This is water. . . .

I don't know about you, but I needed this today:

Quote for the Day (Obvious Truths Division)

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

16 years is a long time without a drink (or drug) for a drunk

Sixteen years ago today I committed myself to living a clean and sober life, and I have to say it has been a time full of ups and downs, but I don't regret a moment of it. I have learned and continue to learn that this life is a "dark ride" as John Larroquette might say, but it is also full of incredible light and joy. Sixteen years ago I had no idea where I would be today, BUT, here I am.

I have immense gratitude that I have been able to make it this far. And I have immense faith that the future holds more blessings and wonder ahead. I give thanks to all the people who have been there along the way to offer help or just a friendly ear, and I hope that if you are in need, I can be there for you.

The gift I have is so precious, and yet I must give it away if I wish to keep it. Ain't that amazing?

Here's a little song from the late great SRV that is relevant, to say the least:

Top Ten New Christian Facebook Groups

(Via Best Church of God)

1. I Bet We Can Get 1,000,000 More Fans For Monkey Poo Than For Charles Darwin.

2. Threaten Obama And Win A Bible.

3. Looking Forward To Heaven Where There Are No Gays Or Scientists.

4. Two Billion Strong Against The Jews Killing Jesus Again When He Returns.

5. Replace All History Books With Bibles.

6. Whenever Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris Or Christopher Hitchens Speak, I Will Hold My Hands Over My Ears And Say, “La, La, La, La, La!”

7. Concerned Christians for Ignoring All The Places The 4 Gospels Contradict Each Other.

8. If You Need Proof That Jesus Ever Existed, You’re An Idiot And I Can Prove It.

9. Your “Mafia War” Has Nothing On My “Judgment Day.”

10. Palin/Cameron ’12.

Quote for the Day (Take the First Step Division)

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. -- Martin Luther King Jr.

"Toking" with Lawrence Welk

(Via WorldWideWadio)
Larry calls this a "modern spiritual." Well, I guess you could say that if you're a rastafarian. And the way she's bouncing on his lap makes me wonder what she's inspiring in him . . . .

Quote for the Day (Poetic Justice Division)

They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse. - Emily Dickinson

Quote for the Day (Oriental Philosopher Division)

"Believe not because the scriptures say it, nor because the Buddha said it, but work out your own salvation" - The Buddha

Quote for the Day (Hardcore Troubador Division)

If I can get Me out of the way, I can do anything. - Steve Earle

Quote for the Day (Now and Zen Division)

If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are. - Zen proverb

The saga of the berries:

I've seen it written that there are young people today who have no idea that food comes from anywhere other than a grocery store. This seems extremely unhealthy both mentally and physically to me (to say nothing of the spiritual effect), so here is an example of picking and preserving food for yourself as demonstrated by my wife and me.

I've told you that the berries were looking very plentiful this year, and they have been. Today was warm and sunny, so we cruised around our backyard and along our lane and harvested a bit of nature's bounty. In just a short time we had a couple of bowlfuls. My wife's finger's are not bleeding, but rather show the aftereffect of picking some very fat, juicy berries! Of course, if they burst you must eat them immediately. Those are the rules in berry picking, at least in my house.

She spreads them on a jelly roll sheet, and prepares to put them in the freezer for preservation. No cooking necessary at this point.

Once frozen, they go into bags, along with blueberries and raspberries from the store, and we get to use them throughout the winter when such goodies are rare. When we use some in a treat, I'll try and post a picture of that so you can get the full cycle.

Thou shalt not suffer a wizard to teach!

(Via Tampa Bays Local News)

Substitute teacher Jim Piculas does a 30-second magic trick where a toothpick disappears then reappears.

But after performing it in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land 'O Lakes, Piculas said his job did a disappearing act of its own.

"I get a call the middle of the day from the supervisor of substitute teachers. He says, 'Jim, we have a huge issue. You can't take any more assignments. You need to come in right away,'" he said.

When Piculas went in, he learned his little magic trick cast a spell that went much farther than he'd hoped.

"I said, 'Well Pat, can you explain this to me?' 'You've been accused of wizardry,' [he said]. Wizardry?" he asked.

(SNIP)

After the magic trick, Rushe's principal requested Piculas be dismissed. Now, Piculas believes the incident may have bewitched his ability to get a job anywhere else.

"I still have no idea what my discipline involves because I've never received anything from the school district actually saying what it entails," said Piculas.

As a substitute teacher, the Pasco County School District considers Piculas to be an "at will employee." That means the district doesn't need to have cause for not bringing him back at all.

Gee, it's hard to know what to say about something like this. It almost seems too weird to be real, like some sort of urban legend. Is this school in Florida REALLY this bat shit crazy dumb? If the teacher had pulled a rabbit out of a hat would they have burned him at the stake? Do they believe he actually made the toothpick disappear? Sent it to another dimension or something?

These are such funny times . . . .

We're All Going to Hell!

If you aren't familiar with The Bastard Fairies, you are going to hell! Please, allow me to save you!

Now go here and download their CD for free! That's better, isn't it?

Quote for the Day (Hardcore Troubador Division)

I don't really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself. - Steve Earle

Evolution's side trails

(Via Crooks and Liars)

Only as Young as you feel

I watched Neil Young in the Jonathan Demme movie Heart of Gold tonight, and it's a real keeper. Neil is in fine form, with his unique vocal style and raw lyrical genius. He has a knack for crafting profound insights out of simple words. I know this has been out for two years, but if you haven't seen it it is worth going back to. The newer songs are wonderful, and the old tunes, going back four decades to his days with Buffalo Springfield, seem as fresh and urgent as they did when I first heard them. This is a quieter, more introspective performance than some of his more rockin' works, but every bit as full of emotion and powerful, and Demme's understated style works wonderfully with this fine performer's style.

One of the songs really struck a chord with me (pun intended), as it did when I got the "Prairie Wind" CD, which most of the material in the movie is from. It's called "When God Made Me', and it is one of the most beautiful evocations of faith and belief in a power greater than us in this world.

Was he thinking about my country
Or the colour of my skin?
Was he thinking about my religion
And the way I worshipped him?
Did he create just me in His image
Or every living thing?
When God made me
When God made me

Was He planning only for believers
Or for those who just had faith?
Did he envision all the wars
That were fought in His name?
Did he think there was only one way
To be close to Him?
When God made me
When God made me

Did He give us the gift of love
To say that we could choose?
When God made me
When God made me
When God made me
When God made me

Did He give me the gift of voice
So some could silence me?
Did He give me the gift of vision
Not knowing what I might see?
Did He give me the gift of compassion
To help my fellow men?
When God made me
When God made me
When God made me
When God made me

Thanks for that Neil. It is a gorgeously clear antidote to the fundamentalist hatred that has gotten all the attention lately.

Quote for the Day (Spiritual Division)

I think it would be a good idea. - Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization