Squidoo : Lenses by KarenKay

Dolphin Tale

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 21:01:30 -0600

"Dolphin Tale", the movie, released September 23, 2011, is based on the story of a young dolphin found caught in a crab trap in 2005. She was found on Mosquito Lagoon at Canaveral National Seashore by fisherman Jim Savage. Savage released her from the trap and so began a cherished love affair between "Winter', the dolphin and the world. Winter's injuries caused her to lose her tail, which raised the question of her being able to survive. Winter's courage and determination inspires others, especially those who have trouble adjusting to losing a limb. In the film, Winter is found by a lonely kid, whose relationship with Winter was at least partially inspired by a real relationship between the Dolphin with no tail and a little girl named Katrina. See more on her story in the module below. The story line is changed, but Winter still gets to play herself. Her story of courage and perseverance is inspiring both in real life and in the film version. Photo from Clearwater Aquarium

The Haserot Angel

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:05:29 -0600

Why would an angel cry? The Haserot Angel, who guards the grave of Frances Haserot in Lake View Cemetery near Cleveland Ohio, has permanent tears. Haunting, yet beautiful, the Angel mourns and holds his quiet keep, revering the dead for 80 plus years now. Thousands visit the cemetery to see this famous monument. His expression: solemn, steadfast, honorable.... never changes, though covered perhaps in snow or fallen leaves, his tears continue to fall. There are no words to describe the feeling that came over me the first time I viewed him. I wanted to comfort him. I wanted to embrace him. He seemed so real....so emotional. There are many images on the web of him. Very few are available for use. I share here as many as I can, and point you to even more. I hope your introduction to this mysterious angel is as powerful as mine!

Laughing Till Your Sides Hurt

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 22:02:36 -0600

Every now and then, someone sends me an email that is so funny that I laugh till my sides hurt! I figure it's a waste not to share! Instead of forwarding to a million people, I am going to start adding them to this page! The one that got me going was sent to me by my friend Barb about funny things people actually said in court! I laughed so hard I was crying! This is hysterical stuff and I just had to share it! Photo Credit: Justin's Photographs

Life in the Dead Sea

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:05:48 -0600

It's pretty exciting really. The so called "Dead Sea" is now found to be home to living bacteria. This is an incredible find. Long suspected to be subject to underwater springs, this theory was proven by a team of scientists in 2010. Underwater craters are spewing fresh water at the bottom of our Dead Sea. Fresh water spewing up from a so called "dead" sea rich with incredibly high salt content is infused with these fresh water springs! What is even more extraordinary, however, is that the scientists have now revealed these underwater springs are harboring an environment where life indeed thrives on the seabeds in the areas of the springs, in the form of bacterial mats as well as scattered bacteria. While bacteria are small and not exactly the type of life one might think of in the form of strange new fish or other living creatures, it's exciting because it's new life, and because it thrives in an environment not thought to be able to support life. This could be incredible in the scheme of our understanding of living organisms! If something, anything, can actually thrive in such a hostile environment, the perhaps our idea of "life" as we know it, could be forever changed. Let's explore this discovery a little more, shall we? Photo by Chalky Lives

Box Jellyfish

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 13:10:46 -0600

If you've ever been stung by a jellyfish, like I have, then you know the excruciating pain that seems like the hottest fire on your skin, that nothing will relieve. It's a really scary feeling. Most jellyfish stings are treatable and the pain, however horrible, is over in a few minutes. However, some jellyfish are more "toxic" than others. The absolute worst is the box jelly. While they are very small, the toxins they inject into the skin are the absolute deadliest. The Box Jelly is a fascinating creature. They have no brain, yet seem to have the ability to hunt and navigate delicate tangled sea plants while trailing long and sticky tentacles to find their prey. They are ancient, prehistoric creatures, and were one of the original occupants of the ancient seas. They have lived in the deep for billions of years. In recent years, they and other jellyfish species have come out of their ancient deep water habitat, and are increasing in numbers exponentially every year. They now pose a threat to our oceans, not only to humans but to the ecosystem as well. They are not limiting themselves to one area of the ocean. They are cropping up everywhere. Strange to think that such a primitive looking and really quite beautiful creature can pose such a serious threat. Let's take a look at recent discoveries about these strange creatures, and talk about some of the safety concerns when in close proximity of a box jelly. Photo: Alexandra Roberts

Ghost Tales of the Natchez Trace Parkway

Fri, 16 Aug 2013 21:29:12 -0600

The "Mysterious Barren Pathway" known as the Natchez Trace is host to oodles of ghastly tales, from Deep in the South's most fabled mighty and often horrifying Mississippi River at Natchez, to the Southern Country Capital of Nashville, Tennessee, the Trace winds and haunts through foggy moss covered forests and blue-mud krypts to weave tales only the bravest and most brazen dare tell. Stories of torture and mayhem and suicidal heroes, damsels and witches and wolfmen and pirates who pray not only on Riverboats on but on weary land travelers forging homeward on these spooky and often deceivingly peaceful trace trails. If you dare step into this world of secret lore, you do so at your own risk. Nary a landlubber comes out the other side of this collection of horrid tales the same as when you innocently landed here. Go now, I bade you farewell ..... or read on, if.....you.....dare! Photo: Bynum Mounds. Not far from Witch Dance. Near Tupelo, MS Built over a 200 year period between around 100 B.C. and 100 A.D The original inhabitants of the area around Witch Dance were the Hopewell Indians. Later part of the Chickasaw, the Hopewell legends and folklore was likely responsible for much of the fear the later settlers would endure. The stories tell of a medicine stick and a white dog leading their ancestors to find their new home as they escaped an oppressive life in Mexico. Each night, the Indians planted the medicine stick in the ground, and each morning, checked to see which way it pointed. This was the direction they followed. Eventually, the group stopped here around Witch Dance. Their ancestors' bones were brought along on the trip by "bond bearers", and are a part of these mounds. The bones in these mounds could be several thousand years old.

Pannikin Plain Cave

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:38:05 -0600

The Movie "Sanctum" was mostly fiction, but the premise was based on fact. There was an actual diving party who were trapped in an underwater cave due to a storm blocking the entrance. It happened in 1988 at Pannikin Plains Cave. This lens explores some of the real facts and a little of the movie too. The area the cave is in is an area of Australia called "Nullarbor" We'll take a look at some of the interesting facts about the area too. Photo from "Sanctum"

Nature Gifts

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 22:12:04 -0600

Why give gifts from nature? Let me tell you a little story: A silent wood, stoic and cold, met a new path cutting through its forest. The path asked, ever so humbly, "May I make my way through here? I promise to be gentle, and to keep you unbroken." The wood stood, and said nothing. So the path continued on its way, slowly, gently, winding from one tree and around the next, taking special care to disturb as little as possible, yet clear enough so those who followed would not get lost in the cold and lonely wood. The wood stood, and said nothing. When the path had made it all the way through, it stopped and said "thank you, old wood. You are kind" And the wood stood, and bowed, and said nothing. Soon there were people on the path - People with many stories. The wood listened, and heard them all. Many of these stories were exciting and daring, but many, too, were sad. Once a little boy climbed the wood's smaller tree and sat for a while. The wood liked that. This new path was not bad for the wood. In fact, it was quite good. You see, the people make the wood not so cold, and not so lonely anymore. The wood stood, and I think I saw it smiling. kkay 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The merging of man and nature is sometimes a beautiful thing! Sharing gifts from nature is the perfect way to express love: both for the earth and for those you love. Photo: Five Fingers by Karen Kay

Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:26:51 -0600

My friends and I who grew up together during the 70's used to get together often for slumber parties. Halloween was a given, and we had a bunch of innocent games we used to play, such as flashlight tag and haunted house, and the obligatory "pick on the first one asleep", (which was always me... but they usually gave me a break because I threw such a duck fit!). Our favorite game though, by far, was "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board'. I had two friends who almost always took up the head, which meant they were the ones who had to come up with the story of the dead girl we were supposed to be calling on to help us lift our friend. (For the record, I always participated, but was too chicken to be the one being lifted) One of our friends whose name I will not mention out of respect for the dead, was one of the ones who usually took the head. This means she sat at the head of the girl being lifted and told the story. She was a very spiritual person and told some really spooky, and believable stories. She died in the late 90's. I still sometimes wonder if she did not have some clairvoyant tendencies. It is so ironic that she died so young, as she was the one who had the most convincing ghost stories. I wonder if she somehow knew of her fate and had contact with the other side, even as a young child. She did own a Ouija board, which we sometimes "played with", but honestly it was a bit freaky and we usually put it away fairly quickly. At any rate, my experience of playing this game are many and powerful. I hope you get as much enjoyment from this lens as I have writing about it.

Wishes For Christmas

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:24:38 -0600

When I started this lens in 2008,I did a little investigating and discovered some pretty powerful wishes, and common themes in what people wish for Christmas and during the Holidays. I have to say many wishes are really special. Many people's wishes reflected hard times, others have very specific wishes, mostly in the technology sector. Some were really heartfelt and personal. Even though Christmas comes around every year, I am still awed by the inspiration I find through the Holiday spirit that abounds during this time. Hope, Love, Peace. These things are timeless! 2009 trends were about people either staying home or spending more time at home, so I'm seeing "home" as a theme, and, a lot of buzz about Christmas Cards, both in the "getting" and the "giving" ideas. . 2010 was another lean year, and though people were shopping more, it was still for more budget-friendly items. Novelty gifts were popular, handmade gifts, and gifts of nature, or relating to nature, or "green" gifts. 2011 Is shaping up to be a combination of mod and vintage, silver/white & grayed blues mixed with traditional red and green, with jewel tones and peacock feathers thrown in for good measure. Sounds like quite a mix, actually, but the mood seems subdued, back to nature and less is more. It's not a sad theme but a less materialistic feel. Use the fushsia & blue for a little flair here and there. Cable knits are in, as are rough textures and imperfections. Driftwood, wire, earthy browns, raisin and plum will be on display in homes and shop windows everywhere. Gifts sure to be a hit in 2011 are the I-Pad 2, Nintendo 3DS, and Lego Ninjago. One of the smartest trends is buying decorations you can use after the holidays. In 2012, Christmas was a little out of whack for our family, with several challenges such as illness and a flood, a car wreck and other things, but overall, we survived with a bit of resolve to weather all things with a peaceful heart and respect for each other, gratitude for our health and ability to get through the crises. The tragic school shooting in Connecticut a couple of weeks before Christmas put us all in a bit of a somber and reflective mood, determined to love each other above all else. My favorite gift was a book by one of my late father's students - The Healing by Jonathan O'dell. This book is a real treasure and I highly recommend! 2013 was a year of change for our family. We lost my mother, and my son and oldest nephew started wanting more "grown up things" in the way of gift certificates or cash. There are TONS of ways to give gift cards it turns out. Some more expensive than others. It's almost (no it is) overwhelming! My wish list included an old fashioned boom box, my son wanted a bean bag chair, and my husband just wanted us all out of his hair. Seems like a throwback to the 70's! I enjoyed finding new ways to give, and am more thankful now for friends than ever.

HMS Bounty

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:45:19 -0600

There is something about a tale of the ocean, especially when it involves a tall ship with full crew, that calls to me. Perhaps is it the mystery of the sea, imagining the great depths below, unknown creatures who may be lurking nearby, or the potentially marvelous force of the waves, that makes the sight of a sailing ship on the far horizon seem somehow brave, yet lonely, and perhaps doomed too. As a little girl, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World both excited and frightened me. I still have a similar feeling when I see a tall ship: yet I also feel quite a bit of respect. So many things can go wrong on a ship. It takes someone of great courage to join a crew; one of incredible knowledge and skill to sail; and one of even greater character to effectively lead one. The 120 foot Square Rigger "Bounty" was built to stage a dramatic reenactment of her namesake's tale. Selfish men, along with those seeking adventure, and a crew of seasoned wayfarers made up the lot who set sail on the original HMS Bounty in 1789. She was a merchant vessel: commissioned by the Royal Navy to pick up and transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti to Jamaica. While her journey set out to be a fairly uneventful one, unbeknownst to her crew, they were all about to become legend. Image Source

Squidward Tentacles

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:04:41 -0600

"I am Squidward Tentacles and you better not mess with me"! Squidward, through his raucus shenanigans and gnashing of teeth, likes to come off as a tough guy, but his skinny limbs and awkward features just don't pull it off. He plays the clarinet, yet loves to hang out his tower window and shake his fist at Spongebog, not to mention the fact that he gives the poor guy even more trouble at the Crusty Crab where they both work. He's the "Grinch" of Bikini Bottom and you can count on him "learning his lesson" in nearly every episode. But he has a short memory. Soon he's always back to his same old grumpy self.

San Quentin

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:36:45 -0600

San Quentin is California's oldest and best known correctional institution. The prison today includes a reception center for new commitments, a parole violator unit, general population units, and a minimum security work crew unit. The state's only gas chamber and death row for all male condemned inmates are located at San Quentin. .....California Dept of Corrections There is a certain mystique surrounding San Quentin. Perhaps it is because it is the oldest California prison, operating since 1852 Tales abound from multiple famous prisoners, such as mass murderer Charles Manson, and country music legend Waylon Jennings. The prison compound is so huge, it has its own zip code. The entire facility includes a fire department, school, and working plants for inmates who receive 'on the job' training. While I am no fan of prison life, or gangs, or the death penalty for that matter, there is a lot of history here and I believe the story of San Quentin is a powerful one that needs to be told. Photo above titled "Duck escaping San Quentin State Prison" by Pepino1976 .....

Eleanor Rigby

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:48:40 -0600

Eleanor Rigby's fame is the direct result of a song of the same name by the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney, who actually took a while to settle down on the name "Eleanor Rigby". He came up with the name Eleanor from actress Eleanor Bron, with whom he had starred in the film Help!. Rigby came from the name of a store in Bristol, Rigby & Evens Ltd, Wine & Spirit Shippers. Our mythical and mystical Eleanor represents "All the Lonely People" everywhere. Thanks Paul and the Beatles for a legendary character. May we always remember her.

Knights who Rock!

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 22:24:26 -0600

Who gets the title of "Knight" and which ones are Musicians? How many of these are rockers? Are they all British? What are non-Brits who are given the honor called? It was these questions and more that prompted me to create this lens. In researching for it, I found out a lot of interesting tidbits. For instance, did you know that one famous rocker turned down the title? Who was it? What about the same honor for women? Knighthood, to me (an American) is mysterious and beautiful. I'm fascinated that this ancient title is still being used today. For me, it represents a real hero - someone who devotes their life to the good of their country, and in many cases, as it turns out, for the world. But is that really the criteria for knighthood today? I'm going to find out. Come along on my journey to discover what makes a musician a Knight in the 21st century (besides her Majesty the Queen, of course!)

The Mariana Trench

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:45:17 -0600

If you turned Mount Everest upside down, then went another mile deep, you'd be as deep as the Mariana Trench. It is not only the deepest part in the ocean, but the deepest part of the world! Until March 26th, 2012, when James Cameron made it to the deepest spot in the ocean, it had only been explored once by humans, more than 50 years before. In 1960 Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh went there in a fishing boat converted into a sea lab. The bathyscaphe, or "deep ship" (aka a free-diving self-propelled deep-sea submersible) was named Trieste. It was named after the city in which it was built, on the border between Italy and Yugoslavia. While the voyage was a great success, Piccard and Walsh's journey was never repeated until recently. For more than half a century, they remained the only humans to venture into these deep and dark waters. The environment was too toxic to risk further exploration until safer and more sophisticated equipment could be created. Unmanned journeys since theirs managed to shed more "light" on this dark and deep mysterious space. Now with Cameron's Deepsea Challenger vessel, man has gone there again. Stay tuned! See more in the news updates below!

Samurai Crab

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:33:57 -0600

It is nearly a millennia since the year 1185, when Japan is ruled officially by a young emperor named Antoku. Antoku, only 7 years old, is a beautiful boy with long flowing hair who possesses much wisdom beyond his years. His grandfather makes most of the decisions for him, and his grandmother, Lady Nii, serves him as his beloved nurse. Antoku and his family are part of the samurai clan Heike, and are engaged in a long and bloody war with another samurai clan, the Genji. The Heike are engaged in battle with the Genji at Danno-ura. The emperor and his clan are on board ship, and from signs shown to them by the way of the dolphin, now know that they face certain death. Samurai warrior tradition dictates in times like this to take their own lives rather than be captured. Antoku's grandmother takes him by the hand and leads him soflty into the sea, telling him "In the depths of the ocean is our capitol," Antoku and his Heiki clan brave death, leaving only a few women of the clan who are taken by the enemy. These women serve as ladies-in-waiting of the imperial court and are forced to sell flowers and other favors to the fishermen near the scene of the battle. Today the descendants of these women still celebrate this courageous battle at the Akama shrine, which contains the mausoleum of the devoted Emperor. Photo: Chieko_photo

Thanksgiving Blessings and Themes for your Table

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 22:47:40 -0600

We breeze right by it, sometimes, without much thought beforehand. Thanksgiving is too close to Christmas, too soon after Halloween, or whatever our excuse, it too often becomes little more than a big meal, and football game or two and Christmas shopping. We pull out the same ole (sometimes really tacky) stuff every year, and chalk up another holiday "done". Why not think a little outside the box this year? What can you do to spruce up perhaps the most dully decorated holiday of the year? And what are perhaps some different prayers of thanks we can say around the table? Here are a few ideas! Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your family's festivites for a fantastic Thanksgiving this year and always! Photo by Celesteh

Full Moon Halloween Decorations

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:14:53 -0600

Something about a full moon creates a fun and spooky atmosphere for Halloween decorating. Many of us, myself included, have a belief that some people tend to get a little crazy during a full moon. I remember when I used to work as an emergency psychiatric counselor, we and the rest of the emergency staff would dread full moons. It seemed like it really brought out the "crazy" in people. This, coincidentally, is where the word "lunatic" comes from. Having a few fun and scary full moon decorations around for your party or trick or treating really adds to the mystery of all that Halloween represents. A full moon which occurs on Halloween is rare, but we can create our own with a little help from others with that sinister creativity that only epic full moon fever sufferers can conjure up! Full Moons with Bats or with Witches on Broomsticks, Full Moons with black cats and ladders and crooked hats, Full moons in orange and eerie shades of gray, I hope to find the perfect one for you today. Maybe an Owl on a wicked tree, creating a silhouette of the Moon behind he. The wolf who howls in the night at the moon ~ what gives him desire for his soulful croon? Good full moon hunting! I hope I can help you add that perfect crazy touch with a fun full moon piece this Halloween. Be sure to stay sane, if you can! Image created for this lens by me (Karen L. Kay) from full moon pic by Claudio_ar

Sally Hemings

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:05:15 -0600

Sally Hemings was born to slave master and sea captain, John Wayles and his slave Elizabeth "Betty" Hemings. John Wayles died the year Sally was born. Sally's family then became the property of Thomas Jefferson. Sally's oldest son, Madison Hemmings, claimed that Thomas Jefferson is the father of Sally's children. This was further argued by Eugene Abram Foster, who conducted a prominent DNA study that linked descendants of Thomas Jefferson to Sally Hemings. The fact that her children were fathered by Thomas Jefferson is no longer really in dispute. It has been proven with dna. Now, the question seems to be whether or not their sexual encounters were consensual for Sally. Were they in love? Or did Jefferson give her no choice?

Michael Israel

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:09:20 -0600

"When I'm painting, it's like I'm transported to this place. I call it 'The Zone.' It's like Zen. Time stops." -- Michael Israel I've seen this kind of thing (Performance Painter art shows) done before, but not in such an exciting way! Michael Israel's performance art is very inspiring to watch! I'd say if you had to categorize his artwork it would be contemporary art, but that is minimizing the whole effect. I enjoy the process of watching the canvas begin to take shape, but getting to watch Michael artistically design the piece is just as much a part of the "art by Michael" as is the canvas art in the finished product. You own an experience - a memory of the speed painter, the jumping and moving painter, creating art in concert. Couple that with the music and his beautiful enthusiasm, and you are part of a really compelling and awe inspiring performance. I really appreciate that he is so willing to share so much of his talent on You Tube, and to create so many special works to create awareness and raise money for so many different causes. According to his biography, Michael spent so much of his time and talent during his early years giving to charitable causes, his studio went completely broke. With the help of some good people, he was back performing soon. I am proud to share this country with such a beautiful soul!

How to Make a Child's Teepee

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 11:13:57 -0600

I decided my nephews might enjoy a tee pee for Christmas this year. After checking with their dad to be sure it was a good idea, I started shopping around. There are some really creative and cute ones on the market, but the ones big enough for my two nephews were a bit over my budget. I started looking into how to build one, but the patterns and instructions I found were too complicated and time consuming for me, and cost nearly as much as the pre-built ones. What to do? I'll explain my simple solution and the materials involved in my easy to make and inexpensive (under $50) tee pee instructions right here! (All photos by me)

Broadcast From Mars

Sun, 27 Jul 2014 14:35:37 -0600

Reaching for Earth, a song.... beamed more than 300 million miles back to Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California Curiosity, NASA's Mars rover, became the first interplanetary DJ on Tuesday, August 28th, 2012 when it broadcast Will.I.Am's "Reach for the Stars" to Earth from Mars. The song's debut was on the grandest scale ever: A Solar System release! The release is part of NASA's efforts to educate students by engaging them in fun and exciting ways. By attracting and retaining students in Science and Technology, they hope to strengthen their own future workforce. Image Source: NASA.gov

The Polar Bear

Sun, 27 Jul 2014 11:03:19 -0600

When I joined the World Wildlife Fund, I got to "adopt" a Polar Bear. They sent me a little plush Polar Bear Cub - so cute! I guess I've always been a fan of these big fluffy white bears. They are so cool (ha!) with their pristine environment - all that white! Ice and Snow looks pretty inviting to this Southern Mississippi girl who knows little of snow and the only Ice I get is in my sweet tea! Maybe I like them because I'm a Coca Cola freak too. Their Polar Bear campaign might have sold me as much on Polar Bears as it did on Coke. I understand they're doing it again, this time for the Polar Bear's sake. Yay Coke! photo: FlickerFavorites

Bimini Road

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 20:44:33 -0600

In the search for the lost city of Atlantis, there are several sites which boast that the famed legend actually existed in their part of the world. One of these such places is the Bimini road. The Bimini road (or Bimini Highway, aka The Bimini Wall) is a 1600 foot length of large underwater stones precisely placed in the sea floor near Bimini, Bahamas, which some speculate could be the road to the ancient lost city of Atlantis. Whether this is true or not, the way the stones are laid out are certainly even enough to question whether they are naturally formed. If they are a natural occurrence, how did it happen that they are so perfect? If they are indeed man-made, where did they lead? Was Bimini once the city of Atlantis? If not where was the city? Did it exist at all? Let's take a look at what some of the experts say, and then come up with our own opinion. Atlantis may be a fantasy, or perhaps it was real. Either way, it's an interesting subject to explore. So let's! Shall we?

Age of Aquarius

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:47:52 -0600

If the age of Aquarius was "dawning" in the 1970's, then the sun is now squarely over the horizon. I invite you to take a couple of minutes to consider your new life as you transition from the age of Pisces to the age of Aquarius. This transition is overdue. In the words of President Barack Obama "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." January 20, 2009 44th Presidential Inaugural Address

Scrapbooking Gift Ideas

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 21:32:07 -0600

Whether you are a scrapbooker yourself or have a scrapbooker on your Christmas list, here are some perfect scrapbooking ideas for gift giving and gift getting! Do you love to scrapbook but don't have the time? I have an idea for you. You have tons of scrapbook stuff but have no idea what to do with it? I have an idea for you, too!

Haunted Antebellum Mansions

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:16:11 -0600

The Civil War was a real turning point in the history of the United States. While the war may have been fought for many good reasons, it is difficult to justify the horrors so many were forced to endure. The sheer terror of that time, the upheaval of so many families, the deaths, the fighting, were simply too much for some souls to bear. Brother against brother, father against son. There are so many deeply tragic stories that came out of that horrible time. What is left, now, a century and a half later, are scars that will never go away. Torn families that never uttered a word to their loved ones again. Vast mansions, homes and buildings burned to the ground. Dead and dying left in their wake. Voices which cry out in the dark and damp southern night. Even today, there are new tales of lost souls from that dark time in our history. Homes that survived have their own stories to tell. Soldiers never to find their way home. Lost children cannot find their mother. Freed slaves having nowhere to go, starving and separated from their families in a rush to survive flaming plantations. Fear and suffering for more than half of our nation, all within the space of a few years, took its toll on our Southern States. There is not an inch of southern soil not tainted somehow from those horrible years. In many ways, the south was never restored, and still reeks of death. What follows on this page are just a tidbit. A small sample, of some of the haunted southern mansions and other places in a haunted south, crying out for their voices to finally be heard. May our acknowledgement of their plight somehow allow these lost souls to find a way to rest in peace, at long last!

Tuvalu Island Nation

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 22:37:05 -0600

Water is Love, Water is life. Water is also choking the small island nation of Tuvalu. Every year the King Tides (high tides) are a little higher and seep into the lands and homes of the Tuvalu people a little more. This could be the last generation to live in Tuvalu. 11,000 people could be forced from their homes, if they survive at all. The country lies just below the equator in the Pacific Ocean and is made up of 9 small islands which average around 2 - 3 feet above sea level. The islands were built on coral, which is allowing ocean water to seep up through the ground in many places on the islands during King Tides. To "shore" up the islands would cost more than the small nation can afford. They do receive some help, but it is not enough. To add insult to injury, the precious fresh water Tuvalians need to survive is scarce. Their well water is contaminated with salt, and in 2011 they had a horrendous dry spell from the La Nina weather pattern. They had to declare a state of emergency, and even with aid could only allow each person less than one gallon of water per day (for everything: eating, bathing, etc). The island has it's own culture and has been part of our earth for thousands of years. The economy thrives generally on seamen who send home earnings and some on crops they grow, such as bananas and coconut, and on fishing. Salt water is ruining the ground as it seeps through and renders much of the land useless for farming. The people of Tuvalu did not participate in creating global warming, yet they are the ones suffering the most. This issue is being taken up with the United Nations' Human Rights Council. Let's hope there is still time to save the nation of Tuvalu.

About Downton Abbey

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 22:09:24 -0600

What's all the fuss over Downton Abbey? The British historical drama draws millions weekly, always leaving us wanting more! Is it historically accurate? Maybe, probably, but who cares? It's so much fun getting to be part of these "rich" characters' lives (and I do use the term loosely!); we don't worry too much if the dialogue matches the times. It is a work of fiction, but much of the plot falls around historical events. I believe the proper term is "Period Drama". I would hate for the Dowager Countess to call me out on that! In some ways, it seems completely ridiculous the way these aristocrats lived, yet we still get a feel for them personally and come to care about the challenges they face as they try to maintain airs in a turbulent and changing time. The servants' stories are exciting too, and we are as much involved with their lives as their employers. (Free Bates!) At times, it feels a bit soap-opera-ish, but that makes it more fun, too. Bad things happen to good people, and vice versa. In some ways, it could take place in our time, but the setting and the grandeur of the day really make it much more enticing. We cannot exactly put ourselves in anyone's shoes. We have to imagine. We may relate to this problem or that issue, but the Grantham - Crawley lives and those of their servants are completely foreign to many of us, especially those of us in the States who have succumbed to the draw of the Abbey!

How to Beat Winter Blues

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:58:40 -0600

By the time the hooplah of the holidays wears off, and we get settled into our new year routine, we sometimes find ourselves in a bit of a winter rut. These down moods are a bit easier to handle in warmer weather, but months of cold can take its toll, leaving many to suffer from a real condition known as seasonal affective disorder, or "S.A.D." for short. The only way to know for sure if you are suffering from "SAD" is to see a mental health professional. If you feel depressed for most of the day for more than a week or two, and there are no other underlying reasons, such as a death in the family, then I strongly recommend seeing a mental health professional or your own doctor. If you have any thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself or someone else, get to an emergency room immediately. On the other hand, if you're just a little down and out and getting "sick" of being shut in for the winter, here are some ideas to cope with those sinking feelings, and to perhaps cheer up those winter blahs. If you're wondering why I used a "Spring" theme for a "Winter" lens, then this is your first tip! The first thing to remember when feeling blue in winter is this: Spring is just around the corner! Photo credit: "Flower with snow hat" by Michael Law

Easy Digital Scrapbooking

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:36:17 -0600

I love scrapbooking but can never find the time to really do it like I want to. I also have tons of pictures on my computer that I have saved from my phone over the years, but not since my son was a little boy have I actually had any printed up of him. I recently needed to do a digital scrapbooking project for a slideshow at work, and decided to try it at home for fun. I was surprised how much stuff is available for free, and how much fun it can be. I am still very much a beginner, so I am sure there are many more resources out there, but I am happy to share what I have found. There is a free software I found that makes a great tool for creating your scrapbook pages. There are many more "pro" options available if you want to purchase the full version, but I have been able to get a great deal done without paying for anything. I must admit, however, that it is very tempting because a lot of the things they offer are adorable and pretty cheap. For now, though, I'm sticking with free. Using the software, I started with a premade layout at first, and added embellishments. For my next project, I got a little more brave and started with a plain textured background and did everything from scratch. I like how they turned out! There is a whole community around this particular software, and I am sure there are more out there to explore. I hope you find a little inspiration and get started on your own digital scrapbooking pages too. Be sure to share your links. I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Baby Seals

Wed, 29 May 2013 23:25:45 -0600

This is a baby Harp Seal. Isn't he cute? Once seal pups are born they only get a very little time with their Mom, just a few days, up to a couple of weeks for some species. Then she's off to go mate and begins to ween the pup. Sometimes the process is quite harsh and abrupt! The Harp Seal has one thing to his advantage - he develops a lovely and warm white coat soon after birth. The coat has a dual purpose: it protects him from predators by blending in with the ice, and it keeps him warm until he develops a full layer of blubber. At this point the cute little thing has still not taken his first swim in the ocean, or had a meal of solid food. He can barely scoot around on the ice. After a few days, this beautiful fur begins to molt. They only get to be this cute and cuddly for a few days of their lives! There is one big disadvantage to his beautiful coat: baby seals are hunted especially for it. While adult seals are considered "hunted" too, it is by far the baby seals the hunters are after. Harp Seals are the most sought after, but some other species are vulnerable too. Ribbon Seals were over hunted in the 19th century and are now listed as a "species of concern" , and Hooded Seals, who are often caught as "by catch" (in with gillnets for limpfish for example) are taken as pups or "bluebacks" for their beautiful blue-black fur. Now there is an even more urgent threat to our precious baby seals: Global Warming - they are drowning from lack of ice or getting crushed by broken ice chunks Photo credit: Kids4Seals.org

The Haunted Stanley Hotel

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:17:15 -0600

I love to read a good Stephen King novel, and even more, I love to watch a good movie made from his books. If a hotel is creepy enough to raise the hair on the back of Stephen King's neck, you can bet it's got to be a scary place! Even though King's novel "The Shining" is fiction, the inspiration for the book is a very real place. Now there are real ghost stories about the Stanley Hotel which are based on true fact. This lens explores some of those, as well as celebrates the story of "The Shining" and the incredibly frightening film based on the novel. Jack Nicholson was perfectly cast as the caretaker who lets the place scare him nutty. Just be careful you do not fall victim to his same fate! Beware the ghosts of The Stanley Hotel!

Wicked Witches

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:40:20 -0600

Where does the image of a "Wicked Witch" come from? What makes a Witch "Wicked"? Do real "wicked witches" even exist? It is the answers to these questions and more that let me to create this lens on the lore. Wicked Witches - the Epithet A Witch, a Hag, Pointy Hat, in rags, Travels on broomsticks and conjures up spirits With mysterious potions, and harrowing motions And all of her pomp and debauchery Seems only to foil and trip on her seams In every fairy tale we glean Our Wicked Witches are green and scary their long bony fingers frighteningly hairy With big ugly noses and warts they tarry And cackle more awful than moaning black cats As if nothing could really sound much worse than that They cast magic spells and the stories they tell Put kids in a trance so they dream the black hat In the end wicked witches fear not - but they should, For their "wicked" is weak as their empty black hood kkay - October 2010 Photo: Crone by R2K

Brown Pelicans and the Gulf Oil Spill

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:53:29 -0600

There is something about a Pelican I have always admired. The way they fly so gracefully, expressionless, yet somehow poetic too. When the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico news came out, I was immediately concerned about the birds. Having seen all the horrible slicked birds from the Exxon Valdeez oil spill years ago, I remembered how heartbreaking it is to see these beautiful animals so helpless. The Brown Pelican was affected pretty harshly in the Gulf Oil Spill, and though their numbers have been improving, the bird already faces years of dwindling habitat from the erosion of the coastlines, especially in Louisiana where the oil hit the worst. I was raised in South Mississippi and remember growing up the ongoing efforts to save coastal wildlife, namely the Least Tern nesting areas on the Gulf Coast beaches. It is not new to me to be concerned about ocean birds. What's new is the horror is more real with the latest oil spill hitting so close to home. My friends are affected. These are spots we all like to visit. It's not okay for tar balls to wash up on our beautiful beaches. I am not really interested, however, in bashing anybody. It was an unfortunate accident and I hope we all learn from it. Here are ways to help our birds, and to help educate our future leaders so that they can make more informed decisions. During the disaster, which seemed to go on forever, I wrote this about my poor Brown Pelican Friends: I am Brown Pelican. I live peacefully in southern coastal waters. I hunt fish with my piercing eagle eyes and large bowl of a bill. I can sit, stoic, on dock posts for hours. I am Digesting. I am Observing. I see quite a lot. I see ships and boats and dolphins and planes. I see storms and heat and magnanimous sunsets. I am Brown Pelican. I am key chains and T shirts and vacation packed memories. I soar as I hunt, my great feathered wings hovering inches from water. I feel the foam of the sea. I feel the mist in my face. I see my pray. I dive. I am Brown Pelican. ... I feel so heavy. I sting. I sting! I can barely move or breathe. I am caught in something thick. Now I cannot move. I am hungry. I am weak. I am Brown Pelican. I am Brown. I am. I.

7 Wonders of Nature

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:33:14 -0600

There can never be too much celebration of the natural wonders of the world! These newest selections were voted on, and some locals campaigned heavily to win. Still, I cannot help but agree that these are indeed 7 awesome natural wonders of our incredible planet. The competition was tough, and I admit I have a few favorites who didn't win. (I think I may sneak them in to this lens anyway... as my personal honorable mentions) Taking a close look at each of the chosen wonders and some of my other favs, I hope you'll talk up your favorite picks too! I want to keep those original 7 in the loop as well, so we'll take a look at what started the whole process too! Photo: Iguazu Falls by Luiz Henrique Assun��o

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:17:52 -0600

Vodden came to the attention of John Lennon when the Beatles' four year old son Julian came home from school one day with a drawing that he said was "Lucy in the sky with diamonds." Lucy was one of Julian's classmates. The elder Lennon turned it into a psychedelic masterpiece recorded by the Beatles, and later by Elton John. Many bands have covered the song. This is the Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes.... Unfortunately Ms Vodden passed away this month after a brave and long fight with Lupus. It was in hearing about her death that I found out who she was. Apparently she was quite private about the whole Lucy in the Sky ordeal and never sought attention for her link to Julian and John Lennon.

Tonto Kemosabe

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 21:41:42 -0600

Maybe it's the smidgen of Indian blood running through my veins, the bit of my heritage that has always eluded me in my genealogical research, but I've always been fond of the American Indian. The elusive "true" history of America remains so much a mystery to me. I know, deep in my bones, that the American Indian gave us so much more than they are given credit for. For so many years, and really, in the beginning of the Lone Ranger series, Indians were treated as second class. But my introduction to Tonto was when I was in high school, at an impressionable age, was with the movie "The Legend of the Lone Ranger", where I totally fell in love with Tonto from then on. He was so strong, yet gentle. I knew he was a hero I could trust. Don't get me wrong, the Lone Ranger is pretty awesome too, but it was Tonto who sent me home thinking I could fly on a horse and all things were possible to those with an honorable heart. Those were the days when even a kid could afford to go to the movies simply on allowance money. I went with my best friend, who loved the movie too, but was more enamored with the hero than with his sidekick. The Lone Ranger and Tonto, while representing a short time in American History, share a story that never really grows old. It's part old west, part lawman justice, and partly just the purity of a true heart who wants to do the right thing. Welcome to my page honoring the first American Indian hero as depicted for the good man he was... a true friend and faithful scout - Kemosabe! Image: Jay Silverheels, the original Tonto, rides Scout

Last American Hitchhiker

Sun, 12 May 2013 00:06:47 -0600

Does anybody hitchhike anymore? Hitch hiking was popular in the 60's and 70's: even in the 50's, one of my Mom's friends hitchhiked to my parents' wedding. Hitchhiking fell out of style and became taboo in the later years of the 20th century, but the bad press and nut jobs who gave the genre the heebie jeebies never foretold the secret weapon of a rebounding nation - Mark "Eyeball" Kneeskern, who has literally re-written the book on the hitchhiking experience of the new millennium. The Last Hitchhiker - Tales of Wander is exactly what it does not sound like: a humorous, helpful, sometimes even spiritual guide book / meditative reflection of a hitch hiker who hitches for pure pleasure. For Mark, the joy is in the going, not necessarily (but yeah, sometimes) in the getting there. He is all over the American West. Mark is an artist and photographer, so his view is always a bit creative, which comes through in his writing with a fresh and off-the-cuff style, leaving me often thinking "did he really just say that?". I'd give an example, but feel like it would be a spoiler. I'll just say this: you might develop an deeper appreciation for owls and rainbows. The real surprise and joy in the experience, I think, seems to be Mark's take on the people who pick him up. There does not seem to be anything typical about them - they are not predictable, and not always friendly, but quite often, they are downright fascinating! He does not hold back, either. I even feel a little sorry for some of those folks who picked him up, if anybody ever recognized him in the book. Careful, you could be reading about your own self: Figuratively, any way. all photos by Mark Eyeball Kneeskern: Used with permission

Tent Cities in America

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:31:01 -0600

This is the most desperate our citizens have been since the great depression. Tent cities are springing up everywhere. People are simply not able to support themselves right now. What are we doing about it? I am seeing a lot of blame, but is that really helping? Do we really think it is helping these people to make it a poltical issue? It is a humanitarian issue. Let's get down there and help our neighbors, folks. If a group needs to camp in the property adjacent to your neighborhood and they politely ask you and you say it is okay, do not call the city and complain the next day. If someone less fortunate than ourselves is not the right "religion" or of the political affiliation that you approve of, please do not turn your back on them. If you have extra food in your pantry, share it. If you have an extra dollar in your wallet, give it. This is not the time to be divisive, America. This is the time to come together. We need each other more now than ever. There is no more time for bickering. Save the arguments for when the house is not burning down. Let us not throw fire on fire. Let's put this baby out. Let's end homelessness in America now!

Searching for Amelia Earhart

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:43:19 -0600

The Femme Fatale of Aviation, Amelia Earhart, crashed the plane she called "The Flying Laboratory" into the sea while on her last leg of a trip to circumnavigate the world. Where exactly did her plane crash? What were her last days, moments of life like? In the 70 plus Years since she went missing, researchers have proposed several very different theories as to what might have happened to Earnhart and her plane. From prisoner to castaway, each one seems to contain some grain of evidence to support it. Let's take our own look at some of these ideas, and explore the seas of the Pacific ourselves to see if we can solve the mystery of the disappearance of Amelia.

Ancient Alexandria

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:24:18 -0600

For hundreds of years, the city of Alexandria was the golden capital of Greece. Bearing one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World as her beacon to sailors for a hundred miles, the Lighthouse of Alexandria on Pharos, she was a haven for fishermen, Hebrews, Greeks and their gods. Before the discovery and development of the city by Alexander the Great, the area was the village of Rhakotis. It was likely a fishing village, but the significance of Rhakotis is the subject of some debate. While the Greek claim the city as historically "Greek", there is evidence it may have more of an Egyptian history prior to Greek rule, as the city of Rhakotis. After the fall of Greece, the furthermost point of the city, which had been the quarters of Cleopatra VII, gradually fell into the sea. A series of earthquakes and tidal waves left this entire section of the city underwater, where it lay for many centuries. Only in recent years have the remains been explored.

Running Barefoot for a Cause

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:25:01 -0600

Having experienced bouts of homelessness himself as a teen, Tellman Knudson, a very successful and popular internet marketer, is raising $100,000,000 to combat youth homelessness by being the first person ever to run across America in his bare feet! Tellman left Battery Park in New York City on Sept. 9, 2009 in hopes to reach the Santa Monica Pier in 99 days. The purpose of this lens is to promote Tellman's Cause and to help him get the word out. Please go to his site to contribute! The "Run Tellman Run" title came from Tom Hanks' movie "Forest Gump". Tellman says people kept joking with him and saying "Run Tellman, Run", so decided to make it official! UPDATE: Rae Heim, a philanthropic young runner, has made it all the way across America running barefoot for her cause: Soul2Soul. See more on her phenomenal story below!

Whale Songs

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:20:48 -0600

Much of the water of the oceans is murky. Even when it is not, it is difficult to see underwater, especially for mammals. Imagine, being the largest mammal to ever breathe on our planet, and having to swim through the ocean with such limited visibility. Now, add to that, you have no external ear. Your do not really "hear" like humans, but instead detect sound waves via a fat pad between your mandible and middle ear. This "inner ear" is how you navigate the waters of the ocean. By using clicking noises, you create a sound which bounces off obstacles in your path. This is a talent you have perfected over millions of years. It allows you to soar through the oceans at great speed and confidence. Baleen whales, generally larger than toothed whales, have vocal chords and are the whales we think of as "singing". Most scientists agree the songs are for mating. However, it is not clear why some sing when no mating activity is involved. These gentle and romantic giants have so much to teach us, and we are only beginning to be able to decipher their song. Photo: Humpback Whales in the Singing Position

Whale Wars

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:10:11 -0600

All aboard the Steve Irwin (and now, the Bob Barker!) "Whale Wars" TV show captures the conflict between Paul Watson's "Sea Shepherds" and the Japanese Whaling Industry. Paul Watson and his crew take viewers of the Whale Wars Show through the whaling season revealing strategies to foil the much larger Japanese fleet. They throw bottles of a stinky concoction that taints the whale meat onto the vessel that prepares and packages the meat whenever possible, as well as use various methods to foul up their ships' propellers. It is quite an intricate and risky operation. The show is very exciting, no matter which side you are on. Occasionally they do show a glimpse of whale pods, which is breathtaking, and also of whales being killed, which is sometimes difficult to watch. Whaling was widely accepted once upon a timeWhale oil used to be the fuel widely used to light lamps, as well as keeping machines "well oiled". Baleen, which is another word for the bone of the whale, was used to make parasols and hoopskirts for ladies' dresses. Back then, Whales were not thought of as animals with feelings. The supply of Whales and the comodities they provided seemed limitless — then these great animals started to disappear. But Why Hunt Wales these days? Since petroleum has replaced the need for whale oil, humans no longer need whale meat. In addition, we now know much more about whale intelligence and their social habits. Another factor to consider is that it takes several minutes of suffering for a whale to die when they are harpooned (if not killed instantly). A Gallup poll in 2006 claimed that "83 percent of Japanese had not eaten whale in long time" if ever. The whale-watching industry is doing quite well, which is proof that millions would rather see living whales. Source: "The Whale Debate" Discovery Channel http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/whale-wars/have-your-say/controversy/

Living the Pirate Lifestyle

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 18:22:42 -0600

Onboard Living! Captain Rob Lee, his wife Cheri, and their son Jonathan have been living aboard their sailboat, the sv Bella Rose, since August of 2005. They offer a wealth of resources on how to get started living aboard, as well as some fun pictures and antecdotes. Rob has written numerous resources on living the "pirate lifestyle" as he calls it, as well as how to begin living "off the grid". The trawler pictured here belongs to an 80 year old woman named Mo and her dog Honey. Mo and Honey cruise full time by themselves!

Curse of the Hope Diamond

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:40:04 -0600

It was long ago, more than three hundred years, when this large and mysterious blue-gray diamond was found. A billion years in the making and thrown from the earth through a volcano, it was gradually moved with sediment along the Krishna river, and settled with other diamonds in the Kollur mine near Golconda, India. Exactly how she was found is the subject of some debate. The first to own the diamond that we know of, Mr Jean Baptiste Tavernier, either purchased the diamond from the mine or, as some of the legends say, plucked it from the eye of a statue of the Hindu Goddess Sita. Photo from Thief of Bagdad The same Goddess legend tells us Mr Tavernier was killed by a pack of wild dogs too. We know that didn't happen. So, even the early history of the "Tavernier Blue", as it was called then, is cloaked in mystery. This lens is a compilation of some of these wild stories, embellished a little here and there to make them more ghoulish for our Halloween fun. Some of these events actually happened. I will leave that for you, dear reader, to decide! Title Image courtesy Smithsonian.edu

Martha Giffen

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 08:05:16 -0600

Really Martha does not need an introduction for most of you. She is becoming quite the buzz in internet marketing circles these days. I first met Martha on a forum, then in person at a seminar in May of 2009. It is my honor to present her Squid Who lens! Martha grew up in Jackson, TN and still retains that southern “Small-town” charm. She and her husband have lived in the Shelby County/ Birmingham Alabama area for more than 20 years, where they raised their three boys. Aside from caring for her family, Martha has been involved in volunteer legal services, sold real estate, and completed her law degree before discovering her true calling as an internet marketer in 2008. Martha authors two blogs: Think and Motivate and MarthaGiffen.com . She is also a very active social networker, especially on Twitter (@marthagiffen),

Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

Fri, 03 Jan 2014 22:22:43 -0600

Why the lyrics seemed to speak to me I do not know. I had no idea, as a young teen, what the heck the "dogs of society" were or in fact why they would howl. I didn't know what Elton John meant about "goin' back to my plow", at least how it related to the "owl in the woods". But whatever the reason, I sang along to that song and the rest on this delicious album until it became my personal set of anthems. It was my secret escape. Aside from the title song, which is the absolute best, I loved "Candle in the wind" too. It was about Marilyn Monroe (later revised to honor Lady Di after her death.... it's kind of ironic that the album starts out with "Funeral for a Friend"...did he know?). I could relate to this one. As one who had incredible hopeless crushes on boys who didn't even know me. I could feel that pain, of watching and loving from a distance. Bernie Taupin was the lyric man, and Elton John the music man. These two were such a perfect pair. It's so rare - a perfect collaboration such as theirs. This album may be their best. It's probably a double album because they just could not stop their creative flow! The introduction to "Funeral for a Friend" rises from some dark soulless place to a heart on fire. Once you're a couple of minutes in, the album has you hooked. It is absolutely one of those that must be "experienced" as an entire album, rather than one song at a time. The transitions are as impressive as the songs themselves. Bennie..... Bennie Bennie Bennie Bennie.... and the Jeh eh ets. Jeh eh ets. I wish I could write how it really sounds. The thing to do, really, is to give it a good listen. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

Summer Camping in the Deep South

Sat, 29 Jun 2013 15:55:10 -0600

There was a time in my life when I actually did go camping in the summer, and looked forward to it every year. Now, my son has started doing the same. I am really thankful he gets to experience the joy of camping, but I am having a hard time remembering why I loved it so much. I think it had to be the people, because the weather was always so miserably hot! If you plan on going camping anywhere from Louisiana to Georgia in the Summertime, plan on it to be hot. It's not that "dry heat" like you get out west, either. It's humid and hot and sticky and, well, in a word, uncomfortable. But young people and kids and the adults who go with them do camp in it, and for that, I must give them my full jaw dropping awe. If you do plan to send your kid off to camp in the deep south, or you plan to go yourself, there are some things I can help you with to make that experience a little more bearable - to the point that it might actually even be enjoyable! Just to clarify, "deep south" -that's the southeastern portion of the United States way further down than just "below the Mason-Dixon line" - we're talkin' swamp country and alligators and snakes and everything else that thrives on or around sea level - from the Arkansas Delta country down to East Texas - over to Louisiana, Mississippi, some of the southernmost portions of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. No Blue Ridge mountains can be found in the deep south. We do have plenty of good stuff to be proud of in the deep south outdoors, but just in case you come down here expectin' somethin' different, I must warn you: it is hot! Photo: My son on last day of Boy Scout camp in Mississippi, 2013

Perfect Christmas Eve Gifts

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:23:54 -0600

Our family follows the popular tradition of the "Christmas Eve Gift" shared by many across the world. All children get one present on Christmas Eve, and the one who says "Christmas Eve Gift" first prompts the opening of the gifts. Nearly every year growing up, the oldest of our cousins remembered first, but I think we might have had a year or two in there where we got to them first! Some popular Christmas Eve gifts are Pajamas, especially for little kids. Christmas Journals are fun for teenage girls, and Boys like novelty T-shirts and caps to wear and act goofy in front of the camera with. We started a tradition of getting a Nutcracker every year, with the idea of having a "collection" for our son, but he's worn them out playing with them so much. So his Nutracker gift on Christmas Eve is usually a replacement for the poor fella that bit the dust last year! Oh well, as long as he has fun! They are toys after all! Christmas is meant to be enjoyed! So let's celebrate a little early with some of these special Christmas Eve Gift finds!

The Kraken

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:47:14 -0600

Perhaps you have heard tales of the Kraken, a giant sea-monster from northern seas, a colossal octopus who feeds on ships and whales... and men. Maybe you saw the vivid depiction of the Kraken in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie "Deadman's Chest". Maybe you heard tales of the mythological monster of the sea, who was sometimes mistaken for an island, and the deadly whirlpools he leaves in his wake. Or perhaps it might have even been the "Whale" who ate Jonah! Or did you sea the Kraken unleashed in "Clash of the Titans"? Well now. Let me tell you this! The Kraken is no longer a myth to some modern day scientists. Studied extensively in recent years, there now seems to be physical evidence that the monster did in fact exist! How so? Not from evidence of his own demise, but from the fossils of his prey.

Vinyl Record Albums

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 20:36:36 -0600

I am not generally someone who gets too attached to material things. I have had periods of nostalgia, when I might have "thought" I would want to keep something, but generally most stuff I acquire eventually gets tossed or finds a quiet corner somewhere to collect dust. I can't say the same, however, about my old album collection. These were real treasures, which I thumbed through and listened to frequently, and carried with me from home to college and points beyond from one move to the next in a combination of old milk crates and one larger wooden crate whose structural integrity got a little shakier with every new location. Sadly, the compact disc gradually won over vinyl, and when it came time to replace my stereo, I could not find one with a turntable. I kept the albums for a few more years, through a few more moves, but finally decided they were taking up too much space to justify keeping, and I would probably never be able to play them again anyway. So, I sold them at a yard sale, the whole 200 plus, in one lot to one buyer for about 50 bucks. This was in the early 90's. I immediately regretted it, and have been secretly pining for my old records ever since. Only a few years later, I met someone who did have some old records and a turntable and the old hurt came back in spades as I listened to the familiar syrupy-rich sound of analog in stereo fill up the whole house. I still don't have a turntable, but I have been slowly collecting old LP records here and there anyway. I think I have about 30 or so now. I know I will never get all the ones back I sold (or pretty much gave away) that day, but I'm still happy to see such resurgence in vinyl records. Now, many music artists are even releasing their new stuff on vinyl! I know why I love old vinyl LP's, but why are so many others - even kids who grew up on iPods - buying vinyl now? I've done a little digging to find out, and the answers are a little surprising to me. Photo: a couple of albums from my collection - the inside cover from Cat Stevens' Teaser and the Firecat and award winning cover of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass' Whipped Cream and Other Delights

Russian Atlantis

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:25:27 -0600

Not to be confused with Space Shuttle Atlantis, Russian Atlantis is an actual place on earth: buried beneath the Black Sea off the Taman Peninsula. Under the waters lie a portion of the ancient Greek city of Phanagoria. Once a thriving trade community, The submerged ruins contain artifacts from as early as 350 B.C. The area has been Made a bit more famous in recent times because Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has spent time diving there, and found some pieces of ancient urns from among the ruins. Putin is hoping to help the Russian Geographic Society with publicity for the Phangoria Project: An Archaeological restoration of the area.

Endeavour's Final Flight

Sat, 09 Nov 2013 17:20:52 -0600

There are times in our lives we remember well: certain days of significance, both good and bad. But I do not really mean times, or days - more like mere moments: a few seconds perhaps, when we are part of a happening. Emotions associated with these happenings are so intense, and the memory seared into our brain with such clarity, that we can remember even insignificant details of that day. We replay in our mind the minutes leading up to the happening, the event itself, and the fleeting and floating aftermath of the associated adrenaline rush. Like a recurrent dream we can never quite wake from, the reality sits with us, becomes part of us, and in some way, we are forever changed. Most of these events are personal to us. But sometimes, they affect the entire nation. These events bring us together and carve out a slice of Americana which embeds itself into our culture like a tapestry trying to reshape itself. Days later, the new is old and the event slides into history, yet we stay mindful of the vulnerability and goodness of people that such things bring out. The death of a sitting President will do this (think Franklin Delano Roosevelt & John F Kennedy) or a civil rights leader slain in his prime (Martin Luther King, Jr.) as will horrific events (the explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger, or 9.11). Most of us old enough to remember any of these happenings can tell you exactly what was going on in our worlds at that precise moment. Yet, these events were tragic, and along with National Pride, their memories invoke feelings of sadness, shock, or even fear. In the fall of 2012, NASA, in its transition to boldly go where no man has gone before, (and in the process, retire the Space Shuttle Program) created such an event on a happier vibe as it toured Space Shuttle Endeavour on piggy-back of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Over two days, Endeavour gracefully crisscrossed Southern and Southwestern United States as she made her way from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Los Angeles International Airport (She stayed parked at LAX for a few weeks to prepare for her last leg of the trip to the California Science Center). Only this was not just one moment in time, but many moments, with a direct impact on many people. The kids who got to see Endeavour flying low over their heads will certainly remember the moment just as strongly as we remember 9.11, and perhaps with even more gusto - because this was no tour of grief and sadness, but a joyous ride and a fond farewell: a stepping stone to higher ground and an incredible journey of gratitude for a job well done all along her way. Photo: NASA

Hurricane Safety tips

Thu, 30 May 2013 00:49:49 -0600

For those of us who live in hurricane or cyclone prone areas, the weather forecast can sometimes be a little scary, especially when we start seeing satellite images of swirling clouds! In the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, and especially in the Gulf of Mexico, we see plenty of tropical storms and hurricanes every year, mostly in the latter months of summer and early fall. I live a couple of hours from the coast of Mississippi, and have survived quite a few hurricanes in my lifetime, including Camille and Katrina. The most vivid memories of stress involve some small thing related to something we forgot in preparing for the storm. Hopefully, my experience can help you to be sure you have everything you need and get everything done you need to do to safely weather the storm. We're not just talking about safety though. There are other things to consider that can get you through the experience much more comfortable and with less stress. Many of the injuries and deaths from these types of disasters can be avoided with proper planning and by following the advice of your community leaders. Image source: Public Domain Images

Neshoba County Fair

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 12:02:54 -0600

It is quite possible that the epitome of Southern Style manifests itself every Hot end of July as the Neshoba County Fair. Deep in the heart of the heat of the summer and the Mississippi Delta, Neshoba county hosts a one of a kind extravaganza, loosely qualifying itself as a county fair, but more accurately, the political (and quite eclectic?) event of the year and the social currency of real life living.... the Neshoba County Fair. If you are anybody worth your salt in these parts, you have access to one of the highly prized real estate (during the last week of July anyway) of one of the little bungalow cabins that line the fairway, fully equipped with air conditioning and all the regalia involved with indoor partying at a supposedly outdoor event. If you know anything about Mississippi in the summer, you know the heat is absolutely unbearable, and what used to be a sippin' iced tea on the porch affair is now a kitchen table brew ha ha, albeit in the midst of the most anticipated annual gathering, in at least the northern section of the most southern-ish southern state. Let's take a look at what makes the Neshoba County Fair such a big deal.

The Ironed Out Diva

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 21:01:58 -0600

I just want to let you know, those of you who perhaps might need a lift, a gift, a boost in confidence, that even if you have nothing, are penniless, homeless, whatever, there is a way to get to the seminar you need to get to. I did it, and I want to share with you exactly how I did it, so that you can do it too! By calling myself the "Ironed Out Diva" and selling spots on my shirts to wear at the seminar I wanted to attend, I attracted a lot of attention and publicity for my sponsors! It was fun and effective. Good energy all around! Some of my friends and followers have really taken the ball and run with it to create their own version of living the dream. One dream at a time, I say, and you will make it happen. Focus on one dream. Just one. And then really focus on that. I will show you how!

Grand Central Terminal

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:03:32 -0600

The Grand Central Terminal in New York City has now been in use for more than 100 years. Most of us mistakenly call it Grand Central Station, but it is technically a terminal, because it is at the beginning of the Metro North Railroad. The iconic homage to the era of heavy rail, which, even though its intended purpose was mostly lost to automobiles and buses and subways - still stands today, largely because of the historical attraction that it has become. Jackie Kennedy-Onassis with the help of the Municipal Art Society of New York, spearheaded a campaign to save it from demise in the 1970s, and Grand Central was transformed to the marble mecca of fabulous-ness it is today thanks to a major remodeling and clean up project in the 1990's. The terminal is still in use - both as a start/end point for commuters on the Metro North Railroad and for subway riders taking the grand central line. But it is much more than a train station or subway stop. Aside from the incredible work of architectural genius that it is, the terminal is loaded with fun facts and phenomena (secret passages, whispering walls), is a shopping experience beyond no other and it provides public space of huge proportions, both for spontaneous events (think "flash mob") and for tourists and weary travelers (and, yes - homeless) to stop and rest a spell. I remember my first time there. I was in my early twenties with a group from college on spring break. We took the subway with all our luggage to Grand Central Terminal so we could re-group and figure out where we were going from there. With my little group of young southerners, clueless, in this huge world of marble and awe - I felt humbled and excited and somehow other-worldly at the same time. Everybody seemed so sure of themselves. Even the homeless seemed to have an edge. Lost in the city, Grand Central Terminal was like a giant protective umbrella of stone. "if you can stand beneath my walls, I will help you get to where you need to go" it seemed to say to me.

James Cameron's Environmental Crusade

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 00:01:24 -0600

Of course the ocean is not a new subject for James Cameron. He is responsible for the biggest blockbuster movie yet about the demise of the "unsinkable" Titanic. But Cameron was only testing the waters with Titanic. He's way more serious about saving our blue planet than exposing the general public to an unforgiving iceberg. (Nature always trumps technology, Y'all!) Cameron is serious about his passion for the resources of our delicate world, and our oceans, which cover more than 70% of our precious Earth's surface. We know so little, in retrospect, about most of the world we inhabit. Cameron takes advantage of that, and seeks to change it. The deep is front and center as he delves further into the abyss with the creation of a story and creatures for Avatar 2. No one has ventured to the deepest depths of the ocean since the Bathyscape Trieste delved down to Challenger Deep in 1960, but Cameron is game for the venue - in search of mystical characters and an alien-like setting appropriate enough to take on the continued story of Pandora. In the process, the ocean gets more attention and hopefully closer to healing. Photo by Jurvetson

The Death of Gracie Brown

Fri, 31 May 2013 01:15:33 -0600

A young and lovely factory worker, Grace Brown was in a serious romantic relationship with Chester Gillette. Gillette was seeing other women, while the kind and reserved Gracie was faithful to Gillette. After they had been seeing each other for some time, Ms Brown became pregnant. Gillette had no intention of marrying Ms Brown, but fooled her into thinking he would. It was while on a trip to the Adirondacks when they were supposedly going to Marry that the tragedy happened. Ms Brown and Gillette were on a boat ride on Moose Lake when their boat capsized and Ms Brown drowned. Gillette was later tried and put to death for her murder. There have been many reports of sightings at the lake of the ghost of Gracie. Some as recent as 1988 tell of a great sadness about her. It is as if her soul is forever trapped at Moose lake because of the circumstances surrounding her death.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Fri, 31 May 2013 01:12:02 -0600

I first learned of Ms Kubler-Ross from her book, "On Death and Dying" which was an integral part of my study in social work at the University of Southern Mississippi back in the 1980's. Her 5 stages of grief, we learned were about much more than the loss of a loved one in the physical sense. We learned that "grief" has many faces, and dying, many meanings. I have appreciated this wisdom throughout my life, and used it over and over both in my professional and personal experience. I am thankful she left such a strong legacy for women, and hope many generations to come, both men and women, continue to benefit from her work.

Healing Songs

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:01:30 -0600

I am 12 years old again, sitting on green shag carpet in my bedroom, turning up the volume on my Sears stereo and pulling on my headphones as I enter the alternate and glorious musical universe of my preteen world - when dreams were bigger and boys were cuter and every note, every lyric of my favorite album, Queen II, was infused with a secret I was sure meant only for me. It was my privilege to decipher every bit of it, so I replayed and memorized it all with much delight. Nearly 40 years later I still remember every line of that album, and occasionally something will remind me of one of those songs. The feelings it brings back along with the memories are precious treasures. My first goal in life as I prepared for the real world was to be a music therapist. It did not exactly work out, but I did become a social worker and for a while, working with mentally disabled elderly, I found a place for music. During these Oldies Sing-along’s, I saw smiles and expressions of youthful fervor I witnessed no other times on the faces of my charges. Many of them knew the words better than I did, and would share memories quite freely when prompted with music. To the kid in everyone: I hope you get the chance to have that song that brings up memories that make you feel an innocent joy like nothing else. I hope the feeling of floating in air, shared memories with friends and family, and knowing all the words as you loudly sing always tickles your heart and puts big smiles on your lips, and with a sweet sigh of gratitude I wish for you the lovely surprises a musical life brings. Music can do all this. A song can elevate a mood faster than ice cream, funny jokes, or a trip to the candy store. While the song may not be the same, the experience of remembering a song, is universal. If it effected us then, it still effects us now. That boost in serotonin might be the thing that saves you: Gets you up if you’re stuck in a rut - Helps you back on your feet when you’re down and out. Or it might be the thing that heals whole cities. Photo Credit: Music4Life

The Mysterious Crow

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:26:59 -0600

Over the past couple of years I have had to re-think my thinking on these clever birds. I used to think of them as annoying, dirty, and even a bit scary. I never thought of them as smart or social, or as a species of bird I particularly cared about. In fact, I never thought much about them at all. I am a (very) amateur bird watcher, so to say I didn't care much for crows is kind of rude. All of that has changed now. I hope to convince others who don't care much for crows to join me in my new-found appreciation for the crow. I had a friend a few years back who had a thing about crows. I guess I just thought he was nuts. Now, though, I see he had the right idea. These fascinating birds are growing in numbers, and it largely has to do with their ability to adapt, especially to the increasing urban population. Turns out, they love to be around people. As they adapt more and more to the human environment, we learn more about them. For instance, did you know that one population of this clever bird in Israel has learned to use bread crumbs to bait fish? What really got me interested in learning more about their behavior was a TED talk by Joshua Klein, where he describes his creating a Crow Vending Machine! For real! I thought, if they can do that, what else might they do? Image Credit: Torresian Crow

Mal's St Paddy's Day Parade and the Sweet Potato Queens

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:40:42 -0600

You might have heard about the crazy St Paddy's day parade we have every year down in Jackson, MS. If not, the big stars are the Sweet Pototo Queens (left) and their millions (okay thousands) of adoring fans called "wannabees". I will let you read more about the queens on their site so I don't get slapped (they're pretty particular....because they can be!) just go read about them here The whole thing is nuts but it is a hoot too and that makes for quite a party! Women and their "Spud Studs" get to dress all out in sequins and bling, and act like queens for a good cause - the Blair E Batson Hospital for Children. Jill Conner Browne is a humorous and fun-loving person who has written several best selling books. She likes to say "More is More" and she and her SPQ organization get more hilarious and fun every year! Jill's story is funny but there is a serious note to it. She knew down in her heart she would be successful when she got to do what she loved, which is to write in her own southern humorous style. She is a great example of how "doing what you love" is a true avenue to success. Update 3/21/2010 Jill Conner Browne announced that the SPQ's will have their own parade starting in 2011! Huge news! They have grown so much that the parade must go on without them. Wow! Update 10/1/10 The SPQ "Million Queen March" weekend will begin Wednesday, March 23 and conclude Sunday, March 27, 2011. Most of the events will take place in the Fondren District, a historical area north of Downtown close to the Blair E Batson Children's hospital. The SP queens and wannabe's will march at night! How nice! Update 3/23/13 In many ways, the Fondren District of Jackson is like the "Austin" of Mississippi. Weird and wonderful~! We just moved here last month, and were able to walk from our front door to see the Sweet Potato Queens' "Zippety Doo Dah" parade right on our own corner! It was especially nice to see "Aunt Faye", the 100 year old "Queen" of the parade! You go, sister! 0h...l and a special shout out to the "Fleur de Lulu" queens, one of which gave me a boa! I felt so special! Thanks Hunny!

For Love

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:38:52 -0600

Holding their hand, bringing it to your lips, the lightest kiss.... Is it the romance that binds us together or something deeper? Once we get past the initial tingly phase in a relationship, how do we keep it fun and vibrant and growing? I had the same questions, so I embarked on a journey to find the answers. Come explore with me!

Video Game Songs

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:23:56 -0600

Whatever your musical taste, the vast selection of music and songs from video games has something to suit you. The idea of music themes for video games goes way back to Mario Brothers and before. Every game has it's own unique sound. Some are classical, orchestral, maybe electronic, or even golden oldies like in the big hit Fallout Series, every game has it's own musical feel. Just like a movie soundtrack, or perhaps even stronger than a movie soundtrack, the music from your favorite video games takes you back into the game, even if only for the few seconds of a ring tone or a few minutes of a song.... If video games are a part of your life, then so is the music. For some who grew up on the dawn of video games, these old classic video game songs bring a feeling of nostalgia. Later generations, who have always known the world of video games, have developed their own taste especially for the songs that go with their favorite games. There is a little bit here for everyone! Find your favorites and download music and songs from the games you love. Vote for your favorite video game songs on video, add to a list of bands you think should make soundtracks to video games, and leave your thoughts in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by!

Joggling

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:15:46 -0600

Running, to enthusiasts, can produce an awesome high. Others find it a bit challenging. While it can be a great way to clear your head, it is tough sometimes to get past the physical demands, or perhaps the monotony of the activity. One foot in front of the other, it is exercise in its simplest form. If you are a runner who perhaps needs a little more of a physical challenge, or a way to break up the boredom when running, you might enjoy Joggling! Juggling two, three, or even four items while running is the ultimate challenge to your dexterity and coordination as well as physical stamina. It seems hard to believe it can even be done, but people do it, and for whole marathons sometimes. There are groups who joggle together, joggling clubs, and teams of philanthropists who joggle for a cause. The draw may be more than a simple escape from the trials of running. The incredible focus it takes to run and juggle at the same time would be a great way to really tune out the rest of the world and force an over active mind to think on only the task at hand. If carried on for long distance, this would mean the joggler could benefit from this "active" meditation for hours at a time. Photo Credit: Bob Evans' World Record run - via PR Web

How to Stay Married

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:09:41 -0600

If you are married for a long time or a short time, if you are thinking about getting married, or if you are in a long term relationship of any kind, you might want to take a couple of minutes to see what this page has to offer. Martha Giffen teamed up with her friend Trapper Sherwood to create a set of Marriage Affirmations that will absolutely rekindle any relationship. They are two caring people who believe in love and believe in the power of a loving relationship. Martha draws on her own successful marriage to put together beautiful words meant to increase your love for your soulmate and partner more and more every day. If you are thinking about divorce, you owe it to your marriage to give it a good college try with these loving affirmations. Even if your relationship is great, using these on a regular basis can make it even better!

Andrea Yager's Big Internet Challenge

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 07:35:50 -0600

We love challenge and healthy competition, so we decided to promote our favorite contestants in http://www.nextinternetmillionaire.com/ Yay Andrea! Following the challenge, Andrea took the ball and ran with it, becoming more successful at the whole internet marketing game than most of her competitors. There are a handful still around, and I'm proud to say Andrea is one of them.

Coral Triangle

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:00:22 -0600

The Coral Triangle is an area of the ocean between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia which includes several small islands, from Papua New Guinea, to Timor-Leste. It covers an area roughly the size of about half of the U.S. Our perfect sea habitat is home to quite a diversity of marine plants and animals. The Islands' coastal areas provide the perfect sanctuary for some of the world's most delicate and endangered coral fish, sea turtles, mantas, whale sharks and others who migrate, who consider this home base from their travels. Endangered turtles nest in these waters. Deep beds of sea grass provide acres of safety for tiny marine creatures. The over 500 species of coral here make up 75% of the species in the entire ocean, and over 3,000 different types of fish swim in these waters. Photo: table coral: East Timor

Tanbo Art: Images in Rice Paddies

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:24:05 -0600

In the small Japanese villate of Inakadate, Japan, one can view from a tower these beautiful and temporary works of community art. The town began planting different types of rice in patterns to create images as a means of revitalization. The project is a success and has blossomed into a new type of deviant art, the villagers have named "Tanbo art". Nearby villages have adopted the practice as well. The Sengoku-period warrior pictured above is part of a pair of Tanbo creations in the original rice field erected by the Inakadate villagers adjacent to their town hall. The villagers built a tower nearby in order to view the Tanbo art.

Hitchcock's The Birds

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 18:17:36 -0600

I was a little kid the first time I saw "The Birds", a horror movie from 1964, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I remember it scared me so much I had a dreadful fear of birds, especially Crows, for several years. The most frightening scene to me was the phone booth scene. I was not too fond of phone booths either for a while. Recently I learned that the story was not made up.... at least the premise wasn't. There really were birds who went crazy. And, it recently happened again! How creepy is that? I had no idea back then that birds could really turn into maniacal zombie-like creatures, but we now know they sometimes do. I guess my fears were not so unfounded after all! Come with me to take a look at the original movie and the true story behind it, and the 2009 "angry bird" incident as well. We will see if there is any logical reasoning behind it, or if we need to turn back into scaredy cats whenever we see flocks of birds behaving in strange ways. Image Credit Publicity Photo: Universal Studios

Moving with our Cat Nicky

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:09:29 -0600

From the summer of 2009 to Spring 2010, our family went from a 5 pet family to one, and from a home with a fenced in yard to an apartment. The only pet we still had when we actually moved was Nicky, our sweet kitty cat. He did not want to leave the old house at all. We had made two trips during the move, and the last chore was to get Nick. He absolutely would not come with us! We tried everything! We even had him trapped once, and he got out! He knew we were leaving, but did not want to come with us. We could not bear the thought of abandoning him, so we persisted. Finally, a couple of hours after our last attempt, I drove back to the old house alone and found him quietly perched in his usual spot in the old back yard deck, as if it were just another ordinary day. I brought along some beef jerky as a bribe, and it did the trick! He hated the ride, and for three days we could not find him once we got him in the apartment, but he is still with us! Even though it's been about 6 months, he still has trouble adjusting to being indoors all the time. (have you ever tried to put a cat on a leash?) One good perk though, is that we get a lot more lovin'!

Choosing Charity Gifts over Traditional

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:20:18 -0600

Sometimes it seems like a waste to spend money on friends and family who already have everything they need or want. Why not instead give the money to a charity in their name? Non Profit and charity groups have really taken a hard blow to their regular giving in recent years due to the hardened worldwide economy. In fact, many groups are hit even harder, especially those who feed the homeless and hungry, since there are more who need help and fewer dollars being given. Here are a few of the causes near and dear to my heart. Hopefully there is something for everyone here. If you still wish to buy a real gift, I have put some classics on here for you. This lens' profits go 100% to charitable causes.

Ode to Paul Harvey

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:23:53 -0600

We love the radio icon that was Paul Harvey: he was passionate and kind, entertaining, interesting, opinionated, and now that he has passed on, we remember him with love. Thank you Paul Harvey for your long career and for entertaining and inspiring so many generations. We will remember your stories, your commentary, your special flair for delivery. We loved you for so many reasons, and we will keep you close to our heart and remember you always. Here's to you , and the rest of your story. May it last for eternity!

Message in the Bottle

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:43:58 -0600

Harold Hackett, of Prince Edward Island Canada has been sending messages in bottles since 1995! He estimates that by 2011 he had sent nearly 5,000 bottles with messages, hurling each one into the wind from the shore near his home. He has gotten thousands of replies, which he says was a whole lot more than he expected! By asking the finder to reply in a letter, he is getting tons of well wishes from every side of the Atlantic (and then some! ). He gets Christmas cards, post cards, souvenirs, and sometimes people will share their own stories with him. It's a little bit romantic, I think, to put yourself out there like that, having no idea what type of response you might get. The Guardian News dubbed Harold's hobby as "A different kind of social networking". I'd say it's a little old fashioned nostagic romance - but not something we don't all ponder from time to times. In the news and interviews covered so far, I have not seen any mention of romance for Harold, but you never know! Let's keep watching the story to see how it unfolds! (or, unrolls.... that is) Photo by Mykl Roventine

Stonecircle Celtic Band

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 11:35:31 -0600

The Winter Solstice, for me, is a bit of a spiritual escape from the commercialism of Christmas. I connect with my core, my true presence, the dawn of existence. It seems to take me back to my ancients. Every year, this feeling gets stronger in me, perhaps as I become closer to the destiny from which I evolved. I know more, the less I wonder about it. Something about the music of Stonecircle enhances this whole experience. While the members of the band are mostly American, their music is most definitely of no place, every place. Maybe it is my own Irish roots, or perhaps my Native American roots, or a combination of both, that connect me so deeply to the music of Stonecircle. I understand it. I feel it. It does not make me feel different, only moreso of what I already experience in the now, in truth. I can laugh and cry, no matter. The sound of Stonecircle is indeed circular, in that it connects one to the feeling of connection with ancestors, yet it has a modern feel as well. The music is a catalyst for the old soul. My Christmas gift to you is Stonecircle. My gift to them is this lens. May you find each other in peace and harmony, and in Celtic Fusion.

Bigger and Better in Texas: Bunnies, Bows, and Aging Hippies

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 07:46:26 -0600

Big Jason with his Hippie Aunt and Salvadore DoggieWe love challenge and healthy competition, so promoting our favorite contestants in http://www.nextinternetmillionaire.com/ The Next Internet Millionaire: seemed a natural thing to do. Thanks to your votes, (and Jason's inevitable charm...) Jason Henderson was chosen as the First of 12 Finalists in the Next Internet Millionaire Competition.Way to Go Jason! Thanks everybody for your Help!

Ocean Moon of Saturn

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:09:29 -0600

Enceladus is not Saturn's largest moon. It is only 318 miles wide. But what scientists are discovering about her puts her in a new playing field where only a very few ever get to play: That of life outside of earth. While she's not won the game yet, she sits with the likes of Europa and Mars as one more place where life may have existed in the past, or could possibly exist in the future.... or does it already? The big deal is the pictures sent back by Cassini Spacecraft from her mission as it explores Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and some of her other moons. Cassini has been able to get tantalizingly close to Enceladus, sending back quite a bit of information, not to mention some awesome photographs! The new photos show evidence that under all that snow and ice lay an ocean, most likely of water, which lays the foundation for the existence of life. The smoothness of some of the surface of Enceladus also suggests it may be newly formed, and could have had a major event in the not too distant past. Of course we're speaking in relative terms - 100 million years would be "not too distant" in space age! Saturn's e-ring, which is her outermost ring, is made up of an icy dust-like substance. Some scientists theorize that this substance is fed by the volcanic eruptions of snow and ice from Enceladus. A more recent fly by of the Moon by Cassini supports their theory. All this ice and snow and spewing from these volcanic vents in the surface of Enceladus must be coming from somewhere. Ice alone could not be producing such activity on a regular basis, especially enough to create the entire outer ring of Saturn! The wonders of the world continue to amaze me. Saturn and her mysterious Fire and Ice Moon Enceladus still have quite a story to tell! I hope I'm still around to hear it! Photo: NASA

Creating Vision Boards with a Twist

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 19:58:15 -0600

Kat believes that the act of creating our own personal "Vision board" will expand our conciousness. She teaches a class on how this works. A Vision Board is a simple concept which gained a lot of popularity after the movie "The Secret" became a huge hit worldwide. In that movie, acclaimed success coach John Assaraf told the story about how one of his own vision boards held a photo of what later became his actual home, and how he did not even realize it until long after his family had moved in and he was unpacking some of his old vision boards with his young son. According to Kat: What I do believe is happening during our modern times is not so much a learning of new things, but rather an expansion. An expansion of consciousness that leads to a deeper understanding and application of these principles. It is my intention to employ that deeper understanding in the simple act of creating a "vision board". It is my objective to get myself and others to quiet the "thinking mind" and get in touch with the creative intelligence that resides within each one of us.

The Seahorse

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:28:56 -0600

Sea Horses are peaceful creatures who live in shallow temperate waters of the ocean. They are technically a fish, but have few characteristics in common with them. They are monogomous and mate for life. They swim upright, and the male gets to have the babies! There are several species, and they come in a variety of colors. Many species can camouflage themselves to match their environment. It is sometimes very hard to find seahorses in the wild. The best way to locate them is to know what kind of coral or vegetation they are likely to be camouflaged on and look for that. These little fishies are in danger. They have been over fished, especially in recent years in Asian waters, due to the cultural beliefs of the area which use them in health products. The explosion of population and booming Chinese economy have contributed to an increased demand for dried seahorses. This is resulting in a vastly diminished seahorse population. While it is illegal to harvest seahorses, it does not seem that the law is being enforced. Other dangers to the little darlings include claims that a Florida species was negatively affected by the BP Oil Spill and climate change resulting in diminishing sea grass, which is a primary habitat for Seahorses. Photo: doug.deep

Quiz: Top 10 New Years Resolutions Made & Broken Every Year

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:32:01 -0600

Test your (my) knowledge, your mettle, your trivia (not trivial) pursuit, your multiple choice skills.� See if you cut the mustard, are up to snuff, ace in the hole, all that good stuff.� Take my quiz is what I'm saying! (Do you dare?) Good luck, and have fun. � What are the top 10 Resolutions people make (and break) every New Year? I compiled these myself, so if you disagree, I'll hear your plea!

Presents for People You Don't Know Well

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 16:02:18 -0600

For this Christmas Holiday season, I have decided to do something a little different (for me anyway). Usually I get the big stuff on Black Friday and spend the rest of the Holidays picking up smaller gifts for people on my list whom I don't know very well, or for whom I just want to get a nice little "happy". But this year, I'm shopping backwards. I'm compiling a perfect list of great things for the dozen or so people who aren't family or close friends I need to buy gifts for, and when I find my favorite "goal gifts" for Black Friday shopping, I'll post 'em here. Then the majority of my shopping is done, and I can spend the rest of the holidays shopping for those I love the most. I think it'll be less stressful, and fun at the same time! Since I figure my list is probably similar to many others, I hope I'm helping you out too! photo credit: michaelholden

Classic Car Art

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 23:39:13 -0600

Many of our best memories in life have to do in some way with a car. Perhaps it was your first kiss, a family vacation, or the first time behind the wheel of your Dad's Chevy. Could be the memory of the friend who had a sports car, or maybe a convertible, and you would ride around town in it. Maybe that friend with the cool car was you! If you're old enough, you might have fond memories of the local Drive-In movie theater. That was a true celebration of cars! The movies were always secondary to the stuff happening in, on, and around the cars at the Drive in! Cities and towns, especially in America, learned to build business around the car culture which thrived after the Great Depression and World War II. The 1950's and early 60's were a time of innocence, but the car represented a sort of rebel in all of us. Americans were beginning to wake up, to evolve, into a higher awareness, and the cars we drove took us there. There seems to be a growing passion about preserving the memories of those times via the celebration of classic and vintage cars. Art, in the form of photography, is a fun avenue of adoration in our long time love affair with the automobile! I ask you to take a look at the art photography of classic cars here with a fresh attitude. You might not look at a fender the same way again! Image: Classic Car Emblem by Barb Roehler of Sun Lion Imagery

Baby Boomers and Wellness

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:27:14 -0600

It's amazing what science and research can do. If we're living longer, I for one would like be healthy too! If you were born between 1946 and 1964 you are a baby boomer. As we baby boomers begin to age, we naturally have more health concerns. With a whole lot of us getting older at once, that's a bit of a strain on the system. What I hope to do is educate myself and other baby boomers on how to stay well naturally without having to pay more out of pocket for health care. Not only are a lot of us getting older, but a lot of us are living longer. That means we need to learn to sustain ourselves for a longer period, potentially stretching our health care dollars even further. What can we do for ourselves to stay well and healthy as we approach our "golden" years?

Fuwa: The Friendly Beijing Olympic Mascots

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:34:20 -0600

Did you know that every Olympics has their own Mascots? These Cuties were the official mascots for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Each one represented a unique cultural aspect of China and bestowed upon Children everywhere a special Blessing. There was a bit of controversy during the actual olympics, and the 5 fuwa were not showcased as planned. I do not understand all the details. Perhaps someone who was there or involved can explain it. I think it had something to do with a perception of bad luck somehow. Anyway, so that makes these little guys kind of special in a sad way. They never really got to have their "thunder". Perhaps they will continue to live on in their own way, in the legends their trinkets and keepsakes generate. I hope they will be around for the next summer olympics, to trade and remember, just as have all other olympic mascots. Thanks little friendlies!

Second Life Peacefest

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:58:30 -0600

The first SL PeaceFest benefit event for worldwide peace, took place on August 15th-17th of 2008 in the online world known as Second Life Covering 10 sims, the first festival featured live music, theatre and dance performances, art exhibitions, panel discussions and a rally at the Peace Park in SL Central Park. Master schedules for these exciting events will be posted on main website at PeaceFest Blog Our method of collecting donations is through Second Life, using a dedicated PeaceFest avatar named PeaceFest Pevensey. Individuals may donate to PeaceFest at any time by searching People (in Second Life) and finding PeaceFest Pevensey's profile, and clicking Pay and choosing a donation amount. We also accept donations via Pay Pal, which are tax deductible in the United States. The fest was a huge success, and has been held every year since.

About Manatees

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:36:53 -0600

Manatees are large mammals who live in the water. They look kind of like a walrus and weigh upwards of 1 ton! They move very slowly and usually cannot escape when boats swim near them. They often are injured or killed from boat collisions. Many adult Manatees have scars on their backs from being hit by the propellers of boats. These scars are sometimes used to identify the animals, sort of like a fingerprint. Manatees are in danger of extinction. Their demise is largely due to injury from fishing boats. Some get caught in fishing nets, and they are hunted in some places for their meat. But the main threat is a simple fix: If you are boating in areas known for manatee population, go slowly, and with caution. The ocean belongs to all of us, and is a great and largely unexplored frontier. Let us conserve all life in our oceans by exercising caution! Photo: NOAA

Jean-Michel-Cousteau

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:02:41 -0600

Jean-Michel Cousteau's work in ocean exploration and preservation began as a child, with he and his younger brother Philippe tagging along with their famous father Jacques Custeau on his expeditions. (His Dad actually threw him in at 7 years old!) While he was a natural, his brother was the more passionate early on and Jean-Michel started his adult life on another path. The unfortunate loss of his brother Philippe in a plane crash brought Jean-Michel back to the sea, and he collaborated with his father for 17 years. Together they reorganized the Cousteau Society and produced educational films, further igniting Jean-Michel's love for exploring the world's oceans. Jean -Michel continues his father's work and has developed his own passion for the watery earth and oceanic life.

The Museum of Death

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 09:18:30 -0600

The Museum of Dealth in Hollywood, California is solely dedicated to death. Visitors peruse crime scene photos from famous murders, items from the death industry (including strange gifts from funeral homes) artifacts from mass suicides, artwork created by serial killers and more. In 1995 J.D. Healy was inspired to create the Museum of Death when his art gallery moved to a building that had been a mortuary. The gallery had recently held one of its serial killer art shows as well as a show featuring exotic weaponry (including execution devices). Drawing inspiration from the recent shows, Healy created the first Museum of Death as a display in the basement that had housed the former mortuary. The Museum of Death opened to the public on June 1, 1995. The Museum of Death features displays pertaining to the mass suicides of both the Heaven's Gate and the Peoples Temple cults. The Museum of Death acquired a bunk bed from the Heaven's Gate compound along with other items that were auctioned off by police. These items have been arranged into a display recreating how the scene must have appeared to authorities discovering the bodies back in March of 1997. Mannequins dressed in black, with Nike sneakers on their feet, rest on a bunk bed. Purple sheets bearing the emblem of the Heaven's Gate cult are draped over them. Nearby sit Heaven's Gate cult literature, bottles of barbiturates and vodka. ...from Dark Destinations

Moon Day is July 20th

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:07:27 -0600

"The Eagle has Landed" At 10:56 p.m. EDT on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first to set his foot on the Moon. I was a little kid back then, but I remember all the excitement of that day. The grainy images on TV of men of Apollo 11 walking on the moon were fascinating and exciting. We all cheered! It is hard to believe that was so many years ago. So much has changed in the world since then, but in many ways, this huge accomplishment ushered in a new era, and led to the high tech gadgetry we all enjoy today. What fun it is to have a special day to celebrate this turning point in the history of the United States... indeed, the world!

Take Stock in Your Social Empire @ Empire Avenue

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:38:49 -0600

On Empire Avenue, you are rewarded for your activities on Social Networks! If you are already active on Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, LinkedIn, or Flickr, you're already a commodity on Empire Avenue. Grab your FREE ticker (your choice of what is available), and get crackin' ! The things you already do on these sites add value to your share price on EA. It's a no-brainer if you have any desire at all to grow your online reputation, whether you are a Business or an individual. Empire Avenue has the potential to get your social media strategy groovin' to the next level. Get on board and get your Eaves (the virtual equivalent of cash). Empire Avenue is free, and you are the next big star~ (here's a free hint.... EA Loves Newbies!) C'mon~ What are you waitin' for? Join Empire Avenue Now!

Friends who helped me laugh again

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:35:41 -0600

Have you ever had a string of bad luck? Bad things that seem to happen all at once? I went through such a patch a few years back, but with the help of some awesome people, I got through it just fine. It's my gratitude for them that inspired this lens. I built this lens to support Modest Needs, an award-winning charity that works to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for low-income workers struggling to afford emergency expenses like those we've all encountered before: the unexpected auto repair, the unanticipated trip to the doctor, the unusually large winter heating bill. Want to help Modest Needs stop the cycle of poverty before it begins? Make a web page (about anything!) at the Modest Needs Headquarters on Squidoo, or visit ModestNeeds.org and make a secure monthly pledge of any size. Your pledge will be matched dollar-for-dollar all year long, and you'll help Modest Needs to claim 100% of this remarkable matching grant! photo credit: http://www.executivesolutions-uk.com/

Blue Holes of the Bahamas

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 20:15:19 -0600

Blue Holes are simply openings to undersea caverns, found in the ocean. They are called "blue holes" because they are distinctly darker blue, due to the distinct drop off to deeper water. They are being discovered and explored more and more, in many places, especially around and in the Bahamas. The one in this photo is called "Benjamin Blue Hole". These blue holes were once neglected, even used as dumping sites. But now scientists and curious divers, even free divers are exploring and finding not only beautiful places never before seen by human eyes, but some really fascinating archaeological treasures. One even held the bones of a teenage boy from 1500 years B.C.! Other finds include extinct sea turtles and newly discovered micro organisms. Let's take a look at some of the fascinating finds of these mysterious Blue Holes... photo by Nashworld

Vampire Squid

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:27:50 -0600

He is not your typical Halloween character, but he is plenty creepy and kooky, and since he's kind of a squid, he certainly deserves a spot in the hallowed halls of a Halloween lens on Squidoo! What makes this strange creature, who only lives in the extreme deep and hellish world of deep sea, so intimidating, is not the fact that he has fangs or sucks your blood. He does neither of these. What makes him Dracula-like is his grand red and black cape. The cape serves him well. It helps him to hide from predators, to catch his favorite food (shrimp) and to collect oxygen, which is extremely sparse in his part of the world. Our Vampire Squid has for the most part a sweet and delicate life.... but with a sinister underbelly, and a very scary eye! Photo Credit: Vampire Squid

Murphy the Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:16:47 -0600

Since his rescue in 2002, Murphy the Loggerhead Turtle who was stranded as a hatch-ling, has been lovingly cared for - first at the Jekyll Island 4H Center, then at the Georgia Aquarium. He was held until he was big enough to be safely sent to his natural habitat. He was finally released to the ocean on August 31, 2011 in Jekyll Island, Ga. The Ocean is a place he has never known but always yearned for. Perhaps though, he did not realize it was what he longed for? If you watch the video of his release (see below) you can tell he is a little apprehensive about the whole thing. It's really kinda cute. His handlers keep trying to point him to the water and he keeps trying to go in a different direction. Poor guy. You know he's been spoiled for so long in captivity! Maybe he's just not sure what's out there!

Great Blipfm DJs

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:40:40 -0600

As usually happens with me, I was searching for one thing, and found another. In a former life I was somewhat of a Second Life Junkie. I was a happy and frolicking mermaid in the virtual world, and made myself up a little mermaid lair. I wanted to stream in some music, but I wanted it to be exactly the music I liked and no more. So in my search for this music, I found myself becoming a DJ at Blip.fm. Now, years later, I am still at Blip.fm, but have very little presence in Second Life. Go Figure! So this lens is about the life I found at Blip.FM and the fellow DJ's who help me find the music. The site is really simple, though it can get a bit heavy with ads at time, making it slow to run. Once you've set up your account (free) and logged in, you can start searching for your favorite songs to "blip". If they are accompanied by a Youtube video, that's even better. If you wish, you can set it to automagically post your "blips" to Twitter and/or Facebook. When you blip, you'll get an auto populated list of other DJ's who've blipped that artist, and you can choose whether or not to follow them. I recommend following "all" every time you do this in the beginning to get a good canvas to start from. Once you have several DJ's you're following, start listening to your "following" stream - ("follow" tab). Whenever you hear a song y ou love, reblip it and / or give it a thumbs up. You'll get more props as you go, so don't worry if you run out right away. If you reblip enough, people will give you the props you need. Once you've gotten that far, the rest will work itself out. It's just as easy to Un follow a DJ - so if you come across a song you hate, just unfollow them. Eventually you'll fine tune your following set to be the perfect group of DJ's with similar taste as you. (but I like to keep mine a little open to new stuff too!) Have fun with it!

Punkin Chunkin'

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:28:55 -0600

Why chunk pumpkins? Well, why not? The good folks of Bridgeville Delaware have made a sport out of it. A few friends got the pulpy idea after they learned about a nearby physics class throwing pumpkins to study mass, and thought it sounded fun! It started back in 1986, and it has since grown to an event which now draws crowds into the tens of thousands. The Annual World Championship Punkin' Chunkin' event is sponsored by the Punkin' Chunkin' Association. In 2011 there were 72 teams! All money raised by the Association is contributed to charity. The 2011 event was filmed by the Science Channel for a Thanksgiving premiere show. Photo by vpickering

Simple Side Dish - Savory Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:05:50 -0600

Disclosure! I do not like to cook. In creating this lens, I polled my friends on Facebook for the perfect alternative side dish for my Holiday Table, and requested nothing but Easy! The results were fantastic (Because I have fantastic friends!) Although this lens is only about one recipe, I offer up my thanks to all who participated! That being said, my friend and co-worker Stacey Walley Philley was the first to respond, and the first to make my mouth water. (this was not a condition but one I decided was the best way to decide whose recipe to choose). I have "practiced" the recipe and indeed it is simple and yum yum yummy! You might have seen a similar version called "twice baked" sweet potatoes, but either way, these are to die for. According to Stacey, even those who claim to not like sweet potatoes love 'em. So if you're sick of brown sugar and marshmallows mixing in with your turkey and stuffing, try this nice and tidy but melt in your mouth delicious alternative!

Diving with Sharks

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:24:59 -0600

Shark diving is a growing industry, and that is good news for sharks! Why? because the more interest and investment we put on observing these great and nearly prehistoric beasts of the ocean, the less is spent on killing them. Sharks are the top of the food chain in the ocean, and 3rd grade science teaches us that the food chain is imperative for maintaining the health of the ecosystem. It is way better for the human condition to spend time studying and watching in awe, at over 1000 species of shark than to eat shark fin soup! (Yuck anyway!) What are the safest and most effective ways to shark dive and the most productive ways to save the species? Let's take a look! Photo credit: Willy Volk

Working on a Dream Tour

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:08:06 -0600

'Working on a Dream' was Bruce Springsteen's twenty-fourth album and was recorded and mixed at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional recording in New York City, Los Angeles, and New Jersey. The reviews were mixed: Some preferred Springsteen's darker side to the more upbeat major keys of the Dream. Others found it a nice change for him. Huffington Post's Mike Ragogna called the first track Outlaw Pete a "Jessie James on crack folk story", while Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune was "underwhelmed", blaming it on Springsteen's producer Brendan O'Brien for "sanding off Springsteen's Rough edges". The album is the last to feature new work of founding E Street Band members Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons, who died in April 2008 and June 2011, respectively. Federici's son Jason also plays on the album. The 2008 tour Schedule: 30-Sep E. Rutherford, NJ Giants Stadium 2-Oct E. Rutherford, NJ Giants Stadium 3-Oct E. Rutherford, NJ Giants Stadium 8-Oct E. Rutherford, NJ Giants Stadium 9-Oct E. Rutherford, NJ Giants Stadium 13-Oct Philadelphia, PA Spectrum SOLD OUT 14-Oct Philadelphia, PA Spectrum SOLD OUT 19-Oct Philadelphia, PA Spectrum 20-Oct Philadelphia, PA Spectrum 25-Oct St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center 26-Oct Kansas City, MO Sprint Center 29-Oct New York, NY Madison Square Garden Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert 2-Nov Washington, D.C. Verizon Center 25-Sep 3-Nov Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena 7-Nov New York, NY Madison Square Garden 8-Nov New York, NY Madison Square Garden 10-Nov Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena 13-Nov Auburn Hills, MI Palace At Auburn Hills 15-Nov Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center 18-Nov Nashville, TN Sommett Center 20-Nov Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena 25-Sep 22-Nov Buffalo, NY HSBC Arena ------------------------------------------------------------------- 2009 tour dates: 23-Mar Asbury Park, NJ Convention Hall 24-Mar Asbury Park, NJ Convention Hall 1-Apr San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose 3-Apr Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena 5-Apr Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center 7-Apr Tulsa, OK BOK Center 8-Apr Houston, TX Toyota Center 10-Apr Denver, CO Pepsi Center 15-Apr Los Angeles, CA LA Memorial Sports Arena 16-Apr Los Angeles, CA LA Memorial Sports Arena 21-Apr Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden 22-Apr Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden 24-Apr Hartford, CT XL Center 26-Apr Atlanta, GA Philips Arena 28-Apr Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Spectrum 29-Apr Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Spectrum 2-May Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum 4-May Hempstead, NY Nassau Veterans Mem. Col. 5-May Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena 7-May Toronto, ONT Air Canada Centre 8-May University Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center 11-May St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center 12-May Chicago, IL United Center 14-May Albany, NY Times Union Center 15-May Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium 18-May Washington, DC Verizon Center

Red Tide

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:32:40 -0600

Beautiful shots of a glowing, living ocean are quite awesome to behold! But is this really a good thing? It depends, according to scientists, on whether you are human or fish, and how much of this glowing algae is present. It can be known to clog up the shores and choke the oxygen in the water, effectively suffocating small shellfish. But in small quantities, such as in the videos in this lens taken off the coast of California in a Red Tide event in September, 2011, it is harmless, other than a bit of discomfort and a foul smell. Let's take a look at what causes this mysterious glow in the waves and whether or not we need to be concerned about it. Photo: Screenshot from video by Loghan Call. See Below

The Skeleton Dance

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:19:08 -0600

I first discovered the Skeleton Dance when a friend shared a link on Facebook. It was the version with the music from The Guess Who, and to me it was hilarious! I did a little investigating and discovered how old the cartoon actually was! Not only did it originate in the 1920's, but was actually considered really scary at the time. Since to me it was funny, not scary at all, I could not imagine why. Then I watched it with the original music and sounds. Incredible how much difference that makes~! Well, it was not really "scary" but much more "scary-ish" with the original music. I guess people were spooked a lot easier back then? Either way. It's a fun cartoon. Let's explore, shall we?

The Old Sears Catalog

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:25:24 -0600

This is a fun topic for me to talk about, but I must say I also hate to see that Sears may be closing its doors soon. I hope in some small way the attention from this lens helps to at least keep the catalog business running for many years to come. Why do a lens on a catalog? The old Sears Catalog is not just any catalog. Sears and Roebuck were the first to mass produce catalogs and sell through mail order. The industrial revolution helped to make Sears a huge success. If you are over 40, you probably have childhood memories of the Sears Catalog like I do. I remember my brother and I going through the catalog every year around Thanksgiving and circling every single thing we wanted in the whole book, which was something like 500 pages back then. Somehow Santa magically got all those circled pages and managed to get at least some of our wishlist under the tree every single year! Another funny memory is my Nana and Papa remodeled an old home and kept the old outhouse in the back yard as a kind of funny conversation piece. Nana put an old Sears Catalog in the outhouse for authenticity. I did not know for many years what that was for......but apparently the old issues made excellent toilet paper! From the Sears Archives: http://www.searsarchives.com/catalogs/history.htm The 1943 Sears News Graphic wrote that the Sears catalog, "serves as a mirror of our times, recording for future historians today's desires, habits, customs, and mode of living." The roots of the Sears catalog are as old as the company. In 1888, Richard Sears first used a printed mailer to advertise watches and jewelry. Under the banner "The R.W. Sears Watch Co." Sears promised his customers that, "we warrant every American watch sold by us, with fair usage, an accurate time keeper for six years - during which time, under our written guarantee we are compelled to keep it in perfect order free of charge."

Clive Cussler's Ocean Exploration

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:12:50 -0600

Most of Bestselling Author Clive Cussler's novels are centered around deep water mysteries. His real life experiences as an ocean explorer give him plenty of juicy material to work with! As part of a 30 lens series on deep water exploration, it seems neglectful not to include something on the man whose effort and talent keep us intrigued in what lies beneath the waters of the world. Cussler has been on too many expeditions to showcase them all in one lens, so I have chosen a couple of my favorites to share, as well as other tidbits here and there about the man and his deep water expeditions. While Carpathia and Hunley get most of the spotlight, be sure to check out some of the external links for more complete information on his ocean quests. Photo by /Stef_

We love Out Of Africa

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:29:21 -0600

Maybe it was the music and the scenery, or the sheer poetry of Isak Dinesen. Or perhaps it was all that beauty, yet an undertone of such sadness throughout the film that drew me to care about it like a lost puppy. Even now, twenty years later, I still get emotional remembering certain scenes. Like the first time Denys takes Karen up in the plane, and the the look on her face...the way she reaches for his hand..though he cannot see her, he knows how the scenery affects her. The whole relationship in many ways, despite their quibbling, could take place without words. That is how strongly they communicate. I dreamed of a relationship like that....

Gail Greenberg - Mitzvah Chic

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:18:31 -0600

I love challenge and healthy competition, so I promoted my favorite contestants in http://www.nextinternetmillionaire.com/ Gail did very well!Gail Anthony Greenberg is an internet marketer and author of the bestseller MitzvahChic, A New Approach to Hosting a Bar or Bat Mitzvah That is Meaningful, Hip, Relevant, Fun & Drop-Dead Gorgeous.

Teamwork is the key to your success!

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:29:52 -0600

Join us as we group together and learn from each other/ teach each other, and help each other grow into our best selves, develop our leadership potential, and find our strengths.There are many facets of a successful team: each member's unique contribution. Your unique contribution is truly a gift. One which cannot be duplicated anywhere else on the globe!

Attract Money Now

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:17:26 -0600

Joe shows you how to * uncover hidden beliefs that may actually push money away from you * use the popular EFT technique to get cash flowing fast * set up many different streams of money coming in for you, based on doing what you already love to do He shares secrets wealthy people use to attracting money easily He explains how the rich think differently than non-wealthy people regarding money He includes a new secret for spending in a way that leads to attracting money Much more, including 29 ways to attract money NOW

Nico Pisani

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:18:22 -0600

An Early Favorite of mine, I never got to promote Nico for the voting...Time crept up on us and we couldn't get his lens out.However, I was thrilled to see him do so well on the show, and felt a strong sense of camaraderie with him as I cheered him on each week on the Next Internet Millionaire.He even took the worm challenge like it was nothin'!Nico's the MAN!

Helping Women Create ABUNDANCE! Debbie Ducic

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 19:17:59 -0600

We love challenge and healthy competition, so we promoted Debbie, one of our favorite contestants in http://www.nextinternetmillionaire.com/ The Next Internet Millionaire: DEBBIE DUCIC

Heidi Walter

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:01:56 -0600

Heidi is an amazing person. She knows the building blocks and how to get around them for nearly any scenario. She and I were in a mastermind group together for several months and I enjoyed every minute of her sharing her wisdom, humor and general good energy with me every Monday night. Don't just take my word for it, See what she has to say about healing and spiritual attainment for yourself.

The Automaton

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 13:39:50 -0600

My earliest memories of automata are freakish and a little scary. The eyes of the owl moved on my Nana's wooden cuckoo clock. It was a beautiful wind-up with weights on each end of a long rope. She and my grandfather brought it back from a trip to Switzerland. One pulled a weight down on one side to wind, and the other weight gradually pulled it back up. Tick,tick (move) - tick, tick (move). I so wanted to spend a night down in the great room when we went to visit, but that spooky clock,tick,tick(move) sent my chicken butt up to the feather-bed room every night instead. I always hoped that some night Nana would forget to wind it and I would be safe to linger a while. Tick,tick(move). Some of the mechanical toys from my time at Nana's were equally creepy: a Victorian doll whose eyes rolled back in her head (a "dying" doll that comes back to haunt you over and over again); a springy and steer-less metal bouncy-horse on wheels that seemed to want to take you for a ride, slinging you across the room and bringing you curiously close to the top of the stairs….So, when I talk about automata, perhaps understandably, the first word that comes to mind is "creepy". Photo: Inner workings of Mi-Ken Cuckoo Clock by National Association of Watch & Clock Makers

Confederate Memorial Day

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 10:43:24 -0600

I feel it is important to remember and honor those who fought in the Civil War. Whether Yankee or Rebel, the men of this war, in their own personal desperation, cut a huge scar in the hearts of all our countrymen, and for their pain, deserve a day of reverence. It was perhaps the darkest time in the history of the United States. By taking time to remember, perhaps, we will never become the divided nation we were then. It is my hope, that by allowing a day of healing those scars of bitterness, that we can, with each passing year, become a stronger and more unified people. Nine of the states formerly part of the Confederate States of America recognize one day each year to remember the Civil War, the soldiers who fought and died for her, and teach their children about the more personal side of local and family history. Just as certain days of the year (think D-day, or 9.11) bring remembrance of difficult times in our country's past, so does the South, in her continued struggles, remember the good and the bad that came from those bloody and bitter years of the American Civil war. Image Source Robert E Lee

Street Artists

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:51:29 -0600

What might an ordinary part of your world become if you could make it anything you want? Do you walk on the street and imagine a giant waterfall jutting into view, or perhaps a shark on the attack bursting from the sea, appearing in the middle of the street on a city block nowhere near the ocean? These creations and more evolve from the imaginative minds of 3-D street artists who are transforming cityscapes all over the world! When I first discovered 3-D street artwork, I was shocked at how realistic it is. In photos of passers-by standing at just the right spot, the 3-D effect is quite convincing! Looking again, more closely, I see it is a clever image: contemporary art created to trick the eye into believing the street gives way to an enormous water-falling disaster in progress. These street paintings are, in my opinion, legitimate art work. They are not what I would consider graffiti, yet some artists' paintings have been removed or painted over because they are perceived as such. As the phenomenon of 3-D street art grows, thankfully, more cities are allowing the artists to further enchant the public with their work, even welcoming it and paying the artists for their beautification of the city streets in some cases. Image: 3-D Street Artist Edgar Mueller working on his waterfall

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:15:37 -0600

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" was the first really good book I ever read without prompting, and the best gift I every gave myself. Although I was a teenager at the time I first read it, its dog-eared pages have kept me company for many nights over the past 30 plus years. Smith's Brooklyn could have been anywhere. I felt as though she were writing about my southern college town as much as Brooklyn. I think her insight into people really helped me to understand, probably for the first time, how the human race has so much more in common than not. Differences, while perhaps made a big deal of, are minuscule when you get down to simple thoughts. Even simple thoughts have great elegance in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"

Mahalo Josh Hailey

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:02:21 -0600

One of Jackson, Mississippi's beloved native sons, young artist/entrepreneur Josh Hailey, is leaving our town to explore bigger waters. We know (hope?) he will rejoin the flock soon, (albeit a more enlightened flock upon his return). This lens is an expression of thanks for the mark Joosy has left on our hearts, a bucket of well wishes, and a celebration of the incredible talent in so many genres that is Josh Hailey.