Things Worth Remembering The three habits that lead to success are: Patience, Application, and Vision.
It is always better to be underestimated.
There are three things that are better than riches: Health, Freedom, and Honor.
Think swiftly, speak softly, act wisely.
All from: The Book of Celtic Wisdom
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Mace Windu: “You are on the council, but we do not grant you the rank of master.”
Anakin Skywalker: ”What? How can you do this? This is outrageous, it’s unfair.”
Mace Windu: “Take a seat, young Skywalker.”
Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
Proposal 8 looks to have passed in California. I am deeply sorry for them. Take a seat (in the back of the bus, please) GLBT citizens. You are no longer recognized as fully human in California. HOPEfully, that can be CHANGEd nationally now and this defeat will not much longer matter to you or to future generations.
“Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
These are my touchstones for a political candidate – local, state and national. This is what I want from the collective United State of America.
- For all children to have the opportunity to eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner and to sleep safely in a warm bed, 365 days a year. Hunger and destitute poverty, in a land of plenty, is beyond unfair. It is unjust.
- For all people to have access to basic, preventative medical care – recommended vaccines, an annual check-up, an annual blood screening, contraceptives, and nutritional and wellness information. The basics.
- The freedom to live, love, learn, travel and raise our children without undue interference from government – federal, state or local.
- IF parents decide to send their children to a public school, the right of those parents to decide where their children will attend – not a school district grid.
- Equal treatment of all businesses under the law – no special treatment for large corporations, no exemptions from clean air or water standards, no subsidized oil, no tax loopholes.
- A commitment to get clean, renewable and nonpolluting energy sources online – immediately.
A little left, a little right.
Governor Tarkin: “The Jedi are extinct, their fire has gone out of the
universe. You, my friend, are all that’s left of their
religion.”
Admiral Motti: “Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would
be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they
have obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in
the universe. I suggest we use it.”
Darth Vader: ”Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve
constructed.”
Star Wars IV: A New Hope
I feel this way about how our nation’s food system is becoming ever more unsustainable, centralized and – frankly – dangerous. The FDA is taking comments on their decision to allow fresh lettuce and spinach to be irradiated – Use of Ionizing Radiation for the Control of Food-Borne Pathogens and Infectious Protozoa, and Extension of Shelf-Life, in a Variety of Human Foods - to kill e-coli and other nasties that have sickened so many people in the recent past. In one of the spinach recalls, the contamination was from e-coli infected fecal dust and liquid sewage leaking from a “manure lagoon” near a confined animal feeding operation located upstream of a fresh vegetable growing operation.
Nice. Here, have some pig poo to go with your leafy greens and raspberry vinaigrette.
I am opposed to allowing food to be irradiated in general, but especially food that will be served to the general public without their knowledge or consent – such as in restaurants, nursing homes, school or other public venues. Irradiation of food, in my researched and much considered opinion, is a “too late” solution to our very dirty and dangerous food growing and manufacturing systems. To me, irradiating food is similar to having nails and broken glass embedded on a highway and “fixing” the problem by having a tire repair station 100 feet further down the road. Sure, you’d be able to continue on your way, eventually. The real solution would be to remove the section of the road having nails and glass, just like the real solution to these contaminated veggies (and CAFO beef, poultry and pork) is disallowing high-density animal confinement facilities where unnatural feeds are given to animals and unsanitary conditions are the norm.
Yes, it will cost more. It will require more people farming on smaller farms. It will, in actuality, entail a retooling of 90% of the American food production “system”. But it is also the right thing to do for the safety, longevity and sustainability of the very food that keeps us healthy and alive.
“Your insight serves you well. Bury your feelings deep down, Luke. They do you credit, but they could be made to serve the Emperor.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
Choice or biology. I find it strange that people are still debating the topic of origin as it regards to homosexuality (or evolution, for that matter). I can give you my reason for believing what I do, but I think author Eileen Cook does a more entertaining job, with her trademark humor thrown in for good measure. Here’s her take on the matter. I’ll start you off…
“I don’t understand the recent debate on homosexuality and gay marriage. If sexuality was a choice, and you could choose to be gay or not, it seems that once you decided you could change your mind. If this were possible you would be flooded with telemarketers…”
Princess Leia: “Would it help if I got out and pushed?”
Han Solo: “It might.”
Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
There’s just something about a good Star Wars-related video clip. I bet you’ve been wondering about all that high tech equipment you see in the movies and about who’s keeping it running. I sure have. Well, here’s your answer. One of the tech support guys at the Star Wars Help Desk took a few minutes to give an interview.
I know that I often feel like the only thing keeping me from the brink of techno-hell is the IT master at Dad Windu’s office. Oh, all hail everything good and lovely. Adam is king. He doesn’t just keep all the 175 people there in techno-sanity, but he also keeps the personal computers of the all the employees up and running as well.
I’m quite sure that I’ve been guilty of a few I-D-ten-T errors over the years. Thankfully, he hasn’t said so it out loud.
“Typical, the weather clears as soon as we’re leaving.” ―Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
There are a few things you can be sure of when riding a bike for your day to day transportation, but one of them is that eventually it’s going to rain while you’re out. I don’t ride at night (yet?) but I can’t be guaranteed decent weather and bright sunshine at all times either. Because of this, I was especially happy to a great product for bicycles over at Hank & Me. These flashing pedals will make intersections much, much safer for bicyclists. Ride safe.
“The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars IV: A New Hope
Yes, I’m probably pretty weak-minded to base my blog’s theme on the Star Wars series, but it’s fun and it fits our family. So there. Jake’s Mom sent this link to the Padawan Learner for Universal Day of the Jedi on May 25 (who knew there was such a thing) and I found it quite interesting. If you’re wondering how George Lucas came up with such an idea, you can learn more about what came Before the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
My favorite part, however, was the movie short George Lucas in Love. I highly, highly recommend watching it.
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