Keith Olbermann, once again. A more articulate commentator on our times cannot be found.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Letters to Melissa - Hope
Sweet Melissa: When we lost you, dear heart, we placed your ashes (encased in pewter), one of my favorite pictures of you and a good-bye note into a plastic bag. We placed the plastic bag at the bottom of a hole we dug in the middle of the back yard. We then eased the root ball of an Autumn Blaze maple upon the precious leavings of your life. Carefully, David and I packed the good earth around the root ball. We then soaked the new planting with water, stood back, sobbed a bit, held each other, hoped to see the wonder of the tree's new spring growth next year.
This morning, after Sarah's short legs carried her like the wind, over and over again, chasing her squeaky tennis ball, returning it to me with insatiable enthusiasm, we then ran the circumference of the lake. We came home and, as Sarah ate her breakfast, I touched your tree.
Every day since we planted your tree, I've touched it, held it. There is something in me that believes something of myself, some strength that is within me can be somehow passed into your tree, perhaps drawing from what I know is the immensity of your essence that may hover about your tree; your strength and mine melding. Each day, as I touch your tree, I hope for its health, I hope for its vitality.
This morning, as I touched your tree, I saw amongst the detritus of the season at the base of your tree, the final repose of a butterfly. We see, if we take the time to look, the simple miracles of our days surrounding us, everywhere, sometimes in the most unlikely of places. As I considered the presence of the butterfly, there within the clutch of your leavings, I knew, Sweet Melissa, that your pull, your warmth, the miracle of your life still lives. If I were to choose where to make my final rest, I, too, would wish to ease myself into that holy realm of humble repose where the miracle of the now halcyon-winged wonder now rests.
Hope, as they say, springs eternal. I hope for so much. Believing my hopes will not be realized-- certainly not tomorrow at the polls--and perhaps not before I pass from this realm, I do still believe that as I caress your tree, each and every day, that comfort, joy may reside only in the simple things: my love for David, Sarah, our friends, our families; for you, Sweet Melissa, and for the wonder of flight, of butterflies who make their final stop within your warmth, your promise of new life; amongst the hope of a new season.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Sarah's Happy Friday Pose
One of the things that, for me, sustains some modicum, some semblance of what is right in the world is Sarah and, of course, all those precious creatures that have preceded her in my life.
Unconditional love trumps all the machinations of hypocrites and liars, politicians and pundits.
"Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel." Hamlet - Shakespeare
Suffice it to say, Sarah is my friend.
Ted Haggard Admits "Some" of what is Alleged
This from ColoradoPols this morning updating the Haggard mess.
Interestingly, the accuser, Mike Jones, showed "deception" when given a polygraph test this morning. Jones, however, stands by his accusations, with voice mail, handwritten letter and envelope (possible DNA) evidence to support his claims.
Curiouser and Curiouser.
In any event, none of this will be beneficial to the passage of Ref. I (afford same-sex couples with the rights of married couples) and certainly not to the defeat of Amendment 43 (to place in the Colorado Constitution that marriage is a union only between a man and a woman).
God, I'm weary of this stuff...politics included.
Interestingly, the accuser, Mike Jones, showed "deception" when given a polygraph test this morning. Jones, however, stands by his accusations, with voice mail, handwritten letter and envelope (possible DNA) evidence to support his claims.
Curiouser and Curiouser.
In any event, none of this will be beneficial to the passage of Ref. I (afford same-sex couples with the rights of married couples) and certainly not to the defeat of Amendment 43 (to place in the Colorado Constitution that marriage is a union only between a man and a woman).
God, I'm weary of this stuff...politics included.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Ted Haggard - Another GOP Closet Case?
Denver's 9News, KUSA, reported today that Ted Haggard is accused of having had a three year relationship with a male escort (read prostitute). Haggard is the founder and pastor of a Colorado Springs Evangelical congregation--New Life Church--with 14,000 members. He is also the president of the National Association of Evangelicals whose membership is in the millions. Haggard is a staunch Republican and is said to have a close relationship with George W. Bush.
The male escort, Mike Jones, claims to have two voice mails and a hand-written letter from Haggard. He also claims that Haggard used, in his presence, methamphetamines. Jones also claims that Haggard explained that his "fantasy" is to have an orgy with college-aged boys/men.
Right now, I'm just a little tired of all this sleaze, sexual and political (is there really any distinction?). So, for now, I'll just leave this post as it is. Maybe more later.
P.S. The story from AlterNet is here.
The male escort, Mike Jones, claims to have two voice mails and a hand-written letter from Haggard. He also claims that Haggard used, in his presence, methamphetamines. Jones also claims that Haggard explained that his "fantasy" is to have an orgy with college-aged boys/men.
Right now, I'm just a little tired of all this sleaze, sexual and political (is there really any distinction?). So, for now, I'll just leave this post as it is. Maybe more later.
P.S. The story from AlterNet is here.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Forget 1A (Preschool Referred Question) And Get Back To The Basics
The Rocky Mountain News this morning opined: (This verbatim, as the piece will probably shortly be archived)
Preschool tax diverts city from core duties
November 1, 2006
Over the next several years - and likely starting as early as 2007 - Denver voters are going to be presented with huge bills for repairing and upgrading the city's infrastructure.
From Civic Center Park, which has been growing shabbier and shabbier as the years pass, to potholed streets, to rapidly growing new neighborhoods that need libraries, the evidence is everywhere that the city scarcely has the resources to meet its core responsibilities.
Yet on Election Day, Denver is asking voters to pass Initiative 1A, which would raise the sales tax so the city can take on the additional responsibility of making sure more 4-year-olds have access to preschool. There's nothing wrong with that as a goal, although the purported benefits have been overhyped. But city government has never been in the education business. And if Denver can't handle the responsibilities it already has, it shouldn't be taking on more.
The Hickenlooper administration has established a number of task forces to examine the city's needs in such areas as public safety, cultural facilities, community planning, upkeep of city buildings, parks and transportation. It's a daunting list - even before the price tags are attached. For instance, the Museum of Nature and Science needs work on "fire detection and suppression systems, electrical wiring, elevators, sewer lines, public address system, kitchen improvements, lobby expansion and conservation facilities," one task force believes. Sounds comprehensive, doesn't it? Expensive, too. And that's only one of dozens of projects, large and small.
When architect Daniel Libeskind was in Denver to present his concept for Civic Center Park, someone asked Mayor John Hickenlooper what it would cost. Maybe $100 million, he said. On another occasion, he gave an estimate of $50 million to replace the aging and ineffective irrigation system in the city's parks.
With numbers like that, pretty soon you're talking about real money. Former Councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt believes the total could be $1 billion or more.
Current Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz, one of the few city officials willing to say in public that Denver shouldn't be tackling preschool, says it will probably be a lot more than $1 billion. She believes voters should have been informed about "what's coming down the pike" before they were asked to decide on the preschool tax.
In isolation, better access to preschool may sound like a decent idea. But in the context of all the city's core responsibilities that aren't being fully met, the measure doesn't make sense.
Vote "No" on 1A.
Prior posts on this matter: Here and here.
Preschool tax diverts city from core duties
November 1, 2006
Over the next several years - and likely starting as early as 2007 - Denver voters are going to be presented with huge bills for repairing and upgrading the city's infrastructure.
From Civic Center Park, which has been growing shabbier and shabbier as the years pass, to potholed streets, to rapidly growing new neighborhoods that need libraries, the evidence is everywhere that the city scarcely has the resources to meet its core responsibilities.
Yet on Election Day, Denver is asking voters to pass Initiative 1A, which would raise the sales tax so the city can take on the additional responsibility of making sure more 4-year-olds have access to preschool. There's nothing wrong with that as a goal, although the purported benefits have been overhyped. But city government has never been in the education business. And if Denver can't handle the responsibilities it already has, it shouldn't be taking on more.
The Hickenlooper administration has established a number of task forces to examine the city's needs in such areas as public safety, cultural facilities, community planning, upkeep of city buildings, parks and transportation. It's a daunting list - even before the price tags are attached. For instance, the Museum of Nature and Science needs work on "fire detection and suppression systems, electrical wiring, elevators, sewer lines, public address system, kitchen improvements, lobby expansion and conservation facilities," one task force believes. Sounds comprehensive, doesn't it? Expensive, too. And that's only one of dozens of projects, large and small.
When architect Daniel Libeskind was in Denver to present his concept for Civic Center Park, someone asked Mayor John Hickenlooper what it would cost. Maybe $100 million, he said. On another occasion, he gave an estimate of $50 million to replace the aging and ineffective irrigation system in the city's parks.
With numbers like that, pretty soon you're talking about real money. Former Councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt believes the total could be $1 billion or more.
Current Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz, one of the few city officials willing to say in public that Denver shouldn't be tackling preschool, says it will probably be a lot more than $1 billion. She believes voters should have been informed about "what's coming down the pike" before they were asked to decide on the preschool tax.
In isolation, better access to preschool may sound like a decent idea. But in the context of all the city's core responsibilities that aren't being fully met, the measure doesn't make sense.
Vote "No" on 1A.
Prior posts on this matter: Here and here.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
The Fat Lady Ain't Singin' - Marilyn Musgrave & The Art of Arrogance (Video)
The Fat Lady doth protest too much, methinks! (And, her flatlander defenders, as well!) Video
Monday, October 30, 2006
Referred Question 1A - Preshool Plan a Dog
It's beginning to appear I'm my own little Media Matters watch on Susan Barnes-Gelt. I didn't intend for that to occur; it's just that Barnes-Gelt has been so vocal with regard to "iconic" architecture and "eureka moments" relative to Denver's skyline, that her words simply crystallized the polemic for me.
However, this past Sunday's Post provided, in part, this from Ms. Barnes-Gelt. Since I'm not sure when the Post will archive this piece, here's a bit a what she said in opposition to Referred Question 1A, a .12% raise in Denver's sales tax to fund a pre-school program.
Ms. Barnes-Gelt begins by asking, "...why not vote for Mayor John Hickenlooper's Referred Question 1A...? Here's why not:
P.S. The use of the word "dog" is, of course, used to indicate "...an investment not worth its price," as provided by Merriam-Webster. Since "Dog Is My Constant Copilot," I thought I'd just clarify the use of that word. This dog, Sarah, is well-worth the investment, the price.
However, this past Sunday's Post provided, in part, this from Ms. Barnes-Gelt. Since I'm not sure when the Post will archive this piece, here's a bit a what she said in opposition to Referred Question 1A, a .12% raise in Denver's sales tax to fund a pre-school program.
Ms. Barnes-Gelt begins by asking, "...why not vote for Mayor John Hickenlooper's Referred Question 1A...? Here's why not:
Denver has a whole menu of unfunded new and deferred capital needs, perhaps totaling $1 billion or more. They range from serious structural problems with the Botanic Gardens' historic Boettcher Conservatory and long-deferred new libraries and parks improvements to the city's inefficient, obsolete irrigation system, vulnerable tree canopy, roads, bridges and antiquated public building systems.Ms. Barnes-Gelt has a remarkable record with regard to community activism and as an advocate for the poor, the disenfranchised. If I did not already have a very strong opinion against this ill-conceived boondoggle, her words alone would convince me that Referred Question 1A is a dog.
...Is now the right time to increase Denver's sales tax? Or should voters be presented with the full picture of the city's needs?
...The Denver Preschool Program must adopt an evaluation protocol to measure the quality and accountability of early childhood programs. There is not yet a statewide, metro or even Denver program that evaluates all preschools, matching family needs with school quality. Setting up a comprehensive program will be costly and time-consuming. And though 1A touts language limiting administrative costs to 5 percent, will a projected $600,000 cover the cost of designing and implementing a program or even contracting with an expert?
...Denver Public Schools offers 4-year-old preschool in all but three of its elementary schools and serves 4,000 Denver children. The program is free to kids who qualify for reduced lunch according to federal guidelines (a family of four earning about $35,800 annually). Families earning more than $100,000 per year pay $195 a month for half-day, weekday preschool.
DPS contracts with other Denver providers to serve families needing all-day preschool, meeting the needs of nearly 500 of these families.
There are waiting lists at numerous DPS schools. Why didn't 1A supporters expand this program instead of re-inventing the wheel? There are advantages:
* DPS is governed by an elected board that is fully accountable to e taxpayers.
* DPS can blend a variety of funding mechanisms - tuition, federal Head Start funds, private grants, etc. - to meet the diverse needs of Denver families.
* DPS has administration in place, already funded with public dollars.
Preschool for 4-year-olds is a noble idea. The benefits are well-documented. But however well intended, Question 1A is not the right approach.
Preschool is not part of the city's basic mission and a daunting list of infrastructure improvements is a higher priority. The regressive, Denver-only sales tax portable to metro preschools is inappropriate. Like all school funding, the preschool tax should be property-tax-based, applied to the region and available to all metro families.
Finally, there are too many unknowns. Who are the private citizens administering public dollars? What are the governing rules, policies and regulations? How will preschool programs be fairly and universally evaluated?
Too many questions and not enough answers. Vote "no" on Denver's Initiative 1A.
P.S. The use of the word "dog" is, of course, used to indicate "...an investment not worth its price," as provided by Merriam-Webster. Since "Dog Is My Constant Copilot," I thought I'd just clarify the use of that word. This dog, Sarah, is well-worth the investment, the price.
Steven Holl's Work - "It is poetic..." - Denver Justice Center
George Hoover, a professor of architecture at the University of Colorado - Denver and a practicing architect, provided in this past Sunday's Denver Post an eloquent view of the Denver Justice Center imbroglio; a view that is tempered by both reason and experience.
Since I'm not sure when the Post will archive this piece, please let me provide some of what Hoover said:
Architect Steven Holl's schematic design for Denver's new courthouse imagined a building that could be a wonderful addition to our city.
Proposed relationships to Civic Center, downtown, the Front Range and the city's essential qualities strongly suggested a building respectful of the context, scale and material character of Denver's urban fabric. There is no hint of the "iconic, object building" decried by some local critics.
...Thus, hyperbole such as "ego- driven icons designed by the famous" is not only misleading, it distracts from the core issue here: how we define, value and realize excellence.
To give merely the sparest of examples of excellence in architecture, I return briefly to Steven Holl. Holl's work manifests excellence, in large part due to the degree it exhibits qualities of which most architects are unaware and to which they do not aspire.
For example, it is little recognized that Holl's work is founded in an important strand of modern thought known as "phenomenology," which concentrates on re-achieving for human experience a direct and primal contact with the world. Holl's most well-known work, the Chapel of St. Ignatius in Seattle, links those who experience it directly with the movement of the sun, the flickering patterns of natural light, the shimmering ripples of a dark pond on a windy day, the real quality of stone, the graininess of wood, the echoes of footsteps and the fragrance of beeswax. It is poetic work.
Holl also emphasized the importance of such relationships in his Justice Center design - moving patterns of dappled sunlight on a courtroom wall, views of distant peaks, surprise vistas into the heart of downtown and a beacon of light.
...From what I have been able to glean about the inner workings of the Justice Center project, the problem appears to lie neither with Denver's infatuation with internationally acclaimed architects, nor with a design unresponsive to Denver's needs. It lies with the inability of the individuals on this particular design team to work together as colleagues.
...Ultimately, the greater good for our city as a whole can only be achieved if we as individual citizens are willing to be truly present for one another, to listen carefully to the heart of meaning inherent in one another's words and actions, to tell the truth without judging or blaming those around us, and to be open to and supportive of how things turn out - even though we may favor and hope for a different outcome.
It's in this spirit that I suggest Mayor John Hickenlooper convene a small advisory group of experienced, diverse, flexible, committed and creative people who have been involved in projects similar to those that Denver has successfully built in recent decades.
Such a group would assist him with the creation of a notable new Justice Center by finding a course of action likely to resolve the present short-term problem in a way that does not compromise Denver's long-term vision for excellence.
The temptation is always to decide in favor of the short-term, expedient solution. We must resist this temptation in favor of the long view and our city's legacy. History has shown that what is practical in the short term is often immeasurably impractical in the long run. What happens next with the Justice Center will affect not only the project itself but also critical civic ventures yet to be.
We have achieved excellence many times before. We must do so again.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Oh My... Incorrect ballots will be counted correctly; correct ballots will be made incorrect - Your Denver Election Commission At Work For You!
And, if the above linked story wasn't enough, take a look at this!
A Little Snow This Morning - West Highlands, Denver
Yup, gonna be a few trees snapping their branches.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Congressman Barney Frank - Gay Republicans
This from YouTube. Frank, an "out" gay Congressman from Massachusetts speaks to the inherent hypocrisy (among other things) of closeted "Gay Republicans."
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