Is there a point to where development leads? Who says a country is developed, developing or un-developed? I believe these are just names that people use to categorize countries according to wealth. Putting it simply, Who is rich who is poor? Isn’t this a rather snobbish way to classify people? Every culture has its way. Some may appear to “backwards” and when this occurs who is rich who is poor is clearly distinguished. I once heard a friend say “every country must develop eventually”. What is development? If it is the western sense of the word then why must everyone need to be like everyone else? In this case probably the United States because everyone seeks power and money and will suck up to the one in power. Buildings after buildings being constructed but when will it all end? Why are tall buildings so much wanted? Cover over as much green space as possible with concrete plant tree and grass in the confines of a concrete area with nothing but the tree trunk coming through the concrete. This the image of over development I see most of the world leading to. Everything man-made everything built up and no place in sight for any natural beauty to grow.

I wrote this awhile ago but to some degree it still does apply today. My last section on protecting yourselves maybe useful to some. The CBC has an interesting article regarding Facebook in its Technology column called Beware of Facebook’s Beacon? by Jesse Hirsh. Hirsh talks about how Facebook’s data collection strategy could lead not only allowing Facebook to have complete authority over user information but also since anyone individual or company can make up a profile people can become “friends” or “fan” with brand names. This kind of re defines the meaning of the word “friend”. This data collection by Facebook is not only available by Facebook but also anyone who becomes a “friend” of the company putting up the profile. Hirsh explains the whole idea well and is well while to have a read for yourself. Wake up and take back your privacy people DO NOT let Facebook or any other organization infringe on your privacy read the article here.

(more…)

A few good movies worth mentioning are Kikujiro (1999) 122 minutes by the Japanese director Kitano (Beat) Takeshi. The cast: Beat Takeshi, Yusuke Sekiguchi, Kayoko Kishimoto. A change of pace for Kitano, Kikujiro takes a lighter, more playful tone than Fireworks. Kitano stars as a cynical, manipulative lay-about who accompanies a boy Yusuke, on a quest to find the boy’s mother. The other movie Audition (1999) 115 minutes by the director MiikeTakashi with cast, Ryo Ishibashi, Shiina Eihi, Miyuki Matsuda. Director Miike (also director of Bird People of China) turns to the psycho thriller genre with this extreme tale about a widowed executive (Ishibashi) captivated by the charms of a young actress (top Japanese fashion model Shiina), until it becomes plain that romance is the last thing on her mind.