Happy Birthday, Richard Walton !!

Richard Walton is a mensch. He is both kind and wise and generous and funny.

I used to see him three times a week, or at least once or twice, without fail. Now I see him less than once a month, but I know that I could call him or find him, if I had any kind of question or problem, and he would answer in the most practical and helpful of ways.

When our cat, Romare (Romey) died on a cold February morning, Richard was the one I called for a shovel...

Years earlier when my Bubbe was worried about me, folks in New Haven tracked down Richard, because they knew he was intricately connected with the Providence-Niquinohomo Sister City project ( I was in Niquinohomo at the time). And she spoke with him and he reassured her that I was well and busy and thriving....

I think of him as a brother, more than as a father or uncle, for reasons I cannot quite elaborate. Certainly a Wiser Brother. . .

This year his Birthday will be celebrated at The Roots Cafe.

In the past there were cheerful dogs and many crawling babies at the event, and I am not sure if either are encouraged to this setting...

If you have never met Richard, that's no reason not to celebrate. You probably have friends in common already....

Good News, perhaps....This should never have been an issue....

New London, CT - Settlement Reached in Lawsuit over Burial of Black Woman in Jewish Cemetery -- VosIzNeias.com

Supporting Chickens for Peace in Cranston, RI & Everywhere

There is a wonderful, wonderful song, "Chickens for Peace" by Peter Alsop. Here is an excerpt of the lyrics.... ~` ~ ~ CHICKENS FOR PEACE Chickens for peace! C-D We’re chickens for peace! C/B-D/C# And we don’t want to fry! Am-Am7-G-Bm-Bm7-A Chickens for peace! G7-A7 We’re chickens for peace! Em-Am-Am7/G-F#m-Bm-Bm7/A One little war, and we’re F-F/E-Dm-G-G/F#-Em Chicken-pot-pie! G-G7-C-A-A7-D Chickens for peace! We’re chickens for peace! And no one respects, a chicken who begs! Chickens for peace! We’re chickens for peace! One little slip, and we’re hard boiled eggs! Chickens for peace! We’re chickens for peace! But we’re not chicken chickens! We’re taking a stand! Chickens for peace! We’re chickens for peace! And our chicken spirit Is sweeping the land! ~ ~ apologies for my problem with the format !! ~~ I first heard this song when I was living and working in Needham, Massachusetts in 1985.... Stephen Snyder kindly lent me a cassette of Peter's with the song. I might still have the cassette ! Please, note the new widget with the petition for Cranstonians' right to care for Chickens....whether or not you sign the petition, you can find a helpful link about Urban Chickenkeeping....

RI Recognizes Out-of-State, Same Sex Marriages

RI Recognizes Out-of-State, Same Sex Marriages

Well done, Governor Chafee  !

A crime against motherhood

A crime against motherhood

RI's Senator Reed does support civil rights.

MERI Blog

Check out this great MSN video: Hong Kong Space Saver

I saw this use of space for an apartment in Hong Kong and the creativity and ingenuity of the architect in creating this green space.
Check out this great MSN video: Hong Kong Space Saver