October 31 Revelation

The revelation of the evening is that no kids trick-or-treat on Lessey Street. I find that sad.....

Deval Was at UMass Today

Deval Patrick is about to become our new governor. The election is one week away but I am calling the race today :-) I am not out on a limb in this declaration; he has not been considered the underdog, ever since he swept the state in the primary, shocking almost everyone. However, it is very unusual for Mass to have a Democrat as governor. We tend to have a Republican Governor and a Democratic controlled House and nothing much gets done. So, this will be a big victory in that sense.

I was able to go hear Deval today. I think he represents the hope we all need and the determination we need to make some major headway in this state. Many other state officials were there and many students or course. It was great to see so many interested and responsive students. That alone makes me hopeful.

Deval came to Massachusetts from inner city Chicago as part of the ABC (A Better Chance) program. The Amherst ABC kids were there today...sitting on the stage with the officials!

One part of Deval's web page says:

I can still remember when I first came to Massachusetts. I wasn’t a lawyer then. I wasn’t a business leader or a senior government official. I wasn’t a father or a husband and goodness knows I wasn’t a candidate for governor. I was a 14-year-old boy, starting a new life that was as different from anything I'd experienced in Chicago as I could possibly imagine. And I was scared.

But my grandmother had a saying that fortified me: “Hope for the best – and work for it.”

Hope for the best – and work for it.

That’s what I did. I hoped for the best – I learned how not to accept what is right in front of me, what someone else said were my limits. I learned how to imagine a better life and a better way. And I worked for it.

I learned to listen to common sense and wisdom, to be true to my core values, and to ignore those who called me naïve or told me to accept something less.Standing on the brink of an uncertain future, with all the challenges our state faces today, I hope for the best and am prepared to work for it.

And that is why I am running and why I'm asking you to help me become your next governor. I want you to see what’s possible in Massachusetts – and to help me work for it.

Nacho Libre and All

Last night was the opening night at the Sweetside Viewing Room (aka our place). Nacho Libre (just released on DVD) was the feature flick, accompanied by nahcos of course. Having not seen it before, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Even those who has seen it enjoyed it, as well as the DVD version extras, out-takes and all.

Fall at Sweetside

Amherst College dorm and property, atop the knoll, across the street from our house, shown at sunset. Not a bad view, eh? And our Sweetside Garden (my south side, main garden) here seen as it stands, 5 months since inception and mostly put to bed for Winter. More progress, such as steps and water feature, to be made come Spring '07.

Hot Ticket: Obama & Lamott

Now wouldn't that be quite the Democratic ticket?? Ha Ha Ha Ha!

Just finished reading Anne Lamott's: Plan B. Great read: refreshing and challenging and funny...OMG sooo funny. I am also more than half way thru Obama's new book; The Audacity of Hope. The first half is a framework, his explanation of government, what he sees, etc. Interesting and necessary to really understanding where and why he says what he does in the rest of the book. I am now into the second half where he talks more about his actual ideas. It is interesting to have so much of an inside glimpse into the mind and thinking of a potential presidential candidate. Memoirs afterwards are common, but a person laying their cards on the table before even announcing a run, now that is refreshing. I think in part this book is his fleece. How it is received by, the Party and by the America public may very well influence his decision. It will be interesting to watch this unfold.

A couple of enticing glimpses for you:
Obama in his chapter called "Values" is talking about authenticity and empathy. Regarding empathy he says:
That is what empathy does. It calls us all to task... the oppressed and the oppressor, the conservative and the liberal. No one is exempt from the call to find common ground. Of course , in the end, mutual understanding isn't enough. After all, talk is cheap; like any value, empathy must be acted upon. (p.68)

and,
from Lamott:

In the chapter "Loving Your President" she wrestles with the idea of loving one's enemies as related to Bush, whose policies deeply disturb her, leading her to obsess about the war and the condition of the world. She writes: But Jesus kept harping on forgiveness and loving one's enemies, so I decided to try. Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess about everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breath at all or to pay attention, stomp away to brood when people annoy us, and then eat a big bag of Hershey's Kisses in bed? (p224)
later she writes.....
When you give up on hope, when it is not pinned wriggling onto a shiny image or expectation, it may float forth and open like those fluted Japanese blossoms, flimsy and spastic, bright and warm. This almost always seems to happen in community with family, related by blood, or chosen; at church, for me; at peace marches. (p238)

October 21, 2006 in Pictures

Another busy weekend with some fun tossed in.

Barack's Got a New Book

Shortly after the Democratic Convention 2years, ago I went out and bought Barack's first book. which is sort of an auto-biography. I couldn't believe his keynote address at the convention. "Who IS this guy?" I found myself asking along with thousands of other people. Now he is a possible presidential candidate and has a new book: The Audacity Of Hope. I love the title and I bet I'm gonna love the book too. I am listening to him now on Larry King Live. He said he got the title (and underlying thrust) of the book from a sermon delivered by his pastor, Jeremiah Wright Jr. 18 years ago. Rev Wright has been the pastor of Trinity UCC in Chicago for over 30 years and the church's motto since the 70's, is "Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian."

I am hoping and yes, praying too, that he runs for President (he is being heavily recruited but has not announced yet) and that he wins. One never knows exactly what will happen with any particular person once they are elected but from my lowly seat in this land, I think he is our last (best) hope ~ Barak : US as Obe Wan Kenobi : The Empire :-)

Live from North Korea

Some of you know that the book we are teaching from in the Dean's Book Course this Fall is about North Korea. Well, in an all too timely way, things have definitely heated up in relation to North Korea and it is providing and unusually large volume of info and topics for presentations and discussion. Kim Jung Il, donning nuclear sunglasses, is even on the cover of Newsweek this week. This means I have been spending huge amounts of time reading updates and watching news so that I have half a clue about what is going on day to day.


One amazing thing is that this week, Diane Sawyer (ABC News) has been allowed into this isolated, closed country to report from there. So far she has posted two videos (and transcripts). They are available on line here. Take a look!

It is very unusual to get such an inside view -- even tho all her interactions are monitored and her government "translator" goes with her everywhere. Still, it is a pretty amazing peek.

So Much for "W" & the Religious Right??

Heard this former senior presidential aide in the Bush administration was on 60 Minutes tonight talking about his new book. Sorry I missed it. Could it be that the blanket on their "king" sized bed the bed is unraveling???

Big Week

It's been a busy week here at Sweetside. Significant progress is being made on Aaron's space and the tool room in our basement. Aaron, with the help of Ben, Julian, Steve & Sam has made some good headway.


With some help from Baird I have begun to get our tool room set up. We rebuilt the work table and work bench (both of which had been dismantled in Shutesbury and brought here). I also painted the floor bright yellow, just like it was in Shutesbury.





This past week we also cut down a dead tree of some sort in the Sweetside garden and I planted several shrubs. Gotta love the end of the season close out time at the local nurseries, like the Hadley Garden Center.














Then, Friday was Jess's 22 BD; they came here for desert after having dinner in NoHo.




Today we put away yard decorations and such and then I planted some daffodils. Afterwards Baird and I were installing storm windows when the huge red tail hawk paid us another visit. This time he (she?) flew across our driveway onto the lowest branch of a large maple tree, only a few feet from our front window where Baird was working.

I was on the inside of our window installation job, so I grabbed my camera and joined him outside. The hawk flitted between our 3 large trees out front, stalking 2 squirrels. See it hiding in the leaves on the left side of the tree in the picture? It just patiently hopped from branch to branch until one of the squirrels finally made a run for it. The hawk then swooped down and snagged it. It sat perched on top of it until it was sure it was dead and then flew off carrying it in it's talons, into the wooded area across the street. This whole time both of us were right there, only about 20' away, and I was snapping pictures. It kept looking at me, somewhat curiously, perhaps a bit menacingly, but it was not going to let me deter it from having it's mid afternoon meal.

I never let my cats outside but after this, I certainly never will!

My sista got married....

Saturday was a wonderful day. The weather was just beautiful (this is true) but even more wonderful is the fact that my sister Linda and Jim Johnston were married in Weathersfield, Ct. I'm so happy for them! I was the matron-of-honor. A special privilege. The flower girls were Alison (Linda's grand-daughter; age 4) and Alexia (Jim's grand-daughter, age 2). Aren't they adorable?

North Korea Over The Brink

News just released:
Looks like North Korean has gone over the brink. The official North Korean News agency has announced that North Korea has successfully tested a nuclear weapon. It has not yet been verified but the South Korean government is in an emergency meeting but has said that they did detect a 3.8 on the Richter scale this AM (it is Monday AM there). North Korea says this is for regime survival (defense) because they feel under siege by the Bush administration. Are we surprised?

Jess's School

Baird and I went to Jess's school today. We went to their walk-a-thon, met several of her colleagues and visited her classroom "after hours." It looks fantastic!!

Two Outta Three Ain't Half Bad

No fires set, I don't think, but..... two out of my three DBC classes seemed fairly appalled by the info on the new Military Commissions Act that our Congress passed last Friday. The first class had a fairly subdued, somewhat mixed reaction. A couple of comments from students who seemed to think the whole think is not so bad included, "The war on terror is unique and requires special tactics." and "I think our government should torture prisoners for information but I don't think we should make it legal." I grab the sides of my desk and try to be composed.... OK.... moving right along... what do others think???

It was clear that none of them have much of a clue about what is going on in the world or in our country. They have some very broad strokes as best. Got me to thinking that the Honors College should require a one credit current events class each semester. If our Honors students are entirely out of touch, how much hope is there for our country and be default for the world?

It's Got Me Thinking....

Nelly turned me on to this Balkinization blog
Which in turn set me onto this book:
The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How to Get It Back
and has me itching to read the article When Not Seeing is Believing based on a chapter of the book, in the current addition of Time

One quote from the blog, about the book, that has me thinking is:

Sullivan offers a compelling case for the proposition that the dichotomy between secularism and fundamentalism is radically false. And he bases this case in principles of conservatism – citing Montaigne, Burke and Oakeshott in the process. The claim to full and absolute knowledge implicit in all forms of fundamentalism rests on arrogant assumptions about the capacity of man to know and to understand God. In a sense it forgets the essential role of humility in religious experience.

In turn, this reminded me of Andrew Dole's talk at the DSC last year regarding faith being more consistent with hope than belief (sorry for the ridiculous condensation of Dr. Dole's great talk but that was the nutshell I stored in my mental index).

Ah, the air smells good when the brain is fired up....

Fire Setting in My Dean's Book Classes

In the DBC this Fall we are reading the memoir of a young man who was in a prison camp on North Korea for 10 years (ages 9-19) because his grandfather was deemed to have been against the government. It has been a bit difficult to get any greta discussions going because the students all agree the camp was horrible and that No Korea having such camps is appalling etc. Also, They have little knowledge of Korean history or much other "gap" history (post WWII for example) that it is difficult to have enough context to have a conversation of any depth.

So, I have decided. This week I am bringing in a couple of articles about Congress's recently passed Military Commission Act. This sanctions on torture of anyone deemed an enemy combatant (even US citizens on US soil can be so deemed) is has some disturbing parallels to the "atrocities" being committed in North Korea. So, when it is OUR government and OUR way of life that feels threatened to human rights and dignities go out the window?? Hmmmmm.. Let's see if this fires them up.

Three classes this week, 1 Tuesday and 2 on Weds. I'll let you know if I get egged.

The articles I am bringing in are:
Amnesty International's Response

and an article from the LA Times (that is suppose do be available on-line just for members but for some reason the link worked the first time I tired it :-)

Thx Nelly for the great leads!!

Laura and Jeremy Got Married :-)

This past Saturday a bunch of us went to Laura DiMatteo and Jeremy Kaplan's wedding over in Sturbridge. Really great to witness it all. Fun time! Next Saturday my sister, Linda is getting married to Jim Johnston! Their wedding is in another historic town and historic church, in Weathersfield, CT