Putting this tent can be complicated, but when its up its fun to sleep outside.Monday, June 30, 2008
Camping in the garden
Putting this tent can be complicated, but when its up its fun to sleep outside.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Torah weighs in on the Obama v McCain debate
Here is an part of an article published on-line in the Jerusalem Post.
The charge that Obama was not truthful about his background can be added to the list of other whisperings about Obama. Not all of the statements are evil. Worries about Obama's being too young, for example, parallel concerns that McCain is too old. Too many of the statements are, however, malicious and ugly. The implication that Barack Obama would not be a good president somehow because of his racial or family background is repugnant, is unconstitutional and is un-American.
An interesting gloss on this whole matter was raised during the reading of the Torah in synagogues this past Shabbat, portions of which are included in the important prayer known as the "Sh'ma". The prayer opens: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." The prayer continues with warnings not to be misled by the urgings of one's heart or eyes.
The Sh'ma prayer is remarkable in that it states that God - and hence truth - may be better perceived through the ears than by the eyes. In fact, throughout the Bible, God appears to Moses by speaking to him, but denies Moses the opportunity to visually look at Him. Even Moses experiences God through hearing.
The eyes may be easily deceived. The eyes see only the superficial exterior and register a subjective response based upon an individual's internal mental wiring - his own set of biases and prejudices. Communication by hearing is more penetrating. It involves the need of the communicator and the recipient to be on the same page - to speak to each other in a common language in order to be correctly understood.
Ten individuals of different countries and backgrounds, seeing an event, will each understand the event in his own way, and will together offer ten different interpretations of the event. However, only the individual who has understood the language and cultural context of the communicator can even suggest a reliable interpretation of the substance of the oral communication.
Here then is a challenge to any honest person who wishes to truly understand the nature and character of the two candidates, and thus to vote properly. When Obama and McCain next speak or debate each other - close your eyes and open your ears.
Sound advice !
The charge that Obama was not truthful about his background can be added to the list of other whisperings about Obama. Not all of the statements are evil. Worries about Obama's being too young, for example, parallel concerns that McCain is too old. Too many of the statements are, however, malicious and ugly. The implication that Barack Obama would not be a good president somehow because of his racial or family background is repugnant, is unconstitutional and is un-American.
An interesting gloss on this whole matter was raised during the reading of the Torah in synagogues this past Shabbat, portions of which are included in the important prayer known as the "Sh'ma". The prayer opens: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." The prayer continues with warnings not to be misled by the urgings of one's heart or eyes.
The Sh'ma prayer is remarkable in that it states that God - and hence truth - may be better perceived through the ears than by the eyes. In fact, throughout the Bible, God appears to Moses by speaking to him, but denies Moses the opportunity to visually look at Him. Even Moses experiences God through hearing.
The eyes may be easily deceived. The eyes see only the superficial exterior and register a subjective response based upon an individual's internal mental wiring - his own set of biases and prejudices. Communication by hearing is more penetrating. It involves the need of the communicator and the recipient to be on the same page - to speak to each other in a common language in order to be correctly understood.
Ten individuals of different countries and backgrounds, seeing an event, will each understand the event in his own way, and will together offer ten different interpretations of the event. However, only the individual who has understood the language and cultural context of the communicator can even suggest a reliable interpretation of the substance of the oral communication.
Here then is a challenge to any honest person who wishes to truly understand the nature and character of the two candidates, and thus to vote properly. When Obama and McCain next speak or debate each other - close your eyes and open your ears.
Sound advice !
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Eirikur speaks.....
I went shopping in my cooool new shoes with dad .
And I played badminton with dad today.
And I played badminton with dad today.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
More from Eirikur....
Island won a great viktory 5-0 yesterday.
I was out side for 6 hours J
Askur came to visit JJ
I was out side for 6 hours J
Askur came to visit JJ
Summer Supper
The weather this weekend has been wonderful, a sultry 17 degrees. Just perfect for a grill supper!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Eirikurs blog moment
The little Olympics were surprisingly not in China but in Reykjavik. And in other news, Dad and I went shoe shoping and now I have 2 pairs of new shoes. We also went to see the Womens national team play Slovenia. Iceland won 5 goals to nil.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Graduation Day
Gentle reader, today was graduation day for 31 students in the Master of Project Management. Among them was myself, proud as punch with my degree, if I do say so myself. The ceremony was held in the main hall of the University and really quite formal. Now, will be a small coffee party at home. The weather is beautiful. We send Maori greetings.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
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