A. Unabashed Pacifist:
If inanimate corporations didn’t profit from wars, we might be able to do away with them.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Going forward, you will accompany me. If I go backward, I’m not so sure you will.
When I’m on the ground, you’re surely with me. If I’m in the air, I’m not so sure.
When I focus on the bottom line, not a chance. Your focus is on top of the line efforts.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Hey guys, Silas, our friendly inn-keeper, says I can put this meal on my tab if I promise to pay by Saturday. With that kind of service, we’ll be coming back to this place forever!”
[No, that never happened, not even on Maundy Thursday.]
D. Blog: Word of the Week – “doldrums”
I heard a friend was in them, but I knew she had not left her house… Aha, dictionary.com has an explanation of sorts.
1. a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art: August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises.
2. the doldrums,
a. a belt of calms and light baffling winds north of the equator between the northern and southern trade winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
b. the weather prevailing in this area.
3. a dull, listless, depressed mood; low spirits.
Origin: 1795–1805; obs. dold stupid (see dolt) + -rum(s) (pl.) n. suffix (see tantrum)
So, number 3 must be the one where my friend is. But that number 1 and the origin seem to describe Congress perfectly, don’t you think?
Friday, February 19, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Conversion or Else
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
The Auctioneer says: “What am I bid for this marvelous Peace on Earth?”
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Change is the constant. We adapt or stagnate. Bodies and brains deteriorate, then die (assuming “natural” death). Billions of years in the making, too many of us never see the grand opportunity of being co-creators with you, co-conspirators in making your dominion of life abundant and loving on Earth, thus proving the lie to eternal death and destruction.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Okay. That’s not funny, guys. Who put the sugar in the salt container?”
[Hmm. Salt or sugar? Interesting question. Which are we? Can we be both? ... But He never asked that question.]
D. Blog: Climate Change and Peak Oil
It’s clear that governments have a hard time responding to climate change, and most of them (and big oil companies) don’t want their citizens to know about Peak Oil (i.e., that we will soon, if we don’t already, face a decline in the supply of easily accessible and easily refined oil). The Transition Movement offers some hope for local communities to respond to the twin threats, and in the process build stronger, more resilient communities with lifestyles far less dependent on the use of fossil fuels, lifestyles much less consumption oriented, and economies better able to sustain when growth is no longer possible. I’ll be devoting more time to our local efforts as Transition Asheville, likely meaning less time for this blogspot. Here are some of the resources that our group has found helpful in beginning to work on the transition to the inevitable descent to a society with less fossil fuel energy. I encourage anyone reading this to get informed and involved, if you aren't already.
Resources for Transition Movement “Mullers”
http://www.transitiontowns.org/
Website for the international movement
http://www.transitionus.org/
Transition movement in the US, includes online training modules/webinars and means of registering for future live webinars, plus many other resources under:
http://www.transitionus.org/resources/reading
http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse
Understanding the prospect of coming economic, energy and environmental crash(es)
http://www.thomasberry.org/
Several resources on this site. His books have inspired many. The Great Work speaks powerfully to the task of changing our attitudes toward and beliefs about Earth.
http://www.brianswimme.org/
Berry’s colleague/collaborator, Swimme presents the new cosmology based on scientific findings of the past century, especially. Humans are the unique product of a process that has lasted billions of years, the cosmos and Earth coming to self-conscious life. The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos gives an excellent, readable overview of this process.
- Peak Oil – a film, and topic of many websites, including some that claim to debunk the threat as a myth.
- “End of Suburbia” (a film) More on the changes that will likely occur with the end to oil supplies sufficient to keep our current lifestyles going
- “The Awakening Universe” (15-minute film based on the work of Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme, inspiring!)
The Transistion Handbook: From oil dependency to local resilience, Book by Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition movement
- Permaculture (a topic that should become familiar to people who are active in Transition, lots of information in libraries and on the Internet)
- Ecozoic Age (Berry & Swimme idea that should also become familiar – lots on the Internet)
The Auctioneer says: “What am I bid for this marvelous Peace on Earth?”
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Change is the constant. We adapt or stagnate. Bodies and brains deteriorate, then die (assuming “natural” death). Billions of years in the making, too many of us never see the grand opportunity of being co-creators with you, co-conspirators in making your dominion of life abundant and loving on Earth, thus proving the lie to eternal death and destruction.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Okay. That’s not funny, guys. Who put the sugar in the salt container?”
[Hmm. Salt or sugar? Interesting question. Which are we? Can we be both? ... But He never asked that question.]
D. Blog: Climate Change and Peak Oil
It’s clear that governments have a hard time responding to climate change, and most of them (and big oil companies) don’t want their citizens to know about Peak Oil (i.e., that we will soon, if we don’t already, face a decline in the supply of easily accessible and easily refined oil). The Transition Movement offers some hope for local communities to respond to the twin threats, and in the process build stronger, more resilient communities with lifestyles far less dependent on the use of fossil fuels, lifestyles much less consumption oriented, and economies better able to sustain when growth is no longer possible. I’ll be devoting more time to our local efforts as Transition Asheville, likely meaning less time for this blogspot. Here are some of the resources that our group has found helpful in beginning to work on the transition to the inevitable descent to a society with less fossil fuel energy. I encourage anyone reading this to get informed and involved, if you aren't already.
Resources for Transition Movement “Mullers”
http://www.transitiontowns.org/
Website for the international movement
http://www.transitionus.org/
Transition movement in the US, includes online training modules/webinars and means of registering for future live webinars, plus many other resources under:
http://www.transitionus.org/resources/reading
http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse
Understanding the prospect of coming economic, energy and environmental crash(es)
http://www.thomasberry.org/
Several resources on this site. His books have inspired many. The Great Work speaks powerfully to the task of changing our attitudes toward and beliefs about Earth.
http://www.brianswimme.org/
Berry’s colleague/collaborator, Swimme presents the new cosmology based on scientific findings of the past century, especially. Humans are the unique product of a process that has lasted billions of years, the cosmos and Earth coming to self-conscious life. The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos gives an excellent, readable overview of this process.
- Peak Oil – a film, and topic of many websites, including some that claim to debunk the threat as a myth.
- “End of Suburbia” (a film) More on the changes that will likely occur with the end to oil supplies sufficient to keep our current lifestyles going
- “The Awakening Universe” (15-minute film based on the work of Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme, inspiring!)
The Transistion Handbook: From oil dependency to local resilience, Book by Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition movement
- Permaculture (a topic that should become familiar to people who are active in Transition, lots of information in libraries and on the Internet)
- Ecozoic Age (Berry & Swimme idea that should also become familiar – lots on the Internet)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Politicians' Infidelities
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Disturbing the peace is an offense that can land us in jail. So why do we put up with those who promote war?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Do you mind if I call you God? Or Goddess?
How about Allah? Krishna? Buddha? Father? Mother? Mystery?
Ground of all being? Yahweh? Great Spirit? Source?
No, you don’t? Just call you.
Okay.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“The fortune-teller said that in a former life I was an island princess sacrificed to the goddess Makiri.”
[Something about that does not sound authentically Jesus…]
D. Blog: Politicians and their Infidelities
Why am I so little surprised when politicians break their marriage vows?
I suppose it’s because so many of them break the vows they make to the public. The main one being the vow to serve the interests of the people who elect them. (I distinguish between those who elect them and those who buy their loyalty.)
Disturbing the peace is an offense that can land us in jail. So why do we put up with those who promote war?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Do you mind if I call you God? Or Goddess?
How about Allah? Krishna? Buddha? Father? Mother? Mystery?
Ground of all being? Yahweh? Great Spirit? Source?
No, you don’t? Just call you.
Okay.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“The fortune-teller said that in a former life I was an island princess sacrificed to the goddess Makiri.”
[Something about that does not sound authentically Jesus…]
D. Blog: Politicians and their Infidelities
Why am I so little surprised when politicians break their marriage vows?
I suppose it’s because so many of them break the vows they make to the public. The main one being the vow to serve the interests of the people who elect them. (I distinguish between those who elect them and those who buy their loyalty.)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Aged and Sparkling
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Disturbing the peace is an offense that can land us in jail. So why do we put up with those who promote war?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
As my story unfolds, I encounter many surprises and countless pleasures. I enjoy new sights, walk new paths, explore new places. In truth they are quite old, most of them. That they seem new to me bestows a freshness upon them. Even though some of them show signs of old age, deterioration even, that, too, carries a measure of freshness for me.
It is, I hope, similar with me. I age, but I am not simply old. I carry newness within, originality, creativity, provocative sparkle. Like you, ever new.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Whatever you say, Peter.”
[Nope, it never appears in the gospels.]
D. Blog: Supreme Court Activism, Yikes!
Well, sure, corporations get a blank check. Founding Fathers never really believed in the will of the people. While we’re at it, the slogan on our currency should be changed to “In Corporations We Trust.”
Disturbing the peace is an offense that can land us in jail. So why do we put up with those who promote war?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
As my story unfolds, I encounter many surprises and countless pleasures. I enjoy new sights, walk new paths, explore new places. In truth they are quite old, most of them. That they seem new to me bestows a freshness upon them. Even though some of them show signs of old age, deterioration even, that, too, carries a measure of freshness for me.
It is, I hope, similar with me. I age, but I am not simply old. I carry newness within, originality, creativity, provocative sparkle. Like you, ever new.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Whatever you say, Peter.”
[Nope, it never appears in the gospels.]
D. Blog: Supreme Court Activism, Yikes!
Well, sure, corporations get a blank check. Founding Fathers never really believed in the will of the people. While we’re at it, the slogan on our currency should be changed to “In Corporations We Trust.”
Friday, January 29, 2010
Corporation Defined
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
And for dessert, I’d like a slice of peace pie, please.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The “supernatural” wonders we hear about and the “miracles” we read bout are okay as far as they go, I suppose. But I’m far more impressed by the natural wonders of life on Earth – trees, flowers, birds, bees, diverse animals including humans, water, air, wind, rain, rivers, oceans, mountains, rocks and sand. I’m certainly more impressed by the miracle of life. To focus on other “wonders” or miracles distracts us from the vastly larger picture you’re creating.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“No, I’m sorry, Mrs. Friedman. I don’t think I’m altar guild material.”
[She tried, but He didn’t have to say it.]
D. Blog: Word of the Week – “corporation”
The most common form of business organization, and one which is chartered by a state and given many legal rights as an entity separate from its owners. This form of business is characterized by the limited liability of its owners, the issuance of shares of easily transferable stock, and existence as a going concern. The process of becoming a corporation, called incorporation, gives the company separate legal standing from its owners and protects those owners from being personally liable in the event that the company is sued (a condition known as limited liability). Incorporation also provides companies with a more flexible way to manage their ownership structure. In addition, there are different tax implications for corporations, although these can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. In these respects, corporations differ from sole proprietorships and limited partnerships.
[Definition provided by investorwords.com]
[I couldn’t help but notice that a corporation is an entity, not a person. An entity separate, in fact, from its owners when it comes to legal rights. Nothing in there, either, about civil rights – like freedom of speech -- for the corporate entity.
For an extremely convoluted argument in favor of the “Supreme” Court decision, check out George Will’s column that appeared in yesterday’s Washington Post. I’m getting the idea that
the modern US government is about protecting the health and welfare of its big businesses and financial institutions, much moreso than its people.]
And for dessert, I’d like a slice of peace pie, please.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The “supernatural” wonders we hear about and the “miracles” we read bout are okay as far as they go, I suppose. But I’m far more impressed by the natural wonders of life on Earth – trees, flowers, birds, bees, diverse animals including humans, water, air, wind, rain, rivers, oceans, mountains, rocks and sand. I’m certainly more impressed by the miracle of life. To focus on other “wonders” or miracles distracts us from the vastly larger picture you’re creating.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“No, I’m sorry, Mrs. Friedman. I don’t think I’m altar guild material.”
[She tried, but He didn’t have to say it.]
D. Blog: Word of the Week – “corporation”
The most common form of business organization, and one which is chartered by a state and given many legal rights as an entity separate from its owners. This form of business is characterized by the limited liability of its owners, the issuance of shares of easily transferable stock, and existence as a going concern. The process of becoming a corporation, called incorporation, gives the company separate legal standing from its owners and protects those owners from being personally liable in the event that the company is sued (a condition known as limited liability). Incorporation also provides companies with a more flexible way to manage their ownership structure. In addition, there are different tax implications for corporations, although these can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. In these respects, corporations differ from sole proprietorships and limited partnerships.
[Definition provided by investorwords.com]
[I couldn’t help but notice that a corporation is an entity, not a person. An entity separate, in fact, from its owners when it comes to legal rights. Nothing in there, either, about civil rights – like freedom of speech -- for the corporate entity.
For an extremely convoluted argument in favor of the “Supreme” Court decision, check out George Will’s column that appeared in yesterday’s Washington Post. I’m getting the idea that
the modern US government is about protecting the health and welfare of its big businesses and financial institutions, much moreso than its people.]
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Judicial Activism -- Yikes!!
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Maybe we should try asking questions first, so we won’t feel that shooting is required.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
As my story unfolds, I encounter many surprises and countless pleasures. I enjoy new sights, walk new paths, explore new places. In truth they are quite old, most of them. That they seem new to me bestows a freshness upon them. Even though some of them show signs of old age, deterioration even, that, too, carries a measure of freshness for me.
It is, I hope, similar with me. I age, but I am not simply old. I carry newness within, originality, creativity, provocative sparkle. Like you, ever new.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Sure, whatever you say, Peter.”
[Nope, it never appears in the gospels.]
D. Blog: Supreme Court Activism, Yikes!
Well, sure, corporations get a blank check to pay for politicians. Founding Fathers never really believed in the will of the real people. While we’re at it, let’s change the slogan on our currency to “In Corporations We Trust.”
Maybe we should try asking questions first, so we won’t feel that shooting is required.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
As my story unfolds, I encounter many surprises and countless pleasures. I enjoy new sights, walk new paths, explore new places. In truth they are quite old, most of them. That they seem new to me bestows a freshness upon them. Even though some of them show signs of old age, deterioration even, that, too, carries a measure of freshness for me.
It is, I hope, similar with me. I age, but I am not simply old. I carry newness within, originality, creativity, provocative sparkle. Like you, ever new.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Sure, whatever you say, Peter.”
[Nope, it never appears in the gospels.]
D. Blog: Supreme Court Activism, Yikes!
Well, sure, corporations get a blank check to pay for politicians. Founding Fathers never really believed in the will of the real people. While we’re at it, let’s change the slogan on our currency to “In Corporations We Trust.”
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Eve's Apple?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Ready or not, Eirene is coming around the mountain.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
So, here we are again, you and I. You mostly silent. I waiting for the words to express a thought or two for you. Even when the words do not seem to come, it doesn’t matter. For here we are again, you and I.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Why do I always have to clean up the mess?”
[He was the first-born child, but did He whine as a child? Not like this.]
D. Blog: Apple Varieties
Tom Brown has made it his mission to locate and keep old apple tree varieties. There are thousands of varieties beyond what we find in grocery stores. He has found more than 900 “old timey” varieties in this region of the country. Most of the names you will never find in the stores. Here’s a small sampling of names:
Church, Biscuit, Black Bud, Big Rambo, Accordian, Bug Horn, Burningtown Spice, Candy, Chintz, Coffee, Fired Sweet, Fall Limbertwig, Flat Top, Grandma, Green Horse, Half Acre, Horseshoe, Iron Wedge, Jewel Smoker, Joe Buff, Kansas Sweet, Twenty Ounce, Trout, White Sheepnose, World’s Wonder, Yellow Spitzenburg, Pokey Seedling, Neverfail, Night Dropper, Luet’s Great Keeper, Little Brushy Spice, Mongolian, Greasy Ball, Prissy Gum, Red Cheese, Vagabond, Pig Nose, Thinskin, Granny Christian, Duchess of Oldenburg.
I don’t think the selection at the grocery store will ever look the same. Monocultured apples can’t cut it. Now I'm wondering, if we edit the story, what was the name of the variety Eve ate?
Ready or not, Eirene is coming around the mountain.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
So, here we are again, you and I. You mostly silent. I waiting for the words to express a thought or two for you. Even when the words do not seem to come, it doesn’t matter. For here we are again, you and I.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Why do I always have to clean up the mess?”
[He was the first-born child, but did He whine as a child? Not like this.]
D. Blog: Apple Varieties
Tom Brown has made it his mission to locate and keep old apple tree varieties. There are thousands of varieties beyond what we find in grocery stores. He has found more than 900 “old timey” varieties in this region of the country. Most of the names you will never find in the stores. Here’s a small sampling of names:
Church, Biscuit, Black Bud, Big Rambo, Accordian, Bug Horn, Burningtown Spice, Candy, Chintz, Coffee, Fired Sweet, Fall Limbertwig, Flat Top, Grandma, Green Horse, Half Acre, Horseshoe, Iron Wedge, Jewel Smoker, Joe Buff, Kansas Sweet, Twenty Ounce, Trout, White Sheepnose, World’s Wonder, Yellow Spitzenburg, Pokey Seedling, Neverfail, Night Dropper, Luet’s Great Keeper, Little Brushy Spice, Mongolian, Greasy Ball, Prissy Gum, Red Cheese, Vagabond, Pig Nose, Thinskin, Granny Christian, Duchess of Oldenburg.
I don’t think the selection at the grocery store will ever look the same. Monocultured apples can’t cut it. Now I'm wondering, if we edit the story, what was the name of the variety Eve ate?
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