Up Your Nose With a Hedge Trimmer

Tags

boredom, life in the meadow

Stop laughing!

That’s somebody’s child.

Packing is nearing a tipping point. I’ve certainly got lots of stuff still lying around, but I still have to cook, and I still need things like flour and mustard.

But I’m not sitting with boxes and filling them in five minutes any more. I’m having to look around and “find” items that will fit in that little spot left.

We are going to order our Pod next week. They said about 5 days at the outside for delivery.

The price to move, is akin to having a moving company move you door to door across country, so it ain’t cheap. I guess about what we had figured, but then we added in the cost of renting an RV for months, and fees at a campsite, and well, it got very expensive very fast. More than we wish to throw down the hole at least.

So it’s more like driving in a car and staying at motels. Far cheaper in the long run. And that changes the packing, since I won’t need kitchen stuff and so forth. But it’s coming together fast now.

¶

We got a few groceries yesterday and I got my hair cut. Aren’t you just thrilled? I mean could this post be any more exciting?

I didn’t think so.

Frankly I’m just bored today, and nothing much seems interesting or provocative to talk about. I’ve tried three times to discuss a conversation of sorts that I had with some “new atheists” the other day, which ended up the usual way. At least they are quite honest: one of their stated goals is the eradication of religion. Which is funny in a way, since they have the same sort of fanaticism that exists among fundamentalists. Two opposing forces, both seeing the world in black and white.

I’d give you the links but goodness, laziness prevents it. But the blog is entitled “Why Evolution is True” which is of course not exactly a snappy title, and is silly, since frankly people who don’t believe in evolution aren’t reading it, so it ends up being a gathering of like-minded individuals who pat each other on the back, assure each other that they are the most intelligent, most courageous, most honest people in the world, and believers are stupid, illogical and dependent on some preacher to tell them what to think.

It all gives me a headache.

¶

All the Republicans are boring the crap out of me. Does Willard ever stop making it up as he goes along? Are there any other candidates now? Newt sleeps until noon and Ragin’ Rick seems off to spend the rest of the week in Church, beggin’ no doubt.

¶

I’m not depressed, such bored. I am seldom bored. But when I am, it feels like depression, but it’s not. There is a fine line of demarcation that separates the two, and I know the difference, even when I’m not so good at explaining it. Bored is to be uninterested in much, but okay to just sit and stare into space and feel relaxed. Depression is being uninterested in much but unable to stare into space without feeling worse. Depression begs you to do something, boredom is almost comfortable at a certain point.

I’m seldom bored.

The Contrarian went through his clothes, making sure that my culling was okay. He moaned and cried. “Why, look, I haven’t seen this leather vest in years,” he erupts. “It’s dried up and worthless!” I say in  measured tone. He moans. We gotter done though. We have to get some suitcases. Does that tell you anything?

¶I do

I have no clue if or when I’ll be able to hook into a WiFi system. I guess we should be cancelling our dial-up account when we leave. Does that allow me to get my e-mail at all? I am so lost with this Intertubey stuff. We’re gonna hire a tech kid from the University when we get settled, and tell him what we want to do, and then let him tell us what we need to accomplish that. I’m getting a Kindle and an MP3 player I think. I have the laptop. The Contrarian wants a desk top. Beyond that, I have no clue. I like the Cloud thingie with MAC but that would mean something to do with my laptop. And all my stuff in Word.

HELP! LOL

I’m dumbo. This kid is gonna have a ball ‘splainin’ the technology to me.

¶

I do apologize for this boring post. Since I got no “what I learned” this week, I guess that little segment will be dismissed as an utter failure. So hopefully, I’ll get unbored and find something interesting to say, or at least be interested in saying something.

Have fun.

I guess I should make sure I get another trip to the bookstore before we leave and pick up a couple of books to read.

Sorry.

Mind is a terrible thing to age.

 

 

 

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Founding Fathers Opposed Darwin!

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American History, Anthony Weiner, boredom, David Barton, early humans, evolution, founding fathers, Health care, Herman Cain, immigration, lifestyle, Neandertals, paleontology, philosophy, psychology, Rick Santorum, science, self

Shocking? I guess it should be given the fact that Darwin didn’t publish his seminal work until 1859, more than half a century after our government was formed.

That is the claim however of the pseudo-historian David Barton. And he claims that no less of a questionable religionist than Thomas Paine, who died the same year that Darwin was born, argued that creationism must be taught in the schools.

If all of this leaves you a bit skeptical, well, Barton has plenty of other ideas that would make a big business  CEO grin from ear to ear. Jesus was opposed to minimum wage laws, and therefore unions, as well as progressive income taxes.

Even more shocking Mr. Barton explains the real impetus for the revolution was not economic, but a persistent dedication to the eradication of slavery. Somehow, England ultimately beat us to the punch on that, but no matter, it’s the thought that counts.

You can read all this and watch the actual interview wherein Barton espouses his unique “history” by following the link.

♦

Herman “step ‘n fetch it” Cain is busy these days, yakking up the airways with his bizarre understanding of the world. He too has a slippery grasp on history as he reminded us to “read that small section of the constitution” wherein we were promised life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Except that that little phrase doesn’t come from the constitution, but rather from the Declaration of Independence.

Cain then went on to and pontificated that as President, he would not sign any bills longer than three pages. Given that much of any bill deals with its impact on a plethora of other agencies and legislation and regulations and interfaces are essential for all these things to work together, this presents quite a problem. It suggests that Cain would end up signing zero bills. It also suggests Cain has no sense whatsoever of how the government operates.

Now Cain explains how he would deal with the problem at the border with Mexico–a wall, akin to the Great Wall, and one with a companion moat, and yes, filled with alligators!

Cain appears to subscribe to the Palin school of knowledge–just say what seems sensible to you, even when its demonstrable that you are not a very sensible person.

♦

“To thine own self be true?” Okay, but how exactly is one to determine who the true self is? It’s a lot harder question than you might have thought. Depending on what standard you use, you can end up at quite different conclusions. A very thoughtful article by Joshua Knobe.

♦

That leave you bored? Well join the club. Boredom is a human condition, no matter what anyone says. Even animals get bored. Boredom can be normal or abnormal, situational or existential. So if you find yourself bored, then read all about this subject! Nothing could be less boring.

♦

Memo to Antony Weiner: Dude, don’t miss the next meeting of “How I threw away my life”. Lots of your favorites will be there! Tiger Woods will offer the first testimonial. Also, a good move would be to check into rehab forthwith. That tends to get a sympathy vote. Sex addiction is the hottest trending rehab these days.

♦

When I was growing up, to call someone an Neandertal was essentially to call them something just barely above the level of ape. Today, our understanding is vastly superior, and we find that most of our old assumptions were wrong. Neandertal DNA shows up in some parts of today’s populations. And there is no evidence that Neandertals were in conflict with more modern man.

♦

These chin-ups are sure to pay off in the future!

♦

If you aren’t totally tired of Weiner jokes, then bop on over to Political Irony and see the late night comedians do their thing.

♦

Ricky “don’t google me” Santorum, just can’t stop being a boob. It’s his nature. He has told Johnny McCain that he don’t know nothin’ bout no torture, said that climate change is a patent absurdity, claimed he would make marriage inequality the center of his campaign, and so forth. Now in the growing Republican revision of history, he tells us that the D-Day invasion occurred precisely to insure the American right to private health care. Yes, he said that:

 

Almost 60,000 average Americans had the courage to go out and charge those beaches on Normandy, to drop out of airplanes who knows where, and take on the battle for freedom. … Those Americans risked everything so they could make that decision on their health care plan.

 

Yes, my friends, the ultimate nutjob said that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related articles

• Lying For Jesus: David Barton (scotteriology.wordpress.com)
• You know, David Barton has a reputation for inventing quotes, but this is ridiculous (scienceblogs.com)
• Herman Cain’s Immigration Plan: A Great Wall of China and Alligators in a Moat (alternet.org)
• FYI – Most Neandertals were right-handers. (jwitness.wordpress.com)

Reflecting Reflections Reflectively

Tags

Ash Wednesday, boredom, empathy, Evan Bayh, God, Jesus, Lent, love, penance

I have no clue what “bored out of my skull” means. It makes no sense, which I think is common to a lot of silly phrases we throw about haphazardly. In any case, I am not bored either in or out of mine, but I’m reflecting.

I live in a paradox. But don’t we all. Mine is that I seem to find a certain calmness in organizing my life into rituals. I get up at the same time, go through the same motions of making bed, cleaning up kitchen, making coffee, praying, cooking, studying. Dinner is at the same time, cleanup, computer time, news, shower, reading and meditation, TV. 

I find a certain comfort in “accomplishing” the day. But, then I can get “bored” with the sameness, the repetitive slogging through of innumerable bed makings and all the rest. I have been heard to say, “I’m just bored with taking a shower because it’s six o’clock.”

There is a certain grouchy grumbling going on here. That probably is why I’m unburdening myself. Yet, in the great continuum of life, I’m doing better than even at the moment. I’m making it. I’m surviving the trauma of a winter that refuses to let go. I’m assessing where I am and what I am doing. I’m pondering.

Reading blogs the last few days have lightened my mood. Gracious, but some of you are having much worse troubles than I am. That makes me feel better, and THAT thought makes me feel worse. If you get my drift. We all, to a degree can feel better when finding others who are doing so much worse.

Winter has sucked, but frankly, not as badly as some places in the US of A. Our woes have been tied to lots of other mishaps and unexpected disasters. Unexpected? Since they turn up with regularity, there is little unexpected except perhaps the EXACT form this one will take. I weep, and pray with certainty for the improvement of conditions for many, known and unknown. I know God did not cause it, and I know he won’t “fix” it, except through the open-hearted response of those who have relationship with Him.

It’s not a good thing to arrive at Ash Wednesday, unprepared. We are to be thinking during the run up to the most solemn of days, of what kind of penance we should be doing during the Lenten period. What are we going to “give up?” Soda or ice cream? Wasting time on FB? Playing online poker? Should we add something? More devotions? More volunteering? More something. More time thinking about the sacrifice of Jesus, the perfect and total obedience–the showing of us poor oh too human beings how to love completely and selflessly.

It all makes one feel inadequate of course. I cannot approach the Christ. I fail sometimes before the words of repentance are even out of my mouth, my tongue still curling over the last syllable. Jesus, of course understands, and forgives, and upholds, and encourages. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I turn my back. It depends–how raw is the pain? How much do I need to wallow in self pity if only for a few hours? Better people than me, far better, do better.

I look out the window and I see the sea of white that seems ever present. In fact, it comes close to being hard to remember when it was not like this. I decide my “give ups” and my “add ons” for the upcoming weeks. I shall try to do these practices mindfully and with great humility at my poor attempts. But I will be kind to myself too, for I know deeply that God offers such amazing grace each moment.

Somehow the distant clang of politics, and sports, and all that jazz, (are you eating up the lovely metaphors here?) resounds in quiet. Evan Bayh calls it quits and leaves the party in the lurch. A suspicious call (at least to me) at the pairs figure skating, Sarah sarahing, Dick “the Dick” Cheney, cheneying. . .  it all fades into a fair buzz, not subject to identification.

It is time to retreat into a mysterious world of silence, contemplating a broken world from afar. Yes we are in the world but not OF it as they say. At moments like this I remove myself from it. I dispassionately see it tattered and raw, from too much fighting, too little understanding and love seemingly relegated to personal relationships. No “fellow man” need apply.

This is the business of Lent. It is prospective examined. It is readjusting the continuum and making a nest for oneself there, somewhere between the extremes, somewhere safer than those places inhabited by Haitians and Iraqis, Afghans,  Iranians, and others who struggle with famine, war, and lack of freedom.

 It is time to pull up one’s boots and trudge on, for my life is so much easier than millions of others. Think of that. I am not walking miles for fresh water, nor standing in long lines for subsistence food rations. I am not making home in a tent, nor standing in more lines for showers and toilets. I am not worried that bombs will land upon me. I am not concerned with being incarcerated for thinking out loud.

Where I started was the thought that this winter was penance enough for Lent. But see? It certainly is not. Empathy is perhaps my theme this Lent. How to find it, grow it, and use it for the benefit of my brothers and sisters around the globe. I wish you all a blessed Lent, as we approach this fateful period. Give thanks for your own well being, rejoice in that, but do, I beg you, remember that you cannot escape responsibility. Am I my brother’s keeper Cain asked? Yes, yes you are and I am, all of us, on board this fragile planet held in God’s hand.