Tuesday!
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc.), we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
We have split up the publishing duties, but we welcome everyone in IAN to do daily diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
Ok, we have a current diary schedule. If you would like to fill in, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMom a Kosmail with the date. If you need someone to fill in, ditto. FSNMom is here on and off through the day usually from around 9:30 or 10 am eastern to around 11 pm eastern.
Monday: BadKitties
Tuesday: bigjacbigjacbigjac
Wednesday: Caedy
Thursday: weck
Friday: FloridaSNMOM
Saturday:broths
Sunday: loggersbrat
If you'd like to be part of the Itzl Alert Network, please leave a comment asking to join, or send us a message asking to join. We'd love to have you. The bigger our network, the less likely someone will be stranded all alone.
Well,
here we are again,
another bigjac Tuesday.
Here is a link,
to one of my favorite Bible readings,
the passage that was always read
at the very beginning
of the Midnight Mass,
Christmas Eve,
during the twenty years
in which I was a Catholic:
Isaiah 9: 1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David's throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
It was very dramatic,
with the church very dark,
and the priest would light a fire,
and use the fire
to light many candles,
and each one of us in the pews
had candles,
passed out as we came in,
and the fire was passed around,
until all our candles were lit.
Very dramatic.
You had to show up early,
11 PM at the latest,
to get a good seat.
Even though I'm now
a non-believer,
(along with about a billion other folks),
I find great symbolism in scriptures,
allegory,
parables.
The fictional person of Jesus
represents wisdom itself,
personified.
That quote from Isaiah
expresses the joy we might feel
when we find the truth about things,
and we finally understand.
The symbols of darkness,
representing ignorance,
and light,
representing understanding the truth,
are symbols used in Genesis,
in the first three verses,
and the book of Job.
I once wrote six pages of explanation,
explaining the first three verses of Genesis,
using quotes from the book of Job,
to support my point.
The points of truth
that should generate that joy
might be,
the big bang is true,
evolution is true,
and I need my wife in my life,
to help me deal with my deep down fears.
These are important things
to understand.
We should feel joy:
...as people make merry when dividing spoils.
I'm feeling tired and hungry.
I took the dogs out,
to potty and eat and drink water.
The temperature here in Wichita is
Wichita weather
8 degrees.
So,
after an hour or two,
I brought them back in.
Just past the winter solstice,
the shortest day,
the longest night,
and the weather is extra cold,
unusual for Wichita;
we usually have mild winters.
I think it's caused by the climate change;
the different climate we have now
pushes the jet stream further south,
more often,
and for longer periods,
than before the climate changed.
Within my lifetime,
I recall Kansas winters to be made up of
clear skies and southerly winds,
chilly enough,
and then a cold front comes in,
and makes it really cold,
and then,
within 24 hours,
the cold front moves on,
leaving clear skies,
and a warming trend
for a few days.
Lately,
this December,
cold fronts have come to town,
and checked in at the desk,
with that south lying jet stream
and the cold fronts have stayed,
about a week at a time.
Brutal.
Well,
I've pestered you enough.
Thanks for reading.
Hope you're doing well,
but even if not,
tell us about it.
We're here to listen.