Benedict for Saturday Breakfast

I have to hand it to the Vatican, their PR machine runs smoothers than GW's. Here's another Vatican Blog speaking the highest praises of Pope Benedicts visit to Turkey.

My favorite part was this excerpt:

From his support for Turkey’s European Union membership to his speaking in Turkish during prayers in the ancient city of Ephesus, the Pope surprised and impressed.Most enthusiasm was reserved for his decision to pray alongside Mustafa Cagrici, the Mufti of Istanbul, at the Blue Mosque.The Mufti characterised the moment when Pope Benedict faced Mecca and clasped his hands in the Muslim manner, as the full apology that the Pope failed to make after his controversial address about Islam at Regensburg University in Germany in September.

A symbolic apology? How about a real one.

We Belong, an important film about Tolerence or Lack Thereof in PA High Schools

We Belong

Producer: Joe Wilson

This is the story of two rural teens who had the courage to stand up to bigotry and intolerance in their schools – and the determination to tell their stories to the world.

Homophobia is one of the last “permissible” forms of prejudice. Its effects are especially acute for youth, who often suffer alone and in silence. Two thirds of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth experience harassment or violence in school, and the suicide rate for this group is four times the average.

When C.J. Bills is gay bashed in the school locker room, then arrested for disorderly conduct because he protests to an administrator about the harassment he has experienced, he decides to fight back by making a documentary about discrimination. With his family’s help, he also initiates an investigation by the state human rights commission and shames the school district into developing an anti-bullying and diversity training program.

C.J.’s documentary project also leads him to Tim Dahle, a former high school student who challenged the years of anti-gay harassment he suffered in a neighboring town. In Tim’s case, the school district that failed to protect him agreed to one of the largest sexual harassment settlements in history, sending a signal to school districts around the country that such behavior can be costly.

We Belong demonstrates that young people have the power to change their communities and the world, and that helping youth to tell their stories, in their own way and on camera, is enlightening, empowering, and effective.

It is part of the Seeds of Tolerance Competition hosted by CurrentTV. The winner of the competition will have their documentary aired on nationall television.

Click here to view 'We Belong' on Current TV.

Daily Martini: Gimlet

This is a nose to the grind-stone kind of a day, and for that I recommend a simple, old-fashioned drink that will put you in your place without a lot of fuss.

This is the grown up version of a So.Co. and Lime shot.


The Gimlet
2 oz. Vodka or Gin
1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Shake well, serve in a chilled cocktail glass with lime wedge garnish.
Enjoy.

Postmodernism and Homosexuality, obviously my two favorite topics

This is young woman, a Cali girl like myself has some of the same interests as I do, obviously.
Elle Aurens, author of la petit mort, wrote an entry implying that the "queer movement" is inabled by, if not a direct result of the postmodern era.

Read more!

While I have to agree that the breakdown of traditional social distinctions and barriers has allowed for sexual express in unparalleled ways, and that these expressions are a rejection of binary gender constructs, I can't say that this is necessarily something to be afraid of.

Gays have existed and filled important roles throughout history. For one example, teachers have often been single women who, without the familial obligations that come with heterosexual constructs, have been able to devote themselves to the educating other peoples' children.

We are redefining the foundations of our society, but not abandoning them all together. Marriage has traditionally been a pillar of our society as it binds familes together and makes them units rather than individuals. By redefining marriage and its confines, we are actually building a new frame for social construct. This should be part of the intellectual argument in favor of same-sex marriage. Gay couples will not stop having relationships, in fact the manifestation of homosexuality will only increase with time. Society becoming more open to these behaviors. So, the effort to prevent marriage between same-sex couples will only serve to create increased individualism in society, putting more strain on the system. It is easier to care for, provide for and maintain a whole unit in its entirety than to service its individual components seperately.

In an era so focused on deconstruction, this is one construct that we should not let go of. Redefining marriage will releave stress on society, and allow for collective growth rather than division.

Unfortunately, I think that the foundations of this country in particular are so strongly influenced by conservative, Christian ideals, that same-sex marriage will be simply another fissure as it crumbles.

Another great mind

Found a great blog on my Google alert - I have to admit, I am enjoying Google's control over my life.

Check this one out.

This self-professed "mad man" has some humorous and thought provoking social commentary.

ICE CREAM

The sexy, silent, light-skinned boy is my buddy Jimmy Gorecki Never imagined I would know someone as talented as he is. He's spectacular skater and a character-and-a-half. Check him out. Remember, you can look, but you can't touch... mmm,mmm Ice Cream Skate Team.

Oh, and check out their web site at www.bbcicecream.com.

Postmodern warfare

I attended a movie/documentary psuedo-docu-drama screening event hosted by Hillel on Temple's campus this evening. The film was called "Obessions: Radical Islams War Against the West," and was probably the worst piece of propaganda I have ever had to suffer through.

Want to check it out? Taste a sample.

IN the film, a woman refers to Militant Islam as "postmodern warfare." This was disconcerting to me. How do you reconcile the two concepts? I suppose you don't and that is postmodern.

But, let's think about what postmodern warfare implies.

Warfare is organized choas - okay, there is a parallel. But, in war there is a specific goal and a plan of attack by which to reach that goal. If we are talking about Postmodernism as it applies to war, than just as postmodern art is art for arts' sake, the result would be war for wars' sake. Senseless killing on a mass scale.

Interesting that today's warfare is so hands-off. Missles launched from 100 miles away are killing millions of people. Most of the world is watching the war in Iraq unfold on their television screens. Dehuminzation of the war has lead to passivity and ambivalence. Politicians and demagouges seize the indifference of the people to wage war for their own benefit - can you say Halliburton?

This is not just a disturbing thought, but one that needs to be had by the people of America. We can embrace technology and emerce ourselves in a mosaic of self-imposed worldviews, but we cannot allow this to become such an overwhelming distraction as to deter us from the values that we hold most dear. Even with our individualized moral systems, most people in this world can agree that murder is an unacceptable means to an end.

Too funny to not share

I found this on Blogger's Featured Blogs and laughed my butt off.

Courtesy of Monkey's for Helping at http://monkeysforhelping.blogspot.com


Trackback: http://haloscan.com/tb/djrecon/116441234639920004

Anti-harassment policies challenged in New Jersey

This was interesting to read, considering that my final project for Investigative Reporting is on this subject. I thought I might share it.

The New Jersey Supreme Court heard arguments on the burden held by public institutions to provide a safe learning environement to students who are bullied.

Blog Cabin covered it nicely.

El- Banco de Wal-Mart. Waxing Philosophical

I am not going to elaborate on this. I will simply break it down.

Wal-Mart is the enemy of the small business, making it an enemy to Republicans.
Wal-Mart is also the enemy of believers in a living wage, making it an enemy to Democrats.

So, who the hell is supporting Wal-Mart? The Independants?
No, apparently, it is the Mexicans.

Wal-Mart will open a bank in Mexico, expecting to begin operation in the secon-half of 2007. Some say that this is going to open up opportunities for competition in Mexico, but I think it is only another facet for Wal-Mart to expand upon it capitalistic quest for global domination - or, should I say oppression.

Credit, as we have seen in the American marketplace has a way of making the economy move, even when there is increases in unemployment, inflation and poverty. But, it does this by making the rich richer and the poor poorer, thus weakening the middle class and threatening the core of democractic society. In a country like Mexico, where the middle class is bourgening and struggling to survive, there is no room for credit and debts.

I don't think this is going to open up opportunities to Mexico. No.
I think this is only going to further subjugate the Mexican people, making them more reliant of American dollars and American job to function.

Pope "Eggs" Benedict and the Turkey. Or, was it Bologna?

Perhaps the media is having a hard time processing the importance of the palpal visit to Turkey.
Reuters is raving about Turkey's "welcome" to the Pope Benedict XVI. United Press International says that the Pope's visit is "easing tensions." But, the Muslims in Turkey don't seem to be singing the same tune.

Let the gainsaying begin.

Reuter's went on to say that fears of large protests were "unfounded." Why, then, were there 3,000 police officers needed to keep order?

If the response was so "positive" to the Pope's visit, why, according to the Pope's own blog, were there only 250 people in attendance at the open air mass he conducted at the shrine at Efes?

(BTW, I think its awesome that the Pope, 79, has a blog, even if it is pure PR. I conjured the image of the Pontiff sitting at an iMac typing away at his Blogger account and laughed for about 15 minutes solid.)

ABC, Small Gov Times, and CNN say that thousands have been in protest since prior to the Pope's arrival. All of them pulled the story from the contradictory Reuters wire.

Nicely done modern media.

Perhaps the coverage should be contradictory. It's fitting, considering that Pope "Eggs" Benedict is under such scrutiny in the Muslim world.

Recall September, when Eggs made a speech in Regensburg, Germany that inflamed the Muslim world quoting 14th Century Christian Emporer Paleologus who said that the Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhumane" things. (Read more on this statement)

Muslim protests followed.

The "Sausage-fest" of Vatican cronies apologized. Even after Muslim extremists destroyed a couple of churches and murdered a nun in Somalia, Eggs did not.

On the issue of Christian-Muslim relations, Eggs seems to be set on saying and doing all that the politicians cannot, and speaking with a firm, intellectually conservative voice.

So, why is he in Turkey, a Muslim country? After all, Eggs publically objected to Turkey's application for membership into the EU in 2004, saying the country is "in permanent contrast to Europe."

The media's message: (If you read between the lines)

Eggs and his sausage-fest of advisors still believe that Islam is connected with violence. When al-Qaeda in Egypt spoke out to say that the Pope's visit is part of a "crusader campaign," the Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi translated it as a threat of violence.

He said that they are not concerned, but that "[T]his type of message shows once again the urgency and importance of a common commitment of all forces against violence."

The Issue of Palestine
The Pope is not a Crusader. Rather, he is a firm believer in non-violence. He believes that an intellectual conversion is the only genuine one and that violence corrupts the process of personal conversion.

But, the Palpal history is not unblemished when it comes to Muslim-Christian relations, and when Egg's positions on Islam, Turkey and the EU are brought to the table for a discussion about violence, crusading and Palestine, that history cannot be disregarded.

Eggs recognizes that the Turkish people are different. Unlike the majority of Christians in Europe, they are strong supporters of Palestine. Without a reconcilitation on such a volatile issue in world politics, the two idealogical sides have no place entering into an economic or a political contract.

Forget violence. Forget John Paul's legacy of cooperation and mediation. Forget the EU. The root of this visit is, on the eve of Turkey's enduction into the EU, to remind the world that the Turkish people stand against Israel.

And who better to highlight a religious divide in Jerusalem than the Pope himself?

Aviation, radiation, signs Boeing aiding US nuclear build-up.

This report just came across the Reuters Wire:

LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - British Airways (BAY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday that "very low traces" of a radioactive substance had been found on two of its aircraft being examined in a police probe into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

The airline said in a statement that three B767 short haul aircraft were taken out of service for forensic examination. Initial results showed "very low traces of a radioactive substance on board two of the three aircraft."
Read more!

Low levels.

Let us examine a few other common items that emit low levels of radiation.

Televisions
Microwaves
X-Ray Machines
Medical Wastes
Smoke Detectors
Some types of old glass and ceramics
Foods that contain Potassium
And, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, so does your drinking water.

So, the next time there is a detection of "low levels of radiation" on board a plane, let us suggest that the flight attendants turn off the video-screen, microwaves and smoke detectors. Tell the pilot to turn off his radio. And, heck, have the caterers remove all of the bananas from the plane. Then, run the test one more time.

Since it seems that there are "low levels of radiation" everywhere we turn, it makes you wonder, why were these planes really grounded. Perhaps they are facing the same problems as American Airlines did with there MD80's. They announced the grounding of 22 plains yesterday when they found paint in the fuel system.

Is this a coincidence?

Here is another thought. The MD80 is a Boeing product. The three planes grounded by British Airways were B767's, also Boeing's.

Ironically, at this time, the companies stock is trading at $88.75 per share which is up 0.78, Boeing Cheif Exec. James McNerney met with Zeng Peiyan, the vice-premier of China, and the company signed new contracts with Singapour Airlines and Air Berlin. Boeing is also a producer of weapons for the United States military.

Perhaps this is our answer to why there were "low levels of radiation" on the British Airways planes. Incidently, nuclear chemicals can leave traces of "low levels of radiation" on weapons that have been manufactured in the same plants.

Boeing is no stranger to nuclear technology. It was a Boeing B-29 that dropped the bombs over Hiroshima.

And, Boeing is also an active participant today's military. Most recently, they built a "Small Diameter Bomb" which is revolutionizing the industry by allowing more artillary to be carried by Air Force Bombers. And, that is just what they are telling the media about, and they were awarded the contract to help build the next model of the F-22 Raptor.

Check out Defense Industry Daily to see what else they are working on.

And, perhaps you should wear your radiation suit the next time you board a Boeing plane. I heard that "low levels of radiation can cause testicular cancer.

Daily Martini: Mai Tai's and Malibu Sunset

I know, I know, I've been slacking. But, it's my final finals week. Please forgive me.

Thinking of Thanksgiving in Ventura, CA always inspires me for something tropical, so here are a couple to add to the collection.

This one is for all of the lovers who always dreamt of Hawaii, but never managed to make it there. A recipe that should be common knowledge if for no other reason than it has a cool name.

The Mai Tai Martini:

1 1/4 oz Light Rum
3/4 oz Triple Sec
3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
3/4 oz Sour mix
1/4 oz Grenadine
1/4 oz Orgeat Syrup

Shake well, serve in a chilled cocktail glass with cherry and pineapple wedge garnish.

For those of us without an extensive liquor selection, there is a wonderful subsitute.

The Malibu Sunset Martini

1 1/2 oz. Coconut Rum
3/4 oz. Sloe Gin

Shake well, pour into chilled cocktail glass and float 3/4 oz. pineapple juice. Garnish with a cherry and pineapple wedge.

Enjoy