Windows 10 played hard to get!

At long last, my desktop and laptop finally run Windows 10. Even though the new Microsoft operating system has been available since July 29, it's only a good two month later that my two computers were updated.

The laptop (purchased more recently) was an easier one to update while my desktop remained an impossible challenge. Even though, I'm an early adopter and tried relentlessly since launch day, I just couldn't get it. It's only by accident that all gelled yesterday.

I must say I wasn't surprised and thought it was consistent with Microsoft's head in the sand when it comes to user's friendliness. I even called the Costco support system in late August, but they couldn't figure out what was wrong either, which says a whole lot.

Now, enough complaints. Let's see how #10 works!

Our Green Pope

Pope Francis made a very strong impression on American people during his last visit, and while each sides of the public opinion spectrum tried to spin what he said to their advantage, he was pretty clear that he expressed pretty clearly that man had trashed the planet and that it was time to do something about it.

What the Pope didn't suggest, though, was that climate change was just the symptom and not the reason for Earth's endangerment. The reason, as still too few people yet understand is that humans are far too many on the planet and that something needs to be done about it.

Of course, we need to give Francis some slack; he is running a very conservative organization and he will need a few more years before publicly acknowledging that we have a major problem with overpopulation!

Turning negative vibes into positive energy

Like the alchemist turns lead into gold, I'd love to be able to transmute negative pain into positive energy. To be truthful, I'm looking for a method or a way, because I sense that there must be one, and the only one I've heard about is one that is related to yoga practice.

It consists of acknowledging pain instead of denying it or pushing it back. Instead, it requires that we fully breath-in that pain, thinking that it's part of the all the pain and suffering that is plaguing the world.

Once this is done, literally exhale that same pain and focus on its leaving your own body and the entire world. I kind of like this approach and next time I'm bothered with negative vibes, I will try it!

The Inca creed is what I need!

During our recent trip to South America, we learned about the Inca creed:

• Don't lie. 
• Don't steal. 
• Don't be lazy. 

I liked it a lot. It hit a spot in me, and then I compared it to the Judeo-Christian's Ten Commandments. I was not impressed by the later as I ran my analysis. The first three are God-centered and have little to do with humanity or being a good human:

• You shall have no other gods before Me. 
• You shall not make idols. 
• You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. 

The next one reminds us to take a break once a week, but as long as we're not lazy, we know how to rest when we need to, so I don't see it as a pillar of order in society:

• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

The following one goes without saying and shouldn't be “commanded”:

• Honor your father and your mother. 

Even though the Spanish conquistadors knew this one, it didn't stop them from massacring all the Incas they encountered and that resisted their destructive efforts:

• You shall not murder. 

Then these four next sound just like stealing and lying combined, right?:

• You shall not commit adultery. 
• You shall not steal. 
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 
• You shall not covet. 

Finally, there's no recommendation about working hard or not being lazy in the version I was brought up with. After serious consideration, the Inca creed is simple, easy to remember and works perfectly for me!

Papal product placement

Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles pulled a great marketing coup when he got Pope Francis to downgrade his pope-mobile from Mercedes to Jeep and adopt a Fiat 500L as his official limo.

Of course, this perfect product placement was at the confluence of the Pope being a resident of the State of Vatican, landlocked in the middle of Italy and that of Francis walking the talk in terms of his vow of poverty as a Jesuit.

Will that impressive PR move sell more Jeeps and Fiats? Time will tell, but it's quite likely to remain the product placement of the century!

Should people die for their religion?

The terrible accident that marred the Hajj in Mecca brings up a lot of questions and provide few answers. My heart goes to the hundreds of innocents who died.

This is not an isolated incident; in the past quarter-century, several thousand people have been trampled to death during this famous pilgrimage.

The responsibility appears to fall squarely on the Saudis, their shoddy organization and a callous disregard for human life. How can a country so rich allow for stampedes that kill hundreds of people on a regular basis?

This practice is medieval and something has to change and both the Saudi and Muslim leaders have to step up to bring their religion in synch with the more civilized 21st century. If this happened, our world would be transformed!

“Clean Diesel”

The Volkswagen fraud and subsequent fiasco is exposing the lie we've all been served to the consuming public by automakers that are claiming to offer “Clean Diesel” in their products.

To me, “Clean Diesel” has always been an oxymoron. Diesel is a source of particulates that are polluting our environment day in, day out and, should probably be outlawed. Yes, there's a clean alternative to this low-grade combustible and that's natural gas, which, for the moment, is both plentiful and cheap.

I'm glad the American Environmental Protection Agency pulled the lid on Volkswagen cheating practices and that the German firm will pay the right price for its deception!