Good quote
Apr. 12th, 2009 08:09 pm"The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.”
--T. H. White, The Sword in the Stone
from The Happiness Project
<http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/>
--T. H. White, The Sword in the Stone
from The Happiness Project
<http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/>
Farewell, roleplay man...
Apr. 10th, 2009 12:34 pm"(Dave Arneson) developed many of the fundamental ideas of role-playing: that each player controls just one hero, that heroes gain power through adventures, and that personality is as important as combat prowess," according to a statement from Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. that produces Dungeons & Dragons.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30147390/
I am grateful that Mr. Arneson created these fundamental ideas - too few people understand why all three are essential.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30147390/
I am grateful that Mr. Arneson created these fundamental ideas - too few people understand why all three are essential.
Saysh rocks!!
Apr. 9th, 2009 09:07 pmAfter a long long week, I looked at the mail Sparrow had brought in and found a mailer... addressed to me...
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Perspective
Apr. 7th, 2009 09:25 pmThe Earth shrugs, rolling over to get comfortable, and almost two hundred die.
Each soul is born aloft with almost a dozen babies' first cries.
The Tsunami took almost three hundred thousand, Black plague took 75 million,
We filled the dip and now are more than six and a half billion lives.
What is our future? Fleeing our overwhelmed planet, leaving Wall-E behind,
Racing to Venus in a final countdown, or maybe a Star Trek utopia will grow.
And what of me, what of each of us?
My song is mine. It belongs to no other
- but the lyrics linger, melody too.
Yours resonate with me, and mine with you.
Wherever we go, we are each a concert,
Each movement played by those we've known.
To the stars or not, one member of infinity
Still I shall remain.
Each soul is born aloft with almost a dozen babies' first cries.
The Tsunami took almost three hundred thousand, Black plague took 75 million,
We filled the dip and now are more than six and a half billion lives.
What is our future? Fleeing our overwhelmed planet, leaving Wall-E behind,
Racing to Venus in a final countdown, or maybe a Star Trek utopia will grow.
And what of me, what of each of us?
My song is mine. It belongs to no other
- but the lyrics linger, melody too.
Yours resonate with me, and mine with you.
Wherever we go, we are each a concert,
Each movement played by those we've known.
To the stars or not, one member of infinity
Still I shall remain.
Retard is not a term to describe people. Long ago, when I was a young child, it was used to describe people with varying mental challenges, but it has been changed. Now, we have 'intellectually handicapped' and 'intellectually challenged' and 'learning disabled' and so many other, more relevant and meaningful words. Even those terms don't suffice - I'm guilty of using them to categorize people, but you know, when you look closely, nobody belongs in categories. We are all unique and distinct, each with our own strengths and challenges. I am striving to view labels as a starting step to understanding, instead of the final discussion.
Today, though, is about eliminating 'the r-word' - <http://www.r-word.org/>. If you feel like throwing an insult, please consider something more unique, perhaps a Shakespearean vilification. If you're trying to find a label, please consider 'challenged' or 'disabled' or taking time to learn if there's a more relevant identifier, even knowing that it's insufficient.
Why does it matter? Some people say they cherish these labels for themselves. The thing is, as long as the words are shaped by hatred and disgust and flung like stones and missiles, they are weapons. When words are corrupted away from helping people to understand one another better, then we are all blinded.
We are all special. We all need support - unless you're a hermit living off the land, you need *someone* to help you have the life to which you're accustomed. Some people need more support, which means more people have the privilege of giving of themselves, and that is okay.
Today, though, is about eliminating 'the r-word' - <http://www.r-word.org/>. If you feel like throwing an insult, please consider something more unique, perhaps a Shakespearean vilification. If you're trying to find a label, please consider 'challenged' or 'disabled' or taking time to learn if there's a more relevant identifier, even knowing that it's insufficient.
Why does it matter? Some people say they cherish these labels for themselves. The thing is, as long as the words are shaped by hatred and disgust and flung like stones and missiles, they are weapons. When words are corrupted away from helping people to understand one another better, then we are all blinded.
We are all special. We all need support - unless you're a hermit living off the land, you need *someone* to help you have the life to which you're accustomed. Some people need more support, which means more people have the privilege of giving of themselves, and that is okay.
A good quote
Mar. 29th, 2009 08:00 pmAll the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
-- James Russell Lowell
I got it from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LifeSupport/messages - Your Life Support System
-- James Russell Lowell
I got it from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LifeSupport/messages - Your Life Support System
First Aid Kit for the heart
Mar. 27th, 2009 05:11 pmI just saw <http://spliit.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/make-a-feel-good-first-aid-kit/>, about creating a box to hold items specifically to ease those feelings of worthlessness and despair. It sounds like something every person could use, doesn't it?
Mine would hold pictures of my three kids, and maybe a print-out of the neatest thing I've written in my prior volunteer position. Maybe a rose petal, maybe not. A glass glob - we had a fish who would always rearrange the glass globs in the aquarium! A leaf, too bad chocolate doesn't sit so well and I would hope that I didn't need my feel-better kit very often. :P Tea might be nice, and something with a bright citrus scent. Maybe a small map, showing where I've been, and maybe one of those clunky wanna-be paperweight things from when I had hoped to be a glassblower. Two small crocheted mice, because one alone would be lonely. My crochet hook, which I can't use until I paint it with nail polish because I wore away all the chrome... and a few bits of so pretty yarn.
I could make several of these, each with different things. There are a lot of blessings in my life, even when everything seems like it's gone to hell in a handbasket being powered by a leaking nuclear outboard motor, and piloted by my worst enemy. :P Maybe I'll crochet a kit this weekend...
Mine would hold pictures of my three kids, and maybe a print-out of the neatest thing I've written in my prior volunteer position. Maybe a rose petal, maybe not. A glass glob - we had a fish who would always rearrange the glass globs in the aquarium! A leaf, too bad chocolate doesn't sit so well and I would hope that I didn't need my feel-better kit very often. :P Tea might be nice, and something with a bright citrus scent. Maybe a small map, showing where I've been, and maybe one of those clunky wanna-be paperweight things from when I had hoped to be a glassblower. Two small crocheted mice, because one alone would be lonely. My crochet hook, which I can't use until I paint it with nail polish because I wore away all the chrome... and a few bits of so pretty yarn.
I could make several of these, each with different things. There are a lot of blessings in my life, even when everything seems like it's gone to hell in a handbasket being powered by a leaking nuclear outboard motor, and piloted by my worst enemy. :P Maybe I'll crochet a kit this weekend...
'Notice' instead of 'Kindness'
Mar. 20th, 2009 03:18 pmEveryone has heard of Random Acts of Kindness. Let's consider something a bit different - Random Acts of Notice.
There are people all around who are busy doing their jobs, some of which are on your behalf, even if indirectly. I know from a volunteer position in a service industry that almost nobody bothers to say thank you. We get complaints, deserved and otherwise, and we get spat upon when we tell people that they are operating against policy, and we're expected to continue to do our jobs for those same people - and the compliments are few.
Every year and a half or so, someone will compliment me for a job done well. It's very nice, and encourages me to try again even when the next smear campaign runs through. Even the magazines have noticed that smiling and thanking one's cashier tends to boost their spirits, and they're better able to continue with the long long day of standing in one spot, doing the same thing day after day.
So let's do it. Let's look around and see who's out there, working, who we've never seen before, and catch them doing a good job. The more smiles there are in the world, the better place it'll be.
There are people all around who are busy doing their jobs, some of which are on your behalf, even if indirectly. I know from a volunteer position in a service industry that almost nobody bothers to say thank you. We get complaints, deserved and otherwise, and we get spat upon when we tell people that they are operating against policy, and we're expected to continue to do our jobs for those same people - and the compliments are few.
Every year and a half or so, someone will compliment me for a job done well. It's very nice, and encourages me to try again even when the next smear campaign runs through. Even the magazines have noticed that smiling and thanking one's cashier tends to boost their spirits, and they're better able to continue with the long long day of standing in one spot, doing the same thing day after day.
So let's do it. Let's look around and see who's out there, working, who we've never seen before, and catch them doing a good job. The more smiles there are in the world, the better place it'll be.
I can't do it all...
Mar. 8th, 2009 02:10 pmI can't do it all, and I think I shouldn't try. I think it's my greatest hindrance - there are so many really neat things in the world, and so many that I really would like to look into. It's difficult to say, 'No, I don't really want to learn more about this subject, thanks.'
How do I limit myself? I think I'm going to need to make a list of Things to Pass By.
If I learn it all, then I won't have a good reason to ask others for their answers. They always say to delegate, let others do their jobs... so it's what I have to do. There are millions of people around, and it's okay if some of them learn things I'm not learning. Besides, if I focus my energy, I'll learn a smaller range of topics to a greater depth, and that's a good thing too.
At least, it's what I'm trying to tell myself.
How do I limit myself? I think I'm going to need to make a list of Things to Pass By.
If I learn it all, then I won't have a good reason to ask others for their answers. They always say to delegate, let others do their jobs... so it's what I have to do. There are millions of people around, and it's okay if some of them learn things I'm not learning. Besides, if I focus my energy, I'll learn a smaller range of topics to a greater depth, and that's a good thing too.
At least, it's what I'm trying to tell myself.
A good website
Feb. 24th, 2009 06:16 pm<http://www.clickschooling.com/>
I like this website. Every day, a different educational website is reviewed and sent out by email. Monday is Math, Tuesday is Science, Wednesday is English, Thursday is History, Friday is a virtual field trip, and Saturday is something from the arts. It might help people who are homeschooling, or tutoring, or who have children at home who could use some review. :)
I like this website. Every day, a different educational website is reviewed and sent out by email. Monday is Math, Tuesday is Science, Wednesday is English, Thursday is History, Friday is a virtual field trip, and Saturday is something from the arts. It might help people who are homeschooling, or tutoring, or who have children at home who could use some review. :)
A good short sci fi story
Feb. 16th, 2009 05:15 pmhttp://members.fortunecity.com/ymir1/beastfro9.html
The Fog Horn by Ray Bradbury
There's a lot of typos and such, and usually they tick me off enough that I find the story hard to read, but the words are such poetry that I kept going anyway.
"One day many years ago a man walked along and stood in the sound of the ocean on a cold sunless shore and said "We need a voice to call across the water, to warn ships; I'll make one. I'll make a voice that is like an empty bed beside you all night long, and like an empty house when you open the door, and like the trees in autumn with no leaves. A sound like the birds flying south, crying, and a sound like November wind and the sea on the hard, cold shore. I'll make a sound that's so alone that no one can miss it, that whoever hears it will weep in their souls, and to all who hear it in the distant towns. I'll make me a sound and an apparatus and they'll call it a Fog Horn and whoever hears it will know the sadness of eternity and the briefness of life."
I love it.
The Fog Horn by Ray Bradbury
There's a lot of typos and such, and usually they tick me off enough that I find the story hard to read, but the words are such poetry that I kept going anyway.
"One day many years ago a man walked along and stood in the sound of the ocean on a cold sunless shore and said "We need a voice to call across the water, to warn ships; I'll make one. I'll make a voice that is like an empty bed beside you all night long, and like an empty house when you open the door, and like the trees in autumn with no leaves. A sound like the birds flying south, crying, and a sound like November wind and the sea on the hard, cold shore. I'll make a sound that's so alone that no one can miss it, that whoever hears it will weep in their souls, and to all who hear it in the distant towns. I'll make me a sound and an apparatus and they'll call it a Fog Horn and whoever hears it will know the sadness of eternity and the briefness of life."
I love it.
A Part of the Human Race
Jan. 21st, 2009 05:39 pmA lot of things are coming together for this, so it'll be as convoluted a posting as ever. Please bear with me...
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Just something pretty...
Jan. 1st, 2009 06:34 pmI got this from Astronomy Picture of the Day:
http://www.theskyinmotion.com/index.html?skyinmotion.html
http://www.theskyinmotion.com/index.html?skyinmotion.html
An amazing Christmas sci-fi short story
Dec. 25th, 2008 09:04 pmhttp://www.asimovs.com/_issue_0805/allseated.shtml
It begins fairly slow, then is hard-to-breathe urgent, then is wow... I want to remember this one, so I can try to learn the method and capture that brilliant array of emotions and intentions. I loved it!
It begins fairly slow, then is hard-to-breathe urgent, then is wow... I want to remember this one, so I can try to learn the method and capture that brilliant array of emotions and intentions. I loved it!