50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act

Vice president Lyndon Baines Johnson signed this
landmark legislation into law 50 years ago,
the year after beloved President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
was assassinated in Dallas on November 23, 1963.

"There is no issue of States' rights or National rights.
There is only the struggle for human rights."

Robins Are Back

I removed the foundation twigs

The garbage bag tells the robins to build
 their nest in a safer location.

Peaceable Kingdom, Randall Thompson

1899 - 1984

The Illinois State University Civic Chorale will perform Peaceable Kingdom in its entirety this Sunday, April 6.  Oh how we adore this piece!  Ed has a solo in one of the movements.  We performed Peaceable Kingdom about 15 years ago but Ed was going on sabatical in Perth, Austrailia so was unable to sing at the performance although he attended all rehearsals.  Ye Shall Have a Song, the last section, is my favorite. 

April 1, 2014

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Playing on its household namesake, the famous toothpaste, Colgate University, Ed's alma mater, announced today that it will open a graduate school of dentistry.  Releasing a polished video with tongue-in-cheek appearances by an array of administrators, faculty and a local dentist, the university posted the video on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media sites.

THE PRESIDENT, JEFFREY HERBST, PULLED OFF THIS MAGNIFICENT APRIL FOOLS JOKE.  THE VIDEO IS BRILLIANT.  CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT HERBST!

The New York City High Line -- to be Presented to our UU Congregation this Sunday

Learning about the NYC High Line would have made an excellent summer program at UUBN but the powers that be asked me to plan a regular Sunday service!  As you know, I am spiritually attached to this most remarkable reclamation project.  Uncle Jan introduced me to the High Line in 2010 a year after it opened, and I walked it last April and again last November with Laurie.  The last section, the Rail Yards, are planned to open this summer.  Wish I knew how to embed my PowerPoint into the blog -- there are ways to do this but it's too complicated.  You may be interested in going back to a post in November.  The High Line website contains information about every facet of The High Line.   www.thehighline.org or merely google the High Line. 

Oxallis tuberosa

A most interesting plant that is easy to find  in most supermarkets around St. Patrick's Day because  the leaves resemble shamrocks.  The leaves fold up at night and open in the day.

The Angeli Symphony Composed by Stuart J. Sharp

Snap Judgement, the podcast hosted by Glynn Washington is new to my podcast list.  This episode  is about a man who lost a newborn son named Ben. The evening of Ben's funeral, the bereaved father, Stuart Sharp, had a vision and heard astoundingly beautiful music, a symphony!   He saw Ben's body rise and an Angel came down and gave Stuart a gift, the gift of strength to pursue the vision.  He is not a religious man.

Without any musical training, he left his family, divorced his wife and moved from Leicester to London to pursue the vision.  It took many, many years.  At one point he was homeless. 

From the dissonant beginning to the lyrical resolution at the end, you may listen to a portion of the piece here.

Click on the 4th icon, the one about The Angeli Symphony to learn about Stuart's journey.

This is the first time in history the musicians in The London Philharmonia stood to give a composer a standing ovation.  

Valentine's Day Roses from Daad

Today is February 22nd and only 4 have gone to the compost bucket.

Daad Snapped This

As exciting  as the cataract surgery was, the recuperation has been more than I bargained for because I feel like there is sand in my eyes.  But I can see so much better!  My ophthalmologist suggested warm compresses for 5-7 minutes daily because the problem seems to be my lower eye lids.  The warm compresses feel good!   Afterwards I wipe my eyes with these special cleaner pads and rinse afterwards.  Am finished taking the 4 times a day prescription drops and now I'm using Liquid Tears.  It has been a month since the left eye was done, and almost three weeks for the right.  I can't complain.  This surgery is quite miraculous because I am ready to select new frames for new glasses but what is exciting, is now I can see the frames myself rather than depend on one of the opticians to advise me which ones look good.  !  Furthermore, if I decide to go without new prescription glasses, I can!  

VW Commercial

This is one of the VW commercials to be shown during Super Bowl tomorrow.    Every time a VW hits 100,000 miles a VW German engineer gets his wings.