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Weekend Coffee Share #CommunityMatters
September 18, 2016
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painting
fall flora in Tucson
fall flora in Tucson
Although I see some of you around the inter webs I have not taken the time to sit down and share coffee and life events with the group for a long time. I follow with interest your writing projects and day to day issues because although we are scattered around the globe, we have much in common. If you read and write as a primary source of pleasure and value, this coffee share is for you. The diversity of nationality and interests makes this the perfect place to just chat about this and that.
Fall is finally arriving at a snail’s pace in Baja Arizona. I have been writing about a serious crime problem we have had with the city government in Tucson for years. I think after almost a decade we will finally get a little rule of law in the neighborhood where I live. It has been a ridiculous struggle to communicate with all departments of this highly convoluted system. You never know how crazy it all is until you try to make it perform for the benefit of the community. I started writing blog posts about our predicament in 2013, never thinking I was creating an e book about government dysfunction. I thought that as soon as I presented the facts the problem would be solved by our paid public servants. This turned out to be a serious joke. Not only did all the departments refuse to perform in their respective jurisdictions, they refused to respond when citizens petitioned and pleaded for law enforcement services. I was dragged into the vortex of government dysfunction, to my horror. There was no bottom to this high speed waste of public funds and energy.
I wrote a post every few months and sent them all to the officials I hoped to make aware of our dire straights. This practice continues until today because every department has refused to address the crime problems we have reported to them. Without an hero I could never end the book or get any help to end obvious crime in my neighborhood. I searched high and wide for a hero for ages, finally finding one at the police department. This is very fitting since we have been plagued with crime and willful blindness to it courtesy of the inaction and or refusal to respond by the police department. We actually had a fake neighborhood watch to promote crime and willful blindness, funded by taxpayers. The damage done was, and continues to be, significant to property value as well as quality of life. It tuns out that once you set a precedent of non compliance and willful blindness it is very hard to change the direction. It continues to drag the community down until it is reformed.
There were two working titles before I settled on the current, and very apt one. The first few years the book was named after the neighborhood watch cop who supported charity scamming in the fire lane of our condo village. I called the work in progress “Dirty Becky”. Then Tucson elected a mayor who is a lawyer. Neighbors got all excited and petitioned this lawyer mayor to stop the 24 hour donation drop off inviting the general public to drive through our condo village to “donate” or volunteer to handle food for a charity scam. He never responded to us, even after we petitioned two years in a row. He told some cops to just stonewall us, and all the crime continued full speed ahead. Naturally with all this official help the scam stayed in business and completely trashed our hood as well as our respect for law enforcement. The working title changed to “The Emperor’s New Neighborhood Watch” to indicate that the lawyer mayor still had no idea the neighborhood watch was working hard to promote crime in the hood.
I have, after all these years, and all this inability to find a government agency that functions for our benefit, created a third and final title for my e book. It is “Clulusion, The Sinister Fusion of Cluelessness and Colusion in Government.” I do think the title perfectly evokes the spirit of the book I never wanted to write. Now all I need is a denouement. The hero will need to move mountains because changing the government is a gigantic task. When I am able to put this one in the can I think I can write an e book on purpose. Have you ever written an e book, gentle reader?
If you care to join the weekend coffee share party, share your link here.
AlchemyAstrology: September 17-18, 2016, Saturday-Sunday, Passive
September 17, 2016
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For this weekend, reflect and carefully select the new habits and practices you wish to make permanent in your life.
Moon in Pisces, laboratory process of Projection – emotionally instinctive
If you find an affinity for any of these statements it’s good to know what’s ‘in the air’.
A good time to: scrutinize and reinforce your gut feelings about things you want to stick with.
Challenges: Feeling that your amount of determination is a bit troublesome.
Balance: Just be attentive to what you know is right and remember to breath.
Sidereal astrology, from an individual viewpoint.
Keywords:
Sun in Virgo – persistent, analyzing = conscientious
Moon in Pisces – changes, relaxative = emotionally instinctive
Mercury in Leo – mental, organizing = positive
Venus in Virgo – pleasant, analyzing = fastidious
Mars in Scorpio – impulsive, solidifying = explosive
Jupiter in Virgo – fortunate, analyzing = dutiful
Saturn in Scorpio – disruptive, solidifying = purposeful
#alchemyastrology
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The author’s ads:
Laboratory Alchemists – plan ahead, purchase…
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Edward Yelverton, Eleventh Great-Grandfather
September 15, 2016
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Yelverton Family Tree
My 11th great-grandfather lived in England when religion was a dangerous thing. He and his wife were on a list of “popish Recusants” kept by Queen Elizabeth. He was imprisoned for getting caught with Jesuits in his home. He was a graduate of Peterhouse College. His grave lies beneath the pavement of Sandringham Church. Location: Grimstonmanor, Norfolk,England
Edward Yelverton (1559 – 1623)
11th great-grandfather
Elishua Miller Yelverton (1592 – 1688)
daughter of Edward Yelverton
Yelverton Crowell (1621 – 1683)
son of Elishua Miller Yelverton
Elishua Crowell (1643 – 1708)
daughter of Yelverton Crowell
Yelverton Gifford (1676 – 1772)
son of Elishua Crowell
Ann Gifford (1715 – 1795)
daughter of Yelverton Gifford
Frances Congdon (1738 – 1755)
daughter of Ann Gifford
Samuel Thomas Sweet (1765 – 1844)
son of Frances Congdon
Valentine Sweet (1791 – 1858)
son of Samuel Thomas Sweet
Sarah LaVina Sweet (1840 – 1923)
daughter of Valentine Sweet
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Sarah LaVina Sweet
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Nazareth was known as the “virtuous and loving wife’ of Edward Yelverton. But she was also known as “an obstinate Recusant” and was listed as a “popish Recusant” which is a yearly list since the beginning of Elizabeth’s reign, and is a list of Catholics who refused to attend the worship of the Established Church, and denied the spiritual supremacy of the cross and were subjected to cruel penalties and fees.
Edward Yelverton, her spouse, was also named on the list of “Popish Recusants in Norforld and Suffolk. He was the son of William Yelverton of Rougham. Edward was born in Rougham and moved to Grim stone Manor, then to Appleton. He also had a small house in Wolferton. His grave lies beneath the pavement of Sandringham Church.
Edward inherited Estates at Grimstone. He received Jesuits there and was imprisoned in 1598.
Edward went to Peterhouse College and received a B.A. 1579-80
His grave lies beneath the pavement of Sandringham Church.
10 Life changing quotes
September 11, 2016
Leadership
Michael Jordan: Best player in the history of Basketball. He is owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a professional Basketball team. He said that
“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
. Muhammad Ali: A humanitarian, a professional boxer and an American Olympic. In his 39 year long period of boxing he won 56 games, lost 5 and he also has 37 knockouts. He said that
“I hated every minute of training, but said, ‘don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of life as a champion.”
Steve Jobs: One of the most Inspiring in 21st century. CEO of the Apple, and was the 2nd richest person in the world. He faced many…
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Stairway To Ethical Heaven
August 31, 2016
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Fraud Triangle
There is an ethical ladder that ascends to the highest moral code. As children we should be taught how to climb that ladder by example. Unfortunately many children are witnesses to adult misbehavior that leads them to cling to a low rung on the ladder. As we go through life we respond to situations according to our ethical code. There is a sliding scale for moral fortitude, depending on the difficulty of the stand, or the popular opposition to the truth. It is obviously easier to go along with the crowd no matter what they do. People who stay down at that level just want to not make waves. They do not consider how they contribute to the morality of the entire world.
At the bottom of the ethical stairway is only one consideration:
- Will I get caught? This is where people in grade school reside.
If we mature we start to realize there could be more:
- How does my behavior effect others? This usually comes as a hard lesson.
As educated adults participating in a community we may start to notice:
- What would the world be like if everyone acted like this?
On which rung do you live most of your life, gentle reader? I encourage you to take the highest ground possible, not just for yourself, but for the entire world.
Compromise Triangle
Sun in Virgo, Time to Organize
August 22, 2016
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Virgo constellation
The sun has just moved into Virgo for the transitional month between summer and fall. In just a month’s time it will be equinox. This month is perfect for cleaning and clearing space, time, and clutter of any kind. Virgo month is also the ideal time to upgrade daily health and fitness regimes. I have returned to a study that requires intense reading, meditation, and writing. I had fallen out of the discipline needed to finish the course, but now I am enjoying the material and looking forward to doing my homework. Virgo is all about discipline, order, and maybe a little bit of fussiness over details. This is the right time to take up journaling and daily meditation in order to ground body and mind. This is the month to put everything neatly in order, and keep it that way.
I believe that habits require 40 days to become a part of life. After the equinox I need to be vigilant and orderly with my newly established practices in order to secure them. Before the equinox I plan to do a major purge and tidy program in my home and garden. By cleaning and clearing space I will also clear some time for myself. Less stuff requires less maintenance. I am convinced that I will be happier owning far fewer books, pieces of clothing, papers, and personal mementos. I am going to listen to the joy of tidy book again because I still have a month of audible for free, and I think I need to hear it all one more time. I know the author is right about junk representing unresolved issues form the past. Physical space has a direct impact on physical as well as mental health. Clearing closets has the effect of clearing cobwebs from the mind.
To honor the virgin of the harvest in my own way I will use her energy to:
- clear and organize my home
- clear and organize my barn full of stuff
- keep a daily journal
- do daily homework
- keep regular gym and fitness schedule
- record data on the fitbit dashboard
This will be an excellent jump start to the fall season. Establishing healthy habits and clean clear space is a gift that will go on giving through the end of the year.
The Fine Line Between Culture and Cult
August 10, 2016
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Originals by Adam Grant
I am listening to the book Originals by Adam Grant. This audio book is the second of my free treats in the 3 month Audible subscription I have initiated. I am employing Alexa in the Echo to read the book to me at home. When I go to the gym I switch to the iPod or iPad for a workout. The system knows how to bookmark my last page and start in that spot without a hitch. This is fun for now, but I don’t see myself keeping the membership for the extra $15 a month. You still have to purchase the audio books beyond that basic dues payment. I like it as a temporary novelty, but I still have some of my favorite books on audio CD, which is the only way I can listen in my car.
I love the theory as well as the writing in this book. The way originality develops and makes change possible in the world is a subject this author has studied from many perspectives. His many concrete examples of entrepreneurs who both fail and succeed to execute meaningful change help the reader understand how power and status quo operate. The common beliefs that great risk and speed are the keys to cultural change are disproven with real stories. Procrastination may well be the innovator’s best friend. By waiting for the first line to fail in various ways, the second line is an a much better position to correct mistakes while proving the need for the same innovations. “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives, and in his own household.” Mark 6:4
Birth order and other lifestyle factors are studied as possible catalysts for becoming a meaningful leader. Groupthink is the enemy of originality. When non-conformists are able to use influence to create a change in culture, in business or in politics, it is because the original has learned to open a cultural mentality, destroying the myth of the cult. Even in our fast-changing world with innovation running copiously toward individualization status quo is still the strongest force.
Establishing Borders
August 9, 2016
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“I encourage people to remember that “No” is a complete sentence.” ~ Gavin de Becker 1. Identify current boundary crossers The first step in setting healthy boundaries is identifying who it is that is the boundary crosser. How does this person make you feel? Most likely, telling this person how you feel will get you no […]
Why Frugality Is So Liberating?
August 1, 2016
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Freedom from financial insecurity is at your fingertips.
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