Up in smoke

Authorities in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, are to consider banning smoking in cars despite the fact that cars world wide are the number one pollutant of our environment, spitting out more carbon-monoxide and other nasty pollutants in a few minutes more than a smoker could ever match in a year. Supporters of this legislation have argued that research into the dangers of passive smoking has proven that change is urgently needed. Well if that is so (the passive smoke dangers) why not ban cigarettes all together, also campfires, wood-burning, coal burning and all other open fires, plus get rid of the fossil fuel driven cars and trucks.
Somehow I believe that legislation of this nature (if you are tempted to bring it down to the "little" people like a little Nazi in the first place) would be a somewhat more effective way and promote health on this planet as never seen before. But no, they start thinking from the donkeys tail upward and try to ban smoking in private cars. How dummified have politicians become. The "little man" is to be blamed instead of large cooperations who pollute at nausea to the detriment of all peoples on this globe . But I guess it just happens to be easier to go after the "weakest link" in society than actually facing real issues at hand.

Who is the "EU" ? Nobody I personaly know!

"The Council [of EU member states] expresses its deep concern at the events that followed the publication of cartoons in a number of European and other media," the ministers' statement says. Deep concern? About what? Their economy perhaps? Freedom of expression should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs. It adds: "The Council acknowledges and regrets that these cartoons were considered offensive and distressing by Muslims across the world." The bloody distress these cartoons provoked will make Mohammed think twice of being Buddha and getting away without a further incarnation on this earth. So beware believers, the prophet might come back and teach you a lesson or two of how to conduct your life in the 21st century. Maybe he will even suggest to drop your old fashioned clothes and for the woman to live without burkas and shawls from now on. Who knows. Diplomats said that at least one country, the Netherlands, had at first opposed the decision to express "regret". Well good for them. "Tis the only honest way to go. The Czech government was also reported to be concerned that apologising would undermine the freedom fo the media.
My question is: How can you feel "regret" for folks that live up to self imposed hysteria?
You - the muslims - do you like violence? Is it your daydream? Is it your mission? Not that I stand on foot with the US endeavors in the Middle East, far from it. I think their engagement there is folly and harmful to all of us. The provocation and the loss of lives due to this US interaction there is unforgivable.
But those cartoons? Give me a break... There is many more worthy causes to get exited about. And the more the peoples of the Arab world are rallying against this issue, the more they will fit themselves perfectly into the stereotype they so much despise, namely being a stupid blind and unconscious extremist "herd of morons" or a religious entity that doesn't belong on the streets of nowadays.
My position is, take your religion to your own four walls, honor it, believe in it, worship it, whatever.....
but for god's sake, don't get me involved in it by force. What you do for yourself might be enlightenment, but the only way I get any further, is to make whatever I have in the present be my own - create my own "enlightenment" .
I need to tackle my own quest with religion and the whole question of earth existence without anybody else's radical interference!!!
So all you woman and all you man who rally against cartoons - step back and take a deep breath, think about how your religious beliefs and feelings would nourish your souls if only attended in the right fashion, not by protesting cooperations and nations, but by solely finding the spirit of truth in your daily deeds that may spark enthusiasm and joy from person to person and hence be the seeds of love and peace.

Guardian Angel

I am the bird that flutters against your window in the morning,
and your closest friend, whom you can never know,
blossoms that light up for the blind.

I am the glacier shining over the woods, so pale,
and heavy voices from the cathedral tower.
The thoughts that suddenly hits you in the middle of the day
and makes you feel so fantastically happy.

I am the one you have loved for many years.
I walk beside you all day and look intently at you
and put my mouth against your heart
though you're not aware of it.

I am your third arm, and your second
shadow, the white one,
whom you can not accept,
and who can never forget you.

ROLF JACOBSEN

What is a blog?

A "blog" is mostly a personal diary of sorts, putting your observations and thoughts about almost anything to rest. I forgot about that concept the last few days and instead was whining solely about political issues. I am sorry for that glitch!
So instead of going and contemplating about Iraq and it's inevitable down-surge into civil war, I will post some pictures of an oak shelve system I finished today plus the swamp that is frozen over about a mile away from my house.
Continuing with the "diary sorts of way", tomorrow I will bring this unit down close to NYC and install it, come home later and prepare for the next course of "occult science" starting on Monday.
So there, now you got some personal info instead of that political stuff!

I did not know, but I will veto!

Bush was unaware of the pending sale of shipping operations at six major US seaports to the state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates until the deal already had been approved by his administration, the White House said on Wednesday.
Bush's chief spokesman, Scott McClellan, said on Wednesday that the US president had only learned about the deal "over the last several days", once it was completed, saying questions about it "didn't rise to the presidential level".

Interesting that Bush will use his first veto to block an attempt to reverse this takeover by Dubai on an issue he innitially had no clue about. What a man!

some signs for Gary

kissing but of the enemy, or selling the country to the highest bidder!

Only hours before Bush spoke today in Colorado, the leader of the Bush's Republican Party in the US Senate asked the administration to stop the transaction, under which a British company that has been running six US ports would be acquired by Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates.
You see, I wouldn't have blinked with one eye if that company wasn't state owned, and just dismiss it as an other obscure takeover in our world of global capitalism. But this is not so! The United Arab Emirates, a frolicking breeding-ground for Arab extremists, amongst them some of the infamous 9/11 people, becomes de facto the owner and boss of the most important seaports in the US.
Somehow this makes me want to laugh out loud and send Mr. Bush the "guide for jihad dummies" , not that he will learn anything grand. Nevertheless, it's always worth a try!
It is also remarkable to read Rumsfelds' response: "Nothing changes with respect to security under this contract. The Coast Guard is in charge of security, not the corporation." Is the Coast Guard taking over control of thousands of containers being shipped in and out of US naval ports? Hmm, I don't think that will ever happen. There is just not the amount of personnel available. From my experience in Maine and listening to professional fishermen, the Coast Guard can hardly keep up with vessels in dire straits (again a "manpower" issue). So what are we going to do, keep selling out to the highest bidder?

Roses of prophet Mohammed

What does the US and Iran have in common? Renaming food items in retaliation ... ha, ha!

Bakeries across the capital Tehran on Thursday were covering up the name-plates for Danish pastries after the confectioners union ordered the name change in retaliation for cartoons of Islam's revered prophet first published in a Danish newspaper.
Ahmad Mahmoudi, a cake-shop owner in northern Tehran, said: "This is a punishment for those who started misusing freedom of expression to insult the sanctities of Islam." Now the flaky Danish pastry is being renamed "roses of mohammed"!
From "freedom fries" to "roses of mohammed" - what's next?

I have an idea, let's fly planes and dump millions of bikinis made from burka-fabric all over Arab nations with a little label inside saying: Woman are not mans nor the prophets property, neither is Danish pastry.
God, I'm not even talking about G-strings or thongs here...
Isn't that the way the US would have won the war against the "axis of evil"?

Auch ein Rücken kann entzücken

... also a back can be exciting

OK, once nearly 60 million buffalo roamed the American plains, but the white hunters decimated the herd to about 300 at the end of the 19th century. Now the herd is back due to ranchers who raise them for their good meat: Low in calories, low in saturated fat and high in omega-3 fatty acids (good stuff).
Urban farmers' offer buffalo meat. Give it a try; you'll be helping out to bring back an American treasure - no kidding! So with the bird flu on the horizon, this might be a safe non-vegetarian alternative.

RECIPE
2 to 3 lb. BUFFALO ROAST cut into 1-inch cubes
1 lb. carrots and 3 small turnips cut into one inch dice
2 large potatoes and 4 small onions, diced
8-10 garlic gloves, minced
15 - ounce tomato sauce
1 table spoon of each: Dijon mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp of each: ground pepper, dried basil, dried thyme, celery seed

preheat oven to 275 degree.
Sear buffalo cubes over high heat in a dutch oven or large stock pot.
Remove from heat and add all vegetables and combine with two cups of broth, water or wine - stir in the herbs.

Place cover on pan and leave in oven for 5 hours. No checking required - just take out and enjoy with wine, green salad and garlic baguettes!

What's bird flu got to do with it?

So, amongst all the anxiety about Mohammed cartoons, (Libya's Italian embassy just got torched yesterday, ten dead due to life bullets from the police), the "Avian Flu" is crossing borders without regards or respect of religion, culture, race, or any other dubious limitations of present stuck up global societies. Did Tibetan monks cried out foul when Micky Mouse appeared in the so called "western world"? Did they burn down flags, houses and peoples in order to rescue their ancient traditions? I do not recall so...


But the "bird" - Noah's messenger to predict some lands ahead is sick now and dying. Hence there will be no messenger anymore to deliver the news of a new and safe haven. Instead we (the humans) infested with flues of some other kind in tragic compilation, live on this common turf and dwindle down with each additional breath of hatred and intolerance to just lessen the fair chance of present earth existence for all.
Yes, the Danish Mohammed cartoons are actually a clash of civilizations! There is no way to be a "pussy" about that one.
The reaction of the Muslim world, with their satellite connections, their internet interactions, their cell phone conversations, their readings of any publication anywhere in the world (all of the above media and technology is completely against Islam and Mohammed anyway) becomes to be an oxymoron.

Listen you Arab muslims who like to play ancient games of supremacy and make the clash of religions and cultures a sacrilege game of checkers with almighty Mohammed underneath the board, shaking up the pawns at the blink of your liking. It will not work! Not for you, not for me!

The bird will be the one who crosses boarders, for evil or good.
Take care of the dove and you will take care of your own cultures.

A riddle for you

I'll stop it.
I will not talk -
Not with a mouth full.
But believe me, I'll protest
If I am poked, if I'm pulled.

If I'm out of sorts
Who knows what will come forth
In a tree I've been
And when in the top spot
The spirit is within!



So what is it? Post your suggestions.
This riddle was composed by Sam.
Thank you Sam, it's brilliant!

Break with bikes

My friends are hovering around those two wheeled vehicles, polished chrome, waiting for spring.
Dreams of journeys. Fair enough.
I have a break this weekend until next week when I will continue to teach about a different kind of journey, a journey that spans more turf than any motorcycle ever could encompass. "World Evolution" is the theme - based on perceptions and concepts gained by Spiritual Science. Might sound "far out" to you - but you know what, in many ways this concept of penetration and observation beyond pure physical matter can open up new horizons. Perhaps one day we will truly comprehend the "ZEN of motorcycle maintenance".

Comix goes bananas update

The crowd chanted: "With our blood and souls we defend you, O Prophet of God," they chanted outside the Danish building, which also houses the Swedish and Chilean missions.
Some removed the Danish flag and replaced it with another reading: "There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God."
Outside the Norwegian embassy, police fired tear gas to try to disperse the protesters, but some broke in and set it ablaze.

All these discussions about "freedom of speech" in the west, self-imposed parameters of morality, religious respect, cultural recognition are one thing, but it is hard to have a balanced dialog while Arab Muslims trample and burn down other peoples religious symbols - literally! After all, smak in the middle of the Danish flag is a cross.This recaction is not an isolated incident by a few, this is mass hysteria not confined, but spreading like a wild fire over many countries. What does that tell you?

This aint no stinking cartoon, this is for real!

Rumsfeld compares Chavez to Hitler

Rumsfeld is worried by the rise of elected Latin American leaders.
The United States has expelled a Venezuelan diplomat a day after Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, compared Hugo Chavez to Adolf Hitler.
Asked during a National Press Club appearance on Thursday about indications of a generally deteriorating relationship between Washington and parts of Latin America, Rumsfeld said he believes such a characterisation "misses the mark".
He said the rise of elected populist leaders in Latin America such as Chavez, Venezuela's president, was "worrisome".
"You've got Chavez in Venezuela with a lot of oil money," he said.
"He's a person who was elected legally just as Adolf Hitler was elected legally.

I need feedback

I am in the process to revamp my web-pages. These are just two examples I came up with. One is more misty and fades... the other is more bold. You'll be the judge to what direction I should take.

Is naked fun when the heat rises?

Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases may have more serious impacts than previously believed, a major scientific report from the UK government stated.
The report, published yesterday based on a study starting in Feb 2005, says there is only a small chance of greenhouse gas emissions being kept below "dangerous" levels. It fears the Greenland ice sheet is likely to melt, leading sea levels to rise by 23 feet over the next 1,000 years.
What that means in real terms, is that New York city will not be a city as we know it anymore. All the subway systems could be flooded if the sea level only rises 3 feet (about a meter) or so.... Could that happen in the next five years? Nobody knows for sure.

I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but in my opinion greenhouse-gases are unlikely to be reduced until it is too late. So this trend is truthfully irresolvable. But why is it that humanity only learns through pain and suffering, and even then makes only minute steps towards betterment.
You know, deep down I don't even care about the survival of the polar bear. I am not a "eco-freak". Yes, that polar bear looks cute on pictures, but I have never met one and probably never will. My concern is the survival of this human race, and not some species that can be left behind throughout a transitional period. So you might ask: "Zee, what the heck are you going to do about it?" Truthfully, I feel overwhelmed and see the only remedy that all of us do small steps - as good as we possibly are able to do!
My steps are such:
1. Reject Hummers and vehicles that are fossil fuel hungry
2. Add more solar panels to my studio so it becomes completely independent from the grid
3. Increase the size of my vegetable garden so I can sustain without running to the Supermarket every day
4. Inform other people what they can achieve in their particular environment (at least help)

Now it is YOUR turn to add suggestions and put them on this list. Be creative, I yearn for your imaginative input!

Chaos at Saddam's trial

Saad Djebbar, an international lawyer and commentator on Middle East politics told the BBC that the chaotic scenes meant that the whole trial was being undermined:
"I think it was a big mistake that this trial was held in Iraq because the judge, you cannot find a person, one individual today in Iraq - judge, lawyer, prosecutor who is impartial vis a vis Saddam Hussein.

... I must agree, they should have had him tried somewhere else. Too bad that that the US denies the validity of the Hague (international) court. It complicates matters.

Be good

pics are from around the corner from where I live




MINE EMENY IS GROWING OLD
by Emily Dickingson

Mine enemy is growing old, -
I have at last revenge.
The palate of the hate departs;
If any would avenge, -

Let him be quick, the viand flits,
It is a faded meat.
Anger as soon as fed is dead;
'Tis starving makes it fat.

Will Canada kill Kyoto?

When the history of the Kyoto Protocol comes to be written, Canada will appear as a particularly influential figure in the narrative.
It has already played the role of Florence Nightingale, nursing the treaty back from the brink of oblivion.
Is Canada's newly elected Conservative Party now preparing to don the mantle of Darth Vader and emasculate the protocol to the point of impotence?

Marinate your chicken first

For decades, Fatah - the party founded by the late Yasser Arafat - has totally dominated electoral politics, but that time is over. The likelihood of a resounding victory for Hamas - which is committed to the destruction of Israel - sent shockwaves though the Jewish state. Yes, I do understand the worries of the Israelites. But the truth is, that the decades of violence and uncertainty in that region might now have a chance to find a turn towards betterment. The blindfolded commitment of the US towards Israel, both money wise and other, will now be in question and the leverage the US and European countries had towards Palestine has ceased- which will finally leave Israel free to find it's own destiny and renew its identity without a "big brother." Maybe that is a good thing. Sharon (still in a coma I believe) intuit this development and thus ordered (he after all was a military man and a strategist) the withdrawal from occupied territories, not to punish settlers, but to make sure that in a long range plan the borders of Israel would be secure.
Condi Rice stated that there would be no negotiations with Hamas who now in her own words have "one foot in terrorism and one foot in politics." Israeli sources verbalized similar sentiments and Bush today made an embarrassing press appearance concerning these new developments. Whatever these first reactions might indicate, the truth of the matter is that down the road negotiations will be inevitable. Hamas, similar to the IRA in Ireland, will not give up its weapons easily. But as they (Hamas) will now be involved in a political process, reconsiderations of how to go about things. Perhaps violence will now become less and less an act of random desperation killing innocent people, but an action of deliberate strategic consideration (as Israel has done successfully in the past). And maybe it will sink into some knuckle-heads that blowing yourself up results in indefinite rejection by Allah.
Far from that I subscribe to violence, but in the long haul Palestine and Israel might find a way to co-exist - if not, we will be witness to the "Third World War" with our own eyes.
Ok, my chicken is marinated now, time to stuff it into the oven and roast it.