Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Cookie, bunny and soss
I found the following in an old notebook dated 14 Feb 1995.
Savannah's Vocabulary
It all started just before Christmas. Savannah started saying cookie quite clearly. She has asked for hundreds of cookies since that tome and now she has she begun for form phrases, "Na-night Haylee", "juice all-gone". This note tis document her vocabulary, as we understand it today. We have deciphered:
cookie jacket sit da da ma ma hat baby outside
ba ba juice all gone more Barbara bye bye Hayley paci
shoe bunny em-m-m-m sock "soss" kitty uh-oh no
doggie ball car na-night eyes ear nose
Lets not assume this is it! She says lots of things we don't understand yet they seem consistent and in a pattern.
Likely it is a language of her own - far beyond our understanding. We look forward to sentences.
Savannah's Vocabulary
It all started just before Christmas. Savannah started saying cookie quite clearly. She has asked for hundreds of cookies since that tome and now she has she begun for form phrases, "Na-night Haylee", "juice all-gone". This note tis document her vocabulary, as we understand it today. We have deciphered:
cookie jacket sit da da ma ma hat baby outside
ba ba juice all gone more Barbara bye bye Hayley paci
shoe bunny em-m-m-m sock "soss" kitty uh-oh no
doggie ball car na-night eyes ear nose
Lets not assume this is it! She says lots of things we don't understand yet they seem consistent and in a pattern.
Likely it is a language of her own - far beyond our understanding. We look forward to sentences.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
What do you Beleive? - Reality and Greater Powers
This is your chance to score what you believe about Reality and Greater Powers.
This is the first of 7 surveys I have planned covering a side range of topics of belief ranging from reality and greater powers, faith and religion, conspiracies, science and technology, life and death, paranormal, morality, and human abilities.
I will shortly write a post regarding how I scored on this survey. You can see all the details at the link titled Belief Surveys.
My hope is that this survey might inspire others to to think about and answer questions no one might have ever asked you straight out? I know I think about these and am seldom asked by opinion. Or am I asked my opinion and held back?
Click here to take the survey, see summary answers, or to see John's Answers
Why did I do this?
I started this project selfishly. For several years I toyed with ways of creating decision trees or questionnaires to hone in my beliefs. I have had thoughts of asking everyone these questions but I always thought it was a bit too personal. Since I didn't know what other people thought I was unsure how I fit in. I didn't ask because I didn't want to be judged. Maybe your like me. If that's the case this might be illuminating for you as well.
You you will find links below with my initial answers to each survey. So it's out there, you can see my answers to the questions. Of course I'm not convinced I would have answered these the same all my life but you get the snapshot. Your invited to send me a message if you want to discuss one of the questions further.
Your answers of course are completely anonymous. This program is set up so I can only see the composite and can't identify you from the rest.
So throw you answer in so we all can think about what we might or might not believe and maybe get a better look into the thoughts of those around us.
E-mail me with any questions.
Thanks,
John
This is the first of 7 surveys I have planned covering a side range of topics of belief ranging from reality and greater powers, faith and religion, conspiracies, science and technology, life and death, paranormal, morality, and human abilities.
I will shortly write a post regarding how I scored on this survey. You can see all the details at the link titled Belief Surveys.
My hope is that this survey might inspire others to to think about and answer questions no one might have ever asked you straight out? I know I think about these and am seldom asked by opinion. Or am I asked my opinion and held back?
Click here to take the survey, see summary answers, or to see John's Answers
Why did I do this?
I started this project selfishly. For several years I toyed with ways of creating decision trees or questionnaires to hone in my beliefs. I have had thoughts of asking everyone these questions but I always thought it was a bit too personal. Since I didn't know what other people thought I was unsure how I fit in. I didn't ask because I didn't want to be judged. Maybe your like me. If that's the case this might be illuminating for you as well.
You you will find links below with my initial answers to each survey. So it's out there, you can see my answers to the questions. Of course I'm not convinced I would have answered these the same all my life but you get the snapshot. Your invited to send me a message if you want to discuss one of the questions further.
Your answers of course are completely anonymous. This program is set up so I can only see the composite and can't identify you from the rest.
So throw you answer in so we all can think about what we might or might not believe and maybe get a better look into the thoughts of those around us.
E-mail me with any questions.
Thanks,
John
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
No Friend to Facebook
Hello people of The Facebook,
I just noticed that I have not been a friend to The Facebook. For more than 18 months, it appears, I have not entered or responded to a thing. And to think my kids begin to worry after just a few hours.
This unfortunate circumstance was discovered when a friend, not originally the Facebook kind and from Germany no less, asked if I saw the photo she posted. No I din’t. So I checked The Facebook and found invites going back to the summer of 2009 – Remember, that’s when North Korea tested their bomb. Not only that, a couple people sent me e-mails which were forwarded to an old e-mail address and seem to have dropped into the void.
So, it’s not you it’s me. My lack of reply seems to have followed a socialist bent as it was equally applied to all.
Now, we all must stop a moment to consider the responsibility that The Facebook places before us. For Mr. Zuckerberg of Palo Alto has implored us to status, chat, poke, and most importantly ROFL with our Facebook friends to assist him in reaching the heights of capitalist glory. Wasn’t it he who said, “ The past week reminded us that users feel a real sense of ownership over Facebook itself, not just the information they share”. I guess we all need to take on our part of that ownership to help keep America great. He clarified this further when he said, “They trust me, dumb fu@ks.”
Let me end with my commitment to be a better friend to the Facebook with an internet friendly reminder of our Nations glory. Please place your hand on your heart, face something red, white, or blue (this flag right here might do), and recite Stephen Colbert’s tweetable pledge of allegience 2.0.
“I text allegience, to the flag, of the united states of american apperel. And to the facebook, for which it friends, one nation, indivizzibizzle, with liberty and Jonas for all.”
Sincerely,
John
Monday, January 10, 2011
Creeds and Vows
Do Muslims, Jews, and Christians really commit to the same principles?
Below is a spreadsheet developed as I wrote A New Creed, an effort of mine to find what I believe within the theology that has been thrown at me since my childhood. My New Creed bounces off the Christian traditions as that is where I found myself growing up and still very familiar.
In this process, I took a look at the 4 sets of doctrine in the Abrahamic traditions as found in Catholic and Lutheran Creeds, the Six Suni Articles of Belief, and the 13 Jewish Articles of Faith. These sets of words certainly don't tell the whole story but they are foundational elements therefore do hold some merit in their respective communities. I tired to line up the similar sections across the page where reasonable. From these I wrote A New Creed to begin encapsulating my beliefs.
The second section ( pages 3,4, and 5) of this document is a comparison of some Non-Abrahamic belief sets. I discovered that there is some significant diversity and a some principles that should be reflected upon before A New Creed, Mach II arrives. The Scientologists tend to talk about human rights, the Hindus about how you fit in the cycle of life, and the Buddhists talk about your path toward enlightenment. Of course each of these faiths include many facets and subsets of belief and I'm just summing it up briefly for discussion.
Which of these ideas resonates with you? Which are outside your idea of
Take a look. If you need it bigger to read click on the the full screen option at the top center of the document window.
Religious Precept ion 1-10-11
Below is a spreadsheet developed as I wrote A New Creed, an effort of mine to find what I believe within the theology that has been thrown at me since my childhood. My New Creed bounces off the Christian traditions as that is where I found myself growing up and still very familiar.
In this process, I took a look at the 4 sets of doctrine in the Abrahamic traditions as found in Catholic and Lutheran Creeds, the Six Suni Articles of Belief, and the 13 Jewish Articles of Faith. These sets of words certainly don't tell the whole story but they are foundational elements therefore do hold some merit in their respective communities. I tired to line up the similar sections across the page where reasonable. From these I wrote A New Creed to begin encapsulating my beliefs.
The second section ( pages 3,4, and 5) of this document is a comparison of some Non-Abrahamic belief sets. I discovered that there is some significant diversity and a some principles that should be reflected upon before A New Creed, Mach II arrives. The Scientologists tend to talk about human rights, the Hindus about how you fit in the cycle of life, and the Buddhists talk about your path toward enlightenment. Of course each of these faiths include many facets and subsets of belief and I'm just summing it up briefly for discussion.
Which of these ideas resonates with you? Which are outside your idea of
Take a look. If you need it bigger to read click on the the full screen option at the top center of the document window.
Religious Precept ion 1-10-11
Friday, January 7, 2011
Something Sketchy About John
Below is a scan of my latest self portrait. It took some working up to even trying such a thing. I had not drawn anything of significance for years and am way out of practice drawing.
This was a barrier buster for me. I am seldom proud of my work and I worry about the judgment and maybe ridicule of others for my work. I usually let my work hide in the sketchbook and don't even draw in a p[lace where others can see. I am typically pretty abusive of myself for these works as I am never satisfied or the concepts seem trivial or well worn.*
What's important is that I found the courage to draw. I picked a subject that is familiar but hard to conceive (at least for me) and I'm putting it out there for people to see.
Do I look like this? What have I chosen to highlight and are these things others see? What are the colors I would choose?
John Schneider, Self Portrait, 12/2010
* OK, I am critical of this drawing as it certainly is not my best work as I had some trouble with proportions and shading both of which are a bit rusty and I could not find my preferred pencils and did it all with the engineers mechanical pencil. The mechanical pencil is not known for it's subtly.
This was a barrier buster for me. I am seldom proud of my work and I worry about the judgment and maybe ridicule of others for my work. I usually let my work hide in the sketchbook and don't even draw in a p[lace where others can see. I am typically pretty abusive of myself for these works as I am never satisfied or the concepts seem trivial or well worn.*
What's important is that I found the courage to draw. I picked a subject that is familiar but hard to conceive (at least for me) and I'm putting it out there for people to see.
Do I look like this? What have I chosen to highlight and are these things others see? What are the colors I would choose?
John Schneider, Self Portrait, 12/2010
* OK, I am critical of this drawing as it certainly is not my best work as I had some trouble with proportions and shading both of which are a bit rusty and I could not find my preferred pencils and did it all with the engineers mechanical pencil. The mechanical pencil is not known for it's subtly.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wisconsin Engineers Rally for M.E.
Graduation occurs every years over and over but only in 1985 can you see an actual photo of it happening to AM and I. Again the paparazzi track us down. Thank you Ann Landers for your inspirational talk at this ceremony. These M.E.'s are Mechanical Engineers! Check the guy in the lower left and the blond half a head nearby.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Can't Explain this Shit
The following things are some things that I place in the category of unexplainable. Things without apparent causal relationships that are clearly identifiable. It's certainly not comprehensive as I pulled it from some scribbles in a bit of note paper. These things could be simply explained if it is the case that they are fictions, are the products of imagination, are the products of legend or myth, or people truly observing but being fooled by the environment or there senses in some way.
Why do I consider these unexplainable? How do these fit together to form fundamental questions?
Here is the beginning of that list of things that are difficult or impossible to explain or justify:
Why do I consider these unexplainable? How do these fit together to form fundamental questions?
Here is the beginning of that list of things that are difficult or impossible to explain or justify:
- Miracles
- Extra Sensory Perception (ESP)
- Telekenesis
- Thought Projection
- Mind Reading
- Ghosts and spirits
- Past lives
- How gravity is sensed by objects
- What inspires things to grow
- The world after death
- Presence of a diety (or many) and does it care?
- Is it all a dream?
- The ability of animals to defy apparent natural rules of survival.
- Sacrifice for others
- Martyrdom
- Heroics
- the ability to feel emotions
- the ability to work in unison
Paparazzi Crash First Date
One day a boy and a girl went on their first date. The paparazzi were well attuned and this notable event was published in the UW-Eau Claire Spectator so the community knew.
Are You a Newt?
My daughter has pet newts (Or did 3 years ago - this is an old thing I found). Two red belly newts inherited over 4 years ago from a girl who was beyond her love of amphibians. These beasts are in the winter of their life, presumably, as they are now about 6 years old, maybe 100 in newt years. Despite their familiarity, their obviously limited intelligence, sameness of surrounding and food, and too infrequent water changes these animals need each other. They spend their days usually within an inch or two of each other if not on top of each other. They huddle and seem to hug. They may or may not communicate in any human sense but they must feel some happiness, comfort, or even joy in each others company. Is this merely a survival strategy - the predator will only get one when they scatter in fear - or is this a true need to be near, a desire for companionship, a satisfaction in each others company? This question is the newts to answer, or do we already see this answer in ourselves?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Good News and What People Really Think
The teachings of Jesus are often called the good news. Of course when Jesus was around there was not much good news. Life was short and cheap. The Roman's ruled with an iron hand. Exorbitant taxes were waged to fund the expansion and maintenance of the Roman empire. Crucifixion and other death sentences were used to enforce Roman control. What beyond the common drudgery of daily life was there to live for. These, like all people, were thoughtful and reflected on their world and obviously found joys amongst the many cruelties life brought.
From all this a need for a better life emerged. Undoubtedly many rose to the call of finding a path to a better life. As the opportunities for real change were likely very small there was a movement amongst some to turn inward to that part of life which is limited only by the ability of man to control his thinking and ideas. From that Jesus declared what his ideas of how you might direct the part of your life which you could control for the betterment of yourself and others. Although the Bibles new testament has been rewritten many times and those words attributed to Jesus were written maybe 200 or 300 years after his death and likely are very innacurate as a result there are some common themes which come forth.
This is my interpretation of those themes from my read of the Gospels with specific reference to
The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus, by Robert Funk. You can click on the title to find it on Amazon or just Google it and you can find a number of sites which cover the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and yes Timothy. Of course there are others called the Gnostic gospels which are not included in the accepted Christian bibles but none the less related stories which are said to surround Jesus' life. I have not studies these closely so I really don't have an opinion on those.
Below are the themes which I have gleaned as being the real message of Jesus. I have not registered where I agree or disagree with these themes but as so many people are believers in this as a whole I must spend some time understanding this to evaluate where my beliefs fit or don't in this scheme.
1. Worship of God
2. Treating others as you wish to be treated
3. Opportunity (resurrection of the spirit can happen in you at any time)
2. Treating others as you wish to be treated
3. Opportunity (resurrection of the spirit can happen in you at any time)
a. You have the right to opportunity as a human being (even Jesus – many must have considered him the bastard child of unknown father)
i. You have the tools to seek opportunity
ii. You can escape desperation!
b. Forgiveness
i. You have the right and responsibility to forgive and experience forgiveness
ii. This right is encouraged
c. Community
i. Everyone can participate in the community
ii. Anyone can enter at any time
iii. Be generous
iv. Be Humble
4. The results?
a. simplicity
b. feeling you are a part of something bigger than self
c. peace
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Debilitating 5 O'Clock Shadow of MS
The phrase 5 O'clock shadow came out of my radio the other day. It reminded me of a symptom of MS I hear about quite a lot. People first thoughts when they think of MS are people in wheelchairs of those with other very obvious physical infirmities. They don't think if or understand the very debilitating and truly invisible symptom of chronic fatigue. You can't see it but it is felt everyday by those that have the disease. Nearly everyday I hear the words "I'm exhausted!" when I come home form work. It has been sometimes hard for me to appreciate or understand the depth of this symptom as I'm sure is true for most people.
The article below has helped me understand a bit better. It is from Momentum, a magazine published by the MS Society. As they don't provide a link on their site I have placed the article on my blog using a service called scribd. Give me the word if it can;t be seen onyour end and I'll try something else.
Thanks
Momentum Winter 2010 Highlight Connecting Dots
The article below has helped me understand a bit better. It is from Momentum, a magazine published by the MS Society. As they don't provide a link on their site I have placed the article on my blog using a service called scribd. Give me the word if it can;t be seen onyour end and I'll try something else.
Thanks
Momentum Winter 2010 Highlight Connecting Dots
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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