NanLou4's Xanga

CERN, The "God Partical", Black Holes, and the beginging of Advent...

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:38:09 GMT

November 23, 2009, in Geneva, CERN had two circulating beams bring first collusion. CERN as some of you might recall from media in 2008, was where they might find the "God particles" also known as the Higgs-boson particles. As near as this totally amateur fan of science can understand, this particles IF found, would help to answer many questions about where mass lets off and becomes a photon (electromagnetic). The God reference is unfortunet because really it has nothing to do with God and everything to do with a media sensation. Still, some whispers are that the particals will have to be so strong and so fast we might actually create a microsopic atomic black hole. Others say the chance of that is miniscule.

Meanwhile over here in California, Avent will start on Sunday. It does make me wonder what this CERN will bring to us, new discoveries for the good mostly or our ultimate destruction? I supposed it really depends on who gets the knowleage. So folks, will the Earth swallow itself in a black hole? Will we discover time travel? Will the partical lead to new twisted ways for our future children to learn math? Will any of this help us stop fighting so much?

Hummm I am quite frankly trusting that God will take care of the particles business. As for discoveries, hummm What if we could find a way to turn the outer skin of spaceships to be "read" as mass less and be able to slip through space faster than light? Because light, it has been found, DOES have mass, just very very little. So if something has NO mass, can it even exist and if so, how fast can or does it move? What does this mean in terms of computer storage and building? I think things will be found, and it will not be the black hole. At least not one that can destroy us immediately. I could be wrong of course, but there is a lot of energy that comes from making black holes and huge amounts of mass. So I think we are pretty safe. There are those that say the reason we have not been able to get the project going, is because people from the future are trying to keep us from making the discovery that destroys us. Could that be? Then they have their work cut out for them, and we will be living in a loop for eternity till God himself says, ENOUGH.

Night all...

Nancy Louise

BTW it was at CERN that the World Wide Web was born as opposed to the Internet (in 1969) which was born in the USA (California!).

For cold dreary days, some cheer... (REDONE)

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:01:48 GMT

Bring it on!!!

Ever have days like these?

kitten must of learn this from my boys on Doctor days that included shots, which seemed to be almost every visit between the ages of 6 - 18!

Translations for the rest of us....

Sorry, this is just too funny to pass by. I know some kids like that, LOL

Later all,
Nancy Louise

Scratching the cooking itch...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:58:37 GMT

I can cook, really I can, I just don't do it much. Now by cooking I do not mean the microwave zip, zap, stuff method, or the fried food (unless you are camping and then there is an art to it). No I mean the fresh raw ingrediants and other tanglibles pulled together and make a meal. Right now, I will be making Sweet Potato, Pumkin Pie. Yes there is a combo recipie for it. I will make it now so it is ready in time. We tend to eat all week for Thanksgiving, not just on the THE day. The bird however is saved for the day and after. I have yet to go the duck or goose route for Thanksgiving but I am sure I will. For now, it will be the pie, the potatoes (mashed and lumpy), Yams and salads all pulled together from home made. The only exception? Cranberries. Yeah, we be the canned variety types. I can just hear my friends back east shuddering.

Its the cool to cold weather that beckons me to the kitchen. I can finally stand to be in the heat of it all, chopping, cooking, and allowing the washing baptism of heat and sweat that comes with such labor. I might also add some home made Ravoli with turkey to help eat that down, and great for freezing as well. I no longer do caning or pickling as both are high in sugar, salt, and other unhealthy to eat. We have access to power so that what I will use to store food for the family. Another reason to get back to the kitchen, is my youngest son and his homework paper. He was asking about Traditions we had. I was stumped. Now as a family that is fully Americanized and living in the middle of one's culture, noticing what we do for tradtion that is stand out from others, is hard. Easy to see in others, but not in one's self. We finally chose our Catholic Faith of celebrating Advent first and Christmas to little Christmas in January. So he added that. I then begin to mull over my culinary traditions. Now I know I have them, but I simply do not know where their roots come from. There is a lot of Mexican, Chinese cooking methods, Southern, and Northern Midwest as in Candadian. Jamcian, Irish, and some German fill out the rest that I know of. My husband's family seemed mostly WWII cooking methods and of what can be boiled in water variety. Hence Pasta, packaged speggtie spices, and tomato paste, macroni and cheese (old fashion before Krafts), and hamburgers were their norms. I am sure that reflects some kind of culture, but I for one can not put a name to it. Neither can my husband. This is not to dismiss it, but simply in the everyday living of life here in the bay area, it was never catgorized because there was no need.

I grew up more worldly ( I guess) because my father grew up with a Mother from Texas and a Father from Jamica who were well aware of the world out there and loved good cooking. Beans and Rice was a staple, but the variety of ways it was made was great. Their Dad being a professional chef, would cook for them on special occasions. (he was the head chef for the Silver Zepher Amtrack Trains during the 20's). So, we have culture, we just do not always know what to call it for labling. So I want to get back to the kitchen to try and basically recall and lable what I know, so I can past it on down to my boys while they are still interested. This too, is tradition.

Happy Holidays all,
Nancy Louise

Help get $5.000,000.00 to a GREAT charity!!!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:17:11 GMT

http://www.deaf-hope.org/

Imagine you are a woman who had violence done against you, or perhaps you do not have to imagine, now add to that, deafness. The isolation and the access to communication has now suddenly become nearly insurmountable. Thanks to people like Julie Rems-Smario

One area they work in is Education and Outreach, below is a small sampling of what they do.
>>>Domestic violence manifests itself differently in each culture based on the language and values of their people. The Deaf community is unique because it has language and cultural norms without geographic borders. Domestic violence in the Deaf community is often overlooked by hearing professionals (advocates, law enforcement, medical professionals, etc.) DeafHope advocates have compiled information and interviews gathered over the past five years from Deaf survivors of domestic violence into the Deaf Power and Control Wheel. Thanks to the Domestic Violence Intervention Project of Duluth, Minnesota for their pioneering work. Click here for a printable version of the DeafHope Power and Control Wheel. <<<

So please go vote now and help them get the money to continue their work.

Nancy Louise

What thanks got to do with it?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:46:35 GMT

Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday, yet it is full of many myths handed down over the years about when the first one started. That might have started as a reason to celebrate, but the reason we keep doing it, has more I think to do with the gathering of the dark, the harvest, and the simple need to reconnect. These days for the first time in human history (as we know it) more humans live in cities all over the world than they do in rural areas. So the Harvest is no longer a deeply felt ritual for those of us with abundant shelves of food to pick from. So why do we continue? Habit? Commercials? Memories of traditions past? The hope that "This year it will be perfect?", or do we all really like turkey, gravy, and the trimmings all that much? It can be all or none, or most likely bits and pieces. The one thing that ties it, is the reminder, to be thankful. So if the relative you are with, hurts you (again), or insults your cooking, or what ever the old nags left around to still bother. Breathe, and be thankful of at least the four things.

1. That you are still alive.
2. That you are loved, you are, by God at the very least.
3. That there is food to be had.
4. There is more to life than if the turkey comes out perfect (or not).

Joyous Thanksgiving Holidays everyone.
Nancy Louise

Who are, "the Poor."

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:51:01 GMT

It bugs me when people speak of visiting "The Poor," to do volunteer work. Not because of the efforts they put in to ease suffering, but because it sounds like they are visiting some foreigner country in their own backyards. Something they go "Do" then come home to their own safe havens. There are some areas of my own city I do not wish to visit, it cuts too close to the bone for me, memories grow strong and anxious. I wonder, will I ever 'get over' being homeless? Its been ten years, you think I be way pass that by now, it still feels like it was a few weeks ago.

Still, I do not see the poor as being 'over there' they are right here, next to me in the pew, talking to me at their jobs, saying hello at the grocery store, crying because someone they loved died, asking for a roll of toilet paper because they are broke. Being poor does not always mean someone without money. It can mean someone who is sick, grieved, wronged, lonely, or simply tired. So, yes, go visit and do good deeds, but please, we are not 'over there' for you to brush off after you come home. We are as close as the child you love or the spouse you hold at night. We are you.

Nancy Louise

Yes I am still around...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:18:42 GMT

School is becoming extremely busy, and there a lot going on in my mundane life like multiple deadlines for jobs and other good stuff (which is still stressful even though its good). Give me another week and I will be back with more quips and word whips!

Nancy Louise

When Good things happen to Good people in a bad situation....

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:18:22 GMT

While the above would not make a catchy (these days) title for a book, it does describe a recent experience I had. Some of you may have heard about the recent repair of the San Francisco Bay bridge that went Kuput? Wonders of wonders, no one was serious hurt (read, no real lawsuit). Yes I am being cynical these days. Seriously I am glad no one was hurt. I am also glad the politicos of Oakland and San Francisco are now finally listening to the Engineering crew when they said (during Labor Day Weekend) We need more time to fix the crack! There is no one article that states this little "spat" but was the gist of what I got from reading at the time of the discovery of the crack. Everyone is playing nice to the cammeras of course. Still that not what THIS blog is about.

Its about ME and MY experinece in related the the bridge being tied up. I had already had a twelve hour day at school and wanted to get home. Only to see signs saying Bay Bridge Close, seek alternate bridges. Well that does not do me any good simply because I do not have a row boat berth somewhere to row home. Even if I did, I would be dangerous with all the frieght ship travels around the waters where I live. A tiny tow boat would be a tossed leaf to those manmonth things. Plus, my arms would be tired two blocks out I am sure. Texting between my oldest son and I seem to confirm the worst. There was no way, no how back to the Island. Hotels in the City do not come cheap, those that are more affordable (noted not affordable, simply more affordable!) are in areas I would not frequent and certainly not park my car! Or go to sleep without worry of drug bust gone bad and bullets flying through the air etc. etc. (Did that once as a kid when my Parents thought they got a good deal at a hotel, only to find out just what kind of motel it was.... ).

Driving around the area of SF on a tank becoming empty and not helping the atmosphere, I drove to where I thought I might find my husband stranded. Only to find out he DID make it to the Island. I was relieved for him, but jelous. The bus was able to get through. That when it occured to me, if the bus can get to TI, then maybe they will also allow drivers from T.I. to get home too? It was not the first time I was grateful I have an updated I.D. / Driver's Licsense. You be surprise how many people don't bother, or simply can not get to DMV to get it done. I drove up to what was the on ramp from Labor Day, there stood a cop, and I nervous (always nervous around cops, that me, no reason, I am not guilty of anything, just the nerves around gun powered law thats all). I got out my DL when he started signing to me. I almost dropped my DL I was so surprised. He signed to me before I had a chance to inform him I could not hear. His skills were not native, but clear and ernest in wanting to communicate. He explained there was a long line and maybe in an hour CHP (California Highway Patrol) would escort us to T.I.). After some more driving around (no left turns and all that in San Francisco) I got myself situated to settle for the duration of the wait. The line inched forward for a bit as I am guessing some people left the line for parts unknown. Then suddenly after about an hour the line really began to move, and the cop who signed to me, all young and ernest was directing the traffic. I waved back at him with a big smile and he smile back with a wave also. That made the bad situation all the more tolerable. So for those of you in public service who take the time to learn signs, THANK YOU! You might not see us out there that offten, but trust me, when you do meet us, we don't forget your efforts! And he took what was a frighteing time for me and made it so much easier.

I got home, to the arms of my beloved.
Nancy Louise

Of Guns, Blood and Rights

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:48:44 GMT

I am no longer so naive to believe we can have a world where there are no weapons. I know violence will always be with us, as is pain and death until the world is fully resloved unto God. So the second admenment is something that is firecely fought over as to weather it should remain as is, or be altered in some fashion in our consistution. Perhaps however, maybe we are looking at this from the wrong angle.

How much Gun rights can we afford? Who is going to pay for the Gun Shot Wounds of our uninsured youth with illegal weapons, not all of them gangs mind you. Who will pay for the police time and investigations in various murders that take place and often remain unsolved simply because the time limit on how much time a case can take, is gone and it sits left undone, pressed out of the way by more fresh murders. In the meantime, other less serious crime (so called soft crimes) are often neglected, or not reported because unless there is compelling evidence from the get go by witnesses or those pressing charges so there will be a win for the prosecution, cases simply are not taken up but left to get cold.

So in keeping these rights, we have to figure our how we are going to pay for those who abuse the rights, the clean up after wards (blood is bloody hard to get out of anything!), the legal papers and court time, the medical issues, and trauma centers, the physical therapy for recovery from wounds, and the consent education of how to really use Guns in the proper way. We should then go ahead and have guns and care of them taught right along side sex education, how women give birth, and the dirty side of sharing body fluids.

I will never advocate taking away of rights. What I do propose is to have us all taught how to care and take responsibility for these. For too many of us, rights are an entitlement we have no clue as to how to take care of and use for the best benefit not only of self, but our community. So lets have the NRA help with the health insurance issues and education budget since they will now have a part in how all things are run that way too. They already do you know, at least this way, we get money, and admit it up front and stop hiding from the truth....

Nancy Louise

Mental illness and the workplace.

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:07:16 GMT

In our Thursday newspaper section, in Dear Abby was an article about mental illness. I usually give it little notice, but not this time, and second because my husband quite literally stuck it under my nose and said, I really think you want to respond to this. Dear Abby.

WORKERS MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ABOUT DISRUPTIVE WOMAN

Is the title about a woman who is hearing voices while on the job. The boss response to complaining and uneasy co-workers is "Just be quiet and everything will be fine" is not what the co-workers need. Dear Abby also says that the woman is off her medication etc. To see the full article, please go to the link. Below is my sharp response.

Dear Abby in response to
"Our Co-worker hears voices in her head." San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com, Thursday October 22, 2009 edition

I am afraid your broad stroked answer may have caused more damage than good. You were right to say "Just Be Quiet" was not a good response. Someone does need to find out if the woman has some issues with her medication. She may not be off her medication, but need adjustment if the job has cause some additional stressful situations for her. Someone needs to be her friend on the job. Its not fair that the co-workers have been put into this position, and the boss is not doing the right thing to push it under the rug. So I would suggest Uneasy in Ohio be proactive and talk to the woman, maybe look up mental health services to see if there are any training workshops for how to deal with this on the job. At the same time, also make sure things stay safe for all concern even if the boss is not doing her job. Is it more work? Yes, but in the end you could have a very grateful and diligent worker grateful for another chance. Mental Illness like any illness is a complicated disease and to say that someone is off their medication (and imply irresponsibility in the same breath) is to show your ignorance of the situation.

Nancy Louise