Potpourri of Links

I find delight in reading and researching topics that interest me. Sometimes I become fixed on an issue and never move on till I make my friends and family sick-to-death of hearing about it. I've become that older-woman (not too old) who's long ago considerations have now become outbursts of messages and warnings, passionate about issues that many give little or no thought.

In my day-to-day journey towards becoming more enlightened, I find truths in many places. I'm Christian, yet I find Christ in Buddism. I'm educated, but I find wisdom in listening to the so-called ignorant. Oddly, I'm at peace, and yet I find the rescources for tranquility through the intellectualizing of war.

Part of my blog space (the right side of this page) has become a haven for links that I've found important in some way or another to my growth. They're important to me and I hope they can benefit others. I don't agree in whole with any one of them but they are, in part, a piece of the whole picture of our existance. This is why there are many varieties of spiritual and philisophical thought posted here. With each visit I find more insight. And with continued research and recommendation to visit other sites, more pieces of the BiG Picture may come together still.

My plan for the coming year is to post some impressions of what I've discerned from each of the links that I've shared here. I am thankful and blessed. May your Thanksgiving be of good spirit.

Water out of Thin Air

The Water Mill goes on sale next year for about $1,250 American dollars (£800). This looks to be the answer to many prayers, as water becomes a comodity. The machine pays for itself and is more productive during storm seasons, when there's moisture in the air. It's not advised for areas with low humidity.

What do you make of this?

Call me weird, tell me I have no life, but this is too fantastic!!! Anyone who doesn't see this for what it really is also believes the world is flat. What do you make of it?

Dragon Slayer - by Daryl Cagle

This is an amusing cartoon. I'm sure everyone's got the message already. I received this in an email and thought it was really creative and well done. In reality, Obama is non-violent and wouldn't hurt a fly. Case in point, what's up with this Hillary and Joe Lieberman thingy ... as possible cabinet members? Obama admires Abraham Lincoln and his politics. It seems he's being lead by the teachings of our 16th president. I hope he remembers that some of our rivals are destructive and self serving. They don't all have our best interest at heart.

"In winning the Republican presidential nomination, Lincoln had to defeat some powerful rivals--particularly, William Seward, Salmon Chase, and Edward Bates. When he was elected, Lincoln appointed them to his Cabinet, because he wanted to bring his opponents together so that he could benefit from their talents and sharpen his judgment in response to their critical advice." (1)


My hope is that the dragon is not revived and remains where he is. Who needs his advice anyway?

Tis the Season for Scammers

Scammers are growing in numbers and getting very smart. It takes alertness to avoid being taken for a ride.

I almost dug myself into a deep deep hole. While searching Craig's List during October looking for a second source of income, I found an interesting venture. It was a market research group looking for business professionals in certain industries. I fit the profile and sent my info to the group, hoping to earn the $150 for 2 days and 2 hours per day of research development sessions. Well, I didn't get in, as I'd responded too late to make the cut, but the idea of doing market research for pay piqued my interest.

Some days later I received a notice from a group (I thought it was the same research group) telling me that they were responding from Craig's List regarding my request to keep me on there records for further opportunities, and that there was to be another study. Yippie!!! I didn't hesitate one second to respond, putting my name in the que for a quick response.

Over the next week I received several emails, one of which stated that I'd be working with their client, Moneygram. I would receive $300 for the study and $100 for gas and expenses to get to the location. Something about it didn't feel good or sound right, but I wanted to see it play out, as I'd hoped the earnings would be legit.

Another email gave me the logistics. November 6th was the day that I was to visit Moneygram and adhere to a list of requirements. I was to receive a check in which $400 of it I could keep and the balance sent to them through Moneygram. By now I was sure that this was a scam. So I ignored the message and washed my hands of it.

On November 6th I received, in the mail, a check for $3,753. I stared at it for 5 minutes, imagining that some agency was refunding money due to me for some strange reason. But I just couldn't fabricate a scenario where this could be true. Oh shucks!

Mr. David Bircham, the scamming party, expected me to deposit the check into my bank, leaving $400 there and taking out $3,353 in cash to be sent to him through Moneygram. When, if I'd been so ditsy as to deposit the check, my bank would have found that the check was no good, there would be no way to retrieve the funds from Mr. David Bircham, and I would be the great looser.

This scam is a twist on something similar that I've heard many lost money. Be careful. Money is earned. If an offer looks weird, it probably is. That applies to anyone buying a mansion he can't afford as well.

Are We Gonna Miss Him?

Folks are already complaining ... "Obama's not doing this ... Obama's not doing that ... Obama isn't handling the issues". Well, give the man some breathing space. He's not officially in office yet and I think he's got his hands tied. None of this mess will get fixed over night and Obama hasn't even spelled out what his real plans are. I say ... let's wait and see ... Peace be Still.

I recall soooo many republicans who rallied around Bush for president. And now, soooo many churches, republicans, and hate mongers are talking trash about the new President Elect. I'm confused. Are we looking for change in the right direction or just more of the same old corruption on the backs of hard working people?
It's obvious we're headed in a new direction, from dumb to smart, crazy to sane, and comic to presidential.

Here's a montage of Mr. Bush at his best. Say goodbye to comic.



The Inauguration is only a few months away and everyone I know is trying to go. The hotels have no vacancies, there are no more Inauguration tickets to be had, Obama only plans to attend 2 of the many Inauguration parties, and the crowds will be staggering. Here's what I say: Buy a bottle of your favorite champagne, invite some friends over, tune into the Inauguration, and have a joyous time. I plan to have a blast!

Inspired to Write

Today I strolled upon the website, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It came to mind that this is about the that time of year when I'm most stimulated to write my best, and write more often. The quantity is noted in the recent posts I've contributed these last days, as I've not posted so much in one week. Well, of course there's the element of having voted a magnanimous political leader into office that can cause anyone with a pen to want to voice a word. Yes, it's all of that. It's the fact that the holidays are upon us; a season for creativity and a time to reflect. November is a time for creativity.

So once again I'm attempting a novel. I've written more than a dozen short stories and half a dozen incomplete novels. There are a bunch of reasons why I haven't finished a novel ... one reason is that I have a case of attention deficit when it pertains to holding on to a good storyline. I get great ideas all the time and squash them when I inevitably come upon another, one that I think is even better than the one before. But now I'm going to try something different.

NaNoWriMo is holding a contest that requires writing a 50,000-word novel by the end of November. The cool part about this is that it's a creative endeavor that focuses on, not quality, but quantity. I, for one, am challenged without having to be anal about the finished product. Can I produce 50,000 words in one month? I'll let you know as we get into the month. Check out the website and try it.

America Grows Up

We celebrated tonight, excited that the US is in agreement with making significant changes in the way we run our country. What stimulates me the most is not how President Elect Obama plans to end the war in Iraq, bring health care to all, or Social Security reform. It's the fact that he inspires a country that is desperate for the government to work for them, and not against them. The inspiring words of Obama uplifts those who had no hope for a better world. For many, all it takes is just those words to stimulate energy and passion from a lethargic nation. Today I'm proud for many reasons. I can't wait to participate in this new movement of peace. I'm especially proud of my diversely-colored brothers and sisters who judged by the content of character and not the color of skin. I'm Proud that we've grown up.

Peace is quite simple

Are You Clueless ?

Last Wednesday night I attended a revival meeting at my parent’s church, Allen Temple. I loved a parody that the pastor, Dr. Leslie Braxton, gave on how rules are made to be broken.

He told a story of a family gathering in some out-of-the-way home one holiday. A young girl was in the kitchen watching her mother help with the cooking. Her mom was fixing the ham. She watched her chop off half of it and throw it away before placing the remaining part into the oven.

The child asked, “Mama, why did you cut half the ham and throw it away?”

“Well, honey. That’s how my mama taught me,” replied the mother.

“But why did she make you do that?”

The mother paused for thought. “Hmm. I really don’t know, sugar. You’ll have to ask your Grandma.”

So the child went to see her grandma, who was sitting on the couch sipping tea.

“Grandma. I asked mama why she cuts off half the ham and throws it away, and cooks the rest, and she said she didn’t know, and that I had to ask you.”

“Well, baby. I learned that from my mama and I don’t know why we did it. We just did it. Go ask your Great Grandma.” So the child went upstairs to where the Great Grandma slept.

She whispered to the Great Grandma and she woke.

“Great Grandma. I asked my mama why she cuts half the ham off before she puts it in the oven and she told me to ask Grandma. I asked Grandma and she said to ask you. So now I'm asking you. Do you know why everybody cuts off half the ham before cooking it?”

“Well sure I know, baby. See, when I was little we had a small stove. We couldn’t fit no big ham into the baking pan and we didn’t have no refrigerator neither. So my mama had to chop off the end of the ham and throw the rest of it away.”

Rules were made for man, not the other way around. It’s never too late to start asking questions. The ones you believe know the answers may be clueless.