A clock in every room allows you to live for now.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Lemon Tart for Valentine's Day
As uneventful as my Valentine's Day has been today, its one of the nicest days I have had in a while. I worked today, but I have tomorrow off. So, it's a nice consequence free evening where I don't feel so defensive about my time. I experimented with making a lemon tart tonight. I'm pretty proud of it so far. It's chilling right now, but I managed to get a taste or two out of every major step in the process of making it, and I am pretty confident those flavors are going to go well together. I made my own lemon curd today, surprisingly easy and incredibly tart! Yum.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
God is a Liberal
It seems to me that Jesus hoped to instill his philosophies by teaching and living by example. Bear in mind: I am not referring to any specific church. Much like the Buddha or Vishnu, Jesus was a figure whose life has been depicted as a basis for a philosophy to live by. In the western hemisphere, obviously, we hear the most about Jesus.
For sake of argument, I am going to attempt the ideas of Jesus into a few very general categories. Faith in God, universal and unconditional love, and union, through God, with God and each other.
I: Faith in God: I believe that it an individual duty or choice. So, the people working for a company may embody this or not. I don't believe the abstract term 'company' can have faith. The people in it may have as much of any kind of faith they would like! Yay USA!
II: Universal/Unconditional Love
This is where I start having problems with so many of the corporations that the republican party is charging with the burden of extra cash flow.
Jesus specifically teaches about charity, honesty, rejecting greed and envy.
Keeping in mind a few things.
Governments need money to exist and operate. Hence, taxes. Who should pay these taxes?? How about those who live in this country and benefit from it's existence? The ways we benefit from our government are varied and many. Arguably, these ways could be improved upon or altered in some way. To those who believe that we should all just keep our own money and have what we have- please refrain from using our roads, traffic signs and lights, public schools, public (and most private) universities, grocery stores (hello government subsidies), legal imported goods (trade negotiations are not free, anything- clothes, food, furniture, electronics- that are not made 100% in this country were imported because the Government worked something out with that country.
**Opinionated Tangent** Seems to me many things that help Corporations to even function have ALOT to do with the government. I guess it would really be in these corporations best interest to keep the government alive! Of course, some corporations have found that its easier to pad the pockets of a few individuals making decisions rather than to actually contribute the amount they should according to how much they benefit.
ANYWAY, I believe that if Jesus ran a business he would keep in mind his philosophies.
A: Jesus speaks much of Charity. I believe if he had such plentiful resources he would use them for the benefit of those less fortunate. I think you can make intelligent decisions about how this would play out. I don't suggest walking down the streets of your average low income neighborhood and handing out hundreds. I do suggest finding a way to help these people cover their basic needs properly. Supporting educated consumer programs that help people understand how to properly use credit, how to read labels of the food they are buying. Incidentally, these educated consumers will still make purchases, so if your corporation is worth it's salt it will not be affected. Companies that do not benefit from educated consumers are ones that are banking on ignorance or addiction to sell their products and shroud their corrupt business and labor practices.
Here are some bible verses I found that reflect how Jesus feels about charity.
1. Deut. 15:11 "Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'"
2. Matt. 25:37-40 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
**OT** Maybe we all don't need bread or a roof over our heads. Maybe some of us need companionship or a drummer for our rock band. No man is an island. There may be monetary values to the things some people need, but I believe we all need something
3. 1 John 3:17 "How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?"
4. Phil. 4:19 "And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
5. Prov. 30:8 "Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need."
**OT** I choose to believe these last quotes mean more than "if you go to church you deserve some free stuff". I think its more saying that we have all that we need for all of us, right here. All of us includes animals and plants. It also means we shouldn't have to fight over natural resources. Anyone who believes they must horde wealth and are due vastly more than their share is denying these teachings.
B. Another way of discussing universal/unconditional love is in this commandment from Jesus: "You shall love your neighbor has yourself" (Matt. 22:39 and Lev. 19:18)
I'm going to define 'your neighbor' as everyone who is not you.
How to love your neighbor: (not as kinky as it may sounds... Some of you may refer to the Kama Sutra from the information you are looking for)
1. "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15; Deut. 5:19).
a. Including Theft, Schemes, Tricks, Misleading people.
i. What do you call the horribly dishonest advertising of the meat and dairy industries about the health value of their high protein, high saturated fat foods? There are major connections between Lobbyists for both of these industries and George Bush.
b. Jer. 22:13 "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages."
i. Wal-Mart has done just this many times... they also love the republican party and it loves them. They will certainly benefit from the tax cuts to the wealthy idea
c. You shall not covet what is your neighbor's" (Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21).
i. Im just going to put this in here under stealing so that we can lump in Greed with stealing. It all amounts to taking or trying to take what is not yours.
d. The earth that was provided for us should not be damanged in order for McCain's friends to make a profit. I believe that hurting the environment constitutes stealing because it was not theirs to damage.
2. "Remember the Sabbath Day, and keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8; Deut. 5:12) in combo with (Deut. 5:14). My job should not be my tyrant, for my life is more than my work
a. Some of you are thinking "WHAT? Rachel, this does not sound like you!" But hear me out. I am using this commandment to focus on these corporations who overwork their employees! Working people should not be taken advantage of by their employees. They should be able to make a living wage and still have time for personal time, family needs, child raising, spiritual belief and ritual. And of course, how many of our fashion corporations are exploiting workers all over the globe?! Pick your favorite clothing brand and google it with the words 'human rights violations' or 'labor practices' or 'forced abortions' (yes, sometimes if these women want to keep their jobs and and their ability to support their children, they are required to have company sponsored abortions). I'm not saying dont wear or buy clothes but to give tax cuts to people who use their power and connections to exploit people.... that sounds pretty sick to me.
i. Ps. 72:4 "May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor."
a. The corporations are the oppressors for many reasons. They are resource hogs. They hog people's time, their value (by underpaying their workers) etc... see above.
III. Union, through God, with God and each other.
1. Believe in the Resurrection Hope (a hope for the transformation of the world- hope that we can eradicate evil and society can be redeemed. Im going to call this World Peace)
a. Believing in a better world for all of us will certainly affect the choices and of those who think they can do a small part. What about those who can do a huge part? How does hurting the earth and the plants and the animals make our world better? Is it possible that God created an ecosystem for us to thrive in? "Thanks God for the clean air and water, we will arrogantly pass on that offer and believe its fine to pollute what you created in order to turn a profit"
i. 2 Cor. 5:17 "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"
2. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20).
a. Similar to 'you should not steal'. Hurting your neighbor (running fallacious marketing campaigns?) Did you know that certain dairy lobbyists actually spread lies about the "dangers of breast milk for babies"!? It is far safer and more appropriate for babies than cows milk and formula, but the dairy company doesnt make any money on those things.
i. Zech. 8:16-17 "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord."
ii.James 4:11 "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge."
In summary: maybe if we could guarantee that all of the corporations that McCain wants to give tax cuts will conduct themselves according to these teachings (which are Ironically, the teachings many people in this party believe are unquestionably true) , maybe his ideas would help this country. Maybe going with the ideas Obama has submitted- rewarding companies for keeping their workers and production in the USA and supporting the Government that is helping them exist- etc.... actually allows the wealth to trickle down effectively.
Think of it as a house. The roof is the wealthiest part of society-individuals and corporations-, and the lower floors are the middle and lower class people. Notice the lower class people are the foundation of the house. They get the grunt work done, they hold up the rest of us. (in fact, let me just say that I will willingly pay a little bit more taxes if they help the people who clean the subway. That place is gross, and I know that job does not offer a large enough salary... whatever it is.)
anyway...
Then a huge rain comes to signify McCain's tax cut system. The roof if flooded with water (extra money) The path the water takes represents the money in society.
The water running off the roof will just go wherever it lands. Not where it is needed.
If we are to truly trickle down evenly and effectively there must be drains and chutes for the the water to run down. We have to guide the water to the places it must go.
Remember: God helps those who help themselves. We have been given the means for happiness, but we can't just trust that everything will sort itself out we have to use the brains we were given and make it work.
Also, under Palin's mayorship in Wasilla Alaska rape victims had to pay the cost of the rape kit so as not to make taxes go up. She is a woman hater.
What do you think God's priorities are?
Would he prefer someone who spread hate, but ended poverty or the other way around??
For sake of argument, I am going to attempt the ideas of Jesus into a few very general categories. Faith in God, universal and unconditional love, and union, through God, with God and each other.
I: Faith in God: I believe that it an individual duty or choice. So, the people working for a company may embody this or not. I don't believe the abstract term 'company' can have faith. The people in it may have as much of any kind of faith they would like! Yay USA!
II: Universal/Unconditional Love
This is where I start having problems with so many of the corporations that the republican party is charging with the burden of extra cash flow.
Jesus specifically teaches about charity, honesty, rejecting greed and envy.
Keeping in mind a few things.
Governments need money to exist and operate. Hence, taxes. Who should pay these taxes?? How about those who live in this country and benefit from it's existence? The ways we benefit from our government are varied and many. Arguably, these ways could be improved upon or altered in some way. To those who believe that we should all just keep our own money and have what we have- please refrain from using our roads, traffic signs and lights, public schools, public (and most private) universities, grocery stores (hello government subsidies), legal imported goods (trade negotiations are not free, anything- clothes, food, furniture, electronics- that are not made 100% in this country were imported because the Government worked something out with that country.
**Opinionated Tangent** Seems to me many things that help Corporations to even function have ALOT to do with the government. I guess it would really be in these corporations best interest to keep the government alive! Of course, some corporations have found that its easier to pad the pockets of a few individuals making decisions rather than to actually contribute the amount they should according to how much they benefit.
ANYWAY, I believe that if Jesus ran a business he would keep in mind his philosophies.
A: Jesus speaks much of Charity. I believe if he had such plentiful resources he would use them for the benefit of those less fortunate. I think you can make intelligent decisions about how this would play out. I don't suggest walking down the streets of your average low income neighborhood and handing out hundreds. I do suggest finding a way to help these people cover their basic needs properly. Supporting educated consumer programs that help people understand how to properly use credit, how to read labels of the food they are buying. Incidentally, these educated consumers will still make purchases, so if your corporation is worth it's salt it will not be affected. Companies that do not benefit from educated consumers are ones that are banking on ignorance or addiction to sell their products and shroud their corrupt business and labor practices.
Here are some bible verses I found that reflect how Jesus feels about charity.
1. Deut. 15:11 "Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'"
2. Matt. 25:37-40 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
**OT** Maybe we all don't need bread or a roof over our heads. Maybe some of us need companionship or a drummer for our rock band. No man is an island. There may be monetary values to the things some people need, but I believe we all need something
3. 1 John 3:17 "How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?"
4. Phil. 4:19 "And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
5. Prov. 30:8 "Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need."
**OT** I choose to believe these last quotes mean more than "if you go to church you deserve some free stuff". I think its more saying that we have all that we need for all of us, right here. All of us includes animals and plants. It also means we shouldn't have to fight over natural resources. Anyone who believes they must horde wealth and are due vastly more than their share is denying these teachings.
B. Another way of discussing universal/unconditional love is in this commandment from Jesus: "You shall love your neighbor has yourself" (Matt. 22:39 and Lev. 19:18)
I'm going to define 'your neighbor' as everyone who is not you.
How to love your neighbor: (not as kinky as it may sounds... Some of you may refer to the Kama Sutra from the information you are looking for)
1. "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15; Deut. 5:19).
a. Including Theft, Schemes, Tricks, Misleading people.
i. What do you call the horribly dishonest advertising of the meat and dairy industries about the health value of their high protein, high saturated fat foods? There are major connections between Lobbyists for both of these industries and George Bush.
b. Jer. 22:13 "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages."
i. Wal-Mart has done just this many times... they also love the republican party and it loves them. They will certainly benefit from the tax cuts to the wealthy idea
c. You shall not covet what is your neighbor's" (Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21).
i. Im just going to put this in here under stealing so that we can lump in Greed with stealing. It all amounts to taking or trying to take what is not yours.
d. The earth that was provided for us should not be damanged in order for McCain's friends to make a profit. I believe that hurting the environment constitutes stealing because it was not theirs to damage.
2. "Remember the Sabbath Day, and keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8; Deut. 5:12) in combo with (Deut. 5:14). My job should not be my tyrant, for my life is more than my work
a. Some of you are thinking "WHAT? Rachel, this does not sound like you!" But hear me out. I am using this commandment to focus on these corporations who overwork their employees! Working people should not be taken advantage of by their employees. They should be able to make a living wage and still have time for personal time, family needs, child raising, spiritual belief and ritual. And of course, how many of our fashion corporations are exploiting workers all over the globe?! Pick your favorite clothing brand and google it with the words 'human rights violations' or 'labor practices' or 'forced abortions' (yes, sometimes if these women want to keep their jobs and and their ability to support their children, they are required to have company sponsored abortions). I'm not saying dont wear or buy clothes but to give tax cuts to people who use their power and connections to exploit people.... that sounds pretty sick to me.
i. Ps. 72:4 "May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor."
a. The corporations are the oppressors for many reasons. They are resource hogs. They hog people's time, their value (by underpaying their workers) etc... see above.
III. Union, through God, with God and each other.
1. Believe in the Resurrection Hope (a hope for the transformation of the world- hope that we can eradicate evil and society can be redeemed. Im going to call this World Peace)
a. Believing in a better world for all of us will certainly affect the choices and of those who think they can do a small part. What about those who can do a huge part? How does hurting the earth and the plants and the animals make our world better? Is it possible that God created an ecosystem for us to thrive in? "Thanks God for the clean air and water, we will arrogantly pass on that offer and believe its fine to pollute what you created in order to turn a profit"
i. 2 Cor. 5:17 "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"
2. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20).
a. Similar to 'you should not steal'. Hurting your neighbor (running fallacious marketing campaigns?) Did you know that certain dairy lobbyists actually spread lies about the "dangers of breast milk for babies"!? It is far safer and more appropriate for babies than cows milk and formula, but the dairy company doesnt make any money on those things.
i. Zech. 8:16-17 "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord."
ii.James 4:11 "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge."
In summary: maybe if we could guarantee that all of the corporations that McCain wants to give tax cuts will conduct themselves according to these teachings (which are Ironically, the teachings many people in this party believe are unquestionably true) , maybe his ideas would help this country. Maybe going with the ideas Obama has submitted- rewarding companies for keeping their workers and production in the USA and supporting the Government that is helping them exist- etc.... actually allows the wealth to trickle down effectively.
Think of it as a house. The roof is the wealthiest part of society-individuals and corporations-, and the lower floors are the middle and lower class people. Notice the lower class people are the foundation of the house. They get the grunt work done, they hold up the rest of us. (in fact, let me just say that I will willingly pay a little bit more taxes if they help the people who clean the subway. That place is gross, and I know that job does not offer a large enough salary... whatever it is.)
anyway...
Then a huge rain comes to signify McCain's tax cut system. The roof if flooded with water (extra money) The path the water takes represents the money in society.
The water running off the roof will just go wherever it lands. Not where it is needed.
If we are to truly trickle down evenly and effectively there must be drains and chutes for the the water to run down. We have to guide the water to the places it must go.
Remember: God helps those who help themselves. We have been given the means for happiness, but we can't just trust that everything will sort itself out we have to use the brains we were given and make it work.
Also, under Palin's mayorship in Wasilla Alaska rape victims had to pay the cost of the rape kit so as not to make taxes go up. She is a woman hater.
What do you think God's priorities are?
Would he prefer someone who spread hate, but ended poverty or the other way around??
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
and another thing
The absurdity of life... is it what's wrong with the world today or what's right??
"[on cordless phones] The way I see it... if you need both of your hands for whatever you are doing, your brain should be in on it too. "
--Ellen Degeneres
"[on cordless phones] The way I see it... if you need both of your hands for whatever you are doing, your brain should be in on it too. "
--Ellen Degeneres
Existentialism
This may sound depressing but its not meant to. We are all marching toward extinction. Every choice we make these days determines our genetic survival. Humanity has shifted and reproduction is not necessarily the goal. But an animal that stops reproducing eventually dies out. So, maybe we should enjoy our time here while we've got it!
Monday, October 09, 2006
Normal??
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.”
--Ellen DeGeneres
I Never Want to be NORMAL!
--Ellen DeGeneres
I Never Want to be NORMAL!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
ARG!
Can someone PLEASE find a way to make me stop saying 'Cool' to people I talk to on the phone for work??
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