2017-06-17T08:37:58-07:00

Last updated on: June 17, 2017 at 8:37 am   By

The immortal James Weldon Johnson was born on this day, the 17th of June, in 1871 in Jacksonville, Florida. I think of him as one of those wonderful examples where genius rises despite astonishing obstacles. Against a backdrop of terrible racism and bigotry he made a life. Johnson was at various times in his remarkable life a poet, educator, lawyer, diplomat, songwriter, and always, an activist. He was never interested in his success alone. James Weldon Johnson’s writings included the Autobiography of an... Read more

2017-06-22T13:10:09-07:00

Last updated on: June 22, 2017 at 1:10 pm   By

Buddhism, while continuing to interest religious liberals, continued to be misunderstood throughout the 19th century. Read more

2017-06-15T10:57:27-07:00

Last updated on: June 15, 2017 at 10:57 am   By

It was on this day in 1922 that Bessie Coleman received her pilot’s license. An American hero, and one we should all know a little more about. Bessie was born on this day, the 26th of January,1892, in Atlanta, Texas. Her parents were illiterate sharecroppers. Facing unimaginable obstacles she strove for excellence. Bessie was able to obtain some university education, but poverty prevented her from finishing. She became interested in flying. She also saw that while no flying school in... Read more

2017-06-14T16:20:53-07:00

Last updated on: June 14, 2017 at 4:20 pm   By

It was fifty-one years ago today the the Vatican announced it had abolished the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the Index of Prohibited Books. The Index can be traced, at least spiritually to the 9th century and the Decretum Glassianum. And, as the book we know and love since 1559. It would go through twenty editions, the last in 1948. It would come to an end on the 14th of Jun, 1966, when Pope Paul VI abolished publishing an official list of... Read more

2017-06-13T22:16:05-07:00

Last updated on: June 13, 2017 at 10:16 pm   By

According to the good folk at Wikipedia it was on this day in the year 313 that the Edict of Milan extended religious tolerance to Christianity. Now, as it happened, it was simply a marker on the shifting of who was persecuting and who was persecuted. But, the idea is a nice one. I have friends who disdain toleration. They want something else. Often the term is celebration. I think that’s asking for way too much. We have a right... Read more

2017-06-12T07:59:49-07:00

Last updated on: June 12, 2017 at 7:59 am   By

The plot of Radio Dreams is simple enough. A Farsi language radio station in San Francisco has made a booking coup, well beyond its normal range. They’re bringing the heavy metal band Metallica to jam with Kabul Dreams, an Afghani rock band. The story turns on that single day as the hours extend on and Metallica does not show up. It captures perfectly an immigrant community filled with hopes and constraints, and perhaps living more into the constraints. But, Radio... Read more

2017-06-11T13:33:19-07:00

Last updated on: June 11, 2017 at 1:33 pm   By

ZEN AND A HOLY TRINITY A Zen Priest Meditates on the Vagaries of Love James Ishmael Ford Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto... Read more

2017-06-10T08:40:14-07:00

Last updated on: June 10, 2017 at 8:40 am   By

Edwin Arnold was born on this day, the 10th of June, 1832 at Kent, in England. A graduate of University College, Oxford,  his early promise as a poet won him the 1852 Newdigate prize. Upon graduation Arnold became a schoolmaster. After a few years serving in England he accepted a position as principal at the Government Sanskrit College in Poona, India. Arnold was there for seven years, which included the great mutiny of 1857. He returned to England, working as... Read more

2017-06-08T17:31:41-07:00

Last updated on: June 8, 2017 at 5:31 pm   By

It was on this day, the 9th of June, in 1934 that Donald Duck made his premiere with the toon the Wise Little Hen. I understand we don’t get the more fully developed short tempered duck until later in the year with Orphan’s Benefit. Mental Floss offers some tidbits, including the assertion of an alternative birthday. I don’t care. I’m sticking with today. I’ve been unable to find the actual origin, I’m sure it must be a marketing scheme by... Read more

2017-06-08T08:12:28-07:00

Last updated on: June 8, 2017 at 8:12 am   By

      Asking for a friend. Please tell me in the comments… Read more

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