Religious symbolism of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

True Love refers to God.

1. Partridge refers to Jesus
2. Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3. French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4. Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5. Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6. Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7. Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
8. Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9. Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10. Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11. Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12. Drummers Drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed 

(http://www.carols.org.uk)

One State Street Plaza

The Dogme Rules

• Filming must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought in. If a particular prop is necessary for the story, a location must be chosen where this prop is to be found.
• The sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. Music must not be used unless it occurs within the scene being filmed, i.e., diegetic.
• The camera must be a hand-held camera. Any movement or immobility attainable in the hand is permitted. The film must not take place where the camera is standing; filming must take place where the action takes place.
• The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable (if there is too little light for exposure the scene must be cut or a single lamp be attached to the camera).
• Optical work and filters are forbidden.
• The film must not contain superficial action (murders, weapons, etc. must not occur.)
• Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden (that is to say that the film takes place here and now).
• Genre movies are not acceptable.
• The film format must be Academy 35 mm.
• The director must not be credited.

(http://www.martweiss.com/film/dogma95-thevow.shtml)

Ten Grave Precepts

1. Affirm life; Do not kill.
2. Be giving; Do not steal.
3. Honor the body; Do not misuse sexuality.
4. Manifest truth; Do not lie.
5. Proceed clearly; Do not cloud the mind.
6. See the perfection; Do not speak of others' errors and faults.
7. Realize self and other as one; Do not elevate the self and blame others.
8. Give generously; Do not be withholding.
9. Actualize harmony; Do not be angry.
10. Experience the intimacy of things; Do not defile the Three Treasures.*

(from the Sutra of Brahma's Net)


*The Three Treasures

1. Taking refuge in the Buddha (the teacher)
2. Taking refuge in the Dharma (the teaching)
3. Taking refuge in the Sangha (the spiritual community)

Micah 6:8

• Act Justly
• Love Mercy
• Walk Humbly

Gramercy Park

Nonviolence Pledge

1. As you prepare to march, meditate on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Remember the nonviolent movement seeks justice and reconciliation -- not victory.
3. Walk and talk in the manner of love; for God is love.
4. Pray daily to be used by God that all men and women might be free.
5. Sacrifice personal wishes that all might be free.
6. Observe with friends and foes the ordinary rules of courtesy.
7. Perform regular service for others and the world.
8. Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, and heart.
9. Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
10. Follow the directions of the movement leaders and of the captains on demonstrations.

(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Union Square

Seven Deadly Social Sins

• Politics without Principle
• Wealth without Work
• Commerce without Morality
• Pleasure without Conscience
• Education without Character
• Science without Humanity
• Worship without Sacrifice

(Gandhi)

2009 reading list

Aciman, Andre. Call Me by Your Name

Armstrong, Karen. Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet

Aslan, Reza. No god but God

Atkinson, Rick. An Army at Dawn

Barr, Nevada. Blood Lure

Beschloss, Michael. Presidential Courage

Billingham, Mark. Death Message

Burke, James Lee. Rain Gods

Cahill, Thomas. Mysteries of the Middle Ages

Chang, Henry. Chinatown Beat

Child, Lee. Nothing to Lose

Connolly, Michael. The Brass Verdict

Cornwell, Patricia. Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed

Cornwell, Patricia. The Front

Cullen, Dave. Columbine

Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel

Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother

Edwardson, Ake. Death Angels

Edwardson, Ake. Never End

Ellroy, James. L.A. Confidential

Ellroy, James. The Black Dahlia

Epping, Randy Charles. A Beginner's Guide to the World Economy

Fairstein, Linda. Lethal Legacy

Faust, Drew Gilpin. This Republic of Suffering

Fossum, Karin. Don't Look Back

Gaiman, Neil. Stardust

George, Elizabeth. Well-Schooled in Murder

Gilbert, G.M. Nuremberg Diary

Giller, Marc D. Hammerjack

Glass, Leslie. Judging Time

Glass, Leslie. Loving Time

Harris, Sam. The End of Faith

Hesse, Herman. Siddhartha

Hitchens, Christopher. The Trial of Henry Kissinger

Indridason, Arnaldur. Arctic Chill

Indridason, Arnaldur. The Draining Lake

Johansen, Iris. Stalemate

Kellerman, Jonathan. Bones

Keneally, Thomas. Schindler's List

Klinenberg, Eric. Heat Wave

Kumar, Satish. The Buddha and the Terrorist

Laymon, Richard. Savage

Leon, Donna. About Face

Leon, Donna. Death at La Fenice

Leon, Donna. Dressed for Death

Leon, Donna. The Girl of His Dreams

Levitt, Steven D. and Stephen J. Dubner. Freakonomics

Lewis, Bernard. The Crisis of Islam

Lovesey, Peter. Skeleton Hill

Magee, Mike (ed). All Available Boats

Mankell, Henning. Before the Frost

Mankell, Henning. Faceless Killers

Mankell, Henning. The Dogs of Riga

Mankell, Henning. The Fifth Woman

Mankell, Henning. The Man Who Smiled

Mankell, Henning. The White Lioness

McDevitt, Jack. Polaris

McDevitt, Jack. Seeker

McDevitt, Jack. The Devil's Eye

Meacham, Jon. Franklin and Winston

Merton, Thomas. The Way of Chuang Tzu

Murch, Walter. In the Blink of an Eye

Orwell, George. Why I Write

Painter, Nell Irvin. Standing at Armageddon

Pattison, Eliot. Bone Rattler

Pattison, Eliot. Prayer of the Dragon

Pattison, Eliot. The Lord of Death

Price, Richard. Clockers

Qiu Xiaolong. A Loyal Character Dancer

Qiu Xiaolong. Death of a Red Heroine

Ramo, Joshua Cooper. The Age of the Unthinkable

Rankin, Ian. Bleeding Hearts

Rankin, Ian. Blood Hunt

Rankin, Ian. Exit Music

Raymond, Derek. He Died With His Eyes Open

Raymond, Derek. How the Dead Live

Raymond, Derek. I Was Dora Suarez

Sherwood, Robert. Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History

Shorto, Russell. Descartes' Bones

Sigurdardottir, Yrsa. Last Rituals

Sjowall, Maj and Per Wahloo. Roseanna

Sjowall, Maj and Per Wahloo. The Laughing Policeman

Sjowall, Maj and Per Wahloo. The Locked Room

Sjowall, Maj and Per Wahloo. The Man Who Went Up in Smoke

Stephenson, Neal. Anathem

Stross, Charles. Singularity Sky

Theorin, Johan. Echoes from the Dead

Wallace, David Foster. Consider the Lobster

Wallace, David Foster. The Broom of the System

Wilentz, Sean (ed). The Best American History Essays on Lincoln

Wilson, F. Paul. Harbingers

Wilson, Robert. A Darkening Stain

Wray, John. Lowboy