Country:United States State:California Gender:Female
Interests:horses, cats,lapidary,SCA-putting on armor and hitting men with sticks; history, art, Star Trek, Star Wars,Science Fiction, RPGs....so many, so little time...stage makeup, writing.... Expertise:Still learning jewelry stuff,costuming; 85% save vrs. magic...horsetraining,airbrush art, Occupation:Artist Industry:Art
I finally figured out how to write in this new-fangled Xanga. Or maybe I forgot. Truth to tell, menopause does that to a person.But what the hell.Most of my writing is done in fiction, at Panhistoria http://www.panhistoria.com . It's a free writing site, and you can check it out as a guest.Pan also is- for the next 2 weeks- giving 50% of all subscriptions, upgrades, and site currency sales to my favorite charity,
The International Blessed Broodmare Project http://www.theinternationalblessedbroodmareproject.com/ . The IBBP is dedicated to saving horses, mostly destined for the slaughterhouses, and started as a way to save the foals who were the end product of mares who were being kept for the PMU industry. Draft mares were used mostly, since they put out more urine. Their urine was collected daily, hooked up to machines to get every drop, so that women could have Premarin- a hormone therapy- for menopause. Even with a reliable synthetic remedy, some women just couldn't be bothered to know just what their selfish wants were causing. Imagine a place where there are huge barns- not unlike dairy barns- but with mares hooked up to the machines. Off in a corner of this place are their foals...dozens...some just barely weaned, all destined to become high-priced steaks on some plate in Europe, Mexico or Japan. Never getting to live their short, little lives. Never getting any kindness or attention, except to be shoved into a trailer, hauled to a slaughterhouse,where they can smell the blood and fear everywhere...not knowing anything but being scared, confused...and finally, having their small, defenseless heads bashed in so they can die.Sometimes it takes several tries. There are still PMU farms in Canada, although many of them have shut down, due to the synthetic hormone's success.But that doesn't stop the horses from being slaughtered, for now, the mares, themselves, are being shipped as well.Whole herds are going to the kill buyers, whether they are in foal or not. Foals destined to not even get a shot at living even a brief timespan. We try to prevent that from happening, by raising money to save these horses, enabling rescues to buy what horses they can- to save as many as possible-so that the horses can go to good, loving homes.
In this day of economical upheaval, people are just walking away from their equine friends, to send them to auction where the kill buyers are just waiting. You say,"That can't happen, it's illegal! " Well, my friends, it's sad, but true.Even though illegal, there are many who refute the law, buy whatever horses they can, then motor down to Mexico, to sell. Once there, the horses are stabbed a multitude of times in the spine- a slow and torturous death- then cheered on as it finally dies in pain and fear. Anyone who supports this are SICK BASTARDS, in my opinion. The same name goes for the ranchers who keep breeding their mares, then telling rescues that they can't support the horses, need the money asap ( usually before winter) or they are sending them to the auctions.It's become quite the cottage industry up in Canada.
I am not opposed to eating a horse *shudder* if I was starving, and I would ask it's forgiveness, and thank the horses' spirit for sustaining my life.So the Native American way I was taught, is. It's meat is not sold for a profit, and it's loyalty should not be repaid with such callousness or indignity.Anyhow...I'm going to stop. I'm getting too worked up, and it's not good for the chest cold. And, if you've a mind to, check PanHistoria out. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Today, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry died. The lady was Class...I'd met her at a Star Trek con many years ago, where she was premiering the Star Trek: Next Generation series. Being old school, she made her dislike for Klingons known, but it was fun to see she was putting it on for the Classic Trek fans. It was also evident, she was excited and happy to be putting another Trek franchise on TV, and keeping the Trek Universe in the public eye. I always loved her as Nurse Chapel- being a fan of the Grand Trine- Kirk,Spock and McCoy- she came in a close fourth.Even before that other Grand Trine, Sulu, Uhura, and Scotty ( not necessarily in that order! ). Chekov was in a column of his own, along with Yeoman Rand. But I digress. Need I say, I sat my small self down on Sept 7, 1966, and watched the brand new science Fiction/adventure show called "Star Trek", and proclaimed to my Mom that it would run for 5 years- the opening credits said so. A 5 Year Mission was something I wanted to see.That it only lasted 3 ( read: 79 episodes) was totally disheartening to a budding science fiction/fantasy fan such as myself. I watched it religiously, hoping Nurse Chapel would finally get Mr. Spock as a boyfriend.Of course, it was Kirk who got most of the girls, but that was ok. He was a Starship Captain god. And gods chose whoever they wanted,*laugh* but certainly NOT a seven year-old kid who loved horses.It was fun to find out, years later, that William Shatner loved horses,too. But by then, I was all grown up, and he was still married.*grin* Which is ok, because Kirk had, sadly, died...BUT in the books, he still lived, albeit resurrected by alien technology. But,again, I digress. Easy to do, when I talk Trek. I love it.I was even honored to be in a Trek novel written by my friend, Michael A. Martin ( and his writing partner, Andy Mangels) called," StarTrek: Next Generation : Section 31- Rogue ". Which was cool. I finally made Starfleet!! Unfortunately, I also died gloriously. I asked him if there was anyway I could've survived this disasterous occurance, but haven't gotten an answer yet.And probably won't.*laugh* I must content myself with the fact that I lived and died a Lieutenant, on the bridge, doing my duty as honor demanded.*sigh* I coulda made Captain someday. But Noooooooooo, I had to die because some idiot Romulans didn't want their business known to Starfleet.So sad...*Grin* Dang! I've digressed enough. So much to say, too little space-- and time.So... Lift a glass and drink a toast to Majel Barret, aka Mrs. Gene Roddenberry, fellow Trekkers...grieve and rejoice in a life that brought much happiness to billions. Majel, wherever you are...Live Long and Prosper.
My friend decided- for the better- to move back home here where her friends and family live. In the beginning of all this, she'd given the horse ranch in Bakersfield a good run, but now that she's a trifle disabled, it made it hard to get out and do the things she needed to, like take care of the horses. So she decided to lighten her load, and give all but 3 horses away.That done, she thought all would be well. Unfortunately, SSI and Worker's Comp people haven't come through with her money, kicking and screaming like they do because they don't want to give back what she put in.Feeding two horses ( I sent her money for my horse's feed) and the barn cats and dogs was getting to be more expense than she could handle.But I digress... She decided to put her home on the market. This meant getting rid of all the horses.Long story short, a nice man and his daughter/trainer came to buy her portable horse stalls and ended up taking Dede's 2 horses as well.She called me up, told me he was interested in my horse,too, and that she had a really good feeling about these people.Since I'd bet money on Dede's "feelings" any day , and since I hadn't a good place to bring him home to, I told her to inform the man he could have my horse,too, as long as I got first dibs on him,should he decide to sell.The man has invited me to come and see the place my horse is now living in, and I guess, now he's not mine anymore...I sniffed a bit, and had a few tears, but really, with the economy the way it is, he's much better living where he's going to get training and loving, and kindness- exactly what he needs. Much better than going to auction.I'll go visit him one day soon.I just hope I can walk away without tears.Pax~Z
The Second Amendment: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." http://www.constitution.org/mil/rkba1982.htm
One must take the good with the bad in everything. Taking away (or changing) our Second Amendment Rights will be taking away our right to defend ourselves. If they take away good peoples' guns, only bad people will have them. That's what criminals do- they break the law, and they will have the guns, leaving all citizens at their mercy. And "arms" doesn't mean just guns, either- it includes blades of all kinds. When will people wake up and realize, it's NOT the gun that kills, it's the bad person behind the gun. Banning guns is a knee-jerk reaction for a lot of people who's lives have been radically changed -either a friend, or a loved one was hurt or killed by a gun.They go to the other extreme; they want all the guns gone, regardless that the man behind it was an idiot. And no, contrary to what the pro-ban people say, guns don't make it easier to kill. People will find a way to kill anyway they can, if they're bent on doing so. Look to history: When there weren't any guns, people used swords, knives, poison,etc., and the ratio was just as high. There's just more people and better news coverage in the world today ( despite the advent of the gun), than then. And let's face it- no amount of legislation is going to fix all mental problems, though they're trying to legislate that, as well.
It's just like saying: "We have too many fat people ( and who's to say who's fat? )- they're dying off from too much eating, heart attacks due to cholesterol intake and stuff like that. I know!!! Let's regulate *all food*; let's BAN the sugary treats and goodies, and since peanuts and coconut products can also can cause those nasty allergic reactions too - oh! let's ban those products too! They're too dangerous! They KILL people! And while we're at it, let's ban WORK! Stress from overworking and worry is causing too many deaths! Not to mention, if they're not working, they eat less- at least, that's the theory- and won't have the money to buy guns!" See how silly that sounds? Meanwhile, should this happen, over half the country falls into poverty from all the jobs lost due to the bans placed on the things they work on/with/for, there's widespread death from starvation and then disease and violence, and only those in power will have the luxury items. You say it can't happen here- but, theoretically, it's possible.
And to top it off- you think all those gun-banning yahoos don't own a gun? Think again.They either have one, or their bodyguards/law enforcement employees have one.After all, they need to keep safe. Right?
** I'm not asking you to vote for one side or the other. Just asking to consider ALL of the ramifications should our Second Amendment Rights be violated or- Deity forbid- taken away. Yes, I am pro-second amendment rights.No, I do not have a gun in the house at this time, though I have a goodly collection of blades, being a history buff. But I would still like to have the right to have a gun in my house, should I choose to, being a responsible, knowledgeable citizen. And if you understand any of the things that could happen in a world without the right to defend yourself, you should too. Anybody remember Europe during World War II? Does "Hitler" ring a bell?
