Ted Cruz on Face The Nation...and, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT A BUSINESS!!!!

Ted Cruz on Face The Nation Sunday August 23, 2015
"Today we're pre-taping at this rally in Iowa that has thousands of people in support of religious liberty. And what this rally is doing is it's telling the stories of ordinary people across the country who are here today, who stood up for their faith, and who were persecuted.  And you know a lot of folks in the media, they belittle the threats to religious liberty.  They say they're not real, they're made up.  This rally is all about putting names and faces and people to the persecution.  For example, one couple who's here is Iowa's own Dick and Betty Odgaard.  They're a wonderful couple.  An older couple, they own an historic Lutheran church.  For many years the Odgaards hosted weddings in their church.  A couple years ago two men came to them and wanted to have a same sex wedding in their church.  And the Odgaards who are devout Mennonites, they very politely, very respectfully said that hosting a homosexual wedding ceremony in their church was contrary to their faith, they couldn't do it.  They were sued, they went through protracted litigation, they paid five thousand dollars to settle the case.  And they promised never again to host another wedding.  They've gone out of business, they've laid off all their employees.  Why?  Simple because they stood up for their faith and religious beliefs.  We're a nation that was founded on religious liberty.  And the liberal intolerance we see trying to persecute those who as a matter of faith follow a biblical definition of marriage is fundamentally wrong."

1.  Dick and Betty Odgaard are not that old
2.  Persecuted?  Malala Yousafzai was persecuted.  These people are just bigots trying to foist their religious beliefs on the world.
3.  The building may have previously been a church, but it was used by the Odgaards as a bistro and gallery.  Cruz's continued use of the word 'church' is misleading and implies he believes the people who are listening to him are too stupid to check.
4.  I don't want to spend too much time checking this out anymore, but I wonder how many employees worked for them anyway - a couple?  Part-time?  They probably had a few people who were paid when there was an event.  Not that each job isn't valuable, but Ted Cruz's characterization is that this was a company employing a bunch of people.
5.  They weren't so financially persecuted by this that they didn't have enough money to buy 1000 billboards against gay marriage.
6.  If people are politely and respectfully bigoted it makes it alright?

Even if I agree with Ted Cruz - which I DO NOT - doesn't it mean anything that he can't even tell a story correctly?  That should be reason enough not to have him be in a position of authority...he can't be trusted.

Donald Trump was also on the show...
I go back to something I've said before on this blog years ago...

THE UNITED STATES IS NOT A BUSINESS!!!!!!
These people keep trying to run it like it's a business.  IT'S NOT!!!!!
They're ruining the government - and the United States - with their misinformation about the point of a government.

Television - Project Runway - Season 14, Episode 3
Television - CBS This Morning - Season 4, Episode 201
Television - The Daily Show News Your Own Adventure (best of Jon Stewart)
Television - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Season 20, Episode 139. (Excellent episode)
Television - Major Crimes - Season 4, Episode 4
Television - Major Crimes - Season 4, Episode 5
Podcast - Think Again, 10 - Mark Epstein
Article - New York Times - Amazon
Television - Tig Notaro - Boyish Girl Interrupted (Hilarious, I laughed a LOT)
YouTube - Knock Knock, It's Tig Notaro

Small bike ride around the neighborhood

Podcast - Political Gabfest
Television - Documentary Now-Sandy Passage
Television - Documentary Now-Dronze
Television - Washington Week with Gwen Ifill
Television - Vera - Season 4, Episode 1 (fell asleep)

Last Week...
Television - Jonathan Strange and Mr. Morell (all 7 episodes)

Pi Day

(I was going to add an image here, but I don't know how to do it on my iPad. Boo me!  I'll add it later)

Today is 3/14/15.
The first digits of Pi are 3.1415
There won't be another Pi day until 100 years from now in the year 2115.
Yee Haw.

I like that some people made a celebration day out of it.
I'm noting it here, but honestly, that's the extent of my celebration.
I wonder if the mathematics community was more inclined to celebrate than the general population?

I don't understand the significance of Pi.  It has something to do with the radius of a circle, and the number goes on to infinity.
Am I lacking in wonder because it doesn't make me curious?  Am I missing something about its fundamental nature?
Many people are fascinated with Pi so there must be something I don't understand.
I suspect our knowledge of Pi has led to many wonderful inventions and discoveries.
For that, I'm grateful.  I'm glad there are people in the world who recognized the significance of Pi and had the fortitude to put it to good use.

On this, the first and last Pi day of my lifetime (presumably) I stand tall and proud to say...

Pi I salute you!!!!!

Movies I've Watched

This is a list of movies I've watched lately:

2014 - What a year!!!

Something kicked into gear for me since my birthday.

I've discovered:

I sometimes have a victim mentality - In my head I say to myself "If this hadn't happened and that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have done that."  In that way I put the blame on other people and became a victim of other people's actions.  I've been listening to myself say those things and worked hard at taking responsibility for what I do, no matter what action led me to that place.  I don't have trouble saying I'm sorry or recognizing I could have done better, but there always seems to be a reason I didn't do better, and it's other people.  Changing the way I think about things gives me the power to be who I know I can be.  It's a hard habit to break so I can't say I've done it always, but hearing myself say those things to myself has been a huge help.  

I have a sense of entitlement - In my head I say to myself "I shouldn't have to do this."  I have always thought of myself as being somehow above some things.  Not all things.  I'm happy to do menial tasks quite often.  It's some work at some times.  Or, not even work related - "I shouldn't have to wait around for this."  Again, I've gotten better at hearing myself say these things so I can respond to myself "Why not?"  What have I done to earn relief or respect in that area?
There are two things about that:  1)  really, nobody should be above anything so I don't like that I think that way just in general.  2)  I've been noticing in my life that I don't do anything that is of value to anyone or the world.  I don't devise new things, I don't work at a charity, I don't teach people anything, I don't have children, I'm not nice to old people.  Just in general, I don't think I benefit the world that much.  I'm not saying I won't, but I realize I don't.  So - of course I haven't earned the right to be entitled.

I'm lazy - I've talked about this before at other end of year reviews.  I take the easy way out.  A lot.  It's easier to walk away than try to balance to zero.  It's easier to walk away than practice.  It's easier to play games on my iPad than read a book.  It's easier to watch a movie than take a walk.  Work wise, I think it's more important than ever that I take the extra step toward excellence (which comes into play with my theme for the year - more on that later).

Two big things I did in the last six months:

I found the names of my natural parents. - I've been dilly dallying about this for years and years and years and years.  I wasn't sure how I felt about finding out and didn't have a way to find out that didn't involve upsetting the apple cart.  I wasn't sure I wanted to upset the apple cart so I kept my mouth shut and just wondered.  Finally, the state of Washington allowed adoptees to get a copy of their original birth certificate.  So, I did.  And then, with the birth mother's name and some internet searching, I found the married name of the woman I believe to be my natural mother.  I have a picture of my natural maternal grandparents and the grandma shares a resemblance.  But, I share pretty much zero resemblance to the natural mother.  She's been married for years and has a son and a daughter and about 5 grandchildren.  I spy on her through Facebook.
My natural father is named in the legal documents that the lawyer's office still had.  I'm not sure I share much resemblance to him either.  And I don't know as much about him - he doesn't have a family member that's active on Facebook (which is how I can get glimpses of my natural mother)
In any event, those questions are answered.
I haven't felt a need to meet them either.  I don't know why.  Maybe just knowing who they are and that they seem pretty normal has satisfied me.  I secretly hoped there was some famous or fascinating person in my natural family.  Now that I know there isn't I feel content to let things be.
I don't know enough about the circumstances of my conception and I can't risk that it was something horrible for the natural mother.  I'd hate to upset her when she has a good and content life as it is.
I'd be more inclined to reach out to the natural father, and yet - even there - to what end?
There are a lot of people in the world who have no idea who their natural parents are and no way to find out.
I'm lucky I could at least get a glimpse of them.

I bought a condominium - that's a big one because it only JUST happened and most of my savings will be gone.  I've always been afraid to be this committed to a mortgage.  I liked having my freedom.  But, at my last lease renewal it looked like they want to raise the rent quite a bit which would mean it's just as expensive to buy as it is to rent.  So far I'm not getting as anxious as I thought I might considering that time I was going to buy a townhouse in MFJ's condo complex in Beaverton.  That time I got so sick to my stomach right after putting an offer in that I had to call it off immediately.
This is a big deal because I'm committing to something, but also because it means I've given up on the idea of love.  Huh?  Yeah.  I had a thought at some point this year where I realized part of why I didn't want to settle down and I always feel like I'm temporary is because I was always hoping I'd meet someone and we'd start living life together.  I didn't want to be tied down to anything so it would be easier to comingle our lives when the time came.   I know - I could have always sold a home if I found someone to be with.  But, that's not how my deep subconscious was thinking about it.
Since my breakup with JLB - maybe three years now? - that really shattered me.  Not that I think he was the one, but because I tried and it still didn't work.  I don't think I try in the best way but that's a story for another time.  The point is, I realized I don't want to try anymore.  And given that, I have no reason not to settle down.  So I will.  (I think the part about not finding love has been pretty heartbreaking for me so maybe I won't be done forever, but I'm a slow moving turtle so it takes me a lot of time.  Maybe too much time.  I'll never have a sexy romance, but maybe I can have a loving companion.)

In conclusion:
In many ways 2014 was monumental.  I'm glad I moved forward on a couple things.  Since my birthday I've had a lot of clarity and I've tried hard to take the next step.
My boss is the one who mentioned the victim thing to me.  She talked about her own spiritual journey and mentioned victim vs master is a concept she's working on. When I said something that sounded like victim mentality to her, she pointed it out and the idea clicked into place.  I'm not a victim in the boohoo woe is me way, which is how I previously thought of 'victims'.  I'm a victim when my excuses for not being my best self are that other people didn't do or say this, that, or the other thing.   Understanding shifted the way I look at things.  A paradigm shift.  That was powerful.
And being able to hear myself talk to me is another powerful shift.  Eckhart Tolle talks about being The Observer of our own thoughts.  I've done better with that, which gave me clues about how I can do better.  It's mostly habit and negative self talk.  That's all!

On to 2015 -
Take the next step - physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The condominium I purchased is a good walking condo - near shopping and a park.  I've gained a lot of weight in the last couple years.  In 2015 I'd like to get up and take a walk more often.  Take the next step.

Our company is heading in a new direction and I want to be part of it.  To do that, I need to take the next step toward excellence.  Don't stop when it's OKAY work, take the next step and make it EXCELLENT work.

It's important for me to find my place in the world.  This year, I'd like to take the next step in my spiritual development.  That might mean reading more books, giving myself time to meditate.  Take the next step and really quiet my mind.  Practice.  Take the next step and practice stillness.

***

The world is difficult right now.  There is war and destruction and murder and hatred and fear.  It's heartbreaking.  It's overwhelming.  I know there are pockets of love and peace and kindness and joy out there.  I know people who are loving.  I hear about people who are peaceful.  Discoveries continue being made.  Life is still happening all around us.
The world is amazing and wonderful and exciting and beautiful.  For this year, I wish everyone will get a glimpse of Love for themselves and in that way the light won't ever die out.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!
It's one way I can be of value to the planet.

The Supreme Court rules again.

I'm so frustrated.  I really dislike the opinions of Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Kennedy.
They are creating a country in which being a religious person makes you a first class citizen.  You get to do whatever you want.  Wait - not just a 'religious' person, a Christian religious person!

I keep talking and thinking about really going through an opinion to see what the reasoning is behind some of these outrageous decisions.  It's difficult to find the time, focus, and the understanding to go through all those words.

The latest is today's ruling in a Hobby Lobby case in which private corporations want exemptions from the Affordable Health Care act.  They want to NOT provide contraception (in their mind, contraceptives cause abortions) based on their religious beliefs.

(I just heard that there are ways around this - the government will pay for the contraception access - which is the excuse used by Alito in his ruling)

Sigh.

What's happening?

These photos are from The New Republic

Yemen photographer Boushra Almutawakel series called "Mother, Daughter, Doll"

These pictures are heartbreaking.  She's very brave.

 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day

This is my Dad in the 70's.  Quite mod - long sideburns and a checkered suit jacket.  I like his smile. 

Story of My Life - 002 - July 1959

So this isn't a story, but it's interesting, I think.  This is a note written to my mother and father to congratulate them when they got me.

"Dear
I was sure surprised to hear about your sweet little baby just about 2 days before I got the card.  Avis and I were talking and I said to her I don't think they will ever have any children and here come the card and we had a good laugh but it is so nice for you and I wish you good luck raising her.  I know she must be very sweet as I know her parents are.  Well, I am getting so many Great Grandchildren that I will have to quit writing to them as my hands is so bad my hand is asleep right now and I have to stop and wake it up.  I am not very well anymore so excuse me if I don't write very often.  I have something wrong with  my jaw, it all swelled up like I had the mumps and it sure bothers me so much to eat anything.  I am happy you have a baby now.  I know you will be very happy now.  With Love Pearl.  P.S.  Excuse all blunders I am 83 years old now.  Grandma"

I'm really taken by this letter.  She must have been born in 1876.  When she mentions her aches and pains it becomes very immediate and in this moment.  A bridge across time.

Movies I've Seen - World War Z

From IMDB:  United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

I don't usually watch zombie movies, but I've seen a lot of trailers for this movie and it intrigued me.  I wondered what a world war might look like in today's world.

My thought?  Nothing new to see here, move along now.  

It was fine.  I haven't watched a movie like this in a while.  There's no denying that because it's the existence of humanity on the line, we all have a stake in the outcome, right?  I'm no exception.  I don't like Zombies and I've seen plenty of movies with the same plot outline, but I still want "us" to win.

Brad Pitt was quite believable in the role and performed admirably...he's not just a pretty face.

These are all the Brad Pitt movies I remember watching:  Moneyball, The Mexican, Fight Club, Seven Years in Tibet, Twelve Monkeys, Legends of the Fall, Interview with the Vampire, A River Runs Through It, Thelma and Louise.

My two favorites in that group are Fight Club and Twelve Monkeys - loved him in Twelve Monkeys.

  

Oh what a web we weave...

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/iraq-violence-opens-old-wounds-vets-n130161

It's heartbreaking to watch the violence in Iraq, particularly the last few days when a radical Islamist group the West calls ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) is taking control of many of the larger cities.  It's 'Shock and Awe' in reverse.   The Iraqi Army 'melted away' according to a Kurdish leader (CBS News, Holly Williams).

I wish the people who supported the war (Boehner, McCain and Graham et al) and who continue to heckle President Obama's decision to 'end' the war, would learn a lesson.  This was foretold when Bush and Cheney turned away from Afghanistan and invaded Iraq with the idea of creating a Democracy.  It was a horrible decision then and it would be a horrible decision today.

Time to write another e-mail to President Obama - short and sweet:
"Hello - I do NOT support any further activity in Iraq.  Please do not listen to people like Boehner, McCain, or Graham.  Thank you, Vicky"

Story of My Life - 001 - November 1980

This is the first 'story of my life' post.  You'd think it would be a really important life event because it's the first.  It's not.  I picked a piece of paper out of the memorabilia bag and this is what we're going with.  Thank Goodness I can throw this away after I'm done.

Sherry and Jerry are the father and stepmother of one of my two best friends at the time.  I would never have guessed I went to their wedding, or purchased a wedding gift for them.  Now that I've been reminded, I can just barely make out an image in my mind of Sherry and Jerry in their wedding attire.
Jerry owned a small tennis and swim club.  Because I was friends with LS, we had nearly free reign of the club in late elementary, middle, and high school.  It was such a part of our life we called it 'The Club'. 
We were really lucky and hopefully didn't take too much advantage.

Sherry and Jerry were a couple from nearly the beginning of my friendship with LS.  Although they're a continued presence in my memories of LS and those days, I don't have any stories about them specifically.   In retrospect, I can't imagine how overwhelming it would have been for Sherry to have a boyfriend with six boisterous kids.

In my perception of the time,  Sherry and Jerry were the glamorous couple who had parties and friends and money.  LS' mom was taking care of six kids while working irregular jobs.
It was a contrast that I think had an effect on my ideas of men and marriage and relationships.

Anyway - they were nice people and never made me feel bad for hanging around a lot. 

I'm glad I went to their wedding and gave them a gift.

A new mission for this blog...

Yes, it's a journal for me. 

I have a lot of memorabilia from my life.  Although I really like the memories they bring up, I don't like that memorabilia takes up space.  I'm sick of having to move it here, there, and everywhere when I hardly ever look at it except when I'm trying to figure out if I can throw it away. 

On the other hand, if I didn't have some of these things to look at I'd completely forget about people, places, events, and activities.

I had an idea several years ago that I could take pictures of things and then get rid of them.  I'd still have something to jog my memory, but I wouldn't have to take up space to keep them.

But, what about the story associated with the memory?  Can I keep that as well?
In what format?

I'm not sure if this blog will stand the test of technological time.  But, I guess I think it's in Google's best interest to have a way to archive it and make it available for a pretty long time.  So, I'm putting all my pictures and stories here.

I've just signed a one year lease at this 2 bed 2 bath apartment.  I want to live in a large studio space.  I have one year to get all this memorabilia documented and pared down so I can easily move to a space that better fits the lifestyle I'd like to have.

I'm sorry I waited until late middle age to do this.  Well, there's a reason for that, but I won't go into it now.

So, that's a new mission for the year.  I'm not sure how I'll do because when was the last time I did anything I said I would?  And even if I started, when was the last time I finished something?

I guess this blog could be a document of my good intentions.

Movies I've Seen - Timeline and Don Jon

From IMDB:  A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group must survive in 14th century France long enough to be rescued.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give this movie a 2.10 because I like Time Travel.
I bet the book was better.
Honestly, I thought the dialogue was unimaginative and not well delivered in many cases.  The plot was cliche and was flimsy.  
One of the clunkiest scenes was when the group of archaeology students learn their professor is in the past and within five minutes they've all agreed to get into an unstable wormhole machine just so they can rescue the professor.  
Francois didn't want to go but the others manipulated him.  They said he's the only one who speaks fluent French so he must go.  He was very scared and was crying.
They arrived in 1357 France on the day of a battle between the English and the French.  When the group was captured by the English, Francois was the one that was killed outright for being a French spy.  
The movie didn't have any emotional beats - it was one thing after the other with each of the plot points being the exact same.  The death of Francois was dealt with exactly the same as a scene where the girl climbs out a window to help them escape.  

The group was in the past for 6 hours total.  Of the 8 who left, only 3 came back.  4 were killed and one fell in love and stayed behind.  
The book probably fleshed out the characters more...?  
The time travel aspect wasn't particularly interesting.  Even at the end, when they came back after changing the outcome of the battle, there wasn't any indication that anything had changed.  
I watched the whole movie so it can't have been too bad, I guess. 

I don't recommend it, though.

From IMDB: A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.

I really like Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 3rd Rock from the Sun.  I want the grown up Joseph Gordon-Levitt to be a version of a grown up Tommy.

I think JGL has interesting things to say.  He's done some creative things over the years.

Be warned:  it was profane and sexually explicit.  
But, I think it had something to say about love.  I liked it.

At one point, it seemed like an after-school special, though.  Julianne Moore was teaching him about what it means to make love and be in a relationship.

It wasn't subtle.  
Pornography is one-sided, romantic idealism is one-sided.
To have a real relationship it's a two-way street.

Was this a new version of Saturday Night Fever?  Could have been.

Drunk Words are Sober Thoughts

I first came across this phrase while reading about a celebrity who'd been caught hurling racial epithets while drunk, and later apologized, claiming that's not what they truly believe and that's not who they are.

Is it true?  Are drunk words sober thoughts?

If someone is drunk, are they apt to vocalize thoughts their sober self would know to keep quiet?
Or, is the alcohol affecting their mind so dramatically that the drunk mind is changing reality?

I don't know.

(I also don't know why people enjoy being drunk)

Art inspires Thought

The author and illustrator Maira Kalman said this in an INKtalk (in association with TED) called What I choose to illustrate and why

You're constantly battling with the idea of loss and grief in this life time, and then continuing on with optimism and courage.

No wonder life is challenging and delightful at the same time.


She also said...

...everything that arrests you, everything that delights you has to be noted

Which goes along with my blog post from May 17 in which I wonder why I blog


If you watch the video of Maira Kalman, you'll hear about the artist Nina Katchadourian who made some Flemish style portraits in an airplane restroom!  Yes.  Funny and creative.  They really capture the style of Flemish paintings.


How is it that I came to Maira Kalman's website?  Via Lisa Hoffman's website
How is it that I came to Lisa Hoffman's site?  She commented on Michelle Ward's website
I have Michelle Ward's blog on my Feedly (it's been a while but I think it's because of stencils or mixed media)

And, that's how I surf!

Writing on this blog

I tried to blog every day for a month.
I couldn't do it.

I had plenty to say.  I always do.

Ah!  I want to be more clear.

I had plenty of emotion.

I wasn't able to translate my emotions into coherent words and sentences.

I was too overwhelmed and lacked the patience to organize my emotions into thoughts and from there into words and sentences.

Or...in the process of organizing my emotions into thoughts I realized the ideas didn't need to be shared.
          someone else said it already
          it was negative or judgmental
          it was presumptuous
          it was whiny or self-involved.
          my take on the idea wasn't helpful or didn't provide a unique perspective
          my initial emotion didn't translate into an idea that made sense in the final analysis
          I was wrong


Even when I want to write about something, I don't feel like taking time to provide context.


Every opinion is based on an understanding of the facts at that moment.  There are so many things we don't know and time changes everything.
I feel pressure to describe a MOMENT.  This is what I think RIGHT NOW.
New information comes to light very quickly and I'm not able to stay on top of all the things I'm interested in.  In an instant, the moment is gone, the circumstances have changed and my opinion will probably change.


Then, why?  Why do I want to write a blog?  I don't want to know people may or may not be reading my blog (too much pressure).  I might as well be writing in a private diary.  So, why do I maintain a blog?


Maybe...
I want someone in the future to know I was here.
I want to have my half of a lively conversation.  
I want a reason to do better, think better, write better.


I'll maintain this blog, and for the time being, I'll not worry about when or if I write in it.

We can work it out...together

I missed yesterday's post.  I'm going to keep blogging for 30 days, but then I'll have some thoughts on that.

In the meantime...

What the world needs now is everyone working together and participating.  

When I say "everyone", I mean E V E R Y O N E.  

We each have gifts to offer.  We balance each other out.  I'm naively optimistic, others are overly pessimistic, and there are lots of people in between.  When we all work together there's balance and the right thing gets done.

In our current world, people have been either purposefully pushed out of the system (terrorism, war, subjugation), or they've opted out (apathy, overwhelming feeling of powerless).  

As a result, things are out of whack.

We should be focusing our efforts on making sure everyone can and does participate in governing our world.

i should start smaller, though...maybe the city.

Ukraine on May 5, 2014

(Photo: Alexey Furman, epa)

A released pro-Russian supporter is welcomed by participants of a rally as he and others are released from a policy building in Odessa, Ukraine, on Sunday.

Ukraine is getting worse and I continue to assign responsibility to what the media are calling "the pro-Russian separatists" (pRs).

After the former leader of Ukraine left (fled with a fortune) for Russia, the people who took over pretty quickly said there would be new elections on May 15.

There was no reason for the violence.  None whatsoever.

No matter what else has happened or been said...there was no need for the violence.

That's why I'm against the pRs.  And because Putin wants to help them, that's why I think Putin is wrong.

NPR - Ukraine Dispatches Special Police To Odessa After Unrest

USA Today - Ukrainian troops intensify fight against separatists