Ancient Chinese Secret

It had been a long, hot, fun-filled day of museum visits, I-Max movies, and street stomping. Sophia and I had gotten to know the Philadelphia public transport system well, and had made our way from Manayunk to downtown via the route 27 bus. Even this, though not the train we had planned to ride, was "exciting" to her -- funny kid. So we get off at 15th and JFK, and it's a glorious fall day with just a hint of coolness in the air. Sophia spied it first and quickly alerted me, as she had this on her "list" for some time now. The "LOVE" statue. Truly an iconic spot in Philadelphia, I had forgotten how beautiful the park was with the towering fountain behind the plaza and the flag draped view down the parkway ending in the grand Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's days like these when you really give thanks to be here and just soaking in the many sites you may have taken for granted for so long.

"Taken for granted". Isn't that how many of us go through life? Just passing by the sites that surround us, never really giving them a new glimpse or a second look. It occured to me that many of the places I still hadn't taken Sophia were these kinds of places, the ones I just assumed were of no interest because I had already been there. The LOVE Park for instance was something I had forgotten was so nice, yet Sophia had seen it so many times in books or magazines that she now wanted to see it. So of course the obligatory photo was in order and thanks to a nice couple from Ireland we got one. From here we quickly shuffled down the parkway the five blocks to the Franklin Institute opting to walk instead of riding the bus as it was so nice. Sophia quickly spotted the Venezuelan flag and we had our second photo op of the day.

One of neatest aspects, as well as awesome responsibilities of being a parent is in shaping a young life to go off into the world and make it a better place; PinF understands this. Too often children are raised in bigoted or racist enviroments, something that only perpetuates throughout their lives. Sophia for her part is a child of two cultures and two languages and is accepting of all colors, languages and customs, a fact I am quite proud to see. She seems to thrive on this when she is in the city with people of all colors, and never once stares or asks about "other" looking people. Last year when I would volunteer at her school her class was made up of 28 kids representing 4 languages, 3 ethnicities, and 6 countries. Of course much of this is due in part to her being raised in Florida, itself a mixing pot of cultures and ethnicities. This in itself has been good for Sophia's personal development as it further illustrates with a real life lesson how America embraces and celebrates diversity, as she herself does with both her Irish and Venezuelan ancestery.

After completing our objectives at the Franklin Institute, which included a vist to the Fels Planetarium, the new I-Max movie, and the giant heart, we set out again into the warm sunshine of the beautiful fall day. We were soon on the Philly Phlash bus headed to the Reading Terminal for lunch. After filling ouselves with lunch and a little ice cream we then walked out of the terminal and discussed the the hour and whether we should head on home, as I knew I still had to navigate Friday rush hour on a bus full of commuters. It was then that Sophia asked me why the street signs were in Chinese? That she even knows it's Chinese as opposed to Korean or Japanese I put down to her Hello Kitty "Hello World" book. This book introduces children to 13 different cultures and greetings in their languages. I explained that this is where Chinatown was; Sophia couldn't believe that there was an entire neighborhood of Asian people living and talking in their own enclave of ethnicity. It was then that I realized that this visit into a completely new enviroment would be as interesting as it would be educational. I soon realized the education value of this detour was far greater than any museum we could visit, as it gave Sophia a better picture of America and it's freedoms and tolerances.

Off we went entering under the ornate Chinese Arch that signifies the beginning of a complete cultural change from the Philadelphia outside of the arch. The arch located at at 10 and Arch St. is actually a "Friendship Gate" and as we passed through into Chinatown we were greeted by a myriad of aromas and activity. The sidewalks were busy with shopkeepers and shoppers. We weaved our way through the fishmongers shop, the various gift shops and down the street, deeper and deeper into this "new" world. Finally we came upon a Hello Kitty gift shop and immediately entered. Of course this was all knock off Hello Kitty stuff from China, but Sophia didn't seem to mind, and my wallet wasn't complaining either. After 30 minutes and several dollars we parted and started our walk back towards Arch Street, Sophia having clearly enjoyed both the sights and sounds of our new found environment. It wasn't until we were on the plane home and recounting our week-end that I asked her what the best part of trip was for her. I clearly expected to hear the museums or the time spent with uncles, cousins and grand-parents; much to my surprise she said it was "Chinatown". Interesting, since we so often are reminded of just how small our world is becoming; it was nice to see that Sophia's got a little larger on this trip.

Paynter'sinPhilly...again.

That's right....we're on the move north - yet again. Sophia and I fly tonight to attend my brother's innaugural "Fall Equinox" party, whatever the hell this is. I'm told it's a celebratory event marking the seasonal change, pehaps it'll be like the Druids at Stonehenge? PinF has-- by parental decree, absolved his daughter of her academic requirements tomorrow, (good to be the King) in order for her to accompany me on this trip north.

Of course PinF recognizing the precedent and example he sets in doing so has also planned an educationally fun day in the City of Brotherly Love. Tomorrow Sophia will once again do what is so foreign to most people in Florida--board a commuter train. We'll head on down to the vaunted Franklin Institute of Science to try and quench my little scientist's thirst for knowledge. Sophia's been here before, when we did our inaugural trip last year in which we did the Franklin Institue, Natural Science Museum, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and then had lunch in the Reading Terminal Market. Suffice to say I had to all but carry her onto the train last year for our ride back to Swarthmore. This year figures to be different, as Sophia has been planning and looking forward to this years tour.

Of course much was learned last year, and we will trim our itinerary a bit. We learned of the greatest deal in town last year by riding the Philly Phlash, this is a tourist Trolley bus that does a continuous loop around center city from the Art Museum to the Liberty Bell- all for only a dollar.!...The Plash stops at all the best museums, attractions and even comes complete with a totally unfunny driver who sounds a lot like Rocky. So if you can stand being seated next to some yahoo from Arkansas while you ride around the city looking all touristy, there really isn't a better way to do it.

The coup de grace of our visit will be our attending the premiere of the new Imax movie Magnificent Desolation - Walking on the Moon 3D. This should be huge, as Sophia is a big fan of anything planetary, the 3D aspect is always a plus too. From the Frankilin Institute we'll try another scientific gem of Philly, the Mütter Museum , a little known museum of medical abnormalities and anomalies...this place is freaky! We'll probably take our show on down to the Liberty Bell again as she loved the gift the shop there last year. From there it'll be our return trip to the Reading Terminal Market for lunch. If this doesn't wear Sophia out then I'm in trouble. We'll then be returning to Manayunk for her to attend a sleep over with her Nana, from here I will jettison myself off to attend yet another bloggers convention with the illustriously light-hearted and funny (mis)Adventures of Chuck himself, also rumoured to be attending is the one and only CNN, the woman not the network. Rounding out this week's convention is that political warhorse Tedman, king of the Podcast; all of this taking place at the unofficial blogger's headquarters-- Sligo's in Media. So this is PinF's / PinPhilly weekend, complete with bubble-gummy fun, hell if Chuck isn't busy working on his "bowl", I may see if he wants to tag along..............

7 Decades of Justice -- Simon Wiesenthal

For your benefit, learn from our tragedy. It is not a written law that the next victims must be Jews. It can also be other people. We saw it begin in Germany with Jews, but people from more than twenty other nations were also murdered. When I started this work, I said to myself, 'I will look for the murderers of all the victims, not only the Jewish victims. I will fight for justice.'(Quoted in an interview in Penthouse Magazine, 1983)

Could any of us even possibly imagine having seven-dozen of our most loved relatives rounded up from all over the country and then have them worked, starved, and tortured to death. This group would include your parents, maybe your children, your aunts, uncles, and brothers and sisters, even your grandparents if you're lucky enough to still have them. To make it even worse, many of your most beloved friends and acquaintances would also suffer the very same fate.

Then, imagine this DID happen to you; and starting tomorrow you would begin a systematic and relentless sixty-year quest to bring those who had perpertrated this injustice upon you and your loved ones to face their own judgement. Your jurisdictions would know no bounds, your pain would have no solace; still you would perservere doggedly on every continent where ever the murderers might hide. The difference being, you would offer those accused of this hatred justice. Justice based on democratic laws that are subject to both appeals and public review; not the justice that was so indiscriminately meted out to the millions of innocents. This is of course would be in stark contrast to the summary judgements your seven-dozen loved ones not to mention hundreds of friends had received.

If you can even begin to imagine such a horror then you would know the life that Simon Wiesenthal has led. He died last night at 96. In his brutal early life he saw exactly these horrors and many more, yet he perservered to personally bring to justice over 1100 Nazi's in hiding for genocide and crimes against humanity. His relentless spirit of justice was motivated by his desire to give a voice to those who would never speak again, and to make sure the world did not forget the evil that men do. In a world short of true heroes and saints Simon Wiesenthal stood tall. Mr. Wiesenthal lost 89 members of his family and lived the remainder of his remarkably long life seeking the justice for those oppressors which they themselves denied to every single member of his family and community. This is a true hero.

Mug Shot: Van Gogh, Matisse, Turner....Paynter?

PinF is big fan of art. Currently my collection has become quite substantial; kind of funny how it just kind of grew until I noticed I had a fair amount one day. I have all kinds of art, becuase that's how I am - I have varied tastes. Some of the artists are famous either internationally or regionally, others are renonwned locally, some are family members and some are friends. Alot of my art is from my most favorite artist, Sophia Veronica Paynter, she's the 7 year-old prodigy based in Florida. As for sentimental value, the value that PinF holds much dearer than any monetary worth, well Sophia's art would rank highest. I have all sorts of paintings, drawings, and even a few illustrated books she's written, all extremely valuable to me.

My most valuable pieces in terms of monetary value would be my two Andrew Turner's; he's an African American artist from Chester, Pennsylvania whose work has become a bit more renowned since his passing a few years ago. Recently I read where several people of notoriety have works by Turner, an impressive list to be sure. Maya Angelou, Bill Cosby, Prince, and Woody Allen just to name a few. You get the picture, he's pretty famous. So I do indeed feel lucky that my mother gave me these two paintings when she left for the Peace Corps three years ago on what I thought was a loan, only to find out later was actually a gift for good. Thanks Mom.

Also adorning PinF's walls here in S. Florida are pieces of collage art from my brother Chris (Flash), unique and exhilarating works that I treasue as much as my "Turner's". My other brother Bill's wife Sally Paynter, is an accomplished and sought after local artist who resides in Swarthmore, her art also hangs in mi casita. Sally recently visited PinF for a weekend visit and busted out a poster sized watercolor of my daughter, a real treasue that I just love. Still yet another of my favorite artists and quite accomplished in her own right is a wonderful woman by the name of Mina Segal, she is a Philadelphia native and shows locally in galleries in Philadelphia.

Mina's story really makes her pieces even more interesting. She was PinF's art teacher from kinder through 4th grade. Cool huh? she became friends with my mother in 1969 and has been an intricate part of our family's fabric ever since, almost as if she was family. Each of my four brothers and mother all have "Segal's" hanging, and they too are much treasured in my collection. Aside from these "connected" artists in my life, I also own a smattering of reproductions like Matisse, Botero, and some art show poster repro's. So my collection is pretty neat and quite eclectic.

Recently PinF had the good fortune to receive an authentic - get this now -- Van Gogh! That's right, my blessed daughter Sophia recently bestowed upon me a work of art that takes the cake in my collection. I know you're asking yourself how could a seven year-old obtain an actual Van Gogh. Quite simply actually, anyone could have a real Van Gogh, provided of course you live here in Florida and have access to "Go Van Gogh", the pottery painting craft shop. Yup, that's right we spent the afternoon creating art together, and what fun it was. It's kind of a funky, laid back coffee shop/wine bar type of place where you pick out a piece of raw ceramic and then use their paints at a cost of $7.00 and hour to create your own unique piece of art. After you finish, you leave it with the friendly staff and they fire your piece and call you in a week to pick it up. My "piece" was a wonderfully large coffee mug with an "I love Dad" impression on the front. Sophia generously, (as is her style) applied funky, vibrant, and intense colors to this mug, giving it a real "one-of-a-kind" look.

Suffice to say I have received no less than 20 compliments on my mug at work, quite a feat when you consider how innocuous a coffee mug is really. Now, in review, I have to admit that this type of endeavor isn't really cheap either. When you add the price of the raw mug ($11.00), plus the price of painting (1.5 hr. at $7.00 per hr.) then factor in a few chocolate chip cookies, two hot chocolates, two Heinekens (a man's got be hydrated), well you get the picture. The $11.00 coffee mug winds up costing about $45.00. Still in my mind this mug with "Sophia Paynter 2005" emblazoned on the bottom was a steal at this price. Sure it's not as valuable as a real Van Gogh, afterall my designation of "priceless" would actually make this piece more valuable than a Van Gogh. The time spent and the memories created will offer value to both of us for years to come. (Check back for photos of the "mug")

New and Improved !!

By now any regular visitors to PinF will have noticed there have been some changes to the formatting and coloring of the site. In an a constant effort to improve your visit I felt some minor tweaking was in order, hence the changes. You'll still recieve your daily doses of Florida wisdom and observation, just in a cleaner format.

On another note, PinF never mentioned that he surpassed 1000 visits last month! Who exactly was the lucky 1000th I'm not sure. Never the less I would say 1000 was no more important than the 1st, or the 459th; the important point being PinF appreciates each and every visitor. The visits have been far and wide; thanks to the advances of counters I am able to see visitors from such places as China, Norway, Finland, Russia, India, Argentina, Uruguay, UK, France, Italy, Mexico, Belize, Canada, Iran, Venezuela, Mexico and many others. For sure the majority of visits are from here in the US, still it's interesting to note that one person's opinions, musings, and observations are so powerfully broadcasted to the far reaches of the world via this wonderful medium we call the internet. If this keeps up I'm going to have to offer a translating tool on PinF for the non-English reading visitors. Thank you one and all, no matter where you come, as the many visitors are richly and warmly appreciated, and allow PinF to vicariously travel to the many distant lands he hopes to visit in person one day.

Heroes, One and All

I didn't intend to watch it, it was actually quite by accident that I did. I was weary of a Hollywood-esque spin that may be infused into the story, luckily there wasn't. I'm glad I did watch though because if nothing else, watching this story reinforces my belief in good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and the inherent good and valor in all people no matter their age, sex or station in life. The story of United Flight 93 explains in painful, tearful, and heartfelt detail the sacrifices of 40 incredibly brave Americans on that fateful day 4 years ago.

No one will ever forget where they were or what they were doing the day America was attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists; this story only serves to further remind us that there are those who would willingly give their lives in the pursuit of evil and terror. Luckily for all of us, there were also those who chose to stand up to evil and fight, these men and women were equally up to the challenge of sacrificing their lives, only their efforts were for the good of others. In case anyone has forgotten, this is the real reason for starting "our war on terror". The United States acted swiftly and justly in removing the Taliban and hunting down those responsible for the cowardly and brutal attacks on New York and Washington, indeed all of America. What struck me more than the devestation of the lives lost were the the suffering of lives left behind by fathers, mothers, husband and wives, daughters and sons. The movie is interspersed with real interviews of the families who survived these heroes and their recollections of the final conversations many of them had during flight 93 final moments. The power of these testimonies harkens back to what I said after the bombings in London, and that is to tell those you love that you do; and live today as if you may not have tomorrow.

The selfless act of these 40 Americans is generally accepted as an act of courageous sacrifice that in all likelyhood spared many more innocent lives of people in Washington DC, not to mention our Capitol building. I cannot even begin to imagine a casual flight that by some horrible twist of fate becomes the defining and final moment in my life, never getting to see my family or daughter again. Yet this is what these people faced, as they slowly became aware of the havoc being wrought throughout our country on this fateful day through their phone converstaions with loved ones. These men and women knew they would have to die; they said their good-byes and then got on with the business of standing up to the face of pure evil. I'm sure this moving and powerful show will be re-run and I urge you all to watch, no matter how painful and difficult it may be. The fact that they did indeed die is painfully over shadowed by the testimonies of the family members as they recall both through memory and actual recordings their final conversations with loved ones.

What would you say if you knew that such a conversation would be your last? Father's and mother's giving a lifetime of instructions and gratitude to their partners in a few moments time, sons and daughters thanking their parents for all they had been given. This serves as a powerful statement to the fragileness and value of all that we hold dear. We now live in much more uncertain and dangerous times than four years ago, still the underlying theme of this real life docudrama is one of hope, sacrifice, and courage, something we all can use more of. I'll never forget that day, if nothing else it makes me look at how lucky and blessed I am to have what I have and live where I live.

Conversations With God

I thought that maybe with all the suffering in New Orleans and Mississippi as of late I should check in with the big guy....you know, GOD. It would appear that every other militant, angry, fanatical, axe grinding minister, and anti-abortionist has-- so why shouldn't I? I didn't realize that these so called "leaders" all have an open pipeline to GOD. As it turns out they don't. For if they did, they wouldn't lay claim to recent events being "GOD's wrath".

Remember the movie Oh GOD! with George Burns and John Denver? GOD chose to reveal his disatisfaction with man through a simple servant(Denver); problem was no one would listen. GOD asked Denver to confront a certain minister who was claiming to speak for GOD when he beseeched America for more money to be sent to his ministry. The minister tried to make Denver look like a quack, and pretty much did. The bottom line was that GOD did eventually appear, and in true Hollywood fashion just in the nick of time to prove to a stunned courtroom that Denver was not a quack, and that HE (GOD) exists.

That GOD exists or doesn't exist isn't really my concern, this is a personal belief issue for everyone to work out themselves. I say GOD, and I mean more than one deity, whether it be Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Jehovah and so on...to me GOD is many.....The problem with speaking for GOD arise when certain ministers and fanatics try to grind their idelogical axes into impressionable, searching souls in an effort to justify really their political views.

I've now seen two very documented assertions within the past week that claim New Orlean's destruction to be GOD's wrath. Really now? One comes from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrahkan, and the other from Repent America director Michael Marcavage. Farrahkan claims this is America's come-uppance for our brutality in the middle east, and our mistreatment of the Palestinians. I think this is crap, no matter what side of the ideological fence you sit on. GOD is not a spiteful GOD. If he were, why then has he chosen the weakest, poorest and most undeserving of New Orleans for his wrath? The other disseminator of GOD's will-- Marcavage claims GOD has inflicted this penalty for New Orleans for its abortion clinics, and the general immorality of the city. Sure Mike, that makes sense.

This is what happens when we try to make sense out of a "natural disaster" of epic proportions. Is it not possible that it was only a matter of time statistically speaking, before a major hurricane was going to overwhelm a city far below sea level?. If the Minister's words were true then where is Africa's payback for Rwanda....or Germany's for the Holocaust; how about Cambodia's for the slaughter of over one million people under Pol Pot? These countries appear to be far more deserving of "GOD's wrath" based on the sheer numbers of people murdered. Obviously these so called prophets and ministers neither speak for the majority of Americans, nor do they represent any type of resposible morality when they claim the innocent are taken because of a nation's political policies or women's rights. GOD knows that government's start wars, not people. Still, this is America, and these men are free to say this---I wonder if they would have been able to say this in Rwanda, Cambodia, and Nazi Germany?

What's Secure About Our Homeland?

HOMELAND
noun [C]
1 the country you were born in.

SECURITY
noun
1 Freedom from risk or danger; safety.

So it occurred to PinF that this new cabinet level appointmentee of "Director of Homeland Security" is a bunch of crap. My homeland looked mighty unsecure this week, which in turn has created a feeling of "Homeland INsecurity" throughout the rest of the nation. One would have thought that four years after 9/11 we might have a better idea of how to handle calamities and catastrophies. So my gripe isn't really so much politically motivated; as I would be equally jaundiced towards whatever party was in power that exhibited such a total sense of misunderstanding.

The point is, if Hurricane Katrina were a test we'd have failed. We must demand more of ALL officials, instead of the local officials blaming the federal, and the federal blaming the state...it's a fricking joke to see our officials react in such a way while our fellow Americans and tax payers suffer and die. The FEMA appointment is another poitical payoff joke, if this had been the private sector he wouldn't even have been a secretary in this department.

The other sad truth is one the Bush administration chooses to both omit, and ignore. That is the fact that the war in Iraq is diverting much needed funds to the US Army Corps of Engineers projects. Since the levee's of New Orleans were identified as one the greatest single risks to the national disaster (by FEMA), the ACofE's has seen their levee improvement costs slashed by 80%. Coincidence we're spending like tourists on vacation in Iraq? I think not.

Another bothersome facet of this mess is the liberal assertion that Bush "allowed" this to happen because of the color of the skin of those left behind. I don't buy this, but I do accept that the urgency wasn't there after it became all too apparent that there were people of all colors dying, though predominently black Americans. So what have we learned? I guess the lesson is that if you attack a center of global commerce and wealth you can expect nothing less than the cavalry. And if a natural, predicted, and deadly "attack" comes from Mother Nature over a broad area containing demographically poorer inhabitants you can expect a varying response. So, better move to an area closer to money, and certainly closer to help.

I'm Back-- and Lucky Too

Eighteen days, 1100 miles, and 6 states later I have returned to work. Need I say more? My wanderlust sated, I now get back to the business of work, rested and eager in a way, as work provides a schedule to our lives. Even in Florida one can see the creeping signs of Fall slowly appearing; the sun is setting much earlier, football occupies most of the sports section, and people are starting though not completely-- to breath a sigh of relief regarding hurricane season.

It was just a year ago this past week that PinF was involved in the challenges, sacrifices, and awe that only a hurricane can present. 5 days with no power, gasoline, ice, or supermarkets. I realize now how easy we got off. Sure it was tough; roof tiles needed replacing, pools needed to be cleaned and yards needed clearing--still it was nothing compared to the poor souls of Missisippi and Louisiana.

I had the good fortune to hang with two "refugees" this holiday weekend who by chance happened to be on vacation in Greece while this calamity occured. They arrived to the news that there house was not flooded but rather under water, as such it was a total loss. It makes you realize how fragile any of our live's really are. We did things that tens of thousands of their fellow New Orleanian's couldn't do-- we ate good meals, slept comfortably, drank good wine and went to the beach. Still the tragedy was never far from us, as they were prone to moments of utter despair. Yet through it all their spirit to return never wavered, nor did their insistance that they would rebuild and get on with their live's.

It seems that so often we look at the news with such a sense of disconnect at the many troubled people of the world who are suffering in varying degrees due to famine, earthquakes, war, and floods. When was the last time you ever heard anyone refer to an American as a "refugee", yet here we were witnessing the despair and death of far too many of our fellow Americans. It really makes you think about all you've got, and how we so often take for granted the small and easily forgotten blessings of the mundane and repetitive details of our daily lives.