27 December 2012
26 December 2012
18 December 2012
‘Surely, we can do better than this’ ...
Posted by Jonathan Capehart on December 17, 2012 at 8:23 am
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2012/12/17/surely-we-can-do-better-than-this/
A key piece of my post on the horror at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday turned out to be wrong: Adam Lanza did not enter the kindergarten classroom where his mother taught. She had no connection to the school. She wasn’t even there when he killed her. Now that we know Lanza murdered his mother at home then shot his way into the school only compounds the disbelief and revulsion of such an unfathomable act.
Nor were the children Lanza murdered between the ages of 5 and 10 years old, as we first thought. As the front page of Sunday’s Post and New York Times made dramatically clear, most of Lanza’s targets were just 6 and 7 years old. That they sustained multiple wounds, that Lanza had a semi-automatic weapon, two handguns and hundreds of bullets at the ready, that he stopped to kill himself only upon hearing the approach of first-responders broadens the scope of this tragedy far beyond our fears.
E. J. Dionne is right: This time has to be different. Yes, President Obama must lead on this issue. But his voice must be the loudest among many. Whatever action he takes must be backed up by a Congress unshackled from its bipartisan fear of the National Rifle Association. This is where Michael Bloomberg comes in.
In the blunt-spoken mayor of New York City, we have an anti-illegal guns advocate who is unafraid to take on the NRA. That he is a billionaire gives him the financial power to put his money where his mouth is and to attempt to match the financial power of the NRA. Said billions also give Bloomberg the independence to tell the gun lobby to stuff it. This year he started Independence USA PAC, a super PAC that has as one of its goals electing members of Congress who will crack down on illegal guns. Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a Bloomberg creation that now has a coalition of more than 700 mayors from across the country.
Oh, Bloomberg hasn’t been shy about slamming Obama and other elected officials who haven’t used their power to make us safer from gun violence. But now it’s time for all of us to join in the effort. There is a right to bear arms, but no right is absolute. So, when an elementary school is no longer sacrosanct, the laws must change. As @stone_circle tweeted late Sunday afternoon, “Guns are not SACRED. Children ARE.”
“We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change,” the president said last night in Newtown, Conn. “We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society, but that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely we can do better than this.”
Yes, we can. Yes, we must. It starts with him. It continues with us.
The entirety of this post via The Washington Post (online) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2012/12/17/surely-we-can-do-better-than-this/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2012/12/17/surely-we-can-do-better-than-this/
A key piece of my post on the horror at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday turned out to be wrong: Adam Lanza did not enter the kindergarten classroom where his mother taught. She had no connection to the school. She wasn’t even there when he killed her. Now that we know Lanza murdered his mother at home then shot his way into the school only compounds the disbelief and revulsion of such an unfathomable act.
Nor were the children Lanza murdered between the ages of 5 and 10 years old, as we first thought. As the front page of Sunday’s Post and New York Times made dramatically clear, most of Lanza’s targets were just 6 and 7 years old. That they sustained multiple wounds, that Lanza had a semi-automatic weapon, two handguns and hundreds of bullets at the ready, that he stopped to kill himself only upon hearing the approach of first-responders broadens the scope of this tragedy far beyond our fears.
E. J. Dionne is right: This time has to be different. Yes, President Obama must lead on this issue. But his voice must be the loudest among many. Whatever action he takes must be backed up by a Congress unshackled from its bipartisan fear of the National Rifle Association. This is where Michael Bloomberg comes in.
In the blunt-spoken mayor of New York City, we have an anti-illegal guns advocate who is unafraid to take on the NRA. That he is a billionaire gives him the financial power to put his money where his mouth is and to attempt to match the financial power of the NRA. Said billions also give Bloomberg the independence to tell the gun lobby to stuff it. This year he started Independence USA PAC, a super PAC that has as one of its goals electing members of Congress who will crack down on illegal guns. Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a Bloomberg creation that now has a coalition of more than 700 mayors from across the country.
Oh, Bloomberg hasn’t been shy about slamming Obama and other elected officials who haven’t used their power to make us safer from gun violence. But now it’s time for all of us to join in the effort. There is a right to bear arms, but no right is absolute. So, when an elementary school is no longer sacrosanct, the laws must change. As @stone_circle tweeted late Sunday afternoon, “Guns are not SACRED. Children ARE.”
“We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change,” the president said last night in Newtown, Conn. “We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society, but that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely we can do better than this.”
Yes, we can. Yes, we must. It starts with him. It continues with us.
The entirety of this post via The Washington Post (online) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2012/12/17/surely-we-can-do-better-than-this/
17 December 2012
11 December 2012
06 December 2012
Loyalty and individual choice ...
... a difficult dichotomy or not? Discuss.
Now, think in terms of multiple loyalties, and individual plus group decisions and autonomy.
Now, think community, society, and global perspectives.
You. Give?
17 November 2012
"Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast".
(Act II, Scene III) Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare)
14 November 2012
Marriage ...
“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. ♥
(stolen from Texting in Bed via Facebook ... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152272701100002&set=a.10152037774755002.896816.227721625001&type=1&theater)
12 November 2012
A belief ...
“A belief is only a thought you continue to think. A belief is nothing more than a chronic pattern of thought, and you have the ability -if you try even a little bit- to begin a new pattern, to tell a new story, to achieve a different vibration, to change your point of attraction.”
- Esther Hicks
via @GradnessMadness
- Esther Hicks
via @GradnessMadness
11 November 2012
Veterans Day
Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day and marked the end of hostilities of World War I that occurred at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. Therefore, the day is always recognized on November 11th, regardless of the day of the week the 11th falls on.
In 1919, President Wilson commemorated the first Armistice Day with these words:
"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations..."
The day was originally set aside to honor the Veterans of World War I with a day of parades and remembrances as well as a pause in activities at 11am on the day.
In 1938, it was made a legal federal holiday for all.
However, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress recognized a need to expand the meaning of the day to recognize all of our Veterans and not just those of World War I.
In 1954, the word "Armistice" was replaced with "Veterans" as a way to formally include all Veterans of all American wars in the day of remembrance.
Today, Veterans Day is a federal holiday which many cities celebrate with parades and ceremonies.
In Washington, D.C., there are ceremonies throughout the city including a wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery.
Veterans Day is a day not only to remember those who died in service to our country, but also to recognize those who continue to serve today.
Americans are encouraged to say thank you to those who fulfill this patriotic duty to maintain the freedoms of our country.
excerpted from: http://www.militaryspot.com/news/meaning-of-veterans-day/
Thank you, veterans and active military! My freedom is not taken for granted. I honor and thank you with the life I lead. Your service is immensely appreciated!
09 November 2012
26 October 2012
10 October 2012
25 September 2012
19 September 2012
18 September 2012
Happiness ...
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| (I'd credit the source on this, but I'd have to swear, so, "thank you" to whoever thinks I stole it from them. Sorry for not crediting you properly.) |
17 September 2012
14 September 2012
13 September 2012
20 ways to defeat depression
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| http://mindsportlive.com/Articles/Article/?articleId=218 |
create a cause
make a choice to take responsibility for your happiness
surround yourself with happy people
remove limiting beliefs
exercise
set goals
disassociate from the label of depression
go to counselling
create
listen to music
do at least one fun thing everyday
understand the positive intentions behind depression
manage your time
sunlight! sunlight! sunlight!
use the power of belief alone - whatever you think helps, helps
direct your imagination toward past positive memories
imagine a hologram - your ideal self - and step into it
be inquisitive
create a miracle
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http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/campaigns/defeatdepression.aspx |
10 September 2012
05 September 2012
First Day of School Jokes
courtesy: http://www.schooljokes.com/first_days/index.shtml
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Teacher: How can you make so many mistakes in just one day? Student: I get up early | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Teacher: What time do you get up in the morning? Student: About an hour and a half after I arrive at school | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What would happen if you took the school bus home?The police would make you bring it back! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What is the difference between a school bus driver and a cold? One knows the stops and one stops the nose! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mother: How do you like your new teacher? Son: I don't. She told me to sit up front for the present and then she didn't give me one! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mother: Does your teacher like you? Son: Like me, she loves me. Look at all those X's on my test paper! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mother: How did you find school today? Daughter: I just got off the bus and there it was! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Son: I'm not going back to school tomorrow! Father: Why not ? Son: Well I've been there a whole day, I can't read, I can't write and they won't let me talk, so what's the use? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I'm really glad you called me Fred, Dad Why is that ? Because when I got to school that's what everybody called me! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Teacher: If this class doesn't stop making so much noise I'll go crazy! Class: Too late, we haven't made a sound for an hour!
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04 September 2012
23 August 2012
"The 2 most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity."
- Harlan Ellison
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| hydrogen |
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| stupidity |
21 August 2012
17 August 2012
14 August 2012
12 August 2012
07 August 2012
Funk
 |
| http://themusicmomma.blogspot.com/2011/10/history-of-funk-music.html |
Like much African-inspired music, funk typically consists of a complex groove with rhythm instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass, Hammond organ, and drums playing interlocking rhythms. Funk bands sometimes have a horn section of several saxophones, trumpets, and in some cases, a trombone, which plays rhythmic "hits".
Many of the most famous bands in the genre also played disco and soul extensively. Funk samples have been used extensively in genres including hip hop, house music and drum and bass. It is also the main influence of go-go, a subgenre associated with funk.
(Thanks to wikipedia! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk)
06 August 2012
Life is a journey
 |
| http://nmullins.blogspot.com |
- Flynn
(via @GradnessMadness, http://gradnessmadness.tumblr.com/post/28692421673/out-of-the-gate)
05 August 2012
04 August 2012
03 August 2012
One of the best traditions in sport ...
During training camp in the summer months (held outside the Don Hutson Center), young Packers fans can take their bikes and have their favorite player ride their bike to the practice field from the locker room. This is an old Packers tradition dating back to approximately 1957 (the first years of Lambeau Field's existence). Gary Knafelc, a Packers end at the time, said, "I think it was just that kids wanted us to ride their bikes. I can remember kids saying, 'Hey, ride my bike.'" The practice continues today. (via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay_Packers)
02 August 2012
01 August 2012
30 July 2012
27 July 2012
26 July 2012
25 July 2012
24 July 2012
23 July 2012
21 July 2012
20 July 2012
18 July 2012
17 July 2012
15 July 2012
14 July 2012
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