hi_powrd_raine

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 15th

2009-12-15T21:04:51Z

"People are equal partners with the plants and animals, not their masters who exploit them."

--Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders

As human beings, we are not above anything nor are we below anything. Because of being equal, we need to discuss a little about the value of respect. Not just respect when it comes to human beings, but respect when it comes to everything. We are not masters over things; we are caretakers for the Great Spirit. We need to treat all things with respect.

Great Spirit, let me accept and see all things as equal.

Liquor-Soaked Chocolate Covered Cherries

2009-12-15T21:03:54Z

I absolutely looooooove chocolate covered cherries. Did you know that there are so many different types? There are even some that have ground coffee (not Folgers) on the outside of the chocolate! Be experimental... in life... in chocolate :)

There are some easy ways to form the shape of the finished candy... some people buy candy molds, and others use a medium artist paintbrush (I'll get back to that later). You can use whatever sort of chocolate you want, but many of the more experienced home candy makers use wafers.

There are two different recipes in this one. Please take the time to look at both. Depending on your preferences, you may find one easier than the other.

If you need to find certain things to help you make your special items, you can go to this website for inspiration and items: Wilton

Recipe #1

Reasonably priced project that will take about 2 hours. The two hours is about what it takes me to fondant dip and chocolate dip 75 cherries.

You Will Need:

1 Maraschino Cherries jar

White, Dark, And Or Milk Chocolate Melted And Tempered

1 Liquor your favorite

1 Candy Fondant recipe, your preferred fondant

Jars To Soak Cherries In

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1. Grab your preferred bottle of liquor, drain your maraschino cherries, and put them into a glass jar that has room for one to two cups of liquor.

Since I can I have the 32 Oz mason jars handy.

Put cherries into jar and cover with your liquor. Many use rum or bourbon, but feel free to explore!

Put into the fridge and let soak any where from 24 hours to a year. (yep some people soak them that long)

2. Fondant is a key ingredient in most chocolate covered cherries recipes. Fondant is made from sugar, water and corn syrup. You can make it at home, or buy ready-made fondant or powdered fondant mix in stores that specialize in cake decorating. If you make your own fondant, it will need to sit for 24 to 48 hours before using, so plan accordingly. With fondant, you can add different flavorings to and dip into chocolate.

Here is one recipe for fondant, and there is another one at the end you may like as well.

Melt your 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, add your can of sweetened condensed milk, add 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (this helps the sugar crystals reform smaller crystals resulting in a smoother fondant)then work in your two pounds of powdered sugar.

You end up with a nice ball of fondant. It should be pliable, but not super sticky, if it is, add a bit more powdered sugar. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest for 24 hours if you are patient enough.

This is enough fondant to make lots of cherries, or some cherries and other goodies.

3. Ok, it has been a week, look at how nice and red the liquor got!! Drain your cherries.

DON'T THROW AWAY THE LIQUOR, WE WILL USE SOME OF IT!

If I am going to make more of the same type of cherries, I will add a bit more liquor to the jar before adding the next batch of cherries.

4. Now while your cherries dry, you break off a piece of your fondant, if you are doing about 24 cherries, the piece of fondant should be a bit larger than your fist. You can always melt more, but I always end up melting more than I need. Better safe than sorry.

There are commercial fondants you can buy and add the liquor to, or you can make your own.

The fondant will liquefy over time, or you can help it liquefy quicker if you add a drop or two of invertase to the fondant when you melt it down to dip. Once you add the invertase you have to use the fondant, because it will break down into a syrup. Invertase (systematic name: beta-fructofuranosidase) is a sucrase enzyme. It catalyzes the hydrolysis (breakdown) of sucrose (table sugar) to fructose and glucose, usually in the form of inverted sugar syrup.

Dig out your double boiler, or put a metal bowl on top of a pan with simmering water, not boiling, keeping the pan on low heat, put your fondant into the top of your double boiler, break it up and it will melt faster.

Add three to four tablespoons of the reserved liquor you soaked your cherries it. It will help melt the fondant and make it a pretty pink.

You want the fondant melted enough to dip your cherries in.

If take a cherry and dip it, if it coats the cherry and you can see a bit through the fondant you are in business. Sometimes I rush it and it is a bit too thick. But I am impatient somedays.

If you are using invertase, now is the time to put it in, stir well.

5. DO NOT DIP YOUR CHERRIES ALL THE WAY TO THE STEM IN FONDANT. IF YOU DO YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEAL THE CHERRY TO KEEP THE JUICE FROM LEAKING OUT.

6. Now break up your chocolate, at least 24 ounces. again I always tend to melt more than I need, but if I don't use it all I just retemper it and use it next time.

Use simmering NOT boiling water in your double boilers, and gently melt the chocolate, depending on what type you choose, will depends on the tolerance to heat. It's best to use a double-boiler to melt chocolate. Double-boilers consist of two pots that fit together. Water is placed in the lower pot and the steam provides heat to the pot on top. Double-boilers help prevent accidental overheating of delicate foods such as chocolate or butter.

If you don't have a double-boiler, you can use two pots that fit together easily. If you don't have two pots that fit together, then heat the chocolate over low heat and stir constantly until melted. It will only take a few minutes, so do not leave the pot unattended or the chocolate could scorch.

White chocolate is very delicate when it comes to heat, then milk, then bittersweet.

I use all three types. People like variety.

Yes, I temper my chocolate, if you want to temper yours, this is a good resource:

http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/155/Tempering-Chocolate

Tempered chocolate gives you that nice satiny sheen.

Now that all you cherries are covered in fondant, put them in the fridge and let them set for a good 20 minutes or more.

7. Hold by the stem and dip your cherry.

Make sure there is no moisture on the cherry or stem, if there is, your chocolate will seize and it will be good for making sauce and that is about it.

To keep your chocolate at a good melted temperature, take a flat heat pad and place the pan with the chocolate in it on the heat pad set on low to medium, depending on how hot your pad gets. Be sure to dry off the bottom of the pan first.

8. Completely submerge your cherry. I like to dip to at least 1/2 way up the stem, to make sure it doesn't leak the juice out when the fondant starts turning liquid.

9. Again, make sure you dip half way up the stem.

Hold the cherry and let it drip off, gently scrap the bottom of the cherry along the edge of the pan, or the bottom of a spoon.

Don't scrape too much off or you will have no bottom on your cherry.

Some people use a wafer for the cherry to sit on, to help give it that commericalized square bottom... you can find those here: Wafer

Candy wafers are small discs of chocolate, which melt easily. They have a rich taste and a smooth texture, and are available in a variety of colors and flavors.

10. Keep dipping until you are done. Now ideally you let these sit from 24 hours to a week, but I've "tested" them as soon as they were solid.

But letting them age, give you that nice liquid center.

Recipe #2

Makes 48 candy pieces

Ingredients:

1 - 14-ounce bag of chocolate candy wafers - you can use milk or dark chocolate

2 - 12-ounce jars Maraschino cherries, drained, stem removed

1 cup basic fondant

Directions:

Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of Maraschino cherry juice to basic fondant and stir well. Fondant should be a medium consistency and slowly drip off the spoon. If it's too thick, continue to add cherry juice until it becomes the consistency you prefer.

Pour chocolate candy wafers into the upper portion of the double-boiler pan; melt over medium-low heat; and gently stir until wafers are melted.

Using a teaspoon, fill each candy mold half-way with melted chocolate. Using a medium artist brush, paint the sides of each mold with the chocolate; making certain the inside of each candy mold is coated all the way to the top.

Place one Maraschino cherry in each mold. Add approximately 1/4-teaspoon of fondant to each cherry.

Pour approximately 1/4-teaspoon melted chocolate over the top of each cherry and using the bottom of the spoon, gently spread chocolate over the top to ensure that there is a seal over each candy mold.

Place cherries in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Remove cherries from the freezer and flip molds upside down on top of the wax paper. If the candy does not easily release from the molds, flex the molds a bit until the candy pops out.

Place each chocolate covered cherry into a paper candy cup or wrap individually in foil, and place into a gift box or airtight container.

Chocolate covered cherries should be stored at room temperature to retain the liquid center. If you refrigerate or freeze them, allow them to return to room temperature before eating them. Otherwise, the center will be more of a nougat consistency, which depending on your taste could be a good thing!

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Ok, it is really easy to do, but can take up a bit of time, but so worth it when you see them charging $25 a pound for them, and they aren't even soaked in liquor!!

Bon Appetite!

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If you didn't like that fondant recipe, here's one. You will need:

1/4 Cup Butter

1 Tablespoon Light Corn Syrup

2 Tablespoons of the reserved maraschino cherry liquid

3 Cup Powdered Sugar

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In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons reserved cherry liquid until it is smooth and velvety. Turn the mixer to low and slowly sift in powdered sugar, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Mix until well incorporated. If mixture is too sticky, add a bit more powdered sugar, and if it is too stiff, add a bit more cherry juice. You should end up with a pale pink mixture the consistency of slightly soft butter. This is your fondant filling.

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 14th

2009-12-15T21:02:30Z

"Male and female is fundamental to life; partners in work to be done."

--Traditional Circle of Elders, NORTHERN CHEYENNE

The Great Spirit created a system which would allow us to reproduce, to have companionship, to love, to laugh, to cry, and be happy. Man and Woman each have gifts the other doesn't have. But, together they have these gifts to share with each other. The Great Spirit made it this way. So let us treat each other with respect. Let us look upon each other in a sacred way.

Grandfather, Grandmother, bring the spirits to teach us.

A Parable For Our Time

2009-12-13T23:56:37Z

Dr. Bob Welch, Ph.D., Commander US Navy Retired

A Parable For Our Time:

Once upon a time, I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics.

There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate, and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen.

"Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry."

"I don't appreciate...." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll.

"Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother Eric is very thirsty." said the President.

I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought.. I will play along. I don't want to seem unkind.

Next my plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite.. "Eric's children are also quite hungry."

With a lurch, I crashed to the floor as my chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room." And their grandmother can't stand for long."

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game.

I reached for my coat, only to find it had been taken. I turned back to the President.."Their grandfather doesn't like the cold."

I wanted to shout - that was my coat! But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone.

I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in.

The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

"Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement, and they need a house. They recently defaulted on their subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do."

My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak and drank his wine."By the way," he added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories and I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind.. There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars."

I looked up. the President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème brulee. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me.

I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of hard work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us. What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his cold empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands.

"You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

Wake up , America !!!!....Do you hear me .... Wake Up .... !!!!

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 13th

2009-12-13T23:55:34Z

"In our language there is no word to say inferior or superiority or equality because we are equal; it's a known fact. But life has become very complicated since the newcomers came here. And how does your spirit react to it?. It's painful. You have to be strong to walk through the storm. I know I'm a bridge between two worlds. All I ask is for people to wash their feet before they try to walk on me."

--Alanis Obomsawin, ABENAKI

For native people who speak their language, English can be very confusing. Many times you cannot express in English the true meaning of Indian words. When we hear something in English we sometimes react or our spirit reacts. Sometimes we need to use English words out of order to express our true meanings. We need to be patient and pray. Living in two worlds can be difficult. Life is painful sometimes. The pain of life is where the lessons are learned.

Creator, let me learn the lessons You have taught my people.

Letter From P&G Executive To President Obama

2009-12-13T23:54:45Z

Lou Pritchett is one of Corporate America's true living legends, a highly respected, acclaimed author, dynamic teacher and one of the world's highest rated speakers.

Successful corporate executives everywhere recognize him as the foremost leader in "Change Management".

Lou changed the way America does business by creating an audacious concept that came to be known as "Partnering."

Pritchett rose from soap salesman to Vice-President - Sales and Customer Development, for Procter and Gamble and over the course of 36 years, made corporate history.

And, he's scared. Please read the closing statement.

***********************************************************************************

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA :

Dear President Obama,

You are the 13th president under whom I have lived - - and, unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.v

You scare me, because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.....

You scare me, because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education, and your upscale lifestyle and housing, with no visible signs of support.....

You scare me, because you did not spend the formative years of your youth growing up in America , and, culturally, you are not an American........

You scare me, because you have never run a company or met a payroll.......

You scare me, because you have never had military experience, thus, don't understand it at its' core.....

You scare me, because you lack humility and "class", always blaming others.....

You scare me, because for over half your life, you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America , and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.....

You scare me, because you are a cheerleader for the "BLAME AMERICA " crowd, and deliver this message, abroad.....

You scare me, because you want to change America to a European style country, where the Government sector dominates, instead of the Private sector.....

You scare me, because you want to replace our health care system with a Government controlled one.....

You scare me, because you prefer "WIND MILLS", rather than responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.....

You scare me, because you want to kill the American Capitalist goose that lays the golden egg, which provides the highest standard of living in the world.....

You scare me, because you have begun to use "extortion" tactics against certain banks and corporations.....

You scare me, because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals...........

You scare me, because you will not openly listen to, or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people........

You scare me, because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient......

You scare me, because the media gives you a "free pass" on everything you do.....

You scare me, because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Reilly's and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.....

You scare me, because you prefer controlling over governing.....

Finally,

You scare me, because if you serve a second term, I probably will not feel safe in writing a similar letter in eight years.

Sincerely;

Lou Pritchett

In closing:

This letter was sent to the NY Times but they never acknowledged it. Big surprise?? No.

Since it hit the internet, however, it has had over 500,000 views.

KEEP IT GOING!!!!

All that is necessary for evil to succeed, is for good men to do n-o-t-h-i-n-g.

It's happening right now. Let's band together. Send this on, and get involved.

Roping a Deer

2009-12-13T23:53:54Z

Author unknown - probably for good reason!!!

Actual letter from someone who farms, writes well and tried this:

I had this idea that I could rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it. The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that, since they congregate at my cattle feeder and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet away), it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home.

I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope. The cattle, having seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having any of it. After about 20 minutes, my deer showed up -- 3 of them. I picked out a likely looking one, stepped out from the end of the feeder, and threw my rope.. The deer just stood there and stared at me. I wrapped the rope around my waist and twisted the end so I would have a good hold.

The deer still just stood and stared at me, but you could tell it was mildly concerned about the whole rope situation. I took a step towards it, it took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope .., and then received an education. The first thing that I learned is that, while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope.

That deer EXPLODED. The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope and with some dignity. A deer-- no chance.

That thing ran and bucked and twisted and pulled. There was no controlling it and certainly no getting close to it. As it jerked me off my feet and started dragging me across the ground, it occurred to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I had originally imagined. The only upside is that they do not have as much stamina as many other animals.

A brief 10 minutes later, it was tired and not nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet and drag me when I managed to get up. It took me a few minutes to realize this, since I was mostly blinded by the blood flowing out of the big gash in my head. At that point, I had lost my taste for corn-fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil creature off the end of that rope.

I figured if I just let it go with the rope hanging around its neck, it would likely die slow and painfully somewhere. At the time, there was no love at all between me and that deer. At that moment, I hated the thing, and I would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual. Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me across the ground, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in. I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death, so I managed to get it lined back up in between my truck and the feeder - a little trap I had set before hand...kind of like a squeeze chute. I got it to back in there and I started moving up so I could get my rope back.

Did you know that deer bite?

They do! I never in a million years would have thought that a deer would bite somebody, so I was very surprised when ... I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist. Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and then let go. A deer bites you and shakes its head --almost like a pit bull. They bite HARD and it hurts.

The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I tried screaming and shaking instead. My method was ineffective.

It seems like the deer was biting and shaking for several minutes, but it was likely only several seconds. I, being smarter than a deer (though you may be questioning that claim by now), tricked it. While I kept it busy tearing the tendons out of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose.

That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day.

Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp. I learned a long time ago that, when an animal --like a horse --strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal. This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape.

This was not a horse. This was a deer, so obviously, such trickery would not work. In the course of a millisecond, I devised a different strategy. I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run. The reason I had always been told NOT to try to turn and run from a horse that paws at you is that there is a good chance that it will hit you in the back of the head. Deer may not be so different from horses after all, besides being twice as strong and 3 times as evil, because the second I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head and knocked me down.

Now, when a deer paws at you and knocks you down, it does not immediately leave. I suspect it does not recognize that the danger has passed. What they do instead is paw your back and jump up and down on you while you are laying there crying like a little girl and covering your head.

I finally managed to crawl under the truck and the deer went away. So now I know why when people go deer hunting they bring a rifle with a scope to sort of even the odds.

All these events are true so help me God... An Educated Rancher

The Red Phone

2009-12-13T23:53:01Z

An American, a Brit, and a Russian all died and went to hell. While there, they spy a red phone and ask what the phone is for. The devil tells them it is for calling back to Earth.

The Russian asked to call Russia and talks for 5 minutes. When he was finished the devil informs him that the cost is a million dollars, so the Russian writes him a check.
Next the Brit calls England and talks for 30 minutes. When she was finished the devil informs her that cost is 6 million dollars, so the Brit writes him a check.
Finally the American gets his turn and talks for 4 hours. When he was finished the devil informed him that there would be no charge for the call and to feel free to call the USA anytime.
When the Russian hears this he goes ballistic and asks the devil why the American got to call the USA free.
The devil replied, "Since Obama became president of the USA, the country has gone to hell, so naturally it's a local call."

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 12th

2009-12-13T23:52:19Z

In order for our children to survive in the world, they need a firm understanding and belief in the basic principles of sharing freedom and respect of individuality."

--Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders

There is a saying: Tell me, I'll forget; Show me, I'll remember; Engage me; I'll understand. The adults need to determine what the younger generation is learning. The principle of sharing keeps the youth from being greedy and selfish. The principle of freedom teaches the youth about choices, decisions and consequences. The principle of respect keeps us from playing God and becoming a controller of all things. We need to learn these lessons so we may demonstrate them for our children.

Great Teacher, help me to understand Your principles.

Airport Humor...

2009-12-13T23:51:30Z

In an airport washroom, I saw this handwritten sign posted over one of those hot air hand dryers:

"Please push button and listen for a short message from the President!"

There's nothing like hot air and the smell of fresh crap to give you that true Obama presence!

Sotomayor's First Decision as Supreme Court Justice

2009-12-13T23:50:43Z

Feed: Berman Post, Posted on: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 6:00 PM

Author: Andrew Berman

Sotomayor's first decision as Supreme Court Justice was released yesterday. It was a unanimous decision, but the reasoning drew some criticism from Justice Thomas. Perhaps most noteworthy was her use of the term "undocumented immigrant". This is believed to be the first such use by the Supreme Court who have previously used the term "illegal immigrant". It may only be a semantic difference, but it may offer some further insight into where she is leaning/predisposed on immigration issues.

You can read the opinion at (note the link is to a PDF file)

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-678.pdf

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/us/09sotomayor.html

"The Supreme Court released its first four decisions in argued cases this term on Tuesday. They were all minor, but one was notable for being Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court debut and for prompting a testy concurrence from Justice Clarence Thomas.

The case concerned whether federal trial-court rulings concerning the lawyer-client privilege may be appealed right away. ...

The decision was unanimous, but Justice Clarence Thomas declined to join the part of Justice Sotomayor’s opinion discussing why the cost of allowing immediate appeals outweighs the possibility that candid communications between lawyers and their clients might be chilled.

In a concurrence, Justice Thomas took a swipe at his new colleague, saying she had “with a sweep of the court’s pen” substituted “value judgments” and “what the court thinks is a good idea” for the text of a federal law.

...

Justice Sotomayor’s opinion in the case, Mohawk Industries v. Carpenter, No. 08-678, marked the first use of the term “undocumented immigrant,” according to a legal database. The term “illegal immigrant” has appeared in a dozen decisions."

http://www.bermanpost.com/2009/12/sotomayors-first-decision-as-supreme.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BermanPost+%28Berman+Post%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 11th

2009-12-13T23:49:56Z

"Peace... comes within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the Universe dwells Wakan-Tanka, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."

--Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa) OGLALA SIOUX

If we are to know peace we must look within ourselves. In order to do this, we must learn to be still. We must quiet the mind. We must learn to meditate. Meditation helps us locate and find the center that is within ourselves. The center is where the Great One resides. When we start to look for peace, we need to realize where it is within ourselves. When we experience conflict we need to pause for a moment and ask the Power within ourselves, "How do you want me to handle this? What would you suggest I do in this situation?" By asking the High Power for help we find peace.

Creator, help me to find peace.

Here are the top 15 Christmas songs you may hear around the White House this year:

2009-12-13T23:49:06Z

15. “Obama Tree, Obama Tree”

14. “Deck The Halls With Bows to Emperors”

13. “Deficits We Have Heard Are High”

12. “We Thirty Czars All Communists Are”

11. “Little Dummy Boy”

10. “Scrawled Gang Sign”

9. “Baracking Around The Christmas Tree”

8. “Silent Blight”

7. “Barack the Halls with Farce and Folly”

6. “Allah want for Christmas is a Money Tree”

5. “Hidden Clause Is Coming To Town”

4. “Do You Fear What I Fear?”

3. “I’m Dreaming of a Half-White Christmas”

2. “You’re A Mean One, Mrs. Clinton”

1. “Decoy to the World”

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 10th

2009-12-13T23:47:52Z

"Come forward and join hands with us in this great work for the Creator."

--Traditional Circle of Elders, NORTHERN CHEYENNE

The Elders have spent years learning to pray and communicate with the Great Spirit. Their job is to pass this knowledge onto the young people. The Elders have told us we are now in a great time of healing. The Creator is guiding them to help the young people figure this out. We must get involved and participate. We should pray and see what it is the Great Spirit wants us to do. We need to sacrifice our time to help the people and to be of maximum use to the Creator. Every person is needed to accomplish this great healing.

Creator, whisper what You want me to do.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Part 2

2009-12-13T19:00:39Z

The History Of Santa Claus

Nearly everyone around the world has heard of Santa Claus in one form or another… be it as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply as “Santa”. This jolly ole fellow scoots around the world on Christmas Eve bring gifts to all the good children of the world… but where does this legendary icon come from?

One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus says that he lives at his house on the North Pole, while Father Christmas is often said to reside in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Lapland Province, Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife Mrs. Claus, a countless number of magical elves, and eight or nine flying reindeer. Another legend of Santa says that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.

Christians will speak of early Christian origins: Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany) he is still portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes. In 1087, the Italian city of Bari, wanting to enter the profitable pilgrimage industry of the times, mounted an expedition to locate the tomb of the Christian Saint and procure the remains. The reliquary of St. Nicholas was desecrated by Italian sailors and the spoils, including his relics, taken to Bari where they are kept to this day. A basilica was constructed the same year to store the loot and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout, thus justifying the economic cost of the expedition. Saint Nicholas became claimed as a patron saint of many diverse groups, from archers and children to pawnbrokers. He is also the patron saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow. But there are even earlier references that are linked to the origins of our present-day Santa. And for that, we have to look farther North.

Numerous parallels have been drawn between Santa Claus and the figure of Odin, a major god amongst the Germanic peoples prior to their Christianization. Since many of these elements are unrelated to Christianity, there are theories regarding the pagan origins of various customs of the holiday stemming from areas where the Germanic peoples were Christianized and retained elements of their indigenous traditions, surviving in various forms into modern depictions of Santa Claus.

Odin was sometimes recorded, at the native Germanic holiday of Yule, as leading a great hunting party through the sky. Two books from Iceland, the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, describe Odin as riding an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir that could leap great distances, giving rise to comparisons to Santa Claus's reindeer. Further, Odin was referred to by many names in Skaldic poetry, some of which describe his appearance or functions; these include Síðgrani, Síðskeggr, Langbarðr, (all meaning "long beard") and Jólnir ("Yule figure").

According to Phyllis Siefker, children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy. This practice survived in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands after the adoption of Christianity and became associated with Saint Nicholas as a result of the process of Christianization and can be still seen in the modern practice of the hanging of stockings at the chimney in some homes.

This practice in turn came to the United States through the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam prior to the British seizure in the 17th century, and evolved into the hanging of socks or stockings at the fireplace. In many regions of Austria and former Austro-Hungarian Italy (Friuli, city of Trieste) children are given sweets and gifts on Saint Nicholas's Day (San Niccolò in Italian), in accordance with the Catholic calendar, December 6.

Originating from pre-Christian Alpine traditions and influenced by later Christianization, the Krampus is represented as a Companion of Saint Nicholas. Traditionally, some young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December and particularly on the evening of December 5 and roam the streets frightening children (and adults) with rusty chains and bells.

In The Netherlands and Belgium, Saint Nicolas (often called "De Goede Sint" — "The Friendly Saint") is aided by helpers commonly known as Zwarte Piet ("Black Peter") in Dutch or "Père Fouettard" in French.

The folklore of Saint Nicolas has many parallels with Germanic mythology, in particular with the god Odin. These include the beard, hat and spear (nowadays a staff) and the cloth bag held by the servants to capture naughty children. Both Saint Nicolas and Odin ride white horses that can fly through the air; the white eight-legged steed of Odin is named Sleipnir (although Sleipnir is more commonly depicted as gray). The letters made of candy given by the Zwarte Pieten to the children evokes the fact that Odin ‘invented’ the rune letters. The poems made during the celebration and the songs the children sing relate to Odin as the god of the arts of poetry.

There are various explanations of the origins of the helpers. The oldest explanation is that the helpers symbolize the two ravens Hugin and Munin who informed Odin on what was going on. In later stories the helper depicts the defeated devil. The devil is defeated by either Odin or his helper Nörwi, the black father of the night. Nörwi is usually depicted with the same staff of birch (Dutch: "roe") as Zwarte Piet.

Another, more modern, story is that Saint Nicolas liberated an Ethiopian slave boy called 'Piter' (from Saint Peter) from a Myra market, and the boy was so grateful he decided to stay with Saint Nicolas as a helper. With the influx of immigrants to the Netherlands starting in the late 1950s, this story is felt by some to be racist. Today, Zwarte Piet have become modern servants, who have black faces because they climb through chimneys, causing their skin to become blackened by soot. They hold chimney cleaning tools (cloth bag and staff of birch).

Until the Second World War, Saint Nicolas was only helped by one servant. When the Canadians liberated the Netherlands in 1945, they reinstated the celebrations of Sinterklaas for the children. Unaware of the traditions, the Canadians thought that if one Zwarte Piet was fun, several Zwarte Pieten is even more fun. Ever since Saint Nicolas is helped by a group of Zwarte Pieten.

Presents given during this feast are often accompanied by poems, some basic, some quite elaborate pieces of art that mock events in the past year relating to the recipient. The gifts themselves may be just an excuse for the wrapping, which can also be quite elaborate. The more serious gifts may be reserved for the next morning. Since the giving of presents is Sinterklaas's job, presents are traditionally not given at Christmas in the Netherlands, although the latter is gaining popularity.

The Zwarte Pieten have roughly the same role for the Dutch Saint Nicolas that the elves have to America's Santa Claus. According to tradition, the saint has a Piet for every function: there are navigation Pieten to navigate the steamboat from Spain to Holland, or acrobatic Pieten for climbing up the roofs to stuff presents through the chimney, or to climb through themselves. Throughout the years many stories have been added, mostly made up by parents to keep children's belief in Saint Nicolas intact and to discourage misbehavior. In most cases the Pieten are quite lousy at their job, such as the navigation Piet (Dutch "wegwijspiet") pointing in the wrong direction. This is often used to provide some simple comedy in the annual parade of Saint Nicolas coming to the Netherlands, and can also be used to laud the progress of children at school by having the Piet give the wrong answer to, for example, a simple mathematical question like 2+2, so that the child in question is (or can be) persuaded to give the right answer.

Because of his wisdom and sensitivity, many groups claimed St. Nicholas as their patron saint. Children, orphans, sailors, and even thieves often prayed to the compassionate saint for guidance and protection. Entire countries, including Russia and Greece, also adopted him as their patron saint, as well as students and pawnbrokers.

Throughout his life, St. Nicholas tried to help others while inspiring them to imitate his virtues. Legends of his unselfish giving spread all over Northern Europe, and accounts of his heroic deeds blended with regional folklore. Eventually, the image of the stately saint was transformed onto an almost mystical being, one known for rewarding the good and punishing the bad.

The date of his death, December 6th, was commemorated with an annual feast, which gradually came to mark the beginning of the medieval Christmas season. On St. Nicholas' Eve, youngsters would set out food for the saint, straw for his horses and schnapps for his attendant. The next morning, obedient children awoke to find their gifts replaced with sweets and toys, found their offering untouched , along with a rod or a bundle of switched. St. Nicholas' Day is still observed in many countries, and gifts are exchanged in honor of the spirit of brotherhood and charity that he embodied.

In the Netherlands and in Belgium the character of Santa Claus, as known in the United States (with his white beard, red and white outfit, etc.), is entirely distinct from Sinterklaas, known instead as de Kerstman in Dutch (trans. the Christmasman) or Père Noël (Father Christmas) in French. Although Sinterklaas is the predominant gift-giver in the Netherlands in December (36% of the population only give presents on Sinterklaas day), Christmas is used by another fifth of the Dutch population to give presents (21% give presents on Christmas only). Some 26% of the Dutch population give presents on both days. In Belgium, presents are given to children only, but to almost all of them, on Sinterklaas day. On Christmas day, everybody have presents, but often without Santa Claus' help.

Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from church history and folklore, notably St Nicholas and Sinterklaas, merged with the British character Father Christmas to create the character known to Britons and Americans as Santa Claus. Father Christmas dates back at least as far as the 17th century in Britain, and pictures of him survive from that era, portraying him as a jolly well-nourished bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, and was reflected as the "Ghost of Christmas Present", in Charles Dickens Festive classic “A Christmas Carol”, a great genial man in a green coat lined with fur who takes Scrooge through the bustling streets of London on the current Christmas morning, sprinkling the essence of Christmas onto the happy populace.

In other countries, the figure of Saint Nicholas was also blended with local folklore. As an example of the still surviving pagan imagery, in Nordic countries the original bringer of gifts at Christmas time was the Yule Goat, a somewhat startling figure with horns.

In the 1840s however, an elf in Nordic folklore called "Tomte" or "Nisse" started to deliver the Christmas presents in Denmark. The Tomte was portrayed as a short, bearded man dressed in gray clothes and a red hat. This new version of the age-old folkloric creature was obviously inspired by the Santa Claus traditions that were now spreading to Scandinavia. By the end of the 19th century this tradition had also spread to Norway and Sweden, replacing the Yule Goat. The same thing happened in Finland, but there the more human figure retained the Yule Goat name. But even though the tradition of the Yule Goat as a bringer of presents is now all but extinct, a straw goat is still a common Christmas decoration in all of Scandinavia.

In the British colonies of North America and later the United States, British and Dutch versions of the gift-giver merged further. For example, in Washington Irving's History of New York, (1809), Sinterklaas was Americanized into "Santa Claus" (a name first used in the American press in 1773) but lost his bishop’s apparel, and was at first pictured as a thick-bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat. Irving’s book was a lampoon of the Dutch culture of New York, and much of this portrait is his joking invention.

Some modern ideas of Santa Claus seemingly became canon after the publication of the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (better known today as "The Night Before Christmas") in the Troy, New York, Sentinel on December 23, 1823 anonymously; the poem was later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore. Although many of his modern attributes are established in this poem, such as riding in a sleigh that lands on the roof, entering through the chimney, and having a bag full of toys, St. Nick is not described in this work as being a large man. Quite the contrary, he is depicted as a small elf. When he first appears in the poem, he is described as "a little old driver"; his sleigh is "miniature." His reindeer (named for the first time in this poem) are "tiny." Later in the poem, St. Nick's mouth is described as "little" and he has a "little round belly." He is a "jolly old elf." Nowhere in the poem is he characterized as being the big guy that he is today.

As years pass, Santa evolves in popular culture into a large, heavyset person. One of the first artists to define Santa Claus's modern image was Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist of the 19th century. In 1863, a picture of Santa illustrated by Nast appeared in Harper's Weekly. While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the American Santa, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

The story that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole may also have been a Nast creation. His Christmas image in the Harper’s issue dated December 29, 1866 was a collage of engravings titled Santa Claus and His Works, which included the caption "Santa Claussville, N.P." A color collection of Nast's pictures, published in 1869, had a poem also titled "Santa Claus and His Works" by George P. Webster, who wrote that Santa’s home was "near the North Pole, in the ice and snow". The legend had become well known by the 1870s. A boy from Colorado writing to the children's magazine The Nursery in late 1874 said, "If we didn't live so very far from the North Pole, I should ask Santa Claus to bring me a donkey."

L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, a 1902 children's book, further popularized Santa Claus. Much of Santa Claus’s mythos was not set in stone at the time, leaving Baum to give his "Neclaus" (Necile’s Little One) a wide variety of immortal support, a home in the Laughing Valley of Hohaho, and ten reindeer which could not fly, but leapt in enormous, flight-like bounds. Claus's immortality was earned, much like his title ("Santa"), decided by a vote of those naturally immortal. This work also established Claus’s motives: a happy childhood among immortals. When Ak, Master Woodsman of the World, exposes him to the misery and poverty of children in the outside world, Santa strives to find a way to bring joy into the lives of all children, and eventually invents toys as a principal means.

Images of Santa Claus were further popularized through Haddon Sundblom’s depiction of him for The Coca-Cola Company’s Christmas advertising in the 1930s. The popularity of the image spawned urban legends that Santa Claus was invented by The Coca-Cola Company or that Santa wears red and white because they are the colors used to promote the Coca-Cola brand. Historically, Coca-Cola was not the first soft drink company to utilize the modern image of Santa Claus in its advertising – White Rock Beverages used Santa to sell mineral water in 1915 and then in advertisements for its ginger ale in 1923. Further, the Coca-Cola advertising campaign had the effect of popularizing the depiction of Santa as wearing red and white, in contrast to the variety of colors he wore prior to that campaign; red and white was originally given by Nast.

The image of Santa Claus as a benevolent character became reinforced with its association with charity and philanthropy, particularly by organizations such as the Salvation Army. Volunteers dressed as Santa Claus typically became part of fundraising drives to aid needy families at Christmas time.

The idea of a wife for Santa Claus may have been the creation of American authors, beginning in the mid-1800s. In 1889, the poet Katherine Lee Bates popularized Mrs. Claus in the poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride". The 1956 popular song by George Melachrino, "Mrs. Santa Claus", and the 1963 children's book “How Mrs. Santa Claus Saved Christmas”, by Phyllis McGinley, helped standardize and establish the character and role in the popular imagination.

In some images from the early 20th century, Santa was depicted as personally making his toys by hand in a small workshop like a craftsman. Eventually, the idea emerged that he had numerous elves responsible for making the toys, but the toys were still handmade by each individual elf working in the traditional manner.

The concept of Santa Claus continues to inspire writers and artists, as in author Seabury Quinn’s 1948 novel Roads, which draws from historical legends to tell the story of Santa and the origins of Christmas. Other modern additions to the "mythology" of Santa include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the ninth and lead reindeer immortalized in a Gene Autry song, written by a Montgomery Ward copywriter.

The tradition of Santa Claus entering dwellings through the chimney may reach back to the tale of Saint Nicholas tossing coins through a window, and, in a later version of the tale, tossing coins down a chimney when he finds the window locked. In a well known story illustrating St, Nicholas' benevolence, we find two of the basic principles of the holiday spirit - giving to others and helping the less fortunate - as well as the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace. According to this legend, there were three Italian maidens whose families had fallen on hard times. Because their father could not afford the dowries necessary for them to marry, he was considering selling one of his daughters into slavery to get dowries for the other two. When the good saint heard of the family's plight, he went to their home late one night and anonymously tossed three bags of gold down the chimney. Miraculously, a bag fell into each of the sisters stockings, were hanging by the fire to dry. His kindhearted gift made it possible for all three sisters to marry. A variation of this story is that as each girl was ready to wed, St. Nicholas came in the middle of the night when no one could see him and tossed a bag of gold through an open window into her stocking. The idea of gifts being delivered through an open window may have begun as a way to explain how Santa enters homes that have no chimney.

In Dutch artist Jan Steen's painting, The Feast of Saint Nicholas, adults and toddlers are glancing up a chimney with amazement on their faces while other children play with their toys. The hearth was held sacred in primitive belief as a source of beneficence, and popular belief had elves and fairies bringing gifts to the house through this portal. Santa's entrance into homes on Christmas Eve via the chimney was made part of American tradition through Moore's A Visit from Saint Nicholas where the author described him as an elf.

In the United States and Canada, children traditionally leave Santa a glass of milk and a plate of cookies; in Britain and Australia, he is sometimes given sherry and mince pies instead. In Sweden, children leave brownies. In Ireland it is popular to give him Guinness or milk, along with cookies or mince pies.

British, Australian, Irish, Canadian and American children also leave a carrot for Santa's reindeer, and were traditionally told that if they are not good all year round, that they will receive a lump of coal in their stockings, although this practice is now considered archaic. Children following the Dutch custom for Sinterklaas will "put out their shoe" — that is, leave hay and a carrot for his horse in a shoe before going to bed—sometimes weeks before the Sinterklaas Avond. The next morning they will find the hay and carrot replaced by a gift; often, this is a marzipan figurine. Naughty children were once told that they would be left a roe (a bundle of sticks) instead of sweets, but this practice has been discontinued.

Other Christmas Eve Santa Claus rituals in the United States include reading Clement Clark Moore's A Visit from St. Nicholas or other tale about Santa Claus, watching a Santa or Christmas-related animated program on television (such as the aforementioned Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and similar specials, such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, among many others), and the singing of Santa Claus songs such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Here Comes Santa Claus, and Up on the Housetop. Last minute rituals for children before going to bed include aligning stockings at the mantelpiece or other place where Santa cannot fail to see them, peeking up the chimney (in homes with a fireplace), glancing out a window and scanning the heavens for Santa's sleigh, and (in homes without a fireplace), unlocking an exterior door so Santa can easily enter the house. Tags on gifts for children are sometimes signed by their parents, "From Santa Claus" before the gifts are laid beneath the tree.

There has long been some opposition to teaching children to believe in Santa Claus. Some Christians say the Santa tradition detracts from the religious origins and purpose of Christmas. Other critics feel that Santa Claus is an elaborate lie, and that it is unethical for parents to teach their children to believe in his existence. Still others oppose Santa Claus as a symbol of the commercialization of the Christmas holiday, or as an intrusion upon their own national traditions. Others point out that the Claus tradition is a good example of how children can learn that they may be deliberately misled by their elders; this will help teach them to be cautious about accepting any other superstition or unsubstantiated belief.

Despite Santa Claus's claims of some of his mixed Christian roots, he has become a secular representation of Christmas. As such, a small number of primarily Protestant fundamentalist Christian churches dislike the secular focus on Santa Claus and the materialist focus that gift giving brings to the holiday. Such a condemnation of Christmas is not a twentieth century phenomenon, but originated among some Protestant groups of the 16th century and was prevalent among the Puritans of 17th century England and colonial America who banned the holiday as either pagan or Roman Catholic. Christmas was made legal with the Restoration but the Puritan opposition to the holiday persisted in New England for almost two centuries.

Following the Restoration of the monarchy and with Puritans out of power in England, the ban on Christmas was satirized in works such as Josiah King's The Examination and Trial of Old Father Christmas; Together with his Clearing by the Jury (1686) [Nissenbaum, chap. 1].
Rev. Paul Nedergaard, a clergyman in Copenhagen, Denmark, attracted controversy in 1958 when he declared Santa to be a "pagan goblin" after Santa's image was used on fund-raising materials for a Danish welfare organization Clar, 337. One prominent religious group that refuses to celebrate Santa Claus, or Christmas itself, for similar reasons is the Jehovah's Witnesses. A number of denominations of Christians have varying concerns about Santa Claus, which range from acceptance to denouncement.

Some Christians would prefer that the focus be given on the actual birth of Jesus, recognizing that Christmas stemmed from pagan festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia and Germanic Yule which were subsumed within ancient Christianity. An even smaller subset of nominally Reformed Christians actually prefer the secularized version of the holiday for the same reasons, citing that to relegate Christ's birth to a day so very obviously inaccurate to its actual occurrence is, in fact, an abomination.

Some parents are uncomfortable about lying to their children about the existence of Santa. Some fundamentalist parents worry that their children might think that if they were deceived by their parents about Santa Claus, they might be deceiving them about God's existence as well. While the viewpoints of fundamentalists do not represent the majority of Christians, their comments have drawn the attention of critics such as the fictional Landover Baptist Church, whose website satirizes and parodies the fundamentalist viewpoint.

In his book Nicholas: The Epic Journey from Saint to Santa Claus, writer Jeremy Seal describes how the commercialization of the Santa Claus legend began in the 1800s. "In the 1820s he began to acquire the recognizable trappings: reindeer, sleigh, bells," said Seal in an interview. "They are simply the actual bearings in the world from which he emerged. At that time, sleighs were how you got about Manhattan."

Writing in Mothering, writer Carol Jean-Swanson makes similar points, noting that the original figure of St. Nicholas gave only to those who were needy and that today Santa Claus seems to be more about conspicuous consumption:

“Our jolly old Saint Nicholas reflects our culture to a T, for he is fanciful, exuberant, bountiful, over-weight, and highly commercial. He also mirrors some of our highest ideals: childhood purity and innocence, selfless giving, unfaltering love, justice, and mercy. (What child has ever received a coal for Christmas?) The problem is that, in the process, he has become burdened with some of society's greatest challenges: materialism, corporate greed, and domination by the media. Here, Santa carries more in his baggage than toys alone!”

In the Czech Republic, a group of advertising professionals started a website against Santa Claus, a relatively recent phenomenon in that country. "Czech Christmases are intimate and magical. All that Santa stuff seems to me like cheap show business," said David König of the Creative Copywriters Club, pointing out that it is primarily an American and British tradition. "I'm not against Santa himself. I'm against Santa in my country only." In the Czech tradition, presents are delivered by Ježíšek, which translates as Baby Jesus.

http://www.networkeurope.org/feature/why-czechs-feel-santa-has-outstayed-his-welcome

http://www.anti-santa.cz/index_en.php

In the United Kingdom, Santa—or Father Christmas -- was historically depicted wearing a green cloak. More recently, that has been changed to the more commonly known red suit. One school in the seaside town of Brighton banned the use of a red suit for erroneously believing it was only indicative of the Coca-Cola advertising campaign. School spokesman Sarah James said: "The red-suited Santa was created as a marketing tool by Coca-Cola, it is a symbol of commercialism." In reality, the red-suited Santa was created by Thomas Nast. Woolley posits that it is perhaps "kinship with the adult world" that causes children not to be angry that they were lied to for so long. The criticism about this deception is not that it is a simple lie, but a complicated series of very large lies. The objections to the lie are that it is unethical for parents to lie to children without good cause, and that it discourages healthy skepticism in children. With no greater good at the heart of the lie, it is charged that it is more about the parents than it is about the children. Writer Austin Cline posed the question: "Is it not possible that kids would find at least as much pleasure in knowing that parents are responsible for Christmas, not a supernatural stranger?"

Others, however, see no harm in the belief in Santa Claus. Psychologist Tamar Murachver said in that it was a cultural, not parental, lie; thus, it does not undermine parental trust. The New Zealand Skeptics also see no harm in parents telling their children that Santa is real. Spokesperson Vicki Hyde said, "It would be a hard-hearted parent indeed who frowned upon the innocent joys of our children's cultural heritage. We save our “bah humbugs” for the things that exploit the vulnerable."

Dr. John Condry of Cornell University interviewed more than 500 children for a study of the issue and found that not a single child was angry at his or her parents for telling them Santa Claus was real. According to Dr. Condry, "The most common response to finding out the truth was that they felt older and more mature. They now knew something that the younger kids didn't."

Islamic opposition in Bosnia: Santa Claus has been banned by the director of pre-school education in predominantly Muslim Sarajevo on 21 December 2008 on the grounds that he plays no part in Bosniak tradition.

The controversial attack is the culmination of a long history of unsuccessful efforts by nationalists with Islamic leanings to ban him out the country. The struggle first emerged in the aftermath of the Bosnian war when the wartime president, Alija Izetbegović, attempted to declare Santa Claus a communist-era 'fabrication'. Although at the time Izetbegović's efforts were blocked after a public outcry, this time it was done by Arzija Mahmutović, director of the Children of Sarajevo group of public nurseries, apparently successfully.

I will close Part 2 of the “Twelve Days Of Christmas” series with a little list of how Santa Claus is known in various countries. Enjoy!

Europe and North America

Throughout Europe and North America, Santa Claus is generally known as such, but in some countries the gift-giver's name, attributes, date of arrival, and even identity varies.

Albania

Austria: Christkind ("Christ child")

Armenia: Ձմեռ Պապիկ (Dzmer Papik "Grandfather Winter")

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Djeda Mraz (Ded Moroz, "Grandfather Frost")

Bulgaria: Дядо Коледа ("Grandfather Christmas")

Canada: Santa Claus; Père Noël ("Father Christmas")

Croatia: Djed Mraz ("Grandfather Frost") or Djed Božičnjak ("Grandfather Christmas")

Czech Republic: Svatý Mikuláš ("Saint Nicholas") - he brings gifts in evening of 5 December, day before his holiday. He often gives sweets and fruits (for nice kids) and potatoes and coal (for naughty kids);

Ježíšek ( "child Jesus") - brings gifts in evening of 24th December (which differs from Santa Claus's　gifting during night between 24th and 25th December) - kids are unpacking gifts in evening already.

Denmark: Julemanden

Estonia: Jõuluvana

Faroe Islands: Jólamaðurin

Finland: Joulupukki

France: Père Noël ("Father Christmas," also a common figure in other French-speaking areas)

Germany: Weihnachtsmann ("Christmas Man"); Christkind in southern Germany

Greece, Cyprus: Άγιος Βασίλης ("Saint Basil")

Hungary: Mikulás ("Nicholas"); Télapó ("Old Man Winter"); Jézuska or Kis Jézus ("child Jesus")

Iceland: Jólasveinn ("Yule Man"). See also the 13 Yule Lads (jólasveinarnir).

Republic of Ireland: Santa Claus, Santy or Daidí na Nollag (Father Christmas)

Italy: Babbo Natale ("Father Christmas"); La Befana (similar to Santa Claus; she rides a broomstick rather than a sleigh, but is not considered a witch); Santa Lucia ("Saint Lucy," a blind old woman who on December 13 brings gifts to children in some regions, riding a donkey); Gesù bambino ("Child Jesus")

Latvia: Ziemassvētku vecītis ("Christmas pop")

Liechtenstein: Christkind

Lithuania: Senis Šaltis ("Old Man Frost") or Kalėdų Senelis ("Christmas Grandfather")

Netherlands & Flanders: Kerstman ("Christmas Man")

Macedonia: Дедо Мраз / Dedo Mraz

Norway: Julenissen

Poland: Święty Mikołaj / Mikołaj ("Saint Nicholas"); Gwiazdor in some regions

Portugal: Pai Natal

Romania,Moldova: Moş Crăciun ("Father Christmas"); Moş Niculae ("Father Nicholas")

Russia: Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz, "Grandfather Frost")

Serbia: Дедa Мрaз / Deda Mraz (Ded Moroz, "Grandfather Frost")

Spain: Reyes Magos (Biblical Magi) is the autochthonous tradition, and representations of the Magi are done in the streets the 6th of January. Due to external influence, Santa Claus (Papá Noel) is becoming more common. Many families have adopted both traditions.

Catalonia: Apart from the Reis Mags (Biblical Magi) tradition, in Catalonia there is another local tradition, the Tió de Nadal. Usually this character gives small gifts, the more important gifts being given by the Reis Mags. As in the rest of Spain, the imported Pare Noel (Santa Claus) tradition is becoming more common.

Sweden: Jultomten

Switzerland: Christkind / Babbo Natale / Père Noël

Turkey: Noel Baba ("Father Christmas") Although Turks are mainly Islamic, many homes carry the tradition of "Noel Baba" and a Christmas (or New Year) tree.

Turkmenistan: Aýaz baba ("Father Christmas")

Ukraine: Svyatyy Mykolay; Дід Мороз / Did Moroz.

United Kingdom: Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Santa, Siôn Corn ("Chimney John" in Welsh)

United States: Santa Claus; Kris Kringle; Saint Nicholas or Saint Nick

Latin America

Santa Claus in Latin America is generally referred to as Papá Noel, but there are variations from country to country.

Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay and Venezuela: Papá Noel ("Father Christmas"), Niño Jesús (Baby Jesus)

Brazil: Papai Noel (Father Christmas); Os Três Reis Magos ("The Three Mage Kings")

Chile: Viejito Pascuero (Christmas old man)

Mexico: Santo Clós (Santa Claus); Niño Dios (lit. "child God" i.e. child Jesus); Los Reyes Magos ("The Wise Men")

Asia

People around Asia, particularly countries that have adopted Western cultures, also celebrate Christmas and the gift-giver traditions passed down to them from the West. Some countries that observe and celebrate Christmas (especially as a public holiday) include Hong Kong, Philippines, East Timor, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and the Christian communities within Central Asia and the Middle East.

Asia: Santa Claus

China: 聖誕老人 (pinyin: shèngdànlǎorén lit. Christmas old man)

Hong Kong: 聖誕老人 (jyutping: sing3 daan3 lou5 jan4 lit. Christmas old man) Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas

India Dada ("Christmas old man"), Thatha("Christmas old man" in telugu)

Japan: サンタさん、サンタクロース (romaji: santa-san (lit. Mr. Santa) santa kurōsu)

Korea: 산타 클로스 ("santa kullosu")

Vietnam: Ông già Noel ("The Christmas old man")

Africa and the Middle East

Christians in Africa and Middle East who celebrate Christmas generally ascribe to the gift-giver traditions passed down to them by Europeans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Descendants of colonizers still residing in these regions likewise continue the practices of their ancestors.

South Africa: Sinterklaas; Father Christmas; Santa Claus; Vader Kersfees

Lebanon: Papa Noel (Arabic: بابا نويل baba noel)

Egypt: Papa Noel (Arabic: بابا نويل baba noel)

Oceania

Australia Father Christmas, Santa Claus

New Zealand Father Christmas, Santa Claus

This Is Very Disappointing

2009-12-07T17:46:59Z

As reported on the web:Today, I went to the Harwin Central Mall; the very first store that you come to when you walk from the lobby of the building into the shopping area had this sign posted on its door. Muslims own the shop; I couldn’t stay in the building it made me so sick.

Feel free to share with others.

Imam Ali flew one of the planes into the twin towers.

Nice huh?

The Fundamental Transformation of America

2009-12-07T17:46:02Z

When Obama wrote a book and said he was mentored as a youth by Frank, (Frank Marshall Davis) an avowed Communist,

People said it didn't matter.

When it was discovered that his grandparents, were strong socialists, sent Obama's mother to a socialist school, introduced Frank Marshall Davis to young Obama,

People said it didn't matter.

When people found out that he was enrolled as a Muslim child in school and his father and step father were both Muslims,

People said it didn't matter.

When he wrote in another book he authored “I will stand with them (Muslims) should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

People said it didn't matter.

When he admittedly, in his book, said he chose Marxist friends and professors in college,

People said it didn't matter.

When he traveled to Pakistan , after college on an unknown national passport,

People said it didn't matter.

When he sought the endorsement of the Marxist party in 1996 as he ran for the Illinois Senate,

People said it doesn't matter.

When he sat in a Chicago Church for twenty years and listened to a preacher spew hatred for America and preach black liberation theology,

People said it didn't matter.

When an independent Washington organization, that tracks senate voting records, gave him the distinctive title as the "most liberal senator",

People said it didn't matter.

When the Palestinians in Gaza, set up a fund raising telethon to raise money for his election campaign,

People said it didn't matter.

When his voting record supported gun control,

People said it didn't matter.

When he refused to disclose who donated money to his election campaign, as other candidates had done,

People said it didn't matter.

When he received endorsements from people like Louis Farrakhan and Mummar Kadaffi and Hugo Chavez,

People said it didn't matter.

When it was pointed out that he was a total, newcomer and had absolutely no experience at anything except community organizing,

People said it didn't matter.

When he chose friends and acquaintances such as Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn who were revolutionary radicals,

People said it didn't matter.

When his voting record in the Illinois senate and in the U.S. Senate came into question,

People said it didn't matter.

When he refused to wear a flag, lapel pin and did so only after a public outcry,

People said it didn't matter.

When people started treating him as a Messiah and children in schools were taught to sing his praises,

People said it didn't matter.

When he stood with his hands over his groin area for the playing of the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance,

People said it didn't matter.

When he surrounded himself in the White house with advisors who were pro gun control, pro abortion, pro homosexual marriage and wanting to curtail freedom of speech to silence the opposition

People said it didn't matter.

When he aired his views on abortion, homosexuality and a host of other issues,

People said it didn't matter.

When he said he favors sex education in Kindergarten, including homosexual indoctrination,

People said it didn't matter.

When his background was either scrubbed or hidden and nothing could be found about him,

People said it didn't matter.

When the place of his birth was called into question, and he refused to produce a birth certificate,

People said it didn't matter.

When he had an association in Chicago with Tony Rezco, a man of questionable character, who is now in prison and had helped Obama to a sweet deal on the purchase of his home, people said it didn't matter.

When it became known that George Soros, a multi-billionaire Marxist, spent a ton of money to get him elected,

people said it didn't matter.

When he started appointing czars that were radicals, revolutionaries, and even avowed Marxist/Communist,

People said it didn't matter.

When he stood before the nation and told us that his intentions were to "fundamentally transform this nation" into something else,

People said it didn't matter.

When it became known that he had trained ACORN workers in Chicago and served as an attorney for ACORN,

People said it didn't matter.

When he appointed cabinet members and several advisors who were tax cheats and socialists,

People said it didn't matter.

When he appointed a science czar, John Holdren, who believes in forced abortions, mass sterilizations and seizing babies from teen mothers,

People said it didn't matter.

When he appointed Cass Sunstein as regulatory czar and he believes in "Explicit Consent", harvesting human organs with out family consent, and to allow animals to be represented in court, while banning all hunting,

People said it didn't matter.

When he appointed Kevin Jennings, a homosexual, and organizer of a group called gay, lesbian, straight, Education network, as safe school czar and it became known that he had a history of bad advice to teenagers,

People said it didn't matter.

When he appointed Mark Lloyd as diversity czar and he believed in curtailing free speech, taking from one and giving to another to spread the wealth and admires Hugo Chavez,

People said it didn't matter.

When Valerie Jarrett was selected as Obama's senior White House advisor and she is an avowed Socialist,

People said it didn't matter.

When Anita Dunn, White House Communications director said Mao Tse Tung was her favorite philosopher and the person she turned to most for inspiration,

People said it didn't matter.

When he appointed Carol Browner as global warming czar, and she is a well known socialist working on Cap and trade as the nations largest tax,

People said it doesn't matter.

When he appointed Van Jones, an ex-con and avowed Communist as green energy czar, who since had to resign when this was made known,

People said it didn't matter.

When Tom Daschle, Obama's pick for health and human services secretary could not be confirmed, because he was a tax cheat,

People said it didn't matter.

When as president of the United States ,he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia ,

People said it didn't matter.

When he traveled around the world criticizing America and never once talking of her greatness,

People said it didn't matter.

When his actions concerning the middle-east seemed to support the Palestinians over Israel , our long time friend,

People said it doesn't matter.

When he took American tax dollars to resettle thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to the United States ,

People said it doesn't matter.

When he upset the Europeans by removing plans for a missile defense system against the Russians,

People said it doesn't matter.

When he played politics in Afghanistan by not sending troops the Field Commanders said we had to have to win,

People said it didn't matter.

When he started spending us into a debt that was so big we could not pay it off,

People said it didn't matter.

When he took a huge spending bill under the guise of stimulus and used it to pay off organizations, unions and individuals that got him elected,

People said it didn't matter.

When he took over insurance companies, car companies, banks, etc.

People said it didn't matter.

When he took away student loans from the banks and put it through the government,

People said it didn't matter.

When he designed plans to take over the health care system and put it under government control,

People said it didn't matter.

When he set into motion a plan to take over the control of all energy in the United States through Cap and Trade,

People said it didn't matter.

When he finally completed his transformation of America into a Socialist State , people finally woke up........ but it was too late.

Any one of these things, in and of themselves does not really matter. But.... when you add them up one by one you get a phenomenal score that points to the fact that our Obama is determined to make America over into a Marxist/Socialist society. All of the items in the preceding paragraphs have been put into place. All can be documented very easily. Before you disavow this, do an internet search. The last paragraph alone is not yet cast in stone. You and I will write that paragraph. Will it read as above or will it be a more happy ending for most of America ? Personally, I like happy endings. If you are an Obama Supporter, please do not be angry with me because I think your president is a socialist. There are too many facts supporting this. If you seek the truth you will be richer for it. Don't just belittle the opposition. Search for the truth. I did. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Constitutionalist, Libertarians and what have you, we all need to pull together. We all must pull together or watch the demise of a society that we all love and cherish. If you are a religious person, pray for our nation.

Never before in the history of America have we been confronted with problems so huge that the very existence of our country is in jeopardy. Don't rely on most television news and what you read in the newspapers for the truth. Search the internet. Yes, there is a lot of bad information, lies and distortions there too but you are smart enough to spot the fallacies. Newspapers are a dying breed. They are currently seeking a bailout from the government. Do you really think they are about to print the truth? Obama praises all the television news networks except Fox who he has waged war against. There must be a reason. He does not call them down on any specifics, just a general battle against them. If they lie, he should call them out on it but he doesn't. Please, find the truth, it will set you free. Our biggest enemy is not China , Russia , or Iran ; no, our biggest enemy is a contingent of politicians in Washington DC.

Twelve Days Of Christmas, Part 1

2009-12-07T17:45:03Z

Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice.

Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return. Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits. In Northern Europe, the ancient Germanic people tied fruit and attached candles to evergreen tree branches, in honor of their god Woden. Trees were viewed as symbolizing eternal life. This is the deity after which Wednesday was named. The trees joined holly, mistletoe, the wassail bowl, and the Yule log as symbols of the season. All of which predated Christianity.

The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death. They used mainly date palms, but all palm trees are considered evergreens.

Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. Replicas of Bacchus, (a fertility god) were placed on the boughs, and 12 candles in honor of their sun god. The mid-winter festival started on the 17th of December and often lasted until a few days after the Solstice. The Greeks decorated an evergreen tree to worship their god Adonia, who allegedly was brought back to life by the serpent Aessulapius after having been slain. In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.

Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. But, Christians feel that Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. What they don’t say is that Germans called these trees “Paradeisbaum” (Paradise Trees).

St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. This oak tree was not just any oak tree, it was Thor’s Oak (also known as Donar’s Oak), a hallowed tree for the locals. This tree stood near the village of Geismar (today part of the town of Fritzlar) in northern Hesse, and was a main point of veneration of the Germanic deity known among the West Germanic Chatti tribes as “Donar”(High German: Donner = thunder) and to northern Germanics as Thor. In 723, and in a fit of rage, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. This marked the beginning of the Christianization process of the non-Frankish tribes of northern Germany. St. Boniface, (was known at the time as the Anglo-Saxon missionary Winfrid) felled the great tree to convey the superiority of his cult over theirs. According to Christian recounts, “a great wind” fell the tree, splitting into four pieces, exposing a new seedling. While this was dismissed as a myth, the symbolism of this is the death of Paganism and the birth of Christianity in the region. Winfrid did, however, use the wood of the oak to build a chapel in Fritzlar.

Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles, if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one crisp winter evening around the year 1500, composing a sermon, he was awed by the beauty of a group of evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. He was struck by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles. Christian recounting says he lighted the candles in honor of Christ’s birth.

Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. Some counts say that the tradition started with the Hessian troops during the Revolutionary War. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.

It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims' second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The Puritans banned Christmas in New England. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. Even as late as 1851, Henry Schwan, a Cleveland pastor, nearly lost his job because he allowed a tree in his church. In the mid-1850’s, President Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) arranged to have the first Christmas tree in the White House. Schools in Boston stayed open on Christmas Day through 1870, and sometimes expelled students who stayed home. That stern solemnity continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.

In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived.

The Christmas tree market was born in 1851 when Catskill farmer Mark Carr hauled two ox sleds of evergreens into New York City and sold them all. By 1900, one in five American families had a Christmas tree, and 20 years later, the custom was nearly universal.

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.

The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition. It was President Calvin Coolidge (1885-1933) who started the National Christmas Tree Lightning Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.

Christmas tree farms sprang up during the depression. Nurserymen couldn't sell their evergreens for landscaping, so they cut them for Christmas trees. Cultivated trees were preferred because they have a more symmetrical shape then wild ones.

So here is a little bit of trivia facts for you:

1. As many as 30 million live (real) Christmas trees are sold every year in the United States. In 2004, live Christmas tree sales amounted to more than $506 billion in revenue for America's 22,000 tree farms. The state leader in Christmas tree production is Oregon, with sales of $143 million.For every live Christmas tree that is harvested, three seedlings are planted in its place.

2. It takes an average of seven years for a Christmas tree to reach six feet tall. Some trees take as long as 15 years to grow to their harvesting height; others reach it in as little as four years.

3. China is the leading manufacturer of artificial Christmas trees. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, more than 80 percent of artificial trees are made in China.

4. In 2005, Americans spent more money on Chinese-made Christmas ornaments ($561 million) than on Christmas trees grown in the United States.

5. Six species account for about 90 percent of the nation's Christmas tree trade. Scotch pine ranks first, comprising about 40 percent of the market, followed by Douglas fir which accounts for about 35 percent. The other big sellers are noble fir, white pine, balsam fir and white spruce.

The Bible and Christmas Trees:

In the past, there have been many objections to Christmas trees, and the Holy Bible is no exception:

Ø The Prophet Jeremiah condemned as Pagan the ancient Middle Eastern practice of cutting down trees, bringing them into the homes and decorating them. Apparently, in Jeremiah’s time the “heathen” would cut down trees, carve or decorate them in the form of a god or goddess, and lay it with precious metals. Some Christians feel that this Pagan practice was similar enough to our present use of Christmas trees that this passage from Jeremiah can be used to condemn both:

Jeremiah Chapter 10

2: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3: For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4: They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.:

(KLV)

Some Fundamentalist Christian groups opposed Christmas trees and even the celebration of Christmas for their members. This includes the Jehovah’s Witnesses and, until recently, the Worldwide Church of God. Part of the opposition is because the custom of decorated trees originated in Paganism. They also oppose trees because of literal interpretation of the quotation from Jeremiah.

Triple Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

2009-12-06T23:42:55Z

For one 9-inch round cheesecake, you will need:

16 ounces of softened cream cheese

½ Cup white sugar

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

¾ Cup canned pumpkin

¾ Teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ Teaspoon ground cloves

¼ Teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (If you can’t find pumpkin spice, you can make it: ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground ginger, 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ground allspice.)

1 Cup Cool-whip

9-inch prepared pie crust (graham cracker is recommended)

1 Tablespoon cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg combined to your liking (go easy on the cloves)

For a 9”X13” pan, double the recipe. For an easier step on the crust, take two 9” graham crusts and crumble them into the bottom of the 9”x13” pan. Bake in oven according to instructions until golden. Feel free to pour the cheesecake in the warm crust. It will help adhere the crust.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Step-by-step:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).

2. Combined softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and mix extremely well. Add your eggs one by one until the mixture is evenly colored and not too runny.

3. Take 1 cup of the batter out and spread it over the bottom of your pie crust for layer #1.

4. To the remaining batter, add your pumpkin, ¾ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Blend well.

5. Carefully pour the pumpkin batter over the plain cheesecake batter. With a spatula, lightly spread the pumpkin until it fills the pie crust evenly. The pie won’t be evenly flat; it should probably round a little in the center—that’s okay. This is layer #2.

6. I place my pie on a baking sheet to protect it from spill over, but each to his own. Either way, put it in the oven on the top rack and bake for 35 minutes.

7. When you take the cheesecake out, it’ll still wobble a little but should be slightly golden on the sides. Allow it to cool completely.

8. In a bowl, gently mix your whipped topping and the mixture of seasonings at the bottom of the ingredients list. Fold the whipped topping over the top of the cooled pie for Layer #3.

Alternatively, you could spread your cool whips topping and then lightly dust the top with the mixture of seasonings.

9. Allow the pie to sit in the fridge overnight (or at least 4 hours) before serving.

-----------------------------------------------

It’s great with your favorite coffee. I suggest a spicy coffee, or chai tea.

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 6th

2009-12-06T23:42:07Z

"And that, I guess, is what it all boils down to; do the right thing, everything goes fine; do the wrong thing, everything's a mess."

--Robert Spott, YUROK

The Elders say every person is born with free will and every person has a specific purpose to accomplish during their lifetime. When our life is relatively free from obstacles we are walking the path of God's will. If our life is full of obstacles, we are not doing the will of God. Often, the Great Spirit guides us through a system of coincidences. We need to pay attention to coincidences. If we are aware of these, we often can recognize the path which God is showing us. We need to pray and ask Him to show us the path in terms we can understand.

Oh, Great Mystery, let me recognize the coincidences.

History Of the Yule

2009-12-06T23:39:35Z

Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, has so many traditions associated with it that there are entire books dedicated to this subject. Many of the customs will be quite familiar as they have been adopted by other religions into their practices, and that is how much of the tradition has survived.

Firstly, Yule, or the Winter Solstice, occurs when the Sun enters the sign Capricorn, and is at 0 ° Capricorn. Thus, Yule is a "minor" Sabbat because it is at zero degrees, the beginning of the energy. This is the longest night of the year, at the darkest time of the year. In ancient times, it was believed that the Sun needed our help to return, so the people would light bonfires both to strenghthen the Sun through sympathetic magic and also to show the Sun the way back to the earth. Lighted candles in windows and lights on houses and trees (Christmas tree lights) are the leftover symbols of these bonfires, and are meant to symbolize and aid the return of the Sun.

This was also a season of the year when the herds were culled, as there was only enough food to feed the strong and young who would be needed to breed in the spring. Weak cattle who may not survive the winter anyway were sacrificed, or just slaughtered, and used for feasting, or salted and saved. They were also traded, along with many other items, for this time of year, many people had time on their hands. The hunting was harder now because of the weather, and there was no agricultural concerns going on in the northern areas, so people had time to create and make things. The gifts that some of us still exchange at Yule originally were from trading what one had extra for what one lacked. During the Kalends in Rome, January 1-3, handmade gifts were exchanged, and this tradition also took place in Egypt at their new year, where people exhcanged scent bottles and scarabs for good luck in the coming year. We still exchange gifts at Yule, the only rule we adhere to is that they must be handmade - and I have always been the lucky recipient of the most excellent crafted things imaginable!

The main focus of most Yuletide celebrations is the rebirth of the Sun, as this is when the Goddess gives birth to the Sun in many traditions. In addition to the theme of birth, we also have the theme of death, symbolized by the Yule log. The ancient druids worshiped the Great Trees, symbolic of the Gods, and often sang or chanted to them and poured libations to them, as well as made other offerings. The custom of "wassailing" is a descendent of of the druids "wassailing" the trees. The word means to "wish good health to" and at one time was associated with many other holidays, not just this one. The Yule log is also "wassailed", being decorated with mistletoe, holly, ivy, red berries, and bright ribbons, and having libations poured over it, and also being sung to, especially while it is burning. The Yule log symbolized the sacrificed god, since the druids believed that only the sacrifice of a Great Tree was strong enough to bring back the Sun. In Rome, their Yule log was expected to burn during the entire 12 days of the Saturnalia, a mighty Tree indeed! Pieces of the Yule log were then kept to protect the home and family throughout the coming year, and also used to light the following years log. This is the last traces of the Perpetual Fire that was once kept in honor of many Gods and Goddesses.

Many of the older celebrations were extremely baudy and a time for regular hierarchies in society to be turned around. During the Saturnalia, for example, slaves were allowed freedom, there was cross-dressing between the sexes and also between the classes. Inhibitions and prohibitions were mostly lifted, and drunkeness and lascivity were allowed. This kind of behavior was associated with many of the traditions celebrated at the Winter Solstice, and even carried through to the Middle Ages. So much so, that the Puritans in England, and in New England, forbid the practice of Christmas, saying that it was a Pagan holiday, and would not allow it in their religion. The Christmas season, as we know it, with it's high emphasis on the birth of Christ, on family reunions, and on gift-giving, is largely a product of our American culture, and is only about 150 years old, if that.

As far as the birth of Christ is concerned, prior to 354 AD there was no official date for the birth of Jesus. However, the Mithraic religion, as Chritianity's closest rival, celebrated the birth of Mithras on Dec. 25th. Constantine, the Roman emperor at that time, and more or less converted to Chrisianity himself (though not actually baptized until he was on his death- bed), was being pressured by the Christian priests to ban this Pagan holiday. Contstantine was a pragmatic ruler, by all accounts, and he knew that the common people would either revolt, or celebrate it anyway. He therefore decreed that Dec. 25th was to be celebrated as the birth of Jesus. The observance of this date as Jesus' birthday was not actually accepted by Christians except in Rome. The Bible, and the early Christians, were much more interested in Christ's resurrection, as proof of immortality in Jesus, than in his birth.

Today, almost the only Christian sect to oppose celebrating Christmas is the Jehovah's Witnesses, who rightly recognize that the traditions carried out are totally Pagan in their origin. Especially the Christams tree, with it's garland, lights, and ornaments, has it's roots in the Druid worship of the Trees. The garland represents the circle of life, the never-ending cycles of the Goddess, and also the snake, which is a sacred animal to the Goddess. The lights, as discussed above, add energy to the Sun, and are an encouragement for the Sun's return. Glass balls were to reflect evil, thereby protecting against the "evil eye", and also to reflect the lights on the tree (originally candles on the tree) and increase the effectiveness of their light. Candy canes are a reminder of the renewal of all life as they are symbolic of the maypole, with their red and white colors, which stand for the blood and the milk of the Goddess, the ancient waters of life. Ti1nsel and icicles are fertility magic also, representing the rains which will come to fertilize the earth in the spring. Bells were used to purify the air, and to summon the friendly spirits for protection. The star at the top of the tree is our own pentagram, representing the four elements of air, earth, fire and water, overseen by Spirit.

Holly and Ivy were seen as the male and fenale principles (respectively) and were believed to bring good luck and fertility to men and women. Holly, berries, pine cones, and acorns were all used to signify the God aspect at this season, while the wreath symbolized the Goddess aspect. As a complete circle, the wreath symbolized the circle of life, the wheel of the year, and the sacred cycles of the Goddess, and was usually decorated with the holly, berries, ribbons, etc. of the God, and so combined both aspects in one decoration.

Of course, mistletoe has come down as the plant most associated with the Yule season. Being a parasite, it only grows high in trees, where the seeds land after being borne on the wind. The Druids therefore believed the plant was put there by the Gods, probably by lightning bolt, or put there by the Sun. It was believed to have miraculous healing powers, be very strong good luck, and have many other magical and mystical attributes, and thus was referred to as "the Golden Bough". In Scandanavian countries, enemies would often be reconciled underneath boughs containing mistletoe, and any contract thus made could never be broken. Thus comes our custom of kissing beneath the mistletoe.

There are many other customs from many cultures, as was mentioned earlier, and these are but a few. The Yuletide season was celebrated in almost every known civilization, and many traditions have survived in altered forms from many different cultures. Researching these customs is both informative and fascinating, and will enrich your knowledge and understanding of both your own Pagan roots, as well as the roots of other religions. em>

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 5th

2009-12-06T23:38:28Z

"I've had a long regard for generational things: pottery, cultural things, participation in dancing, and extended family. Only in that way does culture survive; only in that way is culture active.

--Tessie Naranjo, SANTA CLARA PUEBLO

Culture teaches us how to live and it ensures that knowledge about life is handed down from generation to generation. Culture gives us the feeling of belonging. It helps us raise our family in a good way. It teaches us how to treat one another. Culture sets boundaries for societies. We need to develop our culture. If we have left our culture, then we need to come back to it. Culture leads us back to the Great Spirit. Sometimes in our lives, we leave what we know works and experiment with something else. Then we get into trouble. So we need to come back home. Indian people are lucky to have a culture to return to.

Creator, thank you for the culture. Let me live it today.

A Letter From A Soldier

2009-12-06T23:10:17Z

I found this letter from a Soldier to back home, during the Civil War. Tally Simpson, a member of the 3rd South Carolina Volunteers writes from the trenches of Fredricksburg, where the Confederate Army, fighting under Generals Lee, Longstreet, and Jackson a few weeks earlier had halted a Federal advance towards Richmond by the Federal General Burnside's Army in December of 1862. You can find other letters in the book "Far, Far From Home". In light of the conditions that our Soldiers are in during this "festive" time of year, please consider our Soldiers in your thoughts and prayers.

From: Tally Simpson, Camp near Fredricksburg
To: Anna Simpson
Camp near Fred'burg
Dec. 25th, 1862

My dear Sister

This is Christmas Day. The sun shines feebly through a thin cloud, the air is mild and pleasant, [and] a gentle breeze is making music through the leaves of the lofty pines that stand near our bivouac. All is quiet and still, and that very stillness recalls some sad and painful thoughts.

This day, one year ago, how many thousand families, gay and joyous, celebrating Merry Christmas, drinking health to absent members of their family, and sending upon the wings of love and affection long, deep, and sincere wishes for their safe return to the loving ones at home, but today are clad in the deepest mourning in memory to some lost and loved member of their circle. If all the dead (those killed since the war began) could be heaped in one pile and all the wounded gathered together in one group, the pale faces of the dead and the groans of the wounded would send such thrill of horror through the hearts of the originators of this war that their very souls would rack with such pain that they would prefer being dead and in torment than to stand before God with such terrible crimes blackening their characters. Add to this the cries and wailings of the mourners—mothers and fathers weeping for their sons, sisters for their brothers, wives for their husbands, and daughters for their fathers—[and] how deep would be the convictions of their consciences.

Yet they do not seem to think of the affliction and distress they are scattering broadcast over the land. When will this war end? Will another Christmas roll around and find us all wintering in camp? Oh! That peace may soon be restored to our young but dearly beloved country and that we may all meet again in happiness.

But enough of these sad thoughts. We went on picket in town a few days ago. The pickets of both armies occupy the same positions now as they did before the battle. Our regret was quartered in the market place while the others occupied stores and private houses. I often read of sacked and pillaged towns in ancient history, but never, till I saw Fredricksburg, did I fully realize what one was. The houses, especially those on the river, are riddled with shell and ball. The stores have been broken open and deprived of every thing that was worth a shilling. Account books and notes and letters and papers both private and public were taken from their proper places and scattered over the streets and trampled under feet. Private property was ruined. Their Soldiers would sleep in the mansions of the wealthy and use the articles and food in the house at their pleasure. Several houses were destroyed by fire. Such a wreck and ruin I never wish to see again.

Yet notwithstanding all this, the few citizens who are now in town seem to be cheerful and perfectly resigned. Such true patriots are seldom found. This will ever be a noted place in history.

While we were there, Brig General Patrick, U.S.A., with several of his aides-de-camp, came over under flag of truce. Papers were exchanged, and several of our men brought pipes, gloves, etc. from the privates who rowed the boat across. They had plenty of liquor and laughed, drank, and conversed with our men as if they had been friends from boyhood.

There is nothing new going on. I am almost dead to hear from home. I have received no letters in nearly three weeks, and you can imagine how anxious I am. The mails are very irregular. I hope to get a letter soon. Dunlap Griffin is dead, died in Richmond of wounds received in the last battle. Capt Hance is doing very well. Frank Fleming is in bad condition. (He has been elected lieutenant since he left). Pres Hix came for the remains of Nap his brother and Johnnie Garlington yesterday and will take them to Richmond today. They will be carried home immediately. Tell Aunt Caroline Jim is getting on finely. Howdy to all the negros. I have received the bundle of clothes sent to Columbia. The bundle contained one shirt, one scarf, and two pairs of socks. At least I suppose it is the one you sent to Col[umbia] to be sent to Barnwell at Richmond. I am a thousand times obliged. When is Harry coming? Oh! That peace may soon be restored to our young but dearly beloved country and that we may all meet again in happiness.

Write to me quick right off. I wish to hear from you badly. Remember me to my friends and relatives, especially Pickens and Ligons. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain

Your bud
Tally

Elder's Meditation of the Day - Dec 4th

2009-12-06T23:09:31Z

"In the end I tell my children, there's no way I can tell you how to be an Acoma, how to be an Indian. You have to experience it."

--Stanley Paytiamo, ACOMA PUEBLO

Each person must make their own journey. It is like every human is given a life canoe. The canoe has one seat and one paddle. In order to get anything out of life we must be in the canoe and we must paddle down the river of life. Now, I can share with you how my journey has been, but I cannot paddle your canoe. You must paddle your own. Good luck!

Creator, I'm so glad I have You to guide my path.

The Lineage Of Brutus

2009-12-06T23:07:59Z

While digging through the data base the other day, I actually found some pictures of Brutus' father and other half-sister. This picture was taken on a sunny day when Jay Jay (Great Pyrenese, German Shepherd, St. Bernard, Collie) decided to chase one of Duang's cats. The cat got trapped on the second floor, and darted out onto the roof through a hole in the barn wall. The cat managed to quickly get down, but JayJay either wasn't sure how to get down, or simply wasn't ready. JayJay found a really good home with FreedomFarms.org, a no-kill adoption agency, but died during the final stage of heart worm treatment.

The other dog is Brutus' other half sister. She had to be sedated to be tended to as she was pretty much wild. She ended up dying from infection because she had a hole in her abdomen. Not sure if it was a fighting wound or a gun shot. I'm leaning towards the later.

This is Sheila, Brutus' other known half-sister. Sheila's mother is a German Shepherd mix. Sheila was my half-dog, since she was half-wild too. She remained on Holtkamp property when I moved and remains in the custody of Alan who takes pretty good care of her.