1. Book Review: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. If you've not read this one, I thought it was mesmerizing. The author (first book) was able to describe so vividly the scenes, the emotions, and the action that I feel I was actually there. I'm pretty snooty about "real" books (I can read cheap hack stuff and enjoy it, but when looking at a "major" book, I'm very critical) and I found almost nothing about which to complain. It's not a happy smiley feel-good type of book, so if you're looking for warm fuzzies, this ain't it. I'd actually characterize it as "literature".
2. Movie Review: Australia. It's like the filmmaker decided to combine Gone With the Wind, Giant, Pearl Harbor, and the Thorn Birds into one movie---and it's about as long as if he just spliced them together. Let's see, we have a brave young woman of privilege, thrust into the wild environment of the Australian Outback, fighting valiantly to save her station (plantation in Australian...); she's saved by the handsome rogue, who winds up cleaning up nicely (all GWTW); there's an isolated station in a grand setting, with wealth, and people hostile to the young heroine (Giant); the handsome rogue is conflicted (Giant, Thorn Birds); there's cattle droving, love under the stars, death and destruction, and an entire subplot about the aborigines and their world---then the Japs attack and bomb the place (Pearl Harbor).
All in all, it's a decent expenditure of $9.50, but be aware that you are going to have to sit through 3 hours of movie, so watch the consumption of "Giant" sized cokes.
>>o<<
I know I have the wrong attitude, but re: "Episcopal Split as Conservatives form New Group"...well, buh-bye. Enjoy your trip into oblivion.
I grew up Baptist; the Baptists have splintered so many times there are literally thousands of Baptist traditions now. Splintering off is not going to get you anything but oblivion. One of the strengths of the Episcopal church has been hanging together in the face of disagreements. If they want to leave, well, buh-bye.
Oh, one more thing: you know all those great church buildings and property, some of which are in really expensive downtown areas, some of which have tremendous improvements (million dollar pipe organs and the like)? Um, they belong lock, stock, and barrel to the Episcopal Church, NOT to the individual congregations. (Before you start trying to elicit sympathy from others ("They took our church away from us!") remember how you PAID for it in the first place---you DIDN'T, Church Finance Corp did.
"But we made improvements". Real Estate law in every state indicates that improvements permanently installed go with the property and become the property of the owner (not the person who paid for the installation).
So be sure and give us the keys on your way out the door to wherever it is you're going to meet next week. We'll have priests in place and new congregations grown where you left. Oh, and the name stays with the Episcopal Church, too. So, if you were, say, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, you don't have the right to that name. You can be St. Peter's something-or-other church, but the original name is a property right.
Have fun in your new life, and don't forget to turn the lights out on your way out the door. We'll get the electricity changed into our name.
I grew up Baptist; the Baptists have splintered so many times there are literally thousands of Baptist traditions now. Splintering off is not going to get you anything but oblivion. One of the strengths of the Episcopal church has been hanging together in the face of disagreements. If they want to leave, well, buh-bye.
Oh, one more thing: you know all those great church buildings and property, some of which are in really expensive downtown areas, some of which have tremendous improvements (million dollar pipe organs and the like)? Um, they belong lock, stock, and barrel to the Episcopal Church, NOT to the individual congregations. (Before you start trying to elicit sympathy from others ("They took our church away from us!") remember how you PAID for it in the first place---you DIDN'T, Church Finance Corp did.
"But we made improvements". Real Estate law in every state indicates that improvements permanently installed go with the property and become the property of the owner (not the person who paid for the installation).
So be sure and give us the keys on your way out the door to wherever it is you're going to meet next week. We'll have priests in place and new congregations grown where you left. Oh, and the name stays with the Episcopal Church, too. So, if you were, say, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, you don't have the right to that name. You can be St. Peter's something-or-other church, but the original name is a property right.
Have fun in your new life, and don't forget to turn the lights out on your way out the door. We'll get the electricity changed into our name.
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