Misunderstandings

Have you ever heard the story of the introduction of the Chevy Nova to certain South American Markets? The story goes that when the Nova was introduced to a Spanish speaking South American country its sales bombed. Further investigation indicated that the name Nova was being confused with the Spanish term "No Va!" This translates, literally, to "It doesn't go." Who would want a car that doesn't go? OK, the story isn't true. You can read why from Snopes.com.

Viewed as a parable though, it does do a good job at illustrating the problems of cross cultural communication. Not only can certain words be misunderstood but also certain gestures. Take the peace sign illustrated above. During WWII this would have been interpreted as a "V" for victory. In England, if displayed with the palm facing the person flashing the sign, it is the American equivalent of flipping the bird. (an obscene gesture.) In the US Navy if you rotate the "V" sign front to back it means "Turn to" which means, "get back to work you lazy bum."(or words to that effect)

The US sign for OK, where the index finger and the thumb form an O and the other three fingers are extended, is also the equivalent of "flipping the bird" in certain Islamic countries. Go figure. You could think that someone is saying you're ok dude, and in reality they have just told you where to go.

"An it harm none, do what thou wilt."

No, I am not a pagan but I do like the Wiccan Rede.

What does it matter if your neighbor doesn't believe as you do, so long as he is not hurting anyone, let him be. Don't worry about my house, it's mine to keep. Worry about your own; Your fire's out, the rats have taken over your pantry and bees have set up shop in your shed.

It's Done

Macroeconomics is no more... at least for me. I haven't gotten the grade yet but I think I did well. One more class and I'll have my associates. I guess I have to decide if I want to continue at Park University or find a local college after that.

Oh yeah. I woke up this morning and watched the news, nobody has blown anyone else up today; at least so far. Maybe this trend will continue.

Study Study Study

Finals week for my Economics class. I'm up at o' dark thirty trying to get some studying in. I can't sleep. I'm going to be a wreck when work time rolls around in a couple of hours. I guess I'll live though.

Remember Noah's Ark was built by a bunch of amateurs.
The Titanic was built by a bunch of professionals.

A Time for every purpose...

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8


I pray to see the time when we can all stop mourning...

Car Bombers

Why do so many of my posts deal with bombs? Maybe because there are a bunch of dumb ass Muslims running around in a homicidal, suicidal rage killing people; Killing Westerners, killing other Arabs, killing anyone who doesn't agree with their philosophy.

Hmm, and we are supposed to be the infidels and unbelievers. Here's an idea, if you want to meet Allah, quietly kill yourself and leave the rest of the world alone. One thing though, I f you expect to meet Allah this way (Suicide), you are looking for him in Hell and probably will not find him.

* "And whoever commits suicide with piece of iron will be punished with the same piece of iron in the Hell Fire."

* "A man was inflicted with wounds and he committed suicide, and so Allah said: My slave has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for him."

"None amongst you should make a request for death, and do not call for it before it comes, for when any of you dies, he ceases (to do good) deeds and the life of a believer is not prolonged but for goodness."

[ 4:30] "Anyone who commits these transgressions, maliciously and deliberately, we will condemn him to Hell. This is easy for GOD to do."

That's just the prohibitions against suicide, there are more passages prohibiting the killing of women and children and killing innocents. May you all rot in Hell hounded by whatever demons or jinn your religion can muster.

The Island

I saw the Island today. It was kind of a slightly more plausible version of the Matrix. Only instead of human batteries, you get human spare parts. It was OK as far as movies go. It kinda started out slow and you were wondering what was happening. Once Ewan figured that out, leave it to Obi Wan, things started to pick up. The car chase scene and the air bike scene were my favorite. The special effects were pretty good also. Overall, I'd say it was worth matinee prices otherwise wait for the DVD rental. Oh yeah, last thing, talk about product placement. These guys put brand names on everything;from MSN to the Cadillac super car, you knew who was putting money up to make this movie.

Daydreaming

Daydreaming

I sit and think of better days,
Of lands that have different ways,
Of time, space, death, life,
Happiness and strife.

Many, many things I ponder,
For hours I sit and wonder,
What if, where, how come, or who?
Sitting, thinking, scuffing my shoe;

Sometimes all problems I solve
but all sollutions disolve,
Ere I'm finished with my revery,
Leaving my mind open and free.

Updates

My brother's father is doing better. He started to respond and seems to be somewhat aware of his environment. He may never make a full recovery but you have to take what you get.

A friend of mine here in Louisiana says that the alligator was a Southern Republican plot to get back at Kerry and Edwards. I'm not sure about that but its funny to think about. I hate politicians.

Money for nuthin...

I'm taking a Macroeconomics class. Last week we studies the monetary system. I'm depressed now. I had an awakening; an epiphany. Money has no value. Its just paper. There is absolutely nothing backing it up other than the fact that we all agree its worth what its worth. Some countries' money has become so worthless that nobody in the country will accept it. Ecuador used US dollars when this happened. Anything a society wants to accept as money is what money is. If we collectively declare that cow shit is money our wallets are going to get really smelly!

Alligators

They found an alligator in my hometown's biggest park. I know, if you read my profile you see that I live in Baton Rouge. So who cares? There are lots of alligators in Louisiana, right. Well, my home town is in Massachusetts. We don't normally see them that far north. Down here they'd catch it and throw it in the gumbo pot or make sausage out of its tail. Up there they make a big production out of catching it. Crikey, that's a big one mate... :)

Alligator Hunt In Brockton.

Invictus

William Ernest Henley. 1849–1903

Invictus

OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Blah Blah Blah

Is anyone else tired of this Kyle Rove crap? For once it seems that the Dems are looking to reduce the civil liberties. By that I am refering to the freedom of the press thing and jailing journalists thing. There would be an uproar if it were a Democrat being investigated and a reporter was put in jail for not revealing their source? Would it really matter anyway? Probably not. I think a politician is a politician. Both sides act the fool when they think they can get an edge on the other party. Get off the Rove thing, no one got hurt and the supposed covert agent wasn't even overseas. What are we doing making a covert agent's husband an ambassador or investigator or whatever? Why was her family involved in anything at all? Whatever! HERE'S AN IDEA WASHINGTON, LETS FORGET ABOUT THE POLITICAL WRANGLING AND MOVE ON TO MORE IMPORTANT AGENDAS, LIKE HOW SAFE IS OUR MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM!

Another day older and deeper in debt...

Another death coming. My brother's father is close. He is on life support due to a stroke. They want to disconnect it on Friday. My poor brother. His wife died last month and his father will die this month. I hope he (my brother) holds out. He has had it tough lately.

Web sites

I found a funny one recently. Wimp.com. This site has hundreds of videos. Most of them are hilarious. One of these has a naked guy standing in front of a fridge. When his girlfriend walks in and catches him and ..., well just check it out here

Some people will do anything for attention. One of the videos has a kid dressed up like a bannana who lets his buddies set him on fire. How stupid can you get?

Welcome to my nightmare...

Did that get your attention? Ok, so its a bit over-drammatic. Its not really a nightmare because it happens during the day too.

Abou Ben Adhem
James Henry Leigh Hunt

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:---
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold
And to the presence in the room he said,

'What writest thou?'---The visions rais'd its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answer'd, 'The names of those who love the Lord.'

'And is mine one?' asked Abou. 'Nay, not so.'
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, 'I pray for thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.'

The angel wrote, and vanish'd. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And show'd the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

Re: More Bombs

I'm a little less angry than I was yesterday at this time. I was visiting various websites like Islam Online . There are actually Muslim scholars condemning these attacks as un-Islamic. Bravo.

Now its time to take the next step. You don't like the United States acting as the world police. You don't want us in your countries. Take care of your own problems then. When they don't affect us we rarely get involved. These radical scholars are probably very well known in your own countries. Do the right thing. Stop them before they spread their hate and violence. If people like Bin Laden are not acting as a true Muslim would, take care of him under Muslim law.

You like to condemn the US as Infidels; the Great Satan. Who sent massive amounts aid to Muslims in Indonesia after the tsunami of 2004? Who urged Nato to go into Kosovo to stop the slaughter of Muslims by so called Christians? Many other countries were involved also and I do not want to downplay their contributions. I just want to highlight that the so called Great Satan has acted when many muslim countries did not.

More Bombs

Can you believe it. Now London gets attacked. What kind of freaks are they. I hate to say it, I think the only way some of these people will be happy is if they are dead. Its too early to say if they were suicide bombers but given terrorists mode of opperations of late, it probably was.

Part of me says we need to seek revenge. It eats at me; drives me. The other part says that will not help anything. England isn't my country but I still feel the attack was on my people. The non-muslim people of the world. My sympathy goes out to Great Britain. We here in America and many nations lately know what you are going through. We feel your anxiety.

If this is what being a Muslim is about, those of you who are Muslim can have it. Islam is Satan's religion and Mohammad seems to be his prophet.