h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No obligations, nor expectations. See ya around the open wires ...

Sorry to intrude, ... But one request please?

While I fully subscribe to the whole concept of FootiNooti, it has no need to be attached to myself and PS. As I am not an 'active' component. A disconnect from that, s.v.p.

Happy travels ...

No problems, Nick. I'll take you off the list.

W

For simple cleanliness of back-searches and such, this thread will now vanish from my PS. Natch, in yer zone, it will drop readily as well. Do have yourself a fine one, Lady W.

My apologies to intrude. I just thought I'd mention an odd thingie ...

After you removed me from the FootiNooti lists, it did indeed drop from my "Guide Entries" listing. But then oddly returned there several hours later.

In any case, sometime today, someone took exception to my PS Introduction, and has it in limbo until the Community Team resumes operations. But coincident with that ing, once more FootiNooti is absent from my entries list (of one). This place and it's software is indeed very odd ...

Ta-ta

Hmmm, curious occurrences in casa Nick then, I guess. As requested, I dropped you from the researcher's list (before I posted here) three days ago and ... well, that was that as far as I was concerned. Sorry I can't help you with this, but good luck with whatever it is...

W

I really have no true idea what to say. As a good Lady, a sound and solid mother to 2 apparently very wonderful children, (I loved your son's explanation of the whole picture), ... You and I are not likely to be snuggly soul-mates, and yet I still wish every possible fortune and safety to you, your family, everywhere... In brief, I do NOT know what to say except to offer best wishes.

Being as young as I was in '67, I was not aware of what built up. And the longest term results. So recently, I did a bit of Googling, finding histories of the Jewish people and how the Arab world have seen them since roughly 100 AD. In the end, I know a bit more, but still so much less than I probably should. I will never know the history or the generations of mind-set that you have, nor Lady Pennywhistle (a 22'ish Israeli in Jerusalem) who has only known the land she was born in.

Call me naive, but here is how I see the whole picture, in a nutshell. For 2,000 years, the Jewish people have been the gypsies of the world, cast out of anywhere they tried to settle. And seen as the 'trailer trash' of the world. Deserved or not, that is how it seems to have gone. And from articles I have read, the Arab world (whether Muslim, Christian or what-ever) know them as such. And so, when European levels over the centuries have pushed them in to Palestine, again and again, ... Good intent, but a bad idea, really. How-ever and why-ever, they were 'given' a homeland. At the expense of Arab peoples who had millenia of claim to the same land. And because of various trials by fire, and support from the US (while many Arabs were supported by the USSR), Israel has become the military strength of the neighborhood. Which is so much MORE of a nose-thumbing to the pride of the Arab (religion not considered here) world.

As I see it, ... the Jewish people have made Israel their home, and will defend that idea to the very last breath. And the Arab world will never accept them in the midst of their territories. To THEIR last breath. So the upshot is, ... there will NEVER be a long term or lasting possibility of peace, so long as the Jews own land there.

Again, I have read histories that covered so many intrusions, dominations, seen some smaller countries demolished and run rough-shod over, because the ideologies of so many sides. Over and over again. From this distance, I would not be so foolish as to "choose" a side. I can only be the man that I was raised to be, and silently weep for the loss of life of everyone. Wishing there was something that I can do, but knowing that it is all so far beyond my reach. In every way.

I could probably go on and on, but to no good purpose. In the end, I can only say that I do not know what is happening, nor the 1,000 reasons and justifications over 2 millenium. Only that I worry for the so many innocent people who were born where they were, on every side, and must live by what-ever consequences their leadership brings down on them.

Thank you for your sentiments, Nick. We can all use your prayers right now.

W

Just to advise, ... rather than seeking it on the <./>Info</.> page, I have subscribed to your current journal. Between that, and the "Middle East crisis" thread, I am learning a lot. Not just specific stances and opinions of Researchers, but of history and history-in-the-making.

If you prefer, I will unsubscribe. Either way, I will not post, of course. I will leave that to your friends.

Nick, you are not unwelcome. I have nothing against you at all. Just keep it lighthearted and obligation-free and we will be fine, ok? I am glad anything I have to say adds to your life experience. Hootoo is proving to be a major source of release for me at the moment so it is good to know I am giving something back.
W

I never had any intent BUT light-hearted or general chit-chat of the day. But as often happens, I guess I was misunderstood. For a lad who's native tongue is English, I sometimes do not use it very well.

With everything on your plate ATM, I am glad to hear that you are finding some release and relief here, at least.

Uh-oh. Your secrets may come out soon !!! *light humour intended*

*extract from the Toronto Star*

Scientists dig into Neanderthal DNA
2-year project aims to crack genetic code Fossils may reveal how human brains evolved 2-year project aims to crack genetic code

Fossils may reveal how human brains evolved
Jul. 21, 2006. 01:00 AM


BERLIN—U.S. and German scientists yesterday launched a two-year project to decipher the genetic code of the Neanderthal, a feat they hope will help deepen understanding of how modern humans' brains evolved.

Neanderthals were a species that lived in Europe and western Asia from more than 200,000 years ago to about 30,000 years ago. Scientists from Germany's Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology are teaming up with a company in Connecticut to map the genome, or DNA code.

"The Neanderthal is the closest relative to the modern human, and we believe that by sequencing the Neanderthal we can learn a lot," said Michael Egholm, a vice-president at 454 Life Sciences Corp. of Branford, Conn., which will use its high-speed sequencing technology in the project.


Doesn't this all pre-suppose that the human brain DOES work?

This one is not doing so well atm

Stuff like unaccustomed heat and trying to think along 42 processes and concerns, ... really can frazzle a mind, eh? I won't be so foolish as to suggest that I have any idea what all you are dealing with. I only know that times I have been pulled in a few dozen directions, a bit of a random chuckle is always welcome.

PS: There might be a little -gram in your AOL mail-slot.

From your journal, ... <>

I have done as much reading as my work hours and net connections will allow. Including histories of the Arab vs Jews concept, that seems to run to atleast 100 A.D. If I have read most of it correctly, since atleast that time, the Arab mind-set is (or has been) often that the Jews are less than human, ... Sort of as the southern US saw Negroids for so long. If that IS true, no matter how subtle, there will never be acceptance in that part of the world. And the more backed in to a corner, the more rabidly defensive a people will be. Easily seen from what I understand of the Palestinian mind-set. I don't recall if it was one of your posts, or some one else, but I gather that around '48, the wealthy left when 'Israel' was deposited there. And neighboring Arab countries spurred so many others to flee, creating so many 'refugee camps'. In that direction, there can and will never be a "right of return" for the generations born since. Neither the room, the realism, nor the will.

I really have no idea of what I am trying to say here. I have no historical, blood or even co-worker ties to any of this. So I can only try to learn, and understand somehow, what it is all about. But what I can find so far, I don't see any diplomatic measures ever having a long-term effect. There are too many centuries of feeling on every front. Sadly, it will be a horrendous cost of life, before it somehow calms again. I am seeing that you know this, and that it will likely be at the expense of your home and family. And for that, even though I don't know you or your family well, I am truly saddened.

And no, I expect no response to this post. Just please know that I am thinking of your personal tribe in all of this. And 'Trog' as you call him, how it must be consuming him in so many ways. From here, all I can do is contribute to our Red Cross, which is accepting financial donations on behalf of the Lebanese, as they understand that the Israeli branches are adequately met for the time being. And we have given as best we can manage.

Thank you, Nick, I appreciate your thoughts. I am unable to think coherently at the moment. Despite the long term evils being spawned by all this, all we are consumed by right now is talking from this distance to our aged parents and families and friends who are under siege and trying to help the desperate refugees fleeing into their villages.
W

To a stranger, who may one day be a friend, please feel a supportive and warm hug. It's all I can give.

*I don't play silly-arsed emoticons, when things are real*

Ya know, I really kind of wish that my interest and curiosity weren't so strong at times. For much of my "aware" adult life, (read as 'since I wore my own uniform), I felt for the Israeli. Surrounded by so much hatred and loathing, fending off the insurmountable odds.

But this past few weeks, your posts and links, my own taking of time to research about 1900 years of history. Trying for as many unbiased writings as possible. As you might imagine, the best that I can do is skim the surface. And I find myself ashamed for some verbal output around my own world. What I see is devils, demons, angels and martyrs. On every front that has dealt in the centuries of conflict. Especially this past 40'ish years when the tools of destruction and diminishment have been available and so effective.

In the end, I can not and will not defend ANY side of the conflicts. They are all so ugly and tainted, no matter how well intentioned their individual beginnings. All I can do is hurt and silently weep for the victims. Innocent as many are, even the guilty when they meet what-ever ends. And hope like hell that some one's, somewhere, can see reason, find a way to build a bridge, rather than a wall. And yet knowing that it is unlikely until something even more horrendous than Hiroshama and Nagasaki (in effect if not method) occurs.

In MY real world, I am very rarely at a loss for words. But this, ...

Exactly so, Nick, exactly so.

The mother in me wants to put them all in time out, dock their pocket money and ground them until they can play nice.



'night.