Adaon

Adaon, son of the Chief Bard Taliesin, is one of my all-time favorite literary characters. Since the Prydain Chronicles are such short, easy reads, Jarom brought the first two to work today, and I snatched Black Cauldron from him to help the morning pass. Here are some of Adaon’s wise words:

“There is much to be known, and above all much to be loved, be it the turn of the seasons or the shape of a river pebble. Indeed, the more we find to love, the more we add to the measure of our hearts.” (p. 32)

“There is truth in all things, if you understand them well.” (p. 43)

“There is a destiny laid on us to do what we must, though it is not always given us to see it.” (p. 88)

“Is there not glory enough in living the days given to us? You should know there is adventure in simply being among those we love and the things we love, and beauty, too.” (p. 92)

And, just for fun, a good Eilonwy quote:

“It was wonderful the way you were ready to smite him because of me.” (p. 49)

(I highly, highly recommend that you read the Prydain Chronicles, whether you are young or old, have kids or no kids, like reading or don’t like reading. You will most likely enjoy them.)

it's about prevention

last night we stopped by wal-mart to pick up a few things, and as jarom went to grab a bottle of ibuprofen I happened to see an interesting product near the pharmacy window. it said “12 drug test,” and indeed, on further reading, that is exactly what it does.

when you suspect your son or daughter (it says “loved one” on the package, so I suppose spouse or parent is fair as well) is abusing drugs, simply collect a urine sample in the provided cup. secure the lid and wait 5-10 minutes, after which you can see preliminary negative or positive results for 7 illegal and 5 prescription drugs: including marijuana, cocaine, opiates (including Heroin), methamphetamines, ecstasy, amphetamines, phencyclidine, benzodiazepine, barbiturates, methadone, tricyclic antidepressants, and oxycodone.

if results come back positive you are requested to send the sample to their lab for further analysis, though they guarantee 100% confidentiality.

I have this sneaking suspicion that it might be easier to just build a good relationship with your kids from the start, and not worry about trying to collect a urine sample for drug testing…

(I found this amusing: first check’s website states that they also make a drink check product, so you can test whether someone has slipped illicit drugs into your drink. awkward enough to do that check in the first place, but what if it comes back positive?)

Lal Bihari

Lal Bihari (or Lal Bihari Mritak, born 1961) is a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, India who was officially dead between 1976 and 1994. He founded Mritak Sangh or the Association of the Dead in Uttar Pradesh, India. He fought Indian government bureaucracy for 18 years to prove that he is alive.

When Lal Bihari tried to apply for a bank loan in 1976, he found out that he was officially dead: his uncle had bribed a government official to register him as dead, so that he would get the ownership of Bihari’s land.

Bihari discovered at least 100 other people in a similar situation, being officially dead. He formed Mritak Sangh in the Azamgarh district. He and many other members were in danger of being killed by those who had appropriated their property. Nowadays the association has over 20,000 members all over India. By 2004 they had managed to declare four of their members alive.

Over the years Bihari tried to attract attention to his situation by various means. He organized his own funeral and demanded widow’s compensation for his wife. In 1980 he added the word “mritak” (“dead”) to his name and signed his letters “late Lal Bihari”. He stood for election against Rajiv Gandhi in 1989 and lost, to prove that he is alive. In 1994 he managed to have his official death annulled after a long legal struggle.

In 2004 he ran for a seat in the parliament of Lal Ganj.

Bihari continues to support other people in similar situations. In 2004 he sponsored fellow Mritak Sangh member Shivdutt Yadav when he contested election against Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Film-maker Satish Kaushik will be making a movie about his life, death, and life. Bihari was awarded the Ig Nobel Peace Award in 2003 for his considerable “posthumous” activities.

(from wikipedia, link here)