Dr Mercola Discusses New GMO Study - YouTube

Reblogged from Renard Moreau Presents:

I just came across this video and want to share it with you. Why should you care about GMOs? Because studies have proven they are not safe, because other countries have banned them, and because your food labels may not disclose all the ingredients. Have you ever thought about the corn oil used in your condiments or packaged foods? What about the non-organic fruits and veggies you purchase? What about your pet's food? Not only are GMOs unhealthy for consumers, the crops are unhealthy for our pollinating friends (bees, butterflies. etc...) and unhealthy for our local farmer's pocketbook-- GMO crops don't reseed very well which means repurchasing seeds each season. Please purchase, garden, and vote wisely.

 

A “Must-Read” For Your Summer Reading List: Pipe Dreams by Destiny Allison

If you’re tired of a summer reading list filled with sappy romance novels then listen up, this book has “bite”!

The scenario:

Due to bio warfare we are now under military control. That alone is scary enough, but add some genetic engineering, an organized “underground”, spice it up with potential romance and stir with the manipulator of all manipulators and you have one heck of a meal.

My thoughts:

What I love about Pipe Dreams, and what frightens me the most, is the believable plot that could very well happen tomorrow (conspiracy theorists will eat this up). Although listed as “dystopian,” this novel is tame enough for any fiction lover to enjoy.

Allison keeps up the pace with plenty of plot twists and engaging dialog. She offers us a diverse cast of characters each with their own convictions and illustrates “how our individual pursuit of dreams affects our collective reality.”

Allison’s voice has been described as poetic or lyrical. Perhaps it is the artist in her that allows “heart” to shine through her writing. Her scenes are visually descriptive; her characters’ emotions tangible. Intelligent wordplay and structure blend her writing, in any genre, into something more literary. This is Destiny Allison’s first novel, but it is her second book. Shaping Destiny, her memoir, was published in March of 2012 (I reviewed it here).

Pipe Dreams will be released on June 3rd, but don’t let that delay you! You can get a sample of the book or pre-order a copy. Allison will be blog-touring in July; sign up on her mailing list to find out more about the tour. Also, you can follow on Twitter with the hashtag #pipedreams.

Note to all artists and writers: Destiny Allison is paying it forward! Twenty-five percent of her proceeds through June will be given to someone with a project or dream to fuel. Read more about that on her site.

 

Poetry for the Earth: Sublime Planet by Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Happy May Day!

Traditionally, May Day celebrates the Earth’s stirring from her winter slumber. In honor of this bridge between Earth Month and the coming summer I would like to share a couple of poems from Sublime Planet by Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson. These poems are re-printed with their permission. You can find two more poems, plus an interview with the authors at Museiddity.com.

The Man I Love and The Writing Spider

by Carolyn Howard-Johnson

 

Proud Arachne weaving threads of silver

into words became a changeling

at the hand of Zeus. Charlotte knew

the power of words

could save even a pig. The Writing

Spider my imagination’s

mascot.

 

Forgetting my reverence for its writing

skills I begin to slide the patio door against

this micro werewolf in righteous

self-defense, his imagined face vicious,

hairy his legs, those tools under his belly

no longer idealized

wordspinners.

 

Just in time, my husband, child of Zen,

tenderly shanghais my attacker. A folded

tissue—a papery cocoon not unlike

the silky space this spider makes

for herself in window

corners—protects

his palm.

 

He shakes her loose

from her pristine hammock

gently

near the mound where ants

hang out to dine at will

on any fallen enemy

or comrade.

 

Saving one to kill or be killed.

Once, the savior of this story

 

rescued a bee, legs

and antennae

fruited with pollen,

only to have it plant its stinger

in his thumb and slowly die

anyway.

 

Neither bee nor spider

aware of how tender

and treacherous my hero’s

trap.

 

Smokewater

by Magdalena Ball

 

Slowly, if you will

tip toeing through the biomass

pores hot and open

body on alert

pick through chemical decomposition

charred landscape of desire.

 

The wood beneath your fingers

terra preta

veins visible against filtered light;

a promise

you may or may not keep.

 

Future

a concept too vague and amoral

to hold you.

 

The dirt below

becomes wilderness in your brain

the boggy soil in your gut

inspires forward motion.

 

Sublime Planet is the most recent book in The Celebration Series; I like the fact that all proceeds go to the World Wildlife Fund. If you like reading and sharing great poetry you’ll want to check out the rest of these titles. All are available as paperback and e-books.

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up fast—these make fun tuck-in gifts!

 

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood (http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook)

Cherished Pulse: Love Poetry for the Rational
(http://budurl.com/CherishedPulse)

Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions

(http://budurl.com/Imagining )

Deeper into the Pond: A Celebration of Femininity

(http://budurl.com/DeeperPond)

And Blooming Red: Christmas Poetry for the Rational
(http://budurl.com/BloomingRed)

And, of course, Sublime Planet in celebration of the Earth and Universe

(http://amzn.to/SublimePlanet)

 

Have a little May Day fun and share a short poem with us! In the comment section below, share a poem on the theme of May Day or Spring. Keep it short–under 200 character, like a Tweet.

 

 

Celebrate Earth Day–Gift your Friends with Earth Cakes

 

Whether you call them Earth Cakes or Garden Cakes, these make fun gifts to give for Earth Day–and the kids will love making them with you!

 

Supplies:

• Bucket for mixing up soil
• Flat working surface
• Cardboard discs, plastic lids, or other recyclable/reusable “cake plate”
• Can that is slightly smaller in diameter than your “cake plate”
• Wax paper
• Potting soil/garden dirt
• Water
• Flower seeds
• Small flowers or leaves (optional)

Directions:

In your bucket combine potting soil, water, and garden dirt if needed. You want the mixture to be “packable” and able to keep its shape.

Place some wax paper on your work surface.

Pack a small ball of your soil mixture. Place it on your wax paper and gently press into a flat disc or “cake layer.”  Use your can as a cookie cutter to create uniform layers. Make two per cake.

Sprinkle a small amount of flower seeds over each layer. Gently pat the seeds into the cake. (I used a wildflower seed mixture for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds). Let your cake layers dry for a few minutes.

While waiting for your cake layers to dry, prepare your cake plate by arranging a layer of leaves, flower petals, or other “doily.”

By now your cake layers should be dry enough to handle without breaking. Gently peal them off the wax paper and position them on your cake plate seed side up.

Decorate the top of your cake with a small sprig of flowers or a few small leaves.

To Plant:

Lay each layer in a pot or in the garden and cover with a small amount of soil. Refer to the direction on your seed packet for planting depth and watering instructions.

(Alternatively, the cake layers can be crumbled into your garden)

Are you a creative person? Do you enjoy crafts, art, writing, music, gardening, and other creative activities? Join us at Museiddity.com!

How do you celebrate Earth Day? Shout it out here in the comments section!

 

Wearin’ the Green & inviting you to my new website

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

I love “green”–plants, money, eco-friendly stuff, …limeade,… I was in the middle of creating some green-for-the-wearin’ to give away at a local function and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to announce a new website I’ve been planning. That, of course, meant I had to create the website…

Museiddity: Celebrating the Creative Spirit (museiddity.com). The actual website is still under creation but in the meantime I’ve set up a blog site for updates and announcements. As a Ponderance reader, I wanted you to be the first to know about this new community.

At Museiddity we will explore all things creative through interviews with artists, authors, crafters, musicians, and innovators. There will be craft projects, inspirational essays, guest posts, and much more! I’m hoping to have a BIG launch party when we’re all ready and I’d love for you to join us. I’ll be posting updates on A Ponderance of Things, but if you would like to get the inside scoop on things and an official launch party invitation please visit Museiddity and sign up for the mailing list.

 

My First Composter!

Some girls want diamonds, but not me. No, for years now I’ve been asking Santa, the Birthday Fairy and the Easter Bunny for a composting drum. The Birthday Fairy finally came through!

This dual unit is from Gardener’s Supply Company. The idea is that while one batch is “cooking” you can work on filling the next drum. It sounds simple enough…one part “green” (yard trimmings or kitchen scraps) to three parts “brown” (dried leaves, etc…). There is a “Super Hot” activator powder you can add if you choose to, then just check the moisture level (it should feel like a well-wrung sponge), close the door and give it a few spins.

Temperature inside the composter should reach 120 to 160 F. Spin the drum every few days to incorporate fresh oxygen and keep an eye on the moisture level. If all goes well you should have a batch of compost in about four to eight weeks. Well…we’ll see.

I’ve started my first batch and am gathering materials to fill the second drum. At this point my concern is having enough “brown”; the “green” is the easy part. I’ll let you know how it goes.

 

Removing the Hysterical

Hysterectomy. At one time this surgery was thought to rid a woman of acting hysterically—which meant, basically, speaking her mind. Thankfully, those days are passed, but there are still times when a woman needs to consider having a hysterectomy. This can be a frightening and confusing time—a time when a mentor would be most welcomed.

Enter my friend Linda Parkinson-Hardman, founder of The Hysterectomy Association which provides information needed for women to make a fully informed choice. Linda’s newest project is an anthology of personal stories written by women experiencing hysterectomy. It is Linda’s hope that In Her Own Words: Women’s Experience of Hysterectomy will offer those journeying this path comfort and camaraderie. When pain wakes you up at 3 AM or you find yourself crying for the children you will never have it’s crucial to have someone to turn to—someone who has been there.

If you, or someone you love, have an interest in this topic then I have good news—you have the opportunity to help create this book! Linda is using Kickstarter to promote her idea and rally funds. She could really benefit from some publicity and pledges right now—she only has until March 9^th, 2013 to raise funds. Please visit her page at Kickstarter for more information on this project.