A Dragon lives forever ?

Since, I was unsuccessful in posting the link with the video.....

How Grace Paley influenced one writer

I have just found this today, and greatly appreciate it.

Near the end, Summer Wood writes,

". . . the one time I met her in person I was overwhelmed with her warmth and kindness toward me."

That was precisely my experience & I have written those words almost verbatim. ! !

The internet has its failings & flimsiness, but I am grateful for the connections & awareness it offers....

Technical Confusion

I have been blogging now for nearly 3 years, and am simply a little slower at grasping the techniques than I would like to be.

I was hoping to share a serious, nudge, nudge, clip relating to Monty Python.

Not a Parrot Sketch, but homage to it......

I will be posting about Miguel Luna very soon.

• • • Special Request to Kind Commenter, BBB: please, send me an email, short is fine,...• • •

Disagreement is one thing. Threats and Violence will be deleted.

This blog receives few comments and I have occasionally kept the spam when it is polite and doesn't take up a page.

I have no quarrel with disagreement and someone sharing information (as someone did recently) which she thinks is relevant. Or he.

Profanity does not always bother me any more than religiosity, although both can be off-putting.

When someone's comment is explicitly violent -- whether the violence is directed at me or at someone else makes no difference -- I will delete that comment.

This little blog is not a place for threats against anyone.

Some profanity will be removed promptly too.

There are certain insults I have a low tolerance for.

When I find a site deeply objectionable, I find it exceedingly easy to remove it from my screen, easier, in fact, than it is to change a radio station or tv channel.

On a funny note:

Years ago I shared an office with a friend who favored a radio program of a famous right wing commentator. We were both in and out of the office quite often. If I returned, and she was listening, I never asked her to turn it off, but sometimes I did ask her to lower the volume. Our desks were adjacent. She did ~ our friendship never suffered ( at least not to my knowledge and truly she helped me get that job, and I won't forget that kindness ). This was in 1989 !

I have been searching for this friend on facebook and not found her (she moved to Boston some time ago) and do not know if her last name has changed....

Celebrate Curt Flood on Jackie Robinson Day

Firstly, my apologies for posting too infrequently. My new reason is that something very odd has happened to our computer (as of yesterday), and we have not discerned how serious the matter is, but I am using a public library computer ( thank you, Providence Community Library)...

Curt Flood's birthday was in January and here it is nearly March... and this little announcement does not represent my gratitude to him for his contribution to baseball and as a leader for the rights of athletes ...

If you have a facebook account, I strongly encourage you to join the group,
Put Curt Flood in the Hall of Fame

This is the description:
"A group designed to lobby support for Curt Flood's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his major contributions on the field (2 World Series Championship Titles, 7 Gold Gloves) as well as off the field (he challenged baseball's reserve clause in the Supreme Court, paving the way for modern free agency not only in baseball but in all professional sports)."


Then take a little time to read the wall and see some of the stories posted and photos and, I think there is a video or two.

Jackie Robinson Day is April 15 and there will be a special Event at Dodger Stadium.

Perhaps we can organize an event in Pawtucket ? At a Paw(tucket Red)Sox game ?

New Blog In *Town, A Selfish Altruist, Welcome ~

* I am going to abstain from exclamation points for an indefinite period.

Thank you for understanding.

* "In Town" is a proverbial expression.

The blog's name is A Selfish Altruist.

Its author is someone I met serendipitously on facebook and for whom I feel kinship and fondness, and the occasional confusion due to the language barrier.

She has wit and insight and, very likely, computer skills greatly exceeding my own.

Small praise, that last bit, but not sarcastic or sardonic.

I will be adding the link to my Extended Family section.

Spam Spam Spam Spam Oy Vey

Alas, this blog has been receiving increasing robotic sales and porn pitches. This would bother me less if the readership was also growing significantly.

Ironically, the spam seems to be drawn to one of Democommie's posts...

Once last year there was a spam comment that was so brief and polite that I decided to leave it in peace.

The current crop is lengthy and super-annoying. I have changed the comment moderation and hope that this is a deterrent.

My friend Dnaz has had the identical problem.

Ciara Durkin Toy Drive

There is a new facebook group called Ciara Durkin Toy Drive

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37305287443

I tried for 20 minutes to copy the flyer onto this blog. No luck...If this link doesn't work. oy vey...ooh I may have done it!..

Governor Palin Loves/Loses Turkey?

Ciara Durkin -- How Can One Year Have Passed?

CPL. Ciara M. Durkin
1977-2007
Website created, owned, and operated by the Durkin Family.
Latest News
Last updated September 24, 2008
The Durkin Family participates in the Quincy Medical Center's Cancer Walk.
Since September 28, 2007, the Durkin Family has been involved in several memorials in Ciara's name.


As many of you know, each year our family and friends participate in a walk to raise money for cancer prevention. Our mother, Angela, and our sister Deirdre, are both breast cancer survivors, but we had been doing this walk for many years before Deirdre's diagnosis. In fact, it was this Medical Center that detected Deirdre's cancer early which prevented it from spreading.

This year, the walk is especially dear to our hearts because it coincides with
the first anniversary of our darling sister Ciara's passing. Ciara died in Afghanistan
on the 28th of September, 2007. While Ciara was in Afghanistan, she made an online donation with the dedication: "I give because I learned to stay strong
here in Afghanistan because of your courage. I love you".

In honor of Ciara, the hospital's Cancer Resource Library is being renamed
the "Ciara Durkin Resource Center."

Joining our team of walkers this year is our mother. She is
participating in the walk for the first time in memory of Ciara.


We hope that you will visit our webpage at http://www.firstgiving.com/positivethinkers (link below) and make a donation for this very worthy cause.
The Durkin Family to Participate in the
2008 Quincy Medical Center's Cancer Walk

On October 11th of 2008, the Durkin Family will have an anniversary mass for Ciara at
Saint Gregory's Parish in Dorchester, MA (see link below for a map).

This mass will begin at 4:00pm, and all are welcome to attend.
Anniversary Mass for Ciara

Aifreann chinn bhliana i dTeach Pobal Bhantiarna Lourdes agus Naomh Colm Cille, Leitir Móir, Dé Sathairn, 4 Deireadh Fómhair, ag 7.30 i.n.
Aifreann Chinn Bhliana do Chiara


We have heard from some members of Ciara's "army family," and their stories and reminiscences have brought us great comfort. We look forward to hearing from other soldiers who served with Ciara, especially those soldiers of whom she spoke often and with such fondness. Any communications will be treated with confidentiality. Please email info@ciaraweerabrat.com if you wish to contact the family.
Ciara's "Army Family"
We've added some information on Ciara's interment at Arlington National Cemetery.
Click here to see the page...http://www.ciaraweerabrat.com/


Most of the above is an excerpt from an email I received from Ciara Durkin's family...The technical errors in this post are my fault, NOT the fault of her family.

The Times2 Academy Blog

Dear Friends,

I am inviting all friends of Times2[http:www.times2.org/] to participate in a a new Blog which is intended to provide another avenue for us to publicize events, activities and accomplishments of our Community.

My blogging experience is based on one year of maintaining a blog and several of reading and commenting on others.

The address is:
http://times2academy.wordpress.com/

If you are interested in becoming a contributor, please send me an email:
at msnomiratgmaildotcom.

Please share news of this blog with anyone who may be interested, especially including alumni/ae.

Many thanks.

Wishing everyone health and learning in this academic year.

Nomi Hurwitz

August 29 -- Commemorating Katrina in RI

I received two flyers from Shannah Kurland and have tried unsuccessfully to copy them. Here is the infor. in English and Spanish.


Friday, August 29 is the THIRD Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina -
and here in Providence, we're getting a preview of the same
DISPLACEMENT
UNEMPLOYEMENT
GENTRIFICATION
CRIMINALIZATION OF YOUTH AND IMMIGRANTS
that were the root of the unnatural disaster called Katrina!

Join DARE, ONA and City Life/Vida Urbana (from Boston),
Safe Streets (from New Orleans)
and the Right to the City Alliance on a
COMMEMORATION MARCH

Friday, August 29
3:30:: gather at DARE
(corner of Broad and Lockwood, behind Burger King)
March through downtown, end at 6:30

*music and performers*
*van for people who can't walk the whole way*
*exciting community speakers*

call (401)351-6960 or (401)228-8996 for info

* * * * * * * *

Viernes, 29 de agosto es el TERCER aniversario del Huracán Katrina –

y acá en Providence se ve el mismo
DESALOJAMIENTO de nuestra gente

DESEMPLEO

EMBURGUESIMIENTO de los barrios pobres

TRATAR COMO CRIMINALES A LOS JÓVENES Y INMIGRANTES
¡Las mismas cosas que causaron el desastre que se llama Katrina!

Únete con DARE, ONA y City Life/Vida Urbana (de Boston),
Safe Streets/Calles Seguros (de New Orleans)
y la Alianza Derecho a la Ciudad para una
GRAN MARCHA para CONMEMORAR KATRINA

Viernes, 29 de agosto
a las 3:30:: nos reunimos en DARE
(esquina de la Broad con la Lockwood, atrás de Burger King)
Marchamos alrededor de downtown (el centro) hasta las 6:30

*música y breve teatro*
*guagua para las personas que no pueden caminar la ruta entera*
*discursos emocionantes por personas de nuestras comunidades*

llama al 351-6960 o al 228-8996 para mas información

My Heart Belongs To Maggie

Non Sequitur: I Dreamed I Saw Rhett Jones Last Night. ! ! Allegra was with him. We had a short but satisfying conversation.

An Olive Oil Incident

The following is a true story from my dear friend Sandy:

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 14:49:08 -0400
Hi,
Today we bought a bottle of olive oil that was a product of Israel, from Job Lot. The temperature is pretty warm today; we brought it in and put it on the kitchen counter next to the stove. I started to cook some sausages for our lunches for the week. I was using the large burner on the opposite side from where we had put the olive oil. All of a sudden the bottle exploded spilling about 24 of the 25 oz that was in the bottle down the side of the stove, and on the stove top. I don't know why it exploded, but it did. I just wanted everyone to be aware that this could happen, it could have been worse if I were about to use it and gotten cut. Okay so the bottom line is it might be a good idea to put glass containers in the sink for a while until they get used to being in the warmer heat. It will be easier to clean up than the mess we just had.

PS, Since I have written this I have spoken to my daughter, who works as a chef, she has said that olive oil is a living organism, it would have helped to cool the temperature of the oil, if I had put it in the refrigerator. If you are afraid of having a mess to clean up there, pour the oil into a pan that you have planned to use with olive oil to help cool the contents, and then pouring it back into the bottle after a while. Having to wash a pan even if you didn’t use it would be better than having to clean up the mess I did, and I was lucky that I didn’t get cut with the glass.

Social Justice Night: May 28 @AS220 in Providence, RI

This looks like an entirely promising important event.
I tried to post the webpage and the email about this. I tried 4 times. The results were 4 sets of empty pages.

Here's the link, I hope. My guess is that this site will be updated between today and May 28...more folks coming on board.

http://socialjusticenight.blogspot.com/

My trouble with posting successfully is somehow related to my lack of owning a computer currently.

Thank you dear patient readers and anonymous commenters.

Peter Ruta's Exhibit

http://www.Stadtgeschichtliches-museum-leipzig.de/neubau/ausstellungen/Peter_Ruta.htm

This may not work.
If not, I will try to fix this tomorrow, but we expect snow in Rhode Island, so I thank you, in advance, for your patience.

Peter is my uncle. There's a wonderful photo of him on Garance's blog: http://www.thegarance.com/

Welcome Bugzita!

I am happy to announce that the Team is growing! Bugzita of PostFoetrydot com fame (and a writer of many forms in many settings) has kindly agreed to contribute!

She has technical skills far beyond mine.
She brings geographical insights from Pennsylvania, Iowa, Macedonia & lands unnamed.
Bugzita, thank you!

Next week is school vacation for my son. Would that we were already reporting with the Pitchers and Catchers in Florida, Arizona and? Nevada(California?) but we have not yet been recruited or discovered. We will be spending some time in New Haven (Nutmeg State) and perhaps in Other Places.

Roger Clemens may or may not go to Heaven, but I agree with William Rhoden (in todays NYTimes, section C )that he deserves the same exact treatment given Barry Bonds and Marion Jones.

By Heaven, I mean no disrespect to the blog of Mairead Byrne., http://www.maireadbyrne.blogspot.com/

Further Gratitude from Nomi: 2/7/08

• a Wrinkle in time
• Viglianis
• Uncle Bernie, Ersula, + kinder...
  
• Theo LeSeig
• Sharon & Steve (+N. & M.)
• RIFuture
• Quaker Meeting for Worship
• Pam's House Blend[http://www.pamshouse.blend.com/]
• Oscar Wilde
• nezua limon xolagrafik-jonez

oy vey, please note: I have corrected twice now the spelling of nezua's name...
Here's where you can read his words:
http://www.theunapologeticmexican.org/

Comedy Show to Support the Hurley Workers

I hope these links work!

This morning I returned from New Haven (Connecticut!) and still feel somewhat out of touch with the status of the workers ( and , in fact, most of RI).

Thanks to facebook, I learned about a fundraiser this Wednesday:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8181908094

Thanks to google, I found a blog with clear Labor sympathy, and no less devotion to Comics and the "Decadence of Student life". (Sometimes I miss those days. )
http://mostlyroses.blogspot.com/

I just finished Marta Acosta's Happy Hour At Casa Dracula. The writing struck me as a cross between Sara Paretsky and Jennifer Weiner, but the action is not in Philadelphia or Chicago, but in California (what parts I can't really say).

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Today both the Newbery and Caldecott Medals were announced, and no, my Mom won neither ( she writes children's books, for those of my readers who are not relatives!).

The winner of the Caldecott Medal is Brian Selznick's historical novel which with large illustrations of great detail and depth. I adore this book.

Here's the link for the American Library Association / Caldecott Medal page.

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.htm

Thank you for your patience with my inability to post even a small photo or image. I am making progress. Once I was a confirmed luddite.