The Islamic Cultural Center in NYC

Here we have another issue concocted by the right wing in their support of the money puppeteers who wish to divert our attention from their own misdeeds.
Those with financial power seek to 'run' America like an aristocracy under the radar.  They encourage the right wing 'culture warriors' to create emotional 'issues' that the rest of us can battle because our basic American liberties are being attacked.
And, like lambs to the slaughter - we do.  We battle.
While, in the background, the people who REALLY run things keep on keepin' on.

That's what I think of the Islamic Cultural Center in NYC.  It shouldn't even be a debate.
This is America.

Vacation Day!

Today was not a usual day for me!  Boating on Lake Washington and VIP passes to the final Seahawks practice open to the public.  A friend won this at last year's Chris Elliot Fund (for Glioblastoma Research) Gala.  I'm grateful to have been invited to join the group!
Here is a link to a summary of the football practice:  http://blog.seahawks.com/2010/08/16/monday-in-hawkville-23/

Here are some pictures from the day.  It was hazy after several days of heat and not much wind.  I got some sunburn on my nose and forehead.

Jet skiers using the wake of our boat to have a good time

 Bellevue from the water

 Football practice at the VMAC practice field - hot day!

 Practice in the heat

New coach Pete Carroll in all white, quarterbacks in red.  #11 is Deon Butler, a wide receiver who I got a picture with at the end of the practice (along with #29 Earl Thomas, a safety).

 Inside the Seahawks training facility.  

Practicing in the heat.  To the left of this are all the fans that sit on the hill looking down on the practice field.  It's a real party atmosphere.

You can just barely make out a rainbow in the spray as the boat got up to 50 miles per hour!  That's what cooled me off after getting overheated at the practice.  The wind and the spray felt so good.  

 New coach Pete Carroll

 More Practice

 Pete Carroll on the field.  He's all in white, but isn't he hot????

 Our boat docked at the Seahawks training facility

 On the way home

 Riding along on Lake Washington

At this point we're coming up on the Seahawk's Training Facility.  Definitely this picture is out of order!

Recent Reality Shows

Here's my two cents about some of the reality shows I've watched lately...

The Next Food Network Star: Likeable group - the top several were all pleasant to watch, particularly the top three. I thought this show did a good job of showing the competition and the judges thoughts.






So You Think You Can Dance

I didn't think it worked this season. They had the Top 11 dancing with All Stars. Clearly a good group of dancers. I realize one of the draws for the first couple seasons was the music. I liked the new styles and interesting new musical artists I discovered (Roisin Murphy for one). Lately the music, in my opinion, is bland and uninteresting. The choreography is looking bland as well. Travis Wall choreographed some great routines and what a wonderful opportunity this show has been for him. But, in general - same 'ol, same 'ol.


The Next Design Star

This show has been the most disappointing. They got rid of the host this year and have Vern essentially being the host. Genevieve and Candice are the other two judges. I have a lot of respect for each of the designer/judges and like their work. But, this show - well, none of the challenges seemed interesting. The contestants had to do mostly group challenges where they had to insert their 'inspiration'. It really didn't work for me at all. The judging segment is completely uninformative. This show has been a disappointment.

Top Chef

I've never watched this show before so I'm enjoying it for the first time. The challenges seem interesting and the contestants are talented and knowledgeable. I like this show.

Next Great Artist

First year of the show and I liked it. I'm not entirely sure I liked all the art or understand how it was judged, but I liked watching the artists discuss it and think about it and create it.

I feel there are more shows I've watched in the last couple months (because not much else is on that I'm interested in right now). But, these are the ones I remember. And really, who cares what I think about this stuff - I don't even care. Except I guess I'm noting the fact that I've watched a lot of these lately.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Last night LJB and I went to Marymoor Park to see Rodrigo y Gabriela.  Wonderful warm evening for an outdoor concert.
I enjoyed seeing them live.  It's just the two of them on stage making powerful music - from the delicate, to the complex, to the percussive.  And there's a lot of energy and intensity in their performance.  I enjoy their music in my iTunes mix, but I think their talent is best experienced live.

Thank you for a great evening!

Blue Angels

OMG!  I LOVE THE BLUE ANGELS!
It's Seafair Blue Angel time again...practice day started today.
And WHOOSH - they fly over my house a few times.  Its FAN TAS TIC!

Honestly, I'm not the kind of fan who goes too far out of her way to see the Blue Angels.  But, when they fly by I get quivery with excitement and run to the window whenever I think they could be coming close.
Over the years I've jumped up so many times to see them only to be disappointed because by the time I hear them, they're gone.  I've usually been in a place where I only get a glance anyway.
I've gotten a little lazy now.  Sometimes I hear them coming and try to figure out if they'll come close before I jump up.  By the time I figure it out - they're really gone and I missed the chance.  

The part that gives me the thrill is the sound of power behind the jets...it sounds so... 

"You better get out of my way because with the power of my big jets and my steely determination and my superior intelligence, I will...

KICK

YOUR

ASS!"

Boo-yah!

I'm not entirely proud of that feeling - but it is glorious.
:)

I long to be...

I long to be

...she who remembers the truth about herself,

no matter how beautiful it is.

A small bit of the puzzle answered

Why,oh why, did Christopher Eccleston leave Doctor Who?

(And why, oh why, do I care so much???)

Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston reveals why he left Doctor Who | scyfilove

CALL THEM OUT!

This man, Andrew Breitbart, has twisted the truth and published lies as truth.

I believe he should no longer be allowed a platform in news organizations.  Note:  I said, news organization.  Yes, he's entitled to an opinion.

Breitbart lied about Shirley Sherrod. Now he's lying about the NAACP. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

The media should be calling 'b_lls__t' to all the lies and nonsense it receives - not be a party to it, not give it full voice, not respond to it. Their job is to CALL THEM OUT! Simple enough. Straight forward. Why so difficult?

What would our world be like if we didn't allow anymore 'bulls__t'?

Fun Night...

Last night LJB and I went to Neil Young.  There were two songs that stood out to me...Love and War, and Walk With Me.  He sounded great - clear voice.  I forgot how 'down tempo' Neil Young is.  I don't think he cared who was listening.  My feeling is that he was doing the tour because it's what expected of him and it IS Neil Young - I mean, what else, he wonders, would he do to make money?  His fans loved him.  I'm glad I saw him playing and singing.  I'm reminded of what a personal thing a song is - much different on CD than in a concert setting.  At a concert, I share the personal exchange between song and listener with a whole crowd of people who might have experienced the song differently than I did.  Strange.  However, I enjoy seeing the artist perform.  And I think he enjoyed it for his own sake.  Good songs.  Good venue.  Good company.  Good night.

The Steve Miller Band at Chateau Ste Michelle Winery

Saw The Steve Miller Band at Chateau Ste Michelle Winery last night.  My only expectation was that I'd be able to sing along to many of the popular songs.  The pleasant surprise was how much I enjoyed the music I wasn't familiar with...Wild Mountain Honey and the new stuff from his album "Bingo" in particular. 
I'm pretty sure I heard most of the favorites:  The Joker, Space Cowboy, Abracadabra, Fly Like an Eagle, Jet Airliner, Rockin' Me, Jungle of Love, Swingtown.......
Thanks go out to SMS for the tickets, JEG for instigating, and LJB for the companionship 

Heroes Today

We're all superheroes.

Some of us haven't found our superpower yet.

Keep looking!

Matt Smith as Doctor Who

Matt Smith just might overtake Christopher Eccleston as my favorite Doctor.
Okay - so I don't know what a 900 year old time lord would REALLY act like - but I'd like to think it's similar to the Christopher Eccleston/Matt Smith persona.  :)

For today...say yes

(paulinasinaga, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhH9-YbRsbY)

Well if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are

And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
'cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are

Chorus:
You can do what you want
The opportunity's on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
You see ah ah ah
It's easy ah ah ah
You only need to know

Well, if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
'cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are

And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
'cause there's a million things to do
You know that there are

Cat Stevens

Cloud Cover

In the last couple days I've seen the sun finding clear patches in the clouds through which the rays of light and warmth shine through.

It occurred to me that in many ways that's how it feels to be inside ourselves.
We live in our bodies surrounded by clouds of confusion, multi-tasking, appointments, doubts, fear, memories, desires, obligations, and dreams.

On the other side of the clouds the sun always shines; peace and tranquility.
If only we could part the clouds and see it - let it shine down on us.

How to let the clouds clear?
A good windy day! :)  

We'll just have to wait and see how this pans out...

It turns out I share a birth day with:

Kendra Wilkinson (1985)

and Anne Frank (1929)

We're an interesting group!

I've often considered the theme of my life to be "WAITING".

This year, I'm taking more action, but I feel the theme of my life could still involve waiting;  "WAIT AND SEE".

I'm not sure how things will turn out and I choose not to hazard a guess.

The big question is Can I Live Up To My Hopes?

I'm putting myself in a position to have an answer for that - but as yet, I don't know.

What are my hopes?  In short, less anxiety, deeper connections with people, taking responsibility, and committment.

My goal for every day (every moment of every day) is to be the universe's pure expression of love; to live my life most fully expressing the love of the universe and fulfilling my greatest potential.

I've been overwhelmed in the last days (weeks?) with the generosity and good spirit of people I come in contact with.  Tons of positive energy and support from many corners.  

I'm grateful for all the blessings that come my way.

The blessings have come to me not because of anything I've done, but rather because of the choices other people make.

A person CHOOSES to offer help or a kind word

a person CHOOSES to support  change and growth

a person CHOOSES to expect the best

All the great love and support I've received in my life, and most particularly in the last several weeks, is because someone chose to share it with me.

I'm humbled and grateful.  

Thank you.

Peace

This is my way of sending good thoughts and energy for peace to all concerned.

Kyron (age 7) has been missing for nearly a week from his school.  He was last seen walking toward his classroom.

Abby Sunderland (age 16), has been traveling solo around the world in her sailboat Wild Eyes.  Here is her blog.  After some days of stormy weather, early this morning her emergency beacons were deployed.  It's not clear what the situation is yet.

20/20 did this piece

UPDATE 06/11/2010:  Sadly, Kyron has not yet been found.
 http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/06/kyron_horman_searchers_press_o.html
Abby Sunderland was spotted by a helicopter and will be rescued by a fishing boat soon.
 http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/abby-sunderland-teen-sailor-found-alive-crisis-sea/story?id=10885107

I hope it's where I'm going

Tao Te Ching - Verse 11

We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.

We work with being,
but non-being is what we are.

*****

The passage invokes a picture in my mind of people coming together to be the Tao; we are the spokes, the clay, the wood.  We are the Being.

Unbelievable

I got this in my e-mail today...aren't home equity loans one of the things that got individuals into trouble as part of this economic downturn?
Bank Corporations have no soul.

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