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Fireside Chat
Why the Skunk Has No Friends
Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to speak to a 2nd grade class all the way in South Carolina via Google Duo. (What an amazing age we live in.) It was a lot of fun and the kids were awesome. They asked some really intelligent questions and they actually stumped me a couple of times. I do think that in this day and age, we as adults, tend to underestimate the critical thinking abilities of the young.
However, the Native American storytellers of old understood that even the very young could process important life lessons via parables and short stories. As a sort of experiment, I shared the short story, "Why the Skunk Has No Friends". At the end of the tale, I asked the class what the lesson of the story was and every student in the class raised their hands to answer. Today I thought that I would share this story with you. Hope you guys enjoy.
Why The Skunk Has No Friends
In the beginning of time, the Creator gifted his new creations with endowments that would best suit their needs. To some of his creations he gave hard scales so that they could not be easily harmed. To others he gave the gift of flight so that they could escape from harm's way. To others still he gave warm fur so that they would be safe from winter's deathly chill.
When the Creator first created Skunk, he gave Skunk fur as black as midnight. With this camouflage, Skunk could not be seen in the dark and he would be safe from other dangerous animals. Yet the Skunk was not satisfied. He said to the Creator, "Great Spirit, I am thankful for all that you have given me, but I fear that it is not enough to keep me safe. Please give me sharp teeth like Brother Wolf so that I may better protect myself."
The Creator merely smiled and granted the little Skunk's wish. The Skunk now had razor sharp teeth! With his fur of midnight and sharp teeth, the Skunk soon became a fearsome creature of the night that other animals were afraid of. For a while, the Skunk was happy.
But it wasn't long before he approached the Creator again and said, "Great Spirit, I am thankful for all that you have given me, but I fear that it is not enough to keep me safe. Please give me sharp claws like Brother Bear so that I may better protect myself."
This time the Creator had a stern look upon his face but, nevertheless, he granted the little Skunk's wish. The Skunk now had razor sharp claws! The Skunk truly became a terror of the night and even Brother Bear and Brother Wolf avoided the Skunk's terrible temper. For a short space of time, the Skunk was happy.
Eventually he grew discontent with his gifts and he sought out the Creator. As before, the Skunk approached the Creator and said, "Great Spirit, I am thankful for all that you have given me, but I fear that it is not enough to keep me safe. Please give me something so grand, so terrible, that all will run away from me in fear."
The Creator looked down upon the ungrateful Skunk in anger. He decided that he would grant the Skunk's request but he would also teach the Skunk a lesson in humility. The Creator gave the Skunk a frightful and terrible smell. The smell was so terrible that all animals ran away from Skunk, even his friends. For good measure, the Creator also placed two white stripes down the Skunk's back so that he could not sneak upon his fellow animals at night. To this day, Skunk still walks the green forests all alone.
The Ghost Witch
As this is the month of ghouls and ghost, I thought that I would share a scary story with you. This particular story is one of many in my book, The Age of Myths and Legends: Book One Monsters. I hope you guys enjoy.
The Ghost Witch
Once, in days long since passed, an old sorcerer of some note died of old age. In his long, unnatural life, he had been a vindictive and petty man. Any slight, real or imagined, was repaid ten-fold. In his day, he became feared by all throughout the Dawn Lands. When he passed away, there were no friends or colleagues to attend to his body. What few relatives he had finally wrapped him in blankets and placed his body in an old, gnarled, tree deep in the heart of a black forest. In time, the forest became a place of dread. People saw strange things flitting in and out of the trees on moonlit nights. Hunters heard terrible sounds echoing from the burial grove. Eventually, men and women came to shun the unwholesome place altogether.
Several years later, a Mi'kmaq man and his wife were traveling through Abenaki lands on their way to the east. They did not know many people in those parts, so, instead of asking for a night's lodging, they decided to sleep under the stars. Looking for a good place to spend the night, they saw the old forest and set foot into that dark grove. When they entered, a chill took hold of the wife, and she questioned her husband about their night's stay. He merely laughed away his wife's fears and attributed them to superstition. The husband selected a large tree and built a small lean-to. He then prepared a fire and cooked their supper.
When their supper was over, the wife carefully studied their surroundings. It was winter, and most of the trees were bare. Dark and twisted branches seemed to stretch out and claw at the moon. Looking up, the wife saw dark shapes hanging amongst the trees. When she questioned her husband, he sleepily replied, "They're only the bodies of the deceased, but you shouldn't fear the dead. It's the living out there in the real world that we have to be mindful of. Come; it is time to sleep."
"We shouldn't be here. I think we had better leave now," replied the wife.
The husband merely laughed at his wife. He then rolled over onto his side and was soon fast asleep. The wife sat staring at the crackling fire and wished with all her might that she and her husband were anywhere but here. The night air had grown heavy, and it seemed to the wife that the eyes of the dark forest were upon her. At last, she, too, lay down beside the fire, but she could not sleep. As the night stretched on, the fire burned down to glowing embers. She gently prodded her husband, but he did not respond. She did not dare get up to gather more firewood in this dark place, so she wrapped herself in her blankets and shut her eyes.
It was not long after that she began to hear a gnawing sound. At first, she convinced herself that it was merely the old tree branches rubbing against each other in the wind- or maybe it was a small animal gnawing on the bones of one of the dead. The wife stayed awake the entire time and quietly listened to the strange grating sound that seemed to last for hours. Just when it seemed that she could take no more of the gnawing, it stopped. The wife breathed a sigh of relief and noted the brightening eastern sky as dawn slowly approached. The wife reached out to wake her husband, but he did not stir, so she let him be.
When the sun's golden rays had finally banished the shadows of the old forest, the wife roughly shook her husband by his shoulder. To her horror, he rolled onto his back with a face frozen in terror. He was dead, and the left side of his chest was a ruined mass of blood and viscera. The wife screamed and screamed and screamed. Half mad with terror, she then ran with all of her might to a lodge of the Abenaki. She tried to tell her story, but her words were incoherent and jumbled.
The Abenaki at first thought her mad, but they were gentle and tried their best to calm her nerves. Eventually, the wife was able to tell the gathering her harrowing tale, yet many would not believe her. The story was just too fantastic for them to find credible. However, a few of the old hunters remembered strange stories about the dark forest. They also recalled a name that was almost lost to legend, Skudakumooch, which means "ghost witch." With weapons in hand, a number of men went with the Mi'kmaq wife to the haunted grove. There, the troop found her husband lying under a burial tree. All could see that his heart was gone. The shaken men then looked up and saw the body of the dead witch high above. The bravest men in their number climbed the burial tree and took the accursed body down. They then carefully removed the tattered blankets and robes that covered the body. To their shock and horror, they discovered that the mouth of the desiccated corpse was covered with fresh blood.
The men burned the witch's body in a large bonfire and, for good measure, they burned down the burial tree as well. From that day forth, the old forest was a little bit brighter and cleaner. Shadows no longer held unseen menace, and wholesome animals once again returned to the grove. As for the poor wife, none really knew what became of her. Some said that she returned home to the lands of the Mi'kmaq and remarried. It was even said that she lived out the rest of her days in relative peace. However, most of the old people knew that this story was a fairy tale. The elders believed that any dealings with a witch, living or dead, would always result in a lifetime of nightmares.
Teachings of my Grandmother
I rarely post about my family as we are a relatively private people. But, as I've started to gain a bit of notoriety from my book, I felt that it was important for me to give credit where credit is due; as it pertains to the Kiowa stories that I've written about. Many of the old Kiowa stories that I know came to me from one person, my grandmother Mary (Akoneto*) Miller.
My grandmother was born on September 11th, 1927 to Sadie and Charles Akoneto of Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. Her parents were full-blooded members of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and they were both fluent speakers of the Kiowa language. My grandmother was also very close to her own maternal grandmother Thot-Sau-Nah, whose name means "Getting Close to Home."
From her parents and grandmother, my grandmother learned all of the old stories of the Kiowa as well as Christian hymns and prayers in the Kiowa language. It always amazed me when my grandmother was able to recite a story or a song that was told to her when she was only 10 years old. She could remember little details with so much clarity. I can't even remember what I had for breakfast yesterday.
My grandmother was a natural storyteller and she was always happy to share what she knew with other people. As a kid, I remember a prominent Kiowa artist stopping by to visit with my grandmother so that he could accurately portray the Kiowa people in a painting that he was working on. Another time, a noted Wichita tribal singer visited with her to learn certain Kiowa words and to discuss the meanings behind some of the songs of the O-ha-ma Lodge singers. That might have been the first time that I realized that my grandmother was something of an authority when it came to the Kiowa language and history. But she was always humble, and she lamented that she didn't know as much as she should have.
There is a special kind of magic in a storytellers voice and my grandmother certainly had some of that magic. When she told a tale, she could transport you to another time and place. Now, that particular time and place could be both cruel and savage, it was a raw age. But it was also a time and place of mystery, miracle and magic.
Today, I'd like to share one of my favorite stories that my grandmother learned from her own grandmother. But first I'd like to give you a little preface. My grandmother never started her stories with "Once upon a time." Rather she started her stories with "You know, way back there...". She sometimes used Kiowa words when quoting someone in the story. I will do the same in this writing, but I will place the English translations next to the Kiowa words or phrases.
The Big Fish
You know, way back there, the Kiowas lived out west near the Wichita mountains. Thot-Sau-Nah was a little girl when this happened. At that time, the Kiowas fought with everyone. When they were at war with the Osage, the Kiowas were split up into a bunch of different camps. This one camp saw a bunch of Osage warriors coming their way so the Kiowa warriors jumped on their horses and went out to fight. Even though the Kiowa warriors were brave and fought hard, there were too many Osage and the Kiowas lost. Almost all of the Kiowa warriors were dead or scattered.
At the Kiowa camp, there were only old people, women, and children. These Kiowa people saw dust plumes in the distance and they knew that it was the Osage coming to finish them off. All the Kiowa people started to run away. The old people helped each other and the mothers carried their children on their shoulders.
They ran for a long time but, when they looked back, they could see the dust plumes of the Osage getting closer. At last, the Kiowas came to a big river. It was Aw-say (spring time) so the river was swollen with flood water. The people got really scared because they knew they couldn't cross. The old Kiowa chief walked to the forefront of the group and said that he would try to cross the river.
The people watched as the old chief stepped in to the swollen river. He fought the currents and struggled to stay on his feet. But, the river was too strong, and the old chief went under the water. All the people started to wail and they fell to their knees because they loved their chief and the Kiowas could see the Osage on their horses coming towards them. But when they looked back at the river, they saw the old chief rising up out of the water. He motioned them to come forward and he said, AIM POHN! (get up!) AIM AH! (come here!)
The old chief was standing on something but the Kiowa people couldn't see what it was. The Kiowas stepped out on to the water and, under their feet, they could feel that they were standing on something solid. Whatever it was, it carried all the Kiowa people across the river. When all of the people were safely on the other bank, a big fish tail came up out of the river and splashed the water. Thot-Sau-Nah was one of those little children being carried on her mother's shoulders. She said that they were standing on something soft.
1. Her maiden name, Akoneto, was actually a corruption of our true family name, Akohn-doe; which means "He's Aiming."
Hey everybody. I thought that you guys might like to read another small excerpt from The Age of Myths and Legends. Chapter Two of my book deals with the monsters that lurked just below the surface of the water; waiting to drag the unwary into the darkness below. Hope you guys enjoy.
Terrors of the Deep
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee, Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Job 38:16-17
Man has always felt a certain affinity for the seas, lakes, rivers, and streams that cover most of the Earth. According to some tales from the elder days, the longing and loneliness that man feels for the waters are due to the fact that Man came from the primordial depths himself. The early people of North America acknowledged water as the bringer of life, and most tribes felt a certain sense of awe and wonderment for this powerful driving force of nature.
Like the great forest-cloaked hills and towering mountains, the waters of the old world held many mysteries to be both respected and, in some cases, feared. In those days, mysterious powers were ever-present in the wide seas and meandering rivers. Sinister spirits dwelt near roaring waterfalls and turbulent whirlpools. Even the quiet lakes and dark, stilled pools held nameless terrors lying in wait for the foolish or unwary.
One such fearsome terror of the deep waters was the dreaded horned serpent, the Uktena. These creatures haunted the lakes and streams of the Southeast and preyed upon all living things that wandered too close to their watery lairs. The Uktena were old, perhaps as old as the making of the world itself, and their strength was colossal. It was said that these mighty beasts were able to smash boulders and splinter trees with their powerful tails. It was also said that the Uktena could scar and rend the very mountains themselves with the great horns or antlers that grew from their scaly heads.
However, it was a flashing jewel embedded deep within these creatures' skulls that caught the attention of any mortal unlucky enough to encounter these monsters. This gem, called the Ulun'suti, was an item of great power and magic. In the hands of the Wise, the jewel was capable of wondrous miracles, such as the healing of the sick, the summoning of rain, the gift of fertility, and the power of prophecy. Acquiring the magical jewel from the wicked Uktena was another matter altogether. The malevolent eyes of the Uktena could paralyze its victims, and the creature possessed the ability to spit a corrosive poison over a great distance.
So infected with evil was this creature that even the environment in which it lived became barren. The vegetation near its lair turned brown and brittle, and the waterways turned black and deadly even to the touch. However, these monsters of the old world did have a weakness. Along these creatures' sinuous bodies lay numerous bands of color. Behind the seventh band of color beat these creatures' black hearts. If these organs could be pierced, the Uktena would die.
The Creek, Seminole, Yuchi and Choctaw of Southeastern Oklahoma once avoided certain springs and lakes, because they believed that the ever watchful Tie Snake lay in wait. Descriptions of these serpents varied. Some tales held that Tie Snakes were gigantic serpents of green hue. Other tales said that Tie Snakes were pitch black and not much larger than a normal snake. However, their strength was such that they could pull a horsed rider from his mount at full gallop.
Some tales even said that Tie Snakes were sentient and could speak with Man when it suited the serpents' needs. To converse with a Tie Snake was a very dangerous thing, though. These ancient serpents were exceedingly clever, and they could trick the unwary into bad endings. Only once have the intelligent Tie Snakes been outwitted. That particular feat was accomplished by Master Rabbit, the eternal trickster.
With that said, there are some tales that speak of the Tie Snakes' kindness to lost children. In those tales, the Lord of the Tie Snakes always sent such children home laden with many gifts. In other tales, Tie Snakes were said to spirit children away to their underwater lairs, where these children would remain captive forever.
Most tales agreed that these underwater serpents bore one or two multicolored horns upon their heads. Like the Uktena's flashing jewel, the horn of the Tie Snake was an item of great power coveted by holy men. With a piece of the Tie Snake's horn, a medicine-man might heal the sick, drive away evil spirits, or become well-nigh impervious to knife, spear, axe or arrow. A mortal who possessed a Tie Snake's horn could even exercise his will over the other creatures of the lakes and streams. Fish could be made to fill the fisherman's nets. Otters and beavers could be compelled to surrender their lives for their valuable furs. Even water fowl could be made to stand still so that the hunter's arrow would find its mark. These miracles were so enticing that some holy men hatched elaborate plans to subdue the Tie Snakes for their powerful horns. However, only the most powerful or foolish of hierophants would even dare to kill or capture these powerful serpents.
The Artist Storytellers
In a recent interview, I was asked about the artwork for my book, The Age of Myths and Legends. The interviewer asked why I thought that the art was so important to this particular work. Laughing, I explained that the art was integral to the book because I am a mediocre writer at best. The artwork also allowed me to display my love for the fantasy genre as well. But, more importantly, the artwork allowed me to express these old tales in a medium that is just as powerful as the spoken word. Even though I had placed captions beneath the illustrations in the book, my hope was that readers would immediately understand what was happening in each of the images. That is probably the aim of every artist, because in truth, artist are storytellers as well. We don't often think of visual artist as such because most visual artist aren't necessarily masters of the oratory arts. However, if we take a sincere look at the storytelling traditions of most Native American tribes, we will see that artwork was, and still is, an important aspect to the storytelling art itself.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have been raised in Southwestern Oklahoma as this area has always been a hotbed for Native American talent. From an early age I was exposed to so many talented artist who had created works that captured the essence of what it is to be Native American. But even before Oklahoma was a state, the tribes of this area had already been telling their stories for a very long time.
Hide Painting
Timeline: Antiquity
The earliest Native American artists painted with natural color pigments mixed with fat, usually buffalo or bear fat. These Native Artists then applied their paints to animal hides such as shirts, robes, leggings and teepees. Usually, the images they created held personal meaning to the artists or the artists' family. Some images commemorated great battles or successful hunts. Other paintings were used in ceremonies and made use of sacred images.
Ledger Art
timeline: 1850's-1920's
The term ledger art comes from the accounting ledger books that were a source of paper for the tribes of the plains during the late 1800's. Most of these ledgers came from traders, government agents, missionaries, and military officers. The plains artist were also exposed to new tools such as ink fountain pens, crayons, and watercolor paints. Typically, male artist tended to create images of valor while women tended to create geometric patterns.
Flat-Style Southern Plains Art
Timeline: 1920's-1980's
Flat-Style Southern Plains Art is a style of painting that portrayed ceremonial and social scenes of Kiowa life and stories from the old oral traditions. The style is noted for its use of solid color fields, minimal backgrounds, a flat perspective, and emphasis on details of dance regalia. This style of painting was created, in part, by the Kiowa Six; Native American artist who had received formal artist training at the University of Oklahoma in the mid-1920's. All six went on to enjoy international acclaim.
Contemporary Art
Timeline: 1940's-Present
The 1940's through the 1970's saw an explosion of artistic styles blossom in Southwestern Oklahoma. While many artist of this era continued to create images taken from the old oral traditions, they also began experimenting with a variety of mediums and techniques. Notable artist of this era included...
Bobby Hill (White Buffalo)
The Kiowa artist Bobby Hill (White Buffalo) was noted for his dramatic use of light and texture. Undoubtedly, his work as a technical illustrator, commercial artist, promotional director, scenic artist & set designer for Lawrence Welk provided Bobby with the ability to create kinetic energy in his paintings. His early work borrowed from the clean lines of the Kiowa Six, but in time, he developed his own unique style. Bobby exhibited his artwork at the American Indian Exposition (Anadarko, OK), where he won awards for his artwork three years in a row including the Grand Award in 1969. Bobby also exhibited at the Philbrook Museum of Art (Tulsa, OK) & the Peabody Museum of Salem, MA. Bobby was given a solo exhibition at the Southern Plains Indian Museum & Craft Center (Anadarko, OK) & participated in its Contemporary Southern Plains Indian Painting touring exhibit in 1972.
Bobby received commissions from the Southern Plains Indian Museum & Craft Center for exhibit projects, including a Ghost Dance shirt in 1967. In 1974, Bobby received a commission from the Oklahoma Indian Arts & Crafts Cooperative (Anadarko) for two Southern Plains Indian tipis.
Bobby's artwork is featured in several private & public art collections, including the Carnegie (OK) High School, the Museum of Northern Arizona (Flagstaff) & the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Arts & Crafts Board (Washington, D.C.).
Robert Redbird
The Kiowa artist Robert Redbird was a grandson of Monroe Tsatoke, a member of the famed Kiowa Six.
With the encouragement of his grandfather, Robert went on to master oil, acrylics, watercolor, pencil, pastel, pen & ink, & prints. However, it was his use of an airbrush that cemented Robert into the pantheon of artistic greats. In 1967, Redbird designed the poster for the US International Open Polo Game tournament, which allowed him the opportunity to meet Prince Charles of Wales. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry declared June 7, 2003 as "Robert Redbird Day" to celebrate the artist's many creative and humanitarian achievements. The Daily Oklahoman once wrote of his work, "Perhaps the best tribute to Redbird's unusual style is that his Indian figures seem massive and monolithic, yet at the same time somehow free-floating, dreamlike and surrealistic. Blankets unite pairs of figures creating one organic, earth-rooted whole, like a kind of human boulder, in such Redbird paintings as 'Ceremonial Time' and 'Kiowa Courtship.' " Robert's artwork can be found all over the world.
Doc Tate Nevaquayah
The Comanche artist, Doc Tate Nevaquayah, has been called the Leonardo Da Vinci of the Indian art world. A self-taught artist, flutist, composer, dancer, lecturer, and Methodist lay minister, Nevaquaya gave numerous flute and art workshops throughout the United States, including classes at Brigham Young University (1972) and Georgetown University (1974). He made more than twenty-five television appearances, on shows televised nationally and by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Among numerous recognitions that came to him were six Grand Awards and the Outstanding Indian Artists Award from Southwestern State College in Weatherford (1969); Indian of the Year award from Oscar Rose Junior College, Midwest City (1975); Outstanding Citizen of Diamond Jubilee Heritage Week from the Apache Chamber of Commerce (1982); the LaDonna Harris Award from Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity (1986); and a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (1986); and the Artist of the West Award at the American Indian and Cowboy Artists National Western Art Exhibition in San Dimas, California (1994). The Governor's Arts Award named him an Oklahoma Treasure in 1995. His artwork was noted for clear, crisp colors and almost all of his paintings possessed a dream-like quality to them.
Each and everyone of these artists deserves their own page and, in the future, I may do a spotlight on the amazing works of Mirac Creepingbear, Parker Boyiddle Jr., Cruz McDaniels, Sherman Chaddlesone, Quanah Parker Burgess, The Nevaquaya Brothers, Huzo Paddlety, Thomas Poolaw, Lee Tsatoke Jr., R.G. Geionty. I could go on and on about the many artist from the area who have accomplished extraordinary things in the artistic world while staying true to their culture. Each and everyone of these artist are superb storytellers and I am thankful that I have had the chance to experience their stories. The next time you see a work by a Native American artist don't just appreciate the art for its aesthetic appeal, try to see the story that the artist is telling. I promise that it will make your art experience that much more enjoyable.
Hi everybody. My apologies for the late post. I've been incredibly busy with a move, work, and with editing the final print version of The Age of Myths and Legends: Book One.
Still, I feel obliged to make it up to you guys with something special this month. Typically, I write a short excerpt from a story that I've either heard or have come across in my readings. But this month I thought that I would "tell" you a favorite story of mine from my childhood. My grandmother used to share Sainday stories with us when we were young. These stories are among my most cherished memories.
Sainday was the Kiowa Trickster and there are so many wonderful stories about him such as Sainday and The Coyote, Sainday and The Prairie Dogs, Sainday and The Soldier, Sainday and The Bobcat, Sainday and The Giant Meatball, etc. Most Sainday tales are humorous and I think that these stories serve as perfect examples of old school Native American humor.
I wish that I could capture the magic of my grandmother's voice when she told these tales but I can't. Still, I hope you enjoy this short Sainday story.
Sainday and The Horse That Didn't Look So Good
Last week I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by tribal radio hosts Gary Fife and Darren Delaune on their awesome program Muscogee Radio. During our one hour discussion we covered a lot of ground and we spoke a little bit about the importance and meaning behind some of the old Native American myths and legends. I mentioned that many of the old tales held special meaning in their telling and at times could provide valuable lessons to the listeners.
In the old days, stories were sometimes used to correct some untoward behavior that a tribal member might be engaged in. Instead of directly confronting the wrong-doer and embarrassing them in front of the entire community, tribal elders might instead gather a large group of people (including the offending party) and impart valuable lessons while telling their stories. The old Lakota story of The Mouse Sisters is one such tale that will no doubt impart wisdom to those who procrastinate (myself included) and those who somehow never find the time to do the important and sometimes boring tasks that need to be finished in a timely fashion.
The Two Mouse Sisters
Once there were two mice sisters, an elder mouse and a younger mouse. The elder sister was both wise and fastidious. She often spent her time engaged in those activities that proved both practical and beneficial in the long run. Now the younger sister was a carefree soul who often spent her time in leisure or in play. She rarely spent any time at all on the important things in life.
As Spring gave way to Summer, the elder mouse sister knew that all snakes would begin to cast off their old skins. She left her burrow and spent most of the day gathering many fine snake skins. She then used these skins as bags and she began to fill them with acorns, seeds, pecans, and wild corn.
But the younger mouse sister spent her time singing and dancing with her friends. She spent no time at all gathering stores for the winter.
At last the days began to grow shorter and the morning air cooler. The once emerald leaves began to turn bright yellow and fiery red. Only then did the younger mouse sister realize that she did not have food stored away for the winter. She frantically went to her elder sister and said, "Sister, I have no stores for the winter as I had no snake skins with which to gather goods. Will you not share your food with me?"
The elder mouse sister replied, "Sister, what were you doing when the snakes shed their skins?"
The younger mouse sister answered quietly, "I was singing and dancing in the wide fields."
"Well", said the elder mouse, "It seems that you made poor use of your time."
The elder sister then gave her younger sister an empty snake skin and said, "Here is your very own snake skin. You had better get to work on finding you own food for the winter."
For the past three weeks I've had several people message me on Facebook to learn more about the Little People of Native American folklore and mythology. I've also had quite a few people ask to read excerpts from my new book The Age of Myths and Legends as well. Today I kill two birds with one stone by including a small excerpt of Chapter 3. in this month's Fireside Chat.
Hope you guys enjoy.
Chapter three: Masters of Wood & Water
"For know by lot from Jove I am the power
Of this fair wood and live in oaken bower,
To nurse the saplings tall, and curl the grove
With ringlets quaint and wanton windings wove;
And all my plants I save from nightly ill
Of noisome winds and Blasting vapors chill;"
-Arcades - John Milton
According to the old tales, a race of mysterious yet powerful spirits once haunted the windswept plains, lonely forest and snow enshrouded peaks. These beings were akin to the mighty race of giants in that they too were living, breathing embodiments of the Earth's power. But where the Giants came to embody all that was chaotic and destructive in Nature's Mosaic, these little beings came to represent the constructive purpose and order of the very Earth itself.
The Little People, as their name implies, were small, diminutive beings who varied in height from six inches to three feet. Many tales describe them as being perfectly formed men and women with long, silky black hair and possessed of a cold, unearthly beauty. Like their giant brethren, these beings were old; old enough to remember the birth of the Earth itself.
Because of this intimacy with the world, all of the Earth's secrets were laid bare to them. They knew the tongues of all living things whether they be bird, beast, tree or man. They were also great wonderworkers, able to cast enchanting illusion or horrifying nightmares. At times they were able to walk unclad and unseen to mortal eyes or they were able to change their shape and form into that of an animal. Their potent songs of power and enchantment were without equal, differing greatly from the songs of the Wise. The hierophant, through years of discipline, learned to attune himself to Nature and was thus able to hear and mimic the distant song of the Earth. In essence, the medicine-person derived his or her strength and power from the natural world. However, the power of the Little People was rooted in the essence of their very beings rather than extracted from the Earth. Besides, if mortal men could vaguely hear the Earth's distant chant, the Little People could, without a medium, speak directly to the Earth itself. For this reason, North American tribes honored and respected the Little People and at times made offerings and effigies to placate these mighty beings.
The Little People were known by many names across the vast North American continent. To the Quinault, they were known as Stick Indians. The overall character of these Stick Indians could be described as ambiguous at best. While not particularly evil, these Little People did enjoy playing
mean-spirited pranks upon solitary hunters. At times these Little People could be so bothersome that it became common practice for hunters and fishermen to leave shiny objects while in their domain as the Little People were fascinated and mesmerized by sparkling objects.
To the Kickapoo, the Little People served as protectors to sacred places and to the very young. They were also enforcers of cultural taboos and morals. These powerful beings were called the Muchee-Muna-Toe, and so respected were these Little People that it was taboo even to speak of them except during the winter months.
The Comanche knew the Little People by the name Nuna-Pee. It was said that on certain moonlit nights that the drums of these Little People could be heard echoing in the distant hills. But it was perilous to seek the Nuna-Pee out because they possessed invisible arrows capable of killing any mortal that trespassed too near their abode.
The Northern Ute named their Little People Mookich. These shy spirits lived in cliff dwellings well off the beaten path. Hunters were wise to leave offerings of tobacco, coins, small pieces of rope, or food whenever traveling through the Mookich domain. To do so ensured that these Little People would not be so inclined to harass the hunters or cause mischief around the camp.
Ponca and Omaha tales speak of the Gada'zhe and Ni'Kashinga Man'tanaha, the Wild Ones. These dangerous Little People were able to injure mortals internally without even piercing the flesh or spilling blood. They also had the disturbing habit of kidnapping young children.
Among the tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy existed tales of the mighty Jogah. These Little People were the protective spirits of nature who kept the natural order of the world in total balance. Without them, it was believed all life on the Earth would die. These nature spirits were divided into three groups, the Gandayak, the Ohdowas, and the Gahongas. The Gandayak held all forest and rivers under their protection. The Ohdowas lived underground and held almost all poisonous creatures and monsters in check, while the Gahongas warded the mountains and hills.
The Canotila or Tree Dwellers were a solitary Little People who were both feared and honored by both the Lakota and Dakota peoples. These powerful beings served as messengers between the world of the living and the world of spirits. However, some of the Canotila enjoyed causing sickness and injury to humans, usually solitary hunters or fishermen. The Sioux dreaded even to see this creature, for doing so meant that a close relative would soon die.
The Creek tribe called the Little People I'sti Lupu'ski and often times had to employ the services of powerful medicine-men to counteract these Little Peoples' dangerous magic. Adept shape-shifters, it was not unheard of for hunters to be lead astray deep into the dim forest by the wily I'sti Lupu'ski. On a darker note, they were also known to cause madness in even the hale and strong.
The Miwok feared the volatile nature spirit Nenakatu, who had not only power over the waters but also had the ability to mesmerize her victims. This powerful being sometimes wore the appearance of a small, wizened woman with long black hair that swept the ground. Like the Canotila of Sioux lore, to even see the Nenakatu was an omen of ill portent.
The Catawba people of South Carolina avoided certain vales and deep forests because they were the known haunts of the Yehasu'rie, the Wild People. These mysterious Little People lived deep underground and subsisted on turtles, roots, tadpoles, and acorns. Private beings, the Wild People shunned mortals unless they were on raids to steal items from tribal campgrounds such as knives, whetstones, jewelry, or feathers. However, should a man or woman accidentally stumble into their domain, then would the Yehasu'rie make their presence abundantly known. Out of spite, these creatures would tangle a horse's hair, kidnap children, and frighten hunters with their discerning child-like cries. They also possessed magically charged arrows that could maim or kill their intended victims without the victim even realizing the damage until it was too late.
It is important to note that not all groups of Little People were so perilous to mankind. Some groups of Little People were simply watchful and uneasy when in the company of mortals. One such group was the May-may-gway-shi of Algonquin folklore. These small hairy beings were believed to have carved the ancient petroglyphs among the various caves and cliffs in the regions of the north. The May-may-gway-shi were also known for their love of fish. In that long ago age it was not so uncommon to see small canals dug along the river banks that teemed with life. These canals were supposedly the workings of the May-may-gway-shi, which they used to stock with their favorite fish. At other times, when they were in need and bold enough, they would make stealthy incursions into tribal camps to steal from the fishermen's nets. Easily frightened, the May-may-gway-shi could travel at tremendous speeds either on foot or in their small stone canoes. Upon entering a stony outcrop or cliff, they would enter the rock face and vanish.
The Old Beggar & the Giant
About two years ago I went to the Anadarko Public Library (in Anadarko, Oklahoma) to see if I could find any books about the Star Priesthood of the Pawnee. I didn't find anything useful but on my way out I saw a pile of old dusty books that the library was giving away. In this pile I found a really cool book filled with articles from The Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology. In this book there were legends from the Zia, the Tsimshian, and the Iroquios Confederacy.
The Haudenosaunee tale of The Old Beggar and the Giant was a really interesting story that I came across in this book. Unfortunately I wasn't able to place this story in my own written work as I had already created the chapter formats and I was more than three quarters of the way finished with my manuscript. I had also decided to include only two stories per chapter. Adding this tale to the chapter about giants would have totally thrown off the balance of the entire book. Still I had a hard time leaving this tale out so I decided to share this story with you guys here.
The Old Beggar and the giant
Once, in the days of the grandfathers, there lived an ancient beggar who dwelt near the outskirts of a large Cayuga village. This old man always carried a large leather bag over his shoulder which contained his few earthly belongings. Fortunately for the old beggar, most of the villagers were kind enough to gift the old man with their castoffs so he wanted for very little.
One day the old beggar decided that he needed many shoes so he traveled from house to house and asked the villagers if they could spare any old moccasins. What the old beggar had planned for the moccasins none could fathom, for many of the moccasins were worn down. Some moccasins even sported large, gaping holes and broken seams. Still the old man collected many and soon his leather bag was filled to the top with the worn down shoes.
The old beggar then left the Cayuga village and traveled west deep into the forest. After walking for some time he grew tired and decided to rest for a bit. As the old man sat on a fallen tree he felt the ground rumble beneath him. Startled birds burst from the underbrush and woodland animals took to the high tree tops. The stench of death and decay filled the air. The old beggar knew what was coming but he patiently waited.
Out of the shadows stepped forth a mighty giant girded for war. His face and body were painted red and in each hand he wielded fell weapons. With a voice that rumbled like thunder the giant roared, "Old man, do you know the way to the Cayuga village?"
The old man carefully answered, "Why yes, I do know the way to the Cayuga village. Why do you wish to go there?"
The brawny giant laughed, "I go so that I might destroy this village and all its inhabitants."
"Oh my", replied the old beggar, "I feel sorry for them, for there is no way that they could hope to overcome your formidable might."
Now the old beggar knew that as powerful as giants were, they were none too bright and the old man hatched a plan on the spot.
"Just so you know," continued the old man, "The Cayuga village is many leagues away. I know this because I left this village many months ago. Look at how many moccasins I have gone through on my way from that place."
With that the old man emptied his sack of worn moccasins at the giant's feet.
The giant looked down at the mocassins with a furrowed brow. While he had truly intended to wreak as much havok and bloodshed upon the Cayuga as he possibly could, the giant was far too lazy to make such a long trek.
The giant slumped his shoulders in defeat. He then thanked the old beggar for saving him the trouble of making such a long journey and he departed to parts unknown.
The old beggar returned to the Cayuga village and lived out the rest of his days in peace.
The deer and the antelope race
A few years ago I was invited to Grand Ronde, Oregon for a speaking engagement with Chance Rush and his organization Cloud Boy Consulting. I had never been to that part of Oregon before and I was totally enchanted by the beauty of the countryside and the people. But I was even more impressed with the organization of the Grand Ronde tribe itself. I had never seen a tribal executive committee govern their tribe like a Fortune 500 company.
Like a handful of tribes, they owned a successful casino. But the casino wasn't the end all be all for the tribe. They used portions of their casino money to invest in the infrastructure of the town. (At that time they were busy with several road construction projects.) And instead of giving tribal members a monetary per cap, the tribe instead created college endowments. When a tribal member reached 18 years of age they had the opportunity to attend the college of their own choice. The tribe also had their own tribal college and were able to support tribal members with continuing adult education programs and vocational training. They even had an after school center for their tribal youth complete with several computers and an after school tutor. As I walked around the Grand Ronde tribal headquarters I felt a mixture of pride and maybe a little bit of jealousy.
I spent a decent amount of time in the Grand Ronde tribal library when I was free. The tribal library was easily on par with some of the public libraries that I've visited in the past. The librarians were always nice and they pointed me in the direction of some old books on tribal lore and mythology. It was here that I came across a book published in 1907 that contained several stories from the tribes of central California. There was a short story from the Tachi Yokuts that I liked called The Deer and the Antelope Race.
The deer & antelope race
In olden days the antelope and the deer once walked the wide grasslands together. But in time they began to contend against each other in all things. Eventually the antelope said: "I bet that I can beat you in a race." The deer laughed, "I think not." The antelope responded, "Let us see then." The deer replied,
"Fine, we shall run for six days straight," and the antelope agreed. The deer said, "We will go south and run to the north."
The two then traveled together far to the south even crossing the great western ocean in order to run northward to the ends of the Earth. The antelope said, "This will be my path on the west. You will take the path on the east." The deer agreed. Their path was the milky way. On the side where the antelope was set to run was a wide clear path; on the other side where the deer was set to run was a narrow path fraught with dark patches of nothingness. Too late did the deer realize that he would have to jump over these patches of darkness in order to win the race. The antelope said, "If I win this race, all of the wide open fields will be my country and you will have to abide in the brush." The deer confidently replied, "So be it, and if I win it will be the same for me." The two contestants then raced to the north for six days straight. For five days the Deer and the Antelope were even but on the six and final day the Deer grew weary from all of the leaping and the Antelope won the race.
So now he has the plains to live in, but the deer abides in the brush.
T. D. Hill (Wichita, Kiowa, Pawnee) is a Native American artist, writer, motivational speaker, and fitness professional.
November 2017
What Reviewers are saying...
"The Age of Myths and Legends will take you on an exciting journey through Native American folklore. T.D. Hill artfully draws together characters from many indigenous traditions including his own, exposing both the uniqueness of each story and the commonalities across them. Hill's beautiful paintings also give these fearsome creatures full visual effect. A valuable and thorough collection of the earliest folktales and teachings of Native American elders."
"Hill takes you on a mesmerizing journey through the tales of monsters and evil beings in Native American folklore. The similarities among the tales across peoples fascinated me and gave me goose bumps, especially when great distances separated the peoples! Hill's art masterfully adds a visual chill to the image his words paint, eliciting an extra shiver of delighted terror."
"Perfect for those who love mythology, and especially mythology of the First Americans. I'm definitely looking forward to the next in the series."


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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
This n' That
Moon Shot
Dick's Marker Yep, It's upside down!
Gaow Praying
Arizona Immigration Law. Gives law officers the right to stop anyone for any reason to make them prove they are in Arizona legally. There are four ways to prove you are here legally:
1. Valid Arizona Driver's License
2. Valid Arizona issued ID
3. Passport, Visa, etc.
4. Greencard.
According to this, unless I am carrying my passport with me – I am in Arizona illegally!!!! How do you like them apples?
Yesterday, Gaow and I visited the National Cemetery and located my brother's memorial marker. The cemetery is quite beautiful – even though it is sand instead of well kept grass. There are cactus – some in bloom – and desert bushes. Very quiet, and restful. I think it must take a lot of work to keep the area as beautiful as it is – the slightest breeze blows the sand, yet the thousands of markers were swept clean.
Gaow and I went shopping at the mall. I'm not a "mall" person, but I knew she would enjoy it. We both needed necessaries, and stuck to our goal – well, mostly. We had lunch, then called sister-in-law Carol – who helped "push" Gaow into going to California with me. Someone told me that I didn't know what "heaven" was until I had had a Paradise Bakery sugar cookie. As we were headed for Paradise, a Godiva Kiosk popped up in front of us. I tried to get past it, but it kept popping up in front of us. I tried to steer Gaow away from it – but, she's tough for her size (Now, all you that know me best, know that is not quite the way it happened. The evidence is in the skid marks on the tile floor from Goaw's shoes, as she hopelessly tried to pull me in the other direction.) Anywho….. The Godiva Lady offered us samples. Mandarin Orange in milk chocolate - should have been heavenly. I realized I had never even tasted Godiva chocolates before. Know what? Not impressed. "Chocolat" in Fredericksburg far surpasses them for flavor of both chocolate and filling. Heck, even my own chocolates do. One more item to cross off my 100 things to do before I die list.
In one of my insane moments, I ordered a sewing machine online. (Kit made me do it, honest!!!!) What was I thinking????? I have no room left in the car for it, and especially if Gaow is going to be travelling with me. I had been looking at one at a local store – Kit was with me – she found one on-line for $50 less – not exactly the same, but close. And before I knew it, the order was sent. Well, it arrived yesterday, and I gave it a good workout. Yes, it will be going back. Broke one needle, and had a major thread jam in the hour or sew I played with it. But it felt great to be sewing again. Made a blouse with it. (It's been returned for refund)
Kit has volunteered her daughter, Michelle, and son-in-law, Eric to paint my pickup and trailer when I get them. She envisions a sign saying "Lady of the Blue Highways" and pinstripes from the truck to trailer. I wonder what Michelle and Eric will have to say about this!!!
Yesterday, a city crew was paving this street. Gaow was suppose to meet me at the house, but they couldn't get through. So, Gaow picked up her little umbrella and walked down the street.
Ken was watching the paving and spotted Gaow, then watched as each man on the crew stopped what they were doing and watched her walk down the street. Ken says even the big machines stopped while she passed.
Last night was a full moon – the photo was taken by Kit. My camera only picked up the moon.
OK , time to get this posted.
Until next time,
Bear Hugs
2 comments:
You remember that you now have a recipe for that same Paradise sugar cookie? And they taste just the same as the bakerys'
Good Morning Boots,ReplyDelete
Sounds like you are off on another episode of your great travel adventure book. I'm glad you have Gaow traveling with you for a while..its fun to have someone to talk to and see things with. I can just see Gaow walking down the stree with her umbrella/sunbrella. In my mind it is red!
A sewing machine???? Obvioulsly your other set of friends are enablers!!! What kind of shirt did you make? I expect to see you in size 14 jeans and fitted Tshirts by next fall. Wearing a good pair of walking shoes or boots and striding along. if I am going to be coming for a part of the trip...you will need to be able to get out and walk on trails (or touristy places) Fun! We need to have fun!
Now are you going to buy a car friendly oven so you can bake sugar cookies>>>>>>? I have never thought Godiva was all that good either, it's good..but you do make chocoloates that taste just as good!
It's cooled off here this morning, and the slakers didnt want to row...so we went to breakfast...now I guess I will go out and work in the yard....life is good...
Be well, stay safe, have fun,
Love you, Holly

subset: commoncrawl


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At Flutterby Wednesday it's Anything Goes. (As long as you have a butterfly or fairy or more, if you would like!) WOOHOO!!!
My creation has a 'Sweet Pea Stamp' (love their art work, this is Ching Chou's
'Inner Tender'. There's my fairy! My butterfly is from SU 'Beautiful Wings' It's a die cut that has 5 butterflies and I layered all 5, I also used DSP and a border punch from SU (Can you tell I like SU?!) I colored a stamp from my stash, the embossing folder is a Sizzix. The bling and stickles is from my stash.


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How adorable are these little mini desserts?! Red velvet cheesecake never looked so tempting! I love everything about this no-bake version of the classic red velvet cake in mini form. These are not only fun to make but they're also fun to eat! Garnish the top with melted white chocolate and berries for the ultimate finishing touch!
I LOVE serving mini desserts like this, especially for parties where people can grab a bite to enjoy any time. These no-bake cheesecakes start with a Golden Oreo crust but you can also use chocolate oreos if you want more chocolate flavor. To ensure the crust is firmly pressed, try using the bottom of a shot glass to press the crumbs firmly into place. The no-bake mousse-like cheesecake filling is equally easy to make. It's a simple combination of cream cheese, sour cream and sweetened condensed milk. I add little bit of gelatin to help the cheesecake filling set.
Red velvet cheesecake is one sweet and beautiful way to profess your love to that someone special. But don't wait until Valentine's Day to enjoy this treat! These mini cheesecakes are great year-round, especially for Christmas!
Watch my video recipe for all the details!
I just can't get enough of these cute and adorable treats!
Enjoyed this recipe? Please share and save it to Pinterest!
Looking for more red velvet recipes? Try my hit 'Red Velvet Strawberry Cheesecake' next! You'll love it! http://tatyanaseverydayfood.com/recipe-items/red-velvet-strawberry-cheesecake/


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It can also forcibly close the related application. Helped me. And it does so, at the next reboot. Help Desk » Inventory » Monitor » Community » current community blog chat Super User Meta Super User your communities Sign up or log in to customize your list. weblink
muhammadlilg 140,181 views 3:02 How To Delete Backup image Files in windows 7 - Duration: 3:00. This will close all instances of the program, as some — like Chrome — might run more than one. Backup! Reply abhiram August 3, 2016 at 12:41 pm yes it worked thanks Reply Tina Sieber August 4, 2016 at 7:05 am Thank you for the feedback, Abhiram! http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-delete-file-use-windows/
TIME FOR ALL TO GO TO THE DRAWING BOARD. Wait for a bit even after the first results appear as it still searches. That's it! what was I going to say again?
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If you cannot seem to find the process, have you tried rebooting, yet? The Action Can't Be Completed Because The File Is Open In Windows Explorer asked 4 years ago viewed 42609 times active 1 year ago Linked 13 I can't delete a file - even when using unlocker 58 How do I delete a 'locked' file? Explain the "tennis ball between cylinders" flight instructor trick Is it acceptable to ask an unknown professor outside my dept for help in a related field during his office hours? AVOID!
Reply Lianna January 14, 2015 at 5:42 am for me it says "The action can't be completed because the file is open in CANT BE DELETED ;(" and none of these
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THE ONLY METHOD I USED TO UNLATCH ANY PROGRAM IS RESTARTING WINDOWS-THIS IS THE ONLY WAY. And it does so, at the next reboot. If you have already tried rebooting and it didn't help, skip the following steps and go straight to third party tools. How To Delete A File That Is Open In Another Program You can even run into this issue with files you haven't opened in years!
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Reply Ed March 21, 2014 at 8:36 pm I found the article informative, but have to agree that the article is really about resolving the "This action can't be completed because If so, what process/service does it highlight? –Oliver Salzburg♦ Aug 7 '12 at 20:31 add a comment| 4 Answers 4 active oldest votes up vote 2 down vote accepted You can Comments indicate that the site has been spamming forums and the tool has been spreading malware. Your cache administrator is webmaster.
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Please try the request again. Then click through > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and select Enable Safe Mode before you click the Restart button. TechnoMage Last edited by TechnoMage; 05-29-2012 at 01:50 PM. Right-click the file/s and select Unlocker from the menu.


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Sunday, May 10, 2009
Some emails to Hugh Hewitt from doctors:
I listen to your show on pod cast, so I was unable to comment last night. An issue which you did not mention, but is critical to the situation is the accelerating doctor shortage. I am a senior physician executive who spent 31 years in the Air Force and completed my career as commander at ______ Medical Center....I am currently Sr. VP for Medical Affairs at a small hospital system in ___.
The major problem with every effort to "fix" health care is that they focus on controlling the price that the consumer pays. No one ever takes into consideration the cost of producing that care. This will have a major and increasing impact on the way forward.
Currently, the US is short of physicians and is not producing them at a rate of replacement. Add to that the fact that a 30 year old physician is a completely different animal than a 50 year old physician. Most "old" physicians came into the profession at the time it was considered a calling. Yes, they were compensated (monetarily and otherwise) very well. But for that, they accepted 100 hour work weeks and being on call for months at a time. It was part of the social contract and they just accepted it as part of the life of a physician.
The current crop of physicians do not have the same work ethic. Similar to other members of their generation, these docs expect to "have a life." They are unwilling to work the same hours as their elders - at any price. Additionally, 50% of most medical school graduates are women who statistically have a much shorter career. You can see that every time one of the old guys retires, you need more than one new graduate to cover the load.
The proposed changes that are ahead will undoubtedly encourage many of the old docs that there is no point in working beyond the point that they can retire. Yes, the fact that many of them have been hurt badly in the crash will keep some at work. But not a day longer than they have to. Then it will be harder for all of us to find a physician to take care of us.
I am a pediatric neuroradiologist. I take care of children with severe neurological diseases, tumors, trauma, etc. I am an Associate Professor at the University of _________Medical School and practice at Children's Medical Center in ______. I am also a researcher using state of the art MRI. I can tell you that if we go to a single pay system, it will destroy the kind of healthcare and research which has allowed us to lead the world. Currently we have the best subspecialists in the world and free access and referral for state of the art care. As an example, I was on staff at another children's hospital in a large Midwestern city a couple of years ago and had a young boy with a large carotid artery aneurysm. We did not have the pediatric expertise in our city to treat him, but I have world class colleagues in another city who treat these things for a living, so I made some phone calls. The boy went to UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, was treated and now faces a normal life. This kind of subspecialty referral care will end with rationing. This is unacceptable. Rationing would have forced that boy to "take the best available locally" or would not pay for the expensive interventional procedure which was life changing for this boy. Also, if they destroy medicine, what motivation will there be for the best and brightest to enter medicine.
I am a physician (M.D.) practicing geriatric psychiatry in Texas for the last 16 years. I am a member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (aapsonline.org) and am so opposed to government intervention in medicine that, although all of my patients are Medicare recipients, I have "opted out" of Medicare which means that all of my patients must pay out-of-pocket to see me and I cannot bill Medicare for any services. I can work with individual patients so that they can afford my services, and I can treat some patients for free! Under Medicare I am not allowed to do that. I have been active in legislative work in Texas on behalf of psychiatrists and their patients for about the last 13 years. You can read some of my articles at www.txpsych.org.
You asked Senator Kyl why the AMA and other physician organizations had been silent on health care rationing. AAPS mentioned above has been very vocal about government-run medicine. The AMA sold physicians out long ago with their CPT coding and constant bartering with CMS (used to be HCFA) which runs Medicare. They have always betrayed physicians so that the organization could "keep a seat at the table" which to me means getting invited to Washington parties and keeping organizational power. If you look at membership of AMA, it has been steadily declining.
Medical schools are as liberal as their undergraduate counterparts. The medical schools depend on government funding to operate (and the cost of a medical education has risen as a result), research dollars are funded through the NIH (especially now that the "evil" drug companies have been curtailed in their research), and most patients who seek care at medical schools are Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare recipients. For that reason, these students have never had to be small business owners. At best, they go into practice for huge physician groups that act as agents for the individual physicians, paying their salaries, and speaking for them. Because of all of the bureaucratic oversight, it is difficult to practice solo. Medicare regulations alone are more complex than the IRS, and CMS has more draconian enforcement authority.
I appreciate your work on this issue. I am so tired of having to explain to patients that "government health care" does not mean that they will get the same care they have now with "the government" footing the bill. It means that the government will decide what care you get and you will have no recourse. After all--you're cheaper if you're dead!
I am a 66 year old Pediatrician currently transitioning into retirement. I echo the comments made by the Sr. VP for medical affairs. My junior associate who is taking over has already informed me that she will no longer go to the hospital - too much work, too great a risk, too little return for the effort, etc. The 200 bed hospital I attend at has 0NE Pediatrician left on staff my age who just had surgery and walks with a brace. A new Pediatrician hired by the hospital is one month from joining him but has yet to get her state license - ipso facto cannot see patients. There are three other Pediatricians in the community. None have staff privileges except for a half-timer. The hospital has about 700 births a year and a drawing area of 250,000. God help them.
The hospital has critical shortages of all primary care specialties, i.e. Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and Ob-Gyn. Why? Two reasons. (1)The government artificially distorts the market. 75% of my patients are Medicaid in the first year of life. Who the hell would buy insurance when the government picks up the tab? Many need it, but a lot don't. This is an industrial region, not a farming region, even if it looks rural. My parents work for large corporations. (2) Women doctors. 75% of Pediatric residents and 52% of entering medical students are female. They won't move to small towns and rural zones. They won't work as many hours or as many years. It takes 3x as many women as 2 male doctors to do the work.
1 comment:
So today is Mother's Day, but I am no longer a mother - due to our "great" health care system.
I own a small business, and I had health insurance for myself, my family, and my employees. Life was fine - until my son was diagnosed with cancer. The wait to get him care was horrible. I had to fight with our insurance company, and doctors would not do anything until the insurance company approved. I joined an online group for my son's condition, and found that parents in Australia and Canada did not have to wait as long as I did. I waited in emergency rooms for hours and hours - once for nine hours.
The company my husband worked for went out of business, and after a long search, he finally got a job with another company - but they had a 12-month waiting period before employees get health insurance. My insurance company sent me a notice of non-renwal after discovering my son's condition. I could not find another company that would insure us - because I did not have enough employees, they consider the health of the people before they will insure you.
There is no free care at emergency rooms. We had to sell our house to pay our emergency room and other medical bills. I make slightly too much money for medicaid/schip. Our medical system is a joke.
Eventually, because we had no insurance, we could not see the doctors that could help him, and we lost our son.
Happy Mother's Day.


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Thursday, January 09, 2014
Episode 5 - Tetris/Columns
I like how the episode starts with people playing Tetris at the university and Kid looking at windows imagining they were Tetris blocks. Reiji falls head over hells over his future wife Akari but is intimidated by her ex basketball playing boyfriend so he challenges him to a game of Columns, Sega's answer to Tetris.
I love the scene where Reiji is walking down a corridor with Akari and they keep running into all her exes and we see column bricks continually dropping. Reiji runs away in horror, runs into Takano Fumi with another her boyfriend and the final column brick drops and the game over screen appears. On of the best examples of No Con Kid using games to make a simple story so much more entertaining.
Episode 6 - Mario
The Megadrive doesn't make an appearance in this series but at gets a token mention with Strider while Fumi plays Super Mario World on the SFC. Fumi wants to combine fashion with gaming by playing Super Mario World during the fashion show but the SFC gets stolen.
Reiji dresses up like Mario and runs with his SFC to the fashion show while Fumi makes do with playing Super Mario Bros on the FC. Stupidly cheesy episode but sometimes you got to bend the stories to fit the game.
Episode 7 - Fantasy Zone
The basis of the episode is Reiji finally deciding to take over the game center from his dad. The game for the episode is Sega's Fantasy Zone which works really well storyline-wise because the final boss of the game is the main character's father. I've never played Fantasy Zone before apparently its the precursor to cute shooters like Twinbee.
Episodes 8+9 - Virtua Fighter 2
Already wrote about it here.
Episode 10 - True Love Story
Ahh, the Reiji discoveres dating sim episode. Hillarious and works very well with the story of Reiji and Fumi.Love this episode.
Episode 11+12 - Xevious
Well, back to the game that started it all. Standard ending but I'm just happy it doesn't suck.
I adore No Con Kid. One of the most fun doramas for me in recent memory but that's cause I'm an old school gamer. I would love to rewatch it again and look up the Japanese wiki to find all the references that I missed. Not sure how non-gamers will find No Con Kid but at the very least I think everyone will find a simple story of friendship with a lot of love and effort gone into making it.
Gah, recent comments widget seems to be broken. Are there any alternatives for blogger?
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Brass Magnet wrote:Hey guys,
I started working on a letter to my representatives and decided to get some input here. What I'm trying to do is get everything in one place so that any of the reps that may be too lazy to check for themselves have clickable links right there for everything. The fall legislative session is in progress now and although nothing may get done for a while on this I'd like to get it into their heads.
I'm also trying to take a moderate approach with this letter so that it makes sense to more people but I think; so far, I've done a fairly decent job of not making it too comprimising.
Anyway, without further ado.
The Problem With Wisconsin's Gun LawsNo matter which side of the issue you're on there's a big problem here in the Diary State. The laws regarding firearms in this State are unclear at best, draconian at worst. They can, and sometimes do, leave a perfectly law-abiding citizen's freedom up to the good will of law enforcement; and that should never happen. Laws should be clear, and understood by all; but in Wisconsin, even officers and district attorneys don't understand the firearms laws.
Possibly the two most common places where a law-abiding citizen could get her/himself into trouble are: Wisconsin Stat. § 167.31 (Transportation in a motor vehicle.) and Wisconsin Stat. § 941.23 (Carrying a concealed and dangerous weapon.) § 167.31 makes it illegal to transport a firearm in a motor vehicle unless it is unloaded and totally enclosed in a carrying case. If you don't see the beginning of a problem here, read the end of the last sentence again. Because of § 941.23 it is illegal to have a concealed weapon. You've just concealed it by putting it in a case and complying with § 167.31. The courts say that the elements for a violation of § 941.23 are three: 1. The weapon is hidden. 2. You are aware of the presence of the weapon. 3. The weapon is within reach. Now, I know what you're thinking; "that's crazy, it's unloaded, so it's not a concealed weapon." but you'd be wrong, Wisconsin Stat. § 939.22 (Words and phrases defined.) defines a "dangerous weapon" as a loaded or unloaded firearm. Any time you have a firearm in a case and within reach, even when carrying it to and from your vehicle, you are in violation of § 941.23. Using the State V. Hamdan and State V. Fischer "two prong test" (see below) § 941.23 would be found unconstitutional as applied if anyone were to be charged for carrying an unloaded and encased weapon but it's wrong to make a citizen pay for the legal fees to do it. The legislature and not the courts should fix it. This was asked for by the courts in several cases.
Now it pays to go into Wisconsin Stat. § 948.605 which is Wisconsin's state-level Gun Free School Zone law. On its face it seems like a reasonable restriction to most people but when you delve deeper and add it to the tangled mess of gun laws in Wisconsin "reasonable" goes right out the window. One readily apparent problem is that it forces you to unload and encase firearms within 1,000 ft. of school property. This, as explained above, puts you at risk right away to be arrested for violating § 941.23; the concealed weapon prohibition. The less tangible but even more oppressive nature of this statue is to disallow citizens from peaceably carrying their firearms in large tracts of urban areas. Because of the many overlapping school zones, the statute effectively eviscerates the right to bear arms in places like Milwaukee; making it almost impossible for people to carry their firearms for personal protection. This is clearly unconstitutional, and I believe the courts agree:
The Wisconsin Constitution, Article 1, Section 25 "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose".
State v. Cole ["First, based on the text of the constitution and the legislative history of the amendment, we note our agreement with both parties that Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution grants an individual, rather than a collective, right.[1][10] As already noted, we accept the proposition that the right to bear arms amendment recognized a fundamental right."]
State v. Hamdan ["Case law reveals that while the right to bear arms for lawful purposes is not an absolute, neither is the State's police power when it eviscerates this constitutionally protected right. Article I, Section 25 does not establish an unfettered right to bear arms. Clearly, the State retains the power to impose reasonable regulations on weapons, including a general prohibition on the carrying of concealed weapons. However, the State may not apply these regulations in situations that functionally disallow the exercise of the rights conferred under Article I, Section 25."]
Based on the Constitution and the case law, it seems clear that the § 948.605 is indeed unconstitutional and a superfluous restriction on law abiding citizens who live in the areas it affects. You may have to see a copy of the Milwaukee Police Departments school zone map to actually see how bad it is. About 75% of the city is a "Shool Zone" as defined by Wisconsin Stat. § 948.61.
Now, what should be done about it?Very nice brass. I would sign it.The legislature should totally abolish the vehicle carry statute § 167.31.
It serves no substantial purpose but to further the State's police power in a way that will put law-abiding citizens at risk; at risk for being fined, and at risk of bodily harm or death from a carjacker or other violent criminal. Most other states don't have this statutory prohibition or at least allow a personal protection exemption for handguns and keep the long gun prohibition to ease their fear of poaching. In reality, the poaching fear is quite unwarranted anyway. We all need to remember that criminals don't care, and have uncased and loaded firearms in their vehicles right now. The only people this restricts are those who would otherwise follow the law. If you are going to poach, or commit another crime, you are already breaking the law; one more isn't going to make you care. Furthermore; it's a detriment to safety to need to unload and encase, uncase and reload every time you get in and out of your vehicle especially in urban areas.
The legislature needs to pass concealed carry legislation but leave lawful open carry alone.
Many people feel uncomfortable with openly carried handguns on both sides of the isle. Many gun owners would rather not draw attention to themselves and many other citizens would prefer not to see holstered handguns in public. In winter months it's also much nicer to be able to concealed carry in many instances. However; it is important to realize the open carry is and always has been a constitutionally protected right; not a state licensed privilege. Concealed carry prohibitions were passed over 100 years ago so that people would openly carry since concealing your weapons was frowned upon. Furthermore; it's quite apparent that openly carried firearms are a deterrent to crime. A criminal will definitely think twice about trying something with obviously armed citizens in the area. In summer months open carry is also a much more comfortable way to exercise ones rights.
The legislator needs to change or get rid of § 948.605; the Gun free school zone law, before the courts do it for them.
As I pointed out above, this statute is quite clearly unconstitutional and will end up costing some unfortunate citizen and the state a lot of money; and possibly life and limb, in the future. The federal version was found unconstitutional; albeit via a different mechanism, in U.S. V. Lopez, and a Wisconsin magistrate has said that it is still unconstitutional in U.S. V. Hoffmeyer. In the very least; this statute needs to be less restrictive to law abiding citizens. Changing it to only disallow firearms on school property may be an acceptable compromise to most. Another possible option would be to turn it into a penalty enhancer instead of a standalone statute; that way only criminals would feel its affect. ( How about changing it to read, the unlawful discharge or use of a fire arm in the 1000 ft school zone is prohibited.) An Enhancer is an excellent idea. They get what they want, we get what we want.
In conclusion; I hope I've made it obvious that there are enormous problems with Wisconsin's gun laws. We as a society need to stop putting law abiding citizens at risk for something a criminal might do. It is the duty of the legislature to fix these problems so that their law abiding constituents are no longer at risk for arrest, seizure, and death.
Wisconsin Stat. § 167.31 (Transportation in a motor vehicle.)
Wisconsin Stat. § 941.23 (Concealed weapon prohibition.)
Wisconsin Stat. § 939.22 (Words and phrases defined. "Dangerous Weapon")
Wisconsin Stat. § 948.605 (Gun free school zone law.)
Wisconsin Stat. § 948.61 (Other dangerous weapons in school. Needed for "school" definition.)
Wisconsin Stat. § 941.235 (Carrying of firearm in a "public building".)
Wisconsin Stat. § 941.237 (Carryinghandgun where alcoholic beverages may be sold and consumed.)
Wisconsin Stat. §29.089 (Phrohibition in state parks.)
Wisconsin Stat. § 66.0409 (State preemption law.)
Wisconsin Stat. § 939.63 (Penalties; use of a dangerous weapon.)
Case Law:
State v. Fry - 1986 WSC (defendant was properly convicted under § 941.23 for driving a vehicle with a gun locked in a glove compartment).
State v. Keith - Ct App. 1993 (To "go armed" does not require going anywhere. The elements for a violation of s. § 941.23 are: 1) a dangerous weapon is on the defendant's person or within reach; 2) the defendant is aware of the weapon's presence; and 3) the weapon is hidden)
State v. Walls - Ct App. 1994 (A handgun on the seat of a car that was indiscernible from ordinary observation by a person outside, and within the immediate vicinity, of the vehicle was hidden from view for purposes of determining whether the gun was a concealed weapon under § 941.23)
State v. Alloy - Wis. App. 2000 (affirming concealed carry conviction of man possessing handgun in a vehicle in conformity with Wisconsin Stat. § 167.31 because "Alloy's argument is based on the false assertion that he was trapped by a conflict between Wis. Stat. § 167.31 and Wis. Stat. § 941.23. A person transporting a firearm is governed by both statutes. To comply with § 167.31, the person must encase the weapon. To comply with § 941.23, he or she must place the enclosed weapon out of reach. See State v. Asfoor, 75 Wis.2d 411, 433-34, 249 N.W.2d 529 (1977). A person complying with § 167.31 is not required to violate § 941.23. The encased weapon can be lawfully transported out of reach.")
State v. Cole - 2003 WSC (Companion case to State v. Hamdan)
State v. Hamdan - 2003 WSC (§ 941.23 is constitutional under Art. I, s. 25. Only if the public benefitin the exercise of the police power is substantially outweighed by an individual's need to conceal a weapon in the exercise of the right to bear arms will an otherwise valid restriction on that right be unconstitutional, as applied. The right to keep and bear arms for security, as a general matter, must permit a person to possess, carry, and sometimes conceal arms to maintain the security of a private residence or privately operated business, and to safely move and store weapons within those premises)
State v. Fischer - 2006 WSC (§ 941.23 is constitutional as applied in this case. The defendant's interest in exercising his right to keep and bear arms for purposes of security by carrying a concealed weapon in his vehicle does not substantially outweigh the state's interest in prohibiting him from carrying a concealed weapon in his vehicle.)
State v. Vegas -2007 Milwaukee Cty. CC (The courtuses the Hamdan andFischer "two prong test"andgrants a pizza delivery mans motion to dismiss as it finds that § 941.23 is unconstitutional as applied to him.)
Thought I would just point out the two things in red.
Maybe the point should be made that if legislators continue to ignore these unconstitutional laws, their jobs could be in jeopardy come election time.


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Iran's Supreme Leader (photo right) has been behaving rather strangely since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in Vienna on July 14: two days after he signed the agreement, his Id el Fitr speech was business as usual – that is, filled with the same old hatred and hostility towards the West.
The question that arises of itself as a result of this speech is why Khamenei feels the need to speak
The answer to this question is somewhat complicated, but clear to anyone who is aware of the internal situation in Iran, like Dr Mordechai Kedar, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Arabic at Bar-Lian University, Israel.
Iran's population is young in comparison to the population of Europe. More than half of Iran's citizens are under 35, meaning that they were not yet born when the Shah was deposed at the end of 1978. They did not suffer from his despotism, and therefore do not understand why they have to suffer from the Ayatollahs' despotic rule. The majority of Iran's population is totally secular, their lives far removed from Islam, Sharia and tradition. The religious oppression under which they are forced to live distances them even more from religion. They have developed anti-religious feelings, and the more they are oppressed by religion, the farther they stray from its strictures.
diseases, unwanted pregnancies and abandoned babies. Gays, both male and female, flourish in Iran's cities, while the web is filled with thousands of porno sites in Persian, most of them managed from Iran.
Iran's mosques are almost entirely deserted. As a result, the Supreme Leader gives his Friday speech in Tehran University, with the students forced to attend and cheer when they receive a signal to do so. In June, 2009, after "election" results showed Ahmadinejad victorious for the second time, massive mostly-student-based demonstrations exploded in the larger cities. After 7 months and 4 weeks, the ''Green Movement'' was suppressed by violent measures: men were shot, women arrested and raped by jailers. Later it was discovered that the regime had prepared two aircraft for smuggling out the heads of state, just in case the demonstrations got out of control and succeeded in toppling the
The agreement between the world powers and Iran, signed on July 14, 2015, has provided new hope to many of Iran's citizens, especially its restless young adults. The first reason for this hope is the belief that the billions of dollars that were denied the people will soon arrive in the country, improving the economic situation and bettering everyday life.
This optimism raises hopes that along with an improved economy, the human rights situation will also change for the better, allowing for more political freedom and less governmental oppression and corruption.
Khamenei knows full well which way the young adult population's wind is blowing and fears that the agreement will set off a chain reaction where that sector will want to translate the economic thaw into a loosening of political, religious, cultural and personal restraints. In order to deal with this trend, Khamenei feels that must either find or invent an evil and threatening external enemy that will get all the Iranians, mainly the youth, to forget all other pressing issues and flock to the Ayatollahs' leadership. America is still the enemy, still threatening Iran, and the only way to survive the machinations of its wicked Western government is if every Iranian supports the Ayatollahs' regime.
It is worth noting that Iran is an artificial country made up of six ethnic groups who do not connect with one another: Persians (60%), Azarim, Kurds, Turkmans, Bluchis and Arabs. Most of the population is Shiite, but the Bluchis and Kurds are Sunni and both groups are waging an ongoing guerilla war against the central regime in order to gain independence, exacting a price in dead Iranian soldiers and Revolutionary Guards. The world does not know about this warfare because journalists are banned from reaching the war zones and photographing the terrible events that keep happening there.
In Conclusion:
Since the Iran Agreement does not provide a foolproof way to check that the Ayatollahs are definitely not developing nuclear arms, we can conclude that sooner or later Iran will develop nuclear weapons in secret, if it has not done so already. Nuclear weapons in the hands of the Ayatollahs pose a danger to the entire world because of the apocalyptic views of Shiite Islam and because of the Islamist ambition for global hegemony. Islamic religious tradition allows for the use of force and threats. Nuclear weapons will be a tool that allows the Ayatollahs to carry out their Shiite Islamist agenda and move on to control the world.
The Way I See It......the only way to completely remove the danger of Iran's nuclear weapons is to abolish the rule of the Ayatollahs. Now that the world has done away with the economic sanctions weapon, there are only two ways left to achieve that goal: one, to encourage the young, secular adult majority to fight the regime and two, aid the minority groups in destabilizing the regime and undercutting its unity.
Dr Kedar states, ''Iran's rulers are weak, afraid of the people, looking for outside enemies, lost in their own extremist rantings that are an attempt to hide their weaknesses. It would not be very
|Dr Mordechai Kedar
The questions that remain are straighforward. Does the world sees the dangers facing the world from the Iranian regime? Does it realize the real situation in Iran, the reality described in this article? And does the world have the courage to do what is needed to solve, in passing, the Iranian nuclear problem?


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AIG Splurges… AGAIN!
Another AIG Resort "Junket": Top Execs Caught on Tape
KNXV Discovers $343,000 Secret Gathering, AIG Signs and Logos Hidden
By BRIAN ROSS and JOSEPH RHEE
November 10, 2008
Even as the company was pleading the federal government for another $40 billion dollars in loans, AIG sent top executives to a secret gathering at a luxury resort in Phoenix last week.
Brian Ross investigates the insurance giant's "seminar" at a posh resort.
Reporters for abc15.com (KNXV) caught the AIG executives on hidden cameras poolside and leaving the spa at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, despite apparent efforts by the company to disguise its involvement.
"AIG made significant efforts to disguise the conference, making sure there were no AIG logos or signs anywhere on the property," KNXV reported.
A hotel employee told KNXV reporter Josh Bernstein, "We can't even say the word [AIG]." - ABC News
It takes some audacity to beg for cash with one hand and pass out hundred dollar bills with the other. We covered the first smack in the face to taxpayers back on October 8th. That little party cost AIG almost $500,000 at a posh hotel in Monarch Beach California.
You can check out the confrontational video from the reporters on this issue with the top executives here.
Labels: AIG, AIG Junket, AIG Phoenix, Beg and Spend, Corporate greed


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Sept. 27 - Dec. 4
The Studio Art Exhibition Program is pleased to present video and work on paper by fall Artist-in-Residence Beryl Korot.
Beryl Korot is a pioneer of video art since the early 1970's and of multiple channel work in particular. Her works have been seen internationally in major festivals and performance venues. Most recently a retrospective of her work was exhibited for 6 months at The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art: Beryl Korot: Text/Weave/Line - Video, 1977-2010.
Early on she was co-editor of Radical Software (1970), the first publication to discuss the possibilities of the new video medium, as well as Video Art (1976) with Ira Schneider. Her first multiple channel works (Dachau 1974 and Text and Commentary) were seen, by 1980, at such diverse venues as The Kitchen (1975), Leo Castelli Gallery (1977), Dokumenta 6 (1977), The Everson Museum (1975 and 1979), and The Whitney Museum (1980) among other places and continue to be exhibited. Dachau 1974 is in the Kramlich Collection and part of the New Art Trust. Her painted text based handwoven canvases in an original language were exhibited in 1986 at the John Weber Gallery and in 1990 at the Carnegie Museum (Points of Departure). Two video/music collaborations with Steve Reich (The Cave 1993 and Three Tales in 2002) brought video installation art into a theatrical context. Both works continue to be performed and have been installed, apart from live performances, at such venues as The Whitney Museum, The Carnegie Museum, the Reina Sofia in Madrid,, the Dusseldorf Kunstverein, the ICC Gallery in Tokyo, and ZKM in Karlsruhe, Germany. She is a Guggenheim Fellow and has received numerous grants for her work from CAPS, the NEA, NYSCA, and most recently from Anonymous Was a Woman (2008).
Korot will give a talk on her work on Tuesday, September 27 at 4:30 pm in Loew Auditorium in the Hood Museum of Art. A reception will follow in the Jaffe-Friede Gallery in the Hopkins Center. The public is invited. For more information please call (603) 646-3651.
Jaffe-Friede Gallery
Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat, 12:30-10PM. Sun 12:30 - 5:30PM.
Closed Mondays and Holidays.


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Definitely my word of the day . . . undulating. Which strangely enough describes this morning's run. Decided I needed a change of scenery, so headed inland on a loop that took me from Charmouth up to Wootton Fitzpaine, across to Whitchurch Canonicorum (don't you just love these names?) , then back down to Charmouth.
Lots of ups and downs to keep me puffing, a total of 315m of ascent altogether over a run that turned out to be a fraction under 10km. All on tarmac lanes through the beautiful Dorset countryside. Didn't push to hard, heart rate only got up to 170bpm near the end when I sped up a bit to ensure I kept my average under 6m per km. Seems like a good tarmac loop to use as a long run when the off-road stuff gets too muddy again.
9.84km, 58m 44s, 5m 58s per km average.
Probably out again on Saturday to do some hilly stuff.


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A Damn Fine Collection Of Fascinating SPORTS Photos And Videos
January 6, 2017 | 1 Comment » | Topics: Sports
Good Guy JJ Watt
JJ Watt mic'ed up. Hilarious
Auburn player is warmly welcomed into Georgia huddle
UFC heavyweight Frank Mir doesn't take kindly to being humiliated on set
Both badminton teams trying to lose on purpose in their Olympics Match, so they don't have to face the strong opponent, China in the next round
Aqib Talib tries to snatch Michael Crabtree's gold chain
Hide yo chain, Aqib is coming!
Congratulations Reggie Bush! First player in NFL history with negative rushing yards in a season!
Huge block by Patriots receiver Michael Floyd
Injury Report Keepin It Real!
Super Bowls and Roman numerals Google searches
One of the biggest flops on hockey history


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brian stearns | CEO
Digital Marketing Professional, Innovator & Entrepreneur. Appalachian State Undergrad & Clemson MBA Graduate. Live Music Fanatic, Patent Holder & Philanthropist.
cory bridges | COO
Supply Chain, Operations & Sales.Textile Prodigy. Clemson University Grad. SF Giants
TODD JOHNSTON | creative director
Designer, Artist & Creative Visionary. NGU Graduate and retired Collegiate Athlete. Christ Follower, Husband, & Branding Snob.
logan childs | photographer & Videographer
Photographer & Videographer. College-Student, Christ-follower & Nature-Seeker. Long runs & long walks in Best Buy's Camera Department.
Mike johnson | web developer
Web Development Brainiac. Shooting Range, Deep-woods Camping & DIY Nerd. Introverted Extrovert. Christ-Follower. Husband of the single most amazing Woman.
heath bradley | project manager
Project Manager & Social Media Guru. Avid Golfer, Sports fan, and Coach. Two-time Clemson Graduate. Go Tigers!
Ellen brown | Executive assistant
Administrative organizer. Lander graduate. True South Carolinian. Devoted wife, mother, grandmother. Dog lover. Gamecock fan.
carlee ashy | graphic designer
Senior at Clemson University, studying Graphic Communications. Lover of creativity and animals.
margaret mCELWEE | ASSOCIATE ACCOUNT MANAGER
Junior at Clemson University, studying Marketing and Spanish. Passionate about Younglife, Clemson Football & any and all coffee.


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• Try smaller portions:
Just because it's Thanksgiving or Christmas and there's enough food to feed a small village, doesn't mean you have to pile everything on your plate. If your Thanksgiving is anything like the one's my family throws there will be tons of different varieties of food. Try to have a small amount of everything and you'll be full before you know it. Besides there will be leftovers for weeks afterwards, whatever you didn't get a chance to try on Thanksgiving, you'll enjoy next week for lunch!
• Less saturated fat:
Saturated fat has gotten a bad rep lately. And while saturated fats do have some health benefits (when combined with other healthy food like fruits and vegetables) the saturated fat I'm referring to actually refers to a category of saturated fat that includes a number of different fatty acids. Lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid all classified as saturated fats have different effects on different people, with different diets. But less of them are healthier in general for everyone. Although it is a bit harder to burn off saturated fat than most fats.
• Diet Supplements:
No one is made the same. Different body types require different ways to lose weight or stay healthy. Some people benefit from things like diet supplements, which help decrease appetites. Try a delicious diet supplement, Cocoa Hoodia Diet Drink is the perfect blend of organic herbs that have appetite suppressing properties. Not to mention delicious organic cocoa!
• Exercise:
There are a lot of ways to help lose weight and stay trim, but the old tried and true method of exercise is, in my opinion, the best. There are so many different ways to exercise: biking, jogging, or even going to a gym. Also, it works out many different part of your body inside and out! Any diet enhancing method should be used in addition to actual exercising.
Shop online at Yummy Holidays


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