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18:23 PM 02/17/2011
Why do I get the impression that this country is going downhill fast?
I just found out that the recent HR 1 budget stuff includes complete and utter recission of all the WIA funding and contracts. That means making it as if it had never been.
That also means there's a very likely possibility that the training places will have to pay back the money and pass that debt on to the students. If that happens that leaves me with what amounts to a student loan to pay off.
<lj-cut text="Drowsy Drippings...">
WTF is all this coming to? I mean it's almost like the forces in power are ACTIVELY choosing paths that are pushing towards a revolution in this country. Every action they take seems to be stupider and more selfish leaving the people of the US no other choice but to forcibly replace them at gunpoint.
I just don't know...
In a slightly brighter vein I saw actual bright sunlight today and the snow has melted enough off the driveway so I can get the car out without having to move my wife's van. And the sump pump happily cycled on and off as expected today without so much as a hiccup. Considering the trouble we've had in the past that's a welcome thing. Need to start plants the end of this month or the beginning of next month. Hopefully I can provide enough warmth and light.
Warmth and light...
That's something we seem to be short of in this world of late. Most good things grow in warmth and light and without them wither and die. We need more things to grow.
Fell asleep on the futon in the library for an hour or so today. I must have been really worn out because I didn't even stir. Thankfully our daughter (who's home until Tuesday - wtf?) is old enough that she doesn't get into too much trouble now. She did eat the chocolate I had saved for my wife which I feel guilty about not putting up out of the way but other than that she didn't get into anything else.
And that's another thing I'm seriously concerned about with all this budget stuff. Part of the reason my daughter is doing so well is there are a lot of people working with her. We may grouse about the school but in truth they do quite a lot with her. If their funding is cut then my daughter will likely get "shelved" so to speak. That would be disasterousfor all concerned. :-(
-I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like the Empire, I hate it, but there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here.-
*sigh*
Why do I get the impression that this country is going downhill fast?
I just found out that the recent HR 1 budget stuff includes complete and utter recission of all the WIA funding and contracts. That means making it as if it had never been.
That also means there's a very likely possibility that the training places will have to pay back the money and pass that debt on to the students. If that happens that leaves me with what amounts to a student loan to pay off.
<lj-cut text="Drowsy Drippings...">
WTF is all this coming to? I mean it's almost like the forces in power are ACTIVELY choosing paths that are pushing towards a revolution in this country. Every action they take seems to be stupider and more selfish leaving the people of the US no other choice but to forcibly replace them at gunpoint.
I just don't know...
In a slightly brighter vein I saw actual bright sunlight today and the snow has melted enough off the driveway so I can get the car out without having to move my wife's van. And the sump pump happily cycled on and off as expected today without so much as a hiccup. Considering the trouble we've had in the past that's a welcome thing. Need to start plants the end of this month or the beginning of next month. Hopefully I can provide enough warmth and light.
Warmth and light...
That's something we seem to be short of in this world of late. Most good things grow in warmth and light and without them wither and die. We need more things to grow.
Fell asleep on the futon in the library for an hour or so today. I must have been really worn out because I didn't even stir. Thankfully our daughter (who's home until Tuesday - wtf?) is old enough that she doesn't get into too much trouble now. She did eat the chocolate I had saved for my wife which I feel guilty about not putting up out of the way but other than that she didn't get into anything else.
And that's another thing I'm seriously concerned about with all this budget stuff. Part of the reason my daughter is doing so well is there are a lot of people working with her. We may grouse about the school but in truth they do quite a lot with her. If their funding is cut then my daughter will likely get "shelved" so to speak. That would be disasterousfor all concerned. :-(
-I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like the Empire, I hate it, but there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here.-
*sigh*
December 24, 2008 8:34 AM 12/24/08
So in the midst of the Snowpocalypse that has recently thrust itself upon us thoughts of the future abound. It’s almost as if the white expanse of snow wipes all thoughts of anything from the mind leaving a feeling of peace an tranquility upon the brow.
Until you have to dig yourself out of the house that is. ;-)
Truthfully there’s many things I could go on about during this season. I could rant about the massive Giftmas going on. I could rant about how the Catholic church changed the date of Christ’s birth to coincide with a pagan winter festival to gain more converts. I could rant about the last gasps of the previous political regime before they get replaced.
But would that be worthwhile? No. No it wouldn’t.
The thing is this - ranting about those things have their time and place but not right now. Right now is the time to focus on being with friends and family and what good things the coming spring will bring.
Winter Solstice is the time when the light that was extinguished by the cold night flares bright again and starts to grow. Since the solstice has passed it’s time to help bring the light back in any way we can.
And that’s a worthy goal if ever I saw one because light is what is needed right now.
We need the light of the heart that comes with the laughter of children at play and of good friends. We also need the bright shining light of those that will not bend and will not yield when the world is trying to beat them down. We need all sorts of light. Even the flickering waning light of those that have darkened themselves through their own hand helps define the choice between light and darkness.
The problem is that we don’t ever spend enough time helping people brighten what light they have and spend far too much time dampening the lights of others.
When someone thinks differently that light shines brightly. Until we decide otherwise.
To dampen the light in someone else you have to use the darkness within you. That means that when you dampen the light in someone else you dampen it in yourself.
Do you think it’s worth a piece of yourself to keep that other person down? Your light’s flickering my friend and that is so sad.
Take the time to help others shine. Encourage those who think differently and believe differently. It’s not wrong to be different. It is wrong to believe that everyone must be the same. It won’t be easy but that’s what you have to do because the only way to help someone else shine is to use the light within you. Want to take a guess as to what that does to you? ;-)
So take the time to help someone else. Listen to someone talk about something they’re passionate about. Talk to someone who’s alone. Sing for someone who has no one else to listen to. Heck even shoveling someone’s driveway or walk so they don’t have to helps. There are a million ways to do this and anybody smart enough to read this is smart enough to figure out a way to help someone else.
I could tell you that it doesn’t take much effort to help but that would be untrue. Sometimes it can be the hardest thing in the world to do. But most of the time the good things in life are worth the effort.
But by doing that you make the universe a brighter place. And I think when it all comes down to it the universe being brighter is a good thing even for those that believe that darkness is the path they want to follow because the brighter the universe is the better defined the shadows are. You can’t have a universe without shadows but if your light, and the lights of others, shine brightly and can not be extinguished then why would the shadows matter?
Shine brightly my friends and help others to shine as well. I will do the same.
So in the midst of the Snowpocalypse that has recently thrust itself upon us thoughts of the future abound. It’s almost as if the white expanse of snow wipes all thoughts of anything from the mind leaving a feeling of peace an tranquility upon the brow.
Until you have to dig yourself out of the house that is. ;-)
Truthfully there’s many things I could go on about during this season. I could rant about the massive Giftmas going on. I could rant about how the Catholic church changed the date of Christ’s birth to coincide with a pagan winter festival to gain more converts. I could rant about the last gasps of the previous political regime before they get replaced.
But would that be worthwhile? No. No it wouldn’t.
The thing is this - ranting about those things have their time and place but not right now. Right now is the time to focus on being with friends and family and what good things the coming spring will bring.
Winter Solstice is the time when the light that was extinguished by the cold night flares bright again and starts to grow. Since the solstice has passed it’s time to help bring the light back in any way we can.
And that’s a worthy goal if ever I saw one because light is what is needed right now.
We need the light of the heart that comes with the laughter of children at play and of good friends. We also need the bright shining light of those that will not bend and will not yield when the world is trying to beat them down. We need all sorts of light. Even the flickering waning light of those that have darkened themselves through their own hand helps define the choice between light and darkness.
The problem is that we don’t ever spend enough time helping people brighten what light they have and spend far too much time dampening the lights of others.
When someone thinks differently that light shines brightly. Until we decide otherwise.
To dampen the light in someone else you have to use the darkness within you. That means that when you dampen the light in someone else you dampen it in yourself.
Do you think it’s worth a piece of yourself to keep that other person down? Your light’s flickering my friend and that is so sad.
Take the time to help others shine. Encourage those who think differently and believe differently. It’s not wrong to be different. It is wrong to believe that everyone must be the same. It won’t be easy but that’s what you have to do because the only way to help someone else shine is to use the light within you. Want to take a guess as to what that does to you? ;-)
So take the time to help someone else. Listen to someone talk about something they’re passionate about. Talk to someone who’s alone. Sing for someone who has no one else to listen to. Heck even shoveling someone’s driveway or walk so they don’t have to helps. There are a million ways to do this and anybody smart enough to read this is smart enough to figure out a way to help someone else.
I could tell you that it doesn’t take much effort to help but that would be untrue. Sometimes it can be the hardest thing in the world to do. But most of the time the good things in life are worth the effort.
But by doing that you make the universe a brighter place. And I think when it all comes down to it the universe being brighter is a good thing even for those that believe that darkness is the path they want to follow because the brighter the universe is the better defined the shadows are. You can’t have a universe without shadows but if your light, and the lights of others, shine brightly and can not be extinguished then why would the shadows matter?
Shine brightly my friends and help others to shine as well. I will do the same.
.
