Thursday Open Thread 8-17-2017
The vibrations of change that began in Charlottesville will now be forever intertwined with our actions trying to increase our resilience with challenges of climate change, oligarchy dominance and unstable healthcare delivery system.
Most of the national discussion is being directed into longstanding racial issues and divides. The international reaction will probably be more significant.
The United States is the self-proclaimed policeman of the world and one of the major allies of World War II. Trump, our elected leader just defended individuals marching under the Nazi flag for their violent behavior. Not the honored American tradition and right of free speech which includes distasteful speech. Most of the Allies fought during the war on their soil with citizens and soldiers. The emotional scars to Nazi atrocities are deep. The international community will be re-thinking their long-term relationship with the United States.
Been exploring Chinese culture in a self directed study program to try and better understand Traditional Chinese Medicine. Found a series of videos of Professor Cui and his translator's thoughts on the I Ching. Thought this opinion on the differences between Western culture and Eastern culture was relevant to help gain understanding of China's responses to North Korea. (6:31-8:30)
[video:https://youtu.be/MKctERsevps?t=388]
On a Lighter Note
The following is an episode (Our Farm) of A Bite of China documentary first shown in 2012 showcasing the history of food in local and regional areas. It was inspiring to see the variety of ways humans have created and maintained local food sources over the centuries. Showcases the continual interrelationship between rural and urban communities being supported by nature. Enjoyed watching all 3 seasons. Would not mind finding similar quality programs on other parts of the world culinary traditions.
[video:https://youtu.be/tMjqq3IiWKc?list=PLYOTfstAG_IPjyEeT472GEJzafYmBiA3w&t=58]
Farm Report
Walking the fields to change irrigation.
These girls are waiting for their turn to be sheared.
End of day
Comments
A gorgeous garter snake!
Having a Lost Summer, I missed the snakes in the stone walls. Not exactly. I "missed" a copperhead on a hike at GS camp. It arrrived later, DOA for unknown reasons in the pickup bed of a Forest Ranger. Guilty of Original Sin. Before my daughter learned female wiles, I saw her stride into battle to remove a head-first Rana pipiens from a garter grasp.
Lemme see if this shows. Just up-road from me. Ithaca. Nope. A made-from-quarried stone VW Beetle. In the woods. Goog it.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Never understood the garter snake thing.
How the heck is it gonna hold up your stockings? Imagine how big your leg would have to be!
(The well runs deep, then hits solid bedrock)
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
Awful mental vision
keeps repeating in my head
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
garter snake holding your stockings up
By becoming an Ouroboros. of course!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
urbanghostmedia V-Dub linky
LOL thanks for that! Happy Thursday. Thors day, waiting for the hammer to fall.
Long live rock!
...
Slackware for the win! LOL I love being old and running Linux, great combo. Just get out of the way (off my lawn!) and let me do stuff. Like pasting a photo on a blog. Thanks Pat! Long live Bob. Long live Free Software. /granny
Cheers.
peace
edited: too bigly, better now.
again: giving props to the rock artist.
Linux
Linux freakin' rocks!
I'm a FOSSer myself. Glad to meet another!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Linux user since 1998 . . .
Exclusively since 2000. As a teacher, Linux and FOSS provided me with the tools to do beautiful things with kids. This was when I first completely realized the domination of the corporate state. Microsoft and Apple paid for all of the educational technology conventions. Even though there were beautiful better free alternatives . . . schools did not adopt Linux.
Yea yea . . . I knew how to do bulk mail from the command line back then and sent info to every school district in Texas. They didn't give a shit. They were bought off.
But at least I was able at that time to bring Musix Live CDs to the computer lab and run Hydrogen and Solfege with the kids. They had a blast.
And then when I used Sugar live CDs . . . . wow . . . the kids squealed in delight.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Quick duckduckgo.com - found the answer
The only snake type I have seen in person - other than a zoo or as someone's pet.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Beautiful, Student of Earth! Thank you!
Thanks SOE
I think Charlottesville was a galvanizing event, with the potential to turn the tide. Expect 45 to turn up the authoritarianism, and conflict is part of Bannon's overall objective. However, the only way they are going to be able to accomplish much of any policy objectives is going to be to subvert the system. More people are watching and learning. Talk to your neighbors and acquaintances before the propagandist get them.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Galvanizing, yes.
I fear in the wrong direction. I expect to see more of the same, and worse, in the coming year. Then, finally, people will begin waking up. They've slumbered through the last 35 years and are just beginning to stir. All the signs have been there for anyone paying attention.
I sincerely hope you're right, Tim, and I'm terribly wrong.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
My neighbors are in retreat
everyone is hunkering down for something, nobody knows what. It's gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that.
Or not.
peace
Heya, Tim. Good to see ya. I think
Charlottesville was galvanizing, alrighty, but we lack a solid ready replacement. That's where the work will be.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Great action item
We have a brief window of opportunity.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Hope to watch your videos later today . . .
Now I need to go outside and get some work done before we lose cloud cover. After eyo shared the video on the restoration of the Loess Plateau, I am very interested in learning more about Chinese agriculture.
Started some fodder and a maggot farm yesterday. Hopefully can give a good report next week.
As always love your photos. Do you process any of your own wool for knitting, weaving etc.?
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
The path to working with fiber was convoluted
The short answer is yes I can process the wool to finished fabric and clothing using multiple methods. To increase my knowledge I joined local fiber groups and found the various stages of taking fiber from raw material to finished textiles extremely expensive and complex.
Ran a fiber store for a while and could not in good conscious convince people to spend $$ they did not have for a hobby. Started looking at pre-industrial methods of textiles and learned numerous easy, non-expensive methods to work with fiber. Most of them required time, patience and few dollars.
Now I am working on ways to use the wool and other self-generated or recycled items to replace plastics and simplify my gardening practices.
Looking forward to your experiences with the chicken food.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Cool . . . I am interested in your fiber efforts . . .
Don't know if I will ever go down this path, but I do have a working spinning wheel that came over on the boat with my grandmother from Norway and I have carding tools (?).
It seems to me like the first effort should be to re-purpose the clothes and fabrics that already exist. I love to sew.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
maggot farm
You opened a branch office of Third Way on your land??!!??
/snark
Apologies to honest fly larvae!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I'd thought the maggot farm
was the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San Diego.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
LOL
LOL
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
The Chinese have survived as a culture for several
thousand years. As a diehard world history buff in my younger days, I devoured books on their wars, societies, art, religion/philosophy, food and cuisine. It was them and India. I used to daydream about visiting China. Not now with the horrendous air pollution--they better get into overdrive with safe, alternative energies. Otherwise, they'll just suffocate and destroy themselves. It's ironic when you think about it. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Had the pleasure of visiting twice about 10 years apart
First time I really noticed the stark contrast of what I had been taught in school and media about a culture was so misinformed.
Being a history buff you might find these series interesting.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecSYHf0fxrw&list=PL1B107B6B1E3C3453] (embedded links show first episodes)
Never understood the fascination of Kungfu until I watches this series.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYHESDzzWis&list=PL82C5B342BE1EF62E]
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Thanks, SOE. Still removing huge tree yucca stumps.
I'm winning, but it is very slow.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Were you able to harvest any of the roots
for cooking. Did not realize I had yucca root in my cupboard.
[video:https://youtu.be/vMMS5ydRyew]
Good luck on getting rid of the stumps, hard work.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Not that subspecies, this stuff is useless for that purpose. In
some places they eat the flowers, I tried once, uber-meh.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Still in the process of ripping out tooth fragments...
From my molar removal.
That's the problem with low income dentistry... They'll deal with the IMMEDIATE emergency, but anything long term, you gotta wait or deal with yourself.
Thank FSM for a blend of high THC and CBD. (Strangely enough, they claim that CBD has no psychoactive effects, but I can strongly feel the difference between THC solo and a blend.)
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Cannabis "cured" my olecranon bursitis?
It's not really cured, my elbows are destroyed but I can hardly believe this cannabis salve worked so fast. Olecranon bursitis is "water on the elbow". Years of factory work around steel machinery bolted to the floor makes a lot of bone chips. Now when I bump elbow on something it swells up ugly. It hurts and the puffiness doesn't go away no matter how many ice packs applied. Can't take any more "anti-inflammatory" pills, my stomach lining got pretty inflamed on those, killed my guts. I use ice packs and consume as many herbs and spices with the anti-flame properties as possible. Still, I had a few tablespoons of ugly water and irritation that would not go away.
While renewing my medical cannabis certificate over the phone, the doctor suggested to try a topical for a change. I had an old sample lying around and by golly four days later all the swelling and most of the pain in my elbow is gone. Wow! Yay Mary Jane. I can't believe it, yet another good outcome. Keep going.
---
Grow Cannabis! (if you can) It is a fantastic medicine for all kinds of crazy conditions in my view, a most effective palliative. My neighbors acquired certificates too, just recently. They are sold on the medicinal value, finally. "talk to your neighbors"
peace
Been thinking about topical as a potential for arthritis pain
in the future. Impressed it worked so quick.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
It has become an all around go to medicine for me
I'm sure the regular icing did help the most, the salve was what finally finished off the water bubble I guess?
There's a long list of chronic ailments where it helps me. One neighbor is ingesting something for her RA, she is 71. I can't remember the name of the edible or else I'd recommend it, that's a bad side affect I don't like. I had to experiment a lot, for almost four years, to find what works best for me. It changes too, nothing stays same. Just like my old body.
59 is the new 79 for the bottom layer, ouchy makes grumpy, it is a bad way to end life I think. Full of pain? No thanks. Sessions needs rapping with the clue bat, bigly.
peace
Are seeing eclipse crowds
in your area now? For those who don't live near the totality regions of the Aug. 21st eclipse, I'll explain. The eclipse totality zone in Oregon is expected to draw up to 1 1/2 million visitors for that time. They have begun arriving, and are creating miles long traffic lineups and gas shortages in some places.
The expected influx of crowds is affecting most of us in Portland metro and Salem area in one way or another. Our roads, highways are not able to handle this many extra vehicles.
Some businesses are closing for eclipse day because employees and/or customers won't be able to get to there.
Everyone needs eclipse safe lenses to view the sun during the partial phases of the eclipse which will last for about 2 1/2 hours. But all stores in area are sold out of the eclipse lenses/glasses, leaving thousands of people phoning around trying to find some.
I wonder if people in other parts of the USA have eclipse lenses. A partial eclipse will be visible over the entire continental US. And anyone looking at the sun during that time, needs special eye protection. Are those of you in other parts of the country hearing about the eclipse from local news sources?
Have seen more preperation for the crowds than
incoming people and traffic. The best viewing is slightly north of my location. Expect most of the traffic coming from the Portland-Salem will stop before traveling this far south. There is a slight increase of recreational vehicles and trailers on the highway. Normal for any 3 day weekend in this area. Sunday and Monday will probably be our heaviest traveled road days as the Bend area residents and visitors travel north to see the full eclipse.
Eclipse day I plan on placing all livestock in smaller pens around the house and feed hay. Similar to how I handle the 4th of July. I do not want anyone frightened and breaking out of a pasture.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
My yes!
you have a lot of animals to care for and protect. Let us know how they react to the eclipse. Probably best case is they just settle down to snooze during the early twilight.
eclipse news
YES. Colorado State Patrol is having a cow! The I-25 and I-70 corridors are both in the partial eclipse zone and major routes to the totality zone. CSP is worried shitless about people stopping on the Interstate to watch the eclipse.....
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Sounds about the same as Oregon
roads department and state police. They are having fits too.
I intend to watch it on the 'net
Too far from the totality zone, no money or time to travel with. Better luck in 2024?
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Have a look at this link
https://eclipse.aas.org/eclipse-america/when-where
The eclipse will be visible everywhere in the continental US on Monday. It just won't achieve totality in all areas. Some places will see an 85% eclipse for example. Do check the above link. Chances are, there will be lot more eclipse to see right where you are than you realize, and for a lot longer.
Thanks for the info
80+ % in this area, which is ok but not outstanding. Have never seen a total eclipse in the totality zone except in pix/videos.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Me too and it sucks.
I hear you.
The closest passage to me will be Casper, Wyoming, approximately 500 miles away by road.
The 2024 eclipse's totality zone evades central Colorado by a far greater distance; the closest it gets is central Texas. Turn around and drive home; get to the halfway point, still in fucking Texas.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Probably the best idea!
Better view, not rectum to navel standing, and no $10 funnel cakes.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
Eclipse 2017: Idiocracy meets Day of the Triffids?
I guess it is probably just my state of mind, but I don't have a good feeling about this upcoming "event". Thought I'd read more about schools making viewing boxes and stuff, but I guess we're all high tech now, don't need such things to participate astronomically. California is not down with the totality, only thrown partial shade.
I think going dark in the daytime is some great symbolism. USA USA
"She's so dull, c'mon rip her to shreds." -- blondie
Don't look at the sun, save your eyes for poking out others.
peace
edited: add linky to video and quote for context. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or3ygBd56gg&feature=youtu.be&t=21m26s