Movie Review- "In God's Country"

Search Amazon.com for In God's Country"In God's Country" is a fictional look at a Mormon polygamist sect similar to The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). The FLDS became a focus of news coverage after one of  its leaders, Warren Jeffs, was arrested. Kelly Rowan (The OC) portrays Judith Leavitt, one of several wives of the sect leader Josiah Leavitt (Richard Burgi).

 After one of Judith's daughters is molested by a sect member, she rebels and eventually leaves the church compound with her children. "In God's Country" is a frightening look at a cult in which older male members basically control everything including marriage arrangements. Women are treated as chattel to bear children and work. Younger male members of the sect are viewed as competition by older male members for brides and are sometimes banished from the group.

 "In God's Country" is a fairly good  depiction of the secretive world of polygamist cults.

Adopt a shelter pet

Years ago, my dog wandered off and was picked up by animal control. I went down to the shelter to take him home and I was directed to find my dog among the other cats and dogs at the shelter. The expressions on the faces  of the abandoned cats and dogs was heartbreaking. Some had just given up. Others looked at me with hope in their eyes. I still remember one little dog looking at me, hoping that I would be the one to take him out of there. I hated to pass him by. I eventually found my dog and took him home, but I will always remember the cats and dogs I saw that day. For those who have the ability and the love to care for a pet, please go to your local shelter and give a second chance to a cat or dog.

Windstorm

  A   powerful windstorm knocked out power in the Greenwater area for two and a half days. The tree in the photo came down in front of my cabin taking down a power line and a section of fence.

Bush- Decision Points

I guess the media just couldn't resist playing Q and A with George W. Bush and giving him free publicity for his book in the process. Haven't we already heard the evasive, and less than honest answers from Bush about the horrific events of his presidency? In my opinion, George W. Bush is a war criminal and the lack of prosecution of Bush, Cheney, and others in the administration is one of the great failings of our justice system.

Save a Turkey this Thanksgiving.

Rand Paul supporter assaults woman

Deadliest Journeys

http://current.com/shows/deadliest-journeys/   Americans like to complain about our roads, but compared to some parts of the world, we have nothing to complain about. "Deadliest Journeys" is a documentary style program on the Current network that profiles the worst roads around the world. A recent episode focused on a mountain  road in Pakistan where drivers must endure rockslides, washed-out roads, rickety bridges, scorching heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night.

 

Hate Crime

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013220695_muslimwomen22m.html


In Seattle, Washington, two Muslim women pumping gas at a mini-mart were attacked by a stranger. The attacker first started calling the two women terrorists, and then physically assaulted them. The attacker was later arrested on hate crime charges.

This incident illustrates the danger of the anti-Muslim rhetoric heard on Fox news and from Tea Party candidates.

Illegal Mushroom Picker

Yesterday, I stopped at a nearby state park and I watched a man carrying some mushrooms to his car. Most parks do not allow mushroom picking, and sure enough this man had walked right past a sign that prohibited mushroom picking in the park. Mushrooms are an important part of the ecosystem, and some are very rare. I should have spoken up, but some people can be unpredictable.

Voting

I hear political pundits in the media speak of voting as if  it is some gargantuan task. I have been voting for 22 years and the entire process might take a couple of hours. Before voting, it is important to do some research. If  you are a registered voter, your state will send you a voters guide  sometime before the election. The voters guide will explain any ballot measures and will profile all  of the candidates.
    Every voter should  do their own research. Don't let a pundit decide your ballot. I vote by mail, but many people still go to the  polls. I actually preferred going to a polling place, because I could talk to the poll workers and see what kind of turnout their was. I also enjoyed seeing democracy in action.

If you are going to a polling place take  a list of your choices. Some elections can have many ballot measures and candidates.

There are always a few  cynics  that  like to say that voting doesn't matter. I have watched  at least ten elections.The only time your vote doesn't count is when you don't vote.

Book Review-Green River,Running Red By Ann Rule

In 1982, the corpses of several young women were found in the Green River which runs through Kent, Washington about 15 miles south of Seattle. The five corpses found in the river was just the beginning of a murder spree that would take the lives of at least 49 young women. The hunt for the killer would take over 20 years to solve.

Ann Rule is a former Seattle police officer and has written a number of true crime bestsellers. Ms. Rule originally became famous for her book about serial killer Ted Bundy: "The Stranger Beside Me."

 Like Ted Bundy, The Green River Killer turned out to be another psychopath native to the Puget Sound region.Gary Ridgeway was so ordinary that no one imagined that he could be one of the worst serial killers in U.S. history.

 Ann Rule dedicates her book to the victims and she writes of their lives. Several of the young victims were only teenagers and a few were never identified. All of their photos or depictions of what the un-identified may have looked like are in the book.

The faces of some of the victims are hopeful. Others are resigned to a life of pain and misery. It's too bad that there wasn't some help for them before they encountered a monster.

Clean Water For Everyone

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Breast Cancer Prevention Starts With Us

Breast Cancer Prevention Starts With Us

Book Review "Give Us This Day" by Sidney Stewart

"Give Us This Day" by Sidney Stewart is one American soldier's shockingly brutal account of the Bataan Death March and the long years of imprisonment afterward.

 In 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese set their sights on the Philipine Islands. The author ,Sidney Stewart was a U.S. soldier stationed in the Philipine capital, Manila when the Japanese invaded the islands.  The American and Filipino troops bravely resisted the Japanese invaders for several months, but with no help coming from the United States about 70 thousand American and Filipino soldiers and some civilians had no choice but to surrender. 

The new prisoners of the Japanese were force- marched 5 to 6 days in scorching heat with almost no food or water. Many of the POWs  died from  wounds, disease, dehydration, and attacks from the Japanese guards. The Japanese would often murder any of the prisoners that stopped to rest. 6 to 11 thousand Americans and Filipino's died during the march.

 After the march ended, the  prisoners were put in makeshift camps with little medical care, sanitation, food, or water. Thousands of the POWs died from disease and malnutrition. Somehow, Mr. Stewart survived the  horror, although, he was paralyzed when a Japanese ship he was being transported in was attacked by U.S. aircraft.

 "Give Us This Day" is an excellent account of a very dark time in the middle 20th century.

22,000 Children Die Needlessly Each Day. Let's Make It Zero.... - Care2 News Network

22,000 Children Die Needlessly Each Day. Let's Make It Zero.... - Care2 News Network

Walmart Ad.

There is a particular Walmart ad that I find more annoying than the usual corporate drivel. The ad I find so irritating features a young boy of about five years of age who is such a fan of the game of football that he wears a football helmet all the time. What bothers me about this ad, is that the  young boy  would not be a natural fan of football. The boy is play-acting by what he sees on the TV.

I suppose some might think the ad is cute, but I see it as an example of the corporate exploitation of children.

Hitler's Hidden Holocaust

Yesterday, I watched a documentary on the National Geographic channel called "Hitler's Hidden Holocaust." In addition to extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau, Hitler had a special program that sent squads of killers to villages and cities in occupied countries throughout europe and Nazi occupied areas of the old Soviet Union. The special squads called: "Einsatzgruppen" would round up all the Jews in a particular village, including women, and children,  take them to an isolated area and murder them, usually with guns.

  There are old photographs and a short film that shows townspeople attending these mass murders. It is possible that the Germans forced the townspeople to watch, but I wonder how many willingly chose to watch.

Short Story- "Scream Of The Fly."

This is a short story that I wrote just for the fun of it. It is called "Scream Of The Fly."

  "Susan generally disliked spiders, but she didn't mind the big brown spider that lived in the window because it took care of the hoardes of bugs that invaded her small apartment during the long hot Missisippi summer.

 One night, when Susan couldn't sleep because of the heat, she heard a fly get caught in the brown spider's web. The fly let off a pitiful high-pitched shriek as the spider approached and then the sound abruptly ended as the spider sunk it's venomous fangs into the fly's body.

Unknown to Susan, a man in the neighborhood had been quietly watching her with hard gray eyes. The man had plans for Susan.

Susan was dozing lightly when the man with the evil gray eyes entered her bedroom. Susan woke up just in time to a huge brown shape moving toward the man. The man screamed and Susan realized that it was the same scream she heard from the doomed fly that day. After the scream ended, Susan turned on the light and found the ghost-white body of the gray-eyed man with two large puncture wounds on his neck."


                       Craig Zimmerman

Book Review-The Rose Beyond The Wall

Serious illness and death are never easy to talk about especially with young people. In the novel "The Rose Beyond The Wall" by  Kristi D. Holl, teen-aged Rachel is forced to deal with her Grandmothers illness at the same time that she is growing into a young woman. The author handles both aspects of life in a sensitive and adept manner.

Streetsmart with Carol Massar and Matt Miller

For those interested in business news, try Streetsmart with Carol Massar and Matt Miller on the Bloomberg business network @ 3:00P.M. EST and 12:00 PST. Streetsmart features stories, interviews, and group discussions on the stock market, economics,and politics as well as offbeat topics like cars, sports, movies, books, entertainment and the occasional out of left field story. Ms. Massar and Mr. Miller work well together and the show is fun to watch.

Toilets

The "Current" network is known for its documentaries on subjects that the mainstream media doesn't care to talk about such as human waste AKA shit. Talking about shit is not exactly helpful when you are trying to sell stuff. Current recently broadcast a documentary on shit and water supplies. Over two billion billion around the world do not have toilets and human waste is often disposed of in haphazard and unsanitary ways that leads to water pollution. Water pollution kills thousands of children every year. A small investment by developed nations in the sanitation of developing nations would save many lives and help these nations make faster progress.

Rock Quarry

This is a rock quarry where  road builders go for the rock and gravel they need to construct logging roads. Most of the rock is Basalt formed from lava flows.

Grasshopper On Road

This Grasshopper calmly let me take its picture. The insects coloring makes it almost invisible against the background of the road

Film Review- The Good Witch

 Good Witch Cassandra Nightingale(Catherine Bell, JAG, Army Wives) mysteriously arrives in the small town of Middleton and begins to enrich the lives of the townspeople and a neighboring family headed by widowed police chief Jake Russell (Chris Potter). When Cassandra opens an unusual gift shop, she runs afoul of the bossy mayor's wife Martha (Catherine Disher). Martha tries to turn the townspeople against Cassandra, but kindness, tolerance  and a little magic win in the end.

  "The Good Witch" has an important message about acceptance  for those that are different and is well worth watching for the whole family.

Film Review- Fallen Angel

In the 2003 film "Fallen Angel" Terry McQuinn (Gary Sinise) returns to his hometown in Maine after many years away to settle his father's estate. Terry decides to stay and complete his fathers last work order which was opening a vacation cottage for an old childhood aquaintance: Katherine Wentworth( Joely Richardson) and her blind daughter Olivia (Jordy Benettar). Terry gradually falls in love with Katherine and helps to reunite Katherine with her estranged father.

  I really liked the sweet, but not syrupy nature of "Fallen Angel" Gary Sinise and Joely Richardson are very good together. The child actress that plays Olivia is also very good.

Alligator Lizard

Today, I spotted this Alligator Lizard trying to catch a little sunshine. I barely saw the lizard among the rocks.

Lahar Danger

Mount Rainier rises above the town of Orting, Washington. Around Orting are signs warning about the danger of a "Lahar" and giving directions to the evacuation route. A  "Lahar" is a fast moving mud flow from a mountain or a volcano. A Lahar may be caused by an earthquake or an eruption. 500 years ago, a mud flow from Mount Rainier devastated the entire area reaching all the way to what is now Tacoma.

Web at the door

A Spider built its web outside my door. Unfortunately, the Spiders work of art was destroyed when I opened the door.

Tea Party Anthem

Cleansing Evil

Yesterday, I drove past a ceremony being  that was being held at a vacant lot where a young girl was murdered a couple of weeks ago. The intent of the service was to cleanse the land of the evil that occurred there.

Movie Review- For The Love Of Grace.

"For The Love Of Grace" is an old-fashioned romance film that I really enjoyed. Grace Harlen (Chandra West) is a career obsessed writer who experiences a transformation when she is trapped in a fire and rescued by widowed firefighter Steve Lockwood ( Mark Consuelos).

Grace and Steve form an aquaintance, but go no further because of Grace's engagement to uptight corporate executive Cliff (Kevin Jubinville).

For The Love Of Grace is one of the few films I know that treats the grief that comes from the loss of a loved one in a realistic manner.

 The ending of the film is something of a cliche', but the rest of the movie is very well done.

Movie Review- "When Michael Calls" 1972

"When Michael Calls" is a 1972 TV movie based on the novel by John Farris and stars a young Michael Douglas. Helen Connelly (Elizabeth Ashley) suddenly begins receiving phone calls from a nephew who presumably had died 15 years earlier in a snow storm. Helen's attorney ex-husband (Ben Gazarra) begins investigating the phone calls with the help of Craig (Michael Douglas) Michael's surviving brother.

  "When Michael Calls" is a creepy thriller with good acting. I loved the dark, gloomy weather  in the film and all the trappings from the early 1970s.

Speak

 In the 2005 film "Speak" Kristen Stewart (Twilight) portrays a teenage Melinda who is raped by a classmate. At first Melinda does not tell anyone about the rape. Instead, Melinda becomes withdrawn and barely speaks.With the help of an art teacher (Steve Zahn) Melinda channels her pain into her drawings.  Slowly, Melinda begins to recover and stand up for herself. Rape is a very difficult subject to deal with in any forum, but I think "Speak" does a fine job of dealing with the subject and Kristen Stewart does an excellent job depicting the grief and shock of a young victim.

Odd looking Caterpillar

Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History (Princeton Field Guides)I spotted this odd looking caterpillar on the banks of the Greenwater River. I have no idea what species it is.

Iraq War and Occupation

Rock Flower

Today, I found this odd-looking flower growing right out of the rock. Life always finds  a way.

The New Nazis

Stories from Homeless People

Plastic Is ... Forever - Care2 News Network

Plastic Is ... Forever - Care2 News Network

Snooki

The other day, I was watching one of the news channels and they were doing a story on some person called "Snooki". Apparently, this Snooki is a member of a reality show called "Jersey Shore". Snooki's claim to fame on Jersey Shore is consuming large amounts of alcohol and bothering people. At one time, being drunk and disorderly was not something to be proud of, but now it is oh so amusing to celebrate this kind of behavior. I can just imagine how many young people watch this Snooki character and try to emulate her drunkenness. Is it too much to ask for the popular media to consider something other than profits?

Daniel Webster, GOP House Candidate Proposes: Gut Social S... - Care2 News Network

Daniel Webster, GOP House Candidate Proposes: Gut Social S... - Care2 News Network

Scientists say global warming is undeniable - Care2 News Network

Scientists say global warming is undeniable - Care2 News Network

Love and Death

Today, I went to see about renting a room in Puyallup which is a fast-growing city east of Tacoma and south of Seattle.I spent some time talking to another renter that was showing the room. "Darcy" is a Yoga instructor and also a very beautiful and sweet person. I decided not to take the room because it is too close to the city.

On my way back home to Greenwater, I spotted a woman on the side of the road weeping over the dead body of a cat. Apparently, the cat had been hit by a car. I felt so sorry for the woman. I know how much it hurts to lose a furry friend. I urge all drivers to please keep your eyes open for animals and people that may be in the road.

As I was leaving Enumclaw and heading towards the mountains, I saw a newly married couple kissing in a park where their wedding had just occurred. It was very touching sight. Love and Death all in the same day. Such is life.

27 Top Cancer-Fighting Foods - Care2 News Network

27 Top Cancer-Fighting Foods - Care2 News Network

10 Celebs Who Dole Out Terrible Health Tips - Care2 News Network

10 Celebs Who Dole Out Terrible Health Tips - Care2 News Network

Asia flooding plunges millions into misery - Care2 News Network

Asia flooding plunges millions into misery - Care2 News Network

Ed Schultz rips the GOP

The rich want a better world? Try paying fair wages and tax - Care2 News Network

The rich want a better world? Try paying fair wages and tax - Care2 News Network

Book Review- "Marriage's Little Advice Book"

Marriage's Little Advice Book"Marriage's Little Advice Book" by Bill and Gloria Adler is filled with hundreds of short, helpful hints for couples thinking about marriage and for married couples trying to improve their relationship.

I found the sentence- long suggestions to be far more useful than a long-winded marriage self-help book. Here are a couple of the hints to a good marriage: "Never try to convince your mate of anything before breakfast" and "Share the kitchen chores". If you are married, read "Marriage's Little Advice Book" together and you will have a good time and perhaps a lifelong, happy marriage.

The New Gospel of Greenspan - Care2 News Network

The New Gospel of Greenspan - Care2 News Network

Governments Go to Extremes as the Downturn Wears On - Care2 News Network

Governments Go to Extremes as the Downturn Wears On - Care2 News Network

"Google: Say no to the reported agreement with Verizon to ki... - Care2 News Network

"Google: Say no to the reported agreement with Verizon to ki... - Care2 News Network

Why I Was Angry - Care2 News Network

Why I Was Angry - Care2 News Network

Beetle On A Rock

I found this Beetle clinging to a large rock in the middle of a stream. Maybe he or she was trying to cool off.

Bernie Sanders on Taxes and the Deficit

Real Causes of the Great Recession, Deficit

Support U.S. Aid to Address Overpopulation

Support U.S. Aid to Address Overpopulation

Four Deformations of the Apocalypse - Care2 News Network

Four Deformations of the Apocalypse - Care2 News Network

10 Common Historical Inaccuracies You Probably Learned In Sc... - Care2 News Network

10 Common Historical Inaccuracies You Probably Learned In Sc... - Care2 News Network

Tax cuts and economic prosperity

Rep. Anthony Weiner speaks his mind.

"Worse Than Rainforest Loss" New Data On Our Dying Oceans". - Care2 News Network

"Worse Than Rainforest Loss" New Data On Our Dying Oceans". - Care2 News Network

Falling Tree

This dead tree fell on a neighbor's shed partially collapsing the roof. Dead trees like this can be a serious hazard in the forest, especially during storms. This tree fell during perfectly calm weather.

For The Strength Of Rosie The Riveter: Make It In America - Care2 News Network

For The Strength Of Rosie The Riveter: Make It In America - Care2 News Network

Random acts of kindness

I am not a big fan of the old TV series "Touched By An Angel" but last night they had a thoughtful episode. In last nights story, one mans angry outburst led to a chain reaction of negative events. At the end of the show, an act of kindness brought about many good events.  The lesson from the story is that a small act of kindness can change the world in unknown, positive ways. On the other hand, an act of anger or hate can have unknown and terrible consequences.

Outrageous CEO pay

Shark Extinction

Mount Rainier 7-27-2010

Mount Rainier July 27, 2010

New Bridge

This road was almost washed away in a flood. Now the landowner is putting in a new culvert for the stream and a bridge over the new culvert.

William Shatner sings Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Feinberg Says Bonuses Paid by Troubled Banks Were Unmerited ... - Care2 News Network

Feinberg Says Bonuses Paid by Troubled Banks Were Unmerited ... - Care2 News Network

Paralyzed therapy cat inspires patients - Care2 News Network

Paralyzed therapy cat inspires patients - Care2 News Network

10 of the most crooked candidates of 2010 - Care2 News Network

10 of the most crooked candidates of 2010 - Care2 News Network

Today, while I was riding my bike I came across a bird sitting in the middle of the road. When I approached the bird, I could see that it had an injured leg. The bird became so frightened of me that it ran into the brush. I wish I could have done something to help.                                                                           

Pond Update

The shallow pond that I have been watching has dried up and the Tadpoles that were living in the pond all died. Nature can be unfair at times.

Violence against women

Book Review- All Quiet On The Western Front

At this writing, the first world war  has been over for 92 years. Only the very old have any memory of "The war to end all wars". All Quiet On The Western Front" is a novel of World War One written by a veteran of that war: Erich Maria Remarque. I have read many fiction and non-fiction books on the subject of war but none of them has affected me like All Quiet On The Western Front.

 Paul Baumer and his fellow classmates are bullied into joining the German army during World War One by their uber-nationalist teacher: Herr Kantorek. Baumer quickly finds out that the patriotic slogans spouted by his teacher have no connection to the horrifying reality of trench warfare.

 All Quiet On The Western Front was first published in 1928, but the writing is still fresh and the reader cares for the doomed men fighting a lost war. In my opinion, All Quiet On The Western Front is the best novel of the 20th century.

Wall Street Is Laundering Drug Money and Getting Away with I... - Care2 News Network

Wall Street Is Laundering Drug Money and Getting Away with I... - Care2 News Network

Fossil Digging

Yesterday, I drove up into the Cascade foothills to look for some fossils.The fossils began their long process of completion when ash from an erupting volcano (probably Mount Rainier) mixed with the water from a pond or lake and many, many years later hardened into rock. On the way up the hill, I encountered a Department of Natural Resources forest fire crew. I asked them if there was a fire up on the ridge, but they said no. I think the fire crew was a regular patrol that searches for early fires and puts them out.

 I found several fossils of long dead plant-life and decided to head back home. On my way back to my truck, I ran into the same crew of fire fighters that I had talked to earlier. They asked me if everything was ok, and I said yes. Fighting forest fires is hot, dangerous work and I salute the men and women that do it.

Trip to Dash Point

The other day, I took a trip to Dash point to gather some driftwood. Dash Point is a Puget Sound Beach park in Federal Way, Washington. Not far from Dash Point is Dumas Bay wildlife sanctuary. Dumas Bay sanctuary  is primarily for Great Blue Herons. At one time, Dumas Bay park was clogged with English Ivy and Blackberry bushes, but I noticed that volunteers have removed a great deal of the invasive plants.

   The beach between Dumas Bay and Dash Point was littered with debris, including the usual cans and  various plastics. Someday humans will learn to stop using our waterways and wetlands as a garbage can.

TAKE ACTION! Support Elizabeth Warren! - Care2 News Network

TAKE ACTION! Support Elizabeth Warren! - Care2 News Network

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Is Bigger Than the Continent... - Care2 News Network

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Is Bigger Than the Continent... - Care2 News Network

MODERN CASTLES AMONG AFGHANISTANS POVERTY....USA taxes at wo... - Care2 News Network

MODERN CASTLES AMONG AFGHANISTANS POVERTY....USA taxes at wo... - Care2 News Network

10 of the Con Artists' Favorite Ways to Scam the Elderly | | AlterNet

10 of the Con Artists' Favorite Ways to Scam the Elderly AlterNet

Republicans Don't Give A Damn About The Deficit. - Care2 News Network

Republicans Don't Give A Damn About The Deficit. - Care2 News Network

Old Fart Rants

How the Sneaky Hands of the Big Banks Are Working Overtime to Rip You off | | AlterNet

How the Sneaky Hands of the Big Banks Are Working Overtime to Rip You off | | AlterNet

We're in a Recession Because the Rich Are Raking in an Absur... - Care2 News Network

We're in a Recession Because the Rich Are Raking in an Absur... - Care2 News Network

Family Planning video

Lebron James Duckspeak

Doublespeak DictionaryIn his book "The Doublespeak Dictionary", William Lambdin coined the term "Duckspeak". Duckspeak is a  derogatory description of a free press that behaves like a group of ducks. As soon as one duck starts quacking the other ducks  soon join in. The Lebron James story is an example of  "Duckspeak" in TV news. Lebron James' decision as to what NBA team he is going to is a minor story that was made into a huge story by a lazy press that mindlessly repeats what all the other media outlets are saying without considering the significance of the original story.

How Goldman Sachs Gambled on Starvation - Care2 News Network

How Goldman Sachs Gambled on Starvation - Care2 News Network

The new "Royalty"

244 years ago, The United States of America declared itself independent from Great Britain and the rule of King George. After a long and bitter war, The United States became a fact. The new country had a belief that ALL citizens should be equal. That every citizen would have an equal voice in government. It took many years and more bloodshed to begin to extend that equality to African-Americans and to women and even though much has been achieved in that regard, we still have far to go.

In my opinion, the biggest threat to our democracy is money. In the present United States, money can buy propaganda that can spout the buyers agenda 24-7. Money can influence our political system to the point of making it dysfunctional. Our present economic depression is the result of powerful forces that I call "The New Royalty" that lobbied for deregulation of the financial system in the 1980s and 1990s. Those same forces lobbied for bailouts from which they took huge bonuses and even after a horrific financial disaster that we are still suffering from powerful multi-national corporations are lobbying against re-regulating the financial industry.

If the United States is to survive, we must find a way to control the influence of "The New Royalty".

Book Review- New Rules by Bill Maher

At the end of Bill Maher's HBO talk show "Real Time With Bill Maher" there is a segment called "New Rules" Bill Maher collected some of his New Rules and put them in book form. Bill Maher's New Rules deals with everything from cell phones to politics and most are very funny and honest. Here is one of Bill Maher's new rules on movies: "Not Another Teen Movie"  "Somebody make a movie I want to go see. If you're asking why movies have gotten so bad, I'll tell you why: It's because Hollywood studios now get 60 percent of their money from DVDs, all of which are bought by the young,dumb male demographic, the same one that's given us Maxim magazine, attention deficit disorder, and George Bush.

When I was a teenager, Hollywood didn't give a damn about me-and that was good! Good for the movies and good for me because I was challenged- to smarten up instead of dumbing down. Besides ruining movies, we've also managed to ruin our kids by making everything be about them. And now if I want to see a movie, I had  better like loud noises, things blowing up, and Colin Farrell.

Movies suck because Hollywood has figured out that Mom and Dad don't spend their money on movies anymore; they give their money to their kids and they spend it on movies- to break up their shopping sprees at the mall. It's like American parents are on one long date with their kids- no, it's even worse; it's like Robert DeNiro in Casino, helplessly trying to buy the love of a shopaholic hooker with no heart, played, of course, by Sharon Stone.

Before I die, could someone please make one more movie I want to go see? I'm not asking for the moon here, and I'm not some film snob with a ponytail who only likes subtitled Albanian documentaries. But to middle-aged people like me, a good movie is like good sex-you don't have to put one out every day, but when whole seasons go by without getting one, you do start to get a little horny for entertainment."

Help Sakine Mohammadi e Ashtiani Live! - The Petition Site - Care2 News Network

Help Sakine Mohammadi e Ashtiani Live! - The Petition Site - Care2 News Network

Protect Kids: Help Stop Smoking in Movies - The Petition Site

Protect Kids: Help Stop Smoking in Movies - The Petition Site

Couple recycles 400,000 cans to pay for wedding - Care2 News Network

Couple recycles 400,000 cans to pay for wedding - Care2 News Network

Los Links Microsoft Bing ad review

 This clever ad for Microsoft's "Bing" search engine is modeled after Mexican soap operas. This is an effective and funny ad even for non-Spanish speaking viewers.

Don't Feed Wildlife

The following item appeared in the June 30, 2010 edition of The Tacoma News Tribune: "Washington state wildlife officials say five black bears being fed by people on the Long Beach Peninsula had to be euthanized  because they were too used to people.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday that agency officers and biologists relocated five other bears to Mount Rainier National Park. Meat from the euthanized was donated to an area food program.

Officials say most of the feeding was done at one house in Oysterville, where the resident told officers about spending $4,000 a year on dog food to feed the bears.

Neighbors called for help when increasingly more bears showed up looking for food.

Officials say that bears that are too habituated to people are potentially dangerous and cannot be relocated."


 My comment: The lesson from this story is: Don't Feed Wildlife, and teach your children the same

Gulf Oil spill video

How an oil company helped destroy democracy - Care2 News Network

How an oil company helped destroy democracy - Care2 News Network

Pedigree Shelter dog ad

Bernie Sanders talks about unemployment

A New Generation of Natural Gas Drilling Is Endangering Communities From the Rockies to New York | | AlterNet

A New Generation of Natural Gas Drilling Is Endangering Communities From the Rockies to New York AlterNet

Signs of Niger's Worsening Food Crisis - Care2 News Network

Signs of Niger's Worsening Food Crisis - Care2 News Network

"Lesser People"

Republicans Apologize, Grovel to BP | | AlterNet

Republicans Apologize, Grovel to BP AlterNet

Republican Representative Joe Barton apologizes to BP

 When BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg referred to helping the "small people" I was reminded of this scene from "It's a Wonderful Life".

Chronic Unemployment: Crisis or “Correction” « SpeakEasy

Chronic Unemployment: Crisis or “Correction” « SpeakEasy

4 Ways BP and Officials Are Working to Suppress the Outrageous Facts About the Gulf Disaster | | AlterNet

4 Ways BP and Officials Are Working to Suppress the Outrageous Facts About the Gulf Disaster AlterNet

BP oil spill.

I have heard various people try to put a price tag on the damage that the BP oil spill has done. How does one estimate the cost of the death of innocent wildlife and the destruction of delicate ecosytems? Does each oil-covered seabird have an estimated price? How much is a dead wetland worth? When I was a kid, one of my favorite places was a local pond. One day, a "developer" filled-in the pond and constructed some houses. To a real estate appraiser the pond probably had no value, but to me the pond was a rare jewel. The destruction that BP has caused cannot  be healed with any amount of money.

Pond Update

There are early stage tadpoles now living in the pond. I thought that the eggs had failed to hatch. I guess the eggs are tougher than I imagined. Hopefully there will be enough water in the pond to allow the tadpoles to grow into adult frogs.

Wendy and Lucy -Movie Review

Michelle Williams gives a terrific performance as a tragic wanderer in a post -industrial America in the excellent film "Wendy and Lucy". Wendy (Michelle Williams) plays a young woman traveling from economically devastated Indiana to Alaska with her dog Lucy. Somewhere in Oregon, Wendy's car breaks down, and she is caught stealing dog food. While Wendy is in police custody, her dog disappears. With few resources,  Wendy desperately searches for her dog. There is one several minute long scene in the film that is nearly dark. The audience hears an unseen man rambling nonsense and a there is a small whimper from Wendy.One can only imagine the terror of what she is going through. I would compare Wendy and Lucy to a modern-day Grapes of Wrath.

Book Review "Holes" by Louis Sachar

"Holes" by Louis Sachar is a modern fable about lost love, hate, racism, a thoughtless juvenile crminal justice system and above all else redemption. Hard luck teenager Stanley Yelnats is wrongfully convicted of stealing a pair of shoes and is sentenced to a juvenile detention work camp ironically called "Camp Green Lake". There is no lake at Camp Green Lake only a vast dry lake bed where the unfortunate young convicts dig holes day after day. Stanley believes the digging is just cruel punishment until he finds an object from the past and begins to unravel the mystery of  Camp Green Lake and his own family history. "Holes" contains the central element of a good fable:In the end, goodness triumphs over evil. There are few such happy endings in our current juvenile justice system.

The 20 Worst Charities in America/ - Care2 News Network

ChThe 20 Worst Charities in America/ - Care2 News Network

Today is World Oceans Day! 7 Actions You Can Take Without Le... - Care2 News Network

Today is World Oceans Day! 7 Actions You Can Take Without Le... - Care2 News Network

Toilet in the Woods

People dump all kinds of bizarre things in the forest.

Get Greenfected :: Plant a Tree Online - Care2 News Network

Get Greenfected :: Plant a Tree Online - Care2 News Network

Caught in the oil - The Big Picture - Care2 News Network

Caught in the oil - The Big Picture - Care2 News Network

icarly review

icarly is a popular sitcom on the Teen nick channel and I have to admit that I am a fan of the shows quirky humor. Carly Shay( Miranda Cosgrove) and two of her friends "Sam" Puckett (Jenette McCurdy) and Freddie (Nathan Kress) have a web show called "icarly" that they broadcast from Carly and her brother Spencer's (Jerry Trainor) apartment. Spencer supports himself and his sister by creating bizarre sculptures for people that like to buy bizarre sculptures. Not very much makes sense on icarly, but there are times when it is very funny.

7 Foods for Better Sex - Health.com - Care2 News Network

7 Foods for Better Sex - Health.com - Care2 News Network

Malnutrition killing elderly in U.S - Care2 News Network

Malnutrition killing elderly in U.S - Care2 News Network

Plant Trees for Free :) - Care2 News Network

Plant Trees for Free :) - Care2 News Network

BP Bans Workers From Sharing Photos of Animals Killed by the... - Care2 News Network

BP Bans Workers From Sharing Photos of Animals Killed by the... - Care2 News Network

Lost Drivers license

Yesterday, I found a womans drivers license on the side of the road and today, I returned the license to its rightful owner. Apparently, the womans car was broken into about 15 miles from where I found the license. While I was returning the license, I got lost in a housing development maze so I asked a postal worker that was delivering mail how to find my way out. The postal worker kindly drew me a map and I was able to find the main road.

Ice Castles finale

This is one of my favorite movie scenes.

Bring Meatless Mondays to ALL of America's Public Schools ! ... - Care2 News Network

Bring Meatless Mondays to ALL of America's Public Schools ! ... - Care2 News Network

ALERT: The Dangers of Using a Debit Card (Part 2) - Care2 News Network

ALERT: The Dangers of Using a Debit Card (Part 2) - Care2 News Network

Time to turn to algae-based fuel - Care2 News Network

Time to turn to algae-based fuel - Care2 News Network

99ers Maxed Out on Benefits - Care2 News Network

99ers Maxed Out on Benefits - Care2 News Network

Obituary for J Renee Wilson

I saw this obituary in the May 30, 2010 edition of The Seattle Times and I thought it was worth sharing: "J Renee Wilson March 16, 1952- May 16, 2010. From a note in Renee Wilson's kitchen: Spend ten minutes a day doing nothing. Identify the one thing that will make the most difference. Do it. Strengthen my presence. Be present now. Talk to strangers. Listen more. Speak less. Run my own race. Renee Wilson wore many hats: realtor, broker, film producer, director, fishing boat cook, forest fire fighter, sailor, geologist, welder; extraordinary chef and raconteur, magnanimous hostess "The Goddess of Conversation,"TED participant and sponsor; inquisitive traveler, hiker, horsewoman, naturalist; sculptor, painter, photographer, ballroom dancer. She was an eager intellectual, a passionate artist, an ever curious student, and an enthusiastic cheerleader for everything beautiful, true, fun, or delicious.

As for those hats, well, she wore a different one each day. With flair.

Alongside 'wisdoms' in her kitchen, adventure in her spirit, and a lively and compassionate interest in her fellow humans, Renee Wilson was admired in L A as the realtor who "took the fear away." Founder of Vision Realty, she was tireless, curious, industrious. She had s sixth sense for a good house. While her work didn't define her, she saw it as a calling, an opportunity to help others. As Communications VP of Verytag LLC, Renee's will was to use their technology in addition to medical products to improve the quality of life of people in Africa and India. Her signature was: "Comfort the frightened, coach the clueless, and teach the uninformed."

A Los Angeles resident of 25 years, Renee was born in Seattle and raised on Camano island, Wash. She was an alumna of The Bush school and the University of Washington. She leaves behind a wonderfully varied collection of friends. In lieu of commemorative gifts, please say a blessing for someone you love."

1 TRILLION for IRAG/AFGHANISTAN WARS REACHED - Care2 News Network

1 TRILLION for IRAG/AFGHANISTAN WARS REACHED - Care2 News Network

Public Policy | NACCRRA - The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies

Public Policy NACCRRA - The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies

Book Review -Home For A hero by Mary Anne Wison

I am currently reading the "romance" novel "Home for a Hero" by Mary Anne Wilson. I am not a big fan of romance novels because the plots are usually fairly predictable: Boy meets girl, boy and girl apparently dislike each other, but are secretly in love, boy and girl spar back and forth for a time, and finally boy and girl give in to their desire and make passionate love.

In Home for a Hero, A marine biologist named Shay Donovan falls off her boat in the Puget Sound of Washington state and is rescued on an island beach by a tall, mysterious man. I am enjoying what little of the novel that I have read so far. Home for a Hero is one of a series of novels called "Shelter Island Stories".

Vegan Hamburger

http://www.gardenburger.com For the past several months, I have been gradually moving away from having meat for dinner and other meals. My reasons for going-semi-vegan are environmental, a love of animals, and the health benefits of less meat. I love hamburgers, and I wasn't sure I could give them up, but I found a pretty good vegan substitute. "Gardenburger" is made mostly with Soy. The taste is a little like spicy, baked nuts. I personally like the taste as much as I would a hamburger made from beef.

1.000.000.000 Million People Live in Chronic Hunger. TAKE A... - Care2 News Network

1.000.000.000 Million People Live in Chronic Hunger. TAKE A... - Care2 News Network

Lost TV

I heard on the news that a TV show called "Lost" was ending. I have never watched a single episiode of "Lost" but that is not unusual for me anymore. When I was a kid, I had probably watched most of the shows that were on the the 3 or 4 channels of the time. Now there are long running shows like "Law and Order" that I have not watched a single complete episode of. I have also not seen popular shows like "Survivor" and "American Idol". As I get older, the staged violence and forced laughs of most TV shows has become more annoying than entertaining.

No Chemicals needed

I usually ignore TV ads, but I have began to notice a series of ads that are selling weed killer and insecticides. The ads feature an attractive young couple happily spraying toxic chemicals on their lawn to kill weeds and inside their house to kill bugs. When I had a lawn to care for, I would use the low-tech solution to weed control: I would pick them. As for bugs, I live in the country now and I get my share of critters. The best thing to do is to put the insect, spider or unidentified crawler into a container and put them outside.

Poverty and the Pill in Africa - Care2 News Network

Poverty and the Pill in Africa - Care2 News Network

Stop Testing Cigarettes on Animals - The Petition Site

Stop Testing Cigarettes on Animals - The Petition Site

Oceans' Fish Could Disappear by 2050 - Care2 News Network

Oceans' Fish Could Disappear by 2050 - Care2 News Network

Help Homeless Dogs

Caterpillar

I came across this cool looking caterpillar today. I don't know what species it is. Maybe a Moth.

We're Taking 100 Million Tons of Sea Creatures From the Ocea... - Care2 News Network

We're Taking 100 Million Tons of Sea Creatures From the Ocea... - Care2 News Network

Ant Attack

I was riding my bike through the woods today and I stopped to

take a break in a clearing. Apparently I was too close to an

ant colony and one of the colonies defenders attached his jaws
to my hand. It didn't really hurt, but the ant wouldn't let go.

I finally got it off and hit the road. I believe the picture is the

species that I encountered.

10 Truly Shocking Stats On STDs and College Students - Care2 News Network

10 Truly Shocking Stats On STDs and College Students - Care2 News Network

Obama's Gulf Eco-Catastrophe, Far Worse Than Katrina, More L... - Care2 News Network

Obama's Gulf Eco-Catastrophe, Far Worse Than Katrina, More L... - Care2 News Network

Vashon Island

Last week ,I visited Vashon Island which is a Manahattan-sized island in the the Puget Sound between Tacoma and Seattle. I took this photo of Mount Rainier from the ferry that was on the return trip to Tacoma.

We're Living in a Theater State -- Plug in and Be Lit up by the American Hologram | | AlterNet

We're Living in a Theater State -- Plug in and Be Lit up by the American Hologram | | AlterNet

Drill Baby Drill Chant

More on the BP Oil Gush - Drill baby drill? - Care2 News Network

More on the BP Oil Gush - Drill baby drill? - Care2 News Network

America's Ten Most Corrupt Capitalists | | AlterNet

America's Ten Most Corrupt Capitalists | | AlterNet

Third of all plants and animals face extinction - Care2 News Network

Third of all plants and animals face extinction - Care2 News Network

How You Can Save the Oceans - Care2 News Network

How You Can Save the Oceans - Care2 News Network

Screaming Farting Preacher

BAD BUSINESS---Shell to court: We're ready to drill Arctic O... - Care2 News Network

BAD BUSINESS---Shell to court: We're ready to drill Arctic O... - Care2 News Network

Paul Helmke interview

Tree hit by Lightning

This tree was struck by lightning several months ago. The lightning bolt went through the tree trunk and eventually exited into the ground. The tree lived for a while, but I guess the lightning strike did too much damage.

Book Review, Under the Hawthorn Tree

Under the Hawthorn Tree by Marita Conlon-Mckenna is a childrens novel set during the Irish Potato Famine of the mid -1800s. Eily, Michael, and Peggy O'Driscoll are sepearated from their parents and are forced to go on a desperate journey to find distant relatives when they are forced by landowners to go to the Workhouse.

A Workhouse was a very grim place where those who could not pay their bills were often sent during the Victorian age. Eily, Michael, and Peggy are rightfully terrified of going to the Workhouse and decide to flee in the slim hope of finding two elderly Aunts that they have not seen in years.

The three children find thousands of their fellow Irish wandering the roads looking for food. The Irish potato famine began when a fungus attacked the potato crop which at that time was a staple food for most of Ireland. Most Irish were already very poor before the Potato fungus struck, but the loss of such an important crop was devastating. The cruelty of British rule also contributed greatly to the famine.

Under the Hawthorne Tree, only touches on the causes of the famine, but it is still a good read for older children. Younger children might be disturbed by descriptions of sickness and starvation.

25 Incredible Infographics About Smoking, Public Health, and... - Care2 News Network

25 Incredible Infographics About Smoking, Public Health, and... - Care2 News Network

Pictures: Gulf Oil Spill Hits Land And Wildlife - Care2 News Network

Pictures: Gulf Oil Spill Hits Land And Wildlife - Care2 News Network

Rescue Chocolate

How China Holds the American Economy by the Balls | | AlterNet

How China Holds the American Economy by the Balls | | AlterNet

"Green" dog recycles

Deregulation of Oil industry

World Malaria Day

April 25 is World Malaria Day. Malaria is a disease transmitted by the bite of a Mosquito. Malaria kills 3 thousand children a day and one million people a year. Mosquito nets can do a great deal towards preventing infection. http://www.nothingbutnets.net

Class Reunion

I recently received a notice informing me of my 30th high school class reunion. I attended Decatur high school in the city of Federal Way, Washington from 1977 until I graduated in 1980. In 1980, Jimmy Carter was president. A gallon of gas was about a dollar and the minimum wage was about $2.65. The word I would use to describe being a teen in the late 1970s is "mellow".

The horror of AIDS, Crack, Meth, Columbine, and 9-11 lay in the future. Sometimes I wish I could go back to those mellow days.

Book review. Supernatural

I am currently reading the non-fiction book "Strange Powers of the Mind" by Warren Smith. Strange Powers of the Mind deals with people that have the power to predict the future and similar abilities. It is up to the reader to choose whether or not to believe in such things. I try to keep an open mind. One of the more interesting stories in the book is about a type of mass hysteria that occurred in the town of Mattoon, Illinois during World War Two. Several women reported to the police that they had been attacked with poison gas by an unknown stranger. It turned out that there were no attacks at all, but it was not a deliberate hoax. All of the women that reported being "gassed" sincerely believed that they had been attacked. For those that like stories of the unusual try "Strange Powers of the Mind" by Warren Smith.

Close The Loophole | Democrats.com

Close The Loophole Democrats.com

Pond Update

It appears that some of the Frog eggs have
hatched in the tiny pond. There are
hundreds of tiny Tadpoles swimming around.
Now begins the long transformation for the Tadpoles to
becoming air- breathing adult Frogs.

Old TV movie

Today, I watched an old tv movie from the early 1970s entitled "Terror on the Beach". The story concerns a family of middle class campers headed by Dennis Weaver who are harassed and then attacked by a Charles Manson type group. I found the movie interesting because it is similar to what my parents believed at the time. Many from the World War Two generation thought that the various counter culture youth groups of the late 1960s and early 1970s were drug- crazed and dangerous. In the end, Dennis Weaver, fights the leader of the hippy family and restores order. You can just see millions of graying men in their living rooms cheering on Dennis Weaver. Give those punks a good beating and things will get back to normal. In real life, it didn't quite work out that way.

Like it or not, Hippy culture-The drugs, promiscuity, music, hair styles, and even the fashion has become integrated into mainstream American culture.

Prevent Child Drownings ! TAKE ACTION ! - Care2 News Network

Prevent Child Drownings ! TAKE ACTION ! - Care2 News Network

The Middle Class Game Is Up: We're Heading to a Slave Labor ... - Care2 News Network

The Middle Class Game Is Up: We're Heading to a Slave Labor ... - Care2 News Network

WHALES UNDER THREAT!-Take action - Care2 News Network

WHALES UNDER THREAT!-Take action - Care2 News Network

Earth day

Today, I spent some time picking up litter on the side of the road and there is a lot of it. It is such a simple thing to keep a litter bag in the the car a put your trash into it.

Dead whale had plastic, sweatpants in stomach - Care2 News Network

Dead whale had plastic, sweatpants in stomach - Care2 News Network

Wildflowers

I found this patch of wildflowers and I just had to take a picture.

Hidden Snake

This snake was hiding so effectively in the brush, that I didn't see him at first. The snake may have been sleeping, but it's hard to tell because snakes do not have eyelids to close.

Young Elk

This young Elk was trying to figure out how to
get through my neighbor's fence. Eventually,
the Elk jumped over the fence.