A Favorite Secular Christmas Song

Billy Squier rocks Christmas in this three minute delightful song from the MTV heyday:



Update April 24, 2012:  Ouch!  Nabbed by the copyright police and well I should have been.  Shame on me!

Sprout It! Lettuce!!!!

Okay. See all that light brown to medium brown stuff laced with little black specks of Heaven-Knows-What? Now look very closely at the tiniest specks that aren't brown or black; they are pale GREEN: tiny lettuce sprouts on their first day above ground, November 28th.

I am so proud. More to come!

Planting It!

Today is Day 5 after planting. On Wednesday, the crops were planted in my autumn garden. The upright sticks mark the rows of planted seeds. Why two rows in one? 'Cause I love green onions. Bring 'em on!



Leaf lettuce was the only one that specified a need for some direct sun, so it's planted at the north end. See the light? Spinach is next to it in the 'inner north', then green onions in the 'inner south' plot and the Chioggia beets in the southern most plot.

Here's a pic of Chioggia beets. Pretty, huh? They are Italian in origin:




I used some plugs of grass from allotted gardening plot to transplant into thin or--like below--barren patches of lawn. Looks like they are surviving and may fill in nicely.



More will be revealed as the crops sprout over the next few days. Spinach may be the first to peek up into the world. I'll keep you posted.

Digging It!

Remember Michael, "Blue Rider"? Michael is happily off the road and back at his home in Phoenix. There are things he misses about traveling the western United States with a Werner truck, but he admits he doesn't miss the stress.

Michael is a master artist in his own home as well as on the road. About 10 days ago, he was planting his winter flower beds and urging me to help him. I demurred, saying that gardening was not my thing.



Then I began to see the results of his labor. And make no mistake, there is a lot of hard work in Michael's gardens.

Michael has customized his flower beds and lawns with a computer directed watering system, so each area of lawn and each flower bed can be watered as needed. As you can see above his results are breath-taking! And I became respectful and a little envious of his artistry and skills. Well, I harrumphed, I don't do flowers. But I might do vegetables.

Michael assigned me a plot of land and said go for it! And I'm going for it. Sunday I dug it up, and today I groomed it by picking out grassy clods and shaking off the dirt. I conserved the grass by replanting it in some thin spots. It may or may not root again, but it's better than having it go to waste.

No, this is not a grave!

My plot is about 3 feet by 9 feet, and it will be divided into four sections: Green leaf lettuce, spinach, green onions, and beets.


Michael and others speak of the joy of working the soil. I must admit it is a good feeling.

Folks, you know what this means? More blogging! Brace yourselves!!

Pat Oliphant Rocks The Silliness

I can't pass this one up!

Pat Oliphant, usually on the political/policy beat, occasionally takes a jaded look at Anglicanism and the silliness of the day. His cartoon speaks for itself. And I'd guess he has actual life experience with various facets of Anglicanism!

Fear of Superior Parenting

Today President Obama will speak to children and teens to encourage them to be better students, to develop and work toward good life goals, and to believe that with a good education they can grow up to have a good life. He will point out that he got where he is by following that advice.

Parents are horrified and are blocking their children's access to this message. And why?

Mr. Obama will be demonstrating better parenting skills in one brief video message than the 'parents' have shown in the child's lifetime.

Well, we can't have that!

Dear Governor Brewer:

My letter to Governor Jan Brewer, today:


I support you completely in your insistence for a sales tax increase (referendum). Wish we didn't have to wait for voter approval.

Please continue to hold the budget line, Governor Brewer. Arizona needs and deserves good government and most of us KNOW it takes money to operate efficiently and effectively.

Thank you,
Pat Klemme
Active Registered Voter (!)

I am living proof that a life-long Democrat can support a Republican. We ALL need to be going where Gov. Brewer is: to the practical middle where business--yes, government business--gets done well.

Lubna Hussein "Immodest Dress" Trial Postponed

The judicial court in Khartoum Sudan has postponed the trial of Lubna Ahmed Hussein on a charge of wearing indecent clothing, specifically trousers. The trial is being adjourned for a month while the court investigates whether Ms. Hussein's former job for the United Nations confers immunity for her sartorial indescretion.

Here is Ms. Hussein, not only in 'trousers', but blue jeans. Wicked, I'm sure!

Ms. Hussein was arrested by the Islamic fashion police at a cosmopolitan restaurant where she was wearing a pair of green slacks with her dashiki and head scarf. Having been exposed (oh my!) to western immorality through her employment with the United Nations, Ms. Hussein decided she would not take the 10 lashes plus a fine (which other women with her meekly accepted) until she had had a well publicized trial.

Ms. Hussein is quoted in this article by the BBC, "Flogging is not pain, flogging is an insult to humans, women and religions." She means this to be a test case, one which will call the world's attention to abhorrent treatment of women under a civil law that is more severe than Sharia law is. In order to force the court to put her on trial, Ms. Hussein resigned her United Nations job to neutralize the immunity issue. The court is clearly embarrassed to be put into this position, and is deferring its action until media attention dies down.

Good luck there.

To get a clearer understanding than I'm providing, click the highlighted link above for a professional journalist's factual report.

SEAPLEX and Project Kaisei Visit The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Holy Science Friday!

This afternoon on NPR's Science Friday, Miriam Goldstein described a three week scientific mission to study the ecological mess we call the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. She is a graduate student at Scripps Institute of Oceanography and she and her colleagues have obtained a grant sufficient for three weeks' use of Scripps research vessel, New Horizon. You can hear her account of the team's plans here. The project is called SEAPLEX--Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastics Expedition. SEAPLEX has its own website, and a newly started --you got it!--blog.

SEAPLEX will be working with Project Kaisei. While the New Horizon leaves San Diego, Project Kaisei's ship will depart from San Francisco with a similar mission:

"Project Kaisei will examine the largest area of the Plastic Vortex, an ocean gyre, situated to the North East of Hawaii, and approximately five days by boat from the United States (San Francisco area). The expedition will consist of a large pass through the Plastic Vortex, with the aim to collect and study plastic and other debris forms from the ocean in order to showcase some of the new technologies that will be used for processing and recycling."

These two expeditions working together give me hope that this environmental mess and its effects on ocean life can be studied and ultimately cleaned up.

I'll be following their progress with interest.

Don't Blame Me, Blame Karen J

Karen J sends this goody along today:

THE WIFE FROM HELL

A police officer pulls a speeding car over. The officer says, ' I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir.'

The driver says, 'Gee, officer I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating.'

Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: 'Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control.'

As the officer writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, 'Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?'

The wife smiles demurely and says, 'You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did.'

As the officer makes out the second ticket for the illegal radar detector unit, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, 'Dammit, woman, can't you keep your mouth shut?'

The officer frowns and says, 'And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an automatic $75 fine.'

The driver says, 'Yeah, well, you see officer, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket.'

The wife says, 'Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving.'

And as the police officer is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, 'WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE SHUT UP??'

The officer looks over at the woman and asks, 'Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?'

(You'll love this part...)

*

*

*

Only when he's been drinking!

Skirts vs. Trousers for Modesty

Reuters reports on the trial of a woman who had the temerity to wear 'trousers' in public at a restaurant bar in Khartoum in Sudan:

Woman in court in trouser "test case"

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Sudanese woman facing 40 lashes for wearing trousers in public made her first appearance in a court packed with supporters Wednesday, in what her lawyer described as a test case in Sudan's decency laws. She attended the hearing wearing the same green slacks that got her arrested for immodest dress.

Indecency cases are not uncommon in Sudan. But Hussein has attracted attention by publicising her case, inviting journalists to hearings and using it to campaign against dress codes sporadically imposed in the capital.

The article continues to explain that Ms. Hussein is insisting on this case being adjudicated in court--even if she must resign her United Nations job--to focus an international spotlight on the form of punishment: 40 lashes plus a fine. The fine is not the objectionable point. She contends that lashing a woman 40 times for wearing slacks instead of traditional dress will be viewed as a human rights violation. She hopes to end this punishment, at least for the crime of 'immodest dress' in Sudan.

Good for her! But here is my question: In what way are trousers more immodest than a skirt?

Traditional dress in Sudan is influenced by Islamic definitions. Basically modest dress would consist of clothing that covered a woman's body from the neck to the feet, and the lower portion would be a long dress or skirt. A skirt is open from a waist band to the ground, a fabric tube that encases the legs, but has no closure between the legs to cover genitalia. Sounds pretty immodest to me!

Trousers are open at the waist, then narrow to two fabric tubes, one covering each leg--and they are closed between the legs to completely cover the genitalia. Sounds pretty modest to me!

I have worn slacks, jeans, trousers most of my adult life. When I wear a skirt I feel slightly exposed even with appropriate underwear.

When I wear pants I feel dressed, quite modestly dressed.

I ponder why society has put men in trousers and women in skirts. In patriarchal societies it seems a distinct access advantage for men. Just pull up that skirt and have at it. Anthropologist Margaret Mead would have a field day with this observation, if she didn't already.

My salacious observations are tangential to Ms. Hussein's legal test case. I will be watching with interest as this story unfolds.

The link to Reuters' story is: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090729/od_nm/us_trousers_odd_1

August 1 Update: Here is an interview of Mrs. Lubna Hussein in the London Telegraph.

Happy Birthday (Belatedly) to Diverse Mind

I discovered that I've posted a blog now and then for over a year. Sometimes I'm fairly sure no one is reading but me. Other times I've been gratified by written or face-to-face comments, a sure sign that I'm not alone here.

Diverse Mind has no one particular advocacy. This lack of focus is probably disconcerting to visitors from other blogs that are topically focused. But everyone is welcome come and browse through this Diverse Mind, or to just drop in and see who that commenter is over on Inch At A Time, Telling Secrets, Wounded Bird, or others of my blog friends.

I am in awe of those who can produce a blog post at roughly the rate of one or more post a day! In slightly over a year, Diverse Mind has produced 70 posts. I'm going to give myself an at-a-girl for an average of roughly one a week.

The greatest joy in this is looking at what I've offered and being proud of all but one of the posts. And I'm not ashamed of the one; it just doesn't represent my better choices. My favorite is a mini-meditation that my Higher Power strongly suggested: Respiration. There is resonate core truth in that one that came from Someone greater than me.

Thanks for a good year, Diverse Mind!

Great Pacific Garbage Patch Redux

This is Jan Eliot's marvelous family strip, Stone Soup, on July 28, 2009. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is real, and some estimate it may be approaching the size of Africa. When this blog was new, and I was still learning how to embed pictures, I wrote about this phenomenon here and here.

The name 'Garbage Patch' is deceptive on multiple levels. I always think of a patch as being a small piece of fabric or other material designed to repair something. This patch is immense and destroys rather than repairs. I think of garbage as being the biodegradable leavings from food preparation such as used coffee grounds, vegetable shavings, fat scraps and the like. Garbage is stuff that comes from the planet and returns easily to the earth, even improves the earth with nutrients to support new growth. What circles in this enormous floating morass is not garbage. It is non-biodegradable trash, much of which is plastics.

We need to stop calling this the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. That's entirely too cute. And the only truth in it is 'Pacific', denoting the location of this one. (No, it is not the only one, just the worst.)

Maybe the Indestructible Pacific Killer Waste Dump. How about that? I'm open to reader suggestions in comments.

More important, the world is open to suggestions on ridding our oceans of killer waste.

Thanks to Jan Eliot whose Stone Soup I read at Go Comics and Arizona Republic newspaper.

Health Care Reform: The Republican Option

Heaven help us all!

This about sums up my Republican Senators' point of view.

Senator Kyl and Senator McCain are emotionally stuck in the middle 20th century. I don't think there is any hope of them ever getting gay-friendly.

But worse they are committed to allowing bloated big businesses in pharmaceutical and insurance industries continue to pile up mountains of profit at the health expense of America's uninsured and 'uninsurable'.

Let's remember this when we vote to fill Senate seats in the future. We need senators who will care about their voters, not their money baggers.

Political cartoonist David Horsey comes to me via Go Comics.

Wise Latinas Rule!

Ben Sargent, one of my favorite political cartoonists at Go Comics, absolutely nails the disgruntled WASPMs who insist on niggling away at Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor. The offending Republican senators should see themselves through the eyes of tolerant diverse Americans. They would be ashamed of themselves.

Every news outlet I read agrees that nominee Sonia Sotomayor will be consented by the Senate. Yet White Republican Male Senators (okay, I'm outa caps now!) make fools of themselves pestering her about a speech she made once, a speech to an audience of predominently Latina women. Haven't any of these macho lilly white elitists ever given a speech in which they made statements to motivate and inspire their audience? That's all it was!

Shame, shame.

And good on Ben Sargent for calling them on their probable fears. Imagine: Someone other than a white male might actually be as good as....!

Update at 8:05 AM: Per NPR,Sen. Kyl will vote against Judge Sonia Sotomayor. He will explain in a press conference later today. Hrummmpf!

Working Dogs Rule!

The Baaa-Studs have put their high tech skills to work demonstrating the skills of their working dogs. True. I am not giving a lot of credit to the other stars of this show. Well, you'll see!



Hat Tip to Katie Sherrod at Desert's Child.

Hot Flash! News Flash!!

Hot news or news flash, but here's today's good news:

The House of Bishops (of The Episcopal Church) has passed Resolution C056 which opens the pathway for designing rites for same-sex blessings and allows for 'generous pastoral care' in jurisdictions where same-sex marriages or civil unions have been legalized. It's the Anglican way of saying, local bishops may allow (or not) pre-union counseling and even some type of ceremony to mark Episcopalian couples' unions.

Alleluia in the highest!!

Before I get too carried away, let's remember that's the action of the House of Bishops; we still must get approval in the House of Deputies. Let us pray.... Amen!

Update: The House of Deputies has concurred with wide margins among laity and clergy.
Amen Ba-wo! Amen Ba-wo! Amen sia kudu misa!

A Short Joyful History of Integrity Eucharist

The history of Integrity Eucharist at The Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention is remarkably recent--just since 1988! In this video, Rev. Canon Dexter Cheney talks about the first occasion in Detroit. Then enjoy images from this year's Integrity Eucharist followed by additional history of the G/L/B/T journey to full inclusion in TEC:

The Episcopal Church Welcomes ALL of Us!

On Friday I grabbed my toothbrush and comb and went to Anaheim California to attend a special church service, Holy Eucharist by and for members and friends of Integrity. Integrity is the fellowship of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Episcopalians that advocates for sacramental equality within our church. I was not in small company; over 1200 members and straight allies participated. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Bishop Gene Robinson, our church's first OPENLY gay bishop, and Bishop Barbara Harris, our church's first woman bishop, who delivered a stellar call for inclusion. It was a joyful experience for me on many levels. The music reverberates in my memory causing my heart to leap with pleasure at my encounter with God at the table with several hundred of my close, personal friends!

Super-short history: The Episcopal Church has been working its way toward full inclusion of GLBT members since 1985, but sustained a setback to progress at our last general convention (2006). In an attempt to placate some parts of the church in places where homosexuality is still subjugated and criminalized, a resolution (B033) was passed promising we would exercise restraint in choosing bishops "whose manner of life" might offend other parts of the Anglican Communion. The wording was short and simple. It failed to satisfy those conservative members of the Anglican Communion and it offended GLBT faithful to varying degrees. (Call me hyper-offended!)

Now the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops have passed a resolution (D025) which supercedes B033 and clarifies the Episcopal Church's relationship with the Anglican Communion and with ALL of its members, especially GLBT faithful (shown as ammended):

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of in the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church,; and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people which call is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.

The Episcopal Church welcomes ALL of us: Straight, GLBT, and those who'd rather GLBT weren't here. And that's the way The Episcopal Church is--Via Media with room for all!

Health Care Reform: The Public Option Question

Here's a real education about the health care 'public option'. After watching Bill Moyers interview a former Cigna public relations director, my mind is made up. Get your coffee and settle down for a revelation:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

Good Morning World!

Sometimes a day just calls out for recognition! I am glad to be alive today.

I look forward to what the day will bring.

• time with friends
• a little housework
• a friend's sobriety anniversary
• and whatever else God may pack into the day

Thank you to the Universal Creator for another beautiful day!

Let Governor Brewer Do Her Job

Today I have written to my senator and representatives as well as the leaders of our legislature to insist they deliver the budget to Governor Brewer. I hope she returns it to them with specific guides to improvement, because their time-wasting efforts have fallen far short of what Arizona needs.

Arizona has the capacity to be a high ranking state in quality-of-life issues. Arizona voters know it takes investment--yes taxes--to improve education, health care, services for homeless and mentally ill, and security from crime and terrorism. Our legislature seems to think the way to a better Arizona is to pinch pennies and cut services.

Governor Brewer is an excellent businesswoman and administrator. Our legislature should take advantage of her skills and experience.

A WEH To Meet the Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals are realistic if we can all find a way to contribute. A friend of mine just showed me a way to make the most of my MDG charity dollars, and I'm embarrassed that I didn't realize this opportunity sooner.

I'm a crank when it comes to charitable giving. I want to know that my donation will be used for the charity, not for fundraising costs, administrative costs, staff pay, etc. And Friends of WEH is a sure-fire winner. My friend, the Reverend Carol Hosler, recently returned from a trip to Cameroon in Central Africa where she spent her time with the founder and director of Women, Environment and Health. Carol knows Ruth Musunu Titi-Manyaka very well because they were roommates and friends in college a few (ahem) years ago. Carol and three other board members of Friends of WEH worked with Ruth and her team in everything from repackaging basic foodstuffs to health care assessments conducted by a volunteer group of student nurses from Linfield College.

Carol documented her reunion with Ruth and the visiting team's work with Women, Environment and Health in her Cameroon trip blog. Her letter to the Board of Friends of WEH is eloquent and gives the exact information I need to be sure my MGD dollars will be well spent. I heartily recommend the rest of her blog also, especially the photos and stories of WEH clients being served.

I also recommend this 2 minute trip to Cameroon to see the work of WEH and Friends of WEH for yourself: MGD Work of WEH

So here's a challenge: Pick this one, or another one, but find a way to support reaching the MDG's by target year 2015. Donate regularly or pitch in and help with the work as Carol and the board members do. For me, this is the WEH.

Yes and No

Yes. My friends, M & J, are still married according to the California Supreme Court.

No. Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, will NOT be repealed.

I'm trying to be grateful for a mixed blessing.

Common Cement at Tulane with Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres is a personal hero, and here in her own words is why:



Ellen gives witty, wise, and joyful advice to Tulane's Spring 2009 graduating class. I'm not sure Tulane realized what they were getting into when they invited her, but it may have been the best commencement address of the year!

Thanks to the Rev'd Elizabeth and Grandmere Mimi, and to Lisa, too. This is a keeper!

Proposition 8: The Musical

Proposition 8 in California evoked some of the most creative advertising in the history of politicking. As we await the decision on Proposition 8, let's enjoy again Jack Black's starring role:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones

Another Season of Advent

I'm living in a season of advent right now, a time of anticipatory waiting.

Two friends of mine became a married couple last summer in California. They happen to be two men, and they were legally married in the span of time when marriage for gay couples and lesbian couples was validated by the California Supreme Court. In November California voters narrowly passed Proposition 8 making gay and lesbian marriage illegal again.

The California Supreme Court is now evaluating arguments for and against the language of Prop. 8. Even the Attorney General of California, who approved putting Prop. 8 on the ballot, asked the court to overturn the proposition. As I understand it, the CA Supremes will decide whether the language of Prop. 8 is contrary to the constitutional language guaranteeing equality for all citizens. They will also decide whether the existing married gay/lesbian couples will continue to be legally married.

The Supremes' decision will be announced this coming Tuesday, June 2. My friends are not alone. Thousands of couples were married between June and November. I'm waiting with detached academic interest. I cannot know how anxiously those many couples must feel as they await the California Supreme Court's decision.

More emotional for me is the pending national General Convention of the Episcopal Church scheduled for July this year. TEC meets only once every three years. Last time, in 2006, TEC failed to make any headway toward forming a liturgy for same sex commitment ceremonies. Worse, at the latest possible hour, then Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold persuaded the PB-elect, Katharine Jefferts Schori, to join him in getting a resolution passed to promise the Anglican Communion we would not consecrate any bishops "whose manner of life" might offend other members of the AC. Resolution B033 was so mildly worded that it failed to assuage fears of conservative provinces. It was so contrary to the slow but steady progress in GLBT acceptance in TEC that it offended me and many other affected Episcopalians.

In the intervening three years there has been a systematic, orchestrated undermining of the Episcopal Church. GLBTs and their families and friends have pulled back. Conservatives opposed to any acceptance of GLBTs have withdrawn individual congregations and even whole dioceses from TEC. There has been a continuous painful rumble of discontent over this issue from both polarized sides.

I have stood to the side, unwilling to support a church that won't support me. Some others have left altogether in disgust. Many courageous faithful GLBTs have stayed and worked within the framework of the church to bring about a change of policies. PB Jefferts Schori indicates that she does not want B033 rescinded. So will we have a resolution favoring my 'manner of life?' I cannot envision what, if any, solution will be adopted.

Meanwhile much of the life of the church has been drained by emotional and spiritual torment. We forget we are to be about our Father's business: feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, healing the sick, teaching the little ones, and preaching the Good News. This upheaval has had financial and legal impacts as well. Yes, we are paying lawyers to resolve property disputes. Is it little wonder TEC may not be able to fulfill its previous commitments to the Millenium Development Goals?

So, now is a time of waiting. I am waiting for the advent of justice and acceptance. I'd like to be like everybody else and still be myself--exactly as God created me.

Someday. Who knows? Maybe Tuesday. Maybe in July.

Thanks be to God.

Hail and Farewell, Tipper!

Tipper Parker, light and lively, waiting for his walk with Pat each evening. If I can't have my own fine canine, my neighbor's will be the delight of my heart.

For almost two years, I'd get a little exercise with my neighbor buddy, Tipper. Tipper went to the Rainbow Bridge this week. I'm going to miss him as will Tipper's real Mom, Marilyn.

Hasta la vista, when we get there, little buddy!

Republicans vs. Democrats

Republicans = fear based motivation.

Democrats = reconciliation based motivation

Which would you prefer?

I'll take solutions over fear any day.

Her Honor, The Mayor

I've been looking for a reason to post. And here she is, the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario:



May we all be as hale and hearty as she is at...88! Thanks to Karen J, who finds the most fascinating internet media!

What would Jesus' Facebook Page Look Like?

This is unabashedly swiped from the blog of my favorite Blogging Bishop, the Right Reverend Kirk Stevan Smith.

I got so wrapped up in it, I tried to write on His wall, 'friend' Him, and look at His picture albums.

For those of us who want to know Jesus, this is pretty right on!

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Policy Changes Making Ya Crazy?

So does this mean it is hard for old men to keep up with young ideas? If so, count me as a young 'un!

New to Me: Why Is This Not Widely Known?

Apparently America has been given the gift of another monument.

And this monument has been placed opposite an earlier monument given us by France, just across the water from the Statue of Liberty.

We said thanks to France. But have we given thanks to Russia for the Teardrop monument erected in Bayonne New Jersey in.....2006? Where has our press been? Why is this largely unknown?

This beautiful monument memorializes the loss of nearly 3,000 people who died when hijackers on four flights downed the World Trade Center Towers, a segment of the Pentagon, and the heroic people of United Flight 93 who downed their plane rather than allow it to be used for more deaths and destruction.

By the way, the next time I think contemptuous thoughts about suicide bombers, let me remember the heroism of our suicide squad on Flight 93. They surely knew they would not survive.

For more information about the Teardrop monument, click here. I thank the people of Russia for their kindness and sympathy.

To get an idea of the press' skepticism when the memorial was being proposed and offered, read this New York Times opinion piece by Peter Applebome. "...thanks but no thanks[?]" Not a nice way to behave when a gift is offered. Later the Times reported with an absence of gratitude that there were 40 names too many inscribed on the monument.

Hat tip to Jim Goodwine for educating me about this.

From "I Can Has Cheezburger"

Respiration

Breathe in....
Breathe out....

Inspire....
Expire....

All living beings breathe. People do, animals do, plants do, and even each cell of our being ‘breathes’. We take in what we need. We let out what we don't need.

When I watch a sleeping child or pet, I look for the rising and falling that demonstrates respiration. In that regular motion, I see life.

Waves in....
Waves out....

Is the ocean the respiration of the earth? Probably not in a scientific sense, but it is a vision of life in our planet for me.

In....
Out....

Does the whole universe breathe?
What an awesome creation we are!

Good News and Not-So-Good News

From Episcopal Cafe's The Lead comes this update about a tutoring program that's raising reading levels and reducing (we hope) dropouts in the future:

LAST WEEK The Lead mentioned a children's circus performance. Looking more deeply into the program behind the event, we find that the Diocese of NY and Trinity Wall Street have funded a program called All Our Children. The Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, bishop suffragan, and Joyce Coppin Mondesire, who is on the faculty of the City College of New York and a member of Trinity Wall Street’s vestry, created the program. All Our Children asks that parishes commit 40 hours per year for five years to public education by becoming tutors, advocates, etc. Parishes are already making a difference in partnership with local public schools. Bishop Roskam says of the children, "Since participating in [these programs] their overall grade average has sky rocketed."

Roskam continues, "On a visitation to St. Ann's in the South Bronx in 2005, I was given a a copy of Jonothan Kozol's book, The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America. I was shocked to learn that not only are American schools as segregated as at the time of Brown vs. the Board of Education, but that the worst offenders are not in the south, but in the North, including New York, Michigan, Illinois and California. Schools in poor areas often operate without the basics, without adequate classrooms, no textbooks, inexperienced teachers. It is no wonder that minority students fare so poorly compared with their white counterparts. And most insidious is the school to prison pipeline, by which some states build prisons based on projections from third grade reading scores. As a society we seem reluctant to spend the $15,000 per year to support a child adequately in school but are more willing to to spend the $150,000 per year to keep that same child in prison when the schools fail him.
[Emphasis mine; this applies in Arizona as well.]

"It seemed to me that all the anti-racism training we were doing in the church was meaningless if we could face this level of racial inequity and do nothing. So All Our Children was born."
More information here and here.

Don't Thank Me; Thank MadPriest

Here's a shocking thought:

madpriest's thought for the day

If 53% of Californians were either Jewish or Muslim you could end up with a Prop 8 situation where every man, no matter what his age or beliefs, could be forced to undergo circumcision. I may be wrong but I don't think even the Iranian government insists on that from its few non-Muslim citizens. This means that the majority of Californians have a less enlightened attitude towards personal rights and freedom than those peoples their previous government regarded as barbaric.

Comment: Actually it would be 51%--truly frightening.

If you've been locked away from all news sources since November 2008, Proposition 8 in California took away equal marriage rights for LGBT people. It is now being settled by the Supreme Court of California, and we will learn more in two to three months about their ruling.

Creation Stories

Every culture has its creation story, an oral or written explanation of how the world and its inhabitants came into being. Some are whole histories of what has happened since creation.

One of the most widely recognized creation stories is carefully preserved in writing in multiple language translations. This creation story is generally agreed to be The Correct One by adherents of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. But the Creation Story of the Torah, the Pentateuch of the Old Testament, is only one creation story. For as many cultures that exist, there are creation stories with respective histories.

Many of these are not written, but told from generation to generation orally. Spiritual leaders of each generation's culture preserve the accuracy of oral tradition and carefully teach the next generation.

So what makes a creation story codified in written form more valid than those of oral tradition? What makes one written creation story more valid than another written one? I suspect the oral recounting of Navajo creation is just as sacred, just as valid, and just as much an allegory as the creation story of the Israelites. By this, I don't mean that none are valid; I mean all are valid.

For a sampling of cultural creation stories in short form check out Creation Myths in Wikipedia.

A Musical Reminder of Diversity

This morning on NPR's Morning Edition, I learned that written musical notation in China pre-dates the earliest known written music, Gregorian chants, in the western world.

I was momentarily surprised. Then I thought, of course! Just because I am a product of western society, I'm inclined to think we are the beginning and end of Civilization. This is a massive fallacy of thought. Our historical perspective reminds us mankind has lived through culture after culture, civilization built on civilization. And this yeasty boiling up of civilizations happens throughout human history in all of the world--perhaps in all the universe.

Predating European civilization that produced Gregorian chants came Egyptian and other African civilizations, Mayan, Aztec and other American civilizations, Chinese and other Asian civilizations, not to mention Greek and Roman civilizations in place at the time of Christ. And let's not forget Hebrew civilization from which Christianity derives. Surely all of these civilizations experienced, played, and perhaps wrote music. Just because we don't have written notation of older musical culture, doesn't mean it didn't (or doesn't) exist.

We are not the beginning and end. We are not alpha and omega.
Creation happens!

What is Right? What is Wrong?

What is right? What is wrong?

What seems right to you may seem wrong to me, and vice versa.

I strive to remember that judgment is God's business, not mine.

When I catch myself identifying a person or situation as 'wrong', I try reframing it as different rather than wrong.

Funny how things that are different become interesting--or even right!

(See also Good or Bad?--Just Different)

I have to keep reminding myself. I'm a fallible human being, not to mention a self-centered, self-righteous, and self-absorbed one, ...she reminded herself with a smile!

Pitching In To Help Feels Good

In response to Timothy Schmaltz's timely opinion in this morning's Arizona Republic, I advocate pitching in to help.

If you have a severely disabled child; if you have a parent needing round-the-clock care because of dementia; or if you are losing your employment because there is no childcare assistance, then you understand where Mr. Schmaltz is coming from. I work as a provider to severely disabled young people. Services to them are essential, so rather than reducing essential hours I am absorbing a reduced hourly rate of pay. I think of it as a way to pitch in and help.

In a small community, everyone chips in to help when someone is in need. Everyone feels proud of being able to do so. And everyone knows the community will be there for them when they need a hand. In Arizona we are a big community, but we can all pitch in and help. One way we can all participate in helping is to encourage our legislature to approve Gov. Brewer's suggest sales tax increase. We also need to expect our budget and finance experts to restructure our tax bases in a fair and productive manner.

The days of cutting taxes is over, but income, sales, and property taxes can be balanced to meet the needs of operating our state efficiently.

Oh dear. Did I just say fair and balanced? That's not like me! Let's keep our sense of humor while we are at it.

One Perp, Two Perps, Three Perps, and Counting

I'm waiting for Pope Benedict XVI to weigh in next and become Perpetrator #4 in this dreadful story.

Today Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, speaking for the Vatican, defended Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho's excommunication of the mother and doctors of an impregnated nine-year-old child for proceeding with a termination of the child's pregnancy.

Let's go back to the beginning. A nine-year-old Brazilian girl was examined after complaining of stomach pain. The examination revealed that she was pregnant with twin fetuses, twin babies who through no fault of their own, were conceived by repeated rape by the nine-year-old child's stepfather. He would be Perpetrator #1.

Under Brazilian law, an abortion to save the life of the mother is allowed. Let's remember this mother is a nine-year-old incest victim, who would not likely survive bringing two babies to term. The child's mother and doctors made the decision to terminate the pregnancy to save the life of the child/mother.

Archbishop Sobrinho condemned this action, citing the law of God as being more applicable than the law of Brazil. He excommunicated the mother of the nine-year-old and the doctors who terminated the pregnancy. Archbishop Sobrinho qualifies as Perpetrator #2.

Now, Cardinal Re, defends Sobrinho's excommunication of the people who saved the life of the nine-year-old at the expense (and I GET this) of the innocent fetuses. Yes, it is a tragic choice. But for his affirmation of Perp 2, I nominate Re as Perpetrator #3.

There is one more layer of Roman Catholic hierarchy left to weigh in on this. Will there be a Perpetrator #4?

Is there no representative of Jesus Christ who will raise up and heal the nine-year-old victim? Is there no representative of Jesus Christ who will cradle this young child and tell her she is God's own daughter, worthy of God's love and protection from evil? Will no one defend this child's dignity and humanity?

Read the details at this BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7930380.stm

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

The Line

I draw the line at tweeting on twitter. I draw the line at building a second life avatar and digitally romping through cyberspace.

I reserve the right to erase the line at some future date--lol.

Life's Not Fair

...but God is good. The Rev. Dr. Robert Schuler of Crystal Cathedral says that. And it's a powerful message when life seems unfair.

Sometimes a news story catches my attention and it dwells in my mind until I write down some response. Now I can't find the story, so much so that I question the efficacy of my memory.

The gist of the story amounts to a high percentage of people unhappy with Obama's proposed homeowners' mortgage rescue plan, proclaiming vociferously: That's not fair!

Well, no it isn't. But lots of life isn't fair right now. Jobs are being lost by the thousands. Homes are being lost due to the mortgage mess. Businesses are failing. Families who have worked conscientiously, paid their bills promptly, and never dreamed of homelessness are now clogging private and public social service agencies, seeking shelter and food and medicines.

The number of respondents to this 'fairness' poll question was something like 62-65%. Since I can't lay my hands on the article, let's be conservative and say 'over 60%' of respondents feel the proposed mortgage bailout isn't fair. Now I wonder what percentage of these respondents claim to be Christian. And what would the Christian response be? Of the Christian/lifes-not-fair contigent, how many are going to social service agencies offering to help a nouveau homeless person or family get their life back on track? How many are figuring ways to help a friend or co-worker carry through this tough time? How many are kicking in a little money to hold someone else's household together until the mortgage industry decides how it wants to solve this crisis? How many are being part of the solution, so government doesn't have to rescue people?

Many want to scream, "Socialism!" Many want government to let the economy fail rather than pour money and regulations into resuscitating it. Many feel that bailouts and administering them can't be done fairly, so they shouldn't be done at all.

Unless those of us complaining about the unfairness of it all are prepared to give people a hand up, we need to be supporting solutions that may work--not whining about fairness or lack thereof.

Just a suggestion...!

Feast Your Eyes, Part Deux

Whether he is herding "Big Blue" in the course of his over the road trucking or vacationing with his camper, Michael (just below) photographs his natural surroundings with a keen eye for composition. His photographs bring his trip home to share with friends. I'm grateful he allows me to share them with you.
Michael's first love is the scenery of Arizona, whether desert scenes or mountain scenes.

He captures the beauty of a sudden desert storm.

Here's a rugged rock formation set against a boundlessly blue desert sky.

We're not in AZ anymore with this one. Winter snows in the Rocky Mountains are sheltered by canyon walls.

Michael takes meal breaks, dawn or dusk walks, any stop for Big Blue, as an opportunity for hiking and photography. Here's Big Blue as he looks back at the start of a hike. (Or is it returning from the hike?)

How high is up? This Arizona butte is framed by the stalk of a century plant and the branch of a tree imitating a century plant stalk. That's a hiking challenge!

The rain gods have been good this year. After several years of hard drought, Arizona's mountain snow packs and desert rains have combined to nurture our lands back to health. This year's wildflowers will be spectacular. In the meantime, this oasis promises safety for wildlife.

Michael is home this weekend, spending time with family and friends. His first call to me? Would I like to hike the perimeter trail? Oh, I'd love to. Give me cooler weather please, and I'll gladly hit the trail to see the world through Michael's eyes. And for those of you elsewhere in the cold cruel world, the high today in Phoenix AZ was 80 degrees. Whew!

Just bring me the beautiful pictures, Michael, and thanks!

Atheist Bus? Not My Bus

In London, UK, atheists have bought bus adverts to declare,
"There is no God."
Every blogger on two continents has trekked to a clever website that allows us to design our own adverts. Okay, I exaggerate.

I declare that for me, there is a God. She is devine. She loves us all with no exceptions.

My beliefs grow and change with time. They began with fairly conventional Christianity in the Episcopal Church, went to lapsed Christian, returned to theism in general, and are now Christianity plus. I couldn't explain it today to save myself. Thankfully 'saving' myself is His/Her job. My job is to be the best Pat I can be, cuz that's how God created me and wants me to be.

Thanks be to all the universe for the me that I am!

Feast Your Eyes, Nourish Your Soul

Big Blue
Blue Rider blew into town last weekend and brought his digital camera with him. He kindly allowed me to share some of his Nature Boy discoveries along the highways of America. Blue Rider is my friend, Michael, who travels the highways of America and revels in every magnificent scene he absorbs.

Michael's constant traveling companions are Skittles (forground) and Duffy. Nope, that's not Duffy in the background; it's a local pup coming up to make friends with Skittles. Duffy is the spiritual one, present with Michael and Skittles wherever they travel. Notice how attentive--okay, downright hammy--Skittles is! Micheal sees beauty in barren winter scenes, and imagines the trees greening up in the spring.

Some images are from his drives in Arizona. There is precious little of his home state that Michael hasn't visited, hiked, and photographed. This was from a local trip, a "busman's holiday." Shall we call that truck Little Blue?

Below is a scene from the cab (passenger side, I'm sure) of Big Blue.

More pictures are coming. Due to my resurgent blog-ignorance, this post is it for now.

Flight 1549 From The Inside

I was touched by this first hand account of passenger and rescuer heroism following the ditching of US Airways flight 1549. I received this by email and it is clearly an in-house communication that escaped into cyberspace. Because of this, I'm editing the names as I am sure the business would prefer. Thanks to Marge M for calling my attention to this account.

This is from a Managing Partner at Name & Name who was on Flight 1549.As many of you now know, Gerry McN. (New York/Charlotte) was on US Airways Flight 1549 last week. We caught up with him to discuss the harrowing incident and - in a departure from our usual format -present his stirring account as told to us:

Thursday was a difficult day for all of us at the firm and I left the Park Avenue office early afternoon to catch a cab bound for La Guardia Airport. I was scheduled for a 5 pm departure, but able to secure a seat on the earlier flight scheduled to leave at 3 PM. As many of us who fly frequently often do, I recall wondering if I'd just placed myself on a flight I shouldn't be on! Just prior to boarding I finished up a conference call with my associate, Jenn S. ( New York ), and our placement, the CIO of United Airlines. When I told him that I was about to board a US Airways flight, we all had a little fun with it. I remember walking on the plane and seeing a fellow with grey hair in the cockpit and thinking "that's a good thing... I like to see grey hair in the cockpit!"

I was seated in 8F, on the starboard side window and next to a young business man. The New York to Charlotte flight is one I've taken what seems like hundreds of times over the years. We take off north over the Bronx and as we climb, turn west over the Hudson River to New Jersey and tack south. I love to fly, always have, and this flight plan gives a great view of several NY landmarks including Yankee Stadium and the George Washington Bridge. I had started to point out items of interest to the gentleman next to me when we heard a terrible crash - a sound no one ever wants to hear while flying - and then the engines wound down to a screeching halt. 10 seconds later, there was a strong smell of jet fuel. I knew we would be landing and thought the pilot would take us down no doubt to Newark Airport. As we began to turn south I noticed the pilot lining up on the river still - I thought - en route for Newark. Next thing we heard was "Brace for impact!" - a phrase I had heard many years before as an active duty Marine Officer but never before on a commercial air flight. Everyone looked at each other in shock. It all happened so fast we were astonished!

We began to descend rapidly and it started to sink in. This is the last flight. I'm going to die today. This is it. I recited my favorite Bible verse, the Lord's Prayer, and asked God to take care of my wife, children, family and friends. When I raised my head I noticed people texting their friends and family, getting off a last message. My blackberry was turned off and in my trouser pocket; no time to get at it. Our descent continued and I prayed for courage to control my fear and help if able. I quickly realized that one of two things was going to happen, neither of them good. We could hit by the nose, flip and break up, leaving few if any survivors, bodies, cold water, fuel. Or we could hit one of the wings and roll and flip with the same result. I tightened my seat belt as tight as I could possibly get it so I would remain intact. As we came in for the landing, I looked out the windows and remember seeing the buildings in New Jersey , the cliffs in Weehawken , and then the piers. The water was dark green and sure to be freezing cold. The stewardesses were yelling in unison "Brace! Brace! Brace!"It was a violent hit - the water flew up over my window - but we bobbed up and were all amazed that we remained intact.

There was some panic - people jumping over seats and running towards the doors, but we soon got everyone straightened out and calmed down.There were a lot of people that took leadership roles in little ways. Those sitting at the doors over the wing did a fantastic job; they were opened in a New York second! Everyone worked together - teamed up and in groups to figure out how to help each other. I exited on the starboard side of the plane, 3 or 4 rows behind my seat through a door over the wing and was, I believe, the 10th or 12th person out. I took my seat cushion as a flotation device and once outside saw I was the only one who did; none of us remembered to take the yellow inflatable life vests from under the seat.

We were standing in 6-8 inches of water and it was freezing. There were two women on the wing, one of whom slipped off into the water. Another passenger and I pulled her back on and had her kneel down to keep from falling off again. By that point we were totally soaked and absolutely frozen from the icy wind. The ferries were the first to arrive, and although they're not made for rescue, they did an incredible job.

I know this river, having swum in it as a boy. The Hudson is an estuary - part salt and part freshwater - and moves with the tide. I could tell the tide was moving out because we were tacking slowly south towards Ellis Island, The Statue of Liberty , and The Battery.

The first ferry boat pulled its bow up to the tip of the wing, and the first mate lowered the Jacobs ladder down to us. We got a couple people up the ladder to safety, but the current was strong pushing the stern of the boat into the inflatable slide and we were afraid it would puncture it: there must have been 25 passengers in it by now. Only two or three were able to board the first ferry before it moved away. Another ferry came up, and we were able to get the woman that had fallen into the water on the ladder, but she just couldn't move her legs and fell off. Back onto the ladder she went; however, the ferry had to back away because of the swift current. A helicopter arrived on station (nearly blowing us all off the wing) and followed the ferry with the woman on the ladder. We lost view of the situation but I believe the helicopter lowered its basket to rescue her.

As more ferries arrived, we were able to get people up on the boats a few at a time. The fellow in front of me fell off the ladder and into the water. When we got him back on the ladder he could not move his legs to climb. I couldn't help him from my position so I climbed up the ladder to the ferry deck where the first mate and I hoisted the Jacobs ladder with him on it; when he got close enough we grabbed his trouser belt and hauled him on deck. We were all safely off the wing. We could not stop shaking. Uncontrollable shaking. The only thing I had with me was my blackberry, which had gotten wet and was not working. (It started working again a few hours later).

The ferry took us to the Weehawken Terminal in NJ where I borrowed a phone and called my wife to let her know I was okay. The second call I made was to Jenn. I knew she would be worried about me and could communicate to the rest of the firm that I was fine. At the terminal, first responders assessed everyone's condition and sent people to the hospital as needed. As we pulled out of Weehawken my history kicked in and I recalled it was the site of the famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804. Thankfully I left town in better condition than Mr. Hamilton who died of a mortal wound the next day! I stayed with my sister on Long Island that evening, then flew home the next day.

I am struck by what was truly a miracle. Had this happened a few hours later, it would have been pitch dark and much harder to land. Ferries would no longer have been running after rush hour and it would not have been the same uplifting story. Surely there would have been fatalities, hypothermia, an absolute disaster! I witnessed the best of humanity that day. I and everyone on that plane survived and have been given a second chance.

It struck me that in our work we continuously seek excellence to solve our client's leadership problems. We talk to clients all the time about the importance of experience and the ability to execute. Experience showed up big time on Flight 1549 as our pilot was a dedicated, trained, experienced professional who executed flawlessly when he had to.

I have received scores of emails from across the firm and I am so grateful for the outpouring of interest and concern. We all fly a great deal or work with someone who does and so I wanted to share this story - the story of a miracle. I am thankful to be here to tell the tale.

There is a great deal to be learned including: Why has this happened to me? Why have I survived and what am I supposed to do with this gift? For me, the answers to these questions and more will come over time, but already I find myself being more patient and forgiving, less critical and judgmental.

For now I have 4 lessons I would like to share:

1. Cherish your families as never before and go to great lengths to keep your promises.

2. Be thankful and grateful for everything you have and don't worry about the things you don't have.

3. Keep in shape. You never know when you'll be called upon to save your own life, or help someone else save theirs.

4. When you fly, wear practical clothing. You never know when you'll end up in an emergency or on an icy wing in flip flops and pajamas and of absolutely no use to yourself or anyone else.

Thanks to all who have reached out; I look forward to seeing you soon!

Dick F.