Are these two news items related? You decide:
Attaboys from WordPress for posting blog entries
“Hey,” says WordPress every time I post a blog entry, “you’re about to hit an artificial target of a round number of blog entries. Way to go!”
Here are three entries from the Guardian as a thank-you to them for loaning my blog a photo of a street protestor:
And now, back to the Committee, the supercomputer, the hackers, business associates and others who run the show in which we pay you a pittance to perform as marionettes…
Balsa Struts and Tissue Paper
Have you ever created a reason to walk door-to-door, meeting your neighbours, greeting strangers who have internal imagery that defines their perfect center of the universe in domiciles that may or may not define domestic bliss?
In my door-to-door adventures, I asked for Halloween candy; have sold: raffle tickets for junior high school sock hops, desk lamps and other catalog items for Cub/Boy Scout projects, candles and oranges for high school marching band trips, mini-encyclopedias for college spending money; delivered free telephone books; taken survey information for the 2010 U.S. Census.
In the forty or so years of these face-to-face encounters, I have seen houses full of African violets, mobile homes full of marijuana plants, dog/cat feces all over the floor, spotlessly-clean living rooms (implying there was little in the way of living going on in them), ethnic diversity in areas where homogeneity was most coveted, souvenir dinner plates covering walls, people answering the door in a variety of [un]dress and people being as quiet as they can, refusing to open the door.
Do you know the official history of the spot where you call home, even if it’s a carpark where your Travelers’ caravan sits temporarily?
I am a vagabond of thought patterns, meandering from place to place, committed neither to one thought pattern nor another, aware of the vanity that goes with believing any one thought set is a permanent solution to anything in particular.
I have a childhood drawing with three names on the bottom: Rick Hill, Jeff Garwood and Suzanne Trimble. I guess the drawing was made sometime between the third and sixth year of primary school.
I know the first person very well, have lost touch with the second person and the third person is about to spend seven months in Germany for reasons unknown to me.
However, these three people well represent the types of people I met in my door-to-door wanderings as a child encouraged to impress himself upon his neighbours to exchange labour credits/money for goods/services.
I painted houses, mowed lawns, raked leaves and helped friends in their newspaper delivery routes to provide myself the economic power to participate in the local marketplace during my teenage years.
I suppose children are still providing these services to put spending money in their pockets and deposits in their bank accounts, a few of them buying stamps, comic books, dolls or other collectibles and/or government savings bonds and company stock for investments.
Broken-balsa-wood-and-torn-tissue-paper windup-rubber-band-powered airplanes sit atop dusty stacks of books around me.
A rusty model rocket launch pad rod sticks up out of shopping bag labeled “CIRCUSWORLD TOY & VIDEO CENTER.”
A telescope points toward the ground.
On a pile next to me rests a wire kitchen strainer once used as a parabolic wireless network signal concentrator/reflector.
These items serve as keys or bookmarks for memory locations inside my body.
The generic brick-and-mortar, vinyl-sided, stacked-box objects we call home serve as memory locations for inhabitants, too.
A cave or a bamboo hut.
An adobe hacienda or stone castle.
We are rarely aware of the network of memory locations within us that are triggered by external objects like our homes and their contents.
Is your home rich with memories, both good and bad?
Or, like some of the sterile environments I observed when going door-to-door, is your home mostly unused, filled with objects about which you have little memory recall, the TV and computer serving more as an extension of your thought set than the furniture and facsimile paintings on the walls?
A fellow blogger posted that her friends find her boring. It’s a matter of perspective. How imaginative is the thought set of the blogger? How rich are her memories of growing up?
The Internet has opened the gates that once allowed only the most persistent, imaginative people to appear in mass media.
Now, everyone with a computing device (computer, tablet or mobile phone) can appear in a one-person off-Broadway autobiographical show — a slice of life with no beginning or end, no plot, no climax, just a character carrying on about whatever it is that character wants to put on display.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité. E pluribus unum.
On a side note, is it just me or does the US FTC (Federal Trade Commission) emblem look like the mask that some of the global protestors have been wearing?:
Map of the Future 2021
Where we spend our money…wisely?
We are…Marshall the 1% of the 1%. Where are you investing your investments?
Will Cuonzo Martin be a one-off or a longterm investment for UT men’s basketball? Can you fire a coach midseason in his first year, or…or do you think he’ll be the next Coach K and just needs some time?
Georgia (no, not Russia) and Russia (no, not Moscow, Idaho)
But can he ride a rocket out of the country?
Ракетчики останутся в заложниках у Родины Rocketeers will remain hostage to the Motherland
Руководитель Роскосмоса Владимир Поповкин запретил ездить на отдых за границу носителям государственных тайн Head of Russian Federal Space Agency Vladimir Popovkin forbidden to go on holiday abroad holders of state secrets
Руководитель Федерального космического агентства (Роскосмос) Владимир Поповкин. Head of Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Vladimir Popovkin. Фото: РИА НОВОСТИ/Артем Житенёв Photo: RIA Novosti / Artem Zhitenev
Руководитель Manager Федерального Federal космического Space агентства Agency Владимир Vladimir Поповкин Popovkin запретил banned выезд exit за for границу border на on отдых recreation руководителям managers и and сотрудникам employees предприятий businesses Роскосмоса , осведомленных Russian Space Agency, informed о of секретных Secret сведениях . clues.
— – Письмо « Об Letter “On the ограничении Restrictions выезда Check out из of РФ RF работников employees организаций Organizations ракетно – космической Rocket – Space промышленности » датировано 22 ноября , — рассказал « Известиям » высокопоставленный Industry “dated November 22, – told” Izvestia “senior источник source в in Роскосмосе . Roskosmos. — В – In тексте text руководитель manager рекомендует Recommends ограничить limit с 1 января 2012 года from January 1, 2012 выезд exit за for пределы limits РФ RF на on отдых recreation руководителей leaders и and работников , осведомленных employees who are aware о of сведениях DATA особой special важности the importance of или or совершенно секретных Top Secret сведениях DATA организаций. organizations.
Запрет Ban касается As for не not только only организаций Organizations и and предприятий , подведомственных enterprises under the jurisdiction of Роскосмосу . Речь Roscosmos. It также also идет is об about организациях , с organizations, with которыми which у in государства State заключен concluded договор contract о of проведении conduct работ , связанных work-related с with передачей transmission сведений Information особой special важности the importance of или or совсекретных sovsekretnyh сведений . Это довольно широкий круг лиц. of information. This is a pretty wide range of individuals. Например, провести зимний отпуск в Альпах теперь не смогут сотрудники банка, допущенные к сведениям о производстве продукции на предприятиях Роскосмоса. For example, spend winter holidays in the Alps now can not bank employees committed to information about the production process in enterprises Space Agency.
Единственная The only лазейка — здоровье . Если loophole – health. If в in период period отпуска holidays обладателю holder секретов Secrets нужно necessary лечение treatment за for рубежом Abroad и and аналогичных similar процедур procedures в in России Russia не not делают, do по on предписанию prescription врача doctor он he может can получить get разрешение resolution на on выезд . Это check-out. This единственное only исключение , предусмотренное the exception provided приказом Order Поповкина , никаких Popovkin, no других « иных Other “other случаев » в cases “in тексте text нет . no.
— – Это It служебный service документ , и document, and он he вписывается fits в in другие others действующие acting нормативные regulatory акты , касающиеся acts on вопросов issues обеспечения ensure секретности , — заявил « Известиям » руководитель Privacy – said “Izvestia” head пресс – службы Press – service Роскосмоса Russian Space Agency Алексей Alex Кузнецов . Kuznetsov.
Сам Himself Владимир Vladimir Поповкин Popovkin через through своего a пресс – секретаря Press – Secretary Анну Anna Ведищеву Vedischevu заявил « Известиям », что told “Izvestia”, which принятые adopted меры arrangements служат are не not запрету , а ban and упорядочению streamline выезда Check out за for рубеж frontier лиц , осведомленных persons knowledgeable о of секретных Secret сведениях . clues.
— Вопрос – Question о of том , почему why такие such меры arrangements не not принимались taken раньше, before, следует be адресовать address предыдущей previous администрации Administration Роскосмоса , — сказал он. Russian Space Agency, – he said.
В In подведомственных subordinate Роскосмосу Roscosmos предприятиях enterprises распоряжение disposal главы Chapter агентства Agency восприняли perceived без without энтузиазма . Невыездным of enthusiasm. restricted to travel abroad автоматически automatically становится is руководство guide всех all крупнейших the largest предприятий businesses и and холдингов holdings ракетно – космической Rocket – Space отрасли . Часто the industry. Often это it далеко far не not бедные poor люди , их people, their доходы revenue исчисляются calculated сотнями hundred тысяч thousands of долларов USD в in год . Обойти year. Getting Around новый new запрет ban им them будет will сложно , так difficult, because как as паспорта Passport сотрудников , обращающихся employees seeking с with секретами , полагается secrets, it is believed хранить store в in соответствующем appropriate отделе Department предприятия , где enterprises, where эти сотрудники работают . Выдаются these employees work. Issued паспорта Passport по on исполнении performance ряда number of формальностей, formalities и and бесконтрольно uncontrolled выехать leave за for рубеж frontier носитель carrier секретов Secrets не not сможет . can.
— – Наш Our руководитель manager имел had обыкновение habit в in январе January отдыхать rest на on островах Islands Индийского Indian океана , в Ocean, этом this году year он he был was на on Сейшелах , — рассказал « Известиям » собеседник Seychelles – told “Izvestia” interlocutor в in крупном large холдинге , выпускающем Holding, producing ракеты – носители missile – media тяжелого heavy класса . the class. — На – In следующий next год year у in него it другие others планы , но plans, but куда where конкретно specifically он he поедет , я go, I не not знаю . I know.
Заместитель Deputy директора Director крупной large организации organization Роскосмоса Russian Space Agency рассказал , что said that планирует plans получить get справку Help от from медика , подтверждающую physician confirming необходимость need выезда Check out за for рубеж : abroad:
— На – In следующей the next неделе week этим this и and займусь , потому loan, because что that летом in summer у in меня me в in последние last годы years график schedule не not позволяет . Мне allows it. I хочется want to в in тепло, heat и and зимой in winter в in России Russia мне me отдыхать rest негде . no place.
Сам Himself Владимир Vladimir Поповкин Popovkin в in августе August этого it года year проводил conducted отпуск vacation в in Сочи . Источник Sochi. Source в in Роскосмосе Roskosmos рассказывает , что says that руководитель manager не not впервые first адресует addresses отраслевым industry руководителям managers сигнал вести signal to более more скромный modest образ image жизни . Так , в of life. Thus, in начале early августа August этого it года year Роскосмос Roscosmos опубликовал published официальное official сообщение message о of намерении intention изменить change систему system оплаты Payment труда Labour отраслевых industry директоров Directors таким so образом , чтобы way that оклад salary руководителя Head превышал exceeded среднюю average зарплату Salary на on предприятии Company не not более more чем than в in пять five раз . Речь time. It идет is о of довольно rather существенном significant сокращении : в reduction: a этом this году year оклад salary руководителя Head превышает than заработную payroll плату fee работника employee в 8–10 раз . at 8-10.
We hazed at our high school, too (but nobody has died): Hazing death inquiry at Florida A&M: New incident, new investigation
LiFePo4
Thinking about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs today, comparing individualistic versus collectivist societies.
And then, remembering the kid on the playground who ended the game by saying, “It’s my ball and I’m going home,” while reading about the U.S. and Iran trading words over a no-longer flying electronic gizmo called a drone.
Will Brazil clear the Amazon rain forest in my lifetime?
Will governments shrink as retirement/pension plans are taken away from workers, thus decreasing the desire of people to get quasi-guaranteed-for-life government jobs? How will decreased tax revenues (a/k/a redistribution of wealth) change sociopolitical behaviour in the longterm? Is there a destabilising effect by fewer government bonds being issued?
Should the leaders of MF Global be hung by their short and curlies as a lesson to everyone else who says, “Well, sure, I was the head of the company — ‘the buck stops here’ and all that — but I’m just there as a leech to earn a big salary, using my face recognition as a selling point. I have no idea what I’m doing and certainly don’t know what’s going on in the company. I use coded words and phrases all the time — management doublespeak — how am I supposed to know which code words or phrases are actually interpreted and implemented by my employees?”?
Is there a tipping point in biodiversity for our species? Do we really want to find out?
What is the economic impact of Burt Rutan’s new venture?
Insects fly past the window.
A solar cell charges a battery on the front deck.
How many times have you gone out on a date with someone you met via an e-dating site and the date tells you, after meeting you in person, “Oh, well, I’m really serious about someone else”? We use coded words and phrases all the time. It’s up to us to figure out how to change our tactics/behaviour to hear different words and phrases the next time. Remember, insanity is hearing the same thing over and over and expecting to hear something different even though you haven’t changed.
Thanks to Garrett, Linda, Tiffany and Heath at Cracker Barrel; Batteries Plus; Sophie’s link to a Simple Guide to Having Fun; those who don’t use mobile phones, the Internet or electronic social networks.
Time to have fun away from the computer-connected global subcultural meme set. I assume the freedom of the Internet will be here when I get back.
Oh, and hey, be careful out there when buying Chinese real estate — the price of nest eggs in China DOES have an effect on you right now. Somehow, I feel like I’m repeating myself, repeating myself, myself, myself, self, my, oh my…
Is Being You Being “Weird”?
Peer-based behaviour modification
Warwalking
When you let go of stereotypes, question the assertions of those who claim authoritative positions, and accept yourself for who you are (no matter how much the “you” is uniquely unaligned with the subculture and cultural influences around you), what do you have?
If you are simply the intersection of waveforms, does a “you” exist?
I can say my skin is aging because, although I lose lots of skin cells every day, there is a consistency, a continuity, that goes with the concept of a substance that loses its flexibility and thickness with time, showing flaws, defects and indications of previous incidents that do not go away and, in fact, lead to a partial deterioration of this somewhat hairy divide between myself and the rest of the universe.
Have you ever walked through your neighbourhood and surreptitiously collected the source points of wireless computing signals by wearing a backpack which hides an electronic data collector inside?
Are locks, firewalls and passwords a warning or a challenge to you (and sometimes both)?
Other than gravity, entropy and other currently immutable laws, to what do you owe your existence? Social rules, both overt and implied?
Are we all just the result of previous beings successfully reproducing themselves?
Do you have a well-trained habit of saying “a group of things is” or the grammatical slip of “a group of things are” in your literary repertoire?
Do you know who Dale Earnhardt, Jr, is? How about Dr. Grigori Perelman?
Can you ignore all labels and let waveforms pass through you without using a sieve or filter to interpret them?
Have you ever tasted organic chai tea? Do you know if such a word as “chai” exists and, if so, how it is normally pronounced or correctly spelled/written in its native language?
Do you take (swallow, inject, rub on, drop in, etc.) any prescribed medication and, if so, the etymology of the words that describe what you take?
Daily, I ask myself what I’m doing here, listening to the echoes of the labels that bounce against me from the nearest [sub]culture, restricting myself to the use of a few thousand words, punctuation marks and writing rules to record my place in the universe even though I don’t exist.
We are all disrupters in the flow of time. Condensed waveform intersections.
I do not exist. The Book of the Future, which does not exist, either, is a device which reflects waveform intersections that are bound to happen.
A tree cannot see itself as a book, a table or a pencil.
We do not see what we will become, only what we know we can become: intersecting, reflecting waveforms.
Did my red hair, or people’s comment about what red hair means, contribute to my fits of uncontrolled rage when I was a kid? Is it just me or, when I’m aggressively happy, I, as a male, want to have sex, not romance, to quench my thirst for aggressiveness?
I, this list of labels, am an ordinary guy whose skin shows the scars of UV radiation and entropy.
I have achieved all my dreams and goals. I am happy to live and ready to die. This “I” has no need of time or social recognitions/obligations. “To be” is sufficient to describe me now and in the not-now.
Happiness is a condition of intersecting waveforms, not a goal, or a journey, or an object.
The laws of nature and social rules define the temporary restricted waveform intersections that look like me here.
Remove the labels of “laws of nature” and “social rules” and there is no me.
Time to not be me away from this social phenomenon called a blog.
The meditation session is over.
treetrunkdings 