Wandering Wonderer

2007-08-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

2007-04-26T16:15:00.000-05:00

The Switch

I have moved to wordpress:

http://celticwander.wordpress.com

Update your blogrolls...

Pax

2007-04-26T08:47:00.000-05:00

Iraq Accountability Act

The House passed the Iraq Accountability Act last night. The Senate is expected to pass the same legislation early later today [ed. 1:30pm cmt The Senate just passed the bill]. This is the act that will finally cause a showdown between Congress and the President. Bush has threatened to veto the act because it calls for phased withdrawal of troops beginning in October.

The Whitehouse and Republicans are using the tired meme that by setting a date for withdrawal we are sending a message of defeat to the Iraqis. The problem with that meme is that we have nothing to win or loose anymore in the area. The war has left our hands and entered into the Iraqi hands. They are in the middle of a civil war now, and we are nothing but bullseyes for target practice.

Our troops tours have been extended from 12 months to 15 months (this is how the president is initating his "surge".) Appatently there is talk to extending them to 18 months. This is happening at the same time as their traing and RnR is being cut. They are required to have at least 12 months inbetween tours. That is being cut. They are required to train during those 12 months. No, they are getting, according to Tony Snow, on the job training.

The Iraq Accountability Act takes care of these and other issues our soldiers face, and yet, our president wants to veto legislation that would do more for the troops than anything he has proposed becasue he is being taken to the woodshed.

Here is a video of Rep. Murtha explaining what is in the Act (the candidate he mentions making a joke about putting an IED under a desk is in reference to John McCain on The Daily Show the other night):

2007-04-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

Sir Ian: On Acting

It is nice to know Sir Ian and I have the same method:

2007-04-11T09:07:00.000-05:00

Stonehenge In The Backyard

This fellow from Flint, MI thinks he figured out how Stonehenge was created, and is proving it in his backyard. Moving and lifting multi-ton stones by himself. It is pretty darn cool.

(h/t Godgirl)

2007-04-05T08:21:00.000-05:00

Easter

An anonymous commenter left the following poem in a previous post. It is a memorial to those freedom fighters martyred in the 1916 Easter Rising, leading to the freedom of Ireland.

As we approach the time of the Resurrection, may we remember those who are still stuck under the yolk of tyranny. May they see the light of the Resurrection, and be inspired to continue their struggles for freedom and peace.

Easter, 1916 -- WB YEATS

I HAVE met them at close of day
Coming with vivid faces
From counter or desk among grey
Eighteenth-century houses.
I have passed with a nod of the head
Or polite meaningless words,
Or have lingered awhile and said
Polite meaningless words,
And thought before I had done
Of a mocking tale or a gibe
To please a companion
Around the fire at the club,
Being certain that they and I
But lived where motley is worn:
All changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.

That woman's days were spent
In ignorant good-will,
Her nights in argument
Until her voice grew shrill.
What voice more sweet than hers
When, young and beautiful,
She rode to harriers?
This man had kept a school
And rode our winged horse;
This other his helper and friend
Was coming into his force;
He might have won fame in the end,
So sensitive his nature seemed,
So daring and sweet his thought.
This other man I had dreamed
A drunken, vainglorious lout.
He had done most bitter wrong
To some who are near my heart,
Yet I number him in the song;
He, too, has resigned his part
In the casual comedy;
He, too, has been changed in his turn,
Transformed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.

Hearts with one purpose alone
Through summer and winter seem
Enchanted to a stone
To trouble the living stream.
The horse that comes from the road.
The rider, the birds that range
From cloud to tumbling cloud,
Minute by minute they change;
A shadow of cloud on the stream
Changes minute by minute;
A horse-hoof slides on the brim,
And a horse plashes within it;
The long-legged moor-hens dive,
And hens to moor-cocks call;
Minute by minute they live:
The stone's in the midst of all.

Too long a sacrifice
Can make a stone of the heart.
O when may it suffice?
That is Heaven's part, our part
To murmur name upon name,
As a mother names her child
When sleep at last has come
On limbs that had run wild.
What is it but nightfall?
No, no, not night but death;
Was it needless death after all?
For England may keep faith
For all that is done and said.
We know their dream; enough
To know they dreamed and are dead;
And what if excess of love
Bewildered them till they died?
I write it out in a verse --
MacDonagh and MacBride
And Connolly and Pearse
Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.

2007-04-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

In The Name of Love

39 years ago today Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was martyred for the cause of love. Let us never forget him. Let us continue to work toward the Dream!

Pride (In The Name of Love)--U2

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One come he to justify
One man to overthrow

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach.
One man betrayed with a kiss

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love...

2007-03-30T15:23:00.000-05:00

Wrong Sounding Muppets

Friday humor, courtesy of Family Guy

2007-03-27T11:34:00.000-05:00

Whipped

My goodness, I am exhaused. It has been and extremely long, yet seemingly short weekend. It seems like the last time I was at my desk was only hours ago, but those hours moved slowly.

On Friday, I got a call from my wife telling me she got a call from her mom telling her that her cousin's three children all died in a house fire early Friday morning. From that moment on things have kind of been a blur until now.

There was the initial shock of hearing such news. The stunned silence. What can I say? Words just were not there. I could not even be there with my wife. She was at work, and so was I. I wanted so much to just hold her. Let her rest in my arms. But I could not.

Saturday and Sunday went as planned, but still in the haze of the news.

Sunday night we got the news that a window of our car had been smashed in, and so we were unsure of how we were going to get to the funeral Monday. Luckily we have grace filled friends. We went to our pastors house and were invited to supper and were given the keys to thier youngests' car. It was so nice to get out of the house and just be with people. I don't think they know how much those couple of hours helped.

Monday, yesterday, we headed to Plymouth, WI to attend the funeral. 2 closed caskets and one open. Three angels in heaven. Many broken here on earth.

The whole drive to Plymouth and the drive home I was thinking about death, dying and life. I am going to attempt to put some of those thoughts down here, forgive the rambling nature of them ... these are just some of my thoughts...

On Death and Dying

My reaction to death is not necessarly one of tears or anger. It tends to be one of relief, or at least calm. I have the understanding that it happens to us all, and we are in the process of dying from the moment we exit the womb. This is a hard view to have. But since the fall, that has been our lot, and I am comfortable with that.

I believe in a life after death, and maybe that helps me in my reaction to earthly death.

I lost my dad almost 9 years ago. It was expected for a long time, but when it happened it happened over the course of 24 hours. He was diabetic and had been suffering complications from that disease for years, and we knew it would eventually take him. But he had a heart attack, and as a result of the disease no effective treatment was able to be done. Diabetes calicifies the blood vessels and as a result they are very fragile. To attemp an angioplasty or stint or other treatment would cause the vessle to burst, doing more damage than the inital attack. We had a DNR signed and allowed him to pass.

I cried and grieved at the loss of my father, but I cried and grieved more for my mom, my brother, my uncle and aunt, my grandpa and especially my grandma (parents should not have to burry their children). That was the first time I realized this.

I grieve for the survivors, for the living. After one dies, there is nothing we can do to stop that. They have moved on.

I grieve for the path surviors have to take.

I grieve because the end of a life is the beginning of a new life for those of us remaining. Some of us are able to move on and grow. Others are not. I don't know how I could grow from the loss of my three children. I cry of the mother and the father of Cheyenne, Hunter and Rae'ven.

That is ramling and incohearant, but I just needed to post. Pray for Tara, Donny, Mae and their families.

May they see the glory of the ressurection.

2007-03-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

God's Gonna Cut You Down

From Johnny Cash's Last album...

2007-03-22T13:47:00.000-05:00

Prayers

Elizabeth Edwards has announced that her cancer has returned. During a press conference this morning, she and her husband, John, told us the cancer had returned and was affecting her bones. She has survied breast cancer, which began to make her ill towards the end of the 2004 presidential campaign. But now the beast is in her rib.

John will continue to run for president, and Elizabeth will be with him while she is undergoing treatment. They and the doctors are extremely optimistic about the potential for treatment, as right now she is asymptomatic, so they caught the diease very early.

The tumor was discovered in a similar way to my friend Tony's was. He slipped and fell on some ice and cracked a rib this winte. Upon getting chest x-rays for his ribs, spots in his lungs were discovered. He has been treated and is doing well. Mrs. Edwards went to the hospital for a cracked rib, and they discovered something worrying on the other side.

Mrs. Edwards would make a fantastic first lady. She is part of the reason I am in the Edwards camp now. Sen. Edwards and I agree on many issues, and I think he is the real deal. Mrs. Edwards is a brilliant, compassionate, and overall lovely woman. She would be a wonderful person to be the face of the USA.

When they blog on Daily Kos (and how many time in a presidential campaign to you hear the words they when talking about a candidate and his/her spouse?), she and the Sen. both stick around and answer comments, but she will still be there long after John has had to move on.

Please pray for Mrs. Edwards. She has gone through a lot (breast cancer and the loss of their oldest son), and says they can handle this, but they can use a little boost. Send them good thoughts.

jt

2007-03-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

Apple's Newest...The iRack

h/t Crooks and Liars

2007-03-05T09:51:00.000-06:00

"Love thy neighbor is not a suggestion. It is a COMMAND!

Bono at the NAACP Image Awards.

Be patient...towards the end you see the Holy Spirit fill the auditorium. Amazing

2007-02-23T08:08:00.001-06:00

Tom Waits--Lie To Me

This is a really cool video:

2007-02-22T14:59:00.000-06:00

Respect the Veterans

Currently the VA system is severely overwhelmed. We have veteran's waiting 2 years to get a prescription for prosthetics. We have veterans whose teeth have been blown out of their head unable to get dentures becasue all 23 of the necessary forms have not been filled out.

The Drs. and nurses at Walter Reed medical center do fantastic work, but the bureaucratic nightmare for release is driving some veterans to the brink.

You can read more about the system in crisis here.

The Washington Post Story (Part 1, Part 2)

A caller on The Randi Rhodes Show had a brilliant idea of a way for us to help this problem. Our fearless leader thinks all we can do to help the country is to go shopping and pawn off the cost of this war to our grandchildren, but we can do something else. The caller's idea was for us to call upon our governors and ask them to claim our veterans currently stuck waiting release from the VA system. Have local public hospitals and private benevolent hospitals care for them, and to get students (high school, college, law school, med shcool) help them fill out the reems of paperwork. Also, on the day our veterans are due back to our state have a welcome home parade. Let them know they are not forgotten, even though an amputee was not allowed to see the president because he had no pants, only shorts (after all he has no need for slacks since he has no legs.)

Here is the email I sent to our Gov, and CC to my members of congress. Please take a similiar action. Show you care:

I am writing to ask you to claim all Illinois veterans currently stuck in the bureaucratic black hole that is currently overwhelming the VA system. I am writing to ask you to request state run hospitals and private benevolent hospitals provide state assisted pro-bono care for our veterans. I am writing to as you to provide our veterans a welcome home parade; to ask you to ask high school and college students, law students, and medical students, to volunteer to help our veterans fill out the necessary forms. I am writing to ask you to step up and help, as our VA system is currently overwhelmed.

Thank you,
Justin Thornburgh

Cc: Gov. Rod Blagojevich
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn
Sen. Dick Durbin
Sen. Barak Obama
Rep. Jan Schakowsky

Go to House.gov and Senate.gov to find out your congresspersons info.

go to (your state).gov for your state's leadership contact info.

Mae and Mal

2007-02-22T08:12:00.001-06:00

Mae
Originally uploaded by AngloBaptist.

Tripp took this...i love it!

2007-02-14T15:33:00.000-06:00

Franken for Senate

Al is in the race in my other homeland

2007-02-09T09:25:00.000-06:00

Awesome

ht cliff

2007-02-07T14:06:00.001-06:00

What a wierdo!
Originally uploaded by meggomae.

I have a blog now...what else am i gonna do home alone all day...huh?

It is here at Dogster.

2007-01-26T11:58:00.000-06:00

Teddy and Minimum Wage

Teddy Kennedy goes of on Republicans and their fillibuster by amendment of the minimum wage increase. This is a thing of beauty...whoever thought one would say that about Teddy Kennedy ;-)

"Do you have such disdain for hard-working Americans that you want to pile all your amendments on this? Why don’t you just hold your amendments until other pieces of legislation? Why this volume of amendments on just the issue to try and raise the minimum wage? What is it about it that drives you Republicans crazy? What is it? Something. Something! What is the price that the workers have to pay to get an increase? What is it about working men and women that you find so offensive?"

2007-01-26T08:50:00.001-06:00

awards night
Originally uploaded by AngloBaptist.

To This Guy...[edit...today!].

Happy bIrthday, Tripp

2007-01-19T08:15:00.001-06:00

Bow Down, Minions

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Imperial Majesty Justin the Infinite of Kirkby Overblow
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

2007-01-12T13:52:00.000-06:00

Debunked

In two minutes, Keith Olberman debunks everthing the president has said over the last 4 years:

2007-01-12T08:17:00.000-06:00

Illinois Iraq Casualties
as of 4 Jan 2007
Data from True Majority

requiescat in pace
Forest Joseph Jostes Albion died April 4, 2004
Jerry A. Tharp Aledo died July 12, 2006
William R. Newgard Arlington Heights died December 29, 2006
Timothy Louis Ryan Aurora died May 19, 2003
Hector Ramos Aurora died January 26, 2005
Edwardo Lopez Jr. Aurora died October 19, 2006
Gregory R. Goodrich Bartonville died April 9, 2004
Shawn C. Edwards Bensenville died April 23, 2004
Joshua D. Palmer Blandinsville died November 8, 2004
Ryan Anthony Beaupre Bloomington died March 21, 2003
Debra A. Banaszak Bloomington died October 28, 2005
Branden P. Ramey Boone died November 8, 2004
James T. Grijalva Burbank died October 12, 2005
Andrew G. Patten Byron died December 1, 2005
Brandon Ramsey Calumet City died August 8, 2003
Benjamin K. Smith Carterville died September 22,2004
Nathaniel K. Moore Champaign died January 26, 2005
Oscar D. Vargas-Medina Chicago died May 1, 2004
Edward Smith Chicago died April 5, 2003
Ivory L. Phipps Chicago died March 17, 2004
Torry D. Harris Chicago died July 13, 2004
Sirlou C. Cuaresma Chicago died June 21, 2006
Mario J. Bievre Constantinople died June 23, 2006
Christopher E. Zimny Cook died January 31, 2005
John R. Sullivan Countryside died November 15, 2003
Kristofer C. Walker Creve Coeur died October 2, 2006
George R. Obourn Jr. Creve Coeur died October 4, 2006
Jonathan W. Collins Crystal Lake died August 8, 2004
Ron Gebur Delavan died May 13, 2006
Sean T. Cardelli Downers Grove died February 1, 2006
Thomas M. Gilbert Downers Grove died October 25, 2006
Drew M. Uhles Du Quoin diedSeptember 15,2004
Matthew D. Bush East Alton died August 8, 2003
Terry W. Ball Jr. East Peoria died August 5, 2005
Phillip E. Frank Elk Grove died April 8, 2004
John T. Olson Elk Grove Village died February 21, 2005
Adriana N. Salem Elk Grove Village died March 4, 2005
William D. Dusenbery Fairview Heights died November 15, 2003
Christopher A. Wagener Fairview Heights died July 1, 2004
Terry Lisk Fox Lake died June 26, 2006
Kyle B. Wehrly Galesburg died November 3, 2005
Brian D. Slavenas Genoa died November 2, 2003
Shawn Christopher
Dostie Granite City died December 30, 2005
Steven P. Mennemeyer Granite City died August 9, 2006
Sean P. Maher Grayslake died February 2, 2005
Geoffrey S. Morris Gurnee died April 3, 2004
Shane Mahaffee Gurnee died May 14, 2006
Ernest E. Utt Hammond died June 27, 2004
Evan Tyler James Hancock died March 24, 2003
Jeffrey R. Wallace Hoopeston died May 24, 2005
Peter J. Giannopoulos Inverness died November 11, 2004
Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker Irvington died May 13, 2003
Christopher Belchik Jersey died August 22, 2004
Brian A. Wright Keensburg died December 6, 2005
Caleb A. Lufkin Knoxville died May 25, 2006
Uday Singh Lake Forest died December 1, 2003
Paul R. Syverson III Lake Zurich died June 16, 2004
Philip John Martini Lansing died April 8, 2006
Neil D. Petsche Lena died December 21, 2004
Daniel G. Gresham Lincoln died February 24, 2005
Travis L. Patriquin Lockport died December 6, 2006
Ryan G. Carlock Macomb died September 9, 2003
Jonathan Lee Gifford Macon died March 23, 2003
Lincoln Daniel Hollinsaid Malden died April 7, 2003
Aaron C. Pickering Marion died November 10, 2004
Charles R. Lamb Martinsville/Casey died September 5, 2004
Charles L. Neeley Mattoon died August 25, 2004
Collier Edwin Barcus McHenry died July 8, 2004
Matthew A. Wyatt Millstadt died December 3, 2004
Joshua A. Terando Morris died November 10, 2005
Adam Wade Kaiser Naperville died December 1, 2005
Bradley H. Beste Naperville died August 4, 2006
Andrew R. Pokorny Naperville died June 13, 2003
David M. Caruso Naperville died November 9, 2004
Jack Taft Hennessy Naperville died October 1, 2004
Ryan J. Buckley Nokomis died June 23, 2006
Jessica L. Cawvey Normal died October 6, 2004
Christopher A. Sisson Oak Park died September 2, 2003
Kenneth L. Ridgley Olney died March 30, 2005
Joshua M. Hines Olney died October 15, 2006
Ryan Leduc Pana died September 24, 2004
Jeremy L. Ridlen Paris died May 23, 2004
Shawna M. Morrison Paris/Champaign died September 5, 2004
Torrey L. Gray Patoka died April 11, 2004
Eric P. Pearrow Peoria died November 24, 2005
Wyatt D. Eisenhauer Pinckneyville died May 19, 2005
Thomas C. Hull Princeton died August 2, 2005
Landis W. Garrison Rapids City died April 29, 2004
Miguel Carrasquillo River Grove died August 9, 2005
Jessica M. Housby Rock Island died February 9, 2005
Brandon Jacob Rowe Roscoe died March 31, 2003
Gary Rovinski Roseville died June 5, 2006
Jaime Moreno Round Lake Beach died October 13, 2004
Jakub Henryk Kowalik Schaumburg died May 12, 2003
William D. Chaney Schaumburg died May 18, 2004
Grzegorz Jakoniuk Schiller Park died November 30, 2005
Brian M. Romines Simpson died June 6, 2005
Kraig D. Foyteck Skokie died October 30, 2006
Jacob C. Palmatier Springfield died February 24, 2005
Scott Matthew Tyrrell Sterling died November 20, 2003
Ryan J. Cummings Streamwood died June 3, 2006
Jonathan S. Beatty Streator died January 27, 2005
Michael J. Sutter Tinley Park died December 26, 2003
Kevin Michael Clarke Tinley Park died February 19, 2005
Corey A. Hubbell Urbana died June 26, 2003
Christopher M. Alcozer Villa Park/DeKalb died November 19, 2005
Gary R. Harper Jr. Virden died October 9, 2005
Jeffrey A. Williams Warrenville died September 5, 2005
David L. Giaimo Waukegan died August 12, 2005
Edward G. Davis III Waukegan/Antioch died April 28, 2006
Nicholas D. Larson Wheaton died November 9, 2004
Jonathan Kyle Price Woodlawn died January 13, 2006
Donald B. Farmer Zion died December 19, 2004

2007-01-11T08:12:00.000-06:00

What's Going On?
--lyrics by Marvin Gaye

[UPDATE: You can take action protesting this action by clicking here for a gathering in your neighborhood.
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Last night the President announced an escalation of troops to Iraq. Last night the President mentioned the need to possibly drag Iran and Sryia into this war. Last night the President said more need to die for this usless war.

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

This morning that escalation began by storming the Iranian embasy in Iraq. A second carrier group has been dispatched to the Persian Gulf. A Navy Admrial has been put in charge of a two front "war on terror" with two virtually landlocked countries (Afganistan totally land locked, Iraq has a small port on the Persian Gulf).

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

This President has reserved the right to REMOVE habeas corpus. This President has said he has the right to listen to our phone calls, check our email and go through our mail.

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today

This President refuses to listen to the generals on the ground who have said more troops will not work. This President refuses to listen to the Iraq Study Group and instead of talking to Iran and Syria he has decided to confront them with force. This President has begun airstrikes in Somalia with out the knowledge or approval from congress and after discovering there is oil there.

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby

Those of us how believe this war is wrong have a duty to send our thought to our member of congress. Tell them to fight this man with all they have. He has no right to do these actions without the approval of the people. He is our employee and must be reminded of that.

2007-01-10T15:10:00.000-06:00

From Larry Greenfield

Partners in the Gospel,

As American Baptists and other Christians gather this evening for prayer and Bible study, President Bush will be addressing the nation about his new plan for Iraq.

It is expected that he will announce an increase in the number of U.S. solders committed to the war and massive new expenditures for programs in that country.

As we all know, there is already great public controversy about these presidential decisions on a highly unpopular war.

I ask that you keep the President, members of Congress, and our Armed Services in your prayers this evening and in the coming days and weeks prayers that these Americans will be genuinely open to God's leading, which surely will be directing us in the ways of peace, lessening the killing and maiming and destruction, and allowing our nation's wealth to be used for meeting human need at home and around the world.

Let us also pray, as Jesus teaches us, for those who are our enemies.

And may our prayers for peace also empower us to be activists for peace in our nation, in which we the people should rule.

May the peace and power of God be with you.

In the cause of the Evangel,

Larry L. Greenfield
Executive Minister
American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago

2007-01-10T14:31:00.001-06:00

Blood Map
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

These red dots represent the Americans murdered by our president and his failed policies.

2006-12-28T10:04:00.000-06:00

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

2006-12-28T09:24:00.001-06:00

Tru Dat

Find your own pose!

2006-12-19T15:53:00.000-06:00

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

2006-12-19T14:24:00.001-06:00

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.

2006-12-13T15:58:00.000-06:00

RIP Peter Boyle

The Monster...nuff said...

2006-12-07T08:46:00.000-06:00

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

2006-11-21T11:40:00.001-06:00

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.

2006-11-21T10:01:00.000-06:00

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

Which Muppet are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

2006-11-02T08:54:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-31T13:08:00.001-06:00

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

2006-10-31T08:27:00.000-06:00

For Tripp

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

2006-10-28T20:47:00.000-05:00

CARDS WIN! CARDS WIN!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

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

Yay Cardinals

2006-10-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-10-25T15:59:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-10-23T08:17:00.000-05:00

Partisan Fun

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

"Better"

"Country"

"Medicine"

Enjoy

2006-10-20T12:59:00.001-05:00

2006-10-19T15:24:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-10-19T15:01:00.000-05:00

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-

2006-10-18T09:41:00.001-05:00

My DNA

Considerate Inventor

thanks Tripp

2006-10-18T08:36:00.000-05:00

Cool

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
2
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Thanks Jane

2006-10-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

Awesome

2006-10-11T15:16:00.000-05:00

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

2006-10-10T08:04:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-10-09T13:37:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-10-06T08:39:00.000-05:00

36%

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

Perhaps it is becasue noone knows what his job is?

2006-09-29T11:19:00.000-05:00

New Template

What think you all?

2006-09-29T09:01:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-09-28T15:15:00.000-05:00

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

2006-09-25T08:49:00.000-05:00

Treat Her Right

performed by The Commitments...for your listening pleasure

Big Box Out Of The Box

2006-09-14T08:49:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-09-12T08:49:00.000-05:00

Jon Stewart on 9/11/01

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

2006-09-08T12:21:00.000-05:00

LES MIZ

In Lego!

2006-09-07T09:32:00.000-05:00

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

2006-08-31T08:18:00.000-05:00

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

2006-08-24T07:39:00.000-05:00

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

2006-08-21T11:02:00.000-05:00

2,913 Words, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

'nuff said

cartoon by John de Rosier

Which Author Guy Book Are You?

2006-08-17T12:23:00.000-05:00

What Author Guy book are you?

You are Bloodsucking Fiends
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Chirs Moore posted this link on his myspace...he is Coyote Blue.

Mal at Picinic

2006-08-14T14:09:00.000-05:00

Mal at Picnic, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Here is Mal after a hard day at the church picinick

2006-08-10T12:19:00.000-05:00

"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

2006-08-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

Before 2, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going (my eyes do not like flash bulbs)

Changes

2006-08-10T11:28:00.001-05:00

Before 1, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

2006-08-10T11:28:00.000-05:00

During 3jpg, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

2006-08-10T11:27:00.001-05:00

During 2, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

2006-08-10T11:27:00.000-05:00

During 1, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Going

Changes

2006-08-10T11:26:00.000-05:00

After 1, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Gone

Changes

2006-08-10T11:25:00.000-05:00

After 3, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Gone

IRAQ: The roots of hope

2006-08-01T11:28:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-07-26T10:10:00.000-05:00

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

2006-07-19T08:08:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-07-11T15:26:00.000-05:00

free enneagram test

A Classic

2006-07-10T14:37:00.000-05:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

2006-06-24T04:51:00.000-05:00

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

2006-06-12T09:17:00.000-05:00

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

2006-06-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

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]

2006-06-07T08:42:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-26T16:11:00.000-05:00

mutant dorks, originally uploaded by AngloBaptist.

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

The Man

2006-05-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-21T07:25:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-05-16T08:54:00.000-05:00

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:

2006-05-12T12:21:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-07T19:57:00.000-05:00

The Reverand

Has some news...

Tell him consplats!

The New Pad

2006-04-28T12:16:00.000-05:00

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

2006-04-27T11:22:00.000-05:00

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

2006-04-21T08:40:00.000-05:00

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

2006-04-13T10:53:00.000-05:00

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

2006-04-12T08:18:00.000-05:00

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

2006-04-12T08:10:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-28T11:55:00.000-06:00

Bob, originally uploaded by CelticWander.

This is Bob at our wedding.

RIP My Friend

2006-03-28T11:32:00.000-06:00

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

2006-03-17T09:08:00.000-06:00

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

2006-03-14T15:53:00.000-06:00

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

2006-03-02T15:17:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-02-22T14:02:00.000-06:00

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.]