29 July 06 - 13:52Need a Job?
I'm still thinking about the perception is reality concept. To check perceptions I ran a simple unscientific Google test.
I placed the words "suicide Bomber" in quotes with several other prefixing words also included in those quotes. I, then, recorded the number of hits. This counts the number of times that exact phrase occurs in the Google index. You will note that the term "Palestinian Suicide Bomber" is found 186,000 times. Also note that if you place a muslim religion in in the three word search you get a lot more hits than if you select another religion.
It is ovbious that there is something about being Muslim and especially Palestinian that makes it into the suicide bombing hit parade.
You might try some searches of your own, but it appears that there is something about the Muslim religion and especially the Palestinians that warrants a lot of writing on the internet.
A reminder, again, that this is not a scientific way to count events other than the amount of times the phrase occurs in the Google index.
Searches by Country
"Palestinian Suicide Bomber" - 186,000 hits
"Iraqi Suicide Bomber" - 25,900 hits
"Russian Suicide Bomber" - 836 hits
"Arab Suicide Bomber" - 713 hits
"American Suicide Bomber" - 610 hits
"Afghan Suicide Bomber" - 209 hits
"Israeli Suicide Bomber" - 191 hits
"Iranian Suicide Bomber" - 133 hits
"Chinese Suicide Bomber" - 54 hits
"German Suicide Bomber" - 16 hits
"Russian Suicide Bomber" - 13 hits
Searches by Religion
"Muslim Suicide Bomber" - 10,600 hits
"Islamic Suicide Bomber" - 880 hits
"Sunni suicide Bomber" - 186 hits
"Christian Suicide Bomber" - 164 hits
"Jewish Suicide Bomber" - 140 hits
"Hindu Suicide Bomber" - 87 hits
"Buddhist Suicide Bomber" - 61 hits
"Shiite Suicide Bomber" - 46 hits
"Mormon Suicide Bomber" - 33 hits
"Catholic Suicide Bomber" - 14 hits
"Sikh Suicide Bomber" - 5 hits
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28 July 06 - 23:12Perception is Reality
I once had a friend of mine who often repeated the statement, "perception is reality." To be honest, the first time I heard it I didn't really agree with him. After all, I thought, if someone sees something incorrectly, that doesn't make it real. What is, is, I reasoned.
But alas, that is not true. The proof is in those in prison by mistake and those who are not in prison by reason of insanity or another flawed perception of reality. Another example? When I was a youngster, I saw American Indians as the "bad guys." Now how do I see them? I see them as the conquered aboriginal inhabitants of the northern American continent. Similar reality exists in Australia, Central America, and South America. Look at the colonial tendencies of the western European countries of 500 years ago and there are even more interesting realities.
Without dwelling or getting wordy on the subject, I would like to direct your attention to John Nash, an amazing mathematician. You may have seen the movie inspired by his life titled "A Beautiful Mind." Although the book was more accurate as to his life than the movie, he definately had difficulty discerning between inner voices based on what we might consider reality and what we might not. To him it was all real. Because he believed his inner voices, we are the better for his theories on non-cooperative games.
Now we come to the war in Lebanon. Who is right? Who is wrong? Doesn't matter. At best, the Israelis will get an international black eye out of this war. At worst, they will create a generation of Jew haters in most areas of the world. Were they right or wrong? Doesn't matter. "Perception is reality."
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28 July 06 - 20:39Margarita
Many years back a friend of mine gave me a recipe for marguaritas. It is the best recipe I have ever seen and beats the mixes hands down.
Here is the recipe:
1 can (6 oz) Minutemaid Limeade
1 can tequila
1/3 can triple sec
3/4 Blender of ice
Put these ingredients in a blender making it 3/4 full with the ice.
Blend until the mixture is nice and slushy. Tastes great.
P.S. This marguarita is so tasty and sweet that it can really sneak up on you. Drink and enjoy with care.
P.P.S. If you are illiterate and cannot read this, please use the picture above as a guide.
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26 July 06 - 18:15Doctor Doctor Z
I really like this guy. His commercials show him to be likeable and there is no reason to believe he is not.
Usually if a CEO cannot be trusted or is not a reasonable person they do not reach that position. He does have a killer mustache.
Anyways, Daimler-Chrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche now has his alter ego at a website called "Ask Dr Z." You need to have the latest version of flash installed to see all of the features, but here you will find copies of those commercials.
Dr. Z Website
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23 July 06 - 12:16He's the Man
Here is some information from The Guardian on the charismatic Shiite leader behind the latest middle east crisis. Hate mongers such as Sheikh Nasrallah come across as religious guides and role models for many who apparently need to hate a common enemy. The enemy of choice is Israel.
THE GUARDIAN, BEIRUT - Jul 22, 2006
Article
Even his bitterest Lebanese opponents recognize Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the undisputed leader of the Shiite movement Hezbollah, as the country's most charismatic politician. A clear and lively speaker who switches from classical Arabic to modern slang with ease, he more than any other Lebanese has the power of war and peace.
He launched the latest crisis by authorizing his militia to seize two Israeli soldiers. He decided to send volleys of rockets into Israel, and he could help end the confrontation by accepting a ceasefire and releasing the soldiers.
Unusual for a religious leader, Nasrallah also fulfils the role of political supremo and military commander. "The perception of Nasrallah is that he is in the war room, taking the decisions," says Basher Haider, a professor of philosophy at the American University in Beirut.
Nasrallah is not shy of being photographed carrying a gun, though always held triumphantly above his head. His eldest son was killed by the Israelis and he publicly handed a rifle to his next son to carry on the struggle.
Hezbollah (the party of God) is more than just a political party. It is a movement with a strong welfare chapter that helps poor Shias in the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon. "It is the least corrupt of all Lebanese parties, very efficient, and in close contact with the people they serve," Haider says.
Born in Bourji Hammoud, east of Beirut, Nasrallah was 15 when civil war forced the family back to their ancestral village in southern Lebanon. He studied at a Koranic seminary in the holy Iraqi city of Najaf, but left under pressure from Saddam Hussein's police in 1978.
He joined Hezbollah during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and went back to his religious studies in Iran in 1989. He is believed to have been influenced by the fact that clerics led the anti-Western revolution in Iran in 1979.
While an earlier generation was attracted to the secular pan-Arabism of Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Nasrallah felt that Islamism was the best way of uniting Arabs in the struggle against Israeli and US dominance.
He took over the Hezbollah leadership in 1992 at 32 when its founder was assassinated by Israel. He helped build it into a force that led Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000 after two decades of occupation.
Despite his years of religious studies, Nasrallah does not exert his authority through writing books. Some Lebanese describe his motivation as more nationalist than religious. Even in the movement's stronghold in southern Beirut he does not push an Islamist dresscode or agenda. Many women go out unveiled, and, although no alcohol shops or bars are permitted, residents who drink at home with friends are not hassled.
He is married and has three surviving children.
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22 July 06 - 22:29Nanny, Nanny, Boo Boo..... Ooops
I was writing to my Mom regarding the troubles in Israel and Lebanon. I try to keep a balanced view of the situation in that part of the world. This time I tend to disagree with much of the international opinion.
I feel that the Israelis have been tolerant, obedient to international law, and have been set up by Hazbollah for this event. It had to happen sooner or later. Forget the kidnapped soldiers. Look at what Hazbollah had waiting for the Israelis. The way I see it, Israel is exhibiting great restraint considering the weaponry and infrastructure massed against them.
1) International opinion comes from places like France, Spain, Germany, Russia, Arab countries, etc. who have never supported Jews. Worldwide bigotry toward Jews is unparalled. No other race enjoys this type of hate from so many quarters.
2) Israel has complied with every United Nations resolution regarding Lebanon and other Arab states to the item. Every one.
3) Lebanon and others constantly harbor and support groups such as Hazbollah and Hamas. Iran provides them with material and monetary aid. Syria seems to be doing the same.
4) Hazbollah personnel are hiding in Mosques, tunnels, bunkers, and apartments. Some of the tunnels are up to 100 feet underground.
5) All of this infrastructure has been used to set up this very attack on Israel.
6) Congress gave a nearly unanimous vote of unconditional support to Israel today.
7) As long as inhabitants of this area allow bigotry to proliferate, this will continue to happen(read inhabitants as Hazbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda, Jew Haters, Christian Haters, and their supporters)
8) Israel has done everything they can to mitigate problems including giving advance notice to residents to allow them to leave (leaflets and even phone calls to folks in Lebanon personally), allowing evacuation crews, Red Cross and UN convoys to operate.
9) Israel has targeted military targets even though they are among the populace.
10) Hazbollah (and Hamas) has lobbed thousands of missiles into Israel at random.
Hassan Nasrallah, the Hazbollah leader managed to engineer a complicated prisoner exchange in 2004 which enhanced his position in the eyes of many in the reagion. The Jews returned not only live prisoners, but dug up dead bodies to return to their families. Again, however, the Jews are seen as the bad guys and Sheikh Nasrallah comes out smelling like a rose.
In an interview Ehud Barak indicated that the last time Lebanon was invaded there was 5 years of peace. He hopes this will generate 5 more. So do I.
War is never good for the lives of those living in the area where the war is being fought or for those involved in the fighting.
This particular conflict was going to happen sooner or later. Not due to the planning of the Jews, but due to the planning of Hassan Nasrallah and the Hazbollah.
Anyway, thats the way I see it. Hazbollah created the situation with 13,000 rockets, tunnels, arms, support from citizens, and hatred.
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20 July 06 - 20:37Yoga, a Special Ancient Art
It is time for us all to get some cultural training. Here we see two ways of doing the Indian art of Yoga. The Indian way and the American redneck way.
Yoga is an interesting and difficult art which allows for meditation and can also be a form of excercise.
This particular posture is called Setubandha Sarvangasana and we are told it requires considerable strength of the neck, shoulders, and back. A warning must be passed along with this asanas (as it is called) that years of practice are required to achieve the ability to hold Setubandha Sarvangasana and this asana should not be attempted without supervision.
We should also be aware that the ancients used rocks and piles of logs to achieve this position. The Indian gentleman claims to have found a more modern comfortable way with a specially designed bench. Personally I think the Indian way, even with the special prop, looks very uncomfortable. Thank goodness good old American rednecks have found an easier way. Here we see a chemically enhanced way to gain this difficult asana and hold it for hours.
Again, don't try this at home.
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15 July 06 - 13:40Hell Freezes Over, Yes!
This came from one of my favorite friends. The following is supposedly an actual question given on a Chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well (however, I think it is merely a joke):
Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:
First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving.
I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.
As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.
With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially.
Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over. So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over.
The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......
leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."
THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"
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13 July 06 - 21:37Young Boys Anxious to see Cameltoad
I get a lot of things from friends by email. There are all of those forwards with jokes which they think I might enjoy, along with the other 20 or so people in their copy list. I often get emails from people warning me of things which I check out and find them to be "urban legends" or fabricated stories made up just to be funny. Well, this one has been confirmed by at least one source.
My friend, whom I will call Jerry, sent me a copy of a column which had been forwarded to him. He, in turn, forwarded it to me. This article apparently appeared as an advice column in the Hays Daily News on June 15, 2005. At that time librarian Leslie Potter was doing column writing in that particular northwest Kansas newspaper.
The article was from a woman who asked what camel toads were. They might be what you see in the picture in the upper right of this column. However, look at this copy of the Leslie Potter column to see what they really were talking about.
It's a real column. Its funny. Maybe the writer was pulling a fast one. however, I think you probably need to find out for yourself.
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13 July 06 - 19:05Grow Up!
I used to hear this all the time when I was a kid. I always wanted to be rich. Never happened. However, I now see there is room for misunderstanding of this classic quote.
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10 July 06 - 21:29Thanks for the Memories
As I was thinking about Microsoft and reading the news, I noted that June Allyson died. I remembered her voice, but wanted to see a picture. In the process of googling a picture I stumbled across a really cool website. Here is a website that I happened across. "Doctor Macro's High Quality Movie Scans." It has pictures and clips of movie stars, movies, radio shows, and they are all displayed in an easy to find manner. If you like old "and I mean old" movies, you will love this site. Download one of the pictures. These are extremely high resolution pictures. I have not seen anything like this on the net. It kinda makes me want to be one of those "old movie buffs" instead of just "old."
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07 July 06 - 01:00New Research at Microsoft
I just read this tidbit in the news. Microsoft is introducing its own "iPod" killer just in time for Christmas. I can hardly wait. Ever since Microsoft contracted with IBM to do the operating system for the IBM-PC in the 80's Microsoft has looked to others, including Apple to get ideas. For example, Windows was in use for years on the MacIntosh before the buggy, jokey, Windows 1.0 came out.
It was really Windows 3.1 that was the first Windows operating system that was tolerable for real use in a business environment and some would argue that Windows is still buggy and jokey.
Microsoft has killed a lot of inventions in its frenzy to copy OPI (Other People's Ideas). Netscape and Lotus 123 come to mind as well as utilities such as disk doubler software of the 90's. Now the strategy at Microsoft is to KILL the iPod. They plan to offer free downloads to existing iPod users to allow them to fill up their MicroPod or whatever they call it with the same songs they already have.
If this thing works as well as Windows 1.0 did compared to the early Mac OS Apple has nothing to worry about. In fact, I see this as sort of a suicide bomb of sorts for Microsoft. This is pretty gutsy for the guys and gals of Redmond to try and KILL the iPod.
Let's stay tuned. What will Microsoft think of next???
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05 July 06 - 01:27Microsoft Poops in Nest
Hey! Don't Take my word for it. It is interesting to note that my firewall started reporting to me that Windows was not only taking data once a day, but at practically every software load. What this activity does to make my computer run better is beyond me.
This little bind the heavy handed at Microsoft have gotten themselves into amuses me to no end. I am always amused when Microsoft programs crash and upon sending information to Microsoft so they can help, a message comes back to check with the software vendor to see if a new version is available.
These Microsoft clowns can poke around our computers when it suits them, but they don't seem to have the technology to keep hackers out. As I said before, if Microsoft had not been so interested in making an operating system that can be remote controlled and snooped from their offices in Redmonds, perhaps we would all have safer and smoother running systems.
And another thing. Read about some of the computers on modems. I can vouch that this is a real "gee whiz" on the part of the boys (and girls) from Redmond. A couple years back when I visited my mother I tried to get on line to check my mail. Every time I dialed in on her 24 kilobaud phone link the Microsoft upgrade software would snatch her bandwidth and resume downloading Service Pack 1. I left the computer on overnight and it finished, but lucky for her I happened along. To someone who only wants their computer to work, this poorly thought out feature made it look like her computer was broken.
Three links at the top give you the views in England, Australia, and the US. Don't just take my word for it. People are pd off over this heavy handed Microsoft action. Again, its not just me.
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04 July 06 - 10:14Windows Genuine Advantage
Every once in a while I feel the urge to Pontificate. Now is the time.
Windows and worms are now getting to be sort of synonymous. Last month I had a glitch in my computer which caused a lot of trouble. Much of the trouble was also with windows. What ever the first cause was, the windows software certainly exaserbated it. Why? The Microsoft "I want to be in your shorts" philosophy."
I have often pontificated on the issues that exist with Windows design to my poor wife (who has to listen). I am not a software technician, merely a user and observer. From that standpoint I can easily see that Microsoft has worked hard to put in design features that allow others to prey on my computer. Microsoft wants so badly to be able to control my computer remotely that they leave doors gaping open for outsiders to have their way with my machine.
The most obvious "feature" is the Microsoft on line "validation" system known as "Windows Genuine Advantage." In theory it is an advantage only for Microsoft. It allows them to dig around in my computer and make decisions as to not only is the copy of my software "genuine" but what is the nature of the computer it is installed on.
This is obviously an operating system feature as I have seen at least two other software packages (surprisingly one was Napster) snoop around my system to determine if the software was being installed more than the allowed number of times. If this can be done for legitimate reasons it can also be done for illegitimate reasons.
Now the ultimate in worms. A worm pretending to be a "Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Notification program." Not only that, even the real Windows validation system is being labeled as spyware as it has the same habits as other leechy software that controls part of your computing power for the needs of an outside entity.
I wonder when Bill Gates stands in judgement after his life of giving away not only his money, but also the Buffet dollars, will that be enough to make up for Windows? Especially the doors left open by Windows because of the needs of Microsoft.
Maybe we should start calling a software backdoor a "Back-Window." They seem to support the same concept. So I say, "Backwindows for everybody!!"
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03 July 06 - 17:27Don't do Anything and Nothing Happens
Headline (The NY Times, July 2. 2006): "Licensing Restrictions Save Young Drivers' Lives, Study Says". Now that's some rocket science for you. Here is some more. A quote from the article, "Ms. Nason said the study, which was performed under contract to the traffic agency by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, was persuasive but might induce "statistics fatigue" among parents. Parents of young drivers, she said, "don't have to have a state law" to enforce such restrictions."
Let's review. Nicole R. Nason became administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nicole's agency contracted (paid) Johns Hopkins School of Public Health to find out if drivers of a particular age drive less with fewer people in the car will fatalities be reduced. Damned if they aren't!!
I could have told you that without statistics and without charging. In fact, if you don't drive at all, the chances of being in a car wreck are darn near zero. I like scientific studies, but I do like to study things which are at least interesting and not a waste of time and money.
This one is sort of like scientific studies that show drinking makes you drive poorly, so if you don't drink, you drive better. Hey, Johns Hopkins researchers, have you checked on that one lately. You never know, things change. Also, I think that most automobile accidents involve cars. Better do a study. Car wrecks usually involve an abrupt change in motion, maybe, aw why not.... Hey John Hopkins, we need some research here as well.
Perhaps folks from Johns Hopkins are not as smart as I thought. Wait, wait, they got paid for doing nothing of consequence. Smmmmaaaaaart!!
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01 July 06 - 12:31Funny Frog Joke
A friend sent me a group of jokes. Usually I read them and go on, but for some reason this silly frog joke caught my eye. Also, it irritates Marla when I use the word "croak" in this manner, so that increases my enjoyment as I wait for her to read this.
Have a great 4th of July weekend, Y'all!!
(Y'all annoys her as well, Y'all.)
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