This is the season of Naked Lady lilies in northern California. They grow the flower stem first- the leaves only come later after the flower has bloomed.

“The pervasive theme is rebellion.” Laurel Thatcher Ulrich begins her new book, “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History,” struggling to explain — understand — the appeal of an aside she made in the spring 1976 issue of an academic journal, a comment that has become a popular slogan printed on T-shirts and coffee mugs and bumper stickers, usually without her permission and often without attribution.
Quotation from Kathryn Harrison, We’re No Angels, Sunday Book Review (The New York Times) Much of what is characterized as female “misbehavior” is a matter of voice — of a woman insisting she be heard, paid not only attention, but also the respect due a being as fully human and necessary as a man.

The United States Constitution established freedom of religion in America in 1791. The right is guaranteed in the First Amendment, along with freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Specifically, it says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Even though 60% of Americans currently oppose an Islamic Cultural Center near the World Trade Center site, freedom of religion is what makes America different from many other countries. If we deny some people the right to worship the way they please, then the nature of our society will change and none of us will truly be free again.

But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are.
Quotation from President Barack Obama

This is probably the coldest summer on record for San Francisco and the surrounding bay area. Our famous layer of marine air– which provides natural air conditioning to California’s coast– is unusually persistent this year. On some days, the sun barely peeks through the fog by noon.
The best time to view the meteor showers is between midnight and 5am. But by midnight, the sky is already shrouded by thick fog; I cannot see any shooting stars.

Perseids Meteor Shower and Viewing Tips (If you see a falling star, don’t forget to make a wish)

The header photo of abandoned budget motels was taken in Reno, Nevada across the street from the Silver Legacy Casino.

We spent a few days in Reno, Nevada. It seems a shabbier version of Las Vegas– a few casinos surrounded by pawn shops, tattoo parlors, wedding chapels and budget motels. Despite the recession, there are some signs of urban renewal. They have a new downtown ballpark and a Triple-A level baseball team. The Riverwalk District, not far from the casinos, offers theaters, restaurants and events like Art and Wine Walks. Reno, which proudly proclaims itself as “The Biggest Little City in the World,” has potential.
I decided to take more classes this fall. I’ll learn to create webpages using HTML and Cascading Style Sheets. Wish me luck.

I am the happiest piglet in the world. I’m done with finals. The instructor told me I had enough credits for an A (afterwards!) and that I didn’t really have to take the final exam.

I know that if I’d had to go and take an exam for acting, I wouldn’t have got anywhere. You don’t take exams for acting, you take your courage.
Quotation from Dame Edith Evans

They only ask you one question, they say ‘Who are you?’ and I got seventy-five per cent on that.
Quotation from Peter Cook

My final exam is this week. I also have to do a final project incorporating everything I’ve learned (or should have learned) in Microsoft Office Professional 2010. I’m almost finished. Yay! I haven’t decided whether to take classes this fall or not, but I need to decide tout de suite because fall semester starts in two weeks.

You can’t just beat a team, you have to leave a lasting impression in their minds so they never want to see you again.
Quotation from Mia Hamm

The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche

I can’t do it alone. The poor can’t, the rich can’t. What’s needed is universal agreement on basic needs such as education, healthcare, housing, justice, resource management, fairness and human rights. We can no longer afford the hatreds of war, racism, sexism, intolerance and other inequities. It has been 65 years since the formation of the United Nations to promote economic development, social progress and world peace. Nothing of cooperative substance has happened since. Perhaps it is time to move the United Nations from New York City to East Jerusalem, making Jerusalem an international city accessable to all. If we put our minds together, even the most vexxing world problems could be solved.

“Freedom from fear” could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights.
Quotation from Dag Hammarskjold

Sex is better when you can think of more things to like about someone than things you don’t like. It helps if the things you like aren’t all superficial.

The less you talk, the more sex you will get.
Ryan, 30, as quoted in Glamour Magazine, 101 Ways to Have the Best Sex of Your Life

My grandmother told me, ‘He should love you more than you love him.’ Two years and a bad breakup later, I realized that dating someone I loved less was an exercise in mind-numbing boredom.
Ruthie, 31, ibid.

It was recently revealed that Russian spies posing as “ordinary” Americans were arrested. They lived in happy surburban homes. They sent messages to their handlers using invisible ink. They posted images on the internet with secret, coded texts hidden in them. They had “American” children. One alleged spy, Anna Chapman, was a “demure, divorced 28-year-old who said she founded an online real estate company worth $2 million.” They were, in short, “normal” Americans, which is probably what gave them away.

Jessie Gugig, 15, said she could not believe the charges, especially against Mrs. Murphy. “They couldn’t have been spies,” she said jokingly. “Look what she did with the hydrangeas.”
Quotation from In Ordinary Lives, U.S. Sees the Work of Russian Agents by Scott Shane and Charlie Savage (The New York Times)

“She said they were from Canada.”
Quotation from Lila Hexner, who lived next door to one of the spies.

Out of curiosity, I googled how many days old I am. Then I tried to remember as many of those days as I could. I found eureka moments, childhood memories, people, places, my wedding day, adventures, some Christmases. I remembered important days as well as insignificant days that were somehow important enough to be retained. I regretably confess I cannot remember all 14,368 days.
No, today isn’t my birthday, but I will nonetheless try to make it memorable.

Here is a “How Many Days Young Am I?” calculator. (Derbyshire Guide)

Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you’re alive, it isn’t.
Quotation from Richard Bach