Sunday, September 27, 2009

hitler's children

hitler's children

"I don't hate the Germans [Nazis] - no. If I hated them, I'd be no better than them."

Such a profound hurt around this. I really hope these people get the help they desperately need.

Captured Photo Collection » Ian Fisher : American Soldier Photos

Captured Photo Collection » Ian Fisher : American Soldier Photos

Friday, September 25, 2009

CHAITEN VOLCANO ERUPTS IN CHILE - UPI.com

Amazing photos. That photographer has more nerve than I do!!!!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Balloon Juice » Balloon Juice Dictionary

Lefty blogger dictionary. Probably only of interest to myself. Posting it here so I can find it later. Feel free to ignore.

Balloon Juice » Balloon Juice Dictionary

Monday, September 21, 2009

YouTube - She without arm, he without leg - ballet - Hand in Hand

YouTube - She without arm, he without leg - ballet - Hand in Hand

This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. The first time I watched it, I didn't even notice she had only one arm.

These people obviously are not sitting around feeling sorry or making excuses for themselves. So inspiring.

The Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Arnica for Pain Relief - Well Blog - NYTimes.com

The Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Arnica for Pain Relief - Well Blog - NYTimes.com: "One randomized study published in 2007 looked at 204 people with osteoarthritis in their hands and found that an arnica gel preparation worked just as well as daily ibuprofen, and with minimal side effects. Another study of 79 people with arthritis of the knee found that when patients used arnica gel twice daily for three to six weeks, they experienced significant reductions in pain and stiffness and had improved function. Only one person experienced an allergic reaction."

Alternative Medicine Soars as Pharmaceuticals Sour

Alternative Medicine Soars as Pharmaceuticals Sour:

Despite a ruinous economy, dietary supplement sales in particular have seen continued growth over the past several years. According to research conducted by Nutrition Business Journal, dietary supplement sales increased 6 percent to $25.2 billion in 2008. The year prior also saw a 6 percent increase, despite slowing growth in most other product sectors.

Meanwhile, growth in prescription drug sales has been rapidly declining for the past eight years, slowing by 52 percent in 2007 over 2006 figures, and plunging a whopping 65 percent in 2008. Overall, growth in pharmaceutical drug sales has been dwindling since 2001, a sign that the tides may definitively be turning in favor of alternative and natural remedies.

Many insurance companies are also now covering alternative therapies including chiropractic care, acupuncture, massages, biofeedback, and herbal remedies. Some even offer discounted memberships to health clubs and other wellness incentive programs to encourage disease prevention and healthy living. After all, prevention is the best medicine as far as insurance companies are concerned as it saves them money in the long run.

Integrating medicine is proving to serve as an amiable catalyst for educating the public about the legitimacy and superiority of a natural, preventive approach to health care. It is guiding public thought away from the reactional symptom management paradigm towards natural disease remediation and prevention. As a result, what was once considered alternative is quickly becoming the new conventional.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Religion Professor at Fredericton Catholic University Moonlighting as Abortion Clinic Escort

THIS is intelligent faith in action.

Religion Professor at Fredericton Catholic University Moonlighting as Abortion Clinic Escort

The Daily Coyote » Blog Archive » Untitled

The Daily Coyote » Blog Archive » Untitled: "But then, years later when I was living in New York City, my tattoo’s meaning revealed itself to me after a profoundly beautiful encounter with a bum on the Alphabet Streets.

Fever Fatale, literally, means fatal fever. Death by burning. Hell. And I saw time as a landscape, as in Slaughterhouse 5. And I saw how we are so often apt, when someone slights us - whether it be an unkind word or cutting us off at an intersection - to snap at the next person we see, and the negativity is perpetuated, on and on, travelling further and gaining momentum. And I decided to do my best, when on the receiving end of meanness or negativity, to keep it at my wrist, to stop it there instead of passing it on to someone else."

This weekend - flow of consciousness style

Late, late, late (of course) to pick up Daisey and Renée to go camping.
Too much – way too much – stuff (of course) in the car.
Panic.
Lock keys in trunk.
Spare car key is also locked in trunk.
CAA comes quickly to save the day.
Whoops, now Daisey and Renée are running an errand.
Wait.
Okay, FINALLY on our way! WOOT.
Make planned stop at medical supply store.
Which stethoscope would be best balance of cost and functionality?
Which colour of stethoscope best suits me?
Choices are:
black (boring);
grey (almost as boring);
raspberry (too girly – who will take me seriously with a gum-coloured steth?);
forest green (tempting, but perhaps too dark);
burgundy (so 80s);
bright orange (hmm, not in the clown unit);
Caribbean blue (Renée picked this one too, but with 100+ classmates, there’s bound to be some redundancy).
Retail personnel take not-so-secret pleasure informing med student she’s wearing the steth incorrectly.
Going with the Caribbean blue – after much indecision.
(Yes, eventually I’ll post photos.)
Okay, on the road now finally.
Wait – is that an LCBO? Do we have any booze to take with us?
A bottle of wine is definitely in order.
Okay, NOW we’re on the highway.

We stop somewhere along the way and rip apart the cold roast chicken that was supposed to be our dinner.
Apples, grapes, rice cakes too.
We talk and we dream and we make lists!!!

Pitching tent, buying firewood.
Someone – not me – suggests all three of us will fit nicely and warmly into the (borrowed) three-person tent.
Watching the sunset from the rugged Georgian Bay coastline. Beautiful.
Dinner is somewhat burned, but still delicious.
Sitting by the fire for hours, talking talking talking
Telling stories
Sharing
Laughing
We’re each wearing multiple layers against the cold, and I’m draped in a warm blanket too.
Finally we go to the shore again.
Stars stars stars stars stars …

In the tent, Renée gets middle spot.
Poor Renée.
With all the layers and body heat and down-filled sleeping bag, it’s hot.
I try to open my sleeping bag, etc. to cool off a bit, but we’re packed in like sardines.
Manage to sleep
At least more than Renée probably did.
Morning
Sunrise is beautiful.
Daisey and I are up to enjoy it.
Relaxing breakfast.
Studying a little on the rocky beach.
Pack up, travel home.
Renée tries to sleep in the car.
Short hike on the beautiful Hockley Valley trail, north of Orangeville.

Back in the city
Tired and nursing another sore ankle
But feeling great.
Can’t wait to go again!

Chicago Mom Breastfeeds in Public - The Doctors Next Door

Chicago Mom Breastfeeds in Public - The Doctors Next Door: "Did you see the Sun Times last week? The picture on the front page, of all places, showed two moms nursing their babies in public.

According to the article, Lauren Trost was nursing her 7 month old son, Hank, outside in a public plaza in Lincoln Square. Another mom walking by with her two young children noticed that Lauren was doing this outside in public and threatened to call the police. She told others gathered in the plaza that it was indecent and illegal.

So, guess what Lauren did? Not only did she continue to nurse her baby, she also rallied other breast feeding moms and their nursing infants to join in on a breast feeding protest, again, outside in public.

What a nervy, gutsy, and inconsiderate thing to do."

Personally, I think Trost's transgression was naming her child Hank. However, the rest of the article is definitely worth a read. Breastfeeding needs not only to be accepted but ENCOURAGED whenever possible.

Oh, and interesting note in the article: the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until age two. So if you want to get all uppity about a woman breastfeeding once her child has grown teeth, please keep your prejudices to yourself. :)

YouTube - Cat Under Sink

YouTube - Cat Under Sink

I found Narnia! « Lolcats ‘n’ Funny Pictures of Cats – I Can Has Cheezburger?

I found Narnia! « Lolcats ‘n’ Funny Pictures of Cats – I Can Has Cheezburger?

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

People of Walmart

People of Walmart

Daily Kos:  Think the Teabaggers Are Crazy Now?  Just Wait.

Daily Kos:  Think the Teabaggers Are Crazy Now?  Just Wait.: "We have to marginalize and ultimately ignore these people now--and that goes for everyone from top to bottom: Democratic legislators, organizational activists, traditional media figures, bloggers, and regular voters. These crazies are already taking up far too much of our valuable time, attention and discourse. And it's only going to get worse. Much, much worse.

Glenn Beck is right about one thing: this is just the beginning of the road for these people. It's only going to get more depraved, more delusional, more psychotic and more potentially violent from here.

The sooner they are ignored and forgotten, the better. Otherwise this freak show, like a train wreck in slow motion, will be all anyone can focus on, to the detriment of our body politic and of the regular Americans who voted for President Barack Hussein Obama in overwhelming numbers."

Monday, September 14, 2009

Bill Gates, Sr.: HuffPost Review: Half the Sky

Bill Gates, Sr.: HuffPost Review: Half the Sky: "what I find remarkable is that more men around the globe don't realize how much stronger they would be if partnered with a strong woman. Way too often and in too many corners of the globe, women are denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. It's wrong and it's backward, and of course, the irony is that by keeping women down, men lose out too."

Monday, September 07, 2009

Alive quotes & quotations

Alive quotes & quotations: "“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”"

Green Leafy Vegetables - 5 Reasons to Eat Your Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

Green Leafy Vegetables - 5 Reasons to Eat Your Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

Have you had your dark green leafy vegetables today???

If yes, congratulations for being a savvy eater! WOOT WOOT for you!!!! :) Tell me how you like to eat them! Looking for more great recipes! :)

The joy of (UN) sex – Chris Blattman

Cute. And frustrating.

Mark Hyman, MD: Why Current Thinking About Autism Is Completely Wrong

Mark Hyman, MD: Why Current Thinking About Autism Is Completely Wrong

YouTube - Trace Bundy & Sungha Jung playing Canon on Acoustic Guitar

YouTube - Trace Bundy & Sungha Jung playing Canon on Acoustic Guitar

Just beautiful ...

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Gonzales_Libretto.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Via Rachel Maddow, this is very very cool. For junkies of U.S. politics. :)

Gonzales_Libretto.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Summary of the day

With the exception of going to school to pay my tuition for the upcoming term, a lovely visit with Vivian, and a few other errands, I have spent HOURS today working on the "fall" cleaning of my apt. Dusted + rearranged books and bookshelves, cleaned out the cupboards under every sink, reorganized storage, swept, mopped, vacuumed, scrubbed. Still some leftover bits to do, but, I feel both beat up + accomplished. :)

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

An amazing reversal

Took my cat Cleo in for a 2nd opinion this afternoon. Unlike the first vet's dire diagnosis, THIS vet thinks it's entirely possible she's totally healthy. Thinks the low WBC count may have just been stress b/c I'd been away, esp. ...since Cleo has GAINED weight with the new food and responded very quickly to the antibiotics last week. I SOBBED in her office with relief. I think I may need a drink now.