Why be Normal » Musings

Go Vote Today

Mark Poffenberger — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:07:24 +0000

If you want to have the pleasure to bitch about your government, then go vote today. If you don’t vote, then don’t bitch about it.

7 years ago today…

Mark Poffenberger — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:43:38 +0000

I was at work. First I heard about the terrorist attack was when one of the admins came into my office and said that the US was under attack and that a war had started. I found that hard to believe at first, but then when I tried to get onto the internet, no sites would come up. My belief went up.

Where I worked, they had TV’s all over that would broadcast the current corporate propaganda as well as what was for lunch that day. Someone had the smart idea to turn all the TV’s on to the news channels (CNN) so we all of us could stand around and watch what was in real time. I saw the first tower on fire, and then also saw the second tower hit. Again. Again. And Again. They seemed to keep playing that same loop over and over like some bad dream. By 11am, most of us had gone home.

One of my most striking memories was looking up in the sky on September 12, and not seeing any planes. There were few clouds in the sky at the time, and no jet trails. None. That will probably be the only time in my life that I will see a sky so devoid of human activity. It was wonderful.

Every generation has a moment in time that everyone has an answer: Where were you when…

For my generation it was the 9/11 attacks. For my parents generation it was the JFK assassination. For my grandparents it was Pearl Harbor.

What will be my kids “Where were you when…”?

The world did not end today

Mark Poffenberger — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:24:34 +0000

Contrary to the predictions of some, the world did not end today when the Large Hadron Collider came online. Some sued. Some partied. Most of us just went about our daily lives without a care of what could have been the last day of our lives.

But it does make me wonder. What if? What if the collision of the hadron particles caused a black hole that grew beyond what was predicted. What if they did prove the existences of extra dimensions, and those that lived there did not like us intruding?

Back in the 1940′s they said the same thing of splitting the atom. It would cause the end of the world. Exploding an A-Bomb would cause the atmosphere to catch on fire. None of that happened. We are still all here.

However, there may come a day when science does do something that it should not do.

What if?

Make someone happy today

Mark Poffenberger — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:14:52 +0000

Over at zenhabits.net, they have a post “32 Ways to Make Someone Happy Today“. It’s not nearly a complete list, but it certainly is a start.

What have I done to make someone happy today? 1, 4, 7, 14,19, 21, 31, 32.

As you go about your day, think of other ways that you can make someone happy.

Here is the list from zenhabits.net:

Smile.
Help them carry something.
Send a thank-you email.
Call just to see how they’re doing.
Pick them flowers.
Cook them a nice meal.
Tell a joke and laugh your butts off.
Clean.
Write a love letter to a loved one.
Give them a cherished book.
Bake cookies.
Praise them publicly.
Thank them for a job well done.
Listen.
Be there when they’re in need.
Give a free hug.
Spend time with them, having fun.
Do errands or chores for them.
Say I love you.
Help them get ahead.
Be proud of them.
Babysit if they need it.
House sit if they need it.
Buy them movie tickets.
Create a care package.
Coffee. Mmmm.
List the things you love about them.
Secretly leave them thank you notes.
Give a back rub when appropriate.
Deliver a nice lunch to them when they’re having a rough day.
Love them, completely.
Be happy yourself.

SPAM in my inbox

Mark Poffenberger — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:17:40 +0000

As part of what I do, I have my own server where I hosts internet sites. One of my tasks is to make my custoerms email as spam free as possible. On any given day, my servers block from 3000 to 4000 spam messages. Every once in a while, a few get through to my account. One today just made me laugh…

Subject: Upgrade the bazooka in your pants.
Message: Take 2 pills a day to get a much bigger organ then before (website edited out)

Now my question is. What are the requirements you must have for making up this shit?

Why do Gorillas have big nostrils?

Mark Poffenberger — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:30:20 +0000

Because they have big fingers.

Every Sunday Morning

Mark Poffenberger — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:09:40 +0000

I had an appointment with Tim Russert and Meet the Press. Tim Russert died today. He will be missed, and I my Sunday mornings will not be the same.

Stick a fork in it, it’s done.

Mark Poffenberger — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:51:52 +0000

There is a point in time when you should know when to quit, and I think that the Clintons should just bow out gracefully. I’ve been watching this whole democratic primary process with some interest. Granted, I did not vote in the Michigan primary, since we were told that it would not count. And watching the Democratic rules committee yesterday, I guess we did count. Rather a weird count, but it did. With that said, it’s interesting to hear how the Clintons are spinning this one. Florida was OK. They got pretty much what they wanted. Michigan, they lost 4 delegates then what they were asking. That’s 4. Yet, you would think that there was a revolution going on yesterday at the rules committee. I honestly think that some Democrats after that fiasco will instead vote Republican.

Anyway, enough opining. You should know when you lost, and bow out gracefully. Yet, the Clintons are starting to look like sore losers.

My 2 cents.

I love the smell of honeysuckles

Mark Poffenberger — Sat, 24 May 2008 22:45:17 +0000

On our property we have a lot of honeysuckles. It’s that time of year where the flowers are out. It smells like spring.