South Africa – It is Madness to Repeat the Same Action.

Hello Everybody,

Life is wonderful, I have so much to be grateful for. Everything I anticipated is coming together in the most beautiful way. I love life.

By now you know that I have written many articles for the Guardian Express, and I am always sharing these on my blog. Well here is another one, this is more recent, published this month. It is of course my opinion, and I used the brilliant quote from Albert Einstein. His words seems to sum up my whole argument.

South Africa – It is Madness to Repeat the Same Action.

Famous words of Albert Einstein, "It is madness to repeat the same action in the hope of achieving a different result." That brilliant quote sums up the best advice for the people of South Africa who want change. With the 2014 elections coming up, we can certainly use the power of voting for a better more favorable political party. It will be madness to vote for the (African National Congress) ANC party and expect different results.
Centuries ago, black people of South Africa lived in mud huts, had no electricity, running water and there was no infrastructure. There was no education, no hospitals, and extremely primitive living conditions prevailed. There life expectancy was short. This was their situation before they even saw a white person.
The centuries of self-inflicted poverty had no bearing on their current situation; apartheid is the beast and producer of such terrible living conditions. What happened to the incredible living standards of these people from then until now? It never happened. Only apartheid happened. Their ancestors are never blamed for keeping them in a Neolithic age.
Continue to blame the apartheid system and the people who brought you out of dismal living conditions. There was a time when the Europeans had not bothered to explore the bottom of Africa until Van Riebeck found the Cape. What followed was kindness from these European people to few scattered people who lived here. An opportunity to improve living, medical and education conditions, and turn a jungle into a livable land. The educated Europeans had a significant impact on South Africa; it blossomed into a thriving country.
Black people must come out of living in the empty racial trap and stop blaming apartheid. To move on to a truly democratic society, the hatred and bitterness must stop. We cannot rewrite history, and we can only learn from past mistakes. We must move forward and stop blaming the apartheid system. We must not forget that Indian, colored and English speaking whites also felt the injustice of apartheid. It is not just the blacks that went through a struggle.
Stop generalizing that all white people are racist. Take a look at the majority of Indian, Colored and White people who have genuinely embraced the Rainbow Nation and live non-racial lives. We must focus on the strides taken by these people to bridge the gap and live as one united nation. Look at the heart and not the color.
Stop blaming apartheid for poverty. Apartheid did not cause poverty. Before 1948, there was no apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid ended in 1994, and if we continue to focus on this time only we are not moving forward. Take a look at the days before 1948 and then focus on the now. Remember apartheid had no effect on the rest of Africa and ask yourself why these countries remain underdeveloped and worse than South Africa.
Look at the last twenty years and open your eyes to the truth. What do we have now, a crumbling country, a substandard education system and almost nonexistent medical facilities? Look around the townships, see the decaying roads and infrastructure and remember the shack dwellers. Do not forget the rural people who have no electricity or running water. Most important do not forget the escalating increase in crime.

Remember it is madness to anticipate change by repeating the same mistakes. Your chance for change is within your ability to vote.


Well that is the article for today, and I will be sharing more during the week.

All the best and have a great week.

Remember to smile.
Your friend,
Laura

South Africa –Capitalism is the real enemy

Hello Everybody,

Trusting all is well.

It is another glorious day here in Johanesburg, South Africa. Enjoying the wonderful hot summer weather.


Here is a copy of my article published in the Guardian Express during May this year. I thought it would be good to share.


South Africa –Capitalism is the real enemy

The capitalist system is the real enemy of South Africa. The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi recently told members at a seminar hosted in Johannesburg.
He said the three biggest demons were unemployment, poverty and inequality, which provides a breeding ground for corruption, xenophobia, substance abuse and other crime related issues.
A serious indication of this situation from the recently released statistics of the unemployment figures of the country does not reflect the full extent of the entire problem. A lack of motivation and breeding of a more discouraged society raises concerns for the government. The unemployed people haphazardly refrain from seeking employment and instead commit to self-employment of tedious tasks.
Vavi believes that the government should urgently address the problems of unemployment and stated that South Africa is the most unequal society in the world. He cautions the urgency of attending to this problem before the demons are unleashed. Dismissing concerns from businesses for a national minimum wage leading to job losses as propaganda and lies. He believes this would be a step toward securing greater social unity, and clearly defines the capitalist system as the real enemy.
The problem is definitely not capitalism. The United States embrace capitalism. The Soviet Union a former communist country where their citizens lived like peasants and caused a total collapse from a socialist government, now embraces capitalism. It is working for them, and South Africa can learn from the two superpowers that capitalism works. Capitalism is freedom from communism and socialism.
The world eyes South Africa as a historically backward country. The ideology of the government and their perception of freedom are to target the same principles as Zimbabwe. Their vision over the last 19 years has seen an increase of wealth, and an luxurious lifestyle. This new life enjoyed by government members, civil servants and union bosses, while the workers become poorer and their living conditions become unbearable.
Private enterprises created thousands of jobs within their industries over the past years, with food giants, Checkers and Pick and Pay leading a successful campaign to stabilize the unemployment situation in this country. That is capitalism working for us. With the strong unionized support for the present government, the working situation remains volatile, and it is about time we realize that unions do not create a stable economy with the continuation of strikes in all sectors constantly happening. This action can only cause more harm than good.
Capitalism although still not perfect does highlight the distribution of wealth to the majority of people without corruption, and creating opportunities of honest pay for work can be undertaken.
When the government talks of redistribution of wealth it is fundamentally communism by taking away the existing capitalism and causing inequality. There is no exceptions communism kills productivity.
We need to embrace the future and learn from the superpowers, we need to let go of the past and free our minds from mental slavery. We need education, and that should remain the most dominant factor for South Africa. Education will set the people free, education that will generate a democratic country and education that will bring stability and growth to this violent country.
Mr. Vavi should refrain from making such statements, the union members might see this as militant and start taking up arms to kill people.


Well that is the article and I think we will still hear a lot more about the unions.


Take care and have a great week.
Your friend,
Laura

Alzheimer's Disease Article

Hello again,

This is an article that was written by me and published in the Guardian Express during August this year. It has interesting facts about Alzheimer's Disease.

Its Official Women Are More Prone Than Men in Developing Alzheimer's Disease

There are one hundred billion nerve cells (neurons) within our brain connecting to the many forms of communication networks of the body. Several groups of nerve cells have specific functions, such as thinking, remembering, and learning. Other groups help us to smell, see and hear.

Imagine the brain as a factory at work almost twenty-four hours a day, receiving supplies, generating energy, constructing things and waste removal. Then there is the process and storing of information and the main communicating with the other nerve cells. The work function keeps everything moving perfect, but it does require co-ordination and oxygen.

Researchers have discovered plaques and tangles, two abnormal structures which are the prime suspect for causing damage and killing nerve cells within the brain. Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid that builds up in the spaces between nerve cells are referred to as plaques, and Tangles are bent fibres of another protein called tau that tend to build up inside of the cells.

As people age, they develop some plagues and tangles and those diagnosed with Alzheimer's are found to generate far more. Recent study has shown that the plagues and tangles are developed in a conventional method and expand in areas critical to memory before dispersing into other areas of the brain. It is not sure what roles these two abnormal structures exactly have but scientist believe they play a vital role in closing the connections among nerve cells and disturbing the procedure that cells need to survive.

With every moving and working nerve cell running well, and when an unexpected failure occurs in the process an onslaught of problems can occur. Scientists believe microscopic changes in the brain appear long before Alzheimer's illness prevents part of the cells from functioning properly. The damage and death of nerve cells are the main course of memory malfunction and other dementia symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

They are not sure where the trouble starts and ongoing research will help us to learn more about this disease. As the damage spreads, cells begin to lose their ability to work well and eventually die causing irreversible changes in the brain.

A recent study had concluded that women develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease at a faster rate than men do. A study conducted on Alzheimer's sufferers of both sexes found that men with the problem regularly outperform women on tests that measured a senior's memory capacity and their ability to perform verbal, distance and depth tasks.

Research indicates that women are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease than men are and the investigation into this research has been sparse and inconsistent. This present study aimed to get a clearer understanding of gender based differences and the possible causes of these disparities.

Several indications research has seen the cause of some of the disadvantages of women contracting the disease than men. Hormones play an enormous role in making women more susceptible to Alzheimer's and studies have shown that estrogen may serve as a shield against the disease.

Men have proved to be more powerful and have cognitive reserves, which prove as a buffer against the symptoms of Alzheimer's, and other forms of dementia. It appears that men have more exposure to reserve building activities than women do.
Another factor considered are the genes and the primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, the APOE genotype has proved to be more damaging on the cognitive functioning of women than men.

Alzheimer's is at the forefront of biomedical research today, and many possible approaches are currently investigated worldwide. Researchers are uncovering many aspects of the disease and related dementias as possible. Some of the most remarkable progress has shed light on how Alzheimer's affects the brain. A better understanding of how this works will lead to improved ways of dealing with this disease.



Well, that is that and I am wishing you all a wonderful week, enjoy.

Take care,
Laura

Free Kindle Offer of my book

Hello everybody,

Well it is Sunday and I want to give you an opportunity to get a free copy of my second book in The Anglurian Story.


This is my post on Facebook - I have a page for Sipho and here is the link in case you would like to go and check it out.

Facebook link - Sipho's page


One opportunity only - get a free kindle copy of my book - THE ANGLURIAN STORY - BOOK 2 - SIPHO AND THE GOLDEN NAILS - from November 17th until 21st. This is a special promotion and you are all invited to have a free copy to read, comment, love it or hate it. Just go and get a copy, this is the link




Amazon link for Free Kindle offer


I have been extremely busy at work and had to take a break from writing the 3rd book in the series, but am going to continue soon. I will keep you informed and let you have sneak previews of this one.

Also trying to complete the other 3 books that have absolutely nothing to do with this series, so I have to really concentrate and get on with writing.


I'm trying!

Take care and have a great week.
Your friend,
Laura

Death, Afterlife and Near Death Experiences

Hello everybody,

Trusting you are all well.

I am going to share another article that was published a month or two ago in the Guardian Express newspaper.



Death and Near Death Experiences.

The question of death has puzzled people's minds all the time. It seems impossible that the existence of strong, powerful, rich, healthy, and notable people can stop in an instant. Our primary normal human instinct is denial. Our minds cannot change in an instant to the thought of a person we have known intimately to be gone forever. We can experience disillusionment, sorrow, regret, and ask, is there something beyond this life?

Death will happen to every human being, there is always the real risk of illness, and car accidents, criminal activities, attacks, natural disasters, wars, and terrorism are some of the actual events that we cannot control. Afraid of the unknown and the idea of leaving behind your loved ones, or the idea of not completing your life cycle could cause untold stress and draw unnecessary fear.

Events such as war or other timely escapes from disasters can trigger our minds to dwell on issues relating to death and life and find some valuable significance. Death remains a daunting issue but one that we will all have to meet one day. We seek answers and consolations in the inevitable happening, we want to stay in control, our natural human instinct to survive, and we use the resources we have to make informed decisions. We look at after life and search for the truth.

Afterlife, and near death experiences have often been reported by people who are on the verge of dying. Typically the reports of floating above their body as they follow the doctors perform live saving procedures have been recorded. Alternatively, travelling through tunnels toward intense light, the feeling of being separated from the body, and sighting a hint of the afterlife. Meeting with angels or long departed loved ones. The experience of a life review of some kind of judgement.

The reality of near death experience may be more straightforward than reports received from the public. Research has now concluded that the experience of the afterlife feeling is a mere charge of electrical movement in the dying brain.

Experiments performed on rats whose hearts had stopped beating had shown that there was the pattern of activity similar to when the animals were fully conscious. This has now sparked the reasoning for the reports of near death experience as a rush of brain motion in the dying rats seem to confirm signs of a conscious perception. With no blood flowing from the heart to the brain, it appeared the signals were eight times stronger. There is the assumption that the brain is highly active in the seconds after the heart stops and this suggests a more physical activity taking place rather than a spiritual one.


Arguments have signalled that the dying brain is incapable of such complex activity, and that is the reason for the near death experiences originating in the soul. Suggestions have been noted that on the verge of death, the conscious brain is aroused to a higher than normal level, and this would trigger the hallucinations and feelings associated with near death experiences.

People who have survived cardiac arrests have reported having had other worldly experiences while been certified clinically dead. Some have emerged from this experience as changed characters with entirely altered outlooks on life or a different perspective on religion.

Scientists believe the near death experiences are nothing more than illusions driven by the effects of the shutdown of the brain.

Dr Jimo Borjigin from the University of Michigan said the study relates to the reduction of oxygen during a cardiac arrest, and this causes the stimulation of brain activity that is associated with the conscious process. The research recorded the nerve impulses of sedated rats whose hearts were artificially stopped. This test concluded that within thirty seconds of the heart arrest, all the animals showed a sharp surge of rampant brain movement.
The researchers were astounded by the extraordinary levels of activity recorded from the brain after the cardiac arrest and they have suggested that the brain’s capability of organized electrical action during the early phases of clinical death.
Their findings are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In the past, it was presumed that the brain activity immediately stopped when the heart no long functioned and this study concluded that the decrease of oxygen and or glucose during a cardiac seizure can fuel the brain activity. This study provides the basic scientific structure for further analysis of near death experiences described by survivors of cardiac arrest symptoms.

Other scientists have been cautious in the study regarding the human form near moments of death. Dr Chris Chambers, Senior Research Fellow at Cardiff University admitted that it was tempting to draw a link between the surge of neutral activity and consciousness and said there were two barriers limiting this conclusion. The first being that they do not know to what extent the rats experience consciousness and the researchers do not know what the activity actually means. Secondly to conclude from the brain movement alone that the bursts of activity reflect consciousness would be a logically mistake. He continued and said the experiments would have to be run on humans in order to relate to the changes in activity and thus overcome the limitations of the recent study.

That is the most honest opinion rising from this recent research, it is a possibility that the near death experiences are actually a sudden surge of electrical nerve impulses from the clinically dead person’s brain as the studies on rats indicated. Or the chance of relating to a true after life experience as documented by neuroscientists who have survived the near death experience and forever remain totally changed by their ordeal. Science is an on-going recognized resource for the benefit of all mankind, and we should accept the research and not limit our perceptions but remain open minded.

Summarizing the above research, with the words uttered by Paulo Coelho would have the best practical meaning. “'We have to stop and be humble enough to understand that there is something called mystery.”



Anyway, I do suppose, we can all draw our own conclusions.

All the best,
Your friend,
Laura