Daily Buddhist Wisdom | |||
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A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:
Via JMG: Houston's Mayor On Log Cabin
"I do think it's important for GLBTs to stay engaged in both parties. But not at that at the price of your self-respect and dignity. And it is great to be a gay Republican and to say, 'My party has left me behind. I can't support it this time until they get on the right track. I support this, this and this issue as a Republican, but until they treat me personally, and my relationships, fairly, I can't support them.' Anything else is, frankly, self-hating." - Openly lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker, speaking to Michelangelo Signorile.
Via JMG: New Edition Of Monopoly Honors Gay Computer Genius Alan Turing
Thanks in part to Google, Alan Turing, widely consider to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, has been honored with a special version of Monopoly. Turing, who committed suicide in 1954 after being sentenced to chemical castration for being gay, would have been 100 years this year.
The board's London landmarks, and its Community and Chance cards, have been swapped for places and events important in Turing's life. Players can move their pieces from his birthplace in Maida Vale to Hut 8 at Bletchley Park. Search giant Google has bought 1,000 of the sets and donated them to Bletchley Park to help raise funds. The board of the special edition is based on a hand-drawn variant of Monopoly created by William Newman in 1950. William was the son of scientist Max Newman who was a key figure in Turing's life. The hand-drawn version was thought to have been lost but was rediscovered in 2011 and donated to the Bletchley Park museum soon after.Bletchley Park Museum writes in a press release:
“Bringing this board to life has been one of the most exciting and unique projects we’ve been involved with here, and we’re thrilled to see it finally available for others to enjoy,” said Iain Standen, CEO of the Bletchley Park Trust. “This edition really completes the fantastic story of the board, from it being played on by Turing (and his losing on it!), to it going missing and then being rediscovered and donated to the museum here. Of course, we’re also very proud that Bletchley Park adorns the ‘Mayfair’ square!” Peter Griffin, Development Director EMEA, Winning Moves, added, “We hope fans of Turing across the globe will enjoy playing on this very special edition of Monopoly. Through play, they will find out more about Turing’s remarkable life and his crucial role shaping the society we enjoy today. As an ex-student of Kings College, where Turing himself studied, this was an honour to help develop.”Pre-order Alan Turing Monopoly. (Tipped by JMG reader Alan.)
Via Tricylce: Tuesday: Remembering September 11
Eleven
years ago the United States was shook to its core by a terrorist attack
of unprecedented scale. At the time, in response to the tragic events,
Tricycle released in its next issue a special section—"September 11,
Practices and Perspectives"—that shared Buddhist teachings on how to
face the nation's acute suffering with patience and compassion. Join us
this Tuesday in revisiting the section in remembrance of a tragedy we
will never forget.
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma September 10, 2012
No Reason to be Unhappy
Whether
we are suffering at present or have suffered in the past, there is no
reason to be unhappy. If we can remedy it, then why be unhappy? And if
we cannot, there's no use in being unhappy about it—it's just one more
thing to be unhappy about, which serves no purpose at all.
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- H.H. the Dalai Lama, "Enduring the Fires"
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma September 8, 2012
Enjoy Just Sitting
Whatever
technique one is using, remember that the spirit of practice is more
important than the technique. Finding a way to enjoy just sitting is
key. Sitting meditation is a refuge, not a test.
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- Narayan Liebenson Grady, "The Refuge of Sitting"
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma September 9, 2012
The Poignancy of this Fleeting Moment
Awareness
itself is the primary currency of the human condition, and as such it
deserves to be spent carefully. Sitting quietly in a serene environment,
letting go of the various petty disturbances that roil and diminish
consciousness, and experiencing as fully as possible the poignancy of
this fleeting moment—this is an enterprise of deep intrinsic value, an
aesthetic experience beyond words.
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Friday, September 7, 2012
2 From Gay Politics Report:
- LGBT participation soars at Democratic convention
The Democratic National Convention featured a record number of openly LGBT convention delegates, key speaking roles for out elected officials and the adoption of a party platform supporting marriage equality. "I have certainly never attended a convention where visibility is as significant as it has been at this convention. There is amazing progress to celebrate," said Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., a candidate for the U.S. Senate who was given a prime time speaking role Thursday night. Other out convention speakers included Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., and Andrew Tobias, treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/5), The Washington Post/The Associated Press (9/4), GayPolitics.com (9/6), Washington Blade (Washington, D.C.) (9/5), BuzzFeed (9/4)
- First lady fires up LGBT delegates
First lady Michelle Obama spoke at a luncheon honoring openly LGBT elected officials and Democratic National Convention delegates in Charlotte, N.C., this week, thanking attendees for their activism. “I want to thank you for doing everything that you do every single day to lift up our communities and move this country forward, and ensure that all Americans are treated fairly no matter who they are or who they love,” Obama said. The event was co-sponsored by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (9/5), Advocate.com (9/5)
Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:
Daily Buddhist Wisdom | |||
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma September 7, 2012
Many Ways Up the Mountain
There
are many ways up the mountain, but each of us must choose a practice
that feels true to his own heart. It is not necessary for you to
evaluate the practices chosen by others.
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- Jack Kornfield, "Take the One Seat"
Via The Pragmatic Progressive FB Page:
"If you reject the notion that this nation’s promise is reserved for the few, your voice must be heard in this election.
If you reject the notion that our government is forever beholden to the highest bidder, you need to stand up in this election.
If you believe that new plants and factories can dot our landscape; that new energy can power our future; that new schools can provide ladders of opportunity to this nation of dreamers; if you believe in a country where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules, then I need you to vote this November." — Barack Obama
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Via JMG: Barney Frank Slams Log Cabin
"Frankly I’ve been appalled to see the Log Cabin club, in the face of this worse and worse record on public policy by Republicans on our issues. Mr. Cooper said, ‘Well at least they’re not saying bad things about us.' That’s just extraordinary. Again, 30 years ago when we were emerging from the vice of prejudice, I understood that. But no, we shouldn’t be accepting a kind of second class citizenship, [and saying], ‘You can treat us badly as long you don’t yell at us.’
"They’re accepted on [the GOP's] terms. They’re willing to be accepted with no rights -- no right to marry, no right to serve in the military, no right to be protected against hate crimes, no right to be protected in employment. I’ll be honest: For 20 years now I’ve heard how the Log Cabins are going to make Republicans better, but they’ve only gotten worse. I now understand why they call themselves Log Cabin: their role model is Uncle Tom." -Rep. Barney Frank, speaking today on Michelangelo Signorile's show at the DNC.
Via AmericaBlog Gay: Why it's a huge deal that Michelle Obama endorsed gay marriage in her convention speech
Last night, during her keynote address at the Democratic Convention, First Lady Michelle Obama, in so many words, endorsed marriage equality:
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