Author Topic: ...Izee's Thread  (Read 714401 times)

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1245 on: November 29, 2022, 09:11:17 AM »
...Never heard of an allergy limited to Orange Cats, Nate, when you can have a Tuxedo Cat in your house.  Sounds like an excellent reason to have a study, you ought to see if Biden will give you a $25,000,000 Grant to study the phenomenon.  When you get the Grant, send me $5,000,000, after all, it is MY IDEA, and you can call it a 'Consulting Fee.  (Please send it all in cash, and don't make a record of it, so I can just stuff the green into my pillowcase, and sleep with it and not tell the Revenooers about it.   ;D )

I like Tuxedo Cats, there was a male that lived next door, and he would come over and visit when he heard that I was in the back yard.  He wasn't very demanding, he just wanted to get a short pet, and then he would sit or lay down on the grass, and just look around.  I would feed him when his family went away for a while, so I guess he saw me as some sort of family member.  Plus, often I would be eating something that was OK for cats to eat, and he would get a snack.

When my personal obligations allow me, I do plan to move out of CA, the State in INSANE!!!  I kinda laugh when I hear that TX, AZ, and NV are worried that migrating Californians will bring their pinkish commie politics with them, and try to change their States into CA.  Believe me, when I arrive in a new State, I will be relieved that I am not having to deal with CA politics, and probably won't vote in local Elections until I understand what is going on.  The people I talk to in CA who are going to move, or already did move, have the same mindset as me.  We are SICK of open Borders, lack of support for the Police, and the GENERAL STUPIDITY of our politicians.  I hear that the Politicians are upset over the lack of Minorities as Air Traffic Controllers, so, they are talking about lowering the Standards to become one.  Isn't that just INSANITY???  If I was a Pilot, I would just want the most qualified people to be the Controllers, and wouldn't give a DAMN about their Race, Sex, or Sexual Orientation.  I believe that the passengers would feel the same, although I suspect some IDIOT LIBERAL passengers would be upset because their plane wasn't being guided in by a half blind lesbian Lebanese crossdressing Anarchist.  Modern day Liberalism is REALLY a Mental Disorder.  I did once speak here of a very intelligent woman friend who was a liberal, and we had a spirited debate at a time when the Liberals controlled CA, and the State was in a downward spiral because of insane Laws and Regulations being passed by them.  I brought the Laws to her attention, and showed how everyone agreed that they were bad for CA, and were causing the downturn, and asked her how she could support such politicians.  She finally just shouted at me...I mean...she really did shout "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF THE STATE GOES TO HELL, AS LONG AS THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CONTROL!!!"  I stopped discussing politics with her after that, there was no point.  Our Educational system is controlled by the Dems, over 90% of teachers are registered as Democrats, and they are really INDOCTRINATING the children, NOT educating them.  Private and Religious Schools are flourishing.  Responsible parents are sending their children to them, even though they have to pay, rather than have their children ruined by the Public Schools.

Now, Biden and the Dems have opened our Borders, it is predicted that when Title 42 lapses on 12/21, we will have 20,000 illegals A DAY trying to cross the border.  The Criminal Cartels will see to that.  They are bringing people from all over the World to the Border, and charging them $10,000 to get into the USA.  There are HUGE camps of illegals camping out on the South side of the Rio Grande who will swarm across on 12/22.  I can testify, from personal experience, that the Rio Grande has MANY areas where the water is mostly waist deep.  When I was a child, and we visited relatives in Texas in a town that was on the border, my Brother and I easily waded, and swam a few yards to get across the river.  There was a nice rock on the Mexican side that had a deep pool beside it.  So, we would cross into Mexico, climb on the rock, and dive off, and then wade back into the good ol USA.  (Gee, I just CONFESSED to illegally entering another Country.  I also did eat the wild berries I found in Mexico, so that is probably another Felony.   ::) )

Thing is, I just can't blame the illegals.  If I was a poor peasant in South America, and was told that if I made it into the USA that I would be given a place to live that had floors and a roof, and a bed, and I would be given food, clothing and medical care and a chance to get a job, I would EAGERLY agree to pay $10,000 as I earned it and do what they told me to do.  And, I would probably let the Cartel members fuck me if they wanted to. 

What a mess the Dems have gotten us in to.  I will be TOTALLY pissed if the Republicans, when they take over the House don't try to do something to close the border again.  No other civilized Country in the World would allow this.

Offline MageNathaniel1

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1246 on: November 29, 2022, 07:02:19 PM »
Lol on the research idea and while I am certified to perform research involving human subjects, this is not my field and I do not think the government would fund such a limited scope research project, although they do pay people to count mosquitoes in florida so who knows. I do knoe I cannot be anywhere near an orange tabby though but all other cats are fine. Smiles on you and your neighbours cat.

I agree with your desire to leave ca and do not blame you. I do not agree with the liberal policies of the dems and it only seems to get worse year by year sighs.

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1247 on: December 01, 2022, 10:42:41 PM »
...Oh, how times have changed... ::)

My elderly Mother wanted to watch the Dolly Parton Christmas Show this evening, so we put it on...but changed the channel pretty quickly.  Mom was hoping for a soft, uplifting show that celebrated this time of year, with nice singing of Carols and dancing.  They were signing Christmas related and referenced songs, but the one that we changed the channel on had, as a recurring lyric....

..."Go to Hell"...

"Go to Hell" in a Christmas Song???? On a show during prime time by a reputable entertainer????    :o :o :o :o :o

Now, don't get me wrong, I am pretty jaded and can tolerate, and instigate, very improper things that I believe are funny.  But, this was a bit too strange, even for me.   :P

Offline MageNathaniel1

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1248 on: December 02, 2022, 07:15:17 PM »
I agree and no idea how anyone vould think that is acceptable for a Christmas show. Sighs

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1249 on: December 03, 2022, 01:09:14 AM »
...*Shakes Head*

Switzerland is anticipating a very cold winter, and due to the paucity of electricity, is going to forbid the use of Electric Vehicles unless absolutely necessary.  They need to use their electricity to warm homes and such, and won't be able to charge EVs. 

The Libs and Dems here are urging ALL of us to get EV's, and we already have shortages of electricity here in the good ol USA.  They talk about rolling blackouts here in sunny CA, and I read that other States are counseling citizens.  So, when we ALL get EVs, we will just sit at home during the winter, and only drive to the store to buy food.  Or probably sit at home during the summer, too, since the AC's are running.  But, but....WAIT!!!!  I have the ANSWER!!!   ;D

We will stick a wind farm propellor on top of all of our cars, and it will rotate as we drive and create electricity!!!

Offline MageNathaniel1

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1250 on: December 03, 2022, 07:40:41 PM »
Lol on the windfarm on the evs. And yes the dems have not thought out tue ev concept properly not to mention at the same time wanting everyone to switch to evs they are getting rid of coal and natural gas based power plants thus lowering the amlunt of electricity generated. Shakes head

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1251 on: December 04, 2022, 05:21:40 AM »
...Gabriel Faure'...what a COMPOSER!!!  I will need to buy a biography on him, his music is so inspirational.  We all know 'Pavane', it is very commonly played.  IMHO, his Requiem truly was inspired!!!   :)  I have sang, and played cello in the work several times.  We performed the Requiem at Conservatory in my Frosh year, and the choral Director would kick me out of the Choral Class, and tell me to practice the cello part since I was the Principal Cellist.  (And hurt my GPA by giving me a "C" in the class.  I might have hit Summa Cum Laude except for that damn "C"   >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( )

This section, "Agnus Dei", is so soothing...and has, IMHO, one of the most BEAUTIFUL chord progression starting at 2:18.  This is the section where, in Choral Class, we all just stopped and stared at each other in amazement during the first rehearsal.  I had a 'mental orgasm' during that first time, the music just locked into a portion of my brain, and my body got hot and I felt very weak when we finished.  I was able to maintain my composure more when I was in the orchestra, but I would still get very warm.

Amazing what our brains can do to our bodies.   :) :)

https://youtu.be/q1FKoPO-S2w

Offline MageNathaniel1

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1252 on: December 04, 2022, 08:01:14 PM »
Music has a way of youching many parts og our being invoking responses like nearly nothing else can

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1253 on: December 04, 2022, 10:09:37 PM »
Watching a concert on PBS, they are performing 'Le Miserables'...and I am in tears for so much of the time.  Watching live performers who are acting the part is much more moving than just listening to the music.

 Reminds me of playing in Pit Orchestras.  You would NOT BELIEVE what can go on in the Pit.  The audience, and the Performers, couldn't see us, so we just did what we wanted.  We would pass food around.  Once we passed around a jug of wine...the Director YELLED AT US after the show for doing that, so we apologized...and brought in little bottles and hid them from him after that.  In Pit Orchestras, I was often set at the very edge of the group, on the far left of the conductor, the string bass behind me, so I was alone.  I often knew the bass player, and we would pass snacks and rude notes to each other.  He would slip porno Pictures in my part, I would turn a page and see a large ----, or a gaping -----, and just turn the page and stumble through the next few measures.  I told him that I would KILL HIM if he ever did that to one of my solos.  He did once...I did OK, I always memorized my solos so I could focus and blend with the singer.  So, I came in early to the pit one evening, and wrote very insulting and rude notes all over his part.  He spent the intermission erasing, cussing me out...as I giggled.  ;)

We all wore pajamas one time, and the cast were laughing at us at the end.  They said that it was hard to stay in Char when the orchestra was looking like it just got out of bed.

 I often gave a 'cue note' to a singer.  This would happen when there was a long dialogue, and then the Char had to start singing at the same time that the orchestra came in, or before the orchestra started.  The cello is the instrument closest to the human voice, so I would softly play the first note of the singers song, and hold it for a moment, so he or she could adjust their voice.  Once, I was distracted, and didn't play the note right away, and I heard a throat clearing from the stage, and looked up, and the Bass/Baritone was standing on the edge of the stage looking down at me.  I quickly started playing the note, and he started singing.  The Conductor did tell me to FOCUS during a performance.  It happened during a light moment, and the song was comic, so my mistake didn't ruin the storyline.  I actually thought of proposing that we add it to the musical, but the Director had no sense of humor. 

Offline MageNathaniel1

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1254 on: December 05, 2022, 07:28:26 PM »
Directors never seem to have a sense of humour have been in a few theatrical troupes and found the directors always are too serious

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1255 on: December 12, 2022, 06:47:29 PM »
..."Going for the eyes"..... :P

I really enjoyed studying the martial arts, and did study in different schools.  My first was a Japanese School, and it was a 'Hard Style'.  It emphasized strength and endurance, and sometimes the hour long group lessons were just calisthenics, people would drop out or just lay on the mat after 15 or 20 minutes.  At first, I could only handle 30 minutes or so, and at times got an asthma attack.  I experienced a 'healing' once when I was sitting on the floor, in my Gi, trying to breathe, and I didn't have my inhaler.  One of the Owners came over, he was a late middle aged Japanese man, and he helped me stand, and then put his arms and hands around me, and squeezed me in certain places, and my lungs cleared, and I felt very good after 23 minutes.  I asked him what he had done, and he just said "I directed your Ki to heal you", but wouldn't say more.  I mentioned the healing to my allergist, and She just shrugged and said that I must have just been having a minor asthma attack.  Sometimes the Instructors would speak about Ki...I understood it to be a certain vital life force that very few of us can control.  But, "Ki" explains why people can do amazing physical things when motivated, like pick up the front of a car, or run through flames without getting burned

When I got up to Blue Belt, I was learning a very advanced 'Kata'.  A Kata is almost like a dance, you are doing a series of punches, kicks, and other moves.  There was one move where you extended your right hand, with the first two fingers extended at the level of your head, and then twisted your hand when your arm was fully extended.  I asked what that was about, and the Instructor said, "You are plucking out your attackers left eye."  I got a bit nauseous driving home, thinking about it, but I figured, "If some guy is going to try to beat me or rape me, I guess doing that would be in order."  I did think that even if I didn't pluck it out, the nails on my right hand would hurt if they landed in the eye socket.

I did have an amazing experience doing a long, 3 minute Kata.  I was off to the side at the Dojo, the group class was gathering, and I did the Kata...but my mind was BLANK!  I had no idea of what I was doing...one moment I was just standing there...the next moment I was standing in the same spot and was sweating and my arms were tingling.  An Instructor had been watching, and he said, "You almost have that one down, I could see your Ki shifting, keep focusing." 

I was talking with one of the Owners about a current event, and asked him about Ki.  He just smiled and said, "Everyone has Ki, but few learn how to focus it.  And, sometimes Ki will take control of the body, and your mind is set aside.  All of those difficult and repetitive things we make you do is not only to make you stronger and more limber, but also to get you to recognize your Ki, and to be able to focus it.  When you learn to call up your Ki to help you fight, well, you will become a very dangerous woman."

I pondered that, and realized that he had explained how seemingly small and weak people can disable a larger opponent.

I asked him if Ki was also mental and intellectual...and he just smiled...and wouldn't speak of Ki any more.

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1256 on: December 12, 2022, 06:49:19 PM »
...That was '2 to 3 minutes'...not 23...

Offline MageNathaniel1

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1257 on: December 12, 2022, 07:30:15 PM »
Ki is difficult to explain and needs to be experienced. Once you learn it, yes, it can be powerful but one cannot teach you how to do it, you have to learn your own way to do it.
I studied 3 styles of martial arts when I was younger as well. When you can do a kata or other technique without even thinking of it you have usually mastered it. There is an old saying a punch (or any other move) is just a punch until you have done it 1000 times then it becomes more you begin exploring the subtle nuances of it until you have done it 1000 times then it just becomes a punch again.
One key part of all martial arts is full body control. It took decades for experts to learn the secret of Bruce Li's famous 1 inch punch but it was eventually discovered based on films of him demonstrating it and it had to do with perfect timing of all of his movements to direct as much force into that 1 inch as possible.

Offline Izee

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1258 on: December 13, 2022, 01:43:49 AM »
...*S*...Yes, Nate, you understand what I mean when I try to explain 'Ki'.

One of the short, 5'3" Owners, the Japanese Shifu, was scary.  He was very mild mannered, and you could spar with him, and he wouldn't hit you very hard, or break your wrist when he blocked a punch.  During a group lesson, he was explaining that punching and kicking involved getting every muscle in your body to work together to focus all of your bodies energy to your 1st two knuckles, or the front of the sole of your foot.  (The area behind your toes)  We practiced barefoot, so when you kicked a bag, or another student, you had to curl your toes back to expose that part of your foot.  I developed a thick callus on that part of the soles of my feet from kicking the heavy canvas bag full of sand, it was hard to wear my sexy spike heels when the callus got too thick.  I would sand the callus down at times. I also hurt the sh-- out of a few toes when I didn't curl them back far enough.

Anyway, he called me up front, I was a yellow belt and was thinking that I was getting pretty good at karate.  (They said that the yellow belt was the most dangerous one, because by then you knew a number of techniques, but had no real control, but...you THOUGHT that you did)  I stood in front of him, about 2' away, and he put his open right palm on my chest, between my breasts, and all of a sudden I felt a HUGE push and I flew back and landed on my butt, about 8' from him.  I looked up at him, and his hand was still in the same position.  He helped me up, and explained that although his hand had only moved a couple inches, that his Ki and every muscle in his body was working together to focus on the base of the palm of his hand.

We can all learn to focus like that, through practice and repetition.  On afternoon, I had left work at noon, and went to the Dojo and put on my Gi and my yellow belt, and was practicing on my own.  A couple large young men came in, they were well over 6' tall, and probably weighed about 250 ibs.  They explained that they were on the College football team, and wanted to get more limber.  They were waiting for a private lesson, and were punching and kicking the hanging sandbag.  It didn't move much when they punched it, and rocked back a couple feet when they kicked it.  They commented to the Instructor, when he came up, that they could kick and punch pretty hard, and demonstrated.  The Instructor stroked his chin, and said, "Well, I guess then that we can't teach you very much here."  He then turned to me, and said, "P-----, please come over here and punch and kick the bag."

I walked over, all 5' something of me, and bringing all of my 125 lbs, and stopped, and looked at the bag.  I let out my screeching high pitched Ki-aye, and kicked the bag with my bare right foot, and it swung halfway up to the ceiling.  I stopped it after it swung a few times, and steadied.  I then shrieked again, and punched it, and it swung back, but not as far as the kick.  I was breathing heavy when I steadied the bag, and the Instructor dismissed me.  The two 'studs' just stared at me as I walked away...I swayed my hips a bit just to taunt them.

The Instructor said, "She is just a yellow belt, but will test soon for Blue.  I suggest that you don't piss her off.  You won't like her very much if you piss her off."

Offline MageNathaniel1

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Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Reply #1259 on: December 13, 2022, 07:07:51 PM »
Yes, I do understand about ki and the need for control and directing all of one's energy into one spot like the 1st 2 knuckles etc. The movement you described your sensei doing is the 1 inch punch Bruce Li was famous for. It can be very effective.
I love the demonstration your sensei had you do for the football players lol. The muscle bound ones often think force and muscle is enough but it is not technique and control does so much more.