Sticky Vine

And Baby Makes 11: Sam 2.0

2011-09-29T11:51:00.000-05:00

Michael Savage Knows Not of What He Speaks

2008-07-24T21:17:00.005-05:00

I've noticed an uptick in e-mails from "well-intentioned" people claiming that Barack Obama is Muslim. I've also heard it mentioned in casual conversation, as if it were a reason to dismiss this gifted political talent.

And then tonight, I heard Michael Savage, again, reiterate the "Barack Obama is Muslim" theme by repeating Obama's comment in his speech today that his father and his grandfather were Kenyan sheep herders (shepherds). Savage repeated Obama's comment again and again. He focused on the radical Islamic contingent as a reason to consider Obama dangerous, and continued to mislead (as he has done for weeks) that Obama comes from a Muslim background.

So I thought I'd do a little research on Kenya. According to the CIA - The World Factbook and Wikipedia, over 75% of Kenyans are Christians, and approximately 10% of Kenyans are Muslim.

The breakdown of religious affiliation is, roughly, as follows:

Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%. Note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely. In addition, Kenya has the largest population of Quakers in the world, according to Wikipedia.

So the renouncement of the media's theme -- that Obama is a Muslim -- can be enhanced by pointing out that Kenya is, overwhelmingly, a Christian nation, and that the information that is being propagated is based on lies.

Point being, this information can be used to rebuke the "Obama is a Muslim" theme. Most Democrats already know he's a devout Christian, but we need to get this message out.

It's not as if Obama has a nation of radical Muslims at the ready in Kenya to declare Jihad on the United States the moment he's elected.

Mainline Protestants Shifting to Democratic Party

2008-06-09T08:34:00.002-05:00

A poll conducted by Calvin College, a liberal arts, Christian college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, finds that mainline protestants are shifting to the Democratic Party.

Calvin College poll finds mainline Protestants shifting to Democratic Party

CHANGE OF IDENTITY
Mainline Protestants have shifted partisan identification
from Republican to Democratic
Evangelical Protestants:
2004: 56% Republican, 27 percent Democrat
2008: 54% Republican, 25 percent Democrat
MainlineProtestants:
2004: 44% Republican, 38% Democrat
2008: 37% Republican, 46% Democrat
Catholics
2004: 41% Republican, 44% Democrat
2008: 38% Republican, 41% Democrat
SOURCE: Calvin College

For the first time since the beginning of Franklin Roosevelt's administration, a larger percentage of mainline Protestants call themselves Democrats than Republicans, the national survey commissioned by the Paul B. Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College found.

Evangelical Protestants still lean heavily toward the Republican Party and, despite initial misgivings, generally support Republican John McCain for president, although not as strongly as they did George W. Bush in 2004.

Part of the shift toward the Democrats may be because of President Bush's low approval ratings and concern about the war in Iraq, the price of gasoline and the economy, said Corwin Smidt, a political scientist at Calvin and director of the Henry Institute....

The largest shift from the Republican to the Democratic side was among centrist members of mainline Protestant denominations. While that group represents only 7 percent of the population, it could be enough to swing a tight election, Smidt said.

The survey was conducted before Hillary Clinton dropped out of the race, but it showed Obama with a lead in the general election, 43 percent to McCain's 38 with 19 percent undecided.

"How they (the undecided voters) split is going to determine who wins," Smidt said. "If they split evenly, the advantage goes to Obama. As they say, elections are won at the margins. You don't have to have massive shifts."

This is good news for liberals. Now if we could just separate hate by separating Church from State...

Evangelism Roosts in its Own Petard

2008-05-02T23:37:00.005-05:00

An evangelical manifesto criticizes politics in faith

(AP) -- Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word "evangelical" has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars.

The statement, called "An Evangelical Manifesto," condemns Christians on the right and left for using faith to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible, according to a draft of the document obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

"That way faith loses its independence, Christians become 'useful idiots' for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology," according to the draft.
The declaration, scheduled to be released Wednesday in Washington, encourages Christians to be politically engaged and uphold teachings such as traditional marriage. But the drafters say evangelicals have often expressed "truth without love," helping create a backlash against religion during a "generation of culture warring.

"All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others," the statement says, "while we have condoned our own sins." It argues, "we must reform our own behavior."

Ya think, evangelicals?

First off, I haven't met any "evangelicals" from the left side of the political spectrum who have done anything other than question the vast right wing "noise" conspiracy on this issue. I know of no one on the progressive side of the aisle who has demanded of anyone else to adhere to his or her religious beliefs beyond what s/he feels in their own heart.

But beyond that, religion shouldn't play a role in politics. Period. The wall separating Church and State has been plastered with right wing bullshit graffiti over the last couple of decades, but that wall needs to be replastered and repainted; it needs to be refreshed and resecured to be stronger than ever. Thank God that even some churches are seeing the negative, residual effects from blurring church and state. When will the Catholic Church get on board?

CHICKEN POT PIE

2008-03-23T13:25:00.004-05:00

I thought I'd share this delicious Chicken Pot Pie recipe. Its old-fashioned taste is outstanding, and it doesn't use cream soup for flavor.

CHICKEN POT PIE

Celery Seed Pastry

2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons shortening
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons celery seed
1 teaspoon salt
4 - 5 Tablespoons cold water

Cut shorening into flour, celery seeds, and salt until particles are the size of small peas. Sprinkle in cold water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 more teaspoons of water can be added, if necessary). Gather pastry into ball.

Filling

1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-3/4 cups chicken or turkey broth
2/3 cup milk
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken or turkey
1 10 ounce package frozen peas and carrots (or mixed vegetables of your choosing)

Heat butter over low heat until melted. Blend in flour, onion, celery, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Stir in chicken and frozen vegetables; reserve.

Prepare celery seed pastry (above). Roll 1/2 of pasty to fit large, deep dish pie plate, and ease pasty into plate. Pour chicken filling into pastry lined pan. Roll out remaining dough and place over filling. Roll edges under; flute. Cut slits in center to allow steam to escape. Cook uncovered in 425 degree oven until crust is brown, about 30 - 35 minutes. (Serves 6)

Gas Prices

2008-03-10T17:04:00.000-05:00

What really pisses me off about gas prices increasing exponentially under the Bush Regime is that all the extra money we are paying at the pump goes directly into Big Oil's pockets. The oil companies have enjoyed record profits during Bush's tenure and taxes on gasoline have not increased at all.

I wouldn't even mind paying more for gas if somehow the country/states were benefiting from the increase. It's a given that even if the price of oil goes down, gas prices won't.

One more example of how Bush/Cheney have fucked the middle class.

Thank You

2008-03-09T14:33:00.002-05:00

Vicky has cordially invited me to contribute to her much neglected blog, I am more than happy to accepted this delightful invitation.

I have no idea if I have anything relevant to say, but we shall see.

There They Go Again

2007-10-24T09:40:00.000-05:00

This woman heads to DC to testify about the negative impact climate change will have on the health of Americans, and the White House opts to "severely edit" her report.

White House "Eviscerated" Climate Change Testimony

Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Atlanta-based CDC, the government's premier disease-monitoring agency, told a Senate hearing that climate change "is anticipated to have a broad range of impacts on the health of Americans."

But her prepared testimony was devoted almost entirely to the CDC's preparation, with few details on what effects climate change could have on the spread of disease. Only during questioning did she describe some specific diseases that likely would be affected, again without elaboration.

...

Dr. Michael McCally, executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, also sat on a panel testifying before the committee and afterwards complained about the editing.

“It appears the White House has denied a congressional committee access to scientific information about health and global warming, McCally said in a statement Wednesday. "This misuse of science and abuse of the legislative process is deplorable.”

Most notably, he noted, was removal of the statement that “CDC considers climate change a serious public health concern.”

I'd really like to know what the Bush administration is afraid of. Why are they denying this reality that inevitably affect all of us?

FAA Shuts Down GRR TRACON

2007-10-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

The federal government continues to fuck up everything it touches. From a press release I received today:

PRESS RELEASE October 23, 2007

Contact: Donna Cole, NATCA Local GRR President

FAA Shuts Down GRR TRACON

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Two years after receiving air traffic controller's industrial hygenist report from Wondermaker's Environmental, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally admitted existence of the toxic mold during demolition work in the Grand Rapids radar room, called a TRACON. Initiated two years ago after poor press stemming from the voluminous report submitted to the FAA by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the demolition was to repair numerous roof and building water leaks and damaged interior ceilings, walls and floors in the safety-critical control tower. For nearly a decade, air traffic controllers have suffered numerous health problems due to working in the contaminated Tower and TRACON.

Last month NATCA received summaries of three-years worth of asbestos air monitor readings from 1997 Asbestos Abatement Reports on the Tower. These reports indicate the FAA tested over thirty sites (six pages of documentation) in the Tower for asbestos. Not all sites could possibly be tested, but abatement or encapsulation was completed on known asbestos during the 1996/1997 Tower refurbish. At that time, the air traffic controllers were moved to a temporary tower to avoid asbestos contamination and disruption of air traffic services to pilots. At this contentious time in air traffic labor/management history, no temporary tower was utilized. The FAA will not acknowledge the extensiveness of asbestos issues, current toxic mold problems and continues to refuse the air traffic controllers request perform air monitoring testing to find the level of contamination of asbestos and toxic mold in the areas under demolition and repair.

The old tests indicate that as far as the former 1990's servicing company knew, after refurbish all areas tested in the Tower were below 0.01 allowable asbestos levels, with the caveat to maintain allowable levels pending no further disturbances of the tested areas. There were several areas that were labeled as "unknown" hazards, i.e. they were not tested and the substance in the materials could be asbestos containing materials.

The FAA's own OSHA "specialist" identified one area as asbestos containing - window sill caulk. That area actually tested negative by local firm Fishbeck, Thompson, and Carr last month. NATCA was not allowed to participate in testing, contrary to law. Two other recently FAA tested sites, one on the roof top and one on the fifth floor, tested positive for asbestos. The FAA OSHA "specialist" is the same person who claimed mold in HVAC ventilator was dust.

The FAA has decided they will not do any air monitoring for asbestos. The manager at Grand Rapids, Jim Munslow, will not let the Union perform air monitoring at the Union's expense, violating two FAA Orders, two FAA agreements, and an imposed work rule, as well as OSHA regulations.

For government liability alone, performing air monitoring will prevent future liability issues. The air monitoring itself is inexpensive, in contrast to the huge liability from killing or injuring employees. It would make financial sense to conduct testing at this time. As contractors tear down the Tower and TRACON walls, ceilings and HVAC duct, which has been previously tested as positive for several types of hazardous mold and allegedly abated for asbestos, air monitoring would ensure the safety of the air traffic controllers. Mold remediation is expected to be performed in light of last nights declaration, but the FAA has not moved forward with mold remediation as of last night.

Employees working in this Tower have been denied the allowance of a safe place to work due to the FAA's refusal to follow their own regulations, laws and processes. Federal OSHA, responsible for federal employees health and safety, cannot step into the process until an air traffic controller becomes sick or dies, per their assessment of the situation yesterday. The possibilities of contamination from multiple sources is everywhere, and there is no accountability for what will happen to the lives of each employee or the aircraft they move safely through their airspace each day.

The FAA was unable to include an address to repeated interior flooding from HVAC base units on site, creating a replay of the interior damage. They agree the base units need to be moved from an exterior wall (where the pipes freeze and burst) to an interior wall, but the claim there is not enough funding in this project to fix interior flooding too. In spite of a known problem, the likelihood of the TRACON being flooded again is very high, which means all the work that is being done now will have to be redone. It has been two years to get the current issues moved from identification stage to repair.

The FAA intends to meet Wednesday with its own specialist and advise employees and contractors why it refused to perform asbestos air monitoring and mold remediation procedures in light of all the documentation indicating the building structure failures, including dozens of previous asbestos sites and toxic mold sites.

"Freedom's Watch's" Boggus Invitation to Support the Troops

2007-09-06T10:23:00.000-05:00

On my way home from work on Wednesday, I was scanning the AM radio channels, as I usually do, and found myself listening to Sean Hannity -- I do it so you don’t have to -- on WOOD 1300 in Grand Rapids. The always-revolting Hannity moved to commercial break, during which a "Freedom’s Watch” ad was aired. It was the one that features Iraq war veteran Andrew Robinson, who was on his second tour of duty when he was wounded by an IED in June of 2006. Andrew lost the use of his legs. In the ad, Andrew tells us why he believes “victory (in Iraq) is America's only choice.” The ad ends with a plea for the audience to call their representatives in congress and tell them to support freedom, and it directs them to dial 1 (877) 222-8001 to be put through to the office of their representative.

Being the good liberal that I am, I dialed the number, thinking that this would be an excellent time to call Vern Ehlers (for the umpteenth time) to tell him to support the troops by bringing an end to this feckless, immoral, pre-emptive, illegal war for oil without end, AMEN!, since the ad was providing me with assistance in contacting my congressman. The ad did not say, “Do not call if you don’t support the war.”

So, I dial 1 (877) 222-8001 to add my discordant voice to the chorus, and I’m placed on hold for a couple of minutes. A very patriotic message, read by a very patriotic jingoist, looped a couple of times. Although there was more “support the war” stuff in the message, the gist of it goes something like this, “Thank you for calling Freedom’s Watch…..An operator will be with you shortly to help you call congress so that you can tell them to support freedom.”

I’m thinking, “Hmmm, this is really great, I’m going to leave Ehlers a message telling him to support freedom by bringing the troops home and ending the war!” Although the ad and the message are pro-war, neither the ad nor the message said anything about not accepting a dissenting opinion.

A woman with a wimpy, squeaky voice comes on the line and offers a spiel in the form of a question. I’m paraphrasing here, but the question was more or less like this: “Do you support the fight for the ideals and values that keep America strong and prosperous through continued efforts to protect America against the global threat of terror?”

I said, “Ummm, no.”

She quickly squeaked out, “Have a nice day, and go to – “

I butted in, “Hey, wait! I thought you were going to put me through to my congressman?”

She said, “No. Go to FreedomsWatch.org. Bye.” And she hung up on me.

So, just for grins, I assumed my wide “pain in the ass” stance, and continued to call them a number of times. Each time, when I revealed my position, they cut me off. “Hey, what’d I do wrong?” I thought. I did what they told me to do: I attempted to call my congressman to tell him to support the troops.

From Freedom’s Watch’s web site:

Freedom’s Watch is organized as a nonprofit corporation and operated in a manner consistent with section 501 (c) (4) of the federal income tax laws. Freedom’s Watch is dedicated to educating individuals about and advancing public policies that protect America’s interests at home and abroad, foster economic prosperity, and strengthen families. Through outreach and education, communications to key members of Congress, and bold public awareness initiatives, Freedom’s Watch is fighting for the ideals and policies that keep America strong and prosperous. We welcome all those who share our values to join our efforts.

What’s interesting to me is that I do share their values. Every last one of them. However, our opinions differ about the way in which we attain those goals. Since I was cut-off several times by a “Freedom’s Watch” operator, I can only conclude that their ads offer false statements when they invite me to call their number to contact my congress person to “support freedom” and then disconnect me when the reality-based version of “freedom” doesn’t match up to the “freedom” they project in their marketing spin. Hanging up on me isn’t freedom, because freedom allows for dissent.

I realize that Freedom’s Watch has a specific goal, and that is to increase support for the war. They have a $ 15 million war chest to spend on radio and television ads, and the ads will continue through the month of September. Hell, the president of Freedom’s Watch, Bradley Blakeman, says, “The mission of Freedom’s Watch is to ensure a strong national defense and a powerful effort to confront and defeat global terror, especially in Iraq. Those who want to quit while victory is possible have dominated the public debate about terror and Iraq since the 2004 election. Freedom’s Watch is going to change that.”

What part of “this war is wrong, it’s immoral, it’s illegal, and we shouldn’t be fighting it” do these doofuses not understand? What can we do to counter this reckless marketing campaign? Frankly, I don’t think it’s very effective because Bush lost the country on the war quite some time ago and the ads are a bit too simplistic and “in your face” (the country has moved on from the upside down rhetoric of the Bush administration), but if enough people are convinced to call their congressperson, our representatives may think that there is more support for this war than is actually out there

What can those of us who do not support this immoral, illegal war do to encourage the majority of Americans who, like us, do not support this war to contact their congressional representatives to demand an end to this war, NOW?

Share your ideas.

Saturday in the Kitchen with Vicki - I'M BACK!

2007-07-21T18:47:00.000-05:00

Long time no post. Like for a year and a half.

However, after some thought, I've decided to resurrect my D-List Blog, just because I can. Actually, for a million reasons, which will be addressed in subsequent posts. I have some things to say - and no, I won't be chastizing A-List Bloggers.

Tonight, I'm addressing one of my hobbies: cooking. So, for the lovely Audrey and I, I'm cooking:

1. Appetizer: A new recipe - Teriyaki meatballs, with a homemade sauce, and they sucked, because the balls didn't have enough sweat in them, so I won't be posting the recipe. :) Audrey loves Asian food, so I like to try to appease her taste buds when I can. However, we both agreed- too dry, and too expensive for the quality of the recipe. Always good to try something new, however. Some days bless you with diamonds; some, Diamonique; and some; kidney stones.

2. Main course: We're having Chicken in cranberry sauce, my secret potato salad, fresh corn on the cob, and steamed green beans. I usually bring the corn to a boil in sugar water (a teaspoon or two is plenty), let it boil for two - three minutes, turn off the stove, and then let it sit in the boiling water for ten minutes. Delicious. I've also wrapped corn in foil, with an ice cube, punctured the foil, and then set it on a hot grill for about 25 - 35 minutes (depending on the heat of the coals), flipping frequently. Yum. Steamed green beans are just that - steamed in boiling water until tender crisp. However, I thought I'd post the recipes I use for the chicken and potato salad.

Cranberry Barbeque Chicken

3 - 4 chicken breasts
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper, to taste
2 T butter
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 small onion, chopped
1 16 ounce can whole cranberry sauce
1 cup barbecue sauce (I use homemade, but Kraft, et al, work well, too)
3 - 4 servings

1. Prehead oven to 325 degrees

2. Combine flour, salt, and pepper; use to thoroughly coat chicken.

3. In a large skillet, brown the coated chicken in butter. Remove from skillet and place in a light greased baking dish.

4. Use same skillet in which you cooked chicken to saute onion and celery until tender. Add the whole cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce. Heat through, mixing well.

5. Pour cranberry mixture over chicken and bake for 60 - 75 minutes, basting chicken every 15 minutes.

Enjoy! I know it's simple, but it's really, really good!

Vicki's Psychedelic Potato Salad

6 medium potatoes, chopped into bite sized pieces, boiled for 12 - 14 minutes, and cooled6 hardboiled eggs, chopped - save one or two and slice for top garnish, if desired
1 medium onion, chopped) covered in vinegar (cider vinegar works, too) and sprinkled with 1 - 2 T of white sugar. (The first thing I do is to chop the onion and cover it with vinegar and sugar, stirring occasionally.)
5 radishes, diced
1/2 cup green pepper (the fresher, the better!), chopped
1/4 cup mix of chopped red and yellow pepper (optional)
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 small cucumber, seeded and peeled
1 small dill pickel, diced
1/3 - 1/2 cup light Hellman's
1/4 cup yellow mustard (adjust for personal taste)
Salt and pepper to taste
Dill to taste (small amount - optional)
Paprika (optional)

1. Once eggs and potatoes have cooled, combine all vegetables in large bowl.

2. Stir Hellmans, mustard, and seasonings together; coat vegetables.

3. Fold in eggs.

4. Top with garnishes, such as sliced hardboiled eggs and/or pepper pieces; sprinkle with paprika.

5. Chill at least 3 hours before serving.

*This is an excellent potato salad that tastes even better as the flavors meld. According to my taste buds, the key is in marinating the onions in vinegar and sugar. And also, to use fresh vegetables.

As I get this blog kicked back up a notch, I hope to post photos of some of my concoctions.

Anyway, bon appetite!

I trust that food is a great way to reintroduce myself to the blogosphere.

Peace, dirty fucking hippies!

Fly the Friendly Skies - Safely!

2006-02-23T10:56:00.000-05:00

Your trips in the sky are being jeopardized!

If you are able to make a call today, it would help out many labor organizations. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has a special legislative "pass" that allows it to implement labor contracts before negotiations are completed. It has already used this method with other labor organizations and screwed them badly. The FAA Administrator has compared 20 year veteran air traffic controllers with fast-food employees -- to her they are one and the same level of brain engagement. Separating planes is not flipping grease bombs. There are two bills in Congress - Senate 2201 and House Bill HR4755 that address the loophole in the negotiations processes. Please call 1-877-FairFAA and ask your representative to support Senate Bill 2201 or House Bill HR4755 to close the FAA Loophole that currently exists.

Thank you!

Bush Lied, Humans Died

2006-02-03T01:07:00.000-05:00

Immediately, I thought that this was Bush's Gulf of Tonkin Moment: More proof that Bush lied us into this useless war, with Tony Blair as his puppet.

According to the BBC, Bush and Blair Discussed Using An American Spyplane tIn UN Colors to Lure Saddam Into War.

Channel 4 News tonight reveals extraordinary details of George Bush and Tony Blair's pre-war meeting in January 2003 at which they discussed plans to
begin military action on March 10th 2003, irrespective of whether the United
Nations had passed a new resolution authorising the use of force. Channel 4 News
has seen minutes from that meeting, which took place in the White House on 31
January 2003. The two leaders discussed the possibility of securing further UN
support, but President Bush made it clear that he had already decided to go to
war. The details are contained in a new version of the book 'Lawless World'
written by a leading British human rights lawyer, Philippe Sands QC.

President Bush said that:"The US would put its full weight behind efforts
to get another resolution and would 'twist arms' and 'even threaten'. But he had
to say that if ultimately we failed, military action would follow anyway.''Prime
Minister Blair responded that he was: "solidly with the President and ready to
do whatever it took to disarm Saddam."

President Bush said: "The US was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance
aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours. If Saddam fired on
them, he would be in breach."He went on: "It was also possible that a defector
could be brought out who would give a public presentation about Saddam's WMD,
and there was also a small possibility that Saddam would be assassinated."

Tuesday Dog Blogging

2006-01-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

In all fairness to my faithful companion, Puck (I named him after the impish fairy in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ~ not after the hockey implement, as so many Red Wing fans here in Michigan like to think), I'm featuring him with his own little blog post today, too. After all, I'm an equal opportunity pet owner.

This, my friends, is what happens when a Golden Lab humps a Pomeranian.

Tuesday Kitty Blogging

2006-01-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

Featuring my beloved Cosmo "The Kitty" Kramer!

Friday Poetry Blogging - Shakespeare's Winter Poem

2006-01-13T11:45:00.000-05:00

Since it's turning cold again here in Michigan after an incredibly warm January, I thought it would be appropriate to quote Shakespeare today.

This poem, which concludes William Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost, has always moved me. (I'll share "Spring," the companion poem from this play, later.) Note the stark imagery ~ he paints a cold, frigid, and austere scene with words. You can feel the cold. You can hear the wind whip in Shakespeare's use of alliteration ~ the soft "w," "wh," and "h" sounds. Yet the merry sound of the owl's hoot is a distraction from the austerity and a reminder that life exists and cycles beyond the drudgery of the cold and harsh moment.

"Winter," from Love's Labours Lost

WHEN icicles hang by the wall,
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
And Tom bears logs into the hall,
And milk comes frozen home in pail,
When blood is nipp'd, and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
To-whit!To-who!—a merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

When all aloud the wind doe blow,
And coughing drowns the parson's saw,
And birds sit brooding in the snow,
And Marian's nose looks red and raw,
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,
Then nightly sings the staring owl,
To-whit!To-who!—a merry note,
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

Cajun Chicken Recipe (Hot Food for a Cold Night!)

2006-01-12T20:50:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd share this tasty Cajun Chicken recipe. It's fairly quick, and simple. The ingredients are staples, and the spices are perfect, provided you treat yourself to quality spices.

Cajun Chicken Fettuccine

Ingredients:

6 ounces uncooked Fettuccine

1 # uncooked chicken breasts, cut into 1" pieces
2 slics bacon (optional**) , or
3 T butter (my preference)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/8 to 1/4 crushed red pepper (or to taste)
1 15 oz. can Cajun or Original Style Stewed Tomatoes*, undrained
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
3/4 c. chopped onion (or to taste)
1/2 c. green and red bell peppers

Preparation:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Set aside.
2. Melt butter.
3. Add garlic to butter; saute for 2 -3 minutes.
4. Saute chicken in garlic butter until no longer pink in the middle.
5. Add crushed red pepper.
6. Add stewed tomatoes with juice and tomato sauce, Cook over medium heat for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Add onion and peppeer, cook for 3 - 4 minutes.
8. Serve over pasta.

4 servings.

*When using Original Style Tomatoes, add a *pinch* each of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and red pepper to tomatoe mixture; continue as directed.

(Note: 1 # shelled and deveined shrimp can be substituted in this recipe. Cook the shrimp 2 - 4 minutes in the butter or bacon remnants, turning once every minute. )

Another delicious recipe from Chez Vicki. Try it out and let me know what you think. Simple, but good.

Peace!

Ginger Shrimp (Courtesy Steve Simels)

2006-01-03T22:35:00.000-05:00

About a year ago, Steve Simels was kind enough to share with me this fabulous recipe for Ginger Shrimp. As he said in his e-mail to me, "Trust me - your tongue will throw a party for your mouth." Without exception, this has been one of the most popular dishes I have ever served my friends ~ they all clamor (pardon the pun) for the recipe. The great Mr. Simels wants to make sure that I attribute this to a late, acclaimed chef in New York City, but at the moment, I can't remember his name. So Chef, I bow in your general direction. And Steve, I offer this up in honor of you!

Ginger Shrimp

1# shrimp, deveined, with tails intact

Marinade:
1 T chopped, fresh ginger (1 t ground ginger works, too)
1/4 t red pepper flakes
2 T finely chopped parsley (2 t dried parsley is okay)
1 bay leaf
1/4 teason thyme
2 T olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
salt and pepper, to taste
Combine the marinade ingredients and mix well. Marinate the shrimp at room temperature for a half an hour.

Meanwhile, melt:

6 T butter, combined with one crushed clove of garlic.

Broil or grill the shrimp for a minute or two. Turn them over, and
broil for 2 - 3 additional minutes.

Transfer to a warm serving dish.

*You can serve with pasta or rice ~ your preference, and your preference of
a salad or vegetable.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2006-01-02T12:16:00.000-05:00

Pukebot, over at Eschaton, posted this comment, on New Year's Eve, which I am holding near and dear to my heart for 2006. Thirteen beautiful practices to live life to the fullest. I pledge that I will do my best to attempt to structure my life around these simple disciplines in 2006.

Soyen Shaku, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: "My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes." He made the following rules which he practiced every day of his life.

In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate.
Retire at a regular hour.
Partake of food at regular intervals.
Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction.
Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone.
When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests.
Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it.
When an opportunity comes do not let it pass by, yet always think twice before acting.
Do not regret the past.
Look to the future.
Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child.
Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep.
Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes.

Thanks for the inspiration, Pukebot.

Sevens (Courtesy Spork_Incident)!

2005-12-29T22:44:00.000-05:00

Spork_Incident decided I needed to start blogging again (at least I'd like to believe that, since he invited me to do the list of "Sevens"), so he nailed me with the "7 x 7 Questionaire."

Seven Things To Do Before I Die. 1. Get to know my spirit guides (they'll help me on the next journey). 2. Female Ejaculation ~ definitely, female ejaculation. 3. Win the lottery and give all the money to the poor and the infirm. 4. Learn how to play guitar, dammit! 5. Write the great piece of literature that is inside of my head. 6. Seduce John Corbett and make wild love to him. 7. Win the Nobel Prize for Poetry.

Seven Things I Cannot Do. 1. Play Softball (I catch like Stevie Wonder). 2. Hell, play any sport. 3. Fix things ~ I am terrible at repairing anything. 4. Put a puzzle together. 5. Read Science Fiction. 6. Appease men who are whiny ass titty babies. 7. Have sex with a Republican.

Seven Things That Attract Me to...Blogging 1. Spork_Incident :) 2. The snark. 3. The fact that it gives me a voice. 4. Eschaton, of course. 5. The fact that I get to abuse html code. 6. The ferrets and box turtles. 7. Being the Atrios blog yente.

Seven Things I Say Most Often. 1. "Apparently." 2. "I hate George W. Bush with the White Hot Passion of Ten Thousand Blazing Suns." 3. "Good morning, sweet pea," (to my daughter). 4. "Puckaroo" (to my dog). 5. "Coolio." 6. "Well..." 7. "Groovy."

Seven Books That I Love. 1. "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare." 2. "The Cider House Rules," John Irving. 3. "Why Me? Why This? Why Now?" Robin Norwood. 4. "Couples," John Updike. 5. "A Modern Instance," William Howells. 6. "Madame Bovary," Gustave Flaubert. 7. "Western Wind," An Instriuction Manual for Writing Poetry.

Seven Movies That I Watch Over and Over Again. 1. "YANKS." 2. "Splendor in the Grass." 3. "Sound of Music." 4. "Animal House." 5. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." 6. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." 7. "Terms of Endearment."

Seven Favorite Foods. 1. Bean Burrito with extra onion and guacamole. 2. Steve Simels' Shrimp Dish ("It Throws a Party in Your Mouth"). 3. New York Strip with Garganzola Cheese 4. Fresh Salad, Featuring Red Leaf and Green Leaf Lettuce, Cucumbers, Red Onion, Grated Carrot, Radishes, Celery, Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese, with Red Wine Vinegarette Dressing. 5. Spanakopita. 6. Cherry Pie. 7. 7/11 Coke Slurpees!

Now, having listed my favorite sevens, I can think of at least seven more topics I could share. But I'll leave you with the promise of recipes featuring my seven favorite foods ~ and even some that aren't listed but could be!

Marching to the Death Beat of War

2005-10-31T17:26:00.000-05:00

As of today, the total number of US soldiers killed in Iraq is 2,026. That is 2,026 soldiers who died because of a war based on lies.

Iraq Coalition Casualties

In the above link, you'll also see that, to date, 15,220 soldiers have been wounded in action (as of October 14, 2005). 8,154 of them returned to duty within 72 hours. However, 7,199 of them did not because their injuries were serious. Many of these soldiers are now amputees.

October Deadliest Month in Iraq Since January

Six American soldiers were killed in separate attacks Monday and a Marine died in action the day before, making October the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Iraq since January. U.S. jets struck insurgent targets near the Syrian border and at least six people were killed.

Indictment

2005-10-28T17:21:00.000-05:00

Read Fitzgerald's indictment of Scooter Libby here.

Indictment

This investigation will be fascinating, but all fingers, ultimately, point to Dick Cheney.

Traitor.

Phyllis Schlafly: Shut the Fuck Up

2005-10-28T11:16:00.000-05:00

I've had it with the religious right and their zealous attempts to install activist judges on the bench of the Supreme Court.

Conservatives look past Miers: Leaders say they want justice with clear conservative views

"I think [conservative groups] will swing into action again" if they disagree with his next pick, said Phyllis Schlafly, president of Eagle Forum. "The judicial issue was a major issue in the 2004 elections, and it was a reason why many people voted for Bush even though they might have been unhappy [with him] for other reasons."

Schlafly said Bush has "a dozen" possible people that conservative activists would accept, while she singled out U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as a nominee they could not embrace.

And yes, for as much as they bitch about "liberal" judges being "judicial activists," the religious right is praying for a conservative who will legislate from the bench. Their ultimate goal? To extinguish a woman's right to choose, and, dare I say, to ban the use of contraception.

It's all about the white Jesus.

How did a vast minority like the Christian right gain so much power over the White House? Time to muzzle them. They have far too much to say about how we should live our lives in this country.

Recipe for a Chilly Fall Day

2005-10-27T17:15:00.000-05:00

Here in Grand Rapids, it's overcast and chilly. Anyone care to join me for a steamy pasty? (No, not that kind...I'm talking about the Cornish meat pies!) Anyway, I thought I'd share this delicious recipe today:

Upper Peninsula Pasties
~
Filling:
2 # ground sirloin
2 # chopped potatoes
½ # chopped onion
¼ # diced carrots
¼ # chopped turnips and/or rutabaga
1 T salt
¼ t pepper
1 stick melted butter
~
Pastry:
6 C flour
1 T baking powder
1 T salt
1 t sugar (heaping)
1-7/8 C shortening
1-7/8 C milk

Mix all filling ingredients in a large bowl.
Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
For pastry: sift flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in shortening and add milk to make a dough.
Divide into 12 balls (I usually make a baker’s dozen…).
Roll out dough; place 1/12th of filling on half; fold the dough over and prick the edges with a fork. Prick the tops.
Bake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes and then at 275 degrees for 60 minutes.

These are delicious, and freeze very well.

Rape Victim in Arizona Denied "Morning After" Pill

2005-10-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

This is outrageous. A 20 year old rape victim was denied access to the "Morning After" Pill in Arizona. The pharmacist on duty refused to fill the prescription because of moral and religious objections.

Rape
victim: 'Morning after' pill denied

After a sexual assault one recent weekend, a young Tucson woman spent three frantic days trying to obtain the drug to prevent a pregnancy, knowing that each passing day lowered the chance the drug would work.

When she finally did find a pharmacy with it, she said she was told the pharmacist on duty would not dispense it because of religious and moral objections.

"I was so shocked," said the 20-year-old woman, who, as a victim of sexual assault, is not being named by the Star. "I just did not understand how they could legally refuse to do this."

Women who report sexual assaults to police receive treatment, examination and the immediate offer of emergency contraception at a local emergency room, according to the policy of most Tucson hospitals.

But, like many sexual assault victims, the 20-year-old woman did not report the assault because she felt traumatized and guilty she had put herself in a situation that left her vulnerable. She was mistakenly locked outside a gathering at a friend's house and accepted the offer of a neighbor to stay at his place.

"This (sex) was with someone I did not even know and did not want to have intercourse with, and I am in no place now to have children," she said. "I just don't think this should be the pharmacist's decision."

So nice to know that the pharmacist is pursuing his own moral high ground here. However, what about the rape victim? As a human being on equal footing with other human beings, and especially as a human being who has been sexually violated by another human being, she deserves the relief that she needs to move on with her life. She has been traumatized enough! Her dignity and values are being compromised because of the male pharmacist’s "moral" superiority complex. In effect, the pharmacist is denying a victim of rape the right to life ~ that is, the right to live a fulfilling life without the burden of an unwanted child conceived during a violent crime. Why does the pharmacist have power over this woman's life?

I am acquainted with a Catholic woman who was raped. The rape resulted in the birth of a daughter, and she chose to raise the child. She does the best she can in light of the circumstances, but I can tell you that I feel an overwhelming sense of resentment and anger at life from the core of her being each time I’ve been around her. It makes me sad for her. She has allowed her guilt and shame about the rape to control every aspect of her life. She’s lonely, never been married, and controlling beyond the level of a control freak. Tightly wound. Maybe severely wounded is a better description.

I vividly recall the photo on Thursday, November 6, 2003, of 6 men smiling, huddling around George W. Bush as he signed the bill banning late term abortions into law. Bush signs late term abortion bill into law To this day, that photo of shiny, happy, "morally superior" men standing around Bush’s desk assuming a victory pose over women’s rights gives me the chills.

Abortion, for whatever reason, should be between a woman and her doctor. It’s about the right to privacy. I realize this is a "hot button" issue, but the argument is a values argument. Personally, having had two miscarriages, one of which was at five months, I don’t easily buy into the "abortion is murder" argument. I view the fetus as a potential person, just as an apple blossom is a potential apple. Not all blossoms mature. The fetus is fully dependent upon the mother for its existence. Sometimes things beyond our control happen to the fetus; and sometimes they happen to the mother. The physically dependent fetus does not have a conscience. Additionally, I view it as a quality of life issue. It’s a timing issue. It’s also a health (mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically) issue. At any rate, pitting one set of values and beliefs based on faiths born from mythology against another set of values and beliefs based on a different set of circumstances isn’t the business of government.

The consequences for this rape victim are the result of the actions of men who believe that they’re morally superior and as such deserve to have power over women.

Women need to seize control of this issue to assure that the right to abortion is private, safe, and legal for all sisters.

And one final note, I bet that on that night in Tucson when the rape victim was frantically attempting to fill her prescription (to no avail), thousands of men in that city were able to pick up their prescriptions for Viagra, Cialis and all of the other "woody" drugs. Because boner pills are abundant. (They’re symbolic for power over women, dontcha know?) I wonder how much seed has spilled to the ground in the form of monkey spanking (and yes, there is an obscure reference to our Commander in Chimp in that phrase) because of those wonder drugs? Isn’t that just as "evil" as an abortion?

Wednesday Read Aloud Poetry Blogging

2005-10-26T17:25:00.000-05:00

I love the following poem by Sylvia Plath. The five syllable lines, coupled with strong assonance, establish a cadence as infectious as, well, the infiltration of mushrooms! I'm posting this as a "Read Aloud" poem today because I don't have the time at the moment to delve into a superficial, let alone detailed, analysis. I have studied a bit of Sylvia Plath, though, so I hope to offer insight in the future. However, if you're in the mood to exercise your vocal chords and follow the rhythm, I promise it'll be a delightful exercise!

Mushrooms

by Sylvia Plath

Overnight, very

Whitely, discreetly,

Very quietly

Our toes, our noses

Take hold on the loam,

Acquire the air.

Nobody sees us,

Stops us, betrays us;

The small grains make room.

Soft fists insist on

Heaving the needles,

The leafy bedding,

Even the paving.

Our hammers, our rams,

Earless and eyeless,

Perfectly voiceless,

Widen the crannies,

Shoulder through holes. We

Diet on water,

On crumbs of shadow,

Bland-mannered, asking

Little or nothing.

So many of us!

We are shelves, we are

Tables, we are meek,

We are edible,

Nudgers and shovers

In spite of ourselves.

Our kind multiplies:

We shall by morning

Inherit the earth.

Our foot's in the door.

Documenting the Lies on Fitzmas Eve

2005-10-25T22:02:00.000-05:00

Arianna Huffington has a great post this evening outlining the lies of Plamegate. It's a must read.

Plamegate: Worse Than Watergate

The reason why Cheney, Rove, and Libby were so aggressive in attacking anyone who questioned their rationale for war is because, by the summer of 2003, it was becoming embarrassingly clear how wrong they had been about Iraq -- wrong about WMD, wrong about flowers thrown at our feet, wrong about the cost of the war.
Had their incompetence not been so grotesquely manifest, there would have been no need for the attack on Wilson -- and the resulting coverup -- that has now landed them all in such legal hot water.

If Rove and Libby are indeed indicted (adding Cheney to our Merry Fitz-mas gift list would just be getting greedy), I believe it will shake up our government in a way we haven't seen since Watergate...

After getting a fumbling cipher like George W. Bush elected president, the powers-behind-the-throne must have believed they were untouchable and could get away with anything -- including lying about WMD, outing a CIA agent, and, perhaps, lying to a special prosecutor.

Like Nixon, their mindset was "if you try to get in our way we'll destroy you." (See how quickly those keep-us-safe national security guys were willing to jeopardize an intelligence asset in the name of covering their asses.) And their hubris caused them to over-reach.

You really have to read this whole article. It's Fitzmas Eve, and I've just given you a gift to lick your lips over. Go read.

Tuesday Poetry Blogging, Part Deux

2005-10-25T17:30:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd share one of my own poems.

Your Recovery

by Vicki Stein, 2002

You are water, smooth evening glass
Mirroring my heart, my soul
Me, I’m the tide in uncharted seas
And you ebb as the moon pulls my flow.

We are kaleidoscope, endlessly changing
In radiance, colors, geometry
Your heart, mirrors reflecting light
The rubble of bright glass, me.

I am meadow, summertime flowers
Sun-kissed, reaching toward you, Sky
Craving your light, baptized by rain
Waiting for clouds to pass by.

We are crystal, finely crafted
From sand, fire, air and jewel
I am the magic of each facet
The brilliant light shines through you.

You are water, fast river running
Free flowing, cresting in recovery
As your journey hastens, spills into ocean
Will the mouth of your waters be me?

~~~

Halt. Stop. Run! Flee!!
Love in ascension terrifies me like a
Fall from Everest to the depths of the sea!
If I let my heart go will I plunge into "we?"
(Happy with you for eternity!) ~
Or drown in my version of reality
Failing to view honestly
The reconstruction of Zachary?

2,000 Americans Died Fighting on a Lie

2005-10-25T17:11:00.000-05:00

The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) sought lies to get us into a war with Iraq. Repeat the mantra with me: The Bush Administration lied to the US citizens to wage a war for oil based on greed. Anyone else smell the nasty whiff of treason in the air? The odor that couples oil and blood with a war based on lies?

WHIG

Their Lies Sold The War.

Karl and Scooter's Excellent Adventure

Says Frank Rich:

But based on what we know about Mr. Libby's and Mr. Rove's hysterical over-response to Mr. Wilson's accusation, he scared them silly. He did so because they had something to hide. Should Mr. Libby and Mr. Rove have lied to investigators or a grand jury in their panic, Mr. Fitzgerald will bring charges. But that crime would seem a misdemeanor next to the fables that they and their bosses fed the nation and the world as the whys for invading Iraq.

And now, because of those lies, we have 2,000 American soldiers who have died in Iraq, and no end of the feckless war in sight.

There are no words to describe how much this sickens me.

Tuesday Poetry Blogging

2005-10-25T16:56:00.000-05:00

Mark Strand was born in 1934 ~ the same year as my father. Let's highlight a poem of his today, in keeping with my underpinnings of honoring men who were born in 1934. It's been at least 25 years since I stumbled across Strand's poetry. I appreciate his clarity with words, and the surrealism in his poetry. I read the following piece as a brilliant illumination of that moment at which our intuition hits us, only to be comprehended and explored more fully at a later point in time. What's your take on this poem?

A Piece of the Storm

Excerpted from Blizzard of One

by Mark Strand

(For Sharon Horvath)

~~~

From the shadow of domes in the city of domes,

A snowflake, a blizzard of one, weightless, entered your room

And made its way to the arm of the chair where you, looking up

From your book, saw it the moment it landed.

That's all There was to it. No more than a solemn waking

To brevity, to the lifting and falling away of attention, swiftly,

A time between times, a flowerless funeral. No more than that

Except for the feeling that this piece of the storm,

Which turned into nothing before your eyes, would come back,

That someone years hence, sitting as you are now, might say:

"It's time. The air is ready. The sky has an opening."

Bittersweet

2005-10-25T06:16:00.000-05:00

Today’s a bittersweet day for me. Glad (tentatively), yet sad. Two people in my life are struggling for their lives, and my heart is breaking for both of them. This is a post that embraces both hope and fear.

For those who know me, you know that my father has been in the hospital for the last three weeks. He is receiving treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). We shouldn’t have been terribly surprised when the diagnosis came down, because he has been living with Myeloproliferative Disease (a chronic form of leukemia occurring in older folks, treatable with medication) for the last year and a half. In fact, his doctor told him he could live for years with this disease, and that, "Something else will kill you first, Mr. O."

However, I was surprised and shocked when I learned that he has AML. He had been feeling well, but because his white blood cell counts were climbing, the doctor ordered a bone marrow test on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. After the test, dad headed north to pick up a pontoon he’d purchased the day before. He figured it’d be weeks before the results of his bone marrow test came back, since it took, literally, months for the initial diagnosis of Myeloproliferative Disease. Instead, he receives a phone call on Monday, October 4th, from his doctor telling him he has a serious condition and needs to check into the hospital the next day. So he does, and the doctor tells him that, without extensive chemotherapy, he has maybe three to six months to live. And at that, the chance of AML remission is 50%.

In general, the prognosis for AML is not encouraging. From what I’ve read, at best, approximately 4% of AML patients survive 5 years. Prognosis is also based on the nine FAB subtypes of AML, and each responds differently to treatment. My father does not know his subtype. All I know is that, if they can push this into remission, he buys a little bit of time. A year or two, maybe? Maybe more, with some luck and a strong will to live? Liberals like to say that we live in the reality based community. Well, I’m being realistic about this, and I’m not going to deny that he has a serious medical condition, and that he will face, for the remainder of his life, the mother of all struggles. All I can say, hope, and pray for is that he climbs this cliff with dignity and courage, and that he has the strength to fight this disease. And most importantly, that he may face the end of his life with grace and comfort, at peace in knowing that he did the best he could do within the circumstances that wove his life story.

So dad (who has told me that he isn’t ready to die yet), anchored in courage, decides that chemotherapy is his only option, and plows through with the 24/7 treatment, the strongest dose of chemotherapy anyone can endure. It made him extremely weak, tearing down his bone marrow so that it can be rebuilt to, hopefully, force the AML into remission. So today, three weeks to the day he was admitted, they will test his bone marrow again to see if his AML is in remission. If it is in remission, he will continue on a course of outpatient chemotherapy ~ 12 hours a day for three days a week. If it isn’t in remission, he endures another megablast of chemo in the hospital.

Regardless, at this point, he is banking all of his hope on the fact that he may be released from the hospital today. He is feeling better, and his blood counts are moving in the right direction. He wants to go home, sleep in his own bed, eat "real" food ~ my mom’s meatloaf, broccoli, an iceberg lettuce salad (actually, I think she made beef stew for him in anticipation of his homecoming). And so, today, I am glad for him that he has something to hope for ~ even if it is the simple pleasure of his own bed. Of watching cars zoom around a track in "his" chair in "his" room. Of sitting on the deck, watching the ducks gracefully play and swim on Spring Lake. Of using his worn and tattered NY Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary as he fiddles with word games. And I’m grateful that he is still alive, so that I can tell him things that I hope will be of comfort to him.

And at the same time, I am saddened and troubled by some news I learned today. A friend, a soft-spoken woman with a kind heart who is in her early fifties, has been battling another form of cancer: follicular lymphoma. She’d been in remission for a year, but she learned, yesterday, that the cancer is back. She couldn’t speak about it this morning because she is very upset, but I know that she is devastated. My heart breaks for her. I wish there was something I could do to comfort her, but all I can do is listen when she is ready to talk.

Even if it does help to put the beauty and frailty of life into perspective for those who are not terribly introspective, I fucking hate cancer with the white hot passion of ten thousand blazing suns. It’s painful, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There is a deeper understanding, though, in the struggle, which singes with an acute awareness that life is precious and meaningful. I am humbled to acknowledge that it is incumbent upon me to redirect those aspects of my life which are spoiled and going nowhere and to strive to be the best that I am capable of being in all my endeavors. To embrace life, and those I love, with passion.

But yeah, it's a bittersweet day. Hugs all around.

For more information on leukemia or lymphoma, please visit:

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

51% of Americans Say Man over Ape!

2005-10-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

I just saw this article from CBS News over at AOL:

Majority of Americans Reject Theory of Evolution

The same "majority" that gave Bush his political capital in 2004, no doubt?! (Some majority! 1%!)

From the article:

Most Americans do not accept the theory of evolution. Instead, 51 percent of Americans say God created humans in their present form, and another three in 10 say that while humans evolved, God guided the process. Just 15 percent say humans evolved, and that God was not involved.

These views are similar to what they were in November 2004 shortly after the presidential election.

Oh, those evil liberals...

Americans most likely to believe in only evolution are liberals (36 percent), those who rarely or never attend religious services (25 percent), and those with a college degree or higher (24 percent).

Oh, those "perfect" evangelicals and conservatives...

White evangelicals (77 percent), weekly churchgoers (74 percent) and conservatives (64 percent), are mostly likely to say God created humans in their present form.

Although I no longer pray to Jesus, I do pray to the universe for a day when critical thinking skills are unclouded by the religious rhetoric of snake oil salesmen peddling Jesus for dollars. I'm with John Lennon, paraphrasing here, "what Jesus said was all right, it's just the people who screwed it up."

Give science a chance, folks, and your faith will follow as guided by your own inner light!

Lazy Saturday

2005-10-22T12:54:00.000-05:00

I'm lazy today. I don't really feel all that much like writing anything this afternoon ~ probably because my muse is telling me I have a poem coming on about dualities. I think it'll be good once I'm stricken with word and sound, when pen finally meets paper.

It's a poem I need to write, too. Shaking some things up as they surface from my heart.

Friday Poetry Blogging

2005-10-21T12:02:00.000-05:00

In honor of Zack, my former paramour from San Francisco, who loves poetry as much as I do. He shared this piece with me a couple of years ago, and I fell in love with it. Wislawa Szymborska was born in 1923 in Kornik, Poland. She writes with compassion and affinity for the human condition, bringing an intelligent perspective to the most pressing issues of the 20th century, focusing on the moral, ethical, and philosophical aspects of life.

The Silence of Plants

by Wisława Szymborska

A one-sided relationship is developing quite well between you and me.

I know what a leaf, petal, kernel, cone, and stem are,

and I know what happens to you in April and December.
Though my curiosity is unrequited,

I gladly stoop for some of you,

and for others I crane my neck.
I have names for you:

maple, burdock, liverwort,

heather, juniper, mistletoe, and forget-me-not;

but you have none for me.
After all, we share a common journey.

When traveling together, it's normal to talk,

exchanging remarks, say, about the weather,

or about the stations flashing past.
We wouldn't run out of topics for so much connects us.

The same star keeps us in reach.

We cast shadows according to the same laws.

Both of us at least try to know something, each in our own way,

and even in what we don't know there lies a resemblance.
Just ask and I will explain as best I can:

what it is to see through my eyes,

why my heart beats,

and how come my body is unrooted.
But how does someone answer questions which have never been posed,

and when, on top of that

the one who would answer is such an utter nobody to you?
Undergrowth, shrubbery, meadows, and rushes…

everything I say to you is a monologue,

and it is not you who's listening.
A conversation with you is necessary and impossible,

urgent in a hurried life

and postponed for never.

Morally Bankrupt: The New Bankruptcy Bill

2005-10-21T10:48:00.000-05:00

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which was passed by the Senate in March and went into effect on Monday, October 17, 2005, is worthy of comment for a couple of reasons. The bill limits the law from protecting individuals when financial hardships occur, giving power to the credit card corporations to insist on collection.

First of all, it pertains to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, both of which are filed by individuals for different reasons. Basically, the way I understand it is that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows the debtor's assets to be sold, with the proceeds going to pay off the debt. Any remaining debt that can't be paid off will be forgiven. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is filed by people who want to pay off their debts over time ~ I think I read that the time frame is three to five years. The key word here is that both of these types of bankruptcies are filed by individuals, not corporations.

Interestingly enough, Chapter 11 bankruptcies are not included in this new bill. "Why's that so interesting?" you say. Because Chapter 11 bankruptcies are mostly used by businesses for reorganization and restructuring of their debt load.

This law was passed as a gift to corporations ~ especially the credit card corporations. "Fuck the common man and protect the corporations" ~ that's what the bankruptcy bill should be named. It's no coincidence that MBNA was the fifth largest contributer to the Bush campaigns of 2000 and 2004. The bill was designed under the frame that "too many people" are abusing bankruptcy laws. However, month after month, the bankruptcies that touch our lives the most are those that we hear about in the daily news ~ Delphi, the airlines, and on and on. Job loss, loss of health care, loss of pension, and loss of self-esteem all occur for the individuals who work for the companies which file bankruptcy. In many cases, the individuals have no recourse but to file bankruptcy, while the corporations get a free pass, continuing to run their financial situations amok. Punish the common man for being in the midst of financial strife, but let the corporations play. Most personal bankruptcies result from a medical crisis without adequate health insurance or unforeseen job loss. These are not circumstances that people intentionally bring on themselves. Most business bankruptcies result from a failure of leadership, yet the leaders end up with golden parachutes.

One of the provisions of the bankruptcy bill that I find troubling is that it mandates credit counseling for individuals who file for bankruptcy. They have to pay for the counseling ~ again, more money lining the pockets of the already shady credit industry. So not only can the credit card companies demand complete payment from an individual who files for bankruptcy, they also stick it to you by charging you a fee to tell you how you may better manage your money.

I used to believe that our government was by the people, for the people. But really, these days, it's by the corporations for the corporations. This bill is a sterling example of how the people are no longer protected by the laws of our government. And that's a damned shame.

The Orionids

2005-10-20T10:08:00.000-05:00

In honor of the Orionid Meteor Showers, which are associated with Comet Halley and are occuring right now, from October 15 - 29th, I offer some advice for star gazing, as well as the lyrics to one of my favorite Sons of the Never Wrong songs. This song is more like poetry (it won't be a habit of mine to post song lyrics on a regular basis).

This year, the Orionids will peak at around 20 meteors per hour at about 5:00 AM EDT on Friday, October 21, with potential for good viewing on Saturday, the 22nd, as well. Best viewing will probably be around 1:00 AM on Friday morning. Unfortunately, this year, the waning gibbous moon will interfere with viewing of some of the meteors.

It's best to observe meteor showers between 12:00 AM and dawn from a clear, dark location with a good horizon. The meteors will appear out of the constellation of Orion the hunter in the high, eastern sky.

I post this for a very cosmic reason: to witness, with your own eyes, the magic of a shooting star is the harbinger of good luck, prosperity, and love!

Comets

Just on the edge of the universe

are comets in waiting

they're anticipating

a star flying by

and with enough gravitational pull ~

this ain't no bull ~

a random encounter with time

and that's me

I'm one of those comets

and that's you

you're one of those stars

and that's love sometimes

it's lost in heaven so close but so far away

Time thought that love was the true redeemer

And love thought that time healed all

And sorrow said let me clear up the matter

All hearts like stars sometimes fall

falling from grace for the first time

or just falling rain

falling in love

the spirits remember

what the heart can only explain

that's me

a lonely planet

that's you old William Blake

and that's love sometimes

lost in heaven

god's first and his last mistake

and that's me

one of those comets

you're one of those stars

and that's love sometimes

lost in heaven

so close but so far away

Just on the edge of the universe

are comets in waiting.....

~~~

This song is absolutely breathtaking, and if you get the chance, you can find it on Sons of the Never Wrong's "One if by Hand" Cd. I'd post an audio clip, but I can't find one on the Internet.

Was the Bard the Bard?

2005-10-19T09:55:00.000-05:00

Who Wrote Shakespeare This Time?

Some scholars just won't let Shakespeare be Shakespeare.

A small academic industry has developed to prove that William
Shakespeare, a provincial lad from Stratford-upon-Avon, could not have written
the much-loved plays that bear his name.
~~~

More power to the scholars who are questioning whether Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare. There's always room for discovery and theories.

Bottom line, though, for me, is that regardless of whoever wrote Shakespeare (and I tend to think that it was, indeed, Shakespeare), the works are Fan-Fucking-Tastic, so full of wit and wisdom, and all encompassing.

I ♥ Shakespeare.

Tectonic Plates? Sorry, Josh, I've been waiting a long time...

2005-10-18T22:10:00.000-05:00

A year and a half later...No Final Report Seen in Inquiry on C.I.A. Leak

The special counsel in the C.I.A. leak case has told associates he has no
plans to issue a final report about the results of the investigation,
heightening the expectation that he intends to bring indictments, lawyers in the case and law enforcement officials said yesterday.

Shakespeare Blogging - Sonnet 116

2005-10-18T16:03:00.000-05:00

Oh, bard immortal! Everything I needed to learn in life I learned from the pen of William Shakespeare. Except for those things I needed to experience in life to gain a bit of wisdom, of course. It is fitting to start out this segment of Shakespeare Blogging with one of my favorite sonnets, Sonnet 116.

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

~~~

So what is Shakespeare saying here? The theme of this sonnet is about ideal love, at least on the surface. The imagery is "ever fixed" and unwavering. Metaphors of sea travel abound. Consider the "ever fixed mark," a permanent navigation point before lighthouses, and the "star to every wandering bark." He's referring to the North Star, which is constant in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, and the "wandering bark" is a wayward vessel. The first line, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds, Admit impediments," to me, speaks of an idealistic, agape (spiritual, not sexual) love. Perhaps a forbidden love, one that is restricted from marriage by law (Shakespeare wrote this sonnet for a man). He's writing about a love so strong it survives temptation. When he writes, "Love's not Time's fool, through rosy lips and cheeks, Within his bending sickle's compass come," he's telling us that love trumps time, even as time weakens us and changes us at the core of ourselves. Time is fleeting, but true love endures. It is about an ideal love that conquers all, but the irony is in the fact that even though nothing is ideal or perfect, it is still worth striving for because the beauty is in the challenge of love prevailing over time.

So what say you? Comments welcome!

Faith: All God, All the Time?

2005-10-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

The following link provides an excellent article by James Carroll from The Boston Globe. All God, all the time

WHEN THEY told us in Sunday School that God is everywhere, they could have been talking about the recent news cycle. With Harriet Miers, we see that God lives
in the politics of the US Supreme Court nomination process. In a culture defined
by the separation of church and state, President Bush and his allies have
mastered the use of religious affirmation as a deflection not only of criticism,
but of critical thought. God is thus a trump card, a free pass....

No shit.

In the argument between creationists and scientists, those aiming to defend
God make absolute claims about mysteries of the deep past as if they themselves
were there....

But here is where it gets tricky. What if God's unknowability is the most
illuminating profundity humans can know about God? That would mean that
religious language, instead of opening into the absolute certitude on which all
forms of triumphal superiority are based, would open into true modesty. The
closed creation, in which every question has an answer, would be replaced by an
infinite cosmos where every answer sparks a new question. If what we mean by
''God" is the living pulse of such open-endedness, then God is of no use in
systems of dominance, censorship, power. God is everywhere, yes. But,
also, God is nowhere. And that, too, shows in America, especially in its fake religiosity.

In an e-mail to a friend this afternoon, I was lamenting about the path that so many people seem to take in not questioning their religious beliefs and values. They just complacently accept it as part of their life, part of their core being. Certainly, some people build their entire lives around a religious sect, allowing the people in power to dictate how they should live their lives. And in this way, they allow themselves to be played for fools. Our government has co-opted this religious absolutism to a dangerous level.

The lack of depth exhibited by many of our fellow Americans who voted for Bush in 2000 and, especially, in 2004, troubles me greatly.

I often see a bumpersticker around Grand Rapids that says, "You cannot be both Catholic and Pro-Choice." Fair enough, if that is what you believe.

However, I'd like to take liberty, if I may, with that phrase. I'd rewrite it to say, "You cannot be both Christian and a Supporter of George W. Bush."

Because if those Christians who voted for Bush in 2004 did some soul searching, and perhaps just a wee bit of research in the news, the dots between Bush and their core values would not connect. Consider the following about Bush and compare him to Jesus:

Lying about the rationale for war (it's well documented so I'm not going to belabor the point, just Google Weapons of Mass Destruction or Yellowcake)
Destroying social programs that help the less fortunate
The Goring of Al Gore in 2000
The Swift-Boating of John Kerry in 2004
Blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility
Environmental misdeeds bushgreenwatch.org
Creating wedge issues, such as anti-gay marriage and Terri's Law, which shamefully exclude people simply as a tactic to rile up the "base" and win elections

I could go on, but I've made my point. George W. Bush is about as Christian as Satan.

What Cindy Sheehan Said

2005-10-18T13:13:00.000-05:00

Via Buzzflash:

Supporting Hillary

"I will not make the mistake of supporting another pro-war Democrat for president again: As I won't support a pro-war Republican...."

"I thought Mrs. Clinton listened, but apparently she didn't because immediately afterwards she said the following to Sarah Ferguson of the Village Voice:

"My bottom line is that I don't want their sons to die in vain... I don't believe it's smart to set a date for withdrawal... I don't think it's the
right time to withdraw."

As those of you who know me know, I do not support Hillary for President in 2008. (I am, after all, Vicki, Who Loves Al Gore.) Hillary is far too centrist for my liberal, socialist brain, although I understand she's been an effective Senator for the State of New York. However, Cindy's 100% correct. Hillary needs to speak out against the war. Now. If she wants a hope in hell of winning the nomination. 62% of Americans now believe ~ strike that ~ know, that this war is a war based on lies from the WHIG (White House Iraq Group). This war is about OIL. Oil and Greed.

Although it's two and a half years too late, in my opinion, Democrats and other progressives need to come out in numbers to speak against this feckless war and the foolish follies of this power-drunk administration.

Neutral Tones

2005-10-18T09:29:00.000-05:00

The following poem, by Thomas Hardy, is one of my favorites. Hardy's use of imagery crisply paints the stark reality of a failed relationship, and a lover's regrets years later. There's a pun in the title, as well, which makes it even more appealing to me.

NEUTRAL TONES
by: Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

We stood by a pond that winter day,
And the sun was white, as though chidden of God,
And a few leaves lay on the starving sod,
--They had fallen from an ash, and were gray.

Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove
Over tedious riddles solved years ago;
And some words played between us to and fro--
On which lost the more by our love.

The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing
Alive enough to have strength to die;
And a grin of bitterness swept thereby
Like an ominous bird a-wing….

Since then, keen lessons that love deceives,
And wrings with wrong, have shaped to me
Your face, and the God-curst sun, and a tree,
And a pond edged with grayish leaves.

Welcome to Sticky Vine

2005-10-17T14:32:00.000-05:00

Although I'm no stranger to blogistan as an addicted reader and somewhat frequent commenter at Eschaton (www.atrios.blogspot.com) and at Daily Kos (www.dailykos.com), this is my first post on Sticky Vine. I've had this blog site for about a year, but I haven't taken the time to involve myself with it, until now.

"Sticky Vine" is my spoonerism. In case you're curious, Dictionary.com declares that a "spoonerism" is 1. A transposition of sounds of two or more words, especially a ludicrous one, such as Let me sew you to your sheet for Let me show you to your seat. 2. transposition of initial consonants in a pair of words.

It is, obviously, a noun, and was coined after William Archibald Spooner, a British cleric and scholar. It was also the Word of the Day on May 18, 1999 (for the useless trivia buffs out there ~ all of zero of you who will be reading this!).

I decided to use my spoonerism because, frankly, I have a good one. Also, I have a fond connection to spoons ~ I prefer them to sporks and forks; and the spoon position when cradled by lovers, and all things that are spoony goodness. Perhaps it's because, when I was in college, I was co-president of my dorm, Spooner Hall, at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. (If memory serves me correctly, a more adequate description of my dorm might have been "Stoner" Hall back then, but I digress.) Fond memories. Good times. Sigh. Good times.

Anyway, I hope to begin posting some worthwhile commentary. On life, politics, poetry, and the art of being.

Thanks for reading. Have fun.