On Connecting up at the Top: Where all paths to God come together

 

 

Last Saturday I had to work, unexpectedly. Saturday night we managed to turn a half hour drive to Baha'i Feast at Jay and Kristine's into an hour long adventure. I hadn't brought their address and thought I could find their place by feel only. We made it finally, but only after we had to drive into Federal Way to find a gas station so low had we become on fuel.

 

Sunday we decided to return to the Green Mountain State Forest for a hike, this time taking the Gold Creek Trail up to the Vista view on top. Last week had we continued a bit longer on the Wildcat Trunk Trail, we would have connected up to the Vista Trail, 4.3 miles from the Wildcat Lake trailhead to that point. The Gold Creek route was shorter and quicker, but the forest was just as lovely to traverse. -gw

 

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Who dat? New Orleans Saints: When the Saints Go Marching In

From: Northwest BahaiLibrary. Who dat? Dat's Robert, devoted correspondent on things current in da news. Thx friend. -gw

Ever listen closely to all the lyrics for the song "When the Saints Go Marching In"?

We may be hearing this song a bit more often on the nightly sportscasts with the New Orlean's Saints football team winning their first Super Bowl this past weekend.

Baha'is have a special spiritual interpretation of the song's Gospel lyrics ... a song that has become a jazz standard.

From wikipedia: "The song is apocalyptic, taking much of its imagery from the Book of Revelation, but excluding its more horrific depictions of the Last Judgment. The verses about the Sun and Moon refer to Solar and Lunar eclipses; the trumpet (of the Archangel Gabriel) is the way in which the Final Judgement is announced. As the hymn expresses the wish to go to Heaven, picturing the saints going in (through the Pearly Gates), it is entirely appropriate for funerals."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Saints_Go_Marching_In

Baha'is of new Orleans
http://nolabahais.org/

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On Rethinking Human Nature: Beyond the Culture of Contest

 

Who cares about the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada? OK, well some people do. It's inter-nation-al. That's a good thing. It's a competition. Not always such a good thing, but oh well. Yes, I'm going to a Super Bowl Party that Kim and Dylan are having, but it's the party and fellowship, not the competition I'm going for. Yeah, right.

 

But what I really care about is that the Association of Baha'i Studies is scheduled for Vancouver this coming August. It's close. We can drive up. We're going. -gw

 

“Rethinking Human Nature”

34th Annual Conference to be in Vancouver

 

The beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia, has been chosen as the site of the 34th Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies–North America, which will be held 12–15 August 2010 on the theme “Rethinking Human Nature.”

 

How can Bahá’í scholarship contribute to the emergence of a new consensus regarding human nature? How we see social reality depends largely on our assumptions, but much contemporary discourse implicitly or explicitly assumes that human nature is selfinterested and competitive and that human relations are necessarily conflict-based. In economics, political science, sociology, education, law, international relations, and even religious studies, theories have been built upon these assumptions. Consequently, social institutions, media representations, the arts, and popular culture largely reflect and

reinforce them.

 

Despite this prevailing world view, new understandings of human nature are emerging at the margins of many academic disciplines. These acknowledge the human potential not only for egoism but also for altruism, not only for competition but also for cooperation. Such emerging scientific understandings are further supported by the world’s great religious systems, which offer spiritual and social practices designed to cultivate our altruistic and cooperative potential. Yet these scientific and religious insights continue to

be eclipsed by an entrenched model of human nature based on egoism and conflict.

 

Mindful of the complementary insights of both science and religion and in collaboration with like-minded individuals, Bahá’ís can draw upon both the Bahá’í writings and emerging knowledge in various disciplines to articulate and advance new models of human nature. The experiences of the Bahá’í community and others can be investigated to lend support and insight to these efforts. The annual ABS conference is one venue where scholarship and ongoing collaborative efforts can be fostered.

 

http://www.bahai-studies.ca/node/707

 

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On 266 Pages of Blog Posts About Music: Global Voices

 

Baha'is have a particular appreciation for musical diversity. And there is so much music in the world. Check out the featured stories about music on Global Voices. -gw

 

http://globalvoicesonline.org/-/topics/music/

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On the Correlation of Religion and Science: And Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'"

Don't Stop Believing (a look at popular lyrics) and (the) Journey

 When I Don't Stop Believing (a look at popular lyrics) and (the) Journey was in Tanzania in the mid-70s, I correlated religion and science by putting the Baha'i modular 19-month calendar on the triangular sides of the 20-sided Platonic solid called the icosahedron. On the 20th side, I put the particular year according to the Baha'i Era count (possibly 131 or 132). I sent a copy to Bucky Fuller since he was the expert on icosahedron and all things mathematical. I did receive a thank you note back. But I was reassured in some small way when I saw that he had put that cosmic equation given above. He talked about each person's OmniDirectional Halo. Nowadays, some pop singers are catching up to the research of science and religion.

 

http://twohandsapproach.org/nucleus/index.php?itemid=213

 

Click over to read Steve Watson's entire post. Now this is what long-form blogging is all about!  -gw

 

 

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On the Second Appearance of Baha'i Leaders In Court: Procedural only, no date set for future session

7 February 2010

GENEVA

— Seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders appeared in court today in Iran for a second session of their trial.

The session was once again closed, and family members were not permitted in the courtroom, the Baha'i International Community has learned.

The hearing, which lasted just over one hour, does not seem to have gone beyond procedural issues. No date was given for any future sessions.

The seven were arrested nearly two years ago and have been held in Tehran's Evin prison since that time, spending the first year there without formal charges or access to lawyers.

After several postponements, their trial officially began on 12 January, when the seven were arraigned in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.

That session was also closed to the public, but accounts in government-sponsored news media said the defendants were formally charged with espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order, the establishment of an illegal administration, cooperation with Israel, sending secret documents outside the country, acting against the security of the country, and corruption on earth.

All the charges have been categorically denied. The defendants are Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm.

 

http://news.bahai.org/story/756

 

In 12 minutes ago from BWNS. -gw

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On the Desire for Material Possessions: In a song

"'a cloudburst of material possessions', sunday papers collage," uploaded on August 28, 2009 by kejhu on flickr

 

I try to see my music in a spiritual light. You, too?

 

Sutton and her band will be in Grand Rapids on Thursday to open St. Cecilia Music Center's Jazz Series.

"Paper Moon" is from her latest recording, "Desire," released last year by Telarc. The album title refers, not to love or romance, but to the desire for creature comforts and material things.

"What God wants for his creation and what we desire for ourselves are two separate things," said Sutton, an adherent of the [Baha'i] faith, founded in mid-19th century....

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/02/jazz_vocalist_tierney_sutton_p.html

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On Special Devotions at the Baha'i House of Worship for North America: In support of the Bahá'í prisoners in Iran

 

 Special Devotions
In support of the Bahá'í prisoners in Iran
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, February 7 at 12:30pm
Bahá'í House of Worship Auditorium
100 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This program will be dedicated to seven Iranian Bahá'í leaders who have been imprisoned in Tehran for nearly two years on false charges stemming from their membership in the Bahá'í Faith, which was founded in Iran in 1844.  The next scheduled session of the trial will take place on February 7, 2010.
 
Following prayers in the Auditorium, there will be a program in Foundation Hall beginning at 1:15pm that will include prayers, music, and an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the current trial of the seven wrongfully imprisoned Bahá'í leaders.  The program will last approximately 1 hour, and light refreshments will be served.
 
The Bahá'í Faith is the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran and more than 200 Bahá'ís have been executed by Iranian authorities since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. To learn more about the Bahá'ís in Iran, please visit: http://iran.bahai.us.

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On Special Prayers Offered This Weekend All Over the World: Global response, local news

This was the church my parents attended when I was a boy. The Baha'is are meeting there for prayers on Sunday. -gw

 

Copyright 2007 by Jim Frazier. This image is licensed for limited use ONLY under Creative Commons.

 

Baha'i event: The Bahá'í­ Community of Naperville is holding a devotional gathering on the scheduled day of the trial in Iran of seven Baha'i leaders. All are welcome to attend at 7:30 p.m. at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 4 S 535 Old Naperville Road, in Naperville.

 

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2030526,6_1_NA05_CALENDAR_S1-100205.article

 

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Chattanooga, 2405 Hamill Road, are offering a community prayer service on Sunday at 11 a.m. for seven leaders of the international Baha'i faith community who are being held in Iran. The service will focus on prayer for the deliverance of the seven, who have been held nearly two years without access to attorneys and, until two weeks ago, without being told their charges

 

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/feb/06/faith-briefs/?entertainmentlifeentertainment

Milwaukee's Baha'i community will hold a special prayer service Sunday for seven Baha'i leaders awaiting verdicts in Iran on charges of spying for Israel.

The charges and secret trial, which have been condemned by the international community, including the United States, are seen by many as part of a systematic persecution of Baha'is by Iran's Shiite Muslim majority since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/83693777.html

The Baha'is will conduct a mass prayer vigil this Sunday to pray for seven members of the faith who have been imprisoned in Iran for nearly two years. The prisoner’s trial begins Sunday in Tehran, Iran. While reported charges accuse the seven of espionage, those in the Baha’i faith said the imprisonment stems from the persecution of their religion.

A Baha’i representative said the group believes in the power of prayer and wishes to get all faiths, not just those of Baha’i, to remember their imprisoned members in Iran in their prayers Sunday.

http://www.lewisvilleleader.com/articles/2010/02/05/lewisville_leader/news/13.txt

DALLAS (AP) — Hundreds of Dallas-area followers of the Baha'i (buh-HYE') faith plan to gather to pray for the safe release of seven Baha'i leaders on trial in Iran.

 

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Dallas-Baha-is-pray-for-leaders-freedom-352162.php

 

Members of the Riverside Baha'i Center Sunday will participate in a devotional gathering to pray for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran.

 

http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2010/02/bahai-members-gather-to-pray-f.html

Springfield’s Baha’i community will hold a prayer service Sunday at the Library Station for seven Iranian citizens who are on trial in Iran, facing charges of espionage. KSMU's Jennifer Moore has details.

According to the US State Department, five men and two women, all of the Baha’i faith, have been detained in Iran for over 20 months, with little access to legal counsel and without any evidence against them being made public.

http://www.ksmu.org/content/view/5987/66/

 

Baha'i communities all over the world, including those in the Tri-Valley, are holding prayer vigils to show support for the prisoners this weekend.

There are about 300,000 Baha'is in Iran, the largest minority group there. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Baha'is have been harassed, arrested and, in some cases, killed, Sabetan said.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_14343821

SEASIDE - The Baha'is of Clatsop County will hold a public prayer gathering and information event at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Rebekkah Hall in Seaside at the corner of 12th Avenue and Holaiday Drive, to show support for seven Iranian Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran who are scheduled to appear before an Islamic Republic Revolutionary Court Sunday.

This event is part of a worldwide day of prayer to demonstrate support for seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who face a series of charges stemming from their membership in the Baha'i Faith, the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran, including two capital offenses: espionage for Israel and "spreading corruption on earth."

http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&ArticleID=67630

 

A special prayer gathering to further demonstrate our community's sympathy for and solidarity with these seven innocent believers by uniting our fervent prayers with those of others around the world for the deliverance of these 7 unjustly-accused sisters and brothers in Iran. All believers of every faith are invited to join the Baha'is in prayer for these innocents who've been held 2 years only to face charges carrying the death penalty in a trial set to begin on 7 Feb in Iran.

 

http://www.visitjacksonville.com/visitors/calendar-of-events/?cal_submit=1&cal_sdate=02-05-2010&cal_edate=02-12-2010&cal_keyword=&cal_catID=499&cal_subCatID=0/

 

Members of the Baha'i community in San Clemente will hold a public prayer gathering at 7:30 p.m. Friday to show solidarity with seven Bahai's about to go on trial for their lives in Iran.

 

http://www.ocregister.com/news/baha-232503-iran-san.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On Baha'i humanitarian aid to Haiti: The medical team used the Anis Zunuzi Baha'i School as their headquarters

http://news.bahai.org/story/755

Amid wreckage in Haiti, new birth brings hope

The medical team used the Anis Zunuzi Baha'i School as their headquarters, but they also visited a second Baha'i school in the Port-au-Prince area, shown here, where they assisted patients and where they are looking into doing ongoing work in support of the Haitian people's efforts to rebuild their country and improve health standards.

30 incredible photos. -gw

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On Colegio Ridvan: Baha'i-inspired education

Tags El Salvador Colegio Ridvan kids

Uploaded on August 4, 2006 by pangolinpetrichor on flickr

Siggy is on a Baha'i Year of Service in Central America, down from Alaska. -gw

I'm a 20-year-old college student who is on a grand adventure in El Salvador. This page is an account of my story and discovery. A long way from Alaska, the only place I've ever lived, I'm sure to learn much during my stay here :)

http://www.blogger.com/profile/16753120910401367960

The new news of my service is that I'm moving on Tuesday to live near the capital. I'll travel in the mornings to teach English classes at Colegio Ridvan. The word ¨ridvan¨ means paradise and it is a Baha'i-inspired school with about 100 students from kinder to fifth year.

http://sunshine-siggy.blogspot.com/2010/01/la-escuela-de-verano-and-mourning.html

One morning recently, a marvelous thing happened. I woke up with a profound sense of belonging. I felt like I was adjusting well to my new home and work. A welcoming peace was about me as I arose out of bed. Not a few minutes later, I go to put on my shoes and discover a dead cockroach in one of them. Yuck. So that's how my existence here is, always something new!

http://sunshine-siggy.blogspot.com/2010/02/education-and-learning.html

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On Our Devotional Playlist: Teddy Pendergrass, Aaron Neville, and JC and Karim

Tonight at devotions I played... -gw

 

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On the Heavenly Food Is Needed: Be thou a server

It's pretty neat that I can go on Baha'i Views / Flitzy Phoebie on flickr from work and find out what I'm having for dinner. -gw

Announce the utmost love from Abdul-Baha to his honor ........ and say: "O thou friend of my heart! The heavenly food is needed successively; be thou a server of the food and direct thou the people of the world to present themselves at that table and guide them to partake thereof." ... Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Author: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Source: Bahá’í Publishing Committee, 1909 edition Pages: 730

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On Kudos to a Dad and a Mom: Los Angelista's

He married my black mom, and he's still married to her. My Irish-American dad's joked before that my mom being black wasn't a big deal to him. Instead, his biggest worry was she wasn't Catholic.

 It is nice to see pics of Liz's father today on her blog in a birthday paen to him and the link to a previous piece on her mother's birthday. Lovely post. Lovely to note that Liz is second-generation Baha'i. It's not to be taken for granted when the children of Baha'is turn out also to be Baha'is. -gw

...my only true sports passion is Notre Dame football.  ... Of much more importance than sports is truly my love for the Baha'i Faith and the opportunities for fascinating discussions which sometimes arise with sincere people of many different religious backgrounds.
Love, Dad

http://www.losangelista.com/2010/02/happy-birthday-five-cool-things-about.html

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On Disintegration and Integration: Outworn institutions vs. new bases for collaboration

Nation Welcomes Return Of Good Old-Fashioned Partisan Bickering

January 30, 2002 | Issue 38•03

 

Which headline do you prefer, the one above from the comedy news site The Onion, or the one below from the Baha'i International Community United Nations Office website?

 

Transforming Collective Deliberation: Valuing Unity and Justice

 

In this time of transition to a new social order, processes of social integration gather momentum alongside related processes of disintegration. Collapsed moral foundations, outworn institutions and a sense of disillusionment foment chaos and decline in the social order while, at the same time, integrative forces raise up new bases for collaboration and transform the nature and scope of collective action. Such integrative processes are evidenced by growing social networks facilitated by information technology; expanded suffrage and formal participation in governance; collective approaches to knowledge generation and dissemination; the spread of education and consciousness-raising regarding human interdependence; the evolution of new mechanisms of international cooperation, and the like. Similarly, one discerns emerging processes of decision-making that are increasingly inclusive, unifying and just, and that challenge partisanship as a means of addressing problems facing increasingly interdependent communities.

In this context, the Bahá'í International Community would like to offer its experience with a process of collective inquiry called consultation, which serves as the basis for deliberation and decision-making in Bahá’í communities around the world.

http://bic.org/statements-and-reports/bic-statements/10-0203.htm

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On Something More Astounding Than Winning a Grammy: Music with a message is well worth the investment of my lifetime.

I won!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Nope.  Not the lottery.  Not a Grammy.  Not American Idol

.  SOMETHING EVEN MORE ASTOUNDING!

At the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Awards Program Saturday night at City Council Chambers I was awarded the 2010 Baha'i Unity of Humanity Award!  Without warning me first, Dottie Henderson of Unity Church had written a glowing nomination for me, and she was so eloquent that the committee couldn't resist!  I've read over the nomination, and Dottie seems to have the idea that I write songs about peace, personal growth, and social justice and then live my life like I believe my own songs!  (Probably a dangerous thing sometimes!)  I was so HONORED.  Thank you so much, Dottie, for recognizing that there really IS some method to my madness!  And yes, I truly do believe that music is magic.  Music is medicine.  Music can work miracles.  And music CAN help us remake the world.  Moreover--music with a message and peacemaking with music is well worth the investment of my lifetime.

 

http://www.danaclarkmusic.com/

 

 

Church music director receives award Dana Clark, music director at Unity Church of San Antonio, was awarded the 2010 Baha’i Unity of Humanity Award by the San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. Commission last month.

Dottie Henderson, who nominated Clark for the award, wrote to the city commission: “Clark is in service to humanity and the world through a ministry of music as a singer, songwriter, musician, poet, music teacher and writer. A review of her work consistently presents themes of unity, harmony and oneness in the world, healing differences, and treating everyone with dignity and respect.”
Clark founded the San Antonio Peace Choir in 2006 and is co-founder of the Lewis and Clark Musical Expedition band,

 

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/north_central/North_Central_News_Briefs_-_Feb_4.html

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On Views on Creation: I am quite curious abt the Hindu & Baha'i perspectives

http://twitter.com/iMuslimTV  iMuslimTV

 

Attending a debate titled "Religion & Science" at my uni. Panel consists of Hindu, Xtian, Muslim, Baha'i & Humanist speakers. 16 minutes ago from Echofon

 

There's a good turnout. I am quite curious abt the Hindu & Baha'i perspectives. I've no idea of their views on creation. 14 minutes ago from Echofon

 

1st audience question: what gives us more idea abt our place in the universe? Science & the Big Bang theory or Religion & Creationism? 2 minutes ago from Echofon

 

Keep tweeting. This should be ineresting. -gw

 

 

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On Making Sense of Religion in the Modern World: For community cohension

Although some may have difficulty embracing the unity in the diversity, others see it as inevitably the way of the future and even a reflection of God's Will. There is no turning back. -gw

In keeping with schools’ current practice, the programme of learning prioritises teaching on Christianity and five other “principal religions”: Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism.

However, for the first time it also recommends that children study “other religious traditions such as the Baha’i faith, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism, and secular world views, such as humanism”. ...

Launching the new programme of learning, Schools Minister Diana Johnson MP said: “In 21st century Britain, it is vital that young people develop a good understanding of other people’s beliefs, faiths and religions. ...

The “groundbreaking” new Religion and Belief in Today’s World course largely excludes the Bible and other religious texts.

Instead, pupils study “community cohesion and valuing diversity” in order to help them “make sense of religion in the modern world

 http://www.christian.org.uk/news/new-guidance-on-primary-re-is-multi-faith-mish-mash/

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On Gardening Tips: Seeds endowed with potentialities such as had never been known in history

 

Folks, My lawn guy says my lawn is dying and if I don't re-sod it soon, I'll have no lawn left. Re-sodding will be $700 (YIKES!) as I was told I will need seven (7) pallets of sod at $100/each.

In this economy, I can't spend $700 on grass. What are my options? Can I plant seeds? One advantage of seeds (other than cost) is that I won't have an unlevel lawn....or have to spend a ton of time/$$$ removing dirt. I imagine you can't just plop sod down on top of grass...you have to dig away some dirt so the final lawn is all at one level.

I looked everywhere for St. Augustine grass seeds...and was told you CAN'T GROW St. Augustine from seed? OK, so I found Bahai Grass. It is not a perfect match but better than a batch of plain dirt, no?

Are there downsides to planting Bahai seeds on a St. Augustine Lawn? Any advice for doing so?

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/flgard/msg0318250429714.html

 

I hear that Baha'i seeds will grow just about anywhere. -gw

 

The seeds which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ceaseless activities so lavishly scattered had endowed the United States and Canada, nay the entire continent, with potentialities such as it had never known in its history.

 

The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh

Author: Shoghi Effendi Source: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991 first pocket-size edition Pages: 206

 

 

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On Ye Are the Stars of the Heaven of Understanding: Eric Harper and Giti Najafi

Persian-born, multilingual vocalist, Giti, brings to life the musical traditions of her homeland and blends them with the passionate flamenco of Spain, where she lived for 10 years. Singing in Spanish, Arabic, Farsi and English, she hopes to convey the spirit of oneness contained in Bahai writings.

 

I found this video of Gita Najafi performing with Eric Harper via a link on the 2009 Divine Art of LIving conference site.

 

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On the Baha'is: From what I can gather, the basic gist is unity

 

So the Baha'i Faith is the subject of discussion among some AR15.COM forum members tonight. -gw

 

>This religion has half as many adherents around the world as Judaism, yet I have never heard of it until today. Begun in Persia a couple of hundred years ago, they are a monotheistic religion and the largest religion after Islam in Iran, where they are severely persecuted, as in most other Muslim states. Currently, India has the largest number of followers.

 

They accept many of the teachings of the Abrahamic religions yet have many core beliefs which could be considered as being ahead of their time, such as intelligent design.

 

They have some pretty interesting architecture as well.

 

Anyways, I don't really have a point to make here, other than to ask if anyone has any information or personal experiences or thoughts about this religion beyond what is available at the wikipedia article, i'd be keen to learn more. It's very interesting to me and i'm surprised i've never heard of it before now.

 

> Some friends of my mother belong to that faith. He was a travelling type and met her in Iran, I think it was.

 

> The few I know are decent, hardworking people that seem to be happy and healthy. I know little about them other than what y9ou already posted.

 

> I always that of it as the catch all. I've went over the basics a couple of times in a couple of class when I was in college. All the worlds religions point to the same GOD.

 

> My girlfriend is Baha'i. From what I can gather, the basic gist is unity. As a practical matter, this means just try to get along with people. Be nice and non-confrontational. If you have any specific questions, I can ask her.

 

> The worst I can say about them is that I can never keep straight which is their symbol and which is the South Carolina symbol. (tree & crescent moon like thing)

 

> One of my grandmothers is.

 

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=135&t=992999&page=1

 

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On Baha'i-inspired Music: Group now on Vimeo

Baha'i-inspired music is now on Vimeo. The moderator is the most knowledgeable man in the world on the subject, in my humble opinion. Join the group. -gw

 

Harri Peltola

Creator

4 hours ago

 

First video up is...

 

 

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On Not Being Disappointed at the Time of the Great Disappointment: Quite interesting

QI - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia QI (Quite Interesting) is a British comedy panel game television quiz show ..... Visitors to the British Comedy Guide have named QI the "Best British TV ...

 

This discussion of the Great Disappointment and the so-called "rapture" is ... quite interesting, from a Baha'i perspective. No need to feel disappointed by God. He is right on time, in 1844 and now. -gw

 

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On a Song Dedicated to the Seven Baha'is on Trial: This love

 

"They can take my rights away, but I grow stronger every day." Dedicated to the 7 Baha'is on trial. -gw

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On Floor Mats to Israel: This guy’s from a religion, so I guess he’s all right, and I e-mailed him a quote

 Look for the floormats when on Baha'i pilgrimage. -gw

 

What does surprise Hillas are the calls out of the blue, like one from a Danish woman who saw a sale item — a Taiwan-made device that opened plastic bags with an air blast.

Then there was the early-morning call last week from Israel. A representative of the Baha’i faith’s world center in Haifa spotted on Hillas’ Web site a floor mat that pulls dirt from folks’ feet.

"It’s 7 in the morning, and I’m settled down reading the Star-Telegram, and this guy wants me to send mats to Israel. 'This is strange,’ I tell myself.

"But this guy’s from a religion, so I guess he’s all right, and I e-mailed him a quote."

http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/1935024.html

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On Counting Crows: But first the numbers

It's the end of the month. Good day to track the numbers.

 

In the last 27 days there have been 21,567 views to the Baha'i Views / Flitzy Phoebie photostream, photos, and sets on Flickr. What's a view, you ask?

 

Every single photo page can be arrived at from any other part of the internet. There's no "gateway" page they have to first enter. Thus there can [and will] be individual counts for each image, for each person who found their way there. Similarly, there will be counts for each person who arrived at your front page, with nary the two counts meeting. Each of your set pages as well, have their own unique counter.

 

http://www.flickr.com/help/forum/51972/?search=definitions

 

According to Google Analytics, in January 2010 there were 4,686 visits to Baha'i Views on Blogger, 2,496 visits to Baha'i Views on WordPress, and 1,495 on Posterous. That's 1,104 to Baha'i Views on Posterous and 391 to Baha'i Music on Posterous.  I'm no longer autoposting to either Teaching the Baha'i Faith or Defense of Faith. The former is still accessible, and its archives drew 106 visits in January. So the total blog visits for the month for all of the blogs was 8,783.

 

Visits represent the number of individual sessions initiated by all the visitors to your site. If a user is inactive on your site for 30 minutes or more, any future activity will be attributed to a new session. Users that leave your site and return within 30 minutes will be counted as part of the original session.

 

http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=57164

 

Posterous provides a postviews number that is fun to watch grow. This is separate from the site visits number which Posterous also provides, as does Google Analytics. A visitor can come to the site and view multiple posts on one page or a visitor can arrive directly to a post. Those post views really add up.

 

Since I started Baha'i Music (first called "bahaimusic's posterous") on 9/11/09, 30,798 post views have accumlated, up from 21,198 just a little more than a month ago.  (I arrived at the numbers going through the laborious process of adding up all 123 posts.) Add to that 5,750 site views and you have a grand total of 36,548 site views and postviews combined.

 

By my talley today, there have been 59,954 post views on Baha'i Views on Posterous with its 320 individual posts since I started using the blogging platform on 9/21/09. Add to that number the 6,994 site views and you have a grand total of 66,958. That's up from 47,470 from late December, the last time I did a talley.

 

Total Posterous site views and post views to date: 103,506.

 

On YouTube Baha'i Views is "bahaivews" (no "i"). There are 124 video clips that have been put up. Adding up the total number of views for the first time today, I note that there have been 5,660 views total of those videos.

 

Enough counting visits and views for today. It's Counting Crows instead. -gw

 

 

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On a Sleepy-Time Baha'i Devotional: Liam & Cornelia join us

It was wonderful seeing Liam and his mother Cornelia arriving at Thursday's devotions with a plate of fresh-baked cookies, wonderful having them join us for prayers and sharing.

We were all a bunch of sleepy-heads that night. Accordingly, I tried to work lullabies from around the world into the musical mix, but not before I played a little Dino Five. Liam likes dinosaurs, you see.

After Cornelia sings a prayer live and in person, I play a new favorite Baha'i song by Chelsey-Lynn I think she'll like, "This is a Lamp (O My Lord)"

On My Website Is the Internet: More true today that ever before

Pioneer Baha'i blogger Barney is going to take a break from Barnabas Quotidianus...

 

Blogging has become kind of mainstream – not that that is necessarily a bad thing – but I feel that social networks are where it’s at right now.

BQ will remain on display for a time, but will join the legions of inactive blogs that are sitting on the web.

Find me elsewhere…

If you want to keep up with me, my life, my doings, my thoughts (not sure why you would, but just in case), you can find me on:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Posterous

By the way, I can highly recommend Posterous as a blogging tool. It is both powerful and flexible and links into your Facebook page, Twitter, your blog, etc (if you want it to). It also stands very well by itself.

http://www.leithjb.net/blog/2010/01/31/bq-closing-down-for-a-time-at-least/

 

I certainly agree with Barney that social networking is the the dominant force on the Internet right now, and personal blogs have lost their lustre as being cutting edge. I would argue,however, that it doesn't matter how Bahai's choose to utilize the Internet, because now searches can instantly put us in touch with everything that appears using the keyword "Baha'i" in whatever format: news, blogs, videos, updates, forums, everything.

 

 

We are free to chose the vehicle that fits us best. Facebook, Twitter, and Posterous is formidable combination enough. No reason to feel like you're not doing enough through participation on even one of those.

 

Barney's presence on the internet has been an inspiration to Baha'is like me for years and will, undoubtedly, continue to be.

 

I heartily endorse Barney's recommendation re Posterous, by the way. It is my primary blog now, the way I get Baha'i Views content out to multiple sites. -gw

 

 

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On a Hike in the Forest: Getting back in shape

I know, you didn't think that wildcat's have trunks, but apparently they do. Hence the name of this trail.

My hamstring injury has healed. The 9-day intensive Baha'i teaching campaign is over. Bonita and I set aside the day for a hike in the forest.

 

Green Mountain State Forest
Kitsap County, Washington

See: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_green_08_full.pdf

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