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Post by Sue on Dec 14, 2009 12:48:28 GMT -5
I watched a documentary based on the book 'Guns, Germs and Steel' I now have this urge to apologise on behalf of my entire continent. Colonising: not a nice idea. And as for what smallpox did... *shudders* Also the bit at the end made me decide to go send all my charity money for the year to fixing malaria. Which is easier said than done. There's a mosquito nets gift on the Oxfam gift site, but if I'm spending it all at once I could get the essential medicines set. Usually I just spend on clean water. Water also important. They're supposed to be gift cards to give out, but it seems like handing someone some guilt or something, so no. Sometimes I watch a documentary and I get angry I didn't know that stuff before. Seems like important stuff. Between this and the one about 'how many people can we fit on the planet' (answer: depends, how do you want to live?) I've been getting that feeling. Yes, I experienced that feeling when I read up on the term "banana republic." I"m also currently reading "Hybrids" by Robert Sawyer, in which he postulates a parallel universe in which the Neanderthals survived, not homo-sapiens. They have in many ways a far more "perfect" world than here, one aspect of which is zero population growth. It's a fascinating book in which he posits a society which has essentially sterilized out nearly all "bad genes" from their societal gene pool (agreed to by democratic vote) and practice 24/7 personal monitoring via recorder implants and lots more. Provokes a lot of thinky thoughts.
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Post by Sara on Dec 14, 2009 13:03:55 GMT -5
Geminid Meteor over Monument Valley Credit & Copyright: Wally Pacholka (AstroPics.com, TWAN) Explanation:[/b] The Geminids are expected to put on a good show this year. Created as planet Earth sweeps through dusty debris from extinct comet Phaethon, the annual Geminid meteor shower is predicted to peak on December 14th, around 0510 UT (12:10am EST). With better viewing for northern hemisphere observers, pictures of Geminids streaking through the night could include wintery landscapes, like this snow-tinged image of a 2007 Geminid meteor over buttes of the Monument Valley region in the southwestern US. The meteor streak points back to the constellation Gemini and the shower's radiant point, just off the upper left edge of the scene. Along with Rigel, the sword and belt stars of Orion are at the upper right. Near the eastern horizon are bright stars Procyon (left) and Sirius. The two buttes at the far left are known as The Mittens - clearly a reminder that if you want to watch a meteor shower on a cold December night, wearing mittens would be a good idea.
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Post by Karen on Dec 14, 2009 13:10:59 GMT -5
Back again from Omaha. It's becoming a thing with us. A good thing. I thought of Jan all weekend, and finally started reading the book her friend, Kathryn Davis, wrote and dedicated to her. The Thin Place. There is a quote by Hafiz on the page after the dedication page that I really love. Beloved, I am so glad that you are happy to see me. Beloved, I am so glad, so very glad that you have come.I hadn't heard it before, so I looked it up. Start seeing everything as God But keep it a secret Become like a man who is awestruck and nourished, listening to a golden nightingale sing in a beautiful foreign language while God nests invisibly upon it's tongue. Hafiz, who can you tell in this world That when a dog runs up to you wagging it's ecstatic tail, you bend down and whisper in it's ear 'Beloved, I am so glad that you are happy to see me, Beloved, I am so glad, so very glad, that you have come.' Goodbye, dear Jan. You enriched this girl's life in many many ways. I am so glad to have known you.
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Post by Squeemonster on Dec 14, 2009 15:44:20 GMT -5
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Post by Michelle on Dec 14, 2009 17:32:47 GMT -5
I wrote a summary of the services and wake for Jan, here.I couldn't really do it justice in such a short summary, but if any of you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. Thanks for this, Spring. Isn't that poem just perfect?? I know it was a lot of effort for you to be there. Thanks for representing us.
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Post by Michelle on Dec 14, 2009 17:39:33 GMT -5
Very neat!! I still miss Buffy.
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Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on Dec 14, 2009 17:55:13 GMT -5
Just got an email from my bestest buddy. We were supposed to get together on Friday the 18th. She's cancelled because yesterday (all day with my mom) took too much out of her. I don't blame her. I won't be seeing her until the end of January 2010, or more likely later. The one day I really had to look forward to, and it's cancelled. sh*t. Oh well. More time to spend doing things for other people. Story of my life.
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Post by Rachael on Dec 14, 2009 18:52:40 GMT -5
Heh. My Cliff Lee fetish is about to get Marinerized.
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Post by rich on Dec 14, 2009 18:53:40 GMT -5
First day of the "new normal" today. Spent it dealing with banks and insurance companies and probate and lawyers.
The good news: I heard from my boss. I got a big raise, a big bonus, and a promotion.
The bad news: I wanted to share the good news with my sweetie... and she wasn't here.
The "new normal" sucks.
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Post by Spaced Out Looney on Dec 14, 2009 18:58:48 GMT -5
First day of the "new normal" today. Spent it dealing with banks and insurance companies and probate and lawyers. The good news: I heard from my boss. I got a big raise, a big bonus, and a promotion. The bad news: I wanted to share the good news with my sweetie... and she wasn't here. The "new normal" sucks. Congratulations on the raise/bonus/promotion!
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Post by Squeemonster on Dec 14, 2009 19:12:07 GMT -5
First day of the "new normal" today. Spent it dealing with banks and insurance companies and probate and lawyers. The good news: I heard from my boss. I got a big raise, a big bonus, and a promotion. The bad news: I wanted to share the good news with my sweetie... and she wasn't here. The "new normal" sucks. Congratulations on the good news! Many hugs for the "new normal." {{{Rich}}}
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Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on Dec 14, 2009 19:31:00 GMT -5
First day of the "new normal" today. Spent it dealing with banks and insurance companies and probate and lawyers. The good news: I heard from my boss. I got a big raise, a big bonus, and a promotion. The bad news: I wanted to share the good news with my sweetie... and she wasn't here. The "new normal" sucks. Emma said today that she keeps expecting Jim to walk through the door. I keep thinking it's all a bad dream. Congratulations on the good news!
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Post by SpringSummers on Dec 14, 2009 19:46:53 GMT -5
First day of the "new normal" today. Spent it dealing with banks and insurance companies and probate and lawyers. The good news: I heard from my boss. I got a big raise, a big bonus, and a promotion. The bad news: I wanted to share the good news with my sweetie... and she wasn't here. The "new normal" sucks. Congrats on the good news. The new normal does suck, but know, though it can never even being to substitute for your sweetie, you've always got the S'cubie board to share things. Post away.
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Dec 14, 2009 20:39:32 GMT -5
First day of the "new normal" today. Spent it dealing with banks and insurance companies and probate and lawyers. The good news: I heard from my boss. I got a big raise, a big bonus, and a promotion. The bad news: I wanted to share the good news with my sweetie... and she wasn't here. The "new normal" sucks. That's pretty much the hardest thing, not being able to tell, not being able to ask. Julia,
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Post by Sara on Dec 14, 2009 20:57:26 GMT -5
First day of the "new normal" today. Spent it dealing with banks and insurance companies and probate and lawyers. The good news: I heard from my boss. I got a big raise, a big bonus, and a promotion. The bad news: I wanted to share the good news with my sweetie... and she wasn't here. The "new normal" sucks. Congrats on the good news. The new normal does suck, but know, though it can never even being to substitute for your sweetie, you've always got the S'cubie board to share things. Post away.
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