FULL CIRCLE * Earthwise Networking, News & Notes

North American Discworld Con 2011 - NADWCon Updates

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

NADWCon 2011

At the end of NADWCon 2009, during a wonderful lunch with some exhausted and very happy people, Terry Pratchett asked certain members of the core staff to offer their expertise to the next group wishing to host the North American Discworld Convention. To quote Mrs Palm, "When the guy in the black hat asks, you say 'Yes'", which is how a number of us who worked on the first NADWCon have again signed up for various roles. For example, 5 of the original NADWCon organizers will be on the newly formed Steering Committee. Yours Truly will again play her part with friends and colleagues from the Seamstress Guild. For those interested, here is the latest news on NADWCon 2011. As we speak, the Steering Committee is currently looking for bids from cities hoping to host the next convention.

Greetings, all Discworld fans and convention-goers As most of you are probably already aware, the first ever North American Discworld Convention took place in Tempe, Arizona from September 4 - 7, 2009, and was deemed a big success by guests and attendees alike Once again, I and the entire 2009 committee would like to thank all of our amazing guests, participants, committee, staff, volunteers, and attendees for helping to make the con the wonderful experience that it was. Thank you! I have linked many photos, videos, and accounts of the convention on the convention website, so if you haven’t yet seen that, please feel free to head over there and take a look: http://www.nadwcon.org.

The 2009 committee was delighted to hear that everyone had such a great time, and honored to learn that, due to the convention’s success, many are clamoring for another one! Our Guest of Honor, Sir Terry Pratchett himself, has said that he is definitely willing to appear again as Guest of Honor (health and circumstances permitting) should there be another NADWCon.

The committee has been approached by representatives of several cities interested in hosting the next North American Discworld Convention, and thus, after consulting with Sir Terry Pratchett, a North American Discworld Convention Steering Committee (to be known hereafter as The Guild of Chelonavigators) has been formed from among several folks intimately involved in the successful organization and presentation of NADWCon 2009. The purpose of this oversight committee is to:

1) determine the next convention location and organizing group;
2) offer guidance and information to the next convention committee as it prepares for NADWCon 2011;
3) maintain a consistent archive of information and data related to past NADWCons; and
4) manage any con-related funds or properties during transition periods between cons. The members of The Guild are as follows:

Voting Officers:

- Emily S. Whitten, Esq. (Chair)
- Denise Connell
- Margaret Grady
- Patrick Harkin Sr.
- Jean Tillson

Chelonavigational Consultant:

- Anna M. Caggiano

Regarding the decision as to where NADWCon 2011 will be held, it has been decided to ask for bid proposals from any fan organization interested in hosting the next con. These will be carefully considered by The Guild before a decision is made and a group chosen, after which The Guild and the 2009 committee will pass the torch of our responsibility and experience as the organizers of this unique Discworldian event to the chosen group, but will remain available for consultation as a source of information, guidance, and resources.

If you love the idea of having an NADWCon in your city, and are considering proposing your local group and city as the best host for the next NADWCon, please first carefully consider both the goals and responsibilities of this convention, some of the main ones being:

- To provide a well planned, smooth and well organized, exciting and uniquely fun Discworld experience for new and old Discworld fans of all ages, as well as for our guests;
- To make the convention easily accessible and reasonably affordable for fans to attend;
- To meet or exceed the level of programming and fun experiences provided by the first NADWCon, including such staples as a charity auction, gala banquet, and Discworld Maskerade;
- To retain the Discworld flavor and culture of a Pratchett-centric convention;
- To keep proper records and responsible accountings of the planning and management of the NADWCon, and to preserve these for future archiving with The Guild of Chelonavigators.

Please also be aware that planning a convention of this magnitude requires the dedication, determination, and cooperation of a number of experienced organizers with excellent planning, teamwork, organizational and communication skills. Planning and running a convention can be an amazing experience, but please remember that it requires a lot of time and hard work, as well as a willingness to put the good of the convention first. Any group that bids for the next NADWCon should have a number of willing and experienced volunteers local to the convention location to form the backbone of their potential convention committee.

And now, for those who are interested, onward to the bid proposal process!

Bid Proposal Process

Please include all information requested below on your bid submission, which should be emailed to nadwconbids2011@nadwcon.org. Please be as detailed as possible when appropriate, and feel free to include any additional information that might help in the decision as to why your city and organization would be the best host for NADWCon2011.

Bid submissions should consist of:

1) Name and contact information (address, email, and phone) of submitting person or organization;

2) Location (i.e. city) and range of proposed possible dates for the 2011 con;

3) Possible hotel(s) to host the con, with as much detail as possible regarding what arrangements could be agreed upon with the hotel; a Letter of Intent from the proposed hotel is recommended. Please also include information on methods, costs, and ease of travel to and from the hotel(s) proposed;

4) Names and contact information for proposed key committee members, with summaries of their past experiences in fandom and convention organizing.

a. Please list potential committee members for as many of these committee positions as possible, and any others which you expect to fill:

i. Chair; Vice Chair; Treasurer; Hotel Liaison; Guest Liaison; Programming Director; Volunteer Coordinator; Convention Operations; Logistics Coordinator; Technology Coordinator; Security Coordinator; Dealers Room Coordinator; Information and Publicity Coordinator (including maintenance of website, email listserv, and news updates); Registration Coordinator; Maskerade Director; Banquet Director; Charity Auction Director; Program Book Director; Art Show Director; Ambience Director; Hospitality Coordinator.

b. Please include one or more references who can speak to the individual’s relevant experience and qualifications; a personal statement from the individual is also welcome.

5) Estimated convention budget with breakdown of expected expenses, along with information on any start-up funds that may be available to the committee;

6) Any other information you feel would be pertinent or helpful.

The deadline for bid proposals is midnight, March 15, 2010. Once the deadline has closed, proposals will be carefully reviewed by The Guild, and a decision will be made and announced to bid applicants by approximately April 15, 2010.

Once a decision has been made, a representative of The Guild will contact the prevailing 2011 organization in order to facilitate the sharing of useful information and resources. AFTER such contact, The Guild will publicly announce the winning bid, and the 2011 committee may then move forward in planning the 2011 NADWCon.

Please let me know via the email address provided above if you have any questions on the bid proposal process. Good luck, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

Emily S. Whitten

Vice Chair and Webmaster, NADWCon2009
Chair, The Guild of Chelonavigators

Additional Note:

NADWCon2009 had approximately 1,000 attendees.

- NADWCon is an event specifically focused on the works of Terry Pratchett (primarily the Discworld series, but any of his other writings as well).

...
Image: Head Librarian, Discworld

Letting Go at Imbolc

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:25:00 +0000

Today is Old Imbolc, the actual cross quarter day in the Wheel of the Year. Today in honor of Imbolc, I am cleaning house, both inside and out. Today I am mediating and letting go of some old hurts and some disruptive/negative attachments. I am also working on my gratitude list and writing letters to people I cherish (and who cherish me) or catching up with these loved ones by phone.

Today I am thinking and writing and talking to others about what it means to let go of old hurts and to forgive someone as a Pagan. Today, in my rituals, I put some of those hurts on the bonfire or let them flow into ground for earth to break down and renew as only Gaia can. Today I bless and release some pain I've been carrying around for a while because it no longer belongs to me. In fact, it never did.

This brings me back full circle to what I learned when I first entered ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) meetings over 25 years ago. It's this: letting go of hurts and forgiving someone who hurt me is not something I do for them. It is something I do for myself. I do it so I can move forward without the burden of pain, resentment and anger that I've been carrying. It is about my freedom, my healing and my survival. For me, it is a critical component in my recovery. Dislodging that harmful, pain-filled energy inside my chest allows light and air into my life and supports my joy, my creativity, and my physical health (for this burden adds to my stress which weakens me, and keeps the weight on, as well). Letting go, as we call, it also enhances my capacity to love and be loved.

I've been doing this work for over 25 years, and it has always been worth the struggle it takes to let go. To quote my old sponsor, a woman who had crawled through the emotional equivalent of ground glass to get to a place of peace and compassion and who, all gods bless her, had a wicked sense of humor, "Why should those $#*@ers get to live rent-free my head?".

Today, I also forgive myself for those times I missed the mark; when I failed myself or my loved ones in word or deed (or simply by not paying enough conscious attention) or when my lack of wise judgment or compassion caused pain. I cannot move forward without this blessing and release. I accept that fact without any need for further shame or guilt, without wallowing in received shame or guilt from any religion, culture or family and without needing anyone, a priest or a god, to do it for me. I am all the priestess I need and my connection to the sacred well is for me to tend, and me alone. I accept that gift and the responsibility that comes with it.

So it is that my Imboc rituals this week are done to restore balance, whether it be balance between me and another person, former me and me today or me and that which is greater than me of which I am a part. In in all these cases, I now know that I can make a mistake without being a mistake, a lesson that took me years to learn, and my rituals are loving and warm hearted as a result. Yes, they can be bittersweet, but their focus makes them more sweet than bitter, and there, right there, we come to the very soul and center of my practice.

Life gives us the test first and the lesson afterwards

I accept the lessons (even when they are brought to me by difficult people, even when I bring them on myself). I accept the understanding each lesson brings because I don't wish to repeat dysfunctional behavior or let others engage in behavior that brings pain to me. That is what it means to me to forgive and let go, to bless and release, as a Pagan. I do not forget, forgetting simply means I haven't learned, but I don't obsess or dwell on it any more, either. I do learn the greater lesson which is how this event fits into my life story, and what tools it brings me that I can use today, and how my understanding can help and support others on the path. In other words, because I am a practicing Pagan, I know how to let go and learn in ways that are useful, creative, healing and full of meaning.

With all that in mind, I would like to share this quote today. Take what you need and leave the rest:

"The purity of the Imbolc symbolism is very much part of the newness of the year. Life is refreshed by cleansing, by letting go. This is a time to release attachment to past pain, to let go of whatever out-dated stories about yourself and your life you are hanging onto, to allow the healing of forgiveness and acceptance to soothe old injuries of heart and soul.

It is an excellent time to review what has and has not already been achieved, and to assess which of your dreams you still want to pursue and which ones you might as well let go of.

It's a potent time to clear away past disappointments, to let go of old ideas about yourself, and step fully into the present. And on the mundane and physical level, it's a great time to clear out and give away all that stuff you no longer need."

- Elsa P

Go well stay well,

Sia

Related Links:

Spiral Steps On-line Support Group - All Are Welcome
anonymous, non-cross talk, meeting

JK Rowling on the Fringe Benefits of Failure

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:00:00 +0000

I have another offering to make for Imbolc. This is JK Rowling giving the Harvard Commencement speech. She choose to talk that day on the power of failure. This heartfelt talk is something every artist, writer, speaker, activist and organizer will appreciate:

Text & Video: J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

Found at TED: Ideas Worth Spreading

The 5th Annual Brigid Poetry Festival

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:31:00 +0000

As Hecate has noted, it's time for the 5th Anuual Brigid Poerty Festival, a tradition begun by Anne Hill. Hecate has written (her usual) inspiring and insightful posts on Imbolc and poetry. Take the time to read those and then check out the original poem written by Anne Hill at her blog.

Would you like to contribute? Then post a poem (or poems) on your own blog and post a link in the comments section at Anne's Blog O Gnosis.

Blessed Imbolc to you and yours. Here is my offering.

Ode To A Chesnut On The Ground by Pablo Neruda

From bristly foliage
you fell
complete, polished wood, gleaming mahogany,
as perfect
as a violin newly
born of the treetops,
that falling
offers its sealed-in gifts,
the hidden sweetness
that grew in secret
amid birds and leaves,
a model of form,
kin to wood and flour,
an oval instrument
that holds within it
intact delight, an edible rose.
In the heights you abandoned
the sea-urchin burr
that parted its spines
in the light of the chestnut tree;
through that slit
you glimpsed the world,
birds
bursting with syllables,
starry
dew
below,
the heads of boys
and girls,
grasses stirring restlessly,
smoke rising, rising.
You made your decision,
chestnut, and leaped to earth,
burnished and ready,
firm and smooth
as the small breasts
of the islands of America.
You fell,
you struck
the ground,
but
nothing happened,
the grass
still stirred, the old
chestnut sighed with the mouths
of a forest of trees,
a red leaf of autumn fell,
resolutely, the hours marched on
across the earth.
Because you are
only
a seed,
chestnut tree, autumn, earth,
water, heights, silence
prepared the germ,
the floury density,
the maternal eyelids
that buried will again
open toward the heights
the simple majesty of foliage,
the dark damp plan
of new roots,
the ancient but new dimensions
of another chestnut tree in the earth.

Update from Anne - Collection of Poems at Delicious.com
Yvonne has set up a system: if you post a poem this weekend, go to delicious.com and enter your post url with the tag brighid2010. (Or get a geeky friend to do it for you; it’s not super intuitive.) If you just want to read all the poetry, search for the brighid2010 tag at delicious and all our posts will show up together. Magic!

Photo used w/ permission

Related Articles:

Reclaiming Brigid: Celtic Goddess, Saint, Soul Smith, Creatrix & Leader

Old Imbolc: What Sacred Well Are You Tending?

Festival of Trees - A Poem for Imbolc 2009

Welcome Brigid - Poems for Imbolc (2008)

A Collection of Poems from the Silent Poetry Reading at Imbolc

Because Brigid Loves to Laugh (video)

Seeds for the Birds: Old Imbolc

Can You Feel It? Imbolc!

Connecting With Folks in Recovery at PantheaCon and Other Events

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:03:00 +0000

Folks at that Spiral Steps online support group are discussing how to hook up with others who want to stay clean & sober, keep on their food plan, handle the energy or just otherwise deal with some things (mental, emotional, physical and spiritual) that might come up at PantheaCon this year. Similar discussions are also going on at the PantheaCon communities at Facebook and Live Journal

Update 1/31/01 I am now told that there will be meetings among a group called Pagans In Sobriety but that these are not on the schedule (and why not?) I will post contact info when available.

Meanwhile, over at Spiral Steps, This announcement was made at the Spiral Steps online board (and I post it here with permission).

Hi folks

I'd like to address the issue of finding support at conventions and other events. All sorts of issues can come up in such places, including eating issues and encounters with our shadow sides (and the shadow sides of other people). Many of us will also run into Exs (or ex circle members or former friends) and this can be tough.

Some backstory: Over the years, I've offered workshops on starting Spiral Steps meetings at PantheaCon, and often met with our group members and other attendees trying to stay clean, sober and sane at such high energy events. (1) Please Note: I will not be attending PCon this year but others from our group will be there.

As always, I encourage people to be self empowered in these cases. In other words, if we want something done, then we have to be the ones who step up and make it happen. I am delighted to see some folks doing that and I'm happy to give support and advice to others who want to do that same thing at other events.

So, if someone cares to arrange a Spiral Steps meet at any event, regardless of focus, tradition or path then I will give them any help and advice I can. All are welcome. I can be reached at info@spiralsteps.org

Dj
Spiral Steps

(1) ..I recently did this kind of networking at the North American Discworld convention and met a lot of great folks that way.

Related Articles:

Making a Sea Change: The Spiral Steps Support Groups

Everything Has A Song: Staying Present & Sober in Recovery

Pagans in Recovery - Wikipedia

Art: Butterfly Woman by Lisa Hunt
To view more of her work, click on the link above.

Remarkable story of Temple Grandin on HBO

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

HBO has made a film about the early life of activist, scientist and writer Temple Grandin. It airs Feb. 6th. Catch it if you can

The NPR Blog notes

Her improbable life story is the subject of a new movie starring Claire Danes as the woman who overcame the odds to earn a Ph.D., write half a dozen books, advocate for autism education, and work as a professor of animal science at Colorado State University.

Dr. Grandon recently did a fasinating interview with Talk of the Nation on NPR and she also answered her readers questions at the NPR Blog.

I have all her books, and I recommend these titles, in particular: Animals Make Us Human, Animals in Translation and Thinking in Pictures.

Whenever I meet someone who works with animals I recommend starting with Animals in Translation. If I knew someone with a child diagnosed with Autism or Asberger Syndrome or, as often happened when I worked in Silicon Valley, I had a colleague with Asperberger Syndrome who was interested in knowing more about the ways their different, and often brilliant, minds work, I recommended they read Thinking In Pictures. (1)

Sia

(1) Go to any Scifi, tech or Pagan convention and you'll meet a lot of folks with Asberger Syndrome, compulsive/addictive disorders and/or ADHD. I could wish more people in spiritual communities would take the time to learn about these issues and the ways in which these challenges effect behavior in group settings so that they can offer support and boundaries where needed.

Additional Links

Update 1/29: Oregon Leads Nation in use of therapy dogs for children with autism.

Temple Grandin (Wikipedia)

Oasis: A resource for individuals and families with Autism or Asberger Syndrome

Related Articles:

Bad Kitty

Wolf Wisdom for President Obama

Still Here

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Hello, Dear Hearts, how are you? I've missed you.

Like most folks I've been following the news from Haiti, especially the on-going rescue efforts and heroic medical care for both people and animals. What I could usefully glean these last few weeks, I've posted here @birdgarden:

http://twitter.com/birdgarden

(If you are looking at the blog you'll see my twitter posts appearing in the right hand column, just under the image of Gaia Holding The World)

I posted three links last night about the work being done to help farm and companion animals in Haiti by many groups working as one large, effective unit (work that, understandably, has to take a backseat to human needs.) You will also see link to news on animal rescue efforts during the floods in California and all through the harsh winter in Europe and here in the U.S. I'll post more when I can. (I will also write more on my new found respect for the networking & charitable powers of Twitter and my on-going distrust of and dislike for Facebook's privacy policies, another time).

I would like to thank those of you who wrote such kind remarks after my Yule post. I wasn't "back", per se, but I did want you to know that I was thinking about you and wishing you a happy time. We had a peaceful holiday at our home and took delight in small things. I hope you had a lovely time, as well.

The approach of Imbolc finds my family still at a crossroads but well, even so. My aunt has finally passed on after a series of strokes and a slow descent into isolation and confusion as her dementia increased. This passing was a blessing for her and those who love her. I should note here that the responsibility for her care fell to my cousins and their spouses who rose to the occasion with compassion, patience and respect for her needs. I merely cheered them on from the sidelines and did what little I could.

A while back, I called friends in N. California to see how they had come through the 6.5 quake near their home only to be told about the unexpected loss of one friend's elder brother. His death (and the death of my older sister) were both due to cancer. I hope some day to see this cruel disease cured in my lifetime. At this point, I'll remind you all to go to your doctors and get those moles checked (our friend's brother died from carcenogelic melanoma which started out as a small, cancerous mole three years ago and traveled to his brain) and, yes, my sisters, please, get those yearly mammograms no matter what those fools say. Do not, do not, do not wait until you are 50. The people who want you to do that, are thinking about their bottom line, not your health. Be proactive and take care of yourselves.

Meanwhile, my own dear elder is healing from the effects of her car accident (which occurred right after we got back from NADWCon), while suffering more and more from COPD and heart trouble. We have now moved from medicine A to B and are now at C for her breathing troubles which is, just now, effective. I continue to care for her (while she continues to be her strong minded, independent self, bless her ) as does my husband. This continues to involve travel and time away from home. I don't know how many men would take weeks off from work to care for a wife's relative, no matter how beloved that elder might be, but this one did. I married well in the best sense of that word and I have the good sense to know it.

The state of things leaves me with little time (and less brain) to do any thoughtful blogging. Please know that I read your own blogs with interest. Your insights, art, humor and wisdom continue to sustain me and I thank you.

The current situation in both California and Haiti reminds me to
a) do what good I can in the world
(to be honest, my volunteer work has kept me sane) and
b) count my own blessings.

As I said, what I do now makes me a bear of little brain so Tweeting updates on earthwise news and the odd posting of links to my Facebook account is all I'm really good for. My beloved has just installed wifi in our elder's home which is yet another blessing on my gratitude list. So if I can write, I will. But if I can't, know that you are in my thoughts.

May the sun shine on your journey in this new year. May we all find ways to help those who cannot help themselves. As an old friend says, "Witches deal with things". No doubt you are dealing with your own challenges, while at the same time offering a helping hand to people in need you've never met. You make me proud, you really do.

With love and respect,

Sia

Photo: Egress Sign at NADWCon (artwork by Magaret Grady). Photo from NADWCon Flickr pool, courtesy of Hereatwitsend

Yule Blessing

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:47:00 +0000

This Yule blessing comes to us courtesy of the good folks at the Portland Revels. It is a poem for the New Year by Irish poet and spiritual teacher John O'Donohue. I would encourage everyone who reads this to make a donation to a charity of your choice - the need this year is very great.

A Blessing for the New Year

BEANNACHT

On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble
May the clay dance
To balance you

And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The gray window
And the ghost of loss
Gets into you,
May a flock of colors,
Indigo, red, green
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
In the curragh of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life.

from To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings, Doubleday, 2008 by John O'Donohue

If you would like to hear the words of this blessing spoken with a lovely Irish accent by the poet himself, here is a link to a youtube recording: Beannacht

Wishing the blessings and peace of the Winter Solstice to you and yours,

Sia

Welcome Yule!

Change

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Folks,

The illness of an elderly love one requires my presence so the blog will lie dormant for a time. We do not yet know if this situation is the beginning of a longer journey or if we will again take the version of Mr Toad's Wild Ride that passes for health care in this country. Nor do we know the timing on any of this. I'll be back, when I'm back. In the meantime, take my best wishes with you and enjoy what you find here in the archives. (1) As always, take what you need and leave the rest.

Go well, stay well,

Sia

(1) I've listed popular posts by topic in the right hand column section and you find a seach window at the top right corner of the blog.

Blessed Samhain, Happy Halloween and a peaceful All Souls to you all.

SV

Unseen Academicals

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Unseen Academicals is now available in bookstores. I predict that you will love two new characters: Glenda the pie maker and Pepe who is...many things.

Here's to all those who climb out of the crab bucket....

Sia

The wizards at Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University are renowned for many things—wisdom, magic, and their love of teatime—but athletics is most assuredly not on the list. And so when Lord Ventinari, the city's benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive an erstwhile tradition and once again put forth a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff, the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. To begin with, they have to figure out just what it is that makes this sport—soccer with a bit of rugby thrown in—so popular with Ankh-Morporkians of all ages and social strata. Then they have to learn how to play it. Oh, and on top of that, they must win a football match without using magic.
Meanwhile, Trev (a handsome street urchin and a right good kicker) falls hard for kitchen maid Juliet (beautiful, dim, and perhaps the greatest fashion model there ever was), and Juliet's best pal, UU night cook Glenda (homely, sensible, and a baker of jolly good pies) befriends the mysterious Mr. Nutt (about whom no one knows very much, including Mr. Nutt, which is worrisome . . .). As the big match approaches, these four lives are entangled and changed forever. Because the thing about football—the most important thing about football—is that it is never just about football.

You can get the lastet Terry Pratchett new from the man himself by going here.

Craft In America on PBS

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:54:00 +0000

Today I would like to share a wonderful program on PBS titled Craft in America.

You can check your local show times by clicking on the link above.

Enjoy,

Sia

Related Articles:

Etsy: Buying and Selling Handmade Items

A Simple Argument: "Animal Torture Is Not Free Speech"

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Calling all animal lovers:

Tomorrow is the day that United States Solicitor General Elena Kagan will stand before the Supreme Court and argue that the federal Depiction of Animal Cruelty Law is not only constitutional but urgently needed to stop the abuse of animals. Congress passed the law by overwhelming margins in 1999 to halt the interstate sale of videos depicting illegal acts of animal cruelty

...The United States and 26 state Attorneys General are asking the court to put a stop to this madness, and allow reasonable regulation of this commercial activity. In 1973, the Supreme Court held that patently offensive material with no serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value can be regulated. A decade later, the high court concluded that child pornography can be regulated as well. The thrust of our argument...this may be narrowly regulated based on our society’s compelling interest in preventing animal cruelty. Cruelty to animals is a serious social and legal concern to Americans, and, as with children, the animal victims cannot defend themselves. There’s no speech at risk here—just the most appalling forms of cruelty known to humanity.

This call comes from the President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. You can read his entire article in the link below. FAIR WARNING: This article contains graphic and disturbing information about animal torture videos. Here it is: Animal Torture Is Not Free Speech

Our argument is simple: There are deeds so dark that they do not warrant, and do not receive, the lofty protection of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. The trade in such material, such as child pornography, is rightfully a crime and receives no Constitutional protection. And so too should the trade in videotapes of wanton cruelty inflicted on uncomprehending but much suffering animals.

We are talking about victims who cannot speak for themselves. A vote of Congress declared the sale of this material to be a crime with passage of the Depiction of Animal Cruelty Act. The many civil libertarians in Congress sided with us that this sort of conduct should be regulated ... not protected by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court can do the right thing and deal a blow to people who profit from animal suffering by reinstating this law and affirming our society’s right to protect the innocent from predatory commercialism by those with sick hearts, or no hearts at all.

from No Mercy for the Merciless

My thoughts will be with those who speak for the voiceless in front of our highest court on Tuesday.

Sia

Image: Scales of Justice dog shirt can be found here.

Gargoyle Dogs

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:02:00 +0000

It's that time of year...

Pet costumes seem all the rage right now and not just for dogs; more than one cat is into hats these days.

Meanwhile, I spend my free time at local stores looking for pretty witches to add to my collection, cute (not scary) black cat images, and things that make me smile, like the picture above.

The Chicago Sun Times notes that

Witches are again the most popular costume for adults this Halloween, but vampires are chomping in with a close second because of their newfound popularity in books and movies..

Saving Money on Halloween

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a costume this year. Your local Good Will has lots of great costumes on sale, especially for kids. Call a friend or neighbor and see if they have something you can borrow. Or, arrange for a costume swap. Get together with friends, all who agree bring a bunch of costume items to swap, loan and trade. Also, look around the house and see what you have there, already. Anyone can buy a costume; for many of us, half the fun is making it or putting it all together for ourselves.

Sia

Related Articles:

Keeping Your Pet Safe This Halloween

Photo: found at Boris Kitty blog.

800 year old Lewis Chessman Set Reunited for Tour

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:22:00 +0000

A charming blog titled Chess, Goddess and Everything notes that the Lewis Chessman set pieces "polished walrus ivory and whale teeth carved by Norse craftsmen more than 800 years ago", are being reunited for a tour of Scotland after 170 years apart.

It's so nice to see the band back together again.

Sia

Note: Harry Potter fans may remember that copies of the Lewis set were used to play in Wizard's Chess in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Links:

British Museum webpage on The Lewis Chessman

Photo found here

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:56:00 +0000

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Did You Know That only five per cent of breast cancer is directly linked to inherited faults in our genes? The majority of cases are linked to a number of risk factors, such as putting on weight, diet, lack of exercise, whether or not we have children and the use of hormone pills. We don't have to wait around, wondering if some genetic bomb will go off. We can make changes to our lifestyle, get yearly exams, become more informed and take a active role in our overall health and well being. Pass it on.

Meet: Dr. Susan Love, Scientist & Breast Cancer Activist

What You Can Do Today: The American Cancer Society recommendations include the following:

• Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.

• Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a periodic health exam by a health professional preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.

• Breast self exam is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away.

Please take time to do your monthly breast examination and remind a friend.

The Personal Is Political:

The Breast Cancer Caucus is asking all presidential candidates to outline their plans for universal health care and their specific approaches to breast cancer research, prevention and care. Visit their website and click on the candidate's picture to see their plan.

You might also wish to read The Politics of Breast Cancer

Just the Facts, M'ame

Also, visit Dr. Susan Love's website to read clear, factual information on breast cancer prevention and treatment from one of the pioneers in the field.

Download: Breast Self Exam Cards in Several Languages

As part of the three-step breast health approach, Susan G. Komen for the Cure recommends that beginning by age 20, women become familiar with the look and feel of their breasts through monthly breast self-examination (BSE). View the variety of Breast Self-Examination (BSE) cards we have available in several different languages. Learn how to perform a breast self-exam. Help others learn that monthly BSE is an important part of the three-step breast health approach. You can download and print these cards for quick reference.

PDF file: Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Become More Aware: Visit the Susan G. Komen Site For the Cure to read:

* ABC's of Breast Cancer Guide

* Early Detection & Screening

* Risk Factors & Prevention

* Treatment & lots more

Update 10/3: Not everyone is a fan of the K group. Read the article titled "Compromised?" and decide for yourself:

Excerpt: In the past couple of years...dissenting voices have begun to be heard about Komen....various feminist breast cancer organizations, say that Komen's many corporate ties have led to a focus that is heavily weighted toward finding a medical cure for breast cancer, and away from environmental conditions causing it. The following story examines Komen's corporate and political ties and their influence on the Komen Foundation's direction......

"What's missing is the truth," says Judy Brady of the Toxic Links Coalition in San Francisco. She wants to see a cure for breast cancer as much as anyone, but she and her group, along with several other activist breast cancer groups, have something to point out about the Susan G. Komen Foundation's activities: "There's no talk about prevention except, in terms of lifestyle, your diet for instance. No talk about ways to grow food more safely. No talk about how to curb industrial carcinogens. No talk about contaminated water.".....So most people would be shocked to find that the Komen Foundation helped block a meaningful Patients' Bill of Rights for the women it has purported to serve since the group began in 1982.

Update 10/5 : This just in from Rowan Fairgrove:

Devra Davis: Chemicals, Cancer and You

Fresh Air from WHYY, October 4, 2007 · In The Secret History of the War on Cancer, environmental-health expert Devra Davis warns that we're ignoring dozens of cancer-causing chemicals, like asbestos, benzene, vinyl chloride, and dioxin.

Click Here To Listen To The Show

She writes that, like the tobacco companies, the chemical industry has managed to obfuscate the carcinogenic dangers of chemical and other toxic waste.

Davis directs the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and teaches epidemiology in the university's public-health graduate program.

Her earlier book When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deceptionand the Battle Against Pollution was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Their website is very much under construction unfortunately, but do take a look.

My thanks to Rowan Fairgrove, Librarian Bard, for the two articles in the updates.

Go well, stay well,

Sia

Reposted from 10/2/08

Image: by JFury of deviantART, courtesy of the Sexy Witch Blog
JFury (aka Joe Pekar) has more images here.
(Note: Adult Content - Do Not view these sites at work)

Book Banning, Gay Penguins and Witches

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:28:00 +0000

It is time again to celebrate (?) Banned Books Week. The BBC reports that:

Authors, artists and musicians are due to gather at a library in San Francisco to protest against the banning of books in schools and libraries in the US.
The event, part of the 27th annual Banned Books Week, has been organised by the American Library Association.
...In recent years, And Tango Makes Three - based on a true story and centring on gay penguins in New York's Central Park Zoo - has had the most ban requests

Meanwhile, it is reported that J.K. Rowling was denied the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom becuase some U.S. politicians believed she "encouraged witchcraft".

For more information on Banned Books week, go to the American Library Association website. This same site allows you to print out a certain number of copies of their posters for free to put up in your office, classroom or home.

Today's post is in remembrance of anti-censorship activist and Librarian Extraordinaire, Judith Krugg

Sia

Related Articles:

News for Book Lovers

Hate Crimes Toward The Other (or Dumbledore Comes Out of the Closet)

Photo: A young "witch" reads Hanzel and Gretel to a little girl in the park. Photo found at The Witches Hut site.

Since its opening in 1970, the Kildonan Park Witch’s Hut has been visited by thousands of children and their parents every year. It also is a favourite object for photographers. The Witch’s Hut is also the site of the Fairy Tales Festival.

Praise for the new Sibley Guide to Trees

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:41:00 +0000

"Trees," he said, "are things that everyone sees every day."

David Sibley, author of the well loved and easy to use Sibley guides to birds and birding, now offers us a way to easily identify the trees in our very own habitat.

..."he thought he could produce something more user-friendly than the existing guides whose methodology for tree identification involves a lengthy, frustrating sorting process... " "If you're out in the park and you notice from 100 feet away a tree with unusual flowers or an odd leaf shape or interesting bark, these books require you to walk up to the tree, take a twig in your hand and go through a series of steps," said Mr. Sibley. "It's at least five minutes until you come up with an answer. And immediately you lose sight of the whole tree and you lose sight of what attracted your attention in the first place. Taking a step back and looking at the whole tree, then looking at a few more trees and flipping through the pages of my book, you quickly start to see that all the maples have similarly shaped leaves and fruit and that all the oaks have acorns."

All the time Mr. Sibley was focused on trees, he kept his core constituency—birdwatchers—in mind. "I wanted to produce a guide you could use if you were looking through binoculars to a bird at the top of a tree, and you wanted to turn your attention to the tree without moving your binoculars."

From a review of the new The Sibley Guide to Trees. Article titled David Sibley's Habitat by Joanne Kaufman writing for the Wall Street Journal.

It goes on my wish list.

Sia

Art: Green Oak Leaf (Arts and Crafts style) tile by Carreaux Du Nord. You can see more of their work or buy their tiles at their website.

Suryia the Orangutan and Roscoe the Dog

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Today I would like to share a video about a friendship between Suryia the Orangutan and Roscoe the Dog.

Enjoy,

Sia

P.S. Congratulations to the folks at the North American Discworld Convention who raised over $24,000 for the Orangutan Foundation International during their Discworld Charity Auctions at NADWCon.

Ancient Church Transformed Into A Bookstore

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Very nice. Very nice indeed.

Sia

Related Articles:

The 10 Best Bookstores Around the World

Photo: found at the Inhabitat website. Their motto: Design will save the world.

Betti and the Discworld Belly Dancers at NADWCon

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Here are 3 brief amateur videos taken of the belly dancers at the Discworld Convention banquet. You can see the wonderful green screen photos taken of the some of the 300 guests at that event at the Avalon Arts website.

I had worked with Avalon Arts over the years at our Full Circle Witches' Balls (1) and I was able to recommend them for the Seamstress Guild party, where they did fantastic work. When Margaret Grady, the banquet's decorator and director asked me if they had a green screen, the happy answer was "yes", and you can see how well it all turned out. They also had a booth in the NADWCon dealer's room where they took photos of attendees in costume, including one of the better photos of Terry Pratchett I've seen. If I can get my hands on it, I will post a link to it here.

Sia

Dancers with flames

Here is a short clip with a close up of the flame work:

The infamous "Betti" (AKA Nobby Nobbs), the husband of one of the dancers, joins in ala Terry's book Jingo (wherein Nobby Nobbs, a guardsman behind enemy lines has to dress as a dancing girl and while working "undercover" discovers his feminine side.)

The video taker missed "Betti's" work on at the high table and his clowning around with Terry, which is a shame. Perhaps someone else caught it. I will keep my eye out for more videos.

Sia

Links:

Avalon Arts Studio

Related Articles:

The Witches Ball: When A Party Stands for Pagan Values

The Wiccan Dance Meets Bollywood

Endnotes:

(1) I understand that they took photos for another Witches' Ball in Benecia last March. This is no relation to our Full Circle yearly charity ball and costume event (which ceased production when I moved out of California) but I wish the organizers and the good folks at Avalon Arts all the best.

NADWCon Photos Are Up (North American Discworld Convention)

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:45:00 +0000

For those of you who are interested, there is now a link to North American Discworld Convention photos up on the NADWCon website. Look under "con photos, videos and links".

There is some talk of doing this all again in 2011 in a different city. If a well organized, decently funded group steps forward, it could happen. Many of the senior NADWCon volunteer staff have said that they would advise and help any new convention group as much as they can. Terry Pratchett has said that he'll be there "if I am spared" and we hope that he is.

As of this writing, he is working on the new Tiffany Aching novel to be called I Shall Wear Midnight. (1) After that he intends to start work on his autobiography and, possibly, another adult Discworld novel.

While in Arizona he visited the city of Tombstone and seemed much taken with the story of the OK Corral and Wiatt Earp. He also went to the Kitt Peak National Observatory, where he was given a tour by the Observatory's Director.

Sia

Photo: This way to the egress. Photo by Hereatwitsend. Discworld sign by Margaret Grady, Decorating Chair, Logistics Manager and Banquet Director, NADWCon.

Link:

Terry Pratchett News - Paul Kidby's website

Endnotes:

(1) ...which he discussed late at one night in the hotel bar with a small group of Witches and Pagans, myself among them. I am not allowed to say any more except that I look forward to this next Tiffany book with great anticipation.

He also met Pagan author and former Canadian police detective Kerr Cuhulain and his wife at that same convention. I understand that Kerr has since sent him several of his books.

Gratitude from a Green Witch at Mabon

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:51:00 +0000

For those who are interested, my article titled Gratitude from a Green Witch at Mabon is up at Vox.

Sia

Art: Hecate by Susan Sedden Boulet. You can buy her prints and books at the Turning Point Gallery.

Terry Pratchett and Nanny Ogg - NADWCon Seamstress Guild Stealth Costume Awards

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Someone else captured another part of the Seamstress Guild Party Stealth Costume Awards and put it up on Youtube. What you can't hear Mrs. Palm saying as she works to pin the ribbon on Young Greebo is "I don't normally have so much trouble getting it in". Nanny Ogg replies, "I get to take it off".

With those two women on either side of him, you can see why Terry needed the Bursar's frog pills.

The gal who came as Cherry Littlebottom in the outrageous red dwarf costume won for Best NonHuman. Her award gave Terry a chance to tell us all some of the plot from his new book Unseen Academicals. (1)

It was a lovely, funny and enchanted evening. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Towards the end of the convention, at the banquet on Sunday night, Terry announced that this was "The best Discworld convention ever". Wow.

My regards to all who worked so hard (quite literally for years) to make the first North American Discworld Covention a wonderful event. 2) It was a honor to be your colleague and to share in your wonderful company at the con.

NADWCon Maskerade videos can be found here.

Sia

P.S. Two Flower won for Best Prop. His luggage was on a motor and moved about the room all evening. The lovely young people who won the Best Couple Award as Moist and Spike were at the convention on their honeymoon.

Endnotes:

(1) His next book, which he is writing now, is a Tiffany Aching book and is titled I Shall Wear Midnight.

(2) Talk now turns to the second, which would take place two years from now. (...oh, gods...can I get some sleep, first? I just want to live on my happy cloud for a while).

Seamstress Guild Party: Discworld Costume Contest Awards: NADWCon 2009

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:25:00 +0000

Well, that was quite a party...

The winners of the Seamstress Guild Party Stealth Costume Contest were wonderful and talented folks. Here is a Youtube video showing Terry giving out some of the awards (one to a Feegle and one to the Death of Rats AKA the Grim Squeaker). Terry himself gets an award from the guild.

Thank you all for a great evening,

Sia

Gone to the Discworld: The North American Discworld Convention

SiaV@fullcircleevents.org (Sia) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:52:00 +0000

GONE TO DISCWORLD

For the Seamstress Guild this has been a year's worth of planning and organizing behind the scenes. For others on the Con Committee it has been four years of hard effort and cat herding. Now it all comes to fruition. I'm off to the first North American Discworld Convention.

Geek Fun:

NADWCon Twitter Group: Many people will be tweeting about the convention in real time. Should make for an interesting read.

Flickr: You can see photos as they appear on the group flickr page.

Facebook: There is also a Facebook page. (1)

Who's Who's

I will be meeting a number of old friends there, including Xcentricities Corsets who were so often in the dealer's room at our Witches' Balls and the good people of Avalon Arts Photography (also old friends from the ball). (2)

I will finally meet Rowan in person, she who organizes the Fairyworlds Festival in Arizona along with several Pagan events, and who is the con's Volunteer Coordinator. (Brave woman)

There are three women in particular, who, if you meet them, should be offered a huge "Thank You", a hug and a good stiff drink, chocolate and/or help. They are Anna (Guest Liaison and Con Muse), Emily (Vice Chair, and Web Mistress) and Margie (Decorating Chair). Emily and Anna also did the lion's share of work when it came to Programming.

Honors and praise also go to Jeff (Con Banker who has done so much else, as well) and Randall (Maskarade Director, Official Con Punster) and Jon (Con Artist) along with Artemesia and her daughter who made some of our convention art especially for Terry.

A full list of Who's Who at the Con, along with bios, is up on the Committee Page at the site. If you are going to the con, please give these folks your support.

Seamstress Guild Party: If you enjoy the party put on by the guild (of which I am a proud member) you can thank "Mrs Palm", the Party's Director and Organizer, who has also done hundreds of hours of quiet work for NADWCon behind the scenes to support other nadwcon staff and their events.

I would also like to give a shout out to the women and men of the Seamstress Guild who are not only organizing and working the party but volunteering all over the convention. (Look for those purple (women's) and blue (men's) ribbons with the unique rosettes, you can't miss 'em). I am proud to be a member of such a lovely, talented, hardworking group of people.

Thanks, also, to my good friend Chaos, (who is back in L.A. making sure her home doesn't burn). Chaos, I would not have made it through this year without you.

Finally, to Terry Pratchett: Thanks for all the books.

Sia Vogel

P.S. Don't go looking for Sia once you're there. I'm going incognito and using a con name which you won't recognize. If we meet, t'was meant to be.

Endnotes:

(1) There is also a NADWCon2009 Live Journal page which has announcements by the Vice Chair, and an general Discworld group at LJ.

(2) If you live in the Phoenix area of Arizona, the Dealer Room will be open to the public. Have fun.