Some of my favorite people with whom I share a birthday

Elisha Cuthbert:  11/30/1982
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actress-elisha-cuthbert-arrives-at-the-paley-center-for-news-photo/154255874

Amy Ryan:  11/30/1969
http://celebslists.com/21553-amy-ryan.html

Ben Stiller:  11/30/1965
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Stiller

Mandy Patinkin:  11/30/1952
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/FdmQCiMTqrW/69th%20Annual%20Golden%20Globe%20Awards%20Arrivals/cLLRFjdHF6U/Mandy%20Patinkin

Robert Guillaume:  11/30/1927
http://www.nndb.com/people/241/000023172/

Sir Winston Churchill:  11/30/1874
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill

Samuel L. Clemens, aka Mark Twain:  11/30/1835
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1244.Mark_Twain

Jonathan Swift:  11/30/1667
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swift

This is a bit of a fluff post, perhaps, but it's fun for me to learn of famous people who share birthdays with my friends.  I have a friend named Julie who shares a birthday (July 13th) with Patrick Stewart and Harrison Ford.  Anybody who shares a birthday with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Indiana Jones can't be all bad.  I have three friends who share a birthday (March 22) with Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber.  As someone who loves musical theater, that strikes me as fascinating.

You undoubtedly share a birthday with someone famous, and I would love to read about it.  Please feel free to comment below!

The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything

Deep Thought
http://www.nordic-brains.de/html/c_home_42.html

In the 1978 BBC Radio series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which was followed by a 1979 novel, 1981 BBC Television series and 2005 movie, humorist Douglas Adams tells of a supercomputer named "Deep Thought" that is programmed to determine the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

After seven-and-a-half million years, Deep Thought determines the answer:  42.

The priests who are present for the answer are incredulous, of course, given the length of time that it took to determine a seemingly elementary answer.  Deep Thought goes on to explain "You have to know what the question is in order to know what the answer means."

Another supercomputer - the rather dully named Earth - is designed to determine the question, but it is destroyed five minutes before completing its ten million-year calculation.

http://thesecondguess.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-year-later.html
No Copyright Infringement Intended

After a great deal of hijinks, including meeting the two-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox and a man named Slartibartfast, a human named Ford Prefect determines the "Ultimate Question" by pulling random Scrabble^® tiles out of a bag:  What do you get if you multiply six by nine?

In spite of the fact that Mister Prefect "always thought something was fundamentally wrong with the universe," and that there may be many days that I may be inclined to agree with him, that is not the case today, as it is my birthday - my 42nd birthday, in fact.

I hope it is an absolutely fantastic day for you.  It definitely promises to be one for me.

Some of the content of this entry was obtained from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy page on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker's_Guide_to_the_Galaxy.

Still holding onto the dream....

http://filmfoodie.blogspot.com/2010/12/casablanca.html

The Powerball Lottery held on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 had an estimated jackpot of just shy of $580 million.  The winning numbers were 5, 16, 22, 23, 29, and the Powerball number was 6.

I did not win, but if I had....

Let me say first that I would definitely help out some non-profit organizations, perhaps help some for-profit companies to resolve some labor disputes, as well as help out family and friends, of course.  There is a noble pursuit involved with having so much money.

Then there is influence.  With real money, perhaps I could have a substantive and lasting impact on an issue such as the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan.

This is all in reference to what I call "crazy money."  Obviously, $1 million would be more than enough to make me happy and allow me to be generous to people who are close to me, but it wouldn't go very far in an international activism campaign.

http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/sasabe-chapel#slide=50490821

So, back to the $580 million.... What would be my "He did WHAT" moment?  It's easy.  For as long as I can remember, it has been a dream of mine to find film historians and architects who could build exact, full-scale  replicas of Rick's Café Américain from 1942's Casablanca and the chapel from 1963's Lilies of the Field.  The chapel in the photo reportedly served as the inspiration for the one in the movie.  The lead characters in those movies worked toward a greater good at great personal risk, and they were abundantly successful in their goals.  The idea of having - and sharing - those representations of nobility means a great deal to me.

Let's face it though - this is a very unlikely possibility, so it is my responsibility and my honor to work toward any number of "greater goods" with my current gifts.  I hope for success in those pursuits and wish the same for you in yours.

Two blocks

I write this with a heavy heart.

There have been four pedestrian deaths on the four-mile stretch of United States Highway 10 between Anoka and Ramsey, Minnesota within the last four months.  The most recent of these took place on Monday, November 26 at approximately 7:40 PM Central Standard Time.  A sixteen-year-old girl was crossing the highway when she was struck by a vehicle where the posted speed limit was 60 miles per hour.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/999726/391/Pedestrian-struck-killed-by-car-in-Anoka

There is no contesting the fact that this was a tragedy, and my heart broke upon learning of it.  Having owned a home in that area for the two years from 2000 to 2002, I was familiar with the location in question, and it occurred to me that there was a regulated intersection very close by.  With the use of Google Maps, I verified as much, determining that the intersection was approximately two blocks away from the site of the accident.

Would I have taken the short cut in my teens?  Maybe.  Would I have taken it in my thirties?  Again, maybe.  There is no utility in second-guessing something that never took place.  It is also not finally my place to attach sense and sensibility to the tragic loss of life, but I just can’t help thinking… two blocks.  What a difference just two blocks would have made for this young woman, and perhaps for the world.  My heart goes out to the families of everyone involved in these pedestrian deaths.

Traffic safety is a key concern of mine, and I shall be writing more about that on future occasions.  It goes without saying that I hope those posts will come under happier circumstances.

In closing:  whenever I go anywhere to this day, my Mom still says "Be careful," and although I have teased her about that on occasion, the words ring particularly true right now.  Well, I am not your Mom - obviously, but if you are reading this, please... be careful.

Some of the content of this post was obtained from  coverage by our local NBC and CBS affiliates:  http://www.kare11.com/news/article/999810/396/MnDOT-to-study-highway-after-4-pedestrian-deaths-in-4-months and http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/11/27/16-year-old-girl-struck-and-killed-in-anoka/.

The Berner* Convention, the Rome Statute, and You

https://www.facebook.com/facebook

"In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare...."

There may be no ten words strung together that are less effective than these.

It seems to me that there must be a machine at work somewhere that churns out misinformation and plays upon people's fears.  A premium example of that is the fact that the agreement to which the specious "Facebook Copyright Notice" refers is actually the Berne Convention, hence the asterisk in the post title.  

Let's assume for a moment though that I am arguing a semantic point, and that the misspelling is simply a typo.  The overall issue remains then that no one wants to have his or her image or work product misappropriated.  We can certainly all agree upon that.  Unfortunately, I am unable to provide you with any tips or "tricks" as to how to avoid these pitfalls, but I can assure you that the "Facebook Copyright Notice" will do nothing toward that end.  For additional proof, please refer to this Huffington Post article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/26/new-facebook-guidelines-chain-letter-hoax_n_2192673.html

I do not look upon this as a "better safe than sorry" phenomenon, wherein posting the Notice, however misplaced it may be, ultimately does no harm.  Instead, my belief is that the propagation of incorrect information erodes the quality of the system and potentially compromises the reliability of the individual sharing it - and that is the last thing I want for anyone.

You like... what exactly?

"A Mermaid"
John William Waterhouse, 1901
Oil on Canvas
http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/view.cfm?recordid=30

In my very first blog entry, I listed mermaids as being among my wide variety of  interests.  This sometimes raises questions for people, and it does not exactly make for party conversation most of the time.  The usual reaction that I get from people is indistinguishable from the one that I would imagine receiving upon telling them of a third arm.

As a matter of clarification, I am speaking in terms of human women who don mermaid tails.  There are also a growing number of mermen, but my familiarity with them is limited at best.  Because of this, I have had people challenge my moral integrity on the matter, suggesting that my interest is limited to seashell bikini tops.  I mention that only to acknowledge the question and do not wish to dignify it beyond that.

This for me is a matter of belonging to a community that spans the globe, interacting enthusiastically with over 150 participants hailing from countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the special administrative region of Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom and, of course, the United States.  It has been both a pleasure and a privilege to become friends with over fifty of these fascinating people.

The people with whom I engage write about topics such as animal rights, conservation, entertaining at parties for children and/ or adults, healthy diet, the history and the few remaining present-day examples of aquatic-themed bars and lounges, the International Whaling Commission, recycling, tail making, water safety and so very much more.  Sometimes, they just want to talk about swimming, and that's perfectly fine too.

It has been such a rewarding experience for me to get to know people from the mermaid community, and I have taken many of their lessons to heart, changing some of my own behaviors and correspondingly doing my best to impact the actions of others.  In the end, this is just a matter of how these individuals express their interests. Some people reach the masses through authorship or in song, others through painting or acting.  My friends in the mermaid community collectively do all of that in their own stylized way.

Do you have interests from a niche community that you would like to share with me?

Taken too soon

I am feeling rather solemn this evening after attending the fourth visitation and/ or funeral within the last year of someone who was taken from this world far too soon, and the primary idea that occupies my thoughts is the importance of positive communication with those whom we love.

A "wrong number" that turned out to be the right thing

In early 2004, I was still reeling from the death of my father, who passed away on December 18, 2003 at the age of 58.

http://www.redcrossblood.org/locations/north-suburban-blood-donation-center

On January 7, 2004 I saw the Law & Order episode "Darwinian," which prompted me to volunteer with a faith-based non-profit homeless shelter, where I served food and distributed blankets to both men and women at least once every week for thirty months, ultimately turning that volunteer position into an employment opportunity.

Shortly after watching the aforementioned television program, I received a telephone call from the American Red Cross, and the associate there was looking for someone who could no longer be reached at the number.  In addition to providing the correct new telephone number for the intended party, I also volunteered to become a blood donor myself.  The rest, as they say, is history.  With only a few exceptions, I have donated like clockwork every eight weeks since February 11, 2004.  Today marked my fifty-fifth donation, potentially saving as many as 165 lives over the course of the last nine years.  My next appointment is scheduled for January 18, 2013, and that will mark the donation of seven gallons.

I believe that you would agree with my assertion:  that was one good "wrong number" call, if ever there were one.

As indicated on http://www.redcrossblood.org/, The need is constant.  The gratification is instant.  Give blood.™

Thank you for your consideration.

"Save Thanksgiving!"

http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/11/vegetarian-thanksgiving/

Today has marked the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, a day rich with traditions of family, food and football for many - although not necessarily in that order.

It has traditionally been a day whereupon retail stores have been closed, ostensibly so that their employees can spend time with family.  The following day, commonly known as "Black Friday," is said to be the busiest shopping day of the year and is widely regarded as the start of the Christmas shopping season.  Over the course of the past few years, however, stores have been opening earlier and earlier, and now some are even open on Thanksgiving Day itself.

In response to this apparent change in our culture, people have been circulating online petitions imploring retailers to "save Thanksgiving."  I am of several minds on this.

Soliciting the attention of an international corporation in the month of November regarding their Thanksgiving Day policies is, in my estimation, a fruitless endeavor.  The decision to be open or closed was almost certainly not made on a monthly basis, but on a quarterly, yearly or even long-term basis.  The American populace may be able to effect change for future years if we start today and maintain our passion on the subject throughout the year.

Very generally speaking, businesses open their doors for three reasons - to provide goods and services, to remain competitive with other companies who do the same, and... because people are receptive.  If we wish to change the companies, it is not enough to complain.  We must first change the consumer culture and not patronize businesses during those days and times that we find objectionable, then communicate to them clearly and respectfully the reasons for our decisions.

Something that I find somewhat ironic is that people take issue with big box retailers being open, but no one seems to give similar consideration to restaurants or gas stations.  Additionally, it occurs to me that there have been Thanksgiving Day parades in New York City for eighty-six years, and there is a NFL game on television this evening.  In fact, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_Classic shows that football games have been played on Thanksgiving every single year since 1892 (with the exception of 1941 through 1944 because of World War II).  Speaking from personal experience, spending time with someone who is concentrating on a televised football game is akin to being in the company of a rock that has the occasional outburst, as each is equally receptive to non-game conversation.

I want to look at this from another angle though.  What exactly does the Thanksgiving holiday celebrate?  Is it necessary as an American - or, any any rate, as someone who lives in America - to celebrate the holiday?  Our nation prides itself as a "melting pot," a land of immigrants.  Our brothers and sisters who come to our shores from nations around the world might not be particularly interested in Thanksgiving, any more than you or I might show enthusiasm toward countless other cultural observances.  The nation does not come to screeching halt in consideration of them, so perhaps it is time for the people of the United States to re-evaluate the very nature of our secular holiday traditions.  Working on Thanksgiving and other secular holidays is something to which we may need to become accustomed.

http://theartfestival.wordpress.com/2010/11/25/happy-thanksgiving/

In closing, it is my observation that some people allow their lives to be dictated by the calendar.  If someone has to work on Thanksgiving, but gets to spend time with family on the following Saturday, does that make him or her any less thankful?  Do we feel any differently about our loved ones on February 13th or 15th?  Personally, I do not restrict my patriotism to July 4th or my interest in politics to Election Day.

The die has been cast for this year, but we can make real, positive, and lasting changes - perhaps not in the way that our nation conducts commerce, but in the way that we feel about it - if we start the process today.

My wish for "saving Thanksgiving" is that we may all hold the spirit and the practice of both secular and sacred holidays in our hearts on every day throughout the year.

Connections with friends... and strangers

Yesterday (November 20, 2012) would have marked the 42nd birthday of a gentleman with whom I went to school from kindergarten through the eighth grade.  He was unable to celebrate with his wife, children, family and friends because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time - a place that I myself had been only ten hours earlier.

Here is my Facebook status update dated November 20, 2010:

On 08/01/2007, 13 people passed away when the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapsed. One of those individuals was a former classmate of mine, Patrick Holmes.

Although I had not seen Pat for over 20 years, his passing had a profound impact upon me, as well as countless others.

Please join me in remembering a classmate, friend, son, husband, and father who would have celebrated his 40th birthday today.

http://projects.dot.state.mn.us/35wbridge/

The primary impact over the course of the past five-plus years is that I no longer allow myself to waste opportunities to engage with someone.  If I see someone in public who looks remotely familiar, I will usually go out of my way to talk with him or her.  Sometimes I am wrong, and the other person is a complete stranger.  I haven't made any new friends this way, but the worst thing that has happened is that I have shared even the briefest of conversations with people.  There has never been a bad experience for me because of this new outlook on life, and some days, it has been a tremendous bright spot.

My only wish is that I could have come to that epiphany through another process, and I hope that this story can serve to help others adopt a similar mindset.

The bridge was rebuilt, and it reopened on September 18, 2008.

Ladies and Gentleman: Introducing....

Taken November 1, 2011 by Donae Cotton Photography.

Welcome to "Codified:  The Life and Thoughts of Matthew Morse."

Thank you for taking your time to see what I have to share with you.

I am a man of many interests, including family and friends, stage plays, wineries and vineyards, politics, cooking, science fiction and fantasy, cabaret, and... mermaids, as well as a host of other subjects.

Professionally, my talents lie within financial and organizational skills, as well as in cultivating relationships with business partners.  Over the bulk of the last two years, I have devoted my resources to writing, networking, and volunteering.

In this blog, I will share my thoughts, feelings, and analysis on a variety of subjects.  If there is anything about which you would like to know more, please feel free to ask - respectfully.  

Finally, it might take a few posts before I get the hang of this, so let me thank you in advance for your patience and ongoing interest.