At-risk cultural landscapes are detailed here -- the headline included the Watts Towers -- and the article refers to others in California recently added to the list. Ideas of places to take in -- if one were on a tour of places to catch before they literally degrade into nothingness. Not really for the bucket list unless you are categorizing which to hit first.
For Halloween, the LATimes came up with this piece on famous writers buried in the Los Angeles area. I guess if one were so inclined, he or she could take some cemetery tours tonight... I am not sure if that is any better than waiting for the great pumpkin with Linus -- unless it comes with champagne and chocolate cake.
After touring the Seattle underground, again, on my trip north -- I relished this piece on more of Los Angeles' underground ... looking forward to exploring more in the coming weeks.
This is a local guy (from Ventura County, that is) who grows his pumpkins with faces... how is that for spooky Halloween for you?
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
the playlist
The thing about the playlist is that all the songs there are the ones you put there.
Some people may update those songs regularly.
I don't know if I am just not that person, if I don't have time, or if I don't care...
But I have this little ipod shuffle, the one my friends replaced after the one my cousin gave me was stolen off my sweater as I walked home from the BART.
And the computer that had that playlist music on it died (several times) a while ago. I still cart its dead, ok just virus infected, body around with me because the playlist is on there. Yes, there are photos and other things that I *might* wish I had with me. But the big thing is the playlist.
It was my first playlist, she thinks wistfully, as if it were like a first love.
It has so many of my favorites on it ... the first thirty minutes or so are my running songs. I carefully honed them while training for half marathons -- starting out with my upbeat walking/warm up songs to my slowing down/cool down songs and everything in between.
It has my favorite Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, Tears for Fears, and SADE (though there are newer favorites not there) and my favorite Los Lobos album (actually the only one of theirs that I like at all).
It has the Etta James songs that Claudia put on a CD for me -- don't know where that CD is, so ostensibly that is the reason why I won't update this ipod anywhere else.
It reminds me of every place I have ever lived, and all the people I have ever loved. IT brings me to my knees with the songs of my fifteenth year -- and the pain of that time -- and elicits every kind of passion I have ever felt, for person, place or thing.
It is the playlist that calms me down, revs me up, keeps me moving, helps me settle down, and brings me to tears.
In the old days, I used to skip around ... but it is always on loop now. I imagine that it is because there are some old This American Life, Radio Lab and Selected Shorts at the end. But it is really because it is in the order I honed over time.
And every time I listen to the songs, I am surprised at how much it affects me emotionally ... and then I remember it's *my* playlist.
p/s I am so off track on my Thursday poetry and quotes, I apologize ... I am thinking about it but not doing anything about it... hoping to be back on track by next week.
Some people may update those songs regularly.
I don't know if I am just not that person, if I don't have time, or if I don't care...
But I have this little ipod shuffle, the one my friends replaced after the one my cousin gave me was stolen off my sweater as I walked home from the BART.
And the computer that had that playlist music on it died (several times) a while ago. I still cart its dead, ok just virus infected, body around with me because the playlist is on there. Yes, there are photos and other things that I *might* wish I had with me. But the big thing is the playlist.
It was my first playlist, she thinks wistfully, as if it were like a first love.
It has so many of my favorites on it ... the first thirty minutes or so are my running songs. I carefully honed them while training for half marathons -- starting out with my upbeat walking/warm up songs to my slowing down/cool down songs and everything in between.
It has my favorite Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, Tears for Fears, and SADE (though there are newer favorites not there) and my favorite Los Lobos album (actually the only one of theirs that I like at all).
It has the Etta James songs that Claudia put on a CD for me -- don't know where that CD is, so ostensibly that is the reason why I won't update this ipod anywhere else.
It reminds me of every place I have ever lived, and all the people I have ever loved. IT brings me to my knees with the songs of my fifteenth year -- and the pain of that time -- and elicits every kind of passion I have ever felt, for person, place or thing.
It is the playlist that calms me down, revs me up, keeps me moving, helps me settle down, and brings me to tears.
In the old days, I used to skip around ... but it is always on loop now. I imagine that it is because there are some old This American Life, Radio Lab and Selected Shorts at the end. But it is really because it is in the order I honed over time.
And every time I listen to the songs, I am surprised at how much it affects me emotionally ... and then I remember it's *my* playlist.
p/s I am so off track on my Thursday poetry and quotes, I apologize ... I am thinking about it but not doing anything about it... hoping to be back on track by next week.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
processing, catching up ...
Nothing I expected to get done while on the college tour got done ...
That means that the drafts I started, ok named, are still there in the drafts folder.
The paper is still not done.
The other papers are still not done.
No books were finished, though one for pleasure was started.
On the other hand, my niece is now excited (and scared) about applying to college.
And no one died ... and no one was injured, except for their tiny little feelings... all around.
Two teeth were wrangled out of one ten-year-old mouth.
Amtrak has too much of our money.
The house is in a frightful state, but the floors my mother has been wanting are nearly complete.
And all the food I made for my dad is still in the freezer, so I won't have to cook for another two weeks.
Hurrah...
I will write more soon, but not too soon ... maybe Wednesday, maybe Friday.
That means that the drafts I started, ok named, are still there in the drafts folder.
The paper is still not done.
The other papers are still not done.
No books were finished, though one for pleasure was started.
On the other hand, my niece is now excited (and scared) about applying to college.
And no one died ... and no one was injured, except for their tiny little feelings... all around.
Two teeth were wrangled out of one ten-year-old mouth.
Amtrak has too much of our money.
The house is in a frightful state, but the floors my mother has been wanting are nearly complete.
And all the food I made for my dad is still in the freezer, so I won't have to cook for another two weeks.
Hurrah...
I will write more soon, but not too soon ... maybe Wednesday, maybe Friday.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Quote Thursday, a few days late
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
"Pooh?" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand.
"I just wanted to be sure of you.”
~A. A. Milne, from Winnie the Pooh
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
NRU California Sights Edition
Ojai is a kind of earthy/crunchy super elite all to itself -- but I bet these shops are a ton of fun. If only I had time, money and inclination to spend my little free time shopping. I would definitely take these in under those circumstances.
I think the drought is a great reason to rethink how to decorate our houses -- that is with plant wildlife. Still have that pipedream of going hiking to take pictures of all the wonderful drought resistant plants that grow in our backyards!
This used to be a California only thing, but I heard on the radio that several other states and even countries would partake -- in order to get ready for THE BIG ONE. Sometimes I think we should be worrying more about the many not so big ones. All I know is that we used to drop and curl under our school desks every month -- though I don't remember how many times a year we went out for the fire drill. [NOTE: I am drafting this on the day 10/16/14 after the 10:16am practice -- and THE BIG ONE did not show up for fun or anything.]
One, I am not sure that this is news. Two, I don't find it visually remarkable -- I can't tell what is different even though it says there right in the caption. Though it may be that I never paid attention to it in the first place.
I think the drought is a great reason to rethink how to decorate our houses -- that is with plant wildlife. Still have that pipedream of going hiking to take pictures of all the wonderful drought resistant plants that grow in our backyards!
This used to be a California only thing, but I heard on the radio that several other states and even countries would partake -- in order to get ready for THE BIG ONE. Sometimes I think we should be worrying more about the many not so big ones. All I know is that we used to drop and curl under our school desks every month -- though I don't remember how many times a year we went out for the fire drill. [NOTE: I am drafting this on the day 10/16/14 after the 10:16am practice -- and THE BIG ONE did not show up for fun or anything.]
One, I am not sure that this is news. Two, I don't find it visually remarkable -- I can't tell what is different even though it says there right in the caption. Though it may be that I never paid attention to it in the first place.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Education NRU, more bits
Uh... I started this the other day, and then this happened. So, read the rest with the knowledge that I was just anticipating from what I had read. You will note that this is Thursday and yet this is really not a poetry or quote. But, news intervened. I will get to the quote tomorrow.
I saw this steady stream of education pieces focused on Deasy and his missteps at LAUSD, and I should have wondered: How has this man incurred the wrath of the LA Times? I heard a piece on Warren Olney's LA call in show on the way home from somewhere, and it added to the intrigue. Apparently, there is a fight to the death to see if they will buy out Deasy's contract with all the typical crew checking in from here and there. The union wants him out. No surprise, since he has done nothing to cultivate teachers as partners. The board has adherents and detractors -- also not surprisingly. Olney had the head of the union on and they hashed out all of the serious problems facing the district and places where Deasy has not made it better or done questionable things that have threatened to make it worse. It is sad to say that the Jefferson mess has turned into two black eyes, one for the district and one for Deasy for many reasons, but that all anyone can think about is how should they apply the concealor. Antonia Hernandez was another guest who favors keeping Deasy to the end of his contract. I am not sure what all of her reasons really are -- but I have to admit that I agree. On the one hand, it is not clear that he can be effective if so many are now turned off by his leadership style and decision making process. But, how will buying him out and having to buy another big ticket superintendent help?! We don't fire superintendents no matter how much we think we do... they get a nice fat paycheck while they look for their next job. No "fired" superintendent is really hurt in this process ... they almost always bounce back into other equally troubled districts with similar results. Her final plea, perhaps, was the most convincing and sad, who on earth would want this job if this is how we behave?
I saw one comment on an article at LATimes.com calling for the state to take over the district, ala Oakland several years ago. I mulled that -- and several evenings later, as I pulled a grocery bag out of my trunk, I wondered if it wouldn't be a terrible idea. But the state really only cares if the district goes bankrupt, right?
I saw this steady stream of education pieces focused on Deasy and his missteps at LAUSD, and I should have wondered: How has this man incurred the wrath of the LA Times? I heard a piece on Warren Olney's LA call in show on the way home from somewhere, and it added to the intrigue. Apparently, there is a fight to the death to see if they will buy out Deasy's contract with all the typical crew checking in from here and there. The union wants him out. No surprise, since he has done nothing to cultivate teachers as partners. The board has adherents and detractors -- also not surprisingly. Olney had the head of the union on and they hashed out all of the serious problems facing the district and places where Deasy has not made it better or done questionable things that have threatened to make it worse. It is sad to say that the Jefferson mess has turned into two black eyes, one for the district and one for Deasy for many reasons, but that all anyone can think about is how should they apply the concealor. Antonia Hernandez was another guest who favors keeping Deasy to the end of his contract. I am not sure what all of her reasons really are -- but I have to admit that I agree. On the one hand, it is not clear that he can be effective if so many are now turned off by his leadership style and decision making process. But, how will buying him out and having to buy another big ticket superintendent help?! We don't fire superintendents no matter how much we think we do... they get a nice fat paycheck while they look for their next job. No "fired" superintendent is really hurt in this process ... they almost always bounce back into other equally troubled districts with similar results. Her final plea, perhaps, was the most convincing and sad, who on earth would want this job if this is how we behave?
I saw one comment on an article at LATimes.com calling for the state to take over the district, ala Oakland several years ago. I mulled that -- and several evenings later, as I pulled a grocery bag out of my trunk, I wondered if it wouldn't be a terrible idea. But the state really only cares if the district goes bankrupt, right?
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
ahem... new addiction
I will interrupt this pity party with a link to my latest addiction: SERIAL.
This American Life gave us the first episode of the spin off - and yes, I am at least a week behind.
If you are not sure if you want to join in on this addiction, I invite you to read this post. If you are not hooked by that post, then it truly is not for you.
I am about to devour episode 2 and try to keep from listening to episode 3 too soon ... I have a 28 hour train ride, wait, two of them coming up in the next 14 days, so, I will need as many podcasts as I can load onto my phone/ipod.
This American Life gave us the first episode of the spin off - and yes, I am at least a week behind.
If you are not sure if you want to join in on this addiction, I invite you to read this post. If you are not hooked by that post, then it truly is not for you.
I am about to devour episode 2 and try to keep from listening to episode 3 too soon ... I have a 28 hour train ride, wait, two of them coming up in the next 14 days, so, I will need as many podcasts as I can load onto my phone/ipod.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
ugly truth
I was sitting with the mom of one of the boys in mijo's grief group last week.
I had just come out of the therapy session where I had *promised* to do one thing to take care of myself this week. [No, I haven't done that yet, by the way.]
She looked over at me and said she had the same problem.
I suggested that I don't have time to think about myself because I am taking care of everyone else.
She followed with her issue was that she did not feel worthy.
Wow.
She said it so matter-of-factly that it didn't even feel like a challenge to speak the truth.
I suspect that years of therapy have made revelations such as that one easier to hold and share.
They [who are they?] say [and why are they always saying things?] that recognizing/acknowledging our issues is the first step.
I say, "First step to what? HELL?"
I already know this... do I forget? Do I have to be reminded so painfully?
And what am I supposed to do with this knowledge?
I just finished journaling about some other ugly things that I have been feeling. I am not sure that it makes me feel *better* but it does make me feel the tiniest bit lighter.
Every week, I bring the mijo to his group, and I see his shoulders drop in relief. I am not sure what makes him feel so safe there -- that he is not different, alone in his condition or grief? And at the end of the hour and a half, he is elated... he always comes out of group bouncing with happiness.
I do not feel this way after group ... or journaling or truth telling or even crying. But I do feel the tiniest bit lighter.
I had just come out of the therapy session where I had *promised* to do one thing to take care of myself this week. [No, I haven't done that yet, by the way.]
 |
| dad's orchids |
I suggested that I don't have time to think about myself because I am taking care of everyone else.
She followed with her issue was that she did not feel worthy.
Wow.
She said it so matter-of-factly that it didn't even feel like a challenge to speak the truth.
I suspect that years of therapy have made revelations such as that one easier to hold and share.
They [who are they?] say [and why are they always saying things?] that recognizing/acknowledging our issues is the first step.
I say, "First step to what? HELL?"
I already know this... do I forget? Do I have to be reminded so painfully?
And what am I supposed to do with this knowledge?
 | |
| seaweed and surf, favorite beach |
I just finished journaling about some other ugly things that I have been feeling. I am not sure that it makes me feel *better* but it does make me feel the tiniest bit lighter.
Every week, I bring the mijo to his group, and I see his shoulders drop in relief. I am not sure what makes him feel so safe there -- that he is not different, alone in his condition or grief? And at the end of the hour and a half, he is elated... he always comes out of group bouncing with happiness.
I do not feel this way after group ... or journaling or truth telling or even crying. But I do feel the tiniest bit lighter.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Blame it on Mercury
This post was going to start: EVERY DAY IS HARD.
But then I started to feel like that was probably (still considering) exaggerating.
So, some days are harder than others.
All I know is that I have been wanting to cry for days ... I struggle to describe what that actually looks and feels like.
I have said before that it feels like a dark smoke filling up my eyes, circling through my mind. It feels like walking around under a dark cloud, blocking out the sun and threatening to rain.
It feels like a tug on your heartstrings ... the kind that leads you to cry while watching a coffee commercial (not the current, but think back to those days with the super melodramatic coffee commercials, you know what I mean) or the trailer for the latest super romantic movie (you know the one where the couple is going to have to go through serious heartache and maybe many years before they get together and then the movie will end?).
It looks like being super sensitive to everything that is being said to you -- those days when you think you can feel the unsaid critiques cut you to your soul.
Like that, but more dramatic because mercury is in retrograde.
Why do I always plan out to be super productive for an extended period only to find out it is smack dab in the middle of the retrograde? WHY?
One would think that I would check first, but I don't.
So, blame it on mercury if I feel like shit ... and it isn't even the stronger period just now...
In fact, I was completely oblivious to the dates until I was on the third day of feeling like crap. By this day, I was unable to even keep the tears inside -- and I am super good at it.
I had already done some questionable at best things that caused me even more angst before I bothered to look it up.
Yup, been in retrograde since the 4th ... and won't go direct til the 25th ...
I am thinking the only thing to do is EXERCISE ... yeah that should have been my first clue.
On October 1st, I went to the gym to try to become a member -- and they couldn't figure out how to help me with that ... it was the pre-retrograde and I fell right into it.
I am still going to try to EXERCISE, but I am also going to eat emergency treats.
But then I started to feel like that was probably (still considering) exaggerating.
So, some days are harder than others.
All I know is that I have been wanting to cry for days ... I struggle to describe what that actually looks and feels like.
I have said before that it feels like a dark smoke filling up my eyes, circling through my mind. It feels like walking around under a dark cloud, blocking out the sun and threatening to rain.
It feels like a tug on your heartstrings ... the kind that leads you to cry while watching a coffee commercial (not the current, but think back to those days with the super melodramatic coffee commercials, you know what I mean) or the trailer for the latest super romantic movie (you know the one where the couple is going to have to go through serious heartache and maybe many years before they get together and then the movie will end?).
It looks like being super sensitive to everything that is being said to you -- those days when you think you can feel the unsaid critiques cut you to your soul.
Like that, but more dramatic because mercury is in retrograde.
Why do I always plan out to be super productive for an extended period only to find out it is smack dab in the middle of the retrograde? WHY?
One would think that I would check first, but I don't.
So, blame it on mercury if I feel like shit ... and it isn't even the stronger period just now...
In fact, I was completely oblivious to the dates until I was on the third day of feeling like crap. By this day, I was unable to even keep the tears inside -- and I am super good at it.
I had already done some questionable at best things that caused me even more angst before I bothered to look it up.
Yup, been in retrograde since the 4th ... and won't go direct til the 25th ...
I am thinking the only thing to do is EXERCISE ... yeah that should have been my first clue.
On October 1st, I went to the gym to try to become a member -- and they couldn't figure out how to help me with that ... it was the pre-retrograde and I fell right into it.
I am still going to try to EXERCISE, but I am also going to eat emergency treats.
Friday, October 10, 2014
NRU mishmashy - another short bit
I am slammed this week with work and work for money and work for mom and dad... and the turtle can't even get me to buy her some fish!
So... more stories I have been hording for a while.
I hate it when I find about someone only after he/she isgone. This guy really got it … in an era when so very many did not. May he rest in peace... and thanks for leaving us some sage works.
So... more stories I have been hording for a while.
I hate it when I find about someone only after he/she isgone. This guy really got it … in an era when so very many did not. May he rest in peace... and thanks for leaving us some sage works.
Nuns on the bus updated! I will readily admit that I have a thing for these
nuns.
Just when you thought that all southern California drivers
were texting and driving, turns out some of them were looking at the road… and
saving little dogs in an impromptu community maneuver I really don't think you
would find anywhere else.
This was a little bit odd, but I enjoyed it ... Joanne Carson and Truman Capote and writing ... and dogs. I feel a little like dogs are trying to take over my life... but I liked this piece anyway.
This was a little bit odd, but I enjoyed it ... Joanne Carson and Truman Capote and writing ... and dogs. I feel a little like dogs are trying to take over my life... but I liked this piece anyway.
Thursday, October 09, 2014
quote Thursday - swiped from bloggie world
“Those who love you
are not fooled
by mistakes you have made,
or by dark images you hold
about yourself.
They remember
your beauty when you feel ugly;
your
wholeness when you are broken;
your innocence when you feel guilty;
and
your purpose when you are confused.”
— Alan Cohen
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
NRU education, small bits
This is going into the hopper for the dissertation, but I
think it is worth sharing it here.
Teacher wars are not new to this world … rather perhaps teachers have
always been the easy targets.
Somebody in Oakland got the memo on how some business models
are just not good public relations moves.
Just because all the other state colleges and universities are using international and out of state students as cash cows doesn't mean that it is right. I mean, public being the operative adjective here. I can't wait to hear how this turns out … stay tuned.
I wish that there were more information on how the teachers
fit into this "fight" slash "debate." The thing is without the teachers, this
debate is so incomplete… and who is talking to the parents in this
situation? There seems to be an
assumption, again, that the vocal minority can just muscle in and shut things
down. Will the crazy people back
down when they figure out that they can bully the school board but not theCollege Board? Right, probably
not!
The saddest part of this piece on Deasy and LAUSD is that it demonstrates that sometimes he has really great initiatives ... but he has chosen to not work with the teachers too many times ... he really could have been a great superintendent ... instead he made buddies and enemies with the wrong folks. If you are going to work in LA and try to make change, you have to have some allies on the school board and make serious friends with the teachers/union. Being friends with the Broad people and the Students First people will only place you firmly in the back biting, manipulative and ultimately not productive side of this war. Make no mistake, this is war, it is not education.
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
Monday, October 06, 2014
Pismo
Even though these photos are a few weeks old at this point ... I will be driving by these sights on my way home from a quick visit north.
The day I took these was the clearest day I had ever experienced in Pismo Beach.
 |
| Dunes in the distance |
I was so astounded by what it looked like without cloud cover that I stopped to take these pictures.
 |
| Click to enlarge! |
I took the opportunity to practice with the panoramic tool on the phone.
I tried to teach my mom to do it, too, but as a novice, I am not sure if I was super successful at that job, but I got a few good shots.
I am trying to take the time to enjoy the beauty of California even in the midst of all the busy-ness of life.
Friday, October 03, 2014
YUMMMMMM
I made a super quick trip to LA to go over some paperwork with my sis-in-law, so I suggested we go to Central Market so I could try Wexler's pastrami .... well, when I got to the place, I remembered I also wanted to try their lox and smoked sturgeon.
The most endearing older gentleman, like me, had been reading about Wexler's and decided to try it out. He was there specifically for the corned beef sandwich ... and a phosphate -- chocolate soda-ish for those, like me, who have no idea what it is.
I was undecided but also determined to have both of the things I wanted. The gentleman suggested that fish might not keep for the train ride home, hot as it was pledged to be. I treated myself to the bagel/lox for brunch and decided to take the pastrami and extra pickle home for dinner.
Still, I had to decide lox or smoked sturgeon. The lovely woman helping me suggested I could have half and half -- so I did ... um, so delicious.
I was all terrific even though I did have to share my pastrami with mom and dad in lieu of making a real dinner.
And I watched them make my food ... and the gentleman introduced me to the owner. And there was plenty of eye candy working there, too ... all in all, super tasty.
Can't wait to go back and try something else!
The most endearing older gentleman, like me, had been reading about Wexler's and decided to try it out. He was there specifically for the corned beef sandwich ... and a phosphate -- chocolate soda-ish for those, like me, who have no idea what it is.
I was undecided but also determined to have both of the things I wanted. The gentleman suggested that fish might not keep for the train ride home, hot as it was pledged to be. I treated myself to the bagel/lox for brunch and decided to take the pastrami and extra pickle home for dinner.
Still, I had to decide lox or smoked sturgeon. The lovely woman helping me suggested I could have half and half -- so I did ... um, so delicious.
I was all terrific even though I did have to share my pastrami with mom and dad in lieu of making a real dinner.
And I watched them make my food ... and the gentleman introduced me to the owner. And there was plenty of eye candy working there, too ... all in all, super tasty.
Can't wait to go back and try something else!
Thursday, October 02, 2014
Poetry Thursday - Rumi and me...
 |
| Self Portrait, Park in Santa Fe |
Essence is emptiness.
Everything else, accidental.
Emptiness brings peace to your loving.
Everything else, disease.
In this world of trickery emptiness
is what your soul wants.
Rumi
Everything else, accidental.
Emptiness brings peace to your loving.
Everything else, disease.
In this world of trickery emptiness
is what your soul wants.
Rumi
Wednesday, October 01, 2014
mini NRU mishmash
What with small children and broken planes and impromptu friendly catch-ups, I have not had time to plan out a week of blog posts ... though I have managed to get stuff posted. Hurrah!
I have not had that much time to actually read the various papers I usually peruse. Here are a few articles that caught my attention in the past few days ...
I will start with the only real serious news story that I feel the need to share today - I am sorry to see AG Holder resign but I am grateful to him for enuring such a ridiculous amount of grief while still maintaining a pretty excellent track record with those of us who care about silly things like civil rights. I hope his next job is not as a lobbyist. Supreme Court anyone?
I am posting the original as opposed to the short repackaging both because I abhor the practice of repackaging (but I respect the link to the actual source if not to the actual article) and because it is worthwhile to read all that Lennox had to say on the subject. Let me just say that this seems like the right response from someone in the same business as Beyonce -- it is not trashing lady b in anyway shape or form to see her FEMINIST stance as a ploy for more play... and I agree, by the way.
The other pieces I lingered over were about animals... wacky, ridiculous and slightly unbelievable.
Turns out that crazy conservatives who simultaneously deride the government intrusion in our personal lives (read: I don't want to pay taxes) and advocate for government to regulate personal relationships (read: I am against anything I deem untoward -- all sex, gay sex, young sex, etc.) do not only live in the U.S. It is a little heartening to know we are not alone -- but still sad. Thankfully calmer and more rational heads prevailed and allowed these two donkeys to go back to living together. Seriously?!
I am concerned that the genetic anomaly causing this conjoined twin turtle to be born and survive -- but aren't they cute? They are the same size that Turtlemina was when I fished her out of the river ... and I am tickled that this lady makes a habit out of watching for the turtle hatchlings. Crossing the road is treacherous for all kinds of being! Yes... horrified and endeared in one fell swoop ... you be the judge.
I have not had that much time to actually read the various papers I usually peruse. Here are a few articles that caught my attention in the past few days ...
I will start with the only real serious news story that I feel the need to share today - I am sorry to see AG Holder resign but I am grateful to him for enuring such a ridiculous amount of grief while still maintaining a pretty excellent track record with those of us who care about silly things like civil rights. I hope his next job is not as a lobbyist. Supreme Court anyone?
I am posting the original as opposed to the short repackaging both because I abhor the practice of repackaging (but I respect the link to the actual source if not to the actual article) and because it is worthwhile to read all that Lennox had to say on the subject. Let me just say that this seems like the right response from someone in the same business as Beyonce -- it is not trashing lady b in anyway shape or form to see her FEMINIST stance as a ploy for more play... and I agree, by the way.
The other pieces I lingered over were about animals... wacky, ridiculous and slightly unbelievable.
Turns out that crazy conservatives who simultaneously deride the government intrusion in our personal lives (read: I don't want to pay taxes) and advocate for government to regulate personal relationships (read: I am against anything I deem untoward -- all sex, gay sex, young sex, etc.) do not only live in the U.S. It is a little heartening to know we are not alone -- but still sad. Thankfully calmer and more rational heads prevailed and allowed these two donkeys to go back to living together. Seriously?!
I am concerned that the genetic anomaly causing this conjoined twin turtle to be born and survive -- but aren't they cute? They are the same size that Turtlemina was when I fished her out of the river ... and I am tickled that this lady makes a habit out of watching for the turtle hatchlings. Crossing the road is treacherous for all kinds of being! Yes... horrified and endeared in one fell swoop ... you be the judge.