Already Fulfilled

By: sp34n119w , 8:40 PM GMT on November 28, 2012

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Already Fulfilled.
Being prosperous and smooth.
Only in little affairs is there prosperity and smoothness.

Favorable to be steadfast and upright.
Because the firm and the yielding are in correct places
And respond to their proper ones.

Beginning: good fortune,
For the yielding is in the central.
End: disorder.
There is no way out.

Water over Fire.
An image of Already Fulfilled.
In correspondence with this,
The superior person contemplates the law of waxing and waning
And takes preventive measures against possible decline.

[Translations by Alfred Huang]


Ji Ji (#63)

Share your interpretations, if you are so inclined.


Satisfying Swirls:


Correct Clouds :

Right Rain:


As always - random to come; random welcome.

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73. Bogon
5:17 PM GMT on December 29, 2012
Still playing catchup on my blog rotation, sp. There's a lot I've missed, such as how you happened to pick the number 63. Was it random? Pseudorandom? Hardly random at all?

Been making the rounds of family and friends this holiday season. Some of them complain of colds, flu etc. Conscientious adults smile apologetically and issue warnings to keep my distance. I am automatically suspicious of little kids. They're cute, but they are well-known disease vectors. They run around sneezing, coughing, snot running down their noses, touching everything. Did I say how cute they are? Maybe it depends on your point of view. I understand it helps if they are your kids.

I was more inclined to be tolerant of children when I was young and fit. Heck, at that point in my life I had comparatively recently been a kid myself. Nowadays I'm feeling somewhat more fragile. It takes longer to heal from everyday scrapes and bruises. I reckon it makes me more sensitive to existential threats of the avoidable kind.

Take care of yourself, sp. Hope you feel better soon.
Member Since: June 26, 2008 Posts: 80 Comments: 3946
72. calpoppy
4:20 AM GMT on December 29, 2012
Lol, I was using Mr. P's wu handle!! Sorry, I am leaving now :)
Member Since: February 18, 2008 Posts: 59 Comments: 4147
71. sleellano
4:14 AM GMT on December 29, 2012
You have The Cold!! It is not fun. I hope you are better soon :). Glad you had a nice holiday despite you being sick. Seems like I am writing in very short sentences, must be tired! Talk with wu later.

Member Since: January 23, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 0
70. sp34n119w
1:23 AM GMT on December 29, 2012
Hi! I am soooo sick. Have been since Monday. Worst. Cold. EVAR!!!
So thought I'd come by and whine about it, LOL
I did try the Jedi mind trick on the virus - "These are not the cells you're looking for" - which works more often than you might think but, sadly, the invasion continued apace. Am now beginning the coughing stage which does have an upside - my abs will get a nice workout and save me doing situps to undo the effects of holiday food.
I did manage to leave some comments on some blogs yesterday, I think, and hope those made sense. I can't focus my mind very well. See? It pays to get end-of-year work done well before the end of the year. Because sick.
Christmas Day was nice. Family. Food that I could still pretty much taste and was good. A few small gifts just for the fun of unwrapping, really. I don't remember much of the drive home, because sick, (don't think I caused any accidents, though) but the drive out to Beaumont was pleasant.

You'd think with all the downtime I'd be knitting but my hands hurt (along with every other cubic centimeter of my body) so, no. No reading because I can't keep my eyes open. Movies and youtube, mostly, have kept me occupied. Not fun :(

Well. Here's a few things ...

apod has a 2013 calendar of astro pics that you can print out or have printed out and bound. That link looks odd so just go to today's apod where there is a link near bottom if mine doesn't take you to the forum with the .pdf link.

On the Texas Can Be Saved front, next month is the North Texas Secular Convention, and the speaker lineup looks really good. I'd go to that one if I could.

For the knitters, a video collection of reasons why people knit, put together by youtuber verypinkknits.

A couple of minutes of Krauss on science and common sense:

and thank you, youtube, for bringing back the old embed code. On many things, anyway.

Okay. I have to go to the store and the real reason I'm here is because I don't want to go. Must, though.

BTW, this all LowerCal's fault. So wu know.
Member Since: January 27, 2007 Posts: 82 Comments: 4319
69. sp34n119w
7:37 AM GMT on December 25, 2012
calpoppy - Puffin! Looking dapper and seasonally cheery :)
Looks like it will rain on Wednesday and with lower snow levels, too. Okay by me – I plan to be snug at home!
Found that scarflette on ravelry and think I can wing it. That would be fun to knit and my mom already ruined the last one I gave her so I need to make another. Think I'll use an easy care yarn this time >:-/
Hope you are all over your illness and enjoying the holiday!

gg - aw, Santa Roxie is too cute! She's such a poser – in a good way, LOL I saw Syd's admonition elsewhere and it's good he is so responsible after making the eggnog ;) I'm sure you will all have a wonderful day!

Karen - rain here, too! Another .84 on top of the .24 we got from the first of this series. It absolutely poured Sunday night :)
Thanks for the wishes and Merry Christmas to you and the whole family!

WTS - yes, just like that, LOL Most everyone has been cool and pleasant – a good year - but a few folks have been a little snotty. It's all good, though :)
Thanks on the pic – it isn't great as an avatar but at least the colors are appropriate!
And, um, I think I got all the rain … oops ;)

Ylee - that's justice, that is! LOL What does a tree knit? Little pinecone cozies to keep them warm? ;)
Merry Christmas to you and yours! I think I saw that you aren't working so I'm sure you'll enjoy it!


The plan was to get around to everyone's blogs today because I had everything done, right? Yeah, well, I did, but, others had other plans for my time! Plus, the internets don't like me today and I'm just hoping I can get this posted before it hides away again.

So, to those who are celebrating Christmas, or a day off; enjoying being with family or friends, or a good book or a movie marathon; who are keeping the electricity, water, gasoline and coffee flowing for us travelers and revelers:
Merry Christmas!

A poem by Cuttlefish – Christmas, Present
68. Ylee
6:39 AM GMT on December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas, sp! I figured you(and calpoppy) would appreciate this disturbingly funny graphic! Hey, it's KNITTING, lol!

Member Since: February 3, 2011 Posts: 101 Comments: 16911
67. WatchinTheSky
10:03 PM GMT on December 24, 2012
"Don't harsh my buzz with word wars." Is that anything like "You are beginning to damage my calm"? ;)
Had to check out your avatar before shrinkage to see what was going on, good one! But I think those new fangle phones will be the downfall of our economy - we don't need cameras, computers, TVs, movie theaters!!
I think SBK got all the rain, only .16" here.
Member Since: September 20, 2005 Posts: 134 Comments: 2280
66. SBKaren
5:18 PM GMT on December 24, 2012
Woohooo - we've received .36" of rain so far with this one. Just returned from a walk and while it didn't 'rain' on us, it misted on the last 1/2 mile or so! Suppose to clear, then a nice day tomorrow, then more on the way!

Merry Christmas!
Member Since: February 21, 2005 Posts: 199 Comments: 14701
65. GardenGrrl
11:11 AM GMT on December 24, 2012
Member Since: March 25, 2007 Posts: 263 Comments: 10177
64. calpoppy
7:36 PM GMT on December 23, 2012
I found this scarflette, done in the easy mistake stitch. Is this not adorable!!!!!! I must knit this!

63. calpoppy
4:22 PM GMT on December 23, 2012
Hi SP! Love the avatar!!! Very festive! Be careful traveling, I hope for clear skies for your travel then it can rain and snow like crazy when you get to your destination, LOL!

62. sp34n119w
8:20 PM GMT on December 22, 2012
All of the solar days have significance to me, personally, and the Winter Solstice is special as the beginning of the return of the light. That's due to my love of physics as well as the fact that it brings my attention to the seasons and the natural world around me. I value that. If others do not, that's okay.
I appreciate it when friends wish me a “Happy Solstice”, even if I know they don't value that, because I know that they are thinking of me and what's important to me.
I also appreciate it when friends wish me “Happy Kwanzaa” or whatever if it means that they care enough to share with me that which they value.
What I do not understand is why people get so wrapped up about these phrases. Share the love, man, and don't make it about “correctness” or righteousness or one-upmanship. I don't think I have ever expressed a negative view of any spoken wish for another's happiness (maybe I should check previous December blogs to see if I did do that here, as I do have good years and bad years, lol).
I look around and see lights and evergreen trees and candy canes and snowmen and presents and I know where that comes from and why and I love it. Don't harsh my buzz with word wars.

Hey, check out my avatar! I mean to take that photo every year and never get around to it but my new phone is with me everywhere, of course, and takes better photos than my stupid camera, LOL It even caught the moon! I could wish I'd chosen a better time of day to avoid the shadow but, whatever, I was there and it was there :) My town is holiday crazy (as I've mentioned before) and I have been making a point of taking different routes around town at night to see the gazillion lights and inflatable nativity scenes and bobbing reindeer and all. It's very cheery!


Waiting on the rain. Not waiting, exactly – more like planning. I do have to go out again today and will make some favorite cookies tomorrow plus whatever else strikes my fancy. That'll keep me warm and dry. Very much hoping the rain will be gone by Tuesday, obviously, as the freeways are not fun in a downpour.

I'm pretty sure I heard wind machines last night. We were not under an advisory but the winds had died down and when I checked the temps at around 1AM the station on the east end, which is in an orchard, I believe, showed 33 degrees. The station on the west end, which is also on a farm, showed 38. So, I don't know, it may have necessary to have the machines going. Either that or someone had one big honkin' generator going for some other reason!


Ylee – I think “tak saamal” means “until tomorrow”, like a “see you later” sort of thing. I could be wrong there but it works! :)
Definitely think it would make a good SF villain name. Or even a good guy! It just sounds cool, LOL
Where's that new blog you keep promising? ;) Though I liked your current one for checking on tomorrow yesterday. That is, I knew the world didn't end on the 21st because I could see the 22nd in Australia and New Zealand and Japan!

bf – wootwoot! What a festive train! I agree – a wonderful time of year :) Merry Christmas!
The holiday trains here in town are another thing I should photograph but I never get down there. I imagine they are all dressed up, too.

Obviously you helped prompt this comment's opening statement, but, you are not one that I was addressing directly. Or, indirectly, actually, since those whom I might wish to address are very unlikely to be reading my blog, LOL!
Just so you know ;)

Karen - glad you had such a great day to enjoy daughter's birthday! It was a really nice day and the sunset was good, too :) I'm afraid you're right about the rain and cold. It's okay – you know we'll get a few warm days during the winter and then it will be summer again! Of course, then we'll have fog … LOL


Do I really have to go out there? Yes, yes I do. Ah, well. Honestly, I had fun yesterday with all the screaming kids and cranky adults and insane traffic. It's a change from the day-to-day, when my schedule usually allows me to avoid such things.
Also, I was thinking how fortunate I am to have these problems. Life is good.


I wish my family was this much fun ;)

61. SBKaren
3:55 AM GMT on December 22, 2012
It was a beautiful day today. Got in the pool and enjoyed the sunshine. Took my daughter to lunch (hubby too) and then treated her ( and me) to a pedicure. It was her 31st birthday. It was getting chilly on our bike ride home. Lots going on the next few days....with rain in the future! I heard from my niece on FB, who lives outside of Sacramento that it is raining and cold there now. Guess that's our next storm!
60. Barefootontherocks
2:10 AM GMT on December 22, 2012
Hi sp,
Maybe I "should" say Happy Solstice or something, but I am feeling non-PC. Christmas is a magical time no matter how you look at it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Member Since: April 29, 2006 Posts: 161 Comments: 19513
59. Ylee
9:36 PM GMT on December 21, 2012
Happy New Year! Tak sáamal! I know it means turtle in Mayan, but it almost sounds Yiddish! Or a bad guy in a SF book! :)
58. sp34n119w
7:44 PM GMT on December 21, 2012
Thanks, gg! I'm looking forward to the new world :)
You're so good at finding the right graphic for everyone!


[eta: I meant to mention (but don't want to post another comment) (and gg's wooly graphic should have reminded me, duh) that I finished the knitting on the ugly sweater last Wednesday, and finished the knitting on the shawl-ish thing on this Wednesday. Because I know y'all are dying to know, LOL]

I know the weather is awful in some parts of the country (not to mention the world) but, here in Santa Paula, we are having a lovely end of (short) days day. Sure, it's chilly by my standards, and the wind is still whipping about a bit, but it is clear and sunny under a bright blue winter sky. Since we have rain in the forecast I won't complain about that! And I will be out for the rest of the day, I think, to get last-minute holiday errands done before it turns grey again.

Here it is:
Length of Day
9h 51m
Tomorrow will be 0m 2s longer.

Today's apod is relevant.

Happy Solstice! Happy New Year!
57. GardenGrrl
6:46 PM GMT on December 21, 2012
Happy End of The World Day!

Happy Start of a New World Day!

56. sp34n119w
10:38 PM GMT on December 20, 2012
Length of Day
9h 51m
Tomorrow will be 0m 0s shorter.
Almost there, people!!!
The sun wins every time :)

calpoppy - the irony is that the folks who want to arm teachers are the same ones who incessantly vilify teachers. They don't trust teachers to teach their kids but think it's great to have them carrying loaded guns on campus. Rational, they are not.

gg - awwwww that's awesome! Toitles aren't dinos, though. Shoulda found a chicken! I know, I know - it hardly matters, LOL

WTS - That is going to absolutely ruin my umbrella! Honestly, we have got to get this global warming thing under control ... ;)

Briar - um, you do know you're on a weather site, right? LOL
Anyway, you know well enough about micro-climates and being prepared even when traveling a short distance.
Hope your own window view is pleasant today :)


Related to that last comment, last night at around 1AM it was 50 degrees at my house and 34 degrees up the canyon less than 2 miles away. I suspect it eventually dipped a few degrees below freezing back there. "Wind sheltered" is the relevant term as the wind was fairly brisk all night, and continues today, though the peak gusts are only around 30mph, last I looked.

Well, just checking in - crazy week. You'd think there was a holiday coming, or something!
55. BriarCraft
10:18 PM GMT on December 20, 2012
WTS: Does that mean your neighborhood is going to hell on Friday? Could be, I guess. It will be the end of the world, after all.

Quoting SP:
Distracted by a new phone. Finally. Looky me, commenting from a tiny little gadget. Painful. But I can check weather from anywhere and that's worth it ... right? Right?

If you happen to be outside or indoors near a window, you could probably check the weather by looking up. Ya think?

Sorry, couldn't resist a no-tech alternative. My bad.
Member Since: June 21, 2004 Posts: 90 Comments: 4561
54. WatchinTheSky
8:17 PM GMT on December 20, 2012
This week forecast -

53. WatchinTheSky
12:35 AM GMT on December 20, 2012
GG, great pic! ROARRR!

52. GardenGrrl
9:10 PM GMT on December 19, 2012

51. calpoppy
4:45 PM GMT on December 19, 2012
Hi SP! I know what you mean about being outraged out! After reading today's headlines that Tennessee is thinking of arming teachers and a school district in Texas already has it (gotta be Texas) I am just flabbergasted at the non thinking that goes into these ideas! I can't even be really upset about it, getting numb from everything going on. Maybe it is just the cold in my head, I will see when it goes away!

Karen – it's amazing how an event so far away can hit so close to home.
I went quickly through your blog to see the Disneyland pics and I'm glad you had your beautiful boys (in their awesome hats!) to take your mind off it all for awhile.
Thanks for sharing those photos – it's truly a wonderful place this time of year :)

Briar – that theocracywatch site is a terrific resource. They keep tabs on what's happening now as well as the history. Thanks for bringing that by.
You're right that the establishment clause prevents government from interfering in church business. How would any religious believer like for Congress or the President to tell them how to worship? Well, some think they would like that … as long as it didn't apply to them so much as to others.
From that it becomes obvious that the establishment clause works both ways. No matter how large or powerful or persuasive a given religious organization becomes, they cannot use government to impose their will on the rest of society. In theory, anyway. That's what Jefferson was addressing in the letter that first uses the phrase “wall of separation between church and state”, where a majority of townspeople in Dansbury, CT were of one Protestant religion and used their numbers to elect government officials that used their authority to oppress members of another Protestant religion, based on religious precepts rather than law. Jefferson set them straight.
Either we are all free or none are free. Because it always comes back around.

calpoppy – you are correct! Thanks for bringing it, though. Man, that's … hmph. As has been said by many recently (perhaps in the comments on that article, even), I think I'm reaching the point of outrage fatigue. And I have a pretty high tolerance for outrage!

WTS – LOL at the levitating cat! And the goat wins for festive cuteness :) Thanks for both – I needed that!

I know, we're all bummed out. That list hit me because I think that I pay attention to these things but, really, I am as guilty as anyone of forgetting. Maybe this is the one that we all remember and the one that pushes us to work on solutions before it happens again. Or, maybe it'll be the next one, or the one after that. Yeah. Bummed out.

Yep, Droid, complete with annoying robot voice which intoned “DROID” when it was first turned on. That was immediately disabled. First things first, I always say.
I don't think I'll be checking blogs with it too often (aging eyes and tiny fonts do not go well together) but it could come in handy. Definitely like that I can check weather and traffic from anywhere.
It seems like so many apps are for iphone and ipad only and that is frustrating. But then I hear that a lot of web content is not available on an iphone. Guess it's a choice and choices are good … but “both” would be better, lol

I'm glad you've had so much rain! Our hills are almost February-green after the inch+ we've had this month :) It does feel like a real winter has arrived ...


Weather: it rained another quarter inch overnight! It was a pretty steady moderate rain. Today it eventually cleared up, sun came out, and the wind began (wind advisory today for N or NE winds) and it had/has quite a bite to it. Brrr.
Wandered past the tv on my way to cookies and milk and see that a tree fell in LA from the wind and that it is especially cold and windy up in the Antelope Valley. Well, maybe calpoppy will be happy with that ;)
Um, I think we got a tenth of an inch sometime between now and the last time I mentioned rain. Yeah … the real Friday, I think it was. Then it cleared at night and I stood under rain-washed skies hoping to catch a straggling Geminid. No such luck but wow it was nice out that night. I was even able to see part of Orion's bow and Aldebaran looked very red with Jupiter so near by.
Tonight I barely looked up as I hustled to and from the car a few times. Did I mention “Brrr”? Even though it was still 54 degrees! Stoopid wind.


Had to leave the country to find fun the last few days, though these are older than that:
Brian Cox is a British physicist and tv personality and rock musician (no, really) and about a week ago he tweeted:
Brian Cox ‏@ProfBrianCox
If anybody else asks me about End of the World, Nibru or photon belts I will slap their nobber cheeks until they're redder than Betelgeuse
… followed by:
In fact I declare 22nd December 'international slap a pseudoscientific hippy with a text book day.'

See, twitter isn't all bad ;)

Another UKer, Dara O'Briain (who is a comedian but I think he has a degree in physics or maths or something smart), hosted a BBC series called “Science Club with Dara O'Briain” and it is so not American popular science that I could watch it over and over again. They do come to America and even to Texas! For science! Not mockery! (sorry) Anyway, currently available in dribs and drabs from BBC channel on youtube but also the whole of episodes 1-5 are up at the moment from different youtubers, rather unusually, so get 'em while you can if'n you want 'em.


Cookies et, milk drinked, and I think I've rambled enough for one night. Cheers, WU :)
Must be a droid? I don't much like trying to check blogs on iphone. Too much java going on. Phones now are sometin else :) You bet that's Right!!
Lots of rain? I don't think we got .25". Still gray, but blue is on the way.

Trying not to think about #47 - bummin me out..
Hello! I'll be back later or tomorrow.

I swiped this list from a comment thread at WEIT:

2012 roll:

Here is an interesting article in Rolling Stone

Warning it will make you MAD!
One for you! -

A real winter this year? One could hope :) It is drizzly this Monday morning, maybe rain coming tonight!

What do you get when you combine a helium balloon with a cat?

Was looking for something totally different when I came across this, isn't that how it works??

Only 4 days left, yikes :)
Isn't it interesting how the truth can get twisted around to the exact opposite of what was originally said (or even written!). Remember the childhood game of Telephone, where one child whispers something in the next child's ear, who then whispers it in the next child's ear, until it goes full circle, then the original phrase and the last-heard phrase are spoken out loud and bear no resemblance to each other?

Don't ask me where, but I stumbled upon something on TV recently, while channel-surfing, that was about the separation of church and state. According to the TV program, it was put in the constitution to prevent the government from dictating religious tenets as had happened when English kings told the Church of England what to preach or do. Now we look at the separation of church and state as a means to protect government from the dictates of Christian extremists. How things have changed!

Anyway, I went off in search of the facts behind what I saw on some unremembered channel on some unknown program. And found an educational summary article, complete with links to other documents. Thought I'd share it here in case others are interested in the info. tate2.htm
Sp - we walked down to the pier this morning, and yes we did have an extremely high tide, but no other issues for SB. Now Sunset Beach, which is just south of us always gets flooded streets when this happens....just no elevation! They did make the news. I did take a couple of pictures, but haven't had the time to upload any, although nothing to really see.

I've had the TV on ever since with the horrific news about the school shooting. We are getting ready to leave for Disneyland and while I am going with a down feeling (if we weren't meeting the boys there, I'd probably cancel), the boys have no knowledge and will brighten and uplift me no doubt.

As a mother, grandmother and educator, this shooting at an elementrary school has hit me hard.
Wow. I wrote "It's Friday" yesterday. In fact, I thought it was Friday all day and into the night. Still a little muddled on that. Friday now, right? Weird.

WTS - I sympathize with the date/day thing.
Obviously, LOL!

Glad you finally got your rain! And, yeah, more to come, so They say. Could be we're going to have winter this year ;)

calpoppy - sure, and hope you find something there. Well, I know you'll find something there. I don't remember how I ended up on ravelry this morning but boy do I wish I hadn't. What a time sink! No wonder I can't keep track of the days, lol

gg - ah, Texas.
That seems a serious conflict of ideological interest there. I hope someone is watching him!
I don't get that, though. The math doesn't work. It's not like keeping people off unemployment will make anyone any money in the private sector. It's not either/or. It's not zero sum. It's just mean and hateful, really.

Karen - oh, how cute! And nice work, too! Shapes like that are hard to do and you picked the colors well :)

Did you happen to report on the king tide anywhere on wu? I was wondering how Seal Beach handled it as the news I saw was a bit south of you, I think.


I think I'm going to go back to work or maybe go back to ravelry for the rest of the day. I've been reading the news out of Connecticut updating on a separate tab and I can't take any more.
Karen, those are so cool, I want one :)
I forgot to take a picture of the scarf I made for my Bunco group....but I think it turned out well. I made these this past week. One for Ian and Evan, and then when my niece saw it on FB, one for my grand nephew. I've had a few requests for one from adults as well!

Since I took this picture I tweaked the beaks a bit.

Of course, this is Texas. Jonathan Babiak of the Texas Work Force Commission had raised many eyebrows when he spoke to a group of employers. He urged the group to convince employees to resign rather than be fired. The reason he gave was that employees who resign are less likly to get unemployment benefits.

Mr. Babiak has since been promoted to Division Director of the TWC's Civil Rights division and oversees discrimination claims.

God Bless Texas :p

I am practicing purling now, I want to do the moss stitch. I will check ravelry for patterns for scarflettes, thanks!
We got 1.5" today, what is up with that?

I think at 12:12:12 on 12-12-12 I was preparing for an appointment for Wed 12-19-12 thinking it was really for Wed the 12th since it is already Dec but the 19th is a Wed also... too many repeating numbers .. aacckk!
More rain coming?
[eta: should have been comment #34. Weird.]

"Comments will take a few seconds to appear. "

Hmmm... it's taking a lot longer than that. So, I'm testing ... one ...

[eta2: as long as I'm here I'm going to try posting this trailer for a movie about zombies at the Large Hadron Collider ... nevermind, just click the link, and yes I do know about Rob's wondrous script :)]
[deleted for being an evil double post]
Oh! Hey, bf! That skyline looks familiar, even with the clouds ;) Thank you! Hope you're having fun! Love the depth in that photo ... just went to rate that and ... DID YOU TAKE A TRAIN?!?! Manomanoman I am intensely jealous!

I wonder if I could take a train to Disneyland ... LOL


Rain at .22" and holding. Chilly, breezy, sunny, blahblahblah.

Reading about stuff less interesting today so no links to post, really.

Well, let's see ... for those lamenting the loss of writing skills through txt, Time magazine says the first use of OMG was in 1917, although it's clearly meant as a joke.

Also a joke is the way commenters reacted to another article at the Time site about their online poll for Person of the Year. If you want to maintain hope for the future of mankind, do not read those.

It's Friday. I should go now ...
[eta: If you check the time that this comment (#32) was posted, you can see that it should have been the last of the four comments. Instead, it is first. All I wanted to post was what's in what is now comment #33. *sigh* again ;)]

Okay, look. I've got things to do. Things, I tell you. So, forgive me if there are three comments from me (besides this one) as the first did not post and I thought I clicked incorrectly so posted it again and then it still didn't post so I composed another comment to see if it would post and it did not so now I'm writing this one to see if it posts and if they all eventually show up, well, I'll look pretty stupid, but, I can't hang around to see if they do. Things, says I.
Well, Good Morning, sp (and all here present).
This blog looks like interesting reading.
Brought a sky pitcher for you from earlier this a.m. (Link added.)

Will read here layta. Have a good one.
Did everyone note what they were doing at 12:12:12 on 12-12-12? Yeah, me neither. I think I was playing with the cat.

Briar - it's interesting that folks like computer programmers run into a similar problem. They are told that working for free will add to their resume or whatever but professionals get paid, by definition. I know accountants who've taken on jobs for no or very low pay in the hopes it would lead to full employment but the employer only had temporary work and once that's done (for free) there is no job. Kind of sick, really, and indicative of how we in the U.S. have come to view work and workers.
Maybe we are all ding-a-lings ;)

calpoppy - ah, beautiful! I really like the way the homespun worked up - the color and texture is great! The lavender color is very nice! THanks for sharing your pics! Finally ;)

Have you learned how to purl, yet? Lots of (free!*) scarflet patterns and cowls and stuff (using smaller amounts of yarn) on ravelry.

* Yes, I do see the irony, but it's the designers' choice :)

LC - too vitriolic? For my blog? Dude, I saw your comment last night and immediately copied it to my computer in case you had second thoughts and removed it!
Thanks very much for sharing your insight from the lion's den. As it were.

I know I have seen that movie title somewhere but don't think I've watched it ... now I will!

Mr. Deity did a video on the Christianity as philosophy thing. Pretty funny but maybe not for someone not familiar with the series and the premise of same.


The Hasidic "counselor" mentioned above was convicted on 59 counts. Additionally, charges have been brought against members of the "morality police" related to tampering, contempt, and intimidation of witnesses. Quite a coup for the DA and major progress for the community.


Also at the NYTimes is an article about religion in government that is worth the few minutes it takes to read it, and includes the story of the cadet who left West Point over religious discrimination.


Which reminds me that I did not post a "GO NAVY BEAT ARMY" note last weekend. But, it didn't matter. Navy beat Army for the tenth straight time.
It's the goat that makes it happen, you know ;)


Hey. Rain! Not yet but soon. It's definitely on the radar. Hopefully I can finish today's outdoors activity before it gets here. Well, I won't if I don't get back to it, will I?
It's been a while since I published a rant here but I now have one that touches on some of your recent links. It started to form in my mind after I saw the brilliant comment by Bill O'Reilly in the Daily Show videos that Christianity is a philosophy and not a religion. The only thing that remark confirms is that Bill isn't nearly as clever as he thinks he is... by far. My rant really took shape when I read about your uncle preaching Christian philosophy.

During my recent absence from California I had the exquisite pleasure of interacting with some self described Christians who really have no clue about the philosophy. It seems the only thing they have taken from the New Testament is the "Get Out of Hell Free Card", i.e. John 3:16 and they can't even decently paraphrase any other verses from the New Testament. No, they avidly quote-mine the Old Testament regarding the behavior of a capriciously vicious misanthropic god to validate their own despotic aspirations.

As an aside I recently saw a fascinating old PBS drama God on Trial. Aside from what may at first seem to be a cop-out ending the arguments throughout are excellent and I think there's a possibility you might enjoy it.

Anyway, Christianity is a philosophy and not a religion? If only...

Symbol Legend
- a note of sarcasm

BTW if you deem the content of this comment to be too vitriolic I will redact it entirely.
Member Since: July 26, 2006 Posts: 58 Comments: 9338
Finally here is a pic of two of the three scarves I have made recently. The alpaca one I had already wrapped before I thought of taking a pic. Will try to get that one taken on Christmas day.

The brown and white scarf is the yarn you saw in the pic many months ago. She could not duplicate the yarn again so I had to make do with a smaller scarf, I should have made a scarflette!! Now that I think about it. The other is a Mountain Color yarn, I think it looks like the Aurora. Now I really need to do a pattern!

I should have fixed the fringe on the lavender one!
"Writers, actors, and prostitutes all face the same fundamental economic problem: they are competing with amateurs who are pretty good and will work for nothing." Moss Hart
And a knitter chimes in, too, LOL

Oh yeah. And all sorts of craftspeople -- everything from painters to potters to woodworkers to soap makers. You see a lot of them at farmers' markets and street fairs. A few manage to make a living, having found just the right doohickey to make and sell, but most have a hard time even paying for their hobby. Sometimes, it's frustrating that there are so many talented people in the world. Other times, I find it quite refreshing. After all, creative people tend to be both more intelligent and more inquisitive. And that's a good thing, right?
Ylee - I did the same thing with the Musk vid. That is, I downloaded the audio since the video was stuttering and the video download would have taken something like 5 hours. What did you think of the talk? I think he isn't a great public speaker but he has a lot to say that is worth a listen.

Hmmm. You ain't never seen my kitchen after I make pancakes, LOL
I tell you what, though: I experienced amazing smoothness on Saturday while checking things off a “to do” list that I thought was going to be frustrating and difficult. Since I thought that, I just relaxed and accepted that reality, and I do believe that helped it all go so well. Nice when that happens :)

calpoppy - there are many “charity” organizations that don't deserve the moniker, let alone the tax breaks. When They talk about reforming the tax code it would be nice if They looked into that. Ha. Ha.
Yup, GC doesn't even show an interest in the outdoors at this point. I keep thinking the novelty will wear off and he'll start trying to get out but, so far, he won't even go near the windows and doors, even if I call him over. I think he's afraid he might get sucked out and not be able to get back in, LOL

Briar - while my sweater is not appropriate for Ugly Christmas Sweater Day(s), it is almost done. Sort of. A couple more rows on the sleeves, then the shaping which should go quickly, and then I can seam. Joy.
I'm really enjoying your un-holiday blog and all the comments there!

Thanks for your encouragement about the cat :) It has taken a long time to get here but he's worth it. You're right that cats are stubborn and, let's face it, not too bright, so helping them change their minds about the world takes longer than with, say, dogs. And some never come around, sadly.
I have to admit, though, that Ylee has the way of it ;)

gg - LOL! I know it seems unlikely these days but places like Texas and Kansas and Oklahoma were the bastions of Freethought in the U. S. in their early days. Something went terribly wrong in recent decades. Maybe it was the dust bowl experiences … or maybe that drove out the Freethinkers and left only those who could not change. I don't know. There is a book called “What's the Matter With Kansas” and a documentary of the same name that considers why people in that state so often vote in lockstep and against their own best interests. I started watching the movie just last week but haven't finished.
Anyway, Austin has maintained the tradition in Texas and there are large and growing groups in Dallas and Houston. Texas can be saved! ;)

LC - oh, I bet it's a shock to the system! Poor you. You're right about the “mad greening”, though, and it is a wonder to behold.
The manatee is way cool and one of the pics has the kid with a look of pure joy and wonder on his face. Classic.
Welcome home! :)

WTS - Total bust! No zombies, no winds and, thankfully, no fires! It does seem that you'll be missed again and we'll get some rain out of the next system. Maybe snow on the mountains and that would be nice. Good luck getting some - it could happen!
Glad you liked the vid and, yes, cats are awesome … even when they are annoying ;)


Found a use for the stupid wandering box over there ---->
when I saw the other day that 27windows is back on wu. I never would have known since I rarely see the entire blog list.


Today's apod is a different look at a lunar eclipse. Beautiful!


I think I have previously mentioned the Jewish community in New York that makes it own laws outside of U. S. or State laws. There is an article about a trial in a sex abuse case in the NYTimes which highlights how that community thinks and acts. I read about this at butterfliesandwheels, here: 2012/12/pimping-its-girls/
where Ms. Benson provides her own perspective and useful commentary on the case and the article itself. She also provides two links to more in-depth articles, the most interesting is probably the one from The Jewish Week. Seems these communities have their own version of the Mutaween. Lovely.


For writers, or aspiring writers, John Scalzi talks about writing for free. He's a little ticked and there is a swear word used (often), so, nsfw, I guess. He followed that up with another post today (which you'll have to find yourself because the word is front and center and large, lol). I wonder about this, so found it interesting and useful, and it really applies to all who make their living (or wish to) doing creative work.

Heh. I just scanned a few of the comments and found this quote:
And a knitter chimes in, too, LOL


Couple of weeks ago a Scientific American writer took Time Magazine to task for their nomination of the Higgs Boson for “Person of the Year”. He asserts that every sentence of the nomination blurb is in error and elucidates each. Funny, and tragic.

Oh, I see an interesting article on how people judge Southern accents there, too.


Okay, wowza, did it again. Just kept adding stuff and need to get on with things.
I need a keeper, LOL

Happy Week, WU!
Well, the big wind event was a bust for us here, what about you - any zombies at the window? Now the special weather alert is the cold storm coming down from Alaska for Wed-Thurs. You may be better positioned again for that!
Good to hear Kitteh is keeping you company, cats are awesome - regardless of what the besmirchers may say! LOL
That was a great segment on The Daily Show, but then many are!
Thanks for the plug of my wild animal WunderPhotos!

The weeks of balmy weather in South Florida weakened me against our current Southern California weather. I sit here with a runny nose, a scratchy throat and cold in my bones. It was nice to see while walking the dogs this chilly morning that we've had enough rain for the mad greening to begin though. :^)
23. Ylee
Quoting BriarCraft: but you're wearing him down.

Sounds like the cat is wearing sp down, Briar! Hey sp, spoil it some more! You've got him right where he wants you, lol!

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Chapman Farms
Santa Paula, CA
Elevation: 239 ft
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Santa Paula, CA
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Updated: 8:23 PM PST on January 30, 2015

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