International campaign for the conservation of the cork oak plantations. I had no idea how cork was harvested. It turns out it's an intriguing process. Naturlink tells you more about it; this is a site that's mainly in Portuguese, but there's English, of course, or I couldn't read it. Anyway, not only interesting info, it offers a clickable thingie that ... well... vocabulary is failing me. Just check it out.

Fer example, thar's some funny stuff here (at the Anita Roddick site): Wit and Wisdom from Donald Rumsfeld. One quote: "I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I think and I assume it's what I said." Another: "We do know of certain knowledge that [Osama bin Laden] is either in Afghanistan, or in some other country, or dead."

Funny... I never heard of this person, then when I did "blog this!", suddenly the following appeared, kinda answering my question: Welcome to AnitaRoddick.com by Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop. Well, I don't know what The Body Shop is about... I keep thinking 'Bath & Body Works' but that's not it.... But I like the site. Political stuff, yeah, but also ... the whole 'beauty' smeauty cultural hoo-ha.

No political talk from me at the moment.... Just a link to a good article: Boston Globe Online / Editorials | Opinions / America as lone ranger

I'm very intrigued by old alphabets. A few months ago, I did a lot of research on runes. I didn't even realize that there was a runic alphabet, with different variations through time and in different regions. I don't have any of those links close at hand, but here's some stuff on the Hebrew alphabet: Summary–The Ten Alef-Beit (Alphabet) Significances.

A cool book to check out is "Magical Alphabets" by Nigel Pennick (ISBN 0877287473). The cover says: "The Secrets and Significance of Ancient Scripts—Including Runes, Greek, Ogham, Hebrew and Alchemical Alphabets."

The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Aleph/Alef. Its 'everyday meaning' is 'cattle'.... strangely enough (or not so strangely :), the first letter of the Runic alphabet (Elder Futhark version) is Fehu, meaning 'cattle.' Cool, huh?!

Hebrew alphabet.... 1st letter Alef, 2nd letter Beit.... so the alphabet is referred to as the Alef-Beit. Runic alphabets referred to as Futharks.... from first 6 letters: F(fehu)U(ur)TH(thorn)A(ansur)R(rad)K(ken).

Wow. This is interesting.... Every day of the year is represented by 3 letters–one letter each for the season, month, and day of the week. Check this out for what letters are used for season/month/day and why. Interesting stuff.... Hebrew Letter of the Day - Sefer Yetzirah

You've been trying to remember the Hebrew Alphabet.... You've been frustrated that you can only remember a few of the letters and that you can't remember how to properly write the letters that you *do* remember. Oh. Wait. Is that just me? Sorry.... I'm not just weird... I also took 2 semesters of Hebrew in college.... This place'll help you remember what I forgot: Akhlah: Learn the Aleph-Bet - The Hebrew Alphabet. You can also learn the Hebrew months (which get tossed into crossword puzzles from time to time) and other stuff.

IndigoGirls.com - The Official Site!

Daredevil (Official Site) . This site initially takes a while if you have a dial-up connection. There's an interview with Kevin Smith, who has written for the Daredevil comic and who gets a cameo in the movie.... I found it funny the questions he gets asked — they seem geared toward alleviating the fears of folks like me: "What do you think of Mark Steven Johnson as director?" "What do you think of Ben Affleck as Daredevil?"

Lemme tell you, before you check this out: the ONLY sound on the site (which KEEPS playing over and over) is a police siren. It's a short sound file, so it's really really annoying for it to keep playing.... I'm muting my computer. Websites shouldn't force people to do that.

Speaking of trailers, right now I'm loading the one for Daredevil. Now, people thought Tobey Maguire was an unlikely Spider-Man.... But he did an incredible job with it. BUT — Ben Affleck as Daredevil?!?!? Now *that* seems truly absurd. He would rank high on my list of 'People NOT to Cast as Daredevil.' So, I'm checking out the trailer, hoping not to be too disappointed.

If you're ever looking for movie trailers, there's 100+ (including some from independents) atApple – Movie Trailers.

And a final fun link: Dr. Science ("He knows more than you do!") answers your burning questions. Is all really fair in love and war?

And if you're in the mood for an insult, I'd suggest The Shakespearean Insulter. Immediate insults, with "Taunt me a second time" only a click away. Here's the latest insult I received: "Thou loggerheaded rough-hewn strumpet!" If humans must be insulted—if a lack of insults builds up in our karmic buffer, waiting to blow you away on one horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day—this is the best way to receive your daily allotment.

The World Rock Paper Scissors Society. Need I say more?

As long as I'm at the Mother Jones site, I'll give a link to this as well: The MoJo Wire--Action Atlas, U.S. Arms Sales.

Motherjones.com -- Web Exclusives — Why we must invade Iraq (political cartoon). The political cartoons on this site require Flash capabilities. Worth checking out. I tend to enjoy them.

This is neat: Instruments of the Orchestra. Site by the San Francisco Symphony.... Yeah, it's meant for children, but that never stopped me before! So, SFS Kids: Fun with Music.

Useful freeware for Mac OS X. Wish there were more of this out there.... bresink.com: Software

This link was included in a recent e-mail from Apple. I'm not sure whether it was the QuickTime newsletter (which often includes some really good links) or the regular Apple one.... It's not as exciting as I had hoped, but I'll check it again later—there's more offered than I've yet checked out. The Art Institute of Chicago, Art Games

Ooh. A new creepy Robin Williams movie, due out later this month.... One Hour Photo, He works at a 1hr photo place (duh) and knows too much about and is too interested in the people who bring their film to him. Looks like people have liked it, too. (Of course, all movies look that way.)

I haven't posted anything here in *ages*.... I've not given this URL to folks because of that.

But reading the media coverage of Bush's State of the Union address turned my stomach.... As I sat outside reading it, again and again I had to stop reading and just *breathe* because I couldn't believe it. And seeing the pictures of people happily applauding this man....

Geez....

I asked a co-worker if she supported Bush.
She said that she does.
But I was *sure* that.... that this was not common.... Surely *most* people were suspicious of him, at least.

Then today I saw a paper that quoted people on their thoughts on the State of the Union address.... They were supportive of Bush as well.

So now I'm on the web. And I'm seeing views that reflect my own. This page at Motherjones.com has some good links: Motherjones.com -- Web Exclusives.

And I have to add this site: Bush Declares War on the World.

I'm glad to read opinions that reflect my own....
But I remain horrified at President Bush and at ..... I don't even know how to word myself here.... I just can't believe it. The things he says. That people *agree*.... It seems we've gone blind.....