The Blessing of Our Relatives

Me, rejoicing in Chica and Tuxedo, my friend Jan's horses, at San Gabriel, Corrales.

May your abundant ✠ blessing rest upon these creatures who are our companions in the journey of life. Amen.

Let us also remember the less fortunate creatures of this world.

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals, especially for those animals that are suffering; for all that are overworked and underfed and cruelly treated; for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat against the bars; for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened; for all that are in pain or dying; for all that must be put to death. We entreat for those who deal with them a heart of compassion, gentle hands, and kind words; that they may share thus the blessing of the merciful. For you, O lord, will save both human and beast, and great is your loving-kindness. Amen.

--the BB

I need more practice

Here is a slice of apple pie I made yesterday. Filling tasty and crust flaky but, er, "rustic" in appearance. I did not put enough ice water in that crust mixture but I'm learning. It has been at least forty years since I made pies, so I have to learn the skills all over. I know the principles and I've watched lots of pies made. (Honestly, I was better at cakes and cookies and breads, but my pies weren't bad way back when.) So, more practice. And what a nice thing to practice.

I have also watched the first five episodes of Glee: season one this weekend. Fun. I'd seen scenes online but never watched the series. I'm definitely enjoying it.

Dogs, cats, birds, and horses were blessed at San Gabriel today.

For those following my tooth adventures, the area of the root canal (through a crown) finally quieted down. Now I have a sinus infection so though I feel better I don't feel well yet. What's especially sucky is that I have been on antibiotics since 24 September. My sinuses should be free, clear, and happy.

Onward. Have a great week, y'all.



--the BB

Speak the truth in justice

Because "speaking the truth in love" is usually neither truth nor love.

Dan Savage responds to a christianist who concluded, in a letter to Dan, "Please consider your viewpoint and please be more careful with your words in the future."

I'm sorry your feelings were hurt by my comments.

No, wait. I'm not. Gay kids are dying. So let's try to keep things in perspective: fuck your feelings.

Preach it, Dan! When people shame and condemn others for who they are, should I give a shit about their feelings? We really need to stop playing nice.

Go read Dan's comments.

--the BB

Just sayin'

Mary Landrieu is a corporate douchenozzle.

Godde knows I sent money to her primary opponent. I want every last Blue Dog OUT of Congress.

--the BB

It gets better

As we hear heartbreaking stories about bullying and teen suicide, we wonder what we can do about it. I'm sharing this video.



I was not bullied and count my blessings, though I cannot think of a single place or moment in my childhood or youth where it was safe to be myself. I am now 100% out and continuously marvel at how well almost everyone deals with it. I enjoy life. I have known and still know love. So if you are a youth wondering if it ever gets better, if there is any hope, if life is worth living, I want to assure you....

It can get better and even be wonderful if you stick around for it. Please do. You can know so much joy and fulfillment.

Never believe the lies the bullies and bigots feed you. They are ignorant, hateful, and just plain wrong.

Folks, The Trevor Project has resources.

--the BB

Stop being afraid

Thanks to Al via Eileen.

--the BB

My message to the Vice President

At a fundraiser in Manchester, NH, today, Vice President Biden urged Democrats to "remind our base constituency to stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives. This President has done an incredible job. He’s kept his promises." [Source]

Joe, I've got a message for you and I'm going to keep it really simple: Fuck you!

What you just did was whine at people who worked their butts of to put you and Obama in office. We expect better of you. We demand better of you.

We're not whining. We're trying to hold your feet to the fire and get you to stand up for the principles of the Democratic Party, to stop playing nicey nice with bad-faith Republicans and conservative Democrats so that we give away most of the game before play even begins.

And you have not listened.

You have brushed off both us and our concerns repeatedly.

By the way, not all promises have been kept.

If that's the best you have to fire up the base before elections, you had better be thankful you are not running this November.

I support progressive Democrats from around the country, with encouragement, spreading the word about them in this little corner, and sending them money. But unless I see a real turn-around in the behavior of the White House you can bet I will not send a red cent to the 2012 presidential campaign, just as I will not now send any money to the national Democratic congressional or senate campaign committees. I do not want my hard-earned money going to Blue Dogs, compromisers, party traitors, and spineless wimps.

I will work hard for more and better Democrats in the House and Senate. The White House has accomplished a lot but absolutely may not assume my respect or support.

In short, Joe: Fuck you!

--the BB

Some grown ups respond

One of the "haves" responds to Ben Stein's whining.



h/t to Nicole Belle at Crooks and Liars

Garrett Gruener, a venture capitalist, chimes in with an op-ed at the LA Times:

Instead, Congress should let the Bush tax cuts expire for the wealthiest Americans and use the additional tax revenues that are generated to invest in infrastructure and research. "Invest" is the right word. Putting money into infrastructure — such as roads, bridges, broadband, the smart grid and public transit — as well as carefully chosen research initiatives provides a foundation for future growth. As important, it puts funds in the hands of those who will spend them, generating demand that will pull us out of our economic crisis and toward a new cycle of growth.

No one particularly enjoys paying taxes, but one lesson we should have learned by now is that for the good of the country, we need to tax people like me more. At a minimum, we need to return to the tax rates of the Clinton era, when the economy performed far better. Simply taxing the wealthiest 2% of Americans at the same rates they were taxed before the Bush tax cuts could reduce the national deficit by $700 billion over the next 10 years. Remember, paying slightly more in personal income taxes won't change my investment choices at all, and I don't think a higher tax rate will change the investment decisions of most other high earners.

What will change my investment decisions is if I see an economy doing better, one in which there is demand for the goods and services my investments produce. I am far more likely to invest if I see a country laying the foundation for future growth. In order to get there, we first need to let the Bush-era tax cuts for the upper 2% lapse. It is time to tax me more.

Nice to see folks step up to the plate.

--the BB

We don't need no stinking corporate toadies in my district

Barela wants to snatch NM-01 from Martin Heinrich, our terrific Congressman. Barela's people were the ones who called me last week with the most obnoxious push poll designed to link Martin with big spending and Nancy Pelosi. They got an earful from me. Vile creatures.



If you live in Albuquerque, vote Martin Heinrich for Congress on November 2.

He's a solid progressive working for New Mexico families.

UPDATE:
Susankay noted in the comments that "Martin does not distance himself from HealthCare Reform or other courageous stands." Very true. I just got a notice today that "he signed [a letter] with 45 other House members to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging that the Congress vote on permanent tax cuts for the middle-class before adjournment in October. "

I had written, asking him to do so. While I doubt that I made the difference, I am very pleased to see him take a stand for working folk, refusing to let the Goopers or waffling Senate Dems brush this off.

--the BB

Heart thread - 09/27/2010

My friend Janine writes:

Could you please pray for my mother-in-law, Angelica Economides (nicknamed "Dolly" since childhood)? She is in hospital in intensive care with heart-related problems and we are not sure what is going to happen. Nick or both of us may have to travel to Athens.
much gratitude from Janine.

My own (ex) father-in-law, Jack, continues to decline. Please keep him and the family in your prayers as the number of his days rapidly diminishes.

For my sister Shirley who needs medical action that does not seem likely to happen.

For Kirstin who is about to head home after another round of chemo.

For Mark (Mapko) from whom we rarely hear but who remains in our hearts.

For Lisa, who said farewell to her beloved cat Scotty this past week.

For those endangered by the Wisconsin River flooding.

--the BB

The end of the world

All I could do was weep and wail for the longest time, certain my heart had been ripped from me and I would never know anything but pain again. My life was torn away through a small scar on my chest and I would never get it back.

This afternoon some of the details for one of the last scenes of the entire Chronicles came to me, so I wrote it. My alter ego, the fictive redactor of all the tales, realizes the parallel world just ended and the one love of his life perished with it.

Yes, I wept writing it and wept reading it to my best friend. But I have always known this was how the story ends.

It is good to be writing.

--the BB

San Gabriel Árcangel Episcopal Church

When I announced that we had moved once again there were comments about photos. Today I finally remembered to take my camera (and especially as we celebrated the feast of San Gabriel today).


Here is the church viewed from the front. We are right on Corrales Road, the main street in the Village of Corrales.


Today we received and blessed two new works of sacred art. This is our new parochial banner, appliqued, bejeweled, quilted. The feathers feature feather stitches (the sort of wit appreciated by those of us who sew). The banner combines Orthodox imagery with the simple lines of New Mexican retablos of the saints.


And this is a new icon of The Virgin of the Sign.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Mother Rhonda, our Vicar, presiding.


Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

I hope y'all can see what a lovely space this is. We also had music as Ed Francis played the euphonium for us.

If you're in the neighborhood, come worship with us Sundays at 10 AM. Next Sunday we will have the blessing of the animals.

--the BB

Would you buy a used car from Jonn Boehner?

Make a pledge and break it the same day. Sounds like the GOP I know and loathe.

--the BB

A recommendation

I had heard good things about the Adobe Theatre here on the north end of Albuquerque but never yet attended a production. Last night Bill and I saw their performance of George Bernard Shaw's Candida. It was definitely worth a night on the town with a toothache (thanks be for analgesics).

We were spoiled by the intimate venues of the Aurora Theatre and Shotgun Players in the East Bay and by the quality of productions by those companies plus the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the California Shakespeare Company. The intimate nature of the Vortex Theatre has always made me feel at home. So does the Adobe Theatre which is both intimate and has comfortable seating.

But the play's the thing. Aurora put on one play by Shaw every season so we had grown accustomed to his wordy but always fascinating dramas. I looked forward to this and was not disappointed.

The set was very appropriate and well done and the staging seemed to flow seamlessly. The acting was first-rate with a nice sense of ensemble performance. As with true classics, the issues seemed relevant to our own day. It was an absolute treat. Bill feels motivated to get his hands on the text and read it so he can savor what we heard last night.

This is not a true review and I pray y'all's indulgence for that but it is a hearty recommendation.

So, if you are in the Albuquerque area, consider heading over to the Adobe Theatre. Candida will be playing Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays through October 10. More information at their main site.

--the BB

Hmm, perhaps that is what they intend

Paul Krugman:

Howard Gleckman of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has done the math. As he points out, the only way to balance the budget by 2020, while simultaneously (a) making the Bush tax cuts permanent and (b) protecting all the programs Republicans say they won’t cut, is to completely abolish the rest of the federal government: “No more national parks, no more Small Business Administration loans, no more export subsidies, no more N.I.H. No more Medicaid (one-third of its budget pays for long-term care for our parents and others with disabilities). No more child health or child nutrition programs. No more highway construction. No more homeland security. Oh, and no more Congress.”

[Emphasis mine]
h/t to Maha

In addition to their war on science they seem to have a war on math.

--the BB

Defending the indefensible

Rachel Slajda reports at TPM:

A federal judge ruled today that an Air Force major discharged in 2003 under Don't Ask, Don't Tell should be reinstated.

Judge Ronald Leighton ruled that former Maj. Margaret Witt was discharged unconstitutionally under the policy because the government hadn't shown that her firing benefited the military.

And the damned Obama Administration (yes, you read that correctly)?

The Obama administration is aggressively defending DADT when the Obama administration doesn't have to defend DADT. We've been saying making this point for over a year, since the DOMA brief debacle. See here, here and here. It's not just us. Senators and House members are asking Obama not to appeal. But, every indication we're getting is that DOJ will appeal. [emphasis mine]

[source]

When under attack for selecting Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, Obama made what has proven to be an egregiously false claim:

Obama, who often mentioned his support of gay rights in stump speeches, though not gay marriage, said today that he is a “fierce advocate for gay and lesbian Americans,” adding, “It’s something I’ve been consistent on.”

On Thursday sixty-nine House Dems signed a letter urging the White House NOT to appeal on behalf of DADT.

Based on the actions and inactions of the current administration I must conclude that President Obama is not much of an advocate at all and certainly not a fierce one. And though I will vote for him in 2012, he cannot expect me to campaign on his behalf or donate a cent. I am supporting progressives. I never believed he was a progressive, though I did and do believe he is turning the nation in more or less the right direction. Nonetheless, I have grave misgivings on his positions with regard to military tribunals, rule of law, indefinite detention, equal justice for LGBT citizens, state secrets, transparency issues in general, and acknowledgment of war crimes.

It is not an attack to hold elected officials accountable.

--the BB

Hello, American People!

So, what does the GOP have to offer the American People?

I think the NY Daily News captures it:

The 21-page manifesto gathers familiar talking points for Republicans, such as cutting taxes and slashing government spending.

Talking points. Those familiar sound bites that evoke flag, mom, and apple pie but often lack substance and, if they are coming from the GOP, are probably laden with misdirection, outright lies, and a high probability of "collateral damage" for most Americans.

Jon Stewart does a stunning job of pointing out that the Pledge is a rehash of what they have said before, repeatedly. There is nothing new or newsworthy in it.

REP. PETER ROSKAM, R-IL (9/23/2010): ... rein in the Washington, D.C., red tape ...

REP. DENNIS HASTERT, R-IL (1/3/2001): ... cut Washington red tape ...

REP. JEB HENSARLING, R-TX (9/23/2010): ... act immediately to reduce spending ...

REP. NEWT GINGRICH, R-GA (6/5/1998): ... have real reforms to reduce spending ...

REP. JASON CHAFFETZ, R-UT (9/23/2010): ... change the way we do business in Washington ...

REP. JIM NUSSLE, R-IA (11/19/1994): ... change business as usual in Washington ...

REP. PETER ROSKAM, R-IL (9/23/2010): ... make the tax cuts permanent ...

REP. DICK ARMEY, R-TX (9/15/2002): ... make the existing tax cuts permanent ...

REP. BILL CASSIDY, R-LA (9/23/2010): ... health savings accounts that puts the patient firmly in control ...

REP. DENNIS HASTERT, R-IL (8/30/2004): ... health savings accounts, which will give families more control ...

REP. JEB HENSARLING, R-TX (9/23/2010): ... reduce the size of our government ...

REP. NEWT GINGRICH, R-GA (9/18/1998): ... reducing the size of government ...

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): ... a smaller ...

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (3/3/1998): ... a smaller ...

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): ... less costly ...

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (3/3/1998): ... less costly ...

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): ... and more accountable ...

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (3/3/1998): ... and more accountable ...

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010 AND 3/3/1998): ... government in our nation's capitol.

Here is the line that should terrify us all:

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): On the point we make in this preamble to our pledge, is that we are not going to be any different than what we've been.

So, the folks who cater to the richest among us, who oppose supporting the working class at every turn, who have no problem with deficits on behalf of tax cuts for the wealthy or unfettered defense spending, lead us into an unnecessary and counterproductive war based on lies, resist doing anything about climate change, favor oil and coal over clean and renewable energy, choose ideology over science, and want to turn everything over to unrestricted corporate greed while beating down the middle class...

The folks who tell us that government is the problem rather than a means for meeting collective needs and challenges, then prove it by governing badly whenever they are in power...

The folks who took us into debt and war and skyrocketing economic disparity, who regularly wage class warfare against the middle class...

The folks who decry government regulation but want to regulate your private lives...

Have pledged to keep on doing the same.

Dems, Independents, and the remaining isolated rational Republicans, this should motivate us all to vote to ensure that the GOP does not take over Congress. We're not talking statistics, we are talking real lives at stake.

Speaking of lives at stake, how about their medical plan. Repeal what they call Obamacare and then reinstate the most popular parts of... Obamacare. Wow, impressive.

Rachel Maddow suggests the Dems should learn from the Rethugs here. The actual details of health insurance reform are popular and the GOP is willing to put many of them into their plan so they can take credit for it. This is announced on the same day that some of them actual became effective in the current law that they opposed so bitterly.

Meanwhile, many Dems seem afraid to tout the very good things that are going into effect.

Finally, preserving huge tax cuts for billionaires (1) will not hurt them as they will still have plenty of money, (2) will not stimulate the economy because it did not do so while the cuts were in place, and (3) will certainly remain a huge obstacle in the matter of reducing national debt.


Remember, if tax cuts lapse we go back to the tax levels of the Clinton era. Y'all DO remember that the economy did fine then, right?

--the BB

Message to the Dems in Congress

This is NOT a family blog, so I just wanna say FUCK THE BLUE DOGS! Corporate-owned swine.

Y'all had the chance to stand up for the middle class and folded. Again. Disgusting.

If there are any Blue Dogs with chairmanships, they should be stripped of them yesterday. Where the hell is party discipline?

--the BB

98.1% of small businesses need not fear

You've heard the GOP bogeyman about how letting the upper income tax breaks expire will seriously harm small business, right?

How many of them will be affected, really?

1.9%

And it's really only marginal income that would return to a higher rate, so they'd have to rake in really big bucks IN PROFITS (tax is not based on revenue but net taxable profits) to even feel the effect.


So I'm not going to lose sleep over small businesses in America.

And I'm certainly not going to lose sleep over the billionaires.

But I do worry about the working class and the poor.

And now you have some facts you can pull out when anyone starts the small business song and dance.

h/t to TPM

--the BB

Heart thread - 9/18/2010

Our requests this evening come from our friend David@Montreal:

1) Frank called Mam today when she got home from morning service. Literally on the point of leaving for the hospital he was calling to ask for prayers- your prayers.
As you might remember, almost two months ago cancer cells started showing up again in Franks blood work and since then their incidence has seriously increased. As a result, Frank's going back into hospital to receive a new series of genetic transfusions from the original donor- a woman in Germany who is donating a second time.
Mam says Frank was in great spirits, reminding her I've got David's Giants praying for me, I'll be fine.
I'd ask your prayers for Frank and Carol, for his incredibly generous donor in Germany, and for the nurses and doctors treating my cherished cousin.
2) Before the end of the month, dear Kirstin will also be heading back into hospital for another aggressive round of treatment, in this her second battle with Cancer. What some of you may not know Kirstin is also working her way through the discernment process about her vocation to priestly ordination. I'd ask your prayer for both challenges please.
3)Prayers for Rosemary, Dave and their two sons please. Rosemary is currently experiencing some slight degree of remission at present though additional tumors have been discovered and she is suffering increased pain.
4) Prayer for Marc please- a remarkable young man who is in the throes of a Bell's Palsy diagnosis, as the doctors wrestle with trying to get it under control, to stop it from spreading or becoming life-threatening. (which I was surprised to learn it can be).Marc is in his early thirties, has taught English in Japan, returned to Montreal to ace an honors Masters in Oriental Studies, and now makes his life as a leather artist and book-maker. His partner, Alexis is a wonderful young woman who had achieved a reputation as an environmental installation artist in a half dozen countries.
5) Prayers for the people of Pakistan please- and for the people of Islam, that they will find their voices and own their grace to throw off the yokes of misogyny, tyranny and violence.

I also ask your continued prayers for my sister Shirley, for our friend Mark, and for the unemployed (which includes many of our online friends).



Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--the BB