LET'S GO TO THE YMCA

The Lee County YMCA will be hosting the 1st Annual Christmas Classic 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on December 12th – 13th, 2009. 

Cost: $60/team (receive a $5 discount for every player that is a Y member!)

Set-up: Double elimination – 2 games guaranteed

Two Divisions: PRO: 18 yrs* & SEMI-PRO: 14-17yrs old

*participants under 18 may register for the PRO division with parental consent

For more information, contact Lisa Weaver at 275-9622.

 

NEW IN 2010!

YMCA Middle School Madness

Held the first Saturday of every month from 6-8pm at the Lee County YMCA

Bring your friends and join us for some fun at the Y!! Monthly activities will vary but will include sports, Wii games and movies.  Pizza and concessions will also be available.

Next Middle School Madness: Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

For more information on this or other teen programs, contact Lisa Weaver at 275-9622.

Looking for care for your children during the Holiday Break?  Bring them to the Y!  Contact Mary Scott at 275-9622 for details on our Holiday Camp program.

Register before it’s too late!!

The Lee County YMCA is currently taking registrations for its upcoming

Youth and Adult Sports Leagues.

2010 Winter Youth Basketball (3-14 yr olds) and Youth Cheerleading (6-12 yr olds)

REGISTRATION: November 2nd – December 5th

COST: FREE for YMCA Family Members

            $47 for YMCA Youth Members

            $82 for Non-YMCA Members

*$10 fee added if registered after December 5th

Deadline to apply for financial assistance: November 23rd

PRACTICES BEGIN: Week of January 4th, 2010.

For more information on upcoming youth sports, contact Lisa Weaver at 275-9622 or lisaw@leecountyymca.org.

 

2010 Winter Adult Softball League

REGISTRATION: November 9th – December 12thh

COST: One Night / Week: $512.00* per team

          Two Nights / Week: $820.00* per team

*Teams registering on or before November 20th will receive a $50 discount

*There will be a $50 late fee added if registered after deadline

LEAGUES:  Monday Co-Ed or Monday Men’s (8 weeks/8 games)

      Tuesday Men’s (8 weeks/8 games)

      Wednesday Co-Ed or Wednesday Men’s (8weeks/8 games)

      Thursday Men’s (8 weeks/8 games)

MANAGERS MEETING: December 9th at 6:30pm at YMCA

Please see attached documents for registration forms.

For more information on upcoming adult sports, contact Scott Wills at 275-9622 or scottw@leecountyymca.org.

 

 

 

For more information on programs that the YMCA is offering, contact the Front Desk at 239.275.9622.

[Via http://sheila106.wordpress.com]

RETIRAN LA NACIONALIDAD ESPAÑOLA A 200 SAHARAUIS

Más de 200 saharauis pierden la nacionalidad española en Córdoba Unos 700 habían recuperado su estatus en 2008 en el Registro Civil de la ciudad

Mientras el Gobierno ha ofrecido la nacionalidad española a la activista saharaui y defensora de los derechos humanos Aminatou Haidar, miles de compatriotas suyos luchan por recuperar esa misma condición, con la que nacieron antes de la invasión marroquí y mauritana. En Córdoba, entre febrero y marzo de 2008, alrededor de 700 saharauis accedieron a la nacionalidad española a través del Registro Civil. Pero ahora viven bajo una espada de Damocles: la posibilidad de que sus documentos nacionales y sus derechos de ciudadanos les sean retirados. Y es que, a finales de mayo de ese año, la Fiscalía de Córdoba denunció que había detectado irregularidades en los expedientes remitidos para obtener el visto bueno por parte del ministerio público, a pesar de que ya habían empezado a ser evaluados favorablemente por la oficina del fiscal.

Según datos de los propios saharauis, confirmados por fuentes del Registro Civil cordobés, al menos 214 de estas personas -que nacieron cuando el Sáhara era una provincia más del Estado, que dejaron de ser españolas tras la invasión marroquí y mauritana de 1975 y recuperaron la nacionalidad en 2008- han retornado al limbo legal del que procedían, tras esta segunda retirada de la nacionalidad. La característica común de estos casos es que fueron expedientes resueltos por el Registro Civil y recurridos por la fiscalía ante la Dirección General de los Registros y del Notariado. Pero, además, hay otros dos grupos afectados que pueden perder la nacionalidad.

Por un lado, el de los saharauis cuyos expedientes fueron resueltos por el Registro Civil sin informe ni audiencia del ministerio fiscal y sin haber sido notificada la resolución final al mismo. Contra éstos, se han interpuesto demandas de juicio declarativo ordinario en las que se ejercita acción para la declaración de nulidad de la resolución acordada. Por este camino, algunas fuentes hablan de que se están anulando alrededor de 70 nacionalidades.

Finalmente, están los expedientes que fueron resueltos por el Registro Civil, con informe favorable del ministerio fiscal o sin informe del mismo, en los que fue notificada la resolución final del expediente en tiempo y forma al ministerio, sin que este hubiese recurrido. Contra ellos, se anunció en junio de 2009 que arrancarían nuevos expedientes ante el Registro Civil para declarar que no concurrían los requisitos para la obtención de la nacionalidad española. Se tratarían, aproximadamente, de 340 expedientes.

Sabia Bushab Bubaquer está viviendo en sus propias carnes este laberinto. Nació española en El Aaiún en 1960. Dispone de una copia de la partida de nacimiento, expedida por las autoridades españolas en 1970, y de un certificado de autenticidad de la Dirección General de Policía que avala el Documento Nacional de Identidad español que se le dio antes de la invasión. Sabia acudió en 2008 al Registro Civil de Córdoba para recuperar la nacionalidad española. Lo logró. Consiguió su nuevo DNI y su pasaporte.

Pero hace mes y medio supo que nada de eso valía. Un edicto colgado en tablón de anuncios del Registro Civil que la había declarado española, tumbaba esta resolución y lanzaba a Sabia Bushab a la tierra de nadie. “Ahora estoy atrapada en España. No puedo salir de aquí. No puedo viajar al Sáhara para ver a mis hijos. Y no sé cómo recuperar la nacionalidad española. Además, mis hijos que iban a tener la nacionalidad porque su madre era española, pierden también esa posibilidad”, explica. Hoy mismo piensa acudir al Registro Civil de Córdoba para informarse sobre qué hacer ahora.

Terribles paradojas

La abogada Matilde Mérida conoce de primera mano los sinsabores del proceso de nacionalización de los saharauis en Córdoba. Éste se inició en voz baja, pero terminó atrayendo a miles de saharauis ilusionados con tratar de conseguir sus documentos españoles.

Pero los sueños se tornaron en una experiencia amarga y frustrante. En cuanto la fiscalía supo que el Registro Civil estaba actuando, tomó cartas en el asunto y terminó frenando en seco la aceptación de nuevos casos. Y a pesar de que la fiscalía ya había dado luz verde a cientos de expedientes, por iniciativa del fiscal jefe se decidió revisar las circunstancias de su tramitación y, de paso, acabar con las aglomeraciones que se estaban viviendo en el registro, frenando la aceptación de más casos en el registro.

Mérida vive cada día con el resultado de aquel guirigay, pues representa a cinco saharauis que han perdido, o están a punto de perder, su condición de españoles. Estos casos guardan terribles paradojas, como la de uno de sus clientes, que ha dejado de ser español, pero no puede solicitar la residencia permanente legal como inmigrante (que ya tenía antes de acceder a la nacionalidad) porque sigue teniendo el DNI español. “Con esta situación creemos que se están violando los derechos fundamentales de las personas. Lo llevamos viviendo décadas. El cansancio de mis compatriotas es evidente. No entienden por qué se les ha retirado la nacionalidad y ya no saben qué hacer”, explica Lebeid Uld, portavoz de los saharauis residentes en Córdoba.

Fuente original: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/andalucia/200/saharauis/pierden/nacionalidad/espanola/Cordoba/elpepiespand/20091130elpand_1/Tes

[Via http://boicotmarruecos.wordpress.com]

Back Alley

Back alleys are so much fun. Usually such great backgrounds and gorgeous lighting. These two girls are so excited to be big sisters! Loved this mom’s red wrap shirt.

 

[Via http://rachelkemblephotography.wordpress.com]

sisterhood

Spent some time away with family recently and had a chance to get some pics of my lovely nieces. They had no problem being in front of the camera, what a treat….wish my two rascals were so obliging

[Via http://sayshab.wordpress.com]

Motivation

1.  Effort

2.  Results

3.  Reward

The Man let me lie in till 7am.  ”Well done for staying in your bed again Son 1!” I beamed, as I went downstairs to where he was eating his breakfast.  He beamed back. “I’ve got a sticker.  And I’m eating two breakfasts.”  ”He’s already eaten a pancake,” said The Man.  You will remember yesterday that Son 1 aged 5y 2m had four stickers to go on the breakfast line of his sticker chart.  This morning he had two.  Hence the bowl of cereal as well as the pancake.  You will also note that this process would not stand scrutiny by the Electoral Commission.  At some point yesterday, an extra sticker was stuck on the breakfast line. It wasn’t me, and it wasn’t The Man.  We don’t care; Son 1 has never in his life stuffed himself at breakfast time.   Yes I know, all your children  tuck in gratefully to rolled oats and wheatgerm with slivers of dried apricot and ground linseeds sprinkled on top.  Ours have Coco Pops Moon and Stars because we have tried EVERYTHING to get Son 1 to eat before he goes out for his 10-hour school day.  Sometimes he can’t be bothered to add milk and eats a few dry from the bowl. Sometimes he doesn’t touch them, and drinks the chocolate milk they make after soaking. And now he eats two breakfasts. Hooray.

Son 2 aged 2y 2m and I went to the Town Pool for a swim with the Wednesday Mums. Really good. I do like swimming with small children.  It’s so easy and stress-free.  The water was cold, so Son 2 headed for the Bubble Pools.  I’m a bit wary of these, as there was a lot of  “spa baths cause scarlet fever” anecdotes pinging round when Son 1 was ill. But Son 2 loves them.  He was playing with a green sea horse. I took my eye off him for a couple of seconds. “Where my see ‘orse?” It had vanished.  ”I don’t know, where is your sea horse, what have you done with it?”  I looked over the side into the swimming pool. I peered into the foaming depths of the bubble bath. I squinted along the channel running round the outside.  There was a gap in the cover.   We went back into the big pool and I told a lifeguard.  Two of them dismantled the filter and found the sea horse. Son 2 had posted it through the gap.  He swam, he played with a surf board, and he was a joy to be with.  After an hour we all got out and went for a coffee in a hotel.  The boys were all horrible, climbing over sofas and running up and down. We consoled ourselves with the thought that things would have been much worse with the elder three around. 

The Man collected Son 1 from school, because we were meeting Elder Brother and Nanna for pizza in Town. The phone rang.  Son 1. “Daddy hasn’t brought my Gormiti Egg.” “Oh dear,” I said. “It was Daddy’s job to get it.” “He says he didn’t know it was his job.”  “Silly Old Daddy.”  We agreed they would head for the other end of Town so they could get a Gormiti Egg. I’d push Son 2 in the Big Pram to see if he would sleep, and we’d see Nanna and Elder Brother in Pizza Express.  I pushed, Son 2 slept, we met the others. Son 1 turned up with his Gormiti Egg. £6. I thought it was like a Kinder Egg.  Oh boy. I am being seriously out-classed here.  Son 1 ate his food, Son 2 woke half way through and cried and grumbled. Elder Brother is leaving very early tomorrow to get to the Aged Aunt’s funeral. The Man and I were planning to drop Son 1 off at School and then drive over. We have booked Wonder Nanny to do tea, bath and bedtime.  Elder Brother says it could take six hours to get there.  Oh boy.

Tags:

[Via http://smileandwaveboys.wordpress.com]

Shaun the Sheep

I know I have had a trying day when I struggle to follow the plot of this CBBC programme (available on Freeview and highly recommended). If you like Wallace and Gromit and subversive sheep you can’t go wrong with a bit of Shaun. On around 4 p.m. but you can catch it here if you have to be out doing something more important at that time (difficult to comprehend in our world).

[Via http://makemeadiva.wordpress.com]

Volunteer Opportunity: Catholic Charities Project HOPE

Mission:

Affirming human dignity and developing just and caring communities for vulnerable children, families at risk, and people in crisis.

Vision:

Project HOPE (Help Out of Poverty ForEver) is a new initiative from Catholic Charities to combat poverty in Central and Northern Arizona.  Project HOPE assists motivated individuals to realize their goals and to leave behind a life of uncertainty for a life of security, stability, and satisfaction.  The program consists of 4 sessions of financial literacy classes, 14 sessions of Getting Ahead classes, followed by acceptance into a Circle of Support, whose members accompany the individual as he/she develops then pursues his/her Dream Plan.

Volunteer Opportunities Available:

Project HOPE has volunteer opportunities for trainers to teach a series of financial education classes to adults, teens, and children; trainers to teach a series of 14  “Getting Ahead” classes based on Dr. Ruby Pane’s ideas ; “Circles of Support” mentors to our participants based on their individual needs; childcare volunteers; and volunteers to help prepare and cater meals  for our weekly classes. 

Geographic Region:

Flagstaff

Volunteer Requirements:

• Volunteers must provide their own transportation.
• Volunteers assisting with childcare and teaching classes for teens and children are required to have fingerprint clearance, which Catholic Charities will pay for.
• Volunteers must be 18 or older.
• Bilingual/multilingual volunteers always needed!

Contact Information:

Catholic Charities Project HOPE

Deborah McMurtrey, Volunteer Coordinator

460 N. Switzer Canyon Drive, Suite 400

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

928-774-9125, ext. 53117

dmcmurtrey@cc-az.org

 

[Via http://choosetohelp.wordpress.com]

Welcome to Question time

As I pulled into the dreaded Sainsburys carpark at 4pm when all the other disgruntled and tired mothers of the day have decided it’s also a good time to zip in and buy milk, Eliza pipes up from the back seat…

For people such as myself who get lost easily. I’ll colour code the conversation. Eliza is Pink and I am Blue

“What’s a Birth canal mum”

(me thinking) why the hell is she asking this now, and would the stupid idiot in front of me get the fuck out of the way so I can park my car.

” erm it’s the er canal the baby comes from”

“where is it? Is it in my foo foo?”

Yes I am one of those mothers using the incorrect term for a body part. shoot me.

“Yep”

“can I see it? Not right now. But why mum? Well right now it’s a little hard as we’re at the grocery store” God sake I hope she has forgotten by the time we get home, I am not helping her see her own, let there be a diagram on google images that’s child friendly. Thankfully that was the end of that.

Stupidly the other day I said to my husband about someone I forget a famous person was “sexy”. Eliza was busy colouring. I forgot like a blog widget they are always listening.

Last night we sat down to watch X factor. Eliza says

“what’s sexy?” Um, it’s um OK you know boobies, well sometimes you see a lady and you can see some of her boobies? Well this is sexy” Then I thought, no this isn’t right sometimes you see old woman and their cleavage and this is far from sexy” So I then had to say , Mummy doesn’t know what sexy is, ask your father.

“Sexy is something you don’t have to worry about and it’s going to take me 12 years to explain, so I will tell you when you 18″ “OK”

Great that’s all done

“what’s sex?” “lets watch X-factor”

Goodness me!!!!

I totally don’t mind answering these questions but I really wanted time out last night. If any of you have had a 3.5 year old or you are about to, then you know, or you will do. They ask a lot of questions ALL the time. It never ends

Why is the table round? Why is the Table brown? Why does the table have four legs? Why do we have placemats? why do we have cups?

Why do I need the toilet?

why do you tell me to stop asking questions? Why are you grumpy, why are you shouting at me, why do you put your hands on your head? why do you count to 10? why why why

“why don’t you go play on your own for a little bit”

Why do you tell me to play on my own, why do you want me to go…..

Getting the picture now?

Why did I have kids?

[Via http://suburbanmummyuk.wordpress.com]

No Where to Go: State Legislature Proposes to Cut Child Health Insurance

As part of the Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP) debate, New York Senate Minority Leader Skelos and Assembly Minority Leader Kohl propose to reduce Child Health Plus (CHPlus) eligibility in New York.

This proposal, if enacted, would leave tens of thousands of children living in working families without health care.  The Coalition of New York State Public Health Plans and the Children’s Defense Fund–a HCFANY member–urge Legislators to REJECT proposals to cut Child Health Plus eligibility levels.

Read more here.

Child Abduction Prevention -U.S

Guarding Against International Parental Child Abduction

Source: U.S Department of State

Parental child abduction is a federal crime.  It is also a tragedy that jeopardizes children and has substantial long-term consequences for the “left-behind” parent, the child, the family, and society. Children who are abducted by their parents are often suddenly isolated from their extended families, friends, and classmates. They are at risk of serious emotional and psychological problems. Similarly, left-behind parents experience a wide range of emotions including betrayal, loss, anger, and depression. In international cases, they often face unfamiliar legal, cultural, and linguistic barriers that compound these emotions.

In this section of our Web site, learn about the measures you can take to prevent your child from being wrongfully taken to or wrongfully kept in another country.  In addition to the materials below, also see these important links:

• Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program
• Passport Requirements for Minors
• Additional Prevention Tools
• For Attorneys & Judges

International Parental Child Abduction Is Illegal

Under the laws of the United States and many foreign countries, international parental child abduction is crime.  Removing a child from the United States against another parent’s wishes can be considered a crime in every U.S. state.  In some cases an abducting parent may be charged with a Federal crime under the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA).  This can be the case even when neither parent holds a custody decree prior to the abduction. Nevertheless, a custody decree can be helpful to prevent an international parental child abduction, or to recover your child if he/she is abducted.

The Importance of a Custody Decree

A well-written custody decree is an important line of defense against international parental child abduction. In your custody decree, it may be advisable to include a statement that prohibits your child from traveling abroad without your permission or that of the court. Ask your attorney if you should obtain a decree of sole custody or a decree that prohibits the travel of your child without your permission or that of the court.  If you have or would prefer to have a joint custody decree, you may want to make certain that it prohibits your child from traveling abroad without your permission or that of the court.

If your child is at risk of being taken to a country that partners with the United States under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), your custody decree should include the terms of the Hague Abduction Convention that apply if there is an abduction or wrongful retention (see country list).

The American Bar Association also suggests requesting the court, if the other parent is not a U.S. citizen or has significant ties to a foreign country, to require that parent to post a bond. This may be useful both as a deterrent to abduction and, if forfeited because of an abduction, as a source of revenue for you in your efforts to locate and recover your child.

REMINDER: Obtain several certified copies of your custody decree from the court that issued it. Give a copy to your child’s school and advise school personnel to whom your child may be released.

Two Parent Signature Law for a Passport

The United States does not have exit controls on its borders for holders of a valid passport.  This makes preventing a passport from being issued to your child without your consent very important.  Generally, if your child has a passport, it can be difficult to prevent the other parent from removing the child to another country without your permission.

U.S. law requires the signature of both parents, or the child’s legal guardians, prior to issuance of a U.S. passport to children under the age of 16.  To obtain a U.S. passport for a child under the age of 16, both parents (or the child’s legal guardians) must execute the child’s passport application and provide documentary evidence demonstrating that they are the parents or guardians.  If this cannot be done, the person executing the passport application must provide documentary evidence that he or she has sole custody of the child, has the consent of the other parent to the issuance of the passport, or is acting in place of the parents and has the consent of both parents (or of a parent/legal guardian with sole custody over the child to the issuance of the passport).

EXCEPTIONS: The law does provide two exceptions to this requirement: (1) for exigent circumstances, such as those involving the health or welfare of he child, or (2) when the Secretary of State determines that issuance of a passport is warranted by special family circumstances.

Read more: Passport Requirements for Minors

Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program

You may also ask that your child’s name be entered into the State Department’s Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP).  Entering your child into the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program will enable the Department to notify you or your attorney if an application for a U.S. passport for the child is received anywhere in the United States or at any U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. If you have a court order that either grants you sole custody, joint legal custody, or prohibits your child from traveling without your permission or the permission of the court, the Department may refuse to issue a new or renewal U.S. passport for your child. The Department may not, however, revoke a passport that has already been issued to the child. There is also no way to track the use of a passport once it has been issued, since there are no exit controls for people leaving the U.S. If your child already has a passport, you should take steps to ensure that it is kept from a potential abductor by asking the court or attorneys to hold it.

IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND:

1. The United States does not have exit controls.
2. The Department of State may not revoke a passport that has been issued to a child, but you can ask a court to hold onto it.
3. There is no way to track the use of a passport once it has been issued.
4. Your child might also be a citizen of another country (dual nationality).  Even if he/she does not have a U.S. passport, your child may be able to travel on the other country’s passport.

The Privacy Act and Passports

Passport information is protected by the provisions of the Privacy Act (PL 93-579) passed by Congress in 1974. Information regarding a minor’s passport is available to either parent. Information regarding adults may be available to law enforcement officials or pursuant to a court order issued by the court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with (22 CFR 51.27). For further information regarding the issuance or denial of United States passports to minors involved in custody disputes, please contact Passport Services.

Published by: ABP World Group International Child Recovery Service

Visit our web site at: www.abpworld.com

College indecision? Kick start the search from your sofa

My daughter is shopping for colleges the same way she shops for shoes.

Really.

She sits down next to me on the couch with her laptop and shows me the websites she’s checking out. She goes over each one the same way she scours Zappos.com for flat black boots or shoes.com for fire engine red stilettos.

It makes sense. She’s a junior.  She’s seen three siblings ahead of her go through the process of looking, applying, and making the decision, so she’s been ready to look for a school of her very own for a while now.

It’s not always easy to engage a junior in high school and get them interested in starting to think about where they’d like to apply. But because of the growing number of incredible web resources available, sitting down and beginning the conversation is getting a lot easier.

Her top pick among all of the web sites she’s checking these days is Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. She’s already decided she wants a city experience for college, and her cousin goes there, so VCU was a natural place to look.

What she likes about the site are the big photos of the campus and the students,  how easy it was to actually explore different majors, and what classes were offered. The site makes all of that easy to find -it’s clean, clear and unstuffy. She’s interested in digital arts, and she learned a lot about what major might fit with that interest. She also learned that she might want to start organizing her photos to create a possible portfolio some day.

A variety of views of this school in the slideshow

You can even click on a live chat button to ask questions on the VCU site. That’s not a feature available on every college site, including another favorite of hers, Seattle University, but on the SU site they’ve taken the time to spell out many of the basics that a prospective student needs to know, such as what is a major, and a detailed list of bullet points on how to choose one.

A virtual campus tour is another way to start the discussion about where to start looking. Some college web sites do virtual tours themselves, with slide shows and video- often they are slickly produced but show gorgeous scenery, like the University of Colorado at Boulder. You get an idea of the area, but not a whole lot of insight into the school.

YOUniversityTV has a good start on the college tour video franchise. They are well on their way to showing off most major schools in the nation. You can get a good first look here, and save your favorites. The hosting by college aged talent and rapid fire edits are formulaic, but they add map graphics and details about the community. Useful stuff.

Then there’s YouTube. It’s the second biggest search engine next to Google, of course, and you can find plenty there. When my son was looking last year, he found a simple video tour, with no narration or  graphics that was made a by a student just carrying a camera around on a fall day, right at eye level. Nothing fancy.

It was actually one of the best ways to take a good look at the school, which he ended up choosing. He passed that one on to grandparents who haven’t had a chance to visit yet so they could get a feel for where he is. It’s lost in the YouTube pile now, but I hope more students will upload simple footage like this in the future.

If you have a student who isn’t showing much interest in a particular school, and the clock is ticking, settle in on the sofa with a laptop, or grab a couple of chairs and sit at the computer. It’s no substitute for a visit or that one-to-one conversation you find at a college fair, or a visit to campus, but it’s a way to get the conversation going.

Colour and The Soul - Children Of Light 5

leaves from my garden

 

Autumn has come. The  green summer leaves has given way to a spectacular array of reds,oranges,purples,yellow, golds and browns. These  brilliant fall colours against a blue sky, make our world bright and wondrous.  Colourful Autumn days can make our hearts and souls light up with joy . Yet our soul does not have a colour. It does not exist within a dimension of  the physical in which objects are defined by external characteristics. The soul or atma, or the source within, resides within a matrix of vibrational frequencies, which it resonates with according to its own true internal nature. The soul seeks a balance within the spiritual atmosphere in which it exists. It settles into a pattern that contains a primary vibrational frequency, when translated into the human realm, creates the impact of colour in a visual sense.

Our emotional energies that are produced by an internal states of the mind, heart and body are reflected outwardly as vibrational frequencies, which can be translated into the visual spectrum in the same manner as soul qualities. Anger, for example has colloquially been referred to as ’seeing red’; depression, has similarly been referred to as ‘being blue’.  These colloquial expressions allow us to have a consensual language for speaking about colour – a language that lets us know that we are sharing a common human experience.

Through the medium of colour and light, many forms of healing have developed to help foster the health of both our bodies and emotions.  The human psyche is extremely sensitive to variations of colour, even when the conscious self may not be aware of this or where, as in certain cultures, colour is muted through custom or through religious restrictions.  Nevertheless, in general, the use of colour to uplift, calm, soothe, or energize the human being is a practice that continues from ancient times. With the expansion of spiritual awareness of our auras and energies,  our knowledge about colour healing is expanding rapidly.  Although at this time we are still relying on  medical doctors to deal with  most physical conditions, we may in future be able to look forward to a more gentle way of healing.

Color in life is part of the grace of living in a physical body within a physical world.  Although the human realm is not the only realm in which color exists, its particular expression connected with physical form makes it unique throughout the spiritual universes.

May all come to understand the gift of life that has brought humanity into an environment of light, life, sound, and color which is best suited to promote the health of body, mind, and heart, and to allow for the greatest expression of the soul.

*`•.¸(¯`•.•´¯)¸.•´* ♥

A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air.

– Eric Sloane

” Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul.” Wayne Dyer

'Twas the Week before Santa

‘Twas the week before Santa and all through the Shoppe
The photographers busied themselves setting up…

The costumes were hung in the studio with care,
In hopes that the children would like them to wear;

The backgrounds were ready, the lights metered right,
The props were all set and packed in rather tight.

And Shelly and Ashley arranged the décor
While Ryan called clients, and Michael swept the floor.

When all of a sudden we heard the door, “Jing!”
We looked and we saw the most wonderful thing,

A charming old man in gold colored robe
With a cloak and some slippers topping off his wardrobe.

With a head full of hair that was billowing white
And a beard set to match he was really a sight.

The glasses that sat on his nose were just fine
And upon his head was a wreath made of pine.

And we turned and cried, “Santa! We’re so glad you’re here!
We haven’t seen you since this time last year!”

And he laughed and he stretched out his arms open wide
And he gave us a hug, pulled us in to his side,

And he said, “Oh, my dears, I’m so glad I’ve arrived,
For being with you makes me feel so alive;

But the kids—oh the kids! Now they’re really the reason
That I come to the Portrait Shoppe each Christmas Season;

I love how they smile, how they laugh, how they play,
And the innocent fun that they have every day!

There’s no greater joy that I keep for my part
Than a young girl or boy who feels loved in their heart.

So bring on the children! I can’t wait to see
Who comes here this year to sit on my knee!”

Then laughing he went in the back to prepare
For the kids who’ll be coming to visit him there.

Now he’ll be here two weekends, but only those two
(for as Christmas approaches he’s got LOTS to do):

On the 27th and 28th days of November,
And also the 4th and the 5th of December.

So don’t miss the chance for your own kids to come
And see Santa before he will visit your home.

To make an appointment just reach us by phone:
Call Two, Double Seven, Six, Six, Seven One (277-6671)

We’re awaiting your call, so with Santa we’ll croon,
“Merry Christmas all, we’ll see you here soon!”

WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

In July 1981, the New York Times reported an outbreak of a rare form of cancer but medically know as Kaposi Sarcoma. About the same time, Emergency Rooms in New York City began to see a rash of seemingly healthy young men presenting with fevers, flu like symptoms, and a pneumonia called Pneumocystis. About a year later, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) linked the illness to blood and coined the term AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In that first year over 1600 cases were diagnosed with close to 700 deaths.

As the number of deaths soared, medical experts scrambled to find a cause and more importantly a cure. In 1984, Institute Pasteur of France discovered what they called the HIV virus, but it wasn’t until a year later a US scientist, Dr. Robert Gallo confirmed that HIV was the cause of AIDS.

Following this discovery, the first test for HIV was approved in 1985. Over the next several years medications to combat the virus were developed as well as medicines to prevent infections that flourish when the immune system is damaged by HIV and AIDS.

So where are we today? Thanks to an ever-changing array of new anti-retroviral drugs and improved funding for early medical care, AIDS related deaths in some parts of the World are declining. People are healthier and living longer. But, in other parts of the world, the AIDS epidemic rages on. Some estimate that 40 percent of persons in the sub-Sahara region of Africa are HIV infected. Many of these people don’t realize they are infected, resulting in the infection of others, adding to the spread of the disease. Another grim reminder of the epidemic is the number of African children orphaned by AIDS. Streets are clogged with children who have lost their parents to AIDS, have no food, and no place to go. And with no money available for expensive HIV drugs, the epidemic is expected to get much worse.

KITAKULE MICHEAL Patron teacher Musita C/U Primary School

I have taken time studying about HIV/AIDS but I have come to believe that it is so much a funny disease and its spread is doubled by our selves. In the entire story, you will discover that there is some point of selfishness and mercilessness.

Cross generation sex. This is where a person like a girl plays sex with a man who is 15 years above her age. This is two-way traffic scenario; that it applies to either girls and boys or men and women.

Social – cultural problems for example in Africa where a man dies and then the wife (the widow) is given another man the brother to the deceased husband to inherit her. So incase the deceased was positive to HIV/AIDS, then the brother will directly fish it also or vise versa and hence spreading it out.

Stigma – where some people fear to tell their partners what their status is as in line with HIV/AIDS. In one case in our village, a man tested positive and he started taking ARVs alone and he didn’t advise the wife also to get tested and start taking ARVs.

Gender Issues – where some partners say after all my partner has other lovers, let me also have others (they call them side dishes), is one of the chief causes that have lead to the increased spread of HIV/AIDS

It has been heard through rumor for a long period of time that some men and women don’t want or neglect to use condoms for their personal reasons. They always claim that sex with a condom is eating a sweet in its cover. This has rendered many to the hungry roaring lion – HIV.

Having shared with you some of the causes, I wish to share with you also the best ways I think and feel HIV/AIDS can be best prevented;

For parents/ guardians and teachers, the best way we can help the children is by talking about HIV/AIDS with them. Talk to children and carry out HIV/AIDS activities at school assemblies, form HIV/AIDS awareness clubs at schools, and have days for guidance and counseling where you encourage them to abstain. This will help manly the children to grow up when they know the dangers of the disease when they contracted it. It will scare them away and they will take great care of their lives.

For my dear ones who can’t abstain, using condoms becomes a better choice for you and also being faithful to your love partner. Side dishes should be deleted if one has to survive the AIDS scourge.

Could anyone have foreseen that the mysterious illness affecting a few gay men in 1981 would become the epidemic of the 20thcentury? Much progress has been made, but still so much needs to be learned. Until then the epidemic continues. So we need to take great care.

I dedicate this article to my pupils of Musita C/U Primary School and to all the children of Hope Children Club (H.C.C)

By: KITAKULE MICHEAL

Patron teacher Musita C/U Primary School

Children of War

Every gun that is fired, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,  those who are cold and are not clothed.

The world in arms is not spending money alone.

It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.

– Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

Luzon, Philippines, 1986

 

Beirut, Lebanon, 1982

 

Kuwait City, 1991

 

A landmine victim, Pul i Khumri, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, 1992

 

Shepherd boy at Al Ahmadi, Kuwait, 1991

 

Kandahar, Afghanistan, 1985

 

Child with Dutch Soldier, Afghanistan, 2002

 

 

Tamil Tigers recruits during training, west of Batticola, Sri Lanka, 1995

 

Kabul, Afghanistan,  1992

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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School Planting

In July of this year the Visions of Hope Foundation began teaching children how to read through the Basic Literacy Education and Support System (BLESS), a 20-week condensed version of the reading programs of Philippine pre-schools. It is specifically intended for children from age five to eight.  The first sets of learners were nine children in Laguna and ten children in Pasay City (Luzon), 13 in Aleosan (Visayas), and 16 B’laan children in Malungon (Mindanao).  Within two weeks to one month of their children’s attending BLESS classes, parents were already noting a marked improvement in reading skills.  Some said the children could even read better than siblings going to public school. Many parents have also been happily commenting on how their children’s manners have gotten better and on how they have learned to pray and use polite and affectionate expressions.

He's Two

Back when Evan was two and Sean was just a babe in arms, I met another woman with children the same ages.  She was a friend of a friend, who came over with her children for an impromptu play date.  They all stayed through naptime.  I went and put Evan to bed for his nap.   At that time, Sean actually nursed around the same time as Evan’s naptime and usually fell asleep for his afternoon nap.  It was beautiful.

I offered the mother the guest bed for her daughter.  The mother declined.  Because her daughter didn’t take naps any more.  As I watched the toddler stumble around the room in exhaustion, I asked why.

“Because she cried so much I just gave up.”

I pitied the child.  Not the mother.  I had been there with Evan.  In fact, I would sit just outside his room, placing him in his bed over and over for two hours before the kid finally gave in and fell asleep.  Two hours.  Yup, that was a fight worth fighting.

So when Sean started crying about being put to bed last week for his afternoon nap, I was shocked.  Here was the boy who loved his bed because he could just go to bed when he was tired.  What was wrong with this kid?

Then today as he cried for an hour and half, it dawned on me.  Sean was two.  He wanted to give up his nap.  Sorry, dude, your mommy is willing to take this to the mat.  Bring it on, little man.  Bring it on.

The Earth Remembers

The heart of the poppy remembers. 

During the Napoleonic era,  it was first noticed that blood red poppies bloomed in fields that had seen battle.  Somehow, the earth remembered.  Later it was discovered that the chalk in the soil reacted with the lime left from the rubble  created during battles.  Regardless of the science, what is most important is that the poppies remembered.  Human activity did not go unnoticed by nature.

And if the earth can remember pain and suffering, I wonder, can it not also remember joy?

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Does the grass remember the children who ran across it barefoot all those years ago?  Do the trees remember the boys who played their army games from their makeshift bases among them in the woods?  Now the boys are grown and war is no longer a game.   If the forest can remember, does it also long for their return?

Long after I am gone, and the trees and grass are still here, will they continue to hold the memories of boys who played among them?  These boys who too quickly grew into men and travelled far from home?  And one who especially liked to run barefoot through the woods and is now serving in Afghanistan, a land known for its poppies, and the ravages of its war?  

I hope so.  But if the trees and grass forget, I’m sure the poppies that spring up every year in the front yard will remind them.

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...and Sew On and Sew Forth

This weekend I mis-spent yet another morning in the Sunday Antique Market in Market Harborough.

As I have mentioned before, sometimes one wanders around for hours, inspecting every stall in minute detail, but seeing nothing which whispers in your brain or shouts “Take me, take me” in a vaguely sexual but worrying schitzophrenic way if you attempt to walk away and have a cup of tea and a custard tart.

A Thing of Beauty

On Sunday, I walked through the doors, and the first thing I saw was a Thing of Beauty.  A 1950’s ‘Sew-ette’ brand children’s sewing machine. 

I own three sewing machines already; a turn of the century table mounted treadle, a 1910 flower-enamelled, hand-operated Singer called Daisy (which I used for all my sewing needs until five years ago) and a brand new, Swiss-made, electric Elna machine, which has so many functions, that I can only assume that some of them are surgical.  I carried out three circumcisions before someone pointed out that the extra tool was a button-holer.

I saw it, I haggled, I bought it.  The Sew-ette is a mere 6″ long but is fully operational and can be used manually, via a miniature treadle or, most dangerously, with a simple on-off switch on the base.  I have no idea how it works, as it doesn’t appear to have anywhere to put a bobbin, but I’m sure I’ll work it out.  It is, after all, a children’s toy.  How difficult can it be?

This would never go on sale today, as the plunging needle would no doubt be considered a tiny-finger-mutilating-hazard.  And the upshot of not teaching children to use vital tools and respect the potential hazards of real life is that many grown people are no longer able to mend their clothes, turn up a hem, or run up a pair of curtains.  Or make a button hole.

Fridays are for Friends & Family 11.06.09

Welcome to another week-ending edition of FFF! This week has been a flurry of activity as we finalize plans for our organization’s Annual Meeting, which begins here in Towson, Maryland, on Sunday. You can read about it here; in addition, you can register for several events by going to this page. I hope to see you there!

Sarah, my daughter in Vancouver, Canada, has picked up a number of new writing and photography assignments in the past few weeks. Last week, she roamed the sidelines of the British Columbia Lions (CFL) for a photo shoot. She also has entered a proposal on a potential future for journalism with the Knight Foundation. You can read her suggestion on how to build readership for newspapers in a more user-friendly manner by clicking here. In fact, you can register for FREE and add your “rating” and “comments.” Sarah would greatly appreciate it, I’m sure!

Last week I cited Al Mohler’s compilation of the responses author of the Great Commission Resurgence document Danny Akin has made to some of the concerns addressed (or not addressed) in the document. This week I highlight a concern raised by Dr. Bill Brown, ever the outdoorsman, formerly on faculty at Southeastern Seminary himself and now teaching in the distance-learning program at Liberty. You can read his thoughts here. This is not the first time we’ve highlighted concerns with the GCR document; this link will take you to another item surfaced by Tom Cocklereece a few months ago.

One of the most interesting “Christian” websites I’ve come across this year is the very entertaining “Stuff Christians Like.” The author, Jonathan Acuff, continues to compile short articles about a variety of items that are normative in “typical” Christian culture, behavior and experience. The “stuff” is over 650 items long at this time and continuing to grow. (It will be published as the book on the right early in 2010.) Part information and part entertainment, it is fascinating to me to see how pervasive our “Christian world” is and the impact is has on what we think and do. You can click here to begin your journey through his site.

Last week I mentioned the recent leadership event with Mike Huckabee…(if you missed that you can read about it here.) Another outstanding speaker at that event was Rev. Rod Hairston, chaplain of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Rod did an exceptional job talking about character in the life of a leader. What you may not know is that Rod is also a church planter, having planted Messiah Community Church in the Owings Mills area about four years ago. You can find out more about Rod, including how you can have him come and speak at your next event, by clicking here. I am indeed blessed to consider him a friend.

Well, that’s it from here this week. I’ll be reporting next week from our Annual Meeting in Towson. Hopefully, my colleagues and I will see you there. So until next time, keep on moving at the speed of God!

News From Emily Lim

Dear Friends,

Wanted to share my good news that my 1st 3 books each now has its own international award! The Tale of Rusty Horse has just won the Gold Medal at the 2009 Moonbeam Awards, one of the fastest growing US-based children’s book awards. I am thankful for favour with the judges as I am the 1st in Southeast Asia to receive this award.

My 4 books are now available as a special gift set at Toys R Us Forum & Vivocity outlets (Baby R Us section) at S$60 (effectively 4 books for the price of 3). The books are autographed and the giftset also includes 1 bonus DVD (new release!) with the cartoon animation of my 1st 2 books (Prince Bear & Pauper Bear and The Tale of Rusty Horse). It makes a meaningful and good value gift for friends and loved ones for Christmas. Individual books are also available at all major bookstores. For bulk orders, you can also email me directly. Please support me and forward this to your friends! Thanks! Emily Lim You can read more about my books at www.mustardseedbook.com *1st in Southeast Asia to win a Moonbeam Award – 1st in Asia to win 2 IPPY Awards* - Moonbeam Gold Medal 2009 – IPPY Bronze Medal 2009 – IPPY Bronze Medal 2008 -

Prince Bear & Pauper Bear, The Tale of Rusty Horse, Just Teddy and Bunny Finds the Right Stuff are available in all major bookstores.
All 4 books are available together in 1 special giftset (autographed + bonus DVD) at Toys R Us Forum & Vivocity (Baby R Us Section)

Does Dead Broke = Deadbeat?

Can’t Pay & Won’t Pay Ex’s Face The Courts

 

By DAVID PISARRA

 

     “Deadbeat Dads” has been the headliner of multiple stories in the Chicago Sun-Times for decades. Cook County launched “Operation Father’s Pay”; Butler County in Ohio put faces of these so called deadbeats on pizza boxes; and the Los Angeles County District Attorney announced their “Most Wanted Delinquent Parent” list. Several other states have begun similar campaigns to collect on un-paid child support. All of these humiliating campaigns launched against these fathers would have us believe that the men targeted are insensitive deadbeats who are selfishly stiffing their children; however, research contradicts this.

The fact that many of these types of campaigns struggle to come up with alleged “deadbeats” who have an education or a middle-class job might give less zealous public officials cause to stop and pause. Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement data shows that two-thirds of those behind on child support nationwide earn poverty level wages; less than four percent of the national child support debt is owed by those earning $40,000 or more a year. According to the largest federally-funded study of divorced dads ever conducted, unemployment, not willful neglect, is the largest cause of failure to pay child support.

Keep Reading at divorce360.com

The Eyes Have it....Again

I now have all three children off with sticky eyes.

My eye runneth over.

Short of taking the house apart brick by brick and scrubbing it with Fairy Liquid and a tooth brush in the manner of big hatted Phil from Time Team, I am at a loss as to know what to do:

‘You see Katy, m’dear.  If we strip your house back to a series of low walls, within a century or so, your conjunctivitis problem will be a thing of the past.  Bring on the diggers…’

I could always chop their hands off.  I suspect that this might work.  No matter how many times I hoarsely shout ‘Wash your hands!’ or ‘Keep your hands away from your face!’ in the manner of a Sergeant Major, they cannot resist poking away at themselves with their filthy little paws.

‘Tallulah! If I’ve told you once…’

I have decreed that whatever state their shining, innocent faces are in tomorrow, they are all going to school, even if I have to chop heads off and replace them with cabbages with faces drawn on in biro. I am scheduled a morning off, and I will have it by golly.

I sound fierce, but you know I will cave in when I see their eye bogey encrusted little faces….Curse them.

If it wasn’t for you pesky kids, etc…

Matilda, bless her, is desperate to go back to school.  She hated missing netball yesterday and it is the talent show on Friday.  She has been practicing so hard there are threadbare bits of carpet which could tell the tale.  I cannot deny her this.  What if Simon Cowell is in the audience? She could be shot to stardom.  Not that she is terribly keen.  Like me, she is always dropping something down her front or being photographed scratching her arse.  She would be eternally in Heat’s ‘ring of shame’ pages.  They would probably dedicate an entire edition just to her.

No. Her heart is still set on being an artist, and why not indeed? The amount of money she is saving in the old Roses box is creeping upwards.  I believe she has saved nearly thirty pounds now.  This will at the very least purchase a lot of rolls of sellotape.  This would be useful.  She spent most of last night with a giant cardboard box, creating a home for her bears to live in.  I’m sure you remember ‘bear’.  ‘Bear’ is the one and only, never to be replaced bear that she lost in January during a horrendous snowstorm, and which I, like the gullible parent I am, tracked over wastelands and through gutters etc. 

Bear has a family.  There are granny’s and aunties and cousins etc, and although they are not as crucially important to the world continuing to turn as Bear herself, they are quite special.  Special enough for her to spend three hours last night building them a house.  It is now lurking in the corner of her bedroom, rather like the flying boat/car that she made last year, which finally bit the bullet this year, much to my relief.  It was very good, but it was a most unweildy shape and had a lot of strings and pulleys and things that I was continually tripping over.  Oscar was fascinated by it and spent much time trying to break into the bedroom to help remodel it, and all in all it was just a massive responsibility.  He has not seen the bear’s house yet.  Long may it last.

Tallulah is keen to go to school because they are doing Guy Fawkes this week and she has made a picture with; ‘You know mummy, those pencils made out of burned up wood stuff?’ ‘Charcoal?’ ‘Yes!’ and it’s going on the display board in the hall.  She needs to be there for her moment of fame.

It will happen. It shall happen.  I shall don the Ruby Slippers and chant: ‘There’s no place like school…’ until they magically whisk off there in a giant hot air balloon, accompanied by a small, crap, wizard.

It will definitely happen.

Bonjour Dame Kipling

I am currently making my friend Rosalind a top mother award out of the left over remnants from Tallulah’s gay Jewish interior decorating craft project.  She is a superstar. Rosalind that is, although if Tallulah would stay in bed for more than five minutes I’d think about bestowing the title on her too.

It is Rosalind’s son’s eleventh birthday tomorrow.  He is getting a bicycle.  He does not know this yet, but he is.  He will be very happy.

He was hazy and affable over presents.  Which is always nice.

The one thing he did specify that he wanted for his birthday was a Mr. Kipling French Fancy birthday cake. 

For those of you who are not au fait with the wonders of Mr. Kipling I will explain.  Mr. Kipling is rather like J.R. Hartley from the Yellow Pages advertisements: entirely fictional.  On top of that he is a kindly, bearded gentleman who embodies some of the best qualities of the British traditions of tea and buns, and in the case of J.R. Hartley, fly fishing.

The marketing department of Mr. Kipling would have us believe that not only does he make; ‘exceedingly good cakes,’  but that he makes them by hand in his quaint Victorian kitchen, tottering about in his slippers with icing sugar drifting through his beard, rustling up tasty morsels for the vicarage tea party and the local cricket matches.  He is a marvel.  Not only that, but he is about 150 years old and still going strong.  Who said fondant icing was bad for you? They know nothing. Nothing…

It is clearly the nectar of the gods.

The fact that most elderly men of my acquaintance wouldn’t be seen dead near a stove or pink icing is by the by.  Mr. Kipling can’t get enough of baking and is a wow with individual fruit pies, lemon slices, and most importantly of all, the French Fancy.

The French, au naturellement, shudder with horror and surprise when faced with the patisserie based travesty that is the French Fancy. Observe.

The French Fancy:

A horrified Frenchman:

Where is the artistry? Hein?

Anyway, for those of us who were brought up during the great processed food glut that was the Seventies, and lived off of Findus Crispy Pancakes; Ice Magic and Angel Delight they were a wonder borne down from Mount Olympus.  Small squares of luminous yellow sponge wrapped in virulent fondant icing, the dome on top was filled with ersatz cream that gave you a sugar rush that would have you surfing for a week.

I still love ‘em.

A few years ago, for my birthday, Jason took me away for the weekend to an extremely posh hotel.  We had a suite. It had a bath at the end of the bed. I spent my birthday afternoon in the bath, eating French Fancies and watching ridiculous films. It was luxe I tell you, luxe.

Anyway, now they do these enormous individual French Fancies, as big as your head.  And this is what Rosalind’s son wanted.  After my explanation it is clear that nobody could blame him. He is merely following in the tradition of a long line of British men through the ages.  Pink patisserie is where it’s all happening these days.

This morning Rosalind and her husband had two crucial tasks to perform:

1. buy the bicycle. This was Martin’s job.

2. buy the cake.  This was Rosalind’s job.

Martin got half way to work and realised he needed petrol.  He pulled up at the petrol station and was just about to put the petrol in the car when instinct told him to check that he had his wallet.  It turned out to be a train pass. His wallet was at home.  No petrol. No bike.  He called Rosalind to say he could just get to work and back, but that was it.  He passed the bicycle shaped baton on to her.

After dropping four children at school she headed off into the wilderness known as Halfords where she efficiently bought the bike.  Feeling rather pleased with herself that she had succeeded where lesser mortals had failed, she trogged twenty minutes across town to the supermarket.  This was where it all went pear shaped.  They had sold out of French Fancy birthday cakes.

Eek!

She did not have time to walk the half hour in the other direction to see if the other supermarket had it.  Instead she has been at home all afternoon trying to reconstruct by eye, hand and the supernatural power of the maternal deities, a hand made, individually crafted, artisanal Mr. Kipling French Fancy birthday cake.  It also has to be non dairy because one of the children has allergies.

By half past two this afternoon she texted me that she was onto the icing but had lost her nerve in case it went too pink.

I’m utterly, utterly impressed that she got that far. 

It is above and beyond, truly.  It makes me feel ashamed that I merely worried about Oscar’s fairy shaped cake, drank a glass of wine and took him to the supermarket to pick a ready made one.  I am not worthy.

I know that even if she has to stay up all night, sweating away at the coal face of pink, fondant icing, she will do it, emerging sticky but triumphant.

I name her Dame. Mrs. Kipling. Knightess of the Realm.

I bow before her.

All hail.

 

POLLUTION - NUCLEAR POLLUTION IS THE DEADLIEST !

Even children will draw a chimney, emitting a thick column of smoke, to indicate pollution. Of course, it is not good for human beings and animals, because the carbon dust will spoil our lungs. Cement plants cause illness among the workers, for the same  reason, as also, asbestos, gems etc.

The ingredients of smoke are carbon suit, carbon dioxide and fly ash. The latter will settle down in due course. CO2 will be absorbed by plants. Nothing will cause any permanent damage to the earth.

Chemicals like insecticides and dyes used in cloths making, on  the other hand, cause permanent harm, as these are absorbed by the soil, thence to the plants and animals. Mercury, lead, electronic waste etc. belong to this category. During rainy season, water gets contaminated. Prevention is the only remedy available.

 Water pollution can be reduced considerably by water plants, like  water hyacinth, which should, under no circumstance, be destroyed. periodically, we may remove it, so that new plants would grow, absorbing more poisonous chemicals.

Plastics do not decompose for ages and should be banned strictly.

By far, the greatest lethal pollution  is radiation. Nuclear power stations are the villains, masquerading as our saviors, in black suit and tie, spreading lies and half truths, because business worth  billions of dollars, are like a lamb before the lion ! The responsibility for clearing the mess, is left to the babies yet to be born. There is no end to cynicism, where profit is concerned.