I have found her writing to be provocative in a positive way. She gives her thinking in a clear & concise way. She is worth any one's time to read & think about.
Remember, she grew up in the Islamic culture. She has also experienced the non-Islamic world. She is classically educated. She knows of what she speaks firsthand.
I wish her the very best.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Tax Picture
I just finished viewing a video discussing what the probable tax pictue will be as of the end of 2010 & the beginning of 2011. They see taxes going up. They see changes in other areas due to impact of unfunded mandates, etc. I suggest logging onto Merrill Lynch web site & watch the video.
Best
Best
Monday, August 9, 2010
Reading Material - Mystery
Good day all. I have been reading stories by "foreign" authors; an Icelander and a Swede. The obvious: they are not foreigners in their respective countries.
First I read Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason. I enjoyed it. It had some complexity to it that built tension. I would recommend it. By the way, there is a possibility that the translator, Mr. Scudder, is a distant relative. I've only read this one.
I am now most of the way through my second book by Henning Mankell. He is more complex creating more tension. He reminds me of the American woman who writes her stories set in England: Elizabeth George. By the way, I saw his One Step Behind (this is the one I am most of the way through) in movie form on American PBS Masterpiece: Mystery as well as some others.
It has been good and fun to read, for me, someone new. I am a little better acquainted with the respective country's geography and how the respective police forces may work. It is interesting to deal with names, how to pronounce for example. I am hardly close to being an expert by a long stretch. Nevertheless, I am finding them enjoyable.
Best,
First I read Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason. I enjoyed it. It had some complexity to it that built tension. I would recommend it. By the way, there is a possibility that the translator, Mr. Scudder, is a distant relative. I've only read this one.
I am now most of the way through my second book by Henning Mankell. He is more complex creating more tension. He reminds me of the American woman who writes her stories set in England: Elizabeth George. By the way, I saw his One Step Behind (this is the one I am most of the way through) in movie form on American PBS Masterpiece: Mystery as well as some others.
It has been good and fun to read, for me, someone new. I am a little better acquainted with the respective country's geography and how the respective police forces may work. It is interesting to deal with names, how to pronounce for example. I am hardly close to being an expert by a long stretch. Nevertheless, I am finding them enjoyable.
Best,
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Some Food For Thought
Should we ignore medical knowledge & take a stand based on views held many (thousands) of years ago down to the present? What does the ongoing analysis of DNA tell us about different conditions? Should we ignore this information? There are examples of the clash between science & religion in the past. In the long run it has been science that has come out on top.
It is my view that God created everything. God started with the Big Bang. All the possibilities were wrapped up in the initial moment. Our sun, a yellow dwarf, is not a fist generation star. For all that is known about the universe we, in fact, have barely scratched the surface.
It is interesting to follow archeology, especially human evolution. God's "hand" may be directing but I doubt God has "spelled out" any of it to anyone.
I consider it dangerous to take stories in the Bible & say "this is the word of God." Why? The first several chapters of Genesis are based on Babylonian and other non-Hebraic creation stories that go back more than 4000 years! All of Genesis and some of Exodus are based on oral tradition finally being put on the then current material made to be written on. Many of the later books are historical.
We of the English speaking world depend on English translations of the ancient Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic original. Oh, yes, that's right: those "originals" are copies of copies of... Nevertheless, I suspect there was not that much lost once written. On the other hand, I am certain that the folkways and mores, cultural and social norms of the day were reinforced. Additionally, just how well does the translation reflect the original human author's thoughts, ideas and understanding. This is not to deny the effort to come up with better, more accurate, translations.
I'll stop there for now.
Best
It is my view that God created everything. God started with the Big Bang. All the possibilities were wrapped up in the initial moment. Our sun, a yellow dwarf, is not a fist generation star. For all that is known about the universe we, in fact, have barely scratched the surface.
It is interesting to follow archeology, especially human evolution. God's "hand" may be directing but I doubt God has "spelled out" any of it to anyone.
I consider it dangerous to take stories in the Bible & say "this is the word of God." Why? The first several chapters of Genesis are based on Babylonian and other non-Hebraic creation stories that go back more than 4000 years! All of Genesis and some of Exodus are based on oral tradition finally being put on the then current material made to be written on. Many of the later books are historical.
We of the English speaking world depend on English translations of the ancient Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic original. Oh, yes, that's right: those "originals" are copies of copies of... Nevertheless, I suspect there was not that much lost once written. On the other hand, I am certain that the folkways and mores, cultural and social norms of the day were reinforced. Additionally, just how well does the translation reflect the original human author's thoughts, ideas and understanding. This is not to deny the effort to come up with better, more accurate, translations.
I'll stop there for now.
Best
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Baby Makes 3
This weekend, starting Thursday evening, we had our granddaughter. In many ways this was a typical weekend with her. She has a sunny disposition.
What was different was we were going to see the musical Alice In Wonderland. Now, this was not a Broadway production. In fact, it was put on by the students of a certain school, Phil-Mont Christian Academy. This was part of summer camp @ the school. Everyone who signed up for it was in. One of my grandchildren has finished 3rd grade and the other 6th grade and they were both in. Also, there were older students as well. It was clear they all enjoyed themselves & the audience did too.
She was great from when we bathed her to almost the end of the production, 6:30 PM. This includes an hour at the school. Once she became restless though, I took her out so she would not disrupt the program. She settled down fairly quickly and we went back in but it was done. Overall, she did great there.
Next we went to a restaurant to eat as we & everyone else had not eaten. As it turned out, for whatever reason, she had to be in grand mom's lap the whole time, no one else would do. Nevertheless, that experience worked out OK too.
Both her cousins enjoyed seeing her and taking an interest in her. Everyone enjoyed themselves. We didn't get home too late. So we were able to get a good night's sleep.
Best
What was different was we were going to see the musical Alice In Wonderland. Now, this was not a Broadway production. In fact, it was put on by the students of a certain school, Phil-Mont Christian Academy. This was part of summer camp @ the school. Everyone who signed up for it was in. One of my grandchildren has finished 3rd grade and the other 6th grade and they were both in. Also, there were older students as well. It was clear they all enjoyed themselves & the audience did too.
She was great from when we bathed her to almost the end of the production, 6:30 PM. This includes an hour at the school. Once she became restless though, I took her out so she would not disrupt the program. She settled down fairly quickly and we went back in but it was done. Overall, she did great there.
Next we went to a restaurant to eat as we & everyone else had not eaten. As it turned out, for whatever reason, she had to be in grand mom's lap the whole time, no one else would do. Nevertheless, that experience worked out OK too.
Both her cousins enjoyed seeing her and taking an interest in her. Everyone enjoyed themselves. We didn't get home too late. So we were able to get a good night's sleep.
Best
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