Last week I read two news articles that made me think about "Tomorrow".
I don't mean "the Future". There's a difference between Tomorrow and the Future, constructed from decades of literary structure. Everyone yearns for Tomorrow, but many people fear the Future. Saying Tomorrow is here speaks of progress and stability, but saying the Future is here speaks of uncertainty caused by changes to which we must adjust. People strive to create Tomorrow, but only try to predict the Future. Tomorrow's theme song is as upbeat as the Jetsons, but the theme song of the Future keeps changing on us while retaining slightly dark undertones.
The first article told me that magnetic monopoles not only had been discovered but were being manipulated in labs.
If you were never a physics major then I can't explain why that's big news or seems like Tomorrow. But I think I'll remember the scene--the loveseat, laptop, open blinds showing a window full of Autumn colors--as vividly as the morning in high school when I woke up to my radio alarm clock telling me the Berlin Wall was broken.
The second article talked about the EU starting a new project, funded with the equivalent of ten million pounds, to monitor social networking.
I almost laughed aloud. Some bigshot in the EU must have asked for information from Project Echelon and been politely but firmly refused. So now the EU is starting a tiny and wimpy imitation? Meh. Computers won't be a Miniluv two-way entertainment device for years. Little Brother is watching.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Gluten in Dry Roasting
My wife discovered a long time ago that her gluten sensitivity was triggered by most brands of roasted nuts.
Here's a web page explaining why. Basically, two common processing methods try to increase salt adherence by applying a coating of wheat gluten or two coats of both wheat gluten and gelatin.
Of course, the equipment is not thoroughly cleaned before nuts not destined for salting are processed.
I wonder how many brands of roasted nuts are not vegetarian (because of gelatin)?
Here's a web page explaining why. Basically, two common processing methods try to increase salt adherence by applying a coating of wheat gluten or two coats of both wheat gluten and gelatin.
Of course, the equipment is not thoroughly cleaned before nuts not destined for salting are processed.
I wonder how many brands of roasted nuts are not vegetarian (because of gelatin)?
Friday, October 23, 2009
Yom Kippur 5770
My family visited Temple Beth Israel for Yom Kippur.
For the start of the High Holy Days, to help enter an appropriate mood of introspection and repentance, we drove farther to visit a Messianic congregation. To end the High Holy Days, to conclude with communal yearnings and pleas, it seemed most appropriate to be with the Jews of our neighborhood.
What follows is lengthy, but I expect my family and friends might enjoy glimpsing inside my head.
I have only visited Reconstructionist services a few times. During the Erev service I tried to immerse myself but too often found myself analyzing what makes that Jewish philosophy unique.
What I found most noticeable (and interrupting to my own habits of worship) was how Reconstructionism is uncomfortable with such surrender. More traditional Jews, including Messianic Jews, are very willing to have God do things to them. But that evening even the Avinu Maklenu was modified so the phrase oseh eemanoo l'ma-an shemcha was translated "help us for the sake of your name" instead of "do to us for the sake of your name".
Both Yom Kippur services emphasized the theme of can we be doing more? This is a worthy topic for the day but seemed out of place as the primary theme. The teshuvah seemed incomplete despite very genuine confession because the goal of perfection was replaced with a desire to do more good deeds. The liturgy still identified vices and the need to turn from them, but no longer directed participants to face any specific new direction. The community expressed its sincerity in waiting for and pleading with God to abolish evil, but then asked, "What will we do?", which is almost a non sequitur.
Yom Kippur needs a balance between teshuvah and relationship: we have disobeyed our Father yet he will help us become better children, we have ignored our King yet he is a faithful provider and ruler, we have failed our communal calling yet God still makes us a people and his people. To me, it seemed Reconstructionism only distantly and vaguely held up any light or goal to aim for, and thus inescapably overemphasized relationship. The community was not walking together along a path to perfection. It had confidence in doing good deeds but not growing visibly in holiness.
I did benefit from hearing and thinking so much about doing good deeds. I myself often display the other imbalance, focusing in prayer and deed too much on surrender to God and not enough on kindness and warmth. Those two Yom Kippur services were healthy for me.
After the Erev service and a night's sleep I was ready to focus better. The Morning service was much more worshipful.
I asked God many questions, and heard some answers. Three issues are worth sharing.
First, I asked for guidance. Since Sar Shalom closed, the local Messianic Jewish movement has been adrift and nearly inactive. Indeed, to speak strictly there remain "Jewish followers of Yeshua" but there is no more local "Messianic Judaism" since there is no IAMCS or UMJC congregation through which people can participate in the specific movement of God shepherded by those two organizations.
Would God tell me what would happen during the new year and my role in it? I had realized a few days earlier that my work with P'nei Adonai began in mid-2003, making my lack of ministry activity during 2009 in one sense a Sabbatical year. I would not have been surprised if God asked me, on Yom Kippur, to soon start something.
But God didn't. He said my Sabbatical time will end later. However, my personal laxness needed to end immediately. I will need personal momentum well-established before I can be an example for others.
Second, I asked for courage. I dealt with tremendous spiritual warfare during the years I led P'nei Adonai. As one small example, during those years it was normal for me to have a nightmare any time I slept. I was not sure why I would dream about people I cared about suffering, but trusted God was toughening me up for some purpose. It was sometimes strange to see family in the morning, or congregants on Shabbat, healthy and happy in contrast to what happened in my nightmares. Yet we all do suffer, and one day we will stand more alive than ever.
In any case, I was certainly aware that one reason I did not miss doing ministry work was the near absense of spiritual warfare in my life since Sar Shalom closed. A big advantage of doing little for the Kingdom of God is that God's enemies don't bother to oppose you! Returning to the trenches would require courage.
God told me I would have the courage I would need. That reply was not very comforting, but a sufficient answer. And any answer was encouraging.
Third, I asked for more relationship with God. He told me two stories. I have not retold them as well as I wanted, but those links lead to the best I can do at this time.
Most of the work to develop the RPG's setting I did myself: I tried to be prayerful but heard very little from God. Then, during Elul, there was a breakthrough. It began with more of my own thinking, but soon God contributed advice about how to honor him in an fantasy adventure setting. (I would have loved to blog about it during those weeks, but it happened to fast and intensely.) I had saved religion for last as I deveoped the setting; religion quickly became the most well-developed aspect and everything else needed revision to reflect a new and better foundation.
For God to tell me two stories (and he tells them better, both had much more detail and made me cry) using the fantasy setting we developed together was deeply touching.
Currently that setting has two purposes: it allows my wife and I to play a RPG together, and it helps me tell stories to Smiley. Perhaps I'll hear and share more stories set in that setting. It could become something for a broader audience. After all, God had me write stories in 2001 and 2002. I certainly would not mind if my new "ministry work" was more about being a storyteller and less about running a congregation.
For the start of the High Holy Days, to help enter an appropriate mood of introspection and repentance, we drove farther to visit a Messianic congregation. To end the High Holy Days, to conclude with communal yearnings and pleas, it seemed most appropriate to be with the Jews of our neighborhood.
What follows is lengthy, but I expect my family and friends might enjoy glimpsing inside my head.
I have only visited Reconstructionist services a few times. During the Erev service I tried to immerse myself but too often found myself analyzing what makes that Jewish philosophy unique.
What I found most noticeable (and interrupting to my own habits of worship) was how Reconstructionism is uncomfortable with such surrender. More traditional Jews, including Messianic Jews, are very willing to have God do things to them. But that evening even the Avinu Maklenu was modified so the phrase oseh eemanoo l'ma-an shemcha was translated "help us for the sake of your name" instead of "do to us for the sake of your name".
Both Yom Kippur services emphasized the theme of can we be doing more? This is a worthy topic for the day but seemed out of place as the primary theme. The teshuvah seemed incomplete despite very genuine confession because the goal of perfection was replaced with a desire to do more good deeds. The liturgy still identified vices and the need to turn from them, but no longer directed participants to face any specific new direction. The community expressed its sincerity in waiting for and pleading with God to abolish evil, but then asked, "What will we do?", which is almost a non sequitur.
Yom Kippur needs a balance between teshuvah and relationship: we have disobeyed our Father yet he will help us become better children, we have ignored our King yet he is a faithful provider and ruler, we have failed our communal calling yet God still makes us a people and his people. To me, it seemed Reconstructionism only distantly and vaguely held up any light or goal to aim for, and thus inescapably overemphasized relationship. The community was not walking together along a path to perfection. It had confidence in doing good deeds but not growing visibly in holiness.
I did benefit from hearing and thinking so much about doing good deeds. I myself often display the other imbalance, focusing in prayer and deed too much on surrender to God and not enough on kindness and warmth. Those two Yom Kippur services were healthy for me.
After the Erev service and a night's sleep I was ready to focus better. The Morning service was much more worshipful.
I asked God many questions, and heard some answers. Three issues are worth sharing.
First, I asked for guidance. Since Sar Shalom closed, the local Messianic Jewish movement has been adrift and nearly inactive. Indeed, to speak strictly there remain "Jewish followers of Yeshua" but there is no more local "Messianic Judaism" since there is no IAMCS or UMJC congregation through which people can participate in the specific movement of God shepherded by those two organizations.
Would God tell me what would happen during the new year and my role in it? I had realized a few days earlier that my work with P'nei Adonai began in mid-2003, making my lack of ministry activity during 2009 in one sense a Sabbatical year. I would not have been surprised if God asked me, on Yom Kippur, to soon start something.
But God didn't. He said my Sabbatical time will end later. However, my personal laxness needed to end immediately. I will need personal momentum well-established before I can be an example for others.
Second, I asked for courage. I dealt with tremendous spiritual warfare during the years I led P'nei Adonai. As one small example, during those years it was normal for me to have a nightmare any time I slept. I was not sure why I would dream about people I cared about suffering, but trusted God was toughening me up for some purpose. It was sometimes strange to see family in the morning, or congregants on Shabbat, healthy and happy in contrast to what happened in my nightmares. Yet we all do suffer, and one day we will stand more alive than ever.
In any case, I was certainly aware that one reason I did not miss doing ministry work was the near absense of spiritual warfare in my life since Sar Shalom closed. A big advantage of doing little for the Kingdom of God is that God's enemies don't bother to oppose you! Returning to the trenches would require courage.
God told me I would have the courage I would need. That reply was not very comforting, but a sufficient answer. And any answer was encouraging.
Third, I asked for more relationship with God. He told me two stories. I have not retold them as well as I wanted, but those links lead to the best I can do at this time.
Most of the work to develop the RPG's setting I did myself: I tried to be prayerful but heard very little from God. Then, during Elul, there was a breakthrough. It began with more of my own thinking, but soon God contributed advice about how to honor him in an fantasy adventure setting. (I would have loved to blog about it during those weeks, but it happened to fast and intensely.) I had saved religion for last as I deveoped the setting; religion quickly became the most well-developed aspect and everything else needed revision to reflect a new and better foundation.
For God to tell me two stories (and he tells them better, both had much more detail and made me cry) using the fantasy setting we developed together was deeply touching.
Currently that setting has two purposes: it allows my wife and I to play a RPG together, and it helps me tell stories to Smiley. Perhaps I'll hear and share more stories set in that setting. It could become something for a broader audience. After all, God had me write stories in 2001 and 2002. I certainly would not mind if my new "ministry work" was more about being a storyteller and less about running a congregation.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Some Games Back Online
Today I had time to put a few of my games back online: Gruff Goats, the Four in a Row card game, and my list of tag variants.
I used to have these and other games available online at dvsgames.com but took that side down a while ago. Reformatting the presentation to fit my new website has not been a top priority.
I used to have these and other games available online at dvsgames.com but took that side down a while ago. Reformatting the presentation to fit my new website has not been a top priority.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Do I Look Like a Bad Guy?
James Rummel writes about an online survey that rates how likely you are to be the victim of a violent crime.
His rating is negative. So was mine*, but only barely.
I could lower my score all the way down to -15, if I were to start locking all car doors when in the car, carrying an umbrella, and not carrying my ATM card. But I've never heard of a carjacking in Eugene, I usually rely on my hat and overcoat for rain protection, and I do carry my ATM card.
Anyway, this is amusing to me because of an incident that happened two years ago at LCC, on a rainy day as I was walking from my office to the bus stop.
My overcoat is a knee-length London Fog coat. I chose black instead of brown, but admittedly Matrix versus Dick Tracy is a touchy fashion decision with no correct answer.
I was also wearing my hat. With both my coat and hat I look too much like the villain from the first Indiana Jones movie. But no one at the bank has ever asked me to identify myself with both a photo id and the symbol burned onto my palm.
I was also carrying my skateboard. I can skip a 10 to 15 minute wait to switch buses (at an uncovered bus stop) by skating home instead. I get no more wet, have a lot more fun, and arrive home at most 5 minutes later.
So I'm walking along, looking like a villain in need of a 1930s getaway car, when along comes a young boy and his mom. The kid is probably 8 or 9. He's been watching the puddles and his feet, but looks up and sees me. His eyes get big. His mouth drops open. A drone of "Whoa" spills out of his mouth.
He wasn't afraid. I think he was wondering what my superpower might be.
UPDATE: I realized the online survey completely neglects making your home secure, something Mr. Rummel writes about often.
* My current rating. Summer's dry spell is over and I'm often wearing my overcoat. Since P'nei Adonai is no longer a congregation I'm not attending IAMCS conferences or taking airplane trips.
His rating is negative. So was mine*, but only barely.
I could lower my score all the way down to -15, if I were to start locking all car doors when in the car, carrying an umbrella, and not carrying my ATM card. But I've never heard of a carjacking in Eugene, I usually rely on my hat and overcoat for rain protection, and I do carry my ATM card.
Anyway, this is amusing to me because of an incident that happened two years ago at LCC, on a rainy day as I was walking from my office to the bus stop.
My overcoat is a knee-length London Fog coat. I chose black instead of brown, but admittedly Matrix versus Dick Tracy is a touchy fashion decision with no correct answer.
I was also wearing my hat. With both my coat and hat I look too much like the villain from the first Indiana Jones movie. But no one at the bank has ever asked me to identify myself with both a photo id and the symbol burned onto my palm.
I was also carrying my skateboard. I can skip a 10 to 15 minute wait to switch buses (at an uncovered bus stop) by skating home instead. I get no more wet, have a lot more fun, and arrive home at most 5 minutes later.
So I'm walking along, looking like a villain in need of a 1930s getaway car, when along comes a young boy and his mom. The kid is probably 8 or 9. He's been watching the puddles and his feet, but looks up and sees me. His eyes get big. His mouth drops open. A drone of "Whoa" spills out of his mouth.
He wasn't afraid. I think he was wondering what my superpower might be.
UPDATE: I realized the online survey completely neglects making your home secure, something Mr. Rummel writes about often.
* My current rating. Summer's dry spell is over and I'm often wearing my overcoat. Since P'nei Adonai is no longer a congregation I'm not attending IAMCS conferences or taking airplane trips.
Alphabet Songs
Smiley loves Sandra Boynton's ABC Book. One reason is that we seldom read Boynton's text and instead use it to sing the alphabet song. Singing makes any book extra popular and he knows the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle" for other reasons.
Reading the book so often would make the simple alphabet song get boring. So I alter the final couplet to:
We sing the alphabet song at other times as well, especially on walks and in the car. Years ago when I started teaching Hebrew to children I figured out how to fit the Aleph-Bet to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle".
Smiley has not heard it nearly as often, but back when teaching Hebrew I also figured out how to fit the Aleph-Bet to the tune of "Dai-aynoo" since it was nice to sing the Hebrew alphabet to a Jewish song.
UPDATE: Over Thanksgiving vacation I noticed something interesting. I have a habit that I thought was common but apparently is not: when singing the normal alphabet song I drag out w so that it takes up an entire line. This means the final line is x, y, z without the word "and" since the word "and" is not a letter!
UPDATE: Also, the English alphabet fits "Dai-aynoo" very well. I should start singing that also, so Smiley does not develop the habit some toddlers have of considering lmno as a single letter.
Reading the book so often would make the simple alphabet song get boring. So I alter the final couplet to:
Now I know my ABC's,Then we go sing the alphabet backwards, which by now I have also memorized.
Next time won't you sing it backwards.
z, y, x, w, v, u, t,Then we go through the book a third time, forward, singing the animal names. Except that I'm nerdy enough to know about the frog whose name starts with X, so I use that name for the X animal.
s, r, q, p, o-n-m-l-k,
j, i, h,
g, f, e,
d, c, b, a,
Now I've sung my ABC's,
Next time won't you sing about the animals.
We sing the alphabet song at other times as well, especially on walks and in the car. Years ago when I started teaching Hebrew to children I figured out how to fit the Aleph-Bet to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle".
א aleph בּ bet ב vet ג gimmel ד dalet ה heyThe letters aleph, yod, lamed, nun, qof, and resh are in bold because they receive two syllables worth of time.
ו vav ז zayin ח chet ט tet י yod כּ kaf כ chaf
ל lamed מ mem נ nun ס samech
ע ayin פּ pay פ fay צ tzaday
ק qof ר resh שׁ shin שׂ sin ת tav
Next time won't you sing with me.
Smiley has not heard it nearly as often, but back when teaching Hebrew I also figured out how to fit the Aleph-Bet to the tune of "Dai-aynoo" since it was nice to sing the Hebrew alphabet to a Jewish song.
א aleph בּ bet ב vet ג gimmel ד dalet (eeloo hotzee hotzee-aynoo)This time the letters hey, vav, chaf, mem, ayin, fay, qof, resh, and sin receive two syllables worth of time, and the letter shin receives three syllables.
ה hey ו vav ז zayin ח chet ט tet (hotzee-aynoo mee-Meetzray-eem)
י yod כּ kaf כ chaf, ל lamed מ mem (hotzee-aynoo, mee-Meetzray-eem)
נ nun ס samech (dai-ay-noo)
ע ayin פּ pay, פ fay צ tzaday (dai-dai-ay-noo, dai-dai-ay-noo)
ק qof ר resh, שׁ shin שׂ sin ת tav (dai-dai-ay-noo, dai-ay-noo dai-ay-noo)
UPDATE: Over Thanksgiving vacation I noticed something interesting. I have a habit that I thought was common but apparently is not: when singing the normal alphabet song I drag out w so that it takes up an entire line. This means the final line is x, y, z without the word "and" since the word "and" is not a letter!
UPDATE: Also, the English alphabet fits "Dai-aynoo" very well. I should start singing that also, so Smiley does not develop the habit some toddlers have of considering lmno as a single letter.
a, b, c, d, e, f, g,Then I can replace the chorus with "alpha-bet..." instead of "dai, dai, aynoo".
h, i, j, k, l, m, n,
o, p, q, r,
s, t, u, v,
w, x, y, z.
alphabet, alphabet,
alphabet, we sing our ABC's!
More Fall 2009 LCC Statistics
I wrote a couple weeks ago about the current LCC enrollment surge.
How is the increase enduring? Enrollment during the first week of a term is always slightly fictitious because a few students, to appease a financial aid requirement, enroll in classes they intend to promptly drop.
At the start of the second week of classes, looking only at credit classes, enrollment is up 20%, with 10% more classes being offered, and with 17% more students than Fall 2008.
Financial aid us up a huge 47%. As of last Friday, $16,951,872 in student aid assistance had been disbursed to 5,484 students.
How is the increase enduring? Enrollment during the first week of a term is always slightly fictitious because a few students, to appease a financial aid requirement, enroll in classes they intend to promptly drop.
At the start of the second week of classes, looking only at credit classes, enrollment is up 20%, with 10% more classes being offered, and with 17% more students than Fall 2008.
Financial aid us up a huge 47%. As of last Friday, $16,951,872 in student aid assistance had been disbursed to 5,484 students.
When Google Can't Search!
Blogger/Blogspot has been owned by Google for a while now.
Sadly, the "search this blog" box in the upper left corner has been broken for months. It has often been an extra pain in the behind to write a blog post about one of my recurring themes when I need to spend minutes instead of seconds locating my previous essays.
There is now a form to fill out when searching fails, to help Google debug the problem.
Sadly, the "search this blog" box in the upper left corner has been broken for months. It has often been an extra pain in the behind to write a blog post about one of my recurring themes when I need to spend minutes instead of seconds locating my previous essays.
There is now a form to fill out when searching fails, to help Google debug the problem.
The Home Schoolers Fifth Column?
Last month Frank Schaeffer wrote a fascinating article about the fundamentalist Christian home school movement.
I know a fair number of local fundamentalist Christian home school parents, and thought I should write a brief reply.
First, he has seen a different flavor of reaction than I have in Oregon. The folks I know in this movement see a clear distinction between "secular America" and "political America". The former, a mental mish-mash of Hollywood and those political groups actively promoting unscriptural values, is indeed vilified as Schaeffer describes. The latter is not.
Rather, the country's political climate is instead viewed in an oversimplified way as tension along a single political spectrum ranging from "anarchic hedonism" to "selfless devotion to Christ". None of the parents I know think this tension is undemocratic, un-American, or evil. I must disagree with Schaeffer's observation that they see American politics as illegitamite. These parents simply want to add their votes to the side they favor; none of the protest antics or millitia hoarding Schaeffer describes happens here. These parents may misunderstand political issues as they try to force a complicated political climate into an imaginary dichotomy, but this is no more a source of distortion than the way a greater number of American voters cast votes the way their parents did or by party line, or are simply uninformed.
Certainly the local home schoolers I know are not "work[ing] to overthrow our democracy and replace it with a theocracy." They would not even know how to begin this if they were to adopt that goal.
Locally, it is instead the extremely liberal crowd that has (some, only some) members acting as Schaeffer describes. During Bush's eight years Eugene had plenty of examples of people not accepting the 2004 Presidential election results, of signs comparing Bush to Hitler, of preparations made for an imagined imposition of a dictatorship that might happen any day or Armageddon that would wipe out scriptural faith in 2012.
The last point makes Schaeffer's article seem slightly humorous to me. Eugene still has plenty of bumper stickers from the Bush years about "He's not my president" or "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism".
I know a fair number of local fundamentalist Christian home school parents, and thought I should write a brief reply.
First, he has seen a different flavor of reaction than I have in Oregon. The folks I know in this movement see a clear distinction between "secular America" and "political America". The former, a mental mish-mash of Hollywood and those political groups actively promoting unscriptural values, is indeed vilified as Schaeffer describes. The latter is not.
Rather, the country's political climate is instead viewed in an oversimplified way as tension along a single political spectrum ranging from "anarchic hedonism" to "selfless devotion to Christ". None of the parents I know think this tension is undemocratic, un-American, or evil. I must disagree with Schaeffer's observation that they see American politics as illegitamite. These parents simply want to add their votes to the side they favor; none of the protest antics or millitia hoarding Schaeffer describes happens here. These parents may misunderstand political issues as they try to force a complicated political climate into an imaginary dichotomy, but this is no more a source of distortion than the way a greater number of American voters cast votes the way their parents did or by party line, or are simply uninformed.
Certainly the local home schoolers I know are not "work[ing] to overthrow our democracy and replace it with a theocracy." They would not even know how to begin this if they were to adopt that goal.
Locally, it is instead the extremely liberal crowd that has (some, only some) members acting as Schaeffer describes. During Bush's eight years Eugene had plenty of examples of people not accepting the 2004 Presidential election results, of signs comparing Bush to Hitler, of preparations made for an imagined imposition of a dictatorship that might happen any day or Armageddon that would wipe out scriptural faith in 2012.
The last point makes Schaeffer's article seem slightly humorous to me. Eugene still has plenty of bumper stickers from the Bush years about "He's not my president" or "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism".
Two Gluten-Free Snacks
During the Summer my wife and I got to try two gluten-free snacks that were new to us.
Neither was nice enough that we're looking for the best prices at a local or internet store, but they seemed worth archiving.
The first was Glutino's Vanilla Dreams sandwich cookies. The second was Michael Season's baked cheese curls.
Neither was nice enough that we're looking for the best prices at a local or internet store, but they seemed worth archiving.
The first was Glutino's Vanilla Dreams sandwich cookies. The second was Michael Season's baked cheese curls.
More about Ages and Stages
Back in September I mentioned how Oregon has paid for free use of the Ages and Stages developmental screening questionnaires. Just use the state's website instead of the publisher's website.
At Smiley's 18-month checkup our pediatrician asked us to start participating in the program. So we did. It only took a few minutes.
Humorously and usefully, the state's website is not very secure. After you finish a questionnaire it offers you two list of learning activities appropriate for your child. But anyone who wants to browse through the good ideas can just go to either directory and see all the files.
At Smiley's 18-month checkup our pediatrician asked us to start participating in the program. So we did. It only took a few minutes.
Humorously and usefully, the state's website is not very secure. After you finish a questionnaire it offers you two list of learning activities appropriate for your child. But anyone who wants to browse through the good ideas can just go to either directory and see all the files.
Two October Days
The past two days have held a strange collection of chores as I tried to get things done while watching a tired little boy.
Yesterday was cold so we started a fire in the stove. Then, to stay downstairs by it, we cleaned my skateboard's bearings. Smiley liked paying with the rubber wheels, and putting them on and off the skateboard's axles. I also did laundry and re-seasoned our cast iron skillet. We went for a stroller-walk to the grocery store and took pictures of Autumn trees. After his nap I swept the deck and then started building Boo's winter indoor cage. After dinner everyone went swing dancing.
Today began with my math class taking the term's first test. Then we did dishes, oiled all the wood cutting boards, and made up a new rice pudding recipe to try. After his nap we'll go to allergy shots, maybe shop for stain and maybe varnish, and perhaps even finish Boo's cage.
UPDATE: No hardware store or woodworking got done, but they rice pudding recipe was a definite success.
Yesterday was cold so we started a fire in the stove. Then, to stay downstairs by it, we cleaned my skateboard's bearings. Smiley liked paying with the rubber wheels, and putting them on and off the skateboard's axles. I also did laundry and re-seasoned our cast iron skillet. We went for a stroller-walk to the grocery store and took pictures of Autumn trees. After his nap I swept the deck and then started building Boo's winter indoor cage. After dinner everyone went swing dancing.
Today began with my math class taking the term's first test. Then we did dishes, oiled all the wood cutting boards, and made up a new rice pudding recipe to try. After his nap we'll go to allergy shots, maybe shop for stain and maybe varnish, and perhaps even finish Boo's cage.
UPDATE: No hardware store or woodworking got done, but they rice pudding recipe was a definite success.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Done with Initial Teething
Huzzah! Today Smiley's lower right eye tooth (#27) finally came through.
He had another milestone today: after his nap we took a shower together that concluded by him standing up in the tub and drying himself with his towel. Previously he has always been dried by a parent, usually while lying on the towel on his back upon the bathroom counter.
I had two milestones today. I cleaned my skateboard's bearings for the first time, and used my new circular saw for the first time as I started building a better cage for Boo.
He had another milestone today: after his nap we took a shower together that concluded by him standing up in the tub and drying himself with his towel. Previously he has always been dried by a parent, usually while lying on the towel on his back upon the bathroom counter.
I had two milestones today. I cleaned my skateboard's bearings for the first time, and used my new circular saw for the first time as I started building a better cage for Boo.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
To Give Up Mouse Clicks with a Cookie?
I have some long web pages. For example...
So during the past month I've added two buttons at the top right corner of all my web pages. One darkens the background for people who like that. One narrows the page to 800 pixels for people who find that more readable.
Currently a reader has to click the button(s) on every page they want the effect(s) applied.
I could change the buttons to "remember" a reader's preference, using a cookie. But I'm old enough to be prejudiced against cookies, especially needless ones.
Should I use a cookie, or should people have more anonymity and mouse clicks?
So during the past month I've added two buttons at the top right corner of all my web pages. One darkens the background for people who like that. One narrows the page to 800 pixels for people who find that more readable.
Currently a reader has to click the button(s) on every page they want the effect(s) applied.
I could change the buttons to "remember" a reader's preference, using a cookie. But I'm old enough to be prejudiced against cookies, especially needless ones.
Should I use a cookie, or should people have more anonymity and mouse clicks?
Faith Won't Axiomatize
A friend asks on Facebook today (why can't I link to such things!)...
But a very similar story was once believed by the Ophites, and we can't use logic alone to discredit the possibility.
As we roll the scroll back again, we need to ask ourselves why we believe this stuff anyway. How do we know that the Bible we believe is truly God's Word to us. Is it because it is what our parents have taught us? Is it because it makes sense... to our intellect? Is it because we have truly met with Adonai through it? Without understanding the why (or seeking to understand) it is no more than ritual exercise.My response was that of a mathematician. I asserted we cannot logically know if our faith is true. We believe in an intelligent, powerful, deceiving being. So logical proofs are out. Here's an example of why logic alone cannot be enough.
What if the divine being who created the world is apathetic and evil, but humanity would be hurt to learn this. So the deceiving being invents our scripture and acts as the God of scripture, humbly portraying himself as the evil being and giving us a message of hope and faith rather than allowing humanity learn a crushing truth.Sound crazy? It is! There is something inside us, once we have met Yeshua, that will never accept such a hypothesis.
But a very similar story was once believed by the Ophites, and we can't use logic alone to discredit the possibility.
Nerdity
What is the difference between a geek, dork, and dweeb? Jeff has a handy chart.
Ever wonder how dividing by e can help you make an important choice?
Someone had to invent the Möbius strip music box.
For those with televisions, a chart of science fiction shows after 1970.
Want to change the layout of a web page story? Use Readability! (Except that none of my tests with various copies of A Midsummer Night's Dream worked well with it. Blah.)
Ever wonder how dividing by e can help you make an important choice?
Someone had to invent the Möbius strip music box.
For those with televisions, a chart of science fiction shows after 1970.
Want to change the layout of a web page story? Use Readability! (Except that none of my tests with various copies of A Midsummer Night's Dream worked well with it. Blah.)
Saturn and Toyota in 2009
I've previously mentioned our Saturn SL2.
Earlier this year there were plans to transfer the Saturn brand to the Penske Automotive Group, but those plans have failed. I'm not sure if the brand is now mortally wounded or whether there are backup plans. Perhaps I'll read the whole Saturn story in a book someday, or someone will make a movie.
My local Saturn dealership has closed; the nearest one is now in Salem. But the local dealer's master mechanic and repair manager moved together to a local Toyota dealer, where they still do repair work for many of the county's Saturn owners. But Toyota is not now a healthy brand either.
Earlier this year there were plans to transfer the Saturn brand to the Penske Automotive Group, but those plans have failed. I'm not sure if the brand is now mortally wounded or whether there are backup plans. Perhaps I'll read the whole Saturn story in a book someday, or someone will make a movie.
My local Saturn dealership has closed; the nearest one is now in Salem. But the local dealer's master mechanic and repair manager moved together to a local Toyota dealer, where they still do repair work for many of the county's Saturn owners. But Toyota is not now a healthy brand either.
YouTube's Trucks for Toddlers (Mostly Fixed Camera Edition)
In the past I've mentioned that kids less than two years old should watch little if any television.
We don't own a television. Every now and then I allow to Smiley to watch a short video on my laptop. Normally this only happens when I am reviewing our videos of him to pick which to edit and post on BlipTV. But during the past month I've been slightly more lenient.
He loves trucks, and during the Summer was able to see some construction vehicles do work near our house. But he has a fun picture book about trucks and I feel bad that he has no idea what many of the featured trucks look like in motion.
Currently the most agreed-upon hypothesis for why television is bad for little brains involves how most television programs shift the camera point of view so often. So I have looked for YouTube videos about trucks in which the camera moves never or rarely.
So far I've only found three: about a Bell Dump Truck, Excavator, and a Fire Truck Parade.
Do you know about any others?
UPDATE: I've found four more, about tractors: a Ford 5000, John Deere 7920, and a Harvester. Also this one but the tractor and tank are not showing off what they normally do.
UPDATE: Steam roller videos from Wales and the U.S. And Smiley had little interest in this video about a train plowing snow but I thought it was nifty.
UPDATE: More! A front loader, Bobcat, mobile crane, excavator, and bulldozer. The first two are fun with the vehicles doing stunts instead of normal construction work.
UPDATE: Many more! Fun forklifts. Three big excavators. A boy driving a bulldozer.
We don't own a television. Every now and then I allow to Smiley to watch a short video on my laptop. Normally this only happens when I am reviewing our videos of him to pick which to edit and post on BlipTV. But during the past month I've been slightly more lenient.
He loves trucks, and during the Summer was able to see some construction vehicles do work near our house. But he has a fun picture book about trucks and I feel bad that he has no idea what many of the featured trucks look like in motion.
Currently the most agreed-upon hypothesis for why television is bad for little brains involves how most television programs shift the camera point of view so often. So I have looked for YouTube videos about trucks in which the camera moves never or rarely.
So far I've only found three: about a Bell Dump Truck, Excavator, and a Fire Truck Parade.
Do you know about any others?
UPDATE: I've found four more, about tractors: a Ford 5000, John Deere 7920, and a Harvester. Also this one but the tractor and tank are not showing off what they normally do.
UPDATE: Steam roller videos from Wales and the U.S. And Smiley had little interest in this video about a train plowing snow but I thought it was nifty.
UPDATE: More! A front loader, Bobcat, mobile crane, excavator, and bulldozer. The first two are fun with the vehicles doing stunts instead of normal construction work.
UPDATE: Many more! Fun forklifts. Three big excavators. A boy driving a bulldozer.
Kudlow's Recovery Measurement
Yesterday Larry Kudlow asked an interesting question: what if I do not treat gold simply another investment to measure, but instead as the basis of comparison (instead of the dollar) for all other investment growth.
(Not that I don't share Kudlow's concern about the overall economy stagnating. I have also worried that too much Federal activity--specifically, trying both stimulus spending and the bond purchases Friedman recommended--will do more harm than good.)
Second, I should point out that Kudlow relies on a generalization that is not currently appropriate to an investor's decision-making. A big issue with this recession is that the S&P 500 and Dow are no longer useful estimates of national economic health because some financial sectors have been flattened while others are doing very well.
Remember my June investment advice? Consider the overseas investments I wrote about: funds for Latin America (FLATX), Southeast Asia (FSEAX), and India (IFN) have all increased twice as much as as gold, one of those more than three times as much. Similarly, the "stimulus plan" favored sectors of materials (FSDPX) and energy (FSENX, FSESX) have increased twice as much as gold. Even the sector of consumer staples (FDFAX) and the MidCap funds (FNMIX, FMIMX) are keeping even with gold or doing twice as well.
Despite the fact that no one can predict the future shape of the national economy after the recession ends, an investor who pays attention to politics can still outperform gold.
In other words, measured in true, gold-backed purchasing power, stocks have really done nothing this year. Zip. It is most disappointing.First, note that I provided one answer to that question in mid-September, when I wrote about debt-deflation and described how a lending crisis usually requires some inflation as part of the cure. During a recession caused by a debt-bubble bursting, an investor should not expect the entire economy to outpace gold.
(Not that I don't share Kudlow's concern about the overall economy stagnating. I have also worried that too much Federal activity--specifically, trying both stimulus spending and the bond purchases Friedman recommended--will do more harm than good.)
Second, I should point out that Kudlow relies on a generalization that is not currently appropriate to an investor's decision-making. A big issue with this recession is that the S&P 500 and Dow are no longer useful estimates of national economic health because some financial sectors have been flattened while others are doing very well.
Remember my June investment advice? Consider the overseas investments I wrote about: funds for Latin America (FLATX), Southeast Asia (FSEAX), and India (IFN) have all increased twice as much as as gold, one of those more than three times as much. Similarly, the "stimulus plan" favored sectors of materials (FSDPX) and energy (FSENX, FSESX) have increased twice as much as gold. Even the sector of consumer staples (FDFAX) and the MidCap funds (FNMIX, FMIMX) are keeping even with gold or doing twice as well.
Despite the fact that no one can predict the future shape of the national economy after the recession ends, an investor who pays attention to politics can still outperform gold.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Camping and Adoption
Heh. This is nifty.
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission met on September 29th and made a bunch of small policy changes (mostly small fee increases, for the first time in 13 years).
One new policy is that Oregon foster families who adopt an Oregon Foster Child will receive free camping and day use until that child turns 18.
It makes no logical sense, but it is a nice neighborly thing for the State Parks to do!
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission met on September 29th and made a bunch of small policy changes (mostly small fee increases, for the first time in 13 years).
One new policy is that Oregon foster families who adopt an Oregon Foster Child will receive free camping and day use until that child turns 18.
It makes no logical sense, but it is a nice neighborly thing for the State Parks to do!
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Letter Versus Spirit
Last Shabbat a lit a fire.
According to Exodus 35:1-3 this is a violation of the Sinai covenant. The context of the commandment implies the rule exists as a guideline for how much effort counts as "work" to be avoided on Shabbat. I know well from my Boy Scout days that kindling a fire without matches or a lighter is a notable amount of work.
I have heard the reason candles are lit to welcome Shabbat is that the ritual reminded the family to have a flame going as the sun set and Shabbat began. That flame could be passed to other candles, lamps, and stoves during Shabbat.
However, if I tried to keep a continual flame burning from our Erev Shabbat dinner table through the night to use with the stove in the morning, this would be more work than using a lighter in the morning. Oddly, obeying the letter of that law would hinder me from obeying the spirit of that law.
Yet when I do light a fire in the stove on Shabbat I do so differently than during the week. Even though matches and newspaper make the chore very little work anyway, I also set aside the best kindling during the week. Beside the fireplace I accumulate a small pile of "Shabbat kindling" so that if I do need to start a fire on a Shabbat it is not only easy but trivial. My weekday fires take a bit more work to light because I'm preparing for Shabbat, parallel to putting together an uncooked casserole on Thursday afternoon so Friday night can have trivial baking. This is also part of obeying the spirit of the law because fire lighting helps keep me mindful of Shabbat throughout the week.
I can only think of one other commandment where following the letter of the law would mean violating the spirit of the law. In Leviticus 19:27-28 there are rules about sideburns, beards, and tattoos. From what I have read, those rules served to visibly differentiate the ancient Israelites from neighboring people groups (one whom shaved sideburns, another who kept beards short, and a third who used tattoos). I use my necklace, a wedding present from my wife, to visibly show my faith in a parallel way. I could instead style my sideburns and beard as an Orthodox Jew, to better follow the letter of those laws. But then my appearance would no longer indicate my faith, contrary to the spirit of those laws.
There are many, many Tenach commandments that I cannot keep. Obvious examples include anything about the Tabernacle, including the annual holy day observances. Anyone who claims to "follow Torah" is exaggerating: the covenant is a legal contract, and partial obedience is as covenentially invalid as someone paying only part of their mortgage. Yet there is rich spiritual benefit personally and in a community from living according to God's ways, even if it does not pay the rent.
According to Exodus 35:1-3 this is a violation of the Sinai covenant. The context of the commandment implies the rule exists as a guideline for how much effort counts as "work" to be avoided on Shabbat. I know well from my Boy Scout days that kindling a fire without matches or a lighter is a notable amount of work.
I have heard the reason candles are lit to welcome Shabbat is that the ritual reminded the family to have a flame going as the sun set and Shabbat began. That flame could be passed to other candles, lamps, and stoves during Shabbat.
However, if I tried to keep a continual flame burning from our Erev Shabbat dinner table through the night to use with the stove in the morning, this would be more work than using a lighter in the morning. Oddly, obeying the letter of that law would hinder me from obeying the spirit of that law.
Yet when I do light a fire in the stove on Shabbat I do so differently than during the week. Even though matches and newspaper make the chore very little work anyway, I also set aside the best kindling during the week. Beside the fireplace I accumulate a small pile of "Shabbat kindling" so that if I do need to start a fire on a Shabbat it is not only easy but trivial. My weekday fires take a bit more work to light because I'm preparing for Shabbat, parallel to putting together an uncooked casserole on Thursday afternoon so Friday night can have trivial baking. This is also part of obeying the spirit of the law because fire lighting helps keep me mindful of Shabbat throughout the week.
I can only think of one other commandment where following the letter of the law would mean violating the spirit of the law. In Leviticus 19:27-28 there are rules about sideburns, beards, and tattoos. From what I have read, those rules served to visibly differentiate the ancient Israelites from neighboring people groups (one whom shaved sideburns, another who kept beards short, and a third who used tattoos). I use my necklace, a wedding present from my wife, to visibly show my faith in a parallel way. I could instead style my sideburns and beard as an Orthodox Jew, to better follow the letter of those laws. But then my appearance would no longer indicate my faith, contrary to the spirit of those laws.
There are many, many Tenach commandments that I cannot keep. Obvious examples include anything about the Tabernacle, including the annual holy day observances. Anyone who claims to "follow Torah" is exaggerating: the covenant is a legal contract, and partial obedience is as covenentially invalid as someone paying only part of their mortgage. Yet there is rich spiritual benefit personally and in a community from living according to God's ways, even if it does not pay the rent.
18 Month Checkup
Today Smiley had his 18 month checkup. He has grown since his 12 month checkup, and is still following his growth chart trend lines.
Now he is 32.2 inches tall (50th percentile), he weighs 22 pounds (8th percentile), and his head size is 48.7 cm (75th percentile). Compared to six months ago he is slightly more tall and thin, and his head is less huge.
Practically, he has been in size 18 month shirts since Spring because the neck holes on 12 months shirts were too small, but only two weeks ago did he start wearing size 18 month pants.
He had vaccinations today, as well as his seasonal flu shot. We expected more fuss, but he was completely over the ordeal by the time we drove mommy to work and then home.
Later in October a toddler H1N1 vaccine will be available, which probably won't matter to him but might make a difference to any elderly library patrons he sneezes on. But Lane County has at this point only received its first vaccines this week, and only a nasal mist with live virus. Definitely not what would benefit Smiley.
Now he is 32.2 inches tall (50th percentile), he weighs 22 pounds (8th percentile), and his head size is 48.7 cm (75th percentile). Compared to six months ago he is slightly more tall and thin, and his head is less huge.
Practically, he has been in size 18 month shirts since Spring because the neck holes on 12 months shirts were too small, but only two weeks ago did he start wearing size 18 month pants.
He had vaccinations today, as well as his seasonal flu shot. We expected more fuss, but he was completely over the ordeal by the time we drove mommy to work and then home.
Later in October a toddler H1N1 vaccine will be available, which probably won't matter to him but might make a difference to any elderly library patrons he sneezes on. But Lane County has at this point only received its first vaccines this week, and only a nasal mist with live virus. Definitely not what would benefit Smiley.
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