CavernSense

I began the day with good intentions. Actually, I began last night with good intentions for today, which, of course, meant that I didn’t sleep well (again) because (this time) I was thinking too much.

Morning finally arrived, and I, with too-little-sleep, attempted to work on something academically intellectual and in that task I succeeded. Then, feeling less guilty about that, I moved on to the real work at hand.  I meant to review the video plug-in for a website I was working on, and if I liked it thought I might compare it to another, and then to yet another that was better than the one we used for CCN.  I didn’t get there, because I very much needed to upload a png to the RL project site on an OS Second Life sim, and for the life of me I have not been able to construct, modify, layer, or save a png that was not gauzy and not at all opaque in some areas and transparent in some areas.

I finally begged help from a very good friend, who, even though recovering from an illness, took the time to walk me through the procedure.  Unfortunately, the program I was currently using was as not the same as hers and although I thought the steps would be similar, they were not. (At this point I should have closed my beloved tried-and-true program and taken the time to use the virtual desktop privileges I have through school and connect with the correct program online.  I’ve done that often before, but it was extremely time consuming, and very resource intensive.  Basically, it is two desktops running at the same time, I think.  My little lappy is a trooper but not that powerful anymore.  So I didn’t go that route, I tried to use what was at my disposal without wasting any more time.)

Three hours later,  no program I already had installed would work for a darn and I finally decided to follow her instructions exactly.  I could not find my installation CD to save my life.  (I had uninstalled that program when I got my tried-and-true program because that old one also took a LOT of resources).   Argh!  Already five hours had passed, during which time I’d decided it was a good idea to maybe host a Guild of Healers’ event and not only give myself something else to do but poke my neck out for lopping off of my head if lopping was to be had.

Fortunately, in this case no lopping was to be found. We really do have a great Uru Community, lol.

Back to the day.

(more…)

If you order now, you can get this Complete, Customized, Personal Repair Manual of Instruction. We don’t know what the Manual of Instruction says yet, or what it will be about when it’s finished, but we wrote it for you anyway and so we would appreciated it if you would buy it. It’s for you, it’s free, and all you have to do is pay shipping.  You wouldn’t want to seem ungrateful for this thing we did for you, now would you?

You see, we have decided something is wrong with you and although we don’t know anything about you, we have seen or heard you once and decided we are experts on your problems.  From that total lack of information we put together a Manual of Instruction to “fix” whatever we think is wrong with you.  It’s really easy, you know, like a television, or a dishwasher.  We’ve seen people say they can “fix” other people they don’t know anything about all over the internet.  So we decided we could, too.
That is why we have put it out there for sale. If you are unhappy with your personalized repair Manual for any reason whatsoever, you can return it for a full refund (minus the shipping charge, which we keep to cover shipping). And there’s no obligation to buy more. Except, of course, our feelings will be hurt and we will publicly trounce you for daring to be the ungrateful wretch you are for not appreciating the fixing of you we took all this time to do.
But we know that once you have this “fix-you-the-problem” Manual we have written (because we know you better than you do and can fix you whereas you cannot fix yourself) you will want to continue investing in our Manuals of Instruction. They are the most handy, informative, and useful Manuals you will ever have purchased. With your first Manual, you will also receive a form which allows you to order future Manuals.

And the best part about them is that they are all FREE! (just pay shipping)

Order now!

(price does not include ink or paper. Shipping is 299.00. Multiple orders will be shipped separately. A separate shipping charge of 299.00 will be applied to each order. Given the terrible exchange rate on the US dollar, we’d appreciate it if you sent the shipping payment in Euros. Or even Canadian Dollars. We would also take 299 bars of gold-pressed latinum, since gold is still worth something here and latinum sounds a lot like platinum, which is worth something, too. Deeds to land also welcome.)

This one is for Ruby O’Degee.

It is about time. Throw out some of those ridiculous standardized tests. How can numbers on a scale possibly show how students will perform in the classroom? Or how they will do in life when they find their niche? Anyone who advocates standardized tests from behind a desk needs to go in the classroom and teach for a while — get in there and talk to them as if they are people. Every single student brings something different and unique to the group. Sometimes it is annoying behavior, but most of the time it is a skill or a bit of knowledge or the ability to question all the “trust me” messages they get bombarded with by companies that only want their money. “Heh, don’t question me just pay me.”

Or the messages from our “for the people” government. “Don’t question me, just obey me.”

I won’t start in on the myriad of other “don’t question me” authoritative figures. That would only turn into a rant.

Some colleges have decided to drop the requirement for the SAT. Huzzah! There is nothing worse than a group of students whose creativity and analytical thinking is squelched because the teacher has to teach to the test. Students are coming to college expecting to be told what they have to learn. They are often shocked when I tell them I want them to think first, learn second. LOL, that they question.  Well, it’s a start.

I hope that this policy trickles, no floods down to the grade school level. We should leave the tests behind rather than the students and teachers whose relationship suffers as they struggle not to fail the tests — and each other.

Those with real power in the world also have an awareness of what real power means

They know what real power can do

They understand the responsibility that comes with having real power

Because of this, they will not use it to attack another.

Not in actions, not in words, no matter their ability or opportunity

Because they understand.

…………………………………

Should you attack them

They will ignore you, or, if necessary,

stop you from hurting them.

But they don’t have to hurt you in return

to stop you.

……………………………..

You become angry then

because you think you have lost and they have won.

But you are angry only because you don’t yet understand.

Should they hurt you,

All of us lose.

Oh those darned emotions.  They take hold and sweep us back and forth, trying to get what they want.  There is no battle so difficult as the one to keep them under control.  It’s wearying — in the end what did they get?  The same thing they always get. Our energy.

Maybe emotions need to take a back seat.  They are like children, after all.  They don’t want the best for anyone else but themselves, and they will use us up to remain fed. The worst is when we try to wean them.  Oh, the pain they can cause!  All the fussing, the screaming and yelling.  No wonder we find ourselves behaving in the strangest ways for which we later have to make amends.  Or we watch others act strangely.  Chances are it’s those darned emotions.

But we have to wean them, and we have to wean them kindly and gently, otherwise they will control our lives.  We have to look them square in the eye, finally, pick them up, give them a hug and send them out the door.  We have to trust they will be taken care of.

Then the real work begins.  We have to get used to being with out them.

Silence is not, in fact, acquiescence.

That it is, is not a law,

and you are not the law maker.

I choose to speak when I choose to speak.

I keep silent when I choose not to speak.

So you say what you need.

Make your noise.

Posture your power.

It has no affect on my choices.

When I have something I wish to say,

I’ll say it.