A Little Nut

"The world is not yet exhausted; let me see something tomorrow which I never saw before."
-Samuel JohnsonEnglish author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 - 1784)

"What we hope ever to do with ease we may learn first to do with diligence."
-Samuel Johnson, Lives of the Poets English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 - 1784)

"A cucumber should be well-sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out."
-Samuel JohnsonEnglish author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 - 1784)

"Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
-Martin Luther King Jr.US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible."
-Stanislaw J. Lec Polish writer (1909 - 1966)

"If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it."
-Andy Rooney US news commentator (1919 - )

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
-Edmund Burke Irish orator, philosopher, & politician (1729 - 1797)

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground...."
-Unknown Quotations by unknown authors

"Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once."
-Evan Esar, Esar's Comic Dictionary American Humorist (1899 - 1995)

There is not really a theme to the quotes. I just found them to be either poignant or funny. The title pic was taken by a participant of the last VCR trip. I hope that you have a faster internet connection then I do because I was not able to see the video that went with the slideshow.

Today was a snow day both literally and figuratively. I previously discussed how Capt Traversa, the author of A*W*A*C* blog, described days where recent events effect your ability to move about. He called them snow days. It always makes you a little anxious after any event. Aside from the tragedy of it, it is always important to have a reminder of where you are and how you should always remain vigilant.

I was reading a New York Times article today about Afghan weddings. I provided a link to it. I have always thought that it was interesting how you can drive around Kabul and see a city that is recovering from years of continuous wars and then you see huge beautiful wedding halls every few miles. Here is an example of one. You have to excuse the quality of the picture it was taken from a moving vehicle.

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It almost looks like a Vegas-style casino. I am not sure whether or not you can appreciate the size of the building but it is pretty huge. I also am not sure what a Paris wedding is. Maybe they just liked the name.

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Weddings are a big deal over here in Kabul. A wedding cost similar to what we would pay in the states. That is actually a lot of money considering most people only make $100-200 dollars per month.

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Here is another one.

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The culture prevents men and women from dating, so as you could imagine, many of the young men are eager to get married. The problem is, not only does the wedding cost a lot of money, but you also need to give a lot of money to the bride's parents before they will approve it. So, as a result, men have to spend many years saving up so they can afford to get married. That's funny because in the states it is usually the other way around. Just kidding.

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Thanks for reading.