Talk true

If you go to any of the links I have given (ie. FEMINIST LAW PROFESSORS, SIVACRACY) THINK before you speak. They know their shit!

S.P.C.H.A.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Human Animal.
This post is not about physical or mental cruelty. It is about the well meaning but often misguided way we try to help. One must never forget that a disability does not mean less human. The emotions are pretty much the same in all people. So when they are forced to retreat, don't be to harsh if they resist at first.

political blogging

The blog is now the way we get our political views in front of the rest of the world. The rise of blogging has given some new and greater influence to many people that had little before. The joining of minds that are in agreement, as well as a forum for debate, has opened many eyes to the power. Some blogs rival traditional media in reach and power to influence our opinions. This fact has come with a price. Or many prices. Some people use the power to deride, some just to insult. OUR mail boxes can be filled to overflow so quickly it makes one's head spin.
The discussion of issues in a civil way is also one of the powers that can be employed. Let us hope to see more civility.
As major and minor politicians use this power, their purposes should be easier for us to see.

something to talk about

while reading a news paper from India, I was struck by a few things. The advancement of women's rights shows no sign of slowing there though the way is hard, the companies with the largest ads are very familiar and the newspapers there are more open about sex than in the US..

my friends like me to blog

I have the tendency to send too many e-mails. I hope blogging curbs this flaw, LOL!

making headway

I have always liked to wander. Not that I never have a destination, it's just that I find so many great things and people when I least expect to. I came across the most beautiful grave marker I have ever seen while wandering in a local cemetery. (not too gross a pastime when ones friend is the caretaker) It is a hand carved, marble rose bush about 31/2 feet high. The grave is from 1851. I found it by deciding to take every right turn I came to. Wandering with a criteria is not really wandering I guess.

books

If we had to learn everything firsthand we'd die stupid. Communication thru writing is just below language in importance and may have a larger sociatal impact. So books are vital. The definition of what a book is may be evolving, but the influence they have is not. Read any good books lately?

starter subjects

music, blacksmiths, equality, elections, blogging, feminism, travel, places, space, physics, inventions, web 3.0, leadership, law, politics, current events. sci-fi

NEW WAY, NEW DAY

After reading other blogs, I am making some changes. The most important one is an attempt by me to get others to talk by letting y'all pick the subject.(within reason)

MR. WIZARD!

Don Herbert helped this father teach his children to love discovery. He taught me more than a few things too! I don't know much of his personal life but he was a giant public figure in our house. GOOD-BYE and GOD BLESS MR. WIZARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

time after time

I never intend to do dumb things but it seems I am doomed to do so. Maybe I am forgiven for them, maybe not. But in any case, things are never the same. All I can say is I'm sorry that I acted in a way that was or said something that came across as wrong.

Troop Surge,Hmmm!

Again, for the umpteenth time, the world is caught in the drooling, vicious, self-serving jaws of the belief that might makes right. Again humans tumble close to the edge, believing that the winner of the global struggle for complete victory will yield a kinder, gentler, more equatable place for us all. This thinking has always given some, if not all, of us grief. Change in our thought, of a radical nature, is needed.

Back to basics

Blogging can be fun. Blogging can be meaningful. Blogging can be silly. Blogging can be a way for some to provoke others. Since entering the blogging thing, I have avoided the same things I avoid in my every day life. But, as in life in general, sometimes we fail. I was recently a failure. I left a simple but to the point comment on a blog. I have commented there before. Someone responded in such a way that I lost my objectivity. There will always be those that try to provoke someone so as to prove they are superior. In fact, this kind of behavior shows an insecure person. The only way for them to feel that they are of primary worth in the world is goad someone. And I allowed this to happen to me when I could no longer stand the words of one that uses this tactic. Don't they realize that they aren't fooling anyone? The only one diminished by such behavior is the instigator themselves. I guess they are clouded in their judgement and can not see clearly.

HANDICAPPED ARTISTS

Support the effort to let those of limited ability express themselves thru art.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Gotcha! This post is not about computers. It's about people that use their minds in the pursuit of comfort for themselves not others. The purpose behind the words they write or speak. If one takes the words at face value it seems that they are speaking the truth. They are mostly. But what is their reason for the words in the first place? Is it for the betterment of all or to demonstrate the superior mental prowess they posses? To bad that there are those that criticise ( and in some cases rightly so) a way of doing things yet derive personal wealth from just those practices. Someone that is a stock broker yet complains of the behavior of the large corporations that are instrumental to the livelihood they enjoy. This is artificial intelligence indeed!

Kurt Vonnegut

There is not much I can say as a goodbye that is not being said so I will say this, "Hi Ho!" and "So it goes!"

good-bye Kelly

in memory of Michel ARCHANGEL "KELLY" FANELLI.
A great father-in-law, a great friend, a great human...
the light you gave to me will shine for eternity

Missed again

Missteps, miss construed, miss judged, miss informed, miss guided, miss understood, misstated , miss led, missed out! This is an apology that no one will see so I guess it misses the mark!

TOMMY! Where did we blow it?

While watching Tommy again, I was forced to ask myself if we have gotten lost as if we were deaf, dumb and blind? The way seemed so clear all those years ago. Change for the greater good was our purpose! We thought we could, but we have not it seems. Some jumped on the bandwagon then jumped off quickly when they saw the effort it would take. Those that stayed were soon in the minority. Steering, or driving the bus, is a difficult task with every ones help let alone with most going different ways. The destinations may be varied but the road that takes us there goes only two ways. Foward and back. The purpose of a road is to make it easier to get to where you are going and return. Some how we have left the road. Even good people get lost if they leave the road. For sure some find their way, but many do not. I guess what I'm trying to say is we must know where we want to go first, then we pick the road. If we do not know where we want to go we may go down the wrong road. We must be aware of the bumps but not abandon the road because of them. Listening to you I get the story.

scolarly discusion of the word "scholar"

A gentleman and a scholar took me under his wing to improve my knowledge of the subject at hand. His mastery of the subject was breathtaking. He could discern more about a machine with a few light taps of his machinist's hammer and his nose than the designer. Although he was in possession of a great intellect, it was his knowledge that made him great. This was the direct result of many years of work and observation. One of the proudest moments of my life was his agreeing to teach me some of the "secrets" he had learned. He was considered by all that knew him or knew of him to be the "grand wizard of machines." After awhile in his company, those that knew me would tell me how lucky I was that he was willing to share his knowledge with me, When I told him what they said, all he said to me was that he liked the way I only added my two cents when they were needed. He was not above learning, in fact he never stopped. He was truly a gentleman and a scholar. He had been asked to speak at many universities about many things that did not involve machines. He would teach me of these things too. The biggest secret he gave me was no secret at all. He had never studied at a collage or university. He would say" A scholar need not have a degree, but it helps." What a guy. He died when he was about 70 and I was 24. I will never forget him or what he taught me. When one looks up the word "scholar" there is more than one definition. Maybe they should add his name.