Here are the rules:

1. Name can not be a nick name. "Kurt" is an example. We like to make nick names from their birth name.
2. Can not be "most" popular in the US. Social Security records the most popular names in the US at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/ . It changes every year. Wouldn't you hate to sit in class and be the third "John" their?
3. Can not be satire, funny, or weird. I have tried them all. I have lobbied hard for "Danger" for a middle name. Famous people such as "John Madden", "Kurt Warner", and "Austin Powers" . Funny names vetoed included "Warren Peace" and "Robin Banks".
4. Can not be Oliver.

Optional:
1. Name meaning. We liked the name "Arabella" for a girl, because it means "gift from God". "William" is a family names. Etc.

What ever your philosophy, beliefs, and morale outlook on life is, it affects the way you react and respond to EVERY situation. Even if one does not think they have a "belief system" and "set views" on the world, they do. It goes beyond heaven and hell, but also how you react to a every day situations like a bad day. Is a bad day just a case of the "Mondays", random chance, the affect of "evil" forces, or God trying to shape & grow you? The first responses sees things as cyclical, the second responses chalks up things to chance, while the third response is always blaming external (to the person) items, and the fourth is reflective in order to grow from the situation.

People whom USUALLY view themselves as "tolerant" have the flawed reasoning that everything and each belief should have equal weight. It is based on a hypothesis that has gained large acceptance in the last few decades that no one is wrong. If Jack believes that bears are dangerous and "tolerant" Joe believes that bears are harmless, than Joe will think that Jack is intolerant if he does not acknowledge that the two contradictory beliefs (in Jack's eyes) are not equal. Jack is "tolerant" of Joe by acknowledging the differences and agreeing to disagree. Joe may someday find out the error of his ways when he is mauled by a bear while feeding it picnic scraps.

My example is a little simplistic (and brutal?), but it none the less illustrates my point. "Tolerance" and other PC terms are usually in the eye of the beholder. Webster does not fully define all of the English language terms as they are in each individual's mind. Terms are "re-invented" and additional definitions added to word meanings throughout time. Meaning of words are colored by one's life experience, culture, social, and religious upbringing. A quick example is the word "pissed". In the states one whom is pissed is terribly angry and may best be left alone. In the UK, it is one whom is drunk and may need assistance. Be careful how you react to one whom is "pissed". Rushing in to help out one whom is "pissed" up the stairs my have dire consequences.

The philosophy that everyone's beliefs have equal weight is rooted in a culture of inclusion. By acknowledging equal weight to all beliefs, you are validating that person. The thought is that to disagree or differ in an opinion with someone is to challenge the person themselves and invalidate their belief. We may all be created equal, but we are not right 100% of the time. If this were true, one would never make a mistake. Disagreements are not personal attacks, but difference in view point.

The next time that someone professes to be "tolerant" be wary of voicing opinions that differ from their own. Their definition may be different than your own and in extreme cases it may just be code word for "I am right, don't challenge me!" Flock to conversations with the "intolerant" people, at least you know where you stand.

Any thoughts?

I found the NY Times article particular funny on its bent on publishing it and analysis. The article stated,

I always find the use of statistics and studies in the news to be particularly interesting, because it usually is only presented to shape an opinion. A flashy graph or tally is usually lifted from a study and then the media gives you an analysis that is flawed, due to being only partial story or one way to look at a data set. Mark Twain was made famous by saying, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

Take this study for instance. The graph shows two axis, wealth and a "religious %". Wealth is pretty easy to quantify, but religious percentage is harder. Do you take in anyone whom fills in a box or is it another quantifier? For arguments sake, lets say we believe the "religious %" and the nice little resulting chart. It seems to me that the point of the NY Times article is to lead you to the conclusion that the US is an anomaly, where we should be less religious. Why, America should follow what Europe is doing! (And not those stupid 3rd world countries.)

Now here is the kicker is statistics and studies that is never presented in articles that try to lead the reader to a conclusion, interpretation. Leaving out information can lead to readers making "conclusions" (which the writer intends), that do not take in all of the facts. First, the countries that are listed at the bottom of the slope are also monarchies or feudal systems at some point in time (or still are). Two, most are socialist systems. Third, a case can be made that "religion" has been replaced by a non-deity entity (like government, monarchy, etc). Fourth, There are plenty of more arguments to make (or study) to find out a cause. One could also draw the conclusion or headline "Socialism leads to loss of religion."

Next time you hear a poll that tauts a point of view or conclusion, assume that the writer WANTS you to make that conclusion. Throw it out the window, re-look at the facts, and try to determine if there are other equally valid conclusions to make. Chances are the writer is trying to shape you opinion in some way:) Think of any type of media as "propaganda."

Full study is on our server for download.

Above on the page is one of my favorite shots of the kids walking. Little Aine is usually the pickle when it comes to taking pictures. Even with the camera on rapid picture taking, she still manages to fit in the perfect smile in-between frames. For now, I will try to keep on taking candid shots for the "money shot." Of course, Football and video games have supplanted most picture taking for the moment...

BLOG :

We are also getting back in the habit of blogging, so you can start checking back regularly for our wisdom, humor, and thoughts. Or to just marvel how someone can be such a bad writer. We will try to blog weekly to keep everyone in touch. Feel free to leave us comment or register and put up posts. I can give you your own blog space if you desire. Its only a few clicks away.

WALL PICTURES:

With the weather starting to turn a little worse, we are again spending more time at home. In the next few weeks we will be having a small photo shoot with the purpose of getting some good shots to hang on the wall (or just throw darts at). Email me if you would like some shots and what sizes. If you have some suggestions for posses or framing of the shots, let me know. I am always open to ideas and suggestions (constructive of course Dad).

Ok, so there are some down sides that may not be so highly publicized or thought about. Occasionally Sheep and Lambs will get out and find their way up to our door or into the play area. It is never that much of bother. Just call the farmer, while the kids enjoy the closeness to the animals. I never put much gray matter into thinking about what happens when cows get out of their pastures and decide to romp around the houses. Usually one just goes for some tastey grass and then seeks out more cows to taunt outside of a pasture.

That is until one wakes you up at 2am tearing apart your house and you look at them in a different light for the hulking masses of strength that they are. One horned heifer found her way in between mine and the neighbor's houses. Between the two houses in a stone patio adjoining the two with a dividing fence down the middle (approximately 4 feet between my house and the fence). Everywhere on the farm are gates to stop or divert animal flow. They are usually highly useful when all of them are closed. Then someone leaves one gate open and allows rogue cows to funnel directly up inbetween the houses. In the daylight it would not have been quite the issue, but a four foot wide space, coupled with the pitch black of an overcast, moonless night is a recipe for the hulking monstrosity to cause some damage in panic!

At 2am Bekah woke me up because she thought someone might be in the house. The hooves on the attached stone patio caused a reverberation that sounded a lot like someone was frolicking around in the living room. My thoughts jumped immediately to an animal walking around outside. I journeyed down to the living room, turned on the outside light, and peered at a nice black and white hide. The only real problem is that the cow noticed the light on and wanted to come in for a spot of tea through the nice glass door (like the one pictured).

She (the cow, not the wife) decided that I was not going to open up the door after politely knocking on it a few times. The heifer, thankfully, determined that it would be much easier to finish off ramming the gate in front of her, which led into a stone walled-in area with a couple of fuel oil tanks. With gate in splinters and an area about 6 foot square (with fuel tanks on two of the sides), the panicked heifer luckily decide that the best way to exit was directly through the stone wall. Stone walls in the UK are not like brick and mortar walls that are found in the states. The walls are essentially carefully stacked stones, which one adrenaline filled cow can easily demolish. After a few more broken gates, she managed to find herself away from the houses with a little less of her blood.

Moral of the story. There is no Bull about it, when some tells you to close a gate, close it and keep it closed.

The weather has finally broke, for the better, on the island nation. I think that we are through all of the snow, even though it has hailed recently. I would say that it probably has hailed more than it has snowed. The "hail" is not the large chunks of ice that I was use to living on the lake shore in the states. It is more like grains of rice to peppercorn sized. The high winds of March are still causing some issues too. Ships were unable to dock for a few weeks in the south, due to the choppy sea and high winds. There are still some shelves that are waiting of the back log of goods to find their way up to this part of the country.

Lambing season has just passed in the UK. The fields are filled with little lambs frolicking in the fields. The mostly white lambs are a stark contrast to the winter dirty sheep. We took a few pictures around to give everyone a taste of it. (Maybe they will be on your store shelves soon?)

Cheers!

The House of Schermer

Earlier, I talked about the little pistol that Aine can be. This is really only half of the story. For all of her fire, she can be equally compassionate (and often is). She can throw a fit and then give you ten minutes of hugs. She will go from throwing the much bigger Liam onto the floor to carrying her purse and trying to look "pretty", as she always says.

"She's anything but typical
She's so unpredictable
Oh but even at her worst she ain't that bad"