I have been reading Esther and in the book is the account of the start of Purim which is celebrated on 13th & 14th days of the month of Adar (which is roughly in March in our calendar).
On the 13th day there was issued an edict to destroy all the jews, which the Persian King then turned around to declare that the day could be used so that the Jews could destroy all of their enemies and get away with it, without being prosecuted and brought to account before the King.
Checking out the origins of friday 13th phobia, there is a large degree of uncertainty as to how the phobia started, with many references being presented in greek literature and perhaps earlier than that, and the fact that many nations where Jews resided in history, i.e. germany, spain, etc have the same stories and phobia.
The jews celebrate Purim with noisebangers and 'graggers' which were used to scare of Haman and his sons; to rid themselves of the spirits of their enemies, who had plotted against them.
Therefore, it being on the 13th of the month, I think this has transferred itself into our culture, either as a way of being scared, or having a phobia of the Jews being able to attack and kill their enemies or by the Jews being afraid of their enemies about to attack them. I think the former is more likely.
So other cultures developed this fear that the 13th would bring them bad luck because the Jews were in control, could rout their enemies and save their land and their peoples and boy, the devil hates it, so he has turned it around to become associated with horror and occult and phobias, a fear where things can or may go wrong simply for getting out of bed on such a day.
The Jews celebrate freedom whilst the rest of the world trembles in fear and trepidation.
Well, the rest of the world ain't seen nothin' yet !!!
Annoying
I was looking forward to writing something good today and as I lay awake at 01.30 thinking about what I was going to write it all seemed clear. Now some 7 hours later when I get a chance to sit here and write, I can't think what it was!!!
Ha! Never mind. Try later.
Ha! Never mind. Try later.
The Goldilocks Zone - Part 1
We are living in the "Goldilocks" zone. A zone which, according to leading scientists, is where temperatures for life and habitats are 'just right'. Not too hot neither too cold, but just right, so that water remains a liquid over most of the planet and there is life and vegetation.
Astronomers are interested in another similar planet, near the star Gilese 381, in the Libra constellation, where so far they have identified 3 planets, but only one they surmise is inhabitable and would have liquid water on the surface because they indicate that the planet lies with in the "Goldilocks Zone" of the star, so that its heat, albeit much depleted than that of our own sun, is able to produce temperatures on the planet where it is not too hot, nor too cold, but could be just right. They further surmise that there could well be alien lifeforms living on this planet. Of course, everyone is just guessing because it is 20.5 lightyears away.
I believe God created the earth first and then created the solar system and the surrounding stars and galaxies which dazzle us and which we all dream about. God made them because he wanted to see the delight in our faces at his handiwork..
Part two on myspace blog....
Astronomers are interested in another similar planet, near the star Gilese 381, in the Libra constellation, where so far they have identified 3 planets, but only one they surmise is inhabitable and would have liquid water on the surface because they indicate that the planet lies with in the "Goldilocks Zone" of the star, so that its heat, albeit much depleted than that of our own sun, is able to produce temperatures on the planet where it is not too hot, nor too cold, but could be just right. They further surmise that there could well be alien lifeforms living on this planet. Of course, everyone is just guessing because it is 20.5 lightyears away.
I believe God created the earth first and then created the solar system and the surrounding stars and galaxies which dazzle us and which we all dream about. God made them because he wanted to see the delight in our faces at his handiwork..
Part two on myspace blog....
Tagging Dementia Sufferers
BBC NEWS UK Tag dementia sufferers - minister
I think largely this depends on how advanced people with dementia are suffering because someone may give consent at one moment and then 'forget' all about that consent and will wonder why they are wearing a strange bracelet, tag or otherwise, which they would then try to remove.
Also, if this tagging device gives a clear signal as to the whereabouts of a particular person, the member monitoring the device would need to be proactive.
They may detect that the dementia sufferer is making their way to the local shops or the pub, but how are they making their way there?
Are they dressed correctly and decently?
Have they got shoes on?
Have they got the right clothing on for the right weather?
Do they have money?
Do they carry too much money, openly displayed?
What time of day is it?
Some people can attempt to go out at any time of day, 'looking for home' (where they lived 30 - 40 years ago), or looking for their family members (who may be living in the USA or elsewhere)
or want to go to the shops but head off in the wrong direction,
or cross a busy road without the aid of a safe crossing point.
There are a 1001 different scenarios to play with here!
How long will the monitor give the sufferer before they intervene?
If this is about rights of freedom for the sufferer, at what point should we intervene?
When the tag displays it has stopped in the middle of the street for 10 mins, 1 hour or 30 secs?
As the article in the link above states: Is tagging just for our convenience or theirs?
We appear not to have the resources available to closely monitor by being physically present with a sufferer any longer.
We allow a sufferer to wander, but cannot detect what they are doing which may place themselves in danger with electricity, fire, traffic, yobbos or anything else which they may not be particularly aware of.
A tag is fine for a temporary period of time but should never replace actual physical care!
I think largely this depends on how advanced people with dementia are suffering because someone may give consent at one moment and then 'forget' all about that consent and will wonder why they are wearing a strange bracelet, tag or otherwise, which they would then try to remove.
Also, if this tagging device gives a clear signal as to the whereabouts of a particular person, the member monitoring the device would need to be proactive.
They may detect that the dementia sufferer is making their way to the local shops or the pub, but how are they making their way there?
Are they dressed correctly and decently?
Have they got shoes on?
Have they got the right clothing on for the right weather?
Do they have money?
Do they carry too much money, openly displayed?
What time of day is it?
Some people can attempt to go out at any time of day, 'looking for home' (where they lived 30 - 40 years ago), or looking for their family members (who may be living in the USA or elsewhere)
or want to go to the shops but head off in the wrong direction,
or cross a busy road without the aid of a safe crossing point.
There are a 1001 different scenarios to play with here!
How long will the monitor give the sufferer before they intervene?
If this is about rights of freedom for the sufferer, at what point should we intervene?
When the tag displays it has stopped in the middle of the street for 10 mins, 1 hour or 30 secs?
As the article in the link above states: Is tagging just for our convenience or theirs?
We appear not to have the resources available to closely monitor by being physically present with a sufferer any longer.
We allow a sufferer to wander, but cannot detect what they are doing which may place themselves in danger with electricity, fire, traffic, yobbos or anything else which they may not be particularly aware of.
A tag is fine for a temporary period of time but should never replace actual physical care!
David and other people's names
Have you ever wondered that if some of the main characters in the Bible were so great and popular, why the Israelites didn't name their sons after them until much later.
If you check out some genealogical lines such as in Nehemiah or Ezra, Numbers or Matthew, you don't find another man named David or Moses or Abraham or Isaac.
Was this out of reverence for their greatness, parhaps?
or were these names their anglicised or they were known as other names originally, and because they are great, their names were altered to distinguish them from other Israelites during their times or even during the writing of the Bible, so that their uniqueness is more pronounced.
Interesting to find out.
If you check out some genealogical lines such as in Nehemiah or Ezra, Numbers or Matthew, you don't find another man named David or Moses or Abraham or Isaac.
Was this out of reverence for their greatness, parhaps?
or were these names their anglicised or they were known as other names originally, and because they are great, their names were altered to distinguish them from other Israelites during their times or even during the writing of the Bible, so that their uniqueness is more pronounced.
Interesting to find out.
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