I'm dropping you a line to simply say that yours looks like an interesting project. Will keep it on my radarscope … best of luck to you all.

Democracy is rule by the people. Even the constitutional republic of the good old USA would qualify as a democracy. It is after all ruled by the people and not by a single monarch or dictator. The founding fathers recognized the God given rights of each and every individual and attempted to limit the dangers of having those rights infringed by the ruling class. I would urge all who want to understand what the founding fathers tried to accomplish to take the time and read some of the correspondence between them as they worked away on the final documents. They got it right; a rule by the people with limitations to ensure that the majority could not infringe the rights of the few. Now, whether the USA is able to fulfill those lofty ideals will fall on the shoulders of the citizenry who will have to keep the politicians in check. The ruling parties are trying to divide the citizens and pit them against one another. Unless the citizens take the time to educate themselves on all that has transpired to date and to contemplate the pitfalls that lie ahead the politicians will destroy the constitutional republic and eliminate rule by the people.

Is democracy dead? Not yet...but...it might just be on life support.

I will go out on a limb and risk sounding silly. One of my favourite handmade goods are handcrafted umbrellas. There are some umbrella makers that actually take the time to pick out different types of wood and handcraft it into the handle that is then incorporated into the final product. Imagine the novelty of a handcrafted Ashwood or Bamboo umbrella? They don't come cheap, costing hundreds of dollars each. However, it is fun to know that the umbrella you are holding, unbeknownst to others, has been hand made. An added bonus, having spent a few hundred dollars for one you will be mindful of its whereabouts; you wouldn't be wanting to forget it in the back of a taxi.

Some college dropouts may have gone on to become insanely successful, however, most will not. Self education is good but unless you have the entrepreneurial skills to put your knowledge to work you will find way too many closed doors impeding your progress. The best hope a college dropout has is to become an astute and disciplined investor. It is the only sure fired method to success. A path that favours all who choose it regardless of where they come from or who they know.

The government body that oversees car registrations in my neck of the woods recently introduced personalized license plates. Even though the fees are quite reasonable $250 up front and a $35 yearly additional fee tacked on I would have thought more people would buy these type of plates. I have only seen a handful so far. I guess the majority just wants to blend in. Like most, I probably won't be rocking the boat either. Long live anonymity.

An education is the most important thing you can provide to a fellow human being. Regardless of whether they end up working in the field they study in, their education will allow them to develop critical thinking and master the art of conducting research. If they put in the effort to hone these skills success is sure to follow. It will also help them in their adventures with crypto. My advice would be to take the minimum course load allowed while still being considered a full time student and working to pay for your education as you go and investing any extra money in crypto. In a sense having your cake and eating too...

I too only have one account. I can't imagine trying to juggle multiple accounts at once. There would be way too many things you would have to remember. What you wrote to whom, what you posted in the various threads, is it consistent with your previous posts, etc. I would go crazy...

I believe that parents must make the effort to educate their children on how to eat healthy, however, children should not be forced to eat less than their bodies demand. As long as a child is not obese they will be fine. I must also point out that in some cases a person's obesity can be directly attributed to things that are beyond their control. Sleep apnea and diabetes can cause many problems to anyone afflicted. Anyone who is overweight should seek out a doctor to run some tests to determine if anything else might be responsible for the extra weight. Having the proper diagnosis will enable the parent to better take care of their child as well as themselves.

Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Πρωτοχρονιά!

translated from Greek to English:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My warmest of holiday wishes to all of you...have fun

Glad to have been of service CristianOff

To envy someone is not a bad thing in of itself. It can become a powerful drive in your life that can propel you to the upper echelons if you are able to harness the desire to have what others have and apply your efforts to emulate their efforts. As long as the person you envy isn't doing anything illegal, you can learn allot by studying what they have done and doing the same. You CAN envy someone's good fortune while at the same time NOT begrudge them for it. If everyone used the stories that of how people came about their good fortune we could all learn a lot as well. As a bonus, retelling some of those stories can also be a source of entertainment.

On the surface this might look like an easy question to answer, but, it is one of the most difficult questions I've come across recently. The problem I have with trying to answer this question is that it takes more than one thing to get you to say I do. Looks, personality, intelligence, frugality, forethought, empathy, or modesty to name a few are not enough if they are singled out to make you say I do. On the other hand, if the woman in question would possess a combination of these qualities then you will quickly say I do.

The same would apply when it comes to getting you to walk away, although for some people a single bad habit or problem may be enough. I've known people who have walked away because the lady they were interested in was a smoker. If you are just starting your relationship it easier to walk away at the first sign of something you don't like, However, if yours is a relationship in which you are emotionally invested in, it will take a combination of things before you leave them. 

I wanted to let the TOA team know that I've spent a little time "kicking the tires" to get a feel for what you are offering. So far it looks interesting. I'll be keeping my eye open to see how you will be moving things forward. Best of luck to you all.

I have to admit that it has happened to me in the past to not be in the Christmas spirit. Believe me when I say this can be quite the problem if you have little ones who can't wait for Christmas to arrive. Fortunately my recommendation to resolve this problem is quite simple. Think about trying the following. Take a trip to a northern area so you can look at the snow on the ground.  Such a sight is certain to get into the spirit. If you can see the snow on the ground, you too will fall under the charm of the Christmas Season. Happy Holidays to you and yours...

I think the best thing we can give to this world is an educated citizenry. It is our responsibility to produce children to ensure the survival of the human race, but, we also bear the responsibility to educate our kids  so they can then have the tools necessary to become productive members of society.

Haven't thought about this for awhile. I used to dream about being many things. I wanted to sing, and act, when I was younger. As the years however went by I gravitated toward the business world looking for ways to become financially independent. Those were the days...

I remember the days when we would lose hours looking through our viewmasters and enjoying all sorts of vistas in 3d. these in a way are the precursors to today's virtual reality offerings. I don't necessarily like the active images being so close to our eyes , but, I really look forward to the new innovations that are sure to come.

It's funny how when you are young you can't wait for your birthday to come around. It seems like eighteen is too far away. Like you never will get to the age of majority. You can't wait to be able to go to a bar to buy your first  drink legally. Unfortunately, once you become of legal age the years seem to come by quicker and quicker. Today I find myself less willing to celebrate each passing birthday. It probably doesn't help that I have too many obligations and it is hard to find the time to do something special. That said, I hope your next birthday is the best one yet.

I think a little bit like you, but, instead of reincarnation and heaven/hell I believe that it is more likely reincarnation/hell or heaven. I have this funny feeling that hell is here on earth and that the creator is a benevolent being that will allow the creations to all enter paradise once the have become little Gods. As long as we are not worthy of entering heaven we will be sent back in this hell of a world to perfect ourselves.

The short answer to the question you posed would be no. You might be wondering why I wouldn't be afraid given how many people fear the unknow... For me, and I'd like to believe for many others, death holds no power over us because eventually all will die. What worries us most is, are we ready for the inevitable day that will come. In my case all the people I love and hold dear know how I feel about them because I let them know every day how much I love and care for them. It also doesn't hurt that I've got a good insurance policy in place. Prepare for the inevitable, it'll make life easier.