discoveries from the internets and some stuff I wrote too
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recent quotes i like
"Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." - ? | | | | | | |
"If there is anything I have learned from liberals and conservatives, it's that you can have great answers and still be mean... and that just as important as being right is being nice. " - shane claiborne | | | | | | |
"If Liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." --George Orwell ||||||
"On Facebook, no one can hear you scream." - I dont know ||||||
"The reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order, this lukewarmness arising partly from fear of their adversaries, who have the laws in their favor; and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it." - Machiavelli ||||||
Chest of Drawers
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This chest of drawers is to replace the cheap stand (with no storage) that
was previously holding up our parrot's travel cage. She only lives with us
a few...
An important message from Consumer Reports
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This is our last post on Consumerist.com. We’re deeply proud of all the
work we’ve done on behalf of consumers, from exposing shady practices by
secretive ...
It Is Accomplished
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As Gandhi never quite said, First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you.
Then they attack you. Then you win. I remember one of the first TV debates
I had...
My Milk Toof Travel Update
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*Dear International readers from Southeast France!*
ickle, Lardee & myself will be traveling around the southeast of France
area from 06/02-06/20. If anyo...
Saint Francis of Assisi
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… everyone who follows Christ receives true peace, the peace that Christ
alone can give, a peace which the world cannot give. Many people, when they
think ...
X-Factor Auditions, Part Two: The registration...
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Kind of creepy to be walking around White Plains at 4:30 in the morning. No
lights on, no cars, no people. I felt like I was in a zombie movie. And,
really...
I will be reposting this on Orthodox Easter (Pascha)
This is one of my favorite bits of Orthodox text as I find it exemplifies the freedom and joy attained by the Crucifixion and Resurrection:
The Paschal Homily
If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward. O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.
Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hades and took hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions." It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and, face to face, met God! It took earth and encountered heaven! It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!
"O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory?"
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits of them that slept.
To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.
Culture Buzz 29-year-old Skylar Deleon was sentenced to death for murdering a married couple over their yacht in 2004. He claims he murdered them so he could sell the boat in order to finance a sex change operation.
this has been wizzing around the internet all week. i was initially resistant to opening it since i had seen similar "flash mob" events on youtube before, but hey, guess what - this is indeed the best one yet. i espescially like how there are people off all ages and backgrounds and some dressed like backpackers and some in suits to simulate teh typical commuter mix, very well done:
below was one of the others i had seen - this one was actually organized by t-mobile:
and this one was "everyone freeze in grand central for five seconds and then leave like nothing happened" organized by the ever delightful improveverywhere folks - http://improveverywhere.com/ "over 200 people freeze in place on cue in Grand Central Station in New York." would be a difficult time to be tripping:
The United States Senate proclaimed in the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796 - 1797:
Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
they couldn't find any real people out there to fit the parts:
the ad: the apocololyptic near hysteria is almost humorous -
the auditions: but these folks trying out for the ad, definitely are -
and a handy map of what states have passed what laws:
View Gay Marriage Map in a larger map state level - red: state constitutional ban green: marriage yellow: civil unions equal to marriage blue: civil unions but less rights than marriage pink: no marriage in state but recognize the marriages of other states
federal level - marriages banned by the defense of marriage act(DOMA)
and a graph showing the composite results of nationwide polls:
in the Vyadha Gita, a part of the epic Mahabharata, a vyadha (butcher) imparts teachings to a sannyasin (monk) on dharma and the importance of work:
The story has only three characters—a brahmin sannyasin, a housewife and a vyadha (butcher).[2] The story begins with a young sannyasin going to a forest, where he meditates and practices spiritual austerities for a long time. After years of practice, one day while sitting under a tree, dry leaves fall on his head because of a fight between a crow and a crane. The angry sannyasin had developed yogic powers and burnt the birds with his mere look.[3] This incident fills the sannyasin with arrogance.[4] Shortly thereafter, he goes to a house, begging for food. Here the housewife who was nursing her sick husband requests the sannyasin to wait. To this, the sannyasin thinks, "You wretched woman, how dare you make me wait! You do not know my power yet",[5] to which the housewife says that she is neither a crow nor a crane, to be burnt.[6] The sannyasin is amazed and asks her how she came to know about the bird. The housewife says that she did not practice any special ascetic austerities but by doing her duty with cheerfulness and wholeheartedness, she became illumined[7] and thus could read his thoughts.[8]
She redirects him to a dharma-vyadha (meaning, the righteous butcher) in the town of Mithila and says that the dharma-vyadha would answer all his questions on dharma.[9] The sannyasin goes to see the vyadha and overcoming his initial hesitation,[10] listens to his teachings, which is referred to as Vyadha Gita—and even puts them into practice.[11]
The surprised sannyasin asks the vyadha as to how he could became illumined by doing "filthy, ugly work". The vyadha says that his past karma placed him in these circumstances. The vyadha further advises, "no duty is ugly, no duty is impure"[12] and it is only the way in which the work is done, determines its worth.[13] The vyadha advises that all work must be done by "dedicating to God"[13] and by sincere and unattached performance of the alloted duty one can become illumined.[14][15] The vyadha advises the sannyasin that ahimsa (non-violence) and satya (truth) are two main pillars of dharma through which the highest good of all can be achieved. He says that a decision on what is true under difficult circumstances should be made by sticking to that course of action which leads to the highest good of beings.[16] The vyadha, teaches that not birth but dharma and virtuous conduct makes one a Brahmin.[17] The story describes the importance of performance of swadharma (prescribed duty or duty in life). According to the story, a Vyadha, considered low by birth, but engaged in dharma and doing good to others is capable of teaching a Brahmin, considered higher by birth, but practices austerities only for his own good.
