http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7129756.stm

Here's another totally inane article about saving energy. Kind of reminds me of Alvin Toffler's 'Learning for Tomorrow' where he talks about how we have the technology to make condoms but can't make people use them, i.e. we can't modify their behaviour. Overall the book is about how the technology to make things rocketed forward while the technology to modify human behaviour languished in the middle ages and that this is at the root of some of the problems of modern times.

Take HIV. People know it exists. We have the communication network that has let most of the world know about HIV and how to reduce risks - and yet people continue to have unprotected sex.

Take oil. People know we are running out of oil and yet people not only want to buy cars but they encourage other people to buy cars. In addition, people not only want to travel a lot but constantly pester other people about 'where they went for holidays' making them feel bad if they didn't go anywhere insisting that 'you need to go somewhere!'.

Take consumerism in general. I've reached this point in life where I'm quite content staying home mostly, taking pleasure in activities like long walks, online games and cooking. I buy fewer things than before, but many people have tried to make me feel bad about this, suggesting that I needed more money so I could buy more clothes I don't need to wear, etc.

I think the problem is inside our heads. Inside the heads of human beings. Until attitudes of people change - like their nature of being competitive with other humans - nothing will change and we'll be speeding down home straight to all the problems that have been predicted by science.

Chickpea Salad

I spent all weekend preparing my lovely chickpeas so that I could make some delicious dishes out of them.

After I soaked them for 24 hours from Friday night, I boiled them for 3 hours on Saturday. Then I made some humus, and stored the rest in a tupperware in the refrigerator.

Today I made a salad for lunch which was delicious, refreshing and filling.

Salad Ingredients

Cooked Chickpeas
Sliced Cucmber (cut in quarters)
Diced Tomatoes
Diced Boiled Eggs
Chives (I use a scissor to cut them)

Dressing

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Coarse Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper (preferably red, white, black, green)
1/3 Lemon Juice
Dash of Cumin
Dash of Chili

Just mix all of this and serve with toast!

It's nutritious and pretty filling.

Contradictions: Egg Freezing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7048361.stm

I came across this article today and wondered about how unthinking people can be about the personal situations of other people.

"Critics argue they are delaying motherhood for the wrong motives, such as climbing the career ladder or until they have more money."

This shows really backward thinking by men (and maybe some thoughtless women who are the worst enemies of other women) that women are breeding mares first and don't have the right to pursue a career in the same way that men do. Since when is it wrong to wait until you have more money to raise a child properly? It's a sensible thing to worry about. Do these critics really think it's better for women to go on welfare?

"Many of those women have been with commitment-phobic men or have not found Mr Right, or they are part of a couple that needs two salaries to get a mortgage.

"These are social issues but it is wrong to deprive women of this option, which many of them say is empowering."

This, I think is the reality when I think about all my female friends with careers. And the reality kind of gets me pissed off at men in general.

1. Men don't want to commit to a relationship

2. They don't like women taking their jobs

3. They expect women to have children anyway to populate the world

Also at the end of the day - relying on a man to take care of you is a very risky thing. Power corrupts people and makes people abusive. How many women have been abused because they were dependent on a man for a living?

I think that the issues of women's rights in the real sense has to be addressed if people want to see a change. In other words, they should have the right to make their own livelihood so that they can be economically independent, and if the state wants more women to have children they need to be given special rights that men don't have simply because men do not get pregnant and have babies.

And yes, I'm all for allowing women to freeze their eggs, but women also need to come to terms with making choices about their life. If it's very important to have a baby, then it's just more probable that they'll have a successful pregnancy if they do it when nature thinks it's optimal.

Absolut Vodka

Call me uninformed and lazy...but I didn't realize Absolut Vodka was a product of a state owned industry until this morning when I read this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7036146.stm

I guess it's because when we think of state owned businesses, we think of conservative and often boring advertising - and Absolut Vodka is a brand that is known for its 'cool' 'cutting-edge' advertising. It's a brand that is mentioned in books about thematic advertising where everything went right.

The company seems open minded and creative in their attitude about marketing including product placement in tv shows. I've seen funny references made to the brand in Swedish shows like 'Beck' or in American shows like 'Sex and the City' (http://www.ez-entertainment.net/features/absolut.htm), and I believe they have come out winners for their open mindedness in how to make their brand grow.

Upon closer examination of the Absolut Hunk however, I now realize I have worked with this male model. He didn't seem this muscular and well-built at the time so I didn't even recognize him. But now that I've taken a closer look at his face - it is indeed Jason Lewis - who featured in a 'Marui' commercial in Japan years ago, and I was one of the bilingual production managers. Some of the girls in the production crew made a big fuss about meeting him and I didn't understand what the big deal was but now that I'm in my 40s and am looking at this virtually naked photograph of him, it finally dawns on me what the big deal is. He's a good looking guy isn't he? It only took me a decade to realize this!

What do to with life?

I think that there is so much propaganda around us that affects the minds of everyone that it makes it difficult to be happy at any given moment in life. If you dare to be happy a friend or relative will remind you what's lacking in your life and make you unhappy or doubt your happiness.

It's so easy to find something wrong with your life with all the demands that humanity make on you. Why can't we just sit back and enjoy life for what it offers?

Right now I'm pretty happy - or should be. I don't work. I have time to prepare slow food almost everyday. Should I wish to take a stroll the Mediterranean is only 1.5 km away. I have a partner to share life's small joys with.

Underneath it all is the pressure to achieve something noteworthy . But let's be realistic. How many people can do this even if they spend every waking hour of their life trying to do this?

Right now I'm trying to come to terms with being happy with what I can do right now, without being overly selfish and callous to the people around me.

I think it's possible to achieve some kind of a balance in life - where you can still be reasonably considerate toward others without sacrificing too much and keeping yourself in a happy state of mind.

I don't believe the utter selfishness with which some people singlemindedly pursue only their own happiness can help one be happy at the end of the day because there will be too many things to be unhappy about when you don't get your way.

There, I said it.