Doves

First an update on the fire of yesterday. A neighbor told me that in addition to two humans that three dogs also perished in the blaze. Investigation is ongoing.

This may not excite too many people but I am wondering if Ringed Turtle Doves are visiting my backyard. I first became aware of this pair of birds last spring, and day after day I heard a dove sound that was not the familiar Mourning Dove "coo-ah, coo, coo, coo."

Eventually I saw the two birds, a little larger than a Mourning Dove, lighter in color and with a distinct black collar on the back of the neck.

Reports tell me that the Ringed Turtle Dove has lost almost all of its fear of larger animals but these did not want to be photographed, and besides, it was before I had my "good" camera. From time to time, over a period of weeks, I saw or heard the pair.

Two days ago, I heard, and then saw them again. But (damn) the battery in my camera was dead.

I have read that they cannot survive without human handouts, so I will continue to feed the birds with dove attracting food and really to hope to get a picture.

This site says "The species is not on the Alabama Bird List for this reason and any reports of Ringed Turtle-Doves would have to be substantiated by an ornithologist or recognized competent field observer to be accepted by the Alabama Bird Records Committee."

The other possibility is the Eurasian Collared Dove, similar in appearance, but with a three syllable "coo COOO coo" instead of the two syllable "coo croo" of the Ringed cousin. Four of these guys were reported in Bessemer by one observer (not by me) during the recent Backyard Bird Count. I'm hoping for the Ringed Turtle Dove.

Really all I need to do is listen more carefully, I guess. And get a picture. The camera is charged.

Fatal Fire in Bessemer

Last night a fire occured three blocks from our house, and two people died. They are identified as David Dudley and Sherry Morris. The house was in the 700 block of 19th Street South.
al.com The cause is thought to be electrical, but investigation is ongoing.

The Sewer. What a Mess

There are not many options for Jefferson County to get out of the Sewer Mess (aren't all sewer's a mess?) but it is going to take a lot of convincing to get me to support taking money from education as has now been proposed. First a 1 cent sales tax hike for education that the citizens didn't even get a chance to vote on, and now a proposal to use some of that tax money for a purpose other than what it was passed for. (Can you say "Bessemer property tax passed for library expansion?")

If I am not mistaken this tax is supposed to be repealed in 12 years or so. Now if money is shifted from the proceeds...do you think the tax will be repealed? Taxes, once levied, have a habit of remaining, so here we go.

I wonder how many people have considered the huge debt that the residents of Jefferson County will ultimately be paying one way or another, and coupled with the 329 % increase in sewer rates over the last 11 years, are thinking that moving out of Jefferson County might be a good idea.

The thought has crossed my mind. I don't mind living in a state where the political climate is such that those in power are opposed to just about everything I believe in. In that situation one can stay and fight for what they believe in.

But in times of a floundering economy, with rising gasoline prices and grocery bills, can we afford to pay for the mistakes (criminal, greed or stupidity) made by elected officials? When we could just move a few miles away and save a wad of money? Of course, we wouldn't be in this historic home in this historic area, but it is something to think about. And if we moved further away gasoline expenses would go up since we would be driving more.

Oh well, still something to think about.

And will new people be considering moving into the county with this debt looming over them? Just things to think about.

This video is about...world populations and technology and jobs and shifts in perception and reality. I only wish that the new fiber optic capabilites that are mentioned would be applied to Bessemer where dsl must stand for "damn slow lines". Is it just me or is anyone else who has AT&T (formerly Bellsouth) broadband seeing their service get slower and slower?

Evangelicals Changing Their Stripes

I made a statement a couple of days ago: Now if only they will recognize the truth about poverty, gays and lesbians, war and such. For this I am not holding my breath.

Well, even if I were holding my breath, I might take in a fresh breath of air. I read this today: New Evangelical Leaders Said Less Interested In Battling Gay Rights.

James Dobson is wondering "Who will defend the unborn child in the years to come? Who will plead for the Terri Schiavos of the world? Who's going to fight for the institution of marriage, which is on the ropes today."

Hey Dobson...Why don't you fight for the born children who are living in poverty and without healthcare and education? You should have stayed out of Terry Shiavo's business. And gays are the ones fighting for the institution of marriage, which you are trying to horde for the heteros.

People like Dobson and Sally Kern of Oklahoma are quickly learning that they are mis-representing the bible, and mis-stating the truth, mis-interpreting the will of the American people.

"Christian activists and other observers of the movement say that the next generation of leaders isn't as interested in polarizing debates and wants to broaden the evangelical agenda beyond divisive issues like abortion and gay marriage." Those aren't Dobson's words, those are out of this article.

Oh, and you can email Sally Kern about this at sallykern@okhouse.gov.

Eliot Mess

Why would a smart, good looking man take part in risky behavior? Risky to his health, his relationships, his career and his dignity?

Well "we are all human" is the easy answer. But in a way, we are all encouraged to take risks, from early childhood on. If you don't take risks, you aren't going to get anywhere. It's just that some risks can lead to success, others can destroy you. And of course, we are not (or should not) be encouraged to engage in illegal risky behavior.

Bill Clinton's infamous explanation "Because I could" probably sums it up. People in power feel they can get away with anything. Presidents. Governors. Jefferson County Commissioners. Bessemer City Council members. Federal prosecutors in Alabama. But like Eliot Spitzer, they will learn.

Is prostitution really such a big deal? I mean, it is after all legal in two states. (According to wikipedia, “In Rhode Island the act of prostitution is legal as long as it happens indoors. Street solicitation is therefore illegal. Operating a brothel is also illegal. Prostitution is not regulated by the state of Rhode Island”. Of course, prostitution is legal in most counties in Nevada (not in Las Vegas or Reno, however, in spite of how it appears on CSI).
So it's not like prostitution is such a big bugaboo that no one considers it OK.

So could something positive could come out of this scandal? For one thing, David Paterson could become governor of New York. The current lieutenant governor would be only the second black governor of a state since reconstruction. In addition, he is legally blind (but can still play basketball? That, according to MSNBC this morning. Now what does this tell you about the innate abilities to play hoops based on race, but let’s not get into that?)



Paterson would be great for the GLBT community. As far back as 1987 he favored a hate crimes bill that included protections based on sexual orientation. He has supported marriage equality since 1994.

While Spitzer is also gay friendly, even before this scandal he carried a lot a baggage that affected his ability to get certain things done, and Paterson does not bring that hindrance with him.

The big lessons we should learn from this scandal is that poor judgment easily crosses party lines, and that disability does not hinder one from becoming an effective leader and a successful person.

Baptists and Global Warming

In a shocking...shocking development ...Southern Baptists are urging a fight against global warming.

After years of denial a group has released a declaration, signed by the president of the denomination Frank Page and other natables, including Timothy George of Samford University's Beeson Divinity School, and heads of other seminaries, that says they have been "too timid" on environmental issues and that the denomination has a biblical duty to stop global warming.

The declaration stated that the Baptists may have been "seen by the world as uncaring, reckless and ill-informed." Yes sir, good observation.

Because just last year this was their message: "The Southern Baptist Convention rejected scientific claims that humans are to blame for global warming and dismissed the governmental efforts to reverse it. "

They now seem to be in agreement with Bessemer Opinions that humans have a responsibility to care for God's creation, as was posted on Earth Day 2007.

Or maybe they read the Bible, rather than just picking and choosing which verses they can use to hurt other people.

At any rate, better late than never, although I imagine many Baptists preachers will "go down " kicking and screaming over this. Of course, individual churches and pastors are not bound by this declaration anyway.

But it is encouraging. Now if only they will recognize the truth about poverty, gays and lesbians, war and such. For this I am not holding my breath.

That being said, I do have some good friends and in-laws that are Baptists and who are concerned about the environment and climate change, so there is hope.

This is not Gay Bashing

That is what she says.

This is Representative Sally Kern of Oklahoma.

This Oklahoma state legislator says gays are for early childhood education so "we" can indoctrinate children.

She says we are infiltrating city councils to promote our agenda.

She says we are a greater threat "than terrorism or Islam" (apparently she thinks all of Islam is a threat, but that is another story).

She says she is not gay bashing. I'm about to throw up. Seriously.

She compares having gays in the community is like having cancer in your big toe, and will spread and destroy our nation. Listen






And I thought Alabama republicans were bad. Good Lord.