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lubablog

Because wherever you go, there you are
Welcome NSA!

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Wedding Photos

My Mom and Dad will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in February of 2006, and I have been assigned the task of putting on a multimedia presentation for the event. (Well, OK, a Powerpoint presentation with music.) So I have been digging through old photo albums and digitizing the photos.

I'll be publishing the old photos to my .Mac site as I go along. The first ones are up, lovely studio photos from their wedding,


and some early 60s color photos of me with a big red bow in my hair. I was always stylin......

Chickenhawk Nation

Red America, land of the chickenhawk--who'd have thought it? I guess that supporting war in the Red States means paying $1.99 for a magnetic yellow ribbon and slapping it on your car. Compare, if you will, this 2004 electoral map:


to this map of Iraq war casualties:


Funny, where all those dots seem to fall on the map....

(I wish I could remember where I downloaded these maps from--I think it was Daily Kos. I'd love to take credit, but I'm just repeating the message.)

Scam Alert

I've been busy the past few days getting a Christmas tree (few photos this year, as it rained the whole day) and catching up on CME for this year. The New England Journal of Medicine lets me read fifty of their articles, answer fifty questions (open book, no less!) and get the fifty hours of Continuing Medical Education credit I need annually to maintain licensure. It's due tomorrow, I've done 25 questions, and I keep getting distracted by much more interesting articles than the ones they've selected.

Today, as I glanced at my mail, I found five identical envelopes from Magazine Billing Services. Inside were what appeared to be invoices for several different magazines, including one (Reader's Digest) that I would never in my life even consider subscribing to, and several that I had recently renewed. The prices didn't seem right, and the bills didn't seem right--all were labeled "Notice of Renewal/New Order."

I usually get my subscriptions either directly from the publisher, or through a special doctor's reception rooms subscription service. So I googled the service, and found several postings on line indicating that, at best, this is a rip-off and, at worst, a fraud. In addition, I learned that several magazines, including "Archeology," have posted written notices in their magazines warning about this outfit.

So if you get anything from them, just throw it out. I suspect the company hopes that people won't look too closely and just pay the bills. The rates are not particularly good, and there's no guarantee that you'll ever receive what you paid for. And the amounts involved are so small that it's difficult to get anyone in law enforcement interested in getting involved.

More later.........

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Tree Hunting

We went tree hunting today. It was not auspicious weather--relatively warm, and the forecast called for rain. I met everyone--my brother's family, the Kettners and the Rollingers--at Panera bread (quite busy and overrated). After brunching, we set off for the Gray's tree farm in Dryden, MI.

It's a long ride, and a pretty one, especially with two nieces in the car an d Christmas music playing. Bill had gotten them a tree already, up at the Harrison property, when he and Nick went hunting, so they were just along for the ride. Once there, the kids ran around, threw snowballs, and found the carcass of a dead deer. The adults found trees.

I had trouble getting just the right tree--an eight foot spruce with lots of room for ornaments. The best I could do was a really full tree of the right size and shape. Here the kids pose in front of it:

Bill cut the tree down, and we dragged it to the path. Then the nice men at the farm brought it in on their pick-up truck, shook the loose needles out, and strapped it to the top of my Jeep. Just in time, too, as it began to rain a bit.

We had hot chocolate an d cookies in the barn to keep warm, and then set off home. I got the tree off of the Jeep myself, but shouldn't quite get it up off the ground. Sonny, my neighbor, helped me lift the tree, prop it up against the garage, and set it in a pan of water, for which I am ever so grateful!

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Thanksgiving

I spent Thanksgiving Day with a good number of my relatives. We were all grateful to be home and safe. And cousin Zeke was particularly grateful, as he toasted, that "our kids are all old enough to amuse themselves." And they did.

It snowed heavily yesterday, some three inches of accumulation, and the winds were strong all day long. The waters of Union Lake were dark and storm-tossed, looking like a mini Lake Superior. It's not often that you get lake and snow in one view, and I'll enjoy it while I can.

Meanwhile, my Christmas cactuses seem to be having an identity crisis:


And read the real story of Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

New Year's Eve

Do you have plans for New Year's Day yet? And might you be in NYC? If so, consider attening the Ukrainian Institute of America's annual New Year's Eve Gala. There will be an auction of orphans' paintings for the benefit of UCARE during said event.

For more information, click here. Or take a virtual tour of our art gallery.

Xmas

I was recently gently chided by someone for using "Xmas" as an abbreviation. She wrote that
when you use the abbreviation "Xmas" as you did in your post, you are contributing to the taking of Christ out of Christmas.
I responded as follows:

No, I'm not:
Xmas: This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect.

It is no more disrespectful than using "NY" to refer to New York or "USA" to refer to our country.

Quite frankly, people have been making the same complaint for more than fifty year (and probably longer). The earliest Christians did not celebrate Christmas--to them the holiest holiday was Easter, the resurrection, and the entire reason for Christianity.

It was not until centuries later that the holiday began to evolve into a big celebration, and it did so largely to compete with popular pagan holidays. The date we celebrate is actually quite inaccurate; most scholars guess that the actual birth of Christ was sometime in the spring. But the 25th was a big holiday, because it was the birthday of Mithras. Although Mithraism has its origins in 6th century BC Persia, it had become a popular Roman religion, especially among the warrior class. Mithras
....was born of a virgin, with only shepherds present. Mithras was known as “the way”, “the truth”, “the Life", “the Light”, “the Word”, the “Son of God”, and “the Good Shepherd”. He was pictured carrying a Lamb on his shoulders. Sunday was sacred and known as “the Lord’s Day" centuries before Jesus was ever born.

On December 25th, there were glorious celebrations with bells, hymns, candles, gifts, and ‘communion’ was observed by the followers.

Other "Christmas" traditions are also pagan in origin--the tree, the yule log, even caroling. In Ukraine, for instance, at the time of "kolyada" (winter solstice) it was traditional to go from house to house singing "kolyadky". This was rolled into christianity after 988, and many new songs were written, but quite a few of those still sung have very pagan themes.

Much of what we take for granted as being "Christian" is actually a result of syncretism, the absorption by a new religion of parts of the old. This is particularly true in Latin America, where many of the local gods have been rechristened as saints and continue to be worshipped. And what about Catholic Marian worship? It is a relatively late development in Catholicism, and came about as a way to appeal to cultures with a very strong tradition of mother goddess worship.

Taking the "Christ" out of Christmas is not being done by those of us who abbreviate, but by huge multinational corporate interests whose only interest is putting Americans further and further in debt by selling them more and more. Right wing, Republican interests.

What would Christ have wanted? I suspect not hero worship, and not public worship. Did he not say
Matthew 6:5-6: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men....when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...."

I take that to mean that he would have wanted us to pray in private, and not make a big show of our piety in public. Which is exactly what those "War on Christmas" types are on about-public actions. Believe, pray, and help others--is that not what the words of the Christ in the new testament teach us? Me, I choose the quiet Christ, teaching in parables, to all the braying and false piety of all the Limbaughs and O'Reillys of the world any day.

Retro-Blogging


No, it doesn't mean blogging about Eames chairs or Brady Bunch lunch boxes. I think I made it up, and in my usage it means pre-dated blogging (i.e. writing posts and putting and earlier date on them). It's a dirty secret that you can change the time and date and year of your post whenever you feel like it, and NO ONE WILL KNOW. You can make yourself seem prescient if you want to, and go back and correct mistakes and gaffes. It all comes down to honesty and integrity, I suppose.

I had meant to blog regularly while I was on the road in October, but had trouble getting on line. The US, despite having invented the internet, has not been very good about making it fast and accessible. Europe and Asia are technologically way ahead of us, with much faster internet speeds, and widely available public access to the internet. In the US, if you don't have a connection at home, your choices are limited to Starbucks or the local library. In a small town, you're just SOL.

This is particularly problematic if you're traveling in the American Outback. Starbucks are few and far between, and libraries have very limited hours, and often very limited access. The higher end motel chains often offer free Wi-Fi, but the extra $40 or more a night just really isn't worth it. I did find, though, that if you park near one of those motels, you can get access. In a few minutes I could download my mail and a bunch of web pages to read later:) But I couldn't send mail or work on my blog:(

Anyway, I'm going to try and occasionally add photos and travelogues, so scroll through the old bits once in a while.

Blue America



The Survey USA 50-state polling is out for November, and it's not good news for Bush. His `base' of strong support has dwindled to a grand total of two states. America is getting bluer and bluer every day.

For a good discussion of the data (including the finding that Bush's support among Republicans is decreasing, and fewer people are identifying themselves as Republicans), go to
Daily Kos


What's the matter with Idaho and Utah?

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Holiday Party


My annual open house will be held on Saturday, December 17th, 2005, beginning at 8 PM. I will be sending e-vites to everyone whose up-to-date e-mail address I have, and formal invites to others via snail mail.

There will be fires on the hearths (both of them) if it is cold out, my tree should be all decorated by then, and I will supply lots of food and drink.

E-mail me for more info if you need it.

I hope to see all my friends there!

Progress in Iraq

The Republicans are right.

Who says there's no progress being made in Iraq?


And let us not forget Afghanistan, where the economy is thriving, now that the heavy hand of the Taliban has been lifted. May Allah bless the magic of the free market!


Addendum: Fianlly, some sensible solutions to the opium problem in Afghanistan

Dissing the Boss

From British Springsteen fan blog:

"Apparently, the US Senate believes that just having a patriotic essence is not enough; one has to be a Republican and strong supporter of President Bush to get any honors. It does not matter if you write songs that can jolly well be US anthems, it does not matter if you shoot in the sky screaming Born in USA or you roam the Streets of Philadelphia, or if you are one of the first artistes to perform for 9/11, if you support a Democratic Presidential candidate, you are not going to get any honours."

It's true.

This same Senate that last year honored that great humanitarian Ted "Motor City Madman" Nugent, who believes the way to keep kids form drugs and violence is to have them "whack" animals, and lives in a compound somewhere. Ted is the author of that famous American paean to traditional female roles, "WANG DANG SWEET POONTANG":

That Nadine, what a teenage queen.
She lookin' so clean, especi'lly down in between; what I like.

She come to town; she be foolin' around,
a puttin' me down as a rock-and-roll clown. It's all right.

Wang Dang Sweet Poontang

Wang dang, what a sweet poontang,
a shakin' my thang as a rang-a-dang-dang in the bell.

She's so sweet when she yanks on my meat.
Down on the street you know she can't be beat. What the hell.

Wang Dang Sweet Poontang

I guess the Senate was right; how could Bruce produce any music that could possibly have the artistic or patriotic merit to compete with this?

Friday, November 11, 2005

Technical Difficulties

You don't realize how much you depend on something until it gets taken away from you. So it is with me and technology. Or, more specifically, the internet.

My laptop's been in the shop for a few weeks getting checked out for excessive fan activity. The guys at the local Apple store noted this when I took it in to replace one of the little rubber feet that keeps it from wobbling. Since the extended warranty runs out in March, I figured it was best to take care of things now.

My desktop, which I've had for 3.5 years, and which I've been meaning to replace for a while now (I do a lot of photography and could use a much faster processor, more RAM, and bigger hard drive), lost its ethernet port a few days ago. At first I thought that my server was down, but after two days realized this was not the case. After an hour of crawling under and behind the computer desk, with tech support on the line, plugging and unplugging cables, a diagnosis was made--dead ethernet port, a very expensive repair.

The computer is otherwise pretty much OK, so I can still use it for non-internet-related activities. But I was off line. Argh!!!! I dug up my antique laptop (8 years old with a blazing 267 MHz processor) and reconfigured it. I got online, and soon remembered what the days of dial-up had been like. It's not quite that slow, but close. And the operating system is two generations removed from my current one.

That's why, in case you were wondering my e-mail volume and posts are way down. I did go to the Apple Store online and click the "buy" button, so my new iMac should be here in a couple of weeks.

Then I'll start to catch up!

America Comes to Its Senses

....or so say the Wall Street Journal and MSNBC:


Bush lied and thousands died......needlessly.

Climbing Mt. Mera

I just got an e-mail from my friend Christobel. It seems she and her son Tom (aged 11), have just spent the last few weeks in Nepal, trekking in the Himalayas. Christobel and I had discussed doing this many years ago, and she even bought boots, but it fell through and we went to Goa instead. Good thing, as neither of use was the least bit prepared, and the plane we probably would have taken crashed on approach to Kathmandu airpot.

The story, in Christobel's own words:
Hardest thing I have ever done, but thin (3 weeks of no alcohol, bloody hard physical exercise hours each day topped off with a good bout of diarrhoea and vomiting will do that to you!) and would do it again tomorrow!! Below is Tom at the top of Mera - 6450m, and Tom is the youngest person to get up - so very proud!


I got altitude sickness at 5800m at high camp so stayed there while they left at 2am for a 5 hour ascent in -50 degrees Celsius weather with over 100kph winds at the top! and only 40% the oxygen as at sea level. Tom went with our sherpa Jamling - a lovely boy who had done the north face of Everest in May - so I trusted despite people telling us there were dead bodies in the crevasses!

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Blogger Ate My Post

I spent a good bit of time writing a lovely post, pontificating on commercialism, shopping, and the destruction of small local businesses by big box stores. It was gorgeous--so well written, so to the point. But when I went to post, nothing appeared. Blogger ate it. It is gone forever.

And I am too tired to write it over. Just know that it was beautiful and now it is gone.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Bushito's "Rainbow Tour"

In 1946, shortly after WWII, Evita Peron set off on a "Rainbow Tour" to impress Europe. The tour began auspiciously in Spain, where the fascist generalissimo Francisco Franco welcomed her with open arms. She did less well in subsequent countries, which had just fought a war over fascism and were not impressed. Evita ended up cutting the tour short, and scurrying home instead of arriving in triumph.

Our Bushito thought his very own Rainbow Tour to the economic summit in Argentina could shore up his image by presenting him as an able diplomat hammering out a Free Trade Zone of the Americas. Alas for him, the populace was having none of it. In Mar de Plate they cheered Chavez of Venezuela, and greeted Bush with large posters.....of Che Guevara


Rioting ensued, with fighting in the streets and scores of fires.

The fabulous rainbow tour continues to Brazil. Graffiti proclaiming "Get out, killer Bush" and "Yankees go home" was spray painted on two monuments in Brasilia. On Friday, hundreds of protesters burned an American flag and an effigy of Bush in front of the U.S. embassy. Officials from the Catholic Church endorsed the protests.

Maybe he'll give it up and scurry home, too?