Laws

Today I mentioned "Affinity Laws" (also called pump laws, and fan laws)

I ... I was asked if it was a "Marvel thing"......

I weep for the future.

Veterans

Some were handed rifles
Some were handed pens
Some were handed wrenches
Some were handed ends

We all did take one action
We all did raise our hand
We all are now connected
We all are now one band

Each of us swore the Oath
Each of us believed it
Each of us has quiet pride
Each of us enlisted

Rights

Is it the _right_ of a US citizen to burn, stomp upon, and otherwise denigrate the American flag?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the _right_ of a US citizen to openly refer to our Legislature, our President and our High Court as puppets, shills, whores, evil and unjust?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the right of a US citizen to venerate a socialist dictator and declare that they are by merit of race better than other citizens of this nation.

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Are Monuments to the CSA directly venerating the act of slavery and the supremacy of one man over another a right of a US citizen?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Is it a right of US citizens that there is a statue of Stalin in Seattle and a Statue of Pancho Villa in Tucson, or the brutal butcher Che Guevara is glorified on t-shirts and posters.

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.
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Now, that being said....

it is the right of a US citizen the protest these things, to want them changed, to alter the narrative with another point of view?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the right of US citizens to vote to change or remove past monuments?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the right of US citizens to defend a heritage and point of view?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it protected by the First Amendment.

this is how we learn and grow as a Nation

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Is it the right of a US citizen to incite or act in violence to promote their view?

No, No that is not protected from either side. Conversations are not held with clubs and chains, they are held with open minds.

Trails

Some years ago I would meet up with Justin King and we would hit River Legacy trails here in Arlington. It is a seven mile hike out and back.

We pushed each other. We would hit the mile marker and check our watches. He'd say "huh, that was a 18 minute mile.. can't you keep up?" Did not matter what either of us had done the night or week before.

we would hit the next we would look and I would say "16? you think this is a game?"

We got down to a peak of a 14 minute mile, before he wen't to the next trail. We challenged each other, but our times were always the same because we were traveling together. If one was not up to the speed the other slowed down. If we thought we were going to slow we challenged each other.

I had not found any one who could challenge me like Justin until I started BJJ training. Each time I hit the mat I am challenged and made to work. Each time I work I learn.

Justin would have loved this!

When I say

When I say "I love you"

I do not mean that I can not live without you.

I can.

I can, but understand;

Without you, I would not look forward to the morning and having you beside me in the bed.

Without you, I would not look forward to coming home from work.

Without you, dinner would be just another meal.

Without you, Sunset would be just a revolution of the Earth, nothing more.

Without you, my dreams would be empty and without vibrance.

I can live without you...

However,

I would not be _Alive_.

We signed

We signed our name we raised our hand, the spark became a flame
Our troth we gave to home and hearth, it's flag and then it's name
The oxgall ink shall never fade it's burned within our hearts
The precious words we will defend, in all their many parts

So many of our friends and kin, they did not understand
Our oath and our allegiance to the freedom of the land
We did know what we had done but we did it all the same
Our life blood was our promise then and liberty our claim

We stand the watch upon the wall that no one ever sees
We look into the dark of night, our nations sleep to ease
Our brothers and our sisters stand, to help us bear the load
Our family stands against the tide, it is our sacred code

When at last we are relieved, and another takes the stand
We gladly watch them take our place, a line drawn in the sand
They now walk the line at night so we might sleep in peace
The soldiers line and sacred oath we know will never cease

Once home we do our best to walk and yet we tend to stride
Our service is a precious thing we mention quietly with pride
We hem and haw about each branch, like siblings in a brawl
But Veterans know, that we are brothers and sisters all

We signed our name we raised our hand, the spark became a flame
Our troth we gave to home and hearth, it's flag and then it's name
The oxgall ink shall never fade it's burned within our hearts
The precious words we will defend, in all their many parts

A Mile

I have always tried to stay some what neutral in debates on social media that had a direct religious timbre.

Policy I will argue all day long. Opinion well I have one to be sure.

Religious I have tried to stay away from. However today I am breaking with that.

I was raised Christian and I have an unwavering faith in the existence of God.

Today I ran across a passage in the New Testament of the Bible that gave me pause to think . (From the King James Translation)
From Mark Chapter 5

"38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

I am reminded of Christians who refused on "principal" to bake a cake, or to take pictures of wedding ceremonies they disagreed with.

I as a person raised Christian I wonder if making the cake or taking the pictures just might be walking the second mile in our modern world.

cats and dogs

We are Predators. Hunters. weather it be wining a fight on the rapier field or harvesting a deer, or even destroying each other in Monopoly and flipping the board. We are creatures of contention and strife. This is how we survive our world.

Our species claims to be better than base animals, but it is only by besting the base emotions and urges that we have any hope of learning from the creatures around us.

Cats and Dogs reflect us. Dogs in the Idea of Pack and the survival of civilization, Cats in the action of affection but with mind of survival. Both are hunters and killers and both are our closest friends.

Sigh I guess I do still have affection for Myth of Herne and the Idea of the High Hunt. I guess I always will.

Introvert

I am an introvert. I know this comes as little surprise to most who know me, maybe a few.

I am not big on being in charge or in front of groups and when I do it is a big commitment for me. I do the job to the best of my ability and I give it everything I have.

Afterwards I might become part of the wood work for awhile. I am not leaving just recharging. I am here even if you don't notice, often I prefer to be unremarked.

I am just taking some time to breathe and then I will be back.

a reflection

A reflection.

Many years ago I was asked to preform a wedding. I still do not know why I was asked but I found a place online to do so, and obtained the credentials needed.

Since then I have been called upon a few more times to preform these rites. Each time I am awestruck that of all the possible choices a couple appeared before me as an officiant for their marriage.

Not all have worked out, but I have a special place in my memory for each who has trusted me to administer the vows.

Every time I have been called I have had tears in my eyes. It is a privilege to serve in this function. To play a small part in the dance of life and love.

Each of us will be called to serve in some form or function. Only by answering this call may we find out it's rewards.

love

5 years ago I observed that falling in Love is not so good as being in Love.

I was wrong,

Falling in love every day with my darling wife Monica Riney and then being in love with her as well.

This is my idea of paradise.

gods plan

Theologic reflection and thought skip if you wish read as you desire, but please be polite if you comment.

I have heard many times that we should each find what our place is in "Gods Plan" that some event misfortune or benefit is "all part of Gods Plan" and that "God has a plan for each of us"

I have decided that, in many cases, this is a wrong way to see things. It's a cop out, a dodge; placing the events and responsibility of our actions on the hand of deity.

Instead of going about saying we are looking for Gods plan in our life or attributing moments of joy or morning to "Gods Plan". Passing off any multitudes of things from war to pestilence to presidential elections as "Gods Will" is in my mind and thought ....BS.

I suggest asking "What is My Plan for God". Thats right _Our_ plan.

What do each of us as spiritual creatures plan to do to maintain the intent and directives of our multiple religions and denominations.

What do each of us plan to do to strengthen our own faith and support our fellow man.

What do each of us plan to do to give true Honor to our Deity by living a life that shows respect to them.

The will and plan of true Deity will be achieved. If not be me then by another. I am not required. I can only hope to be a vessel chosen to be used.

The question therefore should not be "What is Gods plan for me?", it should be, "What is my plan for God?".

calm?

I was told yesterday that I am calm and that was calming.

In truth I was not calm, I was quiet.

My Wife and Children will tell you readily that I am not of any danger when I am noisy. I shout and I bluster and I am done. It is when I am quiet that I am a danger.

Even so...

I am glad my quiet was mistaken for calm.

thoughts

Tonight I leave you with a thought.

The narwhale is just as easy to find in a South American rain forest as a chameleon at 150 ft under arctic ice.

If you look for what you know is not possible you will prove yourself right.

now if you look for tornadoes in Oklahoma.. well you will probably hit pay dirt.

Does a thought make a deed or does the deed make the thought?

If we act then think is it the same as if we think then act?

If you never thought of god, would god think of you?

Thought for the night

there is a color I call "Red"

my friends who speak Spanish call it "rojo"
my friends who speak German call it "rot"
my friends who speak French call it "Rouge"
my friends who speak Russian use way too many letters not on my keyboard.

no matter what we call it it is still the same color.

life

My Grandfather was a Baptist Minister. He didn't just teach his religion or his faith. He taught his congregation life. 

When he talked of being a good Christian and of being a good person in general. He said you should live your life in such a way that it is seen and people ask you why you have such peace and calm. 

He taught that if you are truly _living your path_, you don't need to knock on doors, people will knock on yours.

kids

My kids got up in my face and asked why I let them do any thing if they were going to screw it up. 

After an angry moment of advising them to back their ass down I had a moment of clarity.

I told them that a parent is here to let you make mistakes, to let you fail and help you put it back together (if possible) and try again. We are not here to make it easier. We are here to love you, to teach you from our experience, and to help you learn from _your_ mistake.

Wedding

Recently I was privileged to be allowed to officiate My Sister in Laws wedding.

this is the ceremony I wrote for them there were a few edits based on what they wanted but overall this is how it went.

Rev: Is there any here who would give any just and lawful reason why this man and woman should not be joined in marriage?

Rev: As there are none we will proceed. Groom, Bride, marriage may be defined as the joining of two things in such a way that they can not be separated one from the other with out irreparable harm to both.  It is not to be entered into lightly nor is it something that should be a convenience.

Here you by your vows will join your future, your lives, and even your very souls before God, Your Family and Your Friends. 

Rev, Bride, is it of free will and love that you come here today to wed this man

Bride: It is.

Rev: Groom,  is it of free will and love that you come here today to wed this woman

Groom: It Is

Rev: Who Gives this Man and Woman to the presence of these wittinesses to be so joined

Bride and Grooms choice: We Do, I do ETC (Together)  part as you write it

Rev: Bride, you will repeat after me the vows and then make such statement of faith and love as you chose.

Bride: This is my love, my faith, and my hope. It is as pure as loves first kiss, and as sweet as any passion. It is enduring as honey, It is as fragile as an orchid. It is Mine and Mine alone. Her and now I pour it for thee that all may know that I give it to you freely. By this I bind my self to you in Victory, as well as in Defeat. In Joy as well as Sorrow, In Health as well in Sickness. In Harvest and in Fast. In Bounty and in Barren. This I vow till Death take me or my world shall end. (makes personal statement then pours the wine into a glass chalice on the altar)

Rev: Groom, you will repeat after me the vows and then make such statement of faith and love as you chose.

Groom:  This is my love, my faith, and my hope. It is as pure as loves first kiss, and as sweet as any passion. It is enduring as honey, It is as fragile as an orchid. It is Mine and Mine alone. Her and now I pour it for thee that all may know that I give it to you freely. By this I bind my self to you,in Victory, as well as in Defeat. In Joy as well as Sorrow, In Health as well in Sickness. In Harvest and in Fast. In Bounty and In Barren This I vow till Death take me or my world shall end. (makes personal statement then pours the wine into a glass chalice on the altar)

Rev: The Rings.



Rev: by this out ward sign of fidelity you shall be known to be a husband or a wife.  The rings are round and have no end. So should be your love. They are made of metal precious to all mankind, so then should be your love. They are given freely and with our reservation so ever should be your love.

Groom: With this Ring I thee Wed

Bride: With this Ring I thee Wed

Rev: Today you have poured out your love, Hope, Faith, and will before these witnesses one and to the other (holding up the glass chalice) and behold all has become as one. This is your lives and that which have been  bound together and may not be separated with our destruction of both parts. Let each of you now partake of this cup of life which you, by your vows,  have formed.



Family, loved ones and Friends, I now Present you with Groom and Bride. Husband and Wife.

Rev: You may kiss

Penguin

I want a new version of The Penguin. forget the short stubby caricature. He is tall wears a silk suit, french cuffs and a vest with saffron lapels. The hat is needed but maybe a black felt western hat. the hand deformations stay.

I see him on a penthouse balcony, wearing a black Stetson, no jacket, just the white shirt, slacks and vest, his hooked nose drawing in the aroma of the cigar he is about to light. the stogie held tight in one deformed hand as an underling offers him a light with a cedar splint.

as the sun sets Bats fly out from beneath a bridge in the distance.

Anger

Anger festers.

we can say "no it's ok"
we can say "I don't mind"

Our body Knows
Our soul knows
Our spirit feels the pain

Anger is a cancer
Anger will find way to hurt

Sometimes the right thing to do is cry

Harmbe

From June

Don Riney

June 3 · 

A meme is going around about the unfortunate events at the Cincinnati zoo last week. Something to the effect of "I would have jumped in to save my kids life"

I would have jumped in if needed and frankly might even with out considering if I could do so without further endangering my child. I am stupid enough to try this and likely would have done so and made the situation far far worse than it was, but I do not believe I would have needed to.

Not after the first time I said "No". Just ask my children If you want I will give you contact info. My wife, myself and my step daughters Father; all taught the children we raised (and are now raising) that they need to obey us first. they can question later and often were encouraged to question later to understand _why_ they were told no. We trusted them to make and learn from small mistakes and taught them that if we said no.. it wasn't small.

as they got older the mistakes they were allowed to make got bigger and repercussions did as well. (not always from us.)

All this being said when I tell my 3 year old grand son at the Zoo who is grabbing the barricade "no" he steps down, sulks and then asks to be picked up to see.

The Zoo will do everything they can to protect and preserve these amazing creatures in their care, and allow us to see them. We should act with no less diligence with the amazing creatures that are our Children.

Oh and I highly endorse child harnesses and tethers (leashes) but those are to keep me in contact with the child in a world of possible danger while letting them explore their world, not to be a limit on them.