Pelalusa: 2012

Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas 2012: A Few Thoughts . . .

I heard an old Chinese proverb the other day that made a deep impact on me: "If there's food on the table then the family will have many problems to discuss. If there's no food on the table then there's only one problem."

As a special mention to my fellow Canadians, while we constantly gripe about the weather and politicians and taxes - and I'm more guilty of it than most - take a moment to look at the world as a whole and realize that most of us are so incredibly blessed to be living at this time and in this place. Do keep on working hard - for yourself, your family, and your country - but also pause this Christmas to take stock of the many blessings you have!

What's With The Ads?

Am I hoping they'll make me a fortune? Hardly! Am I deliberately trying to annoy my readers? Never!

I've launched a new website called Pelalusa.com. Eventually it'll become a fully fledged social networking site but for now it's just a fun travel site, showcasing my journeys and photography. I hope you enjoy it and I always welcome suggestions to improve it.

This new site will be advertising sponsored. What's different about it though is that 50% of the profits (eventually increasing towards 100%) will be donated to philanthropic efforts such as BC Digital Divide. It'll be a global effort, with a particular focus on technology and education.

So I decided to also allow the ads on here too. Please know that I have no control over their content. If some ad does catch your interest, at least you know where the money will be going.

Favourite Quotes

When I was around 12 years old I wrote the following: "Too many get caught up in the noise of everyday life to hear the symphony of what life is really all about."

"The bigger the government grows, the smaller the individual becomes." -- Dennis Prager

"When you take away a person's need to provide for themselves, you take away their humanity." -- Damon Rexroad

"Life is a gift, not an obligation. So make the very best of every single day you're given!" - Donovan Campbell

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money to spend." -- Margaret Thatcher

"You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream-the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, "The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits." -- Ronald Reagan