Past Postings

Previous William Thomas Sherman Info Page postings, quotes, observations, etc.

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"My idea, quite simply, is to get as many as possible to do the wrong thing. That way and inasmuch as I succeed in this, I won't feel so very alone."

(This is funny because it is true.)

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Before it was "the one with the gold makes the rules;" and which since and more recently has had added to it "the one with the most gold (is he who) puts out (or spews forth) the most junk."

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Here's a helpful tip to help enlarge and expand your vocabulary --

Rather than attempt to memorize a given word and its definition, take a word and pair it with another that is synonymous or at least similar enough to trigger your recollection.

For example:

name -- appellation
expiate -- atone
edge -- extremity
assiduous -- sedulous
concurrently -- simultaneously
inducement -- incentive

etc.

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Who on earth
Would steal someone else's dog?
Why, they
Who are revenging themselves on God,
And who (for the same reason)
REFUSE to stop bothering people.

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More Landfill

At the Microsoft Windows answers page someone asked:

"When can I expect a 64bit version for CanonScan 3000ex?" (That is a new software driver that will permit the scanner to be used on 64 bit systems, such as Windows 7 employs.)

Microsoft replies:

"If Canon havent released one, no one else will. And since the latest drivers from Canon were released in 2009 there no chance that they will be releasing any others."

Elsewhere the explanation given is that it is not financially profitable for Canon to provide new drivers.

Perhaps then you will go out and buy a new Canon scanner.

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Let no one fool you, rational truth is of far, indeed infinitely, lasting and enduring worth than mere appearances. And if those placed in positions of authority are not (fundamentally) honest and accountable, how could you ever dream of trusting them for very much or for very long?

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There are people who believe the best way to escape prison is to continue being a criminal; and the worse a criminal the better the chance of keeping out.

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If you win, you win; if you lose, you learn; or if you don't learn you deserve to lose.

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["THE CHI-LITES - YES, I'M READY"]

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Excerpts from Augustine's epistles continued.

[ch. 5] 9. It is therefore for the worse that the soul is changed when it moves in the direction of external things, and throws aside that which pertains to the inner life; and to the earth, i.e. to those who mind earthly things, the soul looks better in such a case, for by them the wicked is commended for his heart's desire, and the unrighteous is blessed. But it is for the better that the soul is changed, when it gradually turns away its aims and ambition from earthly things, which appear important in this world, and directs them to things nobler and unseen; and to the earth, i.e. to men who mind earthly things, the soul in such a case seems worse...
[ch. 6] 11. These foolish men who refuse to be changed for the better have no reason, however, to imagine that worship is due to those heavenly luminaries because a similitude is occasionally borrowed from them for the representation of divine mysteries; for such are borrowed from every created thing. Nor is there any reason for our incurring the sentence of condemnation which is pronounced by the apostle on some who worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. [Romans 1:25] We do not adore sheep or cattle, although Christ is called both a Lamb, [John 1:29] and by the prophet a young bullock; [Ezekiel 43:19] nor any beast of prey, though He is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah; [Revelation 5:5] nor a stone, although Christ is called a Rock; [1 Corinthians 10:4] nor Mount Zion, though in it there was a type of the Church. [1 Peter 2:4] And, in like manner, we do not adore the sun or the moon, although, in order to convey instruction in holy mysteries, figures of sacred things are borrowed from these celestial works of the Creator, as they are also from many of the things which He has made on earth.
[ch. 11] 21. For the feeding and fanning of that ardent love by which, under a law like that of gravitation, we are borne upwards or inwards to rest, the presentation of truth by emblems has a great power: for, thus presented, things move and kindle our affection much more than if they were set forth in bald statements, not clothed with sacramental symbols. Why this should be, it is hard to say; but it is the fact that anything which we are taught by allegory or emblem affects and pleases us more, and is more highly esteemed by us, than it would be if most clearly stated in plain terms. I believe that the emotions are less easily kindled while the soul is wholly involved in earthly things; but if it be brought to those corporeal things which are emblems of spiritual things, and then taken from these to the spiritual realities which they represent, it gathers strength by the mere act of passing from the one to the other, and, like the flame of a lighted torch, is made by the motion to burn more brightly, and is carried away to rest by a more intensely glowing love.
[ch. 14] 24. Consider now with attention these three most sacred days, the days signalized by the Lord's crucifixion, rest in the grave, and resurrection. Of these three, that of which the cross is the symbol is the business of our present life: those things which are symbolized by His rest in the grave and His resurrection we hold by faith and hope. For now the command is given to each man, “Take up your cross, and follow me.” [Matthew 16:24] But the flesh is crucified, when our members which are upon the earth are mortified, such as fornication, uncleanness, luxury, avarice, etc., of which the apostle says in another passage: “If you live after the flesh, you shall die; but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.” [Romans 8:13] Hence also he says of himself: “The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” [Galatians 6:14] And again: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” [Romans 6:6] The period during which our labours tend to the weakening and destruction of the body of sin, during which the outward man is perishing, that the inward man may be renewed day by day—that is the period of the cross.
25. These are, it is true, good works, having rest for their recompense, but they are meanwhile laborious and painful: therefore we are told to be “rejoicing in hope,” that while we contemplate the future rest, we may labour with cheerfulness in present toil. Of this cheerfulness the breadth of the cross in the transverse beam to which the hands were nailed is an emblem: for the hands we understand to be symbolic of working, and the breadth to be symbolic of cheerfulness in him who works, for sadness straitens the spirit. In the height of the cross, against which the head is placed, we have an emblem of the expectation of recompense from the sublime justice of God, “who will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life.” [Romans 2:6-7] Therefore the length of the cross, along which the whole body is extended, is an emblem of that patient continuance in the will of God, on account of which those who are patient are said to be long-suffering. The depth also, i.e. the part which is fixed in the ground, represents the occult nature of the holy mystery. For you remember, I suppose, the words of the apostle, which in this description of the cross I aim at expounding: “That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height.” [Ephesians 3:17-18]
26. Remember how often I repeat this to you, that we are not to think that we ought to be made happy and free from all difficulties in this present life, and are therefore at liberty to murmur profanely against God when we are straitened in the things of this world, as if He were not performing what He promised. He has indeed promised the things which are necessary for this life, but the consolations which mitigate the misery of our present lot are very different from the joys of those who are perfect in blessedness...
~ Letter 55

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