My Grandparents

I have a lot of geneology but none of the stories written down. I want to write them down.
- Grandpa's Garden
- Lincoln Logs
- Making Doll Clothes
- Tree Branches in the Civil War
- Signed the Magna Carta
- Pop Rocks
- The Old Sled
Time to start fleshing them out and adding to them.

Dilemma

Last month one of my new neighbors was arrested for sexual abuse of a minor, quite publicly, it even made the 6 o'clock news. A neighbor spoke to the new crews not confirming anything but making it clear that it was not completely a surprise. But it was to me. Being new to the condo I've had few interactions with the man and none of them would have led me to believe any of the charges that have been leveled against him. But that same lack of contexts makes me doubt my own reaction, for there to have been an arrest and charges filed there has to be significant evidence for the DA to act.

He was released last week and I haven't seen him yet but I'm troubled over what my response should be. I cannot support the actions attributed to him but we're supposed to be a country that values the ideal of innocent until proven guilty. Moreover, I call myself a Christian and am regularly frustrated and how vindictive and unChrist-like Christians usually are and this is an opportunity to really offer love without strings. I'll likely never know the truth of the situation and it isn't my place to know it, I just need to know how to act with him.

Innocent or guilty this must be a hard time for him and I feel that at minimum if I see him I have no reason that would hold up to Christ's example not to be nice to him and actually a responsibility to be nice. I'm tempted to extend some sort of kind action specifically to him the thing I keep running up against though is how to do this without endorsing the actions he is being charged with. It is an area that if I'm too verbose, "I thought you could use a pick me up even if you are guilty" just gets sticky and wouldn't really make me feel any better unless I actually was guilty. I could do it anonymously but I'm not sure if I would trust something anonymous if I was in his situation. If I don't say anything, is it really so bad not to? I think the concern I feel is me worring about not couching it in the right terms to protect myself from extremely unlikely backlash.

Blarg

Charity

I hate and love charities.

I remember working at ATL and every year we would sell these little pink cards that supported the breast cancer research. They were honestly a great deal for those who shopped regularly at ATL, they got their money back in discounts and a magazine subscription and more money was spent on finding a cure for this form of cancer. I won't deny breast cancer its place as a horrible disease that causes pain and suffering for more than just those suffering from it but how do we decide that this cause is so much more important than others.

I understand the need for some motivation to part with our hard earned dollars to charity. Most of us would much rather have that new dress, kitchen appliance, etc than give $25 to the latest charity to ask for it. I understand that connecting with an emotion or a past experience of the person giving encourages the decision and increases the amount of the donation. And I know how this shapes American charities.

1 in 3 of us has or will be affected by cancer. Few of us that have money to give have ever truly been hungry, truly in need when compared to our counterparts outside of the developed world. So it is easy to see why campaigns connected to disease we see, arts we enjoy, our friends, our experiences hit home and get our support. It is just as easy to see why campaigns about world poverty, hunger, & the developed world's continued explotation of the undeveloped world seem unable to get traction. Seem to start bright and then fissle... or never really start at all.

I have a hard time giving to American charities. Those that research cancer, a disease where those living with it here still have a higher standard of living than most of the world's population, instead of providing services for diseases we can cure. Those that support the arts instead of reducing the # of people worldwide who live on less than a $ a day. Those that keep kids off the street instead of keeping them from dying due to lack of food and shelter. Somehow how it seems if we aren't covering the basic needs of life in a world fully capable of providing for all of its citizens we have failed and how good can we really feel about our American charities.

I guess this is why I'm so saddened by ONE's lackluster presence in the states. Why I like Adra's The Original Very Useful Gift Catalog. Why I feel torn when approached for something like the Children's Cancer Association. An organization I like but which still seems secondary to a greater need. It's so silly, it take so much to do anything here and yet it takes so little to address the basic needs of so many. The price difference is astounding. Enjoy

Gone

We have gathered here to morn the passing of something so brilliant, creative, vibrant and inspired that we are unlikely to see its kin in mainstream media any time soon.

Gone are the murder mysteries, the colorful sets, the talking icicles, and the sexual tension. We will never know if they ever touch. We will never know if he is ever found out. We will never know what their dad's did.

Will she ever find her pie maker? Will he ever find his daughter? Will he ever figure out her smell? So many loose ends and journeys cut short by the brick wall of corporate insecurity. I fucking hate them.

Barborossa Returns

It is June 22 again, the anniversary of the ill-fated German attack on Russia during WWII and my birthday. As it is far enough into summer for everyone to be off doing other things and there are plenty of other things to draw their attention I wonder how many will remember this year.

First Gift

It was there, sitting outside the front door in a large Macy's box waiting to be found. Our first wedding gift. Opening the cardboard box revealed a second, smaller white box with a white bow on it from someone with the last name of Heinrich which I did not recognize but hoped Loren would. And upon opening the second box there is sat. Out of layer after layer of protective bubble wrap it had come to sit there and and be smiled upon. Our first wedding present, a teapot.

The irony is rich given the dichotomy of drink tastes between Loren and myself. I liking all things hot as well as many other cooler drinks and he nearly loathing all things hot. We were both excited and highly amused by this first of gifts.

Progress

For those of you who have posted or e-mailed me book suggestions, many thanks. For those who haven't yet... I'm still waiting.

So here is the update on my reading given that I am no finished with school. That seems kind of odd. There is some much still happening. So much chance that I will be right back in the classroom in a couple years that I'm not sure I feel finished. We'll see. So reading.

I've gotten a couple e-mails with suggestions that once I have checked with the authors will post to the original post but if you have checked the comments you know I have a large list just there. Purchased 7 books, 4 today and 3 last weekend. The first 3 came from a visit to Powells with Mr Big who has yet to post or e-mail his list but who gave excellent suggestions.

That night I read Being Peace. Yes, you read that right, I read the book in its entirety last Saturday night in a what was a wonderful change in my reading habits. Being Peace is a Buddist text written by Thich Nhat Hanh who is a Vietnamese monk. It describes a Buddism that is intensely active and yet personally calming. Serving our world by finding our own peace and allowing it to work through us. This is the first Buddist text I've read since Sophomore year of high school but I find the same treasures in it that I found then. Not necessarily a new religion but a different way of approaching the spiritual journey that while specific to Buddism is beneficial in many situations.

The second book I purchased a week ago is Garrison Keillor's compilation of poems Good Poems. I enjoy this book differently than the average book that one sits down to with the goal of finishing before moving on to the next book. Instead of this format it is the book I grab in the morning, flip to a random page, and contemplate. Whether it is simple contemplation of the content of the poem that is before me or the oddity in the choice fate made when I randomly opened the book. I like this form of reading it best because I do not feel that it is something I must get through but little jewels each to be appreciated in its own time and for its own merits.

The third book that I received last week is The Autobiography of Malcom X (As Told to Alex Haley). This is the one that I am sure I will soon finish given that I no longer have classes, tests and studying to compete with it as I did this last week and I am already nearly halfway through it. I must admit an ignorance about Malcom X prior to the discussion of this book and my journey through it. My ignorance was neither positive nor negative it was simply a lack of any real knowledge beyond name recognition. At this point in the story my impression is that of awe and disbelief. It is an amazing story that almost seems to vivid to really be someones life and our Hero has barely made it to 18. I will be heading to a comfy couch as soon as I am done here to continue his story.

Given that I will soon be done with my first two full books and am lazily making my way through the third I went to the book store again today. I picked up 4 more books: Velvet Elvis, Zen and The Art of Motercycle Maintenance, Marx's The Comunist Manifesto, and Machiavelli's The Prince. Two of these, The Comunist Manifesto and The Prince are classic pieces I have been interested in since my first year at PSU and my first year at PUC respectively. The other two are suggestion of Rali that I find interesting me as I find myself in a seeking place spiritually once more.

I think I have blogged sufficiently to buy me many months before my next post :)
P.S. If you haven't posted yet please do so, I don't want to have to call in the mouse mafia on you.