As the regular bloggers here already know, North (Donna) and I have worked together in producing a very nice little book with her inspired designs, matching my inspired poems.

I would like to quote hereunder the text that accompanies the book at the Dutch Publisher’s website http://www.calbona.nl/documents/120.html

where the book will be sold:

“ “ Inspired Designs Inspired Poems

How it all came about.

Some two and a half years ago Donna Sonnenburg and Mieke van der Poll met each other "online" at the Intentblog of Deepak Chopra and it was there that our digital connection began.

We exchanged many messages, artwork, poems, life's joys and sorrows, not only between the two of us, but with many others in wonderful dialogues.

This little book is one of the results of that inspirational period. It has become a real treasure to us. We love to share it with others and hope to inspire them to share their inspiration with us.

You can see an animated version of the cover of the book at Donna's Myspace website:
http://www.myspace.com/northdesigns

Love and Light from the Heart Phone “ “

Some of you have already seen the animated cover and thank you for the compliments :)

Because this book really belongs for a large part to this community we decided to give a number of copies away for free to everyone here who has already expressed interest in it:

Kate, Harb, Keith, Trish, Bonnie, Ruth, Craig, Jean-Francois and Igor

with gratitude and as a nice memory of our friendship.

Coming Friday I hope to receive the copies I ordered from the publisher and a mix of beautiful cards from Donna with her signature on it and a nice message. Of course I will add mine too and can then take care of distribution.

If you would like to receive your personal copy of the book, please email your address to me at: miekepoll@hotmail.com or at the email address that can be found at the publisher’s site.

With love, from the heartphone

Mieke

Thank you! Thank you very much!

The human touch of Mieke and Donna

will do the trick...where skin and flesh

are miles apart from each other...physically.

In the Spirit of friendship, I dissolve my empty space.

(Actually, and to tell the truth...I'm jealous!)

Love you two! Uncle TREE

Mieke and North(Donna)

Your collaboration is a tribute to IB, and all its possibilities.

I am looking forwad to the book.

Thanks,
Bonnie

Nice read-up Mieke!! I am so pleased everything is working out for your book...thanks for taking me along and I've posted the Calbona link below the animated cover on my site.

Thanks everyone!!
Love,
North

Hi North,

Well, in the beginning of our online friendship you took me along :) I was very grateful to you for letting me share my inspirational stuff on your site. I believe in sharing.

Congratulations and cheers! We did it together.

Bonnie, Keith thanks! It feels good this online friendship, like a warm shower :)

Love, Mieke

Congratulations Mieke.. we did something special through friendship and creative interests..it is so nice to have our project be so warmly received by IB bloggers!!

We had one heck of a snow last night, and I have some shoveling to do today. It is bright, blue sky sunny day.. cold of course..but the sunshine is glorious!!

And now, for me to go pack more, decide what I could sell to stock the pantry, and search the papers for an apartment.

Life is never dull..monotonous at times, but never dull..

Love,
North

Mieke, North, you both seem creativity incarnate lol.

Congratulations once again and am waiting for your gift of Love.

I feel like I too will be hidden somewhere in the covers of your book, like Avtar Singh's hidden factor lol....

Thanks Harb,,,and you are indeed, a big influence of this book--I have autographed a special card to insert with Miekes signature into your copy of a bookcover I'd made with you in the design : )The little printed cards is the only way we were able to think of a way to sign the books, without the books being mailed back and forth between 3 countries. lol I wish I could have used glossy photo paper though, to bring out perfection, but..perfection is an ideal.. not a reality...

Love,
North

!!!C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!
North and Mieke

Wishing your book great success and prosperity.

Cinda

North, dont worry, whatever is sent from the heart is perfect, and then, it (perfection)need also lie in my eyes lol and it is.

Happy in your happiness. Harb

Well there you have it Harb, the hidden factor!

:))))

And everything that comes from the heart is beauty in all it's perfection :)

Love, Mieke

HARB, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

LOL :)

Mieke

Dear Cinda,

Thanks very much!

With very pleasant memories on our conversations here too :)

Love, Mieke

Mieke, what?

Harb, it is nice to see you so playful..

Cinda!! (((HUGS))) my friend of many years!! : )

Mieke, perfection is, what perfection does; and with compassion and love, and the creative process--there is no imperfections. You are a keen "eye".

well.. off again to try to pack.. I just can't get into anything today..

today, I want to dance the joy, which is inspiring my heart through friendships across the globe, which aspire me to dream.. a little dream.

Love,
North

Yeah, look at the time of our heart posts :)

Our hearts seem to beat at the same wavelength lol

Perfect non-local timing :)

Mieke

Mieke.. you and Harb both have an 8:06 post!

CoOoL!!

Am dancing and dreaming with you North :)

Mieke

One thing I find the most amazing about this project with Mieke.. is the fact she is giving the first copies free, to our mutual friends we've all met together here at IB a few years ago!!

This motion of generosity from Mieke, is testament to pure intention from the heartphone.

I bow in the direction of Mieke, who's pillar of strength is her pure intentions of kindness!

(((humble smiley bow insert here)))

Yeah North, but we too :)

Mieke

North, Mieke really I have been dancing before the Tv for the last about an hour, writing messages here inbetween. Perhaps this is why I am soo playful lol. Today I am particularly dancy, dont know why...

Feel like a whirling Derwish...

Now I see Mieke, so you talked about the perfect coincidence in timeing?

There is a party going on, oh yeah, all day long...... all night long......

:)))

Mieke

well.. off I go, pushing myself to go shovel all the snow we received overnight!! It will not shovel itself, and it is my responsibility. I do enjoy the fresh air while shoveling though!! : )

Some more good news from the homefront!! My son has received a fieldwork placement job for college, right through to graduation next spring, 2009!! He got a job placement through the year and all summer, with M.O.H.--Ministry of Health, doing programming, engineering, etc... he will make almost twenty dollars per hour! wowzers!! I am so proud of my son, so happy for him, and wish to share this new joy with you all.. as this was the best phone call I could have received!! My sons future looks more secure.. and nothing can give a mother more sense of calm, than that!!

We are hoping now, he will have a job offer with MOH after graduation next spring! : ) Thinking, dreaming... BIG!

Yeah Lee!!

Love, North

And here is to Lee, Hooray!!

Great Donna, another crown on your work!

Love, Mieke

Harb, MIeke.. I feel it is because this is the first time the 3 of us have connected at the simultaneously for a long while.. it is like we are happy to reunite again after a long absence or something.. the joy I feel is bursting seams in my heartpocket...

I will join you dancing.. me, with shovel and the snow, the sun as my dancefloor lamp.. Mieke, grab Frank, and dance girl, dance!! lol

Happiness is a great elixir!! : )

Love, North

Harb # 22, yes isn't it wonderful. I had one with North too: 8:23, more or less the three of us :)

I remember Igor mentioning somehwere here on IB about the Upanishads and the very truth of Shakhti that can be expressed in words :)

Love, Mieke

Igor, if you are reading this, thanks a lot dear friend :)

Mieke

Thankyou Mieke.. this job offer is a great relief, as they have to do fieldwork placement in order to complete graduation! His wages are just unbelievable for a nineteen year old to make, and he is prepared to work very hard for it!

Ooh, am so happy today, I could just combust!!

Igor... besides Mieke.. you have anything to do with this restoration of north? YOu said my life would dramtically improve!! : )

Love, North

aahah Mieke.. we were both thinking of Igor!! lol

Yo, congratulations Mieke and North. How exciting for you both to combine your gifts to give an even greater gift to the world. I am looking forward to seeing your book.

peace and love

derek

Yeah, North, we are celebrating something very special here, very special.......

Thank you Jai Guru Deva !!!!!

Mieke

Hi Derek.. thankyou thankyou! Mieke is the conspirator of this project with the universe, and the generous spirit of the gift offering.

Thank you Derek, cheers!

You want a copy, just mail me at the email address given in post #1. And Cinda too.

What a wonderful party!

Mieke

ok ok.. snow shoveling waits for me to get wit-it!!

ciao for a while... keep dancing Harb, Mieke, and ALL!!

Love, North

Mieke, you can mail me Cinda's copy; as she is a dear friend for years, and I would like to sign it personally(you too, ok?) and mail from here to her.. she is not far from me at all. : ) That is, if this is OK with Cinda? lol

Ok.. shoveling!!!!

North

Lol Mieke, North, I stopped messaging so that I will not hinder North's work of removing snow and you two have been going on...

North, I can see your heart dancing evne while removing snow. Snow to us is such a beautiful thing. We go 400 kilometres to watch snow...

Enjoy, North, new grads are now being offered money we oldies cannot even imagine. It is the main story of India today - an indian IIM (Indian Institute if Management) graduate was offered $350000 p.a as starting pay lol.

Wave Alert!
------------------

Spring-Autumn call tsunami is coming

Is it Maharishi back-effect?

Prepare yourself. Dress yourself with horrible-shadows, Friday night.

See you!

Dear Deepak,

I know you are in the middle day of the gathering of the Alliance for a New Humanity and I am certainly there with you in Spirit.

I hope you all have wonderful days.

I would like to have you join the dancing here with us too on this beautiful party.

Thank You and Your family for Intentblog that is a great inspiration to make dreams come true!

One Verse

Namaste
Jai Guru Deva
Sat Sri Akal
With love unbounded

Mieke

Hi Jean :)

Nothing's gonna change my world, all across the Universe :)

Love, Mieke

North #36. That's okay with me. Go shoveling, i bet it isn't half as heavy as normal lol. Will sign out for a while now :)

Love, Mieke

Hey now, hey now, there is entirely too much "touchy-feely" good vibes going on here . . .

How do you ladies expect to make any money giving your stuff away!!!!!!!

(But I sent an e-mail to Mieke)

Take it out in trade?!? O wait . . ., har har har, down boy down (there is laws against people like me) har har har. . .

Congratulations ladies!

pax vobiscum

Hey now:

http://[DELINKER]www.calbona.nl/documents/120.html

Very kewl! Dang North how does one get Penelope Cruz as a friend (she is a little young but . . . yummy)?!? Wow!

(dogs yes I know we are all dogs)

har har

hi Craig,
creativity at it's core is
FREE
:)

Mieke & North,
I am
so Happy
for your venture together!
Dreams do
come true.

lots of love,
~ Kate

and North,
congrats to Lee!

Harb,
playfulness
is good for the
Soul

#37 Harb--shoveling is completed!! I would ship to you, all of our snow if I could, just to save you the long journey to see it. : )

Mieke..shoveling was heavy, but done with a dance in my step, a smile on my face, and a song in my heart...

Craig.. Penelope even signed my profile comments a while back... most friends on my myspace added ME.. so this to me, is quite flattering, and a profoundly severe danger-zone for us leo-lion-signs : )

Is everybody back ON the dancefloor?

I have made garlic-cheese bread toasted in the oven.. anyone want some nibbles?

Hey Craig, thanks. And do post that pool table story again here. It is a creative treasure to read and I cannot find it back here in the archives but I do know it is there :)

Thank you dearest Kate, if anyone should know it is you :)

Wow North that garlic-cheese bread tastes delicious, especially with a glass of wine next to it!

So you really made a dance of the shoveling lol

Cheers and back on the dancefloor :)

Mieke

When you
find yourself
at the tail end
of an old Open
Thread,
who then is the
wag?

;-)

Love the sync, you guys!

Edmund,
stride on over
you are in sync
(wink)
~ Kate

Absolutely right Kate! :)

Touching up "the pool story" presently Mieke . . .

Olbermann's "Special Comment" wowso!

peace

#42--Craig.. money was not Miekes intention in this creative pursuit for happiness. Me? I am just honoured she finds my digital art worthy of sharing with others..I am blessed to have them company her poetry.

One day, God/Universe will aspire to grant me a few wishes...such as this book with Mieke was one such wish!

When we all first met here, my son were in high school, Mieke and Frank, had one grandchild.

Now, Mieke has more grandchildren, my son finished 2nd year of 3 at college next month, just snagged a job-placement for college and a summer job!! Kates daughter has graduated, and has a good future... Keith and Craig had milestone birthdays, Patzi & Dave fell in love... Harb has a book, he authored, Gautham is a Daddy!!

So, the book really is priceless to us, in regards to online friendship and the influence of our dialogues here with you all, and this has led to the creative outlet through us...reflecting all of you...

Love, North

Yo North
For all that goes on here, this is a pretty magical place. My life has been changed in many ways.

I hope you are stayin' warm up there.

derek

It's pretty cold right now Derek, I wish the lady downstairs could read my mind, to turn up the heat, as it's way too late at night, to call her to turn it up! I'll never rent a place again, where I cannot control my own heat!

The magic, is in the people that have bonded : )

Love,
North

CNN has Ferraro's unrepentant "resignation letter"

"Dear Hillary –

I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign.

The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you.

I won't let that happen..."

I used quotation marks around "resignation letter" because Ferraro had continued to insist as recently as yesterday that she wasn't part of the Clinton campaign:

"Ferraro said the Clinton campaign cannot fire her because she is not an adviser.

"It's impossible to fire somebody who's not involved with it," she said."

If it's impossible to be fired because you don't work for the campaign, how can you resign?

If one can think of resignation letters on a continuum of repentant to defiant, this one definitely falls less on the "gee, I'm sorry" side of the continuum and more on the "screw those jerks who are making me step down" side. She continues to speak the language of a persecuted victim. And her promise to continue to speak out—should we expect more cozy chats with her adoring ally Bill O'Reilly?--suggests she will continue to spew her theory that there's a hierarchy of persecution that should determine our presidential nominee, and that the near-certainty that Barack Obama will earn the Democratic nomination is tainted, according to Ferraro, because he's Black and Hillary Clinton is a woman.

Hillary Clinton should not passively allow herself to benefit from Ferraro's race-baiting. Look what Clinton herself said in the February 26th debate about Barack Obama in her attempt to associate him with a race-baiter with whom Obama had never been associated and whom he had repeatedly denounced:

"No. I'm just saying that you asked specifically if he would reject it. And there's a difference between denouncing and rejecting. And I think when it comes to this sort of, you know, inflammatory -- I have no doubt that everything that Barack just said is absolutely sincere. But I just think, we've got to be even stronger. We cannot let anyone in any way say these things because of the implications that they have, which can be so far-reaching."

Senator Clinton, you can no longer simply state that it's "regrettable that any of our supporters on both sides say things that veer off into the personal." It's to for you to personally "reject and denounce" the race-baiting statements of Geraldine Ferraro. Your failure to do so will make it look like you hope to benefit from the attempts of your allies to create racial divisions and exploit fear.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/12/18841/5291/646/475312

Ferraro Wants an Apology
by MissLaura
DailyKos

No, really.

MSNBC:"Ferraro said she has a 40-year history of opposing discrimination of all kinds, including race, and that she was outraged at criticism of her remarks by David Axelrod, Obama's chief media strategist, because he knows her and her record.

"David Axelrod, his campaign manager, has chose to spin this as a racist comment because everytime anybody makes a comment about race who is white — he did it with Bill Clinton, he was successful; he did it with (Pennsylvania governor and Clinton supporter) Ed Rendell, he was less successful; and he is certainly not going to be successful with me," Ferraro told CBS' "The Early Show." "He should have called me up ... He knows I'm not racist.""

Seriously? The perpetrator of one of the most egregious race-baiting plays in recent national-level politics is outraged to be called out for it? Well, I'm no David Axelrod, I'm just someone who, at 7 years old, was thrilled to have a woman nominated for vice president. But I'll say it: If Geraldine Ferraro is not personally a racist, she's doing a damned good impression of one. Racist, racist, racist.

And while, per her resignation letter, Ferraro has no intention of refraining from further race-baiting remarks, she's still attempting to blackmail the Obama campaign into that apology she wants:

"Ferraro, for her part, told Fox News that "if it makes David [Axelrod] happy, I would get off the [Clinton] finance committee."

But, she added, referring to Axelrod, "He shouldn't really antagonize people like me." If Obama is nominated, Axelrod "is going to come to me and ask me to raise money for Barack Obama, and I will do it for him, too, if he stops doing this kind of horrendous attack.""

I've got news for Geraldine Ferraro: Your ideas about campaign finance are almost as out of date as your ideas about race. In February, Barack Obama had nearly three-quarters of a million donors, and with 500,000 contributions already this month, he doesn't need supposed big fundraisers like you to keep him solvent. ("Supposed" because it seems Ferraro had some trouble repaying her debts from her 1998 Senate campaign.) So I doubt they'll be groveling for help, especially after the lavish well-poisoning you're engaging in.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/12/20339/1093/547/475403

[John: She was privately raising funds for Hillary Clinton by making racial remarks in front of white, old susceptible women...]

Senator Clinton Isn't A Republican, As Far As I Know

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/senator-clinton-isnt-a-r_b_91187.html

Via TPM, Geraldine Ferraro on how HARD it is for an African-American to be elected president:

Ms. Ferraro offered a similar sentiment. “I think it’s more realistic for a woman than it is for an African-American,” said Ms. Ferraro. “There is a certain amount of racism that exists in the United States — whether it’s conscious or not it’s true.”

“Women are 51 percent of the population,” she added.

When did Geraldine say this?

2006.

Hillary, Geraldine and the Clinton campaign have lost what a thinking person would call their souls.

Hi North and all,

The copies of the book have arrived and so did your beautiful cards.

Well, I know what I will be busy with the next few days :)

Thanks everyone for the wonderful reactions and the great feeling of solidarity it has created.

Love from the heartphone

Mieke

Hi North and Mieke,
Thank you for including me in your book mailing list.

I would send the funds to North and you may forward it to Mieke, if that's okay.

Looking forward to seeing this masterpiece!!!

{{{hugs}}}Cinda

You can't lie to God. He doesn't know the difference.

Apollo 13 to Houston: No problems yet, but, Houston, if we do, you'll be the second to know.

I can't post....

Ohh. It worked!! lol I have been unable to post since 6am this morning, as I woke up at 3am unable to sleep... too much "pain" and well... oh well.

OK Cinda, I will forward that to Mieke for you.

Much love to all,
North

I'm leaving and going home again. I'm going to work on my sense of smell this time, spoon bending seems so mundane, or is that archaic.

goodthrusday all,

WOW, Mieke and North...you guys are the "bomb":)))))..I will send my info for the book...really, two very talented ladies...there is much talent here at IB...Heather is also a very talented artist..you go ladies.

North, I took a peek at your myspace page and it is truly amazing...you are a very talented designer..

have a wonderful day all, ruth

Hi North and Cinda,

North, I see you have been able to solve your posting problem :)

Well, thanks for sending me the money, all money I receive on selling the book will be set apart.

There are more people here who are very talented and perhaps we can create some mutual fund for starting our own publishing company or something like that?

Just dreaming.........

Hi Ruth, glad you signed in and am looking forward to your info to send you a copy :)

With gratitude, from the heartphone,

Mieke

Hey North,

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Lee and having a job he is excited about...tears of joy came to my eyes when I read about it!!!

Give your young man a {{{hug of congrats}}} for me when you see him next.

such good good good news.....om shanti to you and Lee.

~~~
So, when is the book launch, can we manage a cyber one on here?

I'll bring some cherry cheesecake and baileys...2 of my favourites

luv ya's,
Cinda

HI Ruth, thanks thanks!! This was all Miekes doing...all I did was donate my artwork.

Mieke, It was a long time since I could post and I did EMail IB..so they must have fixed the problem. I will send Cindas money on to you, as soon as I recieve it, will EMail you when recived and sent.

I am so grateful to everyones interest in our creative pursuits...

very cold here today. indoors day.. feeling winter-lazy!! : )

Love, North

I will do that Cinda, and thanks!! I am so happy for Lee!! What a relief to get this position..he is very happy! Even his Dad called me yesterday, as he was pretty happy for Lee too! : )

Much love to you Cinda... big hugs, college Mom!!

North

hello everyone,

Well, it looks like Santa Claus is having a very good campaign....ho, ho, ho. poor Hillary, she thought she was running against just your average run of the mill politician instead she got Santa Claus(maybe we should tell her, it seems kind of cruel to let her go on in vain this way....so, I guess the real question here is not who will win the nominaton but how many grownup Democrats still believe in Santa Claus and that he has given up his December gig for a term in our White House as President Santa....well, maybe, it is not so bad afterall, instead of White House tours we will get to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what we want from our House and Senate....hmmmmmm.

Really, if Hillary Clinton actually wrests(I love how Deepak worded that... because of course, she can't win on her experience or qualifications no only Barak can win the nomintation, his rivals can only wrest the nomination.:)) just teasing you Deepak...it is okay to be prejudice towards your Candidate of choice...if Hillary wins imo she really has climbed Mt. Impossible because the only route available to her was paved in doodoo while if Barak wrests the nomination :) it will have been with more than a little help from his "friends"(press and media) who helped carve his route with the fresh packed stones they used slinging at Hillary Clinton and her camp everytime they opened their mouths, because, they(hillary camp) thought, they were running against just another politician not Santa in disguise.

Now, I know there are those of us who want her for her "goods"...and I will mention them again even though it will make the Barak supporters hoot and holler and spit...yes, her experience and her quaifications both with a capital E and Q to really rub it in (you see, I, ruth, would shoot Santa in front of the "children" in a minute,(well not really shoot, I don't like guns but I would let him know in very clear terms it was time to exit the scene) because I think once you reach a certain age Santa needs to be shot or the poor kid is in for a real tough adolescence and if you are voting you are well beyond your Santa years so, we need to ask Santa to get back to the north pole where he belongs(Illinois in this case.:) We have a Presidential race to run and well it gets a little dirty, a little slimy, you get cuts, bruises, you say bad stuff...swear, even, throw spit balls....see, this is not the place for a Santa Claus....:))))

have a great evening ruth

"Women of My Generation Have Clearly Lost Their Minds"

Lynda Obst is one of the most prolific and well know female producers, authors and commentators in the film industry. She has been in the business for over 25 years, and has released films at almost every major studio.

She writes:

Women of my generation have clearly lost their minds. Not that I can blame them, apparently being invisible and all. Now with Geraldine Ferraro making outrageous nut-jobber remarks she doesn't even seem to understand, and realizing our tragic generation was once proud of her as a "pioneer," you can see how deluded we are as well. Worse, only this week, a heroine of mine, Tina Brown, got it utterly wrong in Newsweek, saying all boomer women had to be for Hillary. Tina drank the victim Kool Aid.

So I want my peers to meet an original (begged for him to run) pro-Barack boomer 50-something careerist woman, who chose Barack above and beyond -- hear me, Geraldine, you utter moron -- from the best field of Democratic candidates we've had for years, many of whom I've been big fans of forever, for their various courageous stands on Central America (Dodd,) Iraq (Biden, Richardson and Kucinich.)

But Hillary? Never liked her. Many of my best friends and favorite women have always felt the same. Something unsettling about her. A feminist? Maybe. But a compromised one, having risen to fame as the victim of Monica and having been famously on bimbo eruptions in her White House patrol. She was the destroyer of Paula Jones and Gennifer Flowers, the very blue collar ladies she is now being saved by. Kind of yucky, really. And hanging in there, through all the humiliation, and that making her a star. Left a bad taste in my mouth. Moving on.

What about my generation's desperation that there will never be another female candidate? Why? Is our gender about to die out? Do you all know something I don't? I can understand the 80-year-olds, I guess. But to me, Hillary Clinton is merely the first credible candidate, and the most flawed. And the only one not to rise on her own coattails, which is the real reason she doesn't appeal to both me and many young, yes, in their own way, feminists. And what about Claire McCaskill? She's great! And she just emerged this year! Why do we act like Hillary is our last great chance? How damaged and pathetic. I see fantastic women in their 30s all the time. To wit, Chelsea's undamaged generation. Not polarizing, like us ceiling crashers. I can sympathize, I am, too.

Another issue is, you don't know what she really thinks. Did she vote that way on the war because it would make her look tough? Or is she really such a hawk? I know a lot of women who really believe she's a peacenik, but votes like a hawk because she has to look tough to men. I am not so sure. I think she's a hawk. But none of us know for sure. This is a problem for boomer Barack women like me, and young women, too.

And another thing. And I am not even going to get into how nutty her relationship is, and no, I don't want two for one. Al Gore didn't then, and I don't now. And it looked pretty ugly on the campaign trail so far. Anyway. This whole thing about being vetted: what's the hold up on her White House transcripts? Why withhold tax records, info on fundraising at the presidential library? Somehow I fear something lurking there in the bushes, pardon.

I hate when women identify as victims, act like victims, and love victims. And Hillary, as strong as she is, wins as a victim. That is the trajectory of her career. I am a victim. Punch. So why are women whining and the identifying with being the victim again? This is so un-Tina! Hillary was the victim of an oppressive media? Of being asked the first question? Poor baby. All that good coverage on Obama was about being the victor of 11 primaries in a row -- excuse us! And is Barack playing the victim of a real calumny? On Clinton's answer to the known question: "Are you a Muslim?" "Not as far as I know?" Are you not ashamed?

What are you talking about, unfair treatment? Compared to what?

And one last thing. What I saw that ugly week with Tex/Ohio, was a woman yelling, shrieking, mocking, changing her strategy every day. I can understand the desperation, but I can't understand smart women mistaking that for strength. When she said shame on you, I was ashamed. Does that make me a sexist? Since I am her peer and a woman? No, I wanted her to be strong but consistent, not lose her cool at 3 a.m. The way Senator Obama had behaved all week.

And now she is the killer of Hope. (It was just too delusional to manage). We are not that multi-racial post-oppression society that shocked the world and for a moment was its wonder. We are, thanks to Hillary's kitchen sink and staff, the same old America they thought we were. The racially charged, fractured America Bush & Rush left us with that Obama has the prescription to heal. The one that attracted us original believers during his miraculous 2004 convention speech then swept 11 primaries in a row and apparently had to be stopped (thanks, SNL). We are the broken polarized America she wants to rule, will to anything to rule.

That we have learned can't be ruled.

Which is why I was an original Barack Boomer Woman in the first place.

ok, still lil long but the pool game of life logically "perfected." Tinker away Mieke and write it . . .

:) :) :)

peace

Odd Blogballs

Hi Craig,
I've just been on a late night stroll, the air is so refreshing, a half moon glow for guiding my steps, and gentle breeze touches so soft, makes this evening heavenly. Come see!
love

Indeed fair Kate

the evening is wondrous

peace

Hi North and Mieke
Congratulations! Though I would love to have the book "Inspired Designs Inspired Poems" and read it the very same day..I am simply not emailing for it as I am in India and the shipping would cost you a bomb..I rather buy the book myself and read it or borrow it from the library in case its expensive and if at all it hits India.
Anyways you guys are doing well..my best wishes are with you

warm regards
Deeps Adv (This is for John)

Hi Deepti,

Thank you for you kind words. I do not know where you live in India, but am going to send a copy today to the Ifsha organization in New Delhi.

I made a couple of friends there during a period of very nice blog conversations with several of them. Most regulars here certainly will remember Jasjit :)
http://www.isitaboutsexblog.com/

Perhaps it can be put into their library and they can lend it to you?

Sometimes gratitude doesn't know anything about money :)

Love, Mieke

P.S. Deeps,

Am gonna make the soup this weekend :)

Mieke

Good morning IB!!

Thanks Mieke
And tell me how the soup was..Have a nice day !
Deeps Adv

Goodmorning North,

Did you sleep well?

How is the weather?

Love, Mieke

Barack Obama has released all of his earmark requests from 2005 and 2006 (his 2007 earmarks have already been released). You can see the earmarks here.

http://answercenter.barackobama.com/cgi-bin/barackobama.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=172&p_created=1205426026&p_sid=TNlxoC-i&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MSwxJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz

His campaign also took the opportunity to tweak his opponent for not doing the same:

"Bringing real change requires changing the way we do business in Washington," said Obama for America Communications Director Robert Gibbs. "If Senator Clinton will not agree to join Senator Obama in releasing her earmark requests, voters should ask why she doesn't believe they have the right to know she wants to spend their tax dollars."

good afternoon(your time) Mieke.. still early morning here. The weather is mild-cold, but very damp, dark sky..looks/feels like rain or snow?

My day is unmapped, and as such, I shall enjoy today in its own time and unfolding with no influence from me. Today, I still want to revel in our joyful project coming to fruition by extending to the online friends here we share with, whom inspired our aspirations..more than they may ever know.

How is the day at your end of the globe Mieke? Much love to you and your husband and family from the heartphone!

Harb, are you there too.. are you still in the mood of dancing?

Nirav... thankyou! : )

Love,
North

Hi North, I am here, and my time to dance is approaching fast..

Hi North, Harb :)

We have a very sunny day today, a bit windy but not that cold.

I went shopping for the ingredients of the Spicy Cabbage Soup, which is the soup of the week here on IB.

I thought it only fair to Frank who is a fond enthusiast of delicious soups lol, to make him a special one today. To celebrate :)

I could find all the ingredients in one big supermarket, the most popular one in our country, that has so much variety in food to choose from, from almost every country nowadays :)

Well, as Frank likes to cook also since his retirement, we will probably end up in the kitchen with the two of us, me doing everything exactly according to the recipe and he adding the finishing touch just by his feeling lol. He just smells and then adds whatever he thinks is still missing.

I forgot to buy French bread and according to Frank this has to go with it, so I am out again to get that too :)

So bye for now, happy dancing :)

Mieke

Dancing while mouth is watering reading your preparation of Cabbage Soup...Is there any chance of ADVOCAAT..what was it Salgram (sorry I forgot the name)..

Yes Harb, i will buy that next week when it is Easter. It is the special Easter liquor and with "slagroom" is the finishing touch :)

It is a liquor made of eggs and brandy and it tastes delicious but is also branded as a senior's drink, yet i have loved it all my life lol

Mieke

I love cabbage soup and also sourkraut soup!!

Ooh yes, french bread is a must to go with soup Mieke!! I like to shred some cheese on a slice, and toast in the oven..sometimes just butter, no cheese and toast it in oven..

Ooh, I am hungry now, and will eat first, dance later... and consumed a bagel and small piece of butter/almond cake(a mix) which I keep in the freezer..out of sight, out of tummy!! : )

Harb.. may your time to dance, be nearer you!!

If I were somewhere with no winter right now, I"d love to be walking/hiking in natures beauty and warmth..feeling the sun as my blanket, the sky as my light..

We all have the heart of adventurers!! : )

Love,
North

goodfriday all,

I just have a min., but as I was browsing through the online news papers I noticed many editorials about Silda Spitzer...the ole "Why did she stand there, next to him?"

Well, I have written before how it annoys me that the men always drag the wife out for the big "humiliation" news conference but do they ever invite them along for the "fun time" that contriubted to the "big humble pie chow down," no, and that has always got my goat...

Now, do not get me wrong...my question is not with the wife, what she does or does not do in these situatiions, my question is with the MEN... why ALL of them refuse to insist on going it ALONE...saying...no honey, I have put you through too much, already, not to mention the children...so, you go to a movie, go have a nice lunch with kids...go buy a new wardrobe...and, I, being the "smuck" that I am, will, finally, attempt to act "my age" and "grow up" and become at last a "MAN." but...alas, no...they never do.

That is the difference between men and women...I believe women would opt to stuff their humiliation all in there own face rather then inflict it upon their families....(okay, why, stop myself....another blarring reason to vote for the WOMAN in this election.)

These situations are about the VICTIMIZER, always, and, only, and NEVER about their victims..got it?

have a great day everyone, ruth

Beautiful...

"A Free-Spirited Wanderer Who Set Obama’s Path"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/us/politics/14obama.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Hi North,
it is a great day for a walk into - adventure!
love,
~ Kate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...enjoy ... You are doing the most then to save the earth's character as an agreeable planet. And enjoyment radiates. It is of no use to try and take care of all the world; that is being taken care of when you feel delight - in art or in anything else."
George Eliot

hI Kate! Every moment is an adventure-every breath taken, is a step into forward time and motion..

Ohhh... the snowstorm which we thought had passed, is here!! It's been snowing since the other day lightly, but now it is really coming down.

How can something so pure-white and beautiful, be so dreaded? lol It is only because it is the ending of winter, and for those of us, whom live winters; may resonate with that "won't winter ever go away" feeling?

WE KNOW spring is near.. but, these one-more snowstorms, kinda dampen the celebration of springtime, as there is just to much snow... to "see" it! lol

Have a great day ya'll, as I stare out my window; wondering whether to go out for a walk-about, and let the snow, wash my face, my hair..

Nahhhh... done it a million times this winter already!(giggles)

Today... a do'as'I do.. or don't-do day... not necessarily my favorite kind of day; but, here it is regardless!

Ooh, the shovel is ready for later...

Mieke, how is your cabbage soup?

Love, NOrth

Pastor Jermy Wright is rather the colorful speaker.

Truth to power brother!

har har har

oops

i mean Jeremiah Wright

);)

Hi North,

The Spicy, with emphasize on Spicy :) Cabbage soup tasted delicious, it really did. Only a little bit too spicy to my taste while Frank loves it the specier the better lol

I found a little consolation in adding a bit of Krauttröpchen liquor to it to neutralize the taste. We had a left-over of that from our holiday in Gemany and took it with us. And the french bread, with butter, also neutralized the spicy taste a bit.

After the meal I went walking with my little dog and experienced an almost magic sunset with clouds lain as a blanket above me, moon still peeping true it and the birds singing, singing. I danced on that sound and little Cesar with me :) it was really breathtaking that atmosphere!

But I can imagine that you were experiencing the same feeling when looking at all those snowflakes whirling down. something we haven't seen for a long time in our country :)

Nature, in all it's expressions, is breathtaking to say the least.

Rain is predicted here for the rest of the weekend, so spring takes her time to reveal itself :)

Love to all,

Mieke

hI Mieke.the soup and accomaniements sound yummy!! I used to love spicy the better too..but not anymore. lol

Your sunset, after dinner walk sounded heavenly divine, serene and peaceful.

The snow was beautiful when falling.. I just come in from shoveling! It is very wet, heavy snow, the top snow, like little balls...looks like it was to rain, but it is still too cold and the rain froze mid-air on the way down... very pretty little snow-pellets!! lol

It is very mild, if I had energy left I would take a walk, but I HAVE to go out tomorrow for long walking, so will save energy for that.

Give little Cesar a pat on the head from me!!

The wall of incoherence
Dress between us
As a sword for separation-control
And confusion

Feel the old-new magnet
Feel this wave coherence
Feel the field-power of our invincibility

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

The Meissner-Maharishi effect
The wave is at sight
And near...

\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \

Let's synchronize us for a Friday magnetic-event
Tonight at 23:00 (New-York Time)
See you in music

Univers of peace and union-manifestations
Come here at that time
Come here
Come now

We are there
There, sensible and listening
With simplicity and curiosity
Yes, we are here...

Peace from the Quantum Level

Everybody wants world peace
Nobody believes that can be world peace
It's a nice idea
It's meaning less...

Maharishi
Your presence is still here

I remember the fascination reading your book-words
I remember these peaceful and lonely moments
Reading you during evening of summer

Opening my eyes to a new way of seeing...

Help!

Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help.

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?...

Dark beauty
Dark Deep white-eyes of my ignorance
I am seeking you
And so much more to learn
From your living-tresor

So, yes, I am looking at you now...

Breath

Breath

Feel deeply

Who are you

We are with you with love
Presence of bliss

Elevate yourself with determination and tranquility

Maharishi back effect is right here, now...

Can you feel it
Friends of music

Let's face it

Please hold my hands
Help me
Hold my hands

Let's face it
Can you feel it
Vertigo of my little being

He is blowing and waving
In me
Can you feel it...

Hi Jean,

Spiritual poems may become a new trend :)

From the heartphone they arise.

Beautiful poems.

Love and peace,

Mieke

In 1991, after graduating from Harvard Law school, Barack returned to Chicago to work as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago. One of his colleagues there was Cass Sunstein, a member of the Department of Political Science as well as the Law School. In today's edition of the Chicago Tribune, Sunstein reflects on his time spent with Barack and uses his unique insight to imagine what a potential Obama presidency might look like. He also tells a story about a recent conversation with his old friend:

"Not so long ago, the phone rang in my office. It was Barack Obama. For more than a decade, Obama was my colleague at the University of Chicago Law School.

He is also a friend. But since his election to the U.S. Senate, he does not exactly call every day.

On this occasion, he had an important topic to discuss: the controversy over President Bush's warrantless surveillance of international telephone calls between Americans and suspected terrorists. I had written a short essay suggesting that the surveillance might be lawful. Before taking a public position, Obama wanted to talk the problem through.

In about 20 minutes, he and I investigated the legal details. He asked me to explore all sorts of issues: the president's power as commander in chief, the Constitution's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Authorization for Use of Military Force and more.

Obama wanted to consider the best possible defense of what Bush had done. To every argument I made, he listened and offered a counterargument. After the issue had been exhausted, Obama said he thought the program was illegal, but now had a better understanding of both sides. He thanked me for my time.

This was a pretty amazing conversation, not only because of Obama's mastery of the legal details, but also because many prominent Democratic leaders had already blasted the Bush initiative as blatantly illegal. He did not want to take a public position until he had listened to, and explored, what might be said on the other side.

This is the Barack Obama I have known for nearly 15 years -- a careful and evenhanded analyst of law and policy, unusually attentive to multiple points of view.

Read the full article . . . "

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0314obamamar14,0,2169730.story

goodsaturday all,

Well the big news yesterday was all about Barak Obama and his minister, Rev. Wright, a "Preacher Man full of spit-fire sermons, charisma galore, and DRAMA...the Rev. can MOVE his followers on any given Sunday to stand up and shout, or stand up and "praise the Lord" or just plain "stand up." Barak said, last night, in interviews while trying to calm the waters of this new controversy that Rev. Wright is the man who brought him to "Jesus." (I cannot tell you how sick I am of politicians throwing out a "Jesus or two" so all the "world audience" gets it...front and center...I Barak Obama have taken Jesus as my Savior...repeat..I Love Jesus,) and he really doesn't go to him for his politics. Duh. Barak Obama sits in front of this powerful "master presenter" this charismatic speaker, this dramatic persona, this spit-fire of a powerful persuader and preacher for over 15 years of Sundays and brushes of HIS MENTOR's political infulence? Really.

At least, now, I understand Barak Obama. Barak has been front and center of Rev. Wrights performances for years and he must have wanted to experience that kind of power, that kind of infulence, I can see how he must have wanted to aspire to become that kind of personality and since he was interested in politics that is where he would...attempt to emulate the kind of inflence and power that his Rev. Wright had with his followers each Sunday.

Now, it makes sense...the power of speeches, the rallies, the BarakObamamania that took such hold of his supporters...the "hungry souls" gathered to get their feed on the much wider scale of the political arena instead of just your small neighborhood church...Now, I get why the word...SOUL was bantered about with Integrity when it came to Barak Obama..after all he has mentioned more than once about his trip to Jesus, and although for President Bush to mention his Jesus connection and the "liberal Democrats" cringed at it and him... it is oh, so different when Barak Obama, the Democrat, brings him up...it's with integrity and soul...

Rev Wright said,..
“At least there are no semen stains on any dresses,” Mr. Wright said, one of several digs he has taken at the Clintons.

“That kind of frankness scares people in the campaign,” he added.

Well, I don't know about you but I'll take a little semen on a dress any day over the drama filled, charismatic, spitfire, powerful pull of any Rev., from any Church or the follower who most emulates them ...as my President...don't get me wrong...it is fine to Love Jesus and take him as you Savior just keep it to yourself, quit throwing it in my face and in the political arena.

For Barak Obama to distance himself, now, after how many decades is just BS....and...it seems that the Rev. is now on vacation and will then be gone for a convient 3 months or more...returning only after the...Democratic Convention...leaving him unavailable to news reporters...hmmmmm

This situation with Barak Obama and his Paster/Mentor should be sending RED flags to every Democratic voter and I will again say....Barak Obama's INEXPERIENCE in the political arena should not be disgarded like a dirty kleenex and replaced with his experience of being inspired by his Pastor's sermons and presentation style because it is our very Nation at stake, if you want and need inspiration your local bookstore and you library has plenty of nurtrious goodies to more than fill your bellies and your souls.....

have a great saturday, ruth

Re. "A Free-Spirited Wanderer Who Set Obama’s Path"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/us/politics/14obama.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Vaness, a beautiful article indeed!

Now, that's a woman we can use as a role model!

Reminds me of another Free-spirited wanderer Sonia Gandhi, an Italian who was married to the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi who was later assassinated. She is now the most influential politician in India. She would have become the Prime Minister 4 years ago but she sacrificed the post, for the greater good of the country and remained as the President of the ruling Congress party.

Ruth, stop getting too EXCITED.

Published at the Huffington Post...

Barack Obama: On My Faith and My Church

The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.

Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.

Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context.

As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.

Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.

The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.

Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.

With Rev. Wright's retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright's statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.

Get this: Pastors are crazy.

Actually, Rev. Wright's statements on 911 and American military adventures are bang on!

btw, McCain's spiritual adviser called for complete annihilation of the entire Islamic world.

Greg Craig, a senior foreign policy adviser to Bill Clinton was interviewed by National Journal and was asked about Hillary Clinton’s claims to experience in foreign policy. During the interview he summed up the limitations to her experience:

"The point that I am making is that her claims of the nature of that experience are overstated. The fact is she did not sit in on national security meetings. She did not have a security clearance. She did not attend meetings in the situation room. She conducted no negotiations. She did not manage any part of the national security bureaucracy. She did not have her own national security staff."

hi again,

I see the Barak campaign is posting on my heels so I will direct this to them...Barak Obama has been sittig front and center for years basking in Rev. Wright's charismatic glow while he so powerfully gives his master presentations in the form of sermons to "his followers." This has been the performance packed theater of inspirational speech where Barak Obama learned the "tricks" of his trade. It has, so far, been very successful in his campaign for the Presidency.

Red Flags, folks...Red flags...there is the possibility of tons of -hit hitting the fans...in this Nation...if we put someone in charge who has TONS of political and personal ambition but absolutely no REAL LIVE EXPERIENCE in the actual Field of political, racial, religious, and foreign policy issues. You know, I am beginning to believe we are just suckers for punishment...it is not enough we have an economy that is tanking by the day, two war fronts, a bad reputation and we are still playing with the possibility of nominating another very "JUNIOR" politician who wants to be just as influential, powerful, and charismatic a man as his Reverend.

I can already hear the rumblings beneath the surface...oh, well.

Just remember, when a patient needs surgery you want the best "cutter" available you do not want an intern cutting open your belly on any given day...Red Flags, folks, Red Flags.

bye ruth

Re. Ruth, and the obsessive low intellect cherry picking retards:

You have an Obama green field with some cherry trees, while the Hillaryland has been marked by proud Red Flags Red Flags Red Flags ... and you see one Green painted weed of dubious EXPERIENCE, but your bipolar vision cherry picks RED for Obama and Green for Hillary. Amazing!

just one more...

Unlike Barak Obama's luxury NO vote, that
has been one of his claims to fame...our vote will be NO LUXURY VOTE it will be acted upon, 100 percent. We vote for him we get him...for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for four years he gets to make the calls, and I am sure by then his Reverend, his Mentor, will be a frequent White House visitor while being "on call 24/7" for needed spiritual>>>guidance.

You know, I am angry that Democrats are playing so fast and loose with our Nation' future by considering this very UNQUALIFIED junior Senator to lead our Country, it is like they place so little value in what it takes and so little consideratation into what possible sink holes could be on horizon that they have really just tossed Barak Obama's reality out the window for their Barak Obama fantasy.....Bill Clinton hit the nail on the head when he termed the Barak Campaign that way, although everyone gave him hell for it....it is true.

so, we go from the hell of a Bush/Cheney Administrain to the fantasy of a Barak Obama Administraion.....great...just great.

ruth

Ruth, you are impossible!

Chup!

"love" you back..Chrissy

ruth

This raving woman chauvinist Ruth, blinded by the imminent possibility of her beloved leader losing the contest, says Obama is a "very UNQUALIFIED junior Senator."

Well, for you info, he is more experienced than Bill Clinton when he ran for the Predeint for ex. He has lot more legislative experience than Hillary Clinton for ex. He has the experience of being a community organizer, civil rights lawyer and teaching Constitutional Law for ex. Most of the worst Presidents of USA are the most experienced Washington politicians for ex. Hillary Clinton has overstated her foreign policy experience for ex. She has Zero Executive experince for ex. Dick Cheney has the most experience to be the President for ex.

Oh, I thought Ruth retardingly repeated her EXPERIENCE mantra against Obama's candidacy, I see she morphed it to "QUALIFICATION".

"Very UNQUALIFIED"

Really? Stupid moron? Do even know what qualifications the Present of United States needs to have?

Maybe you should be allowed to rewrite the Constitution so that ONLY the leader you support should be qualified to be the President. Maybe America can then be as proud as Russia, Georgia, Iran or China.

Terra Sigillata: Public high school student takes top national science prize

If you read elsewhere at ScienceBlogs.com, you'll know that several bloggers have been discussing race and gender issues in the scientific and medical research communities as well as the challenges facing young scientists who pursue academic research careers. So, I was overjoyed this morning to see this glowing face on Shivani Sud, a local young woman of Indian heritage who took first prize in the Intel Science Talent Search (formerly the Westinghouse Science Talent Search).

Shivani Sud, 17, was awarded a $100,000 college scholarship during a ceremony in Washington for her research to improve colon cancer treatment.

Sud, who attends Jordan High School, said Tuesday night she was thankful and proud. "That proud feeling comes from doing what I do and not just the acknowledgement of it," she said.

Her father, Ish, and her teary-eyed mother, Anu, joined their daughter on stage for pictures right after the announcement at a black-tie banquet for the contest's 40 finalists....

http://scienceblogs.com/terrasig/2008/03/public_high_school_student_tak.php

The Wright Stuff
by Scout Finch
DailyKos

Without weighing in on whether or not the content of Reverend Jeremiah Wright's sermons should be denounced by Barack Obama, I do find one aspect of this story quite troubling. We have now seen more sermons from Barack Obama's minister in 48 hours than we ever did of Mike Huckabee ---- and Mike Huckabee was a presidential candidate for 14 long months. Why is it acceptable to scour every last sermon given by Wright, but only weeks ago we weren't allowed to see or read Mike Huckabee's sermons? In fact, not only was it totally ignored by the traditional media, but the few times the question of Huckabee's sermons was raised, it was brushed aside as inappropriate.

Why the hypocrisy? After all, Mike Huckabee was an evangelical Southern Baptist minister who's entire campaign was based on the fact that he was the Christian candidate. Are we to believe that he didn't rail against the US government over abortion in previous sermons? Or homosexuality? We know what he had to say about AIDS victims. I don't imagine one gets to be the be president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention without passionate fire and brimstone sermons as part of his repertoire.

So, I find it curious that the traditional media now has its white hot focus on Barack Obama's religion and a few select words by Reverend Jeremiah Wright. After all, Huckabee made his career as an actual preacher. Why the change of heart in the last few weeks? Why does Obama have to be held responsible for every word spoken during Wright's passionate sermons - while Huckabee is allowed a free ride and never questioned about his own words? From his own mouth?

Well, it's fair game now. If Huckabee reappears as a VP contender or decides to get in the race in 2012, I think we can safely point to this as justification for wanting to see Huckabee's past - in his own words.

I find it hard to believe that over a 17-20 year timespan that Obama never heard or was influenced by the kind of sermons given the the Rev. Wright.
For the time being though, I will give him the benefit of the doubt and take him at his word. Time will tell.

By the same token, those who excuse the Rev. Wright's sermons of justifying hatred based on revenge and the duality of victim and perpetrator by reiterating the past, long-dead ancestors and old enemies, as being heroic, patriotic or laudable are the ones who are perverse.

And that along with $4.50 will get me a plain coffee at Starbucks.

hi Mieke,
your soup sounds wonderful! I love spicy things. wish we all could come over tonight and enjoy the leftovers ;-)

Hi North,
wish you could be enjoying some of this wonderful spring weather - where I am - I will send it up your way :-)

dear Bonnie,
I am really enjoying the sunshine and warmth after yesterday's downpour. I was at a lacrosse game earlier, and it was perfect for watching and cheering on this bright afternoon.
Are you enjoying a nice day too?

love,
~ Kate

I wish it were spring/summer here already too Kate!! I miss the wildlife..though it takes me a few weeks to get used to all the bugs coming out all at once! lol

I enjoyed long walks today, on icy and slushy roads, puddles everywhere, so cars going by when I walk; is a nightmare, for getting splashed with muddy/ice/sand water!! I hit pavement in one part on a road, and walked on the road..right down the middle!! I mean, pavement!! In a little town like this; it is quite common to walk all over the less busy roads. lol I'd prob get hit by a car though in a city, huh? lol

Anyway, it's just shocking how much snow we have!! Mountains of it.. mountains and walls of it!! Makes me feel small like an ant. Terribly depressing outdoor environment after so many months of it! It really is...

Then, all of a sudden, it warms up so fast, its really hard to adjust from -50C to 72F!! lol

It is Easter next weekend, and thus bought my own easter chocolate bunny(a small solid kind) lol as well... born/raised Catholic.. it's "our way".

Rather than send my son chocolate, I sent him money, which I'm sure he'd rather have. Mailing is just TOO expensive to send treats and sweets!

Ooh, I hope there is a good movie on tonight; that walk done me such good!! Unwound me as it were...

Mom is not fairing well my friends; can you send her some reiki to her left side? She has had pain there a year, and gets results from this latest round of tests on Monday. She is also having much heart pain; and feels her end could be near, because of the increase. Doctors can't do anything until she goes into a heart attack... then, the risk of operating on her 90% blocked arteries could be validated. i am trying to be strong; and I am.. but, when I get home.. and am alone... I fall to pieces. MOm is so looking forward to seeing your book of poetry displaying my art Mieke..

Love,
North

"I find it hard to believe that over a 17-20 year timespan that Obama never heard or was influenced by the kind of sermons given the the Rev. Wright.
For the time being though, I will give him the benefit of the doubt and take him at his word. Time will tell."

Really?

Did you forget all the good things the church has done?

I mean come on what pastor doesn't say crazy things?

Actually all church going people are somewhat insane...

Read Obama's life story with regard to the Church and his faith. Obviously you are ignorant like the common public. Do we really think, him being part of the Church for 20 years makes him a Christian fundamentalist? And you think people like Rev. Wright are exceptions? People should leave a Church that has done good things in terms of community service because of a few odd ball comments made by the pastor? Obama is a politician in an America which predominantly sees Muslims as evil and equate nationalism with religion, he has to act like a politician unless you want to score cheap conservative points.

"I find it hard to believe that .... I will give him the benefit of the doubt and take him at his word. Time will tell."

Amazing, some don't show the same zeal in Hillary's stance towards the Iraq war. The things that really matter.

And you see Hillary shills parroting "I will take his word for that" which she shamelessly said when asked if Obama is a Muslim. (During tbe Texas primary, 15% of American believe that Obama is a Muslim. And she knows the numbers.)

And what about the blatant lies suring the Clinton era. All is fair and justified when it comes to the Clintons, because they are entitled to what they do. And they do good things. Not so with others.

Hi Kate, I am having a bad day. Are you having a bad day too? you never have bad day?

Stop spewing stupidity on Intentblog. It is not the end of the world if you leader doesn't get elected.

Barack Obama: Putting faith out front

from the July 16, 2007 edition
The Christian Sciecne Monitor

CHICAGO - On a recent Sunday, the magnetic pastor who led Barack Obama to Christianity was at his usual perch on the dais here, a South Side megachurch where a plaque beneath stained-glass depictions of the African-American struggle reads "Unashamedly Black, Unapologetically Christian."

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., in a casual short-sleeve shirt, preached about Martha as a "single saint," urging unmarried women to draw self-esteem from faith rather than men. He took blacks to task for what he said was their silence on domestic violence, homophobia, and the "illegal, untested, insane war in Iraq, started by a C-