What Did Our Nobel Laureate in Literature Once Say?

Greetings, Readers!  Hmmm...didn't our latest Nobel Literature Laureate once say something about "the times..."?  Well, changes do come for sure. I'm not always the most eager to embrace changes, but if you notice on the sidebar on right (or wherever in mobile view) there's a link to follow me on twitter. WHAT?

Yes, over this past weekend I joined twitter.  It's really been quite an adventure getting set up and figuring out how things flow.  The learning curve does keep one on one's toes for sure.  So what does this mean for this blog (and Daisies and Diamonds)?

Well, I'll still be blogging.  Bur just probably not as often as before.  The plan is to use twitter to tweet alerts/links, short takes, or brief thoughts.  More involved and developed posts will be ---- right here at TVFH. I'm working a post that should be ready soon.

So - hope to have more folks participate.  Comments here will be very welcome, and so will tweets :-)

Announcing the New Page!

Good readers, you will notice that there's a new page button in the navigation at the top of the blog!  It says: "Positively Diverse."  So what is that page to be about?

Well, obviously it will deal with diversity.  Specifically, I would like it to be a place to "archive" if you will, some positive links, articles, stories, etc. about diversity and unity.  With the current climate with much divisiveness being thrown around here in the U. S. in our politics and also often in regards to immigration in Europe, it was getting very frustrating, to say the least to hear all that bigotry. So what to do? I must give a nod to Alexandra Franzen here, who recently wrote about taking the initiative.  So I guess I'm doing that with this page at least to some extent.  Ms. Franzen also said quite recently said try doing something "cool."  Well, this could be!
 
The page will be successful IF you readers stop by and leave comments with some links, your own stories and writings, etc. that are "positively diverse." So please support this effort!

Blogger sometimes doesn't have the coolest basic features.  And the way comments appear is, to me, very poor.  You have to go on a new page to read them and they're too small on the page.  Just for the "Positively Diverse" page, however, what I'd like to do is this:  since I recently went on moderation (thought I'd get a landslide of negative comments to "Enabling"), I think I'll stay on moderation and again, for Positively Diverse page only, copy the comment and its attribution and put the comment directly on the page.  I think it might work, but I WILL need your help to give it a shot at success! Again, this copying will ONLY apply to any comments for that one page.

So I hope we can fill the page with some positive vibes. Please click on the 'Posibtively  Diverse' tab above, read, and hopefully submit something positive.  Please help.  Thanks in advance!

Blogging Into the Future... Anyone There?

Greetings!!!

Well, I don't know if very many readers saw this post - maybe everyone was preoccupied with holiday things.  I was hoping it wasn't too close to Christmas when I originally posted, but maybe?  Anyway, the idea of doing the poll occurred to me and I wanted to do it before I forgot all about it.  

I REALLY, REALLY  would love some feedback about future blogging and anonymous comments.  Connecting to readers is why bloggers blog, right?  So I would love to hear from some of you, as per:

I have been thinking on and off about my blogs - maybe even moving them (google/blogger can be a mess sometimes).  Then I had a time trying to reply to my last comment from Nancy.  I finally was able to do so and in endeavoring to find out why I had such a problem, found out this:

Allowing the option of anonymous comments is important to me.  I'm sure at least some folks are concerned about privacy and also ad tracking.  Well, it turns out that in order to leave an anonymous comment here on blogspot, you have to enable third-party cookies.  What?  Basically that means more ad tracking at the least.  And you HAVE to do a captcha - although I started using that a long time ago, I no longer can turn off that requirement.  And since I've not put an e-mail contact here, I would basically not know if anyone has had any problems trying to post a comment unless maybe someone who knew me personally had problems and complained to me, but no one has.

So I thought a good step would be to do a poll to see if anyone has had problems or has any feelings about this.  The poll is located in the "navigation bar" or whatever just to the right of the posts.  I'm going to reopen the poll and leave it open until 11:59 p. m. on Jan. 4.  That should give plenty of time for feedback.  I did a quick test of a prototype and I believe you should be able to vote without enabling third party cookies. I encourage you all to vote!

Now I'm also going to ask for any ideas or info you good folks could share.  I've looked into a couple of ways to do alternatives to comments.  I thought of a guest book thing.  However, guestbooks are sort of "old-fashioned" and there are very few hosts - and they also might need more cookies and ad tracking.  I also looked at doing some sort of web form.  I even got so far as finding some model html commands and was able to do a "mock up" except for one thing.  If you do - I think it's "mailto" -  it opens a warning box to users and might also expose e-mail addresses.  I think I read that a better way would be to do some things in php language, but I really don't know code, and php looks REALLY bizarre to me, anyway.  Any thoughts or ideas on alternatives?

Or are there thoughts on moving my blogs to an alternative or using some alternate way to publish content?  I'd almost hate to do that -  it could get messy and trying to get you good readers to the new place might be just a bit of a challenge.  But I might be open if there's a good option but let's leave WordPress and facebook OUT of consideration here (all right, I am picky, but there are certainly way too many privacy concerns for me to even consider facebook).

So there it is.  Would really love getting some thoughts and input - and poll participation!

Need Your Nelp!

Dear Readers:

I do believe there are some of you out there; thanks for visiting. I know there have been page views and I hope readers will explore other posts and also return.  Getting some comments would be great, so as I've said before please don't be shy!  I really would love to hear from you.  REALLY.  Comments and conversations would be most welcome!  I blog to create awareness and discussion of issues, for creative expression sometimes, and of course, to connect with others - so communication from readers would be extremely helpful!

Also, while digesting the updates to some recent posts, please also consider helping by:

• sharing a post  --- there are share buttons at the end of each post.
• ssubscribing via e-mail ---- there's a quick form on the right sidebar.  Would be lovely to know that there are actually subscribers who would get posts right to their inboxes.
• or subscribing via Atom;  if anyone uses that; there's a link at the bottom of the page.

 And the same is true for my other blog, Daisies and Diamonds! All are welcome to visit there as well.

So let me know what's going on with you and also help spread The View From Here.

Back to Blogging...

Hello - well, I thought if SOMEONE would let me know I should keep on blogging, that I would.  Someone did ------ and thank you, JH !!!  The new post is right below this one.

But I'd STILL LOVE to hear from more readers.  It would mean so much to hear that this is serving some purpose, and as I've said, it DOES get lonely "talking to an empty room."  Also, I really would love to hear from readers - what's going on with you and your reactions to the issues around us.  Comments can be anonymous and no, I don't bite...

So do consider letting me and other readers hear a bit from you.  It might even be fun...

P. S. Anyone notice the new background?  A bit simpler and also more grown-up, I think.

Hiatus

I think it's clear my blogs need to go on hiatus.  I am very sad about this.  I have put quite a bit of effort into them, into giving information, addressing issues, doing poetry, fiction, visuals, and sometimesjust trying to have a bit of fun.

However, I am not receiving much, if any, support.  I have practically begged for comments, but it's extremely rare to get any response.  Thank you to all who have commented, but special thanks and blessings to tomeshew and tombrownsschooldaze ----- your comments helped me hang in for as long as I have.

I have NOT asked for donations.  Just a comment or some word of acknowledgment or encouragement once in a while.  That's all.  However, since support isn't coming, I'm concluding that at this time, it's just not worthwhile to continue.  I'm just too disheartened and discouraged.

Will I actively blog again?  I don't know right now.  There's always a lot to share, but talking to an empty room for too long is really dispiriting.

Don't Be Shy!

I just saw I had quite a few page views recently.  But no comments??? Don't be shy! I don't bite - much :-)

It would be great for me to hear a bit from you - to let me know if you like the posts, find this valuable, have things to say, or debate... almost anything.  I do put some effort into the posts, so knowing they might be of even some value would mean so much.  Hearing from any of you and the view from your place would be valuable, too! So - let me let me hear from you. Please.  Pretty please?

Been a bit discouraged, but have tried to hang in. And if you visit my other blog - Daisies and Diamonds (there's a link on the right) you can read my poem about the New Horizons mission to Pluto (who has shown his heart!).  Yes, as are so many around this globe I've been very fascinated.  That very recent backlit shot with the aura is simply stunning. And my parting shot for now:

"Yes, Pluto should be a Planet again, and always will be in my heart, regardless!!! "

 

Anyone Home?

I've been debating whether to write this, but I've come to the conclusion I must.

Is anyone reading my blog(s)?  Are the posts of any value to anyone?

I ask because I have gotten so few comments over the years and now over 200 posts here at TVFH (and I think just over 40 at D and D).  I do thank and bless those who have left comments.

I need to know whether this is still worth doing, or if I am just wasting my time.  I do put some effort into the posts, and if no one cares, why should I keep it up?

Please, if this blog has any value to you, consider leaving a comment, just once in a while.  Consider subscribing by e-mail.  Consider passing the link(s) on to others.  I can hardly say how demoralizing it is getting so little feedback. So please let me know if the blog(s) are still worthwhile.

Holiday Greetings...

Hi all -

Go here for holiday greetings!

JFK and New Year's Countdown

Happy New Year to everyone!  If you've read the post title you may be wondering what the two have in common.

Late last night, er, early this morning, I got to watch a replay of the ceremony in Dallas commemorating the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination.  I'd wanted to see it as I was eager to hear David McCullough's remarks.

He recited many JFK quotes and this snippet really hit me:  "I look forward to an America which commands respect throughout the world, not only for its strength, but for its civilization as well."

Why did this quote hit home for me?  Well, maybe I'm just being a curmudgeon now that I'm over - well, you can guess  what age I might mean - but what I saw last night (and have been seeing) on the tube - well, I just have to shake my head.  I tried a couple of channels having countdowns in NYC.  Sorry, but what passes for humor these days just leaves me cold.  There was also one snippet of a musical performance or video, whatever, that I caught before I switched channels. I found it pretty tasteless.  Oh, and NBC - when that last minute of the year comes, I want to see the ball fall, not your 'personalities'!!!

So when I heard Mr. McCullough speak those words, my recent viewing experience immediately came to mind.  What kind of civilization are we becoming?  I thought the arts were to inspire, to lift up.  I won't even say what I think of some of the "art" stuff - popular culture or what have you - around these days. And humor?  We all like to laugh, right?  But so much of the humor these days is either trashy or mean.

If we want to command respect for our civilization, surely we need to elevate our arts, humor, public discussions.  I wonder if people are now so far removed from the kind of art and discussion that elevates that they've forgotten or don't know what it can be like.  President and Mrs. Kennedy did much to support the arts during his administration.  But this needs to continue both at the official and grassroots levels.

So stand up, people.  If we support better art, humor, discussion, maybe we'll actually get more of it.

Death of Lorraine Bayless

For sevreal days now, since I first heard the news, I can't stop thinking of the death of  87 year old Lorraine Bayless who was denied CPR by a staffer at the Glenwood Gardens residence facility.  This was in spite of desparate pleas from the 911 dispatcher. 

I can hardly believe this happened.  How could someone not only refuse to administer cpr but basically keep anyone else from helping as well?  In my opinion it was totally heartless.

The family says it was her wish to "die naturally".  First of all, there was NO DNR order on file according to all reports I've read.  If this really was her wish, why wasn't there such an order? I would think that would have been one of the first things done on admission. And did she really want to die collapsed on the floor with someone diverting all possibility of timely help?  It just doesn't seem right to me.

And of course we must not lose the big issue.  That is, this should NOT happen again. We need to make sure our elder facilities have decent policies and treat residents very well. 

I'm Just Sick

There are so many stories recently that are just terrible, but this one is particularly so. Go here to read of a suicidal man who drowned while a crowd watched and did --- nothing (although someone EVENTUALLY did pull him out).

What kind of society are we when no one - no one - in a crowd of 75 did anything as he walked into the bay? We read of these kind of things happening from years ago (Kitty Genovese in New York), reports of young people beating others or worse where sometimes the victim is lucky to get any aid at all. We can't keep blaming this sort of thing on "budget cuts," or keep excusing sometimes whole crowds who do nothing or worse. We've got to be more compassionate toward each other. If personal safety is an issue, someone should at least try to get somewhere safe and then try go get some help.

We also need to teach people, especially our young people, compassion. We need to show as a society that we really value this quality.

Thank God, there ARE good people out there. We do hear reports of Good Samaritans and bless them for sure, hoping and praying for more of them. We also sadly wish that someone had been much more pro-active for the victim who drowned in the bay.

What Is Going On Here?

We need to ask ourselves what is going on right here in America. Please read.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/27/6007/

I'm Back, Sort of

If anyone's reading this, you know I haven't posted to this blog for a while. Things have been particularly crazy at work this semester; there's been so much to do on weekends; and there was the little matter of having to get a new heater and oil tank. I'm not sure how much time and energy I'll still have for this, but I may not give it up just yet. There's so much I probably could write about if I were more motivated, it seems.

I even missed my man John Adams' birthday. Well, Happy Belated Birthday, Mr. President! Hope you're praying for this country from the other side.

Happy Anniversary

It hardly seems possible, but today is the first anniversary of Cinnamonblue's Blog! At times I've wondered if I'd keep it up this long, but I'm still here - when I have the energy to post!

Thanks to all who have found a way to this cyberwindow. It's about communication and empowerment. I hope to foster dialog, discussion, debate. We need not shy from openness and not always sharing the same point of view. Real trouble starts when one point of view is afraid or not forward enough to speak up. I sometimes feel we Liberals are too lax in trying to respectfully advocate for what we believe. I hope that people will feel outraged enough, energized enough, or tired enough of the status quo to take some action to make some positive changes. The problems we have didn't happen overnight; I really feel part of the problem is that so many of us just didn't get involved enough to head them off.

I know we're all busy. I know we all have many things to deal with personally. But if we take the time to do SOMETHING - even for one issue we care about - maybe that, along with the efforts of others, really can make a difference.

Champagne, anyone?

My Birthday Present

My birthday is tomorrow - 12/10! That means I want presents, lots of them! And you can make sure I get them. I'm not talking diamonds and champagne (although if someone would like to buy me a new PT Cruiser, I probably wouldn't refuse that!), but something else. You see, tomorrow is also Human Rights Day. I would like EACH of you to commit (and follow through!) to doing something for Human/ Civil Rights. Sign a petition, write a letter to the editor about an issue, contact your Representative or Senators, march, serve, donate, or do SOMETHING to help in the cause! We can't just sit idly by and watch these rights be trampled here and around the world. Everyone needs to stand up and start making a difference. It will take all of us, so each and every person must do what he or she can.

So put pen to paper, get on the telephone, take to the streets and work on those birthday presents!

Word Verification - Please Read

To everyone -

I just took the step of turning on word verification for comments. This means that if you want to leave a comment, you will have to type in the characters you'll be presented with. This is to stop spam comments. It is in no way meant to discourage any real, honest comments; I fully encourage - and value those!

It's a shame that spammers always want to spoil things.

Women's Health Alert

I was really shocked at this latest news concerning the birth control patch, Ortho Evra. Read about it here. I'm stunned that this is just coming out now. I don't understand why this didn't ring any warning bells earlier.

This, along with the problems with Vioxx, et al., cause me great concern. I wonder just how committed the FDA and these drug companies are to giving us SAFE as well as effective medications. I think we need more safeguards, more people not afraid to blow whistles - and better protection for whistle blowers. I know we want medicines for various purposes "yesterday"; but maybe we should slow down just a bit so that more problems don't occur in the long run.

In the meantime, I think I would advise women considering the patch to think twice. And advise any woman on it to consult with her doctor very soon.

New Features to my Blog

If you've noticed, there are two new features to Cinnamonblue's Blog. Below each post now is an envelope icon. This is a link which allows you to e-mail the post to a friend.

Also, I downloaded Google's Picasa and companion Hello programs so I could load that picture of London. I may post pictures to supplement posts from time to time.

Now, is anyone out there?

Name for Sale?

Did you see the report of the woman who sold her name on Ebay? A casino bought her name, which she is legally changing to goldenpalace.com. Getting funds to send her children to a golf school was apparently a primary motivation.

While embracing the freedom that lets this woman change her name, I sometimes wonder if there is anything in America NOT for sale. The "selling" of names now seems somehow commonplace. Stadiums and theatres are named for corporate owners or sponsors. Even colleges change their names for donors (well, at least one of my alma maters did!). It's not just names, either. Someone was selling tattoo space on his or her body!

This "everything for sale" mentality definitely makes me shake my head. I find it very curious that anyone would give up their individual appellation for some corporation's . Corporate monikers have robbed many sites of names more meaningful to their communities. Events are often now known by the sponsor's names. We're bombarded with advertisements in those video monitors that keep popping up everywhere. The logos that are on most items we purchase make us walking advertisements. I wonder why we don't draw more of a line. It's hard to believe that we are so seduced as to sell things, such as names, that are more than mere possessions.