Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Wow, a week between blogs, I must be slipping! Actually, lots of things happening and I'll hold off on political comment this visit.
The projects I am associated with are all proceeding at full steam; namely the Bellingham (Mass) Class of 1973 reunion, Habitat for Humanity's Triple-Build home project (moved a 20 ton house on Monday, though not by myself, went to Montreal to see a friend sing in a concert, and saw my son's grades climb a bit!
For the reunion, our 30th, we have a great crew that is really dedicated to providing the best experience for our class. We graduated somewhere around 190 people back in 1973, and have attained an attendance of around 65 class members to each reunion. Our goal is to "up" the coolness factor and get at least two-thirds of the class back for a great party. As the reunion coordinator on Classmates.com, one of the ways we keep in touch with members of the class, I was able to codify the statistics of where the folks live now. I found that a surprising amount still live in Bellingham, and that possibly 75% live within 100 miles of Bellingham. So I am confident that we will have a lot more people there, and that we will have the best time ever!!! (And using imperative marketing talk like that should influence the class!)
Southstation.org has a link that explains Habitat for Humanity's mission, and I'm proud to be associated with this group of people, all of whom are dedicated to wiping out sub-standard housing in America and the world. What I do is communications, that is, public relations and the web site that we post. Another blog over there is detailing the workings of the building project each week.
I was asked by a Canadian friend why we celebrate Thanksgiving in the US on a Thursday, and I admitted that I didn't know exactly why, so I looked it up. Now, can someone in Canada tell me why their Thanksgiving is in October, the same day as our Columbus day?
Since it's Thursday, music on the turntable is Priscilla Paris, "Priscilla Loves Billy." You might not know Paris' name right away, but she was one of the Paris Sisters, the triple-sister group that breathed "I Love How You Love Me" back in 1961. I have an import CD of the group that chronicles the rise and fall of the sisters, Priscilla, Sherrell, and Albeth Paris. It was Priscilla that softly cooed the song that hit number one, but although many people would think of them as a one-hit group, they actually had many hits. In their early days, the girls' sound was much bigger and more adult, as they sang close harmony songs in the 50s, sounding like the Andrews Sisters (who they met when they sang at the same venue the older Sisters were at) or the McGuire sisters. It was an association with Phil Spector (who was famous for his song with the Teddy Bears, "To Know Him Is To Love Him," and is in big trouble now) who saw a similar opportunity with the Paris Sisters. Their first single for Phil's label Gregmark was "Be My Boy," which drips with Priscilla's sincere, almost whispering voice. That single is still one of my favorites. But back to "Priscilla Loves Billy." That should have been labled "Billie," as it was Billie Holiday that Priscilla was singing the songs of. She has a voice that can grow from that cooing softness to a confident big voice, and she does pretty well with the Holiday material. All of the Paris Sister's music is out of print now, and shows up occasionally on eBay.
I'll close with a wish for a Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and gentle readers. Be blessed as you give thanks.
|
The projects I am associated with are all proceeding at full steam; namely the Bellingham (Mass) Class of 1973 reunion, Habitat for Humanity's Triple-Build home project (moved a 20 ton house on Monday, though not by myself, went to Montreal to see a friend sing in a concert, and saw my son's grades climb a bit!
For the reunion, our 30th, we have a great crew that is really dedicated to providing the best experience for our class. We graduated somewhere around 190 people back in 1973, and have attained an attendance of around 65 class members to each reunion. Our goal is to "up" the coolness factor and get at least two-thirds of the class back for a great party. As the reunion coordinator on Classmates.com, one of the ways we keep in touch with members of the class, I was able to codify the statistics of where the folks live now. I found that a surprising amount still live in Bellingham, and that possibly 75% live within 100 miles of Bellingham. So I am confident that we will have a lot more people there, and that we will have the best time ever!!! (And using imperative marketing talk like that should influence the class!)
Southstation.org has a link that explains Habitat for Humanity's mission, and I'm proud to be associated with this group of people, all of whom are dedicated to wiping out sub-standard housing in America and the world. What I do is communications, that is, public relations and the web site that we post. Another blog over there is detailing the workings of the building project each week.
I was asked by a Canadian friend why we celebrate Thanksgiving in the US on a Thursday, and I admitted that I didn't know exactly why, so I looked it up. Now, can someone in Canada tell me why their Thanksgiving is in October, the same day as our Columbus day?
Since it's Thursday, music on the turntable is Priscilla Paris, "Priscilla Loves Billy." You might not know Paris' name right away, but she was one of the Paris Sisters, the triple-sister group that breathed "I Love How You Love Me" back in 1961. I have an import CD of the group that chronicles the rise and fall of the sisters, Priscilla, Sherrell, and Albeth Paris. It was Priscilla that softly cooed the song that hit number one, but although many people would think of them as a one-hit group, they actually had many hits. In their early days, the girls' sound was much bigger and more adult, as they sang close harmony songs in the 50s, sounding like the Andrews Sisters (who they met when they sang at the same venue the older Sisters were at) or the McGuire sisters. It was an association with Phil Spector (who was famous for his song with the Teddy Bears, "To Know Him Is To Love Him," and is in big trouble now) who saw a similar opportunity with the Paris Sisters. Their first single for Phil's label Gregmark was "Be My Boy," which drips with Priscilla's sincere, almost whispering voice. That single is still one of my favorites. But back to "Priscilla Loves Billy." That should have been labled "Billie," as it was Billie Holiday that Priscilla was singing the songs of. She has a voice that can grow from that cooing softness to a confident big voice, and she does pretty well with the Holiday material. All of the Paris Sister's music is out of print now, and shows up occasionally on eBay.
I'll close with a wish for a Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and gentle readers. Be blessed as you give thanks.
|
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Judge Moore is out. I know this is old news, but I believe that this case, of a judge being removed from his job because he disobeyed a court order believing that God's laws are higher than man's, that we will hear more about this. A note in the article I read quoted the court's ruling that took Judge Moore out of the courtroom said: "the acknowledgment of God is very much a vital part of the public and private fabric of our country.”
Yet, the three groups that lobbied against the monument, do not hold this view as a public part of the supreme laws in this country. And one of those groups is now trying to get Judge Moore disbarred. I can't imagine how this will be seen in the media: a judge disbarred for his belief and dedication of his life to the Lord. The Southern Poverty Law Center, ostensibly created to combat hate and promote tolerance is leading this charge. Amazing to me that a group formed to do just that doesn't recognize that the Bible has promoted this for thousands of years through the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5 and repeated with emphasis by Jesus in Matthew 22:39: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Neighbor means everybody in your sphere of influence, and those you come in contact with every day. Not coveting the things, or the wife of your neighbor, not being jealous or rageful; shouldn't this message be front and center in our courts? Shoudn't this message be front and center in our schools, from pre-school to the schools of law? What is wrong with doing right?
We, the United (?) States of America are heading into a godless society. There are no more absolutes in our schools, and in law, a convicted criminal has more rights than I do and in some cases, more opportunities than me. Disregard for personal freedom to practice your religion is the norm in the name of fair treatment. We are becoming a society that doesn't teach morality, doesn't teach fairness, doesn't promote healthy competitiveness, practices tolerance because the waters shouldn't be stirred up. WRONG is WRONG all of the time, not some of the time. And likewise RIGHT that is RIGHT is RIGHT all of the time. Note that there are NO GRAY AREAS in the laws, but smart (?) people create gray areas. To those who warp the laws and the morality, creating individual pockets of "freedom" from the law and moral society, I hope and pray that you will understand what this is getting you and how much you are influencing the next generation and the next. Witness the previous blog entry about the words you used to not be able to say on television.
|
Yet, the three groups that lobbied against the monument, do not hold this view as a public part of the supreme laws in this country. And one of those groups is now trying to get Judge Moore disbarred. I can't imagine how this will be seen in the media: a judge disbarred for his belief and dedication of his life to the Lord. The Southern Poverty Law Center, ostensibly created to combat hate and promote tolerance is leading this charge. Amazing to me that a group formed to do just that doesn't recognize that the Bible has promoted this for thousands of years through the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5 and repeated with emphasis by Jesus in Matthew 22:39: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Neighbor means everybody in your sphere of influence, and those you come in contact with every day. Not coveting the things, or the wife of your neighbor, not being jealous or rageful; shouldn't this message be front and center in our courts? Shoudn't this message be front and center in our schools, from pre-school to the schools of law? What is wrong with doing right?
We, the United (?) States of America are heading into a godless society. There are no more absolutes in our schools, and in law, a convicted criminal has more rights than I do and in some cases, more opportunities than me. Disregard for personal freedom to practice your religion is the norm in the name of fair treatment. We are becoming a society that doesn't teach morality, doesn't teach fairness, doesn't promote healthy competitiveness, practices tolerance because the waters shouldn't be stirred up. WRONG is WRONG all of the time, not some of the time. And likewise RIGHT that is RIGHT is RIGHT all of the time. Note that there are NO GRAY AREAS in the laws, but smart (?) people create gray areas. To those who warp the laws and the morality, creating individual pockets of "freedom" from the law and moral society, I hope and pray that you will understand what this is getting you and how much you are influencing the next generation and the next. Witness the previous blog entry about the words you used to not be able to say on television.
|
Saturday, November 15, 2003
Well, I never would have thought that the day would come. I'm talking about our terrestrial broadcasting stations (those you receive by antenna and are mostly network affiliated) being able to allow the use of those "seven-words" that George Carlin made famous on television and perhaps by association, radio.
How did this happen? Remember the Golden Globe Awards last January when Bono, of U2 fame and an admitted Christian, used the f-word during the ceremony and it wasn't bleeped? Well surprise, surprise, when the FCC investigated the incident, it decided that Bono didn't violate federal indecency rules when he used the f-word during an acceptance speech at the awards show. Further, the FCC seemed to capitulate on what is federally indecent, as David H. Solomon, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau, said the word "may be crude and offensive, but, in the context presented here, did not describe sexual or excretory organs and activities." FCC staffers interpreted that as the f-word could be used as an adjective or an exclamation, as Bono did, and be allowed. Hogwash! (whoops, will that be bleeped now? I doubt it.)
The FCC ignored the complaints of 234 people, all but 17 members of the Parents Resource Council, which is a group that monitors broadcast content and is non-profit. Did the FCC react in knee-jerk response to this group, who lobbies for responsible television content that is safe for everone to watch? It makes me liable to add the local broadcast channels to my V-Chip "disable" list.
I am not a prude, and I know that my son hears words like that in his middle school, and will probably not stop hearing it as he grows older. Those words are offensive to me, and I can only hope that with what ever context these words are used that they are not permitted on airwaves that many views have as their only broadcast resource. Under the FCC's intrepretation, then, will the phrase F-you be treated as an emphasis to an exclamation?
Where could this all lead? A popular song, containing these words, could be playing on the radio as you drive your children to school and your children could be singing along with it! (The words previously-known as gutter words) could be on every daytime and nighttime television show. No longer will Hollywood have to edit movies for viewing on TV or even in an airplane! I'm sorry, this reeks of the end of civilization as we know it. That's civil- ization. Civility has left the building, and what is left of the moral society.
I am saddened, greatly.
News stories at the Washington Times and on every entertainment site on the internet. Do a search on f-word and FCC, and you'll see the rejoicing.
Je vous adresse mon très amical souvenir.
|
How did this happen? Remember the Golden Globe Awards last January when Bono, of U2 fame and an admitted Christian, used the f-word during the ceremony and it wasn't bleeped? Well surprise, surprise, when the FCC investigated the incident, it decided that Bono didn't violate federal indecency rules when he used the f-word during an acceptance speech at the awards show. Further, the FCC seemed to capitulate on what is federally indecent, as David H. Solomon, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau, said the word "may be crude and offensive, but, in the context presented here, did not describe sexual or excretory organs and activities." FCC staffers interpreted that as the f-word could be used as an adjective or an exclamation, as Bono did, and be allowed. Hogwash! (whoops, will that be bleeped now? I doubt it.)
The FCC ignored the complaints of 234 people, all but 17 members of the Parents Resource Council, which is a group that monitors broadcast content and is non-profit. Did the FCC react in knee-jerk response to this group, who lobbies for responsible television content that is safe for everone to watch? It makes me liable to add the local broadcast channels to my V-Chip "disable" list.
I am not a prude, and I know that my son hears words like that in his middle school, and will probably not stop hearing it as he grows older. Those words are offensive to me, and I can only hope that with what ever context these words are used that they are not permitted on airwaves that many views have as their only broadcast resource. Under the FCC's intrepretation, then, will the phrase F-you be treated as an emphasis to an exclamation?
Where could this all lead? A popular song, containing these words, could be playing on the radio as you drive your children to school and your children could be singing along with it! (The words previously-known as gutter words) could be on every daytime and nighttime television show. No longer will Hollywood have to edit movies for viewing on TV or even in an airplane! I'm sorry, this reeks of the end of civilization as we know it. That's civil- ization. Civility has left the building, and what is left of the moral society.
I am saddened, greatly.
News stories at the Washington Times and on every entertainment site on the internet. Do a search on f-word and FCC, and you'll see the rejoicing.
Je vous adresse mon très amical souvenir.
|
Sunday, November 09, 2003
Good evening, gentle readers.
Today's lesson in evolution looks at hominids who have broken the evolutionary chain and retreated in their brain stem. The evidence comes from Chuck Shepard, a noted researcher into the so-called "darwin award" catagory of human beings. Herewith is some of the latest research:
In Knoxville, Tenn., in September, Thomas Martin McGouey, 51, apparently set on committing suicide, left a note and painted a bull's-eye on his body before arranging a standoff in which he pointed a gun at police officers so they would kill him in self-defense. McGouey's scheme failed because Knox County sheriff's deputies, who fired 28 shots at him, missed with 27 and only grazed his shoulder with the other. [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 9-19-03]
From recent newspaper Police Logs: (1) Wayne Leonard Hoffman, 45, was arrested for DUI (0.39 reading) at a gas station in Minnetonka, Minn., where he was "attempting to add air to his vehicle's tires using a vacuum cleaner hose" (Lakeshore Weekly News, July). (2) Two Wilson, Wyo., men were feuding over a parking space at a K-Mart when one drove alongside the other and spit at him through his open window. According to the police report: "As (the victim) saw the projected body fluid traveling through the air, he dropped his jaw in shock, and the phlegm landed square in (his) mouth where he swallowed it in a gag reflex" (August, Jackson Hole News & Guide). [Lakeshore Weekly News, 9-2-03] [Jackson Hole News & Guide, 8-20-03]
NYPD officers Paul Damore and Farrell Conroy were briefly suspended without pay in July for their conduct in the 45th Precinct station house in the Bronx, when they got into a fistfight over which one would get to be the driver of their patrol car. [NYPD News, 7-8-03]
From News of the Weird.
Do you like web sites that do stuff? I've found some that are amazing pieces of programming. You remember the Refrigerator Magnet site? Well, try out the Acme Label Maker, the Acme Heart Maker and the Acme License Plate Maker. Samples of each:
Th-Th-Th-That's All, Folks!
|
Today's lesson in evolution looks at hominids who have broken the evolutionary chain and retreated in their brain stem. The evidence comes from Chuck Shepard, a noted researcher into the so-called "darwin award" catagory of human beings. Herewith is some of the latest research:
In Knoxville, Tenn., in September, Thomas Martin McGouey, 51, apparently set on committing suicide, left a note and painted a bull's-eye on his body before arranging a standoff in which he pointed a gun at police officers so they would kill him in self-defense. McGouey's scheme failed because Knox County sheriff's deputies, who fired 28 shots at him, missed with 27 and only grazed his shoulder with the other. [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 9-19-03]
From recent newspaper Police Logs: (1) Wayne Leonard Hoffman, 45, was arrested for DUI (0.39 reading) at a gas station in Minnetonka, Minn., where he was "attempting to add air to his vehicle's tires using a vacuum cleaner hose" (Lakeshore Weekly News, July). (2) Two Wilson, Wyo., men were feuding over a parking space at a K-Mart when one drove alongside the other and spit at him through his open window. According to the police report: "As (the victim) saw the projected body fluid traveling through the air, he dropped his jaw in shock, and the phlegm landed square in (his) mouth where he swallowed it in a gag reflex" (August, Jackson Hole News & Guide). [Lakeshore Weekly News, 9-2-03] [Jackson Hole News & Guide, 8-20-03]
NYPD officers Paul Damore and Farrell Conroy were briefly suspended without pay in July for their conduct in the 45th Precinct station house in the Bronx, when they got into a fistfight over which one would get to be the driver of their patrol car. [NYPD News, 7-8-03]
From News of the Weird.
Do you like web sites that do stuff? I've found some that are amazing pieces of programming. You remember the Refrigerator Magnet site? Well, try out the Acme Label Maker, the Acme Heart Maker and the Acme License Plate Maker. Samples of each:
Th-Th-Th-That's All, Folks!
|
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Lots of stuff to talk about today.......
I returned from the Word of Life singles conference with a renewed spirit, one that will last every day as God reminds me of His mercy. A smaller number of people attended, and there were a lot of new faces. The speaker was Pastor Bruce Moore from Dade City, Florida, and single himself, never married, which provided us with a unique perspective similar to our own on continued singleness (he was never married.) Both funny and serious, his teachings struck many of us in the heart as he patiently explained prayer, persecution, how to break out of denial and begin a new direction, and how hurt people hurt others.
The music was provided by Reflection, a group sent out of Stewart Heights Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wonderful harmonies, uplifting music, and as I sat near them in their Bible Study on Saturday morning, observing their spirit-filled worship. If they come to a church near you, be sure to be there!
Many friends were seen and friendships strenghthened this weekend, great to see Mike, Tim, Al, Mario, Dave (the balloon man,) Chris, Carla, Dottie, Laurie, Janice, Mary, Annamarie, Vincy and Annette. It was also good to meet some new faces and some who I've not talked with before, including Kathy, Joanne, Dave, Felix, Iilene, Jimmy, Linda, Steve, Harold, Jane, Kevin, Mimi, Robert, Lorraine and Vivian. Cathy from my church and Dawn also came this time.
[rant mode on]
This takes the proverbial cake (at least for today.) A mother, granted a divorce from her out-of-the-closet homosexual husband, is ordered by a Colorado court not to use her (the mother's) religious beliefs to talk against homosexuality to their daughter. Since when does a court interfere with the freedom of religion? I'll be watching this one. And it is interesting that none of the major news sites (CNN or MSNBC) has reported this, but the story has shown up all over both Christian and gay publications (in a search from CNN.)
[rant mode off]
Much progress is being made on the Habitat for Humanity "triple-build" project here in Cranston, Rhode Island. The new house now has its joists and a third of its subfloor installed, the existing house is gutted for lead removal and all new windows installed, and the house to be moved (on November 24) is five feet in the air and ten feet off its foundation, ready to be put on wheels and move to its new foundation. I'm proud to be associated with this organization. More info....
Have a wonderful day!
|
I returned from the Word of Life singles conference with a renewed spirit, one that will last every day as God reminds me of His mercy. A smaller number of people attended, and there were a lot of new faces. The speaker was Pastor Bruce Moore from Dade City, Florida, and single himself, never married, which provided us with a unique perspective similar to our own on continued singleness (he was never married.) Both funny and serious, his teachings struck many of us in the heart as he patiently explained prayer, persecution, how to break out of denial and begin a new direction, and how hurt people hurt others.
The music was provided by Reflection, a group sent out of Stewart Heights Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wonderful harmonies, uplifting music, and as I sat near them in their Bible Study on Saturday morning, observing their spirit-filled worship. If they come to a church near you, be sure to be there!
Many friends were seen and friendships strenghthened this weekend, great to see Mike, Tim, Al, Mario, Dave (the balloon man,) Chris, Carla, Dottie, Laurie, Janice, Mary, Annamarie, Vincy and Annette. It was also good to meet some new faces and some who I've not talked with before, including Kathy, Joanne, Dave, Felix, Iilene, Jimmy, Linda, Steve, Harold, Jane, Kevin, Mimi, Robert, Lorraine and Vivian. Cathy from my church and Dawn also came this time.
[rant mode on]
This takes the proverbial cake (at least for today.) A mother, granted a divorce from her out-of-the-closet homosexual husband, is ordered by a Colorado court not to use her (the mother's) religious beliefs to talk against homosexuality to their daughter. Since when does a court interfere with the freedom of religion? I'll be watching this one. And it is interesting that none of the major news sites (CNN or MSNBC) has reported this, but the story has shown up all over both Christian and gay publications (in a search from CNN.)
[rant mode off]
Much progress is being made on the Habitat for Humanity "triple-build" project here in Cranston, Rhode Island. The new house now has its joists and a third of its subfloor installed, the existing house is gutted for lead removal and all new windows installed, and the house to be moved (on November 24) is five feet in the air and ten feet off its foundation, ready to be put on wheels and move to its new foundation. I'm proud to be associated with this organization. More info....
Have a wonderful day!
|
