In honor of all BMW drivers
"Beemers"
There is nothing like a Beemer
A real drive-ING machine!
It vrooms along the freeway,
So fast it makes you scream!
The clutch goes in, the shifter thrusts,
Directly up the gears,
As smooth as silk, the engine whines,
And allays all your fears,
That going fast is dangerous,
It seems so effortless.
Until you start to skid a bit,
And then you're in a mess!
Thank God the Beemer's built so well,
It skid and then it crashed!
It's fortunate your belt was on,
Your face could have been smashed!
It certainly was fun to know,
That Beemer was so fast!
But driving up to it's top speed,
Made it come in dead last!
Mark Worden
04/22/2005
Friday, April 22, 2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
Beware the "Ides of April"?--a poem
"March, July, October, May
The Nones are on the seventh day"
Anon. (Roman?)
Beware the Ides of April?
The fifteenth day of April,
Is not like March's "ides".
It's from the Roman Calendar,
Once used both far and wide.
"Beware the Ides of March!",
Warned Caesar of demise.
It's said he got his months mixed up,
Confusion proved unwise.
Rome ruled most all the ancient world.
Taught Latin, math, and such.
Yet counted dates most cumbersome,
Which proved to be to much!
The "kalends" fell upon the first,
The "nones" most on the fifth,
The "ides" fell eight days later,
Except the "nones" would shift!
In March, July, October, May,
The "nones" for some good reason,
Would fall upon the seventh day,
No matter what the season!
Eight days in March beyond the "nones",
Was "ides" to ancient Rome.
The fifteenth was the date to fear,
When Caesar left his home.
In April when the "nones" appeared,
Twas five days past day ones,
And "ides" fell on the thirteenth day,
Eight days beyond the "nones".
Well, I'm asea, perhaps it's so,
That Caesar was confused.
Forgot the little poem that kept,
The "nones" prop-er-ly used.
Mark Worden
April 15, 2005
The Nones are on the seventh day"
Anon. (Roman?)
Beware the Ides of April?
The fifteenth day of April,
Is not like March's "ides".
It's from the Roman Calendar,
Once used both far and wide.
"Beware the Ides of March!",
Warned Caesar of demise.
It's said he got his months mixed up,
Confusion proved unwise.
Rome ruled most all the ancient world.
Taught Latin, math, and such.
Yet counted dates most cumbersome,
Which proved to be to much!
The "kalends" fell upon the first,
The "nones" most on the fifth,
The "ides" fell eight days later,
Except the "nones" would shift!
In March, July, October, May,
The "nones" for some good reason,
Would fall upon the seventh day,
No matter what the season!
Eight days in March beyond the "nones",
Was "ides" to ancient Rome.
The fifteenth was the date to fear,
When Caesar left his home.
In April when the "nones" appeared,
Twas five days past day ones,
And "ides" fell on the thirteenth day,
Eight days beyond the "nones".
Well, I'm asea, perhaps it's so,
That Caesar was confused.
Forgot the little poem that kept,
The "nones" prop-er-ly used.
Mark Worden
April 15, 2005
Friday 4/15--the ides of April?
Thanks to Shakespeare, even most children know that Julius Caeser was not attentive to the warning he got regarding his predicted demise, "Beware the ides of March!". And we all know that the ides of March is the 15th!
Since today is the 15th of April, for some reason I wondered why no one ever calls the 15th of other months "The Ides" So I asked "Jeeves".
And of course, In Julius's world the Roman Calendar ruled the days and years, which was different that the Julian Calendar now used to mark the date.
In the Roman Calendar there were three dates which had names each month by which the calender was calculated:
1. The Kalends: always fell on the 1st of the month.
2. The Nones: always fell on the 5th of the month except--March, July, October, May
The Nones are on the 7th day.
3. The Ides: always fell 8 days after the Nones.
So since the Ides fall 8 days after the Nones and the Nones in March fall on the 7th day after the Kalends, then the 15th of March is the Ides. Simple, huh!
In April, the Nones is on the 5th day after the Kalends and the Ides is 8 days later or on the 13th.
The Romans expressed the date in accordance with its relationship before one of these three named days, e.g., April 15 is 16 days before the Kalends of May. March 14 is 1 day before the Ides of March. April 2nd is 3 days before the Nones of April.
No wonder the Roman Empire fell. They got confused and tangled up in their calendar, and ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure that is also why Latin is no longer the dominent language of the world.
So, happy 16 days before the Kalends of May!
Since today is the 15th of April, for some reason I wondered why no one ever calls the 15th of other months "The Ides" So I asked "Jeeves".
And of course, In Julius's world the Roman Calendar ruled the days and years, which was different that the Julian Calendar now used to mark the date.
In the Roman Calendar there were three dates which had names each month by which the calender was calculated:
1. The Kalends: always fell on the 1st of the month.
2. The Nones: always fell on the 5th of the month except--March, July, October, May
The Nones are on the 7th day.
3. The Ides: always fell 8 days after the Nones.
So since the Ides fall 8 days after the Nones and the Nones in March fall on the 7th day after the Kalends, then the 15th of March is the Ides. Simple, huh!
In April, the Nones is on the 5th day after the Kalends and the Ides is 8 days later or on the 13th.
The Romans expressed the date in accordance with its relationship before one of these three named days, e.g., April 15 is 16 days before the Kalends of May. March 14 is 1 day before the Ides of March. April 2nd is 3 days before the Nones of April.
No wonder the Roman Empire fell. They got confused and tangled up in their calendar, and ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure that is also why Latin is no longer the dominent language of the world.
So, happy 16 days before the Kalends of May!
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Biking haiku #9
mountain snows melting
spring loves building nests of twigs
ski lifts filled with bikes
spring loves building nests of twigs
ski lifts filled with bikes
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
3/25/05--An Easter Poem--Of Sorts
It's Easter Sunday!
Time to hunt for eggs!
Go to Church!
Wear funny hats!
A Christian celebration,
Like Christmas!
Commercialized,
By the Easter Bunny!
A holiday for everyone,
Who likes colored eggs,
Baskets full of jelly beans,
And honey baked ham!
Time to hunt for eggs!
Go to Church!
Wear funny hats!
A Christian celebration,
Like Christmas!
Commercialized,
By the Easter Bunny!
A holiday for everyone,
Who likes colored eggs,
Baskets full of jelly beans,
And honey baked ham!
Monday, March 21, 2005
Biking haiku #s 6-7-8
#6
bicycle dew
drips from pores
a summer day
#7
bike footprints
skid on clay
a mountain glen
#8
daring leaps
off mountain crags
knobby rubber
bicycle dew
drips from pores
a summer day
#7
bike footprints
skid on clay
a mountain glen
#8
daring leaps
off mountain crags
knobby rubber
Friday, March 18, 2005
3/18/05--Friday's 5 minute poem
Marching On
The ides of March
Have passed us by,
St. Patrick's too,
I would not lie!
March's lion roared,
And wet the sky,
Let's hope the lamb,
Ends March all dry!
The ides of March
Have passed us by,
St. Patrick's too,
I would not lie!
March's lion roared,
And wet the sky,
Let's hope the lamb,
Ends March all dry!
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
Biking Haiku # 3&4
#3
hard-rock thighs
chained gears churn
high windy roads
#4
peloton at speed
flashing colors blurred
saturday a.m.
hard-rock thighs
chained gears churn
high windy roads
#4
peloton at speed
flashing colors blurred
saturday a.m.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
3/11/05--Friday's 5 minute poem--Haiku for Health
swells crest at swami's
frothy longboards cascade
black clad ho-dads
frothy longboards cascade
black clad ho-dads
Friday, March 04, 2005
3/04/05--Fridays 5 min poem--a Haiku
soft mists fall on roads
cars crawl toward dusky skies
whimpers at week's end
cars crawl toward dusky skies
whimpers at week's end
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Saturday in L.A.--Part II--Museum of Natural History
It had been awhile since we had been to Exposition Park. On the way we wanted to drive by the new Walt Disney Concert Hall at the Music Center, now home to the L.A. Philharmonic, so we decided to drive through the downtown area rather than jumping back on the Harbor freeway and heading south. We drove past what is probably the most famous city hall in the U.S.. I still remember that old 50's TV program called "Mr. District Attorney" and remember that the city hall was front and center in the credits. When it was built it was probably the tallest building in the L.A. skyline. Today it sits in a forest of newer taller buildings, but is still a distinctive and a powerful image of L.A.
The new Disney Hall is an ultra modern design by Frank Gehry, the Los Angeles architect who also designed the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. The "Disney" is also a spectacular building, but the location lacks the appropriate "setting" to really appreciate it as a work of art. It sits across from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and is surrounded with streets and buildings--an island in a sea of cement!! How nice it would have been to have space for a large plaza or park as a grand entry area to the site and building. But I guess space is a problem in the middle of downtown L.A.!
We drove around it and said wow, but didn't stop.
We headed south through the downtown area. Since it was Saturday, there wasn't much traffic. Considering all the streets we could have picked, we managed to pick one that had work going on, and one of the lanes was coned off. I didn't see anyone working on anything, but there were some trucks parked in a couple spots indicating the intent to repair something. Our main competition for the single lane were buses as they darted through the cones making their stops. None of us were sure exactly how to get to Exposition Park from where we were. All we knew was that we were headed in the right direction. When I came to Olympic Blvd, I decided that since Exposition Park was built for the 1930's Olympics, the Blvd had to lead us there, and made a right turn going west. We passed near the location where Nancy had worked as a designer back in the 1970's and she wanted to detour to see if the building was still there as she remembered it. It was right near the Transamerica Tower. A quick left and we were driving by the Staples Center, where the Lakers and Clippers shoot hoops, with the Convention center in the background. We found her old one story office building. Most of it was still there, although some of it had been demolished to make a parking lot. The design firm had moved long ago.
We headed west again on Olympic, through Korea town with all its Korean signage, and up to Alvarado with it's Black/Mexican/Korean mix. I knew that we needed to be south of I-10 which was still to the south, so that's the direction I headed. The neighborhood was busier than downtown and traffic was stop and go, but we soon saw I-10. A block south of that was the USC Campus. A block south of that was Exposition Park and the Coliseum.
Our target for the afternoon was the Museum of Natural History, which was like going to a zoo honoring dead animals and civilizations. It is housed in a great classically styled building just north of the Coliseum, and was a favorite of both Bert and Nancy when they were children.
I got a senior discount on my ticket, and we all put the little orange stickers on our chests showing we were paid up, and headed out to the exhibit areas. Burt, Nancy, and Kris wanted to start with the Mammals of North America Exhibit, which has been there forever. I walked around and was done looking about the time there were at the second diarama, so I decided to head out on my own and let them do their own thing. I cruised the dinosours, the bird exhibits, the insects, the Indians and South American pre-Columbians, The marine/ocean exhibit, and the African Mammal diaramas. There was a discovery center filled with 2-7 year olds making all kinds of things and sitting on the floor being "lectured" by a curater with real snakes in a show and tell session. It was a real "active" place on this Saturday afternoon.
When I re-emerged into the area near the gift shop, there was Nancy. They still had things to see and Burt and Kris were "shopping". I told her I was going to be sitting outside when they were done, so found a perch next to the entrance and plopped myself down.
There was a wide grassy area in front of the building,( it was a park!) and there was a spirited soccer game going on, with some spectators on the sideline. These were older boys or young men who were quite proficient, and I followed the ball up and down the field until a goal was scored on the south end of the field by a kick from near the sideline. A great shot! The game broke up after that!
A young Asian family came out of the museum. He was toting a camera, and she was toting two young boys, one about 4 and another about 2 years old. They sat on the steps in front of me. She pulled a couple of oranges out of her bag, and I watched as he peeled one and she the other. He ate one slice by slice, and then got his camera out and walked about 20 ft away to take some pictures while she fed slices to the boys. They were not speaking English, so I wondered if they were tourists, or were one of many families who were transferred to L.A. for a "tour of duty" working for an Asian based company. One thing for sure, they liked California oranges! It was an international family day at the museum! Dinasaurs speak all languages!
Nancy didn't find the postcard she was looking for in the gift shop. It was close to the 5 pm closing when they came out the door and saw me sitting off to the side, an old guy on a bench!! The old Mercedes made it home in time for a bottle of cheap wine from Trader Joes, and a take- out pizza from Olyo's. We called our son Matt by cell phone on the way to ensure him that we would have food for him. He was glad to see us!! So was the cat!
The new Disney Hall is an ultra modern design by Frank Gehry, the Los Angeles architect who also designed the spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. The "Disney" is also a spectacular building, but the location lacks the appropriate "setting" to really appreciate it as a work of art. It sits across from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and is surrounded with streets and buildings--an island in a sea of cement!! How nice it would have been to have space for a large plaza or park as a grand entry area to the site and building. But I guess space is a problem in the middle of downtown L.A.!
We drove around it and said wow, but didn't stop.
We headed south through the downtown area. Since it was Saturday, there wasn't much traffic. Considering all the streets we could have picked, we managed to pick one that had work going on, and one of the lanes was coned off. I didn't see anyone working on anything, but there were some trucks parked in a couple spots indicating the intent to repair something. Our main competition for the single lane were buses as they darted through the cones making their stops. None of us were sure exactly how to get to Exposition Park from where we were. All we knew was that we were headed in the right direction. When I came to Olympic Blvd, I decided that since Exposition Park was built for the 1930's Olympics, the Blvd had to lead us there, and made a right turn going west. We passed near the location where Nancy had worked as a designer back in the 1970's and she wanted to detour to see if the building was still there as she remembered it. It was right near the Transamerica Tower. A quick left and we were driving by the Staples Center, where the Lakers and Clippers shoot hoops, with the Convention center in the background. We found her old one story office building. Most of it was still there, although some of it had been demolished to make a parking lot. The design firm had moved long ago.
We headed west again on Olympic, through Korea town with all its Korean signage, and up to Alvarado with it's Black/Mexican/Korean mix. I knew that we needed to be south of I-10 which was still to the south, so that's the direction I headed. The neighborhood was busier than downtown and traffic was stop and go, but we soon saw I-10. A block south of that was the USC Campus. A block south of that was Exposition Park and the Coliseum.
Our target for the afternoon was the Museum of Natural History, which was like going to a zoo honoring dead animals and civilizations. It is housed in a great classically styled building just north of the Coliseum, and was a favorite of both Bert and Nancy when they were children.
I got a senior discount on my ticket, and we all put the little orange stickers on our chests showing we were paid up, and headed out to the exhibit areas. Burt, Nancy, and Kris wanted to start with the Mammals of North America Exhibit, which has been there forever. I walked around and was done looking about the time there were at the second diarama, so I decided to head out on my own and let them do their own thing. I cruised the dinosours, the bird exhibits, the insects, the Indians and South American pre-Columbians, The marine/ocean exhibit, and the African Mammal diaramas. There was a discovery center filled with 2-7 year olds making all kinds of things and sitting on the floor being "lectured" by a curater with real snakes in a show and tell session. It was a real "active" place on this Saturday afternoon.
When I re-emerged into the area near the gift shop, there was Nancy. They still had things to see and Burt and Kris were "shopping". I told her I was going to be sitting outside when they were done, so found a perch next to the entrance and plopped myself down.
There was a wide grassy area in front of the building,( it was a park!) and there was a spirited soccer game going on, with some spectators on the sideline. These were older boys or young men who were quite proficient, and I followed the ball up and down the field until a goal was scored on the south end of the field by a kick from near the sideline. A great shot! The game broke up after that!
A young Asian family came out of the museum. He was toting a camera, and she was toting two young boys, one about 4 and another about 2 years old. They sat on the steps in front of me. She pulled a couple of oranges out of her bag, and I watched as he peeled one and she the other. He ate one slice by slice, and then got his camera out and walked about 20 ft away to take some pictures while she fed slices to the boys. They were not speaking English, so I wondered if they were tourists, or were one of many families who were transferred to L.A. for a "tour of duty" working for an Asian based company. One thing for sure, they liked California oranges! It was an international family day at the museum! Dinasaurs speak all languages!
Nancy didn't find the postcard she was looking for in the gift shop. It was close to the 5 pm closing when they came out the door and saw me sitting off to the side, an old guy on a bench!! The old Mercedes made it home in time for a bottle of cheap wine from Trader Joes, and a take- out pizza from Olyo's. We called our son Matt by cell phone on the way to ensure him that we would have food for him. He was glad to see us!! So was the cat!
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Saturday in L.A.--Part One--Alvera Street
Last Saturday Nancy and I drove up to the big city, L.A. to visit her brother Bert and his wife Kris. We usually just see them at family gatherings, and Nancy thought it would be great if we drove up to spent a day together and play tourist. We stopped at Pipe's cafe in Cardiff at about 9 am to stock up on caffiene for the trip, and we were off! The old Mercedes cruised along at 75 most of the way on an open freeway, so we made good time and were in Hawthorne just before 11 am.
After picking them up at their apartment in Hawthorne, our first stop of the day was to be lunch and shopping at Alvera street in the Spanish/Mexican historical center of L.A.. It had been 18 years since we had lived in the L.A. area, and while we remembered all the great places around town, we always didn't remember the most direct route to where they were, so when we got off the Harbor freeway downtown, we were almost amazed to find that we had picked the right exit, and were just a block or so from the central plaza in the historical district. We found parking near the plaza just across the street from the old Pio Pico hotel, which was now used as a historical society museum, and headed for Bert's favorite taco stand on Alvera Street.
It is one of those places which hasn't changed much in the last 30 years. Bert and Nancy's parents always took them there on outings when they were kids. It was almost like going on a trip to Mexico. Although the "street" is only about a half block long, it is packed with colorful shops and restaurants and has always reminded me of the touristy alleys in the "Rosa" district of Tijuana.
It seems to exist only for the tourists! But even for those who live in L.A., a visit now and then is fun! Most of the stuff in the shops is leather goods made in Mexico, with lots of colorful serapes, blankets, and trinkets that get the kids all excited.
Our first stop had to take care of the growls and give us a blood sugar bounce before attacking the shopping stalls. So we stood in line at Juanita's taco shop and waited for a table. When one opened up, Nancy made a beeline for it, but was cut off at the aisle by an older lady who had just arrived. Nancy had a word, and she stepped aside! When it comes to Mexican food, get out of Nancy's way!! We all ordered combination plates, which were delivered within about 5 minutos.
Nancy says the tacos and taquitos on Alvera Street are the best because they crisp them up a bit in hot lard! They were crispy, and I'm sure they were lardy too! It seemed like it only took about 5 minutes for us all to down the tacos and beans, and the small bit of salad which made up the "combo"!! Just what they like at restaurant with only 5-6 tables, fast turnover!!
As we walked down to the end of the street after our quick but tasty lunch, we passed Nancy's favorite taquito stand. She had been telling me about the taquitos there all week, so as we walked by, I suggested that she should order a small plate there or she would regret it! So she and Bert each had a chaser of taquitos swimming in green chile sauce. Kris and I just stood by while they overate!
Now to shopping!!
Kris bought a nice bag to carry her books and "stuff", and Bert bought a small leather coin purse. Nancy saw some things she liked, but knew she didn't really need, so passed on them.
While all this shopping was going on, I spent time just sitting in the sun watching all the people saunter by. I am always amazed at all the different shapes, sizes and colors that people come in!
Sitting on a bench on Alvera street on a Saturday is like going to a free form play, with the street as a stage, and an international cast that ever changes.
I sat on a ledge next to a shop which sold mostly tourist trinkets. There was a big basket of wooden articulated snakes right next to me, painted only as they would be in Mexico! One five year old boy came up to me and asked how much they were. I told him I would sell him one for a quarter!! His dad was right behind him, and of course, he knew I was not the one his son should be talking with, and grabbed him by the hand to remove him from the temptation provided by the snake! We shared a smile! I do think he would have bought one for a quarter, though. I thought that was about what they were worth!
Older people shuffled by, some looked very frail, and I thought that they must be on a tour bus from somewhere out of town, and just had to see as much as they could in the time they had left on this earth. I wondered if they had bought a colorful shirt that said Los Angelos on it, or a big straw sombrero with Mexico stitched on the brim as reminders of the fun they had on their visit.
To the kiddie set running between the small shops on the street, it must have looked and felt like a carnival filled with colorful prizes for knocking down a bottle with a ball, or popping a balloon with a dart. There were no games to play, but the prizes were all there to be purchased!
And at the end of the street near the plaza there was a "fake" donkey on which to sit to have your picture taken with a sombrero jauntily flopped on top of your head!
Roaming the restaurants on the street were two small mariachi groups who sang outside the patios and then passed the hat. They looked experienced but not prosperous! On a good day they must have made a few hundred dollars to share. They got a small contribution from me!
As we escaped from the shops and entered the plaza area, there was a girl in a clown costume selling balloons just across from the fake donkey, and an amplified trio of musicians was about to start a small concert and were setting up their equipment and microphones. It was almost 2 pm but looked to be alot of action ahead for the rest of the afternoon and evening at Old Los Angeles on Alvera Street.
A large banner which hung on the old hotel showed a fully bearded Pio Pico dressed in a wainscoat and fancy tie. He had welcomed us when we came in, and now he bade us adios as we walked back to the car to head for our next adventure at Exposition Park.
After picking them up at their apartment in Hawthorne, our first stop of the day was to be lunch and shopping at Alvera street in the Spanish/Mexican historical center of L.A.. It had been 18 years since we had lived in the L.A. area, and while we remembered all the great places around town, we always didn't remember the most direct route to where they were, so when we got off the Harbor freeway downtown, we were almost amazed to find that we had picked the right exit, and were just a block or so from the central plaza in the historical district. We found parking near the plaza just across the street from the old Pio Pico hotel, which was now used as a historical society museum, and headed for Bert's favorite taco stand on Alvera Street.
It is one of those places which hasn't changed much in the last 30 years. Bert and Nancy's parents always took them there on outings when they were kids. It was almost like going on a trip to Mexico. Although the "street" is only about a half block long, it is packed with colorful shops and restaurants and has always reminded me of the touristy alleys in the "Rosa" district of Tijuana.
It seems to exist only for the tourists! But even for those who live in L.A., a visit now and then is fun! Most of the stuff in the shops is leather goods made in Mexico, with lots of colorful serapes, blankets, and trinkets that get the kids all excited.
Our first stop had to take care of the growls and give us a blood sugar bounce before attacking the shopping stalls. So we stood in line at Juanita's taco shop and waited for a table. When one opened up, Nancy made a beeline for it, but was cut off at the aisle by an older lady who had just arrived. Nancy had a word, and she stepped aside! When it comes to Mexican food, get out of Nancy's way!! We all ordered combination plates, which were delivered within about 5 minutos.
Nancy says the tacos and taquitos on Alvera Street are the best because they crisp them up a bit in hot lard! They were crispy, and I'm sure they were lardy too! It seemed like it only took about 5 minutes for us all to down the tacos and beans, and the small bit of salad which made up the "combo"!! Just what they like at restaurant with only 5-6 tables, fast turnover!!
As we walked down to the end of the street after our quick but tasty lunch, we passed Nancy's favorite taquito stand. She had been telling me about the taquitos there all week, so as we walked by, I suggested that she should order a small plate there or she would regret it! So she and Bert each had a chaser of taquitos swimming in green chile sauce. Kris and I just stood by while they overate!
Now to shopping!!
Kris bought a nice bag to carry her books and "stuff", and Bert bought a small leather coin purse. Nancy saw some things she liked, but knew she didn't really need, so passed on them.
While all this shopping was going on, I spent time just sitting in the sun watching all the people saunter by. I am always amazed at all the different shapes, sizes and colors that people come in!
Sitting on a bench on Alvera street on a Saturday is like going to a free form play, with the street as a stage, and an international cast that ever changes.
I sat on a ledge next to a shop which sold mostly tourist trinkets. There was a big basket of wooden articulated snakes right next to me, painted only as they would be in Mexico! One five year old boy came up to me and asked how much they were. I told him I would sell him one for a quarter!! His dad was right behind him, and of course, he knew I was not the one his son should be talking with, and grabbed him by the hand to remove him from the temptation provided by the snake! We shared a smile! I do think he would have bought one for a quarter, though. I thought that was about what they were worth!
Older people shuffled by, some looked very frail, and I thought that they must be on a tour bus from somewhere out of town, and just had to see as much as they could in the time they had left on this earth. I wondered if they had bought a colorful shirt that said Los Angelos on it, or a big straw sombrero with Mexico stitched on the brim as reminders of the fun they had on their visit.
To the kiddie set running between the small shops on the street, it must have looked and felt like a carnival filled with colorful prizes for knocking down a bottle with a ball, or popping a balloon with a dart. There were no games to play, but the prizes were all there to be purchased!
And at the end of the street near the plaza there was a "fake" donkey on which to sit to have your picture taken with a sombrero jauntily flopped on top of your head!
Roaming the restaurants on the street were two small mariachi groups who sang outside the patios and then passed the hat. They looked experienced but not prosperous! On a good day they must have made a few hundred dollars to share. They got a small contribution from me!
As we escaped from the shops and entered the plaza area, there was a girl in a clown costume selling balloons just across from the fake donkey, and an amplified trio of musicians was about to start a small concert and were setting up their equipment and microphones. It was almost 2 pm but looked to be alot of action ahead for the rest of the afternoon and evening at Old Los Angeles on Alvera Street.
A large banner which hung on the old hotel showed a fully bearded Pio Pico dressed in a wainscoat and fancy tie. He had welcomed us when we came in, and now he bade us adios as we walked back to the car to head for our next adventure at Exposition Park.
Haiku--#s 1,2,&3
Bicycle magazine has a haiku contest going on for the next couple of months. First prize is a choice of bicycles up to $4999 in their March issue. Wow! what a great way to get started with the Zen of Ku! There is no limit on the number of Kus which can be entered by any individual. So I have entered a couple:
Bike Haiku #1:
Bicycle spokes
taut sinews spin
black spandex
Bike Haiku # 2:
Puffs of breath
leggings warming
frosty morns
And Haiku for lovers #1:
Love croaks aloud
spring ripples widen
lilies in bloom
Bike Haiku #1:
Bicycle spokes
taut sinews spin
black spandex
Bike Haiku # 2:
Puffs of breath
leggings warming
frosty morns
And Haiku for lovers #1:
Love croaks aloud
spring ripples widen
lilies in bloom
Friday, February 25, 2005
02/25/05--Friday's 5 minute poem--Weeklies
weeklies
friday p.m.,
a time to reflect,
on five days past,
and what to expect,
with tommorows.
goals marked done,
or rolled over in pain,
in a box next week,
to attempt once again,
or face sorrows.
friday p.m.,
a time to reflect,
on five days past,
and what to expect,
with tommorows.
goals marked done,
or rolled over in pain,
in a box next week,
to attempt once again,
or face sorrows.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Friday's 5 minute poem-2/18/04
rainy rays
the sun is gone,
grey clouds scud by,
all moisture laden,
a restless sky!
a dull bleak friday,
does not bode well,
that a 3 day weekend,
will turn out swell!
the sun is gone,
grey clouds scud by,
all moisture laden,
a restless sky!
a dull bleak friday,
does not bode well,
that a 3 day weekend,
will turn out swell!
Friday, February 18, 2005
The Greatest Generation, passing--a poem.
Those of us born in the 1940's and 50's have parents who were part of the "Greatest Generation". They were born in the 1920's or early 30's, were raised during the great depression, and in their late teens and early 20's left farms and family homes to fight a great war in foreign lands from Burma to Africa to Europe. It was the last real World War.
The greatest generation is dying off. Every war baby and post war boomer baby is losing their parental tie to an era unique in its violence and insanity, and to the generation who recovered from the insanity in the world and continued to develop and keep the ideals on which America was founded.
My father was a teenager of 19 when he left his family's farm and entered the army, ultimately ending up in Europe with the 7th Armored division as it pushed across France into Germany. He was a G.I. like many, on the front lines, wounded twice, decorated, and returned home a changed man, so my mother said. I never heard him talk of any of his War experiences. It was not something that many of his generation would share with anyone who had not been there. He died at 68, rather young I think! He would have been 82 last month.
Recently someone I work with told me through tears that her father had just died at 85 years of age. She wondered if I could write something for her for the memorial service. Thinking of my father, I told her that he had led a full life to reach 85. I asked her to take a few minutes and write something about him that best described him as her father. What did he do in life and what were her best memories of him?
She gave me her thoughts, and as I read them, she described an experience similar to my father's and, for that matter, all father's who were part of that generation who fought in WWII.
Her father had flown with the Flying Tigers in Burma and China. He made it through the war, came home, got a job, married, and had 5 children who he loaded in the car and took to the beach in Florida on vacation every year. To keep them occupied in the car, he substituted funny lyrics to popular songs and gave each of the 5 children their own verse to sing as they traveled the road south to Florida.
His life's story could be written with a blank for the name that could be filled in with the name of the father of many children born of that great generation. As I wrote a poem in his memory, tears came to my eyes. It was also a poem to the memory of my father who died 14 years ago.
To the memory of a father in the
"Greatest Generation"
Our Hero!
A life lived,
An epitome,
Of the "greatest generation".
When a youth,
Under fire,
Flew tigers, to save the world.
An experience,
Never shared,
With those who were not there.
A hero,
Among many,
Returned home to forget sadness.
To move on to tomorrow.
Elation!
Optimism!
Hard Work!
Goodness!
Love!
Faith!
Family!
Our Hero!
A life lived,
For others,
His family and friends.
So much to give,
Whose gifts,
Were never exchanged.
His universe,
A bright star,
with five twinkles from his eye.
Who grew,
To be stars,
In their own right.
To shine bright in his heaven!
Our hero!
Has gone on to tomorrow!
Mark Worden
February 17, 2005
The greatest generation is dying off. Every war baby and post war boomer baby is losing their parental tie to an era unique in its violence and insanity, and to the generation who recovered from the insanity in the world and continued to develop and keep the ideals on which America was founded.
My father was a teenager of 19 when he left his family's farm and entered the army, ultimately ending up in Europe with the 7th Armored division as it pushed across France into Germany. He was a G.I. like many, on the front lines, wounded twice, decorated, and returned home a changed man, so my mother said. I never heard him talk of any of his War experiences. It was not something that many of his generation would share with anyone who had not been there. He died at 68, rather young I think! He would have been 82 last month.
Recently someone I work with told me through tears that her father had just died at 85 years of age. She wondered if I could write something for her for the memorial service. Thinking of my father, I told her that he had led a full life to reach 85. I asked her to take a few minutes and write something about him that best described him as her father. What did he do in life and what were her best memories of him?
She gave me her thoughts, and as I read them, she described an experience similar to my father's and, for that matter, all father's who were part of that generation who fought in WWII.
Her father had flown with the Flying Tigers in Burma and China. He made it through the war, came home, got a job, married, and had 5 children who he loaded in the car and took to the beach in Florida on vacation every year. To keep them occupied in the car, he substituted funny lyrics to popular songs and gave each of the 5 children their own verse to sing as they traveled the road south to Florida.
His life's story could be written with a blank for the name that could be filled in with the name of the father of many children born of that great generation. As I wrote a poem in his memory, tears came to my eyes. It was also a poem to the memory of my father who died 14 years ago.
To the memory of a father in the
"Greatest Generation"
Our Hero!
A life lived,
An epitome,
Of the "greatest generation".
When a youth,
Under fire,
Flew tigers, to save the world.
An experience,
Never shared,
With those who were not there.
A hero,
Among many,
Returned home to forget sadness.
To move on to tomorrow.
Elation!
Optimism!
Hard Work!
Goodness!
Love!
Faith!
Family!
Our Hero!
A life lived,
For others,
His family and friends.
So much to give,
Whose gifts,
Were never exchanged.
His universe,
A bright star,
with five twinkles from his eye.
Who grew,
To be stars,
In their own right.
To shine bright in his heaven!
Our hero!
Has gone on to tomorrow!
Mark Worden
February 17, 2005
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Rain!
The most notable happening so far this year has been rain! Our historical average annual rainfall in the San Diego area has been just over 9 inches annually. We have a semi desert climate, thus the 3 million people around here depend on a series of reservoirs storing water from the Colorado River and from the California aqueduct, as well as some run off from our local mountain ranges.
The last 5 years have been drought years throughout much of California and the West, with rainfall in San Diego averaging around 4 inches each of those years. People worry about water! We have watched the water level in the the local storage "lakes" drop very low to less than half of their capacity. Lake Hodges, a few miles to the east of Encinitas in Escondido, and which depends on local runoff, had dwindled to about 20% of its normal surface area. What once was a great recreational and fishing lake had become inaccessable to boats. The launch ramp was hundreds of yards from the waters edge. A forest of trees had grown up within the normal lake bed over the last 5-6 years. There had been talk of allocating a few hundred thousand dollars to a project to remove those trees, because there is a project planned to connect the lake to the network that supplies other reservoirs to insure that lake levels could be maintained in the future.
Then in January and February the rains came. Some of the storms came from the north and were cold and stormy. Some came from the South and were warm and steady. In the last couple of months over 20 inches has come down, and there is more on the way this weekend. It is likely that we may get three times our average annual 9 inches of rain this year. (And 6 times last year!)
Lake Hodges is full again and is almost overflowing the dam. There are tree tops sticking out of the lake over a wide area. That might be good for the bass, but makes for a messy lake, and for a poor source of drinking water.
With many areas of high density population, when Southern California gets lot of rain strange things happen. Roads become slick due to a buildup of oil residue on the pavement. The incidents of fender benders goes way up. That is hard to understand if you are from a place where it rains and snows often, and a driver has to face weather conditions on a regular basis. One might think that Southern California drivers are wusses when it comes to driving in weather. Maybe so, but give them credit for facing bumper to bumper traffic on 10 lanes of freeway going and coming to wherever on a daily basis. Rain on the freeway is not a common condition, and there are millions of cars in close proximity to each other with brakes that don't grip as usual. Rain is good for body shops!
With the type of porous soil which exits in some locales, alot of rain can satuate it and cause it to liquify. In January in Orange Country, just south of L.A., a new $2.5 million home which had just been built on the edge of a hill started to slide endangering other homes near it. It was condemned and it took only a few hours for a piece of heavy machinery to knock it down and load the debris in a truck. So much for someone's dream home. One hopes the contractor has insurance.
In a small town on the coast just north of L.A., part of a hillside collapsed and buried a number of houses and killed 10 people.
Even in Oceanside, just north of Encinitas, there was a hill that started to slide and endanger homes that had been there for 30 years.
Rivers in Southern California are very strange. The Los Angeles River is a very long river that runs through the heart of most of the city from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Ocean. It is a large ditch completely surfaced with cement. In some places it is 100 yds or more wide. For most of the year, the ditch is empty. Maybe there is a trickle of water easily stepped over. The cement channel has been used for car chases in alot of movies and TV shows. When it rains a bunch in the area, all the runoff from the mountains and from much of the storm sewer system in the city makes the river a huge raging torrent, dangerous to all who venture near it. It is the ultimate flash flood. People drown in the desert! Weird!!
All the debris that people throw into or that washes into the storm drains in all the populated areas on the coast flows down the rivers and into the ocean. Beach areas turn brown with the color of the silt and sand and the pollution that flows along with it.
The San Louis Rey river in North San Diego County runs through the golf course where I am a member. It drains through the valley east of Oceanside and its mouth opens to the ocean in Camp Pendleton. Most of the year it is a gentle creek. After the last rain storm it flooded three or four of the holes. We are playing two of them as par threes instead of fours, and have sandbagged the green on the other. Bummer! It probably will be 2-3 months before the fairways on those holes dry out.
On the other hand, having adequate rain in southern California is a relief! It is wonderful to see lakes filled to their capacity! It's good for fishing and boating. The mountain forests become healthier and less prone to disease and fire. Wildlife flourishes! There is green as a primary landscape color rather than brown. Golf courses get lush. People seem less tense.
I just checked the web site for Anzo Borrego State Park(anzoborrego.statepark.org), which is the largest desert park in California, and the wildflower bloom is early this year because of all the rain. Even some of it splashes over the Laguna Mountains to the east of us into the desert to change the landscape on the desert valley floor into a kalidescope of color that is a view worth the two hour drive!
Rain brings life!
It is Thursday and the forecast is for more rain starting tomorrow. It is sprinkling outside!
Traffic is slowing.
The last 5 years have been drought years throughout much of California and the West, with rainfall in San Diego averaging around 4 inches each of those years. People worry about water! We have watched the water level in the the local storage "lakes" drop very low to less than half of their capacity. Lake Hodges, a few miles to the east of Encinitas in Escondido, and which depends on local runoff, had dwindled to about 20% of its normal surface area. What once was a great recreational and fishing lake had become inaccessable to boats. The launch ramp was hundreds of yards from the waters edge. A forest of trees had grown up within the normal lake bed over the last 5-6 years. There had been talk of allocating a few hundred thousand dollars to a project to remove those trees, because there is a project planned to connect the lake to the network that supplies other reservoirs to insure that lake levels could be maintained in the future.
Then in January and February the rains came. Some of the storms came from the north and were cold and stormy. Some came from the South and were warm and steady. In the last couple of months over 20 inches has come down, and there is more on the way this weekend. It is likely that we may get three times our average annual 9 inches of rain this year. (And 6 times last year!)
Lake Hodges is full again and is almost overflowing the dam. There are tree tops sticking out of the lake over a wide area. That might be good for the bass, but makes for a messy lake, and for a poor source of drinking water.
With many areas of high density population, when Southern California gets lot of rain strange things happen. Roads become slick due to a buildup of oil residue on the pavement. The incidents of fender benders goes way up. That is hard to understand if you are from a place where it rains and snows often, and a driver has to face weather conditions on a regular basis. One might think that Southern California drivers are wusses when it comes to driving in weather. Maybe so, but give them credit for facing bumper to bumper traffic on 10 lanes of freeway going and coming to wherever on a daily basis. Rain on the freeway is not a common condition, and there are millions of cars in close proximity to each other with brakes that don't grip as usual. Rain is good for body shops!
With the type of porous soil which exits in some locales, alot of rain can satuate it and cause it to liquify. In January in Orange Country, just south of L.A., a new $2.5 million home which had just been built on the edge of a hill started to slide endangering other homes near it. It was condemned and it took only a few hours for a piece of heavy machinery to knock it down and load the debris in a truck. So much for someone's dream home. One hopes the contractor has insurance.
In a small town on the coast just north of L.A., part of a hillside collapsed and buried a number of houses and killed 10 people.
Even in Oceanside, just north of Encinitas, there was a hill that started to slide and endanger homes that had been there for 30 years.
Rivers in Southern California are very strange. The Los Angeles River is a very long river that runs through the heart of most of the city from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Ocean. It is a large ditch completely surfaced with cement. In some places it is 100 yds or more wide. For most of the year, the ditch is empty. Maybe there is a trickle of water easily stepped over. The cement channel has been used for car chases in alot of movies and TV shows. When it rains a bunch in the area, all the runoff from the mountains and from much of the storm sewer system in the city makes the river a huge raging torrent, dangerous to all who venture near it. It is the ultimate flash flood. People drown in the desert! Weird!!
All the debris that people throw into or that washes into the storm drains in all the populated areas on the coast flows down the rivers and into the ocean. Beach areas turn brown with the color of the silt and sand and the pollution that flows along with it.
The San Louis Rey river in North San Diego County runs through the golf course where I am a member. It drains through the valley east of Oceanside and its mouth opens to the ocean in Camp Pendleton. Most of the year it is a gentle creek. After the last rain storm it flooded three or four of the holes. We are playing two of them as par threes instead of fours, and have sandbagged the green on the other. Bummer! It probably will be 2-3 months before the fairways on those holes dry out.
On the other hand, having adequate rain in southern California is a relief! It is wonderful to see lakes filled to their capacity! It's good for fishing and boating. The mountain forests become healthier and less prone to disease and fire. Wildlife flourishes! There is green as a primary landscape color rather than brown. Golf courses get lush. People seem less tense.
I just checked the web site for Anzo Borrego State Park(anzoborrego.statepark.org), which is the largest desert park in California, and the wildflower bloom is early this year because of all the rain. Even some of it splashes over the Laguna Mountains to the east of us into the desert to change the landscape on the desert valley floor into a kalidescope of color that is a view worth the two hour drive!
Rain brings life!
It is Thursday and the forecast is for more rain starting tomorrow. It is sprinkling outside!
Traffic is slowing.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Thoughts on Religiosity--Part 2
Most great religions developed during the time when science considered the Earth the center of the universe.
Religious doctrine still depends on the importance of our small bit of space and our human existance as the center and the primary depository of attention from God the Creator. To the true believers, expousing any thought against this doctrine was and still is considered to be blasphemy!
Balsphemy has obviously changed over the years. One might have been burned at the stake a few centuries ago for claiming that the Earth revolved around the Sun. The mainstream Christian religions moved past that position for the most part! But Creationism vs. Evolution is still in dispute with some who take the Bible literally. There were no apes in the Garden of Eden. Science vs. religious doctrine is still in play!
The more we find out about the universe, the more it appears that our little world is nothing but a speck of dust in the vastness of it. If there is a divine being who created it all, is there an answer to this question: Why should this speck of dust called Earth be so special that this Divinity would watch over us and provide for an afterlife for our continued existance in some form?
If we all sat back and suspended our beliefs for a time, would we be humbled by our position in the scope of the universe, and would we think that we vastly overestimate our importance in the scheme of it all?
Religion always has sought to explain the unexplainable in order to provide a safe haven for us to escape to when stressed. It has been there to provide some certainty where there was none. "Why?" can always be answered, even when there is no apparent answer. "It is God's will!" "It is the will of Allah!" "The gods are angry!" We can take action with prayer and sacrifice to make us feel "better". Those of us brought up in religion still look to God in time of peril. the "indoctrination" always remains somewhere in our psyche.
Religion is a two edged sword. The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", in some way is an ethical guide in most great religions. But it is often overshadowed by what might be termed "The Onward Christian Soldier" side of the blade. That side appeals to those who feel chosen by their God over all others, and feel it is their responsibility to save all who do not believe. Unbelievers are doomed to be damned to some form of punishment in the afterlife! Isn't it interesting that the Christians, Jews, Mormons, and Muslims, all who think of themselves as the only chosen ones, have the same lineage from the God of Abraham.
Bottom line, it all seems to be a continuation of the tribal warfare which has been part of human existance since the beginning of life on our little speck of dust. Different tribes fighting over ideas, land and wealth, perceived superiorities, and sex and females.
There are always going to be gaps in human knowledge that cause humans to seek spiritual answers where no others exist. The last human alive will still not know all the answers to all the questions.
Today, the human race seems to be still mired in the muck of egotistic selfishness, no better that our early ancesters who lived in caves. We just have more advanced weapons, and more complicated reasons to go nah-nah, nah, nah-nah as we stick a finger in the air, or drop bombs on each other.
We do things to each other which seem to put us and our planet on a road to self destruction.
I have this notion that the demise of the Earth will result from a collision with a giant asteroid or comet hurtling through space. Just like the dinasaurs, we will all be gone, and perhaps the next denisons of our small rock will be giant insects with small brains, who will battle each other just like we do. It probably won't happen soon in relation to our lifetimes, but I think that considering the scope of the known universe, it seems to be a certainty.
Here's a "Twilight Zone" thought! Perhaps the Universe is just a video game being played by a "teen age something" in a place beyond our comprehension. We will end when the game ends. Is that as good an explanation of our existance as any?
Religious doctrine still depends on the importance of our small bit of space and our human existance as the center and the primary depository of attention from God the Creator. To the true believers, expousing any thought against this doctrine was and still is considered to be blasphemy!
Balsphemy has obviously changed over the years. One might have been burned at the stake a few centuries ago for claiming that the Earth revolved around the Sun. The mainstream Christian religions moved past that position for the most part! But Creationism vs. Evolution is still in dispute with some who take the Bible literally. There were no apes in the Garden of Eden. Science vs. religious doctrine is still in play!
The more we find out about the universe, the more it appears that our little world is nothing but a speck of dust in the vastness of it. If there is a divine being who created it all, is there an answer to this question: Why should this speck of dust called Earth be so special that this Divinity would watch over us and provide for an afterlife for our continued existance in some form?
If we all sat back and suspended our beliefs for a time, would we be humbled by our position in the scope of the universe, and would we think that we vastly overestimate our importance in the scheme of it all?
Religion always has sought to explain the unexplainable in order to provide a safe haven for us to escape to when stressed. It has been there to provide some certainty where there was none. "Why?" can always be answered, even when there is no apparent answer. "It is God's will!" "It is the will of Allah!" "The gods are angry!" We can take action with prayer and sacrifice to make us feel "better". Those of us brought up in religion still look to God in time of peril. the "indoctrination" always remains somewhere in our psyche.
Religion is a two edged sword. The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", in some way is an ethical guide in most great religions. But it is often overshadowed by what might be termed "The Onward Christian Soldier" side of the blade. That side appeals to those who feel chosen by their God over all others, and feel it is their responsibility to save all who do not believe. Unbelievers are doomed to be damned to some form of punishment in the afterlife! Isn't it interesting that the Christians, Jews, Mormons, and Muslims, all who think of themselves as the only chosen ones, have the same lineage from the God of Abraham.
Bottom line, it all seems to be a continuation of the tribal warfare which has been part of human existance since the beginning of life on our little speck of dust. Different tribes fighting over ideas, land and wealth, perceived superiorities, and sex and females.
There are always going to be gaps in human knowledge that cause humans to seek spiritual answers where no others exist. The last human alive will still not know all the answers to all the questions.
Today, the human race seems to be still mired in the muck of egotistic selfishness, no better that our early ancesters who lived in caves. We just have more advanced weapons, and more complicated reasons to go nah-nah, nah, nah-nah as we stick a finger in the air, or drop bombs on each other.
We do things to each other which seem to put us and our planet on a road to self destruction.
I have this notion that the demise of the Earth will result from a collision with a giant asteroid or comet hurtling through space. Just like the dinasaurs, we will all be gone, and perhaps the next denisons of our small rock will be giant insects with small brains, who will battle each other just like we do. It probably won't happen soon in relation to our lifetimes, but I think that considering the scope of the known universe, it seems to be a certainty.
Here's a "Twilight Zone" thought! Perhaps the Universe is just a video game being played by a "teen age something" in a place beyond our comprehension. We will end when the game ends. Is that as good an explanation of our existance as any?
Thoughts on Religiosity--Part I
Through the ages religion has always been a force for both good and evil in the world. The truly religious are loud! They make demands that others who do not believe as they do conform or face persecution in some way. Often the persecution is violent and deadly.
Religion to the truly religious is black and white. There is good and there is evil. There is heaven and there is hell. The more religious one is, the more there is a certainty of black or white. There is not much logical about religion. If you believe, it is reality. If you don't, it is myth.
An atheist does not believe in a God. An agnostic says prove God exists and I will believe. If you could prove it to an atheist, he would also believe. If you could prove it, everyone would believe!
Is it a fair statement to say that no one is born believing in a God? Being born into a Hindu family usually means living life as a Hindu. Be born into a Muslim family and you become a Muslim. Convert a Muslim to a Christian who marries a Christian, and their children grow up Christian. Convert a Christian to a Jew who marries a Christian, and they must decide whether to raise their children in the Jewish or Christian faith. If born an atheist, and so on. With the child as an open slate, how can one know which religion is the right one to pick? If none or the wrong one is picked, will damnation be the end result? All of them think they are right!
In a conflict everyone thinks they are right! The winner declares himself to be in the right and declares the loser to be wrong! (But the loser, if alive, still thinks he is right!) Is it survival of the fittest! Very Darwinian!
Most in this world do not want to see grey. Grey is confusing! It puts one at risk, requiring thought and consideration of options. Most would rather have a default to the certainty of black or white. Most everyone likes to be lead by leaders who show certainty in their rightness. Nuance is not comfortable. A sense of certainty removes the uncomfortable feeling of risk.
If the great majority of humankind saw shades of grey in their views of the world, would they follow the golden rule. And if so, would it be a world of caring, compromise, and no violence against each other. Is that a fantasy impossible to accomplish?
Religion to the truly religious is black and white. There is good and there is evil. There is heaven and there is hell. The more religious one is, the more there is a certainty of black or white. There is not much logical about religion. If you believe, it is reality. If you don't, it is myth.
An atheist does not believe in a God. An agnostic says prove God exists and I will believe. If you could prove it to an atheist, he would also believe. If you could prove it, everyone would believe!
Is it a fair statement to say that no one is born believing in a God? Being born into a Hindu family usually means living life as a Hindu. Be born into a Muslim family and you become a Muslim. Convert a Muslim to a Christian who marries a Christian, and their children grow up Christian. Convert a Christian to a Jew who marries a Christian, and they must decide whether to raise their children in the Jewish or Christian faith. If born an atheist, and so on. With the child as an open slate, how can one know which religion is the right one to pick? If none or the wrong one is picked, will damnation be the end result? All of them think they are right!
In a conflict everyone thinks they are right! The winner declares himself to be in the right and declares the loser to be wrong! (But the loser, if alive, still thinks he is right!) Is it survival of the fittest! Very Darwinian!
Most in this world do not want to see grey. Grey is confusing! It puts one at risk, requiring thought and consideration of options. Most would rather have a default to the certainty of black or white. Most everyone likes to be lead by leaders who show certainty in their rightness. Nuance is not comfortable. A sense of certainty removes the uncomfortable feeling of risk.
If the great majority of humankind saw shades of grey in their views of the world, would they follow the golden rule. And if so, would it be a world of caring, compromise, and no violence against each other. Is that a fantasy impossible to accomplish?
Friday, January 28, 2005
Po-li-ti-cos---a poem
Po-li-ti-cos
All of them are patriots,
at least that's what they say.
They primp and they pontificate,
and try to get their way!
They call each other nasty names,
derogatory labels.
And all of them have secret friends,
who give cash under tables!
They spin and weave their web of words,
and none of them are clear.
To any one who cries "deceit!",
they brand him with a smear!
Who are these patriots, self proclaimed,
demanding such attention?
Our favorite own po-li-ti-cos,
just seeking re-election!
Mark Worden
1/28/05
All of them are patriots,
at least that's what they say.
They primp and they pontificate,
and try to get their way!
They call each other nasty names,
derogatory labels.
And all of them have secret friends,
who give cash under tables!
They spin and weave their web of words,
and none of them are clear.
To any one who cries "deceit!",
they brand him with a smear!
Who are these patriots, self proclaimed,
demanding such attention?
Our favorite own po-li-ti-cos,
just seeking re-election!
Mark Worden
1/28/05
Friday, January 14, 2005
In The Main....a poem of deceit
In The Main....
There was no WMD,
That anyone could see,
Across the desert wide,
No place that it could hide!
Were told we had to go,
Before Saddam could blow,
Us all away with a big BOOM,
and send us broken, to our tomb!
Now after thousands died,
We find that someone lied,
No WMD, the cause of pain,
Was lack of wisdom, in the main!
There was no WMD,
That anyone could see,
Across the desert wide,
No place that it could hide!
Were told we had to go,
Before Saddam could blow,
Us all away with a big BOOM,
and send us broken, to our tomb!
Now after thousands died,
We find that someone lied,
No WMD, the cause of pain,
Was lack of wisdom, in the main!
Friday, January 07, 2005
Golf Balls--A Poem
Golf Balls
Dimpled,
Shiny white,
In a box
Like eggs!
A dozen,
In a bag,
With clubs
To tee them off!
Struck violently,
Compressed
To fly
Great Distances!
A hole,
So small,
And marked
With a flag,
The target,
And final
Destination
For them all!
Mark Worden
January 7, 2005
Dimpled,
Shiny white,
In a box
Like eggs!
A dozen,
In a bag,
With clubs
To tee them off!
Struck violently,
Compressed
To fly
Great Distances!
A hole,
So small,
And marked
With a flag,
The target,
And final
Destination
For them all!
Mark Worden
January 7, 2005
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Resolutions--An Essay
I used to make resolutions at the start of every new year. I always felt that I was someone who could acheive a great deal more, if only the effort would just be made. So I did what was expected each year and resolutions to improve were made. Then I spent the next few months rationalizing why I either was making no effort at all in actively pursuing any given one of them, or beating my head against a wall in frustration with the effort to accomplish something that was probably beyond my capability, physically and/or mentally.
Every year there was a goal to quit smoking, improve my diet and lose weight, stay with an exercise program, work harder and make more money, make more effort to be more outgoing and remember names of all the people I met, spend more time with my family, take the family on a nice vacation, and learn Spanish, among other things. Every year these were all great goals, and every year started with the thought that if these goals were all acheived, I would be a much better person living a much improved life. Not only that, but my acheivements would lead to more happiness for me, my familiy, and have a positive influence on my relationships with friends, co-workers, and others I contact. And each year I could build on my accomplishments from the year before. I not only would be wealthy, but a great all around guy, much in demand!
I always made a resolution to read at least two books a year on some subject of self improvement and to pick a few recommended actions from each to "implement" to improve my "style" or "relationships". I usually did the reading, and made a very excellent plan of action which was looked at alot for awhile, but not really acted upon, and thus faded away!
So I always felt guilty! Every year was filled with disappointment! Goals clearly were not accomplished! There was failure! And no satisfaction! I was not happy! It was not fun! I was not wealthy! I was not a great all around guy much in demand!
It required a new approach! I thought, "Perhaps I have become an old dog, and you know what they say about teaching an old dog new tricks!" More rationalization? Not good! Even old dogs can improve.
So, rather than buying into the "old dog" rationalization and discarding the whole idea, I decided that it was good to make resolutions!
But I thought, "What about assessing what is good, instead of just what is not so good? After all, I have spent 62 years getting to today, and it seems to me that today is pretty OK! Isn't pretty OK a good place to be? Why do I always have to put myself in a position of guilt regarding failure to effectively act on resolutions?"
I needed to redefine how I thought about resolutions. Striving for some "ideal" state of existance did not seem to be realistic or mentally healthy!
I decided that resolutions should be personal, i. e., they should not relate to work/business or exist just because of a benefit to anyone else. For motivation, there had to be a meaningful and necessary benefit to me! (But it is OK if there are benefits for others as well as a result.)
I thought that stopping doing something could be a resolution, even if it is easy!
And also that continuing to do something that is good is an accomplishment and could be "continued" as a resolution for the next year.
I determined that it is OK to have long term resolutions that are somewhat vague and flexible but have no specific time element! (I'll do it when the time is right or when I get around to it!)
I thought that resolutions should be held to a minimum number, perhaps no more than 6-7, and that they can be changed during the year if it were the sensible thing to do!
And I thought that it would be OK not to have any resolutions at all. (A big relief!)
My 2005 resolutions(a work in process):
1. I will continue to not smoke or chew any tobacco product.
2. I will continue my unbroken lifetime record of saying no to any illegal drug.
3. I will continue to take my medicine and have regular medical checkups twice a year.
4. I will walk rather than riding a cart when I play golf, with few exceptions.
5. I will not gain any weight during the next year. It would be nice, but not necessary, to loose 10 lbs.
6. I will strive to keep a positive attitude each day. Worry causes inflamation, mentally and physically. A sunny disposition is healthy for one's heart, both physical and spiritual, and should be nurtured each day.
These resolutions may not reach very far into the realm of great new acheivements. But many are important maintenance resolutions. And, there is a certain satisfaction that resolutions have been made. (Remember, that it is OK not to make them).
I also now have to think some more about these goals and perhaps add to them as the months go by. It feels good to have some latitude. It feels good to know that accomplishing these resolutions is a positive, and something to feel good about. I think I will treat myself to something good (and probably fattening) to eat today in celebration!!
Every year there was a goal to quit smoking, improve my diet and lose weight, stay with an exercise program, work harder and make more money, make more effort to be more outgoing and remember names of all the people I met, spend more time with my family, take the family on a nice vacation, and learn Spanish, among other things. Every year these were all great goals, and every year started with the thought that if these goals were all acheived, I would be a much better person living a much improved life. Not only that, but my acheivements would lead to more happiness for me, my familiy, and have a positive influence on my relationships with friends, co-workers, and others I contact. And each year I could build on my accomplishments from the year before. I not only would be wealthy, but a great all around guy, much in demand!
I always made a resolution to read at least two books a year on some subject of self improvement and to pick a few recommended actions from each to "implement" to improve my "style" or "relationships". I usually did the reading, and made a very excellent plan of action which was looked at alot for awhile, but not really acted upon, and thus faded away!
So I always felt guilty! Every year was filled with disappointment! Goals clearly were not accomplished! There was failure! And no satisfaction! I was not happy! It was not fun! I was not wealthy! I was not a great all around guy much in demand!
It required a new approach! I thought, "Perhaps I have become an old dog, and you know what they say about teaching an old dog new tricks!" More rationalization? Not good! Even old dogs can improve.
So, rather than buying into the "old dog" rationalization and discarding the whole idea, I decided that it was good to make resolutions!
But I thought, "What about assessing what is good, instead of just what is not so good? After all, I have spent 62 years getting to today, and it seems to me that today is pretty OK! Isn't pretty OK a good place to be? Why do I always have to put myself in a position of guilt regarding failure to effectively act on resolutions?"
I needed to redefine how I thought about resolutions. Striving for some "ideal" state of existance did not seem to be realistic or mentally healthy!
I decided that resolutions should be personal, i. e., they should not relate to work/business or exist just because of a benefit to anyone else. For motivation, there had to be a meaningful and necessary benefit to me! (But it is OK if there are benefits for others as well as a result.)
I thought that stopping doing something could be a resolution, even if it is easy!
And also that continuing to do something that is good is an accomplishment and could be "continued" as a resolution for the next year.
I determined that it is OK to have long term resolutions that are somewhat vague and flexible but have no specific time element! (I'll do it when the time is right or when I get around to it!)
I thought that resolutions should be held to a minimum number, perhaps no more than 6-7, and that they can be changed during the year if it were the sensible thing to do!
And I thought that it would be OK not to have any resolutions at all. (A big relief!)
My 2005 resolutions(a work in process):
1. I will continue to not smoke or chew any tobacco product.
2. I will continue my unbroken lifetime record of saying no to any illegal drug.
3. I will continue to take my medicine and have regular medical checkups twice a year.
4. I will walk rather than riding a cart when I play golf, with few exceptions.
5. I will not gain any weight during the next year. It would be nice, but not necessary, to loose 10 lbs.
6. I will strive to keep a positive attitude each day. Worry causes inflamation, mentally and physically. A sunny disposition is healthy for one's heart, both physical and spiritual, and should be nurtured each day.
These resolutions may not reach very far into the realm of great new acheivements. But many are important maintenance resolutions. And, there is a certain satisfaction that resolutions have been made. (Remember, that it is OK not to make them).
I also now have to think some more about these goals and perhaps add to them as the months go by. It feels good to have some latitude. It feels good to know that accomplishing these resolutions is a positive, and something to feel good about. I think I will treat myself to something good (and probably fattening) to eat today in celebration!!
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