"... On November 4, in a nationwide address, Yushchenko cited:As always, our vain question remains, can it happen here? As with good and evil being the two faces of one overarching force, the question has two answers. No, we are too fluid, diverse, practically lawless in certain regions, separate units of thought and geography, loathe to mingle, loathe to trust. Or, Yessiree, we are easy to find, track, document, label and our needs have made us known, the system exists because of us.
-- an "emergency epidemic situation in the country," caused by "infections of viral origin, including A/H1N1 flu (that are) rapidly spreading across Ukraine;"
-- "People are dying; the epidemic is killing doctors;"
-- "three pathogens of viral infections came to Ukraine at the same time: two of them are seasonal flu and the third is the A/H1N1; according to virologists, such a combination of infections due to mutation may produce a new, even more aggressive virus;" ... "
Adding to the mix, important input is provided from genuine voices of real science, past and present, offering another timely glimpse into cause thanks to Rick's extremely interesting presentation, Our Evolving Solar System: Plasma, Polar Reversals, and 2012 which considers the very real possibility of activities within the Universe beyond our control as creation of numerous Earth calamities throughout all history, recorded and discovered.
Again, here is the link to Tuchman's Chapter 15. It continues into the next chapter which is optional since my anthology closed the work at the end of the first full paragraph on the google page 105, equal to a mere 12 pages in my little anthology. Its enough to get us going making connections as we will.
Consider this required reading. Test tomorrow - Not. The previous and unknown owner of the anthology made notes in the margin. Obviously "he", male handwriting, would be tested. "Test, many questions", he wrote. "Inhumanity caused by fear" and "Neighbors preying on less fortunate" are other scribbles along with "Generally, people blamed God", "Doing penitence to chase away disease" and "Plague because of sin" with a final note at the closing "People so feared the Plague they did not record events."
I would have suggested to "him" we honor Barbara Tuchman's tireless perseverance in the face of enormous obstacles, especially those she notes in her introduction to The Distant Mirror ... , "uncertain and contradictory data with regard to dates, numbers and hard facts ... the changing prejudices and points of view of past historians ... the disproportionate survival of the bad side, producing an overload of the negative ... the difficulty of empathy, genuinely entering into the mental and emotional values of the Middle Ages"...
Still, western capitalistic citizens remain as Aborigines post-walkabout grouped under low flying planes dropping CARE packages, seeing God.
26 comments:
I love "A Distant Mirror." It's on my shelf. Belonged to my dad. Tuchman is a wonderful historian.
My impression was that the Middle Ages is much less foreign than we dare to imagine, and that we've been on the road to serfdom and fragmentation for quite some time: big parts of being a citizen of the middle ages. People had more connection to community then, and they still preyed on each other. Imagine how we'll get into cannibalism today, if certain exigencies occur.
I recommend this article with that in mind, not in complete irony.
Will there be white knights in our new Dark Ages? Will chivalry come back into vogue?
Going back to the hunting/meat/vegetarian discussion of the last post, here's an interesting excerpt, clickable to original:
Thirdly, subsistence gardening entails a largely vegetarian way of life: the growing of crops takes less land than raising animals (although some animals can make good use of less-fertile land), and it is less complicated. With a largely vegetarian diet, of course, there can be a danger of deficiencies in vitamins A and B12, iron, calcium, and fat, all of which can be found in animal food. Most of these deficiencies are covered by an occasional taste of meat; daily portions of beef and pork are really not necessary. Animal husbandry does not have to be large-scale; in sparsely populated areas, even fishing, trapping, and hunting can be useful skills.
I'm so glad you are familiar with this work Publius! Be sure to review Chap 15 when you get a little peace and quiet.
The answer to your closing questions is yes, I see it already, and we tend to gravitate towards people with vision and decency. But there's going to be upheaval and calamity generated by a fluid Universe and exacerbated by mankind in the way.
About your second comment, my experience from repeated blood tests over the past few years since relearning a healthier veganism proves there are many healthy and sufficient non-meat sources of iron. I rarely eat fish either, only because its too expensive. Mostly, one needs to actually track iron intake ensuring a daily total requirement of iron. It becomes second nature, not obsessive or difficult at all. Michael Astera gave me one of the best tips which is to cook with cast iron.
Off to your links.
OK—disclaimer, it's late—I'm tired. I know, that's no excuse ... but, all this talktalktalk, philosophizing about nature, i.e. hunting versus ? aargh! Jeeze Louize—academia. Animals eat each other all the time, sometimes us. Supermarkets are an aberration, so people tend to mix civilization into the argument—confusing factory fodder with food. I left the city awhile ago now—went far north where the pigs run wild, eels abound in the rivers, cress grows wild. Stars aren't obscured. More space to free the individual from populous mechanics. Result—already outlived vegetarians I tolerated back in the city. Stronger than most men my age, superior intelligence too. And possess infinetly more humility. Love to laugh at stupidness and obviousness sadly lost to modern lifestyles. Guess it's the inculcation necessary to capitalism's survival. Ultimately whenever I view various politico debates—not just this one, I think of my Grandfather a seasoned hunter / gatherer, strongly minded who also loved to laugh at bullshit, who died aged 116. Smoking killed him.
4 eggs today.
my friend, the master gardener, says its NOT too late to plant carrots and lettuce. i am building a pvc pipe and white sheer cloth mini greenhouse today to put over one of my beds. i found a neighbor with a trout pond selling at a fair price.
i cooked the trout for some friends saturday night: wash and dry; dip in eggy butter mix and dip in flour; dip in eggy butter mix again and dredge in mealed pecans, brown sugar and salt;bake at 350 20 minutes, hit with broiler for 3-4. yum! now that the farmers market is over i am scrambling for money. my garden shop job is on hiatus: my new bosses have H1N1!
sure, we are going to have the christmas art market and i am in a big show opening thursday, but i dont expect much. you think the gallery is going to drop the tyrannical 50% commission on small inexpensive works? ha!
what is my point? i never heard of a "distant mirror" but when i saw the snuggie commercial i saw the apocalypse. the hound puts her nose to the wind and knows whats in the forest and field. the artist sees the imagery of an indifferent globalist machine running rough shod over a drugged and weakened people and decides to get things in order. my fight or flight receptors lit up like a switchboard. I chose flight and stepped out of my cage wheel. but that doesnt mean theres no fight - its just a timing thing.
im not scared. i am disappointed. it hurts too. what has become of us. everybody here is my family. but the tent needs to get bigger and fast.
Hi Chicory,
7 eggs today.
And 6 hatched last week.
Hopefully there will be a Lavender in there.
As we are moving into summer (hard to believe) the garden is abounding.
All my favourites coming up, including some that I had severed ties with but are claiming their right to be. Already shoulder height. So far all females.
The kids made eel traps which we set in the river yesterday.
Discovered that if you place them under trees housing weaver nests you will be more successful - reason being they wait for the babes to fall out of their nests.
Not sure if any of you know the bird Paradise Fly Catcher - there are four pairs in the garden. 2 sets in the thickness of the Ash, one in the Oak and one in a pecan.
Cost of living here has literally doubled in a year.
Added to that a fucking corrupt government where the ceo's who have led the major companies to bankruptcy refuse to die.
Wish they would kill themselves like their eastern counterparts.
Where oh where is that asteroid?
I just LOVE these slices of life! As the sun rises over the California mountains pushing out behind bunching clouds possibly going to fog, I've already visited the Minnesota woods, the river country of New Zealand, the Blue Ridge Mountains and a South African Village.
Incredible.
No eggs.
Yipping dogs.
Fire in fireplace.
Guinea Pigs under blanket cover.
Thanks.
Wait, I've got a plan!
Susu, Tao need to go on his walkabout to Chickory's and help her build the plant shelters, wouldn't he be perfect at this?
Next, Publius, you need to visit Baz and walkabout with him in his world for ummmm about a year at least. Learn all the seasons, all the tips.
Neat, huh?
Nina,
I'd love to visit Baz. How can I get away for a year?
Would Baz take a paid position (room and board and walking around money) as my adviser and trainer? I'm serious...
As you all know, I make just enough play money to keep my toe hold in the system, but not enough to set up a luxurious retreat in the country... and the family isn't yet on board to help me out.
But I really admire Baz. And everyone else, especially the artists here... and Charles H. Smith.
Did I mention one of the weirder parts of my trip up north? That would be the ex-Lutheran minister. He was a good friend of my dad's, and like my dad, seems to now be an alcoholic. He is somewhere in his 60's, yet he's drinking and chasing women... and he's a complete nihilist. He gave me the willies, I tell you. He really likes Cormac McCarthy, which my dad introduced him to, I guess. "I don't believe in anything," he said. Harkening back to a comment from long ago here, a query by Nina, he said that he really "liked the bartender's large breasts, but didn't want what goes with it..."
"What about compassion," I suggested to him. He was referring to the bartender being overweight. A huge percentage of people up there are overweight or obese.
The ex-minister just scowled at scoffed at my suggestion of compassion. Then he started looking at and commenting on another female's posterior... the same female my brother was enjoying talking to, an act which got us unwelcome pushes and glares from a local boy who obviously has a claim on her.
The female, Holly, has a tattoo on the small of her back, which she exposed for all to see. An elderly veteran of Vietnam, who really liked me, saw the tattoo and hit himself upside the head and rubbed his eyes... a little too stimulating for him, I guess. He's a trapper and hunter...
Enough. I didn't run into any Thoreaus or naturalists up there... We supposedly left the Middle Ages and the feudal system behind, but I couldn't help but feel that the term "peasant" fits the life up there. Not in a demeaning way, just as a descriptor for a life tied to the land that doesn't have much chance for learning or investigating the "higher" things in life. Now there's a term that will get me in trouble! There was a young woman reading a novel and looking bored at the entrance to the deer hunter's dance. She stared at me a bit, so I chatted with her. Reminded me of a scene near the beginning of the book & film, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, when the doctor/main character meets a bookish woman who is bored out of her mind in the countryside. She suddenly shows up at his door in the city, and thus the movie progresses.
More weird stuff and even weirder people was experienced, but I will write about it at my LeavingVR blog, if anyone is interested.
That is my favorite film only loved as much as Wuthering Heights '92. Both of which cast Binoche in leads. On my list of special treasures to take to the deserted island, they are numbers one and two.
I have also a special fondness for your rural people, they're uncomplicated and wear their suffering without embarrassment. You see, we have the advantage of education that makes us appear separate, but when you live among them long enough, they end up saving you. Recall Charles' essay The Art of survival: Taoism and the Warring States, how he who knows his territory is the victor.
The way to counter our problem is to just get down to it and invite them to tell all. I do this with the AAA interstate maps book leaving it lying around. They LOVE to play with it, point out where they've gone, where their brother-in-law's second cousin lives, where they used to commute and then they tell you their life's stories which are absolutely amazing. You can only end up loving them Publius, because you learn to understand them.
I think you are already doing that anyway. You don't seem to have culture blinders.
su! a lavendar! who knew? the first time i found a green egg i threw it out - i assumed i missed it in the nest shavings and it had rotted. i should have known better. then the next day another pale green egg from my belgium antwerp Peggy Jean.
eels? how exotic. i never put eels and south africa together but then again i dont know much about south africa. i am learning through you. interesting about the baby birds and flycatchers...and more interesting still your COL has doubled. i guess i thought some nations would be out of it somehow.
LOL yes too bad there isnt the eastern sense of honor deaths for our ceo's but i think these guys believe they deserve all the spoils. they are sociopaths. every last one of them.
nina, i found the distant mirror in my library system. i'll have to wait for it to be shipped up here but thats fine. you give a lot of easy to access material to tide me over.
i would welcome any of you for a walkabout with open arms.
btw, you could not see the chicken afternoon snack photo because it was a video. it was kind of boring so you didnt miss much unless a chicken jumping up for a peach in slow motion is on your must-see list.
i am a thread killer.
happy saturday nina.
leonid showers early tuesday morning. look to Leo in the southeastern sky.
Oh Chickory, how notorious of you. The reality is the bloglist had so many new goodies I think everybody rightfully investigated. I certainly did. And here's more, we don't stay completely on topic here. Its always been that something goes up and days pass before someone else gets a mind to say something. Nothing is required, everything is optional, always. Here's something amazing ... no one commented yesterday on our immediate thread, but the blog viewership was the highest in its history.
Oh a video! No wonder!
Oh no, a plan! uh oh—mmmmmm. Excuse moi—sound of thinking, several daze now even. OK, gathering thoughts ... How? This is the question. The why is obvious, isn't it? Escape from ... to, fully accepting humans have an innate propensity, often unaware, certainly unacknowledged ... to fear freedom, to overcome. This is probably the basic psychology hindering the obtainment of all our Joie de Vivre, or Weltanschauung in evasion of Stasi.
Grats for the admiration. However as a realist, and achem, I sometimes [who doesn't?] have a tendency to put my best foot forward ... Who wants to hear how damaged I am anyways? How much pot I smoke on a daily basis / alkohol I consume to alleviate constant itching skin, a result from uranium and napalm—yes, it's still employed! All served to formulate strong opinions resulting in ; “I can be a bastard to co-habitate with,” just ask any of my previous wives.
Publius, I reiterate—John Seymour's Self-Sufficiency book is jam-packed with a lifetimes invaluable easy to follow ... coupled with other easily available survivalist books—honestly, it's all you need! You can make up the rest through experience—the best teacher. Why I bet you can hit a dime at 100 yards! You have a God-given, creative / thinking mind. I've read your web-site. You can build boats!—gifted man. I have a crazy-assed dream [don't laugh!], which I may get around to, of building an amphibious craft from an old Nissan Patrol (has a winch up front). Even downloaded specifications of a WWII 1943 landing craft designed for beach-head assaults!—hahaha
I suppose you might even learn something sado-sexual masochistic from Milan Kundera, for whatever it's worth in coping with our modern sexually confused age. Watched an excellent docu last night on Gianni Versace, up until he wuz whacked by a jealous lover. Religious idealism of the french have often guided my path to understanding—Cherchez la femme !
WV: coppe and fixest ?
Baz and all:
I wasn't seriously trying to get you to fly over to this crazy disintegrating nation... well, I'd love you to visit, or to visit there, but I realize I have to "do it" on my own. I have begun.
I bagged a ruffed grouse up north, and though it was a clean head-shot, it was still flapping around when I got to it (30 yard shot). I was squirming inside, but I handled it. My brother laughed at my squeamishness, which I will never get over, likely. The birds we got tasted amazing: way better than chicken, which I may not be able to eat anymore. The food we eat in this country.
I had lunch with my coworkers Friday - something I do rarely, though they constantly nag me to do it. Nice folk. But man, the amount they can pack away! I had a sandwich, and I didn't eat dinner that night. One of my coworkers can devour 6 or 7 pieces of pizza at a buffet.
Today I took my son on the light rail line to the "MegaMall" (tm), the largest mall in America. Thankfully, he wanted to get the hell out of there as soon as I did... way too crowded in more ways the one. The second way it was crowded freaked me out: 50% at least of the people were either severely overweight or obese. Man and woman, children too... waddling around. I couldn't believe my eyes... they seem to congregate in the mall out of instinct or something. Now I'm sounding cruel, like the defrocked nihilistic minister from my hometown, but I'm just observing. I felt bad for them.
We didn't take any rides - the minimum I would have had to pay for tickets was $20. How can people afford the lunacy? I saw Leggo kits in the Leggo store that sold for $500!!! For a Star Wars Millenium Falcon kit.
I almost puked while having a panic attack. I imagined the crowd, hungry for food and consumer goods, wandering from the suburbs and attacking the city, looking for loot, waddling in vicious packs.
I just watched the film Apocalypto tonight, the Mel Gibson movie. It was quite good. A real work of art and the imagination... and quite philosophical on dealing with fear and being hunted, and turning the tables. The high priests of the Mayans reminded me of our own elite, preying on the lower levels of society. Literally ripping their hearts out.
This film has amazing cinematography, makeup, pace, plot, and atmosphere.
How bright and cheery this fall evening of me.
Kundera: I used to like that pretentious jerk when I was a college student, and I was pretentious too. But I have fond memories of his writing. It's probably worth revisiting.
The Ft. Hood shooting thing is very strange. I remember hearing about it last Friday up north. 4 attackers, 2 dead and 1 captured... then it suddenly became the lone gunman, Hasan. I've read that numerous military types have said that there's no way one guy could have done that... especially someone untrained. I really try to stay clear of conspiracy stuff unless I can't avoid it, but I HEARD the initial reports. Then it changed on a dime, with no explanation.
Any bets on whether or not Hasan, the accused attacker, lives to see trial? I have a feeling he wasn't meant to have survived... Gosh, now I'm not being a wholesome American boy who eats at Burger King and goes to church now, am I.
Baz: any thoughts on trapping fish? I may get into that next.
Sorry Nina. Can't grow anything here in Minnesota in the winter.
My best to everyone. And that means you.
word: mitesse
I guess I'm on the "right path".
Les Visible told me to f*** myself and say I was banished from his website forever.... tisk, tisk, Less, is that censorship??
Guess I got under his skin...
We are all human, are we not? Guess he didnt' like my Catholicism... going to Mass at 5.30am... and pointing out/calling out these louts & frauds.....Why did Jesus always quote Isaiah?? Youll wash this out too, gotta be loyal to Les!
LV: tetio
Su's asteroid struck me a couple days ago. The initial impact raised a bit of dust, the fragments and shock waves are relentless.
Two had already buried themselves deep. The last switched on the powers of the other two.
Seems I lacked loving mothers milk. The tension in my grandfathers house stopped the flow. I've been sensitive about being deprived of food and honesty since.
My protein/good fats source sends payments later and later and looks like our agreed arrangements have been dishonored. First strike.
My blood glucose level is now sensitive to food quality. Proper diet, safe levels. After a week of bread and peanut butter, nothing from family, it can't be good. I do hesitate to ask for assistance. Pride. Self pity and disappointment tripped in. Results of this the second strike.
In the middle of this I'm told I must move as my neice wants my moms house where I live. No offer of help from anywhere. Three months to finish sorting and packing a life time of collecting. Most challenging, the only spot on Earth I can sleep rent free is a few thousand miles away. Three months to arrange things there remotely. Third strike.
I'm calling the Ninja Warrior and hoping he'll appear. Ras Ninja! Where are you?
Any previous tries to verbalise such emotional rides results in being told I'm laying guilt trips or I'm babbling away...again. My service to Livity is a joke. Where is my son...the doctor?
I do feel a comforting presence now that I've spoken my feelings. Is that you dear Ninja or is it the molasses in the tea?
Yea, this Ras morphs into a rass. I told you Nina.
But, I never give up.
That must be the Ninja talking.
Like the US Cavalry, charging over the hill, just in time.
Just leave my Native people alone and zap the vampires within.
Notice that I do not take the Ras title. Until Ninja is awake and ready, it would be fake.
Best to you too. All.
turey.
'sonshi' OK Word Generator. I'll go check Sun Tzu. Thanks.
If you're going to scrant, better you scrant in Jamdown where everybody scrants. You must carry on Ras, the details are only divisive memories for later, the force has decided you move on to another chapter. Go in grace.
But in the old system, the male heir keeps the house, the women are consigned to small quarters at the edge.
Try to see yourself as fortunate to have the force dictate this change, new beginnings, take the leap in anticipation of adventure you would not have had staying home, online, looking out the window.
Vword: change (for real)
Dear Tex, If I banned you, would you tattle tale on Petri Dish?
I don't know who you go by over there, so I have no knowledge of what you were posting.
It is always the blog host's right to do what he/she feels best for the group. If you are going to rag on someone, step up to the plate and make your own blog where you can rag till your heart's content.
I think there is still a substance abuse situation on your part which inflames your point of view, since you refuse to consider giving it up and giving in to a higher consciousness. I am in sympathy with you, but I will not lie either. As a person who trained with the Diggers, Tex, where is your oversight into how you got here and how you can survive? Come now. Misery will hang around you until YOU ban it from your existence. Its in your mind. Send it away. Do something good for someone else. Then do it again. And again.
Sticks and stones can break your bones.
Words can drive you crazy. If you allow it.
Words can heal and comfort too.
Those from the Inner Nin-Ja and those from the kind and awake. Sun Tzu also gave sensible advise.
Thanks Nina, old habits still cling.
Look forward to inviting Y'All to walkabout in Ja.
turey.
Why I believe Shangra La is unworkable: Quotations from Chairman Less Visible:
"F*** you. Go to hell....Quit spamming me." etc. All for the sin of being a devout Catholic. If I get this disbelief and abuse, G** help the Muslims! I would have been amenable to donating six figures, but after Less's abuses, no thanks.
Bizarrely enough, the RCC opened up the fact that there might be alien life. Look it up. The Jesuits opened an exobiology dept. at their observatory in Arizona. I think they are ahead of you, Less!
They also burnt my GGGG.. Uncle Tony alive for following the Laws of Moses Anon.
400 years ago. No apology yet. Anything changed?
Shangri-La is happening, you gotta know where to look.
turey.
Turey,
Sorry to hear of the changed terrain that will require you to chart out a new course. Good luck.
Keep us posted. You are obviously resourceful. Use everything you have, which is more than enough.
I feel bad somehow about my last post. I really went overboard on the weight and obesity thing. I feel guilty. Everyone has issues, addictions, problems. For many in my geographical area, food is what sustains the lack of spiritual nourishment in our culture. Yes, I stole this from Charles Eisenstein, but it's true.
I have my own serious issues... I'm addicted to neurosis and self-doubt, for example. It's a choice in a way that is hard to un-choose, as much as anything else.
My apologies if I offended anyone.
Tex, use your faith - Catholicism has some deep insights into human nature. It could help you with your addictions, if you do indeed suffer from them. If not, my apologies.
Everyone - we can all do better tomorrow. Didn't little Orphan Annie sing that?
Thanks Publius.
Now to keep my eyes on the road and not be distracted by inner or outer noise.
turey.
That's the way Rasta. Distractions waste time, time you could be moving towards a higher destination. Every little 'ting gonna be ah rite... Has it really done you any good to be where you are? Okay, you saw the mountains, the forests, the rocky shores and snow, but without any ties holding you there, you are free as a bird to go wherever you want. Do it. You can go back to Jamaica too, people do that all the time, come and go, no need to explain.. .
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