"Know your neighbors."

 "Hate. It has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet."
- Maya Angelou

        Hatred is an extremely strong emotion against objects, groups, individuals or even behaviors. Stop for a moment and really contemplate a person, place or thing you dislike. Why do you hate this person, place or thing? How did you learn to dislike this person, place or thing? We aren't born with complex, deeply rooted or irrational hatred. So where does rage or fevered ferocity come from? Anger that raises your blood pressure or makes your heart beat faster -where does that anger come from? Imagine if you were a child exposed to rage, fear and hateful ideology on a daily basis. It's a fact, children raised on junk food with little or no nutritional value are more likely to become unhealthy or ill. So if fear and anger is all you've been fed your entire life, fear and anger becomes you. Unresolved or uncontrolled anger increases the possibility of violence including self-mutilation, property damage, child abuse, physical assault or even homicide. For many of us trying to comprehend constant unconstrained anger is overwhelming. Empathy, education, understanding why people are frustrated or hate each other may be the only solution to bring about real long term resolution or change. Believe it or not, right now within the United States there are over 892 established hates groups. Domestic terrorism is one of the greatest threats to American personal safety and security. Hate crimes are committed for reasons of race, gender, gender identity, religion or disability. Hate crimes are tracked by local law enforcement and the FBI and can be monitored at websites such as the Southern Poverty Law Center which continuously updates their United States hate map located here-  https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map  https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch 


       Personal stories, books, conversations, exposure to diversity helps us become more aware of the origins and history of hatred and fear. "Welcome to Leith " is a 2015 Sundance Film Festival nominated, UK East End Film Festival, Florida Film Festival and Hot Docs Canadian  International Documentary Film Festival award winning documentary written and directed by Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher K. Walker. The feature archives the attempted take over of  Leith, a small sparsely populated town located in North Dakota. In 2012 white supremacist, Craig Cobb began purchasing property including over twelve plots of land to build homes and compounds. Cobb's ultimate plan was to move in his Aryan army of white separatists to overtake Leith's fragile government. The town consists of under a hundred ranching and farming families with generational ties to the area.

         The documentary will be featured in full  Monday, April 4th at 10PM EST. on televisions largest showcase of independent films, PBS Independent Lens  http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/   A preview of "Welcome to Leith" can be seen above (courtesy You.Tube.com)

             

     

" We are punished by ignoring facts."

"We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone's arguing over 

where we're going to sit."-David Suzuki, Canadian scientist, author

                In a recent interview with a Washington Post reporter Republican presidential candidate  Donald Trump admitted, "I'm not a great believer in man made climate change. I'm not a great believer."- affirming his misinformed assertion like a recent Big Foot sighting rather than a security issue.  Climate change denial is rampant among the Republican party as GOP candidates fail to outline action plans for debates or even acknowledge it as a threat to national security despite Department of Defense directives. In January, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Robert Work signed off on significant orders where the Pentagon placed climate change as priority one in all strategic operations. The Pentagon defines climate change as a " present security threat, not strictly a long- term risk." What does it say about GOP candidates when they ignore the scientific community as well as the United States Department of Defense ?  It says to the world when US government officials and GOP candidates willfully deny scientific evidence as well as the Pentagon they are now a threat to the security of our country. Denial of scientific facts, ignorance of international affairs, intelligence, military and counterterrorism policy has far reaching effects which places every US citizen at risk including your children and your children's children.

       On Thursday, March 31st climate forecasters confirmed they underestimated the sea-rise impact of the Antarctic thaw. In decades to come coastal towns will be lost underwater as the world's largest reservoir of ice melts away. Flooding, droughts, an increase in pollution, disease and food insecurity will threaten billions of people on the planet. Findings were published in the scientific journal, Nature http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html on Wednesday. How do we justify electing people who deny climate change, endangering the lives of millions of people, animal species and  destroying ocean life?  We can't. We simply can't.

       

" Pretending you know..."

"There's no shame in admitting what you don't know. The only shame is pretending you know all the answers." Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, American astrophysicist 

        Starting this blog with a photo display of gentleness, peace and beauty was intentional because what I'm about to discuss can often be the opposite of a gorgeous, breath taking sunset or delighting in the innocence of a soft, furry bunny rabbit. Our own personal philosophies or religious reflections are meant to give our lives greater meaning in a world we share with billions of other human beings. On television or social media we have been inundated with some US political leaders propagating their faith like evangelical preachers at a Sunday sermon. Often times these speeches are spouting hateful, ugly and bigoted rhetoric not to mention lack credible facts or reason. There are few American citizens who would openly advocate for one and only ONE religion to be practiced in the United States. How or why would we do this? Do people just use their religion to feel special or superior? Thankfully, intolerance is not what our country is founded upon. In the United States we are free to believe in any or none of the 4,200 hundred religions that have been created. Yes, there are roughly 4,200 world religions so check some of them out here .religioustolerance at Religious Tolerance.org  If you are unfamiliar with secularism check out http://ffrf.org/ Freedom From Religion Foundation.org 

     Some of our politicians should talk less about their own self-righteous "faith" and more about freedom of thought, liberty and diversity which our countries Constitution and laws are based. Religion and politics have to remain separate. FACTS, REASON and LAW. If some elected officials or career politicians need a refresher or they haven't read the  United States Constitution they can check it out right here at the online government archives http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

          The current rash of blatant discriminatory legislation being proposed or passed in states like North Carolina, Georgia and Indiana in the most underhanded and devious ways is absolutely sickening and the American people will not stand for it. Politicians destroy our democracy and alienate millions of tax paying citizens when they place their own religious beliefs above human rights, dignity and justice for all.

"When women are oppressed...."

"When men are oppressed it's a tragedy. When women are oppressed it's "tradition."                           - Letty Pogrebin, American author,  journalist 

         March is Women's History Month which allows many forums to focus on issues unique to women around the world.  2016 Oscar winning documentary, A Girl In the River: The Price of Forgiveness http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5144072/ directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is just one recent film that has brought the horror of honor killings out from the shadows. A Girl In the River is the story of Saba, a young Pakistani woman who survives the savagery of  being shot in the face and nearly drowned by her father and uncle for falling in love with a man whom they disapprove. Through the eyes of a miraculous survivor, Saba relates the entire heinous ordeal. Many honor killings go unreported or are simply accepted as cultural norm. The  inhumane "tradition" of honor killing has no basis in modern religious thought and is a complete violation of human rights. The countries who continue condoning this practice are guilty of  attempted murder or murder and must be held accountable. Honor killings won't end until all countries, national leaders,communities, schools, families, religious groups, individual men and women stand against laws that brutalize and dehumanize women.
        It's nearly unthinkable to imagine a young girl or woman we know personally such as a daughter, sister or wife viciously attacked, maimed, gang raped, betrayed by her family and community, called "unclean", stoned to death to restore a family's "honor". The barbaric victimization of young girls and women must end. The violence must end. The silence must end. First hand accounts, stories and films must continue to be told and retold.  Without education and awareness thousands of girls and women will continue to suffer or die. With their deaths there is no honor for any of us.

video courtesy of YouTube & TestTubeNews

" Stand up and do your job."

"They(GOP) are paying the price for their own extremism." Senator Elizabeth Warren

#DoYourJob

Find contact information for your elected officials here.
https://www.usa.gov/

"Silence becomes an accomplice to injustice."

 "There are times when silence becomes an accomplice to injustice."- Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author, activist

                March is Women's History Month with focus on empowering women of all economic, social and political backgrounds. United Nations Women or UN Women is an international organization which raises awareness of gender inequality, health, protection of women's rights, violence against women, community service and sustainable development. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture released a statement on March 10th regarding the abuse of women seeking maternal health care services and restrictive abortion bans or laws. Reproductive rights violations are occurring at an alarming rate around the world as well as by conservative lawmakers in the United States who have no women's reproductive or medical health training.
             Many young girls and woman in countries across the globe are subjected to child marriage, sexual violence, virginity testing, banned abortion access even in cases of rape, incest or life threatening circumstances. The UN classifies this as torture. Some women in India are coerced into sterilization because they're being denied effective forms of birth control or safe abortion access. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has called for the decriminalization of abortion for women seeking health care. In the United States where abortion is legal we continue to see mostly male state lawmakers impose scientifically false restrictions on women, women's health care facilities and doctors due to religious prejudice, misinformation or both. Bans, restrictions, forced births and lack of birth control are an international health and economic issue endangering women and violating human rights. Other countries should be looking to the United States for leadership and empowerment in women's health care but instead they are being abandoned by male dominated political systems in which men will never be forced to give birth.

 For more program information regarding UN Women check out the link to their website below.

http://www.unwomen.org/en

" Gender equality is decided by all of us."

"We cannot succeed when half of us are held back."- Malala Yousefzai, Nobel Prize Recipient, activist, author

            March is Women's History Month, Tuesday, March 8th is International Women's Day- although no country in the world can claim full gender equality, Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark have consistently set the bench mark on major gender equality studies. In the BCC News documentary featured above (courtesy of YouTube & BBC ) "What Stands in the Way of Women Being Equal to Men."- British journalist Ros Atkins explores the lives of young girls and their families from a broad spectrum of backgrounds such as the United Kingdom Jordan.and Lesotho The news feature provides us a greater understanding of the roots of discrimination with assigned gender roles that persist throughout the modern world. Do laws which effect a woman's economic status such as denying reproductive rights or availability of birth control, intimate partner violence or lack of education hold us back? Is it the condescending stereotype of physical, racial or intellectual inferiority? Do long held cultural beliefs or interpretation of religious doctrines prevent women and men from stepping out of traditional gender roles?  How about fear of change? The answer is, YES.
          What's truly standing in the way of realizing worldwide gender equality? Think about this. Why are countries such as Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark leading the way?  A U.S News and World Report survey completed in January of this year showed Nicaragua, the Philippines. Denmark, Iceland and Norway rated high for individual health, safety, income equality and progressiveness.
          Specifically, according to the World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2015/  Iceland offers women equal access to education, healthcare as well as full participation and power in political and economic choices. These countries are secular.and have the highest literacy rates in the world. There is little to no discrimination between the sexes where many types of discrimination and income inequality are shown to go hand- in- hand in study after study. Discrimination in all of its forms is learned.behavior. Discrimination against women is something we learn and it must be unlearned for all of us to move forward. Gender equality is decided by all of us.

"For the people and by the people"

"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."- Voltaire writer, historian, philosopher

          In the United States we pride ourselves on gun ownership, privacy and voter rights. When it comes to  free speech and freedom of the press, fundamental principles of democracy which our United States Constitution is based, Freedom House https://freedomhouse.org/ an independent watchdog organization  rates the United States  30th out of 197 countries.
       Freedom of the press or media is essential to keep Americans informed of events in our own country and around the world. What American citizens may not realize is that journalists and government officials often clash over our Bill of Rights. The First Amendment protects freedom of the press including, television, news papers, magazines and other media sources. The First Amendment allows the publication of truthful controversial information without interference from the government. Censorship of online material from independent journalists or bloggers is evolving as technology evolves. In a true democratic society as little censorship by government as possible should be demanded by its citizens.
         Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index rated the United States 46th out of all developed nations in 2014. Full details can be investigated at the link to their website http://en.rsf.org/

       In countries around the world such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Uganda (featured in the video clip above courtesy YouTube.com) journalists are being jailed, tortured, mutilated and killed for reporting human rights abuses inflicted on them and their fellow citizens by military militias and corrupt dictatorships. These brutal attacks are being recorded as evidence but when reporters seek justice for these crimes where do they turn?  In a democracy for the people and by the people we need to demand that our elected officials truly understand our laws and protect our civil liberties but first we need to understand them ourselves.
       

" We cannot tolerate obstruction "

"Waiting periods, counseling, ultrasounds, trans-vaginal ultrasounds, sonogram storytelling—all of these legislative moves are invasive, insulting, and condescending because they are deeply misguided attempts to pressure women into changing their minds, to pressure women into not terminating their pregnancies, as if women are so easily swayed that such petty and cruel stall tactics will work. These politicians do not understand that once a woman has made up her mind about terminating a pregnancy, very little will sway her. It is not a decision taken lightly, and if a woman does take the decision lightly, that is her right. A woman should always have the right to choose what she does with her body. It is frustrating that this needs to be said, repeatedly. On the scale of relevance, public approval or disapproval of a woman's choices should not merit measure.” ― Roxane Gay, author of Bad Feminist

              The United States Supreme Court has made it perfectly clear that a safe medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy or abortion is a Constitutional right for women in America. So why do some state lawmakers continue to impose unnecessary and burdensome restrictions or TRAP laws for doctors and medical clinics? (Almost 300 restrictions have been written since 2010)  What is a TRAP law?  TRAP is an abbreviation for "Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers" which is forcing the closure of  healthcare clinics across the country with deceptive guidelines. Men and women need to be aware of TRAP laws because they effect all of us. TRAP laws obstruct the Constitutional rights of women-  mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts-all women to safely access legal medical procedures. Ensuring a woman's right to her own body and reproductive health is ultimately what's at stake.

         On March 2nd, the US Supreme Court will hear the case of Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt. Because abortion is a legal Constitutional right politicians in Washington DC cannot be permitted to impose laws which make receiving medical care an undue burden in the states they represent. If legislatures continue this burdensome assault on women they should be VOTED OUT. Anti-choice politicians in Texas have proposed and passed laws such as HB-2 which will effect the dignity and autonomy of over 5.4 million women of reproductive age leaving just ten clinics available. Ten clinics for more than 5 million women in s state with 27 million Americans. Does this sound like lawmakers who care about the health and welfare of women and families?

   Courtesy of YouTube.com & Last Week Tonight with John Oliver above are two equally important videos containing more information about TRAP laws and the upcoming US Supreme Court case.

" and equal in dignity and rights.."

 "Because women and girls are not valued equally as human beings, they are treated as less than such. Female genital mutilation is an example of this and must be stopped."
- Waris Dirie, Somali model, activist

   
               Mental illness, child abuse, discrimination, abortion, drug addiction, rape, gun violence, - the more uncomfortable the subject the less we discuss it- and  our silence is killing us-especially women. Earlier this month February 7th was designated "International Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation" day. Many people in North America are unaware of female genital mutilation or FGM. The ritual normally performed on young girls is the cutting away of the clitoris and part of the labia is an extremely vicious and violent act with no pain killers or anesthesia. The mutilation is a clear violation of human rights but because in the past the ritual was considered part of a "cultural" practice some countries still perform FGM or a form or FGM on females as young as one year old. Banned in the United States and the United Kingdom some 200 million women alive today have endured FGM according to recent UNICEFhttp://www.unicef.org/ statistics.
         29 countries in Africa and some parts of Asia still perform female genital mutilation as a way to control and completely abolish a young woman's sexuality, ensure virginity before marriage and later to promote sexual pleasure for men only. FGM has no health benefits. In fact the World Health Organization  http://www.who.int/en/  has stated the practice causes a greater likelihood of death during childbirth, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, infection, and severe physical and emotional trauma.
            FGM continues to be condemned around the world. It's not only a dangerous, sexist, barbaric ritual performed on young girls but it's a complete violation of human rights to health, security and physical integrity. Globally, the rights of young girls and woman to control their own bodies has been  reduced or completely stripped away by communities ruled by men or strict religious dogma. But in order to progress men have to fundamentally change the way they view women. As long as girls and women are seen as less than equal or even less than human they will continue to have their rights and dignity taken away. No more silence.  http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/





Below is the link to a Guardian.com article which features personal stories of women who have endured female genital mutilation.http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2016/feb/06/fgm-female-genital-mutilation-worst-pain-i-ever-felt-women-somaliland-speak-in-pictures


     

" What you do makes a difference."

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."- William James, American philosopher, psychologist

https://info.ecosia.org/

     Want to help plant trees in Africa or South America without leaving the country or even the office?  Simple. Do an online word search. Go to Ecosia and search Ecosia.org. Ecosia is a search engine similar to Google or BING.   This inspiring and empowering search engine has been featured in news stories on noted websites such as Scientific American, Upworthy and The Guardian for its unique features. By searching the web with Ecosia ads generate revenue. With the income earned Ecosia plants more and more trees. Brilliant? Indeed. In fact over 3 million trees have been planted around the globe including Burkino Faso in Africa which is featured in the video above (courtesy Ecosia & YouTube )

     Drought stricken areas recover much more quickly when trees are planted allowing people, vegetation and animals to return. A healthier environment allows for economic growth which depends upon the renewal of resources. With people and livestock sustained opportunities grow such as children attending schools and job creation.

    Did you know that planting trees reduces global warming? Trees create oxygen which we need to stay alive. Trees are renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. The more trees we plant the more chance we have of reducing the air pollution humans have created. Trees are the natural habitat of birds and animals. Ensuring the survival of animals and plants allows human beings to survive. Think of Ecosia as the circle of life beginning with a simple search.

A little curiosity goes a long way to helping people around the world.

 Try it out. https://www.ecosia.org/

   
      

"With eyes opened "

"The practice of science happens at the border between the known and the unknown. Standing on the shoulders of giants, we peer into the darkness with eyes opened not in fear but in wonder."

- Brian Cox, physicist

              Physics is fascinating to most curious minds even if we fail to fully understand a gravitational wave or the theory of relativity. One of the most  amazing discoveries of the decade was made by an international team of scientists this week at twin LIGO  https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/ or Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory's, one in Livingston, Louisiana and the other in Hanford, Washington(US). On Thursday, February 11th physicists and astronomers reported that gravitational waves were detected generated by cosmic collisions or the merging of two black holes. The black holes are 1.3 billion light-years away and about thirty times the mass of the sun. (Audio "chirp" and commentary courtesy of LIGO &YouTube )
        Why is the discovery such a tremendous breakthrough?  A century ago one of the most incredible thinkers in modern academic history, Albert Einstein explained in his  General Theory of Relativity (1915-16) that the force of gravity arose from the curvature of space and time. Matter and energy such as the earth and other planets distort the shape or geometry of the universe similar to how our bodies leave an impression or distort the shape of foam padding.  Now one hundred years later the theory of interweaving space-time is vindicated with the latest information expanding on a much greater and complex understanding of galaxies and stars.
      Where can you learn more about this latest historic discovery? Visit  LIGO  athttps://www.ligo.caltech.edu/
 Scientific American  http://www.scientificamerican.com/

NOVA http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/

HowStuffWorks http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/

NASA https://www.nasa.gov/

Popular Science http://www.popsci.com/



       

"We are far from done..."

"When you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back and give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed."-  Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States of America

        

       "Gender equality is your issue too." states British actress, Emma Watson, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. In her now highly praised speech in the video.above form 2014, Watson refers to "all of us"- men and women. Anyone who believes in equality for men and women is a "feminist". The negative connotations associated with the "word" are harmful because equality as a women's movement is far from over and encompasses much more than  mere words and labels. Women and men of all ages in the United States who suffer under the delusion that women and men are treated equally are denying reality. The failure to admit and recognize that Americans still have a long and painful journey to travel together is threatening our democracy. Inflexible, self-righteous rhetoric destroys human rights and our ability to make informed choices. When we become so uncompromising and so indignant we can't tolerate anyone else's opinion but our own, we lose our ability to act as human beings or continue to see others as human. Our lack of compassion prevents us from feeling or trying to understand  what others are feeling. Our lack of empathy is passed down to our children and a cycle of hatred, bigotry and misogyny continues. We are allowing our humanity to be eroded by problems we are creating for each other.  If we consider ourselves leaders in human and civil rights protections we must realize other countries in the world look to us for guidance.

      On February 8th's Kelly File, FOX News corespondent Megyn Kelly stated:
 "This is where the feminist movement goes wrong. What does pro-choice or anti-abortion, or whatever, have to be a part of the feminist platform? Do you know how alienating that is?"

    Really? It's alienating for every woman to want autonomy over her own body? It's alienating to want to make your own choices and plan your career or family? It's alienating to want to be financially able to take care of your own health or the health or your child? It's alienating to want economic security and not watch your children starve or die?  At a time in this country when women are still fighting to keep their reproductive rights and the majority of women around the world have no rights to their own body, are dying from child birth or unsafe medical treatments that's a damn arrogant and irresponsible judgment for Megyn Kelly or anyone else to make. So unless the majority of  Americans believe that women and girls should be uneducated, misinformed baby makers who keep their mouths and legs shut then I'm sorry Ms. Kelly,  choice has EVERYTHING to do with the feminist platform.
   

"There is no cure for curiosity."

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."

- Dorothy Parker, writer, poet, activist

 
      In the vast and varied world of sports, arts and entertainment every one has a personal weakness. Some individuals follow college football or fantasy leagues with the feverish addiction of a Vegas casino troll while others vote more religiously on reality programming like Dancing With the Stars and American Idol than in an election primary. No judgment. Personally, I have a curious fascination with late night talk shows. Each evening is a new adventure with interesting guests, book reviews, movie trailers, music, current topics but most importantly after a long stressful day- much needed laughter. It all started in early 2000 with Comedy Centrals The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and later Stephen Colbert's multiple award winning spin off, The Colbert Report.
     My grandparents never missed their beloved Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. My father was a devoted David Letterman fan. Like most women and a few men I know my niece has an adorable infatuation with the irresistible Jimmy Fallon. The current fraternity competing for America's time and attention is The Late Show's Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show's Trevor Noah, Conan O'Brien, Larry Wilmore, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Myers and British sensation James Corden. Although fans would love to catch every episode of their favorite program it's impossible without DVR's or Hulu. Now insomniacs and late night talk show enthusiasts can add longest running Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee's Full Frontal to their wishful watch list. Full Frontal debuts Monday, February 8th at 10:30PM ET and according to a recent press release will be simulcast across five networks including TBS, TruTV, HLN, TNT and Adult Swim.
      Samantha Bee is a Canadian American actor, producer, comedian, writer and mother of three who is married to actor, writer and former Daily Show contributor Jason Jones. In 2010 she published her first book (Gallery Books) I Know I Am, But What Are You?  Bee has appeared in episodes of Bounty Hunters, Game On, The Electric Company and Sesame Street. In a late night league of her own, she can continue to Bee as creatively curious, fearless and distinct as she wants to Bee.

  For more up to the minute information check out the
 Full Frontal website  http://fullfrontalsamanthabee.com/?sr=+full%20+frontal#our-story
     
   

" We must examine our conscience when we allow animals to suffer."

"The man who kills the animals today is the man who kills the people who gets in his way tomorrow."- Dian Fossey, American scientist, anthropologist

        The owners of a Hoke Country, North Carolina no-kill animal shelter will face multiple animal cruelty charges. On Wednesday, January 27th a search warrant was served on Havens-Friends for Life following numerous public complaints. Linden Spear, 59 and Stephen Joseph Spear, 67 have been under investigation since reports of animal neglect by local visitors and other agencies began to surface. Details ranged from open wounds, malnutrition and lack of food or drinking water. The shelter housed over 600 animals  270 dogs, 250 cats, 40 horses and pigs making this one of the largest rescue operations in ASPCA history. The outdoor shelter had no protection from snow or rain where animals were left to roam outside or forced to live in filthy overcrowded wire cages. Many animals were suffering from upper respiratory distress and starvation. The entire ASPCA rescue mission video can be seen here at their official website.    

https://www.aspca.org/news/breaking-aspca-assists-rescue-nearly-600-animals-neglect-unlicensed-nc-facility

     As an animal lover allowing animals to needlessly suffer is incomprehensible when all of us have an obligation to protect our domesticated pets as well as those in the wild. Neglect is just as much a part of animal cruelty as violent abuse. Neglect is knowingly allowing an animal to die slowly from starvation, exposure or disease. As human beings we need to enact more measures to control the pet population with spaying and neutering programs and eliminating puppy mills forever. Euthanasia isn't something animal shelters want to perform but given the alternative which is life locked in cages or constant physical suffering we need to choose what's best for an animal. Neglect, starvation, leaving pets outside to freeze and other forms of cruel abuse is a slow, agonizing, painful death for any animal. As a society with the means to do so, we have to do better.

" Our constitutional right without restriction."

"Voting is like alchemy- taking an abstract value and breathing life into it."

- Sharon Salzberg, American author

                    Voter suppression.- if  some state governments can't find a way to eliminate rights they will find a way to make exercising your rights more difficult.  Take for example the 288 restrictions created by lawmakers from 2011 to 2015 imposing greater hardship on a women's right to a safe and legal abortion. Roe v. Wade ensures protection of a woman's legal right to control her own reproduction. It's a  human right that  many conservative lawmakers want to restrict so much it has become an emotional and economic burden for the majority of women. In Texas lawmakers have devised so many restrictions some woman may be forced to drive over 300 miles or be required to wait days in order to receive medical attention to exercise their legal right. Economic and emotional hardship is almost no right at all, as lawmakers intended. See research and statistics here :(http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2016/01/13/index.html

              The right to vote in the United States is the most fundamental right we have guaranteed by our constitution. Those eligible to vote should have every barrier removed in order for their voice to be heard and counted yet once again restrictions are being placed on many citizens based on their state, district and skin color. State leaders are needlessly imposing restrictions on citizens voting rights with over 30 states adding roadblocks to the polls. At one time the state of North Carolina https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trial-to-start-over-north-carolinas-voter-id-law/2016/01/24/fac97d20-c1d1-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html  making headlines again for questionable voter restrictions had one of the lowest voter turn out rates in the country. In just a few years after civil rights groups expanded measures such as same-day registration and provisional ballots for African-American and Latino voters the turn out peaked at 68% in 2012.

     The Voting Rights Act which is discussed in the video above (courtesy YouTube, Young Turks) complicates matters especially since federal approval isn't needed before states enact more obstacles for voters. Not all state lawmakers want to suppress or impede voters by any means. In fact many state and federal representatives are constantly fighting for the protection of our voting rights. Be sure to research your state and find out what you can do to make voting as uncomplicated and convenient as it should be for every single eligible US citizen.

      Check information regarding your state: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
      Residents of Ohio : http://www.ohio.gov/government/elections/
                 

"No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body."

"No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body."- Margaret Sanger, activist , nurse, writer.

                 Out of 534 members of the United States Congress only 104 are women. In the United States there is a 1 to 1 ratio of men to women. The majority of laws regarding women's reproductive health care are written by men. Can we proudly call ourselves the " land of the free and the home of brave " when half of the populations rights are constantly under attack? When women emphatically state there is a  "war on women" in this country it's the truth and men need to listen. As citizens we all need to understand  there are some conservative state representatives and law makers in Washington DC trying to deny  or restrict a women's right to control her own body. Mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends and wives economic future and right to privacy are being eroded by a group of men who have never experienced tampons and pads taxed as a luxury item, a menstrual cycle, birth control pills, pregnancy, miscarriage or abortion which is legal in every state. Imagine if women had the right to restrict a man's right to food, masturbation or sex?  There would be protests and rioting in the streets. Birth control would be free and over the counter at every local convenience store. But women continue to face increasingly restrictive legislation by men who will never experience what a women experiences with her own body. Land of the free and home of the brave? "No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body"- Margaret Sanger. Why do women have to keep fighting against men to keep their own reproductive rights?
             The most important measures women can take for themselves and other women is ensuring they vote. Make sure every women you know votes. Vote to empower our sister's, mothers, girlfriends and daughters now and in the future. Encourage men to support women by voting for representative's who help not hurt women emotionally, medically, socially and economically which in turn hurts us all.  Vote for strong representatives who will take a stand and fight to protect women's reproductive rights. Find out how your state representatives are voting on key legislation. Many men and women in the US aren't paying attention to what law makers are doing until it's too late. Below are links to a few outstanding organizations who help protect, educate and serve women, men and children in the United States and around the world.

Center for Reproductive Rights
http://www.reproductiverights.org/

NARAL
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Lady Parts Justice
https://ladypartsjustice.com/

Planned Parenthood
plannedparenthood

Emily's List
http://emilyslist.org/

NOW
http://now.org/

"The things that matter."

 "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."

- Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

            As a  public elementary school fourth grader the thought never entered my head that I should  hate, change or disrespect my best friend Jane Ann because she attended one of the four Catholic schools in our small Northeastern Ohio town. Our neighborhood playmates occasionally teased her about high knee socks, drab uniforms, abusive nun stories, rosaries and the intimidating portrait of Jesus hanging above her bed. We had yet to be exposed to intentional contempt. Along with a dozen or so children on our block we rode our bikes, played street football and acted out scenes from the musical Grease on backyard picnic tables. The only thing we argued about was who would play Danny or Sandy next. We were different sizes, colors and shapes but we didn't care.
           Years later Jane Ann moved to another city. Adolescence slowly matured to teenager. Right in the middle of a semester a young man from a local Catholic school transferred to our public junior high. He was bullied for being gay. Even his teachers reminded him he was going to hell. Heaven and Hell was and still is a foreign concept to me. In my mind he wasn't a sinner who would spend eternity in a fiery pit of torturous demons. He was a young kid like any young kid except he was getting the shit kicked out of him for being "different".  I was a quiet, diplomatic introvert who tried to get along with everyone. He was loud, straight forward, creative and made me laugh so immediately I adored him. We listened to the same music. We loved art, animals and movies. We wrote silly, slutty notes to each other in study hall. We were band geeks. We were best friends.
      During high school some students continued to taunt him but he knew who had his back. One of our teachers felt ridiculed after my friend challenged him on the answer to an open question. The class was really enjoying the exchange. Both sides offered up valid commentary. We were captivated by the thoughtful ideas flying back and forth like an intense intellectual ping pong match. The debate became so heated our teacher completely lost his composure screaming, "Go to hell you smart ass little faggot." in front of the entire class. Frozen in time, our collective gasp. My friend grabbed his book bag, walked out into the hallway and waited for me until the bell rang. Without a word, side by side we walked to the office where my friend asked the secretary's permission to use the phone. He called his parents to tell them what happened.
      "They're on their way." he reassured. Tears filled my eyes as I imagined the pain he might be  feeling. "That teacher is an asshole." I sobbed.
       " You are so freaking sensitive. You need to toughen up." he laughed.
       " You don't deserve to be treated like this." I said snapping back." And yes, I'm sensitive. Tough shit. That's why we're still friends."
         Smiling, he looked directly into my eyes, "Yeah, I know." he whispered.hugging me,
       "  I love you too."
     
     




 http://universaltolerance.org/

" The deep secrets within us."

"We think we are seeing the world just fine until it's called to our attention that we're not."

- David Eagleman, neuroscientist, author of Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain

                Neuroscientists on the forefront of fascinating discoveries in their field understand there is so much information about the human brain that's been uncovered but much more remains unknown. A few years ago NOVA http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/, one of the most watched science series in America featured the documentary " How Does the Brain Work?" hosted by the worlds favorite personal astrophysicist,http://www.startalkradio.net/ Dr.Neil deGrasse Tyson for PBS. http://www.pbs.org/  This may have been your initial introduction to a pioneering neuroscientist who runs the Laboratory of Perception and Action at the Baylor College of Medicine, David Eagleman.
             If you happened to miss "The Brain with David Eagleman" a series which aired on PBS October 14 to November 18th, 2015  you can now check out clips of the series on the PBS website or even order the complete DVD. Eagleman is one of the neuroscientists featured in the documentary above, author of  The Brain: The Story of You and Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain. http://www.eagleman.com/  

           Our brains shape our own reality. Our brains should boggle our minds. Brains are as unique as our own fingerprints yet still one of the greatest mysteries of nature.  Research in neuroscience is still in its infancy but will prove to be one the most important areas of study in our future especially as it applies to psychology and cognitive sciences. Despite what we scroll through on Facebook and Twitter each day, human beings are actually quite endlessly amazing.

           
           

"The important thing is not to stop questioning."

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day."- Albert Einstein from the memoirs of William Miller, editor quoted in Life magazine, May 2, 1955.

         How does it work? Why did that happen? Who created this machine? When did that start? How do I find out? Could I do that too? The barrage of questions we aimed at parents,siblings and teachers when we were children seemed mysterious and infinite. The questions we have as adults haven't lessened or disappeared. We are born complex inquisitive creatures who despite our need for security crave fun and spontaneity. Getting lost in thought or lost in an adventure is one of the greatest aspects of being alive. We want to know the answers to things whether they prove productive, useful or even beneficial to humanity. Before our easy access to the internet kids jumped on their Schwinns for a ride to the local library or checked out a stack of books each week from school. Now the majority of Americans have the ultimate library at their fingertips 24/7. With so much information online it can be intimidating and confusing especially when you're trying to discover the most reliable sources of factual information. If a love of learning rivals or equals your weekend Netflix  binge watching addiction there is a subscription streaming service to check out - CuriosityStream, video on demand.

     CuriosityStream is the brain child of John S.Hendricks, Founder of the Discovery Channel. CuriosityStream's  content is divided into four main categories Science, Technology, Civilization and Human Spirit. CuriosityStudios has produced several short-form original documentaries and features such as Destination Pluto featuring Alan Stearn and A Curious World. CuriosityStream has acquired incredible programs featuring world renowned theoretical physicists, Michio Kaku and Jim Al-Khalili. Enjoy the introduction video previews above.

     Get a free preview of Curiosity Stream at their website :https://app.curiositystream.com/