Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Sanctity of Marriage
Everyone on the planet needs to read my friend Choral Girl's thoughtful reflections on the matter. But especially, everyone in the ELCA.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Coen Bros Trifecta
Guess where my dad is today? On the set of the new Coen brothers movie.
I'm not jealous, really I'm not.
Ok, maybe I am a little. He and my stepmom are into classic cars, and have a '68 Chevelle. Since the new movie is set in the late '60s, they need lots of stuff from that era to create the appropriate atmosphere. Hence, my dad gets to hang out on the set while the car serves as a set piece. There is a chance he may get suited up in period dress and serve as an extra as well, lucky bugger.
He says it's fascinating to see everything that goes into making the magic happen onscreen, and that's the part I'm envious of - the chance to see how a movie is actually made, in general, and in particular, to watch how these two geniuses work.
Now I really can't wait for this next one to come out!
I'm not jealous, really I'm not.
Ok, maybe I am a little. He and my stepmom are into classic cars, and have a '68 Chevelle. Since the new movie is set in the late '60s, they need lots of stuff from that era to create the appropriate atmosphere. Hence, my dad gets to hang out on the set while the car serves as a set piece. There is a chance he may get suited up in period dress and serve as an extra as well, lucky bugger.
He says it's fascinating to see everything that goes into making the magic happen onscreen, and that's the part I'm envious of - the chance to see how a movie is actually made, in general, and in particular, to watch how these two geniuses work.
Now I really can't wait for this next one to come out!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Three Cups of Tea
I finally finished reading Three Cups of Tea tonight. It was our new book club's inaugural book. I'm normally a fast reader, and this was only 300 pages, so I didn't start it until the week before the book club meeting - I was less than halfway through the book by the time we gathered to discuss it in the beginning of September. David Oliver Relin's prose was just too sloggy for me - I could never read more than 20 pages in a sitting. It's too bad, because Greg Mortenson's life story is incredibly compelling in and of itself, and he's doing amazing and important work in Pakistan and Afghanistan that every American should know about - yet this book had a hard time holding my attention. I was often distracted, as I dutifully trudged my way through it (can't stand abandoning a book), by wondering what a more competent author would have done with the same material.
All that being said, I think it's still worth reading in order to learn more about a part of the world that most Americans have very little knowledge or understanding of, and to learn more about the work and methods of the Central Asia Institute, and to help us think more critically about the methods and principles behind our own foreign policy (a most pertinent discussion in this electoral season).
All that being said, I think it's still worth reading in order to learn more about a part of the world that most Americans have very little knowledge or understanding of, and to learn more about the work and methods of the Central Asia Institute, and to help us think more critically about the methods and principles behind our own foreign policy (a most pertinent discussion in this electoral season).
Sunday, September 14, 2008
SNL Opening 9/13/08
Man, I'm a busy little blogger tonight. This is the last post for today, I promise.
I adore Tina Fey. I think Saturday Night Live has suffered greatly since she left the show. I was particularly lamenting her absence after Palin was announced because they look a lot like each other - I was imagining all the incredible sketches and impersonations that wouldn't be happening this fall.
To my own and (I think) everyone's delight, she made a guest appearance on the opening sketch last night, and was spot on. See for yourself:
The sketch overall was excellent - tightly written and masterfully performed by both Poehler and Fey, and satirically bringing up a major rhetorical issue in this campaign and its coverage - the vast difference and inconsistencies in how we name things.
Rock, rock on, Tina Fey. And if you want to stop by for a few more impersonations this fall, I for one won't mind at all.
I adore Tina Fey. I think Saturday Night Live has suffered greatly since she left the show. I was particularly lamenting her absence after Palin was announced because they look a lot like each other - I was imagining all the incredible sketches and impersonations that wouldn't be happening this fall.
To my own and (I think) everyone's delight, she made a guest appearance on the opening sketch last night, and was spot on. See for yourself:
The sketch overall was excellent - tightly written and masterfully performed by both Poehler and Fey, and satirically bringing up a major rhetorical issue in this campaign and its coverage - the vast difference and inconsistencies in how we name things.
Rock, rock on, Tina Fey. And if you want to stop by for a few more impersonations this fall, I for one won't mind at all.
The Trouble with Grapevines (and: The Rumors of "B's" Death are Greatly Exaggerated)
Today we had a perfect illustration of how quickly incomplete information can go "viral."
Parishioner A works with a nephew of Parishioner B. Nephew mentions at work Friday that his aunt died. He does not say which aunt, and Parishioner A does not think to ask, and doesn't think too much of it until this morning when Parishioner B's husband is not in worship (B herself is homebound). Now Parishioner A wonders if Parishioner B was the one who died, and innocently makes inquiries of other members of the congregation to see if they've heard anything to this effect.
Parishioner A also asks me, during the sharing of the peace, if this is true. I look and notice Parishioner B's husband is not present, and though I have heard nothing in regards to his wife's death, I realize with a sinking feeling in my stomach that I was not home for most of yesterday and I forgot to check my voicemail when I did get home, so it's entirely possible Parishioner B did die and I just haven't picked up the message yet. So now I'm worrying that the husband is grieving and has left me messages and I'm the schmucky pastor who hasn't gotten back to him.
By the end of worship, probably a dozen people are fluttering around wondering whether Parishioner B is alive or not. Some of them have heard this rumor from someone other than Parishioner A, which tightens the knot in my stomach, thinking multiple sources mean greater likelihood the rumor is true. But then I talked to the "other" sources and asked them where they got their information - it all tracked back to Parishioner A's inquiries.
I went to Parishioner C, a neighbor of the Bs, to see if they could shed light on the truth. They had heard nothing to the effect of B dying, and thankfully made some phone calls while I was teaching confirmation, and found out that B is, in fact, still with us.
A few observations:
1. I'm amazed at how quickly and exponentially the incomplete information spread - and we are just a microcosm of the wider world. Gives me new appreciation for how widely and rapidly information (accurate, inaccurate, and incomplete) can reach people, especially when aided by mass media tools like television or the internet.
2. I'm wondering if the correct and complete information will spread as rapidly. I've already received one phone call, from Parishioner D, to tell me that they also made some calls after worship and discovered B is still alive. I'm wondering how many more of those kind of calls I'm going to get, and how many more calls the church office is going to get wondering if B died, and how many calls the Bs themselves are going to get from well-intentioned folks trying to track down the truth and/or offer their condolences.
3. In this case the whole situation was very innocent and well-meaning - people genuinely wanting to reach out in support to a brother who may be in grief. Even so, I think our experience this morning clearly illustrates just how dangerous a communication tool the grapevine can be, and I shudder to think of the damage that could be done by someone with malicious intent who is purposely dispersing blatantly false information.
4. McCain's presidential campaign currently manifests my worst fears from observation 3. He has apparently decided he likes living in Bush's "Opposite Land" (a place where you name things the opposite of what they actually do, like calling rollbacks on air pollution and air quality standards the "Clear Skies Initiative"). And he and Palin have adopted the Bush/Cheney/Rove strategy of just repeating lies often enough and through enough different sources until people believe they must be true (and they're doing it with both smears about Obama and lies about their own records - like McCain being such a "maverick" when in truth he votes with Bush 90% of the time, or Palin rejecting the "Bridge to Nowhere" and fighting pork barrel spending, when in truth, she was all for the bridge until it was politically expedient not to be, and she kept the money from the federal government anyway, sans bridge!). I hope - I pray - the American public is smart enough not to fall for this strategy again, and resourceful enough to research the truth for themselves.
But I also fear the power of the grapevine, especially when it's under the power of the dark side of the force.
Parishioner A works with a nephew of Parishioner B. Nephew mentions at work Friday that his aunt died. He does not say which aunt, and Parishioner A does not think to ask, and doesn't think too much of it until this morning when Parishioner B's husband is not in worship (B herself is homebound). Now Parishioner A wonders if Parishioner B was the one who died, and innocently makes inquiries of other members of the congregation to see if they've heard anything to this effect.
Parishioner A also asks me, during the sharing of the peace, if this is true. I look and notice Parishioner B's husband is not present, and though I have heard nothing in regards to his wife's death, I realize with a sinking feeling in my stomach that I was not home for most of yesterday and I forgot to check my voicemail when I did get home, so it's entirely possible Parishioner B did die and I just haven't picked up the message yet. So now I'm worrying that the husband is grieving and has left me messages and I'm the schmucky pastor who hasn't gotten back to him.
By the end of worship, probably a dozen people are fluttering around wondering whether Parishioner B is alive or not. Some of them have heard this rumor from someone other than Parishioner A, which tightens the knot in my stomach, thinking multiple sources mean greater likelihood the rumor is true. But then I talked to the "other" sources and asked them where they got their information - it all tracked back to Parishioner A's inquiries.
I went to Parishioner C, a neighbor of the Bs, to see if they could shed light on the truth. They had heard nothing to the effect of B dying, and thankfully made some phone calls while I was teaching confirmation, and found out that B is, in fact, still with us.
A few observations:
1. I'm amazed at how quickly and exponentially the incomplete information spread - and we are just a microcosm of the wider world. Gives me new appreciation for how widely and rapidly information (accurate, inaccurate, and incomplete) can reach people, especially when aided by mass media tools like television or the internet.
2. I'm wondering if the correct and complete information will spread as rapidly. I've already received one phone call, from Parishioner D, to tell me that they also made some calls after worship and discovered B is still alive. I'm wondering how many more of those kind of calls I'm going to get, and how many more calls the church office is going to get wondering if B died, and how many calls the Bs themselves are going to get from well-intentioned folks trying to track down the truth and/or offer their condolences.
3. In this case the whole situation was very innocent and well-meaning - people genuinely wanting to reach out in support to a brother who may be in grief. Even so, I think our experience this morning clearly illustrates just how dangerous a communication tool the grapevine can be, and I shudder to think of the damage that could be done by someone with malicious intent who is purposely dispersing blatantly false information.
4. McCain's presidential campaign currently manifests my worst fears from observation 3. He has apparently decided he likes living in Bush's "Opposite Land" (a place where you name things the opposite of what they actually do, like calling rollbacks on air pollution and air quality standards the "Clear Skies Initiative"). And he and Palin have adopted the Bush/Cheney/Rove strategy of just repeating lies often enough and through enough different sources until people believe they must be true (and they're doing it with both smears about Obama and lies about their own records - like McCain being such a "maverick" when in truth he votes with Bush 90% of the time, or Palin rejecting the "Bridge to Nowhere" and fighting pork barrel spending, when in truth, she was all for the bridge until it was politically expedient not to be, and she kept the money from the federal government anyway, sans bridge!). I hope - I pray - the American public is smart enough not to fall for this strategy again, and resourceful enough to research the truth for themselves.
But I also fear the power of the grapevine, especially when it's under the power of the dark side of the force.
Igniter Media
I went to an excellent presentation on evangelism yesterday by Pastor Ernie Hinojosa, and he used several short videos from this group to illustrate what he had to say. Witty, sarcastic, and hit-the-nail-on-the-head truthful (though in perusing their website, they also have much devotional and still-frame image kinds of stuff too). In all, good resources to be aware of and to utilize, especially for emergent church types.
Check out "me Church" to see what I'm talking about. He had another particularly hilarious one about "pizza evangelism" that I assumed was from the same source, but I can't find it yet, either on their site or via google.
Check out "me Church" to see what I'm talking about. He had another particularly hilarious one about "pizza evangelism" that I assumed was from the same source, but I can't find it yet, either on their site or via google.
The Great Minnesota Get-Together
(Sky Ride and Space Tower)
Pictures from the happiest place on earth (is it horribly Minnesotan of me that my happy place only exists for 12 days out of the year? Somehow I sense Garrison Keillor could make a monologue out of that. . .). In total, I made it to the Fair three different days while I was home. In addition to my normal haunts, two definite highlights of this year were the special programs regarding the Minnesota Sesquicentennial, and the free Brandi Carlile concert at the Leinie stage (she played at least half an hour's worth of encores!).
(The Midway at Night)
Definite lament: the Disneyfication of the International Bazaar. The old bazaar felt like an actual open-air market in another country - crowded lanes, crowded stalls, tamped dirt walkways, etc. The new one is more user-friendly in that it's bigger overall, has wider lanes that are paved with concrete, and a roof over the center. But it's sterile, like an Epcot version of an international bazaar. And, much like the rehab on the food building a few years ago, this too drove out a lot of the smaller vendors (gone were the Vietnamese egg roll people, and also the Hawaiian ice folks, and where there used to be 4-5 different Hmong groups selling needlework, now there is only one).
(The Search for the Great Pumpkin continues. . .)
A wide variety of food, both on and off a stick, was consumed. And yes, I tried the pig lickers (chocolate-covered bacon), but only because the friends I was with wanted to get them, so they bought and we all ate a piece. It's not the worst thing I've ever eaten (the lefse dog last year was definitely a poorer choice), but I have no desire to ever eat it again.
(Princess Kay butter sculptures)
Hopefully next year Adri and Burki will be with us for the Fair! Adri was thoroughly indoctrinated into Fair culture during her visit six years ago, but we still have to introduce her new hubby to the time-honored traditions and bizarre rituals of the Great MN Get-Together!
(Brandi Carlile at the Leinie Bandshell)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Deep Thoughts
From Lutheran preacher and professor Edmund Steimle, quoted in Tom Long's Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian: "A good sermon is not a beautiful package with a pretty bow tied by the preacher. A good sermon is like rings on the surface of a lake when the preacher has gone down in deep water."
From Bill Payne, our beloved SVC conductor, during last night's rehearsal of the Gounod Messe Solennelle: "Remember, this guy composed opera. Piano is more of an attitude than a dynamic. Think like you're singing piano at the Met."
From Bill Payne, our beloved SVC conductor, during last night's rehearsal of the Gounod Messe Solennelle: "Remember, this guy composed opera. Piano is more of an attitude than a dynamic. Think like you're singing piano at the Met."
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Good Country for Film-making Men
As if it wasn't cool enough that parts of Fargo were filmed in my hometown, the Coen brothers will shoot part of their next film at my alma mater. Oh, to be a student again and be on campus while they're filming!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Everybody Wake Up
Well, if nothing else, Sarah Palin certainly proved tonight that she can be just as catty and snarky as many steeped in the culture and establishment of DC.
She also affirmed what I suspected from the moment she was announced - that a McCain/Palin administration will be another 4 years of the same as far as energy policy, and I quote "we will lay more pipeline, build more nuclear plants, burn more clean coal, and move forward on [renewables]." Once again, as we've heard repeatedly over the past 8 years, the plan is direct action to ramp up our consumption of non-renewables, with vague lip service paid to developing renewable energy. . .some day. Yet she supposedly stood up to big oil as governor.
This is the top issue for me in this election - more so than the war and the economy, though those are also very strong concerns - but if we don't get on top of this and shift to a more renewable and sustainable energy policy now, we're going to have a lot more war and a lot deeper economic problems in the future. Yes, it's going to cost money, but it's also going to save money in the long run (once you've got the technology to utilize them, sunlight and wind are abundant and free), and it's going to create money for all the scientists and skilled laborers and venture capitalists who make the shift into this field, those who will develop the technology, learn how to build and maintain it, and front the money to get the stuff built. Yes, that in-between time of transitioning between an oil/coal/carbon-based economy and a renewable/sustainable economy may be a little rough, and being the good progressive that I am, I'd say we ought to anticipate who will be hit the hardest and do what we can to make that transition smoother and easier for them.
But I'd also say we need to take a page out of the Silent Generation's playbook and learn to just suck it up and be willing to make some economic sacrifices for the good of this country. During WWII they rationed staples and gasoline and grew victory gardens, women stopped wearing pantyhose, they recycled as much as possible, it was anathema to waste anything. Here we are five years into a war, a quagmire with no end in sight (despite all the talk of immanent "victory" tonight**) that has now lasted longer than WWII, and what sacrifices have we as a people made through its duration? Oh, I forgot, our commander-in-chief recently gave up his golf game in honor of the troops. But what about the rest of us? Some folks are now finally giving up their unnecessary and inefficient SUVs or striving to consolidate trips since it seems gas will never go under three and a half bucks a gallon again. But just as many are refusing to change their habits, rather, they are clamoring for us to exhaust any and every potential drill site, foolishly believing that American oil companies (heavily subsidized by the American government, incidentally - in other words, corporate welfare funded by your tax dollars) will actually sell American oil to Americans, as opposed to the highest bidder, once they pull it out of our ground. Even in a Pollyanna world where they manage to safely, efficiently, and cleanly get every last drop and actually sell it to Americans at a reasonable price, it's enough to meet 5% of our current demand. That's not even a band aid. We need to start changing NOW, and be willing to make some sacrifices in the process.
As Dave would say, EVERYBODY WAKE UP!
Peace,
Catrina
**Just wondering - when Gov. Palin says "victory" does she mean it in the same way that a jump-suited Pres. Bush meant "mission accomplished" on the decks of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln five years ago?
I know - she's not the only one proving she can be catty and snarky tonight. . .
She also affirmed what I suspected from the moment she was announced - that a McCain/Palin administration will be another 4 years of the same as far as energy policy, and I quote "we will lay more pipeline, build more nuclear plants, burn more clean coal, and move forward on [renewables]." Once again, as we've heard repeatedly over the past 8 years, the plan is direct action to ramp up our consumption of non-renewables, with vague lip service paid to developing renewable energy. . .some day. Yet she supposedly stood up to big oil as governor.
This is the top issue for me in this election - more so than the war and the economy, though those are also very strong concerns - but if we don't get on top of this and shift to a more renewable and sustainable energy policy now, we're going to have a lot more war and a lot deeper economic problems in the future. Yes, it's going to cost money, but it's also going to save money in the long run (once you've got the technology to utilize them, sunlight and wind are abundant and free), and it's going to create money for all the scientists and skilled laborers and venture capitalists who make the shift into this field, those who will develop the technology, learn how to build and maintain it, and front the money to get the stuff built. Yes, that in-between time of transitioning between an oil/coal/carbon-based economy and a renewable/sustainable economy may be a little rough, and being the good progressive that I am, I'd say we ought to anticipate who will be hit the hardest and do what we can to make that transition smoother and easier for them.
But I'd also say we need to take a page out of the Silent Generation's playbook and learn to just suck it up and be willing to make some economic sacrifices for the good of this country. During WWII they rationed staples and gasoline and grew victory gardens, women stopped wearing pantyhose, they recycled as much as possible, it was anathema to waste anything. Here we are five years into a war, a quagmire with no end in sight (despite all the talk of immanent "victory" tonight**) that has now lasted longer than WWII, and what sacrifices have we as a people made through its duration? Oh, I forgot, our commander-in-chief recently gave up his golf game in honor of the troops. But what about the rest of us? Some folks are now finally giving up their unnecessary and inefficient SUVs or striving to consolidate trips since it seems gas will never go under three and a half bucks a gallon again. But just as many are refusing to change their habits, rather, they are clamoring for us to exhaust any and every potential drill site, foolishly believing that American oil companies (heavily subsidized by the American government, incidentally - in other words, corporate welfare funded by your tax dollars) will actually sell American oil to Americans, as opposed to the highest bidder, once they pull it out of our ground. Even in a Pollyanna world where they manage to safely, efficiently, and cleanly get every last drop and actually sell it to Americans at a reasonable price, it's enough to meet 5% of our current demand. That's not even a band aid. We need to start changing NOW, and be willing to make some sacrifices in the process.
As Dave would say, EVERYBODY WAKE UP!
Peace,
Catrina
**Just wondering - when Gov. Palin says "victory" does she mean it in the same way that a jump-suited Pres. Bush meant "mission accomplished" on the decks of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln five years ago?
I know - she's not the only one proving she can be catty and snarky tonight. . .
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Swiftboating Begins
The past couple of days, there has been a commercial running rather often here in PA, questioning what we really "know" about Barack Obama, and bringing up his connection to William Ayers of the Weather Underground once again. They go into great detail about Ayers' terroristic behavior (emphasizing his lack of repentance), and try to scare folks by making it sound like he and Obama are BFFs and served together on a left-wing think tank.
The truth: Ayers and Obama are both strong public figures in Chicago (Ayers serving as a professor at the University of Illinois - Chicago; Obama as a state and now national senator). They did serve as colleagues on a board together, for the Woods Fund of Chicago. A word about the Fund's mission, from their own website:
Engaging people in civic life (hmm. . .seems the founders thought that was a pretty good idea), addressing the root causes of poverty, promoting more effective public policies (aka making government work better!), reducing racism and barriers to equal opportunity, and building a sense of community (as American as apple pie, if you ask me) are now radical left-wing causes, the support of which may imply you are an America-hating terrorist? Who knew?!
Oh wait, I forgot. . .as Dom Helder Camara said, if you just feed the poor they'll call you a saint. If you start asking why people are poor, they'll call you a communist.
The truth: Ayers and Obama are both strong public figures in Chicago (Ayers serving as a professor at the University of Illinois - Chicago; Obama as a state and now national senator). They did serve as colleagues on a board together, for the Woods Fund of Chicago. A word about the Fund's mission, from their own website:
The foundation works primarily as a funding partner with nonprofit organizations. Woods supports nonprofits in their important roles of engaging people in civic life, addressing the causes of poverty and other challenges facing the region, promoting more effective public policies, reducing racism and other barriers to equal opportunity, and building a sense of community and common ground.
Engaging people in civic life (hmm. . .seems the founders thought that was a pretty good idea), addressing the root causes of poverty, promoting more effective public policies (aka making government work better!), reducing racism and barriers to equal opportunity, and building a sense of community (as American as apple pie, if you ask me) are now radical left-wing causes, the support of which may imply you are an America-hating terrorist? Who knew?!
Oh wait, I forgot. . .as Dom Helder Camara said, if you just feed the poor they'll call you a saint. If you start asking why people are poor, they'll call you a communist.
I Came, I Saw, I Did Not Conquer
SVC rehearsals started up again tonight. We're singing Rutter's Requiem and Gounod's Mess e Solennelle for our fall concerts.
Let's just say, sight-singing in Latin is not one of my spiritual gifts. You would think, for as many masses as we've sung these past few years, I would be getting the hang of this Latin stuff, but each time we start a new piece it's a struggle for me. And it's even more difficult when the music editor can't be bothered to print the altos our own line of text, forcing us to hunt for it above both our own musical part and an English translation of said text (why do you hate altos so, music editors of the world? we are good and kind people who just want to sing a little harmony!).
The music is gorgeous, so I know it's going to sound beautiful and be really fun to sing once we pull it together. But right now
we're in that icky "this is hard and not so much fun to work on" stage. May we get through it quickly!
Let's just say, sight-singing in Latin is not one of my spiritual gifts. You would think, for as many masses as we've sung these past few years, I would be getting the hang of this Latin stuff, but each time we start a new piece it's a struggle for me. And it's even more difficult when the music editor can't be bothered to print the altos our own line of text, forcing us to hunt for it above both our own musical part and an English translation of said text (why do you hate altos so, music editors of the world? we are good and kind people who just want to sing a little harmony!).
The music is gorgeous, so I know it's going to sound beautiful and be really fun to sing once we pull it together. But right now
we're in that icky "this is hard and not so much fun to work on" stage. May we get through it quickly!
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Newest Ciccone
While Gustav has been tearing through the Gulf Coast, and protesters have been demonstrating in St. Paul, over in Minneapolis my cousin Steve and his wife Stephanie have been riding out their own personal drama bringing their firstborn into the world. After making us wait 11 days past his due date and putting his mother through a prolonged labor, Clark Steven Ciccone at long last drew his first breath shortly after midnight early, early this morning.
Mom and baby are doing fine, and Rever (nickname - long story) couldn't be a prouder papa, though the long labor was kinda rough on all of them, so if you're a praying type, please hold them in your own prayers these next few days.
Welcome to the world, baby Clark! We are so glad you are finally here!
Mom and baby are doing fine, and Rever (nickname - long story) couldn't be a prouder papa, though the long labor was kinda rough on all of them, so if you're a praying type, please hold them in your own prayers these next few days.
Welcome to the world, baby Clark! We are so glad you are finally here!
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