I wonder what real life is like in China, compared with the politically distorted dribbles the mainstream media give us
for example, why am I surprised that the “authorities” would approve this nightmarish exhibition of bloated bodies, snarling faces and deformed figures by Chinese sculptor Chen Wenling at the Asia Art Centre in Beijing?
do the Chinese have more freedom than our daily news tells us about?
more next time
Blessed Be
20080930
20080926
lines in the sand
Nicaragua’s getting guns from Russia now
US threatens Russia
Russia likes Iran and North Korea, too
but it’s ready to take on Canada, Denmark, the US and Norway over who owns the north pole
on the other hand, W actually said no to Israel [wow! who’d’a thunk?]
more next time
Blessed Be
US threatens Russia
Russia likes Iran and North Korea, too
but it’s ready to take on Canada, Denmark, the US and Norway over who owns the north pole
on the other hand, W actually said no to Israel [wow! who’d’a thunk?]
more next time
Blessed Be
20080925
20080924
Gore incites civil disobedience
Mr. Global Warming got enthusiastic applause when he told the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting that climate-change deniers are guilty of “a form of stock fraud because they are misrepresenting a material fact"
Gore said “it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture …”
I wonder what the average An Inconvenient Truth fan will wear to the barricades?
more next time
Blessed Be
Gore said “it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture …”
I wonder what the average An Inconvenient Truth fan will wear to the barricades?
more next time
Blessed Be
20080923
Cold War update
further to my September 11 post, Agence France-Presse’s Moscow bureau says Russian warships with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles have set sail for joint military exercises this winter off Venezuela
meanwhile, Bolivian President Evo Morales says the United States is facilitating the coup d'etat by right-wing regional governors in his country
more next time
Blessed Be
meanwhile, Bolivian President Evo Morales says the United States is facilitating the coup d'etat by right-wing regional governors in his country
more next time
Blessed Be
weather’s impact wide-spread
apparently, global climate change is responsible for:
✪ more stray cats
✪ allergies
✪ declining tourism
✪ bubonic plague
✪ better beer
✪ all of California’s problems
✪ and damned near everything else
more next time
Blessed Be
✪ more stray cats
✪ allergies
✪ declining tourism
✪ bubonic plague
✪ better beer
✪ all of California’s problems
✪ and damned near everything else
more next time
Blessed Be
20080922
why the Beatles never did Israel
blame Cliff Richard
or, at least, blame Israeli teens’ reaction to his 1963 concert
after the “outbreak of mass hysteria”, the committee that approves visits by foreign artists passed Resolution 691 to never allow a performance by the Beatles because of the potential for a “negative influence on [Israel's] youth”
the committee reconsidered, but stuck by its original decision because "the band has no artistic merit" and its performances "cause hysteria and mass disorder among young people"
the details started leaking, 42 years later, after Israel’s ambassador to Britain gave John's half-sister an apology; she’s a history professor at Tel Aviv University now, and recently revealed the details in the daily Haaretz, 1 week before Paul performs in Israel for the first time
[from the CommonDreams.org News Center]
more next time
Blessed Be
or, at least, blame Israeli teens’ reaction to his 1963 concert
after the “outbreak of mass hysteria”, the committee that approves visits by foreign artists passed Resolution 691 to never allow a performance by the Beatles because of the potential for a “negative influence on [Israel's] youth”
the committee reconsidered, but stuck by its original decision because "the band has no artistic merit" and its performances "cause hysteria and mass disorder among young people"
the details started leaking, 42 years later, after Israel’s ambassador to Britain gave John's half-sister an apology; she’s a history professor at Tel Aviv University now, and recently revealed the details in the daily Haaretz, 1 week before Paul performs in Israel for the first time
[from the CommonDreams.org News Center]
more next time
Blessed Be
20080920
if it’s good enough for Fido …
if you’re paying attention, you already know drinking water is a major environment/political/consumer issue on North America’s event horizon
what happens if you apply hyper-green recycling concepts to the challenge?
in Santa Ana, Calif, it took a decade to overcome the psychological barriers, but the $480-million Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System finally opened last January
more next time
Blessed Be
what happens if you apply hyper-green recycling concepts to the challenge?
in Santa Ana, Calif, it took a decade to overcome the psychological barriers, but the $480-million Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System finally opened last January
more next time
Blessed Be
20080918
democracy: Government for whom?
so, US authorities are willing to shell out $900+ billion to save the moneylenders, eh?
and Canada and anyone else with some petty cash has promised to help
who do those governments represent? how much of that tax money will come from the poor and homeless? [as if BC should talk]
don't worry now, but The American Prospect co-editor Robert Kuttner says the Wall Street carnage and international echoes are a result of 20+ years of failed ideology, and that only immediate, drastic action will prevent economic collapse
socialist revolutionaries describe the meltdown as Three Days that Shook the World
how’s Canada doing?
more next time
Blessed Be
and Canada and anyone else with some petty cash has promised to help
who do those governments represent? how much of that tax money will come from the poor and homeless? [as if BC should talk]
don't worry now, but The American Prospect co-editor Robert Kuttner says the Wall Street carnage and international echoes are a result of 20+ years of failed ideology, and that only immediate, drastic action will prevent economic collapse
socialist revolutionaries describe the meltdown as Three Days that Shook the World
how’s Canada doing?
more next time
Blessed Be
20080917
this is news?
aren't crows smart!
well, duh! … and your point is?
just to be straight, we are talking the left-handed guardian and keeper of all sacred law?
Norse mythology’s symbol of intelligence?
the messenger of the gods?
of course crows are smart!
more next time
Blessed Be
well, duh! … and your point is?
just to be straight, we are talking the left-handed guardian and keeper of all sacred law?
Norse mythology’s symbol of intelligence?
the messenger of the gods?
of course crows are smart!
more next time
Blessed Be
20080916
Welcome to Trans(silly)mania
wouldn’t it be nice if the transgendered were accepted as one aspect of our diverse society, instead of having everyone tch-tching or omigodding every time one of us attracts attention?
entertainment writers and others are tripping over themselves these days trying to get the scoop on Isis, a transgender model who appeared on America’s Next Top Model’s season premiere; as Brianna Austin wrote for The Canadian, who cares? and why?
Isis is not the first trans model and won’t be the last; it's not too late to start treating her better than Tula
linx
British Columbia still denies transgendered rights
a Christian voice
Queer Peace International resources
Victoria BC resources
counsellors’ resources
more next time
Blessed Be
entertainment writers and others are tripping over themselves these days trying to get the scoop on Isis, a transgender model who appeared on America’s Next Top Model’s season premiere; as Brianna Austin wrote for The Canadian, who cares? and why?
Isis is not the first trans model and won’t be the last; it's not too late to start treating her better than Tula
linx
British Columbia still denies transgendered rights
a Christian voice
Queer Peace International resources
Victoria BC resources
counsellors’ resources
more next time
Blessed Be
20080915
Oh No! not Israel ?
anti-Semites and other bigots notwithstanding, it takes someone really brave or really stupid to suggest Israel may be guilty of war crimes
which do you think Desmond Tutu is? really brave or really stupid?
linx
wireddispatch.com
[ from Reuters North American News Service ]
more next time
Blessed Be
which do you think Desmond Tutu is? really brave or really stupid?
linx
wireddispatch.com
[ from Reuters North American News Service ]
more next time
Blessed Be
20080914
not on the evening news eh?
these are a few of the postings I've bookmarked recently for more reading
✪ Sarah and the polar bears
[from the CommonDreams.org News Center]
a vice-presidential candidate takes Canada’s side, not the White House's? very interesting
✪ CrimeWatch
did you know CanadaFreePress.com has a crime-watch section where you can keep up to date on all the really important news, like the British police chief who dressed up as Osama Bin Laden at a carnival in Cornwall 5 days before the anniversary of September 11
he’s lost his job training police in Afghanistan and faces a disciplinary inquiry, and possibly suspension from the Devon and Cornwall force
✪ Learning 2.0
I’ve only scanned this Tyee story so far, but I added it to my own reading list because e-learning is one of my pet topics
more next time
Blessed Be
✪ Sarah and the polar bears
[from the CommonDreams.org News Center]
a vice-presidential candidate takes Canada’s side, not the White House's? very interesting
✪ CrimeWatch
did you know CanadaFreePress.com has a crime-watch section where you can keep up to date on all the really important news, like the British police chief who dressed up as Osama Bin Laden at a carnival in Cornwall 5 days before the anniversary of September 11
he’s lost his job training police in Afghanistan and faces a disciplinary inquiry, and possibly suspension from the Devon and Cornwall force
✪ Learning 2.0
I’ve only scanned this Tyee story so far, but I added it to my own reading list because e-learning is one of my pet topics
more next time
Blessed Be
20080911
déjà vu
nearly half a century ago the US played chicken with Khrushchev, Castro and pre-Cruise missiles
today it’s Putin, Chavez and Tu-160 strategic bombers
Star Wars may be history, but now we’ve got:
✪ Tu-95 Bears, loaded with nukes, patrolling the coasts
✪ US plans for a new missile defence system in eastern Europe
✪ Russia’s ongoing repatriation of Georgia
and, probably most important for the pupeteers, a whole new bunch of ways to profit from it all!
ever seen Dr. Strangelove? [I love the scene where General Ripper waves his assault rifle in Group Captain Mandrake’s face and warns Lionel that if he fails to reach the President of the United States of America on the pay phone, he’ll have to answer to the Coca-Cola Company™ for shooting up their pop machine to get the dime]
more next time
Blessed Be
today it’s Putin, Chavez and Tu-160 strategic bombers
Star Wars may be history, but now we’ve got:
✪ Tu-95 Bears, loaded with nukes, patrolling the coasts
✪ US plans for a new missile defence system in eastern Europe
✪ Russia’s ongoing repatriation of Georgia
and, probably most important for the pupeteers, a whole new bunch of ways to profit from it all!
ever seen Dr. Strangelove? [I love the scene where General Ripper waves his assault rifle in Group Captain Mandrake’s face and warns Lionel that if he fails to reach the President of the United States of America on the pay phone, he’ll have to answer to the Coca-Cola Company™ for shooting up their pop machine to get the dime]
more next time
Blessed Be
20080910
Poles stop burning witches
Patti Wigington’s blog on about.com is one of my favoured and trusted sources for news of interest to witches and other pagans
this week she tagged a report in Ananova about a decision in Zielona Gora to stop symbolically burning witches; it’s been part of the village’s anniversary celebrations for 9 centuries, along with jousting, minstrels, dancing and other mediaeval festivities
but witch-burning is out now, mostly because of Polish women's rights groups; Monika Platek of the Association for Legal Education said, "Making peoples' tragic deaths into a tourist attraction is reprehensible and regrettable ... The stakes where women were burned were the result of profound misogyny, discrimination against women and ignorance.”
too true, but I wish Ananova had also included some reference to the religious aspects of The Burning Times
linx:
the Inquisition
the Salem trials
American victims
more next time
Blessed Be
this week she tagged a report in Ananova about a decision in Zielona Gora to stop symbolically burning witches; it’s been part of the village’s anniversary celebrations for 9 centuries, along with jousting, minstrels, dancing and other mediaeval festivities
but witch-burning is out now, mostly because of Polish women's rights groups; Monika Platek of the Association for Legal Education said, "Making peoples' tragic deaths into a tourist attraction is reprehensible and regrettable ... The stakes where women were burned were the result of profound misogyny, discrimination against women and ignorance.”
too true, but I wish Ananova had also included some reference to the religious aspects of The Burning Times
linx:
the Inquisition
the Salem trials
American victims
more next time
Blessed Be
20080909
Farewell, Swami Chidananda
24 September 1916 – 28 August 2008
"Life is meant for God-realization. The goal of life is God-realization. If you die without attaining God-realization, your life is in vain. You have wasted this precious gift of human birth given by God."
Guru Maharaj Swami Chidananda
Blessed Be
www.sivanandaonline.org
"Life is meant for God-realization. The goal of life is God-realization. If you die without attaining God-realization, your life is in vain. You have wasted this precious gift of human birth given by God."
Guru Maharaj Swami Chidananda
Blessed Be
www.sivanandaonline.org
20080904
whither the weather?
who knows? ask 12 people, get 20 answers
most don’t know what to worry about
greenhouse effect? global warming? climate change?
most people don’t understand the difference; is there a difference?
I was aware by the late 70s that background weather patterns, i.e. climate, were changing
I met people in Newfoundland 30 years ago who remembered that back in the day when Québec got 4-foot snowstorms with 15-foot drifts
[www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm], they’d been able to drive across Trinity Bay during the 2 or 3 coldest months of winter
anyone who doesn’t know something’s happening is too young or asleep; figuring out why it’s happening is a different kettle of fish
a TV commercial suggests people and their SUVs are responsible for climate change; well, duh! along with jet fuel and steel mills and my laptop’s plastic case and …
except, people and our GHGs may only be exacerbating the unstoppable
of course, the crap we’ve pumped & dumped into the environment since the early days of the Industrial Revolution makes us sick, poisons our crops, air and water, weakens our immune systems, leads to birth defects, and is likely to have impacted global temperatures, not to mention upper-level ozone density and melanoma rates; hell, deforestation alone has impacted climate and that started in Europe, especially around the Mediterranean, centuries before the Europeans discovered the Amazon
but what if human pollution is just an extra push to an inevitable solar event?
the Sun stopped following its 11-year “cycle” years ago; the last maximum solar activity peak was, statistically, supposed to be in 2001, but sunspots continued years past that and one in 2005 was the 3rd-largest ever seen
in 2006 scientists said solar activity had [finally] bottomed out and we could not only expect sunspots to start up again, we needed to brace ourselves for one of the most active sunspot cycles in 50, maybe 100 years [depending on whom you asked], a veritable solar storm
now? er, what’s a sunspot?
Daily Tech
what’s the Sun going to do next? wanna watch?
btw, Danish researchers presented evidence in the 90s of correlations between global temperature and solar activity
some researchers report minimal declines in temperatures since 1998 [well before solar max], although others say they’re measuring the wrong part of the planet
if you dig talking to trees, you might be interested in a presentation from the Finnish Forest Research Institute and the University of Helsinki, who say Finland’s Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) date a temperature tipping point - downward - back to the 50s
more next time
Blessed Be
most don’t know what to worry about
greenhouse effect? global warming? climate change?
most people don’t understand the difference; is there a difference?
I was aware by the late 70s that background weather patterns, i.e. climate, were changing
I met people in Newfoundland 30 years ago who remembered that back in the day when Québec got 4-foot snowstorms with 15-foot drifts
[www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm], they’d been able to drive across Trinity Bay during the 2 or 3 coldest months of winter
anyone who doesn’t know something’s happening is too young or asleep; figuring out why it’s happening is a different kettle of fish
a TV commercial suggests people and their SUVs are responsible for climate change; well, duh! along with jet fuel and steel mills and my laptop’s plastic case and …
except, people and our GHGs may only be exacerbating the unstoppable
of course, the crap we’ve pumped & dumped into the environment since the early days of the Industrial Revolution makes us sick, poisons our crops, air and water, weakens our immune systems, leads to birth defects, and is likely to have impacted global temperatures, not to mention upper-level ozone density and melanoma rates; hell, deforestation alone has impacted climate and that started in Europe, especially around the Mediterranean, centuries before the Europeans discovered the Amazon
but what if human pollution is just an extra push to an inevitable solar event?
the Sun stopped following its 11-year “cycle” years ago; the last maximum solar activity peak was, statistically, supposed to be in 2001, but sunspots continued years past that and one in 2005 was the 3rd-largest ever seen
in 2006 scientists said solar activity had [finally] bottomed out and we could not only expect sunspots to start up again, we needed to brace ourselves for one of the most active sunspot cycles in 50, maybe 100 years [depending on whom you asked], a veritable solar storm
now? er, what’s a sunspot?
Daily Tech
what’s the Sun going to do next? wanna watch?
btw, Danish researchers presented evidence in the 90s of correlations between global temperature and solar activity
some researchers report minimal declines in temperatures since 1998 [well before solar max], although others say they’re measuring the wrong part of the planet
if you dig talking to trees, you might be interested in a presentation from the Finnish Forest Research Institute and the University of Helsinki, who say Finland’s Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) date a temperature tipping point - downward - back to the 50s
more next time
Blessed Be
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