It was a great Monastic Day!

I heard back from Common Ground Collective, but still not sure of volunteer status. I may just be headed that way, but I was asked to stay on here for a few more days.

Made fudge with Father Anthony today, while he was interviewed for a local NPR story. I'll post it when it airs.

We officially launched the link to the monastery podcast, be sure to visit Trappist.net and click on the podcast link on the left side. We are up to 117 subscribers to the podcast. This page is for those who don't want to, or know how to subscribe, but want to listen. It was one heck of a struggle to get it to work in both browsers. Between using extensive CSS and mixing in flash code and xml, one and then the other didn't work, until a simple solution came along and it all fell into place. It really is inspiring how often that seems to happen when I work here at the monastery.
Finally, I just came from compline. I you haven't heard compline at the monastery, you can download this link, or listen with the button below.

I read an author's interview and he said we all should write something, even if it's a few lines, every day.

I am back at the monastery in Conyers. It is really good to see everyone, and I have many very special monk friends here. I do notice a change among those that I worked with last year. I am not sure that taking a job here was the best thing to do. Fr. Anthony told me that some people thought I left with "a bitter taste in my mouth." I assured him this wasn't so. The more I think about it, the more I am sorry that anyone would have thought that. It was certainly not the easies job I've ever done, arriving at a very established community, and trying to take them forward with technology (I was hired to set up an integrated Point of Sale and Webstore system, which led to also managing a phone bank). I found it challenging, but no "bitter taste", in fact I enjoyed the challenge. I really have a lot of sympathy for those working here on a full time basis, but have seen that few of them have very little social relationship with the monks. The volunteers do, but they have the freedom of being a volunteer.

As for the website, it is still likely that they will hire an expensive firm to create a very beautiful website I am sure. I am just sorry that this is seen as the important aspect of their web presence. Through watching this process it has helped me realize more clearly my philosophy as a designer. I want to create simple, attractive, easy to use and very functional websites that are very well indexed and publisized. What good is a fancy website if only the current supporters know that it is there.

I have finished the Monastery Podcast page and have really enjoyed working with Brother Chaminade on making this a reality. It is ready for viewing and comments please let me know what you think.

Peace,
geoffrey/pax

Now is the time to turn the heat up. Get out there and spread the word, buy DVDs, plan screenings, and use the film to pressure elected officials to stop the profiteering. To help with your efforts, next week we'll be mailing out promotional gear (posters, stickers) to everyone who both signed up to host a screening on Brave New Theaters and bought a DVD. A lot of great stuff you can use.

Buy DVDs: http://iraqforsale.org/buy.php
Post your screening info: http://iraqforsale.org/screenings.php
Promotional materials: http://iraqforsale.org/promotional.php

Everyone from the military to truck drivers are supporting patriotism over profit. Arianna Huffington called this a "bipartisan no-brainer". Let's show the war profiteers what real democracy is about!