EDITORIAL COMMITTEE NOTICE

The Editorial Committee for this blog (and the Bear's other blogs) wishes to inform you, sadly, that said Bear's blogging privileges have been curtailed, temporarily. (Bear's tail has not been effected by this decision, nor have his tales.)

Bear is currently indisposed, and the Editorial Committee does not want to dispose of him, or see him disposed of by others, during this period. As with dogs, we believe it is best to "let sleeping Bears lie." As in remain inclined, or reclined, as opposed to telling an untruth — something the Editorial Committee would not allow.

Bear will be allowed to continue "thinking deep thoughts," but will not be allowed to publish them, until he is more fit of mind and body. (Demanding that Bear be entirely fit of mind and body would preclude his return to blogging entirely.) Among those "deep thoughts" is the return of Fascism as a dominant political force in the world.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

~ Editorial Committee

MOSQUE AT "GROUND ZERO," USA.

While this is an American story, I'm wading into it because of comments I have received. Some of them are very troubling to me, not as an American, but as a human being.

Being a journalist by training and trade, I'm approaching the story of the Cordoba Centre from multiple perspectives — everything from a brief understanding of Islam, to how Islam is being seen in the world today (particularly North America). This Center is a flashpoint for some much larger issues. We need to consider those.

§     §     §

This is simply a link to a story in another of my blogs. I'm still interested in your responses of yesterday's post, "Telling it Like it Is," in terms of having "dedicated" blogs, and linking items from here to the others.

Your comments are helpful.

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

My blogging Aussie friend, Natalie, raised a good question with me about the "Craziness in Church" post on my Desert Epiphanies blog: "Why can't you post this stuff on your other blog? Was there a reason in particular?" (This, Chrome on the Range, is the "other blog" to which Natalie is referring.)

A good question. As a curious human being, and die-hard journalist, I like good questions.

The short answer is that, if I posted everything here, it would be a real "mish-mash" of stuff. Health and ethics issues. Religious/faith issues. Journalistic/historical/philosophical issues. And the "ordinary stuff of life" issues, which is what I focus on here. People would never know what they're getting when they come on to this blog. Better to give people options of what they want to follow, and considering this my "home base," from which they can move, if they want.

That's my inclination. Do others among you have any observations? I would very much like to know. That would be helpful. Really.

CRAZINESS IN CHURCH

When people think of religious communities (or "institutions"), like "churches," they seldom think of the risks involved in working within one.

The risks are very high, as I've noted on my "Desert Epiphanies" blog.

I realize that's not the kind of reading most people want to do, which is why I posted it elsewhere.

Take a look, if you dare. (I should put a warning on this; it could be un-nerving.)

CHANGE OF EVENTS

Well, one street over, the house that was going to be torn down is now apparently not going to suffer that fate.

This is good news.

Check it out.

MINDING MY MEDS (Conclusion)

Well, it appears that my challenges with my medications may have been resolved. (You can read my brief notes by following the link to my "Ethical Pilgrimage" blog.)

Let's give it a couple of weeks, and see if this really is the answer.

And thanks for your support in this "peculiar" time, which (strangely enough) seems so fitting for a "peculiar" Bear.

MINDING MY MEDS

Almost all of us, at one time of another (or perhaps continuously), take medications — often in the form of pills. When these work well, they are very helpful.

But things can go wrong with them. Either the medications can upset our body more than they help, or they combine with other medicines to cause problems.

I recently went through such a problem, and thought I would take some time and reflect on it.

Hope you can give the matter some though.

ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE

No, Bear isn't waxing poetic like Joyce Kilmer. Bear is just worried about the loss of trees, and what can be done about that loss.

I've posted something about that on my Bears Noting blog.

If you love trees, take a look.

Thanks.

WAKING THE SLEEPING BLOG

NO, I didn't get that wrong. I did not substitute "Sleeping Blog" for "Sleeping Dog." Besides, Her Ladyship, Miss Sadie, likes to be woken up, if there's going to be some kind of action — like a walk.

My blog The Ethical Pilgrimage was my first, I think — it goes back to 2007. And while I've branched away from it, I'm going back to it, as I reflect more fully on issues of human and animal care.

Typically, I start things slowly, then "pick up the pace," as I become more confident. I've just been a bit slower than usual with this. OK; a lot slower.

I have many things on which I'm working, and which I want to share. I also have colleagues who are working on things, and who might be persuaded to share some thoughts, via a guest post.

I'm going to be posting something on a recent "medical misadventure" of mine. In the meantime, I'll link in so you can figure out how to reach this new-old location.

Please join me. I would appreciate your company, and your comments.

RISING WORLD FASCISM (yet another lament)

I seem to be writing a lot of laments these days. (I think I've already said that, a time or two.) Some day, I should talk about what a "lament" is, but in the meantime, I'll let you consider what you mean by that word.

This time around, some examples of  Fascism at work in politics. It's an American example, because it is so blatant. It's on my Bears Noting blog.

My critique of Fascism is not so much a political one, as an ethical one. My training isn't in political science; it is in ethics and journalism. Which is why I take the approach I do. As you'll see if you take a look.

I wish I could write happier things.

HIROSHIMA REMEMBERED

Friend and fellow journalist Jim Taylor has an interesting and challenging piece on remembering of the use of the first thermonuclear weapon. That, of course, was at Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. His comments can be found on his blog, amongst other places.

For me, two points were of particular interest.

1. Once you let the genie — any genie — out of the bottle, it's very tough to get it back in.

2. Hiroshima legitimizes international terrorism, by primarily targeting civilians.

It is not a horrific read, but neither is it comfortable.

I encourage you to take some time to consider it.

MORE HUMAN WASTE (ANOTHER LAMENT)

I suppose the subtitle for this is: "Why Tear Down a Perfectly Good House?"

It seems, for reasons I cannot fully explain, that I've been posting laments with increasing regularity. As usual, this one is on my Bears Noting bog.

Sigh, indeed!

ASBO-BEAR? (Oh, No; I Hope NOT!)

This could be subtitled "Things I Learned from British Bloggers." This is a bit old, and a bit odd, but I wanted to publish it anyhow. Peculiar creatures, these Bears.

While I'm of British stock, our family is multi-generational Canadian. I know lots of British history (like the fact that the Tudors were Welsh, and that 1066 was the last successful invasion of Britain). I know something about British politics (oh dear, poor Mr. Brown — no, we're NOT related!). I know what people mean when they talk about articulated lorries, lifts, spanners, the loo, and office buildings were the main floor isn't the first floor.

I've also learned about lots of people who have sheep, and utterly amazing gardens, and that courgettes are really zucchinis.

And on your blogs, I've met all kinds of non-human characters. Charlie, Cheyenne, Little Chip, Loyal Hound, Poppy & Misty, and Sparky. And then there's ASBO Jack. Interesting name, I thought. All in capitals. The polar opposite of the non-capitalizing e.e. cummings. Must be a "Wonder Dog," I concluded. Jack as in Jack Russell Terrier (I think).

And at Purple Coo, they even had an ASBO hour (or day), in honour of said Terrier, I'm told. "Wow," I thought, "impressive dog."

Then Zoe, bless her heart, had to straighten me out.

"Here on this side the pond, it is a method to impose curfew, or restrict the activities and places an individual may go when they have been found guilty of anti-social behaviour within their community. The restriction is called an Anti-Social Behaviour Order, hence ASBO."

Well that brings a new meaning to Wonder Dog. More like Anti-Social Wonder Dog. And here I had all these expectations!

As long as I don't get the designation "ASBO Bear," I think I'll be OK. But knowing me, I'm never sure. I have these "defects of character," you see. Or, more appropriately, have seen.

Oh well, a non-musical ditty for the dog days of summer.