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Scientific reasons for Earth’s seasons
Our planet’s tilt dictates cycle of autumn and spring
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Chicago in the lead for Murder Capital 2008
In a city where there has been a hand-gun ban on the books since the early 80's, shootings are on the rise again. Not since 2003 has Chicago held the ugly title of Murder Capital (not per capita either), with the recent outburst of gun violence this past weekend in Chicago, it looks like they are in the running again for the title of Murder Capital in 2008.
quoted article follows:
CHICAGO (WLS) -- At least 37 people were shot in Chicago over the weekend. Eight of the shootings were fatal.
Chicago police received dozens of 911 calls about the gun violence around the city this weekend. They acknowledge that 37 shootings is a big number for a three-day period.
Six people were hit in three separate shootings late Sunday night on the city's West Side.
At about 10:30 p.m., witnesses say a car pulled up to a group of men standing on the corner of 21st and California and someone inside the car started shooting. A 26-year-old construction worker was killed and two of his friends were wounded.
Mouth Sinai Hospital treated three gunshot victims, including a man and woman who pulled up to the emergency room in their bullet riddled minivan.
A 25-year-old man was shot and killed near Karlov and Polk.
Maria Bejar decided to move from the Little Village neighborhood after her brother was shot to death last year.
"Hopefully, law enforcement gets stronger and hopefully they work something out on, because it's ridiculous that I can't enjoy myself at night because I'm always worried about getting shot or killed," said Maria Bejar, Chicago resident.
Police superintendent Jody Weis continues to blame gangs for the ongoing violence.
"You have too many guns and too many guns and too much drugs on the street," said Jody Weis.
Stopping the violence is now becoming a priority as the weather begins to warm up.
"It's going to be a long summer. Parents better take responsibility for them," said Daley.
Chicago's gangs
One gang expert in Chicago says that it is not just a matter of getting additional gun legislation, but also addressing the bigger problem of resolving poverty, especially in some of the most oppressed communities of the city. He said that one of the important things is to address these concerns, such as housing, displacement of residents. This displacement has, in his words, led to conflicts between gangs that used to be living in different areas. Now as they come together, conflict erupts over turf as these people try to compete for their business.
Criminologist and author John Hagedorn also went on to comparing the city of Chicago to the city of New York, which had one-third the homicide rate of Chicago last year. The reason for this, he said, is because the gangs are more entrenched here and therefore it is harder to fight
Wven though there has been a sharp decrease in homicides and other gun-related violence from 10 years ago, the fact remains Chicago last year had 443 homicides, New York had 496, but New York has three times the population, which effectively means Chicago has three times the murder rate.
Hagedorn says it goes back to the drug wars of the 1990s.
"In New York, nobody was really happy they were there and bringing the violence and so when the police cracked down, it broke the gangs up. Here, those same gangs have been there for 50 years," he said.
Hagedorn is the author of a book on gang culture. He says because the gangs are more entrenched here and less structured, they are harder to eradicate and he points to city housing policies which have weakened already poor neighborhoods.
"The housing needs to be improved. Lawndale used to be 120,000; now it's 40,000 people. Where are they? Nobody knows. We need to invest so that the people who live there have a reason to stay there," he said.
Hagedorn said if people are invested in the communities that they live in, they will no longer tolerate the gangs conducting their drug business there.
(Copyright ©2008 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) In a city where there has been a hand-gun ban on the books since the early 80's, shootings are on the rise again. Not since 2003 ... more -
Video: As the cherry blossoms bloom, the birds arrive.
It's finally spring, and thousands of birds are arriving at Ladner's Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
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Spring Sand
A poem in someone else's voice, in someone else's country.
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Rubber for all seasons
Rainboots (Wellies) are out, it's spring. Now, it is too cold for traditional Jellies. How about these new ones (they are in between)? Warm and they are made of rubber!
"[P]latforms by Aussie label Melissa. Made of rubber, they come in a ton of colors, including black, and retail for $120 at Opening Ceremony. (They also come in velvet, but that's a little too seventh grade even for us.) The rubber keeps your toes in check while the solid platform lets navigate spring's tricky terrain." Rainboots (Wellies) are out, it's spring. Now, it is too cold for traditional Jellies. How about these new ones (they are in be... more -
The Short Happy Life of the Japanese Cherry Blossom
If one should ask you
concerning the heart of a true Japanese,
point to the wild cherry flower
glowing in the sun.
– Norinaga Motoori (1730-1801)
All of Japan practically screeches to a halt when the sakura - cherry blossoms - bloom. Japanese have been celebrating Spring's most anticipated visitor, the Cherry Blossom, for over a thousand years. Hanami means Cherry Blossom Viewing and today millions of Japanese gather under the the blossoms to eat, drink, and be merry while the brief blossoms remain on the branch. If one should ask you concerning the heart of a true Japanese, point to the wild cherry flower glowing in the sun. ... more -
Spring is Earlier with Global Warming
"Pollen is bursting. Critters are stirring. Buds are swelling. Biologists are worrying." Is spring early where you live?
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The Easter Bunny conundrum
Is the Easter Bunny a Controversial Christian Symbol or a Godless Pagan Icon?
Either one depending on who you ask.
One US City Council had easter bunny decorations pulled for fear of offending non-Christians with such blatant Christian decor on a government public building.
One Christian group a few years ago put on a morality play where they treated the Easter Bunny as a pagan idol and preceded to beat the holy stuffings out of him in front of some very confused and teary-eyed children.
How did this wasically rabbit work its way into the Easter celebration anyway? Follow the link and find out. Is the Easter Bunny a Controversial Christian Symbol or a Godless Pagan Icon? Either one depending on who you ask. ... more -
Japanese Plum Blossoms Herald the Coming of Spring
Cherry Blossoms in Japan get the biggest attention but in ages past it was the earlier blooming Plum Blossoms that moved the hearts of the Japanese. Cherry Blossoms in Japan get the biggest attention but in ages past it was the earlier blooming Plum Blossoms that moved the hearts of... more
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Interfaith Blessing of the Garden: Native Plants are new lawn for 21st Century in ...
During 2008 a solar fountain will flow - and wild flowers will bloom - in a native plants garden that has replaced the lawn at the Lutheran Campus Ministry "Lothlorien" house for students at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
An interfaith "Blessing of the Garden" ceremony included chanting, incense and other religious traditions from several faith communities.
Earth Keeper Initiative volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson has the story.
The producers thank Lutheran Campus Ministry student leader Sarah Swanson, NMU sophomore from Rapid River, MI for her videography and photography talents that helped make this video possible
(Marquette, Michigan) - In the spring of 2008 a solar fountain will flow and flowers will bloom in a northern Michigan native plants garden nurtured by university students that was blessed by a Buddhist head priest and a Lutheran pastor
A "Blessing of the Garden" ceremony was held in October 2007 at Lothlorien - the Northern Michigan University Lutheran Campus Ministry house near Lake Superior.
A heavy rain poured the entire day almost causing the ceremony to be moved inside, but the sun came out for 20 minutes and the rain resumed just as the blessing and a tour were completed.
Performing the blessing was Rev. Jon Magnuson, director of Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) at Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette, MI; and Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Zen Buddhist temple.
The Lothlorien lawn has been turned into a native plants garden that includes rocks from three of the Great Lakes.
The LCM house name, Lothlorien, comes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The garden includes Michigan plants and others from the Boreal border regions of the northern United States including Black Eye Susan, aster, dogbane, bluestem, and Sensitive fern.
Prayers, incense, bells, and chants were part of the ceremony that included a tour of the garden by NMU Student Michael Joko Rotter, a member of Lake Superior Zendo.
"Lothlorien is a magical kingdom part of what Tolkien called Middle-earth - where time passes differently," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, a Lutheran pastor, who founded the NMU EarthKeeper Student Team. Many of the campus ministry students belong to the interfaith NMU EK Student Team.
"Our natural native plants landscaping - our Lothlorien garden - is a sign of a new way of living with the world," Magnuson said. "It honors the indigenous and native plants of our region."
"Lothlorien came into being first as a song," Rev. Magnuson said. "The garden will be a haven for birds and other small creatures."
"The fountain represents the water of Lake Superior and the waters of our baptism," Magnuson said.
The Central Upper Peninsula Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans donated $1,600.
"Students are involved - and we like to support things that young people are going to be enthusiastically involved in like this native plants garden," said Judy Quirk, president of the Thrivent central U.P. chapter.
A fountain in the garden is going to be converted to solar power in the spring of 2008 and the sun will charge a battery allowing the water to flow in cloudy weather.
"We hope this will inspire people to learn the benefits that native plants have, such as requiring a third less water, and no pesticides or fertilizers," said Rotter.
Rotter said the "garden represents the hope of the future."
Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:
http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans:
http://www.thrivent.com During 2008 a solar fountain will flow - and wild flowers will bloom - in a native plants garden that has replaced the lawn at the Lu... more -
Devils Make Sneak Attack on Japanese Spring Ritual - Setsubun
This February 3rd on Setsubun, the Japanese version of Groundhog Day where Japanese drive away evils, bad luck, and Winter. a sudden snowstorm hit Tokyo in the wee hours mucking up train schedules, flights, and traffic. The work of devils seeking to thrawt the annual exorcism rite known as Setsubun? This February 3rd on Setsubun, the Japanese version of Groundhog Day where Japanese drive away evils, bad luck, and Winter. a sudden s... more
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Setsubun - Japanese Spring Cleaning Exorcism
Here's a vlog of me explaining the Japanese holiday of Setsubun which is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled up together. It's a day where Japanese seek to drive Oni or Devils from their homes by throwing beans at them. Oni don't like beans - makes them go blind apparently.
Also many temples and shrines have mami-maki which is where people throw beans and other items at gathered crowds. To catch these items is to bring you good luck all year.
This Setsubun a sudden snowstorm struck in Tokyo. A rather ominious sign as the Setsubun is a Spring Ritual and exorcising the devils is like driving Winter out. I think it was a sneak attack by the Setsubun Devils myself. However the ritual must have worked because the next morning the sun was out.
I plan to do a proper pod on this in the near future so stay tuned! Here's a vlog of me explaining the Japanese holiday of Setsubun which is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled ... more -
Setsubun: Japanese Drive Devils Out in Spring Ritual
February 3rd in Japan is Setsubun, a spring holiday that is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled up into one with a dash of "The Exorcist." On Setsubun, Japanese seek to drive evil out of their homes by tossing a handful of beans and saying "Oni wa Soto! Fuku wa Uchi!" - "Bad Luck (Devils) out! Good Luck In!" Also many people go to temples and shrines for mame-maki. Mame-maki is where people throw beans and other things to the crowds for good luck. Setsubun is one of my favorite Japanese holidays. February 3rd in Japan is Setsubun, a spring holiday that is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled up into one with a... more
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FASHION WEEK UPDATE Episode 1
Funny things happen when THE BEAUTIFUL come out in NYC
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