Winter Solstice

(Gouache Paintings by Wendy L. Wilkerson)

Police State

READ

Pay to Play

Listen

Share the Bounty

http://www.imow.org/economica/stories/viewStory?storyId=4638

Do what you can.  Donate, cook, invite, help out.

‎"I saw old Autumn in the misty morn
Stand, shadowless like Silence, listening
To Silence."
- Thomas Hood

It's been a strange year. Looking back, it seems that the overriding theme has been animal rescue. It started with a little dog found in the middle of the road licking ice. His fur was matted and frozen and he was soo cold. We ended up finding his owners, after making numerous phone calls and without the help of the local Dog Warden or the Village Police Department. Apparently, they have more important things to do.

A little later in the winter, a yellow kitty showed up in our back yard. Friendly as could be, I hesitated in taking him in as we have a 12 year old Ragdoll, who doesn't get along well with other cats. The yellow kitty stuck it out, and when the weather turned bitter cold, his persistence paid off. We brought him in the house and after a couple of days, all hell broke loose. However, over time, our two male kitties have found a way to co-exist under the same roof. We still have our moments, but it has worked out well. When they think we are not looking, they curl up together and if we should happen to catch them in a harmonious state, they awaken and immediately start batting at each other.

All was quiet until late Summer, when we were living at the Lake. We had horrible rains and when Irene decided to add to the wet, soggy weather, the dam to the Lake was opened to let water out. A day later, we learned there was a Loon caught in the spill off under the dam. If you know anything about Loons, you understand that they cannot live on land and they need the length of a football field to get high enough to fly. I called the DEC, who promptly put me in touch with a man in Wildlife, who told me he would get in touch with Loon Rescue. Later that day, I received the call from Loon Rescue and was assured someone would get in touch with me. Next day, the water in the spill off was markedly lower. As the dam had been wide open, there were no fish in the spill off for the Loon to survive on. More and more people were gathering at the site and scaring the Loon and he was attempting to fly out over the dam over and over, which he was unable to do. He was clearly stressed. I called the lady who was going to send someone to rescue the Loon and gave her a status report. Next day passed, still no help. It looked like the Loon was on his own. I once again called Loon Rescue and was advised by the same lady that she was located 4 hours away, was going through a very stressful month and would try to reach someone to come out the next day. At that point, 2 nameless individuals decided they could not standby and watch the Loon suffer and possibly die. After dark, armed with a huge net and a flashlight, these two brave souls waded into water up to their waists, water that contained large snapping turtles. One shone the light in the Loon's eyes and the other was able to net him on the second try. They immediately took the Loon to the nearby boat launch and away he went, while making the noises only Loons can make. We took a trip around the Lake the next day and sure enough, there were the mother and father Loons, swimming with this year's baby. It was a successful rescue! The reason these two heros shall remain nameless is that the DEC is now attempting to find out who saved the Loon so that they can arrest them for something or other. I should think they would give them a medal. Another failure of an entity created to protect wildlife,once again dropping the ball.

Our last rescue was one week later. We spotted a homing pigeon walking up and down our road, picking at gravel. At this point, we wondered what was going on in our lives. The pigeon had two bands on her legs, so we did some searching on the internet and decided to leave her alone for a few days to see if she would fly home. By day 4, we decided we had to help her. Using a cardboard box loaded with a neighbor's wild birdseed, she went right to the food and into the box. We wrote down the markings from her leg bands and were able to locate her owner on the Internet. The bird was from Burlington, VT and had been let go in the Champlain Valley. We were told that once a bird wanders into the Southern Adirondack area, the lode stone that is so prevalent here interferes with their navigation system. Her owner drove down after work on Friday night, had a bowl of Chili with us and gave us a very interesting history of the sport of racing pigeons. He said if we hadn't called him, the bird would have died.

It wasn't until we saw the lost the pigeon that I realized we had been rescuing animals and birds for the better part of the year. Looking back, I am amazed that we had helped 4 different species. I cannot remember any year in which we helped more than one animal, let alone four. I wondered what it was that made this year so different and I still wonder what it all means.

I feel very grateful that we were involved in these rescues, especially as they were all successful. I imagine that the Universe is tying to tell us something and sooner or later, I will figure out what that is. In the meantime, I can't help but wonder if there will be any more rescues in our future. I kind of hope so.

Here

It's getting ugly

Obama, the One, the Great Uniter.

The following was posted on a good friend's Facebook page:

"You want a place to direct those people that love to say Obama Lied, then send them to this site. Maybe if they are not too far gone into hatred for a black man land, they will read it with an open mind! But probably not---they love to cling to this ridiculous claim that Obama is a failure and lied, yadda, yadda..... "

It's become even more personal than the last election. My own peeps are calling me racist because I dare to differ in opinion? Unreal.

Caption This

Betty Ford Tribute. Bush looks more alert than Meshall. What's up with that?

RIP, Betty Ford

Repost of a post from 2009:


I watched a Betty Ford documentary last evening on PBS and became reacquainted with the strong, well grounded First Lady who was not afraid to speak her mind. Looking back on her life, I now realize how important she was to the women's movement. Betty Ford spoke out in support of abortion, staunchly supported the ERA, was very public about her breast cancer and not only admitted to the world her addiction to drugs and alcohol, but started a clinic which she participated in, giving strength to those afflicted with the same disease.

In today's political climate, it was almost mind boggling to watch this down to earth couple going about their very real lives. No staging, teleprompters, phony promises, arrogant stances, Greek columns or organic arugula grown on the White House south lawn. In fact, after President Ford was sworn in (upon Nixon's resignation), the family lived in the same home they had lived in for years, cooking and cleaning and parenting, until Nixon's belongings could be removed from the White House and the Ford family moved in.

If you have a chance to watch this on your PBS station, I highly recommend it. Betty Ford really was the real deal and a remarkable women.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr

May Day

"Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable."
— Mary Oliver

Impotence

One thing is for certain: right now, the Democratic Party is absolutely correct in its assessment that kicking its base is good politics. Why is that? Because they know that they have inculcated their base with sufficient levels of fear and hatred of the GOP, so that no matter how often the Party kicks its base, no matter how often Party leaders break their promises and betray their ostensible values, the base will loyally and dutifully support the Party and its leaders (at least in presidential elections; there is a good case that the Democrats got crushed in 2010 in large part because their base was so unenthusiastic).

Greenwald here

O's first ad

H/T to Hecate

Bill Maher, Metbrosexual

Shakesville

Echidne

JWS

Tavis Smiley:
The bust of Dr. King in the Oval Office is surely whispering to President Obama right now, "It's nonviolence or nonexistence." The U.S. engaged in 3 wars in 3 Muslim countries all at once? HUGE mistake. War is STILL not the answer. This is the problem with prematurely giving the Nobel Peace Prize to a war president. Let's... pray for peace.

Me! By somebody else

I should say, too, that there are a lot of things people consider leisure activities that I don’t bother with, partly because to me they’re not all that interesting. Going to movies in theaters, for example. Any sport that involves a ball. (I’ve discussed, haven’t I, my experience with balls? We repel each other, like magnets. Imagine how difficult that made kickball, in elementary school!) Going sailing, just to go sailing rather than getting anywhere. Going to any sort of gym for exercise. (Why? I’d rather go to a dance class.) Going to a spa. (Why? I’d rather learn to spin wool, or fight with a sword, or just about anything.) And I don’t shop, except when I’m going to an old book store, a thrift store, an antiques market. If I’m going to shop, it’s going to be an adventure. (Malls. Why?) That’s a good rule, actually: don’t do anything unless it’s an adventure. The other stuff: what’s the point? (Unless you like doing it, of course, and then you should. But don’t do things just because you feel as though you ought to.)

Via Hecate HERE

What Pi sounds like.

Inequality

Mother Jones

BitterSweet

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Although I cannot stomach the hate this so-called church is spewing, I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the Supreme Court decision. photo here

Barack the hopeless

Run on over to the New Liberal Rapture and read
littleisis. She is a real voice for the times.

"SEASONAL WILDS"

This moving Hill,
Our ritual mountain
of unreal moments,
Not mine
Not yours,
Not hours.

Simply begone,
Grace the clown,
Yet, Break new ground,
Burrow pass Yesterday.
Dust the wheels
beneath the Golden Child,
Instead of the revered
Chimney choir.

The smoke grows,
It grows, ever grows,
It gnaws at the absence,
Collecting the weight
of worn window shutters,
Tasting the closet leaves.
Grasping the gesture
that Loneliness is not a sin ....
When Placed on Calendars.
Pride was never a reason
or our excuse,
We just embraced
without even touching.
Let's break the tradition
of timeclock compassion,
even those who don't
practice, the magic
or the faithful tragic.

Showcase Vulnerable Smiles,
Selfless Laughter,
with cast iron glee,
the charm of open arms,
the grace to merely be.
Reconsider your seasonal wilds,
Reject the style,
Alone in crowds,
Somewhat, on Holidays.


----- Kevin Mark Charles Holiday 12/24/10

A Valentine for Hillary

A True Liberal Nation™ Action Item


This February 14th, don’t forget to send a Valentine’s Day greeting to America’s favorite sweetheart, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

As an activist, First Lady, and US Senator, she’s always worked selflessly to help others. As a candidate for president, she gained more primary votes than anyone in history. Her tenacity, courage and grace under pressure impressed and inspired the entire nation. As Secretary of State, she has won the respect and admiration of foreign leaders, heads of state, and her own political opponents at home.

For all of this, Hillary Clinton deserves an expression of our gratitude. Send a Valentines Day card to:

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Include a note letting Hillary know how much you appreciate everything she’s done. And ask her to pretty-please do us one more favor — run for president in 2012, and then get this country back on track as only she knows how.

Riverdaughter Nails It

What to do

Thorn

Let me remain in a state of relationship and inquiry with my ego. May pride give me the sense of my rightful place within in the world, within this cosmos, within the great unfolding dance of time. May I not get caught up in ignorance, or internal greed, or the need to always feel that I am right. May I ever court true peers and comrades who laugh with me, cry with me, inquire with me, and call me on my shit. May I seek out suppleness, and a return to centering, when the crust of brittleness grows hard around my thoughts, my habits, or my emotions. May I notice this before the crust grows so thick and impenetrable that to break it would cause a fear of shattering. I do not wish to shatter: I wish to grow strong, to walk in wisdom, to seek my own counsel, and the counsel of the Gods and the breeze, and my teachers, and the singing of the stars.

Let me remain in state of relationship and inquiry with my ego. Let all parts of me comprehend that ego does not run the show, but rather, contributes to the whole pattern of my understanding.

Let me listen – every day – making time for this, and opening the way.

Here

Go read
this Death Management, or How the Emperor Found A Pale White Woobie's Corpse, and Upon Feigning Emotion, Rediscoverd the Virtue of His Power

Gun Control, People

Glock Model 19
Action: Semi-automatic
Type: Double Action Only
Size: Compact
Caliber: 9MM
Barrel Length: 4.02"
Frame/Material: Polymer
Finish/Color: OD Green
Capacity: 10Rd
Accessories: 2 Mags
Fired Casing: Fired Case
Hand: Right Hand
Sights: Fixed Sights
MSRP: $541.00

A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation says the Glock model 19 used in the shootings was purchased legally. The official did not have details at this time as to when and where the gun was purchased.

The gun was loaded with a 30-round magazine. The official said it is likely the extended magazine used in the shooting was purchased separately and at a different time. The official said such a magazine does not automatically come with a weapons purchase and that it would be extremely rare for them to be sold together in one purchase.

The official said the suspect had purchased another gun a few years ago but this person did not know the details about what happened to that weapon and if the alleged shooter still owned it. More
here

DNC - Read it and weep

Riverdaughter has an outstanding post up on the 2008 primary and election process. It will seriously piss you off to read it. It really isn't news to those of us who backed Hillary and witnessed the entire debacle, but it will make your blood boil. Read it here

Resolutions

I RESOLVE TO:

Read the 24 page booklet that came with the camera I purchased 4 years ago so that I don't waste any more time deleting and retaking photos.

NOT color my hair.

Try to learn to accept the squirrels who eat all of the suet and birdseed I buy for the woodpeckers, sparrows, blue jays, mourning doves and other birds that come to the feeder. I've invested enough money in "squirrel proof" contraptions that don't work.

Read every one of the books I purchased this year.

Learn more about herbs and essential oils and use them in healing.

Live in the moment.

Start composting.

Find a way to bring my family back together.