OT ~ Welcome to Saturday!

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 3:20am

Sit-a-while
on swinging porch
where tin-dippers and
sweet water
in cool touches
meet lips
from hand dug wells.

Good morning good people!

"We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you won't do harm - yes, choose a place where you won't do very much harm, and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine." ~ E.M. Forster, 1908

A shout out to our Western friends in hopes all are safe from the fires.
Congested with leaf lookers, crowded roads and fall festivals greet us locals for awhile; it's okay, good for our economy and we know where not to go. I try and avoid the crowds.

Morning NASA image above, Sahara Desert.
A little sunshine:

Morning poem:

Kneel

Nothing stops its bravery

bravado filling piety

anthems sung in empathy

missing heart and dignity

tissues move and tongues exhale

through smiling teeth with pasted hair

awaiting copters

lawns of green

ferrying men to 'hannities'

while children flee indignities

hidden from the world to see

as not to make a mockery

of being free

all hail to thee

play ball!

Morning music:

“A day spent without the sight or sound of beauty, the contemplation of mystery, or the search of truth is a poverty-stricken day; and a succession of such days is fatal to human life.”
~ Lewis Mumford

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Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 8:18am

Good morning, smiley ~~

It's going to be a lovely day, tomorrow a cold or cool front moves in. Going for a hike today to soak in the leaf changes in our nearby mountains.

The leaves so green
bask in the warm sun, but
as the days become cool
signaling an end of summer
to the mighty tree, which
then drains its lifeblood
to its core
leaving us with
magnificent colored leaves
to enjoy on autumn days.

Have a beautiful day, everyone!

—

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 8:57am

Morning Ra...

@Raggedy Ann

Lovely poem, thank you.

Enjoy your hike and a great day back at you.

Submitted by dkmich on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 8:23am

We are up north at the beach for the last hurrah of the season

We are expecting sunshine T- F. Hope we get to enjoy some brilliant fall color.

Have a nice weekend everyone.

—

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 9:01am

Morning dk...

@dkmich

The last of the Hurons

Til next season. Have a wonderful time!

Submitted by Arrow on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 8:38am

Morning Smiley7 and all

Wow.. What a poem today.
Here is to all that is hidden from the world to see.
May they find the light of day.

Everyone have a good and safe weekend.

—

I want a Pony!

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 9:05am

Morning Arrow...

@Arrow

Rain eased away leaving blue skies and light, should be a great one outside.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Submitted by riverlover on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 9:37am

The squirrels are gathering hickory nuts

and driving my dog insane. Could be worse: Feral pigs are only a county away. I would prefer elk migration from PA.

Another low-key day. Not sunny but no wind! Have a good Saturday, all!

—

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.

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 9:42am

Morning riverlover...

@riverlover

Fall in full swing here, i've been gathering the late and last of the apples.

Have a beautiful fall day and weekend.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 10:21am

GM, smiley7. Cool (49) heading for 80 later. Final packing

and loading to run down to Morro Bay and trailer camp for several days. The campground we say in is mostly conifers and eucalyptus, so probably not much color, but it is right by both an estuary and a wetlands. They also have a working harbor so catch-of-the-day tacos are available and fresh fish for home dining. NOt poetic, but working harbors have their own aesthetic, and Morro Rock is always a great sight. Plus otters.

—

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 --

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 11:52am

Hi, el, pick up a painted surfboard...

@enhydra lutris

sounds ideal, especially the fresh seafood; i love harbors and the wetlands and the beach and the crisp air and all. Wishing you safe travel and pleasurable days.

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 11:09am

The first time I "got" your poem reading it just once

great poem. Thanks.

I am scared and have nightmares. So, I'll go back to sleep.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 11:54am

Hi, mimi,

@mimi

Glad you enjoyed today's poem. Sorry for the nightmares, rest well.

Submitted by eyo on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 11:51am

Sonoma County report

Hi smiley7 and everyone, greetings from the northern cusp of Sonoma County, I am outside the danger zones and keeping an eye on the Pocket fire. Yesterday our evac center closed for lack of use:

Cloverdale Shelter closes, but the giving continues at Soil King

The evacuation center at Citrus Fair in Cloverdale has been closed and put on standby because of the low number of evacuees it received.

“We only had three people,” said Citrus Fair CEO Bonnie Wlodarczyk. “And they were sent to Santa Rosa fairgrounds yesterday.”
...
In the meantime, Patrick King, owner of Soil King, has been collecting a huge number of donations of clothing, bottled water, food and other items at his store in Cloverdale. He and his volunteers left early Friday morning to take several pick-up truckloads of items to Ukiah in Mendocino County.

That answers why it is still so damn busy around here, I have never seen so much traffic, so many people came out of the mountains in to town. The hotels are full. A BMW from FL is staying with neighbors in the back so that answered my wtf moment seeing their big confederate flag in the garage. Heritage. ~shrug~

To the north: Mendocino Lake Complex fire: MCSO operation center the hub

The advanced satellite system was brought to the county courtesy of the National Guard, and Staff Sgt. Alan Clark sat in front of it, watching the teams move about and keeping an eye on the square yellow icons, which stand for fire areas. That they were yellow means they were not hot fire, and there were no red squares (hot fire) on the map at that moment. Clark is teaching Greg Mudd, with the MCSO Search and Rescue team, how to use the satellite system. Mudd said he’s been in the fire zone during the week and search and rescue teams are helping carry out requests from the call center from evacuees to do things like feed their cats, or their chickens, or tell them if their house is OK or if it’s burned down. They have also helped find and rescue many, many large animals, from horses to goats to llamas and bring them to safety.

To the south: LIVE UPDATES: Mandatory evacuation order for east Sonoma, Hwy. 12 Santa Rosa; 35 dead

9:27 a.m.

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris will be in Santa Rosa today to attend a private briefing with local leaders and emergency management officials before joining a community meeting.

Officials with the Santa Rosa Fire Department, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Cal Fire, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the City of Santa Rosa will participate in the afternoon meeting at Santa Rosa High School, 1235 Mendocino Ave.

Brown has declared a state of emergency for Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Napa and five other counties due to the effects of the fires burning in California.

My friend on Pine Mountain left a nervous message last night, they can see everything from up there. We are all far enough from the front lines, still safe and hoping for the wind to calm down.

think calm thoughts
oom
thanks & good luck

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 12:01pm

Good to hear from you, eyo,...

@eyo

we've been thinking of you and thank goodness you are okay.

Thanks for the links and updates.

Hoping you and everyone get relief from the wind and fires and smoke, soon. Be safe and take good care.

Hi smiley7 and everyone, greetings from the northern cusp of Sonoma County, I am outside the danger zones and keeping an eye on the Pocket fire. Yesterday our evac center closed for lack of use: Cloverdale Shelter closes, but the giving continues at Soil King The evacuation center at Citrus Fair in Cloverdale has been closed and put on standby because of the low number of evacuees it received. “We only had three people,” said Citrus Fair CEO Bonnie Wlodarczyk. “And they were sent to Santa Rosa fairgrounds yesterday.” ... In the meantime, Patrick King, owner of Soil King, has been collecting a huge number of donations of clothing, bottled water, food and other items at his store in Cloverdale. He and his volunteers left early Friday morning to take several pick-up truckloads of items to Ukiah in Mendocino County. That answers why it is still so damn busy around here, I have never seen so much traffic, so many people came out of the mountains in to town. The hotels are full. A BMW from FL is staying with neighbors in the back so that answered my wtf moment seeing their big confederate flag in the garage. Heritage. ~shrug~ To the north: Mendocino Lake Complex fire: MCSO operation center the hub The advanced satellite system was brought to the county courtesy of the National Guard, and Staff Sgt. Alan Clark sat in front of it, watching the teams move about and keeping an eye on the square yellow icons, which stand for fire areas. That they were yellow means they were not hot fire, and there were no red squares (hot fire) on the map at that moment. Clark is teaching Greg Mudd, with the MCSO Search and Rescue team, how to use the satellite system. Mudd said he’s been in the fire zone during the week and search and rescue teams are helping carry out requests from the call center from evacuees to do things like feed their cats, or their chickens, or tell them if their house is OK or if it’s burned down. They have also helped find and rescue many, many large animals, from horses to goats to llamas and bring them to safety. To the south: LIVE UPDATES: Mandatory evacuation order for east Sonoma, Hwy. 12 Santa Rosa; 35 dead 9:27 a.m. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris will be in Santa Rosa today to attend a private briefing with local leaders and emergency management officials before joining a community meeting. Officials with the Santa Rosa Fire Department, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Cal Fire, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the City of Santa Rosa will participate in the afternoon meeting at Santa Rosa High School, 1235 Mendocino Ave. Brown has declared a state of emergency for Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Napa and five other counties due to the effects of the fires burning in California. My friend on Pine Mountain left a nervous message last night, they can see everything from up there. We are all far enough from the front lines, still safe and hoping for the wind to calm down. think calm thoughts oom thanks & good luck

Submitted by earthling1 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 12:27pm

Top o' the morning, Smiley

Great poem. Nailed it.
Going to drive out the gorge (Columbia Gorge) today and view the damage. Our favorite hiking/biking trail is still closed as is the historic highway but I84 is open and we hope to make a loop through Cascade Locks and return via State 14.
Heart goes out to those in Cali. Can't help thinking this is only the beginning.
Entire cities are burning down now. What is it going to take?
Perhaps a promise. A promise to never, ever forget who were the climate change deniers.
Let them continue to spew their stupidity. Indelibly imprint on our minds who they are.

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 2:05pm

Hi earthling1...

@earthling1
Good to see you.

Been many moons since i've wandered the gorge, hope the devastation isn't so bad that a reasonable recovery can take place.

"when will they ever learn?" rings true.

Enjoy your day and excursion!

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 12:27pm

Just read in the German news media that Tesla

had fired several hundred employees. Standard excuse given by Tesla: they (the employees) were not working up to standard.

Ha.Ha. Yeah, right. As soon as their employees work so well that they are given a raise, they are fired a three to four weeks later. Trying to get unemployment benefits by the former rather long term employees, the excuse used to avoid to have to pay those "benefits" is saying the employee didn't work up to expectations and standards. They sure change their minds within as little as three weeks about their employees.

Haven't followed the coverage in the US media, because I don't have TV and don't listen to the radio and don't read everything online.

But what I read the German media saying about it, sounds very familiar to me. You have to have been on the receiving end to believe in the shanigans they get into to justify their actions vis a vis their employees. Fairy tales are nothing in comparison to the stories they make up.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by UntimelyRippd on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 12:41pm

I miss the news from lake wobegon.

Autumn rain will fall all day, and I want to do nothing but stare out the window, bake bread, and listen to other people's stories.

—

The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 2:13pm

Hi UntimelyRippd, join you in missing Garrison...

@UntimelyRippd
maybe a pizza crust and or quiche, later, after a mound of bills which i wish i could knead away.

Submitted by HenryAWallace on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 1:10pm

As always, your poems are welcome, lyrical and intelligent.

Thank you so much, smiley7.

I don't know when or why the expression "take a knee" replaced "kneel," which is what those player do. When did we ever say, for example, "He took a knee and proposed marriage"? (Yes, I know. It's not the most important point around that issue.)

Submitted by smiley7 on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 2:17pm

Hi Henry, i think i'm partial

@HenryAWallace

to raising the arm high and making a defiant fist!

Submitted by UntimelyRippd on Sat, 10/14/2017 - 3:44pm

it's from pre-existing football parlance, and strangely

@HenryAWallace
misappropriated for this purpose, only, i think, because sportscasters are already in the habit of describing that physical motion with that phrase.

"taking a knee" is what happens when the clock is running out, your team has the ball, and you are winning -- the quarterback takes the ball from the center, and simply "takes a knee": kneels down, making no attempt to move the ball. with one knee on the ground and the ball in his possession, the play is over the moment he is touched by an opposing player (actually, the current NFL rule is that the official calls the play dead immediately, rather than waiting for an opponent to touch the QB, a particular exception for this particular circumstance), so he doesn't risk getting splattered by a freight-train. this allows his team to burn time off the clock (since they have 40 seconds to start the next play). if you've got a first down and a lead, you can burn up to 120 seconds off the clock. if there's only 120 seconds on the clock, well, then it's in the bag ... unless the opposing team has timeouts remaining.

—