Funny story...

More Gen X, Y, and Z stuff.

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Everyone knows I get a kick out of younger people who think they have the market cornered on wisdom and understanding, faith and morals, ethics and justice, and just about everything else in life. In many cases, the more academic degrees they accumulate, the more they are convinced the world owes them a living... And it is not that I have anything against highly educated people who go into hair-dressing, I just happen to believe education is wasted upon a few of them. But I digress.

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The sitcom as real life.

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Last October I was invited to a "friend's" daughter's wedding but declined the invitation. The young UST graduate had only met her young man a couple of months beforehand - not that it matters - I love romance myself. They married and separated by February of this year. He has a drug problem, that she was convinced she could cure, which is why they married, but it looks as if she failed, so she moved back home with mom. Yes, it's a sad story in a Brittney Spears sort of way, but stuff happens.

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A couple of weeks ago, the young woman was spotted in a major department store parking lot handing out her wedding gifts to total strangers. (BTW, she never sent out thank you cards for those gifts either - a courtesy she claims "is no longer necessary" - "It's the 21st century!" LOL) As she distributed the merchandise, Bride-interrupted explained that she was protesting the store's policy of not accepting returns after 90 days. So, after causing a scene in the store - she looked for sympathy in the parking lot, dispensing the gifts to passers by.

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Entitlement.

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Now obviously she wanted the money, but because she didn't get what she wanted - she gave the stuff away - despite the fact she could have sold it all on EBay or Craig's-list or something. But it is easy come - easy go for her generation. Everything has been given to her all of her life - and apparently she believes someone will always be there to take care of her. She, like many others her age, seem to have no qualms about asking people for support or money for whatever personal need that arises. And more often than not, they accept these "financial gifts" without the slightest expression of gratitude or even an offer to pay back the donors. "They gave it to me, I don't have to pay them back."

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Every one is a star today.

ROFL!

Adolescent pregnancies...

Children having children...
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It has been an issue of late in our country - most notably in Texas. Did you realize the U. S. rates highest in the world for teen pregnancy amongst developed countries?
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The following are some of the stark facts about a problem that has become to many Americans, a symbol of a national moral malaise. (Not so much the sexual activity - rather the unwanted pregnancy. Perhaps we should send in the Texas Rangers? Not likely.)

• Every year almost one million teenage girls become pregnant.


• More than half of them are 17 years old or younger when they have their first pregnancy. Approximately one-third of the girls who get pregnant carry their pregnancies to term and keep their babies.


• About another third have abortions, and the other third has spontaneous miscarriages.


• Only about five percent of pregnant girls put their babies up for adoption.


• Approximately 40 percent of young women become pregnant before they reach 20 years old. The United States of America has double the adolescent pregnancy and birth rates of any other industrialized country.


• The poorer the young woman, the more likely she will become a mother.


• Less than one-third of teens who have babies before the age of 18 finish high school.


• Almost half of all teen mothers end up on welfare.


• Less than 25 percent of births to teens occur within wedlock. - Source

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That must mean the girls who happen to be sexually active but are not "punished with a child" - as Obama stated - are either using some sort of contraception or engaging in masturbation, oral or anal sex. I'm sure that doesn't count however.

Hannah Montanna and slut fashion.

Big News!

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Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) apologized to her public because of racy photos in Vanity Fair. As if her cut-to-the-pubic-hair jeans, bare midriffs and tight tops have been more modest? Has Miley been such a model of decency for pre-tweens who emulate her style? The American cultural sexual exploitation of minors has been going on for decades; think Britney Spears and the way her handlers, supported by her mother, sexualized her image. Long before her was Brooke Shields. There is always an excuse, or someone to blame, as the innocent "victim" and her family climb the ladder to super-stardom.

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Perhaps the police should raid the Cyrus' household and take the 15 year old Miley away and place her in foster care, and do the same with parents who permit their daughters to dress like sluts. It worked so well with the Fundamentalist Mormons in Texas.

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[Photo: The 15 year old singer/actress at the 2008 CMT Awards in Nashville. Notice how her dress is cut.]

Things change.

You shall not take hallucinogenics.

I read a story today that the Netherlands may be trying to change their "anything goes" image. Not long ago they tightened the regulations for brothels and prostitution, as well as drug use. Of course they are still far more liberal than any other country in the world, but now they are going after "magic mushrooms" too... and some people fear cannabis will be next. (I knew I waited too long to visit Amsterdam.) Story here.

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This supports my "people change" theory. It is a highly scientific thesis developed at the graduate School of Hard Knocks, associated with Whatsamatu U in northern Minnesota. "People Change - Things Change" is the title of my dissertation, which will be coming out in book form one of these days.

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People change - I did.

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For instance, look at me - which happens to be the title of the first chapter - I've changed. In the beginning, I thought President Bush was a hero going to war with Iraq, after awhile I thought he was an idiot, then I thought he was a monster, and now I love him and think he did the best he could do and we are stuck there. (And I get so scared when I think of the people hoping to replace him.)

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Another example of how I've changed is I once was intrigued with apparitions and private revelations, especially Garabandahl and Medjugorje - now I have pretty much lost all interest in those things.

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I also once smoked - and now I don't - that is a big change. Truly, there are very many things I once cared about that I no longer do. There are many little anecdotes in the book that I will not recount here, but let this be a warning - people and things do change - even though they stay the same. You see, I'm the same person - but my ideas and attitudes can change. Just like the laws in the Netherlands or in this country can change.

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The children are our future... take them away.

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For instance, someday in the United States, abortion will no longer be legal. Or someday in the Netherlands, sex with consenting minors will be against the law and gay marriage will no longer be recognized either. As repressive as it may sound, one day they may even ban public sex in parks. In fact I'm convinced of it - many rights people enjoy today will be taken back, taken away one day.

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It could happen. Someday the State could enter a small community and take all of the children away and put them in foster homes or a sort of orphanage in what is really a concentration camp. While the parents would be arrested and sent to prison because they were out of fashion and did not provide video games and laptops, and other modern conveniences for their children.

Update on Mary Jo Copeland

Thanks everyone for your prayers and efforts!

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Mary Jo Copeland met with the city of Minneapolis Regulatory Committee yesterday and emerged victorious... kinda/sorta. Mary Jo said the results were favorable towards Caring and Sharing Hands, and that a city regulator will visit the operation next week to help formulate a security plan. Mary Jo keeps her license and may continue to serve food - which happened to be the first point of contention with the city - so that is a relief.

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The only thing I found strange in the comments after the meeting took place is that the police department said they will be "relentless" in policing Caring and Sharing Hands from now on. (That can be taken several ways - yet, isn't that enough security then?) I find the police response odd since the drug busts they performed last year were undercover operations... so does that mean they were set ups? No, of course not... Well, I don't think so.

Poor Amy Winehouse

Arrested for assault. The whole story here.
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I'm not passing any judgement, nor casting any slurs... You know 'there for but the grace of God'... That said...
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In the old days, people like Amy would have been called "public sinners" and roundly condemned. Today they are celebrities and fodder for the paparazzi, and people just love to watch a train wreck. I think the fascination is due in part is to the base human desire to watch and see how far melt-down can go before implosion. I also think God permits it to show how miserable human nature truly is - how decadent we can become - and exactly how illusory and fleeting fame is...
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She's a person and I happen to like her - and I pray for her. (I'm fairly certain she continues to believe everything is still just a joke. And I'm afraid she may kill herself laughing.)

National Day of Silence

Keep your mouth shut until tomorrow.

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April 25 is observed as a National Day of Silence in public high schools throughout the country. Actually it is the first I have ever heard about it. It's a gay thing. I think people who think that gay sex is a dirty, filthy habit, are not supposed to say that kind of stuff today.

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I found some information on the national observance here.

Thursday storybook time.

It's spring!

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Once upon a time, I had a friend who married a woman he thought was the most beautiful in the world, and in fact she was very pretty, in a Delta Burke/Imelda Marcos sort of way. They had two children and lived in a lovely over-sized house in the best suburb; the windows draped with layer upon layer of ruffled sheered curtains, in the softest shade of pink you have ever seen. They did everything with flair and style, and much better than their neighbors ever could. (The Mrs. had been a hair stylist before they married, which may explain why her hair was nearly as big as the house.)

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One spring day, I called my friend just to see how he was doing and the answering machine went on. Symphonic music was playing softly in the background, and his wife's melodic voice began her sing-song, operatic message. It was her springtime poem, recited in the style of the good witch Glinda from the Wizard of Oz. It began "It's spring! Ohhhhhhhh! It's spring! Ahhhhhhhh! The girls are scampering to and fro in the ya----"

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Clunk! I hung up!

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The End.

I'd be embarrassed.

Do you think the Holy Father cringes when he sees old photos like these? No wonder he fired his dresser.

NEWMAN TO BE BEATIFIED!!!

WOW!
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This is such wonderful news! Read the entire story here.

I've got my painting!

Priest floats off under hundreds of helium filled party balloons.

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Story here.

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Be careful not to get too high and mighty Father...

Mary Jo Copeland

The poor need Caring and Sharing Hands!

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I'm so happy some other good Catholic bloggers came to Mary Jo's defense and posted about the dilemma her homeless shelter faces - the city of Minneapolis trying to shut her down that is. Ray, Monica, Cathy, and Adoro all posted about the situation far better than I could. Now if only others from Minnesota, even those who live on farms as far away as the Wausau/Green Bay area of Wisconsin; if only they would show some concern - beyond what they usually say - step out of their paradigm for a moment and demonstrate they actually do have a social conscience, and at least post something on their blog, I'd be happier. That said, they should at least call the city of Minneapolis in support of Mary Jo - their pedestal isn't that high off the ground, is it?

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Anyway...
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I wish we could get some "big" names to come out for Caring and Sharing Hands too. Mega stars like Prince - hey Roger, why don't you help Mary Jo? Or former Twins players - say Kent Herbeck, where are you? Josh Hartnet? Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis - can you guys help out? Or how about the Coen brothers? Does anyone out there know them? Give them a call and tell them to help out a real person in need. How about Lori and Julia? They could do something... Julia is Catholic! Everyone - call the city, post a protest, or get your butts down to the City Council meeting on April 25. (If anyone knows these famous people or how to get them involved - please contact them ASAP.)
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WDTPRS? (What does the petition really say?)
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PLEASE! If you haven't done so - come to the aid of Caring and Sharing hands and make your objections known to the City of Minneapolis. Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

The Pope in NYC

What a farce - he snubbed Bayside!
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[Photo: I believe that is Joan Lewis of EWTN in the blue beret, seated next to Veronica.]

My six word memoir meme.

Angela tagged me for this:

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Write a memoir of your life in just six words. Post it on the blog. Tag 5 others.

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So - right off the top of my head I thought of this from "Chic":

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"Dance, dance, dance... keep on dancing."

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Then I thought of this from the "Four Tops":

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"What becomes of the broken hearted?"

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While I considered this from Tina Turner:

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"Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river!"

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Although something from Abbey Road would certainly be appropriate:

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"(She) came in through the bathroom window."

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But then I just went with Cece Peniston:

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"I don't know what to do."

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Although, thinking about it more seriously, I decided on this:

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"Let the children come to me." - Matt. 20:14

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I tag the following people I would most like to hang out with for an evening:

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Tina Fey, Charo, Drew Carey, Karen Walker, and Jack Mcfarland. However - if they can't do it, I tag everyone from The Office.

It's all their fault.

The poor are responsible for their own plight.
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In biblical times, the plight of the poor, the homeless, the beggars of the day, was considered to be a punishment for sin - hence the popular mindset held that "it was their own fault". The righteous could easily dismiss them, and walk on by because they were unclean, like Samaritans and lepers, they were sinners. "They brought it upon themselves."

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We do the same thing today, only we dismiss the poor as drug addicts, alcoholics, hookers, mentallly ill, and so on - and we are certain we "know" most of them are there on the street through their own fault - or even because "they want to be". Maybe - maybe not. Whatever the case, does that justify the fact that we so easily ignore them and their plight?

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I know people who treat sick pets with more concern than Christians do a homeless stranger on a street corner. Indeed, how often I've heard of Catholic people who have solicited funds from others to care for their pets, or make house payments, or to help pay for personal tuition expenses, or even to ask people for money to go on a pilgrimage to Rome or to pay off student loans to enter a monastery. I expect we imagine ourselves to be good - and therefore deserving, even worthy - hence we permit ourselves to ask people we do not even know for money to support our "good" causes. Yet it is such a different story when it comes to helping the homeless, the down and out.

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The mayor's assistant wrote me the following in an email:

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"Those who are served by Sharing and Caring Hands are unique in that many users may be homeless and vulnerable because of these criminal behaviors such as drug abuse. The City can not look the other away, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone at Sharing and Caring Hands is considered, from the chronic crack cocaine user to the young single mother and her new born child." -Jeremy Hanson, Office of Mayor R.T. Rybak

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Can't you just feel the love? The concern to protect the poor, young single mother and her newborn child? Protecting her from those awful criminals? If the poor mother lives anyplace - she probably lives on the north or south side, in a neighborhood bordering downtown Minneapolis. These neighborhoods are hot beds of crime, drug trafficking and murder. That poor mother is much safer at Caring and Sharing Hands. Just last night, I watched a news story about a south Minneapolis family who narrowly escaped gun shots that came in through their bedroom window, piercing the opposite wall. The family wants to move to a better neighborhood but cannot afford it.

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I think the city of Minneapolis has a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone in the city - leave Caring and Sharing Hands alone - the center was doing just fine until construction on the stadium began last year.

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PLEASE! If you haven't done so - come to the aid of Caring and Sharing hands and make your objections known to the City of Minneapolis. Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Caring and Sharing Hands and the City of Minneapolis

A Case of Harassment By the City of Minneapolis...
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I just got off the phone with Dick Copeland, after receiving an email response from the Mayor's office explaining the City's position regarding the security issues associated with Caring and Sharing Hands. I wanted to hear the other side of the story directly from the Copelands. The City claims the help center is not cooperating - which I know to be untrue - but I needed to have that confirmed for me by either Mary Jo or her husband Dick.
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It is rather obvious the City's motivation to shut down Mary Jo Copeland's emergency center for the homeless poor is because the property would be more valuable for commercial development servicing the new Twins ballpark - being constructed across the street. Although the city denies it and insists it is instead trying to work with the Copeland's to develop a security plan which would eradicate drug trafficking in the area.
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I asked Dick if they (Caring and Sharing) are refusing to work with the City - he said absolutely not - that in fact they do have security people on hand. Dick explained that Mary Jo has been doing this work for 20 years and only last year the police started coming around.
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I remember one of the first incidents. The police showed up at noon. It was during the dinner hour when they made the well publicized sting - and if I remember correctly, media just happened to come along. Supposedly a drug deal was going down right on camera - next to a security guard while Mary Jo was serving food. This pretty much coincided with the final go ahead for construction of the new ball park to take place - but I never connected the dots at that time.
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Mr. Copeland explained to me that for years they asked help from the city and police to help them move along the trouble makers amongst the street people who slept on the grassy street intersections and areas surrounding the center, but the police told the Copeland's it wasn't their problem. Then last summer the arrests happened, although there have been no arrests recently, at least in the past 4 months.
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I asked what kind of security system the City is asking of them - Dick said they want the center to check ID's of everyone who enters the facility. Wait a minute. Isn't that a violation of civil rights? Isn't this the USA? And furthermore - maybe the poor do not always have identification - and yes, they should - but maybe they don't. Can you see where this is going? The next step for the City is probably going to be calling in immigration officials to help in shutting down the facility. Do you see how government operates when revenue is involved?
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Anyway - the City "miss-speaks" - they want Mary Jo out. From what I understand they have already negotiated with the Salvation Army to limit their outreach to the poor - no more over night accommodations from what I've been told. (The Salvation Army is on the opposite side of the new stadium.)

Mayor's Office response to my earlier post:
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Jeremy Hanson, Office of Mayor R.T. Rybak Says: after publication. e-->April 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm e
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Mayor Rybak very much values and appreciates the important work of Sharing and Caring Hands – the services they provide to Minneapolis and those in need are admirable and the last thing we want is to stand in the way of that service. That being said, when you operate a business in the City of Minneapolis, no matter what type of business, you must comply with City ordinances that relate to the management of that business, including a plan to ensure adequate security to prevent criminal activity. And the City has an obligation to ensure that licensed businesses are in compliance with these ordinances. There are a number of other facilities that serve the homeless and those with great housing needs in this area of Minneapolis. None of them have these safety issues because we are in partnership with them, and we simply want the same with Sharing and Caring Hands. We don’t want to relocate them. We want to work with them to address these issues so that the people who go there for care and support can be safe. We have been trying to work with them to protect the very needy people who come there, but we need Mary Jo’s partnership to do that. We have clear standards for public safety in Minneapolis that we expect everyone – even Sharing and Caring Hands – to meet.
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Those who are served by Sharing and Caring Hands are unique in that many users may be homeless and vulnerable because of these criminal behaviors such as drug abuse. The City can not look the other away, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone at Sharing and Caring Hands is considered, from the chronic crack cocaine user to the young single mother and her new born child.
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The security issues surrounding Mary’s place have a long history as do the City’s attempts to work in partnership with Mary Jo to address these issues. Sharing and Caring Hands has had little progress in addressing these concerns and so, once again, we have asked Mary Jo to come to the table so we can help her put together a comprehensive and achievable security plan. We are extremely hopeful that Mary Jo, with the needs of those she serves in mind, will work cooperatively with us so that we have a result that will make us all happy, the license renewal of Sharing and Caring Hands and safe place of refuge for those in need.
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Minneapolis has underway one of the most comprehensive and aggressive efforts to end homelessness in the nation, and ending homelessness will continue to be a priority for the Mayor and the city. This is why we have helped place affordable housing in downtown as well as throughout the city and will continue our efforts to end homelessness by helping people get into safe, affordable and stable housing. This year we are spending $10 million on an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. We are funding street outreach workers to help connect homeless residents to permanent services and move them into a more stable life. We are about to have our next Project Homeless Connect, in which we invite the homeless people in the community to the Convention Center to connect them to services. This is part of Heading Home Hennepin, a city and county partnership to solve long term homelessness. The city has worked very hard to address the needs of the homeless, and those who have housing challenges, and we will continue to do so – hopefully with the partnership of Sharing and Caring Hands. - End of Mayor's Office statement.
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There is a City Council meeting on April 25th and we need thousands of people to call the Mayor’s office and tell him you support Mary Jo’s work and you oppose any move to remove Mary Jo’s restaurant license. Please call today or before April 25th. The license thing is only the first step in closing down the entire facility.
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PLEASE! If you haven't done so - come to the aid of Caring and Sharing hands and make your objections known to the City of Minneapolis. Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Links:
Corruption and the City of Minneapolis

Sharing and Caring Hands Under Attack In Minneapolis

Urgent!

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Sharing & Caring Hands needs your support. The City of Minneapolis has threatened to remove Mary Jo Copeland's restaurant license and in turn her ability to serve meals to thousands of the poor and hungry of Minneapolis.

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This move has been raised because of alleged security concerns, and comes on the heels of the new ballpark stadium being built across the street from the facility. Those who would suffer from this are the poor, the disabled, the elderly, families with children, and people suffering from mental illness who come for a warm meal.

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There is a City meeting on April 25th and we need thousands of people of faith to call the Mayor's office and tell him you support Mary Jo's work and you oppose any move to remove Mary Jo's restaurant license.

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Please call today or before April 25 Mayor R.T. Rybak's policy aide: Erica Prosser 612-673-2133 or erica.prosser@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

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PROTEST MARCH Thursday April 17, 1PM The community is organizing a march to protest this threat. It is set for Thursday, April 17 at 1 pm in the Parking lot of Sharing and Caring Hands. Parking will fill quickly there so attendees are encouraged to park at the Target Center just 5 minutes away. Please call 612-338-4640 9-5 PM for more details or questions."

http://www.sharingandcaringhands.org/"

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If you cannot make the event on April 17 - call the Mayor's office and let him know you object to the harassment the City of Minneapolis is directing against Mary Jo Copeland and Sharing and Caring Hands. And PRAY!

A great American, and a manly man...

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL)

Michael Anthony Monsoor

April 5, 1981 – Sept. 29, 2006

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Read more: What a hero looks like.

Proud to be an American.

He likes us! He really, really likes us!

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I watched the welcome for the Holy Father on the White House lawn by the President and the Nation. What a wonderful tribute.

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Happy Birthday Holy Father!

Cathy is so excited that the Pope will be here today!

The Pope is on his way...

"Get your coat Georg - we're leaving."

Funerary

Denial.
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I painted this as an ex-voto in memory of the man who had been my novice master in the monastery. He died several years ago now. My inspiration was a funerary fresco from ancient Pompeii - hence the shrouded mourner in the lower corner. The winged man is the Roman God Dionysus. The torch represents the false light of the world. The empty cowl illustrates his abandoned vocation, and the naked man is the dead monk.

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I later destroyed the canvas after the monastery denied the circumstances of the monk's death.

Therese

This is a life size painting I did of St. Therese a couple of years ago. Unfortunately it was photographed from below so the perspective is a bit off, and the image isn't very clear.

More on cleric-wear.

Shirting.
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Most off the rack short sleeved shirts for priests have too short of sleeves. A clerical shirt should have a short sleeve length that hits right at the man's elbow - if not longer. Many priests wear their shirts much too small - they need a one finger collar space - depending upon their weight, and the shirt buttons should never show strain - always wear full cut. And dress shirts should have sleeve lengths long enough to show approximately 1/2" of linen when one is wearing the cassock or a suit coat. Short sleeved shirts should only be worn with a jacket, sweater, or casual sport coat - never under a suit or cassock.

Priest-wear.

The limited wardrobe of the priest.

On my new blog I mentioned I wanted to work on some designs for priests to wear - just for fun of course. It seems to me most of the younger and newly ordained priests wouldn't be caught dead without their clerics. While lay Catholics seem to prefer priests dressed as priests - especially in cases of emergency - so they can recognize the priest from the ordinary man on the street. Younger priests are also very willing to go about town in their cassocks now days as well - as if the world is now following Vatican etiquette - and I like it. I was watching the news the other night and there I saw Fr. Joseph Johnson visiting Mary Jo Copeland in downtown Minneapolis wearing a cassock. How cool is that?

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Some priests still go out of uniform on their days off - sweatshirts and jeans and no shaving. Men love not to shave and to wear beat up clothes. Some people at the religious goods company I once worked for used to comment about priests coming in without clerical clothing. I found that a bit narrow. Having said that, there is a growing number of priests who would never do that - but do they have to wear a suit or a cassock all of the time? I don't think so. Which is why I'm doodling some ideas around.

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Pictured:

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Casual -

#5) Black Sweatshirt (or sweater) with layered collar. The collars are sewn onto the sweatshirt/sweater. The under collar is white, middle collar is black with a notch opening to reveal the white, both sewn onto the ribbed collar of the sweater. Paired with black stone-washed denim jeans, brown leather belt and hiking boots. (I like brown and black.)

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Dress -

#2) The black traditional cassock deserves decent outerwear. I did a long, full trench which stops about 6 inches from the hem of the cassock. The trench coat is constructed of soft black microfiber with a contrasting french khaki lining. Extra wide collar and belted (not shown). No capes. Not on the street.

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I might continue with this, I might not. Then again - I might design some nun's habits.

Git the gun!

Pope Benedict urges a crackdown on handguns.

"The pontiff said he was urging 'every effort against the proliferation of light and small-calibre weapons, which fuel local wars and urban violence, and unfortunately kill too many people every day in all the world.'" - Source

How many "Ratzinger fans" bought their wives firearms? LOL!

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Even Hillary is a gun-totin' church-goer now days. - NY Times

Bell ringing to welcome the Pope.

There is a movement underway for Catholic churches around the nation to simultaneously ring their church bells when the Holy Father arrives on April 15. Pewsitter has the story.

A good friend of mine came out.

His story really influenced me.

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A good friend of mine told me he surfs the net and reads blogs - this 'coming out' on his part surprised me because he never reads my blog. Imagine, he is not interested in reading Catholic stuff. I told him this blog is more nuts than Catholic and sometimes it is really funny. It still never got his attention.

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He said he reads quirky blogs late at night, and I asked, "What kind? Political?"

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He answered, "All kinds!" And he proceeded to explain how some people are really way out there, "They write things like, 'I feel like blowing up my neighbor's house!' - just because they are angry at the trailer trash living next door to them. They call people they don't like 'wackos' and 'freaks' and 'perverts'". Well you get the idea.

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Anyway, I said, "Yeah, my one blog is kinda like that, you should read mine." But no! He's not interested in "Church crap" as he called it. That didn't bother me as much as when he said he read "Cafeteria is Closed" a couple of times. "Well over 2 million visitors to that site, you know." I told him I had heard that before.

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But my friend's coming out story really did influence me. Many bloggers do come off kind of nuts. (I know I don't!) But people really write some weird stuff. (Again, I know I don't.) So I want to maybe start a new blog - just with weird stories and stuff. Funny stories - well, things I think are funny - and it just might help people look on the bright side a little more. Like Beverly Sutfin said, "Life doesn't have to be ugly." I could post things I wouldn't have to take down a half hour later because readers here might be scandalized. (I just did that with about 6 posts recently.)

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What do you think?

I didn't realize it until today...

But I think I am on retreat.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Happy Birthday Pier Giorgio! (April 6th)

I did an icon of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati (shown above) which was presented to his niece Wanda by my friend Ellen (shown at the top) a few years ago in Rome. The icon is now in the Frassati family home at Pallone, Italy.

(I have no other photos of the icon. The Beato is shown in the mountains with two peaks in the background, suggesting wings - alluding to his virginity and purity. He holds a mountain climbers pick and a rosary with the crucifix of JPII. The panel is framed in gold. Click the photos to see close ups.)

Miniscule things...

Minuscule Things
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There’s a crack in this glass so fine we can’t see it,
and in the blue eye of the candleflame’s needle
there’s a dark fleck, a speck of imperfection
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that could contain, like a microchip, an epic
treatise on beauty, except it’s in the eye of the beheld.
And at the base of our glass there’s nothing
.
so big as a tiny puddle, but an ooze, a viscous
patina like liquefied tarnish. It’s like a text
so short it consists only of the author’s signature,
.
which has to stand, like the future, for what might
have been: a novel, let’s say, thick with ambiguous life.
Its hero forgets his goal as he nears it, so that it’s
.
like rain evaporating in the very sight of parched
Saharans on the desert floor. There, by chance, he meets
a thirsty and beautiful woman. What a small world!
.
-William Matthews
.
.


Photo of a friend.
.
Even though the photo of my friend is dated June '78 - it was taken about 8 or 9 years earlier and only reprinted in 1978. I believe this photo was taken when we were on a "trip" - driving around in the van. My friend liked to "dress up" and entertain us with her characters. She was absolutely hilarious. We call this, "The Turban Photo".

The year of my conversion... 1972

...Before grunge...

I have no idea where this was - I know I was with my friends someplace while on a trip... it is after my conversion because I am wearing the Paul VI crucifix. My friend Bob is drinking and I geuss I'm just posing.

Old photo...

Here I am in Naples with a friar of a reformed Franciscan community. They lived in Euro-passenger train cars, their life very primitive and austere; they went barefoot throughout Italy. Padre Umile was the founder and had been encouraged by Padre Pio to begin the reform. I have no idea what happened to them. This was when I was living as a pilgrim, around the time I met Don Marco. My "habit" was denim, and I had a rosary on my belt that fell into the pocket on my jeans, and I wore the cross that Paul VI carried on his crosier, the same one later adopted by JPII. (Photo: c. 1975-6)

Pray for me that I may be converted and return to my early love.

Introducing... The painter.

I found these photos of myself taken right after I painted the front rooms just a few years ago. Otherwise, I do not think I have any recent photos of myself. And I am only posting these because people have requested to see some of my paintings as well as photos of me. I can't stand the truth, so these may not remain up for very long.

A couple of other Southwest pieces...

( I already showed the top triptych, but it wouldn't detail in the other post.)

2nd: Ven. Mary of Agreda
3rd: St. Sebastian
4th: St. Joseph
5th: Holy Face

All of these are painted on wood panels, and yes, I made the frames too. (And sadly, I did the photography.)

My favorite Southwest style retablos...

Part of my "Santa Fe" Collection.

When the gallery I showed at in Santa Fe closed, I donated what hadn't sold to various churches and monasteries in New Mexico, rather than pay for the shipping on the return of my work.

Top two: Triptych of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Outside doors - St.s Francis and Clare. Interior doors - St.s Joseph, Felipe of Jesus; St. Juan Diego, Bl. Miquel Pro.

Third photo: Milagros Crucifix.

Last two: St. Paschal Baylon.

A couple of commissions...

Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

The top two are my photos of the finished icon I was commissioned to do for the altar shown above. (Church of St. Anthony, Albany, MN) The original icon was cracking and turned out to be a print, and the pastor commissioned me to paint a replacement. (I'm not a photographer, my apologies for the poor quality.)




Our Lady of Hermits.

Fr. L. took this photo in his hermitage. He commissioned me to do an icon of the Blessed Virgin for his hermitage, requesting that Our Lady's hair be in evidence, although not her hands. (I never asked why.) I came up with this image. Our Lady's hair is braided, although that detail doesn't show up in the photo. The hermit lives in northern Minnesota and is also my spiritual director.

(Much of my work has never been photographed.)