Tim Torkildson's Clown Alley

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Poison Pen from PETA

As regular readers of this blog know, I am currently curating a mail art project with the theme: “What I Saw at the Circus.” The mail art submissions so far have been, to say the least, fascinating, if not always clearly on topic. But today I received a submission that I think deserves special comment -- and reprobation.

Jeffrey Vauxhall, of Urbana Illinois, labeled his submission “What PETA Sees at the Circus.” In a postscript to his mail art, he explains that he is a ‘proud member’ of PETA, and especially proud of the fact that PETA was instrumental in driving RIngling Brothers out of business earlier this year. He went on to explain that he is a student at the University of Illinois -- Urbana Campus, and is studying political science in order to eventually run for public office and help shape policy that will, in his words, “give impetus to the Buddhist philosophy of exploiting no animal for pleasure, gain, or sustenance.”

I think my readers will agree with me that this young man’s reprehensible and intolerant mindset is exactly NOT the kind we want in government. Instead he should be locked up in a laughing academy . . . or encouraged to write harmless fantasy novels.

I find his artwork to be revolting, pandering to the lowest common denominator in humanity.

Here is the artwork in question. You be the judge.

The Libraries of my Youth

While other little boys daydreamed of pirates and space ships

I was at the library to look up words like ‘thrips.’

There was no internet back when the president was Ike --

If I needed info, to the books I’d have to hike.

But it was not a chore to me -- more like vacation time,

Sampling some H.G. Wells or Ogden Nash’s rhyme.

I’ve never lost my taste for books, although as a curator

I’d certainly be classified as just a second-rater.

I’ve got ‘em scattered o’er the floor and on the window sill;

They’re underneath the bed (and I have found one on the grill!)

As the years crowd round me, I take joy in any tome

That lets my body stay at rest yet gives my mind a roam.

If transmigration of the soul were not too much sectarian,

I’d love to come back as a full-time practicing librarian.

Not All Essential Oils are Created Equal: The Story of Macassar Oil

Thomas Hogg was a Victorian botanical collector who traveled extensively through the Far East searching for plants and trees and vines to bring back to America for the home garden. He is responsible for such beautiful varieties as the Japanese maple and the oriental snowbush being introduced into the United States. But he is also held responsible for introducing the nefarious kudzu vine, which has taken over millions of acres of productive agricultural land in the Deep South.

One of his worst blunders was the introduction of the Macassar oil tree from Indonesia to Florida and California. While the tree itself is not considered too invasive, the essential oil that it produces proved to be a controversial commodity for nearly a hundred years, from 1830 to 1930. American barbers combined Macassar oil with soapberry oil to produce a popular hair pomade for men. To stretch the pomade, some unscrupulous barbers adulterated their brand with kerosene and turpentine. The problem was that the two oils in combination clogged the follicle pores, which in turn led to scalp infections such as seborrheic eczema and ringworm. American doctors thundered against the concoction, trying in vain to get the American male to give it up -- but fashion trends were too entrenched. There was even an Anti-Macassar League, founded by Carrie Nation, that campaigned against Macassar oil, handing out thousands of pamphlets and doilies.

Finally, in 1930, the Food and Drug Administration stepped in to regulate the use of Macassar oil, requiring a license for its sale and use. That, along with a change in hair styles, put the kibosh on America’s infatuation with Macassar essential oil. Today it can only be found in countries such as Indonesia and Myanmar.

In the right hands, essential oils can be a powerful tool in promoting good mental and physical health. Today, stringent purity standards are in place to insure that any essential oil offered by a reputable company is completely unadulterated and safe. So it’s important to avoid all off-brand essential oils -- they may contain anything and everything!

Western soapberry tree

For further information, and for an absolutely free, no obligation, sample of three of the most commonly used oils, including lemon and lavender, contact Wellness Advocate Amy Snyder at http://bit.ly/2vHgrH6 Please put your name and address in her Comments box. She has used these superb essential oils for years herself and will be delighted to share her experiences with you in a professional and friendly manner!

NOTICE TO READERS: The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any emotional or physical condition, illness, or injury. The author, publishers, and distributors of this blog shall have no liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any and all alleged damage, loss, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this work. This work contains suggested uses of oils based on acceptable dosage amounts recommended by the manufacturer. The author makes no claim to have verified or validated these suggestions. The readers must validate acceptable dosage amounts from the manufacturer before application. The information in this book is in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice. We recommend that all readers obtain medical advice from a licensed healthcare professional before using essential oils for any reason.

Episcopalians and their Lobsters

From the Washington Post: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the prominent advocacy group, has honed its focus on one beloved tradition in Episcopal churches across the country, the lobster boil. The animal-rights group sent a letter Friday to Bishop Michael Curry, the presiding bishop and primate who leads the nationwide church, asking him to end the practice of lobster dinners in favor of something more vegetarian.

Pity Bishop Michael Curry --

Boiling lobsters in a hurry.

Lest the PETA goons appear

to start another PR smear.

Episcopals like lobster stew,

And have no idea what to do

When protesters their treat would ban

In favor of a loaf of bran.

Though water may be changed to wine,

And devils be cast out of swine --

No miracle can save a creed

That must subsist on boiled flaxseed.

Cats and Dogs Need Lawyers . . .

From the NYTimes: "Last year, Connecticut enacted a law that, according to legal experts, made it the first state to allow judges to appoint lawyers and law students as advocates for dogs and cats"

Cats and dogs need lawyers like a golf ball needs a bat;

It’s cruelty to animals -- on that I will stand pat.

I do not think a schnauzer wants a shyster as a friend.

And why would any tomcat need assistance rules to bend?

Suppose this trend spreads to the parakeets in gilded cages,

To bunnies and to guppies -- it would be a new Dark Ages.

Humanity has suffered from attorneys far too long.

Inflicting them on animals would be a beastly wrong!

Monday, August 28, 2017

My DNA Profile

I had my DNA checked out

To find my ancestry.

They clipped me for a c-note

Without too much guarantee.

Results came back and I found out

(I refuse my thoughts to harshen)

That mom and dad were immigrants --

and I am wholly Martian . . .

Rabindranath Tagore Used Indian Sandalwood Oil for Inspiration

Rabindranath Tagore was a celebrated Bengali poet, sage, and mystic. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 for his breathtaking verses on life in a Bengali village. He was also a profound student of Ayurvedic medicine -- the ancient holistic art that Indians have been practicing instead of Western medicine for thousands of years.

At Visva Bharati, his academy in west Bengal, he not only taught poetry, music, and philosophy -- but offered courses in the use of essential oils to release the spirit and bring relief to many commonplace illnesses. One of his favorite ingredients was Indian sandalwood oil. Tagore called this essential oil “heartbalm.”

In his voluminous writings he once penned: “The oil from the sandalwood tree has been known for centuries as an elevator of noble emotions and the basis for a mature health that is proof against many of the diseases that stem from the filth and stench that surround us, especially in the great cities of the world, where plagues begin before spreading to the countryside. Sandalwood should be burned to purify the air; the oil should be rubbed on the skin for protection against the elements and skin lesions; and it can be imbibed, suitably diluted, for digestive health and to clear the head of all untoward thoughts.”

Tagore claimed that his best poetry and prose only came after he had rubbed Indian sandalwood oil on the soles of his feet, the palms of his hands, and the crown of his head.

Today we know that Indian sandalwood oil is effective against many skin problems and is an effective mood enhancer when used in aromatherapy. If you are engaged in profound spiritual and/or intellectual thought, this essential oil will give you additional inspiration.