August 2022

Lots has happened in the world and with me personally.

There were some losses in our family, we gathered, loved each other and said farewell to some family members. We welcomed a few more members to our family. And we have confirmed partnerships. Some friends have opted out. Our family is all right and I love being part of it.

The pandemic. The lock down. The economic downturn. The roaring inflation rate, the resulting increased inflation rate, and the recovery.

The changes to the US election process. The division of right and left. The conspiracy crazy shit.

Climate change: fires, floods, changing weather patters.

Its a weird life on planet Earth!

xx L

International Women’s Day - #Balance For Better

Balance For Better
So there is a lot of information and opinions about women and our movement towards equality today. That’s cool. I love being a woman in 2019. I love the push for education, more inclusion, representation, expanding our roles, and supporting each other, for ending violence and bullying and for promoting equality. It’s great.

We are at least starting to question the idiomatic tropes we use for strong women. Women are proud of being strong, being leaders, being vocal, being involved and taking ownership and leadership in our communities. Being categorized as pushy, bitchy, bossy, hard on staff, hawkish, too aggressive, unladylike, and other negative adjectives are being questioned as bigotry.

We are questioning our own goals and dreams. That’s great.

I want to talk about an aspect of being a woman that still needs to be lit up and discussed: the choice of not wanting to participate in motherhood

Thank goodness we live in a time when women have more choices about the “when” of their reproductive cycle. Now I’m going to push the envelope further to have us embrace, acknowledge and celebrate those that say no to motherhood.

Yup, that got your hackles up didn’t it. Not every woman wants to be a mother. How we view people who do not want children evokes powerful emotions and almost always instant judgment.

It’s time for us to move towards supporting and fostering positive acceptance of the woman who decide not to have children. We need to embrace those choices  without negative judgment. I’ll say it again another way: there are women who have no interest in bearing and raising children. Their choice is just as valid and appropriate as the choice about when to bear and raise children.

As a society we don’t like that idea. Our negative judgment spectrum goes from pity to harsh selfishness. We think oh poor girl, she is unable to have children. The bottom end of the judgment: she thinks she’s too good for motherhood. Even those in the middle equate the choice of being childless as some form of abandonment or a less than valid choice.

We assume every woman wants to be a mother. We think there is something wrong with the woman who does not want to participate in reproduction. We denigrate her choice as unnatural. We call her names and step away from her emotionally and physically. We think we have to fix her. We want to change her mind.

Women who choose not to have children are not old maids or self-centered. They are not spiteful hags or morally corrupt. They have made a choice, and the choice is not “later” to children; it’s no. We need to respect that decision.

I wish we were more supportive of women who want to remain childless. Really, think about it.

People want to believe motherhood is instinctive. It is not. It is a learned skill. You can improve motherhood skills through education.

I’m not going to discuss the pros and cons of who should or shouldn’t make decisions about women’s reproductive health. I’m also not going to talk about world over population and diminishing resources. I am saying that our education and socialization regarding motherhood needs to shift to a better balance.

We need to remember that value as a woman is intrinsic in being human, not what we chose to do with our bodies. As has been said over and over: we are human beings, not human doings.

So yes, we need to embrace and accept women who choose not to have a child. We need to thank them. Not just because of the population growth, but because it’s the right thing to do. We need to stop bullying women for their choices. We should celebrate choice. Working moms, stay at home moms, women who decide not to be a mom. They are important, their choices are valid no matte what our bodies are capable of doing. That’s equality and balance.

So this #InternationalWomensDay, let’s do some real #balance. Let’s support the choice to say NO.

Oil Prices Rant #2

So the chart below is courtesy of Oilprice.com (they track oil prices all over the world), December 6, 2018.

As you can see, Premier Notely’s claim that oil prices in Alberta are at $11 / barrel is way too simple, and patently untrue.

The lowest price is $17/ barrel, which took a drop in the last few days because there are world events affecting the oil prices. The question Premier Notely needs to address is why she is not being included in those world discussions? She needs to get on THAT and stop trying to con the Canadian public about her agenda.

The next question to ask is who are these Canadian oil companies? Hardisty Light, Albian Heavy Synthetic, Syncrude Sweet Premium, Peace Sour, premium Synthetic, etc.

Well, glad you asked ... stay tuned!

Oil Prices Rant #1

I’ve been ranting about oil & gas prices lately, so I thought I’d share here too.

Just as a primer: Premier Notely of Alberta (Canada) wants to increase the price of Alberta oil in 2019. She has (in my view) been heading down this dangerous road for quite some time.

This is Oil Prices #1:

Ok, I’m going to post a number of oil price articles over the next few days. I’m sick & tired of the BS out of Alberta about their manipulation of oil prices. Premier Notely says she wants Albertans to have a bigger percentage of the oil prices. She is claiming that Alberta oil is sold for $11 a barrel & that the Alberta oil industry should be able to participate more fully in international oil prices. They already do. Remember the Canadian National Energy Board policy ended in 1985. Since then (in my humble opinion) the oil companies have set the prices of oil in Alberta, not the government.

This is important because of two things: oil sands oil is the DIRTIEST oil in the world. It creates havoc on the land and is one of the worst polluters in the world. Premier Notely is arguing based on perpetuating miscommunication and misunderstanding about this oil.

So here is the first article. For those of you who don’t read the articles there are 2 major takeaways from this article: 1. World oil prices have dropped 22% in the last month. And 2. OPEC will meet tomorrow (Dec 6) to further manipulate world oil prices.

As an aside, Russian officials met with Saudi officials at the recent G20 meeting. You can bet your
bottom dollar they discussed a mutually beneficial oil strategy.

World Oil prices are currently dropping, see this article on Marketwatch.com:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-slips-back-toward-50-ahead-of-looming-g-20-opec-production-talks-2018-11-30

O

Being a Friend

Being a Friend

This is not sometime I came up with all by myself. It has been written and added to by many people, but it is an important topic.

We all need friends.

We all need different kinds of friends.

Some people deny this, but I believe that this is because they never actually sat down and identified what a "friend" is to them.

Each friendship varies with the friend, but certain traits are mandatory for me. These are a few of them:

Friends can occupy the same room/space without robbing the space of solitude. They appreciate the difference between conversation and pointless noise.

They don't snipe and bitch about other friends.

They do their share of the mundane tasks without prompting. They acknowledge the mundane tasks their friend does without prompting. That doesn't mean "thank you" every 2 minutes, it means real gratitude. That is done sometimes silently.

Friends seldom whine.

Friends are secure in their own purpose

Friends do not anchor themselves to an energy zapping cloud of defeat and ready-made excuses when a challenging project presents itself.

2016 Slab City Prom

Prior & Current Year Prom Queens

Prom King Jordan & Prom Queen Andra

This year's Prom Night Under The Stars at The Range at Slab City was a great success. Everyone appeared to have a good time. The annual Prom at Slab City was initiated about 12 years ago by Robin (Builder Bill's girlfriend) with her friend Shannon. There have been newspaper and magazine articles about it, especially in the last few years given the popularity of social media, even here in the "off the grid" community out in the middle of the desert.

An event like the Prom Night Under The Stars at The Range at Slab City does not happen by magic. There is lots of hard work put into it each year and this year was no exception.

A little history: Prom Night Under The Stars started as an event at the end of the Snowbird season to give the residents and long time inhabitants at Slab City an event that would cap off the year and be an opportunity to go to a Prom Night, no matter how old you are, no matter your relationship status, whether or not you had a date, or a fancy dress or suit. It was aimed at all those that did not have fun at their own Senior Prom in high school for whatever reason.

At Slab City, there is a relation of social rules of engagement. This relation means that you can come and have a good time even if you don't have a date. You can come by yourself, with friends or a date. You can come dressed to the nines, or come as you are. Your choice.

To give people options, residents and snowbirds shopped the thrift stores for dresses, suits, shirts and ties during the year. These were brought out a week before the Prom for people to choose a dress. There were no rules about the dresses, just a suggestion that if you wanted to keep it at the end of the night, you brought another one back to replace it. Now, after 12 years, we don't have to shop so much any more. We get lots of donations. These are often the only fancy dress some people at the Slabs have worn.

A few years back, we started to take pictures. For free. We do a little fundraising before hand, put out a tip jar for the photographer and his helper. The fundraising helps with the cost of the paper and ink for the printer.

We usually help decorate The Range for the night. Sometimes a new coat of paint. Last year, it was new floorboards for the stage. Lights are strung up, sometimes beads. It will often depend on the weather. We were lucky this year. No wind. It rarely rains in the desert on Prom Night, but it can be windy.

Flip Cassidy & The Junkyard Gospels

Neil Malik & Barry Wayne

Megan Bee

The band is by donation. This year in addition to the Slab City Band, we had Flip Cassidy and the Junkyard Gospel. They were all great!






So, thanks to everyone who helped out.


With the decorating, getting the flowers, the crowns, the lighting, the photography, the music, the great audience and all levels of participation!

Have a great summer, and take care out there in the world!


Slab City 2016 Prom Pictures (pictures were taken by Bob Zahn

Builder Bill & Robin being photographed by Bob Zahn

If you want to know more about Slab City, visit our website www.sccgi.org
If you want to ask about Slab City, go to this FaceBook page: Slab City

and of course, if you want to make a donation (US tax deductible) go to our GoFundMe page.

Garbage In -> Garbage Out

Freedom at Slab City, is just like freedom everywhere in the world. My freedom ends where yours begins. We have had a challenging year at Slab City this last season, in large part because some new people (and a few returners) have misunderstood what the "Last Free Place in America" is all about. They thought (erroneously) that it was all about them doing whatever they want at the expense of anyone else. NOPE, it is definitely not that.

Freedom has responsibility. I mean that from both ends. Freedom to experience it, and freedom to maintain it. I will be specific with my example here: Trash. Yup, that smelly Yucky, dirty, often dangerously septic and infectious stuff that people throw on the ground because they are "finished" with it. Its a wrapper, a bottle, empty tin can, a plastic thing that broke off another thing, a liner, a diaper (usually used), dog dodo, and even human waste. Something you don't want with you any more. So you toss it over your shoulder. Or you even put it in some kind of container, thinking "I'll deal with that later" and then forget about it. Or you move it over to the edge of your eyesight. If its on the perimeter of your consciousness, you don't have to think about it any more.

Sorry my little Babylonians, that's not the end of it at Slab City. That's only the beginning.

You needed to think about what this means before you even think about coming to Slab City. There is no free lunch here (there are some potlucks, but no free). Alice's Restaurant is NOT here. The ONLY thing that is free out here in the middle of nowhere is that little patch of dirt under your feet while you walk on it. That's all. No free food, no free bathrooms, no free water, no free lunch, no free garbage removal. NO NO NO.

If its out here, then someone brought it here and is using it. They might have stepped away for a minute, or maybe you just can't see them right now, but its theirs. Not yours. You can't have it without asking. That includes… well EVERYTHING, even some things you didn’t think about.

That includes the garbage removal. That includes water. That includes a toilet.

You need to take care of three things for yourself when you come to Slab City: Food, Water and Waste. If you don't know how to take care of those things, then ask for advise. BEFORE you get there. YES before.

I know ... you thought it was FREE... FREE .... FREE ... well, its not that kind of Free.

The "free" at Slab City is personal freedom. Free not to be bothered. Free to live (and die) the way you want, without a bunch of people telling you how to do it. That freedom comes at a huge personal cost.

Yes, cost! Remember... NOT FREE

The cost is that you have to take care of the essentials yourself. You have to take care of your own food, your own water, your own waste. All of it.

Now, I'm not saying that there are not people here that won't help you. They might. But its not their job to help you. You can't just come here and then feel "entitled" to that assistance. Your sense of entitlement is one of my pet peeves and I'm not going to rant about it today. Just know that FREE is attached to your ideology about entitlement and I (or anyone else at Slab City) don't owe you anything.

Now I'm going to tell you a story... I ran the Oasis Club for a long time. I did a great job at it, and its now been handed over to someone else who is doing a great job of it (thanks Lo!). When I was running it, I would often have people come and ask me for toilet paper while I was behind the counter at the Club. It got to be that every other person that seemed to come in the door was asking for toilet paper. At first I started to simply say no and go back to whatever I was doing, like dishes, or sweeping, or doing prep work, or even just making coffee or talking to someone. The asker would look at me like I owed them an explanation, and like I said, I would just ignore them.

Then one day some jerk called me a controlling biotch for not handing over what he perceived as a secret stash of toilet paper. I responded with my rant, that went something like this:

"... what? you came to the desert, to the middle of no where... because you wanted to see what it was like to be in the middle of no where, knowing full well that there was nothing here. That we lived off the grid ~ without the use of electricity brought here by wires from the power grid, knowing there was no water, no food, no amenities whatsoever. You came out here to Slab City, knowing all of that, and with a huge expectation that those that came here before you now OWE YOU something? You think I owe you toilet paper? When you forgot to bring your own?  Your stupidity is not my problem! You have been here at Slab City for how many days now, and you finally decide that its time for ME to GIVE to YOU something that YOU didn't bring. Why the hell would you be so stupid as to think that I actually owe you anything? Especially given that I have to go out of my way to bring things here to the desert for myself. I didn't come here to provide you with stuff. You are not MY responsibility. I came to Slab City to experience freedom. Your coming here is infringing on my freedom. You should go somewhere else.”

The strangest part of giving them my rant was that they stared at me the whole time. Usually with their mouth dropping open. Sometimes, hopping from one foot to the other because… well, they needed toilet paper for a reason! They were free to walk away any time, but instead, they stood there listening.

Of course, a legend was born out of these rants. I became known as “The Sarge” and if anyone came to me asking for "free" anything, they got this discourse. Sometimes people came just for the rant, and I'd be happy to give it to them. Some of the recipients made songs of their being chastised by The Sarge (I think the most popular was a Canadian kids who did the “Toilet Paper Blues”). Some thought I’d gone crazy and others thought I’d gone too far. Of course, a few people came for toilet paper, but they didn't get any from me. They got the rant.

One day, a little miscreant came and asked for toilet paper, thinking of course, that he was entitled to it. He got the rant. Plus he got the jeers that the audience gave him while he got the rant. He got embarrassed and annoyed and stormed away. He went into the clothing closet at the Oasis and took one of the t-shirts in there, and took it to the outhouse and used it as toilet paper. Of course, this didn't work out well for the outhouse. It stupid entitled idiot plugged up a perfectly functioning outhouse because he didn't think it was his job to take care of himself. Its was everyone else's job, and specifically mine to give him toilet paper. As a result, we shut down the outhouse. Everyone lost out because of one stupid entitled little F(*&^'er. He knows who he is. He knows what he did. He knows the consequences. So does everyone else.

The moral of the story. If you screw up other people's freedom by not taking care of the basics for yourself, especially when you KNOW that you have to take care of yourself in an environmentally hostile environment, then you are not going to be welcome to return.

The idiot in the toilet paper story is not welcome anywhere near me. I don't want to experience his Freedom. He can go back to Babylon where he belongs. He doesn't belong at Slab City. He doesn't understand and doesn't want to understand what Freedom is all about.

If you want to come to Slab City GREAT!! Come on down! Please bring your own stuff, and when you leave, take your stuff back out with you: Pack it in & Pack it out. We do NOT need any bad garbag’ers. If that's you, just stay home and watch Slab City on YouTube and FaceBook.

Lynne

SCCG Inc.

My Learning Curve is Broken: Instagram

My Learning Curve is broken, at least for social media stuff. I'm trying to learn Instagram and I'm having trouble.

What do I mean? I mean its just not sinking in.

So, like most things, if I write it down, then I can sort through the learning process again... Sorry you have to be part of this, but what the heck, maybe you are over 60 and having social media challenges too?!!

so INSTAGRAM... what is it?

Is it like FaceBook? No, but they apparently own it.

Is it like Twitter? I don't think so, but you can post between your accounts (from Instagram to Twitter ~ and THAT's useful!)

Is it like PinInterest? not really, but sort of.

Its pictures. My pictures and pictures other people post.

Its sort of like PinInterest in that I can post pictures and follow other people's pictures.

But its sort of like FaceBook in that you follow people and they follow you. Its not like FaceBook because you don't have to be "accepted" as a friend to follow others and have them follow you.

Is it like Twitter, well sorry of (again). Its got "feeds" and the pictures can go "viral".

You can link up from Instagram to Twitter. Haven't figured out if you can link up to FaceBook yet.

PinInterest hookup? don't know that either.

So, this is as far as I got... this is where my Learning Curve got broken. What do you do when something is broken? You stop using it until it mends.

Yea, that doesn't work for a broken Learning Curve about the computer. That kind of "broken" doesn't just fix itself (its not a starfish after all). So, what to do? RESEARCH!!!

Research means plot out a plan, (remember, a Plan & a List), so:
Look up Instagram on its own "About" page
Look up Instagram on Wikipedia:
Find comments about Instagram on search engines
look up social media "help" on the web and AT THE LIBRARY
Report back ... ok, "engage":

First up is the web, then the library and the printed word: Yes, AT THE LIBRARY. Physically at the Library, touching books; but also in a search at the Library webpage.

While this looks like one of those discussions that differentiates between the "World Wide Web" and "internet". It is NOT. We at the end user stages don't really care what the difference between WWW and Internet is. We just simply use it. Do I have to understand it to use it? No. I might anyway, but that's besides the point for Instagram. This is NOT IRC, its not even a chat room. You go there if you want... I'm just trying to get my Learning Curve fixed.

After some Web research:

I found a few places where there is easy to use information. So far, this is one that I could follow without getting broken again. Its a little outdated, but covers the basics:
https://www.business2blogger.com/how-to-use-instagram/

This one is ok too, but its a bit cluttered and you have to copy and paste to get the links happening, so you might want to set up your own research grid anyway.
http://www.slideshare.net/Sosarina/instagram-101-how-to-use-instagram-for-business

This one is easy to follow and includes some reasons why you might want to use Instagram too.
http://inspiredworlds.com/21-tips-on-how-to-use-instagram-like-a-pro/

Wikipedia's article about Instagram is heavily focused on the history and content, as opposed to "how to". Therefore, it was not much help. It does give a good background, and their "controversy" is clearly noted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram

After the Library, actually touching real books:

There are some books (of course!) "The Instagram Book" from 2014 http://www.bookdepository.com/Instagram-Book-Steve-Crist-Megan-Shoemaker/9781623260354?ref=grid-view

"Likable Social Media" from 2015 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10220557-likeable-social-media

"Snap and Share" from 2014 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snap-and-share-adam-furgang/1120556384?ean=9781477779354


Conclusion

So, back to the basics again. Is my Broken Learning Curve fixed? Do I understand Instagram? Not all the in's and out's, no. But I understand enough to get an account going and start using it. I understand why I might want to use Instagram (easy access to pictures from me and about subjects I want to explore). Yup, its cool. Will it help my business? No idea: check back in a month or two.

Want to follow me on Instagram? Try this link: (remember I'm new to this, let me know if the link is broken) https://www.instagram.com/telly2222/

Roasted Root Veggies with Fenugreek

OK, So this is one of my first recipe posts... Its got (I hope) lots of pictures. I was inspired by my Cousin Terina who is an ammmmaaaazzziiinnnnggg chef! (Thanks Cuz'n T ~ I'm hoping she'll have her recipe blog up soon!)


So the two ingredients that you might not be familiar with are anise, a root veggie. Some people call it Fennel. It has a licorice flavor. When you roast it, especially with fenugreek, it has a full soft flavor that is worthy of the claim: food porn!

Fenugreek is a seed herb. It has an aroma reminiscent of chocolate, but its taste is truly unique. It is not harsh at all, but a very soft aromatic herb that cuts down the spiciness of strong flavors such as fennel or anise.

This roasted root veggie dish is great on its own, or as a side to any main course. It is low in cholesterol and bursting with warm comfort.

Preheat the oven to 375 F

chop Anise, potatoes, onions, carrots, beets... 

Over a low heat, roast fenugreek seeds until toasty brown, then grind them

I use a non-stick pan. It is fast, so don't walk away!

I like using the mortar & pestle because it looks cool :)

but you can use a grinder (i.e. coffee grinder) or

just the flat of a knife on a board 

Put the chopped veggies in a plastic baggie, with the fenugreek and some olive oil

Use 3 Tablespoons oil

Salt

add ground pepper

Next put 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar into the baggie

Close the bag & Mix the veggies

Make sure that all the veggies are coated with liquid & spices

Now pour all of the contents of the baggie into a roasting dish

Get all that good stuff in the baggie into the pan

spread the veggies around evenly in the pan 

Cook for 40 minutes or until the veggies are tender

Enjoy!!

SCCG Inc. = The Slab City Community Group Inc.

Section 36 is currently owned by the State of California, and administered by the State Land Commission. They want to sell it. We live on it. So, we have decided we want to buy it. We are going to administer it as a Community Land Trust so that people can have access to this land in perpetuity (forever). We want to keep Slab City the way it has always been. Free and accessible.

To that end, we are in the midst of a fundraising campaign to make this happen.

The SCCG Inc. is a registered Charity in the State of California with federal s. 501(c)(3) status. That means we can give you a tax receipt for your donation.

We can also accept "in kind" donations.

If you can't find a few $$ in your pocket to spare for Slab City, you can still help... Just spread the word about what we are doing. Post it on FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, tell your friends over coffee (it is the social glue after all), or over a beer, or whatever... better yet, bring them to Slab City for the weekend. Come camp and enjoy our music, our ambience, our culture and our art. Come participate. You are welcome here... any time...

Here are the links to our fundraising pages:

gofund.me/http-www-sccgi-o

Christmas Blah's, Its not all Bah Humbug.

Winter Holiday Season, yah that one: Christmas. This has always been a really tough time of year for me. I know I’m not alone. This is probably the hardest part of the year for many people. SAD (seasonal affect disorder) is now recognized as a “common” disorder.1 This is (in my view) not a disorder in the colloquial sense, its a natural physiological event that occurs because our brains react differently when there is not enough light. Now couple the diminished daylight hours with these humungous expectations of behavior and overloaded sensations at the Yuletide, and there you have it. All I want to do at this time of year is crawl into my cave, pull up the welcome mat, get in front of a nice roaring fire with a glass of whisky and hibernate for the next four weeks. Grok it? I bet you do.

The hype about Christmas started getting to me when my children where very young. I noticed that they LOVED to open presents. They didn’t give two hoots what was in the box, they just loved the whole *let me unwrap it” thing. That’s when I started to clue into how I was experiencing uber anxiety and angst at this time of year. I noticed that my depression seemed juxtaposed to their joy. I wasn’t looking forward to the “unwrapping” like they were. Theirs was a pure joy. One that had more to do with tearing at colored paper and ribbon to get the stuff off the box than the things inside the box.

My anguish about whether they would like their presents evaporated in the joy they experienced in that moment. If they didn’t care about what was inside the box, well then, neither did I! Ok, so one part of the angst was solved. On to the second part.

I am supposed to look forward to this time of year and I don’t. Hmmm. Why not. Well, because I know the pattern all too well: the drama of where to spend the holidays. Remember, I just want to curl up in a ball with my glass of whisky and my faithful and loyal dog in front of the roaring fire. However, If I don’t put in an appearance at friends and relatives then they will think the worst and assume that I need to be fixed.

Then there is the drama: if I don’t go visit/call/write Aunt Sally, she will call my mother and tell her how awful a daughter she raised. She will then get to compare her beloved and perfect offspring to my mother’s, well: me. Never mind that Uncle Bert doesn’t like my dog. Or that I have to travel 16 hours to get there! Then if I’m late to my mom’s for dinner, she will think I spent too much time with my dad and get jealous and vindictive. Nope, that whisky and fire is sounding way better now isn’t it?

Then the competition starts: my brother tells me all the things he got his wife and that she got him. If I don’t chime in with my own version of the “one-up-manship” game, I lost. If I don’t admire all the cool (and stupid shit) my brother buys me then I am in the “less than” category for a long long time.

And then the actual cost in money, time and effort!! When I could be sitting curled up with a good book, a glass of whisky in front of a roaring fire with my loyal and faithful dog. Instead, I’m fighting lines at stores, post offices, freeways and airports with lots and lots of other people who would rather be elsewhere. How silly can we get?

Then there is the compare what the kids did this year: “Mine went to Hawaii for the holidays”, “oh how nice, mine went on a Brazilian outback adventure”. “We got tickets to the Nutcracker at the Met this year, the grandkids loved it!” No they didn’t Aunt Flo, they wanted a hotdog and to see the new Star Wars flick you idiot.

Oh shit, see how my anger just radiates to the surface with all this crap? Come on, admit it: whisky and a roaring fire are looking good to you right now, aren't they?

Then dinner: Never mind the extra calories, lack of exercise, indulgence of alcohol and other substances. There is the absolute facts: some of my relatives cannot cook their way out of a wet paper bag! Stuffing that is limp, shortbread that will crack your teeth, and tofu turkey?!? OMG give me a break! I want bacon wrapped steak, perfect roast turkey with fresh cranberry sauce and too much mashed potatoes with butter AND gravy! Is that too hard? Yuck, now I’m pouring a whiskey whether you like it or not!

Expectations suck. Drama sucks. Abandoned consumerism sucks. What’s this seasons’ saving grace? The fact that I’m not alone in my misery. Its not that I want everyone to commiserate with me. Its that I know, in their hearts most people are.

Yes, the holiday season can be nice. Operative word is “can”. However, it requires a lot of work. It doesn’t just happen. Its hard to park our blatant consumerism at the door at this time of year. I start on Black Friday. That’s my “Buy Nothing” Day. Then I focus on the meaning of the holidays: enjoying friends and family. I do love them and love being part of our wonderful family. We are misfits and dysfunctional jerks, but I love us, one and all.

That’s the biggest key to surviving the holidays: LOVE. I love my family. I love my friends. I don’t care that they might appear to be broken. To me, they are all whole, unique, cryptic, chaotic, psychotic, and unexpectedly enlightened wonders of joy who love to tear into packages for the sake of opening them. Its hard not to love that joy, isn’t it?

That is what I focus on at this time of year: Joy. I remind my friends and family (and now you), that this time of year isn’t about ignoring the screwed up pandemonium inherent in this dark season. Its about embracing it. Its not about glossing over the bumps of life, including depression. Its about loving each and every one of us just as we are and spreading that love as much as we can. That’s called hope and that’s makes it all worthwhile.

So, enjoy the season. All of it, warts and all.

Joyous Noel

New Direction & Changes - Moved & Selling on eBay

So, here goes... I have moved back to the city... this time Long Beach. Henry & I love it. Its three blocks from the beach, I have my bike and Henry loves to run along side me.

Anyway, I'll have more about that later, first I want to talk about the new project. I've decided to try and do the on-line selling thing. I've never tried this before. I'm a terrible salesperson, but what I got to loose, eh? oh ya, time and money... well, as Mike would say... "Nobody ever said it would be easy out west."

So, First was ... what to sell? Well, that sort of fell into my lap. So I'm starting with a Star Wars Collection. I mean, the stars seem to be aligned. My family needs a hand with selling this stuff. Here I am, wanting to learn about on-line selling, and there is a Star Wars Collection.

Second: Research what and how to sell stuff on line. Check. eBay seems to be the best bet. Its a guaranteed service; yes, they take a chunk off the top, but they also make it pretty easy to learn. There is competition there too. So, no to Craigslist: way to flakey and I really don't want to meet anyone personally at my house. Nope! Amazon: they charge a LOT. I'm not sure they are worth the fees yet. Put Amazon on hold for a bit. Later, I might look into flea markets.

The Star Wars thing is perfect because of the upcoming new film release in December 2015. Apparently the movie has already pre-sold tickets for its first few days. I'm sooooo excited! I LOVE Star Wars!

Third: Inventory. What we got? Merchandise - check; packing supplies - check; postage - that will come later. So back to the inventory. Catalogue it - that's what I'm doing this weekend. Man oh man this is a lot of work!!

Fourth: List the items on eBay. Ok, so I put two items on eBay already just to see what would happen. Disappointingly, not much. Some views, some "watchers", but no bids. So I dropped the bid entry price and the "buy it now" prices. Still nothing yet. Patience patience patience.

Fifth: social media advertising. Twitter, Facebook (not crazy about that one), and Google blogger (yup, this thing). My next one is Instagram.

Next: get orders - obviously, this has not happened yet. But yes, it will! Ship the orders, track the items' delivery. Do the bookkeeping and accounting.

Re-assess if this whole thing is worth the effort?

#StarWars #StarWarsCollection #StarWarsActionFigures

The Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan for Southern California, Invite Yourself to Participate

The Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan is a document which will set out the path for the future of the deserts in Southern California. Called the DRECP for short, this is the first document of its type in a long time.

The DRECP is to be administered by the Federal and State of California governments. The players are the BLM (Bureau of Land Management - Federal), the US Fish & Wildlife Service (Federal), The California Fish & Wildlife Department (State), and the California Energy Commission (State Agency). These all form the umbrella of the Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT).

Two things are at its core: 1) welcoming green energy production into the deserts of Southern California; and 2) ensuring a smooth process for ensuring that the impact of green energy complies with environmental impact studies but does not get bogged down in that EPA process on a Federal and/or State level. In other words, it is a bureaucracy's attempt at streamlining a process.
Why the REAT wants a DRECP

In order to get a good plan, REAT has come up with a plan for including as many stakeholders as possible in developing the plan. This is the consultation phase of the process for the DRECP. We are here now.

Right now, between September 26, 2014, and January 15, 2015, the DRECP is in draft form, and is open for public comment. That means that everyone gets a say on some level. Directly.

That's a good thing.

Now get involved!

Its probably an overwhelming document, but if that is so, break it down. Get your neighbours and friends involved. Form a review committee. Everyone take a section, distill it down into an identifiable and digestible form. Review it. Decide on some comments.

Its ok if you don't all agree with your friends and neighbours on the comments, because you can each submit your own comments. Its pretty easy.

Here's the website:
Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan

and Here is both the access point for the document and how to comment:
DRECP Documents & How to Comment

If you can't get on line, you can request a copy of the document. They can sent you a CD disc, or a paper copy (try and save a few trees and learn how to access it on line though). You can also borrow it from the local libraries in the catchment areas (southern California), and at BLM Offices in Southern California. I think the US and CA Fish & Wildlife offices will also have copies (paper and CD) available.

Good luck... and may the GREEN FORCE BE WITH YOU... ok... a little carried away, but you get the idea.

Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan

Jack Layton, 1950 - 2011

Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. b: July 18, 1950, d: August 20, 2011.

For my American friends, Jack was the leader of the Official Opposition and the New Democratic Party of Canada. He brought the NDP to the position of Official Opposition in the last federal election in Canada (2011). I believe he would have been the next Prime Minister of Canada but for his untimely death one year ago.

Jack Layton had a message to Canadians. His untimely death in August 2011, gives us all pause to review what is important to each and every one of us... He showed us how to question, to ask how do we define who we are? As humans and Canadians.

He wrote a letter to Canadians on August 20, 2011, knowing that his end was near, he wished us to continue. He wanted to encourage and inspire us. To keep up with the “good fight”. He said:

to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world....My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.All my very best,Jack Layton

Click here to see the entire letter:

List of events across Canada celebrating Jack’s Life: 

Environmental concerns were at the forefront of Jack’s agenda. He was horrified by the environmental devastation created by the tar sands in Northern Canada. He knew that climate change was the result of human’s “industrialization”.

Jack was a leader that spearheaded challenges to the corporate world. Jack was all about bringing Canadians information about the environmental impact of industrialization. He wanted all Canadians to know that Climate Change has an economic impact, as well as a social one.

We are not the only species on the planet. We have a responsibility to be good stewards. These were Jack’s messages on the environment.

RIP Jack. Miss you.

photo courtesy of michaelkaufman.com

The real truth about universal healthcare

Universal Health Care. In the United States of America, there is a (faulty) assumption that Universal Health Care does not exist here. It does. Anyone can go to a County medical facility and receive urgent and immediate care.

Why? Because as has been said over and over in developed countries: health care is a public good. Like roads, schools, parks, and government infrastructure, health care is necessary.

So the question is not “should we have health care”, but “how will health care be accessible and affordable”.

Yes, at the end of the day, you will have to pay for it. What the people of the United States do not seem to comprehend is that you are already paying for it right now.

That’s right. You are paying for health care whether you want to or not. So why not pay to have the best care at the best prices? Its a tall order to think through, but what the insurance companies want you to think about is that buying their premiums is better than paying the government. By the way, you already pay the government in taxes and are overcharged by hospitals (I’ll tell you more about this later). So you already pay. What is to be decided is what kind of control will you have about what you spend and what you get.

The costs you pay for insurance MUST now go towards health care costs you as a prescriber receive. If not, those premiums MUST be returned to you. People are now starting to receive those cheques. This is starting to give Americans the confirmation that they need: health insurance companies are not their “personal friend”. These insurance companies have been using their premiums for other purposes: investing in the stock market, paying bonuses to upper echelon CEO’s and directors.

Now insurance companies cannot deny coverage for children based on a pre-existing condition. How cool is that? Soon, they will not able to deny adults that same privilege. They cannot deny you continued coverage based on a health condition. This is not a flight of fancy. This is a fundamental right of access to health care that should be enjoyed by ALL who live in a developed country.

To do otherwise, to deny health care to someone who is already ill, is unconscionable. It is analogous to throwing someone under the bus because they are no longer useful. These are visions we have of third world countries, where the value of life is precarious at best. Is this is the vision you have of the United States of America? Is this a place where the wealth and prosperity of the country is claimed off of the backs of the sick and indigent? Where is the vision of the strongest democratic country on the planet?

Let me explain a few little known facts about the cost of universal health care. For instance: the increased cost of premiums suggested by some politicians and the media? It has NOT materialized in Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Germany, or other developed nations that acknowledge universal health care as a right of their citizens.

If you are already paying the highest cost for health care, why not get the best all-round health care instead of only the best health care for a few.

The insurance companies dictate what health care will be covered. The few safe-guards currently in place (vis-a-vis not being allowed to deny coverage for a pre-existing condition), are simply not enough. We need to be the ones who decide our own health care, not the insurance companies. Our agendas are not compatible with insurance companies.

Hospital over-billing is allowed because they feel that hospitals should recover their bad debts from the payers. The hospitals are treating their non-paying recipients as if they are shoplifters. No one dares challenge this! Even the insurance companies do not challenge it. Why not? The cost of a needle in a hospital is exorbitant! Who controls what the hospitals charge for services? Not you or I. We cannot bringing our own needles for our own use. Too simple a solution? No, its because the hospital is making you pay for every patient that does not pay their bill. Do you have a choice in this? Is there a way to challenge this hospital’s decision to over-bill you? They are acting like a “for-profit” corporation. Why are they both getting the benefits of a non-profit, and acting like profit is their motivation? The answer is simple: THEY ARE ALL ABOUT PROFIT, and they are taking that profit at the expense of your pocketbook AND your health!

The conservatives of the USA need to wake up. Its not “Obamacare” versus Health insurance companies. This is NOT an “us versus them” issue. We ALL want health care. Affordable health care. The ONLY way to get that to happen is to have the government involved in providing it. Period.

You already have universal healthcare. What you do not have is control over its spending. What you do not have is control over what you get for your money.

Olympic Games 2012 & Social Media

I am an Olympic watching junkie. Once every two years (with the exception of the 2012 Winter games of course), I have watched the Olympic athletes do their stuff. I sometimes grumble about the coverage by the various networks and their announcers. However, this year has really reached a new low.

NBC's coverage really sucks. I know that they are broadcasting for the United States, but they are blocking my accessing live coverage from other networks, not just the ones in the US, but from Canada and Britain as well. They are even influencing the Mexican coverage this year.

Social media during these 2012 Summer games is at an all time high. I get tweets from friends, family, the athletes, the Olympics, faster and with more accuracy than from NBC. I google the event, and am blocked from watching the event until (and sometimes even after) NBC has broadcast it, usually 6 to 8 hours later. So that NBC can control when I watch their broadcast... during prime time... shhheeessshhH!!

I know that for a few years now that it has not been ALL about the athletes. I know that the corporate world pulls the strings at the Olympics in more ways than one... but hey... lets show NBC that we can get our Olympic "fix" without them ... use social media: twitter, Facebook, eblogger, myspace, and yes, even email to get the story out. We don't use IRC any more, but that doesn't mean we have to give up on getting the raw data. Tweet it, FB it, Myspace it up, and tell the world you love the Olympics, the events, the athletes, the wonder of the competition! YEAAAAA!

facebook social ambassadors
London Olympics

Chick Fil A & the Boycott

Wayne's Self wrote a really good blog about the whole Chick Fil A controversy. Like Wayne says... if it was just about a point of view, or someone who has a different point of view, that would be one thing, but its not. Its far broader than that. Its not "just" about a little boy with two daddies. Its about a civil right, and a right to exist. A right not to be bullied, intimidated, or vilified because of who you are.

Its worth the time to read... http://www.owldolatrous.com/?p=288
Wayne Self

FYI: I won't be going to any Chick Fil A any time and yup, I'm in Albuquerque as I write this blog.

Yup, its been a while. And here we are, visiting Albuquerque (New Mexico), watching the London 2012 Summer Olympics! (Thanks Glover!) I thought I would try and repost some videos. These are of Slab City and the London Olympics. I don't approve of the videos, I'm just posting them for you to see.

And by the way, I think that London is a great place for the Olympics. Much better than Vancouver (that's all I'm going to say about that subject).

Ok, this first one I'm going to try and post is mostly about Cuervo at Slab City. He's a riot!

Slab City & Cuervo

Dorothy Parvaz: Inside Syria's secret prisons - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

Dorothy Parvaz: Inside Syria's secret prisons - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

Dorothy Parvaz: Inside Syria's secret prisons - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

Dorothy Parvaz: Inside Syria's secret prisons - Opinion - Al Jazeera English