Godspeed, Mr. Cronkite!

"Newsman Walter Cronkite, who died at the age of 92, was so thoroughly and uniquely linked with the word 'trust' that it is tempting to say that the word should be buried with him. In the generation since he left the anchor desk at the CBS Evening News, there have been other public figures who inspire passion, devotion, confidence, intensity and personal identification. But trust, that milder but deeper sentiment — Cronkite owned it."

Dear God: Thanks For Nothing!

Dear God,

As you know, when I was growing up, my family was probably the prototype of American poverty. My mother & father, my 2 brothers & 2 sisters and I had very little in the way “worldly possessions”. Throughout my childhood, we lived in quite a few houses, but we never had a home.

I know it’s become a trite phrase, Lord, but our family literally sometimes had no idea where our next meal was coming from. The Food Stamps that kept our family (mostly) fed rarely lasted the entire month (5 kids can eat a lot of food), and during the summer months--when school was out—the free school lunches we could count on for minimal nutrition simply dried up til the Fall.

For a lot of reasons, my father had a wandering spirit & he got easily bored, or ticked off at his boss or the landlord or the neighbor, etc., etc., and he picked up the 7 members of our family, put us in the rickety old car we had & we moved on to the next town. We never got to know the meaning of “roots” or “neighborhood”, and we never really had the chance to make friends. Looking back it seems like we were always on the move…always searching for a better life…and always failing to find it.

Now that I’m grown, I can look back & see how much we didn’t have, and I can see how frustrated & angry my father must have been in working so hard for the very little he had, and how much he must have hurt knowing that, without government assistance, he couldn’t properly take care of his family. I was angry at my father for so long—not because of the THINGS he couldn’t give us—but because of the time & attention he couldn’t seem to find for his kids. Working from dawn til dusk (sometimes 7 days a week) at a back-breaking job that he hated, he couldn’t find time to be an unskilled laborer AND a dad. I see that now. I understand how little he had left for the world—and for his family.

But, Lord, the pain I feel when I think about those days comes not from all the “stuff” we never had, or from the (many) meals we may have missed; it comes from the memories of a father who lived with his family, but whom none of us kids ever got to see much because he was too busy earning his minimum wage “living”; it comes from imagining how much he must have hurt knowing that, where his future was concerned, the die had already been cast, and that his lot in life would never improve because his hands had already become too calloused, his back too bent & painful & his spirit too broken. When he passed away a few years ago from the too-long-untreated effects of hypertension (of course, because he had no health insurance), I couldn’t help but feel grateful to You for ending his pain & for finally bringing him the peace he never had while he was here.

I am thankful to You still, Lord, for every minute of my life—even the darkest hours of my “life” in the closet—because it has all gone into making me the person I am still becoming. In Your plan, God, I know nothing happens without a reason & nothing goes to waste.

I truly believe that it is making me a better person, and it’s helping me to understand—TRULY understand—what really matters in life. I know that, if I had to, I could do without so much that I now have in my life.

As the life I’ve known these past 13 years is changing so drastically & so quickly, and, even as out of control as my life feels these days, I am reminded again that it’s not the material possessions that I hold dear & which I treasure; it’s the sublime, ethereal things like love & friendship & fellowship that put real life into my life, and that makes everything I must endure in it more-than-worth it.

I anticipate that a new life on my own will not always be easy—at least not in the beginning—and it will take some getting used to, but I know that, as always, You will provide what I need (even if not what I THINK I want! ;) ).

So, I honestly want to thank you, Heavenly Father, for all I never had, and for all I never had the chance to take for granted. In exchange for the dearth of physical things I cannot hold in my hands, You have given me a life-long appreciation for those things & those people I can always, always hold in my heart.

Even in the midst of the river of tears I have shed as I leave behind a life I had come to love, and as I cautiously head on to the next chapter in my life, I remain most thankful, dear God…and I know I am blessed.

I pray You will continue to lead me & protect me & always remind me what is REALLY important in this life.

Amen.

439 Days

I've always wondered where people my age belonged in the generational hierarchy. To my knowledge, we've never had a societal nickname, like the ubiquitous Baby Boomers or the "cool kids" of Generation X, and I guess no one gave us much thought, til one of our own (Barack Obama) was elected to Highest Office In The Land. Now we are semi-quasi-officially called Cuspers (a.k.a. Generation Jones or Generation Obama).

So, just like everyone else, we get a label, too (A label??? Wait. Why I am happy about this again???)!!

In defense of the "labelists", though, the link to the CNN article referenced above, in elaborating on the phenom known as Cuspers, contains at least two paragraphs that describe me pretty accurately:

Whether we call them cuspers, Generation Jones or Generation Obama, there are enigmas and paradoxes within this generation and its fans. They respond to Biblical imagery, but they're not dogmatic in their faith.

They value traditional notions of family but see men and women as equals in parenting. They go back to older American values -- civility, community, responsibility -- yet keenly embrace technology and use the Internet naturally.

As an aside, being that Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961 and I was born October 17, 1962, our next Prez is exactly 439 days (which is 1 year, 2 months & 13 days) older than I am.

Finally, there IS a name for what I am...well, at least a name for ONE of the things I am, anyway.

A Taco For You, and You, and You, and You....

Mark your calendar.

Tuesday, October 28 from 2 pm - 6 pm at your nearby Taco Bell.

Everbody gets one Free Taco!

Why ask, "Why?"

This is news???

I never had a moment's doubt. I really do not like to encourage American Idol AT ALL, and I've never really found time to deal with such a public closet case as our Mr. Aiken. Before now, every time I saw him I thought, "Why are you--an ostensibly public figure--working so hard to hide yourself?" I guess everyone has their own timeline & their own voyage to make in their lives, but every time I saw him, I thought about my own life in hiding, so it was kinda difficult to watch. I do feel the need, however, to give Clay his due: he was EXACTLY right when he said, "I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things." So true.

Welcome to the truth, Mr. Aiken. Life is never easy, but it's infinitely more bearable when you don't have to pretend to be something & someone you're not.

From the Sublime to the Unnecessarily Ridiculous

I know that, in this season of politics, most of my recent posts have been apropos to the quadrennial pursuit of the next political American Idol.

This morning, however, I have something a little less consequential burning a hole in my mental pocket, so please indulge me in a few moments of mostly-meaningless minutiae.

So, I drive up to the drive-thru of the nearby Einstein's Bagels this morning & ordered one of my usual Spicy Elmo on a Good Grains bagel (it's one of the highest-fiber bagels that Einstein has...makes the Elmo a little more healthy...at least that's what I tell myself!) & a couple of other things.

When the woman who took my order rang it up & ran my credit card & handed me my receipt, it showed that she had charged me for a Santa Fe wrap. When I noticed this, I waved her back to the drive-thru window & explained that the receipt had the wrong item & I told her again what I wanted.

She looked at the receipt & then closed the drive-thru window, talked to the people making the morning's orders & came back to the window & what did she say???

(a) "I'm sorry!"? or,

(b) "We apologize for the mistake!"? or,

(c) "Don't worry, we'll get your order right out to you!"? or,

(d) NONE OF THE ABOVE. NOT EVEN CLOSE.

Answer: (d)

She didn't even try to feign even half-hearted contrition.

She said, "It's gonna cost you more!"

It's gonna cost you more?!?!?

Why would she think that matters??? When I made my order, I knew I was going to have to pay for what I got. Why would she think that paying as little as possible, even if the order was wrong, was what I wanted?!?!?

I told her that I didn't mind paying for what I ordered, and she took my card & shut the window again, while I sat wondering if she was gonna get my order right this time, and wondering why something so ostensibly simple had to be so difficult. I mean, it's not as if I asked her to split an atom, or perform a frontal lobotomy or even quote the value of pi to the 107th decimal point; I asked for a bagel sandwich. I guess it's only Burger King that doesn't get upset with special orders.

Funny thing, she came back to the window in a couple of minutes & just said, "It costs the same," and handed me my order.

Not Thank You. Not Have A Good Day. Nothing, just handed me my order & shut the window again.

Truth be known, by the time I got my order, I was ready to leave as much as she was ready to have me leave, so I guess I didn't feel the need for a long good-bye either.

I guess a little inconvenience & a little indignation was what she really meant by "It's gonna cost you more!"

My Santa Fe Spicy Elmo on a Good Grains bagel was really good though.

Yo, John, Whose Economic Fundamentals Are You Calling Strong?!?!?

***Note: Some of the links originally included in this post weren't working properly. They should work just fine now.***
I'm sure that the "fundamentals" of John McCain's & George Bush's own personal economies are just as sound as ever. Probably even sounder than that. They won't have to worry about what happens if they miss a paycheck or two, like the rest of us would. I'm sure McCain's royalties on Blackberry sales alone will keep him from having to touch his wife's beer money for a while!

So, as a Public Service for voters who might need a little reminding of what Bush/McCain economics hath wrought us these past 7+ years, a few facts & figures to confirm that low down feeling you've been having deep in your wallets.

U.S. Unemployment Rate

In January, 2001, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 4.2%. In the most recent U.S. unemployment report, August, 2008, that number rose to 6.1%. That’s an increase of 1.9%.

U.S. Government Budget

For Fiscal Year 2000, President Clinton left office with a Budget Surplus (A BIG PLUS) of $128.236 BILLION. In 2007, the surplus was only a memory. Our country ended that Fiscal Year $410.047 BILLION in the hole (A BIG OLD MINUS). That’s a difference of over HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS down the proverbial rat hole! (YEP THAT’S A “T” FOR “TRILLION”)

U.S. Trade Deficit

In January 2001, the U.S. Trade Deficit (the value of all U.S. exports to the world vs. the value of all products imported into the U.S. from the rest of the world) stood at $35.3 billion. In July 2008?? Nearly $62.2 billion. That’s an increase of 76%!

Retail Gas Price (average for all grades)

The retail price of gasoline is monitored by the Department of Energy every week. On January 22, 2001, the average price of gas was about $1.51 per gallon. The latest price recorded by DOE as of September 15, 2008 was almost $3.89 per gallon. That’s an increase of nearly $2.38 per gallon (up over 157%).

U.S. Inflation Rate

In January 2001, inflation was running at about 3.7%. As of July 2008, it was up to 5.6%. Up nearly 1.9%.

Consumer Confidence

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) is the widely-accepted barometer of American consumer confidence in the U.S. economy (basically, it gives us a picture on how the everyday person feels about how the economy is going). The U of M has set December 1964 as the “standard” at 100. In January 2001, the index stood at 94.7. In the most recent report, the CSI had dropped to 63.0, down by nearly a third from when Bush took office.

So, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, when it's time to cast your sacred vote for President of the United States, ask yourself the same question Ronald Reagan asked the American people when he ran against Jimmy Carter in 1980: "Are you better off now than you were 4 [or 8] years ago?"

If you're among the 7 or 8 people left who don't know how they're going to vote, just let your wallet be your guide!

Laboring More, Earning Less

This Labor Day, it seems the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations is reporting what so many of us have known for a while, U.S. workers are working harder than ever for less pay (in real terms adjusted for inflation).

Some of the most disturbing findings in the report based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

The median weekly earnings for American workers have not grown in real terms over the last eight years. [emphasis mine]

At $6.55, the federal minimum wage is worth 40 cents less per hour, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than it was a decade ago.

Roughly 4 percent of the workforce wants to work full-time, but is working part time because they can't find full-time work.

So, while the cost of gas & other basics of life have increased (sometimes dramatically) over the past 8 long years, Americans are effectively earning about the same as they did in 2000. I wonder what happened 8 years ago that might have caused U.S. workers to lose so much ground?

I'll give you three guesses...and the first two don't count! :-/

This is the link to CNN's story about the report.

Dogs Rule!

Just in case you were wondering.

(Some of) What I know to be true

Sometimes I wonder what--if anything--I've learned in my 45+ years on this planet, so below are a few things that have come to mind. They may sound trite & worn out, but I think at least some of them have withstood the test of time & remain as true as ever. They are listed in no particular order.

Disclaimer: Of course, as usual, this is simply my opinion based on my life thus far. My list may bear absolutely no resemblence to any real or potential list of your own making and you have every right to poke fun at, ridicule & question those things I have included; I just ask that, if you are so inclined, you remain civil & at least minimally-respectful in doing so. Remember, too, that simply because the source of the truth may not be of what you may consider the highest calibre, doesn't make it untrue or insubstantial. Sometimes you can find gold in the strangest places.

This is probably not a comprehensive list, and I will probably unintentionally leave out some very important lessons. Results may vary. The decision of the author of said list is final. Void where prohibited or taxed. No cash value.

No man is an island.

It takes a village.

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.

To thine own self be true.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been!

...the hardest thing in this world...is to live in it. Be brave. Live.

...whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

And last, but far, far from least:

For a long time is seemed to me that life was about to begin -- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Homos Not Wanted in OUR Neighborhood

While looking through the video files of WFTV, I found this interesting bit of ugliness in Orange County. Obviously, an east Orange County home owners association doesn't think same-sex or unmarried couples can be families (or at least the RIGHT kind of families) & they will only allow the owners of the homes in their subdivision to rent to married opposite-sex couples.

The reporter interviews a couple of people for this story, but don't look for anyone who represents Rybolt's Reserve subdivision to actually defend or explain their position, they didn't bother to respond to requests for an interview. Maybe if the reporter had told the HOA had clarified that she was MARRIED to a man, they'd have gladly submitted to an interview.

The City of Orlando has an ordinance that prevents housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, but--alas--Orange County does not, so the homophobes operate with impunity!

http://www.wftv.com/video/16892512/index.html

(Almost) A Golden State Dream Come True

Borrowed from Queers United (http://queersunited.blogspot.com/)



*Note: the original video has since been removed from YouTube, but I have included another video with the same wonderful song.

Gas Saving Myths

From CNN...
Link = http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/12/autos/ways_to_not_save_gas/index.htm?postversion=2008051515

6 gas-saving myths
Sure you want to save gas, but there's a lot of bad advice on how to do it. Some of it makes no difference, and some of it can wind up costing you.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

Last Updated: May 15, 2008: 3:59 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With gasoline prices hitting record levels, it seems everyone has a tip on how to save fuel. Much of the advice is well-intentioned, but in the end, much of it won't lower your gas bill.

Here's a look at a few misconceptions:

#1. Fill your tank in the morning

You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the fuel is cold. The theory goes that fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas.

But the temperature of the gasoline as it comes out of the nozzle varies little during the course of the day, according to Consumer Reports, so there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas.

#2. Change your air filter

Maintaining your car is important, but a clean air filter isn't going to save you any gas. Modern engines have computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as an increasingly clogged air filter chokes off the engine's air supply.

While engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged, a lack of performance or an increase in fuel consumption will be negligible, Consumer Reports says.

#3. Use premium fuel

With prices already over $4.00 a gallon, premium gasoline is a hard sell these days. But a lot of drivers think because their owners' manual recommends premium, they'll get better fuel economy with it. Really, they may be paying more money for nothing.

Newer cars for which premium is "recommended" - but not "required" - won't suffer with regular fuel. Modern engine technology comes to the rescue again. When sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The result is a slight reduction in peak horsepower - really, you'll never notice - but little or no reduction in fuel economy.

Always check your owner's manual before putting anything into your car. And if your car runs badly on regular, by all means, go back to the pricey stuff. (See editor's note at bottom)

#4. Pump up your tires

Proper tire inflation is important for a number of reasons. Under-inflated tires are bad for handling and can even cause a crash. Improper tire inflation also causes tires to wear out faster and to heat up more, which could trigger a dangerous high-speed blow-out.

According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site Edmunds.com, underinflated tires reduce fuel economy, so proper inflation is key.

But you should never over-inflate your tires. They'll get you slightly better fuel economy because there will be less tread touching the road, reducing friction. But that means less grip for braking and turning. The added risk of a crash isn't worth the extra mile a gallon you might gain.

#5. To A/C or not A/C

There's no question air-conditioning makes extra work for the engine, increasing fuel use. But car air conditioners are much more efficient today than they used to be. In around-town driving, using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon.

Meanwhile, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag becomes more of an issue, making A/C use the more efficient choice at high speeds.

At most speeds and in most vehicles, A/C use drains slightly more fuel than driving with the windows down, contends David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "My final take on is that it's very close," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "It's hard to measure the difference and every vehicle is different."

The best choice - if temperature and humidity allow - is to keep the windows rolled up and to turn the A/C compressor off. You can keep the fans running to blow in air from the outside, but your car will be as aerodynamic as possible while still letting you breathe. You will save gas, but the fuel economy improvement will be slight.

#6. Bolt-ons and pour-ins

Before you buy a device that's supposed to make your car more fuel-efficient or pour in an allegedly gas-saving additive, ask yourself this: Don't you think oil and car companies aren't doing everything they can to beat their competitors?

If BP (BP) could add something to its gasoline that made cars go farther on a gallon, cars would be lining up at the company's pumps. Sure, people would burn their fuel-saving BP gas more slowly, but then they'd drive right past rivals' gas stations to come back to BP for more. BP stations could even charge more for their gas and still sell tons of the stuff.

So if there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time.

Likewise, car companies are already spending big bucks to increase fuel mileage. If General Motors could make its cars go significantly farther on a gallon simply by putting a device into the fuel line, don't think for a second it wouldn't be doing that. GM's car sales would go through the roof.

"There are a number of these gas-saving devices that are generally useless," says Champion.

But drivers who try them will swear they work. In reality, it's probably an automotive placebo effect, says Reed. Buy one of these devices or additives, and you're like to pay extreme attention to your fuel economy and how you drive.

Of course it can't hurt to keep a close eye on your driving habits -- and what kind of car you drive. In the end, that can make the most difference in saving gas.

Gas prices have climbed to record levels. Are you feeling the pinch? Tell us how gas prices are affecting you and what you're doing to cope. Send us your photos and videos, or email us to share your story.

-Editors note: This story was revised from an earlier version to clarify that the advice to use regular gas instead of premium may not apply to all cars.

CNN also had a list of the 8 most fuel-efficient vehicles, which includes...YOU GUESSED IT...my car, the Toyota Yaris. Yes, it came in at #8, but at least it's ON the list...is yours?!?! ;-)

Here's your winners*:
Link = http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/autos/0803/gallery.most_fuel_efficient/index.html
* Source: Fuel economy and cost estimates, EPA

1. Honda Civic GX

Overall mpg: 28 miles per gallon-equivalent of compressed natural gas

Est. annual fuel cost: $884

Lowest base price: $24,590

2. Toyota Prius

Overall mpg: 46

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,019

Lowest base price: $21,100

3. Honda Civic Hybrid

Overall mpg: 42

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,117

Lowest base price: $24,350

4. Toyota Camry Hybrid

Overall mpg: 34

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,380

Lowest base price: $25,350

5. Nissan Altima Hybrid

Overall mpg: 34

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,380

Lowest base price: $25,170

6. Smart For Two

Overall mpg: 36 (premium fuel)

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,397

Lowest base price: $11,590

7. Ford Escape Hybrid (front wheel drive)

Overall mpg: 32

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,470

Lowest base price: $26,265

8. Toyota Yaris

Overall mpg: 32

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,470

Lowest base price: $11,350

Man dying of cancer not allowed out of his apartment lease

This is just wrong. Had to share my outrage...

Here's his story & the video from the local TV station...

MCKINNEY, Texas -- Matt Budge worries his time is short. A month ago the 36 year-old found out he was dying of a rare form of cancer. He’s scrambling to move his family with relatives in Utah.

But when he tried to break his lease at his McKinney apartment, four months early, he says the complex told him he would owe thousands in fees and rent. “For an apartment complex like this, $9,000 is not a whole lot of money. But for us that's a huge amount of money,” said Budge.

Included in that $9,000 bill: $3200, two months in future rent, and then thousands more in fees. And even items, like re-imbursing the complex for a $75 credit given after a water leak.

He says his numerous appeals remain unanswered.

“We had the bishop of our congregation contact them and try to appeal to their sense of compassion and explain the situation, nothing there. It’s like talking to a wall. They express sympathy and say there's nothing we can do,” said Steve Buys, friend of the family.

The complex is holding them to the letter of the contract, and not doing much talking about it.

The Budge’s are trying to focus on Matt’s health. For now they’re relying on friends, and their faith.

“Our future is in the hands of the Lord, not in a lease. But we would like to see them do the right thing,” said Crystal Budge.

Video = http://www.kvue.com/news/state/stories/032908kvuecancerapartment-mm.12598a49.html#

You'll Never Change Things

"Not only is another world possible, she is on her way.
On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."
Arundhati Roy, Indian writer & activist

I have long been a fan of Garth Brooks. Obviously he's been blessed with a beautiful singing voice, but if you've ever seen a concert of his, you know he does nothing half way. He packs a lot of bang for the concert-goers buck, for sure!

One of my favorite songs from one of my most favorite singers is "The Change". I have included the video & lyrics below. Garth came out with this song shortly after the horrific 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in his home state of Oklahoma in which 168 men, women & children lost their lives. Most of the scenes in this video are from actual news footage filmed that day.

"The Change" makes such a simple yet profound statement. In the midst of the morass in which the world seems to be engulfed now, it's sometimes hard to think that one person can make things better. Even if you try, the myriad voices around you seem to do all they can to convince you that, as Garth sings, "It's like trying to stop a fire with the moisture from a kiss". From my own personal experience, it's easy to be discouraged when you see that so much has gone undone & so much harm needs mitigating. You couldn't be blamed for succumbing to the naysayers & sinking into the "every man (or woman) for him(her)self".

But Garth's song hits the nail on the head. I believe that every small work any of us does to help another or every burden we help to make lighter for someone else probably won't change the planet. That's just the truth. When we give of ourselves in whatever way we may be able, maybe we're not doing it with the expectation of bringing great change to a weary world in desperate need of change. Maybe, in the most unselfish sense, we do it for ourselves. Maybe it helps to remind us that we're not really cynics after all. Maybe those good deeds (great & small) serve to prove to ourselves that, in spite of all that divides & separates us, we are all still interconnected. Maybe we have underestimated the value & the power of the human touch where those in need are concerned. Maybe some good deeds don't always get punished. Maybe what appears to one person to be but a small act of kindness has the potential to change the life--or least the day--of the person on the receiving end of that kindness. Maybe giving or doing what we can is our own personal way of keeping alive for yet another day the radical inside that dares to dream the biggest dreams & to hope for something more. Maybe, as Garth sings so beautifully in this song, we really "do this so this world will know that it will not change" us.

Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not meant for me or you to change the whole world, but I firmly believe that we can change our little corner of it!

Lyrics
One hand
Reaches out
And pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for
They say, "What good have you done,
By saving just this one?
It's like whispering a prayer
In the fury of a storm."

And I hear them saying, "You'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing,"
But it's not the world that I am changing.
I do this so this world will know
That it will not change me.

This heart
Still believes
That love and mercy still exist
While all the hatreds rage and so many say
That love is all but pointless in madness such as this
It's like trying to stop a fire
With the moisture from a kiss.

And I hear them saying, "You'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing,"
But it's not the world that I am changing.
I do this so this world will know
That it will not change me.

As long as one heart still holds on,
Then hope is never really gone.

I hear them saying "You'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing,"
But it's not the world that I am changing.
I do this so this world we know
Never changes me.

What I do is so
This world will know
That it will not change me.

Luke & Noah Sitting In A Tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G (NOT)!

So Luke & Noah are apparently this young same-sex couple on the daytime drama, "As The World Turns". They appear to be a nice, loving couple (well, as nice & loving as any couple can be on daytime TV, I guess) but it seems the boys haven't been seen kissing since September! They got close apparently, but, in an episode that aired during this past Christmas season, when it looked like they were perilously close to "doing the deed," the camera panned up to the mistletoe instead, leaving the rest up to our imaginations! What's that about? If they had been a young opposite sex couple in Soap-land, they'd have done more than kiss, I'd wager!

According to CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/03/apontv.missingkisses.ap/index.html), it seems like ATWT's fans are engaging in a letter-writing protest! They aren't complaining about the fact that the CBS soap is addressing such a story line, though. NO! They are complaining because it's been nearly 6 months since the two young men have shared an on-screen kiss...and the fans want MORE! How truly delightful!!

I don't watch soaps (anymore) and I don't know anything about the couple, but the fact that the Soap Opera Powers That Be can't see fit to find a even a few moments to indulge the "voyeuristic intentions" of their audience and Let My People Kiss is just a little suspicious-sounding to me! Considering the need to keep things heated up in order to hook the fans into watching day after day after day, men & women kissing is pretty tame stuff in soap operas, but when the two people locking lips are of the same-sex, it appears that, in this case, ATWT has a bad case of cold feet! As Mrs. Slocumbe would say in Are You Being Served?: Weak as water! Anyway, I hope the fans keep fighting the good fight!

Of course, I may be a tad prejudiced, but I just don't think there's enough boys kissing boys on TV!

Here's a clip of the two young men in question in action (from August of 2007).

WARNING: If you fear that two guys kissing might severely offend your delicate sensibilities and/or make you light-headed, you may wish to pass on this clip. Otherwise, click away!!

Lawrence King "expressed himself in a way that is not the norm and he paid for it."

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-oxnard23feb23,1,1086853.story

From the Los Angeles Times

Boy killed at Oxnard school remembered

Lawrence 'Larry' King is memorialized as a sensitive child who liked to draw, paint and crochet. A classmate is charged in his death. .

By Catherine Saillant
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

February 23, 2008

At a memorial attended by more than 500 people in Port Hueneme, Lawrence "Larry" King was remembered Friday as a sensitive child who liked to draw, paint and crochet.

One Christmas, he helped his mother crochet hundreds of scarves so that U.S. troops in Afghanistan wouldn't be without a holiday gift, said the Rev. Dan Birchfield.

King also liked hunting down crayfish and had such a beautiful singing voice that he had been tapped to open his younger brother's Little League season with his rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner."

But most of all, he loved insects, Birchfield told those who came to pay tribute to King, 15, who was shot to death, allegedly by a classmate, Feb. 12 at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard. He wanted to become an entomologist and was learning the scientific names of the bugs he carefully carried out of the family home, Birchfield said.

One day, his mother found a big, ugly potato bug and asked King to remove it. He did so enthusiastically, adding a gentle reminder on the correct name of the insect, Birchfield told the packed sanctuary.

"He'd say: 'It's a Jerusalem cricket,' " Birchfield said.

It was a light moment in an otherwise somber hourlong reflection on King's life as a boy growing up in and around Oxnard. It was also a chance for his family, seated in a front row of Westminster Presbyterian Church, to offer a fuller portrait of the boy.

King came to the public's attention in the days after the classroom killing when it was revealed that suspect Brandon McInerney, 14, allegedly had targeted him after a falling out between the two about King's sexual orientation.

Officials have not yet revealed a motive in the shooting. But prosecutors have filed a murder charge against McInerney with the added allegation of a hate crime.

Students at E.O. Green said the two had been feuding in the days before the killing, reportedly because King revealed that he had a crush on McInerney.

King had been the subject of taunting at the school after he told friends that he was gay and began wearing feminine accessories with his school uniform, student witnesses said.

McInerney is being held in Juvenile Hall on $770,000 bail but will be tried as an adult, prosecutors said. He has not entered a plea.

At Friday's memorial, Birchfield made no reference to the events leading to King's killing, other than asking the crowd to pray for a world where there is no "verbal discrimination of any kind."

The victim's parents, Greg and Dawn King, didn't speak at the memorial and have declined to discuss their son's life in any detail. King in recent months had been in foster care at Casa Pacifica, a children's shelter in Camarillo. The family declined to comment on what led to his placement in the county's dependency court system.

The only other speaker besides Birchfield was Oxnard Mayor Tom Holden, who urged the Oxnard community to see King's death as an opportunity for change.

"Next time you see someone on campus or on the street who needs help, it can be you to step up," Holden said. "Be a friend."

King's parents told Birchfield that they wanted the memorial at his church because their son loved the way the stained-glass windows in the sanctuary looked illuminated at night. The family did not belong to the church.

King was also a gardener and planted a passion fruit vine in the family's backyard so that it would attract butterflies, Birchfield said. Butterflies were his favorite insect, he said.

On Feb. 13, the day King was removed from a ventilator, his mother said goodbye to him for the last time and walked out of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, Birchfield recounted.

"She was greeted by a beautiful butterfly," he said.

The memorial service drew a diverse group of mourners who said the killing had touched them deeply. Several students wore buttons bearing his picture.

Michael Herrera, who runs a mentoring program for lesbian, gay and transgender youths in Los Angeles, said he came to represent the adolescents with whom he works.

His organization, called Lifeworks, held a candlelight vigil in honor of King on Wednesday, he said.

"He expressed himself in a way that is not the norm," Herrera said. "And he paid for it."

Paul Dalton, 12, is a student at King's school. He attended the memorial with two buddies, brothers Parkher, 14, and Ben Murphy, 12. "We wanted to show the family that we care," Dalton said.

Who I Am

For some reason, I woke up this morning humming this song! I hadn't heard it in a while, so I'm not sure what made me think of it, but it's a sweet little song.

Each time I've heard this song, I've been impressed that someone as obviously young as this singer, Jessica Andrews, has such a firm knowledge of herself. It must come from a lifetime of being loved for who she is & being encouraged to "be all that she can be". Some of us, probably at least twice Jessica's age, are still wandering & wondering & still searching for "Who I Am".

Make Your Own Kind of Music

I love me some Mama Cass! From 1969, one of my most favorite songs...

Happy Birthday, Ted!

Today, Edward Moore Kennedy celebrated his 75th birthday!

I have long been a fan of the Kennedys, and most especially, Ted Kennedy!

One of the best things about Senator Kennedy is that--love him or hate him--you know exactly where he stands on just about any issue! He is my kind of Democrat! He compromises when he can, but he never compromises his principles! He fights for the elderly, the poor, the environment, women's rights, workers' rights and--yes--EVEN gay rights! Ted Kennedy is the voice for so many of us who have felt so forgotten or so demonized for so long. He stands as a living reminder that government has the power--and the moral obligation--to serve ALL it's people, not just those with enough luck to have been born to money and privilege. His brother, John's, inaugural speech in 1961, summed it up memorably:

"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor,
it cannot save the few who are rich."

I also remember back before the 1980 election, when Senator Kennedy was competing against President Carter for the Democratic nomination. When Ted got to the convention & finally ended his candidacy, he gave a memorable concession speech, his voice breaking with obviously deep emotion. The last line in the speech that night still rings in my mind & in my heart today...

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives
and the dreams shall never die!"

Some of us still dare to dream, thanks, in large part, to the senior senator from Massachusetts.

Happy Birthday (and Thank You), Senator Kennedy!