It probably says more about my naivety than anything else, but I did not discover that there was such a thing as anti-Semitism, prejudice against Jews, until I was a freshman in college. That year the entering freshman class at the University of Rhode Island was huge, and in the economy dormitories they were housing three students in rooms meant for two. In mine, besides myself, there was Continue reading “Saint Augustine and Anti-Semitism”
Nice Compliment?
I have started working with a new iTalki.com teacher on my Spanish language learning journey, a young accordion player – accordions being prominent in Mexican music – from Guadalajara, Mexico. He has a Masters in French, but teaches Spanish online as there is more demand for it and he can charge more. Besides Spanish and French, he also speaks some Italian and wee bit of Arabic. While he speaks English, he does not list it on his iTalki profile as he is after more advanced students. As he said to me, he does not want to be someone’s dictionary. I know he lived in Chicago for a while, actually not too far from Barrington. However, given the size of the Hispanic community in the Chicago area, it would be very possible to live there and only speak Spanish.
The other day for some reason he asked me what I thought of my Spanish. Being the wise ass that I am I used the line I use with waiters in Mexican restaurants, hablo español como un perro negro, I speak Spanish like a black dog. It never fails to elicit a laugh from a waiter. I went on to say, in Spanish, that I speak a very Gringo type of Spanish, and I wish I was more fluid than I am.
His reply to me was, “I just wish my English was as good as your Spanish.” Of course, I have never conversed with him in English to know the level of his English skills but nevertheless I am going to take it as a compliment.
And so it goes.
Reconsidering JFK – A Wondrium Course
If you are of my generation or older you remember the day President John F. Kennedy was shot, 22 November 1963. I was in 6th grade at an elementary school in Toms River, New Jersey. It was the first time in my educational career that I had had a male teacher. He was a very tall, skinny man who I remember mainly because he was male and his reaction to the Kennedy news. When they announced over the loudspeaker that the President had been assassinated, this man cried. However, when I raised my hand after Continue reading “Reconsidering JFK – A Wondrium Course”
Quote of the Day – Zen Proverb
“The foolish reject what they see. The wise reject what they think.” ~~ Zen Proverb
To see more Quotes for Day, visit this link: Quotes for the Day
Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #2,688
yeah I know you did not ask!
I was doing yoga style stretches before launching into more vigorous, traditional exercises in our basement gymnasium area. As I was doing so my various joints were snapping,cracking and popping so loudly and so often that I thought I was consuming a bowl of Rice Krispies.
Word of the Day – Oblation
- Noun: Oblation
- the act of making a religious offering
specifically, capitalized : the act of offering the eucharistic elements to God - something offered in worship or devotion : a holy gift offered usually at an altar or shrine
- the act of making a religious offering
- Synonyms:
- gift
- offering
- presentation
- sacrifice
- Usage:
- “We say [ Christian rulers] are happy if they rule justly; if … they are not inflated with pride, but remember that they are but men… if they do all this not for a burning desire for empty glory, but for the love of eternal blessedness; and if they do not fail to offer to their true God, as a sacrifice for their sins, the oblation of humility, compassion, and prayer… then we can call them happy in hope. “
- Encountered:
- While watching the Wondrium course, Books That Matter: The City of God. A book written by St. Augustine in the early 400s that is considered one of the seminal works of Christian theology and philosophy.
To see more Words of the Day, visit this link: Words of the Day
Missouri religious leaders sue to overturn Missouri’s ban on abortion
One of the guiding principles of my life is live and let live. If I were being honest, I would have to admit to falling short of this goal far too often, but it is a light I steer towards. In that same vein I have a mantra I recite whenever I am speaking or thinking about religious beliefs or sexual orientation, “Life is tough, whatever gets you through the day, whatever gets you through the night.”
My issue with many Christians, especially Evangelicals and Catholics, and Continue reading “Missouri religious leaders sue to overturn Missouri’s ban on abortion”
Carr Beans
I want to give props to my homey, Master Gardener, Harry H., of North Barrington, IL.
The last time we had a Carr Family reunion was around 2008 or 2009. It was a smaller one, probably a little over 100 souls were there. With the passing of all The Eight Carr Sisters except my mother, daughters of the family matriarch, Mama Carr, and the aging of the 1st cousins of that generation, it will, in all likelihood, be the last one. As the generations spread out from Continue reading “Carr Beans”
Genealogical Craziness
This may be of more interest to family members than others, but here goes.
My first name, David, is after my father, who is also a David.
My middle name is Stephen, as in Stephen Fuller Austin, one of the founding fathers of Texas for whom the state capital is named. The family legend was that he was my great, great… uncle. However, no hard evidence had ever been presented for this relationship, and years ago I chalked it up to family mythology.
During his retirement my father starting doing genealogy, not only on his side of the family, but also on my mother’s. Turns out there is Continue reading “Genealogical Craziness”
Genealogical Conundrum
For reasons unclear to me I had my y-chromosome and mtDNA tested, reckon I found some money laying in the street. I had had my autosomal tested a while back which was interesting, but did not tell me a lot. Given that my immediate and personal DNA dies with me – my DNA is nothing special, so no big loss to humanity- I am not quite sure why I am so interested in the genealogy. Probably the history fascinates me.
The autosomal DNA is just general DNA. Y-chromosome is specific for the paternal line. mtDNA is specific for maternal line. For me, the y-chromosome shows mostly British isles followed by Germany and Italy.
Almost immediately after they ran and posted Continue reading “Genealogical Conundrum”