KY_EnviroGuy
KY_EnviroGuy's JournalBlessed be the Rhododendron and alligators.....
Church uses crop duster plane to spray holy water upon Louisiana faithfulThe Rev Matthew Barzare blessed 100 gallons of water to deliver a low-flying benediction on his 200-family parish
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/26/church-uses-crop-duster-plane-to-spray-holy-water-upon-louisiana-faithful
(snips)
The Rev Matthew Barzare blessed 100 gallons of water that members of his congregation loaded on to the small plane at an airstrip near St Anne church in Abbeville, checking first that all pesticides had been flushed through.
“It’s an isolated parish and this was a way of bringing people together at the holidays,” Barzaere told the Guardian. “I have a large area to cover, we measure it by the numbers of families rather than square footage.”
++++
Barzare said the flight was so popular he intends to make it a Christmas tradition for his 200-family parish, next year with three times the amount of water.
“We weren’t expecting it to get the publicity it did. It was just a small thing we were doing in the parish, then the diocese posted the photographs on Facebook. We’ll be planning to do it again next year. We can bless a larger area with 300 gallons of water than we can with 100,” he added.
May as well preach his sermon over loudspeakers from the plane and save heat and lights at the church.....
Country boy loves him some Chet for Christmas...
Full album of 14 songs transcribed from vinyl.
Chet Atkins – guitar
The Anita Kerr Singers - background chorus
As a young boy in TN in the 60s, I remember hearing these tunes on the country radio stations and in the Harvey's Dept. Store in Nashville during our annual Christmas shopping trip with Mom.
KY..........
Crumpet The Corgi sneaking up on a white strawberry
To see video, go to: https://i.imgur.com/rzmimDl.mp4
And, for those very special Christmas dinner guests, why not bake a batch of corgi butt bread?
KY..........
Interesting statement by UK Labor MP Starmer relating to the UK's future.
This is part of an article for Labour List (not certain what that means) by Keir Starmer:
From Guardian UK live blog: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/dec/20/brexit-withdrawal-agreement-boris-johnson-mps-labour-leader-live-news?page=with:block-5dfc97788f08c3972263ddf4#liveblog-navigation
(snips - emphasis is mine)
My case file, and that of most Labour MPs, is filled with the cases of people suffering stress, anxiety and hunger because of universal credit.
I want to transform our party into a movement that empowers them to speak for themselves. To do that, we must open up power like never before. An inequality of power underpins the inequalities of wealth and opportunity that scar our country. The trade unions were founded to give power and a voice to working class people. They founded the Labour Party, and by winning power we built the NHS, free state education and the welfare state.
The rich and privileged have always had the power they need to shape their lives and to shape world in their own interests. Labour’s historic task is to open up power to everyone else so we can build the fairer world we believe in. We call it socialism because we believe in the transformative power of society and communities. That historic mission remains our mission today.
But we can’t do it on our own. The point about a movement is it brings everyone together in a common cause. Labour must learn from the social movements that people create to fight injustice: renters’ unions, delivery drivers’ unions, movements to prevent social cleansing of estates. We need to embed this party deep into the everyday lives of people in areas that feel hopeless and abandoned.
(Starmer then calls for Labour to broaden its appeal and widen its ideological stance)
The Labour tradition has never drawn from a single ideology: at its best, it is an alliance of different traditions. The challenge of leadership is to draw out the best from them, and get them working towards the single goal of an electoral majority.
We have so much more in common than that which divides us, and each of us has something to teach and something to learn. With the whole party and whole movement pulling together rather than pulling apart, we can, and we will, win.
Starmer bio from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer (he's a child of working class folks)
I've always believed one of our biggest challenges for restoring our democracy to balance and fairness is in lending proper voice to all citizens on an equal basis, rather than organizations and media giving preference to the wealthy. It will require far more than just this periodic back-and-forth exchanging of power with the Rethugs.
All bright ideas are welcome!
Happy holidays to all..........
Headlines from around the world on impeachment.....
Headlines from around the world on impeachment vote (excluding U.S., Canada or Mexico):
----------------------
Europe:
UK (Guardian):
Donald Trump impeached by House of Representatives in historic vote
Trump becomes third American president to be impeached as two articles approved, mostly along party lines
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/18/trump-impeachment-house-vote-nancy-pelosi-latest
Ireland (The Irish Times):
Donald Trump impeached in historic House vote in US
Republican becomes only third US president to be impeached and now faces trial in Senate
Link: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/donald-trump-impeached-in-historic-house-vote-in-us-1.4119627
Germany (DW):
US lawmakers vote to impeach President Donald Trump
House lawmakers have voted to impeach US President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. A trial in the Republican-held Senate will decide if he will be removed from office.
Link: https://www.dw.com/en/us-lawmakers-vote-to-impeach-president-donald-trump/a-51729761
France (France 24):
US House of Representatives votes to impeach Trump
Link: https://www.france24.com/en/20191218-usa-house-representatives-congress-impeachment-vote-donald-trump-nancy-pelosi
Russia (The Moscow Times):
Divided U.S. House Impeaches Trump in Historic Vote Over Ukraine Pressure
Link: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/12/19/divided-us-house-impeaches-trump-in-historic-vote-over-ukraine-pressure-a68668
(couldn't find hardly even a mention in former Soviet block Eastern Europe sources)
-------------------------
East Asia:
China (Xinhuanet):
U.S. House passes Trump impeachment, trial uncertainty remains
Source: Xinhua
Link: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/19/c_138642907.htm
South Korea (Korea Herald):
Trump impeached for abuse of power
(By AFP)
Link: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20191219000195
North Korea (Daily NK):
(no headlines yet - they probably don't want to piss off Kim's big bro)
Link: https://www.dailynk.com/english/
-------------------------
South-Central Asia:
India (The Times of India):
Impeaching Trump, Democrats aim to thwart his prospective acquittal by Senate
Read more at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/impeaching-trump-democrats-aim-to-thwart-his-prospective-acquittal-by-senate/articleshow/72879844.cms
Pakistan (The Express Tribune):
Donald Trump impeached in historic vote
(By Reuters)
Link: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2120835/3-donald-trump-impeached-historic-vote/
----------------------
South-East Asia:
Channel News Asia (good source for the entire area):
US House votes to impeach President Donald Trump
Link: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/president-donald-trump-impeach-us-house-of-representatives-vote-12195754
Indonesia (The Jakarta Post):
Trump impeached for abuse of power
Michael Mathes and Sebastian Smith - Agence France-Presse
Link: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/12/19/trump-impeached-for-abuse-of-power.html
Singapore (Singapore Star):
U.S. House of Representatives votes to impeach Trump
Link: https://www.singaporestar.com/news/263439810/us-house-of-representatives-votes-to-impeach-trump
----------------------
Middle East:
UAE (The National):
US Congress votes to impeach President Donald Trump in historic day
The president joins Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton as the only American leaders in history to receive such a rebuke
Link: https://www.thenational.ae/world/the-americas/us-congress-votes-to-impeach-president-donald-trump-in-historic-day-1.953334
Israel (Haaretz):
In Historic Step, U.S. House Impeaches Donald Trump for Abuse of Power, Obstruction
Democratic-led House's passage of two articles of impeachment sets the stage for a trial next month in the Republican-controlled
Senate on whether to convict and remove Trump from office
Link: https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/in-historic-step-u-s-house-impeaches-donald-trump-for-abuse-of-power-obstruction-1.8289633
Jordon (The Jordon Times):
(not yet updated on the vote)
US parties close ranks ahead of Trump impeachment
Link: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/world/us-parties-close-ranks-ahead-trump-impeachment
Saudi Arabia (Saudi Gazette):
Trump impeached for abuse of power
Link: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/585296/World/America/Trump-impeached-for-abuse-of-power
---------------
Africa:
Ethiopia (Fana Broadcasting):
Trump impeached after historic vote
Link: https://fanabc.com/english/2019/12/us-house-to-vote-on-trump-impeachment/
South Africa (The South African):
Donald Trump impeached: Here’s what happens next
Trump spent the first part of the day holed up at the White House, tweeting in frustration, but on Wednesday night the president was on friendlier territory.
Link: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/donald-trump-impeachment-what-happens-next/
Kenya (The Star):
TRUMP IMPEACHED
A simple guide to impeachment: What next for Trump?
Consensus is Senate will start its trial perhaps as early as the second week in January.
Link: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/world/2019-12-19-a-simple-guide-to-impeachment-what-next-for-trump/
Egypt (Al-Ahram):
Trump impeached for abuse of power
AFP , Thursday 19 Dec 2019
Link: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/358030/World/International/Trump-impeached-for-abuse-of-power.aspx
---------------
South and Central America:
TelesurTV.net:
US President Trump Impeached By Democratic-led House of Reps
Link: https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/President-Trump-Impeached-By-Democratic-led-US-House--20191218-0016.html
Venezuela (Caracas Chronicles):
(vote not yet announced, but this interesting article on their perspective on his removal)
Trump’s Impeachment: Status and How It Could Affect Us
By Alejandra Márquez Janse - November 5, 2019
Link: https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2019/11/05/trumps-impeachment-where-it-is-and-how-it-could-affect-us/
Guatemala (Guatemala News.net):
Trump accuses Pelosi of attempted coup, as impeachment goes ahead
Link: https://www.guatemalanews.net/news/263439810/trump-accuses-pelosi-of-attempted-coup-as-impeachment-goes-ahead
---------------
Oceania (Australia, NZ):
Australia (Australian Broadcast Corp.):
Is Donald Trump still President? What does his impeachment mean?
Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-18/donald-trump-impeachment-explained-questions-answered/11755478
and.......
US President Donald Trump impeached by House of Representatives, now facing trial in Senate
Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-19/us-president-donald-trump-has-been-impeached/11813626
New Zealand (NZ Herald):
The votes are in and Trump has been impeached. But now his trial is up in the air
Link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12295417
----------------
So, it's getting fairly good exposure. On some sites I scanned, nothing about it was found at all and those typically were small nations with press controls and/or those worried about offending Trump, Putin or some other extremist right-wing politician. Good English-translated news sites are still very difficult to find in many parts of the world such as South and Central America and eastern Europe.
KY.............
Chick-fil-A faces rightwing backlash after cutting ties to Christian groups
Chick-fil-A faces rightwing backlash after cutting ties to Christian groupsTed Cruz and Mike Huckabee condemn restaurant chain that also donated to civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/30/chick-fil-a-conservative-ted-cruz-mike-huckabee
(snips)
To compound rightwingers’ fury, it has also emerged via tax filings that Chick-fil-A donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a civil rights advocacy organization, in 2017. The SPLC has a lengthy record of supporting LGBTQ+ and abortion rights.
Chick-fil-A, previously best known for its chicken sandwiches, was embraced by conservatives due to its foundation’s funding of the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which oppose same-sex marriage. This adoration has now turned sour, however.
When will retailers ever learn it's best to try very hard to stay neutral on sex, politics and religion (the gentleman's creed) and leave their sectarianism, hatred, biases and racism at the house?
Is this Chick-fil-A's come to the Flying Spaghetti Monster moment?......
I have a suggestion for you to ponder.
You're being robbed of your moral right to be a part of your grandchildren's life and upbringing, as is traditional in most civilized cultures. Let's start with that as a foundation.
Further, you own a level of moral authority that is above your daughter because you gave birth to her and raised her.
My suggestion is thus: find out the organizational structure of the church they attend and request a meeting with one of the high-level officers of that organization, whom I assume would also be a minister. Lay out your dilemma to him or her from a humanist moral standpoint, and not from a doctrinal viewpoint of any church because you would just get in a pissing match over secular doctrine. You wouldn't even need to reveal you daughter and son-in-law's name, just say "one of your churches".
Just explain to him/her you feel you should not be rejected from participating in that family simply because you don't attend their church or share their politics. If they reject your argument and are willing to quote the basis for that, I would be tempted to let them know there's consideration of either taking it to a higher level of authority within that church OR exposing that practice to public media such as state-level newspapers.
Further, if they are making an official pronouncement that the church says they must reject you because of your political beliefs, I would be having a chat with the ACLU or SPLC.
However, should you get lucky and the higher-ups agree with you, get them to write a letter of proclamation you can present to your kids to consider, and hopefully you can reunite with your daughter.
Often, these local pastors execute doctrinal practices they have designed to satisfy their ego which are not in compliance with the official doctrine of that organization. You deserve to know if that's the case here. After they are ordained, many of these dime-store preachers seem to think they are saints and have the right to declare what (their) god wants and does not want as if they have a direct line to heaven. Such proclamations in my view are human creations and are 100% false.
Something to think about and best of luck........
Buy Nothing Day
Received an email from one of my favorite herb and essential oil companies this morning inviting me to participate in Buy Nothing Day.
To avoid any suggestion of my advertising for that company, I'll just post the body text of the email which I feel is appropriate for those of us that are anti-consumerism and pro-earth:
How To Participate In Buy Nothing Day
Don't buy anything. Plain and simple.
Volunteer and give back to your community! You can also search for a local food bank, animal shelter, retirement home, or library. Whatever your interest or skillset, there’s a group that needs your help.
https://www.volunteermatch.org/
https://www.indeed.com/
https://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm
https://www.unitedwaylane.org/
https://www.redcross.org/
https://www.habitat.org/volunteer
Whatever you decide to do this Friday, we hope you are in the company of the people and plants you most cherish.
We could say it's an effort to turn Black Friday into Green Friday for planet earth.
I'm totally into that game today........
Thanksgiving 2019 and the need for humility.
For many of us, our Thanksgiving will be consumed by huge amounts of food and drink - much of which in this nation will be wasted, but still consumed to a point of misery and danger to our health. That along with sleepy-eyed consumption of gladiator-style entertainment afterwards. Thanksgiving for many in America entails a large dose of gluttony and consumerism, along with rage and fear should politics be mentioned at our table.
Either alone or with others, there certainly are other ways to spend this day. Today, let us think of those less fortunate and make our commitments to helping them and to show gratitude for the basics of life this earth provides to us. Unfortunately for millions of Americans, misery and suffering are on today's menu.
In our own way, I feel it's healthy to humble ourselves every so often and perform a gratitude list, either by writing it down or saying it in a meditation or prayer. For me, it is very refreshing and a stress-reliever to write down things most precious and sustaining in my life. I wonder how many of us truly do that on Thanksgiving rather than worry about the trials of Black Friday.
I lost both my wife of 54 years and my very best friend outside of family this year. Having depression, it's easiest to slip into self pity and isolation but I have a lot to reflect on with regard to the things they both brought into my life (including two great children and a beautiful granddaughter) and in some ways saved my life. Along with sanity and sobriety, basic food and shelter and not yet having extreme health problems, I have quite a list to compile.
A few I've known in this mid-size city do a ritual of helping to serve food in a homeless shelter or recovery center as a way of expressing humility. Any anonymous act of kindness is good for our soul, but that applies to any day. I enjoy carrying a needy friend to the grocery store and paying the bill. We can all find a means of charity and winter amplifies the need for food, shelter and clothing. Over the years, I've collected enough clothes for a small army and I've overdue for a trip with boxes full for one of our shelters.
Thanksgiving day should be a day of quiet reflection and humility, either visiting or calling and thanking those who have helped us throughout the year and committing to be a better, more humble and more sharing member of the human race. Big hugs are in order all day long!
Thanks go out from here to all DU members who have been here every day to help relieve the stress of modern life - with solid facts and thoughtful opinion along with large doses of humor and progressive brotherly love.
KY.............. ...........
Report: US lacked technology to track separated families
Report: US lacked technology to track separated familiesBy ASTRID GALVAN, Associated Press Nov. 27, 2019
Link: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/texas/article/Report-US-lacked-technology-to-track-separated-14867320.php
(snips)
The problem resulted in some parents languishing in custody for weeks without knowing the location of their children.
The report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General found the agency lacked proper systems when Border Patrol agents took children from parents set to be criminally prosecuted for illegal entry.
Every politician, agent and official that participated in this crime against humanity should have to spend the entire rest of their lives making direct amends for this horrible action. That includes Miller and tRump.
KY.........
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: TN, KY
Home country: USA
Current location: KY
Member since: Thu Jul 6, 2017, 07:43 PM
Number of posts: 14,489