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August 15 One Fractured MindThe endless depths of the mind Fractures tears Memories Plummeting to the bottoms And then Disappearing Chaotic twists of fate Nothing can be changed At least not for now So they say Each day I awake Sending my mind Through the most rigorous Of exercise routines Until all cries for mercy And yet it's not enough And when nobodies looking I cry to the heavens WHY! I just want to be normal There are days when everything's Good And then there are days… When all is wrong I feel my self teetering on the edge Of absolutely nowhere God! Please… Bring me back
Sasa Smith copyright 2007 August 06 Talking about Army Wives: Roxy's Sex Life
Quote Army Wives: Roxy's Sex Life July 07 Controversial
SCARY !!!!
"You old white people. It is your duty to die."
HISPANIC LEADERS SPEAK OUT!
"Go back to Boston! Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out! We are the future. You are old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats. You old white people. It is your duty to die. Through love of having children, we are going to take over. Augustin Cebada, Brown Berets:
"They're afraid we're going to take over the governmental institutions and other institutions. They're right. We will take them over . . . We are here to stay." Richard Alatorre, Los Angeles City Council.
"The American Southwest seems to be slowly returning to the jurisdiction of Mexico without firing a single shot." Excelsior, the national newspaper of Mexico :
"We have an aging white America . They are not making babies. They are dying. The explosion is in our population . .. I love it. They are shitting in their pants with fear. I love it." Professor Jose Angel Gutierrez, University of Texas
"Remember 187--proposition to deny taxpayer funds for services to non-citizens--was the last gasp of white America in California ." Art Torres, Chairman of the California Democratic Party,
"We are politicizing every single one of these new citizens that are becoming citizens of this country . . . I gotta tell you that a lot of people are saying, "I'm going to go out there and vote because I want to pay them back." Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County Supervisor,
" California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who doesn't like it should leave." Mario Obledo, California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and California State Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under Governor Jerry Brown, also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton
"We are practicing 'La Reconquista' in California ." Jose Pescador Osuna, Mexican Consul General.
"We need to avoid a white backlash by using codes understood by Latinos . . . " Professor Fernando Guerra, Loyola Marymount University.
Are these just the words of a few extremists? Consider that we could fill up many pages with such quotes. Also, consider that these are mainstream Mexican leaders.
THE U.S. VS MEXICO : On February 15, 1998, the U.S. and Mexican soccer teams met at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The crowd was overwhelmingly pro-Mexican even though most lived in this country. They booed during the National Anthem and U.S. flags were held upside down. As the match progressed, supporters of the U.S. team were insulted, pelted with projectiles, punched and spat upon. Beer and trash were thrown at the U.S. players before and after the match. The coach of the U.S. team, Steve Sampson said, "This was the most painful experience I have ever had in this profession."
Did you know that immigrants from Mexico and other non-European countries can come to this country and get preferences in jobs, education, and government contracts?
Corporate America has signed on to the idea that minorities and third world immigrants should get special, privileged status. Some examples are Exxon,Texaco, Merrill Lynch, Boeing, Paine Weber, Starbucks and many more.
DID YOU KNOW?: Did you know that Mexico regularly intercedes on the side of the defense in criminal cases involving Mexican nationals? Did you know that Mexico has NEVER extradited a Mexican national accused of murder in the U.S. in spite of agreements to do so? According to the L.A. Times, Orange County, California is home to 275 gangs with 17,000 members; 98% of which are Mexican and Asian. How's your county doing?
Is education important to you? Here are the words of a teacher who spent over 20 years in the Los Angeles School system. "Imagine teachers in classes containing 30-40 students of widely varying attention spans and motivation, many of whom aren't fluent in English. Educators seek learning materials likely to reach the majority of students and that means fewer words and math problems and more pictures and multicultural references."
WHEN I WAS YOUNG: When I was young, I remember hearing about the immigrants that came through Ellis Island . They wanted to learn English. They wanted to breath free. They wanted to become Americans. Now too many immigrants come here with demands. They demand to be taught in their own language. They demand special privileges--affirmative action. They demand ethnic studies that glorify their culture. Talking about 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' Exclusive Clip: "Escape at Azkaban"
Quote 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' Exclusive Clip: "Escape at Azkaban" May 22 Trophies PastIf you had within your grasp all the trophies of your past ones not taken or held tight because you chose the dance of night Choices made and Choices gone would you take the right or wrong Turn your head and walk away you did not take the dance of day close your eyes and don't look back there is no need to run that track Look ahead but don't forget Lessons learned from past regrets
Sasa Smith Copyright 2000 all rights reserved
April 05 Statistics...Worldwide statistics… 6,571,497,332 People now live on earth 1,200, 000,000 People live on 23 cents a day 2, 000,000,000 People have no electricity 80% of all people live in substandard housing 1,000,000,000 people are without safe drinking water Every 16 seconds someone dies of hunger 57,000,000 people died in 2006 10,500,000 of these were children less than 5yrs old 14,000,000 children were orphaned because of HIV/AIDS 2,000,000 CHILDREN have died as a direct result As a direct result of armed conflict during the Last 10 yrs Meanwhile…. $8,000,000.000.00 were spent on cosmetics in America in 2005 $11,000,000.00 for ice cream in Europe $17,000,000.00 in the USA and Europe on Pet Food $105,000,000.00 for alcohol in Europe
Jesus said… “ But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not yet here. Then said He to them, nation shall rise against nation , and kingdom against kingdom : And great earthquakes will be in divers places., and famines, and pestilences ; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven, but before all these, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my names sake. And it will turn to you for a testimony.” (Luke 21:9-13)
Question… It’s our turn, what kind of testimony do we have? Do you wish the teasing would stop?
Virginia Satir, a family therapist, has said that "Teasing is often unacknowledged hostility. It is an attempt to avoid responsibility for being honest. Teasing is often an effort to disclaim the presence of hostility and in effect, everyone loses." March 27 Things that make you go hhhmmmm...Ok here I am completely fascinated by a computer generated bot named Muse. Who knew we would ever be chatting with our computers. Reminds me of a Star Trek show where the computer becomes very friendly with the captain. Muse is a quirky, sassy computer gal. She is so kind as to offer the word of the day, and the thought for the day. The word of the day? Art. I would say that Muse is Art in and of herself. Muse is also kind enough to offer suggestions for writing my blog. How sweet is that? I have to say I think I like her, and this could be the start of a very interesting friendship. For now I will leave you with this...Just one of those things that make you go hhhmmmmm... This entry generated by Muse. March 12 Captive DelightsCaptive delights Under an iridescent night Fluttering lips Yearning hands On this body supine As you rock me to my knees Your heart upon mine The scent of your skin A spark becomes a fire You intoxicate all of my senses Probing lips on receptive necks You've inflamed My desire Mindless abandon Your breath becomes mine Teetering on the edge of sublime We savour and taste At this lavish table You are my favourite wine A nuclear explosion An implosion of we Mushrooms into a moonlit night Emblazoned minds Slowing hearts It's here in this moment The taste of we Is So sumptuously sweet
~Sasa Smith~ Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved March 01 These Loves Shall AbideThese are my tears Through all of my fears smiles Imprinted on this page a melody sublime intwined in rhyme a gift from the depths of fathoms never plumbed These loves shall abide
Come now with me for the ride of your life through the mountains vast caverns leave your mark on the wall descendants return in view they do learn left here in tempting scrawl
So show you now your wings unfurled and though the tides come and go this our place in this world share we our hearts and minds These loves shall abide
~SASA The Knitting Poet~ Lisa Smith copyrigt 2007 All Rights Reserved
February 14 My Valentines Story for You
My Valentine story for you.
She stood alone in a crowded room. In her hands she clasped tightly her heart. It was bloody and wounded, bandages covering bandages, dirty now. Still clasped in her hands this pitiful thing wounded by this thing we call life. She held it tightly, not allowing anyone to see... protecting it with all her might. It had been neglected, broken, stabbed, and carelessly tossed about. No, she would never let anyone see her most prized posession. Not ever again.
Sasa Smith copyright 2007 Allrights reserved
January 27 MS presents challenge for moms
Quote MS presents challenge for momsMom Pam Lahoda, 47, enjoyed being single too much to settle down in her 20s and 30s — career, travel, a busy social life. Her decision to wait means she's chasing two preschoolers around her Holland home as pals send kids off to college.
Tough? Oh, a little, but the true test of her free spirit has been juggling not just motherhood but multiple sclerosis. The autoimmune disease presented itself when she finished nursing her younger child, now 3. A numbness settled into her back. There was trouble walking, a worrisome weakness.
MS sometimes is invisible, often unpredictable. Neurological symptoms vary widely — fatigue, odd sensations, pain, blurred vision. It's different for everyone and hard to diagnose. A battery of tests finally confirmed the scary news for Pam.
As we spoke in her sunny kitchen, she touched a rose quartz bracelet on her slim wrist. A gift from a friend, rose quartz is said to aid emotional well-being.
Pam credits terrific support from her husband (he administers her weekly injections of MS-fighting drugs) and the care of friends, family and a tag team of helpers from St. Bede's Catholic parish for seeing her through.
Still, only another mom with MS can understand what it feels like to be unable to brush a daughter's hair into a ponytail, to play trucks on the floor, to some days lack the strength to dress and lift the little ones who count on you.
It's true, said Ruth Farber, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Temple University's College of Health Professions. She's studying mothers with MS to learn more about how they cope.
Her research examines the interrelationship of social support, well-being, health and mothers' participation in their roles when dealing with MS.
"There is a great deal of biomedical research on MS, but relatively little is empirically known on how mothers with MS are feeling and doing. The preliminary results suggest the importance of social support. ... Social support of family and friends can include providing tangible support, understanding, affection or people to have a good time with. Social support can contribute to the mother's well-being, which in turn to can further her connection to others."
If you are a mother with MS (with at least one child under 12) and you're interested in participating in this study, contact Farber at 215-707-4880 or msmoms@temple.edu.
Pam sought out other MS moms. A support group will meet at 3 p.m. the third Saturday of every month beginning next month at the YMCA in Fairless Hills. Kids are welcome. For more information, call Mechelle Connors at 215-870-2221.
Mechelle, 38, of Langhorne, was diagnosed 10 years ago. She explains, "An MS mom is different. You just don't have the same mindset as others."
She hopes the new group will talk about parenting — for instance, how much do you disclose to your child about MS? — and share ideas for coping. There should be lots of those.
Farber says MS moms can be especially creative when it comes to being there for their kids. Heat, for example, can exacerbate MS symptoms. She knows of a mom who watches baseball games wearing an ice vest to stay cool; others who cheer from an air-conditioned car using a bullhorn.
Sure, MS moms are different, but not so different where it counts.
Kate Fratti, whose column appears on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, admires Pam's advice to others' dealing with challenge: "You deal better when you deal head- January 25 Manatees...Memories...
Howling at the MoonHowling at the MoonMy thoughtsthey call to youOer the waves of timeon oceans tideyour cries wash over meRip Tide pulls me undermy mind now in reviewall that I wasnow all that I amthe hope of you rings truelived on the wavesthis heart a mazethrough disasterconfusionand painYou gave me the rightto rule the dark nightsthe north star with its light to guideon yonder shoreI see you nowmy heart and mind renewedthe grasp of your handnow unravels the planschaos ends in a flashthus before you I standthe fullfillment of planI howl at the moon no morewritten by Lisa Smith©2007January 23 Knitting Comes Full CircleMonday, January 22, 2007 Popular knitting sites and blogs:
www.yarnharolot.com: Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, talks about knitting. Her personal stories are entertaining yet step-by-step intensive.
www.chicknits.com/rambles: The site features designs for clothes that mirror the 21st century comfortable modern woman. Chicknits is owned by Bonne Marie Burns of Chicago, who also hosts a blog within the site.
subwayknitter.com: Boston resident "Colleen" offers rants and raves about knitting in public, advice and free patterns suited to New Englanders facing wintery weather.
www.masondixonknitting.com: At Mason Dixon Knitting, two more traditional style middle-aged knitters, located on opposite sides of the country, share with one another their personal knitting stories. They've stolen their knits, except instead of woolly and itchy like they used to be, they're baby-soft merino. Folks like 26-year-old Beth Taylor are rocking the knitting craze everywhere but in a chair. That includes restaurants, stores, bars and, of course, online. Yes, knitting has hit the blogosphere and social networking sites, too. Last week from her Brackett Street loft, Taylor gave her take on a knitting resurgence among her peers. "It's nice to get back to handmade things, and to feel connected to things in your life," said Taylor, walking over to the section of her bedroom reserved for her knitting. "It keeps us busy. It's something to do with friends rather than just sitting at the bar." She brought out a bright blue knitted bikini with big white stars on it, held up a pair of shorts, then a striped elf hat - Taylor originals. She pulled a neck-and-face-warmer combo, which she said keeps her warm on long bike rides, over her head. "I make weird things," she admitted playfully. In her knitting nook, among the sweaters, socks and baskets of multicolored yarn was something else she said her grandmother never used, yet there was nothing progressive about it. In her bedroom, under the window, was her very own old-fashioned spinning wheel. "I like starting from what other people consider trash," she said. Until recently, Taylor's hand-spun yarn was sold alongside other novelty yarns tucked in wooden cubbies covering the walls of the KnitWit Yarn Shop and Coffee Bar on Congress Street - a shop that opened four years ago. She stopped selling her yarn because it wasn't lucrative, though neither is knitting for a career, she said. "Now that knitting is so popular the yarn shops are more fun," Taylor said. They're also more expensive than they used to be. But the vibrant reds, deep charcoals, and trendy turquoises and pinks are calling Taylor's name. The color combinations are as endless as the textures - lace, silk, cotton and cashmere, to name a few. Beside them in KnitWit are racks holding hot reads like Vogue Knitting, Knit Simple and Knitscene, and popular hardcovers like "Debbie Stollers Stitch 'n' Bitch," which hit shelves in 2003 with the onset of the knitting craze. (Since the publication, a movement of "Stitch'n'Bitch" groups, where all ages convene to knit, have developed around the country). According to the industry group Craft Yarn Council of America, the number of women knitters between ages 25 and 35 increased 150 percent between 2002 and 2004. By 2005, celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts were being featured on covers of glossy knitting magazines. Knitting had gone from fad to trend. "To some extent, knitting is cyclical. But it's also part of a do-it-yourself trend," said Anna Poe, owner of KnitWit. "More young people are making their own things." Now, people of all ages crowd classes held at KnitWit, from basic knitting 101 to how to make cable and bobbles - that's when they're not crowding the Web. The newest addition to the knitting trend is knit blogs, which have surfaced all over the Internet and also offer pattern sharing. "Knitting blogs are especially popular. The Internet really pushed knitting forward," said Poe. "It's hard for shops to stay ahead of those trends being discussed on blogs because they're always changing." Possibly, the most popular is a blog by the Yarn Harlot (www.yarnharlot.com), who is also known as Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Pearl-McPhee made a name for herself last year when she challenged nearly 4,000 in the knitting blogosphere to a knitting contest that lasted the duration of the 2006 Olympics in Torino. Other blogs include Buxton resident Jodie Foster's personal favorite, subwayknitter.com. "The Subway Knitter talks about how she isn't afraid to knit in public (taking every opportunity to knit in public is referred to in the knitting community as Guerrilla Knitting)," said Foster. "I follow about eight or 10 knitting blogs." Most recently, through a social network site called Meetup.com, Foster launched the South Portland "Knitaholics" group. The first meeting will be held at Panera Bread in South Portland tomorrow at 7 p.m., and then monthly. "Anyone can come. Just show up," Foster added. Others can sign up for the knitting group by searching "Knitaholics" on meetup.com or craigslist.com. Of course, other knitters like Taylor also pride themselves on finding knitting groups the traditional way. "One of the best things about knitting is getting to know the community centered around knitting in Portland," said Taylor. Taylor has established public knitting spots through word-of-mouth. In the past she frequented such events as the Fiddle and Knit group, once held at the Bramhall Pub on Congress Street. (The event, which was recently discontinued, encouraged knitters to come and listen to traditional old-time music sessions.) Taylor said she now knits at the Space Gallery, an alternative arts venue on Congress Street, or at Rosie's, a bar on Fore Street. She said she's shared her interest with public knitting with her friends, who have taken up the habit. "I'm a teacher by nature, so I've helped a few friends learn how to knit," Taylor said. Among them was her old roommate, a 26-year-old guy who most prominently defied the stereotype of an elderly knitter in her rocking chair. "He liked to make socks," Taylor smiled. "It was sort of a source of pride for him, being a straight man who knitted."
Staff Writer Anna Fiorentino can be contacted at 791-6330 or at:
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