Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#Fracking new from Vermont

Guest post from MM,
Links to the Digger, Addison independent
Monopoly says... Give us our pipeline or else!

Region-told-pipeline-squeeze-may-push-power-prices/


Citizen Environmental Advocates Challenging Monopoly Supreme Court





The Letter


The Letter

When I was about 5,
Just learning to write my first name,
I was also learning about 
The Post Office, where Dad worked.
A U.S. Mail box receptacle was up on Main St
In front of the city hall, police station 
and fire station,
Where the firemen let me sit and look at the funny papers from the Post-Dispatch.
We got the Globe-Democrat.
I was getting tall enough to reach the mail receptacle opening.
Tall enough to peek down the mysterious chute that secured the mail.
One day I assembled leaves and bits of yarn and other stuff, quite randomly.
I put them in a homemade envelope, made of construction paper.
I printed MARY on the envelope.
(The R may have been backwards)
I walked up to the mail receptacle on Main St
Quite naturally, as I had seen Mom mail letters,
I was mailing
a Letter,
To Myself.

Later, Dad came home.
Tired,
Sweating,
Hard working guy.
A Postman.

He held up a familiar packet,
My Letter!

"Maireeee" 
I knew that sound.
I was in trouble

Puzzled as I looked at my homemade letter.
The voice in my head...
How did he know it was me??!
So many Mary's then.

At the time, 
I think I was too upset at being caught,
To notice Dad was stifling a smile.


Monday, November 28, 2016

A Bitter Taste #Fracking updates from Vermont

It was a Trail of Bread crumbs,

The path from the
Steady, Stubborn, Staunch Supporter
of the
Gas Pipeline, originating in
Canada.
Courtesy of Gaz Metro dba
Vermont Gas (Gaz?)
Trans-Addison County, Vermont
Of course, I mean
Governor Peter Shumlin.
Has he gone too far?
Promising our property rights away,
Without due process.
Obstruction in the first degree,
Perpetuating,
Refusing to accept anything but
Fracked gas from Canada,
That Monkton,Vermont voted to outlaw,
Before our Selectboard signed an mou with Gaz.
Shumlin regulated Vermont Yankee Nuclear plant
Out of existence,
His neighbors rejoice.
The pipeline through Addison County
And extension cord down Lake Champlain,
 his fix for power,
Ugly big noisy windmills,
Ugly huge solar panels robbing views,
Monopoly ownership of power+gas.
All powerful public service board.
Not apparent to ratepayers:
Vermont Gas and Green Mountain Power are owned
By Gaz Metro.
So they gave him an award,
The Canadians.
Our group let me know,
Their support of each other is priceless.
As follows:

Ah yes, by giving away Addison County for Gaz Metro's profits, and giving the company control of 80% of energy generation, transmission, and distribution in the state, Shumlin has clearly served Quebec well. I just wish he had served Vermont as well.

On Mon, Nov 28, 2016 at 11:59 AM, MM
I wish I could be there to boo him off the podium.


Wednesday, November 30
Governor Shumlin will travel to Quebec City to receive the Ordre national du Québec Award, which is given to “exceptional individuals who, through their achievements, values and ideals, have influenced Québec’s growth and contributed to its renown.”




Cyborg Monday

Cyborg Monday

We are Cyborgs,
Buying Stuff with Money,
Legions spending Allegiance,
To the God of Gold.

May I resist
The meager offerings,
The false bargains,
The Glittering Gold sucking plastics,
Next year's rummage sale items,
Merry Christmas,
You're broke.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Rerun....2010 Travelogue for the Universe: Just Us

reminded of this moment in time...meg

Travelogue for the Universe: Just Us: This is not to be judgemental only to explain the pain of lawyering and why I believe the justice system is flawed. I thank my forefathers t...

Friday, November 25, 2016

Friday Night Musik

Richard Barone 

Releases long anticipated album.
Enjoy some music history...

Mom



😎 Mom

It is the holidays,
The special days,
Mom seemed more loyal to.
Thought of her,
Yesterday,
As the turkey roasted,
And I made potato bread.
Thought of
Dad, too, 
both are missed,
With me all day.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Gaz Updates...Give thanks for Irony

Spread the thanks to #Fracking Fighters

For Thanksgiving,
A story of sadness,
A young woman,
Now fighting for her life...
Thanks to Jason, for sharing...





On 11/23/2016 12:19 PM, Jason Kaye wrote:
Friends,

As we head into the end of this week - a holiday for some, a time of reflection for many - let us remember the present moment.

"In Minneapolis, 21-year-old activist Sophia Wilansky is in critical condition and has been undergoing a series of surgeries, after reportedly being hit by a concussion grenade during the police attack against water protectors fighting the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota Sunday night. Sunday’s attack at Standing Rock included police firing rubber bullets, mace canisters and water cannons in subfreezing temperatures. The Standing Rock Medic & Healer Council reports as many as 300 people were injured in the attack, with the injuries ranging from hypothermia to seizures, to loss of consciousness, to impaired vision as a result of being shot by a rubber bullet in the face. Water protectors say at least 26 people were evacuated from the area by ambulances and hospitalized. Sophia Wilansky was evacuated and airlifted to a Minneapolis hospital. After hours of surgery, she posted on Facebook early this morning that her arm has not been amputated, but she will not know for another week whether amputation might be required." - Democracy Now news coverage
Last June, Sophia was arrested in Williston for locking down to a Vermont Gas excavator. She took action alongside many of us that day, collectively disrupting construction at three sites along the route of the Vermont Gas pipeline.

As some of us head into this week reflecting on past violence and past struggles, remember that we have not moved "past" these struggles for justice. They are as real, as visceral, and as present as the air in your current breath.

As posted on Rising Tide's Facebook page, "Take these lessons to heart: Understand that ongoing colonization on this continent is inextricably connected to endless war, mass incarceration, and global poverty. Commit to staying in movement to dismantle these systems for the long haul, and keep fighting together."

Donate to the Oceti Sakowin camp in North Dakota:https://www.paypal.me/OcetiSakowinCamp
Mail supplies to medics on the ground in North Dakota:https://medichealercouncil.com/donate/
Donate to Sophia's medical fund: https://www.gofundme.com/30aezxs

Remember that the Vermont Gas pipeline is not yet built through Geprags Park in Hinesburg.

Most of all, hold all of this in your bodies - and take action.

With love,

Jason
-- 

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Travelogue for the Universe: 50 Years ago today+3 years

Travelogue for the Universe: 50 Years ago today: I was 5 years old. Mom and Dad must have been at work. My kindergarten was 3 houses down from our house. Somehow I ended up with Mrs. K...

Twittersphere Widget



 my twittersphere
Had a widget,
Don't ask,
It's a blogger-Twitter bridge via communit thing...

Monday, November 21, 2016

My Blog

⟴➵✭

ℳϒ Blog

Or what I did 
After I couldn't work.

Well, actually I started blogging  before I stopped working.
There is a definite benefit to keeping a log, or blog or diary,
Whatever you call it,
However you express yourself,
It can reside there, at your IP address,
It can travel around the world, like a reverse National Geographic
It can diffuse anger, hatred, loathing,
Likewise it can look at the lighter side,
Record photos, in chronological order
Post favorite videos, some mine,
Experiments in social media.
Emphasis on Social.
Media- the medium between this world,
And other worlds,
between
You and me.

Artwork flowed out once my therapist said,
Get some paper-Bigger the better
and start drawing.
Mom said,
I hope you're taking notes.
I did.
Now Mom has moved on,
To her next adventure, no doubt.

I am here,
The daylight waning,
We got a new pellet stove.
The first one bought in 2005.
Oil, wood very expensive.
Corn didn't work well-long story.
Our new stove installed by Fred and Son.
In 11 years,
pellet stoves have come a long way.

This is a random sampling of old photos.
To go with this ambling blog post.
Someday,
in the future,
like other posts I have done,
It may finally make sense.
Keep warm.
Meg
 healing art 1
Healing Art 2

 cars on route 66




Sunday, November 20, 2016

Travelogue for the Universe: We are one...rerun

Travelogue for the Universe: We are one: We are one Can there be a doubt? Can you figure out, How there could be A way besides We are one? And if there is No start or end ...

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Gaz #Fracking update

The pipeline fight update
This fight is Local...
Addison County Vermont


Vermont Digger put this article out...

My comments:
Voters of Monkton,Vermont said No to Fracking. To me it meant Globally! Selectboard, Governor Shumlin, Public Service Board let Canadian owned Vermont Gas start building BEFORE all the easements and right of way was fully established. Incremental, fragmented, poorly planned. Joke at State Government: easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. The pipeline is running perilously close to High Voltage power lines. Each pole/ power tower is Grounded. Nice work allowing Canadians monopolies-green mountain power+Vermont gas.

What a predicament! (Canadian owned) Vermont Gas has put All Current Vermont Gas customers on the hook for Millions. Overrun, poor planning, safety Carelessness, destruction of rare plants, disregard from swamp neighbors. These are just a few of the problems.

See article for rest of comments..

Watching



Watching For
  Geese
Near dead creek

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Pain

Pain

Pain, pain, blow away,
Get lost you badass,
Go astray.
Don't come back another day,
You're not welcome,
Pain,
Pain,
Go
Away!




Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Travelogue for the Universe: Common and not so common Heroes

Originally posted in 2011.
Still relevant today....
Re: Vermont Property taxes...still a heavy bill in November.meg

Travelogue for the Universe: Common and not so common Heroes: Heroes come in all sizes, shapes and colors Some Big some small Some pretty average guys just trying to do the right thing, not just f...

Monday, November 14, 2016

An (Un)Covered Bridge

A familiar bridge in our neighborhood
Is being rebuilt.
Today we visited for a look at the progress.
Speechless,
Will rely on images to tell the story.
Meg





Sunday, November 13, 2016

For Herrad

For Herrad

One of several drawings I did remembering an old friend,
Herrad Ford,
Who taught me to blog
And why blog,
And her clever title,
Access Denied.
When diagnosed with MS, I was working as a nurse.
I couldn't handle the thought of support groups,
One more trip to town,
Time I wanted to spend at home.
I stumbled through the endless blogs about MS,
knew I wanted another patient to follow,
And found Herrad's blog early
in the alphabetized lists of MS bloggers.

Love,
Mary

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Election Day

Election Day

Has arrived at last.
Our ballots already delivered.
Now to sit back and watch.
Meg


Monday, November 7, 2016

Desperation



Desperation
You know it when you see it.
Overwhelmed, Defeated, The Weight of the world on your shoulders.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Gaz Update

My comment:
Once again disappointed. Once again not surprised. Once again a powerless woman property owner looking for signs of the Constitution of the U.S here. This PSB, Shadow Court. How can they take conserved forever property for a Canadian Gas Giant? The Supreme Court is the headline here. PSB rejecting the appeal is not news. ,

Link to Vt Digger article:

Vermont Digger article link

Imagination


Friday, November 4, 2016

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Invitation to Montpelier, Vermont

Passing along for Our Stop the pipeline group...
Saturday, November 5th.
9:30-10:30 am
Corner of Main and School St. in Montpelier
*Please wear blue or something blue if you can (to symbolize the water which is being jeopardized by the Dakota Access Pipeline which Standing Rock is resisting). We will be collecting money donations for Standing Rock from anyone who wishes to contribute.*
 
So many of us are moved and inspired by the action camps in North Dakota fighting the Dakota Access pipeline as well as outraged at the repression against largely indigenous water protectors there. One way we can offer concrete support is by targeting the direct sponsors of the pipeline in our own towns and cities.

The Dakota Access pipeline is funded directly by 17 banks, including TD Bank. Around Vermont and cross the country, people are putting pressure on these banks to stop funding the pipeline and to take a stand against the militarized response to the Standing Rock Sioux.
 
The resistance to this pipeline is about water and the environment, and at its core it’s a fight against forces that are trying to eradicate indigenous people in North America all together. The pipeline was redirected to sacred land precisely because its original route would have impacted the health and safety of white people. Kelly Hayes writes succinctly, "The resistance at Standing Rock is part of an ongoing struggle against colonial violence...everyone should be talking about climate change, but you should also be talking about the fact that Native communities deserve to survive, because our lives are worth defending in their own right — not simply because “this affects us all.”"
 
The Action:
We will be gathering at 9:30 am Saturday on the sidewalk in front of TD bank in Montpelier (Main and School St., the drive through TD) We will then march over to the other TD bank outlet which is nearby on the corner of State and Main St. in Montpelier to demonstrate our outrage over the repression of indigenous people at Standing Rock and the TD bank's investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline. The plan is disrupt TD business as usual and to close as many TD bank accounts together as possible. Then we will head back to the corner of Main and School St. for a closing.
 
Between now and Sat. please try and reach out to at least ten people to invite them to this action and also to see if they have a TD account that they would be willing to close on Sat. The goals of this action are to pressure TD bank to remove its support of DAPL, get the word out to more people about what is happening in North Dakota, and to demonstrate our outrage over the hideous repression against largely native people while taking a collective stand against white supremacy which we know is driving this colonial project.

There have been several Standing Rock solidarity actions in VT in the last few weeks and months and there are more on there on their way. Let's continue to show up together for this powerful cause. 

From Madeline and central VT SURJ leadership crew

Black Cat & an Unwritten Story