I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

1. Choose a picture to show how you feel about yourself.

2. Choose a picture of an thing or object, that reminds you of someone you hold close to your heart.

3. Choose a picture of something you wanted to be when you were a child.

4. Choose a picture of what you wanted to be when you were in high school.

(ps. the ADULT, not the child or the pony)

5. Choose of picture of a favourite course you have/had as a student.

6. Choose a picture of a hobby that you did or do.

7. Choose a picture of something you've only done once in your life.

8. Choose a picture of something you enjoy doing every day.

9. Choose a picture of someplace you would like to live, someday.

10. Choose a picture of your "dream home."

I grew up in a suburban village, outside a good-sized city, yet, where we lived, was still very much "country," and quite pastoral, even wild yet, in some places.

The Victorian-era estate to which the woods in these photos belonged, was the same family that owned the land that my home and surroundings were built on and around (only we had more landscaping and gardens on my side of the motorway) The vast estates were later split in half by a four-lane short state motorway. Basically, my woods were on the opposite side of the motorway from these woods.

These are the woods, that I used to walk in--the one's behind our village's school, not the one's in my actual "back yard" at home. (Taken in mid or late April, by the looks of it.)

Anyway, as soon as we were old enough to go rambling about the woods and fields on our own, one of the things mum admonished us with, was "DON'T touch the mushrooms!" Now, that may seem an odd sentence to come out of a mum's mouth, to her wee children, but, mum was somehow very aware that wild mushrooms can be deadly. How or where she learned this wise tidbit, I never did find out. Nevertheless, she told us that we couldn't tell a good one from a bad one, and very sternly told us to keep away from them, or we could die a horrible death--which seemed to fascinate my sister, dunno' why...okay, I do, sis was weird from day one. Too much Adams Family and Dark Shadows, one might say, but nah....sis was--and still is, just...weird.

So, where was I? Sorry, I digressed. I was reading in an online paper how these two ladies in the Isle of Wight had blithely picked wild mushrooms and eaten them--one unfortunately dying from them, the other quite ill. THEN, I read how the author Nicolas Sparks and his party, on a trip to Scotland, picked and ate wild mushrooms--resulting in kidney failure. These people weren't exactly uneducated chav's, either, they should have known better.

So, why didn't they? Why do so many perfectly otherwise sensible Britons, not get that we don't eat wild mushroom's without any foreknowledge of species? Even some bad mush's can look nearly identical to edible mush's--which is why you often read warnings not to pick mushrooms unless you are an expert.

So, what gives, my UK pals? Why do people like me, who aren't highly educated (I only have a 2 year associate's degree), know stuff like this, but people in the UK do not? Is it a cultural thing? Is it that you just don't have the number of wild mushie's growing over there that we do, or did I just live in a very safety conconcious neighbourhood?

Or, are people over there, getting as stupid as we are?

On 14th September, a Vigil for Peace was held at the Central Park bandshell, in New York City.

The rally in support of global peace, featured international speakers, children's choirs and American folk, African folk, classical and pop music artists. Also at the event was an art show with a peace theme, poetry readings, and interfaith prayer.

The International Peace Festival was in celebration for the United Nations "Peace Day."

n 2001, the United Nations unanimously passed a resolution designating September 21 of each year as an "International Day of Peace.

To encourage the observation of a worldwide, a 24-hour vigil for peace and nonviolence on the International Day of Peace, is normally held on the 21st of September each year. Why this year's vigil was held on the 14th, I have no idea...possibly there was a booking conflict for the space, this year, or that the organizers changed venues to make room for a larger gathering?

TAKEN FROM A RECENT ENTRY ON "ANTI-CON" BLOG.

NOTE: While I am not against opposing viewpoints, this is, however a personal JOUNRAL. I would remind the nay-sayer's (conservatives) out there, that this is NOT a newspaper editorial page!

Just so you know this up front, I will delete hate-rants by neo-cons, faster than snow melting in the bowels of Hell, so please don't waste your time. Thank you. --playwrite27

Firstly in the news, is the fact that Bush called this big press conference, to follow a big meeting he was having with some of the nation's top financial advisers...a conference his press secretary quickly called off, before the the big meeting even adjourned. Bush has been refusing to answer any and all questions about the nation's--and the world's--financial crisis, and, when in Texas looking at the hurricane damage there, a reporter yelled at Bush, "what about the economy?" Bush merely snarled back, something to the effect that he was there for the people--and the national economy is NOT about being there for the people?

seems that well...as far as Bush is concerned, apparently not. Bush is SCARED. The man always clams up when things go wrong with him, and gets temperamental and sarcastic....and the man's quieter and meaner than ever before, all of the sudden.

In the meantime, the Fed's coffers are getting tapped out, with the 60 billion being given to AIG to keep them from going the way of Lehman's. Ironically enough, that's the same amount of money the FDIC (federal deposit insurance corporation) has on hand for insurance payouts (should a bank or banks fail), for a TRILLION dollars in deposits.

Are we in the beginnings of a global depression? Is the Untied States about to fold up its tent? Or, is Bush just being a spoiled little brat again, and showing a pique of temper because he didn't get his own way about something he wanted badly. Maybe, like with Lehman, he didn't want to bail out AIG, either. Or, maybe Bush's sexy new secretary (see illustration below) said to him, "Ewwww--no, George, I'd rather mate with a monkey."

It's anybody's guess, people.

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In other news...

Palin--the woman who said, and I quote, "I welcome any investigation, I have NOTHING to hide," has pulled out all the stops to get the investigation stalled, until AFTER the election...(when it would be much tougher to proscecute her, and also would have no effect on her campaign). Okay, if she has "nothing to hide," why then is she so AFRAID of the investigation going forward NOW, instead of later? I mean, if she's innocent (HA) what does it matter WHEN this investigation starts or ends?

The state attorney general of Alaska--a person who is ethically SUPPOSED to be non-partisan, a man whom was personally appointed to his office by Palin herself, has refused to allow state employees to be legally forced to testify, unless it has unanamous support by all politicians--in a largely republican state senate. Oh yeah, like THAT'S going to happen.

Well, at least we know that the charges against Palin for MIS-USE of POWER, are probably TRUE.

Apparently she either didn't take, or slept through, her ETHICS classes in university.

Palin and her backers have hired a high-powered right wing Christan legal firm from Texas (where else would one go to find a bunch of VERY rich, VERY powerful lawyers who follow the bible literally--including the teachings of Jesus)

(HA!--)

I guess these lawyers and Palin, missed those particular biblical passages, about giving all your wealth to the needy, supporting the poor and downtrodden, forgiving those whom tresspass against you, and the money-lenders in the temple story, 'cos, darn, they went missing somehow, when the printer made their bibles.

Republicans in Alaska, whom at first were perfectly okay with this investigation--ten of the 14 senators on the investigative panel are republicans--are now crying "foul!" now that their leader is running for the nation's second highest office, and IRONICALLY, calling the investigation a "partisan smear campaign by the DEMOCRATS." And that would be the FOUR democrats on your FOURTEEN man bi-partisan panel, yeah?

Everybody who doesn't see the IRONY in this statement...oh, never mind. You wouldn't see a ten foot neon-orange robot with a laser in it's forehead, if it was standing right in front of you. No, actually, it's right behind you...ha! Made ya' look! Golly, you republicans are sooo--gullible!
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GEORGE BUSH'S NEW SECRETARY:

Morning all--or good afternoon, to my UK friends. Nearly 9am here.

Lovely cloudless morning. After a chilly start this morning--presently it's 50 F (10 C), it's supposed to get to 70 F (21) by late this afternoon. However, this makes difficult dressing weather, as one dresses warm in the morning, and regrets that by mid-afternoon. Ah well, can't win for losing, as they say. Our coldest night will be tomorrow, when the weather is expected to drop to 29 F (-2), and they've already issued a frost warning, to farmers and gardeners.

I've the thermostat set to 62 F, and it has yet to click on, thankfully. I used to set it to 60, but Flame has a naturally thin coat--in fact, she has virtually no hair on her belly under her back legs--, and she gets pathetically miserable when she's cold. In fact, even though my bedroom stayed at 70 all night--still retaining some heat from the 88 degrees it was on Sunday, I suspect, Flame was curled up in my blankets, part of the night. Poor wee thing. She has skin issues, and once a year starts losing her fur..not fleas, the vet once told me she was stumped as to what Flame's problem was...at first she thought Flame was allergic to fleas, but then found no fleas--so the vet just shrugged and said, "I dunno," and I handed her receptionist my $30 for basically nothing whatsoever.

Typical. Sort of like my health care providers. Hand 'em the $20 to see them, only to be told, "huh, I dunno', maybe it's..."

Well, I had my toaster waffles, now I've got to finish changing into my office duds. Had to leave early last night, 'cos my eye was making it hard for me to work, so guess who has to work later today, to make it up? Yuck. People were horrid last night---little old ladies screaming and even swering at me, and boorish American "men," bravely slamming the phone on a lady's ear. Have a grand day, all...my day's gonna' suck, but, when hasn't it?

1. what song makes you think of summer?

Surfin' USA

2. what song makes you think of autumn?

Moonlight in Vermont

3. what song--not a Christmas song--makes you think of winter?

Prairie Town

4. what song makes you think of spring?

Windsong

5. favourite secular holiday song?

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer--just kidding! I guess, Winter Wonderland, I suppose.

6. favourite religious holiday song?

Coventry Carol

7. favourite song you sang in school?

During a class where one had the choice of learning a few chords on guitar, playing a zylaphone or banging a bongo drum (I kid you not) I got stuck with the guitar (not as fun as the cool sounds that came from the zylaphone, nor as thrilling as banging on something), but, we got to learn a song, called, "Does the chewing gum lose it's flavor on the Bedpost overnight." For some reason, I rather enjoyed that.

8. song you hated most in school?

"You'll never Walk Alone," which the 5th to 7th year classes HAD rehearse, standing on risers in a boiling hot classroom at the end of the year--over and over and over (as if a million rehearsals would actually make us sound better--ha!), in order to sing it EVERY blinking year, to the graduating 8th graders, at the ceremony each June.

9. music lessons: what did you take?

Guitar, recorder, cello, piano. Sucked at every last one of them.

10. ever own a musical instrument? if yes, what specifically?

Owned quite a few over the years, both for fiddling around with, and for just display or for sale in our flea market business.

A Rababa, two acoustic guitars for playing (one was so poorly made, it literally began falling apart within a year), an antique 9-string Italian "harp" guitar, an antique 1940's acoustic guitar, two recorders, a bamboo flute, an antique harmonica, a casio keyboard, a cheezy little plastic electric organ (well really that was my mum's), an antique zither.

11. your favourie traditional musical instruments?

I assume for listening? Piano, guitar, sax, trombone, fiddle, flute, coronet--no, really, love the sound of a coronet, don't ask me why, though.

12. your favourite (if any) non-traditional instruments:

Not sure what "non-traditional means, but I'll take a stab at it. Harmonica, bagpipes, steel drums, dobro guitar, hammer dulicmer--love the hammer dulcimer.

The typical world map in Vermont school rooms:

The Official George W. Bush world map, popular in schools in the Southern United States:

SARAH PALIN's world map:

The Liberal's world map:

The Conservative's world map:

The official state map of Texas:

The unofficial AMERICAN REALITY world map: