Dragons of Romania

Dragons of Romania

^{Official Blog of the Dragon/Human Alliance}

Humans and Dragons United

for the Preservation of our Planet

Regular contributors to this Blog, along with several other dragons, are Lumea Veche, ancient teacher of the dragons and his student Tanarul, whose stories can be found in the Dragons of Romania Book Series.

Our principle human content providers are Lucian of Romania and Makeda of Ethiopia. American correspondents include Dan Peeler and Charlie Rose, who chronicle the efforts of Lumea and his tireless companions.

Lucian of Romania is the original human founder of the Dragon/Human Alliance. His recollections of his association with dragons are written both in the English language and in Romanian, for the benefit of our readers. Not all dragons understand English, but all of them speak Romanian.

Latest from Lucian

The first dragon I ever met in person was my dear Cosmina. She is a grand daughter of the famous dragon from the St. George stories. Cosmina is an Argus Dragon, named after the Greek monster Argus, who had a hundred eyes. Her species has many glowing eye patterns on their wings. I had been walking in the woods the day we met. Cosmina found me lying unconscious under a tree. I had stepped in a hole and had hit my head on a rock. When I woke up all I could see was a cave full of glowing eyes. Then she folded her wings and I saw that I was in the presence of a very ferocious-looking Dragon. I was terrified. (To be continued)

Noutăți de la Lucian

Noutăți de la Lucian: Primul dragon pe care l-am întâlnit în realitate a fost draga mea Cosmina. Ea este strănepoata dragonului din cunoscuta poveste a Sf. Gheorghe. Cosmina este un dragon Argus, numit după monstrul grec Argus, care avea o suta de ochi. So, Specia ei are multe modele diferite de ochi pe aripi. Mă plimbam prin pădure în ziua în care ne-am cunoscut. Cosmina m-a găsit întins pe iarba fără cunoștință. Am călcat într-o groapa și m-am lovit la cap. Când m-am trezit tot ce puteam vedea era o peșteră plină de ochi strălucitori. Apoi și-a îndoit aripile și mi-am dat seama ca sunt în prezența unui dragon înspăimântător. Eram terifiat. (Va continua)

Tanarul

By Makeda of Ethiopia, founding Member of the Dragon/Human Allaince

When I was a little girl, growing up in Ethiopia, I would never have dreamed that someday a dragon would ask me to write his story on a blogspot. Tanarul is far too humble to write anything about himself. He prefers to express his thoughts and feelings through his art. I love looking at all of his sketches of the many members of his dragon family. He draws all of them in claw-and-ink. Actually, I should say “claw and black dragon blood.” Dragons are really dedicated to their art.

Tanarul is about two hundred years old. I know that sounds ancient to humans, but he’s very young for a dragon. His species can live thousands or even millions of years. He is a great friend to humans. He really enjoys our company since we look at him as our older and wiser advisor. The elder dragons consider him to be a child, but dragons do show a lot of respect to their children.

I first met Tanarul in Romania at the meeting of the Cave of the Dragons two years ago. I was there with my friend Lucian and several other human guests at a meeting of the Council of Dragons. It was at that meeting when he and Lucian came up with the idea of forming the Dragon/Human Alliance.

There are a lot of things I like about Tanarul. He’s very brave, he’s a good detective and he’s pretty funny. If I had to choose what I like about him best, though, it would be his compassion. He grieves for any of his friends who might be in any trouble, and he grieves for the planet, itself. He wants it to be well again, just like I do. In his travels with Lumea Veche, Tanarul has seen, first hand, all the problems that we humans have caused in the ecology, and he wants to do something about it. I think he will!

Lumea Veche

By Vladimir of the Dacian Dragons, Storyteller and Historian

There is not a dragon in the world who has not heard of Lumea Veche, and many of them know him personally. That’s not an exaggeration. Considering my friend Lumea was born in the Cretaceous Era and has always done a lot of traveling, he has met just about every dragon on the planet. A great number of them have been his students, and have joined him in his world tours, to learn about the vast numbers of species in our large family.

I met Lumea when I was young, myself, about 1,800 years ago, but in spite of the differences in our ages, we have become close friends. His recollections of cavorting with his Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus neighbors have become the source of my best stories. The thing that I admire the most about Lumea, however, is not his age, but his wisdom. I’ve heard him say many times that Wisdom is not always the constant companion of Age, but in his case, it is.

Lumea has to be the most respected member of our large family of dragons. He is known to most of them as The Professor, the ultimate dispenser of wisdom, but Lumea has no use for titles and praise. The truly wise among us never do.

For years, after the human population began multiplying a causing trouble for both themselves and dragons, Lumea thought it best for dragons to keep their distance from the world of people.  He was quite satisfied with being considered a myth. He had no doubt they would eventually go the way of the dinosaurs and dragons would enjoy a peaceful planet again.

But about two years ago, thanks to his student, Tanarul, Lumea changed his mind. With his support, the Dragon/Human Alliance was born.

Seriously GRAY matter

So....first entry in a while. Just thinking about colors.

I started noticing something about colors a long time ago. I used to despise beige and gray. I thought who would have ever decided walls need to be gray or tan or some other neutral color. Now I get it. Give me a William Alexander (famous PBS TV artist/instructor) moment. Art 101. Grays make colors POP. But the lesson doesn't stop there. Watch any old B&W TV show or movie; Casablanca, I Love Lucy, Superman, The Lone Ranger--or the greatest crossover from Sepia to Technicolor, The Wizard of Oz. Superman's costume in the B&W episodes wasn't red and blue. It was a couple shades of tan and brown

The world of B&W/grays is full of wonderful tones that mix and match beautifully. And what does high contrast + grays do for the story? Doesn't it make everything seem to be precisely planned.....each scene is easier to 'read' as our minds are not as confused with too much information. We tend to process only what's important; the picture story flows like a river. That's the moving picture in B&W.

What about natural light? I'm experimenting with grays and blue grays lately. I noticed after a good rain, the sun came out just before sunset. The sky was still mostly gray, but the sunlight glow was a bright yellow. The yellow street light was more vivid than normal. And the greens were saturated--grass, trees, and bushes were technicolor green. A true magic hour.

I had my office painted last year. I had chosen a couple colors but before anything was done, I got a beautiful shade of a cool gray primer on every wall. I almost couldn't paint over it. It was so incredible how the other colors in my office even the wood tones seem to jump out. I lived with that for a day or so and hated to see the gray go away, but it did. Someday I'll go back.

Vampire bats, Popeye and Vitamin K

I am not a doctor nor have a played one on TV. But I am a vitamin taker..or at least I used to be. I still have my favorites chewable Vitamin c, Vitamin E, cinnamon bark extract and so on. But I recently heard of an affect a certain vitamin has that i think everybody should be aware of because it is THAT serious.

Vitamin K is one of those among many, but I just want to clear my mind of this blog subject so I can move on.

A friend recently had been diagnosed with "minor blood clots" found in his lungs. Minor being "non-life threatening, at least not in the immediate future. The doctors said they can prescribe anti-coagulants to help thin his blood and then begin to regulate it for an exact viscosity which I guess they know for certain. Once they got him started on the anticoagulants, they gave him a list of foods which contain Vitamin K.

What is Vitamin K and what does it do? Basically Vitamin K is the nutrient that makes green leafy, vegetables green. I'll stop here for a minute and say that I always thought eating spinach just like Popeye was supposed to be a good thing for everybody. Not so. In fact, for anyone who might be prone to their blood clotting for whatever reason should in fact be careful of eating too much of a good thing. So my friend gets a long list of stuff containing Vitamin K and told to eat only a certain amount a week, once they determined the anti-coagulants, which by the way happen to be bat saliva which, you guessed it, makes a decent blood anti-coagulant. My friend, who also happened to be knowledgeable in Latin read the name on the label and asked the nurse....."Wait a second is that bat spit, you're putting into me?!"

I begin asking lots of questions about what's good to eat, what's not, etc. One thing became clear to me what's good for one person may not necessarily be good for another. In other words, we shouldn't go around self-prescribing or worse telling everybody else what they should eat, what vitamins they should take and so on.

There is a cool website, in fact lots of them which offer lists of foods, nutrients, etc. and as someone once said, everything in moderation.

The cool thing is that they regulate the effect of the medicine by re-introducing a small portion of veggies back into his system. So instead of raising or lowering the dosage of meds, which he has to be on the rest of his life, they actually say eat x-amount of green beans this week, or broccoli or whatever.

Basic rule of thumb--perhaps it's a good thing to not self-prescribe or consume just anything without knowing what it does...or worse, prescribe to others something you "feel" will be their next wonder nutrient.

Ironically, we had been eating items anyone can purchase at organic food chains such as barley powder, potassium supplements and drinks. Things I thought of as safe for anyone and can make anyone feel better. But I count myself as a lucky one who learned soon enough that all the vitamin taking I had been telling my friend to take for the last 20 or so years was not doing him a bit o' good. In fact, had they not caught it in time, those blood clots could have created worse damage or even death.

Read the labels. Don't eat just anything a cartoon character tells you to eat. Read labels. Ask your doctor. Find out the facts. Read the labels. Google it! This information contained herein is not to be used to prevent or cure any disease. In fact, I'd check with your own doctor to find out if Popeye has been telling the truth after all these years.

LIfe is short play...hard? more? less?

We've all the phrase "Life is short, play hard" and other variations and it is true.

We make friends; we lose them. We keep in touch. We lose contact. We reconnect. It seems like an insane cycle in which quality is lost and gained; then a sudden something jars us back into reality. We wake up and find new inspiration to live better, do more and be happy...or shouldn't we?

That's happened to me more than once in this life. Life is like a painting, a long series of corrections if you pay attention. The surprises have come to me when I'm not paying attention. Having lost family members, co-workers, associates and friends over the years, experiencing the loss of someone through death is always profound either a little or a lot.

What do you do when you get a jolt back to carving out the crap of life and making a renewed focus on quality? Follow your bliss....follow your bliss....follow your bliss...and start by

1. Be okay when you've lost contact with friends and know they represent the other half of the equation.

2. If there is someone or a group of people you want to be in contact with, make the effort, do the work. Good friends will be glad you called and you will be glad.

3. When making new quality friends, "quality" is the key. Make sure that's what they are after too. If not move on.....you have better things to do.

4. It's not just about other people, take care of yourself and give yourself "permission" to do things you want to do. Start by thinking of what it is you would like to have accomplished by the end of your life and start doing them. Otherwise, you are the only one that will have the regret in the end.

5. Live life with no regrets and therefore no fear. The world of media and commerce is bent on creating a need often by instilling the "fear of" the "something unknown, if you don't act now." Get rid of that feeling of dread now. It serves no one except Madison Avenue. The world is more than just commerce. Human beings are more than just commerce.

6. Love recklessly and enjoy the people you are with.

7. Go! Start today. Make a plan but don't get bogged down in the details. Just...GO!

OOooooohhhh, Charlene!

Personal note: We just celebrated our dear friend, Tony Perrett's memorial. He was far too young, but he lived large and celebrated each moment. Today, I found his last email to me from 2007. Thank God I'm a pack rat, even with email. I'm also grateful we had spoken since then but this is our Tony (on the left) at his all time best.....the way he should be remembered. At the very least, he deserves an eternal spotlight on a world-wide blog. His partner Ryo is on the right; neighbors in the center. There is to be another memorial in New York March 19, 2010, one day after his 51st birthday. I'm sure he'll be there.

Anthony Craig "Tony" Perrett
March 18, 1959 - December 22, 2009

07-17-2007

Helllooooo Charlene-

Hope this finds you well and happy!!! I hear Dallas is now Seattle! Are you considering living on an ark? I see your home address is new? When did you move?

Not much to report here…I LOVE New York…and I still LOVE my job! I see lots of theatre-which you know makes me happy! I have new found passion too and that’s Opera…I guess it comes with age! (as you might have guessed, I’m pushing 50)…Can you believe 70% of the music on my Ipod is opera? Of course the rest is show tunes…some things never change!

We bought a condo last year and finally moved in this past April in Brooklyn…we love it! The view is spectacular and it’s ours! Much better than throwing that money away on outrageous New York rent!

This Thursday Ryo and I celebrate our 4 year Anniversary; can you believe he’s put up with my shit for that long? He’s a Saint!!!

Are you and Alvaro still together?

Seen any of our friends? Anyone we know?

We should get together some time when I am in Big D….

Kisses to ya!

Tony

PS. The photo is Ryo and I with our crazy new neighbors at my last work party! Ryo’s the one in the hat! I’m the old one!

My Brain: A Visual

Recent art piece...I say "recent" as in the last couple years. Try navigating in here. (points to head) UPDATE: It's now 2024. Things have calmed down. Life is simpler....somewhat!

Googie Art: Bowl-A-Rama Coffee Shop

Here's a link but don't stop there. Googie lovers, that is, people who love Mid-20th Century architecture and design, will love to take a walk down Retro Avenue and see what you've been missing. If you like it, you'll be there for hours, perhaps even days. Grab a snack now.

http://www.lileks.com/

The style of the 1950s and 60s has a look all its own. The cool thing is these roadside images were meant to be seen from your car. They had to be spectacles and you had to be overwhelmed with desire to stop. Before there were an insane numbers of chain restaurants, chain hotels, chain EVERYTHING, there were unique one-of-a-kind little eateries, which are now so rare.

By the late 60s, these places seem to disappear, although there still exist a few, across the USA, but especially in Southern California...but you have to be looking for that certain neon sign or crazy-angled rooftop.

Some time ago, I decided to make an attempt to preserve this style and create some googie art signs which I hope will be a respectful tribute and appreciation of our retro future past. I've gone crazy with my new love, named Googie.

Synesthesia Part 2

There are very distinct smells that go along with other childhood memories. Three favorite brand name smells are Crayola™ Crayons, grape Koolaid/ grape flavored candy, Hershey's chocolate.

A couple non-brand name  smells are Kindergarten class construction paper and tempera paint. At Six Flags, where I worked as a teenager, the smell of creosol  near the train tracks was somehow always a happy smell...at least on a cool day.

Last year I blogged about favorite smells and flavors at Christmas time. I remember we would stick our heads in our Christmas stockings and take a big whiff of all the mixed up smells. The olfactory combination contained oranges, peppermints, Hershey kisses (yeah...I LOVE chocolate), walnuts, Klondike bars, Junior Mints, small wrapped packages (cellophane tape?) and finally, the smell of the bright red flannel stocking itself.

Grapheme Synesthesia

For the longest time I can remember I have associated single digit numbers with colors. I don't know why this happened, but the colors for the numbers 0 through 9 have never changed since my childhood.

Imagine my surprise when a friend told me there was a name for it. Synesthesia, he said. Wow. There's a word for everything, even things that seem to be nonsense-nobody-else-experiences these things but me stuff.

So for the world to see...or at least a handful of followers, I've attached the image that I created following my personal synesthetic number-color arrangement.

0= White
1= Black
2= Red
3= Orange
4= Green
5= Yellow
6= Red -or- sometimes Maroon
7= Cobalt Blue -to- Violet
8= Caramel Brown (don't ask me why, but it is a certain hue of brown I see)
9= Maroon (the same as 6 which makes sense to me)

I also included certain colors which appear in my mind to alternate from time to time.
The most solid or consistent associations are 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8
My remaining wishy-washy color numbers are  6, 7, 9

Who else does this? Jiggins?

Wiki quote: definition for this type of synesthesia follows. See full link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia

Grapheme → color synesthesia

Main article: Grapheme-color synesthesia

In one of the most common forms of synesthesia, grapheme → color synesthesia, individual letters of the alphabet and numbers (collectively referred to as graphemes), are "shaded" or "tinged" with a color. While different individuals usually do not report the same colors for all letters and numbers, studies with large numbers of synesthetes find some commonalities across letters (e.g., A is likely to be red).^[19][21]
As a child, Pat Duffy told her Dad, "I realized that to make an R all I had to do was first write a P and draw a line down from its loop. And I was so surprised that I could turn a yellow letter into an orange letter just by adding a line." Another grapheme synesthete says, "When I read, about five words around the exact one I'm reading are in color. It's also the only way I can spell. In elementary school I remember knowing how to spell the word 'priority' [with an "i" rather than an "e"] because ... an 'e' was out of place in that word because e's were yellow and didn't fit."^[26]
"

Jonny Quest Exotica

I just heard that Zac Efron will be playing the classic Hanna-Barbera character Jonny Quest. The first thing that comes to mind is how "pretty" young Mr. Efron is and how Jonny Quest the boy, let alone the concept, is anything but pretty.

In the early 1960s, Hanna-Barbera ventured into prime-time TV. The big deal was the adult following for shows like the Flintstones, The Jetsons and perhaps even Top Cat...PLUS they matched their adult audience by equally adult sponsors, such as cigarette companies who had Fred and Barney smoking with the likes of Lucy Ricardo ....business as usual.

These were obviously different times, but no way will we ever see Spongebob and Patrick smoking a Camel. I digress. Jonny Quest was designed for family viewing, but with a distinctly different approach than your average bear cartoon. Let me say this was a couple years before Gene Roddenberry followed suit incorporating likely sci-fi elements into his new Star Trek series. But Jonny Quest was an "all boy" adventure. No girls allowed.

Traveling the danger-filled globe with his father Benton Quest, his body guard and tutor, Roger "Race" Bannon, best friend Hadji and comic-relief canine, Bandit, we get a front row seat to Jonny's life as the home-schooled, privaledged youth. His story is clearly one which fit into the era in which it was produced. An unlikely boy's story for today. Which brings me full circle....Jonny Quest isn't pretty.

No matter. We're about to get an update and I wanted to give my 2 pennies on the subject.

First, if there is a director I would anme as "best-suited" for the job, my choice would be, Brad Bird (Iron Giant, The Incredibles). Hello? Talk about saving our jet-packed, retro futures, Bird has successfully recreated an updated "feel" for the past while keeping our 21st Century  gadgetry in the picture. It seems a natural choice too since we would not have had the Incredibles, without Jonny Quest. Am I the only 1960s geek who cares about this? Ummm...I doubt it. Zac Efron may work for an older Jonny, who knows. But give us our adventure with someone who respects the.....I hate this word......"property."

Hollywood is brutal. Taking classic concepts and recreating, that is, squeezing the life out of them is old hat. Everything is always about the next quick buck. Hollywood can give us a Zac Efron Jonny Quest. Quest fans may or may not get their jet packs, energy beasts and one-eyed spider spies snd it may not be too late to consider Brad Bird....but for God's sake, give us a decent story filled with as many Quest-isms as you can!

I guess that was more like 3 cents.

Hi Diddle Riddler

Just finished some art that has been floating around in my head for some time. Frank Gorshin is the Riddler, but in life he did so much more. Riddler was tough on his career but it was one of those things that probably also made it. This is my tribute to my favorite villain. But I have to admit, the big four all run hand-in-hand. Cesar Romero's Joker, Julie Newmar's AND Eartha Kitts Catwoman and nobody could top Burgess "Buzz" Meredith's Penguin.

All were top of their game.

Franciscan TIKI Starburst

Okay......I got all jazzed up about the idea so here it is. What can I say. Retro, pop, futuristic + Tiki.

Franciscan Starburst as art

Recently, I discovered for the first time a set of China I had seen before, but never appreciated for it's futuristic simplicity and quality 1950s kitsch appeal. My friends have come along for the ride. So with all the retro modern popularity being as "hip" as it is, I couldn't be having more fun.

Coming soon, Starburst + Tiki!

Oh yes!

Favorite new pet names

Our church recently had a blessing of the animals AKA Feast of St Francis. I missed the event due to a family emergency, but my friend was kind enough to tell me the most unique cat names he had heard from a very sweet older woman who brought her kitties to be blessed by the Franciscans.

The precious names were:

Forbidden Passion
Little White Guy
and
Not Tonight Honey.

Gotta love it.

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/1966-batmobile-dragster/full/

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/1966-batmobile-dragster/full/

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New art - Batman & Robin

Anyone who is anybody knows my affection for all things Batman & Robin, especially from the 1960s. Call me old fashioned, but there is something plain and simple about that old show.

Here's a peek at the new art.

Back to the canvas!

Random favorite words

When I was a kid, I used to love to play on my grandfather's old fashioned typewriter. This was the 70s, so it wasn't electric, but we loved it. I remember once how impressed I was he wrote to then, Governor Ronald Reagan on it.

I never knew what to type and at ten years old, I definitely wasn't fast. But I used to love to make lists of the things I loved, and oddly enough, things I still love today. What I enjoyed was how certain words looked in typewritten form in black ink. As I look back on what it was I typed, I realized it's things that are still part of my life in one form or another. This is the list of those random words, just for my own personal fun. I seem to recall the italics to show SPEED, but it could just be my IMAGINATION. Indulge me.

cartoon, UFO, flying saucer, space ship, Batman, space, robot, superhero, SUPER, animated, impossible, monster, groovy, outer space, zombie, island, comic books, tazmania, Bugs Bunny, Hanna-Barbera, television, Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse, MOUSE, color, BATMAN, SUPERMAN, Superman, cartoon character, COMIC, professor, scientist, Bible, pool, fun, FUN, crazy, CrAzY, CRAZY, crazy. cRaZy, Tom Terrific, fantastic, science fiction, Charlie Rose, coloring book, paint, crayon, Crayola, SPACE, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Spiderman, tarantula, book, BOOK, zoink, ZOINKS, POW!, Whammo!, puppy, jet, dog, god, GOD, supercalifragilisticexpeealidocius, dictionary, marsian, Martian, creepy crawlers, halloween, Santa Claus, mask, costume, Charles Christopher Rose, Flintstone, frizbee, cereal, Kelloggs, prize, surprise, present, package, secret, Secret, Secret Squirrel, Cracker Jack, candy bar, grandmother, grandaddy, C-H-A-R-L-I-E R-O-S-E, television, BOZO, Bozo, clown, wacky, snowman, create, zoom, ZOOM, Z-O-O-M! POP! BAM! ZOWIE! GHOST, ghost, glow, glow-in-the-dark, paint, orange, Orange, Yellow, brown, Green, Batmobile, Robin, fly, mountain, sea, ocean, Ocean, Vacaville, captain, Captain, CARTOON, add, ADD, scooter, SCOOBY, SCUBA, ACME, ROAD RUNNER, XXXXXXxXxXxXxXxOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooOOOOOOOOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO.

3's About Me

This is a FaceBook note and also blog.

You've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with the 3's of YOU. At the end, choose 26 people to be tagged. You have to tag me so really you just need 25 more people. If I tagged you, it's because I want to learn more about you. This is a good way to learn more about your friends without INTRUDING!!

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 3''s of Me, tag 26 people - in the right hand corner of the app - then click publish.)


Three names I go by (besides given name)
1.Charlie
2. Muffin
3.Uncle ChuChu

Three Jobs I have had in my life
1. Puppeteer
2. lead character in a children's TV show
3. animator

Three Places I have lived
1. Irving, TX
2. Vacaville, CA
3. Arlington, TX

Three Favorite drinks
1. Water
2. Trader Vic's anything
3. Pina Colada

Three TV Shows that I watch
1. The Universe
2. Smallville
3. The Closer

Three places I have been
1. Maui, HI
2. Roswell, NM
3. Washington DC

People that call me regularly
1. Alvaro
2. Dan
3. Billy

Three of my favorite foods
1. steak - especially ribeye
2. hamburger
3. chicken

Three friends I think will respond
1. Elliott Seymour
2. Laura Seymour
3. Alvaro Abrego

Three Things I am looking forward to
1. Tiki Oasis in August 2009
2. Completion of new including Tiki and Space Monkey art
3. visits with old friends

Three Things that are always by your side
1. Inspiration....God is too easy an answer! ;)
2. cel phone
3. Sylvester, our cat

Steve Sprinkle's Open Letter to Mayor Moncrief

Let's help Dr. Steve Sprinkle spread the word!

"My Open Letter to Mayor Mike Moncrief on the Rainbow Lounge Raid of June 28.
Published from Christopher Street on this Stonewall 40th Anniversary from NYC NY


Hon. Mike Moncrief, Mayor
City of Fort Worth
1000 Throckmorton Street
Fort Worth, Texas

June 28, 2009

Dear Mayor Moncrief,

The news of the raid carried out at the Rainbow Lounge on South Jennings Street this morning around 1 AM is reaching around the nation. I was disturbed to hear of it from a distinguished graduate of Brite Divinity School by phone while I was on pilgrimage to New York City for the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion that began the world-wide movement to secure equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human beings. It is incredible to me that a Stonewall-style raid, roughing up and arresting customers at Fort Worth's newest LGBT bar and lounge, would be carried out on the very anniversary of the birth of the LGBT rights movement. Sir, as a minister, professor, and gay man of conscience, I appeal to you to carry out a full investigation of this outrage against LGBT people and our allies everywhere, to issue an apology to the world LGBT community immediately before any more damage is done to Fort Worth's reputation, and to take steps to see that basic human rights and dignity are upheld in our great city.



You are a man of conscience, Mayor Moncrief. I have gladly met and worked with you and your administration in the past. You must know how personally distressing this act is to me, and to the thousands of LGBT citizens of Tarrant County. That is the reason I am writing this open letter to you and the public, to make my voice heard. I find it difficult not to believe that this raid was deliberately carried out on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion to create fear and consternation among gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people. Mayor Moncrief, this sort of heavy-handedness cannot be tolerated in a modern Texas city like ours. You know that. Please act deliberately and quickly to address the LGBT community. We must have personal action on your part as leader of Fort Worth.



As a minister, I must uphold the highest standards of justice for all people. This is not an act that any religion can condone or justify. At the very heart of the Golden Rule, observed in one form or another by all the world's great religions, is the holy standard to "do unto others as you would have others do unto you." The Fort Worth Police Department, the State Police, and whoever else planned, approved, and executed this act of humiliation and violence against God's LGBT children in Fort Worth have transgressed that ethical, spiritual, and religious boundary. LGBT people have come a long way since Stonewall, Mayor Moncrief. I am here today with millions from all around the world thankfully remembering that human rights are hard won. Our city has some hard work ahead, and some powerful explaining to do to the children of Stonewall.



Yours sincerely,

Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle

Associate Professor of Practical Theology

Brite Divinity School

Fort Worth, Texas

Holy Hollywood Rapture!

David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and now Michael Jackson! Can you imagine the party that's going on at the pearly gates??

Used to be, we thought about that part of theology that describes this thing called "the rapture," so I've used the term loosely in this case, but it as always seems strange that celebs file into Heaven three at a time....in this case four. This time it looks like Heaven couldn't wait.

As one who likes to look at the sunny side of life, I imagine the rafters must be shaking with the latest Hollywood death toll. I mean ONE BIG PARTY.

What do you want your passing to be like? Think of it....A party with all your deceased relatives, friends and (why not?) favorite celebs there to usher you into the next realm....seems an awful lot like a the finest, swankiest party with only the best, except this time, YOU are the real star.

In some ways, I can't hep but think these deaths seem premature in some ways, if only for the number of years the aforementioned folks had lived their paparazzi-filled existence. Ed McMahon being the one exception as one who lived the fullest. I must also believe regardless of age, I would wager all the others were not short of living life to the fullest, with all the trimmings.

We have been entertained by you. Godspeed to you all!

Image of Heaven © Jim Warren
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