Ancient Mayan text has emerged from the jungles of Guatemala
confirming the so-called "end date" of the Maya calendar as Dec. 21, 2012. Considered one of the most significant hieroglyphic finds in decades,
the 1,300-year-old inscription contains only the second known reference
to the "end date" but does not predict doomsday. "The text talks about ancient political history rather than
prophecy" Marcello A. Canuto, director of Tulane University's Middle
American Research Institute, said. More info. at following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18644636
They do say that "things happen in threes"....and there have been three articles about Chimpanzee attacks in this week's news! Yesterday there was news of a chimp attacking an American graduate student in South Africa on Thursday. He was dragged nearly a kilometre by two chimpanzees who had grabbed his feet and pulled him under a fence into their enclosure at the Chimp Eden, a sanctuary for abused and orphaned chimpanzees, which was opened in 2006 in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute and the Umhloti Primate Park on game reserve land near Nelspruit, South Africa. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501710_162-57464094/chimps-attack-american-at-south-africa-sanctuary/
The second bit of "chimp" news I've seen -- about the
chimpanzee habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo which was open for visitors
again on Wednesday this week, a day after a baby chimp was killed by an adult male in front
of dozens of visitors. The baby’s mother, Gracie, was allowed to keep the chimp’s body
after Tuesday afternoon’s attack. Zookeepers will decide how long she
keeps it, said spokesman Jason Jacobs. He said he didn’t know what would
happen to the baby’s body after it was taken from the mother. The infant was the first chimpanzee born at the zoo since 1999. There
are 13 chimpanzees left at the zoo. The unnamed infant was born on March 6
and gradually introduced to the troop, one of the largest in a
North American zoo. There were no aggressive signs, Jacobs said, but it
is common in the wild for males to kill the offspring of females they
are interested in. [From the Washington Post]
Gracie with her baby in May 2012
And a third chimp story in the news this week: lawyers for a Connecticut woman severely disfigured in
2009 when she was attacked by a friend's pet chimpanzee filed papers accusing
state officials of failing to act on warnings that it could be dangerous. The chimp ripped off her nose, lips, eyelids and hands...necessitating a face transplant. http://articles.boston.com/2012-06-28/news/32459570_1_chimpanzee-attack-sandra-herold-state-officials
Charla Nash before chimp attack
Charla Nash after chimp attack
These come as a sobering reminder that most wild animals on display at zoos (or kept privately) are not designed for captive living. If you’ve been to a zoo, you’ve probably noticed evidence of this: a bear that walks in circles, a tiger who paces back and forth, or a monkey that does nothing but circle the enclosure. Keeping wild animals as pets can be appealing, but there are many potential problems, not to mention legal and ethical issues.
Hyde Park Shopping Center@55th St. and Lake Park Ave.
It's my local neighborhood summer festival this weekend (June 30th and July 1st). Two days of concerts and family activities on a four-block stretch.
1970s performers Average White Band and Roy Ayers will headline the
festival, and various food and fashion vendors will be on site at the
fest. There will be children's activities in Nicholas Park from noon to 4
p.m. on both days. The fest will take place on East 53rd Street from
Kimbark to Harper Avenues.
We were beaver watching over at Jackson Park Inner Harbor near 63rd Street Beach last night and Jane took this shot of a beaver munching on a tree branch just before sunset at around 8:15 p.m. Beavers are among the largest of rodents. They are herbivores and prefer to eat leaves, bark, twigs, roots, and aquatic plants.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Beaver http://gallery.me.com/mastodons#102894 (Jane's beaver video at this link.)
Bees are in the news a lot at the moment...every time I pick up a newspaper there's yet another article about bees! So what's going on I wonder? Swarms of bees attacked a group of novice monks at a Buddhist temple in northern Thailand this month, causing 76 of them to be hospitalized.
New Yorkers are keen on beekeeping and the practice is growing in popularity in the Big Apple, as can be seen from this website: http://www.nycbeekeeping.com/
A cool Wikipedia link to Bee Mythology through the ages:
I keep hearing that American and Canadian bees are dying from Colony Collapse Disorder. I'm not seeing anywhere near as many as I used to see around Chicago in summertime:
National Geographic (link below) talks about how the Mayan beekeeping tradition is fading. The Mayan cultural practice of bee husbandry dates back thousands of years. In the ancient Maya culture, honey was used as a sweetener, antibiotic, and as an ingredient in the Maya version of mead, a fermented drink. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0628_050628_maya_bees.html
"It is a bee that represents the forest and nature's great dependency on
the irreplaceable, beneficial relationships between plants and
animals" said Roubik, who was nicknamed "The Bee Man" in a National
Geographic television special about his work on Africanized bees.
The deer ticks were out in force last weekend in N.W. Indiana. I found several on my dogs and myself after walking in meadow and woodland. One to ten percent of deer ticks carry the babesia parasite. By comparison, 20 percent to 25 percent of deer ticks carry the agent for Lyme disease. Symptoms of the illness, according to the CDC, range from none at all among young, healthy individuals to nonspecific flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea or fatigue.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/deer-tick/
There's a lot of buzz about this folk duo, Civil Wars. http://thecivilwars.com/ They are composed of Joy Williams and John Paul White. The two met during a Nashville, Tennessee songwriting session in 2008. They won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group and Best Folk Album in 2012.
Staff at the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador say Lonesome George, a giant tortoise believed to be the last of its subspecies, has died. Scientists estimate he was about 100 years old. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-18574279
Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, pours scorn upon UK Prime Minister David Cameron's economic policies in a new book, Faith in the Public Square. He also blasts the march of consumerism and thinks Muslim loyalty ought to reside in "the
nation state" rather than "the international Muslim community". The Archbishop refers to Cameron’s “big society”
austerity policies as “aspirational waffle...designed to
conceal a deeply damaging withdrawal of the state from its
responsibilities to the most vulnerable". Williams also expresses his frustration with the West's “rampant
materialism and unquestioning pursuit of economic growth.” He is also
very critical of the Iraq invasion and overspending on
the military. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/23/archbishop-canterbury-rowan-williams-book
On the subject of Archbishops, Christine James is the first woman ever to become Archdruid in Wales and she will lead the 2013 National Eisteddfod ceremonies next year: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18563191
Christine James - first woman Archdruid of Wales
And Booker Prize-winning author, Hilary Mantel, on why she thinks Catholicism "is not a religion for respectable people"...despite being raised Roman Catholic and educated at a convent school. The 59-year old writer said child abuse scandals involving Roman Catholic priests demonstrated the "cruelty and hypocrisy" of the church.She said of the paedophilia scandals: “The fact that it could happen, the extent of the denial, the cover-up, the hypocrisy, the cruelty... When I was a child I wondered why priests and nuns were not nicer people. I thought that they were amongst the worst people I knew. But in a cold-blooded way, as a writer I’ve had full value from Catholicism - I can say that. It’s a great training in doubleness - this looks like bread but it is actually a man’s body, this looks like wine but it’s actually blood. And that’s very much a writer’s way of thinking - she comes in and says good morning, but she means damn you to hell.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/9262955/Hilary-Mantel-Catholic-Church-is-not-for-respectable-people.html
And another interesting piece in today's NYT about poorly paid Apple store workers who are "long on loyalty but short on pay" and the cult(ish) sounding indoctrination of Apple workers....is it just me or does this sound exceedingly creepy (see paragraph below)? http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/business/apple-store-workers-loyal-but-short-on-pay.html?pagewanted=all "One manager said it was common for people offered jobs to
burst into tears. But if the newly hired arrive as devotees, Apple's
training course, which can range from a few days to a few weeks,
depending on the job and locale, turns them into disciples. Training commences with what is known as a "warm welcome." As new
employees enter the room, Apple managers and trainers give them a
standing ovation. The clapping often bewilders the trainees, at least at
first, but when the applause goes on for several lengthy minutes they
eventually join in. "My hands would sting from all the clapping," says Michael Dow, who trained Apple employees for years in Providence, R.I."
"Last year, during his best three-month stretch, Jordan Golson sold about $750,000 worth of computers and gadgets at the Apple
Store in Salem, N.H. It was a performance that might have called for a
bottle of Champagne — if that were a luxury Mr. Golson could have
afforded." [New York Times]
“I
was earning $11.25 an hour,” he said. “Part of me was thinking, ‘This
is great. I’m an Apple fan, the store is doing really well.’ But when
you look at the amount of money the company is making and then you look
at your paycheck, it’s kind of tough.”
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Apple Inc. "gave Chief Executive Tim Cook compensation
worth nearly $378 million last year"...
Several sightings of great blue heron over the last few days...from the Osaka Garden in Chicago at around 7.30 p.m. in the evening. The photos I took look a bit ghostly and white, rather than the actual gray-blue of the great blue heron, perhaps due to the evening light and lake reflections:
Photos: Marge Ishmael
According to North American Native tradition, the Blue Heron brings messages of self-determination and
self-reliance. They represent an ability to progress and evolve. The long thin legs of the heron reflect that
an individual doesn't need great massive pillars to remain stable, but must be able to stand on one's own.
Blue Herons have the innate wisdom of being able to maneuver through life and co-create their own circumstances.
Blue Herons reflect a need for those with this totem to follow their unique wisdom and path of self-determination.
These individuals know what is best for themselves and need to follow their hearts rather than the promptings of
others. Those with the Medicine of the Great Blue Heron may sit until the rest of us loose patience. And, when they
follow the promptings of the heart, they are one of the most magnificent when they choose to soar.
"The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development ended on
Friday with rights groups and environmentalists calling it a hoax. The Rio+20 Summit, a 20-year follow-up of the 1992 Earth Summit,
failed to impress anti-poverty activists and environmentalists who
lambasted it as lacking clear ambition to end poverty and to protect the
environment. "Rio will go down as the hoax summit.They came, they talked, they failed to act" said Barbara Stocking, chief executive, Oxfam, on
Friday. "Governments have embraced globalisation, but failed to govern it.
The poorest people on earth are paying the highest price," she added." http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/355592/20120623/rio-20-earth-summit-environment-food-security.htm
Two quotes from the final day:
"This is an outcome that makes nobody happy. My job was to
make everyone equally unhappy," said Sha Zukang, Secretary-General of
the conference, nicely summing up the mood using classic Orwellian doublespeak!
"We saw anything of value in the early text getting removed
one by one. What is left is the clear sense that the future we want is
not one our leaders can actually deliver," said Greenpeace executive
director Kumi Naidoo. "We now need to turn the anger people around the
world are feeling into creative, thoughtful and meaningful action."
"As Larry Ellison buys the Hawaiian island Lania for around half a
billion dollars, the Guardian Datablog takes a look at the elite club to which he
will now belong: very rich people with their own private islands.
Billionaire businessmen dominate the list, while actors Johnny Depp and
Mel Gibson are among the more familiar names." [The Guardian]
Personally, I always thought there was something a bit creepy about Fantasy Island...and from my own limited experience of ownership, I think it might be better to have access to things rather than ownership of them....it may be a cliché but it's often true that possessionsend up owning you, contrary to the other way around...
A quote from the Guardian datablog comments section:
“We defend the idea that there are no jobs on a dead planet, and therefore, if we wish to maintain our jobs, these will have to be made sustainable.”
~ Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) representing 175 million workers in 153 countries and territories with 308 national affiliates.
2.22pm: Here's the crew of the International Space Station's video message to the summit:
Joseph Acaba of NASA tells Rio+20:
...from our vantage point, looking at Earth from space, we cannot help but admire the beauty of our home planet. We salute all of you who are trying to chart a more sustainable future for planet Earth and the billions of people who live on our beautiful home...
And by coincidence, the International Space Station (ISS) passed over us this evening - looking like a very bright star, moving in an arc across the sky:
Time: 9:50 PM
Duration: 4 min Travel Path: NW to ESE
"Born to be Wild" is an inspired story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them -- saving endangered species one life at a time. Stunningly captured with proprietary IMAX technology "Born to be Wild" is a heartwarming adventure transporting moviegoers into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Birute Galdikas, and across the rugged Kenyan savannah with celebrated elephant authority Dame Daphne Sheldrick, as they and their team rescue, rehabilitate and return these incredible animals back to the wild.
Amid scores of conferences over the last 20 years, CO2 in the atmosphere has risen 41ppm to dangerously high levels. ~ Al Jazeera
Below: two giant fish made of plastic bottles exhibited at the Botafogo beach, Rio de Janeiro
venue of the UN Conference for Sustainable Development, which runs until 22 June
Photo: Antonio Lacerda/EPA
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff welcomed world leaders to a rainy Rio de Janeiro yesterday under a cloud of criticism that the 3-day summit is falling far short of its promise to establish clear goals for sustainable development. (Reuters)
The economic crisis is casting a clear shadow over Rio+20 - and was the reason many heads of state did not show up, like Italy's Mario Monti. With Europe in crisis and the US still in the economic doldrums, there was no way those nations would agree on new financing for poorer nations to promote sustainable development. France's Hollande, Russia's Putin and China's Wen Jiabao are among more than 100 leaders expected in Rio. US President Barack Obama, Britain's David Cameron and German leader Angela Merkel are all no-shows, adding to a subdued atmosphere and a feeling that the action taken in Rio is not getting the global spotlight.
"Let me be frank: Our efforts have not lived up to the measure of the challenge....Nature does not wait....Nature does not negotiate with human beings."
Today is the Summer Solstice whose roots lie in the pagan celebration of summer and which pays homage to the longest day of the year.
Cleanse us
As nature shows bounty and fertility
Bless us
Let all things live with loving intent
And to fulfill their truest destiny
Wiccan blessing for Summer
This date has had spiritual significance for thousands of years as humans have been amazed by the great power of the sun. The Celts celebrated with bonfires that would add to the sun's energy, Christians placed the feast of St John the Baptist towards the end of June and it is also the festival of Li, the Chinese Goddess of light.
Like other religious groups, Pagans are in awe of the incredible strength of the sun and the divine powers that create life. For Pagans this spoke in the Wheel of the Year is a significant point. The Goddess took over the earth from the horned God at the beginning of spring and she is now at the height of her power and fertility. For some Pagans the Summer Solstice marks the marriage of the God and Goddess and see their union as the force that creates the harvest's fruits.
This is a time to celebrate growth and life but for Pagans, who see balance in the world and are deeply aware of the ongoing shifting of the seasons, it is also time to acknowledge that the sun will now begin to decline once more towards winter.
Summer Solstice rituals
When celebrating midsummer, Pagans draw on diverse traditions. In England thousands of Pagans and non-Pagans go to places of ancient religious sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury to see the sun rising on the first morning of summer.
Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
Revellers typically gather at Stonehenge, the ancient stone circle in Wiltshire, to see the sun rise. The Heel Stone and Slaughter Stone, set outside the main circle, align with the rising sun.
William feeds a 5-year-old black rhino called Zawadi at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent on June 6 (AFP/POOL/File, Chris Jackson)
Prince William has called people involved in the illegal trade of rhino horn "extremely ignorant, selfish and utterly wrong". Black rhinos are critically endangered in the wild because of the soaring price of rhino horn, which is worth more than gold due to demand in some countries, like China. Rhino horn is perceived to possess medicinal properties and in some Asian countries it is thought to act as a cure for cancer and as an aphrodisiac. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18501368 http://www.savetherhino.org/
"These guys are prehistoric looking. They are the most incredible things and do we really want to live in a world 20, 30 years down the line where there's no such thing as a 'big five' [elephants, lions, rhino, cape buffalo and leopard]? It'll be the big four, then possibly the big three and then where do we go after that?" ~ Prince William
Adidas tried to generate advance buzz for its new $350 sneakers (pictured above) last week by posting a photo of the footwear on its Facebook page. “Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?” a caption read. The photo has triggered more than 2,000 comments on the page, many angrily pointing out how offensive the shoes were to descendants of slaves. My first reaction, when I saw the shoes, was "how ugly they are...there's nothing aesthetically pleasing about these shoes....they're jarring and plasticky" and my second reaction: "what slaves to fashion and consumerism we humans are"....
A dark comedy "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" with Steve Carell and Keira Knightley looks worth watching after its release this coming Friday, June 22nd. "When the news confirms that a fatal asteroid is heading toward Earth, Dodge (Steve Carell) is left alone after his wife flees in a panic. With nothing left to lose, he decides to embark on a road trip to find his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is his neighbor (Keira Knightley) who unintentionally foils his plan by falling for him." http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/movies/seeking-a-friend-for-the-end-of-the-world-and-other-apocalyptic-movies.html
“We’re all faced with that inevitability — the end will happen for all of us," Carell tells the Daily News. “This movie, though, is a very accelerated version of that. How do people prioritize, what do they do and how do they act? Everyone is so different in terms of their wants and needs, and when something raises the stakes to such a high point, it creates a pressure cooker. But that also fuels a lot of the film’s comedy."
The music in the above video clip is "Road to Nowhere" by Talking Heads:
A quote from the Guardian datablog comments section: