Happy Holidays...

from Sleeveface!

I'm a winner!!!

Was I ever surprised when I won this scarf by the fabulous Shalana of The Funky Felter! I never win anything, and had forgotten that I entered this contest even. The scarf is gold and burgundy wool felted onto purple silk fabric. It's really lightweight, soft and warm too! I'll enjoy wearing it. Shalana even sent a felted ring and a fab bookmark. Thanks Shalana!

MIA...

Yes, I've been MIA for a while now. It's been busy due to making yarn for the holiday season! I've really been concentrating on getting yarn made rather than having fun on the computer. You can see my yarns at my Bee's Knees Knitting Etsy shop.

Here's a really cool book called Sleeveface that's just come out. You'll want to browse thru this site and see all the cool LP jackets that people have posed with. Very creative!

Eckhart Quote of the Day

“Joy does not come from what you do, it flows into what you do and thus into this world from deep within you.”

Gangaji Quote of the Day

"Just be here and receive what is offered."

Eckhart Quote of the Day

"Become at ease with the state of "not knowing." This takes you beyond mind because the mind is always trying to conclude and interpret. It is afraid of not knowing. So, when you can be at ease with not knowing, you have already gone beyond the mind. A deeper knowing that is non-conceptual then arises out of that state."

IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS

This video is heartbreaking - see where the eggs you feed your children come from. It's important for everyone to see this so that you can make informed decisions about the food you buy. IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS.

Ban Poaching - Sign the Petition!

Oprah Exposes Factory Farms

I was very excited to hear that Oprah was doing a show on the conditions in which animals on factory farms are raised. The reporter Lisa Ling traveled to factory farms and "ethical" organic farms. I was very surprised that these factory farmers allowed cameras inside their facilities. The chicken facility was horrible, but the pig facility was fairly clean. I suspect it is one of the "better" pig factory farms. The veal farm was very sad. It's no surprise these farmers were quite against Prop 2 in California - they do not want to be forced to provide more room for the animals. They claim it would put them out of business. However, what made them implement this way of farming in the first place? Some misguided belief that it was better for the animals (surely they don't believe this deep within their souls), or the nice idea of saving money so as to compete better in the market and realize a higher profit? I think they are more concerned for the bottom line than animal welfare.

And on the other side we have the ethical, organic farmers. It is quite clear that the ethically raised animals are happier and healthier and are being treated humanely. The pig farmer used to farm his pigs in the factory way, and made the change. He says it's actually cheaper for him to let the pigs roam outside in the sunshine. The chicken farmer lets his chickens scratch in the dirt and grass outside all day and go to roost in a building at night. The organic cow farmer pastures his cows in the fresh air and sunshine and sells calves for veal. At least these veal calves get to stay with their mothers for their 16-week long lives.

Throughout the show, Oprah was very fair and allowed each side to speak for itself. She was careful not to criticize the factory farms, as I'm sure she doesn't want to get sued by the meat industry (again). I am grateful for Oprah to bring this to her show, at least some people will change their ways as a result.

DIY Shower Spray

Here's my homemade "shower shine" spray for keeping your pre-fabricated shower walls and glass door clean (this is our shower in the picture). It works quite well, and will save you time and money! Here's the recipe:

32 oz spray bottle
1 cup vinegar
1 Tbsp dishwasher rinse aid
1 Tbsp liquid dishwashing soap
10 drops tea tree oil

Put everything into the spray bottle, then fill the rest of the bottle with water. It doesn't have the greatest smell, so I try not to breath it in when I'm spraying (I actually hold my breath - hey, I had to do the same thing with commercial shower spray). But it does work really well. I'm not sure if the tea tree oil does anything, but it's supposed to be anti-bacterial. It can't hurt.

Update, weeks later: This stuff really works! My husband is really thrilled with it too. I don't have to scrub the shower any more and the glass is sparkling clean. It's a winner!

Eckhart Quote of the Day

"The human condition: lost in thought."

Eckhart Quote of the day...

"Dogmas - religious, political, scientific -arise out of the erroneous belief that thought can encapsulate reality or the truth. Dogmas are collective conceptual prisons. And the strange thing is that people love their prison cells because they give them a sense of security and false sense of "I know."

Nothing has inflicted more suffering on humanity than its dogmas. It is true that every dogma crumbles sooner or later, because reality will eventually disclose its falseness; however, unless the basic delusion of it is seen for what it is, it will be replaced by others.

What is this basic delusion? Identification with thought."

Hot Dogs are From Hell

Do you know how the food you eat is produced? The answer may surprise you.

Many advertisements depict food as coming from small family farms. They picture cows grazing in pastures, chickens hopping around the yard, and farmers planting small acreages of crops such as corn, wheat, potatoes, soybeans and barley.

But is this the type of environment in which our cows are raised, corn is grown, eggs are hatched, etc.?

No. The reality is quite different. Most of the food in supermarkets comes from large industrial operations, or “factory farms.” This food is produced in a manner drastically different from the past, when most food was produced by small family-owned farms. Since most of our food now comes from these factory farms, it begs the question: Is the food they produce healthy?

Large-Scale Agriculture

A factory farm produces huge volumes of food by industrial type operations. These food factories typically cover as many as several thousand acres. If it has livestock, it generally has several thousand animals confined in the same area. Because factory farms are so large, they achieve “economies of scale,” producing much more food at cheaper prices than smaller farms.

These farms are owned by giant corporations and operate purely on the profit motive, maximizing profits for their shareholders. Unlike small family farms, they usually do not have close connections to the communities in which they operate. Much of their produce is often sold hundreds and even thousands of miles away.

In developed nations, factory farms have expanded rapidly since their origins in the early 20th Century. So much so that in the U.S. only 3% of farms now generate an astonishing 62% of that nation’s agricultural output! In fact, they have so consolidated the agricultural sector that only five food retailers (Kroger, Albertson’s, Wal-Mart, Safeway and Ahold USA) account for a whopping 42% of all retail food sales in the U.S. And because they are able to produce food cheaper, factory farms are forcing smaller farms out of business (according to Natural Agricultural Statistics Service, 330 farmers leave their land every week). Typically, they control all aspects of production, including animal rearing, feeding, slaughtering, packaging and distribution—a process known as “vertical integration.”

Indeed, factory farms have become so powerful that many are questioning whether they are beneficial to our society and environment. Because they wield such tremendous power, they have become a highly controversial topic.

A Good Thing?

Those supporting factory farming point out that it provides multiple benefits:

*Cheap food production: Due to the use of technology and “economies of scale,” they produce food at less cost than smaller farms, thus enabling customers to save money on food purchases.
*Efficiency: The ability to efficiently produce and distribute huge quantities of food to feed large cities.
*Employment: Factory farms provide employment to nearby communities.
*Capital: Supporters argue that factory farms do invest in the communities in which they operate.

On the other hand, opponents of factory farming point out:

*Animal cruelty: Typically large numbers of animals are kept in close confinement, having little room to maneuver. This overcrowding frequently causes stress, frustration, boredom and joint pains. Other examples of cruelty include drugging and mutilating animals (for example, chickens’ beaks are sliced off and cows’ tails are amputated).

*Diseases: Raising large numbers of animals in cramped conditions leads to disease. Therefore, the animals are fed antibiotics in order to ward off diseases.

Also, animals are injected with hormones to speed their growth and some are even given feed containing animal byproducts.

This has led to humans acquiring antibiotic resistant bacteria, and diseases such as mad cow disease.

*Pollution: Factory farms produce large quantities of waste that is difficult to dispose of. This waste emits greenhouse gases, and leaks into lakes, rivers and ground water, putting entire communities at risk.

*Monoculture: Factory farming typically devastates the ecosystem in an area by wiping out large tracts of land to produce one crop.

*Inferior food: Food produced by factory farming has lower nutritional value than food produced by organic farming.

Organic food contains a higher level of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients.

What is the Alternative?

An alternative to factory farming that has been touted is “sustainable farming.” With this type of farming, farms are smaller, crops are often grown organically (i.e., without chemical fertilizers), routine crop rotation is practiced, and the produce is sold in the local communities. Animals are pasture-raised, well-treated and live in conditions that are suited to their normal behaviors.

Supporters of sustainable farming claim it is more harmonious with the environment, and the food produced is healthier and more nutritious.

Sustainable farming is the way to produce food that is most nutritious for others while simultaneously keeping the environment healthy. It shows love and kindness to human and animal alike. It is not the “profit at all cost” approach.

Man’s greed in placing the profit motive above all else has resulted in environmental damage, in sickness and disease, and in the production of inferior food that weakens rather than strengthens the body.

What can you do to help?
* Never buy factory farmed products
* Avoid meat in restaurants, unless you know it's organic meat
* Buy organic meat, organic milk/cheese/yogurt and cage-free organic eggs
* Become a vegetarian or vegan - it's easy and provides enough protein
* Spread the word about factory farming
* Sign a petition against factory farm systems
* Write to your State representatives and Senators

(from an article here)

Why I'm a vegetarian...

Would you eat this baby? Baby chicks, pigs and cows are this cute when they're born too. But I've stopped putting these animals on my table. Here's why:

1. Chickens live to only 4 months old. They are bred and fed to grow 3 times faster than what is normal for a chicken. Their bones can't keep up and remain soft and underdeveloped. Half their beaks are cut off so they don't peck each other to death. The conditions are filthy. Nine billion chickens per year are slaughtered in the U.S. alone. A day in the life of a typical chicken.
2. Pigs are confined to cages so small, they can't even turn around. Many of them go crazy from boredom and claustrophobia. 100 million pigs per year are slaughtered in the U.S. alone.
3. One-day-old calves are taken from their mothers and chained by the neck to a stall so small that they cannot turn around. After 4 months of being chained up like this, they are slaughtered and sold as veal. Yum.
4. Dairy cows are loaded up with hormones to force production of milk at higher than normal rates. This leads to painfully oversized udders, mastitis and pus production. Pus gets into the milk. Cows are then given anti-biotics for the mastitis. After a few short years of continuous milk production, the cow gets sick and is sent to slaughter. 30 million cattle per year are slaughtered in the U.S. alone.
5. I have seen videos from slaughter houses, chicken factory farms, pig factory farms, cow factory farms and geese/duck farms. It is not a pretty site. The humans who work there suffer just as much as the animals. I think this is soul-killing work for the humans and hell on earth for the animals. It is madness for sure, all in the name of making a profit.

If most people knew how these animals were being treated, they would stop buying these mass market meat and dairy products. Eating these products from unhealthy animals is unhealthy for humans. If your children knew what was happening to these animals, they would not want to eat these products, and neither should you. There are alternatives. There are organic meat and dairy products, and there is the choice to become vegetarian. You can get all the protein you need from plant sources.

Also, there are the "old" ways of raising animals for food, where the animal at least has a decent life before they go to slaughter. Fresh air, sunshine and green pastures are what these animals want and need. Animals raised organically in this way are healthy, happy animals, and they provide healthy nutrition for humans that choose to eat them.

This whole factory farm business is totally unnecessary. Please help by buying organic or going vegetarian. If I haven't convinced you, then watch these short videos. At least be informed when you choose mass market meat products at the grocery store. Know what you're buying and the sources of what you're feeding your family. Be informed so you can make informed decisions.

A famous musician speaks out...

The Malcolm Effect...

I was reading my daughter's blog where she was talking about our planet being pretty much doomed. It certainly seems that way if you think about the way things are going. If any of you saw the movie Wall•E, then you know the earth becomes a giant garbage dump and the humans leave it to live on a spaceship because we've ruined the earth. All animals and plants are extinct as well, except for a roach. It's kind of like what the character Ian Malcolm predicts in the book Jurassic Park - it is almost certain that a complex system (such as the earth) will have a rapid catastrophic failing. (This was called the Malcolm Effect in the book.) On the other hand, Ian Malcolm said "life will find a way." So if all life forms as we know them now become extinct, other life forms will evolve to take their place. But still, it's all very sad. It does seem like we're screwed because we've screwed the earth. Eckhart Tolle says that the earth won't be able to sustain another 100 years of the last 100 years. Our only hope is if enough people wake up to the present moment, and human madness comes to an end.

One of my favorite Eckhart quotes

"I was looking for something and missed no-thing." What this means to me: make room for "space" in your life, space to just be quiet, be still, just "be", without the "things" of life taking all your attention. Make space to pay attention to no-thingness. (If you like this, see Eckhart for more.) (picture from eckharttolle.com)

Let them eat mud pies...

This is from a T-shirt sold by northernsun.com. It's good to let your kids play in the dirt, as it improves their immunity to things like asthma and immune-system illnesses later in life. This from a doctor, Larry Dossey, who had a conversation with Oprah on her soul series . Being too clean is not a good thing! The same doc also said it could help a person in a coma wake up if you have Christmas carolers sing Christmas songs to the person. Or heck, anyone could sing them!

Olympics 2008

Wow! For those of you who didn't catch the opening ceremony of the Olympics, it was absolutely awesome! Really, how will anyone top the spectacle? China did themselves proud! Some highlights (see especially the 2nd photo with the giant floor scroll made from a flexible LCD screen - it was so amazing with changing and moving images throughout the ceremony):











Here are some Olympic rings from past ceremonies:

The photo below is from 2006 in Turin, Italy:



And this one is from 2004 Athens:



And this is from 2002 Salt Lake City:



And this 2000 in Sydney:



The changing technology really allows better and better displays.

Ban the bag!!

I saw a documentary recently that a city in India has completely banned those thin plastic shopping bags that are so prevalent here. Instead of drug busters, they send out plastic bag busters to raid every business looking for illegal plastic bags. More and more places around the world are following suit by banning, taxing or charging for plastic bags. I would support that here in the States too. You've got to hit people in the pocketbook as an incentive to get them to change.

Plastic soup...

that's what's becoming of our oceans! See Junk to experience the ocean voyage into the north Pacific on a raft (below) made of plastic bottles. I never knew so much plastic was ending up in the ocean - I can probably eliminate some of the plastic from my life. I did eliminate the plastic grocery bags - I bought re-usable organic cotton cloth bags, and take them to the grocery every week. It's one small step. I wish my town were recycling more plastic, but they only take #1 and 2 bottles and nothing else in other shapes. I found out recently that the U.S. sells a lot of used plastic, paper and aluminum cans to China. We make more money selling it to them than re-using it ourselves! I'm glad that someone uses it, even though it has to be shipped across the ocean to get used.



Here's a report from the Today show about plastic in the oceans:

More on Mario Kart...

My favorite race is Moonview Highway. And my least favorite is Mushroom Gorge! I always cringe when someone votes for the Mushroom Gorge race on the Wii WFC. I even like it less than Rainbow Road. I don't even hate Rainbow Road anymore, as I've gotten a lot better. But no matter how many times I play Mushroom Gorge, I don't like it better. I just don't like the jumping across the mushroom parts! Oh, and in case you're wondering, no, I don't play Mario Kart all day! I only allow that for a little while in the evenings, or more on weekends. I'm actually trying to run a yarn making business too, so that's my main daily activity (besides all the house-wifely things I have to do too!)

I got my kitties a cute cat house:



One of them especially likes it and will sit out for hours. Both my cats were outdoor/indoor cats at our last house, but they can't be here, so this is my alternative. I also bought them a nice cat tree from therefinedfeline.com. They use that every day too:

Miiow!!!

I've decided to start a new blog on a different site from my original blog. I don't feel like I can really be "myself" on that blog, since I started it in conjunction with my business selling yarn. So anyway, this can be my blog about everything else! I kind of stopped posting on that blog last fall anyway.

My blog title comes from a little Mii on Mario Kart that I created, called Miiow! He's a kitty Mii. Too bad there are no really good ways to create kitty ears on the miis, just eyebrows that don't go high enough and aren't really the right shape. BTW, on Mario Kart, I have a one or two star-rating on all 50cc, 100cc, and five of the 150cc cups. The mirror cups are next! It's much harder getting a star for the 150cc cups than for the 50cc cups. And it's much more fun winning than losing, of course. I haven't been playing it much over the internet because I wanted to improve my game before trying to get more points. I was up over 6300 points, then I hit a losing streak, so decided I better practice, practice, practice!

Oh, and I have to get a star on all the cups, even the Mirror ones, to get an overall star rating! Pooh! I haven't played the Mirror cups yet, so I thought I could get a star rating without doing those, since I don't have any rating on those. Oh, well.

Does anyone else like playing Mario Kart this much??

To change the subject, see where this kitty, Mr. Lee is going on his trips outdoors:



His owner installed a tiny cat-cam on his collar! This picture is from one of his excursions - is he seeing a cat friend or foe? I think this is so much fun and makes me want to let my kitties outside! Maybe I should get the cat-cam or one of the GPS tracking devices this guy sells on the same site. You can install one of those on a cat harness. My kitties used to be outdoor cats in our previous house, but this house isn't in as good a location for safety reasons - we're in the city more here.

Most of you have probably heard of Christian the lion by now:



This is a real weeper, so have the kleenexes ready!