Morning Random Ruminations

It's snowing this morning, big flakes that fall hard and melt immediately on impact. Some of the flakes are so big they are more like clumps. I love the silence of snow. When it piles up, it mutes everything, and you can hear noises from far away. I read something in The Week about how snowflakes have bacteria in them. Seems like it was genus Actinomyces, or Acinetobacter, but a species that we haven't studied.
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Mike Gravel is running for President as a Libertarian

Have you heard of him? He served as a senator for Alaska for two terms. He just announced that he's switching to the Libertarian party and running for president. He helped get the trans-Alaska pipeline approved in 1973. I must say, I agree with him when he says "The fact is, the Democratic Party is no longer the party of FDR. It is a party that continues to sustain war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism -- all of which I find anathema to my views." He also said "The Democratic Party used to stand for the ordinary working man. But the Clintons and the DLC sold out the Democratic Party to Wall Street." He appears to be socially liberal (no issues with gay marriage, abortion, etc) but fiscally conservative. He supports eliminating the income tax, and getting the hell out of Iraq. This guy will be interesting to watch. I'm glad to see him, Nader and others, speaking up that the Democratic Party is no better at this juncture than the Republican Party. We need a new start. Here's Gravel's official campaign website: http://www.gravel2008.us/ ...

Geronimo the War Shaman

I recently re-purchased a copy of a book that I have read before. It is called Watch For Me on the Mountain by Forrest Carter. It is a story about Geronimo. I just read the first two chapters out loud to Suzanne. I had forgotten that they said Geronimo was a War Shaman. He would chant and dance alone with the spirits of the mountains. He could not be captured but only allowed himself to be captured in order to infiltrated enemy camps. He spoke little and was able to operate outside the bounds of time and space. The stories are amazing.
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Ron Paul Just Can't Quit

I laughed when I read this article in Newsweek. Ron Paul is still campaigning, even though there's no way he can beat McCain's delegate count. He says he would feel "badly" if he quit the cause now. Lots of supporters are out there cheering him on, and with their support, he just keeps going. The only misrepresentation is when the author says Dr. Paul has $5 million in the bank because of "massive online fund-raising efforts". Ron Paul has made no EFFORT to raise funds in the conventional sense. His "war chest" is full because the people have sent him money. Not corporations. Not business. People. People who care. Many of us are grateful to Ron Paul for being brave enough to speak out against an entrenched system that will do anything to stop him. A true leader is worth all that we have.
Here's the latest from Sarah Elkins:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/124451/page/1

Impeach the Shrubbery and Golub vs Pelosi

At least, that's what it sounds like from these emails I get from "The Pen". Why don't I hear about Impeachment from any of my other sources? You may recall that a while ago I was griping because Nancy Pelosi said "Impeachment is off the table" and proceded to work on everything but that. She is the speaker of the house, and as such, if both Bush and Cheney were impeached, she would be president. Nobody seems to want to talk about that possibility, least of all her.
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Oklahoma Homophobe in Congress: Sally Kern

If you're going to be a politician these days and believe what Sally Kern believes, you need to have metal detectors and first amendment zones and keep anyone from taping you when you say what you really think. This is a week or more old but it's important so I thought I'd bring it to your attention. This clip from Ellen was what first came to my attention:

( a link and some of my thoughts )

Don't Age So Fast: Eat Your Broccoli

Mercola digs up the best research. Here we have a study on how broccoli (and other cruciferous vegetables) helps wake up the immune system even when it lags from old age. Specifically a chemical called sulphoraphane in cruciferous veggies switches on phase II antioxidant genes in certain immune cells. These genes code for enzymes that help the liver detox things and help the tissues stop inflammation. Super good for you. Eat your broccoli. And don't cook it too much.
( links to some articles about it )