"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. ...But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
~ Friedrich Nietzsche
I have designed reusable shopping bags at Zazzle, and own several myself. This is something I strongly believe in - fewer plastic bags being 'born' and 'dying' every day.
Today, I found a site that offers reusable promotional bagsmade from recycled materials! Isn't that amazing!? Not only are they not adding plastic to the dump heap, they're actually pulling some of the debris out and creating eco-friendly products.
It's easy to talk-the-talk. I appreciate a person - and a company - that walks-the-walk. (Not to mention, the bags look great!)
I was working, at BOTW.org, trying to find information about endangered species. There are a number of good pages and quite a number of bad pages. But there are not many that scream at me to share them with everyone I know.
The information is absolutely amazing! I found links to what they call, alternately, flagship species and umbrella species. It explains ecoregions, projects, and ways for us average peeps to take action.
But, what I just had to share was the section on, what they call, Camera Traps. These are places, around the world, where cameras with infrared sensors capture animals in their natural habitat. See incredible images from the Amazon, Sumatra, Cambodia, Indonesia, Costa Rica, and Panama.
So many species are in so much danger - thanks to humans. It's time to look these beautiful creatures in the eye and commit to their future, in any way we can.
After all, man is primarily responsible for the threats to their habitats, their food sources, and their - need I say it - lives.
With all that I've heard in the news recently about the non-existence of the Holocaust, this is a post that I felt compelled to publish.
If you've seen "The Sound of Music" - Germany annexed Austria in March, 1938. Germany had not yet allied with Italy or attacked Poland. Those events happened in 1939.
May 3, 1938: The Flossenbürg concentration camp opens in Bavaria, Germany, near the Czech border.
May 24, 1938: The German Nuremberg Laws are extended into Austria, with the effect of having all Jew-authored and remotely anti-Nazi books removed from Austria libraries and bookstores.
July 2, 1938: Nearly 40,000 Austrian Jews are taken into protective custody.
July 21, 1938: Legislation is passed in Germany requiring identity cards for Jews.
October 27/28, 1938, the family of Herschel Grynszpan and more than 15,000 other Jews (originally from Poland) were forcibly transported out of Germany in boxcars and left at the Polish border. Grynszpan and his family end up in Paris.
November 7, 1938: The 17-year-old Grynszpan shoots a member of the German Embassy staff, Ernst vom Rath, in retaliation for the treatment of his family at the hands of the Nazis.
November 9, 1938: Ernst vom Rath dies of his wounds.
1938 WWII timeline
This was a perfect opportunity for the Third Reich. In response to the killing, (this was also used as a way to blame Jews for what happened) orders were issued throughout Germany (and other Nazi-controlled areas) to incite, encourage, and not interfere with attacks against synagogues and Jewish-owned properties.
KRISTALLNACHT – THE NOVEMBER 1938 POGROMS
Seventy years ago, on November 9–10, 1938, the Nazis staged vicious pogroms—state sanctioned, anti-Jewish riots—against the Jewish community of Germany. These came to be known as Kristallnacht (now commonly translated as “Night of Broken Glass”), a reference to the untold numbers of broken windows of synagogues, Jewish-owned stores, community centers, and homes plundered and destroyed during the pogroms. Encouraged by the Nazi regime, the rioters burned or destroyed 267 synagogues, vandalized or looted 7,500 Jewish businesses, and killed at least 91 Jewish people. They also damaged many Jewish cemeteries, hospitals, schools, and homes as police and fire brigades stood aside. Kristallnacht was a turning point in history. The pogroms marked an intensification of Nazi anti-Jewish policy that would culminate in the Holocaust—the systematic, state-sponsored murder of Jews.
Explore the Online Exhibition » (Reprinted from: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
Orders were given:
From Heinrich Müller to all Gestapo offices - transmitted at 11:55 p.m., November 9, 1938:
1) Actions against Jews, especially against their synagogues, will take place throughout the Reich shortly. They are not to be interfered with; however, liaison is to be effected with the Ordnungspolizei to ensure that looting and other significant excesses are suppressed.
2) So far as important archive material exists in synagogues this is to be secured by immediate measures.
3) Preparations are to be made for the arrest of about 20,000 to 30,000 Jews in the Reich. Above all well-to-do Jews are to be selected. Detailed instructions will follow in the course of this night.
4) Should Jews in possession of weapons be encountered in the course of the action, the sharpest measures are to be taken. Verfugungstruppen der SS as well as general SS can be enlisted for all actions. Control of the actions is to be secured in every case through the Gestapo. Looting, larceny etc. is to be prevented in all cases. For securing material, contact is to be established immediately with the responsible SD...leadership. Addendum for Stapo Cologne: In the Cologne synagogue there is especially important material. This is to be secured by the quickest measures in conjunction with SD.
This is just one early example of the intent and practice of the Third Reich against Jews. If you look at the timeline link, you'll see that Britain and France and the United States were informed and aware of the activities of the German military. By and large, their response was to offer Hitler territories around the world in exchange for his not attacking closer targets. History tells us how well that worked.
If you are not familiar with this period in history - please review the links provided. If you are familiar with the early Hitlerian years, please share with everyone you know.
As long as we allow people - anywhere in the world - to claim that it never happened, the chances that history will repeat itself increase exponentially!
Years ago I fell in love with Jesus Christ Superstar - much to the dismay of some of my family. I didn't see that the play/movie was much different from the biblical story.
Now, years later - I am presented with 'Joseph'. And I find that I am upset by the telling of the story.
Where Jesus Christ Superstar seemed an honest representation, Joseph seems to take liberties with the biblical history that I was taught - starting with the source of the coat.
I read Op/Ed articles quite a bit. With the exception of one slightly cuckoo columnist, I find that even when I disagree with the writer, I still enjoy their perspective. One of my favorite reads is Ted Rall's column. He pulls no punches.
This latest column, exploring the Palin Parenting Program, is spot-on.
Not only is it highly improbable that Bristol and her boyfriend made the choice to marry and raise the baby, it's highly probable that 'Mom' brooks no disagreement once she's determined a course of action. An unusual segment of the teen population notwithstanding, getting pregnant at 17 and without benefit of marriage is not a teen's personal choice - whether male or female. It's an accident, rarely remedied by interfering overbearing parents. The whole situation is just going to destroy those three young lives.
There is absolutely no benefit in compounding one mistake with another and another.
I haven't had very kind thoughts about the governor of Alaska - pretty much since I first heard about her. And my opinion just keeps getting more and more negative.
For whom, exactly, does McCain think Sarah Palin has appeal? Seriously!? Oh, that's right - those who believe that humans are more important and take priority over every other species on the planet.
Despite strong scientific, ethical and public opposition to aerial hunting, Governor Palin has…
* Proposed paying a $150 bounty for the left foreleg of each dead wolf.
* Approved a $400,000 state-funded propaganda campaign to promote aerial hunting.
* Introduced legislation to make it even easier to use aircraft to hunt wolves and bears.
From: Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund
I urge you to watch this shocking video. Chances are pretty good that - if McCain is elected - this woman will be President before the 4 years are out. Can our animal friends afford that?
I DON'T THINK SO!!
As much as I don't trust Obama and crew, I truly cannot abide the thought that this morally reprehensible person could ever reach a position of national power!
For anyone in doubt - the bible was written by man to control man's behavior - just ask King James. Mankind has evolved since those days - or at least some of mankind has.
Please! Stop buying into the nonsense that organized religion and questionable politics keeps foisting upon us! Think and live beyond yourself!
Help save the planet! For all the creatures who are trying to survive here!
I realize that I'm a little late to the party, but a friend sent a link to a very disturbing YouTube video today Kill and Destroy. (Although there are no graphic images, I've chosen to offer a link, rather than embed the video.) This is, in my humble opinion, important viewing.
After watching Kill and Destroy, I started researching the information it put forth. I am - without question - not an Obama supporter - never have been, but I prefer to have my facts straight before I blithely post something. Let me tell you - it was not difficult to find information on this topic!
A quick Google search turned up thousands of related pages and sites. Some of the most compelling, though I'm not sure I agree with her politics, come from Illinois nurse, Jill Stanek.
I have never trusted Obama or virtually anything that comes out of his mouth. It is my opinion that we couldn't do worse for this country than putting this man in the White House.
For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has protected wildlife at risk of extinction. Now the Bush/Cheney Administration wants to eliminate vital checks and balances that are crucial to protect our polar bears, wolves and other imperiled wildlife.
Announced earlier this week, the Bush/Cheney proposal would severely limit scientific review by the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service of projects that could harm imperiled wildlife. And it would explicitly limit the ability of these expert agencies to consider how greenhouse gas emissions from such projects could impact polar bears, wolverines and other wildlife that may go extinct due to global warming.
Instead, agencies proposing projects such as highways, dams, mines, oil or gas drilling and virtually any other activity would be allowed to decide for themselves whether a project is likely to impact any of the nearly 1,400 species currently protected by the Endangered Species Act -- without the crucial independent review now provided by scientific experts at the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Many of these agencies do not even have biologists or other qualified staff to make such a determination.
Even worse, the new regulations would impose a brief 60-day review period, making it even less likely that anyone involved in the process will have the time or expertise to fully evaluate the potential harmful effects of a given project on sensitive wildlife or the habitat it needs to survive.
There are less than 160 days left in the Bush/Cheney Administration -- and even less time for your Members of Congress to act. Please take action now to help stop the Bush/Cheney Administration’s last-minute attempt to eliminate effective protections for the wildlife that you and I love.
Sincerely,
Rodger Schlickeisen President Defenders of Wildlife
P.S. Two years ago, Defenders led the fight that stopped Congressional legislation that would have gutted the Endangered Species Act. Now we need your help to stop the Bush Administration from trying to do the same thing. Please take action now!
Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities.
Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at: 1130 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
For those of you - like me - who do your own nails, I have a great product for you!
Kiss Natural Curves are absolutely amazing nails. They are more substantial than all of the other nails that you can get at the corner drugstore. And they come in terrific styles.
I just did my nails tonight - and for add-some-glue-and-stick-'em-on-your-nails I don't think you can buy better at this price. They aren't oddly shaped or ridiculously thin. When I put them on, I know that they're gonna stay.
I'd offer a picture of my nails with my favorite style - but none of our cameras capture the nails without making me appear to have old-lady-hands.
Every night, before I fall asleep, I read through the day's news on my phone. One of the sections I read faithfully is Health and I've noticed a dramatic increase in stories about Alzheimer's. With an aging population, more and more of us have or soon will have direct experience with this disease.
That's why the Alzheimer's Memory Walk, the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funding, is so important. According to the latest facts and figures:
As many as 5.2 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s.
10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's in their lifetime.
Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death.
The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.
Advances are being made. I read about a nasal spray in development that has shown significant improvement for patients with pre-Alzheimer's cognitive impairment. Such research and development needs continuing support and funding.
Walks are planned in over 600 communities - including an Iraq Memory Walk! It couldn't be easier to join or start your own team:
Sign up as a team with your friends, family, organization, or register as an individual participant.
Create your own Web site and personalize it with pictures and stories.
Set a fundraising goal and send e-mails to everyone you know asking them to join and support you.
Walk and celebrate the difference you are making in the millions of lives affected by Alzheimer’s.
All the tools you need - including Team Captain Kits - are available on the Alzheimer's Association website.
I have a great interest in protecting the environment, helping animals, and just trying to do the right thing. Sadly, I don't have a bank account that allows me to financially support all of the causes in which I believe.
Thanks to the Greater Good Network, and their sponsors, I don't have to be the Sultan of Brunei in order to help.
One of the easiest ways to help is by resetting the home page on your browser. Simply pick one of the websites in the network - I chose The Animal Rescue Site - and every time you visit the Internet, simply click on the "Click Here to Give" button on the main page. It doesn't cost you a dime, but the sponsors will take that 'click' and donate to the cause that you've chosen.
Every time I visit my homepage, I give .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. And I am not alone! Yesterday, July 10, 2008, 303,764 clicks contributed 182,258 bowls of food; in 2007, actions at The Animal Rescue Site funded the value of 42,724,313 bowls of food for animals in need.
I know that I couldn't, personally, contribute enough to make a drop in the bucket. But, working with The Greater Good Network, I - and you - can do wonders.
I have always trusted my cats to give me their opinion of the people who visit my home. Most people don't make much of an impression - because each kitty was either happy to see people or terrified to see people - consistently. Until Paka.
Paka is an interesting detective. Interesting, to me, because I have been - consistently - unable to predict his reactions. The people that I don't mind, he does; the people that I mind, he doesn't. With the exception of anyone under the age of (about) 5.
This kitty loves little kids. He will jump into the window to see the 'little one' walking by. If the door is open, it's all we can do to keep him from going out to get 'loves' from any child nearby. Adults, not his favorite humans, don't generally warrant the same affection, though he will tolerate some of these 'tall kids'.
Then . . . we had a visitor for a few days.
In the beginning, there wasn't much of an issue; although Paka did hide more than usual. We didn't worry much, since he has places where he can go and no one is allowed to bother him. Apparently, that wasn't enough, because Paka began hissing - loudly - whenever our guest got within about 3 feet of him. We weren't happy, but we still weren't overly concerned, because Paka could still get away .
Or so we thought . . .
Mark and I had gone to bed. Everything was quiet and we were playing TextTwist™. Then, out of the blue, there was a feline scream - not a hiss or growl - from the other room! Supposedly, nothing happened. But Paka doesn't cry out - ever - unless he is in distress.
We immediately moved everything into our bedroom for the night - for the first time since Paka was a baby.
I don't think we'll be having any roomies . . . ever again.
