tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995463543515991642023-11-16T07:23:33.133-05:00Everything in ParticularThe mind is a glorious and wonderful machine. But sometimes it slips a cog or two and needs some common sense plugged in. A bit of wit or wisdom to lubricate its inner workings.
Kick your shoes off...that's what this place here is for!Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-14439356374443597002013-12-22T09:04:00.001-05:002013-12-22T09:04:35.553-05:00Happy Holidays! (from us)<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AIrlqM8EXKH4lE-Yno2i6uZI1uUAnk1hH8CfMyl9YVRAZYgG3WQFrRpGzRBpfnnCQbwUbJgX4Gvr9DuSv-zKTCPNyHfnygF1VxqUtIk9hDz-qDPzfsnO1_YgUOXX-FCC7BpHluvZbmE/s1600/Keith+Santa+2+right_0934+with+stars+and+words-775554.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AIrlqM8EXKH4lE-Yno2i6uZI1uUAnk1hH8CfMyl9YVRAZYgG3WQFrRpGzRBpfnnCQbwUbJgX4Gvr9DuSv-zKTCPNyHfnygF1VxqUtIk9hDz-qDPzfsnO1_YgUOXX-FCC7BpHluvZbmE/s320/Keith+Santa+2+right_0934+with+stars+and+words-775554.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5960216639502327826" /></a></p><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:#000099"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><br><br><font size="6" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)" color="#cc0000">Merry Christmas and Happy New year.<br> <br> Hope the holidays treat you well.</font><br> </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,153)">Hope 2014 is your best year yet!</div><br></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div> -- <br><p style="border-collapse:separate;font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:small"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial"></span></span></span></font></p> <div><h1 dir="ltr" style="margin-left:8pt;margin-right:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> <p style="background-color:transparent;font-size:14px;line-height:18px"> </p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:LucidaGrande,tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">"I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being." Hafiz of Persia"</span><p> <em style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="font-size:14px">I didn't trust it for a moment<br>but I drank it anyway,<br> the wine of my own poetry.<br> <br>It gave me the daring to take hold<br>of the darkness and tear it down<br>and cut it into little pieces.<br> <br>-- Lala, 14th century Persian poet</span></em></p> <p style="background-color:transparent"></p></h1></div><p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><span style="font-family:arial">Mary</span></p> </div> Mary Stebbins Taitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626507461216769140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-53104654264622820232011-02-22T09:14:00.002-05:002011-02-22T09:17:05.541-05:00Art in Progress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt54gsv1mrMyg2RhOGlJxvNjuVC4fqmAv9Gfye2woqHRkrJiWkyeIkHD2pYYieN6FXmTCPhan21gQHoWy5UnKhR4xLb-TGiOj2kXcSNk0XYaoAocXlpq6EOj1PC0EQRAImQAEaMCCaqto/s1600/Picture+50.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt54gsv1mrMyg2RhOGlJxvNjuVC4fqmAv9Gfye2woqHRkrJiWkyeIkHD2pYYieN6FXmTCPhan21gQHoWy5UnKhR4xLb-TGiOj2kXcSNk0XYaoAocXlpq6EOj1PC0EQRAImQAEaMCCaqto/s400/Picture+50.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576517353797750914" /></a>I love doing art! It's so satisfying and a great way t spend a snowy evening. This piece is for a book I am working on for my grandson. it's not done yet.<div><br /></div><div>Stay safe and warm!</div>merrytaithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07389878391357276777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-42993486232753231822010-12-29T22:22:00.001-05:002010-12-29T22:23:53.910-05:00Happy New year!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UdN9wK1aTk9_4873I2Hyr5w6hJh7Eyr4-zGyIa8iUtouxRo0zUiT8RJ8BhvX56yCX3XzJyivY7BitR_G7K2xWtoaLMP6fa50PggfX8pZu7H0q5nWtqDPqxPqhWhyphenhyphenTfZ7e7_wMJEp6_SN/s1600/Picture+377.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 392px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UdN9wK1aTk9_4873I2Hyr5w6hJh7Eyr4-zGyIa8iUtouxRo0zUiT8RJ8BhvX56yCX3XzJyivY7BitR_G7K2xWtoaLMP6fa50PggfX8pZu7H0q5nWtqDPqxPqhWhyphenhyphenTfZ7e7_wMJEp6_SN/s400/Picture+377.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556310728719777426" /></a>merrytaithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07389878391357276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-78858390638544105342010-02-11T15:27:00.001-05:002010-02-11T15:29:59.561-05:00Spring???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNfQ9ZxiVTv2KMnNWepT9HQlAPcRwO0U7v5Ho-l6we1Yu0Anp6NdVi3L7RNMOBUyoh_YoEXw5hMKQZ0QJP-Scx8q9PIiBMHtMbu2Vf0s7uU2ZEI7c38dZnqhTzrAku85sgNkfm80Mh_A/s1600-h/Spring+Flood.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437085322437514866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNfQ9ZxiVTv2KMnNWepT9HQlAPcRwO0U7v5Ho-l6we1Yu0Anp6NdVi3L7RNMOBUyoh_YoEXw5hMKQZ0QJP-Scx8q9PIiBMHtMbu2Vf0s7uU2ZEI7c38dZnqhTzrAku85sgNkfm80Mh_A/s320/Spring+Flood.JPG" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Photo: Gail Slaughter</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Words: Michael Serafin</span> </p>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-35810949131320520402010-01-30T21:06:00.002-05:002010-02-05T15:00:31.101-05:00The People mover at Night<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXCDZ5r8zKd-x2TIVy3zmRhYVTgS0Fxy9GKRJt3MMw6U0Vks0qPbGh4E3kKqUwzYZxv0RjpdJ6jHdE4Q1_yj_Z5ViaPm2FIKg3eRMOMrz6a7r3G-xSAZujVKVD7QEENYfGBxDsf9O78us/s1600-h/Picture+19.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432717260110469986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXCDZ5r8zKd-x2TIVy3zmRhYVTgS0Fxy9GKRJt3MMw6U0Vks0qPbGh4E3kKqUwzYZxv0RjpdJ6jHdE4Q1_yj_Z5ViaPm2FIKg3eRMOMrz6a7r3G-xSAZujVKVD7QEENYfGBxDsf9O78us/s400/Picture+19.png" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />.<br /><br />The People mover at Night, pigment markers. by me, Mary Stebbins Taitt.Mary Stebbins Taitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626507461216769140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-22660257878911464622010-01-13T10:59:00.003-05:002010-01-13T11:15:10.080-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rKb4F3ZaaaEIeuo_HED-kOnyXmHJXOfU7OfkUEuYHYWyp-8wSrquHGtxTnmGC54BMYpoH03F6U51rcZNea34MEHnk_ctFK1peHEGBvxL2Fm3V4MkW01uh-pSrDix82XVtiaJsnImDHc/s1600-h/original+computer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426255138680659730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rKb4F3ZaaaEIeuo_HED-kOnyXmHJXOfU7OfkUEuYHYWyp-8wSrquHGtxTnmGC54BMYpoH03F6U51rcZNea34MEHnk_ctFK1peHEGBvxL2Fm3V4MkW01uh-pSrDix82XVtiaJsnImDHc/s320/original+computer.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Here's a good guess: EVERBODY who has a computer (and/or a laptop, I-phone, notebook, etc etc etc) is frustrated by the attempts to make technology work, daily. Point two: everybody's got at least some of these devces, therefore, the entire world is in some state of frustration.</div><div></div><div>But think about it. (I did after buying a bunch of Chinese pencils from WalMart and found I couldn't sharpen them without the points breaking. EVERY SINGLE TIME... EVERY SINGLE ONE.)</div><div></div><div> </div><div>Technology does not advance or retreat, it inhabits, like those relatives who come for Christmas and won't leave. If we make it, it has a disturbing habit of hanging around long enough to wear out its welcome.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>And days will come in the future that we will be nostalgic for those good-ole PCs and how easy it was in them thar days to get along in the world, then turn around and tell our grandchildren's grandchildren how screwed up we had it compared to the present cushy world of 2040. (I am assuming we'll all be living in nursing homes run by robots by then, unable to die.)</div><div></div><div> </div><div>At least it will give us something to kvetch about...</div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-32191634937217980212010-01-08T13:04:00.003-05:002010-03-11T12:29:01.914-05:00The Kaleidoscopic Life<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9DlJWvv6QTD6enQQH2Td-w2S63BMCaSbm635FN6FDxu1lUUn4qJcC7d7T2IXyNip8rVqyHJOOBN7c22A8kHbhtxX6ULCOtofux3YFJU0HfYR_KVk71Jqv_NQ3LSpESqGZ8ym4Anh4HGl/s1600-h/Picture+2-779583.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424431509437504818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9DlJWvv6QTD6enQQH2Td-w2S63BMCaSbm635FN6FDxu1lUUn4qJcC7d7T2IXyNip8rVqyHJOOBN7c22A8kHbhtxX6ULCOtofux3YFJU0HfYR_KVk71Jqv_NQ3LSpESqGZ8ym4Anh4HGl/s320/Picture+2-779583.jpg" /></a></p>Through these windows, lightly. Life, in fragments.merrytaithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07389878391357276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-79631648064494065492010-01-08T10:53:00.003-05:002010-01-08T10:58:33.252-05:00My Wish<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9rDSPFe2ziDUhzIrqqo4PkHxv782IU9a7SBnULHw7dRatm4Tp4cN_fvo13TTmjxisXiTjVWXNjGr41EsXNXYcJVaKLgGx8rrXCOBJYM-8D74ArMi46cIXiIpMgEAo1pKd6XTvDqi-Us/s1600-h/New+Year+Wish+from+Nick.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 138px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424397785056117890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9rDSPFe2ziDUhzIrqqo4PkHxv782IU9a7SBnULHw7dRatm4Tp4cN_fvo13TTmjxisXiTjVWXNjGr41EsXNXYcJVaKLgGx8rrXCOBJYM-8D74ArMi46cIXiIpMgEAo1pKd6XTvDqi-Us/s320/New+Year+Wish+from+Nick.JPG" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">(This greeting I pass on from Sometimes Saintly Nick and his feline friend<a href="http://alexiconakittykatslifewithhishooman.blogspot.com/2010/01/we-hopez-dat-u-be-habinz-bery-nice-newz.html"> Alex</a>, adding that wherever good wishes come from, we should feel grateful for them and pass them on down.)</span></div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-454948772735146802010-01-08T10:19:00.001-05:002010-01-08T10:21:16.202-05:00Simple Rules<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqlAf5tGFOLJmeS5okrlGUp_IPuVBlXJJHrqHu4QWp3f5TGjJOgBurwLdcsdpYeptiUmWCTha8femZ_9awBybXicaY0ASwBf_Yfd7Tnk1AaoNYR13bSZlRnGiqXEOVp0zYKyXjlvKcP4/s1600-h/My+Four+Corners.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424389152203957826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqlAf5tGFOLJmeS5okrlGUp_IPuVBlXJJHrqHu4QWp3f5TGjJOgBurwLdcsdpYeptiUmWCTha8femZ_9awBybXicaY0ASwBf_Yfd7Tnk1AaoNYR13bSZlRnGiqXEOVp0zYKyXjlvKcP4/s320/My+Four+Corners.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-58630323478804718432010-01-08T09:42:00.002-05:002010-01-08T09:45:36.380-05:00Fractal Work by Mary Stebbins Taitt<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><br /><br /><blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><br /><div id="yiv951950739"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><br /><br /><blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><br /><br /><br /><div id="yiv431006216"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uMF72eE8cVqeTyhAhQbKOlsogbiI7s5QMPnXSVQSAxqCdVzjMBIgEt02r4NqaWYOKcaY6Tbnskd6n6IrMJZohlq7Wmh1JF6uDssSoNi61FKm9PmfA_m6zsVTQDlHAB_aSIMHBSCJM3Y/s1600-h/fractals_from_Fractal_works_0902281_invert_adj1-708713.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375017406722439682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uMF72eE8cVqeTyhAhQbKOlsogbiI7s5QMPnXSVQSAxqCdVzjMBIgEt02r4NqaWYOKcaY6Tbnskd6n6IrMJZohlq7Wmh1JF6uDssSoNi61FKm9PmfA_m6zsVTQDlHAB_aSIMHBSCJM3Y/s400/fractals_from_Fractal_works_0902281_invert_adj1-708713.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Fractal computer art<em><span style="color:#ff0000;"> is an art form..<span style="color:#330033;"> let there be no mistake about that.</span></span></em></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330033;">Yes, the image is created and exists (until printed) as electrons dancing in a box and on a screen, frozen in that dance, the dance itself determined ALMOST by random chance. Fractal geometries are based on the mathematics of nature herself and are interesting in that, like nature, the patterns persist at every scale, small to large, and therefore are not random and chaotic but instead random and yet organized and, as noted here, extremely beautiful to the human eye and brain.</span></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"><span style="font-size:85%;">God works through art such as this, make no mistake about THAT, either!</span> </span><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /></span></em><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br /><br /></span></em></div></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-64125409395338233792010-01-05T14:12:00.001-05:002010-01-05T14:12:33.981-05:00Happy New Year!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_RLUsNyFZ-M0HOvUJIYzGdRINNtKoRVDBL8eabB49y8SdHlmNclxwyfJ_59xDlcR-tmXJ10xnve0HrS5-P05l0JDr4vi_iuevB8qKdx1sLPRiKcVjPo5l3ta3ehEn3n0M6XIw8srdhqm/s1600-h/Picture+21-753982.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_RLUsNyFZ-M0HOvUJIYzGdRINNtKoRVDBL8eabB49y8SdHlmNclxwyfJ_59xDlcR-tmXJ10xnve0HrS5-P05l0JDr4vi_iuevB8qKdx1sLPRiKcVjPo5l3ta3ehEn3n0M6XIw8srdhqm/s320/Picture+21-753982.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423335752938169538" /></a></p>I haven't been able to post because my Picasa web album filled up.<p>I hope you ahev a great New year!merrytaithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07389878391357276777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-16167199543518532962009-12-29T15:33:00.008-05:002009-12-29T15:51:40.986-05:00Paint project<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKr9639HQCb_TgrtF5in-4pkqGUMUzaJPFEFnHNsZwsakuzKe-S4lKIs_oL2Cq6YOalSHUlVKykQEnUj-BxMHGJajHqbFdp2kqJWsRf0OlN0OtrXk9LCNopuQI9GrGrAOx-SzFXLYHrEA/s1600-h/Those+Eyes---MST---MAS---AFR.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 247px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420759138281712050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKr9639HQCb_TgrtF5in-4pkqGUMUzaJPFEFnHNsZwsakuzKe-S4lKIs_oL2Cq6YOalSHUlVKykQEnUj-BxMHGJajHqbFdp2kqJWsRf0OlN0OtrXk9LCNopuQI9GrGrAOx-SzFXLYHrEA/s320/Those+Eyes---MST---MAS---AFR.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This is a graphic work that Mary and I collaborated on by email over a year ago and posted to <a href="http://silkcreekportal.blogspot.com/">Silk Creek Portal.</a> Mary created the basic artwork and then I got involved.</div><div>.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>It was a study in how altering the eyes of an image slightly can have a great deal of impact.</div><div>.</div><div></div><div></div><div>In Paint, by zooming in and altering an image pixel by pixel you can engineer artistic effects. It takes time and effort but the program is something anyone can access. </div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-32590221946554623272009-12-22T14:40:00.003-05:002009-12-22T14:52:43.797-05:00lolcat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t1CCBfva_Nfbci95gWQX4IqWYxQp6t-j6ltwp13-ftAlYEYAD1hyphenhyphenr2sH0_JfW73kw9jvQZVIBXmKTw_1yNRaXtMOCkOP2cDTI9-qKlbyLg16PjFNA9t5DFHYxakuk1mDUlCKYRHF8vI/s1600-h/129058822246403085.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418147813570102738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t1CCBfva_Nfbci95gWQX4IqWYxQp6t-j6ltwp13-ftAlYEYAD1hyphenhyphenr2sH0_JfW73kw9jvQZVIBXmKTw_1yNRaXtMOCkOP2cDTI9-qKlbyLg16PjFNA9t5DFHYxakuk1mDUlCKYRHF8vI/s320/129058822246403085.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The lolcat thing might have peaked some while back but it's cute. For the uninitiated lolcat is the secret language of felines. It's got devotees who have translated the Bible into cat lingo. (God is "Ceiling Cat," derived from a photo of a pussy paw dipping down in consecration from a suspended ceiling.) A cat is a "kitteh". Food is generalized as "cheezeburgerz". There are certain established conventions in lolcat, but if you just want some fun, you can make up your own.</div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-37979812359294055512009-12-10T12:57:00.008-05:002009-12-11T11:37:26.939-05:00Petunia's Pals<a href="http://petuniablogg.blogspot.com/"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 514px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 327px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413669608227895442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u7i949Q0JwIhf2TEQR7HUimsiLKt7NpbnSOyza1-SNUw29qRoUiwlWvtJWc7bNT4hV3hX1s-dJj29OyYN0zLShNhwSGdIjp_KrEMl9Z23bwypuXeNQ5iwKpxh3iMoew2GhZy25PByyo/s400/Luke+og+Todd_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh2aMB1mpzXM45hf8hn_9aAbwQaCz5BwJbnd3tPEPLfqVWxx2_ZIhpSZj949sP8e6OQS_88ZdIorWuqVZwCGn-rNxM_o9fP3skwnqVpmSLCWP3ELKlqbPvxkPQXaYbqj1I1aqbCnjgoA/s1600-h/Cat+and+Squirrel+Astri+Meidell.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC770YYsgSntelwjHljgHpOHR2wFXzCBgGo2J8zZkXLzrYhjrvQJPNrztmd-btAYqWDrj4voUsAgfYm1LkgFCLJ-YCEORbEqbzbKaE8KAVuMKNBN-g6zPd4IlftZwYAbXX_5GdI4WExM/s1600-h/Cat+and+Squirrel+Astri+Meidell.jpg"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>PLEASE go visit <a href="http://petuniablogg.blogspot.com/">http://petuniablogg.blogspot.com/</a></div><div></div><div><a href="http://petuniablogg.blogspot.com/">Petunia </a>is a wonderful person with wonderful photos there. You might even learn a bit of Norwegian!<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-55213654183465504202009-12-08T17:05:00.005-05:002009-12-11T11:36:20.602-05:00Mallow Fellows<a href="http://petuniablogg.blogspot.com/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 90px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412990142314956930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfe5FblPU0O-YObJVNk8UStSCUm7AzDn_H7119_2UMRPZ-zax8bljEEFO7S3nhIju5D3c0yBoep5beVMGrEhM-A-PKACTt5boQknahkNwGhSpHHn6uKD-nHt5qDAEHl_T3fUu8gFXdXo/s320/Astri+Meidell+Marshmallows.bmp" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://petuniablogg.blogspot.com/">Petunia</a> of Norway says she takes pictures just for fun, and this shot proves it!</div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-88223799748875823312009-12-07T10:39:00.005-05:002009-12-10T13:13:02.003-05:00And The Band Played On<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaumlkwK3ZdF3MZ5jTb5KkzDhT8wbVQ3NkyhbGwSXKLeWg-Zg0bG7TbLAmLkyZ2BWRSX1_YF7H1ZympgNIncqD999YdIU24YBgTrob42SHPEeKklr80SFD-B-S1LiQcp4sfbYrsaBN_LE/s1600-h/Mike+and+Harvey+Summer+2009.bmp"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sEPiJ67R4DPaT5TiReYu7W4Y-hZWIigbfJZgQrKS2asCfd5pJmY1VDx9xYxXXd3IEM-Xpc7B4Ty6oMOuzx-9rp1LJxvjSu1P5Wb5TZfD5gIxFVfZJQy5yk_Sjx5u6xAnXtPRDjAdNAo/s1600-h/The+Holy+Jean+Band.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412519498807423394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sEPiJ67R4DPaT5TiReYu7W4Y-hZWIigbfJZgQrKS2asCfd5pJmY1VDx9xYxXXd3IEM-Xpc7B4Ty6oMOuzx-9rp1LJxvjSu1P5Wb5TZfD5gIxFVfZJQy5yk_Sjx5u6xAnXtPRDjAdNAo/s320/The+Holy+Jean+Band.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div> </div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>Sometimes things, esp when I'm involved, move slowly. You get diverted, sidetracked, whatever, and I'm sure you all know what sort of thing I'm talking about. </div><div></div><div>At any rate, these pictures were <em>last summer</em> at a benefit concert for <span style="color:#660000;">"Love, INC",</span> a ministry of the First Presbyterian Church in my hometown of Jackson. Long enough ago that I've got a full beard now, but you can see that we guys are truly handsome and loveable. Love In The Name of Christ (Love INC) sponsors various relief supplies and help to needy people in our area. A WORTHY CAUSE!</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#660000;">The Holy Jean Band</span> is due for another benefit concert on January 24th (a Sunday) that we plan to record on CD so that the audience can get a copy. Goal: raise $2000. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Not pictured here but joining us will be<span style="color:#660000;"> Emily</span>, our new singer, <span style="color:#660000;">Ted,</span> our drummer, and <span style="color:#660000;">Bert and</span> <span style="color:#660000;">Bea Furman</span>, good friends. AND MORE... stay tuned.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-58616487459547832322009-12-03T16:18:00.005-05:002009-12-11T12:57:39.730-05:00Dead Man Gawking<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YSueq8geXDLOWrl5N9Pe2o_gZGmdUVqKOhTy2nuzBKC3b7GUfuY5yD6aVviGmeNQ-gYwYnNUbSGrQkcrkTkWIqeUBmzal9kncsWrmkBUiIxVuiRtPayQrMlrpgf2HeDyOGjiqW7yHdY/s1600-h/Recumbent+me.bmp"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411123079076880082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YSueq8geXDLOWrl5N9Pe2o_gZGmdUVqKOhTy2nuzBKC3b7GUfuY5yD6aVviGmeNQ-gYwYnNUbSGrQkcrkTkWIqeUBmzal9kncsWrmkBUiIxVuiRtPayQrMlrpgf2HeDyOGjiqW7yHdY/s320/Recumbent+me.bmp" /></span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Santa is DEAD. It's official now. Photographic proof has surfaced on the net, and here it is.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Unlike the '70's proclamation that God had passed away (because of declining church attendance) the demise of St. Nicholas was not caused by lack of interest in the holiday or even the recent decline in per capita Yuletide spending in the US to less than $364 (anything less than one dollar per day being the poverty level).<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">No, Virginia, Santa was a victim of his success, not failure. After approximately 1100 years of roaming the globe philanthropically filling stockings and dispensing cautionary lumps of anthracite, Nick was licked by technology, or the decline thereof.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">As we all are aware, Chinese manufacturers have cornered 99.999% of the world market in Christmas holiday lighting. The inside story of this is sad in itself.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Employing slave elf labor was never Santa's style, so along about 1995 it became economically impossible for North Pole LLC to compete, and their last reliable string of multicolored bulbs was shipped out. Subsequently the Polar Ice Pack began melting, and the handwriting was on the wall. All remaining operations were translocated to Boca Raton, FL, and 75% of the elves went into retirement near Ft. Myers. By 2007 NP International's total output consisted of driedel tops and knitted Kitten Mitts, intended to allow domestic shorthair housecats the ability to survive in the wild in January.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">In 2008 production of even this dubious moneymaker was halted by legal action, the Florida Supreme Court holding that "kitten mitts" was a copyright infringement against "Kitchen Mitts Conglomerated", a wholly-owned subsidiary of "Everything and ANYTHING Kitchen-Related," a Hong Kong holding company with damn good lawyers.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Holiday spending peaked in 2009 when the last domestically owned American dollar passed to the Chinese. The holiday which Santa built from little more than a reindeer and ruddy nose had been pushed to the final tipping point long feared by some but ignored by too many. We all know what resulted. A worldwide economic financial disaster.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">The Chinese, of course, took over everything remaining of the holiday not already in their grasp, retaining all rights to the name, which was modified to ChrisMart Day and moved to September 25th.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Santa was put out to pasture, ie, made homeless, since his Workshop was now floating through oil slicks in the North Sea. Rumors persist that Japanese whale fishermen sank it with explosive harpoons but those remain unconfirmed.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Santa drifted from city to city and town to town, pathetically picking up litter and stuffing it into his suit as padding to replace the pounds of jolly he'd lost on his quest for spiritual guidance. "Show me the LIGHT! Show me the LIGHT!" he would moan, bending down time and time again for a McCheesy wrapper or a BurgerWop box.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">God listens.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Santa found himself in the lower Michigan town called JACKSON, apparently drawn to the state by the mitten shape of its Lower Peninsula on Google Earth. Lights weren't working on the inherently defective Chinese-made street decorations. Santa tried to fix them and died from electrocution.<br /><br />He's finally at Peace, but not on Earth.<br /></span></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Photo by: KAT KULCHINSKI</span></div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-8847900053074160512009-11-19T20:55:00.001-05:002009-11-19T20:55:28.525-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyGXxmeMutkCRDSapka88lyD-uOepBJF4Oxnj-QwbB1nlF1ONCEn_UnICO9kxw50-gxoIlwuKUTFuFF9_266vhPV-q-FxLxgK8Jil5h4JITM9yVPMChzKMITpNB5-FzrdauRcDN3mysc/s1600/value+study+apples+color+card+Thanksgiving+091119b-728526.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyGXxmeMutkCRDSapka88lyD-uOepBJF4Oxnj-QwbB1nlF1ONCEn_UnICO9kxw50-gxoIlwuKUTFuFF9_266vhPV-q-FxLxgK8Jil5h4JITM9yVPMChzKMITpNB5-FzrdauRcDN3mysc/s320/value+study+apples+color+card+Thanksgiving+091119b-728526.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405998578524155698" /></a></p><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div></div><div class="h5"><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div></div><div><div class="gmail_quote">We hope you have a wonderful, loving, safe and healthy holiday! :-D</div></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Mary Stebbins Taitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626507461216769140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-8429832372053665072009-10-13T11:24:00.002-04:002009-12-03T16:18:20.342-05:00Proposal: The Southern Michigan State Fair<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><span style="font-size:78%;">Dear Brad: </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I'm sending copies of this letter to a variety of contacts and friends..</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Your column and the accompanying article which appeared today in the Jackson Citizen Patriot regarding the future of the Jackson County Fairgrounds was timely, lively, and clearly puts forth the issues regarding this important tradition. I was gratified to see that you included my suggestion about relocating the State Fair to Jackson. Thank YOU!!</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Here's my view. Mr. Treacher is an administrator, and I hope he continues to be a good one. But the Fair needs an Events Coordinator, I believe, and this task alone is a full-bore, full time job. Problem? Paying such an expert's salary. Well, I have a solution to THAT to propose to you and the Fair Board.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I will offer my services to fill such a role, if it is made official, for $1 a year. Just as it was in the Depression, times call for experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the business world to step forward to serve their country and community where they can, and because I have been a Jackson County fair goer and resident for 58 years and have experience for over forty of those years in the entertainment business, I WANT THE JOB.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Mr. Treacher is good with money. The Fair needs ideas and promotion and a slam-bang selling job to revive. I am willing to help. I would also encourage any professionals also willing to step up to the plate to serve on an advisory committee for the Southern Michigan State Fair, which is what I propose the new venue be named.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I am planning to attend the Fair Board meeting on Monday, if they let me in!!</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Thanks again, Brad. I always enjoy your column and I think you, too, are a professional.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sincerely,</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Michael Serafin-St. John</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">339 Oak Grove Ave Apt Q</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Jackson, MI 49203 </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-85841192882488267412009-09-21T14:40:00.001-04:002009-09-21T15:16:27.577-04:00E in P Rerun:The Following is NOT a Hate Cartoon!<strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong><div align="justify"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">(If this cartoon is hazy, click on it to enlarge it.)</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUAUMqBRxirHm61ZBEC39QENrFsQQZyW_UAny3-DK_spOypbPVjLMCGfmX6SI9FjDXgbocOVPv7X43w2bX8i5E09VwkQSrC4TFVcdwxUDB6BwqEyan4u2wUCOW9JZ4TKwRnnJb9_fVU0/s1600-h/Her+Great+Appeal.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157786088266956018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="213" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUAUMqBRxirHm61ZBEC39QENrFsQQZyW_UAny3-DK_spOypbPVjLMCGfmX6SI9FjDXgbocOVPv7X43w2bX8i5E09VwkQSrC4TFVcdwxUDB6BwqEyan4u2wUCOW9JZ4TKwRnnJb9_fVU0/s320/Her+Great+Appeal.png" width="418" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">In modern politics, or in olden politics, for that matter, "handlers" of the candidates try, sometimes desperately, to mold the image of an office seeker to fit what they think is some sort of ideal of electability. This is what is known as "packaging". The same thing that is done with bread, beer, corn chips, and lunchmeat... the four food groups. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">We don't complain about this situation very much until election time approaches, but of course it has been going on without our notice all along. This is no surprise... a candidate is really perpetually either running <em>for </em>an office or running <em>from</em> one all their political career.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Go, go, go.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">But at election time we notice what we've been trying to ignore, because some politician will bring it to our attention to try to defame his or her opponent. In political terminology this is referred to as "calling someone out" and in regular speak as "the pot calling the kettle black".</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Being "packaged" is made out to be a sin, and we are supposed to think these handlers and their "image issues" are devils of deception. We're supposed to wonder what rotten, no-good, low-down, cotton-pickin' rascal this candidate must be deep down if he or she needs to be gussied up like Emma's prize pig at the county fair. Something, somehow, must be gang agley. There's squirreliness afoot someway, and we the public must beware, beware, beware.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">This is, of course, utter nonsense. Humbug.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">This sort of worrying is like being afraid to fly because the plane is painted purple. It's not of any importance. Not at all, for one simple reason. You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">No, the real problem isn't in what we are told to believe about politicians, because on the whole we're perfectly skeptical. We voters are basically too savvy about the way the game is played to be fooled by the cheerleaders on the sidelines. The real problem isn't in what we are pressured to believe. It's what we <em>talk ourselves into thinking</em> that's dangerous. It's in what we WANT to believe, even if all the evidence is to the contrary.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">For example, if we vote for Hillary it's because we <em>want to believe </em>she'll bring this country together, stop the war, fight poverty, give us all affordable health care, correct the economy, and be the perfect representative for all our interests around the world.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Now go back and fill in the foregoing statement with the name of an<em>y other candidate you want</em>, and the statement remains true for any of them. I don't care who you plug in, if you <em>want</em> to believe, you <em>will</em> believe, and that's your right, even if you're wrong.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">It's really a good example of blind faith in action, the way we vote. But what other choice is there? We could look at the candidates' voting history, maybe? Not much help there. Things and people and their opinions change, as do the times. Look at their professional careers? Maybe, but in the case of the Presidency it's a whole new ballgame with different umpires, and a lot further between the bases.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I decided that I'm not going to expect miracles or sainthood from my choice for President, just that they be somebody I wouldn't feel ashamed of a couple years from now. How can you ask for more than that? <em></em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><em><div align="justify"><br /></div></em><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRhDm0Cxl4cr0UEKgbpfDh4f0Im4nodT23oE0emwdJuT2VkUhttwQjZYts-xLg1UBLtC6wB-5dnlZpWnL4Hb-jfxSL4vpo6cbkM144QAjgivnWIaFElQTvjjWunPRavI2U6C_URfqZGg/s1600-h/Her+Great+Appeal.png"></a></div>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-38539572927358957462009-09-16T10:57:00.001-04:002009-09-17T15:26:09.555-04:00Women and Their Wants<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(When Ann Landers, the advice columnist, passed on, the job passed on too, and the column is now "Dear Annie". I wrote this the other day after reading a particular letter.)</span></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">Dear Annie:</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">After reading the letter of "Disheartened in Louisiana" I feel I need to comment.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">This lady, a widow, says "all the men she meets" want just sex, not a relationship. One or both of two things have to be happening here. One is, she is approaching men with the wrong signals. Or two, with the wrong attitude.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">I've searched for a companion for thirty years, not just seven, and I have to say I have a lot of discouragement myself over the fact that the women I meet almost invariably believe the outrageous falsehood "Disheartened" seems to believe as well.. that "all men" are sexual creeps out to get only one thing. We are not. We are human beings, we are individuals, and we absolutely do not deserve to be collectively punished in this manner.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">I have a strong suspicion that what "Disheartened" finds is what she WANTS to find, and what she sees she wants to see, to back up her prophecies about "all men."</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">If we men did not show a healthy interest in sex (which she mentions prominently) what would be the case for her then? Aha oho, we'd be instantly rejected! (And labeled.) You cannot vary your rules to suit yourself. This is contradictory and if you operate that way, always testing and holding our behavior up to a changing impossible light, OF COURSE we will not wish to have a long-term relationship. There is no trust or loyalty or openheartedness in such a woman and we will definitely go elsewhere if we have any dignity at all.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">Signing off with much more to say but no time...</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">Much maligned in Michigan </span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Michael Serafin-St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00222406476906035537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-78619225778285698662009-09-14T11:54:00.003-04:002009-09-16T12:19:17.029-04:00Domestic Violence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEW3GvSWHDz4Hq2oCZiAWCKz6QTmzUunTbVhZlbXlBpSlW5vpDkhLhFj9ALdv1pWtDF3-mTUhC_A-toR3LO_IWPgA18T0upYcOfItRIUTKqRO7_HKluNYN9cpIk5gkmx5kQ3mOsq_PxCN/s1600/Picture+1-798216.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 311px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 441px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEW3GvSWHDz4Hq2oCZiAWCKz6QTmzUunTbVhZlbXlBpSlW5vpDkhLhFj9ALdv1pWtDF3-mTUhC_A-toR3LO_IWPgA18T0upYcOfItRIUTKqRO7_HKluNYN9cpIk5gkmx5kQ3mOsq_PxCN/s1600/Picture+1-798216.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;">October is National Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Month. </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;">This is a photograph of some graffiti in some ruins in Syracuse, NY. It represents what it feels like to be sexually or physically abused by someone you love (or don't).</span>Mary Stebbins Taitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626507461216769140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-23340940894310527742009-09-12T11:25:00.001-04:002009-09-12T11:25:47.027-04:00order out of Chaos<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00GQ-AUeE64C6FbAu8xolQ9i8SH9E6D3MQZ2QUt5GZ_D4C09Evm-CCF_09Mz08mrc2rycJb0Po-E-KgrvI3XDFJaGr41p0N70qd4yUMpi2qIAVGDp_QNO5bAoMpXm85HQ-8dNReSOoXc/s1600-h/Picture+30-747028.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00GQ-AUeE64C6FbAu8xolQ9i8SH9E6D3MQZ2QUt5GZ_D4C09Evm-CCF_09Mz08mrc2rycJb0Po-E-KgrvI3XDFJaGr41p0N70qd4yUMpi2qIAVGDp_QNO5bAoMpXm85HQ-8dNReSOoXc/s400/Picture+30-747028.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380602518388979874" /></a></p>Fractals are a result of chaos theory. I love the designs, which seem<br>very ordered to come from chaos.Mary Stebbins Taitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626507461216769140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-59731018459966728102009-09-12T10:13:00.001-04:002009-09-12T10:13:35.514-04:00Sometimes<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3md9QHUkoDglkihmVDt2DNY5MGKv1aoNtqP0q5QDGD2s4gIDZumsekecvTMxt8s94Es_e7WMHxeHoY4sCORGTaJhblq7jydDsvGoDD8PC6nyO4ZSJb64fYNfux2wl3zoe9QYKa8Yq2g/s1600-h/IMG_3792-715515.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3md9QHUkoDglkihmVDt2DNY5MGKv1aoNtqP0q5QDGD2s4gIDZumsekecvTMxt8s94Es_e7WMHxeHoY4sCORGTaJhblq7jydDsvGoDD8PC6nyO4ZSJb64fYNfux2wl3zoe9QYKa8Yq2g/s400/IMG_3792-715515.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380583911008455058" /></a></p>I feel as if I am caught beween a rock and a hard place. And about to<br>tumble into space.Mary Stebbins Taitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626507461216769140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199546354351599164.post-71160387706745722712009-09-12T10:12:00.002-04:002009-09-12T11:16:53.089-04:00Pacifists of the world unite!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlqt-f1W1XHUuTlibviF1NOVdl129cLjU2qDyIx7Mw7lbDAzHZ5UGHlt6UqEEnjXdU8MdOGfDc2N4FbwchtdffQ554pJugF38mmrs1KBMouN8IvBpgVCSVNUoY7-WeZTrDdhxDD6NVYY/s1600-h/IMG_3791-724447.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlqt-f1W1XHUuTlibviF1NOVdl129cLjU2qDyIx7Mw7lbDAzHZ5UGHlt6UqEEnjXdU8MdOGfDc2N4FbwchtdffQ554pJugF38mmrs1KBMouN8IvBpgVCSVNUoY7-WeZTrDdhxDD6NVYY/s400/IMG_3791-724447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380583522653127858" border="0" /></a></p>I've been reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Small Wonder</span> by Barbara Kingsolver. Great book. Have you read it? What did you think?<p>I'm 3/4 of the way through the first rough draft of a children's chapter book. It's keeping me very busy--and you?<br /></p>Mary Stebbins Taitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626507461216769140noreply@blogger.com1