Cluster of wheat image Grapes and vines image Cluster of wheat image
April 24th, 2012

“WE ARE ALL CATHOLICS NOW”

Glenn Beck says, “We are all Catholics now…..We must all hang together or we will all hang separately. At the highest political level, there is a battle between good and evil.

April 17th, 2012

I COULD DANCE, TOO, IF …..

Mathilda Klein dances the quick step at 93.

Hey, I could dance, too, if someone would hold me up!

Or if spring came early!

Love those flounces.

At 94, she is still dancing.  God bless her!

It is always good to have a friend to dance with.

April 9th, 2012

86-YEAR OLD GYMNAST

You just know I had to post this video of 86-year-old Johanna Quaas at the Cottbus World Cup in Germany. It is good for us all to know what is (SOMETIMES) possible!

April 9th, 2012

WHAT TO DO?

As a Tea Party member myself, I have taken a particular interest in my grandson’s participation in the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement and the tactics aiming at societal change. After their winter hiatus, they are back Occupying again. Grandson Sage is Occupying in Boston and continues to study what he is doing and why. I was particularly impressed with this reflection by one Cynthia Peters which he linked to on his Facebook site.

This is from Talking Back to Chomsky by Cynthia Peters.

The Strategy Problem

But maybe you decide to be an activist anyway. The beast is man-made, after all. If we created this thing, we ought to be able to take it apart. Maybe you are wrong, not about how small you are in relation to the beast (because there’s no changing that), but in your assessment of how much power you have or might have, especially if you join with others.

So you start looking around. Citizens have been studying how the beast works, and they notice when it stretches out its claws, it hurts people, kills them, displaces them, leaves them unable even to subsist. You see that various groups are working desperately to mobilize a small handful of people to get the resources together to trim one toenail of our multi-clawed beast. This would ease the pain and suffering of the people who come into contact with the claw.

It barely seems reasonable to engage in this activity given the potential ferocity of the limb to which the nails are attached, but you are human and you see people will benefit at least a little by less sharp claws, so you are moved to join the effort.

But, wait, people are fighting about which toenail it would be best to trim and since they can’t agree, they have split up and are now competing for toenail trimming resources. You hadn’t been sure in the first place about whether toenail trimming would be all that effective, especially as the tail swishes, and the exhalations continue unabated, but now you see that you probably won’t even accomplish the toenail trimming since there is so much disagreement about which toe to tackle.

Meanwhile, others are trying to devise tail-swishing containment devices. Still others are attempting to develop antidotes to the lethal exhalations. Some others have discovered that the circulation of the beast’s blood automatically causes people to be robbed and demeaned. They are urging people to tame the beast in such a way that its systems can ultimately be dismantled and replaced, but they don’t say how or with what.

So even if you overcome the proportion problem, and convince yourself that it is possible to defeat the beast, you enter into a world of social change activists all working in a disorganized fashion on different body parts of the beast. People don’t even speak to each other, except when they happen to bump into each other standing in line at the funder’s office waiting to get their modicum of toenail-clipping resources. You know there is an axe somewhere that would make quick work of the toenail — maybe even the whole toe! — but that would require planning and training in the use of axes. Oh well. That is the strategy problem.

The Vision Problem

But you see that it is possible to overcome the strategy problem. You have studied social movements and have seen that people have developed long-term plans and won gains over years of hard work. You are aware of others who want to think and act more strategically. It dawns on you, however, that in order to be strategic, you have to know what you are trying to accomplish in the end. As you begin to discuss this question with people, you discover that one of the reasons people aren’t strategizing about how to wield the axe is that they’re afraid that if they use it, the beast might fall down.

“Lo and behold, isn’t that the point?” you ask. Apparently not. At least not for all those people who, whether they realize it or not, live by special arrangement in the protection of this beast. They favor duller claws — perhaps even a fully de-clawed beast — because direct gouging is distasteful and all the screaming that it induces is disruptive. These folks depend on the beast for certain privileges.

They want its breathing and circulation and the power of its limbs to remain intact, but they want the more bloody consequences of its actions to be moderated. You realize with horror that some of your most important allies in the de-clawing work, the ones who fund your project and occasionally give you 0.3 seconds on primetime are not allies at all when it comes to your vision of a better world.

Besides you don’t have a vision of a better world anyway. You are well aware that “another world is possible.” You’ve heard the slogans just like every other anti-beast activist. But there are almost no venues for exploring what this other world might look like, and it’s hard to imagine spending the time on it anyway. The claws are still slashing, the tail is swishing, and the heart of the beast keeps pulsing relentlessly on.

You might as well get back to the toenail trimming, which at least has visible results, minimizes real pain, and makes you feel like you’re doing something worthwhile. You’ll have to ignore the true functioning of the beast and perhaps you’ll begin to buy into the rationalizations that the beast is the only game in town. You don’t want to make this tradeoff, but isn’t it easier than confronting the fact that your supposed allies are actually beast beneficiaries? If you confront these allies, might you not simply alienate them, jeopardize your access to resources, marginalize yourself even more, and put at risk whatever toenail trimming might proceed if you just kept your mouth shut?

Let’s say you are very stubborn. You make a strategic decision to relate to the beast-rationalizers as need requires, but you will also pursue a vision of a better world with other more like-minded anti-beast activists. You have to. Years of experience have taught you that without a vision, you can’t have a strategy, and without a strategy, you won’t really get anywhere.

Little did you realize, however, that this is the most risky journey of all — one that could launch angry disagreements and estrangement among activists who have the most in common. You’ve seen how upset people get when they can’t agree which toe to put in the crosshairs, and here you are asking people to come up with a shared vision for replacing the beast’s circulatory and respiratory systems.

You are sorely tempted to step back from it all. Isn’t it enough that you overcame the proportion problem and did the obvious thing — found a group that was “working hard on things that concern you”?

No, you discover. It’s not enough. If you’re really serious about taking on the beast, you have to do much more. So you are faced with some crucial decisions (none of them with obvious answers) about how and where to use your energy, about which battles matter the most, about building alliances across enormous divides, about how to engage in strategy and vision even as you take baby steps to counter the worst effects of the claws. Read more.

April 5th, 2012

CARUSO AND THE TENORS IN MY LIFE

Despite my great age, I was not raised listening to Enrico Caruso (1873-1921). Tito Schipa (1888-1965) was the name on the red label we played on our Victrola. Since a friend loaned me a VHS recording of the movie, The Great Caruso (1951), I have been in opera heaven, reliving my past. It was my good fortune to marry a devotee of John McCormack, which  reinforced my love of a good tenor voice.

I cannot say enough good things about The Great Caruso, starring Mario Lanza as Caruso and Ann Blyth as his wife.  It is amazing the number of operatic arias and tid-bits they fit into that one movie, which seems to me to be rather long but holding interest all the way.   Who in that day could have made a better Caruso?  Lanza’s voice is spectacular (he was the best tenor of his time), and even his acting is good enough.   (Hear him sing O Holy Night.)   What a blessing that he was able to make this movie before his untimely death at 37.

I was able to listen to Tito Schipa’s La Donna e Mobile on YouTube (where it has had over three million hits) but embedding was disabled by request. It is as bouncy and joyful as I recall it. His O Sole Mio, however, was available.

John McCormack AND Enrico Caruso sing Una Furtiva Lagrima

John McCormack singing Il Mio Tesoro.

Everyone knows of the success of the four tenors of Il Divo. They keep me singing nowadays. (I guess I had a serious senior moment when I forgot to mention Andrea Bocelli! How many Bocelli concerts have it been to?)

 

April 5th, 2012

FYI – ABOMINATIONS

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT ABOMINATION

Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 20:23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

Proverbs 11:20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

Proverbs 20:10 Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 24:9 The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Mark 13:14 But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.

Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me…….Even though you make many prayers I will not listen.  Your hands are full of blood.

Proverbs 28:9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

Proverbs 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.

Proverbs 11:1-31 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.

Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

Proverbs 8:7 For my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 3:32 For the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.

April 5th, 2012

OVALTINE!

OVALTINE

I guess my mother must have seen this ad long ago – I’m thinking  the 1940’s – because she bought some Ovaltine back then as a pick-me-up. I liked it then though we kids were not supposed to drink it — it was for Mom’s health.  (Mom and Dad had five kids and weren’t into frivolous purchases.)   I’ve liked Ovaltine  ever since – the flavor, the handiness of it when you need a quick snack or a soothing hot drink.

The Ovaltine that is currently on the grocery shelves some 80 years later boasts a new recipe with no artificial sweeteners, no artificial colors,  and 16 vitamins and minerals. I’m sure that over the years the recipe has changed many times, in keeping with the thinking of the day. Probably a multivitamin and a glass of milk would make more nutritional and economic sense, but I cling to the old comfort food that is Ovaltine.

I don’t think I’ve ever done a tribute to a product before.   Who doesn’t want to wake up GAY and radiantly “alive”  in the morning?  I just wish they still had the classic chocolate favored Ovaltine WITH malt at my grocery store.

April 3rd, 2012

FROM EVOLUTION TO DESIGN

Dr. Jobe Martin, who has spent over 20 years exploring evolution vs. creation, discovers a unique proof of intelligent design. From whales and elephants to sparrows and dragonflies, he shows how the design of these creatures debunks evolution! Dr. Jobe was a traditional evolutionist, but his medical and scientific training would go through an evolution, rather a revolution when he began to study animals that challenged the scientific assumptions of his education. This was the beginning of the evolution of a creationist.

Dead chemicals come alive?

Woodpecker

The Giraffe

What happens inside a chicken egg on the nineteenth day?

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