From the NPR article:
"The dirty little secret is that when you take [your electronic waste] to recyclers, instead of throwing it in a trashcan, about 80 percent of that
material, very quickly, finds itself on a container ship going to a country like
China, Nigeria, India, Vietnam, Pakistan — where very dirty things happen to
it," says Jim Puckett, the executive director of the Basel Action Network, which
works to keep toxic waste out of the environment. Puckett describes a trip he took, to Guyana, and another in China, in December 2001 as a
"cyber-age nightmare."
Cutting to the chase, here's the thing, look for companies called "E-Stewards", who are committed to recycling your old electronics appropriately.
NPR article
I had no idea. Did you? I thought our wastes were dissembled here in the US. This almost says we should just throw away our electronic wastes in our own garbage bins. Then at least we are only poisoning ourselves and not yet again, putting our wastes onto those under privileged peoples around the world.
This garbage has shown signs of being from the US Schools, government agencies, but also from England and other first world countries. Jim Pickett said that he cornered one industry insider, Robert Fall, who has claimed that if pushed, they can start building computers without toxins, by 2015. They can remove substances like cadmium, beryllium, lead, etc.
To find a way around this now, go to EPEAT to find the least toxic computers available. Also, Greenpeace has a list of manufacturers and the Electronics Take Back Coalition. As for your no longer needed cellphones, GreenPhone
Let's also consider that if your wasted computer ends up in a dump in China, or Guyana, or elsewhere, Identity thieves can access your old data and rip you off. So when you dump your old electronics, erase your information. Even if its broken, sometimes, they can still access your info. When researchers tried to purchase old hard drives from these dumps, they were asked for $300 indicating that these scavengers know, they are selling data, not just hardware.
Here is another NPR article that can be helpful. Some recyclers do wipe your old hard drives, but really? I wouldn't depend on that:
How to erase old hard drives without a drill bit
Its good to note that Interpol in the European Union, the EPA in the US and others are now, finally, getting involved in these legal considerations and protection of citizens' data. Also, authorities in Hong Kong have also been helpful in these efforts, actually finding shipping containers (maybe 100 or so) with the wrong kinds of electronic waste cargo, and some are actually being sent back to the US.
For myself, I've built many computer systems for my family over the years. I've taught my children, how to build a system. But it never occurred to me to teach them about getting rid of systems. That is something I will rectify right away. What I do as far as my information, is I always strip out my hard drives. I have a box full of them from over the years. When I do get rid of them, I either take them apart and keep the disk containing the data, or I wipe it with a powerful magnet.
But much like the old security adage of "the only secure computer is one that is unplugged, turned off and locked away", the only safe hard drive is one that is in your control. Or, obviously, as that isn't realistic, the only safe hard drive is one that is reasonably devoid of your old data. There are government level data erasers that write over the data many times with zero bit data, basically random ones and zeros. I've also used this type of software. More recently, the past fifteen years or so, I've kept my disks in the possibility that one day I will be able to access the data on them as some I would like to reclaim and some would just be like an historical archeological dig. Just for fun, basically.
In the end, give more thought to how you eliminate old electronics from your life and do be aware of your old data being contained on your old hard drives, your old cell phones even and any device that has your information. You don't want to find out that you've just bought a car in Guyana, or purchased an airplane ticket to the US, from China.
Monday, December 27, 2010
"Almost Live!" Seattle's one time premiere comedy show
"Almost Live! was a local sketch comedy television show in Seattle, Washington, USA, produced and broadcast by NBC affiliate KING-TV from 1984 to 1999. A re-packaged version of the show also aired on Comedy Central from 1992 to 1993, and episodes aired on WGRZ-TV in the late 1990s. The show was broadcast on Saturday nights at 11:30, pushing Saturday Night Live back to midnight. The show used to be aired in reruns by the Seattle NBC affiliate following Saturday Night Live." - Wikipedia
Original format
"Almost Live! began as a weekly half-hour talk and comedy sketch show created by then VP of Programming Bob Jones, and hosted by Ross Shafer and closely patterned after Late Night with David Letterman, airing at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. From the beginning, It featured many spoofs and satires of local television, series such as Star Trek, and unique locales in the city such as Ballard and Green Lake. The show became so popular that it was expanded from a half hour to one hour and shown twice a week. After four years and nearly 40 local Emmy Awards and several national awards, Shafer left to host the Fox Network's The Late Show." - Wikipedia
Ross went on to try to become the "Big Star" everyone expected him to become, except that, it never happened. John Keister took over as host of the show and it then switched into a full comedy, sketch and video clip show. Some of the favorite parts of the show were, "The John Report", not unlike SNL's "Weekend Update"; The Lame Report featuring members of local Rock community; Bill Nye's science segment; "Mind Your Manners with Billy Quan", a parody of Bruce Lee's martial arts films; and many others. I always looked forward to the Lame Report; I don't know why, sometimes they were just really funny.
John Keister and a change in format
"John Keister became the permanent replacement after Shafer left the program. Until that time, Keister was a regular supporting performer. Many of the initial award winning elements of Almost Live were his efforts, so the program quickly changed formats to feature more of his abilities, as well as other cast members, at video sketches. The guest interviews and live band segments were dropped. The focus changed to the sketch comedy and the show was shaved back to a half-hour format." - Wikipedia
One day years ago, I was sitting at Harry's bar on lower Queen Anne years ago, about 1987 or so, and trying to talk to my son's soon to be mother and my future ex wife. It was getting hard to talk to her because at the booth behind me, were two guys that were just annoying the hell out of me. Specifically, one of them were really annoying. I finally told my guest, "That guy is really annoying me." She started laughing and said, "Don't you know who that is?" I said, know, I snuck a quick glance and didn't recognize him. She said, "That's John Keister, from Almost Live", a show we both liked a lot.
I guess I was irritable or something (to be fair, John was being unusually obnoxious) and so I told her, "If that guy doesn't shut up soon, I'm going to take that serving tray from the waitress and smack him with it." She laughed and said, "Yeah, he can be pretty obnoxious sometimes, but he is pretty funny." Luckily, he toned it down and we left shortly thereafter. It wasn't until the next time I saw the show that she pointed out who he was and I realized, I might have messed up one of their episodes and yes, I would have felt bad about it.
One of the cast was a young(er) Joel McHale, now on the hit sitcom, Community, and also still hosting The Soup, which replays hilarious scenes from the past week of TV, was once also a part of the cast of Almost Live!, a local sketch-comedy TV show produced by Seattle's KING-TV (Channel 5).
"Bill Nye the Science Guy". Ross Shafer is credited as the creator of Bill Nye the Science Guy, encouraging Boeing aircraft engineer Bill Nye to demonstrate science experiments on the show. Nye later turned it into the Bill Nye the Science Guy show on PBS.
These are the recognizable greats to come from that show. Its pretty entertaining and as I noticed this weekend in watching an episode, is a little piece of history, especially Pacific NorthWest history. If you ever get a chance to watch it, just remember, some shows were great, some shows, not so great, but don't let one bad one ruin it for you.
Original format
"Almost Live! began as a weekly half-hour talk and comedy sketch show created by then VP of Programming Bob Jones, and hosted by Ross Shafer and closely patterned after Late Night with David Letterman, airing at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. From the beginning, It featured many spoofs and satires of local television, series such as Star Trek, and unique locales in the city such as Ballard and Green Lake. The show became so popular that it was expanded from a half hour to one hour and shown twice a week. After four years and nearly 40 local Emmy Awards and several national awards, Shafer left to host the Fox Network's The Late Show." - Wikipedia
Ross went on to try to become the "Big Star" everyone expected him to become, except that, it never happened. John Keister took over as host of the show and it then switched into a full comedy, sketch and video clip show. Some of the favorite parts of the show were, "The John Report", not unlike SNL's "Weekend Update"; The Lame Report featuring members of local Rock community; Bill Nye's science segment; "Mind Your Manners with Billy Quan", a parody of Bruce Lee's martial arts films; and many others. I always looked forward to the Lame Report; I don't know why, sometimes they were just really funny.
"John Keister became the permanent replacement after Shafer left the program. Until that time, Keister was a regular supporting performer. Many of the initial award winning elements of Almost Live were his efforts, so the program quickly changed formats to feature more of his abilities, as well as other cast members, at video sketches. The guest interviews and live band segments were dropped. The focus changed to the sketch comedy and the show was shaved back to a half-hour format." - Wikipedia
One day years ago, I was sitting at Harry's bar on lower Queen Anne years ago, about 1987 or so, and trying to talk to my son's soon to be mother and my future ex wife. It was getting hard to talk to her because at the booth behind me, were two guys that were just annoying the hell out of me. Specifically, one of them were really annoying. I finally told my guest, "That guy is really annoying me." She started laughing and said, "Don't you know who that is?" I said, know, I snuck a quick glance and didn't recognize him. She said, "That's John Keister, from Almost Live", a show we both liked a lot.
I guess I was irritable or something (to be fair, John was being unusually obnoxious) and so I told her, "If that guy doesn't shut up soon, I'm going to take that serving tray from the waitress and smack him with it." She laughed and said, "Yeah, he can be pretty obnoxious sometimes, but he is pretty funny." Luckily, he toned it down and we left shortly thereafter. It wasn't until the next time I saw the show that she pointed out who he was and I realized, I might have messed up one of their episodes and yes, I would have felt bad about it.
One of the cast was a young(er) Joel McHale, now on the hit sitcom, Community, and also still hosting The Soup, which replays hilarious scenes from the past week of TV, was once also a part of the cast of Almost Live!, a local sketch-comedy TV show produced by Seattle's KING-TV (Channel 5).
"Bill Nye the Science Guy". Ross Shafer is credited as the creator of Bill Nye the Science Guy, encouraging Boeing aircraft engineer Bill Nye to demonstrate science experiments on the show. Nye later turned it into the Bill Nye the Science Guy show on PBS.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Day Weekend Wise Words
Merry Christmas!
I'm so sorry if you are not into Christmas. Its a fun thing. It doesn't have to be all about Jesus, if you're not Christian. I mean, I'm not. I celebrate Christmas. A secular one, but I still call it Christmas, because, well, it is.
Give to one another. Enjoy one another. Love one another. Give Peace to one another, and therefore, to yourself. Think! Reflect. Spend time with the positive in Life. Celebrate being Human and being alive.
Just remember, no matter what Christians say, Christmas really isn't just all about Jesus, nor Christianity, nor the Pope, not religion at all, truth be told. That's what people have turned it into over the millennia. Christmas is about the feelings behind the holiday. Intent, action, caring. Its about what matters in life, a chance to step back and look at that, examine it, and live it out. Religious leaders would have us make it all about them, or God. But its really about everything, and that's what all religious texts propound upon, though they put it out as all about God, or his leaders, or their "chosen" people.
But its really about you, and your relation to yours and higher states of being. Religions are always trying to put out there that you have to have this or that thing to commune with their God, sounding a lot like Wall Street advertisers over the millenia; you have to go to church to commune with God, you need this magical underwear, you need this book, that robe, a rosary, whatever. But really? Any real God, would only require your attention, your care, your trying and your doing.
It reminds me of my writing. I used to be afraid to write. Then a college English professor told me to just write, don't worry about the rules. And I've been enjoying, loving writing, ever since.
I am a student of the Buddha Dharma, what some would call being, in that Western terminology, a Buddhist. I was raised Catholic, but found it lacking in so much in life, in being so founded in doctrine and many things I found that to me, were anti Jesus.
So for many years I said that I was not Catholic, not Christian, in fact in many ways, I was Anti-Christian. I felt I was a "Jesuit" (not to be confused with the Catholic Jesuit Preists and their beliefs). I believed in Jesus, in what that man, Yeshua, had to say (which is, as I understand it, actually closer to Jesus' real name, you see).
Jesus was also not born on December 25th, he had no blond hair, no blue eyes and looked nothing like Jeff Chandler, or most pictures of modern day Jesus that I've seen.
Jesus had said that God is good, like one's father; not angry, not a jealous God like the ancients believed; those ancients being at that time, most religious groups and the multi deity religions.
So, let's simply celebrate what a cool guy, or if you will, God, named, if you will, Jesus, had to say, and on December 25th, if nothing else. Or skip it and go the secular Santa route, for perhaps even Jesus would say:
"Hey, that's cool. Just live life like it's worth living and be kind to one another. Focus on what is good and best in life. And the world will still be a better place for it, even fi you doln't believe in me or what people have claimed I professed. Just don't get stuck on the little things, like doctrine, church, leaders who have lost sight of what is most important. Religions always push their beliefs, but push what is important.Do it for me."
And so, I wish you all, a very Merry Christmas!
But okay, if you insist, Happy Holidays to you, too!
I'm so sorry if you are not into Christmas. Its a fun thing. It doesn't have to be all about Jesus, if you're not Christian. I mean, I'm not. I celebrate Christmas. A secular one, but I still call it Christmas, because, well, it is.
[from a cool friday]
I know that Christians want that Christmas be only about Jesus. They are welcome to that. But if you are not Christian, I think even Jesus would say, just don't worry about it, enjoy the festivities, enjoy your loved ones, enjoy giving to one another. Enjoy Peace.Give to one another. Enjoy one another. Love one another. Give Peace to one another, and therefore, to yourself. Think! Reflect. Spend time with the positive in Life. Celebrate being Human and being alive.
Just remember, no matter what Christians say, Christmas really isn't just all about Jesus, nor Christianity, nor the Pope, not religion at all, truth be told. That's what people have turned it into over the millennia. Christmas is about the feelings behind the holiday. Intent, action, caring. Its about what matters in life, a chance to step back and look at that, examine it, and live it out. Religious leaders would have us make it all about them, or God. But its really about everything, and that's what all religious texts propound upon, though they put it out as all about God, or his leaders, or their "chosen" people.
But its really about you, and your relation to yours and higher states of being. Religions are always trying to put out there that you have to have this or that thing to commune with their God, sounding a lot like Wall Street advertisers over the millenia; you have to go to church to commune with God, you need this magical underwear, you need this book, that robe, a rosary, whatever. But really? Any real God, would only require your attention, your care, your trying and your doing.
It reminds me of my writing. I used to be afraid to write. Then a college English professor told me to just write, don't worry about the rules. And I've been enjoying, loving writing, ever since.
I am a student of the Buddha Dharma, what some would call being, in that Western terminology, a Buddhist. I was raised Catholic, but found it lacking in so much in life, in being so founded in doctrine and many things I found that to me, were anti Jesus.
So for many years I said that I was not Catholic, not Christian, in fact in many ways, I was Anti-Christian. I felt I was a "Jesuit" (not to be confused with the Catholic Jesuit Preists and their beliefs). I believed in Jesus, in what that man, Yeshua, had to say (which is, as I understand it, actually closer to Jesus' real name, you see).
Jesus was also not born on December 25th, he had no blond hair, no blue eyes and looked nothing like Jeff Chandler, or most pictures of modern day Jesus that I've seen.
Jesus had said that God is good, like one's father; not angry, not a jealous God like the ancients believed; those ancients being at that time, most religious groups and the multi deity religions.
[from Italian Christmas]
So, let's simply celebrate what a cool guy, or if you will, God, named, if you will, Jesus, had to say, and on December 25th, if nothing else. Or skip it and go the secular Santa route, for perhaps even Jesus would say:
"Hey, that's cool. Just live life like it's worth living and be kind to one another. Focus on what is good and best in life. And the world will still be a better place for it, even fi you doln't believe in me or what people have claimed I professed. Just don't get stuck on the little things, like doctrine, church, leaders who have lost sight of what is most important. Religions always push their beliefs, but push what is important.Do it for me."
And so, I wish you all, a very Merry Christmas!
But okay, if you insist, Happy Holidays to you, too!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Meaning of Christmas
I received this text from one of my adult children recently, I'll clean up the text a bit as it was after all, texting:
My kid:
Capitalism pisses me off. And especially this new capitalist Christmas: buy buy buy. Unfortunately, its making me dislike Christmas.
Me:
Get (think) small(er). Its about showing to who you care for, by giving them something from you. Wall Street always abuses good things.
My kid:
Yeah, but most of the stuff in the stores is total crap. I dunno. things lost their meaning. Gifts should have meaning, I feel. Clothes clothes fashion fashion fashion...just time with my family is awesome and a gift as cheesy as it is (or may be). There are just so many little jerk kids running around going MOM MOM MOM WANT WANT....
Me:
Yup
My kid:
Live like you're poor, but feel like your rich.
Me:
I always felt that it was a way to feel rich for a while, in getting xmas gifts. When I was a kid anyway. Because we didn't have a lot. I didn't grow up vactationing on a boat like your mom did [we're divorced]. It was a week or two with no money worries. There was abundance one time a year. :)
That was pretty much the end of the texting on that topi for the day.
I understand what my kid was saying. I think we all do.
To explain what I was trying to get across....
When I was a kid we didn't have a lot. I knew there were money problems. It was obvious, even if never mentioned. Any poor kid understands that. Birthdays were great, once a year, I got attention, and gifts. Of course, my mom was born on my birthday so I had to share it with her, but she tried to be cool about it, by giving me the day and she took the night. So I got a party and that night she would go out for dinner with her husband (my step-father). But it wasn't like the entire day was my day. I just never saw it as cool.
But that was one day a year. Christmas, was an entirely different kind of thing. Of course, we were Catholic. So traditional Christmas, and high holidays. We focused on Jesus' birthday, and all of that. Then as I grew older I learned more about how the Catholic church took over a pagan holiday to assimilate the locals who wouldn't take on the Catholic holidays and maintained their ancient pagan holidays. So the church put Christmas on their pagan days, erasing them, mostly from history.
Back to the present....
What my chat above was trying to point out, was that for one time a year, we put aside our worries, our money problems, our lacking things, and we simply had things. We went shopping, for fun, we got gifts for fun. We gave, for fun.We explored the Christmas time spirit of things. That good feeling it gives you, the music, the sights, Santa, all of it.
Over they years, Christmas time grew to more than a Catholic, or Christian thing. They don't like that. Too bad. Christmas now, as much as people don't like it, has become a secular, a truly American Tradition. Wall Street has had a lot to do with that. And for the good side of it, thanks. For the bad side of it, you should be ashamed.
But Christmas is no longer about Jesus, who was not named Jesus, who was not born on December 25th. Its about feeling good for a while. Wall Street tries to drag that out to even before Thanksgiving now. Again, shame on you. Greedy bastards. And they have found out how to extend it beyond Christmas, with returns and refunds and buy buy buy more after you have that gift card or the money from the returns/refunds, etc.
But what I remember from childhood, was that for that couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, was feeling good, smiling a lot, getting to see Santa for yearly photo sessions which I both loved and hated. We got a tree, we thought about others, bought them presents, wrapped them (although only to the best of our abilities and pretty sad those are at times). The tree in the living room began to fill with presents beneath it. Nightly, the tree was lit. Daily too when we were around. I had to keep water in the pot at the bottom of the tree or it turned into something dead and sad before Christmas Even, traditionally the night we gave presents.
I remember as a young kid, getting up to opening presents Christmas morning, but at some point, we switched it to Christmas Eve. Then we would go to midnight mass which was beautiful, with all the candles lit in the churchgoers hands and the singing and all but then we'd get home exhausted and wake early exhausted. I can't imagine what I was like the next day, all ADHD as usually but now tired on top of it, with huge influxes of secreted candy from our stockings full of goodies and the exhilaration of having new toys and all.
My point in all this is this, Christmas isn't Christian anymore. Yes, Christians and Catholics celebrate it for the original reasons. But now plenty of others, even many Jewish people, celebrate the idea of Christmas giving. Santa plays a big part in it, replacing Jesus. But not really, because, he has just changed his shape and what and how he does things; how he bestows love, what he gives for love. And what difference does it make?
Of course, Christians and Catholics should continue to play out their Faith, but others, who have no belief in Jesus, should be able to enjoy it as it is. Should we change the name to something less denominational? Why? What does it matter? The term Christmas, has lost its original meaning, just like cities named for the same have as in Christ Church, or Christianville, or whatever you can think of. Do you have to be Christian to live in those places? Absolutely not. Should they change the name to Jonestown, or something with no meaning? Why?
What I remember as a child, was Christmas would come upon us and we would revel in it's arrival. It didn't have that much to do with me, as a child, with religion. It was all about community, love, acceptance (in most families), abundance (for a change) and fun. We had lots of food. We had friends and family over. Leftovers lasted for a week or two. After a while I did get sick of turkey, but not the potato salad or other things.
And so, for those few weeks each year, I had a feeling, as a child, of love, no worries, fun times and community. Why, would we muck it all up with religion? Espeically, when you aren't Christian, in any sense of the word. So, why cannot Jewish people, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists and others, all enjoy, just for the sake of enjoyment. And why would Christians want to take that away from them, just because they are not celebrating Jesus in any sense of the word?
I really think we've lost sight of the whole thing, in pushing that Christmas is ONLY about Jesus, ONLY about CHRISTIANS. They started something good, and now they should just shut up about it. Thanks! But, do your own thing. Let everyone else enjoy the benefits of your contributions. Why try to ruin it for everybody? No, really. How can you possibly have issue with that? If you think so highly of Jesus, and his existence has contributed good to the world in a completely unforeseen way, where is the problem?
I know, you think you need to profess your religion to everyone and all that, but seriously, lighten up, will you? Some good, even in the wrong way, is better than no good. You would rather we call it Winter Holidays? Over Christmas? You've kind of shot yourself in the foot, don't you think? Because of your people demanding it all be about Jesus all these years, now no one wants it to have anything to do with Jesus and they are even offended by calling it, Christmas. Good job guys.
Sometimes, one needs to accept small wins and just let it go, rather than demand a big win and win nothing.
And I would argue that for any religion that has contributes something to the world, that they have lost control over, shut up. Be pleased that you have contributed to the world a little happiness where once there was none.
And you know what? I suspect, Jesus might just think even a secular Christmas, just isn't such a bad thing after all.
My kid:
Capitalism pisses me off. And especially this new capitalist Christmas: buy buy buy. Unfortunately, its making me dislike Christmas.
Me:
Get (think) small(er). Its about showing to who you care for, by giving them something from you. Wall Street always abuses good things.
My kid:
Yeah, but most of the stuff in the stores is total crap. I dunno. things lost their meaning. Gifts should have meaning, I feel. Clothes clothes fashion fashion fashion...just time with my family is awesome and a gift as cheesy as it is (or may be). There are just so many little jerk kids running around going MOM MOM MOM WANT WANT....
Me:
Yup
My kid:
Live like you're poor, but feel like your rich.
Me:
I always felt that it was a way to feel rich for a while, in getting xmas gifts. When I was a kid anyway. Because we didn't have a lot. I didn't grow up vactationing on a boat like your mom did [we're divorced]. It was a week or two with no money worries. There was abundance one time a year. :)
That was pretty much the end of the texting on that topi for the day.
I understand what my kid was saying. I think we all do.
To explain what I was trying to get across....
When I was a kid we didn't have a lot. I knew there were money problems. It was obvious, even if never mentioned. Any poor kid understands that. Birthdays were great, once a year, I got attention, and gifts. Of course, my mom was born on my birthday so I had to share it with her, but she tried to be cool about it, by giving me the day and she took the night. So I got a party and that night she would go out for dinner with her husband (my step-father). But it wasn't like the entire day was my day. I just never saw it as cool.
But that was one day a year. Christmas, was an entirely different kind of thing. Of course, we were Catholic. So traditional Christmas, and high holidays. We focused on Jesus' birthday, and all of that. Then as I grew older I learned more about how the Catholic church took over a pagan holiday to assimilate the locals who wouldn't take on the Catholic holidays and maintained their ancient pagan holidays. So the church put Christmas on their pagan days, erasing them, mostly from history.
Back to the present....
What my chat above was trying to point out, was that for one time a year, we put aside our worries, our money problems, our lacking things, and we simply had things. We went shopping, for fun, we got gifts for fun. We gave, for fun.We explored the Christmas time spirit of things. That good feeling it gives you, the music, the sights, Santa, all of it.
Over they years, Christmas time grew to more than a Catholic, or Christian thing. They don't like that. Too bad. Christmas now, as much as people don't like it, has become a secular, a truly American Tradition. Wall Street has had a lot to do with that. And for the good side of it, thanks. For the bad side of it, you should be ashamed.
But Christmas is no longer about Jesus, who was not named Jesus, who was not born on December 25th. Its about feeling good for a while. Wall Street tries to drag that out to even before Thanksgiving now. Again, shame on you. Greedy bastards. And they have found out how to extend it beyond Christmas, with returns and refunds and buy buy buy more after you have that gift card or the money from the returns/refunds, etc.
But what I remember from childhood, was that for that couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, was feeling good, smiling a lot, getting to see Santa for yearly photo sessions which I both loved and hated. We got a tree, we thought about others, bought them presents, wrapped them (although only to the best of our abilities and pretty sad those are at times). The tree in the living room began to fill with presents beneath it. Nightly, the tree was lit. Daily too when we were around. I had to keep water in the pot at the bottom of the tree or it turned into something dead and sad before Christmas Even, traditionally the night we gave presents.
I remember as a young kid, getting up to opening presents Christmas morning, but at some point, we switched it to Christmas Eve. Then we would go to midnight mass which was beautiful, with all the candles lit in the churchgoers hands and the singing and all but then we'd get home exhausted and wake early exhausted. I can't imagine what I was like the next day, all ADHD as usually but now tired on top of it, with huge influxes of secreted candy from our stockings full of goodies and the exhilaration of having new toys and all.
My point in all this is this, Christmas isn't Christian anymore. Yes, Christians and Catholics celebrate it for the original reasons. But now plenty of others, even many Jewish people, celebrate the idea of Christmas giving. Santa plays a big part in it, replacing Jesus. But not really, because, he has just changed his shape and what and how he does things; how he bestows love, what he gives for love. And what difference does it make?
Of course, Christians and Catholics should continue to play out their Faith, but others, who have no belief in Jesus, should be able to enjoy it as it is. Should we change the name to something less denominational? Why? What does it matter? The term Christmas, has lost its original meaning, just like cities named for the same have as in Christ Church, or Christianville, or whatever you can think of. Do you have to be Christian to live in those places? Absolutely not. Should they change the name to Jonestown, or something with no meaning? Why?
What I remember as a child, was Christmas would come upon us and we would revel in it's arrival. It didn't have that much to do with me, as a child, with religion. It was all about community, love, acceptance (in most families), abundance (for a change) and fun. We had lots of food. We had friends and family over. Leftovers lasted for a week or two. After a while I did get sick of turkey, but not the potato salad or other things.
And so, for those few weeks each year, I had a feeling, as a child, of love, no worries, fun times and community. Why, would we muck it all up with religion? Espeically, when you aren't Christian, in any sense of the word. So, why cannot Jewish people, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists and others, all enjoy, just for the sake of enjoyment. And why would Christians want to take that away from them, just because they are not celebrating Jesus in any sense of the word?
I really think we've lost sight of the whole thing, in pushing that Christmas is ONLY about Jesus, ONLY about CHRISTIANS. They started something good, and now they should just shut up about it. Thanks! But, do your own thing. Let everyone else enjoy the benefits of your contributions. Why try to ruin it for everybody? No, really. How can you possibly have issue with that? If you think so highly of Jesus, and his existence has contributed good to the world in a completely unforeseen way, where is the problem?
I know, you think you need to profess your religion to everyone and all that, but seriously, lighten up, will you? Some good, even in the wrong way, is better than no good. You would rather we call it Winter Holidays? Over Christmas? You've kind of shot yourself in the foot, don't you think? Because of your people demanding it all be about Jesus all these years, now no one wants it to have anything to do with Jesus and they are even offended by calling it, Christmas. Good job guys.
Sometimes, one needs to accept small wins and just let it go, rather than demand a big win and win nothing.
And I would argue that for any religion that has contributes something to the world, that they have lost control over, shut up. Be pleased that you have contributed to the world a little happiness where once there was none.
And you know what? I suspect, Jesus might just think even a secular Christmas, just isn't such a bad thing after all.
Merry Christmas!
A Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends and loved ones!
"The religious festival is originally a blend of pagan customs. The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, i.e. "the birthday of the unconquered sun.". Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in late December to early January. However, it is uncertain exactly why December 25 became associated with the birth of Jesus since the Old Testament doesn’t mention a specific date of the event."
From All Things Christmas
I mostly mention this as prep to my blog tomorrow. People around the world celebrate Christmas, and not all of them are Christians, Catholics, or believers in Jesus or his generally accepted status as Christ Jesus. But that is not a bad thing, okay? So just relax, and enjoy your holiday. And all the best to you, peace and goodwill to all!
[from Best...Christmas Cheer]
"Every year more than 400 million people celebrate Xmas around
the world -- that makes Xmas one of the world’s biggest
religious and commercial festivities. In approximately year
300 A.D., the birthday of Jesus was determined to be on December
25, the day that has been celebrated from then till this very
day. The celebration on the 25th of December starts with Christmas
Eve, the evening of December 24."The religious festival is originally a blend of pagan customs. The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, i.e. "the birthday of the unconquered sun.". Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in late December to early January. However, it is uncertain exactly why December 25 became associated with the birth of Jesus since the Old Testament doesn’t mention a specific date of the event."
From All Things Christmas
I mostly mention this as prep to my blog tomorrow. People around the world celebrate Christmas, and not all of them are Christians, Catholics, or believers in Jesus or his generally accepted status as Christ Jesus. But that is not a bad thing, okay? So just relax, and enjoy your holiday. And all the best to you, peace and goodwill to all!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Life's Dichotomies
Why do people so respect those with "nerves of steel"? Have you ever considered just what it takes to not allow extreme pressures to affect you?
People like the "nerves of steel" type, because they build companies. But typically, they make lousy lovers. Maybe they can be hot for a night, maybe because of the fear they invoke, the intensity with is insanity, that you can take for focus, power; but, for anything more than a night at a time, these types are complete nightmares. Ask anyone who has ridden that train.
Why do women like the "bad boys" when they get treated so poorly and in reality they really want the good boys? They want to be treated like they were good boys, but at moments, they want the intensity of the bad boy. Is it any different than those men who want the angel in the kitchen and the whore in the bed room?
What is it about this dichotomy?
Why do people respect what is the opposite of what they need?
Why are we so attracted to what is bad?
Why?
Could it be because some of us, are too dependent upon others for our intensity? Our, thrills? Rather than create our own excitement? We are social creatures, but we really need to depend mostly, upon our selves. Once we accept becoming adults, we are responsible for ourselves, entirely.
We need to see that in our daily lives, in our relationships, in those we choose as friends, and lovers. Because, if we gives even a little more thought to our choices, and how we live our lives, our life will get a little better. And isn't that worth the effort?
People like the "nerves of steel" type, because they build companies. But typically, they make lousy lovers. Maybe they can be hot for a night, maybe because of the fear they invoke, the intensity with is insanity, that you can take for focus, power; but, for anything more than a night at a time, these types are complete nightmares. Ask anyone who has ridden that train.
Why do women like the "bad boys" when they get treated so poorly and in reality they really want the good boys? They want to be treated like they were good boys, but at moments, they want the intensity of the bad boy. Is it any different than those men who want the angel in the kitchen and the whore in the bed room?
What is it about this dichotomy?
Why do people respect what is the opposite of what they need?
Why are we so attracted to what is bad?
Why?
Could it be because some of us, are too dependent upon others for our intensity? Our, thrills? Rather than create our own excitement? We are social creatures, but we really need to depend mostly, upon our selves. Once we accept becoming adults, we are responsible for ourselves, entirely.
We need to see that in our daily lives, in our relationships, in those we choose as friends, and lovers. Because, if we gives even a little more thought to our choices, and how we live our lives, our life will get a little better. And isn't that worth the effort?
New Hellraiser film to be darker, Dusk till Dawn, Amityville coming back too
HellRaiser
A few months ago it was announced that, god forbid, the Hellraiser remake was going to be aimed at a teen audience, think of a sparkly Pinhead. Actually scratch that, Pinhead doesn't sparkle he freaking causes pain and pleasure and no one does it better. Now thanks to the guys over at MovieFone, they recently caught up with the director of the remake, Patrick Lussier and he denied these horrible "teen audience" rumors."Oh, God no. No, no, we definitely did not want to do that.
If you're going to make a 'Hellraiser' movie... you're basically looking at a franchise that went from Clive's movie up to the 'Hellraiser'-in-Space movie, 'Bloodline,' which had some great stuff in it, actually; the way it goes backwards and forwards in time, and Angelique is such an interesting character. There's a part of this world that we're never allowed to see because there's never been the resources to show it, so let's show it."
More From Dusk Till Dawn, and Amityville, sequels on the way
The Miramax library is in new hands and under the direction of Mike Lang, if you haven't been following the business-side of things occurring in Hollywood. The transition of the films that fall under the Miramax brand is the reason why you haven't seen the release of Blu-Ray titles like Pulp Fiction or the Scream films in the U.S.But that's all going to change now that the Miramax deal is closed. At the edn of last week, Lang's Miramax announced they are partnering up with The Weinstein Company to create sequels to some of the films in the Miramax library.
The first films to be produced under the agreement will be sequels to Bad Santa, Rounders and Shakespeare in Love. The other potential sequels and TV projects are Bridget Jones's Diary, Copland, From Dusk Till Dawn, Swingers, Clerks, Shall We Dance, and The Amityville Horror. Interesting news about the latter as many thought a sequel to the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror was tied up at MGM. This partnership augments an existing relationship between the companies on such franchises as Scream 4 (to be released April 15, 2011), Spy Kids 4 (to be released August 19, 2011) and Scary Movie 5.
In addition, Miramax will handle digital distribution on select sequel projects. Miramax and TWC have also agreed to develop new, special edition materials for Blu-ray releases, such as roundtables featuring cast and directors. "We are very close to these films and the new management of Miramax also feels that we are in the best position to create sequels that are at once worthy and compelling in their own right," stated TWC's Harvey and Bob Weinstein. "We look forward to working with Mike and his team on getting these films into production as soon as possible, and extending our partnership in the years ahead."
from Reggie Dwight on Facebook
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