View allAll Photos Tagged Freethinker
The Reason Rally took place on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Saturday, March 24, 2012. It was sponsored by many of the country’s largest and most influential secular organizations.
Beach pebble, Rainbow Moonstone, Jadeite, Aquamarine, and shell with copper, sterling silver, and brass.
Henry Ward Beecher wrote a book on evolution and religion in 1885 (a collection of eight sermons) that tried to reconcile the two. But Heston is ridiculing his attempt to synthesize evolution and religion by citing Brother John Jasper, the slave preacher, who was quoted as saying that people should "never…leave the Bible for any set of men. The Scriptures are given by God to man, and they are good for doctrine and for instruction. This is what the Bible said. The word of God was fully competent for that business, and it is no use to go to philosophers to learn about the sun when the Bible tells us it moves." [From "The Life of Rev. John Jasper, Pastor of Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Richmond, VA, From His Birth To The Present Time, With His Theory On The Rotation Of The Sun" written by E. A. Randolph, LL.B. (1884)]
Hiking around Belgium for Street Nurses 2020
July 25: Spanish Toll House. Again those Spaniards...
Saturday afternoon I passed by the Bruges-Ostend canal along a listed dilapidated building that once was a Spanish Toll House. In the garden there was now a cycling and walking café: 't Spaans Tolhuis . Because I had also repeatedly encountered the Spanish in De Klinge and Kemzeke, I decided to go there to get some information over a Latte Macchiato.
When I had fulfilled the corona obligations upon entering, I gave a flyer about my walking project for Straatverplegers vzw. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out that Peter, the new young owner, works for the Agency for Youth Welfare West Flanders. He is involved in the prevention of homelessness of young people and young adults and, like Straatverplegers, carries the 'housing first' principle high on the banner. He was also able to immediately provide information about the presence of homeless people in Ostend.
From Peter and Joke, his partner, the enthusiastic operators who plan to restore the toll house in three years, I learned that its history is summarized on their website. That saves me a lot of typing:
"The tiny Spanish Toll House along the towpath from Plassendale to Bruges was once the gateway to a sturdy 17th century fort. This guarded the old Plassendale lock. Guardhouse for Spanish soldiers; residence of the commander; toll office; inn; house of the lock masters; a last port of call for old bargemen and the Icelandic sailor “Berten”: the small monument on the waterfront has a lot to tell you."
"Four hundred years of locks, forts, cannon fire, shipping, residents and their stories are given a place on the water".
For those interested in a chronological overview, you can find it here: www.spaanstolhuis.be/html/huis-en-fort.html
A funny anecdote that Peter told me is the story of the nickname of the Spanish Isabella 'grauw' (Isabella of Spain and Albrecht of Austria, countess and count of Flanders from 1598 to 1621): she had sworn not to change her underwear until the freethinkers' city of Ostend would be handed over to the Spanish. That only happened in 1604! Poor Albrecht....
The outer fabric is rich upholstery weight brocade in cielo blue, café au lait and espresso browns. (Can you tell that I am trying to cut down on coffee?) There is a bit of ecru as well. Elegant medallions, fleur de lis, and leafy scrolls.
The lining material is a map of the world drawn in ecru on milk chocolate brown.
It measures H 14 in x L 13½ in (36 cm x L 34 cm). The straps measure 26 in (66cm).
Carlos Celdran and the pro-RH Bill advocates hold up posters from sexandsensibilities.com that depict oppression of women by the Catholic Church.
This rucksack is very youthful (which as we all know has nothing to with years, months or days).
It is cool watery blue with a sketch of a sparrow on a branch. There are plump blossoms and foliage in young colors. (It is blue sketchbook from Anna Maria Horner's drawing room collection.)
The lining is a Japanese fabric. Delicate white lace on a young grey green background.
It measures L 13½ in x H 14 in (L 34 cm x H 36 cm). The straps measure 27 in (69 cm).
View this LARGE. Don't look for what isn't there. A top down perspective on a block of Manhattan at night.