Delete Sally from Wiki, Hmmm? (Wikipedia as anti-Arab? You Decide..)

ok, so i'm sure it has nothing to do with me, i'm just not 'notable enough.' actually i couldn't care less because i'm in my reclusive 'not doing nothing productive' phase now. BUT, someone sent this to me and it's an interesting read. Happy Easter to all!

love,

sally b

 

*****

Editor's Note:  

The Middle East conflict rages online as well as in the  
territories. Here is an expose on how pro-Israeli groups  
are re-writing history and waging a propaganda exercise  
using Wikipedia.  

-----------------------------------------------------------  
ATOMIC BOND PUTTY (3 Tubes in a package)  
Mixes Like Clay... Hardens Like Steel...  

Normal Price: $19.99  
DEAL PRICE: $9.99  
Get 2 Packages for $15.98  

No matter what the job, you can repair it fast, safe,  
easily and PERMANENT with this amazing Atomic Bond Putty.  

Bonds, seals leaks and repairs gouges in steel, aluminum,  
wood, fiberglass, concrete and ceramics in only 20-30  
minutes.  

It's EASY! Simply cut, knead to activate and apply.  

Mixes like clay, stays where you put it, then hardens like  
steel. Bonds, fills, anchors, caulks and waterproofs just  
about anything.  

Can even be molded into or around any shaped or material.  
Once dried, it can be sanded, dried and painted. This  
special, reader's only price, includes 3 tubes in a  
package for just $9.99... Get two packages, 6 tubes total,  
for $15.98.  
VISIT: http://pd.gophercentral.com/r/120/a/504/l/0x4u56  
  
ATOMIC BOND PUTTY (3 Tubes in a package)  
-----------------------------------------------------------  

                  Video Clip Of The Week  

    Bin Laden's Son Says Videos Are Fakes Of His Father  

On Belgian television, Omar Bin Laden claimed that there  
are fake video clones of his father. Of course this makes  
sense since his death was widely reported in the Middle  
East, including the respected Egyptian newspaper, Al Wafd  
in 2001.  

View:  
  
Bin Laden's Son Says Videos Are Fakes Of His Father  
  
-----------------------------------------------------------  
  
Exposed - Pro-Israeli Group Manipulating Wikipedia  

A pro-Israel pressure group is orchestrating a secret,  
long-term campaign to infiltrate the popular online  
encyclopedia Wikipedia to rewrite Palestinian history,  
pass off crude propaganda as fact, and take over Wikipedia  
administrative structures to ensure these changes go either  
undetected or unchallenged.  

A series of emails by members and associates of the pro-  
Israel group CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East  
Reporting in America), provided to The Electronic Intifada  
(EI), indicate the group is engaged in what one activist  
termed a "war" on Wikipedia.  

A 13 March action alert signed by Gilead Ini, a "Senior  
Research Analyst" at CAMERA, calls for "volunteers who  
can work as 'editors' to ensure" that Israel-related  
articles on Wikipedia are "free of bias and error, and  
include necessary facts and context." However, subsequent  
communications indicate that the group not only wanted to  
keep the effort secret from the media, the public, and  
Wikipedia administrators, but that the material they  
intended to introduce included discredited claims that  
could smear Palestinians and Muslims and conceal Israel's  
true history.  

With over two million articles in English on every topic  
imaginable, Wikipedia has become a primary reference  
source for Internet users around the world and a model  
for collaboratively produced projects. Openness and good  
faith are among Wikipedia's core principles. Any person  
in the world can write or edit articles, but Wikipedia  
has strict guidelines and procedures for accountability  
intended to ensure quality control and prevent vandalism,  
plagiarism or distortion. It is because of these safeguards  
that articles on key elements of the Palestine-Israel  
conflict have generally remained well-referenced, useful  
and objective. The CAMERA plan detailed in the e-mails  
obtained by EI appears intended to circumvent these  
controls.  

In the past, CAMERA has gained notoriety for its tactic of  
accusing virtually anyone who does not toe a right-wing  
pro-Israel line of bias. The group has even accused editors  
and reporters of the Israeli daily Haaretz of being  
"extreme" and participating in "radical anti-Israel  
activity." Jeffrey Dvorkin, the former ombudsman of  
National Public Radio (NPR), frequently criticized by  
CAMERA for an alleged pro-Palestinian bias, wrote on  
the web publication Salon in February 2008 that "as a  
consequence of its campaign against NPR, CAMERA acted as  
the enabler for some seriously disturbed people," citing  
persistent telephone threats he received in the wake of  
CAMERA campaigns.  

Need for stealth and secrecy  

Throughout the documents EI obtained, CAMERA operatives  
stress the need for stealth and secrecy. In his initial  
action alert, Ini requests that recipients "not forward  
it to members of the news media." In a 17 March follow-up  
email sent to volunteers, Ini explains that he wants to  
make the orchestrated effort appear to be the work of  
unaffiliated individuals. Thus he advises that "There is  
no need to advertise the fact that we have these group  
discussions."  

Anticipating possible objections to CAMERA's scheme, Ini  
conjectures that "Anti-Israel editors will seize on any-  
thing to try to discredit people who attempt to challenge  
their problematic assertions, and will be all too happy  
to pretend, and announce, that a 'Zionist' cabal (the same  
one that controls the banks and Hollywood?) is trying to  
hijack Wikipedia."  

But stealth and misrepresentation are presented as the keys  
to success. Ini suggests that after volunteers sign up as  
editors for Wikipedia they should "avoid editing Israel-  
related articles for a short period of time." This strategy  
is intended to "avoid the appearance of being one-topic  
editors," thus attracting unwanted attention.  

Ini counsels that volunteers "might also want to avoid,  
for obvious reasons, picking a user name that marks you  
as pro-Israel, or that lets people know your real name."  
To further conceal the identity of CAMERA-organized  
editors, Ini warns, "don't forget to always log in before  
making [edits]. If you make changes while not logged in,  
Wikipedia will record your computer's IP address" -- a  
number that allows identification of the location of a  
computer connected to the Internet.  

A veteran Wikipedia editor, known as "Zeq," who according  
to the emails is colluding with CAMERA, also provided  
advice to CAMERA volunteers on how they could disguise  
their agenda. In a 20 March email often in misspelled  
English, Zeq writes, "You don't want to be precived [sic]  
as a 'CAMERA' defender' on wikipedia [sic] that is for  
sure." One strategy to avoid that is to "edit articles  
at random, make friends not enemies -- we will need them  
later on. This is a marathon not a sprint."  

Zeq also identifies, in a 25 March email, another Wikipedia  
editor, "Jayjg," whom he views as an effective and  
independent pro-Israel advocate. Zeq instructs CAMERA  
operatives to work with and learn from Jayjg, but not to  
reveal the existence of their group even to him fearing  
"it would place him in a bind" since "[h]e is very loyal  
to the wikipedia [sic] system" and might object to CAMERA's  
underhanded tactics.  

"Uninvolved administrators"  

The emphasis on secrecy is apparently not only to aid the  
undetected editing of articles, but also to facilitate  
CAMERA's takeover of key administrator positions in  
Wikipedia.  

For Zeq a key goal is to have CAMERA operatives elected  
as administrators -- senior editors who can override the  
decisions of others when controversies arise. When disputes  
arise about hotly contested topics, such as Israel and  
Palestine, often only an "uninvolved administrator" -- one  
who is considered neutral because he or she has not edited  
or written articles on the topic -- can arbitrate.  

Hence, Zeq advises in a 21 March email that "One or more  
of you who want to take this route should stay away from  
any Israel realted [sic] articles for one month until  
they [sic] interact in a positive way with 100 wikipedia  
[sic] editors who would be used later to vote you as an  
administrator."  

Once these CAMERA operatives have successfully infiltrated  
as "neutral" editors, they could then exercise their  
privileges to assert their own political agenda.  

In addition, Zeq suggests making deliberately provocative  
edits to Palestine-related articles. He hopes that editors  
he assumes are Palestinian will delete these changes, and  
then CAMERA operatives could report them to administrators  
so they could be sanctioned and have their editing  
privileges suspended.  

-----------------------------------------------------------  
SOLE CLEANER & MASSAGE MAT  
Clean & Comfort Your Sole...  

Normal Price: $14.99  
DEAL PRICE: $5.99  
Get 2 for $9.98  

This unique foot massager mat features two (2) types of  
flexible bristles that clean your feet and stimulates blood  
circulation. Also, it has a built-in embedded pumice stone  
to rid dead cells on the hard skin on your sole.  

The suction cups underneath the base will allow an easy fix  
to shower floor. And when its not in use you can hang it  
on a hook or attach it to the side of the shower.  

Now you clean your soles and enjoy a comfortable foot  
massage every time you take a shower!... Makes An  
Excellent Gift.  

Get one for $5.99... or get two (2) for $9.98. To order,  
visit: http://pd.gophercentral.com/r/120/a/504/l/ud4ho1  
  
SOLE CLEANER & MASSAGE MAT  
-----------------------------------------------------------  

Passing propaganda as fact  

Gilead Ini's 17 March email provides specific advice on  
how to pass off pro-Israel propaganda or opinion as fact  
meeting Wikipedia's strict guidelines:  

"So, for example, imagine that you get rid of or modify  
a problematic sentence in an article alleging that  
'Palestinian [sic] become suicide bombers to respond to  
Israel's oppressive policies.' You should, in parallel  
leave a comment on that article's discussion page (either  
after or before making the change). Avoid defending  
the edit by arguing that 'Israel's policies aren't  
'oppression,' they are defensive. And anyway Palestinians  
obviously become suicide bombers for other reasons for  
example hate education!' Instead, describe how this sentence  
violates Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. One of the  
core principles is that assertions should adhere to a  
Neutral Point of View, usually abbreviated NPOV. (The  
opposite of NPOV is POV, or Point of View, which is  
basically another way of saying subjective statement, or  
opinion.) So it would be best to note on the discussion  
page that 'This sentence violates Wikipedia's NPOV policy,  
since the description of Israel's policies as 'oppressive'  
is an opinion. In addition, it is often noted by Middle  
East experts that one of the reasons Palestinians decide  
to become suicide bombers is hate education and  
glorification of martyrdom in Palestinian society...'"  

In fact, there have been numerous studies debunking claims  
about Palestinian "hate education," or "glorification of  
martyrdom" causing suicide bombings (such as Dying to Win  
by University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape)  
though this claim remains a favorite canard of pro-Israel  
activists seeking to distract attention from the effects  
of Israel's occupation and other well-documented and  
systematic human rights abuses in fueling violence.  

Zeq specifically names articles targeted for this kind of  
treatment including those on the 1948 Palestinian Exodus,  
Causes of the 1948 Palestinian exodus, Hamas, Hizballah,  
Arab citizens of Israel, anti-Zionism, al-Nakba, the  
Palestinian people, and the Palestinian right of return.  

Interestingly the CAMERA editors also target the article  
on the early Islamic period concept of Dhimmi, a protected  
status for non-Muslims which historically allowed Jews to  
thrive in Muslim-ruled lands while other Jews were being  
persecuted in Christian Europe. Pro-Israel activists have  
often tried to portray the concept of Dhimmi as akin to  
the Nuremberg laws in order to denigrate Muslim culture  
and justify ahistorical Zionist claims that Jews could  
never live safely in majority Muslim countries.  

Also among the emails is a discussion about how to alter  
the article on the massacre of Palestinian civilians in  
the village of Deir Yassin by Zionist militiamen on 9 April  
1948. Unable to debunk the facts of the massacre outright,  
the CAMERA activists hunt for quotes from "reputable  
historians" who can cast doubt on it. Their strategy is  
not dissimilar from those who attempt to present evolution,  
or global climate change as "controversial" regardless of  
the weight of the scientific evidence, simply because the  
facts do not accord with their belief system.  

Zeq has already made extensive edits to the Wikipedia  
article on Rachel Corrie, the American peace activist  
murdered by an Israeli soldier in the occupied Gaza Strip  
on 16 March 2003. As a result of these and other edits  
Zeq has himself been a controversial figure among Wikipedia  
editors, suggesting his own stealth tactics may not be  
working.  

"We will go to war"  

Zeq, however, counsels CAMERA operatives to be patient and  
lie low until they build up their strength. "We will go  
to war after we have build our army, equiped it trained  
[sic]," he wrote on 9 April. "So please if you want to  
win this war help us build ou[r] army. let's not just rush  
in and achieve nothing, or abit more than nothing [sic]."  

DOWNLOAD CAMERA'S EMAILS:  
http://electronicintifada.net/downloads/pdf/080421-camera-wikipedia.pdf  
 

---

Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos.

It's What You Do With The Spoons..

Very interesting....>
>
>
> A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and
>said, Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."
>
> The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the
>doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large

>round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which
>smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.
>
> The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They
>Appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long
>handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to
>reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle
>was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into
their mouths.
>
>
> The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and
suffering.
>
> The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
>
> They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly
>the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the
>large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people
>were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people
>were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
>
> The holy man said, "I don't understand."
>
> It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You
>see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only
>of themselves."
>
>
>When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of you!
>
>Only 7% of the people who read this will share it with others. 93% of
>people won't forward this!
>
>HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND PASS IT ON!!!!!

---

It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.

Ape and Lion

I heard the story of a man who was down on his luck and desperate to find work. As doors kept closing to him, he got the idea of going to the city zoo to seek a job feeding the animals.

The manager at the zoo had no such openings, but seeing how big this guy was, he thought of something else.

"Say, our gorilla died the other day, and he was one of our most popular attractions. If we got you a special gorilla suit, would you put it on and imitate him for a few days until our new gorilla arrives? The pay is great."

When you need a job, you need a job. The man was so desperate for work, he agreed.

After a few hours, he really got into the part—beating his chest and shaking the bars. Huge crowds gathered to watch. Maybe this won't be so bad after all, he told himself. Besides the good money, he could take naps in the sunshine and had all the bananas he could eat.

But that afternoon, as he was swinging on a trapeze as part of his gorilla act, he lost his grip. His momentum carried him over a tall chain-link fence into the middle of the lion's den. The huge lion, seeing this intruder in his domain, gave a ferocious roar. The crowds were mesmerized.

Still trying to hide his identity, the gorilla-suited man backed slowly away, hoping to climb the fence and return to his own cage. The lion, however, had a hungry look and began stalking him step by step.

Finally, in desperation, the gorilla hollered, "Help!"

The lion immediately spoke in an annoyed whisper. "Shut up, stupid! You'll get us both fired!"

You see . . . things aren't always as they appear!

There are many people today who claim to be Christians—who may even think they are Christians—but are not.

Polling data consistently shows that a majority of people in this country believe in God, identify themselves as Christians, and believe the Bible is God's Word. But how much of Christianity do they really understand? In one survey, for example, of those who said they read the Bible regularly, half couldn't name even one of the four gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and fewer than half knew who spoke the Sermon on the Mount (Jesus).

On close examination, it's clear that many people don't have a clear grasp of what it means to be a believer in Christ. Do you? Are you a believer? Are you sure?

What exactly is a Christian, anyway? Are you born that way? If not, how do you become one? What are the requirements?

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul wrote: "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test" (NLT).

Check up on yourselves, Paul was saying. Are you actually believers? Do you pass the test? Or are you just pretending to be (or hoping to be) a Christian, when actually you aren't at all?

When you ask someone if he or she is Christian, one of the most common responses you get is, "Of course I'm a Christian. I go to church, don't I?" That's like saying I'm a golfer because I own a set of golf clubs. Or I'm a surfer because I own a pair of board shorts. But to be a golfer, you need to golf; to be a surfer, you must surf; and to be a Christian means you need a real relationship with Christ—knowing Him, trusting Him and obeying Him.

Reading this, you might be thinking, "But what difference does it make how we define a Christian anyway? Why make Christ such a big part of it? Don't all roads basically lead to God?"

Not according to Jesus!

Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3 NKJV). Only Jesus Christ—and no other—died on the cross for your sins. Only He promises you the hope of heaven. And no other religion teaches that! Jesus essentially said that the only way you can be certain your sins are forgiven and know you will spend eternity in heaven is by putting your complete trust in Him.

And there will be tangible results to show you have done that. Jesus once said, "Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20 NKJV). Just as apples identify an apple tree, there are results or evidence in someone's life that marks that person as a believer in Christ.

Now, don't misunderstand me; I am not suggesting that any particular amount of "good works" makes you a Christian. Far from it. In fact, all the good works on earth will not save you. The Bible tells Christians that God "saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5 NLT).

This, in fact, is one of the main things that sets Christianity apart from all other religions in the world. All other religious systems essentially say, "Do!" Do this particular thing and you'll have "good karma," or you'll get to heaven or paradise or nirvana or whatever. In contrast, Jesus Christ says, "Done!" That's what it meant on the cross when He cried out, "It is finished!"

The transaction is complete.

The price for our sins has been paid, and the way has been opened up—through Christ alone—for an eternal relationship with God.

But please understand this: If we've discovered that the price has been paid, if we truly believe, and if we receive Christ's payment for our sins—it must mean radical changes taking place in our lives!

Are those changes taking place in your life? If you were arrested for being a Christian today, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). Honestly, do those words describe your life?

If you did your own survey of people on the street and asked them what someone must do to become a Christian, you would probably get answers like this: "Go to church, pray, read the Bible, and keep the Ten Commandments. Believe in God, miracles, heaven, and hell. And, oh yeah, probably be baptized. And start living a good life."

Right now, I'm going to make a statement that may shock you: You can do all those things I just mentioned and not necessarily be a Christian! Don't get me wrong; if you're a true Christian, you should do all those things.

But the outward change is often without the inward . . . while the inward change is never without the outward.

"Examine yourselves," Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5. When you honestly examine yourself—inside and out—what do you find?

---

Copyright ©2007 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

---

It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.

Brain Power..

From Kristin..

 

One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside cottage
after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.

  Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out.
  She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and
begins to read her book.

  The peace and solitude are magnificent.

  Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat.
  He pulls up alongside the woman and says,
  "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"
  "Reading a book," she replies (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?").

  "You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.
  "I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."
  "Yes, but I see you have all th e equipment. For all I know you
could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."


  "If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says
the woman.
  "But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden.
  "That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you
could start at any moment."
  "Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

  MORAL:
  Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.
Send this to females who are thinkers. If you receive this, you know
you're intelligent. Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how
to dance in the rain.

---

Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home.

Teardrop COVERS (Even Worse??)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as2P3z5MAWY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTQlGnnBmhU

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh_UZauND_s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuaAih3wuU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLJneHRptPc

---

It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.

Teardrops on my...Computer Screen!

What's this world coming to when all these kiddies are posting such videos on the net? (NO, I shan't use the word 'remake,' for that would imply a certain level of acceptability or mediocrity, which NONE of these have.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsOwdby657g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGPxNofmOoY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvLrh0AG3E8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBpq1Afs2Fk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF_aC17EU2A

 

---

It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.

Why God Allows Pain (Highlight, it's written in black)

(FROM HANAN)

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.

As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.

They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer. 'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.

Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?

Would there be abandoned children?

 

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.

I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

 

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.

He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'

'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber.

'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'

'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because

if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'

 

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'

'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!

That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.

That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

If you think God exists, send this to other people---

If you think God does not exist, delete it!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS !!!!!!!

---

Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

The Ultimate Gift ... ?

(More from the scintillating and witty Melissa.. Happy New Year to everyone!)

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

FRIENDS FOREVER!

---

See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.