A survey from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has some interesting findings:

• Most American (92%) believe in God and 58% pray every day
• Three in ten Americans profess no religious identity, but sometimes go to church
• Overall 78% say there are “absolute standards of right and wrong,” but only 29% rely on their religion to set those standards out
• The report concludes that we are a nation of “free-flowing spirituality.”

Doesn’t always feel that way in my line of work … but it’s nice to know the spirituality is free-flowing.

One of my favorite turns in the wheel of the year!   Spring equinox!  In Reno, we know the lilacs are still a month or two away from blooming, but we’re getting tantalizing previews of the weather to come (just don’t plant anything yet!). And let’s not forget that great Sierra Spring skiing - corn! Check out these spring options!

The Dummy Downhill at Mt. Rose is worth a trip up the hill.

This morning, I took my son to McDonalds for breakfast.  I know - not the healthiest start, but we don’t do it very often.  I couldn’t help but notice a woman sitting there with a cup of water.  Her clothes didn’t fit well …  but I wasn’t sure if she was just having a bad morning or if she was homeless and hungry. 

I hate to say it, but I had to debate for a while about offering just to give her some money.  As I walked over to give her $5, I noticed she was wearing men’s boots but no socks.  Just said, “hey, you look like you could use a cup of coffee or something.”  So simple to do.  She thanked me several times.  Which just made me feel worse.  How hard was that?  Why is it so hard for people like her to get help?  You can help by donating to the Food Bank.  Or the Committee to Aid Abused Women.

Then off to work …. catching up on e-mail.  I’ve gotten about 10 updates from the 40 days for life vigil.  (They pray outside abortion clinics during Lent - and I greatly appreciate their Statement of Peace.)  Today’s update was “don’t you have something better to do?”  (The feedback they get from some people in the community.)  And I thought of the woman I talked to this morning.  Yes, there is plenty to do.  Right here. Right now. 

Many, many women decide to have abortions because they want to be good mothers, and know they aren’t capable of doing that now.  Or because they are doing all they can to take care of the kids they have now, and know that one more will plunge their whole family into poverty.  There are lots of reasons women have abortions. 

Here’s my wish: let’s all work together to end unintended pregnancies.  And, let’s all work together to help women take care of the families they do have. 

Surfing the net and I ran across this interesting trivia:  The very first Google Doodle was a reference to the Burning Man Festival in 1998 (or 1999?).

When Truckee Meadows Tomorrow asked people to list an example of a community innovation that represents or exemplifies “quality of life” and has made a profound difference here - #1 on the list is the downtown Reno Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield.  My friend Jim Litchfield, of Fluid, deserves a lot of credit and every single award he earned for turning this dream into a reality.  Myrna the Minx thinks so too!

Catch the 12 Horses Podcast with (some of) the story behind the park.

For next year’s Community Well-Being Report, I’m going to have to nominate the Presidential Caucus as one of the most significant innovations of the year.  Record turnout!  Presidential candidates in Nevada for weeks!  Voters paying attention!  Can’t beat it!

What would you nominate?

It’s been fascinating watching the letters to the editor, after the Jan. 19th Caucus in Nevada. It’s very clear most folks aren’t aware that for the last two decades we’ve had ZERO say in who each of the parties nominated for President. And they were plenty unhappy with the craziness we experienced. So to me - the messy and chaotic RECORD TURNOUT that was the caucus was a massive improvement.

For the record, here are our three options for having a say in the presidential nominee:

1. No say at all. (Which is what we’ve had for the last two decades.)

2. Tax payer funded statewide primary election. (That asks only one question: Who would you vote for for President. And was held in March, pretty much after the nominee had been determined.) And FYI - the first (of two) presidential primary Nevada had in 1976 was projected to cost $100,000 but ended up costing taxpayers over $200,000. Click here for EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about presidential primaries in Nevada.
3. Messy caucus process that is run by each party and its volunteers. (And let’s all agree that many of the problems could be worked out - absentee ballots, military voting, etc.)

I vote for the caucus. Let’s also remember the side-benefits we got out of this: Presidential candidates actually visiting Nevada and sometimes talking about our issues, bonus celebrity sightings, and amazing party building opportunities.

Be sure to arrive at least an hour early, so you can catch Artistic Director Michael Borowitz’s pre-show talk for Aida (Oct. 12th - be there 6:30 pm or Oct. 14th - arrive at 1 pm). Spectacular! Want to see what I mean? Check out his pre-show talk for “Orpheus in the Underworld.” (On the left screen, his talk — click on the right screen, and it will take you to that moment in the opera!) You’ll see why we’re all wearing “Michael Borowitz Fan Club” t-shirts.

September, the start of the traditional performing arts season, is filled with opportunity for the art. UNR Performing Arts Series kicks off with the Ethos Percussion Group on September 20, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at Nightingale Hall. Devoted to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Later in September, T.S. Monk appears at the Pioneer Center on the 26th to kick off the Washoe County Concert Series.   Drummer T.S. Monk just released Higher Ground, is launching his own label, and is the chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute. Get ready for some incredible music!

At the Nevada Museum of Art, hot off the playa, Kate Raudenbush’s Guardian of Eden.

The Gazette covers its installation at the Museum.  I think this beautiful piece will be a welcome addition downtown.

Back to school is traditionally the time when the performing arts launch their seasons.  This year, the Reno Philharmonic opens their season with Joy & Passion.  You’re already an expert; you’ll know Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

The Reno Chamber Orchestra kicks off with Wings & Strings, a fund-raising gala at the Grand Sierra Resort, Thursday, September 13th at 5:30 p.m.  Of course, this event ties into the Reno National Championship Air Racing Show.

First the balloons, then the air planes.  You know it’s fall in Reno.

This year marks the Nevada Opera’s 40th season … making them the oldest professional performing arts organization in Nevada. The Anniversary Concert October 5th is a great intro to opera — it’ll feature Michael Borowitz (who is an amazing talent and we are SO lucky to have him) and all of the best of opera. Click here to see him in action. Everything you already know from Bugs Bunny and Bad News Bears and completely improbably, Grand Theft Auto ads. A little Youtube research and you can be a total expert!