tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-223469652024-03-07T21:36:44.331-06:00Blogger Round tableBlog intended for 'round the table' discussions but then..aren't most of them?Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.comBlogger569125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-81237028693430451962010-02-14T18:06:00.009-06:002010-02-14T19:12:57.176-06:00"The Lightning Thief"- robbed of its story(a fellow blogger asked for my opinion, this is not a review as such)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_WeT4Ipapwt_qxWvWC_bleWLrt4U4fybV_dubcymOJHljf_025rqcmL6F0ChV-LVoONz1UPiwBOZk2QQHyjZNoCUQEADSZC0Kq_sfozNofRSbCE-hWdzR0qkzcjTxNslpm2FJw/s1600-h/the+lightning+thief.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_WeT4Ipapwt_qxWvWC_bleWLrt4U4fybV_dubcymOJHljf_025rqcmL6F0ChV-LVoONz1UPiwBOZk2QQHyjZNoCUQEADSZC0Kq_sfozNofRSbCE-hWdzR0qkzcjTxNslpm2FJw/s320/the+lightning+thief.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438256339771075074" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&ISBN=9780307245328&ourl=The%2DLightning%2DThief%2FRick%2DRiordan&cm_mmc=Google%20Product%20Search-_-Q000000630-_-The%20Lightning%20Thief-_-9780307245328">Just buy the book</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As the mother of a demi-god, I can say I have been responsible for his discovery of the Percy Jackson series. I read the Lightning Thief before he did, suggested it for about 2 months. When he finally tried it, he was hooked. Like many other Percy Jackson fans, he already was well versed in Greek mythology and the mythological creations came alive through Rick Riordan’s well-written settings of current life. At the Last Olympians’ book signing, Rick Riordan mentioned that he was getting ready to visit the set of the Lightning Thief in Vancouver and the attending demi-gods and camp half-blood regulars cheered with the excitement and expectations of seeing the story on the big screen.<br /><br />We saw the movie in advance because of the work of a very loyal mythology teacher who rented a movie theater space for her many students; we were ready for the big reveal. As the film unfolded, it was clear to me from the very beginning. This seemed like Chris Columbus’ film version of attempting to make Basil Fawlty’s famous waldorf salad and it truly was, full of ‘waldorfs’. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRYtOVzHcwCa8_bXJCKetPJiE9wslwWBrnfMknTxDiMz4crAxHaYLMsRG4UCvTSgIHOtYBUC-0mKKn3GP7j9NilQK4j63AbjxddfhR-VS4sDpbySBz9eJHsNvlFKamEK8d6KqJg/s1600-h/fawltytowersgroup.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRYtOVzHcwCa8_bXJCKetPJiE9wslwWBrnfMknTxDiMz4crAxHaYLMsRG4UCvTSgIHOtYBUC-0mKKn3GP7j9NilQK4j63AbjxddfhR-VS4sDpbySBz9eJHsNvlFKamEK8d6KqJg/s320/fawltytowersgroup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438262140181067218" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You can always expect parts to be excluded from a film version of any book, but this treatment only kept the title, a few characters, and added a lot of action in an attempt to dazzle. It did not. The key ingredient; the story with its built-in protagonists and antagonists, was missing. The film seemed to be made for a one-time only audience. It certainly cannot have been made for building up a successful adaptation series as the Harry Potter films have been. What was the point? The Percy Jackson series have plenty in it to make it useable for script content. Sure you’ll need to leave things out, but the basic story line is easy enough. A dyslexic and ADHD 12 year old discovers that he is the product of a liaison between a mortal and an immortal god, in Percy Jackson’s case, Poseidon, god of the sea. He discovers that mythological creatures are after him for some reason unknown to him and he soon finds himself at Camp-Half blood, the only protected spot on the planet for many other illegitimate mortal/immortal off-spring whom (the Greek) monsters are after. In the first book, Percy ends up on the quest to not only prove his innocence, but to find Zeus’ lightning bolt that he’s been accused of stealing. The readers of the book encounter many mythological creatures, a few who even make it to the screen; Medusa, the Hydra and the Fates. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihD2isJn-Jxe6ljTxgkUoWfjML9i3zMTNGyaNV2FaktUQtk_42Fdh35nIM8k_f89nmQpupyi6ko23P5TfKrt9f5whRDhXP-ktHPWS8NCLnSGjmcYwmfl3nD8JvtWcNaok_Nbu1AQ/s1600-h/umathurmanmedusa.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihD2isJn-Jxe6ljTxgkUoWfjML9i3zMTNGyaNV2FaktUQtk_42Fdh35nIM8k_f89nmQpupyi6ko23P5TfKrt9f5whRDhXP-ktHPWS8NCLnSGjmcYwmfl3nD8JvtWcNaok_Nbu1AQ/s320/umathurmanmedusa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438262906115874962" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Uma Thurman as Medusa...one of the film's highlights<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But there are plenty of others missing. Also missing is Ares, god of war and father of Percy’s main antagonist at camp Half-blood, Clarisse. Both characters are very important for the rest of the series. Instead of learning more about mythology, we learn that this is a basic road film as the kids (Percy, Grover and Annabeth) drive themselves. They, the characters and the actors are at least 17/18 years old. There is quite some action but the action misses the point. Percy is actually 12 years old and he finds out over the course of the first two books, that there is a prophecy. This prophecy suggests that he, Percy Jackson, will become a dangerous weapon at the age of 16. So where are we to go with this film? <br /><br /><br />Alas, another kid lit book bites the dust at the hands of the director and the studio whose own myth is that children’s books fans are really not that important and that just filming one book out of a series is good enough. My suggestion is to blow off the movie and read the books instead. At least you’ll know there’s another one coming when you’re done with the first. “A gin and orange, a lemon squash, and a scotch and water, please!” –snaps fingers- , “and someone please order Mr. Columbus a real waldorf salad”.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kxfhM8lFz5s&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kxfhM8lFz5s&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-29618873258721392122009-02-26T13:32:00.004-06:002009-02-26T13:55:05.787-06:00Pentagon lifts media ban on returning coffins: FINALLY!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU2BqzEH6e9m5g04o3f_SPe_2mL1N_dTMYK41xrlbB-h1HRk58y6pQuUFr_n5pXDVK_KwOiaYEjUa_gKmixU82kJ-O2Bd3udVUc0Tcspx1NBMBaDJvyrX8NwCPhdtTacJ7ekYVA/s1600-h/g-cvr-090217-dover-coffins-3a_h2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU2BqzEH6e9m5g04o3f_SPe_2mL1N_dTMYK41xrlbB-h1HRk58y6pQuUFr_n5pXDVK_KwOiaYEjUa_gKmixU82kJ-O2Bd3udVUc0Tcspx1NBMBaDJvyrX8NwCPhdtTacJ7ekYVA/s320/g-cvr-090217-dover-coffins-3a_h2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307193119644065154" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It is shameful that there ever was a ban. Now people are getting a double whammy; not only was and is the economy NOT ok (hasn't been for a while and it did not just start now with Obama at the helm), but now people will get to see the literal, death toll now the ban is lifted. (<a href="http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/001258.php">and how did the odd picture come out</a>?)<br /><br /><em><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29410258"> "WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday said he was lifting the ban against media photos of soldiers' coffins returning to the U.S. and will instead leave the decision up to families.<br /><br />Gates told reporters earlier this month that he was reviewing the policy and that if the needs of the families could be met, and the privacy concerns could be addressed, he favored honoring fallen troops as much as possible." </a></em><br /><br /><br />It was about bloody time! It's funny how the GOP is now getting up in arms (no pun intended) over 'big government' and all kinds dramatic slogans that will make their flock reel but finally, reality-politics is coming to town and <strong>reality bites</strong>! Bad economic times the likes of the Depression, hell, it's supposed to become worse than that really. <br /><br />Seeing the fallen soldiers return after patriotic notions got them to enlist (that or poverty because in middle schools, the military is trying heavily to recruit already) so here they are. After all that, and then not even to be acknowledged, no, allowed to be acknowledged if the family wants it.. it was one of those shameful laws. That said, it was apparently in place since '91 so that said, there have been fallen, <strong><a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB152/index.htm">returning soldiers during the Clinton years who did not receive their due recognition either</a>.</strong><br /><br /><br />Good on you Obama people. I am still the Independent and won't agree with foreign politics (business as usual) but I will have to give kudos when warranted.Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-72547076087725899922009-02-20T21:37:00.003-06:002009-02-20T22:03:01.681-06:00Lullabies if you can't sleep..I'm looking for some of the songs on my daughter's cd. It's <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Dreamland-World-Lullabies-Soothing-Songs/dp/product-description/B00008XESC">Putumayo's 'Dreamland; world lullabies and soothing songs.</a></strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zSEiike99ks&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zSEiike99ks&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><strong><a href="http://www.tanjasolnik.com/bios.htm">Tanja Solnik's</a></strong> <strong><a href="http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-numinumi.htm">"Numi Numi"</a> </strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XvrZpDAGr0s&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XvrZpDAGr0s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Angelique Kidjo with Carlos Santana "Naima"<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sWh2rjZajjo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sWh2rjZajjo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Claudia Martinez <strong><a href="http://www.lyricszoo.com/various-artists/arriba-del-cielo-claudia-martinez/">"Arriba Del Cielo"</a></strong>Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-91008944825963308772009-02-19T18:47:00.004-06:002009-02-19T19:00:27.484-06:00Sometimes all you need is a piano and Tim Finn<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RoHLCoyMC7U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RoHLCoyMC7U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Finn">Tim Finn's </a></strong>"Winter Light" from the <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(film_series)">>"Chronicles of Narnia"</a></strong> soundtrack. Remember that voice from <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_Enz">Split Enz </a></strong>and <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowded_House">Crowded House</a></strong>?<br /><br />Both kids are probably 'flu-free' (try saying three times fast)but I'm just keeping them home for one more, last day. They ought to be out of the woods completely by next week (they're both doing fine, especially 'daughter dearest' who's driving me batty with her motormouth and 'liveliness').<br /><br />I keep in mind it's the flu. Some kids apparently got the type A flu only to return later to have picked up type B. So..let's not and say we did. I need next week to get ready for my mom's arrival in early March and I need my peace!!<br /><br />Later peeps or when you look to your right "twitter boys and girls"!Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-42525932942531792102009-02-18T09:05:00.002-06:002009-02-18T09:17:41.058-06:00the fluafter a 4 day weekend with the kids, at the end, one got the flu and the other one followed suit. Amazingly, so far so good. We all had shots and the oldest, who was asymptomatic but had this chest congestion thing going on..again..was the one who started but seems fine with no fever for several days. In fact, when he must have started having it, he only had very low grade fever the first days with feeling a bit chilled and that mostly at night. <br />Then, just the night of school starting, the youngest woke up with a fever and we've just finished a day of moaning and groaning, eyes glazed over and 'feeling sad'. When I took her to the doc to confirm it was the flu, she got sick and bless her little independent self, she grabbed the bucket and did her thing without me having to pull over. (I was going as fast as I could).Then she asked for the towel I had brought so she could wipe her little mouth. (5 1/2yrs)<br /><br />As I parked in the parking lot and saw the 'content', I thought DANG. More than I thought. What to do? Where's the nearest spiggot?? So I ended up composting it ahem, on a strip of grass next to the concrete paved parking lot. Usually, my husband is the one who's the designated 'cleaner upper' for 'that kind of stuff' as I normally gag and try not to follow suit (blech!), but I'm proud to announce I managed to clean the whole thing, stay composed and clean it out to boot with heaps of those antibacterial wipes we always have in the car. Last thing you need is to get back in the car with that 'smell'!<br /><br />Plus, fyi..here's a way to get into your own separate room sooner at the doctors; ask for a bucket for throwing up. We got one and quickly got whisked to our own little room. [g]<br /><br />Poor baby had fever and was just miserable and aching all day. When we finally got home around 4sh..I put her to bed and at 6:45sh..she woke up, hair looking like she sweated it out and her pajamas feeling accordingly and since that time..no fever! So what to do? If she hasn't had a fever for 24hrs, technically, she could go back to school. She's chipper now and hasn't crashed back into misery as I expected it. I thought it would be a long night last night but no. She did wake me up twice as she of course, slept too much. Now she's happy and watching the Backyardigans.<br /><br />My son who's been sequestered in his room and the guest room (tv and bathroom) is now still asleep. Having the flu but no fever for days and asymptomatic. <br /><br />Well..it could be worse. So another reason for not having posted. Again!<br />Later peeps. I've been collecting all these articles I had wanted to comment on but they're all old news now..c'est la vie!Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-4344062786412940492009-02-14T12:50:00.008-06:002009-02-14T13:32:30.004-06:00Signs of the time; it's time to learn economics!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1nv9mDCHYwx6z6VDd0wc25SC2Pmhbv9iyjnNErKoYAj9Ettgskz4Xa_Ot6tjtsAYhNyFBy3M1ZxlwlrWfwI2y98o6n-v1K8f-03CnkOWK4yfK3Ml3RDIg33zn64-hYrRtNFpag/s1600-h/mauldin_11_8_07image001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1nv9mDCHYwx6z6VDd0wc25SC2Pmhbv9iyjnNErKoYAj9Ettgskz4Xa_Ot6tjtsAYhNyFBy3M1ZxlwlrWfwI2y98o6n-v1K8f-03CnkOWK4yfK3Ml3RDIg33zn64-hYrRtNFpag/s400/mauldin_11_8_07image001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302736098484358770" /></a><br /><strong><a href="http://www.frontlinethoughts.com/gateway.asp">John Mauldin</a></strong> in <strong><a href="http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/">The Market Oracle </a> </strong><a href="http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article1792.html">"Back to the 1998 Crisis, Subprime's to Impact for a Longtime"</a><br /><br /><br />Even though all the pro-Obama voters (and non-voters the world over) have experienced an anti-climax "bleh" after the whole election kerfafle was done, I do know, we are far from being out of the woods. There are forces at work to the conspiracy theorists, who are determined to undermine and undo the American dollar. Globally, financially, we are connected to whatever, whomever, where ever, a stock market or industry would collapse. <br /><br />Most recently, US Treasury Geithner accused China of manipulating their currency. However, what has been common practice in most American administrations, republican or democrat is having a discussion be two way. 'Cause apparently, the Obama administration hasn't been listening. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AuSfQe0CcPkZ-m4i-GNRdsWl45t1b9vpfzJvN0rNCvaRn5yoMXGN-vjqP87MzgLsXBk9vugmQznxeQH-HyUpq_pVgks_nhBUOcUonKVMV2Mss7srnq7V9PdThK-IITF5ywpMLg/s1600-h/simonsmelt.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AuSfQe0CcPkZ-m4i-GNRdsWl45t1b9vpfzJvN0rNCvaRn5yoMXGN-vjqP87MzgLsXBk9vugmQznxeQH-HyUpq_pVgks_nhBUOcUonKVMV2Mss7srnq7V9PdThK-IITF5ywpMLg/s400/simonsmelt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302732499553586498" /></a><br /><strong><a href="http://simonsmelt.com/">Simon Smelt, New Zealand economist</a></strong><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is <strong><a href="http://simonsmelt.com/">Simon Smelt,</a></strong> writing for <strong><a href="http://seekingalpha.com/">"Seeking Alpha";</a></strong><br /><br />"China’s leadership likes to communicate by brief but loaded signals, both to its own population and beyond. They are less inclined – have less need - to posture than politicians in the West. <u>That is, they mean what they signal.</u><br /><br />Whilst China is reliant on the U.S. as its biggest market and for the investments it has made there, the U.S. is reliant on China for ongoing cheap credit and goods. Given this <strong>inter-dependency</strong>, what is China signalling about its intent amidst current market turmoil?<br /><br />The signals are clear but don’t seem to have been well picked up by the media. I suggest that there are three loud “No”s to be found in what China has been saying on the international stage, as well as some quieter “Yes”s."<br /><br />Here are Simon's three 'NO's':<br /><br />1 - "...In 2005 a bilateral Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) between China and the U.S. was set up. Reportedly, Beijing has put a lot of effort into this and sees the SED as the primary channel for dealing with pressing economic issues. It is the mechanism for dialogue between the G2 on strategic issues, including those of worldwide importance.<br /><br />What all this boils down to is that China expects to be involved in the big decisions. The message is:<br /><br /><strong>No more U.S. hegemony in the financial world</strong><br /><br />Lacking a suitable multi-national mechanism (memo from China: “don’t blame us – we’ve been calling for one”), the G2 will do fine instead."<br /><br />2 - "...The U.S. has long run a trade deficit with China. The U.S. fiscal deficit by the government is more recent. It stems from the Bush years and is about to get much worse due to the various bail-out and stimulus packages. The Chinese can scarcely object to the trade deficit – they have funded it for years. So, the message is: don’t rely on us to buy your extra bond issues caused by your economic mismanagement.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb0SZ3LJkFHWIa8G6B_Gowr0lZG3EJBcUENs0EjM9GBZFG-LM8Ct-2sfElYswZ76lHJZGqEQqcyth4fSQEEyqj8QWUNtVTmlEjU1P3h45NKGt5qmbH0npf-uFiXZS-Bv42izRwA/s1600-h/Yuandollar.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb0SZ3LJkFHWIa8G6B_Gowr0lZG3EJBcUENs0EjM9GBZFG-LM8Ct-2sfElYswZ76lHJZGqEQqcyth4fSQEEyqj8QWUNtVTmlEjU1P3h45NKGt5qmbH0npf-uFiXZS-Bv42izRwA/s400/Yuandollar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302733131707285666" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />So, the second Chinese “No”:<br /><br /><strong>No extra U.S. bond purchases by China above the normal level"</strong><br /><br />3 - "...China will voice its concerns over U.S. government finances and the potential for a weaker dollar when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits China on Feb. 20. The idea has been floated that a guarantee might be “one of the prerequisites for more (bond) purchases”.<br /><br />What’s going on here? The Chinese know full well that “guarantees” in the normal sense of the word can’t be given. What they are communicating is more than a bit of anxiety. It is the third “No”:<br /><br />No policies that could lead to sharp depreciation of the U.S. $"<br /><br />Read the whole, very well explained financial relationship and US/Chinese exchange on the current financial situation at Seeking Alpha's <strong><a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/120162-china-s-three-no-s-to-the-u-s-is-washington-listening">"China's Three No's to the U.S.: Is Washington Listening?"</a></strong><br /><br />Well people, time to stop being an unconscious consumer and use the time to learn some economics instead!Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-89296312455894077672009-02-08T11:35:00.010-06:002009-02-08T12:47:37.206-06:00Getting the twitter bug - Stephen Fry, do you hear me now?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WFNbxUB4Nkw10CKeUYJDbyeKMh2xjtcDs0BCMyH6OL98AAW9yI_JkDJ2_MPaL2DxXPAUB3FZuUmFgsLacwvtcuqodGlRHmrr6xajyTd1EAWj-Xms7aAV-s8qH9qNCverECWFYw/s1600-h/stephenfry1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WFNbxUB4Nkw10CKeUYJDbyeKMh2xjtcDs0BCMyH6OL98AAW9yI_JkDJ2_MPaL2DxXPAUB3FZuUmFgsLacwvtcuqodGlRHmrr6xajyTd1EAWj-Xms7aAV-s8qH9qNCverECWFYw/s400/stephenfry1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300486171916781410" /></a><br />Stephen Fry<br /><br />In the spirit of publicity, I figured I needed to be more web savvy. So I figured I'd check out<strong><a href="http://www.twitter.com"> Twitter</a></strong>, having seen the twitter feed on <strong><a href="http://utahsavage.blogspot.com/">Utah Savage's page</a></strong>, plus dh is on it. I started out yesterday and boy, it's a 'viral' and addictive thing. I'm keeping it under control as much as possible (i.e. don't follow many and not have that much followers, that'll get you tagged as an online marketing schemer). I have as of writing 15 followers and I am following 26. That includes <u><strong><a href="http://inthefield.blogs.cnn.com/">CNNinthefield</a></strong></u>, <u><strong><a href="http://www.parool.nl/">Het Parool</a></strong></u>(a Dutch newspaper I grew up with) and <strong>4 bloggers </strong>that I know. I don't necessarily follow whomever is following me either since they are following gezillion people and they are obviously in it for the marketing part. Of course, can't blame them but, it is not considered impolite NOT to follow someone who follows you. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz4LQENqHjUvhmZ79ep-MLVNm8ZD4VDoYx4mMDyLZCNqBBfCqZPxrL576A88LqyFrT8LZCqDk1D8dMXSPPtEhMEhQTYhRVl6AoRKkGv9SvXFSa6-jCR1FSF28v9gHIEQk8konJA/s1600-h/stephenfrybooth.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz4LQENqHjUvhmZ79ep-MLVNm8ZD4VDoYx4mMDyLZCNqBBfCqZPxrL576A88LqyFrT8LZCqDk1D8dMXSPPtEhMEhQTYhRVl6AoRKkGv9SvXFSa6-jCR1FSF28v9gHIEQk8konJA/s400/stephenfrybooth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300485589606945250" /></a><br />Stephen Fry and the guy who plays Seeley Booth, sorry, can't find the time to check right now<br /><br />That said, I wished <strong><a href="http://www.stephenfry.com/">Stephen Fry </a></strong>would follow me, he's a wonderfully accomplished, HILARIOUS comedian/actor (latest gig being Agent Seeley Booths' British psychiatrist on Bones)AND since I am on the board of the <u><strong><a href="http://www.gilbertsullivan.org">Gilbert and Sullivan society</a></strong></u>, having a famous brit for possible publicity/fundraising activities would be great! <br /><br />My board and publicity committee doesn't know it yet, but I'm trying to think of non-Gilbert and Sullivan ways to raise money for our productions. Since Gilbert and Sullivan is inherintly British, I would suspect an actor like him could appreciate the endeavour. <br /><br />Anyhow..to any of my blogger buddies, Enigma, Jim, Billie, Kel, Paula, Maria, Mary, Cyber Otter, Lindsay, Gary, Zee, DK, Ruth, Heathlander Jamie..am I missing anyone? Get on the Twitter train, it's fun!<br /><br />That said, gotta get off the computer to get ready. My 11yr old has his first classical guitar recital and I need to boogie. I will explain more about twitteretiquette too.<br /><br /><strong>Stephen Fry, do you hear me now?</strong> [<em>do you hear me now?</em>]Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-44078430783777637152009-02-07T11:42:00.007-06:002009-02-07T12:29:02.171-06:00Publicity hound<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZlMuOtn9zCBTLG4pDqAaMf4_rpTyvgBwEfahoX0EgCPYMoE4-6RBW61A3wcZJiSksdlQ-pnGM0NXaqFb-LobDl9wxv_P1VTm7WzzgzldVl7clqZa1LHH01HaGmOM7k1FvF7ivQ/s1600-h/publicitychihuahua.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 361px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZlMuOtn9zCBTLG4pDqAaMf4_rpTyvgBwEfahoX0EgCPYMoE4-6RBW61A3wcZJiSksdlQ-pnGM0NXaqFb-LobDl9wxv_P1VTm7WzzgzldVl7clqZa1LHH01HaGmOM7k1FvF7ivQ/s400/publicitychihuahua.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300120417626687650" /></a> "woof!"<br /><br />In the last couple of weeks, since getting on the board of the <a href="http://www.gilbertsullivan.org">Gilbert and Sullivan society</a>, I've been asked to join the <u>publicity committee</u> AND the <u>fundraising committee</u>. Both up my alley interest-wise. Since we are getting ready for auditions for <strong>Iolanthe</strong>, I was asked to contact all high schools here in Austin and the various colleges and universities. I tell you, I've been having fun with that. My brain is <strong>wired</strong> for PR. This morning, it hit me. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQg19p6ypgxr3mAqMis2T0IcAsETOcuoDAI_aRi3ltQjFx4s3dHU7OnHOwwSOuvVAttNQPa5Wy4Sn4y_x5imYeZoZADSxykVBaOc0jALU-u3IjRHNL_P_lN_wvYgmGPT9io0BVQ/s1600-h/IolantheComing2009.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQg19p6ypgxr3mAqMis2T0IcAsETOcuoDAI_aRi3ltQjFx4s3dHU7OnHOwwSOuvVAttNQPa5Wy4Sn4y_x5imYeZoZADSxykVBaOc0jALU-u3IjRHNL_P_lN_wvYgmGPT9io0BVQ/s400/IolantheComing2009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300122535717330098" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.gilbertsullivan.org">Gilbert and Sullivan society for Austin</a>, audition info follow the link<br /><br />Over 20 yrs ago (crap, time flies), a girl friend of mine was working in PR back in Ottawa Canada. She had worked previously for the <strong>Canadian Opera company </strong>as well (in Toronto) and during an outing, she turned to me and said, you know, you should go into PR because you've got "it". I asked, what is "it"? (being the newly emigrated, young naief person that I was) She said, I don't know, if I did, I would be better at it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-40kyuPpBo4rg48G6aVV024f-5UYf8CruBuen6E-Z_6mL_WZhX40gDlxg_x2R6J7eN_93S0runTA2fyHERTxFzW_16ZWetMzdv_ybjUWSPnLK6upVKYnTC_Ao7vuVZFoxo9PJ-w/s1600-h/DSC00691.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-40kyuPpBo4rg48G6aVV024f-5UYf8CruBuen6E-Z_6mL_WZhX40gDlxg_x2R6J7eN_93S0runTA2fyHERTxFzW_16ZWetMzdv_ybjUWSPnLK6upVKYnTC_Ao7vuVZFoxo9PJ-w/s400/DSC00691.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300122093090912226" /></a> Entrance to Lady Birds' Wildflower Center..peace and more peace to be had..<br /><br />Well somehow, life for me took many twists and turns (= many moves, in and outside Canada) but somehow PR was never a part of any endeavour. Until now. And I'm lovin' it! At 45, I finally know what I want to do 'when I grow up'. Yikes! <br /><br />That said, I'm not going to fret about my age, it cannot be helped. I am not going to dwell on all those supposed missed opportunities as I a)can't do anything about it, and b)I've never been in such a supportive environment as I find myself right now being on the Gilbert and Sullivan society's board! <br /><br />Hence, that, plus my scattered life in the past weeks what with doctor's appointments and the mondane things in life (laundry, grocery shopping, picking kids up from school etc) has kept me from even wanting to post. <br /><br />My mind is in PR gear and I'm finally being appreciated for it. It's nice for a change! I have kept my eye out on politics too mind you, but have not had the umph to comment on it. I am having too much to do and I need to get my house environment in order as well, literally. If I need to do a lot of 'thinking-work', I cannot function in chaos and we have ehem, a bit of that. <br /><br />So..there you have it. I haven't fallen of the face of the earth nor intend to do so. I do realize in blog time, I have been away for ages so I will try to make amends. Robert R..thanks for your email update and take care, I'll be thinking of you. Cyber Otter, it was awesome hearing from you the other week (when was that again??) I have honestly missed you so please come back [s]. The rest of 'yuus'..you know you're in my favourites list and I will always return to check in with you. Now with getting a life, which I had wanted for so long, I have to learn time management AND stress management..yes yes, join your club. Well, I'll get there. In the mean time, bear with my apparent absence but know I'm still there, I just can't promise anything.<br /><br />oh and..can anyone read Japanese? <a href="http://na0cci.exblog.jp/">Someone </a>posted on my babies know obama post (in Japanese) but for the life of me (thank you sitemeter, ehem), i cannot 'see' where. All I see is the occasional english word (but nothing pertaining to this blog) and a lot of Japanese script (does it have a name?) and a ton of cutesy flora and fauna pics.. so Japanese I tell ya {g].Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-56450799937065794742009-01-31T11:16:00.002-06:002009-01-31T11:32:00.377-06:00Adventures in Medicine and something completely different...The Mean Kitty Song<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qit3ALTelOo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qit3ALTelOo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />The Mean Kitty song<br /><br /><br />It's been a long while since I've posted and still, the visitors kept coming. Apparently, "Obama knows babies" was/is quite the hit. It's a testimony to my many posts(-ing) that I have anyone visiting at all! I know I have some of my blogger buddies checking me out but on the whole, the majority of visitors do their searches and google nicely steers them towards me. <br />One of the searches that apparently puts me 'up there' is 'the ugly parent syndrome'. I posted on that a long time ago and for some strange reason, there are many Aussie searches for that one. Hmmm..what does that signify eh??<br /><br />Anyway, I've been awol from the blogosphere due to 'adventures in medicine'. Last week, my son's allergies spiked severely (unusually high cedar count and he's taking three different allergy shots even, he's got a slew of allergies, animal, food and various pollen with the occasional cockroach..yes yes)..anyhow..his histamines went to work and what was in his head ended up in his chest, causing tightness and that is for the most part his asthma related issues. We were in two separate ERs last week. One 'regular' one and the next day, I just thought no, he needs to go to the children's ER (20plus miles away). Then a follow up doctor's appointment with exrays (oh, and a chest xray at the children's ER)..pfff...and this week, a final doctor's follow up with the ok to go back to school..hooray! He had to endure a week of prelone (makes you hyper), on top of his numerous maintenance meds. Plus, in the beginning, on top of the medicine, I gave him stuff with guefenisin so his chest would get loose. <br /><br />Then I had something going on (blood test showed too low potassium but I realized afterwards I had a LOT of black licorice over the past couple of weeks (one of my b'day presents) that depletes potassium in your body. So of course, a follow up blood test for me (low potassium in especially women can cause heart problems, think keeling over) so..I'll be glad when this month is done. I haven't had time to actually focus on what I had planned to do..<br /><br />So hence, in the spirit of, 'and now for something completely different'..this kitty cat vid that my kids stumbled upon..<br />have a good weekend and hope you're safe and warm whereever you are..Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-62389546463255107612009-01-16T20:37:00.002-06:002009-01-16T20:43:08.071-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7l75kYsppj2t3-r_kmTIJMdHk2rdnts-uuO11iqBvblQjPWB47hayDocklKkSVCrHZWdhh_s9nlopfstdtNIOoHDGCqCarT1ZpakQ797Ui8IP13bBBGmTkGxIVcyxuc8xWZH4Q/s1600-h/gazacartoondavebrown.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7l75kYsppj2t3-r_kmTIJMdHk2rdnts-uuO11iqBvblQjPWB47hayDocklKkSVCrHZWdhh_s9nlopfstdtNIOoHDGCqCarT1ZpakQ797Ui8IP13bBBGmTkGxIVcyxuc8xWZH4Q/s400/gazacartoondavebrown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292086519543675666" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The Independent's 'Dave Brown'.<br /><br />Saturday, I have my eldest birthday party (11) and I've been quite busy and scattered, errand wise. Hopefully, I can get my posting back up. I haven't even had time to check out 'ya'll's posts, let alone think about what I feel or want to post on. This Gaza nonsense has just made me feel kind of desillusioned and maddened, once again. Politics does that. <br />Goodbye Bush..ya dumb puppet. We need to keep paying attention to the players who made it all happen, they're definitely not going to disappear any time soon. That and the military industrial complex, follow the resource as I've mentioned below. That and the money trail.<br />That, and the trail of dead bodies...Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-35617465771250604242009-01-14T06:45:00.003-06:002009-01-14T06:58:09.452-06:00Happy Birthday To 'Ya'..Trying to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Going-Being-Buddhism-Way-Change/dp/0767904605">'going on being' </a>and that is one of my goals for the year. It 'is' convenient for my birthday to be at the beginning of the year. That said, most people are recupering this month from their December gluttony and splurches and tend to forget 'us' January babes. Well, in honour of Martin Luther King's birthday next week (this song was composed for him) and Obama's inauguration, I'll play this song.<br />That, and the following people (for those entertainment junkies):<br /><br />1875 Albert Schweitzer (humanitarian, physician, musician, philospher)<br />Faye Dunaway born on January 14, 1941<br />Lawrence Kasdan born on January 14, 1949 <br />Claude Chirac born on January 14, 1962<br />Steven Soderbergh born on January 14, 1963<br />"Moi", 1964<br />Emily Watson born on January 14, 1967 <br />LL Cool J born on January 14, 1968 <br />Jason Bateman born on January 14, 1969<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c82hCDGkKo8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c82hCDGkKo8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />You know it doesn't make much sense<br />There ought to be a law against<br />Anyone who takes offense<br />At a day in your celebration<br />'Cause we all know in our minds<br />That there ought to be a time<br />That we can set aside<br />To show just how much we love you<br />And I'm sure you will agree<br />It couldn't fit more perfectly<br />Than to have a world party on the day you came to be<br /><br />Chorus<br />Happy birthday to you<br />Happy birthday to you<br />Happy birthday<br />(Repeat)<br /><br />I just never understood<br />How a man who died for good<br />Could not have a day that would<br />Be set aside for his recognition<br />Because it should never be<br />Just because some cannot see<br />The dream as clear as he<br />That they should make it become an illusion<br />And we all know everything<br />That he stood for time will bring<br />For in peace our hearts will sing<br />Thanks to Martin Luther King<br /><br />Chorus<br />Happy birthday to you<br />Happy birthday to you<br />Happy birthday<br />(Repeat)<br /><br />Bridge<br />Why has there never been a holiday<br />Where peace is celebrated<br />all throughout the world<br /><br />The time is overdue<br />For people like me and you<br />You know the way to truth<br />Is love and unity to all God's children<br />It should be a great event<br />And the whole day should be spent<br />In full remembrance<br />Of those who lived and died for the oneness of<br />all people<br />So let us all begin<br />We know that love can win<br />Let it out don't hold it in<br />Sing it loud as you can<br /><br />Chorus<br />Happy birthday to you<br />Happy birthday to you<br />Happy birthday<br />(4x)<br /><br />(Background Stevie)<br />Happy birthday Ooh yeah<br />Happy birthday,<br />To you<br /><br />We know the key to unity of all<br />People<br />Is in the dream that you had so<br />Long ago<br />That lives in all of the hearts<br />Of people<br />That believe in unity<br />We'll make the dream become<br />A reality<br />I know we will<br />Because our hearts tell us soIngridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-72945161813755466052009-01-11T09:23:00.011-06:002009-01-11T10:01:11.931-06:00Natural Gas drilling by BP off-shore at Gaza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUjkZ_D2fWP8SS0sXOqfVhZIlmu-jXHnDOHapyQONGJjBgzTYBfPu5Wgfxl9F48cLzpotvDR5v8j9GIm0pJ1vYFAwH8-tlgjvlklrBWma65xbWaOqy-S8Rhd1nNh8jmxjwrSw_g/s1600-h/gazagasmap.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUjkZ_D2fWP8SS0sXOqfVhZIlmu-jXHnDOHapyQONGJjBgzTYBfPu5Wgfxl9F48cLzpotvDR5v8j9GIm0pJ1vYFAwH8-tlgjvlklrBWma65xbWaOqy-S8Rhd1nNh8jmxjwrSw_g/s400/gazagasmap.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290063160878668370" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well peeps, I was 'wrong'. Well, wrong about this particular Israel-Gaza war. With all these casualties, this is a full blown war. This cannot even be considered an 'exchange' as it's so lopsided but..it's lopsided for a reason.<br /><br />This particular Gaza invasion came about due to there being gas fields off-shore Gaza. And well, most of us 'truth seekers', unfortunately mostly progressives and libertarians know that all these (US/Isreal/Russia, future China?) war on 'this and that' abroad is always about a resource of sorts. One could say in political science terms that these days, you need to look at it from a political economy perspective. History helps too though. It's still a great predictor. Israel has been very aggressively pushing away the Palestinians off their lands ever since the state was formed (water AND land being the main reason, nicely cloaked in religious terms and using antagonism to provoke and cause reactions) this time, it is all about the off-shore gas fields. Naturally, they'd stood to benefit Gaza but naturally...can't have that. <br /><br />Excerpt from Michel Chossudovsky's <strong><u><a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11680">War and Natural Gas: The Israeli Invasion and Gaza's Offshore Gas Fields</a>:</u></strong><br /><br /><blockquote>"The military invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israeli Forces bears a direct relation to the control and ownership of strategic offshore gas reserves. <br /><br />This is a war of conquest. Discovered in 2000, there are extensive gas reserves off the Gaza coastline. <br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.bg-group.com/OurBusiness/WhereWeOperate/Pages/pgIsraelandAreasofPalestinianAuthority.aspx">British Gas (BG Group)</a></strong> and its partner, the Athens based <a href="http://www.ccc.gr/">Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC)</a> owned by Lebanon's Sabbagh and Koury families, were granted oil and gas exploration rights in a 25 year agreement signed in November 1999 with the Palestinian Authority. <br /><br />The rights to the offshore gas field are respectively British Gas (60 percent); Consolidated Contractors (CCC) (30 percent); and the Investment Fund of the Palestinian Authority (10 percent). (Haaretz, October 21, 2007). <br /><br />The PA-BG-CCC agreement includes field development and the construction of a gas pipeline.(Middle East Economic Digest, Jan 5, 2001). <br /><br />The BG licence covers the entire Gazan offshore marine area, which is contiguous to several Israeli offshore gas facilities. (See Map below). It should be noted that 60 percent of the gas reserves along the Gaza-Israel coastline belong to Palestine. <br /><br />The BG Group drilled two wells in 2000: <strong>Gaza Marine-1 and Gaza Marine-2</strong>. Reserves are estimated by British Gas to be of the order of 1.4 trillion cubic feet, valued at approximately 4 billion dollars. These are the figures made public by British Gas. The size of Palestine's gas reserves could be much larger. <br /><br /><strong>Who Owns the Gas Fields</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsIM6MrdGQO5axQvCIMkbyNgl_72HxOiwtF941T4MWd4f4pKT0BtLYZ7Pq_CxO0lJHWo6Niz_ITcXxzhQVvBmqv2JxAZu0vfTqbxtqNb84lVNPWoMhr2FxGo44X2u3UHC2KxXAQ/s1600-h/gazagasmap2.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsIM6MrdGQO5axQvCIMkbyNgl_72HxOiwtF941T4MWd4f4pKT0BtLYZ7Pq_CxO0lJHWo6Niz_ITcXxzhQVvBmqv2JxAZu0vfTqbxtqNb84lVNPWoMhr2FxGo44X2u3UHC2KxXAQ/s320/gazagasmap2.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290060865079315650" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The issue of sovereignty over Gaza's gas fields is crucial. From a legal standpoint, the gas reserves belong to Palestine. <br /><br />The death of Yasser Arafat, the election of the Hamas government and the ruin of the Palestinian Authority have enabled Israel to establish de facto control over Gaza's offshore gas reserves. <br /><br />British Gas (BG Group) has been dealing with the Tel Aviv government. In turn, the Hamas government has been bypassed in regards to exploration and development rights over the gas fields. <br /><br />The election of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2001 was a major turning point. Palestine's sovereignty over the offshore gas fields was challenged in the Israeli Supreme Court. Sharon stated unequivocally that "Israel would never buy gas from Palestine" intimating that Gaza's offshore gas reserves belong to Israel. <br /><br />In 2003, Ariel Sharon, vetoed an initial deal, which would allow British Gas to supply Israel with natural gas from Gaza's offshore wells. (The Independent, August 19, 2003) <br /><br />The election victory of Hamas in 2006 was conducive to the demise of the Palestinian Authority, which became confined to the West Bank, under the proxy regime of Mahmoud Abbas. <br /><br />In 2006, British Gas "was close to signing a deal to pump the gas to Egypt." (Times, May, 23, 2007). According to reports, British Prime Minister Tony Blair intervened on behalf of Israel with a view to shunting the agreement with Egypt. <br /><br />The following year, in May 2007, the Israeli Cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "to buy gas from the Palestinian Authority." The proposed contract was for $4 billion, with profits of the order of $2 billion of which one billion was to go the Palestinians. <br /><br />Tel Aviv, however, had no intention on sharing the revenues with Palestine. An Israeli team of negotiators was set up by the Israeli Cabinet to thrash out a deal with the BG Group, bypassing both the Hamas government and the Palestinian Authority: <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11680">Read the rest"</a>. </blockquote><br /><br />Like the US' pursuit of oil abroad, setting up situations for justification to go to war, likewise, Israel has done the same. Hamas came legally into government, however, the Israeli government had no intention of working with them because of all what they needed to give up; claims to land, water, and now, gas. When one has the upper hand politically (being protected by the US by way of military aid and vetoes in the UN) and militarily, one doesn't need to be very compromising right? Right.<br /><br />And so the Energy geopolitics continue. Be sure to read the rest of the article. And get out your world atlas and check out some maps. It's time to 'see' how the Middle East/Georgia area fits together.Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-44188768133544336052009-01-03T09:31:00.012-06:002009-01-03T19:43:25.855-06:00The Real Gaza story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mEZHloc6cST7338xmOUvG3n9plG-anOKhSvh_6Ghy7GsAMO4v-hIzoZMUtt_RaTr4XJLAh4i4RjIAWQN19bLYPXtrA-k_vpxFRoB5ZaOhcfLnD8OjL2xcM7h9hZzGVZoA2-KMQ/s1600-h/israel_aquifers.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 353px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mEZHloc6cST7338xmOUvG3n9plG-anOKhSvh_6Ghy7GsAMO4v-hIzoZMUtt_RaTr4XJLAh4i4RjIAWQN19bLYPXtrA-k_vpxFRoB5ZaOhcfLnD8OjL2xcM7h9hZzGVZoA2-KMQ/s400/israel_aquifers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287237692895540482" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://mapsomething.com/demo/waterusage/hydrology.php">Israel Aquifers</a></strong><br /><br /><strong>What is the real reason behind all these Israel-Palestinian conflicts? <a href="http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article14">WATER</a>!!</strong> <br /><br />As I asked a fellow Israeli blogger recently, does Israel still have an <strong><u>open door policy?</u></strong> (<strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Return">called the Law of Return</a></strong>)It used to be such that Israel allowed any Jew from anywhere in the world immigration even though the size of Israel can safely be considered too small to accomodate the many millions that might want to live in the "promised land". He answered <strong>yes</strong>. <br /><br />So how sustainable is having an open door policy when you live in a sliver of land in a dry arid region called Israel?!<br />There's always been that pesky problem of uncooperative Arabs who've lived there ever since the diaspora a few thousand years ago. <br /><br />So in very short, (there are books and articles galore to elaborate), this has become Israel's policy for the Palestinians from day one and how it played out in this time's <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisks-world-whats-in-a-name-quite-a-lot-where-the-military-is-concerned-1222877.html">"Operation Cast Lead".</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo5Z8wvdP9s7sato6SNxJwl2BFd2QLanReB0uqN7cBifh63t9utC4USYU7uvw4E0pyNQE_sRVv-8iBc3bZcB6lU3rYpU2ZR2gE5r76cjxRS3vQI8_LX8_Olexxt1dY2jgRiZ5ug/s1600-h/gazaunderattack.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo5Z8wvdP9s7sato6SNxJwl2BFd2QLanReB0uqN7cBifh63t9utC4USYU7uvw4E0pyNQE_sRVv-8iBc3bZcB6lU3rYpU2ZR2gE5r76cjxRS3vQI8_LX8_Olexxt1dY2jgRiZ5ug/s400/gazaunderattack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287100484567023810" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-the-true-story-behind-this-war-is-not-the-one-israel-is-telling-1214981.html">Johann Hari</a></strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/">the Independent </a></strong>explains this 'ever confusing' who-did-what-first-and-why in one perfectly laid out column. Something you will not likely find in any mainstream American treatment. Here goes:<br /><br />"According to the Israeli press, <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1567635.htm">Yuval Diskin</a>, the current head of the Israeli security service <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Bet">Shin Bet</a>, "told the Israeli cabinet [on 23 December] that <u>Hamas is interested in continuing the truce</u>, but wants to improve its terms." Diskin explained that Hamas was requesting two things: an end to the blockade, and an Israeli ceasefire on the West Bank. The cabinet – <strong><u>high with election fever and eager to appear tough</u></strong>– <strong>rejected</strong> these terms. <br /><br />The core of the situation has been starkly laid out by <strong><a href="http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Ephraim-Halevy">Ephraim Halevy</a></strong>, the former head of <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossad">Mossad</a></strong>. He says that while Hamas militants – like much of the Israeli right-wing – dream of driving their opponents away, <strong><u>"they have recognised this ideological goal is not attainable and will not be in the foreseeable future."</u></strong> Instead, <strong>"they are ready and willing to see the establishment of a Palestinian state in the temporary borders of 1967."</strong> They are aware that this means they <strong>"will have to adopt a path that could lead them far from their original goals"</strong> – and towards a long-term peace based on compromise.<br /><br />The rejectionists on both sides – from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran to Bibi Netanyahu of Israel – would then be marginalised. It is the only path that could yet end in peace but it is the Israeli government that refuses to choose it. Halevy explains: <strong><u>"Israel, for reasons of its own, did not want to turn the ceasefire into the start of a diplomatic process with Hamas."</u></strong><br /><br />Why would Israel act this way? The Israeli government wants peace, but only one imposed on its own terms, based on the acceptance of defeat by the Palestinians. It means the Israelis can keep the slabs of the West Bank on "their" side of the wall. <strong><u>It means they keep the largest settlements and control the <em><strong>WATER</strong> supply</em>.</u></strong> And it means a divided Palestine, with responsibility for Gaza hived off to Egypt, and the broken-up West Bank standing alone. Negotiations threaten this vision: <strong><u>they would require Israel to give up more than it wants to.</u></strong> But an imposed peace will be no peace at all: it will not stop the rockets or the rage. For real safety, Israel will have to talk to the people it is blockading and bombing today, and compromise with them." <br /><br />and..<br /><br />"To understand how frightening it is to be a Gazan this morning, you need to have stood in that small slab of concrete by the Mediterranean and smelled the claustrophobia. The Gaza Strip is smaller than the Isle of Wight but it is crammed with 1.5 million people who can never leave. They live out their lives on top of each other, jobless and hungry, in vast, sagging tower blocks. From the top floor, you can often see the borders of their world: the Mediterranean, and Israeli barbed wire. When bombs begin to fall – as they are doing now with more deadly force than at any time since 1967 – there is nowhere to hide."<br /><br />and..<br /><br />"The most detailed polling of Palestinians, by the <strong><a href="http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:M61aCNIlEBoJ:www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/IsPal_Conflict/Intifada2_Dec02/Intifada2_Dec02_pr.pdf+university+of+maryland+poll+palestinians&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us">University of Maryland</a></strong>, found that <strong><u>72 per cent</u></strong> want a two-state solution on the 1967 borders, while fewer than 20 per cent want to reclaim the whole of historic Palestine. So, partly in response to this pressure, <strong><u>Hamas offered Israel a long, long ceasefire and a de facto acceptance of two states, if only Israel would return to its legal borders.</u></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm9Gzffm9UD6PufM8gzLjX9a3TRPkriS314ewy100H1zfcl7DtyppTQMoIPT2UruZpZ4W2ptupNW2B-orBfcUQxJihqLtykXTIkNodko4nSHv1TmvuKZj6wKW-t49_tFgo2hmtQ/s1600-h/israel+pre-1967+borders.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm9Gzffm9UD6PufM8gzLjX9a3TRPkriS314ewy100H1zfcl7DtyppTQMoIPT2UruZpZ4W2ptupNW2B-orBfcUQxJihqLtykXTIkNodko4nSHv1TmvuKZj6wKW-t49_tFgo2hmtQ/s400/israel+pre-1967+borders.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287247104358749234" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/borders.html">Israel's pre-1967 borders and land distances</a></strong><br /><br /><br />Rather than seize this opportunity and test Hamas's sincerity, the Israeli government reacted by punishing the entire civilian population. It announced that it was blockading the Gaza Strip in order to "pressure" its people to reverse the democratic process. The Israelis surrounded the Strip and refused to let anyone or anything out. They let in a small trickle of food, fuel and medicine – but not enough for survival. Weisglass quipped that the Gazans were being "put on a diet". According to <strong><a href="http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2008-12-31/gaza-crisis-critical-food-fuel-supplies-perilously-low">Oxfam</a></strong>, only 137 trucks of food were allowed into Gaza last month to feed 1.5 million people. The <strong>United Nations</strong> says poverty has reached an "unprecedented level." When I was last in besieged Gaza, I saw hospitals turning away the sick because their machinery and medicine was running out. I met hungry children stumbling around the streets, scavenging for food. <br /><br />It was in this context – under a collective punishment <strong>designed to topple a democracy </strong>– that some forces within Gaza did something immoral: they fired Qassam rockets indiscriminately at Israeli cities. These rockets have killed 16 Israeli citizens. This is abhorrent: targeting civilians is always murder. But it is <strong>hypocritical </strong>for the Israeli government to claim now to speak out for the safety of civilians when <strong><u>it has been terrorising civilians as a matter of state policy."</u></strong><br /><br />emph and underlined and bold added as usual, by yours truly.<br /><br />Read Johann Hari's story in whole; <strong><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-the-true-story-behind-this-war-is-not-the-one-israel-is-telling-1214981.html">The true story behind this war is not the one Israel is telling</a></strong>Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-67464131186492912352008-12-28T14:49:00.003-06:002008-12-28T15:03:05.696-06:00As promised, my backyard makeover, still a work in progress<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d4S-w34jmV7JasuDvtiDQImThvyWghDM1wsE95yTHKfjAiwWmiyDIi3oRJNTcjgaeCGNe7abW8QDYV9LndGB7t0z1AxbwcHD5cIPfnr1SvlV5Izmcez0-jBQqmOoSP6zudKK/s1600-h/DSCF0005.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d4S-w34jmV7JasuDvtiDQImThvyWghDM1wsE95yTHKfjAiwWmiyDIi3oRJNTcjgaeCGNe7abW8QDYV9LndGB7t0z1AxbwcHD5cIPfnr1SvlV5Izmcez0-jBQqmOoSP6zudKK/s400/DSCF0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284924168309623314" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>sure it looks nice, but do you want to pay $300 a month for watering and mowing it in 90F plus degrees??</em><br /><br />Finally, slowly but surely, our big backyard is taking shape. Literally. After killing off the highly useless St. Augustine grass (in Central Texas, we're in a constant state of varying degrees of 'drought'), we ended up with caleechy exposed soil and a LOT of weeds. Finally, we made some progress. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyfkruJbljygOYUilHPJPSJ_km-kUm6G8QihSm6a1b_RLyHm0zJJAQN8O1gjSb8ZSod9udj2VlaOHCQhqxjxa2clFgUITs-s0YStFPwe_pFPDjrlwgHF-Z0VU48C028A-qhQ1/s1600-h/DSC01360.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyfkruJbljygOYUilHPJPSJ_km-kUm6G8QihSm6a1b_RLyHm0zJJAQN8O1gjSb8ZSod9udj2VlaOHCQhqxjxa2clFgUITs-s0YStFPwe_pFPDjrlwgHF-Z0VU48C028A-qhQ1/s400/DSC01360.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284924664224912738" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>half-way done..</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenPwgPmwGm6eDFTJ8vJ9IgNUtbWdP4bP50IxwabQ58rVsjnSF7OYMCiaoWqp463cOs1bX_DAabuIKdYmfHF8fvtsRZuJlCIohpAKBF-VwmSuBOZGJwt1-JcoPFXjBUOU0PPb1/s1600-h/DSC01357.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenPwgPmwGm6eDFTJ8vJ9IgNUtbWdP4bP50IxwabQ58rVsjnSF7OYMCiaoWqp463cOs1bX_DAabuIKdYmfHF8fvtsRZuJlCIohpAKBF-VwmSuBOZGJwt1-JcoPFXjBUOU0PPb1/s400/DSC01357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284925491297807890" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We got rocks from a <strong><a href="http://www.superpages.com/bp/Austin-TX/Austin-Memorial-Park-Cemetery-L0502689161.htm">local cemetary </a></strong>where they literally have a pile on a side lane free for the taking, and we also found roughly chopped cedar mulch (which ended up having quite a lot of palm by the looks of it) from the <strong><a href="http://www.thecityofaustin.com/recycling/">Lake Travis Brush Recycling</a></strong>$3 a yard which, with the tax and delivery included, ended up costing us only $205.68 to be exact! (we got 25yards).<br /><br />For Mother's day I had gotten several native, drought resistant trees; one <a href="http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/dite.htm">Texas persimmon</a>, one <a href="http://www.livingdesert.org/plants/desert_willow.asp">desert willow </a>(they are happy trees here, bloom beautifully), one <a href="http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=594">Mexican plum </a>and two <a href="http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/nov01/art1nov.html">Possum Haw hollies</a>. They all happen to have white flowers but are all still fairly short, about 3 to 4 feet. Digging the holes for them was not possible to do manually but that saga happened too long ago. Just trust me when I say; here in Central Texas, you build upon, you don't dig. Not if you ever can help it 'cause it'll mean having to hire machinery.<br /><br />Anyway, without further ado..the before ...and the after. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOyFKCfoSWNm7i7jNdEIsn_d1DctuErAqaXOiju6P-9GFG3hzbMrtlSBce8AJ78tjVvSREQVl5A1_XYuJzbmCpDrLFYwkgapbV__CdI33D_R2K0BExZnK2KD5LRuWt8pVBOMR/s1600-h/DSC01815.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOyFKCfoSWNm7i7jNdEIsn_d1DctuErAqaXOiju6P-9GFG3hzbMrtlSBce8AJ78tjVvSREQVl5A1_XYuJzbmCpDrLFYwkgapbV__CdI33D_R2K0BExZnK2KD5LRuWt8pVBOMR/s400/DSC01815.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284926164825605538" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>LANDSCAPE FABRIC?? </strong> <em>I know I know..some of you will have a cow but trust me..there's no saving this soil (caleechy works it's way up) and it's too expensive with a yard this size to keep putting top soil on it. If you go native, you do not need to worry about the soil. The fabric is to minimize the weeds as we are facing a greenbelt. When it's planting time, you just push the mulch aside, cut a whole, do a little diggin' well, scraping in our case, and voila..done!</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWea1z7GbcpJdz4kQKe4yxRJl2UtN7F6IYgwm-5BkXWaJJko_8kmuhw5hjU9hLT9Jc3bQ2CYzoybd9eKDEWxcpW0WeU_U9HxSYjyyfqM4YymWSKaqn2mPR38TFZntFGgP5jD4/s1600-h/DSC01814.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWea1z7GbcpJdz4kQKe4yxRJl2UtN7F6IYgwm-5BkXWaJJko_8kmuhw5hjU9hLT9Jc3bQ2CYzoybd9eKDEWxcpW0WeU_U9HxSYjyyfqM4YymWSKaqn2mPR38TFZntFGgP5jD4/s400/DSC01814.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284927870481206178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWSX7w7ufMfv6SKopYGPLqSRryFl-Rjp7zbCmIEoppEfdB-036HzOMXpG6XksUp-amtLuOfDaI19ejf7f2SlmDfj6dOrumYP3zi7GdPbYNXPZPnhELQi0mefdpjBLnRgv7gxh/s1600-h/DSC01824.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWSX7w7ufMfv6SKopYGPLqSRryFl-Rjp7zbCmIEoppEfdB-036HzOMXpG6XksUp-amtLuOfDaI19ejf7f2SlmDfj6dOrumYP3zi7GdPbYNXPZPnhELQi0mefdpjBLnRgv7gxh/s400/DSC01824.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284928819894773586" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>A path running through it..</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4O1XJu27gKzGZzv7ddc6AY3tzuuhd1v8zepJqTgO3WH1JM5klla6dRIInCusMvTrlKT_HhPWG51pfh0MTh7LX_CshXoBXb27p1X5PxDRNrBCmNnCHZ6e14Od5POg6Pf3291Y/s1600-h/DSC01825.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4O1XJu27gKzGZzv7ddc6AY3tzuuhd1v8zepJqTgO3WH1JM5klla6dRIInCusMvTrlKT_HhPWG51pfh0MTh7LX_CshXoBXb27p1X5PxDRNrBCmNnCHZ6e14Od5POg6Pf3291Y/s400/DSC01825.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284931616163752210" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Taking shape...I have two vegetable beds that actually had to be covered from a freeze..</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_ButXgTJtzrpGt8rkXcHaHyGY3u4JOaqsDRVprlx9RmIZMcCDMiMGCbT98Gsg4oXl4SwjI6ozsD8aSanKTFXGAvATMzDplWuGuwa6iSEJC4DeAh5FYeIg4Coc8O8rLX0EIZT/s1600-h/DSC01830.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_ButXgTJtzrpGt8rkXcHaHyGY3u4JOaqsDRVprlx9RmIZMcCDMiMGCbT98Gsg4oXl4SwjI6ozsD8aSanKTFXGAvATMzDplWuGuwa6iSEJC4DeAh5FYeIg4Coc8O8rLX0EIZT/s400/DSC01830.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284932413584649714" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>The truck with the 25 yards of mulch..</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_ktvGZfALzC2vtxi2WYomkDMjUL6Z3liu25ydWk3mRjIC0obJKeyxXCJWfb_oifnb0jKGcAszhQ0tg3TohFnDfBRFKQma-lOtP-RC7OvpiVfb30h-zru9FDUqIo6wWo99sYZ/s1600-h/DSC01836.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_ktvGZfALzC2vtxi2WYomkDMjUL6Z3liu25ydWk3mRjIC0obJKeyxXCJWfb_oifnb0jKGcAszhQ0tg3TohFnDfBRFKQma-lOtP-RC7OvpiVfb30h-zru9FDUqIo6wWo99sYZ/s400/DSC01836.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284933126933551362" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>THAT'S what 25 yards of mulch looks like..whoa nelly!</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2CQKBZ-TEHN-xrXJBRowYxF7LP05s7-SEhijsKU4SzkjfmDA_B5iBLRT9GCbt8jHk3ViKBgh-VTV_k8sjWklVt6J1vhtBrIcwgDw6jRU4EZv_RXiKTvc_JXTnagfnNv9vvjQ/s1600-h/DSC01841.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2CQKBZ-TEHN-xrXJBRowYxF7LP05s7-SEhijsKU4SzkjfmDA_B5iBLRT9GCbt8jHk3ViKBgh-VTV_k8sjWklVt6J1vhtBrIcwgDw6jRU4EZv_RXiKTvc_JXTnagfnNv9vvjQ/s400/DSC01841.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284933944542339954" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Shaping continued..for now we have a few mulch 'humps' but I'll post some more updates, finished outlined path pictures later this week..</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6t-H224HBZ9k_AzVgBKC9KPvVqi4A2wTBuBlSIBNC_29g3RYRbxI64KuNtuW08nJXQcZawhhsR4GWs-k07O1KCJ-d-FVhaoZfInRpszw-eHqo_P4qQ_5d8KB6RU53RTuI5tL/s1600-h/DSC01843.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6t-H224HBZ9k_AzVgBKC9KPvVqi4A2wTBuBlSIBNC_29g3RYRbxI64KuNtuW08nJXQcZawhhsR4GWs-k07O1KCJ-d-FVhaoZfInRpszw-eHqo_P4qQ_5d8KB6RU53RTuI5tL/s400/DSC01843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284935160064744098" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Voila!</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT36wHbk0ZOX086r09k9txActL_MqULS7FF4JVJ5IxIKcuF2Gt1dJSNaGDEsrZjkRyrIcCJOIJ1LIVEBp4wuNyxrEg0pTi4CIQe0eBjFWAIk-XYc4Cv17Gb73Ey7Qj80cb3lP/s1600-h/DSC01856.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT36wHbk0ZOX086r09k9txActL_MqULS7FF4JVJ5IxIKcuF2Gt1dJSNaGDEsrZjkRyrIcCJOIJ1LIVEBp4wuNyxrEg0pTi4CIQe0eBjFWAIk-XYc4Cv17Gb73Ey7Qj80cb3lP/s400/DSC01856.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284935816267392242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />8 plus hours later, 3 wheelbarrels assembly line style, several helpful neighbour kids for a few hours here and there and the day before Christmas..it was finally done!<br /><br />Like I said, we still have more pictures to show... It feels good though. It's a great start..perhaps I can even figure out a little video so I can give the panoramic scanning view of the ...we'll see how that goes.<br /><br />cross-posted at <a href="http://austinpermie.blogspot.com/">Austin Permie</a>Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-50233074333466038802008-12-26T09:28:00.004-06:002008-12-26T09:47:39.453-06:00No Good Comes from Dick Cheney!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_ICmzWRLBQniiwttzJFWFizMl2PiQlOHwKWdYekx-H0FVg33915BnkZgL9V01XAkJDReoc6b8V29ThGi2Jth7l5PK2Qjmjya9o3EBGDGj7X9FAxyF5cABcKH_IMYNFzZJ1hvRA/s1600-h/DSC01461.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_ICmzWRLBQniiwttzJFWFizMl2PiQlOHwKWdYekx-H0FVg33915BnkZgL9V01XAkJDReoc6b8V29ThGi2Jth7l5PK2Qjmjya9o3EBGDGj7X9FAxyF5cABcKH_IMYNFzZJ1hvRA/s400/DSC01461.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284123003020570562" /></a><br /><strong>"Oh Christmas tree Oh Christmas tree..." most of the presents were for the kids from 'multiple' sources of course</strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97mQRHwsz-6DAUj7DILDxj_wB3y_I3aeLreZyZnpfwqkkXKJH3Jv6FE4zgo4dJElJouJmnCnCRpFHlAipgLBVWCHuc57gGo8L3n4mBUe1PIU8sDsm_ga1qARirgVSmBHFXAvyXg/s1600-h/DSC01880.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97mQRHwsz-6DAUj7DILDxj_wB3y_I3aeLreZyZnpfwqkkXKJH3Jv6FE4zgo4dJElJouJmnCnCRpFHlAipgLBVWCHuc57gGo8L3n4mBUe1PIU8sDsm_ga1qARirgVSmBHFXAvyXg/s400/DSC01880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284122321365975442" /></a><br /><strong>To Ingrid from..Dick Cheney?? What gives!?</strong> (it's a Smith and Wesson airsoft pistol)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOQwLAoFKbdGy-WMuRmnrEQ12hX-LZ7WRlthY0Mq5xqcnVcvU8iJ-KJzqpJI3T1ImzVGTsN-ATiBLFCFdFrlbcyT59-F6rJtoeW8Rx1GjvjTUKxtkcsmF3MvRDCMkcygHeiKEbw/s1600-h/DSC01509.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOQwLAoFKbdGy-WMuRmnrEQ12hX-LZ7WRlthY0Mq5xqcnVcvU8iJ-KJzqpJI3T1ImzVGTsN-ATiBLFCFdFrlbcyT59-F6rJtoeW8Rx1GjvjTUKxtkcsmF3MvRDCMkcygHeiKEbw/s400/DSC01509.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284121810562974674" /></a><br />To Dirk and Rebecca from..what?? Dick Cheney? (Nerf dart guns..start 'm early eh..DICK??)<br /><br />I guess <em>someone</em>.. wanted to give us a Texas-style Christmas! Hm. <br />Can you see me like this? <strong>"I love you honey bunny..KIDS..go get 'm!"</strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_58YdwEKkZY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_58YdwEKkZY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />or...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HrkX8axRMTg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HrkX8axRMTg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />what'll be?? (know of any other ehem..more legally respectable scenes??)Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-90757178674037036692008-12-24T22:08:00.003-06:002008-12-24T22:15:18.694-06:00Merry Christmas, Canada style - 12 days of Christmas "hey hoser!"Bob and Doug Mckenzie.. the one and only version worth while listening to in my not so humble opinion..<br /><br />"Hey Hoser!"<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sEbUtpPQihM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sEbUtpPQihM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Merry Christmas Y'all from a very sunny, not at all white Central Texas, eh!! From still a canuck-probably-soon-to-be dual citizen...imagine..Canada having 12 provinces ..hehe..now THAT is what I call a 'silent revolution' (Canucks will know what I mean)Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-57605363417311256392008-12-20T19:38:00.005-06:002008-12-20T20:02:19.940-06:00Of colds and earaches and shopping thwarted..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg5hgMxeZven3hx4_84sqRu6UKro0kWT02FItsSWf2WfxR6SNSroQC85kFOvhH-wWvqLHjmHX0YoIDFcwrIZfak44DOpPCNTrfJLeSP4K7qM-ZOG8_9i4kvp-PHKjPfdXegxCXw/s1600-h/ear_infection.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg5hgMxeZven3hx4_84sqRu6UKro0kWT02FItsSWf2WfxR6SNSroQC85kFOvhH-wWvqLHjmHX0YoIDFcwrIZfak44DOpPCNTrfJLeSP4K7qM-ZOG8_9i4kvp-PHKjPfdXegxCXw/s400/ear_infection.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282057171144961218" /></a><br />Just a pic, not my daughter dearest though..<br /><br />Quick update;<br /><br />This past week I've been practically home all week (except on Thursday for a few hours) with the youngest one having a bad case of head and chest congestion so aside from pumping her full of meds every 4hrs, naturally, <em>'one' </em> is up as well during the night at times.<br />And <em>naturally</em>, this <em>had</em> to happen during the last week of school when I had my errands planned and thought no problem, I have plenty of time!<br /><br />Did manage to post something here and there quickly but alas, my visiting was minimal and replies to comments non existent. Now you know why.<br />The 'head and chest' case turned into an ear infection which I figured out early this morning (<em>of course </em>it being Saturday), after two nights of fevers and a definite "ow my ear hurts' this morning. <strong>sigh</strong><br /><br />Luckily, Murphy's law cannot always fully rule even though I suspect it was put in place 'just' for parents, so luckily, our pediatrician did have office hours this morning and is on call for the whole weekend. He's a great elderly gentleman who's not retired as he still has one or two kids to put through college. Or so I here. I wish he was my doctor but that's another story.<br /><br />So..now we're on antibiotics (the non penicillin type as my youngest could be allergic to it and there has not been a penicillin test on the market for the last 2yrs..Enigma, <strong>wassup with that</strong>??) and a migrating earache that went from one ear to the other.. <strong>sigh again</strong>.<br /><br />Sooo, instead of <em>'carpeting'</em> my backyard with my husband (story and pictures to come), I was on kid duty..again! (did you not always want your mom and not your dad when you were sick?)<br /><br />This afternoon after another wailing session with big tears and a passing out for 30min..I talked to the nurse on call and was informed that yes, I can give her alternating pain meds every 3 hrs. When that finally went into effect, boy what a difference. <strong>Sigh times three</strong>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohIsPQJnY5P0WsaYm1HZwonpResFZlwKuypU1cwNdLAbeR7_rkMU1gMloxqQmnb0ZMPrWRqL0R63DPTmgD2PgKyaCFjvVa3_UVK7v3e2tPC-al4OCC4Q9djHzIBJICcWz1iMb2Q/s1600-h/spiderwick.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohIsPQJnY5P0WsaYm1HZwonpResFZlwKuypU1cwNdLAbeR7_rkMU1gMloxqQmnb0ZMPrWRqL0R63DPTmgD2PgKyaCFjvVa3_UVK7v3e2tPC-al4OCC4Q9djHzIBJICcWz1iMb2Q/s400/spiderwick.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282057696214966642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Now, the two kids are watching the Spiderwick Chronicles, perhaps a little scary for the younger one but hey, she's been 'baptized' into gollum land a few years ago (thank you older sibling without asking OR thinking) so hey, <strong>sigh sigh sigh sigh</strong>..<br /><br />I am taking a short break. I'd rather be in my yard..I'm behind in my shopping, not to mention doing all my christmas (read, oversees) cards...well, that'll be happy new years then..<br /><br />I'll be back with backyard updates, political stuff etc. My husband has these two weeks off so phew, we can take turns..<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou1400CwWwyH9CROKTAOut8M60gc9vHfvxz99m6MZOrmfiQE7g5c4Z_Kcni_AqR317SO-4Z1tHrGNI-gUq_QmCu4EPfK57nnU4hmjAZXic5YQIuXcPH-hyoClnTMowXwFlAx0fA/s1600-h/judiandgeoffrey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou1400CwWwyH9CROKTAOut8M60gc9vHfvxz99m6MZOrmfiQE7g5c4Z_Kcni_AqR317SO-4Z1tHrGNI-gUq_QmCu4EPfK57nnU4hmjAZXic5YQIuXcPH-hyoClnTMowXwFlAx0fA/s400/judiandgeoffrey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282056037159270466" /></a> <strong>Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer</strong><br /><br /><br />Hope you're having a good weekend..I'm gonna chill with my <strong><a href="http://www.tv.com/as-time-goes-by/show/5113/summary.html">'As time goes by' </a></strong>tonight and dream of 'that what could've been'.. I love some of those brit comedies..(and geoffrey palmer and judi dench are a great pair)<br /><br />Oh and did I mention I was/am pretty bored?? c'est la vie..<br />nighty night..<br />(thx Gary! [s])Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-84304890292951898472008-12-17T15:35:00.002-06:002008-12-17T15:49:51.773-06:00Gimme Shelter, short docuvid by Ben Affleck about Congo<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZXmxTJnKDM8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZXmxTJnKDM8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This is the write up;<br /><br />Actor-director <strong><u>Ben Affleck</u></strong>and <strong><u>Sir Mick Jagger</u> </strong>have launched a short film for <strong>UNHCRs new Gimme Shelter campaign </strong>to help raise funds and awareness about the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the work of the UN refugee agency.<br /><br />In November, Affleck visited Africa to shoot footage in DRCs strife-torn <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nord-Kivu">North Kivu province</a></strong>, where tens of thousands have fled their homes since fighting resumed in August. He also visited Uganda, where some 30,000 people have sought refuge and are receiving help from UNHCR. The result is a short film entitled <strong><u>Gimme Shelter</u></strong>, set to the classic Rolling Stones song of the same name, which Jagger and the group donated to the campaign.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR</a></strong> hopes the Gimme Shelter campaign will help raise US$23 million in 2009 to pay for clean water supplies and emergency humanitarian assistance kits in the region.<br /><br />The film - Gimme Shelter - was directed by Affleck and filmed by John Toll, both Academy Award winners. The footage was shot in the strife-torn <strong><a href="http://wordpress.com/tag/north-kivu-province/">North Kivu region</a></strong>of the DRC in November, where thousands have fled their homes since fighting resumed in August. <br /><br />- For more information about the Gimme Shelter campaign go to <strong><a href="http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">http://www.unhcr.org </a></strong>Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-80420793986153298332008-12-16T18:15:00.003-06:002008-12-16T18:22:44.669-06:00U.S. War Veterans and PTSD AwarenessThis is still close to my heart. I don't know any veterans, I don't know of anyone going through this. I still want to help out with some kind of reintegration non profit or 'process'. There is one organization in Denver that does something about military reintegration; <strong><a href="http://www.onefreedom.org/">One Freedom</a></strong>.<br />Below is video from a class project (not related to this organization). For most of us, it's nothing new. But..it's an acknowledgement for those who need it. With more troops being sent to Afghanistan, I see this reintegration business being needed for quite a while. And it shouldn't. I despise the politics behind these wars. Wouldn't it be great if there was some great awakening and people would seize to join the military? Nobody's life is worth the political crap-games that is being played. And that's all I have to say about that.<br />I'll dedicate this to Jim. Hope your boys come home safe and sound.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QAa3FjKxxOE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QAa3FjKxxOE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-23032515990571928942008-12-15T12:02:00.005-06:002008-12-15T12:25:55.539-06:00Playing For Change - Stand By MeThank You <strong><a href="http://sunburstgem.blogspot.com/">ZEEster</a></strong> for sending me this vid (albeit through Facebook)..I had seen a short blurb on PBS a few weeks ago (before their endless fundraising schedule..can I have my Brit comedies back please??) and an <strong><a href="http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10242008/profile2.html"><u>interview of Bill Moyers</u></a></strong> with one of the co-directors, <strong>Mark Johnson</strong> behind the documentary <strong><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/">"Playing For Change: Peace Through Music".</a></strong> (<strong>Jonathan Walls </strong>being the other director)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_kbtQR6r_56rP2HR4iN1Dgcm27PysCWzVG73YU0LmMC8stzMMdlFBqn4wcgbXzachtPTVPw-Y2Q05KIl8roaRiXddN6fV-QfM63TOOIGrjXY_z4TlVkMimCGs3GQFNCccofOmg/s1600-h/markjohnson.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 72px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_kbtQR6r_56rP2HR4iN1Dgcm27PysCWzVG73YU0LmMC8stzMMdlFBqn4wcgbXzachtPTVPw-Y2Q05KIl8roaRiXddN6fV-QfM63TOOIGrjXY_z4TlVkMimCGs3GQFNCccofOmg/s400/markjohnson.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280081722185477778" /></a><br />[Mark Johnson]<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Us-TVg40ExM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Us-TVg40ExM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/">Playing For Change - Join the Movement</a></strong><br /><br />It's easy, just sign up for updates and info. I just did. <br /><br />Playing For Change - School Building <br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pTORG0HipZU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pTORG0HipZU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-18071104974980830352008-12-13T12:32:00.008-06:002008-12-13T13:04:45.406-06:00Oxfam America's report; the worst place on earth to be a woman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYXbEFU2f2U8wqCkgsp6vvoaq0POgajkyPvEKkIWe9qmfQyKV9ySfkESpH0maQ3EeuKpcSgZIy1a2UFR02qEw8KcN6KNIYb9ybPLPKK4OcNJyYvx2A_t9K62qx3MUMqahuPIogw/s1600-h/thegreatestsilence.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYXbEFU2f2U8wqCkgsp6vvoaq0POgajkyPvEKkIWe9qmfQyKV9ySfkESpH0maQ3EeuKpcSgZIy1a2UFR02qEw8KcN6KNIYb9ybPLPKK4OcNJyYvx2A_t9K62qx3MUMqahuPIogw/s400/thegreatestsilence.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279347461509781378" /></a><strong><a href="http://www.thegreatestsilence.org/index.html">The Greatest Silence; Rape in the Congo</a></strong><br /><br /><br />Enormous HAT TIP to <strong><a href="http://borderexplorer.blogspot.com/">Border Explorer </a></strong>who mentioned it in a comment on the post <em>Rape and the Spoils of War (see Wednesday's post);</em><br /><br /><blockquote>"This came in yesterday from <strong><a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/">Oxfam America</a></strong> & I thought it fit here:<br /><br /><u>The worst place on earth to be a woman?</u><br /><br /><strong>The Democratic Republic of Congo</strong>.<br /><br />Help change the situation: contact <strong><a href="https://secure.oxfamamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=936">President-Elect Obama TODAY</a></strong>.<br /><br />The Democratic Republic of Congo is host to the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II.<br /><br />And women and girls have borne the brunt of this horrific crisis, with rape as a weapon of war on a scale seen nowhere else in the world.<br /><br />But you can do something about it.<br /><br />Tell President-Elect Obama to announce his plan to <strong><a href="https://secure.oxfamamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=936">end sexual violence in Congo.</a></strong> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAYg37tWCERsvq6kTAuVKGEpERkZ8xuReTgULj-wMsmRQOLYiHCKWjrZaEPO53ntgc_I4RRrccqQvmEnhU1EqdSBq8iKtIjcnctoLd-YSacMfTNp_HSZ7hY5JgoupZqmtHLFN4w/s1600-h/drc_civil_war_congo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAYg37tWCERsvq6kTAuVKGEpERkZ8xuReTgULj-wMsmRQOLYiHCKWjrZaEPO53ntgc_I4RRrccqQvmEnhU1EqdSBq8iKtIjcnctoLd-YSacMfTNp_HSZ7hY5JgoupZqmtHLFN4w/s400/drc_civil_war_congo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279349384760600098" /></a><br />photo from <strong><a href="http://humanitarianrelief.change.org/blog/view/congo_-_the_rape_capital_of_the_world">Humanitarian Relief</a></strong> - <strong><a href="http://www.change.org/profile/view/108778">Michael Bear Kleinman</a></strong>, <em>aid worker, lawyer, and consultant with experience working in Afghanistan, across east and central Africa, and Iraq.</em> <br /><br />Eastern Congo is the worst place in the world to be a woman in 2008. Rape and sexual violence are routinely used as a weapon to destroy women, families, and communities. It is time to get serious about ending the conflict and protecting and empowering Congo’s women.<br /><br />The US government is in a unique position to take action immediately. They can promote peace through aggressive diplomatic efforts, increase UN patrols and support organizations that help keep women safe, and work to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. <br /><br />Oxfam America has joined with the RAISE Hope for Congo campaign to raise awareness about the crisis. And by adding your voice, you are helping to raise awareness about the horrors of this nine-year conflict.<br /><br />Tell the president-elect to announce his plan to end the vicious cycle of sexual violence."</blockquote><strong><a href="http://humanitarianrelief.change.org/actions/view/sign_the_raise_hope_for_congo_petition_to_the_president">SIGN THE RAISE HOPE FOR CONGO PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT!</a></strong><br /><br />I just did.Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-12813537885978666582008-12-11T16:35:00.005-06:002008-12-11T16:48:31.359-06:00"Human Kindness Overflowing.."Don't know why but I went down memory lane. We had this 'lp' (for those from this cd era; definition; <strong>Long Play </strong> <em>An analog audio recording pressed in vinyl that rotates at 33.3 RPM. Sound is literally "carved" into the platter in a spiral groove, starting at the outer edge of the platter. The undulations in the groove are an analog of the original acoustic waves. A needle (stylus) is placed in the groove which oscillates as the platter rotates. The oscillations are converted to electricity, amplified and sent to the speakers</em>)<br /><br />anyhow, we had this 'Unicef' lp for which the proceeds of course went to Unicef, and one of the songs I listened to a lot as a young un' was <strong>Dusty Springfields's </strong> <em>"I think it's gonna rain today"</em>. Before I even knew or understood any english, I loved this song. <br /><br /><strong><u>I dedicate this to the current recipients of the Right Livelihood awards, see post below.</u></strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XUdk1l3sLOU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XUdk1l3sLOU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>I Think Its Gonna Rain Today<br />by <strong><a href="http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Randy-Newman-Lyrics/959C7DBB91E2046C48256A37004E8CE1">Randy Newman</a></strong></strong><br /><br />Broken window, empty hallway<br />Pale dead moon in a sky streaked with grey<br />Human kindness overflowing<br />And I think it's gonna rain today<br /><br />Scarecrows dressed in the latest style<br />With frozen smiles to keep love away<br />Human kindness overflowing<br />And I think its gonna rain today<br /><br />Lonely, lonely<br />Tin can at my feet<br />Think I'll kick it down the street<br />That's no way to treat a friend<br /><br />Right before me, signs implore me<br />Help the needy and show them the way<br />Human kindness overflowing<br />I think its gonna rain todayIngridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-6896450462167098802008-12-10T12:17:00.016-06:002008-12-10T13:18:53.246-06:00Rape and the spoils of warI remember in the mid90s, sitting in a political science class, when the professor was discussing, no, excusing the rape that had just occurred in Bosnia and Kosovo by way of explaining it as 'spoils of war'. It was something that men did in the face of death and destruction. Some primal urge. I was in my early 30s then and the majority of my classmates were much younger than myself, except for the odd student. Sitting in the back, I could see their reaction of disbelief. It was not just politically incorrect, it was truly ignorant. The professor actually believed it!<br /><br />I could not say nothing and inspite of always having felt extremely shy to speak up in class, I raised my hands and said "no professor, rape is not an act of desire, it's an act of aggression". <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-S0OKltRC0zcAs85uBcbbFFl-RI2BG9_6_s9syNqxShM18wyQI1znuhxGCyELkHjZu3jA_9UzJLl7aZ6roGIka8JfdvTJQL8oqklTRWioF4N61ITtp7nNjGobiOCwq30ck1hIw/s1600-h/S_Portrait_Monika_Hauser.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-S0OKltRC0zcAs85uBcbbFFl-RI2BG9_6_s9syNqxShM18wyQI1znuhxGCyELkHjZu3jA_9UzJLl7aZ6roGIka8JfdvTJQL8oqklTRWioF4N61ITtp7nNjGobiOCwq30ck1hIw/s400/S_Portrait_Monika_Hauser.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278231349165130402" /></a><br /><strong>Monika Hauser</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />One of Amy Goodman's fellow recipients of the Right Livelihood award (see post below), the alternative Nobel award, is Monika Hauser. She is a gynocologist and founded a non profit organization based in Germany called "medica mondiale". Her organization works to <em><u>"prevent and punish sexual violence against women and girls in wartime."</u></em><br />Over <strong><u>70.000</u></strong> women and girls from <em>"Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Afghanistan"</em> have been exposed to their aid.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsAODU-QjMkn4Q8vHWmtBEgmfET-S5NZc_RZKIgwCso2Ha-5sG7KocXoyceSq2pByKNiswjcQAWiS3W_EXBbrsrKgmqboeo-1IdcUXgJQifaa9xnLKrkMlxFH2enBnfp72X_cvg/s1600-h/rapesign.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsAODU-QjMkn4Q8vHWmtBEgmfET-S5NZc_RZKIgwCso2Ha-5sG7KocXoyceSq2pByKNiswjcQAWiS3W_EXBbrsrKgmqboeo-1IdcUXgJQifaa9xnLKrkMlxFH2enBnfp72X_cvg/s400/rapesign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278235479028678242" /></a><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_6272000/6272043.stm">Anti-rape sign in Liberia</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is an excerpt of Amy Goodman's interview with Monika Hauser:<br /><br /><blockquote>"...Hauser received the <strong><u><a href="http://www.rightlivelihood.org/hauser.html">Right Livelihood Award</a></u></strong>for <em><strong>“her tireless commitment to working with women who have experienced the most horrific sexual violence in some of the most dangerous countries in the world, and campaigning for them to receive social recognition and compensation.”</strong></em>She joins me here in the studio in Stockholm, Sweden.<br />Welcome to Democracy Now!" <br /><br /><strong>MONIKA HAUSER:</strong> Thank you, Amy. <br /><br /><strong>AMY GOODMAN:</strong> "So, congratulations, and tell us about your organization. What is <strong><u><a href="http://www.medicamondiale.org/en/home/">medica mondiale</a></u></strong>? What prompted you to start this?" <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdTIAp6gPFx2iIZX32WzS_kuOw4BFdSrXSGPCQo6P050dYqmADhC-T-Qc20T8megdm5rT5HQWbgZkMoRoEXmaPQWQKa8EIZ9MVb7Sfx6wQgZCDxIfC4JxS1ywyufngDh8nqkhpw/s1600-h/medicamondialelogo.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdTIAp6gPFx2iIZX32WzS_kuOw4BFdSrXSGPCQo6P050dYqmADhC-T-Qc20T8megdm5rT5HQWbgZkMoRoEXmaPQWQKa8EIZ9MVb7Sfx6wQgZCDxIfC4JxS1ywyufngDh8nqkhpw/s400/medicamondialelogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278231917421308914" /></a><br /><br /><strong>MONIKA HAUSER:</strong> "I founded medica mondiale in the end of ’92, because I realized what happened in Bosnia, because in the war there, many, many women got raped. And as a young gynecologist who has worked already with raped women before in Germany and other places in Europe, I was aware about that these women need a holistic approach of support. They need medical support, they need psychosocial support." <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusmX7McIyJoraUO5HuH3AQFUzAzbbrlg_FD6C1_G8CpQKDqQjZCxU1akN21oVz2N2xiC-IIjf-yizLkDoLDMTZhp2jsEPHxfyJohJ63M3k-BahpMJ_taq-DKBlHuiwKFzt7ONqA/s1600-h/bosnianwomenprotest.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusmX7McIyJoraUO5HuH3AQFUzAzbbrlg_FD6C1_G8CpQKDqQjZCxU1akN21oVz2N2xiC-IIjf-yizLkDoLDMTZhp2jsEPHxfyJohJ63M3k-BahpMJ_taq-DKBlHuiwKFzt7ONqA/s400/bosnianwomenprotest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278233019596778994" /></a><br />photo by <strong>HIDAJET DELIC</strong> [<em>Bosnian Muslim women holding posters with the names of the missing during a protest in front of the UN office in Sarajevo, on Friday, July 18 , 2008. Hundreds of war-time rape victims protested against <u>the decision of the U.N. war crimes tribunal to <strong>reject</strong> the prosecution's request for rape to be added to the charges against two Bosnian Serbs</u> currently on trial for other war crimes. The women claim Milan and Sredoje Lukic organized rape camps for Serb soldiers in which they held Muslim women as sex slaves. Milan and Sredoje Lukic are on trial at the tribunal in Netherlands for murder and other war crimes described by the prosecution as one of the most brutal in the 1992-95 Bosnian war</em>.] <br /><br /><br />"When I read the media reports, I got very angry, angry about that what happened to the women and angry about that how the medias reported about the women. They scandalized that what happened to them. And instead of looking to them as survivors of grave human rights violations, they abused, misused them again by their media reports. So I said to myself I have to support these women, as a gynecologist, as a feminist and as a European. <br /><br />I went there to central Bosnia, and I found very fast twenty professional Bosnian women, gynecologists, nurses, psychologists, who were very eager to start with me this women’s therapy center there." <br /><br /><strong>AMY GOODMAN:</strong>" And how did you go from that to working in countries around the world?" <br /><br /><strong>MONIKA HAUSER:</strong> "So, this was the first step, and now <strong><a href="http://www.dieschwelle.de/content/englisch/peace_award_2005/eastern_europe/medica_zenica.html">Medica Zenica</a></strong> is fifteen years old, the project there, still working and still helping traumatized women. And the staff there is very experienced. <br /><br />And then we started new programs in Kosovo, because we saw after the end of the war there in ’99 that to Kosovo women, the same happened again. Rape as a tool of war was happening, and they were exposed to so much violence. So we decided to set up there our second project. And Bosnian therapists, Bosnian professionals supported us to build up this new project. They trained their new colleagues." <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteSmHJ03n-yuzUU_i-X9fxBsPV5BydSVODEMY6Li5NZY0x6lyeeQuIdyzklw9xOhUbJeb8y3c-4usiylOL3rwxSIB3IdZ_boho0eB4UBpixnkZpEA7NsDcR4SmL8g5yxi2jmDsQ/s1600-h/rapedgirlcrying.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteSmHJ03n-yuzUU_i-X9fxBsPV5BydSVODEMY6Li5NZY0x6lyeeQuIdyzklw9xOhUbJeb8y3c-4usiylOL3rwxSIB3IdZ_boho0eB4UBpixnkZpEA7NsDcR4SmL8g5yxi2jmDsQ/s400/rapedgirlcrying.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278234243252297474" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>"The 12-year-old girl, gang-raped in Afghanistan, weeps as her family demands justice"</strong>, please see <strong><a href="http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/2008/08/afghan-children-raped-with-impunity-un.html">>"Muslims Against Sharia - Islamic Reform Movement"</a></strong><br /><br /><br />"And the same with <strong>Afghanistan</strong>. This is our main project since 2002. We have there now, in the meantime, over seventy local female staff members, and we had again the Bosnian therapists with their huge experience coming over to Kabul to train doctors, midwives, nurses, psychologists, lawyers, in order to help traumatized Afghan women."</blockquote><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/8/gynecologist_monika_hauser_receives_right_livelihood">Read the rest of the interview.</a></strong><br /><br />Here is a definition of rape; <strong>The crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse.</strong><br /><br />[emph,bold,underlining added by yours truly]Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-57181399718139960982008-12-08T10:07:00.007-06:002008-12-08T10:31:23.834-06:00Congratulations Amy Goodman! The Alternative Nobel Prize winner of the Right Livelihood award!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ81K3UPnaMdlEP1eF87W0KJXOimJ_Bn5ztsSHu9v6QezKUhhxciIiXQpMyoWQq1Rmanwmfaa3phMjlYzXpTpIkBRodVi6paO4VnfOvJzVFCb_0kmUloEiHejjAfnEd1ZSvkyVA/s1600-h/2008-recipients_500.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ81K3UPnaMdlEP1eF87W0KJXOimJ_Bn5ztsSHu9v6QezKUhhxciIiXQpMyoWQq1Rmanwmfaa3phMjlYzXpTpIkBRodVi6paO4VnfOvJzVFCb_0kmUloEiHejjAfnEd1ZSvkyVA/s400/2008-recipients_500.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277454181789204930" /></a><br />Asha Hagi Elmi, Amy Goodman, Krishnammal Jagannathan, Monika Hauser<br /><br /><br /><strong>Amy Goodman</strong> and three other women [<strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asha_Haji_Elmi">Asha Hagi Elmi</a></strong>, co-founder of Save Somali Women and Children; <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnammal_Jagannathan">Krishnammal Jagannathan</a></strong>, an 82-year-old activist from southern India; and <strong><a href="http://word.world-citizenship.org/wp-archive/1206">Monika Hauser</a></strong>, a gynecologist and founder of “medica mondiale] are in <strong>Stockholm Sweden right now </strong>in honour of receiving the <strong><a href="http://www.rightlivelihood.org/">Right Livelihood award</a>.</strong><br /><br />I had never heard of this award, which has apparently been around since <strong>1980</strong> and was established as an <strong>alternative Nobel prize award</strong>. Since 1980, there have been <strong>133</strong> "Alternative Nobel Laureates" chosen from <strong>57</strong> different countries. The purpose of this award was, quote; <strong>"to honour and support those “offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today.”</strong><br /><br /><strong>Amy Goodman's Democracy Now</strong> was chosen for <strong>“developing an innovative model of truly independent political journalism that brings to millions of people the alternative voices that are often excluded by mainstream media.”</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Vbm7Pe4mIUverx6Z5EG7Swri3eXM9BxY-ekL4T6UXH3rSSqP0IsQafkRIXYzPzPSEiuf5prIt5yjocpxFyUw1FXM-Wn1SmYAQFUduS2s7FtUvRS_TSFpMZmzIxc6BCe-OeZnw/s1600-h/225px-Jakob-von-uexkull.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6Vbm7Pe4mIUverx6Z5EG7Swri3eXM9BxY-ekL4T6UXH3rSSqP0IsQafkRIXYzPzPSEiuf5prIt5yjocpxFyUw1FXM-Wn1SmYAQFUduS2s7FtUvRS_TSFpMZmzIxc6BCe-OeZnw/s400/225px-Jakob-von-uexkull.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277455971347780242" /></a><br /><strong>Jakob von Uexkull</strong><br /><br />Read more about the founder of Right Livelihood <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakob_von_Uexkull">Jakob von Uexkull</a></strong> and the 2008 recipients and/or listen to Amy's broadcast at <strong><u><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/8/the_right_livelihood_award_a_look">The Right Livelihood Award: A Look at Sweden’s “Alternative Nobel”</a></u></strong><br /><br />Good for you Amy, the world is watching AND listening! Of course, the other women are heroins in their own right. Thank god there are more where they came from.Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22346965.post-40451412477383551552008-12-05T14:24:00.006-06:002008-12-05T15:49:58.170-06:00No Fear even though the Recession is here!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38QWk5WP6jgvCOZcmyOoumPiuFFnyxXhgkn5YnvVIBHLCzrfYSac-ktTmfVPXmQF7WsQ_Aj1NKQ0kRVio5nqMcJ2EjGTSeeYuPp96EqF_jpMshsOqykWRwZguFnwWI9sUqiRK0w/s1600-h/thewaywe'llbe.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38QWk5WP6jgvCOZcmyOoumPiuFFnyxXhgkn5YnvVIBHLCzrfYSac-ktTmfVPXmQF7WsQ_Aj1NKQ0kRVio5nqMcJ2EjGTSeeYuPp96EqF_jpMshsOqykWRwZguFnwWI9sUqiRK0w/s400/thewaywe'llbe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276422079385491586" /></a><br /><strong><a href="http://www.zogby.com/book/">James Zogby</a></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's unreal to fathom that we've entered into one of the worst recession times ever. Did we not just joke about our parents (ok, some of 'us'/you who are of a certain age) or even our grandparents being veritable scrooges because of having gone through <strong>'THE Depression'</strong>?? Is <em>that</em> depression going to be replaced by <em>THIS one</em>?<br /><br />I have been thinking about the seeming unreality of it. Or better put, of it <em>still</em>. Having had on my mind the possibility of re-entering the workforce in whichever capacity (too long a story) this is not exactly the best time. Or is it?<br /><br />James Zogby started out in the 1990s contemplating how Americans seemingly lost the spirit of the American Dream. Instead, through his work as a pollster, he came to find out something different;<br /><br /><em>[But instead],as I probed deeper, I found a renewed spirit, a <strong><u>survival instinct</u></strong>, a <u>readjustment of life's expectations</u> and a <u><strong>redefinition of the American dream</strong></u>. I have found for years now that more Americans say the American Dream has more to do with spiritual fulfillment and leading a genuine and honest life than with the <u><strong>attainment of material things</strong></u>.</em> [<a href="http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1646">John Zogby: America's Secular Spiritualists - Why they're still optimistic</a>]<br /><br />So here I am, having caught the signals coming my way to 'reinvent' myself and now, with the beginning of this recession, <em>really</em> having to think of what this reinvention means. Many people will get laid off and worry, at first, about the basics of providing for their family. That probably means going to a food pantry for the first time. It could mean having to dip into savings (if you have it) before being eligible for any kind of government assistance, getting food stamps etc. <strong>Take heart though</strong>, because it can <u>also</u> mean, that <strong><u>THAT</u></strong> what we as human beings have been programmed for, can start resurfacing after years of complacency;<br /><br /><strong>Survival instinct!</strong> <strong>Adaptibility.</strong> <strong>Reinvention</strong> of yourself as a person, as a provider. Being able to do without all things materialistic. Appreciating a roof over one's head. <strong>Seeing and receiving help when needed.</strong> <br /><br />For those of us who are able and who are not as effected; if you haven't already, <u>let's start giving to our local, neighbourhood food pantry.</u> Give clothes and necessities to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, St. Vincents, you know your area's charity of choice. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX1mWUd_z-Y5InoBpBzGCCsbBi8siHw91GEx0IkHWIcCrpTDi4rtBhO2pbTGbigNME0JK9ih4C95vs7uow5iQ1ALEvPxziYSqZd48n0HazYKnWSNCRwSXt6ppOws1BRtJqiHKfg/s1600-h/givingcollage.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX1mWUd_z-Y5InoBpBzGCCsbBi8siHw91GEx0IkHWIcCrpTDi4rtBhO2pbTGbigNME0JK9ih4C95vs7uow5iQ1ALEvPxziYSqZd48n0HazYKnWSNCRwSXt6ppOws1BRtJqiHKfg/s400/givingcollage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276425223943062338" /></a><br /><strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benevolink/82714178/">Benevolink</a></strong><br /><br />Not just now for the holidays, but as a good habit to start off the New year. We're all going to be in this together.<br /><br />Just thinking...Ingridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543677729320023767noreply@blogger.com7