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Mar. 27th, 2014
Left My Heart in San Francisco
Mar. 27th, 2014 09:39 amThe Golden Gate Bridge is going to get a safety net. Apparently, the directors were always against spoiling the beauty of the architectural wonder. However, with suicides always increasing in number and now coming from younger people, they are going to act.
The Golden Gate Bridge is the most popular suicide spot in the nation, in a nation where our suicides actually outstrip traffic fatalities. When they talk about the American dream, they don't tell you that part. This article notes, 'While motorists still yell, “Jump!” and “Go, dude!” at suicidal people, the political climate is shifting.' Of course, we are not advanced enough to afford disenchanted people an easy, convenient way out of this world, but maybe we will get there. Hey, it would lessen our carbon footprint, right?
[Source: New York Times]
The Golden Gate Bridge is the most popular suicide spot in the nation, in a nation where our suicides actually outstrip traffic fatalities. When they talk about the American dream, they don't tell you that part. This article notes, 'While motorists still yell, “Jump!” and “Go, dude!” at suicidal people, the political climate is shifting.' Of course, we are not advanced enough to afford disenchanted people an easy, convenient way out of this world, but maybe we will get there. Hey, it would lessen our carbon footprint, right?
[Source: New York Times]
Cats and Weather
Mar. 27th, 2014 04:16 pmThe sun has come out with some force this afternoon. Maybe I will let the cats out tonight.
* * *
Pop returned home before I finished my journal entry, and upon taking care of some business outside, I can feel that there is actually a real summery vibe going on. I am not altogether happy by that little steam of heat, but it did move me to let the cats go immediately, even if the ground is still muddier than I'd like. They are still quite young enough that they easily become very restless, and annoying.
* * *
1640
I even decided to put the ceiling fan in summer mode.
April is just a few days away. I am afraid, although we may have some reasonably cool mornings and evening before us, we have seen the last of cool winter. Now we must be braced for the furry of the summer heat.
* * *
Pop returned home before I finished my journal entry, and upon taking care of some business outside, I can feel that there is actually a real summery vibe going on. I am not altogether happy by that little steam of heat, but it did move me to let the cats go immediately, even if the ground is still muddier than I'd like. They are still quite young enough that they easily become very restless, and annoying.
* * *
1640
I even decided to put the ceiling fan in summer mode.
April is just a few days away. I am afraid, although we may have some reasonably cool mornings and evening before us, we have seen the last of cool winter. Now we must be braced for the furry of the summer heat.
1984 (3,2) Winston Strapped to the Table
Mar. 27th, 2014 05:27 pmWinston takes offense over the idea that the Party, in its bid to control the past, can control people’s memories.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
“But how can you stop people remembering things?” cried Winston, again momentarily forgetting the dial. “It is involuntary. It is outside oneself. How can you control memory? You have not controlled mine!”
O’Brien’s manner grew stern again. He laid his hand on the dial.
“On the contrary,” he said, “you have not controlled it. That is what has brought you here. You are here because you have failed in humility, in self-discipline. You would not make the act of submission which is the price of sanity. You preferred to be a lunatic, a minority of one. Only the disciplined mind can see reality, Winston. You believe that reality is something objective, external, existing in its own right. You also believe that the nature of reality is self-evident. When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same thing as you. But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes; and in any case soon perishes; only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal. Whatever the Party holds to be truth is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party. That is the fact that you have got to relearn, Winston. It needs an act of self-destruction, an effort of the will. You must humble yourself before you can become sane.”
-- “1984” by George Orwell
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
“But how can you stop people remembering things?” cried Winston, again momentarily forgetting the dial. “It is involuntary. It is outside oneself. How can you control memory? You have not controlled mine!”
O’Brien’s manner grew stern again. He laid his hand on the dial.
“On the contrary,” he said, “you have not controlled it. That is what has brought you here. You are here because you have failed in humility, in self-discipline. You would not make the act of submission which is the price of sanity. You preferred to be a lunatic, a minority of one. Only the disciplined mind can see reality, Winston. You believe that reality is something objective, external, existing in its own right. You also believe that the nature of reality is self-evident. When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same thing as you. But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes; and in any case soon perishes; only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal. Whatever the Party holds to be truth is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party. That is the fact that you have got to relearn, Winston. It needs an act of self-destruction, an effort of the will. You must humble yourself before you can become sane.”
-- “1984” by George Orwell
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Late-Night Snack
Mar. 27th, 2014 11:31 pmAnother late-night snack. No pizza this time. I still didn't want something too sweet. I opened up some saltine crackers and had a coke. Maybe it's the warmer weather. So long as I am not throwing up in the middle of the night, I don't suppose it's a big deal.