Bill's Comments

Meme for 2005
A frivolous but fun exercise as the remaining minutes of 2005 tick away.... thanks to Peg at What If? for it!

FOUR JOBS YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE
1. busboy
2. auto mechanic
3. woodworker
4. had own yard work business

FOUR MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER
1. Revenge of the Nerds
2. Fantasia (the original, not the two-hour version)
3. Mary Poppins (I have a crush on Julie Andrews)
4. Yojimbo

FOUR BOOKS YOU COULD READ AGAIN & AGAIN
1. Trustee from the Tool Room
2. The Cruel Sea
3. The Guns of Navarone
4. Ship of the Line (C.S. Forester)

FOUR CITIES/PLACES YOU'VE LIVED IN
1. Indianapolis, IN
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Norman, OK
4. Dayton, OH

FOUR TV SHOWS YOU LOVE TO WATCH
1. Iron Chef (original and Iron Chef America)
2. Good Eats
3. Discovery Channel monster machine shows
4. Any railroad show

FOUR PLACES YOU'VE BEEN ON VACATION
1. Crater Lake, OR
2. Grand Canyon, AZ
3. Glacier Park, MT
4. Bar Harbor, ME

FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT DAILY
1. Gates of Vienna
2. What If?
3. Who Moved My Truth?
4. Laudator Temporis Acti
Plus about 20 others

FOUR OF YOUR FAVORITE FOODS
1. Macoroni and cheese
2. Tapioca
3. French Onion Soup
4. Shepherd's Pie

FOUR PLACES YOU'D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW
1. home
2. Boyne, MI
3. British Isles
4. Around the world cruise

I tag Smallholder, Mike, Dymphna, and Kevin.

It is amazing how being seriously ill changes perspectives. Things that were once considered trivial become important and the "important" things simply disappear from consideration. I never thought that being able to sit in front of a basin and get clean would be a highlight, but compared to a sponge bath in bed it is wonderful. A high point of the day is picking my menu for the next day. What makes it more interesting is that by the time the food arrives the next day, I've forgotten what I picked, so it is a surprise all over again.

Something as simple as going to the restroom becomes a major expedition when hooked up to two IV pumps and a catheter. I constantly balance the need to go with the effort to do so. It is like camping in winter, when is it worth getting out of the warm sleeping bag?

Emails from my friends in the blogosphere and visitors become precious and make a huge difference in my morale. The volunteers have a cart with free books, magazines, and decks of cards, and a deck of cards for solitare is great. They provide free artwork to display in the room, created by high school students, and I now have the eye of a lion watching me.

Some things are almost funny. Some of the residents aren't too swift. The one today asked if I was having any trouble urinating. I had to laugh, I have a catheter, because of the kidney failure, so they can make sure of all output. The house physician warned me he would be sending his residents around to see me. Apparently I am a good teaching example. It makes a break in the routine.

I think the biggest thing is to find that so many people care. I grew up in a pretty cold environment, so to find at age 60+ that there are that many people who care and are concerned is both humbling and heart-warming.

A small triumph, my skin does not act dehydrated for the first time since Tuesday. That means we have finally caught up with the dehydration. That is a plus.

I have hope that this will resolve soon. There are still a few things left to try. The gastroenterologist would seem to be very good. He was able to spend a few minutes with my wife and me yesterday, and we have a clear picture of where things are.

How evil are you?

Thanks to the Maximum Leader for the link.

Paul Harvey says:
I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game "But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome .. "But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations. Christians are just sick and tired of turning the OTHER CHEEK while our COURTS STRIP US OF ALL OF OUR RIGHTS. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before
eating; to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a
handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. GOD, HELP US !!
And if that last sentence offends you, well .. just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard ... that the vast majority don't care what they want. It is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right. But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back ... and WE WILL WIN! We MUST VOTE and remove those who are taking our freedoms that were guaranteed by the Constituon..

God bless us one and all ... especially those who denounce Him. God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

May 200 6 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our
families and institutions. Keep looking up.

You scored as Hufflepuff. You have been sorted into Hufflepuff. Good for you! That means you're 'patient, true and unafraid of toil'. Hufflepuff 90% Ravenclaw 80% Gryffindor 65% Slytherin 45% The Hogwarts Sorting Hat! created with QuizFarm.com

This video was provided from a link by Michael Yon. His instructions are "...so please turn up the volume and click here." For those who are unfamiliar with classical music, the background is "Fanfare for the Common Man", by Aaron Copland.

"...those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate--we can not consecrate--we can not hallow--this ground. The brave men living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember wat we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." ---Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, November 19, 1863.



"....Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred adn fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the ash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.'

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's woulds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations." ---Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.

One Sunday morning an old Wyoming cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin.

Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that
were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out bible.

The Church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most
beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen.

The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories.

As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him.

No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not
attempt to hide it. The preacher gave a long sermon about Hellfire and brimstone and a stern lecture on
how much money the church needed to do God's work.

As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to
do him a favor. "Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks
would be appropriate attire for worship."

The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.

The next Sunday, he showed up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat.
Once again he was completely shunned and ignored.

The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God about what was appropriate attire before you came back to our church."

"I did," replied the old cowboy.

"If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?" asked the
preacher.

"Well, sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said He's never been in this
church!"

Go to any one of the extravaganza family shows--circus, ice review, etc.-- and somewhere during the show the vendors come out with these cheap flashlights with a spray of colored light coming out of them. Shake them and the colors change. This is the most trivial use I can remember of a very important technology--fiber optics.

The application of fiber optics creates huge advances in other technologies at a very effective cost, in some cases providing solutions that otherwise could not exist. Digital cable TV exists because of the ability of fiber optic cables to carry many more times the amount of information in digital form than the corresponding copper conductors. That is why your cable company can offer so many channels as well as movies on demand.

Long-distance telephony is a commodity now because of extensive fiber optic trunk lines and high-speed data transmission rates also owe their existence to fiber optics.

One of the most fruitful application areas of fiber optics is in medicine. In the last few years, surgical procedures that required hours to perform and weeks of recouperation now take less than an hour and only a week or two recovery, e.g. laparoscopic gall bladder removal. Orthopedic procedures that required major incisions in joint tissue and months of resulting healing and therapy to recover are now done with minimal invasion and much quicker recovery times.

One area, that fiber optics has made the impossible possible, is gastroenterology. It is now routine to have colonoscopy on a regular basis. Using fiber optics, the doctor can visually inspect the entire large bowel, noting any polyps, pre-cancerous lesions and diverticula. My grandfather died of colon cancer. There is no longer any reason why anyone should. Endoscopy goes in at the other end and examines the esophagus, stomach, and the first few inches of upper bowel, all common places for severe problems. Not only can the physician examine the area, he/she can take samples of tissue for pathological analysis. Again, a great cancer preventative, since ulcers are the precursor of stomach and esophageal cancer.

Fiber optics is an enabling technology, by itself of little value, a kid's toy. However, when applied with other technologies it is a multiplier of value.

"December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan... Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory." —Franklin D. Roosevelt

......the Democrats have no right to claim the traditions of FDR. From defending our country and way of life, they have gone to defeatism and treason.

Two things Navy Seals are always taught:

1). Keep your priorities in order
2). Know when to act without hesitation.

A college professor, an avowed atheist and active in the A.C.L.U. was
teaching his class. He shocked several of his students when he flatly
stated that once and for all he was going to prove that there was no
God.

Addressing the ceiling he shouted: "GOD, if you are real, then I want
you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15
minutes!!!!!"

The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes
went by. "I'm waiting God, if you're real, knock me off this platform!!!!"

Again after 4 minutes, the professor taunted God saying, "Here I am, God!!!
I'm still waiting!!!"

His count down got down to the last couple of minutes when a Navy Seal,
who was just released from the Navy after serving in Afghanistan and
Iraq and newly registered in the class, walked up to the Professor.

The Seal hit him full force in the face! This sent the Professor
tumbling from his lofty platform. The Professor was out cold. The
students were stunned and shocked. They began to babble in confusion.
The Seal nonchalantly took his seat in the front row and sat in silence.
The class looked at him and fell silent also.....Waiting.

Eventually, the professor came to and was noticeably shaken. He looked
at the Seal in the front row. When the professor regained his senses
and could speak he asked, "What the hell is the matter with you?! Why
did you do that?"

"God was really busy protecting America's soldiers, who are protecting
your right to say stupid shit and act like an asshole. So he sent me."

Thanks to my middle son, the Navy diver and training in Explosive Ordinance Disposal, for this.

Aragorn You scored 50% Sturdyness, 60% Influence, 26% Supernatural, and 15% Evil!

Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor, but serving duty as a humble Ranger protecting The Shire. You've sworn to protect the fellowship and bring Frodo safely to Mordor. You're everything a friend could ask for, smart, skilled and loyal. You long for your love Arwen. You will win in the end, and get the love of your life. Good for you!

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Sturdyness You scored higher than 99% on Influence You scored higher than 99% on Supernatural You scored higher than 99% on Evil

Link: The LOTR Character Test written by NoxTyger on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Thanks to Ally for the link.

The quantity and quality of my posts has been on the decline for the past couple of months and will probably remain very sparse for the next few weeks.

Dennis Mangan posts this highly disturbing letter to the editor:

"EDITOR: My youngest son is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and has served two tours of duty in Iraq, in which he has been decorated twice for combat valor for his actions.

I have two large flags flying in front of my house; one is an American flag; the other I pay homage to my son and all Marines by flying is a Marine Corps flag. It was much to my dismay recently when a neighbor returned my flag pole to me in three pieces, from which my flags were ripped. Down the street, I was only able to find a small piece of the American flag ripped to shreds.

I cannot believe that someone would go out of their way to be so disrespectful to my personal property. My son has survived being shot at almost every day and has survived several explosions. At least he has the moxie to face his opposition, unlike the person who came in the middle of the night to do this despicable thing.

I am a proud American and proud of the job our troops are doing trying to keep our freedoms of choice. But someone thinks that this act will stop me from flying my flags, he is wrong. I already have two more flags flying. The only difference is that I will bring them in at night.

MICHAEL CROZIER

Santa Rosa"

.........I would set up a perimeter alarm and keep a loaded shotgun ready.

take the WHAT BAD BOOK ARE YOU test.


and go to mewing.net. not as good as reading a good book, but way better than a bad one.


Thanks to Naked Villainy for the link.