Friday, April 25, 2014

Thought of the Day

Don't mistake knowledge for intelligence.

People think you're smart if you know a bunch of "stuff"

Intelligence is what you do with knowledge.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

200th Post

Huzzah! Hooray! It's the 200th post for Hopeful Fragment and the 4th anniversary of the blog (the official birth date was yesterday).

Wow, four crappy years of blogging. 

Blogging has been a fun part-time hobby. It's forced me to write on ideas that go kicking around up in my head. In the past, no one would hear my ideas. Now, no one reads them!

(drum hit)

Thank you, thank you, very much.

Seriously though, I deem my blog a success. I often do not follow through on goals or projects or just get bored of them before I finish. It has also allowed me to record some of the most important events in my past and wrap my head around other religions. When the need has arisen, I have basically quoted my own blog at random times in life. I already had some ideas ready - so I could  flow in my conversations LIKE A BOSS.

I was going to create a list the posts I am most proud but just the idea of it bored me, so I figured, the heck with it. So, it's time for the big announcement: 

My blogging will be slowing down for an indefinite amount of time.

It's not because I don't enjoy the blog it's just I will have lot going on in the coming months.

First and foremost, I have much to read and prepare for with our study abroad program to Peru coming up in June. Secondly, I am girding myself to finally attempt to write a children's novel when I get back from Peru. Given the commitment level that serious writing takes, I just won't be able to blog very often (even at my usual slow pace).

It doesn't mean I am stopping from blogging completely. I have at least 3-4 drafts at various stages of development so those will be finished at some point in the next few months (maybe). I will also likely post pure "fragment" posts at least every 2 months. You never know when something might strike my fancy.

I will also rack up some easy posts -- things like my Quote of the Day, Thought of the Day, Pic Dumps, and Saturday Night Specials.

Finally, I plan on blogging about the Peru trip when I get back (that will have to be at least two huge posts). So, this place won't be a graveyard of broken dreams at all, no siree.

Eventually, I may get into blogging about the writing process. However, I'll worry about that when I get there. The whole idea of writing is intimidating but I think it will be a great challenge. My goal is to finish something I am proud of and that my children will love.

Until next time, eat that last cookie, you deserve it!

Quote of the Day

First "Quote of the Day" post from my family that I didn't hear with my own ears, but too good not to share and remember.

Grandma baked a lamb cake today and Grandpa was pushing H (who just turned two) on the swing in the backyard. Grandpa was telling H that he could eat the lamb tail. However, H must have misheard him and said, "Don't have lamb tail, I have penis."

That's my boy!

Monday, April 14, 2014

History Fragments

I have a MA in history. So because you care and I want to share, here are some of my pet peeves as they relate to "history".

People who quote the "Constitution" and mention that it states, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". NOPE - THAT'S WRONG.

(go ahead and Google it -I'll wait right here)

People who think Jesus didn't exist because you can't trust biased sources.

So they think other ancient sources are unbiased? Do they understand "history" as we understand it, define it and "do it", is a late 19th century invention? At some point, you just have to trust the written record and the sources we have. There are good reasons to not believe Jesus is not the "Son of God" but almost all serious scholars believe Jesus of Nazareth was a real, living person. Of course secular scholars don't believe the claims stated about him are true, only that given the evidence, we can infer he likely existed.  We might as well question any ancient person's existence, as most of our sources on folks back then exist only in a single source to begin with.

People who think only winners write the history books.

Not always, the prime example being the American Civil War. The losers dominated that story for at least 80 years. Freaking racist traitors.

People who think the we can't judge the past.

Why not? Don't forget there were people at the time at thought slavery was wrong. It doesn't take a genius to figure out killing, raping, exploiting, burning alive, or other torturous acts are not moral. Don't forget these were human beings with brains, they should be criticized for not using them or for their amorality.

People who fail to take into account historical context of the 2nd Amendment and/or who don't understand that "arms" in the 18th century have about as much as common with "arms" today as the horse and buggy do with automobiles.

No comment, just ya know, common sense.

People who think the American Civil War was not fought over slavery.

Seriously, read the sources. Read the newspapers of the time. These folks show almost the same level of ignorance that holocaust deniers use.

People who think oral history is worthless.

The more we seem to understand about oral history the more amazing it is - how much people retain and pass on from generation to generation is incredible. Not that it's 100% accurate, it's just better than you would think.

People who think "things were better back then".

No, it was not "better". Think about how terrible things are right now on planet earth. Poverty, injustice, dictatorships, wars, global warming, pollution, crime, etc. HOWEVAR - at no point in the ENTIRE history of humanity is there a better time to live in than right now. Especially if you are woman or (at least in the US) if you are part of a minority group of some kind. Just think of the violence, sexism & racism (both legal and cultural forms) the horrors of  early capitalism and exploitation of workers, rigid social and economic mobility, lack of public and free education, slavery, caste systems, sexual abuse, child abuse, spousal abuse, ABUSE, child labor, a lack of a police force, invasions, wars, lack of resources, a lack of a clean water supply and a lack of stable food sources, intolerance of all breeds and manners, religion-led wars and torture, massive genocide, germ warfare, closed minds, rigid social life, colonization and forced relocations.  I could go on.

I know we still have many of those in this sad world but not at the level that existed in the past. In many countries, the progress made in some areas is nothing short of a miracle. It's lucky we haven't blown this world up in a nuclear holocaust as well. Oh yeah, I forgot. Diseases. Lots and lots of diseases. Without vaccinations and modern medicine, most of us wouldn't have reached past the age of 6 in most time periods.

That's it party people. Stay cool and if I don't blog before then, Happy Easter!!!  

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Burning the Midnight Oil Fragments

Golly Gee Whiz I'm coming up to my 200th post and my 4th anniversary of blogging.

Cue your favorite music, grab a beer from the fridge and toast with me later this month.  With that 200th post, we'll celebrate the past and look forward to the future. Together.

Or don't - you douche bags - I know there's only about 2 of you out there anyway.

Ran into a wall with my "Star Trek Voyager" binge in the first part of season 6. Just got burnt out and busy with life....I expected it to happen sooner. I'll get back to eventually. Now, I got hooked on "The Angry Video Game Nerd" (search "AVGN") on YouTube. So foul but so funny. It's a Gen X thing, so if you are male, born after 1975, owned an NES and are a dork, then you should give it a chance.  Start with a AVGN Top 10 Worst NES games (or some other top ten list) before starting the actual episodes to see if you'll like the show. Also, start with a later episode (90+) as those are better in terms of quality and they are less crass.  Also, under NO circumstances should you watch these when your kids are awake - the language is pretty terrible. Here you lazy person, I'll embed it FOR YOU.  



Also, the second season of "Adventure Time" finally got loaded onto Netflix so I am sure that will distract me away from "Star Trek" also.

All this is to say it got me into NES roms again. Just discovered the original Japanese Super Mario Brothers 2 (released as "Lost Levels" on SNES a few years later). It's like discovering another Beatles album. Except the album would make you frustrated and occasionally makes you curse. The thing is not easy. I haven't been spending too much time on it but last night I was forced into a  warp zone on the 3rd world and it sends you back to World 1. Poo Poo Heads (I will hand it too them, they were devious, clever Poo Poo Heads).  Also, I got a NES USB controller on Amazon for 8 bucks with shipping. It's awesome.


In other lazy news the love of my life and I recently rented "About Time". Wow. Best movie I have seen in awhile. I was expecting typically rom com and ended the movie in tears, not because of the characters but because of my own life. Definitely one of those that you'll think about the next day.

I've been in the local paper (and our college paper) a couple of times the last few weeks due to work stuff. I think if I would have somehow known this as a child, I would have thought that was AWESOME. Now, I will admit, it's kinda cool, but it only serves as a means to an end. We want change, so someone has to say something. And on that front, it looks like we won a battle in the war. We found out good news today and it was joyous.

It's been interesting and rewarding experience. First, it was a detective story. I gathered information and collected evidence. Then it was using people skills, calling people on campus, getting different takes on the same event, calling state agencies for more information. Then we garnered support, sure it was easy enough getting faculty members to sign on but I put in hours walking up and down our campus in two days as time was of essence.  We even ended up getting some of our administrators to sign on. After that, it felt like we were onto something. Then it was working with the media. It involved meeting with media folks off the record, being interviewed and basically helping shape the story. Keep in mind I am not taking credit for all of this, only a helpful cog in a machine.

Also, spring time is awesome. Flowers, nice weather, ya know, spring time.

Spurs. Damn those Spurs - hope never dies (at least until Timmy retires).




That's it. I stayed up too late. AGAIN. Future self will be confused by the past self. Current self just couldn't stop after a long and successful day, so whatever.

Stay safe, buy local and don't forget to stop and smell the flowers this spring.


Saturday, April 5, 2014

Saturday Night Special: In Bloom

It's been awhile since I've posted a Saturday Night Special. I think it's been even longer since I actually wrote and post one on a Saturday night (I usually write one and then release it on a Saturday).

It's that time of year again and this time, it's been 20 years since Kurt committed suicide. It always bums me out thinking, "what might have been..." but there's no use playing that game. Last month I finished up Come As You Are, which I had last read in 1998 or something crazy like that. It got me back to listening to Nirvana again. Typically, I will spend between 1-3 years away from the band (almost completely)  and then, almost like gravity I find myself listening to Nirvana again for one reason or another. Sometimes obsessively.

I don't want to rehash what Nirvana means to me all over again but I should say a little something about "In Bloom". For me this is the most catchy Nirvana song. If it creeps into my head on any given day, I am humming the chorus walking, driving, cooking, whatever I am doing - it finds itself into my brain.  When I sing along in the car I always think it's more fun to sing the harmony, as it's more like me and Kurt have a duet.  The guitars are so crunchy and layered - it's good stuff. Also, the video is Nirvana's best - instead of the morose and serious, it shows real personality and the humor that was a part of Kurt and the band. I know, I know, "Heart Shaped Box" is an amazing visual document - it's evocative, interesting and actually beautiful but this one makes me smile. Besides, it's got the dude from The People's Court. That's worth a bonus point right there.

So, sit back, pretend it's 1992 and sing along with this "pretty song".