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September, 2005

September 27, 2005

It's amazing how time changes our perception of things. Some of what we like at a particular time in our life we may not care so much for later on. Or there may be things you like a certain way, and when it changes you revolt against it. This is particularly true for our tastes in music, movies, food and popular culture.

This is all so apparent to me after watching part one of the "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan", an American Masters presentation last night on Public Television (PBS). Many of Dylan's early fans when he was more of a folk purist rejected his change to electric instruments and rock n' roll. But Bob was just evolving and being true to the muse in his music. I've been a fan for many years of Dylan - not just his music, but his words, his outlook on life and the way he's been able to ride out the wild waves of popularity and not flip out or die.

In the skilled hands of director Martin Scorcese we see the life of Dylan against the backdrop of American history in the fifties through today. We see footage of other recording artists that influenced Bob Dylan. We get a look through the window of time.

This movie documentary is more than a tribute to one of the greatest songwriters of our time. It's a history lesson. I encourage you to watch part two tonight at 9PM on PBS.

September 25, 2005

Well, gratefully "Rita" was not as bad a hurricane disaster as feared. It decreased to a category 3 from the monstrous 5 it was earlier in the week. Now the big task is the more than 2 million people getting back home without major problems. Still, I'm sure they won't mind a traffic jam in light of their homes still being there. A family I met at church today is from Houston and they said they didn't even have broken windows!

We certainly have seen how fragile our lives and homes can be with all these hurricanes this year. Please value every day. Here's a good quote to consider:

"A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose - a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve."
- John Maxwell

September 22, 2005

Here we go again. Rita is a category 5 hurricane and reportedly the third strongest on record. We watch and pray as it heads towards landfall this weekend.

Preparing for the "storms" in your life is part of living. You can't really control what happens to you, but you can choose how you will respond to life's events. Remember, your "life situation" is not your life.

"The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the buts you use today."
- Les Brown

September 19, 2005

"Fly me to the moon, let me take you to the stars..." It's one of my favorite songs. I've even sung it a couple times at a Karaoke bar. Hey, nobody booed!

As a kid I was riveted to every televised space launch and it was a thrilling moment in July of 1969 when Neil Armstrong made that fateful "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." So I'm excited about the announcement today by NASA of plans to return to the moon as early as 2018.

The space organization plans on using a new craft, a capsule that would sit atop a rocket with room for up to six astronauts. "Think Apollo on steroids," National Aeronautics and Space Administration head Michael Griffin said during a news conference at the agency headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Crew Exploration Vehicle is slated for a maiden launch in 2012 and would initially be used to resupply the International Space Station.

The cost is estimated at $104 billion, and that's certainly a concern with all the money our government is currently spending on a war in Iraq and that will be spent on rebuilding New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Plus, there are many other things I think we should spend dollars on, like improving Social Security, providing better education, health care and eradicating poverty.

But my heart still leaps at the thought of space exploration. It always has and I've got the bookshelves full of science fiction novels to prove it.

More on the story from the Seattle Time here.

September 14, 2005

I found this interesting. There is now a company that sells a Video Headstone for your funeral plot. Sergio Aguirre is the inventor of the solar powered video headstone which plays a short video clip of the deceased's life highlights. The video panel, named the Serenity Panel, starts when the solar panel that covers the screen is opened. It then plays a 5-to-7-minute video featuring special moments from someone's life that would be compiled by anyone from friends and relatives of the deceased to funeral homes.

Apparently the Funeral Industry is pretty excited. A prototype won an award for the most innovative product at this year's International Cemetery and Funeral Association convention in Las Vegas.

The Serenity Panel runs about $1,500 and doesn't include the video production. However, you could put something together yourself or high a professional videographer. You can find out more at the VidStone website.

September 11, 2005

It has been four years. Four years have passed, but the memories are still there. The pain is real. The loved ones who are gone are still missed.

Is the world a better or safer place since the terrorist attacks of 9-11? It doesn't seem safer. There has been more terrorism and there is war. But, there have also been heroic acts of kindness and compassion. This year in particular we've seen it with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

There is always the opportunity for good to occur in the midst of tragedy. Let us remember that on this day of remembrance.

September 5, 2005

The stories of Hurricane Katrina survivors are everywhere and dominating the news. This won't change for a while. It is gratifying to see so many citizens willing to help, especially considering the relatively slow government response. But, as the Governor of Louisianna stated, it's time to stop finger pointing and just help.

There are many agencies helping with relief efforts. And lots of churches and community groups are pitching in. An announcement today of a new relief fund created by former Presidents Clinton and Bush will also add to the assistance.

On Labor Day it is a sobering thought that many of those who lost their homes also have no jobs to return to. It's going to take a long time to rebuild lives, but one day at a time it can be done.

If you want to help out or are searching for more information I've provided links below to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and FEMA.

September 4, 2005

I hope those of you who are able to have a three-day Labor Day weekend are making the most of it. It's ironic, I think, that most people on this holiday will try to "escape" the very thought of their job. At least those people who are in jobs they aren't happy about.

There's no question that finding a good job is hard. Sometimes it can take many years to get into an occupation that pays you a decent wage and also satisfies the deeper hunger that is the call to your vocation. All of us owe it to ourselves to follow our bliss (work at what you love).

If you are curious about the origins of Labor Day visit the Department of Labor website and read up on it.

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