Running behind already

Yikes, I missed posting on Thursday. I guess I'll have to post twice today.

I had a nice dinner time chat Monday evening with a local well-known attorney. Actually I had finished my lasagna just before he came into the eating establishment, and then sat with him while he finished off a plate of delicious-looking spaghetti.

The convo began with a query about my thoughts on healthcare, since I have just completed about $250,000 worth of stents and chemotherapy.

My reply was that I was certainly grateful to have insurance which is covering the vast majority of the cost, but I was still iffy on the whole "government mandates you must, and you can be fined if you don't" bit.

I drew the comparison to car insurance, remarking that there is really no comparison because you can choose not to have a car and therefor not to have car insurance. But you cannot choose not to live (well you can, but that's a different discussion), and thus I find the mandatory nature of healthcare reform to be troubling.

To my surprise, my friend (and I hope I may be privilieged to call him that now) agreed with me to some extent.

From there the conversation turned to a remarkably rapid series of observations and anecdotes, ending (of all places) discussing faith, religion, and committment to discipline (aka the Methodist Book of Discipline, or Orthodox teaching on sacraments such as confession, or communion, and whether or not you could "pick and choose" what you chose to believe and still be a member-in-good-standing of the church or confession of which you purported to be part.

My position was "if you want to be a Rotarian, you have to abide by the rules of Rotary". So if you can't accept the clear teaching of your faith confession, then perhaps you'd better look elsewhere.

At that point we both had places to go, things to do, and in my case a city council meeting to attend. But it was a very pleasant way to pass time, conversing with my friend. I hope we can do it again sometime soon.

Thanks TC!

Ugh

Is there anything worse than a summer cold? Especially when it's so hot outside?

Two days now, hacking and coughing and feeling like a bus hit me. Back to work Thursday, though.

Made Day Three of Post-a-Day-30, though it's just a complaint about summer colds. :) Nothing deep, and nothing hobby-related.

Now to take a long, warm, soaking bath.

John Tripp: Memory Eternal

I was deeply saddened today to learn of the death of John Tripp, aged 59.

I cannot say John was among my friends, for he was not. He was an acquaintance, with whom I conversed a few times first as a news reporter and second as a guy involved in music who performed in a couple of shows with his daughter Meredith. But without hesitation I say, I would have been proud to have been his friend.

If there was ever a man who could have borne the mantle of Mr Quincy after the passing of Joe Bonansinga, John Tripp would have been a prime contender. Perhaps he could even be called Mr Tri-States, for his involvement and committment extended far beyond the border of Quincy. Take his many years of devoted service to Culver-Stockton College in Canton, for example.

John is an example all of us could do to emulate. Certainly he blogged far more than I ever seem to find time to do. His weekly "Up Down and Around our Town" was routinely cheery, thoughtful, and well worth the few minutes it took to read each Monday. If I may, John displayed great wisdom, the kind that few of us attain. John was blessed.

I will miss him and his quiet optimism.

It is appropriate that his final posting on Monday May 11th was about the departure of Culver Stockton president Bill Fox. It is appropriate that the new president looks rather like John Tripp (to the point of "separated at birth?"). John surely got a chuckle out of being told the resemblance was uncanny.

It is even more appropriate that he began that posting thus:

"So many of us die with our music still in us", as Oliver Wendell Holmes so aptly put. His words were designed to make sure that we share all of our gifts as often as possible with those that are close. It speaks of making sure that those special talents are developed, shared and most of all, improved upon. Such is the challenge of living in a fast-moving society. Reality tells us that there will always be starts and stops; it's the journey that really counts the most.

John, your music was lovely and not long enough, but you shared your talents freely with the kind of largesse made famous in song and story. Your journey will be remembered by the many whose lives you touched.

Memory eternal. Memory Eternal. Memory Eternal.

Great Lent begins Monday, March 2nd

Yes, I know Roman Catholics and Protestants began on Wednesday. We figure the date of Easter differently, which means we start Lent differently as well.

But that's not why I'm posting this.

My friend Ron Fritts has a decent article about "giving something up for Lent" over on QuincyNews.Org. You can find it here.

I don't always agree with Ron but he pretty much has this one down pat.

Fasting and prostrations (the two big Orthodox penitential activities) are meaningless without a heart that is willing to change, and an attitude of repentance and intention to do better, and a firm resolve not to observe the letter without embracing the spirit.

The Orthodox during Great Lent generally refrain from meat, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil. On Saturdays we are allowed fish, wine and oil, usually. On Wednesdays and Fridays we are asked to fast all day (and that actually applies all year round, not just in Great Lent) and break our fast in the evening with very simple fare.

The point is not to obsess over "oh I can't buy this product at the store because it has milk by-products!" The point is to use the time you would usually spend preparing and eating on spiritual food--reading Holy Scripture, or the writings of our Christian fathers and mothers, or in prayer, or in helping others. The point is to use these ancient spiritual practices to help YOU to grow to be more like God: loving, forgiving, calm, full of grace.

If you miss a day, move on and try to do better. If your non-Orthodox parents offer you a meal that includes your favorite steak and blue cheese, do not insult them by refusing, but accept their hospitality humbly and with a glad heart. Fasting from food doesn't mean you fast from right treatment of others.

We say a special prayer during Great Lent, and we say it often. It's meant to focus us on the real meaning of what we're doing--not as a duty to be borne, but as a means to "deification", an aid to that "narrow way", a staff (if you will) upon the path to "theosis".

It is the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, and it is replete with prostrations. But look past that to what it says, and what we are saying when we submit to God and to letting His power help us overcome the things which hinder us:

The Great Lenten Prayer of St Ephraim:

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk.
(Prostration)

But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.
(Prostration)

O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
(Prostration)

O God, cleanse me a sinner. (12 times, with as many bows, and then again the whole prayer from the beginning throughout, and after that one great prostration)

Perhaps if you say this prayer you will not do a single prostration. Personally I think you will be missing an incredibly powerful spiritual exercise (not to mention physical :), but just focus on the words all the same.

Therein lies a great gift of God's grace.

One other thing, the Orthodox don't do the Ash Wednesday thing. But we do have Forgiveness Vespers. This Sunday after the Divine Liturgy (although more properly at sundown) we will pray the Vespers service and end by going to each member of the congregation, embracing them and saying "Brother (or sister), forgive me."

This simple act begins our Lenten walk, and the spirit in which we participate colors the entire season.

May God grant that I freely and openly forgive anyone I have offended, and that I humbly and with great compunction request their forgiveness for my many faults.

Glory to God unto the ages of ages.

Reader Nikolai Kevin Payne

Finding old friends

I resisted as long as I could, but some insistent friends finally convinced me to sign up on Facebook. Or actually, since I signed up about 4 years ago, they convinced me to actually USE Facebook.

I have, in the space of about two weeks, reconnected with a host of old friends from high school through college to today.

It's amazing.

People I haven't thought of in years but instantly remember when I see their name (although the pictures tend to be a bit off :), and it's as if the intervening years hadn't happened, we're yacking and laughing as if we'd just stepped away for a few.

Of course I keep getting "OMG you don't look any different!" which I actually hate to hear, probably because for the most part I can't reciprocate. I find most everyone looks older, and that's not always polite to say.

Still, linking up again with so many people I remember with great affection is a real blessing.

Thanks for the push, my friends.

Living up to one's name

I am laid up today after taking a tumble last night while covering a story. Then I made it worse by standing around for an extended period after that meeting talking shop with one of the confraternity of local media folks.

I'd already had a twinge of gout in my left ankle yesterday and made a doctor visit to get something done for it. Of course in my "king klutz" routine I also bunged up my left hand.

Anyway, I'm off the foot for today, propped up and working on blood flow since the gout has kicked in big time. I will spare you a description of the swollen glory of my ankle. The wrist isn't too bad, though.

The killer is I can't take ibuprofen because of my high blood pressure medicine, and tylenol doesn't relieve much of the pain. I am reminded of Bill Cosby describing his wife's "natural child birth": I WANT MORPHINE!

I also hate missing work since it means an exta load for Jim and Mary, and today it also means an extra call for something I was to cover this morning as well as figuring out how to get coverage at the 1844th homecoming tonight (after 5:30 p.m. at the armory for those who want to go and thank these great folks for their service).

At least it is a good opportunity to rest and recuperate, and spend some time in prayer and meditation on dealing with adversity. Practice on that last is sometning we could all use these days, I daresay.

Have a good one, my friends. And may God bless you and keep you.

It's not supposed to apply to ME

You may take that title any way you like. Considering today's action in the Illinois Senate, you would be justified in thinking it is a currently unemployed guy's lament.

But no, really it's all about ME.

You see, my predecessor as "reporter on the spot" at Quincy City COuncil meetings had (still has) a rep for pulling out the watch at "go-time" and announcing "It's 7:30 Mr. Mayor!"

I had no such tag line when I started covering the Council (and other evening government bodies). But I noticed one group of aldermen at those meetings would stay in their seats long after adjournment, usually even outlasting my lengthy chats with various principals about issues of the evening.

Finally one night I walked up to the four or so fellows and said what has now apparently become my tagline. Every week now I am pretty much compelled to remind them.

So, I told you THAT to tell you THIS.

It's late night. I have finished a very long day at work in which a lot of stuff happened and I did a lot of listening, note-taking, and writing.

And I'm too darned tired to get up from in front of the work computer and go home.

So I say to myself my "John Holm/City Council" line:

"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"

Thank you, and good night.

And so, the 44th President

An orderly transition of power. No bullets. No coup. No blood. No warfare. There was probably some hate being tossed around, from all sides of the circle, but we didn't have to deal with it as we watch Barack Obama sworn in as Number 44.

That says much for the quality of American character. Despite or sniping, griping, snitching, bitching, groaning, moaning, and downright unpleasant expressions of all manner of political, social, religious or any other form of thought, when January 20th rolls around we hand over the reins of power without argument. Without a fight. Because it is the right thing to do.

For this I give glory to God. The one who governs His creation gives us a gift of subcreation (thank you J.R.R. Tolkien for that wonderful term) to come up with a way of governing that in spite of its flaws and the flawed people who implement it, still manages to work. In many ways it may be a real Rube Goldberg contraption, but as seen this morning, it does work.

Like President Obama and the policies he says he will pursue or not, like George W. Bush and his policies or not, at 12 noon Eastern on January 20th, 2009, the latter stepped aside and made way for the new President.

Despite the prophecies that Bush would sieze power and declare a state of emergency and stay in office...it didn't happen. Despite the prophecies that some would riot rather than accept a black (or reputed Muslim, or "choose your own complaint") President...it didn't happen. I would remind those "prophets" of the biblical penalty for false prophecy. How fortunate for them that we do not practice it (for those who don't know, it was death by stoning).

Now the weight falls on the man from Illinois, and a heavy weight it is. Every Orthodox service, Vespers, Matins and Liturgy, we pray for the president and civic leaders, multiple times. I shall do so fervently, as I have done now for three presidents. Lord have mercy, and may He grant President Obama the wisdom and grace and power to rule all Americans in a just, right, and beneficial way.

I don't like all he wants to do. I don't like all he had to say (there were implications of blame that I do not believe were appropriate in his speech), but for the most part I will stand behind him because he is the duly-elected leader of our nation. It is not only my obligation as a citizen, but as a Christian.

In Orthodox teaching, our leaders are a gift from God, whether they are blessing or scourge. And because it is America, whatever a president might be, he too will pass in the end, four years or eight years, but he too will pass. As powerful as the position is, no president will destroy the nation by his policies. He may cause disruption and damage, but we can overcome, especially if we have faith in God and put our shoulders to the wheel and work to move forward past our failings.

And this applies equally at lower levels of government too. No matter the corruption, no matter the nepotism, no matter the wild-eyed optimism or depressing pessimism, no matter what divides us, in the end we get drawn together because we can choose to show our leaders the door. But even if we don't THIS time, there will be another chance.

Meanwhile, we can do what we can do to improve our lot and that of those around us, in spite of (and sometimes in association with) those leaders we may not agree with.

I hope that is our attitude going forward now. Whether President, Governor, Mayor, legislator--remember you too are mortal, as the slave used to whisper in the Roman general's ear as he received the adulation of the masses. And to the people--we also should remember they are mortal and will make mistakes, perhaps almost unforgivable ones, but in the end they too will be gone and we will have to move on.

Let's strive to do our best, to be our best, no matter who holds the reins, no matter who occupies the head of the table.

Isn't that some of what it is to be Christian?

And on this day isn't that even more of what it means to be American?

God bless President Obama, those who have led and those who will lead, and all the people of these United States of America.

Elections are almost all done...

I say almost because this week my church (the Orthodox Church in America) will be electing a new Metropolitan. Once that's done and approved by our Synod of Bishops (who may have to do the selection themselves if the delegates to our national convention can't call someone with a clear majority on the first ballot) we'll have a new Top Dog in the OCA. And hopefully we will see more positive growth in how our central office works with our dioceses and laity.

But of course that's not the main "election" story.

Nor is the decision by the (now former) Episcopal Diocese of Quincy to shake the dust off its collective feet with regard to the increasingly liberal U.S. Episcopal Church.

Those attending last weekend's annual synod of Quincy made that decision by an overwhelming majority (96 to 24). They aren't leaving the Anglican Communion though--they are now a diocese of the Province of the Southern Cone, in South America.

After about 30 years of increasing repudiation of traditional Christian teaching by the church, the good folks of Quincy (and Pittsburgh, and San Joaquin, and soon Fort Worth) decided the Episcopal Church had left them, and chose to align with another Anglican province.

Seems sensible to me, when the disagreements are so large and ongoing and apparently without possibility of resolution, especially when you can maintain your place in the greater group (the worldwide Anglican Communion).

One hopes that the majority, aka the Episcopal Church, will show good sense and Christian charity and allow the dissidents to make their way in a path that is right for them--something the Episcopal Church professes to support for everyone else in its polity though to date has shown little willingness to extend to traditionalists.

And so from that election story to the third and likely most pertinent to the vast majority of Americans: November 4th.

Those who know me know I am something of a centrist with rightward leanings and a handful of leftish opinions to spice things up. Call me Goulash Guy, if you will.

I'm a bit put off by the seemingly endless comparisons of Obama to FDR and Lincoln. It's far too soon to even contemplate such things, other than at the most shallow level, because so far he's had no opportunity to do anything. Let's let him serve his term (maybe two if he does okay first time around) and then get a few years under our belts. Then we can make that kind of judgement call.

That said, give the guy a chance. He IS a personable, intelligent, and apparently reasonable fellow, and I think he has the ability to do a decent job as president. There's no need to start off by trying to tear him down. Once he's actually DONE something, then the loyal opposition can make its voice heard. Plenty of time for constructive criticism later, really.

At the same time, spin it how you like, but Mr. Obama does not have anything approaching a mandate. 52% to 47% does not constitute a mandate, even if it does denote a clear choice. The majority should be very careful not to tread upon the rights of the minority as they take their opportunity, their chance, to make a difference in this country.

Come to think of it, that advice applies to all three of the elections I've mentioned.

The future holds both good things and bad. We might well weather them better if we work together than if we spend all our time bitching at each other and moaning about how unfair it all is.

I'm sure I won't like everything Barack Obama does as president. Why should he be different from every other president under whose authority I have lived?

But in the end, we'll get farther and have more to be proud of if we make an effort to move ahead in some modest unity.

And I cast my vote for that, no matter what the election.

From another Orthodox blog

Ikon of St. John in Silence, 17th c.

A wonderful posting from a wonderful Orthodox Christian blog, from which many bloggers could take a lesson--most definitely including me.

Risky Business Revisited

The state of the Church

From St. Ambrose (The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series Vol. X; Eerdmans pg. 334):

The likeness of Your Church, O Lord, is that woman who went behind and touched the hem of Your garment, saying within herself: "If I do but touch His garment I shall be whole" (Mt. 9:21).

So the Church confesses her wounds, but desires to be healed.

From the Philokalia

From Evagrios the Solitary (The Philokalia Vol. 1 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 38):

Provide yourself with such work for your hands as can be done, if possible, both during the day and at night, so that you are not a burden to anyone, and indeed can give to others, as St. Paul the Apostle advises (cf. I Thess. 2:9; Eph. 4:28). In this manner you will overcome the demon of listlessness and drive away all the desires suggested by the enemy; for the demon of listlessness takes advantage of idleness. "Every idle man is full of desires." (Prov. 13:4 LXX).

You never appreciate...

I've lived in Quincy since 1996. The community is clean, friendly, contrary to popular opinion there IS quite a bit to do and get involved in, and for the most part while it has some problems, they are not insurmountable nor devastating nor indicative of a community heading out in the proverbial handbasket.

I like Quincy. I like the people. I don't like some of the political games and some things about local government, but those things--in the long term--tend to get corrected or at least modified for the better. And I keep my fingers crossed.

But all that's just to set up this:

Why am I then, just like the old cliche, so remiss when it comes to participating in activities in my own backyard?

To wit, for the first time in 12 years I went to the K of C barbeque. Doh! Where have I been? Don't ask me to figure out why I succumbed for so long to the notion that you don't visit the attractions at home. It's kind of dumb, to be honest, especially these days with gas prices what they are. Why drive to St. Louis or Chicago when we have great events and activities right here (or relatively close)?

Anyway the KofC was great, well-organized, clean, and just lots of fun. I didn't even go with a big bunch of friends. I let one person convince me to go with his family and I had a great time.

Another confession: last year was the first time I went to the Adams County Fair. I grant that I went primarily to sing the National Anthem before the big concert (Adkins? Was that the performer? I forget, except his band members paid me a great compliment saying "Wow man, you got a GREAT set of pipes!"). But I hung around a while and again, it was great fun.

The point is this: don't whine about "nothing to do". Even beyond special events there are activities, museums, concerts (of many stripes), and who knows what-all going on nearly all the time in Quincy and the surrounding area. So get out and enjoy!

A plug: LST-325, the last of the operating World War 2 era "Landing Ship, Tanks" is docked at the Hannibal waterfront through Monday. It was at Normandy, in Korea, in Vietnam, and even spent some years in Greece. It's been refurbished as a museum and a memorial. Go see it, if for nothing else than to see the "original manufacturer equipment" that is stamped "Quincy". Yes, made right here by the old Quincy Compressor.

I've rambled enough for this morning. Time to get some work done around the house.

From Aleksandr Solzhenityn

A quote from Solzhenitsyn, may his memory be eternal!

This is apropos especially of my chosen profession, and is good for all of us to reflect upon and consider.

From the 1974 essay "Live Not by Lies", addressed to his Russian countrymen during communism's reign.

"So in our timidity, let each of us make a choice: Whether consciously, to remain a servant of falsehood–of course, it is not out of inclination, but to feed one’s family, that one raises his children in the spirit of lies–or to shrug off the lies and become an honest man worthy of respect both by one’s children and contemporaries.

And from that day onward he:

- Will not henceforth write, sign, or print in any way a single phrase which in his opinion distorts the truth.

- Will utter such a phrase neither in private conversation not in the presence of many people, neither on his own behalf not at the prompting of someone else, either in the role of agitator, teacher, educator, not in a theatrical role.

- Will not depict, foster or broadcast a single idea which he can only see is false or a distortion of the truth whether it be in painting, sculpture, photography, technical science, or music.

- Will not cite out of context, either orally or written, a single quotation so as to please someone, to feather his own nest, to achieve success in his work, if he does not share completely the idea which is quoted, or if it does not accurately reflect the matter at issue.

- Will not allow himself to be compelled to attend demonstrations or meetings if they are contrary to his desire or will, will neither take into hand not raise into the air a poster or slogan which he does not completely accept.

- Will not raise his hand to vote for a proposal with which he does not sincerely sympathize, will vote neither openly nor secretly for a person whom he considers unworthy or of doubtful abilities.

- Will not allow himself to be dragged to a meeting where there can be expected a forced or distorted discussion of a question. Will immediately talk out of a meeting, session, lecture, performance or film showing if he hears a speaker tell lies, or purvey ideological nonsense or shameless propaganda.

- Will not subscribe to or buy a newspaper or magazine in which information is distorted and primary facts are concealed. Of course we have not listed all of the possible and necessary deviations from falsehood. But a person who purifies himself will easily distinguish other instances with his purified outlook.

No, it will not be the same for everybody at first. Some, at first, will lose their jobs. For young people who want to live with truth, this will, in the beginning, complicate their young lives very much, because the required recitations are stuffed with lies, and it is necessary to make a choice.

But there are no loopholes for anybody who wants to be honest. On any given day any one of us will be confronted with at least one of the above-mentioned choices even in the most secure of the technical sciences. Either truth or falsehood: Toward spiritual independence or toward spiritual servitude."

Ooooooh Kaaaaaaay

The Hannibal "Cavemen".

Uh-HUH.

Maybe shoulda coulda thought of calling them the "Mark Twain" Cavemen? I mean if you're gonna go with "Cavemen", anyway.

Oh well, not my call.

(That would be "right down the middle...STEEEE-rike!")

Remiss...

As in, I have been. Very much.

First, I have not posted since my whiny rant on July 8th. Second, I have been very bad about getting to church--with three opportunities each week, that's pretty bad. Third, I've been neglecting friends and family in favor of crawling into my hole whenever I'm not working. How pointless is that?

This blog is supposed to be about living in Quincy, with its beauties and its follies, and passed somewhat through the prism of trying to strive after the qualities of God, as expressed in Orthodox Christianity.

Not doing too well, am I?

I don't have any sudden deep and meaningful insight to share here. I'm just doing some self-examination and not liking what I see very much.

Many years ago when I was a member of the Episcopal Church in Peoria, I also had a problem rousting myself out to get to church. My pastor, Fr. Gus, had a pretty good way of demonstrating how absurd it was to make excuses and not participate in the functioning of the Christian body. He would call and simply say "Get your ass to mass!"

Seems kind of trite, and yet it pointed up (for me, at least) the fact that even the hind end is part of the body and has a function, and that the body doesn't do as well if even the posterior isn't in attendance. I mean, how do you sit down if your ass isn't there? For that matter how does said tuchus benefit spiritually, socially, and even financially if it's forgoing the pleasures of community worship? In the case of the Orthodox Church, I'm also missing some great ethnic foods at fellowship hour (well, if we're going to be all physical about it, I like food too).

My laziness about church attendance has also become reflected in other "non-required" duties, as I mentioned above. Not writing for the blog, not writing for my own need to create stories, not writing for gaming, not keeping up with the cleaning at home, not keeping up with so many other things (though not work, where we've taken on a lot of extra duties and that doesn't bother me too much--we get it all done).

So what's the solution? One can only ask friends to do so much to deliver a kick to the seat of the pants. There comes a point where you have to motivate yourself. And I'm not feeling motivated.

Not sure what to do...except maybe try going to church more regularly.

(Let's not even talk about making a regular confession, okay? :)

BTW, one sure sign I've not been getting regular and balanced "feeding" in all the ways we need to be "fed", is that I get crotchety, whiny, and gripe about things like...oh, say, stupid people.

I guess I know the remedy.

"Get your ass to Mass."

Stupid People Rant

Okay, in the interests of simple Christian charity, let me say that the vast majority of people are not stupid. We may do stupid things, but we're not stupid.

I will assume the person in this story is not stupid. Fanatic maybe, but not stupid. Lacking in common sense, certainly, but not stupid.

I should probably re-title the blog entry, but I won't.

So here's the story out of Chicago:

Chicago's smoking ban has forced the cast of ``Jersey Boys'' to snuff out their cigarettes.

Smoking was the norm in the 1950s and 60s when the play about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons takes place. But that doesn't matter when it comes to smoking in Chicago theaters. Authorities say an irate theatergoer lodged a complaint.

Just as irate is Alderman Bernard Stone. The former part-time actor told the Chicago Sun-Times smoking must be allowed if the play is going to be true to its time.

The Public Health Department has primary responsibility for enforcing Chicago's smoking ban. But spokesman Tim Hadac says the crackdown on Jersey Boys didn't originate there. He says someone likely flagged down a police officer during a production.

Got that? Someone was so incensed by the actors, PERFORMING THEIR ROLES IN THE PLAY, having the temerity to light up and smoke, that they filed a complaint which led to a ban on SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THE PLAY.

Frankly if I were the playwright I would sue the city of Chicago for interfering with my freedom of expression.

We can present a painting of Harold Washington in drag; a "sculpture/painting" of the Virgin Mary smeared with elephant feces and surrounded by porn cut from magazines; piles of dirty, smelly underwear artfully strung about a gallery or pink latex wrapped around everything in sight on a California hillside. That's all art. But we dare not allow actors in performance in a theater to light up and smoke, even though they are doing what the script demands.

I can imagine how this person would have had a stroke if they'd seen me lighting up and puffing on a cig when I was in DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at QCT. Heck, I lit up TWICE!!!

I wonder if they wig out when they see a classic movie where people are smoking? I remember a science fiction story where the two protagonists were famous for having come up with an algorithim that could be applied to old movies and would edit out such horrible sins as smoking. Don't remember anything else about the story, just that.

And I laughed that such things would never ever happen. Looks like I'm stupid too.

I believed the Illinois State Police way back in 1983 or so when they said "we've instituted a seatbelt law but we'll never pull you over or ticket you just for not wearing one" too.

Yup. Me and the anti-smoking twit in Chicago...

Stupid people.

Could things get more depressing?

Oh, there's a lot going on that is positive. The struggle to hold the levees is amazing and all those guys and gals deserve far more than a nod of thanks.

But the Busy Bistro is closing.

This delightful restaurant that had great food unlike anything else in Quincy, and prices that while a bit high weren't any worse than a couple of other "upscale" places in town.

And now it's closing.

After all the work the owners did in restoring the building and making efforts to refurbish the upper floors.

And now it's closing.

Great music almost every Friday night. A place for talented Quincy musicians who like soft rock and jazz and even some classical to perform.

And now it's closing.

My heart goes out to Nathaniel and Kerry and Rob and Terry and Michael and Nadine and everyone who poured their heart and soul into the business.

I understand there were internal factors (I REALLY hate to see you two leaving, M and N) but let's face it: downtown is in trouble, Quincyans on the whole don't give a flying, and we're all going to end up with exactly what we deserve.

If you don't know what that is, I invite you to take a stroll down east Broadway. Oh, you can't, there are no firk-ding-blasting sidewalks! Well drive then, and survey the rows upon rows of clones, mercantile and gustatorial. Isn't it all lovely? Places where you can get cheap meals, cheap goods, and a nice cheap life. And I mean cheap in the least pleasant form of the word.

OK, I'll be fair. There are places out there I like to eat. There are places out there I like to shop.

But why can't we have both? Why can't we have a vibrant downtown with all it's little gems, as well as an energetic outer district to supply larger needs?

Sigh.

On days like this I almost wish...well, let's just say Quincy just got a little more drab, boring, complacent, and insular, and we all lose.

Flotsam and Jetsam

I wasn't here in 1993. What we saw in southern Illinois doesn't even compare.

If I may suggest, please take time to stop and help at one of the sandbagging locations during the coming week. And if you are the prayerful sort, spend some time offering up those affected by the flood, those working to help, those working long hours and those standing watch. In comparison to '93 it may not last nearly as long, but as the old joke goes, "it's not as long but it's just as wide".

---

Yesterday was my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. We had a small reception at the Emsland Halle on north 8th Street (lovely place with much German atmosphere...consider it for a meeting or reception of your own). It was a lovely affair and let's face it: 5 years is quite an accomplishment.

Happy anniversary Mom & Dad, and many more to come, God willing.

---

Mary Griffith was covering Barack Obama's visit to Quincy on Saturday. Both Jim Dewey and myself had previous engagements we really couldn't get out of. But about 2:30 I got a call (on Bob Gough's cell, of all things).

Mary had passed the time waiting for Obama by filling sandbags. When alerted that he had arrived she got up to go to the south lot where he was working...and dropped her recorder, shattering it.

Then she couldn't find her phone (we're hoping it's not now part of the wall surrounding the water plant). So she borrowed Bob's and called Jim who said he'd bring his but it would be a while. That led to her call to me. I zipped home, snagged my digital recorder and head over to the OLC.

Of course it was a mess and the police wouldn't let me out to get the recorder to Mary. Jim arrived and was able to find the back way out and got my recorder to Chad Douglas from KHQA, who got it to Mary who was lingering at the back of the press pool since she had no equipment.

Armed with the recorder she moved to the front where the national press were keeping their distance from Senator Obama, who was working with a young Boy Scout filling sandbags.

I'll leave the rest of the story for Mary to tell, but suffice to say she started the questions of Obama by stepping into the group around the Senator (all of whom she knows). I understand Chad Douglas from KHQA and Jake Miller from WGEM also got in some questions while they were moving inside with the Senator. How cool is that?

So we ran our story just before 5 p.m. on WTAD on Saturday. Made me proud to be part of the team and to have a boss who went the extra mile to get the job done.

There will likely be more of those kind of efforts in the days to come, because it's our job to make sure we get as much information to you as possible, in a timely fashion. We'll do our best, and I daresay that all of us, competitors that we are, will work together at some level to make sure you all know what you need to know as the fight against the river continues.

---

One last thought: standing in the lobby at the Lincoln Douglas apartments where the STARadio studios are located and looking up at the ceiling some 30 feet above.

That's pretty darned deep water, and not as deep as it will be when the river crests.

Holy cow!

Keep safe and dry if you're out fighting the flood. Don't hurt yourself filling sandbags. And may God bless you all.

More music...

Took my nephew to Prince Caspian a couple of weekends ago.

Quite aside from my mild disappointment at the rather serious modifications to the story--which I understand, there's not a lot of "there" there in Prince Caspian the book--there were some great songs during the credits.

This is the best of them, IMO.

The Call, by Regina Spektor.



Interesting note:

The words to the poem "The Call" by George Herbert can be slipped into this tune without too much trouble though you do lose some of the rhythmic motion that Regina's words supply.

I like 'em both. Besides, I have Vaughan Williams version of Herbert's words to fall back on. :)