Reinke Faces Life

http://zenpencils.com/comic/kenrobinson/

162. SIR KEN ROBINSON: Full body education
By Gav on October 10, 2014

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Sir Ken Robinson is a leading authority on education and creativity. A former professor of education, he now advises governments and businesses around the world and is one of the most sought-after speakers on education. The quotes used in the comic are taken from Robinson’s now-famous 2006 TED talk How schools kill creativity. It is the most viewed TED talk ever, and also one of the funniest in my opinion (gotta love that dry British humour). If you haven’t seen it, then stop what you’re doing and go watch it.

Robinson explains that the school system was invented in the 19th century to meet the needs of rapid industrialisation and is extremely outdated, focusing way too much on left-brain academic learning. “If you think of it, the whole system of public education around the world is a protracted process of university entrance. And the consequence is that many highly talented, brilliant, creative people think they’re not, because the thing they were good at at school wasn’t valued, or was actually stigmatised.”

He gives the example of Gillian Lynne, a world-renowned dancer and choreographer, who as a student was terrible at school and most likely would have been diagnosed with ADHD today. Luckily, a specialist noticed that Lynne wouldn’t sit still and was naturally dancing to the music playing in the office and suggested to Lynne’s mother that she send the child to dance school. (Robinson explains it a lot better than I just typed it).

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Gooferment Skrules are for a time that has past. 

We need to separate Gooferment and Education!

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Cardinal Egan, Former Catholic Archbishop of New York, Dead at 82
Edward Michael Egan, the ninth archbishop of New York, died Thursday afternoon of cardiac arrest, according to the Archdiocese of New York.

He was 82 years old. From 1985 to 1988, he served as auxiliary bishop and vicar for education of the Archdiocese of New York. He served as bishop of Bridgeport, Conn., for 12 years before becoming Archbishop of New York in May 2000.

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I’m not a big Church guy.

I literally ran into him by Saint Pat’s as we were crossing the street by Saint Pat’s.

I immediately recognized him with the simple gold chain.

I sputtered “I’m most sorry Your Eminence”.

He smiled and said: No problem, my child, I am sure we were both absorbed in our Rosaries.” 

To which, I replied: “Fraid not; although do I get partial credit for having mine.” As I whipped mine out of my suit jacket. 

His response: “Well, I think it;s like car keys, you have to use it.”

He touched my forehead with the Bishop’s cross as was on his way.

He was the second Bishop I’d ever met that did that. Do they learn that in “bishop school”?

Funny the things one remembers.

Requiescat In Pacem

With sadness.

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2015-Feb-27

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/arts/television/leonard-nimoy-spock-of-star-trek-dies-at-83.html?_r=1

“Live long and prosper” (from the Vulcan “Dif-tor heh smusma”).

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He inspired my generation.

LLAP, Mister Spock.

Requiescat In Pacem

:-(

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http://www.care2.com/greenliving/patience-the-art-of-intelligent-waiting.html

Patience, The Art of Intelligent Waiting
Sara, from Institute of HeartMath
February 15, 2015

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Impatience, it is clear, is not an emotion that befalls only an unfortunate few. It may be true that there is a lot of impatience in some people, but there is a little impatience in all people.

Institute of HeartMath Founder Doc Childre characterizes patience as “the art of intelligent waiting” – waiting with purpose, positive intention and a sincere belief that waiting is an important element in the unfolding of all things.

“Patience is the practice of maintaining a state of inner ease and resilience when you are tempted to be impatient,” Doc says, “especially when the mind wants to force results, rather than remain in flow.

“Impatience is an invitation to frustration, shallow discernment, and faulty choices. With a little heart-focused intention and practice, we can effect a makeover by replacing impatience with patience – the secret sauce in the recipe for flow. When our hearts truly commit to becoming patient, then our minds will cooperate, surrender their resistance and take purposeful steps to manifest it.”

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What an excellent inspirational meme.

I’ve been told that I am a good “wait-er”.

Probably my Mom’s training — “we” go “shopping” it seemed like all the time — I used to call it “inventorying” cause she rarely bought anything — and I always had a sci fi pocket book to pass the time. Maybe she was just making sure I read a lot? What do nerds do otherwise?

In any event, that was not what this describes.

I have to think about this more since it seems I’m waiting a lot more.

Argh!

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce

Christmas truce
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Christmas truce (German: Weihnachtsfrieden; French: Trêve de Noël) was a series of widespread but unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front around Christmas 1914. In the week leading up to the holiday, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasonal greetings and talk. In areas, men from both sides ventured into no man’s land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs. There were joint burial ceremonies and prisoner swaps, while several meetings ended in carol-singing. Men played games of football with one another, giving one of the most enduring images of the truce. However, the peaceful behaviour was not ubiquitous; fighting continued in some sectors, while in others the sides settled on little more than arrangements to recover bodies. The following year, a few units arranged ceasefires, but the truces were not nearly as widespread as in 1914; this was, in part, due to strongly worded orders from the high commands of both sides prohibiting fraternisation. Soldiers were no longer amenable to truce by 1916. The war had become increasingly bitter after devastating human losses suffered during the battles of the Somme and Verdun, and the incorporation of poison gas.

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Can’t have peace break out when a very profitable war was being waged.

Time to bring all our girls and boys home NOW!

It the Gooferment’s politicians and bureaucrats want to fight a war, let them lead from the front. 

Any volunteers.

Only military veterans should be able to vote!

Robert Heinlein’s idea from Starship Troopers that only those who have served have the right to vote, because only those who have served have put the greater good ahead of their own personal safety and thus only those who have served could be seen to be responsible enough to understand what voting means … …

The Vet knows what voting for a war means … grunts are going to die.

Dona Nobis Pacem

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http://www.ted.com/talks/alanna_shaikh_how_i_m_preparing_to_get_alzheimer_s

Alanna Shaikh: How I’m preparing to get Alzheimer’s

When faced with a parent suffering from Alzheimer’s, most of us respond with denial (“It won’t happen to me”) or extreme efforts at prevention. But global health expert and TED Fellow Alanna Shaikh sees it differently. She’s taking three concrete steps to prepare for the moment — should it arrive — when she herself gets Alzheimer’s disease.

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Here’s something that I fear.

While it would not be a financial disaster because of Long Term Care insurance, it has to be a terrible way to “exit stage left”.

Any of these diseases that rob you of your mind or your physical abilities are tragic.

If we had “scientific research” done without Gooferment involvement, then I believe we would be curing these diseases. Instead, the money is wasted. And, worse, than the wasted money, is the waste in human capital.

Argh!

Separation of Scientific Research and State!

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http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/14/experience-i-founded-my-own-country?CMP=fb_gu

Life and style Experience
Experience: I founded my own country

Renato Barros
Friday 14 November 2014 09.00 EST

As told to Jennifer Lucy Allan

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In 1903, the Portuguese government didn’t have enough money to build a harbour port, so the king sold the land to a wealthy British family, the Blandys, who make Madeira wine. Fourteen years ago the family decided to sell it for just €25,000 (£19,500). It was of no use to them. But nobody else wanted to buy it either. I met Blandy at a party, and he told me about Pontinha. He asked if I’d like to buy the island. Of course I said yes, but I have no money – I am just an art teacher.

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I love this. 

Why can’t we all have our “own countries”?

Laugh!

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http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=419#.VIC216TF-5J

Top 10 Best Practices of Savvy Donors

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7. Review Executive CompensationSophisticated donors realize that charities need to pay their top leaders a competitive salary in order to attract and retain the kind of talent needed to run a multi-million dollar organization and produce results. But they also don’t just take the CEO’s compensation at face value; they benchmark it against similar-sized organizations engaged in similar work and located in the same region of the country. To help you make your own decision, Charity Navigator’s analysis reveals that the average CEO’s compensation of the charities we evaluate is almost $150,000. In general, salaries tend to be higher in the northeast and at arts and education charities. Sophisticated donors also put the CEO’s salary into context by examining the overall performance of the organization. They know it is better to contribute to a charity with a well-paid CEO that is meeting its goals than to support a charity with an underpaid CEO that fails to deliver on its promises. (Check out our CEO Compensation Study for more benchmarking data.)

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That’s one thing that stops me from donating — “Big Charity”.

When the CEO makes more than I do, I’m not needed. Neither is my money.

When the “Charity” spends more on “administration” than “services”, then I’m done.

When the “Charity” shifts it mission to something “eternal”, I’m “mortal”. Example, Mach of Dimes cures polio and shifts to “birth defects”.

When the “Charity” uses funds for things I morally oppose, I’m outraged. Example, Susan B. Koleman funds Planned Parenthood which in turn funds abortions. 

Sigh.

I like the Salvation Army. The General makes peanuts! That’s charity.

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http://buff.ly/1vRZ2nM

“Healthcare is an industry involving complicated politics, irrational decisions, and legions of people looking for their next paycheck. However, the sheer volume of money in the system is making it a prime target of entrepreneurs all over the world.

But for those thinking that emerging tech will enable them to circumvent the entire healthcare system completely, it may, but only for a very tiny subset of the population.

We are on the verge of crossing over from science hype to science reality, with the prospects of creating a tremendous upside. Yes, there will be more than a few battles fought along the way between doctors and health industry executives, insurance administrators, and government officials but in the end, it doesn’t have to be a win-lose situation.” 

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Hopefully, this sanity will come sooner rather than later!

Wonder if Watson could have saved Our Girl?

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http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/229231/hero-crawls-through-tunnel-of-sht-to-rescue-puppies/

In News by Maggie Serota
Oct 9, 2014
Hero crawls through tunnel of sh*t to rescue puppies

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A Thai man, believed to be a Thai naval officer, didn’t let 100 meters of feces-filled sewer piping get between him and a crying litter of puppies in need. According to the video uploaded to LiveLeak on Wednesday, the man waded through the poop chute with a flashlight in tow and pulled out 4 puppies who were, according to NineMSN, ”washed in after heavy rain.”

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This guy deserve a round applause and hot shower.

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http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/02/10/always-treat-your-girlfriend-right-a-wwii-case-study/

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Consider this an invitation to be grateful for the close friendships in your life at this very moment.

It’s also a reminder that every dating relationship ends up one of two ways: you either break up as a couple, or you get married. There are no other options. That’s a healthy extrapolation to keep in mind while dating.

You might be tempted to gorge on your girlfriend’s goodness like a hungry man on a tin of canned pineapple, but there’s a strong chance that someday this same girl will be married to someone else. Her offspring and your offspring might even get married someday. So it will be in everybody’s best interest if you can always look each other in the eye with a clear conscience.

How can you guarantee that?

Simple.

Following the example of Sid Phillips, treat every woman you date with gallantry, courtesy, and respect.

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Hope that I’ve always done that.

I think I have.

I know I do.

Sigh!

Great story!

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http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-man-who-won-war-for-us.html

Friday, June 06, 2014

“The Man Who Won the War for Us”

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On D-Day, most of the landing craft that ferried troops and equipment ashore were the Higgins design, and many came from his yard in New Orleans.  The two-fisted, hard-drinking man who told the Navy it “didn’t know a damned thing about small boats” had revolutionized warfare.  No longer were amphibious forces required to attack through heavily-defended ports, to reach docks where troops and equipment could be off-loaded.  With Higgins’ LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel) and larger LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank), amphibious attacks could be planned over wider areas, complicating enemy defenses.  Even Adolf Hitler acknowledged Higgins’ contribution to the war effort, referring to him as “the new Noah.”  General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Normandy  invasion, put it more succinctly, calling Andrew Higgins “the man who won the war for us.”  

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And as usual, he dies broke and forgotten!

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http://mosaicscience.com/story/medicine%E2%80%99s-dirty-secret

Medicine’s dirty secret
Bryn Nelson gets to the bottom of an emerging – and often shocking – therapy.

29 April 2014

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Some doctors have likened the recoveries of desperately ill patients to those seen with anti-HIV protease inhibitors in the mid-1990s. After the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, performed its first faecal microbiota transplant in 2011, a patient who had been bed-ridden for weeks left the hospital 24 hours later. And in 2013, researchers in the Netherlands halted a landmark C. diff. clinical trial early for ethical reasons when they saw that the overall cure rate of 94 per cent with donor faeces had far outpaced the 31 per cent cured with the antibiotic vancomycin.

Yet few other interventions elicit such disgust, revulsion and ridicule. Chronicling a potential advance by a team of Canadian scientists, one newspaper account warned readers: “Hold your nose and don’t spit out your coffee”. In 2013, the founder of a patient advocacy blog called The Power of Poop wrote an open letter to 13 gastroenterology associations detailing the story of a Kentucky man who contracted an acute case of C. diff. Despite his family’s pleas, his doctor dismissed the idea of a faecal transplant as “quackery”. The man died the next day.

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Perhaps Catherine’s testimony helped sway the FDA. Perhaps it was the deluge of bad press that caught the agency off-guard as it struggled to balance the growing evidence of benefits with a highly variable and virtually unregulated practice that had flown beneath the radar. On 18 June 2013, the FDA bowed to pressure and partially reversed course, agreeing to exercise “enforcement discretion” for faecal microbiota transplants used to treat C. diff infections that weren’t responding to standard therapy. They wouldn’t be FDA-approved, in other words, but neither would they be prohibited.

Since the small victory, Catherine and her foundation have continued to push for more faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) clinical trials aimed at other digestive disorders, more research funding and more public awareness and education. She and a few board members who share her sense of humour have also begun crafting slogans that might eventually adorn T-shirts or sweatshirts. Her favourites? “Poop is the Sh*t!” and “Give a sh*t. Donate to the Fecal Transplant Foundation.” Her site also features an FMT awareness ribbon. It’s brown.

“It is what it is,” she says with a laugh. “There’s no way around what we’re talking about or what we’re dealing with.”

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So the FDA backs off.

Guess the drug companies aren’t happy with a competition to their high priced drugs.

The Sheeple need to take back their power.

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http://www.impactlab.net/2014/04/25/disposable-houses/

April 25th, 2014 at 7:39 am
Disposable Houses
in: Architecture,Breakthrough Thinking,Business,Latest Trend,People Making a Difference,Photo Perspectives,Science & Technology News

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Here are a few reasons why having a disposable mindset may beneficial when it comes to real estate.

When moving across town, or to a new city, it makes much more sense to reprint a home in the neighborhood you want than to settle for what available.

Housing needs change as people move through different stages in life. Families with small kids need a different house than those with teens, and once kids move out, it changes again.

Whenever wind or hailstorms cause roof damage, it may be easier and cheaper to reprint a house than to repair it.

People who work from home can easily add an office or two when needed.

In places where flooding, fires, shifting soil, or termites cause major damage to buildings, the entire architecture can be reworked to compensate for those problems.

As people get older and no longer want to do steps, two story houses can be turned into ranch homes.

When driverless cars make owning cars obsolete, garages can be eliminated and reformed into other kinds of usable spaces.

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Given the movement to smaller micro housing, this is an amazing contribution to humanity.

It’s not that the McMansions are “bad”. They are just inefficient.

And, the debt one takes is just wrong.

Again the Gooferment’s “tax” “code” is the cause of the problem.

“tax” = theft

“code” = gibberish that is unintelligible to the average person

We need to level the playing field between savings and debt.

The Gooferment should be a “referee”; protecting the People. Not shearing the Sheeple!

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Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, Wrongfully Convicted Boxer, Dies at 76

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, the boxer whose wrongful murder conviction became an international symbol of racial injustice, has died at 76.

Mr. Carter spent 19 years in prison for three murders at a tavern in Paterson, N.J., in 1966. His ordeal and the alleged racial motivations behind it were publicized in Bob Dylan’s 1975 song “Hurricane,” several books and a 1999 film starring Denzel Washington.

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I wonder how much of his life he lost. Over and above the 19 years. Has to take a toll on you. Life is tough enough with having extra burdens placed on you.

Requiescat In Pacem, Hurricane.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaWA2GbcnJU

“He witnesses happiness. Reaches a deeper understanding. Feels the love. Receives what money can’t buy — a world made more beautiful,” the ad says.

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My pick for best internet video of the year! Maybe ever?

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http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-new-undergarments-that-could-revolutionize-eldercare.html

This Underwear Could Revolutionize Eldercare
AgingCare.com
March 27, 2014
5:00 pm

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When you think about paradigm-changing products, underwear typically isn’t top-of-mind, yet these under-appreciated undergarments may soon play a vital role in enhancing the health and safety of seniors living on their own.

Two top technology honorees at the recently-held 2014 SXSW (South By Southwest) Conference in Austin, Texas aim to elevate underwear beyond the mundane and into the medical care arena.

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Guess I better keep my eye on this!

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http://www.quora.com/Physical-Appearances-of-People/What-does-it-feel-like-to-be-an-unattractive-woman

What does it feel like to be an unattractive woman?
I know this exists: Attraction (interpersonal): What does it feel like to be unattractive and desired by none?

But there are hardly any women weighing in. Given that society places more emphasis on looks for women, I’d like to hear some thoughts about this.

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I read this answer that upset me.

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http://qr.ae/ncDtw

Stephanie Su
CS Undergrad at MIT
366 Votes by Shefaly Yogendra, Mallika Mathur, and 363 more.

I am ugly. I am unattractive. I know that my skin is awful, my hair is greasy, and society simply does not permit women to weigh as much as I do.

But, mind you, this is not the same as having low self-esteem. Because when I look in the mirror, I hate my body, not myself. I simply shake my head and think, “This isn’t me. This mediocre sack of meat isn’t me. I’m just renting it out, driving it around. It’s a tool. It’s a vehicle. I use it to take myself places that I need to go, and that’s all there is to it.”

Ok fine, I’m not Zen enough to actually believe I can escape with that train of thought. The truth is, I am frustrated with the irreconcilable disconnect between my pride and my presence. The acne mask and the fat suit egregiously fail to conform with my mental mockups of my perfectly badass self. I suppose the only real solution then, besides undergoing extensive surgeries, is to upload my conscience to a supercomputer.

{Extraneous Deleted}

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How can anyone feel that bad about themselves?

I’m speechless. 

{I can hear you saying: “Finally? Good!”}

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http://www.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2014/02/which-of-these-10-categories-of-loopholes-do-you-invoke/

Which of These 10 Categories of Loopholes Do You Invoke?
The Happiness Project
Gretchen Rubin 

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1. False choice loophole – “I can’t do this, because I’m so busy doing that” – this is one I often use, myself
2. Moral licensing loophole — “I’ve been so good, it’s okay for me to do this”
3. Tomorrow loophole — “It’s okay to skip today, because I’m going to do this tomorrow”
4. Lack of control loophole — “I can’t help myself”
5. Planning to fail loophole, formerly known as the “Apparently irrelevant decision loophole”
6. “This doesn’t count” loophole – “I’m on vacation” “I’m sick” “It’s the weekend”
7. Questionable assumption loophole
8. Concern for others loophole — “I can’t do this because it might make other people uncomfortable”
9. Fake self-actualization loophole – “You only live once! Embrace the moment!”
10. One-coin loophole –“What difference does it make if I break my habit this one time?”

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I use all 10!

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http://www.lettersofnote.com/2014/02/ladies-gentlemen-of-ad-2088.html

Friday, 21 February 2014
Ladies & Gentlemen of A.D. 2088

Kurt Vonnegut

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Reduce and stabilize your population.
Stop poisoning the air, the water, and the topsoil.
Stop preparing for war and start dealing with your real problems.
Teach your kids, and yourselves, too, while you’re at it, how to inhabit a small planet without helping to kill it.
Stop thinking science can fix anything if you give it a trillion dollars.
Stop thinking your grandchildren will be OK no matter how wasteful or destructive you may be, since they can go to a nice new planet on a spaceship. That is really mean, and stupid.
And so on. Or else.

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Maybe we can start a KICKSTARTER project to get off this rock?

(My belief is that Gooferment keeps us on this plantation!)

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http://youtu.be/zUrqEoeJ1DA

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http://www.lyved.com/life/75-questions-to-ask-yourself/

75 questions to ask yourself

An old proverb says, “He that cannot ask cannot live.” If you want answers you have to ask questions. These are 75 questions you should ask yourself and try to answer. You can ask yourself these questions right now and over the course of your life.
1. Why not me?
2. Am I nice?
3. Am I doing what I really want to do?
4. What am I grateful for?
5. What’s missing in my life?
6. Am I honest?
7. Do I listen to others?
8. Do I work hard?
9. Do I help others?
10. What do I need to change about myself?
11. Have I hurt others?
12. Do I complain?
13. What’s next for me?
14. Do I have fun?
15. Have I seized opportunities?
16. Do I care about others?
17. Do I spend enough time with my family?
18. Am I open-minded?
19. Have I seen enough of the world?
20. Do I judge others?
21. Do I take risks?
22. What is my purpose?
23. What is my biggest fear?
24. How can I conquer that fear?
25. Do I thank people enough?
26. Am I successful?
27. What am I ashamed of?
28. Do I annoy others?
29. What are my dreams?
30. Am I positive?
31. Am I negative?
32. Is there an afterlife?
33. Does everything happen for a reason?
34. What can I do to change the world?
35. What is the most foolish thing I’ve ever done?
36. Am I cheap?
37. Am I greedy?
38. Who do I love?
39. Who do I want to meet?
40. Where do I want to go?
41. What am I most proud of?
42. Do I care what others think about me?
43. What are my talents?
44. Do I utilize those talents?
45. What makes me happy?
46. What makes me sad?
47. What makes me angry?
48. Am I satisfied with my appearance?
49. Am I healthy?
50. What was the toughest time in my life?
51. What was the easiest time in my life?
52. Am I selfish?
53. What was the craziest thing I did?
54. What is the craziest thing I want to do?
55. Do I procrastinate?
56. What is my greatest regret?
57. What has had the greatest impact on my life?
58. Who has had the greatest impact on my life?
59. Do I stand up for myself?
60. Have I settled for mediocrity?
61. Do I hold grudges?
62. Do I read enough?
63. Do I listen to my heart?
64. Do I donate enough to the less fortunate?
65. Do I pray only when I want something?
66. Do I constantly dwell on the past?
67. Do I let other people’s negativity affect me?
68. Do I forgive myself?
69. When I help someone do I think “What’s in it for me”?
70. Am I aware that someone always has it worse than me?
71. Do I smile more than I frown?
72. Do I surround myself with good people?
73. Do I take time out for myself?
74. Do I ask enough questions?
75. What other questions do I have?

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Someday I might share my answers.

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