Thursday, April 16, 2009

Interview with Solzhenitsyn

Here is a great interview with Solzhenitsyn

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0172.html

I love this quote:

"Untouched by the breath of God, unrestricted by human conscience, both capitalism and socialism are repulsive."

"Religion always remains higher than everyday life. In order to make the elevation towards religion easier for people, religion must be able to alter its forms in relation to the consciousness of modern man. "

"Pearce: You are often accused of "doom and gloom". How would you respond?
Solzhenitsyn: This is a consequence of the fact that people don't read, they just glance through. Let me give you an example: The Gulag Archipelago. There are horrific stories in that book but throughout, through it all, there is a spirit of catharsis. In Russia In the Abyss, I have not painted the dark reality in rose-tinted shades but I do include a clear way, a search for something brighter, some way out — most importantly in the spiritual sense because I cannot suggest political ways out, that is the task of politicians, so it is simply that those who accuse me of this do not know how to read. "

Of course, one cannot declare that only my faith is correct and all other faiths are not. Of course God is endlessly multi-dimensional so every religion that exists on earth represents some face, some side of God. One must not have any negative attitude to any religion but nonetheless the depth of understanding God and the depth of applying God's commandments is different in different religions. In this sense we have to admit that Protestantism has brought everything down only to faith.
Calvinism says that nothing depends on man, that faith is already predetermined. Also in its sharp protest against Catholicism, Protestantism rushed to discard together with ritual all the mysterious, the mythical and mystical aspects of the Faith. In that sense it has impoverished religion. "

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Lawyer Joke

My cousin Lyn liked this lawyer joke...so did I.
http://www.funnyjunksite.com/funny/funny-lawyer-jokes/
One afternoon a wealthy lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw two men along the roadside eating grass. Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate. He asked one man ‘Why are you eating grass?‘We don’t have any money for food,’ the poor man replied. ‘We have to eat grass.‘Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I’ll feed you’, the lawyer said.‘But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there, under that tree. ‘Bring them along,’ the lawyer replied.Turning to the other poor man he stated, ‘You come with us also.The second man, in a pitiful voice then said, ‘But sir, I also have a wife and SIX children with me!‘Bring them all, as well,’ the lawyer answered.
They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limousine was.. Once underway, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said, ‘Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you.
The lawyer replied, ‘Glad to do it. You’ll really love my place; the grass is almost 1 meter high!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

My Running Links

1970 http://www.jcrawford.net/stateccresults70.html

1972-73 http://www.spufalcons.com/Pdfs/wcross/2007/9/7/2007%20XCrecbk.pdf

http://www.spufalcons.com/Pdfs/wtrack/2007/9/6/2008%20TrackHist.pdf

1977 http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/1977/Pine%20Run%201977.htm

1980 http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/1980/Pine%20Run%2020K%201980.htm




1984 http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/1984/Pine%20Run%201984.htm

1985 http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/1985/Pine%20Run%201985.htm

ADMINISTRATIVE LINKS
Great Links to Running Champions http://www.xcnation.com/XC_LEGACY.html
World http://www.xclegacy.citymax.com/worldcrossmenteamchampion.html
http://www.xclegacy.citymax.com/worldcrossgirlsteamchamps.html
US College http://www.xclegacy.citymax.com/collegeteamchampions.html
http://www.xclegacy.citymax.com/girlscollegeteamchampions.html
High School http://www.xclegacy.citymax.com/boysprepteamchampions.html
http://www.xclegacy.citymax.com/girlsprepteamchampions.html
Washington State Archives Cross Country http://www.wiaa.com/subcontent.aspx?SecID=649
State Archives: http://www.xcnation.com/STATEARCHIVES.html

Hall of fame US http://www.xcnation.com/thehalloffame.html
College http://www.xcnation.com/collegiatehalloffame.html
High School http://www.xcnation.com/collegiatehalloffame.html

Steve Prefontaine http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2000/pre.html
Bill Dellinger http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2001/dellinger.html
Doris Brown http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2002/heritage.html
Bill Bowerman http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2002/bowerman.html
Gerry Lindgren http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2006/lindgren.html
Don Kardong http://www.distancerunning.com/inductees/2005/kardong.html

http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/80_rrindex.htm

Fishin'

When I think of fishin', I think of my grand-father, Joseph Chariton Platt. He loved fishin'. Anyone who gets up at 4 in the morning to do anything has to love it!!!

I don't have Joe's zeal for fishin' despite all the times I went with him, but I do have nice memories. My favorite events were to go to Sekui, Washington and hop on the charter boat to catch salmon in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The day of the charter always entailed an early rising at 4 am. I would be half awake as I downed my eggs and bacon before boarding the boat in the dark. I remember thinking at 6am that the it seemed like the day was half over, I was sleepy, and there was a lot of fishin to do.

(This got me ready for being the pay officer at Ft Dix, NJ. this event started at 3:30 because the powers that be did not want us to be late. The consequences of being late were seen when one fellow officer was an hour late. In addition to the normal line of 30 that had to be serviced in an hour was added 60 additional soldiers!)

(The other long day experience was in Ranger School where we would start our day at around 8 with a briefing by our new team, we would do a mission which entailed miles of hiking, finish the mission, hike miles to a spot to gather and plan and then head out at 10pm so we could complete a mission at 2am!!)

Anyway, I have a pleasant memory in that I caught a 30 pound salmon when I was about 10 years old. It made my arm ache but I wasn't going to let the fish win.

The other experiences which I still cherish are hikes into the woods to find a stream and extract some fish from it.

I may not go into the woods to fish today, but I still really enjoy going into the woods on a hike. There is nothing more peaceful than listening to the babbling brook!!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Sometimes Justice Gets "Carried Away"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_justitia_ruat_caelum

Seneca: "Piso's justice"
In De Ira (On Anger), Book I, Chapter XVIII, Seneca tells of Gnaeus Piso, a Roman governor and lawmaker, when he was angry, ordering the execution of a soldier who had returned from leave of absence without his comrade, on the ground that if the man did not produce his companion, he had killed him. As the condemned man was presenting his neck to the executioner's sword, there suddenly appeared the very comrade who was supposed to have been murdered. The centurion in charge of the execution halted the proceedings and led the condemned man back to Piso, expecting a reprieve. But Piso mounted the tribunal in a rage, and ordered three soldiers to be led to execution. He ordered the death of the man who was to have been executed, because the sentence had already been passed; he also ordered the death of the centurion who was charged with the original execution, for failing to perform his duty; finally, he ordered the death of the man who had been supposed to have been murdered, because he had been the cause of death of two innocent men.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Contextual Evaluation

All actions and deeds must always be examined in context.
Sleep at the end of a day at 11PM tucked into bed is appropriate. Sleep during a lecture by the boss is not.
TO BE CONTINUED

Chess Stories

http://www.queensac.com/fred.html