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.