This is why Batman shouldn't let me near the Oxfam bookshop unsupervised...

Over 600 motorcycles await the start of the 5th Annual T.F. Silvia Memorial Run from the parking lot at the Raynham-Taunton Dog Track on Sunday morning, October 12th, 2008. The run proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Bristol-Plymouth High School, and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Posted by: Liz Feitelberg

It's clearly important for him to see and be seen at such affairs, but "now I'm having to work [as a speaker or auctioneer] for my free admission".  Just buy a seat, Willie.

"DonorsChoose.org was born in the teachers' lunchroom of a Bronx public high school where Charles Best, our founder, taught social studies for five years. He and his fellow teachers were spending lots of their own money on basic supplies but still seeing their students go without the books, art supplies, field trips, and other resources needed for a rigorous education. So they started a nonprofit website where any public school teacher can post a resource request for their students, and donors from all walks of life can choose the projects they want to support.
Teachers' requests range from basic stuff like "Dictionaries for my Classroom" ($200) to really imaginative ideas like "Therapeutic Horseback Riding for my Disabled Students" ($800). Check out our search page and you can see that there are lots of live requests in your communities and/or projects that match a personal interest, like yoga, baseball, autism, or Dr. Seuss.
Your mustache sponsors can give as little as $5 to the classroom project of their choice, and 100% of their donations go to the projects. Then they get a thank-you letter and photographs from the students and teacher they (and YOU) supported!"

If that isn't enough for you, check out the site at DonorsChoose.org.  If you do, you my notice a small button in the upper right corner that Mustches for Kids '08.  That's right, Donors Choose is all over this hairy fundraiser like beer foam on a sweet stache.

I spent the night before angsting over what to wear.  Jeans and a T-shirt at a $125 a plate luncheon did not seem appropriate so I dug around in the closet and found a pair of wool glen plaid pants I wore to an interview in 2001.  Luckily they still fit and were protected by the dry cleaner's plastic.  A generic white shirt, a black blazer, a pair of not-so-clunky black shoes, a smear of lipstick and I was set to go.  Just to see if anyone would notice I wore an anatomically detailed enamel pin of a sliced open kidney on my lapel.

I schlepped to the BART station and climbed on the train with my traveling sock and knit my way to the Powell Street station in the city.  I was early so I wandered around the San Francisco Center for a while window-shopping then made my way to the Hilton, ducking through the crowds at the Powell Street cable car stop to get there, dodging the pan-handlers and the protesters.

The Grand Ballroom was packed with a very white crowd.  I couldn't help but think of the blog, Stuff White People Like.  Out of approximately 1200 people I saw 2 brown faces and about half a dozen Asian.  There was a wide range of the funky, expensive, dramatic clothing that rich hippies like to wear.  I took one look at the crowd and thought, "Hmph!  Marin County is well represented here."

People were buying books at tables ringing the room and having them signed by the 6 featured authors.  It was 10:30 am and a well-stocked bar was set up at the far end of the room.  There was no place to sit down.  I found the executive director of nursing for my division, the one who sent the email, and followed her around making small talk for a while.  She was the second nurse hired by the company founder 35 years ago and she introduced me to the first who is still working.  The founder of the company came up to us, took us over to a corner to several bags of books and told us to pick one.  He had bought several dozen, had them all autographed, and was giving them to employees.  His wife and I had a nice chat about them being extras in a movie and tango dancing.  

The CEO came over, noticed my lapel pin, and began quizzing me about my clinic.  He knew everything that has been going on for the past year and quoted statistics about the number of referrals I have had recently. The corporate medical director and I stood in adjacent lines to pay for our books and he said he would race me.  When he won I asked him what the forfeit would be he said I owed him a dollar but considering the state of the economy he would let me slide. A couple of the other clinic managers were there and we made small talk about an employee that has transferred to my clinic, another employee who went into labor Friday, and someone I had referred second-hand for a position in San Leandro. I spotted another fibertarian and had to accost her so I could look at her hand-crocheted bag.  There was a photographer wandering the crowd.  I wanted to talk to him but it was obvious he was working with 2 bodies slung across his shoulders, mega lenses, and a battery pack.

Lunch was a roasted chicken breast, kale and tomatoes, polenta, and a good pinoit grigio.  Dessert was a lemon curd crepe with figs and blackberries and a mango sauce that was to die for.  I had a cup of coffee after the meal that was so good I found myself wondering why I have had such trouble finding a good cup of coffee in California.  Most of the time it is so strong it will strip the enamel off of your teeth.  Even my Starbuck's addiction depends on the nonfat milk and vanilla syrup in the latte to make it palatable.  This coming from someone who has preferred black coffee for years.  I used to grind my own beans and I think I'll take it up again.  Himself was resistant to the idea when I mentioned it before but it's time to educate him.

Amy Tan and Ann Getty are co-chairs of the event and they opened the talks with typical, thank-you-for-coming speeches.  A young woman who had a living related donor kidney transplant 4 months ago gave a brief speech that made me want to cry.  I thought of one of my patients who recently had a surprise cadaveric transplant after several years on the waiting list and imagined the speech he would give if he were there.

This year's authors were Andre Dubus III, Diane Johnson, Jacques Pepin, Curtis Sittenfeld, Nancy Snyderman, and Tobias Wolff.  They were very entertaining and witty.  I especially enjoyed their stories of the act of writing.  Two spoke of  working in widowless rooms because if they had windows they would look out of them instead of writing.  One spoke of how gratifying it was to see so many people who actually read.

In spite of myself I had a good time and I'm glad I went although the experience highlighted how I need to update the wardrobe before the Annual Dialysis Conference in Houston in March, another command appearance.  I suppose I could ask the person who sent the original email where she gets her suits.

What I often find amazing is the disparity between the amount of time churches volunteer vs. non-churches, especially in the wake of tragedies such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.   An interesting example is Katrina, which flocked news stations, celebrities, bands and any politician looking to get re-elected.

Now I beg you to find many if any of these people still around.  But the church is still there in heavy force.  Interesting.  Now I am in now way diminishing the work other groups did or what they achieved, but I find it an interesting test of faith how when everyone else is gone, the church is still there in tough times.

All this said, I have a question.

What is your definition of volunteerism?  How has it changed your life either as a volunteer or as a recipient?

THE OTHER functions like a password to the ivory tower these days; its a dilettantish phrase, set apart by scare quotes or capitalization or italics, and it will gain you either a) total interpretive license in any humanities/anthro graduate discussion in the country or b) instant eyerolls and revulsion from members of the Pretension Police. Now, though, after Kapuscinski, I'm convinced that there is very much to it, and more than just the unnecessary defamiliarization of familiar words [this is for all the philosophically disinclined among you, but I don't really think I have such an audience, so: this is for naught], and I'm thinking, too, that it has a lot to do with my penultimate post.

The philosophy of the other comes from Levinas, and Tischner, and Buber, Ebner, Marcel, too [I like Buber, especially]. As Kapuscinski puts it, "these philosophers tried to protect the value they considered the greatest - the human individual ' me, you, the Other, Others, - from the effects of the masses and the totalitarianism that eliminated all human identity (hence they disseminated the concept of the Other to underline the difference between one person and another, the difference of having irreplaceable and non-exchangeable features.)" In response to Descartes' self-referencing "I think therefore I am," Levinas postured, "I know that I know that another is." There's the basic idea: the self is only possible through coming to know another person, and becoming conversant with another person, and recognizing the legitimacy and dignity of another person, and it is this other person that becomes "The Other.

Conventionally, this gets an awful lot of play in anthropology and literature (Mikhail Bakhtin is the man for the literary halve). It breaks down race relations and cross-cultural relations into a meeting between one person and his other, for whom the other is that first person. Like mirrors, only they do not look the same, and they are not the same. The clash of civilizations, the peripheries of cultures, these become about something very personal and very specific. This becomes an ethic; a means of interacting in the world. I encounter another person, and must understand the gravity of the encounter: an opportunity to know myself and talk with another person, and to zoom in to that degree where it is no longer nationalities or socioeconomic indices or political representatives or race that gets the final world: we are on the terrain of persondom.

Kapuscinski quotes another Polish poet at length, Cyprian Norwid. Norwid is writing about hospitality, and Grecian ideas about strangers, in Odysseus' time, in an introduction to the Odyssey:

"There, in every beggar and foreign wanderer the first suspicion was whether or not he might be God ... It was impossible to host anyone without first asking: Who is this stranger? But only because one respected the divinity in him, did it come down to human questions, and that was called hospitality, which was why it ws counted among religious practices and virtues. There was no "last person" among Homer's Greeks! He was always the first, that is, divine."

As Kapuscinski puts it, Norwid has imagined "a world where we ourselves want to meet the Other." We will go out to the highways and byways and seek the stranger out, invite him in, consider ourselves blessed to be party to this encounter, and will it longingly, expecting it. This world imagined, is of course, the terrain of the parables of Christ in the New Testament. In Orthodoxy, the very image of God the Trinity, is titled "Abraham's Hospitality" because Abraham welcomed in strangers, and with them, a theophany.

Before you think I'm going off in too too many directions (which I am), I am interested in hospitality here, because it makes light of what Claire has said in her comments. She is struck by how charity is an exchange, must be an exchange; the giver does not act out of bourgeois guilt but penitence or compassion, and then the benefited can respond in turn with benefit if he chooses, granting blessing (as least this is how the exchange goes, however, sincerely, in Russia and Central Asia). One encounters another - in acts of good will just as in acts of ill - as someone with autonomy and the ability to receive and respond and give, themselves. It also heads back to Megan, who emphasizes place: if we think in terms of specific localities, maybe on a very very micro level, we can think homes, kitchens: true charity is inviting someone IN. This does not exclude geographical jumps, I don't think: there are moveable feasts, but you still have to issue invitations. Macrocharity (development? direct-deposit aid?) denies the benefited (if they are actually benefited at all) a voice or a face or autonomy or agency or a reply card.

~*~

So my family and I are thinking of sponsoring a child. Like most folks, we want our investment to do as much possible good as it can for the intented child and his/her family and community, but we don't know which organization makes the most of its sponsors' donations. The choices before us include:

1) Christian Children's Fund

2) Christian Horizons

3) Compassion International

4) Plan (formerly Foster Parents' Plan)

5) World Vision

If you sponsor a child, or have done so in the past, we would really like to hear about your experience! What organization did you choose, and why? What did you appreciate about the organization's work? What didn't you like? What is/was the most meaningful part of the experience for you?

About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/101208.shtml

Apologies for being a day late.
Isaias 25:6-10a
Douay-Rheims Challoner

And the Lord of hosts shall make unto all people in this mountain, a feast of fat things, a feast of wine, of fat things full of marrow, of wine purified from the lees. And he shall destroy in this mountain the face of the bond with which all people were tied, and the web that he began over all nations. He shall cast death down headlong for ever: and the Lord God shall wipe away tears from every face, and the reproach of his people he shall take away from off the whole earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And they shall say in that day: Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have patiently waited for him, we shall rejoice and be joyful in his salvation. For the hand of the Lord shall rest in this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm 22:1-6 (Ps 23 NAB/Hebrew)
DR Challoner Text Only

The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
He hath set me in a place of pasture.
He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
He hath converted my soul.
He hath led me on the paths of justice,
for his own name's sake.
For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evils, for thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
Thou hast prepared a table before me
against them that afflict me.
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
and my chalice which inebreateth me, how goodly is it!
And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life.
And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Haydock New Testament

I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound: (every where and in all things I am instructed) both to be full, and to be hungry: both to abound, and to suffer need. I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me. Nevertheless you have done well, in communicating to my tribulation.

And may my God supply all your want, according to his riches, in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to God and our Father be glory, world without end. Amen.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Matthew 22:1-14
Haydock New Testament

AND Jesus answering, spoke to them again in parables, saying:

The kingdom of heaven is like to a man being a king, who made a marriage for his son. And he sent his servants, to call them that were invited to the marriage: and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell these that were invited:

Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come ye to the wedding.

But they neglected, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandize. And the rest laid hands on his servants, and having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king heard of it, he was angry, and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants:

The wedding indeed is ready, but they that were invited, were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, invite to the wedding.

And his servants going out into the highways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good and the wedding was filled with guests. And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment. And he saith to him:

Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment?

But he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters:

Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Haydock Commentary Isaias 25:6-10a
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 6. Mountain of Sion, a figure of the Church, and of heaven. The Jews shall feast: yea, some of all nations shall partake of the blessed Eucharist, and obtain heaven. The expressions are too grand for a corruptible feast. C. --- Wine. Lit. "of vintage," (H.) on which occasion great rejoicings were made. Hesiod. Hercul. 297. --- Prot. "of wines on the lees." H. --- In the East, the wines were very thick. Ps. lxxv. 9. C. --- On the rejection of the Jews, the Gentiles were converted. W.
• Ver. 7. Tied. He will open their eyes to the truth of the gospel. They shall be no longer as criminals, expecting death, or mourning.
• Ver. 8. Ever. Heb. "he shall swallow up death in victory." 1 Cor. xv. 54. Christ, by dying, conquered death, and rescued us from its power, if we do not voluntarily subject ourselves to it again. This was faintly represented by the liberation of the captives.
• Ver. 10. Mountain: the Church. C. --- Moab. That is, the reprobate, whose eternal punishment, from which they can no way escape, is described under these figures. Ch. --- The Machabees probably executed this vengeance on Moab. 1 Mac. v. 6.

Haydock Commentary Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

• Ver. 14. In communicating;[3] i.e. contributing to relieve my wants. Wi.
• Ver. 19. May God supply all your wants.[4] See the Greek, which determines the signification of the Latin. Wi.

Haydock Commentary Matthew 22:1-14

• Ver. 1. Jesus answered, and spoke to them again in parables, and concludes his discourse with again describing, 1st. the reprobation of the Jews; 2d. the calling of the Gentiles to the true faith; and 3d. the final judgment of both the one and the other. In this parable of the marriage feast, says S. Chrysostom, our Saviour again declares to the Jews their reprobation, and the vocation of the Gentiles, their great ingratitude, and his tender solicitude for them. For he did not send them a single invitation only; he repeatedly invited them. Say, says he, to the invited; and afterwards, call the invited; thus evincing the greatness of their obstinacy, in resisting all the calls and pressing invitations of the Almighty. Hom. lxx. — This parable is certainly not the same as that mentioned in S. Luke xiv. 16, as every one that will be at the pains to examine and compare all the circumstances of each, will easily discover, though they are very much alike. M.
• Ver. 2. Is like to a man being a king, &c. This parable seems different from that of Luke xiv. 16. See S. Aug. l. ii. de Cons. Evang. c. lxx. The main design in this parable, is to shew the Jews that they were all invited to believe in Christ; though so few of them believed. The king is God; his son is Jesus Christ; the spouse is the Church; the marriage is Christ's incarnation; the feast, the grace of God in this life, and his glory in the next. His servants were the prophets; and lastly his precursor, S. John. — My fatlings, which I have prepared, and made fat for the feast: but this is but an ornament of the parable. Wi. — The same takes place in the kingdom of heaven, as when a king makes a marriage feast for his son. Jesus Christ seems to have had two things in view in this parable: 1st. that many are called to the kingdom of heaven, i.e. his Church, and that few come, as he concludes, v. 14, many are called, &c; 2d. that not all that come when called will be saved, i.e. will be reputed worthy of the celestial feast; because some have not on the wedding-garment, as he shews, v. 11. M. — Thus the conduct of God in the formation of his Church, and in the vocation of men to glory which himself has prepared for them in the kingdom of heaven, is like to that of a king, wishing to celebrate the marriage of his son. V. — Marriage is here mentioned, says S. Chrysostom to shew there is nothing sorrowful in the kingdom of God, but all full of the greatest spiritual joy. S. John Baptist likewise calls our Saviour the spouse; and S. Paul says, I have espoused thee to one man, 2 Cor. xi. S. Chrys. hom. lxx. See also Eph. v. 25. and Apoc. xxi. 2. and 9. The nuptials in this place do not signify the union of marriage, or incarnation of Jesus Christ, by which the Church is made his spouse; but the marriage feast, to which men are said to be invited. This is no other than the doctrines, the sacraments and graces, with which God feeds and nourishes our souls, united to him by faith in this life, and by eternal joy and glory in the next. Jans. — This union is begun here on earth by faith, is cemented by charity in all such as are united to Christ in the profession of the one true faith he came down to establish, and will be consummated and made perpetual hereafter by the eternal enjoyment of Christ in his heavenly kingdom.
• Ver. 3. His servants. John the Baptist and Christ himself, who took the form of a servant, to call such as had been formerly invited to the nuptials that were to be celebrated in his time. The Jews were invited by Moses and the prophets, and were instructed to believe that the Messias would celebrate the happy feast. On the predetermined day, they were again called by his servants, saying: Do penance; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand: come to the feast, i.e. become members of his Church, by believing in Christ. Jans. — In the same manner, S. Chrysostom says that the Jews had been invited by the voice of the prophets, and afterwards by the Baptist, who declared to all, that Christ should increase, but that he himself should decrease. At length, they were invited by the Son in person, crying aloud to them: come to me all you that labour, and are heavily laden, and I will refresh you. Mat. xi. 28. And again: if any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. S. John vii. 37. — And not by his words only, but by his actions also did he call them; and after his resurrection, by the ministry of Peter and the rest of the apostles (hom. lxx,) he informed the invited Jews that the banquet was ready; because the Christian religion being now established, the way to eternal happiness was laid open to mankind.
• Ver. 5. One to his farm. After they had put to death the Son of God, still did the Almighty invite them to the marriage-feast; but they with futile excuses declined and slighted the proffered favour, wholly taken up with their temporal concerns and sensual enjoyments, their oxen, lands and wives. From the punishment inflicted on these, we learn, that no consideration, how specious soever it may appear, can prove a legitimate excuse for neglecting our spiritual duties. S. John. Chrys. hom. lxx. — Such as refuse to be reconciled to the holy Catholic Church, allege vain pretexts and impediments; but all these originating in pride, indolence, or human respect, will not serve at the day of general retribution and strict scrutiny.
• Ver. 6. Put them to death. Thus the Jews had many times treated the prophets. Wi. — These were by far the most impious and the most ungrateful; tenuerunt Servos ejus, as is related in the Acts, with regard to the death of James, and Stephen, and Paul. M.
• Ver. 7. Sending his armies. Here our Redeemer predicts the destruction of Jerusalem, by the armies of Vespasian and Titus, sent against them by the Almighty, in punishment of their incredulity and impiety. S. Chrys. hom. lxx. — Thus the king destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city; for sooner or later God is observed to exert his vengeance on all such as despise his word, or persecute his ministers. See the miseries to which the Jews were reduced in Josephus, book the 6th, c. ix, Hist. of the Jewish war; who declares, that in the last siege of Jerusalem 1,100,000 persons perished, and that the city was completely destroyed. Other interpreters suppose that the evil spirits are here meant, by whom God punishes man, according to Psalm lxxvii, v. 49. M. and Mandonatus.
• Ver. 8. Were not worthy. The Almighty knew full well that they were not worthy; he still sent them these frequently repeated invitations, that they might be left without any excuse. S. Chry. hom. lxx. — More is signified here than the bare letter conveys; they were not only less worthy of the nuptials, but by their very great obstinacy, ingratitude and impiety, quite unworthy. Not so the Gentiles. Jans. — Hence Christ says:
• Ver. 9. Go ye therefore into the highways. The apostles first kept themselves within the precincts of Judea, but the Jews continually sought their destruction. Therefore S. Paul said to them, (Acts xiii. 46.) to you it behoved us first to speak the word of God, but seeing you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold we turn to the Gentiles. S. Chrys. hom lxx.
• Ver. 10. Both bad and good. Christ had before told the Jews that harlots and publicans should, in preference to them, inherit the kingdom of heaven, and that the first should be last, and the last first, which preference of the Gentiles, tormented the Jews more than even the destruction of their city. Chrys. lxx. — Good and bad, persons of every tribe, tongue, people, nation, sex and profession, without any exception of persons or conditions. Hence it is evident that the Church of God doth not consist of the elect only; and, that faith alone, without the habit of charity and good works, will not suffice to save us. B.
• Ver. 11. Wedding garment, which Calvin erroneously understands of faith, for he came by faith to the nuptials. S. Augustine says it is the honour and glory of the spouse, which each one should seek, and not his own; and he shews this, in a sermon on the marriage feast, to be charity. This is the sentiment of the ancients, of S. Gregory, S. Ambrose, and others. What S. Chrysostom expounds it, viz. an immaculate life, or a life shining with virtues, and free from the filth of sin, is nearly the same; for charity cannot exist without a good life, nor the purity of a good life, without charity. In his 70th homily on S. Matthew, he says that the garment of life is our works; and this is here mentioned, that none might presume, (like Calvin and his followers) that faith alone was sufficient for salvation. When, therefore we are called by the grace of God, we are clothed with a white garment, to preserve which from every stain, from every grievous sin, depends upon the diligence (the watching and praying) of every individual. S. John. Chrys. — It was the custom then, as it still is in every civilized nation, not to appear at a marriage feast, or at a dinner of ceremony, except in the very best attire. V.
• Ver. 12. Not having a wedding garment. By this one person, are represented all sinner void of the grace of God. Wi. — To enter with unclean garments, is to depart out of this life in the guilt of sin. For those are no less guilty of manifesting a contempt for the Deity, who presume to sit down in the filth of an unclean conscience, than those who neglected to answer the invitations of the Almighty. He is said to be silent, because having nothing to advance in his own defence, he remains self-condemned, and is hurried away to torments; the horrors of which words can never express. S. Chrys. hom. lxx.

]]> http://afantasticalmind.wordpress.com/?p=15 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:16:48 +0000 A Fantastical Mind http://afantasticalmind.da.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/a-saturday-gone-to-the-dogs/

My very first blog entry, how exciting! There is no better way to start a blog than by adorable animals, used knick-knacks, community bonding, and a worthy cause. Today, I spent the entire day volunteering for the TLC Dog Shelter. The community held a rummage sale at a local veterinary clinic, complete with lunch, and the opportunity to pamper the pooches with some beauty care. All the proceeds went to the shelter. People and dogs came from all over the area in support of this great cause. As a volunteer for the shelter, I and the rest of the team brought along some of the shelter dogs who thrived under all the attention. It was a great success!



I am continuously surprised at the extreme binary of power within the human spirit. The dogs at this particular shelter have had horrible pasts, pasts that would have anybody bawling. Many of them had been victims of puppy mills, either as a sort of prime DNA harvesting (forcing a dog to have litter after litter after litter due to a dog's "good genes"), or as those innocent young puppies crammed into a small kennel with twenty-five others. I will not delve into the evils of puppy mills. The reality comes as the results show up at the shelter. Not all the dogs at the shelter are from puppy mills though. Some were found abandoned. Some were surrendered by abusive owners. Some owners just didn't have space, or time, or even love for their pet anymore. These are the canines that find their way to the TLC shelter. The TLC Dog Shelter is a no-kill shelter, so for many of these animals, it is their new permanent home.


While the human spirit has the power to ruin these innocent animals, the human spirit also has the great power of charity. Just think what it took for this event alone. Generous people gave up their gently-used items (clothes, shoes, toys, decor, pet supplies, crafts, etc. etc.) to be sold to benefit these animals. Several people were generous enough to help sponsor the event. The veterinary clinic, the canine beauty care company, and the food all donated their time and money for the cause. People gave up their Saturday, brought the family (including dear Fido), and hung out together. By halfway through the sale, the tables were beginning to look patchy. I, myself, came away with a small lamp, a new purse, a pair of black shoes, charms, two vases, and a unique contraption for my boyfriend. This is such a tremendous goodness, and these dogs know it. Tails that years before would have been broken and low, now wagged as a child fed bits of a hotdog. The power of the human spirit: to either destroy or rebuild. It is amazing.

Many people from all over the U.S. have come to this shelter to either adopt a dog, foster a dog, or financially assist in their well-being. If you are curious to see who I spent my day with today, see the dogs available at the TLC Dog Shelter!

At noon on Saturday, Oct. 11, two volunteers with the Polk County Chapter helped a couple on Bradbury Road in Haines City whose home was damaged by fire. They provided the two adults with temporary shelter, emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, landlord verification forms to assist in relocation, Red Cross Ride for the Red T-shirts, and a teddy bear to comfort them.

Since the beginning of July this year, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter has helped more than 40 families after small local disasters -- roughly one family every two days. The American Red Cross provides immediate emergency assistance based on need, thanks to donations from people in the local community. Each local chapter has a Disaster Action Team of volunteers taking turns to go out on fire calls at any time of the day or night to ensure that those who need American Red Cross help can get it as soon as possible.

Home fires are still the most common local disaster for Red Cross volunteers. The American Red Cross asks every family to include fire prevention in their disaster plans by using extra caution around any open flame, cooking surface, electrical appliance, or flammable-fuel appliance. Look for information on preventing home fires at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org, or visit the main office at 147 Avenue A, NW, in Winter Haven. To make a monetary contribution, please call your local American Red Cross Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941.

Teresa Carlson was named general manager of U.S. Government Civilian Agencies and International Global Organizations, and Brian Roach general manager of the Federal Department of Defense group. And Suzanne Behrens, former director of public sector marketing, was named general manager of the company's Business Marketing Organization, handling public sector communications.

Microsoft has a powerful federal team -- a group of people who are passionate about helping the government accomplish it's mission. Yes, they are also interested in helping Microsoft be successful, but...
I know Carlson and Behrens fairly well, and I have met Roach several times. Carlson was a powerful force in helping the government establish the Federal Core Desktop Configuration. (Read Microsoft's info about the FCDC here.) That is a case where the FCDC may have helped Microsoft, but... it is also an important piece of securing agency PCs... and it is a key part of OMB's cyber-security initiative. She did not win a Fed 100 award for her efforts -- Shelly Bird, chief architect at Microsoft Consulting Services did, and, from what I have heard, deservedly so. But I have also had insiders tell me that this initiative never would have come to fruition without Carlson's energy and efforts.

I think FCDC is an example where both government and industry can work together. It doesn't always work out that ways, does it?

I didn't get a copy of the press release -- in fact, I don't see it posted anywhere -- but... GovExec has it, so... I'm passing it along...

Curt Kolcun, Vice President of Microsoft Federal, is the over all leader of the team. Last year, Federal Computer Week honored Kolcun with a Fed 100 award for his impassioned work helping veterans and USO. Kolcun spearheaded a remarkable event in New York -- A Salute To Our Troops -- held at Radio City Music Hall. I mention it because they are holding the second annual salute again in November.

Read more about the salute after the break.

As promised, here is the full release on November's "Salute."

Kudos to Kolcun for his work... and to the others for their new jobs.

This pumpkin animates on rezzing, and loops with a short peek and a bigger peek at intervals.

Available now at my Linji and Tiny TAMA stores.

Thank you to everyone who has come to see or has purchased from me at the Jewelry Expo! Today is the last day of the show and there are some cool things all over the place. Please come see me at my The Oh! Factor-booth 68.

~elfa and namaste

Wolle: Online Linie 11 Farbe 47 zitronengelb

Verbrauch: 190 g / Nadeln: 3,25

begonnen 5.10.- beendet 9.10.

gestrickt nach dieser Anleitung "february lady sweater"

http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151
allerdings mit dünneren Nadeln und anderer Wolle und das ist dabei rausgekommen ...

ein süsses Babyjäckchen in zitronengelb.

Das dicke Paket ist schon gepackt und wird heute weggeschickt

My plan is to encourage people to participate in my fit for charity project. I made a hyped up on adrenalin video about it --> here

Pleh I had big plans to write all this out.. but .. honestly I'm tired and don't feel like it.

Summary, I'm trying to raise money for Room to Read, it involves providing books, learning and education to kids who might not otherwise have the joy of literacy. So I'm combining some things I love, kids and the fun of introducing the world of reading to them, helping people, and fitness. For every Km you or someone you know (me perhaps) runs, someone (yourself or coworkers friends etc.. definitely hit up the boss ;) I did) pledges to contribute $1 or more per km... so far I have 6 people who have committed to participate by running and two who are matching my pledge.

As I said in my email, any support is appreciated... just $1, $5, $100 or even just positive words of encouragement. I'm excited, this is the first time I have ever tried anything like this and I would like to do the best I can. Will you help me?

Hugs to all!

Back in 24 ;)

Links:

Room to read www.roomtoread.org http://www.roomtoread.org/

Nikeplus nikeplus.com http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_ca

Workout Dump www.workoutdump.com http://www.workoutdump.com/user/magdalicious

Facebook Cause www.facebook.com http://apps.facebook.com/causes/124178?m=304accd2&recruiter_id=19835741

The picture above was before the effects of the open bar took hold on me. :-) Anyways, I'm looking forward to Bright Pink's other upcoming events:

• 10/23: Robert Rodriguez Fall 2008 Collection Showcase and Cocktail Reception at Neiman Marcus (737 N. Michigan Avenue). Donations to Bright Pink will be accepted at the door
• 10/25: "Eyes Wide Open" masquerade event at the Crimson Lounge (333 N. Dearborn). Masks are required for entry and can be purchased at the door for $20

The PTA at the kids school in Beijing recently ran a clothing drive for the children of Tibet. Have our PTAs in our local NJ schools ever considered running a drive of some sort for local children in need? I recall lots of wrapping paper fund raisers, etc, but what about something really meaningful? Sounds like a job for Jersey Girl!

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Proverbs 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

In Jesus letter to the seven churches, all churches are told; He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Those that are of God hear his voice.

Jesus message unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans:

When we don't listen and rebel against the Lord, we become deaf to the voice of the Lord.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

John the Baptist called on people to repent of their ways and prepare for the coming of Jesus in Matthew 3:3:

Prophecy fulfilled:

Proverbs 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Jesus is the door. There is no other way to enter heaven:

Proverbs 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

Jesus' sheep hear his voice:

Proverbs 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Putting the Proverbs in order:

In Proverbs 1: 21-23, Wisdom is crying out to the simple, the scorner, and the fool, but when they didn't listen, the scorner met his destruction. Now, Proverbs 8:5 Wisdom is only crying out to the simple and the fool. Hebrews 12:7 ask the question:

Answer to the question asked in Hebrews 12:7: At this point, Proverbs 8:5, wisdom is no longer crying out to the scorner. Only to the simple and the fool. In John 8: 43-44 Jesus rebukes scorners that seek to kill him and let's them know who THEIR father is.

Proverbs 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Proverbs 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Mark 7: 21-23 tells us that wickedness comes from within, so our most important stewardship is our heart:

Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing froward or perverse in them. God does not temp man with anything that is forward, perverse, or evil. James 1: 13-14 makes it clear that no man is to say that he tempted of God with evil:

Proverbs 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

Friends, family members and even adversaries that don't understand, usually try to make it difficult on a person that tries to find the LORD, and tries to leave the sinful lifestyle. It's been my experience that these mockers usually never ask, "What's right with you?" They usually ask, "What's WRONG with you?" That type experience is actually anticipated in I Peter 4:3-5:

Note: Six things on this list.

Proverbs 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Proverbs 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Job's endless search for wisdom contrast the search for precious jewels:

Proverbs 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

prudence: 6195

pru·dence -

Pronunciation: \'prü-d^ən(t)s\

Function: noun

1 : the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason 2 : sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs 3 : skill and good judgment in the use of resources 4 : caution or circumspection as to danger or risk.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

There are seven verses that start with the words: The fear of the LORD

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 6: 16-19 warns us of the seven abominations to God. A proud look, which is first on the list, refers to pride and arrogancy:

froward: 8419

fro·ward -

Pronunciation: \'frō-(w)ərd\

Function: adjective

1: habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition 2: archaic : adverse

3: deceitful

There are seven things that Peter asks us to add to our faith. As an exorcise, let's see if we can memorize these:

1 - add to your faith virtue

2 - add to virtue knowledge

3 - add to knowledge temperance

4 - add to temperance patience

5 - add to patience godliness

6 - add to godliness brotherly kindness

7 - add to brotherly kindness charity

Proverbs 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Counsel is mine; It was prophesied that Jesus would be called Counsellor.

and sound wisdom:

I am understanding;

I have strength.

Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

Proverbs 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Princes, rulers, nobles, and all the judges can have no power at all, except it were given them from above:

Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Matthew 6: 31-34 states the importance of Proverbs 8:17 and tells us to seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness:

The LORD is my shepherd:

It will be very important to have faith in this matter during the end times. Satan will play on our fear, hopelessness and despair and will try to force us to receive his mark:

If you are around during the time of Revelation 13:16, no matter how hungry you get, do not go the way of Esau and sell your birthright for bread and pottage of lentils like Esau did in Genesis 25: 29-34.  Jesus message to unto the angel of the church in Smyrna:

Proverbs 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Proverbs 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Proverbs 8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Proverbs 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Proverbs 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Before his works of old: On the first day God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

On the forth day, God created the sun and the moon:

Light travels at a speed of 186,000 miles per second or 700 million miles an hour. At this rate, we are only 8.5 minutes from the sun. Scientist predict that is the sun were to go out suddenly, that we will still have sun light for 8.5 minutes, then every living thing on earth will be dead within four hours. They don't take into consideration the light that was here before the sun. On the third day all vegetation grew without the sun.

Proverbs 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

In the beginning was the Word:

The Word was made flesh:

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one:

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending:

The first and the last:

Proverbs 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Proverbs 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

Proverbs 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

In the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth;

Proverbs 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

Isaiah prophesied about Jesus:

Proverbs 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

Proverbs 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Proverbs 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Proverbs 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Proverbs 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

Proverbs 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

In Jesus' letter to the church in Sardis, they are told to be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain:

Watching daily at my gates;

Make sure you are at the right gate:

Proverbs 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Proverbs 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

There will come a time in the last days that those that worship the dragon and the beast will seek death, but they will not find it: