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Do you want to volunteer?

nostops — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:22:38 +0000

We have received many emails asking if they could volunteer.

There are many areas for which one could volunteer, but it would be a nice idea if we could have a focussed activity to begin with.

Via PRAJA @ NOSTOPS, it is our intend to promote a cause that is at GRASSROOT level. It doesnt necessarily have to be limited by geographies. But yes, it needs to have a collective bargaining .. that means it needs to reach out to maximum amount of people. THINK BIG !

Do you have a cause in mind yourself ! Lets begin with a dialogue !

"Cause to love you", by Fingertips

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:13:40 +0000

Fingertips

"Cause to love you"

Feed a City

northwebsite — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:55:59 +0000

Here's a great new Cause started by a few friends of North. Chris and Francine Brons are in charge of the Color Africa Cause, which collects coloring books and Crayons for children in Africa who are suffering from AIDS. Here's a letter that Chris sent out about a new Cause where we can feed two cities in Africa.

-------------------------------------------------

- We have all been called to do great things (this is my opinion, and I think God would back me up on it). Cody Webb has come up with an absolutely amazing idea! He wants to feed two cities in Africa a meal. One city is in Zimbabwe and the other is in Uganda. He and Chris Gonzalez got together and contacted a major worldwide retail chain which is donating $1,000 worth of Ramen Noodles. This will feed our first city, but we are looking to feed the next.

You may be asking how we are deciding on these cities. I have worked with a missionary by the name of Peter Ndamba with Color Africa. He is located in Zimbabwe with a branch of his ministry being in Uganda. All supplies that they receive they split between the two cities.

We would like to raise an additional $1,000 to feed this other city. The great news is that if we are able to raise this money, then the major worldwide retail chain will send the shipment for us.

Will you help us feed an entire city?

Your contributions can be written out to "Trinity Fellowship Church." Make sure that in the memo line you write, "Feed A City." This will ensure that your contribution is tax-deductible. Give your checks to either Cody Webb or myself. If you need to mail the contribution you can mail it to:

Trinity Fellowship Church
c/o: Chris Brons
5000 Hollywood Road
Amarillo, TX 79118

I will be hosting a "Giving Chart" on my website if you would like to stay informed on how much we have received. The shipment has to be in place by the end of August, so we will need all contributions no later than August 5th.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to change the lives of not one, but two cities in Africa!

Your Friend,

Chris Brons

Note: Chris Brons works in the accounting department of Trinity Fellowship. He handles contribution checks on a regular, legal, and accountable schedule. You can trust him.

Sticker Revolution August 13

Cara — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:13:32 +0000

Rainforest Action Network’s have 25,000 stickers, a database of household products containing the not-so-awesome palm oil (which they compiled with the help of people who love the rainforest) and a date: August 13.

Bring all three together by signing up for RAN's August 13th Stick it to Palm Oil Day of Action.

Sign up online and you'll get a Day of Action packet including "Warning: Product May Contain Rainforest Destruction" stickers and a step by step guide to taking part in the action. I hope the stickers are made from recycled stickers and not new paper, which comes from trees...I'm just saying.

Rainforest Action Network is also sending letters to every company that uses palm oil encouraging them to be responsible by joining forces with RAN to put pressure on agribusiness giants ADM, Bunge and Cargill to stop destroying rainforests for palm oil. They should send emails instead of letters, ever piece of paper we can save is fresh...that's right I said that too.

Help stop global warming, and support the rights of frontline communities across the world, by going here and doing what you can.

Stick it to 'em.

-Cara

La voici, la blogue-mobile!

Richard3 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:41:47 +0000

Depuis le temps que j'en parle, voici enfin les premières images de la blogue-mobile.

Il s'agit d'un Jeep Cherokee Chief, dont la carrosserie semble plutôt propre, puisque c'est un modèle de 1987.

Arrangez ça comme vous voulez, mais il y a une attache de remorque... à l'avant! Le sympathique propriétaire précédent, qui habite Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, m'a précisé qu'il se servait du véhicule principalement pour tirer son bateau. Ceux qui manoeuvrent souvent des remorques savent bien que si une telle installation est plutôt inutile sur la route, elle est très pratique sur des terrains fermés, car il est plus facile de déplacer une remorque sans avoir à constamment tourner la tête vers l'arrière. Mais ne vous en faites pas; je lui trouverai bien une utilisation. En passant, la flaque d'huile, sous le pare-chocs, est une gracieuseté de la pompe de servo-direction, qui a été remplacée depuis la prise de ces photos.

Le toit et le hayon arrière, ainsi que le capot, qui porte toujours les bandes décoratives propres à ce modèle, sont encore recouverts de la peinture d'origine, qui date de 21 ans. Les côtés ont toutefois déjà été repeints.

Autre détail original, le lettrage, à l'arrière, qui montre bien qu'il s'agit d'un Cherokee Chief. Évidemment, une autre attache de remorque est installée, au bon endroit, cette fois.

Si l'extérieur est encore très potable, l'intérieur accuse davantage le poids des années.

Voilà le secret de la longévité de sa carrosserie; il a été traité, pendant plusieurs années, à l'huile antirouille.

La blogue-mobile est équipée d'une boîte manuelle à 5 rapports. On constate, une fois de plus, à la vue du soufflet du levier de transmission, qu'il reste beaucoup de petits détails à fignoler, du côté de la finition intérieure.

À défaut de proposer la climatisation, ce véhicule est toutefois muni d'une radio AM/FM de qualité, à façade détachable, de marque JVC, et doté d'une télécommande. Elle lit également les CD, CD-RW et les MP3.

Parmi les trucs à fignoler, un compresseur à air, dont on voit ici la commande, qui permettra, une fois redevenu fonctionnel, l'installation d'amortisseurs pneumatiques.

Voici l'une des principales raisons pour laquelle j'ai choisi ce véhicule. Il est doté d'une boîte de transfert Selec-Trac, qui permet le passage de 2 à 4 roues motrices à la volée.

Le tableau de bord est passablement complet, avec tous les indicateurs, que je préfère de beaucoup aux lampes-témoin qui, malheureusement, équipent encore beaucoup de véhicules américains.

Au prix où je l'ai payée, lequel comprend également quatre très bons pneus d'hiver, montés sur des jantes en acier, je ne suis pas sans me douter qu'il y aura des réparations à effectuer. L'ancien propriétaire a été tout à fait honnête, et toutes les réparations effectuées à date concernent des problèmes qu'il m'avait révélé. À date, j'ai remplacé la pompe de servo-direction, le radiateur, et le ventilateur du système de chauffage, le tout avec succès. Présentement, elle est à Saint-Lin--Laurentides, où on procède à la rénovation du plancher, ainsi qu'à quelques trucs sur la carrosserie. À son retour, j'aurai à remplacer un joint d'étanchéité au niveau de la boîte de direction, qui vient de commencer à fuir. Ensuite, ce sera la tournée d'entretien; vidange d'huile à moteur, de transmission manuelle, des deux différentiels et de la boîte de transfert. Bref, de quoi m'amuser pendant plusieurs week-ends.

Par contre, comme il s'agit pour moi d'un second véhicule (j'ai déjà une voiture sous-compacte), je n'ai pas de pression, au niveau de l'entretien et des réparations. J'y vais en fonction de mon budget, et de mes temps libres. J'ai toujours aimé "bizouner" la mécanique, et cette Jeep me permet de le faire, et ce sans le stress d'avoir à tout remonter rapidement, pour cause de nécessité.

Quant à la réserve de photos, elle commence à tirer à sa fin, ce qui veut dire que je devrai repartir à la chasse aux images. Je ne vais pas vous révéler mes intentions en détails, de peur de me pas remplir mes engagements. La chasse aux photos est souvent sujette aux tribulation de Dame Nature, dont la météo est plus incertaine que jamais, cette année. Mais il me reste mon dernier coup de tête, incidemment sous la pluie, et en plein territoire des moustiques, soit cet échangeur en devenir, dont la vocation fut transformée, par la force des choses, en passe à chevreuils. Un indice de plus? C'est dans la région des Cantons-de-l'Est, tout près de celle du Centre-du-Québec.

Vous voulez plus de détails, encore? Une seule façon de faire; restez branchés!

An Avanoo has two sides.

peteo — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:51:02 +0000

So, a couple weeks ago I recieved a short message from one of the guys at Avanoo - briefly telling me about their new site that "...is trying to help make the world better...". And, after a quick google search, this is what I found:

1. There are two exisiting sites called Avenoo: 1 & 2. They both have the same logo, are created by the same people and they both share the same web address (more or less) but they offer something completely different. Strange right?

One Avenoo site is a community based site that is based on sharing ideas and connecting with like mindd people. And the second is a site that aims to raise awareness and money for charitable causes.

2. Although, the sites are based on differnt "business" models - they both, as it turns out, support charitable causes through some sort of mechanism - either by connecting with people and making posts, thus resulting in a donation (first site) or placing a charity badge on your site whereby donations are made on a per click basis (second site). NOTE: see my badge below and click it!

So, i conclude that Avanoo is a legitimate, charitable site. The number of charity badges to choose from iis very limited - it would be nice to see more options. I know the site is still in beta so let's give it some time and see what happens. I do think, however, that something neds to be done about the two sites sharing the same name/web address - this doens't make sense to me since they do not connect back to one another (at least not that I could see).

Anyway, check out the site(s) if you have time. If not, at least click on the badge below - it can be your good deed for the day.

Alcohol Collateral damage

fredjoiners — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:48:43 +0000

Al-anon in Israel

Studies have found that when actively drinking, an alcoholic affects at least four people around him or her.

According to members of Alanon (a 12-step support group for relatives and friends of alcoholics), spouses and children of alcoholics often suffer from depression, mood swings, anger, guilt, and resentment of their situation and a feeling of isolation.

Ariel S., a long-time member of Alanon, said, "My husband was addicted to alcohol and I was addicted to him." She said that after she went to her first Alanon meeting, she learned what is called the "3 Cs."

I didn't cause alcoholism,
I can't control it and
I can't cure it,'" she said.

Learning that alcoholism was a disease helped her understand her husband's situation, relieved her guilt and helped her improve her life.

"Only people who have lived with alcoholism understand how terrible and hopeless you feel," she said. "But going to meetings gave me a new sense of hope."

Full story and links at The Jerusalem Post

Ethiopia, better off colonised?

thecynicaloptimist — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:10:47 +0000

Staring at a map that showed the dates of independence for African nations, I was struck by the caption near Ethiopia that read "over 2,000 years." Ethiopia was occupied by Italy, but never truly colonized, making it one of two African nations (the other is Liberia) to have been free of the grasp of Europe.

In March I traveled to Ethiopia for business, and I was honestly stunned by what I saw when I left the airport. For a nation that is over 2,000 years old--and often referred to as the cradle of humanity--nothing has really changed in two millenniums. I was not expecting the amount of poverty that I saw in Addis Ababa or when I traveled through rural Ethiopia. It made me think, why are some nations so far behind others in terms of development?

Many left-leaning people will talk about how colonialism destroyed Africa. Europeans stole from the continent--people and natural resources--and gave nothing back. The strife, disease, hunger and lack of infrastructure that we see today is often blamed on colonialism. But that theory doesn't hold in Ethiopia. Nothing was stolen and no nation crippled their economy, at least not during the time that it was happening everywhere else in Africa. So what has Ethiopia been doing for the past 2,000 years, that's left parts of the nation looking like it's still in the Middle Ages?

This weekend I had the random opportunity to talk with a friend of a friend who is Ethiopian. I asked him some of these questions, because I am absolutely baffled and appalled by the living standards of the majority of Ethiopians. He told me that Ethiopia went through a period of communism that destroyed the economy (but I'm sure Cuba is more developed than Ethiopia, as is Vietnam.) There's also the fact that Ethiopia has, and still is, fighting wars with her neighbors (according to the friend of a friend, Ethiopia is currently fighting in Somalia at the forceful request of the US government.)

So why are nations like Ethiopia, Laos, Afghanistan, and Haiti so far behind in development? Is it a lack of natural resources, colonialism, bad governance or a combination of all three? Is it simply bad luck or bad geography?

Development takes years, but civilization has been around for thousands, so these nations aren't starting from nowhere. Perhaps nations in the developing world have to start taking responsibility for their failures.

Night Blindness: Cause and Cure

lovvy — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:01:14 +0000

You’ve heard of night vision right ? but did you know of night blindness ? Yes that’s right night blindness is an illness which causes the affected to be completely blind in dim light and darkness. It’s caused by a dietary deficiency of vitamin A which causes the eye cells to dry out thus limiting their ability to adjust to light of differing intensities.

Other side effects include the skin becoming rough and scaly causing eruptions on the arms and legs. Teeth formation and general growth of the body is also affected and in severe cases the cornea of the eye becomes so dry and opaque that it leads to total blindness.

A person suffering from this illness must include green leafy vegetables (e.g. spinach), liver, butter, fruits, carrots, pumpkin, milk and fish in their diet to help combat the lack of vitamin A.

Controlling Excessive Barking of Dog

healthacare — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:35:50 +0000

Some of you may find it annoying when your dog keeps on barking. The excessive barking of your dog may also cause disruption of sleep and result to some problems with your neighbors.

Dogs bark for a number of reasons - territorial invasion by other dogs or animals, fear, separation anxiety, etc. This behavior is instinctual and shouldn’t be completely ‘trained out’. In essence, it is typically natural for a dog to bark. After all, that is their nature and that is what dogs are for. Barking creates a warning that initially tells the dog owner about the present problem or any intruder that is trying to enter the vicinity.

However, you may need to resort to a type of device when your dog’s nighttime or excessive barking creates friction with neighbors. This device's specific purpose will control your dog’s barking.

Excessive barking results to noise problems. Besides, extreme barking suggests unacceptable canine behavioral problem and needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Bark collars are specially designed to discourage a dog’s excessive or inappropriate barking. Since they rely on negative reinforcement, they should only be used under certain circumstances.

A dog bark collar doesn’t address the underlying cause of the barking, so it should be used with other training methods to insure the behavior change is permanent. Otherwise your dog may revert to old habits when the collar is removed, or adopt other undesirable habits such as digging, or become destructive or even aggressive. This device is safe for the dog to use, and normally sold in pet stores near you. Each dog bark collar is operated by battery power, and has their own features and options of preventing dogs from excessive barking.

However, if the barking is triggered by genuine fear or anxiety, other corrective methods should be explored. Dogs should learn to ignore routine territorial invasions and common noises. Never use a bark collar on your dog if his barking is the result of separation anxiety, or other fears or phobias. Punishment will only make these behaviors worse.

You Never Know

Cara — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:57:32 +0000

What happen to all the poets? I remember growing up reading, loving, and writing stream of conscious poetry that went on forever. I would go to hear poets read, speak, connect...There are not really any modern, media saturated stories about the famous, righteous poets, like Adrienne Rich, Audre Lourde, Dorothy Allison, e.e. cummings, or Alice Walker around. If there is any media they are not talking about their poetry. Nobody wants to be America's Next Top Poet...or am I just running around in the wrong circles these days...

I've decided to publish a poem I like using this blog sometimes. It may inspire me, you, or somebody to write...you never know...

[caption id="attachment_559" align="aligncenter" width="196" caption="Muriel Rukeyser"][/caption]

Here is a poem by Muriel Rukeyser entitled, Looking at Each Other, I really think is powerful. Words with depth that I connect too. That's what I miss...and meeting others who connect as well. It is powerful.

Looking at Each Other

Yes, we were looking at each other

Yes, we knew each other very well

Yes, we had made love with each other many times

Yes, we had heard music together

Yes, we had gone to the sea together

Yes, we had cooked and eaten together

Yes, we had laughed often day and night

Yes, we fought violence and knew violence

Yes, we hated the inner and outer oppression

Yes, that day we were looking at each other

Yes, we saw the sunlight pouring down

Yes, the corner of the table was between us

Yes, our eyes saw each other's eyes

Yes, our mouths saw each other's mouths

Yes, our breasts saw each other's breasts

Yes, our bodies entire saw each other

Yes, it was beginning in each

Yes, it threw waves across our lives

Yes, the pulses were becoming very strong

Yes, the beating became very delicate

Yes, the calling the arousal

Yes, the arriving the coming

Yes, there it was for both entire

Yes, we were looking at each other

Muriel Rukeyser 1978

What happen to our revolution?

-Cara

An Explanation to the Inexplicable!

ravithekavi — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:02:47 +0000

The God Confusion

Ravi Kunjwal

They say religion is a method of realizing God. Hang on! Before I continue further I must clear the air as to the ‘confusion’ bit. The ‘confusion’ is not about God, it’s about the theories, superstitions, and beliefs, both good and bad (somewhat subjective as that qualification is) that the concept of God has engendered. Observing the discontent and disharmony that goes on in the name of religion, purportedly a means of realizing God, makes me uneasy. Even though I’ve never been able to convince myself of the necessity of religion, that is, in practice of its precepts and more so its rituals, and not as a mere label, it surprises me no end that this identity can override any other consciousness that the masses are endowed with. Religion, then, seems to be an end in itself instead of a means to an end. That is perhaps because religion is essentially a way of life, a consummation of the values of the time and culture that engendered it, a set of guidelines laid down for the followers and of beliefs that pass on over generations of believers.

As for God, it is clear that religion is distinct from God. Religion is supposed to lead the believer to a realization of God. It is NOT God in itself. However, it is when religion and god are mixed together so much so that you mistake one for the other that the problem, and the confusion thereof, begins. For, despite one’s disbelief in the effectiveness of a religion, one may believe in God. This is not to discredit any particular religion, or religion in general, nor to assert the effectiveness of any religion in realizing God. For to comment on the effectiveness of a method one has to know what the method is and practice it before one comments on its utility. An armchair criticism or appreciation of religion, or for that matter any other concept, is neither good nor of any real value in the opinion of this writer. To make any comment or contribute ideas of any value on any concept, whatsoever, one has to write from observations rooted in experience, reason, and experimentation.

If religion is a method of realizing God then, technically, the reasons and the observations that make one realize God constitute one’s religion. Or, if you like, you might as well term “the reasons and the observations that make one realize God”, Spirituality, the much loved and adored word in these times, when people do anything and everything to become more spiritual. You see, I somehow tend to (and I suppose many others do) dislike or avoid the word religion while being more in favour of the word Spirituality. For perhaps the former is subconsciously taken to mean something divisive and the latter a common meeting ground for people from all spheres of life. Spirituality, as I conceive it, will be dealt with some other time (when the gestation period is over, I guess!). However, if you choose the word religion for it, it is not ‘religion’ as in the social context. It is religion in the individual context. In its social context, religion stands for a group identity in society based on the culture that gave birth to it. So, different religions, in the social context, are essentially reflections of different cultures that engender them.

Having thus clarified as to what the word religion, as used herein, means, I will move on to the more important and interesting bit, “What/Who is God?” Though I’m more for the “what” than for the “who” of god, I’ve included the “who” to make the question more comprehensive. Expect me not, however, to comment on the “who” of god for I’m too ignorant. I haven’t experienced the “who”. If you’re thinking, you’re thinking right. I have experienced the “what” of God. Now, I’m not some saint or mystic or enlightened soul, whatever all that means. Despite a believer in, as H.G. Wells put it, the “miracle” and the “mystery” in the “moment”, I’m against all kind of obscurantism in matters of faith or reason or otherwise. So, putting aside obscurantism of any sort, I define what I know and understand of God thus: God is an explanation to the inexplicable! I’ll explain this “explanation”. But before I explain this objective idea of God, I’ve something to share on a more personal and subjective level.

The bane of any organized religion today is the immutability and the fundamentalism that accompanies it. You simply cannot change what your religious scriptures say, even if you know and everyone else knows that something in the religious texts is incompatible with the noble ideal of humanity. We are human beings, that is, rational beings gifted with the ability to think and decide what we need and what we do not need. The need of the hour is that religion and its doctrines should be dynamic, in sync with what is ethically acceptable and needed, as opposed to static and rigid rules. Religion, like Science, should be susceptible to constructive changes in view of the observed facts. If a religious text says that non-believers should be prosecuted and persecuted, does it not make sense to remove such an instruction and amend the text lest the followers be misled and the religion abused? The purpose of religion, if any, is to enlighten us on living our lives meaningfully, to help us realize the importance and sacredness of human life, and not to instigate us against anyone; idealistic, you might say, but true I have to say, for if religion is meant to lead us to a realization of God, it must embody the noble ideas that the human psyche generally attributes to God, usually considered an epitome of perfection. If we cannot learn this we might, as well, not learn anything from it and there’s no point in being a believer either.

The religious texts are not the “Word of God”; God doesn’t need words to convey ideas. God is an idea. God is to be felt, not “obeyed” or “listened”. I was a bit surprised to find that some good friends of mine said they didn’t believe in the notion of God for there isn’t any evidence of his existence. The surprise isn’t because I want them to share my beliefs; it is because the rejection of the idea of God, on their part, was immediate and outright. Inasmuch as this disbelief pertains to the “who” of God, I share their disbelief, not, however, their rejection of the “who” of God. Not otherwise, however. As Carl Sagan put it, “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” I have my reasons and a notion of God; God can be anywhere in any form, be it in the form of help in the time of crisis, in the form of an inspiration that gets you out of desperation, as a hope when you feel dejected, in the form of the joy and satisfaction you experience in doing your job, the miracle that saves your life when you survive a near-death experience, or the idea that changes the course of your life forever. Isn’t it amusing that “An atheist’s worst moment is being truly grateful with no one to thank”? However prejudiced and subjective these notions may appear, I do have a more objective idea of God as embodied in “An explanation to the inexplicable!”

Of God, something I know,

Or at least I think I know;

When Man isn’t able,

To comprehend the incomprehensible,

Or measure the immeasurable,

“God” becomes Man’s last resort,

An explanation

To the Inexplicable!

The awe and adoration the early humans had for nature, for the heavenly bodies like the Sun and the moon, led them to the concept of nature-worship so as to appease the ‘Mysterious’ because of their ignorance of the reason behind the regularly and periodically occurring events such as the sunrise, the changing phases of moon et al. Because they could not understand these phenomena, they made an assumption and called it “God”. They conceived myriad explanations to these phenomena (embodied in mythologies even today) and constructed a picture of the universe centered around “God”. To fully appreciate this point, you have to consider the way our reasoning faculty works. If you were to seek a reason to everything you encounter, you would find a cause to every effect and a cause to the cause of each effect. Keep doing that – searching for a cause to one thing and following it up by looking for a cause to the cause of each effect you encounter in the process – and sooner or later you will find an effect that has an unknown cause (if it has any!). This effect turns out to be the “ultimate” cause unless you manage to find a cause to this effect. But if you do find one, you wonder: what is the cause of this cause? The point where you give up looking for a cause becomes your fundamental assumption. It defines your limitation in being able to ascribe a cause to all effects. Thus to begin with you have to make a fundamental assumption – the “ultimate” cause that leads to everything else. This Ultimate cause is “God”. Since the early humans had not the knowledge we now possess, they had to make the fundamental assumption, “God”, the moment they encountered anything “other-worldly”. Despite having progressed as much as we have in understanding the Universe, the fact remains that our understanding is always based on some fundamental assumption underlying our theory.

Einstein, taken aback by quantum mechanical results, found it hard to believe if God plays dice with the Universe; he wanted to know ‘His ideas’ for the ‘rest are details’. Having pushed to the limits of our intellect and knowledge and still pushing the limits further, we do realize how ignorant we are of nature and how much more there is to be known about the Universe. In this unknown, “how much more there is to be known”, lies the domain of our fundamental assumption, God. Thus the concept of ‘God’ is axiomatic in nature. The domain keeps on shifting higher and higher as we come to understand more and more of the universe, and thus, of God.

To the atheists I say:

Of course we would not “need” ‘God’ the day we explain everything that is there in the Universe, the day we can find why coincidences occur, the day we know the exact dimensions of the Universe, the day we learn to be our own masters not dependent on anyone’s help, the day we can predict even human actions, the day we can explain the inexplicable!

Until then God explains the Universe. And if I say you’d always need God, the spirit behind it is: No matter how much you know there’s always a lot more to be known!

Save the Wild Horses

Cara — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:37:27 +0000

According to the the Petition Site, "the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced plans to kill America's wild horses rather than effectively manage our wild natural heritage.

BLM claims it can no longer afford to round up wild horses and confine them until it finds people to adopt them, and the agency wants to euthanize these majestic wild beauties or sell them to the highest bidder "without limitation" - meaning sell them to anyone, even if the bidder also plans to kill these horses.

Why does BLM need to round up wild horses and send them to slaughter? The BLM claims that the agency can't "allow horses to multiply unchecked on the range without causing an environmental disaster." But there are less than 30,000 wild horses on the range versus at least 3 million grazing cows. So rather than address the environmental damage caused by cattle overgrazing and expanding oil and gas exploration on our public lands, the BLM would rather placate corporate cattle ranchers who view mustangs as competition for forage, and drive wild horses - our country's symbol of freedom and independent spirit - to extinction.

This plan is simply outrageous. Stand up for our wild horses and send a comment to BLM today. Urge our government to abide by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act of 1971 and effectively manage the land to preserve wild horses rather than kill them!"

Stop the killing.

-Cara

Breaking News: Carolina Fans Support Great Cause

Born and Bred Ed — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:18:36 +0000

Actually, I'm hoping that you all will support a great cause.

Easter Seals-United Cerebral Palsy Stepping Stones Children's Center in Sanford is having a Family Carnival this Saturday, the 19th of July, in an effort to raise an estimated $33,000 for an inclusive playground surface. There will be rides, games, a dunking booth featuring the Lee County Sheriff (Tracy Carter) and some local 'celebrities' and attorneys, including BBE. There will also be a silent auction featuring 25 different items and themed baskets, including a Carolina basket.

NC Childcare regulations require a soft surface, like mulch, around playground equipment to prevent injury in the event of falls. Unfortunately, mulch presents a problem for many children with disabilities who crawl or are in wheelchairs, as the mulch impedes access or can cause problems from splinters to choking. Stepping Stones would like to install a poured rubber surface that would allow access for ALL their children. They need your help.

Please come out to the carnival (click here for directions) or visit http://steppingstoneschildrenscenter.wordpress.com/ for more information or to donate to this worthy cause.

Old School Activist - Florence Kelley

Cara — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:32:01 +0000

In 1871, when she was twelve years old, Florence's father, United States congressman, William Darrah "Pig Iron" Kelley, (a self-made man who renounced his business activities to become an abolitionist, a founder of the Republican party and a judge, and worked for numerous political and social reforms, including the NAACP), took her to a Pennsylvania glass factory on a tour. When she went inside she observed dirty, exhausted children laboring with pots full of acid and crouching over fires in sweltering heat. She discovered that there were over 1 million children working in these hot, crowded and unsafe conditions. Every year tens od thousands of children died or were seriously injured in work related accidents. Kelley knew something had to be done.

Kelley moved to New York City where she married a fellow member of the Socialist Labor Party, the Polish-Russian physician, Lazare Wischnewetzky in 1844. The marriage ended in divorce in December 1891, after many years of estrangement (it was said he was physically and verbally abusive). She changes her name back to 'Kelley', and assumes custody of the three children, who also adopt her maiden name. She left Lazare and moved to Chicago (where it was easier to attain a divorce) with her children. Soon after arriving in the city she joined Jane Addams, Ellen Gates Starr, Alzina Stevens, Mary McDowell, Edith Abbott, Grace Abbott, Julia Lathrop, Alice Hamilton, Sophonisba Breckinridge and other social reformers at Hull House, an amazing group of women, whose faith, strength and intelligence made a huge difference in how women, African Americans, and children were regarded and treated.

In 1899 Kelley helped establish the radical (for its time), watchdog group, the National Consumer's League (NCL). The main objective of the organization was to achieve a fair minimum wage and a limitation on the working hours of women and children. Kelley, the first head of the NCL, traveled the country giving lectures on abhorrible working conditions in the United States; this helping to educate consumers, so they in turn put pressure on companies, who were prospering off their paychecks.

An example of this type of "pressure" was the NCL White Label, thought up by Kelley. The program offered the NCL's White Label for display in advertising and businesses to employers whose labor practices met with the NCL's approval for fairness and safety. The NCL then urged consumers to boycott all companies that failed to meet the NCL's standards.

[Two girls wearing banners with slogan "ABOLISH CH[ILD] SLAVERY!!" in English and Yiddish, one carrying American flag; spectators stand nearby. Probably taken during May 1, 1909 labor parade in New York City.
George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).]

In September 1905, Kelley joined with Upton Sinclair and Jack London to form the Intercollegiate Socialist Society. Over the next few years she was a frequent speaker on American campuses. This led to meeting Frances Perkins, a students she recruited to the cause, who was eventually to become the country's first woman cabinet minister and responsible for bringing an end to child labor in America.

[Mine Kids]

Some other groups Kelley was involved with dealt with women's suffrage and African American civil rights issues. Kelley helped to establish the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909. A committed pacifist, Kelley opposed USA involvement in the First World War and was a member of the Woman's Peace Party (WPP) and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).

Kelley wrote several books including, Some Ethical Gains Through Legislation (1905), Modern Industry in Relation to the Family (1914), The Supreme Court and Minimum Wage Legislation (1925) and Autobiography (1927).

Florence Kelley, 74, died in Germantown (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) on 17th February, 1932.

Florence Kelley is someone who inspires me.

-Cara