What ever happened to Common Sense?

I got this email message from a friend yesterday:

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: 

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain; 
- Why the early bird gets the worm; 
- Life isn't always fair; 
- And maybe it was my fault. 

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. 

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. 

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. 

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. 

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. 

Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason. 

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers; 
- I Know My Rights 
- I Want It Now 
- Someone Else Is To Blame 
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing Nothing 

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. 

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

What is the Soul?

The luminous splendor of the colorless light of emptiness -- your own true self!

You are here to enable the Divine Purpose of the Universe to unfold.

Your get there by realizing that you are there already.  You find God the moment you realize you don't have SEEK God!


Just a few quotations for the book, The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle.

Shenanigans

I am up to my old shenanigans, writing about words that intrigue me.

Shenanigans comes from an Irish phrase which means I play the fox. I think I heard this on a TV show last night. "No Shenanigans in my court," said the judge.

Shenanigans means nonsense or trickery.

Very interesting...

I am Grateful and Magnanimous

Happy Memorial Day 2014

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a workshop called "Pay It Forward,"  in Palm Harbor in 2 weeks. This workshop will be about how to express gratitude by paying it Forward, rather than Back (ward). 

I hope you can attend!

Pay It Forward

A Gratitude and Personal Development Workshop

Sunday, June 8, 12:47 pm -2:33 pm

Unity Church of Palm Harbor,

1960 Tampa Road,

Palm Harbor, Florida

Love offerings gratefully accepted and 20% will be donated back to the Church.

Thank you!

I am not a SOPHIST!

Call me a language maven, wordsmith, grammarian, etymologist, or philolog, but don't call me a sophist!

The word of the day is sophistry.

Sophistry -- n. a deceptive or fallacious argument.

Sophistry is deceiving someone by making a superficial or defective argument, which doesn't hold water. Example: telling your mother you can't clean your room because it will destroy the delicate balance of the ecosystem. 

Sophistry is not a word that you hear every day in conversation, but just turn on the TV and watch the commercials. You'll see plenty!

Super Storm Sandy one year ago!

Henceforth, it shall be called STUPID Storm Sandy.

What I know about it:
My friend in NJ died the day before the storm hit. His funeral had to be postponed 3 days because roads and cemetaries were flooded.

8 people from Midland Beach Staten Island died.
A fireman almost didn't make it out of his house, which flooded in 13 seconds. He managed to kick out his kitchen window and avoid drowning in his kitchen.
How many homes were flooded in Midland Beach?
My brother and sister-in-law lost their house. (Food, photographs, mementos, trophies,books, jewelry, clothing, furniture, utensils, cat food, dog food, people food, etc. Almost nothing could be salvaged.)
The colleges on Staten Island were closed for a week.
Kean College in NJ was closed also.
Seaview Psychiatric Hospital was closed for a week.
No gas and flooded roads caused the closures.
Electric power was lost for many in NY and NJ.
Subways in NYC were closed.
At least one marriage broke up.
Cars were turned upside down.
Insurance companies denied claims.

My brother will be on Fox News today at 10:45 am.
His name is Dr. Victor Dolan.
He joined every Recovery group and board he could, to advocate for the Staten Island victims. Today he gets to tell about the dismal outcome of the government recovery programs.

One Year Later: Stupid Storm Sandy. (tears streaming down my face)

Password Purgatory

Your password is about to expire in 2 days. Do you want to change it now?


That is how the nightmare begins. I don't want to change my password. I have to write it down and put it in my file draw and remember where I filed it. Yesterday I had the same password on all my major apps. In 2 days, I will have one different one. I'll probably keep forgetting it and have to change it again. I wish I could change it back but it doesn't let me change back to a previous password. All this security is great, but I think it only keeps me out.

I like short passwords. I often get the message, your password must be at least 8 characters long, with at least one number and one capital letter. My heart sinks when it says your password must contain at least one number, one capital letter and one special character. I generally forget the special character. So much time is wasted on changing passwords. I often have to click the forgot password link. Then go to my email, open the link they send, and  figure out a new password. I really hate it when they send me a temporary password, like URstup877id.

Why can't I choose a nice short easy to remember password?!

And why can't I use the same password for all my Apps?

I got it. My next password will be a series of bad words, the ones I say when I can't remember my #@*&%$) password!!