Category: Cultural and Political

A Peek Inside

On By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, blogging, Cultural and Political, Fiction Writing, humanity, Illness and Medical Treatments, Inspirational, News Events, Religious, Travel, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

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Do you appreciate the ability to peek inside books on sale on Amazon and other retailer sites? They allow you to see the interior format, a chapter or two to read to see if the book jives with your reading tastes, and the writing style. For me, the latter has a lot to do with the books I choose to read.

I have so many books stacked on my night stand to read, it takes me a while to get through them. But I do!

So, an update for you. 🙂

The ebook version of my debut novel, Passage of Promise, released today. Now both my ebook and print book are available for purchase. Via Amazon, you are now able to take a peek inside the book and read the first couple of chapters for free.  You can also peek in Barnes & Noble’s Nook.

I hope the chapters you read you like and consider picking up a copy!

 

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It’s Easter for Some and Palm Sunday for Others

On By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, blogging, Christmas and other Holidays, Cultural and Political, humanity, Musings, Past Life Activities, ReligiousLeave a comment

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This Great Lent has been the most difficult one since I became a practicing Orthodox Christian in 1996. The routine of fasting, almsgiving, attending church services, and prayer were and have been incredibly disrupted for my family and me.

I don’t think any of us was prepared for this pandemic and what strict steps would be taken to keep us all as healthy and safe as we could be.

As each week passed by, with more and more distancing from my church and problems with keeping the fast, it has caused my faith and practices to be shaken, and feelings of sadness and anger visited me too often.

Fellow Christians understand the need to gather together to worship God, but I believe, as one of the priests in my church said in one of his homilies, the liturgy is to be lived, and we are to participate in the service and unite with Christ, who gives us life, forgives or sins, and grants us strength through His Holy Body and Blood. But these encounters were not and cannot be accomplished this Paschal year.

And well… without having this Life-Giving Mystery for so many weeks, I’ve struggled with keeping focused during Lent, even with reading spiritual books, watching my church’s livestream services, and keeping up with nightly prayers and prayers before meals.

My spiritual father always told me throughout the years that during Lent, just add one small discipline to my daily Orthodox Christian practice. So, I did continue to do this for this year’s Great Lent. I made sure to do my morning prayers and tried to remember to have a sip of holy water afterwards. I’ve managed to do pretty well with this so far.

Therefore, I suppose I’ve made some effort. Although I feel crushed and beaten by the enemy this lenten season, I know God only asks for us to make an effort. He’s so merciful.

Today is Palm Sunday for us Orthodox Christians, while it is Easter for my fellow Christians.

I wish my friends a Happy Easter. While we’re all confined to our homes at the most holy time of the year, I pray your day is full of joy and God’s blessings.

To my Orthodox Christian brethren, I wish you a blessed Holy Week, where we can somehow join Christ’s grueling journey to Golgotha and witness His Crucifixion and Resurrection with palpable sorrow and joy.  God be with you all.

 

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UBI Desperately Needed

On By dotluvs2writeIn blogging, College Cares, Cultural and Political, Food, Illness and Medical Treatments, News EventsLeave a comment

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Months ago, when I wrote a blog post about former Democratic candidate for president, Andrew Yang, I explained the advantages of universal basic income (UBI), in the coming years, due to many jobs that are being and will be automated away.

Now, with the life-threatening consequences of Covid-19, non essential businesses having to shut down, and people being holed up in their homes to help keep from spreading the disease, we need UBI more than ever.

With all the wrangling going on between our politicians in Washington, it seems they can’t do their jobs in alleviating the beginnings of suffering and soon-to-be suffering across our country of its own citizens in having to close down their businesses and cancel gigs/concerts/shows, etc. The frustration and despair among my fellow Americans is growing.

Tax rebates, zero percent interest loans, will do next to nothing, if not nothing, in helping the everyday American.

A UBI of at least $1000 a month per adult and maybe in addition to that, as has been suggested by people like Scott Santens, $500 per child, is needed RIGHT NOW.

People have rent to pay, bills to pay, need food to eat, and medicines to buy.

Congressman, Tim Ryan, tweeted this message on March 20:

As soon as the House continues holding hearings, I’d like to invite @andrewyang to the Hill to testify about the benefits of a permanent UBI. We must bring our greatest minds together to offer solutions to ensure everyone feels more financially secure before disaster strikes.

I hope and pray Andrew is able to speak on the House floor and convince our government officials to pass a real UBI, as Representative Tulsi Gabbard tried to do a few weeks back with her own emergency UBI bill.

Both Yang and Gabbard are right. We need money for people suffering losses that will only grow in numbers, and we need it for the duration of this time until, like Tulsi Gabbard said yesterday on the Jimmy Dore Show, the disease has disappeared from our country and our financial situation is back to a stable place. 

 

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