Peaceful Coexistence

It was nice to read an article in the New York Times concerning the nation of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan you say? Yup. I was not aware that this country is home to over 40 religions. Yes, 40 religions that coexist peacefully. With all the violence in the Middle East, Kazakhstan is proof that people can establish an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding of all faiths around the globe.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev was quoted saying: "In the past 15 years, there has not been a single case of a newspaper or television station harassing the followers of any particular faith." Kazakhstan should be the rubric that the rest of the world should follow.

Moon Shot

I captured this picture tonight of our wonderful moon. The cosmos, this early evening, is breath taking!

FYI

New Hampshire: Portsmouth- Longshoremen at the Port of Portsmouth filed another complaint against Port Director Geno Marconi. Initially, they complained of racist language and said he used public property for personal gain. Now, they're complaining to the state Labor Department that Marconi kicked them off the job in retaliation.

Iowa: Waterloo- A man who put a fake obituary for his girlfriend's teenage son in a newspaper in order to skip work was charged with tampering with records. He got a year in jail, suspended to seven days. The teen's mother was charged with accessory after the fact and sentenced in June to 30 days, suspended to a year's probation.

It amazes me what people will do.

A Diet Pepsi And A Cigarette Please!

Some things in life just don't make any sense to me, like today for example. I was on my way to Office Depot to make a return on an ink ribbon I had bought for our fax machine; when, all of a sudden, I saw a women walking briskly with a diet Pepsi in one hand and a cigarette in the other. I thought; that's a great way to exercise. Killing yourself to live I guess.

Kodak Moment

I saw this rainbow the other day as I was driving from our Church to my home. I pulled the car over and snapped this picture. I try to keep my trusty little Fuji digital camera with me at all times; for you never know when a "Kodak moment" like this will happen!

FYI

California: Sacramento-Gov. Schwarzenegger signed legislation making it an infraction to take more than 25 copies of a free newspaper to recycle it or prevent people from reading it. The measure is a response to several incidents in which large numbers of free newspapers were taken from news boxes. In one case, the entire press run of the Chula Vista Star was taken on three occasions and sold to recyclers in Mexico.

And...

Pennsylvaina: Pittsburgh-Allegheny County officials said they've seen an increase in the number of unclaimed bodies at the medical examiner's office. Last year, 59 bodies went unclaimed and could not be identified through police work, nearly double the number five years ago, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

A new meaning to "Unclaimed freight?"

Indoor Plumbing

The greatest gift to mankind, in my opinion, is indoor plumbing. Think about it; indoor plumbing transcends race, creed, color, and language barriers. Can't imagine a world where toilets and showers didn't exist. So the next time you flush the toilet and wash your hands with hot soapy water thank the ancient Romans for this wonderful invention.

TV Takes

Tonight, I heard the sound track to "The Great Escape" on a Hummer commercial. I guess this is the "norm" to use classic movie tracks for today's commercials? For what it's worth; loved the original movie.

Between Systems

As of this present posting, it seems that we (folks in Plains) are between T-Storms. We're hearing the thunder and seeing the lightning in the distance but that's about it. Kinda weird.

FYI

New York: Fort Covington- A school prayer issue at the Salmon River Central School is headed to federal court. For about three years, an Iroquois passage was read during morning announcements at the school where most of the students are Mohawk Indians. School officials eliminated the daily reading after complaints, but still allow it two days a week.

The Onion

There's a great parody online newspaper called The Onion. I refer to it every time I need a good laugh! They have a section called The Sunday Magazine which basically makes fun of the real Sunday magazine. Anyway, I just thought I would pass it along. I particularly like this one! Remember, it's a parody.

FYI

West Virginia: Charleston- West Virginians seem to like liquor inexpensive and easy to poor. A total of 269,232 half-gallon bottles of Vladimir Vodka were sold last year, according to the state Alcohol Beverage Administration. The vodka typically sells for 20% less than other brands. The next-biggest seller was a whiskey in an easy-pour half-gallon.

"Yuns going to poor me some?"

Witness 9/11

I am watching "Witness 9/11" on the National Geographic network; and am posting this between commercials. The caption reads: Amateurs and professional film makers capture the events of 9/11. So far it's showing film footage in New York city. It is still hard to believe that the towers are gone. I had the fortunate opportunity to take the high speed elevator to the observation deck back in when I was a High School student in the early 1980's. I least have the memory of it in my head.

FYI

Maine: Rockland- independent gubernatorial candidate Barbara Merrill proposed state-financed passenger train service between Portland and Montreal, with an onboard casino to help fund the service. She calls it the "Maine to Montreal High Roller."

And...

Alaska: Barrow- Researchers report an abundance of snowy owls on the North Slope. They say it's the owls' most productive summer in at least 15 years, with their vigor tied to a boom in the population of lemmings. The rodents compose 95% of the owls' diet.


FYI

FYI courtesy of: USA Today's segment: "Across the USA."

The Numbers Game

So you think Christians have it bad keeping its membership up? Well, we're not alone. Just ask any practicing Zoroastrian and he or she will tell you that they're playing with the numbers game too. Why? According to a New York Times article in today's edition, one of the main issues lie with the high rate of intermarriage. They (Zoroastrian priests) believe that no one should forfeit their religion just for the sake of converting to the Zoroastrian faith. Another danger of the conversion process is the fear that customs and rituals will eventually disappear. It is interesting to note that there are no listings in any Zoroastrian texts that ban intermarriage, however, but the article states that more than 40 percent of the priests are opposed to intermarriage and the conversion process.
Zoroastrians do not proselytize, they can pray at home instead of going to a temple, and there is no hierarchal structure. Their basic doctrine is a universal ethical precept: "good thoughts, good words, good deeds." The picture above shows Zoroastrian priests (mobeds) about to burn fankincense and sandalwood at a service for the departed.

Television History

Tonight on "CBS Evening News," Katie Couric will make television history as the first solo female anchor of a broadcast network evening newscast. Some people have questioned her ability to perform in this capacity. I say, she's a professional and she'll do a fine job.
A friend and I were talking about the 1989 (I think?) Los Angeles earthquake that took place during the baseball World Series. The announcer, Marv Albert, acting in a professional manner, went from announcer to reporter with no difficulties. These people are trained very well to handle incidents like this. Katie will be no exception.

Halloween Facts

Yea, I know it's a tad bit early to talk about Halloween but don't tell my kiddies that; as our local drug store already did that for us via the Halloween candy displayed on the shelves! But anyway, we have to deal with it; so having said that, here are some interesting Halloween facts according to the U.S Census Bureau:

1.) The observance of Halloween, which dates from the Dark Ages, has long been associated with thoughts of the dead, witches, ghosts, devils and other hobgoblins. In the United States, the first recorded instance of a Halloween celebration occurred in Anoka, Minn., in 1921.

2.) 14 states, that, contrary to the national trend, experienced an increase in their elementary school-age population (children between 5 and 13) between 2000 and 2003. Texas (125,000), Florida (88,000), and Arizona (66,000)- the latter two, traditionally, thought of as retirement havens- led the way.

3.) Jack O' Lanterns and Pies-85 million pounds! Total production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2003. Illinois, with a production of 326 million pounds, led the country. There also were a whole lot of pumpkin patches in California, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York. Each produced at least 70 million pounds of pumpkins. The value of all the pumpkins produced was $81 million.

4.) Candy and Costumes.1,040 is the number of U.S manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2001. These establishments employed 45,913 people and shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments with 116, followed by Pennsylvania with 107.

5.) 25 pounds Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2003; it is believed a large portion of this is consumed by kids around Halloween. But candy consumption has actually declined over the last few years: in 1997 each American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds of the sweet stuff

6.) 2,715 is the number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation in 2001. Trick-or-treaters rent, buy or invent the costumes they wear on Halloween.

7.) Where to Spend Halloween? Transylvania County, N.C. (29,406 residents). Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,547). Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228); and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307). Skull Creek township, Neb. (population 296). Cape Fear in New Hanover County, N.C.; and Cape Fear township in Chatham County, N.C. (with populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively).

Source: http://www.census.gov

Vestment Colors

Depending upon what season the Orthodox Church is in e.g. Great Lent, Advent Fast, Pascha or the summer feasts, the Church places great emphasis on which color vestment is to be worn by the Priest, Deacon, and Alter servers. There are 6 basic groups:
1. The group of Feasts and days commemorating Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prophets, the Apostles and the Holy Hierarchs. Vestment color: Gold (yellow) all shades.

2. The group of Feasts and days commemorating the Most Holy Mother of God, the Bodiless Powers and Virgins. Vestment color: Light Blue and White.

3. The group of Feasts and days commemorating Martyrs. Red.

4. The group of Feasts and days commemorating Monastic Saints, Ascetics and Fools for Christ. Vestment color. Green.

5. The group of Feasts and days commemorating the Cross of Our Lord. Vestment color. Purple or dark Red.

6. During Lenten periods, the Vestment colors are: Dark Blue, Dark Green, Dark Red and Black. This last color is used essentially for the days of Great Lent.

Mao, Just a Footnote?

Just read an interesting piece of information in the New York Times. Communist China is revising its History books. Yes, revising them; or at least in the city of Shanghai. As an Historian I found this article to be very interesting. According to the author; the new text will place more of an emphasis on current Western trends e.g. economics, technology, social customs, and globalization. By China adopting these trends it will mean that she will only benefit from this change and become an even more powerful global player both economically an politically. According to Zhu Xuequin, a professor of History at Shanghai University: "The new history is less ideological, and that suits the political goals of today."
So, will Mao be reduced to a mere footnote on the bottom page of China's history books? Time will certainly tell.

Happy New Year!

September 1st marks the beginning of the new ecclesiastical year in the Orthodox Church. Today, some traditions like the Greek Orthodox, call for September 1st to be a day of special prayer for the salvation and protection of God's creation.
Without a doubt, the Orthodox Church is very concerned about the protection of all creation and the environment. This is made quite evident in the yearly cycle of services. For example, on the Feast of the Transfiguration we bless fruit, on the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, we bless flowers and seeds. On the great Feast of Pentecost, we adorn the Ikons with leafy green foliage taken from the trees on the Church grounds.
The Church also has prayers for the blessing of livestock, ponds and rivers; blessings of Orchard's and vineyard's; just to name a few.

"Lord God almighty, Who made the heavens and all living things in the air and on land for the use of mankind; who ordered, through the ministers of your holy Church, that candles made from the industry of bees should be lighted during the solemn mystery in which the most sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, your Son, is consumed; send your holy blessing upon these Bees and these Beehives, causing them to multiply and to produce and to be kept from harm, so that their yield of wax can be turned to your honor: For You are a merciful God, Who loves mankind, and we give glory to Thee, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen."

-Prayer for the Blessing of Bees