Today's Poem: On Food Pictures

Photo by FranLa

O food pictures
taken in super high definition close up
early morning sun casting a breakfasty light on the plate
fresh new day of hope and possibility
and garnishes
of grated something savory,
fatty, salt to the sweet, sweet to the salt
making results of fine recipes appear much more distinctly than they ever could
to last far longer than they ever, ever, ever would.

A Democracy is Not a Business

A democracy can't be run like a business because a business is a dictatorship. Businesses are at the mercy of their presidents and CEO's. If they're humane, good. If they're not, well, that's why employees unionize. Banding together makes a louder voice to insist on respect for civil rights. A democracy is not a business and people are not products or pawns.

The Potato Poem

The staff of life for my ancestors who had to escape the famine

imposed by their would-be masters who forced the choice

to stay home and die or go elsewhere,

potatoes are in a mesh bag in the lower cabinet

a cool dark dry place, protected.

I will too easily forget them if I don’t eat them soon.

I was handed down a hunger for the flavor and sustenance

the sense of a comfort and safety that warms the body

lifts and evens mood

nourishment with butter, salt

and the character of music and hearty laughter

I was handed down a hunger

for love and kindness that makes life fulfilling.

So here’s to the Irish

and a background to be thankful for

and here’s to the success of the migration

and wishes for good health and happiness 

to friends and loved ones now from every walk and way.

And if I do forget the potatoes in the cabinet

As it is with the deepening of love they will grow roots, not rot;

As it is with the watchful and wise they will grow eyes, not moldy spots.

Unless I leave them there just too darn long.

Of the People, By the People, For the People: doing our homework

Someone complained that there was too much political stuff on facebook lately. Someone responded, "'tis the season!" I've been thinking about that: It is the season. 

This is part where we adults do our homework, a little soul searching and research, make sure we're comfortable with our decisions and their ramifications. Read. Get mad. Read, get reassurance. Have discussions that make social bridges and choose your best approach to solving the world's problems. Get ready to vote, and vote with your best presence of mind and benefit of experience - represent yourself as you select your representatives! Tis the season, right now!

We're All In This Together

Private funding is fleeting because private interests are personal at heart - and limited to a subjective funding source (i.e., those considered important by "the rich guy in town" and/or his board who rely on him for whatever perqs come with their service). That's why projects that affect all of us, such as fire and police departments, garbage collection, road infrastructure, equitable healthcare, call for civic collaboration (also known as tax payer support) - we are all responsible to each other!

Permanence Lost

There was a
beautiful idea
a
perfect notion of
the confluence of all good
and everything
peaceful being con-
nected.  A sigh, warm, smooth, inspired,
inner dawn;
urge to action
but my cellphone
jingled a text had come.
I had to write
"ha ha"
(I don't say "LOL").

Now:
What was I about
to

do?

What "Back on Track" means to RXR

Romney and Ryan were on  60 Minutes last night.  They kept saying they wanted to "Get America back on track," but wouldn't explain what that meant or how they'd do it.  Then this image popped into my head so I drew it.

NASA and How to Make Your Own Space Vid

NASA lets you download video to make your own compositions. Just another nice thing about the fact that NASA is a public agency.

Wishes for Good Fortune

Never heard of Todd Snider before today. Now I want to learn this song:

How to Feed a Buzz

An interesting look at Buzzfeed, how it compiles, and where it gives credit (and that its staff tends to build upon what it finds on reddit).


"Once you understand how central Reddit is to BuzzFeed, it’s like spotting the wizard behind the curtain."

Now is Good

For the sake of simple conveyance of this idea, let's accept reincarnation as reality: Sometimes I wish I could be in touch with who I was in past lives and how I lived because if I lived before today, no matter how well I did or how much influence I had, I could not have had more comforts and conveniences than I do in this life. Even if I was royalty, I would have had to wear dirty clothes most of the time. No washing machines! Even if I lived in the pristine woods I would have had to weather storms. And the food? Butter unrefrigerated? Don't get me started.

Whether I was nothing or someone or an ant or a creature from another dimension I can't imagine right now, I am thankful for the comforts I have in this life. This comfort has a flipside, which is the fact that we've been damaging the environment and, like royalty our comfort relies on standing on the backs of those who do the dirty work. So there's a little guilt with the appreciation. To move forward, I have to look for the positive, and it's there: I am alive at a time when humanity has indulged so much in all of the above that the experience of conscience is something we can share; thanks to the internet, the good guys can collude. And with that, I conclude.

Ethers

Stay with it - they are not tiny missiles, but maybe the sense of vulnerability, when the animated elements first appear, is intentional.

Relax and watch in high resolution, big screen. This has a happy ending.

Passing Through from Olafur Haraldsson on Vimeo.

Bryan May

I was going to say here's ten minutes of music to play in the background as you write or create, but it's really worth watching.  He knows how to engage with his audience.   He is present with the crowd, the night, and himself.

See "Each Moment is the Universe"

This is a beautiful story of subtle profound redemption. It is a favorite for a life-time. Watch it in hi-def on the full screen.

Each Moment is the Universe from bruce thierry on Vimeo.

NASA's Venus Transit Timelapse

Go lit'l planet! Go!

Transit of Venus: An Homage

And this is my homage to the transit of Venus today:

Here Comes the Sun


(I'm Your) Venus

Flash and the Grand Canyon

I love this joke. The setup (first video below) is about 20 minutes before the almost incidental punchline at the end of the episode (second video below). It's better to just see the whole show, but I made this because I love this joke.

Therein Lies the Theremin

Now here's something I never thought I'd see...


But why are they inside Russian dolls?  It's because the inventor, Leon Theremin, was Russian. I wonder what they did with the tiny and tinier dolls.

Ode to Tuesday

I wake to you with neither hope nor sorrow,

Before my eyes to the clock, I know your name.    

It’s not Monday! At last it is tomorrow!

A day has passed since my least favorite came.

Tuesday, you have a light refreshing presence,

A newness ‘specially salient around nine;

Something about the way the sun is innocent

The quality of light has evanescence,

I secretly wish that you were only mine.

You tell me all the things that Monday meant.

Motivated by the star.me mission of the day, 05/25/12

Soda Pop, Naturally

Photo is from linked blog.

A delightful friend I haven't met, Cherish, is learning to make soda pop. Who knew the drink has its origins as a naturally produced drink?

"Not Dabbling in Normal" knew so I'm linking to their blog of natural soda pop recipes. 

Mix your ingredients, add yeast, wait a few days for it to get fizzy, pour it over ice. Natural carbonation results from the early stages of fermentation; you simply halt the process before the concoction becomes an acoholic beverage. I believe I'll start with the ginger-ale.  This may be the treat of summer 2012: Here's the blog of recipes.