mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Entitlement vs Gratitude #1000Voices
November 20, 2015
— 7 Comments
1000 Voices
I read the many helpful prompts for this month’s 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion posts with interest. The theme that coincides with Thanksgiving and the aftermath of the violence in Paris is gratitude. Gratitude is always part of compassion, but this month we will attempt to show what part gratitude plays in the openness of our hearts. I was stuck on the question, “What is the opposite of gratitude?”, a prompt that made me think more deeply on the subject. In order to know the shadow of some quality one needs to know the true nature of that quality. What exactly is gratitude? What are the elements of a sincere grateful spirit? We can’t dissect or analyze this literally, but must define what it is by what it is not. After sleeping and dreaming about it I have a few ideas about the real enemies of thankfulness. I have a little list.
- Entitled social classes
- Entitled nations
- Entitled religions
- Entitled families
- Entitled children
What I realize about this problem is that it is purely a matter of perspective. While some people are grateful to survive others are sore winners. Sometimes being the individual or group with privilege or advantage obscures reality for those people. Who can forget (once you know the story of the historical Buddha) the well meaning parents of Siddhartha Gautama who hid all suffering from him by royal decree. Nobody in his kingdom who was old or in poor health was permitted to be seen by the young prince. The fact that people suffer, grow old and die was a reality from which his parents thought they could protect him. Eventually, of course, he accidentally caught a glimpse of this truth. He left his palace, family, and weirdly artificial environment to find out what else he had been missing. One of my favorite sayings attributed to the historical Buddha is:
I believe that separation through a feeling of entitlement is cruel and isolating. All beings suffer and all beings deserve peace and happiness. The illusion that some of us are better than others prohibits the appreciation of the gift of life. Entitlement in all of its various disguises is a limitation to thankfulness and therefore to enlightenment. I wish all my gentle readers the experience of deep gratitude and compassion now and into the future. Please read more about this subject or add your voice here.
War
November 19, 2015
— 1 Comment
“That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.”
Haile Selassie address to United Nations Oct 6, 1963
Many music fans may think that Bob Marley wrote the lyrics to the popular song War. The song was created to immortalize a speech given at the UN in 1963. We are farther from the dream of lasting peace around the world than we were in 1963 because technology has served good and evil with equal measure. Now war moves faster and can potentially do much more damage quickly. I always loved this song and the idea that a tiny man from Africa delivered this truth, eloquence, and enlightenment to the United Nations. It was prophetic.
It has always made me feel uplifted because as I sing along I get louder and more committed as we arrive at the part about the victory of good over evil…right over wrong, yeah. I am one of those who fiercely believes in that victory in the long run. At this time I am having problems envisioning how the good is going to mange this conquest. Most people in history were dragged into war, forced to fight, because it is insane to take these violent risks. The ease with which the youth now is being convinced to start and end a private suicide war shows how far out of control this war/peace balance is. We must find ways to support compassion and fairness on earth because our futures depend on it. Jah, Ras Tafari, gentle reader. Keep the faith, baby.
Anonymous enrols the Ku Klux Klan on Grindr
November 18, 2015
— 2 Comments
Cyber pranking for good
Having already shared the details of hundreds of alleged white supremacists, the hackers’ collective have now gone one step further to ensure that lonely racists can find the right love match. Members of the KKK have now found themselves inundated with date requests from Tinder, Grindr and the newly created ‘Blinkered’ – the app ‘for the narrow-minded’.
Only white hearts need apply
An ‘Anonymous’ spokesman said: ‘If we are outing racists, we might as use this as an opportunity to incorporate geosocial networking. With a simple slide-screen menu you can instantly see if you are near the racist of your dreams – be it a drunken Mel Gibson, an intoxicated Charlie Sheen or an utterly sober Katie Hopkins’.
‘Anonymous’ have also used KKK email addresses to swell the membership ranks of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. A magnanimous NAACP spokeswoman said: ‘We welcome diversity, even if…
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#Anonymous vs #ISIS: the ongoing skirmishes of #OpISIS
November 17, 2015
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Cyber war on twitter and beyond
Anonymous OpISIS via @lexinerus on Twitter
In the realm of social media wars, some are more fraught than others. There are the inevitable, tiresome third-glass-of-Malbec Friday night spats, and then there are the ones where lives, and possibly immortal souls, are at stake.
Anonymous is expert in both.
For months now, Anonymous has been doing what it does best. Not hacking. Not DDoSing to take websites offline. Nope. What they do best is hunt people, find those people, and taking them out, whatever it takes. And now they are after ISIS.
ISIS has done much of their recruiting work through social media channels: Facebook and Twitter, as well as more esoteric platforms. They use social media, particularly Twitter, as a propaganda tool and on this front they are considerably in advance of NATO and other Western forces, who tend to view such use as more of a risk than an advantage…
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K-9 Cuties of the Tucson Police Department
November 9, 2015
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not real dogs
At the Cops and Rodders Car Show citizens have the chance to meet the police force. At the top of the popularity list are the canine cops. They attract everyone’s attention, from small children to senior citizens. I met Officer Evo last year and discovered that K-9 cops can have very sweet and social personalities. I am sure he would prefer to be riding in his car on the way to a case because he loves to do his regular job. But when his work includes posing for the camera or generally charming the crowd he fulfills his duty with personality and style.
strike a pose with Evo
strike a pose with Evo
strike a pose with Evo
center of attention
Officer Evo himself
charming the crowd
Officer Evo himself
Officer Evo Charms the Crowd
A new dog was making her first appearance at the car show this year. Officer Cookie is a Labrador Retriever who is a specialist working for the bomb squad. She is in training to learn many thousands of different explosive components by scent. She is only two years old, so she exhibits puppy enthusiasm al the time. She had some trouble containing herself during the national anthem to everyone’s delight. Since bomb dogs work in crowds her friendly attitude is essential to her job performance. She has less general and more specific training as a cop. She will not learn to do many of the things Evo does because she is all about explosives.
Officer Cookie makes friends
Officer Cookie makes friends
While Officer Evo handled his adoring fans I had a chance to talk to Officer Rumsley, his trainer and partner, about the work they do. Evo is a Belgian Malinois, also sometimes called a Belgian Shepard. He was born in Czech Republic where the breed is raised for sport. He was trained by Officer Rumsley and goes home at night to live at the Rumsley home. He does not play with other dogs out in the world but he has a canine friend at home. When they go searching together they look for drugs or people, one at a time. When Evo gets as close as he can get to the source of the scent he scratches in the case of drugs or barks when he finds people. He does communicate clearly, but Officer Rumsley always initiates everything they do. Evo does not, like Lassie, ever say to Officer Rumsley “Timmy has fallen in the well. Come quickly!” They work as a team with Officer Rumsley making all the decisions. This seems like the best format because underneath his extensive discipline and training he is still a dog. It is always a treat to get to see him.
Officer Rumsley
Stay Calm, Restore Balance
October 26, 2015
— 2 Comments
look up
Life can throw challenging circumstances and people into the mix at any time. Our own composure and resilience is our biggest investment because the quality of our time is tied to it. The sayings on tee shirts about keeping calm then doing something are not only comical but are also practical. We can hardly accomplish our best work if we are flipping out about something. Remaining calm in the face of tense situations is an accomplishment. We need personal tool boxes ready to employ when stress becomes hard to handle. Although many practices work, the tools must be tailored to the individual. What lifts my mood might not be fun for you, so this takes some discernment. Packing the right tools for the job requires concentration as well as honesty. You need to know not only what will work for you but also what you will actually practice.
Meditation takes many forms, not all of which require sitting still. Walking meditation and mindfulness training are both active ways to keep moving while training the mind to focus and stay clear. Mantras, chanting and other sounds are excellent tools to anchor the mind. Formal training is wonderful, but we don’t need to wait to start a practice. Artistic expression provides simple straightforward access to the unconscious. Making art requires a special sensibility, a focus on creativity that is strong. Tapping into the inner artist is a way to train the mind and liberate the soul.
look up
Here are a few ways I find inner peace and concentration through art:
- Visits to museums and gardens
- Photography
- Digital drawing and art
- Freestyle freehand doodling on paper
- Dancing at home by myself
- Singing while dancing at home by myself
- Poetry writing
- Cooking
- Gardening
look up
I have no professional aspirations as an artist, yet I consider myself artistic. I am not meditative 100% of the time I engage in the above activities, but frequently they lead to a calmer happier state of mind. I believe each of us has essential creative gifts to offer which we have the option to develop. Finding time to immerse ourselves in our own creative juices can be a path to peace and happiness.
look up
The Druids Prepare As The Dead Approach For All Hallows / Halloween
October 24, 2015
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spirits of the dead
(image) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Alla_helgons_dag_vid_R%C3%B6ke_kyrka-1.jpg
The Celts have learned every celebration has its risks.
The Druids taught them this, and the Druids are correct. Samhain is a festival of the harvest; the end of summer; the preparation for the winter to come. Samhain is a juncture.
As they all know, junctures lead to sundry places. There is both the leaving and the coming. A time of disquiet. A time of danger for those unprepared.
It holds the magic and the power of midnight. Midnight is a powerful time because it is the juncture of two days. Midnight of Samhain thus holds double the power. It can not be avoided. It must be met with all the power mortal man can muster. It must not be met alone.
On the Eve of Samhain, the border between Life and the OtherWorld is breached. A door swings invitingly open, but it is not inviting those who live. It is inviting those who have died…
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Benjamin Daniel Mead , 7th Great-Grandfather
October 23, 2015
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My 7th great-grandfather was born on May 7, 1667 in Greenwich, Fairfield County,Connecticut and died Feb. 22, 1746 in Greenwich. He is buried in the Old Burying Ground there.
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- Old Burying Ground, Greenwich
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- headstone
Benjamin Mead was an officer in the local militia and served a term as Surveyor for Fairfield County. Reports of his action in the French and Indian War are misleading, as he died before the Seven Years’ War war started. That said, that global war was only part of an ongoing conflict in Europe from 1689-1763 that had combat ramifications in North America on at least 4 occasions when wars were officially declared. In addition to having names these wars also had numbers under the rubrique of “Intercolonial Wars,” much as we have numbered “World Wars”– since the individual wars had different names in Britain than on the Continent, the numbering system helped keep things (somewhat) straight. Finally, the Intercolonial Wars, as they were called in Europe, were called the French And Indian Wars in North America.
Benjamin Mead was old enough to have fought in any of the first three of these, King William’s War or War of the League of Augsburg (1st Intercolonial) and Queen Anne’s War or War of the Spanish Succession (2nd Intercontinental) being the most likely. So in this sense, any action he saw during those wars makes him a veteran of the French and Indian Wars.
Spouses:
Sarah Waterbury Mead (1677 – 1745)*
Rachel Brown Mead (1680 – ____)*
Children:
Benjamin Mead (1701 – 1783)*
Eliphelet Mead (1704 – 1796)*
Elizabeth Mead Peck (1705 – 1783)*
Keziah Mead Howe (1707 – 1808)*
Obadiah Mead (1719 – 1759)*
Nehemiah Mead (1721 – 1791)*
Hannah Mead Mead (1726 – 1815)*
Siblings:
Ebenezer Mead (1663 – 1728)*
Hannah Mead Scofield (1664 – 1728)*
Jonathan Mead (1665 – 1712)*
Benjamin Daniel Mead (1667 – 1746)
Benjamin Daniel Mead (1667 – 1746)
is my 7th great grandfather
Mary Mead (1724 – 1787)
daughter of Benjamin Daniel Mead
Abner Mead (1749 – 1810)
son of Mary Mead
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Abner Mead
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
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
We know what has happened to his house in Greenwich:
Benjamin Mead, the son of John Mead, one of the 15 proprietors, inherited from his father 15 acres of property in Cos Cob in 1696. The will describes the inheritance as “five acres of land at Stickling brock (Strickland Brook) as it is lyd out to mee, and all my lands & meadow lying & and being at that place commonly cauled Coscob, as it is Layd out to mee & ten acres of upland above ye road aded now to ye five”.
In 1697, Benjamin built a house on the land, a two room saltbox with center chimney. A rear lean-to, including a kitchen ell was added in 1732 according to an architectural field study by the Greenwich Historical Society.
Obadiah Mead bought the Bible Street land and house from his father Benjamin Mead in 1746 (1756) for 200 pounds New York money. In that same year Obadiah married Lois Todd daughter of the Reverend Abraham Todd minister of the Second Congregational Society in Greenwich. The couple had 2 daughters, Mary Mead b.Aug 10 1757, d.2/14/1815 and Phoebe. Obadiah died in 1759 while the girls were young.
When the girls came of age the land was divided between them with a Dower lot for their mother. Mary eventually married Michael Cox Timpany b. abt 1755, d. 10/25/1811. Mary eventually inherited her sister and mothers shares to the land.
John Timpany, son of Mary and Michael, bought the house from his mother in 1813. In 1841 he sold the house to 3 of his daughters; Elvira, Hannah and Adelice (Delia) with the provision that they care for him the rest of his life. John died 11/15/1855.
Elvira Moshier never married and held the house until she died in 1880 willing her land to Sarah Ann Moshier Olmstead, wife of Henry Olmstead and the daughter of her sister Lois and James Moshier who were farmers on Cognewaug Road.
Sarahann held on to the house until she died and it was the purchased by her younger brothers Samuel Augustus Moshier, who ran a grocery on Greenwich Avenue, and Franklin Pierce Moshier who ran a livery / stable / early car dealership on Lewis Street.
Sam and Frank held onto the house until the early 1930’s, renting it out to family member (such as John Timpany Moshier who was waked in the Parlor November 1927).
I believe the house left the family due to losses incurred by Franklin and Augustus Moshier with the stock crash of 1929.
Since then the hous has turned over many, many times.
Very recently, a new owner, claiming the house was leaning, renovated the house. It now looks like a “new” old house….
Iora Health, the Zappos of Primary Care
October 22, 2015
— 6 Comments
I am in luck that a new model for Medicare patients has come to my neighborhood. Today Iora Primary Care opened a new practice very close to my home. My health insurance agent told me about this new practice that operates in a revolutionary way. I was invited to the ribbon cutting this morning that was well attended and very festive. Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle and some of the senior staff of the company flew out to Tucson from Boston, the site of the home office. The day had started with a heavy downpour and thunderstorm, but the weather cleared in time for an excellent party, some brief speeches, an official proclamation by the mayor of Tucson, and a ceremonial ribbon cutting to launch the business. A fine time was had by all. I sat down with Dr. Fernandopulle later this afternoon to learn more about our new local health care option. He has some great ideas.
His model was born partly from frustration in his American practice of primary care and partly from experience working around the world. By observing what works well with low or no tech he has crafted a system that takes advantage of good relationships first. The team approach makes the best use of both the patient and the doctor’s time. The office has a casual feel to it, and all the employees I met are enthusiastic about their jobs. I think Rushika is right that the synergy of culture is what distinguishes this medical practice from all others. I am very pleased to be given this choice for my Medicare coverage.
Rushika
Julie
healthy spread
