...and a good time was had by all

Went to my parents on Friday the 23rd and whaddaya know? Santa was there too!

I also went to Midnight Mass. That is some late church!. I don't know what else to say about it right now so I'll just say, "It was nice. "

On other topics...haven't been attending the Church of Gravity very regularly which is unfortunate because I think I will be racing again in a week or so. yikes! I have been running a bit so hopefully I have retained some fitness there but biking...?

Nora starts soccer again next week. This time she will be in a U10 league which is co-ed but there is a girls only team she will be playing on. I hope it's a good experience for her.

countdown begins...

it's 2am and I just finished getting ready for our christmas (as metaphor). Really Santa has a tough job but I guess someone's got to do it.

I actually put up some more decorations tonight. A couple of years I put up some greenery and lights on the sly and developed a reputation for doing that. Well this year I did it again. finally. The last several years I have not done it for some reason or other. Mainly probably because I have had trouble getting excited about the holiday as much as I used to. This year is different. I have been looking forward to Christmas for a while now. I have listened to Xmas music at work enough to drive anyone crazy but all the same it is almost over and I don't feel like I have even begun to feel like it's here.

True, we do have three weeks of celebrating left. Tomorrow with our little family and Dan, this weekend with my parents and brothers and their spouses and child. Then two weeks later we are supposed to go to KC for a third celebration with Bridget's side. That one will be a quick visit unless Nora doesn't for some weird reason have a game on that sunday.

More later, i got to go to bed...Santa has to come yet and I have a feeling that it will be time to undo all the work I just did in a very short amount of time.

Update at 11:30am: It looks as if I was a bit tired when I wrote this morning at 2. ah well.

Bridget and Sam are off to the mall to exchange a pair of shoes which Santa left for him but which are a bit small. Fortunately, Santa left the receipt with the shoes. Nora has been out playing with her new soccer ball from Santa already and is now sitting next to me on the couch checking out her new "origami a day" calendar. After I wrote that bit up top I got a few hours sleep and after asking Sam to get the coffee going for us Bridget and I made it out of bed by 7:00am. I tell you, it's all worthwhile to see the kids eyes light up at the idea of opening presents and stockings. We try not to overdo it presents-wise. But it's easy to get carried away sometimes. Pictures to follow.

modern day puritans

Some key quotes from a story in today's Chicago Tribune (subscription required)

A few Christian churches to this day dismiss Christmas with a polite theological humbug, among them a small number of independent Pentacostal churches.

[A] mother of three, sat quietly in the back pew. She covered her head with a white lace, as she said the Bible required women to do in church.

The 3-year-old is the one who asks more than any other," she said, smiling. "He sings the songs of merry Christmas and that he wants Christmas and he wants a tree. We tell him that Christmas is all the time, we celebrate Jesus every day.

"There is nothing biblical" in the yuletide celebrations, said Pastor Santos Carrasco, 56. "And we only practice what Jesus orders us to practice."

[F]or all the pleas to "keep Christ in Christmas," Christmas has not always been, well, Christian.

The day that Christians today think of Jesus' birthday was marked in pre-Christian days by midwinter agricultural and solar observances.

Oliver Cromwell persuaded the British Parliament to make the holiday illegal, terming it both "papist and pagan."

"Christmas was really a carnival season," Stephen Nissenbaum, a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts and author of "The Battle for Christmas," said. "There's that warm remnant of the Christmas season as a time of drinking and letting go and just misbehaving. That survived but it has survived only on New Year's Eve."

To which I say MERRY CHRISTMAS!

“creationism in a cheap tuxedo.” *

In case you haven't heard, intelligent design as a constitutionally protected and legitimate scientific "theory" went down in flames yesterday morning. (jumping for joy is appropriate at this juncture).

These people were so destroyed! And you wanna know the best part? The judge in the ruling was a 2002 W appointee! hee! hee! Of course, since ID is not really a scientific theory, facts have nothing to do with it and as faith is its only ally this won't be the last we hear of it. Let the fire and brimstone begin!

The ruling from the Dover, Penn. courtroom, "provides an excellent case study of evolution in action; ironically, in this case how the language of creationists has adapted to changing cultural environments. The defense argued that Intelligent Design is an entirely new species unrelated to creation science, and the plaintiffs expertly demonstrated both the clear ancestral relationship between creationism and ID and the selective pressure of higher court decisions that caused the speciation. With that phylogenetic relationship clearly established in the trial, the judge evidently decided that creationism had not mutated enough to survive as the new species of Intelligent Design." -- eskeptic newsletter, Dec. 20, 2005

One of the co-authors' blog has much more good information.

Check out this delicious quote from an unrepentant originators of the trouble, Dover school board member William Buckingham:

"I'm still waiting for a judge or anyone to show me anywhere in the Constitution where there's a separation of church and state," he told The Associated Press. "We didn't lose; we were robbed." -- USAToday, Dec. 20, 2005

File that under "Things you should have learned in school had you been paying attention."

*quote from the article in the eskeptic.

is anyone excited about the holidays?

There is a certain 7 year old girl at my house who is pretty darn excited for Christmas. The stockings are hung with on the piano with care. There are packages under the tree. But you want to know how I can tell she is excited? For the past two evenings she has spent what seems like an hour runnning back and forth between the dining room window and the front door singing christmas songs. over and over and over and over. It's really very sweet. Naturally one is not supposed to run in the house but I haven't the heart nor the wish to make stop. All I can do is ask her to change her song once in a while for variety's sake.

I myself am excited for Solstice (tomorrow!). The days will be getting longer, which means more sunlight for riding. But if I remember right the daylight usually starts extending in the evening first before the morning.

Happy holidays: So what’s wrong with that?

From an editorial in the Columbia Daily Tribune, December 15, 2005.

"After all, that friendly admonition ["Happy Holidays"] can include those who get their jollies this time of year from paying homage to Jesus Christ as well as those who don’t, and there are millions of the latter. [more...]"

and a response:

"I’d like to say I take great offense at your disparaging remark about those of us who are devoted followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. How dare you have the audacity to denigrate those who follow the words and teachings of Jesus? It’s quite one thing being tolerant of all things, but to single out the believers of one particular faith, in this case the Christians, to belittle is inexcusable. In my opinion, you owe all Christians a huge apology."

The caller to "Trib Talk" is probably right but let's look at the response shall we?

How dare you have the audacity Sounds like a not-so-veiled threat to me.

It’s quite one thing being tolerant of all things, but to single out the believers of one particular faith...is inexcusable. The caller is also quite right; it is, "one thing being tolerant of all things," obviously the original writer was not, nor did he claim to be. That is his right just as she has a right to be angry with his opinion.

The caller is giving us another another example of the general fundamentalist paranoia which holds that anyone advocating "tolerance" is against Christianity (or whatever fundamentalist religion is being "belittled"). Sometimes the "tolerant" person is against Christianity but most often s/he is intolerant of the intolerance advocated by such hard-core fundamentalists.

new documentary

Jesus of Nazareth never existed.

low bone density in cyclists

Lately I had read of some studies (another one, and another one) which point to excessive bone density loss in highly trained male cyclists; middle-aged male cyclists with bones more typical of an elderly woman than a fit young(ish) man. So, after talking my doctor into it, I had my bone density tested last week and got the results back the other day.

Not good.

My diagnosis was osteopenia, or The First Step to Osteoporosis. While my doctor still seemed unconcerned, it concerned me! See the chart? I have "T-scores" varying between -1.1 to -2.3 depending on where it was taken. Osteoporosis is defined as a T-score of -2.5 or less. Of course my results stated that my "fracture risk is moderately increased."

All you cyclists, male and female, get your bones tested. Even if you are young. Do it now so you can take steps to assure that you avoid any problems in the future. You will also know how much better or worse your bones are in the future.

The Mayo Clinic has a good summary of the bone density testing procedure and the results.

finished.

That's it I am done. I can't take it anymore. There is just no way to get through to these people. They make me feel like throwing up.

Minority tries to undermine America’s Christian customs "As a member of the so-called "silent majority," I am herewith breaking my silence. The ever-increasing crescendo by the anti-Christian zealots in their constant denouncement of everything that suggests Christianity is enraging and insulting."
Kudos to Boston’s mayor for Christmas Tree stand "Christians have stayed silent too long...If someone is going to be offended by someone praying to God, then they should carry earplugs and use them."
Retailers choose to ignore Christmas’ true importance "What happened to Christmas? I just finished looking through 11 retail ads that arrived with my Dec. 4 Tribune. I did not find the word "Christmas" printed even once in the texts of any of these 11 publications...I have seen the story about the Grinch who stole Christmas, but that’s just a fairy tale."

I am happy to let others try.

Season’s bleatings trivialize Christmas "Some of the earliest Christians were stoned for their beliefs. In some parts of the world today, Christianity is a crime punishable by death. And the AFA is feeling persecuted because a salesclerk says "Happy holidays"? That’s not persecution. It’s a persecution complex."
Those who claim Christmas has been stolen only divide "Christians carry their beliefs in their hearts, and they reflect their faith through their generosity of spirit and by the way they treat others."

In the words of one of those persecuted in the above letters, "I suggest that these people lighten up and enjoy this wonderful time of year along with the rest of us." Minority tries to undermine America’s Christian customs

From now on only happy happy things: bike riding, my kids, bike racing, my family, riding bikes with my family.

the latest happy couple

My sister-in-law, Michel, got married this past weekend to the gent on the left, Doug. I did the ceremony which I believe was the shortest yet. It could not have been longer than 2 minutes. Even then I forgot my lines. Michel had written out everything I was to say but when I got done with the reading, vows and the rings, I wanted to say and she wanted me to say that, "having witnessed your vows along with your family and friends, I am happy to announce that you are now husband and wife." I forgot the family and friends. Seriously I think it has taken longer to read this thing that it did to do the ceremony. Afterward we adjourned for food and drinks. All in the same room in Doug's sister's home. Doug is a great guy, I really like him and I am happy to have him join with me in the family.

lord of the dance

Wow! I am not sure what to make of the show last night. It certainly was a well done production. The dancers were all top notch, the music was pretty good and the set was really cool. This show had it all; music, dance, lots of female skin, torches and of course battles ending in a clear victory for the good guys.

The storyline, if I followed it correctly, has to do with the Lord of the Dance and his battle against an Evil guy challenging him for supremecy as well as his inner moral battle against a raven haired temptress (in a red dress no less) . There is "Music" whose flute is broken by the evil challenger and which is eventually restored by the Lord. After several battles between the armies of the Lord and the Evil one, the Lord is apparently destroyed and all is dark. But wait! He comes back in a cloud of smoke! In the end he finally vanquishes the Evil guy. Then for some reason he is faced having to choose between the blonde in a white dress and the aforementioned temptress who has been cavorting with the Evil guy. It's a tough decision and he flirts with the red dress a bit before casting her aside and settling down with the white dress.

I think the whole show is a sort of, ethnic, "get in touch with your roots" kitsch thing for older people of northern European extraction, which was the overwhelming majority of the audience. For folks who normally wouldn't be found in a drum circle or other rhythmic locations there was an awful lot of drumming going on.

My mother-in-law would say, "why do you have to be such a snot?" but I thought it a bit strange that the temptress did a solo dance which appeared to be a kind of belly dance set to music which sounded like it was influenced more by Arab culture than Irish culture. Was that intentional? Like the bad guys in Lord of the Rings all coming from the South and East? A reference perhaps to the dance by the daughter of Herodias which seals the fate of John the Baptist? And I am not sure how she fit into the story or why she was in the story except that it made for some good dancing (and served as a warning to young men to beware of dark haired women who belly dance).

Of course, the best part for me was seeing how much Nora enjoyed the show. Nora sat on the edge of her seat the whole show itching to dance. She loves dancing and after being forced to sit still for the first half we went out and she danced in a quiet corner during intermission. Of course she could have danced in the aisle but she is getting a bit old and self-conscious to do that anymore. That she really had a good time and enjoyed the whole show made it all worthwhile for me. I wish she would take some more Irish dance lessons.

geezus?

Update 12/13/2005: several people responded to Mr. Mull in a much better fashion than I could ever hope.
See:

Instead of tall tales, writer could spread holiday joy

‘Bah, humbug!’ to those who are upset by diversity
and
Christmas not at risk from religious diversity: 'Happy holidays' greeting simply good manners

I swear I didn't make this up!

OPEN COLUMN

Published Thursday, December 8, 2005 in the Columbia Daily Tribune

Editor, the Tribune: My neighbor and I were discussing the upcoming holiday, and my neighbor gave me some advice. He told me I needed to curb my enthusiasm about Christmas. He noted that last Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I would say "Merry Christmas" to all the folks I met. He felt this could get me in serious legal problems.

His concern was that I might say this to an atheist, Muslim or Jew*. I questioned him as to how this could cause a legal problem. He felt this could cause mental anguish and low self-esteem. He said the government was being sued because the money in their pockets had "In God We Trust" written on it. He said a "Merry Christmas" right to their face is much worse than something you have to look for on your money.

So, I have a question for the Anti-Christian Legal Union, or ACLU. Am I in danger of being sued for saying "Merry Christmas" to a nonbeliever?

Dick Mull
704 New Market Place
[Columbia, Missouri]

*He forgot the Pastafarians!

And, further, it's more likely that you'll get broadsided for not saying "Merry Christmas". If you follow the link note the inflammatory language, "small minority who oppose Christmas."

Oppose? Who the hell opposes Christmas?

In a related story, Jerry Falwell is up to his usual tricks as well.

"Jerry Falwell has put the power of his 24,000-member congregation behind the "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign," an effort led by the conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel. The group promises to file suit against anyone who spreads what it sees as misinformation about how Christmas can be celebrated in schools and public spaces."

snow days

Because we got about about 1.5 inches of snow the kids are out of school today which means I am not going to work this morning. Bridget is working this morning and I am working this afternoon. Nora is still asleep and doesn't yet realize that she is not going to school. Good for her. Sam is out playing in the snow. Good for him.

Tonight Nora and I are going to see the Lord of the Dance. It should be fun. Check back tomorrow for a review.

<< This is our solstice holiday tree.

tut tut

What's missing from the White House Christmas card? Christmas. And it seems that some fundies have got their panties in a wad over it:

This clearly demonstrates that the Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and that they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture," said William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

I know this will get a lot of press but here's the best and most important point in the article:

"I think it's more important to put Christ back into our war planning than into our Christmas cards," said the [National Council of Churches]' general secretary, Rev. Bob Edgar, a former Democratic congressman.

'nuff said.

picture perfect

Went out with the kids and Bridget Monday evening to get our holiday tree. We found one at the Alspaugh tree farm. After walking around in the cold for 1/2 an hour or so we settled on one which was 8 feet tall and not to bushy. A very nice one actually. The kids kept picking out 10 foot trees which would have to lay on their side in our living room. (there's an idea, a tree lying in state) No one wanted a small one except me. Cut it down, took it home, moved out some chairs, set it up and decorated it while sipping hot spiced cider (laced with whiskey for Dad). 'Course there was the small problem that I dallied at the grocery store which set Bridget on edge because her noodles were getting soggy in the soup she had made for dinner. If there is one thing she can't stand that is people to be late for dinner. (ok 2 things: people late for dinner and soggy noodles).

the most wonderful time of the year

Having rejected most of everything that is held to be true by the Christian religion, every year at this time I still find my thoughts turning to religion and, somewhat spookily, Christmas carols. I don't know if it is the holidays which triggers this or that I am not riding as much and so have more time, but every year I start reading more about religion again and wondering about believers and what there is in it for them.

season is over?

I raced Sunday. Missouri State Championships. In Kansas. In the Cold. In the Wind.

I had a good race which means I don't think I could have gone any harder. The start wasn't the best. I am not sure how the call-ups to the line were decided but if I heard right the guys on the line were all from Kansas. The rest of us were left to jostle for position behind the "elite" 8 who had the front. I started at the back of the pack and didn't get the greatest start. I was able work my way around toward the front by the time we left the pavement. The way the leaders were flying, I don't believe that I could have stuck with them anyway but I held my own except when Matt Speer of Ozark Cycling came roaring by (he must have had a really bad start position). At one point there were three of us battling it out for 5th place. Then Matt hammered away from us and it became a battle for 6th between me and Jason Knight (I think) from Lawrence. And it was a tough battle. We swapped places several times before I was finally able to stay away.

Did I mention it was cold? 18F when I got up and I am sure it must have been less than 25 at race time. I opted for gloves rather than my "clumsy" mittens but through the first half of the race I felt as if I was trying to shift with a short stubby stick cuz my fingers were just a bit cold. Strangely, by the time the race ended my fingers were fine, that never happens to me. My feet were frozen but my fingers...fine.

Now...I have to talk my wife into going to KC for the Grote Prijs Shawnee Cyclocross.

weekend forecast

lookin' good (if a bit cold!). Race starts Sunday at 9 am. I want to get there at least 1 hour before. It's gonna be cold! But at least it's looking like it will be dry. And being in Kansas, we might just get some sunshine.

sick

I think I am getting sick. Probably the same stuff the rest of my familyhas had for a couple of weeks. I was starting to think that perhaps I was immune.

Meanwhile the Pope has some sticky issues to consider:

Should the 'souls' of babies who are unfortunate enough to die before they are 'baptized' not be consigned to Limbo? Isn't there "a more coherent and enlightened way" to treat young souls?

The problems of theology.

oh and pray for my health.

next race - missouri state championships

Just registered. Race is next Sunday Dec. 4th, 2005.

Weather report says "rain" Saturday and "snow" Sunday.
My race is at 9am when the temperature will not have had a chance to rise above freezing. Jesus! what have I got my self into?

an experiment

What not to eat the night before a race:
fried chicken
salad
sheet cake
bean dip
chips
beer

a sharp eye will note that this menu is lacking in quality carbs. I wouldn't recommend this diet to anyone planning on racing the next day. I tried it Saturday and felt a noticeable lack of ooomph that I hope would have been there Sunday if I had eaten a bit more strategically. Not that I am making excuses or anything...

did it anyway

(see yesterday's post)

After all the hemming and hawing I did regarding the race yesterday, I actually did go to St. Louis. Bridget was ok with it and things were all right at home. I went with Ethan and co. which was fun. It wasn't the same as having Sam and Nora there but a day out with the Guys is nice once in a while.

The race was pretty good. The course was short, fast and hard. All the usual suspects were there and I did my usual fair to middlin': ended up fourth after 2 wipeouts. But. I was first going into the first corner and attacked and led for a bit later in the race, just before my first wipeout. Got a sore shoulder this morning. Like I pulled the muscle under my left clavicle or something.

Although I heard complaints that the course was designed to "trash our bikes" I am not sure what that's about. There were a couple of tricky corners and some muddy sections but not sloppy, only slick. I wiped out in both places. It's not like I am an expert mountain biker but compared to racing a mountain bike these courses are a breeze. The racing is harder 'n hell but the courses are great. Riding on a lawn with a few roots? Where's the trouble in that? The only way it could get easier is if the races were on a golf course fairway.

Next year my riding will be centered around 'cross. I wish I had discovered it earlier.

do the right thing

I was plannning on racing today but several things have come together to make this less than likely. Bridget has developed a bad cold and has a lot of work to do. I think she has something like 20 papers to grade before tomorrow and then work on her lecture for tomorrow as well. It's raining outside so that the kids, assuming they are still well, won't be able to do much outside. The house is a mess and there are a ton of dishes to do. All this means that it wouldn't be very fair to Bridget if I left to play for a day and she was home to deal with all of it on her own. I could take the kids but I don't think they would enjoy standing out in the cold while Dad got all muddy riding his bike. Plus, jeez, I was up until midnight last night and didn't sleep well (poker and beer at some friends). And it's not like I am leading the points race in the Bubba series or have done most of the races. If I skip this weekend I'll most likely go to KC and race next weekend in the Missouri State CX Championships. What's the weather supposed to be like?

religion -- various items

1. Some of us don't trust in god as Penn Jillette nicely puts it
   
2. The Flying Spaghetti Monster fails in its quest and Intelligent Design is proven to be Creationism in another guise
   
3. Kansas turns back the clock:
   

   The new Kansas standards allege a “lack of adequate natural explanations for the genetic code.” A “lack of adequate natural explanations” strongly suggests science should embrace supernatural explanations contrary to the very definition of “science.” The other obvious fallacy in such thinking is the unspoken assumption that all the evidence for evolution--all the fossils and other hard evidence--has been found. That’s a nonsensical, childish assumption for anyone even remotely familiar with the sciences involved. Like the universe and life on planet Earth, science is constantly evolving, unlike fundamentalists’ stagnate dogma:
   

   
   

   The Bible is the inerrant . . . word of the living God. It is absolutely infallible, without error in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as well as in areas such as geography, science, history, etc.--Jerry Falwell




4. In the Netherlands a Muslim woman won the right to reject the hijab

see: finger, wrapped around

Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance is coming to Columbia.
My daughter loves the show.
So I am taking her.
It's that simple.

At home she dances with the show while watching the tape of it given to her by her Grandma. At school she did some Irish dancing (self-taught) at for the annual international talent show. At Celtic Summer Camp she actually had some lessons in Irish step dancing.

latest race

cool picture of me snapped by my son during the latest Bubba Memorial Cyclocross race (#7).

new rider

I've been sadly lacking in my duties here.
Seth and Kelly just had a baby, Lucy Nadine Smith! Just about the cutest little thing to hit the planet. Congratulations Kelly and Seth!
FYI...Pulling a baby in a trailer is great training.

time

Here I am on the first lap of Bubba Cross #6, just after the big hill. See the guy in white? When I passed him on the hill he said to me, "It's a long race." It was longer for him than me.

new high

so check this out...
Yesterday during CX practice I was trying to keep up with these 3 guys and while doing so went all out, I mean all out for a while. I knew I was going to blow up so I backed off and was worn out. When I got home I checked the readings on my heart rate monitor and my high hr was 188, higher than I have ever seen and higher than my predicted heart rate based on my age, 187. I have been using zones based on that and on my maximum steady state high hr of 169. Both have been superseded this week. Even though, it is only a beat or two, it's kinda exciting and I'll be changing my training zones accordingly.

cyclocross video

Bubba Memorial Cyclocross Series, #6

Nov. 6, 2005

Creve Coeur Park, St. Louis County

All videos are in QuickTime format

Nolan Froese #1 5.4mb

Nolan Froese #2 2.8mb

Jimmiez 5.7mb

Don Piscado 9.2mb

my first cyclo-cross race

As you can see my heart rate was pretty high through the whole race. I hear this course was pretty hard and technical. It certainly did have a number of tight switchbacks on wet leaves and grass and I saw quite a few guys go down, but I have to admit that coming from mountain biking it wasn't so bad. I think that is part of the reason that I enjoyed it so much: the switchbacks were on grass! not pointy-sharp rocks looking to separate my from some of my flesh. There was a big hill (paved) which was a killer for a lot of guys but I "like" hills and was able to make time and move up in the race on that hill. Normally, I can look at a graph of my heart rate and see where the hills were in a ride because my hr goes up correspondingly. Not this time. nope. maxed the entire time.

Overall I placed fourth, in a tight finish with one other guy who really was a stronger rider. I believe he had some mechanical trouble which allowed me to catch up to him. We see-sawed back and forth trading 3rd and 4th several times before he was able to take third in the end.

One of the best things about this race was the fact that my daughter was along with me. The course only took about 4-5 minutes to make a lap and I could see her cheering me on from several different places on the course. It was great and I can't wait to have her along with me again next week and the week after that and the week after that. And perhaps the week after that which is the Mo. State Championships which is being held in Kansas City the day after a UCI race which would be really cool to do. We'll see.

update 11/9: placed 4th out of 20 guys. Not too bad.

the famous author i have met

Bill McKibben signing Wandering Home for me and with the very same strokes of the pen, inviting me to come back East and visit. I really doubt he means come visit him personally.

Texas A&M Tops Missouri 3-1 :: 2005 Big 12 Soccer Championship

Our family has followed the MU women's soccer team all season long and it was exciting to think that they made it to the Big 12 Championship. Unfortunately, they fell to the Aggies. My daughter will be glad to know that Jenny Nobis got the lone goal for MU, as she is a fan of Jenny's.

I thought you could believe anything and still call yourself a Methodist.

Guess not.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The highest court within the United Methodist Church defrocked a lesbian minister today for violating the denomination’s ban on "self-avowed, practicing homosexual" clergy. [more...]

Update...11/2:
According to the NY Times the same "Judicial Council" is supporting another hateful position:

But church experts said the most significant decision could prove to be the little-known case of the Rev. Edward Johnson, pastor of South Hill United Methodist Church in South Hill, Va. Mr. Johnson's decision to keep an openly gay man from joining his congregation was upheld by the Judicial Council as the rightful exercise of his pastoral discretion.
...
The Pacific Northwest resolution asserted tolerance for a plurality of views on sexuality. In both cases, the council held yesterday that church law barring gay members in the clergy superseded the resolutions. [more...]

silliness

latest post on my other blog. probably my last too. I was going to keep the two separate but I think it's better to have just the one.

This letter to the editor from "name withheld upon request" is just so silly.
silly, silly, silly.
I would withhold my name too if I had penned such a silly, silly thing.

Anniversary announcement alters traditional definitions
Published Monday, October 24, 2005
Editor, the Tribune:
Your article in the anniversaries section of the Oct. 16 Tribune regarding the male couple who celebrated their 25th year of commitment will probably be regarded by many as real progress. Please do not count me among those praising this new ground for the Tribune.

You have eroded the very definitions your publication has used for years. You have given "engagement," "wedding" and "anniversary" expanded meanings. If two individuals become engaged in a new business partnership, will you include it under "engagements"? If these business partners wed their business philosophies, will you include this among the weddings in your newspaper? When this business celebrates its 40th year, will you cover the milestone in your anniversaries section? As ridiculous as these scenarios might seem, they fit just as tidily into the three different sections of your newspaper as the two men’s 25 years of commitment fit into the anniversaries section.

So you included the announcement of the 25 years of commitment because some folks think they sort of have a marriage. If they dissolve their commitment, will you include it with the divorces? Will you start putting cardiac arrests in with other arrests? Will one have to be completely dead or just real sick to be in the obituaries? Will there have to be a newborn baby, or will a positive EPT be close enough to be among your birth announcements?

Never mind the moral issues involved here. Just how far do you plan to take these liberties with traditional definitions?

See what I mean, silly.
And Hateful.

cyclocross

Seems to be the topic these days. Went out Wednesday with Seth and Josh and others including the Perfesser and actually rode my "cyclocross" bike off-road. That stuff is hard. Jumping off the bike at full speed and then jumping over barriers! What sort of sadist thought that up? Why would you want to get off of a perfectly good bike and carry it? All said I had a blast and can't wait to get out again. Would have had even more fun but my headset is screwed up and kept coming loose, gotta check into that.

hard work

Spent all day Saturday selling food at the Sustainable Living Fair raising money for Sam and Zola's trip to Japan next year. That's him and Zola selling food at the Iji Suru Combini, or, Sustainable Convenience Store. We sold homemade cookies, curried rice and lentils wrapped in a tortilla, hummus, coffee, tea, and soda. The boys worked hard all day, selling and making change. Being pleasant behind the counter doesn't come easy to everyone but they did it marvelously. I was on my feet all day too which is not something I do very often anymore. Financially it was a success too.

Next up: a special showing of Howl's Moving Castle at RagTag Cinemacafé. That one will be a lot of work too.

impediment?

Of a three paragraph letter to the editor in today's paper, the middle one is the critical one. I have annotated it below:

"The four-way stop is a situation where a cyclist is a major impediment. [This is the place where a bike is the least "impediment." If it weren't for cars my ride to work would be "unimpeded."] It is easy to follow the rules, but cyclists are comparatively slow out of the gate [speak for yourself]. A cyclist stands to delay the waiting further by occupying a space in the road where a vehicle would otherwise be. [Once again, who's delaying whom here? The same ride takes me 5-10 minutes more when there are cars on the road. And what is a bike if not a vehicle? Dog shit? And on a side note, if you "delay" the waiting doesn't that mean you are not waiting?] The herky-jerky nature of a busy four-way stop has a cyclist doing a dance of "on the bike, off the bike." In an attempt to eliminate this problem, I stay to the side and adopt a car to traverse the intersection. I watch the sequence at the stop and go when the adopted car is up for its turn. [Let's hope the driver is not turning right without his/her blinkers on and is watching for a cyclist. I would not like a bike to do this to me when I am driving my car.]

Crazy!

What this guy is advocating sounds pretty dangerous to me and I have explicitly told my kids not to do it. Plus, if I understand it correctly, the law is on the other side.

living on the edge

is riding at 5:30 in the morning without a headlight. Oh, I have bright blinkys on the front back and side but they don't show me the road. My headlights are on the fritz (what a term) and so I have been sticking to lighted city streets. Fortunately I have yet to come across the odd baseball-sized rock or two-by-four in the road. Riding in town is a challenge, it's hard to get a good rhythm going and my heart rate oscillates wildly. Can you say low level interval training?

a letter not sent:

Motorists Flout Safety, Persist in Driving Rural Routes

Dear Editor:

Many rural routes have have blind corners, steep hills, no road shoulders and formidable ditches as deep as 15 feet*. Petrol-powered car drivers have for years driven them, since auto clubs and transportation departments have published maps with these roads listed on them. These rural roads have the highest fatality rates for motorists of any in the state.

On a recent weekend, thousands of these motorists drove down these roads going in both directions. None drove at a safe and sane rate of speed which would render a blind corner visible and a steep hill, safe. A vehicle, no matter how large, gives no one umbrella protection to ignore common sense.

How many drivers of these roads live in rural areas yet commute daily on these death roads to their jobs in the city? The safety of all roads would increase greatly if they would move to town and ride the bus (or a bike). Why do they insist on driving these dangerous roads? Didn't we build the Interstate 70 for motorists to have a place to drive their cars?

*With thanks to Mr. Ted Horst and his letter in the Columbia Daily Tribune, September 28, 2005

lost my old blog

Here's the link...
musingsbytherev.blogspot.com
Haven't updated it in a long time and can't remember the password etc...

Take a look. Some stuff there I like