March 16th, 2024
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice at the end of hostilities. It has been 77 0days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
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- I am continually amazed by all the blindness and low-vision technology that are available now. It’s humbling in a way. I spent 40+ years solving truck building problems, issues with financial systems, and even defense department work. I worked with thousands of bright, hard-working systems engineers, systems architects, and technology implementers. I wonder what we could have accomplished if we focused all that capability on just helping people live better lives. I am proud of the work that I have done but I wonder if it could have been more useful. I can imagine these technologies being valuable for people without accessibility issues as well but at least, I knew nothing about them until now.
- You can find out all about today in history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- I finally collected enough words for a new vocabulary quiz15
- The recipes I explored this week just didn’t seem worthy of the UJT audience. I will keep working on them.
- The Home Page quote for this week’s wisdom is a an excellent observation but I could not verify the attribute: “ People with a sense of purpose – live longer – have more friends – have better relationships and more happiness. ”
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update:
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- This week I withdrew from my last class. It just was unfair to the rest of the class. It was time.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- We are getting an early spring here in the land of the Jacarandas. May grey and June gloom seem to be the order if the day intermixed with beautiful weather and green slopes on all the hulls.Lofe is grand! Enjoy every moment you have.
Music Update:
I used to just key off the last song played from my iTunes library. But now, I have gotten used to collecting songs I want to share over the week like i do Vocabulary words. It makes for a very eclectic list. Enjoy.
I have a pretty good collection of vinyl records but sometimes I have to use downloaded versions because the vinyl copy attended too many parties. In the case of Toto Iv, I am actually using my second or third copy of the record so its in pretty good shape.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
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- Tracy Chapman — Fast Car — Every so often a poet just finds that voice that helps us learn about ourselves. Tracy found them here. This jewel was released in 1988 on her self-titled album. This one kind of chokes me up. If I m honest, I think my daughter could feel these things having grown up and put up with my crappy behavior.
- Traffic — Mr. Fantasy— This song comes to us from Traffic’s debut album which was released in 1967. Its an iconic song that has been covered a great deal.
- U@ — 3s Have No Name—Joshua Tree is another one of those amazing iconic albums that just show us so much about our lives and the struggles we face. Released in 1987, this record just rolled over the planet.
- Zephyr — High Flying Bird —I have no idea how I came to know about this wonderful perhaps even miraculous little band out of Colorado, I suspect it was my childhood friend Dean Chmarakis and his lovely wife,Mary Ann, who gave me this gift. Tommy Bolin was something like 17 when this was recorded.
- The Zombies — Time of the Season — The Davies brothers had this little band in the early 1960s and they became something very special. This one is released on their, “Odessey and Oracle” released in 1968.
- Jethro Tull — My God— Aqualung is one of the very best albums ever! By 1971 when “Aqualung” was released, I was already disenchanted with what I learned in school. my government and had begun to question my religious teachings as well. Ian Anderson had already detected how religion was being used as a tool to manipulate people. I consider the “good” that is accomplished by religion, in general, to be completely outweighed by the “bad” that is created and perpetuated by human interpretation of “God’s Will”. I consider every religion as good and bad as any other. I applaud and congratulate the joy, peace, and comfort people’s religious beliefs bestow on them. I abhor those who use those same beliefs as tools to further their ow agendas. It appears to be a popular sport and has been throughout our history.
That’s it… Do the best you can; Laugh every chance you get; Always remember… The best is yet to come! As always, thank you for being my friend!