‘The Afghan’ – a book review and more.

Frederick Forsyth has always been one among my favourite authors. I greatly enjoy his books and consider him the father and master of the modern spy thriller. I don't get to read his works so often as I would be lost in the works of Ken Follet, John Grisham, Arthur Hailey and so on, but not necessarily in the same order. So, when I saw a copy of the 'The Afghan', I snapped up a copy very eagerly.

Forsyth’s books are somewhat of an acquired taste. Some people have a hard time getting past the highly detailed descriptions of geography, social and political situations, historical references and all those foreign names. I find these fascinating and have no problem with these attributes in his novels. In fact the meticulous research of relevant topics and sweeping descriptions of far away places bring a gritty reality to his stories. His roots in war journalism have always been on display in his writings, and ‘The Afghan’ is no different.

Forsyth’s novels are based on real world issues and concerns. From the constant wars in Africa in ‘The Dogs of War’ to the impact of the impending oil crisis in ‘The Negotiator’ to political assassination in the classic ‘The Day of the Jackal’, Forsyth has always mixed the real with a little fictional “what if this happened?” to create plausible situations and consequences. In ‘The Afghan’, Forsyth takes on the very relevant issue of terrorism and Islamic extremism. True to his past books, Forsyth has obviously spent some time researching his topic. He paints a very disturbing but somewhat clinical picture of the manipulation of the Islamic faith by those with their own agenda to create the kind of hatred we seem to witness daily on the news. He takes pains to point out that true Islam does not advocate the killing of innocent people, among other teachings that are being conveniently ignored by terrorists who preach total intolerance of anything not within their ‘faith’. It also briefly examines the past 9/11 world of intelligence gathering, and how that horrific event changed how nations work together in an effort to not allow it to be repeated. A very compelling and relevant world in which to stage his story. Sadly he does not dig too deeply into the roots of terrorism and it’s twisting of Islam, but merely glances at it to establish the base of his tale.

In ‘The Afghan’, British and American intelligence hear whispers about a major operation by the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, but can discover no details other than there is something in the works, it’s big and it’s on the horizon. Forsyth’s “What If?” scenario is this: “What if we could plant a spy in the midst of Al-Qaeda?” By a unique set of circumstances, British army colonel Mike Martin is capable of looking, speaking and passing as an Afghanistan native and is planted to take the place of a trusted former Taliban commander who has been a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay for five years. Arrangements are made for this man’s trial, and extradition to Afghanistan. Before which Martin replaces him and his “escape’ is orchestrated once in Afghanistan, allowing Martin to enter the middle east in his new identity and seek to discover details of the secret terrorist plan. A promising premise that does not live up to it’s potential for one big, unforgivable reason.

Now, I have few rules about books. Most deal with giving me either characters I care about or a story plot that keeps me interested (preferably both) so I want to turn the page and see what happens next. Beyond that I can forgive a lot. There is, however, one rule I absolutely have for any book that expects me to believe it takes place in the real world… there can only be one total suspension of disbelief. In other words, one situation arising that is implausible or improbable is acceptable, but not two or more. Not if the author intends me to regard the book as a real world possibility as opposed to pure fantasy. Forsyth soundly breaks this rule at least twice, and more if you count the fallout from the second incident. The fact that, unbeknownst to his employers, Mike Martin knows the man he is to replace from an encounter earlier in his life, and that encounter proves pivotal to his passing as the man later is so astronomically against the odds as to be almost impossible. That’s the one I can forgive. However the circumstances of the replaced man’s escape from an extreme remote CIA hideaway and the outrageous events that extend his freedom are so improbable as to be totally unbelievable. Winning the lottery is more likely that what we are presented with at his point in the book. Without revealing any further spoilers, this unfortunate part of the plot had me literally rolling my eyes. It smacks of the author wanting to find a way to set the prisoner free to add tension to the story and taking a lazy, easy and convenient path for that to happen with no regard for it’s believability. In a book of this genre, it’s a flaw that sticks out like a sore thumb, and is hard to get past. When this event took place, it distracted me from the rest of the story, and I never recovered. That was a shame, for although the story is a very quick read it is full of the Forsyth touches and methods that make his writing so enjoyable… interwoven storylines that act like fuses, all burning towards the same disaster if allowed to continue.

The book has a particular reference to my home state which took me by shock. It is not the reality that is contained in that paragraph that shook me, but the time it was written. Let me quote from the book - "Captain Montalban knew vaguely that most of India is Hindu but he had no idea that there are also a hundred and fifty million Muslims. He was not aware that the radicalization of Indian Muslims has been just as vigorous as in Pakistan, or that Kerala, once the hotbed of Communism, has been particularly receptive territory for Islamist extremism".

Off late, Kerala has been the venue of many SIMI camps and the Police in the state are still searching for those concerned, with few arrests. Forsyth published this book in 2006 and by my best guess, he would have came upon this information in 2005. A well known British author had this information in 2005. Should we believe that the Govt. of India or for that matter the Govt. in Kerala were unaware of the same? Or did they turn a blind eye to the information? May be I should do a bit of research on the same and publish another post.

Don't miss out on this one. It throws more light on "why they do, what they do".

What a wife wants

Being the way I am have allowed me to experience life in such a way that has been both memorable and writable, which is why I like this quote from Benjamin Franklin "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing". It has taken many years of practice with writing to get to where I am at this moment, and I do not feel I am anywhere near where I want to be. I wish I could go back to college and strengthen my skills as a writer.

I have begun collecting those things that I am sure every wife wants but may not be willing or able to tell their husbands. Periodically I will post a couple of them at a time. My goal is to try to implement those particular things in my relationship with my wife in the days following their posting. Over time I hope to see myself become a better husband. It is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. I will be happy to hear from women who have ideas on how to expand this list. Now for your consideration:

1. Centrality. When you are out she wants to be the centre of your attention, even when the focus is on something else (a cricket match, a movie, a game of football). She wants to know that when she needs it she can get your attention immediately and compared to any other woman who might be in the same universe with you she is number one by a wide margin.

2. Complimentary. She wants to be complimented, even if it is related to peripheral things like her clothes, or her shoes, but any other choice she might make (good suggestion on this restaurant dear, I am glad you suggested we…) works just as well. It tells her on a continuing basis that you value her, that you still love her, that you notice what she says and does.

3. Requested. She wants to be asked, not told. “Would you like to go the movies”, rather than “let’s go to the movies.” It means she is important enough to be asked, to be considered. This is especially important after you have kids so that she feels she is being treated like an adult as well as your wife and not lumped in with the children. (God, help me remember when I become a dad).

So my goal for the immediate future is to work on treating my wife as central, with ongoing compliments, and always to remember to ask and not tell. May by the grace of God you join me in this quest. What makes my bones shiver is that am just the exact opposite.

The mind that is as soft and pliable as a sponge would have the capacity for maximum absorption. Just as water can be easily absorbed by the sponge and squeezed out, a soft mind easily absorbs information and allows the creation of knowledge and action. However, a soft or open mind can be hardened and a hard or closed mind can be softened. What do you say? Well, let me see how good I am at adapting, improvising and executing. :)

Rahmania

A new Indian history has been created on 22 February 2009, when India  won three Oscars.

It was a remarkable journey to Hollywood for A R Rahman and Resul Pookutty who made a billion Indians proud, adding another feather in their caps by bagging three Oscars between themselves for their contribution in “Slumdog Millionaire”.  They are among five Indians ever to win an Oscar. Earlier Oscar winners from India were costume designer Bhanu Athaiya for her work in Gandhi in 1983 and director Satyajit Ray, who won a lifetime achievement award in 1992. The other Indian to win an Oscar is Gulzar for original song, again for “Slumdog Millionaire”.

Hailed by Time Magazine as the ‘Mozart of Madras’, Rahman had redefined contemporary Indian music and has been a role model for millions of Indians. He has already won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his music in Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire”.

Born as A.S. Dileep Kumar in a musically affluent family in Chennai on 6 January 1966, he changed his name to Allah Rakha Rahman after his family converted to Islam in the late 1980’s. Rahman was forced to shoulder the responsibilities of his family at the age of nine after his father R.K. Shekhar, who was a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam movies, passed away. The music genius came to the limelight with his music for a Bombay Dyeing ad and Leo Coffee in 1980’s which became very popular.

The major break in his career came when noted filmmaker Mani Ratnam approached Rahman, who was then a keyboard player with composer Illayaraja, to compose for his film ‘Roja’ in 1992. The music of the film, which was a refreshing change from the run-of-the-mill renditions, made Rahman a star overnight and brought him his maiden Best Music Director trophy at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutante film composer.

Rahman was introduced to the Hindi film industry in Ram Gopal Verma’s “Rangeela”. The music of the film became a rage and the genius continued to give some brilliant compositions for films such as “Bombay”, “Dil Se”, “Taal”, “Lagaan” and “Rang De Basanti” among others. What made his music click with the listeners was the refreshing use of percussions, sound and melody, most of which were inspired from the Indian folk music.

Rahman developed a trademark by mixing traditional Indian tunes with International beats from African drums to electronic funk. The composer is also famous for his fondness to the newest sound and technologies in the world of music. His 1998 super-hit composition ‘chaiyya chaiyya’ which was deeply rooted in Sufi mysticism, became a rage among Indians and is still considered one of the best compositions of the musician. Rahman gradually became a known face on the international platform and in 1999 he performed with Michael Jackson in Munich for ‘Michael Jackson and Friends Concert´.

In 2002, he gave the music for his maiden stage production “Bombay Dreams” directed by legendary musical theatre composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rahman’s music was also a hit from London’s “West End” to New York’s “Broadway”. In 2004, with Finnish folk music band “Varttina”, he composed the music for “The Lord of the Rings” theatre production. Rahman’s composition “Jai Ho” for British director Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire´ has been lapped up by western audiences and made headlines when world renowned fashion designer John Galliano used it as a theme during his fashion show.

The music has already earned him the Critics Choice Award for Best Composer in 2008 and the Golden Globe in the category of Best Original Score. A four-time National Award winner, Rahman was honoured with the Padma Shri and received six awards at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, besides 11 awards for his scores at the Filmfare and Filmfare Awards South each. In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for his contributions to global music. In 1995, he also received the Mauritius National Award and a Malaysian Award.

The music director, who is known for his humble demeanour, gave a new definition to patriotism with his modern rendition of ‘Vande Mataram´. His latest tract ‘Jiya Se Jiya´ is another attempt to send the message of peace and love through music.

Technorati Tags: A R Rahman,A.S. Dileep Kumar,Allah Rakha Rahman,BAFTA,Bombay Dyeing,Golden Globe,Jai Ho,Leo Coffee,Michael Jackson and Friends Concert,Mozart of Madras,R.K. Shekhar,Roja,Slumdog Millionaire,Time Magazine

Footprints

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand;
one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
He looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
There was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
And saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that at the worst times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
How could you leave me when I needed you the most?"

The Lord replied " My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of suffering
And when you see only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Don't be fooled by me.

Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear.
For I wear a thousand masks, masks that I am afraid to take off and none of them are me.
Pretending is an art that's second nature with me, but don't be fooled.
For God's sake don't be fooled.

I give the impression that I am secure, that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well as without, that confidence is my name and coolness my game; that the waters are calm and I am in command, and that I need no one.
But don't believe me, please.

My surface may seem smooth, but my surface is my mask, ever-varying and ever-concealing
'Neath this lies no complacence.
Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, and aloneness.
But I hide this. I don't want anybody to know.
I panic at the thought of my weakness and fear of being exposed.
That is why I frantically create a mask to hide behind;
a nonchalant, sophisticated facade,
to help me pretend, to shield me from the glance that knows.
But such a glance is precisely my salvation.
My only salvation. And I know it.
That is, if it is followed by acceptance, if it is followed by love.
It is the only thing that will assure me of what I can't assure myself,
that I am worth something.

But, I don't tell you this. I don't dare. I am afraid to.
I am afraid your glance will not be followed by acceptance and love.
I am afraid you will think less of me, that you will laugh at me,
and that you will see this and reject me.
So I play my game, my desperate game,
with a facade of assurance without, and a trembling child within.
And so begins the parade of masks, and my life becomes a front.

I idly chatter to you in the suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that is really nothing,
and nothing of what is everything,
of what is crying within me;
So when I am going through my routine do not be fooled by what I am saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear what I am not saying.
What I would like to be able to say,
what for survival I need to say, but I can't say.

I dislike hiding, Honestly!
I dislike the superficial game I am playing, the phony game.
I would really like to be genuine and spontaneous, and me,
but you have got to help me. You have got to hold out your hand,
even when that is the last thing I seem to want.
Only you can wipe away from my eyes that blank stare of breathing death.
Only you can call me into aliveness.
Each time you try to understand and because you really care,
my heart begins to grow wings, very small wings, very feeble wings, but wings.
With your sensitivity and sympathy, and your power of understanding,
you can breathe life into me.
I want you to know that.
I want you to know how important you are to me,
how you can be the creator of the person that is me if you choose to.
Please choose to. You alone can break down the wall
behind which I tremble, you alone can remove my mask.
You alone can release me from my shadow world of panic and uncertainty;
From my lonely person.
Do not pass me by.
Please... do not pass me by.

It will not be easy for you;
a long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
The nearer you approach me, the blinder I strike back.
I fight against the very thing I cry out for. But I am told that
love is stronger than walls, and in this lies my hope.
Please try to beat down those walls with firm hands,
but with gentle hands for a child is very sensitive.

Charles C. Finn
Don't be fooled by me.

Money is only a by-product.

A Blog Posted by Singapore's Youngest Millionaire – Adam Khoo.

Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia , Indonesia , Thailand and Suzhou ( China ). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.

Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked.. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire. ' He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self Made Millionaires' ). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit in first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.

The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.

When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur's Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worth's well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyotas and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).

I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth(no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.

Then some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just gives you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.

Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see by companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.

I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc..) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a meaningless life.

p.s :- I got this in my mail recently. Never heard of him before this. I checked out his website & other related articles. Everyone of them spoke positively about him. He makes a lot of sense & what's more, all his ideas sound simple enough to follow.

Please click here to know more about Adam.

A new hacking Innovation

Hackers have always been able to open doors which we never knew existed. Once the right people get to know of these doors, they close it down and then the hacker goes in search for other ways. Why do these highly intelligent minds focus their attention on destruction than creation? May be I should ask a hacker. To be frank, I am impressed by the effort these guys put in.

It is also interesting to see that the vast majority of malware these days relies pretty heavily on social engineering tactics. This goes to show that the modern Operating Systems are actually pretty secure. All those security patches have pretty much paid off. We've come a long way in terms of security since the days of the windows 98 password "protection".

I guess it's hard for a lot of us to remember that security wasn't even considered an issue in the early days of computing. Way back then, we were all completely focused on getting the damn things to share stuff, not prevent them from doing so.  Well, my post has nothing to do with why hackers do it. It’s just about a new technique they have used. Read on…

Hackers are using fake parking violation warnings to trick motorists into visiting malware-infested websites.

The innovative social engineering trick was pulled off in Grand Forks, North Dakota using windshield fliers with a website address linked to a booby-trapped website. The fliers said:

PARKING VIOLATION This vehicle is in violation of standard parking regulations. To view pictures with information about your parking preferences, go to [website-redacted]

Drivers visiting the website were coaxed into installing a browser helper object (spyware component) for IE. Attempts are also made to frighten or coerce surfers into installing fake anti-virus scanner packages.

Lenny Zeltser, an anti-virus analyst at the SANS Institute, comments: "Attackers continue to come up with creative ways of tricking potential victims into installing malicious software. Merging physical and virtual worlds via objects that point to websites is one way to do this. I imagine we'll be seeing such approaches more often."

SANS has a write-up of the attack, include screenshots and pictures, here. ®

The joy in forgiving

Have you ever had someone do something to you that makes you so angry when you think about it, even today? Has someone ever done something so terrible that you've sworn  never to forgive them? They deserve it, don't they? To never be spoken to with any respect -- or spoken to at all? And you've made up your mind that no matter how much they apologize or try to make mends, you will just not forgive them because of the amount of pain, anger and humiliation they caused. That's the least they deserve, you tell yourself.

I do not know how you feel. But what I have written above is the exact way in which I used to feel. Now, when I look back in time, I realize that I had only been poisoning myself. Try forgiving someone who has wounded you the most. Its easier said than done. But when you eventually manage to, you will know the difference. You may not forget, but you can forgive.

If I forgive the person who hurt me, they'll think what they did was okay. They don't deserve it. Why should I forgive?

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” ~ Paul Boese

Forgiveness is a virtue that grows and expands further the more it is practiced. It is a divine virtue that allows us to be in touch with God Himself. It is through forgiveness that we have the opportunity to touch a human life in a profoundly personal way and perhaps change the course of that life forever. Forgiveness allows us to look at a human being in the rawness of its form and realize that this very rawness lies deep within ourselves. It is through this meeting of ourselves that judgement ceases.

Forgiveness does not mean, however, that we condone or participate in a path that brings pain and suffering to another. One must be wise to separate from such a path and to continue a journey towards greater understanding of love and peace.

When we bring forgiveness to a human life, it is like a heavy stone that has been changed into a light feather. It is now able to move and dance freely as the wind blows softly on it. It has found new freedom to express its beauty and grace. It has been transformed!

When we receive forgiveness from another, it is like a tender embrace and a warm smile to the soul. “All is well”, it says, “Journey on and let the light of God illuminate your understanding!”

Forgiveness is a treasure that all of us have been given. It is a gift to ourselves, a gift to others and a gift to be received. Forgiveness is the revealing of Love! It is in that Love that all ignorance melts away, and a new dawning has begun. With deep abiding peace we then can say, “God had made no mistakes”!

“Delusion arises from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls down when reasoning is destroyed.” ~ Bhagawad Gita.

Here is a few tips on how to forgive others:

Decision : Make a decision. Do you really want to keep being upset? Do you want to keep allowing the person who hurt you to dwell in you mind, without paying rent? Do you want to allow the wound to begin healing just to tear it back open? OR Are you ready to move on with living and move on from this bad chapter in your life? Only you can decide. Make the decision - YES, I want to move on.

Realization : Realize they may or may not know. The person who you need to forgive may or may not realize it. Sometimes a person doesn't even know what they've done. You may be thinking about them but they may have long since forgotten about you. You just don't know exactly what's going on in the other person's head. You also don't know why people are like they are. Leave all that to God to worry about.

Get Help : Pray to God to help you. There's only one person that wants you to move on from the past more than you and that's God. Just say - "God, I'm having a hard time forgiving (fill in the name) You know they have (fill in the blank) and I'm tired of having this in my mind all the time. Please help me to forgive and move on." Please help me to forgive them.

Forgive them : Just say to yourself and to God. I forgive (name) for (action). I know that forgiving them doesn't mean they were right. I know that forgiving them doesn't mean I agree. I just know forgiving them frees me to live again. Forgiving them frees me to focus on more important things. They have taken too much from me already and the buck stops here. I forgive them and I thank you God for helping me.

Celebrate : You've just been freed from a life sentence! Buy yourself a gift or do something that you enjoy the most! You don't have to forgive a person face-to-face unless you need it for your own healing. You're Free!

How it all changed.....

Here I am wondering what happened to me...
Thinking hard about life
How it all changed from a normal one to a mechanical one.....

How my old pig coin box changed to large pay checks, but then why it gave less happiness ……
How a few trousers gave way to an expensive wardrobe, but then why I don’t feel like it ……
How a single plate of Vada changed to a full Burger, but then why there is less hunger ……

Here I am wondering what happened to me...
Thinking hard about life
How it all changed.....

How I progressed from a pedestrian to a driver, but then why there are less places to go to…. 
How a small coffee shop changed to cafe coffee day, but then why it feels like the shop is far away …….
How a limited pre-paid card changed to a post-paid package, but then why there less calls and more messages ……..

Here I am wondering what happened to me...
Thinking hard about life
How it all changed.....

How a second class journey changed to a Flight, but then why there are less vacations …. 
How an old desktop changed to a new branded laptop, but then why there is less time to spend on it ….. 
How a small bunch of friends changed to e-mates, but then why there are lesser mails ….. 

Here I am wondering what happened to me...
Thinking hard about life
How it all changed

 

Point Made – Answer to an unplanned pregnancy

A worried woman went to her gynaecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.'

So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem.  It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born.  If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.  The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.. The crime is the same!

Earn as you blog

The hype on paid blogging is growing big and I am also thinking of making money out of my blog. Is it not good to be rewarded after spending hours on blogging and blog hopping? Why don’t we all consider monetizing our blogs?

A lot of people are talking about paid blogging. So I ask my self is it really possible to get paid while blogging? I was skeptical at first but I still read and research about it. Learning to get paid to blog is not as complicated as I thought it is. Basically the way it works is to find an advertiser-you blog- then-get-paid, it's like posting a normal blog but with monetary incentive. You get paid to blog for every word and every single sentences you write, what's cool than that! But this new phenomenon requires time, patience, persistent and promotion to succeed. It sound so easy to me, if only I have all the time in the world then I could be a successful big-earner blogger!

Looks like am already dreaming