Lest We Forget

Today's UserFriendly.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

And also...

Pick a company that worries you and stop buying its products.

Tell all your friends to do the same. Tell them to tell their friends too.

If enough of you stop buying this product their sales will suddenly stop.

The shops - seeing that this product no longer sells, will stop stocking it.

The financial analysts who advise big investors will get to hear that something is up.

The big investors will sell their shares as soon as they hear that something is up.

The shares will drop as news of the big investors selling gets out.

Other shareholders seeing the drastic fall in share price, will sell fearing a collapse.

The shares fall even further on the news of more selling.

The newspapers report on the unexplained panic selling.

The shares fall even further.

The chairman of the company mankes a statement to the effect that people are over reacting and things will soon return to normal.

The board decide the chairman's calmness in the eye of the storm suggests he hasn't grasped the gravity of the situation.

The shares fall even further on the news of the sacking of the chairman.

You have brought the corporation to their knees.

CONSUMER = POWER

We don't think all big companies are bad. Nor do we think all small companies are good.But you have the power to change any company for the better. Including ours.

Reproduced from the Howies catalogue, a/w 2005.

Thanks to claire_wain for posting this one.

Some food for thought:

What purchases do you make that directly or indirectly support war? Are people's lives really worth the money you save, or the convenience you get, or whatever other reason it is that you make those purchases?

When I was young, my stepmum (or my dad? I don't remember who it belonged to) had a big poster with Smokey Bear on it, saying, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires."

Only you can stop the manufacture of land mines. Only you can support labour unions. Only you can stop your dependency on oil products. Only you can choose to use recycled paper products. Only you can buy locally. Only you can grow-your-own.

Every financial decision you make affects someone else. Only you can ensure everyone benefits when you buy something.

I go to rehearsal now, b'bye.

Things Happen When You Do Something.

ilythia posted a link to a Silent Kimbly comic.

I am really really enjoying these. Thank you, ilythia!

Tonight I am trying to tidy up some, then having a bath and going to visit pfy. Tomorrow I will be mostly hanging around with pfy, and getting an early night as I teach all day Sunday, except for the bit in the afternoon where I try to write an essay (due Monday - but I was good today and found some of the materials I need, at least, and on Monday morning I will go in and reserve computer time so that I can print things out at Trinity as my inkjet is out of black ink).

I've been pretty antisocial lately. I like spending time with people but when I am this busy the choice is between get enough rest and see all the people I'd like to see, and I really need the rest. So I'm spending time with a few people and being very careful which social engagements I commit to, in order not to drain myself. Not a lot is happening on an ad-hoc, last-minute basis right now. I don't have the wiggle room. This will change in a few weeks, I hope, but for now it means I'm being a bit of a recluse.

I also have my phone on silent most of the time, because I'm rehearsing or in class a lot of the time. I frequently forget to turn it back on to ringing again. So, if it seems like I've been ignoring you, it's probably because I didn't get your message until a day or so after you sent it.

Time for more tidying.