partly

Today is:

Commodore Perry Day
Everything I know about Commodore Perry, I have learned from film and TV shows. I put very little faith in this small bit of knowledge, but I'm not really sure I need to know anything more about him. The fact that I know enough to place him as a historical reference seems to be good enough for me.

National Sibling Day
I did talk to my brother today, and IMed my brother-in-law. So I guess I did good for sibling day. The one thing in my life that may count as a regret is that I only had one child and Myr doesn't know what it's like to have a sibling. It's not a terrible thing, but being alone in the world can be hard. She doesn't seem to mind, though.

Salvation Army Founder's Day
I always wondered, in the Star Trek universe, with their Prime Directive of "non-interference" is there a prison planet where they put all the people who are part of the Salvation Army and Red Cross who would feel obligated to go help sentient beings who could be saved with a little help? I mean, these organizations would be outside the Federations control, right? So how does the Federation keep individuals or groups of individuals from, say, providing a antivirus that will save millions? Or stop them for rescuing people who are trapped on an exploding or dying planet?

It always bothered me that the one defining thing that made people "worthy" in the Star Trek universe was the one bit of knowledge: the ability to travel in space. That's it. No amount of artistic or medical or sociological or spiritual knowledge would save a race. Their capability for compassion or wisdom doesn't matter. If they can build a space ship, they make it.

Stupid. Really. Knowledge is wonderful. But it's how you use that knowledge that defines the type of person you are.

Golfer's Day
Isn't every day a Golfer's Day? We have a golfing card game that's a blast to play. You try to make your opponents have a bad day and mess up by playing cards like "Flu" and "Too Much Drinking". We usually play it with Abduction. For those keeping score: most of our card games are fairly evil. But fun!

And for something totally different: When I breathe I sound like a dead chicken.