Sports is like a religion in Philly

Philadelphia got an early "Cliffmas" gift. Shall we all sing Carlos?

I'm a Phanatic.

politics

La Prima & I went to hear President Obama today in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. It was awesome! Bob Brady is a great cheerleader, I'll tell you what.

The Roots were there. And it was a great mixed crowd. You know, I realize that the President hasn't achieved all that my liberal, pro-ECOLOGY heart would want, but still, he's done a LOT. And a Helluva lot more than the conservative people would have done.

I think it's important to help him get stuff done, and vote the Dems in. I'm remembering my enthusiasm from the fall of 2008. Do you?

St John's Bible - I saw it!

So, Everybody, I got to see the St John's Bible at Old St George's Church in Philly today. It was AWESOME. This Bible version contains the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Lukle & John) plus Acts (the Acts of the Apostles, which people believe was written by the same writer as the author of Luke). All of the calligraphy was done by hand - by 5 writers. The artwork was done by 18 artists.

It's funny - it's a big red book, much like what I imagine Carl Jung's, Liber Novus, would look like. The images are so beautiful. There are several botanical or Audubon-esque figures of birds and insects. But some of my favorites were icons. Other favorites were very modern images - amalgams of symbols from the gospel stories in gold leaf and strong colors. I urge you to try to see the book if you can - it was free here in Philadelphia.

You can also see reproductions of the art, and buy note cards, etc. of some of the more striking artwork within. Some of my favorites from today were some of the Hymns from Luke, and the icons. The volunteer who was turning pages for me and La Prima as we looked at the book, agreed with me that one of the characters represented in one of the most striking icons (I think it was of the Last Supper*) was Rumi. I love that thought. Beautiful work.

* UPDATE: Upon further reflection, I think the image was of "The Great Commission" of Pentecost. An even more beautiful thought!

"St John's Bible" Event

I just found out about an upcoming event at St George's Church in Philadelphia.

September 26, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. the St John's Bible will be on display as part of St George's 3rd Annual "Smithsonian Museum Day."

You can go here for more details, but this is from the press release:

For the third year in a row, St. George’s is participating in the Smithsonian Museum Day, welcoming the community to our museum. Special exhibit includes the Heritage facsimile edition of the new illuminated masterpiece, the St. John’s Bible. Thanks to Donald Jackson, the artistic director of the original manuscript, the Heritage Edition is a work of art in its own right. Leading manuscript experts recognize it as the highest quality reproduction ever made. Commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University, The Saint John’s Bible is a contemporary work created in the tradition of handwritten medieval manuscripts. The Artistic Director of the project, Donald Jackson, is one of the world’s foremost Western calligraphers and Senior Scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Crown Office at the House of Lords. During the past eleven years, Jackson has worked in rural Wales, with scribes and artists to write and illuminate The Saint John’s Bible entirely by hand, using quills and paints hand ground from precious minerals and stones such as lapis lazuli, vermilion, malachite, silver, copper, and 24-karat gold. To learn more, please visit www.saintjohnsbible.org.

I hope to see some of you there!

Film Review: "Taking Root"

Hi All. I went to see Taking Root last night. It's an Independent Lens production for PBS about Wangari Maathai of Kenya. She started the tree-planting Greenbelt Movement in Kenya to help the environment, and ended up defending democracy and human rights. It's an amazing and inspiring story that she wrote about in her book, Unbowed: A Memoir. But the film adds a whole new dimension because you can see what she was talking about. It's very moving, and I recommend it highly.

You can also check out the Action Guide which was put out by the film-makers. The movie totally has the activist in me clamoring to get my hands dirty. PHS was a co-sponsor, along w/Penn's African Studies department. The PHS Tree-Tenders program was featured and reminded me, once again, how awesome it is to live in such a green city.

The movie will air in Philadelphia on WHYY on Friday, April 24th at 10 p.m. Check it out!

Philly's Wild Kingdom

Filmed by Josiah, on location.

Fly! Eagles, Fly!

I work with three women who live in New Jersey. Two have lived there all their lives, one grew up in Philly, and now lives there. Only one of the lifers is a Giants fan, the other two: Eagles Fans. I (appreciatively) call the Giants' fan "hard-boiled." And I still think it's funny that no one in our office has given her an grief over the Giants' loss to the Eagles last weekend. In fact, no one has even mentioned it in more than hushed tones. [Everyone remembers that I work in a silent office, right?]

Anyways, last weekend's game reminded me of a discussion I got into with a Red Sox fan over New Years. See, he grew up in Worcester, and I grew up outside of Hartford, CT. I know he thinks less of me now, because of my former baseball allegiance (Yankees), but, you people need to understand how it is growing up right smack dab in the middle of Major Sports Rivalries. I'm not gonna cry you a river, I'm just saying. So, I will lay my soul bare, and show you who I supported THEN, and who I support NOW, and I will feel better. You all can do with this information what you will.

THEN:
Baseball: Yankees (Lou Pinella & Reggie Jackson* were my idols - I was an outfielder in softball)
Hockey: Whalers
Basketball: UConn
Football: I didn't watch much back then, but I guess the Pats, though legend has it that my granddad was a Packers fan...

NOW:
Baseball: Phillies
Hockey: Flyers
Basketball: Sixers
Football: Eagles; The founder of the team named them after FDR's "Blue Eagle" program (National Recovery Act - not that other NRA).

It sorta makes it easier when you live in a huge sports market. And when we get our yet-to-be-named professional Soccer team, I will support it AND continue to ogle all the hot soccer players from around the world, an excellent fringe benefit of watching that particular sport.


Well, now we're moving on in the Playoffs, and I'm just hoping we can get past the Cardinals. I worry about the Eagles a lot. I couldn't actually stay IN the room while the game was on last weekend. Only at half time did I go in and watch the highlights from the first half. And then again, at the 2 minute warning in the second half, I felt it was OK to watch. I guess I'm superstitious like that.

"Fly Eagles Fly" EAGLES Fight Song

Fly Eagles Fly, On The Road To Victory.
Fight Eagles Fight, Score A Touchdown 1-2-3.

Hit 'Em Low.
Hit 'Em High.
And We'll Watch Our Eagles Fly.

Fly Eagles Fly, On The Road To Victory.

E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!

* TANGENT: Speaking of Reggie Jackson, I know many people remember him for his career in Oakland, playing for the A's. Now, this is another team I have a sentimental attachment to. The A's started out in Philadelphia, as the Athletics, based in Connie Mack stadium, from what I gather. And then they moved to Oakland, via Kansas City. Oakland is also a port town, and I just love ports: cranes, water, logistics, and sailors(!) When Angie lived out there, she really got into the A's and her enthusiasm sort of swept over to me.

And then, there's the Raiders fans. [sigh] I LOVE the Raiders fans or "Raider Nation". They remind me of Eagles fans, but MORE-SO. They are So Over the Top that you just gotta love them. And the whole "Chucky" riff - made me laugh!

Hunter S. Thompson, a Raider fan in the last years of his life, wrote,

"The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."

Religious art in Philadelphia Weekly

Headline is: "A Nutter Day; Philadelphians have to bear the (budget) cross too."

Fascinating.

Newsy Mid-Week Items

First off, Angie is engaged! Congratulations Angie & Neil. I get to do some of the wedding planning. I'm stoked.

If you want to take a peek at her engagement ring, you can find it under her pseudonym at her jeweler's website: Lorinczi. Look at "Collections," under "Bridal," Angie's is the last dot in the bunch. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL work, Stacey. You Rock! [get it?]

Also, today is my grandmother, Helen's birthday, she would have been 99 years old today. I am thinking of her favorite yellow cake with mocha icing that my mom used to make for her. I miss Grandma.

I didn't get a job I'd applied for with a great organization, which is a bummer. But, onward and upward, as I always say.

And, now, in Philadelphia, there is WEEKLY CURBSIDE RECYCLING! Yee Haw! I am so HAPPY!

Happy Epiphany, All!

Weekly Blog Round Up

My friend Karen sent me this image of Pharaoh's daughter finding Moses, it's from the Fleischer Art Memorial, here in Philadelphia. It's done in the style of a Madonna, but is of an Old Testament subject.

Interesting. I'll have to go see it in person! Below is another view of Moses in the bull rushes from Idle Speculations for comparison.

Words of wisdom from our trusty Church Administrator about open sourcing one's life. A very good read.

5 suggestions for Change.gov from boing boing.

Green gingerbread competition for the season.

A Pruned article about re-purposing canals. Is there something other than green-ways that we can do with these things? I think of the canal in my hometown. What memories!

Batgirl wants fair pay!

Chicago sit-in pays off for workers. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope for the workers in this country after all.

I'm still not gonna darken Walmart's door, but if Blogfish says they are helping to stop overfishing, I'll say, good job. On that.

A cute hippo! Love the hippos. Even if they are aggressive and hate humans.

Awesome images of "re-sampled space" from bldgblog.

This weekend will be our family's holiday baking weekend. Unfortunately my flu bug has prevented Lakshmi, Sam and Awesome Godson from coming over. He's still brand-new, and though I approve of sharing, I do not approve of giving the gift of flu to an infant. SO. We will be cooking with just the Grand Forêts present. Our cookie list this year is as follows:

• gingersnaps
• chocolate star cookies with crushed peppermint
• Austrian jam cookies
• mock mincemeat mini-tarts
• "Cherry Garcia" "Dunking Platters"
• and fudge

Have a great weekend, all!

Brief Round Up - Happy Thanksgiving!

An excellent image of my favorite female saint, Mary Magdalene, from Idle Speculations.

"I'm not One of Those Christians," one more reason you gotta love the Onion.

And in case you missed it, the spontaneous Obama love in West Philly the night of the election.

Josiah and I got to meet the Finnish Flyers last night, including Ossi Vaananen (he's so cute!). The Finnish Ambassador was there, AND the Flyers won! So cool!

Hallelujah! Obama might nix Daylight Savings Time!!! Wohoo!

Green house design via Huff Po

Linguistic diversity matters just as much as biodiversity.

A great idea! Solar panels on cemetery in Spain.

So, in the spirit of thanksgiving, I will say, thank you for reading, and visiting my blog. And thank you, God, for all the blessings of this life. I'll share my favorite (easy to remember!) table grace with you all:

God is Great
God is Good
Let us Thank God for our food, Amen.

Reaction to Obama's Win

So, I leaned out the window last night and listened to the cars honk, people scream and cheer! I whooped and hollered. And lacking a cowbell, beat a pan with a wooden spoon! The trolley went by blasting it's horn all the way down the street. It was awesome.

The photos shows what the West Philly Obama Canvassing office looked like last night. Woo Hoo! From the Huffington Post.

World reaction has been awesome too! I am so happy, and proud to be an American. And, plus, it's nice to have the world think we, as a people, are actually OK!

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES WE DID!

Pennsylvania came through!

Woo Hoo!

I've heard screaming and cow bells out my window. I was screaming for joy. And the trolley rolled by honking all the way! Yay Obama! We love you!

Election Day Survival Tools - GO VOTE!

One way to make it through Election night: watch the map -



PLUS - some info if you need it:

Election 2008 Voting Information

Today, November 4th, is Election Day! Remember to vote—not just for Barack Obama, but for Congressional, state, and local candidates as well.
Where and when do I vote?

Find your polling place, voting times, and other important information by checking out these sites and the hotline below. These resources are good, but not perfect. To be doubly sure, you can also contact your local elections office.

* Obama's VoteForChange site: voteforchange.com
* League of Women Voters' site: vote411.org/pollfinder.php
* Obama's voter hotline: 877-US4-OBAMA (877-874-6226)

What should I do before I go?

* After you've entered your address on either Vote For Change or Vote411, read the voting instructions and special rules for your state.
* Voting ID laws vary from state to state, but if you have ID, bring it.
* Check out all the voting myths and misinformation to look out for: http://truth.voteforchange.com/

What if something goes wrong?

* Not on the voter list? Make sure you're at the right polling place, then demand a provisional ballot.
* If you're voting on an electronic machine with a paper record, verify that the record is accurate.
* Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
* Try to get video of the problem and submit it to VideoTheVote.org

Want to do more?

* Text all of your friends: "Vote Obama today! Pass it on!"
* Volunteer at your local Obama office. Find an office here or here.

Now everybody go vote!!!

There's an article in the NYT about Angie's polling place - Prospect Heights. We're doing this, people.

And back here in Philly, last night, Jimmy Rollins was stumping for Obama-Biden, check it out:



And then from Gawker, we have a great election/fashion themed article, complete with video from the interview (click through). Pants up? There's HOPE! "Youth to Pull Up Pants for Obama!

Barack Obama did an interview with yesterday with Sway, MTV's official friendly ambassador from the land of hip hop. A viewer asked him about towns that try to pass laws banning baggy pants. First Obama said those laws are a "waste of time." But then he added, "brothers should pull up your pants!" Is Barack Obama a fashion icon, or your grumpy old dad—or is he both?!?! [UPDATE: Clip of the interview here]:

Weekly Blog Round-Up

WAY TO GO PHILLIES!!!!! World Series Champs!

Water rights, and the Atlas of Hidden water, from bldgblog.

How to get through the next few days w/out losing my mind from 23/6.

Whoa. Sarah Palin's nightmare has already arrived under Bush, from Boing Boing.

And Emerging Pensees sums up my feelings about the stock market/mortgage dominance from the past few years:

I also especially liked Zachary Karabell's article about the end of the "ownership society", which reminds us that homeownership alone will not create a healthier society - we also have to make sure we're protecting workers. For instance, he says:

In the United States, the shift away from corporate pensions to 401(k) Individual Retirement Accounts plunged millions more into the equity markets and loosened the traditional connection between companies and workers, which was one element of that 1950s dream that conservatives such as Bush conveniently forgot. The ownership society of the 1950s was anchored by a labor movement that made sure that workers received something resembling their share—remember Truman's Fair Deal? The deal for the past eight years has been fair to merchants of capital, and then some, but to the tens of millions on the receiving rather than originating end of those mortgages, fairness has been in short supply.
from:

"Incursions" into Syria. This isn't good. From the CSM. Is this the October Surprise?

BEAUTIFUL paintings of Native Americans, from Art Blog by Bob.

Sarah Palin's use of language painting a dangerous portrait of Obama that is just plain WRONG, from Boing Boing.

A GREAT New Yorker article about the differing views of pre-marital sex between "red staters and blue staters."

Gotta love David Sedaris on the "Undecideds," again, from the New Yorker.

This chaplain article, from the NYT, along with my recent experience with my grandmother in the nursing home, is increasing my interest in becoming a chaplain. I have more investigating to do.

Sam the Scab's comments on Obama's support of Israel, and SURPRISE, a Fox "News" reporter doing the right thing! from the Huffington Post.

Colin Powell busts a move. How did I miss this??

YAY Phillies! FINALLY!

Way to go, Phillies! We love you. Josiah is going to the parade!

Weekly Blog Round-Up

In case you live under a rock, or NOT in Philadelphia, the Phillies are going to the World Series! Yay Phils! We love you!

Here's an open letter to incoming President on US food policy by Michael Pollan (9 pages!). It's long, but so important!

Just watched Shanghai Noon again last night. I hope Owen Wilson is feeling better. He is such a great comedian. In a related vein, I also hope Heather Locklear feels better too. All in all, depression SUCKS.

More great religious art at Idle Speculations. Thanks, Terry!

Check out this rolling ball of fish - it's a new concept in fish farming and looks pretty cool too

How cool is your congregation?? You could win $5,000!

Sarah Palin's White House. Better with sound ON.

Finally - calling fear-mongering by its name!

Amazing - and creepy photo of McCain that has made the rounds.

A million photos of British Isles. Found on Boing Boing.

A v. moving post about what we are voting for - right on! - from Sirens Chronicles.


Joe.My.God linked to this NYT story, and commented that as a kid he wished he could have gone on the QE2. As a kid, I DID go on the it, and maybe it was because I was 6, and too young to appreciate it, but, the experience was lost on me. There really wasn't anything for kids to do. The funnest part for me and my sister was to press the steward/stewardess buzzers when my parents went out to dinner at night. By the time they got back, all the stews were hanging out in our room. Angie was freaked out by the porthole.

I love Aboriginal Art.

And have I mentioned how much I ALSO love, Rob Brezsny?? My horoscope this week:

In medieval Europe, more resources and human ingenuity were lavished upon cathedrals and churches than on any other buildings. In the last hundred years, the emphasis has been different, having switched to the towering structures that house institutions dedicated to commerce. By that measure, Money is a far more important God than God. During the next few weeks, Pisces, I invite you to buck the modern trend. As an experiment, see if you can devote at least one more percent of your energy and intelligence to matters of the spirit and soul than to the demands of the material realm. I suspect you'll find, ironically, that this will lead to an increase of your mastery over the material realm.

Saturday Night's Flyers' Game

So, what should the Flyers fans do? Answer the poll (on the right) and tell me what you think!

This is making lots of news here in Philly, and pretty much everyone agrees it's a dicey proposition on the part of her campaign. We'll see. I mean, we are the "Home of the Boo-Birds!"

Blog Round-Up

There's been a lot going on this week:

Letter to Bush from a mom on mainstreet, thanks, Siren's Chronicles, for that. Friend speaks my mind.

Civil Disobedience for Climate Change?! I'm on it! P.S. That's Sir Bono and Al Gorgeous together!

What's the fastest way to become a US citizen? From TextMex

From a recent meeting at my girls' nursery school. This quote just reinforces my whole belief that nothing has changed over time. Yes the players and tools do, but not the feelings.

'The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for
authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in lace of
exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their
households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They
contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties
at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.'

Bob Blogs about my favorite superhero!

The "Forêt/Forest" Exhibit in Montreal looks awesome. I wish I could get up there to see it. Thanks bldgblog for the link.

Chicago has a climate plan. Yay! Maybe Philly will be next...?

Aerophant always blows my mind (in a good way) - it IS a beautiful world.

Apparently, my guy George Michael was busted again for drugs. Thanks to JoeMyGod for the news.... but maybe it's not really news anymore.


Cupcakes Take the Cake pointed out that people search for cupcakes in a financial crisis. So I tried seeing how often people search for religious art. It was pretty much the same until this week. Check the spike. [I wonder how many of those points over the years have been ME!?!] And, 5 Reasons why this Depression really IS Going to be Fun! From Gawker.

This week on the fashion front, we see BOTH plaids AND argyle on the Fug Report.

Idle Speculations posted a beautiful image of St Anthony the Abbott in the Wilderness. Wow. It feels appropriate for this week. Thanks, Terry.

And who knows whether the debate will actually happen tonight. I can't watch. Just like the Eagles in the Superbowl - I get too nervous to sit still. So, I'll be sending all my positive energy to Obama tonight. But in the spirit of the thing - I hope he lands some good "body checks". "Keep your stick on the ice" tonight, Barack!

Incommunicado

Sorry folks, needed to take a brief hiatus, but I hope to be back on the blogging track now. Some events in my life contributing to my lack of blog posts:

1) I just created a "Women For Obama" fundraising site! Please go check it out.
2) I became a Godmother to beautiful William, new son of Lakshmi and Sam. I am THRILLED!
3) A friend of mine just signed up for the National Guard and I am terrified that he will be shipped overseas, but I'm trying to be supportive. I gave him a milagro for protection - I certainly hope it works. Maybe when he's done with his service, he can leave it in a shrine somewhere.
4) My granny had a stroke and is now in a nursing home. I went to visit her in Minneapolis (during State Fair time, so I swung by for some roasted corn, a corn dog, and a milkshake from the dairy barn. Dag, they aren't kidding about how awesome the food is there!) She's doing OK, but it's a little shocking to see someone who has always acted like someone 2/3 her age, acting 98, finally.
5) I interviewed yesterday...
6) The girls won us over and we got a cat - they named her Grace, and she's beautiful. We got her from PAWS.
7) And then there's the Phillies....

So that's what's going on for me. I haven't even been checking my bloglines recently to be able to comment on all the excellent religious art that has been passing me by... If you see something you think I'd like, please let me know!

Ciao