DESERT GURL
Halloween in the desert
We're ready for the little witches and goblins to visit us this Halloween. It was always one of my favorite holidays as a child. Parents in our neighborhood play it safe and drive their kids to homes where they know the residents. Or, they have special functions at parties, schools or churches for them to attend.
We try to give non-GMO candy that is not laced with herbicides. We also give fruit and homemade goodies. Trader Joe's and health stores offer alternatives. Living responsibly doesn't have to cost more...we just have to think it through...and do a little at a time.
Tip: When taking the little ones trick-or-treating, don’t supply them with a Halloween-decorated plastic bag or bucket. Those will likely be used only once, so choose a less wasteful option like a pillowcase or a cloth/canvas tote that is reusable year-round.
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION:
GMO Halloween Candy: A Pesticide-Laden Horror
http://bit.ly/1tayul
Hope you have a safe and fun holiday!
The Great Illusion
The Great Illusion
I found this wonderful site that is packed with beautiful images and wisdom of the ages. No matter what you have learned in life, you owe it to yourself to check it out. For the full message, you need to read all pages. It will be well worth your time.
One beautiful message to give you a glimpse:
Count all your blessings ~ not gold or position,
knowledge is wealth to the mathemagician.
Doubting is trouble and ignorance a curse,
strive for enlightenment ~ not a ride in a hearse.
Enjoy your weekend and I hope you see the magic around you!
Marion
It's Fall in the desert...a welcome relief
Fall has arrived with unusually cool weather for this California desert. I love the 70 to 80 degree days! It's good to see the coyotes again. They disappeared for over a year and I missed them. One of their favorite foods disappeared too...the rabbits. I'm beginning to see a few rabbits, but not many.
Living along the migratory bird path in California, I'm enjoying seeing families of birds I would not normally see traveling from Canada to Mexico for winter. Some of them are quite exotic. Next spring, they will travel back home to Canada.
COYOTES
While some of the inner city folks are afraid of coyotes (sometimes for good reason), we in the rural desert find them a welcome, everyday sight along with the other wildlife. They were here before we built our homes and cities, they are important to the delicate cycle of life, and we have much to learn from them. With California fires burning them out of their homes in the mountains, they will wander into urban neighborhoods looking for food. Where else will they go? Of course, people with small pets need to keep their animals close or they could be a warm meal for these predators. By learning to co-exist with wildlife, we will help heal the planet.
I spotted this healthy, young adult coyote yesterday across the field from my home around 7 a.m. still foraging for food. Notice the erect ears for listening with their super keen hearing.
The large, bushy tail distinguishes the coyote from most dogs. With his tail half raised, he is aware that I am watching him, but he's not worried about me.
Here is the same coyote pausing using the camouflage technique to blend into the environment so they remain hidden from searching eyes. During pursuit, a coyote may reach speeds up to 43 mph (69 kph),
and can jump over 4 meters (13? feet). To learn more about coyotes, visit this link.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
I captured this image of a beautiful Sharp-Shinned Hawk one morning. I was alarmed to hear what seemed to be a big rock hurled at my bedroom window. Seeing the outline of a pigeon in full flight slammed into my window, I looked up and saw this hawk gazing at me, then purposefully turning his attention to the dazed pigeon on the ground. With speed and dexterity, the hawk lifted the pigeon over the fence to enjoy his catch.
The world is full of life and amazing creatures. Look up, look around and you'll be surprised what you might find!
Living along the migratory bird path in California, I'm enjoying seeing families of birds I would not normally see traveling from Canada to Mexico for winter. Some of them are quite exotic. Next spring, they will travel back home to Canada.
While some of the inner city folks are afraid of coyotes (sometimes for good reason), we in the rural desert find them a welcome, everyday sight along with the other wildlife. They were here before we built our homes and cities, they are important to the delicate cycle of life, and we have much to learn from them. With California fires burning them out of their homes in the mountains, they will wander into urban neighborhoods looking for food. Where else will they go? Of course, people with small pets need to keep their animals close or they could be a warm meal for these predators. By learning to co-exist with wildlife, we will help heal the planet.
I spotted this healthy, young adult coyote yesterday across the field from my home around 7 a.m. still foraging for food. Notice the erect ears for listening with their super keen hearing.
The large, bushy tail distinguishes the coyote from most dogs. With his tail half raised, he is aware that I am watching him, but he's not worried about me.
Here is the same coyote pausing using the camouflage technique to blend into the environment so they remain hidden from searching eyes. During pursuit, a coyote may reach speeds up to 43 mph (69 kph),
and can jump over 4 meters (13? feet). To learn more about coyotes, visit this link.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
The world is full of life and amazing creatures. Look up, look around and you'll be surprised what you might find!
'Capitalism' as Comedy and Tragedy Now Playing in NY and LA
EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN should see this important movie. We know the system is broken, but Michael Moore tells us just how broken this system is. I hope you take the time to see it.
Tavis Smiley interviewed Moore last night. My notes below outline that interview since that segment is not available.
[My notes from interview with Moore]
- Price we pay for this corrupt system...there is another foreclosure in America EVERY 8 seconds
- Richest 1% have more wealth than the bottom combined 99% of us
- Outrageous poverty rates, school drop out rates
- 40 million functional illiterates who can't read or write above 4th grade level
- Rich have taken over our pensions
- Americans don't know if they'll have a job in 6 months.
- We allowed the people with the money to control our country...both parties are responsible for letting this happen
- In the 1980s, Reagan's "trickle down" theory - people believed they would actually benefit from this
- We used to get school loans at 1% from financial aid offices. Reagan stopped that by putting school loans in the hands of the banks so we'd be in hock to the banks for 20 years or so.
- Americans used to make money because they worked hard, created something. But we now have legalized greed where the 1% have taken our pension funds and played with that money (derivatives and other exotic terms). McCain and Republicans wanted to play with social security and medicare funds as well. They have crushed our funds for the last 10 years.
- This is an immoral and wrong system for only the 1% to get everything from the rest of us.
- Is somebody asleep at the wheel? Actually, the 1% have taken the wheels off. This vehicle is running wild over the cliff.
- This deregulation began during the Reagan and Clinton Administrations. Bush got rid of the rest of the oversight and went hog wild.
- We need restrictions in place to have oversight of the greedy. Greed is part of human nature and must be kept in check.
- Lack of oversight legalizes greed. In their greed, 1% truly believes they are entitled to it all.
- People who make money legitimately can't even borrow money to start a business.
- Summers, Geitner etal were instrumental in getting us in this mess. Hope Obama sees that those who created this mess know how to clean it up. This is why banks usually hire thieves for advice.
- We went through the worst 8 years imaginable. Obama inherited a catastrophe. Wouldn't wish this mess on any leader.
- In the campaign, Wall Street gave their money to McCain until they saw Obama winning. Then they turned around and gave their money to Obama. Moore still sides with Obama and thinks Obama will side with the people, not Wall Street.
- People who are screaming at Obama already have health care.
- If Summers and Geitner haven't turned the economy around in 1 year, Moore will be calling Obama out on this harder than ever, but at this point, he supports Obama.
- With all the millions of people who voted for and support Obama, if he let's these people down, America will be in a grave mess.
- Obama is still in charge...not his circle of advisors around him.
- In his heart of hearts, he is going left if you look at his background and activities. This is why the right is fighting him so hard. Obama's instincts are right...and in the right place.
- He has to be FDR...to hell with bipartisanship...has to fight for the people...must tell Summers and Geitner he will not enrich their friends.
What can you do?
SIGN the Healthcare not Warfare Petition
SIGN asking your representatives to support HR 676
SPREAD THE WORD...Capitalism Did This
. . . . . . . .
You know where I'll be on October 2.
The circus is STILL in town
Yes boys and girls, step right up! You can have your very own GOP Clown College as a Flickr Slideshow! Not all clowns are created equal, but all these clowns are dangerous. Their talents range from low IQs, immorality, lack of character, liars all the way through to shameful American traitors. It takes alot of greed and hate to graduate from this college. Although there are some Dems who fall in this category, GOP Clowns juggle this act more, which is why they have their own college.
Just don't let this circus act ruin your weekend. Have a good one!
Enjoy the weekend!
September 12, 2009
Here's something for fun...
Do you know what a FlashMob is? Check this out...finish until the end if you want to know more about how it was done...and enjoy!
Have a good, safe, healthy weekend!
Marion
Here's something for fun...
Do you know what a FlashMob is? Check this out...finish until the end if you want to know more about how it was done...and enjoy!
Have a good, safe, healthy weekend!
Marion
PETITION: Censure Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)
September 11, 2009
Enough, already! It's one thing for citizens (townhall meetings) to go batcrap crazy. It's another thing for U.S. congresspeople to do it. Please sign this petition and share it with others. Your country will appreciate it.
Enough, already! It's one thing for citizens (townhall meetings) to go batcrap crazy. It's another thing for U.S. congresspeople to do it. Please sign this petition and share it with others. Your country will appreciate it.
Remembering September 11...911
September 11, 2009
A date in common between Chile and the USA's "911". Video describes the fall of Chile's government in the '70s and how the US government and CIA was instrumental in this disaster.
Many thanks to my dear friend, Alba of Paris, France, for being my conscience and historical resource.
A date in common between Chile and the USA's "911". Video describes the fall of Chile's government in the '70s and how the US government and CIA was instrumental in this disaster.
Many thanks to my dear friend, Alba of Paris, France, for being my conscience and historical resource.
