Back in NC

Almost exactly a week ago my plane landed at RDU. It's taken a while to get back into the swing of grad school life, but right now I feel like I'll be able to get caught up. In many ways CA seems like ages ago. It was good to be there to support my mom and sister in my grandma's last days. Thanks to everyone who sent words of support.

I sang and played Hymn of Promise (warning: automatically plays a MIDI file) at the service. I also designed a crossword puzzle about her life, as she was a crossword fanatic and they were a key part of her morning routine. I used an amazing program called CrosswordMaster. I'll post a link to an answer key if someone requests it.

in Manteca again

Friday night I got the call that my grandma had gone to the ICU and Sunday afternoon I was on a plane to Sacramento. Crazy how quickly things can happen. I got a one-way ticket and will probably stay here until she passes. It's good to be able to support family and to say goodbye.

I've been thinking about a remark by the pastor who was my mom's mentor: "We die the way we live."

No Defense Against Persecution (TomPaine.com)

Link

A great piece by my girlfriend's mom. Dr. al-Arian is on a hunger strike and it's important to take action promptly.

Dr. Sami al-Arian has now spent four years in jail, three of those in solitary confinement while awaiting trial. In December 2005, despite years to prepare the case against him, and an estimated $80 million dollars of American tax money to pursue it, Dr. al-Arian was acquitted of eight of the 17 charges against him, including conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to murder and maim people abroad, conspiracy to support a foreign terrorist organization (two counts), mail fraud (two counts) and obstruction of justice (two counts). After agreeing in a plea bargain to a single charge in exchange for being released and deported, more than a year after his acquittal he is still imprisoned. We visited him at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia, where he is being held for contempt of court for refusing to testify in an unrelated matter.