Tuesday 5 October 2004

Pic of the day: This screenshot from the anime Windy Tales seemed most appropriate.

Rain and rusty throats

I glanced briefly at the local newspaper today. It announced that it had been raining cats and dogs, which indeed it had: The rain has been pouring down lately, not continuously but with great intensity when it first rained. This kind of downpour, I have learned, is in English referred to as "raining cats and dogs". But this was not an English newspaper, it is thoroughly Norwegian, to the point where even its name is patriotic. And yet I believe this is the first time I have seen that expression used in Norwegian.

***

I don't know if it is because of the weather, but my throat has not been up to its usual standards the last two days. Yesterday I had to eat some special throat lozenges which colostrum, they usually help against a sore throat if I take them early enough. I am better again today, but my voice is still somewhat rusty and I had fits of coughing even though I don't have a cold. So I should probably not dictate a long entry today.

I haven't been talking more than usual these last few days, so I don't think that is the problem. I am more worried that it might be my subconscious trying to damage my throat the way it has done with my arm, in order to insulate me in a limited solitary confinement. What it would gain from that is anybody's guess. Perhaps I'm just punishing myself. I enjoy the life I live so much (even though I'm sure most other people would find it horrible) and I constantly have this feeling of guilt because I have a good time when most humans suffer either in body or in soul. I'm not sure the 6 billion humans who are less happy than I would feel a lot better knowing that I have a sore throat. But at least now you know, so you can rejoice if you feel the urge...

***

Perhaps needless to say, I have been playing Sims2 today again. The pop music on their stereo makes me want to get up and dance too, but I only do so VERY moderately. I have more to say about the game, but I thought you could have a break today!

I also read a bit on the Norwegian web site of the Baha'i Faith, and noted with interest how the section for children distorted other religions to fit with their message. For instance, their version of the Ten Commandments skipped the prohibition against adultery but inserted a commandment of cleanliness. Uhm, wouldn't it be better to NOT quote them at all if you don't like them? (Not that I think this says anything about Baha'i morality, I just don't see the point in changing other people's holy texts.)

I guess all religions have this tendency, certainly Christianity has a tendency to read the New Testament into the Old (even our name for it implies that it is outdated). Of course, we don't do this to hurt of mock Judaism; we sincerely believe that the Bible is not complete without Jesus Christ. But I wonder... seen from the outside, do we blatantly distort their religion on the same scale as this new faith does with Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam? "The eye sees everything but not itself."

Well, that should be enough food for thought for today. Certainly my throat seems to think so. Or perhaps I just want to return to my Sims...