We just received a couple of Christmas gifts from our friends in Lake Oswego.  One of them was a hand made ornament, a chicken sewn out of a red and white floral patterned cloth.  On Hawaii, chickens are everywhere, especially on Kawaii where there are no natural predators for the wild chickens.  The Hawaiians do not think of them as food ( Read more... )

You must love this country more than I love a cold beer on a hot Christmas morning.

-Homer Simpson

Originally posted by bill_sheehan at Sunday Sermonette: Putting the Christ Back In Christmas
I’ve written about restoring the ancient traditions of Saturnalia to this blessed time of year (Io, Saturnalia!), but some people just have no sense of tradition. They just want me to put the Christ back in Christmas. Fine, I don’t want to cause offense by wishing ( Read more... )

It's not an infectious disease, its' a cultural phenomenon.  Here on Kauai the decorations are everywhere.  There are blow up santas at every commercial destination, and lit trees in the windows of homes, and bright lights on signs and rooflines.  Island television is full of Christmas music and men wearing santa hats.  There are Christian churches ( Read more... )

He was 68 years old. He died in hospice of melanoma, which was discovered last year in his brain. He never recognized the skin lesion. He was one of my original paddling buddies here in Portland, a retired engineer and a budding Buddhist. He loved his wife and their home by the Washougal river, where he could watch osprey and otters. His hospice ( Read more... )

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I think this is terrific. It's a song called "Dead dead dead" from the makers of South Park. The children's voices singing are so Christmassy. =-] Be careful, it can get stuck in your head. Dark humor aside, it does remind me to live in the moment.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/26/2455293.htm
Lots of Christains are mighty miffed, but once again I find myself agreeing with this man's criticisms of imperialist powers today, and with his hopes for the future of humanity.
( direct quotes from the ABC article )

This morning they declared Multnomah County (the one I'm in, includes most of Portland) to be a federal disaster area. The news report was filled with city officials griping about how the snow had already cost the city $800,000 when the city budget was already strained. I think "disaster" is just a way for local governments to beg more money from ( Read more... )

In case you can't figure out what I need, I need books! Always.

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