Saturday, October 25, 2008
" There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. "
--Homer
In an alternate reality:
HEADLINE NEWS - November 4, 2008
MCCAIN WINS !!!
In a stunning upset maverick Senator John McCain has won the Presidency of The United States.
Obama supporters cried foul as lame duck President George W. Bush unexpectedly endorsed Senator Barrack Obama, who was leading national polls at the time by a wide margin, on the late night talk show "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" last Friday evening; followed up by a "Saturday Night Live" appearance and endorsement the following evening. Republican pundits scoffed and pointed to the "Bradley effect" as a more likely cause, saying dirty tricks were beneath them. When asked why he told the media he had already voted for John McCain in early voting President Bush just chuckled.
Oil futures have rebounded more than $100.00 USD/barrel in late overseas trading to dizzying new record levels after a jubillant McCain re-iterated his platform's "drill, baby, drill" mantra in his victory speech.
In a monumental turnaround Tina Fey has already called Governor Palin to congratulate her on her victory with McCain and retracted her statement that she would "leave Earth" if the McCain/Palin ticket should win the election. Governor Palin responded in kind and asked Tina if she would accept becoming her press secretary and stand in for her during moose season. Governor Palin also offered to donate the proceeds from her estimated $1.5 million USD wardrobe to out of work SNL alumni.
Having abruptly inherited new beach front property where I live I'm reminded of an interesting BBC article on "'America's 'most dangerous fault' ".
I attended high school and worked in the east bay area of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area for a number of years. I 'missed' the 1989 earthquake event after purchasing my first home out of the area in 1986. I remember the concern for family and for others I had known in the past when I learned of the quake... for I had also lived in the South and West Bay, in addition to the East Bay, for the majority of 24 years since my family's relocation from Seattle in the summer of 1962. I miss them all. Perhaps California should have heeded the lightning storms we had after the California Supreme Court judges redefined marriage earlier this year on a 4 to 3 vote.
Maybe that huge chunk of California wouldn't have slid into the sea if Proposition 8 had passed.
Disclaimer: This is a tongue and cheek piece of fiction (mostly) and I take no responsibility upon myself if the above events should come to pass [LOL].
* note: Oh snap! D.L. Hughley (on CNN) beat me to the punch(line) before I could debug this [ROFL].
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This is the season to prepare to vote one's conscience. One can see my leanings in my writings on this page, and I respect opposing views.
Regarding Proposition 8 here in California I would refer one to "The Family, A Proclamation to the World" for spiritual guidance. The issue isn't about hate nor bigotry nor homophobia... The issue is in rectifying a decision made by the California Supreme Court to overturn a vote made by more than 60% of those who voted in California 8-years ago on same-sex marriage, in the form of a California amendment to put the issue to rest once and for all. The amendment takes no rights away from anyone. Those of same-sex partnerships who 'married' in the state in the gap between the court's ruling and this upcoming election knew that there would be a referendum (right word?) and I have read many posts through blogs and news articles that articulate their views.
It truly pains me to see the angst on both sides of the issue. I have studied the issue with my mind and heart and come to the conclusion that I must vote YES on Proposition 8 and do what I can to help others to come to the same conclusion. My personal choice will be unpopular by some of my family, and some of my wife's family as well. For that I can only say I am doing what I feel I need to do on this very divisive issue; just as others feel they must vote their conscience on the opposing side.
I do get my dander up when one spouts scriptures in support of 'No on 8' in ignorance of "The Plan of Salvation", and when one foments hatred upon those of opposing views.
Again I would ask anyone on the fence of secular mind to remember that this issue was voted on 8-years ago with a greater than 60% passage vote (Proposition 22) AND, in the form of Proposition 8, takes no rights away from anyone in affirming marriage as being defined as the union of a man and a woman.
To those of faith on the fence I would re-iterate my invitation to read "The Family, A Proclamation to the World" for spiritual guidance.
A few thoughtful articles I've read:
"YES on Proposition 8 does not equate to "hate" "
"California’s Proposition 8 and the Tyranny of Tolerance"
I urge a YES vote on Proposition 8.
Memories... |
Oct 2 2008 A timely quote on my iGoogle home page today:
Statistics: The only science that enables different experts using the same figures to draw different conclusions. - Evan Esar
Oct 17 2008 And still another timely quote:
Statistician: A man who believes figures don't lie, but admits that under analysis some of them won't stand up either. - Evan Esar
When it comes to election prognostication, history shows that statistical analysis is not, and never will be, an exact science (reference: "The Bradley Effect", et al)... but it's still cool to watch CNN with their fancy touch screen computer deely-bob trading red states for blue states, blue states for red states, in search of trends from data which may or may not be reliable.
Vote your conscience... and bejeebies to the polls... but DO vote.
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'puter stuff: Open Office Suite has come out with v3.0.0 which is great... except I can only use it on my Win XP box, not on my main 'puter (Win 98SE).
Oct 10 2008 Too cool !!! After all my difficulties with Opera after 9.27 ( 9.5x, and attempts to roll back to 9.27 )... this distro ( 9.60 ) seems to fix all my problems using Opera on my older Win98SE box... though I have to admit I upped my system memory from 192MB to my system max of 512MB (not that it helped on 9.5x... ).
Back on the Opera bandwagon again. * Opera browser now out with a recent upgrade to v. 9.61 which works great on both systems.
I have finally upgraded my Win 98SE 'puter with a maximum amount of ram (512 MB). I've picked up a couple of HTML books at thrift shops for $2.00 USD each to add to my library: "Creating Web Pages For Dummies" 6th Edition/Bud Smith & Arthur Bebak; and "Web Publishing with HTML 4 In a Week" Fourth Edition/Laura Lemay.
Gail's XP box took a dump a while ago. Her motherboard went bad and trying to acquire a replacement 'puter and/or board has been unsuccesful in my eBay bidding three or four times now. She was using her older sister's iBook... but the power adapter was damaged (since replaced), and then the hinges AND the LCD screen went bad. NOW she's using her kind'a sort'a sister-in-law's XP laptop scouring Craig's List for bargains (read: free).
Realms of Rhyme |
October 2008... Who knew there was a planetarium in Sacramento? I was able to go to the planetarium recently with the local third graders, including my granddaughter Ashley, a child I home teach, and another I used to home teach. Cool exhibits that unfortunately we were a little rushed to see: astronaut helmets, cockroaches, bunnies, an owl, magnetism, light properties, the planets, matter densities, ultra-violet light on various minerals, and much more; and then the planetarium show. Ashley said the planetarium show was the best thing ever! I even learned a few new constellations and have been able to find the 'Dolphin' in our night sky. My wife Gail packed us a humongous lunch that Ashley and I couldn't finish. We had a bear cub run in front of our bus on the way home that safely scampered into the canyon brush of the North Fork of the American River.
My younger brother is back from his work assignment in Italy; and Mom has returned from her cruise to Hawaii. Hey 'guys' ! No pictures yet ! Oh, and I've found some of those pounds I lost a bit ago... back to 159 kg. (it always sounds better in metric).
Oct 17 2008, We had a mild chill spell last week so we had to start up the wood stove for the first time this season, and yes, last Sunday, just after midnight, our first chimney fire. My fault as I hadn't had the fire stove chimney swept out yet. No lasting problem as I had been watching outside just in case nightly for such after I lit our wood stove on its third night of use. The flames didn't ignite anything other than the creosote buildup from last season on the inside of the chimney pipe, but after I quickly shut down the wood stove completely my wife and I hosed down the roof and deck just in case with copious amounts of water. Chimney has since been swept out thanks to my son-in-law (I'm too heavy for the roof on our mobile home... and none too spry).
Last few days no need to burn for warmth... upper 70°'s to low 80°'s daytime, and low 50°'s in the wee hours.
October 21, 2008 Burning a bit of wood the last few days... Daytime temps remain in the upper 70°'s to low 80°'s... Light breezes and mostly blue skies...Awesome !
October 22, 2008 Another jaunt to the doctor for Gail and tests for a blood clot in her leg... tests negative.
October 23,2008 The figs are still ripening and in abundance, yum, and the weather has been awesome.
October 25,2008 1-washer, 2-dryers, 5-microwave ovens, and assorted small electronics (all in dis-repair) sent to the local high school for recycling. Gail and I seem to be very hard on microwave ovens most especially. Gail swears that it's the microwavable popcorn that destroys the microwave ovens.
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Something I learned from reading mail from my spam email folder: 24 people have searched for "bobbynichols":
A 53-year-old female living in Pittsburg, CA
12 people aged 49 - 59
22 women
2 men
All I have to do is give my credit card information and pay:
1-Year Premium Membership $ 5 a month!*
3-Month Premium Membership $ 12 a month!*
at Reunion.com to find out whoever is searching for me.
Although I have a common name I rather doubt that anyone who knew me wouldn't be able to 'find me' using the most rudimentary google search... after all 'you' found me [LOL].
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Our cat Missy-Miss has been missing for quite a while now. The 'herd' has been thinned outside to six kitties, including Friskie who has been relegated to the outdoors for his spraying behaviour... let's see: Smoke, Momma Kitty, Animal, Geri, Little Sam, Friskie... yep that's it. Indoor kitties are Taffy-Doodles (my kitty),Precious, and Tiger - who used to be Chrissy's kitty and spends most of the day outdoors. Gail's dog "Maddy", or as I call her "Poop", still gets around fine, though glaucoma has taken one eye. One horse left, 'Tara', since the loss of Gail's Donkey 'Eeyore' in the freeze of 2007; and 'Saudi', Gail's prized Arabian stallion, from West Nile virus possibly.. dunno.
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Some Halloween fun:
First a link to a campy ecard from JSKY at besttechie: "Witches !"
Second my poem (based on a real event) from a few years back titled:Hell on the Mount
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One last quote by Beverley Nichols (no relation [that I know of]):
" Marriage is a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters in prose. "
Labels: McCain wins, YES on Proposition 8
C'ya.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
" The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only man who writes about all people and all time. "
-- George Bernard Shaw
An email from out of the blue: (initials substituted for the proper names of those whom I have no knowledge of [but thanks for the email])
E. G. wrote:
Bobby:
We were just checking on you. It seems like we are in the fast lane from the moment we awakken to when we go to bed! We had a miracle from God. When R. had his MRI is showed compressed nerve roots in his back. He went in for a nerve study so we could schedule his surgery and the nerves are normal! He was actually loosing use of his legs for awhile! God is amazing!
Let us know how you are doing.
R & E
My repondit:
Howdy !
I'm doing fine... Thank you for asking.
God is truly amazing. I have a testimony of Him answering my prayers so many times I cannot count. I am a true believer of sincere prayer at all times of the day, whether on bended knee or in my mind or at my special place out in nature; and know that miracles are accomplished every day as a result of true faith and prayer. A poem I published on the net a few years ago:
| | Listen |
I believe it is important to open one's self to the promptings of the Holy Spirit when praying... for powerful revelations through His still small voice become available if we but listen.
More of my poetry may be found at: My Poems
One of the greatest miracles or blessings I ever received was prior to my joining the church. I had asked Heavenly Father to please show me if He had anything left for me to do in my life; for my depression was so great I couldn't see past my own pain... and not much later He sent two missionaries of His restored church to teach me the Plan of Salvation... and where I fit in as a child of God.
It has been a little over four years now since my baptism through immersion in water and by fire, and I realize the blessings of everyday life in service to the Lord constantly. For: "And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen." [Mormon 7:10] I find great comfort in that promise.
Today my wife Gail and I celebrated the 17th anniversary of our second nuptial (a day early as I wished to keep the Sabbath Day holy) by going to a movie and having a dinner out. We saw the second "Narnia" movie, a matinée to save a shekel or two, and were blown away by it. It easily surpasses the first installment of a few years ago. A simple pleasure, sure, but we so seldom have the means to do something like this. We were truly blessed to receive a modest windfall that enabled us to have this humble celebration, and some left over to take care of some necessities.
I pray 'things' will continue to go well with you. Keep the faith and great miracles will always follow.
Yours in Christ,
bobbynichols
Personal revelation... a new calling realized. A talk to give. A truck that still needs to be smogged. Grandkids out for summer break. My XP box finally set up. An MP3 player to program for talks and hymns. Poem updates. M & M's. Taffy-Doodles bolloxing up Gail's iBook incessantly. Cheyenne put to rest. An odd end to the month of May (100's and cool and North winds [and itchy eyes])... June to date most moderate, most dry, a bit breezy. Service. A found book. An office to clean. Talk of Texas. Thoughts of ocean. Open Office and Opera updates in beta. I love my family!!!
C'ya.
Friday, May 09, 2008
" A poet more than thirty years old is simply an overgrown child. "
-- H.L. Menken
| Children of the Day Tarnished puppets poisoned minds contaminated by TV barren as the false idols infiltrating their soft static flesh 5-5-2008 |
Perhaps not one of my more poetic pieces, again constrained to the use of the 'tiles' at hand, but the sentiment is clear. A timely article and discussion post poem.
The truck continues to need to be smogged.
Whether the weather: 'Tis May ! Mild Spring days... 70°'s & 80°'s Fahrenheit... still very dry. 90°'s due next week.
The lilacs are past their prime in blossom, their colour gone. The periwinkle plants are glorying in the spring sun, though the flowers are a bit sparse. The apple and plum trees appear to be loaded with fruit this year... the past few years have been a disappointment.
Water woes. Thankfully a $70 USD controller box was the fix (as opposed to replacing the much more expensive water-well pump). The controller box cover contains: a large capacitor (which historically only lasts us one year); and a relay (which also seems to have gone out this time); and connections for the electrical interface to the pump and power. Had to slightly mod the control box to fit our old setup and fight with the accumulated rust and subsequent freezing of the old box to its electrical conduit pipes.
My granddaughter had her first Holy Communion on Sunday. She looked like an angel in her white communion gown. I had the privilege to attend the service at her church, as I did at my grandson's first communion a few years ago. From The Articles of Faith #11: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." I believe in supporting my family in any way that brings them closer to Heavenly Father and our Savior.
A quick trip to the clinic for my wife's severe asthma/allergy coughing fits also on Sunday. She was given a prescription for Prednisone and told to get some over-the-counter Allegra, an anti-allergy pill, which we found a generic substitute for.
My allergy symptoms have actually been alleviated a bit this season.
Oh, the few bouts of itchy eyes... but nothing like the allergic-conjunctivitis I usually suffer from, nor the incessant runny nose, nor the sneezing fits that used to last for minutes... knock on Scotch Broom... which I prefer to call Scotch 'Doom' for its abundance and its allergy causing effects.
My grandson brought by a certificate to show me from the County for his achievement in school... COOL !!!
We are going to have our septic tank pumped out soon. Who would have figured that it was so expensive? ($400 USD + for the least expensive service). We have to locate the 'cap' and dig out the earth above it for the discounted price. Update: After a quick prayer and with the use of my son-in-law's metal detector and the little bit of knowledge of where the septic tank should be I found both caps rather quickly. (It was only after I had unearthed one cap that my wife informed me there were two to find).
Green Tips: 50 tips from Wire and Twine (gleaned from Digg).
I've taken to heart last month's message from the living Prophet; particularly a passage from Matthew's writings of our Savior regarding treasures:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Don't take family and friends for granted. Work on: home and hearth, faith and worship, charity and service.
C'ya.
... digg.com
