«Escribo para comprender, y desearía que el lector hiciera lo mismo, es decir, que leyera para comprender. ¿Comprender qué? … Cuando alguien está en una lectura y levanta la mirada como si estuviera aprendiendo con mucho más intensidad lo que acaba de leer, es el momento en el que ese alguien está totalmente involucrado, como si pensara: esto es mío, esto tiene que ver conmigo. Uno saca de la lectura lo que necesita».

«En cierto sentido se podría decir que, letra a letra, palabra a palabra, página a página, libro a libro, he venido, sucesivamente, implantando en el hombre que fui los personajes que creé. Considero que sin ellos no sería la persona que soy hoy, sin ellos tal vez mi vida no hubiese logrado ser más que un esbozo impreciso, una promesa como tantas otras que de promesa no consiguieron pasar, la existencia de alguien que tal vez pudiese haber sido y no llegó a ser».

«Llevamos siglos preguntándonos los unos a los otros para qué sirve la literatura y el hecho de que no exista respuesta no desanimará a los futuros preguntadores. No hay respuesta posible. O las hay infinitas: la literatura sirve para entrar en una librería y sentarse en casa, por ejemplo. O para ayudar a pensar. O para nada. ¿Por qué ese sentido utilitario de las cosas? Si hay que buscar el sentido de la música, de la filosofía, de una rosa, es que no estamos entendiendo nada. Un tenedor tiene una función. La literatura no tiene una función. Aunque pueda consolar a una persona. Aunque te pueda hacer reír. Para empeorar la literatura basta con que se deje de respetar el idioma. Por ahí se empieza y por ahí se acaba».

Por José Saramago.

En Algún día | José Saramago.

Caín la degradación de su raza y se enfureció. Enfadado con su raza por condenarle con sus pecados. Y así hablo:

“Malditos seais todos, como yo fuí maldecido por Dios. He visto el futuro, escrito en sangre, cuando las noches lleguen a su fin, el juicio llegará. No el juicio de Dios si no el mío, y con él mi absolución. los signos serán claros, el mundo acogerá la Gehena. Los dignos serán perdonados, los otros serán consumidos por el hambre de los antiguos, de mis primeros condenados a quienes conozco por su nombre. Conocereis éste tiempo pues los mortales quemarán vuestras ciudades de oro y enterraran vuestros sueños con ceniza y tierra. Un tiempo cuando los hijos de Seth reclamaran su mundo arrojando luz a las tinieblas, y la sangre se debilitará, engendrando retoños impuros en su Condenación. Conoced estos signos, pues serán el fin”.

Esta es la historia de cómo Caín se convirtió en el primer vampiro, al ser condenado por Dios a vagar por las tinieblas y alimentarse de la sangre que él mismo habia derramado. Trás muchos años Caín vió el daño que sus propios chiquillos habían hecho y los condenó a morir de la misma forma que ellos mataban.

www.israelnationalnews.com

Where did Cain get his wife? Notice Genesis 5:4: “After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters.” Obviously Cain married one of his sisters — one of Adam’s daughters — and Seth, Cain’s brother, did likewise.

Adam and Eve, as God proposed, were fruitful (Genesis 1:28). In today’s world, when many couples are having no more than one or two children, it’s hard for us to grasp how many children Adam and Eve probably had during their great span of life of nearly a thousand years. Adam lived almost one sixth of all the time from his creation until now.

It was not wrong to marry a sister or a brother in the beginning — no physical harm would result. More than 2,000 years later, in the days of Abraham, a man could still marry a half sister. It was not until the days of Moses that God forbade brothers to marry their half sisters (Leviticus 18:6, 11).

In pre-Flood days, when people lived for centuries, they did not age as we do today. They were able to continue bearing children, undoubtedly, for hundreds of years. After the Flood, because of living contrary to God’s laws, the human life span became greatly shortened.

When I was a very young boy I had a dog named Trigger. Trigger was the best dog in the world. He was affectionate, friendly, brave, playful, easygoing, and, above all, loyal. He was an “outside dog,” and his tendency was to lie in wait near the door of my home. If I came bursting through the door, on my way to play in the woods, Trigger was right there, leaping to join me, as if he had been poised, anxiously expecting me at any moment. In a way, his desire was to please me, and I ruled over him.

Cain and Abel were brothers. Each brought an offering to the Lord. Abel’s offering was a slaughtered animal. Cain’s offering was some type of fruit grown from the ground. Abel’s offering pleased God. Cain’s did not. We do not know for sure if Abel’s offering pleased God because it was a blood offering, given as a sacrifice for sin. If so, then Cain’s offering, which was bloodless, could have been rectified. He could have made a second, proper, sacrifice. We do know that Cain had a bigger problem with his offering than the thing that was being offered. The bigger problem was the condition of Cain’s heart, evidenced by his attitude toward God.

Genesis 4:5 tells us that Cain was “wroth:” burning with a fierce anger. God addressed the condition of Cain’s heart with him in Verse 7: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted..?”

God did not ask Cain the question in the first part of the Verse because He didn’t know the answer. God is (and always has been and always will be) omniscient. He may have asked Cain this question in order to give him a chance to repent, or to make a point. Then, in the rest of the Verse, God sets forth a warning: “…if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Some Bible scholars believe that God was referring to Abel, Cain’s younger brother, when He said, “unto thee shall be his desire,” meaning that Abel would continue to look up to, respect, and try to please his older brother if Cain did what was right.

Others believe that God was telling Cain that, if he did what was right, he should (shalt) be able to rule over sin by not giving in to it, even though his wrong-doing had brought sin to his door.

Or is it possible that God was telling Cain that the attitude of his heart had brought sin to lie at his door like a faithful hound? Sin would be lying there, waiting obediently, and its (sin’s) desire would be to do the bidding of Cain, and those who followed the “way of Cain” (Jude Verse 11). Just as Trigger was anxious to please me, and have me “rule” over him, so sin would be the servant of Cain and all those who opposed the righteousness of God, and who encouraged others to rebel against Him. (Proverbs 10:16) It is true that unregenerate people are the servants of sin (Romans Chapter 6). But it is also true that sin serves them as they attempt to corrupt and influence Christians (Romans 16:17-18).

Amy was the daughter of Miles Leroy Hineman and Elizabeth Ann Rowan.

She was born 30 Jun 1896, in Tomah, Wisconsin. She married Earl Benjamin Scott and moved to Eau Claire Co., Wisconsin. Earl was born 16 May 1891 and lived in Augusta.

-From the Tomah Journal, 02 Oct 1914

A quiet wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Hineman of the town of Tomah on Thursday, Sept. 24th, when their youngest daughter Amy was united in marriage to Mr. Earl Scott of Augusta. The ceremony was performed at noon by Rev. Jonathan G. Smith of the Congregational church. Only the immediate relatives of the contracting parties were present. A wedding dinner was served and the newly wedded couple took the afternoon train for La Crosse. They intended to go from there to Milwaukee but were called back next day by the death of a nephew of the bride. They left Tuesday for Augusta where they will make their home, Mr. Scott being engaged in the moving picture business there. We join with the bride’s many friends in wishing them happiness and prosperity.

NOTE: The nephew mentioned was Virgil Frederick Hineman, son of Ralph W. Hineman, Amy’s brother. He died from TB, as did the wife (Bessie Martin, died Aug 1914) of Amy’s oldest brother, Gardie.

*****

Name:  Amy Louise Scott
Home in 1920: Otter Creek, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Age: 23 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse’s name: Earl B
Father’s Birth Place: Wisconsin
Mother’s Birth Place: Wisconsin
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Household Members:
Name     Age
Earl B Scott 28
Amy Louise Scott 23
Elizabeth A Scott 3 11/12
Elvin H Scott 2 9/12 [Elaine]
Allen E Scott 7/12

*****

Name: Amy L Scott
Home in 1930: Augusta, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Age: 33
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse’s name: Earl B
Race: White
Household Members:
Name     Age
Earl B Scott 38
Amy L Scott 33
Elizabeth A Scott 14
June E Scott 13
Allen E Scott 10
Robert M Scott 8
Kathryn N Scott 6
Rose M Scott 4

*****

Name:  Amy L Scott
Age: 67
Sex: F (Female)
Birth Date: abt 1896
Death Date: 14 Oct 1963
Location: Eau Claire
Certificate: 030181

*****

Name: Earl B Scott
Age: 68
Sex:     M (Male)
Birth Date: abt 1892
Death Date: 28 Apr 1960
Location: Eau Claire
Certificate: 013875

*****

Children of Earl Scott and Amy Hineman:

Elizabeth A. Scott married Shirley Franklin Campbell

June Elaine H Scott married Charles A Cain

Allen E. Scott married Elaine C. UNKNOWN

Robert Miles Scott** (see obit below)  married Eny Loradean Lucille Harke

Kathryn N Scott married UNKNOWN Hanson

Rose M. Scott married Don Grams

Richard Scott (I have no information on him)

John Scott (died as infant)

NOTE:  Any additional information and/or corrections on the spouses would be appreciated.

*****

Robert Scott

AUGUSTA : Robert Scott, 86, of E19110 County Road N, Augusta, passed away at his home Wednesday morning, May 30, 2007.

Robert Miles Scott, son of Earl and Amy (Hineman) Scott, was born January 16, 1921, in Scott?s Valley, rural Augusta. At the age of 2, he moved into the city of Augusta, where he attended grade school and graduated from Augusta High School. He was united in marriage to Loradean “Eny” Harke on February 7, 1940, in Cresco, Iowa. The couple lived all their married life in Augusta. During WW II, Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre, stationed mainly in China. Bob had been employed in Eau Claire by Dolly Madison Dairies and Gillette Tire Company before taking a job with Northern States Power Company in 1950. During his 32 years of employment with NSP, he worked as a ground man, lineman and eventually as the district manager in the Augusta office. Since February of 2006, he had enjoyed making his home with his son and daughter-in-law in Ludington Township, rural Augusta.

Bob took pride in his community, and throughout his life volunteered his time for the betterment of Augusta. For many years he had been a member of the Augusta-Bridge Creek Fire Dept., where he had served as secretary-treasurer. In the 1960s, during the construction years of the elementary school, he had served on the Augusta School Board. He also served on the Augusta Nursing Home Building Committee and eventually on the Nursing Home Board. Since 1950, he was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta, where he served in various capacities. He served on the Augusta Cemetery Board, and was an active member and officer with the Augusta Lions Club, American Legion, and past commander of the Augusta VFW Post. He was a member of the Eau Claire County Conservation League, and during this time was instrumental in establishing the Eau Claire County Public Hunting Grounds and Coon Fork Lake. While working for NSP, he became a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, and in 1970 was awarded the Citizen of the Year for NSP.

Bob enjoyed the time he spent coaching girls softball teams and being involved with his children and grandchildren?s activities. He was an avid deer hunter, and looked forward to the annual family hunts. He also enjoyed fishing, playing cards, pool and bowling.

He is survived by his son, William and Kathryn Scott; daughter-in-law, Lynda Scott; brother, Allen and Elaine Scott; and sister, Rose and Don Grams, all of Augusta; four grandchildren, Jon Scott, Michelle (Don) Wade, all of Kenosha, David (Lisa) Scott of Omro and Richard (Kristine) Scott of Sherwood; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Eny, on October 26, 1990; son, Larry Scott, on December 9, 2003; and siblings, Elizabeth Campbell, June Cain, Kathryn Hanson, Richard Scott and infant brother, John Scott.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2007, at Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta. Burial, with military rites conducted by the Augusta VFW and American Legion, will be held in the East Lawn Cemetery, Augusta.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Augusta VFW Post, Augusta Lions Club or Augusta Cemetery Association.

-From the Leader Telegram, 01 Jun 2007 Eau Claire, WI

*****

I would love to hear from any descendants of Earl Scott and Amy Hineman, and am hoping they might be able to provide more information and/or pictures, especially of the Hineman family. Amy’s brother Gardie, was my great-grandfather, and I don’t have any pictures of him or his first wife, Olive Bessie Martin.

Amy had a sister, Pearl, who lived in Augusta as well. Pearl was married to Ralph W. Bowen, and from what I can tell, they never had any children of their own. However, according to one census record, my grandfather, Nathan Hineman was living with them shortly after his mother died from TB.

Any info would be appreciated!

Os Assamitas vêm dos desolados desertos do Leste e trazem consigo miasmas de terror. Os Assamitas são conhecidos dentro da sociedade dos vampiros como um clã de assassinos sanguinários, trabalhando para quem quer que possa pagar seu preço. O preço que eles cobram por seus serviços é a vitae de outros Membros, pois para os Assamitas, a diablerie é o maior dos sacramentos.Os Assamitas tentam evitar os assuntos da Camarilla e do Sabá, trabalhando para um ou ambos os lados em busca de seus objetivos. Eles circulam entre cidades controladas pelas duas seitas; os outros Membros os consideram úteis para matar rivais, executar caçadas de sangue, açoi tar crianças indesejáveis e para se infiltrar em bases rivais de poder. Contudo, os Assamitas raramente formam verdadeiras alianças com outros Membros, pois eles consideram as demais crianças de Caím como sendo de origem inferior. Ao contrário dos outros clãs, os Assamitas não clamam ter um fundador da Terceira geração. Eles acreditam que seu fundador era um membro da Segunda Geração, fazendo de todos os outros Cainítas, meras cópias imperfeitas deles. Nas noites anteriores à formação da Camarilla e do Sabá, os Assamitas praticavam abertamente a Diablerie, sempre em busca de uma maior proximidade com “Ele”, como eles se referem ao seu místico fundador. Com o fim da Revolta Anarquista, e com o Sabá e a Camarilla se erguendo das cinzas, muitos anciões poderosos tornaram-se inquietos com os assassinos canibais que espreitavam entre suas hierarquias. Convocando os Tremere para amaldiçoar o sangue dos Assamitas, a Camarilla colocou uma coleira no clã, tornando seus membros incapazes de consumir a vitae; de outros Membros. Sem condições de combater a frente representada pela Camarilla, os Assamitas se sujeitaram a esta indignação. Os poucos que não aceitaram a maldição se esconderam e juntaram-se ao Sabá. Aqueles que l idam frequentemente com os Assamitas perceberam a grande revolta que existe dentro do clã. O maior sinal disso é a recente superação da maldição de sangue lançada pelos Tremere. Livres dos grilhões místicos que impediam o clã de cometer diablerie, os Assamitas começaram novamente uma campanha de assassinatos e canibalismo. Atualmente, os Assamitas matam outros Membros sem nenhuma provocação — e, de fato sem contratos sancionados. O clã como um todo assumiu uma postura mais violenta. Enquanto antes os Assamitas não aceitavam novos contratos contra vítimas que superavam seus assassinos, agora o clã pode perseguir estas vítimas livremente, e frequentemente o faz com fervor sem igual. Da mesma forma, os Assamitas não respeitam mais o antigo costume de pagar o dízimo aos seus senhores. Nestas noites de Gehenna iminente, não há lugar para Assamitas preguiçosos que descansam sobre os louros alheios. Precisamente o quê os Assamitas desejam, contudo, é desconhecido. Certamente, os Assamitas atuam tanto na área física como na política e agentes secretos do clã foram descobertos em cidades onde os vampiros governantes se tornaram muito preguiçosos e presunçosos. Sua influência sobre cidades da índia e do Oriente Médio são muito mais fortes do que os Membros supunham anteriormente. Apesar dos Membros já terem visto os Assamitas como empregados honráveis e úteis (e relativamente impotentes), atualmente eles têm pavor do clã.

Apelido: Assassinos

Seita: Os Assamitas encaram o Sabá e a Camarilla com o mesmo desprezo. Alguns Assamitas ainda se mantêm no Sabá e outros poucos vivem isolados dentro da Camarilla.

Aparência: Os Assamitas tendem a se vesti r com o estilo mais prático possível. Narizes aquilinos, cabelos negros e corpos graciosos e esbeltos são predominantes entre os membros do clã, apesar de membros Africanos possuírem características mais núbias. Recentemente, alguns Ocidentais foram introduzidos ao clã, mas eles continuam sendo uma minoria. Estes indivíduos podem ser de quase qualquer aspecto, pois são escolhidos por suas habilidades e não pela aparência. Além disso, a pele dos Assamitas se torna cada vez mais escura conforme eles envelhecem (ao contrário dos outros vampiros, cuja pele mais fica pálida com a idade); Assamitas particularmente antigos têm a tez quase da cor do ébano.

Refugio: Muitos dos anciões do clã vivem em Alamut, a mística fortaleza do clã, localizada no alto de uma montanha em algum lugar da Turquia. Neófitos e agentes no estrangeiro normalmente selecionam locais remotos e inacessíveis para terem certeza de que não receberão visitas inesperadas.

Antecedentes: Muitos Assamitas fida’i (aprendizes recentemente Abraçados) são originários da Ásia Menor ou do norte da África. A maioria dos membros do clã já esteve envolvida em assassinatos, trabalhos ilegais ou atividades terroristas em alguma parte de suas vidas, apesar disso não ser tão certo na linhagem do vizir. Recentemente, o clã tem Abraçado muitos neófitos de origem Ocidental — Principalmente soldados, criminosos e bandidos de rua.

Criação de Personagens: Os Assamitas favorecem os Atributos Físicos, com os Atributos Mentais perdendo por pouco. Os Assassinos dão igual preferência às Perícias e Talentos. Normalmente, às Assamitas têm Naturezas e Comportamentos semelhantes, pois o subterfúgio não é seu estilo, mas eles raramente são exatamente iguais. Entre os Antecedentes mais populares estão Mentores, Contatos e, é claro, Geração.

Disciplinas do Clã: Rapidez, Ofuscação, Quietus

Fraquezas: Devido à superação da maldição Tremere sobre o sangue, os Assamitas readquiriram o seu apreciável gosto por vitae, Principalmente a de outros Membros. Tendo sido forçados a depender de poções químicas de sangue por grande parte de sua história moderna, o clã se vicia facilmente no sangue de outros vampiros. Sempre que um Assamita beber ou simplesmente experimentar do sangue de um Membro, ele precisa fazer um teste de Autocontrole (dificuldade igual ao número de pontos de sangue ingeridos +3). Se a jogada falhar, ele está viciado e precisará fazer outro teste de Autocontrole da próxima vez que entrar em contato com vitae de Membros. Uma falha nesta tentativa coloca o vampiro em um frenesi sanguinário, no qual ele fará qualquer coisa fisicamente possível para tomar tanto sangue quanto possível. Quando o vício do personagem se manifestar, a necessidade de consumir sangue deve ser representada — o Clã Assamita não vê mais necessidade em esconder sua natureza vampírica.

Organização: Do alto do Ninho da Águia, em Alamut, os anciões do clã ainda orquestram os movimentos dos Assassinos, mas cada vez mais os Assamitas têm sido despachados por todo o mundo, matando Membros com ou sem contratos ou sanções. Muitas das antigas “regras de compromisso” do clã — tais como a proibição de se caçar um oponente que já sobrepujou um Assamita — foram descartadas. Para aqueles de fora do clã, parece que os Assamitas estão se excedendo. Os Assamitas se organizam em unidades similares aos bandos do Sabá, estes grupos são conhecidos como falaqi. Um falaqi normalmente consiste de dois ou três Membros que se infiltram em uma cidade e ali estabelecem uma posição segura. Em uma cidade, os Assamitas realizam atividades comuns a muitos dos Membros (estabelecer bases de poder, cultivar rebanhos), mas também enfraquecem seus rivais através de assassinatos seletivos; aparentemente, a Sexta Tradição não se aplica a eles.

Linhagens: A linhagem dos vizires Assamitas se especializou no estudo da Taumaturgia e de magias do Oriente Médio. Os vizires quase nunca deixam os limites do Alamut e certamente nunca se envolvem em assassinatos. Ao invés disso, eles apuram seus conhecimentos — e consequentemente os do clã — sobre a magia do sangue. Os vizires Assamitas abandonaram a Rapidez, tendo em troca a Taumaturgia como Disciplina de clã. Os Assamitas antitribu do Sabá se diferenciam muito pouco de seus parentes independentes,sendo a submissão nominal ao Sabá sua única variante. Os Assamitas e sua antitribo se relacionam muito bem, especialmente depois que o clã quebrou a maldição dos Tremere.

Mote: Guarde seut fôlego, fracote – ninguém ouvirá seus gritos.Agora me ajude em minha jornada de volta à graça de Haqim …

EM NOITES PASSADAS:
Narradores que queiram realizar seus jogos nas noites anteriores a 1998 devem ajustar o Clã Assamita conforme apresentado a seguir. Por só terem quebrado recentemente sua maldição de sangue, antes de 1998 os Assamitas tinham uma fraqueza diferente. Os Assamitas precisavam pagar 10 porcento de todo o sangue por eles armazenados como pagamento pelos contratos na forma de um dízimo aos seus senhores. Além disso, eles não podiam absorver a vitae de outros Membros. Se um Assamita ingerisse o sangue de um vampiro, cada ponto de sangue ingerido infligiria um nível automático de dano letal ao Assamita.

A.K.A. Final Fantasy II circa 1991.

MOST.  AWESOME.  GAME.  Ever ….

Anyone who has ever played this game…. SNES, perhaps?… will know what I’m saying. Better than Myst. Better than Nethack (I just keep dying). Better than Sims. Arguments can commence now, but in my experience… FFIV is the most enjoyable game I’ve ever played.

So much so that I’m searching a working SNES console and the original cartridge for FFII. on eBay of course. A few years ago, you could find a SNES for $20. Now, I think it’s going for over $50. A hefty sum for an outdated system.

Anyway, Final Fantasy II or IV (as released on the Nintendo DS with updated graphics) has an amazing storyline with the most memorable characters ever. Remember when Cecil becomes a Paladin? Remember Palom and Parom? Kain? Tellah? Rosa? Rydia? I wanted to name my future child Rydia when I was 7 years old. And of course… the Chocobos.

Oh, yeah… and the music is absolutely phenomenal.

I can’t get into the story because there is too much and to talk about it wouldn’t do it justice. Playing the game, however, would. Just watch this video:

SNES Final Fantasy IV Introduction

Today’s interview features New York Times Best-selling author Chelsea Cain, discussing her profoundly addictive and disturbing new novel, Evil at Heart.

If you think Hannibal Lechter is scary? Check out serial killer Gretchen Lowell who is beautiful, brilliant, and cunning. This fall, Cain will carve out a place for herself on bookshelves everywhere with her new novel.

Evil at Heart is the third novel in Cain’s highly praised Gretchen Lowell/Archie Sheridan series, which heralded the birth of the new captivating face of evil and psychological suspense.

In my interview with Chelsea, I got to ask her some questions her fans dying to know.

AG: So serial killers and journalism: Are these two of your top interests?

CC: Right up there with infanticide and cannibalism. I’m kidding, of course. I wouldn’t include either serial killers or journalism in my top interests. Though if I did, serial killers would be way higher on the list. I just really like thrilling stories and these seem to lend themselves to that genre.

AG: Your inspiration for the book came from the Green River Killer case, but how did you come up with Gretchen Lowell? She’s pretty twisted.

CC: I actually remember reading stories as a kid about the Green River Killer in the Bellingham Herald. The idea of this unidentified killer being pursued by a task force of cops really captured my attention. I wanted my killer to be a woman because it made the obsessive nature of the cop-killer relationship instantly more complicated. But I wanted her to kill violently, like a man, because she enjoys it. Culturally we demand an explanation from our female killers. We want to blame their motives on a man – a bad father, a bad boyfriend. I didn’t want to provide an easy explanation for Gretchen’s homicidal tendencies. It’s way scarier to not understand her.

AG: How did you do the research for this book? Did you talk to any serial killers?

CC: No, and I hope I never do. I also didn’t actually torture anyone, though it probably would have lent some verisimilitude to the narrative. Maybe I’ll consider it for the sequels. I did read a lot of case studies about psychopaths. There is a great cannon of interviews with jailed psychopaths that is incredibly disturbing and illuminating. I also read a lot of forensic pathology texts, visited a billion web sites, talked to doctors, and read police handbooks. But the great thing about fiction is that if you find a few details that ring especially true, readers tend to go along with all the stuff you make up. (She says, fingers crossed.)

AG: It seems like you have a few things in common with the character of young reporter Susan Ward. How alike are you two?

CC: Susan and I share some of the same insecurities and preoccupation with fashion. She writes for The Oregon Herald. I write for The Oregonian. But she is way, way, way more damaged than I am. And my past is not nearly as complicated.

AG: The first thing I thought about when I read the first book Heartsick was Hannibal Lector. Are you hoping to turn Gretchen Lowell into a movie star any time soon? Who do you think could play I her?

CC: Heartsick has been optioned to be a movie, so there is a production company working very hard to get it made. They’ve got a script in development right now. Honestly, I’m pretty open-minded in terms of casting. Anthony Hopkins? Sure! The names that readers most often suggest are Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie. Any of those actresses would be terrific. I also really like Storm Large (the performer who portrays Gretchen on the website). She looks exactly like the Gretchen of my imagination. Which is sort of scary.

AG: I love the Gretchen Lowell fan site. Especially all the Gretchen sightings. What kind of response are you getting from fans?

CC: The people who find it really seem to like it. I’ve always thought of that site as a sort of DVD extra – readers who take the time to look up the url that’s mentioned as a plot point in Evil at Heart get rewarded with this funny and twisted ode to Gretchen. For the Gretchen sightings, our designer just went downtown and photographed blond women with their faces turned. In about an hour she had all the photos we needed.

AG: I’m a huge fan of HBO’s True Blood series. During one of the last episodes, Maryanne was sitting at the kitchen table reading a copy of Heartsick! I was so surprised…true story…I got up and did a victory dance. Please give me the scoop, were you as surprised as the rest of us, or was this something HBO contacted you about in advance? How has being featured on the show affected the book?

CC: That was pretty fucking awesome. I had no idea. We TIVO it so weren’t watching it live, but my husband’s mother called and left a message saying that she’d seen the book on True Blood, and my husband told me and I was like, no way, she’s wrong, she just thought she saw it. And then my husband’s father called (they’ve been divorced for thirty years, but apparently still watch the same TV shows), and he said the same thing. So we ran home and watched it, and sure enough there was Maryanne reading Heartsick! I peed my pants a little. As for sales, I have no idea. There was definitely increased web chatter about the book. And people continue to see it and bring it up to me. I love True Blood, so it was a huge thrill to be a tiny part of that show for a moment.

AG: Finally, what do you hope to do after this series is over?

CC: Over? I plan to write these suckers until someone makes me stop. But I am planning on starting another series to juggle along side it – more thrillers set in Portland. So stay tuned.

If you would like to learn more about Chelsea Cain and her books please stop by ChelseaCain.com. For the hard-core Gretchen Lowell fans among you, since her escape, she’s been spotted in Oslo, Munich, Shanghai, and Ontario. Please stop by I Heart Gretchen Lowell if you need to send her a message or report a sighting.

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

Det. Archie Sheridan led the Beauty Killer Task Force for ten years, before the Beauty Killer (Gretchen Lowell) caught him, tortured him for ten days and then mysteriously let him go and turned herself in. Now it’s two years later and Archie, addicted to pain pills and still obsessed with Gretchen, is called off medical leave to hunt a second serial killer. Pink-haired girl journalist Susan Ward is assigned to profile Archie. She knows he’s hiding something. But what? (It’s bigger than a breadbox.)

“In her dynamite first thriller, Cain introduces one of the most seductive and original psychopaths since Hannibal Lecter.”–Entertainment Weekly

Read an Excerpt
Watch the trailer

Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

When the body of a young woman is discovered in Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the first corpse he discovered there a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer’s first victim, and Archie’s first case. Then, the unthinkable happens: Gretchen escapes from prison, and once the news breaks, all of Portland goes on high alert…but secretly, Archie is relieved. He knows he’s the only one who can capture Gretchen—and now he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all. Even if it means becoming her last victim…

“We’ve been down Hannibal Lecter Avenue many times, and these two books shouldn’t work . . . but they do. Chalk it up to excellent writing and Cain’s ferocious sense of humor. The Portland (Ore.) setting is refreshing too.”—Stephen King

Read an Excerpt
Watch the trailer

Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain

Gretchen is still on the loose and Archie is still hospitalized after his ploy to catch her went spectacularly wrong. They’ve entered a detente of sorts: Archie agrees not to kill himself if she agrees not to kill anyone else. But suddenly there’s something else to contend with that might be worse – a zealous fan of Gretchen’s, paying homage to the Beauty Killer by luring Archie and reporter Susan Ward to the scene of a grisly murder. At least they hope it’s the work of someone new, for the prospect of Gretchen breaking her promise is more than Archie can bear.

“Cain delivers her usual blend of organ-ripping, blood-soaked gore and compelling flawed heroes—and antiheroes.”–Publishers Weekly

Read an Excerpt
Watch the trailer

Letting his hunger get out of control can  caused one gourmad mentioned in the Bible to lose his birthright.

I love a good stew and everything, but you wouldn’t pay that much even at a five-star restaurant in Paris.

Let that be a lesson.

Jesus  himself had some mad culinary skills.

Has any Iron Chef ever changed water to wine?

Rachel Ray may prepare meals in 30 minutes.  But who whipped up a meal for the masses when He had little more to go on than a loaves and a prayer.

From apples to honey and locusts,  eating figures prominently in the Bible.

I offer you a quiz here. Get it while it’s hot.

From a fun post at the Scriptorium Daily on the nameless characters in the bible:

Cain’s wife. Never mind where she came from, what was her name? Awan. And Seth’s wife was named Azura. Where does this information come from? the apocryphal Book of Jubiliees, chapter 4.

Noah’s wife? Metzger says that over 100 different names have been assigned her! Emzara is the one given in Jubilees.

Potiphar’s wife? Zuleika, according to postbiblical Jewish legends.

The daughter of Pharaoh who took Moses from the water and raised him as prince of Egypt? Thematis, or maybe Bithiah.

Job’s wife? Well, the first one was named Sitis, and the second one was Dinah, the daughter of Jacob.

Jephthah’s daughter? Seila.

The witch of Endor? Sedecla.

Click through for more. I think I’d like to read Metzger’s chapter on the nameless.

UFC News

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was haveing a pretty good day , math wasn’t as boring as usual I got two blog posts written out. Then i come home and see this from various sources that the rumored Big Nog Cain fight is ineed happening and it is the Main Event of UFC 108 and acording to Dana .

“Nogueira vs. Velasquez is a great matchup between the present and the future of the heavyweight division. Nogueira showed in the (Randy) Couture fight that he still has plenty left to offer at the top level of the game, and Velasquez was devastating in his win over Ben Rothwell, so with both guys in top form, we’re definitely going to see a No. 1 contender emerge from this fight to take on the winner of the Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin title fight.”

Nice

Now that card isn’t looking to bad  count me in.

Dana Speaks on Strikeforce Fedor Rogers.

On CBS and Strikeforce: “CBS would be out of their mind to put that rinky-dink [Strikeforce] . . . on the air again . . . and without that backing, [promoters] won’t have the money to pay [Emelianenko].”

On Fedor vs. Rogers: “The guy just got his face smashed in by Brett Rogers. Do you know what Brock or [UFC heavyweights] Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez would do to Brett Rogers? It’s time to bring this guy [Fedor] in, to see Brock Lesnar smash his head.”

(source 411mania.com)

I’m not surprised by this no one should be . I’m more surprised that it took till Tuesday to be up and floating around the interwebs.  This happens in Pro Wrestling Politics everything you got to make your self look good and the other guy look bad plain as that. moving on

Strikeforce News

Fedor out 4-6 months

Apparently Fedor suffered a fracture and tendon damage to his left thumb as well as a fractured nose, he’ll be out 4-6 months. This isn’t good for Strikeforce and CBS since there now without there possible biggest draw and such a big gap between shows would kill any steam the last one gained.

 

Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero (Jalapa, Esteli, Condega)
Size: Torpedo 6.0″ x 54 ring

My previous review was of the Cain Habano Robusto.  In that review I detailed a bit about the makeup and story of the this straight Ligero cigar so click on over and check that out as well.  Today I am smoking the Maduro Torpedo.  I was trying to find some more information about this wrapper and was unable to find anything definitive about it.  I have seen it referred to as a Nicaraguan Maduro, a Mexican Maduro, and even a Brazilian Maduro wrapper.  I am not sure which it is at this point.  I am not inclined to agree with the Brazilian label though.  As Maduro wrappers go this one doesn’t have much tooth to it, and in my experience, the Brazilian maduro is on of the toothiest maduro wrappers I have seen.  That is just an opinion and a guess though.  It could very well be Brazilian, I just don’t know right now.

The wrapper on the Cain Maduro  is dark and mottled with a few prominent veins running across its surface.  It has a slight tooth and oily appearance.  This cigar starts off very similar to the Habano.  I ti s smooth and creamy, medium bodied without much power.  It has a very nondescript, sweet maduro flavor to it .  I began to wonder if this one would pick up in the last third like the Habano did, but it did not.   It was very one dimensional.  The flavors never changed and it never developed any power.  It was surprisingly light for an all ligero cigar and flavor wise it was pretty boring.  The Habano version was much better.  This cigar just never did anything for me.  I’ll be smoking the Habano again, but I don’t have any interest in revisiting the maduro.

Rating – C

Milwaukee is a team that really intrigues me. They just missed the playoffs this year but have reason to be optimistic because they play in a very winnable NL Central. They have one of the best young cores in the game upon which to build, but their best player is a free agent after 2010. And as a small market franchise, they don’t have much money to retool with. They could do so many different things this offseason that they’re almost impossible to predict.

All of their options will depend on what they do with Prince Fielder. The team has plenty of young talent in Ryan Braun, Yovanni Gallardo [no sic], Rickie Weeks, etc., but that lineup runs through Prince Fielder. Subtract his 46 home runs and 1.014 OPS from Milwaukee and the lineup gets real shallow. Many think that he should be traded for young major-league ready pitching, and there were rumors that the light-hitting Giants were interested in a package centered on youngster Matt Cain for Fielder. While Cain is certainly one of the best young pitchers in the game, Fielder is more valuable (at least for this season; that may be offset by the fact that he’s cheaper and under team control for two more years compared to Fielder’s one). Great hitters are more valuable than great pitchers. It’d be an intriguing deal, but it’s unlikely to come to fruition. If they we to trade away Fielder it’d likely be for prospects, and it’d be an admission by the front office that 2010 will be over before it begins.

So let’s assume they hang on to Fielder for this season and try to win the NL Central. For one thing, as weak as the division is, they might not have to do much. For one thing, the division champion Cardinals are likely going to lose Matt Holliday and Joel Piniero, and their rotation and bullpen will likely suffer some regression. The Cubs may be a bit better if Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto get healthy, but Soriano looks washed up and they’ll likely lose Rich Harden. The Astros and Pirates are non-contenders and as good as the Reds core group is, they’re not operated efficiently enough to get over the hump. A team anchored by Fielder, Braun, and Gallardo really only needs a solid supporting cast to be a contender, especially in this division. The offense is fine; Fielder and Braun can carry any lineup, and Rickie Weeks, Mat Gamel, and Casey McGehee will all contribute enough. The Brew Crew scored the 4th most runs in the NL last year. Hitting isn’t the problem. This is a team that needs more pitching.

A 24-year-old Yovanni Gallardo isn’t a bad way to start the rotation, but he really needs to cut down on his walks to realize his potential. Trevor Hoffman seems to have found new life in Milwaukee and there’s no one better to anchor the bullpen than the all-time leader in saves. Beyond that, the pitching is pretty much atrocious. As a small market franchise it will be tough to make a bid for most free agents, so most of the talent they acquire will have to be via trade. Unfortunately, they just traded their biggest trade chip, J.J. Hardy. The 26-year-old combined slick fielding with some power to be one of the best shortstops in the game, his disappointing 2009 season aside. The Brewers basically gave him away to the Twins, receiving only Carlos Gomez in return. Gomez is a great defensive center fielder, and while he is still young, he’s never really flashed much promise as a hitter (.638 career OPS…). The Brewers got fleeced, although it does allow them to let free agent Mike Cameron walk and use his money elsewhere. I maintain that swapping Hardy for a promising young pitcher made more sense.

Fortunately for Milwaukee and other small market franchises, this free agent class is loaded with plenty of starters whose value is far below what it should be because of injuries. Erik Bedard, John Smoltz, Rich Harden, Justin Duchscherer, Pedro Martinez, Brett Myers, and former Brewer Ben Sheets. All have spent plenty of time as top of the rotation stars but have also acquired the injury prone tag, which will greatly reduce the price tag they’ll command. That will play right into Milwaukee’s hand, because they’ll be able to take a chance on a good pitcher for far less cash than they’d have to spend otherwise. Ben Sheets is an interesting option. He spent all of 2008 on the DL with elbow issues, which is always a red flag, but he has spent his entire career in Milwaukee and his bargaining power couldn’t be any lower. Would he accept an incentive-based one year deal with his former team to try and reestablish his market value and make a play for free agency in 2011? It could work out well for both sides- Milwaukee nabs a front of the rotation starter on the cheap and Sheets gets a chance to prove his worth. Brett Myers is another intriguing option. He’s never achieved his potential, but he reeled off two consecutive good seasons as a starter from 2005-2006 and can eat innings. Bedard and the Duke likely won’t stay healthy all year -if they’re even healthy by April 1st- but if the Brewers could even get 100 solid innings out of them it would have to be considered a win. Pedro and Smoltz are both question marks for both their age and health, but they flashed their former brilliance at points this year. I’d shoot for Sheets first, followed by Harden, Myers, and Bedard. For Milwaukee to revamp its rotation, one of these pitchers will have to become a Brewer and put together a healthy season.

The bullpen is the easiest facet of a team to overhaul, because relievers are almost always cheap. If I’m GM Doug Melvin I’m staying away from closers for a few reasons. For one, your pen is already anchored by Trevor Hoffman, who is as good as ever. They are paid far too much for a pitcher who will likely only throw 60 innings, and most have the type-A status as a free agent- meaning Milwaukee would forfeit their 2010 first round draft pick to sign one. Fernando Rodney is an interesting option. He’s 32 and never had good command (career BB/9 of 4.64) but he throws as hard as anyone. In the National league, that alone may make him an above-average reliever that can be had for relatively cheap. Chad Bradford is another interesting name; the submarine pitcher is coming off an injury-plagued year but has always posted great ground ball rates with good command, which could make him a fantastic middle reliever. He can’t blow batters away, but a guy who doesn’t give up home runs or walks is a very valuable pitcher. If the Phillies are foolish enough to let Chan Ho Park walk, he could be a steal for Milwaukee  (assuming they keep him in the pen). He posted an era of 3.3 as a reliever through the past two seasons and only 2.52 this year. He’s ineffective as a starter but lights out coming out of the pen, and has a rubber arm as well. If the Brewers can add a few solid arms to their pen to compliment Hoffman and a solid starter or two then they could have a pitching staff that might be enough to get them to October. With Prince Fielder just a year away from free agency, they don’t have any time to wait.

Hace ya casi 20 años que  Saramago pubico  su polémico y discutido libro  “El evangelio según Jesucristo”, que fue enormemente protestado, llegando a ser vetado por el gobierno portugués para competir por el Premio Europeo de Literaratura, alegando que “ofende a loas católicos”, a pesar de que Portugal se considera como una república laica. La reacción de José Saramago fue abandonar Portugal, instalándose en Lanzarote, donde mantiene su domicilio habitual desde entonces.

En esta nueva obra, “Caín”, el premio Nobel vuelve a ocuparse de la religión y comienza redimiendo al protagonista del asesinato de Abel, señalando al mismo Dios como “el autor intelectual al despreciar el sacrificio que Caín le había ofrecido”.  Si en la anterior obra dio una vivsión del Nuevo Testamento, ahora nos lleva a un recorrido por el Antiguo Testamento,  realmente una reinvención del mismo que en un itinerario heterodoxo con un tono irónico, mordaz y humorístico, va desarrollándose en viajes a través del tiempo y del espacio, de la mano de Caín, y nos hace plantearnos toto tipo de preguntas sobre los hechos principales del libro sagrado. En definitiva se refleja una guerra secular entre el creador y su criatura (la humanidad como tercer personaje principal de la obra), donde queda patente un dios cruel y que no es de fiar. Como ejemplo de esto último, citaré un párrafo de la obra, relativo al sacrificio de su propio hijo, Isaac, que ofrece Abraham:

“… imaginemos un diálogo entre el frustrado verdugo y la víctima salvada in extremis. Preguntó Isaac, Padre, qué mal te he hecho para que quisieras matarme, a mi que soy tu único hijo. Mal no me has hecho, isaac, Entoneces por qué quisiste cortarme el cuello como si fuese un borrego, preguntó el chiquillo, si no hubiera aparceido ese hombre (caín), a quien el señor cubra de bendiciones, para sujetarte el brazo, estarías ahora llevando un cadaver a casa. La idea fue del señor, que quería la prueba. La prueba de qué, De mi fe, de mi obediencia, Y que señor es ese que ordena a un padre que mate a su propio hijo, Es el señor que tenemos, el señor de nuestros antepasados, el señor que estaba aquí cuando nacimos, Y si ese señor tuviera un hijo, también lo mandaría matar, preguntó isaac, El futuro lo dirá, Entonces el señor es capaz de todo, de lo bueno. de lo malo y de lo peor, Así es, Si tu hubieras desobedecido la orden, qué habría sucedido, Lo que el señor suele hacer es mandar la ruina o  una enfermedad a quien le falla, Entonces el señor es rencoroso, Creo que si, respondió abraham en voz baja como si temiese ser oído…”

(pags. 91-92)

Como se puede apreciar no hace una lectura literal de la Biblia, sino una lectura simbólica, a la que Saramago pidió expresamente a sus lectores que no busquen dobles lecturas donde no las hay. Mi conclusión personal es que estamos ante una obra, dentro de la mejor literaura, que debe ser leída por todos los que les interese el tema.

]]> http://swervechurch.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/fort-hood-killings/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:38:20 +0000 swervechurch http://swervechurch.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/fort-hood-killings/

How can we kill our own?  Complex thing to determine…  solders in the military are brothers.  They should protect each other…they protect us.   How can brother turn against brother? There are examples in the bible about brother turning against brother.

Genesis 4:8 is a verse where this occurs.  Cain did not like his brother Abel…and killed him.  Cain was jealous…his heart was not right with God.  Hard for us to fathom.  Killing our own..  It is hard to fathom today.  It had a profound impact on that family…death and separation from God always does.

Fort Hood.  Daytona Beach.  Eden.  All places of murder.  The scriptures go further in Genesis 4 where Cain asks God….”am I my brother’s keeper.”  We are…I am…you are….  Are we keeping our brother today?

louie

Sunday was the feast of All Saints. I gave a talk about the meaning of devotion to the saints at Farm Street, the Jesuit church in central London. You can listen to it [click OPEN] or download it [click SAVE] from here; and read the handout here.

I spoke about the obvious things: how we learn from their example; how we enjoy their friendship; how we are helped by their prayers. But I added another point: that our dependence on the prayers of the saints teaches us a deeper truth about our identity as human beings [Go to 45:23 in the download].

In the story of the Garden of Eden, there are two tragedies that unfold. One is the Fall, the Original Sin when Eve and then Adam took the forbidden fruit and ate from it. But this depends on the tragedy that comes before: that when Eve is tempted, when she is faced with this moment of monumental crisis, she faces it alone, she doesn’t ask for help or advice or support from God or from her husband. And I don’t mean this in a sexist way as if to say that the woman should have sought help from the man; I mean it in a way that would apply to Adam as much as to Eve. Neither of them was meant to face the serpent alone; and how different it could have been if they had turned to each other and to God. When she looked at the fruit, with the serpent whispering in her ear, and took that decision on her own, it was – perhaps – already too late.

The same is true with Cain and Abel. It’s a difficult passage to interpret, but it reflects the scene between Adam and Eve. Cain is tempted, and struggles with the Lord. But instead of seeking God’s help, or seeking the help of his brother Abel – he kills him. When the Lord asks him “Where is your brother Abel?” and Cain replies “Am I my brother’s keeper?!” – the answer is, “Yes, you should have been”. But even more importantly, he should have allowed Abel to be his keeper when he was facing his own demons; Cain should have turned to his brother, leant on him, and shared his concerns with him.

So part of our salvation, part of our healing, is the restoration of human relationships. The Fall involved a pride, a false notion of independence, a distorted idea of autonomy, of self-reliance. And in the healing process that Christ brings we learn – in certain respects – to become more dependent on others; we learn that we are not alone; we learn that we are not meant to cope on our own. It’s OK to need others, it’s OK to ask for their help.

This is one reason why devotion to the saints is so important. In praying for others, and in asking others to pray for us, we learn to depend on their help – and our proper identity as children of God and as brothers and sisters is restored.

Since Nov 4, 2006 (when I found the swollen lymph node that started my cancer journey) this house (my family) has been under an usual amount of stress and emotional fatigue. Thru my diagnosis, surgery and treatment it was a roller coaster. I’ve been in remission since May 2007.

On Superbowl Sunday 2008 I got a text message from my father that started the next roller coaster…it would eventually lead to another cancer diagnosis in the family and lead to all sorts of new stress and emotional crap.

So…combined with regular everyday stress, work, bills, life in general…extended family bullshit has led me to this state of Burnout. It has affected my performance at work which had to be addressed with my boss and has been slowly eroding other areas of my family life as well.

It got so bad- a situation at work lead me to finally question and doubt and second guess everything…EVERYTHING. So I called Livestrong. I had to ask about Chemo Brain. Certainly it’s possible. Right?

I saw my Primary Care Physician for blood work follow-up on blood pressure issues and cholesterol numbers from my recent physical. So given the opportunity to talk about it I asked her about “mental fatigue” …forgetting simple things like which towel is mine or my wife’s. ??? after 13 years of marriage I can’t recall the towel on the higher rung is mine? Always has been?!?

She blamed it on stress and being too overwhelmed. She said quote: “We can only multi-task so much” and she advised me to keep an eye on it and if it gets out of hand to call her. Thankfully she didn’t dismiss it but I didn’t ask about chemo brain either. She has gone on record that the cancer is gone and the rest of my health needs to be taken into consideration. She would have dismissed Chemo brain as a source.

So even though I have not called the Cancer Center of L.I. back yet, I am concentrating on somehow managing the stress I have, doing what I can and moving on. The rest will just have to fall away…

Some notes on Stress:

Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Cognitive symptoms of stress:

• Memory problems
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor judgment
• Seeing only the negative
• Anxious or racing thoughts
• Constant worrying

Physical symptoms:

• Aches and pains
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
• Loss of sex drive
• Frequent colds

Emotional Symptoms:

Behavioral Symptoms:

• Eating more or less
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Isolating yourself from others
• Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

… … … … …

I have experienced a lot of these symptoms of late. So I think my PCP is right. Since February 2008 when this new cancer issue erupted in my family and other family dysfunction became the emotional center of the storm I have been under a tremendous amount of it.

So in an effort to get back to myself and focus on my family and my personal needs I “walked away” from my parents and brother and began to take my life back.

I have also started to pare down my life of the extra stuff I just can’t concentrate on anymore. I need to focus on as few things as possible. Keeping it (life) as simple as possible.

So far I am down to: FAITH/FAMILY/WORK/WATERCOLORS.

I have decided to level the negative stress with some relaxation. Water-colors is a throw back to my old art school days and something I have always wanted to spend time on. The “writing” can take a back seat for now…I am also getting tired of playing “beat the reaper” which is just me trying to get something accomplished before I die…I gave myself a deadline as a kid to be a professional cartoonist by my 30th birthday…life got in the way and here I am settling into 40 refocusing priorities and deciding to ease back into water-colors. Needing to let that self-imposed deadline go…I missed it, move on.

Faith, Family, Work, Watercolors. 

Simple.

Direct.

To the point.

Suggestions on coping with Stress:

A strong support network is your greatest protection against stress. When you have trusted friends and family members you know you can count on, life’s pressures don’t seem as overwhelming. So spend time with the people you love and don’t let your responsibilities keep you from having a social life. If you don’t have any close relationships, or your relationships are the source of your stress, make it a priority to build stronger and more satisfying connections.

You can’t completely eliminate stress from your life, but you can control how much it affects you. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. When practiced regularly, these activities lead to a reduction in your everyday stress levels and a boost in your feelings of joy and serenity. They also increase your ability to stay calm and collected under pressure.

Most people ignore their emotional health until there’s a problem. But just as it requires time and energy to build or maintain your physical health, so it is with your emotional well-being. The more you put in to it, the stronger it will be. People with good emotional health have an ability to bounce back from stress and adversity. This ability is called resilience. They remain focused, flexible, and positive in bad times as well as good. The good news is that there are many steps you can take to build your resilience and your overall emotional health.

Link: http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm

So as I try and take my former blog title as advice. (Taking Life One Day at a Time)…I truly am trying to live in the moment and take each day as it comes. One at a time.

I have realized Cancer may not have killed but this stress just might. I’m not going to beat TWO cancers and let some petty emotional family bullshit run me into an early grave.

Family dysfunction has been around since Cain killed Abel. Why should my family be any different?

Working on getting better…

Be Well.

-Scotty

Hay muchos lectores que consideran esta obra de José Saramago, Caín, una de las obras menores del escritor, sobre todo a raíz de que confeso que la había escrito en cuatro meses, y que era una obra corta, como si para ser buena necesitara mucha extensión y años de elaboración. Y yo creo que es uno de los mejores libros escritos por Saramago y he leído casi todo, naturalmente muchos de los que opinan que es una obra no acorde con la valía del Nobel, es que esta es una obra polémica en el aspecto religioso y muchos de los que le atacan diciendo que es una obra floja, por que no se atreven a decir que es mala, es por que se siente ellos mismos atacados en sus convicciones y que si leyeran el libro atentamente reconocerían que Saramago no exagera para nada el aspecto de ese dios, que el pone con minúsculas, que se enfada por todo y que es capaz de sacrificar ciudades enteras para demostrar su poderío. Por medio de Caín, el escritor nos lleva por diversos escenarios bíblicos, como la expulsión del Paraíso del protagonista, al que el escritor disculpa o atenúa la culpa de haber dado muerte a su hermano, nos lleva también, por medio de Caín, en su errático viaje por el mundo, por Sodoma y Gomorra, por la demostración de como dios busca las cosquillas del Santo Job, por el diluvio universal, y otros acontecimientos donde nos habla de un dios tiránico y cruel. Como ya he indicado otras veces reseñando alguna de sus obras como El Cuaderno, El viaje del elefante, o Ensayo sobre la lucidez, es uno de mis escritores favoritos, por lo que a veces se me puede acusar de poco parcial, aunque me atrevo a decir que si leen este libro les gustará.

Ficha:

Lengua: Castellano

Editorial: Alfaguara

Encuadernación: Tapa dura

Páginas: 189

Año: 2009

Edición: 1ª

ISBN: 978-84-204-0509-4

Today’s Reading: Genesis 25 – 26

Gen. 25. God’s Sovereignty

Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. ~ Gen. 25:8

Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. ~ Gen. 25:17

Today, we say that believers have “gone to be with the Lord”, but remember, at this point in time, Jesus had not been resurrected; so rather than joining Him in Heaven, believers went to a place that Jesus called Abraham’s Bosom.  Jesus talks about this place in Luke 16:19-31 and I believe this is what “gathered to his people” means.

Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.

The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.” ~ Gen. 25:21-23

This good husband prayed on his wife’s behalf. I love that! And I think God did too. Certainly God’s promises for Isaac were going to come to pass, but it was fitting for Isaac to remind God of his waiting in faith. When Rebekah was concerned about her babies, she went to the Lord. His answer was specific, and indicative of His sovereign will reigning supreme in the affairs of mankind.

So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. ~ Gen. 25:24-26

The name Esau means “hairy”, and the name Jacob means “heel catcher” or “supplanter”. Can you imagine if we named babies according to their birth circumstances today? Our children might be named “Feet First”, “Fourteen Hour Labor”, or “That Makes Two”!

So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. ~ Gen. 25:27-28

Parents demonstrating favoritism causes so many problems in families. In Esau’s case, he was rash and rebellious, an impulsive man of action rather than words — and Isaac let him get away with it. In Jacob’s case, he was a conniver, a deceitful man who used manipulative words to achieve his goals, rather than action — and Rebekah let him get away with it.

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. ~ Gen. 25:29-32

The name Edom comes from the word “red” and seems to refer to the color of the chili that meant more to Esau than his birthright. The significance of the birthright was the privilege of having the Messiah as one’s descendant, and the promise of God’s blessing. But God and His promises did not seem real to Esau, so he did not value them, and therefore he chose to do things his own way rather than God’s way.

Perhaps this explains the saying, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated”, if Jacob represents faithfulness and Esau faithlessness.  Isn’t this the same issue we saw exemplified with Cain and Abel?  Compare: Malachi 1:2-3 and Romans 9:10-15.  He is the potter; we are just the clay.

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Gen. 26. God’s Blessing

There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. ~ Gen. 26:1-6

Isaac had been living in Beer-lahai-roi, which, it is believed, was about 60 miles south of Gaza. According to Google maps, Gerar was about 15 miles southeast of Gaza, and this town, where the King of the Philistines, Abimelech lived, was where Isaac now traveled. God reiterated that all the land in Canaan belonged to the offspring of Isaac (not Ishmael or the sons of Keturah), and confirmed his covenant with Isaac.

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. ~ Gen. 26:12-17

The Philistines envied Isaac and all the blessings that God had bestowed on him. Isn’t this one of the reasons that people have persecuted the Jews throughout history?

Then he went up from there to Beersheba. And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well. ~ Gen. 26:23-25

Beersheba was about 20 miles southeast of Gerar. At this place, Isaac worshiped the Lord, and we see his reconnection with the Lord as the basis for his faith.

Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”
But they said, “We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.’”
So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.  Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. ~ Gen. 26:26-31

So the Philistines and Isaac’s family were at peace in the time of Abimelech. We saw earlier that Abimelech was righteous before God, and here again, he demonstrates godly wisdom and his belief in the Lord and His sovereignty.

It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day. ~ Gen. 26:32-33

The name Shebah means “oath” and Beer means “well”.  It’s so cool that many of these places, like Beersheba, are still on the map today. And how awesome that God has preserved His Word for us, with all these records intact. My idea of heaven is having the time to learn everything we always wanted to learn. I’d like to delve into this a lot more!

When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. ~ Gen. 26:34

Here is further proof of Esau’s rebellion against authority. He married two women who were outside the Hebrew faith, which brought sorrow and strife to his parents.