Afghan Women

I put the women's health donation widget on my blog after reading the blog post on BlogHer about Afghan women and the substandard health care they receive. I had first read about this issue in A Thousand Splendid Suns. The harrowing description of one of the characters' deliveries was truly horrifying. Anything we can do to help these women, families and the Afghan society is worthwhile.

I wasn't the world's biggest fan of the book. I thought it was written for me, and not really in the "true voice" of an Afghan woman. I wished there was a real Afghan woman who could tell her own tale and achieve the acclaim and broad appeal that Khaled Hosseini, a man who has lived in the US for the past 20 or so years, has attained. But I guess, through his work, people like me know the plight of the Afghans.

Speaking of Afghanistan, I have read, and agree, that the image of the young Afghan woman from the cover of National Geographic (back in 1983) MUST have been the inspiration for Robert Lentz' icon of Mary Magdalene. They are visually too similar to be a coincidence. And the photograph stays with you... through the years... just like the icon.

Pow! Bam! Holy Epiphanies, Batman!

As you can probably tell, I dig Aquaman. Posting about him yesterday made the revelation of comic book heroes' religions even more relevant.

I don't know why I never thought of this before, but thanks to Terry at Idle Speculations for blogging about comic book religions. I really had no idea. But, right, why wouldn't our comic book heroes and heroines have religious affiliations?! They're just like us but moreso.....

So, of course I checked out who is Episcopalian, or Anglican... and here's a partial list:

Batman
Invisible Woman
Jean Grey
Saturn Girl
Warren Worthington III

Seems like the Marvel Universe tends more toward the "main line" churches than DC, but there's plenty of representation to go around. Or maybe it's just that Marvel mentions the religion of their characters. When I checked out the FAQ,I realized that the blogger knows a lot about the world's religions, and has done lots of research on this topic.

And my questions about the "main line" affiliations got answered there too:

Are Nearly All Major Superheroes Episcopalian?
From: "At DC Comics, Diversity Is No Laughing Matter", published on AOLTimeWarner.com website, 1 November 2001

"The original creators of comics, 60 or 70 years ago, were almost all Jewish and Italian kids from various parts of New York," notes DC Comics Executive Vice President and Publisher Paul Levitz. "And the characters they created were pseudo-whitebread Episcopalian. It was almost de rigueur back then to paint people in this idealized American image."


Stan Lee and the Religion Taboo
From: Radford, Bill, "Holy Superhero! Comic books increasingly making reference to faith", published in Colorado Springs Gazette, 6 May 2006:

In the foreword to The Gospel According to Superheroes, a book examining superheroes and religion, legendary comic-book writer and editor Stan Lee says he always scrupulously avoided any mention of specific religions in his stories. "I thought of myself as an 'equal opportunity writer,'" he says.

...When comic books first appeared in the late '30s, "America was supposed to be a melting pot," [Douglas] Rushkoff says. "That was our cultural metaphor. Religion and ethnicity were supposed to be subordinate to our role as Americans. I think now we're much more in a multicultural phase where people are trying to discover their roots."

It's interesting. I've never really considered comix as a form of religious art, perhaps more often mini-morality plays, but the heroes' spirituality or morality definitely comes through in the books. I guess since they're constantly battling evil, they need to draw on something to get through their days.

Food for thought.

Green News

So, here's a brief round-up of Green News. Or at least, news to me!

I'm definitely going to plant some fiddlehead ferns this year so I can eat them next year. My garden an always use more ferns!

Apparently, "Virgin Atlantic thinks it can green commercial aviation with biofuels:"

When a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 took off for a 40-minute flight from London to Amsterdam Feb. 24, it represented an aviation breakthrough. For the first time a commercial airliner took aloft on other than fossil fuels. One of the plane's four engines was fired on a 20 percent biojet fuel blend. The aim of the test flight was to explore how a biofuel performs in high altitude cold temperatures...

The next test aims to validate sustainability. When the Air New Zealand test takes place, it will be with a second generation feedstock. Of the possibilities, two are worth noting: algae and jatropha. Both grow on non-agricultural land. Algae can employ saline water, and jatropha grows in dry conditions on degraded lands, in fact helping accumulate carbon in the soil. There are solid indications that biojet from jatropha or algae could provide massive amounts of fuel, and at costs lower than petroleum-based jet fuel.

Boeing's own presentation on alternative fuels shows that land use issues are part of the sustainable biojet program's DNA. "If the world airline fleet used 100% biojet fuel from soybeans, it would require 322 billion litres," the presentation says. At 560 liters of oil per hectare that would require 5,750 million square kilometers, about the size of Europe. But algae could produce up to 94,000 liters per acre, shrinking land requirements to 35,000 square kilometers, about a Belgium's worth of land.

From: BoingBoing. Great news, right!?

Know I find out that it's not just Aquaman who can talk to the whales! Yes, thanks to the Massachusetts Bay buoy network. It's a system of listening buoys that hear highly endangered right whales and tell big ships when to slow down. It's a real-time "whale zone" sign, designed to work like school crossing signs that get people to slow down when kids are bursting out of schools. I found this out on Blogfish.

And then this article, also from BoingBoing, about a new documentary about the world's water crisis. I'll have to check it out!

I've just watched Irena Salina's incredible, infuriating documentary FLOW: For Love of Water, a film about the often-invisible and underreported global water crisis. Ranging from widespread US contamination to the tragedy of developing nations who are forced by the World Bank to sell their water companies like Vivendi, Suez and Thames, who get sweetheart deals to offer substandard, overpriced monopoly water service, at terrible cost to human life.

Global water profiteering is at the center of a global healthcare crisis that kills more people than AIDS or malaria. The film shows the grim reality of water in Asia, Africa, South and Central America, and the USA. The mortality is awful, and not just from bad water or no water -- also from police forces in states like Bolivia who go to war against people whose water supply has been sold to foreign multinationals who are reaping windfall profits while they die.

In the US and Europe, the bottled water industry pulls in billions to sell products that are more contaminated and toxic than what comes out of the tap. The result is a gigantic mountain of empty plastic bottles that toxify the environment -- and three times more money spent on bottled water than it would take to solve the world's real water crisis. The companies like Nestle that pump out our aquifers use private investigators to harass people who sign petitions to stop them from pumping.

But it's not all doom and gloom -- low-cost, sustainable purification technologies like ultraviolet water-health run by village cooperatives can make dramatic development differences for the poorest, most vulnerable people in the world, who are able to maintain their own systems without foreign involvement. Local activists all over the world and fighting back and winning public, non-profit ownership of their waterworks.

The companies that control our water control our lives. Without us even noticing it, we've handed the planet's destiny to a few companies with a plan to line their pockets by holding our survival hostage.

Flow is seeking signatures for a petition to the UN: "Article 31: Everyone has the right to clean and accessible water, adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family, and no one shall be deprived of such access or quality of water due to individual economic circumstance."

FLOW is on the festival circuit -- if you get the chance, see this film.

Creepy news from BlogHer about abortion stop word on USG funded article database. It's not surprising or unexpected that Bush's administration would try to block the free flow of information. But it is chilling news. Next time you see a librarian, thank them for their service on the information front lines. It's too bad it's come to this, but there it is. They're fighting the good fight for us day and day out. Thank you!

And more on the ignorance front, our friends and allies are uneasy about it too! Read on at Justin Webb's blog on the BBC.

I won't exactly call Numerology ignorance, but check it out on Zooillogix:

Well, according to Biblestudy.org, "If ten is the number which marks the perfection of Divine order, then eleven is an addition to it, subversive of and undoing that order. If twelve is the number which marks the perfection of Divine government, then eleven falls short of it. So that whether we regard it as being 10 + 1, or 12 - 1, it is the number which marks, disorder, disorganization, imperfection, and disintegration." We hope to live up to the prophecy.

AND the BBC! Apparently numerology's not just for séances anymore! It's just reminds me of "This is Spinal Tap" with the whole "It goes up to 11!" thing.

BSG Addiction - What the Frak?

Well, we started watching Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica last night. Boy is it grim. AWESOME, but grim. Things are not going well on New Caprica, let me tell you.

And then Salon has a whole recap in preparation for the start of Season 4 tonight. We always get stuck in this timing thing between the release of the dvd and the start of the new season. But that's ok for Josiah & me. We'll just be behind. We have been all the way along!

It's hard to imagine that season 4 is it. But, it's been an incredible show. And the equal-opportunity eye candy is always MUCH appreciated.

Today It's All About the Water

I always dig my horoscope when written by Rob Brezsny - check it out:

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson told The Washington Post the following fun facts: "There are more molecules of water in a cup of water than cups of water in all the world's oceans. This means that some molecules in every cup of water you drink passed through the kidneys of Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Abe Lincoln, or any other historical person of your choosing." Your assignment this week, Pisces, is to choose three heroes you'd most like to be influenced and inspired by. Every time you drink water, be conscious of the fact that some of it was once inside the bodies of those exceptional people. Say a prayer that their mojo will become available to you.

This lovely gem was preceded by notes about famous people who have eschewed extra money:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH -
Multimillionaire pop star George Michael has decided to give away his music for free, posting it on the Internet for anyone to download. "I've been very well remunerated for my talents over the years," he told BBC, "so I really don't need the public's money."

So unlike our filthy Fossil Fools! Maybe I'll catch some of THIS George's mojo.... [have I mentioned before that I {heart} George? Take That, Sam!]

But anyway, it got me to thinking about water. And where it comes and goes... And then this article was out there on Blogfish: That there's a chance that some rivers and streams can handle nitrogen run-off and rebound. At least, it's POSSIBLE. They can clean themselves up.

Green Round Up - no April Fools

It's all about the environment for me today. And that's no April Fools. Lots of stuff out there on the interwebs to round up:

First, WE launched its website and campaign yesterday, and so, that's something to check out. I take issue w/the baby-boomer-focused-ness of their video, but that's my hang-up, and doesn't stop me supporting the cause. Let's hope they can get some momentum going with this climate crisis thing.

The NYT tells us on its dotearth blog that solar power really is the future. For real. Like this is news?? But whatever, it's good that this idea is getting some play in mainstream media. I mean, I think I remember President Carter talking about the benefits of solar power, back in the day. But YES, let's move FORWARD with solar. Totes!

In honor of April Fools Day, It's Getting Hot in Here announced the Fossil Fool of the Year award.

Apparently, if you shock plants, they will produce chemicals. A practice that could bring us lots of power or medicinal advances. Interesting!

Interfaith Power and Light reminds the Christians in the room why it's not an option to be an environmentalist, especially at Easter. We can't wait. The time is now. From Sirens Chronicles:

Of course, the epitome of revolutionary consciousness was Jesus Christ. Now, there's a guy who stirred a nation (actually nation after nation) to action. He woke up minds, got people asking questions, shook up the status quo. He did this not by force, but by personality. Very, very scary concept to those who despise inspection and crave hierarchy.

And, finally, the Quote of The Week from Framing Science:
From E.O. Wilson's appearance last year on PBS Bill Moyers talking about the common moral obligation among atheists and evangelicals to take collective action on the environment:

Let us-- in the service of a transcendent moral obligation and concern put aside our differences for the time being and not fuss with each other over evolution. In other words where it all came from. Let us agree looking at the evidence that is disappearing. And let us, dare I use the word, gather at the river.

Come together on common ground where we can exercise the extraordinary power we have jointly. And I argue and few people disagreed with me that science and religion are the two most powerful social forces in the world. Having them at odds at each other all the way up to the highest levels of government and-- the popular media all the time is not productive.

Have a great day out there!

Top 5 Spiritual Movies Meme

I just found this meme-ette at BlogHer, which I figured I'd do, and all, I thought I'd share the love! So, here goes: the top 5 movies that have inspired me spiritually, enjoy:

Top 5 movies that inspired you spiritually?

The Last Temptation of Christ - I saw this movie when I was in a pretty non-Christian phase of my life. As in, I didn't call myself a Christian. I was v. upset about the whole "Jesus' death conquers Death" idea and thought that Christians were using an elaborate theology to evade the realness of death. That (they) were focusing solely on the afterlife ("heaven") instead of trying to make life better here on Earth. So, to watch (even!) Jesus struggle, the way that humans do, daily, with temptation, and understanding the "Higher Power's" plan, made sense to me. The story goes that Jesus is BOTH human and divine, and is tempted, sorely tempted, by the devil. That comes across, loud and clear. As does Jesus' compassion for the sick and the poor. The film made me realize that Christianity could be something I could get behind and maybe actually believe in.
Mists of Avalon - I had read the book in high school and liked it. But in the film, the last scene where Morgaine sees the statue of Mary in the convent sealed the deal for me. As with the next film, resilience is a v. human trait that I admire above pretty much all others.
Latcho Drom - Again, resilience. People, including the gypsies, it turns out, survive through all sorts of things, and sometimes, come through the other side with grace and art that surpasses all expectations. The music in this film stays with me, and I listen to it a lot. The similarities of styles. The emotion of the songs is amazing.
Elizabeth - I hate to admit it, but I didn't know much about this period of British history until I saw this movie. I know, I know. But it was through this that I got sucked in. I saw this and realized that the old Book of Common Prayer is actually based on something! It may not have actually achieved all it set out to (which was a mammoth undertaking - trying to unite Catholics and Protestants in England through prayer in the midst of a blood-thirsty civil war!) but it was a start. And it's still with us today. Who knows, it may actually get us through our current Anglican problems. And watching Elizabeth work through it all, watching her manipulate (a loaded word, I realize) the idea of the Virgin Queen, was fascinating.
The Miracle Maker - I just saw this movie recently, and it's a "children's movie" but it's really good. It tells the life of Jesus in such a compelling way - even though it uses PUPPETS! The scenes of Jesus' life use the words, pretty much verbatim, from the Gospels. And it sticks with you. Somehow I keep thinking about this film and remembering details that I have missed from the stories before.... so, I'm including it in my top 5.

How about you?

Melancholy Yellow

Bob's Blog, as usual, started my day with some enlightenment - Thanks, as always, Bob! I had never seen Van Gogh's Japonisme work before. And I never realized he had painted a "Pieta".

Bob's choice of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now to accompany the writing struck me. I listened to that song in high school, but never really paid any attention to the lyrics. [I totally GOT "Big Yellow Taxi" back then, ] but not so much Both Sides Now.

Maybe it was "Love, Actually" that did it for me. But now, I get it. I think. There are lots of realizations that are coming to me right now. Maybe it's realizing the "Drugs Don't Work" but even though this stage is tiring, a tad melancholy, and a struggle; I'm also feeling stronger somehow. More like I have a direction, which is a good thing.

Religious Art Sightings

Not feeling to (physically) great today. But seeing this at Bob's Blog raised my spirits.

I also just found a good religious art blog of Carl Bloch's work, which I hadn't seen before. He covers the classic Christian religious subjects of paintings.

Well, have a great weekend, all!

What are We Doing?

This is how I feel today. It's not snowing here in Philly, but it is cold again - though good to get some rain again finally. I have been fantasizing my spring planting over and over again. I have catalogs spread out just like this! At least, I think this blog is describing how I feel. My Finnish is way too rusty but - Kiitos!

Which makes me think of travel... but then, oddly enough, I got this in my mailbox this morning.

So, let me get this straight, the organization that makes a pretty map of all my travels throughout the world, is encouraging me to stay home with the lights out? What is this? A blackout shade a la the Blitz? [Or is it to make up for my humongous carbon footprint I've left from all my traveling??? hmmmm]

Not to be overly alarmist or anything, but what is going on in this great country of ours?!? I realize we are at war and all. But, I've been getting more and more concerned about the restrictions on Americans (and our allied friends) traveling for years now. The limits to Canada were probably the last straw for me - but I made sure we, in our little fam, all had passports. What about all those Americans who won't go through the hassle and never visit another country?

Or worse, what if we give up more freedoms, with idea that we're more secure, but really, end up broke (as a country) and no better off? These two blog posts brought it home for me:

First, from BlogHer:

"In Washington State, our gov was keen to fast track the program because we Washingtonians are always zipping up to Canada. With only 33% of Americans holding passports, border crossings dropped when the new passport regulations went in. Maybe the Canadians enjoyed having fewer Yanks swanning about Vancouver, but Washingtonians were pissed. Our local Department of Licensing site had bad news for us. If you've got a Euro-spouse (or any other non-US citizen type sidekick) they won't be granted a REAL ID, even if they're a green card holder. Pack your passport, sweetie, we're going to...Tucson? Thinking travelers devoted to freedom of movement are none too happy about the REAL ID initiative."

" The demand for ID does nothing for security while making honest Americans less free.

Every government that has imposed totalitarian rules told its populace that it was doing so to "uphold freedom" or "improve the security of the homeland" or "root out terrorists and subversives." These ends do not justify unconstitutional means. We uphold freedom by exercising it – not by restricting it. "

What she said!!!!

And second, from Boing Boing, a while back, reporting on a segment on NPR:

"We're putting up with the federal government on so many fronts, and nearly every month they come out with another hare-brained scheme ... to tell us that our life is going to be better if we just buckle under on some other kind of rule or regulation. And we usually just play along for a while. We ignore 'em for as long as we can. We try not to bring it to a head but if it comes to a head we found that it's best to tell 'em to go to Hell and run the state you wanna run your state.

Unfortunately this time around they've really got a hare-brained scheme... almost all those hijackers on 9/11 would have qualified for a Real ID."

Oy.

Middle Earth Round Up

Everything's coming up Middle Earth! Recently the Tolkien oeuvre has been everywhere - even socks.

First this house - a "low impact woodland home"! I like it. Looks cozy, and some great gardening opportunities are there.

I was gaga for Viggo Mortensen. Looks like he got his own spread in Men's Vogue a while back. [sigh]

Casts me back to my total crazy fandom of the LotR phenom a few years back. I used to check the TORn site every single day.

Happy Easter (belated)

I've visited this church ruin at least once, maybe twice. I want to say it's Glastonbury, but it's not (could be too much MoA rolling around in my brain). And I can't really figure out the Old UK Photos site I found this image on, so, whatevs!

I remember being amazed by the beauty of the spot. And I felt so peaceful and calm. It would be nice if I could feel more of that in my daily life..... I think the reason the place is in ruins is that Oliver Cromwell burned down the original building.

So, it's kind of a good image for Easter - a new, entirely different, beautiful and lasting life from destruction and death. A message of hope and Springtime and life.

Good Friday

It's Good Friday and I'm getting ready for the Easter weekend. Picked out my outfit and everything. And I am settling in to a reflective, somber mood, appropriate for the day.

I am not, however, ready to crucify myself over it. And I worry for these people doing this in the Philippines. Apparently, so does their health department, which has issued statements about the dangers of tetanus from being nailed to a cross. I mean, I really don't quite know how to process this story. I fear that my defense against the horror is to be flippant. Maybe it was my upbringing in stern, restrained New England, where these kinds of things are frowned upon, but, my word!

I am moved by representations of the crucifixion in art. I appreciate them. But reenacting the scene is different for me. I remember seeing the Penitentes church floats at the New Mexico State Fair with the crucifixion scenes, they made me queasy, but at least they didn't use nails! Yes, they dragged their crosses across the state, but that's different.

There have been people through the ages who have extolled the virtues of the mortification of the flesh, it's true. But.... wow. These people must really believe that what they are doing is right. And who am I to stop them, or speak against them? But it feels like "practicing righteousness" to me [I had a heck of time trying to find this quotation today! oy]:

Matthew 6:1-21
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)
16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I turn to Matthew a lot when I'm feeling stressed. Especially the next section about anxiety. But anyway. Maybe these crucifixion practitioners feel that they are letting their lights shine out from under a bushel basket. I hope so:

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Easter Outfit Dilemma

This "dressed up is a state of mind" post got me to thinking.

As you all know, I've struggled with fashion choices after the onset of motherhood. It's tough. But, I agree that there is no time like the present. Carpe Diem! And Easter is such a good time to stretch a little bit fashion-wise. I'm not all about the clothes, but I want to look good, and why not take that day as one to "make it work"?

So, this year, I went out and bought a wacky floral print skirt and top (for a grand total of $25 at Target, though I can't find them online to show you). BUT it's going to be pretty cold this year in the City of Brotherly Love. So, I've had a change of plan. A few years ago I picked up a dress very similar to the one above at a Banana Republic outlet for cheap. And then, the other day I saw these giraffe peep-toe pumps and just fell in love. Not sure if I'll get my toe nails painted in time (you know that's a big issue for me). If not, I could always wear these instead.

The Answer

He was back in town last night. And watching him give his press conference made me realize how much I missed him. He was so great for Philadelphia. And I'm glad our rambunctious fans are as explicit in showing their love as they are in their disgust. I thought it was a great coincidence too that the Nuggets' uniforms were the old-school Philadelphia "blue & gold." It gave me a nice warm feeling. Thanks, AI. We love you!

The Speech in Philadelphia

It was amazing. I watched all 37 minutes of Barack Obama's speech (you can see it here). I have to say it is the best speech I've heard. Pretty much ever. I am voting for him in April anyways. But he blew me away yesterday. And it all happened in Philadelphia. :)

BTW: There's some nice commentary on this issue, and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, at A Church for Starving Artists.

The Built Environment

I've been thinking about the "built environment" for the past couple of days. First, it was the post on Boing Boing, originally pulled from the BBC (which is increasingly becoming my source for American news, since our own press can't seem to get its act together!). There are essentially "Hoovervilles" popping up already as a consequence of the "sub-prime meltdown." During Bush I's reign we had the "S&L scandal", but at least that just meant that working and middle class people bailed out the bankers through taxes. This time around a lot of them are losing their homes. It's sad. But I'm also wondering what it means for the the abandoned houses - the (already) built environment - that is left behind. What happens to those houses, and the land that was destroyed for them to be built? I don't think this is good news for the environment in general.

And then there was this post (I'm sorry to say I can't remember how I got there!) about an artist's envisioning of the built environment. Or landscape as museum. Beautiful. And a little bit scary, if you ask me. But gorgeous and affecting.

Finally, Garden Punks finished a review of Omnivore's Dilemma, which it sounds like I have to read. Once I get my hand on Affluenza, O.D. is next!

Belated St Patrick's Day Wishes

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I missed the boat on the actual day, sorry about that. But, I saw this cartoon at Hasta los Gatos... and had to share.

And if you aren't itching to make these cupcakes too, I don't know what! Guiness and Bailey's cupcakes in honor of the day that I found on Cupcakes Take the Cake. Yummy.

Last but not least, for those fratties that were out doing the pub crawls over the weekend and on Monday, this trinket I saw on Boing Boing may fit the bill. Tee hee.

Meme

I found a meme at St Peter's Cross Station posted by Lilysea, that I thought I'd pick up, so:
five things about me that I either never told you or you've forgotten by now:

1) I used to live in Albuquerque, NM. I got to visit the Cathedral in Santa Fe pretty often, and saw more of Robert Lentz' icons there.
2) I like to dissect violets and see the flowers' reproductive systems.
3) I used to drink a lot of coffee, but now I drink tea pretty much exclusively.
4) I have no desire to go to Antarctica.
5) My workplace is the cone of silence.

Aurora Borealis

Beautiful, right!? I'd love to see them in person. I don't really understand the post on Pruned where I found this photo, but there are more pretty photos of the phenomenon there.

Water!

Wow, Water is turning up everywhere in the news this week. It's crazy!

First we find out from AP that yucky Halliburton has been giving gross (but chlorine-treated!) water to our soldiers in Iraq:
"A report obtained by The Associated Press said soldiers experienced skin abscesses, cellulitis, skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses after using discolored, smelly water for personal hygiene and laundry at five U.S. military sites in Iraq." That is disgusting.

Then it turns out that the water we're drinking here at home is full of chemicals and waste products that we didn't bargain for when we (as a nation) started ingesting tons of chemicals. A fair amount of the waste in the water we're drinking, DAILY, is un-metabolized drug products, like hormones and psycho-tropics, according to the article. And there is little research on the long-term (though lower dosage) exposure to these types of chemicals, especially for children! And don't forget, it's not just tap water they're talking about, but bottled too! Since it all comes from the same place.

And here's the NYT's "DotEarth" blogger's take on the whole thing. See this is where radical change needs to happen in how we deal with our environment, in my opinion. [I was going to say (free!) radical! change! but that might be a dorky science joke that I myself don't really understand.]

Seriously, though, I watched a totally over-the-top, baby-boomer-focused "documentary" about Pete Seeger last night on PBS. Now, I love Pete Seeger. I think he's great, I like his singing style. I used to sing along with his Sesame Street album (the duet with him and Oscar singing, "The World is Filling up with Garbage!" was a classic!). But he has a great outlook: instead of relying on big government or mega-corporations to take care of us (yeah right! look where that's gotten us!) he thinks the answer is tons of teeny, grass-roots organizations, working locally, to get stuff done. I was impressed by his campaign to clean up the Hudson River. And while Joan Baez and other boomers were proclaiming how great they all were at stopping the Vietnam war, I did see that w/the Hudson River example, it's true that a small group of dedicated people CAN change things. And we post-Boomers, and younger, can see that. Yay us. Here's hoping We Can Fix it. Dare I say, "I Hope We Can!" ??

So much art, so little time!

I am absolutely loving the Superhero series by Dulce Pinzon. The costumes fit the contexts too! Found the link on Tex[t]Mex blog.

Bob was talking about a new exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum of Art where we, the public judge the art, not the critics. Fantastic idea! I want to go.

And then, there's the muppetizing of some classics, like, "Le Ravissement de Psyche" by William Bouguereau. Awesome, right!?

Lots of great art out there this week.

Round-up of Green & other news

First of all, the crocuses are blooming here in the City of Brotherly Love! Thanks to Flatbush Gardener for the photo. Yes, that's Brooklyn, but Still!

I just found out about the Sandbox, posts from and about Iraq from the soldiers' point of view. I have clearly been living under a rock. Oy. Very moving.

According to BlogHer: the Wellstone Amendment, granting Insurance coverage parity to Mental and Physical health care access, passed the House. Now it needs to go to the Senate.

Apparently there are tunnels inside Niagara Falls! Who knew?!? Boing Boing found out before me.

Ireland truly is green and has reduced plastic bag usage by 94% since a bag tax went into effect. Why can't we do that here?

We could all try a "carbon fast" for Lent as a way to "do our bit." I saw that on It's getting Hot in Here - which reminds me of the Green Confessional I wrote about a while back. Plus it reminds me of Nelly. But that's a different story.

And finally, my horoscope this month is comforting, as usual a la Rob Brezsny's take:

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

It's time you acknowledged that you are a miraculous work of art, a masterpiece unlike any other ever created. I'm not pandering to your egotism by telling you that. When I say, "Be yourself," I don't mean the self that wants to win every game and use up every resource and stand alone at the end of history on top of a Mt. Everest-sized pile of pretty garbage. When I say, "Be yourself," I mean the self that says thank you to the wild irises and the windy rain and the people who grow your food. I mean the self who's joyfully struggling to germinate the seeds of love and beauty that are packed inside every moment. I mean the spiritual freedom fighter who's scrambling and finagling and conspiring to shower all of your fellow messiahs with your best blessings.

Col. Brandon obsession

Colonel Brandon, as played by Alan Rickman is reading aloud some lines from Spenser's Faerie Queene, Canto V, Bk 2, lines 39-43: and we hear:

What though the sea with waves continuall
Doe eate the earth, it is no more at all...
Nor is the earth the lesse, or loseth aught.
For whatsoever from one place doth fall,
Is with the tide unto another brought...
For there is nothing lost, but may be found, if sought ...
[sigh]

Isn't he just the BEST!? Col. Brandon and Miss Marianne's courtship is one of the most satisfying of all the Austen stories, I think. Or, as Josiah says, "All's well that ends well." And I think Rickman does such a great job. At least, he's way more attractive than the guy on the "Men of Austen" site. ["pick me!"]

Ellen Moody, on her website says this:

I see Thompson as through this allusion suggesting the theme of loss that I have just argued Austen intended, a loss that is loss, but that can and may be repaired. If we think of the close of Persuasion with the retrieval of Wentworth and Anne's love leaving them more appreciative of what they had almost lost, we can see a wholeness of vision in Austen's oeuvre. Page Last Update 1 March 2003

I think she's right that Jane Austen works on this theme often. And so does Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre. Jane and Mr. Rochester are lost to each other for all but a few pages of Jane Eyre. But when they get together, they have both given up and gained something, each of them, that makes them whole.

I've been thinking about S&S a lot with the PBS Austen Marathon going on. Plus, this morning it was raining off and on. And I am just like Marianne when it comes to walking - whenever I go out and say it won't rain - it does. This morning in Philly was no exception.

Battlestar Galactica's "Last Supper"

I just had to share! Saw this on Boing Boing and wanted to post right away. What a great take on the Last Supper.

There is a heavy (under?) current of Christian ideas in BSG. Like, are the Cylons actually the saviors of the humans? Is Dr Balthar crazy or talking to "God"? So many questions! I can't wait to catch the season on Netflix!

Book meme

Name up to 3 books you think everyone should read.
Moll Flanders, Daniel Dafoe
Endurance, Alfred Lansing
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

Name up to 3 authors you think everyone should read.
JRR Tolkein
JK Rowling
William Shakespeare

Name up to 3 books no one should read.
13 is too Young to Die
Bridges of Madison County
I can't remember the title, but I think it was by V.C. Andrews, or similar, about a mean girl who kept other kids in a cave by the sea and fed them sand sandwiches. [!] Anybody know what I'm talking about?

I found this meme here.