Cold Warrior
06-29-2008, 08:21 AM
Hazy this morning in the Insurance Salesman's Graveyard, after a hot and muggy Saturday. Went yesterday to a place really in this sticks (as opposed to this place which is marginally in the sticks) called Enfield for a driving lesson for my girlfriend. She's switched schools as a precaution against getting the same state tester since she called him a "$10 government-employed loser" and all. The instructor was some old guy who kept telling her she MUST cross her hands when she turns and that, while she can do a three point maneuver to back into a parking space ok, she MUST continue to practice because she'll be doing that a lot in her driving life. I've never understood this (both instructors have told her this) as I've virtually never backed into a parking space in a lifetime of driving. The response she gets is she needs to back in so she can leave more quickly (I assume these people must moonlight at robbing 7/11's if they need to leave parking lots so quickly).
Anyway, Enfield has a very nice sports bar (one of America's truly great contributions to world culture), so I sat there, drinking, of course, a scotch, watching American cricket (Yankees and Mets), and thinking what a good person I am to dedicate so much of my time each weekend to this effort. I remembered that somewhere in the distant past, Snaps (I think) had started a thread regarding the Seven Mortal Sins, aka Dante's seven circles of Purgatory. I also remembered that various philosophers and theologians had come up with seven perfect virtues (symmetry being everything to the some people). So, thanks to Blackberry and WikiMobile, I was able to find those immediately. There are various lists, some of which contain those three Bradley sisters, Faith, Hope, and Charity...
http://members.aol.com/Dave7373/PJ1.JPG
However, the list put forth in Aurelius Clemens Prudentius' (good name) Contest of the Soul seems to be the most widely-known:
Chastity: Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of body and thought through education and betterment.
Temperance: Practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.
Charity: Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.
Diligence: A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness. Putting forth full concentration in one's work
Patience: Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.
Kindness: Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
Humility: Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.
While we are all mortal beings who sin (however, not all of us are able to dance real slow), all of us (most of us, anyway :D) do possess some virtuous traits. So, I was thinking, which one was most appropriate to me (I'm still thinking, as those beginning with "c" were eliminated fairly quickly). This all leads me to the very, very simple...
TOTD: Which of the seven virtues most characterizes you? To all you really good people out there, pick only one, despite the fact that many may be reflected in your wonderful personality!
And to those of you who have none, you may certainly expect a visit from...
http://marioemario.ilcannocchiale.it/mediamanager/sys.user/23310/Monty_Python_Spanish_Inquisition.jpg
.
Anyway, Enfield has a very nice sports bar (one of America's truly great contributions to world culture), so I sat there, drinking, of course, a scotch, watching American cricket (Yankees and Mets), and thinking what a good person I am to dedicate so much of my time each weekend to this effort. I remembered that somewhere in the distant past, Snaps (I think) had started a thread regarding the Seven Mortal Sins, aka Dante's seven circles of Purgatory. I also remembered that various philosophers and theologians had come up with seven perfect virtues (symmetry being everything to the some people). So, thanks to Blackberry and WikiMobile, I was able to find those immediately. There are various lists, some of which contain those three Bradley sisters, Faith, Hope, and Charity...
http://members.aol.com/Dave7373/PJ1.JPG
However, the list put forth in Aurelius Clemens Prudentius' (good name) Contest of the Soul seems to be the most widely-known:
Chastity: Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of body and thought through education and betterment.
Temperance: Practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.
Charity: Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.
Diligence: A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness. Putting forth full concentration in one's work
Patience: Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.
Kindness: Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
Humility: Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.
While we are all mortal beings who sin (however, not all of us are able to dance real slow), all of us (most of us, anyway :D) do possess some virtuous traits. So, I was thinking, which one was most appropriate to me (I'm still thinking, as those beginning with "c" were eliminated fairly quickly). This all leads me to the very, very simple...
TOTD: Which of the seven virtues most characterizes you? To all you really good people out there, pick only one, despite the fact that many may be reflected in your wonderful personality!
And to those of you who have none, you may certainly expect a visit from...
http://marioemario.ilcannocchiale.it/mediamanager/sys.user/23310/Monty_Python_Spanish_Inquisition.jpg
.