Soccer Bruise

  

This is a bruise on my thigh from a collision in a "friendly" game last week. Notice the bruise wraps around my entire thigh. It appears to be getting bigger over time. Yes - Ouch!

Sometimes they hit so close to home

click on the cartoon for a bigger screen shot

Support Family Farms

Ben & Jerry's Family Farms

Click the above link for more information on family farms and what you can do to help...
It's time for a change in U.S. agriculture. I am writing to ask you to authorize strong federal programs supporting new agricultural priorities as you craft the next farm bill. We need to reward creative, sustainable farmers for their efforts as responsible stewards of the land and encourage them to move in new directions.

In previous farm bills, Congress has poured billions of dollars into programs that favored large-scale industrialized agriculture and encouraged the overproduction of commodity crops. I encourage you to shift our priorities by funding programs that encourage innovation, ensure healthy food, protect our environment, and revitalize rural economies.

Please reward a more sensible and sustainable future for agriculture by:

* Renewing and shoring up the Conservation Security Program (CSP).

* Protecting Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) dollars from diversion to industrial agriculture projects that can harm the environment and public health.

* Supporting producers of grass-fed and grass-finished animal products through research programs, value added programs, and extension and outreach programs.

* Providing assistance to meat producers who employ a more responsible approach to antibiotic use in animal agriculture and to producers seeking to transition toward more sustainable use.

* Supporting reasonable payment limitations in the farm bill's commodity title, such as a cap of no more than $250,000 per year.

* Ensuring fair competition and fair business practices within the agricultural sector by renewing congressional support for country-of-origin-labeling, prohibiting packer-owned livestock, and passing other pro-competition measures.

Through these and other measures, Congress can support a forward-looking, economically robust farm bill that will protect the livelihoods of America's innovative small to mid-size farmers, along with our health and the environment."

Torvill & Dean - 1984 Olympics - Bolero - HQ

Torvill & Dean - 1984 Olympics - Bolero

I was only 13 when this was performed at the Olympics and I am still in awe of the beauty in this. Watch & enjoy.

She's ready for her closeup

  

Dog is my co-pilot

  

4 of 4

Stolen from Jane:

Four Things I've Never Done
Been to Hawaii
Bungee Jumped
Had surgery
intravenous drugs

Four People I've Lost Touch With But Wonder About
Jodi Plank
Sarah Aquino
Yvonne Covello
Pittroff twins


Four Things I Don't Do Well
Rollerblade
Worry
Wait
Help my parents with electronics (tv, remotes, DVD/VCR, computer...)

Four Things I Do Well
Relax
Enjoy alone time
My job
Organize groups & activities

...and you?

Why do I have dogs?

Who else greets you each & every time you come home with such joy & affection!

Welcome Auggie

Born on 2/13 to Dita & Gary. He's happy & healthy: 8lb5oz, 21in. I can't wait to meet him.

What's Up?

Not much really. A week ago I had my first physical exam in at least two years. The dr. asked when I had my last tetnus shot... hmm.... I can't remember one since high school. Maybe since I spend at least a week each summer at camp or on some labor intensive mission trip it would be a good idea to re-up. So I took a shot to the arm of tetnus/diptheria/whooping cough vaccine cocktail.

By 11PM I had a fever & chills. I've been sick for 4 days since. Joy!

Combine being sick with having a 12 week old puppy who sleeps no more than 4hrs in a row - I'm not getting a lot of rest.

Jane fried the computer at home so we are without internet entertainment for her. We are managing to survive somehow.

That's all the news of the moment. What's new with you?

Brokeback to the Future

Click here to watch the video trailer of Brokeback to the Future

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Best Friends?

 
They are working it out. Someday... 

That's My Girl

 
There she is admiring a delicious stout. A girl with impecible taste. God bless her little heart. 

The Power of 4

Four jobs I’ve had:
Parking Garage Attendant (I could be fancy & say valet but I won’t glamorize the job of parking cars in an office building.
Youth Minister
Public Relations Officer
Short order cook for breakfast shift at college snack bar.

Four Movies I can watch over and over:
When Harry Met Sally
Grease
Shag
Princess Bride

Four Places I’ve Lived:
Piedmont
San Luis Obispo
London
Oakland

Four TV shows I love:
Arrested Development
Survivor (any season)
Coupling on BBC
CSI (vegas or ny)

Four places I’ve vacationed
13 European countries in 2 months
Clear Lake, CA
Vancouver, BC
Washington, DC

Four of my favorite dishes:
My mom’s spaghetti
My dad’s tacos
My meatloaf
Jane's Coffe-Chipotle Short Ribs

Four sites I visit daily:
Dooce
Rhymes With Orange
Celebrity Fugly Fashions
Real Live Preacher

Four places I would rather be right now:
At home with my new puppy
Wine tasting in Paso Robles or Healdsburg
Camping lakeside
Relaxing at Jack’s farm.

Four bloggers I’m tagging:
Jane
Jersild
J&J
Happy & Stella

Our New Puppy

Beautiful girl, Granite!

If you have a dogster page please add to our pup pals list.

Random Subway Sign

 

Yes... items posted for the MTA Lost & Found include a Cobra in strike position, the upper set of dentures and a 1930s era prosthetic leg just to point out a few of the highlights.

We had a great time in NYC. Here's what we did in the day I arrived on the red-eye:
1) nap
2) subway to Coney Island
3) lunch at Nathan's
4) walk Coney Island Boardwalk (closed for the season but interesting)
5) NYC Aquarium
6) walked the beach looking for sea-glass only to find sharp shards of glass and a sock.
7) enjoyed Chinatown (and it was Chinese New Years too!)
8) walked Little Italy and rested at italian cafe to indulge w/ scoos of gelato & coffee
9) walked Grenwich Village
10) walked Chelsea
11) had dinner
12) walked to hotel
13) walked from hotel on 28th to Times Square (yes, on 42nd)
14) found Irish bar where Jane's fav. rebel Irish Band (Black 47) was playing.

So I took red-eye flight to NYC and WALKED all major neighborhoods in mid-town all day long and still managed to enjoy a rock show at 11PM.

My feet haven't forgiven me yet. 

Granite

By noon on Friday I will have my hands full. We decided on the name Granite because of her unique markings. She looks more like marble but that didn't sound like something I could call arcoss the dog park. And a nickname for her might be Granny. Come by & meet her. We are very excited. A new puppy! Yay!

Another Option

We also put in an application for this boy He's got a brother available that is a blue merle.

I don't think the litter has much beagle as the description states. They look more aussie, cattle dog muttmix.

A Sign of Healing?

PUPPY!

I just submitted an application for adoption of this beautiful boy. We'll see...

Big $

 

The layover in Vegas was good to us. I highly recommend the quarter slots. 

Goodbye Sweet Boy

Otis
March 1995 - January 2006
 


He loved well and was well loved. I miss having that little shadow following me around. 

Storm Status

This article sums up our New Year's Eve. We woke up to rain & winds & the sound of crashing trees. I tried to make it to my sister's for breakfast and one turn led me to a giant tree blockign the road, passed a mudslide & several streets with trees felled across the road. I got to the bottom of our hill & saw a large "puddle" with a car in the middle of it. The next day the paper had this article explains what happened: Beware of flooded street!: "'It was like driving into a lake,' he said. 'All of a sudden, I have no traction and the car is floating in water up to the middle of the windows, 4 or 5 feet deep. The engine stalls and the car starts filling with water. I thought, I'm going to get out of here.'"

We are safe & sound. No trees on our house or in our yard. Only our New Year Eve plans were cancelled.

Lazy Sunday: The Chronicles of Narnia Rap - Google Video

For those of you who miss most Saturday Night Live shows these days I have to share this. A gangsta rap spoof video about two guys heading to see Chronicles of Narnia. Awesome. Check it out. Lazy Sunday: The Chronicles of Narnia Rap - Google Video

I Attack Myself

don't I dare

Click the link... Paint this dog black and this could be my boy Otis. Such a stupid freak.

All you needed to know about snausages

Cook's Thesaurus: Sausages: "Pronunciation: SAW-sidge"

Click that link for the pictorial guide to tube meats. YUM!

Follow Doctor's Orders

Wear the cone...



So he doesn't lick...



The wound...

You Better Watch Out...

That Santa looks like he's in a horror movie! For more check out: SCARED OF SANTA GALLERY

So THIS is Christmas

It's not Christmas without this: Smithfield Ham

Hello Hope

To follow up from two posts ago... here's the newest Crawford. Her name is Hope. She is tiny. That grinning fool is my brother Hugh.

A Great Place To Shop

from ABC News online (click for article):ABC News: Costco CEO Finds Decency Is Compatible With Profitability

It's nice to see a company take care of their employees.

And Baby Makes Five

Sometime today I will get the call that my brother's family of four will be one child richer. We don't know if a boy or girl will enter the world. A big surprise for everyone.

PS - can you tell she's eight months pregnant?

Down 5

I decided to not drink between Halloween & Thanksgiving. I stuck to it pretty good until the last few days. Without booze in the diet I lost another five lbs. Still got a few more fivers to go... slowly but surely we are slimming down.

When we started the official strict South Beach I thought it was something we could do for the long term. It turns out I was right. It's not so hard to keep pasta, white rice and potatoes out of our meals. When I have a carb craving I just make sure to eat whole grain products.

If only they made a whole grain wine or beer. Then I'd be content!

Set Your DVR for Christmas Specials

Christmas Specials to watch: (all times EST, check local listings for PBS programs):

My personal favorites (I can't believe they don't list A Christmas Story or Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas):

"A Charlie Brown Christmas," directed by animator Bill Melendez, airs 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, on ABC. It's paired with "Charlie Brown Christmas Tales," based on Schulz's work and featuring each of the Peanuts characters, including Snoopy, in individual vignettes.

- "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, CBS. A shy reindeer battles the Abominable Snowmonster and finds that his vibrantly colored nose makes him a hero, not a misfit, when Santa Claus needs a guiding light.

- "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, ABC. Fred Astaire was the narrator for this 1970 tale about how Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney) overcomes a ban on toys in his native Sombertown and ends up becoming Santa Claus, the world's biggest toy distributor.

- "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, ABC. Jim Carrey stars as the unpopular Grinch in the film based on the Dr. Seuss book. Christine Baranski and Jeffrey Tambor co-star.

- "The Santa Clause," 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, ABC. Tim Allen stars as a man who becomes the unwilling successor to Santa Claus and has to quickly learn the ropes. Wendy Crewson, David Krumholtz and Peter Boyle co-star.

- "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, NBC. Life on the road isn't easy for Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family, but at least his Christmas bonus is coming. Beverly D'Angelo co-stars.

Holiday Snowglobe

I look forward to this time of year just for this Holiday Treat

It's fun just to watch the little guys go about their day, enjoying the show, sledding & skating... then I shake them up a bit.

Have fun!

Timm Enjoys the Beach

 


From our trip last May to Dillon Beach. This was one of the first unfenced places Timm has been able to run off-leash. He loved it. Freedom. 

Preparing for Christmas

 


This was the best pic. in many attempts to capture the boys dressed up for the holidays. I guess we'll never get a good shot of them for a Christmas card. Oh well. We had fun. 

Welcome AFO V aka Erick

Scrunched up face and all five toes! I look forward to tormenting you as you grow up.

Winery in Oakland?

Please Come to Lost Canyon Winery's Grand Opening Celebration

Apparently a new winery & tasting room is opening up in the heart of Oakland. I think I might have to pay them a visit.

Chalk One Up for the Catholics

Vatican Official Refutes Intelligent Design:

The Vatican's chief astronomer said Friday that "intelligent design" isn't science and doesn't belong in science classrooms, the latest high-ranking Roman Catholic official to enter the evolution debate in the United States.... (click above link for full article)

Let your voice be heard!

The ONE Campaign: "This week, Congress will decide how much America will contribute toward an important international effort called the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Let’s keep up the positive pressure: Please email Congress today and ask their support for $100 million in the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill for the Global Fund-- an effort that fights back against three killer diseases and encourages other countries to do their share. "

To make sure your voice is heard, ONE has set up a toll-free number that will connect you directly to your Representatives’ office in Washington, DC.

Call 1-800-786-2663 TODAY and help make AIDS, TB and malaria history.

Or you can click on the above link to sign a web petition.

Together, these three preventable and treatable diseases kill 6 million people each year. Together, we can change that - as ONE, we can make the difference.

Liquid Cereal - The BevNET.com Review

Liquid Cereal - makes me want to hurl

A few choice descriptions from the website:
"With a slight thickness to its body, this product also feels somewhat like cereal in your mouth."

"The greenish color is probably our biggest issue with this product as green colored milk is typically a sign of some sort of problem."

"This beverage packs sweet, artificial-fruityness and a slightly thick, cereal-like consistency into an 11 ounce can."

ew.

I Itch

My lips now look normal but they continue to have a poison oak like itch that seems to be spreading. Where do I itch today? The bridge of my nose, my right nostril, my left upper eye-lid. I also have an itchy red rash on each side of my neck (front) and across my neck (back) from shoulder to shoulder.

No, I have not changed body soaps, lotions or laundry detergents. What could it be?

Help... please. I can't stand it for much longer.

Disco Thanksgiving

Click Me and enjoy a little seasonal entertainment. I've received this by email or IM at least 10 times. Now I share it with you.

I've Got Needs

A meme making its way around the Internet, discovered during a visit to sarahlaughed.net: you Google your name and the word "needs," and blog the top ten hits that come up. So, according to Google, this is what I need:

Sarah needs someone who can escort her from port to port

Sarah Needs A Cold Shower, Self-Esteem

Sarah needs to get her life back and establish herself as the person in charge!

Sarah needs to set up her experiment 4

Sarah Needs A Home

Sarah needs comforting

Sarah needs to be hooked up to a respirator in order to survive

Sarah needs your help

Sarah needs a root canal.

Apparently I only need 9 things!

Mango Itch?

Health: "An itchy rash develops and progresses into fluid-filled blisters that itch and ooze. Your dermatologist calls this an acute allergic contact dermatitis. Typically, symptoms develop several hours after exposure, build to a peak within two to five days, and clear up in about three weeks."

Jane thinks I may have this. On my lips. My top lip is currently about triple in size and is covered in oozing little blisters.

I have a Dr. appt at noon to see if internet diagnosis is correct, hopefully prescribe big drugs and make it go away. I'm not pretty. Jane took a picture this AM... We'll see if I can figure out how to get shots from camera into computer.

Cheers!

Puggle

I learned of this new designer breed from Jake Gyllenhall on The Today Show. They are called "pocket boxers". I'm not sure why anyone would cross a Pug with a Beagle but here they are. I introduce you to the Puggle.

Bad Dog Friday!

I'd say this picture is worth 1000 words.

Guest Blogger - RJK

Hi! My name is RJ and I'm a hunny pot. I like to smile and drool. I did not go out for halloween because it's a pagan holiday and my parents are very religious... ok really I was just in a bad mood. Do you see those teeth in my face? They hurt. And I don't like wearing this stupid outfit. Mommy just made me take a picture to show all her friends how cute I am. See, I'm cute. Gotta go eat some candy....

Save Flipper!

northamerica.oceana.org: Dolphin Deadline click here & sign the petition to save Flipper!

Congress -- led by Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest and Richard Pombo – may soon be trying to remove a deadline that would reduce the catching, injuring and killing of dolphins, whales and other marine mammals. Take action today -- tell Congress not to kill the Dolphin Deadline. If you live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland -- click here. Anywhere else in the US, click here.

Each year commercial fishing operations catch and kill more than 300,000 marine mammals worldwide – more than 800 each day. The United States contributes significantly to this problem, needlessly killing thousands of dolphins, whales and other animals each year. According to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, this “dirty-fishing” is one of the biggest threats to the future of marine mammal populations.

In the United States, laws already exist to protect marine mammals. More than 30 years ago, the U.S. Congress enacted the Marine Mammal Protection Act to stop the decline of dolphins, whales, manatees, walruses, polar bears and other ocean animals.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires the federal government to reduce the killing and injury of marine mammals in commercial fisheries to negligible levels. Ten years ago, Congress set April 2001 as the deadline to achieve this goal, but the deadline has since passed.

Now, instead of working harder to enforce the deadline, some members of Congress just want to do away with it altogether. (View Fact Sheet)What they should do is insist that the government comply with the law. If this deadline is removed, marine mammals will lose the most basic and fundamental protection given to them, and the number killed or harmed by commercial fishing operations could increase by the thousands.

Happy Halloween

If ghosts and goblins or the current regime in the white house don't scare you I'm sure this will. Check out the KQED blog about Scary Food

Ew... I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth. urp.

editor's note to my parents: the text in bold blue is a link. move your cursor over that and click to be sent to the Scary Food blog

Freshman Sensation

FALCON CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

My neice Lauren is apparently a big stud. She ran her final big XC race and crushed the competition. Unfortunately I had to be in class and couldn't go cheer her on. Mom said she was awesome. Hopefully they get to go to championships and I can see her woop 'em in person.

Homeland Security

This is upsetting but I thought I should pass it along. Check your drivers license. Now you can see anyone's Driver's License on the Internet, including your own! I just searched for mine and there it was picture and all!!

Thanks Homeland Security! Where are our rights?
I definitely removed mine. I suggest you do the same... Go to the web site and check it out. Just enter your name, city and state to see if yours is on file. After your license comes on the screen, click the box marked "Please Remove". This will remove
it from public viewing, but not from law enforcement.


http://www.license.shorturl.com

Mother Goose Rocks!

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes appearances by Pope JP2 & GWB!

On my local radio AM show I learned about Mother Goose Rocks. This is a five volume collection of Mother Goose rhymes or other children songs performed as pop songs by "cover artists". Either sung to the tune of a popular rock song or in the style of a popular rock artist.

Song samples
I've Been Working on the Railroad performed by Coldwork (sung like Coldplay... The above link goes to a vieo of ME2 (ala U2) song of Head Shoulders Knees & Toes.

yes, I just bought the whole collection and it's awesome.

Dominant Genes

I've always heard that brown hair/eyes are the dominant gene. How is it that all the kids of the next generation have such fair features? Except for the hair/eye color the rest of them is ALL Crawford.

Here they are in decending age:

A New Toy for FREE!

America West | BlackBerry Promotion

My friend Melissa showed me her new free BlackBerry Treo she got for buying an airline ticket from America West. Wow, that's quite a promotion.

If only I wasn't already locked into a cell phone contract... and don't mind not being "in touch" 24/7 I might consider booking a flight.

Young MC

Check One Two... sibilance... sibilance..

How cute is she!

My Own Three Toed Sloth

Otis gets his toe removed on 10/24. The doctors think it's best to preventatively remove his potentially cancerous toe.

Jane wants to take him with us to Oregon this weekend as a special field trip. Otis loves the farm, loves uncle Jack, loves a good long 9 hour car ride, loves being with his mommies. Little does he know Jane has started the K9 Make-A-Wish!

po' puppy. He'll be fine, no worrries. He will only be able to count to 17 now.

Arkansas Mother Gives Birth to 16th Child

Get this woman some birth control.. or self control... or a sex ed video. 16 kids and she's only 39. She's spent almost 12 years of her life pregnant.
Arkansas Mother Gives Birth to 16th Child: "Their children include two sets of twins, and each child has a name beginning with the letter 'J': Joshua, 17; John David, 15; Janna, 15; Jill, 14; Jessa, 12; Jinger, 11; Joseph, 10; Josiah, 9; Joy-Anna, 8; Jeremiah, 6; Jedidiah, 6; Jason, 5; James, 4; Justin, 2; and Jackson Levi, 1."

Steve, Don't Eat It! - Silkworm Pupas

Eating silkworm pupas just sounds nasty. For the full text of his experience read this blog's section called Steve, Don't Eat It! . Have a barf bag handy if you are easily grossed-out.

A Message for My Dad

I love you.

Fan Appreciation Day

What a bummer. Work is sending me to NYC for the week and I had to sell my tickets to the A's game giveaway of the Bobby Kielty Troll Doll

The A's have a chance to win the west and I'll be stuck in NY booing the Yankees.

Let's Go Oakland!

The source for my random statements

I'm a huge fan of Celebrity Jeopardy on Saturday Night Live. Click on the title for a listing & video clips of all episodes for the last 10 years.

a few of my favorite categories (per Sean Connery)
Anal Bum Covers (An Album Cover)
Swords (S' Words)
Ape Tit (A Petite Dejuneir)
The Penis Mightier (The Pen Is Mightier)
The Rapists (Therapists)

The best final Jeopardy answers:
Threve
Suck it, Trabek

A Rooftop Bar in San Francisco!!!

Yes, and it's awesome. It's like a country club up there... chaise lounges, umbrellas, heat lamps, sunshine (if you're lucky) and always a cool view.

I highly recommend it. The restraunt on the first floor looks cool but we didn't eat there.

I'm Sick

I should be at home, in bed, sleeping with a dog at my feet. Unfortunately today is payroll processing day so I gotta be at work to process payroll. It's great job security being the only person who knows the ins & outs of what I do... but... It's days like today when I wish I wasn't so darn indespensible.

Not only do I have sore throat, runny nose & tired eyes but the office burgler alarm is on the fritz so every 8 seconds it runs a self-testing high pitched beep.... beep.... beep.... beep

Last night I made a pot of hot & sour soup. It's my latest favorite "sick food". Thanks to Elmar for introducing me to this delicious & quick recipe. I brought the leftovers to work today for lunch.

Please let me get payroll done quickly so I can go home.

sniffle... cough... ahem...

How I spent my Labor Day weekend

Jane planned this weekend's trip to kayak Mono Lake & explore the eastern Sierras (click the header for a description) as my birthday present. Our trip was booked through REI but our guides came from Current Adventures

It was great! I highly recommend a trip like this. We showed up to a fully set up camp and were sat in front of a fire and offered cocoa, tea or coffee. The guides did EVERYTHING for us... cooked enormous meals, drove us around, moved equipment, planned activities, cleaned up... It felt so strange to be turned away when offering to help out.

Mono lake is very cool. We ended up covered in streams of salt from the splashing water. After a full morning of paddling & vising the museum of Mono Lake we went for a long hike through beaver dams and waterfalls. We ended the trip with a morning paddle on Silver Lake (located on the June Lake Loop off HWY 395). Glaciers created some beauty! Sheer granite walls, cascades, crystal clear waters and hardly any other people on the lake. I will definately return.

Thanks Jane and all the family for contributing to this trip. It was awesome.

Blog for Relief Day

If you are a blogger click on the header and add your name to the list.

Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Day
Thursday, September 1
A day of blogging focused on raising awareness of and funds for relief efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina. See here for more information, and here for the TTLB Katrina topic page.

Officials Helpless Against Looters

So your home is washed away... your city is 80% underwater... everyone is evacuating... Time to loot!

My question is: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT STOLEN STUFF????? You have nowhere to put it. You have nobody to sell it to. You just gonna wade the streets with a pile of junk on an old wooden door?

Someone please explain to me.

Mah nah mah nah....

Do doo do do doo do

www.maketradefair.com - registration

"Before you've finished your breakfast this morning, you'll have relied on half the world"
- Martin Luther King

Apparently I'm not doing enough...
An interesting thought. And a depressing one, when you realise that those people you've relied on for your coffee and muesli are almost certainly being exploited and oppressed by the unfair power balance in world trade.

But what can you do? Surely it's beyond your control? Wrong. You can buy Fair Trade products. And you can add your voice to the Big Noise.

Fair Trade is a growing, international movement which ensures that producers in poor countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods (one that covers the cost of production and guarantees a living income), long-term contracts which provide real security; and for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales.

Fair Trade and the Make Trade Fair campaign
The Fair Trade movement has been one of the most powerful responses to the problems facing commodity producers. It gives consumers an opportunity to use their purchasing power to tilt the balance, however slightly, in favour of the poor. But Fair Trade alone can't address the crisis faced by the millions of small-scale farmers and producers whose livelihoods are threatened by low commodity prices and unfair competion from rich countries.

This can only be achieved by changing the unfair rules of world trade so that they work for small-scale producers as well as rich multinationals.

In the meantime, for hundreds of thousands of people, Fair Trade means the difference between a hand-to-mouth existence, and being able to plan for the future.

In the past decade, the Fair Trade movement has really taken off, as consumer awareness of - and indignation at - the treatment of producers in poor countries has increased. More retailers than ever are stocking Fair Trade goods, the number of products on offer continues to grow as demand increases, and more poor communities are feeling the benefits.

click on the header of this post to find out more.

Dingo didn't eat your baby

Probaby because she's got a mullet.



A 25-year-old woman has walked into an Alice Springs newspaper office claiming to be Azaria Chamberlain.
The woman made the claim when she and her 48-year-old partner walked into the offices of the Centralian Advocate, sister paper of the Northern Territory News on Monday.

The woman then went to the Alice Springs police station on Wednesday where she repeated the claim.

Alice Springs Detective Superintendent Don Fry said police had rejected her claims. The woman was prepared to have a DNA test to prove she was the grown-up Azaria Chamberlain.

Azaria disappeared from a campsite at Uluru 25 years ago this month, sparking a legal saga that captivated the nation.

Azaria's mother Lindy was convicted of her murder and her husband Michael for being an accessory to the murder in 1982.

Advertisement:
The Chamberlains were released from prison after two appeals in 1986.

They were finally declared innocent in the NT Court of Criminal Appeal in 1998 and it is now accepted Azaria was taken from her tent by a dingo.

Since Azaria's disappearance, scores of bizarre but unproven theories have abounded, including claims the baby had been rescued from a dingo by Aborigines.

Last year Victorian pensioner Frank Cole, then 78, said he and friends shot a dingo carrying a baby in its mouth at Uluru in 1980.

Police offered to investigate Cole's claim but it was dismissed by the coroner.

The woman claiming to be Azaria said on Monday she believed it was time for the truth to be known.

She said she had flashbacks to when she was nine weeks old and found herself between the jaws of a dingo.

The woman has scars on her right arm that she said were made by the dingo.

Her partner said he discovered the woman was rescued from Uluru by a man from Mutitjulu community 25 years ago.

He said she was then given to a white family, which was part of a sect.

The man said his partner was still suffering from years of abuse at the hands of sect members.

We're #1

As of this moment the A's have once again taken over first place. Let's go Oakland! Let's hope they can hold on until the end... I don't think I can stomach the wild card chase.

No Fun Diet (click me)

Three Things

List 3 things that bug you - things that others may find trivial. Then tag 5 of your friends to do the same:

1. Line waiters. People who get in line because it looks like there is one forming without examining the evidence for the need of a line. How many times in a crowded concert or event have you stood in line for the bathroom only to get near the front and realize that 5 stalls are empty... the doors are just shut. C'mon people! Look before you line up. (this probably only applies to women)

2. Bitching without action. Don't complain about something if you aren't willing to step up and take some proactive steps to correct the situation.

3. Loud music. I hate driving in a car or being at a party where the music is so loud the people can't converse. When you have to turn down the volume to speak to the person in the passenger seat it's a sign the music is too loud.

I'm not sure I have 5 readers... but... tag you're it:
Gabe
Jane
Elaine
Jenny or Joe
SAJ

Me Either (click title for the link)

Actually, I've never understood the rabid attraction to DMB... All the songs sound the same to me. I also think he looks like a bloated turtle, not cute.

Question of the day:
What socially / culturally popular "thing" are you not into?

What's your Potter-nality?

That's me alright...


Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Are You Jealous?

I saw the American Idol Live concert in Sacramento last night. Bo was out sick so the whole show started out with a big bummer. Nikko Smith wins the award for most improved. That guy can sing & dance. Watch out Justin Timberlake!

Whoever organizes that thing must be raking in the money. The stage was a plain white platform, that's it. The only special effects were lights that went back & forth in blue & white. Wow! I can't imagine the Idols are taking home much cash either.

Each of them got to perform 3 songs. Lots of props to Sacramen-TOE (emphasis on the "to") and one shout out to Cali! Who calls it "Cali"? Nobody I know.

Anyway, it was fun. The best part of the night was playing the game, "Why are they here?". The group next to us were 3 white haired couples. Are they really big fans of Constantine.. or maybe Vonzell? weird.

Highlights of the show: she did NOT perform.
Constantine's version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Jessica and Scott's rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart
FYI:
the Ukranian still sucks.

We didn't get home until after midnight so I am a bit tired now. Oh and just to clear up any confusion Jane was not my date for the show - you think she'd stoop that low!

Sarah Is...

Thanks Tripp for this game.

Here are the rules...search on google for your name. But like this: "Sarah is"

Use quotes. Include the verb. Cut and paste the first ten entries.

sarah is a cute blond prostitute...

sarah is seeking to seeking to fill in the jerusalem area ...

Sarah’s not scared of everything . . . just dogs and lightning and scary movies and the dark and...

Sarah is now known professionally as Sarah...

Sarah is passionate, highly knowledgeable and down to earth...

Sarah is dedicated to her work and is a leader of teens, and parents...

Sarah is a cancer-free, happy teenager, and she hopes to enroll in a nursing

Sarah is an artist...

SARAH IS BEAUTIFUL Sarah is beautiful inside and out...

Sarah is wonderful and there's no doubt.

UGLY DOG

This is NOT my dog! (click the title to see pic of the ugliest K9)

My Baby is Sick

The tiniest Otis is not himself. I picked him up from the groomer yesterday and his usual response was not there. He didn't wag, bark, run, jump... his tail was limp, his eyes were sad and he refused his favorite food treat. I took him to the vet and they were all shocked at his lack of self. They drew blood & urine we went home. He sacked out on the couch all night.

This AM he perked up a bit - but still miles from his personality. We dropped him off at Grammy & Papa's for day care and possible return to vet.

I just got off the phone with the Dr and he's got elevated kidney numbers, concentrated urine, high white blood count and he's dehydrated. He needs to go back in for the day to receive IV fluids, antibiotics and a follow up blood test.

We hope it's a quick kidney infection and not the start of kidney failure.

Say your puppy prayers.

How I Spent Last Night

Thanks to the best radio station ever I won two passes to a private Nickel Creek concert. They played for a small audience (a few hundred max) at the Little Fox Theater. We arrived 5 minutes after the show started and ended up in the front row next to the DJ of my favorite radio show.

I think I need to add their new album to my wish list.

Highlights of the show/night:
The lead singer/mandolin player making eyes at my +1, Jenny.
The seamless blend from bluegrass instrumental to cover of Nirvana's In Bloom.
My souvenier... the band's set list.
2+hours of awesome music... FREE!
Jenny's 11 yr old nephew's friend thanking her for dinner by saying the homemade pesto sauce was "not as good as my mom's".
The dogs didn't destroy the house even though I wasn't home until 11pm.

Bummer of the night discovered this AM:
Otis snuggled up to a burr bush and his shaggy fur is now matted with pricklers. Fortunetely I had him scheduled for a grooming today. I cut as much of the mess out as I could before dropping him off for his bath & haircut. He'll be so cute tonight.

YEAH - Jane comes home tonight!

The Chaos Begins

For the next three weeks one member of our houseshold will be out of state at one time or another. I wonder if we'll recognize each other when we meet again...

Busy summer... Remember the days when summer seemed to last forever, you had nothing to do but play with your friends, no meetings, no school/work, nothing to do but what you wanted to do.... ?

Longer Days

What is the point of longer days? Doesn't our government have more pressing issues than altering the man made construct of time? The sun comes up... the sun goes down... Does it really matter what time the clock says when that happens?

Spiders on Drugs

Check out what happenes when a spider weaves a web under the influence.

If you've ever been to my house you may have seen one of the many spiders living in our yard, under the eaves, kitchen, bathroom, etc... Unfortunately I believe all our spiders are in recovery. All of our webs are HUGE & perfectly formed. They may even be more structurally sound than our house.

For insight into our house I suggest you read Jane's blog

Thanks to Anne M. for the link.

Weekend of Fun in Review

I saw two of the greatest movies this weekend.

The first: March of the Penguins A beautifully filmed and wonderfully narrated (by Morgan Freeman) documentary on the annual march of the Emperor Penguin to breed. If I were an Emperor Penguin I'd die childless and alone! Why would anyone walk 70 across antarctica (multiple times) to have sex and raise a chick. They are an amazing little critter.

The next was a movie date with my mom to see Mad Hot Ballroom AWESOME! I laughed, I cried... it was better than CATS! What a great story. Get out of your house and see this film NOW. So touching. I wish I was a fifth grader in NYC so I could learn ballroom dancing. GO NOW!

Other activities of the weekend included: Friday of errands (day out of office), soccer (we won I think), dinner at The Kerry House, and saw Oklahoma at the historic Woodminster Amphitheater

Back to work now....

It's A Girl!

Our 3rd of July BBQ & margarita fest was interrupted with a call from Jenny & Joe to announce the arrival of Sylvia Ida. I'm sure there will be multitudes of pictures posted soon (HINT HINT). Joe, stop fawning over the cutie pie & share the love.

She's the first baby girl born to our family & friends in almost three years. Those Y chromosomes have had a long lucky run.

We spent a few days in early June with Jenny & Joe... she looked miserable and about to pop then. I can't believe she held on this long.

Congratulations!

U G L Y - you ain't got no alibi

Yes, you are ugly!

March of the Penguin

Oh yes, I will see this movie!

Would you do THIS for $10K? (click here)

My answer is NO!

Now I gotta learn spanish...

Spain OKs Gay Marriage, Defying Opponents

By MAR ROMAN, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, June 30, 2005

(06-30) 09:20 PDT MADRID, Spain (AP) --

Parliament legalized gay marriage Thursday, defying conservatives and clergy who opposed making traditionally Roman Catholic Spain the third country to allow same-sex unions nationwide. Jubilant gay activists blew kisses to lawmakers after the vote.

The measure passed the 350-seat Congress of Deputies by a vote of 187-147. The bill, part of the ruling Socialists' aggressive agenda for social reform, also lets gay couples adopt children and inherit each others' property.

The bill is now law. The Senate, where conservatives hold the largest number of seats, rejected the bill last week. But it is an advisory body and final say on legislation rests with the Congress of Deputies.

Opposition conservatives said they will consider challenging the law before Spain's highest tribunal, the Constitutional Court.

The Spanish Bishops Conference criticized the new law and urged resistance to it. The group said the bill, along with another passed Wednesday making it easier for Spaniards to divorce, mean that "marriage, understood as the union of a man and a woman, is no longer provided for in our laws."

"It is necessary to oppose these unfair laws through all legitimate means," the bishops said, apparently alluding to a previous call for town hall officials who oppose gay marriage to refuse to preside at such ceremonies.

After the final tally was announced, gay and lesbian activists watching from the spectator section of the ornate chamber cried, cheered, hugged, waved to lawmakers and blew them kisses.

Several members of the conservative opposition Popular Party, which was vehemently opposed to the bill, shouted: "This is a disgrace." Those in favor stood and clapped.

The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other two countries that allow gay marriage nationwide. Canada's House of Commons passed legislation Tuesday that would legalize gay marriage; its Senate is expected to pass the bill into law by the end of July.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero noted this in debate before the vote.

"We were not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality," he told the chamber.

Zapatero said the reform of Spanish legal code simply adds one dry paragraph of legalese but means much more.

He called it "a small change in wording that means an immense change in the lives of thousands of citizens. We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people. We are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives."

Zapatero lacks a majority in the chamber but got help from small regional-based parties that tend to be his allies.

Spanish gay couples can get married as soon as the law is published in the official government registry. This could come as early as Friday, or within two weeks at the latest, parliament's press office said.

Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy said after the vote that Zapatero has deeply divided Spain and should have sought a consensus in parliament that recognized same-sex unions but didn't call them marriage. Rajoy said that if the vast majority of countries in the world don't accept gay marriage, including some run by Socialists, there must be a reason.

"I think the prime minister has committed a grave act of irresponsibility," Rajoy told reporters.

Beatriz Gimeno, a longtime leader of the gay rights movement in Spain, held back tears as she hugged her partner Boti after the vote.

"It is a historic day for the world's homosexuals. We have been fighting for many years," Gimeno said. "Now comes the hardest part, which is changing society's mentality."

The gay marriage bill was the boldest and most divisive initiative of the liberal social agenda Zapatero has embarked on since taking office in April 2004. Parliament overhauled Spain's 25-year-old divorce law Wednesday by letting couples end their marriage without a mandatory separation or having to state a reason, as required under the old law.

He has also pushed through legislation allowing stem-cell research and wants to loosen Spain's restrictive abortion law.

The Roman Catholic Church, which held much sway over the government just a generation ago when Gen. Francisco Franco was in power, had adamantly opposed gay marriage. In its first display of anti-government activism in 20 years, it endorsed a June 18 rally in which hundreds of thousands marched through Madrid in opposition to the bill. Some 20 bishops took part in the June 18 rally.

On Wednesday, a Catholic lay group called the Spanish Family Forum presented lawmakers with a petition bearing 600,000 signatures as a last-minute protest.

Late last year, the spokesman for the Spanish Bishops Conference, Antonio Martinez Camino said that allowing gay marriage was like "imposing a virus on society — something false that will have negative consequences for social life."

Despite the street protests in Madrid and elsewhere and the petition drive, polls suggest Spaniards supported gay marriage.

A survey released in May by pollster Instituto Opina said 62 percent of Spaniards support the government's action on this issue, and 30 percent oppose it. The poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. But surveys show Spaniards about evenly split over whether gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.

Late Night Tuesday

Why do I do this to myself? Why get tickets for a concert on a weeknight? Sure the doors open at 7:30, the show starts at 8... but the headliner didn't get on stage until after 10:30. I had hopes that it wouldn't be a very late night. Oh well. Jane was a good sport (she only took a short nap.

The opening act was Youth Group. I enjoyed them and bought their CD. They are English or Australian - cute accents, funny hair. Their sound reminds me of The Ocean Blue.

The co-headliner / second act... Blanche was a pleasant suprise. They rocked the house with slide guitar & a banjo and you gotta love a band with a chick drummer. It's not often you find a goth roots fusion band from lovely Detroit, MI. The male lead singer looked like the love child of Jeke Gyllenhaal and Lyle Lovett. The female lead singer looked & dressed exactly like this. I think I'll get their album off iTunes today.

The Ditty Bops played for only 45 minutes, bummer. They also played mostly new songs, another bummer. But they were cute & perky and kept inviting their chubby childhood friend, Kenny, onstage to dance.

If you ever get a chance to catch a show at The Great American Music Hall I recommend it. A beautiful building.

So I'm now at work after a short night's sleep. Tonight another meeting to plan for the mission trip to Idaho later this summer. Let's hope it's short & to the point so I can catch some zzzzzzs.

Greener Choices

I was reading one of my favorite magazines and learned of a free Consumer Reports website to help one make more eco friendly choices. CHECK IT OUT

Save Public Broadcasting

Where would you be without Seasame Street? Julia Childs? Garrison Keillor? This Old House? Yan Can Cook? Mr Rogers? Car Talk? Terry Gross? Nova? National Geographic?

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really. Check at the bottom if you don't believe me.) This time, it's for real: Save NPR and PBS

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

A House panel has voted to eliminate all public funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.

The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year—$100 million—and end funding altogether within two years. The loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur," and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

Already, 300,000 people have signed the petition. Can you help us reach 400,000 signatures today?

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Thanks!

P.S. Read the Washington Post report on the threat to NPR and PBS at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745

Fainting Goats

Watch the video. I need to get me one!

East Coast cont...

We arrived in White Plains mid-afternoon and I got to meet Mason (he's quite tiny). Thank God for air conditioning because humidity sucks and we spent three days inside holding the wee baby, catching up on daytime TV, the life of the Chucheloes and reeeelaaaaxing. Our only trip outside of the house so Jane could teach Fred how to make rub. He did a good job.

Best of White Plains: doing nothing and that's OK!

Philadelphia in a day. More humidity! Our host took us to dinner. It was great fun and if you've never had a 73yr old petite lady challenge you to drink you should go visit Peggy.

Best of Philly: cats cats cats (7 to be exact)

Silver Spring (aka burbs of Wash. DC) to visit Jenny & Joe. They are living the American dream - a house & baby on the way. If only all these friends didn't have to move to the right side of the country to do it.
We missed going here to have lunch and hear him speak because Jane thought it was on Friday. Woops.

After making amends with June for missing the Thursday lunch date on Friday we wandered DC proper. We saw:
Jane's Idol
Telous Latrec
Sarah's Pilgimage

Saturday we shopped at Eastern Market and returned home for a BBQ (Joe calls it a cook-out) and many hours of discussion on politics. I guess that's what you do when you hang out with DCers.

Best of DC/MD: If one person orders a vodka tonic and the other orders vodka on the rocks and both drinks arrive in the same size glass with same volumn of liquid... who gets the better deal?

Thanks to all of our hosts. The trip was great. We'll be back... muwahahahaha!

No News?

Why am I just hearing about this? Am I really so out of the loop?

East Coast Fun

Things we did... people we saw... stuff from our East Coast travels:
We began the trip waking up at 4AM to make the earliest flight to JFK. Rented a sexy car for the 5 hour drive to our first stop.

Highlights from Vermont:
The Livingson's & Pearl
Shopping
Local Pub

Best of VT: Squirrely Pearl the goat footed sheep dog and her family.

Highlights from Saratoga Springs
Bartending read Jane's account for more details.
BBQ & Bocci by moonlight
A walk through the city ending with another refresher
After dinner we hit The Racino. Jane won on the slots and we both won a few $ on the ponies.

Best of Saratoga Springs: midnight bocce (with blinking lighted balls)

Next up... White Plains to DC! More tomorrow...

He Beat It

Not guilty for the king of pop or just enough reasonable doubt to get off....

New Post

I'm home from vacation and will post some highlights as soon as I dig through the pile on my desk. I think I'll need a vacation tonight after all the stuff in my "in-box"... oy.