Cold Tears

poem by me, 30 September 2015
excerpt:
"Cold tears for a chill morn,
"Cold tears for memories of a mistake made,
"Trust broken."

It's Happening!

Heyyyy everyone! The clouds parted a lil, and this is what I saw!

Ok, truth: I can't process my own photos until further notice. I haven't even taken the camera out. But if I stay here much longer, I will miss more of the action. If anyone sees the Cookie Monster, tell him to keep up the good work!

Super Blood Moon 25 September 2015

Several days ago, we had a somewhat rare experience. Septmber's full moon was actually a super moon. In addition to that full supermoon, we also had a lunar eclipse. Three moons, one stone? Here are the photos.

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An Eid of Remembrance

There is usually plenty enough of stress and even hurt on Eid al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). It's only bound to happen as families and communities gather together, putting people with vastly different worldviews together for an extended time. This year, however, Eid has been particularly inauspicious and painful. First a crane accident killed dozens of worshippers in Mecca. Then hundreds of worshippers at Mina were trampled to death. And now we hear of a bombing at a Zaydi Shia Islamic mosque in Yemen.

As we exchange Eid greetings with each other, please let us also remember our Muslim and non-Muslim siblings around the world for whom today is a day of tragedy.

Prayer for Sleep (Episcopalian Christian)

Save us from troubled, restless sleep; from all ill dreams your children keep. So calm our minds that fears may cease and rested bodies wake in peace. ~ from 6th century compline hymn

Posted by The Episcopal Church on Wednesday, September 23, 2015

An Open Letter to Survivors of Abuse from Your Loving Allies

Darling Survivors,
Wherever you are, whatever your situation, you are still here. Please know that we out here know that continuing on this journey that we call life is an everyday struggle. You are so strong. You've endured what you have endured, and now you are here experiencing some kind of life. And we cannot imagine life without you, to be perfectly honest.

We are listening to you. We believe you. We affirm your experiences and lived realities. What you choose to disclose to us is real. We are honoured to carry some of your story with you. We do not need any kind of documentation or proof to demonstrate the veracity of your story. We love you and honour your lived reality and your experiences.

You have hurts - some wounds will never heal. We won't demand of you that any part of you get healed. You also have joys; frustrations; boring days; points of brilliance, light, and happiness. We are here with you, willing to share these with you if you want. Anything that you need, let us know. One or more of us will be at your side, doing everything that we can for you.

There is harshness in this world. You already know this. You've spent so much time knowing this. There is also love. Every day, people are pouring their love out into the universe. Some of it - as much as you need - is yours for the taking. We see you, we honour you, and our love is for you.

Sincerely yours,
-A Whole Bunch of Allies

Black Inventors, Clocks, and America

If you haven't heard of Ahmed Mohamed of #‎IStandWithAhmed‬ fame, you've been living under a painted white rock. Here is the thing, though. You people all act as though you've never seen a black man with a clock before in America.

Please open your textbooks to page 22 now and meet Benjamin Banneker, a self-made scientist and almanac author. Banneker was born a free man of Guinean ancestry whose maternal grandfather was a prince. Gifted one day with a watch, Banneker disassembled it several times to examine it, then made the first clock constructed in this country.

‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬

Image: Black matting with photo of Benjamin Banneker (a fine young black man) in the centre. His name is written on both sides of his photo. Above the photo, the following in white Tempus: "You people act as though you've never seen a black man with a clock in America." Below, in white Times New Roman: "Please turn to page 22 in your textbooks now. https://archive.org/stream/bulletinunitedst2311964unit#page/22"
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Alicia Garza: Black Lives Hero

The Root covered Alicia Garza thus:

Two years ago, Alicia Garza was publicly grieving the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer, when three seemingly innocuous words flowed from her keyboard, and proved to be anything but: Black lives matter. That simple but profound assertion would come to rattle the establishment, bounce onto magazine covers and helped drive a crusade for racial justice not seen since the 1960s. In addition to her day job with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Garza, who identifies as queer, often uses her platform to widen the space of blackness, especially unmasking the far-too-frequent violence against trans and gender-nonconforming people of color in our communities. Her beautiful refrain (and work) not only insists on the protection of black bodies but on the opening of black minds. We especially thank her for her heart.


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Slavery Isn't a Thing of the Past

"My last enslaved uncle died when I was 14."
-someone who is alive today

Black Lives Matter.

No to Ideation Shaming

From my friend, The Unicorn Whisperer.

Public service announcement from the Unicorn Whisperer:

People who shame those who have suicidal thoughts or have taken their own lives can kindly kiss my ass before I run them over with my wheel chair. Seriously, this is not a post where you can debate in the comments or say that those people are selfish. I don't give a shit about your opinion I only have love for those who suffer.



Depression is a real fucking disease and I feel nothing but compassion for those who fight it every day, those who are longer with us, and those left behind. Those who are dealing with suicidal thoughts or attempts: I am so so very glad you are still here. <3

Freedom2B: Seconded, UW.