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Oregon's Sesquicentennial

2009-02-14T20:53:00.004-06:00

Oregon turned 150 years old today!

Visit the Official Oregon Sesquicentennial Website to learn more.

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Tags: 1859-2009,, Oregon,, Oregon Sesquicentennial, & Sesquicentennial

POTUS's BlackBerry & Jon Stewart's Changefest '09

2009-01-24T08:00:00.008-06:00

The video clip runs 8:42 and only gets funnier as it goes on. Like Jossip.com, I'm surprised Jon Stewart forgot about Mr. Potter from Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. But Stewart's take on the now ex-VP is not what had me laughing the most. I think I really started to ROTFLOL when "Billary" made a brief appearance. From that point on Stewart gets funnier and funnier and funnier. And Elizabeth Alexander is no Dr. Maya Angelou circa 20 Jan 93, and speaking of Maya Angelou, I disagree with Stewart's take on Michelle Obama's yellow outfit. I liked it and as a friend at the Dallas County Democratic Party celebration on Inauguration night at Trinity Hall Irish Pub said, "Michelle Obama could wear a trash bag and still look beautiful."

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Changefest '09 - Obama's Inauguration

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Tip of the hat to Jossip.com, which I found from Pink Is The New Blog, which I found from Marc Ambinder's blog at TheAtlantic.com, and I found Marc's blog when I followed a link from the BBC about how President Obama is getting to keep his BlackBerry. Speaking of which, Richard Koman over at the ZDNet Government Blog talks about the value of Obama's BlackBerry obsession to RIM. [See what it might cost.] The ZDNet Government Blog is also reporting that POTUS #44 is in BlackBerry Heaven, while Tech.Yahoo.com says Obama wins first battle -- to keep BlackBerry.

Oh and one technological sign of Change over at WhiteHouse.gov - the weekly Presidential radio address (which I have never head on the radio) - will now be a Presidential video address. That and the BlackBerry are signs that our new President is very much a "Digital Native" and a member of GenX.

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Tags: Barack Obama, BlackBerry, Comedy, Comedy Central, Elizabeth Alexander, Fashion, GenX, Inaugural, Inaugural Events, Inauguration, Jon Stewart, Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, Obama, Obama's BlackBerry, Other Bloggers, Other Blogs, Poetry, President Obama, Technology, Video, & White House

And in case you missed the Regime Change on Tuesday, 20 January 2009:

[Note: Actually, only 43 individual people have taken the Oath - Grover Cleveland was the 22nd President & the 24th President, since he served two non-consecutive terms as President.]

Added 11 February 2009 after I found it via WhiteHouse.gov:

The Inaugural Poem - she still ain't Maya Angelou c. 1993, but the poem in isolation from the other events of the 20th does sound better than it did that day when I first heard it on C-Span. One might note that it rates fewer stars that the video above it, but when you consider who's in the other one . . . ;-)

Inauguration Day 2013

2009-01-20T11:01:00.003-06:00

While looking for something else (don't ask), I found the following from the U. S. Gov't's Office of Personnel Management aka the OPM:

NOTE: Inauguration Day, January 20, 2013, falls on a Sunday. Therefore, the next succeeding day selected for the public observance of the inauguration of the President is a legal public holiday for an employee who works in the District of Columbia, Montgomery or Prince George's Counties in Maryland, Arlington or Fairfax Counties in Virginia, or the cities of Alexandria or Fairfax in Virginia, and who is regularly scheduled to perform nonovertime work on Inauguration Day. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(c).) There is no in-lieu-of holiday for employees who are not regularly scheduled to work on Inauguration Day. In addition, employees for whom January 21, 2013, is the legal public holiday for the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., are not entitled to an in-lieu-of holiday for Inauguration Day if the day selected for the public observance of the inauguration of the President is January 21, 2013.

So should President Obama decide to run for re-election in 2012 and is re-elected [which he would be of course] he will take the oath of office for the second time on the same day as the Federal Holiday in honor of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday.

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Tags: 2012 Presidential Election, 2013, Barack Obama, Holidays, Inauguration, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, MLK Day, Paid Holidays, President Obama, & Second Term

A Prayer for Barack Obama

2009-01-19T16:40:00.000-06:00

O God, we give You thanks for Your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership, FDR’s courageous boldness and vision, and JFK’s ability to enlist the best efforts of our people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain for these times, not a fierce warrior who knee-jerk reacts to every real or perceived threat.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, remembering his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on his experience of the pain and rejection of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him patience and perseverance – not to give in to our whining (we love to do it when we don’t get our way), but rather to keep calling us to our better selves.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he’s president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking WAY too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore You, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of Your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity, and peace. AMEN.

[Source – The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire via The Boston Globe website]

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Tags: 20 January 2009, Barack Obama, Boston Globe, Episcopal Bishops, Inauguration, Prayers, Presidents, & +V. Gene Robinson

Changing Washington

2008-12-25T06:00:00.004-06:00

First let me say I was that kid in U. S. History in the Jr. year of HS that totally killed the curve on the Geography test. I'm the one that labeled every state correct and got an A. Remember the exchange student from what was then West Germany? She came in second with a C, the only C in the class. That said, I know my geography (thank you National Geographic Society and whoever gave me that 50 state puzzle when I was a kid), so I can comment on the lack of Geographical knowledge by others, especially those who really should know better (and I'm not talking about Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 - and while I do have family in SC, I don't think she's any relation).

Nope, it isn't the lack of maps!

They also misspelled Newberg, Oregon as "Newberb" - I'm pretty sure it is N-e-w-b-e-r-g since that is how the State of Oregon spelled it on my official birth certificate.

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Tags: British Columbia, DC, Geography, Maps, Miss Teen South Carolina 2007, NORAD, Screenshot, Typos, Video, Washington, Washington State, & YouTube

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T00:01:00.004-06:00

View Larger Map

Walking directions to בית לחם [Bethlehem], Israel‎
157 km – about 1 day 9 hours

From Nazareth, Israel
1. Head west on 4059 toward 4074
     Distance
     0.3 km
2. Turn right at Iksal/אכסאל
     Distance
     0.4 km
3. Turn left at Paulus Ha-Shishi/פאולוס השישי
     Distance
     1.1 km
4. Continue on Marj Ibn Amer/מרג' אבן עאמר
     Distance
     0.7 km
5. Slight right at Al-Fahura/אל פאח'ורה
     Distance
     0.1 km
6. Turn right to stay on Al-Fahura/אל פאח'ורה
     Distance
     0.6 km
7. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto 60/Marj Ibn Amer/מרג' אבן עאמר
Continue to follow 60
     Distance
     2.2 km
8. Slight left to stay on 60
     Distance
     6.3 km
9. Turn left at Ha-Histadrut/ההסתדרות
     Distance
     0.7 km
10. Turn right at Sprinzak/שפרינצק
     Distance
     0.1 km
11. Turn left at Batsir/בציר
     Distance
     0.2 km
12. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Ha-Katsir/הקציר
     Distance
     0.2 km
13. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto 71/Koresh/כורש, Continue to follow 71, Go through 2 traffic circles
     Distance
     14.0 km
14. Turn right toward 669
     Distance
     4.9 km
15. Turn right at 669
     Distance
     8.4 km
16. Turn right at 90
     Distance
     2.8 km
17. Turn right toward 90
     Distance
     0.2 km
18. Turn left toward 90
     Distance
     0.5 km
19. Slight left at 90, Go through 1 traffic circle
     Distance
     5.5 km
20. Slight right to stay on 90
     Distance
     57.0 km
21. Turn right toward 449
     Distance
     4.5 km
22. Turn left at 449
     Distance
     13.7 km
23. Turn left at 458
     Distance
     4.4 km
24. Continue on 457
     Distance
     4.6 km
25. Turn left at 60
     Distance
     3.8 km
26. Turn left at 437, Go through 1 traffic circle
     Distance
     4.3 km
27. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Sderot Sayeret Duchifat/שדרות סיירת דוכיפת, Go through 1 traffic circle
     Distance
     1.4 km
28. Slight right toward Amichai Paglin/עמיחי פאגלין
     Distance
     44 m
29. Turn left at Sderot Moshe Dayan/שדרות משה דיין
     Distance
     67 m
30. Slight right at Amichai Paglin/עמיחי פאגלין
     Distance
     0.3 km
31. Turn left at Derech Ha-Aluf Uzi Narkis/דרך האלוף עוזי נרקיס
     Distance
     2.9 km
32. Continue on Sderot Hayim Barlev/שדרות חיים ברלב
     Distance
     2.2 km
33. Slight right at Shivtei Israel/שבטי ישראל
     Distance
     0.1 km
34. Slight left to stay on Shivtei Israel/שבטי ישראל
     Distance
     0.6 km
35. Turn right toward Shivtei Israel/שבטי ישראל
     Distance
     9 m
36. Turn left at Shivtei Israel/שבטי ישראל
     Distance
     0.4 km
37. Shivtei Israel/שבטי ישראל turns slightly right and becomes Shlomo Ha-Melech/שלמה המלך
     Distance
     0.2 km
38. Slight left to stay on Shlomo Ha-Melech/שלמה המלך
     Distance
     35 m
39. Continue on David Ha-Melech/דוד המלך
     Distance
     1.0 km
40. Slight right at Derech Beit Lehem/דרך בית לחם
     Distance
     2.9 km
41. Slight left to stay on Derech Beit Lehem/דרך בית לחם
     Distance
     52 m
42. Slight left at Ha-Ofan/האופן
     Distance
     29 m
43. Turn right at Derech Hevron/דרך חברון, Go through 1 traffic circle
     Distance
     2.8 km
44. Turn left
     Distance
      0.1 km
45. Turn right
     Distance
     0.6 km
This gets you to the northern edge of בית לחם [Bethlehem], Israel. Take a left on to Manger Road when the road you are on ends and follow Manger Road to Manger Square.

View Larger Map

Related item from the BBC:

Aleem Maqbool has been walking from Nazareth to Bethlehem, retracing a journey made by Joseph and Mary in the New Testament story of Jesus' birth.

Read the rest of The Road to Bethlehem at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7795809.stm

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Tags: Aleem Maqbool, BBC, Bethlehem, Christmas, Directions, Google Maps, Holiday Travel, & Nazareth

From the Department of Funny Quotations

2008-12-08T11:48:00.005-06:00

The apple did not fall far from the tree, or should I say bush?

Here is a classic "Bushism" from 1988 by #41 that I happened across while looking for something else. As former Texas Governor Ann Richards said "Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."

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Tags: Ann Richards, Funny Quotes, & George H. W. Bush

A great new Irish pub song

2008-12-03T17:48:00.006-06:00

I love Irish music, and I really love this song! I'd love to hear it sung on President Obama's Inauguration Day!

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare, and O'Hara
there's no one as Irish as
Barack O'Bama
from the old Blarney Stone to
the green hills of Tara.
There's no one as Irish as
Barack O'Bama

Torral U
tooral S
tooral A
toor a lama
There's none as Irish as Barack O'Bama

Related content: BBC video of The Corrigan Brothers preforming their version on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show and One Eyed Parrot Dance Club's version with full lyrics!.

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Map: Moneygall, County Offaly, Ireland

Tags: Barack, Barack Obama, BBC, BBC Video, Berkeley, Corrigan Brothers, County Offaly, Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys, Ireland, Irish, Irish Folk Music, Irish Folk Songs, Irish Music, Irish Pub Songs, Irish Songs, Moneygall, Shay Black, Starry Plough, Video, & YouTube.

Advent Cometh

2008-11-27T12:21:00.003-06:00

"I suppose if you did one of those word association tests on 'Advent', the other word you'd come up with straight away would be 'calendar'. " ~ +++Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (cite)

The Church of England has an interesting website about Advent and waiting.

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Tags: Advent, Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of England, Rowan Williams, Telegraph, YouTube, & Waiting

President Obamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

2008-11-05T19:06:00.008-06:00

I'm so excited!

And I did more than just vote . . . I did the Texas Two-Step by voting in the primary and I caucusing. I spent a very long day and evening at a state senate district convention. I volunteered and volunteered and volunteered some more. I gave money. I registered voters. I early voted, even though I do not like electronic voting without a verifiable paper trail. I clerked on election day. I celebrated on campus. I celebrated with the local party. I celebrated on the bus. I celebrated in the lobby of my apartment building. I stayed up late last night. And finally I slept in this morning, knowing who the 44th President of the United States of American would be and being very happy about it (unlike the last two elections).

The title link goes to a BBC clip of the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue talking about the election results. I just love the part where he says "President Obama" . . . .

8:31PM CST - edited to add:

I used to live in Portland. The video was filmed in Pioneer Courthouse Square. The Square as locals call it, is the city's living room. It is where we gathered to celebrate the Blazer's NBA Western Conference Win in 1990. It is where we gathered to remember Princess Diana in 1997. It is where we partied like it was 1999 until it was 2000. It is where we gathered to sign banners by day and light candles by night in the days following 11 September 2001. I wish I could have been there Tuesday night to have lifted my voice in singing The Star Spangled Banner.

Oh, say can you see,
By the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
Through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there.
O, say, does that
Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?

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Tags: Barack Obama, I Voted, I Voted sticker, Obama, President Barack Obama, & President Obama

Interesting, Very Interesting

2008-10-23T11:27:00.008-05:00

When my mouse passed over "Texas Death Row" the Shortcut widget suggested that I "listen to popular songs" - ??????? Hello! The Death Penalty is a serious issue! See for yourselves Texas to Execute Ten Men in One Month"

National Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty

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Tags: Death Penalty, NCADP, TCADP, Texas, Texas Death Row, Yahoo! News & Yahoo! News Widget Error

An Unconventional Chruch

2008-10-05T18:06:00.003-05:00

The BBC has a blog post about a rather unconventional church.

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Tags: BBC, Christianity, Emerging Churches & Other Bloggers

MDG Blogging Day - Write your Representative/Senators

2008-09-25T15:26:00.007-05:00

Write your Senators and Representative and tell them to support the Millennium Development Goals.

From EPPN:

This week, world leaders are gathering in New York to review progress toward the Millennium Development Goals, the commitments shared by the United States and other nations for the elimination of deadly global poverty and disease. Over the past decade, American leadership in fighting poverty has saved millions of lives, but a great deal of work remains if we are to keep the promises we’ve made. Times are tight here at home, but fighting poverty and disease abroad is cost-effective and benefits America as well, both economically and in terms of global security. As we approach a new Presidential administration and a new Congress, I urge you and your colleagues to renew your commitment to fighting global poverty and disease in the following three areas highlighted by the Millennium Development Goals:

-- Better, More Effective Foreign Assistance: Foreign-aid programs like U.S. efforts to fight AIDS and malaria, promote micro-credit for women, and empower local communities through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, are saving lives and strengthening communities abroad. These efforts should be expanded to meet rising needs but also sharpened to promote transparency, aid effectiveness, and accountability. In particular, in the coming year, Congress should fully fund current foreign-aid programs that are fighting poverty; and pass legislation to promote universal primary education, improve child-survival rates, promote women’s economic empowerment, and help poor communities adapt to the effects of climate change.

-- Expanded Debt Cancellation: Working with partner nations, the United States has helped relieve multinational debts of a number of countries over the past decade, and in so doing, has allowed countries to empower themselves. For example, Tanzania and Kenya have put millions of children in school with the savings from debt relief, while Mozambique increased childhood vaccinations 80 percent and Cameroon implemented a successful national HIV/AIDS plan. Legislation passed by the House this year and currently pending in the Senate called the Jubilee Act (S. 2166) would – at minimal cost to the United States – begin the process of canceling debts for well-governed poor countries that have not yet benefited under past deals but need debt relief to meet the MDGs. The Senate should pass the Jubilee Act and send it to the President before leaving for the year.

-- Fairer Trade Policies: Free and fair trade is a cornerstone of economic empowerment for poor communities, but the current trade system is heavily weighted toward rich countries, often in ways that also harm struggling families in those rich countries. Some policies, like U.S. agricultural subsidies for rich corporate farms, both weaken struggling American communities and exacerbate suffering and need in poor countries abroad. In the coming year, Congress should work with the new President to promote trade policies that serve human need both in the United States and abroad, and in particular, should begin preparing for the next U.S. farm bill by laying the groundwork for restructuring America’s farm-payment system away from benefiting rich corporate producers.

The past several years have brought the United States unprecedented global challenges, and even as Americans have debated how best to meet those challenges, consensus has developed on Capitol Hill and around kitchen tables that fighting deadly poverty and disease abroad is in the interest of both America and humanity as a whole. As world leaders this week sharpen the call for action in fighting poverty and disease, I urge you and your colleagues in Congress to rise to the challenge once again.

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Tags: Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, Episcopalian Public Policy Network, EPPN, MDGs, ONE, & World MDG Blogging Day

MDG Blogging Day

2008-09-23T20:24:00.004-05:00

I had decided I was going to write some excellent blog post on the MDGs, but it has been one long day. Started out doing voter registration in the campus student center, spent the afternoon polishing a parish newsletter piece that was on deadline and getting that e-mailed off, then it was time for a leadership meeting for those of us working on forming a campus organization to adopt the 180-member Army Reserves unit of one of our campus police officers who is currently deployed in Iraq along with also adopting their families here at home. It is now dark outside, I live a ways from campus, and have to be back at 7AM tomorrow for SYATP. So here is a round up of my previous blog posts relating to the MDGs in chronological order.

Sudan

Food for Thought for General Convention

Something Totally Unexpected and Wonderful

ONE Episcopalian

My Opinion

What One Can Do

Better Late than Never - Creation Friendly Lent (sort of MDG related in a sustainable living way)

Save Lives in Sudan!

Agnes' Story

Displace Me 2 Austin

Displaced to Austin

Austin Displace Me Videos

Eyes on Darfur

Beyond Belief

The Displace Me - Take Two video is online!

Four Challenges

You Must See This Documentary (and no it isn't by Michael Moore)

Bishops and Various Other Things of Greater Interest Than Church Politics

Stand Up and Speak Out

Blogging for Good

If you give an Archbishop some scissors . . .

Who Will Tell the People?

Update on 24 September 2008: I posted this yesterday, which was the 23rd and which I thought was MDG Blogging Day. If I'd noticed the date on the RingSurf badge, I would have noticed that it said it was tomorrow. So now I have to come up with something to write tomorrow.

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Tags: Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, MDGs, ONE, & World MDG Blogging Day

Amazing Find on Google Maps

2008-09-22T16:18:00.004-05:00

This is amazing. (Pun intended.)

View Larger Map

This is just east of I-5 on the north side of the Santiam River, not far from the Marion County town of Jefferson, Oregon. The maze design is of the Oregon quarter.

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Tags: Google Maps, I-5, Marion County, Mazes, Oregon, Santiam River, & State Quarter Series

Craig Ferguson wants you to Register and Vote

2008-09-19T15:55:00.005-05:00

Found this on Constitution Day [17 September 2008] on another blog - The Political Carnival, after spending the morning with the League of Women Voters registering new citizens to vote.

There's nothing better than a new citizen to remind the rest of us to be good citizens! Especially when that new citizen has a wonderful Scottish accent!

Now Go Visit VOTE411.org. Do it RIGHT NOW!!!!! Register and VOTE, or don't even think of complaining!

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Tags: 10 September 2008, 2008 Election, CBS, Constitution Day, Craig Ferguson, League of Women Voters, New Citizens, Other Bloggers, Registering to Vote, Politics, Television, The Late Late Show, Voting & YouTube

28 Aug 08 Photo

2008-08-31T15:54:00.006-05:00

I'm not in the photo. I'm behind the camera. Which is where I prefer to be.

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Tags: 2008 Election, 2008 Democratic National Convention, Acceptance Speech, Barack Obama, Convention Watch Party, Dallas County Democrats, Denver 2008, Eva's House of BBQ, Mile High Stadium, Texas Democrats, Photoblog & Politics

The Veep Steaks

2008-08-19T18:28:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning on NPR's Morning Edition NPR's Don Gonyea and Steve Inskeep discussed the Veep Steaks. It wasn't during that particular story, but at sometime recently on NPR someone suggested the person I think would be the perfect VP pick for Senator Obama.

Drum roll please.

A retired U. S. Army General

A former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

A former Secretary of State

Colin Luther Powell the sixty-one year old Harlem-born son of Jamaican immigrants.

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Tags: 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Democratic Politics, NPR, & Vice Presidential Pick.

Interesting Anglican Happenings

2008-06-23T15:37:00.004-05:00

Dave Walker, the UK blogger of Cartoon Blog fame, has an interesting piece on his Church Times blog entitled Anglican churches embrace Florida 'revival'. Dave has lots of good links and when I have time to read them all, I might post more on this subject.

[Added on 30 June 08: see the comments for links to a couple of more blogs that deal with these interesting happenings. Note: none of this as far as I can tell has any connection to GAFCON.]
Tags: Anglican Communion, Dave Walker, Florida, Other Bloggers, & Revival

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Yahoo News Photo Goof

2008-06-17T11:06:00.005-05:00

I was looking at Yahoo News Photos earlier (this page to be exact) and noticed below the photo (of an offshore oil well) it said that the photo I was looking at was also a part of a collection of photos related to Sen. John McCain and right next to the link was a thumbnail photo that the "alt" tag said was of John McCain. It was very obvious who was really in the photo . . . well see for yourself:

The screenshot was created using IE7.0 and PrintScreen (I pasted the PrintScreen into MS Paint, saved as a .jpg and then opened in PhotoFiltre so that I could add the blue circle and the red question mark), but I almost always use Firefox (which I used for this post).

Tags: Barack Obama, John McCain, Politics, & Yahoo News Photos

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Obama in Chicago

2008-06-11T11:08:00.003-05:00

I'm fired up and ready to go!

Tags: Barack Obama, Chicago, Democrats, Obama, & YouTube

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It's a Nominee!!!

2008-06-03T20:27:00.008-05:00

I just checked CNN looking for results from South Dakota (still counting) and Montana (still voting) and found that according to CNN, the junior Senator from the great state of Illinois has 2,119 Delegates. One more than needed! [The official Obama campaign site still says 8 to go, but I'm not going to argue with CNN!]

And now we can focus on defeating the GOP! It has been five long months since Iowa, but Primary Season in over! On to 4 November (five months and one day to go) and victory!

Eight Months, Two Weeks, Two Days, Sixteen Hours, and Fifteen Minutes and a sitting U. S. Senator will become President for the first time since 1960. And there is a good chance that history will be made! President Obama just has a nice ring to it.

Added at 8:51PM CDT

See also: post on official campaign blog

Added at 7:55PM CDT on 5 June 2008
See Senator Obama's Tuesday night speech (25m:38s)
Name That Tune: I think I know who that is singing (as voice over) at the end, but I'm not sure. If you know who it is, leave the artist name and song title in the comments please.

Added at 8:30PM CDT on 5 June 2008
Full Text of Senator Obama's speech courtesy of the BBC

Tags: Barack Obama, Democrats, Elections, Obama, & Victory

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Who Will Tell the People?

2008-05-09T15:03:00.007-05:00

Thomas L. Friedman writing in The New York Times asks "Who Will Tell the People?"

Traveling the country these past five months while writing a book, I’ve had my own opportunity to take the pulse, far from the campaign crowds. My own totally unscientific polling has left me feeling that if there is one overwhelming hunger in our country today it’s this: People want to do nation-building. They really do. But they want to do nation-building in America. [read the rest]

Mr. Friedman rasies some important questions.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying: Quote of the Day on E-NOTES

Tags: Important Questions, NY Times, Op-Ed, & Thomas L. Friedman

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Our PB!

2008-04-28T18:05:00.015-05:00

That is ++Katharine Jefferts Schori with the cozier at the end of the procession. Note the symmetrical vestments! (See my previous remarks about her and her vestments.) This video was shot using a Kodak EasyShare C340 at Saint Thomas' Episcopal, Dallas on the first of the Rogation Days when our Presiding Bishop blessed the parish's new community garden. There were almost as many Episcopalians from Forth Worth there as there were from Dallas. Oh and I'm such a church-geek, I got my BCP autographed by the PB. ;-)

Tags: Anglican Primates, Bishops, Community Gardens Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, Rogation Days, & Saint Thomas Episcopal

Coverage elsewhere: epiScope & Dallas Morning News

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The BBC & Threats to Photographers

2008-04-21T12:49:00.007-05:00

The BBC discusses serious threats to non-professional photographers and not from whom you might think either. The article is very good and the Magazine section of BBC News | UK sees to have only suffered some, not all, of the design "improvements" that have been applied elsewhere. For a discussion on the worth of those "improvements" you can read the comments sections on the BBC's Richard Porter's blog entry Clear Band and on the New News blog post by the BBC's Peter Horrocks.

Personally, I think the old look to the BBC website was a little dense, but now I think they've gone and swung the pendulum way too far in the opposite direction. Interestingly enough, I wonder if the thinning of the design doesn't make the news coverage look more shallow, even if it isn't. [I live in the US, therefore I do not lack for access to shallow news. {Sigh}] Does a sparse design cause reporters to write more sparsely or did the denser design make their writing look more in depth?

Tags: BBC, Other Bloggers, Photographers, Photography, Web Design, & Writing

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Requiescat In Pace

2008-04-14T17:03:00.008-05:00

I've met quite a number of bishops, including a couple of the primate type, but one of the ones I've known the best passed on just over a week ago. I found out not from seeing the headline from Episcopal Life Online in the little box of headlines on the bottom of the main page of my blog, but from the title of a podcast from St. John's, Boston Avenue, where I attended for six months while The Rt. Rev. Frank Harris Vest, Jr., was serving as an interim rector.

Tags: Bishop Vest, Episcopal Church, iTunes & Requiescat In Pace

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Related Posts: epiScope, & Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch

Christ Church, Phila.

2008-04-06T14:40:00.007-05:00

The bells of Christ Church, Phila. were cast at the same foundry in England as the Liberty Bell, the only difference is that the church bells still work!

This video was shot on the morning of Sunday, 6 April 2008 on American Street in Philadelphia using a Kodak EasyShare C340.

Tags: Christ Church, Church Bells, & Philadelphia

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How to have a revival . . .

2008-03-14T05:23:00.004-05:00

Dave Walker has an excellent video embedded in his blog in his recent How to have a revival post. I suggest y'all go check it out.

Tags: Dave Walker, Other Bloggers, & YouTube

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Yes, We Can!

2008-02-13T13:50:00.003-06:00

Tags: 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Obama, Obama 08, Yes, We Can, & YouTube

Tip of the hat to Bart.

28 Feb 08 Update - since I live in Texas where we Dems get to Vote & Caucus in support of a candidate for the party's nomination I can use both of these. ;-) Oh and that first one should say "voted" on it, because I early voted last Saturday.

Texas Two Step
&

Post election day update - my caucus was 92% for Obama and I'm one of the delegates to our State Senate District Convention. [And yes I'm a little bothered by some of the things that the media says the pastor (or is it recently retired pastor?) of the Obama's congregation has said. I'm doing my own research into this.]

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How a Bill Becomes a Law (School House Rock)

2008-01-22T14:16:00.002-06:00

I loved School House Rock growing up and was so excited when I found the videos on YouTube. This is my absolute favorite and the one I remember best.

Tags: American Government, School House Rock, & YouTube

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I found the Exploding Whale online!!!

2008-01-15T09:59:00.001-06:00

About seven months before I was born, the the staff of the Oregon State Highway Division found themselves with a problem on on their hands. What do you do with a 45 foot 8 ton dead sperm whale that has washed up on the beach near Florence (Lane County) Oregon and started to stink? Wait you say, why is the "Highway Division" concerned with what is on the beach? Because in Oregon, ocean beaches are considered part of the public right-of-way thanks to Gov. Oswald West (1873-1960, served 1910-1914).

After thinking through the options, the Oregon Highway Division decided to take 20 cases, that's half a ton, of dynamite and put it on the leeward side of the whale, with the idea that the whale would blow to pieces, with most of it going toward the Pacific and then seagulls and other carnivorous animals would take care of the clean up. That was the plan. That isn't what actually happened on 12 November 1970! And KATU Channel 2 (ABC) reporter Paul Linnman and photographer Doug Brazil caught it on film in living color.

Don't believe me? Check out what Snopes.com has to say about this whale of a tale. And KATU TV has a page about it too along with a pop up window with the original video.

To see what happened visit the video page of TheExplodingWhale.com.

[And if exploding whales aren't your thing - check out JibJab.com's review of 2007.]

And in other Whale-related news:
BBC News: NZ Dolphin Rescues Beached Whales

Tags: Doug Brazil,Exploding Whale, Exploding Whale Video, Florence, Oregon, KATU TV, Lane County, Oregon, Oregon State Highway Division, & Paul Linnman

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AnglicanBlogs.com

2008-01-12T23:15:00.001-06:00

Dave Walker of CartoonChurch.com fame has started AnglicanBlogs.com. Things are in the very early stages now, but I suspect that it will become quite the hub of Anglican bloggers, especially of those not on Facebook. ;-)

Click the cartoon to see his original post about AnglicanBlogs.com.

[Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.]

15 January 2008 Update: Dave says that AnglicanBlogs.com is now actually set up sing Ning, so it is now at http://anglican.ning.com/

Tags Anglican, Anglican Bloggers, AnglicanBlogs.com, Anglicans, Anglican Communion, Cartoons, Dave Walker, New Websites, & Other Bloggers

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I Miss Portland!

2008-01-04T19:56:00.001-06:00

A few Portland Blogs that I stumbled upon recently:

Portland (OR) Daily Photo

Pin-ups from Portland (another Portland Photo Blog)

Overheard in Portland - WARNING: Highly Addictive

PDX Cabbie

And PDX Cabbie in his recent post "Shaving Off Degrees of Separation" wrote something that I think totally sums up one of the things that I really miss about Portland: "There is no six-degrees of separation in Portland. To be removed any further than three degrees would mean dwelling in cave."

Tags: Missing Home, Other Bloggers & Portland, Oregon

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Christmas isn't over Garfield

2007-12-28T14:12:00.000-06:00

Contrary to this Garfield cartoon that appeared on 26 December 2007, the Second Day of Christmas, Christmas isn't over yet.

There are 12 Days of Christmas:

25 December

26 December

27 December

28 December

29 December

30 December

31 December

1 January

2 January

3 January

4 January

5 January

If you give an Archbishop some scissors . . .

2007-12-21T18:44:00.000-06:00

. . . you get a prophetic act.

The Church Times is reporting that the Archbishop of York has cut up his clerical collar. And he did it on BBC TV!

This all has nothing to do with Anglican Communion politics. :-) If you want to read why the Archbishop of York is going collarless, you can read the Church Times article or check out Dave Walker's Blog where Dave posts about what the Archbishop of York did and even throws in a helpful template for other clergy who might want to copy the actions of the Archbishop of York. And if you want to see if for yourself - YouTube via Technorati or watch below.

Another video of the same, also YouTube via Technorati

I also recommend the longer but well done post in Roxburgh Journal titled John Sentamu and Reflections on Identity, it is well worth the read.

See also: epiScope, Holy Smoke - UK Telegraph blog, & David Jones, MP.

Tags: Africa, Andrew Marr, Archbishop of York, BBC, Clerical Collar, Dave Walker, Dog Collar, Identity, ++John Sentamu, Other Bloggers, Prophetic Act, Robert Mugabe, Roxburgh Journal, Video, & Zimbabwe

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FYI - This should be my last blog post until MMVIII or 2008 for those of you who are rusty on your Roman Numeral reading skills.

Blogging for Good

2007-12-19T15:20:00.000-06:00

Mike+ Kinman has a post up about giving to the St. Peter's, Chicago ''Tongues of Fire in Advent'' Fund. Mike+, who is not from that parish, set up the fund after hearing about the chapel damaging, but not totaling, fire at St. Peter's, Chicago. Read about the fire and the need over on Mike+'s blog post and then give to the fund (Mike+ has a link to the PayPal account) and show some love.

Tags: Anglican Communion, Blogging, Blogging for Good, Chapel Fire, Chicago, Episcopal Church Mike+ Kinman, Other Bloggers, PayPal, Saint Peter's Episcopal, Chicago, TEC, The Episcopal Church

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When knitting becomes an obsession

2007-12-11T11:08:00.000-06:00

I'm in a knitting group on the social networking site - FaithBase.com and was looking for some beginning knitting videos to post in response to a request by another member. While there is sound, there are no spoken words in the video, so it can be understood by knitters around the globe.

More Knitting Videos

Tags: FaithBase, Knitting, Video, & YouTube

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Sprint STINKS

2007-11-15T13:39:00.000-06:00

Last week I paid my Sprint PCS bill on line at Sprint.com. They didn't credit my account, the money is still sitting in my bank account, and now they want a late fee! Like it is my fault their website didn't do it's job!

I <3 Verizon! Had them in the past and loved them. And the minute my Sprint contract expires or as soon as I can afford to get out of it, I'm switching back!
Tags: Bad Customer Service, Cell Phone Service, Sprint, SprintPCS, & Verizon

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Praying for Bishops

2007-10-29T13:55:00.000-05:00

From The Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Monday 29-Oct-2007
Psalm: 131 Lk 12:35-48
Toungoo - (Myanmar) The Rt Revd Saw John Wilme

I don't know why the ACofP uses the the name chosen by the oppressive military regime and not the name that was used by the last democratically chosen government - Burma, but anyhoo, if any bishops need our prayers it is the ones in ~~Myanmar~~ Burma.

AnglicanCommunion.org has the following prayer on their main page today:

Loving and protecting God
you sent your Son to enable all to be free.
We hold before you the people of Myanmar.
Support those in that land who struggle for justice, for freedom from fear and for their nation's health.
Help your Church throughout all the world
To hear the voices of those who are suffering.
And do not let us stand aside. Amen.

And speaking of bishops - today is the birthday of the Rt. Rev. James Stanton, Bishop of Dallas.
Related post: CNN - Witnesses: Monks protest near Suu Kyi house
Where is the Diocese of Toungoo of The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma)? Map

Tags: Anglican Communion, Anglican Cycle Prayer, Birthday, Bishops, Burma, Dallas, Diocese of Dallas, Diocese of Toungoo, +James Stanton, Prayer, +Saw John Wilme & The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma)

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How Democracies Die

2007-10-27T09:20:00.000-05:00

"Democracies die behind closed doors. A government operating in the shadow of secrecy stands in complete opposition to the society envisioned by the framers of our Constitution." ~ the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati (source)

Related: American Society of Newspaper Editors, Andrew Sullivan in The Atlantic, & National Coalition Against Censorship

This photo was taken at Dan & Louis' Oyster Bar, in Portland, Oregon sometime between Easterday and late July 2004. I highly recommend their New England White Clam Chowder made from the original Wachsmuth family recipe.

Tags: Apathy, Democracy, John H. Stambaugh, & How Democracies Die

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KBPS & Web 2.0

2007-10-24T17:37:00.000-05:00

KPBS the major Public Radio/TV station in Southern California is using Web 2.0 apps such as Google's My Maps and Twitter to help provide real time breaking news updates online about the major fires in Southern California.

The KPBS Google Map

The KPBS Twitter feed

Draft Al Gore

2007-10-19T18:17:00.000-05:00

Click the link. Then choose other. Then type "Al Gore" in the box. Gore currently has almost 30% of the vote with almost 22,000 votes cast so far for him. Barack Obama is in second place with almost 22% of the vote with not quite 16,000 votes in his favor.

Tags: 2008 Election, Al Gore, Democracy For America, DFA, Draft Al Gore, Politics, & Polling

Related Post: Re-elect Al Gore 2008

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Stand Up and Speak Out

2007-10-08T17:20:00.000-05:00

Thanks to ONE DAY STARTS WITH DAY ONE - DALLAS AND YOU.

If you are in North Texas on 17 October 2007, get yourself down to Victory Plaza, just south of the American Airlines Center for the ONE Dallas Stand Up Rally starting at 5:30! For more details click the banner above and then scroll down to the RSVP link and let us know you are coming!

Here's a map (and by the way, Google needs to take some new photos - there has been a lot of construction in this part of Dallas in the last couple of years!)

View Larger Map

Tags: 17 October, Millennium Development Goals, ONE, ONE Dallas,Stand Against Poverty, & Stand Up Speak Out

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Since I'm a "Daughter of the King" does that make me a Princess?

2007-09-29T18:30:00.000-05:00

I took this photo yesterday with my brand new Kodak EasyShare C340 ;-)

Back in late August, I and another lady from my parish were admitted to The Order of the Daughters of the King. No, that doesn't make us nuns, as The Order of the Daughters of the King's website says:

Who We Are

The Daughters of the King is a lay Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, or churches in communion with it, or churches who are in the Historic Episcopate. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ's Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.
links mine

Some info about the design of the cross from The Order of the Daughters of the King:

About The Cross

The emblem of the Order is in the form of a modified Greek Fleury cross inscribed in Latin, Magnanimiter Crucem Sustine, the watchword of the Order, meaning "With heart, mind and spirit uphold and bear the cross." At the base of the cross are the letters "FHS," initials that stand for the Motto of the Order: "For His Sake..."

The emblem, never wavering from the original design, has been trademarked for the exclusive use of the Order. The cross is worn at all times. It is customarily worn on the left side over the heart or it may be worn on a silver chain around the neck, but it is never to be worn simply as an ornament. Only a member in good standing may wear the cross of the Order, which remains the property of the Order. When a Daughter dies, her cross may be buried with her or incorporated into her memorial; otherwise, it must be returned to the National Office.

Since metals, even gold, irritates my sensitive skin I wear mine on a simple ribbon and I plan on being buried with it (no cremation for me!) Oh and the crosses are made by James Avery.

For more information on The Order of the Daughters of the King click the title of this blog post or surf on over to www.dok-national.org.

Tags: Cross, Daughters of the King, Photoblog, & The Order of the Daughters of the King

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Bishops and Various Other Things of Greater Interest Than Church Politics

2007-09-28T21:33:00.001-05:00

Bishops blogging about the recent TEC House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans, listed in geographical order in distance from my parish.

+James

+Gary

+David

If you know of any others, please leave links in comments. Of the above I got the first two links via e-mail and I read +David's blog religiously. ;-)

A lot of us in the pews are to the point that we'd much rather talk about things other than Church politics. So on that point let us proceed on to "Various Other Things of Greater Interest Than Church Politics" listed in no particular order.

(RED) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GLOBAL FUND TOP $45 MILLION $30 million of (RED) funds already invested in AIDS programs in Ghana, Swaziland and Rwanda

Turning the Pages(tm) at the British Library

In_between, a blog from New Zealand.

In_between's post on The History of the Library

Play.Blogger.com

A really cool outer space photo from NASA - click the link to see the photo. Now does that look like a rosebud or what?

NASA web video showing Neil Armstrong putting the first human foot on the Moon.

This photo was taken in The Sterling Room for Writers at Multnomah County Central Library in Portland, Oregon. (I got a new camera today, so expect more recent photos in the near future.) Notice that my photo shows the same corner of the room as the Library's web page, which shows that that corner is the most interesting one. :-)

Tags: Bishops, Blogger Play, Blogs, Other Things More Interesting Than Church Politics, Photoblog, & Sterling Room for Writers

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CNN - Witnesses: Monks protest near Suu Kyi house

2007-09-22T21:39:00.000-05:00

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Myanmar police let about 500 protesting Buddhist monks through a roadblock to march past the home where opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is under house arrest, and the Nobel laureate came to her gate to greet them looking "fit and well," witnesses said.

The unexpected visit briefly joined Myanmar's best-known advocate of democratic reform with the highly respected monks whose five straight days of protests this month have jolted the country's military junta.

It was not immediately clear if there was any broader significance to the visit, but coordination between the two movements, which have been operating separately, could pose a new threat to the regime.

Thousands of monks held anti-government protest marches around Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, where the Nobel Peace Prize winner is under house arrest. Thousands more monks and other citizens marched in other cities in the tightly controlled country. Read the rest.

Could this be the beginning of the end of the oppressive military junta in Burma? One can only pray that it is so.

Added Friday, 28 September 2007: Associated Press article - Satellite images may show Myanmar abuses which I found via Yahoo! News

Added Saturday, 29 September 2007: Blog Post - Hope for Myanmar which I found via Blogger Play

Tags: Associated Press, Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma, CNN, Current Events Myanmar & Other Bloggers

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Da Blues

2007-09-16T16:09:00.002-05:00

One of the things I miss about no longer living in Portland is the Waterfront Blues Festival. Google Maps nicely enough chose to use a Fourth of July weekend shot of the southern end of Waterfront Park. I just happened across this the other day and know I hear via OregonLive.com that the Oregon Food Bank is in need of donations.

OregonLive.com's Lynne Terry ends the article by saying: To help, donate money online through the food bank site here. Food industry executives can call Mike Moran, the organization's food resource manager, 503-282-0555, Ext. 209.

Portland's Fourth of July Waterfront Blues Festival benefiting the Oregon Food Bank

View Larger Map

Tags: Blues, Music, Oregon Food Bank, Portland, Portland, Oregon, Waterfront Blues Festival, & Waterfront Blues Festival - Oregon

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Update on 23 Sept 08: Google updated their photos, so the Blues Festival no longer shows. Bummer!

New York Times - 2 Good Recent Articles

2007-09-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

National
Prisons Purging Books on Faith From Libraries
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: September 10, 2007
Chaplains in federal prisons have been quietly carrying out a systematic purge of religious books and materials.

and

National
Boys Cast Out by Polygamists Find Help
By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: September 9, 2007
Over the last six years, hundreds of teenage boys have been forced out of a polygamous settlement on the Arizona-Utah border.

Tags: Arizona, Books, Boys Cast Out by Polygamists, Censorship, Federal Prisions, First Amendment, Religious Freedom, The New York Times, & Utah

Other Bloggers: The ironic purge of prison religious readings on sentencing.typepad.com & Pop Culture on Applied Media Criticism

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Iago from Othello

2007-09-04T13:41:00.000-05:00

Iago
Othello
Act III, Scene iii, Lines 167-182
William Shakespeare [1566-1616]

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing:
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.

Tags: Iago, Othello, Quotations, & Shakespeare

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Don't Mess With the Portland Water Bureau

2007-08-28T11:37:00.000-05:00

The Lede blog of The New York Times writes . . .

Three teenagers probably weren’t the first to turn a fountain in downtown Portland, Oregon, into a multi-tiered monument to the bubble bath this summer. But they were the first to get caught. And unfortunately for Nolan Cunningham, one of the suspects, a ticked off city administrator isn’t going to let it slide.

In fact, he decided to blog about it.

That’s right, Portland’s Water Bureau has a blog, and it is the most audacious water bureau blog that The Lede has ever seen . . .Read the rest

Geotags: #1, #2, & #3
Related Posts on Other Blogs: #1, #2, & #3
Tags: Ira Keller Fountain, New York Times, & Portland Water Bureau

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Updates

2007-08-21T15:52:00.000-05:00

The following posts have recently been updated:

Tags: Blog Update & Updated Posts

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SPAM disguised as Hallmark card

2007-08-16T09:22:00.000-05:00

The e-mail claims that a classmate has sent you an e-card and all you have to do is click on the IP address link to see it. There is even a (FAKE) copyright notice from "hallmark.com" at the end of the e-mail. DO NOT DO THIS - DO NOT CLICK THAT LINK - YOU WILL BE SORRY IF YOU DO!

This e-mail is not from Hallmark. First the sending address [bishop at shtel.net.cn] ends in .cn and, according to Wikipedia, ".cn is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the People's Republic of China." Hallmark is of course based in the United States not China. (Why is it that the PRC Government can censor the Internet in China but can't seem to prevent the sending of SPAM?) Hallmark also explains that if you click the link what will happen and it ain't pretty.

If you are unsure if you’ve received a legitimate Hallmark E-Card, don't click on a link in the e-mail. Instead use our E-Card pickup.

If you do click on the link in the bogus e-mail, you will launch a variant of the Zapchast Trojan virus. Zapchast installs an Internet Relay (IRC) chat client and causes the infected computer to connect to an IRC channel. Attackers then use that connection to remotely command your machine.

WhoIs shtel.net.cn?

WHOIS information for: shtel.net:
[whois.paycenter.com.cn]
The Data in Paycenter's WHOIS database is provided by Paycenter for information purposes, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record.

Paycenter does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree that you will use this Data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this Data to:
(1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail (spam);
or
(2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to Paycenter or its systems.

Paycenter reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy.

Domain Name:shtel.net

Registrant:
shanghai global network Co.,Ltd.
F4,No1465,west beijing Rd.,shanghai
200040

Administrative Contact:
yang jiahui
shanghai global network Co.,Ltd.
F4,No1465,west beijing Rd.,shanghai
shanghai Shanghai 200040
China
tel: 86 21 62581890
fax: 86 21 52120339
domain@81890.net

Technical Contact:
Helen zhang
Shanghai Global Network Co.,Ltd.
F4,No.1465,West beijing Rd,Shanghai,China
Shanghai Shanghai 200040
China
tel: 86 21 62581890
fax: 86 21 52120339
domain@shtel.net.cn

Billing Contact:
Helen zhang
Shanghai Global Network Co.,Ltd.
F4,No.1465,West beijing Rd,Shanghai,China
Shanghai Shanghai 200040
China
tel: 86 21 62581890
fax: 86 21 52120339
domain@shtel.net.cn

Registration Date: 2002-12-03
Update Date: 2002-12-03
Expiration Date: 2008-12-03

Primary DNS: ns1.81890.net 210.74.224.1
Secondary DNS: ns2.81890.net 210.74.224.2

Verio Inc. - Growing Your Business, One Click At A Time

WhoIs 123.112.107.217?

Search results for: 123.112.107.217
OrgName: Asia Pacific Network Information Centre
OrgID: APNIC
Address: PO Box 2131
City: Milton
StateProv: QLD
PostalCode: 4064
Country: AU

ReferralServer: whois://whois.apnic.net

NetRange: 123.0.0.0 - 123.255.255.255
CIDR: 123.0.0.0/8
NetName: APNIC-123
NetHandle: NET-123-0-0-0-1
Parent:
NetType: Allocated to APNIC
NameServer: NS1.APNIC.NET
NameServer: NS3.APNIC.NET
NameServer: NS4.APNIC.NET
NameServer: NS.LACNIC.NET
NameServer: TINNIE.ARIN.NET
NameServer: NS-SEC.RIPE.NET
Comment: This IP address range is not registered in the ARIN database.
Comment: For details, refer to the APNIC Whois Database via
Comment: WHOIS.APNIC.NET or http://www.apnic.net/apnic-bin/whois2.pl
Comment: ** IMPORTANT NOTE: APNIC is the Regional Internet Registry
Comment: for the Asia Pacific region. APNIC does not operate networks
Comment: using this IP address range and is not able to investigate
Comment: spam or abuse reports relating to these addresses. For more
Comment: help, refer to http://www.apnic.net/info/faq/abuse
RegDate: 2006-01-06
Updated: 2006-01-10

OrgTechHandle: AWC12-ARIN
OrgTechName: APNIC Whois Contact
OrgTechPhone: +61 7 3858 3100
OrgTechEmail: search-apnic-not-arin@apnic.net

Copyright © 1999-2007 Verio Inc.

Yep, this e-mail is definitely not from Hallmark.
Tags: Chinese SPAM, Fake Hallmark Card, Fake Hallmark eCard, Fake Hallmark.com Card, Fake Hallmark.com eCard, Hallmark, Hallmark.com, & "Zapchast Trojan virus"

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Where is the Love?

2007-08-10T11:24:00.000-05:00

PadreRob+ over on the a priest's musings on the journey blog asks "Where is the Love?"

Just wondering, why it is that members of Christ's Body who are in disagreement over certain issues find such delight in ridiculing, belittling, and making pot shots at their siblings who disagree with them? If that's love, if that's how Christians treat one another when they disagree, then no wonder our churches are empty on Sundays.
Read the rest . . .

Personally, I agree with PadreRob+. I too have seen some shameful behavior by some in relation to the recent disagreements within the Anglican Communion. Mostly online, but I think that is because of the relative anonymity often provided by the Internet. Maybe it is easier to be unloving to someone when you are not in the same room as them, especially if you have never met that person.

I grew up NW Conservative Baptist, because that's what the neighbors were, and I remember learning the Sunday School song version of 1 John 4:7-8.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

That is one part of Scripture that I think is rather plain in what it means. It's right up there with the two greatest commandments, which according to our Lord are to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Tags: 1 John 4:7-8, Anglican Communion, Anglicanism, Bible, Bishop Robinson, Christ, Christ-like Behavior, Christian Love, Christianity, Clergy Blogs, Disagreement, Episcopal Church, Episcopalians, Love, Other-Bloggers, Other Bloggers, Other Blogs, & TEC

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You Must See This Documentary (and no it isn't by Michael Moore)

2007-08-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

I caught a screening of a new documentary last Thursday at the Dallas (TX) Video Festival by Trevor Glass called Suffer the Children. (DVF20 was a wonderful five days of video, more video, and even more video! Even 1964's Meet the Beatles. I'll be posting more about DVF20 when I have time.)

Mr. Glass went to great lengths to differentiate in his documentary between real Christianity and the "word of faith movement" as he called it. The "boxing match" scene and the "I can only imagine" scene, both near the end are excellent. The first explains how the Scriptures don't support the prosperity hearsay and the second shows some real Christianity in action.

Here is DVF's synopsis:

Does God want us all to be rich and healthy? Suffer the Children examines the origins and teachings of the Word of Faith movement, also known as the prosperity or health & wealth gospel. The film takes a look into the lives and teachings of some of the biggest names in tele-evangelism today including Benny Hinn, Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Robert Tilton, Mike Murdock, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer and Hillsong Australia. Are their teachings really Christian at all?

See also the recent post Cash in Christ on The Cartoon Church Blog.

Tags: Christianity, Dallas Video Festival, Documentary, Documentary Film, DVF20, Hearsay, "Prosperity Gospel", "Suffer the Children", Televangelism, & Trevor Glass

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Confirmation + 14 Years

2007-08-01T16:34:00.000-05:00

Today is the fourteenth anniversary of my confirmation, which is when I officially became both an Anglican and an Episcopalian.

The back side, not pictured, reads:

Confirmation Text (in red, with the rest in black)
I am making all things new.
Rev. 21:5
from the Book of Common Prayer of the
Episcopal Church:

Question     What is Confirmation?

Answer        Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.

Question     What is required of those to be confirmed?

Answer        It is required of those to be confirmed that they have been baptized, are sufficiently instructed in the Christian Faith, are penitent for their sins, and are ready to affirm their confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Personally, I prefer the phrase Lord and Savior in place of Savior and Lord but that's just one of my theological quirks.

Tags: 1 August 1993, 1 August, & Holy Confirmation

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Inspiring Graffiti

2007-07-31T14:58:00.000-05:00

This was taken at the 2006 State Fair of Texas. I saw this painted on a wall somewhere in Fair Park. It is not that I'm not saying where, it is that I don't remember where!

Related Links
* Creative Graffiti
* Alternative Christian Art

Tags: Inspiring Graffiti, Other Bloggers, & Photoblog

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Speaking of Bishops

2007-07-26T16:31:00.000-05:00

I'd recommend reading Bishop Itty's recent communique.

Tags: Anglican Communion, Bishop Itty, Church of South India, Companion Diocese Program, Diocese of Madhya Kerala, Diocese of Oregon, & Episcopal Church

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Four Challenges

2007-07-26T14:28:00.000-05:00

I was reading the July/August issue of The Oregon Episcopal Church News that arrived in my mailbox the other day and came across an article about a recent lecture at Trinity Cathedral by a bishop from another diocese. The deacon from one of Portland's suburban parishes who wrote the piece said that this bishop had

challenged us to do four things: 1. Keep telling your story of salvation. 2. Keep immersing yourself in scripture. 3. Pay attention to the people Jesus paid attention to. 4. Be prepared to pay a price for your ideals.

Nothing wrong with that advice. I'm sure many, actually I hope & pray all, of the Bishops and Primates of the Anglican Communion would agree that the above advice is quite good. Even if they do think he shouldn't be a bishop.

Maybe, just maybe, if we all did those four things instead of fighting over church property and left the who gets to wear pointy hats in church decisions up to God, the Anglican Communion wouldn't be in such a mess! We pray that the Holy Spirit helps us choose the right bishop (Presiding Bishop) when dioceses (General Convention) have bishop (Presiding Bishop) elections and then when some don't get their way they suddenly decide that God didn't answer our prayers! Crazy, just crazy, in my opinion. I've mostly started to ignore those who seem fixated on what they think is wrong in The Episcopal Church &/or Anglican Communion. As of next Tuesday, I will have been a confirmed Episcopalian for 14 years and I'd rather focus on God and the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ than on all the bad news about the infighting with our Communion. Wouldn't you?

Tags: 4 Challenges, Anglican, Anglican Communion, Bishops, Challenges, Episcopal, Episcopal Church, Four Challenges, Good News, Gospel, OECN, Oregon Episcopal Church News, & Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland

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The Internet Has Crashed!

2007-07-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

Just the news crawl at the bottom of the screen alone is funny.

Tags: Found on Technorati, Internet, & YouTube

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I Think That All Anglican+Episcopalians Can Agree That . . .

2007-07-23T16:30:00.001-05:00

. . . this is just wrong on so many levels!

Talk about nonsense. Prepackaged single serve "communion" wafer and juice.

Note: While the images make this item look much larger than it was in real life, it really was not much bigger than a large thimble. I took these photos last fall, I won't say where as to protect the sacramentally clueless.

From "An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians," Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.

    * Consecration
    * Elements, Eucharistic (entry 1)
    * Elements, Eucharistic (entry 2)
    * Epiclesis
    * Eucharist (entry 1)
    * Eucharist (entry 2)
    * Eucharist (entry 3)
    * Eucharistic Adoration
    * Eucharistic Prayer
    * Eucharistic Sacrifice
    * Evangelical Catholics
    * Holy Communion
    * Holy Eucharist
    * Holy Table
    * Mass
    * Mass of the Pre-Sanctified
    * Preparation of the Table and Presentation of the Offerings
    * Real Presence

From the Outline of the Faith as found in The Book of Common Prayer 1979

    * The Holy Eucharist
    * The Sacraments

Tags: Anglican, Communion, Episcopal, Eucharist, Eucharistic Elements, Mass & Photoblog

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Please Silence Your Cell Phones . . .

2007-07-17T17:16:00.000-05:00

We've all heard cell phones ring and then be answered in the most inappropriate of places. In church. In class. In the library. At the movies. At the theatre. At the restaurant. We've all wished we had the courage to do something that would convince the phone user to cease and desist such behavior. Well somewhere in London, a violin player did just that, with a little help from his friends. Watch and see . . . and hear too!

Orchestra Owns Cell Phone User

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Tags: Cell Phones, Etiquette, London, Manners, MySpace Video, Rude Guy With Cell Phone, Video, Violinist, & Web Video

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A Real Page Turner

2007-07-16T19:03:00.000-05:00

Last Friday I polished off The Memory Keeper's Daughter in less than 12 hours of reading. (Yes, I've always been a fast reader.) The story follows the lives of several people, each with their own set of secrets and suppressed memories, starting with a freak Kentucky snowstorm in March 1964 through to a warm summer afternoon in July 1989. This is a page-turner of a book that you just won't be able to put down.

Tags: Books, Fiction, "Kim Edwards", Novels, Reading, & The Memory Keeper's Daughter

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The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!

2007-07-12T17:48:00.000-05:00

Seriously, we do. Really. Yes, you. And you over there too. Honest.

Tags: Episcopal Church & Evangelism

Why yes, I'm indeed a member of my parish's Evangelism Committee. ;-)

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Searching . . . and Some Stats Too

2007-07-10T16:36:00.001-05:00

Since I started tracking stats last August my blog has had apparently a lot of visitors as a result of people searching for various things, but most of them for some reason are searching for something related to Claude Monet. In fact out of 571 searches 375 had to do in one way or another with Claude Monet. That's about 2/3 of all of them.

Most visited page was the April 2006 archive page. The first post on that page is the one with the photo of Clawed Monet - that's the cat not the French Impressionist artist famous for painting waterlilies.

Mostly y'all seem to be from the US with a significant minority from the UK, but there's been people from all over.

United States (62%), Unknown (12%), United Kingdom (10%), Canada (4%), Germany (1%), France (1%), Sweden (1%), Ireland (1%), Italy (1%), Australia (1%), India (1%), Belgium (<1%), Switzerland (<1%), Republic of Korea (<1%), Denmark (<1%), Netherlands (<1%), Brazil (<1%), Norway (<1%), Thailand (<1%), Spain (<1%), Portugal (<1%), Philippines (<1%), Poland (<1%), Chile (<1%), Turkey (<1%), New Zealand (<1%), Austria (<1%), Mauritania (<1%), Finland (<1%), Singapore (<1%), Mexico (<1%), Estonia (<1%), Peru (<1%), Colombia (<1%), Cyprus (<1%), China (<1%), Croatia (<1%), Israel (<1%), Luxembourg (<1%), Malaysia (<1%), Greece (<1%), Hong Kong (<1%), Slovakia (<1%), United Arab Emirates (<1%), Bulgaria (<1%), Algeria (<1%), Egypt (<1%), Hungary (<1%), Japan (<1%), Puerto Rico (<1%), Guam (<1%), Macedonia (<1%), Argentina (<1%), Tunisia (<1%), Indonesia (<1%), Venezuela (<1%), Iceland (<1%), Kuwait (<1%), & the Czech Republic (<1%). That's 58 countries (57 if combine Puerto Rico or Guam with the rest of the US, 56 if you combine both of them, and let's not muddy the waters talking whether China & Hong Kong count as two "countries" or one) not counting the 12% from "Unknown" places.

Currently listening to: He Reigns as sung by The Newsboys on KSBJ.

Tags: Blog Stats, "Clawed Monet", Geography, KSBJ, & Monet the Cat

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An Informative Video

2007-07-10T15:15:00.000-05:00

I came across this rather informative video over on MySpace.
[BTW: I'd give the video a PG-13 rating.]

Tags: This is currently an untagged post.

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Looking for Something to Read? Have I Got a Book for You!

2007-07-09T15:46:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality And Spirituality by Rob Bell (published by Zondervan in March 2007).

Other bloggers on this book: Jessi and Natalie.

Tags: Books & You Should Read This

Added 3 December 2007 - related link - Rob Bell interview on www.WittenburgDoor.com.

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Well Said!

2007-07-09T14:45:00.000-05:00

I belong to several groups over on MySpace and recently on one of them there was this very good thing said, which the person who said it, Pete, has graciously permitted me to share with all y'all. All formating is the same as originally posted on the MySpace group.

Pete wrote:

My gosh, I'm so tired of the name-calling! You pagan! You heretic! You liberal! You conservative! Enough already. Is it possible for us to get beyond the name-calling and superficial labels? Is it possible for us to see one another as brothers and sisters in Christ? Do either of you remember the scripture that says "Do not judge lest ye be judged"? I have committed myself to look for the divine indwelling that exists in all people. According to the Bible, we are all made in God's image. That includes liberal and orthodox, Christian and Non-Christian, legal and non-legal residents of this country, rich and poor, and all varieties of ethnicity. Perhaps you guys should stop the finger-pointing long enough to see the image of God that exists in each of you. I know I can see it. Can you?

~~Note: I didn't link to Pete's profile on MySpace, because I forgot to ask him if he wanted me to do so or not do so.~~ Link to Pete's MySpace Profile since he doesn't mind.

Tags: Franciscans, MySpace, MySpace Groups, Pete, Quotes, & Things Well Said

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Happy Fourth of July

2007-07-03T19:42:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken from the Eastbank Esplanade during the Rose Festival fireworks in Portland, Oregon during June 2004.

Did you know that the J. Erik Jonnson Central Library in Dallas, Texas has an older copy of the the Declaration of Independence than the National Archives in Washington, DC? Here's the proof.

Related:
Google Image results for "Declaration of Independence"

Tags: Dallas, Texas, Declaration of Independence, Fourth of July, Fireworks, Independence Day, National Archives, Photo Blog, & Washington, DC

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Better Late Than Never . . .

2007-06-29T12:02:00.000-05:00

I got tagged months ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting my version.

Let me see six weird/wacky things about me . . .

1. My maternal and paternal grandfathers were both born on the 9th of June of different years.

2. My maternal and paternal grandfathers both died on the 19th of November of different years.

3. My maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather both died the same year, but not on the same day.

4. My maternal grandmother's maternal grandmother was an Anderson by marriage, and so is my mother, who got her name from her mother's middle name which came from the first name of one of her mother's cousins who had the surname Anderson.

5. I once ate a hot dog with white grape jelly and peanut butter and it was quite delicious!

6. About the only thing I seem to have premonitions about have been bishop elections in TEC. In two cases I could not shake the idea that the "long shot" would be the next bishop and in another, the minute I head that someone I knew was nominated, I heard this still small voice" saying that she wouldn't get elected. In the first "long shot" case the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon got the first GenX aged bishop in TEC. In the second "long shot" case we in TEC got our first female Presiding Bishop. In the other case, which occurred in between the two long shots, the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire had many in the Anglican Communion saying, "oh no, they didn't!" (Actually, I think God has more control over who gets elected to serve the servants of God as bishops than most give God credit for, but that's another post.)

I'm tagging: Amy & Dale.

Related Posts: History has been made, Thoughts on the Investiture, & Blogging Episcopalians & the PB's Vestments

Tags: 6 Weird or Wacky Things, Meme, & Other Bloggers

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The Displace Me - Take Two video is online!

2007-06-29T09:47:00.000-05:00

The Displace Me - Take Two video is now online.

and, as seen below, it's listed on YouTube as Displace Me: The Aftermath

See also:

Great music and I love the "Intentionally Christian? Prove It!" bit.

&

Previous Posts: Agnes' Story, Displace Me 2 Austin, Displaced to Austin, & Austin Displace Me Videos

By the way today is The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The readings are Psalm 87, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 2 Timothy 4:1-8, & St. John 21:15-19 and there is also a devotional reading for the day.

Tags: Africa, Austin, Displace Me, Human Rights, Invisible Children, Uganda, Video, & YouTube

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Beyond Belief

2007-06-28T15:17:00.000-05:00

I've only seen the trailer so far, but Beyond Belief looks like a wonderful documentary. It tells the tale of two 9-11 widows who chose compassion and mercy over revenge and hate. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC. I hope they make it to a big screen in my part of Texas soon!

The filmmakers have also started a blog on "understanding our ability for compassion, and our vulnerability to compassion fatigue. These are themes that for me combine elements of human rights, social justice, women’s rights, journalism, ethics, philosophy and history" [source].

Tags:& nbsp; 9-11, 9.11.2001, Afghanistan, Beyond Belief, Documentary, Film, Independent, Independent Film, Other Bloggers, & Principal Pictures

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Christ Church, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi

2007-06-27T20:09:00.000-05:00

This video speaks for itself, as does the "related" blog post linked to down below. Things are still nowhere near "normal" on the Gulf Coast of the US.

Related blog post: Enough by Just Practicing [Tip of the blogging hat to The Irish Trojan's Blog.]

Tags: Anglican, Bay Saint Louis, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, Bay St. Louis, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Camp Coast Care, Christ Church, Christ Church Episcopal, Diocese of Mississippi, Episcopal, Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, Episcopalian, Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina, Katrina, Mississippi, Other Bloggers, Recovery Efforts, Volunteers Needed, Web Video, & YouTube

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Blowing Glass in Seattle

2007-06-27T16:57:00.000-05:00

A really cool mini-documentary about glass blowing in Seattle.

Tags: Art, Documentary, Glass Blowing, Seattle, Web Videos, & YouTube

Also found on YouTube: Amazing Grace sung in Cherokee

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Pencil Art (not the kind you think)

2007-06-24T15:05:00.000-05:00

You've got to see these amazaing pieces of art made out of pencils. Tip of the hat to Dave.

Tags: Art, Other Bloggers, & Pencils.

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Eyes on Darfur

2007-06-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

There is this new thing to help put pressure on the goverment of Sudan. It is called Eyes on Darfur and you can read more about it in a recent post by Guy in a Pew.

Tags: Darfur, Eye on Darfur, Other Bloggers, & Sudan

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Why Pro-Choice Is a Bad Choice for Democrats

2007-06-23T13:27:00.000-05:00

The New York Times ran an excellent op-ed piece by Melinda Henneberger on page A23 of yesterday's paper titled: Why Pro-Choice Is a Bad Choice for Democrats. I can only hope the Dems listen. Here's a snippet to start reading then follow the link for the rest.

I KEEP reading about a universe in which social conservatives are warming to Rudy Giuliani. But this would have to be a place where his estranged children and three wives and multiple appearances in fishnets were irrelevant to the Republican base. Where the nice gay couple he moved in with between marriages would be asked to appear in the film montage at the nominating convention in St. Paul.

Even in the real world, a pro-choice Republican nominee would be a gift to the Democrats, because the Republican Party wins over so many swing voters on abortion alone. Which is why Fred Thompson, who is against abortion rights, is getting so much grateful attention from his party now. And why, despite wide opposition to the war in Iraq, Democrats must still win back such voters to take the White House next year.

Over 18 months, I traveled to 20 states listening to women of all ages, races, tax brackets and points of view speak at length on the issues they care about heading into ’08. They convinced me that the conventional wisdom was wrong about the last presidential contest, that Democrats did not lose support among women because “security moms” saw President Bush as the better protector against terrorism. What first-time defectors mentioned most often was abortion.

Why would that be, given that Roe v. Wade was decided almost 35 years ago? Opponents of abortion rights saw 2004 as the chance of a lifetime to overturn Roe, with a movement favorite already in the Oval Office and several spots on the Supreme Court likely to open up. A handful of Catholic bishops spoke out more plainly than in any previous election season and moved the Catholic swing vote that Al Gore had won in 2000 to Mr. Bush.

The standard response from Democratic leaders has been that anyone lost to them over this issue is not coming back — and that regrettable as that might be, there is nothing to be done. But that is not what I heard from these voters.

read the rest

I don't know why the Dems have to so unaware of those of us who do not 100 precent support on demand abortion for any reason whatsoever. I don't even see how someone can oppose the death penalty and then claim to be for on demand abortion and I don't see how some one can support the death penalty and work to overturn Roe v. Wade. I just don't get it.

Elsewhere on the blogosphere: A Guy in the Pew, Mirror of Justice, ProKanDo, TCRNews Musings, & The Cafeteria is Closed

Tags: 2008, Abortion, Commentary, Democratic Party, Democrats, Gonzales v Carhart, Moderation, New York Times, NYTimes, Op-Ed, Politicians, Politics, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Roe v. Wade, The New York Times, & Women

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New Mexico Sandstorm 2004

2007-06-18T14:11:00.001-05:00

I took this image from aboard an eastbound Sunset Limited train from LA to NOLA. I do not remember exactly where, but it was somewhere near I-10, most likely somewhere east of Lordsburg, NM and west of Deming, NM. [GeoTag]

Tags: 2004, Amtrak, Dust Storm, Geotagged Photo, I-10, July 2004, New Mexico, Photo, Photoblog, Sunset Limited, Train, Train Travel, Travel, Windmill

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2007-06-06T09:13:00.000-05:00

I saw this photo on the BBC as one of the recent photos of the week and knew I had to post a link to it. Why not just put the photo in the post? Two reasons - I don't pay taxes in the UK, so I don't feel right borrowing any of the BBC's bandwidth. Also, the photo was originally taken by the AP and is most likely copyrighted. So you'll have to go to one of the links above to see it. The first goes to the page with just the photo while the second goes to the relevant photos of the week where it is #8 of 10.

I will describe the photo though. A male Iraqi civilian residing in Sadr City is shown holding both a "stun grenade and shotgun shell after joint US-Iraqi raids on area." What struck me though wasn't the man, whose face is out of the frame, but the young boy in the background. He is only a child, but the look on his face is haunting. It is one of terror and fear. His eyes are big and scared. It isn't just the natural shyness that some young children have that caused this. This boy has the face of a scared child living in the midst of war and civil unrest. He doesn't look much past six and I doubt he has any memories predating the U. S. invasion of his country. That Connecticut Yankee born former Governor of Texas who is currently living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC should have to look at this picture, specifically at the face of that boy several times daily until peace returns to Iraq.

That's my 0.02USD, your exchange rate may vary.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

A Prayer For Peace

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 258)

added 7 June 2007 ~ tip of the hat to David+

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Tags: Associated Press Photo, BBC, Book of Common Prayer, Bush, Children, Iraq, Iraqi Children, Peace, Prayer, & War

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A Must Read

2007-06-05T17:57:00.000-05:00

If you are at all interested in missional Christianity you have got to read this recent post by Kyle Mason: Inner thoughts of a Questioning Mind: Are you Missional?.

Tags: Christianity, Missional Christianity, Missions, Must Read Blog Post, & Other Bloggers

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Trinity Sunday

2007-06-03T14:05:00.000-05:00

Read more about Icons.
Since today is Trinity Sunday, I thought I'd post the following snippets from The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 that sort of relate to the liturgical season just past - Easter - and the liturgical theme of today's Feast of the Holy Trinity. I have linked the title of each document to the appropriate place in The (online) Book of Common Prayer.

[Trinity Sunday Eucharistic lectionary readings in the NRSV. Trinity Sunday Daily Office lectionary readings in the RSV & NRSV.]

Definition of the Union of the Divine and Human Natures in the Person of Christ

Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D., Act V

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance (homoousios) with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer (Theotokos); one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the Fathers has handed down to us.

Quicunque Vult commonly called The Creed of Saint Athanasius

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish
     everlastingly.
And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,
     neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory
     equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost
     incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and
     one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord.
And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by
     himself to be both God and Lord,
So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion, to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten,
     but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three
     Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another;
But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be
     worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the
     Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
     God, is God and Man;
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the Substance
     of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting;
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his
     Manhood.
Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.
For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from
     whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their
     own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into
     everlasting fire.
This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

Tags: Anglican, Athanasian Creed, BCP, Book of Common Prayer, Chalcedon, Christ, Christian Belief, Christianity, Council of Chalcedon, Creed of Saint Athanasius, Creed of St. Athanasius, Creeds, Episcopalian, Faith, Feast, God, Historical Documents, Hospitality of Abraham Icon, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, Icons, Kalendar, Lectionary Readings, Liturgical Seasons, Quicunque Vult, Rublyov, Rublyov's Hospitality of Abraham Icon, TEC, Trinity, Trinity Icon, & Trinity Sunday.

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I'm not a heretic!

2007-06-03T13:41:00.000-05:00

It must be the break between semesters, but I'm suddenly quiz-happy. I guess I miss taking tests!

You scored as Chalcedon compliant, You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.

Chalcedon compliant

100%

Pelagianism

50%

Modalism

50%

Monophysitism

33%

Nestorianism

33%

Adoptionist

17%

Apollanarian

17%

Albigensianism

Donatism

Monarchianism

Arianism

Gnosticism

Docetism

Socinianism

Are you a heretic?
created with QuizFarm.com

Tags: Chalcedon, Council of Chalcedon, & Quiz

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I'm a smart American

2007-06-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

Did I mention that I belong to Phi Theta Kappa [ΦΘΚ] and did I mention that while in college I got an A in U.S. History?

You Are a Smart American

You know a lot about US history, and you're opinions are probably well informed.

Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.

Are You a Dumb American?

Tags: Americans & Quiz

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What Kind of Soul are You Quiz

2007-06-02T21:39:00.000-05:00

I've always done better at multiple guess quizzes than essay ones.

You Are a Peacemaker Soul

You strive to please others and compromise anyway you can.
War or conflict bothers you, and you would do anything to keep the peace.
You are a good mediator and a true negotiator.
Sometimes you do too much, trying so hard to make people happy.

While you keep the peace, you tend to be secretly judgmental.
You lose respect for people who don't like to both give and take.
On the flip side, you've got a great sense of humor and wit.
You're always diplomatic and able to give good advice.

Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul, Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

Cool - I'm peacemaker soul. Christ did say, "Blessed are the peacemakers . . ."

Tags: Quiz & Soul

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Austin Displace Me Videos

2007-05-01T17:03:00.000-05:00

UPDATE (2 May 2007)

END UPDATE

Just found these on YouTube:

Part 1

Part 2 (part of my head makes a blink and miss it appearance)

More Austin Displace Me footage

News8 Austin coverage

Jacob from Uganda speaking on Saturday evening

Time lapse video of constructing and deconstructing a cardboard hut

Even more Austin Displace Me video

OK this one is from Displace Me Chicago, but a similar singing circle gathered in Austin late on Saturday night.

Tags: Africa, Austin, Displace Me, Human Rights, Invisible Children, Uganda, Video, & YouTube

Displaced to Austin

2007-04-30T16:42:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos. Put you mouse pointer on the photo to see captions.

More Blogs about Displace Me
&
More Displace Me photos online

Tags: Africa, Austin, Displace Me, Human Rights, Invisible Children, Photoblog, & Uganda

UPDATE: UT Daily Texan article Note: at one point I even talked with Jeremy Jjemba, the UT San Antonio junior mentioned near the end of the Daily Texan article.

Rx Abuse Among Teens Up

2007-04-23T13:42:00.000-05:00

While researching another subject I came across a short little blog entry that begins:

Marijuana and methamphetamine use among teenagers has declined in the past five years, but the rise in prescription drug use among teens is a growing concern.

The blogger, Michael Monheit, goes on to quote a University of Michigan study to back up his assertion.

I wonder how much of this increase in prescription drug abuse by teenages is linked to the FDA's approval a few years ago of television advertising for prescription drugs. For the record I disagree with the FDA's decision and I long for the days when I could eat and watch TV and not have to make a mad stab at the remote's mute button to prevent having to hear about other people's nasty medical conditions during every commercial break.

Tags: Drug Abuse, FDA, Drug Advertising, Prescription Drug Abuse, Prescription Drugs, & Teenagers

Displace Me 2 Austin

2007-04-21T18:01:00.000-05:00

I'll be in Austin. Where will you be?

Tags: Africa, Austin, Displace Me, Human Rights, Invisible Children, & Uganda

Various Photos 3

2007-04-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

Information on Mahoina aquifolim from Oregon State University.

Tags: Photoblog & Photography

Various Photos 2

2007-04-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

Tags: Photoblog & Photography

Various Photos 1

2007-04-20T15:51:00.000-05:00

Tags: Photoblog & Photography

Agnes' Story

2007-04-11T16:30:00.000-05:00

Tip of the Hat to Kim at the ONE Blog.

Agnes' story is very moving and helps put a face to the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

I have personally had the opportunity to hear Agnes speak twice this year. Agnes is a friend of Bono, which I guess sort of makes me 2 degrees of seperation from Bono and 3 degrees from the rest of U2.

Tags: Africa, Agnes, HIV/AIDS, Make Poverty History, ONE, ONE Blog, ONE Campaign, & Uganda

Google TiSP

2007-04-02T15:41:00.000-05:00

Google has done it again. Yet another new techological spin on an everyday item. Who knows eventually with Google TiSP getting rid of spammers might even become as simple as flushing the toilet. ;-) The FAQ is really complete and the linked professional installation site is very to the point in a way that provides all the information you need to know. There is also lively discussion going on in the Help Group.

Tags: 1 April, 1 April 2007, Google TiSP, & TiSP

See also: this post by The Quagmire, Sundeep's post on installing TiSP, Google Copernicus Center is Hiring, GooglePaper, GoogleGulp, WebFarm's post on TiSP and Google Paper, Innesential Musings' post on TiSP, & Google's TiSP press release.

Save Lives in Sudan!

2007-03-23T12:10:00.000-05:00

Go to SaveDarfur.org RIGHT NOW and tell President Bush to take action on Plan B and then tell the new UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, to honor his pledge to help put an end to the violence in Darfur, Sudan before hundreds of thousands more lives are lost.

We look back at the 1930s and early 1940s in German-occupied Europe and say how could those who came before us allow the Shoa to happen at the cost of 11 Million innocent lives. Well, we have the opportunity to stand up and say not on our watch. We need to speak up and speak loudly to those in power. All human life has value for we are created in the image of God and that is why WE MUST NOT REMAIN SILENT while our brothers and sisters are being killed.

SILENCE = DEATH

See also: The Martyrs of Sudan and the Save Darfur Blog

dagurreotype

Oregon's Sesquicentennial

POTUS's BlackBerry & Jon Stewart's Changefest '09

Inauguration Day 2013

A Prayer for Barack Obama

Changing Washington

Merry Christmas

From the Department of Funny Quotations

A great new Irish pub song

Advent Cometh

President Obamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

I'm so excited!

Interesting, Very Interesting

An Unconventional Chruch

MDG Blogging Day - Write your Representative/Senators

MDG Blogging Day

Amazing Find on Google Maps

Craig Ferguson wants you to Register and Vote

28 Aug 08 Photo

The Veep Steaks

Interesting Anglican Happenings

Yahoo News Photo Goof

Obama in Chicago

It's a Nominee!!!

Who Will Tell the People?

Our PB!

The BBC & Threats to Photographers

Requiescat In Pace

Christ Church, Phila.

How to have a revival . . .

Yes, We Can!

Texas Two Step &

How a Bill Becomes a Law (School House Rock)

I found the Exploding Whale online!!!

AnglicanBlogs.com

I Miss Portland!

Christmas isn't over Garfield

If you give an Archbishop some scissors . . .

Blogging for Good

When knitting becomes an obsession

Sprint STINKS

Praying for Bishops

How Democracies Die

KBPS & Web 2.0

Draft Al Gore

Stand Up and Speak Out

Since I'm a "Daughter of the King" does that make me a Princess?

Bishops and Various Other Things of Greater Interest Than Church Politics

CNN - Witnesses: Monks protest near Suu Kyi house

Da Blues

New York Times - 2 Good Recent Articles

Iago from Othello

Don't Mess With the Portland Water Bureau

Updates

SPAM disguised as Hallmark card

WhoIs shtel.net.cn?

WhoIs 123.112.107.217?

Where is the Love?

You Must See This Documentary (and no it isn't by Michael Moore)

Confirmation + 14 Years

Inspiring Graffiti

Speaking of Bishops

Four Challenges

The Internet Has Crashed!

I Think That All Anglican+Episcopalians Can Agree That . . .

Please Silence Your Cell Phones . . .

A Real Page Turner

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!

Searching . . . and Some Stats Too

An Informative Video

Looking for Something to Read? Have I Got a Book for You!

Well Said!

Happy Fourth of July

Better Late Than Never . . .

The Displace Me - Take Two video is online!

Beyond Belief

Christ Church, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi

Blowing Glass in Seattle

Pencil Art (not the kind you think)

Eyes on Darfur

Texas Two Step
&