My thoughts and tears go out to the Baha'is of Shiraz and Egypt alike

Recently, I have been informed of the arrest of 54 Baha'i youths in Shiraz, Iran. These youths were arrested as they, along with non-Baha'is, taught English, reading and writing to those who are less fortunate then themselves. These types of events are conducive to the history of the Baha'i Faith in Iran. Arrests, long-term imprisonment and general persecution of Baha'is and non-Muslims in Muslim countries have increased and there seems to be no end in site. This, along with recent talks about creating tags for non-Muslims in Iran, heightens my fear for what will happen to Baha'is, Christians, Jews and other religious minorities in the country. For the full story...

As well, the government of Egypt has begun fighting a recent court decision to grant Baha'is full citizenship. The following article explains the situation. Currently, Judaism and Christianity are the only two religious minorities recognized by the government, and the only way for a Baha'i to gain full citizenship would be to renounce their Faith; which, will not happen, regardless of the punishments.

These situations are very real, and while many of those who read this and other blogs like it may be having a venomous or revenge oriented reactions, it's important to remember that Love is the only way to break down the injustices that occur around the world, not anger and rancor. My thoughts, prayers and tears are with those Baha'is and non-Baha'is alike whose rights are being violated in Egypt and Iran.

For anyone who is looking for a proactive way to help in such matters, please contact me through the comments section of this post and we can discuss possible options. Thank you very much.

Tiger Pistol Shrimp are amazing!

I would like to thank Jon for telling me about the tiger pistol shrimp. I mean, wow! They create a sound so loud that it creates light.

If you wish to destroy me...you've suceeded

My boss is listening to a Dave Matthews Band live CD...and I want to tear my ears off...or kill myself.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite Simpsons lines ever

Bart - "It looks like Santa's Little Help's trying to jump over the dog, but he just can't make it. You can do it, boy!"

Marge - "Oh, my."

Track Announcer - "This is the end," pause, "this, is the end of dog racing."

Just past the passerbys

There's something very unsettling about anyone who stares at another person, let alone a young person, at work for several minutes on end, multiple times a day. Especially when we're talking about a gentleman who quickly turns (noticeably), leaned back in his computer chair, arms over his head. He sits there as I continue working on data entry, his shirt lifted up because of his arms, about two inches of his stomach curling out in a disturbing relaxation. Inhaling another gust, possibly trying to intimidate with unblinking ridgedness. It's possible that it's better he sit next to me instead of one of the women in the other room who would very easily claim sexual harassment after too many glaring eyes and protruding bellies. As he shoots a snot rocket into his right hand, and licks it off like a Kodak bear.

Actually, there's something unsettling about the quick head turned looks out the window at any member of the opposite sex. Followed closely by a even more unsettling grown. Have I mentioned that I'm not a fan of working here? I thought I had. Can't recall if I made note of that.

The Way We Move Reflected in Flowery Language

I've arrived at an inpass here. A snow covered 'T' intersection where I'm not even sure where I started from. Probably not nearly as dramatic a scene as I've just described, but equally as confusing. It goes like this: My job is not challenging, but the activities outside of work that I've been able to participate in are. What I do here is, essentially, copy information about doctors into the database or correct the mistakes of others; I've even been asked to double check other people's work on different occasions. What I'm doing outside of this place is far more exciting. For as long as I've been here I've complained about the lack of a challenge, the void in the "I actually have to spend some time to think about this one" activities. The absence of any kind of lucid...anything. The reality of the matter is that I've been able to supplement everything here with something outside of here, and that seems to make the job a little easier to bare. As I punch in names, file forms or verify and alphabetize questioners I've been attempting to think about what I'll be doing later. A sort of prepatory exercise revolving around keeping me sane and away from making crazy comments that turn into a "thing" and I never hear the end of it; it's annoying to know that after joking about how funny it would be to eat a penguin, the people here would continue to bring it up, even after I made it perfectly clear that I wasn't being serious (and after several weeks since) - on a crutch, I say.

Today, I sit and stare at the screen, knowing that if I visit websites outside of our network our IT guy will come by and publicly make a condescending remark about how he's going to block me despite the rest of the offices' glaring use of the same sites, not having any work and pondering what I'll be doing tonight. We have our second Cluster Coordinating Committee meeting [I know that there will be many who read this who will have no idea what a Cluster is, so I'll supply an explanation. A Cluster is, essentially, a group of communities, cities, towns, etc that have been grouped together in an effort to better facilitate growth of the Bahá’í Faith. As well, it's a way for people to bond together, and possibly get different ideas based on what other communities may be doing (eg. - Devotionals, Firesides, Children's Classes, Pre-Youth and -Youth Classes and the like).] at 7:30. The group will talk about the activities of Cluster 18, what we can do to better spread news about these activities and the planning of a Cluster Reflection Gathering, a meeting for our Cluster where we talk about what we're doing and what we can be doing better.

Yesterday, I met with Ken Bowers to network and generally get advice as to what I am doing in my professional life. Right or wrong path? Healthy or unhealthy choices? The meeting went well. However, a single question "...what about service to the Faith?" continues to have me wondering if I do enough for this religion that I love so much, or if there is something more I could be doing. Something more focused or more purposeful? Then, I snap back to this desk, this computer and one of my coworkers from the other room. We began briefly talking about the Faith after she noticed pictures of the House of Worship in India and the model for the one in Chile. She asked if "all the temples reflected nature?" and I said "yes". Ignoring that I should have probably explained that those two Houses of Worship were more nature reflective while the others more cultural reflective, and then it strikes me like a slap between the shoulder blades. Service to the Faith is specific to each person save one aspect. Some play the guitar and sing, others edit materials to be printed in books and still others patrol the grounds to insure the safety of anyone who steps upon the grounds. They all, however, teach.

Maybe I should get back to work now. Anticipating the next time someone asks me about the "beautiful buildings" that are the background.

We'll see what comes of this

Yesterday, I had a meeting with Ken. It was incredible!

That's right, a post about peanuts

I'm not sure I know the difference between "blister peanuts" and regular peanuts, but these things are incredible! Unsalted, sucka!

Afternote: I finished the peanuts, and they were awesome.

Disjointed

I realize I post a lot about my job, so I'm going to try to come up with some different subject matters to attend to in the coming week

For the last few days, when I have some "downtown" here at the office [laughable], I've been asked to input addresses from fliers that have been "returned to sender" along with the reason why and any possible new address the post office may have on file attached by way of a yellow address label. The front of the fliers boast "an overview for non-injectors". There are also an assortment of artistically gritty syringes and a few bullseyes with the words "Exploring the Advantages of Botulinum Toxin Therapy" across the top in white letters. Each name and subsequent address I submit to the list allows for my brain to stroke off or explore thoughts of how much I would love to be working anywhere else. Somewhere with a better challenge than "can I beat the number of return mail I can input within a set amount of time?" In a cube, possibly, not surrounded by four gents, well into their thirties, who are on the phones with doctors or pharmaceutical reps discussing their registration for speaker training or classes that will earn them CME credit. They cocoon me in what some might consider white noise [gassy white noise] or enough background to allow them to focus on the tasks that are given to them. For me, it's not like that at all. I'm unable to drown out the sounds around me. Can't plug headphones in to create a tempo.

Last night I spoke with my dad about convention. About the reports given, the newsreel and some of the consultation centering around the decay of the society around us; the first two topics had us smiling, the latter turned brows into a concerned furrow. I lingered back onto work, and told him that I had had enough. Crossing my arms, looking off into my mother's closet and shifting my weight from one foot to another. That I was interested in having a conversation with Ken Bowers or Bob Henderson about what I'm doing with myself, what I could be doing and asking them for any advice or ideas or networking for a man who's mind has become ADD because of the lack of stimulation in the workplace and a growing fear that my spirit may be effected as well.

The conversation around me turns to the Bulls' victory last night and into the small talk of people who don't know anything substantial about each other. Who can't trust or love those around them because they simply don't have that model or have never been in that situation or thought about love as being a way for groups/teams in the office to work effectively together, to stimulate consultation. It's incredible to note just how much I was able to glean from the time I spent running around the House of Worship with bottles of water to restock or a van to pack up. Sounds silly, but hearing that after a very passionate speech about racism all the delegates cried and hugged each other, whether they knew anything about each other or not.

I'm rambling out of frustration and a lack of anything to do here. Hope you all are well! You all smell terrible. Especially all of you.

Afternote: Next week, appointment with the incomperable Ken Bowers.

Note to self...

All religions teach that we should love one another; that we should seek out our own shortcomings before we presume to condemn the faults of others, that we must not consider ourselves superior to our neighbours! We must be careful not to exalt ourselves lest we be humiliated.

Who are we that we should judge? How shall we know who, in the sight of God, is the most upright man? God's thoughts are not like our thoughts! How many men who have seemed saint-like to their friends have fallen into the greatest humiliation. Think of Judas Iscariot; he began well, but remember his end! On the other hand, Paul, the Apostle, was in his early life an enemy of Christ, whilst later he became His most faithful servant. How then can we flatter ourselves and despise others?

Let us therefore be humble, without prejudices, preferring others' good to our own! Let us never say, 'I am a believer but he is an infidel', 'I am near to God, whilst he is an outcast'. We can never know what will be the final judgment! Therefore let us help all who are in need of any kind of assistance.

Let us teach the ignorant, and take care of the young child until he grows to maturity. When we find a person fallen into the depths of misery or sin we must be kind to him, take him by the hand, help him to regain his footing, his strength; we must guide him with love and tenderness, treat him as a friend not as an enemy.

We have no right to look upon any of our fellow-mortals as evil.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 147)