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Furniture Art

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

I just interviewed an Italian from Lake Como, Carlo Sampietro, for my blog. He is an artist, he is a visionary, and he’s funny.

Lately Carlo has been converting plastic newspaper boxes into household appliances, such as wine coolers, dishwashers, aquariums, and small green houses. He also uses other  materials such as glass for tables that he creates out of police barricades.  He also fashions chair out of  those large-ish orange cones that one would see on a highway. The whole concept is pretty unusual, yet it falls in line with Carlo’s way of life.

You see, Carlo doesn’t really know how to read or write in any language, but he has taught himself how to speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish by listening to it on the street. When I heard those words fall out of his mouth, the wheels in my head started to move. I thought: I have to teach him. And I insisted, I mean suggested for him to allow me to tutor him, if not for himself than for my peace of mind. This request was declined.

At first I could not grasp this concept of being okay with not being able to read or write at the best of his ability, but in retrospect, I guess I can understand. The whole not being able to read or write bit has caused Carlo to view the world in a different manner. I guess it improves his creativity in a sense. Another artist that I’m familiar with turned me onto to this notion. Although Carlo already told me this himself, I just figured it was an excuse. But, there may be truth to it.

This definitely opened my eyes to the world a little more. Hello Jane, there are people that don’t know how to read or write in this world who are alive and happy. No you don’t have to cry for them, because they are okay. (That’s another story which I will share with you on Thursday.) Gosh I have so much to say, I feel badly for my imaginary husband. (See I believe in marriage.) Huh, what am I saying? Any man would win the lottery of life if he were to marry me. That’s just a life fact.

Anyhow, allow me to return back to the moral of this story. If you’re looking for a piece of furniture or an appliance that will start up conversations when persons come for a visit, check out Carlo’s website at www.thestreetisinthehouse.com.

“Crush” Videos Have Nothing to do with Kindness nor Decency

Friday, May 7th, 2010

This is a relationship, love, and women’s issues site. We like to keep our readers abreast of how news affects our daily life.

I bring you this because we women, the sympathetic ones, are committing horrific acts of torture on puppies and kittens by impaling them with their high heels and video taping these cruelties, selling off the extended agony of innocent animals for profit (they die an exceedingly slow and viciously painful death). And get this—these videos are bought for sexual titillation.

I’m having a hard time keeping the vomit from coming out of my mouth as I write this. My goal is not to make all of you puke too, but to tell you so that we can ban together and stop this great injustice. There are more women living in America than men, so if we all act, we CAN end this.

Tell your best friends, your mother, your babysitter, your professors, your children’s teachers, the women you carpool with, the girls you eat lunch with, the shop girl at your favorite store that knows you by name. Tell everyone.  If President Obama can win an election via grassroots, then we can put an end to animal torture for sexual gratification and blood money.

Put up flyers. Write/email your governor, mayor, district attorney, write to January Jones, Mad Men actor and animal rights activist.

However, The Supreme Court will not act on this issue. The following comes from The Humane Society:

The U.S. Supreme Court recently overturned a federal anti-cruelty law banning the commercial sale of animal “crush” videos — where women in high-heeled shoes impale and torture small animals for the sexual titillation of viewers. Now, we urgently need Congress to pass a new bill (H.R. 5092) to stop these grotesque crush videos from resurfacing.

Please make a brief, polite call to Representative Niki Tsongas (202) 225-3411 . You can say: “As a constituent, I’m calling to ask you to co-sponsor H.R. 5092 to crack down on animal crush videos. Please do all you can to get this bill enacted quickly.” After you call, send a follow-up message. Thanks for all you do for animals.

The people who do this are equal to pedophiles and sex-traffickers. Which is why we need to make the Supreme Court act. There is little to no jail time for these gruesome crimes—perhaps a fine and a couple year’s probation at best. Know why? Because animals do not have rights. It wasn’t so long ago (1905) when United States President Grover Cleveland said “Sensible and responsible women do not want to vote.” 15 years later—FIFTEEN—we were granted that right. Let’s not wait 15 years to give animals rights.

Let’s not wait another minute.


To call the representative in your state, click on this link Humane Society (humanesociety.org)  to bring you to the exact location to find this information.

I’m personally heartbroken. There’s a lot of suffering in this world, but if we gave even half the attention to this cause as people gave and are continuing to give to the save Haiti fund, a natural disaster that is not caused by humans monsters, then think of all the kittens and puppies we would save from the most horrific of fates.

Makes you wonder how well they screen animal adopters and buyers at adoption shelters and pet stores, doesn’t it?

Foodlicious Fridays- Goldenberry and Mulberry Chutney

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Courtesy of Navitas Naturals, this Indian-inspired side is ripe with flavor and the perfect dip for pita bread, to put on burritos, tacos, or avocado salad.  Look for mulberries and goldenberries at your local natural foods store, or order online at NavitasNaturals.com.

mulberries-raw

Makes about 2 cups

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup dried mulberries*

1 cup dried goldenberries

1 cup water

1 teaspoon minced ginger

1 clove garlic, minced, about 1 teaspoon

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1/2 to 1 teaspoon jalapeno, chopped, to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/8 teaspoon cumin seeds (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Soak mulberries and goldenberries in 1 cup of water for at least 3 hours or more to rehydrate. Place soaked berries, ginger and garlic in a food processor and pulse into small pieces. Add remaining ingredients and pulse to mix well. Serve at room temperature.

goldenberries

*Mulberries are a good source of iron, vitamin C and resveratrol (a powerful antioxidant that promotes heart health). Goldenberries contain carotene, bioflavonoids, vitamin A, fiber and protein.