DISQUS

firefox is da shit

Hi again, great photos. Thanks again for keeping Lauren and me up to date. It looks like your sight seeing went well. Go grizzlies!!

Great pictures and great updates. Thank you so much. I especially enjoyed the pictures from Addison's birthday celebration. Looks like the boys are having fun and playing good baseball. Good luck tomorrow! Sorry Lauren and I couldn't make the trip. These updates really make it fun for us. Thanks again!

I have kayaked on the Souhegan and seen some of these wonders......but you describe a virtual Garden of Eden.....where the heck were you exactly??

Dear JenO.

l understand your sentiment. I am one of many that descended on your state to support my preferred candidate. It took me a while to realize that the bold (some would say brash) approach we have in New York clashes with the polite, quiet habits of our neighbors to the north. I returned on Sunday because my son had to be back for school.

This was our first trip to New Hampshire and I feel lucky to have gone for many reasons. I am impressed with how deeply you realize the importance of our political process and how actively you participate in it. We need everyone in our country to participate. My weekend in New Hampshire brought another profound awareness. In a conversation with a fellow campaigner, we touched on the subject of 9/11. He said not many realize that people in Salem and the surrounding area suffered significant loss that day. Many people on the two planes that took off from Boston were from there. We don’t speak much of those who perished on the planes. I don’t know why. I think people in New Hampshire have been raised to be kind, polite, patient, and to suffer loss with quiet dignity. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit your state because it has made me more aware of the many different ways we have experienced the past eight years.

I did not meet you when I was in Salem to tell you why I am actively campaigning but please indulge me from afar.

As we make changes in Washington, it would be a mistake to “throw the baby out with the bath water.” We need both change and experience in the White House or we could end up with an administration that has the right ideas but cannot fturn them into reality.

I am supporting Hillary Clinton because she has earned my vote through performance and results. I know that if Senator Clinton were a senator for Louisiana, the citizens of that state would not be suffering as they are more than two years after their terrible losses. I know this because for eight years I have watched her work as my senator. In 2001, we could have fallen into the doldrums that have plagued the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita but as our senator, Hillary worked along with her fellow elected officials to make sure our needs were voiced in Washington and she got tangible results.

We Americans are facing serious problems both domestically and internationally. Of all the candidates, her resume is the most accomplished with solid work experience in both these areas. Consider the positions she has held.

Senator (Domestic experience)

Proven ability to initiate changes and see them through to fruition

First Lady (International experience)

Made visits and developed diplomatic relationships in the countries The United States has been and will be negotiating with as we move forward

Lawyer (Our country supports the rule of law)

Has a thorough knowledge of and work experience in law

Wife (supportive role)

Honors her commitments no matter how hard the challenge

Mother (Positive feminine role model)

Gracious example to her daughter, young women across our nation, and throughout the world

Homemaker (I love chocolate chip cookies ;D)

The list goes on.

A true change over the past eight years would be to elect the most qualified candidate and see her perform as president. She is a leader. We need Hillary as our president.

Okay, if you’re still with me, thanks for indulging me. as you, I also feel strongly about the responsibility we all have to participate in choosing our political leaders. And the good news for you is…the onslaught will be over soon. I am grateful to the Hillary Clinton for President campaign for giving my son and me the opportunity to visit your state and learn more about you. It was money well spent.

Laurel, I passed on the Thoughtful Blogger award to you today. :-)

Barbara H. @ Stray Thoughts

Northfield drug problems Gary Smith tells the truth and understands that drug useage IS a problem in this "special place".  There are so many people in Northfield who stick their head in the sand and DENY any problems here.  I am sick of the schools, colleges, and Northfield News ("we print only happy news") controling what Northfield citizens are informed about.  If there were 30 students in the high school referred (per Supt. Richardson) for treatment for heroine or oxycodone, WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.  I know firsthand how difficult it is to get someone referred in the schools.  If 30 were referred, there are probably 75-100 who should have been.  This is just "typical Northfield"...never acknowledge we have problems.  Oh yeah, we also kill the messenger.  Best wishes

to Gary Smith. 

Northfield drug problems Gary Smith tells the truth and understands that drug useage IS a problem in this "special place".  There are so many people in Northfield who stick their head in the sand and DENY any problems here.  I am sick of the schools, colleges, and Northfield News ("we print only happy news") controling what Northfield citizens are informed about.  If there were 30 students in the high school referred (per Supt. Richardson) for treatment for heroine or oxycodone, WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.  I know firsthand how difficult it is to get someone referred in the schools.  If 30 were referred, there are probably 75-100 who should have been.  This is just "typical Northfield"...never acknowledge we have problems.  Oh yeah, we also kill the messenger.  Best wishes

to Gary Smith. 

thanks Chris for the wonderful update. What an incredible time for all of you and I continue to say to myself what a lucky baby to have such..............parents, there are no words in my limited vocabulary to describe how incredible you both will be. thanks again, i am so excited about the finding out the gender, it certainly doen't matter to us, just a healthy baby is our prayer. love you all, Barbara

Chris,I continue to enjoy your comments, however since this is my only means of communicating and getting information, I desperately look everyday for more information and Greta and the baby. How is she holding up to the heat and travel? Just a little info would be great! Thanks, Barbara

è bello boysloft

PAUL FRANK E' STUPENDO E A BRESCIA BOYS LOFT LO VENDE.....CIAO

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HAHA. I'm glad I find someone who hates crocs as much as I do.

Best match to the theme this week!

I love it how all you men get to speak on the subject of abortion. If it were your bodies (need I say anymore).
Are Christians/Evangelicals against the death sentence, are they against WAR (with a capital W), etc.? Bring them into the world, starve them to death by the age of 5 or send them off to war by the age of 18 to be killed (need I say more). It is hypocritical. When you have the religious right sayng no to birth control, condoms, etc., because they try to tell people what to do in the bedroom, wake up, people are having sex!!!!! So you educate, you inform people, you allow them birth control, condoms, etc. and abortion rates would go down. You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth.

Such puritans while speaking, but behind your backs there all doing something else. Instead of looking at gay marriage, why don't you look at your own marriages. Most divorces occur in the RED STATES. I am so sick and tired of this stuff being shoved at me. The christian right has turned people off to the true meaning of Jesus. Don't get me started on all the commercials about VIAGRA!!! That's ok with you guys though, isn't it. It is such crap and the hypocracy that comes out of the religious rights mouths is sickening, hateful and bigotry.

IT IS CALLED SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Our country was never declared a Christian nation, read your history and educate yourself. And please don't quote scripture.

Thank you, Paul. I have tried as you suggested for email, perhaps it was sent to your spam folder. Please check. Comments can be made and offered to your work outside comments made at this site.


B.>

Paul...we may have violated rules of conduct of this board, specifically #11 and perhaps more from my POV in my long P.S. I did not intend to commit a crime here, but ignorance of the law is no excuse. I may be executed right off the board. But first I will say I'm sorry for my crimes, but not my opinions. Perhaps I'll be spared. Then again...swoosh!


Barbara>

Paul, I sent you a note previously but it has not shown up here yet. If you'd like please create an extra screen name that you can post here then delete later. I will write to you at that address and share many prison experiences and points of view from Christians in the joint if you'd care to read it.


Blessings.>

Paul...thanks for the blessing. I can use it. I'm not entitled to be a cranky pants, but I live and work in a world where there's not a lot pretense. I'm attacked every day for what I believe. If, like Christ, I remained silent before my accusers I might be better off. So far no dice. Please add prayer to your blessing.>

Hi Daniel. Thanks for your thoughtful response. My faith will not be shaken or determined based on the outcome of a trial.


I work in a prison on death row. I'm a nurse. I care for those who have executed by gunshot the truly innocent, who have boiled their infants to death, who have tortured and murdered innocent adults, children and babies in ways so heinous I would not write them on this forum. I chat with them and visit with them and try to make their days as meaningful as I can. It sounds odd, but they benefit by their incarceration. They are cared for medically and spiritually, are treated humanely and given every chance for appeal and legal recourse. They are physically comfortable. I walked out the other night and waved goodbye to one wearing an ipod, walking on a treadmill while watching TV, waiting to take clothes out of the dryer before using the ironing board for street clothes--no prison garb required--hoping there was enough time left to type a letter before lockdown. I wouldn't want to be on death row, but in case anyone thinks these people are mistreated I want to tell you that would be a myth. They are not spoken to with any disrespect nor physically treated disrespectfully. They are treated courteously and kindly with sincerity. That's how it is on my watch anyway. They are criminals by virtue of their crime and their incarceration. Otherwise they have a very comfortable existance. It's not all volleyball and therapy, however. No one would want to live in a prison.



On the other hand there are many murderers not found or convicted who also face death...many kinds of death...of living with themselves in agony, of never being truly free plus a myriad of other emotional, spiritual and psychological woes. Although your statement regarding OJ made for good writing at the end of your letter, his verdict doesn't shake my tree nor determine where, why, or in what I base my faith. He will never have peace in this life. I may meet him in heaven, but in the mean time he lives with consequences and justice as long as he is on this earth.



My work is not a career, it's a ministry and a calling. The inmate's crimes are as heinous as Saddam's, just not on the mass scale. I tell each person I care for that I know they have gone to court and have already been judged. I am not there to judge them. I'm there to take care of them, help in any way I can, to listen if they want to talk and to encourage them and remind them of God's love and care for them regardless of their sins. He can't love them any more or less regardless of their behavior. If I couldn't say those things from my heart I wouldn't be able to care about these people. In the meantime they, and we, live within a government established by God. They have broken the laws of the government and they are under the penalty of the government and we go from there. They, we, are all aware of the law and of consequences should we break it. We are without excuse. That's not to say we cannot be better, do better, change the justice system for the better. We can.



The system God put in place dispensed justice for the "condemned." He knew the system would be flawed...it is run by humanity and could be nothing but flawed. Yet he set it in place.

Many in the current church age focus on the "God is love aspect" of the Creator, either choosing to ignore or disbelieving that he is also just and will avenge the innocent. Yes, vengeance is his, and he will affect it any way he chooses. If you think God is not the force behind what happens to people who have murdered, that they are not reaping what they've sown, then there may be a misunderstanding of who God is. Why some go "free" and others are executed we cannot say, but there is divine justice on earth for some who are guilty that we cannot take apart and examine or put together and explain piece by piece. There is justice that we will never be able to quanitfy or define. Why for some and not for others we will never be able to explain. It is divine decision and we are left outside it. The Proverbs state you can tell a fool by the number of lumps inflicted on his head. And what you cast on the waters comes back on every wave, shaken down, pressed together...and in ways you may not want or expect. I know, I know...I know the context of the verse. I have simply found it true in both the positive and the negative. There are forces set in motion by acts that will not be stopped...living by and then perhaps dying by the sword are part of that reality. We can abolish the death penalty and many of those who murder will still be murdered themselves. God does establish our governments but he doesn't need government to avenge. And he is an avenger as well as a lover, a father, a shepherd, a life giver. He is all.



I carry the key to death row in my pocket and the key to life in my heart every morning. I pray the life I carry within will somehow be used to bring peace and healing into my unit. I am sad for their choices and sad they are condemned. I also know they are reaping the consequences of their actions--and each one of them knows it; believe me they know it. Many are now believers in Jesus and in the God who established the government that will punish their crimes. They accept it.



There is another aspect of those who have murdered and are imprisoned. I also work with those who have killed others but were not sentenced to death. My unit has the highest risk of suicide in the prison. I am a first responder to hangings and cuttings. I give CPR to murderers, those who want to execute themselves for what they have done. It's not always the stir crazy inmate who wants out; it's the guilty who want to end living with the memories of what they have done. Would I be more compassionate to let them go? To not respond to their attempt and let them die and be out of their misery? Which is right? Their choice or mine? I would make the same choice if I were on the street rather than inside the walls. I choose life and hope and a chance to know the Savior and find peace before the day they do face their creator, and they are often angry for being "forced" to live. "Why did you cut me down?" They will attempt again because they prefer death and God to life and memories.



Do I have a solution? Should we abolish the death penalty? All I know is that I should seek God and ask him to fill my heart with love, with himself and his wisdom and pray others will do the same. And when our hearts are filled with him and changed by him it will be reflected in our society and in our laws--both for the innocent and for the guilty. In the mean time we live out our lives understanding there are consequences for our actions and choices, that we live in a soiled and flawed world, that our best offerings, our most noble discourse, our most thoughtful essays are to him as filthy rags.



Hussein was not repentant that anyone has ever heard of. He was proud of his tortures and power and control. He was brought to justice on this earth by the penalty of law. He should have learned a lesson from Haman.>

Oh my. What interesting reading on this site.


Here are a few axioms that make sense to life regardless of culture. Universal truths whether we like them or not.



What goes around comes around.



Live by the sword, die by the sword.



Be careful what you wish for, you may get it--like so much power and control you feel justified to murder hundreds, thousands of innocent people.



God gave Saddam life and God ended his life. Please read the old testament and see how God affected justice to the unjust. Read the story of Haman, hung on his own gallows. God used who he would to affect this execution. As a man sows thus shall he reap...in Saddam's case it was destruction. He built his own gallows...literally was hung on the same gallows he used to hang the innocent. Nothing different could have been expected. It was God's death sentence that hung him. He was left to his own ways and died according to his own ways. If you don't think God did it, think again.



Barbara>

I totally understand how it sounds....my daughter can make "Mom" stretch out to at least 3 syllables! "Break a leg" to her tonight!
--the SFO Mom (can't sign into these Beta comments with my regular blogging login)

Loved your random thoughts. Never thought about using those for a TT. Great idea.

My TT is up.