Infinity

This is the sort of stuff that sets people loose and math drives them crazy. This is the analemma. Basically it is pictures of the sun at the same time every day for a year, if I understand it correctly. Also worth noting, that is the symbol for infinity. Who knows maybe that is where the symbol came from, I didn't read into it too much. I just thought you might like it.

Americans

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday my thoughts turn to the Native Americans. Canadians call them "First Nation" people. I like that. These pictures may seem posed but the people look real. I live on a native reservation so I can't help but be aware of natives and I think about the way of life they must have had before we arrived. I admire a people who live in harmony with the land and always keep in mind that they were here first.

Are You Thankful?

So I think this holiday is our most genuine of our full calender of special days. I know we tarnished the image set by the first dinner, but it doesn't negate the fact that it happened. At least we tried. This is also the most traditional holiday we have - as far as meaning goes. For some reason corporations have had a really hard time taking this one from us. I don't know about you, but I love that.

Near the end of the post is a short video about Thanksgiving. The content starts from the first dinner and shows the evolution to what we typically do now, it covers a lot. Although I will admit they focus on football a little too much towards the end. A large thank you to the History Channel for reminding us where Thanksgiving came from. Had I had more time today I would have found something more comprehensive and able to be embedded.

Sadly today I am not celebrating Thanksgiving. We're having ours tomorrow due to my aunt and uncle having work/travel problems with the day. So we are doing a dry run with my grandma. We got her out of the nursing home and into our house without any help and after I shower we're gunna try to play some cards or something to keep her happy. Today is a dry run for tomorrow when she'll get to see our entire family and we should have stuff that she is able to eat too.

What are you thankful for? I know this is cheesy, but I think it is really important to reflect every once and a while. I will share some of the wonderful things that have happened to me the past week as soon as I've taken my grandma back. I don't want to waste anymore time. Happy Holiday folks.

Click here for the short segment produced by the History Channel. If there are no comments on this when I come back, I will try to find a better video. Time is just an issue right now.

Thank you all for sticking around for the blog. It means more to me than you'll likely ever know.

The Sun

I used to subscribe to a handful of magazines. Mother Jones, Utne, Sierra Club, etc…..
Then I reached a time in my life where I wanted to simplify. I got rid of all the magazines except the one I consistently read cover to cover every month. The Sun. It has no ads but what it does have are real human stories. Fiction and non fiction. They interview people I would never otherwise hear about.

My favorite section is Readers Write. Months in advance readers are given a list of topics on which they can write their stories. I can’t think of a single month I have not cried when reading through them. Some readers complain in the letters to the editor about some of the sad stories that get printed. It doesn’t bother me. Life is sad. Sadness is real. And not all the stories are sad.

The founder of the magazine shared an incident where a prisoner had written into Readers Write and asked that if they print his story that it not reveal his name lest it endanger his life while incarcerated. Due to a proof reading error, after printing, it was discovered that that man’s name had been included. After agonizing over what to do (this is a small magazine with not a lot of money) it was decided to scrap that printing and to print the whole thing over again.

This link will get you to the magazine's website where you can sample what they have to offer. I feel like The Sun is my lifeline to humanity. Nothing in my life is more real. I know the founder is getting up in years (60+) and I dread the day he can no longer keep it going. It may sound silly but if anything happened to The Sun I would have a big hole in my life.

Congressional Runner in Texas

This is a beautiful charity run by my friends brother. As much as I don't agree with right wing politics, this guy is a true christian. He started it to help injured troops that our government has forgotten about. They don't have the money to buy homes, live, or even take care of the injuries they sustained for you and I, or so the government told them. You should check it out and if you give to a charity like I do during the holiday, you may want to consider this one. I only work with the Make a Wish Campaign though. I don't have enough money to spread the love.

Here is one of his YouTube videos that is low quality, but that is only because it is so early and he doesn't have that kind of money yet. His charity does, which is why their tv spot is up for a bunch of awards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYI9Hd04Xs0

Robin Williams

I absolutely love Robin Williams -- the man is a comic genius along the same lines of George Carlin. He was just on Good Morning America - totally forgot he has a new movie out "Old Dogs" with John Travolta. Some of Robin's quips: He was asked how his new "heart" is doing - I had forgotten he had problems with his health and that it was his heart. Apparently he had surgery and had a bovine (cow) transplanted. He said the valve is working great and "I can crap standing up." Asked about how it was to work with John Travolta (whom he's been friends with for 30 years): He's the human equivalent of a panda. Blurted out (following a previous segment about the Octomom): The Octomom should be in charge of a Planned Parenthood Clinic.

This guy is so quick and astute with his humor and it's based on human behavior - he's still good!

He Can Play Hardball

I was surprised to say the least to see this exchange with Chris Matthews and a Catholic guy... A father? I am like 75 percent thru with it, and am kind of pissed that he didn't bring up separation of church, but you never know. He might, but since he is planning on running in PA, I doubt he will alienate people. This is the best woman's rights argument I've seen on "TV" ever, I think.

Shirt