Deep in December its nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow

Monarch and tiger swallowtail share swamp milkweed but neglect cup plant's yellow flowers

Please click on image to ENLARGE August 31, 2010, photo of Monarch and tiger swallowtail on Asclepias incarnata.

Roy Orbison "Try to Remember"

Arkansas Native Plant Society newsletters offer authoritative information

Fall 2010 edition of Claytonia online.
Why is newsletter named Claytonia?
The Arkansas Native Plant Society

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE for easier reading.

OMNI needs more volunteers to man the table speaking out against PERMANENT WAR

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE and display wider view of poet John Rule talking about OMNI Center's message of peace to visitors to the Farmer's Market in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on August 21, 2010.

OMNI is tabling against WARS and WARMING Saturdays at the Farmer's Market.   Join us, help us make OMNI a presence there, speaking to the official aggression and public acceptance and silence.   Wear your OMNI shirt if you have one.   What follows is one strong voice against US foreign aggression:  Cindy Sheehan. 
Dick Bennett
My blog:
http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/
jbennet@uark.edu
(479) 442-4600
2582 Jimmie Ave.
Fayetteville, AR 72703
 

cindyssoapbox@gmail.com
Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox Newsletter August 29, 2010

Greetings!

Hate War? Me too, and I have been fighting against the illegal and immoral wars of the US Empire since my son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Now, the Empire is telling us the war in Iraq has "ended" after dozens were killed in many separate instances of violence in Iraq over the past week.

It's time to work harder and smarter--not back down.

Love & Peace, Cindy

In This Issue 
WE HATE WAR 
WAR NOT OVER 
WE HAVE A DREAM 
WINNING, LOSING AND WAR 
REVOLUTION, A LOVE STORY 
CINDY SHEEHAN'S SOAPBOX RADIO SHOW

 Today on Cindy's Soapbox, we play an interview that Cindy did with Scott Horton of Antiwar Radio.

The show will be available at the web site at 2pm (PST).
www.CindySheehansSoapbox.com
Listen to this fabulous interview, or any in the archives!

 
DOZENS DEAD

IS THE IRAQ WAR REALLY OVER?

WE HAVE A DREAM

CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW SPEECH

 
Winning, Losing and War in NY Times

CLICK IMAGE TO READ REST OF ARTICLE

FROM AUGUST 29TH ARTICLE BY PETER BAKER:

And for those who have suffered deep loss, like the relatives of the 4,400 Americans or the many more Iraqis who died, the notion of victory or defeat can feel remote. "Well, first of all, my family lost in a big way," said Cindy Sheehan, who became perhaps the nation's most prominent antiwar activist after her son died in Iraq. "We had one of our cherished members, Casey, murdered by the U.S. empire in Iraq." 
In her view, "the only winners have been Halliburton, KBR, CACI, Xe, Unocal, BP, Standard Oil, Boeing" and other corporations that profited from the war. "People here in the U.S. who don't know that they lost have lost big time," she said.

"We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children." (MLK JR, I Have a Dream Speech)

I, too, have a dream that people will come together to make Peace a Reality in our time.

Love & Peace

Cindy Sheehan
Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox

Featured Article
REVOLUTION, A LOVE STORY

Revolution, A Love Story is a documentary by Cindy Sheehan and Joshua Smith that strives to dispel the demonization of Hugo Chavez and Venezuela by telling the inspiring story of the People's Revolution in Venezuela.

Click on the Image to pre-order the documentary.

(The movie should be ready by the end of September and will premiere at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on September 29)

 
 

WAR IS A RACKET BY MAJ. GEN. SMEDLEY BUTLER

ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF WAR IS A RACKET BY MAJOR GENERAL SMEDLEY BUTLER WITH NEW FOREWORD BY CINDY SHEEHAN (SIGNED BY CINDY)

This booklet is a re-print of a famous speech and treatise given by the most highly decorated Marine warrior of his time as he reflected on being a "strongman" for the corporations.

This booklet needs to get into the hands of every parent and teen/young adult in this country. You can help make that happen for only $10 (includes shipping and handling).

We have discounts for bulk orders, teachers, and students. Please contact: josh@peaceoftheaction.org for more info on discounts.

Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox and Peace of the Action are also reserving 535 copied to deliver to the 112th Congress when it convenes on January 3rd, 2011 (more info on that soon) and your order will help us get there!

Janas and Walter Ward are regular visitors to Farmers' Market on the Fayetteville downtown square; in summer just before time to return to Harvard, their son Lewis visits the square with them

Please click on the images to ENLARGE photos from August 21 and August 28, 2010.

Aubrey James Shepherd on cable-access TV 2010 Aug16 aub.asf

Aubrey James Shepherd on cable-access TV 2010 Aug16 aub.asf

Program list for upcoming week ending Friday, September 2, 2010

Fayetteville Government Channel Schedule today through Thursday, September 2, 2010.

Democrats Rock concert and silent auction last night in Fayetteville, Arkansas, drew large and generous crowd: It's easy to find a yellow-dog Democrat in Arkansas, but Rep. Jim House may be the only true black-donkey Democrat in the state legislature

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE and widen view:

Request for proposals to manage Fayetteville public-access station for the coming 5 years issued for second time by Fayetteville city purchasing agent

Here is the new RFP with a deadline of 2 p.m. local time. The previous RFP brought in only one proposal and it was turned in one minute after the deadline. The purchasing office uses an "atomic-clock setting," which is about 7 minutes earlier than time one sees on CNN or Weather Channel or on your alarm clock or wrist watch. My computer provides "atomic-clock" time, which is supposedly more accurate for a given point on earth.
Ask Art Hobson to explain the process of determining atomic time. Only a physics professor is likely to explain it easily. And Art is a physicist who has been explaining his science to undergraduates for decades.

Democrats Rock concert and silent auction tonight in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Time Today · 7:00pm - 11:00pm Location The Home of Hershey and Denise Garner 3390 E Mission Blvd Fayetteville, AR Created By Washington County Democratic Central Committee More Info The Washington County Democratic Central Committee hosts its fourth annual Democrats Rock concert Friday, August 27, at the home of Hershey and Denise Garner in Fayetteville. Tickets are $25. Student tickets are $10. Show begins at 7:00 PM. In addition to live music, food and drinks will be available. The event also features a silent auction.

Ducks Unlimited says support America's Great Outoors Initiative and protect our prairies

Please visit the DU official site at Ducks.org to read more and help support DU's work with a full text of the letter reproduced below.

Take Action for the Prairies Today! Fellow Conservationists, Today, many families are losing touch with America's great outdoors. Fields, forests and streams are becoming fragmented by lack of support for conserving these crucial areas. As Ducks Unlimited members, we understand the importance of habitat conservation and have led this charge for decades—and we will continue to do so. Recognizing the influence the outdoors has on our youth and the need for conserving America's natural landscapes, the president and his administration have proposed the America's Great Outdoors Initiative (AGOI). This initiative is designed to promote the outdoors to youth, advance private-land conservation strategies, and use science-based management practices to restore and protect our lands. I am asking that you take a moment to e-mail the Department of the Interior, which is currently accepting ideas from the public on how and where the AGOI can provide the greatest benefits for Americans and the natural landscapes that support their outdoor lifestyles and livelihoods. Through sound scientific research, DU knows that the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting depend on more aggressive conservation of the Prairie Pothole Region, also known as the "Duck Factory." Encouraging the AGOI to designate the Prairie Pothole Region as a "Treasured Landscape" will help secure the future of waterfowl populations throughout North America. In the box below is a letter explaining the benefits of making the Prairie Pothole Region a "Treasured Landscape." Please copy this text and e-mail it to the DOI (ago@ios.doi.gov) to express your concern for the future of North America's waterfowl populations and to help ensure that young outdoorsmen and women can enjoy wild places and migrating waterfowl for years to come. Sincerely, Dale Hall CEO, Ducks Unlimited As a Ducks Unlimited member, outdoors enthusiast and supporter of waterfowl habitat conservation, I strongly recommend designation of the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana as a "Treasured Landscape" in the administration's America's Great Outdoors Initiative. Within the Prairie Pothole Region lies the Missouri Coteau, America's last great landscape of richly diverse wetlands and native grasslands. This ecologically and culturally unique landscape provides breeding habitat for millions of waterfowl and other migratory birds, and it is also home to a strong outdoors-focused culture and a proud ranching tradition. The Prairie Pothole Region supports outdoor recreational activities for millions of Americans, providing opportunities for both adults and youth to connect to our natural heritage. Migratory birds produced in the region support or enhance the outdoor experiences of waterfowl hunters, bird watchers, boaters and many other outdoor enthusiasts in nearly every state. Waterfowl hunters alone generate $2.3 billion in local economic value annually and support more than 21,000 jobs throughout the country-revenue and jobs that are vital to local economies. We also support a strong North American Wetlands Conservation Act program and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Ducks Unlimited, in partnership with the federal and state agencies, numerous NGOs and private landowners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have worked to curb habitat losses in the Prairie Pothole Region to ensure the future of migratory birds and related natural resource conservation opportunities. Despite these efforts, the native grasslands and wetlands of this cultural and ecological treasure continue to disappear faster than they can be conserved. For these reasons, I urge the administration to recognize the Prairie Pothole Region as a Treasured Landscape. Sincerely,

Aug9 aubrey.asf

Don't be late to Council of Neighborhoods at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 26, 2010. I was involved in several activities the day of the July meeting and arrived late and the videographer for Government Channel was leaving the room because there was no "quorum": That explains why there are no minutes from that meeting. The meeting was deemed unofficial and no record of it was created in any form; however, a significant conversation occurred after the meeting was no longer considered 'real'

Please double-click on the image to ENLARGE and widen view of swallowtail on World Peace Wetland Prairie in the Town Branch neighborhood on August 25, 2010, or scroll down to read about Fayetteville's Council of Neighborhoods and Thursday night's meeting of that group in city hall.
Please see agenda for the meeting at the bottom of the post.

Please check the agenda and notice that there are two significant presentations slated for Council of Neighborhoods for August 26, 2010. In addition, all people who attend may report on anything of interest to them or others in their neighborhood or on any matter of importance to residents of the city. Many important issues have first surfaced when one person showed up and shared at Council of Neighborhoods. Chances are good that you may get to meet the people who are running for half the positions on the the City Council. And other candidates for public office also may be there.
People who attend are not required to speak but have the opportunity to speak on Government Channel or simply meet representatives of other neighborhoods before and after the meeting and suggest subjects for future agendas.
If you have never been contacted by anyone from your neighborhood association or don't believe there is an organization in your neighborhood, you can give your address to Julie McQuade, whose contact information is at the bottom of the agenda below, and she can tell you whether one exists and who to contact or how to form one if none exists. Everyone is always welcome at Council of Neighborhoods and often multiple city employees are on hand to answer questions and offer advice on problems people may mention during the meeting.
I hope to be early and help create a "quorum." If you have never attended, please give it a try. If you can't attend, watch for the broadcast on Government Channel starting Friday, Saturday or Sunday or one day next week. The Government Channel schedule for the coming week usually is online on Friday afternoon. Of course, if we don't show up, there may not be a quorum and the meeting won't be recorded and shown on City 16.

AGENDA FOR A MEETING OF THE

FAYETTEVILLE COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOODS

Thursday, August 26, 2010, 6:00 p.m.

Room 326, City Hall

Call to Order

1.         Introduction of neighborhood representatives

2.         No minutes from July meeting to approve.

3.         Eco-Logical Communities - Michele Halsell

4.         Certified Community Habitat

5.         Chairman’s report

6.         Treasurer’s report

7.         Neighborhood Updates & Announcements

8.         September 30, 2010 Meeting - Candidate Forum

Adjourn

Julie McQuadeCommunity Outreach Coordinator
City of Fayetteville

113 West Mountain, Suite 320

Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-8302

www.accessfayetteville.org

TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) 479-521-1316

Monarchs love swamp milkweed and monarchs are among the most popular free-range pets in the natural world

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE and WIDEN view of monarch butterfly on swamp milkweed at World Peace Wetland Prairie on August 24, 2010,

Tiger swallowtails love native thistles at World Peace Wetland Prairie: Plant some and see other species of swallowtails plus numerous other species using the thistle, and you also might notice some birds going after the seed in winter

Skippers love many wetland and prairie plants, so the greater variety of plants in your yard the greater the variety of butterflies, skipper moths and other easy-to-please pets you'll have

Please click on images to Enlarge for a wider view.

Skippers come in many varieties, so plant swamp milkweed in a pot of rich black prairie soil, water often and enjoy the endless variety of visting pets up close

Leaf-wing bug on native thistle also would be an interesting pet. All you have to do is raise native plants in your yard and the pets cost nothing to feed and never need a visit to a veterinarian

Who wouldn't want pets that like this one?

Please click on image to enlarge photo of skipper moth nectaring at World Peace Wetland Prairie on August 24, 2010.

A fly in a big patch of native plants isn't going to show up on your kitchen counter

Pinnacle Prairie mostly mowed and brush-hogged but a few native wildflowers survived being crushed by mowers on August 18-19, 2010

Bumblebee working shady side of Asclepias hirtella on August 19, 2010, the day before the land was mowed down. Where is the bee today?

Please click on images to enlarge wider view of bumblebee on tall-green milkweed one day before mowing brought down the plant.
To understand the overall importance of protecting such native plants from mowing throughout the growing season, one particular book provides a clear explanation: Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy.