My Blog

FREE MASON!!!!

anhareus — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:42:39 GMT

PLEASE REPOST (Friends Only) On June 16th at 9:45am Mason Lyte is scheduled to appear for his last & final bail hearing in front of magistrate Susan Lum at the Spring St federal courthouse located at 312 N. Spring St, downtown LA, 90012. The government will try to prevent Mason from regaining his freedom. This will be increasingly difficult if the courtroom is full w/people who love and care about what happens to him. Mason REALLY NEEDS to get back to his loved ones. In the pre-dawn hours of Feb 19, 2009, the DEA in conjunction w/local authorities raided Mason's house. He hasn't been home since. Please show up & support Mason. Your presence will most assuredly help. PS - the exact courtroom # is unknown. There should be some sort of building directory or employee assistance to point the way. Thank you & God bless.

My Incarceration

anhareus — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:23:24 GMT

It is with great sadness that I must relate that I will be unable to check this page for what will most likely be a number of years. It is incredibly awkward for me to have to relate my current situation on my blog so I will just come out & say that I have been arrested by the F.B.I. I apologize to those of you who were depending on me to assist you with the various projects I was lucky enough to be involved with. Also, I want to thank all of you who have touched my heart on the deepest of levels & who have contributed greatly to my spiritual & emotional growth. I will take with me a wealth of warm memories regardless of where my individual life path takes me. My current address is listed below. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK THIS SITE. If you wish to write me I would like nothing better & will respond to all correspondence. I will update any changes of address as they occur. Best of luck to you all; may the God of your understanding protect & keep you. Warmest Regards, Adam Adam Steinberg 15143-112 MDC - LA PO Box 1500 Los Angeles, CA 90053 AS:tge

N'LIGHT'N Afterhours Gallery Show: thursday nite 9pm!!! FREE!!

anhareus — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:45:58 GMT

Thursday night...celebrate the new, creative culture and community of downtown at the gorgeous N'LIGHT'N Gallery!! We continue and share our tradition of a monthly ARTWALK afterhours party and gallery event...this one sure to be the MOST EPIC of all!!! Admission is FREE! **I.D. required to enter the building** Parking across the street 21+ Full bar 9pm the show starts with two stages featuring a supa-fine cross-section of over 20 visionary artists and performers that will blow your mind and inspire your own revolution!! We are one of 40 participating galleries in the Gallery Row district of downtown LA...that all will be having open house 7-9pm Come check out the new, creative culture of downtown!! N'LIGHT'N Gallery & Studios 620 S. Main St., Suite 607 Los Angeles, CA 90014 http://www.nlightn.la

Kucinich introduces articles or impeachment against George W. Bush

anhareus — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:39:32 GMT

I was watching CSPAN last night and was amazed to see this. There is nothing on any of the other Politics related tribes. I have to profess my ignorance on the impeachment issue. What is the next step in this process? Does this force a vote in the House? Here's an excerpt from a web article. I am interested in hearing the viewpoints and opinions of my friends on this. What do you think? ----------------SNIP------------------------- The full text of the articles is available at: chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amom...h.pdf Extensive documentation to accompany each article will be posted later today. Watch these websites: kucinich.us democrats.com afterdowningstreet.org Congressman Kucinich has laid out an extensive indictment of the president. Here is the index of article titles: Article I Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq Article II Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression Article III Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War Article IV Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States Article V Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression Article VI Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of HJRes114 Article VII Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War. Article VIII Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter Article IX Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor Article X Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes Article XI Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq Article XII Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation's Natural Resources Article XIIII Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries Article XIV Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency Article XV Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq Article XVI Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors Article XVII Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives Article XVIII Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy Article XIX Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture Article XX Imprisoning Children Article XXI Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government Article XXII Creating Secret Laws Article XXIII Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act Article XXIV Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment Article XXV Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens Article XXVI Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements Article XXVII Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply Article XXVIII Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice Article XXIX Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Article XXX Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare Article XXXI Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency Article XXXII Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change Article XXXIII Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911. Article XXXIV Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001 Article XXXV Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders The full text of the articles is available at: chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amom...h.pdf Here's a video of Kucinich beginning his presentation on the floor: www.youtube.com/watch What you can do: Email your Representatives to support Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment Call your Representative at 202-224-3121 Call your favorite talk shows and tell everyone who supports impeachment to sign the petition at Democrats.com www.democrats.com/35-articl...mpeachment Statements on the Introduction of Congressman Dennis Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment Against President George W. Bush: "More than two centuries ago, the Founders of this country set forth a procedure for Congress to follow in the event of grave abuse of power by the Chief Executive. That process is impeachment. In the face of the monumental deceit and disregard for the Constitution that we have witnessed on the part of the President over the past seven years, Congressman Kucinich's initiation of this process is neither fanciful nor futile, neither vengeful nor vindictive; it is the sober fulfillment of his sworn duty as a Congressman to follow the law without regard to personal consequence and misguided political stratagem. It is, quite simply, an act of patriotism." Elizabeth de la Vega, Former Federal Prosecutor and Author of United States v. George W. Bush et. al. "This thick collection of impeachable offenses could be expanded dramatically and should be viewed as a sampling of the crimes and abuses of President George W. Bush and his subordinates. Bush has had many accomplices -- first and foremost Vice President Cheney. But our Founders created a single executive precisely so that we could hold that one person accountable for the actions of the executive branch. It is high time we did so, and millions of Americans will be urging their representatives to support the effort being led by Congressman Kucinich. "These articles establish, and hearings would establish further, that President Bush was decidedly in the loop and effectively 'the decider' behind countless abuses of power. And, of course, his public comments have time and again advertised his indifference to the laws he is violating. Not only does overwhelming evidence show us that Bush knew his claims about WMDs to be false, but the president has shown us that he considers the question of truth or falsehood to be laughably irrelevant. When Diane Sawyer asked Bush during a televised interview after the war was underway why he had claimed with such certainty that there were so many weapons in Iraq, he replied: "What's the difference? The possibility that [Saddam] could acquire weapons, If he were to acquire weapons, he would be the danger." "What's the difference? Hundreds of thousands of corpses and a fatal blow to the rule of law among nations. That's the difference. Unless we remove impeachment from the Constitution by failing to exercise it, in which case truth will no longer matter any more than justice or peace."

My life at thirty four

anhareus — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:00:14 GMT

A world of possibilities Where to begin this blog..? I feel the need to express so much lately due to the fact that so much has happened over the past ten days. Now that I’ thinking about it, I don’t really write in this blog a lot about what goes on in my personal and professional life. Lately, I have been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. My life is centered around four polarities or nodes of action. The first being my “day job”, where I rent and sell scenic elements and set designs to a vast base of corporate clientele. This work is engaging at times, I get to express myself creatively, find solutions for whacky problems for people who cannot think outside of their own boxes; as a matter of fact, I sometimes wonder if these people even know if there is a box, I get to “Wheel and Deal” with people in a very rapid-fire way. In short my job is engaging, demanding and fun at times; but it doesn’t inspire me. The second corner of my life is centered around the love of my life. If any of you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Clarinda you know that she is an amazing woman. We have had our backs and forths, our doubts and pains and all through these evolvings of our relationship we have only grown stronger as a couple. I am constantly amazed at how these things work out at times. Clarinda sings beautiful songs and I do my best to provide her with a stage from which to sing. We are a couple and a team; we do our best to feed the good in one another. Clarinda is an inspiration to me in many ways. The third corner of my life is another source of inspiration. My involvement with n-Light-n. For those of you who don’t know n-Light-n is an artist’s collective that has been in existence for a little over one year. We are as my good friend Josi puts it, “A ragtag group of space pirates determined to change the ways of a misguided society.” That just about sums us up. Within our collective we have a wide range of players, there are musicians, poets, acrobats, businessmen, eco-visionaries, dreamers, martial artists, yogis, scholars, artists of all types, vegan chefs, promoters and that’s just the core group of us. There are many more colorful people who show up here and there just to share who they are and what they are about with the collective. Finding inspiration in this group is like playing pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey without a blindfold underneath stadium lighting. The fourth corner of my life is comprised of the seemingly random experiences that I enjoy on a daily basis. I try to direct my life in a manner which is consistent with me not being in my own way. If someone says to me. “Hey, Adam let’s go check out this cob wall building seminar in Topanga..?” If I don’t have anything to do at that moment I surrender to that and go with the flow. I can’t tell you how much joy this has brought me. I love the new and exciting, I am most at peace in a river of randomness. I truly believe that G-d speaks to us through others. At times it is hard to listen so loud are the drone of voices it’s most difficult to choose the right voice to follow. So that’s pretty much what my life is about. I have a sense of direction and I am grateful for all of the great things that are in my life. I do not say this in a prideful sense, I just want to put this out there.

If the Bees Disappear so will we...

anhareus — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:45:16 GMT

Backstory in a hurry: I've been working with Maryam who is a friend of mine in order to finance a documentary about the vanishing bees. Bee colonies across the country are down 70% from a few years ago. Basically, this should be a huge warning sign to the world. When Nature's most gentle creatures start to die... look out. So, we have secured a $150,000 matching funds grant. What this means is that for every dollar we collect from other sources this organization will give us another dollar to finish this project and get it out there in the mainstream where it needs to be... like yesterday. Below this post you can find all of the info on this project. Please... please help. If you know of someone or some organization who gives money to projects like this one please put them in contact with me so I can give the details. This is a professional production, there is a budget and some very amazing people behind this. The bees need us... it's time to step up to the plate. Ideas for fundraising. If you feel like donating personally let me know. Your contribution is definitely a write-off. If you would like to host a Bee Party or a fundraiser let me know. I can help set up, find gear, DJ's, fire performers, we can DO this if the will is there and the will is most definitely there. I am heading off to the Non-Profit Resource Center to look for grant money for this. If any of you have spare time, skills or ideas please... please... share them. Back to the fundrasier thing, maybe we could pick a day next week and have simultaneous Bee Parties in different places across the globe. All monies raised for the project will be in effect doubled. Let's get cracking. (\ {:|}{|||}-- (/ Maryam Henein Writer/Producer/All-around Raconteur www.vanishingbees.com <http://www.vanishingbees.com> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXircJ_eJ1Y (maryam amid thousands and thousands of bees) Sacramento Highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqotV9pOyBQ

Junk journey highlights 'plastic soup' of Pacific Ocean

anhareus — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:35:14 GMT

The junk is made, literally, from junk: 15,000 plastic bottles, a Cessna cockpit, and a used sail. (Credit: Peter Bennett/Ambient Images Inc.) Sailing 4,000 miles on the Pacific Ocean made Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal sick. It wasn't waves that turned their stomachs, but the amount of plastic garbage they encountered on a voyage with the Algalita Marine Research Foundation earlier this year. The activists wanted more people to share their disgust about plastic litter that swirls, relatively unexplored, in continent-size patches of ocean. To that end, they have built a motor-less craft from 15,000 recycled beverage bottles, fishing nets, and the cockpit of a Cessna, and are sailing it more than 2,000 miles from southern California to Hawaii. They left Long Beach, Calif., on Sunday. The sailors plan to collect samples from plastic-polluted ocean water, but this mission's main aim is to attract attention. The sailors plan to collect samples from plastic-polluted ocean water, but this mission's main aim is to attract attention. The 1.5-ton junk features a solar panel and wind turbine to power GPS and other devices. It's made of six pontoons each 30 feet long, filled with 2,000 soda and sports drink bottles, and triple-wrapped in used fishing nets. Twenty sailboat masts provide a frame, secured to a cabin cut from a Cessna 310 fuselage. On the last Pacific voyage that ended in February, Eriksen and Paschal helped marine researcher Charles Moore assess the extent of pollution in the waters leading up to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling mass of plastic debris some estimate to be as large as the United States. In early tests, a sample showed 48 parts of plastic to each part of plankton. "They haven't finished processing the samples, but there was an exponential increase in the plastic," said Anna Cummins, who was also aboard and serves as Algalita's education adviser. "What looked on the surface like clean water, when you pulled it up, it looked like plastic soup. It was disgusting." Algalita researchers said the floating, soupy landfill isn't well understood because satellites can't spot the translucent particles. And although efforts by scientists to explore plastic in five gyres around the world have been lacking, interest is expanding as the public learns more. "No one really knows what's out in the other gyres," Cummins said. "In the north Pacific alone there's Capt. Moore with his research boat. We are a small organization with five or six paid staff members." Eighty percent of the plastic comes not from ships but from land, where tossed consumer goods eventually travel from beaches and rivers into the ocean, according to Algalita. Plastic concentrates poisons such as PCBs at levels a million times higher than found in the water, according to Japanese researchers. The amount of plastic produced in the United States has nearly doubled in the past two decades, according to the American Chemistry Council. "Recycling isn't the solution," Cummins said. "We think there absolutely needs to be a reduction in the overall use and consumption of plastic." Cummins said she backs the attention-getting adventure but feels nervous about the safety of Paschal and Eriksen, her fiance. For more than a decade Algalita researchers have been collecting samples from the North Pacific Gyre, which traps untold amounts of plastic particles in its eddies. For more than a decade Algalita researchers have been collecting samples from the North Pacific Gyre, which traps untold amounts of plastic particles in its eddies. (Credit: Algalita Marine Research Foundation) "Yes, we are risking our lives, but the issue of petroleum-based plastic and our national dependence on petroleum, warrant urgent action," noted Eriksen on a blog that will chronicle the journey. However, he added, the sailboat masts and aluminum airplane fuselage are easy for radar to detect. "We have a better chance of being seen by big ships than typical fiberglass sailboats do." Two satellite telephones keep the sailors in touch with the rest of the world. They also have several GPS units, VHF radios, and a Coast Guard beacon. Three months' worth of food includes a bucket of Hershey's Kisses. It's not the first junk journey for Eriksen, who holds a doctorate in science education. After serving as a Marine in the Gulf War, he traveled the Mississippi River in a handmade raft of plastic bottles, then wrote a book about the trip. The current odyssey is costing between $40,000 to $50,000, with big support from donations, Cummins said. Most of the bottles were given by a Burbank, Calif., recycling center. Patagonia gave the crew 500 Nalgene bottles being phased out due to concerns about bisphenol-A leaching from them. The crew, towed first to San Nicolas Island before setting sail, encountered gale force winds Tuesday night. They plan to arrive in Hawaii in about six weeks.

Exhibit your art in our Downtown Gallery for next week's art walk...

anhareus — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:08:33 GMT

Hey there artist friends... if you are near downtown LA and would like to show off some of your art. Please email me a short note on space and lighting requirements, along with whatever else you might need. We usually get a pretty sizable crowd at the N-Light-N gallery. Also, we will be chilling out and swinging into a dope Minimal Tech set as the evening progresses towards the inevitable after-after-after party. Please tribe me or send an email to Greenidealoft@gmail.com P.S. if you find me I will be more than happy to discuss some of the cool things that I am learning about finding grants for individual artists. It's all about collaboration when you are applying for money.

Telemarketers will start calling you tomorrow on your cell. Take action

anhareus — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:06:22 GMT

REMINDER....all cell phone > numbers are being > > released to telemarketing companies tomorrow and > you will start to > > receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE > CALLS to prevent this, > > call the following number from your cell phone: > 1-888-382-1222 It is the > > National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a > minute of your time. It > > blocks your number for five (5) years. You must > call from the cell phone > > number you want to have blocked. You cannot call > from a different phone > > number. HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR > FRIENDS. It takes > > about 20 seconds.

Help Building a Plant Wall ~Investor Wanted~

anhareus — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:55:53 GMT

I am simply going to put this out there to the Universe. We are looking to build a plant wall bio-filter. I plan on using this idea as an income generating tool for N-light-N. We are a 501 (c)(3) intently focused on bringing about positive change in the world through the promotion of eco-awareness, art and science. The plan is basically to create a bio-filter that will clean the air cheaply and effectively in residential dwellings. There are already companies that make plant walls. You can find plant walls in universities, hospitals, meat processing plants, automobile manufaturers and other manufacturing sites. Plants will actually remove the Volatile Organic Compounds (V.O.C.'s) that are found in heavy concentrations in most industrial environs. I would like to develop a plant wall specifically for residential use. The plant wall would be part bio-filter and part indoor herb and vegetable garden. The intent of this endeavor would be to create a stream of residual income that would directly benefit the N-light-N artist's collective. When the plant wall business is established, we will educate people on how to make their own indoor garden. So: This is what we need to make this happen. An open discussion of how a plant wall can be constructed and the possible points of failure. We need a plant expert who would be willing to assist us in figuring out a vertical substrate that would be suitable for planting seeds in. We need an investor who would be willing to provide us with "seed money" to get this idea launched. Estimated start-up costs are $3,000 We will eventually need a large space in which to grow these walls prior to delivery. I am in the process of writing a full business plan. If you are interested in being a part of this process Tribe me or send me an email @ greenidealoft@gmail.com Thank you in advance for your time and consideration Adam

How to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods

anhareus — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:03:55 GMT

Whether genetically modified (GM) foods are safe or beneficial is still controversial, but some people would prefer to avoid them until the evidence is clear. Most foods we eat may contain ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs)--everything from baby formula and food to our dairy to even our meat. If you live in Europe, avoiding GM foods is easier since laws require labeling. However in the US and Canada food manufacturers are not required to label if their food is genetically modified or not. As such, here are some guidelines for steering clear of GMs in your diet, if that is your choice. [edit] Steps 1. Become familiar with the most common applications of genetic modification. These are the products (and their derivatives) that you have to be the most careful with: * Soybeans - Gene taken from bacteria and inserted into soybeans to make them more resistant to herbicides. See How to Live With a Soy Allergy for more information on avoiding soy products. * Corn - Gene added/transferred to make crop more resistant to pesticides. May be present in high fructose corn syrup which is prevalent in a wide variety of foods in America. * Tomatoes - Genetically modified to limit production of substances that cause rotting * Rapeseed - Gene added/transferred to make crop more resistant to pesticides * Sugar cane - Gene added/transferred to make crop more resistant to pesticides * Sweet corn - Gene taken from bacteria and inserted into corn so they produce an insecticide * Rice - Genes implanted from daffodils and bacteria for higher amounts of Vitamin A; also known as "Golden Rice" * Canola * Cotton - Used for making cottonseed oil. * Dairy - Cows injected with GE hormone rBGH/rBST; possibly fed GM grains and hay. 2. Buy food labeled 100% organic. The US and Canadian governments do not allow manufacturers to label something 100% organic if that food has been genetically modified or been fed genetically modified feed. However, you may find that organic food is often expensive. Also, just because something says "organic" on it does not mean that it does not contain GMs. In fact, it can still contain up to 30% GMs, so be sure the labels say 100% organic. * This applies to eggs, as well. Eggs labeled "free-range", "natural", or "cage-free" are not necessarily GE-free; look for eggs to be 100% organic.[1] 3. Purchase beef that is 100% grass-fed. Most cattle in the U.S. are grass-fed, but spend the last portion of their lives in feedlots where they may be given GM feed. If you're looking to stay away from GMOs, make sure the cattle 100% grass-fed or pasture-fed (sometimes referred to as grass-finished or pasture-finished). The same applies to meat from other herbivores such as sheep. There is also the slight possibility that the animals were fed GM alfalfa, although this is less likely if you buy meat locally. With non-ruminants like pigs and poultry that cannot be 100% grass-fed, it's better to look for meat that is 100% organic. 4. GMO-free marshmallows GMO-free marshmallows Seek products that are specifically labeled as non-GM or GMO-free. However, it is rare to find products labeled as such. You can also research websites that list companies and foods that do not use genetically modified foods.[2] 5. Shop locally. Although more than half of all GM foods are produced in the US,[3] most of it comes from large, industrial farms. By shopping at farmers' markets, signing up for a subscription from a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, or patronizing a local co-op that stresses GM-free food, you may be able to avoid GM products and possibly save money at the same time. * More and more small farms are offering grains and meat directly to customers, in addition to the usual fare (vegetables, fruit, herbs). * Inspecting non-GMO cabbage Inspecting non-GMO cabbage Shopping locally may also give you the opportunity to speak to the farmer and find out how he or she feels about GMOs and whether or not they use them in their own operation. 6. Buy whole foods. Favor foods that you can cook and prepare yourself, rather than foods that are processed or prepared (e.g. anything that comes in a box or a bag, including fast food). What you lose in convenience, you may recover in money saved and satisfaction gained, as well as increased peace of mind. Try cooking a meal from scratch once or twice a week--you may enjoy it and decide to do it more often.

A real live Rocket Man ~ Effing Sweet

anhareus — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:26:03 GMT

Okay this has to be the coolest thing I've seen all day. http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/05/swiss-man-strap.html

Woman lies dead in her apartment for 35 years before being found...

anhareus — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:12:50 GMT

"ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) -- Governments have changed. War erupted and ended. Neighbors had children, and then grandchildren. But Hedviga Golik never left her tiny apartment in Croatia's capital -- until her mummified body was carried out this week, 35 years after she died. Police said Friday that no one ever reported Golik missing and no one has come to claim her body. Residents of her loft building in downtown Zagreb had broken into Golik's flat after deciding that the apartment should belong to them, and not to her. Startled by the remains in bed, they called police. Forensics experts said Golik likely died in 1973, about the time a neighbor last saw her. Expert Davor Strinovic said she seemed to have died of natural causes, but "it's almost impossible to say for certain" after so much time. Some of Golik's neighbors claimed she had talked about going abroad. Experts said her windows had been open, likely diminishing the smell. It remained unclear who -- if anyone -- was paying her bills and who exactly owned the apartment. In the 1970s, when Golik died, apartments were state-owned. Neighbors now argue the apartment should be divided among the remaining tenants. The discovery of Golik's body on Tuesday prompted media debates on how it is possible for a woman to die so long ago without anyone noticing. One local journalist said it showed people were becoming more alienated." ----------------------------------------------- This article really touched me on a very personal level. I don't feel like I can adequately describe what I am feeling at the moment. I guess my thoughts relating to this story are along the lines of wondering how Humanity has become so detatched from itself. As humans we desperately need other humans interact with, to love, to learn from and to hug. We need another person for our very survival once we are born. Without other people to care for us we would quite literally die. This woman died as I was being born. That means that for my entire 33 year existence this woman has been in her bed with no one to mourn for her, nobody to mark the passing of her time here on Earth.

On event scheduling and cross-community communication…

anhareus — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:23:59 GMT

The purpose and intent of this discussion thread is two-fold in nature. First and foremost, I would like to thank all the attendee/participants who made last night’s Art Walk after-party another success. We have been hosting an intentional art/science/eco-awareness event at a venue downtown for the past three months. By “we” I am referring to all of the people who are involved directly or indirectly with N-Light-N. All three art walk parties have been successful in their own regards. Last night’s party while small was well received by the three hundred or so people who showed up. The second reason for this thread and hopefully there are people out there that can shed light on a concern which goes to the very core of our potential for survival as a well established Non-Profit. Our sole intent for the Artwalk after parties is to create a sacred space wherein members of our amazing community can see and be seen. We would love to make money doing these parties; however if making money was our only concern we would not have made it to this point. Last night was our third event in as many months. The first one featured a live painting display by Alex and Allison Gray as well as Guy Atchinson and a slew of other live performers. The event was an amazing success and raised a considerable amount of money for COSM. The second event was equally as magical; with one exception. On the same night about ten blocks away there was another big event that we ended up being in direct competition with. The same scenario repeated itself last night with the Mutaytor show. We were on at the same time in the same geographic location. I know a lot of people would say that we should do better research into what’s happening on that night and plan around it. But the fact of the matter is that we have one night to have our gatherings on and that is the night of the Downtown Artwalk. We begin planning these intentional events one month before the show. So, it is completely disheartening to see that there is another event happening on the same night as Artwalk. This is not a competitive thing. With all of these creative circles in town, there is a wealth of things to do and places to go within this amorphous ever-developing scene. The ultimate goal would be to have an open channel of communication between the various circles of promoters and event planners so that we are not in direct competition for the same demographic. There are seven days in a week after all. So, I would appreciate any feedback and would love to see an discussion started on scheduling and how we could all possibly work together to feed the good that we are all working hard to put out there to the universe. And on a related note, if you have something that you would like to present to the community at large whether that be art, knowledge, skills or anything at all that falls under the category of self-expression, education or enlightenment please let us know. We have the artwalk after party every month in a 115 year old opera house that is truly amazing. Part of our mission statement is to provide a place for others so that they can share their vision and beauty with the community. Any thoughts and input would be greatly appreciated. Love and Light

The Official N-Light-N Artwalk After Party Thursday 5-8-08

anhareus — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:35:52 GMT

This is the third major event that we have done at N-Light-N. There is an amazing circle of people behind these events who's intent is to create a place of amazing beauty and to nurture the creative community at large by providing them with a venue where they can simply BE. It's hard to describe these events due to the fact that each one is completely different than the last. The first gathering was a huge success. Alex and Allison Gray showed up and supported N-Light-N with their formiddible knowledge base, kindness and artistic wonderment. Guy Atchinson and his wife were also on the main stage accompanied by a slew of other performers, most of whom were doing their first live public painting. There really was no distinction between the performing artists and the participant attendees. There was a certain synergistic feel to the whole event. If you didn't make it out to that one, don't worry we are having the Grays back in July. Details to follow. The second installment was equally as magical. This time we went all out in decorating the 115 year old Broadway Theater. For one night Club 740 shook off her dusty coat of many decades and shined again for the hipsters and groovers. David Alexander English showed up and executed an amazing painting dripping with sacred geometry. The Hive brought a lot of art by and we gave them the entire second floor VIP lounge to host the works of an amazing array of artists. I could keep on writing about these parties until my fingers fall off. The third installation is going to be more focused on local talent. We are hosting tomorrows event as a fund raiser for the next two events coming up in June and July. So, I know that it is a Thursday and a school night for most. But if you could come out and support us as we continue to strive towards creating a sacred space where we can all gather and dance and be ourselves, we would be most grateful : ) One last thing... we are striving to keep these events as open as possible; the goal is to give creativity a free reign. If you would like to contribute, co-create, conspire, bring something of beauty, informative content, feel free to do so. I only ask that if you are bringing something big or sinister please tribe me or email me with something akin to advance notice. Greenidealoft@gmail.com this THURSDAY night --- ARTWALK, Downtown L.A. N'LIGHT'N - the Artwalk Afterparty, featuring some serious beats & bass, on our newly tuned E.A.W. soundsystem, featuring: NEURONAUT (Addictech S.F.) SQUARE-1 (Kether/Cre8tivity) DAVE SWEETEN (Lefthouse Recordings) CARLY D. (N'LIGHT'N - Costa Rica) Visionary Art / Video Installations / Laser Imagery 9pm - 3am Club Seven-Forty (entrance on the corner of 8th St. & Spring St.) $5 before 10pm 21+ w/I.D. www.nlightn.la

Spinning Lightning instead of Fire..

anhareus — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:18:07 GMT

I am wondering if it would be possible to build a Tesla Coil / Faraday Cage-like contraption to spin lightning. I know this sounds like the world's stupidist idea but maybe... just maybe this could actually happen. I would appreciate some feedback on this. Do any of you think that it's possible to pull this off? Faraday Cage: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage Tesla Coil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil

Volcanic ash and Lighting Storms

anhareus — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:18:48 GMT

Two of nature's most spectacular forces produced an incredible brew in the skies of Chile as a volcanic eruption met a lightning storm. Tonnes of dust and ash from the eruption of the Chaitén volcano poured into the night sky just as an electric storm passed overhead. The resulting collision of two unstoppable forces created a spectacular and rarely seen sight as lightning flickered around the dust cloud amid the orange glow of the volcano. The eruption was all the more spectacular because the Chaitén volcano, 800 miles (1,290km) south of Santiago, has been dormant for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Related Links The Patagonian volcano began erupting on Friday and the 12-mile-high plume has since left vast tracts of land stretching as far away as Argentina coated with a layer of ash. Authorities in Chile were increasingly worried by the violence of the eruption yesterday when lava began spewing out with increased ferocity. “The situation has changed suddenly,” Rodrigo Rojas, a national emergency official, said. “Today the volcano is erupting with pyroplastic material on a different scale.” The change in intensity of the eruption prompted the authorities to order the evacuation of the remaining 300 people from the area, including mililary personnel brought in to help. More than 4,000 people had already been evacuated from the town of Chaitén, which is six miles from the volcano. Getting people out of the area has been complicated by difficult and remote terrain. President Bachelet, who visited the area on Monday, said: “A total evacuation of the town of Chaitén has been ordered. We hope the evacuation happens in an optimum way.” Luis Lara, a government geologist, said he did not expect a catastrophic collapse of the volcano, but did expect a cloud of dense, very hot material to hit the surrounding area. “This produces a more complicated scenario,” Lara said. “A dense cloud of pyroplastic material could move down its slopes, and that causes much more damage [than a spray of lava].” “The entire volcano will not collapse, but the eruptive column could, and that is sufficient material to be displaced down its sides and into areas nearby. Lava flow would not reach Chaitén, but hot fragments, ash and gas could.” Authorities are evacuating a second town, Futaleufú, which has been coated with ash. Many of Futaleufú's 1,000 or so residents had already crossed into neighbouring Argentina, where some areas have also been affected by the eruption. Last week Argentine authorities closed schools and treated a number of people for breathing problems. In the worst-affected areas, ash is more than 15cm thick in places, coating houses, vehicles and trees and contaminating water supplies. The authorities are moving thousands of head of cattle from the area. Chile has the world's second-most-active string of volcanoes after Indonesia.

The Air car by Tata Motors

anhareus — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:55:34 GMT

March 19, 2007 Many respected engineers have been trying for years to bring a compressed air car to market, believing strongly that compressed air can power a viable 'zero pollution' car. Now the first commercial compressed air car is on the verge of production and beginning to attract a lot of attention, and with a recently signed partnership with Tata, India’s largest automotive manufacturer, the prospects of very cost-effective mass production are now a distinct possibility. The MiniC.A.T is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fibreglass. The heart of the electronic and communication system on the car is a computer offering an array of information reports that extends well beyond the speed of the vehicle, and is built to integrate with external systems and almost anything you could dream of, starting with voice recognition, internet connectivity, GSM telephone connectivity, a GPS guidance system, fleet management systems, emergency systems, and of course every form of digital entertainment. The Air Car - zero pollution and very low running costs The engine is fascinating, as is and the revolutionary electrical system that uses just one cable and so is the vehicle’s wireless control system. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc The Air Car - zero pollution and very low running costs There are no keys – just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. Most importantly, it is incredibly cost-efficient to run – according to the designers, it costs less than one Euro per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 68 mph. Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately 1.5 Euros, the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometres. As a viable alternative, the car carries a small compressor which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and refill the tank in 3-4 hours. The Air Car - zero pollution and very low running costs Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 50,000 Km. The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0 - 15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power. How does it work? 90m3 of compressed air is stored in fibre tanks. The expansion of this air pushes the pistons and creates movement. The atmospheric temperature is used to re-heat the engine and increase the road coverage. The air conditioning system makes use of the expelled cold air. Due to the absence of combustion and the fact there is no pollution, the oil change is only necessary every 31..000 miles At the moment, four models have been made: a car, a taxi (5 passengers), a Pick-Up truck and a van. The final selling price will be approximately 5.500 pounds The Company 'Moteur Development International' (MDI) is a company founded in Luxembourg, based in the south of France and with its Commercial Office in Barcelona. MDI has researched and developed the Air Car over 10 years and the technology is protected by more than 30 International patents and MDI is actively seeking licensees, with according to the company, 50 factories in Europe, America and Asia signed already. The Factory It is predicted that the factory will produce 3.000 cars each year, with 70 staff working only one 8-hour shift a day. If there were 3 shifts some 9.000 cars could be produced a year. The Tata Agreement Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of US$ 5.5 billion in 2005-06. With over 4 million Tata vehicles on Indian roads, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata has signed an agreement with MDI for application in India of MDI’s engine technology, and believes the engine is viable – it’s press statement described it as “efficient, cost-effective, scalable, and capable of other applications such as power generation”. The agreement between Tata Motors and MDI envisages Tata’s supporting further development and refinement of the technology, and its application and licensing for India. MDI is a small, family-controlled company located at Carros, near Nice (Southern France) where Guy and Cyril Negre and their technical team have developed the engine technology and the technologically advanced car it powers.

Free Grant Writing Seminar for Non-Profits

anhareus — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:56:28 GMT

This Saturday there is another grant writing class. It is free and near the downtown area. The last course focused on individual grant seekers. This one will focus on fundraising/grant writing for organizations. I left the last class loaded down with information, the instructor is an amazing artist. Tribe me for details if you want to go.

The world's rubbish dump: a garbage tip that stretches from Hawaii to Japan

anhareus — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:00:05 GMT

By Kathy Marks, Asia-Pacific Correspondent, and Daniel Howden Tuesday, 5 February 2008 http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-worlds-rubbish-dump-a-garbage-tip-that-stretches-from-hawaii-to-japan-778016.html A "plastic soup" of waste floating in the Pacific Ocean is growing at an alarming rate and now covers an area twice the size of the continental United States, scientists have said. The vast expanse of debris – in effect the world's largest rubbish dump – is held in place by swirling underwater currents. This drifting "soup" stretches from about 500 nautical miles off the Californian coast, across the northern Pacific, past Hawaii and almost as far as Japan. Charles Moore, an American oceanographer who discovered the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" or "trash vortex", believes that about 100 million tons of flotsam are circulating in the region. Marcus Eriksen, a research director of the US-based Algalita Marine Research Foundation, which Mr Moore founded, said yesterday: "The original idea that people had was that it was an island of plastic garbage that you could almost walk on. It is not quite like that. It is almost like a plastic soup. It is endless for an area that is maybe twice the size as continental United States." Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer and leading authority on flotsam, has tracked the build-up of plastics in the seas for more than 15 years and compares the trash vortex to a living entity: "It moves around like a big animal without a leash." When that animal comes close to land, as it does at the Hawaiian archipelago, the results are dramatic. "The garbage patch barfs, and you get a beach covered with this confetti of plastic," he added. The "soup" is actually two linked areas, either side of the islands of Hawaii, known as the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches. About one-fifth of the junk – which includes everything from footballs and kayaks to Lego blocks and carrier bags – is thrown off ships or oil platforms. The rest comes from land. Mr Moore, a former sailor, came across the sea of waste by chance in 1997, while taking a short cut home from a Los Angeles to Hawaii yacht race. He had steered his craft into the "North Pacific gyre" – a vortex where the ocean circulates slowly because of little wind and extreme high pressure systems. Usually sailors avoid it. He was astonished to find himself surrounded by rubbish, day after day, thousands of miles from land. "Every time I came on deck, there was trash floating by," he said in an interview. "How could we have fouled such a huge area? How could this go on for a week?" Mr Moore, the heir to a family fortune from the oil industry, subsequently sold his business interests and became an environmental activist. He warned yesterday that unless consumers cut back on their use of disposable plastics, the plastic stew would double in size over the next decade. Professor David Karl, an oceanographer at the University of Hawaii, said more research was needed to establish the size and nature of the plastic soup but that there was "no reason to doubt" Algalita's findings. "After all, the plastic trash is going somewhere and it is about time we get a full accounting of the distribution of plastic in the marine ecosystem and especially its fate and impact on marine ecosystems." Professor Karl is co-ordinating an expedition with Algalita in search of the garbage patch later this year and believes the expanse of junk actually represents a new habitat. Historically, rubbish that ends up in oceanic gyres has biodegraded. But modern plastics are so durable that objects half-a-century old have been found in the north Pacific dump. "Every little piece of plastic manufactured in the past 50 years that made it into the ocean is still out there somewhere," said Tony Andrady, a chemist with the US-based Research Triangle Institute. Mr Moore said that because the sea of rubbish is translucent and lies just below the water's surface, it is not detectable in satellite photographs. "You only see it from the bows of ships," he said. According to the UN Environment Programme, plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. Syringes, cigarette lighters and toothbrushes have been found inside the stomachs of dead seabirds, which mistake them for food. Plastic is believed to constitute 90 per cent of all rubbish floating in the oceans. The UN Environment Programme estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic, Dr Eriksen said the slowly rotating mass of rubbish-laden water poses a risk to human health, too. Hundreds of millions of tiny plastic pellets, or nurdles – the raw materials for the plastic industry – are lost or spilled every year, working their way into the sea. These pollutants act as chemical sponges attracting man-made chemicals such as hydrocarbons and the pesticide DDT. They then enter the food chain. "What goes into the ocean goes into these animals and onto your dinner plate. It's that simple," said Dr Eriksen.

Poetic Terrorism (Definition)

anhareus — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:11:56 GMT

WEIRD DANCING IN ALL-NIGHT computer-banking lobbies. Unauthorized pyrotechnic displays. Land-art, earth-works as bizarre alien artifacts strewn in State Parks. Burglarize houses but instead of stealing, leave Poetic-Terrorist objects. Kidnap someone & make them happy. Pick someone at random & convince them they're the heir to an enormous, useless & amazing fortune--say 5000 square miles of Antarctica, or an aging circus elephant, or an orphanage in Bombay, or a collection of alchemical mss. Later they will come to realize that for a few moments they believed in something extraordinary, & will perhaps be driven as a result to seek out some more intense mode of existence. Bolt up brass commemorative plaques in places (public or private) where you have experienced a revelation or had a particularly fulfilling sexual experience, etc. Go naked for a sign. Organize a strike in your school or workplace on the grounds that it does not satisfy your need for indolence & spiritual beauty. Grafitti-art loaned some grace to ugly subways & rigid public momuments--PT-art can also be created for public places: poems scrawled in courthouse lavatories, small fetishes abandoned in parks & restaurants, xerox-art under windshield-wipers of parked cars, Big Character Slogans pasted on playground walls, anonymous letters mailed to random or chosen recipients (mail fraud), pirate radio transmissions, wet cement... The audience reaction or aesthetic-shock produced by PT ought to be at least as strong as the emotion of terror-- powerful disgust, sexual arousal, superstitious awe, sudden intuitive breakthrough, dada-esque angst--no matter whether the PT is aimed at one person or many, no matter whether it is "signed" or anonymous, if it does not change someone's life (aside from the artist) it fails. PT is an act in a Theater of Cruelty which has no stage, no rows of seats, no tickets & no walls. In order to work at all, PT must categorically be divorced from all conventional structures for art consumption (galleries, publications, media). Even the guerilla Situationist tactics of street theater are perhaps too well known & expected now. An exquisite seduction carried out not only in the cause of mutual satisfaction but also as a conscious act in a deliberately beautiful life--may be the ultimate PT. The PTerrorist behaves like a confidence-trickster whose aim is not money but CHANGE. Don't do PT for other artists, do it for people who will not realize (at least for a few moments) that what you have done is art. Avoid recognizable art-categories, avoid politics, don't stick around to argue, don't be sentimental; be ruthless, take risks, vandalize only what must be defaced, do something children will remember all their lives--but don't be spontaneous unless the PT Muse has possessed you. Dress up. Leave a false name. Be legendary. The best PT is against the law, but don't get caught. Art as crime; crime as art.

Positivity

anhareus — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:01:00 GMT

There is so much good energy in my life and the people's lives who surround me. It is a pleasure to wake up every morning and handle life's challenges which are really just cleverly disguised opportunities. Life is fucking awesome at the moment, there is so much developing that the hardest thing I have to do is to figure out which direction I wish to point my feet. I get a sense that there is finally an overall atmosphere of growth and forward movement in this country. Hope is infectious, it gets all of us to thinking that maybe there is more to life than marching lockstep with the bugle call of the overly-commercialized default world. Everybody nowadays has a plan and they are chomping at the bit to effect change on a large scale. What amazes me the most is that I keep running into platoons of people who are all infused with this hopeful creativity. I once read about an ancient Chinese curse that went" "May you live in interesting times..." Sounds pretty gentle for a curse, but it's full of depth and possibilities for all manner of unpleasant possibilities. What I am finding is that when I enter into an "interesting time" this is a harbinger of change and personal growth. It gets better as you walk through the fire...

Transplant Tourism in China

anhareus — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:08:24 GMT

Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is a system of "mind and body cultivation" introduced to the public in China by Li Hongzhi（李洪志） in 1992. It is a form of qigong practice and is, in some aspects, similar to Buddhism and Taoism. It has five sets of meditation exercises, and seeks to develop practitioners' heart and character according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance (真，善，忍）articulated in the main books Falun Gong（法輪功）and Zhuan Falun（轉法輪）.[1][2] The teachings deal with issues such as "cultivation of virtue and character", "moral standards for different levels", and "salvation of all sentient beings", among others. The books have been translated into over 40 languages. The exact number of practitioners is not known: a 1998 figure from the Chinese government suggests there were 70 million practitioners in China at that time; Falun Gong claims 100 million practitioners in more than 80 countries.[3] On July 20, 1999, 3 months after 10,000 practitioners staged a silent protest at the Chinese Communist Party headquarters at Zhongnanhai[4] the authorities banned and began a crackdown on Falun Gong in mainland China.[5] In the attempt to eradicate the practice[6], practitioners have been publicly vilified by state media, fired from their jobs, and subject to widespread torture in custody, beatings, illegal imprisonment, psychiatric abuses, and forced labor terms.[6][7][8] Amnesty International believes it is politically motivated and a restriction of fundamental freedoms.[7] In early 2006, David Kilgour and David Matas published a report, based on circumstantial evidence, that concluded that the authorities had been systematically harvesting the organs of living practitioners.[9] Though their methods of investigation have been questioned in a Congressional Research Service report and by some journalists, and the report rejected by the Chinese government, the authors maintain their conclusion.[10][11][12] The U.S. House of Representatives accused China of unlawful harassment of United States citizens and residents who practice Falun Gong, and passed a resolution unanimously calling on the Chinese government to "cease its persecution and harassment of Falun Gong practitioners in the United States"[6] Practitioners also draw attention to their plight by demonstrating the meditation exercises, distributing flyers, displaying banners, initiating lawsuits, demonstrating outside Chinese consulates around the world, and holding other public events. ********************************* In 2006, Falun-Gong affiliated media the Epoch Times[1] alleged that the Chinese Communist Party and its agencies, including the People's Liberation Army, had been conducting widespread and systematic organ harvesting of living Falun Gong practitioners. It alleged that practitioners detained in forced labour camps, hospital basements, or prisons, are blood and urine tested, and their information stored on computer databases. When an organ is required, they are injected with potassium to stop the heart, their organs removed, and their bodies incinerated. The Sujiatun Thrombosis Hospital is a Chinese joint-venture company in Sujiatun, Shenyang co-owned by Country Heights Health Sanctuary of Malaysia. Allegations first appeared in the Epoch Times in March 2006. According to two individuals claiming they were witnesses, internal organs had been harvested at the Sujiatun Thrombosis Hospital, Sujiatun, Liaoning province, and sold, the bodies incinerated in the hospital's boiler room. They alleged that no prisoner came out alive; six thousand practitioners had been held captive at the hospital since 2001, two-thirds of whom were killed. Epoch Times also alleged live persons where exported overseas, where Chinese embassies abroad harvested organs and incinerated bodies. However this allegation was not translated into English.[2] The Chinese authorities immediately accused Falun Gong of fabricating the "Sujiatun concentration camp", citing lack of evidence and incapability of the hospital to perform the claimed acts. The United States Department of State investigated the site on two occasions, first unannounced, then later upon invitation, found no evidence to support the allegations but stated, "we remain concerned over China’s repression of Falun Gong practitioners."[3][4] Chinese dissident and Executive Director of the Laogai Research Foundation, Harry Wu, having sent his own investigators to the site, was unable to substantiate the claims, and believes the reports were fabricated.[5] Following the Sujiatun allegations, in July 2006, David Kilgour, a former Canadian Secretary of State, and David Matas, a human rights lawyer, conducted an independent investigation on the subject at the behest of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of the Falun Gong in China (CIPFG), a U.S.-based, non-profit organization founded by the Falun Dafa Association[6]. Their report concludes that the allegations are founded, stating that Chinese authorities have, since 1999, "put to death a large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. Their vital organs, including kidneys, livers, corneas and hearts, were seized involuntarily for sale at high prices, sometimes to foreigners." While some writers question the conclusion in the report[7], the authors maintain that the evidence is current, the practice ongoing, and that their report has not met with any substantive refutation.[8] The Christian Science Monitor states that the report's evidence is circumstantial, but persuasive.[9] A Congressional Research Service said that the K&M report’s key allegations appeared to be inconsistent with the findings of other investigations.[10] The Chinese embassy in Canada pointed to very elementary errors of fact in the report, and further denounced it for being "biased and groundless", and "based on rumors and false allegations".[11]

Reassurance from the President of Westland Meat.

anhareus — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:10:03 GMT

WESTLAND/HALLMARK MEAT CO. February 3, 2008 As President of Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. I want to reassure our customers and consumers that our company has met the highest standards for harvesting and processing meat under the Federal Meat Inspection Act. A fulltime USDA veterinary medical officer has been assigned to our facility for many years, and he oversees the work of three inspectors in the harvest operation and another inspector assigned to the processing operations. In addition, we have had a full time official from the USDA’s Grading Service in our operation for the purpose of ensuring contractual compliance for the meat we sell to the USDA commodity program. During 2007, we had 17 third party audits of our operation to confirm that we meet the statutorily mandated humane handling and food safety standards. In addition we have conducted 12 internal audits by our own personnel to ensure that such standards are met. We also, conduct weekly humane handling audits based on standards set forth in the American Meat Institute’s (AMI), Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2007 Edition, which was authored by Dr. Temple Grandin, a world renowned expert of humane handling practices. Complete documentation of this activity has been made available to the USDA investigation team currently at our plant. Words cannot accurately express how shocked and horrified I was at the depictions contained on the video that was taken by an individual who worked at our facility from October 3 thru November 14, 2007. We have taken swift action regarding the two employees identified on the video and have already implemented aggressive measures to ensure all employees follow our humane handling policies and procedures. We are also cooperating with the USDA investigators on the allegations of inhumane handling treatment which is a serious breech of our company’s policies and training. As part of our own investigation, we have retained an outside consultant to take an independent look at our operations. He is a veterinarian who worked for FSIS in a supervisory position for 26 years all over the U.S. He spent two days in our facility with full and free access to all documentation and plant personnel. He told us in a written report that our records and programs are “the best he has ever seen in any plant.” We have provided his report to the USDA. We have voluntarily suspended our operations pending the completion of the USDA investigation. We are dedicating our full efforts and resources to fully cooperate with the USDA investigative team that has been assigned to our plant. Finally, I proudly assure our customers that we comply with all USDA requirements, including the requirement that only ambulatory livestock may enter the harvest facility to be processed for human food. I am confident that we have met this high regulatory standard. Steve Mendell President Westland Meat Co. Hallmark Meat Packing

The video of non-ambulatory cows getting pushed by forklifts is disgusting.

anhareus — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:07:41 GMT

While there's plenty of stuff on the web, Here's a link to the video that cause this stir: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3673585&page=1 LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sunday ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a California slaughterhouse, the subject of an animal-abuse investigation, that provided meat to school lunch programs. Officials said it was the largest beef recall in the United States, surpassing a 1999 ban of 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats. No illnesses have been linked to the newly recalled meat, and officials said the health threat was likely small. The recall will affect beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006, that came from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., the federal agency said. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said his department has evidence that Westland did not routinely contact its veterinarian when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing inspection, violating health regulations. "Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall," Schafer said in a statement. A phone message left for Westland president Steve Mendell was not immediately returned. Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video from the Humane Society of the United States surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts. Two former employees were charged Friday. Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors were filed against a pen manager. Three misdemeanor counts — illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal — were filed against an employee who worked under that manager. Both were fired. Authorities said the video showed workers kicking, shocking and otherwise abusing "downer" animals that were apparently too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse. Some animals had water forced down their throats, San Bernardino County prosecutor Michael Ramos said. No charges have been filed against Westland, but an investigation by federal authorities continues. Officials estimate that about 37 million pounds of the recalled beef went to school programs, but they believe most of the meat probably has already been eaten. "We don't know how much product is out there right now. We don't think there is a health hazard, but we do have to take this action," said Dr. Dick Raymond, USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety. Most of the beef was sent to distribution centers in bulk packages. The USDA said it will work with distributors to determine how much meat remains. Federal regulations call for keeping downed cattle out of the food supply because they may pose a higher risk of contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease because they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems are often weak. About 150 school districts around the nation have stopped using ground beef from Hallmark Meat Packing Co., which is associated with Westland. Two fast-food chains, Jack-In-the-Box and In-N-Out, said they would not use beef from Westland/Hallmark. Jack in the Box, a San Diego-based company with restaurants in 18 states, told its meat suppliers not to use Hallmark until further notice, but it was unclear whether it had used any Hallmark meat. In-N-Out, an Irvine-based chain, also halted use of the Westland/Hallmark beef. Other chains such as McDonald's and Burger King said they do not buy beef from Westland. Raymond countered a claim leveled by Humane Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle, who said a USDA inspector was at the Westland plant for about two hours each day. USDA inspectors are there at slaughterhouses "continuously," Raymond said. Federal lawmakers on Thursday had called for the Government Accountability Office to investigate the safety of meat in the National School Lunch Program. Upon learning about the recall, some legislators criticized the USDA, saying the federal agency should conduct more thorough inspections to ensure tainted beef doesn't get to the public. "Today marks the largest beef recall in U.S. history, and it involves the national school lunch program and other federal food and nutrition programs," said U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, chairman of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. "This begs the question: how much longer will we continue to test our luck with weak enforcement of federal food safety regulations?" Advocacy groups also weighed in, noting the problems at Westland wouldn't have been revealed had it not been for animal right activists. "On the one hand, I'm glad that the recall is taking place. On the other, it's somewhat disturbing, given that obviously much of this food has already been eaten," said Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union. "It's really closing the barn door after the cows left."