Google Image

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This morning I am in the mood for a cartoon. I got this cartoon by google image, and then putting peak oil cartoon in the search bar.

Show Me The Note

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Thank you Ju for commenting on my previous blog about "produce the note" and for providing a link to more YouTube videos on the same topic. Here is one of the videos that describes How to go about this process.

While You Can

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I offer a seed exchange website that you can view in the right hand column of this blog. Perhaps the world isn't ready to exchange seeds. As the powers that be continue to attempt to control the world seed supply, the rest of us need to be ready. Please check out my site (got seeds?)

Die Bank Die!

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Here is a photo that matches my sentiments.

RFID Nothing To Hide

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Cool Video With A Happy Ending

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I found this little video on a blog called Lassie Get Help
Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Cocoa Mulch Harmful To Dogs & Cats

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Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called "Theobromine".

It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution ? check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.

Theobromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate ? especially dark or baker's chocolate ? which is toxic to dogs.

Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

Got Rain? Season 2

It is time to start thinking about rain and rain catchment systems. You can save a lot of money by installing one or two rain barrels. Once you get two in tandem going it is not too long before the idea of gravity feed can come into play. Rain barrels can be stacked to create more water pressure. You could fill a washer or a toilet if you rigged them right. Water would have to be filtered and purified for drinking. For local rain barrels check out got rain?

New Color Lemongrass

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The Homer Laughlin China Company announced their new color for the year and it is Lemongrass.

Eliot Spitzer Was On To AIG Ponzi Schemes

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If we could just turn back time and reread what Eliot Spizer was trying to get at we might be able to save ourselves Billions of dollars in bailout money! Here is the article Eliot wrote last year. They were able to silence him long enough to loot the treasury it seems!

How the Bush Administration Stopped the States From Stepping In to Help Consumers

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By Eliot Spitzer

Thursday, February 14, 2008; Page A25

Several years ago, state attorneys general and others involved in consumer protection began to notice a marked increase in a range of predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders. Some were misrepresenting the terms of loans, making loans without regard to consumers' ability to repay, making loans with deceptive "teaser" rates that later ballooned astronomically, packing loans with undisclosed charges and fees, or even paying illegal kickbacks. These and other practices, we noticed, were having a devastating effect on home buyers. In addition, the widespread nature of these practices, if left unchecked, threatened our financial markets.

Even though predatory lending was becoming a national problem, the Bush administration looked the other way and did nothing to protect American homeowners. In fact, the government chose instead to align itself with the banks that were victimizing consumers.

Predatory lending was widely understood to present a looming national crisis. This threat was so clear that as New York attorney general, I joined with colleagues in the other 49 states in attempting to fill the void left by the federal government. Individually, and together, state attorneys general of both parties brought litigation or entered into settlements with many subprime lenders that were engaged in predatory lending practices. Several state legislatures, including New York's, enacted laws aimed at curbing such practices.

What did the Bush administration do in response? Did it reverse course and decide to take action to halt this burgeoning scourge? As Americans are now painfully aware, with hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure and our markets reeling, the answer is a resounding no.

Not only did the Bush administration do nothing to protect consumers, it embarked on an aggressive and unprecedented campaign to prevent states from protecting their residents from the very problems to which the federal government was turning a blind eye.

Let me explain: The administration accomplished this feat through an obscure federal agency called the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC has been in existence since the Civil War. Its mission is to ensure the fiscal soundness of national banks. For 140 years, the OCC examined the books of national banks to make sure they were balanced, an important but uncontroversial function. But a few years ago, for the first time in its history, the OCC was used as a tool against consumers.

In 2003, during the height of the predatory lending crisis, the OCC invoked a clause from the 1863 National Bank Act to issue formal opinions preempting all state predatory lending laws, thereby rendering them inoperative. The OCC also promulgated new rules that prevented states from enforcing any of their own consumer protection laws against national banks. The federal government's actions were so egregious and so unprecedented that all 50 state attorneys general, and all 50 state banking superintendents, actively fought the new rules.

But the unanimous opposition of the 50 states did not deter, or even slow, the Bush administration in its goal of protecting the banks. In fact, when my office opened an investigation of possible discrimination in mortgage lending by a number of banks, the OCC filed a federal lawsuit to stop the investigation.

Throughout our battles with the OCC and the banks, the mantra of the banks and their defenders was that efforts to curb predatory lending would deny access to credit to the very consumers the states were trying to protect. But the curbs we sought on predatory and unfair lending would have in no way jeopardized access to the legitimate credit market for appropriately priced loans. Instead, they would have stopped the scourge of predatory lending practices that have resulted in countless thousands of consumers losing their homes and put our economy in a precarious position.

When history tells the story of the subprime lending crisis and recounts its devastating effects on the lives of so many innocent homeowners, the Bush administration will not be judged favorably. The tale is still unfolding, but when the dust settles, it will be judged as a willing accomplice to the lenders who went to any lengths in their quest for profits. So willing, in fact, that it used the power of the federal government in an unprecedented assault on state legislatures, as well as on state attorneys general and anyone else on the side of consumers.

The writer was the governor of New York.

Ruth Barrett In Concert Tonight

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Come join Ruth Barrett and friends in concert tonight at The Spiritualist Temple 77 S. Sixth Street (Near State) at 7:00pm downtown Columbus Ohio.

Peak Newspapers?

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Here is a photo by Noah Berger from the Associated Press. If you have any doubt that Newspapers are going out of business in this country this photo tells the story. Perhaps our forests can be saved after all.

Michele Obama Plants A Whitehouse Vegetable Garden

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Story by Marian Burros

WASHINGTON — On Friday, Michelle Obama will begin digging up a patch of White House lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. There will be no beets (the president doesn’t like them) but arugula will make the cut.

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Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

Sam Kass, left, an assistant White House chef, and Dale Haney, a White House gardener, at the site of a new vegetable garden on the South Lawn.

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Local Food, From the South Lawn

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Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

From left, Cristeta Comerford, Sam Kass and Bill Yosses in the White House kitchen.

While the organic garden will provide food for the first family’s meals and formal dinners, its most important role, Mrs. Obama said, will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at time when obesity has become a national concern.

In an interview in her office, Mrs. Obama said, “My hope is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities.”

Twenty-three fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington will help her dig up the soil for the 1,100-square-foot plot in a spot visible to passers-by on E Street. (It’s just below the Obama girls’ swing set.) Students from the school, which has had a garden since 2001, will also help plant, harvest and cook the vegetables, berries and herbs.

Almost the entire Obama family, including the president, will pull weeds, “whether they like it or not,” Mrs. Obama said laughing. “Now Grandma, my mom, I don’t know.” Her mother, she said, would probably sit back and say: “Isn’t that lovely. You missed a spot.”

Whether there would be a White House garden has been more than a matter of landscaping. It’s taken on political and environmental symbolism as the Obamas have been lobbied for months by advocates who believe that growing more food locally could lead to healthier eating and lessen reliance on huge industrial farms that use more oil for transportation and chemicals for fertilizer.

In the meantime, promoting healthful eating has become an important part of Mrs. Obama’s agenda.

“The power of Michelle Obama and the garden can create a very powerful message about eating healthy and more delicious food,” said Dan Barber, an owner of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, N.Y., an organic restaurant that grows many of its own ingredients. “I don’t think it’s a stretch to say it could translate into real change.”

The Clintons grew some vegetables in pots on the roof of the White House. But the Obamas’ garden will have 55 varieties of vegetables — from a wish list of the kitchen staff — grown from organic seedlings started at the executive mansion’s greenhouses.

The Obamas will feed their love of Mexican food with cilantro, tomatilloes and hot peppers. Lettuces will include red romaine, green oak leaf, butterhead, red leaf and galactic. There will be spinach, chard, collards and black kale. For desserts, there will be a patch of berries. And herbs will include some more unusual varieties, like anise hyssop and Thai basil. A White House carpenter who is a beekeeper will tend two hives for honey.

Total cost for the seeds, mulch, etc., is $200.

The plots will be in raised beds fertilized with White House compost, crab meal from the Chesapeake Bay, lime and green sand. Ladybugs and praying mantises will help control harmful bugs.

Cristeta Comerford, the White House’s executive chef, is eager to plan menus around the garden, and Bill Yosses, the pastry chef, is looking forward to berry season.

Sam Kass, an assistant White House chef who prepared healthful meals for the Obama family in Chicago and is an advocate of local food, will oversee the garden. The White House grounds crew and kitchen staff will do most of the work, but other White House staff members have volunteered.

“First of all,” Mrs. Obama said, “there’s nothing really cooler than coming to the White House and harvesting some of the vegetables and being in the kitchen with Cris and Sam and Bill, and cutting and cooking and actually experiencing the joys of your work.”

Mrs. Obama, who said that she never had a vegetable garden before, said the idea for it came from her experiences as a working mother trying to feed her daughters, Malia and Sasha, a good diet. Eating out three times a week, ordering a pizza, having a sandwich for dinner took it’s toll. The children’s pediatrician told her she needed to be thinking about nutrition.

“He raised a flag for us,” she said, and within months the children lost weight.

For children, she said, food is all about taste, and fresh and local taste better.

“A real delicious heirloom tomato is one of the sweetest things that you’ll ever eat,” she said. “And my children know the difference, and that’s how I’ve been able to get them to try different things.

“I wanted to be able to bring what I learned to a broader base of people. And what better way to do it than to plant a vegetable garden in the South Lawn of the White House.”

The country’s one million community gardens, she said, can also play an important role for urban dwellers who have no backyards.

But, sitting in her office in the East Wing, Mrs. Obama stressed that she doesn’t want people to feel guilty if they don’t have the time to have a garden: there are still many small changes they can make.

“You can begin in your own cupboard by eliminating processed food, trying to cook a meal a little more often, trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables,” she said.

Make Them Produce The Note

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We first heard about Produce The Note from Marcy Kaptur. I see that the movement is taking root.

Workshop Is Full

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I am told that the Ruth Barrett Workshop is full but you can still see Ruth in concert Saturday night at The Spiritualist Temple 77 south sixth St. (near State) right here in Columbus Ohio@ 7:00pm. Ruth will be in concert with Shelly Graff, Dorrie and Karen Andermills, Kathy Crocco, Julie Kronenberger, and Shira Thompson. Don't miss this concert.

How To Grow Taters In A Bucket (Happy St. Patricks Day)

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Women's Rites Women's Mysteries

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I did a book review a while back for eBay... back when I was still a seller. The book was called Women's Rites Women's Mysteries by Ruth Barrett who will be visiting Columbus next week. Ruth will be teaching a workshop early in the day and doing a concert that evening. This book is an important addition to Dianic Witchcraft literature. Ruth Barrett carefully defines what Dianic Witchcraft is, where it originates, and most importantly the elements of Dianic ritual. You will be delighted with this book and your own rituals will be better planned and fine tuned as a result of incorporating the principles outlined therein. To see more of my guides and reviews for eBay click on the pencil icon.
skymetalsmith ( 333)

Ruth Barrett Comes To Columbus

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Here is a YouTube from 1983 featuring Ruth Barrett and Cynthia Smith playing Dulcimer. Ruth Barrett joins us here is Columbus Ohio for a Workshop and Spring Equinox Concert. To learn more about Ruth Barrett and her music you can visit her website Dancing Tree.
You can find out more details about the workshop and concert on her website as well. Hope to see you there.

Mudhouse Mansion

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Several weeks ago we took a short one night vacation to a cabin with a fireplace and hot tub. On the way we passed Mudhouse Mansion near Lancaster on Mudhouse Road. Even though it was broad daylight we were jumpy. This photo was taken from the passenger seat of the car. Mudhouse is a famous Ohio landmark and reportedly haunted. I found myself more frightened by the stories of trespassers being detained and hauled into court than the fear of ghosts. Still though the house beckons and promises to keep its secrets.

Happy Friday The Thirteenth

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Gone A Paintin

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For the next few days I will be cleaning and painting a house for occupation by April 1st. How refreshing to have work with a purpose with a goal of putting a family into a home rather than the opposite...no work and an empty home to be vandalized.

Columbus Wonder Bread Factory To Close

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The Wonder Bread Factory of Italian Village in The Short North is closing its factory in May. Columbus Ohio has been blessed with the smell of fresh bread since the early 1900's. This is a sad loss.

Tent Cities on Oprah

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Just in case you didn't know that times really are bad!

Got Cold Frames?

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Last year our landlord replaced the windows of the house. The old windows have become cold frames for the first crop of greens. The soil is looking good this year with last years and previous compost doing its work.

Welcome Back Lydia Brownfield

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Come on out to The Short North Gallery Hop tonight. Stop in Norka Futon and Rock with Lydia Brownfield.

Burn This Book

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I am reading a book called Mr. B. Gone by Clive Barker. The book keeps insisting I burn it as if there is a familiar spirit possessing the pages. Creepy life stories of a demon. Still though...coincidence that I acquire a book of matches that also seems to have a familiar spirit.

Glorious Yard Work

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I am off to do some yard work today. There will not be time for a regular blog. Hope you are getting some sunshine and fresh air.

Lydia Brownfield Returns To Norka

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Lydia Brownfield is coming back to Norka Futon for this months Gallery Hop this Saturday March 7th. Lydia played Norka in December for Holiday Hop. We liked her so much we are having her back. If you havent heard Lydia Brownfield yet then you need to come down to Norka Futon this Saturday and join us. You won't be sorry. Check out her fan site.

"No Small Thing"

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This YouTube about the damages that the Bush Administration has done does not disclose any of the atrocities or evil deeds. Rather...it is preparing us to be ashamed.

Bad Newz

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Michael Vick is being released to house arrest for the remainder of his sentence. Kristi Keith over at Pet Connection (a blog I follow) has written an article that I will share with you here on this blog.

Michael Vick to be released to house arrest

By Christie Keith

February 27, 2009

From ESPN, news that convicted dog killer Michael Vick will be finishing out his sentence in the comfort of his own home:

Vick is serving a 23-month sentence at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in eastern Virginia’s Surry County. He also admitted to participating in the killing of several underperforming dogs.

Vick’s lawyers have said they expected him to be moved any day into a halfway house in Newport News. But because of a lack of space, Vick will be released instead to his home in nearby Hampton at some point on or after May 21, said the official, who has knowledge of the case but requested anonymity because the individual was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

He’s also declaring bankruptcy… or at least, he’s been trying to. And of course, his team, the Atlanta Falcons, has been trying to trade him for a couple of weeks.

The sports world is dividing into opposing camps on what his future should be. Some, like this guy, figure nothing you do to a dog really matters, and he needs a second chance:

Crime is crime and I’m definitely not absolving crime, but isn’t one human life more important than every single animal on the planet? This might be an unpopular belief to be critical in this instance (like I care), but there are some folk out there who don’t think so. What’s that about? Kinda crazy right? Let me put it this way, if I had a family dog in my household for years and I had to make a decision whether to save it or a total stranger, I guess I’ll be making a trip to the pet store. Of course I would be sad, but isn’t there a difference? Is this illogical?

I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say that while some cats like Bernie Maddoff chill in Manhattan condos, Mike was serving time. He was contrite during that very humbling press conference, so it’s time to ease back and let the man live. He killed no one but you would think he ran through Virginia like Nat and slashed folks on outta here. The press coverage was absolutely sickening. Some view dog fighting as a horrible crime, but it never warranted the coverage it received no matter what some of you say.

Others, like Sports Illustrated editor Jim Gorant, see it differently; those people see it from the point of view of what Vick did to his dogs:

(It) began in 2001, about the same time Vick started cashing NFL paychecks and bought a 15-acre plot of land at 1915 Moonlight Road in Smithville, Va. The property sits across from a Baptist church. A bright green lawn surrounds a white brick house that has a pool and a basketball court in the backyard and is bordered by a white picket fence. When Vick bought the land, the house didn’t exist and wouldn’t be built for a few years. It wasn’t a priority. The Atlanta Falcons’ new quarterback never intended to live there.

Beyond the house, shrouded by trees, were five sheds painted black from top to bottom, including the windows and doors. Past them were scattered wire cages and wood doghouses. Farther still, where the trees got thicker, two partly buried car axles protruded from the ground. This was the home of Bad Newz Kennels, the dogfighting operation that Vick and three of his buddies started a year after Vick became the first pick of the 2001 NFL draft. When local and state authorities busted the operation in April 2007, 51 pit bulls were seized, Jasmine among them.

By most estimates Jasmine is around four years old, which means she was most likely born into Bad Newz, and her life there fit the kennel’s name. A few of the dogs, probably pets, were kept in one of the sheds. The fighters and a handful of dogs that Bad Newz housed for other people lived in the outdoor kennels. The rest — dogs that were too young to fight, were used for breeding or were kept as bait dogs for the fighters to practice on — were chained to the car axles in the woods.

The water in the bowls was speckled with algae. Females were strapped into a “rape stand” so the dogs could breed without injuring each other. Some of the sheds held syringes and other medical supplies, and training equipment such as treadmills and spring bars (from which dogs hung, teeth clamped on rubber rings, to strengthen their jaws). The biggest shed had a fighting pit, once covered by a bloodstained carpet that was found in the woods.

According to court documents, from time to time Vick and his cohorts “rolled” the dogs: put them in the pit for short battles to see which ones had the right stuff. Those that fought got affection, food, vitamins and training sessions. The ones that showed no taste for blood were killed — by gunshot, electrocution, drowning, hanging or, in at least one case, being repeatedly slammed against the ground.

It’s impossible to say what Jasmine saw while circling the axles deep in the woods, but dogs can hear a tick yawn at 50 yards. The sounds of the fights and the executions undoubtedly filtered through the trees.

Me, I’m no sports fan, but the side I’m on in is pretty clear: I don’t give a damn about Vick’s second chance. How about you?

Photo of rescued Vick dog Jonny Justice, courtesy of BAD RAP.

Cooking with Clara (Depression Cooking)

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I snagged this YouTube from Terriermans Daily Dose (you can get to his link from my link list in the right column of this blog). I have a 91 year old living Grandmother that has good stories from The Great Depression. I enjoy collecting pottery from that era...and I remember going to pottery barns with her and my parents. Watching Clara cook on this video reminds me of my own Grandma Sue. I must visit her soon. Folks like Clara and my Grandma Sue are national treasures and a great sourse of information (through story telling) of things that may be in store for us in the days to come.