Atheists Seek Chaplain Role In The Military - NYT 04/27/2011

New York Times
April 27, 2011
Pg. 1

Atheists Seek Chaplain Role In The Military

By James Dao

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — In the military, there are more than 3,000 chaplains who minister to the spiritual and emotional needs of active duty troops, regardless of their faiths. The vast majority are Christians, a few are Jews or Muslims, one is a Buddhist. A Hindu, possibly even a Wiccan may join their ranks soon.

But an atheist?

Strange as it sounds, groups representing atheists and secular humanists are pushing for the appointment of one of their own to the chaplaincy, hoping to give voice to what they say is a large — and largely underground — population of nonbelievers in the military.

Joining the chaplain corps is part of a broader campaign by atheists to win official acceptance in the military. Such recognition would make it easier for them to raise money and meet on military bases. It would help ensure that chaplains, religious or atheist, would distribute their literature, advertise their events and advocate for them with commanders.

But winning the appointment of an atheist chaplain will require support from senior chaplains, a tall order. Many chaplains are skeptical: Do atheists belong to a “faith group,” a requirement for a chaplain candidate? Can they provide support to religious troops of all faiths, a fundamental responsibility for chaplains?

Jason Torpy, a former Army captain who is president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, said humanist chaplains would do everything religious chaplains do, including counsel troops and help them follow their faiths. But just as a Protestant chaplain would not preside over a Catholic service, a humanist might not lead a religious ceremony, though he might help organize it.

“Humanism fills the same role for atheists that Christianity does for Christians and Judaism does for Jews,” Mr. Torpy said in an interview. “It answers questions of ultimate concern; it directs our values.”

Mr. Torpy has asked to meet the chiefs of chaplains for each of the armed forces, which have their own corps, to discuss his proposal. The chiefs have yet to comment.

At the same time, an atheist group at Fort Bragg called Military Atheists and Secular Humanists, or MASH, has asked the Army to appoint an atheist lay leader at the base. A new MASH chapter at Fort Campbell, Ky., is planning to do the same as are atheists at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

Such lay leaders can lead “services” in lieu of chaplains and have access to meeting rooms, including chapels.

Chaplains at Fort Bragg near here have seemed open to the idea, if somewhat perplexed by it.

“You’re not a faith group; you’re a lack-of-faith group,” First Lt. Samantha Nicoll, an active atheist at Fort Bragg, recalled a chaplain friend’s saying about the idea. “But I said, ‘What else is there for us?’ ”

Atheist leaders acknowledge the seeming contradiction of nonbelievers seeking to become chaplains or receive recognition from the chaplain corps. But they say they believe the imprimatur of the chaplaincy will embolden atheists who worry about being ostracized for their worldviews.

Defense Department statistics show that about 9,400 of the nation’s 1.4 million active-duty military personnel identify themselves as atheists or agnostics, making them a larger subpopulation than Jews, Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists in the military.

But atheist leaders say those numbers are an undercount because, they believe, there are many nonbelievers among the 285,000 service members who claim no religious preference on military surveys. Many chaplains dispute that interpretation, and say that most people in that group are religious, just not strongly so.

Those same statistics show that Christians represent about one million, or 70 percent, of all active-duty troops. They are even more dominant among the chaplain corps: about 90 percent of the 3,045 active duty chaplains are Christians, most of them Protestants.

Military atheist leaders say that although proselytizing by chaplains is forbidden, Christian beliefs pervade military culture, creating subtle pressures on non-Christians to convert.

As an example, they cite the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, created to help soldiers handle stress and prevent suicide. The program requires soldiers to complete surveys assessing emotional, social, family and spiritual well-being. Based on their answers, some soldiers are asked to take “resiliency” training.

Atheists say the survey and training are rife with religious code words that suggest a deity or afterlife. The Army counters that the program is intended to determine whether a soldier has “a strong set of beliefs, principles or values” that can sustain him through adversity — and not to gauge religiosity.

Atheist and secular humanist groups in the military are hardly new. But at some bases, they have become better organized and more vocal in recent years.

Last fall, atheists at Fort Bragg objected to an event by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association called Rock the Fort. The base command, at the urging of its chaplains, provided some money and manpower for the event as well as a choice location on the post’s parade grounds.

A communication sergeant, Justin Griffith, argued that the event was an Army-sponsored platform for the Graham organization to recruit converts. The post commander, Col. Stephen J. Sicinski, denied that, saying soldiers were not pressured to attend. In a recent interview, the colonel said Rock the Fort was intended to boost morale as well as “bolster the faith.”

In response, Sergeant Griffith has recruited a star lineup of atheist musicians and speakers, including the writer Richard Dawkins, to headline a secular event, possibly for the fall. He calls it Rock Beyond Belief and has asked Colonel Sicinski to provide resources similar to what he gave Rock the Fort.

Colonel Sicinski has refused, saying the event will not draw enough people to justify using the parade grounds and that money from religious tithes, which helped finance Rock the Fort, cannot be spent on it. Sergeant Griffith has appealed.

A high school dropout raised near Dallas, Sergeant Griffith, 28, was a passionate Christian and creationist until his teens. Now his dog tags list his religious preference as atheist, and he is pushing to create MASH chapters on as many bases as possible.

He is also giving thought to becoming a chaplain himself, though it would take years: He would have to earn a graduate degree in theology and then be commissioned an officer. He would also need the endorsement of “a qualified religious organization,” a role Mr. Torpy’s organization is seeking to play.

Sergeant Griffith said he believed there were already atheist chaplains in the military — just not open ones.

“I support the idea that religious soldiers need support from religious chaplains,” he said. “But there has to be a line between supporting religious soldiers and promoting religion.”

Kali and River Monsters

So there I was - plopping down in front of the boob-tube AKA TV - to enjoy my syrup-y corn tortilla and sausage breakfast.  Nothing caught my interest until I got to Animal Planet which was showing "River Monsters - Unhooked!" - it seems that the locals around the Kali river in India have been having people disappearing in the water.  During his investigation, the host visits a Kali temple and discusses the devotion to the Lady Kali.  You can find Goddesses in the most amazing places!  Check it out for yourself!

03/22/2011 - Returning to the VA Clinic (after 27 years away)

Today I went back to the VA Clinic here in Central Ohio after about 27 years away - I had made some false starts in trying to get back under VA care over the past few years, but this time the staff were much more receptive than they had seemed previously on those trips.  They took my information and verified that I was still in their databases.  I have a physical set up for early next month, which means that they might find more stuff wrong (or not) at that time.  Anyhow, that's how things went in my life today.


SEARS.COM EXTRA 10% off Energy-Star Appliances 3/24-3/31 (see site for details)

GE Countertop Microwave

Sears.com J35195031 Craftsman 12 Amp Electric Blower with Vac Kit

Please excuse the links above - I'm still trying to figure out how to post Subscription links to my blog.  

Red light Manners...

Is it the weather? Or have my fellow Central Ohioans gotten more aggressive over the winter? I have seen more callous driving this week than I have seen in the past six weeks - or I have gotten more aware of them lately.

Why do some people creep into the intersection at a red light? Haven't you had the process explained to you? If you make sure your vehicle is over that rectangular box in the pavement, you will activate the switching mechanism sooner than being five feet in front of it. I have seen several people this week that were actually blocking the crosswalk with their vehicle in their desire to proceed on their trip.
Relax, sit back on the rectangle and you just might get that turn arrow before the opposite flow of traffic.

Why can't my fellow drivers be more relaxed? It will help save the very expensive gasoline we are using at a horrible rate now.

Yesterday while driving at a steady 65 mph on I-70 Eastbound from downtown, some crazy young fool (I'm pushing 60, so most drivers are young compared to me) passed me on the right, proceeded to cross in front of me at speeds well above mine and then accelerated in the fast lane to get to the next clump of vehicles which he proceeded to weave through at speed as well. Not only is this dangerous behavior, but wasteful of that $3.59/gallon gasoline!

Earlier as I was heading out to the Main Library on Thursday, a car full of young men turned off of the main drive and casually crossed a double yellow line to get to the frontage road! More unsafe behavior!

Well sorry to sound like I'm preaching, but ever since I was struck by someone else's vehicle at a red light, I have been much more aware of vehicular stupidity - please don't let it be you.

Veggie U??

Greetings,
Just a tid-bit to share from CMH Gourmand - Culinary Discovery & Misadventures in the Ice Cream Capital of the World (Columbus)

Are you missing the abundance of veggies available this time of year? See CMH Gourmand's solution -
http://cmhgourmand.com/2011/03/02/the-chef%E2%80%99s-garden-to-the-rescue-and-the-veggie-u-event/

Please share links to my blog with your friends.
Thank you for checking my blog out!
Thorne

Feb 27th, 2011

From "The Wild Hunt" -
* Merlin Stone 1931 – 2011
* Success, Infrastructure, and Support
* On Faith: GOP’s Islam Debate
* Quick Notes: Gay Paganism, Project Conversion, and the Tea Party
* Pagan Community Notes: Protecting a Sacred Altar in Athens, Selena Fox in Madison, American Mystic, and More!

KMart Presidents Day Sale

Toys & Games Online Only Spring Clearance Event! Save up to 40% off Kids' Favorites 2/20-3/5

New Game! Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: The Fate of Two Worlds for PS3 & Xbox only $59.99 at Kmart.com

Women s Bras & Panties on sale + Pink K Loungewear & Gowns only $11.98 2/20-2/26

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The Dogs Of War from New York Post

Great story!  Had to share it with whomever might stumble across this blog of mine... 

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New York Post
February 13, 2011
Pg. 14

The Dogs Of War

Military's adopted mutts join their masters as returning heroes

By Maureen Callahan

On Wednesday, Christopher Duke, a man not normally given to introspection, did something unusual: He sat down, by himself, and deliberately and quietly contemplated the moment, exactly one year ago, when he almost died.  Duke, now 28, was a sergeant in the Army, stationed in "the middle of nowhere" in Afghanistan. At about 9:30 on the night of Feb. 9, 2010, he was hanging out in the hallway of his barracks, not far from a couple of soldiers sitting in the front room, near the entryway, working on their laptops.

Then there was an explosion, and then chaos, and then the nearby Special Forces unit rushed in to treat the wounded, and Duke -- who took shrapnel to almost his entire left side -- was one of several medevaced out.  While in transport and recovery, Duke thought often about his friend Rufus -- Rufus, who helped save him, who blocked that suicide bomber from ever getting through the door, who now had gaping wounds, mainly to his back, and who might not make it.  Rufus has never received a medal for his valor, but he's a war hero. He's Duke's best friend. He's also a dog.

"It surprised me," Duke said, that the Special Forces on the scene treated Rufus -- along with two other dogs who helped intercept that bomber -- with the same focus and intensity as they did the wounded soldiers.  "I didn't expect that," said Duke, himself one of an increasing number of soldiers who have, successfully and without the military's help, brought their animals home to the States, to live with them and their families.  "I thought," Duke said, "that the Special Forces would think, 'The dogs are wounded,' and shoot them."  Instead, they got right on the phone to a veterinarian, who talked them through canine triage. That Special Forces unit, it turned out, had a dog of its own.

THERE'S no VA plan, no memorial on The Mall nor a national holiday, but dogs have been part of US military combat since World War II. Back then, the Department of War, realizing that canines could be a unique asset in the field, had only 50 Army dogs, in Alaska -- and those were sled dogs.

So the department asked civilians, already doing so much for the war effort, to donate their dogs to the military (an unthinkable act today). About 30,000 canines were enlisted, and of those, about 10,000 were used in combat -- ferrying secret messages, carrying ammunition, sniffing out explosives. At the end of the war, the survivors were returned to their owners.

What's happening today, however, is remarkable, a phenomenon specific to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where about one-third of the military's 3,000 military working dogs (MWDs) are deployed.  In defiance of military orders, soldiers are adopting wild strays -- both nations are overrun with canines, which are regarded as working animals at best -- and treating them as dogs are treated in the States, as companions.  Many of these animals are weak and malnourished, wild and feral, having never been domesticated, and there's always a risk they're carrying disease -- the military's top concern, along with inadvertently giving away location. But that somehow is rarely considered.

It would seem these soldiers are saving the dogs. Veterans of these wars, however, say it's the dogs who are saving them.  "It was the kind of thing where I didn't want to get involved with the dog, but the dog involved himself with me," said Jay Kopelman, 51, who served in two tours in Iraq and recently retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps.  "I wouldn't call my dog a hero, though," said Kopelman, who is averse to sentimentality. "I'd call him a pain in the ass."  Today they are happily living together in Southern California, with Kopelman's wife and family.

Kopelman first encountered his dog, Lava, when he was assigned to link up an Iraqi battalion with some Marines in Fallujah. Upon arriving at the base, he noticed young soldiers playing with what looked like a young Shepherd/Husky mix.  "I had never seen that before," he said -- not the breed of dog, but soldiers, on a base, in theater, bonding with a puppy. "They just kept taking care of it."

The Marines adopted the puppy after a firefight, one soldier dropping himself into an otherwise empty 55-gallon drum and emerging with a shaken and traumatized puppy. Their commanding officer, who Kopelman described as "a great leader," looked the other way, as most COs do. Some do not.  "There are a few a--holes, like everywhere, who will follow the rules to the letter of the law and say 'you have to put the dog down,' or they'll do it themselves. Kill it."  Kicking a dog off a base isn't any easier on the soldiers, Kopelman said: "That's as good as putting a bullet through its head."

As with other military personnel who spoke with The Post, Kopelman found great comfort in taking care of the dog, anticipating his needs, sharing what little food was around. He put a box next to his bed, and Lava began sleeping in it.  One morning, he woke up to find the puppy curled up against him in his sleeping bag, and that was it. His fellow Marines recognized that Lava belonged to Kopelman.  (In 2006, Kopelman published "From Baghdad, with Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava," which was selected as one of Amazon's Top 50 books of that year.)

"Coming home and feeding the dogs -- it's better than a CARE package or a phone call," said Kopelman. "It gives you something to look forward to, to care about something other than yourself -- and also, what could be more reminiscent of home than having a dog around?"

There have been no reported studies on the therapeutic benefits of companion animals in war, but those who have bonded with dogs in combat zones say the effects are enormous and profound. And hard to articulate.  "There were times, for me personally, when I had stuff going on at home and I didn't want to talk about it, or couldn't," said Duke. "So I'd go outside and play with the dogs, and my day would do a complete 180."

"I was a Marine scout dog handler in Vietnam," said Ron Aiello, who runs the Web site USWarDogs.org. He served with Stormy, a German Shepherd, in 1966-67. Aiello grew so attached that he tried to extend his tour of duty -- as did many other handlers -- instead of going home.  He was denied, and spent years trying to learn what happened to Stormy.  "We were always told, by the end of the war, that the dogs were coming home," Aiello said.  But he got "a bad feeling" after he sent two letters of inquiry to Marine Corps headquarters in 1973 as the United States was pulling out of Vietnam, and got no response. The order to either execute the dogs or turn them over to the South Vietnamese had been signed in 1966.

"I think if I had gone over to Vietnam as an infantry grunt, rather than a handler, I would have come back a different person," he said. "Everyone in my unit, to this day, misses their dog."

THESE wars have exacted an unprecedented human toll -- in 2008, for the first time, suicides in the Army and Marines surpassed the civilian rate. Between 20 and 30 percent of veterans suffer from PTSD and/or clinical depression. Traumatized vets are being treated with pharmaceutical cocktails, divorcing at higher rates than the general population, self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.  Meanwhile, little is being done by the military to work with what does, at least anecdotally, seem to work: Dogs on base, and those dogs relocated to the United States to be with returning soldiers.

Kopelman got his dog out of Iraq with the help of military contractors, who smuggled Lava into the States on a flight with their own military dogs. "I don't know how they did it," he said. "This little 5-month-old stray in with $30,000 dogs. He didn't look like any of them."

Duke got Rufus home through the efforts of Anna Marie Cannan, a 24-year-old woman from northern Maine whose fiancée has also served in Afghanistan, succeeding Duke at his outpost.  He, too, began bonding with strays -- he called it "falling in love" -- so Cannan founded Puppy Rescue Mission, to help reunite returning military personnel with the animals from their war zones.  "These dogs are going through things with these soldiers that we can never understand," Cannan said. "It's hugely therapeutic, for both of them."  So far, she's successfully retrieved 37 dogs.

When he got the call that Rufus was coming home, Duke remained skeptical. In truth, he was too afraid to get his hopes up. Duke spent the morning of Rufus' arrival, July 27, 2010, getting ready for their reunion at Georgia's DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.  "I was running around to get my hair cut and make sure my uniform was in order," Duke said. "It was kind of like getting ready for prom."  The Georgia National Guard had asked Duke to wear his uniform -- "I guess they figured it'd be good press" -- but Duke had long before decided to do that, for Rufus.  "I knew he'd be pretty stressed, and I knew it would be something he'd recognize," Duke said. "It was to comfort him."

Warmer Air provides a hint of Spring

Enjoyed a warm(er) day today driving into work.  Collected six gas prices for posting into the Gas Buddy webpage for Columbus, “ColumbusGasPrices.com” – peer served gasoline prices reported for your use to find the lowest gasoline price available to you .  Say “Hi” to Gyro-5, that’s me.

Got to work and the wind had picked up – it reminded me of when I was in Alaska just before breakup (when the ice breaks on the rivers).  The ground cover is beginning to appear and you start to think about spring, but Old Man Winter is still blowing hard – picking up a hard chill from the remaining snow and ice on the ground and over the rivers.

While waiting for the shuttle bus from the parking lot, a great honking was heard overhead – four separate vees of Canadian geese were heading out to feed, two were about 10-12 strong and the others contained 7 and 5 respectively.  Together that would be about three dozen geese, no wonder they say Canadian geese are trouble – if you were a farmer, how would you like three dozen uninvited guests dropping in for dinner?

AARP new 'rules' for golf for seniors

Very tongue in cheek - but well thought out....

PGA Rule Changes for Seniors

The AARP has negotiated with the PGA to modify the Rules of Golf for seniors:

Rule 1.a.5 A ball sliced or hooked into the rough shall be lifted and placed on the Fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the Rough with no penalty. The senior should not be penalized for tall grass which ground keepers failed to mow.

Rule 2.d.6 (B) A ball hitting a tree shall be deemed not to have hit the tree. This is Simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific game. The senior Player must estimate the distance the ball would have traveled if it had Not hit the tree and play the ball from there.

Rule 3.B.3(G) There shall be no such thing as a lost ball. The missing ball is on or Near the course and will eventually be found and pocketed by someone Else, making it a stolen ball. The player is not to compound the felony by Charging himself or herself with a penalty.

Rule 4.c.7(h) If a putt passes over a hole without dropping, it is deemed to have Dropped. The law of gravity supersedes the Rules of Golf.

Rule 5. Putts that stop close enough to the cup that they could be blown in, may Be blown in. This does not apply to balls more than three inches from the Hole. No one wants to make a travesty of the game.

Rule 6.a.9(k) There is no penalty for so-called "out of bounds." If penny-pinching golf Course owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur.. The senior Golfer deserves an apology, not a penalty.

Rule 7..G.15(z) There is no penalty for a ball in a water hazard, as golf balls should Float. Senior golfers should not be penalized for manufacturers' Shortcomings.

Rule 8.k.9( S) Advertisements claim that golf scores can be improved by purchasing new Golf equipment. Since this is financially impractical for many senior Golfers, one-half stroke per hole may be subtracted for using old Equipment.

Please advise all your senior friends of these important rule changes.

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Have fun trying to convince your golfing buddies about these "Changes"  - kinda like the 'new' zodiac...

Privacy concerns

There's a site called spokeo.com that's a new online USA phone book
w/personal information: everything from pictures you've posted on FB or
web, your approx credit score, pictures of where you live, income, age.
Remove yourself by searching your name, find the page for yourself, copy
the URL and then go to the bottom of the page and click on the Privacy
link to remove yourself.
You definitely want to remove yourself.

They do limit how many times per day that you request privacy, so you
might have to take several days to clear out reference data.

MLK Day message to America...

I received this message in my email yesterday and wish to share the message with everyone.  Don't dwell on who the message is from or who the holiday is about, listen to the message with your heart.  This is what makes America, the United States of America, great.  Forget the negative messages you may have heard previously, open your heart and share with your fellow Americans.
Thank you,
Thorne


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Michael --

The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., is usually remembered for his heroic leadership of the civil rights movement -- he led the successful Montgomery bus boycott, delivered the "I Have A Dream" speech at a time when such words were still controversial, and ultimately gave his own life to the cause of equality.

But Dr. King was much more than a civil rights champion -- he was a man who lived his entire life in service to others, speaking out against poverty, economic injustice, and violence. Wherever he saw suffering, he did what he could to help, no matter who it was that needed him or why they were in pain. Through his leadership, he showed us what we can accomplish when we stand together.

Each January, we remember Dr. King on his own holiday -- and one of the best ways to preserve his legacy is to engage in service ourselves. As Dr. King told us, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

That's why this Monday, January 17th, Organizing for America volunteers will be participating in service projects all across the country in Dr. King's honor. There will be food drives, neighborhood clean-ups, education projects, blood drives, and more.

Will you find and sign up for an event in your area, and help make this country an even better place?

This movement is about so much more than politics -- it is about coming together through progress, change, and community. Lifting each other up in dedication and service is one of the best ways not only to honor Dr. King, but to honor each other. By giving service a new role in this country, we can establish a new foundation for our economy and a brighter future for our children.

That is why service is key to achieving our national priorities, and why Barack recently helped out at a Boys and Girls Club service event. Since moving to Washington, D.C., two years ago, he and I have gotten to know the community through similar service projects, including past Martin Luther King Day events. I treasure those opportunities, and I look forward to another one next week. Every time we pitch in, we get so much back, and always learn amazing things from our neighbors.

All of us have something to contribute, and all of us can make a meaningful difference in someone's life. It's a great way to remind others that they are not forgotten, and to remind ourselves that there are always things we can do.

Please help Barack and me honor the legacy of Dr. King, and join us in service to our country once again this year:
http://my.barackobama.com/MLKday

Thanks,

Michelle

Black Swan Lake festival information

SPREAD THE WORD - post widely - forward to friends - share this info universally

FAERIE HILL PRODUCTIONS - 2011 festival pages (please visit):
25% of gross proceeds go to this sustainable “propagator sanctuary” project:
http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/Andor.html

BLACK SWAN ALTERNATIVE ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL - May 19-22, 2011
4 days & 3 nights of state-of-the-art earth metal, space punk, freak fusion, deep core, retro-remix, spirit rock, tribal JAM, and a huge slate of “higher consciousness” workshops - 18 and older event !!!
Basic info & registration: 
http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/BSAAMF.html
Performers & Presenters: 
http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/performers_arts_music.html
The JAM (make sure you read this): 
http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/The_Jam.html
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LADY LIBERTY FAIR - June 16-18, 2011
country blues and sustainable folk festival - all-age family camping celebration - 3 days and 2 nights of demonstrations and discussions about solar/wind power, workshops on community supported agriculture, backyard aquaculture, organic gardening, tree farming, permaculture, and natural healthcare
Basic info & registration: 

http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/LLF.html
Performers & Presenters: 

http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/performers_lady_liberty.html
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ACOUSTIC HARMONY MUSIC CAMP - September 16-18, 2011
3 days and 2 nights of song swapping, lyric exchange, lick trading, and instrument dealing, merchants, workshops, discussion circles, campfire singing, jam sessions, impromptu mini-concerts, plus live stage performances
Basic info & registration: 

http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/AHMC.html
Performers & Presenters:  

http://www.faeriehillfarm.com/performers_acoustic_har.html
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Facebook pages  - “like” to get info via FB
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Swan-Alternative-Arts-Music-Festival/154868054526995
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lady-Liberty-Fair/157283390956790
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Acoustic-Harmony-Music-Camp/151017231605542

PLEASE REGISTER SOON - electric and merchant row spaces are limited - go to the website to register

YES - These are the kind of events you can bring your drums to! Drum circles always welcomed …
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BLACK SWAN LAKE is located 5 minutes off the scenic and historical highway: US-50, about 15 miles east of Bedford, Indiana in the Clear Spring area. BSL is a large alternative campground with 2 stocked fishing lakes (no swimming), a round house where Native American ceremonies have taken place, several roofed gazebos, one large open space for the main circle (where the electric stage is set up and the evening jam happens), surrounded by plenty of RV/van/camper space with water and electric hook-ups ($5/day for electric), two wooded tent camping areas, showers and privies,  large air-conditioned community building with a stage for acoustic music, and a restaurant/concessions building (3 meals a day). No problem with drumming and jamming all night long and celebrating nature without harassment. There is plenty of clean well water (the best in the area) and ice made from that water is available. The owners are into earth-based spirituality, organic gardening, and sustainable living.
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NO PETS POLICY - no negotiation - just don’t bring any. If you have a legitimate seeing eye dog we need to know that before hand. This is a site owner policy.
NO WEAPONS - Leave all weapons at home. They are not appropriate at festivals of this size. No exceptions. This is private land and these are the necessary rules. 
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VENDING - If you plan to vend non-food merchandise and/or hand-made goods/crafts at any of the above festivals, please register/purchase your ticket soon and, after doing so, send us a self-promo blurb with hot links to your online site and we’ll add it to the website. Let us know which fest you have purchased tickets to when you email aeonlaunch@yahoo.com and remember: there are no extra fees for vending - but food vending is taboo. The site owners have that covered (see below). You may vend at your encampment or on vendor row (see “camping areas” below)
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FOOD - Bring your own or purchase at the on-site restaurant run by the site owners. They have very reasonable/fair prices and want to know what you would like to eat. Send your food suggestions and requests to: aeonlaunch@yahoo.com … There will be ICE available, made on site from fresh spring water.
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DISHES & RECYCLING - No trash! No cig butts on the ground (pocket them if you smoke). Don’t bring trash and, if you do, bring a trash bag so it can go home with you. We have stations set up for recycling bottles and cans and recyclable plastics. Paper can be burnt in the fire pits. Garbage can be placed in the compost pile but no trash bins! Maybe you shouldn’t have brought that junk it in the first place (hint hint). To avoid using wasteful disposables - BRING A PLATE, CUP, & EATING UTENSILS. There is a dishwashing station set up by the restaurant and one by the shower house. Please use them.
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CAMPING AREAS -  We have divided the festival site into several areas:
1) VENDOR ROW - camping at site (no electric)  - or - with electric ($20 extra) - email us to see if any powered spaces are still open (register early to reserve space). 
2) LIMITED RV - 24 sites with electricity ($20 extra) - email us to see if any powered spaces are still open (register early to reserve space). These are located around the central circle/stage.  
3) VAN, BUS, & CAMPER FIELD - Need to camp out of your vehicle? This area is for you and it is adjacent to the fire gate of the main circle/stage so you won‘t miss the show.
4) PERFORMER/ARTIST CAMP - Wooded campsites set back behind the Round House performance area. This area is for musicians and artists. There are fire pits (firewood available on site), water stations, and electric hook-ups available ($20 extra). You can off-load your vehicle then park in the parking area nearby.
5) PEACEFUL WOODLAND TENTING - If you need to sleep at night, camp here. It is the quietest and most peaceful camping area, a short walk from the rest of the festival. You can off-load your vehicle then park in the parking area nearby. There are fire pits (firewood available on site) and water stations, nice big trees for daytime shading, and electric hook-ups available ($20 extra).
6) LAKESIDE SUBSTANCE FREE ZONE - We’ve set aside an area for the folks who wish to camp where no alcohol is consumed and where smoking is not allowed. If you want to camp in this area, just ask where it is when you arrive.
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PERFORMANCE SITES - We have three primary performance areas at the festivals:
1) INDOOR LOUNGE - open during the afternoon as a cool space and staging area for workshops, video productions & films, and for acoustic performers (there is a powered stage here).
2) ROUND HOUSE - at the Black Swan AAMF this is the late night DJ/remix dance party zone (starts at midnight) - at Lady Liberty and Acoustic Harmony, the round house will be one of the workshop areas and an evening jam session center.
3) MAIN CIRCLE STAGE - 360 degree sound system - this is “big band space” during the day and “community jam space” in the evening. This is the place for hooping, poi spinning, bubble blowing, dancing, and evening light shows.
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Everyone invited:
BLACK SWAN STEWARDSHIP WEEKEND
May Day Weekend - 3 days: April 29/30 - May 1st , 2011
Black Swan Lake Campground - Clear Spring, Indiana
BYO eating utensils, plates, cups, etc.
Cost: $10 camping fee
Objectives:
   1) construct main stage and canopy
   2) set up recycling & dish washing stations
   3) prep signs/posts for camping/staging areas
   4) plot out parking areas & festival arrival strategy
   5) work out final details (evening discussion circles)
   6) work on round house floor leveling
   7) enjoy 2 incredible evenings conversing & jamming around the campfires!
Send in email requesting directions to: aeonlaunch@yahoo.com

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Hope to see many of you in attendance!
Many blessings,
Terry & Patricia Kok
Faerie Hill Productions
aeonlaunch@yahoo.com

11 Ways to Get Fit in 2011 - from Lifescript

These are great suggestions - Thank you Lifescript and Thank You Suzanne Schlosberg - passing this information along to whomever might be reading this blog.  The suggestions work for men as well as women also.  Too many of my friends (myself included!) could find these suggestions useful. 

 

I especially like the bit about rewarding oneself from your hard work.

 

Thorne

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11 Ways to Get Fit in 2011

By Suzanne Schlosberg, Special to Lifescript

Published January 04, 2011

Dig out those sneakers. You will finally get in shape this year. We asked experts for 11 workout strategies to keep you motivated…

You’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get fit. But will you keep it?

Within six months of starting a workout program, 70% of participants drop out, says Gregory Florez, founder of FitAdvisor, a health coaching company in Salt Lake City, and spokesman for the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

Boredom, burnout and lack of progress are among the top reasons.

Your best defense: recording exercise details, building balance and nine other smart moves to keep you on track and in shape.

Here’s how:

1. Track workouts like the pros.
Take a tip from successful athletes: Record details of your training sessions.

Keeping track of speed, distance, exertion level and how the workout felt provides insight into your exercise habits.

“Seeing your progress on paper sustains motivation and increases commitment and focus,” says sports psychologist Robert Weinberg, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology and health at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Use an exercise diary or online log such as Movescount, a free tool that analyzes workouts using detailed charts and graphs.

Runners and walkers can monitor pace and distance using a system such as the Adidas miCoach PACER (about $139) or Nike+iPod Sports Kit ($29). Both involve clipping a stride sensor onto your shoe, then uploading the data from each workout to your computer.

Both Nike+ and Movescount let you share routes or compare results with others in an online fitness community. 2. Set up a simple, low-cost home gym.
You can cover your workout needs without spending much, says San Diego trainer Pete McCall, M.S., an exercise physiologist for ACE.

There’s no need for high-priced treadmills. You can work your abs, legs and butt for under $60 with the following:

• One of the most versatile pieces of equipment: the physioball, a thicker, sturdier version of a beach ball. Sit on it to do biceps curls, kneel on it for balance work, or lay down to do crunches. (Prices start at $37 through online retailers.)
  
• Buy used dumbbells on Craigslist, says McCall. Since there aren’t any moving parts, there’s little risk involved. Some sell for as little as a few bucks each.
  
• For cardio, check your TV listings for fitness shows.
  
  “If you have FitTV or ExerciseTV [networks], look for On Demand workout videos, from entry level to very advanced,” McCall says. You may already be paying for it.
  
• For $7.99 a month, Netflix’s Watch Instantly feature offers a variety of fitness videos for your computer or TV.
  
• To find workouts and instructors that inspire you, check out Video Fitness, an online community where people post reviews and swap videos.

3. Boost your balance.
As you age, your sense of balance declines, increasing chances of falling and injuring yourself, whether you’re playing racquetball or just stepping off a curb.

“It’s the most neglected fitness component,” says Liz Neporent, a New York City fitness consultant with a master’s degree in exercise physiology.

“People think about cardio, strength and maybe flexibility, but everyone should be doing exercises to improve balance.” Most yoga classes and DVDs include balancing poses you can modify to your level.

Neporent also recommends the Wii Balance Board (approximately $118), which provides instant feedback on how much you wobble, which leg is stronger, and whether you’re performing a move correctly.

Or try the Bosu Ball, which looks like half a physioball glued to a thick platter. You can perform exercises while standing or sitting on the ball, and with your hands placed on either the dome or flat part.

4. Try kettlebells.
Invented in 18^th-century Russia, kettlebells are the latest craze in fitness studios. These iron weights – which look like cannonballs with thick handles – build muscle strength, stamina and flexibility and come in a variety of weights.

Like dumbbells, kettlebells are used to tone muscles. But you can also swing them through various arm motions, using core muscles to control the weights, which provides both strength training and cardio.

“Kettlebells are incredibly efficient,” says Jessica Matthews, a San Diego group fitness instructor and ACE-certified personal trainer.

A 20-minute kettlebell workout burns a gut-busting 20 calories per minute – as much as running a 6-minute mile or cross-country skiing uphill at a fast pace, according to research conducted by the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse.

Just be sure you learn proper technique from an instructor before you pick one up. That will keep you from accidentally hurling them or throwing out your back.

5. Find out your fitness level.
Knowing your starting point helps you devise an appropriate workout plan.

“Fitness evaluations give you the lowdown on stamina, strength, flexibility and balance,” Neporent says.

She recommends this test: Map out a 1-mile course, then time yourself walking or running the course at your fastest pace.
Note your time and take your pulse immediately. One minute later, take your pulse again.

Repeat the test in two months to see how much faster you complete the mile, and how quickly your pulse recovers.

If you work with a trainer, ask him or her to implement more tests and explain your results in context with others at your age and fitness level.

6. Announce your fitness goals publicly.
“Make yourself accountable by telling someone else,” Florez says.

Let loved ones know, or post your aspirations on Facebook, Twitter or a site like Movescount.

If your workplace offers a wellness program (many larger companies do, including Pfizer, IBM and PepsiCo), ask colleagues to join you.

Just make goals realistic. Many people crumble under pressure if they strive for too much, says Weinberg.

7. Become a fitness gamer. Fitness video games, such as those for the Wii ($199) and Microsoft’s Kinect ($149), are becoming more sophisticated and challenging, says trainer Florez.

“With the first generation of fitness gaming, you could just flip your wrist. Now, you actually have to move.”

Plus, you can work out from home and have fun while you’re doing it. For best results, look for games that require moving your legs and butt, not just arms and torso.

But use games to keep you motivated and supplement regular exercise, not replace it; they don’t offer a vigorous enough workout, according to a 2010 study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.Japanese researchers tested 68 active Wii Sport and Wii Fit Plus games - including tennis, boxing, yoga, strength and aerobic activities.

Only one-third raised heart rate enough to count as moderate-intensity exercise; two-thirds offered light-intensity workouts.

8. Stay entertained while you exercise.
Listening to music, a podcast or an audiobook makes workout time fly. But fast music may be the most effective.

In a 2010 British study of indoor cyclists, conducted by Liverpool John Moores University, subjects rode farther, pedaled faster and produced more power when the music sped up.

But it has to be the right tunes.

Cyclists performed better and believed they weren’t working as hard when they listened to music they liked, according to a 2010 Brazilian Sao Paulo State University study.

So if your gym is blasting music that grates on your nerves, wear headphones and crank up your own tunes.

9. Train for an event.
If you haven’t exercised in a while, a 5k walk or run is the perfect start. Many running specialty stores offer programs to get novices in shape.

For a small fee, you get a training schedule, nutrition tips, injury-prevention advice and, best of all, a group of fellow walkers and runners to keep you on track.

“Instead of waking up grumbling, ‘Forget my workout,’ you pop out of bed thinking, ‘I’m in training! Gotta head out the door!’” Neporent says.

10. Join a class. “Women tend to like the social aspect of exercise, so a group environment can be appealing,” Matthews says.

“People have so much fun [in a workout class], they don’t think of it as exercise.”Ever thought about indoor cycling? Wondering what Pilates is all about? Or, if you’re not the exercise type, try a dance-based class, like Zumba, Latin dance or hip-hop.

Look for a beginner-level class, or one that’s easily modified for novices. If you accidentally end up in advanced yoga, your hamstrings could be screaming for weeks.

11. Reward yourself.
Toned triceps are a great payoff for all your efforts, but working toward an additional prize can give an extra motivational boost.

For example, if you complete an 8-week fitness boot camp, treat yourself to a new workout outfit.

“I had a client who put a coin in a jar for every mile she ran,” Neporent says.

“Every few months, when the jar would get full, she’d count the money and treat herself to a splurge.”

Suzanne Schlosberg is author of The Ultimate Workout Log (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and co-author of Fitness for Dummies (John Wiley & Sons).

What’s Your Fitness Style?
Some people find it easy to wake up at 4:30 a.m. and go for a five-mile run, while others simply hit the snooze button. Aspects of your personality determine the kind of exerciser you are, so if you're in a fitness rut, it's time to put your unique interests back into the workout equation. Take this quiz to find out what types of exercise are right for you.

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