Chief Seattle didn't really write this????

Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. We did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand of it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves... - Chief Seattle 1786 - 1866

The only known photograph of Chief Seattle was taken in the 1860s as he neared his 80th year.

One of the blogs I follow... Golden Rule Radical has a new post today... and wow... this statement was just made up for a movie ?!? This statement that has always tugged at me and pulled those strings that make me feel guilty when I do dumb stuff like buying overpackaged junk food. (I do try to think about our earth, always ready to acknowledge that guilt does not necessarily stop me for long - sigh.)

This makes me reflect on how we take any spoken or written words as literally as we tend to do. (And I'm not just speaking about my Christian brothers who are sure I am going to hell! :) My bible is very important reading for me however, I know I don't believe everything absolutely. I do though, tend to take many things at face value when I see them in print. Probably because I am too lazy to do my own research. I depend on my younger friends to keep nudging me back to a more cynical (or is that analytical?) outlook.

later man, jan

do Dogs go to Heaven?

There is a post today on this discussion topic at WonderCafe.ca
thanx so much to JRT - your post made me cry...
A a google search and found many references - but check out the music from the Muppet Movie at FortuneCity
Phil also found a link to a flash animation at Indigo.org

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Later man (and all you dog lovers out there)... jan

Wow, my hyacinths finally burst open...

If you had visited at Christmas, you would remember my dismay because the hyacinths that I planted in October were only big fat green stumps that didn't seem to be thriving and I was so looking forward to that wonderful fragrance permeating my home - sigh - - -

well now my house smells lovely and they look very pretty - actually awesome for someone like me with a black thumb most of the time...

My mother used to say that all the plants in my house were the kind that thrived on neglect... how true... but I'm enjoying these right now and thinking of spring...

later man, jan

Better than Venturer Swill ?

This week's guest speaker on my favourite forum WonderCafe, Ryan Beiler, opens up the world of dumpster diving. This link to YouTube will take you to a CBC news team that followed along on a dumpster diving run.

Ryan says he's "now leaning toward a “freegan” (rhymes with “vegan”) lifestyle, which allows me to eat poultry and seafood more often as long as I don’t pay for them.The point is to eat sensibly while withdrawing financial support from an unsustainable agribusiness industrial complex that ravages the environment with factory-farm waste and the fossil-fuel consumption needed to ship those shrink-wrapped eggplants all the way from Chile. But just because you’re scavenging surplus doesn’t mean you can’t be discerning. Because I target higher-end grocery stores, many of the items are organic and hormone-free as well."

He also suggests it is preferable to go in pairs - which would be good because I don't think I could climb in and out of those things without a little help (my knees, you know :) Certainly not just to rescue a poor little shrink-wrapped eggplant! I also think you would need a young, strong stomach, just in case...

Seriously, the really interesting part about this for me is that Ryan's article shows he has quite a strong Christian faith base that the CBC video did not even address.

later man, jan

Makes one stand a little taller :)

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess Jan the Loquacious of Melbury Bubblewick Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

my thanx to Gord
later man, jan

I had to get the book out in a couple of questions...

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes

Have your bible handy to check some of your answers - cause my own score is really not as high as it looks - but I feel pretty good anyway - thanx for the link my friend and congratulations - tonight is your 6 months celebration - woo hoo.... I hope to drop in...

later man, jan

All those 'Christians' don't really speak for me...

Here's a link to a place called CrossWalk America - part of an emerging Christian movement - one that joyously embraces the love of God, neighbor and self (Jesus' core values). Here is what they stand for:
- openness to other faiths
- care for the earth and its ecosystems
- valuing artistic expression in all its forms
- authentic inclusiveness of all people - including God's lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (lgbt) community
- opposing the commingling of Church and State
- promoting the values of rest and recreation, prayer and reflection
- embracing both faith and science in the pursuit of truth

Here also is a link to The Phoenix Affirmations which will give you a summary version of the core beliefs of this group that speaks of the public face of Christianity in America today as having little connection to the historic faith of our ancestors. How the voices of 'Christians' in the media do not necessarily represent the faith of all who attempt to follow the way of Love.

If you still have time... I signed up for the prayer vigil for tomorrow morning from 9am to 11am - the trial began yesterday...

On August 8, 2006, Bishop Ronald Warren of the Southeastern Synod filed formal charges with the ELCA against Pastor Schmeling because of his committed relationship with Rev. Darin Easler. Currently, the ELCA has a policy that excludes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in relationships from the ordained ministry. The congregation, which stands in solidarity with Pastor Schmeling, prays the ELCA will change its policy or that Bishop Warren will drop the charges before a disciplinary hearing is scheduled to begin on January 19, 2007.
Members of St. John’s have formed a national prayer vigil during the trial

later man, jan

Is there really such a thing as 'clean' energy?...

Our government seems to be making some big environmental noises lately. Are they just that? Noise? Is there really such a thing as 'clean' nuclear energy - or is it just the nuclear waste that is dirty - who is kidding who??? Stephen Harper appeared quite smug as he made his announcements on the news tonight and then I read this article on the CBC page...

Tories to spend $230M on clean energy technology
Federal minister says he is 'keen on' use of nuclear energy in Alberta's oil patch...

sigh, later man, jan

Wanna waste more time ???

Here's another time waster for you to try... Catch33... just hold your mouse over the numbers in order till they are all gone... my first try was 66 seconds and after I figured it out, I could only do it in 53 - sigh - what kind of banker am I if I can't remember where I am in my counting...

thanx Frodo - Procrastinators Unite !!!
later man, jan

I wish my Dad had email...

If only my dad had email... but he has quite enough trouble with those darn tv remotes :)...

It has been a long week and nothing brings us closer to our God and our loved ones than those awful visits to the hospital...

We have argued and joked and hugged and cried and tonight he smiled me that special old smile...

so Dad, since I can't send this to you, I'm sending it to everyone else...

I love you dad...
later man, jan

Why did this chicken cross the road???

Coffee Cups - a novel way to look at Life...

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said...

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee.

The jobs, money and position in society are the cups.
They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Enjoy your coffee... and remember the happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

(thanx Joanna W, later man, jan)

Yay - high score...16.562 seconds... enough already...

Best I can do - my eyes were already watering at 13.406 :))
Looks like they'll never teach me how to fly :)

later man, jan

Like we've nothing better to do??? thanx, Betty...

here's a link from John's mum guaranteed to drive us all crazy...

" This will drive you nuts! Have fun! The object of the game is to move the red block around without getting hit by the blue blocks or touching the black walls. If you can go longer than 18 seconds you are phenomenal. It's been said that the US Air Force uses this for fighter pilots. They are expected to go for at least 2 minutes. Give it a try but be careful...it is addictive!!"