09/30/06

I was 54 today and Kilo and I lounged around the pond area. It is almost completely trimmed now. The water is clear and nice, but I haven't seen any fish for most of the Summer. Maybe Bill should feed them, but no. That just leads to population density problems. The nights are cold enough that the plants are already dying back. It feels like Autumn. It is Autumn.

Another Perfect Day

In the low 50's last night and the low 90's today. A light breeze and perfect lighting.

Back on Track

The previous post was actually written for another blog. Just forget it happened.
Thank you.

I've been walking around the pond every morning and every evening, and this is the best Autumn yet. The weather is perfect, the plants are thriving, and the wildlife is intense. Last night I stepped outside and into the most incredible smell. It was like "happy, clean, fresh, mountain harvest" and came from the direction of my sister's house. I thought it was something new from the plants around the pond, so I followed my nose, and was led right past the pond, through the plants, and around my sister's house to her dryer vent. I felt tricked, but not really disappointed. "Happy, clean, fresh, mountain harvest" for the whole neighborhood, right there in a little dryer sheet.

"Quarter Moon (in a Ten Cent Town)"

Emmylou Harris. It really is a quarter moon and this town is worth at least ten cents on any market. Supernatural or what?

I'm thinking along those lines because today I received a National Opinion Survey form from the American Humanist Association, and frankly, I'm stunned. Is this an alternative to dancing with venomous snakes?

These people lost me at hello, but the survey questions are bizarre enough to be interesting. I'm going to answer them in sentences rather than yes, no, or undecided.

Political Opinions
Do you support the teaching of "intelligent design" alongside evolution in public schools?
Well why not. One guess is as good as any other (although some do dress better).

Do you support a woman's full range of reproductive choices, including abortion?
I don't know what reproductive choices refers to. Even Wikipedia only has reproductive rights as a topic. Maybe those are similar, and the only rub here is that for some reason I would expect people who regard themselves as a "progressive life-stance, free of supernaturalism, that affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives that add to the greater good of humanity", and who feel that "The methods of science and reason coupled with compassion and ethics are the essential ingredients of Humanistic living", would be, I don't know, maybe - more compassionate toward the unborn.

Do you support the words "under God" added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954?
Don't support it, and don't oppose it. As long as it isn't "under Allah".

Do you support the right of the terminally ill to choose death with dignity?
I can't relate to this question in any sense. I certainly don't think that the terminally ill should be humiliated and stripped of their dignity as they die, but this evokes images of an abortion-like event for the elderly and others with a "terminal" diagnosis. I don't think that humans (or any other living organism) at any stage of life (from the barely fertilized egg to the terminal cancer patient) willingly give in to death.

Do you support legislation that would prohibit employers from firing gay and lesbian employees because of their sexual orientation?
I support legislation that allows employers to fire anyone who aggressively flaunts sexual affectations in the workplace (except strippers in strip clubs, prostitutes of either sex, spies and politicians). Keep your genitals covered, and keep your stories, demonstrations, and insinuations about their adventures, to yourself.

Philosophical Opinions
Do you think working to benefit self and society maximizes individual happiness?
Now why would I be thinking that? If the question is about happiness, then different things make me happy at different times. I've been happy while working to benefit myself before, and some of the happiness could have been about the work, or related to the work in some way. And I've been happy while working to benefit society before, but once again, I was a happy person anyway. Did either of those maximize my individual happiness. I have no idea what that means but feel the impulse to say "definitely no".

Do you think revenge is a valid basis for imprisonment and for U.S. involvement in global conflict?
Yes, and I also feel that serious revenge is a valid basis for killing, and for U.S. involvement in global conflict.

Do you think people should be treated equally regardless of their ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation?
No, but I think that people should be treated as fairly as they deserve in any given situation.

Do you favor progressive change and humanistic ethics over traditional views and conservative values?
I favor lumping all of it together and picking through at my convenience.

I guess I'm not only not cut out to be a Humanist, I might even be Anti-Humanist. According to the survey prelim, there are tens of thousands throughout the country, seeking a sense of community and a platform from which to be heard over the attention/power mongering Religious Right (which "rose to power during the days of the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition and is becoming institutionalized in all branches of government."). First of all, they need to stop with the lies. Our government is full self-serving grandees, not conservative Christians.

Another smashed dream, and oddly enough (now this has to be supernatural) Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream caresses my fragile mind until I feel better.
Good enough to put on Bush and start reading about the Cumberland, and that's my day.

Beautiful Evening - Perfect Morning

41 degrees at the coldest point last night, (still in the 40's when I woke up) and very little humidity. Yesterday evening was exceptional - all of the colors were more vivid than usual and it just smells like the third day of Autumn. The insects are very active as it gets colder but most amazing is the number of bees. The have gone from rarely seen five years ago, to everywhere, all the time. I have almost completed pond maintenance and we are ready to coast into Winter.

it must be gone by now

The Rest of Summer: It rained a lot and was hot some more, and then that went away. It is now in the 40's at night and the low 80's during the day, and it feels like Fall for sure. We finally got the rest of the pond cleaned up (nearly). Just a few more places to care for. The herbs smell great and the flowers are having the best year so far. The morning glory plants are especially nice this time of year.

Wet

4/10 ths of an inch on Friday, then 5 and 6/10ths inches from Saturday at 4 AM through 5:30 PM today (Sunday). This is fairly amazing, as well as cold and moldy.

The Heat is Leaving for a While

It rained 1/4 of and inch yesterday and could build up for more this evening. A cold front will be moving in tomorrow, dropping temperatures into the 70's. I love these days.