The Column of Life

Not everything that is happening in NYC this evening is happening in Times Square, which in many ways has nothing to do with the real New York.

From a fan of his who went to the site BGR Design does for him. As a spartan watcher of television, I came across the series Without A Trace . I began to follow it closely for its exceptional screen writing and subject matter selection. My favorite episode to date, one that made a powerful statement to me, was "Penitence" in which the protagonist "MacAvoy", an inmate in prison for a crime of reactive violence, undergoes an soul transformation, redemption, and discovery of his self worth. All of this takes place in the context of the harsh codes and protocols of life in prison. Logically I know better than to ascribe to the actor in real life the full measure and meaning of a particular character role. Yet the issues dealt with in this episode, culminating in MacAvoy's allowing his life to be sacrificed for the care and protection of another inmate, were displayed with a convincing clarity beyond the four corners of a character role assignment. Your tone, focus ...

There’s no reason why Obama shouldn’t return the favor by inviting him to Washington. But there’s a difference between including Warren among the cacophony of voices weighing in on policy and anointing him as the inaugural’s de facto pope. You can’t blame V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop and an early Obama booster, for feeling as if he’d been slapped in the face. “I’m all for Rick Warren being at the table,” he told The Times, but “we’re talking about putting someone up front and center at what will be the most-watched inauguration in history, and asking his blessing on the nation. And the God that he’s praying to is not the God that I know.” Warren, whose ego is no less than Obama’s, likes to advertise his “commitment to model civility in America.” But as Rachel Maddow of MSNBC reminded her audience, “comparing gay relationships to child abuse” is a “strange model of civility.” Less strange but equally hard to take is Warren’s defensive insisten...

“Give a butch roar or a girlish shriek, I don’t mind who does what, sort it out for yourselves!” – Dusty Springfield Dusty was born an O'Brien into a Catholic family in 1939 London but there is a lot more to her than that. She was furnished with a lot of soul which came forth in many of her recordings. "Live It Up" was recorded in New York City in 1964 and written by Leon Huff, a stalwart of the music of Philly, who would eventually co-produce Dusty's second Atlantic album, A Brand New Me , as a precursor to the Philadelphia International Sound. Dusty's 60s recordings, especially, were derivative of Classic RnB, but she had no intention of eclipsing it. Instead she celebrated it. Martha Reeves with whom she had a special relationship says as much in the BBC documentary Full Circle . In fact, "Live It Up" is reminiscent of the Vandellas' "Dancin' In the Street." Dusty's vocal is inspired and inspiring. It's a song, much like ...

Jacob who became the father of Israel by virtue of a bowl of lentils, which he'd been preparing, and used to buy his elder brother's birthright (and, by the way, went on to wrestle an angel) filtered that patriarchal event through many centuries so that the food became an Italian New Year's tradition: a required item on the New Year's menu -- Eve or Day, their shape brings to mind tiny coins and people eat them in the hope that they won't want for anything for the coming year. Lentils are very versatile, and, not to mention, nutritious. Therefore, two recipes are offered -- one more traditional than the other along with young gentlemen who seem to be quite versatile themselves. While it wouldn't be right to refer to them as nutritious, it seems they may know a thing or two about nutrition and wrestling angels Zuppa di Lenticchie (Lentil Soup) 2 tablespoons fruity Olive Oil 2 large garlic cloves, minced 1 medium onion, diced 1 small fennel bulb, diced 4 cups c...

Doesn't take much ... Here's a suggestion or two or three

About a week ago, the President-Elect referred to this in regard to Warren's invitation to invoke at the inaugural: "A couple of years ago I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak despite his awareness that I held views that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion," he said. "Nevertheless I had an opportunity to speak, and that dialogue I think is part of what my campaign's been all about, that we're not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable, and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans." [source: HuffingtonPost] The remarks came after progressives and, in particular, the gay and lesbian community criticized the president-elect's decision to give such a prominent role to a pastor whose views on torture, gay rights, and stem cell research don...

so those reindeer are going to play some new games this year.

As Above So Below As Without So Within Peace and Merry Be, Giano Et Verbum Caro Factum Est et Habitavit in Nobis. And the Word was Made Flesh and dwelt among us. The Word that came forth from God was made Flesh. Exegesis of ancient philosophy and thought places much emphasis on the power of the word. The Word that came from God took form in humanity. That’s what Jesus is supposedly all about: God and humanity as one and the same entity. John, the Beloved Disciple is the attributed author of the above quote which is essential to the Liturgy of the Word in Roman Catholic ritual, and is part of that ritual on Xmas. John was the one whose head rested on the chest of the Lord during the Last Supper. John was the one to whom the Lord entrusted his mother when he was dying. John is usually depicted as a young handsome man. He is the Beloved above and beyond the rest of the disciples. A type of intimacy was attributed to and recorded about John's relationship to Jesus. Let it be said here...

Merry Christmoose Thank you for everything, Pookie! You're the best.

[From Huffington Post--where is Jon Stewart when you need him?] Alone among major Western nations, the United States has refused to sign a declaration presented Thursday at the United Nations calling for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality. In all, 66 of the U.N.'s 192 member countries signed the nonbinding declaration _ which backers called a historic step to push the General Assembly to deal more forthrightly with any-gay discrimination. More than 70 U.N. members outlaw homosexuality, and in several of them homosexual acts can be punished by execution. Co-sponsored by France and the Netherlands, the declaration was signed by all 27 European Union members, as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries. There was broad opposition from Muslim nations, and the United States refused to sign, indicating that some parts of the declaration raised legal questions that needed further review. "It's disappointing," said Rama Yade, France's hum...

We do this every year just like David Letterman: Darlene Love continues to make her mark on David Letterman’s yearly Yuletide show with her perennial hit, “Christmas (Baby, Please Co me Ho me )” which made its debut in the watershed year, 1963. It was the year before the arrival of the Beatles and the me mory which serves well brings to mind “Heat Wave,” “Anyone Who Had A Heart,” “Cry Baby,” “He’s Sure the Boy I love,” and “One Fine Day” among so many other hit songs that year. President Kennedy provided the world with its first movie star world leader with his classy First Lady. The Cuban Missile Crisis and The Bay of Pigs Invasion were behind us. Oh it wasn’t idyllic but the young baby boo me rs at least had everything in its appropriate place and were optimistic. Darlene Love was hard at work on what was to beco me a Christmas music stalwart with the above standout original piece. Here is what she herself tells us about its inception in her autobiography, My Na me Is Love : The ...

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21, 2008 at 7:04 AM EST. 'Tis the shortest day of the year, yet it is out of the darkness that we celebrate and await the light. We are forever on our way.

Turnin' up the heat in the middle of winter [from allrecipes.com] INGREDIENTS * 2 tablespoons olive oil * 2 onions, chopped * 4 cloves garlic, minced * 4 cooked, boneless chicken breast half, chopped * 1 and a half quarts chicken broth * 8 ounces cans canned green chile peppers, chopped * 2 teaspoons ground cumin * 2 teaspoons dried oregano * 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper * 5 cans great Northern beans, undrained * 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 10 minutes, or until onions are tender. Add the chicken, chicken broth, green chile peppers, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper and bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat to low and add the beans. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until heated thoroughly. Pour into individual bowls and top with the cheese.

Well, he's not Cameron Mathison in a thong but Paul from DNA serves it up quite nicely One of Column's greatest hits, a main course for Xmas Eve: Salmon Cakes New Potatoes, 500 grams, chopped One Lemon, juice and zest Milk, four tablespoons Green Onions, one bunch, sliced Cayenne Pepper, one qaurter teaspoon Salmon, two hundred grams, canned Flour, all purpose, two tablespoons Egg, one, beaten Breadcrumbs, 100 grams Extra Virgin Olive Oil, one tablesppon Coarse Salt Pepper

Take a break from the weekend chores.