The Danger of Complacency

I (WE) are very fortunate to live in the country that we do. I am free to practice what ever religion I want. Hell I can stand out at the end of my driveway naked and holler at the top of my lungs "I'M A PRACTICING WITCH". And other then horrifying a few neighbors and possible causing blindness in one or two others nothing will happen to me. It's easy to forget that there is a large part of the world that is not like that.

Today I discovered that on April 7th of this year, seventeen-year-old Dua Khalil Aswad, of Northern Iraq, was pulled into a group of men–some of them family members, who then beat and stoned her to death. The ordeal took about thirty minutes, and though the police witnessed the event, they didn't intervene. All this was recorded on camera phones by several members of the "audience". Dua Khalil was of the Yazidi faith, and she was seen in the company of a Muslim man that her family believed she intended to marry. She was brutally murdered to preserve the "honour" of her family.

Because it's no longer enough to be a decent person. It's no longer enough to shake our heads and make concerned grimaces at the news. True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself. I've always had a bent towards apocalyptic fiction, and I'm beginning to understand why. I look and I see the earth in flames. Her face was nothing but red. ~Filmmaker Joss Whedon

As a response there is an anthology being planned for release in April 2008. Nothing But Red takes its title from that description of Aswad's murder and was conceived as a response to Whedon's plea. It will be an open-format anthology of responses to Aswad's death and the topics raised by Whedon in his post, which will also be included in the volume. Essays, short stories, poems, photographs, drawings and other kinds of literary or visual arts will be considered for inclusion. Submissions will be open from August 1 to November 1, 2007. Further information on submitting work can be found at http://nothingbutred.wordpress.com.

Now I have to go hug my daughters, tell them I love them again, and remind them that they can be what ever they want when they grow up.

Pop Quiz...

Who Should Paint You: Gustav Klimt

Sensual and gorgeous, you would inspire an enchanting portrait.. With just enough classic appeal to be hung in any museum!

What Artist Should Paint Your Portrait?

Too bad Gustav Klimt died in 1918, so I don't think I'll be able to get him to paint much. Actually I thought this quiz turned out really cool. Klimt is my second favourite artist next to John William Waterhouse

My Favourite Sale

Ah yes Chapters is having their Buy 3 get the 4th free sale!!!!! WooHoo I'm a happy camper! As you can tell I've already started Angela Knight's Master of Dragons Patience might be a virtue, but it's not one of mine.

I also got Mysteria (an anthogy), and Alexis Morgan's In Darkness Reborn. For my 4th, I did what I did last year and picked up an author I had never read before. This year I picked up Alexandra Ivy's When Darkness Comes. I blogged last year about discovering Alexis Morgan's 'Paladin' series and I can't wait to read this latest installment.

Well I'm off to slather some more aloe vera on my chest. I did a stupid today and didn't pay attention to how long I read by the pool. (sans sunscreen) *DOH!* I know better too.

This that and the other

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." Cicero










What a great quote *G* I can honestly say there isn't a single room in my house that doesn't have a book or 8 stashed somewhere. I won't even bring up the pile that currently lives next to my bed. Oh what the hell I have no shame LOL
This picture is what it looked like 5 minutes ago. That doesn't count the two book shelves I have in there too. And yes I've read them all. Most of the ones shown I've read more then once. "How to Marry a Marquis", "Mercy", "Tis All I Ask", "Dance with the Devil" just to name a couple I pick out a first glance. I don't think I can even guess how many times I've read those or skimmed to my favourite parts. LOL

I've heard tell of people that have uncontrollable TBR (to be read)piles. I must be some sort of nut because I really don't have that problem. I can't, NOT read a book I've bought. Even if it sucks some huge slimy rocks, I'll skim through it hoping to find a kernel of redemption, or at least get to the end and finish it. I can see a couple such books in that pile, I won't name names 'cause that isn't nice but they were authors I hadn't read before and won't ever again.

Speaking of authors I have taken a gamble on. Alexis Morgan. She hit a big home run with me last year with her first Paladin book. If you want to read my original blurb about here click here. I checked Chapters tonight and her third book is in stores. Officially it isn't released until the 26th. As soon as I get the girls off to school in the morning I am picking myself up a copy. I can't wait!

Toyota Tacoma Loch Ness Monster Ad

OK I couldn't resist. Really this should win one of those commercial awards. I thought it was hilarious.

Loch Ness Monster Caught on Tape!!

Speaking of mythical creatures making a real life appearance....Guess who made an appearance on May 28th?

I figure the old girl popped up to say Happy Birthday to my mum *BG*

My camping trip

My apologies for leaving everyone hanging like that. I had all intentions of haveing a post written by now but I've been playing catch up with life since I returned. It was only 48 hours, How so many things can fall apart in that time I don't understand. But enough about that.

My camping trip with the Guides went very well thank you. Other then a couple scraped knees and what felt like an excess of mosquitos, we were injury free. I couldn't have wished for better weather. We took a long hike late Saturday afternoon in hopes of missing the majority of the humidity. Teaghan carried the camera for most of it and took lots of neat pictures.

Years ago we told the girls that faerys live in the root system in the bottom of old trees. The older the tree, the more likely it was a home to someone. I still remember the day we (mum, me and the girls) went on a hike and they knocked on trees yelling "You have a beautiful home". That was an interesting hike and a good story for another time. Needless to say I wasn't surprised to see she had taken the above picture when I looked at them later.

This picture was taken a short way farther down the trail. See that iridescent/glowing stripe just to the left of the centre. I don't know what it is either. If you click on the picture it will large size and still I can't figure it out. I can tell you what I think it is, and what I know lives in those woods but I'd love to hear you ideas. Maybe is was the flash reflecting on a spiders thread....or something that was almost caught on film?

I took this one about 20 feet after the other two Teaghan took. That my friends in a bonified faery circle. I saw another one a little farther away. I've know for years that there is more then just wildlife living in the Rockwood forests, it was nice to be able to catch a glimpse that they are still there. I wish I had gotten a better picture but if I went off the trail, it would have been a invitation for all the girls to follow me.

Not a good idea where there is poision ivy among that greenery...also one should never play around faery circles. *G*

Heigh Ho Heigh Ho

It's off to camp I go.

This weekend is the last camping trip with the Girl Guides. As much as I love being involved, I'm looking forward to the break. (Guides doesn't run during the summer.)
As usual I'm not packed but at least I have most of the stuff I need piled up at the front door, ready to be thrown in the car after work. We're tent camping for the next 2 nights, which means a lot of extra stuff has to be brought.

Wish me luck, it we 3 leaders and 17 girls that range from 9-11. Oh man what have I gotten myself into?