Monday, January 31, 2011

Internet Kill Switch


An internet kill switch? Whatyoutalkinaboutwillis? Just because Egypt has done it doesn't mean we should do it. My mom use to say to me, "Well Ava just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean you should too! If they all jumped off of a bridge, would you wanna do that too?" Honestly?  - Inside my little Greek coconut - I think I always did want to secretly jump off that imaginary bridge my Mom referred to. But don't tell her that.
I do have many fans in Egypt and this whole switching off the internet has really taken a toll on my blog numbers. But seriously, there are so many other stupid things that other countries have come up with but thankfully we were smart enough to sit back and say, "I don't think so."
Here is a list of foreign inventions that thankfully never caught on in the United States.

Portable Sauna, Finland


Baby Cage, England



Dog Restraint, France


Baby Holder, England
I am hoping beyond hope that the Internet Kill Switch is not something the United States Government ever seriously considers or uses. I say this for a reason.
A few weeks ago I did a blog about Facebook shutting down on March 15th. It was by far one of my most popular blog posts because so many people were seriously concerned that it might be true. And all of that concern was over just the potential of one website shutting down. I can not even imagine the uproar over shutting down the entire internet. Can't happen.
So what do you think?
Blessings,
Ava
xox

FLANNERY ROW

As always, most of this is conjecture. That's why I call them "theories of relateeveety"......

Stephanie Douglas was born into wealth, with her father John being a rich businessman in Chicago. She attended Northwestern University, where she gained a reputation as quite the party gal (unlike the reputation she built later in life as being a woman of strong moral conservative values.)

Stephanie was dating a college classmate named Massimo Marone back in the 1950's and they slept together when they went off to Geneva, Switzerland, for a vacation. But soon after they broke up when Stephanie met and fell in love with Eric Forrester. Unbeknownst to any of them, Stephanie was pregnant with Massimo's child. However, since she had also been sleeping with Eric at that time, she naturally assumed Eric was the father of the baby whom they named Ridge.

After graduating from college and marrying Eric, Stephanie Douglas Forrester didn't want to trade on her father's name, wealth, and power; she was going to make it on her own. And so she forged her own career path in Los Angeles, one that could lead her one day to gain her own position of wealth and influence. Eventually she landed the position of secretary for famed gossip columnist Lilly Bentley. Susan Flannery was first seen - officially - as Stephanie in 1987 in the second episode of 'The Bold And The Beautiful'. But as the unnamed secretary for Lilly Bentley, she made one quick appearance in an episode of 'Burke's Law' ("Who Killed Harris Crown?") in 1963. By this point, Stephanie and Eric had been married for a few years and were adding to their brood with Thorne, Angela (now deceased), Kristen, and Felicia. With the strain on their finances because of their growing family, Stephanie wanted to make sure her dream of making it big could still be realized. So she went to John Douglas and asked her father for a major loan with which she and Eric founded their Forrester fashion firm. She quit her job as Lilly Bentley's secretary but may have used the contacts whom she met there to get the business off the ground.

But she never looked back - which is why it's never been mentioned on 'The Bold And The Beautiful' that Stephanie once worked as a secretary as seen in an episode of 'Burke's Law'.....
One last point:

Stephanie has never learned that her father had an affair with a married woman named Nelson. John Douglas fathered a daughter and even though there was a decade's difference in their ages, Stephanie Douglas Forrester and Edith Nelson looked exactly alike.*

The power of tele-genetics!

Like her half-sister Stephanie, Edith also started out in an office position. But thanks to the influence of her older brother, Admiral Harriman Nelson, she served as a stenographer in the West Wing of the White House. (This combines two characters Susan Flannery played on 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea', from the episodes "Traitor" and "Hail To The Chief".)

Now, that was during the administration of President Henry Talbot McNeill. But this Toobworld timeline vanished becaue of a course correction to the TV Universe. This was due to a temporal reboot caused by Nick Cutter and his wife Helen when they traveled back through an anomaly to 'Primeval' times. Whether Edith Nelson still held the position of stenographer at the televersion of the Nixon White House in the adjusted timeline is unknown, but likely.
SHOWS CITED:
'The Bold And The Beautiful'
'Burke's Law'
'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea'

'Primeval'

BCnU!

*
Although Susan Flannery's appearance on 'Burke's Law' and 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea' were roughly a year apart, 'Voyage' took place about a decade into the future......

AS SEEN ON TV: GARY COLEMAN

Since today is "Two For Tuesday" and the first day of Black History Month, and because Mr. Coleman's most famous character is getting a special showcase this month.....

GARY COLEMAN

AS SEEN IN:
'The Simpsons'

AND:
'Family Guy'

BCnU!

Suzuki Motorcycles Reviews

Former Master Sgt. Adam Monticelli with the Oregon Air National Guard changed his plea to guilty in federal court Monday.

Monticelli admitted that he stole three Suzuki motorcycles from the Air Force, 125 Special Tactics Squadron of the Oregon Air National Guard in 2009. He was a Senior Master Sgt. at the time. Monticelli admitted to creating a fictitious person, signing off on those motorcycles as being unusable, then selling them on Craigslist for profit.

Although Monticelli admitted guilt, he will likely never see the inside of a prison cell. He is being placed on an 18 month diversion program, similar to probation. Monticelli, who lives in New York, can have the three felony charges against him dismissed if he completes a diversion program by July of 2012.

Monticelli must also re-pay the government $8850 for the stolen motorcycles.

U.S. Attorney Pamala Holsinger said that under the circumstances the result is unusual, but said Monticelli is a decorated service member being given a second chance.

If Monticelli does not successfully complete the 18 month diversion program, he will be sentenced on three felony counts of theft of government property—a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
suzuki motorcycles
Suzuki Motorcyclestop suzuki motorcycles
Suzuki Motorcyclessuzuki motorcycles pics
Suzuki Motorcyclessuzuki motorcycles suzuki
Suzuki Motorcyclessuzuki motorcycles photo
Suzuki Motorcyclessuzuki motorcycles image

While 700 motorcycles may seem like a bad day for some rallies or events, in some parts of the world its considered a record.

Case in point, Jakarta Indonesia where the magical figure of seven hundred broke a record set in 2007 for the number of motorcycles participating in a rally. And like every record-breaking event there were a list of who’s who, at least among the local population.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo and former Industry Minister Fahmi Idris participated in the rally.

But like any motorcycle event that crowds the local streets, the sheer number of bikes reportedly slowed down traffic with drivers complaining about bikers creating unwanted congestion.

There are more than a few reasons why this motorcycle enthusiasm is music the ears of motorcycle manufacturers the world over. While some parts of the globe were happy with maintaining sales, or even a slight decrease, in Indonesia two-wheeled sales were up 26 percent reaching 7,369,249 units.

That already big number is expected to get bigger with an expectation of over eight million motorcycles being sold in 2011.

Sales volumes last year were led by Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki according to data from Indonesia's Motorcycle Industry (AISI). With these mind-boggling motorcycles it’s no surprise that manufacturers from Harley-Davidson to Honda are looking to these prolific markets with longing eyes. Both felt lucky with selling 143,000 and 192,000 motorcycles respectively in the North American region for 2010.

Admittedly, the motorcycle market in Indonesia and surrounding countries have large segments of smaller sized engine motorcycles that are used by the general public as everyday transportation, an area not serviced by the Ducati’s of the world.
And it’s wrong to assume to look for would-be motorcycle clubs rumbling through the back roads of Indonesia because they’ve been bitten by the biker bug. Most likely the reason for the expected jump in the already millions of sales is a fuel subsidy.

The Indonesian government plans to stop the use of subsidized fuel for private cars in the Jakarta region after the first quarter, but not for motorcycles which is seen to help with the growth of two-wheeled sales.

But regardless of the reasons why and what they may buy, motorcycle manufacturers have over eight million reasons to find their way to Indonesia.

Top Fashion Model Jessica White biography and photogallery


Jessica White biography: 

 


Rarely do we hear of the girl who gets saved by modeling.

Residence: New York, NY, US 

Hometown: Buffalo, NY, US

Height: 5'11"

Eye Color: Brown

Date of Birth: June 21, 1984

Agency: Elite 

Campaigns: Chloe, Maybelline, Tommy Hilfiger, and Gap 

We've all heard the woeful tales of young girls falling prey to the hard-partying ways of some who inhabit the world of modeling. on the odd occasion however, do we hear of the girl who gets saved by modeling. Such was the case for Jessica White. In her hometown of Buffalo, New York, at the age of 13, the young beauty was head for trouble until scouts discovered her and whisked her off to the City of Lights.

In Paris, White signed with the important IMG agency, and in superstar fashion landed a contract with cover up Girl and fronted campaigns for Chloé and Gap. Jessica also attracted world-class photographers and grace the pages of Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue, and Sports Illustrated's swimming suit edition. White holds the distinction of being the first black woman to appear in the issue for three consecutive years. 

Jessica White photogallery: 





Wait Forty Five Minutes After Eating

Another week has come and gone as Mongo inches closer to the first race of the year on February 19th. Though a TT, and not really my specialty, it has given me something to focus on over the Winter. The byproduct of which has been Mongo's improved diet, weight loss, and overall elevated fitness. The "Cat Five Domination Triangle", consisting of the road bike, mountain bike, and trainer, along with some newly purchased doping products, makes me think that there's reason to feel confident about the upcoming season.

On Saturday I was planning on making a triumphant return as defending champion to the "Enemy Bike Shop" B ride. I was eventually convinced by "My $6000.00 Cyclocross Bike Finally Paid Off" Tom to HTFU and go back to doing the "A" ride. So Tom, "Fast" Eddie, and myself jumped in and did it. Eddie faded, Mongo hung tough near the front, and in a precursor to his victory the following day in a cyclocross race in Alabama, Tom went to the front and never looked back. In all honesty, this may have been the best I've ridden on this course...ever.

Sunday turned out to be the nicest day of the year, literally, and Mongo made the wrong call on where to do my recovery ride. The SCT was packed! Dogs...kids...bladers...runners...old people...they were all out there and in my way. Add to this that the triathletes have come out of the woodwork on their TT bikes, and it was a crowded and miserable day. After twenty miles I turned around and went home.

Today it rained, so I cleaned the bikes and hit the trainer for a fast, forty five minute session. I'll be checking out the TT course on Thursday and putting in a couple of practice runs, so Mongo will be able to compare his times to last year's race and see where I stand.

Crumbs! Cobell Settlement

Is the Cobell settlement another scam?
UPDATE: Attorneys ask judge to more than double their fees
By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Photo: Aneth Utah oil field

Attorneys in the Cobell settlement jacked up their bill in January, more than doubling it, and the United States is now attempting to buy up Indian lands under the settlement.
Indian land owners, long cheated by the US government, will be receiving peanuts. Individual Indians are expected to receive on the average $1,200, of the $3.4 billion settlement.
Native Americans question if the settlement is no more than another US scam to buy up Indian lands.
Never sell the land
Vi Waln said she has already received three letters, with increasing offers. Waln is Sicangu Lakota, editor of Lakota Country Times and lives on the Rosebud Indian Nation in South Dakota.
"I got three letters on the Cobell settlement. And I will get more letters offering to buy my fractionated interests. Every time they send me a letter with an offer to buy the fractionated interests they offer more money. Maybe I will sell if they offer me $99.9 million like the Cobell lawyers are getting," Waln said.
"But then again I always tell my family to never sell the land, even if the letter says you own only one acre!"
Attorneys want a big chunk of the pie
Now that the US has agreed to the Cobell settlement, the attorneys, including a large number of non-Indian attorneys, are seeking to more than double their fees.
The $3.4 billion class action settlement, Cobell v. Salazar, seeks to resolve claims related to Individual Indian Money (or IIM) accounts and land held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of individual Indians.
The attorneys now say that $99.9 million isn't enough. On Jan. 25, the attorneys asked a presiding judge for far more: $223 million plus $1.3 million in expenses and costs (see court petition below.)
Although some of the attorneys are Native Americans, the majority are not.
Washington solo practitioner Dennis Gingold and a team of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton attorneys told a judge their fees should be more than doubled.
The National Law Journal online reports, "Kilpatrick Chairman William Dorris in Atlanta, who bills at $690 an hour, revealed in court records the hourly rates for nearly 100 current and former partners, associates and counsel in Washington; Winston-Salem, N.C.; and Atlanta, among other cities."
Ben Carnes, Choctaw in Oklahoma, questions why the United States isn't paying the legal fees.
"What is absent to me is why the defendants (US Government) isn't paying the attorney fees, which is what is usually requested in civil actions. Unless the negotiations in the settlement were that their payday came from the plaintiffs.
"There has been an argument that many of the current plaintiffs have passed on since the filing of this case, but that has been going on for more than a hundred years. If there is a fear they won't get money in hand before their deaths, then it disturbs me. One should never give up just so they could be bought out."
What about criminal charges?
Carnes said he views the settlement as a cover-up, aimed at protecting the criminals involved in the theft and fraud of billions of Indian dollars.
"My opinion of the Cobell settlement is that it is a cover-up. There is no doubt that to do an historical accounting would be a monumental undertaking, but the costs would be more than dollars.
"It could cost careers, expose covert illegal activities and where possible, lead to a demand for federal indictments. Someone mentioned that during the Iran-contra hearings evidence was revealed that funding had been diverted from our accounts.
"As to the fractionated lands issue, I was told that the lands purchased would be turned over to the tribal government as a part of the consolidation. Since these entities are created by the federal government, it wouldn't be a far stretch to think that the federal government could 'lease' these lands more easily than dealing with heirs."
"Another aspect I haven't seen mentioned here is that when notices are sent out, and if an heir couldn't be reached, they will lose out anyway. These lands will be purchased at fair market value, but when these lands are gone, they will be gone."
Through the years, whistleblowers, including one at the BLM in Farmington, N.M., exposed the fact that the amounts of oil and gas being extracted from the Aneth, Utah, oil and gas fields on the Navajo Nation, were intentionally underreported to benefit the corporations. Navajos in Aneth had long protested the hundreds of oil and gas wells around their homes that were poisoning their families.
Sweetin' the pie: Indian scholarships
The dangling carrot of the offer of Indian scholarships was supposed to sweeten the pie, but American Indians aren't buying that either. They've seen these vague scholarship offers fall by the wayside, or end up with most of the funds going into the pockets of CEOs and for travel, or squandered in more fraud.
Theresa Yarbrough listed many concerns over the settlement.
"The scholarship fund is nothing more than dangling an apple in front of the lead plow horse," Yarbrough said.
The vague wording in the settlement states: "Depending on the level of participation in the land consolidation program, up to $60 million will be set aside to provide scholarships for higher education for American Indian and Alaska Native youth."
The truth is, "up to $60 million," is vague wording and means anything less than this amount.
US seeks to benefit from its crimes
Yarbrough points out that the United States would never enter into the Cobell settlement, unless it benefits the United States.
In the settlement, as usual, the US states that it has done nothing wrong.
"They agree to settle, they don't believe they have committed any crime or wronged anyone," Yarbrough pointed out.
"Another thing wrong with this is that the settlement allows for a huge amount of the monies to establish a new government program that will be used to buy up fractionated lands. This is nothing more than another land acquisition movement," she said. "Unless the land is returned to the Indians with a land patent, and all mineral and resource rights, it is still property of the United States," she said.
Native Americans point out that the US can not be trusted. Further, they point out that tribal governments are entities manufactured by the US government. When it comes to land, and revenues from energy, many Native Americans feel neither the tribal government nor the US government can be trusted.
Although the settlement says the newly-acquired lands purchased will become a "benefit" to the tribes, beware. The US also considers toxic waste dumps as good economic development for Indian country.
It is the purchase of fractionated interests that is a red flag among many.
"Under the Settlement Agreement, $1.9 billion will fund a Department of the Interior program to buy fractionated interests in trust or restricted land from willing sellers to benefit tribal communities and aid in land consolidation."
Yarbrough said what the government is really saying, with the land acquisition is: "We will benefit from your lands and keep you from leaving it to your heirs."
Grassroots Natives remain uninformed
The settlement comes with many warnings that may never reach the grassroots Native people who live without electricity or Internet. For some, English is a second language. Still, if they don't opt out, they are considered part of the settlement.
"Individuals wishing to keep their right to sue the federal government over mismanagement claims covered by the settlement must exclude themselves from the settlement by April 20, 2011," according to the settlement.
Hush money
As with any settlement, this means an end to claims.
"Settlement means just that, once the deal is accepted, the issue is settled, put to rest, and can never be brought up again," Yarbrough said.
Crumbs again for the people
As more is learned about the settlement, it increasingly resembles some of the casino negotiations.
These resulted in casino management companies and the states receiving fortunes from lucrative casinos. The grassroots Native people whose tribes operate lucrative casinos, including the Tohono O'odham, continue to live in desperation, seeking food, homes and jobs, while profits go to casino management companies and large percentages to the states.
More
UPDATE Feb. 2, 2011: Cobell is holding meetings with land owners:
http://64.38.12.138/News/2011/000330.asp
Current payout information for landowners:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/court-ordered-notification-in-34-billion-indian-trust-settlement-to-begin-114639824.html
Attorneys petition for increased fees:
"This fee petition is submitted by plaintiffs on behalf of Dennis M. Gingold, Thaddeus Holt and the law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP, including William E. Dorris, Keith M. Harper, Elliott H. Levitas, David C. Smith, Adam H. Charnes, G. William Austin and Justin M. Guilder (collectively, “Class Counsel”) in accordance with the terms of settlement. Work after December 7, 2009 will be the subject of future applications.

Court petition:
http://www.indiantrust.com/docs/20110126_petitionbrief.pdf
National Law Journal: Cobell attorneys seek $223 million
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202480032511




Flagstaff Protest: NAU off sacred Mount Graham

Contact: Robin Silverrsilver@biologicaldiversity.org
(602) 799-3275 (Photo: Mount Graham website:
www.mountgraham.org )
Action in support Winona LaDuke's presentation at NAU campus on Feb 1st. Protest rally to stop NAU desecration and extinction on Mount Graham!
When: Tues. February 1.
Gather at 5:00 PM
Walk starts at 6:00 PM
Where: NAU High Country Conference Center located at 201 West Butler Avenue.
Meet outside near Butler Ave and Conference Center main entrance.
Look for banners.
Why: The Mount Graham telescope project desecrates a central Apache religious site. It destroys and fragments the old growth forest heart of an endangered species' critical habitat.
Northern Arizona University is a partner in the projects centerpiece Large Binocular Telescope.
NAU administration has ignored previous attempts to address this issue.
Please join us!
Who: NAU students, faculty and concerned community members. Elders from San Carlos Apache will be in attendance.
This action is being supported by: Center for Biological Diversity, Mount Graham Coalition, and Indigenous Action Media.
Plan: Walk from Conference Center to Winona LaDuke's speech at Ardrey
Auditorium (ticket necessary for admission: http://nau.ticketforce.com/ordertickets.asp?p=432&backurl=default.asp)
Contact: NAU President Haeger and urge him to respect the Apache, to save the Mount Graham red squirrel and to get NAU out of the Mount Graham telescope project.
Phone: (928) 523-3232 Email: John.Haeger@nau.edu
Further Info: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2010/mount-graham-red-squirrel-12-22-2010.html
NAU OFF MOUNT GRAHAM! PROTECT SACRED SITES!
Background:
For the Apache, Mount Graham or Dzil nchaa si' is of central sacred importance to the Western Apache as a geographical landform, as a burial ground, and as home to the Gaahn (mountain spirits). Mount Graham is also sacred in very specific locations. One of these sites is Emerald Peak where the centerpiece Large Binocular Telescope (formerly the Columbus telescope) is now located. NAU is a partner in this telescope which is now visible from the San Carlos reservation.
The Mount Graham Red Squirrel is found nowhere else except on Mount Graham. Only a little more than 200 squirrels now survive. The telescopes destroy and fragment the forested heart of the squirrels' essential spruce-fir habitat. Nearly one third of the spruce-fir was needlessly destroyed recently under the guise of protecting the telescopes from fire.

O'odham: Border Patrol protesters call for more action

NEWS RELEASE Monday January 31, 2011
Contact: Alex Soto Email: stopbordermilitarization@gmail.com

Update: Events in Tucson, Flagstaff and Phoenix. Feb. 2011:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/02/all-out-against-borders.html

Border Patrol Headquarters Occupation Protesters to Fight Charges
Group Calls for Further Action Against Border Militarization

TUCSON -- On February 23, 2011, 2:00 PM at Tucson City Court, five of the six protesters who locked-down and occupied the US Border Patrol Tucson Headquarters on May 21, 2010 are going to trial fighting one count each of "criminal trespassing". One of the six has chosen to take a diversion.

The action was taken, in part, to demand that BP, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), their parent entity, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Obama administration end militarization of the border, end the criminalization of immigrant communities, and end their campaign of terror which rips families apart through increasing numbers of raids and deportations.

Alex Soto, one of the arrestees and member of O'odham Solidarity Across Borders states, "As we did not enter the BP headquarters alone but with prayers of O'odham elders and community supporters, we are asking for support once again for our continued stand against border militarization. Our messaging is the reality for everyone that is forced to feel the pain that borders inflict upon us in our daily lives. The Border Patrol is not the only agency responsible for the militarization of the border – and it's subsequent destruction of Indigenous and migrant communities – or the only benefactors of border militarization." Soto states.

In a previous release O'odham Solidarity Across Borders and O'odham elders stated, "The development of the border wall has lead to desecration of Tohono O'odham ancestors graves, it has divided communities and prevents O'odham from accessing sacred places. Troops and paramilitary law enforcement, detention camps, check points, and citizenship verification are not a solution to "issues" of migration. Indigenous Peoples have existed here long before these imposed borders, elders inform us that we always honored freedom of movement. Why are Indigenous communities and the daily deaths at the border ignored? The impacts of border militarization are constantly made invisible in the media, the popular culture of this country and even the mainstream immigrants rights movement which has often pushed for “reform” that means further militarization of the border, which means increased suffering for Indigenous communities. Border militarization destroys Indigenous communities."

Since the creation of the current U.S./Mexico border, 45 O’odham villages on or near the border have been completely depopulated.

According to the migrant support group No More Deaths, from October 2009 to Sept. 2010 there have been more than 250 deaths on the Arizona border alone.

Actions toward ending border militarization and the decriminalization of our communities:
- Immediately withdraw National Guard Troops from the US/Mexico border
- Immediately halt development of the border wall
- Immediately remove drones and checkpoints
- Decommission all detention camps and release all presently held undocumented migrants
- Immediately honor Indigenous Peoples rights of self-determination
- Fully comply with the recently signed UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Respect Indigenous People's inherent right of migration
- End NAFTA, FTAA and other trade agreements
- Immediately repeal SB1070 and 287g
- End all racial profiling
- No BP encroachment/sweeps on sovereign Native land
- No raids and deportations
- Immediate and unconditional regularization (“legalization”) of all people
- Uphold human freedom and rights
- Support dignity and respect
- Support and ensure freedom of movement for all people

Put this message in action and help end the attack on Indigenous and migrant communities. Take these messages to the street where you are. If you can, join us inside and outside the court room in Tucson at 2:00pm. on February 23, 2011.
Tucson City Court is located at 103 E. Alameda St. Tucson, AZ.

Additional ways to take action in your community to bring awareness to the impacts of the militarization of the border and criminalization of our communities:

1. Directly intervene by:
- Protesting institutions and agencies directly responsible (a brief list available at: http://www.survivalsolidarity.wordpress.com/)
- Being part of (or starting) Border Patrol, ICE, National Guard, Minutemen watch groups in your community
- Stopping ICE vehicles from deporting migrants
- Providing aid for migrants crossing the border

2. Pressure political officials:
Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
Comment Line: 202-282-8495

3. Organize or attend an awareness or benefit event:
An awareness and benefit show will be held in Tucson on February 22nd at Dry River Infoshop.
A discussion on border issues will be held in Flagstaff, AZ on February 22nd at Taala Hooghan Infoshop.

4. Donate to Border Action Defense Fund:
http://www.borderopposition.blogspot.com/

5. Support local Indigenous struggles for self-determination and freedom of movement.
In particular, bring awareness to Indigenous communities on the US/Mex border that have been militarized.

To view the occupation video and for additional resources please visit:
http://www.oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com/
http://www.survivalsolidarity.wordpress.com/

Top Fashion Model Karen Elson biography and photogallery


Karen Elson biography:



Nicknamed “Le Freak” by the media because of her shaved-off eyebrows, striking red hair, and white skin, “odd” has been Karen Elson’s hallmark. A true original, Karen is a Vogue favorite and a muse to Steven Meisel. 

Residence: Nashville, TN

Hometown: Lancashire, England

Height: 5'10"

Eye Color: Blue 

Agency: Women Model Management 

Campaigns: Balenciaga, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Burberry, Celine, Chanel, Christian Dior, Clinique, DKNY, Donna Karan, Eres, Escada, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Gucci , Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, Moschino, Prada, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Gap, Jean Paul Gaultier, PHI, TSE, Versace, St. John 
Karen Elson photogallery: 


Working Hard


I have been doing too much blogging and not enough game writing lately.

Time to refocus. Expect a decrease in posting frequency but an uptick in releases.

Fat Takers and the return to awareness of nature

Mohawk John Kane: 'Nature will always be there to teach'
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
Photo: Schools for Chiapas published with permission
.
National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel's State of Indian Nations address earned him the title "Fat Taker," from Lakotas. Mohawk John Kane responded with a reminder that the truths within nature are always there for people to return to, when they have lost their way.

Keel’s address earned him the title “Fat Taker,” for his focus on the Rape of Mother Earth, exploiting the land and resources for profits, without regard to the health of the people or resources such as clean water for future generations.

Debra White Plume, Lakota on Pine Ridge Indian land in South Dakota, said, "Some 'Indians' are Fat Takers in disguise, think nothing about raping Mother Earth, Ina Maka, Unci Maka -- so long as they get the 'best price.'"

Mohawk John Kane said an awareness of nature is there for people to return to.

"Our culture was based on and committed to nature. Those that have tried to transform our knowledge and teachings into beliefs or religion have lost their way. The good news is that nature will always be there to teach even when we fail to."

"We could lose every word or act our ancestors ever tried to hand down and get it all back if we just can return to respecting our relationship to creation. No great spirit, no hocus pocus, no faith; just awareness. Of course we will never lose all that those that came before us tried to leave for us but we certainly can continue to misinterpret things as the last 7 or 8 generations have," Kane said.
.
John Kane's Native Radio, "Let's Talk Native Pride," is on the web:
http://letstalknativepride.blogspot.com

Featured!

Thanks to BlogMuffins, FashionClicks and Fashionista1001!
:)





Dnt Txt N Drv


Alex Brown
Today's blog is dedicated to remembering Alex Brown. Alex Brown was a Texas teenager who was full of life. While texting and driving she lost the control of her truck in a single car accident and flipped - ejecting her. Alex and her wrecked truck were found along side a road by her mother. Alex died from her injuries.
Normally I do not use my blog to promote other causes - only because there are so many of them that would love to get me to lend my name I just can't say yes to everyone and everything. Right or wrong, I have it in my little Greek noggin that I can be far more effective helping a few charities and doing as much as I can for them, rather than spreading myself so thin over lots of different causes where my efforts would not be nearly as effective.
But the Remember Alex Brown Foundation is one new cause to me that I feel deserves my attention and support. The Foundation was started by Alex's parents after her death to bring awareness and educate others about the dangers of texting while driving.
To honor Alex's memory her parents  formed The Remember Alex Brown Foundation (RAB).  You can access their website here.
After hearing Alex's story I have signed the pledge to never text and drive. You can download a copy of the pledge here.
I have my other causes that I also support:
The Progeria Research Foundation is very important to me.  I am very passionate about spreading awareness about this disease.  These kids are simply amazing angels.  Click here to learn about the research they are doing to  make the lives of these children better and to find a cure for this heartbreaking disease.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation  is making the lives of young people with diabetes better.  Click here to learn how you can be a part of the work they are doing.
The ASPCA does amazing work helping animals all over the United States.  Click here to learn about these true heroes and how you too can help animals in need.
Please check all of them out and help me support these very worth causes.

Blessings,
Ava
xox

Sunday, January 30, 2011

KATO "KIN-ACTIONS"

Here's another chance - like the recent Rooster Cogburn post - to jump on the bandwagon for a current movie. (That's not to say I support that movie; in fact, I haven't seen it....)

In a 1963 episode of 'Burke's Law', Henry the chauffeur groused about getting out of bed late at night to drive Captain Burke to a murder scene:

"Never had aggravation like this when I worked for Green Hornet!"

As I mentioned, "Who Killed Alex Debbs?" took place in 1963, at some point in October. (It aired on October 25.) The TV series version of 'The Green Hornet' debuted September 9, 1966.

But that first episode of the show, "The Silent Gun", was not an origin story. The Green Hornet and Kato were already a crime-fighting team, fully operational.

So at some point before October of 1963, it's pozz'ble - just pozz'ble! - that the Green Hornet had Henry as his chauffeur and sidekick in fighting crime.

Why would Henry quit that in order to work for Captain Burke? Age - and with it the diminishment of skills - could have been a factor.

And maybe - this being just a theory of relateeveety, of course - Henry helped Brit Reid with a replacement by offering his own son to take his place. Henry's son was named after him, but he used the nickname of "Kato" to establish his own identity. (I'm familiar with that concept, actually - I'm Thomas O'Brien III, but I've been known by my initials sounded out since before I was born.) It could also be that "Kato" was the surname for their family. In either of the two series, we never did learn what Henry's last name was.

Eventually, Henry, Jr. - Kato - also grew too old for the job. Maybe the Green Hornet, who would have also aged, finally retired. He may even have been killed during the course of his crime-fighting activities. But I think eventually Henry, Jr. would put aside the identity of "Kato" and once again he could have replaced his father - this time as the chauffeur to Captain Burke. When it comes to recastaways, Toobworld Central always gives a pass when it comes to the depiction of aging. Like Cary Elwes and Jon Voight as Karol Wojtyla/Pope John Paul II, or Levar Burton and John Amos as Kunte Kinte/Toby. So I've got no problem in the change in appearance from Buce Lee as Kato to Danny Kamekona as Henry.

It could be that Captain Burke never really knew any of this about his chauffeurs; so that when Henry mentioned that he worked for the Green Hornet, Amos just shrugged it off as a joke. In another episode, Burke threatened to send Henry back to his previous employer - Charlie Chan (who does exist in Toobworld). And as another theory of relateeveety, the Chinese-American detective could have verified Henry's claim to have worked for him because family should always look out for each other. That's right - I'm suggesting that Henry could have been a cousin to Charlie Chan, or related in some way to the amazing Chan clan.....

It's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that this resume revision is what Henry told his old Captain in order to hide the truth from him. After all, the Green Hornet was considered technically on the wrong side of the Law. O'Bviously, this only concerns the televersion of Green Hornet and Kato. The characters are true Multiversals - beginning with their radio program origins in 1936, branching out to comic books, prose, a movie serial in the 1940's and now the current movie in theatres. Toobworld needs to ignore all of those in order to limit the splainins for all of the recastaways, but in the Wold Newton Universe, Win Scott Eckert and his cohorts have done an excellent job melding them together.

One concept that Toobworld Central does embrace is that the Green Hornet is related to the Lone Ranger. Back in the early days with the radio program, a genealogical link was suggested between Britt Reid and John Reid, who roamed the wild wild West as the Lone Ranger. Back then, the family connection was a lot closer, but for Toobworld alone we have to settle for several generations between the two men (and not a direct line of descent at that.)

And that means, in the grand scheme of all things Toobworld, 'Burke's Law' can be theoretically linked to the TV version of 'The Lone Ranger'... and to 'Batman' while we're at it, since Green Hornet and Kato appeared in a crossover between both shows. Anyhoo, hopefully you'll find this theory of relateeveety to have some merit in linking 'Burke's Law' to 'The Green Hornet'.

SHOWS & TV MOVIES CITED:
'Burke's Law' (1963)
'The Green Hornet'
'Burke's Law' (1994)
"Pope John Paul II"
'Roots'
'The Lone Ranger'
'Batman'
'Charlie Chan'

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: GRETA GARBO

GRETA GARBO

AS SEEN IN:
"The Silent Lovers"

AS PLAYED BY:
Kristina Wayborn

From Wikipedia:
Greta Lovisa Gustafsson (18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990), later known as Greta Garbo, was a Swedish actress primarily known for her work in the United States during Hollywood's silent film period and part of its subsequent Golden Age. Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, she moved to Los Angeles, California in 1925 to develop her film career. She appeared in only 27 movies, yet she remains one of the most popular and recognizable Hollywood stars.

The MGM marketing ploy "Garbo talks" became a catch-phrase of the 1930s. Her popularity with the Depression-era audiences allowed her to dictate the terms of her contract in 1932, and she became increasingly choosy about her roles. After 1941, she accepted no more roles, and retired to an apartment in New York City.Regarded as one of the greatest and most inscrutable movie stars ever produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Hollywood studio system, Garbo appeared in both the silent and the talkies era of film-making. She was one of the few silent movie actresses to successfully negotiate the transition to sound, which she achieved in Anna Christie (1930), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She appeared twice as the fabled Anna Karenina, once in silent film, Love (1927), and again with Anna Karenina (1935), for which she received the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She considered her 1936 performance as the courtesan Marguerite Gautier as her best performance and her role in Camille (1936) earned her a second Academy Award nomination.

During the World War II era, MGM attempted to recast the somber and melancholy Garbo into a comic actress with Ninotchka (1939) and Two-Faced Woman (1941), both of which featured her unusually loud, comical, and singing. For Ninotchka, Garbo was again nominated for an Academy Award; Two-Faced Woman did well at the box office, but was a critical failure. Garbo received a 1954 Honorary Academy Award. In her retirement, during which she became increasingly reclusive, she lived in New York City. A 1986 Sidney Lumet film, Garbo Talks, reflected the continuing popular obsession with the star. Until the end of her life, Garbo-watching became a sport among the paparazzi and the media, but she remained elusive. She died in 1990 at the age of 84 from pneumonia and renal failure.

For more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Garbo

BCnU!