rssLet us be sad; it is feeling that makes us human. - Deng Ming-Dao
Everyday life
2010, December 21
My cats at Christmas
Baby Jane, the small gray tabby, and Alice, the tortoiseshell.
2010, January 10
Amazon and the Humane Society
Amazon has stopped selling material related to animal fighting.
The Humane Society brought a suit against Amazon.com and the US Post Office for selling and delivering magazines and books related to animal fighting. The sales by Amazon.com have stopped, not out of human decency but because one of the magazines went out of business, and the post office stopped delivering the materials.
I would be happier if the sales had stopped because Amazon had a conscience, but nonetheless I am glad that this distribution has ended, whatever the reason.
2009, January 23
Obama Inauguration 2009
Some thoughts regarding the inauguration January 20, 2009
This is the first time I have felt a strong connection to what is going on in Washington DC. In fact it is the first time in a long time I have not felt ashamed to be an American. I have felt Guantanamo Bay to be a blot on our collective conscience since it opened. Now it is being discussed openly and measures are being taken to close the prison.
I am finding renewed energy, and a stronger sense of purpose than I have felt in a very long time.
The Benediction delivered by Dr. Joseph Lowery was especially moving. His reference to the "Negro National Anthem" introduced me to a piece of music I have not heard before.
I enjoyed the music from the quartet, and am glad that the taped version allowed us to hear a performance that would not have been possible in the frigid winter wind. The musicians were violinist Itzhak Perlman, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, clarinetist Anthony McGill, pianist Gabriela Montero.
Below are links to YouTube recordings.
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Newspaper articles regarding the quartet's performance:
From the UK Guardian
From the Washington Post
From the NY Times
2008, August 02
Family Cats
Family cats from Los Osos to San Pablo..
Lulu at rest, don't bother her.
Two cats in this picture, Itsy Bitsy and Baby Jane.
Monkey in filtered sunlight.
Lulu and Monkey were captured asleep on my visit to my daughter and granddaughter in July. Baby Jane (Lady Jane Grey) was captured looking up at the late Itsy Bitsy's photo.
