Occupy Stupidity: The scary link between extreme feminism and vigilante groups

Whether you love or hate the Occupy movement, the intent of it was to bring together those from all walks of life in SOLIDARITY against the "1%" of the world who holds the power and wealth over the rest of us. The words SOLIDARITY and UNITY are used a lot to describe the movement. The 99%.

However, some who have joined the movement have ulterior motives. There is no greater example than that of the "Occupy Patriarchy" cult. When South Park mocked the 99%, maybe they had these nuts in mind, because they claim they are the "52%", which apparently means women are the majority so that really means that men need to rally for their rights as minorities.

in February 2012, in Boston Massachusetts, the Occupy Boston group was holding a general assembly. A subgroup called the Occupy Boston Women's Caucus was trying to expel sex offenders from being allowed to participate in the Occupy movement. they were blocked, and some left in disgust. I have already discussed the details of the problems the feminists are causing in the Boston occupy movement on my once fallen blog.

Norma "Jinx" Jones
However, it is the situation and the Nasville Occupy movement that is a bigger concern. Cynthia Harvey of the Evil Unveiled website, under her other pseudonym Trillian Dent, is an active member of Occupy Nashville. Her close associate in the movement is Norma Jinx Jones, who is well-known as a provocateur and an extremist that many of the Nashville occupiers want no part of.

Just so you'll know there is a definitive link, here is Norma's crap blog:

http://occupydixie.blogspot.com/2012/05/evil-unveiled-at-occupy-nashville.html

Dumb Norma jinxes Cynthia Harvey by once again confirming "Veronica's" identity.

Also, while I was at "Victoria's" home to speak with her,

So how much longer will Cynthia Harvey deny her identity? Maybe a little visit to her slave house will change that :)

But I digress. Feminists are latching on anything that remotely sounds anti-woman. So what are they up to these days?


Nothing like going around chanting 'Vagina! Vagina!" I'm going to Occupy the Red Light district down in Nashville and chant that.

Kalencom Pacifier Pod Review {Delighting in Babies-Baby Shower Event}





When I go out with my little one I always like to have a few pacifiers on hand in case one drops on the ground. I usually carry them in a plastic zipper storage bag for lack of a better option, that is until I came across pacifier pods at Kalencom. Kalencom is based in New Orleans and is one of the oldest diaper bag companies in the U.S. They are also credited with developing the first washable diaper bag. As I browsed their catalog, as well as their website, I was amazed with how many different designs and styles there were of diaper bags. Besides diaper bags, they also sell accessories such as the pacifier pods.
I was sent the Gypsy Paisley Green Pacifier Pod to review. As I checked out their website they have so many choices of designs to choose from whether it is solids, animals prints, stripes, or patterns. When it arrived, it was a little smaller than I imagined, although it was the perfect size to hold a pacifier. Actually I was surprised when I tried it that it could hold two of my little one's pacifiers (size 2-6 months). So the size is perfect because it does not take up much room in my diaper bag. There is also a velcro strap on the pacifier pod that allows me to hook it up to my diaper bag or stroller. 

Interested in learning more about their products, check out their website here.

Disclosure: I received the above product to review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are my honest opinion of the product.

Biker Assholes Advocating Killing member busted for theft

Because bikers are such "fine, outstanding" citizens. Ahem.

It's an old article, 2011, but BAAK is behind BACA in terms of members getting caught committing crimes.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/28/millbury_firefighter_charged_in_thefts/


Millbury firefighter charged in thefts
Man also accused of extortion, fraud, and embezzlement


By Gary V. Murray
Telegram & Gazette Staff / January 28, 2011


WORCESTER — Bail was set at $1,000 cash for a Millbury call firefighter arrested yesterday on charges of stealing from the Fire Department and a charity he set up, extorting money from a local church, and workers’ compensation fraud.


Robert Giannette, 46, was arrested after what a prosecutor said was an exhaustive police investigation.


Giannette was arraigned in Central District Court on two counts of larceny of more than $250, embezzlement of more than $250 by an association member, extortion by false report of a crime, and workers’ compensation fraud.


Giannette posted $300 cash bail set at the police station after his arrest, but Judge Paul L. McGill increased the bail to $1,000 cash or $10,000 with surety, citing a history of defaults on Giannette’s one-page criminal record.


Giannette was taken into custody by court officers when he was unable to post the increased bail.


Giannette started a motorcycle club charity called Bikers Against Abusing Kids and used money donated to the group for personal expenses, police said. He told members of the charity that he was seeking nonprofit status, police said.


The charity is not a nonprofit organization, police said, asking that anyone who donated to it to contact them.


On Sept. 21, Giannette and several other members of the charity went to the home of a man who was being investigated for indecent assault and battery on a child, but who had not yet been charged, said Detective Kimberly Brothers. Armed with a sword in a sheath, Giannette allegedly knocked on the door and handed the man literature related to the charity’s activities.


The man called police after the visit, and police told Giannette not to interfere, according to the detective. The next day, Giannette went to the man’s place of employment and gave his employer more material from the charity, police said. The man was later fired from his job, Brothers said.


Police also said Giannette, who is receiving workers’ compensation while out on medical leave from the Fire Department, extorted money from a local church he did some painting for. Giannette told the church that if he was not paid money he was owed, he would go to the town and report what he said were code violations and a lack of proper permits at the church, police said.


A search of Giannette’s apartment Wednesday found several items that the Fire Department later said were stolen, including an ax and firefighting “turnout gear,’’ Brothers said.


Giannette’s court-appointed lawyer, Peter B. Clifford, said the Fire Department property police found in Giannette’s apartment was equipment he needed when called upon to fight fires.


Clifford, who asked that his client be released on the previously posted $300 cash bail, said the financial allegations against him may involve “as little as $1,800.’’


He also said Giannette had a legitimate workers’ compensation claim

Quick pregnancy update!

As a few of you saw on the facebook page earlier, we had our anatomy scan today!

(Yes, we know what the baby is now, and yes, I will be telling you all VERY soon... after we do something a little special for our family!)

I went into the scan today really nervous.  Not only because I'm always nervous now during ultrasounds, but also because of today's specific set up.  Both DH and little man came with to the ultrasound today, and the weather was supposed to be bad later in the day.  It actually did rain on the way home.  That was significantly reminiscent of the ultrasound in which I was told I was going to miscarry.  Thankfully, everything went really well.  We were given ALL good news today.

The most important thing is that the mass/hemorrhage/whatever it was is COMPLETELY gone!!!!!  While we were looking at the ultrasound, I was scanning it trying to find where I thought it was last time, but in the six weeks since I've had my last ultrasound, the baby has grown a lot, and it was hard to tell.  I asked the tech about it, and she was having trouble seeing anything as well.  She did her part of the scan and then the specialist came to the room.

I was able to confirm with the maternal fetal medicine specialist that the mass is completely gone.  She couldn't even find it!  This is such great news.  All the worrying, all the fear about what this unknown mass was going to do throughout the pregnancy is gone.  The possibility of having an ultrasound every few weeks or even every week until the end of the pregnancy is gone as well, thankfully.  

This could not be better news.


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Connecticut Audubon Bird Sanctuary and Hike

August 2004

Connecticut Audubon Bird Sanctuary, Burr Street, Fairfield, Connecticut.

Ages and Grades: 7 (rising 2nd grade) and 4 (Pre-K)

My neighbor and friend invited us to go visit the birds in the rescue center and to take a hike through the wooded trails.


The white plants are monotropia unifora, the rarely seen Ghost Pipe or Indian Pipe. They only grow in certain conditions and they fade fairly quickly and turn to mush. They are very delicate and so low to the ground that they are difficult to photograph.


Peregrine Falcon


I saw one in the wild for the first time in 2011 and it was an amazing experience.


Red Tailed Hawk

The birds are amazing to see up close. There were many feathers on the ground, especially hawk feathers. My friend asked if she could take one home and the reply from staff was that it is against federal law to own bird feathers and that the center must catalogue every fallen feather and sent a report to the government to account for it. I can't recall if they have to mail the feather in or not, maybe they promise to destroy it. Anyhow my point is that day I learned a lesson about well-intentioned laws (not allowing wild bird feathers to be used to make hats or clothing to protect the birds) getting out of hand.

It was a fun day. Seeing live birds and animals with young children is a fun experience. They get so excited and happy to watch the mannerism and actions of the birds. It is inspiring to see kids get so happy over something so simple.


The Connecticut Forest at the Audubon Center



As for the hike my kids always love them and especially when they could run around in the woods with a friend.





Violet "Lucille" Covey



 




Lucille Covey, 77,
of Panama, OK passed away Monday July 30, 2012 in Panama.  Lucille was born August 8, 1934 in Strang, OK
to J.L. & Gertie (Sales) Lowery.  Lucille
was a chamber member of the Poteau
Valley Baptist. She was a
homemaker and loved flowers and gardening. Lucille was preceded in death by her
parents J.L. & Gertie (Sales) Lowery; husband Johnny Covey; grandson Jeremy
Covey.





Survivors include
son and daughter in law Johnny Lee & Elaine Covey; 2 grand daughters  Jennifer & Ronnie Meeks, Jeanie &
Michael Riggs; 1 grandson Allen Harper;7 great grandchildren, Lucas Meeks,
Ryder Meeks, Braden Riggs, Zander Riggs, Jacob Harper, Caitlyn Harper. Numerous
Nieces, Nephews, Friends & Loved ones.





Services will be
10:00am Wednesday at the Poteau Valley Baptist
Church in Poteau, OK.
Interment will follow at the Shady
Point Cemetery.


Vera Mecom Watson











Vera Mecom Watson,
93, of Poteau; passed to be with her lord Monday, July 30, 2012 at Spiro
Nursing Home. Born January 13, 1919 she was the daughter of Jim and Alta Mecom.
She married


Marvin Watson
January 24, 1937. She was a retired seamstress of Hamlin Garment Factory in
Poteau. She was a long time member of the Calvary
Assembly of God Church.





Vera is survived by
daughter JoAnne Sebo of Spiro,OK and daughter and son in law Donna and Eddie
Davis of Wilburton,OK; grandsons Dennis and Judy Sebo of Memphis, TN; Gary and
Jennifer Sebo of Spiro,OK; granddaughter Chrissy and Marty Calloway of
Sallisaw, OK; great grandchildren Caleb, Stephanie, Whitney, and Kaitlin Sebo,
Caley Calloway Jordan, Cole, Caroline and Syler Davis, one sister Margie and
A.G. Rogers of Lead Hill, AR; one brother Bob Mecom of Tulsa,OK; numerous
relatives and loved ones. Vera was proceeded in death by her parents Jim &
Alta Mecom, one sister Jean Goldsborough, two brothers J.C. and Eulus Mecom,
and husband Marvin Watson.





 Services will be held 1pm Thursday August 2 at
Evans & Miller Funeral Home Chapel in Poteau,OK . Pallbearers will be Dennis Sebo, Steve
Sebo, Lance Davis, Kevin Davis, Jonathan Watson, and Keith Davis.   

BEYOND SAVING???

.....Soooooo, again those little resist dyed felted wool pieces I created are calling me.   I'm just crazy about playing with them.....despite the frustration I've experienced more often than not.  

 ...and again, I forgot to take a 'before' photo.  This piece was dyed in three different dye baths after accordion folding the felted wool & securing with large rubber bands.


That yielded what appeared to me as a landscape view.....sun, sky, water...with numerous cracks of white lines throughout where the rubber bands had been placed.
 Why I thought stitching these lines with white thread was a good idea is now beyond me.  AND worse, why I thought it would be a good idea to fill in some of the spaces with more heavy stitching is even dumber.
So, now I'm in the process of removing some of the stitching.  I've already determined picking out all of it would be insane......so I'm on the verge of kissing this piece goodbye.  I rarely give up once I've started.....but this one is a candidate for the circular file.

Celebrating New Nordic Cuisine

New Nordic cuisine continues to generate a buzz, with recent articles the New York Times and City Pages, the Twin Cities' alternative weekly. Both articles celebrate the thriving Nordic food scene in the Twin Cities, highlighting the success of Bachelor Farmer, the restaurant opened in 2011 by Eric and Andrew Dayton in the Minneapolis warehouse district, and announcing the opening of Fika, the new cafe of the American Swedish Institute.

The New Nordic lovefest continues in Viking. You'll find an interview with Chef Ørjan Johannessen, winner of the prestigious culinary competition Bocuse d'Or Europe 2012,  along with his recipe for Venison Carpaccio "Austevoll" in our August 2012 issue. If sweets are your thing, you'll find dessert recipes from three of Norway's historic hotels in our April 2012 issue. For an overview of the New Nordic food movement, check out Kari Diehl's article in our October 2011 issue. And be sure to stay tuned for our October 2012 issue, where we explore the fusion of traditional Nordic ingredients with the Japanese sushi tradition. God Appetitt! 

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minn., where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585. 

Fall of the Creative Class

Last week a Facebook friend posted a thought-provoking critique of Richard Florida's Rise of the Creative Class. For those who care about these things, and I realize a lot of folks don't, the article addresses the current relationship between the arts and contemporary culture, and challenges certain beliefs regarding the economic value of art in society. The article, by Frank Bures, is titled "The Price of Everything." It's popularity may be due to the fact that it attempts to knock over one of our newly erected sacred cows.

Having a little background on Florida's ideas, some controversial, is helpful but not necessary to find Bures' piece stimulating. (He briefly outlines them in the article.)

Early in the piece Bures laments that many people found his observations "depressing." After analyzing this reaction he concludes:

I suspect it has to do with a shift in our attitude toward art and its place in our lives over the last decade or so — namely, the idea that if something is worth doing, it should also make money. Intrinsic value – in virtually every sphere– has given way to the metrics of financial return. Or as political philosopher (and Minneapolis native) Michael Sandel notes in his new book What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, “We have drifted from having a market economy, to being a market society.” 

When I read these words I was reminded of Dr. Francis Schaeffer's concerns expressed in his book and video series, Whatever Happened to the Human Race? that he wrote with Dr. C. Everett Koop. It's basic premise is that there are some things that have value which should not be measured in purely economic terms. He illustrates this in a variety of ways, including the manner in which a price was placed on human beings during the slave trader days. The authors extrapolate that this same demeaning of what it means to be human is what led to justifications for abortion and euthanasia. When people are not productive, then we should get rid of them because they are a drag on society and progress.

Please don't stumble on the abortion statement there. My point, as Bures notes, is that capitalism seems to lay claim to everything nowadays, and that Schaeffer tried to argue that some things should remain in a more sacred realm. i.e. People.

In contrast, Richard Florida argues that art and "creatively 'activated' spaces can help jumpstart a local economy." Bures balks at this. Is this the role of art? Does art only have value when it is used to improve the economy?

In his summing up, Bures writes:

My fear is this: Once people realize that art may not be stoking a secret gravy train, they will simply want to get off it. If creative placemaking schemes don’t pan out, the false hope they engendered might do more damage to arts funding in the long run, because they will have shifted the focus away from our most compelling reason for support of the arts. We should fund art because it makes the space around us the kind of place we want to live.

Art matters. Design and beauty matter.

This is not to say that commerce is evil either. But things need to be kept in perspective. And like Bures, I am wary of what is hot today as an idea because it will be out of fashion tomorrow. The "hippie" movement was a statement against materialism that declared people are more important than things. A decade later the Yuppie movement swept 90% of those hippies away to chase BMWs and a lifestyle that was the complete antithesis. Alas.

Read it, think about it. It's a bite-sized morsel to chew on for today. The Price of Everything. And check out Richard Florida's response at the end. Let's keep the dialogue going. It's good for us.

The Tree Swing and Photography Questions



One of the things I think I will miss the most about Moose Mountain (what we started off jokingly calling my parents house years ago and it stuck) will be this tree swing. It has always been a favorite spot of ours and was even where Josh proposed to Jamie several years ago!  Fortunately we have lots and lots of photos of the tree swing, including Jamie and Josh's engagment shots and some of Jamie on her wedding day with us bridesmaids. I wanted to take one final set of photos here before my parents moved and was excited that this year Lillie was actually able to swing on it all by herself! 

Let me apologize in advance for the VERY picture heavy post! =) 
If you have any photography questions just scroll to the bottom!

















Okay, enough pictures, Mom!


And what was Lola doing all this time? Just filling her stroller with rocks and dirt!



I took all of these using my new camera. My next post is going to be a Q and A type photography one based on the questions we regularly get asked in e-mails. If you have any photography related questions feel free to ask them in the comment section of this post. I may not directly answer them in the comment section (although I normally do) but will try my best to answer them all in the next post as best I can.


MIRROR MIRROR Review

Growing up one of my favorite fairy tales was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Fortunately, even though I have three boys, they still enjoy the story themselves. Of course, their favorite characters are the seven dwarfs, as well as the Evil Queen. When I saw the previews to MIRROR MIRROR, I knew that this was one movie I definitely wanted to see and so I was excited to be able to review it.  Here is the synopsis of MIRROR MIRROR: 

MIRROR MIRROR tells the story of Snow White (Collins), a princess in exile and the evil Queen (Roberts) who ruthlessly rules her captured kingdom. Seven courageous rebel dwarfs join forces with Snow White as she fights to reclaim her birthright and win her Prince in this magical comedy filled with jealousy, romance, and betrayal that will capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences the world over. The film is produced by Bernie Goldmann (300), Relativity’s Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) and Brett Ratner (Rush Hour franchise). MIRROR MIRROR’S screen story was written by Melisa Wallack, and the screenplay was written by Marc Klein and Jason Keller.

My thoughts: Although there is Snow White, the Evil Queen, and the Seven Dwarfs, this movie puts a twist to the Snow White story I grew up with. And although I love the classic story, I really enjoyed the changes in MIRROR MIRROR. In MIRROR MIRROR, we first meet the dwarfs as a bunch of thieves who disguise themselves as giants.  And while we do not see Snow White in rags, she is forced to stay in her room-especially during galas. However, after a suggestion from one of the castle's servants, she does leave the castle to explore and see for herself what state the kingdom is in. This is where she encounters the Prince for the first time, and also realizes that something needs to be done to save the kingdom. When she crashes the Queen's Gala, however, the Queen decides to have her killed. So into the forest she is taken and then let go to never return.  After meeting the dwarfs, she decides to fight back for her kingdom and her Prince. 

I got to admit the changes to the movie caught my interest. I enjoyed the storyline and it was interesting to watch Julia Roberts as the villain. One of my favorite parts of the movie was watching Snow White save the Prince from the Queen's spell. The Queen attempted to use a love potion on the Prince, but instead used a puppy love potion. So although he loved the Queen, it was the type of love a dog has for its owner-even to the extent that he licks her face like a puppy. I also enjoyed watching Snow White fight the beast of the woods, and in conquering the beast, winning over the kingdom from the Queen. Although I kept waiting for the appearance of the red apple, I was not disappointed. It shows up with a twist again. Overall, I found this movie entertaining and even my two boys enjoyed watching it. So if you are up for a twist, I suggest you watch MIRROR MIRROR.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the movie to review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are my honest opinion of the movie.

American Museum of Natural History

August 2004

American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York.

Ages and Grades: 7 (rising 2nd grader) and 4 (Pre-K)



A friend invited us to drive to AMNH on a day in August before school started. Her kids were homeschool high school, homeschool elementary, private school middle, and public school middle school students.

The problem with going to museums with friends is that the kids seem to have more fun just socializing with each other and they put the actual reason for being there second. They wouldn't care if they were sitting around in a field talking, they just want to talk and be with their friends. I find we learn a lot more when we go on educational trips alone, especially ones where you guide yourself along through the place. A docent-led tour is another matter.

The museum is dark and most of it is not the best for taking photographs. The kids moved so fast and it was kind of crowded this day. The place is so large it is hard to see everything and read every plaque in one visit. You also have to decide if you want to see a planetarium show on the same day (this time we did not).

I recall seeing everything having to do with dinosaurs, as that was the thing they were most interested in. We saw a big exhibit on oceans and ocean life.





We also paid extra to go a special exhibit with live exotic frogs such as tree frogs from the Amazon.