Things I'll be working on

As I was going in and out of sleep the other night, I had an idea. Working as a manager (of sorts) I could provide an e-newsletter where authors of my opinions could write articles, fictions, and art. Here are a few things I'm looking tor:

• As a preview, a short bit about what you've been up to. Generally, I dislike silliness.
• Fiction or non-fiction, I tend to like GLBT and what "handicaps" tend to do to them.
• Sci-fi is liked; screeds not much so.
• Art is good, with manga/mangaesque particularly so.

Think I'll like them? Send them in.

Sorry that I've been off lately. I'vwe been trying (unsuccessfully) to get my comix up lately.

Dunderheads, Unite!

OK, I'm a bit pissed off. Make it very. It seems that a bunch of skinhead philosophes decided to wipe out Barack Obama and other candidates. Is this really happening? I don't need you, Connecticut doesn't need you, the whole !$#@&@^ United States doesn't need you!

Go away, dunderheads. Like to Pluto.

The Big President

Here's a quick piece of information for you. The New York Times chose Barack Obama over John McCain in their choice for president. Granted, the Times does have its flaws (mostly very minor} but this pick is a good one.

Welcome, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and New York City, New York!

a note to my friends

In October of 2008, an event of truly historic proportions took place. Many of you might be saying "Yeah, sure. I've seen it all before." Most times, yes, but definitely not this time. If you've been busy contemplating in a cave or trekking the Himalayas, what has happened as a result of a Connecticut Supreme Court decision granting full marriage rights as a result of a 4-3 decision for gays, lesbians, and transsexuals.

Right now, there is a conservative group pushing for a last-minute amendment. If you are of the legendary 10%, I don't really need to make the case to you. However, I make the case for the following larger group.

• It is a waste of money when the budget is already scarce.
• Even if everyone in your household is heterosexual, chances are very good you have a homosexual in your neighborhood. And chances are very good they are NOT an ogre.
• It's the decent thing to do in any neighborhood.

Having made my points, I urge you to vote NO.

Thanks, belatedly, for those who participated in the last poll. There were two who voted, one who was more likely to vote for a John McCain/Sarah Palin ticket, another who was neither more nor less likely to vote for McCain/Palin candidacy.

This poll is a repeat, but with Cynthia McKinney added to the mix. She is the Green Party candidate.

Hello, Newburyport, Massachusetts!!!

Our Conundrum

God's Problem

Bart D. Ehrman

HarperOne

In Bart D. Ehrman's book God's Problem, an ancient difficulty is examined by Ehrman. On one hand, we have the " all loving" God (with many, many exceptions) ,the horrific world in which we find ourselves living. If we find ourselves living in the world Ehrman does, it is not a happy scene at all, despite protestations to the contrary.

Ehrman seems to be in a constant wrestling match between God (traditionally created) and all the agonies we face. However, the books are - for lack of a better term - a more holistic vision. While any Bible or Torah is certainly a wide-ranging text, what can Ahura Mazda say to us? Or Krishna? How can the writers of Talmud affect or color the original texts? In the more modern version, how can Thomas Merton (whom I greatly admire) affect our ways of thinking?

I don't think what is generated is as much a tabula rasa as much as a tabula "holistica". Do I believe that any thinking will see suffering wiped out, or, more realistically, understand it? Of course not. But what I can do is alleviate the suffering, and protest the outrages. This is one area in which Ehrman and I can agree.

I myself have accepted Buddhist teachings. However, Thich Nhat Hanh has, ironically, felt a deep appreciation for Christian teachings. Not in the very traditional sense, but it is there. Perhaps if we see more holistically, we will see more.

Hello,Bozrah, Connecticut!!

Hello, Sebastopol, California!

Hello, everyone--

I found this site quite accidentaly. It may not be the most cheerful in the world, but it does mark peoples' places in the world. Take a moment and think of them.

Del Martin

Larry Townsend

Billy Keen, Jr.

Cyd Charise

Robert

Robert Raushenberg

George Slover

Scott Graham

Chris Crain

Michael Brown

Carlos Mieglo

Kevin Sayre

Why I care

Just a few notes on the animal cruelty section. Read a bit of what each section has to say. Whether these blogs are speaking to hardcore vegans or meateaters getting a bit of a conscience, there's something here for everyone. Peace to you all.

For me, living in the early years of the 21st century, it is an age of manga, an age of thoughtfulness, an age of (relative) silence. Of course, it's really not a sweeping generalization, not at all. If I look into a manga review book, they're the Same as a North American cartoon review book, a movie review book, a novel or novella review book - they're all pretty much the same. A few stellar pieces, the bulk; good to mediocre, and the rest would howl at the moon in pain. But still...

The manga - the best, that is - will bring us to a situation, from the same distance, but from a decidedly different angle. Also, the angle is from a kaleidoscopic view. (At least from an American looking at a Japanese work.) Osamu Tezuka's work, in particular Buddha, cannot help but be in a Japanese-Buddhist viewpoint. Siddartha, later the Buddha, knew that he would not realize the monks' efforts for eons. Tezuka, born in the early 1900s, realized this most painfully with Japan showing forth a most fierce face. But after just two bombs in 1945, the harshest of reality was put forth: Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both reduced to nothingness, and those who were unfortunate enough to survive were indeed among the walking dead.

Tezuka was brave enough to call to conscience two nations: the Americans, who obliterated not only an army, but elderly men, women, children, and infants; and the Japanese, whose worldview was clouded by pure insanity.

It is indeed rare for any man to show such bravery. Osamu Tezuka was such a man.

To Homeschooled Students

Hello, students. I hope your year is going well. First of all, I'd like to say that your parents have only the best for you. I'd like to say that, but I wonder if it is indeed the truth. You see, the world is indeed a puzzling, sometimes scary place. For a very long time - thousands upon thousands of years, in fact - parents have tried to shield their children from what is going on in the world. So far, it hasn't worked.

For me and others like me of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, it's a difficult road.

Tabatake Kasho: bishonen, bishojo gen'ei

Hello, Maplewood, New Jersey!!!

Hello...

Norcross, Georgia...

Celje,Slovenia...

Davograd, Slovenia...

Ljubjana, Slovenia!!!

Hello, Mexico City!!!

Hello...
Stein,Germany...
Melaka, Indonesia
Yorkshire Dales, UK...
Nottingham, UK...
Waterloo (section of London)...
Copenhagen, Denmark
Lingen, Germany!!!

Hello everyone--well, the best thing finally happened. I'm finally getting multiple hits, all around the world. It's definitely a relief from the days when I would see one hit a week.

Since I must The Fall tonight, here's a little something for to think about in the the meantime. Ah, yes, money. Filthy lucre. What have you. As It happens, it's something we need; many desperately. (Even in these desperate straits, think of our African friends who try to subsist on fifteen dollars a month.)

Whenever we want to look at the big picture, we would be shown a picture which would make
Wheel of Fortune positively blush. The hard facts, the brutal facts, is that although there is a slim tendency for the good to do better, our neighbor's keeper is that much more urgent.

Peace.

Hello, Miltonvale, Kansas!!!

Hello, Toronto!!!

Hi, friends,

I came back to the library yesterday, and had the good fortune of finding an Albert Camus text. After a rereading, I will be putting something out on the blog.

a few thoughts...

The first bit of sad news to relate to you is the passing on Friday of Tim Russert. This was so sad... I must admit I watched more on ABC and CBS, but what I did see I liked. Tim's face will be seen until he is laid to rest.

The next is that a new label is being put to use on the graphic. It seems to work...cross your fingers!

I tried to find Albert Camus' book but with no luck. I'll see what is available tommorow.

Peace.

Hello, Kenosha, Wisconsin!!!

a bit of news...as some of you may know, our dumb machines can be quite frustrating, even exacerbating. and we give them the name "computers"! Hang in there...Albert Camus is coming.

oh, yeah...

As I thought about it, I realized that Obama blogs would suit me much better. So I changed it. Here's hoping we agree. Go Obama!

Hi, everyone...

Hi, everyone---I got this neat little doohickey that is placed at the bottom of the page. Shows my love for everything manga..ok, ok, everything got goofed up a bit...but, hey, manga!!!

Hello, Hewitt, NJ!!!

Hello, Owosso!!!

Hello, Mokena, Illinois!!

Hello,Santa Monica!!

Powered by WebRing.

Hello, Athens, Greece!

Hello, San Francisco!

Hello all-

In case you are wondering, I'm putting a second read in on The Fall. I should have something written by the middle to the end of the week. (I promise...)

I've also read The Atlantic. Expect something early next week.

Hello, SALT Lake City!!!

Hey, folks--I just finished Albert Camus The Fall. Quite a story, I'll likely be reviewing it

Hello, Santa Monica!

drip...drip...drip

The Spitzer Sting
Alexander Cockburn
and
Eliot Spitzer: John Q. Public
Katha Pollitt
in
The Nation.
March 31, 2008

In this issue of The Nation, Mr. Cockburn and Ms. Pollitt both present views of Eliot Spitzer. For those not in the know, Mr. Spitzer disgraced himself by having a long-term dalliance with a prostitute, all the while condemned those unfortunates who get caught with their, um, pants down. One wonders if Mr. Spitzer will demand the same harshness upon himself as he did upon others. Oh well, I can dream...

However, there is a more serious side to all of this. If New York is comparable to Connecticut, we can safely say that convicts take a hefty sum out of this budget. Please don't misunderstand me. I do believe that certain offences deserve punishment, the most serious to the most vile.

But prostitution? This doesn't hit the mark by any means. Consider what happens in the average transaction. First, the two haggle over what will be done, second, price will be negotiated, third, enjoy yourself.We may or may not like the idea but we certainly are not forced to have our pockets picked to enforce this idiotic"law".

hello everyone...

Yeah, '....I'm always putting things off...but I do promise a decent essay tommorow. Hold on until then, ok?

coming soon

Sorry I'm so late. On Monday I'll have a review of an article. Hope you'll share your thoughts.

Hello, Conway!!!

Hello, Owosso!!!

Hola, Espana!!

Eight Belles-The last bell

When this Saturday was coming, I was looking forward to the race, I was looking forward to it, although with some trepidation. Two years ago, the lead horse took a fall shortly after starting the race. He would be ok - so it seemed - but this Preakness shook me up.

Eight Belles received a lot of attention prior to the race. When the field came down the stretch, Eight Belles and Big Brown seemed in a battle, until Eight Belles faded, just a bit. Wow, I said to myself, this was a classic race.

Then Eight Belles buckled from underneath her.

Hello. North Carolina!!!

Hello,North Carolina!!!

hello...

Welcome, New Jersey!!!!

ghoulish-- but neccesary

Hello,y'all. Today I'd like to discuss an admittedly less-than-pleasant topic. Yes, it is the one in which you are the sublect of attention - the onr in which you are the dearlt departed.

If you are LGBT person, it's all the more important that you be one who writes the obituary in the local newspaper. Thye first thing that needs to be done is locating the best paper. In my area, there are three: a daily one, and two weeklies. Two papers are realitively neutral, while one is conservative. Now, your paper's conservattivisn doesn't neccesarily mean its anti-LGBT; the paper may hhave no qualms aboot the person's organizations or reationships. Just keep an eye on it.

Next, check to see what costs (if any) there will be. For weeklies and monthlies there will be no cost (for now); however, there is a limitrd space. For dailies, there is no limit - except the cost per word

Finally, a good, accepting friend is important. once a year, make additioons and subtractond. When the final draft is completed, have you and a friend sign it, with a notary to bear witness

Hinata Hyuga from Naruto (below)

link

Hello,, y'all--

Sorry for the rather extensive delay. Spring is approaching, and, fortunately, so is the use of my legs. I really have to force myself, but, with extensive motion, my right leg will increase its mobility.

More later.

this is a test...this is only a test...well, it's really not that bad. I just want to see if I can get some e-photos aboard.

more to come...