The philosopher Plato was an anywhere but inside the box thinker.  In his ideal world men and women should unite to produce babies but not to marry or live together. The children are raised by slaves in the first years and educated by the state according to their natural skills. So, if a child demonstrates military ability, for instance, he or she must be educated to become a warrior. Whichever natural talent they display should be enhanced through education. Develop a melodious child’s abilities to be a musician, not a mathematician!

According to Plato, marriage and family ties are harmful because citizens become attached only to a certain group of people — their biological families — instead of regarding the whole community as a large family. Without family ties people work to serve the community at large. This way we see each member of society as valuable and equal. Sometimes it is hard to understand Plato’s concept of the ideal state because today’s society is not based on virtues, but on economic growth. The ultimate goal of the capitalist world is not to grow spiritually and produce a community of virtuous citizens, but help people became richer.
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Prefer to count money or count on friends?

For the Greek philosopher Epicurus, the purpose of philosophy was to achieve the happy, tranquil life by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends. He is often associated with pleasure but his tastes were simple. At the age of thirty five he settled on an unusual domestic arrangement. His plain residence outside Athens had enough space for his friends to have their own quarters and there were common dining and conversation rooms. It was more commune than hedonistic villa. Epicurus observed that “Of all the things that wisdom provides to help live one’s entire life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship.” He recommended dining in company “for feeding without a friend is the life of a lion or wolf.”
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Psychologist Martin Seligman in his book Flourish questions what wealth is for. For him it should serve our well being. For economists it is for producing more wealth. But if all the fiscal wizardry has led to recession and more of us are depressed than ever should we take the advice of Charles M. Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!” But is money high on our list when it comes to happiness? Would we rather be love rich than cash poor or vice verse?
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Leanne was a 42 year old business woman with two children under the age of three and a husband under 33. Just before the busy Saturday evening was to start she felt a bit off. She was settling a menu dispute with the head Chef “You OK?” she asked. Miriam knew her boss well. When she spoke of her she said “That why they all bosses bosses. Cause they are bossy!”

“No,” Leanne put a hand to her right temple. “I think I have a humdinger of a migraine on the way.” Miriam suppressed a smile.  Before she made a ‘you should go home suggestion’ Leanne screamed “ERRRRIKKK!”
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Are we really islands after all?

In recent years the number of solo dwellers has skyrocketed. According to the market research firm Euro-monitor International those living alone has risen from about 153 million in 1996 to 277 million in 2011. A 55% increase in 15 years. Eric Klinenberg, author of “Going Solo; The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone” wondered what is driving the phenomenon. One reason people opt for lone living is they can simply afford it. But the increase stems from the cultural change that Emile Durkheim, a founding figure in sociology in the late 19th century, refers to as the cult of the individual. According to Durkheim this cult arose from the transition from traditional rural communities to modern industrial cities. But the emphasis on the individual has possibly surpassed Durkheim’s expectations. Until recently if a person was matrimonially miserable they would have to justify their reasons for divorce. Now it is almost unthinkable to put up with an unfulfilled marriage and the “self first and foremost” is now a societal paradigm.
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Tiger-a Man not a Monster

This weekend Tiger Woods will be watched with interest when he competes in sports equivalent of Fashion Week-the Masters. But no one will wonder what he’ll be wearing. The question is will he veer to victorious in Augusta? Two years ago after his personal life imploded his performance in the tournament was met with positive reviews. Augusta’s National chairman Billy Payne was not so munificent. In a pre-tournament address he said with rector rectitude “It’s not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here. It is the fact he disappointed all of us and more importantly our kids and grand-kids. Our hero did not live up to the expectations as a role model that we sought for our children.” 
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A Latte a Day Does Not Keep The Obesity Doctor Away

According to an article in this month’s British Elle magazine humans are the only creatures who drink milk past childhood let alone the milk of another species. This white water is designed to support a baby going through its fastest growth phase of its life. For humans breast milk transforms a 7lb newborn into a 25lb toddler. A cow’s lactic secretion turns a 90lb calf into a 1,600lb heifer. Could our latte addiction be responsible for our lardy derriere? Arnold Schwarzenegger who once had the best body in the world said “Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer!” Might we be better cooling our tea with a dash of draught?

Dr. Chide Ngwaba diet and exercise advisor at East Surrey hospital says that when consumed by humans the growth factors in cow’s milk tend to encourage fat storage. Due to the oestrogen content the fatty deposits build up around the stomach and bottom. Has anyone ever seen a cow with a washboard stomach and emaciated behind? Ngwada is currently writing a book that recommends total abolition of dairy products from our diet.

Apart from bulking us up milk can also be difficult for us to digest. According to nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston 75 % of us are intolerant to lactose, a sugar which is found in all animal milk. It also contains casein, a type of protein which is also difficult for the body to break down. Like humans cats were traditionally fed milk and if to be rewarded cream. But they too have difficulty processing milk that does not come from their mother. Like us, the best beverage they can have is water.
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Kitty Camera

In 2008 Parisian Paolo Teixeira lost his job. Did he lie on his chaise longue and ponder life? Take up Japanese lessons? No a much more worthy pursuit. He developed category A cat curiosity. What did his purrfriend Prince do when he wasn’t around? He borrowed 100,000 Euros from his mother and friends and in 2010 launched his company Eyenimal which manufactures an ultra lightweight camera with a 4GB memory. They look like a fancy cat collar. A year on almost 1,000 detecting devices were sold each month.

A journalist from the Guardian Olivia Snaije decided to try the 120 euro espionage tool on her feline friend Padmé. If there were a Minister for Pets would he introduce a privacy law for pussycats? Should they not be allowed prowl in peace? Olivia sat with her family to watch illicit footage of the family four legged member. Besides scaling walls and kitchen counter she admits without serious editing it would be of little interest to the outside world. No chance of Steven Spielberg offering to make a movie out of it so? Unless camera caught husband in a clinch with neighbour in garden shed?
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An object of fascination for many a male.

How many men watched Rory Mc Ilory win the Honda Classic Golf Tournament last Sunday? Not only did he ascend to No. 1 in the world he beat the Schumacher of the fairways Tiger Woods. Did Tiger boo hoo into his golf bag after having to leave the Florida green? No he went into the clubhouse where he divided his attention between a TV tuned to the Lakers-Heat game and another showing coverage of Mc Ilroy’s finish! Was he not sick of ball sports for just a while? Did he not want to catch up an episode of the Kardashians? What is this ball fascination all about?
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