min-myinnersoul

The right to free speech is a right whose value you only appreciate when you don't have it. This blogger has experienced what it is not to have that right - where every conceivable & useful global site on the internet is blocked, where any non state controlled TV channel is simply unavailable and where the press is just plain awful. As it would be for any blogger, the right is a precious one. There is the usual saying, I don't like what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it. But is the right to free speech as absolute as it is thought to be. Should it be ? No right is absolute. Even in America, where the First Amendment protects free speech,  Jutice Holmes Jr in Schenk vs United States observed that shouting Fire falsely in a crowded theatre will not be protected by the First Amendment. In many European countries, denial of the holocaust is not permitted. Recently incitement to religious hatred has also been brought under the ambit of no nos. In India, writings

If I told you that the most important person in the world now is Deven Sharma, you are most likely to be flabbergasted. Deven who ?? I am absolutely certain that not one reader of this blog has heard of him before. In fact I am sheepishly admitting that I had not heard of him either, one week ago. And yet for the next one week, he may actually be the most important man in the world. Of course, this is hyperbole. But then what is journalism (ha ha) without some excessive exaggeration of reality. You can debate about the "most important man in the world" bit, but the actions of him and his organisation are certain to affect the world very profoundly in the week to come. Deven Sharma is the President of Standard & Poor's one of the world's three premier credit rating agencies - Moody's and Fitch being the two other. In a short while, all the three agencies have to take a call on downgrading of America's Tripe A rating. The drama in America on the debt ceilin

This is an email I received yesterday. I thought it would be nice to share it with you all this morning. What a great way to start the day. Relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends, who pray together, stay together.    Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Let me not whine and wh

Does nationality still play a major part in deciding who should become the Chairman or Chief Executive of the company. It shouldn't, right? But of course it does. Except, to its eternal credit, in the United States of America. A country pretty much devoted to meritocracy and where, by and large, only merit counts. It doesn't matter where you are from or whether you are white or black or yellow or grey or blue. Perhaps to a large extent in the United Kingdom as well. But that's it. Everywhere else, it seems only a local can be a boss. Consider the succession saga at the mighty Deutsche Bank in Germany. The current CEO, Josef Ackermann is expected to be kicked upstairs to the Supervisory Board. A new CEO is to be appointed. There is general consensus that the best candidate is Anshuman Jain. The problem is that he is Indian, not German. And to add insult to injury, he reportedly does not speak much German either. This apparently won't do as the boss of Deutsche Bank will

It's an Australian winning the Tour de France for the first time ever. Just got off the telly watching the final stage of one of the most gripping of races for many a year. On a bright sunny day in Paris, against the wonderful backdrop of the Champs-Élysées, the sight of Cadel Evans winning the Tour de France was a moment to savour. Apologies to the readers who are not sports fans, for the second consecutive sporting post. But this was a special race and a special result that I simply can't resist posting about. The Tour de France is the world's premier cycling race. Has been so for 100 years. It is run over 3400 kms and in 22 days. One of the greatest endurance events in the world. On flat stages, cyclists clock average speeds of 50 kmph. Steep climbs have to be negotiated and on the descent, crazy speeds of 90 kmph are reached. The majesty of the towering mountains of the Alps and the Pyrenees provide the backdrop. As does the beautiful French countryside. And some grip

This is what we let the kids watch last night. They loved it! This is when cartoons were good:o) Have a great Thursday!

I have been lazy when has come to finishing up the laundry room. I have 2 more shelves to complete...one of which will be majorly awesome when it's done:o) Then there is the accessorization of said shelves. Anyway, I thought I would share a few things that are complete. I found this bookshelf at a yard sale. It was falling apart and the previous owner had attempted to strip 4 layers of paint off of it. Needless to say, I had my work cut out for me. I used the Chalk Paint that everyone raves about.   Here are my thoughts on Chalk paint.  #1-it's expensive. #2-if you have a business where you have to bust out refinished furniture on a weekly basis, then buy it. It dries quickly and very easy to work with...if you are a person such as myself who just revamps for fun, skip it. You can get a similar effect with spray paint and it's much cheaper. #3-you can't roll it on b/c it goes on too thin, and the 2-coat coverage doesn't cut it. The bookshelf needed 4 coats....I real

Remember when I got off of Facebook a few months ago? Can I just say how liberating that has been? I have spent a lot less time caring about who just ate at which restaurant, and who just wiped their hind parts...really, people will put ANYTHING on Facebook. I am back on the social networking bandwagon, but in a slightly different way. I have been on Facebook for a while now, but I am using it strictly for coupons.  I had several people catching up on my post updates through FB and then I disappeared:o) I have a new page opened up that is for Fussy Monkey Business.  So if you get the urge to "like" me on Facebook, go for it! I like it when people like me:o) And if you "friend request" me, don't get your feelings hurt when I don't "friend" you...like I said earlier, I am using it just for coupons and now updates for my blog.  Hope you all had a fantastic weekend! I have some new treasures I will be sharing with you all soon! 

If you are a sport's fan , you are somewhat spoilt for choice today. If you fancy sublime South American football, the Copa America is on in Argentina. The final day of the British Open golf, with all the hype surrounding the next Tiger Woods - Rory McIlroy may be your choice. Or the majestic Tour de France, the world's premier cycling event, thankfully free of any doping scandal so far. But my pick of the day is none of this. You may be forgiven for not realising that the World Cup football final is on today. Yes, right. World Cup Football. Rub your eyes again. Yes. Its the Women's World Cup football final. Before you groan and switch off, just consider the fact that the Women's World Cup has produced more drama, excitement, heartbreak, and joy than the boring Copa America going on at the same time featuring the likes of Lionel Messi.  Women's football is something of an anachronism. If you have watched a women's game, it is played at roughly half the pace of

First of all I want to start off by saying THANK YOU to everyone for your comments and compliments. You guys are so sweet. You know how to make a girl feel good:o)  I did get an apology, so all is forgotten. On to other stuff.... This is a play mat that I made for my cousin who is having a baby in September.  I found this pattern on etsy  HERE .  Close up of sweet Mrs. Owl...should have moved her over a bit...her eye is a little blendy with the background.  Backside of the mat.  Easy to roll up and pack away in your diaper bag. To find this pattern, visit  The Punky Monkey  at etsy. She has so many cute patterns! It was easy to follow, and easy to construct....Thank you Punky Monkey!

The end of the world is near. On Aug 2 to be precise. Repent and thou shall be saved. Every year, some nutter prophecies the end of the world on some artificial date and his followers prepare for Armageddon. Come the day and nothing happens. We live on till the next prophecy. Is this what is going to happen on August 2nd, the latest doomsday deadline ? Somewhere on August 1st or so, America will reach its legally approved debt ceiling of $ 14.3 trillion. Ninety times in the past, this ceiling has been raised by the US Congress and the Senate and life goes on. This time however, there is a real possibility that it may not be raised. Hence the doomsday. Do I see you yawning ? Surely some technicality of American debt ceiling cannot affect you and me. Who cares ? Unfortunately you should. You should care very much, wherever in the world you are. It won't be the end of the world, but you will have a vision of what the end of the world might look like. For this is what will happen if th

Another dress for your viewing pleasure...I hope;o)  A bad shot of the hair bow I made to match the dress. Happy Wednesday to you all!

In my last post, I shared with you all an outfit that I made for E and S.R. I thought they were sweet, and so did  several others who saw them donning their new apparel last week.  The outfits were made to be a little nerdy, but little ones can pull anything off, right?:o) I am aware that not everyone has the same taste. I see things online and out in public that I don't like, and I think to myself, "Wow! Really?" But I say them to myself.  The old saying "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me" couldn't be further than the truth. Yesterday a reader posted a mean comment and it wasn't necessary.  For that reader, I  have this to say: My children were very excited about these outfits. They are always grateful for anything that I make them. As long as they are happy with what I make them, and keep requesting that I make things for them, I will continue to do so, gladly. I said a prayer for you last night, dear reader...that the

I am in the midst of making clothes for the kids today. Busy, busy, busy.  This year S.R. gets to go to preschool with E...sniff, sniff...and I wanted my babies to have matching outfits. Here is something I whipped up last week. We had a little fun with the camera;o) I hope to have lots to show you in the next day or two:o) Have a great rest of the day!! Participating in:

The first powered human flight took place in 1903 when the Wright Brothers took their flyer to the sky and flew 120 feet in 12 seconds. In just 58 years after that momentous event, mankind took to space - Yuri Gagarin made that historic spaceflight in 1961. Just eight years later man was on the moon. (just a pause to note that virtually every reader of this blog was not born when Armstrong placed that first footstep on the moon). In 1971 and 1972, Pioneer 10 and 11 probes were launched which flew by Jupiter and Saturn . They are still flying somewhere, but we have lost contact with them.  In 1977, the greatest mission of all - Voyager was launched. Past Jupiter, Saturn , Uranus and Neptune and now past the solar system itself, into interstellar space. 34 years after it was launched, it is still in contact and is mankind's first feeble attempt to reach out to the stars. After 1977 ?? Nothing. The space shuttle program, which is the only noteworthy achievement since then, was all fo

These days, in India, the flavour of the month is black money.  The ire seems to be directed (thanks to a popular yoga practioner's antics) against black money stashed abroad. Apparently in Switzerland and Lichtenstein. This yoga practioner claimed that if all the black money stashed abroad were to be brought back, it would signal the end of poverty. The Supreme Court, in another case of judicial overreach, is directing the action on naming and shaming those who hold accounts in the aforesaid countries. A pause to consider what is black money is in order. Black money is that income on which taxes have not been paid. If this is what black money is, in India, it is right under our noses. Forget about Lichtenstein. It is in every house. The largest generator, washer and lubricator of black money in India is the property market. When I buy or sell a house, or land, I suffer two incidences of taxation. One is the usurious rate of stamp duty. The second is the perfectly reasonable rate o

Congratulations to  Randi She said: New blog follower here. Found ya through Someday Crafts. I was wondering if I could add vinyl to a cup like that, lol. Perfect timing! :) Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway, and a big thanks to Holly from Vinyl Designs!!

I hope you all had a fantastic 4th! We sure did! To celebrate the fantastic-ness of the long weekend..... how about a giveaway? My friend Holly is offering one Fussy Monkey Reader a chance to win a Personalized Vinyl Cup. The winner will get to choose their favorite design & have their very own super cute cup. I have two and I LOVE them...I take them just about every where I go, and am always getting compliments! I thought these two designs were really cute.  Lovin' the flops:o) So here's how to enter: You have the chance to enter 3 times! 1. Be a follower of Fussy Monkey Business...if you aren't, it's reeeeally easy to become one;o) leave a comment here 2. Head over to  Holly's Etsy Shop, 'ahmaher ', and pick your favorite design & tell us about it leave a comment here 3. "Like"  Vinyl Designs  on Facebook & tell her Fussy Monkey Business sent you leave a comment here The giveaway winner will be announced on Thursday. If you can't

Vanity thy name is Chinese Internet Company, went the title of an earlier post of mine here . I should correct this now to Vanity thy name is Chinese Internet Company. How else can you explain the rush of Chinese non Internet companies who want to list in the US ? There are 900 companies with businesses mainly, or only, in China listed in the US. Compared to that there are only some 2000 odd companies listed on the Chinese mainland. Does this make any sense ? Why are Chinese companies falling over each other to list in the US ? Usual reasons - Greed and Vanity. Greed first. Anything beginning with the letter C is now hot in the US. Never mind that the investor does not know, or care, whether China is to the East or West of Topeka KS. Anything even remotely related to China must be leading to a pot of gold. Hence the stampede towards China stocks. A scene reminiscent of the wildebeest crossing the Mara river. The expert analysts, investors, fund managers all seem to possess exactly the

Consider the following employee employer relationship. The post is set in an Indian context, but it could be true of virtually any developing country. There is no written contract of employment. The worker is paid below that statutory minimum wage. There is no Provident Fund or Employee State Insurance, both of which are statutorily mandated in India. There is no paid leave. Most often, there is no weekly off. Child labour is acceptable. Physical abuse is not unknown. Sexual abuse is ,alas, not rare. Verbal abuse is often. There is no training for the job. There are no rest breaks. The job is monotonous, repetitive, and physically taxing. There is hardly a word of praise or feedback. Biting criticism from the employer is a daily affair. The workers absent themselves at the drop of a hat. Attrition is enormous; the worker often just absconds or runs away. Coming on time is an alien concept. The worker tries her best to finish faster and with as less effort as possible - quality be damne

I received this in an email from a friend the other day. Some of you may have seen this chart before. Hopefully you will find it uplifting:o) GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:     YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES You say:  'It's impossible' God says:    All things are possible (Luke 18:27) You say:  'I'm too tired' God says:  I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) You say:  'Nobody really loves me' God says:  I love you (John 3:1    6 & John 3:34 ) You say:  'I can't go on' God says:  My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15) You say:   'I can't figure things out' God says:  I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-    6) You say:  'I can't do it' God says:  You can do all things (Philippians 4:13) You say:  'I'm not able' God says:  I am able (II Corinthians 9:8) You say:  'It's not worth it' God says:  It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 ) You say:  'I can't forgive myself