March, Week 1 2007

Thursday March 1 , 2007

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) 1871

Christy and I went to the Doctor, she for her Protime (INR) and me to get yelled at for being too fat and not eating right...

Lots of snow last night, Grandpa is getting pretty fed up with snow, every morning he gripes about it as though it is some sort of personal affront by God just to make his life even more miserable... I have to admit that I am ready for Spring... I have seen the birds and they are impatient too. I plowed out the driveway... again I have had to plow damn near every day for the past week.

When the snow fell off the roof it made the pile in front of the house as high as I am tall, if I stand in the driveway it is a couple feet over my head... More snow due in tomorrow... I can hear the "Aw Jeeze, will ya look at that!" already.

Calie drove me to Ione, I really am a bad driving instructor, I get too excited. Calie is doing fine... I'm not.

Friday March 2 , 2007

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Dr. Seuss

Calie drove again today, she is doing fine... Mike's truck needs a new water pump and a few other bits and pieces, I made an appointment for Monday to have Ken Starkey do the work... Mikes boss will buy the parts and I will pay him back.

We went out to see Ghost Rider, pretty bad, it could have been good if they had played it with less camp... The worst thing about Nicholas Cage's character, Blaze AKA Ghost Rider (get it?) was Nicholas Cage, he seemed to be channeling some sort of amalgam of Elvis Presley and and a schizophrenic Lone Ranger. I know Cage can act, Matchstick Men was incredibly well done, this wasn't... A waste of money for me, Cindy liked it, not sure that Christian and Mike did..

Saturday March 3 , 2007

The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.

Charles-Louis De Secondat - (1689-1755) Baron de Montesquieu - Source: The Spirit of the Laws, 1748

Laid back day, not accomplishing much lately. I made it to the dump and had lunch with Monica at the Mexican joint, I do like the Quesadillas there, not much else. I slept poorly last night really fought the C-PAP machine. Disappointing... I am anxious to figure out how to sleep through the night with the damn thing. I know it will work...

Sunday March 4 , 2007

A thing is not proved because no one has ever questioned it... Skepticism is the first step toward truth.

Denis Diderot

I have grown into a world renown skeptic, I can't help myself. Skepticism seems to serve me well and I am never at a loss for something to be skeptical about. I have concluded that facts are irrelevant, people are going to interpret them to support their bias and prejudice and there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it. People have a hard time with facts, facts are spun, trimmed, pared, sculpted, hammered and molded to make them palatable to their own personal reality.

Reality is merely a matter of perspective and we each live in our own carefully cultivated one I'm afraid. I used to think there was such a thing as reality out there... but I was wrong. We each perceive the world differently and therefore we each have our own version of reality. I guess that's for the best even though it means that conflicts develop when our version of truth comes into conflict with others. Conflicting realities are a difficult thing to reconcile. Sometimes it's best to just ignore them, sometimes the penalty for getting it wrong can cost lives. I am afraid that for many the need to win overrides the the need to be right.

I saw this in the Saturday paper, this guy is pretty good...

"The Butt-Cleavage Battle Book"

(based on "The Butter Battle Book")

On the last day of summer,
10 hours before fall,
My grandfather took me
Out to the mall.
For a while he stood silent
Then finally he said,
With a very sad shake
Of his very old head,
"Can I get you to pass
On purchasing jeans
That sag past your ass?"

I said to grandfather,
"Yo, that's how I roll.
I'm a white suburban band-camper
With my rep to uphol'."
Besides, I said, there's nothing to fear,
I won't droop as low
As any plumber I know.

"Oh, the Places You’ll D’oh!"

(Based on "Oh, the Places You’ll Go")

Congratulations!
Today is your day!
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You’ve always been told,
It’s all about you!
But deep, down inside,
You haven’t a clue!
So this is your party.
Let’s get it roaring!
No! Turn off those video games.
Stop being so boring.
Come along, don’t wait, let’s go!
Oh, the places you’ll d’oh!

For all of your 25 years,
At least that’s how it seems,
You’ve been pumped to the brim
With your own "self-esteem."
Your teachers, your parents,
Even your pets,
Always said, "You’re awesome!" "You’re the best!"
It’s not your fault;
It’s how you were taught,
But this load of hype
Is the load that you bought.
So here’s the true question,
The true 20s tests Are you just slightly,
A smidgen,
A touch self-obsessed?
Or do you just, you know,
Like yourself best?

And now your Big Day
Has finally dawned.
You’re free to go out
And get your freak on.
Will you go be a hero?
Go be a jerk?
Will you go totally crazy
And look for some work?
Will you squander your talents?
Get tossed in the clink?
Will you spend all day texting?
Will you waste it on drink?
Please, no!
Say it ain’t so!
Oh, the places you’ll blow!

But finally, you see, I know you’ll succeed,
Yes! You will, you will indeed,
One hundred and 25 percent guaranteed.
If there’s one thing I know, one thing for sure,
Even a 20-something must eventually mature.
You’ll sign for a mortgage, find yourself married,
End up with some kids, find yourself harried.
So march on out there, your fate to fulfill,
Try to choke down this last bitter pill.
If there’s one thing for sure, one thing I know,
Oh! How boring you’ll grow!