Rainy, breezy, damp, cool.
Nothing says “summer” quite like that, huh, gang?
And I have the whole darn day off — no chores to do (unless I want to — God knows that with 9 cats currently in my house, there are always chores that I could do)…
My two furry visitors will be returning to their mom in just a few days. I will be so sad to see them go, but my house will be cleaner, that’s for sure. I’m not sure why 2 additional cats suddenly makes my house a mess, but it sure does.
Anyway. I will miss them. They are such sweet cats.
This just in from Johnny Depp on Instagram!! The Hollywood Vampires tour continues!
And speaking of smoking…
I came so close to pulling in to Waterbeds & Stuff yesterday, to see if they sell organic tobacco leaves (I believe they do). I didn’t stop, but what I did see in their parking lot was one car, and a really old guy (likely my age), getting out of that car — while quite a lot of cars were in the parking lot of the Vape Station across the street.
And I thought: It’s just we old people who even remember that Water Beds & Stuff exists… And I wondered if he was going in there to buy organic tobacco leaves…
Anyway.
Work with Sandra was brief yesterday. We were mostly talking about how fucking insane the Pride stuff is now in NYC (and everywhere). Just garbage stuff and so in your face. You just have to cancel it out now.
I wonder how many Antifa folks were paid to go “be insane” in Pride parades across America…
But because we were talking more than working yesterday, tomorrow will be an intense work day for us instead. And of course, tomorrow, the weather will be stunning! When I won’t have time to go out and do some much-needed gardening that I was hoping to do today…
(Oh, and tonight, at 7:30 PM eastern time, they will announce who won the Dora Awards up in Toronto. Our Director, Weyni Mengesha, is up for Outstanding Director of 2022.)
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This article was in Uncover DC last evening. I really loved it — even though it’s reporting some bad news. Overall, it is an awesome story, gang:
“Making Real Men: King Randall and The Life Preparatory School for Boys by Michelle Edwards (June 26, 20230
[…]During the first year of The Life Preparatory School for Boys, the school dealt with multiple setbacks, including individuals calling the fire department to shut them down and the city of Albany attempting to throw them out of their building. Yet, as with all things rooted in God—goodness and love prevailed. The school forged through the year with many boys, including a 13-year-old former gang member who had been shot, making the honor roll and, most likely for the first time, experiencing a life-changing sense of inner pride. […]
[…] Sharing that he feels sure the attack was coordinated, Randall said the school’s main logo on the school wall was destroyed, sinks were pulled loose from walls, and doors were ripped from hinges. The destruction apparent in the pictures shared on Twitter is unfathomable. Who would intentionally destroy a school making such a positive impact? Besides the sheer destruction to the facility and its contents, Randall remarked that given the nature of the items stolen, it is difficult to believe that the three individuals he caught acted alone. […]
[…] Immediately after Randall shared the news of the vandalism on Twitter, he shifted his focus back to the well-being of his boys, which is where it has stayed from day one. […]
[Read this incredible story here]
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And this is also awesome. It came by way of the Ohio local Connecting Consciousness Group —
If you are unaware of what certain churches did to Native Tribal children in Canada (“disappeared” them & much worse; approximately 60,0000 of them), then please research it. And don’t stop at sites that constantly “debunk'” and “fact check.”
Native elders banish and reclaim churches, appoint Kevin Annett as peacekeeper as occupations loom (3 mins):
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In an unexpected move (!!) —
Nick Cave did a podcast with the Archbishop Justin Welby on the BBC over the weekend… You can listen HERE (28 mins).
And in an unrelated item…
Dr. Morse’s Herbal Health Club had another free webinar a few days ago, this time on the Digestive System. Here is the replay:
Insight into the Digestive System Function & Therapeutics (58 mins):
And even though I can’t talk about it, there was even MORE good news from James Tabor last night that has just got me so excited, gang.
However, it has also increased the amount of research papers I have to read by tenfold. Seriously. Just so much stuff. All of it amazing (to me, anyway. If you aren’t interested in archeology and the 1st Century Jesus Movement, then, obviously, you have a lot less reading to do…).
And here is the first episode in a new series by James Tabor–
Death & Afterlife: The Ancient Hebrew View (48 mins):
And if this is of any interest to you —
I am revisiting an online course I completed only recently, but it was so good, that I had to go over it again. It is 24 lessons on the book of Genesis. And Genesis is absolutely not all that you think it is, gang — and in many ways, it is so much more. (This is a scholarly look at Genesis, not a theological one.)
For instance —
In a related note — from Ross K. Nichols: What was the Forbidden Fruit? You Might Be Surprised (about 20 seconds):
My companion guide while I re-study the course on Genesis, is James Tabor’s amazingly handy The Book of Genesis: A New Translation from the Transparent English Bible — which is truly a “transparent” translation. It keeps as close to the original Hebrew text and spirit as possible.
And last night, in connection with re-visiting the first few chapters of Genesis, I listened to a very well read audiobook on LibriVox of Sir E.A. Wallis Budge’s scholarly account: The Babylonian Study of the Deluge as Told by Assyrian Tablets from Nineveh; and The Epic of Gilgamesh.
In it, you can compare the historical accounts of the much earlier flood with the story of Noah that is told in Genesis — among other things.
If you’d rather read an eBook of it online and see illustrations of the ancient tablets of Nineveh you can go here. (It does not include The Epic of Gilgamesh, though.)
Anyway, it was fascinating and it was great being able to just lie in bed and listen to it as the sun was going down and fireflies were emerging all over the evening that was outside my window — and not have to do a ton of academic-type reading…
And yes, for some reason, this is my beautiful life. I have no idea why.
Okay, today is dreary, yes. But this afternoon, I’ll be catching up with Val in Brooklyn over the phone, and I always love doing that. Sort of the high point of my week.
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world, okay??
I’m going to get back to work here on my erotic novella-in-progress Novitiate.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys See ya!
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The “soundtrack” for Novitiate continues!
Marilyn's Room 