Anniversary Tributes

Twenty one years ago, at age 13, this lovely creature married my cousin Jim. He is, as anyone would be, damned lucky to have her. She is smart, funny. Her smile and laugh melt hearts and make those around her happy too. She is fearless, kind, loving and treats all creatures with respect. (One of Jim's favorite stories which she hates, is about how she, alone with no experience handling snakes, caught a full grown copperhead and moved it to safety. ) She climbs mountains, in spite of her acrophobia . She also writes, teaches yoga, travels, runs an office does a bunch of stuff I don't even remember. Her biggest fault [being more hard headed than even Jim] is also a virtue. Jim is a sarcastic cynic, but his heart still soars like a hawk whenever he sees her, and he grins in spite of himself.



Angus, I apologize if I've ruffeled your feathers lately. This is for you and yours.
Three years ago at age 4, this lovely creature married Angus MacGregor. He is, as anyone would be, damned lucky to have her. She is a rare breed. Her smile and bleat melt hearts and make those around her happy too. She is kind, loving and treats all creatures with respect. She climbs mountains with all of the skills of her species. Her biggest fault [having more horns than even Angus] is also a virtue. Angus is a bitter, combative, hothead, but he does love Nanny and the kids.

With Christmas Over, Virgil Returns to His Jewish Roots-Happy Chanukah

It was rough this year with Chanukah (Pronounced Like It's Spelled) starting on Christmas Day. Clan Fergus, from which the Snoddys arose, owe their existence to a union between the ancestors of Thorfinn Hausakluif, who ruled Orkney (a story for another time), and Clan MacCabee, of the far South, long before Scotland was a nation.
Clan MacCabee played a key role in starting the Chanukah tradition.
Virgil and all the Snoddys wish you and yours, a Happy Chanukah. Take part in the celebration. Christians who participate have been known to see the light, if not lights.

I'm a private person and my beliefs are a private matter, but so those of you who never read Miss Manners will stop asking, the answer is NO! The fact that I have Scots-Hebrew roots (Clan MacCabee) and am a follower of Judaism does not mean that I'm not a born again Christian. (And NO, I'm not one of those nut headded “Jews for Jesus.”) There is no inconsistency. As Anonymous reminded us in his or her comment to Virgil's Christmas Message, “‘May the good Lord He bless you and keep you in health And remember that Jesus was a Jewboy hisself.’ From Richard's version of ‘The Tramp On The Street.’" Give a listen to a sample.

Christmas Day SURVIVAL

"Christmas is an important day for everyone to practice hypocrisy . . . Miss Manners is so excessively polite that she rarely has the wicked pleasure of offending people, and you must allow her to relish the sensation for a moment before she explains what she means and spoils the effect. . . .
For Multigenerational Families Who Gather for Christmas Reunions: Do not relax and be less than a thoughtful houseguest, or allow your immediate descendants to do so, on the grounds that these people are related to you. Blood is not necessarily thicker than water, and it generally helps at this time of year to have a little Scotch in both."

THE FRIST SHALL BE LAST

Virgil's Christmas Message

Unlike Mary, the only contemporaneous image of Jesus still in existence is the one here. How he looked is not important, but opinions vary on what is. One group believes that his death is most important because it will save us all in the afterlife. Some of these think that it’s important to assign blame to groups or individuals, (ie. Judas, the Romans, the Jews, or, in Richard Friedman’s case, Santa Claus) for his death even though his death was necessary for them to saved. (To hear Richard sing it, click here) Others in this group think that Judas, or whoever caused his death, was performing a necessary service and should not be blamed.
Another group believes that his life, as an example on how to live our lives here and now, is most important. His death is important only to show us that values are worth dying for and focusing on his death and making him an icon or idol to be worshiped, is at odds with and obscures his message.
Another group believes that what you believe is unimportant. Having faith in the beneficence of the universe, or your kinship with others is.
Ole Virg, having been Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Buddhist, Methodist, and Lutheran at various times, and at times simultaneously, believes it all.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Festivus. (Thanks to Rita for telling me about festivus)

Sharbat Gula

Though I said that I would explore the connections between this girl, Zoroastrianism, and the Virgin Mary, when I actually went to the link that Pie-cruster provided and again saw her face and heard her story, I couldn’t do it. This was a terrified 12 year old girl leaving her country and all that she had behind to escape a war with the occupying Soviet army. Using her to make these links would diminish her humanity and the suffering she endured. I wish her peace in the remainder of her life and hope that she, a Muslim, would not be offended that her image is used as a Christmas reminder of the message of the “Prince of Peace” and the horrors of war. We now know that her name is Sharbat Gula. Steve McCurry found her again about 20 years later. This is her picture at the approximate age of 32.

Mary Christmas

Some think that mothers, instead of their children should be honored on the child's birthday. How about both? Without Mom-no kids. Without Mary-no Jesus and no Christmas. Exact likenesses of Mary can be found on Virg n' Mary.

BUSH TO USE PLENARY POWERS TO SHUT DOWN JUDICIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

“It’s a temporary measure until America is safe and the war on terror won” according to a White House Spokesman. “When judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court have question the legality of secretly listening in on telephone calls and reading e-mails of U.S. citizens without court authorization and with one going so far as resigning in protest, the Court is hurting the war effort and demoralizing our troops.” he said. Ditto with Congress. “Their meddling insistence on being informed and their talk about impeachment, though well intentioned, makes Congress just as dangerous to America as the A-Rab terrorists.” He pointed out that both the Courts and Congress, by their actions could lead ordinary citizens to question the administration and harm the war effort.

Patel Happy At State-Poo Poos Controversy

Tsu-la-s-gi, “Mahatma the Toe,” Patel loves being a place kicker for the Arkansas State University football team. He thinks that the controversy over the team mascot is silly. “Its really flattering, being one of a hundred or so guys, and having the whole team named after my people,” joked Patel. Patel, a freshman from Bhind, did not play in last night’s 31-19 loss to Southern Mississippi in the New Orleans Bowl.

Mr. Patel's sister, Indira Mankiller, e-mailed me to complain that I didn't point out that the game was a lot closer than the score. My apologies to Indira and the Indians. They put up a good fight, and we're all proud of them.
Indira also said that, "from Bhind to Mumbai," Tsu-la-s-gi was affectionately known as “Gator.” "He was always a tough little rascal," she said.

Some Intelligence afterall ...

Occasionally our judicial system DOES work! Judge Jones should be applauded in showing some REAL intelligence. After all, "Intelligent Design" is just creationism and religion in disguise ... and certainly does not belong in a science classroom. The people in Pennsylvania should finally have something to be proud of! Kansas ... take note!

Christmas Is For All Children.

"PLEASE DON'T DO THE “NAUGHTY AND NICE” THING WITH YOUR CHILDREN! Never exclude a child from the holidays because of improper behavior. Don’t pretend that you are going to do so to keep them in line. Don’t even joke about it. Show them affection matter how they have acted. Children, and adults, need to know that they are loved unconditionally. They are given presents because this is the season to give and they are important. They receive gifts because they are your children and you love them. Like grace, gifts are not earned."

Some objected to my including comments to the "Misquoting Jesus" post discussing the painting with Nora’s above. They have a point. I have removed them. The best theologians that I have available are now looking at the burning theological issue in the painting for a post after Christmas. If you have ideas, e-mail me or simply add a comment to “Misquoting Jesus" below.
Virg

"We do not torture."

TORTURE(D) REASONING by Mike Gauldin Arkansas Times 12/15/2005
"King Henry VIII . . . did not think it at all inhumane to have a counterfeiter boiled alive or to cut off the extremities, including the heads, of sundry enemies in prison without a fair trial. Some of Henry’s enemies, after all, were of a new and particularly thoughtless kind — religious zealots." "What the king lacked . . . but what George W. Bush has had were gifted speechwriters . . . When he was pressed during his Latin American tour about all the stories of soldiers and government agents torturing detainees in secret prisons, already confirmed by governmentsfrom Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, President Bush declared, 'We do not torture.'”
Ernest Dumas
Torturers at the top, Arkansas Times 12/15/2005

Remember it, write it in red crayon on the bathroom wall, tattoo it onto your acid tongue because those very words rang throughout the land like a bleak bell, like a low scream in the night, like a cheese grater rubbing against the teeth of common sense when Dubya mumbled them during a speech not long ago, and it was, at once, hilarious and nauseating and it took all the self-control in the world for everyone in the room not to burst out in disgusted laughter and throw their chairs at his duplicitous little head.
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Friday, December 16, 2005

THIS CRAPO DEMOCRAT MAKES ME BLANCHE

Sen. Blanche Lincolon co-sponsored Mike Crapo's Endangered Species bill. Please call Sen. Lincoln's office (202-224-4843) or e-mail her from her website at http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.htmland let her know how you feel. Remind her that Virgil's cousin is chomping at the bit to run against her.
Under the guise of "reforming" the Endangered Species Act, The bill will set back our efforts to protect threatened species by decades.
Our only hope is to pressure our senators to act more responsibly than our representatives.
More information at:
http://www.eande.tv/transcripts/?date=100605
Thanks to, Ellen, Emily and Sandy for alerting us and providing the facts on the bill.

technorati tag: endangered species act

Zoroastrianism

"Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed world-religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith." Mary Boyce.
It may have been the first monotheistic religion.Their theology has had a great impact on Judaism, Christianity and other later religions, in the beliefs surrounding God and Satan, the soul, heaven and hell, savior, resurrection, final judgment, etc.
The Zoroastrian god Mithra, born on December 25, was said to be the "covenant-maker." Mithra died, was buried in a rock tomb, and resurrected. His day was the first day of the week, called Sun-day. Mithraists used the sign of the cross made on the forehead and had a communion ritual similar to the Christian one.
It’s prophet, Joaquin Murieta, aka Don Diego Vega, pictured above, is believed to have given Zoroastrianism its name.

Misquoting Jesus

“Scholar Bart Ehrman's new book explores how scribes -- through both omission and intention -- changed the Bible. Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why is the result of years of reading the texts in their original languages.”

From Fresh Air from WHYY, December 14, 2005

The Rock Star's Burden

"THERE are probably more annoying things than being hectored about African development by a wealthy Irish rock star in a cowboy hat, but I can't think of one at the moment."

New York Times Op-Ed
By PAUL THEROUX
December 15, 2005

Christmas-Have a Good One, But Be Careful Out There

Sixty per cent of families fight on December 25, research has found. Twenty-five per cent said rows peak soon after eating.

Strange as it may sound, some people are allergic to Christmas - or at least to its trappings.

This is also a good time to read A Life Reclaimed at
http://snohwomen.blogspot.com/2005/12/life-reclaimed.html

Jesus Accepts Us All, Including Focus on the Family Members

This is true, despite reports to the contrary.

Merry Christmas Holidays

Holidays, I'm told, means holy days. Christmas means Christ Mass, which may sound a little too Catholic, but many other denominations have adopted it as a holiday. We are one and this is the season to respect everyone's beliefs. For the rest of this month, I choose to be a Christian.
I shall also be evangelical. "liberal evangelicals can help the larger culture. We need go-betweeners, people who can speak to the Rush Limbaughs and the Al Frankens." Dallas Morning News Editorial, Thanks to Truth Girl.

This is What happened to them.

Except for Pete & Mike, the others should be here somewhere. Not sure about the mystery woman so I left her up. Baby pics of Orve, who obviously hasn't changed much in the last 58 years and of Joe V. who hasn't changed much either have been removed at the request of those who are offended by naked babies. (Thanks to Martha for sending it. ) The original pics have been moved to Virg n' Mary.

We're Ahead 30,000-2140*

Bush says 30,000 Iraqis killed since war began*

"I would say 30,000 more or less have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis," the president said. "We've lost about 2,140 of our own troops in Iraq."*

*Disclaimer-The score is for informational purposes only it may compare Iraqi civilian deaths with American Military. The Iraqi numbers may include only civilians and the numbers do not include some combatants including "Coalition" forces or American & Western civilians killed. It also does not include wounded and maimed and unreported or missing.

How the liberals stole Christmas

How the liberals stole Christmas (or) A visit from St. Dick
By Kevin Horrigan ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Sunday, Dec. 11 2005

Twas the month before Christmas

And as I lit candles,

Conservatives stirred -

They were onto a scandal.

"They want to kill Christmas!"

Came the cry from the right:

"They want to axe Bethlehem

And O! Holy Night!

"They're after the Christ child

And Joseph and Mary

And shepherds and wise men;

These liberals are scary."

Who? I said. Who

Is behind these cruel plots?

"Well, we're not really sure,

But we heard it on Fox.

"Fox fair and balanced;

Esteemed, and most highly.

We're not really sure -

It was prob'ly O'Reilly."

So I grabbed the remote

And clicked over to Fox

And there snarled O'Reilly.

(Imagine my shock):

"The liberals, the commies,

The A.C.L.U.

They want to steal Christmas

From me and from you.

They say 'Happy Holidays'

And acknowledge the Jews

By throwing in Hannukah."

I was really confused.

"And what's this with Kwanzaa?"

The O'Reilly elf said.

"Some guy made it up,

Made it up from whole cloth.

And somewhere the pagans

Are worshipping trees

And Muslims turn eastward

On rugs on their knees."

"The Democrats did it,"

He said with a roar.

"It was Kerry and Biden

And Clinton and Gore."

And then with a smirk

He fired heavy artillery:

"If you want my opinion,

I bet it was Hillary."

I sat there in silence,

Stunned in my jammies.

My pulse was just racing

My hands were all clammy.

Who can save Christmas

From plots so barbaric

That turn Jesus' birthday

To a season generic?

What will happen to Christmas?

Should I recycle my creche?

And toss out John's gospel

'Bout Word become flesh?

Should I toss out the angels?

They could get me arrested.

I was, lo, sore afraid

And my soul greatly tested.

Who will save Christmas?

George W. Bush?

Who will save Christmas

When shove comes to push?

We could call the Marines

But they've all been assigned.

This disaster needs FEMA.

Oh . . . never mind.

Then I heard a weird jingling

From somewhere in back

And grabbed for the pistol

I'm licensed to pack.

I pulled back the slide

And quick chambered a round

And yelled out "Freeze dirtbag!

Don't dare make a sound!"

The guy, he was balding

And wore a blue suit.

He was driving a pickup

That said "Brown & Root."

His eyes they were squinting,

His voice, slightly nervous

Said, "Richard B. Cheney.

I'm here, at your service."

I was stunned at the sight

Of the man who's the veep.

And I thought I was dreaming,

In some weird right-wing sleep.

I heard him cough softly

Then say, "It's not fiction.

"First Comet is venison.

"And next I'll shoot Vixen."

"I killed off the reindeer,"

He softly exhaled.

"And I sent Santa off

To a black CIA jail.

This secular nonsense,

We'll end it, right quick.

I've got other priorities

Or my name's not St. Dick."

He said, "Christmas's really

Just all about loot

You can stuff in your bag

And then dis-t'-ri-bute

To friends and to donors

And pals who are cronies,

It's not about children

Or Democrat phonies.

"The trick that I've learned,"

St. Dick said like a Scrooge,

"Is avoiding the blame.

Instead, get you a stooge,

So the stooge takes the heat

As you make dead certain

That the goodies pile up

Inside Halliburton."

"So we'll blame it on liberals,

And commies and gays.

We'll blame it on Democrats

And folks who don't pray."

We've got Bill O'Reilly

To stir up the base

While we haul all our loot

To an undisclosed place."

Then he turned with a wink,

Jumped back into his pickup.

He nodded his head

And then said with a hiccup:

"I'll tell you one thing

Gives me great satisfaction:

'The liberals stole Christmas'

Is a dandy distraction."

They All Look Alike

Muriel Degauque

It does not follow that if the Republicans have lost the confidence of the country, the Democrats have won it.

Enough of the Waiting Game By Anna Quindlen

Doing a Rape Victem a "Favor" Doesn't Save His Job

"Katie was a girl and not only was she was a girl, she was horrible. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights." Coach Gary Barnett Feb. 2004

Coach Barnett continued for two more seasons as Colorado's head coach until he was let go yesterday after losing to Texas 70-3.

John's been gone 25 years!

You may find the material on this website interesting on several levels ... the life and music of Lennon, as well as his death at the hands of Mark David Chapman. This website contains considerable material (some of which may be controversial) that supports the view that Chapman may NOT have been a "deranged fan" but rather someone set-up to assassinate Lennon. Is this just another conspiracy theory? ... or is there some substance to it? How about leaving a few Comments? BTW, the link to the www.john-lennon.com website appears related to the Lovearth Network sites of Mark R. Elsis of MyCountryRightOrWrong fame. If you are interested in pursuing some of these other sites, go to: http://www.lovearth.net/ You will NOT find any of these sites pro-Bush! In fact there is plenty of Bush villification to go round here! Anyway, give John a moment of silence and thought sometime today ...

CHENEY MAY HAVE USED INTERCOM SYSTEM TO GIVE CATEGORICAL DIRECTIVES TO PRESIDENT BUSH IN A VOICE THE PRESIDENT BELIEVED TO BE GOD’S.

Bree’s Biggest Blunder?

Can you believe she confessed to Andrew of all people?

Dictionary of Republicanisms

pro-life adj. Valuing human life up until birth [Kevin Weaver, San Francisco, Calif.].

WE HAVE YOUR CAT TOO

Some hacker, probably a competing bloger jealous of this blog's popularity , posted a picture here of a dog being held hostage. It has been removed. Virgil is an animal lover, (see profile) and no animals have been harmed in any way in the creating or maintaining this blog.

December 1 is World Aids Day

World AIDS Day Celebration

One central truth of Buddhism is that all life is suffering. The Buddha understood this truth when, after a very sheltered and privileged childhood and young adulthood, he suddenly encountered, for the very first time, old age, and sickness, and death. He was bewildered. As we are. The Buddha spent the next six years asking why there was all this suffering? How can it be helped? And, if this is the nature of our lives, what does it mean to be human? His enlightenment grew out of asking these questions, the same questions that we ask, some 2,500 years later.

Paradoxically, there is another central truth, and that is the pure joy of our everyday existence. To be alive, even for too brief a time, is such an incredible gift. We are struck with wonder and amazement. And there, tucked among the undeniable sorrows of life, we find friendship, love, and community. We help others, we act with compassion, we care, we forgive. We have a thousand opportunities to make some small difference, and we learn to appreciate every hour and every day that is given us. Life is made precious by our understanding of our very human vulnerability, by our awareness of our mortality, and by those mysteries which we try, together and alone, to fathom.

I want to share with you tonight a contemporary Buddhist poem called “The Human Route.” It, too, is full of questions.

Coming empty-handed, going empty-handed – that is human.

When you are born, where do you come from?

When you die, where do you go?

Life is like a floating cloud which appears.

Death is like a floating cloud which disappears.

The floating cloud itself originally does not exist.

Life and death, coming and going, are also like that.

But there is one thing which always remains clear.

It is pure and clear, not depending on life and death.

Then what is the one pure and clear thing?

When you are alive, you have form and substance. After you die, there is no trace. The four elements disperse as in a dream. To understand the Buddha and eminent teachers, retire to the place of light. The sun is setting over the Western mountains. The moon is rising in the East.

I’ll close now, by repeating the four Great Vows of Buddhism:

Sentient beings are numberless; we vow to save them all.

Delusions are endless; we vow to cut through them all.

The teachings are infinite; we vow to learn them all.

The Buddha way is inconceivable; we vow to attain it.

Written on December 1, 1999, by Dr. Barbara Taylor of the Morning Star Zen Center in Fayetteville , Arkansas.

"[T]he CIA has mistakenly obscured hundreds of thousands of pages of critical intelligence information with black highlighters."

ANOTHER BLOW TO FREE SPEECH-ARCHITECT OF "COMPLETE REHABILITATION" OF CRIMINALS SACKED FOR SINGHING TO PRESS

Hanging is a means of "complete rehabilitation." "I'm changing their character to a different one because I believe in rebirth and they will be better men next time." "With me, they (the prisoners) don't struggle. I know the real way. If it's a raw guy, they will struggle like chickens, like fish out of the water." Darshan Singh

Mr Singh, 74, who has carried out hundreds of executions in a career spanning 48 years, was denied the opportunity to hang Austrailian drug smugler Nguyen Tuong Van claims he had been sacked for speaking out.

Medical Breakthrough but . . .

read the fine print.

OPEN LETTER TO KANSAS SCHOOL BOARD

" . . .Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

. . . I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith." Excerpt from Open Letter To Kansas School Board by Bob Henderson

What Buddhists do at ChristmasTime

Buddha’s Enlightenment Day
By Barbara G. Taylor

What do Buddhists do when their neighbors are opening Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa presents? When they are celebrating Diwali, observing the fast of Ramadan, or lighting the Yuletide fires? Like adherents of most of the world’s other spiritual traditions, Buddhists, too, celebrate a major holiday near the time of the winter solstice. And their holiday even includes a star shining in the East.

Buddha’s Enlightenment Day commemorates the result of Shakyamuni Buddha’s search to understand himself, and is considered the most important day of the Buddhist year. During the week preceding the celebration, which is observed on or around December 8^th, Zen Buddhist monasteries throughout the world hold their most intense retreats, with some practitioners abstaining from sleep for the entire seven days. But even such strenuous practice is a really just a shadow, a small reminder, of what the Buddha experienced.

Shakyamani Buddha is the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived in the 6^th century BCE. Born to an extraordinarily wealthy and privileged family, actually raised to be a king, he spent his childhood, youth, and young adulthood surrounded with beautiful objects, sweet smells, lovely sounds and luscious tastes, dressed in the finest garments, waited upon by servants, protected from harm and sheltered from anything that was difficult, ugly or unpleasant. His life was an enviable one; he lacked nothing, wanted nothing that youth and wealth could supply, including a lovely wife and delightful children. But despite all these pleasures and privileges, he longed to see the world outside his palace walls, the world from which his family, with all its good intentions, had tried so hard to protect him.

Siddhartha Gautama left the palace, and immediately encountered three things that he had never seen before. He saw an old woman, wrinkled and frail, with trembling hands and legs that would barely support her, with cataracts in her eyes. Next, he saw sick people, suffering from painful, incurable illnesses, covered with sores and vomit, and others with injured bodies, infected wounds and broken bones. And, finally, he saw people carrying a corpse, their beloved husband, friend and father, taking him away to burn on a funeral pyre. Suddenly, Siddhartha Gautama realized that all life is suffering. And he could not understand why.

Bewildered, he removed his silken clothes, abandoned his rich possessions, his family and all that he had known, and went out into the new and unfamiliar world that he had just discovered, seeking to learn what it means to be human. He wandered as far as his feet would carry him, wondering “What is human life?” and “Why do humans suffer so?” Eventually his question grew so large and overwhelming that he could focus on it alone. He spent six years sitting under the Bodhi tree, never sleeping, barely eating, only asking, “What am I?”

And then, one day, after he had sat for all those years in meditation, suddenly he saw the morning star, shining in the Eastern sky. And he attained enlightenment.

At that moment, Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha. The word “Buddha” in Sanskrit means simply an awakened one. How did he do it? How did he attain enlightenment? He only saw the morning star.

You, too, can wake up.

To study the way of the Buddha is to study oneself.

To study oneself is to forget oneself.

To forget oneself is to be enlightened by everything.

Barbara Taylor and her lovely husband, Jim Jackson, tend The Morning Star Zen Center in Fayetteville Arkansas.

Moscow Many Moons Ago

A Russian couple were walking down a street in Moscow one night when the man
felt a drop hit his nose.
"I think it's raining," he said to his wife.
"No that felt like snow to me, dear," she replied.
"No I'm sure it was just rain," he said. They were about to have a major
argument about whether it was raining or snowing. Just then, they saw a minor
communist party official walking towards them.
"Let's not fight about it," the man said. "Let's ask Comrade Rudolph whether
its officially raining or snowing." As the man approached the husband said:
"Tell us, Comrade Rudolph, is it raining or snowing?"
"It's raining, of course" he replied and walked on. But the woman insisted.
"I know that felt like snow!"
To which the man quietly said, "Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear."

November 20 -Transgender Day of Remembrance

On this day:
1955 - Bo Diddley, the first African American to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, sings Bo Diddley instead of Tennessee Ernie Ford's hit, "Sixteen Tons". Sullivan shocked.
1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis ends
2005 - President Bush tugged at both handles on the double doors before admitting: "I was trying to escape. Obviously, it didn't work."

Happy Birthday to
Alistair Cooke, British
Judy Canova
Robert Byrd
Robert F. Kennedy
Dick Smothers
Joseph Biden
Bo Derek

November 19 is Mali's Liberation Day

On November 19
1863 - Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
1915 - Joe Hill shot, but never died.
1959 - Ford discontinues the Edsel.
1973 - Lance Rentzel arrested.
2005 - 3-Car bombs kill 48 in Iraq; Bush says war on track



Happy Birthday to, James A. Garfield, Roy Campanella, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Bob Gibson, Dick Cavett, Ted Turner, Tom Harkin, Ahmad Rashad, Meg Ryan, & Jodie Foster

November 18 IS LATVIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

It is also the day that in
1307 - William Tell shot an apple off his son's head.
1493 - Christopher Columbus first sighted Puerto Rico
2002 - United Nations weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix arrived in Iraq.
2004 - Russia ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
2005 - Pucker Phactor increased at the White House.

Happy Birthday to:
Imogene Coca
Calvin
Hobbes

OUR "FRIENDS" TAKE JESUS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THE TEACHER

Our allies, the Saudis, have sentenced a teacher to 750 lashes and over three years in prison for discussing Christianity, Judaism and the dangers of terrorism with students.
Fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were Saudis. [none of the remaining 4 were Iraqis]. After the attack, we evacuated 140 Saudi nationals on at least 8 aircraft making stops in 12 cities immediately following the attacks. "Many of the passengers were high-ranking members of the royal House of Saud. About 24 of them were members of the bin Laden family. . .” according to Carl Unger.

NOVEMBER 17 IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY

1967 -President Lyndon Johnson says "we are making progress" in the Vietnam War:
1970 - Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai massacre.
1973 - Richard Nixon declared "I am not a crook."
2005-Conservative Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania, said "It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region," "Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk." . . . "people with five deferments" [referring to Dick Cheney] have no right to condemn critics of the Iraq war.
*After serving in the Marines in the early 1950's, [Mr. Murtha] re-enlisted in 1966, at the age of 34, and served in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, according to The Almanac of American Politics." See, New York Times article

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO
The Elizabethan era- - Queen Mary I died in 1558 and is succeeded by Elizabeth I.
Aliança Operário-Camponesa
The Zapatista Army of National Liberation
King Louis XVIII
Sir Bernard Montgomery
Soichiro Honda
Shelby Foote,
Rock Hudson
Danny DeVito
Howard Dean

Duk Koo Kim's Last Fight-23 Years Ago

Kim lost to Ray, Boom Boom, Mancini on November 13, 1982 by TKO in round 14. Minutes later Kim collapsed into a coma. He died on November 18, five days after the bout.

Put This In Your Pipe Pat - Questions for Everyone

How sickening it is to know that a human with major influence on the American public can ’pray’ hurricanes, tornados and other disasters from one geographical locale to another. People send this sick son-of-a-bitch money – sometimes money they can ill afford. Why is it that he and Rush Limbaugh take a free ride while many of my pot-smoking clients are in the pen? How come nobody is acting up about it the way they did in the 60s and 70s? Why aren’t WE? Do we just get middle-aged and too tired to do anything but sit around and bitch? Where are we?
From Cathi

NO SMOKING BUT O.K. TO LIGHT UP A CAMEL-OR A HORSE

Our nations capitol again showed how out of touch it is with mainstream America. It continues to chip away at our rights. Though it is still legal for consenting adults of different species to have a mature relationship, you can't have a cigarette afterward.
Please contact your senators, representatives, and Karl Rove to stop this erosion of rights before we become like communist Russia.

"A Great Day For Kansas"

Those who are so insecure in their faith that they need to call it science demean religion and science. See, Kansas, Where "Ignorant" is the New "Educated" Obviously some disagree. "This is a great day for Kansas," board President Steve E. Abrams said. "This absolutely raises science standards."


Board Member Babs Boone, pictured above, was one of two dissenting votes on the board. "These zealots are making monkeys of themselves and Kansas." She said, and then added that "Religious extremists of all faiths are the weapons of mass distruction most likely to destroy our planet."

See also this related article, Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory

Who Is This Mad Man?

I know he is a deposed political leader, but can't place him. He is apprently trying to avoid detection and can change his appearance. He always has the evil look and the mustache except when in drag when, I hate to say it, he looks hot.

Blog Change for Chat

As some of you may have noticed, the "Tag Board" that was at the top of this Blog has been removed. Though it was convenient for "chatty" commenting, it was creating annoying pop-ups for people who don't have pop-up blockers. Now to maintain a convenient way to "chat", or to comment randomly (as opposed to Comments to a Post), a separate "Tag Site" has been created and linked to this site. You will see the "Virgil's Tag Board" link in the list of links ... so that you can jump to that site for your random comment, or to join the thread of discussion that may be occurring there. As for Comments that pertain to a POST on this site, please make your comments within that Post (in the usual manner).
Now all that we need is a little PARTICIPATION!!

Happy Eid

Thanks to Mortie for sending this.

I Miss the Bear, and Football as I knew it, but Not the Racism

'Eleven Men And Sic 'Em'
After Bear Bryant became a coach, many players became dangerously large specialists, dangerous to others—and themselves. By George F. Will This weeks Newsweek By George F. Will This weeks Newsweek

AMEN GEORGE

"DeLay, who neither knows nor cares any more about limited government than a camel knows or cares about calculus, probably will never return to the House leadership, and might even be voted out of the House in 13 months."
George F. Will: K Street Conservatism Newsweek Oct. 17, 2005

Methodists Defrock Lesbian Minister

Sorry

Fresh Roll of Quarters, Same Old Song

We've Been Here Before. What was the cause, the point, the strategy? Suddenly many Americans started to realize that there was no good answer.
By Anna Quindlen
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9785746/site/news

Strange Fruit

Hear Billie Holiday sing Strange Fruit by Lewis Allan

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

20 story condominiums proposed to be built along the shores of Beaver Lake!

Click here for the On-Line Petition

Rosa Parks felt 'determination cover my body like a quilt'

Click here to read more and hear actual interviews with Ms. Parks.

Hurling, Camogie & Shinny

Dad played Shinny when he was a kid. My Coal Hill (home of Wobblies & United Mine Workers) cousin, Dorothy, fell in love with E.L. of Hartman, a scab town. They chose to live on neutral ground in Paris. They, with their then teenage daughter, Edye, heard the Clancy brothers sing The Bold Thady Quill. Edye said that Thady reminded her of Cousin Virgil. All agreed. I listened and found that I had all of Thad Quill’s virtues except prowess in hurling. I finally took a pilgrimage to Ireland and watched a match. I was so taken with it that I got my own hurley and sliotar and played with myself on the football field. Camogie has been described as "like hurling, except that in fights the hair may be pulled as well." See, HURLING FOR FOREIGN DUMMIES.

Lately, I started wondering if the Scots had a similar game. I found out about Shinty which is also called Shinny and had come full circle.
Cousin Jim's brother-in-law Garry believes that the Irish came to the Americas long before the Vikings and either taught the Native Americans hurling which became lacrosse or shinny or learned the games from the native Americans and took it back to Ireland. The ancient drawing attached gives him some credibility.

Puck Fair

In honor of Nanny and Angus.
Queens of Puck

Tell Bush that raids are NOT the answer

Anti-immigrant groups have long sought to make life impossible for immigrants. Their thinking is that if they make life difficult by denying them services and such, then immigrants will leave the U.S. on their own. They have gone so far as to advocate for the denial of citizenship to U.S.-born babies of undocumented parents and for mass deportations of all 11 million undocumented immigrants. (source 1)

http://www.bluelatinos.org/noraids.htm

Congress is now bolstering their agenda. This past week, Senate Leader Bill Frist (Republican from Tennessee ) called on Congress “to tackle border security and interior immigration enforcement before turning to the broader question of immigration reforms.” (source 2) In other words, Senator Frist wants Congress to authorize raids on immigrant communities before fixing the broken immigration system.

Congress has already taken steps towards mass deportations. Earlier this month, Congress passed the homeland security-spending bill that includes $10 billion for immigration law enforcement, including 1,000 new Border Patrol agents and more than 600 new immigration investigators and detention personnel for interior enforcement.

Raids are going to drive a deeper and hurtful wedge in America when we need clear heads to fix our broken immigration system. Sign the petition and tell President Bush that raids and other scare tactics are not the answer.

http://www.bluelatinos.org/noraids.htm

Our immigration system is in desperate need of repair. America deserves an immigration system that provides safe and legal channels for immigrants to contribute to the well being of our economy.

SAVE TEXAS ON THE WAY TO SAVING THE WORLD

VOTE KINKY

Donate at his website http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/ You can also hear some of his and the Texas Jewboys' all time favorites-They Ain’t Makin Jews Like Jesus Anymore, The Ballad of Charles Whitman, Sold American and Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1949555 (Scroll down. They’re near the bottom on the left)

Tone, Truth, and the Democratic Party

RHS

To honor the past and what Jim has given you while living in the present, reply here.
If you have other images you want to add, send them to Patti or me.









"Virgil" and his cousin Jim, who wanted the distinction to be clearly made ...

The Duggar Family Welcomes Baby #16

I Love The St. Louis Cardinals But Miss The Carolina Parakeets

Tom DeLay's House of Shame

Health Warning

Paul Regret

Paul Regret will not return to New Orleans.

Thanks to Virgil Snoddy, and Angus and Nanny McGregor

Thanks to Virgil Snoddy, and Angus and Nanny McGregor, for creating and allowing us to use this blog.