October 25

4C Sunny
Today will be tha last entry for a few days as we will be on the road, should make Portland area tomorrow and Reno the next day. At least we won't have to pay the new surcharge that the US is going to impose in a couple of weeks.
Probably go to short mat bowls today and I see those birds have already made inroads on their feeders so will top up again today.
I'm not sure if I mentioned that M was awarded the most improved ladies bowler of the year. A great thing (for a bowler) as it isn't just on the basis of a couple of games but on her performance through the season.

Some more of my 1994 stuff - I note that some of my predictions are close and others a little off. Oh well I'm not so sure Nostrademus always had it right and at least with mine don't have to be interpreted!

A world hockey association, not a doubt! Within 5 -10 years.

Another war?  Unfortunately yes.  There will probably be another war between the two Koreas within the next year, this will of course bring in the Americans and they will involve other countries in the United Nations.  I don't believe China will get involved this time.  Trade with the rest of the world is too important.   I am also sure that the fighting will not end there.  Over the centuries there have been several reasons why wars happen.  Simple conquest for land or wealth, ideological motives, but most common and most terrible is religious fanaticism.  This is not in our day and age so common between religions of similar beliefs (the Irish being the exception) but it has been, it is and it will continue to be so between those faiths that are fundamentally different and when that difference is also tied to racial differences the fanaticism is even worse.  So we will see another catastrophic war and because of the technical superiority of the western and European nations, the most likely situation will be a war of terrorism and guerilla warfare on our homelands.  As bad as war is, I have to say that it is better to fight on someone else's land than your own.  Can our leaders continue to make that happen?  Will present uneasy allies remain true to current alliances?  Not likely.  I would like to believe that you children will only know peace in your life time, I don't believe that is possible, so your generation must cure the ills of our homeland so that we are strong enough to protect that homeland when the time comes.

I guess there has been a lot of doom and gloom so far in what I'm saying, but it is important not to behave like ostriches or just go through life assuming someone else will take care of everything.  Face reality and take the actions that are necessary!  I’ll see if I can hit a happier note.

I believe the family unit will become stronger in the future, we have gone through several decades that have slowly seen the eroding of Victorian principles, the farm family syndrome, the small town atmosphere.  Many things on this world work like a pendulum and I believe that pendulum is starting to swing back.  No our cities won't get smaller and the world will continue so shrink as travel becomes even more commonplace.  But travel equals knowledge equals understanding.  Our cities will form communities within their boundaries where the "community spirit " will once again flourish.  Not without help however, as these communities to truly flourish must not be separated by racial or religious boundaries.  If a Baptist and a Catholic can sit together at a potluck dinner, why can't a Buddhist, a Muslim and a Christian?  Respect for authority and knowing that policemen are our friends will once again be with us, however policemen must WALK their beats must talk and act with compassion.

Schoolteachers must be allowed authority and be strong enough to exercise that authority with wisdom.  Parents must spank their children when they deserve it; they must talk to them and discuss issues and their concerns with them. Children must learn to be independent, to respect authority, to recognize that rules are necessary in a society that is going to survive.  When you children are parents, don't make the same mistakes of your grandparents and your parents. Remember and repeat all of the things they did right. Read to young children, play cards once a week with them, take them camping a couple of times a year (real camping, not in an RV on a campground with electricity and tap water), no TV at meal times, be their mentors and their friend and their boss.

Unfortunately I see the time coming when computers will be programmed to take dictation, correct the english and punctuation and kick out the finished product.  Now don't think thats great, because it will destroy a lot of creativity and suppress the need to think.