Thursday, March 1, 2012
Screenshot Remembrance
Above is a fairly recent video that I ended up finding within a day or two days after it was posted. I personally was given a surprise when I first noticed this video considering how recently posted it is. Before seeing this video I knew of Jessica Ahlquist, what she is was trying to do and the threats made against her.
Today I remembered a slight detail about the threats made; I saw screenshots of some of the said threats and negative comments. These screenshots are also easy enough to find through a search engine. The importance of this is the fact that these are screenshots posted onto the internet.
Plenty of the threats and negative comments directed at Jessica were on Twitter, with the name, photograph and username of the person being clearly visible by their posts. I cannot help but view this as laughable seeing as screenshots of their threats and related negative comments are tied to their names and usernames, which just also includes photos of their faces. Congratulations to these people, for your faces and names will be associated with such things as stupidity and hatred across the globe.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Common Reed
Phragmites australis is a perennial grass with the common name of Common Reed, growing 1.8 to 6M tall and 70 to 100cm wide. Its leaves are narrow and flat, with its blades arching. Flowers are feathery and are egg shaped. These flowers appear in spring, where it can be erect or drooping and tinged with brown or purple.
Naturally it lives near shores, where it only grows effectively on the edges of waterways. Full sun is required and constant moisture a must. Common reed is also tolerant of both frost and salt, being a hardly plant requiring little to no care.
Common reed also uses rhizomes to spread, allowing it to become a weed in some areas.
Naturally it lives near shores, where it only grows effectively on the edges of waterways. Full sun is required and constant moisture a must. Common reed is also tolerant of both frost and salt, being a hardly plant requiring little to no care.
Common reed also uses rhizomes to spread, allowing it to become a weed in some areas.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Australian Politics And Weather
The joyous day has come to find out who will be Prime Minister of Australia at the end of the day. Depending on how one looks at it is either a good or bad thing that Julia Gillard remains Prime Minister. Drama wise, I’m personally glad that now it has been dealt with seeing as I find it annoying to see another drama within the field of politics.
And while drama is being mentioned, last night was a drama in itself. The area I live in was filled with loud winds and shocking humidity. The combination left me awake for a number of hours during the night. On another note, a house apparently was also struck by lightning and set alight during the heavy rain earlier on in the night.
Both the lack of sleep and the political drama probably isn’t the best combination. To say the least, I will happily enjoy reading or watching a drama but tend to want to keep my politics out of it. Perhaps it will be an idea to pick up a newspaper or two tomorrow for all the politically related drawings and articles created in todays honour, a good laugh could be used.
And while drama is being mentioned, last night was a drama in itself. The area I live in was filled with loud winds and shocking humidity. The combination left me awake for a number of hours during the night. On another note, a house apparently was also struck by lightning and set alight during the heavy rain earlier on in the night.
Both the lack of sleep and the political drama probably isn’t the best combination. To say the least, I will happily enjoy reading or watching a drama but tend to want to keep my politics out of it. Perhaps it will be an idea to pick up a newspaper or two tomorrow for all the politically related drawings and articles created in todays honour, a good laugh could be used.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Gods And Goddesses: Ma Gu
Ma Gu is an immortal and considered a goddess by some, said to be the goddess of hemp and longevity. Her name means “Hemp Maid”. She appears young and beautiful, with her hair often in a bun, her fingernails long and alike to birds talons, along with being clothed in a dress with a collar made of leaves. Ma Gu is also known to carry a basket and depictions of her often show her on a crane or deer or holding peaches or wine.
Her birthday is celebrated on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.
The temple complex in Yantai of the Shangdong Province of China is said to be the only temple dedicated to Ma Gu that survived the Cultural Revolution. Cultivation and attainment of immortality by Ma Gu is also said to be at this temple. At her temple, violence is taboo and hunting and fishing are also banned under order of this goddess. Those who violate this apparently end up drowning in the lake or becoming hopelessly lost.
Ma Gu freed slaves who worked for her father and showed how to farm reclaimed land from the sea before becoming immortal. Her husband later murdered her and dumped her body in a lake, where her body washed up where her temple stands. After death, she gained the status of fairy and became handmaiden, serving peaches of immortality.
Ma Gu is protector women and gives favour also over shamans, alchemists and mystic seekers.
Her birthday is celebrated on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.
The temple complex in Yantai of the Shangdong Province of China is said to be the only temple dedicated to Ma Gu that survived the Cultural Revolution. Cultivation and attainment of immortality by Ma Gu is also said to be at this temple. At her temple, violence is taboo and hunting and fishing are also banned under order of this goddess. Those who violate this apparently end up drowning in the lake or becoming hopelessly lost.
Ma Gu freed slaves who worked for her father and showed how to farm reclaimed land from the sea before becoming immortal. Her husband later murdered her and dumped her body in a lake, where her body washed up where her temple stands. After death, she gained the status of fairy and became handmaiden, serving peaches of immortality.
Ma Gu is protector women and gives favour also over shamans, alchemists and mystic seekers.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Totem: Giraffe
The giraffe has its long legs and neck, with its appearance being easily recognizable allowing for many across the globe to give easy recognition to this African animal.
This particular animal is one that can make a loud noise, but often resides in quietude. The giraffe teaches to embrace quietude, that one can speak but it is something that should be used when needed. The balance between vocal communication and quietude is also taught by the giraffe.
Despite their body, the body of the giraffe remains well balanced. A lesson is how to keep one’s balance and how to progress despite a body that may be problematic for one reason or another.
This particular animal is one that can make a loud noise, but often resides in quietude. The giraffe teaches to embrace quietude, that one can speak but it is something that should be used when needed. The balance between vocal communication and quietude is also taught by the giraffe.
Despite their body, the body of the giraffe remains well balanced. A lesson is how to keep one’s balance and how to progress despite a body that may be problematic for one reason or another.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Garden Sage
Garden Sage, also called Common Sage, is the common names for Salivia officinalis, a perennial evergreen subshrub. The garden sage is known for its uses, both medicinal and culinary in nature. There are also a number of varieties of this particular plant.
Garden sage will typically need full sun except in warmer areas where part shade will be needed. Flowering will occur in mid-summer, with harvesting best soon before and after blooming although it can be done any time. Once leaves are harvested, they can be dried in a well-ventilated room on screens as long as it is away from direct sunlight.
Pests are not the greatest worry to this plant; rather it is excessive water and lack of sunlight. Pruning is suggested after flowering to help keep this plant in an attractive shape and as lack of pruning may cause problems to this plant later on.
A loamy-clay soil is what garden sage best grows in, but this hardy plant can also tolerate other soils. Nitrogen rich soils are what garden sage loves, helpful if one does not have a loamy-clay soil. The garden sage also does well being grown in a container.
Garden sage will typically need full sun except in warmer areas where part shade will be needed. Flowering will occur in mid-summer, with harvesting best soon before and after blooming although it can be done any time. Once leaves are harvested, they can be dried in a well-ventilated room on screens as long as it is away from direct sunlight.
Pests are not the greatest worry to this plant; rather it is excessive water and lack of sunlight. Pruning is suggested after flowering to help keep this plant in an attractive shape and as lack of pruning may cause problems to this plant later on.
A loamy-clay soil is what garden sage best grows in, but this hardy plant can also tolerate other soils. Nitrogen rich soils are what garden sage loves, helpful if one does not have a loamy-clay soil. The garden sage also does well being grown in a container.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Ancestors
Recently I watched a video about ancestors; I think it was from the Pagan Perspective channel on YouTube. I reminded myself of the video I had watched and it got me thinking about ancestor veneration. There is a number of dates of note dealing with ancestors, Samhain, Day of the Dead, Qingming Festival and Ghost Month.
A personal belief is of rebirth, leaving the question of why to venerate after a certain amount of time. It is also viewed that even after rebirth, a part of the person stays behind leaving them able to bring blessing or possibly even the opposite, leaving ancestor veneration of some significance. Personally it is however not just about trying to appease, but also to remember them.
This leaves is to give regular offerings that only really need to be some incense and a candle or two to be lit for a small amount of time. Offerings of foods and liquids boil down to who the ancestors are, with how the altar looks also being part of whom the ancestors personally are.
How one venerates their ancestors can vary a number of ways, the most notable is the times of the year take of most importance in remembering and venerating ancestors. It can also only be only a particular day or two of the year, a weekly basis or a daily basis, depending on practice. When one looks at it, asking people on what they do can tell plenty.
A personal belief is of rebirth, leaving the question of why to venerate after a certain amount of time. It is also viewed that even after rebirth, a part of the person stays behind leaving them able to bring blessing or possibly even the opposite, leaving ancestor veneration of some significance. Personally it is however not just about trying to appease, but also to remember them.
This leaves is to give regular offerings that only really need to be some incense and a candle or two to be lit for a small amount of time. Offerings of foods and liquids boil down to who the ancestors are, with how the altar looks also being part of whom the ancestors personally are.
How one venerates their ancestors can vary a number of ways, the most notable is the times of the year take of most importance in remembering and venerating ancestors. It can also only be only a particular day or two of the year, a weekly basis or a daily basis, depending on practice. When one looks at it, asking people on what they do can tell plenty.
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