tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309316632024-03-14T12:05:59.889-06:00Duluth Poly Paireclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-25829335831897596582011-02-22T17:14:00.002-06:002011-09-18T14:56:42.901-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd25rP-s3EJ3sIEoVmQjn1iA2LafkBl2Fbq4F63ufMAugB8leJCyQjALxF-qad5EgpVAFNi-nop6iG8VjHEeT6swe4-wjQFy_HL6EWXm7NNCEfThy3NNhQCVNkGiaKZoDYDMXOg/s1600/2011_09050056.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd25rP-s3EJ3sIEoVmQjn1iA2LafkBl2Fbq4F63ufMAugB8leJCyQjALxF-qad5EgpVAFNi-nop6iG8VjHEeT6swe4-wjQFy_HL6EWXm7NNCEfThy3NNhQCVNkGiaKZoDYDMXOg/s400/2011_09050056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653790891865083634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RHgUN4ocXnTvLXytl5MTfikdbPp6ud9x7NEjG6mV9TfR-_egaiLvZJqTb1D8MEagdQ1NZ-q3eaN6PaEufBvtzC4KRzF2xOAuYZvMNceUcqpfeIznelRaqdBcdNOFlGL3nDsiwA/s1600/P9190266_09_29.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RHgUN4ocXnTvLXytl5MTfikdbPp6ud9x7NEjG6mV9TfR-_egaiLvZJqTb1D8MEagdQ1NZ-q3eaN6PaEufBvtzC4KRzF2xOAuYZvMNceUcqpfeIznelRaqdBcdNOFlGL3nDsiwA/s400/P9190266_09_29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576657332200753874" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a name="quinn"><span style="">"Mutilation</span> ... implies the cutting off or removal<br />of a part essential to completeness, not only of a<br />person but also of a thing, and to his or its perfection,<br />beauty, entirety, or fulfillment of function." </a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""><i><span style="">Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms</span></i><i style=""><span style=""><br />Springfield, Massachusetts: G. & C. Merriam Company</span></i><span style="">, 1968</span></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The practice of circumcision seems to be older then written history and many accounts were noted before the practice became a religious right of the Hebrew tribes. In all these accounts the act was done as distinct cultural or spiritual ritual. Ancient Egyptians were at one time believed to have practiced religious circumcision later interpretation of hieroglyphics having concluded they did not and what the hieroglyphics depicted was ritual shaving of priest pubic hair. However not every culture has passively accepted religious circumcision and several cultures outlawed it including the Romans who punished physicians performing the operation to death (Paulus p66). </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span>Moving ahead to western practice of circumcision we find the first introduction of popularity in America during the late 1800s where surgeons mistakenly thought circumcision provided children relief from a variety of diseases including epilepsy, paralysis, hernia, and even mental illness. Early the 1900s the common belief prevailed among physicians that even if circumcision did not aid in elimination of disease they believed it did curb masturbation which was erroneously contributed too sexual deviation and mental illness.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -9pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>As the century progressed male genital mutilation continued however reasons grew more scientific and cleanliness was sited as the important reason for the procedure and it was considered a sanitary procedure however masturbation still was a significant reason for male genital mutilation. One prominent doctor like McGee wrote “whether it is curative or not it is conservative, and removes one source of irritation from an exquisitely sensitive organ. I would favor circumcision, however, independent of existing disease, as a sanitary precaution.... (1.) The exposure of the glans to friction, etc., hardens it, and renders it less liable to abrasion in sexual intercourse, and consequently venereal ulcer. (2.) It is acknowledged to be useful as a preventive of masturbation. (3.) It certainly renders the accident of phymosis and paraphymosis impossible. (4.) It prevents the retention of sebaceous secretion and consequent balanitis. (5.) It probably promotes continence by diminishing the pruriency of the sexual appetite. And its performance surely settles forever the question of reflex trouble as to that particular cause.” (McGee page103)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>This revolutionary idea of male genital mutilation however was indigenous for medical reasons only in the United States as the rest of the western world never accepted it as a medical necessity. In Europe it is uncommon and statistics indicate between 80 and 95 percent of men worldwide are uncircumcised.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The largest reason for this is what the rest of the world long ago accepted is there is no medical reason for male genital mutilation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">Followers A survey taken in Denver, CO showed that circumcision is done for purely social reasons. In Korea boys are circumcised in their preteen years, and 61% of them stated in a survey that they were circumcised to avoid ridicule by their peers. In 1965 the circumcision rate in the US was 85%, which was the highest occurrence in the US at any time. In 2006 the rate was 56%, a drastic decline. Western states have consistently had a much lower occurrence than other areas of the country. It is projected that by 2014 the percentage of circumcised males will be in the minority. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>The effects of circumcision on an infant are hard to understand. Doctors once claimed that infants couldn’t feel the circumcision because their nervous systems were underdeveloped at birth. It has been shown, however, that this is blatantly false.<span style=""> </span>It is extremely painful, and the APA and the CPS have recommended that the pain should be controlled with pain medication. The long term negative psychological impact of circumcision is also worth considering. Recent studies have found striking connections between birth trauma and adult post traumatic stress and suicide (www.cirp.org/pain). Survey was conducted by NOHARMM between 1993 and 1996 in which 546 American circumcised men participated. The psychological effects that they reported: rage(54%), depression/resentment(59%), drug or substance abuse or addiction(29%).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The American Academy of Pediatrics, in its most recent policy statement, released in 1999, has found insufficient data to recommend circumcision as a routine procedure. No actual benefits have been proven, and the claims of potential benefits have been proven insignificant. The report recognizes the extreme pain and trauma caused by circumcision as evidenced by large increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels during circumcision. It also estimates the cost of male circumcision annually is between $150 and $270 million dollars a year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span>According to the American Cancer Society circumcision doesn’t prevent penile cancer and most research shows it also does little to prevent STDs or infections.<span style=""> </span>“The American Cancer Society “does not consider routine circumcision to be a valid or effective measure to prevent cancers” and finds that “penile cancer rates in countries which do not practice circumcision are lower than those found in the United States.” in other phrasing, the overall rate of penile cancer is so low that the "benefit" is negligible. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Although some studies indicate that circumcision reduces the spread of STDs and urinary tract infections, the AAP discredited them as flawed in its 1999 policy statement, which it reaffirmed in 2005. The AMA acknowledges that some studies have linked circumcision to a lower rate of UTIs in the first year of life, but that such infections are rare in any case (0.4 to 1 percent).” Obviously even in other countries behavioral factors appear to be far more important risk factors<sup> </sup>in the acquisition of HIV infection than circumcision status.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>The foreskin of an un-mutilated penis acts as a barrier covering that maintains the glans as an internal organ, shielding it and the urinary opening from graze and germs. The foreskin’s inner surface is a mucous membrane similar to the eyelid or inside of the mouth. It produces lubricants, decontaminating secretions, and antimicrobial proteins like lysozyme found in tears and breast milk. It also maintains ideal acid balance and temperature. In infancy, the foreskin lips dilate only enough to allow for the passage of urine, protecting the developing glans from exposure.<br />The foreskin produces a natural emollient known as smegma, as do female genitals. Pediatrician Paul M. Fleiss describes it as “the most misunderstood most unjustifiably maligned substance in nature.” Once thought by physicians of the 1800s to be a germ-trapping substance that was also unclean itself, this natural secretion helps to keep the glans clean and healthy, just as tears cleanse and lubricate the eyes. Accumulation of smegma can be prevented by simply rinsing it away on a regular basis. (Fleiss page 8)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span>We now see why male genital mutilation is a useless medical procedure however let’s explore why instead of circumcision many call it male genital mutilation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The fore skin is full of sensitive nerve ending which greatly enhance male sexual pleasure. Removed foreskin takes with it about 240 feet of nerves and 20,000 nerve endings. Circumcision may also remove the highly erogenous frenulum. And since the foreskin keeps the glans moist, the glans is more sensitive in an intact male.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span>In conclusion lets accept our bodies are a part of a natural evolution and any body modification is choice .however neonates have no choice therefore circumcision is male genital mutilation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Reference page</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Paulus, <cite>Sententiae</cite> 5:22:3–4, in Linder, <cite>Jews in Roman Imperial Legislation</cite> (n. 64), pp. 117–20.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rosalind M. Janssen and Jack J.Janssen, <cite>Growing Up in Ancient Egypt</cite> (London: Rubicon Press, 1990), pp. 90–98.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">McGee, "Genital Irritation as a Cause of Nervous Disorders," 103-05.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gleaned from the internet 3/3/2010http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWyt9jLELsY</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gleaned from the internet 3/4/2010 http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;103/3/686</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gleaned from the internet 3/2/2010 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/PDF/circumcision.pdf</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gleaned from the internet 3/3/2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/philadelphia/circumcision.htm</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/letters/1996-02_ACS/</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">http://www.circumstitions.com/Koop.html#false</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">http://www.eskimo.com/~gburlin/mgm/hampton1.html</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-59767207993232331012010-11-29T17:40:00.000-06:002010-11-29T17:40:43.540-06:00Of The Wand And The Moon - Here's To Misery (A Toast)<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DVCF_IJ-Nm4?fs=1" width="425" frameborder="0" height="344"></iframe>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-14934907916849293022010-11-05T13:10:00.000-06:002010-11-05T13:10:27.663-06:00Thanksgiving: A Native American View<object style="background-image: url("http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/6RwCPaZujZM/hqdefault.jpg");" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6RwCPaZujZM?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6RwCPaZujZM?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-90924409331801297402010-09-15T13:13:00.002-05:002010-09-15T13:20:17.762-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9XbVjRnsV-JQaCfZt9Z7gLYxks0biN_LisKKalp343ypveDrEQLBDCMiMlft925bN1pQLje7ETykQ1dEnGwmO9wgkE2wrSu0q5chcKHe_iCtQn8YtdD39_wlRR0zQsnjDHW-fA/s1600/alt070.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9XbVjRnsV-JQaCfZt9Z7gLYxks0biN_LisKKalp343ypveDrEQLBDCMiMlft925bN1pQLje7ETykQ1dEnGwmO9wgkE2wrSu0q5chcKHe_iCtQn8YtdD39_wlRR0zQsnjDHW-fA/s400/alt070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517205576566836370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfExWKpaDmuRMOzajFs4u91LIT1XQX9D92p44hIIRtl1BqP6MitogZacPhwkiXOVxREX-0SU1J3d6aMIE8zVSs-nLTP5E7PM-O0SG7c0P6UN6oCdRe_lk-PYty8w2N6fjUM2zfQ/s1600/exp2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfExWKpaDmuRMOzajFs4u91LIT1XQX9D92p44hIIRtl1BqP6MitogZacPhwkiXOVxREX-0SU1J3d6aMIE8zVSs-nLTP5E7PM-O0SG7c0P6UN6oCdRe_lk-PYty8w2N6fjUM2zfQ/s400/exp2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517205559050378882" border="0" /></a><br />Humor at Duluth/Superior pride 2010eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-45921084723590593502009-07-15T09:30:00.001-05:002009-07-15T09:30:21.416-05:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210862.The_Male_Body_A_New_Look_at_Men_in_Public_and_in_Private" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and in Private" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172726148m/210862.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210862.The_Male_Body_A_New_Look_at_Men_in_Public_and_in_Private">The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and in Private</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44779.Susan_Bordo">Susan Bordo</a><br/><br/><br /> My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52174572">4 of 5 stars</a><br/>I can almost positively say I have never read or thought about the penis as I have in the last week. Usually I can find a focal point that sticks with me in my reading however Professor Bordo’s writing floods the mind with information, imagery, and because I am male reflection as well. I appreciate the difference she highlights between the phallus and the penis. The phallus in ancient times was a highly spiritual symbol and often represented by the sword or dagger while the counterpart the vagina was a cup.<br /><br/>The sword is like many images Bordo named hard and erect the counter symbol the cup open. These are spiritual symbols of fertility more then sex, while in ancient spiritually sex for pleasure was not given the negativity it would acquire with the western world after Judeo-Christian believes took hold. I grew up in urban neighborhoods that had a mix of cultures and I don’t remember the slang or reference for machismo having as much a focus on the penis as it did on the testicles. ”He’s got balls” or similar refrains were popular, men who had large families earned a kind of respect for being virile. <br /><br/>I did appreciate that men were also somewhat subjected to the junk cultural brainwashing inflicted on women as in the last decade we became the Viagra nation. Professor Bordo’s comparisons between male anatomy and machines were interesting in this context as men now sought to perform and be potent in bed. <br /><br/> If a man perceives him self as his penis and he experiences impotence, I would imagine this would be a large internal crisis that compounds itself by its nature as the more depression and anxiety it causes the worse the problem could become. I think if there is only one thing we all learn from this book it is the fact we are not our penis or our breast. We are not how thin we are or how muscular, we are what we are upstairs hidden from others scrutiny.<br /><br/><br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/224634-darren">View all my reviews >></a>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-9158759389329731072009-04-10T09:02:00.001-05:002009-04-10T09:02:17.723-05:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/451157.The_Politics_of_Women_s_Bodies_Sexuality_Appearance_and_Behavior?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Politics of Women's Bodies: Sexuality, Appearance, and Behavior" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174881195m/451157.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/451157.The_Politics_of_Women_s_Bodies_Sexuality_Appearance_and_Behavior?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Politics of Women's Bodies: Sexuality, Appearance, and Behavior</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/122690.Rose_Weitz">Rose Weitz</a><br/><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52174727?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 4 of 5 stars<br/> Female bodies, as the author shows have never been thought of as belonging to the individual female. This concept has always had some male justification based on religious scientific and/or medical belief. Historically female bodies were thought to be property of the father to be passed onto a husband. While treatment of females has in seen improvement in many areas we still find that women today are not treated as equals various authorities’ still issue opinion that female bodies and/or minds are inferior to men’s. I think that in reality while we do not see the mass public acceptance of discrimination/violence toward women today many attitudes have not changed. Sometimes advances in situations can lull people into a false contentment and I think this is evident in gender equalitarian issues. <br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/224634-darren?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-56665988376906717852008-11-05T13:59:00.000-06:002008-11-05T14:04:17.533-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktitI6bh5vC3iCKeFaN0NkbExapSs1yKFk7ZYAucCHSsMdPJFJoibgLtxA-UARR2zTIb6QHeZphhi3zrvZjYa4rJPooNdtZsVW1q5Px-5bvhOXdMUKncbYSMHF49i-cOlSbTPVQ/s1600-h/tattoo+idea.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktitI6bh5vC3iCKeFaN0NkbExapSs1yKFk7ZYAucCHSsMdPJFJoibgLtxA-UARR2zTIb6QHeZphhi3zrvZjYa4rJPooNdtZsVW1q5Px-5bvhOXdMUKncbYSMHF49i-cOlSbTPVQ/s320/tattoo+idea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265266720468565186" /></a><br /> Optimism and Pessimism play a large part in our day to day existence and of course the role they play is in our thoughts in what some refer as our self talk. The average person usually chooses to mix more optimism into this internal monologue but depending on their life experiences and coping skills may mix in a moderate dose of Pessimism. Often beyond our life experience our career choice may have an influence on the amount of optimism and pessimism included in our thoughts. A human service work may be optimistic when thinking about any particular subject, while a stock broker may be more pessimistic. In each case the optimism or pessimism may have served them well in past professional decision whoever professionally each has learned to look at things from both sides. We can see where an overly pessimistic stockbroker will miss wonderful market opportunities whereas an over optimistic human service worker might put a client at risk or burn out in their profession rapidly.<br /> In my late teens and early 20s I was a very pessimistic person and a member of the punk culture that was largely based on anarchy. While anarchist ideology in itself is not all negative the punk brand we practiced in the late 70s and early 80s was based on the perceived failure of the generation before us. I suspect that most involved in the sub culture were from dysfunctional backgrounds like myself.<br /> When I hit an emotional brick wall in my late 20s after ending my addictive behaviors it became necessary to learn a new method of thought or self talk. A large part of this was to start taking personal responsibility for the things that were in my control as well as releasing things that were out of my control. I with the help of others learned that the abuses that lead to my anger was not my fault, however lashing out at others with anger was not acceptable. I found as my self talk became less pessimistic as I learned new coping skills my anger greatly decreased as I no longer based new situation entirely on past experience. <br /> One of the things I have learned in life is I never have a bad day however I may have had some bad minutes. If I spend the rest of my day dwelling on those bad minutes and basing my perception on those bad minutes then my day will be in my perception a bad day. However if I let go of dissatisfaction those minutes caused my day turns around and my self talk is optimistic one again. One phrase I use in my kit of positive self talk tools is “It is never too late to start your day over.”eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-20275348623568435162008-08-11T13:26:00.002-05:002008-08-11T13:34:32.371-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzNWb-clx6-Yxmfr9fiKPI-A_nrCcLUyJb8y9jlX0Qn2-eqeU9P3IUve39DWGD-WctWjd9PE5-qgltPX7XZPyb_dXuObXCJCl2S8o6wWyk0R6PPZtiWfh6wadf6PH_iEwZgSfRg/s1600-h/0627081136.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzNWb-clx6-Yxmfr9fiKPI-A_nrCcLUyJb8y9jlX0Qn2-eqeU9P3IUve39DWGD-WctWjd9PE5-qgltPX7XZPyb_dXuObXCJCl2S8o6wWyk0R6PPZtiWfh6wadf6PH_iEwZgSfRg/s320/0627081136.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233329133364551026" /></a><br /><br />While hiking with the Dog today I noticed more graffiti painted on the beautiful<br />boulders and elephant rocks.This disturbs me as well as mystifies me.It also lead to a line of thought.<br /> In nature, everything seems to happen for a specific reason or purpose. Things live by subsisting on nutrients form in their ecosystem. Besides sustenance for a living thing very often the very act of feeding can be part of a system, which holds the ecosystem in balance. Examples might be birds eating bugs that if were to over populate might defoliate a forest. Another animal eats the bird as if the birds were to over populate disease might decimate the population to levels rendering it ineffective to hold the insect population in check. All things die and nourish organisms and soil in the process. The economic production of man is not based upon a balance but upon an unlimited want of acquirement. Humans build automobiles, which use materials that will never enrich the earth, destroy other ecosystems in the process of their manufacture and use. Humans grow crops that are not native to their region and require other chemicals often none organic to thrive. The plants rob the soil leaving it barren without the aid of non-organic chemicals, which often poison the eco system.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-31916499246274725702008-08-06T23:04:00.002-05:002008-09-02T20:47:56.581-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYpVBpwpIbI3_lyYdl_1-9ydb6qHn-Lc_j1mqP0eofjzPa4OtJWj_PuY5B1n1Hli-emU2FevhGL7DsbpuJUk9I-2Tg1KSfj4baWcw2os_XMsQ1pjai2xfX02dlyOrFWLNHPJWog/s1600-h/penedent.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYpVBpwpIbI3_lyYdl_1-9ydb6qHn-Lc_j1mqP0eofjzPa4OtJWj_PuY5B1n1Hli-emU2FevhGL7DsbpuJUk9I-2Tg1KSfj4baWcw2os_XMsQ1pjai2xfX02dlyOrFWLNHPJWog/s320/penedent.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231622715027878530" /></a><br /><br /> The Hebrews and the Native Americans are two deeply spiritual cultures, their spirituality’s have many similar nuances and the two cultures share similar identifications. Individuals have gone, as far in fact to suggest that the Native Americans are the lost tribes of the Israelites, however I will not debate that theory. Interestingly there are quite a few similarities which do not necessarily contain spiritual connection. One example might be both cultures have nomadic backgrounds with tribal structures. Another is both cultures have survived attempted genocide and ethnic cleansing.<br /> The Hebrew religion known as Judaism is monotheistic with the deity known to their culture as Yahweh. Their idea of Yahweh was he was omnipotent and perfect, therefore if he was good all he created had reason for existence. Furthermore all events would have a reason for happening, even if man might not understand the reason. Their Yahweh is also a personal deity in the sense he has a love and interest in them.<br /> This is very relevant in the Israelite outlook on life as their deity is solid in idea and action and can be counted on to be consistent. During tragic events in Hebrew history, they never felt god had abandoned them; rather they looked to see how they had abandoned him.<br />This anonymous antidote might state it best “If I do not feel close to God, who moved?”<br /> While Yahweh is credited with creating all humans he specifies them in stated terms that they are his chosen people. Yahweh is also credited by the Hebrews as creating all the cosmos and everything they contain. The deity’s favor of man is also shown in his message that all that he created was to be of use to and submissive to man. The Hebrew idea of Yahweh being concerned with the lives of man also gave each individual a personal connection with Yahweh. While Yahweh dictates the way a man should live Yahweh also could be contacted directly by the individual by prayer. This is important in their faith and culture as it could bring great personal comfort and satisfaction.<br />Yahweh’s interest in them was to such a great extent that he spoke to them through messengers who became known as prophets. These prophets appeared at different times in the history of the Israelites and proved to them the interaction of Yahweh. Thorough the prophet’s, Yahweh would not only direct immediate actions but give rules for them to live by. The Hebrews grouped these rules into Rabbinic Law with ten being the most important as they were not only handed down to the prophet Moses, they were written on stone directly by Yahweh’s hand. These important laws of Yahweh are the Ten Commandments.<br />These Ten Commandments dictate imperatives of the Hebrew religious and social order. The first commandments also enforce the important concept of monotheism and importance that this concept is adhered to closely. Obvious moral and social rules are contained in the Ten Commandments such as not to kill or steal, they run deeper then the literal interpretations. A example might be the commandment that You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth Deuteronomy 5:6-5:21(The New International Bible 1984).While the obvious implications are clear this commandment could also clarify while Yahweh made matter and it is good, to be to attached to it would give it the semblance of a idol. <br />Anishinaabe<br />We next look at Native American spirituality from the Anishinaabe/Ojibwe perspective. The Ojibwe seem to worship many deities and even nature, this is not the case however. Native spirituality too has an omnipotent deity known simply as the Creator.<br />There are several different traditional stories as to the Creator’s creation of the cosmos however most start with the Creator dreaming about a world and creating this world<br />All traditions agree that the elements, plants, and animals came before people.<br />The Creator gave all things value even rock is included in stories as a living thing.<br />While People may have come last they have a gift not given to the rest of creation<br />For just like the creator they can dream, and have from those dreams creativity.<br /> The Creator also gave man an advantage by creating him last for he can learn from his animal and plant relations. The creator did not hand down rules that people must live by instead he placed them inside us. Just as the Bear knows how to hunt, people know how to live “mino-bimaadiziwin” the good life or correct life. Knowledge that people are born with would include honoring all that came before us, the Creator, the earth, the animals our elders and so on. Proving that honor by behaving positively and honestly as we do our best at using the special talents the creator gave us. Even the clans with in the tribes or bands are based upon nature, they suggest a purpose for each clan and as clans can not intermarry they keep the blood lines strong. The original clans consist of the crane, bear, marten, fish loon, deer or hoof, and bird; however other clans exist such as the raven and wolf clan. <br />Most stories or lessons are told about or from the view point of non humans. Another reason Anishinaabe spirituality seems to have other deities is that everything is seen as having part of the creator in it. The Creator however lacks a definitive gender like the Hebrew god Yahweh. There are certain things in the Anishinaabe way of life that have a definitive male or female definition. However there are many traditional meanings that contain both genders. The drum is often associated with the male Ojibwe however the music of the drum also represents the heartbeat. The first thing any person or animal hears in the womb is the heartbeat of the mother. Ojibwe do not claim to be the creators chosen people just as they do not look at their spirituality as separate from there day to day life it is seamless. Ojibwe awake everyday and give thanks to the creator and ask guidance to live mino-bimaadiziwin.<br />The Goal of human existence for the Hebrew is to fulfill Yahweh’s purpose for has chosen them as his people. The Hebrew believes that eventually they will again be placed in an exalted position on the earth. Some Hebrew takes this role very seriously and believes that Hebrews should be the priest of the world. This concept known as Messianism calls for the Israelites to continue to be good examples of Yahweh’s children till the day all will peacefully live on the earth with the Hebrews as head of state. This would be brought about with the aid of a catalyst in Hebrew form know as the messiah. However this is an ultimate goal and doesn’t contain precise prediction of when these events will take place. Therefore the Hebrews must follow Yahweh’s laws and continue to bear the weight of having to set an example for the rest of the world. The Hebrew is rich in written tradition and its greatest texts the Hebrew bible or Torah which in the plainest example is the first five book of the bible and the Talmud. While the Torah contains Yahweh’s laws The Talmud is very important as well as it give the Hebrews important interpretation of the Torah. However even the Talmud itself is open to interpretation which range from liberal views to very conservative. Returning to the theme of Yahweh as a loving and personal deity the Israelites see their god as knowing they are prone to disobeying his laws. Even this they believe adds to life as there would be no glory to virtue without the alternative.<br />The Hebrews are unified by there beliefs and there religion and feel to a certain extent what shames one of them shames them all and visa versa. The idea they are examples and the practice of unity has helped them withstand tragic persecution through out history. Instead of cowering in submission the Hebrew have arose from each period of persecution more determined to flourish. Their acceptance of injury has made them not defeatist but tough survivalist. Their religious views on matter have helped them triumph in history where other religions could not as being a merchant or lender was just as good in Yahweh’s eyes as any other profession. This fact is shown in their enormous contribution to all areas of from finance and art to fashion and science. <br />The Anishinaabe/Ojibwe Goal of human existence can be described in one word, natural. There is no real division in spiritual and earthly pursuits indigenous Americans and they live with the philosophy of nature. The earth is the mother of all and all will return to the earth eventually to recycle. Their views are proven to them in the cycle of the seasons. The elements of rock, wind, fire and water, which are the basic make up of the grandmother provide a support for all living things and they return to the grandmother and gratefully replenish her. We also see the human cycle in the seasons as each season holds a purpose which gracefully unfolds. A simplified explanation would be the spring brings birth and learning, the summer growth, the fall harvest and fulfillment, the winter death and renewal. <br />Another part of the creator is deeply instilled in all the cosmos contain and the Ojibwe call that part is called medicine. When we speak of Anishinaabe medicine we actually speak of two different things. One is the oblivious medicine which is a part of everything and becomes distinctly part each individual. This type of medicine and its stories are common; furthermore they are where you will find the differences pointed out in male and female. The other is the not so obvious or mysterious medicine that is the private area of the Midewiwin.<br />The Ojibwe traditions are oral and passed down from one generation to the next.<br />This is another reason why elders are respected. As man was the last thing on earth other living things are mans elders, stories revolve around them to instruct people on the natural way to the good life. Elder members of the band are also respected as they have gathered many stories and much can be learned from them. Some Elders become pipe carriers or pipe keepers, these elders have usually been picked by those who carried out the function before them. They instruct the people on all aspects of traditional life from ceremonies to the everyday life. <br /> Matter in the Indigenous Americans life is not what matters most as it is largely based on imaginary and finite values. As one elder told me “things that sparkle are always fun or pretty but man made sparkles fade”. The sparkle of the water snow or ice never fades” The realization that nature is cyclical has helped the indigenous American survive many hardships and persecution.<br />The Hebrew has a rich and warm host of traditions and rituals which color their religion. While after the fall of Canaan the priesthood of the Hebrews ends they still have a strong spiritual leadership in the rabbis. The rabbis or teachers just as the Ojibwe pipe carrier instruct and interrupt the Torah and Talmud. <br />The Hebrew also observe the Sabbath a weekly ritual that allows the Israelite to concentrate on their faith by Hebrew law the Sabbath is from Sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, a 24 hour period. The Sabbath also follows the bible chapter genesis where God rested on the 7th day. No work is done on this day and meals and other preparations are performed ahead of time. This by no means meals are Spartan or the day is dreary. It is quite the opposite. Meals are elaborate and leisurely.<br />Music and culturally significant stories unfold, this day set by religious law while meant to honor the deity also gave man a day to rest. Since family was is important and vital to Hebrew culture it also offered a full day that the family be together and find quality time to nurture their religion and relationships. Prayer and reading the Torah are also important rituals of the Sabbath, during the course of the year the entire Torah is read on Sabbath days. While Hebrew tradition is written in many ways it is also oral as usually the torah is read out loud to the children. The Israelites also have major holidays through out the year that are religious or cultural.<br /> The Ojibwe traditional rituals follow the seasons and since the spirituality is seamless most everyday task are parts of their spirituality. The making of food containers of birch or ash was first observed by giving thanks to the mother for the material, then later prayer while working to finish the implements. In fact most tasks begin with a prayer of thanks and/or offering to the mother. While this sounds very austere it is not, as it is done naturally. Simple everyday task such as the braiding of hair hold special significance.<br />“One day the mother was looking at the whole of the creator’s world, she lies on the grass and saw how useful it was to all of the creator’s children. It provided food for animals and in hard times it provided nutrients to soups. It was hearty and adapted to anything; it withstood drought and flood and lay still in the winter. The mother found a tall patch and sat braiding the long leaves together then took them to where she slept. She would wake in the morning to see her braid of grass and they reminded her to teach her children to be adaptable useful and to braid together in unity. Later her children learned to braid sweet grass in the same manner to dry and remind them of the lessons. Soon people were braiding their hair in the morning and praying; as the day went on they had a visual reminder of the lesson.” <br /> The indigenous people celebrate the seasons and honor events and people.<br />One way they do this is the Pow Wow. These events encompass all that is natural and good in the world. The celebration is so full of meaning one can not count all of the significance.<br />They are a time when all indigenous culture is celebrated by dance song drum and dress.<br />It is a time when all that is part of life is recognized for its service and goodness.<br />The humor and pain of life is expressed in dance and ritual, the season’s directions and elements are all seen in connection to the people. In modern times it has become a revival of the spiritual culture. It is a time when healing can take place and the indigenous people can learn of ways that were almost lost. They dance for those that suffered and died. They dance for those lost by the oppression. Indigenous people at Pow Wow Drum for the Warriors, who both in word and deed fought, even those warriors conscripted by a foreign power. They drum for their children who they see battle a world in conflicted values.<br />The Hebrews and the Anishinaabe share a great many spiritual similarities. They both nurture their children and thank the creator in many ways that seem mundane to the casual observer. They both are monotheistic with a belief that all that their separate deities<br />created had reason. While their view of matter and nature are different they share a pain created by oppression, greed and prejudice. They were both nomads by design and by circumstance who lost their homelands. They both have contributed a great deal to the world. They both in the end are not evangelical and their spirituality is ingrained in their racial heritage. The Hebrew see themselves as the stewards of mankind and the Native American as the stewards of nature.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-71144786525328565362008-06-22T20:29:00.004-05:002008-06-22T20:37:28.933-05:00Meandering thoughts....thoughts that shouldn't be here, there, anywhere...just been a not-good day for me (Lesli, BTW)<br /><br />Ha! Even took some stupid pictures today...here's one:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XwqL2WcD_9tO4KW0szLA4TafdIV6FxYvlEY3Ar3FErAYENs9FyYPSqLoNGsWXmnc0bDdRJCqkYxna1rKEwApoawSOYP1g84eKBHWTtsN7gthASyO9fFObydLZ2ESpx3b_s0Xgw/s1600-h/IM000109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XwqL2WcD_9tO4KW0szLA4TafdIV6FxYvlEY3Ar3FErAYENs9FyYPSqLoNGsWXmnc0bDdRJCqkYxna1rKEwApoawSOYP1g84eKBHWTtsN7gthASyO9fFObydLZ2ESpx3b_s0Xgw/s320/IM000109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214884411875926530" /></a><br /><br /><br />And this one "describes" what I have felt like today:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlh1pCARVyH7LDdFRZKJAETRFIS4kTub9fDGJRjmKqRAJdcDyjdylng-arM-sX4umVOWJnk69n3iFAMVwOkOA7CAhegn-0YguLpmccqdsvqnQBLiyC1Uu7MMOSAYl1eu8Av_44g/s1600-h/IM000118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlh1pCARVyH7LDdFRZKJAETRFIS4kTub9fDGJRjmKqRAJdcDyjdylng-arM-sX4umVOWJnk69n3iFAMVwOkOA7CAhegn-0YguLpmccqdsvqnQBLiyC1Uu7MMOSAYl1eu8Av_44g/s320/IM000118.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214884813852438194" /></a><br /><br /><br />I just don't know why I feel like this....I am happy with Darren and our life together...just have down days, sometimes.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-44033212016801238282008-01-31T15:11:00.000-06:002008-01-31T15:20:30.449-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPI8VbrinIuLp01MLUXp-lOIdFIkegj47hQY8KNlZCfoEFJc83ba1QGrc9oYZO5BCcLzO6XIKhcrjo7ztxzdwjhzK9uQfprBgAfsSkxB5HIgb40mSUunN-PZM_lun8JQCQWaVOA/s1600-h/memeorial+tat.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPI8VbrinIuLp01MLUXp-lOIdFIkegj47hQY8KNlZCfoEFJc83ba1QGrc9oYZO5BCcLzO6XIKhcrjo7ztxzdwjhzK9uQfprBgAfsSkxB5HIgb40mSUunN-PZM_lun8JQCQWaVOA/s320/memeorial+tat.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161751627184253282" /></a><br /><br /> Flashback<br />Just another Monday<br /> In the first six months Mondays were always the most difficult day<br />I also don't think anybody goes through grief in quite the same way because nobody ever has the exact same circumstances. I guess I always thought of grief as sadness, now I know grief can be much more. It can be overwhelming and paralyzing at times. Maybe sometimes grief wants to be heard no matter how well we maintain or how many months have past. One Monday I walked into her office. It matters not who she was, just that, she had lost her husband years before. I cried quiet gasping spasms at first, which slowed at some point to a slow outpouring of tears. Because you go on day-to-day doing what you know you must and people see you and don’t say anything. But it’s in you and no matter whom else is in your life or what you’re accomplishing you just want your grief to be heard. Your closest friend may not really know grief, but they know you need to survive so they will give you large amounts of positive reinforcement and a lover wants to ease your pain and may do so for a brief time with unselfish tenderness. But only the person who has packed away the cloths and drove them to the salvation army, packed away the personal belonging that did not seem to cry out to be given away to this friend or that relative. Then carried that box out too storage because you could not throw out anything else, that day. Only that person will let you cry and say nothing with word but their eyes will say everything they will say “yes you can grieve”. And when you’re done they will let you walk out with out a word but a simple thank you<br /> In 2001, my second wife was diagnosed with lung cancer two and a half years before she passed. We both were realistic about the outcome but we/she lived each day as if we knew not that outcome. We both thought “Plan the plan not the results was a great tool. We both believed people are spiritual beings having human experiences. She kept up with her pursuit of a double major till the last month of her life often taking as many as 19 credits. We both believed in altruism and were very involved in the community. We viewed death as a portal into the next adventure. I think in hindsight we both did pre-grieving. I remember one time after we had started dating we were at a gift shop and she was looking at post cards. She was crying very softly and started I ask what was wrong. She said she would miss her little dog “Baby Dog” when he passed. I said while baby dog was not young he had many years she said she knew she was just pre grieving.<br />She could cry over commercials on TV, she cried when she was happy or sad. She was very expressive and in touch with her feelings. It was one of the great things about her.<br />So while I had many days when the grief seemed crushing I just did my best to keep on keeping on because after all that's what she did.I did my crying in the morning in the shower often having to sit down and just let the water and grief pour over me but then I would get dressed and meet the day. While I miss her terribly at times I know her spirit has gone on.I need no signs because we believed faith was not knowing the spirit can but knowing the spirit will. I also have all the love still in my heart because love never dies and the memories are gifts which I shall always have. Our ten years together was wonderful and while I can wish we had had a hundred more I know I have many years ahead to learn the lessons I will need to learn when it is my time too move on.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-28270643658999410672007-12-22T01:42:00.000-06:002007-12-22T01:43:19.704-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70iR-k8Ubkos04zeMwasovbely2pnmm3tL_YAh0QTgEIyJ_pjTf52-nUVAwVNLjQrwyTjgQAqwmou8lD4MzIzrs7XiGJmxzsf7vCj3clF_Xb1n0T-a7N0MHpDH5VPe4n-YMu6tw/s1600-h/solstice+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70iR-k8Ubkos04zeMwasovbely2pnmm3tL_YAh0QTgEIyJ_pjTf52-nUVAwVNLjQrwyTjgQAqwmou8lD4MzIzrs7XiGJmxzsf7vCj3clF_Xb1n0T-a7N0MHpDH5VPe4n-YMu6tw/s320/solstice+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146699659853035938" /></a>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-85299375067690850112007-12-21T18:57:00.000-06:002007-12-21T18:58:09.456-06:00<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tlbki61OPco&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tlbki61OPco&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-27150070233890447492007-12-19T21:51:00.000-06:002007-12-19T21:53:50.088-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDlVVsPmJ_LB59jwnFuneAUKzb4zw-hbkIeJG6W8krcVenk2sap5Ck3CNqqz3iLbmMqf8CA8m1Ow64R1PQax_Y6EQqqmfyPLBqCFfUHhdWb7WMfx-gBf3Fp3Mtx-f-mCDXW1qpg/s1600-h/sofa02ssmaller.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDlVVsPmJ_LB59jwnFuneAUKzb4zw-hbkIeJG6W8krcVenk2sap5Ck3CNqqz3iLbmMqf8CA8m1Ow64R1PQax_Y6EQqqmfyPLBqCFfUHhdWb7WMfx-gBf3Fp3Mtx-f-mCDXW1qpg/s320/sofa02ssmaller.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145898261905275282" /></a><br /><br /> I see labels... and am glad to see some of the women stigmatized by the norms of patriarchal attitudes turned the negative to positive.<br /> I know I tend to sound like a broken record with this observation but it is tragic that so many things are still dictated by an ignorant notion that women are property.<br /> This of course is obvious in the double standard that men can be studs yet women should be chaste. I think that the example shown by those of same gender preference is the best way to deal with the word slut. Just as they claimed, the words queer, fag as their own, and devalued them as insults, women should claim the word slut. Many women have already including Janet Hardy who authored “The Ethical Slut”<br />Before the word slut became prominent, the word males used to describe any women who was deemed promiscuous (or even enjoyed sex) was nymphomaniac.<br />Kinsey had the right idea when commenting on the erroneous concept stated humorously<br />“A nymphomaniac is "Someone who has more sex than you do."<br /> A slut was a person who in their peers eyes were indiscriminate about with whom who they had sex. This was based more upon appearance and often personality clashes then upon actual knowledge of person’s sexual habits.<br />In high school, I hung out with an older crowd many of whom had already graduated or dropped out. I remember the term slut being used in a friendlier manner to describe casual sex; I think the term was “slut puppy” as in “your such a slut puppy” or I was such a slut puppy last night” I also recall the word “whore” being a more derogatory term and associated with a person using sexuality for unscrupulous purpose. However, it was also used erroneously because of personality clash or jealousy. I had a relationship in my late teens with a girl who had grown up in a suburb of Cleveland. She was estranged from her family because of an incident that happened to her in her SR year of high school.<br />She was a ministers daughter who was pretty much mainstream in her teens.<br />However, she attended a party, got drunk, and went to bed with the town Romeo. Several of the girls from her father’s church had also attended the party and became jealous. These girls engaged in an active campaign against her and she became the “slut”. She related to me that until that experience she had been a virgin. While traumatized at the time by the whole experience she related, “It had a positive effect in her growth as it lead to rejecting the values she was raised she felt if it had not been for that incident and her families lack of support she would have wound up like her mother.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-1187775345896155572007-11-21T17:54:00.000-06:002007-11-21T17:55:07.289-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdzNrFPMMptvuYeRk9QyyTMHuPLT0XLlsucvA73aCMTqd6e4Xf4mXpc8nJAV-vUymZN3nlCH7VuSxBhZeaMrOdmooAqTpXEWDTxSMgAfeW4F4T-0wWU0plQ7mUyeYat0E6n1s4g/s1600-h/awelfaregh2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdzNrFPMMptvuYeRk9QyyTMHuPLT0XLlsucvA73aCMTqd6e4Xf4mXpc8nJAV-vUymZN3nlCH7VuSxBhZeaMrOdmooAqTpXEWDTxSMgAfeW4F4T-0wWU0plQ7mUyeYat0E6n1s4g/s320/awelfaregh2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135446444878862338" /></a>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-13449163203868973262007-11-08T18:20:00.000-06:002007-11-08T18:25:28.689-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4H8gbH8N6YJNdKz2e8_hLfW1UWDIHP1SJIi4AvpRlT10IYutd_xSrHj3CKMrGg1AUFnuvrm_TzGQxYRNS4QqCIaorPaCHmjd1uurhIRe2jkrK0kMakvNGJLwbpIpdJRHsK7k0g/s1600-h/IM001907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4H8gbH8N6YJNdKz2e8_hLfW1UWDIHP1SJIi4AvpRlT10IYutd_xSrHj3CKMrGg1AUFnuvrm_TzGQxYRNS4QqCIaorPaCHmjd1uurhIRe2jkrK0kMakvNGJLwbpIpdJRHsK7k0g/s320/IM001907.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130630161414587378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14cz5MZwW8lO4ZskptzkZi6kk8EvGNulefB6eVikC3ozmOOLPhBRwy9pli7XPvJHBw4MEI7cpNnOodFs_xjxn0sAQIddHhJ8QolcNmKBklP8EtICAXetpDB2wt3CkO0h0LEGtAg/s1600-h/IM001885.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14cz5MZwW8lO4ZskptzkZi6kk8EvGNulefB6eVikC3ozmOOLPhBRwy9pli7XPvJHBw4MEI7cpNnOodFs_xjxn0sAQIddHhJ8QolcNmKBklP8EtICAXetpDB2wt3CkO0h0LEGtAg/s320/IM001885.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130629654608446434" /></a><br /><br />Spirituality and food.<br /><br />All through the human history, there has been a correlation between food and spirituality. We find the earliest unearthed fragments of ancient artifacts attest to this. Food is vital to survival and therefore involved the participation of the whole family and often the whole community. The gathering and preparation provided an active ground for socialization between family members. The meal served as a model of the family’s group efforts, and gathering to share the meal provided bonding and communication. The shared companionship is the nourishment that the spiritual needs to flourish and develop. Modern families can benefit from this concept as a family and as individuals. Meals involving the whole family in preparation and sharing of the meal, will eventually lead to the family members making their own connections; between the earth’s offerings to the family and the family’s connection to each other and their community as a whole, which is the true concept of shared spirituality.<br />Gathering food often took whole communities and families, this involved interaction between the people and groups. If we look to the past, we find many sacred practices associated with the hunting or gathering of food by families or communities. The ease, quantity, and quality of food are often seen as at the control of a higher power or deity. People offered Prayers of one form or another asking for success in the endeavor; these prayers passed on and became traditions or cultural based spiritual practices. Each person seems to develop a certain skill, which others appreciate or admire. This admiration while usually silent lends toward our appreciation of others. Skills involved in the hunting or gathering were taught or passed on. This was also true of the preparation of gathered food. The entire group held a sense of achievement and unity when the harvesting was done. <br />If we look back at history, many different groups have had spiritual rituals around meals or feast. Different cultures have seen that the sharing of food seems naturally to evoke conversation and promote fellowship or bonding. Examples of this are the ancient Mayas, the Hebrews and the Native Americans.<br />People sharing meals and each other’s company brings about the sharing of spirituality, as it comes from each other not an outside source.<br />Our interaction with others tends to invoke gratitude, which is an important aspect of spiritual unity. Just as the body needs substance to survive so to does the human heart crave the company of others. We see this in the popularity of potlucks, which are a feast where everyone has contributed too. Wakes are another form of feast that many cultures hold to mark a loved ones passing <br />How do we add this to our modern day lives? It is best when trying anything-new to start with simple concepts, like setting aside time during the week for at least one leisurely meal. Families can involve all in some of the gathering or preparation. Let the conversation lean toward each individual at the table. In addition, try to avoid talking about events not involving the family or group Dinning together, but do not make ridged rules. If you already have a prescribed blessing for meals, this is wonderful. In addition to or instead of formal prayer people may take turns saying one thing they are grateful for that day. People are always seeking meaning or spiritual understanding and usually they look outside for it. However, as indicated before it proves to be in interaction with others and meals provide a fertile ground for spiritual discovery and growth.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-61280963126491396002007-11-04T22:27:00.000-06:002013-10-14T14:04:12.129-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdqP_E-QiE6pKFlNPbjeacZ8oXG8lr9VUi5389Yjy1eMYr_xmxyo8v4QykSk-mKQK5wh5Gv2myZTVb17-7eSZ5AFQmsAmr_CvCYtWnXr3oM2xy3OQBZG4Onuh4KH5Ny78u-RvZw/s1600-h/leafs.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129209234458892066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdqP_E-QiE6pKFlNPbjeacZ8oXG8lr9VUi5389Yjy1eMYr_xmxyo8v4QykSk-mKQK5wh5Gv2myZTVb17-7eSZ5AFQmsAmr_CvCYtWnXr3oM2xy3OQBZG4Onuh4KH5Ny78u-RvZw/s320/leafs.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Fall Poem<br />
<br />
Another fall is giving way to winter. <br />
Many of the leaves quit their jobs <br />
Dropping to the ground to remain unemployed <br />
Then that is not entirely true <br />
They just switched jobs <br />
Done with their work in the photosynthesis and cellular respiration department.<br />
Done with the second career of entertaining us <br />
With their spectacular array of colors<br />
<br />
When the trees informed them, their services would no longer be needed<br />
Leafs embarked on a third labor.<br />
While still slightly entertaining and colorful on the forest floor<br />
They take on the job of being mulch compost<br />
Somewhat of a on the job training program for soil.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-37862726476361332452007-10-23T16:03:00.001-05:002007-10-23T16:03:35.335-05:00<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/773464/pregnancy_art.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/773464/pregnancy_art/">Pregnancy Art</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">Click here for more home videos</a></font>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-55598043989742418162007-10-15T11:26:00.000-05:002007-10-15T11:27:14.718-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz-yfNfV2I7r9vOckaXeoRhTrnJVOBqdMDwCjjSBnj98lxcrucGXgiMZ7KRhbZWHFJJ3bElyfQ216LdxJ-uzKyGa6l7mqS_XA1uaemU2qXmkVUWW5Y_q3h8OGTGNZiEwrY9Cw4A/s1600-h/V.Bellcourt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121600864633756626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz-yfNfV2I7r9vOckaXeoRhTrnJVOBqdMDwCjjSBnj98lxcrucGXgiMZ7KRhbZWHFJJ3bElyfQ216LdxJ-uzKyGa6l7mqS_XA1uaemU2qXmkVUWW5Y_q3h8OGTGNZiEwrY9Cw4A/s320/V.Bellcourt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.unobserver.com/layout4.php?id=3952&blz=1">Into the Great Beyond, Miigwech Vernon Bellecourt gaagige-Giga-waabamin </a></div>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-56964339028178790742007-10-13T23:19:00.000-05:002007-10-13T23:28:21.877-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LBQ-cqZ3Lf2qtalD50jlpfaLz7ZehCgsDHSPFGQcCnPxflO5lqJ-FpEV7Rht-xm3kSy2jHmnrNBQ1NkcZKaxX00s3L-yruFip8B6kj06Bts0DN73dGNqfVFMTvLnMtxUz4_Txg/s1600-h/Age+and+shadow+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121043176015272866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LBQ-cqZ3Lf2qtalD50jlpfaLz7ZehCgsDHSPFGQcCnPxflO5lqJ-FpEV7Rht-xm3kSy2jHmnrNBQ1NkcZKaxX00s3L-yruFip8B6kj06Bts0DN73dGNqfVFMTvLnMtxUz4_Txg/s320/Age+and+shadow+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.<br /><br /><strong>Myth</strong>: It is easy for a victim to leave their abuser and/or if they would just leave, they would be fine.<br />A batterer will not just one-day start violating the victim unexpectedly. Batterers have in most cases built up a network of fear and control long before first striking the victim. In many cases, the emotional abuse has left the victim feeling unable to cope with out the batterer. The batterer also has usually made it difficult for the victim to leave by limiting access to finances and in many cases transportation. Often children are used as a tool by an abuser to control the victim. They may threaten to take custody or even harm the children if the victim leaves. In many cases, the victims are conditioned into compliancy by the abuser. The control skills used by abusers closely resemble those used by Nazi German prison camps to brainwash prisoners of war Even if the victim leaves this will, most often not be the end of the abuse and it often takes several attempts for the victim to leave before they are free of the abuser. “Most Battered women do not stay. Up to 75% of those reporting abuse have left and are being stalked harassed and assaulted by former boyfriends and husbands. Furthermore, statistics show that 90% of the women murdered by their husbands are first stalked. Besides finances, there are real barriers, which make it difficult for the abused. the victim will have to find shelter. Besides limited space at shelters, cultural, race and religious differences often make this difficult. This myth is often used as an excuse for people to not get involved in a situation where they know domestic violence is taking place. Myths like this are harmful as they undermine the need for more resources for domestic violence victims. Until the last 30 years, there were no women’s shelters and therefore women had nowhere they could go. Even now, the numbers of women being turned away due to the lack of refuge space equals or exceeds the places provided.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Myth</strong>: Domestic violence is a modern day phenomena<br />Domestic violence has been prevalent in societies through out history. The more sexist a society is the more prevalent the occurrence of DV. Western society only in the last 30 years has taken serious measures to give woman deserved equality. Sexist attitudes create a fertile breeding ground or domestic violence as they encourage the idea of women as property. When researched one finds that American and religious dogma has always held the woman are male properties. One of the saddest marks on the time line is that in 1866 people thought to harm an animal was morally repugnant enough to form a society to prevent. Yet one hundred years later, in 1966 a female plaintiff would have to suffer a sufficient number of beatings for abuse to be grounds for divorce. (Martin, Del (1976). Battered wives.New York: Pocket Books).It was not until 1993 the marital rape became a crime in all 50 states. DV is not a new or modern day occurrence, however The view that women deserve every right afforded to men; including legal protection from abuse apparently is.<br /><br /><strong>Myth</strong>: Abusive partners are mostly chemically dependent causing them to batter.<br />Where there is incidence of batterers who abuse alcohol and chemicals, many abusers are other wise functioning members of society. Alcohol and other mood altering chemicals does not and cannot make a man abuse a woman, but it is frequently used as an excuse. It is also a fallacy a man will use to in the honeymoon phase of the DV cycle. The root cause of violence against women has nothing to do with alcohol, class, race, or the behavior of the woman. It is a widespread and serious social problem, which has to do with social and cultural attitudes to women and women's place in society. DV is about the abuser wanting to control and own the victim. Batterers are emotionally immature and expect the victims to meet their emotional needs. Mood altering chemicals alone will not cause violence; the predisposition for violence must be there. Chemical dependency in abusers should be treated as a separate problem.. Perpetrators of domestic violence will only end their abuse when they are willing to hold themselves accountable for there own actions.<br /><strong><br />Myth</strong>: Educated white-collar women cannot be victims to abusive men.<br />Any individual from any culture or socioeconomic background can become a victim. The public perception of battered women having low self esteem and poor self-image is true in some cases. However highly educated women and women with successful careers can become DV victims as well. There is no typical profile of a battered woman; even women aware of the cycle of abuse may become battered women. Part of the reason again must be blamed on the western culture. Many victims have been raised to follow gender stereotype models of the “family caretaker this same gender stereotype also promotes women must have a husband to be a whole person. Abused women fall into the cycle of violence, and allow the honeymoon phase too lull them into a false sense of hope. While the batter is loving and gentle they can be in denial of the<br />situation. Fear is the biggest reason however, woman stay. Women from white-collar backgrounds may indeed have a more difficult time escaping an abusive relationship. White-collar woman will have fewer connections for outreach such as social services and carry more false shame. Many battered professional women’s abusers are better at hiding their abusive side outside the marriage. This factor also deters the victim from seeking outside help, as she fears no one will believe her.<br /><br /><strong>Myth</strong>: Only physical abuse is detrimental to the victim.<br />While the effects of physical violence on the victim can be obvious, the psychological effects of mental abuse may not be. The cycle of violence also depicts abuse that while not physical, is<br />damaging in its nature to the victim. Emotional and mental abuse has long-term devastating effects on the abused. Since the true nature of abuse is about control, abusers may use other abusive methods to try to achieve it. Methods that include degrading the partner with insults or lectures on the partner’s failings. The abusers emotional immaturity usually has them blaming the victim or their own shortcomings and faults. The abuser may force isolation and cut the partner off from friends and family. The abusive male is always jealous and that may extend to<br />verbal rage about the females work or even the children. Often times the victim is cut off from money or transportation. Sexual abuse is frequently used forcing the partner through threats to submit to the abusers demands. While tearing down the victim abusive people tend to build them self’s up. the psychological damage can have long term and devastating effects. Emotional abuse is obviously incredible stressful and creates abnormal coping skills and distorted perceptions within the victims. While in an abusive situation, a victim may live in a constant state of fear. They grow to believe their actions are not effective; this includes even the action of leaving their abuser. The trauma of abuse often affects an abused person even after the trauma has ended. The victim of abuse often experience loss of self- worth and who they are as individuals. This loss often leads the victim to be full of doubts and they impose false limits on their own abilities to function. The victim may also feel their situations are hopeless, which leads them even deeper into the darkness of humiliation and fear.<br /><br />Resources<br />The Domestic Violence Sourcebook, Dawn Bradley Berry,J.D. Lowell House 1995)<br />When Violence Begins at Home, Dr. K.J. Wilson, Hunter House, Alameda, California, 1997<br />Koop US Surgeon General, 1989<br />https://lsc.ims.mnscu.edu/d2l/orgTools/ouHome/ouHome.asp?ou=192166<br />No Safe Place: Violence against Women Dumke Foundation. of public television station KUED in Salt Lake City, Utah.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-16051939468168417662007-10-02T11:41:00.000-05:002007-10-24T16:52:56.629-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSL80z82fJCiSStyO3ttaCc3kPWVn6aV5Uck0ZlogRaMyesA0nE7u4iso2CH5qt3qTO_lvkeFUu1Gmm76CemBK5JkoEKgxG6hkxiEP58bDjo1fJMKdZF3CQJDt8xtqWqf_QVimw/s1600-h/565045765_70fea53407.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSL80z82fJCiSStyO3ttaCc3kPWVn6aV5Uck0ZlogRaMyesA0nE7u4iso2CH5qt3qTO_lvkeFUu1Gmm76CemBK5JkoEKgxG6hkxiEP58bDjo1fJMKdZF3CQJDt8xtqWqf_QVimw/s320/565045765_70fea53407.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125024565962577954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6i1KnVmQtpy1fjnhkHQwp3RHISS4qgiyOLC-tCVc-uff24bUMtSmINdkE_hYN3r1K6lIZPdpaVdfGIUw9I0SxWgsRHGyNhMVU-1UFQZK8BYQMrjVllXUBnKg4uqmqW5QnWX5ew/s1600-h/old+photos+1744.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6i1KnVmQtpy1fjnhkHQwp3RHISS4qgiyOLC-tCVc-uff24bUMtSmINdkE_hYN3r1K6lIZPdpaVdfGIUw9I0SxWgsRHGyNhMVU-1UFQZK8BYQMrjVllXUBnKg4uqmqW5QnWX5ew/s320/old+photos+1744.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116782745568595746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfQyPubgVVRRmcVHwnbln9Q3u2gPIig-t-yLTRk7-uD4v04S5D7Sihr7R7kLw2KjWeovtCi7dYlYYbMsidEEn9EgNAwhz3uvp5RGmLfzrwjd6rr0UdAaF9IqWt9HwGsRZ2NDSeA/s1600-h/Funky_Winkerbean.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfQyPubgVVRRmcVHwnbln9Q3u2gPIig-t-yLTRk7-uD4v04S5D7Sihr7R7kLw2KjWeovtCi7dYlYYbMsidEEn9EgNAwhz3uvp5RGmLfzrwjd6rr0UdAaF9IqWt9HwGsRZ2NDSeA/s320/Funky_Winkerbean.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116781843625463570" /></a><br /><br /><br />a letter to Tom Batiuk creator of Funky Winkerbean<br />Dear Sir<br />My late wife and I used too read Arlo and Janis and comment how the artist must <br />be looking in our window to write his comic strip.<br />After my wife died of cancer I moved to different city and rediscovered your strip in<br />the local paper.I had not read it since I myself was young.<br />I missed of course years of development in the characters and of course the first part of Lisa's story<br />I have been reading the second segment and once again had the feeling a comic strip artist had spied on us.<br />Parts of the story made me feel this way of course.<br />My wife after her second round of chemo was able to make contact with the son she gave up at sixteen through Lutheran social services.<br />they developed a wonderful relationship,and I saw so much of her in him.<br />but more then that just the little things the couple and their friends shared.<br />She was a special women and we refused too let her cancer slow us down.She had returned to college to<br />get her degree in social work and continued classes till 3 weeks before she died.<br />We continued up until that time all of our community commitments as well.<br />much like Lisa during her third round of chemo treatments,she decided that the treatments were interfering with the quality of her remaining time.<br />We both always felt that life was not limited but went on somewhere even if on another plain<br />While sometimes your story made me a little tearful,it was more the good memories of our life.<br />you see I never would wish to forget even the worst of it because it was part of our story together.<br />Thank you<br /><br />BTW:below is a link to the webpage she and a fellow student designed after her first round of chemo<br /><br /><a href="http://calstaging.bemidjistate.edu/sites/cancerSHARE/index.html">CancerShare</a>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-86467675571071868032007-09-30T22:41:00.001-05:002007-11-06T13:01:19.700-06:00Our 1st fall color journey of the season<br />if you click on the view images button you’ll see better pictures then the slide show presents,for some reason the slide show makes them look almost animated.<br /><br /><br /><p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-f5.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="375" width="500" style="width:500px;height:375px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-f5.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="salign" value="l" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=360287970201542901&site=widget-f5.slide.com"/></object><p><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&ad=0&id=360287970201542901&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f5.slide.com/p1/360287970201542901/ms_t000_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&ad=0&id=360287970201542901&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f5.slide.com/p2/360287970201542901/ms_t000_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&ad=0&id=360287970201542901&map=E" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f5.slide.com/m/360287970201542901/ms_t000_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide9_1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p></p>eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-44233901695177669032007-09-12T10:55:00.000-05:002007-09-12T13:26:59.179-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jKfatF_q0Sg1vtkxnZkyzYYKJNjufmRqQZg-WaVPk6ZEWst3QfGE-ICS2e4CaN9F0DxZeCa21ceWeYTjZOtMI4Ke4hfhnIG0M5XqID9csjWUB4OwwQHy9dz_14Ks-1AWstDdNQ/s1600-h/IM000413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jKfatF_q0Sg1vtkxnZkyzYYKJNjufmRqQZg-WaVPk6ZEWst3QfGE-ICS2e4CaN9F0DxZeCa21ceWeYTjZOtMI4Ke4hfhnIG0M5XqID9csjWUB4OwwQHy9dz_14Ks-1AWstDdNQ/s320/IM000413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109348040461589794" /></a><br /><br />Fall is creeping in as the weather turns colder<br />While not the best year for gardening we still are enjoying <br />many natural organic goodies besides the mexican yellow tomato salad above<br />we are busy with the production of salsa.<br />Many moons ago while deep into my first career I hired a Sous-chef who had done a five year stretch in the Oklahoma Federal prison. Apparently, he had help run things around the kitchen there and I figured if he could get along there he could get along anywhere.<br />Now besides giving me this recipe he passed along a story.<br />A great many of the helpers in the kitchen had never cooked a thing in there life besides maybe some meth. When a newbie came in, they usually started by cutting up things or prepping food that was to be prepared. One of the almost daily jobs was the making of this salsa. Now special delight was taken assigning this job too the new help, special instruction was always given upon washing ones hands before cutting up the salsa ingredients. However, instruction to wash hands after the chopping of the ingredients purposely omitted. Wagers between individuals on which would take place first were placed in advance, on which would come first for the newbie, Rubbing his eyes or a trip to the urinal.<br /><br />Oklahoma federal prison salsa<br /><br />Six medium tomatoes <br />4 cloves of garlic <br />10 jalapeño peppers <br />10 dried red chili peppers<br />1 11oz can chipotle peppers <br />1 cup of cilantro <br />2 medium red onions<br />1 green bell pepper<br /><br />5 tbs cumin<br />3 tbs chili powder<br />2 tsp salt<br />2 tbs sugar<br />4 Tbs Lime juice<br /><br />chop all until it is desired texture using an old-fashioned knife and cutting board. <br />Mix all everything well and then stir in dry seasonings and lime juice.<br />Adapted from recipe used in Oklahoma federal prison (original recipe was for 3 gallons)eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-24952829057050908802007-08-22T11:40:00.000-05:002007-08-22T11:45:20.359-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhfUJcua576j5kUEwgHe9HiTr5qP5aJ22QN_HylslpCAUHYmpzh78G9zCrgpqOH31U0DzowTe-Dw-GAkAdSHWGb3nAe1_qrdYCUfK_pZBgfZxjdUdqCCu_oroR6FGNGhD1YpwOw/s1600-h/mdlc2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhfUJcua576j5kUEwgHe9HiTr5qP5aJ22QN_HylslpCAUHYmpzh78G9zCrgpqOH31U0DzowTe-Dw-GAkAdSHWGb3nAe1_qrdYCUfK_pZBgfZxjdUdqCCu_oroR6FGNGhD1YpwOw/s320/mdlc2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101566861959532754" /></a><br /> Medical Issues Concerning Polyamory<br /><br /> Autonomy to me is the right of an individual to make his or her own choices. Being polyamorous, being able to make my own choice of lifestyle was difficult. The term “polyamory” was first coined in 1991 by Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart. To be able to give a societal definition on polyamory, I consulted Wikipedia from the internet. They define it as “the desire, practice, or acceptance of having more than one loving, intimate relationship at a time with the full knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Polyamorous perspectives differ from monogamous perspectives, in that they respect a partner's wish to have second or further meaningful relationships and to accommodate these alongside their existing relationships. <br /> <br /> The term polyamory is sometimes abbreviated to poly, especially as a form of self-description, and is sometimes described as consensual and/or responsible non-monogamy. Polyamory is usually taken as a description of a lifestyle or relational choice and philosophy, rather than of individuals' actual relationship status at a given moment. There is certain fluidity in its definition, to accommodate the different shades of meaning which might be covered. <br /> Polyamorous relationships are themselves varied, reflecting the choices and philosophies of the individuals concerned. Polyamory is distinct from polygamy, being closer to a personal outlook than a predefined bonding system. It is grounded in such concepts as choice, trust, equality of freewill, and the more novel idea of compersion, rather than in cultural or religious tradition.” (Wikipedia Foundation, electronic version). To a practicing polyamorist like me, it means having more than one loving, but not necessarily sexual, relationship at a time that includes total honesty with open communication from all concerned, that does not in any way involve swinging. <br /> A important concern with being polyamorous is sexual safety. Although<br />the only foolproof way to be safe is to abstain from sex,; in the poly community, there are ways to try to be safe. Most polyamorous families will have ‘Condom Contracts’ or ‘Bodily Fluid Exchange’ contracts. But as with any other type of relationship, there may not be full disclosure of activities. Humans are not infallible. That is why there are advocates for safe sex. Also, “a closed circle, whether of two or six or twenty, healthy trusted partners can make polyamory just as ‘safe’ as monogamy, perhaps more so since the couple who have sworn to be monogamous may be more likely to lie about outside affairs and less likely to frankly discuss their sexual histories with porspective lovers than those who are oply polyamorous.” (Anapol, 1997, 28). To get tested for any sexually transmitted diseases is the only reliable way to keep yourself safe. “Some polyamorous folk swear by them and get regular tests every six months or every year as a courtesy to their lovers, or they get them immediately upon getting a new regular lover and expect the same treatment in return.” (Kaldera, 2005,114).<br /> The more important issue at hand for a polyamorist is finding a doctor who is, at least, nonjudgmental on our way of life. They do not have to believe that our relationships with others are good. They just need to practice their field of study. When looking for a doctor, one of the first things to be discussed would be my relationship dynamic. To be less than truthful, would be detrimental to my health, let alone to my personal sense of wellbeing. There is a perception within the polyamorous community, however, that doctors are not well-informed about our lifestyles and needs. This limits the extent to which polyamorous individuals feel that they have access to quality health services. Some polyamorous individuals report a reluctance to seek health care due to fear of bias. Others find it necessary to use expensive doctor visits to educate their doctors about what polyamory is, and to convince them that a polyamorous lifestyle in itself is no more unreasonable than a gay lifestyle. Textbooks about ‘normal family functioning’ do not include references to polyamorous lifestyles, and this contributes further to ignorance about polyamory on the part of mainstream therapists.eclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931663.post-37849369955850706362007-08-07T11:53:00.000-05:002007-08-07T11:57:23.714-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK047F-mLTHQfBIoaQ5-gsY51t6Zi7duX76oq5bj7VOhtgmn3LUy-ekUAWfAO9bF6PZxa0ikAZzxTRlquZU416sS9mZ3WvLBu5Ac9wr9Mg3bhv9LvE7oQyQnz9y1-y1hYsDl6pQ/s1600-h/old+photos+092.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK047F-mLTHQfBIoaQ5-gsY51t6Zi7duX76oq5bj7VOhtgmn3LUy-ekUAWfAO9bF6PZxa0ikAZzxTRlquZU416sS9mZ3WvLBu5Ac9wr9Mg3bhv9LvE7oQyQnz9y1-y1hYsDl6pQ/s320/old+photos+092.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096003748918851218" /></a><br /> I recently read a short story suggested by a friend who is fond of early examples female literature. Later that week I read an article on the same sex marriage debate. It occurred to me later how the problems in both works are similar. Has America become less tolerant since 911? I heard a liberal journalist ask on public radio. I could not help but notice he used the word tolerant instead of equal. Tolerant or tolerance means to allow, while equal means to be of the same quality. The question should be why are we speaking of tolerance instead of equality? Why when every document attributed to the founding of our nation speaks of equality and justice, does the same nation struggle to accept these concepts? <br /><br />In the Barbara Kantrowitz article “The New Face of Marriage” she explores the debate of same sex marriages. We read different view from different sides from various individuals with different agendas. Each interested group seems to have a base belief which justifies or negates same sex marriage. Issues are plentiful from those who oppose, they hold traditional and institutional ideologies will be destroyed. One camp opposes on the grounds of religious belief that is somehow ingrained into our countries very structure. Those who support same sex marriage do so based on just as many justifications with some pointing to states rights and constitutional grounds. While others point out that the oppositions traditional and institutional ideologies are already foundered.<br /><br />While this is a prominent political issue it is just another segment of the overall issue of prejudice against homosexuals. This in itself is just another segment of overall prejudice in America, which has existed since the first European trespassed upon the continent of North America. <br /><br />Kantrowitz speaks of those who would oppose two humans to marry because they are a minority.<br /><br />In Kate Chopin's "Desiree's Baby" a fictional story we face the same issue prejudice against a minority. People motivated by their fears that another culture who they think inferior will by use of institution present themselves as equal. The parallels between the two literary works are obvious as we have in both the majority dictating to the minority. The strong denying the weak basic rights the strong take for granted. <br /><br />In Chopin’s fictional story we face the same issue the nation debated in the not too distant past. She examines the social and personal fabric covering the marriage of different races.<br /><br />While prejudice is still very much alive against this particular issue, common ethical legal pressure <br /><br />prevailed. Just as architecture can not deny physics legal systems can not denies the basis of ethics they were built upon. While it would be look upon by some that our morals had finally prevailed the sad truth is it was basic legalities. The same sex marriage issue will most likely in the future be decided in the same way. Sadly however the prejudice pointed out in both of the author’s works will still remain strong.<br /><br /><br />"We struggled against apartheid because we were being blamed and made to suffer for something we could do nothing about. It is the same with homosexuality. The orientation is a given, not a matter of choice. It would be crazy for someone to choose to be gay, given the homophobia that is present." Archbishop Desmond Tutueclectic_poly_pairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16569963678321772936noreply@blogger.com0