Bald Eagle's Blog!

Is what she says, actually what she means?

2011-06-21T21:37:00.001-07:00

Nope! But this is like cancer. We know what causes it but we don’t know the cure. The majority of women suffer from low self esteem and lack of confidence. They want and need validation on an on- going basis. As a result, they are not certain about what they seek in life. Mind you, this is generalizations, but the interesting thing is that a huge percentage of women feel like this. So, back to the main issue! If a guy is nice, they want a bad boy. If he is a bad boy, they want a good guy. If the guy tries to adjust, he is flaky. How will a guy react then? They say, be yourself! How the heck can I be myself if you don’t let me be? Know what you want and stick with it woman! How would you get the man you seek if you don’t even know what you want?

The Real Estate Paradigm

2011-06-21T21:36:00.002-07:00

Listen! Among other things, we all want to have sex, make love, habahaba or whatever else you want to call it. I can understand women trying to make it difficult for us, but come one. What is wrong with you? You make it so difficult and we end up giving up and in the end you complain that nobody wants you. Sex is critical when it comes to relationships. It is not the most important thing but when it is absent, it is detrimental. Oh heck… who the fuck am I kidding. It is very important. The way you ladies deal with it right now is like this…. It is like you own a piece of land somewhere and the value of the land is 10,000 but you want to sell it for 50,000. Who in their right mind is going to pay you 50 for something worth 10? And after you complain that you only get losers to be interested. Off course you do. Because the normal guys are not going to give up 50! It is simple. So, wake up… make it difficult if you want… it will make us feel like hunters… but give some glitter of hope… show us that we should continue to try and there is a chance… don’t blow us off completely and expect us to keep pushing… it makes us feel like losers… and we give up. Give us a little something. And BTW, it is not bad to approach a guy when YOU like him… it’s cool… it’s kosher in our book…

What Women Want

2011-06-21T21:36:00.001-07:00

I don't know! I have a hunch that they don’t know either. Off course, I am talking about women here because I am a guy. I am not interested in what guys want. Maybe guys are as confusing to women as women are to guys. But ladies, come on, decide some basic things you are looking for. Settle on some type of list, so we have at least a remote chance with you. You can’t change your opinion every 5 minutes. It is confusing, tiring, and in the end counterproductive.

The Age Difference

2011-06-21T21:35:00.001-07:00

There is no age difference that is appropriate between two people in a relationship. Whatever makes someone happy goes! However, when the age difference is associated with personal and activity interests, then there is a problem. For example, people should have some common interests. Otherwise too much conflicting interest will lead to problems. This might not have to do only with age but age can be a factor. For example, interests in entertainment, music, food, movies etc. Off course, one must try to be accommodating, but not to the total detriment of ones self.

The Age

2011-06-21T21:34:00.002-07:00

There is no specific age after which a person can have a relationship, short or long term. However, a person can only consider a relationship when he/she knows themselves and develop a list of the things they are looking for to find on their partner. Only then, they can have at least a small chance to have a happy and fulfilling long term relationship. Even then, when someone is prepared there is no guaranty for anything.

The Basic Premise

2011-06-21T21:34:00.001-07:00

Women and men are different! Not one bad and the other good, just different. If you couple that fact with the premise that each person can only be certain about themselves, one can understand that there is nothing specific anyone can do to ensure that a relationship will be good, continue to be good, and will end by being good until death do us ‘part. So, each person must be able to stand on their own two feet without depending on someone to make them happy. Then you can try to find someone to complement and augment your life, as opposed to be on the hunt for someone to “make” your life.

The Next 10 Postings will be the Dirty Truth about women!

2011-06-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

Many people, including my kids, tell me that I talk too much about relationships, women, how different guys are from girls, that it is impossible for the two sexes to live together let along having successful long term relationships. So, I will try to write a few comments about everything that revolves and affects relationships; good and bad!

Domination – I know what is best for you!

2010-05-27T03:03:00.001-07:00

I am a victim as well as a non-proud perpetrator of this practice that dominates our society and relationships in general. This is wrong! Nobody knows what is best or better for another human being because not all people are the same. There is no human template in which we all fit! Each person should have the right to decide what is best for them. In our relationships with the people that we love, or even people in general who occupy our eco-system, we can offer – if invited – our honest and true opinion, but we should just leave it there! We should not insist on the person implementing or embracing our advice. If we do this, our honest advice becomes an unwelcomed burden and in the end it will have the opposite effect of what was once desired. Love the people around you, but let them be!

Who the Fuck is Free!

2010-05-27T02:38:00.001-07:00

Who the fuck is free? I saw this moniker last night on a shirt and since that moment I cannot get it out of my head. This small sentence tells us a lot about who we are and how our pop culture forces us to comply with certain social musts that remove our individual freedom and as a result our happiness, or at least the opportunity to be happy. It strips us of our right to be happy through freedom. This freedom that we all talk about and embrace is a hostage of many things; financial dependency on the corrupt and inhumane banking system, social dependency on people whom in general we don’t like, work dependency because we did not study and we are not doing what we truly love but what other people at some point told us what was the best thing to do, and personal relationship dependency because we are afraid to speak our mind and run the risk of being alone. So, our freedom depends not on our actions, but on what society forces us to believe is the right thing to do! True freedom is when someone does what makes him or her happy! True freedom is when someone is striped down from his/her dependencies and in the nakedness of being can feel truly happy, without any remorse or fear! Being happy with your thoughts and deeds provides all of us the path to true happiness which in the end is what we all desire and long. Material possessions, relationships that do not work, a job that makes us not want to get up in the morning, and a constant quest for money is not the way! No fear – Be happy!

People are morons!

2010-03-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Politicians are idiots, but the people who vote them into office are morons! Political systems do not exist to serve the people but to provide a clear way for special interest to grow and thrive! The problem is that we believe the impossible during political campaigns. Politicians will promise everything when with some simple math we could figure out that it would be impossible to do everything they promise during their time in office. So, it is upon us to decide not merely who is telling the truth, but rather who is telling us reasonably what changes he/she will bring about that will have a positive impact on people’s lives. We should not care about strategic plans and analysis, rather we should embrace tactical and possible solutions to our daily problems. Choosing quality of life is much better than choosing to believe a bunch of useless and impossible blah blah!

Generation Apart! Spirit Open!

2010-03-11T07:36:00.000-08:00

My head is spinning every time I talk to my kids or I hear them talk with their friends! I am neither trained nor ready for this! I do not understand how or why they talk about 99% of the things that they talk about. But who am I to judge. I am pretty certain that my parents where feeling the same way when I was talking about certain things when I was 16. So, try to understand the younger generation by listening more than you are talking! Understand the issues that affect them and be sincere when you offer your opinion. Love them! Put your arms around them! They will respond positively!

Fragile Creatures!

2010-03-11T06:56:00.001-08:00

It is really sad! Human beings are fragile creatures! When are people going to understand that our time here is limited enough that it does not worth wasting time for anything negative!

People cannot stand on their own two feet. They need the support, the acknowledgement, and the approval of their friends, family, and business associates. They need to hear how good they are, how beautiful they are, that they are head and shoulders above the rest. When we hear those words we become stupid! We do not think about the motive behind those words nor do we question or evaluate the validity of such statements. We love to live in the darkness of our surrounding eco system created to just musk our weaknesses rather than expose them and encourage us to work to make our selves better. There is even worst! God forbid if someone, a fellow human being, rejects us! When this happens, we spent considerable time and energy trying to gain back the approval of the person who rejected us!

Instead, we could look around at the people who truly love us, respect us, and think of us as someone worthy of those beautiful emotions and feelings. Grab the hand of a person around you who truly wants to share with you the positive energy of what it is like to live happy. Try the good for once, reject the bad! Live your life smiling and being happy.

Men are from Earth, Women ... they do not even know where are they from...

2010-01-13T01:34:00.000-08:00

The greatest difference between men and women is that men are straight forward with what they want/need, but women expect that men figure out/guess what they want/need! To make things even more complicated for us, they "tell" us what they want/need but they do not say exactly what they mean, they say something else but it is more like a clue, a guessing game! For example, a woman will say something like... "I do not want anything for my birthday"... a man will take that literally, that the woman does not really want anything! When a man does not bring anything, the woman gets upset and begins talking to her girlfriends and having a long face, because the "pig" did not even have the decency to get her a present! Common ladies... make it simple... just say what you really mean... be straight and things will be much better....

Candlelight.......

2008-10-07T02:24:00.000-07:00

An amazing concept! Did you ever light a candle and just seat there and look at the flame? WOW! It is never the same! The flame moves as if it is graciously dancing the waltz of life! What you see at one moment it is gone forever never to be seen again. So, you must look, enjoy, absorb, and appreciate everything right then and there and not worry about the past or the future; because the past is gone and can never be recovered, and the future will bring you new things to enjoy. Love the moment; do what brings you happiness in your heart…

No Fear!

2008-10-07T02:21:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about this issue a lot lately! Fear can paralyze the common sense sensors of a person. With common sense absent, a lot of stupid decisions are made. My biggest fear was to be alone. This led me to some decisions which fucked up my life for the last few years. Nothing tragic but a lot of uncomfortable moments! There is nothing worst than letting your fears dictate how you make decisions. Believe in your self and always have as your guiding light the values, needs, and wants which make you who you are! Long for happiness! No fear will lead you to that!

The goal......

2008-09-22T09:35:00.001-07:00

Spirituality leads to happiness! What leads to spirituality are virtues of trust, truth, commitment, honesty, transparency, loyalty, and respect for our selves and others. Those are the values which allow us to develop depth of character and in turn help us truly love, care, forgive and be peaceful, be confident about our selves, and ultimately be happy. All this is a process and not a destination. Betrayal brings sadness but not hate, because hate is poison in our souls. When we disrespect others we actually cheat ourselves of the opportunity to happiness, to love, and to be loved. At the end of the road, material possessions cannot be counted, but having someone who truly loves you to hold your hand, kiss you softly, and tell you how beautiful it has been; that is priceless.

Shadows have no Soul

2008-09-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

I will find my way, the fear is gone
Something has changed since you have been away
I cannot wait to smile again
I feel the urge to run towards the sun

I must remove the negative which sucks on my soul
Shadows cannot see themselves in the mirror of the sun
I have had enough, I am gonna stand up straight
I am ready to fight each day

I have faith, I will be back on top
No doubt in my mind, will waste no time
I will put some soul in this heart of mine
I can reach that open sky

Demetris Hadjisofocli
September 20 2008

The meaning of words……

2008-09-19T05:02:00.002-07:00

I occasionally use words that are considered to be bad, negative, vulgar or improper, to help me make a point. I do not believe that there are bad or inappropriate words because words are attached to the meaning we give them as human beings. So, if the common meaning we give them is considered to be bad, then we should reconsider our understanding of the particular word. First, let us understand the definition of any word;

- A word is a unit which is a constituent at the phrase level and above

The official definition of what a word is has nothing to do with the meaning of the word. Thinking about it, I have even stronger conviction that there are no good or bad words but just words! So, run away with it and use the words that most express you, at the moment you choose to use them and do not worry about what others will think. If they need to recalibrate something is the “ethical meaning” they have assigned to the so called “bad words”!

On the Subject of Dishonesty.....

2008-09-18T02:22:00.001-07:00

People in general are dishonest! However, if you ask anyone, they will tell you, and actually convince you, that they are the nicest people and they are always straight forward. Based on my experience, there are very few people who are straight forward and honest enough to tell you their truth! There are many excuses used to mask dishonesty and some of the most popular ones are; I did not want to hurt your feelings, I did not know what to say, I did not know how to say it, I did not want anyone to think bad about me and many other like minded and weak statements. In reality, what they mean is that they are “weak, selfish, and unfair people who think only about themselves”! Even thought the truth hurts sometimes, dishonesty hurts even more, especially when it is planned and it is underlined by ulterior motives. If you happen to come across honest and straightforward people cherish them, love them, respect them, and honor them with the same.

On the Subject of Change....

2008-09-18T02:22:00.000-07:00

Change is always difficult and people tend to resist any kind of change. However, without change we will still be leaving in caves. Incremental change is vital to the very survival and transformation of our social, economic and cultural ecosystem. Change occurs for two basic reasons; either by design or by necessity. Visionary individuals can comprehend the strategic importance for bringing about change, and most often than not they push for changes at a fast pace because they assume that other people have similar acumen. The majority of people will resist this kind of visionary forced change. Change by necessity creates chaos because it lacks planning, preparation, and structure. It leads to unpleasant side effects, most important of which are the sense of loosing control and rejection. In the end, change can be viewed positively or negatively. My suggestion is that change should be encouraged and embraced! It perpetuates the very survival of the human race and all its activities!

Semper Fidelis

2008-09-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

Semper Fi, which is an abbreviated version of Semper Fidelis, means Always Faithful! I love this moniker. It expresses me tremendously to the point where I am thinking about making it my fourth tattoo!

One of the most powerful feelings in the world is betrayal, but even a greater feeling is the ability to forgive but not repeat! There is a difference between forgiving someone who betrayed you but not go back to the relationship which bonded you with that person in the past and forgiving and going back without any recourse. I believe in forgiving and moving on, because if you linger around and you maintain hate and a sense of revenge in your mind, the only thing you will manage is to poison your thoughts and your way of life. So, forgive, forget, and move on! Let the perpetrator live with their conscious if they have one.

What the heck do they want!

2008-09-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

Women in general do not know what they want! If a man is good to them, he is romantic, he works hard, loves them, and supports them as well as the rest of the family, they complain that there is not enough time left for them or that the guy does not give them enough attention. If the guy is an asshole and does not give a shit, then they go around complaining that he is abusive and a neanderthal.

So, the conclusion is that you must not be predictable! Keep the same basic values but do not be predictable with your relationships.

On the Subject of Personal Freedom....

2007-01-29T04:44:00.001-08:00

We always hear about freedom, but we rarely define this wonderful and empowering concept at the personal level. We all understand, accept, and embrace the fact that countries should be democratic and facilitate freedom for their citizens because freedom ensures individual and national prosperity. We rarely speak, debate, or fight for individual freedoms. We say that we do, but in reality we fight for collective freedoms. This is kind of ironic given the fact that individual freedoms are the cornerstone, the foundation, of democracy.

The social institutions we created as well as the culture we promote are also a catalyst against individual freedoms. The term “it takes a village” entails numerous positive feelings and connotations, however, it also promotes individual imprisonment when it comes to the “village” norms and rules we must follow. If we dare not, then we become the village outcasts! In the end we leave our lives for the others! No wonder that 90% of people are not happy with how they spent their lives. It is also interesting that when it comes time for the “village” to set the norms on how we should behave, they are experts. However, when these norms are the cause of a major fuck up in our lives, then it is our fault.

People should define, leave, and enjoy their lives as best as they see fit. They should not even listen or try to understand the social norms set by previous generations, without even considering what is the current environment. Only when people enjoy their lives through individual freedoms as they are defined by them, will we be able to say that we are truly free and that we truly enjoy a democratic and fair society.

Embrace the meaning of these words in your life....

2007-01-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

POWER CODES
- By embracing the diversity of human beings we will find the way to true happiness
- When we give to the world what we really want the most, we heal the broken part inside each of us
- Happiness exists in action, it exists in telling the truth and what your truth is, and it exists in giving away what you want the most.

POWER WORDS
- Life traveler
- Flyby
- Impact
- Pathfinder
- Resolve
- Maxed out
- Power
- Commitment
- Enlighten
- Energized
- Inspired

SUCCESS WORDS
- Passion
- Persistence
- Work
- Be good at it
- Focus
- Push
- Shyness/Self doubt
- Serve
- Ideas

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORDS
- Accessibility
- Interoperability
- Adaptability
- Reusability
- Durability
- Affordability
- Entrepreneurship is about creativity and competition

Relationships .... Revisited

2007-01-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

I have a confirmation of the fact that a good healthy relationship were you do not need to compromise, you have fun, you respect, and you truly love your partner are essential and they are the only way to do it! I have some new elements in the relationship realm for which I do not have a strong opinion! However, I have an egotistical opinion.

These issues have to do with age difference, prior marital status, kids etc. I do not believe that age difference should be granted important consideration in a marriage. I believe that compatibility is a most critical variable when deciding on a partner for a lifetime. Imagine two possibilities; a partner close to your age with whom you have nothing in common, cannot laugh with, cannot have a satisfying conversation, cannot go out with, a partner with whom you do not feel comfortable, or feel in peace etc. On the other hand, think about a relationship with someone you are compatible and with whom you want to enjoy the rest of your life. A person you know you can trust and respect. Would you care about the age of the second person? The prior marriage issue and the kids are little trickie! Obviously you will have to understand why the first marriage did not work and make sure that the person in your heart does not have some fundamental problems. Absent that, a previous marriage should not exclude anyone from being in your heart. The kids should be understood and be allowed to be involved in your lives. Having said that, kids are selfish sometimes and they should be controlled in a mature and respectful way.

Go make your life!

In Memory of my Beloved Father.......

2006-12-20T06:15:00.000-08:00

A father, a husband, a brother, a friend, a chef but above all a good and decent human being respected by others and always with a smile on his face. He always had something positive to say about everyone and everything! He managed, he was lucky enough, to have a happy life full of love and care.

Charalambos Ioannou Hadjisofocli, born at the Cypriot village of Gerolakkos on May 26, 1926. His parents were relatively wealthy (as it is measured in material possessions) but he never really cared. After graduating the elementary school he decided to face life head on. He left the comfort of his family home to work at the construction site of the new Cyprus International Airport. He was also a musician! He was a soccer player! He was involved in the community! I cannot forget the last couple of days of his life while at the hospital his friends, neighbors, relatives poured in to see him. To perhaps connect with him, through his smile and kindness, one last time. He worked mostly with British and US organizations such as the US Embassy in Nicosia.

My sister and I adored him. He was the kind of father who was not involved in the details of our lives but he always cared. When I think about it, it was much better that he just tried to give us some basic direction about life, some important ethics and values to leave by, and then he let go. In some cases he was adamant about us following certain social norms but he was never a pain in the ass. He trusted us!

He never had anything bad to say about anyone! Always, with kind words and a smile on his face. People remember him for the proud, and quite an that he was. He was a family man!

We will miss you my friend but we will always remember you through good and bad. Everything that was your life will guide us through ours. Your legacy will be passed on to our kids and the people around us through the values you instilled in us.

Love you!

Swan song!

2006-09-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

My father is sick! The doctors could have diagnosed my father's disease two years ago but they did not. However, I will not deal with the doctors' incompetence at this point! Now I am loosing my father! A gentle man who never had anything bad to say about anyone!

My father is 80 years old! Up until four weeks ago he walked 10Km a day, 5Km in the morning and 5Km in the afternoon. He was working from 3am to 10am every day except Sunday because as he was saying; work keeps you young! He could go about his daily routine without any problem and most importantly without help from anyone. Four weeks ago he was diagnosed with malignant metastatic cancer which started in his stomach with metastasis to his liver, lungs and possibly brain. In four weeks he lost 2/3's of his weight, he can no longer walk, go to the bathroom, take shower, eat, or do anything which four weeks ago he was taking for granted, without help. The worst is that my father is a person who cared about his personal health and two years ago when he had a short stay in the hospital for what it was described to us as a small stomach problem he already had the disease. These clueless doctors where incompetent at best if not reckless!

My father's life was colorful. He had some good times and some bad times. The worst was in 1974 when Turkey invaded Cyprus and my family became refugees with no home, no food, no work! My parents overcame the difficulties brought to them because of the invation and we had a good life. My parents, my sister and I had a loving relationship and we still do. We had some difficulties but our love for each other helped us overcome. My father was a good friend. I could tell him anything and he will always understand. He never offered his opinion with open arms, he was mostly a listener. Some times he was choosing the "glass half empty" road but he was rarely judgmental. People loved him! He was always polite and he was crazy about cleanliness! Sometimes he was heavy handed with my mom but that's who he was.

He is in the hospital now and we all try to make him as comfortable as possible. Each one of us in our own unique way. My mother is always sad and she just goes through the motions, my sister is serious and strong willed but sometimes she gets a little emotional, and I tease him a lot. I try to tell him stories while I take him to the bathroom, or when I clean him, or when I give him food. Sometimes he smiles and sometimes he gets upset. I just want him to be comfortable.

I know that soon I will loose my Dad but such is life. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end. I hope his life story makes him happy. I enjoyed all the moments with him, good and bad! He is in my heard and when he takes his final journey he will always remain in my heard. My Dad was above all a good human being. That's my Dad and I will always love him.

Reconnect

2006-09-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from this blog for some time and a lot has transpired, which triggered my curiosity and no-shit juices, ever since! I am pretty certain that many things, good and bad, happen to all people but the life occurrences which trouble me most are the negative ones which could be avoided but they are not! The cliche that common sense is not so common dawns on me ever more often. I do not content that I am smart, or that I posses the ability or moral right to judge people, but I can tell you that in my book there are some people who do some very stupid things. I think that some people are so stupid that they should be legally forbidden to reproduce. Passing on stupid-DNA should be punishable by castration! I do not know if there is such a law anywhere in the world but maybe it is about time to consider such a remedy.

I think I mentioned before that I believe that the majority of the people walking the earth lack basic judgment, curiosity, intelligence! A good question could be; who defines good judgment, curiosity, and intelligence? I do not know but unless I have had a stroke, or alzheimer, or I am in general brain impaired, I could safely argue that 90% of the people are misfits. Yes, 90%! Next time you have a chance to look in the mirror (figuratively) try to figure out if you are a member of the 90% group or the 10% group. Do not be generous with yourself and if you are honest enough to face up to the possibility that you belong to the 90% there is hope for you. I look in the mirror all the time and still I do not know my group! So, good luck!

I do not want to mention anything specific but in due course I will write about my observations.

Street dogs are a social model worth evaluating

2006-01-17T05:29:00.000-08:00

Did you ever invest the time to observe the street dogs roaming our neighborhoods? I did and what I found is extremely interesting. Some of the facts! These dogs are always dirty, they always seem to be happy, with few exceptions they are always healthy looking and in some cases overweight, they always look like they are rushing to get somewhere, they seem to know what they are doing and where they are going, they almost never fight, they can get a partner anytime-anywhere without many expectations, they take care of their little doggies, they find a way to spend the evening and the list goes on and on. What gets me the most is that these dogs do not look stressed at all, to the contrary they look extremely content and happy.

What if we (humans) follow the street dog lead and adopt some of their habits? We will have to take fewer showers, smile a little more, not work too hard to acquire unnecessary things, tell another person if we like them and in the case of the opposite sex express out desires with a howl, spend all day with our families playing around and scratching a lot, leave for the day and worry about tomorrow later, and in general have much less stress than we have now.

So, what do you think? Would you join the revolution, or maybe more appropriately; would you join the pack? Woof, woof!!!!!

Judgment and Stereotypes

2005-12-16T03:06:00.000-08:00

People judge and stereotype each other often and unfairly! Why do people have the need to put others down? Why do we stereotype? Does it make us feel better? Does it make us feel that we are above commoners? Does it make us feel smarter? I believe that it is all the above and then some. By stereotyping people and grouping it becomes easier to compare to us and justify our shortcomings. The skin color, spiritual beliefs, academic education, place of origin, ethnicity, and financial stature are some of the most commonly used stereotypes! However, none of these stereotypes truly validates our opinions of others or provides a framework of reference to our quest to appear better than others. A true measure of who we are and the most valid stereotype is the quality of our soul! Interestingly enough, our soul has no color, religion, money, education, or a country to call home. Our soul is an abstract idea of who we truly are as human beings. Our soul is a measure of our kindness, compassion, humanity, concern, and consideration of others! In the end this is all that counts. How do we tread and care about others is a measure of our soul. So, if you want to stereotype do it based on the measure of your soul.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas is good! People are generally happier, more receptive, passing love more freely to their fellow human beings, their spouses, and their families. The surrounding environment puts a smile on everyone’s face. The lights, the decorations, the music in the air give an upbeat vibe to everything that moves. During Christmas we understand and appreciate other people’s problems better and in some cases we even rush to help. We kind of feel guilty to have so much fun, spread so much happiness, share so many smiles, and spend so much money while others suffer. It makes us feel better if we share! Christmas makes us almost better people as if we change, who we are, for three weeks every year. If it weren’t for all the materialistic craze which has no logical underpinning I could say that December is the best month of the year. But this race to buy everything freestanding drives me nuts. I do not understand why people exhibit a purchase behavior which defies all common sense! They behave as if they start a shopping list beginning in January of every year and in December they go shopping. Give me a break! What a waste! My suggestion is for the government to regulate all expenses for the month of December to a maximum of 20% of each person’s income. This way, people will make more rational purchase decisions and come January they will not need to consume antacids to deal with their debt indigestions. BTW, the suggestion about regulating spending is a joke, so if any government technocrats are reading the page do not get any brilliant ideas.

Public figureheads and accountability

2005-12-14T02:27:00.000-08:00

There are several and easy ways to filler buster any act of accountability but the brave, ethical people who love their country stand up and face the music. Easy to say but extremely difficult to find these type of people, because people willing to be accountable for their actions are a species on the endanger for extinction list. I am appalled with anyone passing the puck but I truly dislike any public figurehead who uses the public airwaves to avoid any responsibility or accountability. Why the heck do we vote for these people at the first place? Do we do it just to secure a comfortable income for them or to put them on a pedestal? It seems that it is the case, because as citizens we do not react strongly against the political bull shit. The empty promises, public resources mismanagement, and negligence are treated as if it is “comedy central”. The common theme for politicians and other public figureheads is that “they will have a meeting to discuss and plan on how they will address a specific problem”! How about doing their job and implementing existing legislation by holding people accountable for their actions and most importantly holding themselves accountable as opposed to hiding behind “busy work” and “bulls shit fill blah blah”. Citizens should wake up and smell the coffee and realize that political figureheads are accountable to us and we should hold them to the highest standards and expectations.

Curiosity

2005-12-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

The trouble with normal is that it always gets worst. Who wants to be normal in life! What the heck is normal anyway! By definition being normal is boring because the majority of people in this world are normal. I think someone who is considered to be normal follows the rules as they are set by the societal norms of where this person makes home. The more these norms are followed the more boring it becomes and as a result it gives the perception that it always gets worst even though it is the same. So, the saying that goes like “the same old shit” is fit for normal people. How do people change, become innovative, create knowledge, question their surroundings, and in general become active participants who force change in the societies where we live? I have one word which when understood and embraced is a virtue; curiosity! Curiosity is the single most important attribute a human being can posses. Encourage your kids and people around you to acquire, nurture, and master this attribute. Individuals, societies, states, governments, businesses, organizations and all other elements which comprise our world will be better off because of that.

On my last party

2005-12-09T07:17:00.000-08:00

Just so there is no misunderstanding I want to have this in writing... When I die, not that I wish to die but I do know that some day (hopefully not soon) it will happen, I want everyone to wear yellow shirts! I do not want the boiler plate discussion about not being appropriate! For things which concern me I define appropriate. If it is true, as I hope it is, that our spirit stays alive after our physical self becomes obsolete it will make me smile to see everyone happy on that particular moment! On the other hand, if everything is gone along with the physical death, and my spirit cannot "feel", then who cares if it is yellow! Anyway, the point is that I want people to celebrate my life, not mourn my death. Also, I want music! The music can be a medley of 4-5 songs from various artists such as Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creed, and maybe some contemporary songs of the time! I want at least one Greek song as well. But I want the full songs! Please do not mix them in the middle. Ok... That's it on the subject! Cheers!

Government, self determination, and reality

2005-12-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

I do not understand how people think most of the time. Imagine how diverse we all are to have a need for so much regulation and laws just to be able to function. Society would collapse if there was no legal framework. That is the loudest example that humans cannot just get along! Unless life is regulated, society cannot function. Is that a sign of individuality which as some say makes us special and differentiates us from animals OR is that a sign that most people are assholes and they are just troublemakers and cannot get along? I hate to disappoint you but I truly do not know the answer! My gut feeling is that moderation is the key! It seems that the mantra of democracy saves us from ourselves; Personal democracy and freedom stops where someone else’s personal democracy and freedom starts! If we adhere to this basic rule we will do fine. I will discuss how regulators fuck up by not using this basic mantra when they regulate with a separate note.

The role of government

2005-12-09T05:25:00.000-08:00

The role of government should be simple! Ensure the well being of its people and get the fuck out of the way! Unfortunately governments do not do that. Governments assume the role of a guardian and they believe that unless they get deeply involved in our lives we will not make it. Bull Shit! Governments’ job is basic in that they should provide security and the framework/facilitation for job creation. The guardian mentality trickles down to government employees as well. Some people working in government fail to realize that their job is to facilitate citizen requests and ensure that the government responsibilities towards its people are carried out. As a result, citizens, public employees, and the institution of government should work in accord to benefit a nation and its individual inhabitants. Most fail miserably in this quest!

Simple recipe for a successful long term relationship

2005-12-09T01:43:00.000-08:00

Most of the time all relationships start with love! Most times but not all because I have seen relationships which start because of money or other “like” irrelevant shit involved. However, in the end what counts is that when the initial floury of love, excitement, and sex passes and life becomes a routine, and responsibilities come to play, how does this relationship evolves? Does it become a mature relationship where the parties in the relationship help and support each other and draw a common road map or do they begin to argue, disrespect, and ignore each other? In most cases the later happens and that is the reason I suggest that sex, even though important in a relationship, is not the most important pillar which makes a relationship successful and fun! In my opinion the most important attributes in a relationship are respect, honesty, truth, honor, support, and common goals. When people achieve these six principles in a relationship then I guaranty to you that sex will be wonderful, exciting, great, and crazy for life and not just for the first few months. If those six principles cannot be achieved then better do not have a relationship, better go pay for sex and go home without any worries (assuming sex is important to you)! Anyway, most relationships never achieve a comfort level, commonality, or the road mapping essential to building a successful and fun relationship. I have a philosophical question for you; how many couples can tell each other what they really think about their partner’s haircut, weight, dressing habits, cleanliness, intellectual capacity, opinions etc in a mature way where there is no fighting or bitterness? I will submit to you that the answer to that question is “Not many”!

Relationships with the opposite sex and physical contact

2005-12-09T00:55:00.000-08:00

I watched a movie called "The 40 year old virgin" the other day and it was one of the funniest movies I have watched in a long time. The story is about a 40 year old guy who is still a virgin and when his co-workers find out about it they try to "help" him overcome his "predicament". This movie even though made me laugh for a couple of days, it also made me think about a lot of issues. One of these issues was the issue of sex and how important it is in our lives or not. I had some discussions about the issue with friends and a common response (or opinion) I get is that ... "If an adult is not interested in sex it means that he/she is gay and they just do not want to look reality in the face and accept their sexuality"! I strongly disagree with this opinion. My theory behind it is that, even thought sex is good, enjoyable, fun, makes you feel alive, brings you closer to your companion (with the exception of compensated sex or casual sex which I do not condone) etc., it can lead to tremendous problems and responsibilities. For one, when a human starts having sex the childhood innocence which is so nice is done! Sex can also lead to other unexpected problems such as disease, unwanted pregnancy, violence, confidence problems, academic trouble, friendship, and society adjustment issues. My suggestion to kids is wait! Enjoy at least the first 20 or so years of your life without the burden of sexual/physical contact. You will have the rest of your life (on average the next 50 years of your life to mess with sex. Imagine 50 years of sex.... I guaranty that no matter how great sex is, doing it for 50 years will become boring.... so wait. There are so many other fun things to do the first 20 years of your life. Second, introducing sex into a relationship at the early stages does not allow the relationship to evolve and mature because the only thing people think about is sex! It becomes an obsession as if it is the most important thing. To the contrary, if you want a relationship to grow and flourish look for the following six principles; respect, honesty, truth, honor, support, common goals! OUT!

On the subject of drinking and smoking....

2005-11-18T03:24:00.000-08:00

Drinking and smoking are some of the worst habits a human being can have. They are bad for your health, they are bad aesthetically, and they are bothersome to other people next to you. Do not do either of them. At least try to avoid these two habits. I do not see the smoking thing at all, but if you must drink for some reason (especially people socializing for work etc might find themselves in such a predicament) do it in moderation. Always be aware of your surroundings and be in control of yourself. Maintain your dignity at all times. It is extremely difficult to control how alcohol affects one’s body here are a few guidelines; drink extremely slowly, always drink lots of water after each drink, never drink more than 3 drinks (absolute maximum), go out in the open air only when at least 30 minutes passed after the last drink, move around when you drink, and always be ready to say no more when you do not feel good even if you only had one drink. Respect your self all the time and do not put your self in a compromising situation.

On the subject of employment....

2005-11-18T03:16:00.000-08:00

If someone chooses to make a leaving through the education route i.e. go to college etc., there are three professions I could recommend to anyone; Law, Certified Accounting, and Medical Doctor (for people or animals)! All these jobs provide an opportunity to secure a comfortable living for many reasons. First, these jobs are difficult to “learn” and therefore there is a short supply of these professionals in the market place which allows them to command any compensation they choose. Second, the lawyers make the rules of the game of life, the accountants count the money, and the doctors fix us! People need all these professionals and there is usually no option to skip their services. So, if you have a choice, learn and do one of these three professions. Otherwise, open a restaurant with good quality food and atmosphere! If it is not a restaurant and you choose a different route make sure that you are your own boss! That is the only way to control your employment and wealth future.

On the subject of kids........

2005-11-18T02:41:00.000-08:00

Kids are the bomb! They rule! They are the engine that makes the world go round! Of the human race, they are the most interesting to talk with, listen to, and observe! I do have kids (kiddens as I call them some times) and I simply adore them! That word is all inclusive for me and it says it all. Once a human being has children the life equation changes! They are a wonderful challenge, but they are a tremendous responsibility. I am trying my best to help my kiddens grow to become the best possible members of society.

On the subject of people........

2005-11-18T01:54:00.000-08:00

Beware of who you trust as friend! During the first 37 years of my life I was naive enough to believe that people are true and loyal friends for no reason but I was proven wrong so many times. So, keep in mind that people are not as pure as you wish them to be, rather, people have their own agendas and true and honest human beings whom you can count on as true friends are very few in this world. Make good choices, be trusting, but be smart.

On the subject of respect........

2005-11-18T01:53:00.000-08:00

Respect every culture and every human being even when they are assholes to you! How you behave as a human being should not be defined by how people treat you or by your social environment! Having said that, don't be stupid! No excuses for assholes! Stay strong and lead your life with dignity!

On the subject of a good juicy steak........

2005-11-18T01:52:00.000-08:00

There is an argument on what is the best cut of meat for steak! In my opinion the best piece is a nice and healthy 1lb 3/4 of an inch thick porterhouse. Make sure that you buy it fresh and let it seat in a cool and dry refrigerator for 24 hours before you grill it. Marinate for 3 hours before you grill, with some salt, pepper, and soy sauce. Make a hot fire (400F) and grill on one side for 30 seconds and then turn and grill the other side for 3 minutes, and then again back to the first side for 2 minutes. Do not cut it and do not poke the stake. Let it seat off the grill for 2-3 minutes before you cut it. Drink a nice cold beer while you are grilling! This way you will have a nicely cooked and juicy steak. Enjoy!

On the subject of work...

2005-11-18T01:50:00.000-08:00

Work is an honor and respect for yourself! There is no shame in any type of work as long as you respect yourself and you do not allow people to take advantage of you. Some jobs are better than others, and some jobs are easier than others! The general rule is that the harder you work in getting a job, the better job you will have. Do your job and always think how you can improve what you do! Think positive!

The Standards of society which we must follow

2005-11-18T01:48:00.001-08:00

These standards bother me a lot. There are certain standards in each society which “normal” people must follow! I am not referring to the written law of the land, I am referring to “the things we should do or shouldn’t do” according to what society considers as a norm or a standard. I dislike that a lot. Who sets these standards and with what authority and why should we follow them? I do not like to conform with this bullshit! I guess that will make me a non conformist. For example, why should a person have to be dressed nicely for a meeting? What purpose does it serve? Why must people be married when they live together for a long time and especially when they want to have kids? What purpose does this serve? Why can’t we tell someone in their face when they are lying (when we do it is considered impolite)? What purpose does this serve? It is ok for someone to lie but when caught it is impolite to tell them? Does not make sense to me! Who defines a “bad” word? I find some of these “bad” words to be extremely expressive and I want to use them! We give meaning to words and after we brand them as “bad”! What purpose does this serve? I want to eat a stake in the morning and breakfast at night! It makes more sense to me to do that but it is not proper, it is not normal. Why? I will address many more issues later because there is a lot………..

On the subject of politicians...

2005-11-18T01:48:00.000-08:00

What is the deal with the politicians? Have you noticed that the majority of them are lawyers and they lie? They can actually lie with a straight face. I think that is one of the reasons the majority of them cheat on their spouses. They become experts at lying and they are using the expertise they acquire to cheat. They have an opinion about everything even though they have no formal training, knowledge, or expertise about 95% of the issues they talk about. They cannot keep their mouth shut especially when there is a camera in front of them. They also do not keep the promises they make before they get elected. They know they could not possibly keep their promises but they make them anyways because they know that nobody will truly hold them accountable. What a shame and what a waste! I wish we could have honest politicians. Life would have been so much better.

On the subject of Relationships...

2005-11-18T01:47:00.000-08:00

Where can I start with relationships? They are complex but my one suggestion is: DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS FROM ANY RELATIONSHIPS! This will help you maintain happy relationships. You will loose some and you will win some. Just know that you will not have many unconditional relationships in your life. When you find any of those type of relationships do all you can to keep them. They are better than all the money in the world.

On the subject of marriage...

2005-11-18T01:46:00.000-08:00

What can I say about marriage? Do not do it until you are ready to commit with clear head and when you are not thinking with your groin. Have as much fun in life as you can possibly have and make as many mistakes as possible before you take a step. Also, take care of your career and the financial issues. Once you are married do it for good especially when you have kids in the middle. If your marriage has problems do everything you can reasonably do to save your marriage. I am not an expert on this issue but marriage can make or break your whole life in a lot of different perspectives. General rule: Do not do it before the age of 27!

On the subject of truth...

2005-11-18T01:43:00.001-08:00

The truth will set you free! There is no point in lying for any reason. If you tell a lie you will most probably have to say another lie to cover the one before and you end up being in a vicious cycle with no end. At some point you will have to go through the embarrassment of revealing the original lie. So, there is not point in suffering through this negative cycle which is full of stress. Save yourself some trouble and tell the truth always no matter how painful it seems to be.

On the subject of religion...

2005-11-18T01:43:00.000-08:00

Religion was created to explain the unexplainable! Faith gives hope to all of us when we are struggling with negative issues (usually difficult to understand or difficult to justify). We also use faith to explain things which we might deem unfair or unjust! I see faith and religion as a way to put an order in our otherwise disorderly world. Religion provides some ethical guidelines which allow us to structure our world and make it a better place. In short, religion, faith, and hope are humanity. These qualities are different from the people who represent and personify religion. I do not like these people because most of all they assume a position of infallibility, they use their respective religion to profit, and they do not truly serve the people they are supposed to support. So, religion and faith to the values and ethics personified by the respective scriptures is good!

On the subject of leadership...

2005-11-18T01:38:00.000-08:00

I believe that leaders should exercise their leadership by accepting responsibility for their actions. Their concern should be the well being of the people they are elected to represent and lead. Their personal interests should be sacrificed to the attainment of their call to duty. Societies can do without "leaders" whose primary interest is their own advancement and well being.

Basic Rules to leave by......

2005-11-18T01:36:00.000-08:00

Honesty - Truth - Respect - Honor - Knowledge - Commitment

On the subject of education.....

2005-11-18T01:33:00.000-08:00

What can I say about education other than, it is the most important thing in life anyone can do other than breathing! Education gives you confidence to take life face on! Education is an activity that never stops regardless of how many degrees you hold. You must educate yourself constantly and try to stay fresh on what is going on around you at many different levels. Learn as much as you can and try to correlate what you learn, with your environment.

On the subject of friendship.....

2005-11-18T01:32:00.000-08:00

A true friend is someone who is there for you when you need him/her without expecting anything in return. It is extremely difficult to find a true friend because there are not many people willing to sacrifice their time and energy for nothing. Offcourse the return from a true friendship is not nothing! There is a lot to gain from a true friendship. Knowing that you can talk to another human being about the things that bother you without having to worry that this person will repeat everything you have trusted to them , or knowing that this person will give you a truly honest feedback, gives you peace of mind!

Semi Governmental organizations in Cyprus tick me off.....

2005-11-18T01:28:00.000-08:00

Semi Governmental organizations in Cyprus tick me off…..
What is up with these so called companies supported by public finances and protected by monopolistic markets? Not only do they receive millions of pounds in government grants they also operated for many years under monopoly market protectionism. As a result they overcharged, under managed, over expensed, and they filled their financial coffins with overpriced services. In addition, they have been practicing unfair hiring practices from their inception. They basically practice a sort of hiring inbreeding strategy. They hire relatives and children of current employees blocking the way to possibly more qualified people. Transparency in all internal practices is non existent. As the market is opening up to competition they now want to privatize these companies which were established, grew, and prospered financially with public money (taxpayers’ money). Privatization is good and welcomed however not to disseminate equity to the employees only. If they do that these employees benefit from both their lucrative and in some cases unfairly secured positions as well as equity ownership. Where does this leave the taxpayers who have been supporting these companies’ inefficiencies for the last 40 years? Enough is enough! People should wake up and demand transparency and stop trusting the various governments and technocrats blindly. Ask questions and demand answers.