Pesharim - Civil War
CIVIL WAR - This has split my family as well. It is undoubtedly the greatest, most interesting, and downright most clever thing Marvel has ever done.
The basic premise is as follows. For a long time the US government, some foreign governments and political constituencies have wanted to register mutants and superheroes so that they can be controlled and monitored by a governmental agency. This push has accelerated as a result of the War on Terrorism and because certain superheroes have conducted ad hoc and private anti-terrorism/anti-ICC campaigns of their own which many in the government, military and in certain agencies consider dangerous.
A short time ago a junior grade team of upstart superheroes decides they will recapture some known escapees and supercriminals who are on the lam, but whose location they have discovered. The attempt to take them into custody bounty-hunter fashion results in one of the supercriminals triggering a catalyzed fuel explosion on a school bus which also ignites and blows up an elementary school resulting in between 600 and 900 probable fatalities, most of them school children.
As a result of this lethal incident an immediate emergency legislative session is called and the Congress passes a mandatory pubic registration act for all mutants and superheroes, which the president is going to sign.
This splits the superhero community in half, some, siding with Tony Stark, Reed Richards and Peter Parker decided to go the registration route and to publicly disclose their identities, becoming governmental employees.
Others, backed by Captain America decide to try to maintain their identities and natures as vigilante operatives outside official legal and governmental control.It has become a fascinating series with extremely interesting points and arguments on both sides. I've never been a big Marvel fan, except for Spiderman, Daredevil, and sometimes Iron Man. I never cared for Cap until reading recent New Avengers. Since then I've gained great respect for the Cap character and his leadership abilities.
My wife, who before we married never read comics and also didn't like Marvel very much, (we're both DC fans, and for team or group magazines we prefer Justice League) has though become as equally enthralled by this series (Civil War) as she has with the New Avengers.
Her position is that no superhero should be forced to register, reveal their secret identities, or be forced to work for, be paid by, or employed by any government, the US government included.
Yet despite the fact that I Vad, often intentionally avoid the authorities, almost never operate in any way but alone, I cannot help but finding myself in general sympathy with Iron Man, Richards, and Spiderman that superheroes and mutants should register and be in some way regulated.
Now I think a compromise could be reached in which mutants and superheroes could be registered for legal purposes, information collected about them, maybe even genetic samples taken of them, and yet their personal identities guarded from general public disclosure, just as is the case with many Intel agents and operatives and even case officers and is the case with many Special Forces Soldiers, especially in active theatres of operation. I also don't think it necessary or desirable that such individuals would become automatic representatives of some governmental agency or directly employed by and paid by the US government. Some could form up as special paramilitary units, others as law enforcement units, some as Intel, some as special operatives and some could assist on a strictly voluntary basis. But, and maybe this is just age and experience on my part (when younger the thought of something like registration would have brought automatic revulsion for me), given those general conditions I would register if so approached. As a patriotic act and to assist others if I could.
One thing I really like about this series and storyline is that it asks some really interesting and difficult real world questions, questions I've faced before personally and other things I could easily imagine myself undergoing in such a predicament and situation, and I can see hard arguments both yea and nay on both sides. Also the series thus far has made no attempt to preach or proclaim a "right side" in such a conflict, as there is I think no right side in such matters. In any case I think this is the best comic myth storyline series I've read in over a decade.Excellent work and tough considerations. I like very much this Civil War.
I encourage everyone to read this series if they enjoy comics.
Addendum: Since the cloned Thor killed Bill Foster (Goliath) I have begun to have serious reservations about the manner in which the registration program is being executed. I still support the idea of registering superheroes, or at least of devising a compromise, but the very fact that Reed Richards, Tony Stark and others supporting superhero registration are involved in illegal cloning projects and that these clones seem to be under external control instead of possessing free wills of their own, and the fact that they would attempt to clone a character like Thor (who up until recently I did not like at all, I kinda do now) and deploy him in such a way that this cloned Thor ends up killing a man, that bothers me a lot. I think now the program should be suspended and negotiations begun and some type of compromise reached, as I outlined above.
I think though that the killing of Goliath and the introduction of the cloned Thor and deploying a team of super-villains to assist the Avengers against the Secret Avengers has made an absolutely brilliant set of plots and stroylines just that much more ingenious.
I highly recommend this series.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Invisible Hand - Personality Aspects
Invisible Hand - Personality Aspects
Today, after helping teach class I went and took shots. It was raining so all the shots I took were taken either in a moderately heavy rain or during a full-fledged storm. While taking some of the shots I began thinking back to a time when a friend of mine at the University of Saint Petersburg (back then it was Leningrad) and I were working together on a new Theory of Personality.
We never finished our work together but a large part of my contribution of the work involved Personality Aspects. (I used and use the term differently than it is commonly applied.) Not fragments of personality but the idea that each person has different Aspects of Personality, or to use Greek and Latin influenced interpretations, Mask Faces. (Persona means "Mask" and Aspect means "Face.")
Now the general theory was a Theory of Integrated Personality for the Normal and Abnormal Personality Typologies, or even in some respects of Personality Integration - yet as part of the overall nature of the Integrated Personality I began developing the idea of Personality Aspects not as part of a Personality, nor as personality fragments, nor even as Personality Apparancies, but rather as separate Personality Sets based upon behavioral functionality. That is my view of Personality Aspects was that each separate Personality Aspect was, in Normal and Abnormal (originally Abnormal did not mean sub-normal, but Hypernormal, or "Beyond Normal Functioning") individuals, a set of personality traits related to function. A persona might have numerous Personality Aspects, all of which act together or even integrate seamlessly into a general harmonious Personality Whole, but each Aspect might operate as a personality sub-set based upon function. A person might seem like a totally different person in any given set of different circumstances, yet this did not in normal or abnormal people entail or display a fracture within the personality, merely a recognition in the individual that different circumstances required different Personality Aspects, or a set of personality behaviors peculiar to a given situation.
For instance at work a certain set of personality traits might be obviously displayed and in evidence within a given individual's behavior range, because at that time a particular "Personality Aspect" might need to be emphasized as signified by that aspect set. But at home another Personality Aspect might either be required, or even encouraged by a different environment. These differences in behavioral range (even if seemingly extreme to an outside observer) might be entirely normal or even desirous given the demands of the separate environments, but did not at all necessarily imply any type of psychological or even personality fragmentation or disturbance or disorder. (The same might not be said of subnormal personality types and individuals where different personality aspects might be either diagnostic cues or clues to underlying personality disorders of a pathological nature.)
In any case, today, while out taking shots in the rain my mind drifted back to this work I did years and years ago, almost 15 years ago now, to my old Russian friend (I wish I could find him again) and what these ideas might imply. Something about being out in the rain, the darkness of the storm, the early fall of the sun as the seasons shift, all of this spurred on my thoughts. So in my head I began to make notes on my own individual Personality Aspects, the way each Aspect functions, and what kinds of basic "sets" of behavior are associated with each Aspect.
Below I have listed each Aspect, or what I would call Major Personality Aspects (The Major and Most Important components of my overall Personality). I haven't listed any particular Aspect in any order, I have listed them as they occurred to me and as I was able to lodge them in my memory until such time as I could reach my daypack and retrieve my notebooks and tape recorders to record what I had been thinking about.
Inventor/Scientist - This aspect prefers to work alone and in isolation, without input from other individuals, though occasionally I will seek out advice from others or wander around in crowds just for the noise and because watching people and animals gives me ideas about functionality and how my inventions might best be designed and employed. Also occasionally by watching people, animals, insects, and biological systems I can get ideas for experiments to conduct or theories to pursue. Most of the time I prefer to work in isolation, or to make observations from a place where I will not be observed, especially in the early stages of any design, experiment, or creation.
Investigating/Analysis/Manhunting - These things I definitely prefer to do alone, both because of the danger and because I operate best alone in this kind of environment and at this type of activity. Manhunting sharpens my senses, makes me far more keenly observant and focused, heightens my mental and psychological faculties, and is intensely enjoyable to me. Hunting criminals and conducting investigations, interviews, and interrogations is also an intensely concentrated psychological activity to me and therefore I prefer to engage in these types of activities completely focused and without any outside distractions. Also in investigating or manhunting it is important to remain intensely focused upon one's goal and being alone helps me to devise a wide range of possibilities and to analyze these possibilities logically and without interfering prejudice. Sometimes though I will seek the advice of others when making an analysis of an investigative or intelligence matter.
Civic/Teaching/Social - I prefer to engage in civic activities in the company of others of course, and occasionally if I lead such events, am teaching, or am taking photographs, or conducting some official function, I don't mind, may even prefer to operate in a large crowd. But usually when it comes to civic activities I prefer a small group of people as a participating audience or a small group of people with whom to operate. Often times in informal or relaxed social settings though or when going out in public I prefer large groups of people. Often, as my friends know I will also act foolishly or clownishly in public, sometimes to the point of being obnoxious. This is great fun to me and I love to clown and joke in such situations with strangers or with people whom I know I will likely never meet again. On these occasions I prefer large groups of people and to exploit humor. Often I enjoy acting this way on the internet as well, as the internet often evokes my satirical and sardonic sense of humor.
Artist/Composer/Photographer - When drawing, sketching, painting, composing or taking photographs my general preference is for solitude and even absolute isolation if possible. Very much like when I am manhunting or engaged in a particularly fascinating investigation. The two exceptions are that occasionally when sketching or drawing I prefer to go into a crowd of people to get subject matter and occasionally I also like to take other people with me when taking photographs, people such as interesting friends, or one or both of my daughters.
Family Man/Husband/Father - In these situations I prefer the company of my family, and like to play around and joke with them. I enjoy wrestling with my daughters (hopefully one day with a son as well), taking trips with them, doing things around the house, and being outdoors together, maybe tracking or playing with my dogs. With my family I am usually very sociable and my most relaxed. I am also though, at the same time, at my most intensely focused regarding security matters.
Priest - When ever I feel a deep religious or spiritual conviction I prefer to be alone. I almost always think of them as circumstances involving my priestly, or more deeply spiritual and religious nature. Strangely enough though I prefer isolation when I am absorbed in my "Priestly Aspect" or nature. I will also however often wander about alone when in these moods looking for a stranger or some lone person or small group of people I may assist. When I was younger I usually most often associated this Aspect and these moments with deep meditative experiences, powerful prayer experiences, melancholy, dreams, visions, and trances. Nowadays, as I age, I associate them more with wandering alone, and with assisting others, but on an individual or personal basis. Almost pastorally. Still, for the most part my priestly nature is solitary and contemplative. The one exception is usually Communion, in which I feel priest-like in a crowd of people or in the congregation.
Vadder/Explorer - I most often associate this aspect with activities that I psychologically consider similar in nature, such as investigations and even manhunting. Whenever I engage in Vadding or Exploring especially to places I have never been before or which I suspect to be dangerous I prefer to go alone. Always well equipped, but still alone. Occasionally I will take friends with me hiking, camping, mountain climbing, etc, and recently I have started training my daughters to Vad, but usually whether I am Rudding or Vadding I go alone. Often I go alone because of the danger. I know many people who say you should always Vad in a team, that one should never go alone to avoid disaster, being trapped, severe injury, or even death. But I have basically Vadded alone since I was about 12 to 13 years old, or even younger if you count the many expeditions I took alone when I lived in the city (a place I love to visit but hated living there), and see no reason to change my natural habits or inclination.
Businessman - This may the single most social Aspect of all my Personality Aspects. From my business experiences I learned to develop deep, rich, and extensive networks. This later bled over into the idea as I aged that I should develop equally deep and rich social, political, civic, professional, religious, law enforcement, investigative, military, intelligence, communicative, institutional, and scientific networks, and also eventually helped me develop my theory of the Modern Renaissance Man. When involved in any type of business, financial, brokerage, capital, or start-up project I prefer to be as social as possible, to work with as many different individuals and groups as possible, and to delegate out work over as wide an area of expertise and capability as possible. When engaged in business I am my most social and feel the least need for solitude.
Well, those are the most important 8 Aspects of my various Personality Aspects.
Comment if you like, either on what I said, or about your own Personality Aspects.
Today I took some very interesting shots, including shots of two animal corpses. I'll post those soon.
© JG, Jr. 2006
Today, after helping teach class I went and took shots. It was raining so all the shots I took were taken either in a moderately heavy rain or during a full-fledged storm. While taking some of the shots I began thinking back to a time when a friend of mine at the University of Saint Petersburg (back then it was Leningrad) and I were working together on a new Theory of Personality.
We never finished our work together but a large part of my contribution of the work involved Personality Aspects. (I used and use the term differently than it is commonly applied.) Not fragments of personality but the idea that each person has different Aspects of Personality, or to use Greek and Latin influenced interpretations, Mask Faces. (Persona means "Mask" and Aspect means "Face.")
Now the general theory was a Theory of Integrated Personality for the Normal and Abnormal Personality Typologies, or even in some respects of Personality Integration - yet as part of the overall nature of the Integrated Personality I began developing the idea of Personality Aspects not as part of a Personality, nor as personality fragments, nor even as Personality Apparancies, but rather as separate Personality Sets based upon behavioral functionality. That is my view of Personality Aspects was that each separate Personality Aspect was, in Normal and Abnormal (originally Abnormal did not mean sub-normal, but Hypernormal, or "Beyond Normal Functioning") individuals, a set of personality traits related to function. A persona might have numerous Personality Aspects, all of which act together or even integrate seamlessly into a general harmonious Personality Whole, but each Aspect might operate as a personality sub-set based upon function. A person might seem like a totally different person in any given set of different circumstances, yet this did not in normal or abnormal people entail or display a fracture within the personality, merely a recognition in the individual that different circumstances required different Personality Aspects, or a set of personality behaviors peculiar to a given situation.
For instance at work a certain set of personality traits might be obviously displayed and in evidence within a given individual's behavior range, because at that time a particular "Personality Aspect" might need to be emphasized as signified by that aspect set. But at home another Personality Aspect might either be required, or even encouraged by a different environment. These differences in behavioral range (even if seemingly extreme to an outside observer) might be entirely normal or even desirous given the demands of the separate environments, but did not at all necessarily imply any type of psychological or even personality fragmentation or disturbance or disorder. (The same might not be said of subnormal personality types and individuals where different personality aspects might be either diagnostic cues or clues to underlying personality disorders of a pathological nature.)
In any case, today, while out taking shots in the rain my mind drifted back to this work I did years and years ago, almost 15 years ago now, to my old Russian friend (I wish I could find him again) and what these ideas might imply. Something about being out in the rain, the darkness of the storm, the early fall of the sun as the seasons shift, all of this spurred on my thoughts. So in my head I began to make notes on my own individual Personality Aspects, the way each Aspect functions, and what kinds of basic "sets" of behavior are associated with each Aspect.
Below I have listed each Aspect, or what I would call Major Personality Aspects (The Major and Most Important components of my overall Personality). I haven't listed any particular Aspect in any order, I have listed them as they occurred to me and as I was able to lodge them in my memory until such time as I could reach my daypack and retrieve my notebooks and tape recorders to record what I had been thinking about.
Inventor/Scientist - This aspect prefers to work alone and in isolation, without input from other individuals, though occasionally I will seek out advice from others or wander around in crowds just for the noise and because watching people and animals gives me ideas about functionality and how my inventions might best be designed and employed. Also occasionally by watching people, animals, insects, and biological systems I can get ideas for experiments to conduct or theories to pursue. Most of the time I prefer to work in isolation, or to make observations from a place where I will not be observed, especially in the early stages of any design, experiment, or creation.
Investigating/Analysis/Manhunting - These things I definitely prefer to do alone, both because of the danger and because I operate best alone in this kind of environment and at this type of activity. Manhunting sharpens my senses, makes me far more keenly observant and focused, heightens my mental and psychological faculties, and is intensely enjoyable to me. Hunting criminals and conducting investigations, interviews, and interrogations is also an intensely concentrated psychological activity to me and therefore I prefer to engage in these types of activities completely focused and without any outside distractions. Also in investigating or manhunting it is important to remain intensely focused upon one's goal and being alone helps me to devise a wide range of possibilities and to analyze these possibilities logically and without interfering prejudice. Sometimes though I will seek the advice of others when making an analysis of an investigative or intelligence matter.
Civic/Teaching/Social - I prefer to engage in civic activities in the company of others of course, and occasionally if I lead such events, am teaching, or am taking photographs, or conducting some official function, I don't mind, may even prefer to operate in a large crowd. But usually when it comes to civic activities I prefer a small group of people as a participating audience or a small group of people with whom to operate. Often times in informal or relaxed social settings though or when going out in public I prefer large groups of people. Often, as my friends know I will also act foolishly or clownishly in public, sometimes to the point of being obnoxious. This is great fun to me and I love to clown and joke in such situations with strangers or with people whom I know I will likely never meet again. On these occasions I prefer large groups of people and to exploit humor. Often I enjoy acting this way on the internet as well, as the internet often evokes my satirical and sardonic sense of humor.
Artist/Composer/Photographer - When drawing, sketching, painting, composing or taking photographs my general preference is for solitude and even absolute isolation if possible. Very much like when I am manhunting or engaged in a particularly fascinating investigation. The two exceptions are that occasionally when sketching or drawing I prefer to go into a crowd of people to get subject matter and occasionally I also like to take other people with me when taking photographs, people such as interesting friends, or one or both of my daughters.
Family Man/Husband/Father - In these situations I prefer the company of my family, and like to play around and joke with them. I enjoy wrestling with my daughters (hopefully one day with a son as well), taking trips with them, doing things around the house, and being outdoors together, maybe tracking or playing with my dogs. With my family I am usually very sociable and my most relaxed. I am also though, at the same time, at my most intensely focused regarding security matters.
Priest - When ever I feel a deep religious or spiritual conviction I prefer to be alone. I almost always think of them as circumstances involving my priestly, or more deeply spiritual and religious nature. Strangely enough though I prefer isolation when I am absorbed in my "Priestly Aspect" or nature. I will also however often wander about alone when in these moods looking for a stranger or some lone person or small group of people I may assist. When I was younger I usually most often associated this Aspect and these moments with deep meditative experiences, powerful prayer experiences, melancholy, dreams, visions, and trances. Nowadays, as I age, I associate them more with wandering alone, and with assisting others, but on an individual or personal basis. Almost pastorally. Still, for the most part my priestly nature is solitary and contemplative. The one exception is usually Communion, in which I feel priest-like in a crowd of people or in the congregation.
Vadder/Explorer - I most often associate this aspect with activities that I psychologically consider similar in nature, such as investigations and even manhunting. Whenever I engage in Vadding or Exploring especially to places I have never been before or which I suspect to be dangerous I prefer to go alone. Always well equipped, but still alone. Occasionally I will take friends with me hiking, camping, mountain climbing, etc, and recently I have started training my daughters to Vad, but usually whether I am Rudding or Vadding I go alone. Often I go alone because of the danger. I know many people who say you should always Vad in a team, that one should never go alone to avoid disaster, being trapped, severe injury, or even death. But I have basically Vadded alone since I was about 12 to 13 years old, or even younger if you count the many expeditions I took alone when I lived in the city (a place I love to visit but hated living there), and see no reason to change my natural habits or inclination.
Businessman - This may the single most social Aspect of all my Personality Aspects. From my business experiences I learned to develop deep, rich, and extensive networks. This later bled over into the idea as I aged that I should develop equally deep and rich social, political, civic, professional, religious, law enforcement, investigative, military, intelligence, communicative, institutional, and scientific networks, and also eventually helped me develop my theory of the Modern Renaissance Man. When involved in any type of business, financial, brokerage, capital, or start-up project I prefer to be as social as possible, to work with as many different individuals and groups as possible, and to delegate out work over as wide an area of expertise and capability as possible. When engaged in business I am my most social and feel the least need for solitude.
Well, those are the most important 8 Aspects of my various Personality Aspects.
Comment if you like, either on what I said, or about your own Personality Aspects.
Today I took some very interesting shots, including shots of two animal corpses. I'll post those soon.
© JG, Jr. 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
Peharim - How I would Reform the Priesthood
Pesharim - How I would Reform the Priesthood
1. Celibacy would be optional. It would be neither encouraged nor discouraged, but would be considered a high personal honor, yet freely chosen or not chosen. Married priests would be able to become Bishops as well but only celibate priests could become Archbishops.
2. Priests would be able to engage in enterprises and co-ops and investments in order to generate funds and to raise Capital and to build businesses. Such businesses and enterprises and investments would have to be of a high moral nature of course and be dedicated to God but priests would be encouraged to become more actively involved in the world economically and financially.
3. Each married priest would be encouraged to undergo a 30 day period of personal celibacy each year working out the details with his wife of course.
4. I would greatly encourage the development of Lay Priests to assist the priest and to serve in functions in which a priest could not.
5. I would place far greater importance on Confession and in confession I would do away with penance in favor of Repentance, Reform and Restitution.
6. Once every three to five years I would require every priest to go on Sabbatical to a monastery and Order of his choice for a sabbatical period of between one month and one year.
7. I would encourage Parish and local Priests to be the representatives of the church to local governmental and political representatives and agencies. Bishoprics and Archbishoprics would be forbidden to become directly involved in governmental affairs at their level. Rather Bishops and Archbishops would be involved with and be liaisons to businesses, corporations, educational and charitable institutions.
8. I would encourage priests, bishops and archbishops to spend part of their time in service to parishes and churches outside their own nation.
9. I would encourage priests, bishops and archbishops to put aside their offices, collars and robes at some point in their career to spend a period of time in service to the poor and the sick. I would also require that they spend part of their career as missionaries, dressed in normal street clothes.
10. I would allow and encourage the development of Priestesses as long as such a Priestess met all of the same requirements as a male Priest, accounting for gender differences of course.
11. I would encourage Ecumenical activities on the parts of local and parish Priests.
12. I would reform the Parish and Service/Station system.
13. I would reform the funding/donation/charity system to make it as transparent as possible.
14. I would reform the pay system so that priests who are considered exceptionally good (or Bishops or Archbishops for that matter) could receive higher salaries and could earn pay directly from local sources.
15. I would encourage each priest to contribute 15% of all incomes received from investments or enterprises and all salaries received from work to church and charity. Each Bishop would be encouraged to give 20% of all monies received and each Archbishop 25% of all monies earned or received to church and charity.
16. At death I would encourage all priests, bishops and archbishops to give away any monies not inherited by wife or children to church and charities.
17. I would require that at some point during his priestly career each and every priest live for a short period of time on charity and alms.
18. I would encourage far greater involvement in scientific activities, research and experimentation among priests. I would return Science to the church from which it originated, maybe even creating an Order of Scientific Priests.
19. I would encourage the development and study of Art in the Priesthood. Perhaps even creating an Order of Priests dedicated to the study, development and production of Sacred Art, Film, Letters, and Culture.I may think of others later.
1. Celibacy would be optional. It would be neither encouraged nor discouraged, but would be considered a high personal honor, yet freely chosen or not chosen. Married priests would be able to become Bishops as well but only celibate priests could become Archbishops.
2. Priests would be able to engage in enterprises and co-ops and investments in order to generate funds and to raise Capital and to build businesses. Such businesses and enterprises and investments would have to be of a high moral nature of course and be dedicated to God but priests would be encouraged to become more actively involved in the world economically and financially.
3. Each married priest would be encouraged to undergo a 30 day period of personal celibacy each year working out the details with his wife of course.
4. I would greatly encourage the development of Lay Priests to assist the priest and to serve in functions in which a priest could not.
5. I would place far greater importance on Confession and in confession I would do away with penance in favor of Repentance, Reform and Restitution.
6. Once every three to five years I would require every priest to go on Sabbatical to a monastery and Order of his choice for a sabbatical period of between one month and one year.
7. I would encourage Parish and local Priests to be the representatives of the church to local governmental and political representatives and agencies. Bishoprics and Archbishoprics would be forbidden to become directly involved in governmental affairs at their level. Rather Bishops and Archbishops would be involved with and be liaisons to businesses, corporations, educational and charitable institutions.
8. I would encourage priests, bishops and archbishops to spend part of their time in service to parishes and churches outside their own nation.
9. I would encourage priests, bishops and archbishops to put aside their offices, collars and robes at some point in their career to spend a period of time in service to the poor and the sick. I would also require that they spend part of their career as missionaries, dressed in normal street clothes.
10. I would allow and encourage the development of Priestesses as long as such a Priestess met all of the same requirements as a male Priest, accounting for gender differences of course.
11. I would encourage Ecumenical activities on the parts of local and parish Priests.
12. I would reform the Parish and Service/Station system.
13. I would reform the funding/donation/charity system to make it as transparent as possible.
14. I would reform the pay system so that priests who are considered exceptionally good (or Bishops or Archbishops for that matter) could receive higher salaries and could earn pay directly from local sources.
15. I would encourage each priest to contribute 15% of all incomes received from investments or enterprises and all salaries received from work to church and charity. Each Bishop would be encouraged to give 20% of all monies received and each Archbishop 25% of all monies earned or received to church and charity.
16. At death I would encourage all priests, bishops and archbishops to give away any monies not inherited by wife or children to church and charities.
17. I would require that at some point during his priestly career each and every priest live for a short period of time on charity and alms.
18. I would encourage far greater involvement in scientific activities, research and experimentation among priests. I would return Science to the church from which it originated, maybe even creating an Order of Scientific Priests.
19. I would encourage the development and study of Art in the Priesthood. Perhaps even creating an Order of Priests dedicated to the study, development and production of Sacred Art, Film, Letters, and Culture.I may think of others later.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The Exchange - A Global Network III
The Exchange - A Global Network III
Earlier this afternoon I reanalyzed traffic and readership to this blog. I discovered once again that most of my readers and visitors are American of course and yet I continue to pick up both visitors and readers from other paces in the world, notably Europe and Asia. Europe and Asia continue to make up the most significant portion of my non American readership.
Breakdown of Traffic by Continent:
Breakdown of Traffic by Continent:
Breakdown of Traffic by Country:
China
Hong Kong
Germany
Ireland
Japan
Saudi Arabia, and
The Ukraine
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Humours of Idleness - Grael of Black Waters Photographs
Humours of Idleness - Grael of Black Water Photographs
Here are a couple of recent photographs that I altered using an idea I got from Matt Bamberg. I recommend his book. I have read it and found the suggestions very helpful. His blog is here.
http://digitalartphotographyfordummies.blogspot.com/
My friends in the military who are avid photographers would I think find this book especially useful.
I will be attaching these photographs to a short story I am writing concerning Halloween.
Here are a couple of recent photographs that I altered using an idea I got from Matt Bamberg. I recommend his book. I have read it and found the suggestions very helpful. His blog is here.
http://digitalartphotographyfordummies.blogspot.com/
My friends in the military who are avid photographers would I think find this book especially useful.
I will be attaching these photographs to a short story I am writing concerning Halloween.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Humours of Idleness - New Shots
Humours of Idleness - New Shots
I've been down for awhile with a neck injury. Most of the week actually.
Haven't felt like doing much of anything, including working or even looking at my blogs and websites. But I'm recuperating and feeling better now.
So I'm gonna post some recent pictures I've taken:
One is of a large tree bole on the back or southern end of my land. (Some of you know I live in a very rural area.)
One is of a lizard who lives on the roof of my south deck. We have several lizards and snakes that live around the house but he is one of the most brightly colored and playful. He's very fast as well. Some of the darker lizards will actually crawl up on your arm if you approach them slowly and cautiously. Not him though, he's too fast, small, and squirrelly. He won't really let you get near him. He does however seem to like posing for the camera and will often do so as long as you keep a somewhat discreet distance.
One is of a cow-killer on the move. Cow-killers are pretty fast and this was a difficult shot. I had to walk quickly along side it and try to move the camera in front of it and estimate by eye where it would likely be in best focus to align the shot properly. It took about four failed shots as it ran along the road before I got a decent shot.
One is of the swamp running alongside the riverbank where my daughters and I took our last Rudding expedition. As a kid I practically grew up in the local forests and swamps. This shot is only about five or six miles in a straight line from the Revolutionary Battle of the Great Cane Brake. This spot kinda reminds me of that battlefield.
A shot taken along the riverbank of a large dog paw print and of a very large coon print right beside it.
Well that's about it for now. I'll let you figure out for yourself which shot goes with which description.
See ya later,
Jack.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Humours of Idleness - Rudding Expedition to Ruins
Humours of Idleness - Rudding Expedition to Ruins
Last Friday my two daughters and I went on a Rudding Expedition, their first real formal Rudding Expedition.
These are shots from that expedition.
The expedition began around 1100 hours and we finished up about 1830, right before the sun began to drop. We spent most of the afternoon and evening in the forest and exploring ruins.
More on that later.
As promised here are some of the photographs from that little expedition. I'm not posting many shots from the trip here now, only about four because of time constraints and because I have other work to complete tonight. I'll post other shots later.
Of the shots I'm posting now these involve an old abandoned Mill outpost building near a man-made lake which is part of the County Reservoir System. I had originally intended to do some bridging this time out, but instead discovered some abandoned ruins. Having found the ruins I then intended to Vad the abandoned building but the river crossing was a little rough for my daughters and I suspected that the building itself might prove dangerous for two young and inexperienced girls. So we merely explored the near bank and the old collapsed steel dam and floodgate where some recent but abandoned construction had been underway in the summer.
It was humorous to me because when we first started this expedition my oldest daughter said, "Dad, it's just like I'm Lara Croft and you're my daddy!" She was very excited. By the end of the day both my daughters were complaining about how exhausted, dirty, afraid (of being in the dark woods and swamps we had trudged through), thirsty, and hungry they were, despite the fact that I had made sure we were well equipped and provisioned. They're just unused to long expeditions. They'll get used to it as they train and become more experienced.
Construction Site: Lain up along a partially dammed section of the lowland outflow from the lake. The water in this area is probably twelve to fifteen feet deep and we saw many large fish in this little area as well as abandoned lures, meaning it is occasionally fished by those who know of the secluded spot. The water is dark green and is frequented by a large collection of various forms of wildlife as evidenced by the tracks and scats we encountered..
My Great Dane bitch, about 7 months old
A local Katydid
A Spider feeding upon a Dragonfly
Last Friday my two daughters and I went on a Rudding Expedition, their first real formal Rudding Expedition.
These are shots from that expedition.
The expedition began around 1100 hours and we finished up about 1830, right before the sun began to drop. We spent most of the afternoon and evening in the forest and exploring ruins.
More on that later.
As promised here are some of the photographs from that little expedition. I'm not posting many shots from the trip here now, only about four because of time constraints and because I have other work to complete tonight. I'll post other shots later.
Of the shots I'm posting now these involve an old abandoned Mill outpost building near a man-made lake which is part of the County Reservoir System. I had originally intended to do some bridging this time out, but instead discovered some abandoned ruins. Having found the ruins I then intended to Vad the abandoned building but the river crossing was a little rough for my daughters and I suspected that the building itself might prove dangerous for two young and inexperienced girls. So we merely explored the near bank and the old collapsed steel dam and floodgate where some recent but abandoned construction had been underway in the summer.
It was humorous to me because when we first started this expedition my oldest daughter said, "Dad, it's just like I'm Lara Croft and you're my daddy!" She was very excited. By the end of the day both my daughters were complaining about how exhausted, dirty, afraid (of being in the dark woods and swamps we had trudged through), thirsty, and hungry they were, despite the fact that I had made sure we were well equipped and provisioned. They're just unused to long expeditions. They'll get used to it as they train and become more experienced.
Construction Site: Lain up along a partially dammed section of the lowland outflow from the lake. The water in this area is probably twelve to fifteen feet deep and we saw many large fish in this little area as well as abandoned lures, meaning it is occasionally fished by those who know of the secluded spot. The water is dark green and is frequented by a large collection of various forms of wildlife as evidenced by the tracks and scats we encountered..
Collapsed Outpost Dam and Floodgate: Old metallic and improvised dam and floodgate. It had been partially supported by large stones bulldozed in but the secondary metallic wall had already collapsed from force of the water pressure. I crossed to the middle area until reaching a metallic section which nearly collapsed under my weight. Rather than risk further advance I turned my daughters back to the near shore after scouting that far. I'll return later to cross and reconnoiter the building that you can just barely see in the upper left hand corner of the shot.
Abandoned Outpost: The abandoned building itself. It rose three stories into the air and was mostly covered on the exterior by rather heavy growth of local vegetation. There was an entrance I could visually scout from a distance as well as one area that was climbable by thick vines.
Dam and Outpost: A shot of the dam with the abandoned building in the background nearly entirely covered by vegetation.
I'll post other shots from my expeditions in future posts.
Below however you will find shots I have recently taken of other subject matter. Personally I think my photographic skills, regarding taking shots of the microworld, continue to improve.
My Great Bernard - half Saint Bernard, half Great Dane: the Greatest Breed of Dog in the world.
My Great Dane bitch, about 7 months old
A local Katydid
A Spider feeding upon a Dragonfly
A Pregnant Mantis
THE GLAIR - NORTH KOREA EXPLODES LIKELY NUCLEAR WEAPON
THE GLAIR - NORTH KOREA EXPLODES LIKELY NUCLEAR WEAPON
Jarod William Graham
For Missive News
Last updated: 7:05 AM
Monday, October 9, 2006
Late last night intelligence officials in Washington were warned by observational satellites and reconnaissance aircraft that it was possible, or even likely, that North Korea had tested and exploded a low-yield nuclear weapon. Such a weapon, if it were indeed nuclear in nature, would pose a grave threat to US security interests around the globe and could potentially threaten traditional US Allies such as Europe, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and South Korea. In addition should the North Korean regime be able to export such nuclear technology then even North Korea’s traditional allies such as China and Russia could face the threat of nuclear blackmail from a rogue group, a terrorist agent, a potential coup attempt, or even an organized criminal group bent on extortion or financial gain.
Because of these dangerous and dire possibilities even nations normally seen as hostile to the United States or at least extremely competitive towards US interests have begun to unite with Washington for their own good to mobilize against the dark and looming threat of a nuclear North Korea. The idea of a nuclear armed North Korea which in addition has deployable, mass produced long range missile delivery systems has promoted swift and decisive action the world over.
France has agreed to immediately establish a commission to look into the idea of how to best counter the North Korean threat. According to the French Foreign Minister, acting in cooperation with the office of the French President, France is developing a plan of cooperation which will include devising highly punitive actions in the UN which will then be scuttled the day before such actions can actually be implemented. “France will,” in the words of the Foreign Ministry, “do our very best to convince the US and the rest of Europe that we mean business this time, and that we are the natural leaders of Europe. That we intend to crush this annoying little North Korean threat. Gullible nations such as Belgium, Austria, and many others will then follow us like sheep. The day before we are to take decisive action in the UN we will then shockingly neuter all possible real response by accumulating vetoes on the UN Security Council, including Chinese and Russian vetoes. Har! Har! Har! Then everyone will know once again why we in France call diplomacy the ‘true Art of France.’”
Canada too has pledged immediate aid to defend the West from possible North Korean threat by missiles and nuclear weapons. Canada has decided to launch a fleet of tugboats, not less than two, but not more than six, of their most modern tugboats to wherever they may be most needed. The tugboats currently sit in dry-dock awaiting orders on deployment. Said Canada’s Chief of Naval Operations, “We’re serious. You tell us where to go, we’ll get there eventually.”
A consortium of smaller European nations has decided to “worry indefinitely.” Asked by the press if they intended any other action the spokesman for the Green Party which heads this newly formed consortium replied, “Why, yes, we plan to pray to Mother Nature to help us all prevent littering, nuclear weapons, and global warming. Later in the year we also plan a Winter Solstice and Burning Man party and to march for human rights by burning down food factories. After that we all intend to get drunk, get high, turn on, and tune out. Plus, personally, I’m going to marry a goat from a nice Greek herd I’ve been looking at lately. Meeeowwwww!!”
Islamic clerical leaders have decided to do their part, and in a rare show of Islamic unity both Sunni and Shia clerics have called for, “the immediate hanging of Pope Benedict, the expulsion of the United States from all Islamic lands, the eradication of Israel, and for direct one on one talks between the Great Satan Bush and the Little Satan Kim. If we can get them talking seriously then they won’t notice when we quadruple the number of homicide bombings in Baghdad.”
But without a doubt the most decisive and helpful action so far has occurred within the august body of the United Nations. The UN has formed no less than three committees to study the problem. These committees have been assigned to work closely with Syria, which now heads the Human Rights Commission of the UN, with Iran, which now heads the Anti-Terrorism Commission of the UN, and with Cambodia, which now heads the Efforts for International Democratization Office of the UN.
The UN is expected to offer their findings within six months and to then recommend the formation of an international commission which will chair an attempt to create a diplomatic initiative possibly leading to 12, 15 or 25 member talks. The exact number of participants and what could realistically be achieved, if anything, is still a matter for future debate.
However, not every nation agrees that immediate action needs to be considered. Venezuela has decided that the nuclear test by North Korea probably signals that Kim and his top government officials aren’t keeping warm enough during the winter months. Said Hugo Chavez, “It’s very hard to keep warm in the winter if your peasants aren’t working hard enough. So it’s just natural you have to go nuclear just to stay warm. The real problem is Bush and the United States. Bush and the United States are the real sources of every problem in the world. Therefore Venezuela has agreed to sell North Korea Citgo gas and oil at one-tenth the going market rate and to give away gas and heating oil to the poorer members of the North Korean government and military. Then if North Korea ever intends to repay the favor by helping with our future nuclear program I’ll listen. I’ve got big plans for all of South and Central America, and besides, I’m not going anywhere because I’m confident I’m going to be re-elected every single time I allow an election.”
Fidel Castro offered a post-mortem statement which read, in part; “We agree with El Presidente Chavez.”
Top government officials in Mexico, speaking on condition of anonymity told this reporter, “We’re not really concerned about North Korea developing nuclear weapons. Anything anyone can do to stick it to the Gringo, dat’s okay by us. Besides we don’t really have anything valuable enough for anyone to want to blow up. The only way we would ever be in danger is if North Korea gave nuclear weapons to Arab terrorists and those terrorists were trying to sneak those weapons into the US through our country. Then some clumsy Arab terrorist blows himself up prematurely like they do all the time in Palestine. But what are the odds of that happening? … Oh, God!! Somebody get me a phone and a line to Washington! Instante! Instante!!”
Now the world waits to see exactly what can be learned about the situation in North Korea and what can realistically be done about the current state of affairs. It would be awfully embarrassing if the United Sates invaded and liberated North Korea, stopped starvation and tyrannical oppression, gave liberty and equality to the ordinary people of that nation, fed, sheltered, and helped educate the children and offered them a better and brighter future only to discover that North Korea had not yet truly developed viable weapons of mass destruction. Then the whole effort would have been a horrible historical waste.
© Missive News, 2006
Jarod William Graham
For Missive News
Last updated: 7:05 AM
Monday, October 9, 2006
Late last night intelligence officials in Washington were warned by observational satellites and reconnaissance aircraft that it was possible, or even likely, that North Korea had tested and exploded a low-yield nuclear weapon. Such a weapon, if it were indeed nuclear in nature, would pose a grave threat to US security interests around the globe and could potentially threaten traditional US Allies such as Europe, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and South Korea. In addition should the North Korean regime be able to export such nuclear technology then even North Korea’s traditional allies such as China and Russia could face the threat of nuclear blackmail from a rogue group, a terrorist agent, a potential coup attempt, or even an organized criminal group bent on extortion or financial gain.
Because of these dangerous and dire possibilities even nations normally seen as hostile to the United States or at least extremely competitive towards US interests have begun to unite with Washington for their own good to mobilize against the dark and looming threat of a nuclear North Korea. The idea of a nuclear armed North Korea which in addition has deployable, mass produced long range missile delivery systems has promoted swift and decisive action the world over.
France has agreed to immediately establish a commission to look into the idea of how to best counter the North Korean threat. According to the French Foreign Minister, acting in cooperation with the office of the French President, France is developing a plan of cooperation which will include devising highly punitive actions in the UN which will then be scuttled the day before such actions can actually be implemented. “France will,” in the words of the Foreign Ministry, “do our very best to convince the US and the rest of Europe that we mean business this time, and that we are the natural leaders of Europe. That we intend to crush this annoying little North Korean threat. Gullible nations such as Belgium, Austria, and many others will then follow us like sheep. The day before we are to take decisive action in the UN we will then shockingly neuter all possible real response by accumulating vetoes on the UN Security Council, including Chinese and Russian vetoes. Har! Har! Har! Then everyone will know once again why we in France call diplomacy the ‘true Art of France.’”
Canada too has pledged immediate aid to defend the West from possible North Korean threat by missiles and nuclear weapons. Canada has decided to launch a fleet of tugboats, not less than two, but not more than six, of their most modern tugboats to wherever they may be most needed. The tugboats currently sit in dry-dock awaiting orders on deployment. Said Canada’s Chief of Naval Operations, “We’re serious. You tell us where to go, we’ll get there eventually.”
A consortium of smaller European nations has decided to “worry indefinitely.” Asked by the press if they intended any other action the spokesman for the Green Party which heads this newly formed consortium replied, “Why, yes, we plan to pray to Mother Nature to help us all prevent littering, nuclear weapons, and global warming. Later in the year we also plan a Winter Solstice and Burning Man party and to march for human rights by burning down food factories. After that we all intend to get drunk, get high, turn on, and tune out. Plus, personally, I’m going to marry a goat from a nice Greek herd I’ve been looking at lately. Meeeowwwww!!”
Islamic clerical leaders have decided to do their part, and in a rare show of Islamic unity both Sunni and Shia clerics have called for, “the immediate hanging of Pope Benedict, the expulsion of the United States from all Islamic lands, the eradication of Israel, and for direct one on one talks between the Great Satan Bush and the Little Satan Kim. If we can get them talking seriously then they won’t notice when we quadruple the number of homicide bombings in Baghdad.”
But without a doubt the most decisive and helpful action so far has occurred within the august body of the United Nations. The UN has formed no less than three committees to study the problem. These committees have been assigned to work closely with Syria, which now heads the Human Rights Commission of the UN, with Iran, which now heads the Anti-Terrorism Commission of the UN, and with Cambodia, which now heads the Efforts for International Democratization Office of the UN.
The UN is expected to offer their findings within six months and to then recommend the formation of an international commission which will chair an attempt to create a diplomatic initiative possibly leading to 12, 15 or 25 member talks. The exact number of participants and what could realistically be achieved, if anything, is still a matter for future debate.
However, not every nation agrees that immediate action needs to be considered. Venezuela has decided that the nuclear test by North Korea probably signals that Kim and his top government officials aren’t keeping warm enough during the winter months. Said Hugo Chavez, “It’s very hard to keep warm in the winter if your peasants aren’t working hard enough. So it’s just natural you have to go nuclear just to stay warm. The real problem is Bush and the United States. Bush and the United States are the real sources of every problem in the world. Therefore Venezuela has agreed to sell North Korea Citgo gas and oil at one-tenth the going market rate and to give away gas and heating oil to the poorer members of the North Korean government and military. Then if North Korea ever intends to repay the favor by helping with our future nuclear program I’ll listen. I’ve got big plans for all of South and Central America, and besides, I’m not going anywhere because I’m confident I’m going to be re-elected every single time I allow an election.”
Fidel Castro offered a post-mortem statement which read, in part; “We agree with El Presidente Chavez.”
Top government officials in Mexico, speaking on condition of anonymity told this reporter, “We’re not really concerned about North Korea developing nuclear weapons. Anything anyone can do to stick it to the Gringo, dat’s okay by us. Besides we don’t really have anything valuable enough for anyone to want to blow up. The only way we would ever be in danger is if North Korea gave nuclear weapons to Arab terrorists and those terrorists were trying to sneak those weapons into the US through our country. Then some clumsy Arab terrorist blows himself up prematurely like they do all the time in Palestine. But what are the odds of that happening? … Oh, God!! Somebody get me a phone and a line to Washington! Instante! Instante!!”
Now the world waits to see exactly what can be learned about the situation in North Korea and what can realistically be done about the current state of affairs. It would be awfully embarrassing if the United Sates invaded and liberated North Korea, stopped starvation and tyrannical oppression, gave liberty and equality to the ordinary people of that nation, fed, sheltered, and helped educate the children and offered them a better and brighter future only to discover that North Korea had not yet truly developed viable weapons of mass destruction. Then the whole effort would have been a horrible historical waste.
© Missive News, 2006
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Marxed - Your Job, Should You Choose to Accept It...
Marxed - Your Job, Should You Choose to Accept It...
Your job is to regurgitate as many people as you've ever eaten.
The rules are simple:
1. On Tuesday no one is to look at what you vomit, unless of course they have previously decided to do so, and would like a sneak-peek.
2. The Spanish Inquisition may not intervene unless the partially digested limbs of at least three people show up in your efflux.
3. The Spanish Armada is checkmated at the first opportunity, then hung at daybreak. (I think we can all agree that no-one cares much for the Spanish Armada.)
4. Do not eat yourself by accident unless you wish to suffer indigestion and probably an impaction that will result in painful defecation.
5. Diarrhea does not count as a proper regurgitation, unless up to four people are passed in this manner by the morning of the third day. If that happens everyone eats their next door neighbor and the game continues on from that point with no survivors.
6. If anyone is left standing by October 31st then that's your problem.
7. 8 Days a Week is considered the standard. Standards are voluntary and optional, but not necessarily encouraged.
8. All decisions and counterdecisions must be made by High Tehranian Tea Time, three months from now, then eaten ex post facto. Before this can happen any decisions must have been made the previous Monday and countersigned in wax with up to but not excluding over three witnesses, verified on the internet. Only internet verification or email disnotification will count in cases of an indisputable tie. Regurgitated and imaginary verifications are considered valid if you can trace the remains four generations into some alternative future that will never happen.
9. When everyone has been properly regurgitated that will signal the end of the pre-sumptuous Starting stain. This will be further clarified by Jimmy Hoffa digesting his own liver, painfully if possible. Once that has been verified by email someone will be elected referee by democratic and secret vote. Obviously no-one will know who this person is except himself or herself, and of course they won't know either. It's secret. Underhanded shenanigans will not be tolerated because that is the point of this game.
10. Blah, blah, blah, and something else and something else, and other stuff too.
Well, that's it folks. If you think you can follow those rules and live with that then I don't want you around me.
Go play by yourself.
Your job is to regurgitate as many people as you've ever eaten.
The rules are simple:
1. On Tuesday no one is to look at what you vomit, unless of course they have previously decided to do so, and would like a sneak-peek.
2. The Spanish Inquisition may not intervene unless the partially digested limbs of at least three people show up in your efflux.
3. The Spanish Armada is checkmated at the first opportunity, then hung at daybreak. (I think we can all agree that no-one cares much for the Spanish Armada.)
4. Do not eat yourself by accident unless you wish to suffer indigestion and probably an impaction that will result in painful defecation.
5. Diarrhea does not count as a proper regurgitation, unless up to four people are passed in this manner by the morning of the third day. If that happens everyone eats their next door neighbor and the game continues on from that point with no survivors.
6. If anyone is left standing by October 31st then that's your problem.
7. 8 Days a Week is considered the standard. Standards are voluntary and optional, but not necessarily encouraged.
8. All decisions and counterdecisions must be made by High Tehranian Tea Time, three months from now, then eaten ex post facto. Before this can happen any decisions must have been made the previous Monday and countersigned in wax with up to but not excluding over three witnesses, verified on the internet. Only internet verification or email disnotification will count in cases of an indisputable tie. Regurgitated and imaginary verifications are considered valid if you can trace the remains four generations into some alternative future that will never happen.
9. When everyone has been properly regurgitated that will signal the end of the pre-sumptuous Starting stain. This will be further clarified by Jimmy Hoffa digesting his own liver, painfully if possible. Once that has been verified by email someone will be elected referee by democratic and secret vote. Obviously no-one will know who this person is except himself or herself, and of course they won't know either. It's secret. Underhanded shenanigans will not be tolerated because that is the point of this game.
10. Blah, blah, blah, and something else and something else, and other stuff too.
Well, that's it folks. If you think you can follow those rules and live with that then I don't want you around me.
Go play by yourself.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Pesharim - Four Finished
Pesharim - Four Finished
The following sites have been fully converted to Beta and for the most part completed as to arrangement and format:
Omniworks: http://omniworksgen.blogspot.com/
The Grapharium: http://grapharium.blogspot.com/
Dante's Ninth: http://dantesninth.blogspot.com/
The Missal: http://themissal.blogspot.com/
It is slow work reconstructing them from their previous format and code system including adding site meters, counters, HTML code of various kinds, customizing the outlay, reposting links, providing advertisement, etc.
But in the end I suspect it will be well worth it.
All of these sites are now much better arranged and formatted, are easier to navigate, can now fully draw information from Google and other search engines, are now set to crawl without interference, are posted with directories, and simply look much better.
That now leaves two sites remaining to fully convert to Beta as well as three more to construct.
Then it will simply be a matter of finalizing all of my sites and finishing content on my portfolios, etc.
I don't know why I say only, because in reality those things will be the most difficult parts of these jobs.
Jack.
The following sites have been fully converted to Beta and for the most part completed as to arrangement and format:
Omniworks: http://omniworksgen.blogspot.com/
The Grapharium: http://grapharium.blogspot.com/
Dante's Ninth: http://dantesninth.blogspot.com/
The Missal: http://themissal.blogspot.com/
It is slow work reconstructing them from their previous format and code system including adding site meters, counters, HTML code of various kinds, customizing the outlay, reposting links, providing advertisement, etc.
But in the end I suspect it will be well worth it.
All of these sites are now much better arranged and formatted, are easier to navigate, can now fully draw information from Google and other search engines, are now set to crawl without interference, are posted with directories, and simply look much better.
That now leaves two sites remaining to fully convert to Beta as well as three more to construct.
Then it will simply be a matter of finalizing all of my sites and finishing content on my portfolios, etc.
I don't know why I say only, because in reality those things will be the most difficult parts of these jobs.
Jack.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
The Secret Mission - New Expedition: Rudding the Cedars Along the Falls
The Secret Mission - New Expedition: Rudding the Cedars Along the Falls
Those of you who know me know that I am an avid Vadder (urban) and Rudder (rural). I will practice either or both whenever I get the opportunity.
Today, after their homeschooling, my daughters and I took a sort of mini-Rudding expedition to the Falls Along the Cedars.
The Falls are part of a river way system which includes the remains of an old textile mill, the remains of (but still functioning) dam on that river, and the monumental remains of some of the old river construction and what is left of the surrounding industrial complex.
Being an amateur industrial archaeologist myself these remains are of double interest to me, triple really. Because not only is there rudding value in the remains, but I can often vad the mill complex and what is left of the old mill as well as make records of the industrial and textile complex that used to function there. The old mill is now little more than a storehouse, and a rotting one at that, for old textile and industrial machinery. But the plant goes back nearly a century in operation and in the surrounding ruins and countryside.
Below are some of the pictures I took today of the ruins. I thought many of you might enjoy these pictures of our rud and it might also give some of my international readers a look at some of the landscape in rural America. On Friday, which is the day we typically reserve for laboratory work and for field trips we plan on going back out to this area in full pack, appropriately dressed, and making a full fledged photographic expedition of the entire area. If we can we will also vad the old mill complex and take photographic evidence of the old industrial areas as well as trying to arrange a full scale industrial archaeology expedition with the current owners of the old mill. We'll also be hiking through the swamps along the river.
In addition on Friday I'll be taking my daughters on their first real "Bridging" expedition. Bridging is a form of rudding which might be thought of as equivalent to roofing when Vadding. In roofing you launch an expedition to the roofs of various buildings, any building you can access, hospitals, office buildings, libraries, hotels, theatres, malls, anything you can manage. Then you explore those roofs, move from roof to roof, climb the roofs, gain access to other areas, or whatever else you can manage to achieve during the expedition. Without being discovered or leaving any evidence of your passage, of course.
In bridging you launch expeditions to bridges, exploring those bridges from above, below, their construction, the surrounding land, the (often) secret/camouflaged/hidden but attached hideaways used by teenagers, drug and criminal gangs, individuals, and so forth. (You'd be surprised how often bridges are used as "dead drops" for various purposes.) I'll be going in broad daylight to bridges and areas I am already familiar with in order avoid any possible danger to my daughters. Although I will be taking them to a bridge under which was dumped the body of a man who had been murdered (one of the earlier string of river murder cases I worked in my late twenties) though that bridge is perfectly safe in daylight and well patrolled now.
In any case I'll be taking photographs of those expeditions on Friday and posting the results here as soon as I can process those images.
Now for today's mini-expedition.
Note: I downloaded 124 images from my camera. Obviously I'm not going to post all of those images to the Missal in this post. I'll only post a few of the more interesting shots here, though I may post more from this round later, in another post. I also wanted to mention that when it comes to my camera I am experimenting with different types of batteries, and currently I am using both different brands of lithium batteries and a new kind of battery called Titanium to provide power for my shots. I like both but the lithium batteries are far more powerful. The titanium provide good emergency back-up however. I've yet to experiment with either to see if my recharging equipment is capable of making either to accept a recharge.
Dam Spillway - It is difficult to tell in this shot because of lack of perspective control but the dam itself is about 40 to 45 feet high from the bottom to the top of the utmost tier of the dam.
Second Tier, Left Bank - Shot taken from the top of the second tier of the length of the first tier and left bank.
Pathway Back - This is the pathway back to the end of the dam and edge of the top tier, or the pathway I walked back along to get back to the bank and to land.
Pathway Out - Pathway leading from raised bank and hill out along the length of the top tier to the middle of the dam.
Dam Length - shot from atop a support structure on the right bank.
Three Spillways
Outlying Support Pillar - One of the lonely outlying supports. These used to ring the river providing wall support for an encircling lower waterway and dam system. This system is now demolished and the connecting walls destroyed. About 15 feet high and this support was unclimbable without equipment.
Atop Support - The nest support. About a ten foot tall support I was able to climb (due to decay) from which I took some shots when atop it. You can see the top of a second dam wall being overspilled in the left side of the photograph.
Construction Blocks - Blocks from the ruins have sometimes been carted away and set in the fields of local farmers.
Remains of the Old Wall - This section of the old wall used to connect to the dam itself but has since fallen into decay and fallen apart. The wall used to rise about 30 to 35 feet form the river bank.
Those of you who know me know that I am an avid Vadder (urban) and Rudder (rural). I will practice either or both whenever I get the opportunity.
Today, after their homeschooling, my daughters and I took a sort of mini-Rudding expedition to the Falls Along the Cedars.
The Falls are part of a river way system which includes the remains of an old textile mill, the remains of (but still functioning) dam on that river, and the monumental remains of some of the old river construction and what is left of the surrounding industrial complex.
Being an amateur industrial archaeologist myself these remains are of double interest to me, triple really. Because not only is there rudding value in the remains, but I can often vad the mill complex and what is left of the old mill as well as make records of the industrial and textile complex that used to function there. The old mill is now little more than a storehouse, and a rotting one at that, for old textile and industrial machinery. But the plant goes back nearly a century in operation and in the surrounding ruins and countryside.
Below are some of the pictures I took today of the ruins. I thought many of you might enjoy these pictures of our rud and it might also give some of my international readers a look at some of the landscape in rural America. On Friday, which is the day we typically reserve for laboratory work and for field trips we plan on going back out to this area in full pack, appropriately dressed, and making a full fledged photographic expedition of the entire area. If we can we will also vad the old mill complex and take photographic evidence of the old industrial areas as well as trying to arrange a full scale industrial archaeology expedition with the current owners of the old mill. We'll also be hiking through the swamps along the river.
In addition on Friday I'll be taking my daughters on their first real "Bridging" expedition. Bridging is a form of rudding which might be thought of as equivalent to roofing when Vadding. In roofing you launch an expedition to the roofs of various buildings, any building you can access, hospitals, office buildings, libraries, hotels, theatres, malls, anything you can manage. Then you explore those roofs, move from roof to roof, climb the roofs, gain access to other areas, or whatever else you can manage to achieve during the expedition. Without being discovered or leaving any evidence of your passage, of course.
In bridging you launch expeditions to bridges, exploring those bridges from above, below, their construction, the surrounding land, the (often) secret/camouflaged/hidden but attached hideaways used by teenagers, drug and criminal gangs, individuals, and so forth. (You'd be surprised how often bridges are used as "dead drops" for various purposes.) I'll be going in broad daylight to bridges and areas I am already familiar with in order avoid any possible danger to my daughters. Although I will be taking them to a bridge under which was dumped the body of a man who had been murdered (one of the earlier string of river murder cases I worked in my late twenties) though that bridge is perfectly safe in daylight and well patrolled now.
In any case I'll be taking photographs of those expeditions on Friday and posting the results here as soon as I can process those images.
Now for today's mini-expedition.
Note: I downloaded 124 images from my camera. Obviously I'm not going to post all of those images to the Missal in this post. I'll only post a few of the more interesting shots here, though I may post more from this round later, in another post. I also wanted to mention that when it comes to my camera I am experimenting with different types of batteries, and currently I am using both different brands of lithium batteries and a new kind of battery called Titanium to provide power for my shots. I like both but the lithium batteries are far more powerful. The titanium provide good emergency back-up however. I've yet to experiment with either to see if my recharging equipment is capable of making either to accept a recharge.
Dam Spillway - It is difficult to tell in this shot because of lack of perspective control but the dam itself is about 40 to 45 feet high from the bottom to the top of the utmost tier of the dam.
Second Tier, Left Bank - Shot taken from the top of the second tier of the length of the first tier and left bank.
Pathway Back - This is the pathway back to the end of the dam and edge of the top tier, or the pathway I walked back along to get back to the bank and to land.
Pathway Out - Pathway leading from raised bank and hill out along the length of the top tier to the middle of the dam.
Dam Length - shot from atop a support structure on the right bank.
Three Spillways
Outlying Support Pillar - One of the lonely outlying supports. These used to ring the river providing wall support for an encircling lower waterway and dam system. This system is now demolished and the connecting walls destroyed. About 15 feet high and this support was unclimbable without equipment.
Atop Support - The nest support. About a ten foot tall support I was able to climb (due to decay) from which I took some shots when atop it. You can see the top of a second dam wall being overspilled in the left side of the photograph.
Construction Blocks - Blocks from the ruins have sometimes been carted away and set in the fields of local farmers.
Remains of the Old Wall - This section of the old wall used to connect to the dam itself but has since fallen into decay and fallen apart. The wall used to rise about 30 to 35 feet form the river bank.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
The Exchange - Fast Women
The Exchange - Fast Women
I got this from Science Base. So has my wife been lying (a little play on words) for years about first needing a massage?
I suspect yes!
Women as fast as men, almost
Posted in Sex at 12:00 am by sciencebase
http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/
I got this from Science Base. So has my wife been lying (a little play on words) for years about first needing a massage?
I suspect yes!
Women as fast as men, almost
Posted in Sex at 12:00 am by sciencebase
http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/
Monday, October 02, 2006
The Exchange - Jack Army
The Exchange - Jack Army
I noticed today while checking my traffic for new readers and for international links that I had been cross-linked (reciprocal) to Go Jack Army. I consider it a gentleman's honor to be cross linked to that site as it is a blog I have enjoyed visiting and reading for some time.
I encourage all of my readers to visit that blog, especially my International Readers, to get a better idea about the American military, what it is really like, how it operates, what some of the personnel are like, what they fight for, and why.
I thank Jack Army for the cross link and wish to remind everyone who helps build Jack Army and who reads it that we appreciate the service of our American military personnel, of every branch, and of every rank. They do Yeoman's work and good service, and they make us proud of our nation, our principles and ideals, and of course, of themselves.
Visit the site and be amazed at what you might learn about what you really don't yet know:
http://gojackarmy.blogspot.com/
God Bless and Godspeed.
Return home safe ladies and gentlemen.
By the way when I get my new INTEL blog up and running I will be more than happy to link Jack Army to that blog as well.
Jack.
Pesharim - Betamax
Pesharim - Betamax
The Missal has now been fully converted to Beta. Let me know what you think of the new format, how user friendly it is, etc.
http://themissal.blogspot.com/
My online Writing Portfolio, the Grapharium, is also now fully converted to Beta. Additionally new content and material has been added and the site has been revised. Give it a look over if you wish and let me know what you think. Comment on anything you wish including presentation, look and feel, usefulness, organization of information, ease of navigation, and so on.
http://grapharium.blogspot.com/
I will also be adding an on-line Resume and Sample Works and Clips (as soon as I am able) of my writings including extracts from previously published work, unpublished works, and current projects.
Jack
The Missal has now been fully converted to Beta. Let me know what you think of the new format, how user friendly it is, etc.
http://themissal.blogspot.com/
My online Writing Portfolio, the Grapharium, is also now fully converted to Beta. Additionally new content and material has been added and the site has been revised. Give it a look over if you wish and let me know what you think. Comment on anything you wish including presentation, look and feel, usefulness, organization of information, ease of navigation, and so on.
http://grapharium.blogspot.com/
I will also be adding an on-line Resume and Sample Works and Clips (as soon as I am able) of my writings including extracts from previously published work, unpublished works, and current projects.
Jack
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Marxed - Evolutionary Race Mixing Negro Chink Missing Link Greenpeace Art Activist Lost under Peruvian Pile of Visiting Texas Midgets
Marxed - Evolutionary Race Mixing Negro Chink Missing Link Greenpeace Art Activist Lost under Peruvian Pile of Visiting Texas Midgets
Thu July 4, 2006 13:15 PM ET
(Page 1 of 1) Top NewsGaza operation to "intensify" Weather forces second shuttle launch delay Mexicans vote for new president MORE
By Harry Thrombosis
While visiting Peru in an effort to find the long lost City of Golden Space Raiders from Venus the renowned Evolutionary Anthropologist and Race Mixing Negro Chink Greenpeace activist Sir Edmund Hakatuku was lost and presumed dead beneath a huge pile of Texas midgets visiting from Tijuana, Mexico during the annual Blister Tech Renaissance Festival.*
Sir Edmund "Baranda Asbaderappida" Hakatuku disappeared shortly after being surrounded by an angry midget mob upset at his classification of them as "that little scourge of Darwinian evolution." The little people began to pile atop the PhD, who was chair of the Xenophobic Lesbian and Gay African Chinese History Dept. at the University of Colorado. When the pile reached 300 midgets and over three feet tall the Peruvian authorities were called in on llamas to quell the disturbance. Sir Edmund Hakatuku, who had received an honorary title of Knight of the Bended Knee from the Ancient Order of Greek Pedophiles, had disappeared in the melee. He has not been seen since. Blister Tech corporate executives have denied all involvement and sworn in written statements that oil was not the motivating factor in the midget assault.
However authorities are continuing to investigate all possible leads.
Contacted for comment the office of Sir Edmund "Baranda Asbaderappida" Hakatuku told reporters that the visit to Peru had multiple objectives and that the PhD had hoped to achieve more than one purpose. Among these was the intended discovery of the so called "Missing Link Bone" proving an undeniable evolutionary connection between a certain genetic cluster of prehistoric gay apes from the Toulouse Latrec region of France and the artists, greenpeace activists and race mixing alien astronauts who eventually evolved from them. Sir Edmund had also intended to personally photograph and film the expedition in order to add to his own photographic portfolio, and the academic had wanted as well to make hand sketches of pregnant prostitutes of the local region. Sir Edmund, an avid artist himself has been making nude sketches of pre birth male fetal masses since the early 1960's when he led the first hippy fetal mass program at Cal Tech. And finally the trip was also designed to raise funds for a wide range of Democratic political causes by putting on a Lollapaloser benefit concert for Peruvian goat herders. The event had been expected to raise over $53.46 (US), internet contributions included. But that was not to be.
PhD Hakatuku was traveling at the time of the attack with known race mixers and midget haters Britney Spears and Democratic Labor Union leader Danny "the Cockroach" Escalante. However neither of the companions traveling with Sir Edmund in his "entourage" were attacked or even harassed during the 30 minute dwarf bang. This despite the fact that Mr. Escalante had dressed publicly as a rodeo clown and was violently inciting large groups of midgets to try and "take a run at me shorties!"Asked by witnesses and normal sized reporters why only Sir Edmund had been attacked a very hostile spokesman for the midgets declared, "That's easy Gringo Sasquatch. The Negro always gets it first!"
* Several gargantuan fat asses on personal mobility scooters were injured in the writing of this article but were compensated for their injuries and loss with supersized floaties from Dairy Queen.
© Rooters 2006.
Thu July 4, 2006 13:15 PM ET
(Page 1 of 1) Top NewsGaza operation to "intensify" Weather forces second shuttle launch delay Mexicans vote for new president MORE
By Harry Thrombosis
While visiting Peru in an effort to find the long lost City of Golden Space Raiders from Venus the renowned Evolutionary Anthropologist and Race Mixing Negro Chink Greenpeace activist Sir Edmund Hakatuku was lost and presumed dead beneath a huge pile of Texas midgets visiting from Tijuana, Mexico during the annual Blister Tech Renaissance Festival.*
Sir Edmund "Baranda Asbaderappida" Hakatuku disappeared shortly after being surrounded by an angry midget mob upset at his classification of them as "that little scourge of Darwinian evolution." The little people began to pile atop the PhD, who was chair of the Xenophobic Lesbian and Gay African Chinese History Dept. at the University of Colorado. When the pile reached 300 midgets and over three feet tall the Peruvian authorities were called in on llamas to quell the disturbance. Sir Edmund Hakatuku, who had received an honorary title of Knight of the Bended Knee from the Ancient Order of Greek Pedophiles, had disappeared in the melee. He has not been seen since. Blister Tech corporate executives have denied all involvement and sworn in written statements that oil was not the motivating factor in the midget assault.
However authorities are continuing to investigate all possible leads.
Contacted for comment the office of Sir Edmund "Baranda Asbaderappida" Hakatuku told reporters that the visit to Peru had multiple objectives and that the PhD had hoped to achieve more than one purpose. Among these was the intended discovery of the so called "Missing Link Bone" proving an undeniable evolutionary connection between a certain genetic cluster of prehistoric gay apes from the Toulouse Latrec region of France and the artists, greenpeace activists and race mixing alien astronauts who eventually evolved from them. Sir Edmund had also intended to personally photograph and film the expedition in order to add to his own photographic portfolio, and the academic had wanted as well to make hand sketches of pregnant prostitutes of the local region. Sir Edmund, an avid artist himself has been making nude sketches of pre birth male fetal masses since the early 1960's when he led the first hippy fetal mass program at Cal Tech. And finally the trip was also designed to raise funds for a wide range of Democratic political causes by putting on a Lollapaloser benefit concert for Peruvian goat herders. The event had been expected to raise over $53.46 (US), internet contributions included. But that was not to be.
PhD Hakatuku was traveling at the time of the attack with known race mixers and midget haters Britney Spears and Democratic Labor Union leader Danny "the Cockroach" Escalante. However neither of the companions traveling with Sir Edmund in his "entourage" were attacked or even harassed during the 30 minute dwarf bang. This despite the fact that Mr. Escalante had dressed publicly as a rodeo clown and was violently inciting large groups of midgets to try and "take a run at me shorties!"Asked by witnesses and normal sized reporters why only Sir Edmund had been attacked a very hostile spokesman for the midgets declared, "That's easy Gringo Sasquatch. The Negro always gets it first!"
* Several gargantuan fat asses on personal mobility scooters were injured in the writing of this article but were compensated for their injuries and loss with supersized floaties from Dairy Queen.
© Rooters 2006.
The Exchange - An Excellent Resource
The Exchange - An Excellent Resource
An excellent resource for my American Readers.
http://www.safetyalertnetwork.org/
An excellent resource for my American Readers.
http://www.safetyalertnetwork.org/
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