Tuesday, August 30, 2005

All hail Caffeina!



Science and Your Health
From Newsweek on MSNBC
Aug. 30, 2005

The main source of antioxidants in most American diets isn’t fruit or vegetables but coffee, according to new findings released at the annual convention of the American Chemical Society in Washington. For the study, which was partially funded by the American Cocoa Research Institute, Joe Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, and his colleagues analyzed the antioxidant content of more than 100 of the country’s most popular beverages and foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts and teas. The antioxidant data was then compared to a U.S. Department of Agriculture database to measure the estimated U.S. per capita consumption of each food.

The researchers found that average adults consume 1,299 milligrams of antioxidants every day from coffee--far more than they get from any other item in their daily diet (and four times more than they get from black tea, which was second on the list). Antioxidants are vitamins and minerals that help prevent oxidation, a process that may cause damage to cells. Antioxidants have been shown to help boost the body’s immune functions and lower risks of heart disease and cancer, among other health benefits.

Should you drink more coffee? Vinton stresses that coffee should not be a substitute for fruits and vegetables. Foods like cranberries, dates and red grapes actually contain more antioxidants than coffee, but are typically consumed in much smaller quantities by most Americans. Drinking too much coffee can also be bad for those with high blood pressure or heart problems. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for advice.
(links in the above story added by me)





Listen to the words of the Great Mother, She who of old was called among men Savarin, Nescafe, Folgers Crystals and so many other names...

Whenever ye have need of wakefulness, at least once in the day,and better it be when the sun is rising, then ye shall assemble in your kitchens and adore the essence of Me who am Queen of all Beverages. There ye shall assemble , ye who are fain to gain awakening, yet have not won open eyes, to these I will teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from coherence; and as a sign that ye be truly free, ye shall be yawning in your rites; and ye shall read the morning paper, make bacon and eggs, and drive to work, all in My praise. For Mine is the ecstacy of the awakened, and Mine also is joy on earth; for My law is sleeplessness unto all beings.

Keep clean your mug; let naught float upon its surface and so turn your stomach. For Mine is the secret door which opens upon the land of coherence, and Mine is the cup of the Elixir of Life, and the Cauldron of Caffeine, which is the Holy Grail of Insomnia. I am the Gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of wakefulness unto the mind of man. Upon awakening, I give the knowledge of the caffeine high eternal, and beyond morning, I give peace, and warmth, and tolerance of those with whom ye must interact. Nor do I demand aught of Saccharin; for Behold! I am the Mother of all Stimulants, and My love is poured out into your mug. -- from the link above, attributed to Amber Ravenstar

That bitch has my shoes!


What a World, What a World
(news from tvguide.com)

A pair of ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz and insured for $1 million were stolen from a Grand Rapids, Minn., museum this past weekend. Authorities say there was little evidence left at the scene other than traces of flying-monkey dung.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Pat Robertson's Screwtape Letters

This is a bit long, but entertaining. Who in the hell does Pat Robertson think he is, anyway?

Pat Robertson's Screwtape Letters

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Friday, August 26, 2005
By Tony Norman

We have no intention of explaining how excerpts from letters between a loathsome hell-spawn known as Lord Stinkblossom the Eternal Karlrovian and Pat Robertson, a minor religious functionary doing everything he can to ascend to Hell's upper echelon with both his virtue and hypocrisy intact, fell into our hands. We must protect our sources.

Though there is no surefire way to authenticate these mysterious correspondences with a high degree of metaphysical certitude, it is our journalistic duty to bring these letters forward. They shed much needed light on a televangelist's bizarre statements and shameless behavior in the last 30 years or so of his public ministry.

But be warned, dear reader. These excerpts will cause agitation in gentle souls unaccustomed to divining the spiritual realities behind the headlines. Logical positivists are advised to skip to the funnies where they are less likely to encounter offensive notions. If you're a nebby sinner, you're invited to read on:

"Hail, Pat Robertson, First Talon of the Praying Hand; Grand Shepherd and founder of the 700 Deadly Assassins Club, Murderous Wolf in Sheep's Clothing Division, Inc.

"We, the hosts of Hell salute you. By our infernal reckoning, you've blithely ignored several major commandments within 72 hours of calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Good for you. The Morning Star applauds your transparent blasphemy.

"The first rule you tossed aside was 'Thou shalt not covet,' followed by the equally anachronistic and much misunderstood dictum 'Thou shalt not kill.' Being the wise old Pharisee that thou art, you understand that the prohibition against murder is hardly unequivocal and hasn't been for some time. If there weren't reasonable allowances for killing based on anger, personal profit, religious duty, politics and nationalistic zeal, how would mankind experience any progress?

"Putting a bullet in Hugo Chavez's brain would, indeed, save the United States billions of dollars while keeping the oil flowing, but at the cost of the assassin's soul and every scintilla of moral authority any administration authorizing the hit could claim for itself.

"You were wise not to raise any of these issues with your gullible viewers, Pat. Why muddy the ethical waters with anything as inconvenient as morality when you're speaking to an audience of Christians? They already know right from wrong, so what's the point in rubbing their pious noses in it?

"Fortunately for us, no one in Christendom takes Jesus' statements about murder seriously, anyway. Remember that part in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus says that anger at one's brother qualifies as murder in God's eyes, too? What a drama queen, eh? How are you going to fight a war on terrorism with bad advice like that floating around? Blessed be the sharpshooters, for they shall inherit the kingdom of oil!

"Nice touch with your initial denial-denial, too, Pat. In lying about whether you used the word 'assassination' in the original broadcast calling for Chavez's murder, you sidestepped the dictum 'Thou shalt not bear false witness.' As old Beelzebub says, 'If you're going to lie -- and we heartily recommend it -- then you might as well lie boldly.'

"Sure, they'll catch your duplicity on videotape, but no one cares about little fibs in a world full of abortion, gay sex and Islamic militancy. You covered up nicely by telling the media vultures your words were misinterpreted and that you were actually calling for Chavez to be kidnapped. You brought a lot of dishonor to the gospel by compounding your lie, Pat. Again, Lucifer salutes your ingenuity.

"You also get kudos for comparing your situation as an advocate for assassination to Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran nut who was arrested for trying to kill Hitler. Remember, whenever you find yourself in trouble, drag the Fuhrer's name into the mix. It will distort everything and bring that old rug chewer the notoriety he continues to crave even in hell.

"Meanwhile, keep up the good work, Pat. The eyes of His Infernal Majesty rest ever upon you. Sincerely, your affectionate mentor in the faith -- Stinkblossom Karlrovian, the Archduke of Pain."

Friday, August 26, 2005

What's On Your iGod?

In which Mark Morford sings the praises of DIY religion...

What's On Your iGod?

Your answer to the religious homogeny now clogging the nation like cosmic oatmeal? DIY divinity

There is this upwelling. There is this delicious rebellion. It is not yet loud and it is not yet conventional and it is certainly not yet dominating the national political dialogue and it is not yet making the headlines and maybe it never will and this is probably a good thing.

But it's happening. I have seen it. Maybe you have, too. I am, in fact, a part of it. Maybe you are, too. And lo, it is righteous and delicious and good.

It is this: Whole happy unfettered slews of people, young and old and in between, both genders and all genders and those who have yet to figure out just what gender they are, they are dancing to their own cosmic tune and blaspheming against the quo of status and taking divine matters into their own tingling and luminous hands because, goddammit, it's the right thing to do.

This is what's happening: Millions are defying what many think is the religious norm, giggling in the general direction of all those silly apocalyptic 'Left Behind' books and rolling their eyes at the 'intelligent design' nontheory and ignoring the syrupy chants rising from all those creepy megachurches across the land -- and they are, instead, defining religion and spirituality for themselves, against all odds and against all baffled militant true believers and against the president's very own bewildered-monkey stare. Imagine.


As always, click on the title above to read the rest. Highly recommended.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Bush's Private Idaho

More on why I can't stand W.

My Private Idaho

By Maureen Dowd

W. vacationed so hard in Texas he got bushed. He needed a vacation from his vacation.

The most rested president in American history headed West yesterday to get away from his Western getaway - and the mushrooming Crawford Woodstock - and spend a couple of days at the Tamarack Resort in the rural Idaho mountains.

'I'm kind of hangin' loose, as they say,' he told reporters.

As The Financial Times noted, Mr. Bush is acting positively French in his love of le loafing, with 339 days at his ranch since he took office - nearly a year out of his five. Most Americans, on the other hand, take fewer vacations than anyone else in the developed world (even the Japanese), averaging only 13 to 16 days off a year.


... to read the rest of Maureen's brilliance, click on the title above.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Best. Show. Ever.



Six Feet Under is over. Hubby and I have been watching this show since it premiered five years ago and now it's over.

I'm really quite heartbroken over this, although I do respect Alan Ball for knowing how to leave us wanting more. Six Feet Under featured amazing character development and plot depth, and some of the finest writing on television today. Damn, I'll miss it.

Human beings are a storytelling animal. Lest you think me foolish for mourning a television show, remember that stories are a huge part of how humans communicate with each other. Story telling is how we both teach and learn. It's how we explore our human condition. And Six Feet Under explored the human condition like no other show before it, with incredible characters who were both lovable and flawed. Each one simultaneously a protagonist and antagonist. Just as are we all.

I looked forward to this show each and every week. I would find myself thinking about the show, especially over the weekend, leading up to the show. And again, on Mondays, part of my mind would just be occupied with these characters, wondering how they were going to deal with whatever just happened the night before, and forgetting a bit that these were not real people. That is the gift of great story telling: you forget that the characters aren't real.

Nate, David, Claire, Ruth... I'll miss them all. And to Alan Ball, thank you. What a beautiful story you told us.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Witches Weekly: Your Knowledge

Witches Weekly: Your Knowledge

Witches Weekly for the week of August 06, 2005

Do you keep a journal or some other archive to keep track of what you learn, rituals you attend, etc?

Sort of. Mainly, I write about all these things in my regular journal. Because the parts of my life are pieces of the whole, I keep ritual notes, class notes, budgets, personal writings, copies of personally important emails, to-do lists, and all such manner of things in my journal. My journal is the portrait of my whole life.

Would you ever want to share all the knowledge you've gained on your path? Or would you prefer to keep it personal, only to those close to you?

Some of it, I would like to share, but much of it I like to keep personal. Not that I'm trying to keep any of it from anyone, but just that if I run around telling everyone what I know, it seems so... cheap. So, I share my ideas and knowledge with those close to me, but would gladly teach what I know to others, if they were inclined to ask me.

How do you plan to pass down what you know to your children?

I tell my children what I know about different things as they come up, and as my children show interest.

My daughter (17) is an atheist, so a lot of what I do, I don't share with her, as she's not that interested. On the other hand, I don't hide anything from her. If I'm outside, greeting the sun, and she asks what I'm doing, I tell her. If something I know to be spiritually true for me is relevant to something she's going through, I do share it with her. Generally, this is along the lines of, "I know you're an athiest, but what I believe is..." or, "What works for me is..." or, "It may sound corny, but..."

My son (14) is more spiritually inclined, and I do try to share some of my knowledge more specifically with him, like talking to him about grounding when he is having a hard time in school and such.

Truthfully, I probably learn just as much from them as they do from me.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Let the Clapotis begin...

Friday, August 12, 2005

Delicious and beautiful

I had a wonderful latte last night. Besides being delicious, it was also beautiful. So impressed was I by the foam art, that I actually photographed it.



What does it look like to you? Yup. That's pretty much what it looked like to me too.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Clapotis!

Well, I chickened out on the Peacock Feathers shawl. Even though it's beautiful and I love it and I totally want to make it one of these days... I just got scared off by all that lace work. Someday, though....

Instead, I have chosen to embark on the increasingly famous and very lovely Clapotis from Knitty.com. I went shopping today for the yarn called for, Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, but alas! Half a dozen yarn stores in this town, and not one--not one!--that carries this particular yarn. And with Clapotis sweeping the blogosphere, too. Tsk, tsk.

No matter... on we go! I picked up three skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Worsted. Very soft, and it's 100% superwash wool, so I can toss it in the washing machine, too. It won't have quite the silky drape that the Lion and Lamb would have; on the other hand, the Sheperd's Worsted was only half the cost of the L&L and I think it will still be perfectly lovely. I'm doing in in the Black Purl colorway.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Cannot... resist... buying... yarn...


Oh, boy, do I want to make this!!!

Peacock Feathers Shawl

But in what color?!?

Monday, August 08, 2005

Peter Jennings, 1938-2005



I was sad this morning to read that Peter Jennings has crossed over. The 67-year-old, Canadian-born news veteran died in his New York home on Sunday. My education is in journalism, and while I don't generally think much of TV news, Jennings was, in many ways, a shining example of what journalism could be. In honor of Jennings' life, I'd like to offer a link to a Jennings tribute on the blog of my current favorite newsman, Keith Olbermann.

Peter Jennings: A Tribute

NEW YORK -- The calm, seasoned, assuring voice has been stilled.

We may remember him for his work on 9/11, or for any of a dozen other crises, from Vietnam to the Munich Olympics to the Challenger disaster. But the real story of Peter Jennings is not to be found in a kaleidoscope of unconnected moments of history.

It is, instead, contained in literally a half century of perseverance, growth; even redemption: He was the only enduring anchorman to return to the desk from which he had been fired. He was the only of America’s great newscasters, to have come from another nation. He was the anchorman who, having concurred with his early critics that he was “simply unqualified,” went out and did something about it. He was a man of whom a colleague would say in the early 1980s - with pride and affection - “He is now as good as he used to think he was.”


Read the rest on Keith's blog.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Open Letter to the Kansas School Board

Concerned citizen Bobby Henderson has written an Open Letter to the Kansas School Board, as they vote on whether to teach "Intelligent Design," aka Creationism in science classes.



I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.


Please read the rest of Mr. Henderson's heartfelt plea at the link above.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Good dog, Mavis. Good dog.


Yesterday, we had to have our beautiful miniature Schnauzer, Mavis, put to sleep. She was 14 years old.

In this photo, Mavis is two or three years old. I'm not really sure, because I had not yet met her. My husband got Mavis when she was just 7 weeks old. I first met Mavis perhaps nine years ago, but I didn't live with her until Hubby and I first moved in together seven years ago.

Mavis was sweet and loving, an excellent ratter in her youth, and always loved to be held and cuddled by her people. She would bound across the yard like a deer, then fall down in the grass to roll around on her back in it. She really loved to snack on "Kitty Roca," so we had to keep her away from the cat box. Ugh, why do they like that?!?

Once, about five years ago, Mavis got into the compost pile and ate something that made her very ill indeed. She spent several days in the vet hospital, getting IV fluids and medicine, but she recovered well. We had to be more careful about what snacks we gave her after that.

When she was younger, she loved to run off and have adventures, if she got the chance. One time Hubby was searching for her and found that she had wandered on to the freeway! Thank the gods she was safe. She could find a way out of any fence, so we really had to watch that. In recent years, her most ambitious expedition became her daily "orbit" around the outside of the house.

We sometimes talked about breeding her, but in the end, Hubby couldn't stand the thought of his baby Mavis pregnant and giving birth.

It was hard to watch Mavis really start to age. She wanted to sleep most of the time. She lost most of her hearing. Her cataracts were getting worse and worse. She had to have fifteen teeth removed in March--bad teeth had already killed most of her siblings. She was getting pretty senile, and sometimes seemed very confused about normal routines, like going out to potty. Still, she was a happy enough dog, and didn't seem to be suffering.

This week, things went downhill for Mavis fast. She didn't want to eat. She would start to vomit, then fall on her side, shaking and vomiting. These seizures were really painful to watch, and Mavis was clearly confused and upset. I took her to the vet yesterday morning, and they confirmed what we already suspected: Mavis was critically ill. With aggressive treatment, we could have dragged her through another couple of years, maybe. That seemed cruel. So I went to the vet yesterday afternoon, and held her in my arms while the doctor gave her that final dose of medicine. She breathed a few last, heavy breaths, and then simply stopped, with her head cradled in the crook of my arm.

We will miss her deeply.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Guardsman in Iraq Punished Over Blog Post

From the AP: Guardsman in Iraq Punished Over Blog Post
By AMANDA KEIM, Associated Press Writer

Mon Aug 1, 7:41 PM

PHOENIX - An Arizona National Guardsman serving in Iraq has been demoted for posting classified information on his Internet Web log, an Army official said Monday.

Leonard Clark, 40, was demoted from specialist to private first class and fined $1,640, said Col. Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Soldiers in Iraq are allowed to maintain blogs or Web sites but cannot post information about Army operations or movements. They also are barred from posting information about the death of a soldier whose family hasn't yet been notified.

'The intent of the policy is not to violate soldiers' rights, but to safeguard soldiers,' Buckner said. Blogs are 'a growing phenomenon, I guess. It's something a lot of people do and has some uses.'

Buckner said he didn't know what kind of classified information Clark had posted.

Clark's blog contained two posts Monday, one with links to articles on him and one stating Clark would comply with a gag order.

Calls to his home Monday by The Associated Press went unanswered and contact information for him in Iraq wasn't immediately available.

Clark is a Glendale, Ariz., kindergarten teacher who has run for the state Legislature four times. He could have appealed the ruling but declined to, Buckner said.

Clark's company was called to active duty in November and has been in Iraq since around January, said Capt. Paul Aguirre, a spokesman for the Arizona National Guard. The company is expected to be brought home next January.

Define Mainstream?

I was listening to Episode 3 of Lance and Graal this morning (yes, I'm an episode behind), and heard an interview with Tom Johnson, a Wiccan parent who was recently prohibited from teaching his son about his religion. The whole situation is really quite shocking. Both parents are Wiccan, and their 10-year-old son has been raised Wiccan from birth. There is no disagreement between the parents about whether to raise their son in their religion, nor does the son disagree with this. Nevertheless, a commissioner and a judge have prohibited the couple from raising their son in the religion of their choice.

Tom Johnson has created a website about all this, which explains more: Define Mainstream?

In May of 2003, the Jones' separated and filed for divorce. A preliminary hearing gave the parents joint custody with physical custody being granted to the father.

In July of 2003, both parents and the child are interviewed by the Domestic Relations Counseling Bureau.

In February 2004, the parents attended the final divorce hearing. During it, the commissioner of the Indianapolis Judicial court system had concerns, specifically, about how their religion was practiced and what implications they had on the child. The father answered her questions to the best of his ability. Her specific concern, however, was if they practiced Satanism. His response was, “I can’t worship something if I don’t believe in it.”

Several weeks after the final hearing, both parents were shocked to read in the final divorce decree, “(j) That the parents are directed to take such steps as are needed to shelter (child) from involvement and observation of these non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals.” As both parents were Wiccan, they could not understand why the courts felt this needed to be included.

In March of 2004, an attempt was made by both parents to have the amendment removed from the divorce decree. In a Verified Motion to Correct Errors, their lawyer, Alisa Cohen, outlined how Wicca was a recognized religion, citing several court cases as well as including an excerpt from the U.S. Army Chaplain’s Handbook.

In November of 2004, a hearing was conducted with the parents, their lawyer and Judge Cale Bradford. The lawyer spent most of her time trying to dispel many of the negative myths and stereotypes surrounding Wicca. He ruled to keep the decree the following day.

In March of 2005, the father, along with his Indiana Civil Liberties Union attorney, Ken Falk, filed the brief with the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Monday, August 01, 2005

A Lugh Myth for Lughnasad

For Lughnasad, I would like to offer a link: A Lugh Myth, by Todd K. Herriott


In the early days of our ancestors, long before humans became separate from nature, the peoples of northern Europe lived in harmony with the land. Cultivation of the Great Mother for food was not yet know to these first peoples. They fed from the wild berries in the forests and ate from the roots of certain plants, but they had long relied upon the hunt to provide them with sustinence. Tribes hunted the wild stag to feed themselves and provide food for the winter. The hunt of the Stag was a very important aspect of these first peoples' lives. Before the men and women ventured into the woods, they would ask the Spirit of the Great Mother to allow them to be successful in their hunt. They would then ask the Spirit of the Stag to offer himself up to them, so that they might have food and survive. The Spirit of the Stag would appear unto them, and tell them how to hunt that they might be successful. The men and the women would then go off in search of the Stag. When he gave of himself, they would honor him with prays and thanks and to the Great Mother for her protection and guidance.

As time went on, and the first peoples prospered under the care of the Great Mother and the warmth of Her Sun, the tribes grew in number and spread out over the land. The hunt continued year after year to support them as the Stag offered himself up to them for food. Soon, though, there became too many of the first people to feed from the hunt alone, and they grew fearful. The Stag could only provide so much food for the people, and He knew that soon, He would not be enough. The peoples knew no other means of food except for the hunt and they cried out to the Great Mother and Her Sun to bring food to them. They begged Her to bring more Stag to them, or to show them other ways to provide for them. With each hunt, they sent out prayers and pleas, hoping that She might hear them and answer. Still, they feared what might come of them when the dark winter would come over the land.


... for the rest, please click A Lugh Myth by Todd K. Herriott.

Garden update

Happy Lughnasad!



Here's my devotional garden, now that things are really in bloom. I know this isn't the greatest photo. That's because my digital camera needs a new memory card, so I had to take this with my Palm Zire 71. Love that nicotiana... so pretty. It does need some weeding again, so I'll try to get to that this week.


What I was really excited about, though, was some of the lilies blooming. My Casablanca lilies are blooming right now, and are very fragrant. Beautiful!

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