paleo

Vampire Diaries airs in less than 48 hours. I am trying to remind myself that I've had nearly fifteen years to build up in my mind what the characters should be like and the tv show will probably fall short of that.
As long as Damon Salvatore is drool-worthy, I'll be happy.

Dear people who believe in weird* things (and I am one of those people),

If you are going to demand the right and the opportunity to express your beliefs, you also have to give OTHERS the right and opportunity to express their disbelief in those very same things. I am not talking about tolerating trolls who barge into safe havens set up for individuals who share a common belief. I am talking about public space. If you state in public space something like "I was abducted by aliens" or "I worship a moon goddess" or "I have the soul of a dragon", don't act all persecuted and superior when John Q Public makes their opinion (which you should have predicted in advance) known.
Yes, you can ask for and hope for politeness and reasoned debate. No, you don't have to put up with outright abuse. Just don't expect to be successful with some sort of conversion attempt by screaming and yelling "This is true because I SAID SO, and you are an INFERIOR dumbass not to take my word as gospel !!!" That isn't "defending" your beliefs. That just provides the kindling for your own personal flamewar. Often the best ways to defend your beliefs is knowing how to stay calm and reasonable in the face of disbelief. And knowing that, unless mixed with insults and slurs, disbelief isn't necessarily an "attack". And knowing that verbal attacks on your beliefs by random internet people don't make you anywhere NEAR a persecuted minority.
You have faith in a weird belief? Fine and good, tons of people do including myself. It doesn't make you special. So stop demanding special treatment.

*I use "weird" to mean "outside the norm of society", not as a judgement call on worth or validity

You Are An INTP

The Thinker You are analytical and logical - and on a quest to learn everything you can. Smart and complex, you always love a new intellectual challenge. Your biggest pet peeve is people who slow you down with trivial chit chat. A quiet maverick, you tend to ignore rules and authority whenever you feel like it. In love, you are an easy person to fall for. But you're not an easy person to stay in love with. Although you are quite flexible, you often come off as aloof or argumentative. At work, you are both a logical and creative thinker. You are great at solving problems. You would make an excellent mathematician, programmer, or professor. How you see yourself: Creative, fair, and tough-minded When other people don't get you, they see you as: arrogant, cold, and robotic

You Are a Lake

You are inviting, friendly, and even playful. You are flexible and always up for fun. You are downright cheerful and optimistic. You have a sparkling, radiant spirit. You love relaxation and quiet. However, you are equally able to be entertaining and active. You live a very well balanced life. People find you very easy to be around.

Scientists meet to save Lascaux cave from fungus

Oldest English Words Revealed?

Sex Goes Way Back, Fossil Find Shows

Cache of Ice Age fossils found in Los Angeles

Can anyone tell me what sort of drum opens this song (might have to turn it up)? I've been trying to pick a drum to learn and...I don't know...this one draws me.

Researchers report wolves in dogs' clothing

WitchVox just posted a news article linking Wicca to animal sacrifice. Because I've worked in animal shelters where I had to keep closeted about my paganism due to the staff thinking pagans are after dogs and cats to offer up to their deities, I felt I had to respond to this. If you choose to do the same *please* keep it polite and friendly.

( Read more... )

I want a sky burial. Or, if possible a Mongolian-style wolf burial. I would prefer for my body to be eaten by vultures and other scavengers than filled with chemicals and shut in a box.

This is glorious! Watch it if you like laughing.

I'm feeling really bad for the folks in the Great Plains and Appalachia who will probably be without power for a while. As much as I longed for air conditioner while waiting for Houston to be brought back to life, I can't imagine going through the same thing in the freezing cold. :-(
This post is inspired by worrying for those folks and by the realization that, despite our plans, Jas and I probably will still be in Houston for the next hurricane season.
Dearest flist, I don't care where you live, there is always a chance that something is going to kill your precious electric power. Nature has a myriad of ways of doing this, and unfortunantly, faulty technology or human stupidity can cut the supply as while. Normally, power outages aren't much of a big deal. On average the worst you're looking at is two or three days without the juice flowing into your home. Unfortunantly, we become so used to the quick fixes that we become placid and unprepared for something of a larger, longer scale. By the time your area is blacked out, it is too late to prepare yourself. Most stores will be closed and those that do remain open will be cleaned out of batteries, food, and water in a few hours. Any gas lines will require hours long wait and you may find cops turning you away if there are too many people. I'm not trying to be alarmist or scare anyone, but I really would like to see those I care about become a bit more survival-savvy. Just in case.
I'm not going to repeat the stuff that can be found on good websites or books. But I do want to alert you to one issue I've never seen brought up and a very good book.
I know that many folks here are environmentalist, and a few of ya'll are very anti-bottled water. Filtered tap water is indeed the way to go if you want to be green and save money. However, that totally bit Jas and me in the ass when Ike hit. By the time we knew we had to get water there was none to be had for miles around.
The solution to this is to buy a filtered *pitcher* rather than totally rely on the filters that are installed at the sink. These pitchers cost about twenty dollars but are worth every penny. Also, start a stash of gallons of bottled water. While I do agree with abstaining from bottled water in general, every now and then you should throw one of these gallon bottles into your shopping cart. Along with the pitcher, these gallons are to be your lifeline when needed rather than for everyday use. Right now Jas and I have a stash large enough to keep two humans and a cat watered for four days and we're hoping to increase it to a week's worth before fall.
Next I want to introduce you to a delightful book titled Apocalypse Chow: How to Eat Well When the Power Goes Out by Jon and Robin Robertson. The Robertsons are the authors of many cookbooks who found it absurd that they lived for a week on peanut butter sandwiches after their Virginia town was struck by a hurricane. The book is intended for folks who are stuck in the limbo of being just okay enough for power crews to pass over while they work on the worst of the disaster. (I don't blame the crews at all for this, but boy does it suck to be told your blacked out neighborhood is at the bottom of a list of tens of thousands to be fixed)
This book is very worth the purchace for its instructions on how and what to shop for and recipes that will keep you from banging your head against the wall as you choke down your twelth can of tuna in a row. An added bonus is that some of the items they recommend are products that most people wouldn't consider getting and thus are likely to be still in stock (couscous, bamboo shoots, canned coconut milk, artichoke hearts).
Apocalypse Chow would be of little use to those in higher level crisis, and the book admits this. However, if you find yourself stuck in limbo while the authorities are taking care of the people in hell, this book can go a long way to helping you stay sane and well fed.

This public service announcement was made about a year *before* New Orleans got screwed. Wow, just wow.

Ran across these and got nostalgic. I especially love the Quiznos one. "Yes. I was. Hmm." Lol.

If you aren't on my depression filter, well, I'm a depressive. In the past I've been diagnosed with anxiety disorder and suspected of having chemical imbalances.
Other than taking valerian root for anxiety, I've never really sought out any herbs or food specifically for my depression. But sometimes I stumble upon things that surprise me because they raise my mood. Normally, it takes three or four encounters with the food or herb before I clue in. Anyway, here is a short list of things I think are benificial to me and may be benificial in general for depressives.

Coconut water: I tried this at a Thai restaurant because I was in a quirky mood and liked the idea of drinking straight from a coconut. During the meal, I started smiling and laughing and had a sense of euphoria that was slightly like being high or drunk but not as intrusive. I thought I was just happy being out during a lovely evening with my husband. I liked it and ended up ordering the drink two more times in the following months. Yep, it wasn't a fluke. The liquid never fails to deliver that light giddy, slightly-high euphoria that lasts for about five hours.

Yerba Mate: I first tried Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate teas because of that company's reputation as an eco-responsible, free trade group. I'm now a huge fan for that and for the wonderful sense of well-being their teas give me. I'm a caffiene addict like whoa, and this stuff delivers enough to stave off headaches without hyping you up too much and crashing you later. Plus, no sugar and *very* low calories, with the added benifits of antioxidents and vitamins make this a far better alternative for my fix. If you must have stimulants in the morning, I can't recommend Guayaki enough. Not only is it non-harmful, it is actually ver benificial for you. As with coconut water, these teas can keep me in a better frame of mind for about four to five hours.

Jasmine: I tried jasmine in teas and other drinks because I liked the way it smelled. It induces an intense level of calmness in me. My mind is less prone to race after drinking some. The first time I tried it, I voluntarily entered an overcrowded store and only afterwards realized I would never have done that in my "normal" state.

Salmon: Sushi style salmon gives me a light buzz, makes me feel mentally focused, and I find myself far less irritable. During my monthly time, it often (not always) helps ease the mental onslaught.

Chocolate: This goes without saying. Can be very theraputic. But unlike the above items, it can reach a point where it feels more like a drug fix than a purely benifical edible. I try to limit my intake during "that time" when it helps the most.

If this helps anyone, yea! Please let me know if you have similar experience or another prefered antidepression food or drink.

Best. Costume. Ever.

I was poking around the internet and found this site of Dani Harman Zack, a sculptor who does many pieces on animals and human/animal relationships . I know at least a few of you can appreciate these. Home From the Hunt is my favorite piece because it seems so peaceful. I can't look on Farewell too long without tearing up because the anguish on the woman's face is so real and heartbreaking.
If you click around, you can also find her work on horses, felines, and birds.

Just a random post on the top ten plants I am interested in growing. When we get to Portland (dammit we *will* make it somehow) I'm hoping to join a community garden and possibly starting a humble plot of my own. Hopefully at least a few on this list will be happy in that region. If any of ya'll know which of these are newbie-friendly and which are like "noooo, I demand an expert's touch" please do clue me in. Alas, I did not inherit my grandmother's nearly supernatural green thumb.

1. Garlic
2. White or Red Onion
3. Green Onion
4. Pumpkin (smaller variety for eating most likely)
5. Butternut Squash
6. Jalepeno, Cayenne, and/or Tabasco Peppers (because I'm so not giving up Cajun and Tex-Mex food)
7. Cabbage
8. Red or Rainbow Chard
9. Kale
10. Celery

Snippets from National Geographic: Prehistoric Predators for your viewing pleasure.