Ynetnews - Opinion - A billion reasons for a crisis

Ynetnews - Opinion - A billion reasons for a crisis: "The world is complex, life isn’t always fair, some nations are more equal than others, and the U.S. can get away with a lot more than we can." Quick, tell your children, so they won't be so disappointed when they get older [unless you are in the US, in which case tell your children so they can feel pride and self-affirmation at something they had nothing to do with. No reason to deprive them].

Send God a letter, but don't forget the stamp, apparently (Ha'aretz)

Just to prove that Israel is a land of peace, milk and craziness (honey having lost out to crisps in the confectionary market), a dimpled-cheek article about the Israeli Postal Authority's revised attitude to Letter to God (or Jesus or Santa Claus, as some people prefer) is going to be linked to from this article. The first paragraph is the best, so for your enjoyment, and to mess with the copyright laws, I reprint it here.. down a bit.. there:

An urban legend has been circulating in the Postal Authority for years about a letter to God that landed in the dead letter department. The postal employees decided to open it and found that a poor man had sent an emotional appeal to God to send him NIS 5,000 so he could celebrate an upcoming holiday properly. Touched, the postal workers decided to take up a collection for the man. They raised NIS 4,300 and sent it to the return address on the envelope. Two weeks later, another letter to God came from the man. This time when they opened it, they found a thank-you note. "I am so grateful that you answered my prayer," the man had written. "But next time, don't send the money through the mail - those postal workers stole NIS 700."

Source:Haaretz - Israel News - Send God a letter, but don t forget the stamp [Ha'aretz] I wonder why people don't send letters directly to the Temple Mount, or a chocolate factory, both places seemingly closer to God. Each to their own. Is this another post on my blog? Twice in one month? Twice in two days? Goodness. Give me some of the champagne.

Antigua and Barbuda: Map, History and Much More From Answers.com (and questions from the Guymeister)

Here's a link to an article about information about the world: Antigua and Barbuda: Map, History and Much More From Answers.com Now I have to ask: why? Why.. why? Basically: why? Why does no-one write about this country regularly? Why doesn't every news source have a daily update on Antiguan affairs? I want to know how the Barbudan independence movement is doing. I want to read about how the new Government is doing after decades of Bird rule. I want to know why the the vast majority of the foreign-owned ships registered there under a flag of convenience are German. [The exact numbers are, as of 2002: Australia 1, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 3, Colombia 1, Cuba 1, Estonia 1, Germany 747, Greece 1, Iceland 8, Latvia 1, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 22, New Zealand 2, Portugal 1, Slovenia 6, South Africa 1, Sweden 2, United Kingdom 1, United States 7]. We should all know that you can call them from inside the USA without an international dialling code; we should all know that they only became independent in 1981; and we should damn well learn their national anthem: Fair Antigua, we salute thee! Proudly we this anthem raise To thy glory and thy beauty, Joyfully we sing the praise Of the virtues, all bestowed On thy sons and daughters free; Ever striving, ever seeking, Dwell in love and unity. Raise the standard! Raise it boldly! Answer now to duty's call To the service of thy country, Sparing nothing, giving all; Gird your loins and join the battle 'Gainst fear, hate and poverty, Each endeavouring, all achieving, Live in peace where man is free. God of nations, let Thy blessings Fall upon this land of ours; Rain and sunshine ever sending, Fill her fields with crops and flowers; We her children do implore Thee, Give us strength, faith, loyalty, Never failing, all enduring To defend her liberty. Lyrics: Novelle Hamilton Richards I say: Bravo Ms. Richards! I think you're a woman; do get in touch if you're not. This was one way of breaking the blog ceiling, to answer your question.