ColdMarble Musings

Monday, September 17, 2001

I don't claim to call myself an artist. There are many times when I'm not even sure that I deserve to label myself as a photographer. The images from last Tuesday's events have seared into my brain and, for the moment, have burnt all creativity from my soul. Others who attempt in their own ways to interpret the world around us through words and images are also deeply affected by the tragic events in our nation.

Reid has opened a discussion for those who feel their creative energies have been and will continue to be affected by the unfolding of hsitory. How do we as visual communicators regain and share our impressions, our interpretations and our visions?

Posted by coldmarble @ 11:48 AM EDST [Link] [blab]

I just got word that my brother, an Air Force reservist, has been called up and will be leaving later this week.

Stay safe, Dave.

Posted by coldmarble @ 11:01 AM EDST [Link] [blab]

Sunday, September 16, 2001

In a transcript of an ongoing discussion at the Washington Post, Reverend Randolph Bragg discusses the morality of war. If we are, as it certainly appears, destined for a long, protracted struggle, then we will require a moral resolve that carries us on well past initial feelings of outrage and anger. We must be sure that the acts of our nation are just, that our acts do not exceed moral and philosophical limits.

We are about to unleash a fearful power, the wrath of the strongest nation on earth, against an evil force.This should not be something we do with great rejoicing at the pain we are about to inflict upon those who have struck us. To see our nation through what promises to be years of struggle, we need more than a "gut check." We need a heart and soul check as well.

Posted by coldmarble @ 07:07 PM EDST [Link] [blab]

Friday, September 14, 2001

Those who would destroy it only make us see more clearly how precious it is.

link via Silver

Good cannot excuse evil in the name of spirituality.

link via Robin

Posted by coldmarble @ 12:38 PM EDST [Link] [blab]

Thursday, September 13, 2001

As this evening's quiet settled over the campus, people began to gather for a memorial vigil in rememberance of Tuesday's events. Gilman Hall made a formal backdrop as the chaplain spoke of sorrow and loss. Clutching flowers, the people listen to her words hoping to find a bit of peace. Some find it in a moment of silence, heads bowed in prayer and contemplation.

A truer healing seemed to happen as the event ended and people drifted away. Some found comfort in a small group of friends, others in the company of one special friend. Others found their peace alone in the crowd.

For some, it was too soon, the flowers cast aside as they seek for yet more news.

Posted by coldmarble @ 10:03 PM EDST [Link] [1 blab]

Wednesday, September 12, 2001

The last lines of our national anthem stick in my mind this morning. I'm not one to become caught up in a patriotic or nationalistic fervor but living just a few miles from Fort McHenry puts the song in my own backyard. We've suffered an outrageous and grievous attack. Our lives and our way of life will be changed from this day forward. It's the manner in which they change that will make all the difference.

We can choose to continue to place our trust in the government to provide for our security. Doing this would require the implementation of a strict regime intruding in every facet of our lives. If we trade our liberties for security, then the terrorists have won.

Or, we can choose to play from our strengths. The virtues of self reliance and community cooperation, seen already in the outpouring of volunteer efforts and long lines at blood donation centers, can be harnessed to provide a distributed solution to the problem of terrorism. We can live as armed citizens without becoming an armed camp. Adopting a universal training system, such as the Swiss have employed, would make every citizen an obstacle to more terror attacks. Until this happens, if I have to ride on any public transportation, give me a seat across the aisle from Al.

link to NewsForge via ETWOF

Posted by coldmarble @ 11:04 AM EDST [Link] [blab]

Tuesday, September 11, 2001

After a day chained to the computer at work, picking up snippets and rumors fleshed out by the few news sites that weren't overwhelmed, a strangely different commute home through uncrowded streets, and a short but chilling catchup on the day's events from television news, the wife and I took to the backyard to watch the flowers in the garden, play a short game of "gonna getcha" with the dog, and try to make sense of today and life in general. Our quiet time was interrupted by the approaching roar of a jet aircraft. Before we could even think, "Oh my God, not here, too!", a Navy fighter, with a sound like Thor's own hammer spinning through the air, streaked overhead at a fairly low altitude.

This is going to be one of those "Where were you when..." days. The kind of day that is indelibly engraved in your mind. The kind of day, that despite the feelings of unreality, will remain a very real part of your memories for the rest of your life. Where were you when Kennedy was shot? Where were you when the Challenger exploded? Well, you can add another one to the list.

Posted by coldmarble @ 07:13 PM EDST [Link] [blab]

Monday, September 10, 2001

Who knows where it will end up but it's fun to watch it grow. Link to this page and find out. Thanks to Al and Reutel.

btw... have I mentioned the outstanding cemetery site, Dood in Nederland? Brought to you by René, the same mind powering Reutellog, which might explain the beautiful photos that have been showing up there recently. I wish I could find an online Dutch to English web page translator but enjoyed poking around the site all the same.

Posted by coldmarble @ 09:29 PM EDST [Link] [blab]

Bobbi's been doing some quite interesting self portrait collages over the past few days. Self portraiture is a difficult thing to do well, not only from the technical standpoint of not being able to see yourself through the viewfinder, but also from an artistic and personal side as well. Some may see it as vanity, using yourself as subject, but it can be an intense and personal exploration. It's a little scary to add your own body in your art. Stepping out from behind the camera takes some getting used to, especially for those of us who are more comfortable behind the lens than in front of it.

Posted by coldmarble @ 12:39 PM EDST [Link] [blab]