text:
simple love
why shackin' up with people might not be such a bad idea.Standard
I met her Monday.
Monday. The day I finally let down my guard and allowed you to tip toe into my world. The day I finally shared what all God was doing. The day I trusted you with my secrets.
Because after all. People like to see a persons plans fail. Not many like to see or help them succeed. I believe the old saying goes, "They'll pay a quarter to watch you smile, a dollar to watch you cry."
But this isn't about succeeding, is it?
Driving past our new future homestead, on our way to someone's home to take out their garbage, we saw the neighbor, Ms. Rachel*.
By chance, my man and oldest daughter had met her earlier in the day, they mowed the empty lot next to her home. They never told her we would be moving in, next door to her– next month, Lord willing.
Stopping by to say hello, Daniel introduces me to her. She's only lived there for two months. She tells my sweet man about a leak, asks if he can help. We talk about food from her country, her small business here in America, and then it turns to where we live. To which my man says, "Well, you know, Ms.Rachel*, we are going to be your new neighbors."
Puzzled, and talking so super cute with her accent, "You a gonna do what?"
"Yes- we are going to be your neighbors, right across the road. We are going to use it for the community."
We went on to tell her of our plans. Once a week, nonprofit, donation based cafe' downstairs with healthy, homegrown food– special teas and coffee. We told her about the evening soup kitchen. Where people can come and eat homegrown food, enjoy special drinks, yummy coffee. Talk about Jesus, life, hardships, and just live together. We told her about the community garden we've been blessed to already start. We talked about the lifegroup currently meeting at our home, studying the book of ACTS and the early church. How they gathered together, sharing everything, nobody in need. Everyone a family. We told her about the community clothing SHARE we plan to have open twice per week. Where people can come and donate time, earning vouchers to shop for good, clean, clothes, toys, and housewares.
Then she says it.
"You a gotta be kidding me…. ohhhhh you a gotta be kidding me. I just a sitting in my living room saying, 'Oh God, today I fasted, something good is gonna happen… oh God, today I fasted, something good has to happen.' You are my good news! The Lord has answer my prayers– I a prayed someone would come to that home who would use it for Jesus. "
"Oh, this is a gooood day. A gooood day. "
She grabs my face with her worn hands and kisses my cheeks.
"The Lord has answered my prayers. We a gonna do a lot of good stuff together. We are gonna use your home, AND my home. Oh, I'm a so excited."
Little did she know, meeting her- had answered my prayers.
Funny how God works.
Not moments later, a man pulled up. Talked with my man. He had heard, through the little community grapevine, what we were doing.
He offered his city lot to use for an additional community garden.
His vacant. totally ready to plant a garden. city lot. The city lot directly across from the home we're purchasing for the purpose of doing life together with the community. He offered it free of charge to be used for the purpose of loving people. Loving people through food, through working the ground, through talking about life, through living. Together.
He [that amazing. always knocking my socks off God.]
He had provided. again.
Not only had He provided like-minded friends to start together.
sold our house.
provided another home several thousand dollars less than asking price.
even given us an additional fridge for the cafe' and a neighbor had randomly given us a deep freeze, unaware of what the Lord was doing.
The list goes on, and on, and on.
And He still knew I still needed a little something- something like a random neighbor saying, I've been praying for this sort of thing to happen.
Because when you do this sort of thing, friends. Something like offer your home for community use, take on a home bigger than you would choose to buy if not for this purpose, with human hopes it all works out… when you share hopes and dreams of simply walking this Jesus walk differently, a little more like the way you read about in scripture- where people lived together, dreamed together, held each other accountable, and helped each other no matter what. Where there were no TV's or smart phones to steal our attention… back "then" as my kids always say. When you start talking like that?
People think you're crazy. YOU start to think you're crazy.
So, tomorrow, I'm going to need another reminder, I'm sure. Because I'm human. And the ways of the Lord are scary. And saying you're following the "way of the Lord" alone sounds and feels all pious. But He just reminds me again and again.
This. is what you've been called to at this moment. Don't hide your lamp stand. Tell others the good news of what I am doing.
So, we told Ms. Rachel*. And she said, "We'll use your home, and my home." The man stopped and said, "You can use my city lot."
And God says, "See? There are other crazy people out there, my darling."
Do not be afraid.
"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Do you ever feel crazy?
Friends. We serve the God who silenced the hearts of Kings. The God who created the ground we walk on. He will give you boldness to stand strong and love big. It's scary. But He's bigger than your fears.
Sometimes it takes a long time. Sometimes it just starts with a prayer or sharing ideas with friends. Most times? It means putting the bible study down and just getting dirty– applying the words we've read time.and.time.again. Sometimes, it's getting out of the boat and sinking time.and.time.again. Oh my, oh my, I've almost sunk to the depths of the sea several times. I've done a lot of things wrong, assumed wrong things, and handled loving people wrong, many times.
But that Jesus of ours? He loves us all the same. He looks on us and has big plans for our little steps of love.
"And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should: how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." Ephesians 3:18
May we have the courage to show this love to everyone– no matter how crazy it makes us seem, no matter how many times we fail, no matter how scary.
"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." – Mother Teresa
Much love,
*Ms. Rachel's name was changed for this story.
Some of you have asked how to receive posts in your email: it's simple. On the lower right hand side of the screen there should be a "follow" button. Click and enter your email. It's totally safe.
Um, yeah… is there an ad below here? A creepy ad (yes, directly below here, some strange video, perhaps?) I didn't put it there = / And I didn't choose what it will advertise. Sorry about that.
Yup! The rumors are true, we've gone off the deep end.Standard
Thank you for all of the sweet emails and such checking on me up here in my little ol' tree 🙂
You see, there are exciting things going on around here!
I am so excited to share all of the wonderful things we have been blessed to take part in! All because God is so great to use broken people like us– we have been able to put legs on a few of our long time dreams for our little community.
We have joined with friends to begin a garden for our community. Ground has been broken, manure hauled in and fall planting has begun. See that big space wayyyyyy back there? That is one garden:
Then another:
We spent the sweetness of last Monday chopping and delivering salsa to the community.
My sweet man and oldest daughter were gone last week to church camp.
I was rockin' it with the littles.
We've been playing sweet tunes and diving into God's word right here in our living room.
We've been getting down and dirty with the sweet people in our community- all different sorts of folks.
When crazy Ideas come, we quickly write them down.
We prayed for our house to sell in 30 days, if the Lord wanted us to pursue this crazy big historical home in our little ol' town– for use of filling it with people. Cooking food, loving and serving; being Jesus together in this big ol' home. Filling it with hurting people, helping people, and all sorts of walks of life.
and it totally did sell in 24 days.
which is totally unheard of in our little town, population 50. 😉
After crying for about two days, because we will miss our little homestead here, we started to rejoice.
Matthew 25: 35-36 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…'
To live the words of Jesus is the definition of pure joy friends.
Yup, I'm pretty much a kid in a candy store at this point.
Annnndddd half way scared to death at the same time.
Oh, that he would save a wretch like me,
Ready to quit? Perhaps it's time to get dirty…Standard
As we approach yet another year of the FREE Community SHARE our little family puts on each year (a time when people donate items they no longer want and we set up the local community center as a store where people can come and get all they want for FREE) I am overwhelmed with the amount of people helping. This morning, I was thinking of a story I wrote two years ago. It was our second year of doing the SHARE and I wanted to quit.
I hope this story of my failures helps encourage you to be strong and do something God has laid on your heart!
"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.
We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in."
–Mother Teresa
April 2012
I almost didn't do it.
I walked into the house and said, "I'm quitting it all."
"I'm tired."
Ever felt that way?
Just because you have a calling on your heart, doesn't make it easy.
Actually, it's easier to give up– or better yet, not even start.
Did you know, I'm a quitter? Did you know, I'm a mess? Did you know, sometimes I get tired and want to give up? Did you know sometimes, I yell, cuss, and wish for a quick shot of something hard (that being hard liquor for those of you with virgin vocabulary ; )
If you think less of me now– you thought too much of me to begin with.
I am so broken.
Crying hard, I yelled— "Why do I have to start everything!? Why can't I just be a part of something?"
Little did I know, I was apart of something bigger than me. Did you know, if you knew who I am apart from Him– you would turn and walk away. I wonder what she did.
What did she do? What did she say? There, looking Grace in the eyes– How did she react?
"Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery.
They put her in front of the crowd. "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.
They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?""No, Lord," she said.
And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."
John 8:1-11
Did she sit and anxiously await the following Sunday when she could go to church and share what happened to her? How about starting each morning with devotion? Did she sit in her comfy, cozy house by the fire and meditate on His goodness with christian music playing in the background? Perhaps she even gave a shout out on Facebook of how big and good her God was.
Or wait! Her eyes were open to grace, open to what she had been forgiven of– she was now "better than that." Better than that person she once was. Did she forget? Did she forget where she came from? Did she forget what it felt like?
Did she forget the Grace in His eyes and how they looked on her with compassion, love, and mercy– regardless of what she had done? Did she know she didn't deserve it?
Don't get me wrong, Christian music is good, and I love me some cozy meditation beside the fire. And of course, we all know–quiet bible time before my day is full of loud, is the best start to the day. But what good are those devotions, those songs, that grace— if my hands are not getting dirty.
What good are those scriptures; God breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness, if I'm sitting on the sofa reading my Bible–maybe even baking cookies for a church bake sale– but I have not loved with my hands, with my feet, with my story.
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves.For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25
So, I quit. I threw my fit. Cried real hard. Felt overwhelmed. Got back up. And started to plan the SHARE– where people could come and get whatever they needed or wanted. All for free.
I asked some people to help. For some, it was their first time to feel the dirt. Some felt uncomfortable; some felt stretched. For that day, we lived the scriptures– we dug through bags of peoples junk making it treasures for someone else.
We even had christian music playing in the background.
It's not about me. It's not about what I have done. I have done so little. In fact, more bad than good. No, friends. It's about the opportunity to be a part of the big story– The God Story.
It's about Grace.
It's about the unexplainable, always perfect, always covering, always good, love of our sweet Jesus. It's about knowing, you are never too far from Grace. Did you hear that? You are never too far from Grace. Your storm is never too big, your attitude is never to rotten, your pain is never to deep. Your past is never too ugly, your choices never define you. That love that covers the dirt, the wounds, the imperfections– yup, it's always there.
Oh, friends I can only hope! When we have discovered this gift, this grace, this LOVE… it would cause us to be crazy! It would get us off the sofa and into the dirt, not only reading but living the scriptures. It would make us tired and even a little crazy. Oh, that It would keep us bent low to the ground, healing through helping.
Much love,
a story of addiction and sweet love for the toll guy.Standard
Feeling silly, a few days ago– after a crazy day of everything seeming to run behind schedule and then several hours of open road with those crazy kids of mine, I met the toll man.
I smiled and said, "Hello!" In my totally annoying, high pitch way.
He was all frownie.
He was crabby.
And it made me all gloomy.
So, I set out to change the world in the the most effective way of our day…
A friend replied:
And I replied…. Why haven't I ever thought of that??
And then it hit me: Because I don't think of every single great idea.
Even though this Friday for Valentine's Day we will celebrate as we always do- walking around our little town handing out treats. Even though we left cocoa for the mail lady last week- even though my eight year old told the produce guy the other day "Excuse me, sir but you are doing a great job at stacking that lettuce…"
I had never thought about cheering up the toll booth guy.
Because believe it or not- we would be silly to think we can't all learn a bit from the ideas of others. 😉
So, of course.. I stopped at SAM's during our road trip and bought a little bit of love in a box.
And after eating two Kit- Kat bars on my own… (that is a sad truth) we saw the toll man again.
And we gave him a little bar of love.
He smiled.
Well, as you know— when you find what makes people smile, you sort of get addicted to making it happen.
And when you have a gigantic box of goodness tempting you to eat.just.one.more you can't help but want to share more love so the candy is gone ; )
Yup, we gave the car wash man one too.
Do you know what that car wash guy did? He stopped in the middle of washing someone's windshield and JUMPED UP AND DOWN. Then he gave my 12 year old a fist pump, and even said, "Oh my, Oh my, God Bless You"
Now my 12 year old is addicted too.
Of course, It got me thinking… maybe you would like to join our addiction? Hey! You can get 52 of those bars of love for only $28 at SAM's Club. Or stop this morning and get one at your local convenient store and share some love with the grocery clerk, drive through man, bank clerk or even the toll guy.
Grab this picture and share it? Yup, spread the idea of simple love today. #14daysofsimplelove
Happy Monday (tuesday,wednesday,thursday and beyond)!
yeah… if there's an ad below here—> a creepy ad (yes, directly below here, some strange video perhaps?) I didn't put it there = / And I didn't choose what it will advertise.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Beaverton has 11 distinct neighborhoods.
(Benjamin Brink/Staff Photographer)
Beaverton is a busy city with more than 90,000 people, 3,700 businesses and 11 distinct neighborhoods.
The city's population grew from near 79,000 to about 90,000 between 2000 and 2010, and is projected to jump to 96,679 by 2017. Beaverton is the sixth largest city in Oregon, right behind neighboring Hillsboro.
As the city plans for the future, staff has gathered a plethora of hyper-local demographic information. They've compiled numbers from a variety of resources, including the U.S. Census, Oregon Employment Department, Portland State University's Population Research Center, city surveys, the demographic mapping company Esri and the commercial real estate information company CoStar.
It's easy to say that Beaverton is becoming a busier, more diverse city, Economic Development Manager Alma Flores said, but it's more important to stop and ask what that actually means.
"You never assume there's a cookie-cutter approach to any place," Flores said.
Demographics offer an opportunity to answer questions while raising even more. The numbers are a starting point for more in-depth research moving forward, Flores said.
"Caveat of the year: data is never finite," she said. "Data, by nature, is flawed."
Flawed, but fascinating.
"Beaverton by the numbers" is a three-part series looking at the city's people, businesses and neighborhoods.
Beaverton by the numbers: The neighborhoods
Are you in style or young and restless?
Do you live in Pleasant-Ville or the Boomburbs?
Are your neighbors aspiring young families or sophisticated squires?
Esri's "Tapestry Segmentation" model labels different swatches of Beaverton based on demographics like age, gender, marital status, family size, education level, median income, employment level and type of housing.
Flores calls the segmentation a form of "psycho-graphics"– attempting to measure the personality of an area rather than simply the people.
(Not sure which neighborhood you live in? The city provides maps online.)
Central Beaverton, with a population of just more than 14,000, is a world of Old and Newcomers. This label identifies a mix of people who are starting their careers and those who are retiring, with more shared households and single residents than families. The median age in Central Beaverton is 32 years old. About one in 10 people are 65 or older, while one in four are enrolled in school. About 40 percent of Central Beaverton residents speak a language other than English. Nearly two-thirds of the population rent rather than own their homes, and the median household income is $37,252.
South Beaverton, population 8,100, and Denney Whitford/Raleigh West, population 5,900, are In Style. Most households likely do not include children, according to Esri, and professional couples make up much of the population. The median age for both neighborhoods is in the early 40s. The In Styles generally prefer living in lively city suburbs. They are prosperous; South Beaverton's median income tops $70,000 per year, and Denney Whitford's is just more than $50,000. It's a fairly well-educated population, with about 45 percent of the 25-and-older crowd holding college degrees.
The folks in Five Oaks Triple Creek, Beaverton's most populated neighborhood with more than 17,000 people, are Young and Restless. The median age is 31 years old, and the neighborhood features more racial diversity than any other in the city. The Young and Restless label tends to denote a career-oriented population. Four in 10 people in the neighborhood over the age of 25 have a college degree, less than 8 percent of the workforce is unemployed and the median household income is more than $50,000 per year.
More than 10,400 people live in the Boomburbs of Sexton Mountain. Boomburbs tend to draw affluent young families to new housing developments. With about a 25 percent swell in population since 2000, Sexton Mountain is one of Beaverton's three fastest-growing neighborhoods (the other two are Neighbors Southwest and Five Oaks). The median age is 38 years old, and median income is nearly $100,000, more than any other neighborhood and nearly twice the citywide median. Sexton Mountain's 3.8 percent poverty rate is the lowest in the city. Nearly 60 percent of the population 25 and over holds a college degree, making the neighborhood the most educated in the city. Rhonda Coakley, chair of the Sexton Mountain Neighborhood Association Committee (NAC), said the residential community fits the Boomburbs description of new housing and fairly affluent families. "I think we've always kind of had that reputation, and it still holds true," Coakley said.
The residents of the Highland neighborhood, with 6,301 people, and Neighbors Southwest, with 11,059 people, are living in Pleasant-Ville. The Pleasant-Ville label identifies communities of financially prosperous and settled families, especially middle-aged couples with children. Highland's median age is 40 years old, while Neighbors Southwest is 33. The median household income in both is just less than $65,000. More than half of Neighbors Southwest residents at least 25 years old have a college degree, while four out of 10 in Highland have a degree. More people own houses than rent in Pleasant-Ville, mostly living in single-family homes. Alton Harvey Sr., chair of the Neighbors Southwest NAC, said a variety of businesses and financial institutions in his neighborhood demonstrate that the area is thriving. "That is absolutely true," he said of the Esri label and description. "We are absolutely prosperous."
The West Slope neighborhood, Beaverton's least populated with 1,783 people, is Urban Chic. Urban Chic communities are defined by a sophisticated and exclusive lifestyle, and often have a high number of self-employed residents. The median income in West Slope is $80,624 per year, the second highest in the city behind Sexton Mountain. About 59 percent of the 25 and older crowd have college degrees, also second highest in the city behind Sexton Mountain. Nine out of 10 residents are white, and West Slope is Beaverton's least racially diverse neighborhood. The median age is 42 years old, and nearly 15 percent of the population is 65 or older. Joe Whittington, co-chair of the West Slope NAC, said the Urban Chic label might apply to some residents, but isn't a perfect fit. He described his neighborhood as a sort of island between Beaverton and Portland, with a mix of retirees and young families, well-established residential areas and limited access to public transportation.
The Aspiring Young Families in the Vose neighborhood include 8,026 people. The label applies to communities characterized by relatively young couples, with or without children, and single parents. The median age in the Vose neighborhood is 33 years old, and the median income is almost $43,000. About a quarter of the population 25 and older has a college degree, on par with Central Beaverton but lower than all other Beaverton neighborhoods. The poverty rate of 16.4 percent is the second highest in the city, behind Greenway. More people rent than own their residences. Henry Kane, chair of the Vose NAC, said he has seen more children in the community recently, though there are also a number of retirees. "The people here have a strong sense of community," he said.
West Beaverton is home to 9,546 Sophisticated Squires. The label marks neighborhoods with a number of baby boomers and established families. The median age in West Beaverton is 35 years old, and one in 10 residents are 65 or older while one in four are children. About 56 percent of the homes are owned rather than rented, and the median income is $56,576. Most Sophisticated Squires live in single-family homes, often in less densely populated areas near cities. At 28 minutes, West Beaverton residents have the longest average travel time to get to work.
The Inner City Tenants of the Greenway neighborhood, population 6,184, are part of a stepping stone community with a number of young families, college students, part-time employees and new immigrants. The median age in Greenway is 33 years old, and the population is more diverse than most of Beaverton's neighborhoods. About a quarter of the population is enrolled in school, and about 30 percent of people 25 and older have a college degree. The median income is about $42,000. At 1.3 percent of the population, Greenway has the highest number of people who say they bicycle to work. And at 19 percent, the neighborhood has the highest poverty rate in the city.
--Kari Bray


text:
Hardback sketching journal
Nothing soothes the mind or sharpens the senses like close observation of the natural world. Use this journal to take notes, make sketches, compose poems, make rubbings, press leaves or collect feathers.
"Notice the passing clouds. Listen to the sounds of birds. Marvel at the industry of insects. Stay curious and alert. Let nature be your teacher." - William Wordsworth
Why it helps to get things down on paper
Sophie Howarth chooses six favourites
Ways to find and explore your best qualities
A stroll into nature to look after your mind


text:
I came home from a storytelling workshop last night not knowing that a play with an important point for God's people would be enacted right in front of me. The actors in this great play – my cat – Lucy, my dog – Nigel, my wife wife – Kathy, and me!
I had just settled onto the couch by Kathy, expecting a peaceful ending to what had been a pleasant evening. I shared about the workshop and we talked about our day, but the cries, the yelling, of our cat Lucy at the window would not stop.
"Kathy, did you feed Lucy tonight?"
"Yes I fed her. I don't know what her problem is."
On and on it went. Finally, our ever vigilant Nigel asked to go outside to investigate and in a few minutes we heard him growling and yelling in the same area. Kathy thought he might be yelling at a possum and ran out to protect him only to discover he was standing at Lucy's food dish and yelling at the cat who had been yelling at me!
"Nigel, stop that. That's your sister Lucy. That's her food."
She picked him up and brought him in scolding him for his selfishness. But the yelling in my house didn't stop. Lucy was soon at the window again, yelling. Nigel went to the window and yelled back and this time I decided to investigate.
I looked at Lucy's dish. Something was wrong. The food pellets were too big. Then I yelled, with laughter. "Kathy, you gave Lucy the wrong food! You gave her Nigel's food!"
Lucy had been yelling at me because she wanted her food. Nigel had been yelling at Lucy because she had his food. Kathy had been yelling at Nigel for yelling at Lucy but he was protecting his own. And then we yelled with delight and fun at what we had just lived, all because of the wrong food.
The wrong food – it produces yelling – and a lot of other unhealthy practices and consequences in our lives and in our churches. God told Jeremiah, "The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has my word speak my word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain, says the Lord."
Indeed, what does straw have in common with grain? Man's words and dreams are straw. God's word and his vision for the world is wholesome grain. What are we putting in our spiritual food dishes? What are we pastors giving our flocks? What are we consuming each day – straw or grain? Are we eating the wrong food, or the true food that God provides?
Word of God, Speak!


text:
Top Opinion Blog Posts of 2015: Education Week's Most-Viewed
The editors of Education Week compiled a list of the 10 most-viewed opinion blog posts that drew our readers in 2015. Below, the posts are listed in order of the number of online page views they generated. Revisit these blog posts, and examine perspectives you may have missed this year.
1. Why a 'Growth Mindset' Won't Work
Peter DeWitt asks, "What if our actions in school contribute to the reason why a growth mindset has a low effect size?" (July 17, 2015) |Blog: Finding Common Ground
2. Kids Who Take Vacations in the Middle of the School Year
Should vacations only happen at times when school is not in session? Nancy Flanagan shares her thoughts. (January 1, 2015) | Blog: Teacher in a Strange Land
3. Nine Reasons Teachers Are Unwilling to Stand Up for Their Profession
"If teachers are ever going to establish themselves as fully professional, they will need to develop an authentic, very public voice and vehicles to advocate for their professional interests and control over their own work," writes Nancy Flanagan. (January 29, 2015) | Blog: Teacher in a Strange Land
4. A Teacher Calling It Quits for All the Right Reasons
Dave Powell asks: Should we be worried about the fact that so many teachers choose to leave the classroom so soon? (April 19, 2015) | Blog: The K-12 Contrarian
5. The Dark Side of Integration: What Black Kids Learn in a White School System
Veteran education writer Peter Meyer is elected to a school board in upstate New York and, just as Dr. King did in 1959, begins to question the wisdom of putting young black minds into the hands of a white school system. (February 12, 2015) | Blog: Charting My Own Course
6. 10 Classroom Ideas to Try in 2015
Now that we're back to school, what are some ways you can shake things up in the new year? Jennie Magiera offers 10 ideas to try out in the classroom, no matter how big or small your learners may be. (January 5, 2015) | Blog: Teaching Toward Tomorrow
7. 10 Reasons the U.S. Education System Is Failing
Matthew Lynch examines 10 problems that prevent the U.S. education system from regaining its former preeminence. (August 27, 2015) | Blog: Education Futures: Emerging Trends in K-12
8. Great School Culture: It Starts With the Principal
"Schools like mine can happen anywhere if principals begin to accept the huge role they play in setting the tone for a great culture," writes Phylis Hoffman. (August 23, 2015) | Blog: Teaching While Leading
9. Three Reasons Why Faculty Meetings Are a Waste of Time
"There are at least two areas where school leaders waste the time of teachers. The faculty meeting is one of them," writes Peter DeWitt. "And here are three reasons why." (April 10, 2015) | Blog: Finding Common Ground
10. The 2015 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings
Rick Hess unveils the 2015 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings. (January 7, 2015) | Blog: Rick Hess Straight Up
Vol. 35, Issue 15
We encourage lively debate, but please be respectful of others. Profanity and personal attacks are prohibited. By commenting, you are agreeing to abide by our user agreement.
All comments are public.


text:
Common (adjective) 1. belonging equally to, or shared alike by, two or more
2. pertaining or belonging equally to an entire community, nation, or culture
3. joint; united --Random House Dictionary
Though we as a nation have caught our collective breath after the ugly political brawl in Washington over the debt-ceiling, don't get too comfy just yet. Round II looms large, with a November 23rd deadline. By that day the 12 member bi-partisan Congressional Super Committee is supposed to agree upon a formula of spending cuts and tax increases to slice $1.2 trillion from the federal budget, or automatic cuts of the same amount will kick in. There's even a Round III, as the 2012 Presidential campaign begins. Yes, THEY'RE BAAAAACK!
At the heart of this argument/fight/standoff is one basic question. What is the responsibility of individual citizens towards each other, in this community called the United States, and through this human made institution called "government"? You can ask that philosophical query in other ways. Who matters more: the individual or the collective? What matters more in civic life: rights or responsibilities? Is it government's role to provide an unfettered environment for individual achievement and in doing so, benefit the whole? Is it government's role to undertake and finance collective works to benefit the many? Should we tax more and cut less or cut more and tax less? When we do spend too much, who pays the bill?
All these question come down to one conundrum, what "in common" really means. After all politics is the coming together of people in common to determine what is best for the people. That's what faith always seeks too: this noble ideal called "the common good" and the hope that we will work together to achieve the most good for the most people. Faith does add one caveat. Don't ever forget the most vulnerable in all these calculations: the poor, the old, the stranger, the widow, and the orphan. These are the ones who almost always have no lobbyists or folks in power to speak up for them.
I think this "common" debate, which will surely intensify in the year ahead, is a rich one. It gives Americans the opportunity to consider again just what it means to be "in common" with each other. That's a perpetual discussion in our 235 year history. Asking just what "E Pluribus Unum" ("from many one") stands for. Hearing again the preamble, "We the people". Claiming a common nation to call home. And in 2012 struggling to come together and find a way to govern this amazing amalgam of 312 million folks. The stakes are enormous. Our future awaits. The world is watching. God is too, I think.
It's a beautifully elegant and clear word, "common". It's prefix, "com" means "with" or "together". It births many other profound words: community, comity (meaning civility), commitment, compassion, commonwealth, and complete. We already know how key the notion of "in common" is to life itself. What is a family, a church, a neighborhood, a town, a city, a world without such commonality, common ties, common hopes and dreams and interests?
So my one hope for all of us, as this national dialogue ensues, is that we will somehow come to reaffirm that in spite of all our civic fault lines, we are one. There's got to be something more than politics, geography, religion, race, demography, education, language, culture or class to bind us together and keep us in common. We're always quick to pay lip service to this cliché of national community in our pledges and patriotic hymns and flag pins, but do we really believe it? Are we the United States of America? Are we in common with our neighbor and the stranger? Or are we so far apart, that this commonality and the hope of unity elude us?
There are no quick or easy answers to these difficult communal questions. None of our present political leaders or the Presidential wannabes has arrived at a solution yet, all their claims aside. But maybe right now, we can thank God that we are having such a spirited and important debate. For it truly goes right to the heart of who we are and how we understand ourselves as a people.
How fitting as well that our discussion takes place in the shadow of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Remember that day? There was absolutely no doubt on that awe-ful September morning that we were one. Seems so long ago.
Will we be "in common"? I pray "Yes!" But this is not just up to you or me. It's up to us, all of us, in common.


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2 LT Richard P. Hartman
|2nd Lt
|Richard P. Hartman
|Mﺣsto a datum narozenﺣ/Birth date and place
|16.2.1919, Jacksonville, Illinois
|Mﺣsto a datum ﺣﭦmrtﺣ/Death date and place
|29.8.1944, Sanov, Czech republic
|Mﺣsto poslednﺣho odpoﺥinku/Grave location
|Lorraine American Cemetery, France, Plot D, row 27, grave 35
HARTMAN, Richard Perry (Dick)ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ 1919-1944
Dick Hartman se narodil ve mﺥstﺥ Jacksonville, Illinois dne 16. ﺣﭦnora 1919. Mﺥl o pﺥt let starﺧ۰ﺣho bratra. Dick a Bob strﺣ۰vili vﺥtﺧ۰inu jejich dﺥtstvﺣ v Jacksonville, na adrese 1040 West College Ave. Po zﺣ۰kladnﺣ ﺧ۰kole, po vzoru jeho bratra, se Dick rozhodl absolvovat Vojenskou akademii. ﺧ lo o letnﺣ ﺧ۰kolu v Culveru, Indiana. Dﺣ۰le absolvoval stﺧednﺣ ﺧ۰kolu v Jacksonville, tehdy znﺣ۰mou jako Newton Bateman High School, studium ukonﺥil v roce 1936. Na ﺧ۰kole hrﺣ۰l fotbal, zpﺣval v zﺣ۰bavnﺣ۸m krouﺧﺝku a byl ﺥlenem dramatickﺣ۸ho krouﺧﺝku.
Na rok odeﺧ۰el studovat Vysokou ﺧ۰kolu v Jacksonville, pak se ale rozhodl jﺣt ve stopﺣ۰ch svﺣ۸ho dﺥdeﺥka, Adama Hartmana a zapsal se na ﺧ۰kolu se zamﺥﺧenﺣm na pohﺧebnictvﺣ (Worsham School of Mortuary Science) v Chicagu. Ve stejnou dobu jeho bratr Bob studoval zdravotnﺣ universitu (Northwestern University) a jejich vztah se prohloubil.
Potﺣ۸, co obdrﺧﺝel titul, vrﺣ۰til se do Jacksonville, kde dostal prﺣ۰ci v pohﺧebnﺣm ﺣﭦstavu Williamson Funeral Home. V prosinci roku 1940 se stal aktivnﺣm v obﺥanskﺣﺛch zﺣ۰leﺧﺝitostech a byl jednﺣm z organizﺣ۰torﺧﺁ a zaklﺣ۰dajﺣcﺣch ﺥlenﺧﺁ juniorskﺣ۸ Obchodnﺣ komory Jacksonville (Junior Chamber of Commerce), znﺣ۰mﺣ۸ takﺣ۸ pod nﺣ۰zvem Jaycees. Pﺧﺁsobil jako jejﺣ prvnﺣ prezident a je vzpomenut na bronzovﺣ۸ pamﺥtnﺣ desce na budovﺥ Jaycee War Memorial Building ve mﺥstﺥ Tulsa, Oklahoma. Je jedinﺣﺛm mﺣstnﺣm presidentem Jaycee, kterﺣﺛ pﺧiﺧ۰el ve 2. svﺥtovﺣ۸ vﺣ۰lce o ﺧﺝivot.
4. ledna 1941 se oﺧﺝenil s Mary Belle Allan, z mﺥsta Du Quoin, Illinois a ﺧﺝili v Jacksonville aﺧﺝ do ﺧﺣjna 1942, kdy Dick vstoupil do americkﺣ۸ armﺣ۰dy. Asi o 3 mﺥsﺣce pozdﺥji zaﺥal jeho leteckﺣﺛ vﺣﺛcvik. Leteckﺣﺛ kadet Hartman byl povﺣﺛﺧ۰en do hodnosti poruﺥﺣka a obdrﺧﺝel Stﺧﺣbrnﺣ۰ kﺧﺣdla ve funkci bombometﺥﺣka potﺣ۸, co absolvoval ﺧ۰kolu bombometﺥﺣkﺧﺁ leteckﺣﺛch sil Spojenﺣﺛch stﺣ۰tﺧﺁ v Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, N.M.
Brzy potﺣ۸ byl poruﺥﺣk Hartman pﺧidﺥlen k posﺣ۰dce letounu Boeing B-17G u 15. leteckﺣ۸ armﺣ۰dy Spojenﺣﺛch stﺣ۰tﺧﺁ americkﺣﺛch, k 20. peruti 2. bombardovacﺣ skupiny se zﺣ۰kladnou v Itﺣ۰lii. Jeho prvnﺣ bojovou misﺣ byl nﺣ۰let na ropnﺣ۰ pole u Ploesti v Rumunsku a zﺣﭦﺥastnil se nﺥkolika dalﺧ۰ﺣch bojovﺣﺛch misﺣ pﺧedtﺣm, neﺧﺝ byl na jednﺣ۸ z nich jeho letoun sestﺧelen.
29. srpna, 1944, se Dick a jeho posﺣ۰dka nevrﺣ۰tili z nﺣ۰letu na Moravskou Ostravu v ﺥeskoslovensku (dneﺧ۰nﺣ ﺥeskﺣ۰ republika). Dick byl veden jako pohﺧeﺧ۰ovanﺣﺛ do srpna 1945, kdy jej a jeho posﺣ۰adku armada oficiﺣ۰lnﺥ uznala za zabitﺣ۸ho v akci. Jedinﺣﺛm z posﺣ۰dky, kdo pﺧeﺧﺝil, byl pilot Thayne L. Thomas.
Podle vzpomﺣnek jeho bratra Boba jejich rodiﺥe Ray a Blanche, nﺥkdy mezi srpnem 1944 a srpnem 1945, dokonce ﺧﺝﺣ۰dali o pomoc pﺧi zﺣskﺣ۰nﺣ informacﺣ o jejich pohﺧeﺧ۰ovanﺣ۸m synovi kongresmana Sida Simpsona z Caroltonu, Illinois.
V blﺣzkosti male vesniﺥky ﺧ anov, na mistﺥ havﺣ۰rie letadla, kde 9 americkﺣﺛch letcﺧﺁ pﺧiﺧ۰lo o ﺧﺝivot, je na pamﺣ۰tku tﺥchto mladﺣﺛch muﺧﺝﺧﺁ prostﺣﺛ pamﺣ۰tnﺣk. V ten den pﺧiﺧ۰lo o ﺧﺝivot celkem 41 americkﺣﺛch letcﺧﺁ, z nichﺧﺝ 28 bylo pohﺧbeno do hromadnﺣ۸ho hrobu v nedalekﺣ۸m mﺥstﺥ Slaviﺥﺣnﺥ. Vﺧ۰ichni z nich, mezi nimi i Richard P. Hartman byli exhumovﺣ۰nﺣ v zﺣ۰ﺧﺣ 1946. Mﺣsto Richardova poslednﺣho odpoﺥinku je na vojenskﺣ۸m hﺧbitovﺥ v St. Avold ve Francii.
V dobﺥ Dickovy aktivnﺣ sluﺧﺝby se svou ﺧﺝenou Mary oﺥekﺣ۰vali svﺣ۸ prvnﺣ dﺣtﺥ, kterﺣ۸ se narodilo ﺧ۰est dnﺣ po havﺣ۰rii Dickova letadlaﻗ۵a dcera Mary Jane proto nikdy nepoznala svﺣ۸ho otce, ale po vﺧ۰echny ty dlouhﺣ۸ roky se snaﺧﺝila udrﺧﺝovat kontakt s Hartmanovou rodinou. Jejﺣ matka, Dickova ﺧﺝena Mary Belle, se 6. listopadu 1947 znovu provdala za Raye O. Arganbrighta, zubnﺣho lﺣ۸kaﺧe z mﺥsta Decatur, Illinois.
Zdroj: Suzanne Hartman Verticchio, Richardova neteﺧ
HARTMAN, Richard Perry (Dick)ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ ﺡ 1919-1944
ﺡ Dick Hartman was born in Jacksonville, Illinois February 16, 1919.ﺡ His brother, Robert, was five years older than he.ﺡ Dick and Bob spent most of their childhood years in the home at 1040 West College Ave, in Jacksonville.ﺡ After elementary school, Dick went on to graduate from Culver Military Academy, as did his brother.ﺡ This was a summer school in Culver, Indiana. He graduated from Jacksonville, High School, then known as Newton Bateman High School, in 1936.ﺡ There, he played football, sang in the glee club, and was a member of the drama club.
He went on to study at Illinois College for one year and then decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Adam Hartman, and enrolled in the Worsham School of Mortuary Science, in Chicago.ﺡ His brother Bob was in medical school at Northwestern University at the time, and their relationship deepened.
After receiving his degree at Worsham, he returned to Jacksonville and took a job at Williamson Funeral Home.ﺡ He became active in civic affairs and was one of the organizers and charter members of the Jacksonville Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) in December of 1940.ﺡ He served as that organizationﻗs first president and is remembered on a bronze plaque at the Jaycee War Memorial Building in Tulsa Oklahoma.ﺡ He was the only local Jaycee president to lose his life in World War II.
He married Mary Belle Allan, of DuQuoin Illinois, on January 4, 1941 and they lived in Jacksonville until he entered the U. S. Army in October of 1942.ﺡ About three months later, he began training as a flying cadet.ﺡ Aviation Cadet Hartman was commissioned as a second lieutenant and awarded the silver wings of a bombardier when he graduated from the Army air Forceﻗs bombardier school in Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, N.M.
Soon thereafter, 2nd Lieutenant Hartman was assigned to a B-17 crew with the 15th Army Air Force based in Italy, the 20th Bomber Squadron, 2nd Bomber Group. He flew his first mission over the oil fields in Ploesti, Rumania and participated in several other bombing raids before the one in which their plane was shot down.ﺡ
On August 29, 1944, Dick and his crew failed to return after a bombing raid over Moravska-Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic.)ﺡ Dick was listed as ﻗmissing in actionﻗ until August of 1945, when the Army officially listed him and his crew as killed in action.ﺡ The pilot Thayne L. Thomas was the only survivor.
His brother, Bob recalls that between August 1944 and August 1945, their parents, Ray and Blanche asked U.S. Representative Sid Simpson of Carrolton IL for help on obtaining information about their missing son.ﺡ
There is a monument near the town of Sanov, Czech Republic, the site of the crash where 9 U. S. airman lost their lives. In total 41 US fiers were killed in the action on that date. In Slavicin, Czech Republic, there is a mass grave where 28 from them were buried. All of them were exhumed in September 1946, Richard P. Hartman among them, and his remains were then buried in a military cemetery in St. Avold, Lorraine, France.
Tragically, Dick and Mary were expecting their first child at the time, and she was born six days after Dickﻗs plane went down. Thus, Mary Jane never knew her father, but tried to remain in contact with the Hartman family through the years. Her mother, Dickﻗs wife Mary Belle, married Ray O Arganbright, DDS of Decatur, Illinois November 6, 1947.
Source: Suzanne Hartman Verticchio, Richard' s niece
Foto galerie/ Photo gallery
pro zobrazenﺣ popisku fotografie po rozkliknutﺣ kliknﺥte na symbol "i" / for viewing the photo description please click on the symbol "i" after opening the picture
Richard P. Hartman
Jane Pifer – Richardova dcera / Richard's daughter
Zdroj profilovﺣ۸ fotografie ﻗ knihovna Jacksonville, Illinois via Svatopluk Vaculﺣk /ﺡ Source of the profile picture ﻗ library ofﺡ Jacksonville, Illinois via Svatopluk Vaculﺣk
Zdroj ostatnﺣch fotografiﺣ – Jane Pifer, dcera Richarda P. Hartmana / Source of the other pics – Jane Pifer, daughter of Richard P. Hartman


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I rang my sister in Tasmania tonight while all was going well she dropped a bombshell on me my sister joan is dying she has brain cancer she has put up with years of abuse and never complained about the miss treatment she got from that thing she is married too as she was/is too frightend of him and his reprisals they share 5 children one who is mently handycaped. a few years a go she had a brain opperation for two aneurysms and was told by the Doctor there will be something else as time goes on no one expected this the Doctors say she hasn't long . could you please keep us in your thoughts and prayers thanks I need to go I am having trounble seeing the keyboard. Thanks again
Joan Clarke
A Sister Just Like YouI just want to let you knowYou mean the world to meOnly a heart as dear as yoursWould give so unselfishly
The many things you've doneAll the times that you were thereHelp me know deep insideHow much you really care
Even though I might not sayI appreciate all you doRichly blessed is how I feelHaving a Sister just like you
I love you Joan
My thoughts and prayers go out to your sister, you and all concerned family and friends.
This is a very sad day. My thoughts go to your sister and you.
Very sad news, Shaunna. So much suffering only to have this additional tragedy happen. She'll be in our thoughts as well...and you to give you the strength to deal with this. I hope it's a low grade growth and one which can be dealt with effectively, with no suffering.
She and you will be in our hearts and thoughts....if you wish to talk, you know where I am. Do try to spend time together now, rather than later and try to have a bit of fun together...make some really happy, loving memories.
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dear mrs starkers - my heart goes out to you and yr family, this is truly devestating news and must be very upsetting for you. words will not make you feel better but you are in my thoughts and i really hope your sister is surrounded with love in her hours of need
...so sorry to hear that Shaunna...my prayers for you and your sister ....
My thoughts and prayers go out to your sister and you mrs starkers !
You and your family are in my thoughts friend.
There are no true words right now that can ease your pain and am very sorry you have to go through this. You will be in my prayers everyday.
Sad news indeed. My prayers go out to her and you.
My thoughts and prayers go out to your sister, you and family
Please accept my heartfelt sympathies. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Thank you to everyone, its times like these you need your family and friends around you, I am blessed with both my family and friends and my family here at WC a heart felt thanks to you all
So sad to hear this. You, your sister and your family will be in my prayers.
thanks again everyone for all your kind words its very much appreciated I will keep you informed on whats going on I have a brother in Tasmania as well I will give him a call tomorrow night to see if there is any further news
You and your sister are in my thoughts Shaunna, so sad to hear this
I am greatly saddened by reading this news and will keep you and your family in my prayers.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, your sister and the familys.
Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.
My prayers go out to you and your sister Shaunna. After the past life you have described, I hope she finds peace and love of family during the time she has remaining.
bummer, my thoughts for all of you.
I am sorry to hear about your sister. My thoughts and prayers are with you and with her.
You and your sister are in my thoughts....I hope the doctor is wrong and that she survives longer than expected...if she's not in too much pain.
im sorry to hear about this........
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Eva (2010)
- Studio: The Weinstein Company
- Release: 2010
- Director: Kike Maíllo
- Writer: Sergi Belbel, Cristina Clemente, Aintza Serra
- Cast: Daniel Brühl, Alberto Ammann, Lluís Homar, Marta Etura, Claudia Vega
Video archive for the film Eva, which has a domestic theatrical release in the year of 2010. There are currently two videos available for the film, of which two are trailers, as listed below. Happy viewing!
Featured Movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker


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Beta Version
Extractive Industries Initiatives Database
Search for an Initiative » Partnerships for Development
Partnerships for Development
Lead Organization Name
- Toolkit
- Case Studies
- Mining
Lead by
This global initiative seeks to enhance mining�s contribution to development and poverty reduction through multi-stakeholder partnerships
Value Chain Focus
Have a mix of stakeholders such as public, private and civil society sectors contributed to the design of the initiative?
Geographical Focus
- Global
In-country work
Who is it for?
industrial extractives companies, host country national governments
How does the initiative try to reach its objective?
Partnerships for Development has three core elements:
1) A commitment by ICMM corporate members to seek partnerships across the six priority areas
2) A call to other stakeholders to collaborate with ICMM members in this respect and to state their support for the initiative
3) ICMM assists in the implementation by members and communicates best practice partnerships. A mapping of partnerships has been conducted and a toolkit for implementation has been developed.


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Social media and the advent of video on the web means one thing: lots of great Buffalo NY videos going viral. Here are some worth seeing and sharing!
Buffalo: America's Best Designed City
Slow Roll Buffalo (Biking)
Over Buffalo
#Buffalove14 2014 Summer Pics
Buffalo: This Place Matters
Buffalo: For Real
Are You Right For Buffalo?


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|Commonwealth Games rep Julian Matthews didn't mess about to set a new course record
Sometimes you just have to be there to witness these things. Tonight Nelsonian, Julian Matthews and 2014 Commonwealth Games 1500 representative clocked a sizzling 14.38 to take 3 seconds off the previous course record set by by Hamish Carson in 2013. This is a terrific time given the stiff breeze and normal waterfront congestion.
Second fastest was Levente (Levi) Timar who crossed the line in 16.07. This was his first appearance in this event for 2 years. Ben Tyman, multiple winner in this event, was third in a time of 16,38, a full minute down on Matthews. Ayesha Shafi was the first female home in 19.13, a PB for her I believe.
Meanwhile, David Smol the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) equaled his best time of 21.40 set in August.
|Training for the Maadi Cup
|The Coxswain is the boss of the boat on the water steering with a piece of string
|Levente Timar
|Ben Twyman
|Ayesha Shafi


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Easy Ways to Clear Your Mind
By: Missy Marston
Do you have trouble focusing while you meditate? Do you find your mind wandering and getting off track? Meditation is about clearing your mind and listening to your inner voice and higher self. Some find it difficult to meditate, even in a controlled, calm, and peaceful environment free of distractions. If you have difficulties with this, try out these ways to focus!
- Stop trying to stop your thoughts – acknowledge your thoughts and then let them go. Try to focus on the silence in between these thoughts.
- Embrace your restlessness – be the watcher of your feelings, instead of the one feeling them. Allow yourself to feel the restlessness in your body until it settles. This same practice can be done with strong emotional feelings during meditation as well.
- Start simple – begin by sitting and counting your deep breaths. As you first inhale, think 'one' until you exhale. Repeat your second breath and focus on 'two' until you exhale. Continue this process until you are fully relaxed. If your mind begins to wander, it's okay. Begin again with 'one'.
- Try touch – Put your fingers or hand on your chest and feel your breath. Focus on the sensation of breathing and nothing else. Soon, you will feel relaxed with a clearer mind.
- Become aware of yourself – Look at your toes and really feel them. Slowly move to your feet and do the same. Continue this until you reach the top of your head, focusing on each chakra as you come to it.
So, if you have not tried mediation because you feel you can't, try it out anyway! It's a great asset to your mental, physical, and spiritual health!
Read more articles by Missy Marston!
About the author: My name is Missy Marston, webmaster and editor of MetaMissy.com. I am 23 years of age living in sunny Florida. I have two dogs, two cats, and too many fish – I adore animals. I love reading, especially Kurt Vonnegut, and have a steady interest in philosophers. On October 10th, I lost my best friend and little sister, Christina. Out of that tragic experience came a reminder of my deep-rooted love for all things metaphysical and a sign for my future path. Within weeks, I began channeling Christina! I want everyone to know the enlightening truth that there is much more out there than we realize. There is so much more waiting inside of ourselves than we give credit for, and all of it is easily accessible. Come with me on a journey from deep inside your conscious to the outer rims of the multiverse! Follow me on Facebook!


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Gangs suck. The sentiment so succinctly yet elegantly worded by the kids from Otangarei – written on a placard on their hikoi against gangs, marching for a healthy 'clean' place to live. I hope I live long enough to see one of you kids campaigning for Mayor. You've got my vote. Gangs may suck but you really rock. And it's so true. Gangs really do suck. Gangs suck because there are no real winners in a gang – there might be one head honcho but there are never any real winners just like there are no real choices. Slaves don't get choices and whatever way you look at it gangs are full of slaves – you're always going to need a lot of clueless minions to bully your way through life.
Ask how many young prospects doing time for stupendously stupid acts of random violence or eating the time from someone else's offending, just how much choice they've ever had in their situation. Sure – there's the sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself – people join bowling clubs for the same reasons. Or go to church. Those people don't tend to corner the market in methamphetamine over a few beers or on the way home from mass though. There's the sense of brotherhood; I suppose that's a bonus, but you could always play sport or join the Lions or something and it's not all just about the brothers because I haven't heard a lot of stories of women in gangs feeling the love from the sisterhood – there's a fairly cruel and exacting pecking order there.
Gangs don't recruit too many happy, well adjusted kids with great family backgrounds and heaps of opportunities either. That's because they're not offering any opportunities that anyone would really want if they really had any choice. Sure there's the odd refugee from Remuera who runs away with some mobster for 5 minutes for the novelty of doing the books and filing the GST forms for the non-existent businesses he runs, but once she realises that there are very few old gangsters and even fewer older good looking ones and virtually none that ever get to keep any of the money in the long run, she can usually be clocked heading back at record speed to the safety of the family business and the trust fund. She may also discover – as did the Freakanomics guy when he actually did the maths – that drug dealers often end up living with… their Mum. That's because, contrary to popular mythology gangsters rarely make much real money and what they do make they have to make disappear.
What I think the kids from Otangarei were saying was; 'gangs are deeply uncool,' and that their own aspirations far outstrip anything a gang might have to offer. It was as if the Killer Beez had become the Funny Honey Bee, Angry Fist Club had taken a break for Rainbow Power Tie-dying Day and Hello Kitty had eaten the mixed Breed Canines for Breakfast. It was like they were saying 'We're so over this – we deserve better." And they do. They deserve to be the original gangsters and start to run this town for real. But first they'll need a law degree, join the rugby union and the young nationals and then buy a farm. Or they might do something refreshingly different. Who knows?
What is certain is that they'll need access to the healthcare, education and a safe environment that'll get them to a place where they are confident enough to be helping themselves to a decent slice of the pie rather than accepting any of the crumbs that some gang might leave behind. And one day one of those kids just might be sitting in a boardroom somewhere and remember that they once marched down the street with a sign saying 'Gangs Suck' just before the gangs in their part of town sucked the proverbial kumara forever.
Gang Really Should Suck the Kumara
Gangs suck. The sentiment so succinctly yet elegantly worded by the kids from Otangarei – written on a placard on their hikoi against gangs, marching for a healthy 'clean' place to live. I hope I live long enough to see one of you kids campaigning for Mayor. You've got my vote. Gangs may suck but you really rock. And it's so true. Gangs really do suck. Gangs suck because there are no real winners in a gang – there might be one head honcho but there are never any real winners just like there are no real choices. Slaves don't get choices and whatever way you look at it gangs are full of slaves – you're always going to need a lot of clueless minions to bully your way through life.
Look out!
Look out. It's coming. Picking up the sky tv guide and seeing Prince Willy's gormless grin and Katie's bridal pose sent me reeling. Within minutes I was itching all over and was having difficulty breathing. I threw the offending image across the room but to no avail. Weddingness emanated from beneath the sofa. Must burn image!! I muttered as I staggered about looking for matches. The seven year old offered me her asthma inhaler and to call the ambulance and I noted abstractly to self that it might not necessarily be a good thing that the most mature person in the household is only 7. "Are you allergic?" she asked. As a matter of fact I am. I suffer from gamophobia. I'm scared, perplexed and generally allergic to marriage.
Specifically: other people's weddings, in particular royal ones.
I'm scared of weddings in the way that other people are afraid of clowns or Rodney Hide. Which is why I'm in love with Richie McCaw. He must be the only sane person in the world who actually turned down an invite to the big rubber stamp of official approval of the bedroom behaviour of Prince Willy and his not so royal consort. Richie had better things to do – and I get that.
I just don't get weddings. I'm officially banned from ever being a bridesmaid again amongst my friends. This could be because instead of a back up make up kit, I'd organised a getaway car for the back of the church. Just in case. In fairness to my intuition that she was possibly about to make a huge mistake, she did a runner not much later with a girl on a Harley. Didn't see that coming. I'd witnessed the full on meringue – the huge ring and the flower detailed Cinderella shoes - it was as if the person I had always known had been possessed by a wedding daemon. There is photographic evidence of me in full green meringue (groom's idea) with a number one skinhead hairdo holding a bouquet of roses like a Westie girl holds a broken beer bottle. I can testify that it is not a good look. And it's not just me.
Weddings do strange things to people – I have to agree with Bob Jones on this one: weddings make people lose any sense of taste or good sense. Otherwise normal people decide that pearls and a crown is a good look. Wedding cakes are defaced if not up to fashion standards. People have domestics over too much champagne and not enough to eat and the best man ends up bonking the bride. Or is that just my friends' weddings? One of the funniest phone calls I've ever received was finding out about a close friend's wedding while away in Argentina. She rang to say she was getting divorced: 'But I didn't know you were married!!' I said shocked. "When did that happen?!" "Well I'd been told I only had a few months to live so I went and did the full wedding bridesmaid dress thing… you know.. every girl has got to do it." I didn't but I murmured something vaguely assenting. "And so, what happened? Why didn't it work out?" I asked, scared of the answer… "Well, you know…' she said in her laid back laconic fashion ' I got married because I thought I was going to die… and then I woke up one morning and he was watching videos and drinking beer and I thought: "Oh. My. God. What if I live?!!! So I left him." The divorce – not the wedding was her affirmation of life. And to this day – that is the best wedding I've never been to.
In order to survive the next few sick-making weeks of royal wedding mania I know I will develop optophobia. This is when the world becomes just too weird that you are too scared to even open your eyes. Wake me when it's over.


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The primary focus of any business manager is always how to take operations to the next level and beyond, securing a stable and prosperous future of growth for the business as a whole. As such, it would probably be fair to say that essential tasks like bookkeeping services or cash and payment management don't exactly take priority. The situation is therefore one wherein these important, if entirely moribund duties are either dangerously neglected and cause problems in their own right, or swallow up far too large a proportion of the limited time and resources the business has to spare.
This is where the idea of outsourcing comes into the equation for the sensible business owner.
By passing on these duties to a third-party professional, business owners and employees across the ranks are immediately freed up to focus on the most important areas to generate growth and prosperity. What's more, an elite bookkeeping and accounts service will always double-up as a trusted advisor to help steer the business in the right direction while overseeing the efficiency of day to day cash flow and transactions.
Why is Payment Management Outsourcing Beneficial?
The main job of the business owner is to devise ways and means to sell a product or services and implement those means as quickly and effectively as possible. When it comes to SMEs in particular, the amount of time and resources on hand to go about this are finite to say the least, which means that any time spent on controlling and handling disbursements and receivables is in essence as good as wasted. When these jobs are outsourced to a professional with the kind of expertise and cutting-edge tools and assets needed, the job immediately becomes child's play and of no concern to the business.
Investing in the equipment and provisions to take care of treasury management in-house can be hugely expensive to say the least, as even the most remedial direct debit softwarecan pack a financial wallop. Opt for an outsourced solution on the other hand and the business can benefit from the kind of bulk processing technology entirely out of reach for the in-house solution, which offers not only greater speed of processing, but lower costs and an entirely optimised process.
In addition, SMEs experience that kind of growth, expansion and evolution that even the biggest companies in the world cannot rival, though in so many instances the infrastructure a small business has in place cannot keep up with the demands of the growth. Outsourcing in the early stages of the business guarantees infinite room to grow and expand without having to build new, expensive and time-consuming solutions in advance.
And What Can be Outsourced?
This all depends on the size and type of business in question, but typical outsourcing agreements pass on everything from the simplest printing and mailing of invoices right through to international transfers and regular direct debit payments. What's more, each and every process is carefully monitored by those taking the reins in order to ensure 100% efficiency and the lowest possible costs.
Sally Cooper is a self-confessed finance geek who despite working primarily in corporate administration has a life-long passion for accountancy. She is currently studying part-time in her native Newcastle and intends to pursue her passion in the future.


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You all must be extremely tired,we will hold your family in our prayers. 💗
It Begins: Flight to Oman
We're an hour from Dubai, the flight information displays on the small seat back monitor with live action digital simulation. I'm seated with my four kids, taking up half of the last row of the airplane; Cooper is still in Washington. In real time I watch as we pass over Tehran. The display is then interrupted with an image of a Breitling watch, "the official onboard time keeper." (It's Swiss Air, after all.)I have no sense of time. It's 7:30 pm in Iran, 8:30 am in Los Angeles. Whatever. I'm eating ice cream. Movenpick. It's cold and creamy and a nice diversion from my headache.
The closing scenes before we left were unduly stressful. It involved a last minute pedicure for Maggie and myself at the nail salon next to our hotel. Then a bad decision on my part, made while under the influence of a Vietnamese lady rubbing knots out of my calves. "Would I also like a hand massage and manicure?" Sure!
It was oh so good while it lasted. But afterwards we had to rush to get our Subway sandwiches, (which we had no time to eat until we were safely through security). And we had to gather our suitcases from two hotel rooms and drag all 8 of them, along with carry-on's to the Marriott hotel shuttle. My newly glistening coral nail enamel now looks like melted wax crayons.
I pick at the bits of enamel that remain as we land in Dubai. 99% of the passengers disembark, leaving us, and couple of US college students to watch as cleaning crews gather up trash and wipe down seat handles. The plane is refueling. We wait. And wait. It's another 40 minutes to Muscat, tacked onto our 7-1/2 hour journey to Zurich, 4 hour layover in Switzerland, and 7 hour flight to Dubai. My knees are achy, my ankles slightly swollen. My air cooling foam Sketchers from TJMaxx–worth every penny.
Maggie has watched all the good kid shows, boredom is setting in. Thankfully, theonboard flight monitor recalibrates. People are boarding, (all three of them). It's nearing 10 pm and outside temperatures are 38 degrees Celsius (100 F). We have 350 kilometers (217 miles) left to go.
It will be time to sleep when we get there and I'm hoping my body will cooperate. I'm trumped up on adrenaline and Swiss chocolate. It's been non-stop momentum since the movers arrived last week and we said our goodbyes to St. George. I'm still processing.
We begin to move down the runway and Maggie turns to me and says, "When the seat belt sign goes off you're taking me to the lavatory." Okay, seven year old. Since when did we say lavatory? Since when did a seven year old live in three countries and four states? Since when did this become our life?
I gaze at the monitor, our airplane is passing over Al Buraymi and Suhar and it occurs to me I have no idea where I'm going. I mean I know I'm going to Muscat, yes. But the culture, the people, the geography, the extreme temperatures, the geo-political climate. This is somewhere new and completely foreign.
I think back to the woman who sat diagonally in front of us who got off the plane in Dubai. She was in her mid-60's, wearing a head scarf, her body turned and angled so she could see us, Maggie and I, and stare at us for long portions of the flight. She wasn't the least bit concerned that I caught or held her gaze. We smiled at each other many times. And it was as if I could see my questions reflected in her expression-who are you and where are you going? Up until this somewhat odd interaction, I'd thought of moving to Oman as MY experience, my journey. But my one sided look at how this was going to affect ME and was misguided. It is never just about YOU or ME. It is our shared interaction with one other that informs our experience. My presence with my daughter, speaking English, somehow had meaning for this woman. And I realized after, with some seriousness and humility, that what I do and say and how I act will inform the opinions of others, not just about ME, but about the United States, about "the west." We will be a reference point for "westerners," and glances meaningful and in passing will make impressions.
I'm not sure what I'll discover in Oman, but I know whenever we step into the unknown, we also enter new parts of ourselves. Be that a personal journey, a change in environment, a move, life will bring us out the better for it. As the Taoist say, "The journey is the reward."
8 Comments on "It Begins: Flight to Oman"
All the best to you all as you get settled in to your new home. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Take deep breaths and live in the moment.
Xxoo Kate
I hope you made it safely and you were able to sleep. I'm excited for you in this new chapter of your life! ❤


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Thursday was a slump day. I started off with good intentions to get a lot of work done, but I took time after eating to play Spider Solitaire (SS). That's my break time; my time when I don't have to be thinking about all the things I should be doing. I don't want to be "working" all the time and "thinking" is working. I tend to think way too much!
Unfortunately, SS doesn't occupy my mind enough to stop mind chatter. My brain still multitasks. I can have more than one scenario or conversation going on in my head at the same time, and when I slip into daydreaming, it's often dreaming of things going wrong.
I tell myself to stop, but it's like watching a movie. I want to see the end … until I force myself to stop. I try to think of something else; that turns towards disaster, too. Even thinking of the mini-vacation next week evolved into things going wrong like accidents, attacks, and issues with hotels or people. I try to envision work around the house or art work, but again, that's about work and the daydreaming brings to mind everything that has not worked out right.
Stop! Stop those downward thought patterns!
Yesterday I was determined not to fall into that funk again and get back to living a whole-hearted life.
The most important thing to do is not listen to or read the news. It's hard to get away from it. There are headlines on Facebook, people are always going on about some issue or other and blowing everything all out of proportion or not having all the facts, the TV or radio are talking constantly about every bad thing that has happened. Then there's all the commercials yelling about their products.
I get a kick out of the radio station that comes on as my alarm clock in the morning. The news always starts with "Here's what you need to know today…" and it's always about someone getting killed, some disaster, or some political controversy. Do I really need to know that? No. I don't think there has ever been anything I've needed to know.
Think about it. We are constantly bombarded with negativity, most of which we can't do anything about. Commercials are constantly pounding us. The constant repetition of the terrors in the country and world, everything bad and horrible, all the grief and anger affects everyone. Is this what you want to surround yourself with? Is this what you want for your family and kids?
The more negativity pounded into us, the more negativity and horror there will be. It's like mob mentality. People get caught up in it. They can't help it. It's psychological. The pumped-up attitudes, the adrenaline rushes, the need to strike out – it's catchy. People's emotions run rampantly out of control.
Think about it. Think about how easy it is to get caught up in others' emotions. When they are angry, you get angry. When they are pumped-up and rallying against one thing or another, you get pumped-up, too. People stop thinking for themselves when caught up in all the emotion. And it doesn't matter where you are -- even concerts, pep rallies, sports games, protests -- people get caught up in all that emotion and may end up acting in a way they never would. Think about it – is this the type of person you want to be?
Not me! I'm pulling back, refusing to get into it. Yes, I'm repeating what I've said before. Repetition is how we learn and my goal is to repeat things to myself that are important to me, that will bring me joy and mental well-being. (Not the repetition of commercials and negativity.)
Think about it – what do you want to have repeated to you? Think about the commercials, TV programs, newspaper stories, and such. Is this the type of stuff you want running your life? Think about it – anger begets more anger, negativity begets more negativity, terrorism creates more terrorism, violence promotes more violence … Think about it.
Think about it. What do you want to promote for your community, state, country, world? And what happens when so much effort and thought is being concentrated somewhere else and we are not taking care of our own communities?
So, how can I live whole-heartedly? Whenever I think that, it brings me back to myself. It helps me rein in my brain when my thoughts are scrambling and feeling overwhelmed. Asking how I can live whole-heartedly focuses my thoughts in the here and now. Taking care of now will also build for tomorrow.
And living whole-heartedly means caring for others. It's helping when I can and where I can. It's knowing what fights to fight and when to walk away. It's taking care not to jump on the latest bandwagon because that's what everyone else is doing. It's taking the time to look at a situation instead of being caught up in the hoop-la. It's choosing what types of repetitions will be beneficial to whole-hearted living because creating good for me will help create good in those I meet.
Think about it. What kind of life do you want? I am choosing to live a whole-hearted life. I'm not perfect, but I am being the best I can be.


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Apparently, Iron Mike is going to play the role of an alien trapped inside Mike Tyson's body in the third installment of Will Smith's sci-fi thriller. Ironic much? [Ted Williams Head]
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon want to play the roles of former wife-swapping Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson in the flick, "The Trade." Hold up: Aren't these guys supposed to be Red Sox fans!? [Big League Stew]
Is this kid the next LeBron James? He's already got the right nickname. [Prep Rally]
We aren't even a month removed from Super Bowl XLV and Rex Ryan is already guaranteeing a Super Bowl for the Jets next season. You couldn't at least wait until March, Rex? [New York Daily News]
And Erin Andrews is helping cover the Oscars on Sunday. Uh, yeah. Count us in! [Terez Owens]


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For anyone who has ever had to stand in line at a supermarket, retailer, bank or anywhere else, here are some tips from experts for picking the line that will move the fastest:
Get behind a shopper who has a full cart
Getting in line with numerous people who have fewer things can be a poor choice. The New York Times reported a research that found all of that takes an average of 41 seconds per person and items to be rung up take about three seconds each. That means getting in line with numerous people who have fewer things can be a poor choice.
Think of it this way: One person with 100 items to be rung up will take an average of almost six minutes to process. If you get in a line with four people who each have 20 items, it will take an average of nearly seven minutes. Those minutes add up. Richard Larson, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who is considered the foremost expert on queues, estimated that Americans spend 37 billion hours a year waiting in lines.
Source: gulfnews
Go left for faster service
Robert Samuel, founder of Same Ole Line Dudes, a New York-based service that will stand in line for you, said in an email that most people are right-handed and tend to veer to the right.
Look for female cashiers
Sexist as this may sound but, A. J. Marsden, an assistant professor of Human Services and Psychology at Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, suggested checking to see if a cashier was talkative and commenting on every item being scanned. If so, avoid this line "unless there is no one in that line, in which case, just deal with the chatty cashier," she said in an email to The New York Times.
Study the customers ahead and what they are buying
It is not just the number of people ahead of you, but their age and what they are buying that can make a difference, Professor Marsden said. Older people will take a bit longer because they can have difficulties that delay the checkout process, such as not understanding how a debit card works, she said.
Also consider the number of different items they are buying, Professor Larson said. Six bottles of the same soda will go faster than six totally different items, some of which cannot be scanned, such as vegetables, he said.
Beware of lines with obstructions
If you find yourself in a line that snakes around a corner or where the cashier's view of the number of customers is obstructed by a wall or a shelf, be prepared for a longer wait, one study found. The study, released in June, noted that obstructions hinder the feedback cashiers get from seeing how their work thins the line.
What can you do to speed up service?
• Always face bar codes toward the cashier.
• When buying clothes, remove the hangers and pull the tags out for easy scanning.
• Use the buddy system at the express lanes. Split the items so you each stay within the maximum number allowed and then get out the door quicker.
Remember: A lot of the waiting game is mental
To some degree, waiting is all in your head. Research has found that, on average, people overestimated how long they waited in a line by 36 percent. Customers are more concerned with how long a line is than how fast it moves, according to research by Prof. Ziv Carmon of the business school Insead and Prof. Daniel Kahneman of Princeton University. Given a choice between a slow-moving short line and a fast-moving long one, people will often opt for the short line, even if the waits are identical.
The psychology of queuing has also found that waits seem shorter when you are distracted. Professor Norton recommended talking to the person next to you or reading the magazines in the store's racks. "And try to lose the idea that you are cursed," he said. "If you remembered the times when it actually went smoothly, you would probably realize that it evens out in the long run."
Information Source: NYtimes
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Well, I followed through and met with a trainer this afternoon!
That's the good news. The young man was top-notch and not muscle-bound and into his body. I could tell from talking with him that he was genuinely interested in helping people meet their goals. After a 2 hour session filled with questionnaires, assessments of strength, flexibility and stamina, I was given my results. That's where the not so good news begins! I won't tell you the results, but I can assure you that I won't be winning a triathlon any time soon! But, it is good for a person to know exactly where they are so they can't fool themselves any longer! That would be where I am about now!
The bad news? Well, the bad news is that a personal trainer is not going to be a part of my plan, at least for now. Meeting with him was a very educational experience. I benefited from going. Now at least I know what having a personal trainer is all about and someday that will be back in my plan! At least I can dream and strategize.
More good news? Perspective is everything! I now appreciate my gym membership all the more and will work harder getting my toosh there at least 3 times a week!
It's time to adjust and adapt. No personal trainer? Then I need to call my friends who go to the same gym and see when they go. I'll just have to "make an appointment" with them. Then instead of being accountable to a trainer, I'll be accountable to them. That's a bit more of a challenge – trying to synchronize schedules – but it's not impossible. My friends will encourage me to show up. I can still succeed. I just have to be flexible, like Gumby and Pokey.
So, as in all of life, one must take stock, and readjust. That's a good thing. It's a necessary thing.
It's been a productive and informative day and I've taken one more step in the right direction.
How about you? How are you coming with your plans? Any adjustments needing to be made?


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I love this op-ed. Why? Because it goes beyond "this political party good, this political party bad."
Instead, it simply looks at how the issue of the death penalty has prompted demogoguery among Democrats. Good job to Dan Rodricks of the Baltimore Sun.
Our society can do better than capital punishment
Just as death penalty supporters present an intuitive argument -- killing killers keeps others from killing -- those of us who hope the Maryland General Assembly repeals the state's capital punishment statute this year have a belief that is similarly grounded in intuition and probably impossible to verify: Killing killers keeps others killing. I've considered both arguments over the years and come down on the side of the latter: State-sanctioned executions stunt our spiritual and moral evolution, they contribute to the cheapening of human life, and they have been far more useful to politicians than they have to the rest of us.
The part about politicians is easy to demonstrate, and I don't need much more than this: Bill Clinton and his wife support the death penalty. Why? Because it gives them tough-on-crime cred, makes them seem more conservative than they truly are.
When he was running for president in 1992, Clinton slipped back to Arkansas just long enough to oversee the execution of a brain-damaged killer named Rickey Ray Rector. It was the third execution during his tenure as Arkansas governor. Clinton scraped away the moral questions to score points with a public that might have regarded him as soft on crime. That was the attack his Republican opponent had launched in 1980, when Clinton lost his gubernatorial re-election campaign, and Clinton wasn't going to let that happen again.
In 1992, other so-called liberals, Paul Tsongas and Bob Kerrey, embraced the death penalty, hoping such a position would pull the Democratic Party to the political middle and win back voters who had marched off to join the Reagan Revolution in the previous 3 presidential elections.
The death penalty has been used for political gain across the land.
Mike Miller, the Maryland Senate president and for way too long now a leading Democrat in this blue state, said this in 2004: "If there's a gallows, I'll pull the lever. If there's a gas chamber, I'll turn the valve. If it's lethal injection, I'll insert the needle."
In the hands of politicians, the death penalty has been used in this way-- to earn tough-on-crime bona fides -- or as an object of demagoguery.
It has not been as useful to the greater society and likely worked against us.
There's no real evidence that having the death penalty deters others from committing acts of violence, but politicians, including prosecutors, keep making the claim. (The new Baltimore County state's attorney, Scott Shellenberger, told The Sun last week: "I'm still very much in favor ofthe death penalty. I still think it acts as a deterrent. Certainly a deterrent of one [person], and that is the person that receives the death penalty [and] will never kill again.")
This stuff has become so cliched now.
What's it getting us? A safer society? Fewer house break-ins? Fewer stolen cars? Fewer citizens locked up in prisons and jails? Fewer Baltimore boys being killed in the middle of the night?
If an American ideal is that our society be less violent -- and I think we still want that, right? -- then we can't be authorizing executions.
That's the moral burden of calling ours a civilized society.
If we all know and believe that violence begets violence, why do we give it our official approval? The death penalty makes hypocrites of us all.
I salute those in the General Assembly who are finally taking this up. I wish them luck in breaking through the demagogues' hold on the issue. And good for the new governor, who says he will sign a repeal if it reaches his desk. He might be ringing a bell to mark a new generation of American Democrat.
"I think the dollars could go to better use and could be invested in things that actually save lives," Martin O'Malley said the other day. "I don't believe the death penalty saves lives."
Here's what saves lives and makes our communities safer: Good medical care for poor children; access to successful schools; dynamic and sustained intervention in the lives of at-risk juveniles and rehabilitation of the dysfunctional families that produced them; restoration of fathers to households; strict enforcement of handgun laws and hard sentences for adults who repeat violent crimes; hospitalization and treatment for men and women addicted to heroin, cocaine and alcohol; job opportunities for ex-offenders to stem recidivism.
Killers should go away for life without parole. We pay for that -- that's the price of calling ourselves civilized. But if we do the other stuff -- all that unfinished business that we need to get to in the next generation -- then eventually we'll have fewer killers coming into our courts and our prisons. That has to remain the ideal. We get there with logic and reason, not with demagoguery, and not by lethal injection.
Abolish the Death Penalty is a blog dedicated to...well, you know. The purpose of Abolish is to tell the personal stories of crime victims and their loved ones, people on death row and their loved ones and those activists who are working toward abolition. You may, from time to time, see news articles or press releases here, but that is not the primary mission of Abolish the Death Penalty. Our mission is to put a human face on the debate over capital punishment.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Death penalty demagoguery among Democrats
Posted by Unknown at 2:32 PM
1 comment:
- QtheLesser said...
Just to let you know, I read the article you posted and jotted down a few thoughts about it in my blog.
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