The Weekly Watch

Riding the Cycle

Wheels within wheels...inside and out. Balance is key, but we seem to have lost our sense and are wobbling out of control...a spinning top losing momentum. At the same time the natural cycle swings into play showing the colors of spring and the quick flush of green. It is as though the world is bipolar...oh yeah, it is. So this week I've been thinking about the difficulty of balancing the joy and beauty of the natural cycle with the horror of human activity. The Assange arrest hit me harder than I thought. I really expected something like this, but none the less feel stunned. Another disappointment was "Pompous" declaring Iran's army to be a terrorist organization as Bibi (the real terrorist along with the family Saud) wins another term. The speed of our climate collapse is accelerating faster than models predict. So weeks like these I try to spend time outside with the trees, despite the pollen blast. The chestnuts we planted have leafed out. We've been harvesting lettuce and eating fresh salad most days. The blueberries have a strong bloom. All is not doom and disaster...we each have to find our balance on the cycle of life.

infinity cycle.jpg

Many have lost touch with the natural world...captured in a digital and concrete matrix. However, we are really caught in a matrix of cycles. From the air we breathe and the water we drink to the long term dance of rock and soil and the even broader scale of star and galaxy formation and death. Caught in a lifetime of days, moonths, seasons, and years.

lunar cycle.jpg

We humans have been aware of life's cycles perhaps since our beginnings...night and day, the weaving if moon and sun, life and death, drought and flood, migrations and harvests.

celtic knot.jpg

Losing contact with the natural world, and embedded in a capitalist culture bent on acquisition and disposal, we've lost our way as a nation and culture. As a result, in modern times we have developed a compulsive consumption cycle.
funny cycle.jpg

In part to deal with artificial cycles
economic cycle.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQPLGHdixbw (1 min with Richard Wolff and David Harvey)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMauo9YUApk (2 min with Richard and Chris Hedges)
In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max and Stacy discuss Ray Dalio’s claims that capitalism has failed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz1mgZbt2_I (1st 15 min)
Robert Reich explains how the wealthy and corporations receive billions in corporate welfare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmdivrgllf4 (4.5 min)

Media and Julian's Fate
The corporate media managed to manipulate people to accept their fate and acquiesce to the system...hell even more, to defend and support the false narrative. Assange's fate illustrates the point. Here's just a few of the excellent interviews and reports about Julian.

"This is the first indictment of a journalist and editor or publisher...And if it's successful it will not be the last."
Daniel Ellsberg

Jimmy weighs in on the story..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HJq0WxoK0c (22 min)

Here's Chris Hedges article that Jimmy reads from...
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/the-martyrdom-of-julian-assange/
and a 3 min comment from Chris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT7n0WY_6Ww

Unity4j has been leading the movement to free Assange, and features many different voices.

All their videos are here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCteWVe7EelMkiU_9XjppUFQ

Noam is, as usual, so on point and well spoken..
https://www.democracynow.org/2019/4/12/chomsky_arrest_of_assange_is_scan...
(video or text with link to the rest of a great interview from this week.)

John Pilger discusses the arrest of Julian Assange after his asylum status was revoked by Lenin Moreno of Ecuador and subsequent removal from the Ecuadorian Embassy. He discusses the importance of Wikileaks’ work, why it is a threat to the United States, the danger the arrest poses to journalists everywhere and the possibility of extradition to the US.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siHgvx3t9V8 (20 min)

Here's another insightful discussion with Joe Lauria, Ray McGovern, and Sara Flounders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5NdP7zktJg (25 min)

Paul Jay shares his analysis. Julian was carrying his book with Gore Vidal: History of the National Security State, when he was arrested.
https://therealnews.com/stories/assange-arrested-for-exposing-u-s-war-cr...

Glenn Greenwald, "The DOJ issued a press release with a headline that claimed that Assange was accused of “hacking” crimes, media outlets mindlessly repeated this claim even though the indictment contains no such allegation. It merely accuses Assange of trying to help Manning avoid detection. That’s not “hacking.” That’s called a core obligation of journalism."
https://theintercept.com/2019/04/11/the-u-s-governments-indictment-of-ju...

A panel discussion between FAIR's Jeff Cohen and Jacqueline Luqman, with host Marc Steiner examines whether this is the beginning of an attempt to stop investigative journalists from working with whistleblowers and exposing corruption (sorry no transcript yet - 11 min)
https://therealnews.com/stories/assange-indictment-a-threat-to-the-found...

$4.2 billion IMF loan, submission to the US, and vengeance appear to have been President Moreno's true motives for revoking Assange's asylum in Ecuador's London embassy, says Ecuador's former foreign minister Guillaume Long
https://therealnews.com/stories/ecuadorian-presidents-motives-for-surren...

Jimmy points out the only MSM to even begin to report this story rationally is FAUX News?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnwC_1Pf9VQ (19 min)

As Noam described, the recent soft coups in Brazil and Honduras, as well as the move to the right in Ecuador and Columbia, speak to the effectiveness of the global cabal. Just look at all the countries aligned to accept our puppet Guido as the president of Venezuela. Nothing less than a global effort will be needed to dislodge the oligarchs, yet we find ourselves focusing on US elections a year away...still dealing with the absurdity of russiagate. (11 min Aaron Maté takes on the grand inquistor of the Russiagate conspiracy, Rep. Adam Schiff, methodically dismantling his deceptive claims, one by one.)

And now we rush to war in Iran???
Ron Paul understands the risks...For the first time ever, the United States has declared a foreign country's military force a "terrorist organization." Iran's Revolutionary Guard has most recently been fighting al-Qaeda and ISIS in Syria, but Trump has accused Iran of harboring al-Qaeda. Iran has returned the "favor," designating the US Central Command (CENTCOM) a "terrorist organization." http://ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2019/april/09/tru...

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization on Monday, upping the economic war against Iran, the rift with Europe and China, and preparing conditions for a “military option” - Col. Larry Wilkerson
https://therealnews.com/stories/whos-the-real-terrorists-trump-intensifi... (video or text)

When it all gets to be too much, it is time to cycle out of human horror and back to the natural cycles with which we evolved. Though the ecosystem is imperiled, there is still great beauty in nature and wonder in it complexity and its simplicity.

We do fit into the natural cycle
natural cycle.jpg
Our role and view changing as we ride the cycle of time through life
cycle of life.jpg
Making use of the resources we have...
energy time and money.jpg
But we have lost touch with so many cycles within the natural world
water cycle_0.jpg
One of many species
cyclr of forms.jpg
and life forms
plant cycle.jpg
all caught in the Seasonal cycles
cycling with the seasons.png
A web of interdependent species
interdependent cycle.jpg


That we can balance to support us and improve the environment...

Here's another 5 minutes from Geoff on establishing a food forest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUoZUI9z2kI

By defending, restoring and re-establishing forests, peatlands, mangroves, salt marshes, natural seabeds and other crucial ecosystems, very large amounts of carbon can be removed from the air and stored. At the same time, the protection and restoration of these ecosystems can help to minimise a sixth great extinction, while enhancing local people’s resilience against climate disaster. Defending the living world and defending the climate are, in many cases, one and the same.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9mjbzqqA_M (2 min)
https://www.naturalclimate.solutions/

Forests Are a Low-Tech but High-Impact Way to Fight Climate Change
Keeping forests intact can go a long way toward saving the planet
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/forests-are-a-low-tech-but-hi...

Here's a free online course to help people get off of fossil fuel. It is past time to make the effort.
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/living-without-o...

We are the dust of exploded stars...star create (fuse) atoms into new elements. Our sun fuses hydrogen into helium providing the energy to power our planet...

star cycle.png

This week, a black hole was pictured in space with a network of eight radio telescopes around the world. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/apr/10/black-hole-picture-captu...

From dust to dust...

on we grow.jpg

If we're lucky we can live a full life propelled by the many cycles and buoyed by the interconnected webs. It is in my nature to try to understand the insanity (and sometimes inspiration) of human activity. When the horrors and absurdity get to me I try to balance my awareness with the natural system...the beauty of the changing seasons, the almost magical growth of the forest, the deer browsing and turkeys foraging, ...and become suspended in the web of the ecosystem like an embryo in the womb...running home to be comforted by mother Earth...Gaia.

I look forward to your ideas, comments, and stories.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

If I don’t comment after my first pass through the essay, you almost never hear from me. I get so caught up in the videos and story lines.

So much is happening in our world. We must remember that it’s always darkest before the dawn. I know there’s a song about that but it’s true. However, I almost hate to tell you, we’re not yet at the darkest moment. I believe it is a few years off.

Glimmers of light in the darkness may help. Corbyn might become PM. We might get a Sanders or Gabbard. Those two rays of light could be the beginning of the dawn. If not, dawn will come, we just don’t know the form.

Dawn has come to countries before. Dawn came to Germany, for example. Certainly there were many innocent lives sacrificed, that had been true in any country in darkness. Dawn also came to South Africa.

Unfortunately, America is not at its darkest hour - again, I do believe it is a few years away. To me, the level of tolerated darkness will be up to the people. When will they come out of their slumber? What ray of light will tickle their eyelids? Unknown, but it will show itself.

Will it be too late? It’s never too late for change to happen. What that change will be is unknown but change is the only thing we can guarantee to occur.

Have a lovely, philosophical Sunday, folks! Pleasantry

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"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

Lookout's picture

@Raggedy Ann

That is unless we start blowing up nuclear devices, then we will have selected our end point. Otherwise it is my thought that the climate collapse will spell our evolution or extinction depending on the severity and extent of the chaos.

Perhaps the kids in XR and Sunrise will be able to topple the status coup and move us to a world focused on cooperation and peace. That is my hope.

In the meantime there is the solace of nature to help absorb the stress.

Looking at our immanent extinction makes all the political wrangling moot.

Always glad to "see" you. Thanks for coming by!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

magiamma's picture

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

Lookout's picture

@magiamma

There are a few US sites -
https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/us-international-week-of-rebel...
more info here https://extinctionrebellion.us/rebellion-week

I would love to go to London for a couple of weeks to help, but the CO2 to get there and back as well as the $ make that impractical. They plan to shut down London. Should be interesting.

Thanks for bring up these actions slated for tomorrow.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

magiamma's picture

Wanted to post about the XR April 15events and my phone would not let me type beyond the vid insert.

Anyway, thanks for all the links. Do not know what to do about Assange. Barely recovered from the shock and anger.

Cycles. I agree w RA that the darkest is not here. But would add that it will be greatly compounded by Climate Breakdown. The new arctic study this week pretty much says it all. Linked in the lede of hot air. Hard to get at on my phone. Maybe Beckwith will report on it.

Thanks for the news. Have a good one...

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

Lookout's picture

@magiamma

Emmylou sings Ralph Stanley's "The darkest hour is just before dawn"
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6g4IFJE4oc]

Paul's latest clip discusses the flooding in the Midwest (and around the world), and the effect on the global food supply. (15 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDJUVc1-om8

Thanks for the visit!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

TheOtherMaven's picture

It's sort of about the nitrogen cycle. The dialect's pretty thick, but I think the meaning gets through:

On Ilkla Moor baht [without a] 'at [hat]

Wheear 'ast tha bin sin' ah saw thee, ah saw thee?

On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at

Wheear 'ast tha bin sin' ah saw thee, ah saw thee?
Wheear 'ast tha bin sin' ah saw thee?

On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at
On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at
On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at

Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane

Tha's bahn' to catch thy deeath o' cowd

Then us'll ha' to bury thee

Then t'worms'll come an' eyt thee oop

Then t'ducks'll come an' eyt up t'worms

Then us'll go an' eyt up t'ducks

Then us'll all ha' etten thee

That's wheear we get us ooan back

(RP translation for those who don't want to struggle with dialect)

Where have you been since I saw you, I saw you?

On Ilkley Moor without a hat

Where have you been since I saw you, I saw you?
Where have you been since I saw you?

On Ilkley Moor without a hat
On Ilkley Moor without a hat
On Ilkley Moor without a hat

You've been courting Mary Jane

You're bound to catch your death of cold

Then we will have to bury you

Then the worms will come and eat you up

Then the ducks will come and eat up the worms

Then we will go and eat up the ducks

Then we will all have eaten you

That's where we get our own back

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Lookout's picture

@TheOtherMaven @TheOtherMaven

Where have all the flowers gone....
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y2SIIeqy34]
On July 26, 1956, the House of Representatives voted 373 to 9 to cite Pete Seeger and seven others (including playwright Arthur Miller) for contempt, as they failed to cooperate with House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in their attempts to investigate alleged subversives and communists. Pete Seeger testified before the HUAC in 1955. In one of Pete's darkest moments, when his personal freedom, his career, and his safety were in jeopardy, a flash of inspiration ignited this song. The song was stirred by a passage from Mikhail Sholokhov's novel "And Quie Flows the Don". Around the world the song traveled and in 1962 at a UNICEF concert in Germany, Marlene Dietrich, Academy Award-nominated German-born American actress, first performed the song in French, as "Qui peut dire ou vont les fleurs?" Shortly after she sang it in German. The song's impact in Germany just after WWII was shattering. It's universal message, "let there be peace in the world" did not get lost in its translation. To the contrary, the combination of the language, the setting, and the great lyrics has had a profound effect on people all around the world. May it have the same effect today and bring renewed awareness to all that hear it.

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone for husbands everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the husbands gone, long time passing?
Where have all the husbands gone, long time ago?
Where have all the husbands gone?
Gone for soldiers everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Thanks as usual Lookout for the Weekly Watch. I like Raggedty Ann must comment before I go back and read all the articles you have put up.

When I first started reading this, the Joni Mitchell song, Circle Game came to mind. One part in particular,
"Words like when you're older must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game "

I am glad the young people today are not going to be appeased by the promises of their elders.

Spring is in full bloom here in Central Texas. The bluebonnets and paintbrush have been spectacular. Agree, we must get out in nature and enjoy what is here for us to embrace. Getting ready to go for a bicycle ride before continuing with my chores.

Have a good Sunday to all.

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Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.

This ain't no dress rehearsal!

Lookout's picture

@jakkalbessie

I love Joni's material, and the Circle Game is one of my faves too I'm listening now (5 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VoLCO-d6U]
Thanks for the reminder!

We've had a beautiful spring too. The bike ride sounds like fun. I'm a bike ride away from our little town, but it is rainy again today. Another inch last night and this morning...One of the reasons for this years bloom and green explosion.

Round we all go in the circle game - let's enjoy the remainder of the ride!

Have a good one!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

As I write a SNOW STORM is occurring outside my windows here in the Chicago suburbs! Flower buds were opening on three apple trees. I hope they won't get frozen out.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Lookout's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

I hope the cold weather doesn't hit your trees too hard. Snow seems to hold more Nitrogen than water - thing will ready respond after a snow so I bet you upcoming spring will be lovely.

I would say there will be pay back with summer heat, but one of the hottest dances I ever played was in Chicago as we were headed up to play a festival in Minnesota. Our buddy Chirps is a fine fiddler from up your way. I think he got us the dance gig there. Anyway to make the short story longer, I always assumed it would be cooler in your neck of the woods, but that summer I think y'all had us beat for heat.

We've already hit 80 a couple of days this week. It is the big swings with the jet stream as the system weakens and the arctic warms. We're due 40's next week.

...and another blast from the past.
Hang on sloopy hang on

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Azazello's picture

I have some stuff to contribute this week.
But first, a word from Tulsi Gabbard:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRn7HwA_8gg width:500 height:300]
Here's a couple of episodes of CrossTalk.
First, Max Blumenthal on his new book, Management of Savagery, YouTube, 25 min., and a panel on the Assange affair, Assange in Custody, YouTube, 25 min.
And finally, is this thing cool, or what ? Case 150 HP Road Locomotive, YouTube, 15 min.
Have a nice day.

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Lookout's picture

@Azazello

Note she dodged the question about her fellow dims. She has been using the phrase "self-serving politicians on both sides of the aisle."

I've been watching (listening) to her town halls. She always does a question session and that is usually my favorite part...providing more insight than her stump speech.
The last one in CA (30 min) the question period was cut short to bring her a b'day cake.

I would like to read Max's new book I enjoy his work at the Grayzone. Both the crosstalks were good.

There was a steam tractor at Auburn in the Ag engineering dept. restored during my time there. Old Nancy

Thanks for all the links and info! Have a great one.

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Azazello's picture

@Lookout
Here she is paddling out for a birthday surf with staff at San Onofre:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8_fBS9necQ width:500 height:300]
Thank you again for doing this series. I get something good out of it every Sunday.

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Lookout's picture

@Azazello

your visits and useful links every week too (and nightly on the eb).

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detroitmechworks's picture

Both the positive, and the negative. Doing what I can to rotate the negative into positive action. Not as easy as I'd like, especially when I've gotten stuck in bad patterns before.

Course, changing bad patterns HURTS. It's exercising muscles you don't use, and is a separation from comfort. Unfortunately, there's always a bit of pain involved with learning. Just like everything else that causes something to grow. (Dammit Chauncey, I was TRYING not to quote you again...)

Course, one of the things that I find is most important in learning balance, which is essential for good cycles, is understanding how people will try to throw it off. As long as your own position is insecure, you can't really do anything... hence why the control of the past and what ACTUALLY happened is so disputed by the media. When there is no consensus, and no balance, there can be no effective action.

Give me a good place to stand and a lever... for the world can be moved far easier than many think. Unfortunately, we've got these guys in the sweet spot.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oliCVn7Ic68]

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Lookout's picture

@detroitmechworks

really it is the mindset though...deciding you WILL do something. Yes others throw us off balance, much like your judo hobby you have to roll with the fall.

Not as easy as I'd like, especially when I've gotten stuck in bad patterns before.

Working at something gives it value...success builds success in part because we believe in our own ability more and more.

It's been nice seeing you around to site so often lately. All the best to you and the kids!

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detroitmechworks's picture

@Lookout that I've been making the changes and the improvements I have. Really appreciate them and the support I've been getting from my family and friends.

And yeah, rolling with the falls is important. As is pushing back but not TOO much, because overbalancing in any direction opens up flaws... (Yep, Judo is absolutely influencing me here. Kids and I are are loving it, and yesterday was an awesome practice. Competition practice is a hell of a work out, followed by Kata which is much more meditative, but very precise and dramatic as hell when done properly.)

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Lookout's picture

@detroitmechworks

...and have lots of fun!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

smiley7's picture

Brave to Warrior to Chief to Medicine/wise man; life cycles on.

Always surprised in the grocery store check-out line seeing carts filled with cardboard foods.

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Lookout's picture

@smiley7

What people eat blows my mind. No wonder we are so unhealthy. In fairness, some people don't have access to healthy food, but mostly it is our poor eating habits.

Caught this interview the other week between Dr.s Mercola and Fung on eating for longevity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXivdDORKRQ (1 hour)
Although I thought this older interview was better...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETJ2YYOdBNE (1.1 hour)

The bottom line is to limit eating to a small window of time...fasting most of the time.

Thanks for dropping by and leaving the yoyo!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Anja Geitz's picture

I like your theme about balance and cycles. Nature can teach us so much. We have a blossoming orange tree in the garden that smells so lovely, each time I pass by it, I am both uplifted and melancholy, for there is no way to capture the sweet scent as it drifts through my memory bank, and yet knowing how fleeting it is makes it all the more precious. Cycles and balance. Our minds can remember with longing the springs of our youth in an instant while we are still here enjoying the present. My roses are in a profuse state of blooming and I have two bags of organic soil waiting for the azaleas I still have to get from the nursery. The garden is coming alive yet I haven't shaken off the slumber of winter.

We've been harvesting lettuce and eating fresh salad most days.

Do you like to make your own dressing? I've been juicing celery again in the morning and I'm loving the benefits, but I miss my salads. Have you ever tried putting roasted root veggies in your salad? Marvelous combo.

Thanks Lookout for hosting today's OT. I'm off today and feeling a bit lazy. Hopefully I can shake that off and get a few things done! Smile

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Lookout's picture

@Anja Geitz

usually olive oil and vinegar, some times adding Tahini (sesame butter).

We make our own mayo and mix it with tomato sauce and a little mustard for a change on occasion.

Another favorite is yogurt, pureed cucumber and dill.

good to see you. Have a nice lazy day!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Anja Geitz's picture

@Lookout

I haven't tried my hand at making my own mayo, but what a wonderful idea. Thanks for the inspiration. Smile

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Mark from Queens's picture

Heartsick about Assange also, and contemptuous of my fellow citizens and friends who are shepherded by the propaganda against him.

Saw this this morning while thumbing through Time-Out magazine (which unfortunately overall has the predictable effect of reminding one of all the amazing things one's missing out on - it's just so full of enticing hedonistic and cultural treats to indulge in in NYC).

Vacant Ludlow Street Lot is Live-Streaming NASA Satellite Footage of Earth

Wish I had more time to check in around here, but it's difficult.

Enjoying an exceptionally beautiful spring day here, which began with an outing to the local farmers market in Jackson Heights and the newly renovated playground a couple of blocks away.

Kind of running on fumes here from having played a cover gig last night for a guy's bday party at a bar on the LES. Was really good to get out of the house, play with some folks I really admire and have some fun (and drink a couple of Pilsners too), while having the fulfillment of playing a set of tunes that were called out on the spot by the singer.

Oh, ran into another musician friend of mine I hadn't seen in some time while on a bicycle ride yesterday. His wife, who is from Sweden and with whom I love talking radical education/food system, etc, mentioned a school she thought we might be interested in putting our Boy in later this year for pre-K, called Ella Baker school. They were saying it's a pretty radical place, in that there are no grades up through 8th grade and other good things. I wondered if you had heard about it or knew anything.

Hope you and everyone are all well and keeping your spirits, despite this latest dismal reminder of the capitalist travesty we live in, that is thuggishly remanding a courageous man of Truth who will go down as one of the most important people of, at least the early part of this century, if not in all of history.

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Lookout's picture

@Mark from Queens

There is a live feed from the ISS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddFvjfvPnqk
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload
You can watch to mellow while busying around your place. Mute it and play the music you enjoy. Relaxin' to watch the mother...

The whole earth live stream looks really cool.

We had some guests at our Friday session and it is fun to hybridize music and approaches. They played several Bob Wills pieces...Texas swing. Fun and a different flavor.

Checkin' out https://www.ellabakerschool.org/

Our formation was influenced by many great thinkers and groundbreaking schools. Ted Sizer's leadership within the Coalition of Essential Schools and Deborah Meier's vision of child-centered, progressive education were influential in shaping the vision and mission of the school. Meier's work took root in 1974 with the founding of Central Park East 1, a source of inspiration for many schools that followed.

Central Park East is the school I mentioned to you many moons ago, and is a model IMO. Designed along the lines of grad school with a committee and portfolio throughout the school experience. These schools can be very competitive and you might go by and visit to get your foot in the door. Let me know if I can help more with this because a good school is like a good marriage or partnership...that is to say uncommon. Glad to hear you thinking in those direction at this point in time.

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Anja Geitz's picture

@Mark from Queens

That is so freaking awesome! I really miss being a part of this kind of stuff. In New York, I would totally jump on a subway to go see this. But here in L.A., I would have to drive somewhere to see something like this, and it would take forever, and I'd want to pull my hair out battling traffic.

OTOH, I'm getting ready today to go to the nursery and get some azaleas so that I can plant them in my garden, which is already in full bloom. After which I will spend the day experimenting with a new dish in my beautiful kitchen overlooking the garden.

Now, you see my conundrum. I want to be able to do both! Smile

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

PM Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn is on course to be prime minister as Conservative support plummets, according to an analysis of recent polling.

Labour could capitalise on the Brexit delay to sweep into power, with the Tories set to lose 59 seats in the event of a general election, according to Electoral Calculus research for The Sunday Telegraph.

The analysis is the latest in a clutch of surveys which point to a collapse in the Conservative vote, with two other polls this weekend putting support for the party at its lowest in at least five years.

The Electoral Calculus poll of polls carried out between 2 and 11 April indicated Labour would become the largest party in the Commons, with 296 seats against the Conservatives’ 259.

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Lookout's picture

@gjohnsit

When there is an election I hope the newly elected Labour party folk are with Jeremy instead just more Blairites. Seems to me a similar situation with the dims. I think you had a piece up about the world looking to Bernie to lead the collapse of the oligarchy? I do remember the meeting at the Sanders Institute where he and Yanis Varoufakis called for a global effort. That is what it would take.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/30/it-time-progressives-world-...
https://www.progressive-international.org/open-call/

Thanks for the good news about Jeremy!

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lotlizard's picture

@gjohnsit

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Lookout's picture

@lotlizard

Thought this was pretty funny (3 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svP4iZwEnOw]

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@Lookout his guy in the Fed

Stephen Moore, who President Donald Trump announced last month as his nominee for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, has a history of advocating self-described "radical" views on the economy and government.
In speeches and radio interviews reviewed by CNN's KFile, Moore advocated for eliminating the corporate and federal income taxes entirely, calling the 16th Amendment that created the income tax the "most evil" law passed in the 20th century.
Moore's economic worldview envisions a slimmed down government and a rolled back social safety net. He has called for eliminating the Departments of Labor, Energy and Commerce, along with the IRS and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. He has questioned the need for both the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Education. He has said there's no need for a federal minimum wage, called for privatizing the "Ponzi scheme" of Social Security and said those on government assistance lost their dignity and meaning.
In other interviews and appearances, Moore repeatedly said he believed capitalism was more important than democracy.
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Lookout's picture

@gjohnsit

That's where we are isn't it? Capitalism bought democracy. Sure smells like a Koch addiction.

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@lotlizard
It damaged Corbyn, but Brexit destroyed the Tories more.

Maybe if the UK MSM hadn't spent a year calling Corbyn a terrorist and commie spy first it may have worked.

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Lookout's picture

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

mhagle's picture

Hope that Jeremy can save Julian.

Cycles of life - a great read. Good comments and links. I watched the food forest videos.

Bluebonnets, Paint Brush, Primrose, Vibrant Yellows, Orange, Blues, and the beginning of gentle Pinks as we drove through the country yesterday. Our meadow has those colors as well.

The past couple weeks my better half put in a rain capture system that serves the garden. 750 gallons from 2 inches of rain. My current watering only takes 10 gallons. That will increase when deep watering is required. Pretty exciting though.

Thanks again for the inspiration!

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Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Lookout's picture

@mhagle

I've got a gravity flow cistern/irrigation, but this year I'm adding some sort of booster pump so we can water more than one bed at a time.

Enjoy your beautiful spring and happy gardening!

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catch-up reading/watching this morning in your wonderful roundup (just like Marilyn above :)). So thank you for this. I really enjoyed the food forest clips.
We are having beautiful weather in South-Central Texas today and I think for the rest of the week. They did have some severe storms just a tiny bit north-west of us on Saturday. We barely missed the big hail and I know that it was a damaging storm.
My small blackberry patch was host to quite a few bees for a couple of weeks or so. I was very pleased to see that.
Like so many people, I am thinking about Assange and the implications surrounding that whole story. The implications are ominous, but as others have pointed out, our situation has been in dire straights for some time. This issue just brought it into sharp and ruthlessly stark focus. I worry for Assange.
Assange said the word 'resist' as he was being arrested. Chris Hedges, in the last sentence of his latest book says;

Resistance is not only about battling the forces of darkness. It is about becoming a complete human being. It is about overcoming estrangement. It is about our neighbor. It is about honoring the sacred. It is about dignity. It is about sacrifice. It is about courage. It is about freedom. It is about the capacity to love. Resistance must become our vocation

.
Thank you for the invitation to balance, and the contemplation of the cycles of life, a way to see the forest through the trees, an offer of respite from our collective heart-sickness.

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Lookout's picture

@randtntx

I almost always play catch up with Joe's eb...a day late and dollar short. Glad you came by and found something worthwhile. Years ago we played a few gigs in Austin and we went to Lady Bird's wildflower center https://www.wildflower.org/ She was a great promoter of TX wildflowers. Something I wish Alabama was promoting too. Our state flower used to be the goldenrod...great choice IMO. However the nursery lobby pushed them to change it to the camellia so they could sell them....goldenrod is free.

Good to hear about your bee visit. We were concerned when the cherries bloomed without the typical hum and dance of butterflies...but they finally arrived. I love to see the incredible variety of bees working those trees. The dogwoods have been stunning - a bout of cool weather last week defines dogwood winter. We'll probably have another dose with blackberry winter in a couple of weeks. https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2410

It was 40 this AM. Have a great week and hope to see you around the c99 site.

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enhydra lutris's picture

BUT ... where is the Krebs cycle?

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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 --

Lookout's picture

@enhydra lutris

...in your mitochondria. And you know we all share the same mitochondrial genes my brother.

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