It is -20 degrees in Vermont at my cabin and remember that temperature all too well when my husband and I first owned it. Since I am a creature who likes comfort I am more than happy to turn the place over to younger family who think it is fun to fight freezing their buns. Personally, at 3 degrees above zero, I hunkered down and read three books for the day, with relatively few interruptions until 5 AM, and felt it was a vacation.
The news is boring. The plane that crashed in the Hudson River has been shown over and over again. I'm delighted everyone was safe and am proud of the pilot...but, is there nothing else happening in the world or is the media just relieved that they don't have to play the ridiculous farewell speech GWB gave (in 13 minutes), repeatedly. He ended on a delightful note, proving all the negative things the American majority already knew about him. The man may have been disappointed, (suggesting that they might have been called mistakes by some; implying that they would be wrong to do so)rather than guilty about some of the things he caused to happen but the disappointment paled in face of the disappointment he was to the country during the eight years of his squatting in and disgracing the Oval office. Watch Keith Olbermann's comments on Bush's apology for not having the mess he was handed before he got to Washington better.
Oh well, as of last night, he is history!! I'll drink to that......
Saturday, January 17, 2009
THIS SPACE FOR RENT
Goodnight. I caved into sleep...the post will be made tomorrow, Saturday morning EST, sometime.
Friday, January 16, 2009
FAREWELL GW; KEEP GOING AWAY UNTIL THEY COME TO GET YOU FOR YOUR WAR CRIMES
There must be others who cringed all the way through the umpteenth farewell speech given by our outgoing leader of the used-to-be free world. When he said, "America is promoting liberty, human rights and dignity", I wondered what medication he was on, or what movie in his head he might have been watching.
In this delusion or hallucination since little of what he said hit on truth or fact, he mentioned that people went back to their "normal lives" after 9/11, but not 'he', who thought about it every day. He stood alone in his great responsibility about which he did nothing of import. Yes, there were no more terrorist attacks here on US soil. Why did there need to be? The terrorists saw to it that more than 4000 of the crop of our future were killed outright while 5 or more times that were injured or seriously maimed...never to be able to function with the full lives they led before this 'war against terror'! He really thinks we are safer than before...more evidence of his unrealistic view of his Presidency and its results. The media can pull up all sorts of footage to prove a point but I have not seem them pull up the footage of bin Laden's promise to break the economy of the US. He probably did not count on the easy success he could make of that by Bush's greed for oil and proving himself able to finish what 'Daddy' had started after getting rid of the man who had threatened Bush 41.
With his usual hubris, he tried to make it sound like a social victory in Afghanistan for women. When if ever, he comes out to the reality of the real world, he will find that women are still harassed, even with acid thrown in their face if they go to school. Some progress! Bush the man, who won't talk to anyone he sees as an enemy, (and sees most everyone outside the US as that) says we must reject isolationism and its companion protectionism. I believe he missed the recommendation to "practice what you preach'.
Bush, in that tiresome, longest war over nothing clear, said through Iraq, America was the leading cause of freedom. He dares to speak of moral clarity being maintained! I can't imagine to what in his administration he could be referring...does he mean when the history revisionists get through their work? He, with a benign smile on his face talked about the 'journey we have traveled together'. It reminded me of all the rapists who have calmly said, "She wanted it. She was asking for it." He thanked the American people for the trust they had placed in him, both of them. Clearly his approval ratings were not a significant bell weather for anything he ever did or the 'tough' decisions he decided. What had he expected when he took the job. Did he think he would have more than 77 vacations, hours a days to exercise and take care of his body, while others made the 'easy' decisions for him?
He complained he experienced setbacks, followed his conscience (at least he didn't repeat he was talking to God)and did what he thought was right. He never mentioned that I heard, an adviser, speechwriter, cabinet member or any one really important but thanked his family members profusely.
The most profound and truthful statement he made in the address, to my way of thinking, was saying America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict (referring to the Iraq War.) He accused others of murdering the innocent to further an ideology but missed that he was describing himself.
I fantasied coshing him with a bottle of (cheap)champagne and launching him back into the real world as far away from Washington as is possible until the International Courts come after him for his war crimes.
In this delusion or hallucination since little of what he said hit on truth or fact, he mentioned that people went back to their "normal lives" after 9/11, but not 'he', who thought about it every day. He stood alone in his great responsibility about which he did nothing of import. Yes, there were no more terrorist attacks here on US soil. Why did there need to be? The terrorists saw to it that more than 4000 of the crop of our future were killed outright while 5 or more times that were injured or seriously maimed...never to be able to function with the full lives they led before this 'war against terror'! He really thinks we are safer than before...more evidence of his unrealistic view of his Presidency and its results. The media can pull up all sorts of footage to prove a point but I have not seem them pull up the footage of bin Laden's promise to break the economy of the US. He probably did not count on the easy success he could make of that by Bush's greed for oil and proving himself able to finish what 'Daddy' had started after getting rid of the man who had threatened Bush 41.
With his usual hubris, he tried to make it sound like a social victory in Afghanistan for women. When if ever, he comes out to the reality of the real world, he will find that women are still harassed, even with acid thrown in their face if they go to school. Some progress! Bush the man, who won't talk to anyone he sees as an enemy, (and sees most everyone outside the US as that) says we must reject isolationism and its companion protectionism. I believe he missed the recommendation to "practice what you preach'.
Bush, in that tiresome, longest war over nothing clear, said through Iraq, America was the leading cause of freedom. He dares to speak of moral clarity being maintained! I can't imagine to what in his administration he could be referring...does he mean when the history revisionists get through their work? He, with a benign smile on his face talked about the 'journey we have traveled together'. It reminded me of all the rapists who have calmly said, "She wanted it. She was asking for it." He thanked the American people for the trust they had placed in him, both of them. Clearly his approval ratings were not a significant bell weather for anything he ever did or the 'tough' decisions he decided. What had he expected when he took the job. Did he think he would have more than 77 vacations, hours a days to exercise and take care of his body, while others made the 'easy' decisions for him?
He complained he experienced setbacks, followed his conscience (at least he didn't repeat he was talking to God)and did what he thought was right. He never mentioned that I heard, an adviser, speechwriter, cabinet member or any one really important but thanked his family members profusely.
The most profound and truthful statement he made in the address, to my way of thinking, was saying America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict (referring to the Iraq War.) He accused others of murdering the innocent to further an ideology but missed that he was describing himself.
I fantasied coshing him with a bottle of (cheap)champagne and launching him back into the real world as far away from Washington as is possible until the International Courts come after him for his war crimes.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
CREATIVITY; MAKING ART WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT
Sticking point: Tape artist's show An up-and-coming Japanese artist has devoted his life to creating and spreading art using adhesive tape.
Japan's Nerima Art Museum, which was built upon the grounds of a company which went on to become the country's first tape manufacturer Nichiban, is exhibiting his work.
Mauricio Olmedo-Perez reports. Watch this video and follow the topic in the other videos.
Life is never dull when you choose to live it fully.
Japan's Nerima Art Museum, which was built upon the grounds of a company which went on to become the country's first tape manufacturer Nichiban, is exhibiting his work.
Mauricio Olmedo-Perez reports. Watch this video and follow the topic in the other videos.
Life is never dull when you choose to live it fully.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
WHEN MUSIC IS MAGIC
When money is tight, first to go are luxuries. Sadly, an evening of entertainment by good musicians is too often in that category. Unrealized is that sometimes, that evening can substitute for medication, a massage, or behavioral relaxation techniques. Tonight, at the Sherborn Inn, Sherborn, MA, there were too few people in the dining room. Over the years, I have taught myself to filter the few rude talkers out, while most of us sit simply rapt.
The group called themselves Swingtime5. Those of us who try to get around to hear our favorites see them in several groups, often pick-up. Many seem to have a special affinity so that they hear and interpret the music like a single instrument. It was amazing how well the guitarist (Dan Wyner) and pianist (Ross Petot) 'talked' to each other. The great philosophical question comes to mind: "If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, will it make a sound?" When wonderful music is made and there is no one there to record it, did it happen?
When Ellington's Caravan was played it pulled the blabbermouth lady near me to silence. Billy Strayhorn's Chelsea Bridgecould have melted the Selfish Giant's heart before the children stole into the cold garden.
Jeff Hughes, was the triple brass section: Trumpet, Trumpet with mutes, and Flugelhorn. Justin Meyer on Bass, and Dave Didrikson, on Drums, completed the 5. For two and a half hours, these five men obscured the troubles of the world and transported us to the past, the present, and a musical Utopia. They played Songs, not the ear splitting, lacking-melody erroneously called music one hears blasting from a car 100 feet away. While it seems to me that only a drummer could enjoy a Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa solo for ten minutes, or another bassist when the verse and chorus are played by the bassist for several variations. Drum solos were never longer than four bars and the bass featured longer only when he was bowing.
The Boulevard of Broken Dreams was introduced as the Wall Street Song of Today. The variety of styles added interest. We were teased with Swing, Stride piano, Ballads with muted trumpet, and lots of old jazz riffs and even a 'Hey Baba Rebop' riff, to mention a few. One penta body breathed music, and worked off one another harmoniously. When Dan Wyner played All the Things You Are he sounded like a guitar trio until the other musicians joined him.
As a psychotherapist for a great many years, I could identify with the piano player who said, during the break, that he listens to few of the CDs he has as he continues to work on his own style. I, too, have developed my own style in a skill that has many others writing books that work for the writer but don't for most others. Each player had their own distinctive style and sound.
The last number played was We'll Be Together Again
beautiful for the words as well as the sentiment. The next to last song was Thanks for the Memorywhen it was the audience who quietly mouthed the words.
The group called themselves Swingtime5. Those of us who try to get around to hear our favorites see them in several groups, often pick-up. Many seem to have a special affinity so that they hear and interpret the music like a single instrument. It was amazing how well the guitarist (Dan Wyner) and pianist (Ross Petot) 'talked' to each other. The great philosophical question comes to mind: "If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, will it make a sound?" When wonderful music is made and there is no one there to record it, did it happen?
When Ellington's Caravan was played it pulled the blabbermouth lady near me to silence. Billy Strayhorn's Chelsea Bridgecould have melted the Selfish Giant's heart before the children stole into the cold garden.
Jeff Hughes, was the triple brass section: Trumpet, Trumpet with mutes, and Flugelhorn. Justin Meyer on Bass, and Dave Didrikson, on Drums, completed the 5. For two and a half hours, these five men obscured the troubles of the world and transported us to the past, the present, and a musical Utopia. They played Songs, not the ear splitting, lacking-melody erroneously called music one hears blasting from a car 100 feet away. While it seems to me that only a drummer could enjoy a Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa solo for ten minutes, or another bassist when the verse and chorus are played by the bassist for several variations. Drum solos were never longer than four bars and the bass featured longer only when he was bowing.
The Boulevard of Broken Dreams was introduced as the Wall Street Song of Today. The variety of styles added interest. We were teased with Swing, Stride piano, Ballads with muted trumpet, and lots of old jazz riffs and even a 'Hey Baba Rebop' riff, to mention a few. One penta body breathed music, and worked off one another harmoniously. When Dan Wyner played All the Things You Are he sounded like a guitar trio until the other musicians joined him.
As a psychotherapist for a great many years, I could identify with the piano player who said, during the break, that he listens to few of the CDs he has as he continues to work on his own style. I, too, have developed my own style in a skill that has many others writing books that work for the writer but don't for most others. Each player had their own distinctive style and sound.
The last number played was We'll Be Together Again
beautiful for the words as well as the sentiment. The next to last song was Thanks for the Memorywhen it was the audience who quietly mouthed the words.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
SOME GOODBYES ARE EASIER THAN OTHERS
Now that the election is over, things are not cooling down; the whole world is heating up. Today in a media frenzy, Bush tried to convince us that he had been a good president, responsible though strong enough to withstand the burden of that responsibility. He defended himself about Katrina handling by the government, clearly forgetting that there is so much camera footage of everything that he did. Each day there were official White House pictures as to how he spent the day. That this documentation proved him lying, or with severe memory problems, was clear as he laid groundwork for his attempt to rewrite history.
All his answers were about his own responses to things (he made it clear that he didn't listen to what others thought as he didn't want to be effected)like Abu Grabe as a 'disappointment'. Calling such a national disgrace a disappointment was a confirmation of his insensitivity, as though it was totally out of his purview. His 'laurels' as he saw them, were that there was not another attack on American soil of its people. Are not Americans just as dead whether it is in America or in Iraq and other places? His and Cheney's conclusion that they stopped another attack was like the researchers who reach conclusions on faith rather than scientific proof and data.
He admitted to one mistake, that of the banner MISSION ACCOMPLISHED though he didn't really negate the whole well-planned and choreographed photo-op given him on the Carrier. With a shy, impish smile, he also said that sometimes his rhetoric was wrong. Had he answered honestly, he might have said his rhetoric was too often based on a lie. Interestingly, the Colbert Report said his biggest mistake was ever giving press conferences!
While a small minority is saddened at his not being president any longer; the majority of the country will rejoice. Those in the habit of idealizing the dead will forget that he was responsible for the biggest mess we have had in a long time. The rest of us will pick up our teaspoons and start to empty out the ocean.
All his answers were about his own responses to things (he made it clear that he didn't listen to what others thought as he didn't want to be effected)like Abu Grabe as a 'disappointment'. Calling such a national disgrace a disappointment was a confirmation of his insensitivity, as though it was totally out of his purview. His 'laurels' as he saw them, were that there was not another attack on American soil of its people. Are not Americans just as dead whether it is in America or in Iraq and other places? His and Cheney's conclusion that they stopped another attack was like the researchers who reach conclusions on faith rather than scientific proof and data.
He admitted to one mistake, that of the banner MISSION ACCOMPLISHED though he didn't really negate the whole well-planned and choreographed photo-op given him on the Carrier. With a shy, impish smile, he also said that sometimes his rhetoric was wrong. Had he answered honestly, he might have said his rhetoric was too often based on a lie. Interestingly, the Colbert Report said his biggest mistake was ever giving press conferences!
While a small minority is saddened at his not being president any longer; the majority of the country will rejoice. Those in the habit of idealizing the dead will forget that he was responsible for the biggest mess we have had in a long time. The rest of us will pick up our teaspoons and start to empty out the ocean.
Monday, January 12, 2009
HOPES AND TERRORS OF 2009
Here are 10 reasons to be hopeful about 2009 and 3 to be terrified. As long as there are people who believe their God is the right one, all other beliefs wrong; as long as people think like George W. Bush, "You are either with me or against me." there will be no true peace in the world. Now that the Bush Administration has taken away our power of money with which to bargain outside the US and care for those less fortunate, we no longer have credibility in the world, our reputation as principled and humane people gone, we have much to be worried about for our future.
Catherine Brahic wrote on 20 March 2008, in NewScientist, about 25 environmental threats of the future. She started by saying, "Forget genetically modified crops - the great environmental concerns of the future should be nanomaterials, manmade viruses and biomimetic."
robots.
Deforestation in the Amazon is of great concern. Biodefense and Biosecurity are and should be major issues. However, if terror juices you up outside the theater, you should check out this site. It is feared that cellphones will become part of botnets. We have already reached 15% of all online computers computers infected. It is being predicted that cybercrime will continue to thrive. It is already terrifying to me that so many entities can come into my comp[uter as they please. It is as shocking as it once was to me to learn how many billions of critters live within our bodies and I can do nothing about it. Most think it is only a matter of time until VOIP (Voice Operated Internet Protocol)systems are taken over.
CSO Security and Risk tells us 10 things that won't happen in 2009.
1. Organizations will pay greater attention to security.
2. IT security spending will increase
3. Employees will use IT with greater security awareness
4. Employees will not fall for phishing and social engineering attacks
5. Employees will pay attention to company security policies
6. Facebook will be forgotten
7. They will not open files from people they don't know
8. Company devices and data will be never be lost again
9. Vulnerabilities and threat vectors will decrease
10. You will have an easy life.
Now that unemployment has risen beyond the charts, maybe employees will see that the employer is privileged rarely to have one of them; salary is paid for performance on the job, not appearance at the job. Follow the rules and RTFM might even be something acceptable once again as work protocol.
Catherine Brahic wrote on 20 March 2008, in NewScientist, about 25 environmental threats of the future. She started by saying, "Forget genetically modified crops - the great environmental concerns of the future should be nanomaterials, manmade viruses and biomimetic."
robots.
Deforestation in the Amazon is of great concern. Biodefense and Biosecurity are and should be major issues. However, if terror juices you up outside the theater, you should check out this site. It is feared that cellphones will become part of botnets. We have already reached 15% of all online computers computers infected. It is being predicted that cybercrime will continue to thrive. It is already terrifying to me that so many entities can come into my comp[uter as they please. It is as shocking as it once was to me to learn how many billions of critters live within our bodies and I can do nothing about it. Most think it is only a matter of time until VOIP (Voice Operated Internet Protocol)systems are taken over.
CSO Security and Risk tells us 10 things that won't happen in 2009.
1. Organizations will pay greater attention to security.
2. IT security spending will increase
3. Employees will use IT with greater security awareness
4. Employees will not fall for phishing and social engineering attacks
5. Employees will pay attention to company security policies
6. Facebook will be forgotten
7. They will not open files from people they don't know
8. Company devices and data will be never be lost again
9. Vulnerabilities and threat vectors will decrease
10. You will have an easy life.
Now that unemployment has risen beyond the charts, maybe employees will see that the employer is privileged rarely to have one of them; salary is paid for performance on the job, not appearance at the job. Follow the rules and RTFM might even be something acceptable once again as work protocol.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
A SNOW DAY
As the day is becoming grayer, there is talk of snow and sleet on the way. The strongest pull to veg back to the school days with the announcement of 'no school today' was the first thing to which my memory went back. However, no longer being a child, I can't just play, overturn chairs and grab blankets to make tunnels, or watch my cousin draw pictures of flatulence from a variety of foods. Even worse was when my sibs and I played 'school' on those days. Now how stupid could that have been? Why should that have been fun? I suppose because we could make the school be any way what we wanted it to be and because the three of us loved to learn. Of course we had no computers, few books, no encyclopedias, nor could we look to our busy parents for help.
Now I am grown, in fact...old. I'd love to play everyday but there are too many survival tasks that interfere. Survival tasks are too time consuming. To me they are the biggest waste of my time, yet they cannot be avoided...just as the term implies...and survive. As a child, day is not spent taking care of your teeth, hair, body, chores, clothing, housekeeping, and remembering all the dear friends and relatives on their birthdays, etc.
Part of being an old, grown up who has lived in the same house for 42 years is the extraordinary amount of the 'stuff', George Carlin talked ,that is accumulated. Adding to that, being a child survivor of the Great Depression, there is nothing you really want to throw out, either. Consequently, places to put things becomes more dear that office space in downtown Dallas and Manhattan. I buy all sorts of containers to put things in but then have no place to put the filled containers.
This is why, on the snow days I look around and think to myself, "What a great day to organize things and eliminate some of those piles covering every surface of my computer room." The task is so daunting, I think it is time to eat something, followed by the urge to hunker down with a good book...another commodity with which the house is overflowing. If you crave phone calls, just pick up a good book and you can be assured the phone will not stop ringing. A trip to the 'necessary' room. as it was called a few generations ago is of equal assurance.
My childhood experiences with snow did not include walking miles to school in the snow. However, since we had a bus, it was often late, so we made tunnels in the drifted snow. All in-snow activity was in non-waterproof clothing on those years. Snow suits were like sponges, soaking up all the wetness to be found as the snow melted from out body heat. Even without TV or computers, there was never a time that I was bored or without something I enjoyed doing.
While the day may be spent differently, I still get a thrill out of realizing I have a snow day, even though the radio didn't inform me.
Now I am grown, in fact...old. I'd love to play everyday but there are too many survival tasks that interfere. Survival tasks are too time consuming. To me they are the biggest waste of my time, yet they cannot be avoided...just as the term implies...and survive. As a child, day is not spent taking care of your teeth, hair, body, chores, clothing, housekeeping, and remembering all the dear friends and relatives on their birthdays, etc.
Part of being an old, grown up who has lived in the same house for 42 years is the extraordinary amount of the 'stuff', George Carlin talked ,that is accumulated. Adding to that, being a child survivor of the Great Depression, there is nothing you really want to throw out, either. Consequently, places to put things becomes more dear that office space in downtown Dallas and Manhattan. I buy all sorts of containers to put things in but then have no place to put the filled containers.
This is why, on the snow days I look around and think to myself, "What a great day to organize things and eliminate some of those piles covering every surface of my computer room." The task is so daunting, I think it is time to eat something, followed by the urge to hunker down with a good book...another commodity with which the house is overflowing. If you crave phone calls, just pick up a good book and you can be assured the phone will not stop ringing. A trip to the 'necessary' room. as it was called a few generations ago is of equal assurance.
My childhood experiences with snow did not include walking miles to school in the snow. However, since we had a bus, it was often late, so we made tunnels in the drifted snow. All in-snow activity was in non-waterproof clothing on those years. Snow suits were like sponges, soaking up all the wetness to be found as the snow melted from out body heat. Even without TV or computers, there was never a time that I was bored or without something I enjoyed doing.
While the day may be spent differently, I still get a thrill out of realizing I have a snow day, even though the radio didn't inform me.
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