Death

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A short line on death.  People mourn the loss of a loved one as they finish life and cross the time barrier from the living to the timeless realm of death.

They often don't think of what it would mean to the loved one that has passed away, their thoughts turn towards what it means to do with them.  The loss they feel, how much they will miss the loved one and ultimately what they have lost.  When you look at it from the perpective of the loved one who has lived their life and reached an old age, they are being released from pain, lonlieness and the feeling of being out of place and a burden on those whom they love.  I am not speaking of the people who have had their lives cut short by a tradgedy I am talking of those who have lived a full life and time has and continues to take its toll on their body.



My grandmother recently died, and although most of the family was surprised she had made it as long as she had (she lived six years past my grandfather's death) the reacted as if she had died unexpectedly and/ or she was stuck down midlife.  My grandmother lived to be 90 years old and her last comment was she did not know why anyone would want to live to be thiat old.  She was an active lady and enjoyed reading, writing and children.  She had lost the ability to read or write due to failing eye sight, and becuase of the passage of time could not keep up with even the most considerate of children and knew children well enough to know it would be unfair to ask them to stop to spend time with her although several of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grand children had quite often stopped to visit with her.  It was not as long as she would like but she also understands that a child and teens life is full of constant movement.  She recently had been slowed down to a point of needing constant supervision to insure she wasn't falling and hurting herself and this was a blow she could not tolerate. 
She was the one who was meant to take care of her children and there families in her mind and not the other way around yet time had degenerated her to this point.  This broke her will to live and so she passed on.  She had had a full life of happiness and loving.  It had its ups and downs but her life had a purpose when that purpose was done and time had robbed her of the ability to perform her purpose she had no reason to live and expressed it several times in comments similar to the forementioned  comment.
Yet when she passed many off her children acted as if it were a surprise.  If they would step out of their own world or step outside of their selfishness they would realize that it was a release from misery for her.  There were some who expresed this but still they thought they had reason to grieve.  Personally I believe there is reason to celebrate for her life was a hapy life and she touched many live in a positive manner that enriched the lives of those sshe reached.

The memory of the part I know of her life is the thoughts that fill my heart and in doing so will keep her close to me as I walk the journey of life and will enrich my soul and strengthen it for its journey when my time on earth is done.

It is not the manner of our death that makes a difference.It is how we lived that will leave a mark on the world that changes it to a better place for all.

Death is only the beginning of lfe and will not only enrich the world.

Life's Lessons

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Life’s Lessons


This past week my grandma passed away. At the age of 90 years old it was somewhat expected. She had out lived her husband (my granddad) by 6 years. She has always has been a care taker so it has driven her crazy to have people caring for her these past two years. Her life had been that of a rancher’s wife and she was always happy with it, and had lived a full life. She had lived long enough to see both world wars and all that had come since. She lived through the Great depression and long enough to see several of her grand children grow up and have children and their children have children.

My fondest memories of her was sitting at a bar that separated the dining room from the kitchen and listening to her tell stories of life before the fifties, her childhood and things she had encountered in her life. These stories were interesting all though now all I remember of them are small tidbits here and there.

I have been reflecting on the past and the little time we had spent together and realize that she had affected my life more than I know and the time I had spent with her was all quality time. As I reflect on the time I realize through her stories she had taught me many things.

Some of the things she had taught me;

• When you have nothing you are richer because you are only who you are not a sum of material belongings or of monetary worth.

• Your soul only reflects who you are not what you own.

• Compassion and understanding is mightier than strength

• The power to change the world is within everyone and it is done not by politics but through the care you provide for your own family for it is the only thing you can leave behind to affect the world.

• It is only important how you live your life not what remains after you are dead.

• Acceptance is the key to a full life for the only thing you can change is yourself.

• To touch someone’s life one only needs to care and love, material things can not touch the heart and soul the way a few kind heartfelt words can.

These are only a few things that my grandmother has taught me and I had learned the lessons but hadn’t seen where they had come from. I realize it now and wish I could thank her for it. I had also realized she is one of a few that accepted me for who I am not what she or anyone else would have me be.

My grandmother was a teacher but I have to wonder if she knew how much she had influenced my life and who I am today. She is one of a very few who actually cared enough to touch my heart and soul and leave a mark of love and understanding upon it that will continue to influence and guide me through my journey through life.

For all of that I would thank her for she taught me more than any history book or any other book ever could.

The OS War

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The War of the Operating Systems




As the computer users of the world set back trying to move through life and use the computers for their purposes, the software industries is pumping out new operating systems claiming theirs is better and the IT world, corporate world and private users dealing with operating systems that have been moved forward to the forefront of computer operation. How is the business that the world uses the computers for suppose to get done if the people using them have to deal with the operating system?

An operating system is supposed to operate in the background and allow the user to focus on the applications and programs they use. With the battle of the operating systems the visual and interaction with operating system has increased. With increased interaction with operating systems there is less productive interaction with the computer.

The world wants to surf the net, write on their word processor, play their game, and design their web sites or a large list of other applications available. The companies that produce the operating systems should keep in mind that the sole job of an operating system is to make a computer work. Its purpose is not to interact or visually occupy the user it is to keep the applications available and usable by the user as well as to store the data provided by the user.

The users of computers need to open their eyes to the fact and start demanding that operating systems stay in the background so that the computers can be used for the purpose of running the programs that people use for their purpose.

There are reasons to interact with the operating system and many of the reasons are initiated by the user not the computer. The improvements that operating systems are undergoing that make the OS visible to the user are digression and should be avoided. With some hope I look forward to the release of Windows 7. By the articles written by those who have written unbiased reports on the OS give indications that Microsoft has done just that, moved the OS back into the background. On October 22 Microsoft will release the OS to the general public and has some promise of being an OS that can provide a modern version of a proper OS. I would recommend that it be reviewed with open minds and judge it on the performance and not bias against the company that released it.

Slow computer???!!!!

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Many people will buy a computer when theirs gets outdated. When they use this new high tech machinery they generally hook it up and start playing with the new electric toy. Most of the time they are pleased witht hte performance and speed as it moves amazingly faster than their old one.



After a few months it begins to slow down and soon reaches speeds that are slower than the old one they replaced. This happens everyday and people muse over why it happens.



The answer is rather simple.... For example the first time one uses a computer it is not laidened with slow programs, data and other temporary files. Only half of the disk space can be used before the computer begins to slow down. Another reason can be the Operating system is using the resources. An example Vista uses about half the ram just for windows. It also runs several redundit processes. This may not be noticable whilejust the factory data is on the computer however it becomes more apparent with more saved personal data as well as additional programs that users tend to add.

Although those who say I don't have vista, I run an efficient virus program and keep my temporary file deleted, outright use causes the computer to slow down. For those who can remember megnetic tapes they are a good example. The blank magnetic tape records music etc in good to excellent sound quality. If you get tired of the music etc and decide to record over it this results in a lower quality recording.

On computers especially personal computers data is saved moved defraged moved again so much that much of the sectors of the hard drive are actually being reused several time over, like the magnetic tape each subsequent recording is a lesser quality. Lesser quality on a hard drive requires more passesover the sector thus a slower retrival time. Effectively after trying all the suggested tricks and programs it is possible to find the only cure is toformat the hard drive and start with a clean slate.

On the average personal computer under average use it will need to be recovered once every year to year and 6 months.

War

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War
Throughout history man has waged war with neighboring tribes, states and countries for the sake of expansion, or to settle disputes that were unable to be settled in negotiations. Our history is riddled with war. All through history they have evolved tactically and strategically. However, my disdain of war comes from modern warfare.
In the past war has been horrific and brutal this is what brings the warring factions together to negotiate peace or the surrender of one faction. In modern war people have got civil. Rules of engagement have changed to the point that there is little to no true horrors of war to be spoken of. True people die but the world has come to want it to be civil so that those that die are soldiers. The civilian populist just goes about normal life with their only concern of the war being the sons and daughters who are soldiers. This idea sits wrong with me.
The ideas involved in modern warfare remind me of an old Star Trek show where Captain Kirk and the Enterprise encounter two warring planets that had been at war for centuries. The worlds considered themselves civilized and conducted the war cleanly. All attacks where computer generated and the casualties were lined up before an incinerator where they were expected to just step in and accept they were casualties of war. The Idea sounds ridiculous however that is the direction that modern war is headed.
War was and is meant to be wage against a whole group of people, when you wage war against governments and exclude the people it governs you are looking at waging a never ending war. There was only two reasons that the attacks on 9/11 were taken so harshly by the United States was that it was on U.S. soil and that the attack was so horrific as war is meant to be. The sheltered lives of the United States people could not comprehend or grasp the ideals of open warfare waged by Bin Ladden. It may have been via terrorist acts but it was still that of open war.
War is to be waged on the entirety of the people whom the country region etcetera that war is waged against. The only real exception is civil war and it is still waged against those who support the government. The only difference is that civil war can split communities, and even families, as the support or opposition to a single areas government is of personal opinion.
Until war returns to the state it was intended to be, the world will continue in constant turmoil trying to bring resolution to problems that true war would resolve in a short amount of time.

Morality

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Morality
Morality is what a part of what a tradition is supposed to impart on its practitioners. Yet I have noticed that most traditions seem to copy that of Christianity. I have a problem with this, because if you can sin and ask forgiveness and it is granted for the asking what is the point of the rules to begin with.
The other problem is that if anyone is going to set up a system where any type of leader is to be followed whether it be deity or not the system should be set up so those who follow it can succeed. Every help book on being a leader for just about anything emphasizes that you “Don’t set your followers up for failure”. This is what makes being a good leader hard, not only are you out in front but you are supporting your followers and helping them succeed.
The third problem is a rule should fit all situations and have no exceptions. Thou shall not kill except in time of war or in self defense or in defense of home, possessions and loved ones kinda makes the rule a mute point.
Any system, whether following your own instincts or a higher power or the little tiki statue necklace around your neck, should be set up for balance and success of the followers not made so riddled with rules and moralities that are mute and become a waste of space.
Several of the social moralities are ones of human vanities. The world and nature and most deities could care less if a person ran around nude, after all no one comes into the world fully dressed. This is a confusion of morality and vanity. The issues of morality are forced on us by society but to become an eclectic Christian and claim to have no relationship to the tradition is self denial and untrue.
This brings me to the point of the not lying. To expect a human to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth 100% of the time is a set up for failure. After all in all truth deception is part of human nature and over the life time of any human they have told several lies. The thought may be well intended and socially humans get along better when everyone is telling the truth, however everyone has their own boundary of when it is allowable to lie. To expect anything more is to set the practitioners up for failure.
I make a challenge to all pagan and non Christian followers, list out the morals and rules of your tradition and tell what you think and is it truly obtainable.
One last thought: the theory of peace is a marvelous idea the practice of it makes us all the same.
“The day that the world is completely at peace is the day the human race no longer has individuals”. Unknown
After all conflict comes from disagreeing Peace comes with total unrestrained agreement. If we all think alike, act alike and be alike true peace can be obtained. Personally I enjoy my uniqueness and can survive and be happy even if I never see the sibilance of true peace.

Secretive or what?

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Secretive, pressure or what?
I have a running record of things only working out when they are done on impulse or not shared with those around me. I can plan to take a trip and not tell anyone and it will turn out as a wonderful experience and be a lot of fun. I can plan a trip under the same circumstances and let those around me know and it will turn up a disaster, be unable to, or best of results it will be indifference.
What is it that brings this about, relationships that are thought out fail although just going with the flow seem to turn out to be long lasting. Plan on purchasing something particular when share with someone it will turn out that the money won’t be there. Don’t let anyone in on it and I am able to make it. Have a plan to spend a lump of money such as tax return with my wife and family the planned on items don’t get purchased although the things that are impulse or unmentioned get purchased.
The same happens with finances, relationships, outings, trips, vacations, days off and frankly most of life. It has been suggested that it may be pressure, yet I am constantly reminded that I am extremely good with handling pressure. Some have suggested it is just life; however life is more random and wouldn’t follow such a rigid course. Could it be that I thrive on being secretive and I for some reason cannot function without the element of mystery?
It is a very frustrating thing and even comes into play when trying to change my own behaviors. For example I was a smoker, I had quit once before without telling anyone. I had started again for; it stupidly was for social reasons. But recently I have been determined to quit each time I have given my family a heads up and have failed. If I dare say a few days ago I have started a system that seems to work for me and thus far I have been successful. Although I have done everything I can to keep it a secret that I am quitting.

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Anime Life

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In anime books, cartoons, and other anime media appears it presents a life story that at the end life is good again. One day a anime character can run dow a street nude and by the end of the story it is not an issue nor is she chastised for it.

It is said that life does not produce storybook ending. Life may not produce storybook endings however if you take your own life into your hands and actually live it. The story book ending is that the hero through trial and determination produces a desired goal.

Life is like the stories people read and write. Fantasy is a wonderful thing, but if you find yourself wishing our life was like those in the stories maybe you should take control of your life and persiston doing what it takes to get life how you want it to be.

Anything is possible

Reality is for those who lack imagination.

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Right and Wrong

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What is right and wrong? This is something that every parent tries to teach their children and something that lawmakers struggle with as they attempt to create laws for peaceful coexistence in human society. Yet, can anyone set a absolute in what is right and wrong? The English language has exceptions to every rule for it. Many rules and laws have exceptions, so how can there be a definitive right and wrong?
There truly is not right and wrong after all they are definite terms that no set rule can be set to. Right and wrong has seemed to make a difference between common and great men. Great people have followed a more open philosophy of be accountable for what you do, not spending time contemplating whether what needs to be done is right or not. Right and wrong is a childish concept and may be a good guide for children but once you pass the age of childhood it creates a barrier that causes lack of decision, mistakes and other problems to deal with not to mention the loss of sleep that people have wondering if their decisions are right or wrong.
The creating a definite right or wrong also causes two other things to happen. One, it will cause one’s mind to close off to the world. The second is it causes people to become judgmental, because of putting a definite meaning for right and wrong people have a tendency to project their thoughts and ideal onto other people around them.
So how does being accountable work, it is simple, society tends to lock up those who break the law. You break the law and you’ll do the time. It is that simple, everything has its cost if the action that exacts an acceptable price the action is acceptable.
Living by the philosophy that everything has a price opens the door to many paths and make more possible. The only implication that it inflicts on any decision is are you willing to pay the price for the desired action or decision, if the answer is yes it is the correct thing to do. No stress, no lost sleep and no judgments needed.

The Right Stuff

There are several meanings for several words. In pagan society people have come to making one religion cover what they believe. This may work for some when talking about religions that have been left in history and aren't practiced in their intended form. However, to claim that a religion that is in practice is part of your beliefs is different from saying that yo are part of that religion.

I have heard people claim to be par of a religion and not even know the name of the gods or godesses yet claim to be strict followers. To me this equates to saying you are christian, yet not know the name of christ, what the trinity is, or who the virgin Mary is.

Why is it so difficult to admit what one believes may follow a particular religion but they are not part of the religion.