Dishing out spicy liberal social commentary and critical thinking news analysis on America, world politics, the news, fun political humor, cartoons - and a little poetry by Independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon.
President Barack Obama meets with John Podesta, Counselor to the President, in the Oval Office, Jan. 29, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Dennys Global Politics: Obama Statements and Releases: Veto Message to the Senate: S. 1, Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act: From Denny: President Obama's only veto in five years. He vetoed it citing America's national security. Actually, it was a clever political move to box in the Republicans. It's easy for them to be against any and all things environmental, even financial burdens on the taxpayers - but national security? Nope. Not in an election cycle when the Republicans are hoping to take back the White House. To go against a presidential decision about national security would be political suicide.
Besides, Americans have nothing to gain by giving a foreign country and their Big Oil easy profits but with no liabilities. If there would an accident or an act of terrorism it's the American people who would be on the hook financially, not to mention a very toxic clean-up as tar sands oil is exceedingly toxic unlike normal crude oil. Good move, Mr. President!...
*** updates daily *** From Denny: Back up blogging after weeks long onslaught of Russian cyberattacks on my blogs. Oh, well, nothing like waiting them out and recircling like a proper yard cat. A lot of fussing and cussing at Blogger and Google up on Twitter was also helpful.
Nor am I well impressed with the NSA and CIA gremlins still surveilling me because of my vociferous opinions about their police state tactics, especially against journalists. These days, as a journalist, it's getting more difficult to tell the Good Guys Governments from the Bad Guys Governments because ALL of them are suppressing the Truth from every media outlet quarter, including bloggers.
Of course, you didn't think a little strong arming would stop me, now did you?...
Elegant lady writer ponders what to write on her scroll - use these blank messages as large sized elegant note cards too! Great for graduations, weddings and party invite thank yous or just send to a friend you were thinking about just to let them know they were missed.
* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock!
The same propaganda lies are employed in this generation as previously: "Oh, our ethnic population in foreign lands need us to come rescue them from their host countries." The names of the villains have changed but the strategy and ruthlessness remain the same. In this generation, instead of Germany on the march, it's Russia that is on the march across Europe, claiming to first make a short stop and "rescue" ethnic Russians in former Soviet satellite countries.
Once Putin is done conquering his nearest - and very weak - neighbors he plans to move across all of Europe. He's gambling that NATO is too weak and indecisive to oppose him. Will NATO prove him right in his assessment? Stay tuned. Right now, countries like Germany, France, the UK and Italy are too slow to react to Putin's aggression, comfortable in the false belief they will not ever be attacked because they are trading partners and of great benefit to him. Wake up, Europe, and run from your comfort zone. "Why trade with a country when Russia can outright own them?" is Putin's thinking right now...
FloralBlush: Enjoy wrapping up in Spring's first blush of azalea blooms to chase away the winter blues! Design available on all sizes bedding, clocks, mugs, handbags and totes, t-shirts and more, come see!
* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock!
World leaders actually believe they are negotiating with another head of state - when nothing could be farther from the truth.
What world leaders are negotiating with is a crime boss whose wealth profits come from the misery of the vilest of newer more potent drugs, arms dealing that enables genocide like in Syria, prostitution of little children and the slavery of human trafficking. Yes, the Russian crime syndicate's human trafficking is operating in your home town right here in America and around the world...
* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock!
Another bone to pick with my fellow media: Why isn't ALL of this news that's being discussed in these White House press briefings getting out to the public? Morning shows spend way too much time discussing Justin Bieber's hair, clothes and antics to shed his Good Boy image rather than informing about world issues that easily affect our economy, our families' security and our ability to hold long-term and well-paying jobs...
Practical love that is oh, so ruthless for the amusing anti-Valentine's Day crowd: "so... where's your financial statement?" Also, available in many different t-shirt styles for men and women, hoodies, pajamas, mugs, stationery and more fun products - come see!
* * * Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new!
For the my fellow die hard True Love Believers who want to "be the change you wish to see in the world":
Loved On Today poses the challenge to all of us "to be the change we wish to see in the world." Also, available in many different t-shirt styles for men and women, hoodies, stuffed animals, pajamas, mugs, stationery and more fun products - come see!
* * * Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new!
The XL Keystone Pipeline is a huge boondoggle that comes out of Canada. Apparently, the Canadian firm, TransCanada, along with some American energy partners sum up their business mantra in one chant, "Let the Americans pay for it!"
Our State Department has been on a fool's errand writing up a study on the impact on America's environment, concluding it would not be a problem, in order to act like they are satisfying the environment folks. As usual, everyone rivets their focus upon the distraction, taking their eye off the obvious.
Now progressives are unhappy with her. Why? Because of her strong ties to the $7 billion XL Pipeline project to deliver filthy oil tar sands clear across America to the Texas oil refineries. That mega-project tunnels under a precious underground aquifer - the only fresh water source for up to half of the entire country.
Turns out Amb. Rice owns a huge amount of stock in TransCanada Corp. - up to $600,000. She also has millions of dollars of stock in other energy companies that invest in oil tar sands like Royal Dutch Shell and Suncor.
Then there are the investments in the Canadian banks that provide loans for these energy company projects. Think someone has a vested interest in making her Sec. of State?
From Denny: The famous Koch Brothers, who love to meddle in the very same government they claim should not basically exist, are now flexing their financial muscles again. They are demanding legislators lose the proposed energy legislation for natural gas subsidies to help wean America off oil.
Of course, Koch Industries, based out of Kansas, primarily has interests in oil, refining and pipelines as well as chemicals and consumer products like toilet paper (Angel Soft) and paper towels (Brawny). These are the same numb nuts that want to burrow an oil sands pipeline straight up through America to Canada from Houston.
Did I mention they want to dig said crazy pipeline under the only fresh drinking water, an underground glacier, for the entire Midwest population? Oh, and they claim "it's perfectly safe and nothing will go wrong." Uh, huh, and that's what BP told us here in Louisiana about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill clean up.
Dennys Global Politics: Libya: Rebels Sell Us 1st Oil Production: "From Denny: Sec. of State Hillary Clinton is pleased to report the rebels are producing oil for the West, selling us their first batch. Can it be America has finally found someone willing to repay us for all the blood and money we have spent on them?
What a nice change of pace is this turn of events. My Democrats may finally be getting practical and downright useful instead of useless."
From Denny: OK, I was flat out fascinated watching the coffee art videos and have included a few here to amuse you as well! I could have stayed on the ifood.tv site for hours, mesmerized at technique and designs - but somebody had to write this blog! :)
Coffee Art Videos - How to Make Rosettes - from ifood.tv
3/4 cup whole Columbian coffee beans or 3/4 cup ground coffee
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
6 cups water
How to make Spiced Coffee
Place coffee beans in container of a coffee grinder, process to a medium grind.
Assemble drip coffee maker according to manufacturer's directions. Place ground coffee beans in paper filter of filter basket; sprinkle with cardamom and flavorings.
Add water to coffee maker, and brew.
Serve immediately.
Guardian of the Inner Sanctuary Photo by alicepopkorn @ flickr
On to the poetry section for today! I was starting to play too much over at the Coffee Art videos, too much fun!
Of course, I’m not finished with the next installment of the Primordial Dragon story, though I can tell you the title: The Dreamers. It needs some serious polishing before I release it. You know how the saying goes, “If Mama ain’t happy; ain’t nobody happy!”
Since I’ve started back up with a bit of fantasy writing my mind was on the ancient and thinking in millennia as opposed to hours or nanoseconds like we think in IT time in this fast-paced century. Then I remembered I wrote a keepsake poem for the new millennium. It isn’t like any of us have the opportunity every day to write a special piece just for the new next 1,000 years and live to tell it!
I went at it with the idea of what would I want people to read 1,000 or more years from now, assuming it survives the ravages of time. Many people choose to talk about the culture of the time period to give it flavor to the generations yet to come, the time capsule idea. That was a lovely idea but something else was nibbling at the edges of my mind. I thought about my usual “What if?” scenarios of which I am so fond. (I have a busy rich imagination, sigh…)
Well, I said to the only guy in the room: me, why not go for the gold? Why not write something to help chart a path for humanity to aspire for the next millennium? Think big; change comes. Think small; life is hard. I gave it a whirl like always. What began as a concept became a blessing for humanity!
Take note that this was written in the first year of the new millennium, what the Chinese call the Year of the Snake who represents Wisdom. If you have studied the Kabalah (Jewish mysticism) and the Tree of Life this makes even more sense to you as it touches on most of the spiritual energy principles constantly coming our way in the Universe. It is our endeavor as mankind to gain awareness of - and learn to interact with - that energy in a positive manner in order to benefit fully.
May we ride the powerful waves of Eternity with ease. May Joy live securely in our Hearts’ pockets. May Success visit us daily.
May Knowledge chase after us as the dancing autumn wind, Biting our heels with glee. May Understanding peek into our thoughts and live with us As our loyal best friends.
May Wisdom choose us, well respected, truly desired. May Kindness be hailed as a great strength and new personal Discipline.
May Strength be paired only with Goodness. May we comfortably pierce the thin veneer of lies, illusion, and misdirection To Heartily, willingly view revealed Truth.
May we Shun a life of greed, pride, bickering and jealousy. May we Endeavor a life philosophy of contributing “to the greater good of All.”
May we No longer Fear those who superficially appear different. May we come to Know deeply that we are all One kind: before God.
May we choose to Give Love and Receive Love. This is our Destiny fulfilled.
Denny Lyon Copyright 24 January 2001 All Rights Reserved
Photo of college students circling a large scale reproduction painting by Titian
"Where do you find your energy? Is it from nature, work, friends, prayer, routine, discord, arguments, love, money? Where is your joy? If you feel stuck in a dead-end job or a dead-end relationship, look beyond.
Our lives are lived for tiny moments of recognition. We may recognize the story of our life from a photograph, a movie, a novel, a poem, a song, a symphony, a painting, or a child. Allow this recognition to connect you for a short time to your story on this blue and green rock.
We will not make an impression beyond our small window of existence. We will not change the relentless path of destruction and creation that is our nature. We will not see the far corners of our rock beyond our cubicle and kitchen. Our story will remain."
From Denny: I found a lot of exquisitely beautiful photography to go with the information on this article. It's more interesting than you would think to write about something so simple yet so needed, what we all have in common in life: water.
Note: For any of you who are using this Zemantasoftware for posting, it just underlined my last name of Lyon. So, out of curiosity I clicked on it and sure enough it takes you to the ancient homeland of my family name: Lyon, France. One of these days I will visit!
Of course, the family made a stop off in Scotland along the way of getting chased out of France about 20 years before the French Revolution. Seems there was a bit of a dust-up with the three Lyon brothers aristocrats trying to convince the King he ought to allow the regular folks a voice in their government. Guess the family finally wore thin on the French king and he banished them.
Of course, then they wore thin on the British king too. Two of the brothers went on to America immediately but my stubborn ancestor and his 16-year-old son decided to stay and make a nuisance of themselves. Something about my 16-year-old ancestor killing the Crown's tax collector. Now that's a real ooops! moment... His older brother sneaked him out of Scotland and on a boat to America. Probably with the admonition: "Go bother your uncles in Boston." The fire brand became part of the American Revolution.
Genealogy can be such a great resource for colorful stories. I always get a charge out of other people's stories of their ancestors. People. You gotta love 'em!
(Scratching my head... now what did all this have to do with an article on water...? Absolutely nothing! It IS Cheeky Wednesday coming up tomorrow... That's my story and I'm sticking to it...
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