2328 Days since retiring July 1, 2005!

"The Art of Peace that I practice has room for each of the world's eight million gods, and I cooperate with them all. The God of Peace is very great and enjoins all that is divine and enlightened in every land."
from Art of Peace

Read on and fall sound asleep

I saw a commercial tonight and I just had to add the thing to my Christmas wish list—double drive screwdriver from Lowes. Are you paying attention Santa?

I was digging around at WIMP.com and stumbled upon a video about “free energy”. At first I thought it would be another of those nut cases about something physically impossible. Instead the presenter gave a tour over leading edge research. I was super charged with the potential. I have not yet found an avenue for investment. The video is HERE. I hope you get as excited as I am.

As both my readers know, I am reading “Titus Andrioicus” with a group. The play is bloody and violent in a way I cannot understand. To ravel my soul I searched for and found a heroic poem expressing a degree of valor beyond my imagining with no expressed or visual blood and gore. Yet the motive of the participants is understandable. Please do not rush through the poem. Read it as an adult not an impatient high school student.

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1. Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade! "Charge for the guns!" he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. 2. "Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew Someone had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. 3. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred. 4. Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd: Plunged in the battery-smoke Right thro' the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the sabre stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd. Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred. 5. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. 6. When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made, Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred.

Copied from Poems of Alfred Tennyson,

The whole time I have been struggling with this entry “Saving Private Ryan” has been playing on TCM channel. It is even bloodier and gory than “Titus”. Despite the violence and destruction I can understand the motivation and behavior of the soldiers. I could never be as courageous as the American soldiers in “Private Ryan”. What kind of superhuman young man could charge off those landing craft on Omaha beach?

11/15: Dear Father, heal our hearts. Help us to give up hatred and bitterness and to forgive those who have hurt us. Amen.. The prayers are from the Upper Room. For your own free E-Mail Devotional visit : http://upperroom.org/devotional/email/ and click on the link “Other Ways to Receive the Daily Devotional”

A NEW SCHOOL INSPECTOR IS ASSIGNED TO THE GRADE 4 CLASS IN ONE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS. HE IS INTRODUCED TO TH CLASS BY THE TEACHER. SHE SAYS TO THE CLASS: "LET'S SHOW THE INSPECTOR JUST HOW CLEVER YOU ARE BY ALLOWING HIM TO ASK YOU A QUESTION."

THE INSPECTOR DECIDES TO ASK A BIBLICAL QUESTION. HE ASKS, "CLASS, WHO BROKE DOWN THE WALLS OF JERICHO?" FOR A FULL MINUTE THERE IS ABSOLUTE SILENCE. THE CHILDREN ALL JUST STARE AT HIM BLANKLY. EVENTUALLY LEROY RAISES HIS HAND.

THE INSPECTOR POINTS EXCITEDLY TO HIM. LEROY STANDS UP AND SAYS, "SIR, I DO NOT KNOW WHO BROKE DOWN THE WALLS OF JERICHO, BUT I AM INNOCENT."

THE INSPECTOR LOOKS AT THE TEACHER FOR AN EXPLANATION. SHE SAYS, "WELL, I'VE KNOWN LEROY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND I BELIEVE THAT IF HE SAYS HE DIDN'T DO IT, THEN HE DIDN'T DO IT."

THE INSPECTOR IS SHOCKED AT THE LEVEL OF IGNORANCE AND STORMS DOWN TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AND TELLS HIM WHAT HAPPENED. THE PRINCIPAL REPLIES, "LOOK, I DON'T KNOW THE BOY, BUT I SOCIALIZE EVERY NOW AND THEN WITH HIS TEACHER AND I BELIEVE HER. IF SHE FEELS THAT THE BOY WAS NOT INVOLVED, THEN HE MUST BE INNOCENT."

THE INSPECTOR CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE IS HEARING! HE GRABS THE PHONE ON THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK AND DIALS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION. HE RELATES THE ENTIRE EPISODE AND ASKS HIM WHAT HE THINKS OF THE EDUCATION STANDARD IN THE SCHOOL.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SIGHS HEAVILY, THEN REPLIES, "YOU KNOW I AM VERY BUSY. I DON'T KNOW THE BOY, THE TEACHER OR THE PRINCIPAL. JUST GET THREE QUOTES AND HAVE THE WALL FIXED."

”Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.”
Mark Twain

SGGP