Missy Jones has disappeared

I used to enjoy reading Missy jones' blog at http://realiziiingmydream.blogspot.com/, but now she is saying, '... Blogland is not what it used to be. People are building groups, led by others who are after numbers, and page hits. It's become like the teenage movies, we see, where only the popular can win, and if you are a little different to them, or have a different opinion, you are ridiculed, and attacked.

I have witnessed, people being "gathered and Collected", as trophies. Being stalked, and followed, and then attacked for not following suite, and accepting "the" leader.'

Is this actually happening? I haven't noticed it.  Admittedly I haven't been reading much lately, but I have not seen any sign of this.  I'm a very un-paranoiac person, maybe I should be more suspicious?  Has some other blogger attacked Missy?  Before the "article" ruckus? Or even after?  I'm aware of Mr BB's machinations, but nothing more.

Her last post can be read on feedly, but not on blogger.  It disturbs me somewhat that there might be a trend I have not detected. I mean, a trend won't disturb me much but not seeing it would.

A girl friend

Claude, 17, is bringing home a girl I like.  She's the same age as him and a psychology student.  What I particularly like about this is to hear the two of them laughing and playing while washing the dishes.  Laughter is not often heard in this house, and the loud laughter of young voices even less often, in fact I cannot ever remember it happening before.  Rose has only managed to have one child despite twenty years of trying, so there has been no-one for Claude to laugh with, and that sound is now making me very happy!

When not engaged in laughing their way through the washing up, they are lying on Claude's bed closely clasped, mouth to mouth, door shut and locked. I laid in a stock of condoms, but haven't told Claude yet as I am just not sure about it; I don't want to give him the impression he should be having sex with her.   I suspect she is not ready for that.  This is the Philippines, after all.

still here

I apologise to those who like to read my blog, for not posting anything for some weeks.  I just haven't felt in a communicative mood.

I've been reading a lot recently. Trashy science fantasy stuff, plus polemical anti-religious writings by David Fitzgerald, Sam Harris and others.  Fitzgerald's book on the Mormons is hilarious but telling a deeply tragic tale of lies, deception and murder by the founders and other officials of the Mormon church.  What amazes me most is how anyone could follow the "teachings" of someone like Joseph Smith or Brigham Young, criminals as they were. I have only a moderate reasoning ability, but I like to use it, and, it seems to me, I should use it.

I am continually exercised in my mind about one of my sons who converted to Islam probably in order to marry the girl of his choice, herself a Muslim convert, and has become something of a leader in his local mosque in Cape Town.  He is a good father, generous son and devoted husband and has four articulate and beautiful children; he is very intelligent, dropped out of Oxford University in revolt after only a few weeks, then made himself a career in translating and writing.  Years ago he sent me a copy of the Koran. I read some of it, enough to realise how it can be used to justify killing of innocent people by fanatics.  Would it be better for him to realise the sham of religion?  Perhaps not; but I am thinking of asking him just what is this "Allah" Muslims are so interested in?  I want to spend the next few days trying to get to the bottom of the origins of the Koran, who was Muhammad, was he a real person and where did the writings in the Koran really come from?