Metaphysical Discomblogulation!

2007-06-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

(Crossposted from the American Constitution Society :: Columbia Law School and www.sauntering.blogspot.com)

Although I do not agree with people who find a right to privately own firearms in the 2^nd Amendment to the Constitution, I see their point. This amendment — along with a Congressional Commerce Power limited only by prudence and a 9^th Amendment that either does nothing or everything — represents some of the most ambiguous, sloppy drafting in the entire Constitution. Although I don't think you have the constitutional right to buy one gun per month (a limit Virginia has placed on individual gun ownership), I see how people can seize upon the 2^nd Amendment's sloppy drafting to claim that they do have such a right.

On the other hand, the people whom I do not understand are those people who ignore the historical accident of the 2^nd Amendment and attempt to argue from first principles that a universally armed society is preferable to a less-than-fully-armed one.

When Kathryn Lopez, conservative blogger at The Corner on National Review Online, says:

If you want domestic tranquillity, an armed and responsible citizenry ready and able to protect life and property is not a bad way to start.

...she is calling for a type of Wild West society that has been rejected by the rest of the developed world.

Argue from the Constitution that you have a 2^nd Amendment right to private gun ownership and I'll begrudgingly admit that you have a textual leg to stand on. Argue from first principles that the best society is one where we're all armed and I'll remind you that you stand in sharp disagreement with the rest of the developed world.

Update (4/19): My brother-in-law & sister-in-law (...once removed? What do you call the person who married your brother-in-law?) are living in France for several months, and here's Ilia's take on the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

The most telling passage:

In reading the French newspapers concerning the tragedy I noticed that they kept using the English terms "mass murder" and "school shootings" in lieu of using a similar phrase in French. Is it that they simply don't have the words for such atrocities, or are they so common in the US as to be better known around the world by their English names?

Ooh Baby, Baby, It's a Toxic Word

2007-05-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

Alas, I return to the keyboard. It has been dusted off and I am ready to write. Life has been increasingly busy and my efforts have been directed toward my work at the Law Firm and establishing my new consulting business. Once you read through this blog you will understand why it took me two weeks to get it posted. There is a lot of information to be considered.

It was almost by accident that I stumbled upon what is now of great interest of mine. All over this country there are locations saturated by toxic substances. Such substances have been either dumped, leaked, "forgotten about" or otherwise mysteriously placed at these sites. It is invariably the case that these locations and the substances thereby rendering them hazardous and in many cases fatal were put in their current place by the same corporations that built your car, donated to your local YMCA, manufactured the materials that build your house and give your house the energy it needs to satisfy yourself and those who reside there with you. Additionally these are the corporations that stabilize your local, state and national economy. All such elements are indeed of value to a society but the question that lingers is clear. At what cost are the said elements of value arrived at?

The purpose of this blog posting is not dive head long into the wealth of information and studies of morbidity with regards to the cause and effect relationship between those whom have suffered at the hands of the the individuals and corporations within the asbestos industry. However, a statement of impact should be recognized.

Asbestos related diseases including Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma kill ten-thousand people a year and recent data that has been disclosed by the Environmental Protection Agencies of both the state and federal authority indicates that because the relationship between Asbestos exposure and the onset of Asbestos related diseases, 10,000 deaths a year is low end estimate.

The industrial chemicals that are used by manufacturing plants are by no stretch of the imagination safe. In many cases the solvents used by tanneries, chemical engineering plants, military engineers, warship builders, automobile manufactures and even companies that provide canned food and crayons have a profile of toxic substances that lists longer than the grocery list of a small Mormon community. Evidencing this is, are what the EPA calls "Superfund" sites. Superfund sites are the nation's worst toxic waste sites: 1,305 are scheduled for cleanup on the National Priorities List (NPL). About 11 million people in the U.S., including 3-4 million children, live within 1 mile of a federal Superfund site and confront potential public health risks. Scorecard profiles the risks these sites pose to public health and the environment. Scorecard ranks sites by how high they scored in EPA's Hazard Ranking System, and states and counties by number of Superfund sites.

The EPA claims to be impartial however, after scrutinizing which of these Superfund sites are associated with major corporations, one will start to see that the system which was set in place by the EPA for purposes of being in compliance with legislation that was passed in the early part of 20th century and more recently the Superfund Act of 1986. It seems that compliance with the Superfund Act and other relevant legislation has brought on more of a problem recognizing system opposed to a problem solving system. Many of the Superfund sites have been labled dilapidated for some twenty years now. Further, many have been consequential to the communities around them. Pregnant women and children most commonly the victims of exposure. One famous and mortifying case can be found in Ringwood New Jersey where Ford Automotive Company dumped toxic solvents and paint that were laced with but not toxicity is not limited to trichlorethelene (TCE) , Xylene, Benzene and Benzene derivatives and Lead. Other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) have been detected and found to dramatically exceed levels that can be rendered safe. Women and children have been plagued with Leukemia and other malignant and non-malignant diseases that have been causally linked with exposure to heavy metals and solvents. For more PLEASE go to http://www.toxiclegacy.com/

Another case, which inspired Johnathan Harr to write the Non-fiction book A Civil Action can be found in a small town outside Boston called Woburn. Extremely high incidence illness and childhood death due to Leukemia was exposed and shown to be the result of the massive dumping and burial of drums full of TCE (trichloralethylene) and Tetrachloroethylene or otherwise known as PERC by Beatrice Chemicals, J.J. Riley Tannery and the bankrupt Asbestos defendant, as well as historically sketchy W.R. Grace. These two incidents should not be taken lightly and should not be considered isolated events. 1,305 locations have been labled Superfund sites however, the potential for toxic exposure to the same and other fatal substances remains inflated.

The California East Bay portion of the SF Bay Area has three sites that have been determined by the EPA as National Priority Cleanup sites. Essentially, to qualify for this status under the EPA a site has to be EXTREMELY TOXIC. Both water and air test samples has to have a toxicity factor that can be understood as lethal when exposed to small amounts. I grew up in and around these areas and I have listed below a detailed summary of what the EPA has found and where the locations are. Please inquire further should you misunderstand the chemistry or any substance(s) I hope to be posting a summary on basic Chemistry as it relates to being exposed to hazardous substances in both the organic and inorganic states.

Alameda County, Oakland California AMCO Superfund Site
Site Name:
AMCO CHEMICAL

EPA ID:
CA0001576081

Address:
1414 THIRD STOAKLAND, CA 94617
Site Ownership:
Unknown
Category of Site:

No data
Date of Final Listing on the NPL:
September 29, 2003

Conditions at Proposal (April 30, 2003): The AMCO Chemical site (AMCO) is part of a 0.83-acre property at 1414 Third Street in a mixed residential and light industrial area of Oakland, California. The property is bordered on the north by a vacant lot, on the west by residences, on the east by Nelson Mandela Parkway, and on the south by Third Street. A recently constructed elevated portion of the Interstate-880 (I-880) freeway is located immediately across Third Street from the property. The property (at 1401 Third Street) was historically occupied by Bobo's Junkyard. From the 1960s to 1989, the AMCO site was occupied by AMCO Chemical Company. AMCO operated a chemical distribution facility that included a warehouse, railroad spur, above-ground tanks, underground tanks, and drums used to transfer and store raw materials. In July 1988, the Oakland Fire Department observed "leaking/rotting drums" on the property. A subsequent emergency response investigation by Alameda County and the U.S. Coast Guard revealed greater than 100 full and empty 5- and 55-gallon weathered drums in an open area behind AMCO Chemical's main building. Stenciled labels on the drums indicated that the contents included acetone; 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA); methyl ethyl ketone; and dry-cleaning solvent. From 1989 to November 1998, DC Metals operated a scrap metal yard on the site. Cable Moore, Inc., currently uses the site for cable storage. Structures remaining on site include an office building, warehouse, and two small storage buildings.

In June 1995, a construction crew noted odors at the intersection of Third Street and Nelson Mandela Parkway, while excavating a trench needed to relocate an underground electrical line in preparation for a freeway project. Subsequent subsurface investigation by California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), DC Metals, and EPA revealed the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including vinyl chloride in soil, soil gas, and shallow ground water at the AMCO site, beneath Third Street, and at the 1401 Third Street property (former Bobo's Junkyard). On December 5, 1996, the EPA Emergency Response Office initiated a removal action at the AMCO site that involved the construction of a ground water and soil vapor extraction (SVE) treatment system. The EPA treatment system collection trench was excavated from December 5 through December 20, 1996. By December 23, 1996, the trench had been lined with a silt curtain, filled with gravel, and covered with a tarp. Cement was poured to permanently cover the trench on January 8, 1997. The treatment system operated from January 1997 through July 1998 and extracted approximately 7,000 pounds of VOCs, approximately 40 pounds of which were vinyl chloride. Operation of the system ceased in July 1998, due to community concern over the potential for a release of dioxins from the thermal oxidation unit. On December 5 and 14, 1996, during construction of the treatment system collection trench, the EPA On-Scene Coordinator observed shimmering vapors emanating from the open trench. SUMMA (tm) canister sampling indicated the presence of vinyl chloride; methylene chloride; 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA); and trichloroethene (TCE) in the immediate area of the trench. In addition, one SUMMA canister sample collected from in front of a residence adjacent to the site contained TCE. The EPA conducted several sampling events on and adjacent to the AMCO site between 1997 and 2000. VOCs continued to be detected in soil, soil gas, and ground water on site. In September 1999, SUMMA canister samples were collected from the crawl spaces of three residences located adjacent to the site. Vinyl chloride was detected in the three crawl spaces at 0.02 to 0.045 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). There are 626 people living within a quarter of a mile of the source. There are also approximately three workers on site. Status (September 2003): EPA is considering various alternatives for this site.

Detected Hazards
Contaminants Detected Profile
GroundWater --- YES
SurfaceWater --- YES
Air --- YES
Soil --- YES
Other

1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE
1,1-DICHLOROETHANE
1,2,3-TRICHLOROBENZENE
1,2,4-TRICHLOROBENZENE
1,2,4-TRIMETHYLBENZENE
1,2-DICHLOROBENZENE
1,2-DICHLOROETHANE
1,3-DICHLOROBENZENE
1,4-DICHLOROBENZENE
1-ISOPROPYL-4-METHYLBENZENE
2-PHENYLBUTANE
CHLOROBENZENE
CHLOROETHANE
CIS-1,2-DICHLOROETHYLENE
CUMENE
DICHLOROMETHANE
MESITYLENE
METHYL ISOBUTYL KETONE
N-PROPYLBENZENE
NAPHTHALENE
TETRACHLOROETHYLENE
TRICHLOROETHYLENE
VINYL CHLORIDE

Alameda Naval Air Station (this should not be a surprise almost all former Naval stations are full of toxic hazards)
Site Name: ALAMEDA NAVAL AIR STATION
EPA ID: CA2170023236
Address:
W END CITY OF ALAMEDA, ALAMEDA, CA 94501
Other Names:
NAVAL AIR STATION ALAMEDA
Site Ownership:
Federally Owned
Category of Site:
No data
Date of Final Listing on the NPL:
July 22, 1999

Conditions at Proposal (May 10, 1999): Alameda Naval Air Station's mission was to maintain and operate facilities and provide support services for fleet aviation activities of the U.S. Navy. Historically, the site was occupied by BORAX processing plan t, an OIL refinery, and an airport for the city of Alameda. In 1 930, the site was purchased by the U.S. Army. In 1936, the U.S. Navy acquired the site and in 1940, the site was officially commissioned. Currently, the site covers approximately 1,600 acres of dry land and 1,000 acres of submerged land on the island of Alameda, California. The eastern portion of the site is devoted to office space, residential housing, and industrial facilities. Run ways and support facilities occupy the western part of the site. The facility was closed by the Navy in 1997. The U.S. Navy's Initial Assessment Study identified 12 potential hazardous waste sources at Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS), four of which were ultimately recommended for further investigation. However, the California Environmental Protection Agency, department of Toxic Substances Control (formerly known as the California Department of Health Services, Toxic Substances Control Division), identified 16 additional sources at the site in a Remedial Action Order to the U.S. Navy. Subsequently five more sources w ere also identified. Consequently, remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) activities are being conducted at 25 areas on site, including the West Beach Landfill. The West Beach Landfill occupies approximately 110 acres in the southwestern corner of the site. Approximately seventeen of these acres are now marshland. The West Beach Landfill is bordered to the west and south by the San Francisco Bay, and to the north and east by runways.

Materials reportedly disposed of in the northeast portion of the West Beach Landfill include polychlorinated BIPHENYL (PCB)-contaminated transformer oils, PCB-contaminated TAC rags, and carbonless paper containing PCBS. The southwest p ortion of the landfill was used for the disposal of PCB-contaminated dredge spoils, which for the most part came from Alameda Nava l Air Station's pier areas, turning basin, and entrance channel. Analytical results of samples collected from the southwest porti on of the landfill indicated the presence of PCBS up to 483.9 MIC rograms per kilogram. Approximately 17 acres of marsh cover most of the southwest portion of the West Beach Landfill. Results of a preliminary wet land delineation study identified wetland hydrology, hydric soils , and hydrophytic vegetation (as outlined in the 1987 Corps of Engineer Wetland Delineation Manual) in the West Beach Landfill marsh. The West Beach Landfill marsh is dominated by pickle weed, an obligate wetland species. Property which has been identified as uncontaminated at Alameda NAS by the Navy pursuant to CERCLA Section 120(h)(4)(a), which has received regulatory agency concurrence pursuant to 120(h)(4 )(b), is not part of the NPL site. Parcel Numbers 39, 60, 63, 93, 101, and 194 were identified and concurred on as uncontaminated, and therefore, are not part of the Alameda NAS NPL site. If additional uncontaminated property at Alameda NAS is identified in the future and receives appropriate regulatory agency concurrence, it will not be considered part of the NPL site. By definition, the NPL site consists of locations where releases of hazardous substances have occurred.

If information becomes available indica ting that parcels previously thought to be uncontaminated are in fact impacted by hazardous substances, these releases will be considered part of the NPL site. The NAS Alameda NPL listing is not intended to include the subsurface soil contamination layer known as the former marsh crust and sub tidal area. This 1 to 2 foot thick layer of soil contaminated with POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) is buried an average depth of 8 to 15 feet below ground surface throughout most of the facility. Currently, a feasibility study has been drafted for the former marsh crust and sub tidal area, and EPA anticipates that an institutional control will be implemented to address this issue towards the end of 1999. Before the Navy can transfer portions of the base property that are otherwise clean, it must satisfy CERCLA 120(h) requirements for closing military bases. Any other hazardous substance releases from the facility are included in this NPL listing. Status (July 1999): EPA is considering various alternatives for this site. [The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was scored. The description ma y change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991 or subsequent FR notices.]

Contaminants Detected Profile

GroundWater
SurfaceWater --YES

POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
Don't be fooled by there only being one contaminant detected. Substances such a PCBs are EXTREMELEY dangerous when detected in surface water.
Lawrence Livermore Lab (don't be suprised to see the state of affairs here is BAD, this site is owned by Uncle Sam)

Site Name:
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LABORATORY (USDOE)
EPA ID:
CA2890012584
Address:
7000 EAST AVELIVERMORE, CA 94550
Other Names:
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LAB (USDOE)
Site Ownership:
Federally Owned
Category of Site:
Federal Facility
Date of Final Listing on the NPL:
July 22, 1987

California Conditions at proposal (October 15, 1984): Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) covers about l square mile and is situated about 3 miles east of the densely populated city of Livermore, Alameda County, California. It was first used in the 1940s as a Naval Air Station. In 1952, it was transferred to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and established as a nuclear weapons and magnetic fusion energy research facility. It is now operated by the University of California for the owner, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE). Throughout its history, hazardous materials have been used, stored, and disposed of on the property. Solvents, PETROLEUM, and other organic chemicals used on-site have been found in the soils and ground water both on-site and off-site. Sources of discharge of hazardous materials into the ground water at the site include two known landfills where solvents and other chemicals were disposed of, as well as outdoor storage facilities, underground tanks, and pipelines. In September 1984, the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) issued an Order for Compliance to LLNL to provide alternative water supplies to residents west of the facility whose wells had been contaminated by hazardous substances from LLNL. The order also directed LLNL to conduct a ground water investigation. Status (July 22, 1987): In November 1985, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB) issued an order directing LLNL to investigate and clean up the on-and off-site contamination. In response, LLNL has been investigating the source and the vertical and lateral extent of the contamination of soil and ground water. In 1986, a plume of ground water contaminated with VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, primarily TETRACHLOROETHYLENE, was found to have migrated 3,600 feet west of LLNL. LLNL (with oversight from EPA, CRWQCB, and CDHS) is continuing to investigate the extent of soil and ground water contamination at the facility. To date, LLNL has installed over 160 monitoring wells.

EPA is currently negotiating an Interagency Agreement with USDOE and LLNL to cover cleanup activities under CERCLA Section 120. LLNL has applied for permits under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for an incinerator and for a new treatment and storage facility. To date, no other RCRA units have been identified requiring closure or corrective action. Within the boundaries of this Federal facility, there are areas subject to the RCRA Subtitle C corrective action authorities. However, no such areas were included in scoring this specific site. Therefore, this Federal facility site is being placed on the Federal section of the NPL under the NPL/RCRA policy announced on September 8, 1983 (48 FR 40662).

SPECIAL TO THIS SITE THE EPA TELLS US THE FOLLOWING FUN FACT

Both on- and off-site groundwater are contaminated with VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS) and CHROMIUM. Fuel HYDROCARBONS including BENZENE and ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE, the heavy metal LEAD, and TRITIUM appear only in wells on site. Soil excavated from the site was contaminated with solvents, radioactive wastes, HEAVY METALS, POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS), and fuel HYDROCARBONS. Soils remaining on site contain VOCS, TRITIUM, PCBS, fuel HYDROCARBONS, and inorganic substances. People may face a health threat if they ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated water or soil.

Groundwater and Drinking Water
Were drinking water wells shut down due to contamination?
Yes
Population served by the wells now shut down:
101 - 500
Are drinking water wells potentially threatened?
Yes
Population served by the threatened wells:
10,001 - 100,000
Aquifer discharges into:
A drinking water aquifer

Surface water
Population served by water wells in the aquifer:
10,001 - 100,000Contaminants Detected Profile
Contaminants Detected

GroundWater --Yes
SurfaceWater -- Yes
Air --- Likely
Soil --- Yes
Other ---- STUDIES AND ASSESMENTS STILL PENDING
CHLOROFORM
TETRACHLOROETHYLENE
TRICHLOROETHYLENE
-----------------------------
BJM -- Unedited 5/27/2007

There is Dust all over me, I have sat here too long.

2007-05-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am the symbol of a generation lost in its own translation of "identity." I like the author below develop my internal angst from the spoiled connections and exploited powers that have given rise to the condition of normality. I write because people won't listen, I yell because I cannot be herd and I weep because people cannot or will not notice. You laugh because I weep, you speak because you cannot hear, you yell because you cannot understand. If people can rise up to overcome that which they have been conditioned to accept as proper, functioning and irreprehensible then I wish they would. I am fatigued by the mistranslated four syllable words that end in "ism"... What are you today, what were you yesterday and what will you become. What is the extent to which you claim to be normal and why do you point the finger at the cronies when the encrypted bar code on the back of your neck reads USA when it is scanned. The broken, disconnected, disenfranchised do exists. Claim you are A free thinking individual but consciously be aware the extent of your thinking only fits within the frame of a doorway. Stand in front of the door that has a chromium sign on it that reads do not enter. You notice the door is locked. Not only shouldn't you enter but you have sacrificed your ability to so. Turn the other cheek and fascinate yourself with meaningless delusions and non existent realities that repetitively revolved around your existence. When the realm you call your universe is your own self-edifying thoughts, what are you part of the sample or the population. Can you read this and not be offended or pass judgment about the author(s). Are you of the man cow existence branded, bar coded and distributed? Do you sit in chair and rock back and fourth and wish you were less contrite.

Chapter I. Page I. Paragraph I. Paraphrased

I AM A SICK MAN.... I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. I believe my liver is diseased. However, I know nothing at all about my disease, and do not know for certain what ails me. I don't consult a doctor for it, and never have, though I have a respect for medicine and doctors. Besides, I am extremely superstitious, sufficiently so to respect medicine, anyway (I am well-educated enough not to be superstitious, but I am superstitious). No, I refuse to consult a doctor from spite. That you probably will not understand. Well, I understand it, though. Of course, I can't explain who it is precisely that I am mortifying in this case by my spite: I am perfectly well aware that I cannot "pay out" the doctors by not consulting them; I know better than anyone that by all this I am only injuring myself and no one else. But still, if I don't consult a doctor it is from spite. My liver is bad, well -- let it get worse!

I have been doing this for years.

I used to be in the government service, but am no longer. I was a spiteful official. I was rude and took pleasure in being so. I did not take bribes, you see, so I was bound to find a recompense in that, at least. (A poor jest, but I will not scratch it out. I wrote it thinking it would sound very witty; but now that I have seen myself that I only wanted to show off in a despicable way, I will not scratch it out on purpose!)
When petitioners used to come for information to the table at which I sat, I used to grind my teeth at them, and felt intense enjoyment when I succeeded in making anybody unhappy. I almost did succeed. For the most part they were all timid people -- of course, they were petitioners. But of the uppish ones there was one officer in particular I could not endure. He simply would not be humble, and clanked his sword in a disgusting way. I carried on a feud with him for eighteen months over that sword. At last I got the better of him. He left off clanking it. That happened in my youth, though.
But do you know, gentlemen, what was the chief point about my spite? Why, the whole point, the real sting of it lay in the fact that continually, even in the moment of the acutest spleen, I was inwardly conscious with shame that I was not only not a spiteful but not even an embittered man, that I was simply scaring sparrows at random and amusing myself by it. I might foam at the mouth, but bring me a doll to play with, give me a cup of tea with sugar in it, and maybe I should be appeased. I might even be genuinely touched, though probably I should grind my teeth at myself after-wards and lie awake at night with shame for months after. That was my way.
I was lying when I said just now that I was a spiteful official. I was lying from spite. I was simply amusing myself with the petitioners and with the officer, and in reality I never could become spiteful. I was conscious every moment in myself of many, very many elements absolutely opposite to that. I felt them positively swarming in me, these opposite elements. I knew that they had been swarming in me all my life and craving some outlet from me, but I would not let them, would not let them, purposely would not let them come out. They tormented me till I was ashamed: they drove me to convulsions and -- sickened me, at last, how they sickened me! Now, are not you fancying, gentlemen, that I am expressing remorse for something now, that I am asking your forgiveness for something? I am sure you are fancying that ... However, I assure you I do not care if you are....

Coming Down in the Rain

2007-05-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

Flipped into the wind

Like the ashes of her cigarette
He got scattered thrown on the breeze
As he tried to forget
He lost all his heat
And his heart never will be the same
He got lighter than air
But he'll only come down in the rain

Strung out and hung out to dry

Laughin' under the line
It's not such a dignified place
But he really don't mind
He says with his feet on the ground
He'd have nothin' to say
Claims he likes it up there
And he'll only come down in the rain

Comin' down in the rain

Washin' outta the sky
Loaded down with the pain
There just ain't no way to fly
You can read him as clear
As the wall where he once wrote his name
It was right next to hers
But it'll only come down in the rain

Burnin' himself out on a limb
Like a leaf in the fall
He blazed for awhile
Now he's feelin' all dried up and small
The colors all gone
Disappeared
Near as quick as they came
He says he can't stay up here
But, he'll only come down in the rain

You can read him as clear as the wall
Where he once wrote his name
It was right next to hers
But he'll only come down in the rain

Way to Go Einstein

2007-05-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

"God... Seperated the light from the darkness." Genisis 1:3 NIV
A university professor challenged his class by asking "Did God create everything?" A student raised his hand and said "Yes" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then he created evil too. And since our works define who we are then God is evil. The class became silent. Suddenly, another student raised his hand and asked, "Professor, does darkness exist? The responded "Yes." The student replied, "No sir, darkness does not exists. Darkness is just the absence of light. Light, we can study but not darkness in fact we can use Newton's prism to break the white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. But you cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present" Then the young man asked, "Sir, does evil exist?" Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course." To this, the student replied, "No, evil does not exists, sir, or least it does not exist unto itself. It is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness, a word that man has created to describe the absence of light. God did not created evil. It is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. Evil is like the cold that comes when there is not heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light" The professor in contemplation, sat down. This young student would go on later to bring the world to a whole new concept and understanding of itself with his theory special and general relativity. One may suggest that after the professor sat down he said "Way to go Eistein" and the term seems to have stuck ever since.
Posted by Mr. Ben at 5:36 AM

2007-05-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

In the end

All will be settled
All will be said
All will be thought
All will be resting
All will be blessed
All will be scary
All will be new
All will be unencumbered
All will be still
All will be loved

In the end
Their will be tears
Their will be pain
Their will be fears
Their will be cessation
Their will be prospects
Their will be hope
Their will be reasons
Their will be freedom
Their will be new path ways to traverse
Their will be silence
Their will be noise
Their will be regret
Their will be stillness
Their will be Love

In the end
I will laugh
I will cry
I will be carried
I will be scared
I will be scarred
I will recover
I will be better
I will be strong
I will have Faith
I will be still
I will be loved

In the end
We will search
We will find
We will be settled
We will be silent
We will teach
we will be re-energized
we will be scared
We will be sad
We will lie down
We will rise
We will be still
We will be Loved

In the end
They will have joy
They will have closure
They will not resent
They will remember
They will have treasures
They will have each other
They will carry on separately
They will listen
They will pray
They will be still
They will be loved

In the end
You will be thankful
You will be tired
You will need rest
You will be excited
You will be confused
You will be different
You will be distant
You will be still
You will be Loved

In the end
Gray clouds will scatter and show the blue sky
Night will become calm
Day will be agreeable
Withering roses will once again bloom
unknowingness will be understanding
Futures will be unknown
Silence will settle
New bridges will be built
The swamp will no longer be murky
Aggetation will be stillness
Love will be pristine

In the End
There will be you
There will be me
We will be still
We will be Loved
We will be Loved
We will be Loved

In the End

BJM

5/4/2007

My Totally Rad Lyrics

2007-04-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

Eddie Money's classic song about having nightmares and being taken home by a stranger called Take Me Home Tonight, can and will make you a better person if you sing it with others while inside a garage. Personally, I am particularly inspired by the line "Let's find the key and turn this engine on." So, I decided to write the following lyrics...

Ooh you are spicy
Like picante chili
I can feel my mouth burn
When you are on your way
Get in my hybrid S-U-V (whispered in the background by the best singers in Tahiti
Hold on tight cause your riding with Meeeeeeeeeeeeeee -- Oh oh yea, un-huh

Chorus
Lets make some energy
To run this car
Take it to the limits honey
lets go too far
Oooh yea!

The cement melts when you walk by
Come a little closer baby and you'll see
I am all the man you want I am all the man you need
I can feel you baby when I grind my teeth
Get in baby, let make some energy ooh uh uh yea, turn it up
(in the background, spicy like chili)

solo
Chorus
End

Dave's 76' Auto Repair and Gas Station Reconsidered

2007-04-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

I really tried hard to think of something a little more inspiring then my last posting but it availed me nothing. This is a little story of a rather bountiful man who is the cashier in the little refreshment store and myself. (Notice, the lack of the mini-mart)

The location of the incident occurred at Dave's 76' Station, 849 University Ave Berkeley, Ca 94710. I highly recommend you do not attend that gas station for any reason other than having an empty fuel tank. That is acceptable because you will not have to go inside and interact with Nobel Lauriat's they have working there. I needed to get my smog checked so I could proceed with registering my Truck. I was thrilled because I needed to get this done sooner rather than later and the shop was in walking distance from my work. Just imagine lots of high fives and a gasoline fight right before the ingestion of a carcinogenic that is how happy I was!

I arrived around 8:30am and I was told it would be ready by noon. Well, the substance of this posting is not so much about when I got my car back but, it should be noted that I was never called and had to call them at 2:00 O'clock and they told me it was ready at noon. I told them well, you didn't finish your job, you were supposed to call me and tell me it was ready. Now, I am in working and unable to pick up the car at 5:00. It was a bummer but I have come to expect such thing from mechanics. The most illogical part of this interaction was that somebody from the station called me back at 3:30 to tell me, "It is ready now." There was an agreement that I would pay and get the key from the cashier which was fine with me I wasn't going to drive until after work anyhow. So, whatever, I have more important things to worry about like not committing perjury….

I don't really like using the term "the shit hit the fan" instead I will say, that's when the tsunami of shit came rolling in. I walk in and say to the bountiful cashier, I am here to finish the paperwork for the work that done on my car. With an utterly perplexing look on his face he said, "Pauuporwikeh" It was indeed strange, as I have never heard any body speak with what sounded like a hybrid of French and Latin American Spanish. After that I left and went to see if the shop was still opened, it wasn't and when I got back the key and invoice were right behind him, bear in mind this is an enclosed space that resembled a small booth. Ok, he somehow understand me and gets the invoice…THEN the flood from the tsunami of shit rolled in when he said, I need to see ID. I told him I don't have to show you ID for this purchase, I am giving you money why would you care who I am, either way you get your money. In his what now sounded like a somebody vomiting and talking on speakerphone at the same time voice he insisted. Going against my volition for the sake of getting out of there, I showed it to him. He says "This is not you" there goes top of Chernobyl exploding off of my head. Not knowing what to say I said, do you know what you are doing? Can you read? He says I cannot pay, well I should have got my ID back and left, but I didn't. I was furious and I can see why they have that booth enclosed. It is not for people robbing them it is to protect the Infinitely stupid, ignorant, unwise, vulgar and dimwitted employees from get murdered. That glass was ticking me off. I said "you the most incompetent person on the planet and I know some really incompetent people. I'll tell you what, you are harassing me and telling me you need ID, I have a good friend less ten-miles from here I am going to give him a call, you'll know when he gets here, he will be wearing a blue uniform and he carry a stick that will hurt you and a gun that will kill you. At which point, he says feverishly ok, ok, and he rung me up I looked at the invoice to see what possibly could have made him think it wasn't me. THIS IS HOW SHAMELESS THIS MAN WAS… There was a "D" at the end of my last name instead of a "T" ONE !@#$%^* letter, it didn't say Smith, Jones or balibbuai, every thing was correct and this genius it so moronic he could not figure it out.

The moral of the story is that people in this country routinely hire employees that are not competent and don't know how to do their job. If I have to stop at Rite Aid, Walgreens or Longs I have to incorporate and additional 10-15 minutes more than the time expected to run in grab gum or some allergy medication. This is a result of inexcusable mistakes due to incompetence or method of instruction. Yea, new employees but they are learning. Judging by the rest of employees they are probably learning wrong or not being exposed all necessary information upon being instructed. The rub of it is, we, myself included as I just did for two pages need somebody to blame and somebody to persecute when thing are done wrong to us. Hence, how I treated the bountiful cashier French/Argentinean worker. Everyone may claim moral righteousness and claim they would not do what I did. That is fine if you shit don't stink more power to ya. If your SUV is in the way of an ambulance don't move and continue to talk on your cell phone. If your kid really is mediocre at best, pay a little more to "support" the team, by him all the best equipment have your husband be a coach. The bottom line here is I don't care for what you could have done (obvious example of stupid law violation - Counterfactuals) I care about what I did and looking back on it I can see how and why I should be more conscientious and thoughtful about how I am going to react.

This was an interesting posting…kind of feels like a memoir. Please send me comments!
Unedited

A Different Perspective Perhaps

2007-04-24T04:12:00.000-07:00

There are those of us that walk with faith and those of us that don't, consider what you love. Today, I discuss the wonderment of Love and how dismal of state our perceptions of it are. I cannot and will not attempt to define it any further than stating, "it is a good thing" In my understanding, which is developed through experience, I consider love and the harmony and power that may come from it, has less value today than in the past. I hold a position such that I try my best to avoid saying things like "I love xxx" if it is not something that I actually love. My most misserable attempts at abiding by my own standards are obvious. If you have ever watched a Major League Baseball game with me, and in particular the Oakland A's, you will see this to be true.

I love the A's. I love Rickey Henderson, I love the Oakland Colesium, I love stadium dogs, I love the bleachers, and I just love love love the Oakland A's. Well, do I really love them? Yes, the A's bring me epic propotions of happiness, yes my childhood was much more pleasant as long as the A's were brought into the picture and yes, believe it or not when I was in some of my darkest moments, the A's helped me through them. So, if a person filled all these rolls in your life wouldn't you chalk them up as a gift from St. Valentine?

Honestly, the degree by which I have affection for the A's on extends to the boundries of a fantic.
It is a much overlooked and unspoken reality but; in America we absue the word love and in connotation reduce it to trival things in our lives. Ever heard a person say "I loved that Burrito, I love that store, I love my new shoes"? Has the Greatest of all God's gift been reduced to how you feel about a burrito? Umm... Yea, something is not right there. In my generation, I feel the overuse of the word love in America has left young children, adolescents and young adults down a squirley road that is paved with ambiguity.

Due to, but not limited to, the age of instant information retrieval and a constantly modulating social paradigm, familes are less nuclear, kids spend far-less time with Dad playing catch at the yard or mom walking the dog and far-more time with Cheetoes and videogames in front of them. ( I have that cited somewhere) Women are much more accepted in the work place and suddenly when mom has to work late and dad has to work late and Junior's bed time is 8:00, Junior will go to bed that night having said "I love these Cheetoes" and "I love this video game' several times and when mom and dad get home he is sound a sleep and they are tired and Juninor never said I love you to his parents. This doesn't happen once this happens every morning and evening. From the time Junior is dropped off at daycare at 7:00am to the time his parents come home, there will be disconnection.

What in God's name are you supposed to think love is if this is the enviroment you are getting socialzed into? Unless, there are some fortunate circumstances Junior will undoubtely develop some malady as a result of too many Cheetoes, his parents will be lucrative but yet detached. When Junior enters 9th grade, his parents will split and divorce proceedings will be done by the end of his sophomore year.

How do you think Junior will perceive, understand or embrace Love?

Junior's story is not uncommon, this is the reality of middle class America. I would rather be loved by my family in the roughest neighborhood than live under a vail of ignorance and neglect right next to the Jones's. I hope I compelled just one person to be conscious of claiming that they love something when it is of material valued. Adults have their form of video games and Cheetoes too. It is called football games and beers.

Many of you will not agree with my position in this posting, I encourage you to give me feedback and perhaps a diolgue can be established.

Not edited upon publication

Stupid Law Resurrection

2007-04-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

Please feel free to suggest additions to the list. This is a list of ignorant, misinformed, hypocritical, language abusing, events and actions that I strive to avoid. My sister and I were in Penn. and driving a long distance and we saw many ridiculous things. So, I appropriately named there things, the Stupid Law when I was about 12. The Stupid Law is self-evident. If you cannot understand the title consider yourself in violation of the Stupid Law.

Enjoy my rant. Don't let me catch you saying or doing these things because I will and upon further investigation, see to it that the conversation will end in "What a moronic thing to do" :)

PLEASE think before you pop off at me! Doing something moronic does not mean that you yourself are moronic. But if you think it does perhaps you are!

Driving slow in the far left lane --Need I repeat myself "MORONIC" of epic proportions. Move over Rover you making everyone go slower. You're causing several hazardous situations to occur and you are violating the vehicle code, unlike I did yesterday. First off, by not moving over you are breaking the Basic Speed Law which states that you are in violation if you are not keeping up with the steady flow of traffic. If the steady flow is 80 and you are going 70 you should be issued a ticket. Secondly, you create a situation where EVERYONE has to switch to another lane while slower traffic is flowing, which is dangerous, and you also make so if I want to get pass you on the right, which is not recommended because it is dangerous. Let me determine my own rate of speed if I break the law and go over the speed limit then I should get a ticket too. It is MY decision to make, you have no right to make me put myself and whoever is in the car into a dangerous situation. You got three lanes to choose from to go as fast as you are going.

Driving with parking lights ---Illegal, shockingly common and absolutely oblivious.

Making bran muffins with nuts-- Unnecessary

Using your directions signal WHILE you turn --- Moronic

Unaddicted -- The word addicted means you inherently unable to not be. I don't drink but I am certainly still addicted to alcohol.

Quality Control --- Tell me who has controlled you with any sort of quality

Tailing somebody while in traffic ---moronic, self-serving and just plain useless

Justice System --You all know this one wed have a legal system and not a justice system.

Campaign Finance Reform --You gotta love legislating your own do's and don'ts

"Devastated" Gun Shop owner. [YOU SELL GUNS GUY, THEY KILL PEOPLE]

Counterfactuals --- It is useless to have method of analysis that examines what the facts could have been. --- Sleazy

Political Correctness ---Show me a definition of political before you tell me to be politically correct

Mental stability ---Show me a person who mentally stable? Oh and if you think you are flawless, that is unstable condition and characterized as megalomania.

Affirmative Action ---Affirmative means asserting the validity or fact of something. Ok, I can accept that, real helpful choice of "action", creating segregation because there was segregation, brilliant. ---Despairingly moronic.

Legendary Criminal. Really, why give somebody who killed 10 people the title of Legendary. Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb now were talking Legendary. ---Non-sensible and spooky

Wicked (used as an adjective for describing something good)
Nothing is "Wicked" awesome or good. It just does not make sense. Hello, would you say, "that is an evilly good donation that you made to the Salvation Army"? Evilly is a word so don't get brave and try to tell otherwise.

Rightness --- Exist only in our minds cannot be proven as fact, prove it to me otherwise. Answer the following "Why is it bad to punt Baxter onto the freeway? (Baxter is dog)

Wrongness -- The dichotomy of above.

Disbelief --hello to be in disbelief you are establishing a belief as to weather some has or has not occurred
One of the most common mistakes -- gets a pass on moronic status

Believing that because you cannot do something it cannot be done. ---stupid, foolish, moronic and lazy

Believing that because you don't see something it does not exist -- See above

Internet Security --- Your so called security programs have a function to map your whole hard-drive. That's right it is like having your own security guard decide to kick you ass

General specifics --- MY GOD, Solve the puzzle!

Disrespect -- By claiming somebody is being disrespectful, you inherently and immediately contradicts yourself.

According to how disrespect is defined, disrespect is -to not regard or treat without respect; treat with contempt or rudeness. This is an understandable mistake, nobody teaches you otherwise. Only half-way moronic
Pre-Preparation ---Just start running if your boss says this to you!

Not Keeping Score -- This is what they do in little kids soccer matched now. I could rant on this for pages. It basically boils down to not wanting kids and parents to feel like losers. Well kids, you will lose and some of you will be losers at times through your life. Perhaps, the spoiling of kids, and misdirecting them to things that are unrealistic all through grade school, explains why there is an entire generation of people who feel entitled to material things.

When I was growing up they called someone like that a brat.

2nd mother, 2nd father (now that would be tricky) Take 9th grade biology again pal!

Practice makes perfect -- HELLO, is you practice poorly you will perform poorly, PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT.

Sugar candy --Why put the ingredient in front the name? Nobody says Yeast Bread

Decaffeinated Coffee (which really has caffeine) Lies from the pit of hell, don't believe it

Is it Boned or Deboned--- how about with or without bones?

Easy hole in one --Go golfing!

Non-Alcoholic Beer -- same as decaf coffee

Unanswered Prayers --Get with it, answers you don't like do not mean that they are not answers.

Quiet Riot -- Riots by definition are going to produce noise genius.

Mid-West -- How is Ohio considered to be in the middle west of America? If there is a middle west in America, doesn't that mean there is a middle east? What is the deal here, naming places that are completely untrue to their geography? The Sf Oakland Bay Area is NOT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA go look at a map there roughly 600+ miles from here to Oregon. The city of Eureka is in norther California---

Friendly Skies ---Brilliant --- But please show me the different skies you are talking about. There is one sky. Because you fly over many countries does not mean the sky is different. Up is up, and you need look up and realize there is one sky

Altruism ---There is always a motive or agenda that is self-serving, even if feeling good is the benefit you receive. Wanting to feel good is your motivating factor and don't argue with me on this. All things are done with a certain self-serving result.

Driving in the Car Pool lane when you don't have the required number of people. What makes you so special pal.? Why does that lane exists anyway they are hardly able to enforce that laws of it. YAY, the 18th Amendment taught us that was ok until it was repealed of course. Any chance of repealing the car pool lane? As good as the chances of me playing in the World Series this year

Off-White? To me this suggests there is an on-white. When something is white we don't say on-white and if something is not white it shouldn't be called off-white. It should be stated as another color all together.

Right On --When I don't do something well or desirable to another, am I left on, south on or west on. Lame

Stop signs on closed gates --- Does the gate mean anything to you. If that sign wasn't there would you just floor it and bust through? Futile and lame

Pressing the elevator button after it has been pressed.--Pressing the elevator button after it has been pressed and doing the same thing at the cross walk, does not make it go faster.

Suggested plan of action for an elevator incident. If you are assuming the button was already pressed and find yourself waiting a long time it probably wasn't pressed If there are a lot of people there and the light is not illuminated and the elevator is not moving just say "has somebody pressed the button yet?" and if the light is on, and see the elevator coming your direction, just shut-up and wait. Nobody wants to know that you had scurvy.

Saying "THE" before the proper name of a freeway. Do you go down to THE Santa Maria Street?
What is your favorite song? Oh THE I Want to Hold your Hand, by the Beatles. Don't get brave and say "the" Star Spangled Banner. "The" is part of the proper name in that cased. When needing to assert the name of a band, as I did above "the" is acceptable because finalizes the predicate. "The 405", is wrong because "405" is not a proper name unless it is asserted as the Interstate 405.

Calling all tissue Kleenex even when its not. Kleenex is a brand name. Not all tissues are made by Kleenex

Putting on your blinker two turn right but end up turning left. ---Possible DUI in your future, dangerous as all hell and moronic

Driving for miles with your blinker on -- You are ABSOLUTELY Oblivious of what your are doing. Dangerous, oblivious, moronic.

Saying "I didn't do it once" when defending yourself -- Most of the time you're right. you didn't do what you are accused of "just once" -- Not understanding the meaning of you are saying is a problem. Solve the puzzle. --lazy and stupid

Saying "They" before stating a fact. Who is they? They say that president party usually loses seats in the House of Representatives after mid-term elections OK, who is they? They are Political Science scholars, such as David Mayhew.
If you are not prepared to tell someone who "they" are, you should probably not be saying the statement. That is how smoke is created and blown up arses.

I see what you are saying. What is that you see? You have comprehended the words and can envision what it may look like but you certainly cannot see that which spoken.

Not believing in God, any God or that a God exists. Please explain to me how the earth ended up where it is in our solar system and the universe.

Hot dogs -- Every other meat you eat gets smaller when you cook it. When you cook a hot dog it gets bigger. That isn't right

Gambling -- Take a probability course before you talk to me. I'll bet you will lose in your next bet.

Celebrating 2nd place. I don't care what it is you did to finish in 2nd place. The bottom-line is it that 2nd place is the first loser. --- Achieve your Goal next time before you praise yourself. ----Delusional

Hopelessly hoping --Naturally, if you are indeed hopeless you cannot hope for hope because you don't have any hope, you are hopeless. Nobody says loveless love? --- Stupid - not moronic but stupid because you had the chance to know better.

Falling Rain - Redundant - The fact that it is raining, obviously means it is falling from the sky.

Believing that Truth and Fact are the same thing. Dictionary will tell you that "an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude" is an appropriate definition. It is a certain fact that the definition is untrue.

Please note that facts can and will obscure the Truth. Follow the link below and ask toomanycds what is up with that.

http://toomanycds.blogspot.com/-- Can break it down more in much more detail.

The spelling of "Colonel" -- Probably from the french but why the heck do you get at a word pronounced Kern-ol without the "r" in it?

China-Buffet -Huh?

Jimmy Buffet but China Buff-ay ---Any insight here would be helpful?

Calling Pizza an Italian food ---Yea, right, and fried chicken with biscuits and gravy is Mexican food

Setting goals but being unwilling to do what is necessary to achieve them ---Grow up, this is not the soccer game that has no score anymore, what you do matters. If you want to do something like call a friend, do you try to do it without getting your phone?

Road signs that say "Eat Here, Get Gas" No thank you!

Curry Donut --- Huh? There is a placed named Curry Donut. This will always be one the greatest enigmas in my life.

Double Parking -- How do you double park with one car and one space?

Time can heal everything -- I doubt it, covering up the pain is what time does. Covering up emotional wounds does not heal them. Forgiveness and acceptance are what you are looking for.

Keeping a spare car key in or under your car. --- Oh shoot I locked my keys in the car. Ooh, I have a key in a space hanging down from a hook like thing under my car let me get it. Oh great, problem solved and then you go back home and put back right where it was so anybody who saw you can access it. I will not explain this next issue any further, DON'T PUT YOUR SPARE KEY IN THE GLOVE BOX!--- SHOCKING.

Non-invasive surgery --- Oh Right, Let me cut into your skin and expose your flesh non-invasively. Just because it not as as invasive as others, does not mean that it isn't invasive at all?

Delete --- Ok PC users when you delete something you really don't delete it. You just take it out of site. Give me 10 minutes with your PC and I will find all your dirty little secrets. Ha ha ha ha (mad scientist laughing outloud)

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

We have a term for saying stupid things it is called an idiom. Hmm idiom.... idiot coincidence?

Buy X get Y for FREE --- HELLO, you just bought 2 different things.

There are no stupid questions -- This is yet another way to blow smoke up someones ass. The purpose is to not have people feel bad about themselves. If you are told there are no stupid questions, before during or after you ask it, you probably are going to to ask one, if you have not already done so. For example, when in math class studying Cartesian Products, don't raise your hand and ask "How come they named it Cartesian when the person it was named after was Descartes why is there no "D"? That is a stupid question for that situations. ALSO --Note the usage of "they" That is a REALLY stupid question.

Pointing out the obvious. PLEASE, when I am listen to the A's game, which you can hear, don't tell what the last batter did in his at bat. After I trip and fall don't tell me "Be careful you trip and fall"

In Response to the Critics

2007-04-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

Now, onto a completely different but yet important topic

It seems that there has been some animosity displayed by several bloggers, of whom I don't know, as a result of my response to "it just isn't right". Unfortunately, I choose not to post them as comments because there is foul language and I just don't want to display things that are personalized to the point of attacking my character. So, if you read this you will find my response to your comments.

I was told "I am un-American" "people like me are the reason that things like V-tech happen" "I am a disrespectful person and should be ashamed to call myself and American".

Men and Women I choose not respond by attacking your character, opinions or way of life. Rather, I would like to defend myself against your claims. It does not behoove me to attempt character assassinations when I don't even know you.

If being un-American means not looking at violence as a means of conflict resolution, then I am un-American. If exposing others and myself to the uncomfortable realities in this country, then I am un-American. If the things I had to say compelled you to respond by personally attacking me, getting defensive and establishing a dialogue centered on negativity, then I am un-American. My principles are established in what I read, what I am told that is true or false, what other people tell me or any other external influences. At one time in my life they most certainly were, but now they are not. I am influenced by God, virtue either extrinsic or intrinsic and by the condition of my spirit. When my spirit is peaceful, I am able to be responsive respectful and stoic. How I feel inside and the condition of my spirit are not the same. My spirit does not experience sadness and hopelessness but my heart certainly does.

I challenge anybody from jail to Yale to convince me that they can identify the reasons why the V Tech shooting occurred. Explanations like "The shooter was mentally unstable" "The shooter was a loaner" "He wrote stories about pedophilia and murder" while important are vague, undisruptive and lack formidable substance. If you can get underneath the generalized statements and provide some qualitative or quantitative driven explanations then I will be interested.

"I think therefore I am" It was lovely of Renee Descartes to establish this line of reasoning. Along the lines of our friend Descartes allow me to say I think therefore I am NOT the reason why the shootings happened. All I know is that I was not there and that is all I can speak to. If you don't believe me, I got about 38 attorneys to convince you otherwise. J

Despite the overwhelming evidence that suggests to the contrary, I am proud to call myself an American. I am proud to be an Oakland A's fan, Golden State Warriors fan, and a Markwart. It is in no way imperative that I must agree; align with march to the beat of anybody's drum just because I am proud to represent them. My allegiance and pride is predicated on preservation of heritage and tradition. I support the preservation o cultural, familial and community oriented tradition ONLY when maintaining such traditions adversely affect other groups or individuals in society. For example, attached to the 2nd amendment carries with it a sense of tradition however, when guns are consistently falling into the hands of the malicious and homicide due to guns is the highest in the world it is surely time to reconsider the amendment and the traditions that are attached.

I most definitely agree. I am certainly disrespectful. As long as you define disrespect of lack of courteousness or esteem and as long as your believe that exposing people to the grimly realities and logical proof of impropriety by the masses or by one's self. It is always funny to me disrespect means lacking courteousness and esteem and yet if one tell somebody they are disrespectful, one is automatically contradicting them self, as telling somebody they lack courteousness and don't show or others the proper esteem is by definition disrespectful. Ah, what wonderful world inherent incongruities and self-defacing tautologies.

How to talk yourself out of a ticket

2007-04-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

Hmm, today thus far, I am generally in an undespairing way. Keeping myself sheltered and closed off facilitates such a state of being. I generally meander around my office and speak to certain friends with little to no regard as to what I am saying have any meaningful substance. I often diatribe about what I believe to be the reasons for why this society and world is at the end of its rope and in dire need of a massive knot, perhaps of the Gordian variety. So, indifference for me is a good place to be. Genuinally happy, cheerful and optimistic seems unattainable. Such a perpetual state being would require one to create a illusionary reality which ignores the global lack of humanity and the plenteousness of exploitation. Creating such a marvelous reality without such calamities does not behoove me. Thus, I seek to show gratitude for my blessings and something more substantial than depraved indifference. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't. Today, thus far, I have succeeded. Work is not bad, the quality of air is atrocious, the noise level acceptable (other than when the bloody train roll by office) and the weather is cold with a dash of Seattle on the side as garnish and the A's play tonight. On a positive/negative scale where 10 is overly excited something like the girls during Beatle Mania, and 0 is in the ICU getting charcoal shoved down my nose and throat, I would have say I am nicely at a 5 with propensity toward 6. The A's game cancels out the bad air outside, and the fact that tomorrow is Friday cancels out the bad whether.

Hmm. What ever shall I muse about today? Musings are fun. They give me the false impression that what I have to say actually matters and that people will actually read it.

How my Started --- the Logical CHP officer

So, after waking and preparing myself for a full day of work, I hopped on the freeway, which I must had makes me feel anything but free, I digress. After displaying good patience through traffic and moronic drivers I stopped, as I do every day, at the 76 station just before my exit. The mini-mart (anyone know how Market got turn in "mart") gas station is on the left of a twoway road with an island separating the two directions. It is unlawful to do a U-turn there so I usually turn right on the cross street and turn around to catch the light and turn left on to make the 76 mart accessible. Low and behold A CHP officer was out of my view but I was in his.

You see, when I turned around I did a broad U-turn into a large driveway enteranc where the Sheraton was on the left and a Lyons restaurant on the right. There was NO sign indicating one could not turn left into the driveway. So, it seemed reasonable for me to turn left into the drive not park and then exit the driveway. Well the lawman decided to join me at the 76 station and we chatted.

He says "you know why I asked you to pull over" Having intimate experience with officers of the law, I knew that how I answered this question and the demeanor I displayed would make or break my chances of escaping unscathed. I replied in a respectful manner and said "Well, officer I don't believe that I broke any laws in so far as speeding or recklessness and I am certainly positive that I am not drunk, perhaps you are concerned with how I turned around on the other street?" Surprisingly, "he said yes I am going to have to write you a ticket for violating the vehicle code's u-turn policy" Again, respectfully, "I said sir, I understand that you are doing job and now I am aware that I violated the vehicle code, if writing a ticket is what you choose to do I will accept that and be on with my day. May I however, have a chance at defending myself? If you think I am saying anything stupid or disrespectful just shut me up and write the ticket " He replies "Well my better judgment tells me I should say no, but you have been polite and courteous, what is it you would like to say?" I said thank you and continued…

" I asked him, (no joke) if a tree is in and it falls does it make a sound?" He said "What" I said, "bear with me a sec" Sir, it is my understanding that vehicle code was written and is amended with the intention of providing those who travel by car with a set of guidelines in which they must follow to retain their driving privileges more importantly to provide conditions that are safe for everybody. When I did my U-turn there was not one car within 500 yards from me never the less one traveling in the same direction. If the purpose of the law is to avoid harm to drivers and passengers and provide safety for all, wouldn't one have to violate the code and a result place others in harms way? If the mere act of violating the vehicle code as it is written does not comply with the intentions and purpose of establishing such a code, how is it just to punish someone when the actual affects of what they did were consistent with the purpose of the code? "
A moment passed and he stood there somewhat befuddled. I chimed in again, basically sir does it make sense to establish a law with the principle being for safety to all people on the road and then enforce it when a person abides by the principle but not by language? " No kidding, the officer said to me "You are the first person to convince me not to write them a ticket in spite of being in violation of law." He wished me a good day and I wished him a safe one and said thank you. While finishing up my trip to work, I started to think about law school in a different way. More importantly, I started thinking about God differently.

In Response to "It just ain't right"

2007-04-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

Ah, yes, you will be correct to note that, my previous blog posting has no reference to myself grieving or mourning over the events that took place this week at Virginia Tech. My goal, which may or may not have been attained was to speak to the elegance of what was said and how it was said. With aknowledgment given to how in a world of structurally unshaped emotion there seem to be few people who can give symmetry to emotion like that of Nikki Giovanni. As stated, she had spoken with tremendous elegance. Elegance does not imply meaninfullness. I have a certain reverence for those who are able to use the language in such a way. I claim no correctness to the substance, purpose or intentions of the event or the words that were spoken.

By going to http://toomanycds.blogspot.com and reading"something just ain't right" you may find that your convictions are in need of realignment. The author, who happens to be my sister clearly establishes a position that many would consider antagonistic or outright wrong. Let me first discredit such positions with two factual statements. The burden of feeling antagonized does not fall on the person who is claimed to be the reason for such feelings. It is not the case that anybody but oneself can be liable for one's feelings or reaction to feelings. How a person feels is a function of that person and nobody else. Secondly, unless you are some sort of closet genius, you will not convince an educated person that anything is outright wrong or right.

If you would like to take that issue to hand feel free to comment but prior to commenting tell me how and why Punting Baxter into the free is inherently wrong.

I like my sister before me, digress.

The issue at hand is one of superficiality, self-indulgence, narcissism, and an unspoken doctrine of perceived empathy and mourning. I have to agree with Toomanycds, I honestly don't feel compelled, obligated or permitted to grieve or mourn as a result of the unfortunate circumstances on the Virginia Tech campus. This country has put on a veil of ignorance and a coat of willful ignorance. We have convinced ourselves that grieving with someone or for someone is somehow beneficial to them and respectful. It does not seem to matter how far removed a person is from an event of horrific proportions people want to be part of whatever consequences came out of it. Raise your hand if you would have held the door, complimented, help pick up dropped books, or even smile at any one person of the 32 that are dead. If you can honestly say that you do with any degree of consistency I salute you and admire you. I would also like you to come here and give me a big fat grin, as my day has been challenging. If you are part of the other 98.9% of people in this society I implore upon you to put down your tissue, wipe your tears, turn off your 24 hour news station, close your browser open to the interactive walk through of the shootings and ask yourself if your "grieving" and "Mourning" process is more helpful to you or to those you claim to mourn for or with.

Has it ever occurred to you (the reader) that while we are claiming that we mourn with or for the victims of such malice or disregard for human life, we are also telling our friends, co-workers and loved ones "I am sure glad that didn't happen here" "Thank God that didn't happen to you" "Good thing you didn't decide to go to V-Tech like you originally wanted to" These are actually statements I heard being said from people. Am I missing something here? Are you people telling me you are sad and concerned for the victims and then taking marvel in the fact you were not involved? Please, piss on me and then tell me it is raining. This is at the very heart of the problem. Toomanycds had it right yet again, this is RAPING the victim. I think that if you are this very type of shameless American, you should ask yourself, what do I think characterizes virtue? I am sure the marveling in other people's misfortune is not one of them. Am I surprised by this display of calamity? Absolutely not, the people in this country find entertainment, humor and satisfaction in viewing the misfortune of others. All you need to do to prove this is glance at the national TV ranking; all reality tv shows that have the purpose of exploiting others are among the most watched.

Again, I digress

The events of 9/11, Oklahoma City, plane crashes, car accident cancer victims and more are all treated with this same ignorant and self-indulging approach. It is shocking that all it took for this country to feel better after 9/11 was tiny man standing on a heap of rubble with a megaphone to profess vengeance upon those who did this. With sadness and loathing taking up the all the space and suffocating us, the notion of inflicting more damage and dismay made us feel better? How about suggesting that those who are able to, come from all over to pray, hold, cry, listen and talk to those who were most deeply affected? Open your hearts and minds people, unless you actively and consciously critically evaluate yourself and others you will end up being of the 98.9% of people which I speak of. You are not so special or powerful, sitting in front of your Tele-delusion or navigating through your interactive web browser has zero effect on the victims who mourn their loss. I heard on the Abc news last night that the owner of the Gun shop was "devastated" by the fact the guns were purchased at his store. Are @#$^%& kidding me? Mr., YOU SELL GUNS FOR A LIVING AND GUNS KILL PEOPLE get a grip on reality! I hardly doubt his feeling "devastated" motivated him to call Chucky Heston up and cancer his life long membership to the NRAA. This world we live in and the world the masses choose to accept.

Naturally it would not behoove me to state such things as stated here, unless I tell you where my convictions are and what I do. There is no long elaborate description here. I pray and retain God's most precious gifts Faith Hope and Love.

It must be noted toomanycds is far nicer, elegant and compassionate person than myself. She says Sorry to V-Tech for we have let you down. I say sorry V-Tech, but you would do the same thing to us. Forgive us lord for we know not what we do.

Sister -- for one with such a standard for the correct use of the language I cannot help but point out the "Ain't" in your title :)

Unedited

So Softly Spoken -- So Profoundly Said

2007-04-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

Spoken today by Nikki Giovanni at the memorial ceremony dedicated to those who have fallen as a result of the April 16, 2007 shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech University.

"Like many, I watched the Virginia Tech Convocation today. This is what I heard: Representatives from some of the world's major religions spoke. Islam -- I was not comforted, just uncomfortable at the fatalism. Buddhism -- the words of the Dalai Lama were good. Judaism -- reciting Ecclesiastes... "there is a time for mourning and a time to be comforted"... this was good, until it came to the part "there is a time to make war"... no comfort there. Generic Christianity... this was ok. At this point a man in the second row behind the President broke down unconsolably. The President reached back to put a supporting hand on the man... that was good. The Dean of Students spoke, the head of the Mental Health counselling services spoke... There was an emptiness, shock, horror... a terrible bewilderment, bereavement loss, and despair...
Until the poet Nikki Giovanni spoke... this is what she said. At the end the auditorium rose to its feet to applaud her, to applaud Virginia Tech, and the room was filled with "Let's Go, Hokies"

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/17/164317/173

We Are Virginia Tech

We are Virginia Tech

We are sad today And we will be sad for quite a while

We are not moving on

We are embracing our mourning

We are Virginia Tech

We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly

We are brave enough to bend to cry and sad enough to know we must laugh again

We are Virginia Tech

We do not understand this tragedy

We know we did nothing to deserve it

But neither does a child in Africa dying of aids

Neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by a rogue army

Neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated for ivory

Neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water

Neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of night in his crib in the home its father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destablized No one deserves a tragedy

We are Virginia Tech

The Hokie nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds

We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid

We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be

We are alive to the imagination and the possibility We will continue to invent the future Through our blood and tears

Through all this sadness

We are the Hokies

We will prevail

We are Virginia Tech "

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Spoken with the heart of lion and the presence of an angel. Sometimes the words from those who born into a culture of pain take on an intrinsic value that seems to exists separately from the world as we understand it. Such words and the gracefulness by which they are spoken and organized exist with the same beauty without our needing to understand them. They just are, suspended in what we all seek in life, goodness and inspiration and satisfaction.

If emotional pain was a shape would it be symmetrical? Emotional pain and grieving embraced all of us differently. Some of us run from it, some of us cover it up with substances or with work, some of us allow it to take over us and render us incapacitated, few of us can make our obtuse sorrow symmetrical sadness. Words spoken by Nikki Giovani and others who have the gift of symmetry enable us to be square, hurting on one side and accepting on the other. The dichotomy creates perspective and a sense of peace. While we cannot not accomplish the complete removal of pain, we can accomplish a balance of that which is not painful. It seems that such sages as Giovanni give us what we cannot have courage under fire, principles without discpline, stability without sturdiness and Love when all that seems to be there is hate and sadness. Freedom of the soul and peacefullness of mind are hard to come in this world. Emotional symmetry allows us to mourn and to forgive. Thank you Nikki Giovanni my symmetry has been restored. Thank you God.

Why (That is not a question, do you see a question mark?)

2007-04-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Knock, knock, who's there? Life.

I can see that some of the flowers are alive and some of the flowers are dead on the plant outside my window. The glaring distribution of dead rather than alive is what has got me thinking. In the wake of yet another tragic event of epic proportions, I find myself in a daze of confusion. Today, April 16, 2007 will be the day etched into the memories and hearts of Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, loved ones, associates and colleagues of those who were slain at Virginia Tech University.

By the grace of God there goes I. The feelings are similar. Anger, resentment, sadness, rage, pity and puzzlement run through the labyrinth of my mind and heart ferociously seeking a way to get out. I am standing in the middle of the street while everything passes me by leaving behind beautiful trails of light. This is my world, not yours, mine. Tonight with little anticipation necessary there will be 24-hour coverage from Virginia. The facts will be heavily distorted; interviews from those who were there will be closely monitored, edited, and pieced together in order to fit within whatever the scope of misinformation has been chosen to be. This will undoubtedly stir the hives of state, local, and federal policy makers. The next week maybe the month will be inundated with rhetoric of the legal, ethical, philosophical and moral variety. Just like the emotions in my head all the rhetoric will be seeking for something better. Consequently and again similar to the emotions in my head they will tire out and fall short of their goal only to ultimately end up being labeled, "to be dealt with later". They will be neatly packaged with a "Fragile" sticker slapped on the side then stored underneath "broken relationships" and right next to "doesn't directly involve me".

Somebody recently I asked me "why do you always ask me "why"?" After choosing not acknowledge the questionable grammar and other teleological aspects of the question. I simply replied, "I want to know the reasons why things are done or happen the way they do, isn't that important?" Well, unsurprisingly, the Socratic method was unacknowledged and instead of foolishly agreeing, this person, foolishly disagreed. In an effort to keep from spontaneously combusting, I had to step outside of the conversation and think about this as if this person really didn't know better. Upon reemergence into the conversation, I was happy to see the subject had been changed. However, my wheels were working and my workers were building a new labyrinth for my thoughts to try, in futility, to escape.

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I like to think that at some point in time the reason behind why something is or was a certain way was of paramount importance in this society. Currently, the most popular answers to questions that start with "Why" seem to be "because I feel/felt like it" "because that's is what I was told" "because, just because" "because, it cannot be done" among other equally unsubstantiated responses. [NOTE TO SELF : Don't start sentences with "because"] Answers similar to those stated above specifically avoid the intended purpose of the question. I am pleading with somebody to explain to me what is so hard about explaining the reasons associated with a chosen course of action? It seems that we are quick to pass judgment on others when they seem to have an incoherent or faulty methods of reasoning yet, we are unwilling to provide one of any substance when asked to do so ourselves.

The importance of acknowledging and understanding why a person may feel the way they feel or do the things they do is in many cases more important than what is actually being done or perceived. If you feel cheated, lied to, or harmed, how you feel and what you as a result is going to be different than if you feel like you felt that you were treated fairly, politely and honestly. It is inappropriate to target somebody for the actions they commit unless it has been made clear that their reasons for doing such actions are indeed unreasonable and fallible. The motivation, line of reasoning or understanding of what is perceived to be factual is what determines the state of affairs in everything, is it not? When solving crimes, detectives always look to establish motive. If "why" is important in solving crimes and understanding judicial propriety why is it so challenging for society to accept?

I cannot be moved to believe that members of society do not accept responsibility for the reasons why they do things. Rather, I believe they ignore the responsibility to accept things consistent with that which is considered reasonable. Providing a reason alone for any chosen course action does not imply reasonability, sensibility, or motivational accuracy. That is, if somebody asks me "why did you honk at that person in front of you?" and I respond by saying "Because the tip of my pencil broke at work today", surely I am providing a reason, but I am certainly not establishing reasonability or sensibility. Conversely, if that person had cut in front of me or if I felt as if they did not see me prior to them cutting in front of me then I may have a sensible and reasonable belief that honking would be a helpful course of action to choose.

Those whom are uncomfortable with them self or the reasons they have for doing the things they do, invariably create highly stylized schemes that mitigate the need for sensible and reasonable explanations as to why they do what they do. What is wrong with being wrong? Why is that the propensity to be incorrect about something or be perceived by others as incorrect overwhelmingly overrides the fundamental principles of ethics and rationality. It is the Yankee fan syndrome. When people don't have a professional baseball team in the state they reside and they don't have an allegiance to another team. they will invariably choose the team that is most successful in terms of wins and losses. Why? Simply put, people don't want to be known for supporting a team that is not successful because they fear they will appear to be like the team. Any explanations? Don't even bother asking them why they are Yankee fan, as you will be sky rocketed into the clouds with the smoke blown up your ass. All they have to say is "I am a Yankee fan because I am affraid others will think I am a loser if I am a Royals fan because the Royals are losers" at least that would be honest.

Responsibility -- A Lost Virtue

2007-04-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

From the time one is old enough to be cognitively aware of that which they are doing, the displacement of responsibility is etched into their brain. It is noted that kids need guidance while growing up and that responsibility is placed on the parents. However, parents will never be able prevent all the actions of their offspring from happening and thus should not be held 100% responsible unless it is determined that the child did not know what he or she was doing. The absolute need to place the blame on anybody but oneself in circumstances of misfortune is portrayed as favorable from the perspective of a kid. Consider how quickly a parent of a minor is to point the finger at somebody else when there child is acting out of line. You may think this is because she has some unsaid "motherly instinct" that drives her to protect and maintain constant vigilance. Here is an idea for the delusional, that mother is probably more concerned about herself than her child and what he or she actually did. That's right, I said it and I will say it again. Mom does not want to be responsible for not being able to manage her child while she talks on the phone and orders her frapachino, so she looks at the person who is patiently enduring the 10 year old nuisance and when he reacts to the child's antics she has a fit. Naturally, the child sees his actions as being approved of and the other person as being wrong. Realistically, if mom would have not been jawing away with some other mom in some other Starbucks with some other rude child she won't take responsibility for, then the situation would not have developed. It is a society built on misplaced responsibility from the local to the national level. Success in this country is defined not by what and why you do what you do but by who you mowed down, stole from, exploited or betrayed to give yourself the impression you have garnished "success". We are taught from an early age that the only things are responsible for the things that better us as an individual. The displacing of responsibility as a general, acceptable and practical means of conflict resolution has resulted in an environment where mistreatment and misinformation are the principles by which society operates. The desire for one to not be responsible for what they do has been legislated. The Workers Compensation Act evidences this. The Workers Compensation Act places the responsibility of another injury which rendered them unable able to perform their duties. It is the case that employers can be negligent and careless and therefore be liable for the injury that has been inflicted however, the scope of required employer compensation and liability extends beyond negligence. An individual can do something out of their job duties that is completely unsafe and unwise and The Workers Compensation Act still applies in its entirety and as a result responsibility is removed from the person who willfully and knowingly chose such a hazardous course of action. In principle the Workers Comp Act is reasonable, sensible and based on the notion of preserving the employees rights. In application, it often restricts the individual responsibility should take for being negligent to them self. I kindly offer one to show me any overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Momentary instances of what appears to be responsibility is not overwhelming evidence. If you can make a case that more responsibility is being taken now than ever before, please do.

To be continued ...

I am way to disenfranchised right now to edit this or complete it. If you got something to say, leave a comment.

Coming Down in the Rain

2007-04-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

Flipped into the windLike the ashes of her cigarette
He got scattered thrown on the breezeAs he tried to forget
He lost all his heatAnd his heart never will be the same
He got lighter than air
But he'll only come down in the rain

Strung out and hung out to dryLaughin' under the line
It's not such a dignified place
But he really don't mind
He says with his feet on the ground
He'd have nothin' to say
Claims he likes it up there
And he'll only come down in the rain
Comin' down in the rain

Washin' outta the sky
Loaded down with the pain
There just ain't no way to fly
You can read him as clearAs the wall
where he once wrote his name
It was right next to hers
But it'll only come down in the rain
Burnin' himself out on a limb
Like a leaf in the fall
He blazed for awhile
Now he's feelin' all dried up and small
The colors all gone
Disappeared, near as quick as it came
He says he can't stay up
But, he'll only come down in the rain

You can read him as clear as the wall
Where he once wrote his name
It was right next to hersBut he'll only come down in the rain

It is Not Just a Game

2007-04-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

With elusive speed, the sounds that echo a re-birth and a new life are emerging. Time to oil up the glove, throw in a chew, and lace up the spikes put on a cap and smell the air. Children begin to plead with their fathers to take them to the yard to get a few hacks in before the first practice. Marriages will be strained and friendships rekindled. Boys who are meek and weak will transform to confident, bold young men. For some, just 90 feet will bear a momentarily undistorted world; a world of utopian qualities. For others, the same 90 feet will bring despair and a year will pass until that despair can be fully lifted. The excitement of the first game makes gladiators and workhorses of average boys and men. Gloves replace pillows, Dr. Seuss gets put on the shelf until the pigskin comes out and stories of Mr. October, The Babe calling his shot, Shoeless Joe, The Splendid Splinter, The Mick, Hammering Hank, The cursed Cubs, Three Finger Brown, the ghastly Ty Cobb are told before bedtime. A peaceful, soothing and enchanting experience that is new every year is offered—Alas, the sound of settling. God has spoken; Baseball season is bestowed upon.

There will be elation and there will be devastation. Such a chance is certainly worth taking when the rights to the sandlot are at stake. The time spent in the in cage and at the tee will be extensive. Preparation is vital. One must come to yard with purpose, fortitude and confidence. The hurler will be bringing it low and away up and in, into the wheelhouse and with a high degree of certainty, in your ear. "HOTTTT DOGS HOTTT DOGS" shouts a familiar voice. Hopes will be set high for the hometown favorite. And when the last out is made on openning day the magic subsides, lights are turned out and the first peaceful sleep five months will be had.

Those of us who have played the game understand that the sole intended purpose of the human male form is to play baseball. Once that is taken away, it is like dying a thousand deaths . It is not just a game, it is a state of being.

Lightness and Darkness

2007-04-10T05:36:00.000-07:00

"God... Seperated the light from the darkness." Genisis 1:3 NIV

A university professor challenged his class by asking "Did God create everything?" A student raised his hand and said "Yes" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then he created evil too. And since our works define who we are then God is evil. The class became silent. Suddenly, another student raised his hand and asked, "Professor, does darkness exist? The responded "Yes." The student replied, "No sir, darkness does not exists. Darkness is just the absence of light. Light, we can study but not darkness in fact we can use Newton's prism to break the white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. But you cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present" Then the young man asked, "Sir, does evil exist?" Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course." To this, the student replied, "No, evil does not exists, sir, or least it does not exist unto itself. It is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness, a word that man has created to describe the absence of light. God did not created evil. It is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. Evil is like the cold that comes when there is not heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light" The professor in contemplation, sat down. This young student would go on later to bring the world to a whole new concept and understanding of itself with his theory special and general relativity. One may suggest that after the professor sat down he said "Way to go Eistein" and the term seems to have stuck ever since.

Why Spelling is Unimportant

2007-04-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too! Cna yuo raed tihs[i]?

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm.

I read this article once in The American Journal of Education, I cannot remember the name of the article exactly, but it was something to the affect of 'Why Spelling Doesn’t Matter. This article discusses how spelling has evolved into nothing more than a right of passage type of formality. A statistical study was done that measured the association(s) between comprehension ability to spell and verbal articulation. The goal of the study was to see if ability to spell and ability to be verbally articulate increased ability to comprehend.

Subjects were given paragraphs and short stories written with incorrect spelling, similar to what is written above. They were instructed to read the story and respond verbally. Responses and level of articulation were measured[1]. Next, subjects were given a 100 word spelling test and measured for accuracy. Lastly, subjects received a list 25 words some spelled right and some spell wrong and told to find the correct definition from a list of 50 correctly spell definitions. With comprehension accuracy a the dependent variable data was put into a multiple regression equation and tested for a significant relationship between verbal articulation score, spelling capability and words/definition test[2].

Results showed that there is no direct relationship between spelling and the ability to comprehend. Subjects who performed well on the spelling test had lower levels of understanding of definitions and the story. Those who spelled poorly had higher levels of comprehending the story of misspelled word and locating the correct definitions of misspelled words.

Personal Opinion -- Implications

Is this shocking to anybody? It only seems to make sense that the brain will use letter association rather than letter sequence as a mechanism for comprehension. I recently learned that the brain uses subconscious cues to determine reaction and understanding to stimulus. Hitting a baseball has been shown to be such a case. In order for a batter to hit a pitch the decision to swing or not swing has to be made prior to the ball being released by the pitcher. As a successful athlete who played baseball for 20 years I was puzzled when I first read this. So, I went to the source. I contacted the Author of the article I read and he and I discussed how it works. Motor control takes over at 150 milliseconds. Whether you are trying to foul a pitch off, go to the opposite field, up the middle or pull the ball, the cues given by the pitcher are subconsciously picked up on and the decision as to swing or not swing is made.

This is consistent with the spelling study. The decision is automatically made to know or not know what a word means in relationship to other words by subconsciously picking up on cues given by the letters associated with the actual word and the word around it. The phrase "I like pizza" can be easily comprehended if written "I lkei pzzia" despite an unconventional sequence of letters the correct letter are still processed and comprehension is attained. The implication of course is that the results cannot be replicated if the letter are not associated to words. I cannot comprehend the phrase "I pikoee izzrap" Naturally, there are no cues and associations that allow me to conclude what is being sated or written. S

Spelling is a formality, it is necessary only for appearance and presentation. This willfully ignorant society we live in makes us believe that we are underqualified, unintelligent and not particualrly bright.

Mommies and Daddies don't fret over bad grades on spelling tests. The study described above indicates that as long as the correct letters are there for the reader to see, the chances that the comprehension is being attained seem pretty good. Emphasis should be placed on what the word means and the context in which it can be used, rather than how to spell it.

Alas, I have overcome my youth when kids and teachers would call me "not too smart", "bad speller" and tell me "only some kids go to college" Here is to my lack of ability to spell. Spelling is a formality, it is necessary only for appearance and presentation. At a young age, this willfully ignorant society we live in makes us believe that we are under qualified, unintelligent and scholastically disadvantaged if we are poor spellers. Like many conceptions and perceptions developed by the masses and influenced by uniformed white men in suits, such a belief could not be further removed from reality.

If you are young and you are reading this, you can go to college, you are intelligent and you can accomplish scholarly success[3].

[1] Level of articulation is measured on a 0-10 scare that accounts for: fluidity, response time, and sophistication of words, consistency and story comprehension. A well articulated response that has nothing to do with the story is measured no higher than a 5, as importance is emphasized on comprehension in the measurement index formula.
[2] A multiple regression equation is a sophisticated statistical model that describes the relationship between a dependent variable and more than one independent variable. If the observed association is linear, results are tested for statistical significance. Statistical significance scores provide validity and verifiability as to the whether the observed values that resulted from the multiple regression analysis is random or data specific.
[3] For those of us who are pessimistic and hyper-critical the author understand that this statement is true when all other things are controlled for including but not limited to demographics and affluence.
[i] Special thanks to Bridgette who inspired this blogg!

For further discussion, please feel free to email me!

mailto: mailto: Discombloggulation@gmail.com

I generally strive to be grammatically correct but I usually don't edit my writings. I understand that this is does not make sense but it is what it is. Please inform me if you find grammatical mistakes!

The Cave the Rain and Sunshine

2007-04-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

The cave, the rain and the sunshine*

It is in no way inconspicuous that a life endures a great deal of trepidation. The emotional and physical experiences that a person is forced to cope with are of the vexatious and debilitating variety. How one chooses to cope with such unfortunate maladies can have a nocuous and incessant affect on an individual’s quality of life. When circumstances of this nature emerge it is my opinion that we will always be faced with three possible outcomes. In an effort to become clearer I will use an analogy of my own to substantiate my claim.

A situation of minor or epic consequences leaves one facing a dark and endless cave, a windy and rainy path to walk or a wondrous day of sunshine. Because one lacks anything to control over the fate it is often the case that the only two that you have an option to take are the cave or the cold rainy road. There are two ways to view this dilemma. One could find what appears to be good reason to stay in the cave until the rain clears or, one can trudge and toil through the rain knowing that there must be sunshine if there is rain. It is far to often that the former is taken rather than the latter.

By staying in the darkness of the cave one absolutely stays dry and may actually be presented the opportunity to walk out. If the commitment to residing in the cave is of the hopeless classification then the person is seldom given the chance to leave the cave and thus, become confined to darkness. When the opportunity is presented to leave the cave one may find that they are elated by the sunshine and their decision to stay in the darkness. There will be no immediate circumstances presented that may be problematic. As a result, one will establish a sense of entitlement and expectation. The likeliest conclusion is, hey if I stayed in that dark cave for so long I shouldn’t have to face trepidation anymore and anyone who causes me distress is not fulfilling my expiations and therefore, ought to not be part of my life. For those who believe that this sort of attitude is conducive to a higher quality life my hat is tipped to you. It is however, my belief that virtue of epic proportions will result from leaving the cave.

If life were so simple this would work. However, by staying in the cave one inhibits their own ability to grow along spiritual and emotional lines. The cave becomes their reason to escape reality, not communicate, and file false claims against others. My own experiences have taught me that the cave is lonely and nobody is let in. The darkness of the cave supers even the light of God. Upon every unfortunate incident the person will be rendered helpless, confused, resentful and unequipped to cope in a healthy manner. They would confine them self to a narrow scope of reality that is only consistent with going out in that wretched rain and subjecting themselves to the mud, wind, rain and the parasitic nature of a storm. You may be asking yourself as you read this, how is it true that walking through the rain is of more virtue?

It is important to make two statements of fact. There has never been rain anywhere on our tiny planet that was not followed by some degree of sunshine either in a timely or untimely manner. Second, the amount of time that it rains has never and will never be in our control. What is in our control is having faith it will stop and not retreating to the cave in any circumstances. Spiritual and individual and growth depend on faith with complete abandon and the ability to overcome adversity. Such contingencies are drastically depreciated and contaminated. Making them practically impossible to be realized while in the darkness of the cave. The claim here is that despite an easier softer way, half measures are of no avail. It is to my best understanding, observation and experience that when one beats down what is easy the increase in utility exceeds that of their own understanding. All that is necessary for walking through the rain and getting out of the cave is an open-mind and willingness to change.

It is not coincidence that the greatest men and women who have graced this world have chosen the rain over the dejecting illusion that because one is not getting wet they are creating for them-self a more fortunate situation. The most commonly spoken of man who illustrates the virtue of trudging through the rain is Abraham Lincoln. Derived from a childhood of poverty, no formal education, and the death of his mother, brother, and sister by the age of twenty-one in addition to, but not limited to the loss of two sons at ages 4 and 12. Lincoln was facing intense depression, what today is known to be as mentally crippling being as going to war. Couple that with a series of political failures and lost electionsI, and it is easy to conclude that he had every reason to retreat to the cave. Others of this variety include Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, the 55th regiment of the Civil War, Albert Einstein, John Nash, Eleanor Roosevelt, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, Susan B Anthony, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson and countless other unrecognized men and women.

* The views expressed are solely that of the author and not meant to be used to ascertain what is a “right” or “wrong” “good” or “bad” way to live. Simply, the intention in writing was to encourage contemplation and potential future discourse.

Email: mailto: Dicombloggulation@gmail.com
I For more on the adversity Lincoln faced go to http://historyplace.com/lincoln/index.html