Cycles

Brilliant sun beating, burning rock-hard clay
Cracking, drying, splitting Earthly skin
Life-giving rain falls not in this place
Water drops, full and round, plummet with hellish force
On landscape satiated beyond need
Rivers of mud descend, a roaring ferocity
Camoflauging all that was in permanent embrace
Icy landmass fades beneath fiery eye
Frigid fingers disintegrate in ocean waves
Veins of heat penetrate
Conquering watery womb
Storms, hunger, float on high
Furious twisting clouds of fury
feeding lust with rising heat
Insatiable in need
Focussed eye, unblinking, a killer's stare
Bears down on Coastal State
Ripping, tearing, smashing, crushing, uproofing
dispersing
Earthly turmoil boils
Molten fire churns in gassy spasms
Pressure building, pressing, seeking
release
Fissure of weakness, fiery escape
Explosive outburst
Liquid fire, melting, consuming, burning
A Mother ravaged by toxic cancer
Spreading, devouring, destroying
She is dying
Painfully dying

The First Amendment, Dixie Chicks, Conservatives, and Liberals

While searching through scores of blogs, it amazed me at the rhetoric I encountered; that is, the viciousness of it. Over and over again, it was basically this: think as I do or you are unpatriotic. But wait! Surely those spewing forth such clipped and often downright abusive speech aren't from the United States. I'm positive no red-blooded American familiar with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights would NEVER infringe on the rights of another American...right? No. Sad, but true, most Americans haven't the foggiest idea what the Bill of Rights contain, including the First Amendment which basically states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the eople peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The Bill of Rights became effective in 1791. I am a liberal; I am an environmentalist; yet, I do NOT deny the freedom of expression of those I most disagree with - the ultra-conservatives. Why? Because, it is our Constitutional right to express ourselves in this country. By denying that right to anyone, you have opened Pandora's Box of possibilities - that is - the removal of our rights and freedoms....our government is doing it, one right at a time. Why must we, ourselves, take them away as well? Instead of denying our freedom of speech, perhaps the narrow-minded individuals from both sides of the spectrum should sit down and have a decent conversation.

Planet Shortbread Tracks A Buttery Trail

Shortbread – the buttery treat associated with Scotland comes to mind for most cyber-surfers, not a place of commentary and observation. I have noticed that I have caused several shortbread devotees to land – in error – here. As a token of apology, I offer the following information for you; after all, I am also a lover of shortbread….

Shortbread is a biscuit-like cookie that has a sweet buttery taste and crumbly texture. The name, shortbread comes from the shortening (butter) used as a principal ingredient. Though this treat is typically associated with Scotland, it can also be found in Denmark. This is probably because shortbread, in Scotland, dates back to Medieval times, which coincidentally, is when the Norse decided on a “long-term” visit of the British Isles. Originally, in Scotland, shortbread was baked in a large round and then cut into triangles prior to serving. This may be related to Scandinavian New Year sun cakes which were baked with a hole in the center and had lines radiating out – triangular shaped – from the center. These radiating lines represented the sun.

The traditional recipe is: one part sugar, two parts shortening (butter) and three parts flour (originally fine oatmeal – but now wheat flour).

So, the next time you open your tin of shortbread, grab a “finger”, and poise it over your tea, give a toast to the sun – since you are honoring her return after a long winter’s nap.

The above information was obtained from Wikipedia and Australian Consumer’s Association – CHOICE.

-cheers

Coyotes and Feral Cats

My head shakes from side to side as I read a short letter to the editor stating that Leon County should capture two coyotes from neighboring counties and release them here. Why? Because Leon County, like most counties in this country, has a feral cat problem. The author of this article exemplifies his dislike of cats when he states that "...coyotes kill their prey instead of playing with it like cats do." He goes on to say that coyotes would "cure" this ecological problem. Perhaps, it actually isn't the cat's problem. Perhaps, owners should spay, neuter, and take care of their pets.

This author's take on the cat issue reminds me of another Floridian who wanted an alligator cut open to see if that particular one ate his dog. Perhaps the alligator was being an alligator and he was hungry. Perhaps the owner, knowing that alligators reside in Florida's waterways, should have kept an eye on his dog.

Population explosions and ecological impacts. These issues, as usual, are never placed in the proper court of blame - people. Because of our exploding numbers, we have "stolen" and degraded millions of acres of natural habitat - bulldozing the home to plants and animals, not to mention watersheds and "natural" septic systems like marshes. We spew our sewage into the ocean, spray toxic chemicals on our fields with the resulting run-off contaminating aquifers and streams, build dams that prevent sediment from streams to naturally build our beaches, construct homes on the waterfront, we fill in marshes, drain swamps, and topple rain forests, we spew millions of pounds of toxins into the air, we kill any animal we deem "unworthy".

Humans are the greatest destroyers of this planet. We are selfish, spoiled, creatures who not only seek to destroy each other, but our home - Earth - as well. We, as a species, appear to be incapable of seeing or realizing that our actions leave a string of reactions - to each other and to our environment. But since this world isn't governed by brains or hearts, but by corporate cash and fear, we can call our actions - Progress.