Happy 4th of July

Should there be a law against furring the flag?

July Weekends

This month has five full weekends; meaning five Fridays, five Saturdays and five Sundays. Contrary to internet gibberish this does not happen only once every 823 years. In fact, on average it occurs once every 7 years, because of leap year it can happen a bit more or less frequently in a particular short term timeframe. The actual repeating pattern for any 31 day month to have five weekends is: 6 years, 5 years, 6 years, 11 years.

But back to the point, there are definitely five full weekends this month, which means precisely and exactly nothing since nearly no one plans their weekends based on whether the weekend includes only one month or is split between two.

Now there are certain OCD humanoids who have certain calendaric idiosyncrasies but I don't know of any that require weekends to fall within the same month. I am open to hearing about any phobia or compulsion around months and/or calendars in general. But specifically - July has five full weekends this year - make the most or the least of them, your choice.

I did attempt to find if there are any phenomenon that cycle every 823 years. Unfortunately the net search was clogged with all of the websites reporting this hoax about the five weekends. I myself will be doing the barbeque thing up in Sonoma for the first (American & Canadian holiday) weekend and perhaps taking to the highway during the final July weekend, more on that later.

Finally a July Blog Promise - based on feedback from the readers of this here blog. I promise, at least for one month, to have one serious and one not-so-serious post each and every week. I know the light-hearted faire troubles some of my long-time friends; just as the dense academic fodder turns off my more casual readers. In an attempt to satisfy all at least some of the time - one of each, every week this month because I have five full weekends to pull it off.

Memorial Day 2011

Private Horace J. Keller 

was killed in action 

on November 16, 1944.

Easter

The egg is the pagan symbol of rebirth and often used in Spring rituals to signify the renewal of the seasons and of the earth.

OK this one is a Faberge Egg.
Symbol of elegant greed.

and this one is a chocolate egg
a sugar delivery vehicle

but the rest of these are actually dyed chicken eggs

These, of course, being tie dyed.

Intricacy sometimes make me cross-eyed.

You know this took hours and hours to look that simple

use a laser on an eggshell 

to get a very mixed holiday message

Up, up and away...............

We have a two weeks break from school starting now, and I'm taking an extra week off as well - so tomorrow I'm flying away to Italy - see y'all :)

There will be pictorial evidence to come, naturally.

Something Peculiar Day

Something familiar, 
Something peculiar, 
Something for everyone:

A comedy tonight!

Nothing with kings, nothing with crowns;

Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns!

Old situations,

New complications,

Nothing portentous or polite;

Tragedy tomorrow,

Comedy tonight!

-from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Some things just defy comment.

I have wanted to use this picture for so long; it just never seemed appropriate, it still isn't I suppose.

There exists a fine line between social commentary and outright ridicule.

I imagine some will think this crosses that fine line.

Now wasn't that better than some tired, long-winded joke about me getting engaged, moving to Mississippi or supporting Sarah Palin? The date Emily, look at the date.

Happy St. Padraig's Day

We all choose what to celebrate,

. . . how to celebrate

. . . and with whom to celebrate,

choose wisely.

M&M Monday - Valentine's Day

--

Exclusive M&M Art by me

M&M Monday - Blow Out the Candle

Champagne and canapes all around. Talk among yourselves, avoid discussions involving your lastest medical procedure or persistent aches and pains.

Next year, a Beatle's Song.

--

Birthday Art by me

Chinese Year of the Metal Rabbit

Rabbit Years are fourth in the Chinese calendar, following Tiger Years. The Chinese new year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solistice. This year the date is today: February 3, 2011. 

The characteristics of the Rabbit (both those born under the sign of the Rabbit and the actual year itself) are influenced by the five Chinese elements: Metal, Water, Fire, Wood and Earth. So there is a sixty year cycle that overlays the 12 year cycle of the Chinese calendar. This is the year of the Metal Rabbit.

                                     THE METAL RABBIT 1951 AND 2011

Metal gives Rabbits a more resilient demeanor than the other more quiet Rabbit. These Rabbits are very ambitious and can be quite crafty in their dealings with others. They throw themselves and their emotions into everything they do, making them intense lovers, but not outwardly affectionate lovers. Their determination can affect their work as well, whether through personal relationships with colleagues or with the work itself, a Rabbit can be known to immerse himself in his projects…business and personal.

Methinks, I myself shall opt for intense immersion this year.

--

art: Beth Cavener Stitchter

The Friday Photo

A boy and his dog....

Today on the way back from a retail therapy trip to our nearest city, I stopped at a river-side area to eat my lunch.  This fellow was having enormous fun fetching the stick which his young owner was throwing waaaay out into the river.

 I was really impressed with the dog's obedience, too; (Juniper's Django would have approved).

The dog, of course, would have carried on retrieving for ever, but when told to, he sat down quietly to have his collar buckled back on and they headed off up the road towards home.





It was good to see them having such healthy fun and enjoying each other's company - it put a smile on my face, and made my sushi taste even more delicious!

Favourite Shots of the Year #4

Happy New year to everyone.  I hope you and your loved ones will enjoy a healthy and satisfying 2011.

I wasn't going to put up any more best shots of 2010 (see Carmi's Thematic Photographic here), but whilst sorting folders I found these ones, and couldn't resist.
These were taken on the same road trip as the previous group, but this beach is on the Tasman Coast of New Zealand (not the Pacific east coast), and it's further north, at a little settlement called Ahipara.

They were taken on July 8, so our mid-winter. It was bitterly cold and there were occasional showers scudding across from the west.  But these kids were making the most of their school holidays, and were determined to enjoy the beach.

 

Gobble

[Addendum: my gobblefest gathering is today -- Friday, so this post remains relevant for some of us until tomorrow when I shall address a bird of a different feather. . . ]

Year of the Tiger

We are in the waning months of the Chinese Year of the Tiger, which ends February 2, 2011. The tiger is the largest of the earth's felines, the biggest of the big cats can top 600 pounds. Of course, like any wonderous species they are endangered largely due to pouching in their natural habitats throughout Asia.

According to the World Wildlife Fund there are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. (5,000) than there are alive in the wild. Regulation of captive big cats is so lax that there is no official count of their numbers worldwide nor are they protected from the trade in animal parts that has devastated the wild population. 

But I don't want to sound like the last two minutes of every nature show. Tigers are gorgeous creatures, if you want to help them thrive -- Save the Tiger fund is a well respected organization.

By the way February 3, 2011 marks the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Rabbit.

Orange & Black

Shadows of a thousand years

Rise again unseen,

Voices whisper in the trees

"Tonight is Halloween"

Dexter Kozen

I'm really into candy right now. Not in the same way I was in 1968, but that is a completely different story.

I am not going to write about All Hallow's Eve today but about something completely different -- clear, unequivocal statements about relationships, hopes, dreams and the future. For those seeking an orange and black goblin fix, scroll down to the video link at the end.

Here is what I wonder: when someone feels that certain way about someone -- why don't they tell them? I bring this up for two reasons. First, I don't get it; when I want, desire, hope, pray or beg for something I do it explicitly. I mean who wants to miss out on something simply because we were unclear about our intentions. Second, an old girlfriend got in touch recently via one of the social networks; after the exchange of details of our lives over the past 25 years, she told me that she had always regretted that we did not give "a real relationship a try."

Her: "I always wanted that."

Me: "Why didn't you ever say that to me?"

Her: "I did in many little ways."

Me: "How about in english to my face, preceded by the words 'I have something I want you to know.'"

Her: "That's not how love works."

Really! Is this another of those life lessons they taught girls in Home Ed. while the boyz were being shown how to throw a curve ball? That's all I got for now -- Happy Halloween.

Here lies the Video link at the end for cat-lovers, pumpkin-lovers and fans of halloween.

Shameless Selfless Promotion

Yes it tis a bit early for pumpkins and goblins and yes there will be another orange & black post more appropriately calendaric but today I wanted to offer you a commercial opportunity by pimping the art of one of my good friends. 

Tina Fields is an artist, songtress, contra-dance caller, eco-psychologist with a wickedly dark sense of many things and an abominable taste in men. The image above is hers of which she says: 

A witch flies across the full moon on a broomstick. This is a classic Hallowe’en image; nothing more.

–Or is it?

Note how happy this witch looks. Then look for four entheogenic plants semi-hidden in the design.

Can you identify them?

Some say the use of such plant mixtures is how those witches, our European ancestors, actually went ‘flying.’  The broomstick provided a handy applicator of the “flying ointment” – a.k.a. witches’ brew? – to the mucous membranes.  (I am not making this up!)

My favorite thing about this drawing is the glee she exhibits. I get so tired of seeing witches depicted as evil, scheming, or just grumpy in their warts. I mean, really. When I was a little kid of nine or so, a teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. The book suggested things like “nurse” and “fireman.” I wrote in “Philosopher. And witch.”

Silently flying out of the window at night by moonlight, knowing the world’s unknowable secrets, casting spells, healing people with wild materials free for the taking, talking with ravens?! Yee-haw! It’s good to be a witch.

And now for the commercial portion of our program: this image can be found on t-shirts, cups, throw pillows, trivets and other assorted items for your halloween and year round pleasure at: CafePress

9/12

No real need for a 9-11 post this year. The Florida fool didn't burn any books. The Manhattan community center debate has gone so virile that it has become passe to mention it. I object to many thoughts, debates, expletives and explanations around the World Trade Center blogoverse but mostly the politics. Both sides, hell all sides, just take too much liberty with the facts of that day. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?

I did catch a documentary on the 9-11 Truthers last night. I did a little investigation on them earlier this year when the carpet cleaner gave me the seventy minute version of their thesis. The problem with all of these conspiracy theories is that they use a selective filter; facts, inferences and extrapolations that support their view of the world are truth, anything else disappears in a haze of "they did it" verbiage. Plus people who are determined to be right at the top of their lungs and in my face, have no chance of convincing me of anything and a greatly expanded potential of needing medical attention.

But like I said, no 9-11 blog yesterday, no need. Today, 9-12 is significant to many if only as someone's birthday or wedding anniversary but in the world of events the 12th has been fairly quiet. Sometimes it seems that we could use a lot more of these uneventful days when we can fill in the significance for ourselves.

September 12th - Adopt a Kitten Day. I'll bet no one would care that the litter box is two blocks from People's Park.

Lay of the Last Minstrel

Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd,
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd,
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.
                   -Sir Walter Scott

Memorial Day 2010

May Day: Berkeley

May Day in Berkeley 2010 was a disappointment. Yes, there was the requisite amount of Arizona immigration bashing and leaflet handing out and random activist literature tables but this is the Worker's Day. Where were the socialists? Where were the downtrodden? The unions? The huddled masses were drinking mocha lattes.

The most prominent early morning promotion was for the "family friendly" May Day picnic and that was over in Dolores Park in San Francisco. This is not your parent's Berkeley. There is more concern these days about reversing the decades of traffic calming measures (that's blocked off neighborhood streets for those who have not experienced the radical traffic patterns of Berkeley). And lest we forget, we need to be ever watchful of asbestos ceilings and old lead paint.

Perhaps I was just having an olde leftie day and expected more from the former nexus of all things radical. Or maybe I was looking for the other meaning of May Day.