A Sotomayor surprise

The surprise isn't that Obama chose her. She was on about 80% of the pundits' short lists.

The surprise isn't that the right wing of the Republican Party took off into using the r-word (racism) in their comments. These are the people who turned the GOP into the Party of No. (Yo! You lost the election, idiots! In a democracy, you work with the choice that the people very clearly made - those who won the Presidency, the Other party.)

No. The surprise is to see so many refreshing and insightful people coming to her support. I don't mean Pelosi (who doesn't even try to grasp what a thoughtful opponent might say) or Schumer (her main booster during the entire selection process to date)

I mean the folks who reporters have been sticking their mikes in front of. People. Lots of them, for a change. Probably because she's from the Bronx. They seem to understand. They 'get it'. They see a woman who's done some bold things as an appellate judge. Someone who's got a top-drawer legal mind. And most importantly, someone who's had to apply it in real life. (You know - the thing most court justices haven't seen in, say, half a century.)

I get a lot of personal pleasure seeing even cantankerous sports writer Mike Lupica getting his big-mouth licks in, in the part of the NY Daily News that isn't the sports section. (You know, the shrinking part.) This thing matters to so many.

Go get 'em, Sonia!

Amazing Race 14: the finish line

Tomorrow is the last segment for the Amazing Race season 14 (TAR 14).

They're finishing up in Hawaii, on a golf course on Maui no less. (I hope no golfers try to play through...)

There's always a task in the finals where the racers have to remember what happened in the previous legs of the race. From the preview, it looks like that will be tied to making a surfboard wall.

Who will win? I can't see how it can be anyone else but Tammy and Victor. They're just too good at it. Besides, I'm figuring Jamie (of Cara and...) will have to keep dealing with the fact that taxi drivers are not human slaves, even on the rare occasion they speak her language (rare even here in the US!) And after this, Margie will get a well-earned rest.

The TARflies (fans) will be meeting again in New York to see the finale, in what's called "TARcon". I'd love to be there with them (it's only a 1 hr. trainride away), but I can't because of family commitments. Hopefully, it won't be as noisy as when I went last -- the night the Giants beat the Packers to get into the Super Bowl. They might be able to hear each other speak this time. I'm also hoping Phil Keoghan feels well enough to attend; he's been on a difficult bike ride across the USA to raise money for MS, with of course the usual promotionals along the way for GNC stores and TAR. (At least he didn't have to carry a Travelocity Gnome around, like the racers...)

I will be watching, though. Go Tammy!

Shaky Game

I know the world of third-party apps is weird, demented, and morally bankrupt (they consider that a compliment). But the iPhone app "Baby Shaker"? My cousin has a baby, Grant, and he was shaken by his caretaker. A happy baby before then, but now a frustrated child because he can't balance himself enough to stand straight, among other mental and coordination problems. It's called 'Shaken Baby Syndrome', and there are many childrenwho suffer because they were shaken (supposedly to attain silence, just like the shaking of the iPhone does in the program). To watch him struggle with just the act of moving from one place to another can break a heart. It does mine.

I want whoever the stupid ass is who thought up such an app to go over my cousin's house and spend some time getting to know Grant, and the true supermom who raises him. By the time he's done, I'd hope he'd himself be shaken -- emotionally. What in hell gets into people that they think that's funny??

Do 'Spiritual Words' Mean Anything?

A growing number of people are saying, "No, they don't". I beg to differ.

The definitions at Spirithome are my best attempt to make sense out of the most important words used in 'spiritual' or 'mystical' or 'religious' speech and writings, including words that are better not to use at all, or only when talking to specialists.

I understand full well that these words are used for blowing smoke, for blurring the cutting edges of belief, for hiding or disguising a lack of knowledge or the desire to become a 'spiritual' star. There's a lot of distrust, with good reason. You can go ahead and distrust me, too, but before you do, please take the time to read these word meanings. I'm convinced the words (or most of them, anyway) speak to the most important and down-to-earth matters of life. And of what's beyond life. I also believe that definitions are not only used as a trap, they can also be used as a way out of the traps.

I need to hear from you if the Spirithome definitions are right, or most importantly, what they miss. I ask for your feedback. You can be as opinionated as you want, but I do ask that you stay focused on what is meant by the words. Give it a try.

Millard Fuller and what's real

I just heard about the passing of Millard Fuller. It was even mentioned in the front bottom of the New York Times (directing us to the obits). Fuller was founder and for three decades the leader of Habitat for Humanity. To me, that's worth a lot of attention.

Habitat was one of those strange groups. It was formed at first with a bunch of Christians in Americus GA in 1976, and was based among the Christian community at Koinonia Farms there. (This base had already built their first home in 1969, and in 1973 in the Congo.) The vision went way beyond Americus, or even America, that home ownership (and the related pride, security, and asset value) would not be outside the reach of the poor. One of the elements of genius is how they get people from the community involved in building the houses -- many who got involved that way caught what Fuller called "Habititis", getting deeper into the cause.

Americus had some notoriety already, through Clarence Jordan's popular Cotton Patch Gospel. Indeed, in many ways Jordan's work led to Habitat. But just as important was the ties that Fuller and Habitat made with its neighbors. That included a peanut farmer from nearby Plains, who became President, Jimmy Carter. Carter's continued support gave a solid platform to expand Habitat. And a lot of people heard Fuller share his vision. And Habitat continued to be blessed, growing to the point where its impact was no longer small.

I heard that vision, too. I met Fuller when the Christian Community Development Association had its annual conference in Baltimore. Fuller led a tour of the community of Sandtown, where Habitat has a major housing rehab project. Back at the conference, Fuller spoke with clarity and straightforward faith about what he termed the economics of Jesus. When we extend ourselves to strengthen others, especially those in poverty, God will provide, we can trust in that. I can't argue with him on that, because God has sure provided for Habitat and its cause. When I spoke with him briefly before he left the conference, he was clearly energized to meet so many CCDA people who were totally sold on Christ as found in Scripture -- just like him -- be so actively involved with the poor in some of the toughest neighborhoods in the nation.

Millard Fuller had a passion that ignited a movement. It will -- it must -- now continue without him. But let's stop for a moment to thank God for having gifted him so strongly. And to pass it on to others.

Check here for Habitat's page on Fuller.

regarding Baptism

I'm right now in the midst of re-writing Spirithome's materials on Christian baptism. But there's something I need to know, because it's not something I can see from where I'm at.

This is for those of you who are not a committed Christian, attend only occasionally, are agnostic, or just find such things puzzling. Most of you have at least a passing familiarity with it -- you've been to a friend's child's baptism, or you've seen it in movies or on the media, read about it, or heard a colleague talk about it. I'm inviting you to write in about what baptism (the act, the ceremony, the talk about it) seems like to you.

To give you an idea, I'll start with a few items others have already told me. (You don't have to be this brief.)

-- a ceremony to mark the arrival of a baby
-- symbols that have been robbed of much of their real-ness
-- another occasion for collecting money
-- a way to pay homage to one's traditions and forebears
-- a way to enhance the power of ordained ministers
-- a mother's moment of honor in public or before the rest of the family

Do you have something more to add to these? A story to describe it? An entirely different reaction? Whatever it is, I want to hear it. Just write it as a blog comment to this note.

Thank you, in advance.
*

Bob Longman show, 2008 year-end list

as heard on WUSB 90.1 fm Stony Brook NY, and wusb.fm, Sun afts 12:30-2:30 pm
rank -- song -- artist

------------------------------------------------------
(1) No Words -- Neil Diamond
(2) Seven Steps to Heaven -- Take 6/Al Jarreau/Jon Hendricks/Till Bronner
(3) Breathe -- Keller Williams
(4) Half Of It -- Tim Blane
(5) Unburden -- Julia Brown
(6) Lullabye -- Tim Blane
(7) Not the End -- Natalie Walker
(8) the World Keeps You Waiting -- New York Voices
(9) It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace) -- Kenny Neal
(10) I Remain -- Carolann Ames

(11) Adelaide -- Tim Miller
(12) Dreamer -- Sergio Mendes/Lani Hall/Herb Alpert
(13) Flip Flop & Fly -- Cephas & Wiggins
(14) Grace -- Brooke Annibale
(15) One -- Keziah Jones
(16) Ride On -- Ben Wise
(17) Take Your Time -- Al Green w. Corinne Bailey Rae
(18) The Way We Do -- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
(19) Where Dreams Are Bound -- Ben Wise
(20) You've Got to Hurt (Before You Can Heal) -- Kenny Neal

(21) A Deeper Meaning -- Phil Roy
(22) AKA Papa Funk -- Jimmy McCracken
(23) Ashrey Ha'ish -- Sheva
(24) Bass Blues -- Belinda Underwood w. Nancy King
(25) Chamego (Betty's Bossa) -- New York Voices
(26) Disappear -- Michael Korb
(27) Dodo's Bounce -- James Carter
(28) Even Trade -- Terence Martin
(29) Get It, Get It -- Janiva Magness
(30) Hard to Lie -- Brooke Annibale

(31) Hide and Seek -- Return To the Dream
(32) Home To Me -- Phil Minissale
(33) I Can't Make It Alone -- Lou Rawls
(34) I'm Glad You're Mine -- Janiva Magness
(35) I'm Wild About You -- Al Green
(36) Last to Die -- Bruce Springsteen
(37) My Babe -- Dion DiMucci
(38) October Dance -- Seven Octaves
(39) Only You -- Watson Twins
(40) Prosciutto E Meloni -- La Bande Magnetik

(41) Rapid Shave -- James Carter
(42) Scramblin' -- Jo Williamson
(43) The Secret -- Toby Walker
(44) Summer Place -- Kaydi Johnson
(45) Things About Coming My Way -- Ruth Brown
(46) Thoughts and Prayers -- Ron Sexsmith
(47) Two Toasts -- Carrie Newcomer
(48) Un-Wishing Well -- Rajaton
(49) WHY -- Phil & Ian Keaggy
(50) Your Protector -- Fleet Foxes

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