I've been fairly busy lately, and also haven't heard much to post about.
Also, I've been very busy our at the farm.
This is our second year with the 6 acres. We have a wonderful pasture planted with help from "real" farmers. (There is nothing more embarrassing than having to pull a Craftsman garden tractor up next to a $100,000 John Deere.)
We are also going to try to get a jump on the Japanese beetles this year.
Our garlic wintered over very well, and has now been divided. We planted several potatos, five willow trees, lettuce, spinach, peas and our asparagas is coming up (although it is only in its second year). Our raspberries and strawberries look good. Looks like one of the apple trees is dead.
We're waiting for a Yurt to come from the Pacific Yurt company. It'll be a place to stay from time to time on the land, and give us a place to hang when we're working there.
I'm also thinking about rehab-ing the barn.
Good luck with your gardens all!
And since I probably won't get back before Sunday...
I'm thankful for the rain this week, the warm weather, and the Chicago Cubs.
Feel free to add stories about your garden, and your thanks.
Peace!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Free art zone!
I was just inspired by QCImages to post on this. A positive move on the Davenport riverfront. Incorporating the Skate Park all the disperate elements and The Figge.
How about a "Open Art" or "Free Art" area. Interactive, public works of art. Areas to display new art created by young and/or local artists. Allow everyone to help decorate the skate park. Build a small stage and allow cheap/free access to musicians/comedians and theater groups. Turn the length of the river into an art fair every summer. Performing artists, street theater, grafiti art, ever changing.
When Bix Festival starts, everything is Bix and Bix themed.
Blues Fest, Blues themes.
Sports/Human/Figure themes near the Ballpark. Invite young artists to compose pieces out in the open.
Start an art festival at some point to center the whole year around.
It would work great and enhance the farmer's market, everything that goes on down there. It would draw people from free public art displays into the museum. The skybridge could lead from one art zone to another, and art all the way through it. Not just colored lights, but use the sky bridge as a blank canvas. Artists could come and decorate it the way they like!
I am totally into this idea! Imagine hearing all types of performers and seeing all types of artists interacting with the river. That could put Davenport on the map!
Thank you QCImages.
Here is my positive input!
How about a "Open Art" or "Free Art" area. Interactive, public works of art. Areas to display new art created by young and/or local artists. Allow everyone to help decorate the skate park. Build a small stage and allow cheap/free access to musicians/comedians and theater groups. Turn the length of the river into an art fair every summer. Performing artists, street theater, grafiti art, ever changing.
When Bix Festival starts, everything is Bix and Bix themed.
Blues Fest, Blues themes.
Sports/Human/Figure themes near the Ballpark. Invite young artists to compose pieces out in the open.
Start an art festival at some point to center the whole year around.
It would work great and enhance the farmer's market, everything that goes on down there. It would draw people from free public art displays into the museum. The skybridge could lead from one art zone to another, and art all the way through it. Not just colored lights, but use the sky bridge as a blank canvas. Artists could come and decorate it the way they like!
I am totally into this idea! Imagine hearing all types of performers and seeing all types of artists interacting with the river. That could put Davenport on the map!
Thank you QCImages.
Here is my positive input!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
The Actors Studio SCHQC style part II
Here is a good article on a tangental topic to what I discussed earlier:
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=331681
When it comes to doom and gloom about local arts, I would add in the fact that Friends of Chamber Music has folded altogether.
On the bright side...as I often say...Prenzie Players has become one of the best theater groups in the area...if not the region.
A new chamber music group has opened up, but it is mostly...if not completely...Symphony run and organized.
One of the big things is generational. There aren't many people in the Baby boom generation taking on arts groups. Neither are there many younger people.
Artists, there are a-plenty. However, the race has gotten tougher. More people come from two career households. Often people work 50+ hours a week. The younger/wealthier people here (are there any?) aren't as interested in the arts. Those that are fly to Chicago and New York. The lack of a middle class, single career household has eliminated the "do it yourself" pulic artists from getting a foothold.
Some of the fault also lies wth people who have hung onto these art groups for way too long. People who haven't groomed a replacement to take over.
Then, the final blow is the professionalization of Arts leadership. Instead of looking for someone with passion, connection to the area, and knowledge of the area, we look for a degree in Marketing, or Arts Management or such the like. Someone who says what the board wants to hear and then uses us as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
We need to go back to a local focus on arts. We need to support local arts groups. I think the media plays a big role in that (see previous posts). Artists need to reach out to a younger generation, but not pander to them. The community has to put their money into organizations and not buildings.
As always, would love to hear from you.
Peace!
PS It is Sunday.
I am thankful for this weather, I am thankful for my children, I am thankful for the visitors who have stopped by this past week, and the time I've had to work on this blog (dang that's four. Oh well)
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=331681
When it comes to doom and gloom about local arts, I would add in the fact that Friends of Chamber Music has folded altogether.
On the bright side...as I often say...Prenzie Players has become one of the best theater groups in the area...if not the region.
A new chamber music group has opened up, but it is mostly...if not completely...Symphony run and organized.
One of the big things is generational. There aren't many people in the Baby boom generation taking on arts groups. Neither are there many younger people.
Artists, there are a-plenty. However, the race has gotten tougher. More people come from two career households. Often people work 50+ hours a week. The younger/wealthier people here (are there any?) aren't as interested in the arts. Those that are fly to Chicago and New York. The lack of a middle class, single career household has eliminated the "do it yourself" pulic artists from getting a foothold.
Some of the fault also lies wth people who have hung onto these art groups for way too long. People who haven't groomed a replacement to take over.
Then, the final blow is the professionalization of Arts leadership. Instead of looking for someone with passion, connection to the area, and knowledge of the area, we look for a degree in Marketing, or Arts Management or such the like. Someone who says what the board wants to hear and then uses us as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
We need to go back to a local focus on arts. We need to support local arts groups. I think the media plays a big role in that (see previous posts). Artists need to reach out to a younger generation, but not pander to them. The community has to put their money into organizations and not buildings.
As always, would love to hear from you.
Peace!
PS It is Sunday.
I am thankful for this weather, I am thankful for my children, I am thankful for the visitors who have stopped by this past week, and the time I've had to work on this blog (dang that's four. Oh well)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Free Photos/$500k toilet
Occasionally I'll throw some pictures up on the side. I am an amateur photographer (who isn't nowadays) and I am told that some of my pictures can be cool. Who's to judge? I like them.
I'm going to throw my voice in on the $500k bathroom whilst I'm here.
What a waste.
There still is no coherent vision for the River/Downtown Davenport etc. All this stuff does is force upkeep costs on those least likely to afford it; The property owners staying in Davenport. Mostly homeowners. Davenport puts up all this infrastructure and the people who use it come from the other side of the river, or LeClaire, Bettendorf, and Blue Grass. The main commercial growth in Davenport is actually occurring on the other side of town. Kick out the Casino and what kind of job base are we going to get in Downtown Davenport?
Galena has a wonderful downtown with shopping integrated with the riverfront. Davenport has very little in the way of Downtown Attractions that would feed off of the Stadium (abandoned 75% of the year) or the Art Gallery (not a huge draw), or the Band Shell (abandoned 95% of the year). The skate park, apparently, is a draw, but how much money do skaters have? That's not a slam on skaters, it's just a bit of truth. Having no money is pretty cool in my book.
So we have skaters, a bridge accross the river a usually abandoned Stadium, a usually abandoned bandshell, an actually abandoned freight house, an Indoor skating rink with no windows, and no ties to the river. Then a lot of parking for the Casino and the bandshell and the stadium that sit empty most of the year. A bridge that my kids like and is kind of fun, especially for the cost (free), but that makes no money and looks like its going to be a constant headache to maintain. Especially when the boat leaves and it really leads nowhere. Oh...we've got a bike path.
Now, we're going to add a $500,000 bathroom with treats. We hope the skaters will buy some nice treats. They'd have to be nice especially to pay for the upkeep. And when it does flood? What happens to the skate park then? What happens to the treats?
Who pays? The people too poor to get out of dodge. The people who will no longer have money to go to the Art Museum, or the Stadium because their taxes are too high.
I'm going to throw my voice in on the $500k bathroom whilst I'm here.
What a waste.
There still is no coherent vision for the River/Downtown Davenport etc. All this stuff does is force upkeep costs on those least likely to afford it; The property owners staying in Davenport. Mostly homeowners. Davenport puts up all this infrastructure and the people who use it come from the other side of the river, or LeClaire, Bettendorf, and Blue Grass. The main commercial growth in Davenport is actually occurring on the other side of town. Kick out the Casino and what kind of job base are we going to get in Downtown Davenport?
Galena has a wonderful downtown with shopping integrated with the riverfront. Davenport has very little in the way of Downtown Attractions that would feed off of the Stadium (abandoned 75% of the year) or the Art Gallery (not a huge draw), or the Band Shell (abandoned 95% of the year). The skate park, apparently, is a draw, but how much money do skaters have? That's not a slam on skaters, it's just a bit of truth. Having no money is pretty cool in my book.
So we have skaters, a bridge accross the river a usually abandoned Stadium, a usually abandoned bandshell, an actually abandoned freight house, an Indoor skating rink with no windows, and no ties to the river. Then a lot of parking for the Casino and the bandshell and the stadium that sit empty most of the year. A bridge that my kids like and is kind of fun, especially for the cost (free), but that makes no money and looks like its going to be a constant headache to maintain. Especially when the boat leaves and it really leads nowhere. Oh...we've got a bike path.
Now, we're going to add a $500,000 bathroom with treats. We hope the skaters will buy some nice treats. They'd have to be nice especially to pay for the upkeep. And when it does flood? What happens to the skate park then? What happens to the treats?
Who pays? The people too poor to get out of dodge. The people who will no longer have money to go to the Art Museum, or the Stadium because their taxes are too high.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Go die! (Cartoons Redux)
Alright, so I forgot a great comic. Shane reminded me of it, though he didn't know he was. A little help from B. Metcalf didn't hurt none neither. So...without further ado...go check out GO DIE!
http://www.godie.com
http://www.godie.com
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The QC Actor's studio
I have been ranting over on QCTImes on "The Burke Show" blog (or something like that) about his recent trip to California to undergo a "journalism/theater boot camp".
See the introduction to the series http://www.qctimes.com/blogs/?p=299
I have tried to get a conversation going and have mostly failed. It appears to me that the trip was a waste of time and energy. It seems to me that time would have been better spent interviewing theater artists in the Quad Cities and finding out what their needs are. Instead, he went to see theater in California. What that will do to improve theater coverage in the Quad Cities I fail to see.
I've not been asked, but I'll put out some ideas that I think will help Quad Cities Theater/Arts coverage.
1. Support "classical" and "fine" arts as much as you support rock/country/pop acts.
2. Support local acts over national acts. When a national act is in town it dominates coverage getting front page coverage before and front page reviews after.
3. Educate critics (locally of course). There is one great critic and one or two good critics in the area.
4. The media should get more involved in local arts, and local arts more involved in the media. Again, 8am on Saturday isn't a big time slot to build an audience with, neither is page 3 or 5 in the Go section. Especially when theater shows are all mashed together under one headline.
There are other quibbles, but mostly the above 4 are a problem.
If the media would work with local artists we could build a nice "scene" in the area. We do have plenty of arts groups, but many are struggling. Excellence seems to be put down, not rewarded.
This can change. I enourage you to get involved in Mr. Burke's conversation. I encourage those bored newspaper writers/editors who may drift over here to spend some time going behind the scenes locally and asking/working with local artists to expand the arts scene which should reward the community and the paper equally.
A few good words is one thing. Media paired with artists is a driving force that we could use to promote the whole area and could be an engine for some economic expansion.
Anyway, just my rant for today, I suppose.
Peace all
See the introduction to the series http://www.qctimes.com/blogs/?p=299
I have tried to get a conversation going and have mostly failed. It appears to me that the trip was a waste of time and energy. It seems to me that time would have been better spent interviewing theater artists in the Quad Cities and finding out what their needs are. Instead, he went to see theater in California. What that will do to improve theater coverage in the Quad Cities I fail to see.
I've not been asked, but I'll put out some ideas that I think will help Quad Cities Theater/Arts coverage.
1. Support "classical" and "fine" arts as much as you support rock/country/pop acts.
2. Support local acts over national acts. When a national act is in town it dominates coverage getting front page coverage before and front page reviews after.
3. Educate critics (locally of course). There is one great critic and one or two good critics in the area.
4. The media should get more involved in local arts, and local arts more involved in the media. Again, 8am on Saturday isn't a big time slot to build an audience with, neither is page 3 or 5 in the Go section. Especially when theater shows are all mashed together under one headline.
There are other quibbles, but mostly the above 4 are a problem.
If the media would work with local artists we could build a nice "scene" in the area. We do have plenty of arts groups, but many are struggling. Excellence seems to be put down, not rewarded.
This can change. I enourage you to get involved in Mr. Burke's conversation. I encourage those bored newspaper writers/editors who may drift over here to spend some time going behind the scenes locally and asking/working with local artists to expand the arts scene which should reward the community and the paper equally.
A few good words is one thing. Media paired with artists is a driving force that we could use to promote the whole area and could be an engine for some economic expansion.
Anyway, just my rant for today, I suppose.
Peace all
Friday, March 16, 2007
Just a fun morning
I have the day off of work so I get to spend the whole morning writing!
Working on an Easter Drama and a longer work that is the most fun I've had writing in a long time.
So, I'd better get back to it.
Hope you all are having fun.
Post about your day, or anything off the wall.
(pic by me/caption by B. Metcalf)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Qconline takes on Radish
Go to this article http://radishmagazine.com/stories/display.cgi?prcss=display&id=328583 read it and then go back to the top of the article and look just to the right to see what ads qconline has put with this article.
Peace...enjoy
Peace...enjoy
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
driving vs. standing still
All sorts of peple are spewing invective at a woman who may not be the greatest mother in the world (of course, he who throws stones...etc.) but, apparently, did not break the law either.
A child died.
Now, the strange thing is: Which is more dangerous? A moving car on the highways and byways of our land? or A car sitting in a parking lot?
Do more kids die on the highways and byways of our land or in a parking lot?
In Iowa, it is child abuse, to leave your car in a stopped vehicle. Yet, I would bet, it is still much more dangerous to have your child in a moving car with both parents inside than leaving them alone in a parked car. I would bet. If it is not, please correct me. I would like to see the statistics. (I don't have the $$$ or the time that professional journalists have).
As George Carlin says: They want to ban toy guns...and KEEP the REAL ones!
Peace. Good job Walter Braud! The law is the law and it takes a good judge to stand up to the mob. Even with the law on your side.
A child died.
Now, the strange thing is: Which is more dangerous? A moving car on the highways and byways of our land? or A car sitting in a parking lot?
Do more kids die on the highways and byways of our land or in a parking lot?
In Iowa, it is child abuse, to leave your car in a stopped vehicle. Yet, I would bet, it is still much more dangerous to have your child in a moving car with both parents inside than leaving them alone in a parked car. I would bet. If it is not, please correct me. I would like to see the statistics. (I don't have the $$$ or the time that professional journalists have).
As George Carlin says: They want to ban toy guns...and KEEP the REAL ones!
Peace. Good job Walter Braud! The law is the law and it takes a good judge to stand up to the mob. Even with the law on your side.
Friday, March 09, 2007
What we walk by
I haven't been blogging much because of lack of response, and more interesting writing duties. Those few who do read seem to be enjoying themselves and I am happy with that.
I am taking time to bring up something that I have noticed recently, and something that I may write more on in some other forum. So I won't do much more than a summery here.
It is simply the beauty that we walk by every day. We pass by newness and beauty just because we refuse to look for it, and are drawn into recognition and "same old/same old" type of thought process.
Yet every day, every hour brings a new landscape whether you are flying to a new country or walking down the neighborhood street, or passing that house for the 30th time.
Take time to find something new, and relax. Same old/same old seems stressful, confining and boring. New beauty is relaxing and satisfying.
Again...more later. Would love to hear your thoughts.
peace
I am taking time to bring up something that I have noticed recently, and something that I may write more on in some other forum. So I won't do much more than a summery here.
It is simply the beauty that we walk by every day. We pass by newness and beauty just because we refuse to look for it, and are drawn into recognition and "same old/same old" type of thought process.
Yet every day, every hour brings a new landscape whether you are flying to a new country or walking down the neighborhood street, or passing that house for the 30th time.
Take time to find something new, and relax. Same old/same old seems stressful, confining and boring. New beauty is relaxing and satisfying.
Again...more later. Would love to hear your thoughts.
peace
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Cartoon Ideals
I got into a discussion on another blog about Cartoon strips.
I left a fairly long reply.
So let's talk cartoons:
1. Bloom County. None better. Nuff said.
2. Bob and Dave (see www.dailyillini.com)
3. Far Side
4. Calvin and Hobbes
5. Peanuts
Honorable: Get Fuzzy, Pearls before Swine, Fox Trot, Boondocks, Artsy Fratsy (just try to find it...I dare you...I double dare you...then tell me where you found it!)
There is obviously no debate here. No argument. No discussion.
I still do "Opus" sometimes but its methodone to the Heroin of true Bloom.
I left a fairly long reply.
So let's talk cartoons:
1. Bloom County. None better. Nuff said.
2. Bob and Dave (see www.dailyillini.com)
3. Far Side
4. Calvin and Hobbes
5. Peanuts
Honorable: Get Fuzzy, Pearls before Swine, Fox Trot, Boondocks, Artsy Fratsy (just try to find it...I dare you...I double dare you...then tell me where you found it!)
There is obviously no debate here. No argument. No discussion.
I still do "Opus" sometimes but its methodone to the Heroin of true Bloom.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Time to mourn and celebrate and keep the flame
Molly Ivins passed away. True sadness.
Yet, I'm sure she would not want us to mourn. She would want us to redouble our efforts to stop the madness that is our guv'ment.
Impeach the SHRUB!
She's probably up there telling God a thing or two about the way he should run the world.
Please, pleasantries only. Fond memories. Mourning thoughts.
Today, this is a no snipe zone.
Peace
Yet, I'm sure she would not want us to mourn. She would want us to redouble our efforts to stop the madness that is our guv'ment.
Impeach the SHRUB!
She's probably up there telling God a thing or two about the way he should run the world.
Please, pleasantries only. Fond memories. Mourning thoughts.
Today, this is a no snipe zone.
Peace
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Love the US
You know, certain people think that hippies, pagans, homsexuals, transgendered, socialists and liberals hate the USA.
Not so, quite the opposite. You can find no more abiding love for this country among these groups.
We may not be patriotic, but we live in a great country where one need not be "patriotic". We love the constitution, and what else is this country if not the laws upon which we agree.
Which is patriotic, just not "PATRIOTIC".
I love the US of A. I also love all citizens of the world. I also love that I am not made to love the US of A.
Not so, quite the opposite. You can find no more abiding love for this country among these groups.
We may not be patriotic, but we live in a great country where one need not be "patriotic". We love the constitution, and what else is this country if not the laws upon which we agree.
Which is patriotic, just not "PATRIOTIC".
I love the US of A. I also love all citizens of the world. I also love that I am not made to love the US of A.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Inconvenient truth gets my oscar
Just saw it last night on DVD.
The most important and obvious point takes place fairly early on, where in order to follow the projected line of CO2 increase, Al Gore gets on a lift in order to rise to the point where CO2 will be in fifty years.
In comparrison, we are given the difference between the temperatures that, nearly exatly, eerily, follow the CO2 level that would result in 2 miles of ice being on top of Manhattan. The difference is, about, 2 feet between this cold world, and the world we lived in when CO2 was in normal range. Now, he had to move up several feet on said lift to show where CO2 would be. At least 10 ft. up. About 5 times the difference that had occurred naturally over the past several hundred years.
This combined with the fact that in all peer reviewed articles ranomly sampled (I believe there were over 900), every single one accepted global warming as happening.
Now, for those who want to know...peer review means that it just isn't any old study, but one that has been looked at by other scientists and found to be goood enough to be put into a journal. So good, that these other scientists put their names behind it.
The movie overcomes any doubt, better than I could, so I simply encourage you to watch, before you dismiss it. Watch before you vote. Read other science journals. Read a science article on global warming, it is scary.
Remember, for 30 years + the tobacco industry told us that smoking was safe and did not cause cancer.
The most important and obvious point takes place fairly early on, where in order to follow the projected line of CO2 increase, Al Gore gets on a lift in order to rise to the point where CO2 will be in fifty years.
In comparrison, we are given the difference between the temperatures that, nearly exatly, eerily, follow the CO2 level that would result in 2 miles of ice being on top of Manhattan. The difference is, about, 2 feet between this cold world, and the world we lived in when CO2 was in normal range. Now, he had to move up several feet on said lift to show where CO2 would be. At least 10 ft. up. About 5 times the difference that had occurred naturally over the past several hundred years.
This combined with the fact that in all peer reviewed articles ranomly sampled (I believe there were over 900), every single one accepted global warming as happening.
Now, for those who want to know...peer review means that it just isn't any old study, but one that has been looked at by other scientists and found to be goood enough to be put into a journal. So good, that these other scientists put their names behind it.
The movie overcomes any doubt, better than I could, so I simply encourage you to watch, before you dismiss it. Watch before you vote. Read other science journals. Read a science article on global warming, it is scary.
Remember, for 30 years + the tobacco industry told us that smoking was safe and did not cause cancer.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Thankful Sunday
Allright, it's thankful Sunday.
My three things I'm thankful for:
QCMediaghost, QCTimes, and "Breakfast At Victory" (great book) from which I take this quote from the beginning of a chapter:
"I sought God for thirty years until I realized that I was the one being sought" -Anonymous Sufi (this is a paraphrase, I will check the book as soon as I found what I did with it)
I invite all to join in with their three (max) thanks for the week.
Blessings Peace Shalom
SCHQC
My three things I'm thankful for:
QCMediaghost, QCTimes, and "Breakfast At Victory" (great book) from which I take this quote from the beginning of a chapter:
"I sought God for thirty years until I realized that I was the one being sought" -Anonymous Sufi (this is a paraphrase, I will check the book as soon as I found what I did with it)
I invite all to join in with their three (max) thanks for the week.
Blessings Peace Shalom
SCHQC
Friday, January 19, 2007
Why do Christians hate peace?
It intrigues me.
People profess themselves to be moral, loving, upright, Christians and then they go about denying every possible precept and shouting down those who speak up to say that the world could be more loving, accepting, caring and just.
I do not judge these people. They are quite welcome on the road to peace. They are worthy, excellent human beings.
One just wonders where the problem lies, exactly.
I am often told to live in the "real" world.
Yet, even science has yet to find this place. The world, as far as logic and science can take us, is just about as unreal and fanciful as it could possibly be.
This "real" world is also filled with people saying "Be true to yourself!", "Love one another!", "do the RIGHT thing".
We do not seek riches, we seek the "real" world. Many of us share what we have with others when we can.
We are not perfect people. Far from it. But many are open to all possibilities of life, and open to all different kinds of people; Fat, thin, rich, poor, injured, blind, ugly, pretty. Doesn't matter.
Stand up for these people! Stand for inclusion! Welcome all comers! Preach the gospel of PEACE!
And you're shouted at. Stolen from. Made fun of. Belittled.
Of course that's what the bible says would happen.
It's just weird seeing it come from people who claim to base their life on the book you got these ideas from in the first place.
Do any Christians agree? Disagree? How about other faiths? or Non-faiths?
People profess themselves to be moral, loving, upright, Christians and then they go about denying every possible precept and shouting down those who speak up to say that the world could be more loving, accepting, caring and just.
I do not judge these people. They are quite welcome on the road to peace. They are worthy, excellent human beings.
One just wonders where the problem lies, exactly.
I am often told to live in the "real" world.
Yet, even science has yet to find this place. The world, as far as logic and science can take us, is just about as unreal and fanciful as it could possibly be.
This "real" world is also filled with people saying "Be true to yourself!", "Love one another!", "do the RIGHT thing".
We do not seek riches, we seek the "real" world. Many of us share what we have with others when we can.
We are not perfect people. Far from it. But many are open to all possibilities of life, and open to all different kinds of people; Fat, thin, rich, poor, injured, blind, ugly, pretty. Doesn't matter.
Stand up for these people! Stand for inclusion! Welcome all comers! Preach the gospel of PEACE!
And you're shouted at. Stolen from. Made fun of. Belittled.
Of course that's what the bible says would happen.
It's just weird seeing it come from people who claim to base their life on the book you got these ideas from in the first place.
Do any Christians agree? Disagree? How about other faiths? or Non-faiths?
Thursday, December 28, 2006
We the people
Christmas time is past. Thank goodness. Now we can get back to being nice to each other. Does anyone else think that Xmas has become a misery? Money, blather, and triumphalism ruining the arrival of a Messiah who abhored all of the above?
Anyway, I was listening to a little Pete Seeger today as a palate cleanser, and that got me thinking.
Unionism is quite dead, but the ideas of solidarity, and brotherhood/sisterhood live on, or do they?
I was reading in Harpers about black power and the civil rights movement. They are dead too, but why is all that gone?
We the people. Most of us scraping by. We want health insurance, we want more family time, we want better communities. And the best community I was with this holiday season was at a pagan party. So there you go. A close second was the party at my church where we celebrated Las Posadas. We were having a pseudo spanish/hispanic party when real immigrants/hispanics showed up. They shared their carols and songs with us. Showed us how to have real fun with a pinata, woke up what would have been, otherwise, a boring, white, old people's party. It was unexpected, and it was bonding, and it was fun! One million words on immigration and on the "meaning of Christmas" were best expressed by pagans giving gifts and enjoying being a community, and spanish speaking members of our community invading our xmas celebration.
Yet, we too often drift to things to make us happy. I do it myself. When, we the people. We the non-judgemental, easy going, party happy, fun-loving people just need to open our hearts to others, instead of walling ourselves up with fear, greed, and things.
Jesus says "Take all that you have, and give it to the poor". Not just to help them, but to knock down the walls between the two.
The Gospel of Thomas has Jesus saying "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first until we all become one!" There, is the kingdom of God. Here, and now. We can have it, they just don't sell it anywhere.
Here endeth the lesson. Happy New Year!!!!!
Anyway, I was listening to a little Pete Seeger today as a palate cleanser, and that got me thinking.
Unionism is quite dead, but the ideas of solidarity, and brotherhood/sisterhood live on, or do they?
I was reading in Harpers about black power and the civil rights movement. They are dead too, but why is all that gone?
We the people. Most of us scraping by. We want health insurance, we want more family time, we want better communities. And the best community I was with this holiday season was at a pagan party. So there you go. A close second was the party at my church where we celebrated Las Posadas. We were having a pseudo spanish/hispanic party when real immigrants/hispanics showed up. They shared their carols and songs with us. Showed us how to have real fun with a pinata, woke up what would have been, otherwise, a boring, white, old people's party. It was unexpected, and it was bonding, and it was fun! One million words on immigration and on the "meaning of Christmas" were best expressed by pagans giving gifts and enjoying being a community, and spanish speaking members of our community invading our xmas celebration.
Yet, we too often drift to things to make us happy. I do it myself. When, we the people. We the non-judgemental, easy going, party happy, fun-loving people just need to open our hearts to others, instead of walling ourselves up with fear, greed, and things.
Jesus says "Take all that you have, and give it to the poor". Not just to help them, but to knock down the walls between the two.
The Gospel of Thomas has Jesus saying "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first until we all become one!" There, is the kingdom of God. Here, and now. We can have it, they just don't sell it anywhere.
Here endeth the lesson. Happy New Year!!!!!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Christmas Music
What's your favorite?
I'm torn between a couple of songs...Wachet Auf (Wake, oh Wake!) as an Advent carol that I adore. Also, The Linden Tree Carol is excellent. Then there's The Cherry Tree Carol which is probably my absolute favorite (AKA When Joseph went a walking).
The Cherry Tree Carol is an American carol, oddly enough, and it is about Mary asking Joseph to gather cherries, wherupon Joseph says "Let the Father of the Baby" gather cherries for you. Then Jesus speaks out of Mary's womb commanding the trees to bow down.
Mary does not rebuke Joseph, but simply rejoices in the miracle, and draws his attention to it "Oh, look now Joseph, I have cherries at command".
Then I've heard two different endings. One just repeats the opening phrase (When Joseph was an old man, he married virgin Mary...etc)
another has Joseph breaking down, and asking forgiveness of God.
I go back and forth between which I like better.
What are your favorites, and why? I would love to hear about them.
I'm torn between a couple of songs...Wachet Auf (Wake, oh Wake!) as an Advent carol that I adore. Also, The Linden Tree Carol is excellent. Then there's The Cherry Tree Carol which is probably my absolute favorite (AKA When Joseph went a walking).
The Cherry Tree Carol is an American carol, oddly enough, and it is about Mary asking Joseph to gather cherries, wherupon Joseph says "Let the Father of the Baby" gather cherries for you. Then Jesus speaks out of Mary's womb commanding the trees to bow down.
Mary does not rebuke Joseph, but simply rejoices in the miracle, and draws his attention to it "Oh, look now Joseph, I have cherries at command".
Then I've heard two different endings. One just repeats the opening phrase (When Joseph was an old man, he married virgin Mary...etc)
another has Joseph breaking down, and asking forgiveness of God.
I go back and forth between which I like better.
What are your favorites, and why? I would love to hear about them.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The Peace on Christmas
Those who claim a "war on Christmas" are wrong, no matter who they speak for. All sides have lost. Peace rules!
You see I believe:
My God is large enough to embrace Pagans, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Athiests.
He appears to each as they can find him.
My God celebrates the Solstice, the Yule, Ramadan, Hannukah, Yom Kippur.
My God speaks through the bible, the torah, the Koran, Dr. Seuss, Yeats, Kipling, Stephen King, Rumi, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gnostic Gospels, through my children.
How dare you say that Christ is the son of a God who can only hold one religion.
Christ is who I follow to discover the truth of the beauty of God.
"My House has many rooms!" says God.
Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the light". What a great play on words "I am" is the name of God, and "I am" being a call to find your own way, and "I am" being a call to follow his way.
My God is the God of contradiction.
My God sent his son to die for life. My Goddess takes care of the Earth. My God is in all people. My God rules over the dogs and comforts them. He is with my rat, even though my rat is 10 years gone.
She is the start of all creation. He is creativity, reminding me that all things are beautiful.
Merry Christmas! Wolcum Yule! Happy Solstice! Happy Channukah! Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Darwin, Einstein, Freud, Skinner and Sacks! Alleluia brother and sisters! Love all, hate none, fear no evil for God is good!
You see I believe:
My God is large enough to embrace Pagans, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Athiests.
He appears to each as they can find him.
My God celebrates the Solstice, the Yule, Ramadan, Hannukah, Yom Kippur.
My God speaks through the bible, the torah, the Koran, Dr. Seuss, Yeats, Kipling, Stephen King, Rumi, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gnostic Gospels, through my children.
How dare you say that Christ is the son of a God who can only hold one religion.
Christ is who I follow to discover the truth of the beauty of God.
"My House has many rooms!" says God.
Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the light". What a great play on words "I am" is the name of God, and "I am" being a call to find your own way, and "I am" being a call to follow his way.
My God is the God of contradiction.
My God sent his son to die for life. My Goddess takes care of the Earth. My God is in all people. My God rules over the dogs and comforts them. He is with my rat, even though my rat is 10 years gone.
She is the start of all creation. He is creativity, reminding me that all things are beautiful.
Merry Christmas! Wolcum Yule! Happy Solstice! Happy Channukah! Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Darwin, Einstein, Freud, Skinner and Sacks! Alleluia brother and sisters! Love all, hate none, fear no evil for God is good!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Thanks!
As we celebrate the white man's invasion of "America". Let us give thanks. So come one, come all. Thanks Sunday is extended: Post all week, please limit to ten (the normal limit of three is also lifted) the things that you are most thankful for this year.
My favorites:
1. Thanks and love to all those who have hated and argued with me over the past year. Especially those who loathe the socialist road to freedom and love.
2. My Family and friends
3. Borat
4. Brit-Coms
5. Peace that surpasseth all understanding.
6. My lovely, six acres of land, lovingly thieved from the indians around 150 or so years ago.
7. My pets that teach me what it means to be a loving, forgiving being by waking me up at 3am.
8. Opera Quad Cities, The Genesius Guild, Prenzie Players
9. Unitarian Universalists everywhere.
10. Gorillas
Of course, one should be thankful for all things. Extreme thankfulness brings one joy, and shows, quickly, what little money should really mean in this world.
Praise Be, Peace, Shalom, Enjoy the Turkey!
My favorites:
1. Thanks and love to all those who have hated and argued with me over the past year. Especially those who loathe the socialist road to freedom and love.
2. My Family and friends
3. Borat
4. Brit-Coms
5. Peace that surpasseth all understanding.
6. My lovely, six acres of land, lovingly thieved from the indians around 150 or so years ago.
7. My pets that teach me what it means to be a loving, forgiving being by waking me up at 3am.
8. Opera Quad Cities, The Genesius Guild, Prenzie Players
9. Unitarian Universalists everywhere.
10. Gorillas
Of course, one should be thankful for all things. Extreme thankfulness brings one joy, and shows, quickly, what little money should really mean in this world.
Praise Be, Peace, Shalom, Enjoy the Turkey!
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