March 21, 2008 Good Friday
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of March 21, 2008. Short Ramblings this evening. I spent most of my evenings this week working on my Campaign Website. There is a learning curve. The good news? Download CoffeeCup Visual Site Designer, (free 28 day demo and $49.00 to purchase), and in a couple of hours, you can have a slick Website up and running. Their Photo Gallery software interfaces with Site Designer, (free 28 day demo and $49.00 to purchase), so you can design and build an on-line photo gallery, like this, in less than an hour!! The software comes with built in FTP software, both programs will upload your designs to your Website, (although I have to admit, I also bought their FTP Client, Direct FTP, (free 28 day demo and $34.00 to purchase), because it is so easy to use editing the files ON YOUR WEBSITE!! I designed a “Front Page” to my campaign website, using their Flash Firestarter software, but decided not to use it. I hate to point this out to some of you … but … you really do need to become computer literate!!
BBC NEWS – Saudis to retrain 40,000 clerics. “Saudi Arabia is to retrain its 40,000 prayer leaders - also known as imams - in an effort to counter militant Islam. Details of the plan were revealed in the influential Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat. The plan is part of a wider programme launched by the Saudi monarch a few years ago to encourage moderation and tolerance in Saudi society … Only last week, a prominent cleric called for the beheading of two liberal writers who had questioned the orthodox view that Muslims can not change their religion.” Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and contains Islam’s two most holiest sites: Medina and Mecca. According to the CIA World Factbook: “Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.” Share with me … but for the fact Saudi Arabia controls 25% of the world’s oil reserves … why, we would even remotely consider it a worthy allie?
A sign of the times, I suppose: ( LifeWire) – Even your dog has a blog. “It goes without saying that Max, a 3-year-old golden retriever can’t talk. But that doesn’t stop him from chronicling his dog’s life — as told to his owner Aubrey Jones — on the blog Max the Golden Retriever. There are trips to the dog park, musings on his owners’ socks, confessions about crushes on poodles and, of course, his passion for tennis balls.” Do a “google” on any topic and add “Blog” to the search, like “Law Blog“, and there are thousands of pilgrims publishing their legal views on the Internet! Rumor has it … Pat R’s Yorkies are bugging her to get their blog on-line!! I have one too, of course: “Ramblings “, where the Ramblings for the past year are achieved. We are a social species — have a need to reach out and touch someone. And this begs the underlying fact, that as lawyers, we have to keep up with evolving technology or lose our ability to compete successfully for clients, even though we are all resistant to change.
BBC NEWS — Genes show Latin America’s past. “Results from a genetic study of Latin America suggest most Latin Americans are descended from European men and Native American or African women. Scientists say the study, said to be the largest of its kind, backs up historical theories about the Spanish Conquistadors of the 16th Century … This supports the historical argument that European colonizers killed off many of the native men and had sex with native women or with African slaves … the new research shows there is substantial genetic continuity between the pre- and post-Columbian populations.” The Spanish Conquistadors were illegal aliens when they came over. Perhaps they passed on their “illegal alien” gene?
BBC NEWS — Filipinos warned on crucifixions. “Health officials in the Philippines have issued a warning to people taking part in Easter crucifixion rituals. They have urged them to get tetanus vaccinations before they flagellate themselves and are nailed to crosses, and to practise good hygiene.” And here, in our America, how did we ever make it to adulthood? Greensboro, NC – Easter Egg Safety. “If the recipe calls for eggs, nutritionists recommend certain precautions. An egg’s porous surface can spread bacteria, so wash your hands before and after you handle one. If you eat dyed, hard-boiled eggs, don’t leave them out more than two hours. For Easter egg hunts, make sure real eggs are hidden in sanitary locations.” Seems to me an Easter egg hunt gone sour, is not as bad as a crucifixion gone bad.
BBC NEWS – Olympics crisis over squat loos [toilets] “China is rushing to install sit-down loos for its 500,000 foreign Olympics visitors, after complaints that venues had only Asian-style squat toilets. A lack of Western-style facilities was a common complaint after some 30 test events at Games venues, officials said … He said that the proportion of squat toilets to sit-down facilities would vary depending on the nature of each venue.” Why bother? As polluted as China reportedly is – just go outside. Which reminds me of a comment made by a Dear Friend, who adopted a child from Russia, after she returned to our America – “Russia is a wonderful place to visit … the people are friendly, the food is excellent … but bring your own TP, (toilet paper)! Amazing, isn’t it … how we take things for granted here!
I converted and became a Roman Catholic so Susan and I could walk our spiritual paths together, (I was raised Lutheran — sorta like, being Roman Catholic, but without a Pope). This is “Holy Week” for Roman Catholics. So, sitting here editing these Ramblings, (the editorial staff in their own chair, watching me), and getting ready to attend Good Friday Mass, after fasting all day. Ever notice how you crave something, (like food!!!), when you can’t have it? All during Lent, the only time I wanted a big, juicy, hamburger, was on Fridays!! Susan and I were lectors for Holy Thursday Mass last night and I will be a lector for the Easter Vigil and the Easter Mass, (Susan serves as a S acristan at St. Peters’) I love the ritual and fellowship that my church offers: Fr. Pete asked me why I wanted to convert, the first night of catechumen class. I shared: “I want to come to Mass with Susan – Father, it doesn’t matter to me, the song you sing – it’s the singing that counts.” It is the singing that matters … isn’t it? Time to go to Mass … and I may darn well stay up until 12:00 am — and cook myself bacon and eggs!!! And then, curl up next to Susan and say a prayer of thanks for being able to do so – marvel at Christ’s Sacrifice – and say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?) Be and sleep well, others are making sacrifices so you can. If my post offends, I apologize, that is not my intent. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
Karl (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri — and Willy, Karly and ‘Lil Buddy — the editorial staff)