Imaginet.co.za is cooking with gas. I signed up online and had connection login details within a minute. I phoned their support team 3 times and, each time, a knowledgeable techie helped me as far as he could. The problem finally turned out to be Telkom-related but, to be fair, Telkom sorted it out in 3 minutes as well.

So I'm a happy camper.

iBurst has been giving me headaches for quite some time. I suppose I delayed the move to ADSL because I thought it would be painful and take forever but, boy, was I wrong!

I opted for a 384kb line and, I have to admit, it feels on-par (or perhaps slightly slower) than iBurst. When it comes to downloads, the speed difference is quite noticeable but, for normal browsing, Gmail, Google Calendars, etc, it's fast! And, best of all, consistent.

iBurst really lives up to its name - you get "bursts" of speed. With ADSL - it seems to be one fairly constant stream of decent speed.

However, the real test will come tomorrow, when I try and work using this connection. I'm confident it'll be fine but I'll try to avoid counting these chickens before that hatch. (Whoops - too late!)

Just saw this on www.sagoodnews.co.za:

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa officially launched the Scorpions replacement, to be known as the Hawks, at a function in Midrand on Monday.

Followed by...

Mthethwa said almost all the investigators from the Scorpions (the Directorate of Special Operations) moved over to the new unit.

Can they investigate corrupt government officials? Who knows but I'm still confident that they'll do the country good in terms of bringing down drug and theft syndicates.

It feels a bit strange to still be so sad about Michael Jackson's death. I never knew him personally and the people around me all seem to be getting on just fine. So why am I still sad?

Ignoring your emotions is a recipe for disaster, so I've had to pay them some attention this weekend to try and understand what's going on inside me.

So, why am I mourning Michael Jackson?

First of all, my spiritual belief is that we are all God. That is to say that there is no God that exists outside of us because there is no "out there" or "in here". We are all just one massive creative energy, exploding outwardly and then coming together again, over and over again.

So that means that MJ is God. Much like my thumb is Norio. So is my pinky. It doesn't mean that my thumb governs my body but it is as MUCH a part of me as any other part.

Having said that, each one of his songs that struck a chord with me did so because it was God talking to me. Much like God talks to me through the movie I'm watching on TV, the book I'm reading on the loo & my wife bitching at me for not doing something I said I would do.

It's both profound and simple all at the same time. How can I *not* be God, how can MJ *not* be God if I believe that we are all God.

It's like ignoring a painful sensation in your thumb. That painful sensation is there to let you know that you hurt yourself and need to take care before you get an infection. An infection that, depending on the circumstances, could kill you.

So now you hopefully understand my belief.

Back to MJ. "Man in the Mirror", "Heal the World", "The Earth Song" are all messages from a part of God for us to wake up and smell the roses. Take care of yourself, take care of your earth and, as Ghandi would say, "Be the change you wish to see in the world".

* (See foot notes for my thoughts on his other songs)

So the first reason is that I feel a certain sense of loss that the messenger has died. The message, for me, was "Love and care for one another and the planet you're living on."

And the second reason I feel such a great loss is: because we are all one, Michael Jackson really was (is) my friend. When I was crying, as a child, in my bedroom and not understanding the world (or my parents, or the death of my dog or the death of my grandfather...), the comforting words and voice coming out of my tape player were coming from a friend, far away.

His energy, while he was alive, swept across most (if not all) of the earth. He was trying hard to help people around him even though - or maybe BECAUSE - his own life wasn't perfect.

That energy connected with me and many of my friends. And closure will come to me from realising that the energy is still with us. It's no longer focused in a single, physical place but it's there.

Most of my spiritual beliefs (about 95%) come from the book series "Conversations with God". I don't claim them to be "the way" but they are "my way". Reading those books awakened a truth inside me that made them feel right when other spiritual beliefs didn't. That's my only reason for believing what I do - it feels right. Well, that and it gives me closure :)

So, with that, I'll try and remember that MJ is still around. Still a part of us. He's done his bit in the world and now he has changed form. Diluted but still there.

* The other songs? Well that fits into my belief that we are here to experience ourselves/ourself as the all that is. The only way to do that is by forgetting what we are and experiencing it afresh. So God is (and we are) the love, the hate, the sex, the abstinence, the cheating, the faithfulness, etc.

And the biggest gift we can give ourselves is unconditional love for ourselves, the people around us and the world in which we live. It's not easy but it IS blessed and you feel it, each time you get it right :)

My favourite musician while I was growing up was Michael Jackson. I was thoroughly obsessed with his music, his dance moves and his general persona. There wasn't a single song of his I didn't adore and this love for his music has stayed with me into my adult years.

The fact of the matter is the Michael Jackson was :( an amazing artist. He pushed the envelope and gave 110% of himself at all times.

I remember when he came to SA. We didn't have the money to go to his concert and we were visiting a friend close to Ellis Park (where his Joburg concert was held) and it was horrible to hear my idol so close and yet so far away.

Each one of his videos told a story, each one was a production in itself. The man did everything to his absolute best abilities and it showed.

Watching his concerts on TV was always a mesmerising experience for me and it was always sad when it ended. I would sit and wait in front of the TV - hoping for an enchore.

He was passionate about changing the world for the better and he sang about it, loud and clear. From "Heal the World" and "Earth Song" to "They Don't Really Care about Us" and "Black or White".

As a child, I wanted to be him, I wanted to meet him, I wanted to dance like him and sing like him. As an adult, I love his music and always will. I would have loved to have met the man that changed the world in so many ways and with an amazing childlike innocence that was, in my humble opinion, largely misunderstood by the world at large.

I think I owe my passion for music (and musicianship) to Michael Jackson. Thank you and rest well.

You'll always be remembered.

Edit: How I'll Always Remember the King of Pop:

Edit: These Songs Changed My Life...

- The Man in the Mirror
- Black or White
- The Earth Song
- Heal the World

Edit: Other Amazing Songs that will Always Mean Something Special to Me...

- Ben
- Stranger in Moscow
- I Just Can't Stop Loving You
- Liberian Girl
- Remember the Time
- Will You Be There
- She's out of My Life

What did MJ mean to you?

A few months back my brother in law gave me his old fish tank plus a bunch of accessories. I hadn't done anything with it till this past Sunday when I cleaned it all up, put in some gravel and filled it with water.

Yesterday I put the pump in and got a bulb and plugged it all in. It's sooo pretty and the whole exercise cost me: R11 for the bulb :P

(Actually, it cost Tanya R11. She bought the bulb for me as a gift. She loves supporting my hobbies. I adore my wife :))

I'm waiting a week for the water to cycle before I stick some fishies in but, in the meanwhile, here's a pic of my pretty tank. I'm so proud of it. I think it's uber stylish!

Any of my readers into fishies? Got tank pics?

I'm not really dyslexic but I don't always read things right.  So maybe I am.  Anyhow, my friend said he was going away in 2 weeks.  I replied, "What will I do for 2 weeks?".

Reado: It's like a Typo but for Dyslexics :)

Wow, 3rd update today - I'm on a roll :P

According to Happier.com, these are my top 5 strengths.  (They should know after I completed their 240-question questionnaire!!). 

Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.    

Humor and playfulness
You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.    

Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness
Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.    

Fairness, equity, and justice
Treating all people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.    

Forgiveness and mercy
You forgive those who have done you wrong. You always give people a second chance. Your guiding principle is mercy and not revenge.

Now I just need to focus on practising these strengths daily!  But how?!

Check out this cool moth I photographed earlier today!  Credits go to Tanya (www.trphoto.co.za) for colour-correction and re-composition!

Just received this from: http://www.bemotivatedtoday.net/3823

How to resolve conflict...

1. When a conflict has occurred, immediately decide that you will RESOLVE it as soon as possible.
2. Believe that you will be able to resolve it peacefully. Don't think you won't. Believe you WILL!
3. Have a PLAN of what you will say.
4. Realise the purpose for resolving the conflict is not to establish blame but to RESTORE harmony and find a solution.
5. You are a TEAM solving a challenge, not fighting each other.
6. TIMING. Choose the right time to approach the person.
7. Be HONEST at all times.
8. Each person must have an opportunity to speak.
9. Try to understand the other person's reasoning or point of view.
10. Be OPEN-MINDED. Be prepared to change your thinking.

Depending on the complex, here's a short list of things you don't have to be responsible for:

Security
This includes everything from installing electric fences, barbed wire, decent walls or palisade fencing to keeping big dogs :)

Garden Maintenance
Not always but, oftentimes, the complex you stay in will cut your grass for you. Even if they don't do anything with the flower beds, this saves you having to buy and maintain a decent lawnmower.

Municipal Hassles
Again, depending on what complex you stay at, electricity is often handled by an agent which makes things easier.  One agent I can think of here that operates in SA is "Impact Meter Services".  Call them to see what complexes they're responsible for.  The queues are much shorter and the deposits are reasonable.

So my list is really short but that was the point.  You pay more for these conveniences but, as far as security is concerned, it's well worth it.  The rest, I think, is more subjective.

Of course, there are a bunch of negatives to living in a complex.  Not least of which is the amount of control they have over what you are and aren't allowed to do.  If you can deal with those rules and limitations it can be quite a sweet deal.  Ask me, I've just moved out of a complex into a house and while the space and freedom is great, I need to fork out cash out of my own pocket to secure the house.  Garden maintenance is hard work.  Oh and the Ekurhuleni municipality is expensive (R2.2k electricity deposit!) - although pretty efficient, actually.