Google Analytics has its uses. Google , who owns Blogger now, provides a nifty plug-in that tracks visits to the blog and examines them by geographic origin, frequency etc. It tells me that if you don't post anything new your visits drop to almost nothing. Loyal readers lose interest if there is nothing new to read. I wouldn't blame them.
Well, what if there is not any great thought, any new pithy observation to make? Should I become some wiley adman always seeking some new twist, some new angle in order to capture and retain "market share" in blogdom? Lucky for me I am not selling anything. If I was, this Blog would be bankrupt.
Nothing is happening. I read more of the same in the paper every day. Business as usual in Lexington. UK wants a new basketball area so the city is discussing building one for them. Such a good deal for UK and totally anomalous for Universities in general. There are only a few Universities in the country who play in municipal facilities and not on-campus. Get this deal: The city will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new luxury basketball arena and fund it buy laying another illegal and onerous tax on business. UK leases it for a handsome monthly fee. Its expensive, but UK wouldn't pay the taxes on the property or pay for maintenance or repair, won't have to fix the parking lot or provide traffic control or security or worry about concessions or cleaning up after the big game. Its a wonderful way to run a professional basketball program and continue to pretend it is a collegiate team. Business as usual.
Of course, there is the usual daily fare, not nearly as interesting as Basketball. Just another story about some moron beating a baby to death in a squalid apartment while Mama was out trying to score a rock with the welfare money. No big deal; this only happens once a month or so.
After the torrential rains last week, drought imposed water usage restrictions are lifted so the city can now rejoice. Developers can water the sod with impunity and suburbanites can wash the leased Beemer all they want now. Fall looks like it is finally a coomin' in and the change has been hell on these bones of mine. The last couple of days have been rough; I feel like I have the bends. Things hurt all over and what is it with the knees and elbows? Does arthritis make your hands tingle?
But the sun is out at last. Our Moron in Chief has got the hots for dropping the big one on Teheran and the Beast continues to slouch towards Bethlehem, or is it Baghdad?
Have a NICE day. We appreciate ye.
28 October 2007
21 October 2007
...To whom much is given...
...much is expected. Well, I have a lot to do and thus have spent little time, obviously, thinking abut Blogging. This isn't easy; I'm not the sort to sit down and pound out 300 significant words every evening while watching the news. Sometimes a person doesn't have anything to say, or cannot find a way to express what they do have to say, and thus leaves it unsaid, which is usually the best. Always a day late and a dollar short, or these days, 4 or 5 dollars short, I have to put Blogging at the bottom of the list of things to do.
For what it is worth, I did find out today that Bulgarian Priests do liturgy a little different than Russian Priests. Nothing important, but the variation of little details of gesture and movement are interesting. Proves the point that, contrary to what some would say, you will not go to H -E - Double hockey sticks if the Priest waves his hand one way instead of the other way.
For what it is worth, I did find out today that Bulgarian Priests do liturgy a little different than Russian Priests. Nothing important, but the variation of little details of gesture and movement are interesting. Proves the point that, contrary to what some would say, you will not go to H -E - Double hockey sticks if the Priest waves his hand one way instead of the other way.
03 October 2007
Words have meaning.
Words have meaning. Communication. Intelligence. Signification. Symbolic logic verbally communicated.
We are surrounded with words from television, words from radios and satellites, CDs and MP3s, and the babble of the madding crowd. Thousands of words assault us every day from speakers and screens and from the mouths of other people. We hear words in music videos and "reality shows" (which are mostly not-real), in magazines, books, bill boards and bumper stickers. A great deal of what you read/hear is carefully groomed by marketing devils to convey a particular message or nuance of meaning. They cannot be relied on. A lot of these words you hear/read are half true; some are patently false designed to manipulate opinion and position. They convey bad messages and generally teach that what you say doesn't matter. You can say anything you want to. No worries, mate.
But...Our Words do have meaning and are not spoken in a vacuum. Words convey intention, fact, mood, belief. If you say something it means something. It might mean you are stupid, or that you are a jerk, or it might mean you are a liar, but it will mean something, even if it is only negative testimony to your character or veracity. Words can hurt, end relationships, lose jobs, lower grades, alienate others, land your butt in Gaol and generally make a mess of things. Once spoken, words cannot be called back. I wonder how many millions of times someone has said, "Gee, I wish I hadn't said that"? Freedom of expression is not a license to babble without consequence. The sooner someone learns this the better off they will be.
We are surrounded with words from television, words from radios and satellites, CDs and MP3s, and the babble of the madding crowd. Thousands of words assault us every day from speakers and screens and from the mouths of other people. We hear words in music videos and "reality shows" (which are mostly not-real), in magazines, books, bill boards and bumper stickers. A great deal of what you read/hear is carefully groomed by marketing devils to convey a particular message or nuance of meaning. They cannot be relied on. A lot of these words you hear/read are half true; some are patently false designed to manipulate opinion and position. They convey bad messages and generally teach that what you say doesn't matter. You can say anything you want to. No worries, mate.
But...Our Words do have meaning and are not spoken in a vacuum. Words convey intention, fact, mood, belief. If you say something it means something. It might mean you are stupid, or that you are a jerk, or it might mean you are a liar, but it will mean something, even if it is only negative testimony to your character or veracity. Words can hurt, end relationships, lose jobs, lower grades, alienate others, land your butt in Gaol and generally make a mess of things. Once spoken, words cannot be called back. I wonder how many millions of times someone has said, "Gee, I wish I hadn't said that"? Freedom of expression is not a license to babble without consequence. The sooner someone learns this the better off they will be.
07 September 2007
Three Things
One of the most satisfactory aspects of my otherwise lackluster life is that of Parenthood. My wife has said that no one ever really "grows up" until they have children and I think she may be right.There is nothing like holding the security and wellness of another human being in your hands, literally, and knowing that it is your job to nurture and protect this person. This realization will help you get your priorities sorted out real fast! Or, at least it should.
Like every parent, I vowed like I would be the BEST parent there ever was. And of course I was wrong. I wasn't a perfect parent, not even a merely adequate parent, at times, but I always worked at it. Witnessing so many kids who seem to have no sense of self identity or place in the world, just a whiney, spoiled, "I am the center of the universe" perspective on life, I wanted my son to be a thoughtful man of good character who could look around in confidence and see where he was and who he is. So I boiled it down to a simple set of three axioms. Ethics, morality, spiritual insight are all informative platforms from which we operate in the complexity of the world, but my three axioms are bedrock principles of reality. Once you get this nailed down all else will come a little easier.
Recently during an conversation with my son about something or other I commented on the pointed focus of his remarks. He said, "Well, Dad, you're the one that taught me to think analytically". I didn't know I had, but I guess I did. I did the best I could. My son is a solid, stable man now who is building a life of his own now. He is a good man. I am proud of him. I thank God for him.
Like every parent, I vowed like I would be the BEST parent there ever was. And of course I was wrong. I wasn't a perfect parent, not even a merely adequate parent, at times, but I always worked at it. Witnessing so many kids who seem to have no sense of self identity or place in the world, just a whiney, spoiled, "I am the center of the universe" perspective on life, I wanted my son to be a thoughtful man of good character who could look around in confidence and see where he was and who he is. So I boiled it down to a simple set of three axioms. Ethics, morality, spiritual insight are all informative platforms from which we operate in the complexity of the world, but my three axioms are bedrock principles of reality. Once you get this nailed down all else will come a little easier.
Recently during an conversation with my son about something or other I commented on the pointed focus of his remarks. He said, "Well, Dad, you're the one that taught me to think analytically". I didn't know I had, but I guess I did. I did the best I could. My son is a solid, stable man now who is building a life of his own now. He is a good man. I am proud of him. I thank God for him.
3 Things
Words have meaning.
Actions have consequences.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Actions have consequences.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Think about it.
28 August 2007
16 August 2007
The Eyes Have It
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light."Matthew 19:24
Eyes are important. All the complexity of the created world and the works of man are apprehended through the eye. The eye can speak of our emotions and the condition of our spirit when the tongue is still. Through the eye we appreciate beautiful art, lovers, sunsets and flowers as well as ugliness and sorrow. The eye is a priceless part of our day-to-day lives, our work and our play. Just as we have physical eyes for the perception of physical reality, we also have spiritual eyes. The eye may be the window of the soul, but the spiritual eye is the soul itself. Through that eye we comprehend the truth and presence of another reality, unseen by most of us, yet just as real, perhaps more real. As the Apostles Peter, John and James were given a glimpse on Mount Tabor of Christ as he truly is, bathed in the uncreated light of God, so also our spiritual eye will see things as they truly are. All light.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
