Number Dogs

In fifth grade, Jackson learned to make the 25 dog. To commemorate, we chalked a 333 dog, a 72 dog, and an 84 dog, amongst others.

I don't know how long it will be until a draw a regular dog again.

Systematic Institutions Do

The value, "People first," is forsaken when other things become more important.

Ambiguity 2

A person's choice words might be copied or crafted - that is, any particular string of words might be mimi-cry or original. Both the person's ability and perspective differ when either copied or crafted.

Example: During class, a student analyzes a passage from a novel.

Copy: She read the analysis in a commentary and shares it with the class.
Crafted: She thought about the material carefully the night before and came to a conclusion.

In the latter scenario, the content springs forth from intuition.
In the former scenario, the content springs toward its regurgitator, the student.

In this sense, the perspective differs because one is intimate while the other is authoritative (like the authoritative dictionary i.e. definitive, but only in the sense of how one regards it, not how it defines other things).

The ability differs from the web of understandings that gives those choice words creation.

When intimate, the understanding has developed naturally, so its supporting web can be used to further communication/understanding with others.

When authoritative, the understanding has developed artificially (from without), so its supporting intuitions are more likely to contradict other webs of understanding because it is categorized under "knowledge" rather than discovery. I coin this latter discovery-knowledge as knoacovery (pronounced na-covery) [na like "baa" sheep].

This assumes an understanding, which may not be the case in either. A better word for copy might be "inmitate," and the bastard form of "copy" can be called "regurgitation."

Also, I don't know whether this holds for all actions or just words (read: particularly for words).

Unjust Line

Waited to be assigned a locker today; the line was about an hour long. At one point, I formed the right end of a two-person wide gap where people could pass thru the line. I hardly noticed them walk by. Then, I became the left end and all havoc let loose.

People whizzed by me so I could feel their wind. They almost touched me every time. It's not that they considered me an object, but an obstacle. They didn't de-humanize me, but I was marginalized. It would have been easy to walk thru the gap without disturbance, and to be treated as a hindrance to their progress, I felt less than an object.

I don't blame them. I just realized, for the first time, my own brutality towards the people I meet but never know. They should demand no less respect than my friends and my acquantainces.

At least for today, I pardoned myself upon intrusion.

Alex's Room Repartee

"You can really be stupid sometimes, Jackson." (Neil)
"I can be stupid all the time." (Jackson)

Buddy Cat

My cat Buddy died today. He was on the balcony with Maggie sleeping on a chair. My mom found him on the ground nearby.

I knew him for 12 years, the cat of my childhood, my adolescence, and my early adult years. I will now recount some memories.

At the old house, he brought me garden snakes. I'd see him through our den's sliding glass doors, green snake in mouth.

I tapped with two fingers on the sliding door; he stood on his hind legs and stretched his paws toward my tapping.

There are two ways to carry Buddy. The first is to cradle him like a baby. The second is to support his legs as his arms arch over one shoulder.

I sang to the tune of Tony the Tiger, "Buddy-cat, you're more than fat... you're fat!"

Meal time call: "Kitty Chow Chow, Kitty Chow Chow!"

Daniel and I rolled him into a cat burrito with just a big blanket.

He weighed 16 lbs.

Vernon was shocked when he saw Buddy a couple years later. He had gotten much bigger.

He would come to piano room when I played. I like to think he listened.

On Sundays, I would read the comics and give Buddy a walk. Those days were hot, and the concrete felt good.

Buddy was a good cat. Bold, intelligent, and independent. May he rest in peace.

Ambiguity 1: Peripheral or Purposeful

A person's activities might be peripheral or purposeful - that is, any action might be done as either a non-decision or a decision. When I was young, a girl teased me bitterly whenever i laughed, smiled, or joked. "Heeh~/`/\" she mocked.

She thought, for whatever reason, that my mannerisms were an act. "I was being cute." But that wasn't the case, and because I didn't fathom her perspective, her actions didn't make no sense.

I think this sort of ambiguity generally exists for any action.