Get Real’s Neighborhood

Solstice

Hey everyone! I hope you all had an amazing Holiday!!  :)

For the New Year, I just thought I'd post links to 3 of my favorite charites. I'll go into more detail on each one later, but for now check out their websites. All are real players working for our planet.

The New England Wildflower Society

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)

The Center for Biological Diversity

Our daughter became engaged to her Scottish partner today. He is a fine young man, and we are very happy for them both. It is three years today since they met in Inverness, Scotland. They came to Toowoomba last April, and plan to make their future home here. We had planned a BBQ for tomorrow night. I wonder if her partner and I will be dancing together like we were at the wedding we attended in Manchester last year. Better not, I suppose. I don't want to make our daughter jealous...

Topic of the Hour: Retribution Killings

In my previous blog, I vented a bit about illegal immigration, attitudes towards it, and the birthright that we owe ourselves our children. If you haven't read it - in passing I mentioned that illegal immigrants aren't bad people, that they are simply looking after their own. There's no shame in that. An article in the news today provided a stark reminder of the reality they have to live with when it comes to self-preservation. Summarized: In a manner reminiscent of mafia killings, a military man's family -- mother, aunt, and siblings -- was gunned down in retaliation for the man's fighting on behalf of his country against the drug cartels. Having his name put out there, acknowledging him a war hero, marked them for death.

This is the savage, animal violence they have to live with in their country, what their children are sucked into and as powerful in its own right as any lesser government. Fighting back is dealt with in cold, ruthless efficiency. Examples are made of exactly what will happen to those you love the most if you have the audacity to fight for your people. Not just in villages, but Mexico City itself. Is it any wonder their people come here for a better life?

Reading reminded me of a book I once read by Tom Clancy, called Clear and Present Danger. Plot-wise, it was simple. A man who just so happens to be friends with the president of the USA is killed by people affiliated with the cartels, and in retaliation, the president authorizes a black-ops campaign against the drug cartels responsible, under the auspice of "clear and present danger," indicating that they pose a threat to the United States itself, allowing them to wage serious violence and widespread damage on the wrongdoers. While the black-ops folks are ultimately presented to be little better (by means of the ever-entertaining Jack Ryan, or Harrison Ford if you prefer the movie) than those they are killing, the whole concept is somehow cheering, at least until the realities start kicking in.

It would be nice if such a thing were possible back here in reality, a drug war with TEETH, but in the end it runs into the same long-term problems as any other country we've gone to war with/in for whatever reason, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Eventually, you run out of easy targets and civilians start dying, if they haven't already. And of course, despite its problems Mexico is our neighbor and ally; trespassing on the sovereignty of a nation on our own doorstep is crossing a dangerous line, not like doing it overseas in a country where it won't spill over our borders.

When the fantasy is gone, and the reality kicks in, it's a sharp reminder to me that not all of the worst violence is to be found on other continents among religious fanatics. Some of it is chillingly close to home.

A very happy Winter Solstice to all my friends on Vox!!

I'm looking forward to a year filled with new books and travel. I'm also looking forward to unexpected things. I think this year will bring something new. Maybe fruits from some faraway place. Maybe I'll make an art film or study some unusual mammal with an umber and scarlet coat.

I hope you all discover novel things too, and have a great Holiday with your loved ones! May our planet be blessed as well.

Cheers!

Could these Garmin ads be any more bizarre? Campers watch out for that Yeti.....

FC00-4274

It is totally flipping cold and dry here. It's kind of neat to see icicles hanging off the banisters and windows, but sheesh, running is brutal. The bricks and sculptures I used for my garden are frozen into the ground. Anything left outdoors cracks and breaks. I'm finally over my sinus problems, though. 

A few days ago we finally broke down and bought some holiday lights. The house was completely dark every year while other houses have a shiny blue and white glow or colorful lights around their trees.  I was browsing some bookstores and ran across some literature about Yule. I was struck by how important warm, glowing lights are this time of year. Fires, candles. Strings of lights and happy snowmen glowing against the bitter ice and snow.

I was looking for winter book suggestions, and wouldn't you know it, the goddess of Ecology was listening. As I wandered the nature aisle I found the most wonderful treasure: the Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals. I've never seen a book as incredible as this. 934 pages of all-out beauty. Stunning, cutting-edge data on over 5,000 mammal species.

The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals

Some highlights:

Group living of european rabbits in the chalk and dune land warrens

Nonstop motherhood of honey possums

Form and function of the carnivore body plan

Mammals of the middle Eocene

I am in love with this book. I think our lights and this reading will keep me warm all winter. I so recommend this book if you have any interest in mammals. I recommend a latte or a spiced hot chocolate in your local bookstore-cafe while you browse the nature section. On Saturday our bookseller had hired a violin-cello quartet to play holiday music while people browsed and drank coffee. A lovely evening!