Let's see: our daughter Michu flew into Portland from Dallas, Texas, to visit us. Staying with her sister Biftu at Biftu's Portland apartment, either one of both of them were to come to Corvallis, either before or after Christmas.
Finally, Michu came to Corvallis on Friday -- just after Kathe left to visit a friend for the weekend in Forest Grove, near Portland. I was running errands all afternoon, and arrived home just before I had to leave for work (night shift) to find Michu there, displeased that she would only see me for a few minutes, and even more distressed that she wouldn't see Kathe at all (Waldy and Tes, both living with us, hadn't heard that Kathe was going out of town, because neither Kathe nor I had seen them all day).
Yesterday, I spent a little more time with Michu and Tes, and then they took a bus to Portland together. There they will spend a couple of days with Biftu and at least some time with Kathe, and then Kathe will pick up Tes on her way out of town and bring him home to Corvallis.
And the cell phones? We've been using them a lot: mine, Kathe's, Michu's, calling one another with the latest updates.
We could have done pretty much everything we did over the last few days with ordinary stationary phones, but contacts which were immediate would have taken hours to make. All of us were spared a lot of anxiety thanks to being able to talk whenever we wished, wherever we were.
I could learn to love these little things.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
TV Commercials Are Better Than Ever
These are mostly from a thread at Making Light. Others are ones I found myself, either by hunting around with half-remembered keywords or just stumbled across at YouTube.
There's some real creativity going into the things these days. Sometimes even for a [WARNING: Intense] worthwhile cause.
And there are also some real treasures from the old days out there.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Beauty is where you find it."\\
There's some real creativity going into the things these days. Sometimes even for a [WARNING: Intense] worthwhile cause.
And there are also some real treasures from the old days out there.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Beauty is where you find it."\\
Friday, December 29, 2006
The Ford Solution
The recent death of former President Gerald Ford remind sme that I never did offer to the public my solution to the looming political crisis of George W. Bush's impeachment.
Obviously, Bush has committed high crimes and misdemeanors sufficient to be impeached and removed from office. Just as obviously, Vice President Cheney has been involved in modst of them, as well as offenses of his own. But impeaching both of them would make Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi President, and many would view this as simply a Democratic power grab.
We will pass over in silence the irony of Republicans accusing anyone of stealing the Presidency.
Seriously, though, there is an alternative scenario for replacing a corrupt and incompetent President and Vice President. Let us call it the Ford Solution:
1) Cheney resigns.
2) Bush nominates a new Vice President, who is approved by Congress. This needs to be a person who has not been a member of the Administration, nor an advisor to it, but who is of sufficient public stature as to be acceptable as President. This person should be a Republican, so that there be no accusations of Bush being removed for purely political reasons. It should be a person who is not seen as likely to run for another term as President, to avoid the appearance of seeking an unfair advantage for either party in the 2008 election.
3) Bush resigns, and the appointed Vice President becomes President. The new President might or might not pardon Bush and Cheney. We could argue for decades over whether that would be the right thing to do, but what's most important is that we get rid of Bush and his entire crew and replace them with someone who is minimally acceptable in the job.
Aside from persuading the pigheaded, reality-denying Bush crew to go along with this scheme, the hardest part of it would be finding an acceptable new President to hold the office until 2009. To my way of thinking, there is really only one person, flawed though he is, who is really auited to this role:
Former President George Herbert Walker Bush.
I never thought I would endorse the gun-running, drug-running, dogleg-crooked CIA-spook bastard for another day in the Oval Office, but let's face it: he's smarter and more honest than Junior, he can't run in 2008 even if he wanted to, he's a prominent Republican who has never been so much as consulted by Bush or his people...he's the best possible choice.
God help us.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "The best is often enemy of the good."\\
Obviously, Bush has committed high crimes and misdemeanors sufficient to be impeached and removed from office. Just as obviously, Vice President Cheney has been involved in modst of them, as well as offenses of his own. But impeaching both of them would make Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi President, and many would view this as simply a Democratic power grab.
We will pass over in silence the irony of Republicans accusing anyone of stealing the Presidency.
Seriously, though, there is an alternative scenario for replacing a corrupt and incompetent President and Vice President. Let us call it the Ford Solution:
1) Cheney resigns.
2) Bush nominates a new Vice President, who is approved by Congress. This needs to be a person who has not been a member of the Administration, nor an advisor to it, but who is of sufficient public stature as to be acceptable as President. This person should be a Republican, so that there be no accusations of Bush being removed for purely political reasons. It should be a person who is not seen as likely to run for another term as President, to avoid the appearance of seeking an unfair advantage for either party in the 2008 election.
3) Bush resigns, and the appointed Vice President becomes President. The new President might or might not pardon Bush and Cheney. We could argue for decades over whether that would be the right thing to do, but what's most important is that we get rid of Bush and his entire crew and replace them with someone who is minimally acceptable in the job.
Aside from persuading the pigheaded, reality-denying Bush crew to go along with this scheme, the hardest part of it would be finding an acceptable new President to hold the office until 2009. To my way of thinking, there is really only one person, flawed though he is, who is really auited to this role:
Former President George Herbert Walker Bush.
I never thought I would endorse the gun-running, drug-running, dogleg-crooked CIA-spook bastard for another day in the Oval Office, but let's face it: he's smarter and more honest than Junior, he can't run in 2008 even if he wanted to, he's a prominent Republican who has never been so much as consulted by Bush or his people...he's the best possible choice.
God help us.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "The best is often enemy of the good."\\
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Forest Fires, Ocean Temperatures, and Kathe
Kathe sent me this:http://www.newsday.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-wildfires-climate,0,4582282.story?coll=sns-ap-science-headlines
"This article seems to say that ocean temperatures drive fires, while the one in the GT seems to sy the opposite. I'm with Newsday; the oceans are a lot larger than the forests. But I admit, that's a superficial opinion."
On the other hand, the oceans are only a little bit cooler or warmer than the atmosphere, while a forest fire is a LOT warmer. Dunno.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Time will tell -- but are you sure you want it to?"\\
"This article seems to say that ocean temperatures drive fires, while the one in the GT seems to sy the opposite. I'm with Newsday; the oceans are a lot larger than the forests. But I admit, that's a superficial opinion."
On the other hand, the oceans are only a little bit cooler or warmer than the atmosphere, while a forest fire is a LOT warmer. Dunno.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Time will tell -- but are you sure you want it to?"\\
Monday, December 25, 2006
Contact Light, 2006
Contact Light, 2006 Year-End Edition, from John M. Burt and the Burt Family
960 SW Jefferson Avenue, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 USA (541) 753-6094 john_m_burt@hotmail.com // katheburt@hotmail.com
This is a Blackberry House publication
Note: The first words spoken from the Lunar surface, even before "The Eagle has landed", were "Contact light," meaning that a light in the cockpit indicated that the legs of the lander had touched down. This publication exists to maintain contact, and hopes to spread light.
Well, that was different. No two years are alike, of course, that's part of their charm. This one could have been more charming, though.
Last things first, the December windstorms that left literally millions without electricity across the Pacific Northwest did indeed take out our power, but only for a few hours. Kathe was visiting a friend in Portland that night, and their power was out for longer. but they were only inconvenienced, not harmed.
By the way: Also left without electricity for at least part of the time were: daughter Biftu (Asnakech) in Portland, daughter Sarah in Portland, son Jake and daughter-in-law Claire in Lakewood (Washington), brother David in Seattle, brother Tom in Corvallis, John's parents in Monroe (Oregon), aunt Anne and uncle Wes in Corvallis, cousins Mike and Jen in Corvallis, and a couple million other folks.
Some brittle ailanthus branches broke off, as they usually do, but none of our trees blew down. Altogether it was a minor incident., not worthy of mentioning in this letter, except that it happened so recently. As for the rest of the year....
John's grandfather died. He was John's mother's father (John’s father's parents died a long time ago), 92 years old and married 73 years to Grandma. It wasn't unexpected, it wasn't untimely, and there isn't a lot to regret at the end of a life like his. On the other hand . . . Grandpa died.
Waldy turned 18 this year, and has worked at his first job. Interestingly, it's the same as John's first job: washing dishes at Darrell's Fine Food on North 9th Street. Same location, too. Late update: he has just traded up to washing dishes at a classier place.
After years of ill-health, Tesfaye has had a major improvement in his condition and we have every reason to expect that he will do well in the future.
Biftu continues to live and work in Portland. Michu (aka Mestowet) continues to live and work in Dallas, Texas. We’re looking forward to seeing them both this Christmas.
John flunked out of nursing school but is taking steps to get back in the program and/or back on the horse. Unfortunately, the nursing school program is fairly inflexible: Nursing 101 in Fall term, Nursing 102 in Winter, Nursing 103 in Spring, so he has to wait until Spring term of 2007 to re-take Nursing 103. On the advice of the faculty, he'll audit Nursing 102 to help get up to speed, and then make his plea to be allowed to take Nursing 103 for credit. In the immortal words of Bullwinkle J. Moose, "This time for sure!"
When the kids were little, we referred to prostheses as "robot" parts, as in, "he has no arm, so the doctor gave him a robot arm." They were greatly amused when I referred to Kathe's numerous gold crowns and gold-framed tooth as "robot teeth". A few years ago she acquired new hip joints which set off metal detectors, and in November she added "robot eyes" when her lenses, impaired by cataracts and light-refracting wrinkles, were replaced. She'll still need glasses, but her new lenses are a definite improvement over the old ones. When they put the new lens in her left eye, she was greatly impressed by how much more light it let in, but she was accustomed to it by the time she'd recovered enough for surgery on the right. As of this writing, she still doesn't have a new eyeglass prescription because her eyes have not yet completely healed and thus her vision is still improving slowly, but she can already see well enough, using an old pair of glasses, to read and drive and otherwise carry out what nurses call "the ADLs" (Activities of Daily Life).
And speaking of hip joints, John's father didn't have a very good time with his broken hip, but he continues to recover, literally one step at a time.
On the bright side, also seen recently at John's parents' place is a new baby. John's cousin Mike and his wife Jen, who have lived in an apartment in the barn off and on, are by all reports really enjoying parenthood, as well they should.
Last year, much of the roof was replaced with a new set of shingles that ought to last for decades. This summer, much of what remained was replaced. Once again, Kathe's son Jake did most of the work. It's such a pleasure and a comfort to hear the rain falling and not having to worry (much) about where it might be leaking.
I reckon those are the highlights of the year. For more details, try John's blog: http://john_m_burt.blogspot.com
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "God bless us all -- no exceptions."\\
960 SW Jefferson Avenue, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 USA (541) 753-6094 john_m_burt@hotmail.com // katheburt@hotmail.com
This is a Blackberry House publication
Note: The first words spoken from the Lunar surface, even before "The Eagle has landed", were "Contact light," meaning that a light in the cockpit indicated that the legs of the lander had touched down. This publication exists to maintain contact, and hopes to spread light.
Well, that was different. No two years are alike, of course, that's part of their charm. This one could have been more charming, though.
Last things first, the December windstorms that left literally millions without electricity across the Pacific Northwest did indeed take out our power, but only for a few hours. Kathe was visiting a friend in Portland that night, and their power was out for longer. but they were only inconvenienced, not harmed.
By the way: Also left without electricity for at least part of the time were: daughter Biftu (Asnakech) in Portland, daughter Sarah in Portland, son Jake and daughter-in-law Claire in Lakewood (Washington), brother David in Seattle, brother Tom in Corvallis, John's parents in Monroe (Oregon), aunt Anne and uncle Wes in Corvallis, cousins Mike and Jen in Corvallis, and a couple million other folks.
Some brittle ailanthus branches broke off, as they usually do, but none of our trees blew down. Altogether it was a minor incident., not worthy of mentioning in this letter, except that it happened so recently. As for the rest of the year....
John's grandfather died. He was John's mother's father (John’s father's parents died a long time ago), 92 years old and married 73 years to Grandma. It wasn't unexpected, it wasn't untimely, and there isn't a lot to regret at the end of a life like his. On the other hand . . . Grandpa died.
Waldy turned 18 this year, and has worked at his first job. Interestingly, it's the same as John's first job: washing dishes at Darrell's Fine Food on North 9th Street. Same location, too. Late update: he has just traded up to washing dishes at a classier place.
After years of ill-health, Tesfaye has had a major improvement in his condition and we have every reason to expect that he will do well in the future.
Biftu continues to live and work in Portland. Michu (aka Mestowet) continues to live and work in Dallas, Texas. We’re looking forward to seeing them both this Christmas.
John flunked out of nursing school but is taking steps to get back in the program and/or back on the horse. Unfortunately, the nursing school program is fairly inflexible: Nursing 101 in Fall term, Nursing 102 in Winter, Nursing 103 in Spring, so he has to wait until Spring term of 2007 to re-take Nursing 103. On the advice of the faculty, he'll audit Nursing 102 to help get up to speed, and then make his plea to be allowed to take Nursing 103 for credit. In the immortal words of Bullwinkle J. Moose, "This time for sure!"
When the kids were little, we referred to prostheses as "robot" parts, as in, "he has no arm, so the doctor gave him a robot arm." They were greatly amused when I referred to Kathe's numerous gold crowns and gold-framed tooth as "robot teeth". A few years ago she acquired new hip joints which set off metal detectors, and in November she added "robot eyes" when her lenses, impaired by cataracts and light-refracting wrinkles, were replaced. She'll still need glasses, but her new lenses are a definite improvement over the old ones. When they put the new lens in her left eye, she was greatly impressed by how much more light it let in, but she was accustomed to it by the time she'd recovered enough for surgery on the right. As of this writing, she still doesn't have a new eyeglass prescription because her eyes have not yet completely healed and thus her vision is still improving slowly, but she can already see well enough, using an old pair of glasses, to read and drive and otherwise carry out what nurses call "the ADLs" (Activities of Daily Life).
And speaking of hip joints, John's father didn't have a very good time with his broken hip, but he continues to recover, literally one step at a time.
On the bright side, also seen recently at John's parents' place is a new baby. John's cousin Mike and his wife Jen, who have lived in an apartment in the barn off and on, are by all reports really enjoying parenthood, as well they should.
Last year, much of the roof was replaced with a new set of shingles that ought to last for decades. This summer, much of what remained was replaced. Once again, Kathe's son Jake did most of the work. It's such a pleasure and a comfort to hear the rain falling and not having to worry (much) about where it might be leaking.
I reckon those are the highlights of the year. For more details, try John's blog: http://john_m_burt.blogspot.com
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "God bless us all -- no exceptions."\\
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
The Corporal's Boots
They're empty.
Thousands of empty boots.
More every day.
Anyone you know?
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Speak up."\\
Thousands of empty boots.
More every day.
Anyone you know?
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Speak up."\\
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
No Rats Left
A family member left his rats with us, and they lived for years in a cage on our coffee table. It was a nice enough home, I hope, with enough room for four rats, and they had one another for company, which is good for rats. And eventually the began to die of old age.
First Ratzilla,
then Bob,
then Chewbacca (who was going to get a post called "One Rat Left", but I didn't want to write such a post on the same day that my grandfather died),
and last of all, Horatio (who was named on account of a truly bizarre botched quote, when his previous owner saw him diving into a yogurt tub and cried, "Once more into the yogurt, Horatio!").
So, now we don't have any rats, and the cage is empty, sitting in a back corner until we decide what to do with it (probably store it in anticipation of more rats one of these days).
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Rats live on no evil star."\\
First Ratzilla,
then Bob,
then Chewbacca (who was going to get a post called "One Rat Left", but I didn't want to write such a post on the same day that my grandfather died),
and last of all, Horatio (who was named on account of a truly bizarre botched quote, when his previous owner saw him diving into a yogurt tub and cried, "Once more into the yogurt, Horatio!").
So, now we don't have any rats, and the cage is empty, sitting in a back corner until we decide what to do with it (probably store it in anticipation of more rats one of these days).
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Rats live on no evil star."\\
Monday, December 18, 2006
This is Inconveniently True
"The new Congress must take real action to solve the climate crisis immediately."
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "The veracity of a statement does not depend on its being convenient."\\
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "The veracity of a statement does not depend on its being convenient."\\
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Save the Internet!
Or anyway, save Net Neutrality.
Or anyway, watch this cute video, "Independence Day", on YouTube.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "[message delayed because Eight-Ball didn't pay for premium delivery]"\\
Or anyway, watch this cute video, "Independence Day", on YouTube.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "[message delayed because Eight-Ball didn't pay for premium delivery]"\\
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Most communicable diseases can be prevented, but the resources to do this aren't available in much of the world. UNICEF does what it can, but they could do more if the U.S. Congress would be good enough to fulfill its obligations to the organization. Petition here for the new Congress to show more gumption than the last one.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "He who saves his neighbor from a communicable disease saves himself. That's why they're called 'communicable', duh."\\
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "He who saves his neighbor from a communicable disease saves himself. That's why they're called 'communicable', duh."\\
Friday, December 15, 2006
No Trees Fell On Us
during last night's storm, although one big tree did fall on the utility wires next door. Power was out in most of Corvallis for several hours, but it did come back eventually. I was going to make this post last night, actually, but Internet access and cable TV were not restored as quickly as power.
I use incense in my massage prtactice, and some people bring their own incense, usually in the form of scented candles. So, that was what we used for light last night. Tesfaye liked the Christmassy smell his room acquired from a big red potted candle, so he's keeping it for now.
The most unusual part of the evening, actually, for me personally, was that I went to bed at eleven. I haven't been to bed so early in years. But not only did I find myself going splah onto the bed at 2300 hours, but I didn't wake up until a full eight hours had passed. Amazing.
Seriously, I used to absolutely have to have six hours or I was no use the next day. And then one day I noticed that I was routinely getting only three or four. Working night shifts, I sometimes didn't bother trying to get any sleep during the day. Only last night it was eight. Guess a deficit finally caught up with me. Or maybe it was those scented candles.
The only casualty was the rat Horatio, and I doubt if that had anything to do with the storm. He was very old.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Where were you when the lights went out?"\\
I use incense in my massage prtactice, and some people bring their own incense, usually in the form of scented candles. So, that was what we used for light last night. Tesfaye liked the Christmassy smell his room acquired from a big red potted candle, so he's keeping it for now.
The most unusual part of the evening, actually, for me personally, was that I went to bed at eleven. I haven't been to bed so early in years. But not only did I find myself going splah onto the bed at 2300 hours, but I didn't wake up until a full eight hours had passed. Amazing.
Seriously, I used to absolutely have to have six hours or I was no use the next day. And then one day I noticed that I was routinely getting only three or four. Working night shifts, I sometimes didn't bother trying to get any sleep during the day. Only last night it was eight. Guess a deficit finally caught up with me. Or maybe it was those scented candles.
The only casualty was the rat Horatio, and I doubt if that had anything to do with the storm. He was very old.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Where were you when the lights went out?"\\
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Dear Rabbi Bogomilsky
Instead of asking for a menorah to "balance" the Christmas trees displayed at Sea-Tac Airport, why not do what the Christians did centuries ago: embrace the Yule tree.
After all, the tree is pure Nordic paganism, without the slightest Christian element except when Christian families go out of their way to make it so.
The "Hanukkah bush" doesn't have to be just a dumb joke: make the Yule tree a Jewish symbol.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Why the Sheol not?"\\
After all, the tree is pure Nordic paganism, without the slightest Christian element except when Christian families go out of their way to make it so.
The "Hanukkah bush" doesn't have to be just a dumb joke: make the Yule tree a Jewish symbol.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Why the Sheol not?"\\
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The Iraq War Memorial
Here's an idea: put it on the White House Lawn
It's close to my own idea, which is that the Iraq War Memorial should be a bullet-pocked wall in the Rose Garden, and the wooden post erected in front of it.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "John, I thought you were against capital punishment."\\
It's close to my own idea, which is that the Iraq War Memorial should be a bullet-pocked wall in the Rose Garden, and the wooden post erected in front of it.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "John, I thought you were against capital punishment."\\
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Sign the Save Darfur Petition
It's not much, but it's more than you were going to do about it today otherwise:
http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6099
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Every little bit...is more than none."\\
http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6099
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Every little bit...is more than none."\\
Monday, December 11, 2006
No More Crooked Florida Elections
Haven't we had enough of those?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15883.htm
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "I know I have."\\
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15883.htm
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "I know I have."\\
Thursday, December 07, 2006
My Grandfather Died
My mother sent me this e-mail this morning:
Good Morning,
Charles Alfred Cook passed into God's glory about 5:30 this morning.
Love to all,
George & Dorothy Burt
Charles Alfred Cook, born 26 Nov 1914 in Madison, Lake Co., SD. He
was the son of 2. Floyd Alfred
Cook and 3. Ada Elsie Swarts.
He married (1) Dessie Zoe Allen 20 May 1933 in Bakersfield, Kern Co.,
CA. She was born 18 Mar
1918 in Grey, Beaver Co., OK. She was the daughter of Jessiman
Alonzo Allen and Eva Grace Miller.
------------------------------
OBITUARY FORM INFORMATION
NAME: Charles Alfred Cook AGE: 92 DATE OF DEATH: December 7,
2006
RESIDENCE: Vista, CA since ____ [1980's?]
DATE OF BIRTH: 26 Nov 1914 PLACE: Madison, SD
PARENTS NAMES: Floyd and Ada [Swarts] Cook
CAUSE OF DEATH: Cancer
NO SERVICE PLANNED
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS to: ___________
FUNERAL HOME:
FAMILY CONTACT: Pat Varner 760-521-8054
CAREER: shipyard worker in WWII, Carpenter/builder
MILITARY: none
HE MARRIED DESSIE ZOE ALLEN ON 20 May 1933 in Bakersfield, CA
MARRIED: 73 years
SURVIVORS:
wife, Zoe Cook
CHILDREN:
Charlene Guzman of Daly City, CA
Pat Varner of Vista, CA
Dorothy Burt of Monroe, OR
Kate Henderson of Hurricane, UT
Sandra Weitzel of Durham, NC
Charles Alfred Cook Jr. of Yreka, CA
Alec Cook of El Cajon, CA
SIBLINGS:
David Cook of Riverside, CA
Marilee Ottemann of Whittier, CA
Don Cook of Huntington Beach, CA
NO. of Grandchildren: 16
NO of gt-grandchildren: 24
NO of gt-gt-grandchildren: 1
ADDITIONAL: Outstanding man who met every challenge life gave him
with gentle competence and love.
Good Morning,
Charles Alfred Cook passed into God's glory about 5:30 this morning.
Love to all,
George & Dorothy Burt
Charles Alfred Cook, born 26 Nov 1914 in Madison, Lake Co., SD. He
was the son of 2. Floyd Alfred
Cook and 3. Ada Elsie Swarts.
He married (1) Dessie Zoe Allen 20 May 1933 in Bakersfield, Kern Co.,
CA. She was born 18 Mar
1918 in Grey, Beaver Co., OK. She was the daughter of Jessiman
Alonzo Allen and Eva Grace Miller.
------------------------------
OBITUARY FORM INFORMATION
NAME: Charles Alfred Cook AGE: 92 DATE OF DEATH: December 7,
2006
RESIDENCE: Vista, CA since ____ [1980's?]
DATE OF BIRTH: 26 Nov 1914 PLACE: Madison, SD
PARENTS NAMES: Floyd and Ada [Swarts] Cook
CAUSE OF DEATH: Cancer
NO SERVICE PLANNED
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS to: ___________
FUNERAL HOME:
FAMILY CONTACT: Pat Varner 760-521-8054
CAREER: shipyard worker in WWII, Carpenter/builder
MILITARY: none
HE MARRIED DESSIE ZOE ALLEN ON 20 May 1933 in Bakersfield, CA
MARRIED: 73 years
SURVIVORS:
wife, Zoe Cook
CHILDREN:
Charlene Guzman of Daly City, CA
Pat Varner of Vista, CA
Dorothy Burt of Monroe, OR
Kate Henderson of Hurricane, UT
Sandra Weitzel of Durham, NC
Charles Alfred Cook Jr. of Yreka, CA
Alec Cook of El Cajon, CA
SIBLINGS:
David Cook of Riverside, CA
Marilee Ottemann of Whittier, CA
Don Cook of Huntington Beach, CA
NO. of Grandchildren: 16
NO of gt-grandchildren: 24
NO of gt-gt-grandchildren: 1
ADDITIONAL: Outstanding man who met every challenge life gave him
with gentle competence and love.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Sectarian Religious Violence in American Cities -- Always at Low Prices
Please write Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott a little Christmas note to say that you don't think it's a good idea for Wal-Mart to be selling the video game "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" to our kids.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "You do know that heathen fortune-telling devices like me will be first against the wall when the Tribulation Force marches into town, don't you?"\\
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "You do know that heathen fortune-telling devices like me will be first against the wall when the Tribulation Force marches into town, don't you?"\\
Monday, December 04, 2006
Do You Want The Terrorists to Win?
Your 'Do You Want the Terrorists to Win' Score: 100%
You are a terrorist-loving, Bush-bashing, "blame America first"-crowd traitor. You are in league with evil-doers who hate our freedoms. By all counts you are a liberal, and as such cleary desire the terrorists to succeed and impose their harsh theocratic restrictions on us all. You are fit to be hung for treason! Luckily George Bush is tapping your internet connection and is now aware of your thought-crime. Have a nice day.... in Guantanamo!
Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "My results are more reliable."\\
Two Rats Left
Bob died the other day. Ratzilla died a couple of weeks ago, and I could have sworn I wrote a post about him, but I don't find one on my blog. Now only Chewbacca and Horatio are left in the cage on the living room coffee table.
I had to ask Kathe for those names. I couldn't remember them, although at least I recognize them and can now remember which is Chewie and which Horatio. That's embarrassing, but really none of us love these rats the way we did previous generations of rats.
We didn't seek them out -- they were dumped on us by Kathe's son Justin when he broke up with his girlfriend and soon after stopped speaking to us (we still don't know what that's about, becuase he won't tell us) -- and we've been busy a lot of the time, but really I don't know why we never seemed to enjoy the company of these rats the way we did with others in the past.
Maybe it's the same thing that seems to have permanently drained our ability to plan and prepare more than the most basic meals. Dunno.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "You will know when you care enough to go find out."\\
I had to ask Kathe for those names. I couldn't remember them, although at least I recognize them and can now remember which is Chewie and which Horatio. That's embarrassing, but really none of us love these rats the way we did previous generations of rats.
We didn't seek them out -- they were dumped on us by Kathe's son Justin when he broke up with his girlfriend and soon after stopped speaking to us (we still don't know what that's about, becuase he won't tell us) -- and we've been busy a lot of the time, but really I don't know why we never seemed to enjoy the company of these rats the way we did with others in the past.
Maybe it's the same thing that seems to have permanently drained our ability to plan and prepare more than the most basic meals. Dunno.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "You will know when you care enough to go find out."\\
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Things People E-Mail to Me
An art car festival:
http://www.artcarfest.com/vehicles/index.html
The Rapture Index:
http://www.raptureready.com/rap2.html
What an ant colony's nest looks like:
http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=display-figures&name=i1536-2442-4-21-1-f01
http://www.artcarfest.com/vehicles/index.html
The Rapture Index:
http://www.raptureready.com/rap2.html
What an ant colony's nest looks like:
http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=display-figures&name=i1536-2442-4-21-1-f01
Saturday, December 02, 2006
John Baez's Crackpot Index
Jake sent this to me:
A simple method for rating potentially revolutionary
contributions to physics:
1. A -5 point starting credit.
2. 1 point for every statement that is widely agreed on to be false.
3. 2 points for every statement that is clearly vacuous.
4. 3 points for every statement that is logically inconsistent.
5. 5 points for each such statement that is adhered to despite
careful correction.
6. 5 points for using a thought experiment that contradicts the
results of a widely accepted real experiment.
7. 5 points for each word in all capital letters (except for those
with defective keyboards).
8. 5 points for each mention of "Einstien", "Hawkins" or "Feynmann".
9. 10 points for each claim that quantum mechanics is fundamentally
misguided (without good evidence).
10. 10 points for pointing out that you have gone to school, as if
this were evidence of sanity.
11. 10 points for beginning the description of your theory by saying
how long you have been working on it.
12. 10 points for mailing your theory to someone you don't know
personally and asking them not to tell anyone else about it, for
fear that your ideas will be stolen.
13. 10 points for offering prize money to anyone who proves and/or
finds any flaws in your theory.
14. 10 points for each new term you invent and use without properly
defining it.
15. 10 points for each statement along the lines of "I'm not good at
math, but my theory is conceptually right, so all I need is for
someone to express it in terms of equations".
16. 10 points for arguing that a current well-established theory is
"only a theory", as if this were somehow a point against it.
17. 10 points for arguing that while a current well-established theory
predicts phenomena correctly, it doesn't explain "why" they occur,
or fails to provide a "mechanism".
18. 10 points for each favorable comparison of yourself to Einstein,
or claim that special or general relativity are fundamentally
misguided (without good evidence).
19. 10 points for claiming that your work is on the cutting edge of a
"paradigm shift".
20. 20 points for emailing me and complaining about the crackpot
index. (E.g., saying that it "suppresses original thinkers" or
saying that I misspelled "Einstein" in item 8.)
21. 20 points for suggesting that you deserve a Nobel prize.
22. 20 points for each favorable comparison of yourself to Newton or
claim that classical mechanics is fundamentally misguided (without
good evidence).
23. 20 points for every use of science fiction works or myths as if
they were fact.
24. 20 points for defending yourself by bringing up (real or imagined)
ridicule accorded to your past theories.
25. 20 points for naming something after yourself. (E.g., talking
about the "The Evans Field Equation" when your name happens to be
Evans.)
26. 20 points for talking about how great your theory is, but never
actually explaining it.
27. 20 points for each use of the phrase "hidebound reactionary".
28. 20 points for each use of the phrase "self-appointed defender of
the orthodoxy".
29. 30 points for suggesting that a famous figure secretly disbelieved
in a theory which he or she publicly supported. (E.g., that
Feynman was a closet opponent of special relativity, as deduced by
reading between the lines in his freshman physics textbooks.)
30. 30 points for suggesting that Einstein, in his later years, was
groping his way towards the ideas you now advocate.
31. 30 points for claiming that your theories were developed by an
extraterrestrial civilization (without good evidence).
32. 30 points for allusions to a delay in your work while you spent
time in an asylum, or references to the psychiatrist who tried to
talk you out of your theory.
33. 40 points for comparing those who argue against your ideas to
Nazis, stormtroopers, or brownshirts.
34. 40 points for claiming that the "scientific establishment" is
engaged in a "conspiracy" to prevent your work from gaining its
well-deserved fame, or suchlike.
35. 40 points for comparing yourself to Galileo, suggesting that a
modern-day Inquisition is hard at work on your case, and so on.
36. 40 points for claiming that when your theory is finally
appreciated, present-day science will be seen for the sham it
truly is. (30 more points for fantasizing about show trials in
which scientists who mocked your theories will be forced to recant.)
37. 50 points for claiming you have a revolutionary theory but giving
no concrete testable predictions.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Sorry, answer suppressed by the scientific establishment."\\
A simple method for rating potentially revolutionary
contributions to physics:
1. A -5 point starting credit.
2. 1 point for every statement that is widely agreed on to be false.
3. 2 points for every statement that is clearly vacuous.
4. 3 points for every statement that is logically inconsistent.
5. 5 points for each such statement that is adhered to despite
careful correction.
6. 5 points for using a thought experiment that contradicts the
results of a widely accepted real experiment.
7. 5 points for each word in all capital letters (except for those
with defective keyboards).
8. 5 points for each mention of "Einstien", "Hawkins" or "Feynmann".
9. 10 points for each claim that quantum mechanics is fundamentally
misguided (without good evidence).
10. 10 points for pointing out that you have gone to school, as if
this were evidence of sanity.
11. 10 points for beginning the description of your theory by saying
how long you have been working on it.
12. 10 points for mailing your theory to someone you don't know
personally and asking them not to tell anyone else about it, for
fear that your ideas will be stolen.
13. 10 points for offering prize money to anyone who proves and/or
finds any flaws in your theory.
14. 10 points for each new term you invent and use without properly
defining it.
15. 10 points for each statement along the lines of "I'm not good at
math, but my theory is conceptually right, so all I need is for
someone to express it in terms of equations".
16. 10 points for arguing that a current well-established theory is
"only a theory", as if this were somehow a point against it.
17. 10 points for arguing that while a current well-established theory
predicts phenomena correctly, it doesn't explain "why" they occur,
or fails to provide a "mechanism".
18. 10 points for each favorable comparison of yourself to Einstein,
or claim that special or general relativity are fundamentally
misguided (without good evidence).
19. 10 points for claiming that your work is on the cutting edge of a
"paradigm shift".
20. 20 points for emailing me and complaining about the crackpot
index. (E.g., saying that it "suppresses original thinkers" or
saying that I misspelled "Einstein" in item 8.)
21. 20 points for suggesting that you deserve a Nobel prize.
22. 20 points for each favorable comparison of yourself to Newton or
claim that classical mechanics is fundamentally misguided (without
good evidence).
23. 20 points for every use of science fiction works or myths as if
they were fact.
24. 20 points for defending yourself by bringing up (real or imagined)
ridicule accorded to your past theories.
25. 20 points for naming something after yourself. (E.g., talking
about the "The Evans Field Equation" when your name happens to be
Evans.)
26. 20 points for talking about how great your theory is, but never
actually explaining it.
27. 20 points for each use of the phrase "hidebound reactionary".
28. 20 points for each use of the phrase "self-appointed defender of
the orthodoxy".
29. 30 points for suggesting that a famous figure secretly disbelieved
in a theory which he or she publicly supported. (E.g., that
Feynman was a closet opponent of special relativity, as deduced by
reading between the lines in his freshman physics textbooks.)
30. 30 points for suggesting that Einstein, in his later years, was
groping his way towards the ideas you now advocate.
31. 30 points for claiming that your theories were developed by an
extraterrestrial civilization (without good evidence).
32. 30 points for allusions to a delay in your work while you spent
time in an asylum, or references to the psychiatrist who tried to
talk you out of your theory.
33. 40 points for comparing those who argue against your ideas to
Nazis, stormtroopers, or brownshirts.
34. 40 points for claiming that the "scientific establishment" is
engaged in a "conspiracy" to prevent your work from gaining its
well-deserved fame, or suchlike.
35. 40 points for comparing yourself to Galileo, suggesting that a
modern-day Inquisition is hard at work on your case, and so on.
36. 40 points for claiming that when your theory is finally
appreciated, present-day science will be seen for the sham it
truly is. (30 more points for fantasizing about show trials in
which scientists who mocked your theories will be forced to recant.)
37. 50 points for claiming you have a revolutionary theory but giving
no concrete testable predictions.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Sorry, answer suppressed by the scientific establishment."\\
Friday, December 01, 2006
A Worse Appointment Than Rumsfeld's
Given the Bush Administration's track record when it comes to appointing people to office, what kind of person would you expect Bush to put in charge of Federal family planning programs?
A) Someone who hasn't worked in family planning since before the birth control pill was introduced.
B) Someone who has never worked in family planning.
C) Someone who is actively hostile to birth control, espouses weird crackpot notions about reproductive health and says that distributing birth control supplies (what he's now in charge of) is "demaning to women".
You guessed it, Eric Keroak is a "C" student! Now we can look forward to his doing a heckuva job on the nation's genitalia.
Or we could try to prevent his taking the job.
You never know. After all, that election thing seems to have helped some.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Please, I'm not that kind of ball."\\
A) Someone who hasn't worked in family planning since before the birth control pill was introduced.
B) Someone who has never worked in family planning.
C) Someone who is actively hostile to birth control, espouses weird crackpot notions about reproductive health and says that distributing birth control supplies (what he's now in charge of) is "demaning to women".
You guessed it, Eric Keroak is a "C" student! Now we can look forward to his doing a heckuva job on the nation's genitalia.
Or we could try to prevent his taking the job.
You never know. After all, that election thing seems to have helped some.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Please, I'm not that kind of ball."\\
Kathe's Other Eye
Kathe sent me this:
So, this morning I had the second eye operated on. 1.5 hours prepping for operation, .5 hours recovering, 5 minutes actual duration of operation. I'd been told I could get a video of the operation but I forgot to bring a video tape, so I looked it up on youtube. Here's the link -- no, wait a minute, none of you actually want to watch, right? One commenter said "I'm gonna have my eyes hacked out by diseased parrots, so I'll never have to do this." But believe me, it's preferable to having the operation performed by sick birds. For one thing, they'd probably take longer.
So anyway, here's how it's done: The bad old lens is rendered into bits by ultrasound (the machine goes grungitta, grungitta) and then the bits are vaccuumed out. Then the new lens is put into the empty place thus generated. I have the impression that the lens orients itself over a couple of hours (ie, the surgeon doesn't have to). Eye is patched for six hours, and a couple more if double vision is present after six. Drops are put into the eye on an increasingly complicated schedule for -- um, weeks anyway -- or "until they're gone." Oh btw, the incision is described as "self-sealing" and today the surgeon actually said "The incision is sealing itself just fine."
During the operation, the eye to be operated on is paralized and entirely put to sleep, can't close lid, can't see anything. The other eye is under a drape. The body, as a whole, is so "relaxed" that movement is not possible, or at any rate, would be very difficult. The mouth is entirely able to ask questions. The "relaxing" substance is said to induce some amnesia, but I don't believe I have forgotten any part of it. I did forget that I had had the IV removed, when I was in the recovery room, but I think that's because my hand (where it had been inserted) felt pretty much the same after it was removed.
My previously operated eye is doing fine, vision improved at a decreasing rate for about the first week. Operated eye lets in a lot more light. I was dazzled at first, but I seem to be getting used to it. Oh, and speaking of dazzled, the glare from the *very* powerful dilation of the iris which lasts a couple of days, prevents one from really appreciating the improvement at first.
I hope you're all actually interested in all this. I have known several people who have had this surgery, but all they ever said was, "yes, I can see much better now."
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Seeing is believing."\\
So, this morning I had the second eye operated on. 1.5 hours prepping for operation, .5 hours recovering, 5 minutes actual duration of operation. I'd been told I could get a video of the operation but I forgot to bring a video tape, so I looked it up on youtube. Here's the link -- no, wait a minute, none of you actually want to watch, right? One commenter said "I'm gonna have my eyes hacked out by diseased parrots, so I'll never have to do this." But believe me, it's preferable to having the operation performed by sick birds. For one thing, they'd probably take longer.
So anyway, here's how it's done: The bad old lens is rendered into bits by ultrasound (the machine goes grungitta, grungitta) and then the bits are vaccuumed out. Then the new lens is put into the empty place thus generated. I have the impression that the lens orients itself over a couple of hours (ie, the surgeon doesn't have to). Eye is patched for six hours, and a couple more if double vision is present after six. Drops are put into the eye on an increasingly complicated schedule for -- um, weeks anyway -- or "until they're gone." Oh btw, the incision is described as "self-sealing" and today the surgeon actually said "The incision is sealing itself just fine."
During the operation, the eye to be operated on is paralized and entirely put to sleep, can't close lid, can't see anything. The other eye is under a drape. The body, as a whole, is so "relaxed" that movement is not possible, or at any rate, would be very difficult. The mouth is entirely able to ask questions. The "relaxing" substance is said to induce some amnesia, but I don't believe I have forgotten any part of it. I did forget that I had had the IV removed, when I was in the recovery room, but I think that's because my hand (where it had been inserted) felt pretty much the same after it was removed.
My previously operated eye is doing fine, vision improved at a decreasing rate for about the first week. Operated eye lets in a lot more light. I was dazzled at first, but I seem to be getting used to it. Oh, and speaking of dazzled, the glare from the *very* powerful dilation of the iris which lasts a couple of days, prevents one from really appreciating the improvement at first.
I hope you're all actually interested in all this. I have known several people who have had this surgery, but all they ever said was, "yes, I can see much better now."
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Seeing is believing."\\
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