Pearls of Wisdom

 

I've long been a fan of trivia - of which some have said "trivia is to knowledge as weeds are to flowers". I'm not sure I agree, weed is pretty popular (grin!)

Plato said (well, he reiterated it, he wasn't the first to say it) in order for something to be considered knowledge, is must be justified (testable), true and believed. So according to Plato, trivia is not knowledge. He must be a weed guy. My point is that trivia represents a methodology for obtaining and storing knowledge that everyone can identify with - and believe in.

Let's talk about Pearls.

Why are pearls valuable? Up until a 150 years or so ago, they were a random, rare freak of nature that required risking one's life repeatedly to obtain. So valuable were natural pearls that the jeweler Cartier purchased the Fifth Avenue mansion that is now the New York Cartier store for US$100 cash and a double strand of matched natural pearls valued at the time (1917) at US$1 million.

The twelve "Pearly" gates of New Jerusalem are said to be each made of a single pearl. In the Book Revelations 21:21, "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every gate was of one pearl: and the streets of the city were pure gold, as if transparent glass..."

There is a special vocabulary used to describe the length of pearl necklaces. While most other necklaces are simply referred to by their physical measurement, pearl necklaces are named by how low they hang when worn around the neck of a woman.

A pearl collar, measuring 10 to 13 inches in length, sits directly against the throat and does not hang down the neck at all; it can be multiple strands.

Pearl chokers, measuring 14 to 16 inches in length, nestle just at the base of the neck.

A strand called a princess length, measuring 17 to 19 inches in length, comes down to or just below the collarbone.

A matinee length, measuring 20 to 24 inches in length, falls just above the breasts.

An opera length, measuring 28 to 35 inches in length, will be long enough to reach the breastbone or sternum of the wearer; and longer still, a pearl rope, measuring more than 45 inches in length, is any length that falls down farther than an opera length.

So there you have it - a bit of trivia, and perhaps some knowledge thrown in for good measure.

But remember - it's not what you know, it's how you got to know it!

Which way was north again?

Not that I want to give the President any assistance in winning a second term, and I doubt he is taking my calls anymore, but perhaps I can make a few suggestions. I used to have a friend that couldnt tell left from right or north from south. Whatever direction you asked him about, you would always take the opposite of what he said. I'm sure the Democrats will do the opposite of these recommendations, so we don't have much to worry about.

Here's how Obama can serve the people of America, and by doing so, save our country and potentially get re-elected. Funny how I put these things in that order, as opposed to getting re-elected first.

Simple things they won't do, but here goes.

1. Stop ridiculous spending. Do the line item budget review like you promised in 2008  (I know - promises during elections are not promises, but work with me here)
2. Get rid of ridculous entitlements for welfare, medicare. workfare, bloatfare. You don't contribute in a meaningful way according to your ability, then you don't get rewarded for it.
3. Abolish public sector unions in gov't at the federal, state and municipal levels, or at the very least remove their ability to negotiate salaries, benefits and retirement programs.
Immediately dissolve teacher unions at the state, federal and local levels and abolish requirement of a student to live in a district to attend a school. Good schools grow, bad ones die off, taking the bad teachers with them.
4. Create a flat tax situation of 20% - FOR EVERYBODY. Not just the rich. Tax all benefits.
5. Abolish death and estate taxes. Create an impetus for intergenerational wealth building and investment.
6. Abolish the ability of the gov't to "Invest" in private corporations. Even a constitutional lawyer can see that Solyndra smelled of the faeces it was conceived in. You aren't smarter than us, so don't try - or even pretend.
7. Create a national, OPTIONAL unemployment insurance program. If a worker doesn't want coverage - then they don't pay. Easy. Cap benefits at 120 days. Period. You'll be amazed at how many people can find work all of a sudden. Or create work.
8. Immediately dissolve the EPA and replace it with the Environmental Jobs Creation Agency who will be tasked with first proving that an initiative creates jobs and wealth as a reason to do it, as opposed to a reason NOT to do it. Sorry hoot owls. You pollute, you get fined perhaps out of existence, but the mere potential of pollution does not automatically dissolve a project. Sorry minnows.
9. Reward corporations that create jobs with a lower corporate tax rate. Leave Gibson guitars alone. Protect jobs here, not in Zimbabwe.
10. Zero sum all gov't dept. budgets every year.

This simple 10 step plan makes it fair for everyone, and can get you re-elected.

Now which way was was north again?

Reckoning is Upon You - A September 11th Warning

I gotta tell ya - these "last minute" terror warnings about potential threats on Sept. 11th have got me a bit puzzled and concerned. How is it that we, the most powerful nation on the face of the earth are cowering waiting for something to happen to us?

How come people in foreign lands that wish to do US harm are not shaking in THEIR boots tonight? If I was President Zero, I would release the following statement:

"Today America mourns the victims of a reprehensible and cowardly act of terrorisom perptetrated on our innocent people 10 years ago. The animals responsible for this act were the lowest form of human existence, spawned from a backwards and dangerous religion that seeks to kill and maim non-believers, whether they be soldiers or civilians, rich or poor, women or children. This religion promotes hatred and intolerance, and seeks to erase our way of life - if not our very lives.

I make this declaration clearly and unambiguously. To all the nations, organizatons, or individuals of the world - if you harm any of our people to further your cause for hatred, or to justify the insanity of your own religions, we will decimate you. We will use our weapons to rain down holy terror upon all that you hold dear. If you target a bridge of ours - will will destroy 10 of yours. If you harm a tunnel - we will incinerate a dozen of yours. We will not be judicious in how we choose to apply our retribution. Any nation that has wished us ill-will is a target. The bridge WE choose to erase may be in Yemen or Syria, in Iran or Iraq or North Korea. It may be in Libya or Pakistan or China or Russia. It may be anywhere in the world that chooses to take the fight to us.

We will decide how and when your fate will be sealed - not you.

One more thing - it is not fair that American children lie awake in both fear and grief tonight. It is not fair that our brave police and fire personnell have to take time away from their families to protect the rest of us because of the threats YOU make. So here is how we are going to play it. Over the next 24 hours WE will eradicate a random piece of infrastructure in a random nation that seeks us harm. There will be no warning, no political discourse, no negotiation. There will only be complete and total destruction - be it a bridge or a dam or a training camp or a lone terrorist on a prayer mat or an airport or train line.

We're taking the fight to you. You've asked for it, and we will be delivering.

We pride ourselves in being a peaceful group of folks. We're tolerant to a fault and generous like no others. However - do not mistake our civility for complacency. Do not equate our ability to be kind with a lack of willingness or ability to do you harm. To those that wish us well, we will be mourning over the next few days, we know you will understand. To those that seek us to harm us - sleep with one eye open tonight.

Reckoning is upon you."