I am going to quote two here, but there were many more I found interesting and thoughtful at Conscious-Living Poetry .
On second thought...
Whatever it is in life that troubles you,
have faith in yourself. Assume responsibility
for yourself, and the rest of life has a way of
taking care of itself.
Haiku Moment
By Don
Paths cross,
lives change,
we grow
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Friday, September 10, 2004
Maybe I see why...
When I linked the paper airplane instructions, in the previous post, and noted that it was listed in a "Windows Secrets" newsletter, I actually was a bit puzzled about why it was included. All sorts of things turn up in that newsletter (which by the way, is often critical of Microsoft), but they are always related to Windows and/or Microsoft.
I was trying to create the airplane and while I think I know where they are going, the instructions seem very difficult to follow. Did anyone else try it? Did anyone else have any difficulty following the instructions?
Later update: I did get the thing constructed, but not before the husband of the house got involved, tried to fold one of his own, and then gave up in frustration. The thing flies in a short straight line (after which it drops like a stone), but I am not that impressed. I can't say if the problems were due to me and my interpretation of the instructions or the composition of the instructions and design.
I do see some interesting, possibly connected themes though.
I was trying to create the airplane and while I think I know where they are going, the instructions seem very difficult to follow. Did anyone else try it? Did anyone else have any difficulty following the instructions?
Later update: I did get the thing constructed, but not before the husband of the house got involved, tried to fold one of his own, and then gave up in frustration. The thing flies in a short straight line (after which it drops like a stone), but I am not that impressed. I can't say if the problems were due to me and my interpretation of the instructions or the composition of the instructions and design.
I do see some interesting, possibly connected themes though.
Paper Airplane
I like (making, testing and occasionally creating) paper airplanes- especially ones that are slightly different.
I haven't tested it yet, but this link turned up in a Windows XP Secrets newsletter:
The Flapper
It might be the only one the author knows that flaps its wings, but it isn't the only one I know. There is one I used to fold and cut for my son, that is shaped and flies a little like a small songbird. I will have to see if I can actually write instructions for it and post it. I am not at all sure I can do that- that is, I am not sure I can write/draw the "how to's"..
If anyone has any links to the instructions for paper airplanes they particularly like (or origami, kirigami etc- other things I dabble at occasionally), I would be interested in seeing them. Post in comments or send me an email.
I haven't tested it yet, but this link turned up in a Windows XP Secrets newsletter:
The Flapper
It might be the only one the author knows that flaps its wings, but it isn't the only one I know. There is one I used to fold and cut for my son, that is shaped and flies a little like a small songbird. I will have to see if I can actually write instructions for it and post it. I am not at all sure I can do that- that is, I am not sure I can write/draw the "how to's"..
If anyone has any links to the instructions for paper airplanes they particularly like (or origami, kirigami etc- other things I dabble at occasionally), I would be interested in seeing them. Post in comments or send me an email.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Weather
Weather in So. Cal.
Only a tease:
thirty-six hours humid,
three minutes of rain
(Sunshine returns tomorrow)
Only a tease:
thirty-six hours humid,
three minutes of rain
(Sunshine returns tomorrow)
Monday, September 06, 2004
President Clinton
Get updates on his condition or send a get well message from the site: Clinton Presidential Center
By the way, this site has completely expanded since it first went online. I wrote them a couple of years ago because I had heard a speech of his and wanted a transcript to talk about with my poli sci tutoring clients. At that time the site wasn't much more than an events calendar and contact information. Now they are putting all sorts of information at everyone's fingertips.
By the way, this site has completely expanded since it first went online. I wrote them a couple of years ago because I had heard a speech of his and wanted a transcript to talk about with my poli sci tutoring clients. At that time the site wasn't much more than an events calendar and contact information. Now they are putting all sorts of information at everyone's fingertips.
About that quake prediction ... never mind
About that quake prediction ... never mind: "UCLA Professor Vladimir Keilis-Borok, who made his prediction of a major quake in January, said in a prepared statement released Friday, 'This prediction was a false alarm; no such earthquake occurred.'"
Being right four times recently made his prediction worth paying attention to- and a number of officials including Senator Boxer thought so too.. but this time apparently they got the data wrong.
Being right four times recently made his prediction worth paying attention to- and a number of officials including Senator Boxer thought so too.. but this time apparently they got the data wrong.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Unconscious Mutterings
Week 83
I say ... and you think ... ?
I say ... and you think ... ?
- Reporter:: standing out in the hurricane like a silly fool, inviting the wind to throw something at him/her, which she will oblige...
- Mythology:: enduring stories and archetypes, some very deep in our collective psyche
- Wimbledon:: The things that come to mind are tennis and England, of course..
- Civilization:: many advantages, many disadvantages to the western sort we have set up; calling something civilized, even collective acceptance of something as civilized, doesn't make it so...
- Punctuation:: mine is atrocious
- Party Games:: dislike many
- Flawless:: airbrushed; illusionary, man made or thought; judgment about something; nature doesn't create flawless- she creates perfect when seen as part of a whole, imperfection as perfection, compensatory and complementing features- strengths to balance weaknesses and so on.
- Unprecedented:: not noticed before
- Curry:: interesting spice; have to look up where the phrase "curry favor" came from.. and one can "curry" a horse too - right??
- Tropical:: warm, breezy; conjures up less stress, peaceful, unhurried setting
Friday, September 03, 2004
When you want a break; new game
This one is a puzzle game; not as addictive as Insaniquarium: PopCap Games - Alchemy
I was thinking about this flash game playing addiction of mine. I think when I am overloaded and/or when I want to stop thinking about something that is troubling to me or not do chores, I look for almost anything else to be busy with. Would that be an avoidance tendency? ;-)
I was thinking about this flash game playing addiction of mine. I think when I am overloaded and/or when I want to stop thinking about something that is troubling to me or not do chores, I look for almost anything else to be busy with. Would that be an avoidance tendency? ;-)
Thursday, September 02, 2004
It is a big deal to me
Silly me.
For a little while tonight, my feelings were hurt. I knew that things were likely to play out this way, yet I still hoped that it would be different. I told family and close friends how big a deal tonight was to me, how important it was reaching this particular milestone. I told them, rather than expect them to read my mind. I didn't make a huge fuss about it, but they were all told that tonight I would finish all requirements for this degree and that it was important to me. I made another mistake in thinking. I thought they would hear.
When I got home, the husband of the house said, "You are home really late tonight", to which I replied that we had to give our presentations and sit through everyone else's. His reply was "How did you do?". When I told him the group (I hate group projects!) got an 88/100 there was no response. And those were the total extent of his comments to me for the entire day and evening (really, those are the only words he said to me in 24 hours).
When people reach milestones or complete something important, especially if they tell me ahead of time, I try to respond in a way that acknowledges that I know it was important to them, and lets them know I am happy with and for them. Congratulate success. Help someone else feel good about their efforts.
But I didn't plan anything for myself and I should have. I knew that class would run late tonight. Still, I hoped that people at home would have a card or perhaps a flower or even just tell me congratulations. I thought that perhaps I might get a phone call from my sister or even emails from my extended family and friends. But it didn't happen. Strangers and passing acquaintances offered congratulations, but not my family and close friends. And for a little while, I was hurt.
However, I didn't do this for them and I didn't do it for any accolades. I have worked for the past four years to reach this first goal, for me. I DID IT! I am finished with this phase of things. I did it despite the lack of encouragement from almost all directions; I did it despite the financial difficulties; I did it despite my age and frequent lack of energy; and I am moving right into new goals for the next two years.
YEA ME! Tomorrow I will figure out something to do that marks the accomplishment.
Quotes for the occasion reflecting the progression through 2000-2004:
"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." ~H. L. Hunt
"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way; if you don't, you'll find an excuse." ~Unknown
"Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that." ~Norman Vincent Peale
"Hell begins on the day when God grants us a clear vision of all that we might have achieved, of all the gifts which we might have wasted, of all that we might have done which we did not do." ~Gian-Carlo Menotti
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone." ~Bill Cosby
This one is one of my favorites:
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds." ~Orison Swett Marden
For a little while tonight, my feelings were hurt. I knew that things were likely to play out this way, yet I still hoped that it would be different. I told family and close friends how big a deal tonight was to me, how important it was reaching this particular milestone. I told them, rather than expect them to read my mind. I didn't make a huge fuss about it, but they were all told that tonight I would finish all requirements for this degree and that it was important to me. I made another mistake in thinking. I thought they would hear.
When I got home, the husband of the house said, "You are home really late tonight", to which I replied that we had to give our presentations and sit through everyone else's. His reply was "How did you do?". When I told him the group (I hate group projects!) got an 88/100 there was no response. And those were the total extent of his comments to me for the entire day and evening (really, those are the only words he said to me in 24 hours).
When people reach milestones or complete something important, especially if they tell me ahead of time, I try to respond in a way that acknowledges that I know it was important to them, and lets them know I am happy with and for them. Congratulate success. Help someone else feel good about their efforts.
But I didn't plan anything for myself and I should have. I knew that class would run late tonight. Still, I hoped that people at home would have a card or perhaps a flower or even just tell me congratulations. I thought that perhaps I might get a phone call from my sister or even emails from my extended family and friends. But it didn't happen. Strangers and passing acquaintances offered congratulations, but not my family and close friends. And for a little while, I was hurt.
However, I didn't do this for them and I didn't do it for any accolades. I have worked for the past four years to reach this first goal, for me. I DID IT! I am finished with this phase of things. I did it despite the lack of encouragement from almost all directions; I did it despite the financial difficulties; I did it despite my age and frequent lack of energy; and I am moving right into new goals for the next two years.
YEA ME! Tomorrow I will figure out something to do that marks the accomplishment.
Quotes for the occasion reflecting the progression through 2000-2004:
"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." ~H. L. Hunt
"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way; if you don't, you'll find an excuse." ~Unknown
"Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that." ~Norman Vincent Peale
"Hell begins on the day when God grants us a clear vision of all that we might have achieved, of all the gifts which we might have wasted, of all that we might have done which we did not do." ~Gian-Carlo Menotti
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone." ~Bill Cosby
This one is one of my favorites:
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds." ~Orison Swett Marden
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
How very strange and...
When I checked this page in my browser, May came up instead of August and no archives were listed beyond May 2004. I reloaded the page and got the same result. Using what should have been the August archive address, gave me those posts, but clicking the link to current posts sent me right back to May! Checking around, I see that a few other people on Blogspot might also be having the same trouble.. or else it is something in the way my browser is loading pages! I republished the entire blog and it seems to be ok now.
As a little side note, my finals went ok. I have one presentation to go, some paperwork to turn in to my advisor, and I will be finished... with the quarter and with this degree!!!!!!!!
... Then on to a well deserved three weeks off, where I can attempt to clean and put some order back in my surroundings, before life gets even more hectic with a job and classes for the next degree.
Oh, and I definitely intend to spend a little time doing some things that are just for me.
As a little side note, my finals went ok. I have one presentation to go, some paperwork to turn in to my advisor, and I will be finished... with the quarter and with this degree!!!!!!!!
... Then on to a well deserved three weeks off, where I can attempt to clean and put some order back in my surroundings, before life gets even more hectic with a job and classes for the next degree.
Oh, and I definitely intend to spend a little time doing some things that are just for me.
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