Catching Up With the Days:
Sept 27th in History:
Today is the festival of Varuni, goddess of wine in Hindu mythology. Also called Varunani, Mada or Sura. Varuni is also a given name in India. Like Aphrodite and Venus Varuni is sometimes considered to have arisen from the churning waves of the ocean. The name means "
heavenly nectar". Wife of Varuna in the Rig Veda. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigvedic_deities for a short intro to the various gods and goddesses of ancient rather than modern idea. Then take a break and have a glass in her honour.
1540: Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, founded by Ignatius Loyola. Considered the "elite commando unit" of the Catholic Church for centuries. Very controversial history. Once banned in most of Europe. See http://www.jesuit.org for the official view. See also http://en.wikipedia/wiki/Society_of_Jesus for an overview. Look at Joseph McCabe's critical history at http://www.archive.org/details/ACandidHistoryOfTheJesuits for a sensible critic. When searching down the Jesuits on the Internet look out for evangelist nutters who think they see them as a counterpoint to the Illuminati. It actually fact one Jesuit equals 25 masons in bare handed intellectual combat. Did I say that they were the elite ?
Often take the "long view" of the Church's interests in contrast to the temporary politics of the Vatican. Hence their opposition historically to the savage policies of the Spanish Crown in Latin America (see the 'Jesuit plantations), their historical rivalry with the quasi-fascist Opus Dei organization, their support for 'liberation theology" in the recent past and their lack of favour from the present Pope and his predecessor.
Famous people educated by the Jesuits...Lenin, Mussolini, Castro and...ME.
Often stylized as the model for Leninism, but the paternity has never been acknowledged.
1880:USA invades Columbia. Later leads to the new creation of the country of Panama. All in the name of "justice,freedom,liberty,democracy,etc.,etc.,etc.". A canal obviously had nothing to do with it, just like the invasion of Iraq has nothing to do with oil. How could you think such a thing?
1892:Patent awarded for the invention of the match book to Josua Pusey of Pennsylvania.
1907: Death of Andalusian anarchist Fermin Salvochea Alvarez(1842-1907). Fifty thousand people attend his funeral. People still place flowers on his grave to this day.
1932:Home of Judge Thayer bombed, presumably for his "judgement" in the case of Sacco and Vanzetti.
1950: Invention of the answering machine. President Truman announces the seizure of American railroads to prevent a general strike. Presumably he tried phoning first but got nothing but a recorded message.
1960:Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst(1882-1960) dies. Feminist but also the very model of the "useful idiot" in terms of her apologetics for the Communist Empire. The term "useful idiot", by the way was not coined by Lenin, no matter how much it may have expressed his real views. It was first !! used in the USA !! to describe an event in Italian politics in 1948 and only later became used to describe fellow travellers. See http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_Idiot and also 'They Never Said It:A Book of Fake Quotes, Misquotes and Misleading Attributions' by Paul F. Boller and John George.
1962: Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' is published. It is preceded, however, by 'Our Synthetic Environment' by then-anarchist Murray Bookchin writing under the pseudonym of Lewis Herber. See the 'Institute for Social Ecology' website under the links section of this blog for any details that might gladden your heart.
1988:Shroud of Turin proven to be medieval forgery. Well maybe, but probably. See http://www.shroud.com for the miracle that will not die despite the fact that the church craftily hedges its bets by refusing to authenticate the shroud.
1992:Bob Dylan plays for the Catholic Youth Rally in Bologna, Italy. Vatican spokesman says that Dylan "was chosen for his sincere religious sentiments". You don't need an Inquisitor to know which way the wind blows from the auto da fe ?
2000:Anti-IMF/World Bank protests in Prague. See http://www.pixiefighters.com/px-photo/prague for your daily fix of riot porn.
Molly, spinning her tiny little legs to catch up with the days on Sept. 30th.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
The Other Affirmative Actions:
There's an interesting article in the latest issue of 'The Economist' to arrive at my door (Sept 23rd-29th). The title is 'Poison Ivy', and it's under the Lexington column, written by The Economist's American columnist. The columnist discusses the research of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Golden who has recently expanded his observations into a book titled 'The price of Admission: How America's Ruling Class Buys Its Way Into Elite Colleges-And Who Gets Left Outside the Gates'. The author Lexington says,
"Mr Golden shows that elite universities do everything in their power to admit the children of privilege. If they cannot get them through the front door by relaxing their standards, then they smuggle them in through the back. No less than 60% of the places in elite universities are given to candidates who have some sort of extra "hook" from rich or alumni parents to "sporting prowess". The number of whites who benefit from this affirmative action is far greater than the number of blacks."
So...when you think "sport related acceptances" don't just think basketball and football. Think the "sport admissions" that Lexington and the author he reviews mention. Think "...preppy sports such as fencing, squash, sailing, riding, golf and, of course, lacrosse. The University of Virginia even has scholarships for polo players."
The way that the American ruling class perpetuates itself would put the Soviet nomenclatura to shame. Notre Dame University, for instance, accepted 70% of the children of university employees as opposed to 19% of regular applicants despite the fact that the "hooked" applicants had a far lower average SAT score. The author asserts that university applicants without connections compete for only 40% of the class placements. The rest are "reserved" for the children of privilege.
All this is occurring at a time when the income inequality is growing and social mobility is lessening in the USA, not just in comparison to other countries-where the USA has usually cut a poor figure- but in absolute terms.
Have a look at the article in the print edition of 'The Economist'. The website presently puts it under the "privileged" category so you'd have to subscribe to read it there. Remember who really benefits from a much larger form of "affirmative action" the next time the subject is raised.
There's an interesting article in the latest issue of 'The Economist' to arrive at my door (Sept 23rd-29th). The title is 'Poison Ivy', and it's under the Lexington column, written by The Economist's American columnist. The columnist discusses the research of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Golden who has recently expanded his observations into a book titled 'The price of Admission: How America's Ruling Class Buys Its Way Into Elite Colleges-And Who Gets Left Outside the Gates'. The author Lexington says,
"Mr Golden shows that elite universities do everything in their power to admit the children of privilege. If they cannot get them through the front door by relaxing their standards, then they smuggle them in through the back. No less than 60% of the places in elite universities are given to candidates who have some sort of extra "hook" from rich or alumni parents to "sporting prowess". The number of whites who benefit from this affirmative action is far greater than the number of blacks."
So...when you think "sport related acceptances" don't just think basketball and football. Think the "sport admissions" that Lexington and the author he reviews mention. Think "...preppy sports such as fencing, squash, sailing, riding, golf and, of course, lacrosse. The University of Virginia even has scholarships for polo players."
The way that the American ruling class perpetuates itself would put the Soviet nomenclatura to shame. Notre Dame University, for instance, accepted 70% of the children of university employees as opposed to 19% of regular applicants despite the fact that the "hooked" applicants had a far lower average SAT score. The author asserts that university applicants without connections compete for only 40% of the class placements. The rest are "reserved" for the children of privilege.
All this is occurring at a time when the income inequality is growing and social mobility is lessening in the USA, not just in comparison to other countries-where the USA has usually cut a poor figure- but in absolute terms.
Have a look at the article in the print edition of 'The Economist'. The website presently puts it under the "privileged" category so you'd have to subscribe to read it there. Remember who really benefits from a much larger form of "affirmative action" the next time the subject is raised.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Excerpts From The Diary of An Obsessive Compulsive:
There are exactly two books that I can remember not finishing in my life. This from a guy who has read the Bible cover to cover, the Koran three times in three different translations (it's shorter than the Bible, but my Arabic is still confined basically to the alphabet) and the collected works of Aeschylus,Sophocles,Euripides, Shakespeare,George Orwell, and -yes- Edgar Allan Poe. Many authors are still on the list. Reading the collected works of Marx and Engels up to the end of 1848 may count as a "quit", but, trust me, I'll get back to it. Honest. Reading Capital to the end counts as a "plus" in my scorecard even though I read it with an expectation that was totally fulfilled; that Marx deserved little of his his historical following.
Anyways, the two books were1) 'Against Reductionism' which supposedly gave forth an "alternative view" of biology which was so full of nonsense that I quit about 1/3rd of the way through. It did NOTHING but spin words against the legitimate enterprise of biology, words that were- AT BEST- lies and were usually meaningless. My early introduction to "post-modernism" before it became fashionable. The second was 2)the Rig Veda. This may be under the category of the 'Collected Works of Marx and Engels' in that it is moldering in a corner on the main floor until the time I can get through "one more" hymn to Agni. The Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana were much better reads from Hinduism. I actually loved the Ramayana. Watch out for monkeys.
All that being said my continued project to detail on this blog my reading of 'Breaking the Spell' is taking on the aspect of "slogging through" that I had during my reading of either the Bible or Marx. The book promised a "evolutionary psychology" view of religion, but it is rapidly turning into a simple apology for atheism, with the evolutionary aspect shoved well into the background. I've almost finished the book, but I doubt the wisdom of continuing to chronicle it chapter by chapter, even though I've bookmarked it for same.
But occasionally you may find gems in the worst trashpile. The gem that I recently found is the legal concept of "attractive nuisance". This is the concept in law that compels you to do things like fence your swimming pool and remove the doors from your discarded refrigerator. It's like "due care and attention" in traffic law. The assumption is that you have a "responsibility" to safeguard your property from actions on the part of other parties-such as children- that may lead to their injury IF such actions are "reasonable" despite whatever likelihood of injury may result. It's an interesting argument in law about what is "reasonable" and what lengths you have to go to to prevent injury. Each case may be unique.
It's ALSO interesting if we step outside of law into the realm of simple morality that law is supposed to represent. Anarchists have always criticized "the law" for representing either "class interests" or "the interests of power", but more rational exponents of the anarchist ideal recognize that there is a substratum of "civilized behavior" that is at least partially represented by "the law" that we cannot do without. The argument is over HOW MUCH of this restraint has to be "written down" by communities that replace the state and how much can be left to "human nature". In evolutionary biology the problem is framed in terms of "altruistic punishment", a mechanism that any cooperative society can't exist without. (blog "altruistic punishment" for references).
In terms of this blog, for those who may be naive to it, I will OFTEN criticize some VERY evil trends in modern anarchism. This is in the light of the author of 'Breaking the Spell' who puts the onus on the adherents of a religion to SAFEGUARD naive adherents from harm. The "nuisance" is "attractive", but it is NOT as "attractive" as the lure of say Islamic fundamentalism. The simple counting of half-ass "eco-terrorists" who "go rat" when they are caught in the USA in recent years shows JUST HOW SHALLOW A CERTAIN ANARCHISM IS AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR RELIGION. This is despite their megalomaniac claims to "greater knowledge and insight". The claim is more than falsified by the record of its adherents "discovering reality" under far less pressure than the adherents of other ideological systems.
No amount of pseudo-intellectual word spinning will eliminate this FACT. For myself I promise NO "great revelations". Neither do I promise the romance of "revolution", let alone the disgusting "romance" of taking revenge against an uncaring society that you feel superior to. My own personal anarchism is rooted in a simple belief that decentralism and personal power-such as workers' control- are better ways for a society to govern itself. I have faith in the continued efforts of ordinary people to form cooperatives and to challenge government decisions AND to organize in general. I believe that my faith is backed up by biological facts just like I believe that the tactics of "wandering riots" is NOT backed up by such facts. It may actually nowadays be a matter of manipulation of those who want to create cults for their own benefit. That's MY anarchism.
In any case that's where I stand today,
Molly
There are exactly two books that I can remember not finishing in my life. This from a guy who has read the Bible cover to cover, the Koran three times in three different translations (it's shorter than the Bible, but my Arabic is still confined basically to the alphabet) and the collected works of Aeschylus,Sophocles,Euripides, Shakespeare,George Orwell, and -yes- Edgar Allan Poe. Many authors are still on the list. Reading the collected works of Marx and Engels up to the end of 1848 may count as a "quit", but, trust me, I'll get back to it. Honest. Reading Capital to the end counts as a "plus" in my scorecard even though I read it with an expectation that was totally fulfilled; that Marx deserved little of his his historical following.
Anyways, the two books were1) 'Against Reductionism' which supposedly gave forth an "alternative view" of biology which was so full of nonsense that I quit about 1/3rd of the way through. It did NOTHING but spin words against the legitimate enterprise of biology, words that were- AT BEST- lies and were usually meaningless. My early introduction to "post-modernism" before it became fashionable. The second was 2)the Rig Veda. This may be under the category of the 'Collected Works of Marx and Engels' in that it is moldering in a corner on the main floor until the time I can get through "one more" hymn to Agni. The Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana were much better reads from Hinduism. I actually loved the Ramayana. Watch out for monkeys.
All that being said my continued project to detail on this blog my reading of 'Breaking the Spell' is taking on the aspect of "slogging through" that I had during my reading of either the Bible or Marx. The book promised a "evolutionary psychology" view of religion, but it is rapidly turning into a simple apology for atheism, with the evolutionary aspect shoved well into the background. I've almost finished the book, but I doubt the wisdom of continuing to chronicle it chapter by chapter, even though I've bookmarked it for same.
But occasionally you may find gems in the worst trashpile. The gem that I recently found is the legal concept of "attractive nuisance". This is the concept in law that compels you to do things like fence your swimming pool and remove the doors from your discarded refrigerator. It's like "due care and attention" in traffic law. The assumption is that you have a "responsibility" to safeguard your property from actions on the part of other parties-such as children- that may lead to their injury IF such actions are "reasonable" despite whatever likelihood of injury may result. It's an interesting argument in law about what is "reasonable" and what lengths you have to go to to prevent injury. Each case may be unique.
It's ALSO interesting if we step outside of law into the realm of simple morality that law is supposed to represent. Anarchists have always criticized "the law" for representing either "class interests" or "the interests of power", but more rational exponents of the anarchist ideal recognize that there is a substratum of "civilized behavior" that is at least partially represented by "the law" that we cannot do without. The argument is over HOW MUCH of this restraint has to be "written down" by communities that replace the state and how much can be left to "human nature". In evolutionary biology the problem is framed in terms of "altruistic punishment", a mechanism that any cooperative society can't exist without. (blog "altruistic punishment" for references).
In terms of this blog, for those who may be naive to it, I will OFTEN criticize some VERY evil trends in modern anarchism. This is in the light of the author of 'Breaking the Spell' who puts the onus on the adherents of a religion to SAFEGUARD naive adherents from harm. The "nuisance" is "attractive", but it is NOT as "attractive" as the lure of say Islamic fundamentalism. The simple counting of half-ass "eco-terrorists" who "go rat" when they are caught in the USA in recent years shows JUST HOW SHALLOW A CERTAIN ANARCHISM IS AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR RELIGION. This is despite their megalomaniac claims to "greater knowledge and insight". The claim is more than falsified by the record of its adherents "discovering reality" under far less pressure than the adherents of other ideological systems.
No amount of pseudo-intellectual word spinning will eliminate this FACT. For myself I promise NO "great revelations". Neither do I promise the romance of "revolution", let alone the disgusting "romance" of taking revenge against an uncaring society that you feel superior to. My own personal anarchism is rooted in a simple belief that decentralism and personal power-such as workers' control- are better ways for a society to govern itself. I have faith in the continued efforts of ordinary people to form cooperatives and to challenge government decisions AND to organize in general. I believe that my faith is backed up by biological facts just like I believe that the tactics of "wandering riots" is NOT backed up by such facts. It may actually nowadays be a matter of manipulation of those who want to create cults for their own benefit. That's MY anarchism.
In any case that's where I stand today,
Molly
Four New Links:
I've recently added four new links to the list- still at the bottom of the page unfortunately. Under the Scientific Links there are now;
1)Discover Life. For those interested in taxonomy. On going project to describe all known species. Presently listing 306,345 species. Wealth of information and links to other taxonomic and conservationist projects.
2)The Brain From Top To Bottom. Introduction to neurobiology and self tutoring on same with choice of three levels of difficulty, from beginner to advanced.
Under the Other Interesting Links Section what's new includes
1)The Canadian Worker Coop Federation. Source on worker coops in Canada.
2)Straight Goods. An independent on-line Canadian news magazine. Social democratic in viewpoint.
Much more later,
Molly
I've recently added four new links to the list- still at the bottom of the page unfortunately. Under the Scientific Links there are now;
1)Discover Life. For those interested in taxonomy. On going project to describe all known species. Presently listing 306,345 species. Wealth of information and links to other taxonomic and conservationist projects.
2)The Brain From Top To Bottom. Introduction to neurobiology and self tutoring on same with choice of three levels of difficulty, from beginner to advanced.
Under the Other Interesting Links Section what's new includes
1)The Canadian Worker Coop Federation. Source on worker coops in Canada.
2)Straight Goods. An independent on-line Canadian news magazine. Social democratic in viewpoint.
Much more later,
Molly
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Today in History: Sept 26th
1919: Anarchist Makhnovist army counterattacks the forces of White Army General Denekin near the village of Peregonovka, routing the forces arrayed against them. The Makhnovischina goes on to cut the supply lines of Denekin's forces driving towards Moscow, forcing him to abandon the advance. The Bolsheviks repay this kindness by betrayal of their anarchist allies on more than one occasion. For more on Nestor Makhno see the 'Nestor Makhno Archive' at http://www.nestormakhno.info
1936: Oops !!! Three anarchists, Juan Domenech, Juan Fabregas and Antonio Garcia Birian compromise and betray anarchist principles by joining the government of the Catalan Generalidad. This is the first move in a series of depressing compromises that the Spanish anarchists make in the name of "anti-fascist unity". The main beneficiary of these compromises is the previously insignificant PCE - The Spanish Communist Party. This Stalinist party-of course- goes on to betray its allies, anarchist and otherwise. Do we see a pattern here ? Finally the great and glorious bastion of the working class against fascism forms a "temporary, eternal friendship" with guess who on the signing of the Hitler Stalin pact.
For more on some of the anarchist opposition to the collaborationist policies of the CNT-FAI see 'The Friends of Durruti Group:1937-1939' (Agustin Guillamin) at http://www.spunk.org/library/places/spain/sp001780 .
1969: Eighth Conference of the Situationalist International held in Venice. The SI lasted until 1972 when it dissolved at the point when it had only two members. Most of the internal activity of the group consisted of the search for grounds for expulsion. Hence the fact that it rarely had more than 10 or 15 members at a time. You might say that heresy hunting was a "matter of everyday life" for them. Despite admirable bursts of creativity the SI remained a basically incoherent group. There was thus always good grounds for expulsions. Should it have continued until only Debord remained the combination of incoherence and megalomania would possibly have led him to expel himself. But that would be expecting a little too much from someone fantastically convinced of his own importance.
Anyways see the Wikipedia article on the SI at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situationalist
. You can also access the actual texts of the SI at the 'Situationalist International Online' at http://www.cddc.vt.edu/sionline .
All being said the SI was more than a slight cut above some of its progeny.
That's about it for today. Sorry about the slim picking.
Molly.
1919: Anarchist Makhnovist army counterattacks the forces of White Army General Denekin near the village of Peregonovka, routing the forces arrayed against them. The Makhnovischina goes on to cut the supply lines of Denekin's forces driving towards Moscow, forcing him to abandon the advance. The Bolsheviks repay this kindness by betrayal of their anarchist allies on more than one occasion. For more on Nestor Makhno see the 'Nestor Makhno Archive' at http://www.nestormakhno.info
1936: Oops !!! Three anarchists, Juan Domenech, Juan Fabregas and Antonio Garcia Birian compromise and betray anarchist principles by joining the government of the Catalan Generalidad. This is the first move in a series of depressing compromises that the Spanish anarchists make in the name of "anti-fascist unity". The main beneficiary of these compromises is the previously insignificant PCE - The Spanish Communist Party. This Stalinist party-of course- goes on to betray its allies, anarchist and otherwise. Do we see a pattern here ? Finally the great and glorious bastion of the working class against fascism forms a "temporary, eternal friendship" with guess who on the signing of the Hitler Stalin pact.
For more on some of the anarchist opposition to the collaborationist policies of the CNT-FAI see 'The Friends of Durruti Group:1937-1939' (Agustin Guillamin) at http://www.spunk.org/library/places/spain/sp001780 .
1969: Eighth Conference of the Situationalist International held in Venice. The SI lasted until 1972 when it dissolved at the point when it had only two members. Most of the internal activity of the group consisted of the search for grounds for expulsion. Hence the fact that it rarely had more than 10 or 15 members at a time. You might say that heresy hunting was a "matter of everyday life" for them. Despite admirable bursts of creativity the SI remained a basically incoherent group. There was thus always good grounds for expulsions. Should it have continued until only Debord remained the combination of incoherence and megalomania would possibly have led him to expel himself. But that would be expecting a little too much from someone fantastically convinced of his own importance.
Anyways see the Wikipedia article on the SI at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situationalist
. You can also access the actual texts of the SI at the 'Situationalist International Online' at http://www.cddc.vt.edu/sionline .
All being said the SI was more than a slight cut above some of its progeny.
That's about it for today. Sorry about the slim picking.
Molly.
More On Avian Influenza:
Lest some might think that the article mentioned before on 'Bird Flu' from 'The Conservator' might be a case of an organization, Ducks Unlimited, making a special case for its own interests I went back in Science magazine to look up the topic a bit more thoroughly. The April 21 edition (312, issue 5772, pp 379- 399) has a special topic section on this virus.
The various articles in this section cover a number of different topics from a general overview, through vaccine development, manufacture of anti viral drugs, development of viral resistance to same, preparedness in the event of an outbreak and host species barriers to cross infection. The article that is relevant to what was previously mentioned is titled 'Global Patters of Influenza A Virus in Wild Birds' by B. Olsen et al. The article discusses the epidemiology of influenza A viruses in various wild bird species and their potential as a source for human epidemics.
The basic question of the source of H5N1 outbreaks to date, whether it is connected to wild bird migration or to the international poultry trade can best be summed up by the following paragraph,
"With our current limited knowledge on HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza- Molly) in wild birds, there is no solid basis for including wild birds in control strategies beyond the physical separation of poultry from wild birds. Even in areas with significant outbreaks in poultry virus prevalence in wild birds is low, and the role of wild birds in spreading the disease is unclear. It is clear that the H5N1 problem originated from outbreaks in poultry and that the outbreaks and their geographical spread probably cannot be stopped without implementation of proper control measures in the global poultry industry. However, there is at present no scientific basis for culling wild birds to control the outbreaks and their spread, and this further highly undesirable from a conservationist perspective."
Lest some might think that the article mentioned before on 'Bird Flu' from 'The Conservator' might be a case of an organization, Ducks Unlimited, making a special case for its own interests I went back in Science magazine to look up the topic a bit more thoroughly. The April 21 edition (312, issue 5772, pp 379- 399) has a special topic section on this virus.
The various articles in this section cover a number of different topics from a general overview, through vaccine development, manufacture of anti viral drugs, development of viral resistance to same, preparedness in the event of an outbreak and host species barriers to cross infection. The article that is relevant to what was previously mentioned is titled 'Global Patters of Influenza A Virus in Wild Birds' by B. Olsen et al. The article discusses the epidemiology of influenza A viruses in various wild bird species and their potential as a source for human epidemics.
The basic question of the source of H5N1 outbreaks to date, whether it is connected to wild bird migration or to the international poultry trade can best be summed up by the following paragraph,
"With our current limited knowledge on HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza- Molly) in wild birds, there is no solid basis for including wild birds in control strategies beyond the physical separation of poultry from wild birds. Even in areas with significant outbreaks in poultry virus prevalence in wild birds is low, and the role of wild birds in spreading the disease is unclear. It is clear that the H5N1 problem originated from outbreaks in poultry and that the outbreaks and their geographical spread probably cannot be stopped without implementation of proper control measures in the global poultry industry. However, there is at present no scientific basis for culling wild birds to control the outbreaks and their spread, and this further highly undesirable from a conservationist perspective."
Monday, September 25, 2006
Today (Sept 25) in History:
1868: Michael Bakunin and friends establish the 'International Alliance of Social Democracy' as a splinter group at the meeting of the 'League for Peace and Freedom' in Berne Switzerland.
1870: The Marseilles Commune announces the abolition of the state and all debt.
1919: Anarchists, in cooperation with Left Socialist Revolutionaries, bomb the Moscow headquarters of the Communist Party in response to continued repression and murder of members of both the anarchists and the Left SRs on the part of the Bolsheviks. A job done poorly as the Communists later go on to slaughter 25 million ordinary Russians once the supply of political opponents runs out.
1960: Fourth Conference of the Situationalist International. Besides adopting the "Statement on Madness' they spend their everyday life in electing a central committee.
1962" US backed coup in the Dominican Republic overthrows mildly leftist president Juan Bosch.
1977:Anti-apartheid organizer Steven Biko is buried in South Africa after being murdered by the police during detention. A little quote from Steve,
"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."
1999: The 'Friends of the Modern School', a collection of alumni and others meet at Rutger's University. The Modern School movement was founded in many countries after the judicial murder of Francisco Ferrer (Jan 10, 1859-Oct. 12, 1909) by the authorities in Barcelona. He was falsely accused of being part of a "plot" during the 'Semana Tragica' in Catalonia that year. The events of the 'Tragic Week' led to the creation of the Spanish CGT. For more on Ferrer see http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/ferrer/ferrer.html . For more on the American Modern School Movement see 'A History of the Stelton Modern School' at http://www.talkinghistory.org/stelton/stelton.html and 'The Modern School Collection' at http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/scua/modern_school/modern.shtml .
As a little aside on a past visit to Barcelona I discovered the monument to Ferrer on the way up to Montjuis. It's a little bit damaged but still standing after decades of Francoism. It has an appropriate anti-clerical quote on its base. Modern Barcelona; where public transportation hubs have been named after anarchist Juan Peiro and there is an 'Avenida Durruti'. The Catalans have named their Olympic Stadium after Companys, but they aren't above adding anarchist names in their nose thumbing at the government in Madrid.
2006:Nothing at all happened today. Time to go to sleep already.
Molly
1868: Michael Bakunin and friends establish the 'International Alliance of Social Democracy' as a splinter group at the meeting of the 'League for Peace and Freedom' in Berne Switzerland.
1870: The Marseilles Commune announces the abolition of the state and all debt.
1919: Anarchists, in cooperation with Left Socialist Revolutionaries, bomb the Moscow headquarters of the Communist Party in response to continued repression and murder of members of both the anarchists and the Left SRs on the part of the Bolsheviks. A job done poorly as the Communists later go on to slaughter 25 million ordinary Russians once the supply of political opponents runs out.
1960: Fourth Conference of the Situationalist International. Besides adopting the "Statement on Madness' they spend their everyday life in electing a central committee.
1962" US backed coup in the Dominican Republic overthrows mildly leftist president Juan Bosch.
1977:Anti-apartheid organizer Steven Biko is buried in South Africa after being murdered by the police during detention. A little quote from Steve,
"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."
1999: The 'Friends of the Modern School', a collection of alumni and others meet at Rutger's University. The Modern School movement was founded in many countries after the judicial murder of Francisco Ferrer (Jan 10, 1859-Oct. 12, 1909) by the authorities in Barcelona. He was falsely accused of being part of a "plot" during the 'Semana Tragica' in Catalonia that year. The events of the 'Tragic Week' led to the creation of the Spanish CGT. For more on Ferrer see http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/ferrer/ferrer.html . For more on the American Modern School Movement see 'A History of the Stelton Modern School' at http://www.talkinghistory.org/stelton/stelton.html and 'The Modern School Collection' at http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/scua/modern_school/modern.shtml .
As a little aside on a past visit to Barcelona I discovered the monument to Ferrer on the way up to Montjuis. It's a little bit damaged but still standing after decades of Francoism. It has an appropriate anti-clerical quote on its base. Modern Barcelona; where public transportation hubs have been named after anarchist Juan Peiro and there is an 'Avenida Durruti'. The Catalans have named their Olympic Stadium after Companys, but they aren't above adding anarchist names in their nose thumbing at the government in Madrid.
2006:Nothing at all happened today. Time to go to sleep already.
Molly
Primitivism's Greatest Hits: Item #1:
(or, "if you can't detach the leech from your body at least make a joke about it)
One of my favourite "stupid primmie tricks" comes from a gathering of Earth First held some years back in one of the northern Plains States. The advertising for the event included an item about "do it yourself vasectomies" presumably to kiss Mother Earth's ass and act directly to reduce the number of evil human parasites on her glorious and holy body.
This is the sort of thing that you should never read while drunk because you keep coming back to it over and over thinking you've hallucinated what you just read. But yeah, it was true. The first thought that comes to mind is, "What a wonderful idea" because I can think of only a few categories of people more deserving of a 'Darwin Award' for removing themselves from the gene pool. Maybe the primmies can become one of those problems that automatically corrects itself. No need for any external intervention here. Something like turkeys who are bred for such big pectorals that they can't copulate anymore. Without AI they are screwed, but their very anatomy says they aren't screwed.
Well the fantasy of these half baked idiots "playing doctor" under the blazing sun of a prairie summer day is appealing-if sick. All that I can add is a little technical detail about how they could make their experience more "natural", "wild", "unalienated" and "in solidarity with both Mother Earth and her remaining tribal children. Forget those evil industrial alienating tools of sharpened scalpels that rob you of your connection to the universe. Two big rocks smashed together will do the job just fine.
This would indeed be primitivism's #1 hit.
Or as Mollymew would say, "There's more than one way to un-nut a nut".
(or, "if you can't detach the leech from your body at least make a joke about it)
One of my favourite "stupid primmie tricks" comes from a gathering of Earth First held some years back in one of the northern Plains States. The advertising for the event included an item about "do it yourself vasectomies" presumably to kiss Mother Earth's ass and act directly to reduce the number of evil human parasites on her glorious and holy body.
This is the sort of thing that you should never read while drunk because you keep coming back to it over and over thinking you've hallucinated what you just read. But yeah, it was true. The first thought that comes to mind is, "What a wonderful idea" because I can think of only a few categories of people more deserving of a 'Darwin Award' for removing themselves from the gene pool. Maybe the primmies can become one of those problems that automatically corrects itself. No need for any external intervention here. Something like turkeys who are bred for such big pectorals that they can't copulate anymore. Without AI they are screwed, but their very anatomy says they aren't screwed.
Well the fantasy of these half baked idiots "playing doctor" under the blazing sun of a prairie summer day is appealing-if sick. All that I can add is a little technical detail about how they could make their experience more "natural", "wild", "unalienated" and "in solidarity with both Mother Earth and her remaining tribal children. Forget those evil industrial alienating tools of sharpened scalpels that rob you of your connection to the universe. Two big rocks smashed together will do the job just fine.
This would indeed be primitivism's #1 hit.
Or as Mollymew would say, "There's more than one way to un-nut a nut".
One more from Dr. Seuss:
I forgot to include a quote the other day. In 1974 the noose was closing on President Nixon. Syndicated columnist Art Buchwald was part of the pack tracking tricky Dicky through the swamps of his misdeeds, and Art sent Seuss a copy of his book 'I Never Danced At The White House' and dared him to write a political book. Seuss replied by lifting an excerpt from one of his previous books 'Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!' and changing it to the following for publication in Buchwald's column.
"Richard M. Nixon, will you please go now!
The time has come.
The time is now.
Just go.
Go.
Go!
I don't care how.
You can go by foot.
You can go by cow.
Richard M. Nixon, will you please go now!
You can go on skates.
You can go on skis.
You can go in a hat.
But
Please go.
Please!..."
This became the header for Buchwald's column on August 8th. The son-of-a-bitch actually did go nine days later when he resigned.
I forgot to include a quote the other day. In 1974 the noose was closing on President Nixon. Syndicated columnist Art Buchwald was part of the pack tracking tricky Dicky through the swamps of his misdeeds, and Art sent Seuss a copy of his book 'I Never Danced At The White House' and dared him to write a political book. Seuss replied by lifting an excerpt from one of his previous books 'Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!' and changing it to the following for publication in Buchwald's column.
"Richard M. Nixon, will you please go now!
The time has come.
The time is now.
Just go.
Go.
Go!
I don't care how.
You can go by foot.
You can go by cow.
Richard M. Nixon, will you please go now!
You can go on skates.
You can go on skis.
You can go in a hat.
But
Please go.
Please!..."
This became the header for Buchwald's column on August 8th. The son-of-a-bitch actually did go nine days later when he resigned.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Today in History:
1900: Fourth International Anarchist Congress held in Paris. Previous ones held in Paris(1889), Zurich(1892) and London(1896). Renegade socialist Minister of the Interior bans the anarchist meeting but allows the parliamentary socialist congress held at the same time to proceed. The anarchists hold their congress anyways in secrecy. Final international congress will be held in Amsterdam in 1907 where the rejection of "propaganda by the deed" is finalized.
1918: IWW declared illegal in Canada. Relegalized next year.
1968: Mexican soldiers murder 17 students in battles at the National University in Mexico City.
1969: Chicago 8 Conspiracy Trial Begins. Judge Julius Hoffman to try David Dillinger, Rennie Davis, Thomas Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale. The defendants have little to do with each other but were picked to represent a wide cross section of the opposition to the war in Vietnam. The trial degenerates into a farce.
1991: American children's author Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel 1904-1991) dies. Often miscast as an anarchist by comrades too used to taking their desires for reality. Too bad it's not true. He was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party. From his early anti-fascism and opposition to the American right wing he went on to numerous children's' books that showed a libertarian spirit even though he never held the label. These include:
a)Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose (1948). Seen as anti-hunting
b)Horton Hears a Who ! (1954). Said to be a statement on atomic weapons.
c)How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957). A polemic on materialism.
d)Yertle the Turtle (1958). An allegory on tyranny and a statement that one single act of resistance by one individual can topple a regime.
e)The Lorax(1971). Something of an environmentalist tract. Interesting that lumber companies in Laytonville CA tried to have the book banned on the grounds that it was unfair to the lumbar industry.
f)The Sneeches (1961). A satire on racism.
g)The Butter Battle Book(1984). A parody of the Cold War arms race suggesting that the two sides differ only "on which side they butter their bread".
A few random quotes from the good doctor:
1)"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple".
2)"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind".
3)"Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them".
4)"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go."
From: Oh, the Places You'll Go (1990)
5)"Don't give up ! I believe in you all.
A person's a person no matter how small !
And you very small persons will not have to die
If you make yourselves heard ! So come on, now, and TRY !"
From: Horton Hears a Who ! (1954)
6)"And today the great Yertle, that Marvelous he,
Is King of the Mud. That is all he can see.
And the turtles, of course...all the turtles are free
As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be. "
From: Yertle the Turtle (1958)
7)"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It's not.
From: The Lorax (1971)
That's it for tonight kiddies. Sleep tight and don't let the ruling class bite. More from Molly tomorrow. Too bad Seuss wasn't an anarchist.
"Mollymew, she was a cat.
And Molly said that that was that.
If anyone wants to gripe and linger,
Mollymew she gives 'em the finger"
1900: Fourth International Anarchist Congress held in Paris. Previous ones held in Paris(1889), Zurich(1892) and London(1896). Renegade socialist Minister of the Interior bans the anarchist meeting but allows the parliamentary socialist congress held at the same time to proceed. The anarchists hold their congress anyways in secrecy. Final international congress will be held in Amsterdam in 1907 where the rejection of "propaganda by the deed" is finalized.
1918: IWW declared illegal in Canada. Relegalized next year.
1968: Mexican soldiers murder 17 students in battles at the National University in Mexico City.
1969: Chicago 8 Conspiracy Trial Begins. Judge Julius Hoffman to try David Dillinger, Rennie Davis, Thomas Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale. The defendants have little to do with each other but were picked to represent a wide cross section of the opposition to the war in Vietnam. The trial degenerates into a farce.
1991: American children's author Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel 1904-1991) dies. Often miscast as an anarchist by comrades too used to taking their desires for reality. Too bad it's not true. He was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party. From his early anti-fascism and opposition to the American right wing he went on to numerous children's' books that showed a libertarian spirit even though he never held the label. These include:
a)Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose (1948). Seen as anti-hunting
b)Horton Hears a Who ! (1954). Said to be a statement on atomic weapons.
c)How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957). A polemic on materialism.
d)Yertle the Turtle (1958). An allegory on tyranny and a statement that one single act of resistance by one individual can topple a regime.
e)The Lorax(1971). Something of an environmentalist tract. Interesting that lumber companies in Laytonville CA tried to have the book banned on the grounds that it was unfair to the lumbar industry.
f)The Sneeches (1961). A satire on racism.
g)The Butter Battle Book(1984). A parody of the Cold War arms race suggesting that the two sides differ only "on which side they butter their bread".
A few random quotes from the good doctor:
1)"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple".
2)"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind".
3)"Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them".
4)"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go."
From: Oh, the Places You'll Go (1990)
5)"Don't give up ! I believe in you all.
A person's a person no matter how small !
And you very small persons will not have to die
If you make yourselves heard ! So come on, now, and TRY !"
From: Horton Hears a Who ! (1954)
6)"And today the great Yertle, that Marvelous he,
Is King of the Mud. That is all he can see.
And the turtles, of course...all the turtles are free
As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be. "
From: Yertle the Turtle (1958)
7)"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It's not.
From: The Lorax (1971)
That's it for tonight kiddies. Sleep tight and don't let the ruling class bite. More from Molly tomorrow. Too bad Seuss wasn't an anarchist.
"Mollymew, she was a cat.
And Molly said that that was that.
If anyone wants to gripe and linger,
Mollymew she gives 'em the finger"
Why I hate the word "activist".
I hate this word first and foremost because it has a meaning in the popular press that says, basically, "someone who makes their living by advocating certain social causes" ie a "professional leftist". There may indeed be "professional rightists" as well, but they are far outnumbered by their left wing brethren. The right generally has an easier time of rounding up volunteer labour than the left does. Right wing causes may often be controlled by the same set of personal manipulators that left wing ones are, but they rarely achieve the degree of "hollowness" that some leftist " government grant machines" achieve. It's the old "too many chiefs..." story.
In the popular press, left or right, the term "activist" that they assign either neutrally or in praise, means, in 19 cases out of 20, somebody who makes their money by petty politics. Now, I'm of the opinion that Canada would have a much more vibrant and realistic left if the government ceased to spend one single cent in support of these "activists". What activity there was left would be far more in touch with reality and far more independant. Today it is neither.
I also hate the term "activist" because it still carries a "connotation" of self sacrifice from past decades when one's activism in various political opposition groups demanded self sacrifice rather than being a path to financial benefit -pretty well the "denotation" today. This "taking up the cross" is a sure pathway for the activist to sacrifice others in the same way as he or she sacrifices themselves if they ever gain power. Saints easily become inquisitors.
So, whether it refers to the self-deluded or simply cynical present day opportunist or to the old style puritanical fanatic the word makes me more than slightly queasy. Not that the old style "activist" has entirely disappeared. One may still find them acting out petty fantasies of two bit terrorism or blathering on about "anti-oppression", or lurking in the moldy caverns of failed Leninist sects. But they are much rarer than the "new style" activist. Somebody who gains tenure in an university by churning out "leftism 101" is flogging others, not themselves. They actually profit handsomely from it.
I hate this word first and foremost because it has a meaning in the popular press that says, basically, "someone who makes their living by advocating certain social causes" ie a "professional leftist". There may indeed be "professional rightists" as well, but they are far outnumbered by their left wing brethren. The right generally has an easier time of rounding up volunteer labour than the left does. Right wing causes may often be controlled by the same set of personal manipulators that left wing ones are, but they rarely achieve the degree of "hollowness" that some leftist " government grant machines" achieve. It's the old "too many chiefs..." story.
In the popular press, left or right, the term "activist" that they assign either neutrally or in praise, means, in 19 cases out of 20, somebody who makes their money by petty politics. Now, I'm of the opinion that Canada would have a much more vibrant and realistic left if the government ceased to spend one single cent in support of these "activists". What activity there was left would be far more in touch with reality and far more independant. Today it is neither.
I also hate the term "activist" because it still carries a "connotation" of self sacrifice from past decades when one's activism in various political opposition groups demanded self sacrifice rather than being a path to financial benefit -pretty well the "denotation" today. This "taking up the cross" is a sure pathway for the activist to sacrifice others in the same way as he or she sacrifices themselves if they ever gain power. Saints easily become inquisitors.
So, whether it refers to the self-deluded or simply cynical present day opportunist or to the old style puritanical fanatic the word makes me more than slightly queasy. Not that the old style "activist" has entirely disappeared. One may still find them acting out petty fantasies of two bit terrorism or blathering on about "anti-oppression", or lurking in the moldy caverns of failed Leninist sects. But they are much rarer than the "new style" activist. Somebody who gains tenure in an university by churning out "leftism 101" is flogging others, not themselves. They actually profit handsomely from it.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Last Minute Plus One Dept.
"Yesterday" in History ie Sept. 23rd
480: Battle of Salamis. Original "clash of civilizations". One pita awarded to those who guess the winner. That'll teach them Ayatollahs.
1779: The beginning of 'Post Modernism'. US Naval Commander John Paul Jones of the ship Bonhomme Richard takes major damage during the early battle against the British ship Serapis. The British commander, Richard Pearson, asks him if he has "struck his colours" ie surrendered. Jones replies, "Well, that depends on what your definition of "is" is. " Jones later goes on to win the engagement. Patron saint for numerous American academics.
1818: Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'The Masque of Anarchy' first published. But does it rhyme ?
1864: The IWMA association (the First International) founded in London during a solidarityh meeting for a Polish uprising. Unfortunately infested with "the tapeworm of socialism" (guess who ?) from birth.
1881: Founding Congress of the Federacion de Trabahadores de la Region Espanola (dates Sept. 23- 26) in Barcelona. Forerunner of the CNT.
1895: Founding convention of the French CGT in Limognes. Originally syndicalist. Infested by the "tapeworm's eggs" several years later.
1908:Manifesto of the Junta of the Partido Liberal de Mexico (Mexican Liberal Party), anarchist despite the name.
1930: Birthday of Ray Charles, jazz and soul great. No tapeworms him.
1930: Sigmund Freud enters the unconscious. Not very "complex" at all.
1950: Congress overrides US President Truman's veto and passes the McCarron Internal Security Act' requiring registration of members of groups deemed to be communist fronts by the attorney general and establishing "emergency concentration camps". Most victims fail to quote John Paul Jones as to "Well, it depends on what your definition of "was" was". Too bad.
1955: Jury in Sumner MI acquits Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam of the murder of 14 year old black child Emmett Till even though they admitted kidnapping him. The "out" was the fact that the body was in a state of advanced decomposition that "precluded positive identification". Perhaps there were too many stray bodies around.
1963: Margaret Faas-Hardegger (1882- 1963) dies. German anarchist romantically linked with Gustav Landauer and Erich Muhsam. Also friends with Fritz Brupbachert and Gertrad Wiker. Established anarchist communist community in Minusio in 1912.
1994: The final credits for American horror writer Robert Bloch. When asked why he wrote horror fiction he replied, "I have the heart of a small boy...I keep it in a drawer at home."
That's all. Make sure to keep your file drawers in order. "H" is for both heart and horror.
"Yesterday" in History ie Sept. 23rd
480: Battle of Salamis. Original "clash of civilizations". One pita awarded to those who guess the winner. That'll teach them Ayatollahs.
1779: The beginning of 'Post Modernism'. US Naval Commander John Paul Jones of the ship Bonhomme Richard takes major damage during the early battle against the British ship Serapis. The British commander, Richard Pearson, asks him if he has "struck his colours" ie surrendered. Jones replies, "Well, that depends on what your definition of "is" is. " Jones later goes on to win the engagement. Patron saint for numerous American academics.
1818: Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'The Masque of Anarchy' first published. But does it rhyme ?
1864: The IWMA association (the First International) founded in London during a solidarityh meeting for a Polish uprising. Unfortunately infested with "the tapeworm of socialism" (guess who ?) from birth.
1881: Founding Congress of the Federacion de Trabahadores de la Region Espanola (dates Sept. 23- 26) in Barcelona. Forerunner of the CNT.
1895: Founding convention of the French CGT in Limognes. Originally syndicalist. Infested by the "tapeworm's eggs" several years later.
1908:Manifesto of the Junta of the Partido Liberal de Mexico (Mexican Liberal Party), anarchist despite the name.
1930: Birthday of Ray Charles, jazz and soul great. No tapeworms him.
1930: Sigmund Freud enters the unconscious. Not very "complex" at all.
1950: Congress overrides US President Truman's veto and passes the McCarron Internal Security Act' requiring registration of members of groups deemed to be communist fronts by the attorney general and establishing "emergency concentration camps". Most victims fail to quote John Paul Jones as to "Well, it depends on what your definition of "was" was". Too bad.
1955: Jury in Sumner MI acquits Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam of the murder of 14 year old black child Emmett Till even though they admitted kidnapping him. The "out" was the fact that the body was in a state of advanced decomposition that "precluded positive identification". Perhaps there were too many stray bodies around.
1963: Margaret Faas-Hardegger (1882- 1963) dies. German anarchist romantically linked with Gustav Landauer and Erich Muhsam. Also friends with Fritz Brupbachert and Gertrad Wiker. Established anarchist communist community in Minusio in 1912.
1994: The final credits for American horror writer Robert Bloch. When asked why he wrote horror fiction he replied, "I have the heart of a small boy...I keep it in a drawer at home."
That's all. Make sure to keep your file drawers in order. "H" is for both heart and horror.
The Moons of the Year:
In the USA each full moon of the year has an unique common name. These names are an amalgam of the names given to them by various native tribes in the American North East and the early settlers. From Space.com here they are. Note: months may vary depending upon the year:
Jan: The Full Wolf Moon. January is the hungry time. It's also known as the 'Old Moon' or the 'Moon After Yule'. Some tribes applied the name of the next moon to this one.
Feb: The Full Snow Moon. In the NE USA the snows are heaviest in this month. Because of this some tribes referred to this moon as the 'Full Hunger Moon'. Hunting is more than difficult in heavy snow.
March:The Full Worm Moon. In the NE of the USA the ground softens in this month and the earthworms return. Other native names for this moon are 'The Full Crow Moon' because of the crows signalling the end of winter, the 'Full Crust Moon' because the thawing of the snow causes it to "crust" and the 'Full Sap Moon' marking the time of maple tree tapping.
April: The Full Pink Moon. The grass pink or the wild ground phlox were among the earliest wildflowers of spring. Hence the name. Other names include 'The Full Sprouting Grass Moon', 'The Egg Moon' and the 'Full Fish Moon' for when shad came upstream to spawn. This is also the Pascal Full Moon, and the first Sunday after this will be observed as Easter. Don't laugh. The fate of Western Christendom once hinged around this date.
May: The Full Flower Moon. Obvious. Also known as the 'Full Planting Moon' and the 'Milk Moon'.
June: The Strawberry Moon
July: The Full Buck Moon. When deer antlers make their appearance.
August: The Full Sturgeon Moon. The best month for fishing on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Also known as the 'Full Red Moon' because of summer haze, the 'Green Corn Moon' and the 'Grain Moon'.
September: The Full Corn Moon.
October:The Full Harvest Moon. Usually, but not this year.
November:The Full Beaver Moon. Time to trap the beavers before freeze-up. Also called the 'Frosty Moon'.
December: The Full Cold Moon. No explanation needed. Also known as the 'Full Long Nights Moon' and the 'Moon Before Yule' amongst European settlers.
Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon.
Molly
In the USA each full moon of the year has an unique common name. These names are an amalgam of the names given to them by various native tribes in the American North East and the early settlers. From Space.com here they are. Note: months may vary depending upon the year:
Jan: The Full Wolf Moon. January is the hungry time. It's also known as the 'Old Moon' or the 'Moon After Yule'. Some tribes applied the name of the next moon to this one.
Feb: The Full Snow Moon. In the NE USA the snows are heaviest in this month. Because of this some tribes referred to this moon as the 'Full Hunger Moon'. Hunting is more than difficult in heavy snow.
March:The Full Worm Moon. In the NE of the USA the ground softens in this month and the earthworms return. Other native names for this moon are 'The Full Crow Moon' because of the crows signalling the end of winter, the 'Full Crust Moon' because the thawing of the snow causes it to "crust" and the 'Full Sap Moon' marking the time of maple tree tapping.
April: The Full Pink Moon. The grass pink or the wild ground phlox were among the earliest wildflowers of spring. Hence the name. Other names include 'The Full Sprouting Grass Moon', 'The Egg Moon' and the 'Full Fish Moon' for when shad came upstream to spawn. This is also the Pascal Full Moon, and the first Sunday after this will be observed as Easter. Don't laugh. The fate of Western Christendom once hinged around this date.
May: The Full Flower Moon. Obvious. Also known as the 'Full Planting Moon' and the 'Milk Moon'.
June: The Strawberry Moon
July: The Full Buck Moon. When deer antlers make their appearance.
August: The Full Sturgeon Moon. The best month for fishing on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Also known as the 'Full Red Moon' because of summer haze, the 'Green Corn Moon' and the 'Grain Moon'.
September: The Full Corn Moon.
October:The Full Harvest Moon. Usually, but not this year.
November:The Full Beaver Moon. Time to trap the beavers before freeze-up. Also called the 'Frosty Moon'.
December: The Full Cold Moon. No explanation needed. Also known as the 'Full Long Nights Moon' and the 'Moon Before Yule' amongst European settlers.
Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon.
Molly
"Achoo!!- I Mean "Croak".
There's an interesting article in the latest 'Conservator', the publication of "Ducks Unlimited Canada'. It's entitled 'What We Know: Avian Influenza and Wild Bird Populations", and its written by Catherine Soos of Environment Canada and the University of Saskatchewan and Jane Parmley of the Centre for Coastal Health in BC. Both are research oriented veterinarians.
Every once in a while the media reports a "scare" about discovery of influenza viruses in Canadian birds. This article puts this in perspective. Influenza viruses are ubiquitous in the avian population, and the media hardly does the public any service by dredging for a story on the usual "slow day". The authors also note the role of the international poultry trade, as opposed to migratory birds, in the spread of the H5N1 virus. They say,
"...most scientists now agree that wild birds could play a role in the spread of the disease, at least for short distances (!- Molly). However, most also agree that the poultry industry and movement of birds and bird products (legal or illegal) have likely been the predominant routes of spread, given that many outbreaks in poultry appeared to have followed roads, railway systems and international boundaries, and did not correspond to migratory bird routes or timing of migration".
There's an interesting article in the latest 'Conservator', the publication of "Ducks Unlimited Canada'. It's entitled 'What We Know: Avian Influenza and Wild Bird Populations", and its written by Catherine Soos of Environment Canada and the University of Saskatchewan and Jane Parmley of the Centre for Coastal Health in BC. Both are research oriented veterinarians.
Every once in a while the media reports a "scare" about discovery of influenza viruses in Canadian birds. This article puts this in perspective. Influenza viruses are ubiquitous in the avian population, and the media hardly does the public any service by dredging for a story on the usual "slow day". The authors also note the role of the international poultry trade, as opposed to migratory birds, in the spread of the H5N1 virus. They say,
"...most scientists now agree that wild birds could play a role in the spread of the disease, at least for short distances (!- Molly). However, most also agree that the poultry industry and movement of birds and bird products (legal or illegal) have likely been the predominant routes of spread, given that many outbreaks in poultry appeared to have followed roads, railway systems and international boundaries, and did not correspond to migratory bird routes or timing of migration".
Adrift in a Sea of Ads:
Just wanted to call attention to 4 new links that I have added to the 'Scientific Links' section on the left. They are:
1)The World Health Association (the WHO)
2)The World Organization for Animal Health (the OIE)
3)The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (the FAO)
4)The Centres for Disease Control (the CDC)
All of these are great sources for up to date information, statistics and surveys. Good places to look first before making an argument.
Just wanted to call attention to 4 new links that I have added to the 'Scientific Links' section on the left. They are:
1)The World Health Association (the WHO)
2)The World Organization for Animal Health (the OIE)
3)The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (the FAO)
4)The Centres for Disease Control (the CDC)
All of these are great sources for up to date information, statistics and surveys. Good places to look first before making an argument.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Today in History:
1692: The last 8 women hanged for witchcraft in Salem MA today. Coincidentally today is the fall equinox and therefore the time of the Wiccan festival of Mabon. A good time to "hang around". This years actual harvest moon will be coming up soon in early October. It usually falls in September, but this year the one in Oct. is closer to the equinox. Each full moon has a traditional name, but this year there will be a stutter as the hunters' moon becomes the harvest moon.
1792: Legislation passed in the French National Assembly establishing the new revolutionary calender. Came into force in 1793. There was a week of ten days and 12 months of 3 weeks each. The left-overs- well have a good party. This would be the first day of the month of Vindemaire- fine wine. But who's counting.
1862: Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation put forward. Due to take effect on jan. 1st, 1863, but only in states "in rebellion" against the federal government. Seems there was something missing here.
1871: Japanese anarchist Shusui Denjiro Kotoku(1871- 1911) born. Executed in connection with a plot against the emperor.
1903: Patent issued for the ice cream cone. No kidding ! How cool ! More licks, less drips.
1912: Mexico- the anarcho-syndicalist Casa del Obrero Mundial founded.
1973: Spain: Anti-fascist anarchist guerrilla Salvador Puig Antich arrested because of his part in the anti-Franco campaigns of the MIL (Iberian Liberation Movement). Later garroted by the Francoist government on March 2, 1974.
1975: Your Personnel Department Sucks Dept.: Sara Jane Moore attempts to kill US President Jerry Ford. The interesting part is that she a paid informant for both local police and the FBI
1985: France admits planting bomb that sank the Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand. Not, definitely not, absolutely not part of any international terrorist conspiracy. Who us, Non, absolutement Non.
1692: The last 8 women hanged for witchcraft in Salem MA today. Coincidentally today is the fall equinox and therefore the time of the Wiccan festival of Mabon. A good time to "hang around". This years actual harvest moon will be coming up soon in early October. It usually falls in September, but this year the one in Oct. is closer to the equinox. Each full moon has a traditional name, but this year there will be a stutter as the hunters' moon becomes the harvest moon.
1792: Legislation passed in the French National Assembly establishing the new revolutionary calender. Came into force in 1793. There was a week of ten days and 12 months of 3 weeks each. The left-overs- well have a good party. This would be the first day of the month of Vindemaire- fine wine. But who's counting.
1862: Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation put forward. Due to take effect on jan. 1st, 1863, but only in states "in rebellion" against the federal government. Seems there was something missing here.
1871: Japanese anarchist Shusui Denjiro Kotoku(1871- 1911) born. Executed in connection with a plot against the emperor.
1903: Patent issued for the ice cream cone. No kidding ! How cool ! More licks, less drips.
1912: Mexico- the anarcho-syndicalist Casa del Obrero Mundial founded.
1973: Spain: Anti-fascist anarchist guerrilla Salvador Puig Antich arrested because of his part in the anti-Franco campaigns of the MIL (Iberian Liberation Movement). Later garroted by the Francoist government on March 2, 1974.
1975: Your Personnel Department Sucks Dept.: Sara Jane Moore attempts to kill US President Jerry Ford. The interesting part is that she a paid informant for both local police and the FBI
1985: France admits planting bomb that sank the Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand. Not, definitely not, absolutely not part of any international terrorist conspiracy. Who us, Non, absolutement Non.
A Little Frustration of Blogging:
One of the tings I find frustrating about this "blogging matter" is the process of adding links. Every item has to be proofread. When a link doesn't appear to work it is sometimes because I've made a typo, but more often it's "just because". The links on the left contain two dead links under the texts section. I'm trying to repair these now, but I may end up deleting the items totally, as I have done for other things in the past.
Not fun.
One of the tings I find frustrating about this "blogging matter" is the process of adding links. Every item has to be proofread. When a link doesn't appear to work it is sometimes because I've made a typo, but more often it's "just because". The links on the left contain two dead links under the texts section. I'm trying to repair these now, but I may end up deleting the items totally, as I have done for other things in the past.
Not fun.
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