Here's an example of the decline of Western civilization.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2007/05/29/endemol-reality-organ.html

Shortly after I posted the above link, I found out that the woman who was supposedly planning to donate a kidney was an actress playing a part. However, the potential recipients were real.

Last night I was one of the writers who did short readings of our work at an early summer party for the Saskatoon Writers' Coop (an event for members and a limited number of guests). The theme was travel. My story, which I wrote specifically for the event, is titled "Scary Bus Stories". I find that, like many writers, deadlines really help encourage me to produce new work. My story was very well received. I also won the prize for "Most Exotic Costume" because I wore a distinctive Burmese shirt (given to me in Burma by a member of the Karen ethnic minority) and brought along an Indonesian sarong to show. We enjoyed watermelon and other warm weather snacks and drinks.

Here's a link to the Coop's website: http://www.writerscoop.org/

It amazes me how much time and energy some people spend on bigotry and intolerance that they could be spending on helping others.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/05/052807poland.htm

Yogyakarta (pronounced "Jogjakarta") is an Indonesian city with great historical significance that I visited in 1986 and 1993. I was particularly upset when I heard about the earthquake there last year because I could picture where it had happened. I guess this is an example of how seeing more of the world makes you care more about the people who live in it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6695301.stm