Friday cat blogging

Nobody home in the big cathouse. Tommie comes home every couple of days to rest up and eat but he's out today.

Dudie asleep in the heated box on the middle floor of the cathouse.

Little One and PuddyTat in their heated boxes.

LittleOne left so PuddyTat came out of her box to beg for loving after which she got some treats.

Tim lives in the foam behind her in canoe. Here she plays admiral.

Friday shuffle

1. Nice 'n Easy - Gene Harris Quartet
2. Pachelbel: Magnificat, Deposuit - Ave Maria University Choir
3. Pushin' Too Hard - The Seeds
4. Bach: St Matthew Passion, O Haupt Voll Blut Und Wunden - Gardiner
5. At the Hop - Danny and the Juniors
6. Daddy's Home - Shep and the Limelites
7. Alexander: Jesus Met the Woman at the Well - Chanticleer
8. Standing on the Corner - Four Lads
9. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Righteous Brothers
10. Einhorn: Voices of Light, XI. Anima - Anonymous Four, Netherlands Sym

Who's responsible?

Am I my "brother's" keeper? Yes. Is free speech important? Yes. Is there a point beyond which free speech becomes hazardous to others? Yes.

A disclaimer. Yes, I'm passionate and outspoken. Yes, I am guilty of speaking without thinking and causing mayhem on occasion. We all do. Altho I shoot my mouth off too often, I am not on public airways. Well, Facebook and blogs aren't exactly broadcast media. Any influence I might have is very limited.

Awhile back I had a Facebook argument with friends about whether or not I should feel responsible for other drivers on the road. They said an emphatic "No". I disagree. Beyond the hazard of texting or talking, driving in a manner which may cause others to take risks is, in my opinion, unacceptable. We have had very snowy roads lately. There has been some extremely risky behavior by drivers, none of which has resulted in an accident that I've seen. Yet. Driving too slowly encourages some to take risks passing. When a long line builds behind, the driver who can't go faster needs to pull off and allow others to pass. Ignoring those behind can result in an accident or road rage. Yes, the impatient driver is ultimately responsible. I consider myself at fault if something I have done or ignored has caused someone else to do something that either had a lousy outcome or put others at risk.

Likewise with free speech. It is one thing to criticize policy with which one disagrees. It is another thing entirely to vilify another person, especially for the purpose of defeating that person in one way or another. In war, the enemy is reduced to object status to make it easier to kill. This policy has had devastating effects in incidents like Abu Graib and the My Lai Massacre. It has always been the tool of dictators. Today Muqtada al-Sadr is using the technique to urge his followers to get rid of the American troops in Iraq.

Some "Christian" clergy have tried to dehumanize LGBTs by teaching that their behavior is not "natural" and therefore despised by their god. We see the results of that as young people give in to the voiced wishes of bullies and kill themselves. No, the clergy and others are not legally responsible for the bullying or the deaths. I wonder if the God they claim sees it the same way.

Many of the Tea Party people carried ugly signs and exhibited uncivil behavior at meetings and rallies before the fall elections. They revealed much about themselves that most people wouldn't want known. Besides obvious illiteracy, they exposed opinions with no bases in fact, bigotry and hatred of the unfamiliar. They had no respect for others. They were desperate to demonize those who disagreed with their uninformed opinions, especially about the health care debate. They were funded and supported by Fox News, especially Glenn Beck, and on radio by Rush Limbaugh. Their goal was to make those who were too stupid/uneducated/lazy to learn about the issues support their goal of deregulation of business. They won.

Now we have a deranged young man who attacks a Congressional Representative and others in Tucson. The sheriff comments that others' hate speech is partly responsible and Arizona has become the center of the ugliness. He has been condemned for saying the truth. I loved the state when I was at UofA. I would not want to be there now. I'm sure there are good people in AZ. I know a few. They are not the public face. Arizona hates immigrants, prisoners, liberals and countless others. That is the impression one gets from the media. Hate dehumanizes. Once a person becomes somehow less than others, they can easily become a target for those who have a complaint which they perceive can't be solved any way other than eliminating the perceived cause. We see it over and over.

We are all responsible for the Tucson shooting. We are all responsible for the LGBT suicides. We are all responsible for Abu Graib and My Lai. We are all responsible for saying or doing anything that dehumanizes another person no matter how despicable that person or person's behavior may be. As a society we have means of dealing with those who harm others. We all must stop preaching hate. We all must stop trying to put others beneath us and making them therefore subhuman in some way.

The US Congress, especially, must find a way to debate not demonize. Boehner and McConnell need to stop their diatribes against the Obama administration and seriously consider the needs of the nation above those of the people who purchased their party. Those two men can calm the atmosphere by learning and exhibiting respect for those who disagree with differing ideas but just as much passion and concern as they claim to have for the country. Will they?

I'm not holding my breath.

More for 2011

More of what I'd wish for, pray for, hope for, dream of in 2011.

• Fox News would be forced to report factually or remove the word "News" from their name
• The people at Fox News would understand that they are encouraging nuts to do harm to others and halt the hateful rhetoric and bald-faced lies immediately
• Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh would put themselves in the places of those they vilify, realize how much damage they do, repent and begin being constructive
• Gun worshipping nutcases would understand that people without guns are unlikely to shoot others so some sort of control would help everyone
• People who support Palin would grow up and see that she is a disgrace to real Republicans
• Real Republicans would rise up and take the party back

• Every bit of property, regardless of owner or purpose, would pay taxes to support public services such as fire and police protection
• Students and employees would be allowed to fail and learn to deal with reality
• Jerky movements on TV and movies would be eliminated so kids learn to have an attention span of more than 2 seconds

to be continued

For 2011

Some of what I'd wish for, pray for, hope for, dream of in 2011.

Church:
• Sufficient financial resources to remain a parish
• Father Richard to be with us all year
• The means to put a new roof on Christ Church
• The return of Christ Church people who haven't been seen for ages for one reason or another
• The letting go of old prejudices, hatreds, suspicions and other ill feelings that separate us in the parish
• Fun activities involving both adults and children
• Commitment to reach beyond the eucharist to others' needs

Others:
• The success of St Jude's Mission
• Parishes for a whole bunch of friends like Padre Mickey, MadPriest, Lauren and others
• Ordination somewhere for Jack
• Suitable employment for K and another bunch of friends
• Health insurance for E finally

Causes:
• An end to the Anglican Covenant and perhaps the Anglican Communion if necessary regardless of what it means for TEC
• An end to all the TEC property lawsuits and the return of property stolen by schismatics then the legal and ethical release of said property for proper sale to those who want it
• The end of DADT
• The end of DOMA
• The inclusion of LGBTQs as normal members of society with all the rights and privileges enjoyed by others
• Radical conversion of religionists who can't accept the idea that Jesus taught us to love ALL unconditionally and leave judgment to Godde
• Intellectual growth in tea party people and others who claim to be "conservative" and have no clue what the word means
• The demise of the influence of Fox "News", Rush Limbaugh and similar liars and hate mongers - see above
• A path to full citizenship for children brought here by parents but not born here
• A means of convincing business that it is better to put money in play to provide employment and improve the economy than to give it to executives or allow it to lie fallow
• A miracle that convinces Congress to work for the middle class and those who need a chance to improve their lives
• The restriction of the use of words like fascist, socialist and socialism to those who understand what they mean
• The revelation that the fears that motivate so many people are simply the tools used to control them, that the fears have no basis in reality and that fear and the perpetrators of it can be rejected easily for a happier and healthier life
• The rejection of political campaign funding by organizations of any kind
• A limitation on political campaigning to six months before an election

Personal:
• Health and a strong ankle for L
• Strength and focus and organization and concentration for the tasks ahead for me


(to be continued)

World's Cutest Grandniece and Grandnephew

They do clean up nicely.

Thanks, everso, Bill

It is oranger than it shows on my screen. Perfect for my house.

Friday shuffle at Christmas

1. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Rascal Flatts
2. Elves - Christine Lavin
3. Angelus ad Virginem - Taverner Consort
4. O Holy Night - Straight No Chaser
5. Joy to the World - The Klezmonauts
6. In Nativitatem Domini Nostri Jesu Christi - Jennifer Larmore
7. Quelle est cette odeur agréable? - Westminster Choir
8. Silent Night/Away in a Manger - Joey Misculin
9. It Came Upon Midnight Clear - Galliard Brass Ensemble
10. Gloria tibi Domine - Bach Choir Pittsburgh

The bishop visited

Our bishop visited this morning. He had an excellent sermon on grace. Since I was Eucharistic Minister and cantor for the Taize, I didn't take any photos during the service. There are more from coffee hour at the church's blog.

The Taize chant is the most difficult one I've sung - Wait for the Lord whose day is near. I have it in extended form in Finale with the soprano and alto parts underneath. If anyone needs it I can send it. I messed it up a couple of weeks ago because I forgot I had done this. Glad I checked my computer last night!

Friday cat blogging on Sunday

The lobsters had a little Christmas gathering last night at Hank's house. This is one of the two cats he serves. Had me sneezing all evening but that's life.

Friday cat blogging

Dude and LittleOne have eaten but are still keeping an eye on me expectantly.
Treat?

Friday shuffle

1. Is the Blue Moon Still Shining - Lewis & Kalick
2. Summertime Blues - Blue Cheer
3. Shop Around - Smokey Robinson & Miracles
4. In the Still of the Night - Five Satins
5. Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
6. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me - Dusty Springfield
7. Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips
8. Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, 19 Presto - Peter Serkin
9. Mozart: Piano Concerto 18, Allegro vivace - Fumiko Shiraga, others
10. The Glow Worm - Mills Brothers

Snowy sunset

The setting sun on the way to Pittsburgh in the snow.

10 Reasons to Reject the Anglican Covenant

Ten Reasons Why the Proposed
Anglican Covenant Is a Bad Idea

1. The proposed Anglican Covenant would transform a vibrant, cooperative, fellowship of churches into a contentious, centralized aggregation of churches designed to reduce diversity and initiative. The Covenant would institutionalize the “Instruments of Unity” as never before and would give extraordinary power to the newly enhanced Standing Committee.
   
   
2. Under the Covenant, churches will be inhibited from undertaking new evangelical or mission initiatives for fear of offending other Communion churches and becoming embroiled in the disciplinary mechanisms set up by the Covenant.
   
   
3. The centralization of authority envisioned by the proposed Covenant is cumbersome, costly, and undemocratic. In an era in which power and authority are being distributed in many organizations in order to achieve greater efficiency, responsiveness, and accountability, what has been proposed for the Communion seems out of step with current thinking regarding large organizations.
   
   
4. Although the proposed Covenant is offered as a mechanism to achieve unity, its immediate effect is to create divisions. Churches that cannot or will not adopt the Covenant automatically become second-class members of the Communion. The inevitable application of the disciplinary provisions of Section 4 will likely further distinguish between “full” members of the Communion and less-than-full members.
   
   
5. The proposed Covenant is dangerously vague. Sections 1–3 of the Covenant, which are seen by many as innocuous, leave much room for divergent interpretations. Section 4 makes it all too easy for any church to “ask questions” about the actions of another, which may then be subjected to unspecified “relational consequences.” There is no sure measure of what behaviour is likely to be acceptable, no checks provided against unreasonable complaints, and no guarantee that “consequences” (i.e., punishments) meted out will be commensurate with the alleged offence.
   
   
6. The proposed Covenant runs counter to the gospel imperative of not judging others. It is all too easy for Communion churches to complain about the sins of their sister churches while ignoring or diverting attention from their own failures to live out the Gospel.
   
   
7. The proposed Covenant encourages premature ending of debate. Rather than taking the advice of Gamaliel (Acts 5:38–39) and seeing how controversial matters play out, the Covenant evidences an eagerness to “settle” them. This is an unfortunate temptation to which the Communion seems subject. It has too quickly concluded that “homosexual practice” is “incompatible with Scripture” and that adopting the Covenant is “the only way forward,” neither of which is either intuitively obvious or universally agreed upon.
   
   
8. The notion that we need to make “forceful” the “bonds of affection” is fundamentally flawed. If we need force and coercion to maintain relationships between Communion churches, there is no true affection, and the very foundation of the proposed Covenant is fraudulent.
   
   
9. The proposed “Covenant” seems more like a treaty, contract, or instrument of surrender than a covenant. In the ecclesiastical context, a covenant is usually thought of as an agreement undertaken in joy and in an atmosphere of trust—baptismal and marriage covenants come to mind. The proposed Anglican Covenant, on the other hand, is advanced in an atmosphere of anger, fear, and distrust, and with the threat of dire consequences if it is not adopted.
   
   
10. The proposed Covenant is not the only way forward; there are better options. The Anglican Communion would be better served by remaining a single-tier fellowship of churches, allowing disaffected members to leave if they must, while keeping the door open for their return. Any alternative position cedes too much power to those willing to intimidate by threatening to walk away.
    

---

It may be helpful to think of the reasons given above in terms of one-word descriptions. The ten reasons describe the Covenant as

1. Radical
2. Reactionary
3. Impractical
4. Divisive
5. Vague
6. Judgemental
7. Impetuous
8. Insincere
9. Misnamed
10. Suboptimal

Copied from here.

Snow 12.13.10

The bay has disappeared as have the "tracks".

The birds are feeding. You can see the corner of the blue ladder which will have to be used shortly as the satellite signal is breaking up. The oil tank was filled this morning. Ouch but should be ok till fall unless the winter is bitter cold.

Took this earlier this morning before the snow started in earnest.

These are embiggenable.

Friday shuffle

1. Episcopal Campaign Song - Mark Giroux
2. Cry Me a River - Susan Boyle
3. The Cats of Cash - Garrison Keillor and Frederica Von Stade
4. Chesky: The Agnostic, Resurrection - David Chesky
5. Mascagni: Regina Caeli - Ave Maria University
6. Schumann: To Thee Old Cause - Bernstein, NY Philharmonic
7. Berlioz: Requiem, Rex tremendae - Norrington
8. Bruckner: Vexilla Regis
9. Britten: A Boy was Born, Herod - Sixteen
10. Persichetti: Woodcutter - Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
Mostly classical this time because I was looking for items that don't appear regularly if ever. I get tired of the way iTunes and the iPhone handle "shuffle". I get the same stuff over and over. I have 2707 "songs" but I keep getting the same "albums" over and over. Frustrating. Next week, if I do this, I'll do Christmas. I skip those the rest of the year.

Temporary respite?

But clouding up again. Temperature was 6° when I got up. Now up to 27°. Need one "warm" day to wash the cats' blankets. Probably tomorrow.

Still snowing

Two views out the front window. Yes, those are icicles.

The view out the back door.

The view out the kitchen window.

Prevarication

I watched the Prop 8 hearing today. The lawyer for Prop 8 had nothing to say basically. As with the original trial, I could see no legitimate defense of their position.

The National Organization for Marriage (not really) condemned one of the judges today. His wife is the executive director of the ACLU in California therefore he can't be impartial. In other words, he may be able to weigh the evidence and come to an intelligent conclusion that may disagree with the unChristian hatred NOM espouses therefore he needs to recuse himself.

Yesterday I read an article about Gene Robinson planning to remain on the public stage after retiring. The comments are revealing. People who have never met Gene or heard him speak simply hate him for no reason.

People who are anti-homosexual/lgbt/"queer"/etc. have little or no idea what they are talking about and have little if any interest in learning more about the subject. They may say they have many "friends" who are lgbt but they don't approve of their "lifestyle" so are they really "friends"? They say they love their lgbt neighbors but they believe lgbt's choose to love people of the same sex and can choose to fall in love with people of the opposite sex. They deny same sex families the stability of legal marriage even tho they preach that marriage is of the ultimate importance. They say their Bible condemns same sex love while ignoring Jesus's teaching that we should love all. Oh, yes, "loving" means trying to get lgbts to change their Godde-given nature.

I'm sorry but I don't accept any of it. Regardless of the intended message, the antis hate/fear homosexuals and others with "nonstandard" sexual attraction. There is no legitimate defense of homophobia and homohatred. It is based on ignorance and fear primarily promoted by pseudoChristian religionists.

So they know an lgbt person whose behavior is destructive. Are there no straights with destructive behavior? So there is a gay man who spends too much time in bars perhaps picking up one night stands. No straight man ever does that - let alone a married one? So some same sex couples split after a period of time together. Ever hear of divorce? Children fare best in families with two parents. So why do straights divorce so often leaving kids with a single mother who can barely support them let alone parent "perfectly"? Shouldn't everyone support same sex marriage to provide children with a stable household? How would the marriage of a same sex couple ruin someone else's straight marriage anyhow? A straight who doesn't fully support the rights of lgbts yet claims to not be prejudiced is lying. It is that simple. I'm tired of it.


PS: I love Ted Olson! David Boies is a little too stiff for my taste but Ted seems so honest, so real.

Three's a crowd

Left to right: LittleOne, Dude and PuddyTat. Dudie displaced PT overnight. This morning he got hungry at the wrong time and PT retook her box. So Dude just moved in with LittleOne who was not pleased. When I got home from church I put a heating pad in a box on the 2nd shelf and PuddyTat took it over. It should actually be warmer than these boxes because it only has one opening. But she can't see me from below. The only thing I don't like about having Dude on the roof is his unwillingness to leave and inclination to pee everywhere. We went thru that last year. Ugh. If he starts to do that again, I'll physically remove him when he is on the roof. He is the only cat I can sometimes pick up.

For now, Dude and LO are in the upper boxes and PT is below. Tim is in her foam in the canoe. Tommie is in his blanket burrow in the barn. Somebody - Lady or Jellico - is in the new large box made in case Lady has kittens in the barn. Somebody else is in a blanket on the loveseat in the barn. I do not feed the cats in the barn but I do have a heated water dish there. And three litter boxes.

And we have maybe 6 inches of snow with lots more predicted. I've been plowed once tho I didn't need it yet. There is plenty of food for me, the felines and the feathered friends. I could get snowed in happily but probably won't.