  still at the unproven - and often crackpot - stage from which they never recover. 

Well, nothing seems to have changed. Ted is still having a moan about something even though it is 2012! Sorry about that.  But, hey, do you want to know something - in another thirty days I will have reached the ripe old age of 78 years. I can’t believe it. I certainly don’t feel old and I continue to enjoy perfect health and when I shave each morning the face I see in the mirror doesn’t look any different (just as handsome as ever!!!). So I am looking forward to 2012 and all the new things which it will bring - lets get at it. And a happy and prosperous new year to every one of us.

And we are going out just as we came in. I read today

“Brazil overtakes UK in world economic league

UK Taxpayers are funding aid to Brazil even though it has become richer than Britain, Whitehall officials admitted yesterday”. Magic!!!!!!

I calculated the other day that, like every other lower rate (so called) tax payer in this country I, by PAYE and VAT and fuel duty, am paying around 40% of my pension to the Government in taxation. As a pensioner I could certainly do with that money myself to help pay rising energy and food bills. To know that it is being shovelled into the coffers of nations richer than ourselves - as well as countless poor nations, not to mention into the pockets of the hordes of benefit seeking immigrants who flood our shores daily - well, God bless them all.  May I live long so that they can continue to enjoy it!

And of course that is what the media tells us so often - we are all living a lot longer.  My neighbour four doors away doesn’t believe them - he just died at 46 years of age.  Definitely not one of the “all” . And I believe that living a lot longer is not a good thing anyway. Nobody improves as they get older, let alone old - it is a downward thing with no recovery - not to be longed for at all. To go out with a full head of steam after a satisfying life is much to be desired. My dream is to have a massive fatal heart attack half way up Black Coombe. I may not have made it to the top, but what a way to go. The soft grass, the smell of the bracken and the tinkling of the stream. A delightful place from which to slip into the next dimension and all that waits there. Can hardly wait. And for me that “next dimension” is real.  I have spent the last five tears researching the non-religious evidence for and against its existence.  There is a mass of evidence for it - and none against it!  If you don’t believe me have a look yourself .

Whether you do or not, have a wonderful 2012. And as the song says, Remember if you are down and out - the only way is up! Hey!

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24/12/2011 by Richard.

I found this picture among my old photographs. Taken by me of the beautiful worcestershire countryside. As you all probably know I am an agnostic, but when you come across a scene such as this, (as I do frequently) it tends to get one wondering.

I wish you Ted and all the family a very happy Christmas and (the government permitting)  a prosperous new year.

love to you all and may your God be with you

Richard

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23/12/2011 by Ted.

Hey, it’s Christmas at last.

Christmas greetings and best wishes

to all the family from Ted and Grace and

a happy and prosperous New Year to all.

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22/12/2011 by Ted.

From the Daily Mail

Stores ‘ashamed’ to sell religious cards… but obscene ones litter the High Street.

They (the stores) claimed a creeping ‘multicultural indoctrination’ had led to an aversion to Christianity, and that shops were worried about stocking cards that might offend other faiths.

Of 6,576 cards sold individually, just 36 – 0.5 per cent – featured scenes such as Jesus in a manger or angels.

Multi-packs fared little better, with only 5 per cent of 1,337 on sale at the stores visited containing at least one card that reflected the season’s Christian message.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ.  It belongs to Christians, and is celebrated by Christians.

Commercial “Christmas cards” are an industry driven way of exploiting the Christian celebration for commercial reasons.  The cards popularly on sale today therefore probably reflect the political-correctness-indoctrinated and largely Christianity-indifferent  character of the society within which our Christian celebration takes place. Christians can always choose not to buy them.

Perhaps we should instead purchase a pack of card blanks (mine were ten for 99p from Works) and take the time to write a personal Christmas greeting to Christian friends, perhaps including a suitable Christmas verse such as the very appropriate  -

Unto you is born this day a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.

I receive shop-bought cards from Christian and non-Christian friends as does everyone else and, though often bright and beautiful, they are discarded when Christmas is over.  But unprofessional hand-produced Christmas cards  bearing personal greetings from friends and, especially grandchildren, are special  and are never thrown away because they are an expression of the person’s thoughts which gave birth to the words. And for me Christmas greetings are the personal thoughts expressed  - not the illustrations and glitter commercially produced.

Regarding the excuse made of an indoctrinated  “aversion to Christianity”, didn’t someone say, And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake? It isn’t that bad yet so we shouldn’t complain.

Incidentally, regarding the excuse that the portrayal of the Nativity Scene might cause offence to other faiths, and disregarding the fact that not portraying the Nativity scene might cause offence to Christians, some years ago I spent a happy holiday in Tunisia.  The towns were well populated with mosques and minarets from which the moslem call to prayer daily reverberated greatly amplified by multiple loudspeakers.  The holiday was in December and coincided with their feast of Ramadan which fell in December that year.  Despite this, because we were guests from a “Christian” country the foyer of our Tunisian hotel was festooned with streamers and baubles, and an enormous Christmas crib was erected there - populated with an array of gingerbread men instead of nativity figures,

And these are supposed to be the people to whom we cause offence when celebrating Christmas in our own “Christian” land.  Poppycock!

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03/12/2011 by Ted.

From Wikipedia.

During the World War II victories of Nazi Germany in 1940, Wilhelm II stated that: “The hand of God is creating a new world & working miracles…. We are becoming the United States of Europe under German leadership, a united European Continent.”

From the Telegraph.

The German Chancellor made it clear that eurozone states would be called upon to relinquish economic sovereignty and be subjected to close central supervision – a pre-requisite for the eurozone to secure vital extra financial help.

There is undoubted evidence  for re-incarnation.

Imagine the scene - “Well Adolf, you made a right pigs-ear of that.  Now get back down there and do it again - peacefully this time!”

Perhaps the 1940 prediction of Wilhelm II is finally being fulfilled?

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