It Is Official

John Edwards has put his hat in the ring for the 2008 Democratic Nomination.



I really like Edwards. He was my number 2 pick in the primaries of 2004. I ended up going with Clark, but now I think, this early anyway, Edwards is my pick. I think he has a real grasp on the issues affecting the real heart of the country. He has been working tirelessly on issues of the common good since loosing in 2004. Also, Elizabeth Edwards is an amazing person. She has fought is is winning her battle agains breast cancer and is working with John in is fighting.

Right now my dream ticket would be Edwards/Clark. Edwards has a great grasp on the domestic issues and Clark knows the Foreign policy.

So, as of now...Edwards/Clark is my pick

Tru Dat

Find your own pose!

Awsomeness

New Video by U2: Window in the Skies



h/t godgirl

i love the brief parts where you see the guys as fans in the crowd...

An Arse Kicking

An Arse Kicking
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

This little bugger sent me the the ER Sunday morning. It seriously kicked my butt, and dang i am still feeling it.

My mom agrees that I probably have never been as sick as i was Sunday. After about 6 hours of vomiting and other such fun stuff, it was decided to make a trip the the ER and get some fluids pumped into me. I was given my first ever IV.

All thorough this Mae was the best wife ever...i mean that. It may have kicked my arse, but she saved my butt.

I love you.

RIP Peter Boyle

The Monster...nuff said...

A Beautiful Photo Essay

Click Here for a beautiful photo essay of the United States from the end of the Depression until Dec 7, 1941.

The neat thing is all of the photos are done in Kodachrome, so they are in color. Something images from this time are rarely seen in.

enjoy

Robert Altman
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

It just came across the wire that Robert Altman has died. I love his films. His style was just amazing and real.

RIP, sir.

You scored as Rowlf the Dog. You are one easy-going dude! You are mellow and outgoing, and are great with little kids and animals. People love you! Rowlf the Dog 88% Kermit the Frog 75% The Great Gonzo 50% Sam the Eagle 50% Fozzie Bear 50% Janice 38% Sweetums 38% The Swedish Chef 25% Pepe 25% Animal 13% Rizzo the Rat 13% Robin the Frog 13% Statler and Waldorf 13% Miss Piggy 0% Which Muppet are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Whitney for Governor

Hi All,

With the election coming up i thought I would pass this along to you. You can go to the above linked page, or the links at the bottom for more info.

I plan on voting for Rick Whitney for Governor. He is the green party candiatate. For those scared by that, don't be. The Green Party is not some hippie drippie party. THey are a populist party. They are libertarian. Only instead shut up and get out of the way government, it is a we'll shut up and help you out.

Here are links to a recent Suntimes Article, and a Chicago Tribune article.

Rick is providing a viable candidate, so if you are afraid of wasting a vote, don't be. If Rick gets even 5% of the vote, the green party becomes a permanat part of the ballot in Illinois. Right now he is at 13% and growing. Judy is only at 25%.

Here is a recent email I got, please pass it along.

__________

Hey Voters or Would-Be Voters-

Sick and tired of politics as usual? Sick of nothing but corruption, scandals, dirty money, and on and on? Sick of the two major party "machines" making all the decisions?

Then help send shock waves through Illinois (and U.S.) politics on November 7th!

Rich Whitney, Green Party Candidate for Governor, can win this November! Rich is on the ballot. His poll numbers keep climbing - as Blagojevich and Topinka's decline - because people are sick of them, and the more people know about Rich, the more they like him.

*Green Party candidates take NO corporate money!

*Rich Whitney will push for universal health care!

*Rich Whitney will fund education - not with casinos!

*Rich Whitney will represent the people - not the elite!

Agree or disagree with all of Rich's positions, you KNOW where he stands. With the other two, you NEVER know where they stand - it always depends on the highest bidder.

We can do it! Here's you come in. You know how well e-mail can work - please forward this to everyone you know, paste it on MySpace, Facebook, and other places, and let's take back our State! If you're not in Illinois, please consider donating - or at least pass this on to others.

This is truly a grassroots effort of, by, and for the citizens of Illinois!

For more information:
Whitneyforgov.org
ILGP.org
Myspace.com/votewhitney
Facebook.com/profile.php?id=500081393

You scored as Neo orthodox. You are neo-orthodox. You reject the human-centredness and scepticism of liberal theology, but neither do you go to the other extreme and make the Bible the central issue for faith. You believe that Christ is God's most important revelation to humanity, and the Trinity is hugely important in your theology. The Bible is also important because it points us to the revelation of Christ. You are influenced by Karl Barth and P T Forsyth. Neo orthodox 68% Emergent/Postmodern 64% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 61% Roman Catholic 57% Classical Liberal 54% Reformed Evangelical 46% Charismatic/Pentecostal 43% Fundamentalist 29% Modern Liberal 29% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

For Tripp

Came across this. Thought you might enjoy this tune from your african american bruthafrumanothamutha.

CARDS WIN! CARDS WIN!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our St. Louis Cardinals have won their first World Series since 1982!



Yay Cardinals

All in All, It's Just Another Brick in the Wall

Ok, maybe not a wall, but a 700 mile fence.

Our wonderful leader just signed a bill approving the construction of a 700 mile fence on the south border of the country.

I find this very ignorant, and extremely racist. True, many of the illegal immigrants are from Central and South America, but they are not the only ones. They come in via student visa, work visa (both by staying here after the visas expire) and across the northern border, but, we do not hear anything about building a fence with Canada, do we?

The utterly racist attitudes toward illegal immigrants is so disturbing it makes me ill. These people, obviously, need something we have to offer. We should welcome them with hospitility. We should work to make sure they come and/or begin working towards legal means to become citizens. We should not throw them back to the sharks they are trying to escape. Remeber we are all immigrants.

Stay the Course!

If you haven't heard President Bush said we have never had a stay the course strategy in Iraq. Watch this and see me on the flipside:



I guess all I can say to that is it is the most blatany example of Orewllian Doublespeak I have ever heard.

Guys, face it, you are up the creek without a paddle, and you need to stop you lying to the American people. My cousin's life is on the line because of your arrogant bullshit.

Partisan Fun

Here are three parodies of the mac/pc ads on tv. Democrat/Republican!

"Better"


"Country"


"Medicine"


Enjoy

Autism

I have just heard a very disturbing conversation about Autism. "In the last 10 years autism has gone from 1 in 2,500 children to 1 in 166 or 1 in 80 boys." (Info coming from Here.)

Please read the above linked article.

It seems this increase is coming from a mercury based preservative in vaccines called Thimerosal. "Prior to 1989, American infants generally received three vaccinations (polio, measles-mumps-rubella, and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis). In the early 1990s, public health officials dramatically increased the number of Thimerosal-containing vaccinations without considering the cumulative impact of the mercury load on developing brains."

Please read the above linked article.

The possible connection is protcted from lawsuits.

"a provision that changes the definition of “vaccine” for purposes of the no-fault Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to include preservative. Huh? This gem—snuck into the bill in the wee hours by an anonymous Congressperson—means that Eli Lilly and other drug companies who put mercury-based chemicals suspected of causing autism in children in their vaccines can’t be sued! Not only that, but the bill reaches back in time to wipe out a slew of lawsuits that are (or were) pending—suits by families who have good reason to believe that Lilly’s foul-up caused the tragic, and costly, autism of their sons and daughters."

The good thing is you can request Thimerosal free vaccines for your children, but it may not be covered by state sponsored insurance companies.

Green Baptists

I am pulling a Tripp here (that is a good thing) and linking and posting an article from Associated Baptist Press
.

The following is a story about a church in Boston that is trying to go green. I like this, and will mention it to our leadership.


Boston congregation working to be ‘earth-friendly’ model for Baptists
By Molly Harper White

Published October 11, 2006



BOSTON (ABP) -- Members of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Boston, Mass., are striving to be green -- when it comes to the environment, that is. And they’re doing it with simple gestures like bringing their own coffee mugs to church, instead of using disposable cups.

David Draper, the pastor of the 20-person congregation, wants his church to be a model of good stewardship for larger congregations. His church demonstrates that even simple things count when it comes to protecting the environment. And Baptists who enjoy and utilize nature should think about preserving it, he said.

“There are a large number of Baptists out there who love nature,” Draper said. “We just need to do the best we can to preserve those God-given places of stewardship, joy and refreshment.”

Draper said earth-friendly efforts are popular in Boston, where every family has bins for recycling plastic and paper. The next step is to expand that attitude to regional churches and agencies, even the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

“We can all do something,” he said. “I think we’re at a point now when we should see this is something that needs to be addressed. It’s a good witness to the neighborhoods. It’s a good witness to the world.”

Draper suggested that larger churches establish environmental committees to determine how the church can become more earth-friendly and offer members updates on ecological news. On a broader scale, Draper said, large organizations like CBF should offer recycling bins for pop bottles or food cartons at conventions and other large gatherings.

At Beacon Hill, meanwhile, members began church-wide recycling efforts about five years ago. They use recycled products and have reduced waste from food and containers. The congregation, founded in 1985, even held an outdoor service last summer to conserve energy in their building.

One of the most novel ideas at Beacon Hill involves its recycling program. The church doesn’t receive cash benefits from recycling. Instead, members leave items with redeemable deposits outside for homeless people to collect.

Looking to the future, Draper said he hopes to expand on that creative thinking. Members of Beacon Hill are considering bringing their own plates and utensils for potluck meals. It’s barely less convenient than using disposable items, and Christians must choose to be ecologically responsible just as they choose to do good, he added.

“Each individual and each church will have to count the cost of helping our world,” Draper said. “But after you start recycling, you fall into the good habits.”

-30-

My DNA

Considerate Inventor

thanks Tripp

Cool

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 2 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Thanks Jane

Awesome

No Blood For Oil?

Ummm...I though they kept saying this was is not about oil.

Our leader's own words from this morning's presser (emphasis mine):

We can't tolerate a new terrorist state in the heart of the Middle East, with large oil reserves that could be used to fund its radical ambitions, or used to inflict economic damage on the West.

...

There are extreme elements that use religion to achieve objectives. And they want us to leave, and they want us to -- and they want to topple government. They want to extend an ideological caliphate that is -- has no concept of liberty inherent in their beliefs. They want to control oil resources, and they want to plot and plan and attack us again. That's their objectives. And so -- and our strategic objective is to prevent them from doing that. And we're constantly changing tactics to achieve that objective.

...

It is conceivable that there will be a world in which radical forms, extreme forms of religion fight each other for influence in the Middle East, in which they've got the capacity to use oil as an economic weapon

So, there is going to be a religious war and they will use oil as an economic weapon?

Hmmm, well we can fix that if we work towards energy independancy. After all you said in the 2006 State of The Union:

So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative -- a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research -- at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants, revolutionary solar and wind technologies, and clean, safe nuclear energy.

We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We'll also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn, but from wood chips and stalks, or switch grass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years.

So far all you have done is talk.

Put up or shut up, sir.

But

Random Bloggitude

I have a couple of things I want to write about, so bear with me.

First things is to let you know the subconcious is an amazing thing. It does things you do not realize until you feel the results. For those who do not know, i have been preliminarly diagnosed with an Inguinal hernia. My family doctor believes he felt one in my recent physical. I have an appointment later today with a general surgeon for a consultation. The results of this will probably lead to surgery to repair the hernia. I am fine with this, as it is what needs to be done. My mind is at ease and I am not stressing it. At least conciously. Last night was a different matter. Mal has been a good boy recently and sleeping through the night, but last night he had to go potty in the middle of the night. When I woke up for this i noticed a couple of things. 1. My head was barely resting on the pillow; 2. My jaw was very tight; 3. I had a massive headache. What I think happened was all the stress I am not feeling conciously re: the hernia came to the fore last night and settled itself in my neck and jaw. I took some tylenol and went to sleep and slept fine, but now my neck feels like I have been doing neck bridges all night and my jaw feels like I have been eating a rubber tire.

****

I saw on the little tv in the elevator that 20 years ago Crocadile Dundee was the number one movie at the box office. It got me thinking about my grandparents, and how their influence, probably subconciously, encouraged my love a live arts (theater, music, etc.) You see, I can only think of three movies my grandparents ever saw in the movie theater. I know they saw Corcadile Dundee and loved it so much that when part 2 came out they saw it. The only other movie I know they saw, and I think it was only grandma not grandpa, was the time we took the bus from their house to the mall to see The Rescuers.

How does this lead to my love of live arts? Well, for as long as I can remember they would have season tickets to The Muni, an outdoor summer theater in my hometown. They have them to this day. And for years and years they had season tickets to the Springfield Theatre Centre. We would go on Tuesday nights during the summer to Douglas Park, as a family, to hear the Municipal Band concerts. We went to Springfield High School to hear the old Orpheum Theater Organ. They would come to every single performance my brother or I were in...without exception. They love live performance. And I think it rubbed off...Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.

***

In January of 2005 I posted that my cousin Phil was on his way to Iraq only to get diverted to the Tsunami region. Well, I just heard from my mom that he and his crew have been redeployed to Iraq. Pray from them as they head over for their 2nd tour of Hell.

Showing My Age?

I am either showing my age, or am stuck in the 90's...probably both, but msnbc.com had the following headline: "Simpson tops most overexposed celeb list."

Yup, I thought is was OJ Simpson...nope...it is the blonde one.

Oh Well.

36%

That is the President's job approval rating right now.

Perhaps it is becasue noone knows what his job is?

New Template

What think you all?

Back In Business

From The Colbert Report a few days ago. The money quote in my opinion [paraphrased] Republicans can now get back to what they do best...blame Bill Clinton.

ENOUGH!!!

warning...a rant..personal attacks, swearing, poor grammar and the lot...you have been warned.

The damned hypocritical so-called Christian House Members and Senators are so full of themselves and full of shit.

Let me put is this as simply as possible...

Torture is not a Christian value. It has not a damned thing to do with terrorism. It has not a damned thing to do with war. It has to do with human decency. It has to do with treating our enemies is if they are Christ. Christ is present in them. Christ is in us.

Stipping away of human rights is not a Christian value. If I hear anyone of these people claiming the moral highground and saying that "strenous means" are needed to get info from detainees, i say kiss my ass.

If stripping away our rights and getting rid of heabeaus corpus is meant to protect us, once again i say you are full of it. It does exactly what the enemies want. They want to change who we are as people. They want us to live in terror (they are called terrorists for Gods sake).

And for all you wishy-washy congress people...grow a damned spine. If you are scared that standing up for human rights will get you smeared by the opponent, and you say nothing...you deserve to be smeared and kicked out of office...

on the other hand if you are smeared standing up for what is right...you can hold your head high...

You, Mr President should be ashamed of your self. You are a despicable human being. I do not say things like that lightly. You and your cronies have been abusing people left and right, and when your supreme court says enough, you have the audacity to want to change the law. You have broken the law, sir, and what you have done is a felony under that law. You should be removed from office, triedm and sent to prision. Instead, you send a bill to the hill that will retroactively give you immunity from these crimes. AND allow you to continue them.

I do not care if your spy friends read this, I have to say, sir, you are a piece of trash and a reprehensible human with no conscious.

Please do not give me the we live in a post 9/11 world. You, sir, are responsible for much of the crap hitting the fan. You did nothing to prevent the attacks...you went on vacation. You can not stand the fact that people criticize you, so you call us unpatriotic, un Christian, un American. You sir act like you have never gotten out of the 10th Grade. You need to grow up and begin to take responsibilty for your actions.


I am sick of the bs.

thanks...needed to get that off me chest

Treat Her Right

performed by The Commitments...for your listening pleasure

Big Box Out Of The Box

Hey All! Please read the below and let me know what you think. I am considering sending it to a letter to the editor of the local papers, and to the city council and mayor.

please leave comments. If you notice some incorrect data, please let me know.

Thanks jt

___________________

Recently the Chicago city council passed a big box ordinance mandating big box chain stores pay a living wage of at least $10/hour with $3 for benefits, but this measure was vetoed by Mayor Daley and the veto was sustained when three of the city council members changed their votes to side with the mayor. For those who do not know what big box stores are, the ordinance states they have a square footage over 90,000 and the parent companies make at least $1 billion popped annually (Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) These big box chains have several new stores scheduled to be built, mostly in underdeveloped neighborhoods, and have threatened to abandon or delay the building of these new stores until the ordinance is revoked.

The main argument against the ordinance is a logical one which states with out these mega-stores there will be no or little development in these underserved and underdeveloped areas, and a Wal-Mart or Target will provide much needed jobs to area residents. Many of the people in these areas need to travel a distance to get to a store, and mostly that is via public transit. I understand these arguments, and think they are valid, but I think, while they may hold water as short term rationale for allowing the big box stores, they are ultimately short-sighted. The money made by these stores does nothing for the community. The pay the employees receive (which would be a little over $13,440 annually for a full time worker at the proposed $7/hour scale) and sales tax are the only income the community would have from these stores. And most of the employee income would go to pay rent, insurance, and other living expenses. In fact, the $13,440 annual income for a family of just two is only $610 above the poverty line, that is one major emergency away from complete destitution.

So, if the big boxes are a bad idea for neighborhoods that need the jobs, what can be done?

I believe there is a wellspring of opportunity that will not only help the neighborhoods with their income woes, but will also help the communities grow.These opportunities help the city, and encourage all. My solution is to encourage entrepreneur's to take the land set aside for these developments and plant their own stores. Instead of one mega-store sitting on 90,000 square feet, why not have 10, 15, 20 stores there? Why not have a family run hardware store sitting next to a family owned grocery store, with a mechanic across the way? Why not have the bakery provide the bread for the kids sandwiches?

But, how/why would someone want to put a mom and pop store in an underdeveloped community? What is in it for them?

The city, I am quite sure, is providing these big-box chains with some pretty sweet incentives to move into these areas. Why not turn around and give these incentives to entrepreneurs? The city has the land set aside, provide it at low cost. They city has tax incentives for the owners of these chains, provide those incentives to the LOCAL owners of new businesses. The city would help create traffic flow into these places, why not do the same to a small shopping area with many stores instead of just one?

Another thing about having small businesses in the area instead of the big chains is more of the money generated by these businesses will go to bettering the city. Target is based in St. Paul, MN. The profits of the store go there. Wal-Mart is based in Bentonville, AR. The profits would go there. Home Depot is based in Cobb County, GA. The profits would got there. On the other hand, Kopi is based in Andersonville. The profits go there. Afrocentric Bookstore is located in Bronzeville. The profits go there. These locally owned and operated businesses not only provide jobs for community residents, but provide income used in these specific neighborhoods. Money made in a neighborhood tends to stay in that neighborhood.

One concern brought forth by the opponents of the big-box ordinance is without these stores, there are no jobs for our residents. True. But, what kinds of real opportunity do the residnets have for growth in their positions? What kind of real opportunity does the kid stocking shelve have to become supervisor or manager. Most of the management of these stores would come from people being transferred in. People who do not know the neighborhood. People who do not know the needs of the neighborhood. People who will probably live in Oak Park. However, if local businesses are supported, management will inherently come from within the community. The workers and managers will know the neighborhood, and know the language and feel the pulse of what is going on. They will see needs and be able to adjust to meet those needs.

While big-box stores may provide an immediate solutions to neighborhoods in need, I firmly believe the true answer lies in allowing local business owners and entrepreneurs the opportunity to make their mark in these same neighborhoods. I believe there is the desire to build there, but right now there are not the opportunities or incentives. We are a city of neighborhoods, these neighborhoods can feed and nourish each other if allowed the opportunity.

Jon Stewart on 9/11/01

What Jon Stewart said on the first show back says all I can.

LES MIZ

In Lego!

Bob Dylan

Dylan has a new album out, Modern Times. I really want it. In the mean time, here is a video for a song from the record. "When The Deal Goes Down"

It is a great video. Done in an old home movie format, starring Scarlett Johansson.

enjoy

A Brilliant Response

A couple of days ago the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, called those of us who oppose the war in Iraq appeasers. Likening us to those who appeased Hitler in the 1930's. Saying we are suffering from moral and intellectual confusion. So, 65% of Americans are now the same a those who appeased the Nazi's.

Here is a link to CNNs coverage of his speech.

I was going to respond to this, but then, came across the following response from Keith Olberman of Countdown on MSNBC.

Here is a video link to his commentary.

Bleow is a full transcript:

The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack.

Donald H. Rumsfeld is not a prophet.

Mr. Rumsfeld’s remarkable speech to the American Legion yesterday demands the deep analysis—and the sober contemplation—of every American.

For it did not merely serve to impugn the morality or intelligence -- indeed, the loyalty -- of the majority of Americans who oppose the transient occupants of the highest offices in the land. Worse, still, it credits those same transient occupants -- our employees -- with a total omniscience; a total omniscience which neither common sense, nor this administration’s track record at home or abroad, suggests they deserve.

Dissent and disagreement with government is the life’s blood of human freedom; and not merely because it is the first roadblock against the kind of tyranny the men Mr. Rumsfeld likes to think of as “his” troops still fight, this very evening, in Iraq.

It is also essential. Because just every once in awhile it is right and the power to which it speaks, is wrong.

In a small irony, however, Mr. Rumsfeld’s speechwriter was adroit in invoking the memory of the appeasement of the Nazis. For in their time, there was another government faced with true peril—with a growing evil—powerful and remorseless.

That government, like Mr. Rumsfeld’s, had a monopoly on all the facts. It, too, had the “secret information.” It alone had the true picture of the threat. It too dismissed and insulted its critics in terms like Mr. Rumsfeld’s -- questioning their intellect and their morality.

That government was England’s, in the 1930’s.

It knew Hitler posed no true threat to Europe, let alone England.

It knew Germany was not re-arming, in violation of all treaties and accords.

It knew that the hard evidence it received, which contradicted its own policies, its own conclusions — its own omniscience -- needed to be dismissed.

The English government of Neville Chamberlain already knew the truth.

Most relevant of all — it “knew” that its staunchest critics needed to be marginalized and isolated. In fact, it portrayed the foremost of them as a blood-thirsty war-monger who was, if not truly senile, at best morally or intellectually confused.

That critic’s name was Winston Churchill.

Sadly, we have no Winston Churchills evident among us this evening. We have only Donald Rumsfelds, demonizing disagreement, the way Neville Chamberlain demonized Winston Churchill.

History — and 163 million pounds of Luftwaffe bombs over England — have taught us that all Mr. Chamberlain had was his certainty — and his own confusion. A confusion that suggested that the office can not only make the man, but that the office can also make the facts.

Thus, did Mr. Rumsfeld make an apt historical analogy.

Excepting the fact, that he has the battery plugged in backwards.

His government, absolute -- and exclusive -- in its knowledge, is not the modern version of the one which stood up to the Nazis.

It is the modern version of the government of Neville Chamberlain.

But back to today’s Omniscient ones.

That, about which Mr. Rumsfeld is confused is simply this: This is a Democracy. Still. Sometimes just barely.

And, as such, all voices count -- not just his.

Had he or his president perhaps proven any of their prior claims of omniscience — about Osama Bin Laden’s plans five years ago, about Saddam Hussein’s weapons four years ago, about Hurricane Katrina’s impact one year ago — we all might be able to swallow hard, and accept their “omniscience” as a bearable, even useful recipe, of fact, plus ego.

But, to date, this government has proved little besides its own arrogance, and its own hubris.

Mr. Rumsfeld is also personally confused, morally or intellectually, about his own standing in this matter. From Iraq to Katrina, to the entire “Fog of Fear” which continues to envelop this nation, he, Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, and their cronies have — inadvertently or intentionally — profited and benefited, both personally, and politically.

And yet he can stand up, in public, and question the morality and the intellect of those of us who dare ask just for the receipt for the Emporer’s New Clothes?

In what country was Mr. Rumsfeld raised? As a child, of whose heroism did he read? On what side of the battle for freedom did he dream one day to fight? With what country has he confused the United States of America?

The confusion we -- as its citizens— must now address, is stark and forbidding.

But variations of it have faced our forefathers, when men like Nixon and McCarthy and Curtis LeMay have darkened our skies and obscured our flag. Note -- with hope in your heart — that those earlier Americans always found their way to the light, and we can, too.

The confusion is about whether this Secretary of Defense, and this administration, are in fact now accomplishing what they claim the terrorists seek: The destruction of our freedoms, the very ones for which the same veterans Mr. Rumsfeld addressed yesterday in Salt Lake City, so valiantly fought.

And about Mr. Rumsfeld’s other main assertion, that this country faces a “new type of fascism.”

As he was correct to remind us how a government that knew everything could get everything wrong, so too was he right when he said that -- though probably not in the way he thought he meant it.

This country faces a new type of fascism - indeed.

Although I presumptuously use his sign-off each night, in feeble tribute, I have utterly no claim to the words of the exemplary journalist Edward R. Murrow.

But never in the trial of a thousand years of writing could I come close to matching how he phrased a warning to an earlier generation of us, at a time when other politicians thought they (and they alone) knew everything, and branded those who disagreed: “confused” or “immoral.”

Thus, forgive me, for reading Murrow, in full:

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty,” he said, in 1954. “We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law.

“We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular.”

And so good night, and good luck.

HEY EVERYONE

Yeah, all 2 of you who actually read me bloog...

go here and here and wish the wonderful ms mae a bappy hirthday...26 years ago the stork dropped her off in Spring Valley, MN, and 4.5 years ago i had the good fortune of meeting her.

Love you, Lady

2,913 Words

2,913 Words, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

'nuff said

cartoon by John de Rosier

Which Author Guy Book Are You?

What Author Guy book are you?

You are Bloodsucking Fiends
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Chirs Moore posted this link on his myspace...he is Coyote Blue.

Mal at Picinic

Mal at Picnic, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Here is Mal after a hard day at the church picinick

"The Love of God is Absolute"

From Newsweek via God Girl:

"'Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there and who won't. ... I don't want to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody regardless of what label they have.'

-- The Rev. Billy Graham, in an interview with Newsweek magazine when asked if he thinks heaven is “'closed to good Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or secular people.'"

Preach it.

Changes

Before 2, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going (my eyes do not like flash bulbs)

Changes

Before 1, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

During 3jpg, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

During 2, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

During 1, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

After 1, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Gone

Changes

After 3, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Gone

IRAQ: The roots of hope

I got this email from Christian Peacemakers, thought I would share. The view from the ground:

1 August 2006

IRAQ: The roots of hope

by Peggy Gish

A call came last week from an Iraqi human rights worker and friend of the team. The previous night, someone attempted to shoot him near his home in southern Iraq. He does not know what group may be behind this attack and the threats on his life he has received in the past months.

A former team translator told us that militia and criminal gangs control many neighborhoods in Baghdad. In his neighborhood, daily gun-battles on the street break out. In another Baghdad neighborhood, the husband of another team friend--also a human rights activist--was killed.

"I couldn't believe it at first," yet another human rights worker in Najaf told us after recently returning from several months in the U.S. The situation in Iraq is much worse than I ever imagined. I can no longer say this isn't civil war."

Some Iraqis are fleeing their homes, but most cannot leave. They feel helpless to do anything to change the escalating violence and chaos. Just two weeks ago the team's landlord and his wife told us that even though most of Baghdad was dangerous, the neighborhood we had been living in was safe. Since then, they have called us to say the situation there has become worse. Fewer people are out on the streets doing business or shopping. They have left and now agree with other Iraqi friends and colleagues who have advised our team not to return to Baghdad.

These Iraqis are like our family. We feel a deep love and grieve for them. Not being able to accompany them or to do more to help them is painful. During our morning prayers, we mentioned them by name. We read about and spoke of hope, but we felt this hope was something out of reach, something that instead of buoying us up, was flying in our faces. A team mate named what we were all feeling, "Right now it's hard to have hope for the future of Iraq."

But, I thought, the prophet Isaiah addressed this struggle when he spoke of God bringing forth springs of water in the thirsty ground of the desert (Isaiah 35: 6-7) and of God being with us as we pass through the rivers and through fire (Isaiah 43:2.) Just like water in dry lands, hope is a precious commodity in war-torn places.

If we base our hope mainly on our ability to stop this horrible violence, we are lost. Only when our faith is rooted in God's ability to work in impossible situations, can we rise above despair and allow hope to strengthen us and lead us to action. That is the hope I pray for and want to walk in.

Meet Mal!

MAL 2, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

He is the newest member of the Thornburgh household.

His name is Malcolm Renyolds Thornburgh.

He is a good boy. Already paper trained at 8-weeks, and is picking up the whole go outside thing, too. He has fun out in the grass, and met and got along with our neighbors 150 # pit bull, Tybalt.

Wow

I love this city.

I picked up today's Red Eye because of its cover headline, "What Color Is Your Neighborhood?"

I am glad to say I live in one of the most diverse in the city, and worship in the most diverse.

I live just on the north border of Uptown. Here is the breakdown presented in the paper:
39.2% Non-Hispanic White
22% Black
14.2% Asian
23.2% Hispanic
16.3% Other

I worship with Reconciler in Rogers Park, the most diverse neighborbood in thecity:
29.7% Non-Hispanic White
30.3% Black
7.2% Asian
32.8% Hispanic
19.8% Other

Edgewater where NSBC has the larges population of Sub-Saharan Africans. When Ghana beat the US in the world cup, Broadway Ave. had people cheering for their homeland.

Chicago as a whole is pretty evenly split, in 5 years, us non-Hispanic whites will be a real minorty...kind of cool.

Chicago:
29.6% Non-Hispanic White
34.8% Black
4.9% Asian
29% Hispanic
19.7% Other

Like I said, I love this city, and especially the neighbor hood I live in.

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A Classic

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

22 1/2

That is how many hours I have now been up.

I woke at 6:30 Friday morning, it is now 4:50 Saturday morning. This is not due to insomnia or some other ailment, but because I have spent the past 8 hours at my first film shoot. My friend Kate is one of the costumers for the movie, which is a short called Never. She needed pirates, and being the fuzzy type, i guess she thought I fit the bill.

Making movies is a lesson in hurry up and wait. The actors call was for 8pm and we did not shoot the part I am involved in until 3:30. Not that I am complaining, it was fun and everyone is great.

Needless to say, I am tired. You see, my beautiful wife is up in Iowa this weekend with the car. I have been riding my bike to and from work/gym for the past month or so, and so, it is not a problem to bike to and from the shoot. But riding the bike home at 4 in the morning is something else. There were a couple moments when I was a little more scared than I get riding downtown at rush hour. Mostly cabs who are stalking patrons, or arbitraily stopping in the middle of the road with no flashers or anything.

I did get a propostion form some sligtly drunk co-eds to ride my on my handlebars. I did hear a guys drunkenly yelling at someone on his cell phone. I did hear a couple trying to decided if someone was gay or not. I did see someone kicking some major butt air drumming in the backseat.

I did see, as I turned east on to my street, the sky fading from deep dark blue to a beautiful turquoise. I do hear the birds singing.

I am going to bed.

My two neices

nicky and hannah, originally uploaded by meggomae.

Here is a picture of Nicky and Hannah, my 2 neices.

Click the picture and it will take you to Mae's flickr site and you can see more pix.

Welcome

Everyone...your attention please....

Please welcome Hannah Isabel Nielsen into the world.

She is our new neice. The stork stopped by at 4:21 this morning. He dropped off a 7# 7oz 19 1/2" hairy healty bundle.

I will have pix as soon as dad gets home and uploads them.

[info correcetd per mae's comment]

That's The Way

Billy Preston died yesterday. He was known as the 5th Beatle for his work on Let It Be and Abbey Road.

Below are two videos.

The first is That's The Way God Planned It from The Concert for Bangladesh. The second is a cover of Georg Harrison's My Sweet Lord.

That's The Way God Planned It



My Sweet Lord

The World According to DUM

mutant dorks, originally uploaded by AngloBaptist.

Check out Mae's Blog and Tripp's Blog for and explaination

The Man

The Man, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Turns 65 today.

Bob Dylan is a hero of mine. I have most of his domestically release albums.

Happy Birthday!

Prayers

Barabo, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Say a prayer for Barabo. He won the Kentucky Derby. He was favored to win the Preakness, but a furlong in to the race his jockey Edgar Prado pulled up on the horse. Barabo broke his right rear leg in 2 places, above and below the joint. His life may have been saved by Prado. But there is still a chance he may have to be put down. So, please keep praying for Barabo and his family.

A Must See Film

This Summer's Must See Movie

(cross-posted at my blog: http://myspace.com/celticwander)

Al Gore has a documentary coming out called An Inconvenient Truth. It is a very frank film on the very REAL issue of Global warming, as he says, "This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue."

Here is the trailer:

Geek = Me

I have started a myspace.com page here: http://myspace.com/celticwander

I will still blog here, but overthere i will do some other stuff...not sure yet

The Reverand

Has some news...

Tell him consplats!

The New Pad

Llama nee, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

So yesterday I said our new pad has yet to be named, well...here it is...all family and friends will be welcome at The Llama Nee Inn

[Update: Logo created by MAE]

There you go

2/3

That is my estimate on how much is packed.

For those who do not konw, we are moving to nice grown up apartment on Monday. We are moving out of the Knotty Pine Inn. We are moving into a nice 2 bedroom as yet to be named/photographed place. (If anyone is available, we will begin at 10:30 am...help...please)

It is hard to tell how much is actually packed since our little apartment is sprouting boxes out the wazoo. But in my estimation we only have the bathroom, about 1/3 of the kitchen and knick knack yet to pack.

This makes me happy, because packing is the worst part of moving in my opinion. I do not mind the schleping or the unpacking...it is the packing...

So, thanks be! We are almost done!

Affirmed

This comes for Tripp's most recent post. He talked about how his craft of a singer was affirmed by Bobby McFerrin. Here is my story.

I was working stage crew at college and Mr. Hal Holbrook brought his Mark Twain one man show through.

It had been a long day and was leaning against a table taking a break when someone started giving me a shoulder rub. It was Mr. Holbrook. He said Thanks, you all are great. Needless to say, I was Freaked out a little...I am getting a sholder rub from Hal Freakin' Holbrook. We chatted a little bit. I told him about me, and when I said I was from Springfield, he started asking about people who were extras in a movied he shot there years ago. He rememberd their names.

As for the afirmation it was 2-fold. One was that he encouraged me to keep plugin away at my craft, and don't be afraid to do my own thing. But the most important was that of a very humble man who did not forget those who helped him get to where he was.

-----

One other one was Gary Sinise. I met him after the first preview of The Steppenwolf's production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest several years ago. He was also a very nice guy. He stood by the stage door chatting with 2 friends and I for a good 25-30 minutes. He encouraged us all to keep our hearts in the game and 2 of us started our own theater companies. But the other thing was that of a very humble man who did not forget those who helped him get to where he was.

Seems to be a theme. A theme I will never forget

Promised Picture

Mae and Justin, originally uploaded by meggomae.

Here is the Picture of the Glam Mae and me at the premier of Say Hello To Clive For Me

Not Much Of A Traveler

Cliff tagged me...

Not very impressive, yet...hopefully in the next couple of years I can fill this out a little more.



create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Let's All Go To The Movies, Let's All Go To The Movies

Clive, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Last night Mae and I went to a movie. More accurately, Mae, Trish, Tripp and I went to a movie. Actually, Mae, Trish, Tripp, about 1200 other people and I went to a movie last night. We all went to Kate's and Larry's movie. We went to the world premier of Say Hello To Clive For Me at the Pickwick Movie Theater.

Kate was the art director for the movie, and Larry co-wrote the script. It was a fun little crime drama/comedy in the veign of Oceans 11 and more had the style of the English Crimainal movies like Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrells. It was quite fun. They began filming the movie about a year ago, and wrapped on our wedding day.

It was fun to go to a premier, everyone dressed up all nice and stuff. Mae looked fabulous. Trish looked like a movie queen in her black and white. And Tripp and I wore kilts. What would you expect. (I hope to have pictures soon.)

Afterward we went to IHOP.

All in all a good night!

This is Bob

Bob, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

This is Bob at our wedding.

RIP My Friend

Bob

I just received a call from my mom informing me that Bob passed away last night. Bob was like an uncle to me.

Bob and my cousin (dad's cousin) Kathleen had been together for 30 years. Bob was one of those guys, like my dad, that anyone who knew him will not soon forget. He had a great sense of humor, could be and was very serious when something demanded his attention, and could be counted on.

I remember many things about Bob.

Bob worked at the Illinois National Guard for years. His house was just down the road from Camp Lincoln. I remember being there with Grandma and Grandpa with Kathleen when he would come home in the green fatigues and compat boots.

I remember he and Kathleen at all the summer cookouts growing up.

I remember just sitting at the picnic table with him and his O'Douls.

I rememeber when my little brother was under 5 years old and told him, at my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary party at the DAV hall, that smoking cigars would kill him.

I remember that that was the last day he ever smoked a cigar, 20+ years ago.

I remember how much he and Kathleen cared for each other, not just romantically, but when times got rough.

I remember he and I both rolling our eyes when he came to my college gradutation in a suit. I was in one, too. Those of you who know either of us know that this was the day hell froze over.

I remember at my wedding, Bob gave me a beer cozy that said, "These are my dress clothes."

I will always remember Bob.

I will keep praying for Kathleen.

RIP Bob

We all loved you

Thomas MacDonagh

MacDonagh, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Thomas McDonagh was a teacher/poet who was also one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.

I don't know if their may be blood between us, as I come from McDonough. It is possible. I like to claim his, anyway. You can read more about Thomas and the 1916 Rising, here and here.

Below are the lyrics to the song The Foggy Dew. A memorial to the men who died as a result of the 1916 Easter Rising. Here is more info about the song.

The Foggy Dew

words and music by Father P. O'Neill

'Twas down the glen one Easter morn
To a city fair rode I.
When armed line of marching men
In squadrons passed me by.
No pipes did hum, no battle drum
Did sound its loud tattoo
But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey's swell
Rang out in the foggy dew.

Right proudly high over Dublin town
They hung out a flag of war.
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky
Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar.
And from the plains of Royal Meath
Strong men came hurrying through;
While Brittania's huns with their great big guns
Sailed in through the foggy dew.

O' the night fell black and the rifles' crack
Made "Perfidious Abion" reel
'Mid the leaden rail, seven tongues of flame
Did shine o'er the lines of steel.
By each shining blade a prayer was siad
That to Ireland her sons be true,
And when morning broke still the war flag shook
Out its fold in the foggy dew

'Twas England bade our wild geese go
That small nations might be free.
But their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves
On the fringe of the gray North Sea.
But had they died by Pearse's side
Or fought with Cathal Brugha,
Their names we'd keep where the Fenians sleep
'Neath the shroud of the foggy dew.

The bravest fell, and the solemn bell
Rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Watertide
In the springing of the year.
And the world did gaze with deep amaze
At those fearless men, but few
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
Might shine through the foggy dew.

Ah, back through the glen I rode again
and my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men
whom I never shall see more.
But to and fro in my dreams I go and
I'd kneel and pray for you,
For slavery fled, O glorious dead, when
you fell in the foggy dew.

My Home Town

Up rooted, originally uploaded by CelticWander.


This is a photo from my hometown. Springfield, IL. The tornadoes hit it Sunday night. Only minor injuries reported.

My mom was without power for nearly 36 Hours.

Pictures can be found:

Here
Here
and
Here

Chicago Matters

The executive minister, Larry Greenfield, of ABC-Metro Chicago has a post on Chicago Public Radio's Chicago Matters blog. It is a great piece on inequality in public education. All Ican say is, "Preach It!"

Clueless As Ususal?

Well, I will jump on to the bandwagon here. Tripp and Mae have both posted about the potential sale of the port security to a state owned company of the United Arab Emirates.

I just want to add that now President Bush said he was unaware of the pending sale of shipping operations. I think this is more frightening than the fact that this is happening at all. The president was unaware of a major national security issue until it was already approved by his administration? That is absolutely absurd. If anything, I think that is a major dereliction of duty on his part. It is HIS administration, shouldn't he know what is going on?

And, he is threatening to veto any legislation that would prevent the sale. This is the man who has never vetoed a bill in his entire tenure in office. He is going to veto a potential national security threat, but he will not use the veto pen to oppose immoral legislation. His priorities are seriously screwed up.

And for those right wingers throwing out their typical uncritical talking points, this is not a racial issue. I do not think the British Company in charge now should be. This is about cronyism. His buddies stand to benefit. For example Dave Sanborn. A cheif executive of DP World who has been appointed a Maritime Adminstrator. Proof is here and here.

I am not an alarmist, but the more I think about these frigtening people in power the more concerned I get. He has gone uncheck since his election and now that absolute power is beginning to corrupt absolutely and we all suffer.


[Update 4:23 pm -- I did a little digging and the last time Bush threatened a veto was when the Senate was working on the anti-torture amendment. This guy is just screwed up.]

Paying For The War II

I came across this article in today's Chicago Sun-Times.

Because of spending cuts in Bush's propsed budget up to 14,000 elderly in Chicago could loose supplemental food. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is slated to be eliminated. It is a relatively inexpensive program in governmental term, $107 million. It provides shelf stable food for low income elderly.

The government wants to shift the receipeints of this program to food stamps. That sounds good, except for the fact that those on the CSFP program may not qualify for food stamps. Or they may not have the means or ability to make it to stores. They may be just above the cut off, due to pensions or other income. Mr. Daugherty, the receipiant interviewed in the artlice, already gets $15/month in food stamps. But due to additional cuts that amount will be reduced to $5/month. That is right, he could loose $50/month of shelf stable foods and in return he get $5 to Jewel per month. I dare you, go to Jewel and feed yourself for a month on $5.

Budgets are moral documents. They should be written to ensure that the "least of these" are cared for. How can we expect those we are now occupying to trust us with their well being, if we can not even take care of our own. By caring for the poor, we can show the world that we are a human and humble country.

In Honor Of The Olympics

You Are Hockey

Tough, athletic, and not afraid of a fight. You don't mind putting your body on the line!

What Winter Sport Are You?

Thanks Jane

Kong is King

Mae and I went to see King Kong last night.

It is one of the, if not the, most amazing movie I have ever seen. Peter Jackson is a master storyteller. There was not one unessential element to the entire movie. It was over 3 hours, and could not have been a minute shorter. I needed to go to the bathroom about 1/2 way through, but had to wait until it was over because evertime I thought there would be a lull, something new happened.

There were moments in the movie where I was so engrossed, I forgot to breathe. I have never been slack jawed until I saw this movie. There were parts that were simply unreal! Naomi Watts was fantastic as Anne Darrow. And Andy Serkis made Kong a beast of beauty. The eyes of Kong said so much more that anything I have seen. There was real love between Darrow and Kong. Believiable. Heartbreaking.

I laughed outloud during this film, that does not happen ofter. I cried during this film.

I recomend everyone go see it, if they have not. If you have, let me know what you thought.