Thought for the Day - Aug. 5, 2008

It's easier to say "you misunderstood/are overreacting" than "I'm sorry."

Iowa Guy 2.0: Commemorating the Legacy of Dubya

If you pardon the pun, this post is a crapload of fun to read!
Iowa Guy 2.0: Commemorating the Legacy of....#links

Storm claims several homes

Friday's extreme thunderstorm with its 80-mph winds spared my home. A neighbor wasn't so fortunate. Three uprooted 100-ft cottonwood trees hammered his property; one of them landed square on his house and the pickup truck in his driveway.

City crews swept in the next day and cleared much of the debris amid onlookers that came after media publicity turned my street into a twisted tourist attraction. (About half the city population was without electricity; the other half whose TVs still worked took turns driving by.)

It looks like only 1/4 of the house was destroyed; it is unknown whether it's repairable or if hidden structural damage has rendered the building beyond repair. The pickup truck looks as if a locomotive plowed into it.

My neighbor, R., is a good fellow who goes out of his way to help others and has kept his property well and provided assistance to others on the block (including myself) with our groundskeeping. Meanwhile, a nearby public nuisance and alleged "drug house" that collects graffiti and trash (the vehicular and human kind as well as what overfills the Dumpster) was untouched. The unfairness digs at me.

But the most important things were unscathed: R. and his beloved dog. Their survival puts a perspective on the whole disater.

Father's Day: In Memory of Dad

My father passed away this year following a losing battle with an antibiotic-resistant pneumonia. I literally heard him take his last breath when I was alone in his bedroom.

He had been in the hospital after an accidental fall and subsequent severe confusion that the doctors suspect was some kind of stress reaction, with symptoms like those included on this list from a CDC bulletin aimed at emergency workers. For unknown reasons, Dad's swallowing reflex disappeared, and despite attempts at special therapy, kept aspirating fluid into his lungs leading to the pneumonia.

After a fractured hip a few years back left my father (at least temporarily) unable to live on his own and take care of Mom (who had her own disabilities), both my parents spent the rest of their lives living in the in-law apartment in my brother's home. That meant dealing with a son and daughter-in-law who run a tight ship and pull no punches when it comes to criticism. (Brother: if you are reading this, if your inclination to speak harshly were inversely proportional to your material generosity and willingness to help those in need, you'd be the best damn brother anyone could hope to have.) Chronic criticism, even when given with good intentions, can form a black hole engulfing positive interactions and memories.

Mom passed away a year after the relocation and Dad lost his lifestyle piece by piece, including his driver's license. I think the fall triggered flashbacks of conflicts past and aggravated hopeless visions of the future.

Dad and I shared a lot in common: a love of animals (horses were to him what ferrets and skunks are to me), a talent for art and "handyman" work, a yen for motorhome travel, an eccentric sense of humor, a live-and-let-live philosophy. Why Dad instead of any of various people who have inflicted misery and/or death on others?

Dad, you were loved my many, and our memories of you will remain in our hearts. We miss you.

Why "Skunk Totem?"

In Native American traditions, animals were seen has having mystic powers and/or symbolism. Skunk teaches us how to give respect and demand it in return. I can relate to the skunk, a gentle animal that raises a stink only when threatened or pissed off. They are often disliked by people who don't understand them, but cherished by people who know them well, especially people who tend to accept others as they are, appreciating them rather than trying to change them.

For more on animal totems, read Animal Speak and other books by Ted Andrews.

To learn what skunks are really like, especially as pets, visit http://www.skunkhaven.net/

Run, Al, Run

Iowa Guy 2.0: So Will He Run? (Al Gore after winning the Nobel Peace Prize). What he lacks in charisma, he makes up for in brain. Whether or not he runs, global warming is nothing to take lightly. Nor is humanity's general impact on the environment.

On the light side in languages a few translated

Have you ever tried one of those online translation utilities, only to discover that the English "translation" is at best laughable or incomprehensible? As humanity continues to get more global, more people who speak different languages interact...and, well, I suspect human translators will have job security for years to come. A computer can only go so far (with current technology) and because each language is unique in its syntax, grammar, phonics (or no phonics at all) that automated translation may never be perfected.

I haven't written much in a while and haven't had time to tend to the blog, so this is something to amuse readers (all three of you) while awaiting some deeper prose. This text, using AltaVista BabelFish, translated to various languages, and the result back-translated to English.

To Chinese-simplified and back:
You once tried these on-line to translate the non-profit organization middle, only some discoveries, English "translated" was best is laughable or cannot understand? When the humanity continues to obtain the global character, speaks the different language interactive... more people and, is very good, I suspected will translate the personnel to have the job security for several years. The computer possibly so far only goes (by current technology) and because each language is unique in its syntax, the grammar, automated translation phonics (or basic does not have phonics) to be allowed never to consummate.

I have not written have period of time and do not have the time trend to blog, therefore this is something (all causes the reader three to laugh you) when waits for some more profound prose. This text, uses AltaVista BabelFish, has translated to various language, and the result has translated to English.

To Spanish and back:
You have always tried one of those utilities in line of the translation, to only discover that the "English translation" is in the best one of the cases ridiculous or incomprehensible? As the humanity continues obtaining more global, more people than speak diverse interactive languages... and, well, I we suspected that the human translators will have security in the use by the years to come. A computer can only go until now (with present technology) and because each language is unique in its syntax, grammar, phonics (or none phonics in all) that the translation automated can never be perfected.

I have not written much in awhile and I have not had time to tend to blog, so this one is something to amuse the readers (the three of you) whereas you wait one more a certain deeper prosa. This text, using AltaVista BabelFish, translated to the several languages, and the result behind-translated the English.

To Russian and back:
You did always attempt one of those online general purposes of transfer, only in order to open that the English "transfer" in the best it was laughable or incomprehensible? In proportion to humanity continues to obtain more global, more than people which speak differently languages interacting... and, in the best way, 4 podozryuem human translators will have obespechennost'a by work to Lethe, it is which necessary to arrive. Computer can only go to those times (with at present the technology) and because each language it is unique in its syntax, grammar, phonics (or absence phonics on all) which it automated transfer can ever be improved.

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And one more: To German and back:
Do you have at all one of that on-line translation of utility programs, only it tries, in order to discover that the English "translation" at best laughable is incomprehensible or? While humanity continues, to keep more global, those assume more people the different interacting languages... speak and well I that human translators have job security, so that years come. A computer can go only up to now (with present technology) and because each language in its syntax, grammar, Phonik is singular (or no Phonik at all) the translation automated, can be never perfected.

I much not in when wrote and does not have time had to be inclined to blog therefore this something is, reader (all three of you) too maintained when expecting somewhat deeper Prosa. This text with AltaVista BabelFish, translated to the different languages, and the result back-translated to English.

Yes, the above is inviting admonitions to "get a life," (Obtains the life, Obtain a life, You will obtain the life, Receive a life).