An interagency review of U.S. government stabilization efforts is expected as early as this month. The Stabilization Assistance Review (SAR) examines how the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Department of Defense (DoD) coordinate their diplomacy, aid, and military operations, primarily in Syria and Iraq. A State… Read More	
Featured article: The Syrian Refugee Crisis: A Moral and Ethical Obligation of Resettlement or “I’ll Pass on the Poisoned Skittles” by Joel D. Funk What are the relationships between the migration of refugees and conflict? The conventional logic presumes that demographic factors and how they interact with resources are potential… Read More	
countering violent extremism (CVE) ethics Failing States Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) refugees Syria	
National Security After 15 years of war, America’s military has about had it with ‘nation building’, Military Times 9 States Accept DHS’ Election Security Support, Nextgov The Final Front in the Afghan War, Foreign Policy Islamic State fired crude chemical weapons on US troops – Pentagon, The Guardian Can the… Read More	
"I love hearing the personal stories shared by the recipients of this life changing gift." - Jeanne Jones
The San Diego Council on Literacy held its Chairman's Circle reception at the James S. Copley Library in La Jolla December 6th, 2007. Amidst the festively decorated library was the Honorary Chair, David Copley. That's the David Copley of the Copley Press, including the Pulitzer Prize winning San Diego Union Tribune, and Sign on San Diego, and so much more.
David had this to say about this special time of year and event. "The San Diego Council on Literacy Holiday party at the Copley Library always marks the beginning of the Holidays for me, and gives me a chance to spend time with old friends who have been supporting this great cause for many years."
Karin Winner, the Editor in Chief of the San Diego Union Tribune agreed. "This Literacy Council event is a special holiday tradition...amid the backdrop of the beautiful Copley Library -- decorated in such a festive way -- the testimonial from someone who shares how learning to read has changed his or her life is always just amazing. This year's honoree was exceptional."
They were joined by many more patrons and champions of literacy. Among them were Colette Carson Royston and Dr. Ivor Royston, Sheri Jamieson, Audrey Geisel and Alex Butterfield, Blair Harris, Andrew Shelton, Mike Rose, Linda and Mel Katz, Marge and Paul Palmer, Catherine and Phil Blair and last year's honorees, Judith Harris and Dr. Robert Singer.
Judith and Robert wouldn't miss this event. And neither would Valerie and Harry Cooper, Jeanne Jones and Don Breitenberg, Lynelle and Bill Lynch, Eric Busboom, Danah Fayman, Pam and Hal Fuson, and Drew Schlosberg. Drew presented the Union Tribune Corporate Leadership Award to the Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation.
Special guest and Chairman's Circle Chair Herb Klein spoke to riveted guests. Herb has a special niche in the world of words, reading, and journalism. Herb is the former Editor in Chief for the Copley Newspapers. He also served as the Communications Director for President Richard Nixon.
Long time patron Jeanne Jones describes this event thusly. "For me the Chairman's Circle Reception for the Council on Literacy is the real beginning of the holiday season. It is always such a festive event celebrating the importance of giving the gift of literacy to improve the quality of many lives. I love hearing the personal stories shared by the recipients of this life changing gift."
This year, Curtis Luster was the chosen student to speak. And he did so with passion about the difference literacy has made in his life.
The San Diego Council on Literacy's Executive Director José Cruz summed up the importance of literacy. “Through greater literacy, we are addressing poverty and homelessness, underemployment, crime, low student achievement in school, poor parenting and other problems that arise from low self-esteem and low-level literacy skills among adults and young people."
Over 20, no cost literacy service programs currently assist over 75,000 people of all ages in San Diego County reach their goal of life enrichening literacy.
The Social Diary salutes The San Diego Council on Literacy for improving the lives of many through literacy.
The James S. Copley Library welcomes academic research inquiries regarding various segments of their extensive collections including the American Revolutionary War, The Southwest, John Charles Fremont, Abraham Lincoln, and Samuel Clemens/ Mark Twain. Inquiries can be made by written correspondence to: James S. Copley Library, P.O. Box 1530, La Jolla, California 92038.
Margo Schwab with Blair Harris and Judith Harris ** Lynelle and Bill Lynch ** Dr. Robert Singer with Karin Winner and Scott Whitley
I know some of you are waiting for an update from me, and I'm pretty sure that the kind thoughts and positive energy you're all sending are starting to manifest into physical form.
This morning, there was a lovely young black cat sitting on my back porch—nice touch!—and later, when I opened the door to let Holden out, a beautiful dragonfly landed on my leg.
Then when I got up to come outside for some fresh air since there was a woodpecker PECKING ON MY HOUSE, a broad-winged hawk did a nosedive past my chair.
So in a nutshell, the best way for me to explain how I feel about my diagnosis is that I have a new monster in my closet. It's an ugly one, and boy, does he give me nightmares.
But—BUT—I'm not going to let him lurk there, causing me fear and anxiety in waking life. I'm not going to allow him to prevent me from embracing life, being present, or living in the moment. I'm not going to let him stop me from kicking ass and taking names and continuing to work as hard as I do every day to create, and to breathe in and appreciate the creativity of others . . . to succeed and revel in the success of others . . . to leave a meaningful legacy behind me when I leave this earthly plane, whenever that may be.
I'm going to strap a leash on that hideous beast and make him work for me. Carry my shit for me. Pour me my morning coffee. Hell, maybe even do a load of laundry or two. Do you think he cooks? Does windows?
The truth is, I am lucky. I might walk away from this with little more than a nasty scar or two, which may or may not be turned into a tattoo one day. Right, Carl?
Either way, I realize I have to be grateful for how fortunate I am. It pains me to think of the struggles people face with this disease every single day—children and adults alike, as it does not discriminate. The things I see at the cancer center and here online and on the news remind me of how blessed I am . . . but then again, I always was . . . and I always will be, no matter what.
Because let's face it. Who has friends that send them daisies (because daisies make everyone feel better) and bring them hot coffee from home in a mug? And drive it over without spilling a drop? And are in general just too awesome to even describe?
See? I'm blessed. But the pendulum swings both ways, and you have to be prepared to lose your equilibrium every now and then. Sometimes more.
A recent post by Mike Davis of The Lovecraft eZine on what it's like to live with Fibromyalgia was so spot on and articulate that it made me want to cry. I've lived with Fibromyalgia for so many years I've lost count . . . along with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Myofascial Pain, insomnia, and debilitating migraines. (Yes, I know, I'm a wreck!) A terrible fall in 2011 that some of you know about cost me my career, exacerbated my symptoms, catapulted me into a deep, dark hole that I've only recently come out of, and stole years from my life.
But that's a story for another time, I suppose. (Just remind me to tell you if you haven't heard it and would like to . . . it's a doozy.)
And just like the picture my friend Gretchen gave me to serve as my emblem for this recent battle, the picture a student of mine drew for me in his "Get Well" card (one of over a hundred my seventh graders sent after it happened) was what got me through the darkest days and, strangely enough, is the strongest visual association I make with the accident today. It's not the scar inside my mouth from the emergency oral surgery, or the lump on my chin from where all the muscle detached from the bone. It's not dollar signs representing the three figure medical bills and years of lost wages. It's not the contents of my classroom taking up most of my basement.
And I was wearing pants--really, I was! Not like that drunk teacher in Oklahoma. And it wasn't a chair I was standing on, it was a table. And I promise you, I DO have hands. I'm using them now.
But all else aside, I'll be damned if this hasn't made me smile, no matter how gravely unfunny the situation really was. And still is, by the way. My disability trial is scheduled for this month, almost four full years after the accident.
But there's a time to grieve, and a time to heal. It's so easy to get stuck in the grief . . . so incredibly easy. Letting go of the anger, resentment, and negativity to begin the journey of healing is hard.
But it's beautiful, and it's a gift we can't squander if given the opportunity. For instance, I just looked up to see Holden following a white butterfly around the yard. Every now and then it lands on him, and he just stands still until it flies away and he tags along. Pretty symbolic, if you believe in that sort of thing. And if not, that's okay. I'll just point out that that it's something I would have missed if I wasn't living in the moment.
Oh, yes. The point is that I had cancer, and while they think they removed it all during my recent surgery, I was told so with the following caveats:
the cancer can recur locally (in or near the site where it was completely removed) months or years after surgical removal.
the risk of it returning are extremely high—in terms of the risk factors involved, I have all of them.
The point is that I'm going to have to work hard at reducing stress in my life so I don't wear myself out fighting all of my battles at once. I have to learn my limits and respect them. I have to take care of myself and prioritize. I have to stop pretending I can juggle so many projects that all it does is make me crazy and exhausted and sick. I have to tell people that I have boundaries and restrictions. I might even have to learn to say no. I just can't do everything . . . after all, I'm only human.
Like Ragin' Cajun says, I have to learn to let go and let love. And with you guys behind me, I think I've got that covered.
It'll be a balancing act, for sure. But with the right amount of self-care, and the love, support, and encouragement of family and friends, I just might learn to manage all the monsters in my closet.
Thanks, bro. Now if I can just figure out how to change the color of the comment text...and get you down to visit. Oh, and maybe a road trip? We can ride the beast to New Orleans!
That is awesome! We got this! We are most certainly meant to be friends! God Bless! Let Go. Let Love. Keep dragonflies close--they're magic.....
Just found this and read it. Fuck cancer. I really don't have any words that could remotely be effectual, but know you have my support and friendship, for what those things are worth. You and Traci are in my thoughts daily, and I just feel that you guys are going to beat this. Love, peace, and a reduction of stress to you my friend.
Thanks, Tim. I'm good—as far as I know, I'm in the healing phase right now—so maybe if we put all our strength into Tracie we can get here there too!
The Duggar kids are coming back to our small screens, thanks to TLC's new spin-off show Jill and Jessa: Counting On, and Good Morning America got a chance to catch up with some of the Duggar siblings on how life has been since Josh's scandals rocked their world.
Last summer, the network canceled 19 Kids and Counting after a 2006 police report exposed that Josh had molested five underage girls as a teen, including four of his own sisters. Just a few weeks after that fiasco, Josh was caught in the Ashley Madison hack, and confessed to being unfaithful to his wife Anna and being addicted to porn.
He spent the last six months in an intensive rehab center and is now back home with the family in Arkansas, although he will not be appearing on the show.
Paula Faris talked with some of Josh's siblings about what they've been through as a family, and how they coped with everything that's happened in the past year. John-David Duggar (he and twin Jana are the next oldest after Josh) said that "the devil took his best shot," but wasn't able to tear them apart.
He continued, "God has really used this to -- instead of tearing us apart as a family, he's using it to draw us together ... We've forgiven, and we're moving on, and we're looking to the future."
John-David's sister Jessa Seewald also spoke about the scandal and why they chose to return to TV. When Faris asked how fans could be assured that their return to TV isn't about the money or fame, Jessa replied, "I think in the midst of what we were walking through, there definitely have to be periods where you're like, 'I don't want cameras around.'"
After taking several months to heal, Jessa said that she and her sibs felt like they were ready to share their lives again. "If we can encourage even one other person out there who's struggling, then that needs to be our goal ... we've had a lot of healing in our family these past few months and we're ready to move forward and share our lives."
More from The Stir: Anna Duggar Says She 'Doesn't Know How to Handle' Josh's Cheating Scandal (VIDEO)
John-David agreed. "We're moving on with our lives, and we're really looking forward to the future," he added. "And so we wanted to kind of share that with our fans, the folks that have followed us for years."
Scrutinizing the web to find the best videos in Stoner, Psychedelic, Doom and all the other kind of genres making this thing we called STONER ROCK!
The Classics Club has a fun idea for this spring -- take 20 books off our lists, number them, and they will give a random number. Then we have to read that book before April 1. We are challenged to have different categories of five books each. I don't have quite five rereads on my list so I shifted the numbers a bit, but here are my choices:
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