Looking To 2012

As we think of the New Year, all of us have hope for change.  Most predictions I've read try to put a happy face on negative situations.  But here's one I like by Sharon Astyk, author, -  A Nation of Farmers and other books, articles.
"8. Thrift will be the new cool thing - after five years of getting poorer (actually, 30+ years of falling real wages, but who is counting) and never knowing whether they'll have a job or enough money to pay the bills, the culture of thrift will hit the mainstream in fun new ways. Repurposing, repairing, mending, do it yourself and best of all, living on little will become emergently enjoyable, even competitive. A youth culture will emerge around cheerful acceptance of their poverty and hot young couples will be featured in magazines not buying stuff and loving each other for their ability to make George Washington scream."

My own New Year's Hope for Change Prediction:  Each of us will have the opportunity to open up to forgiveness...to receive it and to give it...

Teddy Bear Patterns

A link I found when looking for information about making stuffed animals from old clothing...a little recycling.

A Old Favorite

Been singing this one my whole Christian life.

David Versus Monsanto

For everyone who likes to eat...
Story at-a-glance

• Earlier this year, Riceland Foods, the largest rice cooperative in the U.S. won its lawsuit against the Bayer Corporation after its natural long-grain rice was contaminated with Bayer's unapproved genetically engineered rice. Thousands of similar lawsuits have been filed.
• Canadian canola farmer, Percy Schmeiser, was sued by Monsanto for patent infringement in 1998, after his fields were found to contain Monsanto’s patented GM canola. But rather than accepting Monsanto’s bullying ways, he decided to fight back—and won. In March 2008, Monsanto agreed to pay for cleanup costs. Since then, Schmeiser’s fight for farmer’s rights has been featured in a documentary film, “David versus Monsanto.”
• Other recent cases of contamination of conventional and organic crops with GM varieties include maize in Ireland and Spain, and corn in Germany.

A Lifetime

As I sit ready to type an appropriate comment, I find myself intimidated and frustrated by my inability. My heart overflows with gratitude to my Savior, LORD, and Creator for the revelation of His Love toward me through Father, Son, and Holy Spirit within this vast, physical realm of creation. As a child, nature spoke to me of my small position in the orchestra of life. As a student, lessons of right and wrong presented an authoriative, unapproachable God. As a college coed, knowledge of conception and embryology revived a desire to investigate this awesome Intelligence so far beyond human. As an adult, the Bible presented God to me on every level of my understanding beginning with a simple sanctuary presentation of His plan to save me from sure death. Now as I engage in exegetical study of the scripture with  John MacCall, I am finding answers to questions and a much greater understanding of revelation along with a magnification of my personal relation to my Savior and thus the Infinite One. 

Where does God the Father reside? Where is God the Son, Jesus, now? Will we be able to touch the nail prints in the hands of Jesus when we finally meet Him face to face? Where do the angels reside? How many light years will it take to cross the universe? When did sin enter creation? When will it be over? Why did sin enter creation? Why did God the Father and God the Son chose this plan to deal with sin and sinners? Am I a sinner or saint? If both, how can that be? All these questions concern Finite revelations of the Infinite One. Answers to these questions can be found revealed in the Scripture through exegetical study.  Praise God.

The Science of GE Plants

"Many staunch defenders of genetically engineered foods are under the misconception that GE foods are 'better' or have improved nutrition when the exact opposite is true.  They also don't understand that the glyphosate residue can not be removed or washed off -- it actually becomes part of the plant.  It cannot be washed off because it's systemic within the plant itself."

Interview with Dr. Don Huber is an expert in an area of science that relates to the toxicity of genetically engineered (GE) foods.
(Alternative terms for GE foods include genetically modified (GM), or "GMO" for genetically modified organism.)
His specific areas of training include soil-borne diseases, microbial ecology, and host-parasite relationships.
Dr. Huber also taught plant pathology, soil microbiology, and micro-ecological interactions as they relate to plant disease as a staff Professor at Purdue University for 35 years.

"The cause-effect relationship between high reproductive failure and this new microbial entity has been established, but the research has not yet been published. The reason for the delay is because they really do not know what the organism is…

"It's not a fungus. It's not bacteria. It's not a mycoplasma or a virus – it's about the same size of a small virus; you have to magnify it from 38 to 40,000 times. They have pictures of it… You can see the interactions with it. They can now culture it. It's self-replicating and cultured. It doesn't grow very well by itself.
Like most of our very fastidious organisms, it tends to die out after three or four sub-culturing, but grows very well with other organisms. If you have yeast, bacteria, or a fungus in the culture, this entity grows very well.
We're waiting on getting enough material, pure material, for DNA analysis, but also looking at some other possibilities… Until you can put a name on it, all it does is create a great deal of speculations."

What is known is that it's an entirely new entity, previously unknown to science, and it's definitely found in genetically engineered corn and soybeans. It's also been established that it causes infertility and miscarriage in cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, and poultry."

And what about the other mammal.....humans?

Days of Elijah - Paul Wilbur

Photo quality not that great, but its posted for the music.

Ya for Massachusetts

Massachusetts Attorney General brings suit against the five big banks in the foreclosure fiasco.  Check out this link to Market Ticker for the announcement by Karl Denninger.

Haunting Music for the Soul

Shalom Shalom Jerusalem by Paul Wilbur

Pictorial of Pumpkin Pie Progress

 

The Answer...

IMMINENT THREAT by Simon Black

November 16, 2011 Golden, Colorado
Quoted from Simon Black and republished on The Automatic Earth

Longtime readers know that I don’t spend much time in the United States; I usually swing by for a month or so each year to visit friends and family, and the period in-between visits can often stretch 6-months or more.This is sufficiently long enough that I notice a lot of changes… some so drastic that they hit me in the head like a baseball bat.

For example, just last week when I was at Los Angeles International Airport, the police set up a checkpoint outside the main entrance as if we were in downtown Baghdad driving into the Green Zone.

And I couldn’t believe my eyes when, driving down Santa Monica Boulevard last Wednesday, I saw a police urban assault vehicle modeled after a US Army mechanized infantry fighting vehicle. It’s designed for one thing: maximum destruction.

It’s truly appalling how police forces across the country have become militarized. The concept of ‘peace officer’ no longer exists. Police are now paramilitary forces who only protect and serve the political class.  Because I’ve been out of the country for so long, I notice these changes more acutely; it’s like diving in head first into ice-cold water as opposed to wading in slowly. And this rise of the police state is accelerating.

Here’s the thing– when you look around the world, you can see a lot of chaos and turmoil. Hardly a day goes by when there’s not multiple riots and protests in the western world being met with overwhelming force from the government.  The government is sending a clear message: “We are in charge.”

It’s no wonder that, according to a recent Gallup poll, a record-high 81% of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the country is being run. On a proportional basis, this is 25% higher than during the Watergate scandal.

What’s even more stark is that, according to the same poll, roughly HALF of Americans believe the federal government has become so large and powerful that it POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens.  This certainly explains why the government is increasing its offensive capabilities.

Now, clearly there are a lot of disgruntled Americans. There’s a lot of anger… even class tensions. The OWS movement is emblematic of this sentiment for sure, but in terms of taking action, most people still believe in the political process.

All of their angst and negativity will be taken out in the voting booth. Until then, it’s the calm before the storm. But the unfortunate reality is that no matter which way the 2012 election turns out, chaos will ensue.

If President Obama wins a second term, many conservative Americans will have reached their breaking points. If a republican candidate should win, a huge portion of Americans will feel they have lost their champion.

No matter what, though, people will quickly realize that absolutely nothing has changed. They’ll recognize that the insolvency of the United States government is a simple arithmetic problem; that social security is bankrupt; that the Treasury Department is a giant Ponzi scheme; and that there is. no. recovery.

For now, Americans are still investing in the political process. Come next year, though, all the hope that’s building up will turn quickly into disappointment… and then anger. Then they’ll take that anger to the streets.

This is what happens when governments go bust. It’s happened numerous times throughout history, and it’s playing out right now from Greece to Argentina.Social unrest becomes commonplace.

Governments engage in financial repression, giving rise to asset seizures, inflation, and capital controls. Militarized police states categorize ordinary citizens into combatants and non-combatants. Collateral damage becomes an acceptable risk. Society turns on itself, and crime rates soar.

Watching the farce of America’s political theater play out, it’s clear that this ticking time bomb will go off after Election Day 2012. As polarized as voters are, and as dismal the federal balance sheet is, there’s little chance of society keeping it together afterwards.

What’s happening right now is merely an overture… and you can mark a date on your calendar for when the real fun begins.

Blogging

Blogging pulled a few creative juices out of me...enjoyed it.

Putting my creative energy into other things now.

Trust God.

Live responsibility.

Protect the Earth and all who live here.

Dare to change.

Susan

The Future of Food

More on the Food Crisis....escalating prices...from Economist.com

"Influences outside agriculture make matters worse: a weaker dollar makes restocking cheaper in local currencies..."

Dressing the Loom

Ain't he a sweetie.

Helping me get ready to weave

a couple soft baby blankets.

My Favorite Chair

GDP/DEBT Wow!

Today's posting by Marker Ticker sums up our financial situation...read the whole article.

Excerpt: "It's clear that Washington intends to play games and not address the issues. They've been doing the same thing for 20 years. Why would they change now, absent an immediate uproar from the public. What if anything, do you in America intend to do about it?"

The Great Food Crisis of 2011

"It is no longer conflict between heavily armed superpowers, but rather spreading food shortages and rising food prices -- and then political turmoil this would lead to -- that threatens our global future..." (Tunisia, Egypt, and others)

Read the whole article, The Great Food Crisis of 2011, by Lester R. Brown

Health Care Unconstitutional...

"This is now a full-blown Constitutional Crisis."

For a short summation of what happened and the complete decision of the Florida court on behalf of twenty-six states see:

Health Care Unconstitutional: Obama Sedition? by Karl Denninger on The Market Ticker.

Range of Motion

One way to keep your knees moving...

Bulky Boot Socks

So my little Bro challenged me to see if I could knit my second pair of socks in less than two years. Frankly, I never wanted to ever see another sock pattern, but...he challenged me. He even sent me the size he estimated his foot will measure in two years. He really knows how to get me going.

With my stash of yarn, I have patterns and knitting needles, stitch holders, measuring tape, crochet hooks, whatever it takes. I had no excuse but to take the bait. Three tries on the first pattern I picked brought me to the point of forfeit...until the Bulky Boot Sock.

Growing Green

Romaine sprouts (in the tiny seed plugs) and alphalfa sprouts (in the jar) reach toward the hydroponic system's grow lights resting on my dresser. They are four days old. With the grow lights turning on at 5:30am and shining directly into my eyes, I had to put up some light barriers. Those oven liners keep the light and the heat in. Now I can sleep until 6:30.

Old Wool Socks

Several years ago I bought a pair of handknit, washable Merino wool socks at the local Farmers' Market. Plain denim blue color. Plain stockinette stitch. Cost eighteen dollars, more than I've ever paid for socks before, but I wanted to be supportive.

"Blues" fast became my favorite socks and slippers. I wore them, washed them, and wore them again over and over...until it happened...one heel wore right through!

Yesterday with some yarn, a needle, scissors, and a light bulb, I darned the hole. Or, did I darn the socks. Well, darn it, I'm not sure. But the hole is gone and they are back on my feet.

Perfect.

Seed Catalogs

Here's a list of seed catalogs that Sharon Astyk posted on her blog. Weblinks are included. Have fun shopping for seeds and many great how-to books.

Thanks Sharon for pulling them altogether.

Recovery, Inflation, Food Prices

The Automatic Earth sums up - Recovery, Inflation, and Food Prices in Zombie Money Kills Real People
..."There will be a Keynesian factor which clings to the theory that says it is indeed possible to borrow your way up, but that's a mere mirage, since it would require a surge in real productivity, i.e., outside of the service industry...manufacturing today counts for 10% of US jobs."

..."I'm all for a society, a government, that takes care of the weakest in its midst. I'm all against a government that props up the strongest in its midst, in this case the bankers with bonuses larger in one year than the weaker among us can make in a lifetime, the same bankers who lost more money in bad wagers than the entire country can cough up, and still be economically viable. We're fast becoming zombie societies."

..."What we know for sure is that the zombie money we elected to have flow through our financial systems is going to kill a lot of people this year. Want to plead innocence? How long do you think that excuse will be accepted?

Cue Tunisia.

Where our zombie money kills real people. Today."

Food Supplies Down, Prices Up

"Prices for grains and other farm products began rising last fall after poor harvests in Canada, Russia and Ukraine tightened global supplies. More recently, hot, dry weather in South America has cut production in Argentina, a major soybean exporter. This month's flooding in Australia wiped out much of that country's wheat crop."

Waters and Flooding

Brisbane in shock as fresh rains are feared...Reuters

Brazil flood death toll rises to 443, more feared... Reuters

Tough Times For Lobster And Salmon In Local Waters printed in The Calais Advertiser, Jan. 13, 2011:
"Maine and nearby New Brunswick are well known for two wonderful foods which are shipped all over the world, lobster and salmon.
However these two delectables are currently running into serious problems such as parasites, pesticides, and salmon running away from aquaculture cages.
Good examples of the troubles have aquaculture operators using pesticides to combat a damaging outbreak of sea lice at the fish farms in Passamaquoddy Bay and nearby Cobscook Bay."

"According to the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF), 138,000 juvenile Atlantic salmon, estimated to be about 25 cm in length, escaped from an aquaculture pen operation near White Head Island, located east of Grand Manan at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy in December (2010), during a fierce storm."

"There is a current plan to kill sea lice on caged salmon with a powerful new pesticide that will subsequently be flushed into several bays in Southwest New Brunswick and Maine and this is causing concern."

"Applications of the sea lice solution called deltamethrin in selected test salmon cages began in July. Sea lice are tiny, parasitic crabs that attach themselves to salmon and other fish and eat their skin, flesh and other tissues. They can kill their host.
Officials in Canada are looking into the use of pesticides in and near Passamasquoddy Bay as part of their investigations into the deaths of lobsters in the area in 2009 and 2010. Like sea lice, lobsters are highly vulneralbe to pesticides that salmon farm operators have been using and then disposing of in coastal waters."

World Moves Closer to Food Price Shock

More on the world Food Crisis...

And Its' Back...

taken from Science blogs by Sharon Astyk, January 12, 2011

"The Food Crisis, of course. In fact it never really left - since 2007 we've had more hungry people on the planet than ever before in human history, and while we've seen brief declines in the numbers of the hungry worldwide, those declines were of such short duration that they were essentially meaningless - earlier this year when the UN trumpeted that the number of the hungry had dropped back below 1 billion, it admitted that this excluded the Pakistan flood victims, the impacts of the crisis in the Russian wheat crop and a host of other late-year issues."

"Why is it back? Well a combination of factors..."