The People Have Spoken

Posted on November 9, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for images of lines of people waiting to vote in 2016 election

This is an image of the voting lines in Phoenix.  I lived in the Valley of the Sun for 7 years. I remember standing in line for over two hours waiting to vote in 2008 for John McCain for president.

I was in Ghana, Africa in December 1999 and happened to see the first ever free election there. Ghana has been a leader in Africa for a long time with their forward thinking.  This election had a populous candidate verses the former Vice President  of the long termed president/dictator  Jerry Rawlings. I remember driving through Accra and seeing long, long lines of people waiting to cast a ballot. Outside the polling place were soldiers holding their weapons on the top of tanks. It was quite a sight.  My friends explained that there was fear of violence, which was quite evident.  As the results were being announced, Ghananans were driving around blowing their horns with peace signs out the window for all the world to see. They had been forced to  live under a ruler for many years, I am thinking nearly 20 years  with no say until that winter day.  There were observers from around the world and TV camers as well.  The people were hopeful that with the whole world watching, there would be no fraudulent activity, and it worked.

Image result for image of first free election in Ghana in 1999 -2000

And who can forget the amazing election in India of the new Prime Minster Modi in 2014th ?Here is an image of  the men and women divided into gender lines.  This is true all through India in situations like entering a mall or  security at an airport. In this election there was an incredible  66 % of the eligible  Indian population voted in this rise of the  people to support Mr. Modi. Indians take the responsibility and duty of voting very seriously.  I read somewhere that Indians cherish those days when they are equal of anyone else with one vote to use.  The small pieces of paper are their voting registration.

Image result for images of long voting line in India for PM Modi 2015

To me one of the main elements of this 2016  election is the sovereignty of the US.   It was our Brexit election where the people rose up and declared ourselves American citizens and  not citizens of the world.

A quote I heard this morning  caught my eye:  “Being a citizen of the world  is being a citizen of nowhere.”          Teresa May. . . . . . . .  British Prime Minister

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Election Day Is Here !

Posted on November 8, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for Sign VOTE

We were up early to go and vote.  The polls in our area opened at  6  AM  and there was a steady flow at the  Municipal Building but no line at that early hour.  It has been a long, long journey over the last 18 months of this campaign. I for one would like a cap on the money spent on elections and also shortening the time of the campaign  as is the practice in the UK and in other countries.

This has been an election and atmosphere like  no other that I remember.  There is no cult of personality as both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump are flawed. These flaws have been out in the open for all the world to see. Because of the  discouragement at the choices for president, many people and  especially people of faith,  have felt conflicted. Knowing this and sharing the feelings, our pastor preached on “Behind the Scenes on Election Day” Now in the US, ministers are forbidden to instruct their flock for whom to vote.He would never do that, anyway, but as usual, he took us to scripture.

The scripture was Daniel 2:17-23. God’s chosen people had been deported to a foreign country. Nebuchadnezzar  was a cruel evil king of Babylon and God’s people cried out, “‘Where are you God?”  We hear that cry today when people ask , “How can a loving God  allow such suffering?”  The book of Daniel, through the dreams of Daniel outline the future plans. God is sovereign ( has supreme power).  He was moving in Babylon and is today. In spite of the pain, stress, confusion  all around us,  God is in control.

Daniel 2:21-22New King James Version (NKJV)

21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

There are other verses that indicate that God i is sovereign over all things with supreme authority, control and power. People of faith need to remember and thank God.

Psalm 115:3 New International Version (NIV)

3 Our God is in heaven;
    he does whatever pleases him.

Proverbs 16:9New King James Version (NKJV)

9 A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.

Image result for Genesis 50:20

This is the voice of Joseph who  was thrown into a pit to die by his brothers. But God had another plan that would be fulfilled years later when Joseph would save the lives of  the Israelites  in Egypt.  Joseph never forgot or cried out in anger to God  against  his purposes, he remained a faithful servant.

This is a beautiful metaphor:  Proverbs 21:1

21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

God is in control and no matter who is elected, God allows nothing that is not His will. That is not to imply that  there may not be changes and even pain and suffering we will need to go through , but remember this promise of God for his children:

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Go and vote, it is our duty and responsibility.  Pray for guidance in your vote and 

GO NOW IN PEACE! 

 

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India Superpower of the Future, Is on the Way!

Posted on November 5, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for images of Karolina Goswami

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The Way. . . . . A Film Review

Posted on November 4, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for images of The way. .. a film

“The Way” was released in 2010 but it is as relevant today  as it was six years ago. The themes  are life, death, family, friends, journey, and faith.   Ironically, it is a contemporary story set in an ancient place. It is the story of modern  pilgrims who were searching  fore greater meaning in  their lives, which after all was the purpose during Medieval times.

The film is about an American father, Martin Sheehan, who travels to France following the death of his estranged adult son ( Emilio Estervez) who was killed in the Pyrenees Mountains during a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago ( The Way of St. James)  to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

This shows the pilgrim’s passport that is stamped at various check-points along “The  Way.”

Image result for map of the Way of st james

Here is the routes of the 500 mile journey.

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The destination is  Cathedral of St. James in Santiago de Compostela , Spain

Image result for Image of St James Cathedral

It is only one of three Cathedrals in the world  or Apostle  churches  including St Peter’s in Rome, and St Thomas in Chennai, India where tradition says there are remains of the original apostles of Christ.  During the medieval pilgrimages, the faithful  tried to walk the spiritual paths of devotion  to St. James, Rome, and Jerusalem.  Today there are many pilgrims who are  walking this spiritual path  in search of a greater meaning in  this act of sacrifice.  Some are spiritual and others are not at all.  This will be evident in the stories of the pilgrims in the film.   You will visit  hostels along the way which were shelters for the   the pilgrims.

 

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Here is the group who are highlighted in the film with each of their unique reasons for the the walk along The Way.

It is a powerful and inspiring film that is a spiritual as the viewer wishes or not.  It does address the questions many of us have of faith, family , relationships as we search along The Way for answers  to life’s purpose and our part in it.

The film is available for free viewing on YouTube.com

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Dead Wake: The Last Voyage of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

Posted on November 3, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for image of Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

Dead Wake is the water pattern following a ship after  some major disturbance of the sea such as an iceberg or a torpedo.

This ship, the mighty Lusitania, was thought to be too large and  too fast, to   be sunk by a German torpedo .  That was  before Captain Turner of the Cunard Company met Captain Schwieger  of the German  U-20  submarine on the Irish Sea on May 7, 1915.  The U-20 had the nickname of the “Iron Coffin.”  Actually this narrative non-fiction book was the primarily the stories of these two captains. Larson is  a masterful storyteller and makes history come alive with his thorough research and narrative style.  He used diaries, telegrams, newspapers, logs of the ships to add color and description even of the interior of the U-20. The reader does get to know many of the passengers. . . . men, women and children.

This is the third book I have read by Eric Larson and I highly recommend all of them.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin

 

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

Leo DiCaprio is starring in this first ever serial  killer in the United States and set  during the building of the World’s Fair in Chicago in the late 1890’s.   It will be released in 2017.  I always think it is best to read the book before seeing a film.  That way you can compare the screen images to those in your mind from reading the story.

Erik Larson makes history come alive.

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Welcome to Troy James Franco!

Posted on November 2, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for images of Russell Sage College

James Franco attends the AOL NewFront on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) ORG XMIT: NYCS101 Photo: Charles Sykes / Invision

First Street in Troy will be closed to traffic Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 1 and 2, as the backdrop for James Franco's new movie, "The Pretenders." (Kenneth C. Crowe II/Times Union)

First Street in Troy will be closed to traffic Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 1 and 2, as the backdrop for James Franco's new movie, "The Pretenders." (Kenneth C. Crowe II/Times Union)

Actor James Franco eats lunch Thursday at Yono's Restaurant in downtown Albany. (Brianna Snyder / Times Union)

Big news from sleepy Troy, New York!   This week James Franco and his filming company are in town to shoot a new film entitled “The Pretenders.”  He is directing but I didn’t see any mention of him staring in the film.

The story plot has not been released but it is set in the 20th century  through the campus of Russell Sage campus and  dormitory.  The set is closed and there is a possibility of night filming.  From Troy, the company is moving to Schenectady and Union College filming.

Earlier in the year, Franco starred in  a  TV miniseries  written by Stephen King about a high school teacher and time traveler trying to prevent the assassination of President Kennedy. It was filled with conspiracy theories and very entertaining, holding the viewer’s attention in spite of familiarity with the historical event.

 

 

 

 

 

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Music Monday Diwali Songs

Posted on October 31, 2016 by annetbell

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Happy Diwali!

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Diwali Celebration

Posted on October 30, 2016 by annetbell

A woman arranged clay lamps, or ‘diyas,’ for the upcoming Diwali festival in Mumbai, Oct. 30. These diyas traditionally filled with mustard oil are placed are lit and placed around entrances to homes during the festival.

Divyakant Solanki/European Pressphoto Agency

Diwali in India in Photos  Wall Street Journal

India celebrates Diwali, the  festival of light starting today.  Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness and the beginning of the Hindu new year when it is believed the Hindu god Rama returned to his capital city of Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. Diwali, means “row of lamps” in Sanskrit.

An Indian potter made clay pots or ‘diyas’ ahead of the Diwali festival on the outskirts of Hyderabad on November 3, 2015.

Noah Seelam/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Dates for Diwali vary each year depending on the lunar calendar. Indians celebrate the festival by lighting earthen lamps, eating sweets, exchanging gifts and setting off fireworks.

A woman colored ‘diyas’ ahead of Diwali in the northern Indian city of Jammu, Nov. 3.

Channi Anand/Associated Press

Indians worship the Hindu deity Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, during the festival. Ancient Hindu texts suggest that on the main day of festival, which this year is Wednesday, the goddess descends on to Earth looking for the cleanest household to bestow her blessings. Devotees light clay lamps, or ‘diyas,’ to welcome Lakshmi into the house.

A woman worked at a firecracker factory on the outskirts of Siliguri in India’s east, Nov. 4.

Diptendu Dutta/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Celebrations also include bursting firecrackers. In recent years, anti-noise campaigners say the noise firecrackers make has reduced. Click here to find out more about Diwali getting quieter in India.

Firecrackers at a factory in Siliguri. Nov. 4.

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

The deity Kuber is also worshiped during the festival. He is regarded as the treasurer among Hindu gods and his presence is to help those who are good at earning money but not so good at saving it. During the worship of Goddess Lakshmi Puja, the deities Lakshmi, Kuber and Vishnu are offered a mixture of coagulated cow’s milk, sugar, cardamom and cloves.

A vendor spread vermilion powder used for worship during Diwali in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, Nov. 9.

Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Celebrations for Diwali last for five days culminating with Bhai Dooj (also known as Bhaubeej, Bhai Tika or Bhai Phota depending on what part of India you’re in) a festival similar to Raksha Bandhan, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. Sisters pray for health and prosperity of their brothers and mark their foreheads with colored powder.

People buy colors for decoration ahead of Diwali festival in the western Indian city of Bhopal, Nov. 6.

Sanjay Gupta/European Pressphoto Agency

A child looked at a display of decorative items at a street ship in the northern Indian city of Amritsar, Nov. 9.

Raminder Pal Singh/European Pressphoto Agency

A shopkeeper arranged lanterns and plastic garlands for sale ahead of Diwali in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, Nov. 4.

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

A woman decorated earthenware oil pots, or ‘diyas,’ in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, Nov. 6.

Agenc

 

Diwali is celebrated y Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists which makes it one of the most popular festivals in the world.

Happy New Year, India!

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Remorse and Compassion

Posted on October 29, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for image of matador with bull and remorse

This image has been on the internet for a while. I also read that it has been debunked as false.  Nonetheless, seeing it today made me remember a tale to tell you.

I have never seen this reaction of a matador to a bull, but have seen a  bullfight in Madrid , a fight to the death between a matador and a bull.  I had not wanted to go to see this gory unfair event.    The bull is teased and hurt outside the ring to make it mad enough to fight inside the ring.  My husband and children wanted to see this  Spanish tradition, so I was overridden.

As we entered , we were seated in a special box with other tourists, notably Japanese people that day.   Much to my horror the Spanish attendees would look at our box for our reaction to tho fight.  My reaction was  almost constant tears for the bull and his suffering.  The Japanese guests left after seeing only a few minutes but I couldn’t get any of my family  to follow. I was there for the whole succession of fights. One bull actually won and the audience voted to save him for another day’s fight. So he run out to  return to the ring and face his death on another day.

My husband told me that Spain avoided the World Wars through their neutrality.  There were sympathizers of the Spanish people to the Axis  side.   Well my husband thinks watching bull fights alleviates the  aggression .  I don’t know about that, myself.

Restaurants in the  Spanish capital city, advertise and have signs declaring the specialty  of  the fresh steaks from the matador’s kill.  In smaller eateries, there is a television broadcasting  recent fights for the diners to enjoy.

Spain is a magnificent country of  music, architecture, history, and food.  But bullfighting?

That is not for me !

This is the rest of the story!   Watch at your own discretion! I actually do have some negative feelings about Americans imposing our traditions and culture on another country.  This video is an accurate presentation of the process,.  What do you think? 

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Deer in the Headlights

Posted on October 28, 2016 by annetbell

Image result for images of car hitting a deer

Tuesday night after I dropped off my  granddaughter Alice, a deer ran out in front of my car  in the rural area where my daughter lives. The first thing  I saw was the head of the doe on the passenger’s side front above the headlight  and then the strong bump.  Thank God that was all. I didn’t drive off the road or  have the deer hit  through the windshield.  There was no place to pull over, so I just went on home.  I didn’t see much damage in the near dark light when I got there, and was  feeling quite blessed.

Yesterday in the daylight, the situation was  different.  The car in the pictures  above is not my car but it had some similar damage.  My damage was  not so dramatic, though.   There was a crack in my bumper, some separation, hair from the deer along the side, and small light cover gone.  I went to my mechanic, Paul Brown who does fine work.    He, after a quick look estimated at least $1000.  A thousand dollars? Well, I could be so much worse. . .  no fault is blamed on the driver, their was no accident involved with another car, I was unhurt. . . .

I went for an estimate  which was just over $1000. . . . good job Paul.  I received a check, and our policy contains  car rental.  I am just waiting for room in the schedule when all the new parts are assembled. My car seems to be fine to drive with no leaks under the car.

Deer are a huge problem around here. I had posted a blog about a doe in the center of town during thing summer. They are forever eating gardens, flowers especially day lilies as well as searching for  drinking water.  A friend  said, ” They should be killed to be eaten, of course!”

The wife of a colleague  of my husband  was in the hospital for a long time after such an accident.  I have always wondered how hunters could kill such gentle animals.  I will never forget this deer who rushed out of the dark of night to me, and not too warmly.

Here is a  thank you to my insurance company, GEICO by showing one of their clever commercials which will be familiar to people in the US, but new, I think, for my friends abroad.

This makes me smile every time I see it with perfect casting and accident!

 

 

 

 

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