Lost...

"And, your very flesh shall be a greatpoem"...

This is what you should do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men ... re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem. --- Walt Whitman

How Julia Butterfly Hill Saved The Ancient Redwood Luna...

December 10, 1997. Northern California. Julia Butterfly Hill was 23 when she climbed Luna, a massive ancient redwood tree in Humboldt County, and set up a tiny platform nearly 180 feet above the ground. Her goal was simple: keep the Pacific Lumber Company from cutting it down. She expected to stay a few days. Nobody imagined she would remain in the tree for more than two years. The old-growth redwood forests were disappearing, and Luna was one of the few giants left, believed to be between 600 and 1,500 years old. Logging crews had already marked it for cutting. Julia decided the only way to stop it was to live in the tree itself. Life in the canopy was anything but romantic. She slept on small wooden platforms, hauled up supplies by rope, endured freezing rain and violent storms, and strapped herself to branches when high winds made the tree sway wildly. Helicopters flew close to rattle her, and loggers cut down surrounding trees to intimidate her. She faced isolation, exhaustion, and constant danger. Still, she stayed. Through a solar-powered phone and later radio interviews, Julia began sharing Luna’s story with the world. She spoke about the damage caused by clear-cutting and the importance of protecting ancient ecosystems. Her quiet determination drew national attention, and the pressure on Pacific Lumber increased. Day after day, season after season, she refused to come down. She celebrated two birthdays in Luna. She endured two winters. She learned the rhythms of the forest and felt a deep connection to the tree she was trying to save. After 738 days, Pacific Lumber finally agreed to negotiate. On December 18, 1999, Julia climbed down from Luna. The company promised to protect the tree and the land around it in exchange for a donated payment from supporters. Luna was safe. Her return to solid ground was difficult. After so long in a constantly swaying tree, she could barely walk without losing her balance. But she had won. One person had saved an ancient redwood that might otherwise have been lost forever. Julia’s tree-sit became one of the most famous acts of environmental activism in modern history. It showed the power of nonviolent resistance and inspired people around the world to believe that individual action can create real change. Luna still stands today, protected and growing, even after surviving vandalism in 2000. Julia Butterfly Hill gave up two years of her life for one tree. Many would call that sacrifice unreasonable. She saw it differently. She believed that change begins when someone decides not to give up, even when the odds are impossible. One person. One tree. 738 days. And Luna is still alive because she chose to climb and refused to come down.

Day Of The Dead 2025, --- Mexico City...

Halloween Celebrations Around The World!!!...

WoW!!!... 1940s Halloween Jazz!!!... COOOOO-OOOOLl!!!...

Blessings!!!...

Read Books, --- Pet Cats...

Karma Doesn't Negotiate!!!...

The Black Orlov Diamond...

The Black Orlov, also known as the “Eye of Brahma Diamond,” is a gemstone surrounded by sinister legends. Said to have been stolen from a Hindu temple, it allegedly carried a curse that brought ruin to its owners. In the 20th century, two owners of the gem supposedly leapt to their deaths, and another was plagued by terrible misfortune. Desperate to break the curse, one owner had the stone recut and set into a brooch surrounded by smaller diamonds. Whether that actually “lifted” the curse is still debated. Its dark sparkle and haunting reputation made it one of the most infamous cursed gems in history. Today, the Black Orlov has become as much a legend as a jewel. The diamond has been displayed in museums around the world, drawing curious crowds. People often come for the chance to see the so-called cursed stone up close. While many dismiss the tragic stories as coincidence, others still feel unsettled by its history. After all, the tales of suicide and despair linked to it are hard to ignore. Even in a display case, its shadowy appearance almost feels alive. Museums present it as a gem of rare beauty, but its reputation always lingers in the background. Visitors may admire it, but few forget the dark stories tied to it. Sometimes the real value of a jewel is the legend it carries.

PLEASE>>> Protect your black cats at Halloween Time!!!...

Please. please don't use glue traps!!!!!!!!...

We All Together Save The Animals 16h · "Every day I roam in search of food, just trying to survive. But today, this cruel trap has caught me. The sticky glue hurts so much, I can't move. I'm suffocating, feeling trapped and hopeless. My little heart is racing in fear, and all I want is to be free, to find a safe place to rest. This pain is unbearable, but what hurts the most is that all I wanted was something to eat, a way to survive. Please, I beg you, understand that this is not how we should treat the creatures around us. This glue trap is not just a simple device; it causes immense suffering, and it doesn't deserve to exist. I am just like any other living being, hoping for a chance at life. So, I ask you, from the bottom of my heart, please say no to glue traps. Help us live without fear, pain, and suffering. Let compassion guide our actions, and together, we can make the world a kinder place for all."

Please have a heart... Please don't hurt possums!!!... Please read. Thank you.

The Animal Maximalist Yesterday at 12:26 PM · I am the shadow you see crossing your yard at night, the hunched figure rifling through your trash can, the wide-eyed creature you call ugly, filthy, or even rabid. I am the possum. And though you may not know it, I do more for you than you could ever imagine. I am not fierce. My teeth may look sharp, but they are for crunching beetles, ticks, and the scraps you leave behind. I am shy, gentle, and easily frightened. When danger comes, I do not fight. I fall limp, my body still, my breath shallow. “Playing possum,” you call it. But it is no game. It is the way I survive, a desperate act that often makes people laugh or strike me anyway. I am your unseen ally. Each season I eat thousands upon thousands of ticks — the very parasites that carry Lyme disease, the sickness that threatens your children, your pets, your hikers in the woods. I clean your gardens of slugs and snails, I clear away rotting fruit, I consume dead animals that might otherwise spread disease. Without me, the balance tips, and your world becomes just a little harsher, a little more dangerous. Yet still, I am misunderstood. You mistake me for a rat, though I am not. I am America’s only marsupial, carrying my babies in a pouch like a kangaroo. They cling to my back as I walk the fence line at dusk, their tiny faces peeking over my fur. I am a mother, often burdened with more than a dozen mouths to feed. And still, I keep working — quietly, humbly, invisibly. But often, I die for no reason at all. Your cars strike me on dark roads, and few stop to help. Your dogs chase me, your traps catch me, your hands raise sticks against me. You see me in your yard and think I am a threat, when all I want is to pass through and move on. Many of my kind die in fear, our young left clinging to lifeless bodies, never given a chance. I do not blame you entirely. Fear is powerful. My face, with its pointed snout and unblinking eyes, unnerves you. My slow shuffle makes me seem sickly. You see only the surface and not the service. You see a scavenger, not a caretaker. You see a pest, not a protector. Do you know what happens when you let me be? Fewer ticks on your pets. Fewer rotting carcasses on the roadside. Cleaner gardens and healthier ecosystems. I ask for so little — a patch of dark to move in, a safe passage under your porch, the chance to raise my young in peace. And so, I plead with you: look at me differently. See not a rat, but a marsupial mother. See not a pest, but a partner. See not an intruder, but a night worker who cleans what you cannot see. When you catch me in your yard, remember that I am carrying out a mission that benefits you more than it benefits me. Leave me to my work, and I will leave you in peace. Protect the wild corners of your neighborhoods. Teach your children that possums are not monsters but quiet helpers. For every small kindness you show me, I return it in ways you may never notice — but would surely miss if I were gone. I am the possum. I am mocked, yet essential. I am feared, yet I mean no harm. I am dying in numbers too great to ignore, and I am asking you, from the quiet of the night: let me live, so that you may live better too.>> The Animal Maximalist

Cass Elliot...

Ellen Naomi Cohen was born on September 19, 1941. She was mocked by people who didn’t know her heart, she was teased by supposed friends. Even after her death, the cruel joke was that she choked on a ham sandwich. All this because of her weight. The jokes hurt her, as it does many people who are called “fat,” who are ridiculed for the way they look, but she hid her pain well, as do many. In high school, she adopted the name “Cass,” and, some time later, she would assume the surname “Elliot” in memory of a friend who had died. According to a 2019 article by writer, Sheila Weller, “Cass—Ellen Naomi Cohen—was a middle-class Jewish girl from Baltimore who left high school six months before graduation to go to New York and try Broadway. She lost the role of Mrs. Marmelstein in ‘I Can Get It For You Wholesale’ to a budding young Jewish singer-actress who did her share to establish the rule that you didn’t have to be classically beautiful to be a star: Barbra Streisand. Cass then got a job as a coat check girl at a Manhattan nightclub, the Bitter End, singing and trying to get random agents’ attention, as she juggled hangers and quarters as tips.” Cass Elliot had a wonderful, soothing voice, she had a wonderful personality, a beautiful soul, but the story is that initially not even John Phillips wanted her as part of his new group, which would become the Mamas and Papas. According to insiders, Phillips thought she was too fat and didn’t fit the image of the group. It was only when the group realized that she had a beautiful voice which actually made the group better that she was allowed more opportunities to sing. When she was finally featured, she had to make up a story that she had a terrible voice until a pipe fell on her head, which somehow made her voice better. Even after that, Elliot’s weight continued to be a source for jokes. In one of the Mamas and the Papas biggest hits, “Creeque Alley”, Elliot had to join the chorus, singing, “And no one’s getting fat except Mama Cass!” After she left the group, she tried to get away from the name “Mama” Cass to no avail. “My mother was The Little Engine That Could,” her daughter Owen Elliot-Kugell told Weller. “Weight shaming was something she dealt with all her life. She was constantly insulted and hurt by people calling or thinking her fat. But she never talked about her pain, and when she performed, she hid that pain. But I know — I could tell—that it bothered her. As a child she was teased as a fatty. Her weight was something she bore the scars of for the rest of her life, be it failed auditions for Broadway shows or lonely nights after The Mamas and The Papas’ performances at Carnegie Hall or the Hollywood Bowl, coming home alone when everyone else had a partner.” She once said, “I’ve been fat since I was seven and being fat sets you apart.” “For others, that might have been a handicap but Cass turned it into a strength,” according to The Guardian. “She opened the door for others like Janis Joplin and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane,” says DJ Annie Nightingale. “I adored her voice, you couldn’t help but like her and she helped establish a genre of independent women.” “Cass’s impact on 60s teenagers with weight problems was significant,” said The Guardian. Nancy Roberts, founder member of the Spare Tyre Theatre Company, a group inspired by Susie Orbach’s Fat is a Feminist Issue, explains: “She was this wonderful sexy role model and inspiration who made it less of an incriminating burden to be fat.” “Aside from breaking the weight-shaming stigma and rising as an improbable female icon, Cass was other things young women weren’t allowed to be then but can be now — a proud single-mother-by-choice and a working mother who supported her child alone,” according to Weller. “At 25, Cass knew she wanted to be a solo mother — a bold choice at the time, even in bohemian circles,” according to NexTribe. “She wanted me more than anything else in the world — she told people that,” her daughter said. But, even with all her personal and musical triumphs and outwardly confidence, Elliot constantly felt the brunt of the fat jokes and the pressure to be slim. “She said she’d never go on stage because Michelle was beautiful and she wasn’t,” says John Phillips, one of the Papas. She was persuaded to change her mind but no one stopped her trying dangerous diets. Elliot tried desperately to lose weight, once going on a six-month long crash diet, losing 100 of her 300 pounds. This would lead to a stomach ulcer and throat problems, which was treated by drinking milk and cream, leading her to regain much of her weight back. At age 32, Elliot would die in her sleep. Immediately, there were rumors that she either died because of drugs or that she died while eating a ham sandwich. Frank Zappa would even reference the sandwich in his song, “We’re Turning Again” with the lyrics, “We can visit Big Mama, we can whap her on the back, while she eats her sandwich!” As recent as 2007, even Snopes had to post an entry and dispute the ham sandwich myth of her death. Owen Elliot was seven when her mother died. “It’s been hard for my family with the sandwich rumour,” she says. “One last slap against the fat lady. People seem to think it’s funny. What’s so darn funny?” According to reports, there was no evidence to support the choking theory. The official autopsy revealed she had little to eat during her final hours. “There was left-sided heart failure,” wrote pathologist Keith Simpson. “She had a heart attack which developed rapidly.” Heart failure. Cass Elliot not only had a beautiful voice, but she also had a beautiful heart which few people got to see. Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers cited The Mamas & the Papas, and especially Elliot, as an influence, in an interview for Rolling Stone, saying, “There have been times when I’ve been very down and out in my life, and the sound of her voice has sort of given me a reason to want to carry on.” “She was a one-woman triumph against adversity; she was ahead of her time; women now are finally doing what she did 50 years ago,” says her daughter. “I look back on her and realize that, just by example, she taught me, and others, not to accept it when someone says you can’t do something.” “I’m proud to be my mother’s daughter,” says Owen. “When I’m having a tough day, for whatever reason, I think of all the ‘you can’t be this; you can’t do thats’ that my mother heard but ignored or conquered. She was a hero to me.” ---- By Naveed Anjum

"Bad boys, bad boys, come with me, come with me!!!'... ;)

A Good Spider...

Bookstores Will Always EXIST!!!...

"Mermaids," --- 1990...

Loved Cher in this movie!!!... I remember when Mrs. Flax handed out sample tubes of toothpaste for Trick Or Treat. Lol. ;) >>>

Quotes from Mrs. Flax: "Don't be ridiculous. A real woman is NEVER too old." >>> "He was on a swim team. He was going to tryout for the Olympics. I was the hotel maid. One night I delivered more than the towels." >>> "Twenty-six and cute as a button. Too bad you're going to be a nun, Charlotte." >>> Mrs. Flax: "How do I look?" Charlotte: "Like a woman going forth in sin." Mrs. Flax: "Good. That's exactly the look I was going for." >>> "Death is dwelling on the past or staying in one place too long." >>> "Charlotte, you drive like old people make love." >>> "When you're pregnant you're feet swell."

How To Make Cream Puffs...

"What A Wonderful World," Sung By Louis Armstrong...

LOVE IT!!!...

Brigette Bardot...

She was so lovely when she was young.

How strange that she did not age well.

>>> Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, --- born 28 September 1934), often referred to by her initials B.B., is a French former actress, singer, and model as well as an animal rights activist. Famous for portraying characters with hedonistic lifestyles, she is one of the best known symbols of the sexual revolution. Although she withdrew from the entertainment industry in 1973, she remains a major pop culture icon. She has acted in 47 films, performed in several musicals, and recorded more than 60 songs. She was awarded the Legion Of Honor in 1985. Born and raised in Paris, Bardot was an aspiring ballerina during her childhood. She started her acting career in 1952 and achieved international recognition in 1957 for her role in And God Created Woman (1956), catching the attention of many French intellectuals and earning her the nickname "sex kitten". She was the subject of philosopher Simone de Beauvoir's 1959 essay The Lolita Syndrome, which described her as a "locomotive of women's history" and built upon existentialist themes to declare her the most liberated woman of France. She won a 1961 David di Donatello Best Foreign Actress Award for her work in The Truth (1960). Bardot later starred in Jean-Luc Godard's film Le Mépris (1963). For her role in Louis Malle's film Viva Maria! (1965), she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress. French President Charles de Gaulle called Bardot "the French export as important as Renault cars". After retiring from acting in 1973, Bardot became an animal rights activist and created the Brigitte Bardot Foundation. She is known for her strong personality, outspokenness, and speeches on animal defense; she has been fined twice for public insults. She has also been a controversial political figure, as of November 2021 having been fined six times for inciting racial hatred when she criticised immigration and Islam in France and called residents of Réunion "savages". She is married to Bernard d'Ormale, a former adviser to Jean-Marie Le Pen, a far-right French politician. Bardot is a member of the Global 500 Roll of Honour of the United Nations Environment Programme and has received several awards and accolades from UNESCO and PETA. In 2011, Los Angeles Times Magazine ranked her second on the "50 Most Beautiful Women In Film".

I read her autobiography... I can't help but like her...

Katherine Hepburn was notoriously private. Especially at her country home, she had plenty to keep her busy outside the spotlight. The actor played tennis, golf, and swam into the ocean into her 80s. “I swim all winter, so the season is never closed to me,” Hepburn once said.

The Streets Behind The Moulin Rouge...

Spaghetti Puttanesca, --- one of my favorite dishes...

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca, --- the authentic Italian recipe >>> If you speak or understand Italian you’ll know that Spaghetti alla Puttanesca literally means prostitute’s spaghetti. ‘Puttana’ in Italian means prostitute or whore.

However, despite the name, this is a very popular pasta recipe in Italy and abroad. Although, out of Italy, many recipes include other ingredients, which often has Italians up in arms. What is Puttanesca? Like so many other Italian dishes there are various opinions on how this pasta dish got its name! Some believe that it was a dish made by a brothel owner in the Spanish quarter (red light district) of Naples.

Although it's not clear, if he offered it to his patrons or used it to entice customers through the door with the spicy, pungent aroma produced by its ingredients. Others believe that this was the easiest thing prostitutes could prepare between customers because the low cost, easily stored ingredients required little shopping or preparation. More believable, perhaps, is the story that this very popular sauce originated in Ischia around 1950. It was created by Sandro Petti, the co-owner of the restaurant, Rangio Felon. The story goes that some customers arrived late to eat and because the restaurant had run out of many fresh ingredients, they asked Petti to prepare ‘una puttanata qualsiasi’, which literally translates as ‘a whore’s any’ but means any rubbish/ garbage.>>> Two rules for authentic Puttanesca Italians love to talk about food and they are very vocal when it comes to discussing the correct ingredients for traditional dishes. Because there are regional versions of many popular dishes, they can often be heard disputing among themselves what is the correct way to cook something! However, when it comes to Puttanesca there are a couple of strict rules Italians all agree on. No Parmigiano cheese if you make it with anchovies (Italians don’t usually use cheese on seafood pasta dishes) and no basil. Ingredients: Pasta: Use a good quality Italian branded pasta if possible. Traditionally spaghetti is used for Puttanesca, but you can also use other long pasta types like linguine. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds a lot of richness to the puttanesca sauce, so it's important to use a good-quality one. Garlic: Thinly slice or chop the garlic to ensure it melds seamlessly into the oil, creating a fragrant base. Anchovy Fillets: These add a lot of richness and umami to the recipe. If using salted anchovies, rinse off the excess salt; if using oil-packed, drain them well. Peperoncino Flakes or Fresh Peperoncino: Adjust the heat to your liking. Capers: If using salted capers, rinse under water to remove excess salt. Capers add a necessary unique flavor to the dish. Olives: Black or green olives work well. I used Taggiasca olives for their rich flavor and firm texture. Fresh Tomatoes: San Marzano or datterini tomatoes are ideal for their sweet flavor and low acidity. Peel and deseed them for a smoother sauce. Fresh Parsley: Use flat-leaf parsley for its stronger flavor. Peeled and chopped tomatoes in white bowl and other prepared ingredients in white bowl. >>> Expert Tips Tomato Preparation: To deskin and deseed fresh tomatoes, start by scoring a small "X" on the bottom of each tomato. Blanch them in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds, then transfer them to cold water. The skin should peel off easily. After, cut them in half horizontally and use a small spoon to remove the seeds. >>> Pasta Water and Sauce Consistency: Don't discard the pasta water after boiling the spaghetti. This starchy water will help make a silky and well-emulsified sauce. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add some pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Conversely, if the sauce is too thin, allow it to simmer slightly longer to reduce it to your liking. >>> Step by Step Instructions 1) Start by boiling water for the spaghetti. Once boiling, add salt and return to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until just under al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining. --- 2) Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet. Add the garlic, anchovies, and peperoncino. Cook over medium heat until the garlic is fragrant and the anchovies have dissolved, about 5 minutes. 3) Add capers, a bit of parsley and olives and stir to combine. Chopped garlic, anchovies, peperoncino and parsley in frying pan with olives and capers. 4) Add the tomatoes to the pan and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Peeled and chopped tomatoes in frying pan with other puttanesca ingredients. 5) Add the drained spaghetti and a splash of pasta water to the sauce. 6) Cook, stirring and shaking the pan and adding more pasta water as necessary to keep the sauce a little liquidy until pasta is perfectly al dente. Sprinkle in more parsley and taste to season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with a rich red wine like grappa or chianti. --- From "The Pasta Project".

The History Of Rock & Roll...

Bob's Big Boy Restaurant...

"Maybelline"... ;)

June 24, 2015 · CADILLAC NATIONALS- A pair of Coupe de Villes at Rick Payton's Classic Garage Diner in Eau Claire WI. (Jim Jordan)

A Lovely Fox!!!...

Possum-possum-possum... ;)

Many consider pigeons to be vermin...

...BUT, once they were thought of as heroes, as they carried messages in World War I and World War II. Now, they have been discarded, forgotten, even hated... :(

Yesssssssss!!!... :)

To Escape The Maddening Crowd...

A bluebell wood is a magical faerie place!!!...

Cute Creatures In A Weird Way...

Ewoks...

I love Jar-Jar Binks!!!...

The Jabberwock...

Fey Encounters...

Ah, --- GNOMES!!!...