http://brassbear.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Christopher Bell en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:27:37 GMT 2010-01-07T02:27:37Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977044826 A friend of mine sent me the e-mail copied below on the subject of gratitude.  I do not know the original author of the e-mail’s content or I would attribute it appropriately.  Notwithstanding, . . . Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:07:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977044826 Christopher Bell 2007-07-01T19:07:55Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977009771 Too many Americans have accepted at face value President Bush's misleading and simplistic rationale for the Iraq war that "either we fight ‘em [[terrorists] over there [Iraq] or we will . . . Sat, 26 May 2007 05:24:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977009771 Christopher Bell 2007-05-26T05:24:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976893296 I don’t think I understand the new health insurance initiatives contained in the President’s “state of the union” address this evening.  At least I hope my understanding is . . . Wed, 24 Jan 2007 06:40:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976893296 Christopher Bell 2007-01-24T06:40:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976882730 I cannot control other people, neither can you nor can George W. Bush.  We all are powerless over what other people choose to do.  We cannot keep Shiia and Sunni from killing each other. We cannot . . . Thu, 11 Jan 2007 22:52:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976882730 Christopher Bell 2007-01-11T22:52:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976839711 On November 13, barely one week after the mid-term elections cost the GOP control of congress, Secretary of Health and Human services announced the Administration's opposition to the Democratic proposal . . . Thu, 16 Nov 2006 05:19:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976839711 Christopher Bell 2006-11-16T05:19:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976831897 I was really wired about going on the gather cruise to Bermuda.  Ryan and I left Minneapolis early Wednesday morning, October 25 to fly to Boston.  We took an Air Tran Airways flight departing . . . Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:19:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976831897 Christopher Bell 2006-11-05T18:19:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976817985     Ryan the Wonder Dog and I are cruising to Bermuda thanks to the individual and collective efforts of gatherites as well as Gather's Tom Gerace and Mark venezia  .  I particularly . . . Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:57:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976817985 Christopher Bell 2006-10-18T01:57:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976796396 I really would like to meet other gatherites on the cruise to Bermuda.  I know so many of you through the gather cyber world.  Now I would like to meet you in person and put a voice to your words.  . . . Tue, 19 Sep 2006 03:39:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976796396 Christopher Bell 2006-09-19T03:39:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976795578 Being able to hear well, or at least well enough, is an important ability for one who is blind.  For example, being able to hear traffic patterns is what enables me to cross streets safely because . . . Mon, 18 Sep 2006 02:03:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976795578 Christopher Bell 2006-09-18T02:03:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976781867 To date or not to date, that is the question.  I have lived alone for seven months but I have not truly been without a romantic relationship for more than a month and a half.  Now I am looking . . . Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:37:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976781867 Christopher Bell 2006-08-26T02:37:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976772210 I have been afraid to go swimming in my apartment complex's pool since it opened in May.  Even on the hottest of days, I could not bring myself to do it.  Why?  I was afraid.  I . . . Thu, 03 Aug 2006 03:26:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976772210 Christopher Bell 2006-08-03T03:26:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976767296 There is a debate on gather.com as to whether it is virtuous to hold one's tongue when one feels angry, frustrated or slighted by another gather member's writings.  Several articles attacking . . . Sat, 15 Jul 2006 22:06:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976767296 Christopher Bell 2006-07-15T22:06:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976765761 "Being right is a form of violence," says Eckhardt Tolle, author of "The Power of Now."  An interesting idea, no?   From Tolle's perspective, our need to be right . . . Sun, 09 Jul 2006 06:49:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976765761 Christopher Bell 2006-07-09T06:49:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976753536 (Republished as revised and reformatted) I have struggled with "toxic shame" almost my entire life. By "toxic shame" I mean a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach accompanied by . . . Fri, 19 May 2006 21:24:21 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976753536 Christopher Bell 2006-05-19T21:24:21Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751875 One of my favorite AA meetings met every Thursday evening in my church's library.  One such Thursday evening, my first guide dog, Kanga, and I both got a little disoriented while we were trying . . . Sun, 14 May 2006 05:08:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751875 Christopher Bell 2006-05-14T05:08:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751856 Long ago and far away, when I was still a young lawyer in my late 20's, I decided to visit a friend from law school who was living in concord, New Hampshire.  I flew from Washington, D.C., where . . . Sun, 14 May 2006 02:54:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751856 Christopher Bell 2006-05-14T02:54:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976750969     26. The first depressive episode I remember was after I returned from a trip to West Africa in the summer of 1972. 27. I traveled to Ghana with a small group arranged by the Experiment . . . Thu, 11 May 2006 05:01:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976750969 Christopher Bell 2006-05-11T05:01:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976750342   1.                  I was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1951. 2.                  . . . Mon, 08 May 2006 20:46:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976750342 Christopher Bell 2006-05-08T20:46:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744904 The American Public media/MPR program "Speaking of Faith",   today presented "Exodus: Cargo of Hidden Stories."  The radio show explored the meaning of the biblical story . . . Sun, 16 Apr 2006 20:35:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744904 Christopher Bell 2006-04-16T20:35:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744665 I agree with those gatherites who have argued for a requirement that one must post a comment in order to rate an article.  The use and misuse of the rating system is more difficult to address. I have . . . Sat, 15 Apr 2006 20:21:08 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744665 Christopher Bell 2006-04-15T20:21:08Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744641 '(I am republishing this article to this group which I just joined as I believe the article is relevant to the group?s subject matter.) Below is a brief psychiatric analysis of the President as provided . . . Sat, 15 Apr 2006 19:13:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744641 Christopher Bell 2006-04-15T19:13:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744633  A non-religious friend said to me the other day that if he had to choose from a religion which believes in a man named Jesus Christ who suffered from a grisly death caused by being nailed to a cross . . . Sat, 15 Apr 2006 18:48:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744633 Christopher Bell 2006-04-15T18:48:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744309   I agree with those who make a distinction between belief and behavior.  No antidiscrimination law I am aware of seeks to control one's beliefs.  Antidiscrimination laws address behavior . . . Fri, 14 Apr 2006 13:57:27 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744309 Christopher Bell 2006-04-14T13:57:27Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744261 I agree with those who make a distinction between belief and behavior.  No antidiscrimination law I am aware of seeks to control one's beliefs.  Antidiscrimination laws address behavior only.  . . . Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:27:24 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976744261 Christopher Bell 2006-04-14T07:27:24Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743955 Below is a brief psychiatric analysis of the President as provided by Dr. Justin A. Frank, Professor of Psychiatry at George Washington University in Washington, D.C .  The interview was conducted . . . Thu, 13 Apr 2006 05:15:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743955 Christopher Bell 2006-04-13T05:15:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743671 Our Joint Chiefs of Staff need to resign or retire and come out of the closet.  They need to confess to Americans and the world that President George W. Bush and civilian leaders in the Pentagon and . . . Wed, 12 Apr 2006 06:22:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743671 Christopher Bell 2006-04-12T06:22:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743185   Jim "the Impaler" Sharkey is the Minnesota "Vampires Witches & Pagan party's candidate for governor in this year's gubernatorial election.  The 41-year old sharkey . . . Mon, 10 Apr 2006 03:59:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743185 Christopher Bell 2006-04-10T03:59:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976742158   From a man who cannot see   A screwdriver or a key   A hammer or a saw   a wrench or pliers, He would have to be a liar If he should say he safely could light  the . . . Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:12:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976742158 Christopher Bell 2006-04-05T21:12:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976737722 I add here two quick thoughts for improving gather.com.  It would be nice if the "sign in" procedure offered the opportunity to save our password as well as our name.  All I'm looking . . . Sat, 18 Mar 2006 18:59:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976737722 Christopher Bell 2006-03-18T18:59:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976737302 I went to a dinner in a local hotel sponsored by the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill.  As I had predicted, the ballroom was extremely crowded with diners, chairs and . . . Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:51:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976737302 Christopher Bell 2006-03-16T22:51:25Z