Three New Baby Orca!

New Baby J-45 with Mother Samish (J-14)
photo credit: Ken Balcomb Center For Whale Research

What a great birthday present! This year what we thought were two new Orca calves turned out to be three! Two of them in J-pod and so far all looking healthy and active. That is very good news especially with the recent loss of seven whales missing and assumed dead. This does not solve the problem the whales are facing of a diminished food supply but is a hopeful sign.

Check out OrcaCam on the Center For Whale Research website
Link to: The Whale Museum

Late Snow ~ February 26

Fir Bough Out My Bedroom Window

I watched the fat rain come down last night but sure did not expect to find a snowy morning. Not that I mind. I have a peaceful association in the reflected light off the snow that brightens an overcast winter day.

An excerpt from The Four Seasons of the Year
by the first American Poet, Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)

Moist snowie February is my last,

I care not how the winter time doth haste,

In Pisces now the golden Sun doth shine,

And Northward still approaches to the Line,

The Rivers 'gin to ope, the snows to melt,

And some warm glances from his face are felt;

Which is increased by the lengthen'd day,

Until by's heat, he drive all cold away

Volunteers of America

There is a big call out for volunteers these days. President Obama is asking us to give service time to our communities. Whenever I hear a call out for volunteers I hear the voice of Grace Slick on the Woodstock Album when she says "Good Morning people! Now you will hear morning maniac music, believe me..." and then Jefferson Airplane blasts into Volunteers of America...

Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers of America

Look what's happening out in the streets
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Hey I'm dancing down the streets
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Ain't it amazing all the people I meet
Got a revolution Got to revolution
One generation got old
One generation got soul
This generation got no destination to hold
Pick up the cry
Hey now it's time for you and me
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Come on now we're marching to the sea
Got a revolution Got to revolution
Who will take it from you
We will and who are we
We are volunteers of America

Wish Upon A Star (If You Can Still See One)

There are some people with businesses in town who would like to leave lit-up signs on all night in Friday Harbor. Currently this is against our Town Ordinance. Leaving lights on all night is not only an irresponsible waste of resources but would be a blight to our night sky. Please attend this evening's public hearing and let town council know that this is an unacceptable proposal.

Starry Night ~ Vincent Van Gogh

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Town of Friday Harbor, Washington will hold a PUBLIC HEARING to consider revisions to Title 14 of Friday Harbor Municipal Code regarding sign regulations at 5:35 PM, February 19, 2009 at Town Hall, 60 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

Proposed revisions are to allow signs to be illuminated after businesses are closed.

No More Falsehoods or Derision

Princess of Cups ~ Druid Craft Tarot

A reader asks...

Anita: When you say the 1000 day countdown starts today, does that mean that the Age of Aquarius won't really be here for another three years?

Me: That's right Anita. As I understand it we have made it through the cusp period between the Piscean Age and the Age of Aquarius and are now in the "Dawning" of the Age of Aquarius. The Age of Aquarius starts officially in 2012, or in 1,000 days minus a few now. See the countdown widgit in my right-hand column. This is of course in sync with the Myan calendar running out. So we are into the transition which they say will cause some tumult but by 2036 things should be really groovy.

Anita: I heard a "anti-snarking" story on NPR this morning, maybe the no more derision part is already starting.

Me: Right again, I think we are all going to have to do our part. I know that with Bush no longer in the White House I do feel quite a bit less snarky already.

The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius Starts Now!

The moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter is aligned with Mars. You know what that means. It is officially the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Come this morning, February 14, 2009 at dawn the moon in Libra enters the seventh house, the house of relationships, and Jupiter and Mars are aligned in Aquarius in the twelfth house, the house of spiritual transformation.

The official 1,000 day countdown to the Age of Aquarius begins today. To usher in the Aquarian Age with a fitting mantra link to: Meditation for an Invincible Spirit in the Aquarian Age.

AQUARIUS

Johanofsweden

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Valentine's Day Concert on Lopez

Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen

Feb. 14th, 7:30 PM at the Lopez Island Grange Hall, $10
Unique Tapestry of Contemporary Folk and World Music

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to take your sweetie to a Home on the Grange concert on Lopez Island. I hear from my friend Sue DuMond on Lopez that Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen will be playing. Here is what Sue has to say...

"Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen, each well known and loved for their decades of music making have joined musical forces in a new duo. Cindy is a superb singer, guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Grey is one of America's finest players of the Irish flute and tin whistle, as well as an accomplished singer and concertina, fiddle, piano and harmonium player. As composers each has contributed to the unique tapestry of contemporary folk and world music as it exists and flourishes in America today. Together, they weave songs and tunes of vibrant color and rich texture.More info: link to: Home on the Grange, or call: 468-2753.

Lopez Grange Hall

Friday Harbor Centennial 1909~2009

Friday Harbor Waterfront Late 1950s

Today, February 9th, Friday Harbor turns 100 years old.

There will be celebratory goings on at the Grange Hall, the Fire Station and the Yacht Club all day. Link to: Friday Harbor Centennial

What's New Pussycat?

Have you ever had a perverse thought that you tried to banish from your mind but the more you tried to resist it the more it persisted?

I watched the Superbowl last weekend, or at least parts of it. Having been a fan of Bruce Springsteen since his early days I looked forward to his half-time show. It was when he went out onto a part of the stage that jutted into the crowd that it struck me. Bruce Springsteen was twins-separated-at-birth with Tom Jones!

Bruce Springsteen ~ Tom Jones

Signed Sealed and Delivered.

Yes, we can and we did.

Obama Taking the Oath. ~ Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times

Throngs Watch the Ceremony. ~ Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Concert On The Mall

Jill & Joe Biden, Barack & Sasha Obama

Pete Seeger was a rickety old man over 20 years ago when I saw him at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. He must be at least 100 years old. What a hopeful omen for the country that he was there at the Lincoln Memorial today singing Woody Guthry's This Land Is Your Land, yes, with all the verses.

Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, will.i.am

Beyoncé - America The Beautiful

I feel a little corny but can not stop my eyes from watering while Beyonce leads the crowd in singing America the Beautiful.

Here They Come...

Michelle Obama - Our New First Lady
At Train stop in Wilmington, Delaware to Pick up the Bidens

Taking the same train route that Abraham Lincoln took to his inauguration, President Elect Obama is undertaking the final leg of his inaugural journey to the nation's capital. Stopping along the way aboard the vintage 1930s Georgia 300 coach Barack Obama is speaking to the American people pledging to reclaim America's spirit as he warns of steep the challenges facing the country.

In Philadelphia Obama said, "Let's build a government that is responsible to the people and accept our own responsibilities as citizens to hold our government accountable... Let's make sure this election is not the end of what we do to change America, but the beginning and the hope for the future."

Barack Obama Waves to Crowds in Claymont, Delaware

Mini Mac Lives!

Mini-Mac Lives! with my deepest and sincerest thanks to my neighbors Lee, for sending Roger over, and Roger for performing the resurrection. I may be turning into a droid but when my computer crashes I do too.

Its not just because of my blog habit/obsession but I use my Mini-Mac for so many things including aspects of my jobs not to mention making up flyers and emailing them out. Here is my most recent, a flyer inviting folks to the upcoming Inauguration Day Potluck at the High School. Obviously I owe a debt to Shepard Fairey, the designer of the now iconic Obama poster.

One thing that may have put my Mini-Mac over the edge was my attempt to make a few cents off my blog by advertising books/music/film through an Amazon book carousel. In particular I wanted to feature the book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter and the DVD, Gaza Strip by filmmaker James Longley. Longley, the talented son of my neighbor Roger who brought Mini-Mac back to life, was nominated for an Oscar for this documentary that gives a rare view into life in Gaza under the Israeli occupation.

Carter’s book and Longley’s film are both available at San Juan Island’s public library. San Juan Island Library, the last refuge for the internet addicted during a crash. God Bless the public library.

Peggy Sue Unplugged

Here I am posting at the public library. God bless public libraries! My mini mac has crashed and I have no immediate funds to fix/replace it. If you have a spare Mac laying around that you would be willing to let me use or buy real cheap please call 360-370-5210. I will be able to answer the phone now that I cannot get online. Until then, I hope to be back soon!

People lived for centuries without computers. I myself spent some of the happiest years of my life living off the grid. This is going to be OK.... except I have to get off now because another library patron is waiting....

David vrs Goliath

Israeli Tank

Photo: Ariel Schalit/Associated Press

Gaza Resistance
Photo: Muhammed Muheisen/Associated Press

Condoleezza Rice blames Palestine's democratically elected Hamas for bringing Israeli violence down on Gaza. Hamas has fired rockets into Israel. With this rationalization Israeli tanks roll into Gaza. What Rice neglects to acknowledge is that Hamas has very good reason to resist the murderous Israeli occupation of its people. Israel imprisons Gaza in a death grip controlling everything including information going in and out of the occupied territory. With complete disregard for human rights Israeli forces have targeted even clearly marked humanitarian aid vehicles killing not only many hundreds of Palestinian civilians but international aid workers as well. What irony that Israel would turn Gaza into something even worse than the German occupied Warsaw Ghetto.

Link to: U.N. and Red Cross Add to Outcry on Gaza War
Link to: Statements of the Free Palestine Alliance
Link to: Live From occupied Palestine

New Year's Resolutions - A Healthy Future

If getting healthier is on your New Year’s Resolution to-do list here are a few tools you can use to help you along the way.

Eat Tomatoes for Longevity

BLUE ZONES: Go to the Blue Zones website and fill out the Blue Zone Vitality Compass questionnaire to calculate your life expectancy and find out what simple steps you can take to add vitality to you life.

Dan Buettner founded Blue Zones after a National Geographic funded study of world wide populations. Buettner discovered key common practices to living a long and healthy life. Here are the top ten.

1. De-convenience your home – lose the remote, buy a light garage door and lift it yourself, use a shovel instead of a snow-blower.

2. Eat Nuts – Have a can of nuts around your office or home, eat a handful daily.
3. Drink Sardinian wine – Sardinian canonau wine has the world's highest levels of antioxidants. Drink a glass or two a day.
4. Play with your children – this is excellent low intensity exercise and will strengthen a family. Both associated with longer life expectancy.
5. Grow a Garden – This proven stress reducer will put your body through the range of motion and yield fresh vegetables.
6. Hour of Power – Downshift daily with a nap, meditation, prayer or a quiet walk, de-stressing is a proven way to slow aging.
7. Eat Tofu – Arguably the world's most perfect food, eaten by the world's longest lived women. Contains a plant estrogen that makes skin look younger
8. Get a Tan – Doctors are rethinking the notion of slathering yourself with sunscreen. Up to half of Americans are Vitamin D deficient--a condition that can double your chance of dying in any given year. A tan not only looks healthy, it is.
9. Donate your large dinner plates – eat off 9 inch plates as the Okinawans do and reduce calorie consumption at dinner by 20-30%.

10. Write Down your Personal Mission – Know and putting into practice your sense of purpose can give you up to a decade of good life.

Still Life with Teapot and Fruit ~ Paul Gauguin

LIMBA SLIM: Dovetailing nicely, just in case losing weight figures into your New Year's plan for a healthier future, is a helpful new product designed by San Juan Island's own Rebecca Barnard. Limba Slim combines aromatherapy with hypnosis and uses your own limbic system, the most ancient part of your brain by directly accessing it through your sense of smell.

The Limba Slim system comes with a Limba Sniffer, Limba Scent and a 10 minute guided meditation that will gently take you to a beautiful beach where you are guided to make healthy food choices. This is how it works, first dab the scent under your nose and then listen to the meditation. Throughout the day carry the Limba Sniffer with you to bring you back to that relaxed place of luscious, healthy food preferences.