Jade's Blog

Monday, 23 March 2009

Dealing With Death
Topic: Life
I believe it is a mockery to say that all women have a corner in the market of being able to openly talk about their feelings. At the very least, it is untrue in my case. When it comes to grief, I have never been good at participating in an open dialogue about it, and I absolutely dispise crying in front of other people be they strangers or close friends.

I have just found out that my Aunt Carol, who after years of battling cancer, has finally passed away. She was a funny, vivacious woman who never seemed capable of not smiling, and I admired her a great deal. She was the kind of woman that never seemed to show her age, and always to me seemed younger than her years could ever prove. She was the kind of adult that when I was a teenager, I didn't mind hanging out with.

But, I am not a teenager anymore. I'm 41 with a teenager of my own and now find myself tackling the emotions of anger and feelings of loss that, unfortunately, always accompanies grief.

Death. We fear it, we fear it will take the ones we love most, yet it is an inarguable inevitability. We fear talking about it, that somehow the discussion alone might make others view us as morose or morbid.

Take for example our fascination, as a culture, with vampires. We romanticize the idea of them, because they have immortality. Death never claims them. Forever young, they conquer time and history to take one lover after the other, like some dark fairytale. But life is rarely a fairytale. If anything it is a short story with a predictable end.

Yes, I know I am rambling. But, as I stated, I have never been good at talking about my "feelings".

Even though I have known for a while now that my Aunt was dying, like many people I didn't really prepare myself for it. You can say over and over in your head that someone is dying and hope your heart will listen, but it rarely seems to really sink in. It's as if somewhere deep down there is that silent glimmer of hope in your soul that says "Maybe they can beat it". So when death comes after even a long battle with disease, you're still as shocked as you would have been had it just come out of the blue.

Memories deceive you as well into thinking death is impossible. Every time I would think of my Aunt I would see the woman I remembered her to be. A beautiful, sandy brown haired woman with laughing brown eyes. Always smiling, always warm, and seemingly always happy. So when she got sick, I could never envision her as such. My parents would give me news of her condition and in my mind, Aunt Carol would appear exactly as my memory preserved her to be. Not the bald, shriveled and sick woman she was. Even now my mind completely rejects that image. It's not what I want to remember. I want to remember what she once was.

Beneath it all, is anger... no rage that this wonderful woman is gone. It is too soon for her to be gone from this world. She was the youngest sibling in my dad's family. No, she wasn't young, but she is too young to be dead. Before the cancer, she was a very active and very healthy person. She could have lived as long a life as my great grandmother who died when she was in her mid nineties if weren't for that wretched disease. I mean, I'm 41 and my grandmother, her mother, is still alive!

I mean, its just impossible for me to balance in my head how a generous and loving mother like her could be taken away so soon and yet this monster Josef Fritzl, well into his seventies who imprisoned his own daughter in a dungeon, raped her repeatedly over the span of twenty-four years and sired seven children with her, nature allows to survive?! How on earth does that make any sense?!

You've heard all the experts talk about the randomness of tornadoes, right? That it will hit one house, skip three or four before hitting another house? That's how I see Cancer. It will skip the three pack a day smoker who eats nothing but fast food and yet hits the next person who jogs three miles a day, eats all their veggies, and has never smoked or drank a day in their life.

I will give you an example of this. When I was in high school, the father of one my former boyfriends died after a short battle with Colon Cancer. The man had never smoked or used tobacco products of any kind, he had never drank alcohol a single day of his life, he jogged everyday and ate healthy.... avoided fast or fatty foods. Yet at 42 was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. He died in less than a year of that diagnosis.

My great grandmother who died in her nineties, drank whiskey every morning, ever afternoon, and every evening of her life and never had any serious medical problems until her death of natural causes.

It just doesn't fit into my head. But then these sort of things never do, and are probably not supposed to.

No, I haven't really cried yet, not to say tears haven't been shed... they just seem few and sporadic to me right now. They're more like brief quiet expressions than an uncontrolled heaving outcry. The only reason I think I've allowed them at all is that I am in a room by myself with only the company of my laptop. If I there were another person in the room with me, I'm not sure they would come at all. I wish I could explain why I am that way, but the reasons seem locked away even from me.

I still need to call my mom, who is at the moment on her way with my father to Delaware... and I don't really want to at all. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents very much. But, we've never been the kind of family that openly expresses grief very well. We tend to talk about details like; where the funeral is going to be, what cemetery she's going to be buried in, the cost of the casket and so on, not how we are actually feeling. I'm just not up to the "polite game" yet. Which is probably why I am unloading all of it here in my blog first.

Anyway, for those who actually read this... I am not completely crazy, just a bit unbalanced on the wire at the moment and I thank you for caring enough to read it.

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 3:59 PM
Updated: Tuesday, 27 October 2009 5:24 PM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Saturday, 21 March 2009

The Amazon: Dangerous Misconceptions.
Topic: News, politics and Activism

WARNING: The video below is a excerpt from a documentary styled movie depicting a tribe in the Amazon and contains full or partial nudity. Viewer discretion is advised.

I first read about this story this morning on Yahoo! News, and when I learned of the details surrounding this movie, I was more than a little appalled.

For those of you not familiar with the story, I will provide brief quotes and links to the articles.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090320/od_nm/us_indians

[RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – A video made with the help of U.S. missionaries and depicting Amazon Indians burying children alive is "faked" and inciting racial hatred, a group campaigning for tribal rights said Thursday.

It depicts scenes of Indians in an isolated forest village digging graves and burying several live children in them. The "Hakani" campaign also has a website and a group on networking site Facebook with more than 13,000 members.

London-based Survival International said in a statement the film is "faked, that the earth covering the children's faces is actually chocolate cake, and that the film's claim that infanticide among Brazilian Indians is widespread is false."

"People are being taught to hate Indians, even wish them dead," said Survival's director, Stephen Corry.

The video was made by the son of the founder of an American missionary organization called Youth with a Mission, which has a branch in Brazil known as Jocum.

Youth with a Mission is an interdenominational Christian group based in Hawaii which focuses on involving young people in evangelism in 149 countries, its website says.

Infanticide is practiced by some tribes in the Amazon region, sometimes on disabled children, often based on the belief that children who take their last breath above land will come back to haunt a community. But Survival says it is rare and becoming rarer as healthcare access improves.

Brazil's Indian affairs department has tried to bar the film, which it says was financed by Jocum, saying it denigrates the image of the more than 220 ethnicities that live in Brazil.

Neither the video, the "Hakani" campaign website nor the Facebook group include any mention of the missionary group or any contact details. Corry said the group was trying to play down its role in the film.

The video is a "powerful docudrama" and urges people to donate money and write letters in support of a proposed Brazilian law, known as Muwaji's Law, which would abolish infanticide by indigenous groups.

Survival says the law, by requiring Brazilians to report to authorities anything seen as a "harmful traditional" practice, would foster "witch hunts" against indigenous people.

"I think the missionaries are stirring up hatred against the Indians, who they profess to be concerned about," said Fiona Watson, a Brazil campaigner for Survival.

"The infanticide is not being explained; it's being taken out of context."]

I would go further in saying that Muwaji's Law would be an open door for "lawful" removal of children from their culture and families for the sake of "legal adoption".

In a country already dealing with criminal logging and the removal and murder of indigenous people by unscrupulous ranchers in effort to clear more land for cattle, this is not a distraction the Amazon can afford.

http://www.survival-international.org/about/hakani

[If (the infanticide) happened as portrayed, it’s an extraordinary isolated case. After decades of working in Amazonia, we know of no Indian peoples where parents are told to kill their children. It just doesn’t happen.

It’s propaganda to bolster the evangelical campaign for a very dangerous principle, the so-called Muwaji law, which has been presented to the Brazilian Congress.

The Muwaji law focuses on what it calls ‘traditional practices’ and says what the state and citizens must do about them. It says that if anyone thinks there is a risk of ‘harmful traditional practices’, they must report it. If they don’t, they are liable to imprisonment. The authorities must intervene and remove the children and/or their parents. All this because someone, anyone, a missionary for example, claims there is some risk.]

I would advise anyone interested in the plight of the tribes of Amazonia to thoroughly tour Survival International's website. It gives an unbiased account of the country's political and enviromental situation, and gives information on how to get involved.

So this blog is completely rounded below is a link and information from the Hakani Organization. Funded by the evangelical group "Youth with a Mission".

http://www.hakani.org/en/synopsis.asp

[Buried alive because her tribe thought she had no soul. Plucked from the grave at the last moment by her brother. Then forced to live as a social outcast for three long years until sickness and neglect brought her once again to the doorway of death... (Remember, however, this story cannot be verified by Hakani's adoptive American parents, the Brazillian Government or by the tribe they claim she was rescued from)

This is the story of Hakani – whose name means "smile" – one of hundreds of children who are targeted for death each year amongst Brazil's 200 plus indigenous tribes. Physical or mental handicaps, being born a twin or triplet or being born out of wedlock – all are considered valid reasons for taking a child's life.]

All these cases of infants and children being buried alive, and yet only this evangelical christian organization has ever reported the issue when there are hundreds of charity based organizations who provide medical and educational support in Amazonia and have never brought this to the world's attention? Doubtful.

Stephan Corry of Survival International says, "The film and its message are harmful. They focus on what they claim happens routinely in Indian communities, but it doesn’t. It incites feelings of hatred against Indians. Look at the comments on the YouTube site, things like, ‘So get rid of these native tribes. They suck’, and, ‘Those amazon mother f—-ers burrying (sic) little kids, kill them all’. The filmmakers should be ashamed of all the harm this film is doing to the people they are trying to help."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-09-22-infanticide_N.htm

[For the missionaries, "this is part of a strategy to justify their presence on indigenous lands," (Antenor) Vaz (Department of Indian Affairs) says.

He and activists such as (Fiona) Watson (Survival International) are offended by the Hakani movie, which they call racist. "Community actions are taken out of the cultural context and portray the Indians as savages, barbarians," he says.

Evangelical missionaries have emerged as perhaps the greatest threat to the Indians' survival. "I think they are doing a huge amount of harm," Watson says. "They are destroying people's beliefs."

Watson says erasing Indians' traditional faiths destroys their cultures, which have remained self-sufficient for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. "I have seen that," she says, "where a once proud people end up subdued, dependent upon people, because they have lost their beliefs."

Vaz recently completed an investigation into Youth With A Mission. His report accuses the group of "hiding their intent to evangelize" and bribing tribe members with tools and medicine to get them to listen to the Gospel.

The report, without elaboration, accuses the missionaries of slavery, illegally taking blood samples from Indians and illegally removing Indian children.

The missionaries deny that they are using infanticide as a smokescreen for efforts to convert Indians. YWAM members, including Marcia and Edson Suzuki (the adoptive parents of 'Hanaki'), often live with tribes for decades, learning their ancient languages and providing health care and education. Despite their religious orientation, Ribeira says, they do not proselytize. "Our main mission," she says, "is to provide access to means of survival."

(And yet...)

At one site where YWAM works, deep in the jungle near Porto Velho, an Indian girl wears a Jesus T-shirt.

Francisca Irving, one of the missionaries working there, admits preaching the gospel to Indians. "Yes, we teach Jesus," she says. "I would lie if I told you we didn't talk about Jesus."

The legislative push against infanticide is gaining steam in the Brazilian legislature. One house of the Brazilian legislature has passed a bill that would allow children whose lives are "at risk due to cultural practices" to be removed from their homes.

Vaz says the Department of Indian Affairs is developing a policy.

"Infanticide is a serious issue, which needs to be discussed," he says. But "this is not a discussion that must only be seen through the Christian perspective."]

What has me bothered most by this legislation of 'Muwaji's Law' is the rush of it over a more educational approach. Why this demand for a law of a practice that is rare and, in fact, fading in tradition? Is it impossible to communicate and educate in the language of these tribes that killing infants or children is unnecessary and cruel? Is there an assumption that because of cultural traditions or perhaps their primitive conditions that education is an impossibility?

Personally, I believe, if such an assumption exists, that these people have more to teach us than we them. These are individuals who have lived hundreds (arguably thousands) of years in a tumultuous environment following the same cultural traditions as their ancestors, and despite all odds and adversity have thrived without modern economical advancements such as grocery stores or modern technological advancements such as television, computers, or automobiles. Inventions that most of us can't imagine existing without.

Yet, aside from much needed medical and scholastic education intervention, the modern world feels compelled to force its religious ideology and dogmas on these unique people in an effort to replace their cultural beliefs. The very beliefs that make them who they are.

In conclusion, as this is turning into one of my notorious, long winded rants. How much of cultural, social, and religious history has to be annihilated (See; The Ancient Celts or Native Americans) before we destroy this idea that the entire world must fall in line with one belief system/religion at the cost of all others? The endless proselytizing of what we all should believe, that seems to always drop the names of 'God' and 'Jesus' concluding only with the word 'Hell'... I am so SICK of it. I am sick of Christianity, and now, thanks to the Pope's obscene misinformation about condoms aiding in the AIDS epidemic in Africa , I am sick of Catholicism.

"One Nation, under God" sounds more like the accolades of a religious war by crusaders than the patriotic dogma it portrays. We are not, in fact, one Nation under God, but rather one Nation under Gods, Goddesses and varying belief systems not necessarily of religious roots. But I suppose that is too wordy for a national motto.

Anyway, brightest blessings, and be well.

Posted by spiritiger at 9:57 AM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Friday, 20 March 2009

A Beautiful Day and an Update.
Topic: Life
The sun is shining brightly today and it has been beautiful here in Southwestern Indiana the last couple of days. It is a bit cooler today, but in general the weather has been too nice to have been cooped up indoors so I haven't been at my computer much.

As an update to my well being, I am happy to say that I am over my bout with the flu that had me in bed with 102 degree temperature for a couple of days last week. I still have a slight cough, but nothing serious and it is going away day to day.

My cat, Hemingway, has been enjoying the birds return to our carport, chattering away as he watches them rebuild their nests. But what is a thrill to him, is not so much to me as this means that they will be soon, once again, be decorating our vehicles with shades of white and purple.

Seeing as the Pagan Spirit Gathering is approaching in June, Ken and I have been busy in our spare time doing much needed shopping. Last night, we went to Dick's Sporting Goods and purchased an Easy-Up canopy for my son's tent (Got a heck of a deal on it too, as they were on sale). I would still like to buy my son a new tent, a table for us to eat on in camp, something more sturdy to put our stove and oven on, and a "kitchen tent" which Ken has been reluctant about getting since we first started attending P.S.G. We will, of course, be bringing plenty of Mead.

Something a bit odd... when I got on my profile page today I noticed that the myspace music widget had been mysteriously added to it even though I had not changed my settings to 'unhide' it. Hmmm... strange. Anyway, when I logged in today, I corrected the error and removed it from appearing on my page. If anyone reading this is interested in what music I like or I am listening to, there is a link provided on my profile marked 'My Playlist (Click to Listen)' on the right hand side of the page. It is a safe link to my profile on Gaia Online where my 'Project Playlist' widget is located. I think the list is about 40+ songs or so long. I add to it periodically, so you can check back for anything new if you are so inclined.

(( shrugs )) Anyway, that's it for today on 'What's new with Jade'. I hope everyone is enjoying being on the threshold of Spring and all the beauty that is soon to return to all of us.

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 2:33 PM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Friday, 13 March 2009

The Future of the Amazon.
Topic: News, politics and Activism

Between August of 2007 to July 2008 Brazil has reported an alarming 11,968 square kilometers of deforestation of the Amazon. To put it in perspective, nearly 1,250 square miles of canopy was chopped down in the last five months of 2007, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island.

Brazil is the fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter and deforestation and forest fires combined are responsible for 75% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions. The reverberations, of which, can be felt worldwide in both its effect on pollution and on weather and climate conditions globally.

The Amazon is the world's largest absorber of Carbon Dioxide, holding nearly 86 cubic tons. This is the reason there is an environmental race to preserve the Amazon and end the deforestation of it's canopy.

I've posted the above video to this blog so that the reader can really appreciate how beautiful both the land and the people are in the Amazon.

Posted by spiritiger at 12:01 AM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Thursday, 12 March 2009

Pagan Music Channel on YouTube
Topic: Music

While perusing through YouTube this afternoon for 'Pagan' items, I found the above video (which is really just an audio track, of course), which as many 'PSGers' (those that attend The Pagan Spirit Gathering hosted by Circle Sanctuary) know is the wonderful women of Spiral Rhythm and their song 'Freedom'.

It turns out that the individual who posted this video to YouTube has their own channel and this selection is just one of many that she has in her library of Pagan music including artists such as; Gaia Consort, Alice Di Micele, Blackmore's Night, Kellianna, and Kate West and The Hearth of Hecate (to name only a few).

With the excitement underneath my skin at the knowledge that in a few short months that I will be PSG bound once again, this music was just what the priestess ordered.

To see more information about this channel you can either click on the YouTube video above or go to the YouTube website and search for "KeepMusicPagan".

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 12:10 PM
Updated: Tuesday, 27 October 2009 5:01 PM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Whaling, Animal Rights, and Violence.
Topic: News, politics and Activism
Admittedly, when it comes to my personal views, whether it be regarding politics, religion, or even my very strong opinions about nature and the enviroment I am usually reluctant to discuss it as these are topics that inspire thousands of different opinions because people generally are individual and come from different social backgrounds, different areas of our country even the world, and there are just so many factors that determine what views each one of us has on the enviroment around us.

That being said I found myself having mixed emotions about the video you see above in this blog [Video was deleted for terms of service violation by YouTube].

Okay, a little history is probably needed here. I am a former member of Greenpeace. From back when Greenpeace used a bit harder handed tactics to get their message across. The man, Paul Watson, that you see on the popular television series "Whale Wars" on Animal Planet who is in charge of Sea Shepard (The ship the 'Steve Irwin' as dipicted in the above video is a fleet vessel for the Sea Shepard) was one of the leaders of Greenpeace when I was still a member.

My views on animal cruelty and most especially the whaling industries in Japan and Norway have not changed. However, as I have grown older (hopefully at least a little wiser) my views on what is necessary to improve the situation has changed.

When I was younger, admittedly, I had more of an "anything it takes" mentality. If that meant throwing bottles of butyric acid at a whaling ship, spray painting "whale killer" on a processing ship, or even ramming them so be it. So long as it was saving the life of a whale, I believed that the ends justified the means.

But, as the years passed, even after the moratorium on whaling in 1986, whales were still dying just under the guise of research instead of food and I was tired of the violence that seemed to solve nothing so I left. Greenpeace too seemed to grow weary of it and Paul Watson was asked to leave which as many of you know birthed the Sea Shepard.

Since then, the two groups Greenpeace and the Sea Shepard politely agree to disagree when it comes to protesting against whaling. I still admire Paul Watson, just not the resources he uses to send the message that animal cruelty and whaling are an injustice to creatures who cannot speak for themselves.

I don't believe in violence as a means of protest. If you have to use violence you have failed before you have even begun. The line between Activism and Terrorism is dangerously marginal and the latter is just one act of violence away.

Here are the hard truths:

Blue Whales (the largest whale of the species) once numbered in the tens of thousands, because of earlier centuries of whaling, now there are so few that there have actually been cases of hybrids of Blues and Fin Whales because there isn't enough of the species to breed. It is still very possible that the beautiful 'Big Blue' could vanish into extinction.

It takes at least 30 minutes (and that is if all goes as planned) for a whale to die once it has been shot with a harpoon tipped with an explosive which detonates inside the whales body. During that time it tries to dive down (in vain) to fight against the harpoon that is lodged deep in its body and tethered to the ship. Unable to dive, it then thrashes against the bow of the ship bleeding profusely from its wounds in great pain while crew members use rifles to shoot at it. Some whales have taken hours to die. In fact, crews on processing ships often cut into the animal while it is still alive. It is cruel, it is agonizing and most of all it is senseless.

Every year, Japan kills 1000 whales in the Antarctic Ocean in the name of research, mostly the Minke Whale. Which although not a threatened species, biologists still do not have enough information on how often the Minke breeds in competing against the drop in numbers of whaling. Japan uses a loophole in the IWC (International Whaling Commission) laws that state that whales killed for the sake of research must be processed and distributed so that nothing goes to waste. This gives them the leeway to kill whales, process them, and package the meat for Japanese markets.

Further they are now actively campaigning for the lift of the moratorium on commercial whaling and even gone as far as trying to buy the votes of underprivileged countries with promises of financial aid.

In my opinion, whaling is barbaric and needs to be outlawed permanently. The words 'cultural differences' and 'ancestral traditions' are just an excuse to continue killing whales. How would the world react if our country one day just said, "I think we should be able to own slaves because it is part of our ancestral heritage!"? Just because it is part of some archaic tradition of culture doesn't mean it should continue.

(Steps off her soapbox)

For the one or two people who read this who would like more information on you can become more active in putting an end to the practice of whaling in the name of research here are some links to get you started:

Whalewatch
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)
Greenpeace
Save The Whales

Posted by spiritiger at 1:31 PM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

*Happy Snoopy Dance* I got my PSG brochure!
Topic: Life
It came! It came! A beautiful full color brochure, all golden and pretty with a chubby faced sun! It came! Which means my registration, Ken's registration and Tommy's registration will be on its way to the good people of Circle by tomorrow morning! *Big toothy grin

and butt dance on the bed for good measure!*

I am looking at the pictures right now of Camp Zoe, just gorgeous! The water looks so serene and calm. I can't wait until we are on the road in June so that we get to see more of its beauty!

*Reads the section about Camp Zoe Facilities*

Shower house with HOT showers!! Woot!! Is such a thing really possible? *giggles*

Firespinning? Yay!! Tommy will be thrilled to hear that.

Now I have even MORE reasons to get over this nasty flu (you know, aside from being annoyed from my own recent over blogging? *thpppt*)

Its amazing how something so simple as a brochure conjures up memories of drum rhythms, the smell of bonfires, beautiful spirits dancing, all the laughter and smiles I remember so warmly. *squeals* I can't wait!! Just a little over three months!!

No more blogging, I gots stuff to plan!!

Posted by spiritiger at 6:08 PM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Oooo Push button? Or nooo push button?
Topic: MySpace
For awhile now, I've been noticing a pretty bright blue link on my "Edit Profile" section entitled "Profile 2.0". Up until this morning, I have been able to resist its chipper teasing (mostly, because I figured there was some sort of fee involved and I... I am cheap *hangs head in shame*).

But, today I noticed something more, something that seemed more enticing somehow; "Profile 2.0: The new profile is here! One-click themes and drag-and-drop modules makes decorating your profile easier than ever. Try it out, you can always go back!". Exclamation marks and bold face type? How by the Gods and Goddesses will a bed ridden Theraflu junkie with a thermometer shoved in her mouth ever be able to resist these obvious charms?

So I clicked... just to have a little peek.

(I hear you now... the one, maybe two readers I have; "No, Jade! Don't click! Clicking will only make you want to push the button more!")

But, alas it is too late, as I have already *gulp* clicked...

And there it is.... the page (http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile.upgradeprofile) with a bright yellow button full of sunshine that says "Upgrade to Profile 2.0" embraced with pretty words like "We'll save a copy of your 1.0 profile for 90 days so you can play around with 2.0 without worrying about messing up your old profile" and "Profile 2.0 loads faster and has a sleeker, more modern look" and... and... *scrolls the page down and back up again* No fees! *Giggles in delight and moves her pointer to the yellow button*

*insert a long dramatic pause*

But wait... *scans through the page one more time*. What about harmless work and family related links on our profile pages that don't begin with "www" and are immediately blocked by the MySpace servers as phishing and spam websites? *smile weakens ever so slightly* Hmmm... no, nothing about that.

Hey, still a very pretty button! *pointer hovers over the yellow button once more ... as perusing of the page continues* Anything about widgets? Like scripted media players other than the 10 song one that MySpace always hypes? Will Playlist.com players ever be allowed on the new Profile 2.0? *smile fades entirely* Hmm... no nothing about that either.

*Moves the pointer away from the once promising yellow button and lets out a long drawn out sigh with dramatic fashion*

I guess the answer from me for now is "Nooo push button." I mean, sure, it probably looks fantastic and is probably more efficient as well. But, honestly? With all the quiet and subtle changes they've made in their user's 1.0 profiles without warning and in some cases without explaination; That ugly blue and white page that reads "This link is broken!!!" where your family's website or work related website used to be is a bit insulting and all because the address did not begin with "www"? This eliminates nearly all personal websites, whether they are pornographic or simply just pages of photos of the user's family tree. I think a page with a warning and the choice of continuing to the link would be preferable to just out right blocking it entirely. To be honest, I wouldn't have even known about their new 'blocking' method had I not tried to link my own personal website. I recieved no announcement about the change by any MySpace staff member. I guess they figure we just like surprises *shrugs* I dunno.

Then there is the Project Playlist thing where if you add the script to your page and MySpace catches it, they delete the widget and send you this nice form letter that basically says "We have deleted the Playlist.com widget from your profile page... blahdity blah... lawsuit ... blahdity blah... until the matter is resolved." Nowhere in the letter do they give any indication of exactly when it will be allowable, if ever, to once again add the Playlist.com widget to your profile.

Now before I get a reaction of "Hurumph! Pirated music! Grumble!" let me give you all the information about the lawsuit that MySpace is referring to;

The Recording Industry Association Of America (R.I.A.A.) has filed suit on behalf of nine (unnamed) record labels claiming that Project Playlist makes unauthorized reproductions of their music without paying any compensations. The latter of this statement being more the bottom line than the former.

However, Sony BMG Music Entertainment nor any of it's labels are part of this lawsuit. In fact, they have actually teamed up with Project Playlist which I suspect is about more than just business.

Here's the rub folks, Project Playlist does not host any music on its website. Not a one. What their website does is allow its users to create music playlists and provides a search engine that points to third party websites that host the music files, most of which are legitimate material. Project Playlist adheres to the copyright laws as it is written and also how it is intended. Yet, they are being punished by MySpace before the verdict is even in, and why? Because MySpace got threatened by the same record labels that are currently trying to sue Project Playlist. So did Facebook and Gaia, but apparently they've stood their ground and refused to budge thus far. *Blinks and grins widely* I did my research today!

All jokes aside though, I have been seriously debating editing this profile page to bare bone and switching to Facebook and making it my primary profile page. It's not like I don't have the HTML skills to simulate this page over there, afterall I did design this profile page myself and have designed several websites on top of that. All I really have to do is transfer all the images and eventually my blog and wham bam problem solved. I've grown tired of reading my own bellyaching about MySpace :P

Posted by spiritiger at 7:52 AM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Monday, 9 March 2009

Final thoughts about Wisteria, then no more.
Topic: Life
Since the ugliness began several months ago over the announcement that the Pagan Spirit Gathering would no longer be held at Wisteria during the Summer Solstice, I have remained relatively quiet about the situation (some might even say uncharacteristically quiet). But now, I feel I must have a say in order to finally put all the negativity and pain behind me and move on to Camp Zoe with a heart and a soul that is ready to celebrate with my Pagan brothers and sisters. A cleansing, as it were.

I think that some people have the delusion that Pagans are nothing more than harmless happy shiny hippies who just like to frolic naked around bonfires deep in the woods. The truth is that being a Pagan is far more complex and has a variety of different meanings depending on who you talk to. I call myself a Wittan (Weedan) far more often than I call myself a 'Pagan' but I embrace both because I am both.

I believe that most Pagans are of what I call a "tribal" mind, meaning that though we may not all follow identical religiosity we embrace one another in our belief that nature is sacred. It is nature itself that binds us to one another in a very real sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. If one of us hurts than all of us hurt.

That being said, however, I also realize that above our individual spirituality and our individual aspirations that sometimes the mundane weaknesses of being human often get in the way of things. Spite and jealousy to name only a few.

In truth, I don't know how all this unfortunate business got started although I think its clear by all accounts that trouble had been brewing for some time between Circle and Wisteria. I remember remarking to my friend Pele this past gathering that there was something wrong, I could just feel it. Everything was out of balance. He too felt it as I did. I don't think either one of us could even fathom how out of balance things really were.

Within just a few short months came the announcement, the Pagan Spirit Gathering would no longer be held at Wisteria. As if this news wasn't difficult enough to absorb, there was this adolescent attitude of the Wisterians, a sort of "Nyah! Nyah! Nyah!" in the face of those of us that had to pay a pretty penny for the past five years so they could have that nice new stage for their outdoor concert area (instead of much needed shower and toilet facilities)... but, I digress.

I've done a great deal of soul searching over the past several months since this announcement was made in October. About where I stand, about loyalty and about kinship and I believe I am finally standing on more solid ground... or as solid as it can be for an air sign with strong influences of fire (okay, Pagans will get this bit of humor :P)

Yes, Wisteria was beautiful. But the reason it was beautiful was because of the color and vitality we gave to the land... not the other way around. It came from the rhythms of our drums, the songs in our voices, every embrace we gave to one another with unselfish desire, and every ounce of love we feel for one another even after the solstice fades. The magic is in the land because we make it.

This celebration, the Pagan Spirit Gathering, is more than just a welcoming of the Summer Solstice. It's a family reunion. A chance for those of us who are apart for a year to return to one another, to share laughter, tears, and bask in the blessings of having one another as part of our lives.

If the Wisterians could not see how important this event was to those of us who embrace our tribe so lovingly then we never belonged there to start with. I finally see that now.

So, this June 2009, I will attend the Pagan Spirit Gathering with new ground beneath my feet but the same sky above me among the same people whom I have loved what seems like a lifetime; Scotty, Pele, Jase, Luno, Erick, Monica, Utu, Dawn, Caitlin, Paul, Dan, and Tereesa. There would be no 'Spirit' in the Gathering for me without these very special people.

One final word about Wisteria and the Wisterians and then I will not speak of either again. Nevermind the titles we as individuals cling to; Pagan, Wiccan, Druid, Enviromentalist, Naturist, lets shed those for just a moment and get down to the bare basic... Human. As human beings saddled with the same weaknesses and foibles as we all share. What joy, even in the short term, can there be in kicking a fellow human being when they are down? From my point of view those of us who are supporters of Circle were treated with complete contempt and disregard by some of the Wisterians. The slew of taunting and snotty postings on Circle associated lists by a select number of Wisterians in response to the initial reaction of the announcement of the dissolvement was then and now, to me, unforgivable. I guess you could say that I'm a soft gooey Pagan on the outside, but still hard jaw-breaking Irish in the center. Wisterians? As my Grandpa used to say "Be careful what bridges you burn, you can't climb over ashes." Because, though the cries have hushed and we are all moving forward, the damage has been done and cannot be undone. To you and your land I bid thee farewell now and forever with no regret.

Now, back to my wooziness and fighting off this flu that has me bed ridden. But hey, at least I'm on a brand new mattress. So every cloud does have a soft pillowy silver lining :)

Brightest Blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 12:09 PM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Thursday, 5 March 2009

MySpace vs. Project Playlist
This blog entry is somewhat a formal protest against MySpace's policy of deleting the Playlist.com's media player widget.

I have always loved all genres of music (except for Polka... I despise polka). So, it stands to reason that I would WANT music on my profile page. Unfortunately, the MySpace Player limits you to 10 songs. How is a music lover like myself supposed to choose just 10 SONGS?! So, I chose to put my playlist from Playlist.com on my profile page since there is wider selection of shared media to choose from AND max limit is 100 songs.

Now MySpace has banned the Playlist java player widget and will forcibly remove it from your profile anytime you insert the script onto your site.

Playlist is in league with Sony BMG and uses the SAME technology of file sharing that the MySpace Media Player uses, so on what ground does MySpace stand in denying its users the choice of Playlist over their UGLY eyesore of a player?

What's next? Are we going to be forced to put MySpace Video on our profiles instead of YouTube? As it stands, it too requires special coding to put onto your profile page like Playlist.

As it stands (because of MySpace's ban on many web addresses that cannot be linked on your profile page... so if you have that nice family website on geocities? forget linking it on your MySpace profile page) I have been forced to make another profile page on Gaia just to link my Playlist to. (Gaia doesn't ban Playlist from their profiles).

The more and more I am a member of MySpace.... the less and less I like it. I don't misbehave, I don't promote pornography, I don't spam other users with useless drivil and yet I feel like I am being punished somehow. I would just like a profile that I could enjoy and be proud of and share with my friends. Is an eye-pleasing java script media player that can hold more than 10 songs REALLY that much to ask?

Posted by spiritiger at 3:47 PM
Post Comment | Permalink | Share This Post

Newer | Latest | Older

«	March 2009					»

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31