Article here.
This is so sad. I think I've already given my view on marriage and politics (or maybe I haven't-- I can't find the post if there is one).
If you're going to get government (political) benefits (to be able to make decisions about your decided spouse) then the government cannot descriminate! When gay couples have to spend $10,000 on lawyers and filing paperwork to get the same rights that a man and women get for just signing a piece of paper (marriage license) there is something fundamental that isn't right. I don't care if the church doesn't agree with gay marriage--the church isn't the one that gives these rights.
But the article comes from Argentina, not the US.
Monday, November 30, 2009
What is wrong with Africa?
I was chatting with my friend yesterday and he made a statement that surprised me--that the Pope needs to do a better job in Africa because their population is getting out of control. The millions of people living in 90% of the area are living unsustainably off of whatever foreign aid they can get without the corrupt governments stealing it all for themselves. My friend (who thinks very lowly of religion in general) said that they need to get more word out about condoms to decrease the surplus populaion and that the Pope needs to switch his position that they should be practicing abstinance and that condoms are what is holding the Africans down.
This made me think. Many Protestants dislike the Catholic Church (dislike, distrust, whatever) so my thoughts automatically went to what they were doing in Africa. And I made some startling revelations:
1) The Evangelical Protestants ALSO teach Abstinance only. They are the ones who do the most to influence sex education policies in many US states. So, whether they like it or not, the Evangelical Protestants are "preaching" a policy much like the Catholics.
2) Being Catholic (or at least, fomerlly being Catholic and living in a Catholic based family) I started thinking about all that I know and what their birth practices are--they have small families and use birth control. My mother, when she had her "tubes tied" after the birth of my brother, went with my father to confession, feeling guilty about doing such an un-Catholic thing, and was told that they should do 10 "Our Fathers" and a "Hail Mary" and be done with it. They were doing what was right for their family and was not sinning further by having a dozen children of which they cannot take care of. Of all the Catholic families I know of (of my parents generation--seeing as how birth control wasn't used much in my grandparents generation, though after 8 children in 10 years my Grandfather had a vasectomy) they have 2 or 3 children, choosing to stop rather than have more children than they can care for. They teach their children about birth control, though of course expressing a wish that they remain abstinant. I've noticed that the "quiverfull" movement is a Protestant movement. True, those families are able to care fully for their children, but there is still a matter of expressing a policy that not everyone can fulfill in the way that everyone expects. There will always be parents who just can't afford to feed 12 children--such is the nature of a capitalist society. To think otherwise is sadly naive.
3) The notion of the Jesuit Missionary (a Catholic Missionary) is from the long forgotten past. Catholics do not go out and convert the heathens anymore. Set up Churches in 3rd world countries, yes, but actively seeking converts, no. That has become the domain of the Protestants (I actually wonder what the fallout would be should a group of Catholics stand in an open forum and preach like the Protestants do). However, Africa was/is a Catholic influenced continent. This is why the Pope's comments on condoms actually means something. BUT, this doesn't mean that the Protestants can't venture over there and teach the importance of condom use to protect against AIDS and other STDs. But I guess, based on the previous thought, there doesn't seem to be much of a Protestant will to get birth control into areas that are over populated and need to learn sustainability before the rest of the world faces the shortages that will cause a cease in foreign food aid since we will have our own shortages to deal with. The population in Africa will crash in most areas, where only those able to farm a little will be left alive. Isn't it better to teach them about condoms and contriception, to help them survive from AIDS so that they can move forward--so that their innovators won't die before they come up with their next big idea. Every child is born with promise, which only with proper care and nurturing will they be able to reach their full potential--if they die from AIDS contracted at birth or starve to death because their government is too corrupt and there is no one alive who knows the old ways when they were able to survive under their own will. Is it humane to teach practices which support the birth of children that you know will die in less than 5 years because of the other conditions? We've already failed when it comes to fixing governments and economics in Africa, why can't we do a small part to at least ensure that at least those who are there now won't die from AIDS and food shortages caused by over population?
This made me think. Many Protestants dislike the Catholic Church (dislike, distrust, whatever) so my thoughts automatically went to what they were doing in Africa. And I made some startling revelations:
1) The Evangelical Protestants ALSO teach Abstinance only. They are the ones who do the most to influence sex education policies in many US states. So, whether they like it or not, the Evangelical Protestants are "preaching" a policy much like the Catholics.
2) Being Catholic (or at least, fomerlly being Catholic and living in a Catholic based family) I started thinking about all that I know and what their birth practices are--they have small families and use birth control. My mother, when she had her "tubes tied" after the birth of my brother, went with my father to confession, feeling guilty about doing such an un-Catholic thing, and was told that they should do 10 "Our Fathers" and a "Hail Mary" and be done with it. They were doing what was right for their family and was not sinning further by having a dozen children of which they cannot take care of. Of all the Catholic families I know of (of my parents generation--seeing as how birth control wasn't used much in my grandparents generation, though after 8 children in 10 years my Grandfather had a vasectomy) they have 2 or 3 children, choosing to stop rather than have more children than they can care for. They teach their children about birth control, though of course expressing a wish that they remain abstinant. I've noticed that the "quiverfull" movement is a Protestant movement. True, those families are able to care fully for their children, but there is still a matter of expressing a policy that not everyone can fulfill in the way that everyone expects. There will always be parents who just can't afford to feed 12 children--such is the nature of a capitalist society. To think otherwise is sadly naive.
3) The notion of the Jesuit Missionary (a Catholic Missionary) is from the long forgotten past. Catholics do not go out and convert the heathens anymore. Set up Churches in 3rd world countries, yes, but actively seeking converts, no. That has become the domain of the Protestants (I actually wonder what the fallout would be should a group of Catholics stand in an open forum and preach like the Protestants do). However, Africa was/is a Catholic influenced continent. This is why the Pope's comments on condoms actually means something. BUT, this doesn't mean that the Protestants can't venture over there and teach the importance of condom use to protect against AIDS and other STDs. But I guess, based on the previous thought, there doesn't seem to be much of a Protestant will to get birth control into areas that are over populated and need to learn sustainability before the rest of the world faces the shortages that will cause a cease in foreign food aid since we will have our own shortages to deal with. The population in Africa will crash in most areas, where only those able to farm a little will be left alive. Isn't it better to teach them about condoms and contriception, to help them survive from AIDS so that they can move forward--so that their innovators won't die before they come up with their next big idea. Every child is born with promise, which only with proper care and nurturing will they be able to reach their full potential--if they die from AIDS contracted at birth or starve to death because their government is too corrupt and there is no one alive who knows the old ways when they were able to survive under their own will. Is it humane to teach practices which support the birth of children that you know will die in less than 5 years because of the other conditions? We've already failed when it comes to fixing governments and economics in Africa, why can't we do a small part to at least ensure that at least those who are there now won't die from AIDS and food shortages caused by over population?
China or England?
is a culture which has been heavily influenced and run by the methodology that everything must be done to keep anarchy from occurring?
BOTH.
England in 1660 when they reinstated the King with Charles II was a country where moderation only became the norm because they did not want the Civil War to happen again. There were NUMEROUS religious factions which would like nothing more than for English law to insist that the one religion of England be Puritan, whether it be Quaker, Leveler, or some other dissenting Protestant sect.
China in the 20th century was one in which a tyrannical government was preferred. Every time demonstrations occurred, all Hell broke loose and chaos was the norm. The Chinese do not like chaos, they are traditionally a society of order, and with 1+ billion citizens, any chaos results in the death of millions of people and a disruption in the entire economic system. It is better to give up freedoms than fear death from overzealous neighbors. At least the government is calculated risk--you know that if you speak badly of Mao you will be killed, not like with the neighbors of which you can never be sure which statement will get you beheaded.
BOTH.
England in 1660 when they reinstated the King with Charles II was a country where moderation only became the norm because they did not want the Civil War to happen again. There were NUMEROUS religious factions which would like nothing more than for English law to insist that the one religion of England be Puritan, whether it be Quaker, Leveler, or some other dissenting Protestant sect.
China in the 20th century was one in which a tyrannical government was preferred. Every time demonstrations occurred, all Hell broke loose and chaos was the norm. The Chinese do not like chaos, they are traditionally a society of order, and with 1+ billion citizens, any chaos results in the death of millions of people and a disruption in the entire economic system. It is better to give up freedoms than fear death from overzealous neighbors. At least the government is calculated risk--you know that if you speak badly of Mao you will be killed, not like with the neighbors of which you can never be sure which statement will get you beheaded.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Full Metal Jacket
I watched this movie while home for Thanksgiving. OMG!! SUCH a good movie. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE, though beware, the rated R version is VERY bloody and vulgar, but nothing too surprising given the rating.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wacky News
The Lambert Kiss:
I'm not surprised, and yet I'm confused. So. Would they have complained if he'd kissed a woman on stage? We should get petition together for the next time he performs he should be using a female back-up dancer (completely on the down-low) so that no one can stifle their need to complain by being informed ahead of time.
I'm not surprised, and yet I'm confused. So. Would they have complained if he'd kissed a woman on stage? We should get petition together for the next time he performs he should be using a female back-up dancer (completely on the down-low) so that no one can stifle their need to complain by being informed ahead of time.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wow...so much done, so many thoughts
A lot has crossed my mind in the past 12 hours--it happens when you have 2 papers to write both due at 10am today. So, I'm just going to make a list of topics that I often think about but never have time to write about--today just happen to remind me of it. I'll give full blogs of them later when I'm a bit more awake.
1)Why do "common folks" give definitions to the terms liberal and conservative that are the complete oppsosite to what EVERY academic book, paper, and professor I've ever 'met' use. For example. Why do the books speak of liberalizing China when they are describing China's transformation into a more capitalistic society? Common folks would say that to be more liberal economically would mean a transformation into socialism. I guess both are techincally true if the real definition of liberal is a change in the traditional way. So I guess a better question would be not so much why they use this term to describe two very different situations, but whether there someone would dare disagree that a liberal China is capitalist (that they would call it conservative).
2)On this same note, but in England in 1650 (right after the execution of Charles I), the liberal minded parliament ruling England (they would have to be liberal minded seeing as a conservative minded parliament would have been royalist ) swung more towards the right, not nearly enough to be considered conservative. In the US, I guess it would be strange to think of conservative being royalist, but definitionally it would be correct. It sure makes me question certain people who say that conservatism is the only way to be--I don't want to be a royalist or wear skirts all the time.....But many I take things too literally, haha.
My brain is fuzzy. Maybe I'll add more topics later....or maybe this is a full blog post. I'm not sure. Leave comments and I'll add more if necessary.
1)Why do "common folks" give definitions to the terms liberal and conservative that are the complete oppsosite to what EVERY academic book, paper, and professor I've ever 'met' use. For example. Why do the books speak of liberalizing China when they are describing China's transformation into a more capitalistic society? Common folks would say that to be more liberal economically would mean a transformation into socialism. I guess both are techincally true if the real definition of liberal is a change in the traditional way. So I guess a better question would be not so much why they use this term to describe two very different situations, but whether there someone would dare disagree that a liberal China is capitalist (that they would call it conservative).
2)On this same note, but in England in 1650 (right after the execution of Charles I), the liberal minded parliament ruling England (they would have to be liberal minded seeing as a conservative minded parliament would have been royalist ) swung more towards the right, not nearly enough to be considered conservative. In the US, I guess it would be strange to think of conservative being royalist, but definitionally it would be correct. It sure makes me question certain people who say that conservatism is the only way to be--I don't want to be a royalist or wear skirts all the time.....But many I take things too literally, haha.
My brain is fuzzy. Maybe I'll add more topics later....or maybe this is a full blog post. I'm not sure. Leave comments and I'll add more if necessary.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Ah.....Procrastination....
So, This has become my epic FAIL picture of probably the century. You see in the upper left hand corner that dark shape where all the grass is bent down? No? Look closer...closer.....it's a snake.
Honestly, I had NO idea it was there when I took this picture. I thought the flower was much to pretty to be bothered with the grass in the background. I guess he wasn't too preoccupied with me either.
But anyway. I took this picture back in I guess June. I didn't think much about it until I was bored and just happened to be browsing through my pictures with them blown up rather big so that I could see the details. Not sure what drew my eyes to the dark shape, but when I did notice it I got quite a scare. So yeah, this picture will definitely go into the history books of how unobservant I really am.
Thomas Jefferson--10 "rules"
So, we all know about his most important 10 rules for daily life:
1. Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have earned it.
4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap.
5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold.
6. We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How much pain the evils have cost us that never happened.
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
10. When angry, count ten before you speak, if very angry, count a hundred.
I REALLY wanted to link to a website to view them because there are so many contexts in which they are used, but alas, in the short amount of time I'm taking to write this, I don't have time to find the perfect link. Anyway. I'd like to add a bit of the narrative which I heard while I was at Monticello back in mid-October.
So, without ado, here's what I think Jefferson REALLY meant when he wrote a few of these 10 rules:
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
***Unless it's your (son or grandson--I can't remember that specific--I'm going to say son in future and if I'm wrong don't shoot me) and it's about unpaid debts. Jefferson inherited a huge debt with his Monticello estate, but never bothered to actively pay it down or off. YES, he paid off all debts as they came due, but he never set aside the money to pay off the debts that he KNEW were going to come due. He spent all extra cash on luxuries and curiosities, never saving for a rainy day (or even the flood that he KNEW was coming). When a debt would come due, he would sell off a slave, or two, or some land and would purchase the replacement, if needed, when he received his next income. When he died, still HEAVILY in debt, his son inherited this debt and it was HE that lived the frugal life working his butt off to pay off the debt. He had to sell off all of Jefferson's estate (thank-goodness Monticello only spent, like, 40 years in private hands before becoming a historical site--you should see Montpelier--it was PINK at one point!) and that still only paid off about half of the debt. Monticello currently houses only, like, 2 shelves of ACTUAL Jefferson owned books because he had to sell them to the US for some extra cash.
3. Never spend your money before you have earned it.
***So far as I know, he didn't literally break this one, but I consider debt to be debt no matter when it was incurred. He might not have been the one to take out the loans that he should have paid off (or at least have accounted for), but I think that all his extra money should have been considered spent before he earned it in that it should have been used to pay the debt.
***I mean, think about the national debt--Yes, the government is racking up more debt every year, but isn't the general consensus that we should pay it down before spending that money on other stuff? Isn't this why so many people worry about their childrens' future living under that debt--that one day it will come due and there will be no way to pay it off?
***And how about when wages are garnished--the wages (except enough to live off of) are used to ONLY pay off debt, not for luxuries. But I guess we shouldn't hold Jefferson to such a standard?
4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap.
***Jefferson went into debt (or rather, he didn't pay off the debt he already had) because he bought the best that he could to impress his dinner guests. So, what Jefferson REALLY should have written was "Always buy what you want no matter the cost"
5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold.
***Jefferson never went hungry, thirsty, or cold--but he was quite proud of his table-scape and intelligent conversation. But maybe I'm reading too much into this particular rule. I'll leave it with him.
6. We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
***Jefferson liked his dinner parties. He had 3 or so regularly every week inviting whichever great thinkers happened to be in the neighborhood (either in Charlottesville or Washington D.C.). So, what Jefferson REALLY meant was "Never feel guilty for eating good food so long as there is intellectual gain in the process--and don't skimp on the quality"
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
***Yes, spending all our income on current debts and luxuries without a care for the future really isn't troublesome. Of course, having a moral conscience for leaving the debt to future generations can be troublesome when it's unwillingly left to you (in other words: Jefferson chose to not be troubled by the debt he was unwillingly given; his son on the other hand was troubled and that is why he decided to pay it off instead of leaving it to the next generations).
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
***Do things the easy way--it's much to difficult to set aside cash that could be used to pay off debts that will be due when the tempting French wine is right there waiting to be purchased. Did you know that he brought back like 86 CRATES of stuff from France to fill Monticello on ONE trip? How much debt do you think he could have paid off instead? Might Monticello have been able to stay in his family's hands if things had been done otherwise?
----------
Please, don't get me wrong, I appreciate Jefferson's intentions, but I think he could have executed them better. Mostly, I criticize because going to school at Mr. Jefferson's university (the University of Virginia) located less than a 30 minute drive from Monticello leaves a lot of people who practically worship him--when clearly, even the historians at Monticello want to know that there is more to the story. I WANT people to follow his 10 simple rules, but realize, he didn't always follow them in the context of what we've come to believe.
I was quite shocked when someone in the tour group I was with asked this simple question--How could Jefferson with all that we know about him, have died heavily in debt? I didn't even think of this conundrum before. In today's context, the fact that he was quite ill in his last years of life makes some wonder if medical bills could have been the cause (it's almost the cop out answer for frugal people today who die leaving many debts) but this was in the 1830s--medical bills were NOT an issue.
I feel that #8 could be criticized, but I couldn't figure out even what it would literally mean--or at least not enough to figure out a coherent sentence to explain it. If you have any idea of what it might mean or the critique, feel free to comment with it. Thanks.
I think 1 and 10 are safe :-). Gosh, if I could make records like Jefferson I would be set for life--If I'd been him, I would have been regularly weeks behind on the records because I would have so many better things to do with my time than to sit inside and keep records--have you seen Monticello?!?! Gosh! And as a plantation back in 1800 it would have only been more of a fascinating place to explore! As for 10--this is why describing Jefferson as a slave holder is so complicated. :-)
So, I invite each and everyone of you to Charlottesville, Virginia to visit Mr. Jefferson's home and his university. Don't take my word about the history told there--see it for yourself.
Here's the website for Monticello. If you take the virtual tour of the house, I'll say it right now--those rooms that you can view are the only rooms that are currently open for visit as part of the house tour--except the dome room--it is off limits in the house. I got stuck in the "north stair well" while taking the virtual tour (I kept going 'up' and 'down' the stairs while trying to explore the hallway). I thought it was just a reckless 'driver' with my mouse--nope--that stairwell is REALLY that small and I think that if I was able to explore the actual house I would end up doing the same thing as there is just no space to turn around. Alas, you can't venture up the stairs either :-(.
1. Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have earned it.
4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap.
5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold.
6. We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How much pain the evils have cost us that never happened.
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
10. When angry, count ten before you speak, if very angry, count a hundred.
I REALLY wanted to link to a website to view them because there are so many contexts in which they are used, but alas, in the short amount of time I'm taking to write this, I don't have time to find the perfect link. Anyway. I'd like to add a bit of the narrative which I heard while I was at Monticello back in mid-October.
So, without ado, here's what I think Jefferson REALLY meant when he wrote a few of these 10 rules:
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
***Unless it's your (son or grandson--I can't remember that specific--I'm going to say son in future and if I'm wrong don't shoot me) and it's about unpaid debts. Jefferson inherited a huge debt with his Monticello estate, but never bothered to actively pay it down or off. YES, he paid off all debts as they came due, but he never set aside the money to pay off the debts that he KNEW were going to come due. He spent all extra cash on luxuries and curiosities, never saving for a rainy day (or even the flood that he KNEW was coming). When a debt would come due, he would sell off a slave, or two, or some land and would purchase the replacement, if needed, when he received his next income. When he died, still HEAVILY in debt, his son inherited this debt and it was HE that lived the frugal life working his butt off to pay off the debt. He had to sell off all of Jefferson's estate (thank-goodness Monticello only spent, like, 40 years in private hands before becoming a historical site--you should see Montpelier--it was PINK at one point!) and that still only paid off about half of the debt. Monticello currently houses only, like, 2 shelves of ACTUAL Jefferson owned books because he had to sell them to the US for some extra cash.
3. Never spend your money before you have earned it.
***So far as I know, he didn't literally break this one, but I consider debt to be debt no matter when it was incurred. He might not have been the one to take out the loans that he should have paid off (or at least have accounted for), but I think that all his extra money should have been considered spent before he earned it in that it should have been used to pay the debt.
***I mean, think about the national debt--Yes, the government is racking up more debt every year, but isn't the general consensus that we should pay it down before spending that money on other stuff? Isn't this why so many people worry about their childrens' future living under that debt--that one day it will come due and there will be no way to pay it off?
***And how about when wages are garnished--the wages (except enough to live off of) are used to ONLY pay off debt, not for luxuries. But I guess we shouldn't hold Jefferson to such a standard?
4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap.
***Jefferson went into debt (or rather, he didn't pay off the debt he already had) because he bought the best that he could to impress his dinner guests. So, what Jefferson REALLY should have written was "Always buy what you want no matter the cost"
5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold.
***Jefferson never went hungry, thirsty, or cold--but he was quite proud of his table-scape and intelligent conversation. But maybe I'm reading too much into this particular rule. I'll leave it with him.
6. We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
***Jefferson liked his dinner parties. He had 3 or so regularly every week inviting whichever great thinkers happened to be in the neighborhood (either in Charlottesville or Washington D.C.). So, what Jefferson REALLY meant was "Never feel guilty for eating good food so long as there is intellectual gain in the process--and don't skimp on the quality"
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
***Yes, spending all our income on current debts and luxuries without a care for the future really isn't troublesome. Of course, having a moral conscience for leaving the debt to future generations can be troublesome when it's unwillingly left to you (in other words: Jefferson chose to not be troubled by the debt he was unwillingly given; his son on the other hand was troubled and that is why he decided to pay it off instead of leaving it to the next generations).
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
***Do things the easy way--it's much to difficult to set aside cash that could be used to pay off debts that will be due when the tempting French wine is right there waiting to be purchased. Did you know that he brought back like 86 CRATES of stuff from France to fill Monticello on ONE trip? How much debt do you think he could have paid off instead? Might Monticello have been able to stay in his family's hands if things had been done otherwise?
----------
Please, don't get me wrong, I appreciate Jefferson's intentions, but I think he could have executed them better. Mostly, I criticize because going to school at Mr. Jefferson's university (the University of Virginia) located less than a 30 minute drive from Monticello leaves a lot of people who practically worship him--when clearly, even the historians at Monticello want to know that there is more to the story. I WANT people to follow his 10 simple rules, but realize, he didn't always follow them in the context of what we've come to believe.
I was quite shocked when someone in the tour group I was with asked this simple question--How could Jefferson with all that we know about him, have died heavily in debt? I didn't even think of this conundrum before. In today's context, the fact that he was quite ill in his last years of life makes some wonder if medical bills could have been the cause (it's almost the cop out answer for frugal people today who die leaving many debts) but this was in the 1830s--medical bills were NOT an issue.
I feel that #8 could be criticized, but I couldn't figure out even what it would literally mean--or at least not enough to figure out a coherent sentence to explain it. If you have any idea of what it might mean or the critique, feel free to comment with it. Thanks.
I think 1 and 10 are safe :-). Gosh, if I could make records like Jefferson I would be set for life--If I'd been him, I would have been regularly weeks behind on the records because I would have so many better things to do with my time than to sit inside and keep records--have you seen Monticello?!?! Gosh! And as a plantation back in 1800 it would have only been more of a fascinating place to explore! As for 10--this is why describing Jefferson as a slave holder is so complicated. :-)
So, I invite each and everyone of you to Charlottesville, Virginia to visit Mr. Jefferson's home and his university. Don't take my word about the history told there--see it for yourself.
Here's the website for Monticello. If you take the virtual tour of the house, I'll say it right now--those rooms that you can view are the only rooms that are currently open for visit as part of the house tour--except the dome room--it is off limits in the house. I got stuck in the "north stair well" while taking the virtual tour (I kept going 'up' and 'down' the stairs while trying to explore the hallway). I thought it was just a reckless 'driver' with my mouse--nope--that stairwell is REALLY that small and I think that if I was able to explore the actual house I would end up doing the same thing as there is just no space to turn around. Alas, you can't venture up the stairs either :-(.
Grammar Police
Everyone knows when the grammar police show up on a site. I'm sure icanhascheeseburger.com gets such a visitor frequently enough.
Well, I'm writing a paper for my English history to 1688 course (we've been given an original document that we must bring into the context of the other books we've been assigned to read for the course) and it hasn't been "translated" into modern English at all. It's from c. 1625 England about the colony of Jamestown.
So, I guess my real point for this post is my frustration that it's taking me 5+ minutes to read a single page because I must understand just what is being talked about while suffering through the different spellings, lack of punctuation, and just the general other-worldliness of the language. Where are my grammar police?!?!? [wahhahaha--why am I history major?!??!]
Here's the link to the document (pg. 259; but we didn't get the book, so we don't get that handy introduction that books.google does--cheeky professor I have) and here's the link to the book we're relating it to.
Here's a copy I just found of the original which has at least been transcribed into a modern font--but I actually think that it makes it harder to read (click the link to read it).
Well, I'm writing a paper for my English history to 1688 course (we've been given an original document that we must bring into the context of the other books we've been assigned to read for the course) and it hasn't been "translated" into modern English at all. It's from c. 1625 England about the colony of Jamestown.
So, I guess my real point for this post is my frustration that it's taking me 5+ minutes to read a single page because I must understand just what is being talked about while suffering through the different spellings, lack of punctuation, and just the general other-worldliness of the language. Where are my grammar police?!?!? [wahhahaha--why am I history major?!??!]
Here's the link to the document (pg. 259; but we didn't get the book, so we don't get that handy introduction that books.google does--cheeky professor I have) and here's the link to the book we're relating it to.
Here's a copy I just found of the original which has at least been transcribed into a modern font--but I actually think that it makes it harder to read (click the link to read it).
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Bones of Contention: The Repatriation of Native American Human Remains
I wonder why I keep getting surprised by the ignorance of humanity--past, present, and future.
Here's an essay that I had to read for a class this semester. It's about the practice of Indian bone collection and how it's history relates to getting the bones back to the Indian tribes.
Read chapter 22:
Here's an essay that I had to read for a class this semester. It's about the practice of Indian bone collection and how it's history relates to getting the bones back to the Indian tribes.
Read chapter 22:
Friday, November 20, 2009
From answers.yahoo.com
The top ten misunderstandings about ISLAM! :D RAMADAN?
http://islam.about.com/od/commonmisconce…
1. Muslims worship a moon-god
Some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language. The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God," the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty.
2. Muslims don't believe in Jesus
In the Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (called 'Isa in Arabic) are abundant. The Qur'an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, and the miracles he performed by God's permission. There is even a chapter of the Qur'an named after his mother, Mary (Miriam in Arabic). However, Muslims believe that Jesus was a fully human prophet and not in any way divine himself.
3. Most Muslims are Arabs
While Islam is often associated with Arabs, they make up only 15% of the world's Muslim population. The country with the largest population of Muslims is Indonesia. Muslims make up 1/5 of the world's population, with large numbers found in Asia (69%), Africa (27%), Europe (3%) and other parts of the world.
4. Islam oppresses women
Most of the ill-treatment that women receive in the Muslim world is based on local culture and traditions, without any basis in the faith of Islam. In fact, practices such as forced marriage, spousal abuse, and restricted movement directly contradict Islamic law governing family behavior and personal freedom.
5. Muslims are violent, terrorist extremists
Terrorism cannot be justified under any valid interpretation of the Islamic faith. The entire Qur'an, taken as a complete text, gives a message of hope, faith, and peace to a faith community of one billion people. The overwhelming message is that peace is to be found through faith in God, and justice among fellow human beings. Muslim leaders and scholars do speak out against terrorism in all its forms, and offer explanations of misinterpreted or twisted teachings.
6. Islam is intolerant of other faiths
Throughout the Qur'an, Muslims are reminded that they are not the only ones who worship God. Jews and Christians are called "People of the Book," meaning people who have received previous revelations from the One Almighty God that we all worship. The Qur'an also commands Muslims to protect from harm not only mosques, but also monasteries, synagogues, and churches -- because "God is worshipped therein."
7. Islam promotes "jihad" to spread Islam by the sword and kill all unbelievers
The word Jihad stems from an Arabic word which means "to strive." Other related words include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." Essentially Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but as a last resort and not "to spread Islam by the sword."
8. The Quran was written by Muhammad and copied from Christian and Jewish sources
The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of two decades, calling people to worship One Almighty God and to live their lives according to this faith. The Qur'an contains stories of Biblical prophets, because these prophets also preached the message of God. Stories are not merely copied, but the oral traditions are referred to in a way that focuses on the examples and teachings that we can learn from them.
9. Islamic prayer is just a ritualized performance with no heartfelt meaning
Prayer is a time to stand before God and express faith, give thanks for blessings, and seek guidance and forgiveness. During Islamic prayer, one is modest, submissive and respectful to God. By bowing and prostrating ourselves to the ground, we express our utmost humility before the Almighty.
10. The crescent moon is a universal symbol of Islam
The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic caravans and armies flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years, and wasn't affiliated with Islam at all until the Ottoman Empire placed it on their flag.
--♫ νινα ℓα ∂ινα ♪ (иα∂ια)
1. Muslims worship a moon-god
Some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language. The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God," the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty.
2. Muslims don't believe in Jesus
In the Qur'an, stories about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (called 'Isa in Arabic) are abundant. The Qur'an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, and the miracles he performed by God's permission. There is even a chapter of the Qur'an named after his mother, Mary (Miriam in Arabic). However, Muslims believe that Jesus was a fully human prophet and not in any way divine himself.
3. Most Muslims are Arabs
While Islam is often associated with Arabs, they make up only 15% of the world's Muslim population. The country with the largest population of Muslims is Indonesia. Muslims make up 1/5 of the world's population, with large numbers found in Asia (69%), Africa (27%), Europe (3%) and other parts of the world.
4. Islam oppresses women
Most of the ill-treatment that women receive in the Muslim world is based on local culture and traditions, without any basis in the faith of Islam. In fact, practices such as forced marriage, spousal abuse, and restricted movement directly contradict Islamic law governing family behavior and personal freedom.
5. Muslims are violent, terrorist extremists
Terrorism cannot be justified under any valid interpretation of the Islamic faith. The entire Qur'an, taken as a complete text, gives a message of hope, faith, and peace to a faith community of one billion people. The overwhelming message is that peace is to be found through faith in God, and justice among fellow human beings. Muslim leaders and scholars do speak out against terrorism in all its forms, and offer explanations of misinterpreted or twisted teachings.
6. Islam is intolerant of other faiths
Throughout the Qur'an, Muslims are reminded that they are not the only ones who worship God. Jews and Christians are called "People of the Book," meaning people who have received previous revelations from the One Almighty God that we all worship. The Qur'an also commands Muslims to protect from harm not only mosques, but also monasteries, synagogues, and churches -- because "God is worshipped therein."
7. Islam promotes "jihad" to spread Islam by the sword and kill all unbelievers
The word Jihad stems from an Arabic word which means "to strive." Other related words include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." Essentially Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but as a last resort and not "to spread Islam by the sword."
8. The Quran was written by Muhammad and copied from Christian and Jewish sources
The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of two decades, calling people to worship One Almighty God and to live their lives according to this faith. The Qur'an contains stories of Biblical prophets, because these prophets also preached the message of God. Stories are not merely copied, but the oral traditions are referred to in a way that focuses on the examples and teachings that we can learn from them.
9. Islamic prayer is just a ritualized performance with no heartfelt meaning
Prayer is a time to stand before God and express faith, give thanks for blessings, and seek guidance and forgiveness. During Islamic prayer, one is modest, submissive and respectful to God. By bowing and prostrating ourselves to the ground, we express our utmost humility before the Almighty.
10. The crescent moon is a universal symbol of Islam
The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic caravans and armies flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years, and wasn't affiliated with Islam at all until the Ottoman Empire placed it on their flag.
--♫ νινα ℓα ∂ινα ♪ (иα∂ια)
If it happened in America?
Do you think that if the US had a policy like they have in the UK where EVERY SINGLE dead soldier was brought through the center of town in a parade people would change the way they feel about war? It's terrible how our soldiers are treated when they come home. It's impossible to REALLY understand the costs of war when all we hear is a name on the nightly news (you skip a few days and you've missed a dozen deaths), so maybe we should parade each and every body down main street so people REALLY get a clue.
Also should be done with gang violence, domestic violence, and pretty much ANY death caused by another person. To many victims are quietly laid to rest and no one learns from their story.
Article here.
Also should be done with gang violence, domestic violence, and pretty much ANY death caused by another person. To many victims are quietly laid to rest and no one learns from their story.
Article here.
WHAT THE?!??!
I'm both shocked and amazed...and completely horrified! I can't believe that I'm actually less shocked than I should be. This is disgusting!
I guess I should be clear. This article is about a gang who kill fat people to sell the fat for cosmetic surgery. Wow....I'm at a loss for words.
But I can't help but also think about a certain "X-files" episode where the guy's main food source was fat women.
I guess I should be clear. This article is about a gang who kill fat people to sell the fat for cosmetic surgery. Wow....I'm at a loss for words.
But I can't help but also think about a certain "X-files" episode where the guy's main food source was fat women.
Lady Gaga
I've heard a lot of people say that they feel guilty for enjoying her music. This saddens me because I too enjoyed her music before I watched one of her music videos [read: pornos]. I mean, if you listened just to her lyrics as they are, then they are quite clean. I mean, compare it to "Birthday Sex" and all the other music that blatantly goes into detail. It was only when seeing her music videos that I got disgusted. I now pay more attention to what she's actually talking about, just so I don't feel like an ignorant 12 year old yet to learn the rules of writing.
But here is where I'd like to make a comparison and see if those who dislike the sexuality are convinced that 1) hiding sex in poetry (yes, music is poetry) and prose is NOTHING new and 2) It's okay to read things at face value if reading between the lines makes you blush.
But here is where I'd like to make a comparison and see if those who dislike the sexuality are convinced that 1) hiding sex in poetry (yes, music is poetry) and prose is NOTHING new and 2) It's okay to read things at face value if reading between the lines makes you blush.
"Clear and sweet is my soul....and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul
Lack on lacks both....and the unseen is proved by the seen.
Till that becomes unseen and receives proof in its turn.
Showing the best and dividing it from the worst, age vexes age,
Knowing the perfect fitness and equanimity of things, while they discuss I am silent and go bathe and admire myself.
Welcome is every organ and attrribute of me, and of any man hearty and clean
Not an inch nor a particle of an inch is vile, and none shall be less familiar than the rest
I am satisfied....I see, dance, laugh, sing;
As God comes a loving bedfellow and sleeps at my side all night and close on the peep of the day,
And leaves for me baskets covered with white towels bulging the house with their plenty,
Shall I postpone my acceptation and realization and scream at my eyes.
That they turn from gazing after and down the road,
And forthwith cipher and show me to a cent,
Exactly the contents of one, and exactly the contents of two, and which is ahead?"
--From Leaves of Grass; "Song of Myself"; by Walt Whitman (1855)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
BWAHAHAHAAA!
From BBC News:
Will Ferrell is "most overpaid star". It totally figures. I mean, people either love him or hate him and I'm definitely not a fan.
Ewan McGregor shocked me though, but he's probably in more movies than I've ever cared to see. This seems true for most actors--I'm always shocked that they would choose to be in movies which are considered such flops. But I guess not every movie can be a blockbuster...
Will Ferrell is "most overpaid star". It totally figures. I mean, people either love him or hate him and I'm definitely not a fan.
Ewan McGregor shocked me though, but he's probably in more movies than I've ever cared to see. This seems true for most actors--I'm always shocked that they would choose to be in movies which are considered such flops. But I guess not every movie can be a blockbuster...
Favorite Quotes:
"If you can't convince them, confuse them"
-Harry Truman
"Dance....consists of stylized movements whose significances configure and affect a people’s existence in time."
"Love a challenge"
-Me
"it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence."
-W.K. Clifford
"Keep Moving Forward"
-Walt Disney
"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."
-Thomas Jefferson
"Don't try to solve serious matters in the middle of the night"
-Philip K. Dick
"Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted."
-Fred Allen
"I don't listen to Rap; I listen to Par"
-Annonimouse
" 'Cause I'm just a little girl you see
But there's a hell of a lot more to me
Don't ever underestimate what I can do
Don't ever tell me how I'm meant to be"
- "Just A Little Girl", Amy Studt
Not really a quote, but something my history prof said in class Tuesday...
Apparantly the original feminists from the 19th century would disagree with the way of feminists today. They disagreed with abortion, divorce, and fornication; anything that made life in anyway easier for the man. They didn't agree with a double standard, but when it came to which standard should be set, it is the woman whose ideal is better. Women should not sink to the mans level, but should expect men to rise to the standard of woman.
"Beauty is in the imperfections"
"By 1798, voters had formed two parties, each of which accused the other of threatening republican liberty"-- Enduring Vision--USHist 201 textbook. Things really don't change do they?!?
"Science explains the what; Religion explains the why"
--condensed version of something my anth. prof. said.
"When I use a word [...] it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less"
--Humpty Dumpty, Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll
People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.
--Wizard's First Rule; book by the same name, Terry Goodkind
"Truth and falsehood have both alike countenances...Wee beholde them with one same eye"
--Montaigne
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
--Albert Einstein
"If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur."
--Doug Larson
(actually, I think an apostrophe with fur would be a catastrophe--or would at least scare me silly)
-Harry Truman
"Dance....consists of stylized movements whose significances configure and affect a people’s existence in time."
"Love a challenge"
-Me
"it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence."
-W.K. Clifford
"Keep Moving Forward"
-Walt Disney
"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."
-Thomas Jefferson
"Don't try to solve serious matters in the middle of the night"
-Philip K. Dick
"Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted."
-Fred Allen
"I don't listen to Rap; I listen to Par"
-Annonimouse
" 'Cause I'm just a little girl you see
But there's a hell of a lot more to me
Don't ever underestimate what I can do
Don't ever tell me how I'm meant to be"
- "Just A Little Girl", Amy Studt
Not really a quote, but something my history prof said in class Tuesday...
Apparantly the original feminists from the 19th century would disagree with the way of feminists today. They disagreed with abortion, divorce, and fornication; anything that made life in anyway easier for the man. They didn't agree with a double standard, but when it came to which standard should be set, it is the woman whose ideal is better. Women should not sink to the mans level, but should expect men to rise to the standard of woman.
"Beauty is in the imperfections"
"By 1798, voters had formed two parties, each of which accused the other of threatening republican liberty"-- Enduring Vision--USHist 201 textbook. Things really don't change do they?!?
"Science explains the what; Religion explains the why"
--condensed version of something my anth. prof. said.
"When I use a word [...] it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less"
--Humpty Dumpty, Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll
People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.
--Wizard's First Rule; book by the same name, Terry Goodkind
"Truth and falsehood have both alike countenances...Wee beholde them with one same eye"
--Montaigne
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
--Albert Einstein
"If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur."
--Doug Larson
(actually, I think an apostrophe with fur would be a catastrophe--or would at least scare me silly)
Palin
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8367633.stm
"She's one of us," he said simply. "We're hard-working, 9-to-5 Joes and like her we didn't go to the elite universities that other politicians went to. She understands real life and she understands America."
----------
Little to they realize that this is what put fire under the abuse of intellectuals during China's Cultural Revolution......
"She's one of us," he said simply. "We're hard-working, 9-to-5 Joes and like her we didn't go to the elite universities that other politicians went to. She understands real life and she understands America."
----------
Little to they realize that this is what put fire under the abuse of intellectuals during China's Cultural Revolution......
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
"APPLE CORE....."
"BALTIMORE."
"Who's your friend?"
"John"
**Chuck the apple core at "John"
Why do no kids my age know this saying? Is my dad really that old?!?!
Anyway, it's an "oldie but goodie" that every 10 year old should know by heart.
Ahahaha....as with everything it is explained better on Wikipedia. Wow, I didn't know that there are those additional lines--I learn something new everyday.
"Who's your friend?"
"John"
**Chuck the apple core at "John"
Why do no kids my age know this saying? Is my dad really that old?!?!
Anyway, it's an "oldie but goodie" that every 10 year old should know by heart.
Ahahaha....as with everything it is explained better on Wikipedia. Wow, I didn't know that there are those additional lines--I learn something new everyday.
2012
Gosh, that new movie sounds kinda freaky, but I think the premise is too fanciful. I mean, I haven't seen the movie yet, but it sounds like just another unpredictable destruction of the world based on the fact that the Mayan calendar happens to end that day. I like measurable facts, myself. That's why, when I want a world destruction scare, I read Robert Heinlein's "The Year of the Jackpot". I mean, here's a guy who's hobby is to track world changing (and not so much) events, and while everyone goes about their regular lives, he notices the trends indicating that things are getting more frequent and more dangerous.
I notice that a lot of people (for every generation going back centuries) have always claimed that "things have never been so bad as they are today". I just wonder whether anyone has taken the time to actually look at the trends instead of making such open statements.
Anyway, I'll let you be the judge. Here's the link to read this story:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20578281/Heinlein-Robert-A-Year-of-the-Jackpot
ENJOY!!!
I notice that a lot of people (for every generation going back centuries) have always claimed that "things have never been so bad as they are today". I just wonder whether anyone has taken the time to actually look at the trends instead of making such open statements.
Anyway, I'll let you be the judge. Here's the link to read this story:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20578281/Heinlein-Robert-A-Year-of-the-Jackpot
ENJOY!!!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hello.
Pretty much this is just a compilation of all the random stuff that I come across during a typical day in my life.
I'm always reading passages, finding pictures, and having random thoughts that I just want to be kept in a central place and shared. Real original thought for a blog, right? haha.
So yeah, this is more for me than anyone else, but I welcome all to follow along on my wacky journey through life.
I'm always reading passages, finding pictures, and having random thoughts that I just want to be kept in a central place and shared. Real original thought for a blog, right? haha.
So yeah, this is more for me than anyone else, but I welcome all to follow along on my wacky journey through life.
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