Monday, February 23, 2015

In Bed With the Opposition *

Having just finished a book about Alaska in the early 70s, "Going to Extremes" by Joe McGinniss, the story of his travels in the land of Alaska, a land that reaches into the Arctic Circle and beyond - pure - unadulterated,wilderness country; the tale of his long hike with several others with Ray Bane, a geographical researcher, mapping the primitive, wild reaches of the unimaginable, eye-boggling vastness of the Brooks Range Mts.  and surrounding areas, -70F cold, miles high and tenting, their up-close encounters with several grizzles, I then turned to the Internet for more information about our last acquired state of the United States.  Joe's story certainly enthralled me to the last page.

You ought to read it! It's so good.

Having a long ago interest of heading off to Alaska about the time of the pipeline construction in Prudhoe Bay, this book put new life - interest, enthusiasm into my mind.  Of course, any sensible person knows that the desire to go there is a wasted dream now, even to a fool in my age category but I digress.... I'll get back to the Internet subject.

You know how it is; we tend to surf and jump about, often winding up somewhere totally unrelated to our initial  search. That's what I did.  In my clicks,  I came upon the following article regarding the man convicted of shooting Ronald Reagan, John Hinckley, Jr.

Now I understand many do not spend time reading "that nonsense" (I rarely) of those "Conspiracy Theorists", considered to be the rantings of some 'Nutjob' and having absolutely nothing to do with our daily, personal lives (not always the case, my friend.  Often not the case).

We tend to forget much of what we hear via the big, brainwashing, mainstream news media's - "Why ever not?" - bombardment, day after day of our world's turmoils, can soon become too  burdensome for our minds, and dealing with our daily life.  Thus we push away from the onslaught of it all and need a rest and wanting to take a deep breath of fresh air.  Nevertheless, the bs continues even if we aren't aware of it all.

This article below only emphasized the fact that too often we do not have a clue of what is really going on in the outer reaches of our world, especially of the political scene.

I bet you a nickel this information never showed up on any of the main news channels!  It is a long read but worth your effort, for right now/today there is another one of the  BS hitters, namely a member of the Bush family, the former Florida govenor, is "tentatively" plotting to join the race in our near future to take control of what we can only wish to be our freedom; he and his political cohorts undoubtedly dismissing the 'nonsense' that comes from those silly conspiracy theorists 'out there'.

The grand majority of politicians have a few goals that I believe never enter into thought for the welfare of society nor their obligation for such. Those goals are: control, bulging pockets and ease in their retirement!

Read and judge for yourself.  This is an old news piece but it still has value and knowing the subterfuge that continues day in and day out in the works of the elite to keep control of us, often unsuspecting, ignorant (unversed in...) citizens, it is  well and good to have recall of our past history.  Go to the link below for the entire article.

This man not only tried to assassinate Ronald  Reagan but shot and crippled James Brady, who died this past year, released from his many years in a wheelchair.



"John Hinckley Jr.,John Hinckley, Jr. who shot Ronald Reagan in 1981, is about to be partially released from confinement after testimony from government psychiatrists. Hinckley's family and the family of President George W. Bush have long, complicated ties that have been little reported. Hinckley's brother was scheduled to have dinner at the home of the current President Bush's brother the day after the assassination attempt.
 
Nov. 26, 2003 - John Hinckley Jr., who has been hospitalized since shooting President Ronald Reagan in 1981, might receive permission any day from a federal judge to make unsupervised visits to his parents' home. Hinckley's family and the family of President George W. Bush have long social, political, and economic ties that have been little reported. Hinckley's brother was scheduled to have dinner at the home of the current President Bush's brother the day after the assassination attempt.........
.....continued @http://rense.com/general45/hink.htm

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Partake - A Clue to Knowing *

 "On this earth as beyond this earth you never are alone,
But are in constant company of things and beings
That take a share in your life as you take a share in theirs.
As you seek them, so they seek you.
As you partake of them, so they partake of you."

- Rumi, “The Book of Mirdad”
compliments of Coyote Prime

Monday, February 16, 2015

What is Truth *

Always remember: Your truth is yours alone.  It is what you believe, not necessarily what is actual fact.  It takes an open mind to look within oneself and see that what you think is nonbiased.  When I find that many others see matters just as I do, I can then say I don't stand alone in my own opinion. 

Thoughts *

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that"

Another Loss *

" Mueller had begged him to let her tag along so she could see the suffering firsthand and help, despite the dangers of traveling into the war-torn region. "



Those words are contained in a news story I read on Yahoo today. 

Heartbreaking.

Will the turmoil of our world ever end?

One can hope.  Having hope is that which keeps us striving.



http://news.yahoo.com/flagstaff-vigil-held-woman-killed-while-held-mideast-092701167.html

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Man Is A Benevolent Being? *

I think not!  See  what we have done.  It's safe, go ahead and click on the link.  the video is off YouTube, an animation of about 3.5 minutes.  Sure, you can spare the time.http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/interesting--other/man

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Deja vu *

 I am so tired of living in a world of horror.
Young Child of War.  Is THIS moral?





























Young Girl entrapped by War in her country

  Almost four years ago I wrote the same words.  Nothing has changed. It is the same today as it has continued to be; "for how long", you may ask.  Well, as long as I've been around, almost 'four score long'.







My conscience, my soul can never justify the look in these children's eyes, the set of the mouth.  Never.  We should remember, karma is a given.

Monday, February 9, 2015

WORDS - Bears Reading Again - A Repeat & Addendum *

Words are Real Things - Serious Consideration Needed

that can be remembered for a lifetime.  They often outlast the speaker, 


"The Danger Of Words"
by Paulo Coelho
"A woman said so often that her neighbor was a thief that the young man was finally arrested. Some days later, they discovered that he was innocent and set him free. Then he sued the woman.
“Comments are not so serious,” she said to the judge. “Granted,” answered the magistrate. “When you get back home today, write down everything bad you said about the young man, then tear up the paper and throw the bits away as you walk along. Come back tomorrow to hear the sentence.”
you are pardoned if you give me the bits of paper you spread on the street yesterday. Otherwise you will be condemned to a year in prison,” declared the magistrate.
“But that’s impossible! The wind has blown them all away!” “In the very same way, a simple comment can be spread by the wind and destroy a man’s honor, and afterwards it is impossible to repair the harm that has been done.” And he sent the woman off to jail."
**************************
 
This reminds me of the time my grandmother told me the story of the woman who opened her window, shook her pillow in the air.  A flaw in its cover caused the feathers to come out and blow all about.  She couldn't retrieve them.  Grandma's story was a lesson about gossiping impossible to un-speak, retract.  I have sometimes forgotten her telling me this story as we walked along on that pleasant day.  I was only four years old but well understood what she was telling me. The story illustrates  a lesson for us all to learn.  
Character is who we are.  Reputation is what others think and say about us.  So often words are said without thought of what harm it may cause another human.  So often our thoughts and words can cause long lasting pain for others, pain that can last a lifetime, sometimes even into next generations.  So the next time, you or I have something to impart, whether it be truth or not, let us stop and THINK; is it necessary or correct to be speaking of this in such manner? 


Something else I find unnecessary and very distasteful: I've visited Bloggers, who are often blasting other people; their lives, looks, how they spend money, their walk, their "outrageous attire", how  they keep house, smell! etc., on and on, ad nauseam.  Blazed & charred profanity erupts without warning.  Another character is always in dire straits: we are all in need sometimes BUT not continuously! Readers are expected to comment pleasantly and to agree and accept their views; else they will "take you down at the pass".  Seeing all the bitching/cursing/ranting about others tends to color my world a dark shade of gray.  Living in solitude has expanded my attention toward others' viewpoints.  Good sensible words and views I enjoy reading. Others I have the prerogative to reject my attention. So hopefully we can keep in mind the stories of the "Feather Pillow" and the "Judge's Decision", and recall that we each and every one have the privilege of living our life, whatever fashion it may be.
(Excuse me now.  It being balmy outside, I must go clean up the clutter in my yard; I see the Lawn Police cruising the lane! Ha Ha)
   
Pictures are taken from the internet.      

The Produce Without The Poison: How to Avoid Pesticides *

This came in my email today. Valuable information.   I thought I was keeping fairly safe, yet this information shows I can do better, much better.  You too can become more cautious and alert.  Many thanks, Sender.

The Produce Without The Poison: How to Avoid Pesticides
* * * * * * *
Real-world people shop at supermarkets, and real-world affordable fruits and vegetables contain pesticide residues. Not everybody can buy organic; not everybody is a gardener. Here are easy and effective ways to reduce your chemical consumption.
Rule number one: Wash your fruits like you wash your hands: "Use soap, Jimmy!" Mom and Dad were right: just running your mitts or your munchies under tap water does little to remove oily grime. Agricultural pesticides do not come off in water, either. If they did, farmers would have to apply them after each rain or even a heavy dew. That would be both labor-intensive and expensive. So petrochemical companies make pesticides with chemical "stickers" that are insoluble in water. They do their job and stay on the fruit, rain or shine.
Soap, or detergent, is more effective in removing pesticide residues than you think. You can prove this for yourself. Take a big bunch of red or green grapes, and place them, with a squirt of dishwashing detergent, in a large bowl or pan of water. Mix the detergent in thoroughly, and swish the grapes around for a minute. Carefully watch the water. You will see evidence that detergent works. If you do not think that that stuff is pesticide residue, try another bowl of grapes in water without detergent, and try another bowl of organically-grown grapes in water with detergent. Seein' is believin.'
It is necessary to rinse detergent-washed fruits before eating, of course, but that is hardly a burden. Rinse until the water is clear. When you handle the detergent-washed fruit, you will also notice that it feels different, too. We are so used to fruit with chemical coatings on it that when we touch truly clean fruit, it's a new tactile experience. Go ahead, try it. Nobody's looking.
Even if you do not believe that pesticides pose the slightest health risk, there is no down side to not eating them. Whatever benefits they may confer on the tree, pesticides do you no good in your gut. Children may consume disproportionally large amounts of pesticides because kids eat a lot of fruit relative to their body weight. For parents, there is a measure of comfort in knowing that their kid's chemical intake has been minimized.
In my opinion, newly detergent-washed fruit does not keep very well.  The former petrochemical coating probably served as a moisture barrier and even an oxidation barrier.  No worries: you only wash before you eat.
In case you think I am taking too easy-going a view on chemical farming, I would like to point out that I am an avid organic gardener. I also advocate purchasing chemical-free foods whenever possible, including organically-grown produce. It costs more to buy organic, but, if you can afford it, it is probably money well spent. Home gardening, on the other hand, is an incredibly cheap alternative.  All those stories that you hear about a thirty-dollar investment in seed and fertilizer yielding seven hundred dollars worth of fresh food are literally true.  If you think I'm more full of fertilizer than my garden is, I recommend that you try it and see. For starters, you could try leaf lettuce, zucchini squash, cucumbers, bush green beans, and a dozen tomato plants. You will soon be supplying half the neighborhood.
A cheap organic gardening hint: none of the veggies I just mentioned require any pesticides to grow well.
Another cheapskate hint: save those potatoes that are "no good" because they've sprouted "eyes." Don't throw them away; plant them.  The "eyes" are indeed sprouts, each of which will grow into an entire potato plant bearing several, or even many, spuds. Cut the 'tater up and plant each piece a sprout on it. No pesticides needed here, either.
Pesticides are bug poisons. It is hard to kill an insect. I distinctly recall flea powdering my Basset hound, an activity I performed frequently. I'd dust that dog so well that he looked like one of the Three Stooges with a sack of four poured on him. There would be heaps of flea powder in the dog's nooks and crannies, and I watched fleas walk and even tunnel through piles of poison powder without ill effect. Bugs are tough little stinkers, all right.  And you eat the stuff they try to kill them with. Delish!
So, as it takes a lot of spray to stop a hungry bug, it takes at least a little detergent to remove the spray. Or, you could insist on no sprays, and risk more bugs. Would you buy such produce? No? Then we need to be honest, admit it, and be willing to clean the fruit effectively.
Many fruits and vegetables are not merely sprayed, but are waxed as well. So-called "food grade" waxes improve shelf life, appearance, and coat over and lock in any previously applied pesticides. This poses a problem, for waxes do not readily dissolve in detergent solution. You might find a product or two on the market that is certified to remove waxes from fruits. The other alternative is to simply peel them. Frequently waxed fruits include apples, pears, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, and even tomatoes are generally waxed. The lack of a high gloss is not proof positive that a fruit is unwaxed: many waxes, like many types of floor polyurethane or spray varnish, are not at all shiny. One way to tell if a fruit or vegetable is waxed is to run your fingernail over it and see if you can scrape anything off.  Another way is to read the label and see if the produce is waxed.  This may require a trip in back to the warehouse to see the carton that the produce came in. Rotsa' ruck on that.
A peeler costs under a buck, and effectively removes wax. A squirt of dish detergent costs a few cents. The public library costs nothing.
For more pesticide-reducing reading, I recommend:
Dworkin, S and Dworkin, F. (1974) The Good Goodies. New York : Fawcett Crest. ISBN 0-449-23964-0
Dworkin, S and Dworkin, F. (1974) The Apartment Gardener. New York : Signet
Fritsch, A. and The Center for Science in the Public Interest (1977) 99 Ways to a Simple Lifestyle. New York : Anchor-Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-12493-7 Library of Congress 76-54756
Issac, K and Gold, S ed (1987) Eating Clean 2: Overcoming Food Hazards.  Washington , D.C. : Center for Study of Responsive Law. ISBN 0-936758-21-X.  Library of Congress 87-73555
Kulvinskas, Viktoras (1975) Survival into the 21st Century. Wethersfield , CT : Omangod Press.
Lasky, M. S. (1977) The Complete Junk Food Book. New York : McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-036501-6 and ISBN 0-07-036502-4 paperback. Library of Congress 77-9367
Robertson, Laurel , et al (1976) Laurel 's Kitchen. New York : Bantam.
Taub, H. J. (1975) Keeping Healthy in a Polluted World.  New York : Penguin. ISBN 0-14-003995-3
Turner, J. (1970) The Chemical Feast. New York : Grossman. Library of Congress 73-112515
Wigmore, A. (1964) Why Suffer? NY: Hemisphere Press.
Wigmore, Ann (1982) Recipes for Longer Life. Garden City Park , NY : Avery.
Copyright  C  2003 and prior years Andrew W. Saul.