%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |  Blog for October 30 Day Blogging Challenge And November, and December....and so on... |
An interesting thing to do....And now I've become a blogging addict 
|
| The Sunday News! Share an article and your thoughts about the recent tragedy in Paris. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is one of the many articles about the insanity that had invaded Paris: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/paris-update-what-we-know-so-far-about-terrorist-att... My thoughts are simple. The people responsible for this atrocity are thugs. Period. This isn't a "religious fervor", but an act of cowardice and malice. Do the most damage to the most people. Pure unadulterated thuggery, if you will. If you are looking for a way to issue a grievance, you've gone about it the wrong way. If you want people to feel sorry for your "plight", this is the wrong way to do it. If you want attention, believe me, you will probably get more than you've bargained for. The hatred, the intolerance, needs to stop! But at what price? My guess is the thugs who perpetrated this crime want a fight. I think it safe to say that if a bully is spoiling for a fight, overwhelm his ass and back him down into a corner! See how he likes it! ISIS is behaving like a spoiled child. I say bust their collective asses and give them a "time out"! But this is just my opinion. Talking will only get you so far, and if the bullies don't want to listen...get out the "Big Stick" that Theodore Roosevelt talked about. The time for pussy-footing around is over. I am usually not a confrontational person. But damn, people! When will the lesson be learned? Giving in only makes the bully want more...remember the story about giving a mouse a cookie? Or from history...Chamberlain letting Hitler have what he wanted... ~Just saying... |
| Creation Saturday! If you could curate a non-traditional section in a library or bookstore, what would you call it and what titles (real or otherwise) would you shelve? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What a dream job! To have a bookstore of my own!  I suppose if it was to be non-traditional, I would like to have an "old religion" section.  In this section, I'd like to have a place for the histories of the "old religions". And some of the "how to" books as well, whether it would be how to set up altars, or to celebrate the seasons and the cycles of the moon  .Some of the titles I would like to carry: Pagans: The End of Traditional Religion and the Rise of Christianity by James J. O'Donnell A History of Pagan Europe by Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells: From Abraxas to Zoar by Claude Lecouteux PAGANS & CHRISTIANS by Robin Lane Fox Wicca: History, Belief, and Community in Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ethan Doyle White Children into Swans: Fairy Tales and the Pagan Imagination by Jan Beveridge This list is by no means comprehensive, but it does give some ideas on what I'd like to see in this section. I want there to be understanding between people. Some people believe differently, but that makes them no better or worse than anyone else. It's the intolerance that causes the evils in the world - I'm fully convinced of this. I would also like to carry in this section different herbs that were used in the healing arts. I personally don't have an interest in "black magic". I would like to learn the recipes of the healers of old. To build an understanding of things that cannot be explained "rationally". It would be my hope that people would learn from one another, without the fear of condemnation from each other. There are so many wonderful things in the world to learn about and share, and we should not let petty ideas or the prejudices of our own ideals to become a poison that cannot be cured. Ok, done with the soap box...for now  ~Just saying. |
| Fun Fact Friday! On this day in 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to a friend in which he said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." What do you think about that? Are there any other certainties in life? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- According to good ol' Dictionary.com: certainty noun 1. the state of being certain. 2. something certain; an assured fact. Other interesting quotes about certainty. (Wikipedia) Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd. — Voltaire There is no such thing as absolute certainty, but there is assurance sufficient for the purposes of human life. — John Stuart Mill If you tried to doubt everything you would not get as far as doubting anything. The game of doubting itself presupposes certainty. — Ludwig Wittgenstein #115 from On Certainty The idea of certainty involves an absence of skepticism. What am I certain about? 1. That unless I die, I will get older.  2. If I take my medicine  and take care of my body,  it is likely that I will die later than sooner.  3. If I live long enough, I will more than likely graduate from college with a degree in Education.  4. That I will always be a fan of Writing.Com  5. That I have the most adorable grandchildren   6. That I am biased about said grandchildren The above mentioned things I can be pretty certain of. The rest, well...there's always flying by the seat of your pants.   |
| List ten things that make you smile. ----------------------------------------------------  Waking up in the morning usually makes me smile. However, there are some days  ! My grandchildren, Mason, Vivian and Samuel make me smile. I happen to have the best-est grand-babies a Gramma could ask for! Writing makes me smile. It's great when a thought turns into a poem or a story.  Music and watching musicals make me smile. I love the music of Momma Mia and Phantom of the Opera (with Gerard Butler) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and West Side Story also make me smile (and cry).   Fall makes me smile. I love this time of year, when the changes are so vibrant with color. And who doesn't like kicking or jumping into a pile of leaves?    The holiday season makes me smile. There is a magic that can be seen in the air and sometimes "good will to men" actually sneaks it's way through! (Not to mention, It's A Wonderful Life, and When Harry Met Sally)  Rainbows make me smile. It's a promise that even after the ugliness of storms has passed, that there is hope for sun again. Baking makes me smile. I love being able to create dishes that my family enjoys. It brings a satisfaction to me to be able to provide "eats" for my family    Arts and crafts make me smile. I enjoy creating blankets through crocheting, knitting and sewing. I give them as gifts to family and others to charity. I also enjoy making dream catchers and jewelry. Going back to school makes me smile. I am going to work on an Education degree. Even after I graduate at 54, I can still have a 20-year career. Never too old to learn!  |
| Convince us The Universe wants us to pay attention. Interpret 'The Universe' any way you like. -------------------------------------------- Earthquakes are magnifying Animals are disappearing Rain forests are diminishing The deserts are gaining Hurricanes are intensifying Nature needs rescuing Earth needs balancing Everyone needs understanding Death is unforgiving Silence is telling Pollution is escalating Exhaustion is unrelenting Absurdity is overwhelming Cold is overtaking Earth is dying All for the love of money. Wake UP!! |
| Do you prefer home remedies to doctors' office visits? Share some favorite tricks you try to pull off before making the trip to see a doctor. ----------------------------------------------------------- Thing is, I really don't like doctors. It's nothing personal against them. I am sure most I have met are decent people. But as with any business, it's about the time and the bottom line. Rush, rush, rush...see as many as you can, put a "band aid" on the problem, and on to the next one. Every so often, you will find one that is willing to work with you, and try to find a solution, and not just a band-aid. I do go to the doctor, and regularly, as I have some medical issues that would end up killing me sooner rather than later. High blood pressure and diabetes for example. I am lucky that the doctor I see regularly at the clinic does try to take some time. But I also realize a lot of my care is up to me. Eating right, taking meds when I am supposed to, being active. I mean, there is only so much that a doctor can do, right? But for a cold or the flu, I try to "home remedy" before taking a jaunt in to see the doctor. I like hot tea with honey and lemon, orange juice, and even sucking on vitamin C lozenges. If that doesn't work, then I go to Theraflu or Day/Nyquil to get some relief. I also use hot steam to open up a stuffy nose. I've never used a Netipot - I'm afraid I'd drown myself (that is my luck ). I also keep a lot of kleenex on hand for such a time.I'm no healer, but I don't have unlimited resources to go in for every sniffle. This is just what I do. If I can get better on my own, hurrah! If not, off I go. ~Just saying... |
| Music Monday! Would you rather your favorite band or artist put out four or five of the greatest albums ever over a twenty year period and then call it quits, or have them put out a decent album every few years (and some terrible-to-ok ones also) while still touring and playing live into their 80's? -------------------------------------------------- Well, I get the best of both worlds! My favorite group is Alabama. They began in 1969, and continued until 2006. They've had about 40 number one hits (I have the CD collection of their number 1s). I was saddened that they retired in 2006, but reunited and began touring again in 2011. I am hopeful that they will continue for some time to come  Here are a couple of my favorites. (This was hard to choose, as I LOVE all of their music!)Mountain Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkYIrj03fso If You're Gonna Play in Texas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6r4E514nJg&list=RDw6r4E514nJg |
| The Sunday News! What kind of responsibility does social media have in breaking big, important news stories? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Somebody knows how to push buttons  :Is this a question of the theoretical or actual responsibility? And what, pray tell, is breaking news? Is the latest celebrity has put on 10 or 20 pounds, that he or she is actually a she or he? Divorce? Affairs? What qualifies for breaking news? I don't watch a lot of news outside of the weather, so I am not up on the latest "scoop". And perhaps I should think about it, as we have an election coming up for POTUS in less than a year. I found a description of journalism here: http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/journalism-essentials/what-is-journalism/ Definition of JOURNALIST by Merriam-Webster Dictionary 1a : a person engaged in journalism; especially : a writer or editor for a news medium b : a writer who aims at a mass audience Definition of SOCIAL MEDIA by Merriam-Webster: forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos) It is my understanding that social media and journalism can work hand in hand, however they aren't the same thing. Social media is a format for which journalists send out their ideas. Social media is only as good or bad as the people who send out the information. http://work.chron.com/duties-responsibilities-journalists-13252.html states the following paragraph: "Journalists educate the public about events and issues and how they affect their lives. They spend much of their time interviewing expert sources, searching public records and other sources for information, and sometimes visiting the scene where a crime or other newsworthy occurrence took place. After they've thoroughly researched the subject, they use what they uncovered to write an article or create a piece for radio, television or the Internet." This is not the same as just passing on gossip - whether or not it is maliciously intended. I imagine using the above criteria, many places fall short of the mark. Or should I say many people fall short of the mark. I imagine Edward R. Murrow would be rolling in his grave if he saw what passed for news nowadays. OK...enough ranting for today... |
| Creation Saturday! If you could fix any problem facing the world today, how would you do it? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What problem do I choose? Poverty? Hunger? Medicine? While all of these are problems in and of themselves, in my opinion they are symptoms of a more basic problem: Intolerance. People need to quit being so intolerant of one another. Whether it be religious practices, or lack of religious practices, sexual orientation, sex, race, or any other "identifiers" that intolerant people use. First and foremost, people are people. No better, no worse, just people. Circumstances and beliefs, prejudices, money and color are secondary to this foundation. Instead of treating others the way you would want to be treated (aka "the golden rule"), there is a "Do unto others, then split or fight" mentality. How can this be changed? If only I had a "magic wand" that I could wave and make everybody understand that no one is "better" or "worse" than anyone else. Since I do NOT have said magic wand, I can only think that tolerance education needs to be practiced. Just like the so-called "sensitivity training" that goes on in the work place. But don't just start with the workplace, begin at home, and carry it on into the schools. Hopefully by then, it would become a matter of course, and not something that's needed to be shoved down people's throats (Remember, sometimes medicine tastes bad, but it's necessary for a cure). Will this happen overnight? NO. Will it ever be done in my lifetime? Probably not. We as a human race seem bent on destroying one another in the name of a "truth" that is borne out of prejudices and hate for our fellow humans. I am not saying that it couldn't happen, I'm just afraid that it would take a lot more than most people are willing to do to bring tolerance about. No one is completely right, or completely wrong. At least theoretically. Just because someone doesn't believe the way I do doesn't make them less of a person. Or I am not less of a person just because I believe differently from you. Everything else stems from this foundation. Any builder will tell you that if the foundation is cracked or broken, it doesn't matter what kind of building you choose to build on it, it will not last. Just saying... |
| Fun Fact Friday! On this day (November 6th) in 1913, Mohandas K. Gandhi was arrested as he led a march of Indian miners in South Africa. Are you a peaceful protester, or...otherwise? If there were a cause you were willing to march for (personal, political, or completely made-up), what would it be? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I used to think that I was a "live and let live" kind of person. For the most part, I pretty much am. There are a few things that get my "dander" up: Education is one of those things. Another is health care. My grandson starts school next fall, and health care is a personal issue for me. I don't want to be a "fringe" element, but the plans for both issues are clearly not working. I'm not smart enough to come up with THE solution, but there has to be something better than what is out there! Would I march? Perhaps, if I found someone's ideas or platform that I can get behind. Like I said, I'm not a confrontational person for the most part. I guess age has mellowed me some. So has thinking about these issues. Perhaps I should write my "two cents" about them, and see what happens. just saying. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
Well done!
)))) 
