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hearth broken
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hearth broken |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKN6lYU5bZ4&feature=related |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Brings tears when you think about the destruction to New Orleans not once,not twice but many times over in the history of your song! love to you Karen,I feel it. jo |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Oh jo, I do love you so... And please know that although I am indeed personally hearth broken, I also know that this lament can be song in virtually every state regarding ecological woes. I do truly believe that it is too late for the 'citizens' of southeast Louisiana--for long before the oil spill, long before we all knew the names Katrina and Rita, we happened to be the nation's chemical toilet. A pay toilet at times, but nevertheless, a toilet. I can't even complain that our own local government sold us down the river because we are at the end of it. And I've said it a million times--if all I can do is chop my own head off and put it on a stick as a warning to others to not tread the same path, then that's what I'll do. People need to know that Natural Gas is not necessarily clean--the toxic by products of those rigs are no more regulated than the deep sea drilling was. The government wouldn't even know where to begin with such regulations--no one seems to have a list of what agents are used in production. I remember watching The Jetsons, and as a kid being excited about the possibilities of future technology. With all the distraction of the "cool toys" they had, I neglected to take note that they lived in glass bubbles in the sky... And how ironic that after a twenty year war on drugs--regulations designed to legislate a moral code of sobriety that dictate what chemicals a person can willingly imbibe, that the chemical warfare that corporations has not only been neglected, but that neglect allowed such a profit margin that our own government can be bullied by those corporations. (Portions of public lands have been leased off as well, to satiate the incessant greedy needs of us all--as the waste water contaminates streams and other natural watering holes for endangered species that were supposed to be protected by the existence of these lands.) You can sing this song wherever you find indiscriminate logging practices that weaken a mountain to create mudslides in even the most occasional "rain event". You can sing this song in any trailer park, as most of the trailers (not just FEMA-provided) are made of pressboard which incorporates formaldehyde, which would be totally safe if you can live a life without scratching, denting, or getting moisture on any of that stuff. Otherwise you are going to suffer the consequence of toxic inhalants. We dredge our rivers, the conduits of many chemical waste by-products, but no one ever thinks about where "away" is when they throw something away. After questioning some guys who made a living that way, you might find it interesting, or like me, appalling to know that the dirt and much that is dredge out is sold back to farming industry as an augment to the land. To fill our fat stomachs, we have injected growth hormones and force-fed fats to our animals, and we scratch our heads in puzzled wonder when our children start hitting puberty at age nine as the norm, and skinny little girls have breasts the size of...shrug. More irony? In Los Angeles, where the smog is so thick that "air alerts" or whatever they are called have been common practice for three decades, people who smoke cigarettes can't even find a smoking area outside. I know my brain is scrambled, but that just didn't seem logical to me until I wondered if they were worried someone might blow the damned place up. So that little song is my white flag of surrender. I no longer give a damn about smoking anything any more. And I actually believe that in certain parts of the United States, a nice REGULATED shot of tequila is probably better for my liver than a glass of tap water. But I tell you what, Jo. Just so you know that I still have my humor and a few of my wits about me, should you happen to give me a call I will let you in on the inside joke of this post, that song, and my idea of a true survivor. I love you dearly, lovie.  And honestly, as dire and bleak as all the above sounds, please know that I intend to live as I have always, in the spirit of my fine city--I'll have a good laugh in the midst of my crying. Much love to you. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Dear Karen, You have so much knowledge and can write so perfectly that I really feel you have to submit some of the things you write to a few newspapers or start a blog. Blogs are read more frequently now than newspapers and so many dailies have been having readership problems that soon I am afraid they will be gone. So start a blog or write on someone else’s blog. love you much, jo [This message has been edited by latearrival (07-22-2010 08:10 PM).] |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
A ...blog???  I don't know how to write a blog. I don't know how not to write one either.  I do know, that I like to re-imagine words, and I didn't think up "blog". It rhymes with clog. And log. And the b...well, it gives me connotations of a bowel disorder. Maybe it's just a vowel disorder? blllllllllllllog. *shudder* It sure sounds like a disorder. "Aha" sez the doctor, "after careful examination of the ultrasound, re-affirmed by the x-rays, and MRI's, we have discovered that you have a blog in the sixteenth foot of your large intestine." (A BLOG?) He nods. "Yes, a blog--it's not a new condition, just a new diagnosis for a condition for people predisposed--no pun intended--yuk yuk yuk--to creative writing. Have you noticed that lately you've had any trouble writing lately?" Um, no. perhaps some redundancy, though... "No problems addressing envelopes?" Er...envelopes? Whazzat? "What about just, telephone numbers? Can you write down telephone numbers--oh wait, do you have a cellphone, as that would negate the necessity of..." NO CELLPHONE. and nobody's asked for my number in years... *sob* Sympathy nod. "That's significant--a side-effect indicative of the 'blog' condition." Doc? I'm feeling a little queasy...  Wait! I filled out a form! That counts, doesn't it? "It could help. But I think we should put you on an anti-blogging regimen of this new pharmaceutical kick-back, um...it's one simple pill you take every morning--you might have heard of it--it's called Quickhack." quickhack...will my insurance cover this? "To get you hooked--er, started, let me give you a spitload of sample packs, just in case--oh, but before I do? I see you neglected to fill out your forms--I can't help you until you sign this last one especially--I know it's really small print, but I can't treat you without the release of liability form, signed, dated, and hey, it has to be in your own blood, and for your convenience, we have a brand new blood lab right across the hall!" exclaimed Dr. Beamsbroadly. The patient frowns. But, I can't fill out forms...I am suffering from that "BLOG" condition... "No problem. We'll just have you phone our automated patient permission phone requestor right here from our office. Just dial the same phone number you called for your appointment, wait fifteen minutes and press the number 6 three times on your cellphone, and your insurance company will file your claim automatically as well." but i don't have a cellphone...  "Well you do have a blog, and I suggest you take this condition seriously!" Hrrmph. "Come back to see me when you have all of your technology together--and might I say, I really resent my time being wasted in this manner." hey, if I'm paying you, isn't it, my time? "Don't let the forms kick you in the ass--and good luck filling those out with no help for your blog condition, too!" *sniff* * * * *hugs* Love ya Jo. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIFknAdVvNM&NR=1  |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Loved your long rant on Blogs. HA ha.just write on your Face Book page and people will read it. I promise. Ha ha. I grew up on Winchester roller skates. The kind you strap onto your shoes and wore the key around your neck. Loved it. At 57 I learned to skate on wooden floors in a rink.Did that three times a week until I moved to Florida. Roller skates were my icon. love ya. jo PS. I lived in New Haven where the Winchester company was. Most people do not know they also made roller skate,not just guns. |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Karen, what a fantastic idea for you - a blog! When some of that crazy "$#*&" hits your grey matter, you just go jot it down. I wish I knew as much as you forget sometimes. If you had a blog, just think? All that raving madness could be kept in one place for posterity. Lord, but I love you my Cajun Caweenie. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Thanks for indulging me... I've been going through my day picturing rollerskating riflemen, too. A new Haven, indeed. And Jo? I know it's hard to believe,  but I too remember when rollerskates had keys, and? You had to have a pretty hefty sneaker for the danged things to stay on--I twisted my ankles a lot.Dangerous toys, me mind meanders... Anybody remember "clackers"? We were actually allowed to bring those medieval weapons to school for a time. And then there was a creepy crawler "bake" set, if anybody can remember the name, remind me? For a reasonable price, you could buy your child a toxic mix of plastics, complete with molds in the form of spiders or worms, etc. and you could sit and have your five o'clock cocktail in peace, knowing that your child was home, in his or her room, inhaling stuff that was probably outlawed in China! At least ya knew they weren't inhaling marijuana!  Ooooh. I'm reminded of the Gumby and Pokey sets too. For some reason I couldn't resist chewing on those lead-filled stretchy toys. For some reason, Gumby always tasted better to me. (I think I just liked the way it fit in my mouth.)<--redundancy again--"for some reason"--the dreaded BLOG symptom. *eg* Oh, hush, ye naughty thinkers. That was the farthest thing from my mind. Back then.  |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
The Easy Bake set had things to bake cookies but I Also remember the plastic things they could make creatures with. We NEVER wore sneakers with rollar skates. We did not even have them when I was growing up. Sturdy shoes,even if the soles had holes in them filled with cardboard. LOL Remember the Flatsy toys,also soft plastic. Who knows what our kids inhaled or digested? I still think they should go back to glass baby bottles. Who knows what was in those plastic ones. Thank heavens I stuck to the glass ones and nursed first. Some went right to sippy cups and even those could have been damaging. HELP!! I was set to buy stock in the corning glass company in hopes they would do it. LOL jo |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Creepy Crawlers I loved those things - made tons and tons. Clackers, I can't tell you the number of times I hurt my hand with those things. Let's not forget the wonderful "jews harp" (that was what it was called right?) I broke a front tooth on that thing. By the way, I too think Gumby tasted better than Pokey. Well off to Tori's 12th birthday party, and Karen she is now 2 inches taller than moi. and finally, yes finally, going to model and get paid for it. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Clackers? Those hard balls on string that you twirled? I would not buy those. I taught my kids to make them with horse chestnuts and in if not those, large buttons. They were great fun. Memories. We played Jack knife. We all had jack knives. We make a square on the ground and threw the kife at it and called out our property.I for get how it was played but we all had knives. Just think if kids had them today as play things.Unthinkable. But we never used them for anything bu the game. LOL |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
You give Tori a hug for me, will ya? And I'm soooooooo grinning...I was really good with those clacker things. Hugs to you too, Jo. I came back to share something, while maybe not a "toy" per se, I do think it qualifies as dangerous: http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/11/25/bear-sleeping-bag Um, yeah, sure. I'd get a good night's sleep in that. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
That link is a lot of fun. Interesting designs.And I agee about the bear sleeping bag.UGH! |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
*smile* There are, to quote the cliche', some people who just "dance to a different drummer". Hmmm. Technically, I think that should read that there are some people who just dance to a different drum beat. For example, watch this vid: http://2photo.ru/12733-risunki-xudozhnika-sam-nielson.html If you didn't have sound, but watched the vid anyway, then you missed out on a fairly nice syncopation of sound. If you didn't have sound? I'm sure it looked insane, inane, and perhaps even indicative of hostility being expressed as certain objects were deliberately broken in the process. So I'm back to say, that there might be a circumstance where I would wrestle a bear to sleep in that bear suit--maybe I've just never been cold enough. We all judge one another so quickly, so harshly... (please note that I use the inclusive pronoun of "we"--my admission of guilt) And yet, it is the people who did dance to those different drummers that made the great leaps of discovery, such as the one we're utilizing right now to communicate with each other. I don't think that we give enough credit to people who dare to be different. Our minds abhor chaos. From birth, we begin blocking off neurological pathways to make sense of our environments--a lesson in futility if you ask me, but yes, oh yes, it is very necessary to do so. But we carry on, too. Too far, I think. When we catch a one-minute glimpse of someone doing something that confuses us, we all feel a need to find a name, a slot, some number or alphabet to file the behavior (or the person) away--so we don't have to expend the necessary effort to understand, so we don't have to fear the influence of what might be a contagious invitation to add more chaos to the CHAOS. We have rules and regulations, and again, I AGREE that these are necessary. But there are times when I just feel sad about some of them. There is a book that I love called "The Little Prince". In this book, the little prince drew a picture depicting a snake that had swallowed an elephant. Most people he showed it to would say, "what a nice picture of a hat!" And the little prince would fold the paper back up and put it away, and commence to talk about commonsense things. But? On the occasion someone would compliment him on his rendering of a snake swallowing an elephant, he would think, "here is a person of understanding" and he was happy to be able to talk to that person about just anything at all. I would like to thank you, Jo, Mysteria, for being people of understanding. And I know some would argue that perhaps this might be a post better suited for philosophy, but I happen to miss the days of The Alley being a place where people could go to talk about any old thing that was bothering them--not just politics. I appreciate you two letting me know that you've been here. And that you don't mind that I sometimes dance to a drummer that others can't hear. Yep. That bear suit? I might wear one, if I were cold. (Not sure I'd wanna get caught dead in one, though.) Love you guys. |
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