Atwater Vitki

My daughter is ASL for her school and work. I had no idea about how music applied to the deaf...funny thing is I have ZERO ASL knowledge, yet if I turn down the sound and just watch, I can almost tell it's a song, not words. The motions and signs, if paid attention to are wonderful and so expressive! Captain Valor is great and the Owl City song "Fireflies" WOW! New theme song for sure! "rather hard to say, I'd rather be awake when I'm asleep...I'd like to believe the Earth turns slowly" tooooo cooool. The whole song was incredible. TY for posting these Bro sky and BrDevon!...and of course the others post were awesome as well. Blessings of Peace,

Miriam, First off, welcome to ULC's family! Second, how does your internet only TV feed work out for you? I've heard a lot of pro's and con's and the wife and I are exhausted trying to keep up with ever increasing cable/internet/satellite fees. I realize it costs money to put satellites up, wire house etc, BUT...70% profit margin is out of line ifn's ya axt us...all the while workers buy their own cable ties and install screws for the system and use their own cell phones for communication...all this after Mike White CEO of DirecTV™ promised viewers "there would be big changes" to how they did business on "Undercover Boss" last Aug/Sept. We are counting the days until our contract is up with Direct and have about 14 months to go and then either back to Comcast or just go with internet TV too. We both watch a lot of series and fav shows via internet now, but sitting at computer isn't the easiest for 2-3 hours at a time. Anyway, your take on the above is very on point and well thought out...glad to have ya on board! Blessings of Peace,

Sounds like the topic is covered Blessings be and good luck on your first Ultimate!

As we all do our Spiritual Best for the people of Japan, isn't it interesting that TV/cable/satellite doesn't miss a beat. In the midst of tragedy they still concern themselves with who's watching what and for how long. I know, as fact from disclaimers on our accounts, that both DirecTV™ and Comcast™ have tracking software that allow them to see, in real time, what we are watching. We all use "alternate/back channel button" I'm sure as I know of few who enjoy commercials. Have you also noticed how very few channels allow you to be free of commercials when switching back and forth? It's like 90% of TV is now set, in sync, to commercials and there's very little we can do about it. I'm certain there are very few in Japan that give a rats patoot about TV or commercials right now. We (wife and I) shall continue to reach out Spiritually to Japan in prayer and meditation. I also thought it was interesting that the "Governor of Tokyo" made a statement that the quake, failing nukie sites and tsunami were all "acts of God in response our departure from doing the right things. We have become greedy and now must pay for our actions." I say 'interesting' as a high ranking official, in a majority Shinto/Atheist nation would state his religious views. Nothing like a good old fashioned disaster to make people think about what is really important, yes? I'm sure that once CNN drops coverage, usually within a few days of any disaster, all will be back to Nermal on the airwaves. "Move along folks! Shows over, nothing to see here, move along now!... and back to you Commentator of Hypocrisy (mainstream media) I'm sure you'll set us straight!" Blessings of Peace,

I most certainly have and will continue to keep with you in this thought and prayer. Blessings of Healing and Peace,

Grateful, Our prayers, thoughts and condolences, Blessings of Healing and Peace,

Rev. Rainbow, Well actually, that was sort of the idea, to make a place for commenting on your Jonah series. I also wish to thank you for using this story from Scripture as it is one usually overlooked for more dynamic subject matter...but then, what could be more dynamic than being stuck in a whale belly for three days?! I think another "overlooked" issue with this story, the sagas of Nordic beliefs and many other traditional and non-traditional sources, is the relevance of the number three. It seems this has been a "sacred" number since long before the writers of any book appeared on the scene. The välknut, or three-way-knot, which some know as a triscalon, has been found in archeological digs world wide dating as far back as 15,000 BCE. Many academics "think" this is due to the sacred bond between a mother, father and child which has been prompted forward into our history, sagas and religious beliefs. Regardless of the origins and whether secular or religious, three has significance in the Holy-Father, Holy-Son and Holy Spirit, it also has meaning for Holy Father, Holy Mother, Holy Earth as a triune, and of course the numerous other connotations regarding the "3". It even has dominance in some of the really esoteric "cults" as High, Middle and Lower Self or Supra-, Sub- and Conscious states of being. I guess we may never know exactly what the significance of 3 is or how it applies to our daily lives, but until then, I simply try to see all the ways that connect things, as being much more relevant than issues, or numbers, that tear things apart. To me, the quest for common ground in Beliefs is far more interesting than sticking to the process of dismantling and breaking down things we don't fully understand. Blessings of Peace,

Wasn't this case profiled on America's Most Wanted? I seem to remember something about a white truck that looked red due to street lighting or perhaps red that looked white, but something along those lines...been quite awhile. Wishing you the best and prayers for a successful outcome to your Quest. Blessings of Peace,

Now that I can agree with...natural vs. contrived. When someone is just who/what they are, not unheard of but it is rare, that there is maliciousness behind their actions. I'm sure if you got people from the WBC group individually there wouldn't be the "outcry" that there is as a whole, incited by one or two. Blessings of Peace,

To me, WBC and primarily Phelps and crew, are expressing their angst in the only way they know how. It certainly doesn't make them "right", but it certainly puts the focus on the "fight". Is the Supreme Court seriously going to rehear this case? Doubtful and improbable as it has been looked at several times and found to be a sound ruling. I think that WBC is simply looking for the publicity and to recruit new membership...at least if all the loud, noisy ones are under one roof, it would sure make it easier to keep an eye on 'em!....and "G_d" could get 'em with His squirt gun!...POW! direct shot through the roof of WBC building!!...and if that happens, well Rev Rainbow, I shall nevermore be uncertain about the power of prayer for things we would like to see happen!! Blessings of Peace,

Thank you both very much...now to go get dummy hat out of lock up and long, slow walk of shame around office!

Rev. Rainbow sed: That is exactly why I said I could support your prayer, in principle, as what they incite in other's emotions, through the pursuit of their own views, is terrible. However, I do also agree with what others said about it being their kharma and their insult to Christianity and should stand on its own merit...or in this case lack of...and "G_d" will do with them as he sees in accordance to their deeds. Oh I'm sure many of us would like to be on that Jury of Peers, but He probably doesn't need our help on that one! And you bring up the one point far too many fail to see when screaming for their 1st and 2nd Amendment Rights...the obligation to act responsible with those Rights! "Responsible", in MHO, is not inciting people nor endangering others lives through wanton disregard for others. Brother Peter sed: It is bothersome to me that this is the first thing Zealots seem to forget. Unfortunately the more people "push them" to see the error of their ways there is a tremendous amount of resistance from their end...even faced with their own truth as spelled out in their own Bible.....(probably highlighted and used as a tool in Sunday School!) Hexalpa sed: The loud, noisy, out there, boisterous ones aren't the one's I worry about in condemning Westboro for their actions. It's the quiet, unseen, unheard one's that we should all be a bit concerned about. We all know of the type and those are usually the truly dangerous ones as no true rebel with a cause is going to telegraph their moves. No, with those types, we won't know what's gonna happen until right after it does happen....and then it's going to be "nobody knew", "no one could imagine such a thing" etc etc...as it always seems to be. Murph sed: Murph, you are a genuine speaker of Truth ! There is nothing more powerful than those who say what they mean, mean what they say and stick to it regardless of what others may think of their stance. That is truly having a firm conviction of Beliefs. My message to the world has always been "Peace" to which it seems like few others even care and a good number think I'm nutz. But "Peace", wouldn't go very far with this bunch at Westboro, perhaps I should back up my words with a.) ignoring them b.) screaming louder than they do c.) quoting Six Goals/Nine Noble Virtues at them until they "get it" d.) quoting Scripture at them until they "get it" e.) keep signing off with my current sign off.... Blessings of Peace, PS: Murph also sed: "now there's a guy that STOLE MY PARKIN SPOT! Let's get him next!" only one answer there..... Towanda! (Still one of my favorite of all times....Fried Green Tomatoes...one of Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy's BEST... ever!!)

Why you devils! Ha! Put something up so simple! I only looked at our profile pages when searching for info, I didn't see a link (doesn't mean it wasn't there) to http://ulc.net/index...ister_directory so I didn't even thunk of that one! You guys should be PI's...or do I need to pay more attention? Blessings of Peace, ...and thanks, now I have my listing done correctly!....finally!

Rev. Rainbow, What a thought! Your approach seems to be better than other "offers" I've heard about for this group ...and I hope you saw the link to the "Ask this one question-video"...posted last week/week before...."Should abortions be illegal?" "YES!" "Then what should the punishment be for mothers that do have an abortion?" "Ah, well ah, ah...hmmm...I've never really thought about that" being the typical answer. My personal opinion of that group, and others of similar "qualities" do they ever SEE what they're doing to their own rank and file by being so zealously on the move against things they don't agree with? I saw a news clip, about a month ago - maybe longer, that Westboro Baptist Church has asked the pastor to "step down" due to his radical approaches and that many in the congregation have left the church, preferring a place that has less "controversy". The "right to life" is a very sensitive topic and both sides do have valid concerns and p.o.v's...however, the Law says abortion is legal, as it "should be" - 100% my opinion- up until the first trimester is over...that seems to be the consensus on 'when life is achieved" by doctors best educated guess. MHO is simply a choice the mother should make after counseling and knowing the truths regarding this practices. Turning it back over to fraudulent, back alley, unscrupulous "doc's" is a death sentence for thousands of mothers, as well as fetus', every year, I'm sure. I'll join you in this prayer as a matter of principle! Blessings of Peace,

I did get an answer from Brother Michael Sky in PM...he is very sick and has temporarily lost his internet connection. He did say hello to all and that he'll "be back" soon. I think this does bring up a good question about our little family here. We all go on like no tomorrow, but then we "suddenly" notice that someone, mostly speaking of regular posters, is "missing in action" after they haven't posted for a couple of weeks. Yes, many times this is just taking a break, weather, not feeling well etc.....but what if something serious happened...would any of us ever know? Well, I've had a few thoughts on that subject... ..(oh no, heeeeere he goes!).... What if: We could "sign up" with ULC forums (Murph or ?) to have our home address, phone and of course e-mail addy's posted on an admin. sheet that would give us a jingle by phone or snail-mail (our preferences) if we hadn't posted in say 15, 30 or 45 days (multiple choice type questionnaire) OR A trusted "friend" here on ULC that we can forward our contact info to with similar instructions for "how long" and "when" to post a "Gone fishin'" post for us in the event of accident or? OR Make sure that a wife/hubby/sig other has access to our e-mail acct's and sign in for ULC (Kay has all my info in her notebook and would post if something bad happened beyond normal illness or ?) I spent quite a bit of time the other day looking at profiles and found several of my "ULC Member friends" haven't posted in a long time. I came up with nearly 20 names that are "hit and miss'ers" on postings. And in closing, the biggest reason I was "worried" about our Brother Sky was we were in the middle of exchanging e-mails, several times a week, and then poof! Gone, no answers for days, then a couple weeks and now almost a month until yesterday. I probably wouldn't have been so worried had I known in advance and we never thought to ask each other for private info, but I will now when he's back around. I realize internet friendships are something we should all be "careful about", but when you've gotten to "know someone" via the ULC forum, private e-mails etc for months or years, probably a fairly "safe bet". On one of my other forums I found out a "friend" of 3 years had passed, 8 months after disappearing, when her daughter was cleaning out her computer and "mailbox" and found a saved draft e-mail to me and finished it and sent it with the news...a tough way to "find out" about someone you know. Kay and I are friends with a person she met online in 1994 and he's been a real charmer to be acquainted with ever since. When he takes an internet break, he always sends a "Do not disturb, the Bear is hibernating" e-mail and then poof, one day he's back. Blessings of Peace,

The Nordic sagas were called kennings and were written in a very distinctive form. I do not have that wonderful ability to reduce words to a basic form, so I'll have to tell this one in basic story form. An opening paragraph of one of tales began much like this, but in the kenning was drastically different. Sunni's break.......upon mountainous plane found warrior alone....... bulging muscles by his side In preparation for clanging noise of steel and wood wrought with pain As dawn broke through the pitch black sky, flaming streaks of yellow, orange and red pierced the darkened mountain tops like spears thrown from the strongest arm. Silhouetted by the streaming colors of dawn, a fierce and mighty warrior stood facing the impending light, hammer held tightly in one hand, reins to his stallion in the other. Raising Mölnir to the heavens, Thor called upon the all-Father to grant him victory in the coming clash with the Thurs, the immovable objects pushing hard against the unstoppable forces of the Chosen One. He turned and as he thrust himself upward onto the powerful steed cried aloud "Til Valhalla!" and turned towards the approaching doom of his Spirit. Racing forward, with heels dug deep into the shanks of his well muscled charge and hammer held high, Thor knew that failure was not an option as all of humanity's future was at stake. The Æsir and Vanir were not unfamiliar with this moment in time as it had repeated itself many times throughout the history of mankind. Only the earthly folk of Midgaard were uncertain, only the vitki's knew the All-Father's wishes, only Thor was willing to take such a risk. This would be a monumental fight between the immortal and mortal, the moral and ethical versus those of unscrupulous mindset. This would be the final conflict with the victor taking all, leaving nothing to the loser. Thor's heels dug deeper and deeper into the sides of his now lathered great beast, leaving a trail of dust and visible breath streaming from mouths and nostrils of both living beings. The wild eyes of the horse were expressions of angry annoyance yet paled compared to the manifested steel gray darts, focused, looking ahead just inches above the mane. As Thor raced over the final knoll between him and his adversaries he noticed, finally, that he was not alone in his charge into oblivion. To his left rode the strangers from many lands and kingdoms. To his right, upon the backs of myriad of mighty beasts, rode the Æsir of myth and reality, fable and Truth. Behind them all was a cloud of rust colored dust mixed with the vast vapors of expelled breath creating a wall of impenetrable murk. Above them, Hügin and Mügin the great ravens of Äsgaard, flew ever forward directing the rushing horde towards their inevitable fate. From the darkness in front of them, as Sunni had not yet graced the lands there, rose enormous shadows of what surely must be the foothills to the mountainous landscape behind them. Yet, this was not possible as lands do not move nor do they raise huge clubs, swords and bows when one approaches. A great noise erupted from the Thurs as they prepared to meet the enemy of eons of diminished goodwill, mistrust and warring with the vain and often presumptuous Æsir. They began pounding giant fist upon giant chest and armor, clanging swords against bronzed shields of such enormity that entire villages of humans had been known to use them for roofs on their longhouses. The noise was of such great magnitude that it was almost unbearable in the ears of those who would dare to conflict with them. The gaze of a thousand angry eyes looked down from such a great height that the approaching horde looked as if they were mere newborn babes in size compared to the Hu-man mother. One giant looked to the next as uncontrollable laughter broke the ranks of the enormous warriors until finally such a clamor came forth that none were able to stand, falling to the ground as if fell by ax to tree trunk. Thor took note of this unexpected benefit and motioned for the gods to flank right while his Midgaard comrades broke to the left as he kept a course directly ahead. Thor jabbed his heels as hard and deep as he could into the flanks of his charging steed making it leap skyward over the first line of the now reclining Thurs. He swung Mölnir at the full extension of his arm connecting with a helmeted giant, effectively removing his head from his neck and then dove off his horse onto another Thurs, and then another and another dropping each one into Hel's clutches as he did. Instantaneously the Thurs recovered from their stupor of hilarity as nothing was humorous about watching comrades die needlessly. They sprung to their feet swinging wildly with sword, ax and spear missing Thor with each stroke, thrust and parry but making lethal contact with one another. Once again it seemed the All-Father's protective presence prevented harm from felling his most endeared son. As the hordes of gods and Hu-man warriors took to task the monumental effort of battling the giants, Thor remained deliberate and vigilant in his fight against the mighty giants felling one after the other with each swing of his powerful hammer. Covered in the bright red cloak of death and drenched in his own sweat he fought ever forward through the mass until at last not one giant was left standing. Only the murmuring whimpers of those not yet replete to Death's call could be heard over the stillness that befell this place of doom. As the now quieted air filled his ever grasping nostrils he looked for the members of his unknown army to congratulate them for their aide in his fight, yet there was not a single one standing. 'How could this be?' Thor queried his throbbing mind. 'Can it be that even the Æsir fell to the Vanir's most deadly warriors? All of them?' He then began to look under and behind the mountainous forms of dead and dying giants for his compatriots, yet he could not find a single one. He called for his stallion which came trotting from a distant hill to his side and swung himself into the saddle. He rode slowly through the carnage still seeking any evidence of his fallen comrades yet found not one weapon or piece of armor to indicate they had indeed been so bravely at his side. He took a long drink of cold water from the skin-bag that hung from the saddle-horn and spat a final gulp onto the ground, offering it to the gods as a gift of thanks for their unwavering dedication to his cause of righteousness. At last, the Vanir no longer had their terrible army of immovable warriors, which no person of Midgaard had ever defeated in a battle of armies or individual combat. As he sat upon his horse on a slight rise overlooking the battlefield, he gazed in wonder as the number of dead giants seemed to diminish before his very eyes. Each blink had the effect of removing ten, then fifty then a hundred dead bodies from the blood soaked ground until he stared down at a flowing meadow of grassy beauty waving in the morning breeze. "Thor! Thor!" came the whisper of Loki's raspy voice. "Awaken to this new day Thor!" Thor opened his eyes to see that, incredibly, he was in his own bed with skins heaped upon the floor and a disheveled woolen blanket beneath him. "Did you enjoy the wonderful visions of Greatness I imposed upon your sleeping mind?" Loki spoke now in elevated tones. "How could you dare be angry with my contrived vision as you once again were victorious?" "Loki, you are most assuredly the most devilish beast in all of Äsgaard!" Thor mumbled as he sat up. "Now, remove yourself from my presence before I show you how terrible Mölnir's blow can be upon your head!" Loki turned to the door of Thor's sleeping quarters as if to take his command serious but then, turned back around and winked at Thor saying "But you should know that Odhinn himself ordered me to fill your weary mind with a saga portraying such great warrior's feats!" "You lie you delirious little twerp!" Thor yelled back at Loki and charged towards him, instantaneously slamming into the thick wooden door as Loki slammed it shut just in time to save himself from the mighty warrior's grasp. "My father has no call for such foolish things nor do I have patience to listen to any more of your incessant ramblings. Now be gone with you or I shall take my 'weary mind's' leave and kill you forthwith!" Thor made his way through the great halls of his castle Bilskirnir and made his way to his father's castle of Glitnir. He sat across the huge feasting table which had been set with horns overflowing with mead, many roasted meats and fresh vegetables for Odhinn's breakfast. Without saying much, Thor reached for a horn and raised it to his father's honor as was tradition, but then broke protocol by turning it over, spilling out it's contents onto the stoney floor as a show of defiance. "What purpose could there possibly be for allowing Loki into my slumber and dreams Father?" he asked in a somber, yet purely annoyed tone. "What lesson or instruction could be gained through such despicable means that you could not have simply asked me for in person?" "Once again you dishonor my hall, my son, by your show of disrespect and display of arrogance! Who are you, beside the progeny of my loins, that you should question ME?" Odhinn spat pieces of food as he spoke. "Besides only a deceiver such as Loki himself would tell you such things of pure fantasy!" "Under threat of great bodily harm I forced him to tell me truthfully who had commanded him so and I..."... ....bzz, bzz, bzz, bzz, bzz.....*...*... Huh? Wha...? As I looked at the alarm clock, I could see it had been going off for more than half an hour, making me extremely late in preparing for my day. I sprung out of bed with such a clatter, that shower didn't matter, but coffee sure as Hjela did! I have to admit that it usually goes like that when dreaming a dream that only comes along once in very great while. I'm sure that everyone has had a dream from which they awoke extremely disoriented and wishing it would go on and on. This dream was extrapolated from my note book of dreams which I've carried around for nearly 30 years until it's pages are worn and tattered, dog-eared and smudged, but filled with several hundred of the most pertinent and awe inspiring mental visualizations while sleeping. Now I would think that even the most uninitiated into the area of dream interpretations could pull a variety of "meanings" out of such a dream. This particular one came to my consciousness while in the midst of studying for my finals at Gambla Uppsala in the homelands of Sweden. It's really no mystery why such a dream would come to me at that particular time, but every time I read it, I pull yet another definition of Self from it. For me personally, that is the number one reason to keep a journal of your most intense dreams. Not only to remember the visceral nature of such incredible workings of the mind, but for reinvestigation of Self and to continuously ponder aspects of our minds that answer so many other psychological dilemma we face. Something I suppose I needed to do for Self today, being faced with some difficult choices. Hope you enjoyed, Blessings of Peace,

I must agree with Cthulhu on that...excellent, precise imagery that invokes a sense of being there. Having witnessed the "cran-bogs" in operation only once, as a kid, it brought back memories of a well spent, unexpected vacation trip. Blessings of Peace,

Nice tune.... Blessings of Peace,