Yea! And Sucks!

Well, I found a really cool article about a still available field school. Field schools are basically archaeological digs you can earn college course credits for. I've been on my Whitehall Farm Roman Villa and Landscape Project dig, but it wasn't a field school - it was a volunteer opportunity (which I think was one of the coolest non-mommy experiences I've EVER had).

However, as stoked as I am that a field school is STILL available for digging THIS SEASON, I can't attend. I am NOT thrilled with this concept as it's due to ineptitude and stupidity at Aviano's MPF. That right there is an entire fisking post that I'm just not in the mood to type up - but suffice to say I will NOT be leaving the country this year, no matter how desperatly I need a vacation away from my children. Or how willing my husband, smart man that he is, is to foot the bill for me to "run away - far, far away".

Though I'm unable to attend, I thought some of my readers (especially in Europe or archaeological minded) might like some information on it. STARA ZAGORA HERITAGE VOLUNTEER WORKCAMP, in Bulgaria to be specific. As I told hubby, it's between Mother Russia (dah!) and Greece on the Black Sea.

Cost wise, it's dirt cheap. It even includes insurance which most European digs DON'T. They include food, lodging and a couple of excursions as well. Contrast that with a $12,500 tab to dig in Rome with NO insurance, NO excursions and only room and board. Even Hadrian's Wall up at Vindolanda is more expensive for less - yeah, I applied for the 2005 season then we got rudely shipped here and I had to recuse myself ...

Anyways, the dig is rescue archaeology - which means they need to get it out to save it from the builders. That is far more fascinating stuff to me than just standard archaeological digs ... I assume because of the "race against time" mentality. I'd love to get my nails dirty there, but since I can't, maybe one of my readers can.


There are several other Europe digs listed, though most have closed the application process for this season. For those more fascinated by other areas and time periods, check out the more complete archaeological digs listing for 2007. Mayhap you'll find something that flips your history switch - if so, please let me know. I love archaeology, even non-Roman.

Crafty Stuff?

Well, some of the crap on my desk is crafty, some is not ... Butterfly Wife left a comment about being more interested in the crap on my desk rather than the diptych proto-type. So, as I think I could explain it with visuals rather than words - here we go:

Vesuvio Anyone?

In a really cool news article, it appears that the Neopolitans want to rebuild Vesuvio's train tracks. Currently the ONLY way up that smokin' pit is hiking it, which um, I'm not brave enough to attempt as it's supposed to be brutal to hike up it and back down it. It would be neat to see the inside though ...

Since I have NO idea how long ANSA news links stay active - here's the text

City invites project for new version of famed funicular
NAPLES (ANSA) - A new train service will whisk tourists to the top of Vesuvius more than 50 years after the famous funicular railway closed down.

The funicular, a Naples landmark that inspired the famous song Funiculi', funicala' was shut down after irreparable damage in a 1944 earthquake.

It covered the last stretch to the volcano summit, linking up with another once-famous line, the Cook cog or rack railway. That was closed due to maintenance problems in 1955.

A European-wide tender for the new project will be published on Monday.

"The new line will use cutting-edge technologies as well as environmentally friendly power sources," said regional transport chief Ennio Cascetta.

The two new lines will take visitors to the peak of the famed volcano in just ten minutes, Cascetta added.

What's more, there'll be stops along the way for tourists to hop off and take a peek at the unusual flora and fauna that live on the mountain's slopes.

Now, in what has to be the most bizzare wording of a news sub-headline - City invites project for new version of famed funicular. It's all properly used, but I doubt even the snobs at the Beeb would come up with that combo to describe Vesuvius. I'm pretty impressed that ANSA did it.

So, while it won't be done before we leave - hello, it's Italy, everything takes decades to do, if anyone chooses to visit later you may be able to ride the train up the mountain.

Diptych Prototype

Yeah, it doesn't look that great but I used it to learn a few things. They are:

1. Using manicure sticks work fab for the styli - and they're dirt cheap at AAFES ($3 for 10). So, I ended up with 20 styli after I worked them with my Dremel.

2. I may need to glue the cardboard better to prevent the bleeding of the hot wax. Used candle wax works great, by the way.




3. I will be using some form of metal spool for closing them. Loop style, the tied string just doesn't work really well.

4. I need to find a cheap (read that FREE) source of somewhat limitless cardboard.

5. I will be coating the external sides with contact paper in a wood-grain pattern. I have several rolls of it, might as well put it to good use.

6. These are GO HOME goodies. They will NOT be getting these out during school. I will, however, have one on display so they can play with it.

7. I will be printing out a copy of the Latin alphabet and Roman numerals and gluing to the inside flat flap.

8. Ignore the crap on my desk - that's clean by the way ...




Any comments, suggestions? Does this look like something 5-7 year olds will enjoy??

On Religion

Or, specifically, Paganism in relation to Wiccans. Butterfly Wife left a link to a NYT story about Wiccan Symbol being allowed on military headstones.

I'd actually read about it in Stars and Stripes, but forgot to link to it. As I'm not a Wiccan, it wasn't so pressing to me, but ... I do know this is a victory long coming to those who wanted their religions recognized. So it got me thinking about symbols and how they're grossly misinterpeted. And also, how deeply misunderstood paganism really is, even in a day and age you can easily access information about it.

For the record, I am a Neo-Classical Pagan, NOT a Wiccan. ALL Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccans. I'm not saying any of my commenters or readers have misinterpeted this idea, just I've noticed a general confussion on the part of most people about what is a pagan and what is a Wiccan. And a wanton need to confuse them, even when explained to about the differences. This is also a bit of information by those who think they can smear me by dragging my beliefs (which they don't understand) through the mud.

This is Dictonary.com's definition of a Pagan:

1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
3. an irreligious or hedonistic person.

Um, 1, I am not a Roman or a Greek. 2, I do NOT believe in a single God but that doesn't make me disrespect YOUR choice to believe in a single deity - by whatever name you choose to call it. 3. I am NOT irreligious or hedonistic and I do not apprecate the linking of beliving in multiple deities to hedonism. Truth be told some of the least religious behaving people I know are the ones that profess belief in Christ as their saviour and example - adulterers, liars, covetors, theives, etc. And they go to church on a regular basis. While I understand (and was raised) to believe we are all imperfect and fall short of the glory, you can't continue to have an illicit affair and pretend to be a good Christian. Hipocracy doesn't sit well with me, especially when you try to use your religion to beat me about the head.

Alex, I'll take Entemology for $500! Pagan is actually from a Latin root meaning "country dweller" or "rural villager". So, when you call me a pagan, understand you're calling me a "country" person - which I was raised and I am to the core. It's not an insult to call me what I am. I personally find being a pagan to be a badge of honor. I can fix my own mower, make my own bread and gut my own meat.


Wicca, as defined by Dictionary.com

witchcraft, esp. benevolent, nature-oriented practices derived from pre-Christian religions.

Please realize there is NO difference between a Christian/Muslim/Jew from offering money to the church for "miracles" and a pagan (of any stripe) offering a sacrifice to their deities. They're all done to appease a God or Goddess, to give thanks for good done for the believer, etc.

In truth, Christians should be offering blood sacrifice, as should Jews (and one would assume Muslims) according to the Bible and Talmud. The reason I know Jews do NOT offer blood sacrfice is that the Temple was destroyed and hasn't been rebuilt - yet. I don't say this to be mean, or attack the majority of believers, but what most Christians practice is a screwed-up version of Judaism that's elevated a man to the level of a God. I'm not going to debate His divinity, but Christianity started as a sect of people following a mortal man - but who were still Jews. That is the true root of Christianity. Christ himself said he was a Jew, that by virtue makes all Christians into Jews by applying reason and sanity - something seriously lacking from a great deal of organized Christianity's history.

Now, back to my paganism. I worship ANCIENT Gods and Goddesses. They LONG predate Christ (who by the way isn't "new" any more). I've heard many Bible thumpers claim there IS only one God. What He said was:

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. - Exodus 20:2-3



I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. - Deuteronomy 5:6-7

Now, that's assuming the translation from Hebrew to Greek (then into Latin and then English) is correct. Considering some of the other more glaring mistranslations, this may be an argument in fallacy, but we shall assume the trasnlation is correct for the purposes of this post.

In effect, He's laying down the 'law' of one of His demanded sacrifices. He lead them out of Egypt and bondage, one of the things you have to give Him is suprimity in belief. It's a business arrangement - He says He did the deed, you owe Him for it. And, He's actually asking very little for having rescued the Isrealites from the clutches of Pharoah.

Those verses say nothing about NO other Gods. It says that believers of Judaism shalt have NO OTHER Gods before YHWH (pardon the usage). It doesn't say my God and Goddess don't exist, only that if you believe YHWH is the supreme being, that you can have no others before Him. It doesn't even limit the ability to believe in other Gods and Goddesses, only that they can NOT come "before" YHWH. I choose to believe YHWH is NOT the supreme being, but that is my personal choice, don't believe all pagans share my views.

I follow an ancient calendar - the Calendus to be exact. I keep my own private practices to honor my God and Goddess on their holy days. While I REFUSE to even consider blood sacrifice, I understand that is a corruption of my faith's ancient roots. Again, my refusal to do so is a matter between me and the deities in which I believe. I follow, to the best of my abilities and morality, the ancient practices that survive in written form. Woefully, they are very limited considering the wholesale destruction wrought by overzealous 'christians' (those in name only - not by deed) in the last millenias.

Just some "food for thought". Especially by those lurkers who insist on attempting to practice charecter assasination by using my belief system. If you're going to smear me, or what I believe in, you may want to have a slightly better understanding of it. You look like a fool trying to trash my beliefs, and me because of them, when you don't have the slightest idea what I believe. If you want to know, ASK. What's the worst I can do? Tell you it's none of your business? I have no issues answering honest questions, but I won't give you information if all you're going to do is lie about me and my charecter. I've always admitted my many flaws and faults. Some of my detractors may wish to realize that the more they try to flay me with my known misdeeds, you're tarring yourself by your hipocracy. Just a friendly little reminder that for every finger you point at me, you've got 3 and a thumb back at you!

ANZAC Day

I don't know if I should preface that with a happy or not ... but today is ANZAC Day. Started to honor Australian and New Zeland troops in WWI. Specifically the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who landed at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.

So, to our long-time allies and cousins the Kiwis and the Aussies I'd like to say "Thanks, for always having our backs", no matter where we go in the world, you're always with us for better or worse, just like a family should. I'm glad to have you in our 'tree'.

Wierd and mayhap wondeful news?

Okay, a few things struck me today (as I get ready to argue with MPF - more on that later) as I was reading the news.

Chinese Boy's remains found in crocodile. He BROKE into the cage, PELTED it with rocks and GOT EATEN! This is "natural selection" at work. He obviously is NOT a loss to the gene pool if he taunted and attacked a violent animal on it's 'home' turf. Why exactly are people surprised the damn thing ate him? Why are they mad at the croc? Should't the moron and his friends (yeah, there was a GROUP) be more than thumped upside their stupidass heads??




Migraine Sufferers have higher sex drives than regular headache sufferers. While I can't say I suffer the depression, sleep anomalies are something I have along with my migraines. No matter how much I want to get laid, and enjoy getting laid (when hubby is HOME) I wouldn't wish my migraines on the frigid. I guess here's one more reason I'm "one of the guys":

But both men and women with migraines had 20 percent more sexual desire than those without.

"That difference was maintained across gender," Houle says. "This results in female migraine sufferers being quite like normal males in sexual desire."

Bolding by me, of corse.

So maybe I really am from Mars and not Venus? Hahaha! Hubby ought to get a kick out of this one.

18 Brutal Minutes

Would unquestioningly birth the Republic. 9 dead, 26 wounded TEXIANS versus 630 killed, 208 wounded, 730 captured Mexicans under Santa Anna.

Today we TEXANS remember our birth. We "Remember the Alamo!" We "Remember Goliad!"

One of our greatest drunks, and an accused coward, turned and fought - and won! He personally led Texian troops into battle, suffering a left ankle wound in the process.



When all else fails, always remember ... Never underestimate a TEXAN! We come from a long line of flawed but honorable charecters, and we will carry the day, against 'impossible' odds.

My Space Quiz

Create your own Friend Quiz here



Just for shits and giggle really. I wonder how well any of my readers, or any of my real life family and friends know me ...

Roman reburial in London

Or LDN as Lily Allen calls it. (Sorry, listening to her at the mo.)

A Roman teenage girl was rebuired in her original grave in London this week. She was disintered in 1995 during the building of "the Gerkhin". If you've ever been to Londinium, you know where that is...

Now, this is the money quote for me;

She was buried in keeping with the Roman traditions between 350 and 400 AD.

What exactly would that be? What if she was a pagan and not a Christian? There's no mention of any burial artifacts returned with her. I'm curious just what kind of ceremony she got at St Botolphs Church. The fact they did the service at a church screams they gave her a Christian burial - but supposedly one that would have been done between 350 and 400AD. How exactly would they have conducted such a service? The closest surviving sects of Christianity are the Catholics (though arguably at that time they were still the Greek Orthodox) and the Coptics in Egypt, along with the Ethiopians. Why do I think some pasty white British dude did the deeds, and why do I strongly suspect they went through the motions rather than really grasping what they were doing?

While I agree that it was "humane" to do so, I wonder if they actually did their homework or just half-assed their way through it. The fact there is no mention of her grave goods, no mention of any religious artifacts found with her raises my suspicions and scepticisms.

I am glad to know she was put back where she came from. For some reason, it's comforting to know that 1500 years after she was buried by her loved ones, that she's been returned to where they put her. Not that any living person can link to her, claim descent from her or rights to her body but it's comforting in a way to know she was treated like a person and not just a thing, not just a set of bones dug up on a construction site. In effect, I guess it's nice to know she was remembered, give reverence and honor even 1500 years removed from her time.

Vale! Quem di diligunt adulescens moritur!

CENTCOM News

Today the Iraqis took over control of the Maysan Province from multi-national forces in Iraq. I doubt you'll read anything about it, or hear anything about it, via the MSM.

There are several more good news stories at the Current Press Releases page. Including mutliple stories of us stopping bombers with chemicals to attack coallition forces and civililans with.

We've also got Afghans handing in weapons caches to promote peace in their country. Doesn't sound anything like the 'vietnam' it's being spun as, does it? Or do you even remember the last time Afghanistan got a mention in the news?

Go, READ, repeat as needed to get a real picture of what CENTCOM and it's troops do.

Hmmm, wow. This started out as a comment over on Little Heathen Fox and morphed into a post in it's own right. It's a post in response to observations on the neo-paganic forms of religion, and how we fit into them.




Honestly, I've never set out to redefine "pagan" for anyone. I know I've done so for a few people (to the better, I hope), but most of my family and friends have no idea I'm a pagan. I don't wear it like a badge, but I don't hide it either. Most people are hard pressed to find my sacred space, and the few that have don't realize what it is they're looking at - they think it's just an artsy, calm area. That's fine with me. I don't need you to recognize my beliefs to make them valid to me.

I worship ancient Roman deities, so I can't say for "pagan" or Wiccan though I do stress the difference between a pagan and a Wiccan. Too many think "pagan" = flowing robes, bubbling cauldrons and blood sacrifice (none of which I practice, nor have I ever). I don't really even cast spells, though I have done a few - only white as I'd never willingly violate the line of "do no harm". I'm even very skittish of anything that can go remotely grey. I do try, very hard, to make feilty in an ancient manner (the little that survives I use as a guide) but I think everyone has to find their own path to divinity. I know I've changed things - specifically I've renounced blood sacrifice though I think the act of sacrifice is more important than any blood not flowing. In the end, no matter which divinity, or divinities, no two people will ever experience it all the same.

I'm not trying to leave a record, or a set of prayers or rituals for other's to follow. I pray what I feel, I ritualize as I feel and as I feel lead to do. I can't say that "this is right" and "this is wrong" - I only try to listen to my inner spirit, to my connection to God and Goddess. I don't even have a Book of Shadows, I have no desire to leave one but not through fear but more in reverence. Who am I to say how to worship?

Do I hope anyone follows in my footsteps? No, not really. I want each person to make their own path, I'd rather be walked beside than followed like some leader or messiah (neither of which I am, nor do I seek to become).

I imagine religion as any group, any herd - they move together and seperately too. Their tracks don't "follow' one another, they each walk their own path but they overlap. I think it's in the overlapping that we become more human, and more open to the divine - no matter what name or names you call upon it with.

So, no matter who you call upon, no matter what you give as sacrifice you must find your own way. I hope I can be a light unto the path that I've walked, but I don't want anyone to think they must follow. Every light grows brighter in the sharing of it's flame. Look around you and see just how many flames there really are, just how bright they grown when looked upon as a group - but they never become a single flame. That's the important lesson - shine your light but always remain your light.

Don't Mind Me Folks

Just gettin' some stuff ready for coding with...

Roman Craft 2

Okay, I wrote about diptychs yesterday - Roman wax dual tablets. Well, for those to work, I have to have styli to go with them. (I want to make 1 for each kiddo to take home with them as a present/cool Roman thing they can play with.)

So, I went out to my recently trimmed up hedge pile and cut quite a few small sticks. Then, I had to make one end a rubber, and 1 end a point. But as these are 6 year-olds, um, yeah, sharped sticks don't sound like too good an idea so I blunted them up a bit. I'm so glad my daddy gave me a Dremel quite a few Christmas presents ago. It comes in quite handy, and not just for sharpening my lawnmower blades.

So, I present to you ... 2 hand-ish made styli. The middle heathen is happy with them, so I'm okay with them. I like the second (longer) one better as I learned a few things making the first. Any suggestions, or ideas to improve them further?

CENTCOM News

Iraqi citizens exercise peaceful right of assembly in Najaf - much is made of the violence of al Sadr's militants. You might want to brush up on the non-violence too. I'd have to say whatever Army PR person was assigned this article really did try, I just wonder if they were laughing as they typed it up.


Gen. George W. Casey Jr. has assumed command of the US Army from retiring Gen. Peter Schoomaker. Gen. Casey's last assignment and command was Multinational Forces Iraq. The article goes indepth to Gen. Schoomaker's career, including his helming of the reorganization of the force.


Bush Urges Vigilance in Seeing Iraq Succeed - Okay, W ain't the shinest penny in the fountain ya'll. When he's reminding Congress and certain blocks of the American population that he's said it'll take awhile he's speaking to people with the mental powers of fruitflies. I doubt they'll get the message this time around either, but - It Will Take Time To Succeed In Iraq!


Afghans, Coalition Have Forces Needed to Deal With Taliban - now, to use them effectively. We're comming up on campaign season in Afghanistan so we'll see more battles, more skirmishes. But, something to remember between us and those we fight - we go for quality over quantity, while they ... well, they can't distinquish between 40 crap bombs and 1 good one. Works to our favor.


Air mobility keeps fast pace with war ops surges headlines this article. Yup, it's how the men and women in blue help their brothers and sisters in pixelation to get the bad guys. CENTCOM is the home of ALL US forces in the region, not just the Army. it's nice to hear how they can work together for the good of us all.


Ahh, and we're back to the butthead of the moment... is the story headline in the "Exposing the Enemy" feature. Go, read that little boy's dribble, some poor Army folks had to listen to it and translate it so you can do so. Notice he never once mentions women? Yeah, those are the kinds of 'fathers' of their country that can't breed because the 'mothers' don't exist - remember just how fair and equal their ideals of life really are...


Medic recalls his actions during attack. It's an article about how one of our medics reacted to an IED blast on his patrol. He seems to have taken "Corpsman, UP!" to heart. He says he's not a hero, he was just doing what he was trained to do. Well, to a whole lot of Americans who don't want to get that training, you sir ARE a hero! Thanks for using your training, and for caring enough to get those "scars" when you can't save them.

WTF is this

SHIT?!?

Yeah, I call it SHIT. It's the trailer for 28 Weeks Later, the supposed "follow-up" to 28 Days Later. Um, no I don't think so.


28 Days Later is a modern classic of zombified horror. That piddly crap they're pushin' off as a follow-up is populated by Americans, and the US Army. WTF does that have to do with an outbreak in London of a virus caused by unmitigated rage?


**Spoiler Warning! I reveal 28 Days Later stuff, don't read farther if you don't want it spelled out for ya!**





The premis of 28 Days Later is a lab in Cambridge creates a "rage" virus - transmited by blood/saliva/etc (one would assume all bodily fluids thought that's not totally clear in 28DL, and rather implied instead). They test on animals, animal nuts (of which the UK has some of the most rabid) break in, releasing the virus on an unsuspecting population. It proceeds to decimate (hell, well past decimation level) the entire Great Britain population. No real mention of Ireland, and it's 'discovered' that the isle of GB has been in effect quarantined to kill off the infection - thus leaving the Brits to fend for themselves against ruthless UK and Territorial Army forces and the zomified freakazoids. That movie puts any number of US slasher flicks to shame - it has a machette attack scene and whoo buddy that out-gores any number of US flicks. We're left with 3 known survivors on a far north lake - most likely a Scottish loch ...




Now, why would you make a "follow-up" with US persons repopulating London? Friggin' LONDON!! Population at last count in the region of 7.5 MILLION including burroughs, but not counting the nearly double that of the commuter belt (of which Oxford and Cambridge are considered parts). If you were going to 'repopulate' a decimated nation, and you needed to conduct sweeps for infected (though they're all SUPPOSED to be dead of starvation by now), keep a quarantine line, and destroy the bodies of the victims and infected WTF are you gonna start in LONDON?!? Why not something more sensible like ... oh, Dover with a pop just over 28,000? How about the Isles of Scilly - population roughly 2100; the Channel Islands - population roughly 162,000 all total; the Isle of Wight - population appx 140,000?

Why must hollywierd insist on making the US Army look like bumbling idiots, who can't plan an invasion? Especialy of troops most likely bound in from Italy and Germany? With Naval support from Spain, Portugal and Italy, along with Air Force support from Germany, Italy, Spain, etc.? Seriously, if we let hollywierd plan wars, everything would be the vietnam's they claim the world is.

We won't even discuss the need of hollywierd to make the US Army, and by extention the US military at large, look like cold-blooded murderers hellbent on annihilation of the human race. Yet another example of hollywierd STOLE an idea and CRAPPED on it!

There is not one single original thought out of that hell hole in the last ... oh, 60 years at least! They steal shit, and rape and pillage it to make it a cash cow. They fuck everyone they can, shit on the viewer and expect you to say "oh yes, thank you, can I have some more please?"

I understand a movie is about suspending reality for about 2 hours time. However, you don't follow the likes of 28 Days Later with this cranked out crap that bares no resemblance to the first and makes NO FREAKIN SENSE! 28 Days Later is the classic it is because it made a little too much sense, it was a little too easy to imagine that as being the reality - this trash hollycrap has regurgitated is beyond anything I'll pay to see!

Observations

I'm planning a Roman themed day for my middle heathen's class. Do these look convincing as Roman coins, mind, coins that little kids can glue the foil to and rub to make the portrait or scene come out? Then sprinkle with glitter for that "metallic" effect? The left have gluestick, the right gel glue. I think the gel glue held the glitter better...









I also need to try out making Bullas - amulets Roman children wore from birth to adulthood. And some plaster of paris stuff too. I've got about a month to work all this out. I also need to order in some Spelt flour as Spelt is Roman grain - but I can only order it in from the Amish. Yeah, that's pretty funny, no?

Oh, and I need to make a diptych. Hopefully make enough for each kiddo to take one home. Hey, KURT! Any chance you can make me a mesquite diptych? Here are some basic specs for one - ...

Roman Wax Table & Stylus

Purty please with bbq on top? :)

The War Was In Color

Carbon Leaf, a band new to me, recorded that song and publicised TAPS at it's playing.

TAPS now has a link under my "Our Military" tab. They exist to support the families of the fallen on their winding and often bitter roads through grief. Alot of times, when your loved one has given that last full measure of devotion, our government, our military, our country overlooks their loved ones left behind. TAPS is there to provide a beacon in the long dark night to those who grieve the loss of an American hero in a far more personal way. I hope my readers visit TAPS, read up on what they do, and find it in themselves to help out - volunteer, give a donation, support a Marine Corps Marathon runner.





The Kiger Brannon Band also supports TAPS. One of the most moving videos I've seen and YouTube is full of 'em.



If my readers can, please help support the TAPS folks, and support Carbon Leaf and The Kiger Brannon Band too. I pray never to call upon TAPS, and I pray their phonelines go silent from no more grieving families but I'm glad to know they're there. I'm glad to know a grieving spouse, parent, child has someone to call on when they need them.

Post Secret

Well, I don't know if my readers ever happen across my blogroll, but one of the more moving, interactive blogs I have there is Post Secret.

The blog is a set of artwork, replaced weekly, handmade by the people that send it in. Each card contains a secret, and it's atually one of my favorite sites. No matter the language, the location, the era, the secrets are all humanity's secrets - sometimes I've gotten startled by the plainess of the secrets, sometimes by the depth but always there's the need of humanity to be loved, accepted, understood as the undercurrent.

Anyway, this secret spoke to me, in a way few have.

Why must some humans take it upon themselves to make others feel undesireable? Ugly? Worthless? Those traits that are so despised by some stupid people have been selectively bred into humanity for millenium. What some coke whore thinks of how you look goes against the entire history of humanity, so why does it hold weight?

Why must some humans allow others' opinions to matter instead of their own? Why must they allow what some coke whore thinks of them hold weight? Why do some people insist on being made so desperatly unhappy, and why do some people insist on making people so desperatly unhappy? I guess I want to know why humanity won't change what they want changed ...

It's a very insecure individual that must tear down others to feel better about themselves. It's a very, VERY insecure person that must use mind and body altering drugs to feel better about themselves and give them the delusions that they've earned the right to tear down others.

Since I really don't suffer from either of those conditions, they've always been very foreign concepts to me. I've also wondered why it is women suffer from them, while men really don't, on average anyway.

Any comments? Observations? I'm always curious, and always willing to hear different opinions.

Lily Allen!

Friday Night - I love the juxtaposition of the voice and syrupy-sweet background music to the depth and feelings of the lyrics. Yes, I am an anglophile.

Who Paid YOUR Bill Today?

In September of 2005, a social studies school teacher from Arkansas did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal, and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom. The kids came into first period, they walked in; there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, "Where's our desks?"

The teacher said, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them."

They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades."

"No," she said.

"Maybe it's our behavior."

And she told them, "No, it's not even your behavior."

And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in the class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom. The last period of the day, the instructor gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. She said "Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily. Now I'm going to tell you."

She went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. By the time they had finished placing the desks, those kids for the first time I think perhaps in their lives understood how they earned those desks.

Their teacher said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly, to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don't ever forget it."



This is actually a verified Urban Legand. The teacher is Martha Cohen, and she teaches military history at Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Just thought on today, a day when certain things were bought and paid for by a man who didn't do the crime, but he did the time for you, you might want to remember there are still those paying a price greater than themselves that others need not pay the piper in the end. I hope each and every one of my readers remembers just who paid that price, and that you remember to thank them. Kurt, Boyd, GuyK, NOTR have all paid part of YOUR bill. JackArmy, hubby, JG, MF, AJ, DB, HH among many others are STILL paying YOUR bill. Don't forget them, say a prayer for them, and remember that their Homefronts are paying part of YOUR bill too. Are you makin' an effort everyday to be worth the cost we all pay?

I hope all my readers have a great Easter, and be worth the costs paid for you by so many, over so much time...

Coronation Street? Isn't that a chocolate confection?

Okay, I never really dug UK soaps - General Hospital lost me along time ago and well, short of remembering a few tag lines ("Like sands through the hour glass, these are the days of our lives" - among others), I do'nt watch soap operas. Anyhoo, Sky News has an article up about this here guy, Craig Charles ... Whom they say is from Coronation Street.







I could have sworn that man was on Red Dwarf...





For my UK readers, am I off my rocker? Or am I just really far behind on the funny brigade?