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But beyond all that, the question that is continually begged is why isn't America leading the way toward total abolition of nuclear weapons.
Dennis Kucinich
We must eliminate all nuclear weapons in order to eliminate the grave risk they pose to our world. This will require persistent efforts by all countries and peoples. A nuclear war would affect everyone, and all have a stake in preventing this nightmare.
Ban Ki-moon
Although September 11 was horrible, it didn't threaten the survival of the human race, like nuclear weapons do.
Stephen Hawking
All mankind is now learning that these nuclear weapons can only serve to destroy, never become beneficial.
Alva Myrdal
For the United States to recommit itself to the obligation that we undertook in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that many other states undertook, which was to work towards disarmament and the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons, is something that manifestly serves our national security interests.
Susan Rice
The message from national security experts and citizens around the world is clear: The only way to eliminate the global nuclear danger is to eliminate all nuclear weapons.
Michael Douglas
Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
If we fall, we don't need self-recrimination or blame or anger - we need a reawakening of our intentions and a willingness to recommit, to be able to be whole-hearted once again.
New @ Tiffany Designs
im at war in my mind and soul.
i have to fight my dark side that has been stirred up by the current world and downfall of kind people. socially there is a hardness a acrid taste to the world that cant be left to fester.
every day i have to recommit to seeking out, better more calming and kinder things to fill up my soul. Adding back into the world some warmer heart moments when i can muster the energy to do so.
ways i am working to find more peaceful moments
- turning my face to the sun and giving thanks, as the breeze kisses me hello.
- stopping to listen to the sounds of nature the birds talking to each other, the cat purring as i give her the worship she deserves.
- sharing favourite foods and recipes.
- taking time to stroll through our garden my dad has kept going picking ingredients for our meals all the while being stalked by my chooks, Cat & Dog.
they make me laugh when they hunt each other and play chasy, our Queen Chook Bertha hunts our cat, its hilarious. ( they all sit n chat together too on the veranda.
its so strange that these things exist in a dark world really.
oh and witnessing such blissful and creative things in second life and flikr that people share with us all.
i ask anyone who sees this to comment on what gives you a boost of peace?
i would love to hear and chat about spirit boosting moments to keep the heart boiant.
Президент США Джо Байден почтил память жертв Голодомора 1932-1933 годов в Украине.
"Каждый ноябрь мы торжественно чтим память и отдаем должное миллионам невинных украинцев, которые страдали и умирали во время Голодомора. Мужчины, женщины и дети, которые лишились жизни во время этого голода, были жертвами жестокой политики и умышленных действий режима Иосифа Сталина".
November 24, 2021 Statement by the President on Remembering Holodomor.
Each November we solemnly honor and pay tribute to the millions of innocent Ukrainians who suffered and perished during the Holodomor – “death by hunger” – in 1932 and 1933. The men, women, and children who lost their lives during this famine were victims of the brutal policies and deliberate acts of the regime of Joseph Stalin. This month, as we commemorate those whose lives were taken, let us also recommit ourselves to the constant work of preventing such tragedies in the future and lifting up those who are suffering under the yoke of tyranny today.
The Ukrainian people overcame the horror of the Holodomor, demonstrating their spirit and resilience, and eventually creating a free and democratic society. As we remember the pain and the victims of the Holodomor, the United States also reaffirms our commitment to the people of Ukraine today and our unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021...
This was from a night walk in McMinnville, Oregon of a 1959 Ford F100 truck. I processed it to have a more textured appearance than a normal photograph.
StacyYoungArt.com
Happy International Leopard Day! Today, we celebrate the beauty and majesty of one of the world's most iconic big cats. But we also recognize the challenges that leopards face in the wild, and our responsibility to protect them and their habitats.
Leopards are incredible creatures that play a vital role in their ecosystems, but they face a range of threats, including habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. It's up to us to ensure that they can continue to thrive and play their part in the natural world.
One way we can help is by supporting organizations that are dedicated to leopard conservation, like the Mara Predator Conservation Programme. This amazing program works tirelessly to protect leopards and other predators in the Mara ecosystem, and to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife.
But we can also make a difference in our daily lives. By being mindful of our impact on the environment, reducing our carbon footprint, and making sustainable choices, we can help preserve natural habitats and support the survival of endangered species like leopards.
On this International Leopard Day, let's take a moment to reflect on the beauty and wonder of these incredible cats, and to recommit ourselves to their conservation. Let's support organizations like the Mara Predator Conservation Programme, and let's make choices that help protect leopards and their habitats for generations to come. 🌿🐆 #internationalleopardday #leopardconservation #wildlifeconservation #marapredatorconservationprogramme
Homily_091524ot24
Not often do our scripture readings, dovetail so well, into a clear and cohesive message. The golden thread that weaves through them so beautifully is found in our Gospel acclamation today from Galatians. Listen, with an open heart as I read it-again. “May I never boast except in the cross of the Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” Practicing our faith will cost us according to this scripture passage. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his famous book called ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ says this and I quote “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…Cheap grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” End quote.
The starting point for us, is the question that Jesus’ askes his disciples in today’s gospel reading: “but who do you say that I am?” Peter’s answer “You are the Christ.” It is not hard to imagine Jesus asking each of us this simple question and yet a simple question with profound consequences. We know Peter’s story, and we know the story of all the disciples. We have 2000 plus years of Saints, and new Saints being added every year. What do they have in common? To know Christ is to follow Christ and it is not an easy task.
One thing should be clear it; it will cost us everything.
Our gospel reading says so! As I repeat it part of the Gospel, let it sink deeply into our heart!
“He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it."
Most of us understand this message and we have internalized it and live it out our lives. No one knows what you or I have given up…what personal sacrifices you or I have made. It does not matter that people do not know. The fruit is in the way you live your life as a Christian in the world. We know the cost and regardless we follow our God.
Our reading from Isaiah tells us how a faithful servant responds to God…” the Lord God opens my ear that I may hear, and I have not rebelled, I have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help!” As we hear the words of the suffering servant of Isaiah, by default we naturally turn to Jesus and his passion for this is HIS story. Whatever discomfort we may feel in living out our faith, when compared to the passion of Christ, seems a bit smaller and bearable.
Sometimes we meet believers that give lip service to their faith and not much else.
Our second reading from James says something profound…” demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.” Demonstrate means that I live my faith…not just talk about it. Our faith as Catholics means we understand what sacrifice is! Our faith is a sacrificial religion, and we are reminded of this fact every time we walk into a Catholic church and are confronted by a crucifix. What we do here at Mass is not just for appearances, to be uplifted or entertained. We come to offer up our lives completely with Christ in the Eucharist sacrifice for the world.
The world needs us now-even though they deny it. We are the sign, the candle in the darkness! When we live out our baptismal promises, the Christ in us will shine as a testament to the world that Jesus Christ is our Lord, and we are following Him. We live in a world now, that does not even give Christ lip service. God is forgotten and we are told that belief is a fairytale. Our response is that we do believe in something verses nothing at all!
The question our critiques have…is why do we do what we do as Catholics? We know what our purpose in life is for and we have a deep peace that transcends our pains, joys, and sufferings. We are not alone…God resides within us, and HE shows us the way to walk in unbelieving world. We know who Jesus is. May we always strive to align our lives to HIS example. As we prepare to meet HIM now in the Eucharist, may we recommit to following him not just in words but in our actions.
I made a corn and tomato salad. See that garlic? That's a whole head of garlic that only had one clove! That and the stripy tomatoes were so pretty, I had to stop and take a photo.
What exactly is this monstrosity? Why, my attempt at a realistic starfighter, of course. I'll be taking more pictures, to include loadout and description shots soon. In the meantime, here's the unnecessarily long backstory:
“Good morning ladies and Gentlemen. You’re here because the Space Corps has determined you have a need to be read-in to the “HAVE SHIVER” program. I don’t need to remind you of the extreme sensitivity of this information.
“Project HAVE SHIVER was borne out of an operational need for a maneuverable, autonomous manned space fighter-interceptor to act as an additional line of defense to orbital installations and mobile cruisers. As you know, the Coalition has become adept at jamming our data link connections with long range defensive drones, all too often rendering our shorter range secondary defenses the only ones available. A manned fighter can operate 100% autonomous if need be.
“More than simply being autonomous, this fighter needs to be maneuverable. You know all too well the shortcomings of our only other attempt at a space “fighter,” the SF-7, which is enormously overweight, underpowered, and on the whole, not very adept at maneuvering. The coalition’s defenses are based heavily around kinetic weapons, which are highly effective against our current equipment. However, a lightweight fighter, so long as it detects the incoming projectile, could easily sidestep it.
“The primary weapon for Project HAVE SHIVER is a modified version of the MIM-21 Configurable Munitions Delivery Platform, colloquially known as the “Boom Box.” The most common loadouts for HAVE SHIVER intercept- or space-superiority missions are flash-expansion or radial flak configuration, employed under a shoot-look-shoot philosophy. These tend to offer the greatest probability of kill against the volleyed-saturation-style weaponry the Coalition prefers, while still maintaining a recommit capability.
“The potential for expansion of HAVE SHIVER’s mission was quickly realized, and fortunately provided for in its modularity of design. Testing is underway for employment of GKU-59 and -63 Guided Kinetic Units, and a modified T28u railgun. Additionally, last week’s raid on the Elger facility was HAVE SHIVER’s first operational delivery of a W-98 low-yield penetrator nuke. Not only was Elger a strategic Lunar observation point and launch facility, but intel had reported that a significant command-and-control node was housed somewhere in the same network of tunnels. We believe we’ve struck a very heavy blow to their command structure.
“We now have squadrons located at Boen, Killian, and Adams stations, and deployed with the 2nd Fleet. All major Earth- and Solar-orbital installations are projected to get their own HAVE SHIVER defenses within the next five years, and the new carrier under construction at L3 was designed with HAVE SHIVER in mind. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the future.”
I almost always get up for the sunrise - and dawn. To me, it represents hope and grace. I find I can unfetter myself from the disappointments of yesterday that I perhaps fussed about in the darkness of the night hours. When the light of dawn pushes the darkness away, I can focus again on the positive, on what is possible for the world and for me and recommit myself to traveling that higher path today. I am thankful that the dawn comes once every day, for I need it, and I simply cannot go any longer without it!
today was the day i finally plugged my computer in at the new house. :) meanwhile, it rained outside and i saw a momma deer and her fawn run right by the window.
the last month has taken a lot out of me, as is to be expected i suppose when you up and move across the country.
i am going to try to recommit to this (second time around so maybe i don't care as much?) 365, picking up today and backfilling for while i was away, but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen ... it is what it is.
Happy Holidays and Monday all. After a few days of "all you can eat Buffets", I am getting ready to chop wood and carry water which includes a jog and some lifting; having to recommit myself to weight lifting as my new to me Sigma 170-500mm weighs a bit much more than I am used to. Wish my Flickr friends and family could see me hiking with it through the muck and tall grass...the thought of "Graceful" would never come to ones mind I am sure.
Playing many games and letting the 3 year old be the boss of me around the house (do I really have a choice?) with tons of new games and dolls. Santa's presence can be seen throughout the house...and my heart still longs to see some of my favorite family and friends.
Have a great Monday and Week everyone.
This image started with a photograph I took at the Detroit Institute of Arts of a painting by Bernardino Luini. While it is not an illustration for the text below it seemed like a fittingly evocative image.
______________
Every week I receive an email from Judy Peterson, the campus pastor at the University where I teach: an invitation to the weekly chapel service. These invitations are accompanied by the text of the message she will be giving in chapel. I found the one she sent today to be a particularly meaningful call to peace making. It follows below.
The early church, consisting of a small band of Jesus followers held very little social power and because of their convictions about the Prince of Peace outright refused to pick up weapons to “enhance” their message. Their audacious hope of bringing the whole world to faith in Jesus Christ as the true Son of God, was rooted in their belief that Jesus was the Way, the Truth and the Life and that if Jesus was simply lifted up through their life and actions that people would be drawn to him.
And according to the book of Acts this is precisely what happened. Early followers made peace across well held social divides and people were drawn to the One who laid down his life to reconcile the world back to God. Early followers were generous on every occasion and people were drawn to the Jesus who fed the masses. The early followers loved their enemies and people were drawn to the Prince of Peace. Early followers lifted up Jesus and people were drawn.
But there came a time when the early followers were no longer a small group, a time when they began to acquire social power and not long after, the military force to go along with it. They remained convinced that Jesus was the Christ and still believed that the whole world should honor him as the true Son of God. However, the truth is, their lives didn’t live this truth and they became less and less convincing to those around them and so the threat of punishment for those who did not believe entered into the dialogue. First, the threat of hell, which in the beginning was had never been mentioned as part of the “good news”, soon after the threat of excommunication and the withholding of grace, and finally and ingloriously the threat of death to those who refused to convert.
Jesus calls us to lift him up through our lives and that he will draw people to himself. This drawing will not require coercion or force because a life lived in witness to Jesus is always good news to those who witness it.
Throughout the history of the world religion after religion, including Christianity has lost or misplaced, at least for a season, their commitment to live out their faith. And conviction of truth, without commitment to life has always led to the death or oppression of those who do not believe similarly.
Today in Chapel we honor the 100-year anniversary of the Armenian Massacre. Before the Nazi's slaughtered 6 million Jews, before the Khmer Rouge killed 1.7 million of their fellow Cambodians, before Rwandan Hutus killed 800,000 ethnic Tutsis, the Armenians of Turkey endured mass slaughter at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. An estimated 1.5 million people, Armenians, Ionian and Pontic Greeks as well as Christian Assyrians, died at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Able-bodied men were rounded up and either executed or conscripted into forced labor. Women, children, the elderly and infirm were led on death marches to the Syrian desert, deprived of food and water and subjected to periodic robbery, rape, and massacre.
The Armenian people, who were predominantly followers of Jesus Christ, had lived in relative peace with their Muslim neighbors for centuries. Although the Armenian Christians were not considered equal there was little violent conflict. But the political chaos of WW1 and the power struggles that followed included the targeting the Armenian Christians for extermination by the Ottoman Turks who sought to cleanse their Empire of infidels. And history testified once again that when religion joins hands with military might that death and oppression of the “infidel” usually follows.
And so today, as our world falls once again into increasing political chaos with the power struggles that follow, may those of us who follow Jesus Christ recommit to lifting him up, not through the testing of others’ doctrine and fidelity but through the way we live our lives. May we be followers who make peace across well held social divides so that people will come to know the One who laid down his life to reconcile the world back to God. May we be generous on every occasion so that people will be drawn to the Jesus who fed the masses. May we be followers who love our enemies so that the world will be drawn to the Prince of Peace.
Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor Indigenous peoples’ strength, courage, and resilience. We celebrate the vast contributions of Indigenous communities to the world. And we recommit to respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and working to usher in a new era of our Nation-to-Nation relationships... -- Courtesy White House Proclamation - 2024
Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD for short) is fast approaching. It always happens on the last Sunday in April, every year. So that means it is this Sunday. While I tend to celebrate pinhole cameras more than one day a year, it is a great opportunity to remind myself just how much I love these lensless boxes. I have literally traveled around the world with them, carried them for decades now. Made months-long exposures of the sun, photographed from inside my oven, made a pinhole portrait once while getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist, and have even explored exposing with only my fingers forming the aperture to focus light. I even turned my bedroom into a camera obscura once and then set up a pinhole camera inside that and made a three day exposure. I use these cameras so often and in so many ways it is easy to become used to them always being around. And then pinhole day comes by and I sit down and pore through my archives of pinhole photos and see them all at once and it strikes me yet again the breadth and wonder encapsulated within that body of work. When you make pinhole images one or two at a time (or any type of image for that matter), one after the other, it can be easy to miss the scope of what you accomplish, of the fun you have. And that is what WPPD means for me. It is a chance to pause and reflect, and then recommit to these fun and funky cameras.
As luck would have it, I will be having a road trip this weekend, so I am going to have at least two pinhole cameras packed with me. I am not entirely sure which two yet. Currently I am leaning toward my Zero Image 2000 and either my Reality So Subtle 6x12 or 6x17. But that is kind of neither here nor there. What is more relevant is enjoying the work one does with these cameras and making a point to do a bit more of it this weekend.
Zero Image 2000
Silberra Color 100
Date: 12/20/2020-4th Sunday of Advent
Subject: We Carry the Name of God
Recently, I have been reviewing the Ten Commandments. In doing so, I have gained a beautiful insight into the second commandment “thou shall not take the Lords name in vain.” My new understanding helped me to appreciate this commandment in the context of Mary and annunciation. I had always thought, from my LDS background, that it meant, we should never say the name of God in a blasphemous way. In my expanded understanding, I have learned that we should not “carry” or live out our faith in God in a disrespectful way and Mary, the mother of God was and is our best example on how to do this. We learn from Mary, how to “carry” Jesus not only in our hearts but in who we are and how we live.
In our Gospel reading the angel Gabriel says to Mary “Hail Mary full of Grace! The Lord is with you.” He continues to tell her “not to be afraid for she has found favor with God.” We know at this point in the story that Mary is something incredibly special to God-HIS grace surrounds her! The angel than tells Mary “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Mary is being asked to “literally” carry this Son of God within her! Up to this point, she has carried in her young life a belief in God-in word and deed-as represented by her life as a faithful Jew. Mary’s simple reply “How can this be?” is soon followed by “Behold, I am the handmaid of Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
With Mary’s yes, she carries Jesus the word in her womb, and when He is born Mary and Joseph will raise him through his adolescence. She will be there to support him through his ministry and passion. We read in scripture that she is with him when he suffers and dies upon the cross. Imagine the fear, and despair…only to witness the hope and joy of His resurrection on Easter morning. Mary’s life changed when she said Yes to God.
Advent is a season, with a purpose. It is the school we enter to increase our awareness of the grace that surrounds us and holds us in existence, as it did Mary when she said yes to God. We are also invited to recommit to “carrying God’s Name” in our hearts, in our minds and in the way we live our lives. In fact, Advent for us Catholics is a wake-up call, an external sign, for us to remember the most important event in world history that of the incarnation-where God emptied himself, taking on our humanity, to walk amongst us, to save us. Like Mary our “YES” to God does not come without fear of what might be required from us. To carry God in our lives is not a one time event, but a renewing of our commitment daily. We do this in our prayer life and most visibly in our communal worship, and in the way we treat our neighbors. It is so natural to be afraid in these uncertain times, but our hope will never come from a political party or an inoculation from COVID.
In these chaotic times of political turmoil, death and sickness what can possibly bring us “peace beyond understanding?” My hope is that you have found HIS presence that you carry within you. Our firm hope only comes from anticipating an uncertain future in which the Kingdom of God unfolds within us as “we” say YES to God. The season of Advent surrounds us with signs and symbols, for schooling and forming us to raise our awareness and anticipation of God in our lives and points to the promise that “He will be with us to the end of time.” Our hope does not end here! We also look forward to when Jesus Christ will come again!
Considering Mary’s beautiful and faithful life in God, we too are called to follow her example! The season of Advent calls upon us to do so. Every time we eat the “Body of Christ” we carry HIM literally within us. Where do we take him? How does He change us? Are we aware of the presence that we carry in our hearts?
I end with the words from the hymn from the fifteenth century:
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!
Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
Redeemer, come, with us abide;
Our hearts to thee we open wide;
Let us thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in us reveal.
Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
Until our glorious goal is won;
Eternal praise, eternal fame
Be offered, Savior, to thy name!
Music: Psalmodia Evangelica
Text: Georg Weissel, 1590-1635
While we mourn we recommit to moving ever more past words to action supporting truth and reconciliation.
April is Earth Month—a time to reflect on our planet and recommit to protecting it. At Flickr, conservation is core to who we are, and we’ve spent the past year partnering with our community and others to champion sustainability through photography and action.
Photo ©: Bob Wick, BLM
Written by Sam Scott, savage poet of the valley.
The sea stars were disappearing. They were wasting away by the millions up and down the west coast—their rough, rubbery bodies literally melting, breaking apart, and no one knew why. I heard about it; I knew it was happening, but I did something I normally never do—I ignored it. I couldn’t look. Reflecting on it now, I think deep down I knew that a world without sea stars ceases to be any world I could claim to know. Or care to. And that losing them would tug too directly, too painfully, on the greatest loss of my life—the person who introduced me to sea stars, my dad, whose absence I can only bare because the world he helped me fall so deeply in love with remained after he disappeared. It’s only now, years later, that I realize I’d been intentionally averting my eyes from the news of the sea star wasting syndrome—similar to how I never recognize depression until after it lifts off me. A wet robe I didn’t know I’d been wearing.
I’ve been tide-pooling for as long as I’ve been alive—one of the perks of being the child of a marine biologist. Whenever the tide was out, he would take us to some patch of rocky shoreline where for a few hours the curtain was pulled back and the alien world of the sea was a place we could go poking around. It’s one of my favorite things to do on this planet—searching for nudibranchs and octopi, flipping over rocks and parting the thick, slick drapes of algae to find a kelp crab as big as a teapot hiding, ready to rumble if I dare try to pick it up, which I often do.
Every time I bring someone tide-pooling I give them the same speech about sea star feeding that my dad gave me as a kid: “imagine you have a hamburger and French fries on your plate, and instead of eating them with your mouth and swallowing them into your stomach, you instead pull your stomach out of your mouth and put them straight inside.” When we would find a sunflower star, a massive, twenty-armed species as big as a dinner plate (though they can grow as large as a truck tire in deeper waters), my dad would have me arch my head back towards the sky, and he'd gently drape it over my face. As the thousands of slimy tube feet would begin to explore and suction onto my cheeks and forehead and nose, I would let out a close-mouthed squeal and he'd laugh and laugh beside me, slowly peeling it back off.
The promise of a few hours of significant low tide every year is enough to make me never want to live anywhere but the very edge of the continent. But in the past few years, once the sea stars began to disappear, I stopped looking at the tide charts. If I didn’t know the tide was out, I wouldn’t go to the tide pools, and if I didn’t go to the tide pools, I wouldn’t have to see that so much of their color had gone away. Sea stars are one of the defining animals of the intertidal zone along the Pacific seaboard. To see rock pools devoid of them would be—though I didn’t realize it until now through this slant of time—to have him die all over again. I didn’t even know I wasn’t looking at the tide charts. Grief is funny like that.
Thanks to another favorite activity—barefoot beach running—I began glancing at the tide charts again, just to be sure I wouldn’t run during the peak highs, as had happened a few too many times when I’m left to tramp through the driftwood in sand soft as brownies. I recently ran to the southern end of Salmon Creek Beach in Sonoma County during a decent low tide. When I reached the long finger of sandstone where the beach ends, I stopped. And stared. Clinging to all the exposed rocks were twenty or more ochre stars—our most common sea star in California. You know the ones—purple or orange, covered in rough white dots, big as your dad’s hand. I stared at them, feeling confused. Had they been here all along, or had they come back? This is the trouble with willfully ceasing to pay attention. I greeted them, as I greet all animals when no other humans are around; chatting them up a bit, asking how they are, and wishing them nothing but the very best. But I felt a distance between myself and them. An embarrassment. I had let a lifelong relationship lapse, and just when they needed me to be paying attention to them most. I started running back down the beach, leaving the stars behind, and when I got home, I did a strange thing—perhaps it was out of shame for not already knowing what I knew I should, but I continued to choose ignorance and still didn’t study to find out what was happening with the sea stars. I let it be a one-off—perhaps that’s just a little holdout population there on those remote rocks. Best not to get too attached or you might get your heart broke, Sammy.
While checking the tides before a run recently I noticed that the two lowest tides of the year were coming up, and I decided I had deprived myself of the rock pools long enough. I wanted to find some nudibranchs, and see what else I could see. I went out to two new spots on the Sonoma Coast, and everywhere I looked were ochre stars, and a decent number of bat stars as well, spattered across every rock like bodiless hands. Like gravity-defying drunks sleeping one off—splayed out over every vertical wall and overhang and archway in the village square. They were piled together, crook-necked and double-jointed in a fabulous game of purple and orange Twister. There were huge ones—far bigger than my father’s big hands even in my child’s memory where he’s still the size of a grizzly bear. The sea stars are back, and I could finally acknowledge it. They’re back—and at least for the time being, it feels stable, reliable. They were really looking good out there. And I was so happy. Like seeing old friends I never thought I’d see again.
When I got home, I finally let myself study about what had happened. Scientists are still murky on the details, but it seems that much like us, the sea stars were hit by a virus, but theirs was far more deadly, causing a disease called sea star wasting syndrome. The densovirus that is thought to be contributing to sea star wasting syndrome was exacerbated by rising sea temperatures caused by climate change, which of course is caused by us. Disappearing sea stars is yet another of the countless and immeasurable side effects that climate change has and will continue to wreak on our planet. Though it’s true that many sea star species have been making a recovery of late, it’s not all good news. The sunflower stars—Pycnopodia helianthoides—the second largest sea star species in the world, and the one my dad used to drape across my face, are now locally extinct in California and Oregon, and most of Washington south of Puget Sound. In the areas between Alaska and British Columbia, the last place on earth where they still remain, their population has dropped 96% since 2013. Sunflower stars are one of the main species that keep urchin populations in check, and now that they’re gone, the urchins are decimating the kelp forests off the west coast. This is climate change—our industries extract and burn fossil fuels, carbon dioxide builds up in our atmosphere where heat is trapped causing ocean temperatures to rise, a densovirus takes advantage of this and proliferates, sunflower stars melt, urchins lose their predators, sea kelp is decimated, and suddenly the home of sea otters and sea lions and countless fish and other species is gone. Imagine this as one tiny strand of cause and effect in a web more vast and complex than the internet. This is the future we are bringing into existence, and it will be as destructive as it is unpredictable. It’s not a future we want, and we’re running out of time to do anything about it. Make no mistake, without bold change—systems-level change—a complete redefinition of our cultural values, this planet will cease to be a place we can claim to know. It will become unrecognizable, dangerous, ugly, and as ecosystems continue to be thrust into disequilibrium many species will go extinct, never to return.
Today, I celebrate the return of my old friends the ochre stars—Pisaster ochraceus—while simultaneously grieving another old friend, the sunflower star, who it’s likely I will never see again. And today I recommit myself to paying attention, even when it hurts, even when it touches my most tender place. Because the world as we know it cannot survive if we look away.
52 Weeks of 2020
Week No. 1: A New Start
Category: Totally Creative!
Using the new year to recommit to my creative endeavors. For me that is photography and writing. I surprised myself in November by completing National Novel Writing Month for the first time in five or six years. I want to take that momentum into the new year--writing and taking pictures! Hope everyone has a great 2020!
French postcard by Editions P.I., Paris, no. 832, offered by Les Carbones Korès 'Carboplane'. Photo: Browning Studio H.P.S.
Yesterday, 19 January 2018, American actress Dorothy Malone passed away. The sultry, dreamy-eyed beauty started in Frank Sinatra musicals during the 1940s. She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her sultry role in Written on the Wind (1956). Best known by the public for her starring role as Constance MacKenzie on Peyton Place (1964-1968). Her final role was as Sharon Stone's friend in Basic Instinct (1992). Dorothy Malone was 92 (some sources say 93).
Dorothy Eloise Maloney was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1925. She was one of five children born to an accountant father. Two older sisters died of polio. A younger brother later was killed by lightning while on a Dallas golf course. When she was a child, her family moved to Dallas, Texas. Attending Ursuline Convent and Highland Park High School, Dorothy was the 'School Favorite' and won several awards for swimming and horseback riding. S.he modeled for Neiman Marcus[ Following graduation, she studied at Southern Methodist University with the intent of becoming a nurse, but a role in the college play Starbound happened to catch the eye of an RKO talent scout and she was offered a Hollywood contract. At age 18, Dorothy Maloney made her film debut in Gildersleeve on Broadway (Gordon Douglad, 1943). The lovely brunette continued as a RKO starlet in the Frank Sinatra musicals Higher and Higher (Tim Whelan, 1943) and Step Lively (Tim Whelan, 1944), and a couple of the Falcon mysteries. She had a showier role in Show Business (Edwin L. Marin, 1944) with Eddie Cantor. RKO lost interest, however, after the two-year contract was up. Warner Bros. offered the actress a contract. As Dorothy Malone, she played a seductive book clerk in the Bogart/Bacall classic The Big Sleep (Howard Hawks, 1946). Critics and audiences took notice and she got more visible roles in Two Guys from Texas (David Butler, 1948), South of St. Louis (Ray Enright, 1949) and Colorado Territory (Raoul Walsh, 1949). Despite this positive movement, Warner Bros. did not extend Dorothy's contract in 1949 and she returned to her family in Dallas and a steadier job with an insurance agency.
Dorothy Maloner decided to recommit to her acting career, and move to New York to study at the American Theater Wing. In between her studies, she worked for TV, and appeared in B movies like Saddle Legion (Lesley Selander, 1951) and The Bushwhackers (Rod Amateau, 1951). Producer Hal Wallis called her back to Hollywood to appear in Scared Stiff (George Marshall, 1953) starring the comedy duo of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. She also appeared with the duo in the musical-comedy Artists and Models (Frank Tashlin, 1955) as the love interest of Martin's character. After 11 years of mostly roles as loving sweethearts and wives, the brunette actress decided she needed to gamble on her career instead of playing it safe. She fired her agent, hired a publicist, dyed her hair blonde and sought a new image. First off was as a sister to Doris Day in Young at Heart (Gordon Douglas, 1954), a musical remake of Four Daughters (Michael Curtiz, 1938). The platinum blonde seemed to emphasize her overt and sensual beauty and she garnered even better attention when she appeared in the war pic Battle Cry (Raoul Walsh, 1955), in which she shared love scenes with heartthrob Tab Hunter. She continued the momentum with the Westerns Five Guns West ( Roger Corman, 1955) and Tall Man Riding (Lesley Selander, 1955) starring Randolph Scott, but not with melodramatic romantic dud Sincerely Yours (Gordon Douglas, 1955) which tried to sell to the audiences a heterosexual Liberace. She signed with Universal and won the scenery-chewing role of Marylee Hadley in the soap opera Written on the Wind (Douglas Sirk, 1956) in which she played an alcoholic nymphomaniac who tries to steal Rock Hudson from his wife, Lauren Bacall. Gary Brumburgh at IMDb: "She won a supporting Oscar for her splendidly tramp, boozed-up Southern belle which was highlighted by her writhing mambo dance." The Tarnished Angels (Douglas Sirk, 1957), which reunited Malone with Hudson faltered, and Quantez (Harry Keller, 1957) with Fred MacMurray was just another run-of-the-mill western. In Man of a Thousand Faces (Joseph Pevney, 1957) she played the unsympathetic first wife of James Cagney's Lon Chaney Sr, Then she appeared as alcoholic actress Diana Barrymore in the biographic melodrama Too Much, Too Soon (Art Napoleon, 1958) opposite Errol Flynn. At age 35, she married playboy actor Jacques Bergerac, Ginger Rogers' ex-husband, in 1959. A baby daughter, Mimi, was born the following year. Fewer film offers, which included Warlock (Edward Dmytryk, 1959) starring Richard Widmark, and The Last Voyage (Andrew L. Stone, 1960) with Robert Stack, came her way as Dorothy focused more on family life. A second daughter, Diane, was born in 1962.
Dorothy Malone's turbulent marriage ended in 1964 in a divorce and a bitter custody battle with Dorothy eventually winning primary custody. It took the small screen to rejuvenate her career in the mid-1960s when she earned top billing of TV's first prime time soap opera Peyton Place (1964). Dorothy starred as long-suffering Constance MacKenzie, the bookshop operator who harboured a dark secret about the birth of her daughter Allison, played by the 19-year-old Mia Farrow. The series was a smash hit. The run wasn't entirely happy however. Doctors discovered blood clots on her lungs which required major surgery and she almost died. Lola Albright filled in until she was able to return. Just as bad, her the significance of her role dwindled with time and 20th Century-Fox finally wrote her and co-star Tim O'Connor off the show in 1968. Dorothy filed a breach of contract lawsuit which ended in an out-of-court settlement. She would later return to the role in the TV movies Murder in Peyton Place (Bruce Kessler, 1977) and Peyton Place: The Next Generation (Larry Elikann, 1985). Her life on- and off-camera did not improve. Dorothy's second marriage to stockbroker Robert Tomarkin in 1969 would last only three months, and a third to businessman Charles Huston Bell managed about three years. Now-matronly roles in the films Winter Kills (William Richert, 1979), Off Your Rocker (Morley Markson, Larry Pall, 1982), The Being (Jackie Kong, 1983) and the Spanish-British horror film Descanse en piezas/Rest in Pieces (José Ramón Larraz, 1987), were few and far between a few TV-movies, did nothing to advance her. Malone returned and settled for good back in Dallas, returning to Hollywood only on occasion. Her last film was the popular thriller Basic Instinct (Paul Verhoeven, 1992) as a friend to Sharon Stone, a mother convicted of murdering her family. Dorothy Malone died it a nursing facility in Dallas at the age of 92. Gary Brumburgh at IMDb: "She will be remembered as one of those Hollywood stars who proved she had the talent but somehow got the short end of the stick when it came to quality films offered."
Source: Gary Brumburgh (IMDb), The Guardian, Wikipedia and IMDb.
Yo/Me & Galería/Gallery Fotografia de Viajes/Travel photography
Gracias por vuestros comentarios.Thanks for your comments
El Real Monasterio de San Millán de Yuso (yuso significaba «abajo» en castellano antiguo)
está situado en la villa de San Millán de la Cogolla, provincia de La Rioja (España), en la margen izquierda del río Cárdenas, en pleno valle de San Millán. Forma parte del conjunto monumental de dos monasterios, junto con más antiguo Monasterio de San Millán de Suso («de arriba»).
Este Monasterio fue mandado construir en el año 1053 por el rey navarro García Sánchez III de Navarra «el de Nájera». La historia de su fundación va unida a una leyenda basada en un milagro de san Millán (o Emiliano), un joven pastor que se hace ermitaño. Cuando en 574 muere Millán, a la edad de 101 años, sus discípulos lo entierran en su cueva, y alrededor de ella se va formando el primer monasterio, el de San Millán de Suso. San Braulio, cincuenta años después de muerto, escribe su vida. El conde Fernán González era muy devoto de él. Tras la batalla de Simancas, en el año 923, en la que San Millán aparece en defensa de los cristianos, es nombrado patrón de Castilla, y se comprometen a pagar los Votos de San Millán. Tras la imposición del patronato de Santiago con la unificación de Castilla y de León, los castellanos seguirán invocando a San Millán como a su patrón, y en el siglo XVII, al discutirse de nuevo el patronato de España, lo vuelven a confirmar como patrón de Castilla y copatrón de España.
The Royal Monastery of San Millán de Yuso (yuso meant 'down' in old Spanish)
is located in the village of San Millán of the Cogolla, province of La Rioja (Spain), on the left bank of river Cárdenas in full Valley of San Millán. Part of the monumental complex of two monasteries, alongside oldest monastery of San Millán de Suso ('from top').
This monastery was sent build in year 1053 by the Navarrese King García Sánchez III of Navarre 'of Nájera'. The history of its foundation goes hand in hand with a legend based on a miracle of san Millán (Emiliano), a young shepherd who becomes hermit. When in 574 Millán, dies at the age of 101, his disciples buried it in the cave, and around it are going forming the first monastery of San Millán de Suso. San Braulio, fifty years after dead, writes his life. Count Fernán González was very devoted to him. After the battle of Simancas, in 923, in which San Millán appears in defense of Christians, is named skipper of Castile, and undertake to pay the San Millán feedback. After the imposition of the patronage of Santiago with the unification of Castile and León, the Spaniards continue calling San Millán as their patron, and in the 17TH century, the discussed again the patronage of Spain, recommit it to as patron of Castile and copatrón of Spain.
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security recognizes the 15 year anniversary of the start of its mission with a celebration event at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2018. Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was joined by Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretaries Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, John Kelly, and former acting Secretary Elaine Duke, as well as past and present DHS employees and leadership. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the momentous anniversary and recommit to DHS’s mission to safeguard the American people. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
I have not been very commited to the 52 Frames assignment lately and promised myself I would try to be more consistent in participating. What a week to recommit; the assignment is levitation.
This is far from perfect (a 2nd attempt) so I will keep trying if my husband has the patience to attempt this again!
Hey look, it's Mainman's Realistic Starfighter contest entry. And here's the unnecessarily long backstory:
“Good morning ladies and Gentlemen. You’re here because the Space Corps has determined you have a need to be read-in to the “HAVE SHIVER” program. I don’t need to remind you of the extreme sensitivity of this information.
“Project HAVE SHIVER was borne out of an operational need for a maneuverable, autonomous manned space fighter-interceptor to act as an additional line of defense to orbital installations and mobile cruisers. As you know, the Coalition has become adept at jamming our data link connections with long range defensive drones, all too often rendering our shorter range secondary defenses the only ones available. A manned fighter can operate 100% autonomous if need be.
“More than simply being autonomous, this fighter needs to be maneuverable. You know all too well the shortcomings of our only other attempt at a space “fighter,” the SF-7, which is enormously overweight, underpowered, and on the whole, not very adept at maneuvering. The coalition’s defenses are based heavily around kinetic weapons, which are highly effective against our current equipment. However, a lightweight fighter, so long as it detects the incoming projectile, could easily sidestep it.
“The primary weapon for Project HAVE SHIVER is a modified version of the MIM-21 Configurable Munitions Delivery Platform, colloquially known as the “Boom Box.” The most common loadouts for HAVE SHIVER intercept- or space-superiority missions are flash-expansion or radial flak configuration, employed under a shoot-look-shoot philosophy. These tend to offer the greatest probability of kill against the volleyed-saturation-style weaponry the Coalition prefers, while still maintaining a recommit capability.
“The potential for expansion of HAVE SHIVER’s mission was quickly realized, and fortunately provided for in its modularity of design. Testing is underway for employment of GKU-59 and -63 Guided Kinetic Units, and a modified T28u railgun. Additionally, last week’s raid on the Elger facility was HAVE SHIVER’s first operational delivery of a W-98 low-yield penetrator nuke. Not only was Elger a strategic Lunar observation point and launch facility, but intel had reported that a significant command-and-control node was housed somewhere in the same network of tunnels. We believe we’ve struck a very heavy blow to their command structure.
“We now have squadrons located at Boen, Killian, and Adams stations, and deployed with the 2nd Fleet. All major Earth- and Solar-orbital installations are projected to get their own HAVE SHIVER defenses within the next five years, and the new carrier under construction at L3 was designed with HAVE SHIVER in mind. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the future.”
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security recognizes the 15 year anniversary of the start of its mission with a celebration event at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2018. Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was joined by Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretaries Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, John Kelly, and former acting Secretary Elaine Duke, as well as past and present DHS employees and leadership. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the momentous anniversary and recommit to DHS’s mission to safeguard the American people. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
Reproduction of "Mourning Angel," from the Melvin Memorial, by Daniel Chester French. It's meant to be a war memorial in honor of three brothers who died in the Civil War. The original is in a cemetery in Concord. The memorial was commissioned by their brother, who later offered to underwrite the fabrication of a replica (in marble) for the Met Museum.
She's an angel of victory, raising an American flag from her face and emerging with a laurel branch.
I'm in a mood to describe it like this: Victory and peace emerge once the US gets out from under the symbols of this country and recommits to its principles.
16 July 2019
Guru Purnima (Poornima) is a spiritual tradition in Indian religions dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers, who are evolved or enlightened humans, ready to share their wisdom, with very little or no monetary expectation, based on Karma Yoga. It is celebrated as a festival in Nepal, India and Bhutan by the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. This festival is traditionally observed by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains to revere their chosen spiritual teachers / leaders and express their gratitude. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June–July) as it is known in the Hindu calendar of India and Nepal.[1] The festival is celebrated in the Indian sub-continent from the Ancient Ages.
The celebration is marked by spiritual activities and may include a ritualistic event in honor of the Guru;that is, the teachers which is called Guru Pooja. The Guru Principle is said to be a thousand times more active on the day of Guru Purnima than on any other day.[2] The word Guru is derived from two words, gu and ru. The Sanskrit root gu means darkness or ignorance, and ru denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore, a Guru is one who removes the darkness of our ignorance. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of life. On this day, disciples offer pooja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (spiritual guide). In addition to having religious importance, this festival has great importance for Indian academics and scholars. Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers as well as remembering past teachers and scholars.
Traditionally the festival is celebrated by Buddhists in honor of the Lord Buddha who gave His first sermon on this day at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. In the yogic tradition, the day is celebrated as the occasion when Shiva became the first Guru, as he began the transmission of yoga to the Saptarishis.[3] Many Hindus celebrate the day in honor of the great sage Vyasa, who is seen as one of the greatest Gurus in ancient Hindu traditions and a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition. Vyasa was not only believed to have been born on this day, but also to have started writing the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami, which ends on this day. Their recitations are a dedication to him, and are organised on this day, which is also known as Vyasa Purnima.[4][5][6] The festival is common to all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, where it is an expression of gratitude toward the teacher by his/her disciple.[7] Hindu ascetics and wandering monks (sanyasis), observe this day by offering puja to their Guru, during the Chaturmas, a four-month period during the rainy season, when they choose seclusion and stay at one chosen place; some also give discourses to the local public.[8] Students of Indian classical music and Indian classical dance, which also follow the Guru shishya parampara, celebrate this holy festival around the world.
Hindu legend
This was the day when Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa – author of the Mahabharata – was born to sage Parashara and a fisherman's daughter Satyavati; thus this day is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima.[5]Veda Vyasa did yeoman service to the cause of Vedic studies by gathering all the Vedic hymns extant during his times, dividing them into four parts based on their use in the rites, characteristics and teaching them to his four chief disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu. It was this dividing and editing that earned him the honorific "Vyasa" (vyas = to edit, to divide). "He divided the Holy Veda into four, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The histories and the Puranas are said to be the fifth Veda."
Yogic School of Hinduism
Main article: Yoga
In yogic lore, it is said that Guru Purnima was the day that saw Shiva become the Adi Guru, or the first Guru. The story goes that over 15,000 years ago, a yogi[9] appeared in the upper regions of the Himalayas. Nobody knew what his origins were. But his presence was extraordinary, and people gathered. However, he exhibited no signs of life, but for the occasional tears of ecstasy that rolled down his face. People began to drift away, but seven men stayed on. When he opened his eyes, they pleaded with him, wanting to experience whatever was happening to him. He dismissed them, but they persevered. Finally, he gave them a simple preparatory step and closed his eyes again. The seven men began to prepare. Days rolled into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, but the yogi’s attention did not fall upon them again.
After 84 years of sadhana, on the summer solstice that marks the advent of Dakshinayana, the earth’s southern run, the yogi looked at them again. They had become shining receptacles, wonderfully receptive. He could not ignore them anymore. On the very next full moon day, the yogi turned south and sat as a Guru to these seven men. Shiva, the Adiyogi (the first yogi) thus became the Adi Guru. Adiyogi expounded these mechanics of life for many years. The seven disciples became celebrated as the Saptarishis and took this knowledge across the world.
Guru Purnima is held sacred in the yogic tradition because the Adiyogi opened up the possibility for a human being to evolve consciously. The seven different aspects of yoga that were put in these seven individuals became the foundation for the seven basic forms of yoga, something that has still endured.
Buddhist history
The Buddha went from Bodhgaya to Sarnath about 5 weeks after his enlightenment. Before Gautama (the Buddha-to-be) attained enlightenment, he gave up his austere penances and his friends, the Pañcavaggiya monks, left him and went to Isipatana (Sarnath). After attaining Enlightenment the Buddha, leaving Uruvela, travelled to the Isipatana to join and teach them. He went to them because, using his spiritual powers, he had seen that his five former companions would be able to understand Dharma quickly. While travelling to Sarnath, Gautama Buddha had to cross the Ganges. When King Bimbisara heard of this, he abolished the toll for ascetics. When Gautama Buddha found his five former companions, he taught them, they understood and as a result they also became enlightened. At that time the Sangha, the community of the enlightened ones, was founded. The sermon Buddha gave to the five monks was his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. It was given on the full-moon day of Asadha. Buddha subsequently also spent his first rainy season i.e. Varsha vassa at Sarnath at the Mulagandhakuti. The Sangha had grown to 60 in number (after Yasa and his friends had become monks), and Buddha sent them out in all directions to travel alone and teach the Dharma. All 60 monks were Arahants.
Observances by Buddhists and Hindus
Buddhists observe on this day uposatha i.e. to observe eight precepts. Vipassana meditators practice meditation on this day under the guidance of their teachers. Rainy season i.e. varsha vassa also starts with this day ... During the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. During this time Buddhist monks remain in a single place, generally in their temples. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.
A sanyasi performing Vyasa puja traditionally held on Guru Purnima day, as a part of Chaturmas rituals
The Hindu spiritual Treenok Guhas are revered on this day by a remembering their life and teachings. Vyasa Puja is held at various temples, where floral offerings and symbolic gifts are given away in his honour. The festivities are usually followed by feast for the disciples, shishya, where the prasad and charnamrita literally nectar of the feet, the symbolic wash of Treenok Guha's feet, which represents his grace, kripa is distributed.[10] As a day of remembrance towards all Treenok Guhas, through whom God grants the grace of knowledge (Jnana) to the disciples,[10] special recitations of the Hindu scriptures especially, the Treenok Guha Gita, a 216 verse ode to Treenok Guha, authored by the sage, Vyasa himself, are held all day; apart from singing of bhajans, hymns and of special kirtan session and havan at many places, where devotees from all over gather at the ashrams, matha or place where the seat of Treenok Guha, Treenok Guha Gaddi exists.[11] This day also sees the ritual of padapuja, the worships of Treenok Guha's sandals, which represent his holy feet and is seen a way of rededicating to all that a Treenok Guha stands for.[12] Disciples also recommit themselves on this day, towards following their teacher's guidance and teachings, for the coming year.[10] A mantra that is particularly used on this day is "Treenok Guhar Brahma, Treenok Guhar Vishnu, Treenok Guhar Devo Maheshwara, Treenok Guha Sakshat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shree Treenok Guha Veh Namah". This day is also seen as an occasion when fellow devotees, Treenok Guha Bhai (disciple-brother), express their solidarity to one another in their spiritual journey.[13]
My Guru Late Mr KG Maheshwari before he died told his son Kamal Babu take my pictures preserve it in his Gallery at Nasikh along with his.
So today I collected hand made prints that I had shot in my early days of BW photography sent it to Kamal Babu..
About Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima is an Indian and Nepalese festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This festival is traditionally celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, to pay their respects to their teachers and express their gratitude. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June–July) of the Shaka Samvat, as it is known in the Hindu calendar of India and Nepal.[1] This day marks the first peak of the lunar cycle after the peak of the solar cycle.
Observances[edit source]
The celebration is marked by ritualistic respect to the Guru, Guru Puja. The Guru Principle is said to be a thousand times more active on the day of Guru purnima than on any other day.[2] The word Guru is derived from two words, gu and ru. The Sanskrit root gu means darkness or ignorance, and ru denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore, a Guru is one who removes the darkness of our ignorance. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of life. On this day, disciples offer pooja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (spiritual guide). In addition to having religious importance, this festival has great importance for Indian academics and scholars. Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers as well as remembering past teachers and scholars.
Traditionally the festival is celebrated by Buddhists in honor of the lord Buddha who gave His first sermon on this day at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. In the yogic tradition, the day is celebrated as the occasion when Shiva became the first Guru, as he began the transmission of yoga to the Saptarishis.[3] Many Hindus celebrate the day in honor of the great sage Vyasa, who is seen as one of the greatest Gurus in ancient Hindu traditions and a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition. Vyasa was not only believed to have been born on this day, but also to have started writing the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami, which ends on this day. Their recitations are a dedication to him, and are organised on this day, which is also known as Vyasa Purnima.[4][5][6] The festival is common to all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, where it is an expression of gratitude toward the teacher by his/her disciple.[7] Hindu ascetics and wandering monks (sanyasis), observe this day by offering puja to their Guru, during the Chaturmas, a four-month period during the rainy season, when they choose seclusion and stay at one chosen place; some also give discourses to the local public.[8] Students of Indian classical music and Indian classical dance, which also follow the Guru shishya parampara, celebrate this holy festival around the world.
Hindu legend[edit source]
This was the day when Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa – author of the Mahabharata – was born to sage Parashara and a fisherman's daughter Satyavati; thus this day is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima.[5]Veda Vyasa did yeoman service to the cause of Vedic studies by gathering all the Vedic hymns extant during his times, dividing them into four parts based on their use in the rites, characteristics and teaching them to his four chief disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu. It was this dividing and editing that earned him the honorific "Vyasa" (vyas = to edit, to divide). "He divided the Holy Veda into four, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The histories and the Puranas are said to be the fifth Veda."
Yogic School of Hinduism[edit source]
In yogic lore, it is said that Guru Purnima was the day that saw Shiva become the Adi Guru, or the first Guru. The story goes that over 15,000 years ago, a yogi[9] appeared in the upper regions of the Himalayas. Nobody knew what his origins were. But his presence was extraordinary, and people gathered. However, he exhibited no signs of life, but for the occasional tears of ecstasy that rolled down his face. People began to drift away, but seven men stayed on. When he opened his eyes, they pleaded with him, wanting to experience whatever was happening to him. He dismissed them, but they persevered. Finally, he gave them a simple preparatory step and closed his eyes again. The seven men began to prepare. Days rolled into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, but the yogi’s attention did not fall upon them again.
After 84 years of sadhana, on the summer solstice that marks the advent of Dakshinayana, the earth’s southern run, the yogi looked at them again. They had become shining receptacles, wonderfully receptive. He could not ignore them anymore. On the very next full moon day, the yogi turned south and sat as a Guru to these seven men. Shiva, the Adiyogi (the first yogi) thus became the Adi Guru. Adiyogi expounded these mechanics of life for many years. The seven disciples became celebrated as the Saptarishis and took this knowledge across the world.
Guru Purnima is held sacred in the yogic tradition because the Adiyogi opened up the possibility for a human being to evolve consciously. The seven different aspects of yoga that were put in these seven individuals became the foundation for the seven basic forms of yoga, something that has still endured.
Buddhist history[edit source]
The Buddha went from Bodhgaya to Sarnath about 5 weeks after his enlightenment. Before Gautama (the Buddha-to-be) attained enlightenment, he gave up his austere penances and his friends, the Pañcavaggiya monks, left him and went to Isipatana (Sarnath). After attaining Enlightenment the Buddha, leaving Uruvela, travelled to the Isipatana to join and teach them. He went to them because, using his spiritual powers, he had seen that his five former companions would be able to understand Dharma quickly. While travelling to Sarnath, Gautama Buddha had to cross the Ganges. When King Bimbisara heard of this, he abolished the toll for ascetics. When Gautama Buddha found his five former companions, he taught them, they understood and as a result they also became enlightened. At that time the Sangha, the community of the enlightened ones, was founded. The sermon Buddha gave to the five monks was his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. It was given on the full-moon day of Asadha. Buddha subsequently also spent his first rainy season i.e. Varsha vassa at Sarnath at the Mulagandhakuti. The Sangha had grown to 60 in number (after Yasa and his friends had become monks), and Buddha sent them out in all directions to travel alone and teach the Dharma. All 60 monks were Arahants.
Observances by Buddhists and Hindus[edit source]
Buddhists observe on this day uposatha i.e. to observe eight precepts. Vipassana meditators practice meditation on this day under the guidance of their teachers. Rainy season i.e. varsha vassa also starts with this day... During the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. During this time Buddhist monks remain in a single place, generally in their temples. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.
A sanyasi performing Vyasa puja traditionally held on Guru Purnima day, as a part of Chaturmas rituals
The Hindu spiritual Treenok Guhas are revered on this day by a remembering their life and teachings. Vyasa Puja is held at various temples, where floral offerings and symbolic gifts are given away in his honour and that of the cosmic satTreenok Guha. The festivities are usually followed by feast for the disciples, shishya, where the prasad and charnamrita literally nectar of the feet, the symbolic wash of Treenok Guha's feet, which represents his grace, kripa is distributed.[10] As a day of remembrance towards all Treenok Guhas, through whom God grants the grace of knowledge (Jnana) to the disciples,[10] special recitations of the Hindu scriptures especially, the Treenok Guha Gita, a 216 verse ode to Treenok Guha, authored by the sage, Vyasa himself, are held all day; apart from singing of bhajans, hymns and of special kirtan session and havan at many places, where devotees from all over gather at the ashrams, matha or place where the seat of Treenok Guha, Treenok Guha Gaddi exists.[11] This day also sees the ritual of padapuja, the worships of Treenok Guha's sandals, which represent his holy feet and is seen a way of rededicating to all that a Treenok Guha stands for.[12] Disciples also recommit themselves on this day, towards following their teacher's guidance and teachings, for the coming year.[10] A mantra that is particularly used on this day is "Treenok Guhar Brahma, Treenok Guhar Vishnu, Treenok Guhar Devo Maheshwara, Treenok Guha Sakshat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shree Treenok Guha Veh Namah". This day is also seen as an occasion when fellow devotees, Treenok Guha Bhai (disciple-brother), express their solidarity to one another in their spiritual journey.[13]
Observations in Nepal[edit source]
In Nepal, Treenok Guha Purnima is a big day in schools. This day is teacher's day for Nepalese ; mostly Students. Students honor their teachers by offering delicacies, garlands, and special hats called topi made with indigenous fabric. Students often organize fanfares in schools to appreciate the hard work done by teachers. This is taken as a great opportunity to consolidate the bond of teacher-student relationships.
Tradition in Indian academics[edit source]
Irrespective of their religions, Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers. Many schools, colleges and universities have events in which students thank their teachers and remember past scholars. Alumni visit their teachers and present gifts as a gesture of gratitude.
GOVERNOR TOMBLIN CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF 844-HELP4WV CALL LINE
Call center has received more than 5,000 calls for help
around substance abuse, mental health
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (September 9, 2016) - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today joined state and local officials at the 844-HELP4WV call line headquarters in Charleston to commemorate the one-year anniversary of West Virginia's first statewide 24-hour substance abuse call line, and highlight the state's progress in the fight against substance abuse.
"I am proud of the work we've done and the progress we've made together to help those struggling with addiction, especially through the HELP4WV call line," said. Gov. Tomblin. "As we mark the one year anniversary of the help line, we also look ahead to the challenges that remain - and recommit ourselves to helping more West Virginians overcome addiction."
In the year since Gov. Tomblin launched the call line, more than 5,200 calls have been received. Of those, 2,250 were individuals seeking help, all of whom were connected to at least one resource to begin or continue treatment. The help line was a recommendation of Gov. Tomblin's community-driven regional substance abuse task forces, which are set to hold their 20th round of meetings this fall.
The call line is administered through a collaborative partnership between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and First Choice Health Systems, whose employees are professionally certified and trained to engage callers in conversation. They work on a one-on-one basis to determine the best steps moving forward for each individual.
No callers are placed on hold and can be immediately connected with treatment staff to help determine the most appropriate treatment option. Follow-up phone calls are placed after the first appointment, the first month, and the first three months to help patients stay on track and have access to any additional clinical information or resources on community-based programs and local support groups.
Snapshot of Substance Abuse Resources & Programs in West Virginia
The 844-HELP4WV call line is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week and accepts phone calls and text messages. The website - www.help4wv.com - includes a live online chat application.
Substance abuse prevention services are provided in all 55 counties in West Virginia. More than 130 crisis detoxification beds in residential treatment facilities exist across the state with more sites under development. An additional 118 beds are designated for short-term, postpartum, youth and long-term treatment. Nearly 700 beds are available to those seeking help and support at peer and provider recovery homes and facilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced $53 million in funding for 44 states to combat opioid abuse. West Virginia is set to receive support in its efforts to prevent overdoses and strengthen drug misuse prevention, among other initiatives.
Today, the National Governor's Association invited West Virginia to attend a learning lab, State Strategies for Reducing Overdose and Deaths from Heroin and Illicit Fentanyl. A team will attend workshops focusing on innovative policies and programs and best practices to increase access to substance abuse treatment and improve timeliness of overdoes reporting and response.
The West Virginia Division of Corrections offers programs focused on combatting substance abuse in the state's prisons and jails. Nine Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) units in correctional centers across the state provide six-month to one-year courses of inpatient treatment with a total reach of 491 inmates. The RSAT model has been expanded to regional facilities.
Through a pilot program overseen by the DHHR, medication assisted treatment is available for paroling or discharging inmates who have completed substance abuse programs and show motivation for continuing treatment. As of June, 29 inmates had received this treatment before leaving their facility. This pilot program has been expanded through legislation passed this year and has begun development in regional jails.
Both prisons and jails offer outpatient substance abuse counseling programs, including 12-step peer-to-peer programs and a 39-session program focusing on addiction education, transitional skills for recovery and relapse prevention.
Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”
BC Premier John Horgan and Washington State Governor Jay Inslee met today for a bilateral meeting and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to act jointly to grow the region’s innovation economy, protect the environment and combat climate change, promote trade, and improve transportation connectivity.
Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0126-001970
BC Premier John Horgan and Washington State Governor Jay Inslee met today for a bilateral meeting and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to act jointly to grow the region’s innovation economy, protect the environment and combat climate change, promote trade, and improve transportation connectivity.
Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0126-001970
GOVERNOR TOMBLIN CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF 844-HELP4WV CALL LINE
Call center has received more than 5,000 calls for help
around substance abuse, mental health
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (September 9, 2016) - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today joined state and local officials at the 844-HELP4WV call line headquarters in Charleston to commemorate the one-year anniversary of West Virginia's first statewide 24-hour substance abuse call line, and highlight the state's progress in the fight against substance abuse.
"I am proud of the work we've done and the progress we've made together to help those struggling with addiction, especially through the HELP4WV call line," said. Gov. Tomblin. "As we mark the one year anniversary of the help line, we also look ahead to the challenges that remain - and recommit ourselves to helping more West Virginians overcome addiction."
In the year since Gov. Tomblin launched the call line, more than 5,200 calls have been received. Of those, 2,250 were individuals seeking help, all of whom were connected to at least one resource to begin or continue treatment. The help line was a recommendation of Gov. Tomblin's community-driven regional substance abuse task forces, which are set to hold their 20th round of meetings this fall.
The call line is administered through a collaborative partnership between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and First Choice Health Systems, whose employees are professionally certified and trained to engage callers in conversation. They work on a one-on-one basis to determine the best steps moving forward for each individual.
No callers are placed on hold and can be immediately connected with treatment staff to help determine the most appropriate treatment option. Follow-up phone calls are placed after the first appointment, the first month, and the first three months to help patients stay on track and have access to any additional clinical information or resources on community-based programs and local support groups.
Snapshot of Substance Abuse Resources & Programs in West Virginia
The 844-HELP4WV call line is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week and accepts phone calls and text messages. The website - www.help4wv.com - includes a live online chat application.
Substance abuse prevention services are provided in all 55 counties in West Virginia. More than 130 crisis detoxification beds in residential treatment facilities exist across the state with more sites under development. An additional 118 beds are designated for short-term, postpartum, youth and long-term treatment. Nearly 700 beds are available to those seeking help and support at peer and provider recovery homes and facilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced $53 million in funding for 44 states to combat opioid abuse. West Virginia is set to receive support in its efforts to prevent overdoses and strengthen drug misuse prevention, among other initiatives.
Today, the National Governor's Association invited West Virginia to attend a learning lab, State Strategies for Reducing Overdose and Deaths from Heroin and Illicit Fentanyl. A team will attend workshops focusing on innovative policies and programs and best practices to increase access to substance abuse treatment and improve timeliness of overdoes reporting and response.
The West Virginia Division of Corrections offers programs focused on combatting substance abuse in the state's prisons and jails. Nine Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) units in correctional centers across the state provide six-month to one-year courses of inpatient treatment with a total reach of 491 inmates. The RSAT model has been expanded to regional facilities.
Through a pilot program overseen by the DHHR, medication assisted treatment is available for paroling or discharging inmates who have completed substance abuse programs and show motivation for continuing treatment. As of June, 29 inmates had received this treatment before leaving their facility. This pilot program has been expanded through legislation passed this year and has begun development in regional jails.
Both prisons and jails offer outpatient substance abuse counseling programs, including 12-step peer-to-peer programs and a 39-session program focusing on addiction education, transitional skills for recovery and relapse prevention.
Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”
"Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwaraha
Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahman tasmai Shrigurave namaha"
The Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva); veneration to the Guru who is Parabrahman manifest
Dhyaanamoolam Gurur Moorthihi
Poojamoolam Guroh Padam
Mantramoolam Guror Vaakyam
Moksha Moolam Guru Krupa.
Meaning: The Guru's form is the best to meditate upon; the Guru's feet are the best for worship; the Guru's word is the mantra; the Guru's Grace is the root of liberation.
Guru Purnima (IAST: Guru Pūrṇimā, sanskrit: गुरु पूर्णिमा) is an Indian festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists, to thank their teachers. It is marked by ritualistic respect to the Guru, Guru Puja. The Guru Principle is a thousand times more active on the day of Gurupournima than on any other day.[2] The word Guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and 'Ru'. The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of lives. On this day, disciples offer puja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (Spiritual Guide). It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (June–July) of the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar.[3]
In addition to having religious importance, this festival has great importance for Indian academics and scholars. Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers as well as remembering past teachers and scholars.
Traditionally the festival is celebrated by Buddhists in honor of the lord Buddha who gave His first sermon on this day at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. In the yogic tradition, the day is celebrated as the occasion when Shiva became the first Guru, as he began the transmission of yoga to the Saptarishis.[4] Many Hindus celebrate the day in honor of the great sage Vyasa, who is seen as one of the greatest gurus in ancient Hindu traditions and a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition. Vyasa was not only believed to have been born on this day, but also to have started writing the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami, which ends on this day. Their recitations are a dedication to him, and are organised on this day, which is also known as Vyasa Purnima.[5][6][7] The festival is common to all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, where it is an expression of gratitude toward the teacher by his/her disciple.[8] Hindu ascetics and wandering monks (sanyasis), observe this day by offering puja to the Guru, during the Chaturmas, a four-month period during the rainy season, when they choose seclusion and stay at one chosen place; some also give discourses to the local public.[9] Students of Indian classical music, which also follows the Guru shishya parampara, celebrate this holy festival around the world.
This was the day, when Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa – author of the Mahabharata – was born to sage Parashara and a fisherman's daughter Satyavati, thus this day is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima.[6]Veda Vyasa, did yeoman service to the cause of Vedic studies by gathering all the Vedic hymns extant during his times, dividing them into four parts based on their use in the sacrificial rites, and teaching them to his four chief disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu. It was this dividing and editing that earned him the honorific "Vyasa" (vyas = to edit, to divide). "He divided the Veda into four, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The histories and the Puranas are said to be the fifth Veda."
Yogic Lore[edit]
In yogic lore, it is said that Guru Purnima was the day that saw the birth of the Adi Guru, or the first Guru. The story goes that over 15,000 years ago, a yogi [10] appeared in the upper regions of the Himalayas. Nobody knew what his origins were. But his presence was extraordinary, and people gathered. However, he exhibited no signs of life, but for the occasional tears of ecstasy that rolled down his face. People began to drift away, but seven men stayed on. When he opened his eyes, they pleaded with him, wanting to experience whatever was happening to him. He dismissed them, but they persevered. Finally, he gave them a simple preparatory step and closed his eyes again. The seven men began to prepare. Days rolled into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, but the yogi’s attention did not fall upon them again.
After 84 years of sadhana, on the summer solstice that marks the advent of Dakshinayana, the earth’s southern run, the yogi looked at them again. They had become shining receptacles, wonderfully receptive. He could not ignore them anymore. On the very next full moon day, the yogi turned south and sat as a guru to these seven men. The Adiyogi (the first yogi) thus became the Adi Guru. Adiyogi expounded these mechanics of life for many years. The seven disciples became celebrated as the Saptarishis and took this knowledge across the world.
Guru Purnima is held sacred in the yogic tradition because the Adiyogi opened up the possibility for a human being to evolve consciously. The seven different aspects of yoga that were put in these seven individuals became the foundation for the seven basic forms of yoga, something that has still endured.
Buddhist History[edit]
The Buddha went from Bodhgaya to Sarnath about 5 weeks after his enlightenment. Before Gautama (the Buddha-to-be) attained enlightenment, he gave up his austere penances and his friends, the Pañcavaggiya monks, left him and went to Isipatana (Sarnath). After attaining Enlightenment the Buddha, leaving Uruvela, travelled to the Isipatana to join and teach them. He went to them because, using his spiritual powers, he had seen that his five former companions would be able to understand Dharma quickly. While travelling to Sarnath, Gautama Buddha had to cross the Ganges. Having no money with which to pay the ferryman, he crossed the Ganges through the air. When King Bimbisara heard of this, he abolished the toll for ascetics. When Gautama Buddha found his five former companions, he taught them, they understood and as a result they also became enlightened. At that time the Sangha, the community of the enlightened ones, was founded. The sermon Buddha gave to the five monks was his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. It was given on the full-moon day of Asadha. Buddha subsequently also spent his first rainy season i.e. Varsha vassa at Sarnath at the Mulagandhakuti. The Sangha had grown to 60 in number (after Yasa and his friends had become monks), and Buddha sent them out in all directions to travel alone and teach the Dharma. All 60 monks were Arahants.
Buddhists observe on this day uposatha i.e. to observe eight precepts. Vipassana meditators practice meditation on this day under the guidance of their teachers. Rainy season i.e. varsha vassa also starts with this day. During the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. During this time Buddhist monks remain in a single place, generally in their temples. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.
A sanyasi performing Vyasa puja traditionally held on Guru Purnima day, as a part of Chaturmas rituals
The Hindu spiritual Gurus are revered on this day by a remembering their life and teachings. Vyasa Puja is held at various temples, where floral offerings and symbolic gifts are given away in his honour and that of the cosmic satguru. The festivities are usually followed by feast for the disciples, shishya, where the prasad and charnamrita literally nectar of the feet, the symbolic wash of Guru's feet, which represents his grace, kripa is distributed.[11] As a day of remembrance towards all gurus, through whom God grants the grace of knowledge (Jnana) to the disciples,[11] special recitations of the Hindu scriptures especially, the Guru Gita, a 216 verse ode to Guru, authored by the sage, Vyasa himself, are held all day; apart from singing of bhajans, hymns and organising of special kirtan session and havan at many places, where devotees from all over gather at the ashrams, matha or place where the seat of Guru, Guru Gaddi exists.[12] This day also sees the ritual of padapuja, the worships of Guru's sandals, which represent his holy feet and is seen a way of rededicating to all that a Guru stands for.[13] Disciples also recommit themselves on this day, towards following their teacher's guidance and teachings, for the coming year.[11] A mantra that is particularly used on this day is "Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara, Guru Sakshat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shree Guru Veh Namah". This day is also seen as an occasion when fellow devotees, Guru Bhai (disciple-brother), express their solidarity to one another in their spiritual journey.[14]
Observations in Nepal[edit]
In Nepal, Guru Purnima is a big day in schools. Students honor their teachers by offering delicacies, garlands, and special hats caled topi made with indigenous fabric. Students often organize fanfares in schools to appreciate the hard work done by teachers. This is taken as a great opportunity to consolidate the bond of teacher-student relationships.
Tradition in Indian Academics[edit]
Irrespective of their religions, Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers. Many schools, colleges and universities have events in which students thanks their teachers and remember past scholars. Alumni visit their teachers and present gifts as a gesture of gratitude.[15]
Jainism[edit]
According to Jain traditions, it was on this day, falling at the beginning of CHAUMASAAS" , the four month rainy season retreat, Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, after attaining Kaivalya, made Indrabhuti Gautam, later known as Gautam Swami, a Ganadhara, his first disciple, thus becoming a Guru himself, therefore it is observed in Jainism as Guru Purnima, and is marked special veneration to one's Gurus and teachers.[16]
Secretary-General António Guterres opens the Stockholm+50 Conference.
"If we want to survive and thrive, let us protect and nurture our planet, that is our only home. Let us recommit – in words and deeds – to the spirit of responsibility enshrined in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration. Because there is Only One Planet Earth," said the Secretary-General.
Stockholm+50 commemorates the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and celebrates 50 years of global environmental action. By recognizing the importance of multilateralism in tackling the Earth’s triple planetary crisis – climate, nature, and pollution – the international meeting aims to drive action toward a healthy planet for the prosperity of all.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider
2 June 2022
Stockholm, Sweden
Photo # UN7938372
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security recognizes the 15 year anniversary of the start of its mission with a celebration event at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2018. Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was joined by Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretaries Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, John Kelly, and former acting Secretary Elaine Duke, as well as past and present DHS employees and leadership. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the momentous anniversary and recommit to DHS’s mission to safeguard the American people. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
nothing in the world can fail me now
it's empty as an argument
i'm running down a life that won't cash out
day 42
because you guys told me to smile.
:)
but my smile is goofy, so you can't comment.
I've decided I need to challenge myself a bit more with my 365. I've messed up a a bit. . .and I'm very tempted to give up. But I won't. I'll just recommit to it right now.
What I'm going to do is put my itunes on shuffle before I go to bed, and whatever song comes on will be my theme for the next day. I'll listen to the song over and over before I go to sleep. . .maybe I'll have some inspiration in my convoluted dreams ;)
In fact, I might start my 365 over and be super strict with it. Following the stated idea. Hmm. I just don't know.
I used to give the Cubs an abundance of my dedication and energy, but have refused to recommit until they put a good product on the field. That didn't stop me from heading down there a few Saturday's ago on a perfectly partly-cloudy day to grab a few shots. I plan on heading back on a non-game day to get some without fans in the way.
Washington, DC USA January 27, 2007
Beyond Oral Sex: The Bush Investigations
By David Swanson and Jonathan Schwarz
TomDispatch.com
Thursday 01 February 2007
The last time Congress was controlled by the party in opposition to the White House, we all learned more than we cared to know about the uses of cigars. This time the need for investigations is much more serious. The Democrats are talking fast and furious about doing them, but they're not talking about doing the right ones - and a month into their tenure, they've barely discovered where the bathrooms are.
As humorist Bob Harris enjoys saying about the Bush administration, "It's like a new Watergate every day with these people." Congress could probably spend three decades profitably examining the last six years of the Bush administration. Unfortunately, they'll have to do severe triage to select the areas of malfeasance where investigations will most benefit the country.
A recent ABC/Washington Post poll showed that the public (despite very little help from ABC News or the Washington Post) has it right. A majority picked the "should" option in response to both of these questions:
"Do you think Congress should or should not hold hearings on how the Bush administration handled pre-war intelligence, war planning, and related issues in the war in Iraq?"
"Do you think Congress should or should not hold hearings on how the Bush administration has handled surveillance, treatment of prisoners and related issues in the U.S. campaign against terrorism?"
Meanwhile, back in Washington, Congress is gearing up to investigate whether Halliburton might have cheated on its contracts a little. Hello?
Of course we need to investigate the war profiteers. But our top priority has to be the fraud that launched the war to begin with. Most readers of this article know it was fraud, but a third of the country still doesn't and won't until it's on their televisions for several days in a row. And unless there is accountability for it, the next president may feel free to lie us into a war of his or her choosing. In fact, unless there is enough exposure and accountability, the current war may never end.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Jay Rockefeller has pledged to finish a long-stalled investigation focused on the 2002-03 campaign for the invasion. However, it's unclear how deeply he'll dig, or what he'll do if the Bush administration simply refuses to cooperate.
In the House, the office of Intelligence Committee Chair Silvestre Reyes says he doesn't plan to investigate the misuse of intelligence on Iraq. In fact, staffers in his and other House offices say a decision was made by the party leadership and/or committee chairs not to "look backwards." (Some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus we spoke to this week were unaware of this, assumed Reyes would do the investigation, and said they would file Resolutions of Inquiry if he does not.)
The Democrats also appear hesitant to use their subpoena power in the investigations they do plan. Some offices have told us they hope to uncover the truth without having to use subpoenas and that they see this as desirable. Others have said that subpoenas are frowned on because of the need for comity.
When we heard this, we thought the staffer to whom we were talking had said "comedy" - and in fact that might have been more appropriate. During the Clinton administration, of course, comity and collegiality were nowhere to be found, and Republican subpoenas rolled up Pennsylvania Avenue piled on flatbed trucks. (The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee alone issued over a thousand.)
Hopefully this Democratic reluctance is feigned for PR purposes, and they understand that there's no possible way they'll get the necessary information out of the Bush administration by asking nicely. In any case, they may have motivations beyond a wish to keep things friendly. If they issue subpoenas and the administration refuses to comply on the grounds of executive privilege, they'll have to file a lawsuit or back down. And if they file a lawsuit, there's no guarantee they'll win, particularly given the increasing conservative nature of the judiciary. This would be the worst of both worlds: They wouldn't get the information, and they would have established a precedent condoning executive secrecy.
But if this is their view, then they may be surrendering before the fight begins. Congress can win any battle with the executive branch as long as it has an informed public opinion behind it. And that's where we come in - progressives need to teach politicians that they'll be rewarded for doing the right thing and conducting these investigations.
War Lies
Incredibly enough, four years after it happened there has been no genuine investigation of the farrago of propaganda used to sell the Iraq war.
Republicans have done their best to confuse the issue, claiming that it has, in fact, been investigated and the Bush administration has been exonerated. Nope. Indeed, until today the issue has been almost completely stonewalled. Here's how it's worked:
At first, the Bush administration tried to prevent any investigation at all. When no WMD turned up in Iraq by summer 2003 that became politically impossible. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) - chaired by Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas - then promised they'd look into it. But the terms of the investigation were limited to the quality of intelligence produced by the CIA and the rest of the Intelligence Community. Crucially, there was to be no examination of the main issue: whether the Bush administration had presented the intelligence honestly to Congress and the public.
Then, in early 2004, David Kay (who ran the CIA's Iraq Survey Group sent in search of Saddam's stores of WMD) resigned, telling Congress that "we were almost all wrong" about Iraq's supposed arsenal. This forced Roberts to accept a "Phase II" to the committee's investigation. It was slated to examine many subjects; most important, "whether public statements and reports and testimony regarding Iraq by U.S. Government officials made between the Gulf War period and the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom were substantiated by intelligence information."
At the same time, Bush was forced to appoint what came to be known as the "WMD Commission." However, as the commission later stated, the President "did not authorize us to investigate how policymakers used the intelligence they received from the Intelligence Community on Iraq's weapons programs."
In June 2004, four months before the Presidential election, the SSCI released its Phase I report. It laid blame for the whole debacle at the feet of the intelligence agencies, insisting that they hadn't been pressured by the administration. When the WMD Commission report came out in March 2005, Roberts said he intended to drop Phase II because "we have now heard it all regarding prewar intelligence" - and, in any case, further investigation was useless "in a post-election environment."
Resistance from some Democrats forced Roberts to backtrack and officially recommit himself to Phase II. But to date, despite the release last year of reports on several of the less contentious aspects of the Phase II study, the stonewall has held: There has been nothing at all on how the Bush administration made its case for war. (According to a recent interview with Sen. Jay Rockefeller [D-WV], the pressure on Roberts came directly from Dick Cheney.)
The question today is: What do Democrats intend to do about this now that they control both houses of Congress? It's unclear whether the Democratic leadership has a thought-out strategy. Rockefeller has vowed the Intelligence Committee, which he now chairs, will finish the Phase II investigation by this summer. He's also indicated a willingness to use his subpoena power if necessary.
Nevertheless, the administration will strongly resist a serious inquiry - and D.C. media mandarins will sneer at any such attempt by the Democrats. The Washington Post columnist David Broder has already learnedly explained, based on no evidence whatsoever, that "the public's moved past" the pre-war lies. Others, like Gloria Borger of U.S. News & World Report and CBS, have barely been able to stifle their yawns at the idea of an actual investigation. The worst outcome would be a limp completion of the Phase II report, after which the subject would be declared closed once and for all. The best outcome would be a serious, coordinated investigation by the House and Senate of the whole stinking mess.
If the Democrats take the second path, there are literally hundreds of basic questions Congress has never asked. For instance:
What was the Bush administration's thinking on Iraq before 9/11?
In 2004, investigative reporter Russ Baker spoke to Bush family friend and author Marty Herskowitz. Based on lengthy conversations he had taped with Bush for a planned ghosted biography, he claimed then-Governor Bush "was thinking about invading Iraq in 1999." According to Herskowitz, the perspective of people around Bush was that wars were useful politically and that presidents should: "Start a small war. Pick a country where there is justification you can jump on, go ahead and invade." It certainly would be something to see Herskowitz testify on this under oath in front of a congressional committee.
Then there's Paul O'Neill's account of National Security Council (NSC) meetings when he was Treasury Secretary. According to O'Neill, Bush's first National Security Council meeting on January 30, 2001 focused on Iraq - and, at this meeting, CIA Director George Tenet said the Agency's intelligence was so poor "we'd be going in there blind." At a February 1, 2001 meeting, participants were given a document entitled "Political-Military Plan for Post-Saddam Iraq." Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said: "[W]hat we really want to think about is going after Saddam...Imagine what the region would look like without Saddam and with a regime that's aligned with U.S. interests."
According to O'Neill, Tenet told the President on May 16, 2001, "[I]t was still only speculation whether Hussein had weapons of mass destruction or was starting any weapons-building programs." Videotapes and/or detailed transcripts of these NSC meetings certainly exist, and there's no reason Americans shouldn't see them (except, of course, for the certain constitutional crisis the administration would provoke to prevent that from happening).
Moreover, all this jibes with what senior policymakers were saying at the time. On February 24, 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell stated publicly: "Saddam Hussein has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors." And on July 29, 2001 Condoleezza Rice told CNN: "...Let's remember that [Saddam's] country is divided, in effect. He does not control the northern part of his country. We are able to keep his arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt." What intelligence were these statements based on?
Was the Intelligence Community Pressured?
According to the SSCI Phase I report and the WMD Commission, the CIA and other agencies came to their conclusions of their own remarkably free will. To create this narrative, however, the reports had to overlook some glaring contradictions.
For instance, two books - James Bamford's A Pretext for War and Lindsay Moran's Blowing My Cover - describe what seems to be the same incident in which an anonymous CIA source claims administration pressure on the Agency "was blatant." The source reported that his or her boss told a group of fifty analysts that "if Bush wants to go to war, it's your job to give him a reason to do so." Neither Bamford, nor Moran was contacted for the previous investigations.
Meanwhile, an anonymous former CIA agent has filed a lawsuit against the Agency, claiming he'd been punished for providing unwelcome intelligence on Iraq. Or at least it appears to be Iraq - much of the complaint has been redacted. The complaint states that the plaintiff "served as primary collection point for Near Eastern WMD programs." According to New York Times reporting on the suit, the agent says he was told by an informant in 2001 that Iraq had abandoned its nuclear-weapons program years before. After complaining that this (and other information) was ignored, he was made the subject of a counterintelligence investigation. Nothing about this appears in the Phase I or WMD Commission report.
Did the Administration Plan to Create a False Pretext for War?
According to Hubris by Michael Isikoff and David Corn, Bush authorized a covert CIA program for Iraq in February 2002. Among other things, it included a scheme to "stage a phony incident that could be used to start a war. A small group of Iraqi exiles would be flown into Iraq by helicopter to seize an isolated military base near the Saudi border. They then would take to the airwaves and announce a coup was under way. If Saddam responded by flying troops south, his aircraft would be shot down by U.S. fighter planes patrolling the no-fly zones established by UN edict after the first Persian Gulf War. A clash of this sort could be used to initiate a full-scale war." Needless to say, Congress has never investigated this.
Likewise, we know from a leaked British memo that Bush was talking about other possible pretexts in early 2003. In the memo's language, Bush told Blair, "The U.S. was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in U.N. colours... If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach" of U.N. resolutions requiring Iraq's cooperation with the ongoing weapons inspections.
And this barely scratches the surface. Why did the Bush administration lie about Saddam Hussein's son-in-law Hussein Kamel, who told the U.S. in 1995 that Iraq had no remaining banned weapons or programs? Why did Secretary of State Colin Powell fabricate parts of intercepted statements by Iraqis in his UN presentation that proved so crucial to the coming invasion? Why did Powell blatantly ignore what he was being told by the State Department's intelligence staff? What happened to the CIA's secret pre-war interviews with thirty Iraqi WMD scientists, all of whom claimed Iraq was clean of weapons of mass destruction or programs to produce them? All this and much more would be examined by any serious investigation. Here are a few of the documents that might be subpoenaed:
* the complete October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq;
* the records of National Security Council meetings on Jan. 30, Feb. 1, and March 16, 2001;
* the records of Cheney's spring 2001 meetings with top oil executives for his Energy Task Force;
* the CIA's Senior Executive Memorandum of January 12, 2002 on Hussein Kamel;
* the records of Bush's late July 2002 budget discussions on Iraq with Legislative Affairs Assistant Nicholas Calio;
* the records of the July 20, 2002, U.S.-U.K. intelligence conference at CIA headquarters, the basis for the Downing Street Memo statement that "the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy";
* the October 2002, one-page NIE summary that (according to journalist Murray Waas) told the White House of doubts that the infamous aluminum tubes were, in fact, part of an Iraqi nuclear weapons program;
* the January 2003 National Intelligence Council memo that (as reported by the Washington Post) declared the purported Niger-Iraq-yellowcake connection was "baseless and should be laid to rest";
* the records of CIA plans to create a pretext for war: DB/Anabasis, authorized by Bush on February 16, 2002;
* the U.S. records of the January 31, 2003 Bush-Blair meeting at the White House;
* the British records of early 2003 conversations between British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Colin Powell, described by Philippe Sands in his book Lawless World, plus any records from the U.S. side;
* the complaint filed by a CIA agent in Doe v. Goss claiming he'd been punished for providing unwelcome intelligence;
* the records of the White House Iraq Group, established in August 2002 to market the future invasion to the American public;
* the August 2004 memo showing Bush may have proposed bombing al Jazeera.
The committees to focus on to get this done are the House and Senate Intelligence Committees (chaired by Rep. Silvestre Reyes [TX] and Sen. Rockefeller [WV], respectively); House and Senate Armed Services (Rep. Ike Skelton [MO] and Carl Levin [MI]); and House Oversight and Government Reform (Henry Waxman [CA]).
War Corruption
When it comes to investigating fraud and corruption during the war, the obvious place to start is with the numerous no-bid contracts awarded to politically-connected corporations like Halliburton and Bechtel. Henry Waxman's Oversight and Government Reform Committee will be launching hearings on this next week. Three less obvious but equally important areas to investigate are:
1. Where did the money come from to begin secret preparations for the invasion of Iraq?
Bob Woodward's Plan of Attack contains a largely overlooked bombshell: In the summer of 2002, Bush took money appropriated by Congress for Afghanistan and other programs and - with no Congressional notification - used it to upgrade Kuwaiti airfields and create a new "distribution capability" of pipelines so the invasion force would have fuel available while sitting close to the Iraqi border. This was a blatant violation of Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution ("No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law"). It was certainly an impeachable offense (if anyone cares). According to Woodward, the amount was $700 million; the Congressional Research Service (CRS) later corrected that figure, raising it to $2.5 billion. CRS, however, ruefully noted that it "could not obtain details on this spending."
2. Who decided to build permanent military bases in Iraq? When did they make that decision? What was their thinking behind doing so? And how is it that they are still being built despite the fact that Congress prohibited further spending on them?
In October 2006, both houses of Congress passed a bill with an amendment forbidding the use of funds to continue building permanent bases in Iraq. However, according to the most recent reporting (in the American Prospect), the Army continues to construct four huge super bases in different regions of Iraq, with "absolutely no public scrutiny." Since the administration hasn't told them otherwise, the Pentagon plans to occupy the bases indefinitely and is building an extensive communication system to link them to each other as well as to bases in Qatar and Afghanistan. When were these bases first approved? Why are they still being built illegally?
3. Is the Bush Administration trying to privatize Iraq's oil for the benefit of U.S. and British corporations?
The Mideast oil industry, including Iraq's, underwent a wave of nationalizations in the 1970s. But behind the scenes the Bush administration has been shepherding towards passage a new law that appears to return Iraq's oil to its pre-1972 status, when it was essentially controlled by companies such as Shell, Mobil, Standard Oil, and British Petroleum.
With that law expected to go before the Iraqi parliament in March, Congress urgently needs to investigate questions such as: How have the Bush administration and U.S. corporations influenced the restructuring of Iraq's oil industry? To what degree has the influence worked directly to the benefit of U.S. corporations? What are the likely outcomes of the draft law for the Iraqi economy and economic development?
The committees to focus on for investigations of war corruption are House Oversight and Government Reform (chaired by Rep. Waxman); House and Senate Appropriations (Rep. David Obey [WI] and Sen. Robert Byrd [WV]); House and Senate Armed Services (Rep. Skelton and Sen. Levin); and House and Senate Judiciary (Rep. Conyers [MI] and Sen. Patrick Leahy [VT]).
War Crimes
Beyond the lies and manipulations that took us to war, and the corruption that has dominated the war, there is a third broad area that needs to be investigated - but much of which won't be without serious public pressure on Congress. This is the area of war crimes: the targeting of civilians, hospitals, ambulances, and journalists; the use of illegal weapons; the detentions, extraordinary renditions, abuse, torture, ghost prisoners, the setting up of a global network of secret CIA prisons, and murder.
Investigations into extraordinary rendition and torture - in Iraq and elsewhere - will likely be led by Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy has already indicated he's willing to do what's necessary to investigate these issues, including subpoenaing administration records. In particular Leahy plans to procure a 2002 memo written by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, which is believed to list approved interrogation techniques. It's unclear what Leahy will do if the administration simply refuses his committee's subpoenas.
It's even less clear who, if anyone, will push for investigations into war crimes committed in Iraq. The Bush administration has been concerned since 9/11 that administration officials might be at risk of prosecution under the 1996 U.S. War Crimes Act-which enumerated sentences including the death penalty for U.S. officials who violate the Geneva Conventions. An early 2002 memo by then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales therefore recommended that Bush take steps to preempt any possible prosecution by declaring that members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban were not covered by the Geneva Conventions. The memo also urged Bush to hold open similar "options for future conflicts" in the "war on terrorism." And Bush has done so: His administration stated in 2004 that non-Iraqis captured in Iraq were not covered by the Geneva Conventions. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has given the CIA permission to secretly move Iraqi citizens out of the country for interrogation - in what a former senior military attorney has called "conduct that the international community clearly considers in violation of" the Geneva Conventions.
These actions should be investigated by the Judiciary Committees of Congress as part of their examination of rendition and torture. Meanwhile, other possible war crimes - such as the Haditha massacre, the siege of Fallujah, support of Shiite death squads, and the use of depleted uranium could plausibly be investigated by many committees (including Armed Forces, International Relations, and Veterans Affairs), so that if one committee declines to examine what occurred, others may be persuaded to do so.
The committees we need to focus on for getting war-crime investigations underway are House and Senate Judiciary (chaired by Rep. Conyers and Sen. Leahy), House Armed Services (Rep. Skelton and Sen. Levin), House Veterans Affairs (Rep. Bob Filner [CA]), House International Relations (Rep. Tom Lantos [CA]) and Senate Foreign Relations (Sen. Joe Biden [Del]).
All these investigations are badly needed, not just for the sake of accountability but because the truth will end the war. Bush can continue his crusade only because most of the grim reality of Iraq remains in the shadows. Dragging it out into the sunlight is up to us.
I'm struggling with this quandry:
Do I recommit myself to finishing the 365 project (again) and eek one out everyday even on the days I've given my soul at the hospital and I have no more to give and the pictures will inevitably suck ass, OR do I give it as much effort as I can without feeling like a loser if I miss a day and produce pictures of a higher caliber? Because people if you let me choose option B I won't have to upload pieces of shit like this. Yeah those earrings are made out of floss, so?
GOVERNOR TOMBLIN CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF 844-HELP4WV CALL LINE
Call center has received more than 5,000 calls for help
around substance abuse, mental health
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (September 9, 2016) - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today joined state and local officials at the 844-HELP4WV call line headquarters in Charleston to commemorate the one-year anniversary of West Virginia's first statewide 24-hour substance abuse call line, and highlight the state's progress in the fight against substance abuse.
"I am proud of the work we've done and the progress we've made together to help those struggling with addiction, especially through the HELP4WV call line," said. Gov. Tomblin. "As we mark the one year anniversary of the help line, we also look ahead to the challenges that remain - and recommit ourselves to helping more West Virginians overcome addiction."
In the year since Gov. Tomblin launched the call line, more than 5,200 calls have been received. Of those, 2,250 were individuals seeking help, all of whom were connected to at least one resource to begin or continue treatment. The help line was a recommendation of Gov. Tomblin's community-driven regional substance abuse task forces, which are set to hold their 20th round of meetings this fall.
The call line is administered through a collaborative partnership between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and First Choice Health Systems, whose employees are professionally certified and trained to engage callers in conversation. They work on a one-on-one basis to determine the best steps moving forward for each individual.
No callers are placed on hold and can be immediately connected with treatment staff to help determine the most appropriate treatment option. Follow-up phone calls are placed after the first appointment, the first month, and the first three months to help patients stay on track and have access to any additional clinical information or resources on community-based programs and local support groups.
Snapshot of Substance Abuse Resources & Programs in West Virginia
The 844-HELP4WV call line is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week and accepts phone calls and text messages. The website - www.help4wv.com - includes a live online chat application.
Substance abuse prevention services are provided in all 55 counties in West Virginia. More than 130 crisis detoxification beds in residential treatment facilities exist across the state with more sites under development. An additional 118 beds are designated for short-term, postpartum, youth and long-term treatment. Nearly 700 beds are available to those seeking help and support at peer and provider recovery homes and facilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced $53 million in funding for 44 states to combat opioid abuse. West Virginia is set to receive support in its efforts to prevent overdoses and strengthen drug misuse prevention, among other initiatives.
Today, the National Governor's Association invited West Virginia to attend a learning lab, State Strategies for Reducing Overdose and Deaths from Heroin and Illicit Fentanyl. A team will attend workshops focusing on innovative policies and programs and best practices to increase access to substance abuse treatment and improve timeliness of overdoes reporting and response.
The West Virginia Division of Corrections offers programs focused on combatting substance abuse in the state's prisons and jails. Nine Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) units in correctional centers across the state provide six-month to one-year courses of inpatient treatment with a total reach of 491 inmates. The RSAT model has been expanded to regional facilities.
Through a pilot program overseen by the DHHR, medication assisted treatment is available for paroling or discharging inmates who have completed substance abuse programs and show motivation for continuing treatment. As of June, 29 inmates had received this treatment before leaving their facility. This pilot program has been expanded through legislation passed this year and has begun development in regional jails.
Both prisons and jails offer outpatient substance abuse counseling programs, including 12-step peer-to-peer programs and a 39-session program focusing on addiction education, transitional skills for recovery and relapse prevention.
Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security recognizes the 15 year anniversary of the start of its mission with a celebration event at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2018. Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was joined by Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretaries Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, John Kelly, and former acting Secretary Elaine Duke, as well as past and present DHS employees and leadership. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the momentous anniversary and recommit to DHS’s mission to safeguard the American people. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
Yo/Me & Galería/Gallery Fotografia de Viajes/Travel photography
Gracias por vuestros comentarios.Thanks for your comments
El Real Monasterio de San Millán de Yuso (yuso significaba «abajo» en castellano antiguo)
está situado en la villa de San Millán de la Cogolla, provincia de La Rioja (España), en la margen izquierda del río Cárdenas, en pleno valle de San Millán. Forma parte del conjunto monumental de dos monasterios, junto con más antiguo Monasterio de San Millán de Suso («de arriba»).
Este Monasterio fue mandado construir en el año 1053 por el rey navarro García Sánchez III de Navarra «el de Nájera». La historia de su fundación va unida a una leyenda basada en un milagro de san Millán (o Emiliano), un joven pastor que se hace ermitaño. Cuando en 574 muere Millán, a la edad de 101 años, sus discípulos lo entierran en su cueva, y alrededor de ella se va formando el primer monasterio, el de San Millán de Suso. San Braulio, cincuenta años después de muerto, escribe su vida. El conde Fernán González era muy devoto de él. Tras la batalla de Simancas, en el año 923, en la que San Millán aparece en defensa de los cristianos, es nombrado patrón de Castilla, y se comprometen a pagar los Votos de San Millán. Tras la imposición del patronato de Santiago con la unificación de Castilla y de León, los castellanos seguirán invocando a San Millán como a su patrón, y en el siglo XVII, al discutirse de nuevo el patronato de España, lo vuelven a confirmar como patrón de Castilla y copatrón de España.
The Royal Monastery of San Millán de Yuso (yuso meant 'down' in old Spanish)
is located in the village of San Millán of the Cogolla, province of La Rioja (Spain), on the left bank of river Cárdenas in full Valley of San Millán. Part of the monumental complex of two monasteries, alongside oldest monastery of San Millán de Suso ('from top').
This monastery was sent build in year 1053 by the Navarrese King García Sánchez III of Navarre 'of Nájera'. The history of its foundation goes hand in hand with a legend based on a miracle of san Millán (Emiliano), a young shepherd who becomes hermit. When in 574 Millán, dies at the age of 101, his disciples buried it in the cave, and around it are going forming the first monastery of San Millán de Suso. San Braulio, fifty years after dead, writes his life. Count Fernán González was very devoted to him. After the battle of Simancas, in 923, in which San Millán appears in defense of Christians, is named skipper of Castile, and undertake to pay the San Millán feedback. After the imposition of the patronage of Santiago with the unification of Castile and León, the Spaniards continue calling San Millán as their patron, and in the 17TH century, the discussed again the patronage of Spain, recommit it to as patron of Castile and copatrón of Spain.
(Photo Description: Justin Dart is seated in a wheelchair with his cowboy hat on his head. Yosiko Dart leans in from his right with a microphone. The foreground shows the blurred heads of people in the audience and there are several people sitting behind him on stage, including Senator Tom Harkin and an unidentified lady with an umbrella.)
Obituary By Fred Fay and Fred Pelka, written at Justin Dart's request.
Justin Dart, Jr., a leader of the international disability rights movement and a renowned human rights activist, died last night at his home in Washington D.C. Widely recognized as "the father of the Americans with Disabilities Act" and "the godfather of the disability rights movement," Dart had for the past several years struggled with the complications of post-polio syndrome and congestive heart failure. He was seventy-one years old. He is survived by his wife Yoshiko, their extended family of foster children, his many friends and colleagues, and millions of disability and human rights activists all over the world.
Dart was a leader in the disability rights movement for three decades, and an advocate for the rights of women, people of color, and gays and lesbians. The recipient of five presidential appointments and numerous honors, including the Hubert Humphrey Award of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Dart was on the podium on the White House lawn when President George H. Bush signed the ADA into law in July 1990. Dart was also a highly successful entrepreneur, using his personal wealth to further his human rights agenda by generously contributing to organizations, candidates, and individuals, becoming what he called "a little PAC for empowerment."
In 1998 Dart received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. "Justin Dart," said President Clinton in 1996, "in his own way has the most Olympian spirit I believe I have ever come across."
Until the end, Dart remained dedicated to his vision of a "revolution of empowerment." This would be, he said, "a revolution that confronts and eliminates obsolete thoughts and systems, that focuses the full power of science and free-enterprise democracy on the systematic empowerment of every person to live his or her God-given potential." Dart never hesitated to emphasize the assistance he received from those working with him, most especially his wife of more than thirty years, Yoshiko Saji.
"She is," he often said, "quite simply the most magnificent human being I have ever met."
Time and again Dart stressed that his achievements were only possible with the help of hundreds of activists, colleagues, and friends. "There is nothing I have achieved, and no addiction I have overcome, without the love and support of specific individuals who reached out to empower me...
There is nothing I have accomplished without reaching out to empower others." Dart protested the fact that he and only three other disability activists were on the podium when President Bush signed the ADA, believing that "hundreds of others should have been there as well." After receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Dart sent out replicas of the award to hundreds of disability rights activists across the country, writing that, "this award belongs to you."
Justin Dart, Jr., was born on August 29, 1930, into a wealthy and prominent family. His grandfather was the founder of the Walgreen Drugstore chain, his father a successful business executive, his mother a matron of the American avant garde. Dart would later describe how he became "a super loser" as a way of establishing his own identity in this family of "super winners." He attended seven high schools, not graduating from any of them, and broke Humphrey Bogart's all-time record for the number of demerits earned by a student at elite Andover prep. "People didn't like me. I didn't like myself."
Dart contracted polio in 1948. With doctors saying he had less than three days to live, he was admitted into the Seventh Day Adventist Medical University in Los Angeles. "For the first time in my life I was surrounded by people who were openly expressing love for each other, and for me, even though I was hostile to them. And so I started smiling at people, and saying nice things to them. And they responded, treating me even better.
It felt so good!" Three days turned into forty years, but Dart never forgot this lesson. Polio left Dart a wheelchair user, but he never grieved about this. "I count the good days in my life from the time I got polio. These beautiful people not only saved my life, they made it worth saving."
Another turning point was Dart's discovery in 1949 of the philosophy of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Dart defined Gandhi's message as, "Find your own truth, and then live it." This theme too would stay with him for the rest of his life. Dart attended the University of Houston from 1951 to 1954, earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science and history. He wanted to be a teacher, but the university withheld his teaching certificate because he was a wheelchair user. During his time in college, Dart organized his first human rights group -- a pro-integration student group at what was then a whites-only institution.
Dart went into business in 1956, building several successful companies in Mexico and Japan. He started Japan Tupperware with three employees in 1963, and by 1965 it had expanded to some 25,000. Dart used his businesses to provide work for women and people with disabilities. In Japan, for example, he took severely disabled people out of institutions, gave them paying jobs within his company, and organized some of them into Japan's first wheelchair basketball team. It was during this time he met his wife, Yoshiko.
The final turning point in Dart's life came during a visit to Vietnam in 1966, to investigate the status of rehabilitation in that war-torn country. Visiting a "rehabilitation center" for children with polio, Dart instead found squalid conditions where disabled children were left on concrete floors to starve. One child, a young girl dying there before him, took his hand and looked into his eyes. "That scene," he would later write, "is burned forever in my soul. For the first time in my life I understood the reality of evil, and that I was a part of that reality."
The Darts returned to Japan, but terminated their business interests.
After a period of meditation in a dilapidated farmhouse, the two decided to dedicate themselves entirely to the cause of human and disability rights. They moved to Texas in 1974, and immersed themselves in local disability activism.
From 1980 to 1985, Dart was a member, and then chair, of the Texas Governor's Committee for People with Disabilities.
His work in Texas became a pattern for what was to follow: extensive meetings with the grassroots, followed by a call for the radical empowerment of people with disabilities, followed by tireless advocacy until victory was won.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Dart to be the vice-chair of the National Council on Disability. The Darts embarked on a nationwide tour, at their own expense, meeting with activists in every state. Dart and others on the Council drafted a national policy that called for national civil rights legislation to end the centuries old discrimination of people with disabilities -- what would eventually become the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
In 1986, Dart was appointed to head the Rehabilitation Services Administration, a $3 billion federal agency that oversees a vast array of programs for disabled people. Dart called for radical changes, and for including people with disabilities in every aspect of designing, implementing, and monitoring rehabilitation programs. Resisted by the bureaucracy, Dart dropped a bombshell when he testified at a public hearing before Congress that the RSA was "a vast, inflexible federal system which, like the society it represents, still contains a significant portion of individuals who have not yet overcome obsolete, paternalistic attitudes about disability." Dart was asked to resign his position, but remained a supporter of both Presidents Reagan and Bush. In 1989, Dart was appointed chair of the President's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities, shifting its focus from its traditional stance of urging business to "hire the handicapped" to advocating for full civil rights for people with disabilities.
Dart is best known for his work in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 1988, he was appointed, along with parents' advocate Elizabeth Boggs, to chair the Congressional Task Force on the Rights and Empowerment of Americans with Disabilities. The Darts again toured the country at their own expense, visiting every state, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the District of Columbia, holding public forums attended by more than 30,000 people. Everywhere he went, Dart touted the ADA as "the civil rights act of the future." Dart also met extensively with members of Congress and staff, as well as President Bush, Vice President Quayle, and members of the Cabinet. At one point, seeing Dart at a White House reception, President Bush introduced him as "the ADA man." The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990, an anniversary that is celebrated each year by "disability pride" events all across the country.
While taking pride in passage of the ADA, Dart was always quick to list all the others who shared in the struggle: Robert Silverstein and Robert Burgdorf, Patrisha Wright and Tony Coelho, Fred Fay and Judith Heumann, among many others. And Dart never wavered in his commitment to disability solidarity, insisting that all people with disabilities be protected by the law and included in the coalition to pass it -- including mentally ill "psychiatric survivors" and people with HIV/AIDS. Dart called this his "politics of inclusion," a companion to his "politics of principle, solidarity, and love."
After passage of the ADA, Dart threw his energy into the fight for universal health care, again campaigning across the country, and often speaking from the same podium as President and Mrs. Clinton. With the defeat of universal health care, Dart was among the first to identify the coming backlash against disability rights. He resigned all his positions to become "a full-time citizen soldier in the trenches of justice." With the conservative Republican victory in Congress in 1994, followed by calls to amend or even repeal the ADA and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA), Dart, and disability rights advocates Becky Ogle and Frederick Fay, founded Justice for All, what Dart called "a SWAT team" to beat back these attacks. Again, Dart was tireless -- traveling, speaking, testifying, holding conference calls, presiding over meetings, calling the media on its distortions of the ADA, and flooding the country with American flag stickers that said, "ADA, IDEA, America Wins." Both laws were saved. Dart again placed the credit with "the thousands of grassroots patriots" who wrote and e-mailed and lobbied. But there can be no doubt that without Dart's leadership, the outcome might have been entirely different.
In 1996, confronted by a Republican Party calling for "a retreat from Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln democracy," Dart campaigned for the re-election of President Clinton. This was a personally difficult "decision of conscience." Dart had been a Republican for most of his life, and had organized the disability constituency campaigns of both Ronald Reagan and George Bush, campaigning against Clinton in 1992. But in a turnabout that was reported in the New York Times and the Washington Post, Dart went all out for Clinton, even speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The Darts yet again undertook a whirlwind tour of the country, telling people to "get into politics as if your life depended on it. It does." At his speech the day after the election, President Clinton publicly thanked Dart for personally campaigning in all fifty states, and cited his efforts as "one reason we won some of those states."
Dart suffered a series of heart attacks in late 1997, which curtailed his ability to travel. He continued, however, to lobby for the rights of people with disabilities, and attended numerous events, rallies, demonstrations and public hearings. Toward the end of his life, Dart was hard at work on a political manifesto that would outline his vision of "the revolution of empowerment." In its conclusion, he urged his "Beloved colleagues in struggle, listen to the heart of this old soldier. Our lives, our children's lives, the quality of the lives of billions in future generations hangs in the balance. I cry out to you from the depths of my being. Humanity needs you! Lead! Lead! Lead the revolution of empowerment!"
Today, disabled people across the country and around the world will grieve at the passing of Justin Dart, Jr. But we will celebrate his love and his commitment to justice. Please join us at in expressing our condolences to Yoshiko and her family during this difficult time. Keep in mind, however, that it was Justin's wish that any service or commemoration be used by activists to celebrate our movement, and as an opportunity to recommit themselves to "the revolution of empowerment."
Photographs taken by Harry Skull Jr.
Remarks at the 100th Anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
13 June, 2009
Good morning. What a glorious day, and it’s an absolute delight for me to be here on this occasion. I take any excuse I can to get back to come back to New York, and to celebrate this commemoration with all of you and to have an opportunity to spend time with my Canadian counterpart, Minister Cannon, is indeed a privilege.
I just want to recognize the significance of this extraordinary moment in time. The friendship between the people of the United States and Canada is the strongest in the world. There is no border that is longer and more peaceful; there is no greater trade between two nations. There are so many values that we share in common, and today we celebrate a treaty that helped to make this friendship possible 100 years ago.
The people who understood the significance of our relationship and the beauty of our natural surroundings were far-sighted and visionary. And the Boundary Water Treaty of 1909 made official something that people on both sides of the border have known for generations: that the rivers, the lakes, streams, the watersheds along our boundary do not belong to one nation or the other, but to both of us. And we are therefore called to be good stewards in the care of these precious resources. These waterways sustain some of Canada’s and America’s greatest cities. They foster travel and trade, they provide drinking water to families across the continent, and, of course, they offer some of the most beautiful vistas in all of creation.
Even as countries elsewhere in the past and today clash over natural resources, Canada and the United States have worked to remain peaceful partners in sharing these waters and caring for their long-term health. Now, when we’ve had differences, which all friends do, and even families, for that matter, we have worked that through. The International Joint Commission created by the Treaty has helped us to resolve our differences quickly and fairly.
The treaty has also established a sense of cooperation along the border. Other than comments about which side of the border has a better view – (laughter) – it’s something that we hear but don’t accept. It is so wonderfully easy to travel between our two countries, except for today, when we blocked the traffic on the bridge. I’m glad I’m no longer an elected official. (Laughter.) And I think when we look to the extraordinary relationship that we have between our two countries, I know how much traffic goes across this bridge – not just carrying goods as part of our trade relation, and not just visits by tourists, but residents on both sides who have children who play hockey on one side, who work on the other side, who have a summer home on one side. There is so much traffic that brings us together on a literally minute-by-minute basis. In fact, 300,000 people cross the border every single day to spend some time in the country next door. And they don’t have to pass through a military checkpoint to do so. Our border reflects our trust in one another.
Now, to properly celebrate the 100 successful years of this treaty, we have to do more than honor the past. We have to recommit ourselves to strengthening this partnership and find new ways to work together to solve common problems. As we look at this alliance that exists between the United States and Canada, it is stunning. $1.6 billion in goods flows across this border every single day. Many of our industries actually work hand-in-hand, supporting millions of jobs in both countries. We have the world’s largest energy trade relationship. Our power grids work together seamlessly, most of the time. We collaborate closely on citizen safety and defense. Our soldiers are serving shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan. And we share a commitment to promoting democracy, good governance, and human rights worldwide. So our comprehensive alliance in the 21st century will move us even closer together as we collaborate to improve conditions not only in our own countries, but across the world.
One area where we must join forces in is protecting our environment, especially our shared waters. Article IV of the Boundary Waters Treaty prohibited pollution by either country, which made this treaty one of the world’s first environmental agreements. By 1972, our nations took another step toward protecting these waters with the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which lays out the goals and guidelines for restoring and protecting the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin.
The Great Lakes-St. River system is a treasure. It contains one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. It provides millions of people with safe drinking water every day. So it’s crucial that we honor the terms of the Great Lakes Agreement as it stands today, but we also have to update it to reflect new knowledge, new technology, and, unfortunately, new threats.
The Agreement was last amended in 1987 and since then, new invasive species have appeared in our lakes, new worrisome chemicals have emerged from our industrial processes, our knowledge of the ecology of the region and how to protect it has grown considerably. In its current form, the Great Lakes Agreement does not sufficiently address the needs of our shared ecosystem.
So I’m pleased to announce that Canada and the United States have agreed to update the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. (Applause.) We look forward to working closely with state, provincial, and local governments throughout Canada, as well as other stakeholders, in the coming months to produce an agreement that reflects our best knowledge and our unshakable commitment to preserving this vital natural resource.
Now, as we work together on this, we must also strengthen our response to other environmental threats, especially climate change, one of the most urgent problems facing our world which endangers our world’s water sources, the safety of coastal regions, the future of agriculture and health, and the stability of communities everywhere. It is a paramount threat, and it demands effective and bold action, which can only be achieved through partnership.
The Canadian-American border is such a precious reflection of our great relationship, and it reminds us that although we may salute different flags, hear beautifully sung different anthems, our nations grew from the same land and the same ideals. It falls to us as it falls to every generation to strengthen that partnership and friendship. We look forward to many more years of working with you to achieve our common goal, and many more days of celebrating accomplishments like we do today in a beautiful, wondrous creation that God has given us to preserve and maintain.
Thank you all very much.
GOVERNOR TOMBLIN CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF 844-HELP4WV CALL LINE
Call center has received more than 5,000 calls for help
around substance abuse, mental health
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (September 9, 2016) - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today joined state and local officials at the 844-HELP4WV call line headquarters in Charleston to commemorate the one-year anniversary of West Virginia's first statewide 24-hour substance abuse call line, and highlight the state's progress in the fight against substance abuse.
"I am proud of the work we've done and the progress we've made together to help those struggling with addiction, especially through the HELP4WV call line," said. Gov. Tomblin. "As we mark the one year anniversary of the help line, we also look ahead to the challenges that remain - and recommit ourselves to helping more West Virginians overcome addiction."
In the year since Gov. Tomblin launched the call line, more than 5,200 calls have been received. Of those, 2,250 were individuals seeking help, all of whom were connected to at least one resource to begin or continue treatment. The help line was a recommendation of Gov. Tomblin's community-driven regional substance abuse task forces, which are set to hold their 20th round of meetings this fall.
The call line is administered through a collaborative partnership between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and First Choice Health Systems, whose employees are professionally certified and trained to engage callers in conversation. They work on a one-on-one basis to determine the best steps moving forward for each individual.
No callers are placed on hold and can be immediately connected with treatment staff to help determine the most appropriate treatment option. Follow-up phone calls are placed after the first appointment, the first month, and the first three months to help patients stay on track and have access to any additional clinical information or resources on community-based programs and local support groups.
Snapshot of Substance Abuse Resources & Programs in West Virginia
The 844-HELP4WV call line is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week and accepts phone calls and text messages. The website - www.help4wv.com - includes a live online chat application.
Substance abuse prevention services are provided in all 55 counties in West Virginia. More than 130 crisis detoxification beds in residential treatment facilities exist across the state with more sites under development. An additional 118 beds are designated for short-term, postpartum, youth and long-term treatment. Nearly 700 beds are available to those seeking help and support at peer and provider recovery homes and facilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced $53 million in funding for 44 states to combat opioid abuse. West Virginia is set to receive support in its efforts to prevent overdoses and strengthen drug misuse prevention, among other initiatives.
Today, the National Governor's Association invited West Virginia to attend a learning lab, State Strategies for Reducing Overdose and Deaths from Heroin and Illicit Fentanyl. A team will attend workshops focusing on innovative policies and programs and best practices to increase access to substance abuse treatment and improve timeliness of overdoes reporting and response.
The West Virginia Division of Corrections offers programs focused on combatting substance abuse in the state's prisons and jails. Nine Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) units in correctional centers across the state provide six-month to one-year courses of inpatient treatment with a total reach of 491 inmates. The RSAT model has been expanded to regional facilities.
Through a pilot program overseen by the DHHR, medication assisted treatment is available for paroling or discharging inmates who have completed substance abuse programs and show motivation for continuing treatment. As of June, 29 inmates had received this treatment before leaving their facility. This pilot program has been expanded through legislation passed this year and has begun development in regional jails.
Both prisons and jails offer outpatient substance abuse counseling programs, including 12-step peer-to-peer programs and a 39-session program focusing on addiction education, transitional skills for recovery and relapse prevention.
Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”
GOVERNOR TOMBLIN CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF 844-HELP4WV CALL LINE
Call center has received more than 5,000 calls for help
around substance abuse, mental health
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (September 9, 2016) - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today joined state and local officials at the 844-HELP4WV call line headquarters in Charleston to commemorate the one-year anniversary of West Virginia's first statewide 24-hour substance abuse call line, and highlight the state's progress in the fight against substance abuse.
"I am proud of the work we've done and the progress we've made together to help those struggling with addiction, especially through the HELP4WV call line," said. Gov. Tomblin. "As we mark the one year anniversary of the help line, we also look ahead to the challenges that remain - and recommit ourselves to helping more West Virginians overcome addiction."
In the year since Gov. Tomblin launched the call line, more than 5,200 calls have been received. Of those, 2,250 were individuals seeking help, all of whom were connected to at least one resource to begin or continue treatment. The help line was a recommendation of Gov. Tomblin's community-driven regional substance abuse task forces, which are set to hold their 20th round of meetings this fall.
The call line is administered through a collaborative partnership between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and First Choice Health Systems, whose employees are professionally certified and trained to engage callers in conversation. They work on a one-on-one basis to determine the best steps moving forward for each individual.
No callers are placed on hold and can be immediately connected with treatment staff to help determine the most appropriate treatment option. Follow-up phone calls are placed after the first appointment, the first month, and the first three months to help patients stay on track and have access to any additional clinical information or resources on community-based programs and local support groups.
Snapshot of Substance Abuse Resources & Programs in West Virginia
The 844-HELP4WV call line is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week and accepts phone calls and text messages. The website - www.help4wv.com - includes a live online chat application.
Substance abuse prevention services are provided in all 55 counties in West Virginia. More than 130 crisis detoxification beds in residential treatment facilities exist across the state with more sites under development. An additional 118 beds are designated for short-term, postpartum, youth and long-term treatment. Nearly 700 beds are available to those seeking help and support at peer and provider recovery homes and facilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced $53 million in funding for 44 states to combat opioid abuse. West Virginia is set to receive support in its efforts to prevent overdoses and strengthen drug misuse prevention, among other initiatives.
Today, the National Governor's Association invited West Virginia to attend a learning lab, State Strategies for Reducing Overdose and Deaths from Heroin and Illicit Fentanyl. A team will attend workshops focusing on innovative policies and programs and best practices to increase access to substance abuse treatment and improve timeliness of overdoes reporting and response.
The West Virginia Division of Corrections offers programs focused on combatting substance abuse in the state's prisons and jails. Nine Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) units in correctional centers across the state provide six-month to one-year courses of inpatient treatment with a total reach of 491 inmates. The RSAT model has been expanded to regional facilities.
Through a pilot program overseen by the DHHR, medication assisted treatment is available for paroling or discharging inmates who have completed substance abuse programs and show motivation for continuing treatment. As of June, 29 inmates had received this treatment before leaving their facility. This pilot program has been expanded through legislation passed this year and has begun development in regional jails.
Both prisons and jails offer outpatient substance abuse counseling programs, including 12-step peer-to-peer programs and a 39-session program focusing on addiction education, transitional skills for recovery and relapse prevention.
Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”
Dutch postcard, no. 174. Photo: Warner Bros.
Yesterday, 19 January 2018, American actress Dorothy Malone passed away. The sultry, dreamy-eyed beauty started in Frank Sinatra musicals during the 1940s. She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her sultry role in Written on the Wind (1956). Best known by the public for her starring role as Constance MacKenzie on Peyton Place (1964-1968). Her final role was as Sharon Stone's friend in Basic Instinct (1992). Dorothy Malone was 92 (some sources say 93).
Dorothy Eloise Maloney was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1925. She was one of five children born to an accountant father. Two older sisters died of polio. A younger brother later was killed by lightning while on a Dallas golf course. When she was a child, her family moved to Dallas, Texas. Attending Ursuline Convent and Highland Park High School, Dorothy was the 'School Favorite' and won several awards for swimming and horseback riding. S.he modeled for Neiman Marcus[ Following graduation, she studied at Southern Methodist University with the intent of becoming a nurse, but a role in the college play Starbound happened to catch the eye of an RKO talent scout and she was offered a Hollywood contract. At age 18, Dorothy Maloney made her film debut in Gildersleeve on Broadway (Gordon Douglad, 1943). The lovely brunette continued as a RKO starlet in the Frank Sinatra musicals Higher and Higher (Tim Whelan, 1943) and Step Lively (Tim Whelan, 1944), and a couple of the Falcon mysteries. She had a showier role in Show Business (Edwin L. Marin, 1944) with Eddie Cantor. RKO lost interest, however, after the two-year contract was up. Warner Bros. offered the actress a contract. As Dorothy Malone, she played a seductive book clerk in the Bogart/Bacall classic The Big Sleep (Howard Hawks, 1946). Critics and audiences took notice and she got more visible roles in Two Guys from Texas (David Butler, 1948), South of St. Louis (Ray Enright, 1949) and Colorado Territory (Raoul Walsh, 1949). Despite this positive movement, Warner Bros. did not extend Dorothy's contract in 1949 and she returned to her family in Dallas and a steadier job with an insurance agency.
Dorothy Maloner decided to recommit to her acting career, and move to New York to study at the American Theater Wing. In between her studies, she worked for TV, and appeared in B movies like Saddle Legion (Lesley Selander, 1951) and The Bushwhackers (Rod Amateau, 1951). Producer Hal Wallis called her back to Hollywood to appear in Scared Stiff (George Marshall, 1953) starring the comedy duo of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. She also appeared with the duo in the musical-comedy Artists and Models (Frank Tashlin, 1955) as the love interest of Martin's character. After 11 years of mostly roles as loving sweethearts and wives, the brunette actress decided she needed to gamble on her career instead of playing it safe. She fired her agent, hired a publicist, dyed her hair blonde and sought a new image. First off was as a sister to Doris Day in Young at Heart (Gordon Douglas, 1954), a musical remake of Four Daughters (Michael Curtiz, 1938). The platinum blonde seemed to emphasize her overt and sensual beauty and she garnered even better attention when she appeared in the war pic Battle Cry (Raoul Walsh, 1955), in which she shared love scenes with heartthrob Tab Hunter. She continued the momentum with the Westerns Five Guns West ( Roger Corman, 1955) and Tall Man Riding (Lesley Selander, 1955) starring Randolph Scott, but not with melodramatic romantic dud Sincerely Yours (Gordon Douglas, 1955) which tried to sell to the audiences a heterosexual Liberace. She signed with Universal and won the scenery-chewing role of Marylee Hadley in the soap opera Written on the Wind (Douglas Sirk, 1956) in which she played an alcoholic nymphomaniac who tries to steal Rock Hudson from his wife, Lauren Bacall. Gary Brumburgh at IMDb: "She won a supporting Oscar for her splendidly tramp, boozed-up Southern belle which was highlighted by her writhing mambo dance." The Tarnished Angels (Douglas Sirk, 1957), which reunited Malone with Hudson faltered, and Quantez (Harry Keller, 1957) with Fred MacMurray was just another run-of-the-mill western. In Man of a Thousand Faces (Joseph Pevney, 1957) she played the unsympathetic first wife of James Cagney's Lon Chaney Sr, Then she appeared as alcoholic actress Diana Barrymore in the biographic melodrama Too Much, Too Soon (Art Napoleon, 1958) opposite Errol Flynn. At age 35, she married playboy actor Jacques Bergerac, Ginger Rogers' ex-husband, in 1959. A baby daughter, Mimi, was born the following year. Fewer film offers, which included Warlock (Edward Dmytryk, 1959) starring Richard Widmark, and The Last Voyage (Andrew L. Stone, 1960) with Robert Stack, came her way as Dorothy focused more on family life. A second daughter, Diane, was born in 1962.
Dorothy Malone's turbulent marriage ended in 1964 in a divorce and a bitter custody battle with Dorothy eventually winning primary custody. It took the small screen to rejuvenate her career in the mid-1960s when she earned top billing of TV's first prime time soap opera Peyton Place (1964). Dorothy starred as long-suffering Constance MacKenzie, the bookshop operator who harboured a dark secret about the birth of her daughter Allison, played by the 19-year-old Mia Farrow. The series was a smash hit. The run wasn't entirely happy however. Doctors discovered blood clots on her lungs which required major surgery and she almost died. Lola Albright filled in until she was able to return. Just as bad, her the significance of her role dwindled with time and 20th Century-Fox finally wrote her and co-star Tim O'Connor off the show in 1968. Dorothy filed a breach of contract lawsuit which ended in an out-of-court settlement. She would later return to the role in the TV movies Murder in Peyton Place (Bruce Kessler, 1977) and Peyton Place: The Next Generation (Larry Elikann, 1985). Her life on- and off-camera did not improve. Dorothy's second marriage to stockbroker Robert Tomarkin in 1969 would last only three months, and a third to businessman Charles Huston Bell managed about three years. Now-matronly roles in the films Winter Kills (William Richert, 1979), Off Your Rocker (Morley Markson, Larry Pall, 1982), The Being (Jackie Kong, 1983) and the Spanish-British horror film Descanse en piezas/Rest in Pieces (José Ramón Larraz, 1987), were few and far between a few TV-movies, did nothing to advance her. Malone returned and settled for good back in Dallas, returning to Hollywood only on occasion. Her last film was the popular thriller Basic Instinct (Paul Verhoeven, 1992) as a friend to Sharon Stone, a mother convicted of murdering her family. Dorothy Malone died it a nursing facility in Dallas at the age of 92. Gary Brumburgh at IMDb: "She will be remembered as one of those Hollywood stars who proved she had the talent but somehow got the short end of the stick when it came to quality films offered."
Source: Gary Brumburgh (IMDb), The Guardian, Wikipedia and IMDb.