I may be depressed and in pain, but I'm still not stupid: In tonight's news, probably to vanish before dawn, this story:

Late Friday night, two Chicagoans - Sister Kathleen Desautels and Mary Dean - joined the ranks of 27 other peace activists sentenced to federal prison this month for protesting last November at the notorious School of the Americas, the U.S. government’s elite training program for Latin American military forces at Fort Benning, Georgia. (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation)

Seven other protesters received 6 months probation, and the judge imposed fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 dollars. The protesters’ crime? Opposing the SOA’s dismal history of training torturers, who have been accused over the last 2 decades of mounting terror, torture and murder campaigns throughout Latin America. Two years ago, Congress responded to public criticism of SOA by changing the school’s name to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation - but SOA/WHISC’s agenda continues - as does public opposition to the crimes of its graduates

for more info, go to: (too lazy to make a link, sorry.)
http://www.soaw.org/

There are lots of crazy folks out there. Urge your apathetic friends to register and vote, because the indications are that this will get a whole lot worse. Some of us REALLY NEED the ADA. And as we age, more of us will need it.

In a long overdue move, (almost twenty years) The Archdiocese of Chicago has seen fit to accept the resignation of Fr. William Lupo, a fellow who has sexually molested eight, possibly more, young women. (er, make that allegedly, as I only know one of them, yet I was present to hear Archdiocesean representative Steve Sidlowski say there were "Several, at least seven other complaints pending against him.") In spite of the increasing number of charges against Fr. Lupo, he has until this week maintained his position as Pastor of St. Peter Damien parish in Bartlett, Illinois.

To their (almost) credit, the Archdiocese,at some time in the last ten years, told someone at the parish that Fr. Lupo had been sexually inappropriate with "at least two" young women. I say cut them off at the wallet. It's the only thing to which they pay attention.

It is almost like justice.

Reading Ted's Blog made me remember that I want many copies of The Bill of Rights out there on the internet for just anyone to find, in case the new government decides to deny they ever existed at all, instead of just ignoring them.

So here they are, the First Ten Amendments ot the Constitution of the United States of America:

Constitutional Amendments 1-10: The Bill of Rights

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.

The kindness of friends:

Michael and Connie Purcell, in a gesture that has touched my heart, have had a tree on the grounds of the library dedicated in honor of my late daughter, whom I knew as Judith Marie Lee. I don't know what kind of tree, but when I know, I will tell.

My library and librarians have been a great source of comfort to me during this unhappy time, and I am grateful to them all, especially the folks in the Children's Department, which is officially called "Youth Services.".

Saturday I went to a Gourmet Chocolate Tasting Event with Connie! It was my birthday present to her.
What I learned: Chocolate only grows within about twenty degrees of the Equator, whichis to say, where it is hot! Growing and harvesting Theobroma Cacao is very labor intensive work, and there are many references to "the natives" in the descriptions of how the growing, harvesting, preparing for market, transporting, and such are accomplished. For example, a tree may produce 6,000 blossoms, of which 200 will set fruit. Each fruit pod contains 2 to 4 dozen beans. They are cut open by "native men, who hold the pod in one hand, and whack it open with a machete held in the other hand. They have to be careful just to crack the hull, ..." There is no mention of great salaries for "the natives", though they "are really devoted to their work."

Chocolate Gourmands place a small piece of chocolate on their tongue, and press it gently against the roof of the mouth to begin the melting process and release the flavor and aroma near the nose. The melting temperature of chocolate is just below human body temperature. The chocolate will melt faster if there is a higher milk or cocoa butter content, and more slowly if there is a higher cocoa powder content.

I've always known I didn't much care for milk chocolate, but I never knew what a purist I am until this tasting, where I learned from experimenting thatI really prefer the intensely rich flavor of unsweetened chocolate. There is a lot more to say about this, and it raised political issues that were not surprising, but very uncomfortable for a chocoholic like me. I must go sleep now, because I'm off to a funeral at early o'clock. but I will write again, time providing.

Last night we had 73 people at our P.A.D.S. homeless shelter. P.A.D.S. is an acronym for "Public Action to Deliver Shelter". Seventy three is two shy of our fullest capacity, and thirteen more people than we own sleeping pads for. It’s starting to get colder here, and the group is only going to get bigger. There are homeless folks everywhere. Make the time to go volunteer at the shelter near you, or, failing that, donate your spare change for a month. (Do NOT run out and buy lots of little toiletries unless they are requested.)

Donate clean, used blankets, sheets, socks, underwear, (assorted sized, five times more men’s than women’s), your old winter coat, should you be lucky enough to have more than one. Our shelter has a trade-in policy. If we have coats, and they’re warmer than the coats folks are wearing, we trade them for their current coat. We clean the older coats, repair them, and send them to shelters in warmer areas. Donate cash, if you can, because a shelter uses lots of food and paper products.

It’s cold outside where I live. Someone donated eighty assorted pairs of new winter boots, which we gave out last month. These replaced shoes and boots that were so worn out, some of them had cardboard covering the holes. How long has it been since you worried about that? Never? Go volunteer out of gratitude.

Donate your old clothes. This goes double for the larger sizes. At our shelter, fifteen percent of our guests are bigger than the average bear. These are the things most shelters really need.

I have volunteered at the homeless shelter for a couple of years. Now my sister is homeless in Madison, Wisconsin, and I volunteer more frequently than I used to, in gratitude tor the folks who take her in. Someone you know, or knew once, is homeless. You could be just a few paychecks away from homelessness, yourself. Reach out, folks. It's good for what ails our culture. Happy Friday.

There came the big noise and the dark, the loud, mind-numbing noises, and the heaviness of air, the pushing down on me. Soon I had lost myself. The storm raged on, and a calmfriendly voice suggested calling the doctor. I did that. And she was there, and knew, and the noises rages and I raged and cried, and she talked about things, but I don't know what they were, except that I followed her voice back to this place/time that is the right one where I usually live. She is a good leader back. She gave us directions for a magic potion, and some tablets. "Sip slowly, and call when you can." Two servings of both and the noise was moving outside the house. The Moral Support Squad Leader called a few times, and night closed in, and morning came, a new day. The noise is still outside.