Deadlines

This evening the news in Washington about the "grand compromise" will be revealed.  Just in time to meet the deadline. 
The origin of deadline began as a real line in the dirt - restricting prisoners in the Civil War. "Cross the line and you're dead". 

I saw the movie "Lincoln" recently and the politics of this "fiscal cliff" look remarkably similar.  History seems to repeat itself manifested in different contexts in today's modern ideology chasms.  There will be minority of people that will realize this deadline may mean the difference of financial life or death. 

This deadline was manufactured by the politicians.  The new politics is to avoid permanent decisions and instead create laws that sunset into the future - putting the "monkey on a future generation's back" (e.g. Bush tax cuts that expire; sequestration of spending cuts; fiscal debt ceiling etc.)

So expect a decision tonight - to move the deadline, and move the monkey to Congress #113 (12 new Senators, and 67 new Representatives).

Whispering White

I enjoy waking up to complete white on the ground.  No plow prints, foot prints just a smooth blanket of snow that is freshly falling down.  I decided to drive Jenna into work and the roads were drivable with prudent caution.  It was a wet snow of about two inches and will quickly melt down. 

Things quiet down with cancellation of activities, and people hibernating inside.  Somehow it feels calm and a feeling of peace is whispered in the air.  The melting fluff from the tree limbs provides an intermittent fall of additional white to the ground.

A day inside to relax (for those of us that can) and enjoy the comfort of being surrounded in white.

History Lesson

Some lessons in life come easy but most occur during mistakes.  Mistakes that come with consequences.  That is why making small mistakes with non life threatening consequences early in life yields dividends for the remaining time.  Just think back to any injury, sickness or emotional pain.  Usually that was a consequence of a mistake or poor judgement.  From childhood -touching a hot pan on the stove - to adult - lifting a 440lb drum of liquid from upper body, the physical consequences help etch into one's memory the life lesson.  Pain punctuates the lesson.

Every person you see is a vessel of lessons that they have conquered.  Their stories could help you avoid the pain if you are willing to believe their life lesson.  Yet too often each of us must learn our own lessons in life. We learn best when we experience it directly - even with the pain.

Yet our human body was designed to heal and forget pain (just try to remember the extreme pain of a past injury).  The consequence fades and often we forget (or ignore) the lesson. That is our human condition - it looks stupid but it happens.

It is why history will always repeat.   

White Christmas - Unofficially

Today the snow arrived - a little late for an "official" White Christmas.  Officially, Ms. Binns told me (and verified by the Enquirer reporter Cliff Peale), it must be an inch on the ground to be called a White Christmas.  And I suppose it must arrive between the official hours of Christmas Day.  There here have only been six "official" White Christmas in Cincinnati in the last 30 years and only 16 since 1916.  So consider the official "white" title - rare in Cincinnati.

It was a cozy day inside during the sleet and snow. I took a slight break from my chair to try out the John Deere plow that A.M. and I successfully attached several weekend's ago.  All was fine except when right side tire chain decided to uncouple.  No real problem, since only about an inch had accumulated so far - the John Deere worked fine with a single chained tire.

This year is full of unofficial activities.  Instead of the official viewing of the movie "White Christmas" on the eve, we delayed watching it until last night.  With only a 480p resolution DVD, I suppose it's not considered "official" anyway until I invest in the BluRay DVD 1080 resolution.

And to top it off - this evening we will finally get out to see a big screen movie - Les Miserables - again a delay in the official tradition of a holiday flick. 

Hmmm - maybe the timing of Christmas activities were a little off -     off ...icially that is.  :)

PS - Officially it was a foggy Christmas Eve.

Christmas Morning

I always enjoy my time after midnight Christmas Eve - a quiet house, the midnight clear, and occasionally a light skift of snow on the ground with floating snowflakes in the air (not this year though).  My routine is to begin wrapping all presents after everyone has gone to bed.  This year, I varied the rountine and got an early start - beginning at 10:45 pm after the service at Armstrong Methodist Church. 

Jenna and Ellen saw me hiding the presents under the tree this year - "busted' they exclaimed - as they headed out the door at midnight to house sit/pet sit for the neighbors.  No longer can I be sure they will be in bed before midnight.  In fact this Christmas morning (or with teenagers it will be the afternoon) they won't even be available for me to wake them up (must be how empty nesters feel).

So after the quiet completely settled in at our house, I poured a glass of egg nog and rummaged up some cookies -  no longer do I have the Santa snacks already neatly arranged under the hung stockings.  The Cuckoo clock ticking in the background punctuates the passing of another Christmas and it's cadence methodically draws me back to memories of Christmas Eve pasts.  Each  a comfortably copy - yet different in details.

Merry Christmas to all - and to all a good night. 

All I Want for Christmas

Reading the Wall Street journal today, I marveled at the half page ad "Mastering Differential Equations - The Visual Method".  A limited time offer 70% off if ordered by January 3.  Regular price $254.95 now $69.95. 

Well - I wonder how big the market is for this DVD series taught by Professor Robert L. Devaney (Boston University)?

The pitch:

"For centuries, differential equations have been the key to unlocking nature's deepest secrets. But now, with the aid of easy-to-grasp computer graphics, a highly visual method exists that can start a committed learner on the road to finally mastering this beautiful application of the ideas of calculus."

Wow - hold the door! Don't wait another second to get your copy ordered.  Sure to be a best seller!



PS.

Here's your ordering link:  www.thegreatcourses.com/5ws  use priority code 65108

Freedom from Fear

Fear is the opponent of Freedom.  The fear of terrorist attack, nuclear attack, domestic violence, future health care, financial ruin, unbridled media, environmental abuse, corporate shenanigans, immigration, alcohol and drugs, gambling, prostitution etc.   The list of moral and safety concerns is endless.  Each of us has the choice of living out of fear or living for freedom. 

Every regulation invented for the "common good" has roots in individual fears and reaction to perceived evil.  The result of free will is the existence both good and evil.   So where is the balance in the fight of good against evil?  It lies in the golden mean of individual freedom.   

And how do laws and obedience influence us?  Laws and regulation are established to create boundaries and definition of good and evil.  But it is the individuals free will to decide to either be obedient or not (good or evil).  Every law is a boundary established to restrict free will.  More boundaries - less individual freedom.

We have the choice - create more laws out of fear or create freedom from eliminating our fears.