graphite on recycled paper 2005

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University work has increased, and not much time to say much else!

Karma has seen by ability to play with friends in a wiki taken away.
My post about ugly politics probably swung the needle to punishment side.

meanwhile a neat letter of recycled paper written on by pencil, a clipping from the Washington Chronicle and other assorted miscellany have arrived safely - thanks Mike.

To the books I go, a-studying is the new game for me.

blogs come , blogs go, some are still born: http://uglypolitics.blogspot.com/

it's a shame that a comment like this from a friend could not be attached:

So many idiots, so few comets. I'm quitting this politics crap. I have worked so hard to try to get them to see that Repugnicans are idiots, and that they need to get riled about the outrage that is George Bush, I did it over and over and over, and they just don't listen. They don't shut up and listen. A brilliant woman like me can try to pound it into the heads of idiots only so long. This is a waste of time. Except for the few that listen to me, those people at Agonist are a bunch of dense idiots that don't get that all fundies and Repugnicans should be locked up, and the country is full of them. Too few comets, so many idiiots. I'm moving to France. No more politics for me

meanwhile away from that nastiness I have commenced full time university study, as well as working full time. Theology is almost the original academic discipline, and the lecturers certainly expect a lot of hard work from us... assignment one has been handed in. (note to self: do not write 3,500 words for a 1,500 word question it is hard to edit that many words down to the right amount the night before it is due, DOH!)

Merton, freedom, truth and beauty, religion + spirituality, and authority in Marks gospel as it relates to Christology are some of the remaining assignments....

hattip as always ;) artappraiser
The pope a sign of elderly decrepitude still in the news and still enthuses me.
Precious Suffering.
The pope's condition is deteriorating, for all to see, and he's becoming a potent symbol for his message: that life is sacred, no matter how painful

It's good to revisit things that illumine the soul and mind. Life can be awfully hectic rushing between work and home, study and church. Meetings, appointments, services, shopping and stress and relationships can seem tenuouos. Hang in there and ponder what is rich, satisfying and luxurious in touching deep within, the special places that make you, you. I stopped tonight to smell some roses, breathe deeply of the night air and relaxed for a few minutes. I should do it more often!
May I suggest the poetry of Dylan Thomas
and Tuesdays with Morrie - DVD or book

What warms your heart and soul and mind?

Photo: thanks Greg, this is where the last week in January was spent, Currarong, under the Aussie sun, body surfing and enjoying prawns!

Reading theology after a morning at the beach can create a rather somnolent state. This massive tome by Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses has interesting commentary for all those whose tastes in linguistics, history, scripture, anthropology and cultural mores require ongoing sating. hattip artappraiser for pointing me towards book; thanks again to Greg for the photo!

Happy New Year to all, this another great sticker, pleasing to the eye, folk art sent from a friend in Centralia. Washington.

Boxing Day Down Under

WHY am I holding a girt big rock?

Because I stubbed my toe next to my little toe on my right foot on it. Not being one to live and let live I picked up the rock, caught in the act by bros in law {thanks Greg} and in a satisfying expression of revenge I threw said rock away from its original location in the Cotter river, east of Canberra, to a new location.

Hopefully not disturbing any creatures that live under rocks. As you can see recent rain has made the river muddy but on a hot summers day it sure is nice to get wet!

Several hours later my toe is purple and painful.

Maybe the quote of 2004:
This is a nation which has been tested in adversity, which has survived physical destruction and catastrophic loss of life. I do not underestimate the ability of fanatical groups of terrorists to kill and destroy, but they do not threaten the life of the nation. Whether we would survive Hitler hung in the balance, but there is no doubt that we shall survive Al-Qaeda. The Spanish people have not said that what happened in Madrid, hideous crime as it was, threatened the life of their nation. Their legendary pride would not allow it. Terrorist violence, serious as it is, does not threaten our institutions of government or our existence as a civil community….

[S]uch a power in any form is not compatible with our constitution. The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these. That is the true measure of what terrorism may achieve. It is for Parliament to decide whether to give the terrorists such a victory.
Lord Hoffman.

from the Lord Laws Report on detention of suspects in the 'war' on terror.

From Informed Comment Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Juan Cole writes:
Intimidation by Israeli-Linked Organization Aimed at US Academic
MEMRI tries a SLAPP

I just checked my campus mail and found a letter in it from Colonel Yigal Carmon, late of Israeli military intelligence, now an official at the Middle East Media Research Organization, or MEMRI. He threatened me with a lawsuit over blog comments I made here at Informed Comment, reprinted at anti-war.com. This technique of the SLAPP or Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation had already been pioneered by polluting industries against environmental activists, and now the pro-Likud lobby in the US has apparently decided to try it out against people like me.

UPDATE: Juan Cole (rights) writes: Many thanks to all the readers who have written in response to my posting about the attempt of the Israel-linked MEMRI "translation service" to intimidate me with the threat of a lawsuit. continues here .

I may live down under but i still take note of things like this:
Saving Private Ryan banned on US TV Stations! How much will they need to be paid to broadcast Passion of the Christ? Interesting times indeed: 'Tis a premature emasculation devoutly to be wished. From my favorite femme fatale blogger aynclouter!!! you rule girl. Consider yourself blogrolled!

So we have survived elections and eclipses.
The world shudders or is that twitches, and following that tic continues on its merry way.

Little thought provoking stuff in the blogosphere, autopsies remain stilted or anguised.

Some sense that the US has become a nation divided between the prosperity protestants and the despairing democrats. I think the truth is somewhere else, life is satisfactory for the masses and 51% chose the status quo.

Some think that the liberals are all at sea in the US and cannot come to grips for the unity call espoused by Kerry. More like we all live in a yellow submarine. And you can google that if you cannot remember the lyrics. If you are a liberal - you probably cannot!

So 49 days to Christmas - starvation, war, injustice, discrimination and the whole human mess continue to stalk the planet. Thank goodness for Jesus! Not the blessings and security Jesus but the Jesus who challenges the status quo, mixes with the tax-collectors and prostitutes and calls us to ask 'what is truth'.

Change is a constant, come and hear the birds sing!
The newness of the electronic medium means that social mores and behavioural norms are still being discovered.
Well meaning and good-intentioned people make mistakes...
However some rise beyond their errors and manage to maintain an ongoing persona...
Anniversary congratulations to the libguy!

In your honor the The Agitprop Sub-Commissar for the Antagonist Soviet will play "The lament of the cherokee reservation Indian" and" Dawn of correction", and finish up with Mr President by the Strangers.

I cannot seem to find that one - the pro-Nixon forces obviously have begun the internet purge! The ultra-conservative radio stations banned it in 1970 succesfully it appears.

Well, how about Don't it make you wanna go home? instead!

Occasionally the media manages to produce something that is head and shoulders above the normal mish mash and entertainment for the masses.

This is important

SORRY! but I have been called a weirdo for the last time.

You don't know me, and I am not one of your little toys.
So don't tell me what to do, don't tell me what to say.
And most of all don't run sean-paul down.

I aint feeding your sicko mind any more.

To all my friends, thanks for your support it's been wild.

See you at the other place.

flowers in my hair flowers everywhere:

another day another brilliant blogsite thanks to rook

It's my life and I can do what I want! Sometimes I do!

another shot, this sticker was made by an agonist friend from the USA. Unique handmade things are so cool. Just like the readers of this blog - all unique, all handmade. You are all cool.

This is a neat sticker adorning my CPU. Tilt your head to the right to see how I look at it, tilt your head to the left to see it from the perspective of the northern hemisphere. upside down sticker posted sideways. See it is good to think outside the square.

Smoke rises from outside the Australian embassy September 9th,2004

May our prayers rise for victims of terrorism - including family and friends,
May hatred of fellow human beings never, ever take root in our hearts.
September 11th, 2004