Marlene Dotterer's Blog, page 19
July 15, 2015
How Climate Scientists Feel About Climate Change Deniers – Jason Box Tweet Controversy
The gist of this article comes down to a very disturbing thing for me. You’ve got the climate change deniers on one hand, which is bad enough. But it seems that the reality has gotten so bad, that most of what we hear from the scientists is watered down, or presented in a way that blunts the hard truth and the consequences of it. Not just by the media, but by the scientists themselves, because what the data show is happening, scares them.
That scares me.
July 13, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 16
The author at the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in Comber, Northern Ireland. 2014 Chapter 16
February 1907
One would think that being told the date and manner of one’s death would be frightening and depressing, especially if the date were just a few years away. Yet Tom felt light and hopeful.
First, of course, was his sincere belief that whatever happened in his life was in the capable hands of God. And God had seen fit to give him a warning of what might be ahead. He believed he could...
July 9, 2015
So It Begins
Destruction, to return to basics:
Clearing out the water-hungry:
And look! No Junipers!
We’ve had one day of work done, with more coming tomorrow. It’s going to take a big effort to the get the grass out of the back yard. We have to soak it, the cover it with cardboard and black tarp. Then wait. One month…. two. We’ll see how it progresses.
I’m nervous about it, but Himself is in mourning. He’s committed to the project, but boy, is it hard for him.
The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, Chapter 15
Thomas Andrews, Managing Director, Harland & Wolff Shipyards Chapter 15
February 1907
“Manager’s meeting scheduled for 9:00 a.m.,” Ham informed Tom first thing on a bright day in early February. “Lord Pirrie wants to see you at 8:45 sharp. I’ve already moved the schedule around to free up the time.”
Tom nodded, but glanced quizzically at the calendar. “I thought he wasn’t due in from London until Wednesday. Any idea what’s up?”
Ham’s raised eyebrows answered, Now why the heck would I know? as...
July 6, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Chapter 14
The Palm House, Belfast Botanic Gardens Chapter 14
December 1906
The people of Belfast were justifiably proud of the Palm House. Casey loved it even in the twenty-first century, but as she stood outside it in 1906, she realized it was really remarkable. Curvilinear and cast iron glass, it stood proudly in the gardens, owner of a world-wide reputation. It was already old, having been built in the 1830’s, with a wing for cool temperature plants and another for tropical plants. That was the are...
July 2, 2015
Texas Kids
We’re having fun in the humid heat. Little Alan is moving kind of slow, but we got a nice walk accomplished.
The Time Travel Journals: Chapter 13
The author visits Thomas Andrews’ office at Harland & Wolff Chapter 13
November 1906
The note was on pale pink paper, with an even, flowing script, and a coat of arms seal on the back. It was addressed to “Miss Casey Wilson” and was delivered to the house on Tuesday of Casey’s second week after leaving Harland and Wolff.
The sender was Lady Margaret Pirrie.
Casey stood at the small desk in the parlor as Sam lit a fire to ward off the evening chill. She held the note with care, afraid to move...
June 29, 2015
The Time Travel Journals: Chapter 12
Plaque for Thompson Graving Dock at Harland & Wolff Shipyard Chapter 12
November 1906
Tom sat at his desk for several minutes after Casey had gone, staring at the door and trying to comprehend what she had said. His emotions were in such a whirl, he couldn’t concentrate. What did all that mean? The image of a ship scraping along an iceberg sent chills down his spine. He wanted to laugh it off as nonsense, but the scenario Casey described was plausible.
“Going too fast.” What did she mean by t...
June 28, 2015
Huckabee predicts MLK-like resistance to gay marriage ruling | TheHill
A few thoughts about this:
1. “MLK-like” – the civil disobedience of MLK was to end laws and practice of inequality and discrimination. That’s exactly opposite of what Huckabee, et al want to do. Sure, maybe they’re just referring to the civil disobedience part, but it’s disingenuous (deliberately so) to bring the Civil Rights movement into it.
2. There’s nothing in the law that forces any minister anywhere to marry any particular couple. Ministers right now, have the right to say “sorry, no”...
June 27, 2015
Neopaganism FAQ by Eric S. Raymond
Here is a tidy explanation of pagan practice and beliefs.
Originally posted on Humanistic Paganism:
A longer version of this essay was originally published at Eric S. Raymond’s websiteOct. 22, 2010.
The neopagan phenomenon is a loose collection of religious movements, experiments, and jokes combining some very new thinking with some very old sources.
This FAQ, originally prepared in 1992 at the request of a number of curious net.posters, offers a brief descript...
