Particles of water vapor which when frozen in the upper air fall to earth as soft, white, crystalline flakes.
If you want to relax, take a walk in the woods during a gentle snow fall. The quiet is mystical and the sights beautiful. The snow dampens any noise and provides a unique quietness. The birds, frogs and insects that may be vocal in the summer are quiet in the winter. If you need a place to hear yourself or God speak go to the woods during a snow fall.
For the ultimate in body stress relief, lay yourself down in some deep snow. The snow will conform to your body and not create pressure points. If you have on water repellent clothing, the snow will serve as an insulator and keep you warm. It will provide the feeling of an eternal nap.
Instead of driving in it, shoveling it or complaining about it, embrace it. Share it with a friend.
Snowflakes
by Linda A. Copp
Snowflakes spill from heaven's hand
Lovely and chaste like smooth white sand.
A veil of wonder laced in light
Falling Gently on a winters night.
Graceful beauty raining down
Giving magic to the lifeless ground.
Each snowflake like a falling star
Smiling beauty that's spun afar.
Till earth is dressed in a robe of white
Unspoken poem the hush of night.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Welfare
The primary purpose of welfare is to keep the peace. For hungry, desperate and despairing people are dangerous. So welfare has been used to placate people and take away their initiative.
Unfortunately over generations what has occurred is a new way of life, passed on from generation to generation. Hunting and gathering activities have now been focused on how and where to get hand outs. It is the new skill set of the lower class.
The ability to get social services is an important part of civilized societies. The administration of the services is what allows the service to either be a value to the society or what leads to its eventual down fall.
These services after a short period of time should come with a price, payment through work. The payment made real time with the work. Those on welfare would do community work, possibly cleaning schools, tending community gardens, cleaning and caring for parks. Children could be rewarded with morning breakfast at school for completion of homework, proper behavior to get lunch. Earning builds self esteem and initiative.
The gap between the haves and have nots is not increasing because of the greed of the rich, but rather the good intentions of the compassionate that are disabling a growing population segment who see welfare as their new way of life.
It is time to give people their self esteem back.
Unfortunately over generations what has occurred is a new way of life, passed on from generation to generation. Hunting and gathering activities have now been focused on how and where to get hand outs. It is the new skill set of the lower class.
The ability to get social services is an important part of civilized societies. The administration of the services is what allows the service to either be a value to the society or what leads to its eventual down fall.
These services after a short period of time should come with a price, payment through work. The payment made real time with the work. Those on welfare would do community work, possibly cleaning schools, tending community gardens, cleaning and caring for parks. Children could be rewarded with morning breakfast at school for completion of homework, proper behavior to get lunch. Earning builds self esteem and initiative.
The gap between the haves and have nots is not increasing because of the greed of the rich, but rather the good intentions of the compassionate that are disabling a growing population segment who see welfare as their new way of life.
It is time to give people their self esteem back.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Healthcare
I didn’t think I had anything to write about today. At least until I read about President Obama trying to set up a televised healthcare discussion. It should be interesting to watch, but I would not want to be the moderator for that one.
I do have to say that I am not a President Obama supporter.
Politicians have been trying to improve healthcare through legislation. It is the proverbial “Solving World Hunger” problem. Keep it so big that nothing will ever really be done.
Healthcare is not a legislative problem (defining rules). It is a physical problem that needs to be addressed using standard problem solving methods that begin with problem definition, measurement, analysis, improvement and control.
No progress is made because a definition and measure never get completed. Our leaders want to jump to solution without narrowing and defining the problem. If we want to improve healthcare let’s get the scope narrowed and the specific problem defined and then we can get on with finding the proper solution.
I do have to say that I am not a President Obama supporter.
Politicians have been trying to improve healthcare through legislation. It is the proverbial “Solving World Hunger” problem. Keep it so big that nothing will ever really be done.
Healthcare is not a legislative problem (defining rules). It is a physical problem that needs to be addressed using standard problem solving methods that begin with problem definition, measurement, analysis, improvement and control.
No progress is made because a definition and measure never get completed. Our leaders want to jump to solution without narrowing and defining the problem. If we want to improve healthcare let’s get the scope narrowed and the specific problem defined and then we can get on with finding the proper solution.
Friday, February 5, 2010
EMail Forwards
This was forwarded to me without the added comments in ( ), which I added. Maybe we should read and discern what is sent to us before passing it along blindly.
Isn't it strange
How a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping? (If you believe what the million dollar ad campaigns tell us, we can feed a family of 5 for a month on $20. If you believe people who are earning middle income livings doing charitable work. If you believe religions who are building new million dollar churches while people go hungry)
Isn't it strange
How 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, And how short they seem when you're watching a good movie? (In either instance my back side hurts and I find that there are very few new plots, just recycled ideas – 30 minutes for each works for me)
Isn't it strange
That you can't find a word to say when you're praying but..
You have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? (How much do you have to say to people you live with daily-same with God-he already knows it all, so not much to say)
Isn't it strange
How difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but
How easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book? (How many books do you reread annually and have interest in. It’s the same story and we already know the ending. Maybe it's time to try a new ending to the story and see if something different happens. Let's let him live at Easter instead of crucifying him)
Isn't it strange
How difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others;
But how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip? (Unfortunately there are no “Facts” about God and the information that is available has been around for 2000 years and not new-which means it is not “News” and everyone has already heard it.)
Isn't it strange
How we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but, we question the words in the Bible? (We would be better off if we questioned both-should only believe 25% of what you hear)
(Just looking at the word changes and interpretation changes in the bible that have occurred in my adult life, I can’t possibly imaging what has happened to the bible over the past 2000 years)
Isn't it strange
How a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping? (If you believe what the million dollar ad campaigns tell us, we can feed a family of 5 for a month on $20. If you believe people who are earning middle income livings doing charitable work. If you believe religions who are building new million dollar churches while people go hungry)
Isn't it strange
How 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, And how short they seem when you're watching a good movie? (In either instance my back side hurts and I find that there are very few new plots, just recycled ideas – 30 minutes for each works for me)
Isn't it strange
That you can't find a word to say when you're praying but..
You have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? (How much do you have to say to people you live with daily-same with God-he already knows it all, so not much to say)
Isn't it strange
How difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but
How easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book? (How many books do you reread annually and have interest in. It’s the same story and we already know the ending. Maybe it's time to try a new ending to the story and see if something different happens. Let's let him live at Easter instead of crucifying him)
Isn't it strange
How difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others;
But how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip? (Unfortunately there are no “Facts” about God and the information that is available has been around for 2000 years and not new-which means it is not “News” and everyone has already heard it.)
Isn't it strange
How we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but, we question the words in the Bible? (We would be better off if we questioned both-should only believe 25% of what you hear)
(Just looking at the word changes and interpretation changes in the bible that have occurred in my adult life, I can’t possibly imaging what has happened to the bible over the past 2000 years)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Diversity
Vanity Fair recently released a magazine cover with their projections of who the young female “It” stars of the future will be. The cover showed thin, white females. The lack of ethnic and size diversity has drawn criticism.
It was disappointing that the criticism wasn’t based on an analysis of previous years projections made by Vanity Fair, possibly pointing out stars that Vanity Fair may have overlooked. An objective and fact based approach may have validated the critics claim and gave the claims some leverage to edge Vanity Fair to improve their method of selection.
The Journaliast should do a better job of investigative reporting so what she writes doesn’t come off as just whining.
I think it is time to lead with the data.
It was disappointing that the criticism wasn’t based on an analysis of previous years projections made by Vanity Fair, possibly pointing out stars that Vanity Fair may have overlooked. An objective and fact based approach may have validated the critics claim and gave the claims some leverage to edge Vanity Fair to improve their method of selection.
The Journaliast should do a better job of investigative reporting so what she writes doesn’t come off as just whining.
I think it is time to lead with the data.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
What controls your life? Random Occurrence, Natural Consequence, Divine Providence
The answer to this question is most likely the combination of at least two if not all three.
History has shown that many things that at one time were seen as Random Occurrences or Divine Providence can be explained by Natural Consequence.
But as fast as things are explained new unexplainable things occur. Did these things always exist? Is there a constant creation going on? Or is there constant discovery?
For me as an Engineer, I believe Natural Consequences can explain most situations. Unfortunately many of the actions that go into creating a given outcome may be very complex, time separated and not obviously explainable. These situations can be either Random or Divine Providence with no real physical consequence from selecting either category. Both are acts of faith, just relying on different sources. Since I am unable to predictably alter the outcome, choosing the explanation that makes me most comfortable or drives me to a specific desired action makes the most sense.
The selection of Random or Divine may have an impact on my behavior or feelings but not necessarily on the outcome. If I believe Divine in nature I may pray. I may ask why me or thank God it was me. If random I may just let it go and store it in my minds data banks for future reference.
The theory that everything is explainable by Natural Consequence drives people to learning and understanding. If it was truly believed that most things actually occurred randomly or by divine providence it would make people helpless and maybe hopeless. How the understandings of Natural Consequences are revealed is another question.
As I wrote earlier, is it by communication through a brain wave network of those alive and dead? Is it insight from a supreme being? Do we learn and create on our own?
So what drove your life today?
Random Occurrence, Natural Consequence, Divine Providence
History has shown that many things that at one time were seen as Random Occurrences or Divine Providence can be explained by Natural Consequence.
But as fast as things are explained new unexplainable things occur. Did these things always exist? Is there a constant creation going on? Or is there constant discovery?
For me as an Engineer, I believe Natural Consequences can explain most situations. Unfortunately many of the actions that go into creating a given outcome may be very complex, time separated and not obviously explainable. These situations can be either Random or Divine Providence with no real physical consequence from selecting either category. Both are acts of faith, just relying on different sources. Since I am unable to predictably alter the outcome, choosing the explanation that makes me most comfortable or drives me to a specific desired action makes the most sense.
The selection of Random or Divine may have an impact on my behavior or feelings but not necessarily on the outcome. If I believe Divine in nature I may pray. I may ask why me or thank God it was me. If random I may just let it go and store it in my minds data banks for future reference.
The theory that everything is explainable by Natural Consequence drives people to learning and understanding. If it was truly believed that most things actually occurred randomly or by divine providence it would make people helpless and maybe hopeless. How the understandings of Natural Consequences are revealed is another question.
As I wrote earlier, is it by communication through a brain wave network of those alive and dead? Is it insight from a supreme being? Do we learn and create on our own?
So what drove your life today?
Random Occurrence, Natural Consequence, Divine Providence
Monday, February 1, 2010
When Does Life Begin
Some say “Life Begins” when your children move out and are on their own.
Although that may be true; the question of when life begins is not a new topic. There is an online article that summarizes nicely the historical perspective on When Does Life Begin. I highly recommend the article.
http://8e.devbio.com/article.php?id=162
The answer to the question has been fluid over time and will probably continue to be. I was surprised that even the Catholic Church has had a number of definitions over time, which illustrates that depending on the available scientific information, current social-political state and latest theological interpretations the definition of life will change.
For myself I believe that the definition of life needs to be the same for when life begins and when life ends. For me this is tied to brain activity. So currently, for me life begins in a fetus at ~24 weeks and ends when brain waves cease.
Although that may be true; the question of when life begins is not a new topic. There is an online article that summarizes nicely the historical perspective on When Does Life Begin. I highly recommend the article.
http://8e.devbio.com/article.php?id=162
The answer to the question has been fluid over time and will probably continue to be. I was surprised that even the Catholic Church has had a number of definitions over time, which illustrates that depending on the available scientific information, current social-political state and latest theological interpretations the definition of life will change.
For myself I believe that the definition of life needs to be the same for when life begins and when life ends. For me this is tied to brain activity. So currently, for me life begins in a fetus at ~24 weeks and ends when brain waves cease.
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