I have changed jobs and moved in the past month. But now that I am settled in, I can get back to the BZ. I had abandoned it a bit to tend to my photo blog, which has since fallen by the wayside as well. See it here. But now, I am paying for a solid internet connection, something I haven’t done in roughly 4 years. That means that I have NO excuse but to keep up with mah Blahgs.

I am now working for a newspaper, doing many different things. But, most of all, I take cell phone pics of funny things I see in the paper. Like this picture of a funny cartoon of a cat with a tail hole in his pants.

And this one of some people I went to high school with who are now in a weird local band.

Continue to see updates on the animals

oh, and this

Ok, so first off, holy fuck! Secondly, this is really not very subtle. I’m not sure when polar bears became the sole animal mascot for global warming (I get it, ice caps melting and all, they’re relatively close to panda bears, but still…) Thirdly, the connection between the carbon footprint of your flight equating to the weight of a polar bear is a little tenuous for me and the message isn’t insightful, just shocking and heavy-handed. But, back to my original thought, which was… holy fuck! It affected me enough to post it, so there must be something going on. Or maybe I’m just stressed out now. Holy fuck.

No holds barred work for the Plane Stupid campaign from Mother London, directed by Daniel Kleinman and produced by Rattling Stick.

Via Feed

La publicidad directa dice las cosas sin tapujos y sin preocuparse por lastimar a alguien, eso lo hace magnifica e impactante.

Polar Bear forma parte de Plane Stupid, una campaña en contra de aviones, aunque mi postura sigue siendo la misma al ver el video, no deja de ser impresionante y muy bien logrado.

…

Manchester Museum's Polar Bear

As part of my research for the new Mammals Gallery I have been looking at Polar Bears. They are amazing animals that live right across the Arctic Circle around the North Pole. They live at the point where the ice meets water and mostly eat seals. They are covered in a thick layer of transparent hairs and have a layer of blubber up to 10cm thick to keep them warm.

Polar bears are very sensitive to climate change. Over the last few years some of the ice where the polar bears live, has melted. This means it is more difficult for them to hunt seals and it is harder from them to build up enough fat reserves for hibernation in Winter.

Polar bears have more contact with people than they used to. They have to search for food over a wider area and more people live near them. Lots of polar bears live around the town of Churchill in Canada, where tourists go to see them in the wild. Scientists use this as an opportunity to study polar bears and the effects of eco-tourism. The video below shows some of their work.

David Gelsthorpe, Curator of Palaeontology

This is why I LOVE ANIMALS!

A wildlife photographer who was on hand to take photos of a bunch of huskies in Canada was able to capture an encounter between a husky and a polar bear. What at first looked like was going to be bloodshed, the two cuties became friends! Click on the article to see more pics!

Also, there is a video accompaniment and it is so ADORABLE (if you like this kind of stuff)

Never mind, beyond the organized historical joy and happiness, Sustainche by following the news and trying to read newspapers also identifies tremendous problems in the land he arrived now. Just to mention the most obvious problems at the moment: Schweinche flue (the pharmacy industry apparently found a pleasant environment to organize an economically blooming pandemic event), a new Federal Government hasn’t find its compass yet and the state debts have reached the astronomic magnitude of 1.6 Trillion Euro. Just for visualization: Sustainche found a very interesting calculation that 1.6 Trillion Euro composed of 500-€ banknotes form a tower as high as about 320 kilometres. “Unbelievable”, Sustainche is speechless. 

There can be no doubt that money plays a major role in this society. No matter what you are and what you do: money is most important. Concordantly, people work to have money for enjoying a good life … or whatever they understand as to be a good life. To work is most important ! Since in fact quite some time, however, and in particular thanks to dramatically increased efficiency of production, many citizens became unemployed – many of them for years. Unemployment of course is a tragic situation, both economically and socially for any member of a society, which in large defines itself by working. This in particular refers to the génération précaire ? These youngsters even accept a tenth internship without adequate payment, just to have warm meals and being able to declare that they work. Clear: Everything needs to have its order ! Sustainche is puzzled to notice something like this. He, Polar Bear Sustainche himself neither has money nor is he working in the traditional sense of the meaning. And, he has not the impression that it is HIS path just to function like a single ant in an ant colony. Sustainche is a mammal – although not a human mammal – and he is self confident enough to show his big heart. 

It might be that it is because of all these problems that Sustainche feels – although this is only his first impression – that the 82 million people in his now surrounding environment seem to have a problem with real joy of life. Grey weather might create grey souls. “Hmmm … this is really strange”, Sustainche thinks, “Macedonia also has tremendous problems, but since the sun is shining more, people seem to be happier.” Sustainche wants to think more about his observation and perhaps it’s simply to wait until spring time for final conclusions. 

‘Fine Sustainche’, Sustainche hears his blog readers say, ‘but you still haven’t told us where you arrived now’. Well, Sustainche thought that his descriptions were good enough. The country is called Germany … and Sustainche wonders what he should do here in terms of Sustainable Development … . Perhaps it is a good idea to start reading the National Strategy for Sustainable Development

ugh. phlegm. you suck.

but, this makes me oh so happy:

i love polar bears .

p.s. HOME IN ONE MONTH. WOO! AKA. FINALS WILL BE DONE IN 29 DAYS!

Pretty gruesome spot from London agency Mother for PlaneStupid.com, in which polar bears fall from the sky to splattery deaths—to make some point about airplane emissions.

“An average European flight produces over 400kg of greenhouse gases for every passenger … that’s the weight of an adult polar bear,” the spot says.

Jag är inte mycket för pynt, men de här gulliga tryck-och-gör-det-själv-figurerna från Mibo kan inte ens jag säga nej till.

När Robin, Polar Bear, Rudolf, Chris-mus och herr Partrdige flyttat in hemma hos oss, utlovar jag pyntiga bildbevis. Innan dess hoppas jag även vår endimensionella adventsljusstake från Beckmans julmarknad har kommit på plats. Frågan är bara var den har gömt sig under året…

Via: Paper Crave

I was all set to write my blog tonight based on my reading of the new issue of National Wildlife by the National Wildlife Federation when I got drawn in to watch tonight’s PBS Television NOVA Episode Becoming Human Part 3. It was too fascinating. I had to watch. This link is good until 12/31/09 to watch it right on-line. So, tonight’s blog will be short to write but long for you to explore if you want to!

What is so fascinating is how it compares and contrasts with the National Wildlife article I was planning to tell you about – only it is about wildlife instead of humans. The article is called Desperate Measures: Struggling to adapt to global warming, wildlife species are changing their diets, behaviors and, in a few cases, even their genetic makeup by Jessica Snyder Sachs. The photos are great – especially the baby birds, baby squirrels, red and arctic foxes, and polar bears – actually they are all super! And… the article is very much worth reading!

This theme really is the same one that is in the NOVA program! Enjoy!

More info on http://mygrandmasue.wordpress.com

And Sea Turtles, Elephants, and yes, Tigers and Bears! Simply choose one and follow the links to educate yourself as to its present circumstance as a animal on our planet.

Defenders of Wildlife sends me regular email updates about the urgent needs of our planet’s wildlife as well as the status of the environmental bills on the tables before our congress-people. This group is my favorite to support because of the wide ranging education, information and hands on, integrative action they take on behalf our endangered, threatened and vulnerable species. A visit to the Defenders site guides you to whatever topic you require to educate yourself, along with a call to action which is the key.

I am becoming impatient as I write this because I’m pissed off annoyed at the latest news about the wolf kills in Idaho where well established and well known wolf packs are continuing to be massacred by the Idaho Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, in what they are calling wolf hunt “derby.” Actually their derby includes killing “as many animals as possible” ~ but wolves are the favorite target. And it’s all for sport. Read about this from fellow bloggers at the University of Georgia Animal Legal Defense Fund.

So we in essence have the continued barbaric aerial hunting of wolves in Alaska for the thrill of the kill (thanks Sarah), and we have these sport-o Idaho hunters decimating key Idaho packs; the latest female killed was known as “a master strategist, a leader and a mother.” Sounds like most mothers I know. I keep hoping we’ve evolved beyond this “thrill of the kill” mentality where we continue to kill, consume, devour, conquer, until there’s nothing left. But sadly, here we are.

Bulls-Eye

From what I have read “decreasing the herd” is totally unnecessary (there’s no science to support the wolf massacre). While they claim that it is to protect the livestock of the ranchers, there are other workable methods that many humane ranchers are implementing with the assistance of Defenders and other programs like it.

Still, wolf massacre is sanctioned by the state of Idaho. Even in the sport of hunting, there are rules and protocol, lost to these wolf killers.

If you take a look at endangered or threatened wildlife, these days it seems it is within our conscious power to make the necessary changes to protect our wildlife and our ecosystems. Action is imperative because, seriously, our polar ice caps are melting and leaving our polar bears without their natural habitat for hunting, den building, giving birth, and caring for their young.

My son often enjoys a blog called: Fail Blog @ www.failblog.org, where videos of goofy bloopers and non sequitur behavior are caught on video or photo for laughs.

Well, here is a visual FAIL and it is NOT funny!

"FAIL!!" ~ With what we know, this is NOT right!

We know enough to stop the madness and to make the changes. We can argue about the cause of global warming all day, but it really doesn’t matter any more. It just is. Jeff Corwin of the “Feeling the Heat” series in partnership with Defenders of Wildlife, calls the Polar Bear “the Ambassador Species” as they would be the first to benefit from immediate action on behalf of global warming. We would see the results in the shift in their circumstances if we are able to halt their impending extinction. The hairy truth is that they will be extinct within 50 years if we do nothing. And between now and the next 50 years, the polar bear population will continue to dwindle as they scramble for their own existence.

Take Action

There are so many ways to dip in, increase knowledge, awareness and desire to embrace our responsibility to our planet that sustains us. We have resourced so much from Mother Earth. We humans have knowledge, the ability to reason, we have consciousness, we have the ability to embrace and surrender to the interconnectedness of all living things. Our Earth has a Soul and She is ours to tend…. She is a living, breathing, regenerating organism. Mother Earth would not hesitate to poot us all off the planet for a gigantic cosmic do-over if need be, and take note, she is already burping and farting. In fact, Mother Earth is acting kind of pissed lately.

This is where we live, today, now. This is the time. All life on Earth needs Humanity’s attention in small ways and grand. Tending a garden, planting a tree, teaching a child, or taking up a cause in which you are passionate. Passion from within is key.

Our present circumstances are our call to action. Defenders of Wildlife, or any organization that the heart feels the call towards – that is our call to acti0n.

As we enter this holiday season, take some time to allow your heart to feel the magnitude of the times in which we live… and then, take action.

Blessings,

Stacey C.

I have just watched the video that Lunki posted this weekend.

From what I understand from the reactions, there are a lot of people thinking that it’s me in that video. And I understand how they can make that mistake. I mean, they guy has awesome hair, a great mustache, nice frames, and a hairy chest. But nevertheless, it’s not me.

It is however another example of a great guy being single and trying to find the love of his life. It’s admirable. I myself is in that very position today. I feel his pain. HIS pain. The other guy in the video. It’s not me.

Because f it was me participating in that video from the 80’s and not another great guy named Sika, it would be very sad that I 20 years later still were searching for the one true love. Very sad. But thankfully it’s not. It’s not.

But now over to something more important. The weather is getting colder by the minute here in the north of Sweden. We have heard reports that there will be snow any day now. That’s good because the polar bears are getting restless. They like snow.

Sustainche during the past days enjoyed making substantial progress in identifying his new surrounding environment.

Sustainche – although he hoped to see Africa – is sure: Hmmm … he migrated from Macedonia not towards the south, but to the north ! Based on his Polar home experience Sustainche knows that during the Northern Hemisphere winter daylight time becomes shorter the more we proceed towards the north. No question, compared to Macedonia the daylight time here is indeed shorter. The land where Sustainche finds himself now is grey, wet and cold … sometimes even foggy; until now only occasionally he could enjoy some sunbeams. Ok, Sustainche’s blog readers might think: ‘Bravo, Sustainche, you returned to your roots.’ No, this land is far away from what he knows from his Polar Ocean home. Here, there live many more human mammals. Interesting enough and despite so many people everything appears to be clean – nothing to compare with Macedonia. People here seem to have a good life and everything has its order. However, Sustainche wonders whether people are also happy and can enjoy … .

During this week Sustainche followed on TV some rather ‘organized’ or ‘institutionalized’ joy. The event of joy was the ‘Fall of the Berlin Wall’ 20 years ago. Until now Sustainche hasn’t heard anything about a ‘Berlin Wall’ and that this thing collapsed; but he can’t know everything yet. Sustainche learnt with his online research that 20 years ago the movement of normal citizens inspired by their wish for freedom and in particular because of their wish to travel wherever they want made them overcome a rather strange political system which thought that it is necessary to transform an entire country into a prison. Finally the citizens start to escape from their prison – which was also a prison for the mind – and the walls and fences around the prison were peacefully torn down. The ‘Berlin Wall’ was the most prominent part of this prison wall. Sustainche is impressed what human mammals are able to do !

Doing something spontaneously with joy and happiness on the one hand and celebrating this event 20 years later on the other hand seems to be something completely different. Sustainche has the feeling that the historical joy organized and presented as a Saturday evening show event by national TV was embarrassing and only served the desired ‘panem et circensis’ mentality of those who by themselves would have never ever made any wall fall … and this was not only because of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s public catnap … probably dreaming on what kind of blond Italian TV show girl he can propose next to become a Minister of the Republic … .

We’ve hinted at it – well in truth we’ve downright told you… But the good news for everyone who enjoys a good bit of Northampton folk-indie that lavishes your ears whilst at the same time tenderly pulling your heart strings – is that My First Tooth are back with their first release since the wonderful My First Tooth and the Rubies EP which was out on PoP early 2009.

And they really have saved us a cracker!

Absolute live favourite, and no doubt already a favourite of anyone who’s a regular at the front when Tooth hit the town, we’re proud to announce that the next single will be Margaret Yen… Yup – the sweet lady herself! Brilliant.

Backed by two gorgeous demos Silent Spring and Railway (Ross hasn’t confirmed either way whether they’ll be on the album or not just yet but I do hope so) and perennial favourite Judge and Jury, the EP will be available on Deceber 7^th – via digital mediums, and very, very limited CD – all hand spray painted and lovely!

It will be available to pre-order in the next week or two, so do keep an eye out… Meanwhile, feast your eyes on the artwork drawn by the delicious Ross himself. We had long conversations about the bear and the amount of fire round his ass. I think it looks pretty perfect now!

See what you think….

Bowsprite is an artist and blogger from the sixth borough in NY.  Check out her incredible nautical illustrations by clicking this text

Who drives up from New Yawk to jump in Gloucester’s inner harbor for a leisurely swim in mid-November?  Bowsprite, that’s who.

Wednesday 2nd December 2009:: At Juno Bar, Shoreditch, London:: it’s going down [or up or whatever].

Our final show of the year is a special one.

Peep info, tell your grandma, corner shop owner, all good peoples:

http://tiny.cc/wbdec

♥

I feel like there has been a dearth of creative blogging recently. I’ve actually been quite busy on the workshop/class front, but that hasn’t translated into any blogs, for various reasons. I did a lot of prep for a stuffed animal workshop that didn’t happen in the end because of a scheduling mishap (hopefully we will reschedule). I also did an autism arts outreach class and forgot my camera, and the same thing with my class this morning! I’m doing something tomorrow at the Children’s Festival at the gallery, and hope to bring you a blog about that!

In the mean time, here is another little Christmas ornament I whipped up. It’s a little polar bear holding a traditional Swedish “paper heart”. I’m not entirely happy with the face but I think he’s cute enough.

So far I’ve only been using “basic back-stitch” for the embroidery, but I have a book with some more advanced stitches I may try. Until then, things will go on looking pretty rustic, I think!