"The fearless are merely fearless. People who act in spite of their fear are truly brave."
--James A. LaFond-Lewis

That's an interesting quote, and quite true. It does not take any great feat of bravery to do something of which you have no fear. It's so obvious, that it barely warrants such a grand quote.

But here's the follow-up point that this made me think of this morning: You can only be brave once in each situation. The first time you face down a fear, you are brave. Once you've done it, once you've succeeded, you've hopefully conquered the fear. The next time you are faced with the situation, you should merely be fearless.

Am I making any sense? I'm very tired. Yesterday was one of those really long work days on absolutely no sleep. I think I need to get some rest this weekend.

"The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man hardly anything."
-- Goethe

I guess I'm not very sensible, but that comes as no surprise. I've never based my major life decisions on what would be the "sensible" thing to do - it's always got to be what is in line with my heart (which is well known to be anything but sensible).

These decisions are also often colored by my feeling that most of what passes for sensible is not much more than a load of pure bull shit, which, I suppose, could be cleaned up to the more polite "ridiculous."

But, does simply saying I find almost everything ridiculous, and that I'm not very sensible, prove the first statement? Does that mean I automatically qualify as intelligent? Sorry, but that sounds like more ridiculous BS.

I'm warning you right off the top, I may not be posting every day this week. First off, because of my upcoming surgery, I've got to have all my work for the month done by the 17th - and I've got a lot on my schedule for May. Secondly, one of those things is a conference coming up this Thursday that I'm second in charge of. This will probably be a week (or two) of going in early, and staying a bit late.

On top of my impending craziness, is that Lesie's got to do her final paper for a night class she's been taking, and it's also due on Thursday. And if she's got to do a paper, that usually means I've got to do it as well. So, have a good week, and I'll see you again - hopefully before Saturday...

Church officials allege Bethlehem cover-up (Jerusalem Post) - An interesting look inside the Church of the Nativity, and the controversy over whether or not the Christian clergy inside are there voluntarily, or as hostages of the Palestinians.

The truth, of course, is neither black nor white, and far less clear than either side would want anybody to believe. Yes, some are there to support the Palestinians, but others are simply afraid to speak out against them, for fear of violent reprisals. The clergy inside are, after all, individuals and, even more to the point, human.

Early intercourse and self-esteem linked in adolescent behavior

According to a study by researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Self-esteem plays an apparent role in the loss of virginity among adolescents.

Interesting difference: Self-esteem had an opposite effects on young girls and young boys. Young girls with high self-esteem were less likely to engage in early sexual activity, while young boys with high self-esteem were more likely to report being sexually active. The study also showed that the level of self-esteem did not change in males or females following the loss of virginity.

Lesson to parents: Work to boost your daughter's self-esteem, and to lower your son's.

I am quite illiterate, but I read a lot.
-- J.D. Salinger

Start a huge foolish project, like Noah.
-- Rumi

Remember last week when I was all happy about posting that I was out of debt? That, apparently, was a curse. We're back in debt, at least temporarily.

Leslie's car had a major breakdown (why I was away from the computer yesterday) that involved a repair bill of $2196.

Well, no credit card debt was fun for the week that it lasted, and we'll hopefully be able to pay that off pretty quick. It's just not been that fun of a week: first I schedule surgery, then expensive car repairs... I just can't wait to see what joy today brings...

"A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes."
-- T. H. Huxley