мавзолей на Георги Димитров

For my friends in the USA, a really good documentary (26 minutes) about Bulgaria (circa 2003).

уиски, сода, рок енд рол

After a few vodkas, a certain Russian friend -Yuri- sings this to me...

Friday dog blogging

Europe according to Bulgaria

Лука 16:19-31

Имаше някой си богаташ, който се обличаше в мораво и висон, и всеки ден се веселеше бляскаво. Имаше и един сиромах, на име Лазар, покрит със струпеи, когото туряха да лежи пред портата му,
като желаеше да се нахрани от падналото от трапезата на богаташа; и кучетата дохождаха та лижеха раните му. Умря сиромахът; и ангелите го занесоха в Авраамовото лоно. Умря и богаташа и бе погребан. И в пъкъла, като беше на мъки и подигна очи, видя отдалеч Авраама и Лазаря в неговите обятия. И той извика, казвайки: Отче Аврааме, смили се за мене, и изпрати Лазара да натопи края на пръста си във вода и да разхлади езика ми; защото съм на мъки в тоя пламък.
Но Авраам рече: Синко, спомни си, че ти си получил своите блага приживе, така и Лазар злините; но сега той тук се утешава, а ти се мъчиш. И освен всичко това, между нас и вас е утвърдена голяма бездна, така че ония, които биха искали да минат оттук към вас, да не могат, нито пък оттам да преминат към нас. А той рече: Като е тъй, моля ти се, отче, да го пратиш в бащиния ми дом; защото имам петима братя, за да им засвидетелствува, да не би да дойдат и те на това мъчително място. Но Авраам каза: Имат Мойсея и пророците; нека слушат тях. А той рече: Не, отче Аврааме, но ако отиде при тях някой от мъртвите, ще се покаят. И той му каза: Ако не слушат Моисея и пророците, то и от мъртвите да възкръсне някой, пак няма да се убедят.

Chambliss aide leaves threatening message on blog

Chambliss wouldn't serve in Vietnam. Now his aides are posting death threats against supporters of revocation of DADT. Chambliss was a draft dodger. Maybe his personal sense of inadequacy and moral cowardice compels him to bash gay people who want to serve. I hope police deal with the death threat posted by Chambliss aide on blog Joe.My.God.

Luke 16:19-31

Probably the best commentary I've seen on this pericope.

Don't Ask Don't Tell ruled unconstitutional

A federal judge has ruled that DADT is unconstitutional. A Federal Judge in California has ruled that the ban on gays in the military violates the Constitutional rights of gay and lesbian soldiers to due process and to freedom of expression. District Court Judge Virginia Phillips -- a Clinton appointee -- also wrote that the policy has had a "deleterious effect" on the military and issued an injunction restraining the military from enforcing the policy, though the government may appeal. The Log Cabin Republicans filed the lawsuit against Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Phillips cited in her ruling the Obama administration's desultory defense. "[D]efendants called no witnesses, put on no affirmative case, and only entered into evidence the legislative history of the act," she wrote.

lectionary blogging

At first, I struggled to see a connection between the Gospel, Epistle, and Old Testament lessons. The Gospel and Epistle are about the experience of being lost then found. Jeremiah details a landscape of utter destruction, but concludes his prophecy with the line, "yet I will not make a full end." (verse 27) The utter desolation (literally a reversal of creation) in Jeremiah ends with a note of muted hope. Mindful of recent natural disasters and on a weekend anniversary of 9/11 this reading from Jeremiah is important. All three readings deal with mercy and redemption from being helplessly and hopelessly lost. St. Gregory of Nyssa wrote, "When the shepherd found the sheep he did not punish it. He did not bring it back to the flock by driving it before him, but by placing on his own shoulders and bearing it with gentleness." We have been the objects of gentle divine mercy, we ought to go and do likewise.

Muqtedar Khan

"Where books are burned in the end people will burn." - Heinrich Heine

Muqtedar Khan, Associate professor, political science and international relations; Fellow of the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding, speaks about Koran burning. This is probably the best commentary I've read on this subject.

Gov. Jan Brewer speaketh

More video of Governor Jan Brewer emerges.

Feast of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne

The British are considering him as a new national patron saint. Scotland has St. Andrew. Wales has St. David, England has St. George, and Ireland has St. Patrick.