tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84609702024-03-13T14:11:42.297-04:00maipolitics2poetryPostcards from my journey covering everything from politics to poetry and everything in between and beyond.maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-75683064479390020982012-09-13T23:41:00.001-04:002012-09-13T23:41:18.271-04:00DNC Convention 2012<div style="padding: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 0; width: 500px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7984386869/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="IMG_5757" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/7984386869_1275ae14e8_s.jpg" alt="IMG_5757" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983958855/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="The Discovery Place" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7983958855_dd317bd33a_s.jpg" alt="The Discovery Place" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983959081/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Welcome to Charlotte!" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7983959081_3331f839fd_s.jpg" alt="Welcome to Charlotte!" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983959319/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Very friendly turtle!" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/7983959319_68979f4a56_s.jpg" alt="Very friendly turtle!" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983966107/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Steel Shavings dancing to the music" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/7983966107_41ce936605_s.jpg" alt="Steel Shavings dancing to the music" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983966233/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Charlie King" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/7983966233_150b7cd570_s.jpg" alt="Charlie King" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983971682/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Stephanie Miner" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/7983971682_0a7edd018c_s.jpg" alt="Stephanie Miner" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983970657/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7983970657_e828aa84ed_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983976364/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/7983976364_10f9ffbb0d_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983976498/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Tammy Duckworth" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/7983976498_ce9ebc8924_s.jpg" alt="Tammy Duckworth" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983976854/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7983976854_de9ff0dbc1_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983975920/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7983975920_b6813d824c_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983976650/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Debbie Wasserman Schultz" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/7983976650_911e73c939_s.jpg" alt="Debbie Wasserman Schultz" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983971765/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/7983971765_2baac078e1_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983966555/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Sonia Martinez and Maimun Khan" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/7983966555_31242eb1de_s.jpg" alt="Sonia Martinez and Maimun Khan" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983966785/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Monday morning NYS Delegates' Breakfast and Briefing" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/7983966785_b2aa0469f3_s.jpg" alt="Monday morning NYS Delegates' Breakfast and Briefing" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983975768/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/7983975768_d20bb425f8_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983972007/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/7983972007_f922b3cdf5_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983972213/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/7983972213_7ced173bb1_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7983972583/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Political Hats" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7983972583_84c1a2c032_s.jpg" alt="Political Hats" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7984125915/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Cory Booker" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7984125915_ccbc592e46_s.jpg" alt="Cory Booker" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7984131842/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="Cory Booker" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/7984131842_c8586c8c3b_s.jpg" alt="Cory Booker" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7984132266/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8041/7984132266_4c3734ecce_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7984132536/in/set-72157631530284780/" title="" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8301/7984132536_7ebf24bfa3_s.jpg" alt="" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/sets/72157631530284780/">DNC Convention 2012</a>, a set on Flickr.</p></div><p>Finally, pictures!</p>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-77654882591417922692012-08-13T23:19:00.001-04:002012-08-13T23:20:33.167-04:00Still Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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<span style="font-size: large;">Rather scary how quickly time moves the more time we're on this Earth. The minutes slip into hours, hours into days and before we know it, the things we'd planned or hoped for have slipped away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since my little Baby left me, frankly, it's been one blankety-blank thing after another. One life changing, rug pulled out from under me, World turned upside down lousy thing after another. Lousy thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, I got an email. It started out with "Congratulations and Thank you for serving..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I sent a text message to a dear friend simply stating. "HELP!! ARE YOU STILL IN TOWN?!!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, how was I supposed to know that she was riding in the car while my other friend was driving and I rather spooked them with the scream for help? (Seriously... if ever I needed real help, REAL help, I'd call 911 or call a friend rather than text!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think it took over a week for it to sink in that the email was real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In September 2008, it was a fleeting wish that I stated in my <a href="http://maipolitics2poetry.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-i-did-over-summer-break-wait.html" target="_blank">What I did During Summer Break</a> posting of this blog. And it was as fleeting as pixy dust.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And in 20 days, that wish will be granted! And I'll probably keep pinching myself all along to reassure myself that it's not a dream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been appointed as a New York State At-Large Delegate to the <a href="http://charlottein2012.com/" target="_blank">Democratic National Committee Convention</a> in Charlotte, North Carolina. This Democratic, Central New York woman of South Asian heritage, Muslim, country music fan and Star Trek geek is going to the Convention! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As it's said... the rest of the story... Twenty years ago, I had completed my Masters degree and was job-searching. Between resume mailing and interviewing, I still had time on my hand. I'd spent some time visiting family friends that summer and we watched a lot of the 1992 DNC Convention. Once home, I figured I'd go down to the local Democrats' office and stuff envelopes or answer the phone for the Come-Back-Kid from Arkansas. The next day, I got a phone call asking if I'd be interested in managing the Phone Banks. My reply, "What are phone banks?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following year, I got another call asking me to attend a meeting for a fellow who was running for District Attorney. I went and served coffee and handed out donuts before I pulled out my trusty ol' steno pad to take notes for their meeting. I remember that I stopped breathing when the realization dawned on me that this back room of political big-wigs had asked me to join their meeting.... not take notes for them or serve the coffee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so it began... An Amazing Adventure that truly epitomized my oft said statement of 'leave a little room in your plans for Life to happen because you never know."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll be posting here as well as on a public Facebook page ( <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MaimunNKhanDelegate">http://www.facebook.com/MaimunNKhanDelegate</a> ) as this latest chapter unfolds. Stay tuned for what happens next!</span></div>
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<br />maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-78529361003160419702012-08-13T21:42:00.001-04:002012-08-13T21:42:44.509-04:00MunLtStmpr's photostream<div style="padding: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 0; width: 500px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7174533843/in/photostream/" title="wolf6" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/7174533843_572d8614bb_s.jpg" alt="wolf6" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7359761350/in/photostream/" title="wolf5" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8166/7359761350_45430cebca_s.jpg" alt="wolf5" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7359761970/in/photostream/" title="wolf4" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7359761970_1133dd563c_s.jpg" alt="wolf4" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7359762642/in/photostream/" title="wolf3" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7359762642_17209acba4_s.jpg" alt="wolf3" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7359763372/in/photostream/" title="wolf2" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7359763372_51bcc8a974_s.jpg" alt="wolf2" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7359763952/in/photostream/" title="wolf" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7359763952_c093a724ca_s.jpg" alt="wolf" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7174537691/in/photostream/" title="coyote" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7174537691_3f64c0b3e7_s.jpg" alt="coyote" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7359764842/in/photostream/" title="bluebird" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7359764842_a7668785f4_s.jpg" alt="bluebird" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7356240834/in/photostream/" title="yes deer" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7356240834_85e9f43480_s.jpg" alt="yes deer" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7171026167/in/photostream/" title="redwing" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7171026167_aac2f96ca6_s.jpg" alt="redwing" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7171026643/in/photostream/" title="rafi in condo" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7102/7171026643_2c947b05fa_s.jpg" alt="rafi in condo" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7356242004/in/photostream/" title="pilleated2" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7356242004_60474288f3_s.jpg" alt="pilleated2" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7356242290/in/photostream/" title="pilleated" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7356242290_6b2affff42_s.jpg" alt="pilleated" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7356242754/in/photostream/" title="Northern Flicker" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7356242754_3cf46306fe_s.jpg" alt="Northern Flicker" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7356243076/in/photostream/" title="hawk5" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7356243076_b9d6135730_s.jpg" alt="hawk5" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7171028691/in/photostream/" title="hawk4" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7171028691_cf135a8d2e_s.jpg" alt="hawk4" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7356243834/in/photostream/" title="hawk3" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7356243834_74862328bc_s.jpg" alt="hawk3" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7171029515/in/photostream/" title="Northern Flicker" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7171029515_447b22ea5f_s.jpg" alt="Northern Flicker" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/7001061646/in/photostream/" title="super moon" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7001061646_92a5643a20_s.jpg" alt="super moon" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/6979433606/in/photostream/" title="whiney cat" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/6979433606_a30ea394f0_s.jpg" alt="whiney cat" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/6860880423/in/photostream/" title="outside" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6860880423_4138bbf3dc_s.jpg" alt="outside" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/6860879889/in/photostream/" title="suitcase window seat" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/6860879889_952d957564_s.jpg" alt="suitcase window seat" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/6860879385/in/photostream/" title="The Tail" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/6860879385_0ee89ba88c_s.jpg" alt="The Tail" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/6860844267/in/photostream/" title="IMG_0618" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6860844267_80f260b416_s.jpg" alt="IMG_0618" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/">MunLtStmpr's photostream</a> on Flickr.</p></div><p>Things I've seen, places I've visited, things I've made and critters I love</p>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-33365747090236332912011-05-11T21:58:00.001-04:002011-05-13T22:59:08.826-04:00The Teacher<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d9Q8q_piE9y-uPTNngVAjULoIVLNNOVa3XC_2kQL1pBGO94HNuqdZZ2hlrxOcPHGNFIaLlE7rESsJhlhJ1xNcaCprRpy9mqmJnXEKjXvEMvl97V4VDox1Q5ptg3d0M-bQhijag/s1600/babyrochester.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d9Q8q_piE9y-uPTNngVAjULoIVLNNOVa3XC_2kQL1pBGO94HNuqdZZ2hlrxOcPHGNFIaLlE7rESsJhlhJ1xNcaCprRpy9mqmJnXEKjXvEMvl97V4VDox1Q5ptg3d0M-bQhijag/s400/babyrochester.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605643908759588082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">There is no beast on earth, nor bird which flieth with its wings, but they are nations like you--<br />unto the Lord shall they return (6:38)<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I didn't realize until as I was signing in that it's been so long since I posted anything. Guess 2010 was as rough as I thought it was.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Which has nothing on 2011 so far.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Today was the burial for Baby, that handsome fella at the top of this post. He passed away back in January after being my baby for almost 18 years. He came from Boston which is why one of his names is "Harvard Lawyer." He was always extremely well behaved. Never jumped on the counters, always greeted guests... He never jumped on the dining table except in 2 situations, even though we'd set a seat for him at the table for the Thanksgiving dinner. One situation was when he wanted some of his lemon grass. Mom would set the stalks of lemon grass in a vase to root and put that in the center of the dining table. So, when someone would point out to Baby that he's not supposed to be on the dining table, the look in his eyes would convince every jury that we were at fault for placing the vase there to begin with it. The other situation was if he was being ignored. He's jump onto the table, sit right at the edge facing the offender and </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;" >MEOW!!!</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> As soon as the ignorer looked up, he'd step off the table since he now had our attention.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I've been rather out of phase since he passed. The years have been touching both of us as they went by and he was doing fine until less than 2 days before he passed. I always thought that dying as we lived is one of the better ways to go, and Baby certainly did. I had taken 3 days off from work. Day one, I left early morning for a meeting and when I returned, I could tell he wasn't feeling his usual self. We hung out on the couch most of the rest of the day but as it went on, he lost his mobility. The last steps he took clearly showed that he wanted to go to his usual winter night spot... my bed with the thick handmade quilt. So I took him to our bed and spent most of the night watching over him. The next day, day 2, we went back to the couch and I spent almost all the day holding him. He wasn't much of a lap cat because he was so big. He'd cuddle next to us, but trying to get 3 feet long of cat comfortably on a human lap just wasn't appealing to him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Nose to tail, he was 3 feet long. He'd topped off at 24 pounds and the vet said at that point that if he gained much more, we'd have to start thinking about doing something about his weight. In 2010, the vet had called him the oldest linebacker he knew. And he loved jumping onto me as I lay sleeping. 24 pounds times gravity into the little kitty pads and of course I'd end up with bruises.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">But, by that night, he'd lost a lot of his weight. Holding him for so long was such a joy. He'd look up and wink sometimes. Let me feed him some water or let me know he didn't want any more. My parents also held him and he heard from my brother over the phone. We went for a </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">drive in my car and he looked out the window as we returned home.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Finally, late at night, as we lay on my bed, he curled up in his favorite spot and I lying sideways on the bed, he threw his leg over mine as he always loved to do and he was gone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Day 3 of my vacation I found that there is a pet cemetery in the area and made all the arrangements for him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Then I had the weekend to get some semblance of balance back enough to get back to work on Monday. Whether is was God's or Baby's kindness, I am deeply grateful.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I had a lot of nicknames for Baby but since he's been gone, I realized more than anything, he was a Teacher. And tonight, I can finally start sharing his lessons here. I hope that doing so will also keep me living his lessons. I've spent most of the last 18 years living on his terms because his terms made my life better. Now, after these last few months without his mentorship, I realize how much better life was.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I will miss him forever. And he made a difference.</span>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-69411652759356068672010-01-01T15:54:00.002-05:002010-01-01T15:57:13.038-05:00Happy New Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41J6geR4UeqelatPC2b76tj5X71qD4SeCN16pPPo1nSU1MHVvcmUJRhPFm8f_GpgqDE6HzGj7UH49l_ePRtKnw_Ibvem028p0N5L7rACwg2BCTDm97OkXq63dqN-Iu-s7ldoLBg/s1600-h/2010holidaycard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41J6geR4UeqelatPC2b76tj5X71qD4SeCN16pPPo1nSU1MHVvcmUJRhPFm8f_GpgqDE6HzGj7UH49l_ePRtKnw_Ibvem028p0N5L7rACwg2BCTDm97OkXq63dqN-Iu-s7ldoLBg/s400/2010holidaycard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421878235056628802" border="0" /></a>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-5771243506193194632009-07-28T23:01:00.001-04:002009-07-28T23:01:35.453-04:00raccoon<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/3767833826/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3767833826_330c2935b4.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/munltstmpr/3767833826/">racoon</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/munltstmpr/">MunLtStmpr</a>.</span></div><p>Actually, there were three of them. They're not little but I'm sure they're not done growing yet. Cute as anything but rather disconcerting that they're not spooked off by the deck light, the sound of us trying not to squeal, or the flash from the camera. Other than that, they were acting normal.<br /><br />I put a bird feeder out this year and have discovered how amazing birdwatching is, even just on my deck. And how resourceful squirrels are... 5 birdfeeders and counting. The first 3 were plastic that they quickly destroyed. The most recent one is supposed to be more squirrel resistant than #4, but we'll see. I'm not very optimistic and don't mind them eating... just annoying to refill the feeder every day. I'm wondering how the raccoons will fare against the squirrels.</p>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-63750504815515905302009-03-30T14:20:00.008-04:002009-03-30T14:49:24.974-04:00Theeeeere Heeeeere!Saturday morning had me up and out much earlier than my usual hour, but was well worth it. The vultures have returned in a huge venue this year and they like to ride the breeze high above my house. I do feel a bit jealous at their calm floating on the winds as they drift along, as long as I don't remember they're looking for a dead meal.<br /><br />Well, Saturday, they took a break from the sky and settled onto the trees in the backyard.<br /><br />Here's half of the venue<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5fTa1NJMP3fZ3W7viMM47Ou85aLL7ddHq22QUHW6gjlUp1ofepIiRbwwLjl4979T-tvaJz_xjcQRrWdglbbMVxVNym6ej-HwXL2jv1bt4ERbJORDuYYnb2MRnSME1B6EqlPG8Q/s1600-h/vulturesintrees1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5fTa1NJMP3fZ3W7viMM47Ou85aLL7ddHq22QUHW6gjlUp1ofepIiRbwwLjl4979T-tvaJz_xjcQRrWdglbbMVxVNym6ej-HwXL2jv1bt4ERbJORDuYYnb2MRnSME1B6EqlPG8Q/s400/vulturesintrees1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319048771877958322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here's the other half (about one house down)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVV5B8FFtfQaccTuoFC0c5QCDprmVPq-WqQQpJZvJjyvCcPr24fZD-2eKmGHmbnVhFzoe8QKNTe_QNl97tOFPxAdG1qX0QfJLeAoPwUuJEruwImH5c7AwPZ8Awqma8WaPsbYhL7w/s1600-h/vulturesintrees2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVV5B8FFtfQaccTuoFC0c5QCDprmVPq-WqQQpJZvJjyvCcPr24fZD-2eKmGHmbnVhFzoe8QKNTe_QNl97tOFPxAdG1qX0QfJLeAoPwUuJEruwImH5c7AwPZ8Awqma8WaPsbYhL7w/s400/vulturesintrees2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319048967382461042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Closer pictures<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseBqbOus3MsV27YyuvMh6vxaVg1eotvjNBZ7ULzXrq_68W5ynVOYypfAdVJKfx1ZEhfU5im-CO7hSeuwGsLyT-shHOZ8DzED_RxcgpcmUWoIuU5qRfV-8JI9Cj9hyYGJLHRoLow/s1600-h/vulture2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseBqbOus3MsV27YyuvMh6vxaVg1eotvjNBZ7ULzXrq_68W5ynVOYypfAdVJKfx1ZEhfU5im-CO7hSeuwGsLyT-shHOZ8DzED_RxcgpcmUWoIuU5qRfV-8JI9Cj9hyYGJLHRoLow/s400/vulture2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319049291082469026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLxhvpD-nnaKUZL_igrk7hEERY3P582Ua7P_kQ7SwwDAQKhI7d7P2adec6SWfyjfSq9XHSxzguW9hqJbVCL-eN_POZmZCAIJRb8AmEyAxOvbJRIOsU0WxsENAm9KIJzjBlmKUYQ/s1600-h/hunkerdown.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLxhvpD-nnaKUZL_igrk7hEERY3P582Ua7P_kQ7SwwDAQKhI7d7P2adec6SWfyjfSq9XHSxzguW9hqJbVCL-eN_POZmZCAIJRb8AmEyAxOvbJRIOsU0WxsENAm9KIJzjBlmKUYQ/s400/hunkerdown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319053547527127394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXbOwLySz9BMWQI_g2HpEUcTLJf0PnxSPZuQatfoZAUbDcWmiAu_6dxgRuhXm9GbSVk9s6tODVMJLbM-QD2Md9BhHFkCPAlM6PjAaXOyHGIb_DzsstwiezfQKtfOE03GXQkjlAw/s1600-h/vulture4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXbOwLySz9BMWQI_g2HpEUcTLJf0PnxSPZuQatfoZAUbDcWmiAu_6dxgRuhXm9GbSVk9s6tODVMJLbM-QD2Md9BhHFkCPAlM6PjAaXOyHGIb_DzsstwiezfQKtfOE03GXQkjlAw/s400/vulture4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319049310855757970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmRe2gs0L2mh76lj60a-_7lSKDoVXO8QTcJk2eErHyyQN9cdOo1L_Kd00ke6-ZlEPB0SNV23l7vD7QjUGse3deDK6boj7OGlio302sTPrZHwWs-NGv1qbHdJsOc4T_8T2MJMIsA/s1600-h/vulture3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmRe2gs0L2mh76lj60a-_7lSKDoVXO8QTcJk2eErHyyQN9cdOo1L_Kd00ke6-ZlEPB0SNV23l7vD7QjUGse3deDK6boj7OGlio302sTPrZHwWs-NGv1qbHdJsOc4T_8T2MJMIsA/s400/vulture3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319049305787320946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This one seems to like showing off<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetMQALi0GQdOK-xJJ8ETPXdcDM_ZTDEo3hWZkWTfYNx-0IdqQJF9ar2lfXjc-wfPA7Bw1I-xJ0bCaYuFa4Ta3u7pMna3mu8UEJ7U-ZsACrnhz_RvZY1oXIaUPfj8gTOWS3Zta6g/s1600-h/watcher.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetMQALi0GQdOK-xJJ8ETPXdcDM_ZTDEo3hWZkWTfYNx-0IdqQJF9ar2lfXjc-wfPA7Bw1I-xJ0bCaYuFa4Ta3u7pMna3mu8UEJ7U-ZsACrnhz_RvZY1oXIaUPfj8gTOWS3Zta6g/s400/watcher.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319053554556434466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhye2QGvgjLC4LZ15AF_Ck5bSmlqXV1wRN_eRh0dNJXpff93Q5vthRoC7klrwr9IZBC0ka7sWkNmZI2JmYkDh6NMh3GqvZPbVYEfYQ4QWx9vgeNHA3nZF5yaPk9W1U4nBc2yhsYw/s1600-h/waving.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhye2QGvgjLC4LZ15AF_Ck5bSmlqXV1wRN_eRh0dNJXpff93Q5vthRoC7klrwr9IZBC0ka7sWkNmZI2JmYkDh6NMh3GqvZPbVYEfYQ4QWx9vgeNHA3nZF5yaPk9W1U4nBc2yhsYw/s400/waving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319053556122482466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />much more effective than an alarm clock!<br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-27406608447264234632009-01-19T19:54:00.005-05:002009-01-19T21:01:55.479-05:00Twas the Night Before Eid, Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays and All Other Special Days All Rolled into One<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDmH0ryrDJxJL_X8IBWCn0sblFBpN1TABrRdXhgfrm07HJEagkhmm060dvnYh32As9nhS9wYH3Me5LtProHit-yV_50bCSrnfN04ySmqzi38_2WSQJRVZ-wabRxof3hTa6Rp-dw/s1600-h/mnknewdaydawnsfront.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDmH0ryrDJxJL_X8IBWCn0sblFBpN1TABrRdXhgfrm07HJEagkhmm060dvnYh32As9nhS9wYH3Me5LtProHit-yV_50bCSrnfN04ySmqzi38_2WSQJRVZ-wabRxof3hTa6Rp-dw/s400/mnknewdaydawnsfront.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293189450563628594" border="0" /></a><br />Driving home from work tonight, I realized a growing sense of anticipation. It's been a very long time since my birthday or Eid generated much excitement. Christmas and Hanukkah were school celebrations once removed when I was little, fun, but nothing overly exciting.<br /><br />Its the night before Eid, Christmas, Hanukkah and birthdays all rolled into one. That's how I'm feeling tonight. Tomorrow's that day of magic that seemed to only be a someday dream as how for children those days are always too far away to be real until suddenly it's the night before.<br /><br />Election Night was amazing. I was captivated by watching the results of <a href="http://maipolitics2poetry.blogspot.com/2008/11/first-democrat-re-elected-in-1934.html">Congressman Michael Arcuri's re-election</a>. The television was turned on and the volume turned down, as we tallied the numbers of that campaign. From across the room, the commotion on the screen distracted me from the scrolling numbers along the bottom and I knew something had happened.<br /><br />Sadly, fear crept up my spine before any other reaction set it.<br /><br />Then I saw the cheering... the tears of joy... the screams of ecstasy... the flags waving of pride.<br /><br />I can still feel the sudden shock, the breath choked in my lungs and my heart pounding, as I realized that it was not the close of a journey that I'd just witnessed but rather the next step of this amazing journey that is America.<br /><br />President-elect Obama.<br /><br />A nation, my home, that has grown from slavery to Presidency. Not someday or in the future or some other when that doesn't feel real, but right now, right before my eyes as I live and breath.<br /><br />Election Day was amazing, but tomorrow it becomes real.<br /><br />To all of you who called me a derogatory name, or thought I couldn't be enough, you who told me on Sept 11, 2001, that I should just be 'nuked to oblivion,' and you who just wouldn't see me:<br />Thank you for reminding me that we're not done yet.<br /><br />To all of you who expected more of me, who not just saw me, but also listened, you who shared yourself and demanded the same of me:<br />Thank you.<br /><br />The magic of tomorrow is the reality. And as all things real, it requires hard work, tending and expectations.<br /><br />Thank you, Barack Obama and your family, for what you are about to attempt. To again put forth Reverend Robinson's prayer for all of us:<br /><blockquote>A Prayer for the Nation and Our Next President, Barack Obama<br /><br />By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire<br /><br />Opening Inaugural Event<br />Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC<br />January 18, 2009<br /><br />Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.<br /><br />O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…<br /><br />Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.<br /><br />Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.<br /><br />Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.<br /><br />Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.<br /><br />Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.<br /><br />Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.<br /><br />Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.<br /><br />And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.<br /><br />Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.<br /><br />Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.<br /><br />Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.<br /><br />Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.<br /><br />Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.<br /><br />Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.<br /><br />And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.<br /><br />AMEN.</blockquote><br />It's nice to feel this excitement. It's anticipation and hope. YES, WE CAN do anything we commit to do. What's next? And what do I have to do to get there?<br />Maimun<br /><blockquote></blockquote>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-77336463892941935422009-01-11T20:47:00.002-05:002009-01-11T20:55:29.210-05:00Even though I love wire work, I'm pretty sure I'd have never thought of creating a "wire drawing." But this is amazing.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="553"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2726435&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2726435&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="553"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/2726435">New wire drawing</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user940705">michael murphy</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br />I'd love to find the size of this piece. I can see a cat being that curious, but if the piece is really that big... wow.<br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-22411535121430737302009-01-01T02:34:00.006-05:002009-01-01T02:44:54.425-05:00Wishing Everyone a Blessed New YearHappy New Years, everyone!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB6lI1ULsQ_-tdNMV7Iz7UYl3YVu8xao3NJpgTgeN3ZeN-5DvcFzVorUMLinEyYLc30Ldz5QojuO0OGKvgjNvtuNqfkTZ39rhhefSCEyeCNoNC1B07epCnpBbw7aVR3qzlJ_PxQ/s1600-h/mnk2008holidaycard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB6lI1ULsQ_-tdNMV7Iz7UYl3YVu8xao3NJpgTgeN3ZeN-5DvcFzVorUMLinEyYLc30Ldz5QojuO0OGKvgjNvtuNqfkTZ39rhhefSCEyeCNoNC1B07epCnpBbw7aVR3qzlJ_PxQ/s400/mnk2008holidaycard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286227872380143234" border="0" /></a>Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-73698601815564444792008-11-19T19:02:00.002-05:002008-11-19T19:25:45.375-05:00First Democrat Re-Elected in 1934<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Usually, Election Day comes and sometime after 9:00PM, we either celebrate or commiserate, might get home early or not, but the job is done, the big question of the night answered and the new campaign begins.<br /><br />Not so this year. At least we didn't have to wait until Dec 12th for someone else to choose!<br /><br />Two weeks after CNN, MSNBC and even Faux News did it, Hanna today accepted the fact that <a href="http://www.arcuri2008.com/newsroom_details.asp?id=1002">Congressman Arcuri will continue being our Congressman</a>.<br /><br />New York most always gets put in the blue column, but around here, its red. <br /><br />As if Election Day 2008 wasn't exciting enough.<br />Maimun<br /></div>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-29471405793892610652008-11-01T20:40:00.004-04:002008-11-01T22:48:35.740-04:00Yes, I Can... the Eternal Motto of Folks who MakeTo say that this election cycle has been different than 2006's doesn't even begin to cover it. I'm not all over the place and the hours are much kinder to my 2 year older body and soul. And that there's a Presidential Election this year just adds a whole other dimension to the days. <br /><br />There are some volunteer-made Arcuri buttons still floating around, I don't know how well all those iron-oned tee shirts have held up, and this was the one other craftiness I was able to do then:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-ISgsqMcC5bhncE-0HPpAbAuNMlyqE8-c3dtPbwRweffunCCEdzfCoBPm1_4p-PhRiFB9mG_vScbnbUTULP6D14fhs6u4nTg8cSoc2dKaHolMo5JmqZipmtRGlydLxHV-O3Suw/s1600-h/MAblock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-ISgsqMcC5bhncE-0HPpAbAuNMlyqE8-c3dtPbwRweffunCCEdzfCoBPm1_4p-PhRiFB9mG_vScbnbUTULP6D14fhs6u4nTg8cSoc2dKaHolMo5JmqZipmtRGlydLxHV-O3Suw/s200/MAblock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263883604807519154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I first got into politics with the Clinton-Gore election in '92. One of the features of the office back then was a a stock pile of white poster board and markers. There were probably times when the number of hand-made campaign signs outnumbered the official ones.<br /><br />Well, in the years since, I've discovered the crafter in me and have found great joy in making... cards, prints, jewelry, pottery, beads, books, centerpieces, and who knows what else.<br /><br />So, it's been really exciting to see the creativity that the Obama campaign has inspired, directly or indirectly, formally or informally. And it has been as frustrating with not having the time to add my craftiness to the mix.<br /><br />Two night of insomnia resulted in these from me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrBi9gd6r2zd_6DOijQvKsx7VGXAfxrFmLhABNHELt1-W4NowREpCS6QZBunZoSc9IYPcHht93tVoZqOHIQFyWtVgCsV7L-h4kAgwQVwJlnZaedoNBiSB5d6AC8gxnFEh2MSkhw/s1600-h/beafraidveryafraid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 63px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrBi9gd6r2zd_6DOijQvKsx7VGXAfxrFmLhABNHELt1-W4NowREpCS6QZBunZoSc9IYPcHht93tVoZqOHIQFyWtVgCsV7L-h4kAgwQVwJlnZaedoNBiSB5d6AC8gxnFEh2MSkhw/s320/beafraidveryafraid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263866287181225938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSKX1JDdA38gSXeJuE7B5h0B2Qf1ZJZGyUCWSbcx-crAPBA_0KUf9MKG-yOMq6SvpMA09y4p0Z7REfrKS0RqX40fDYKGJlKoxDmpsAYopucgRq0LNo9M1iRyMdL9zOB8E8NstPw/s1600-h/YESsmall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSKX1JDdA38gSXeJuE7B5h0B2Qf1ZJZGyUCWSbcx-crAPBA_0KUf9MKG-yOMq6SvpMA09y4p0Z7REfrKS0RqX40fDYKGJlKoxDmpsAYopucgRq0LNo9M1iRyMdL9zOB8E8NstPw/s320/YESsmall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263866290024927970" border="0" /></a><br />These are some creations of others that I really like:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc349/monkeycat62/Finished.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 431px;" src="http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc349/monkeycat62/Finished.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>yea.. it's made of <a href="http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=271679.0">beans and a whole lotta patience by <b>boogaloo</b></a> on <a href="http://www.craftster.org/">Craftster</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://pol.moveon.org/mh/gallery/">Moveon-org held a craft contest</a> and this piece honoring That One was made before he was dubbed that:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pol.moveon.org/images/mh/finalists/24642264_1_Signpost_for_Change.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 346px;" src="http://pol.moveon.org/images/mh/finalists/24642264_1_Signpost_for_Change.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.spellingchange.com/">Spelling for Obama</a>:<br /><a href="http://www.spellingchange.com/"><img src="http://www.spellingchange.com/data/blog/blog-c72c5ff725d9760e255df6f65650eeff.jpg" alt="Spelling Change.com" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.designforobama.org/">Design for Obama</a> has over 300 posters that you can download and print. Seriously... over 300. <a href="http://www.designforobama.org/prints/view/621_6ca7ee3ed438ca33a7b53f194dfffb44_b2d.jpg">This one</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.designforobama.org/prints/preview/621_6ca7ee3ed438ca33a7b53f194dfffb44_b2d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 228px;" src="http://www.designforobama.org/prints/preview/621_6ca7ee3ed438ca33a7b53f194dfffb44_b2d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>is breath-taking in it's detail. It's done by an illustrator. Each line is hand written (yes words) and the poster really needs to be printed out to be appreciated.<br /><br /><br />This:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2920340253_d33e498415_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 114px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2920340253_d33e498415_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>pretty much sums up all the visual candy <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palin_political_poster_project">here</a><br /><br /><br />The <a href="http://sewer-sewist.com/obamacraftproject/">Obama Craft Project</a> not only exceeded its campaign fund raising goal, but also works hard to collect all the creativity in one place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sewer-sewist.com/obamacraftproject/wp-content/themes/neoclassical/headers/header_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 458px; height: 111px;" src="http://sewer-sewist.com/obamacraftproject/wp-content/themes/neoclassical/headers/header_1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.obamaartreport.com/">Obama Art Report</a> lets readers know what's happening in the print art Obama world and where to get your hands on some. If you are fast enough.<br /><br />Ok, pumpkin carving season is pretty much over, but take a look at what's offered at <a href="http://yeswecarve.com/">Yes We Carve</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.30reasons.org/">30 Reasons</a> offers a poster every day.<br /><br />Then, there are the official Barack Obama campaign creative efforts.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://store.barackobama.com/v/vspfiles/images/TS29731.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 230px;" src="http://store.barackobama.com/v/vspfiles/images/TS29731.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Clothing designers at <a href="http://store.barackobama.com/Runway_To_Change_s/1034.htm">Runway to Change</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://store.barackobama.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CD2000-2T.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 124px;" src="http://store.barackobama.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CD2000-2T.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Musicians at <a href="http://store.barackobama.com/Yes_We_Can_Voices_of_a_Grassroots_Movement_s/1037.htm">Yes We Can</a>. Listen <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/music/">here</a>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://store.barackobama.com/v/vspfiles/photos/PO40265-2T.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 163px;" src="http://store.barackobama.com/v/vspfiles/photos/PO40265-2T.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Visual Artists at <a href="http://store.barackobama.com/Artists_for_Obama_s/1018.htm">Artists for Obama</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I like creative people. They make things. They make things happen.<br />Maimun<br /></div></div><img src="file:///Users/maimunkhan/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///Users/maimunkhan/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" />maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-24996601277585639942008-10-29T23:37:00.002-04:002008-10-29T23:39:46.899-04:00The Party of Hope<blockquote><p>"We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people. </p> <p>Yes we can."</p><p>-Obama<br /></p></blockquote>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-56332062572936016632008-10-22T23:07:00.004-04:002008-10-23T00:37:48.373-04:00GOP says, "PLEASE, Please, Please Be Stupid"While an Observer-Dispatch article by Bryon Ackerman is also an issue of the campaign newsletter from Congressional candidate Richard Hanna...<br /><br />While the OD, Hanna, and the NRCC don't know the difference between a <a href="http://www.stat.tamu.edu/stat30x/notes/node42.html">correlation and a causation</a>...<br /><br />While Hanna's stands on any issue is left to the interpretation of what his endorsers say... (and if you think that statement's hard to grasp, try looking up any of the following on Hanna's campaign website: education, health care, tax, immigration, war or any other issue that's important to you.)<br /><br />let's take a look at what <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?cycle=2008&id=NY24">Open Secrets</a> offers (on Oct 22, 2008, 11:55PM):<br /><br />Self-financing:<br /> Arcuri: 0%<br /> Hanna: 49%<br /> This simply shows that if Hanna were not supporting himself, just short of HALF OF HIS SUPPORT would be gone.<br /><br />Top Contributors (categorized by me, not Open Secrets):<br /> Arcuri: political PACs, labor groups,<br /> Hanna: privately owned companies, Exxon Mobil, Meryl Lynch<br /> I'd rather have the support of people who work for the betterment of others rather than the likes of Exxon Mobil. And seriously, Hanna bellyaching about Fannie Mae while taking money from Meryl Lynch would be just as crazy as McCain calling Obama a pop star while his own VP shops like Paris Hilton. OH. Oopps!<br /><br />Quality of Disclosure:<br /> Arcuri: Full Disclosure 94.4% Incomplete 0.0% None 5.6%<br /> Hanna: Full Disclosure 41.8% Incomplete 3.6% None 54.6%<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">FULL DISCLOSURE: Includes full name and occupation / employer<br />INCOMPLETE DISCLOSURE: Occupation listed gives no indication what the person does for a living. Examples of unacceptably vague disclosures are such "occupations" as "businessman", "entrepreneur", "self-employed", and "executive".<br />NO DISCLOSURE: No information about the donor's employer and / or occupation was listed.</span><br /> Seeing this was what prompted this postcard. When Hanna kept repeating "I don't know" at the debate last week, he really meant it when it came to his donors.<br /> The FEC requires this information, it's super simple to collect, and it discloses the industry incentives supporting a candidate. What 54.6% of that is being hidden from the voters 13 days before the Election?<br /><br />I don't understand the GOP's desire, assumption and need for Americans to be stupid. You'd think that anyone would instead expect and demand rational thinking and intelligence from voters, candidates, students, mothers, fathers, teachers, doctors, snow-plow driver and everyone else on the planet.<br /><br />Hanna may be new to actively doing something in the community but he sounds like the same ol GOP.<br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-88898332868037702902008-10-15T23:47:00.003-04:002008-10-16T00:33:31.910-04:00"Incredibly deceiving"That is the result of WKTV's Truth Test on Richard Hanna's latest ad. Well, Richard Hanna and the NRCC. Remember the NRCC, the National Republican Congressional Committee? In case you need reminders:<br /><a href="http://www.wktv.com/news/local/4445477.html"><br />here</a><br />and <a href="http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061030/political_ads_061030/20061030?hub=CTVNewsAt11">here</a><br />and <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/10/eveningnews/main4514486.shtml">here</a><br />and <a href="http://dccc.org/newsroom/entry/dirty_tricks_release/">here</a><br /><br />This latest ad is not posted on the Hanna website, so you'll have to see it on the <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/10/eveningnews/main4514486.shtml">WKTV report</a>. You can also read the <a href="http://www.wktv.com/news/local/30924454.html">text</a>. At least this one is child and family safe.<br /><br />Mike Arcuri's ads are also Truth Tested by WKTV. I think the easiest way to find all of the test results is by searching '<a href="http://www.wktv.com/results?keywords=truth+test+arcuri+hanna&searchType=gen&submit=Search">Truth Test Arcuri Hanna</a>.'<br /><br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-46686726436386772992008-10-14T23:12:00.003-04:002008-10-16T00:34:37.622-04:00They fail to lead by example.... unless this really is what they seekI finally got a chance to see the Arcuri-Hanna News 10 Now debate and was saddened to see Hanna drinking from the Pailin coolaid that makes the speaker repeatedly squawk out a memorized phrase regardless of context and sounding no better than a wind-up mechanical parrot.<br /><br />I say saddened because I'm somewhat familiar with Hanna's generosity, especially in support of women. The YWCA honored him for his check-writing tradition (though in a Church Lady <span style="font-style: italic;">Isn't That Special</span> moment, the <a href="http://www.richardhanna2008.com/hanna/Community/YWCA%20Salute%20Ad%202.jpg">event program</a> (identified as an "ad") also identifies that he's the <a href="http://www.richardhanna2008.com/hanna/Community/YWCA%20Salute%20Cover%202.jpg">sponsor of the lunchon</a>). Supporting the groups that do the work to help others is vital to those groups doing the work. And a good donor, like a good business man, needs to be able to pick and choose what he's doing with his money.<br /><br />But supporting, sponsoring and donating are very different tasks from doing work. Hanna got a thank you for the checks he wrote.<br /><br />Michael Arcuri was thanked for the work he did. As the first male selected as the Mohawk Valley Person of the Year by the same above named YWCA, his work in battling and prosecuting domestic violence and child abuse reached far beyond cash.<br /><br />The list of things Congressman Arcuri has done to better this region since he was elected to Congress is <a href="http://www.arcuri2008.com/free_details.asp?id=47">long and far more</a> than I want to capture in this little postcard. But things that are especially dear to me are his support of increased Student Aid, increasing the minimum wage and mental health parity.<br /><br />I know what Michael Arcuri has done and what he seeks to do. You can see it yourself <a href="http://www.arcuri2008.com/issues.asp">here</a> on his website. If you can find Hanna's list on his website (where I just clicked on every link), would you please post it in a comment?<br /><br />That's the difference between making something and making out a check.<br /><br />Onto national politics... I'll leave it to Keith Olbermann who said it better than I:<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27188417#27188417" frameborder="0" height="339" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-76044286489235666972008-09-16T21:56:00.004-04:002008-09-17T00:00:21.068-04:00Now it's a Question of Judgment<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAbJoVWVRaBnAC0CM6tjTDJUbULjihIXJvX7lJGnwoKAIKFKkHrtKC8kXXoqvGH1SOBpIjAva1DN_e_Epa5VQtiu4x9lQgv5_a18S6wH_CKJbiZONDJMYkfHuY3VvQaL7HZaI7Q/s1600-h/webBafraid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAbJoVWVRaBnAC0CM6tjTDJUbULjihIXJvX7lJGnwoKAIKFKkHrtKC8kXXoqvGH1SOBpIjAva1DN_e_Epa5VQtiu4x9lQgv5_a18S6wH_CKJbiZONDJMYkfHuY3VvQaL7HZaI7Q/s320/webBafraid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246803697028109730" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/maipolitics.303203871">(available here)</a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">(free to borrow for Web)<br /></div>I really didn't question his judgment until he picked her for his Vice President. <br /><br />I've shared <a href="http://maipolitics2poetry.blogspot.com/2006/09/women-sit-pretty-or-go-cook-but-shut.html">my opinion about how Republicans think of women</a>, but what is it with Republican women??<br /><br />"Just a hockey mom." HER words, not mine. "Just" a mom is offensive and sexist. Being a good parents and raising children well can be the biggest change a person makes on the planet. There is nothing "just" about that and dismissing that work is a sign of a dilettante who's children probably are better off being raised by a professional nanny. Real moms know there is no such thing as "just a mom."<br /><br />Anti-Choice, no exemptions. I don't understand women who would insist that a women who is a victim of rape carry a resulting pregnancy to term. This is beyond 'blame the victim' this is punish the slut who deserved it. And her baby too. For the last 32 years (yes, that's THIRTY-TWO YEARS), Alaska has ranked in the top 5 states with the highest rates in the nation of reported rapes. Six times the national average rate of child sexual assault. Oh, and if you are raped and want a rape kit done, be sure to grab your wallet on the way to the hospital since you had to buy the rape kit so the police can collect the evidence.<br /><br />'Health care must be market and business driven.' Really? And just which corporation would you trust making healthcare choices for you and your family? Enron, Exon, Halliburton. One policy fits all... Stay healthy!<br /><br />and be scared.... very scared.<br />Maimun<br /></div></div>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-51869620635595694652008-09-01T21:55:00.007-04:002008-09-01T23:28:08.785-04:00What I did over Summer Break. WAIT A MINUTE!!?? WHAT BREAK???I think one of the sure signs of summer ending is the jump-starting of this blog. It's been a fun, relaxing summer with just many things more appealing than catching up on the key board. With some of the changes that start at work tomorrow, I might end up using my lunch time for more things like the blog. Maybe. Getting out of the office is oft needed too.<br /><br />One of the pure social events was taking some visitors up to <a href="http://www.wildcenter.org/">The Wild Center</a>, the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks. I was really hoping to see and learn more about the critters around here, aside from the turkey, foxes, skunk, raccoons, turkey vultures, hawks and the pileated woodpecker that have been visiting my back yard.<br /><br />But, aside from getting attitude worthy of a cat from a duck, I was able to enjoy the antics of their resident otters. Eons past, my favorite part of visiting the Utica Zoo was to watch the otters.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZa7wuPjAQwCIHGuD8aaLSrfxeSuvL5SrG8TnEUQ8ErpIA6RB3-GXpjAHjsdEHB1q5tnmsAAU8HQiMxRjciTTjr4E0jvnI_RzUz_BXup2KzK3lWvDut6Y8Xt0UpoMoYOX4cC1aA/s1600-h/IMG_0307.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZa7wuPjAQwCIHGuD8aaLSrfxeSuvL5SrG8TnEUQ8ErpIA6RB3-GXpjAHjsdEHB1q5tnmsAAU8HQiMxRjciTTjr4E0jvnI_RzUz_BXup2KzK3lWvDut6Y8Xt0UpoMoYOX4cC1aA/s200/IMG_0307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241242047366513106" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJeFO9iAqUiKYaykB7cPklxYbibX6BAP1amrurPwuBeh6LauDIpEDEzns9Na6P5jHBhnKSeC39KXJQH5SxoD7hAWNiOfssrS8NLiVPRERfmoVGf2oLYb2Gvp9pxf1jpAj-y3xTw/s1600-h/IMG_0308.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJeFO9iAqUiKYaykB7cPklxYbibX6BAP1amrurPwuBeh6LauDIpEDEzns9Na6P5jHBhnKSeC39KXJQH5SxoD7hAWNiOfssrS8NLiVPRERfmoVGf2oLYb2Gvp9pxf1jpAj-y3xTw/s200/IMG_0308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241242057742914450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There were opportunities to join a birder and a naturalist on walks, but as I was the only one in my group that wanted to go, those will have to wait for another trip.<br /><br />Another events that's been pleasantly taking up some time is helping with a friend's wedding. There will be another post about one aspect of the wedding shower, but below are some of the pictures used in one of the games. Pink fru-fru really isn't the bride's style, so we went a bit off the usual path. How many of these brides or grooms do you recognize as the political figures they are?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA14orshDHPS-yeIkKr2743EFI859tkYTdlv5WR1awtpd3nXnsouBr2kJ4NtwupGKx6J6D7QV_EKy6DmshCQve-eywxz0GTU3yz9kgEZGtsD-ZuiwL7X_EAnty26j5HxgC5Jueg/s1600-h/bridebella.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA14orshDHPS-yeIkKr2743EFI859tkYTdlv5WR1awtpd3nXnsouBr2kJ4NtwupGKx6J6D7QV_EKy6DmshCQve-eywxz0GTU3yz9kgEZGtsD-ZuiwL7X_EAnty26j5HxgC5Jueg/s200/bridebella.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241244561124818354" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41CVO5eExcFLunejUIhKSrw2BW98tzfv5EIj0bSTDx4xYutHeve-3PPooDss5Yg9pzIHUFp-lY3He3s-NreGRToAK5AW-iLVWOPxjfS2zJWnJow8lPmT6B4drMH8W8kVY03gYUg/s1600-h/bridenancy.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH2B9eeGWvg1tuWvsRv1jTbpTztPvVJrC2oCYMRC2vXp1kwS_8bJijC_ZxezEsBcx35LDKxRas2wQbogcDcJ6YTtt3SDX2zhuQhNSuWhlRKXQVRApVr3mHXuRZM9C9mfZbL0UnA/s1600-h/groomchaney.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH2B9eeGWvg1tuWvsRv1jTbpTztPvVJrC2oCYMRC2vXp1kwS_8bJijC_ZxezEsBcx35LDKxRas2wQbogcDcJ6YTtt3SDX2zhuQhNSuWhlRKXQVRApVr3mHXuRZM9C9mfZbL0UnA/s200/groomchaney.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241244569518679954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH2B9eeGWvg1tuWvsRv1jTbpTztPvVJrC2oCYMRC2vXp1kwS_8bJijC_ZxezEsBcx35LDKxRas2wQbogcDcJ6YTtt3SDX2zhuQhNSuWhlRKXQVRApVr3mHXuRZM9C9mfZbL0UnA/s1600-h/groomchaney.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin7niRyGGT_4KZ8nHgHAPV2eAloMCsFQj2YpQHf6PAnirDMx9v2yqYsF1kUplR09Llkvbh5I7mCP7zfj5UyJ4iducWORx03e1YLMm8rQKDhEpc22pbwiWEUFtffzQwOmBvycS5A/s1600-h/groomsherman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin7niRyGGT_4KZ8nHgHAPV2eAloMCsFQj2YpQHf6PAnirDMx9v2yqYsF1kUplR09Llkvbh5I7mCP7zfj5UyJ4iducWORx03e1YLMm8rQKDhEpc22pbwiWEUFtffzQwOmBvycS5A/s200/groomsherman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241244567564770050" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41CVO5eExcFLunejUIhKSrw2BW98tzfv5EIj0bSTDx4xYutHeve-3PPooDss5Yg9pzIHUFp-lY3He3s-NreGRToAK5AW-iLVWOPxjfS2zJWnJow8lPmT6B4drMH8W8kVY03gYUg/s1600-h/bridenancy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41CVO5eExcFLunejUIhKSrw2BW98tzfv5EIj0bSTDx4xYutHeve-3PPooDss5Yg9pzIHUFp-lY3He3s-NreGRToAK5AW-iLVWOPxjfS2zJWnJow8lPmT6B4drMH8W8kVY03gYUg/s200/bridenancy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241244560478472050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(No, you don't get a prize.)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />And, of course, politics is picking up speed. <br /><br />I've been on the road for Congressman <a href="http://www.arcuri2008.com/">Michael Arcuri</a> again, still visiting great places in the district and meeting more great folks as well as reconnecting with longer-known ones. The volunteers who went with me decided that there's a house in Edmeston that would just be perfect for me. I wouldn't disagree though the commute would give me pause. Every year, I go to a craft show in Springfield, MA, but I am putting Smithfield, NY, on the "visit again" list. Serious fun shopping and what looks like a very relaxing B&B! Plus Herkimer, Norwich, Fairfield, Dolgeville, Smithville Flats, as well as Utica and New Hartford, all welcomed the Congressman very warmly. Even when he couldn't join us, the volunteers were wonderfully welcomed. Which says a lot about how much the voters like our Congressman. <a href="https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/volunteer.aspx?X=ZQT8JAsVL7ibkNL%2bm%2fGU6Q%3d%3d">Click here to help out.</a><br /><br />For those of you who read this blog 2 years ago, you know how excited I felt about seeing the district and all the treasures in it. This year, it rather feels like homecoming weekend. A childhood friend is running for Judge. A high school classmate is running for Congress. <a href="http://judgeghaleb.com">Jill Ghaleb</a> is seeking to keep her seat as Otsego County Judge and <a href="http://www.dariusforcongress.com/">Darius Shahinfar</a> is running the NY's 21 Congressional District. And the high number of Arcuri volunteers who have continued through this campaign all together make each event filled with familiar faces mingled with all the new ones.<br /><br />This is the first time I've wished I was a delegate to the DNC Convention. But seeing it at the Uptown Theater with about 170 other Obama supporters was good too. What a roller coaster Democrats have been on this year. Democrats aren't good at goose-stepping to the dictates of party officials. And in spite of Michigan and Florida escaping the consequences of their acts, at the end, we come together to do the right thing. Although "Democratic" is our first name, we all understand that the rules that govern DNC, GOP and American election processes are republic in nature. These federal campaigns are about getting the needed delegates. The popular votes roll into that, but popular vote isn't enough.<br /><br />Senator Clinton said it very well.<br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.demconvention.com/hillary-rodham-clinton/">I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?</a></blockquote>Politics can't be personal. Sure, the parents, spouses, children, siblings all have that claim and that motivation, but politics has to be about more than the person. Now, candidates aren't interchangable. Who someone is comes from all the aspects about him or herself. And for each of us who are active, there was probabaly one person who inspired us to get active.<br /><br />In short, Palin is no Hillary!<br />Maimun<br /><blockquote></blockquote></div></div></div>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-12106621601669834552008-06-30T20:21:00.004-04:002008-06-30T22:23:29.333-04:00Love in UticaIsn't it nice that love can still be found in the greater Utica area? Best wishes to the couple and their new addition...<br />Maimun<br /><br /><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-04830884072566447 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/lUipyhmDZAA&hl=en"></a><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lUipyhmDZAA&hl=en"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lUipyhmDZAA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-26137568531426220492008-06-24T22:51:00.004-04:002008-06-24T23:58:37.720-04:00If Frogs had WingsMost everyone has some kind of fantasy life.... Fantasy Football, Invisible Friends, Star Trek, Fantasy Congress, Second Life, whatever. Some are just interests, some are odd, some are childish, some are hard to understand, some are freaky.<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span><br />Some, at least these two, are far from fantastic. They're scary. That they are contemplated and justified should give us nightmares.<br /><br />McCain's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUE-QmH-n4Q&feature=related">100 year war.</a> No sane humane human should ever consider a 100 year war as a viable option for anything. Even The Hundred Year War stopped in year 3, year 10, etc, etc. It was only in hindsight that it was seen as a hundred year war, though paused by several truces. Edward III never planned for a hundred year war. <a href="http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/archive/hundredyearswar2.cfm#rulers">His battle plan did not include Henry VI, fourth King into the future and born over 100 years after him.</a><br /><br />That McCain served in Vietnam and was held as a prisoner of war and can still say out loud that a 100 year war would be OK with him should terrify all of us. That he, who knows first hand the horrors of war, can so casually commit the next 26 elected Presidents and the next 4 to 5 generations of Americans to any war is horrifying. That he acknowledges that this is a war based on lies and still stays his course is that much more horrifying.<br /><br />Add to that, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/23/mccain.terrorism/index.html">an adviser who unequivocally states that a terrorist attack would "be a big advantage" to McCain</a>, and I'm left wondering not only where is McCain's <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html">better angel</a>, but where are those of the company he keeps? It is disheartened cynicism that makes Democrats mutter comments of October Surprises, not jealousy. That a terrorist attack can be seen as an advantage to anyone makes as much sense as planning for a 100 year war does.<br /><br />Two seemingly random pieces coming together can be simple synchronicity at play. Three pieces just may be the engineering of wings on the frogs.<br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-67444741536149498342008-06-12T22:06:00.004-04:002008-06-12T23:47:55.627-04:00Neither Gender nor Heritage are the IssueSome days, life really lives up to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Days, weeks, months, years...<br /><br />I've always said that I'm lucky enough to have the luxury to be active in politics. Though I'm far away from being free of financial concerns, I do live within my means. That I am able to work one job and meet my needs give me the hours to do things that aren't financially reimbursed whether that's volunteering or playing, or whatever else I choose to do. Food, shelter and clothing are covered.<br /><br />Health becomes a challenge as time goes by. Things could be worse or better but is certainly manageable. <span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span><br />The rest of the pyramid is still standing,<br /><br />So, why haven't I been active here or anywhere else really over the Presidential campaigns?<br /><br />Dean's asked a couple of times here and certainly it's been a topic of conversation more places than not. (By the way, Dean, Pam and I missed you and Arlene in Springfield. Like always, it was an uneventful trip... meaning it was a great weekend! And I found crafting goodies I've been wanting for a long time.)<br /><br />I'm still active in <a href="http://www.arcuri2008.com/">Congressman Arcuri's re-election campaign</a> and the enthusiasm hasn't faded. I'm sure I'll help out with other candidates, too, including <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/">Barack Obama</a>.<br /><br />I suspect that part of the reason I didn't get all fired up about the Presidential race is because the base question that was so hyped was a non-interest for me.<br /><br />It seemed like the question the Democratic Primary was fighting over was "can a woman or a black man be President?"<br /><br />Yes.<br /><br />There's no agony, soul-searching, wondering, exploring or anything deeper than a loud, disgusted, and condescending, "Duh! Try reading the Constitution sometime."<br /><br />Am I proud that it's the Democratic Party that brought forth Hillary and Barack? Of course. But, seriously, could we really expect that either a woman or a person of color would be allowed to achieve in the Republican Party what they do in the Democratic?<br /><br />(OK, it was not the Democrats that were asking that question. We were answering the question of "which one do we want?" So, who was it that was really caterwauling that other question?)<br /><br />Reality check, folks... Chickens who vote for Col. Sanders would never be accepted sitting at the head of the table.<br /><br />I'm not so blindly faithful that I'd say "anyone but McCain" but I do pray for someone who won't continue dragging us down this damned road we're on.<br /><br />I've started a sentence a few times lately with "whoever next leads this country will have the task to start to fix" and I stop mid-sentence.<br /><br />Obama will have the task to start to fix all the destruction the Shrub Badministration has inflicted on America. The damages done run so deep that that it will take years to heal, no matter who the President is...President Obama, President Clinton (Bill or Hillary), President Santa Claus or President Fairy God-Mother.<br /><br />I stop mid-sentence because I don't really believe that whoever next leads this country will take on that challenge. I believe that Obama will do his best to start healing the damages the last 8 years have brought.<br /><br />I believe that McCain will not start the healing but rather continue the damages of the Shrub. If you don't accept that something needs fixing, you don't bother trying.<br /><br />Anyone who can consider that a 100 year war is an option is not capable of leading the healing we need.<br /><br />Will I be enthusiastically for Obama? Absolutely. Will I be working on his campaign? As much as I can. Will I donate? Yes.<br /><br />And I'd have done the same if the Democratic candidate were anyone else.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bush-mccainchallenge.com/">This</a> is why.<br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-68703978316880496102008-04-10T00:04:00.005-04:002008-06-13T00:05:19.558-04:00Craft Night in UticaEven a year ago, I was managing to do a better job of keeping up with things here. I'd love to blame it on the <a href="http://maipolitics2poetry.blogspot.com/2007/10/propane-tank-blow-torch-and-me.html">bead-making class</a>, but that's really just part of it.<br /><br />One of the joys of getting older is in still being surprised by yourself. As a child, I rather quickly became a practical, serious one. I used to love art class, but once it became an elective, it was no longer an option. Playing the violin lasted at most a year beyond art class. Eventually, the only creative outlet I did use was writing and that has managed to last most all my life in some form, though in more recent years, mostly as professional genre.<br /><br />So it was rather a stunning revelation that I still liked a broad range of creative arts. Even more stunning was that I often like what I make.<br /><br />So, when recently I'd been asked by several folks unconnected to each other, if Mojoz's Craft Night was still meeting, I figured that it was time to try again. All the creative play people engage in touch upon a vast array of needs. Creative, spiritual, recreational, developmental, exploration and any other incentive with which a person creates something, it's often a solitary endeavor. But if social can be added to the mix, everything is that much more creative, spiritual, recreational, developmental or exploratory. And it's a lot more fun too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdVBls102P_6cY7eNV9l0c1T7-_WMF9ey3Jwf6arSDB50WG3_YVtEGqO7RiQSabkpMKOiQd7gp7vIbNeRQkNk35wXfZqUWlNl4aoX_PYyegos7ZUhWJTGG7O7HCGAffWkwyzhNw/s1600-h/mojoatc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdVBls102P_6cY7eNV9l0c1T7-_WMF9ey3Jwf6arSDB50WG3_YVtEGqO7RiQSabkpMKOiQd7gp7vIbNeRQkNk35wXfZqUWlNl4aoX_PYyegos7ZUhWJTGG7O7HCGAffWkwyzhNw/s320/mojoatc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187468498635363794" border="0" /></a>Mojoz's is at the corner of Culver and Albany in Utica.maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-44987492966621179982008-03-05T21:44:00.003-05:002008-03-05T22:53:13.083-05:00Space, the Final FrontierThanks for the comments, Dean. I love the new look, though I'm a glutton for most anything space related. A use of our tax dollars that I'm thrilled over is that much of NASA's images are not copyrighted and their use guidelines are extremely generous. I wanted to be an astronaut more than anything else when I was a child and it's never really gone away. I'd blast off tomorrow if I had the opportunity.<br /><br />Here are some sites for NASA images:<br /><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/index.html">http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/index.html</a><br /><a href="http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/">http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/</a><br /><a href="http://nix.nasa.gov/">http://nix.nasa.gov/<br /></a><br />Once upon a time, I'd have to haunt antique stores looking for paper ephemera, either for my own collections or for my crafting, but what joy to find so much available on the internet.<br /><br />I did step outside to watch the eclipse but only for about 3 minutes during the peak. It was frigid and 2 coats, 2 scarves, hat ands gloves still left me frozen to the bone. I really wish that I knew how to take night pictures. There have been some views of the moon that were breath-taking.<br /><br />If you're also a Space fan, I'd highly recommend the movie "<a href="http://www.intheshadowofthemoon.com/">In the Shadow of the Moon</a>." I saw it at the local museum, but it's now available on DVD too. I remember as a child sitting in class as we watched rocket launches and recoveries. There was a sense of awe and wonder that feels sadly absent in later generations.<br /><br />And, I can't see the stars anymore. One of my strongest memories was of my first visit to the then uber rural ancestral home back in Bangladesh. The only lights available were wood fires and oil lamps. It truly seemed that that hemisphere of Earth had more stars in the sky than did ours. The Vancouver Sun had an <a href="http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=8c2980c8-4b91-42d1-b7b8-9a9d6abb3b87">article</a> on the damage caused by light pollution that would be worth your time to read.<br /><br />When I get home late at night, I do appreciate enough light to see that I can safely walk to the front door. But that's never caused me to gasp in awe or fill my soul as the drive through rural, no-lights roads on the way home always does. Motion-activated lights are the way to go.<br /><br />Well, no politics tonight. I'll save that for another night.<br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-48044371319647592022008-02-17T19:06:00.003-05:002008-02-17T19:32:22.872-05:00New and Improved. Well, at least New.As you can see, I've played around with my template and got a whole new look here. I think it much better represents me than what was previously being used.<br /><br />Sadly, the change also means that many of the links/images/etc that were previously posted have been lost. If you really need me to track any of them down, please leave me a comment and I will do my best, but no guarantees, OK? Otherwise, for now, I'm going to leave them lost in the grand universe.<br /><br />To those of you who pop in here ever so often, sorry for the lack of updates for the last forever. I've been crafting and playing with my cat more than anything else these days. I plan to continue with Mike Arcuri's re-election campaign, though the Clinton and Obama elections are also intriguing me.<br /><br />I've been keeping an eye on the Presidential race. For a long time, I've debated seeking a spot as a Delegate, but just never felt it strongly enough. I think this year would be a fascinating time to be a Delegate. But I've also been enjoying a number of conversations with college students about the Elections and voting. Younger voters always have a lot more at stake than anyone else with elections and I hope they get involved this year.<br /><br />Maimunmaimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460970.post-13703196650547104262007-10-27T16:55:00.000-04:002007-10-27T17:37:18.314-04:00A Propane Tank, a Blow Torch and MeOne of the joys of getting older is that I find myself more willing to try new things and stretch my comfort zone. A propane tank, a blow torch and me? Sure, I can try.<br /><br />I don't think I've tapped into an inner pyro, but I can't wait to do this again. Christopher and Jacquelyne Rice of <a href="http://www.cnyglass.com/">CNY Glass Studio and Gallery</a> made combining fire, propane and molten glass a safe, fun, and creative experience. Their class structure of 2 teachers to 4 students and their generous teaching style made for one of the best weekends I've had in a very, very long time. Not only do I plan on taking more classes from them, but since they rent studio space, I hope to be up there playing just for the fun of it.<br /><br />We first started with simple clear glass. Before we started melting glass, I asked what temperature we'd be heating to. About 2000 degrees. So, I figure that's why I was being rather hesitant to use the flame to it's optimal application. Hence, the beads that retained the swirls of molten glass:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445766.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445766.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Once I settled into heating the molten glass as high as I could, I finally got the more traditional bead shape:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445767.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445767.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Then we played with using the flame as a fine works tool more than just an intense heat source:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445764.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445764.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Then we shifted to colored glass. I still want to know why clear glass will not encase green glass, but will meld to it in partial coverings. This set is just colored glass without the clear glass coat. Similar enough for earrings, I hope.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445763.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445763.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Then I made a tube bead... an inner core of colored glass with a clear coat over it. The colored glass in this one changes as the heat works on it, so you're never really sure of what you'll get until the bead is finished. Serendipity in creating is a great thing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445762.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445762.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And these are the rest:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445758.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445758.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445759.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445759.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445761.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445761.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445756.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445756.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/749762/4299041/285445758.jpg"> </a>maimunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15595451862560044914noreply@blogger.com1