Ahhhhhhh

A friend of many moons sent me a link to Cocteau Twins videos.

For the record, Aikea-Guinea, Iceblink Luck, Bluebeard, and Evangeline are among those songs that strike that peculiar chord of Life and Love in me. Some of those you can't see on video are From the Flagstones, Lorelei, Orange Appled, and Know Who You Are at Every Age.

One last note. Don't worry about lyrics. This is a sound that transcends language. And for those who know me, that's quite something. I am a stickler about language (on paper and in my choices of music. In person, I pretend to be laid back, getting by with as few words as humanly possible.)

Every single song from this band is worth a listen. And on that note, I am off to my ipod to retreive these songs for my daughter.

We love our German Shepherd!!

Yes, that's a corny phrase, but 2 thumbs up for Papa Benedict!

Evidently, the Muslims are enraged over a sound bite taken from Pope Benedict XVI's address at Uni Regensburg. If you have time, read the whole thing. If the newspapers were serious, they'd quit postulating that the Pope is not media savvy and print the whole text. Mass Communication... an oxymoron

Eine schöne Schrift

or... how to teach children to write lovely letters.

I am picky about the strangest things. This is, I'm sure you know, a given.

Yikes! All I wanted was a nice, German font to teach the eldest cursive. Why? Well, I think the handwriting taught in school is lacking, and I really want something lovely. So... turns out the German font I preferred has an S that could be confused for an L. Fortunately, I tried before I bought.

I had another Schulschrift I bought last year. The only thing I don't like about that one is the t's look funny, crossed on the bottom rather than the middle. My graphics editor says he can fix it pretty easily. This is good, because the eldest really digs the new style, but wants to cross those t's!!

We're trying something unusual. The first quarter, most of her writing will be traced or, if an original work, retraced using this font. I believe one of the reasons penmanship suffers so in this country is a lack of correct practice. You can't really expect perfect penmaship from copying off a board, can you? (Not a rhetorical question!)

Any of my teacher friends who have insight or opinions about the correct methodolgy and/or current state of handwriting , drop a line.

BRING IT ON!!!

I rarely write on anything remotely political, but this is some interesting stuff. The Christian-Ziomist group is cheering on the IAF and the IDF - which a nice pop in from our President in support. Oh, and a few other important people are waving too..

This evangelical political philosophy is rooted in biblical prophecies and a belief that Israel's struggles signal a prelude to Armageddon. Its followers staunchly support the Bush administration's unequivocal backing of Israel in its current battle with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

President Bush sent a message to the gathering praising Mr. Hagee and his supporters for "spreading the hope of God's love and the universal gift of freedom." The Israeli prime minister also sent words of thanks. Israel's ambassador, its former military chief and a host of U.S. political heavyweights, mostly Republican, attended.

Wow is the only word I have for this.

I mean, this is bizaar stuff to me. I admit that in the past I was enamoured with Revelation (I think all Christian youths are at some point) - but I never, ever would have a BRING IT ON attitude towards this.

War is not pretty... it's not fun... and trying to "map" the hand of God onto this is ludicrous. Yes, I do know that God is present and certainly watching us.. that's not the point. The point is that us Humans shouldn't be pressing for war to fulfill Armagheddon. As for me, I'm keeping a bag packed full of clothes :-)

Full article here.

"Behold, I am coming like a thief." Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed. Rev 16:15

At least I know some(thing) is reading my blog...

I feel fine.. Now that I've I said it in my blog the whole world can find us and build statistical groups of us.

Someone finally did it and now you can see some interesting applications here. It's tracking people's "emotions", mapping them by their current local weather, and allows graphical drill down based on numerous factors.

Marketers are crying, and the goverment is listening. I don't know the implications here - this is a very simplistic model - but the presentation is compelling.

And she did cut a wide swath

And she did then take up her machinery
And she did cut a wide swath
That the hens might have hay
With which to build nests
For the time of their laying was fast approaching
Also that her children might run amok
In ever wider, open pastures
For twas the season of heat
But yea verily upon eveningtide
Twas cool enough that 91 felt like 68
And at such a time, the children could make merry
Romping through the fields with utter abandon and sheer delight

And it was good...
for as the heat relinquished its brutal grip upon the land
something outside the confines of the home was accomplished

That 'bout sums up my evening...
Does anybody really read this goofy stuff?

Old Cure for Contemplation

I am not excited about the developments in Israel and Lebanon. My best friends in high school were a Lebanese Catholic (yes, there are more than a few over there!), and a Muslim from Egypt.

This will expand, IMHO, and be very difficult for America if I am not mistaken. (Could be, hope I am)

So, some thoughts from the old Cure are swimming around in my brain...

Killing an Arab
World War

Yeah, I know, silly me.