Download Your Brain???

According to a story at CNN.com, there is a good possibility that people will be able to download their brain to a supercomputer in the near future.

"If you're rich enough then by 2050 it's feasible. If you're poor you'll probably have to wait until 2075 or 2080 when it's routine," he said.

An interesting concept but I am left to wonder about what the purpose of such a thing might be. Honestly, are we going to have a real purpose behind this? We are cautioned to back up the data on our computers in case there are problems making it necessary to reformat. Am I to believe that once we've downloaded our brains, we have some kind of safeguard against braindamage?

This is a realm of science fiction that we've yet to touch the surface in real life. I don't know many people that are willing to plug their cranium into a computer or other such device.

Catherine Houghton Hepburn

"My greatest strength is…common sense. I'm really a standard brand—like Campbell's tomato soup or Baker's chocolate."

~ Katharine Hepburn

American actress Katharine Hepburn, born May 12, 1907, was known as a spirited performer with a touch of Yankee eccentricity. She introduced into her roles a strength of character previously considered undesirable in Hollywood leading ladies. As an actress, she was noted for her brisk upper-class New England accent and tomboyish beauty.

I do not consider myself a Hepburn fan but I've enjoyed many of her movies.

My Puppy, you better watch her!

Her name? Bailey's Fancy Boots of Catan! We just call her Baily. We've had her for about eight weeks and she has become a member of our family, raring to go.
A Pembroke Welsh Corgi, she has very short legs and no tail and is a very docile creature.

Placentia

I grew up in the Southern California town of Placentia. Spanish for "A Pleasant Place", Placentia really lives up to its namesake.

Packing fruit in the goves, circa 1880.

Placentia was where the Orange industry got its start in southern California. Today, there are very few Orange trees left - each belong to private gardens rather than large Orange Groves. When I was a kid, I remember helping pick oranges. Although the work was not easy for a 12 year old, I enjoyed the periodic break to enjoy a fresh orange that I picked off the tree myself.

Downtown Placentia is probably the only place that hasn't changed much since my childhood. Many of the buildings have been refurbished but they look very much the same as they did so many years ago.

The La Imperial Ranch Market on the corner of Bradford and Santa Fe.

A small market, the La Imperial Ranch Market probably used to be a bank at one time. I still prefer the small market feel of this store rather than the other super markets that are scattered through the rest of the town.

The Tlaquepaque Restaurant and Placentia Bakery at the corner of Bradford and Santa Fe.

A Placentia institution and probably the best Mexican restaurant in Southern California, Tlaquepaque Restaurant serves up an excellent experience everytime you enter. Notice the little cart out front? Homemade flavored ice helps soothe in the hot summer months. There aren't many of these guys running around anymore.

I don't get to go home often but when I do, these are some of the places I'm sure to visit.

Who is there for him?

I have a friend whose wife decided that she didn't want to be married anymore. They have two children, a daughter and son, and my friend is one of the most gentle, caring men I know. He loves his wife and treats her better than most men treat their wives. I cannot begin to suggest why she wants out of the relationship but I am afraid that this is going to make a calloused, bitter person out of my friend.

He has determined that they cannot afford two lawers so his wife is going to have a lawyer and he will represent himself. Oh, I hope I can convince him to do different.

Søren Kierkegaard - founder of existentialist philosophy

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Søren Kierkegaard

Today is the anniversary of Søren Kierkegaard's birth. He was born May 5, 1813. Mr. Kierkegaard argued that actual life cannot be contained within an abstract conceptual system. He hoped to open the way for an adequate consideration of faith. He argued that there existed a gulf between God and man that faith alone can bridge.

What does color say about you?

Acidinmyfridge introduced me to this color quiz. A psychological analysis of sorts, through chosing colors, or by the order in which you choose them, the good folks at ColorQuiz can allegedly tell something about you. I took the test and here are my results.

Your Existing Situation

Readily participates in things that provide excitement or stimulation. Wants to feel exhilarated.

Your Stress Sources

The existing situation is disagreeable. Feels lonely and uncertain as he has an unsatisfied need to ally himself with others whose standards are as high as his own, and wants to stand out from the rank and file. This sense of isolation magnifies the need into a compelling urge, all the more upsetting to his self-sufficiency because of the restraint he normally imposes on himself. Since he wants to demonstrate the unique quality of his own character, he tries to suppress this need for others and affects an attitude of unconcerned self-reliance to conceal his fear of inadequacy, treating those who criticize his behavior with contempt. However, beneath this assumption of indifference he really longs for the approval and esteem of others.

Your Restrained Characteristics

Willing to participate and to allow himself to become involved, but tries to fend off conflict and disturbance in order to reduce tension.

Circumstances are forcing him to compromise, to restrain his demands and hopes, and to forgo for the time being some of the things he wants.

Your Desired Objective

Desires a tranquil, peaceful state of harmony offering quiet contentment and a sense of belonging.

Your Actual Problem

Disappointment at the non-fulfillment of his hopes and the fear that to formulate fresh goals will only lead to further setbacks have resulted in considerable anxiety. He is trying to escape from this into a peaceful and harmonious relationship, protecting him from dissatisfaction and lack of appreciation.

Your Actual Problem #2

Wants to be valued and respected, and seeks this from a close and peaceful association of mutual esteem.

I cannot say how accurate this might be. Many times tests that seem to provide insight are simply so broad in their statements that anyone can pick out what they like while ignoring those areas with which they disagree.

An interesting experience in any rate, I would suggest that you read all the instructions and follow them carefully. Although the test hasn't any difficult questions there is one point where you are asked to wait for the timer to count down to zero. I almost didn't see this.

Have you ever had one of those days?

Wrong Side Of The Bed

Wrong side of the bed
Raining on my parade
A week full of Mondays
Singing the blues

Wrong side of the bed
Too much to do and
Too little time for it
Nothing going right

Wrong side of the bed
The mirror broken
By an ink black cat
Walking under a ladder

Wrong side of the bed
Nothing to do but
Crawl back in
And try again
© 2004, by Joseph Rohrbach

Sometimes I wonder if I would have been better off staying put. I know better though. Life is a wonderful experience and I'll never feel the wonders of existence peeking at the world from under my duvet.

Who you calling colored?

I received this in an email. The claim was that the author is a black man from Texas. I cannot collaborate this with any other sources but I thought the sentiment was funny yet thought provoking.

When I born, I black,
When I grow up, I black,
When I go in sun, I black,
When I cold, I black,
When I scared, I black,
When I sick, I black,
When I bruise, I black,
And when I die, I still black,

You white folks....
When you born, you PINK,
When you grow up, you WHITE,
When you go in sun, you RED,
When you cold, you BLUE,
When you scared, you YELLOW,
When you sick, you GREEN,
When you bruised, you PURPLE,
And when you die, you GRAY

So who you calling COLORED?

I think it is interesting that human nature tends toward labels. We label everyone with whom we come into contact. Not all these labels are without merit but most have no basis in reality. Instead our prejudices have a firm foundation in ignorance. It is only by overcoming our ignorance that we realize just how unmerited our impressions might have been.

Are we not all brothers and sisters?