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Fáilte roimh mo dhialann

This is the Old Wolf's journal. It's where I engrave the comings and goings and doings of my walk through this green earth. My goal in life is to serve those whose paths I cross and help them achieve their fondest dreams and reach their God-given potential. May what you read here please you.
 
May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.

Kim Peek: 1951-2009

  • Dec. 23rd, 2009 at 2:26 AM
Fortunata
The original Rain Man has gone to meet his maker. I'm surprised there was not a bigger buzz here, since he lives in my metropolitan area.

Mr. Peek was an example of being one's best self. Despite severe handicaps, in later life he shared himself with millions of people and gave inspiration to those facing their own challenges. May he rest in peace, and may his family find comfort in a life well-lived.
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: sad

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How to fix Congress

  • Dec. 22nd, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Fortunata
This appeared in my mailbox today. I've seen similar things elsewhere, and these ideas have been floated individually at various times. I really like this one. Regardless of its likelihood or feasability, I happen to agree with it. If you don't, write your own blog.

"Congressional Reform Act of 2010"

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.

A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension:

A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators who would serve their term(s), and then go home and back to work.
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  • Feeling: hopeful

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respective-eponymous

Thou shalt not steal... unless you're poor and rip off WalMart

  • Dec. 22nd, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Fortunata
"British Rev. Tim Jones caused an uproar by telling his congregation that it is sometimes acceptable for desperate people to shoplift _ as long as they do it at large national chain stores, rather than small, family businesses."

Clicky

Oh wow. I feel a conversion to the Church of England coming on. Hello, WalMart? How late are you open?

I do wonder how much time will elapse before Father Jones' bishop wants a word with him...

Feasting on eggs fried in bacon grease... Merry Yule to me!
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: amused

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Oxymoron #47: Corporate Ethics

  • Dec. 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Fortunata
Every day I read "Dilbert". Every day it makes me grin wryly, but also fills my soul with a feeling of dread, because I know it's only a reflection of what's taking place out there.

Three examples are here:

http://www.dilbert.com/2009-01-25/
http://www.dilbert.com/2009-12-01/
http://www.dilbert.com/2009-12-22/

These will suffice - yet just about any day serves the purpose. It points out the fact that the underlying principles of most businesses out there are:

1) Screw the employee
2) Lie to the customer
3) Do whatever it takes to make the sale.
4) Win at any cost

It seems to me that the entire business structure of our country, not to mention the world, is built on a sandy foundation of lies, treachery and deceit - and if the rains come down and the floods come up, there's no way that house can stand.

The Old Testament records Abraham's negotiations with the Lord to save Sodom and Gomorrah - he successfully brokered a deal whereby the cities would be saved if ten righteous people could be found there. Tragically, the conditions of the contract were not met, and those two cities became the hottest towns on the plain.

If our nation is deserving of any form of divine favor whatever, it's only because of the relatively few decent people out there trying to live their lives and do business in a non-toxic way. If it were not for a few exceptions to this rule, I would despair for our nation's survival altogether.
  • Feeling: melancholy

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Doc Rat: Drive-by Proposal

  • Dec. 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Fortunata
Phew! Now that we've gotten that out of the way...

Life never looks quite the way we expect it will...

'Onya, Ben!
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: envious

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respective-eponymous

Writer's Block: You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!

  • Dec. 22nd, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Fortunata

Are there any classic holiday movies or TV shows that you look forward to watching year after year? What are your all-time favorites? Are there any you simply can't stand?


View 1089 Answers


I own "It's a Wonderful Life", "Mr. Kruger's Christmas", and "Miracle on 34th Street." I can watch these any time I like, and they're about the only holiday shows that I enjoy re-watching. I don't have a hypnogourd, which is good - because if I were to see the stop-motion "Frosty" even one more time, I think I'd gouge my eyes out with a rotary phone.

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respective-eponymous

Doc Rat: Yes, Dani, that's you!

  • Dec. 21st, 2009 at 8:30 AM
Fortunata
Always takes a little while to get used to a new appellation, doesn't it? Wait until you start getting called "Mrs. Ben Rat" or something...


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respective-eponymous

Dies Natalis Sol Invictus: We made it!

  • Dec. 21st, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Wreath
The long, slow walk to the longest night is over; it's all downhill from here.



Wishing you the greatest of peace and joy during this sacred season of rebirth and renewal.
Whatever your walk in life, may this time bring you greater strength and insight for the coming year.
  • Location:Home
  • Listening to:Vienna Boys' Choir - Carol of the Bells

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respective-eponymous

Doc Rat: I'm glad it's not just *my* family

  • Dec. 20th, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Fortunata
Poor Ben, poor Dani - having to put up with these clueless, insensitive yobs.








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respective-eponymous

A dying star breathes its last

  • Dec. 20th, 2009 at 3:27 AM
Hadron, Physics
A throbbing red giant star called chi Cygni, 550 light years away in the constellation Cygnus, has been imaged in unprecedented detail, giving a clear insight into the fate that awaits our own Sun in five billion years time. Full Article

A stunning animation created from still images taken over time show the expansion and contraction of the red giant as it runs out of fuel.
  • Feeling: impressed

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respective-eponymous

"Dead Man Working"

  • Dec. 19th, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Fortunata


This seems beyond possiblity. Yet there it is... You may need to click the "play" button a couple of times to get the movie to go.
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: intimidated

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respective-eponymous

Nutcracker as Action Adventure?

  • Dec. 19th, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Fortunata
[info]alaskawolf pointed me to this website, which informs me that "New Line has picked up a pitch from Darren Lemke, the writer behind the studio's Bryan Singer project "Jack the Giant Killer," that reimagines the classic tale of "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" as an action-adventure movie."

Oh, for the love of Mogg. What's next, this?

Sheesh...
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: annoyed

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respective-eponymous

Journey to the edge of space and time

  • Dec. 19th, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Fortunata
Just the other day I was wishing for something like this as I mentioned Powers of Ten. This is a fascinating video.



One little tidbit I thought of particular interest was the little 70-light year diameter sphere that shows the extent of man's radio transmissions. Even if anyone out there is listening, our "hello" has barely left the transmitter...

The universe is so honking big...
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: impressed

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Awesome on the Big Screen: Avatar

  • Dec. 18th, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Fortunata
Let's cut to the chase: . If my rating system had 11 stars, this film would get the extra one.

I read no reviews for this film, went not to RottenTomatoes, sought no input from friends, as I wanted to have the experience untainted. And now that I've seen it, I know a few things.


  1. I want to learn Na'avi. Dr. Paul Frommer, the creator of the language, has said he's finalizing the first Na'avi manual for submission to Fox. I want it. Now. He has also, said he hopes that there will be prequel and sequel movies, so that he'll have to develop more language. With all my heart, I pray that he's right.
  2. What's right about this movie: Everything
  3. What's wrong about this movie: Nothing
  4. See it in 3D? Yes, oh holy Mogg, yes... YES!


Now this is just one man's humble opinion. I know for a fact that there are going to be reviewers out there who don't like the film, notably my own hometown paper's Jeff Vice1, who pans just about everything I've ever enjoyed. At least he's a good bellwether for me... if he says turn right, I turn left. There will be people who find flaws in the film, on this or that creative or literary or artistic or technological merit. Screw'em.

( Here there be spoilers. Go no farther if you want to remain untainted. )

Overall Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

1When I wrote this review, I had a brainfreeze and mistakenly mentioned Chris Hicks, whose reviews I actually found balanced and accurate - huge apologies, Mr. Hicks!
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: touched
  • Listening to:Mannheim Steamroller

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respective-eponymous

Awesome in Real Life: Underwater Volcano

  • Dec. 18th, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Fortunata
CNN - Scientists witnessed the eruption of the deepest underwater volcano and caught the entire event on film for the first time -- complete with molten lava and sulfur smoke clouds.



4,000 feet down. That's awesome photography!
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: impressed
  • Listening to:Mannheim Steamroller

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respective-eponymous

What will come out of Copenhagen?

  • Dec. 18th, 2009 at 2:01 AM
Fortunata
John Gibbons of the Irish Times gives us 6 reasons Why the world won't cope for long.

His thesis is that "a political fudge that ducks science is the likeliest outcome at Copenhagen." I submit that if you spoonerize that, you'll be closer to the truth.
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: angry

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respective-eponymous

If you're a teacher, you'll like this. Maybe. If you don't take yourself too seriously.

  • Dec. 18th, 2009 at 1:45 AM
Fortunata
Some of the work of David Thorne.

Maybe it's the administrators that won't think this is funny. Oh well...



For your gratuitous enjoyment, I present here a public-domain story which George Reavis wrote when he was the Assistant Superintendent of the Cincinnati Public Schools back in the 1940s. This was a handout for my Educational Administration classwork in 1972. The Animal School
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: thoughtful

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respective-eponymous

This is cool

  • Dec. 18th, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Fortunata
Long before the Internet became a real phenomenon - for me at least - I had a book called "Powers of Ten." Still have it, actually.

This made me think of that immediately - very cleverly done. Push the slider. I only wish it went the other direction too...
  • Feeling: geeky

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respective-eponymous

Yes, well, so what?

  • Dec. 18th, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Fortunata
So I'm Stumbling around for a few minutes... and then a few minutes more... you know how it is. And on one blog I run across this little gem.




And it's late, and I'm tired, and so my eyes aren't working as well as they should - that's my story, and I'm sticking to it - and I'm thinking, OK, so what's the big deal?

Oh.

Wait...
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: silly

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respective-eponymous

Doc Rat: Why?

  • Dec. 18th, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Fortunata
Yes, yes - Ben's a fine, honorable, upstanding man. He's doing the right thing. I get that, and huge respect to him. But there's still something going on that we have yet to discover about his "secret."

Arrgh... Jenner! You're killing me here, and you took the hypocriticHippocratic Oath!

*gasp*
*twitch*
  • Location:Home
  • Feeling: tired
  • Listening to:DS9 Theme

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This journal entry brought to you by 100% clean renewable wind power.
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