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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Opportunity's Final Call

Tim Lennox includes news items of note on his blog each day. Last week he shared the news of the last photo taken by the Mars Rover, Opportunity.


From the NASA press release:

Yesterday, Nasa told the world that it’s most successful space voyager ‘Opportunity‘ Mars Rover was dead eight months after it was caught in a gigantic Martian dust storm. The solar-powered rover last communicated with Earth on June 10, 2018 just as a planet-wide dust storm was covering the Red Planet. NASA had launched the twin rovers Opportunity and Spirit in 2003 to explore Martian rocks and soil. Spirit has not been operational for several years but Opportunity persevered.

On Mars Rover Opportunity's final photograph:

Bill Nelson, chief of the Opportunity mission’s engineering team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in an interview just after NASA declared the mission over. “This was the last image we ever took. We are looking at an incredibly small amount of sunlight — .002 percent of the normal sunlight that we would expect to see. If you were there, it would be late twilight. Your human eye would still be able to make out some features, but it would be very dark.”

Here is my own poem inspired by the news and the photo from NASA: 

Opportunity’s Last Call

One day,
In my ninth grade civics class
Taught by the coach
In the classroom by the gym,
There came a knock at the door.

“Open the door,” Coach said,
“It might be opportunity!”
To my young teenage self,
“Opportunity knocks” was already
Old hat enough
For me to laugh at Coach’s pun.

The living never cease
To look for opportunity.
It comes in all shades:
    great opportunity
    poor opportunity
    limited opportunity
    new opportunity
    missed opportunity
    last opportunity
    have I got an opportunity for you!
And it always comes with a promise
Wearing a smile
And raising an inquisitive brow.

Most live for it.
Some die for it.

On a distant Martian plain
Opportunity traveled much longer
Than the experts predicted.
New Opportunity
Became on-going Opportunity
Became continued Opportunity
Became old hat
Until that last grainy transmission
Of off-world twilight
Signaled one more lost Opportunity.

                                                        ~ CK




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Monday, February 25, 2019

Monday Music: I Prithee Do Not Ask for Love (The Monkees)

Last week we lost Peter Tork of The Monkees fame. He died at the age of 76. The Monkees began as a television comedy and the group grew into a band in their own right. You can hear Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz talking about how The Monkees TV show began by going here.

So were The Monkees a real rock and roll group, or did they just play one on TV? The answer is probably "yes." For a brief account of The Monkees phenomena, go here.

"(I Prithee) Do No Ask for Love" features Peter Tork on vocals and guitar. It was written by Michael Martin Murphy, a former bandmate of Michael Nesmith. The recording was not released to the public until many years later.




If you look at the people involved in the recording of "(I Prithee) Do Not Ask for Love", you will see Glen Campbell played guitar on the track. This would have been during the time that Campbell was a studio sessions musician with The Wrecking Crew, shortly before he broke out with his own impressive career as a country/pop recording star.

Guitar: Al Casey
Engineer: Andy R
Bass: Bob West
Guitar, Vocals: Davy Jones
Percussion: Gary Coleman
Guitar: Glen Campbell
Drums: Hal Blaine
Engineer: Hank Cicalo
Engineer: Henry Lewy
Guitar: James Burton
Drums: Jim Gordon
Keyboards: Larry Knechtel
Keyboards: Michael Cohen
Producer, Vocals: Michael Nesmith
Lead Vocals: Micky Dolenz
Background Vocals: Micky Dolenz
Guitar: Mike Deasy
Guitar, Vocals: Peter Tork
Engineer: Richie Schmitt
Arranger: Donald Peake
Contributor: Marty Eck
Composer, Lyricist, Writer: Michael Martin Murphey
Contributor: Patrick Milligan


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Saturday, February 23, 2019

Saturday Haiku: Market Day








carts at the market
hundreds of goods on display
one thing is needed













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Image: "Market Cart in Brittany (1910)
Artist: Helen McNicoll
Medium: Oil on canvas



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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Pot Luck Sunday at the Weaker Brethren Community Church

[I am re-posting my essay from 2011, because in our current climate of increasing political polarization, I needed to remind myself about compassion and staying grounded]

“Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
                                                     ~ I Corinthians 8:9 (RSV)


I like to consider myself a “progressive” Christian. (Actually, I’m one who still likes the word “liberal”, even though that wonderful word has become tainted and misconstrued by decades polarizing debate. Using the “L” word nowadays is like raising a battle flag, making thoughtful discourse all but impossible.) It was a heart-felt religion that launched my faith journey. Continuing along the path, with the help of many fine thinkers and writers, I came to understand the importance of intellectual honesty and social justice. Many a time during my student days I was frustrated by some of my more conservative friends and colleagues. These were people who could quickly get their panties in a wad over some theological issue. One of my good friends at the time, sensing my irritation, said to me, “You know, Charlie, in many ways our fundamentalist friends are like the weaker brethren that the Apostle Paul talked about.” He was right – it seemed that the faith of many of my fundamentalist friends was easily threatened.

Living in a Pluralistic Society

St. Paul begins that “weaker brethren” passage in I Corinthians 8 with an impressive argument for liberty in faith. He talks about the problem some people had in his day, living in a pluralistic Greco-Roman society, about eating meat from the marketplace that had been offered to idols. Paul essentially says that for thinking people of faith, this is not a problem. If idols have no basis in reality, eating meat that was offered up in religious ceremonies is not going to have any negative effect on the Christian consumer. Sounds like a good way to get along in a pluralistic Greco-Roman society. Then the apostle frames the whole situation in a way that creates a problem for me. He says that even though he has no problem with eating meat from the Pagan Meat Packing and Processing Company, he will refrain from the practice if it causes someone who is weaker in the faith to stumble.

Here is my difficulty: if my fundamentalist friends are the weaker brethren, why should I have to refrain from offending them? How long should I be expected to coddle these spiritual babes instead of challenging them to a more authentic faith? Then I ask of St. Paul, was he being pastoral in the nurturing of souls, or was this just some sort of early Christian cop-out, saying, “I really know better than this, I am a sophisticated thinker. However, for the sake of the organization, I’m not going to rock the boat if people are going to get upset over the issue.” So am I to cave in to the loudest and weakest of my comrades, or am I to take a stand for a better way, a nobler path?

There is another problem I have. I tipped my hand earlier when I said I like the word “liberal.” When one admits to being a liberal, there is an element of having one’s mind made up. I need to realize that I can get my liberal panties in a wad just as quickly as my fundamentalist friends can get their conservative briefs askew. The term “progressive” is probably a better concept. “Progressive” implies a journey. It seems to say, “I haven’t arrived, but I’m moving forward.”

The Compassionate Response

When it comes to dealing with the “weaker brethren,” I have to remind myself of the words of a wise old friend of mine. He pointed out that sometimes conservative ideas are in ascendancy while at other times more liberal views hold sway. “I have no control over the politics of the masses.” he told me, “but I do have some control over my response to things.” He said that he tries to observe without attachment, and then he tries to let compassion guide his response to things.

Be compassionate? That puts the onus back on me. It also gives me a new perspective. This is not an easy path, the one that St. Paul advocates and that my compassionate friend speaks of. On the other hand, I have to remember that I know people with much more rigid views than mine who will do whatever they can to help someone in need.

Putting people ahead of opinions is one way to stay grounded. Putting forth progressive viewpoints is one way to move ahead. Putting it all together requires some diligence, diplomacy and compassion. It calls for all of us to do a “gut check” before we meet on that potluck Sunday at the Weaker Brethren Community Church.



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Monday, February 18, 2019

Monday Music: Pancho and Lefty (Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan)


Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson  perform "Pancho And Lefty" (recorded April 28,1993 for Willie Nelson's birthday television special, The Big Six-0). The song, written by country music artist Townes Van Zandt, tells the story of a Mexican bandit named Pancho and a more enigmatic character, Lefty. The lyrics tell of Pancho's death, implying that he was betrayed by his associate Lefty who was paid off by the Mexican federales.






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Saturday, February 16, 2019

Saturday Haiku: River Bank









by the river bank
sunlight on a cloudless day
glistens the waters













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Image: "Reflections" (1908)
Artist: Helen McNicoll
Medium: Oil on canvas



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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Emigres



As our nation continues to debate and discuss border walls and immigrants we find ourselves fearing the terrorist, encumbering the asylum seeker, and shunning the refugee. Tragically, we separate children from parents in our response to those caught in dire circumstances.

Today's post is a poem from my Masterworks Series. It offers insight from the point-of-view of a refugee family.


Emigres

Our Lord, allow us to welcome the stranger and treat them kindly. Allow us to see that the stranger can benefit us. Allow us to see that the stranger can benefit those from where they came.  Ameen.
                            
                                             ~ Sarah Joseph, OBE*
   
It seems we are always looking back to Egypt.
We suffer our kings;
Tentatively we give them admiration
While doing our best to stay out of their way.
Our rulers give us hope
That God will bless our land,
Yet more often they are the reason
We hope for better days.

Leaving Bethlehem by night
With my wife and son,
We cast ourselves upon
The mercy of the open road.

Fleeing one tyrant
For memories of another,
We take refuge in the land
That was abundant in wealth and oppression
For our forebears.
Rootless and homeless
We have only family for support
And the strength of our hands
For a day’s wage.

Living as refugees,
Moving from overlord to overlord,
We will make our way.
Longing for home and
Grieving for a land
Once filled with life and song
Now turned deadly.

Trees offer their fruits
As we stop to rest,
Reminding us that the earth is gracious
Even when the land is stolen and divided by kings.

Sojourning in a strange land
We will hold on to the goodness of the earth
Waiting for old kings to die;
Waiting for the time of singing.

In the meantime
We will join with the downtrodden
And dwell with the outcast
Seeking refuge together.
Perhaps we will find a place
In the shadows of the empire
To sing our songs of hope.


                                                           ~ CK


*    *    *

* From Sarah Joseph's BBC Radio Prayer for the Day, 23 July 2015


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Image: "The Rest on the Flight into Egypt" at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Artist: Gerard David (Netherlandish, 1460-1523)
Medium: Oil on panel
Date: c.1510


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Monday, February 11, 2019

Monday Music: Foreign Affair (Manhattan Transfer)

Some absolutely super vocalization from Manhattan Transfer from their 1979 studio album, Extensions. The song, "Foreign Affair" is by Tom Waits. I recommend headphones to get the full benefit of the marvelous sound of this recording.





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Saturday, February 9, 2019

Saturday Haiku: Winter








ice and snow
quiet city streets
slow trudging












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Image: Montréal en hiver (Montreal in winter), 1911 (Public Domain)
Artist: Helen McNicoll
Medium: Oil on canvas



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Friday, February 8, 2019

A Brief Look Back


Here is a brief rundown of a few of the popular posts on Not Dark Yet over the past quarter.

There are two features that occur without fail each week. Every Monday, I share a musical offering (usually from YouTube). By far, the most popular Monday Music offering this past quarter was by Nat King Cole, "When I Grow to Old to Dream." On Saturdays, I post an original haiku. The haiku that received the most views during the last three months was "Inner Woods" (which was accompanied by a painting by e.e. cummings).

Personal essay is another primary feature on my blog. I try to have a variety of topics ranging from social commentary to spirituality to human interest and literary topics. The most widely read essay this time was "On Spiritual Practice, Poetry, and the Inadequacy of Language." 

After the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life Synagogue, I wrote an essay, "Standing with Friends in Synagogue," in which I recounted my visit to The Great Synagogue in Florence, Italy. 

One of my posts from 2012 always gets renewed interest each winter, "Winter Solstice and a Poem for the Longest Night." That post features one of my poems, "To Zarathustra," and I was pleased that once again it was one of the most frequently viewed posts this time.

I re-posted some of my journalistic poems last fall, one of which was "No Time for Weeping," which was an appeal to greater care for the environmental. Then I reworked one of my previous posts on Hildegard of Bingen which I titled, "The Feminine Voice for a Pivotal Age," and was pleased that it was one of my more popular posts.  

A Place of Gratitude is another re-post that I thought would be a good way to begin the new year. It turned out to be another one of my most frequently viewed post for the entire quarter.

In connection with Martin Luther King Day observance, I found a video with King's "I Have a Dream speech." I shared that 17-minute video because I felt that it was important to take the time to listen to the entire speech at this time when we find ourselves hoping for some glimpses of the better angels of our nature.

Last month I included a book review.  Bluebird, Bluebird, by Attica Locke, is a suspenseful page-turner of a novel.  A great story with fully developed characters, but more than that, the writing is sheer beauty.
Thanks to all readers, followers, and visitors to this blog site. I hope you will continue to stop to peruse my offerings each week!

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Bob Dylan Exhibit in Chicago

(Photo from First Light)

At the American Writers Museum in Chicago, there is an exhibit currently showing, “Bob Dylan: Electric.” The exhibit opened on November 16, 2018, and is set to run until April 30.

According to The Chicago Tribune:

AWM president Carey Cranston described the exhibit as “a first-of-its-kind experience,” adding the museum “is honored to present one of music’s most iconic instruments together with a unique collection of musical, literary, and cultural artifacts.”
“The world knows Bob Dylan as a prolific songwriter,” he continued. “’Bob Dylan: Electric’ gives the public a chance to see how his writing shaped more than just American music but American literature as a whole.”
You can read the entire Tribune article, “Exhibit looks at how Bob Dylan 'going electric' influenced American culture, music and literature” here.

I have not had the good fortune to go to Chicago to see “Bob Dylan: Electric,” but Dylan fan Steve Meyers posted a fascinating quote on the Facebook page “Dylanology” after he toured the exhibit: 






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Monday, February 4, 2019

Monday Music: Tangled Up in Blue (Dylan Cover by the Indigo Girls)

The Indigo Girls with their excellent cover of Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up in Blue." The song first appeared on Dylan's highly acclaimed album, Blood on the Tracks (1975).






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Saturday, February 2, 2019

Saturday Haiku: Village Moonrise









the village waters
quiet under the moonlight
all the world at rest  














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Image: "Moonrise at Morigaski"
Artist: Kawase Hasui  (1883 - 1957)
Medium: Japanese woodblock print



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