Here’s an irony: That symbol of civil rights advancement, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama–it’s named after a man who was not only in the KKK but Alabama’s Grand Master and an infamous racist. His side may have lost the Civil War, but he kept up his hatred of any kind of freedom or rights for Blacks.
I wonder: is the name of the bridge an irony or a useful reminder?
Today’s short Thursday Thought quote comes from Washington the man, not the place, although people working for us in the place should take heed:
I would like to thank Jody at www.mystateart.com for featuring me in her blog, My State Art. Her blog highlights people from various aspects of the artistic life–writers, poets, artists, musicians. Her goal is to “celebrate the independent artist.” The blog, only six months old, is an interesting read if you enjoy “meeting” the people behind the kinds of artistic works you enjoy. The articles are short but give a nice overview of the people she has interviewed.
Try it. You might like it.
It’s happening AGAIN in Congress. Instead of dealing with one major issue at a time, gnawing at it until a rational decision is made, they combine it with another, equally thorny issue. Right now it’s immigration policy and funding Homeland Security. True, there is some overlap with the two, but mainly on the surface.
What is this strategy of combining, a form of blackmail, stonewalling, or simply done for the love of a battlefield so sticky with blood that none of us can move?
Disinfect with natural, non-chemical 5% solution of white vinegar from your grocery shelf. It will kill 80% of viruses, 99% of bacteria, and 82% of mold. The smell goes away quickly, unlike the harmful effects of those cleaning products you’ve been using.
[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]
A sanctioned riot on Ash Wednesday? For most Western Christians, today is the day that kicks off a season of penance and atonement, reflecting Christ’s 40 days in the desert. The kick-off in Ashbourne, England, is quite different, though. It’s the second day (starting yesterday, Fat Tuesday–Shrove Tuesday to them) of a free-for-all soccer game that looks more like two mobs of rioters going at each other.
This Royal Shrovetide Football Match, also called “hugball,” is a tradition dating back to 1667 and involves hundreds of people and very few rules. Read more about it at “This Soccer Match May Just Be the Craziest Ash Wednesday Tradition Ever.”
Not my cup of tea, I’m afraid.
For those of you who have told me you like my poems: I’ve just added a 5th E-book to the great, wide, sometimes-questionable cyber world. It’s a collection of my poems–GOD SNEEZED is the title. Obviously not a collection of preachy, religious poems, although some do have spiritual overtones. If you’re interested, you can sample the book at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/518169. It’s available there right now and will be at most other E-tailers soon.
The science is now clear: fracking DOES cause earthquakes. For an explanation, see “How Oil and Gas Disposal Wells Can Cause Earthquakes” and “Fracking and Earthquakes.” Yes, the earthquakes triggered by fracking so far have been either mild or moderate. However, scientists suggest that it could cause a major, even catastrophic, one (see “Could Fracking Cause a Major Earthquake?“)
This fairly new way to pull oil out of the ground is helping our country toward energy independence and bringing down gas prices. But at what cost to the Earth and, ultimately, to human life?
Last-minute gift idea: Give your Valentine a locally-grown plant to enjoy for a long time rather than a bouquet of short-lasting flowers which traveled great distances to get here. (80% of the flowers sold in the U.S. come from Colombia and Ecuador.) It’s a loving gift that will last months or years to come, reminding that special someone of your love.
