IsThisThingOn?

From an old Houston Chronicle's Religion section (11/25/2006) I set aside. It's a shame that religious beliefs tend to divide people and nations. It's my personal opinion that when distilled, their teachings seem to actually share the basic tenants (and at their essence are actually very simple). The Chronicle gave a great example of this: JUDAISM: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary." Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31A CHRISTIANITY: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Jesus, Matthew 7:12, NIV ISLAM: "Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself." The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith HINDUISM: "This is the sum of duty: Do not do to others what would cause you pain if done to you." Mahabharata, 5;1517 BUDDHISM: "Treat not others in ways you yours...

You must have seen the post going around on Facebook. Make a fast and dirty list of favorite books, not pausing to say which are the right ones or what sounds good. I admit, I did like adding #2 and #4 but I liked adding#1 and #8 just as much.  I haven't been able to read books at all, for about a decade. Too restless, 1. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, the book that got me writing every day since I was 10 (and I have it ALL still, save 2 journals) 2. Godel, Escher, Bach by Hofstader, ate this up at the tender age of 1 9 3. A Cape Cod Journal by Erma J. Fisk, a book I'd take on a desert island 4. The Lessons of History (and really, everything he wrote) by Will Durant, another I'd take on a desert island 5. The Pleasure of My Company (and everything he wrote) by Steve Martin (yes THAT Steve Martin) 6. Basketball Diaries, by Jim Caroll, unforgettable quality 7. Everything EVER written by F.Scott Fitzgerald 8. Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene, every sin...

"We live not only for ourselves. A thousand fibers   connect us  with our fellowmen;  and along those fibers,  as sympathetic threads,  our  actions  run as causes,  and  they come back to us  as effects. ---Herman Mellville