Misc things that sprout in my mind
Youngstown, OH – Steel Town Let’s spend this week on ISOA looking at one historical center. This is a picture of a picture found in the Youngstown Historical Center of the conditions in the shantytowns that were close to almost … Continue reading Steel Mills..
Clarence, IA – Tombstones Since I didn’t have gps tagging at the time I’m not sure but I think this tombstone was in a cemetery in Clarence Iowa. As you can tell it is probably a replacement for the original. … Continue reading Tombstones…
Washington DC – Jefferson Memorial Jefferson was perhaps the most eloquent of the founding fathers. He spent his life before and after the White House with books and his writing. Even though it is a little out of the way … Continue reading Jefferson
Always be true to yourself. Do not blindly believe what you are told about what brings happiness, even what is reported in this book. Find out for yourself what brings joy and contentment to your world. Your inner voice will tell you what will bring you peace of mind. Above all , ask yourself what would give you true happiness. Listen to your answers carefully. Then do what you have to do to attain it. You cannot afford not to. Many years from now you will regret the things that you didn’t do much more so than the ones you … Continue reading Insight 6 – Listen To Yourself…
New York, NY – 911 Museum The picture above is of one of the original girders left standing from the World Trade Center after 9/11. It is in a large atrium in the new museum there. Continue reading 9/11 Museum
Park County, IN – Covered Bridges Park County here in Indiana is one of the premiere places to see a large variety of covered bridges. This is perhaps their most famous one. Continue reading Park County…
Pleasant Hill Shaker Village – Lexington KY Lets put up a new post about Pleasant Hill early this new year. It is perhaps my favorite place to visit and the Shakers, especially their furniture, is very much a part of … Continue reading Pleasant Hill…
I’m not sure if religion is the opiate of the masses, but I’m convinced that indifference is the opiate of the privileged. We turn to it when overwhelmed by the discomfort we feel about our complicity in an oppressed person’s reality. To anesthetize ourselves against their reality, we willfully ingest this opiate and use it as a coping mechanism. After years of the westernized church ingesting unhealthy amounts of indifference, we now experience delusional thoughts which blame the victims of injustice for their suffering. We have contorted scripture to please our ears. Ignoring the words and life of Christ, disregarding the narrative of Israel, … Continue reading Against Indifference….
Fingerlakes Region, NY Before California began to dominate the American wine scene the finger lakes region of New York was the premiere place for that beverage. It is also one of the most picturesque sceneries in the Northeast. This picture … Continue reading Wine Country….
Ottawa, Ontario – Public Gardens It think today is the shortest, and therefore the darkest, day of the year so what is more appropriate than a field of daises. The public garden in Ottawa is a beautiful example of peace … Continue reading The Darkest Day…
Pleasant Hill, KY – Lodge Staircase One aspect of creativity is seeing things that other ignore. Another is to make things for the sake of beauty. We all want to be creative in one aspect or another and in reality … Continue reading Creativity
Liarsville, AK Liarsville Alaska is unlike any town I have ever visited. It was the base camp for many reporters during the Alaska Gold Rush. They didn’t go into the wilds to seek out stories for their publishers but instead … Continue reading Liarsville…
Kansas prairie, KS The picture above is perhaps the most iconic in my portfolio when I think of Kansas. This part of the country used to be called the “Great American Desert” as there were no trees and only wild … Continue reading Kansas Prairie…
New Harmony, IN – Utopia The idea of a perfect community where everyone is treated the same and everyone has the same opportunities to better themselves has always be a goal for the dreamers among us. New Harmony Indiana was … Continue reading Utopian Communities..
Northern Indiana – The American Farm The American farm has changed drastically in my lifetime. Farming used to be a family oriented thing especially in our earlier years. Now most of our agricultural goods are produced by corporations of various … Continue reading The Family Farm
Human mind works in a funny way, its basic nature is that of rebellion and the more you try to tame it, the more it gets out of control. Try keeping it fixed at a particular spot for a few minutes and you will understand the point am trying to make here at an experiential level. There are so many times wherein i have just wanted to be quiet, silent in all 3: physical, vocal and mental levels. By being quiet, I don’t mean draining my mind of all thoughts, for that stage is way high up in one’s spiritual … Continue reading Being Still ….
Small Town Bank – Somewhere out west Small town banks are quickly disappearing from the American landscape. They are being gobbled up by the big financial institutions who care little about local issues of their depositors. I still cling to … Continue reading Small Town Banks…
Metamora, IN – The Water Wheel I know, calling the water wheel the heart of America is kind of a stretch but in reality it is at the heart of civilization. It caused us to take a giant leap forward in … Continue reading The Water Wheel…
Pittsburgh, PA – History Pittsburgh played an important part of America’s history. The early painting above show it has always been a gritty town that it remains today. Rust Belt Chic definitely describes the town. Continue reading Pittsburgh Again…
St Charles, MO – State Capital St Charles is like many other original State Capitals in that is was replaced by another city in later years. Those later years were only five years away. But St. Charles is still very … Continue reading Early State Capitals…
I didn’t consider this for many years. I actually thought my experiences rare. I was one of the chosen. I was special. Now I know the truth. God whispers his love in every ear. He isn’t interested in declaring his love to a select few. He doesn’t limit his presence to Vatican City, to the halls of seminaries, to the offices of preachers, or to church altars. God doesn’t restrict his communication to the Bible. He doesn’t confine his presence to any single denomination or religion. God speaks to all people, even when they’re not inclined to listen. Gulley, Philip; … Continue reading If Grace Is True…..
RJ's Corner - Having My Say 