About My Blog.

Welcome! This is "Catatonic Digressions."
Most readers don't understand my blog's title. It's an old inside joke from a forum long gone. I was going to change it, but since it's been "confusing" for so long, I decided to leave it. Don't worry about what it means, the content of the blog is what matters...or not

Unfortunately, my blog isn't what I set out for it to be. A sick woman in Orleans, MA began stalking me in 2007 on Myspace. Since that time, this woman obsessed over me to the point of having the police come to her home and threaten to confiscate her laptop. She is a racist and anti-Semite.I could no longer blog freely, knowing this nutbag was just going to take the photos I'd post and put them on a child exploitation website.

This site is only up for the information it has that others might need to know about. That information is about "Seal Shepherd" aka Michael McDade, Kat McAboy aka Marilyn McAboy and Veronika Hompo, a self-proclaimed Nazi.


I'm a real person. I'm real and I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. After years of putting up with online abuse by manipulative, pathological liars, attention whores or narcissists, I've had it. Don't bother me with pathetic drama. I have no time for these types of people and their need to absorb others' time and attention.

This blog is no longer used. I've retired it for the most part unless something very important comes up.

Please, join Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Sea Shepherd International: Sea Shepherd Needs Your Help To Save Whales & Help Captain Watson

Sea Shepherd International :: Sea Shepherd Needs Your Help To Save Whales & Help Captain Watson

January 29, 2013

Sea Shepherd Needs Your Help To Save Whales & Help Captain Watson

Conservation Group Launches Two White House Petitions; Has 30 Days to Collect 100,000 Signatures
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the world’s leading direct-action conservation non-profit, today has filed two petitions on the White House  “We The People” page of the website which seek the U.S. Government’s support in upholding conservation law regarding protecting at-risk whales in the Antarctic’s Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and with ensuring safe haven for the organization’s respected founder, Captain Paul Watson.
The first petition is titled, “Take strong action to stop the Japanese from killing whales in the Southern Ocean Antarctic Whale Sanctuary” and can be found at:http://wh.gov/Vnbu. The full text of the petition language follows:
“The President must take swift and decisive action against Japan's illegal whaling.
Under the Pelly Amendment and the Packwood-Magnuson Amendment, the President has the power to apply economic sanctions against Japan for its continued whale slaughter in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary. The United States asserts that it resolutely opposes whale hunting by Japan, but does little to actually bring a halt to the practice.
The U.S. State Dept. has declared: “We remain resolute in our opposition to commercial whaling, including so-called ‘scientific’ whaling, in particular in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary established by the International Whaling Commission. In this context we wish to emphasize that lethal techniques are not required in modern whale conservation and management.”
The second petition is titled, “Provide Safe Haven to Captain Paul Watson, Founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society” and can be found at: http://wh.gov/VnRf. The full text of the petition language follows: 
We request the U.S. not extradite U.S citizen Paul F. Watson.
There are two active Interpol Red Notices issued against Captain Watson at the request of Costa Rica and Japan. Underlying these notices are non-lethal acts in defense of marine life suffering from illegal shark fishing and whaling operations. The warrants are politically motivated.
Captain Watson is a world-renowned and highly respected leader in environmental issues. In 1999, he was awarded President George H.W. Bush’s "Daily Points of Light" Award and in 2000, he was named one of Time Magazine’s “Top 20 Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century.” In 2012, he became only the second person ever to be honored with the Jules Verne Award for environmentalists and adventurers. Captain Watson is a national treasure.
According to the procedures on the “We the People” White House Petitions page, Sea Shepherd has until close of business on February 28th (30 days) to garner 100,000 bonafide signatures from individuals 13 years and older who support these motions in order for the White House to consider taking action on the petitions.
Sea Shepherd has been engaging in interventions on the high seas in defense of marine wildlife for 35 years and for the last eight seasons against Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR) — a front for illegal, government-subsidized whaling — all within the confines of the law and without causing serious injury. Launching of the petitions is the latest effort by the conservation group to fight the ICR’s efforts to kill whales in a designated sanctuary and persecute the group’s founder, Captain Paul Watson.
“The majority of citizens in the free world have demonstrated time and again they are against the killing of intelligent, sentient whales, particularly when it involves killing in an internationally designated sanctuary,” said Scott West, Director of Investigations for Sea Shepherd. “Now is the time for everyone who values majestic marine wildlife in our oceans to sign this petition and encourage the Obama Administration to act to protect these at-risk whales who should not have to be subjected to harassment and a cruel, painful death from grenade-tipped harpoons shot within the confines of a sanctuary,” he added.
The second petition, which focuses on the legal status of Sea Shepherd founder, Captain Watson, asks for him to be provided safe haven in the U.S. Captain Watson is currently at sea as an observer with this season’s current Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, on the SSS Steve Irwin. He cannot make landfall due to being the target of two ‘red notices’ issued by Interpol put forth at the request of Costa Rica and Japan, which seek to extradite him to those nations for trial on trumped up, politically motivated charges related to defending marine wildlife from poachers.
“Captain Watson is an eco-hero doing the job of enforcing marine conservation law that governments have shown they lack the political will or economic means to do,” said Susan Hartland, Administrative Director, Sea Shepherd. “He has won countless awards including President George H.W. Bush’s ‘Daily Points of Light Award’ for his conservation work and should be on a list of national heroes, not on Interpol’s “Red List,” she said. “The charges against him are clearly politically motivated and we, as a society, should be asking why, instead of Captain Watson, are the illegal whale poachers and shark-finners not being targeted by authorities and put on Interpol’s ‘Red List’?,” she added.
To sign “Take strong action to stop the Japanese from killing whales in the Southern Ocean Antarctic Whale Sanctuary,” go to: http://wh.gov/Vnbu.To sign “Take strong action to stop the Japanese from killing whales in the Southern Ocean Antarctic Whale Sanctuary,” go to: http://wh.gov/Vnbu.
Credit: White House We The People Petition Page
To sign “Provide Safe Haven to Captain Paul Watson, Founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,” go to: http://wh.gov/VnRf. To sign “Provide Safe Haven to Captain Paul Watson, Founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,” go to:http://wh.gov/VnRf
Credit: White House We The People Petition Page
SEA SHEPHERD, CAPTAIN WATSON THE WHALES THANK YOU!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The 8 Most Nutrient Dense Foods on Earth


The 8 Most Nutrient Dense Foods on Earth
Written by Jill Ettinger   
Food shopping
We all know which foods we do best to avoid (right?). Despite the alluring appeal of Oreos, Mountain Dew or McAnything, processed foods provide little nutrition and a whole lot of risks. But when it comes to the good stuff—what are the best foods to put into our bodies? While experts all agree we need a variety of foods for a healthy diet, do you know which are the healthiest of the bunch? The answers may surprise and delight you.
1. Spirulina: While the thought of eating lake algae might gross you out, spirulina is actually pretty tasty, especially blended into a smoothie or hidden in a chocolate bar. It has more antioxidants than any other food on earth and is loaded with protein and minerals making it the most nutrient dense food.
2. Kale: According to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, kale is the most nutritious food, loaded with minerals, vitamins, fiber and amino acids, as well as important antioxidants that reduce inflammation and can prevent cancer. It's also delicious and an easy to prepare, versatile food.
3. Hemp Seeds: What do you get when you combine protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals? Hemp, of course. This easily digestible seed is versatile, easy to use and extremely tasty, too.
4. Chocolate: Yes, you read right. Cacao beans are so nutrient-dense that scientists haven't even begun to identify all the benefits in the little bean yet. Don't grab a Snickers though—the good stuff is found only in raw cacao beans or nibs (or really, really dark chocolate). Minerals, vitamins and tons of antioxidants are great for your heart, skin, and release chemicals in the brain that make you feel like you're in love.
5. Broccoli: Mom was right, you should eat your broccoli if you want a healthy digestive system and to decrease your risk of cancer. Broccoli has a wide range of yumminess too, from soups and stews to stir fry.
6. Spinach: Popeye was onto something with that spinach fixation. But skip the canned stuff and stick with fresh or frozen for an antioxidant, protein and fiber-rich burst of healthy goodness. Fresh or cooked, spinach's sweet and hardy flavor brightens any meal.
7. Chia: The Aztec warriors may have died out, but their legacy is alive and strong in the chia seed. This yummy, unassuming ancient favorite is loaded with omega fats, protein and fiber. Dr. Weil says it's a better choice than flax because "chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid."
8. Berries: Unlike other fruit, berries tend to be less sugary and full of vital vitamins, minerals and those free-radical avenging antioxidants. Wild berries are always a great choice, especially black raspberries.
Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger
Sources:

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

12 Great Ways to Use Castile Soap

I found castile soap a few months ago, and since then I've realized just how amazing this stuff is. No more strange rashes from supposedly "natural" soaps, and no more dry skin from typical supermarket and local pharmacy store soaps, regardless of how much they claim they moisturize. Get some essential oils and add it to regular castile and you're set for a variety of things aside from body and hair wash. Castile cleans just about anything. Certified Organic and Certified Fair Trade, biodegradable and vegetable-based. You just can't go wrong.

Article reposted from Care2.com 


12 Great Ways to Use Castile Soap




I buy my castile soap in bulk. I’m just a super twigs-and-granola kinda gal, which means I use castile soap by the bucketful. But don’t worry, for those less committed to “crunchy” life, they also sell it in small, tester portions.
I never knew what “castile” was until I started using the stuff, but the moniker just describes a style of soap, not a brand. Think tissue, not Kleenex. Castile means that it’s made from 100 percent plant oils (no animal products like tallow, which show up in most commercial soaps). It’s also a true soap, not a chemical detergent, making castile soap completely biodegradable and very earth-friendly.
What follows is a list of ways to incorporate this cheap, environmentally awesome ingredient into your daily life. Some of the ideas are for beginners, or “hippie-lite.” Others are out and out barefoot-moon-dancing-earth-mother. (Okay, maybe castile soap is not so hippie. Denver plumbing company Quality First Plumbing recommends hot water and castile soap as an all-purpose household cleaner, and they are plumbers, not hippies.) Just pick and choose as you please! And don’t forget, you can add various essential oil herbal infusions to each of these recipes, to customize and diversify your castile soaping experience. Maybe you like orange blossom to clean your tile flooring, and peppermint on your dishes. Lot’s of people prefer lemon in the bathroom, and I love lavender in my laundry. And each oil or herb will confer its own properties. For example, eucalyptus is an antimicrobial, and chamomile is a relaxant. The possibilities are endless and it’s oh-so fun to experiment!

1. Shampoo: Use castile soap as a stand-in for a harsh detergent-based shampoo. Give your head a break! Just mix castile soap with water at a ratio of 1:3.
2. Laundry Detergent: You can make your own laundry detergent with simple, common ingredients. Save tons money and do the environment a friendly favor. It’s a win-win!
3. Tub Scrub: Make a tile or toilet “soft scrub” out of baking soda and castile soap. Simply fill a spray bottle with a dilution of 1:3 castile to water. Sprinkling the area you wish to clean with a liberal dusting of baking soda, then spray the castile solution over the top. Scour with a sponge or scrub brush and watch the stains disappear. This also works great on crusty stovetops!
4. Mopping Solution: Use 2 or 3 tablespoons of castile soap in a full bucket of water, and mop mop mop your floors to a sparkly new luster.
5. Dish Soap: Make a dishwashing soap (for hand washing) or a liquid hand soap (for washing hands) by simply mixing a 1:1 ratio of castile to water.
6. Dishwasher Detergent: Make a fancier DIY liquid dishwasher detergent that’s inexpensive and eco-friendly.
7. Soap Dispenser Refill: You can refill your foaming hand soap dispenser with 1 part castile soap to 4 parts water.
8. Body Wash: You can use castile soap as a gentle yet efficient bath soap/body wash. They actually sell castile bar soap, but if you want to use the liquid just dilute it in a 2:1 ratio of castile to water.
9. Dog Shampoo: What’s good enough for you is even better for your pet! Use the same ratio listed above for an awesome DIY doggie shampoo.
10. Toothpaste: You can actually use castile soap in place of your toothpaste, and pure soap is much better for your teeth than the nasty chemicals they put in most commercial pastes. Just add a few drops directly to your wet brush. It works wonders, although the flavor can take some getting used to!
11. Veggie Wash: Make a simple veggie wash for cleansing all your produce. Add 1 tablespoon castile soap to 2 cups of water, and keep the mixture in a squirt bottle near the kitchen sink.
12. Carpet Cleaner: Finally, you can make an effective carpet cleaner by mixing 1/4 cup castile into 1 cup water. Place the solution in the blender and let it fly until it forms a stiff foam. Apply as you would any other carpet cleaning product.
What’s your favorite way to use castile soap? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!
By Sayward Rebhal, Networx







Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Sea Shepherd International :: Statement from Captain Paul Watson

Sea Shepherd International :: Statement from Captain Paul Watson

January 7, 2013

Statement from Captain Paul Watson

Captain Paul Watson on the bridge of the SSS Steve irwinCaptain Paul Watson on the bridge of the SSS Steve irwin
Photo: Tim Watters / Sea Shepherd
For the 35 years since I founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society I have strived to act non-violently and within the boundaries of the law.
Sea Shepherd has never been a protest organization nor have we engaged in civil disobedience. We are an anti-poaching organization established to uphold international conservation law. We operate within the guidelines of the United Nations World Charter for Nature that allows for intervention by non-profit non-governmental organizations and individuals to uphold international conservation law.
During Sea Shepherd’s long history we have never caused a single injury to any person. Although we have broken some bureaucratic regulations like Canada’s so called Seal Protection Act, we did so to challenge the validity of these regulations, which were in contradiction to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In all other respects we have always operated within the boundaries of the law, both international and national.
In 1998 Sea Shepherd USA complied with the order by the United States Coast Guard to not approach within a thousand yards of the Makah whaling operation in Washington State.
I myself have never been convicted of a felony crime.
And for this reason, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the United States and myself as a U.S. citizen must comply with the order by the 9th Circuit court of the United States.
Because I have been personally named in the injunction I have resigned as the President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the United States and as President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Australia. I have also resigned my position of Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society USA and I will hold no paid position with Sea Shepherd anywhere Sea Shepherd is registered and operates as a non-profit organization in any nation.
I have also stepped down as campaign leader for Operation Zero Tolerance. Former Greens Party leader and former Australian Senator, Bob Brown of Tasmania will now hold this position.
I have also stepped down as Captain of the Steve Irwin. Captain Siddharth Chakravarty of India is now in command of the Steve Irwin. The other three Captains are citizens of Sweden, France and Australia.
As a United States citizen, I will respect and comply with the ruling of the United States 9th District Court and will not violate the temporary injunction granted to the Institute for Cetacean Research.  I will participate as an observer within the boundaries established by the 9th Circuit Court of the United States.

Saturday, January 05, 2013

Long Beach's Famed Boardwalk to Be Razed Saturday

Reposted from http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Long-Beach-Boardwalk-Sandy-Razed-Saturday-185476402.html


Long Beach's Famed Boardwalk to Be Razed Saturday

By Greg Cergol
|  Thursday, Jan 3, 2013  |  Updated 11:29 AM EST

Long Beach's more than 2-mile-long boardwalk will be torn down this weekend so it can be rebuilt after Sandy wrecked it. Officials promise it will be up in time for the summer. Greg Cergol reports.
View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

Workers will begin to demolish Long Beach's famed boardwalk on Saturday, city officials announced Wednesday.
The more than two-mile stretch of wood and concrete along the beachfront was badly damaged by Sandy, and Long Beach's city council decided to tear down the entire structure last month.
"It looks like King Kong came in and ripped up the whole place," said Barbara Herr, who has visited Long Beach for 15 years.
An American flag and a holiday wreath hang on a pile of twisted wood in one of the boardwalk's hardest hit areas. The boardwalk has been closed since the storm, and while not every inch was destroyed by Sandy, city officials thought it best to demolish all of it.
"To be prudent, it's better to look at the entire boardwalk, take the whole thing down and rebuild stronger and smarter," said City Councilman Scott J. Mandel.
The demolition should take about a month, said Mandel. The reconstruction is expected to be finished by the start of the summer season, Mandel added.
The estimated cost of the project is $25 million. Long Beach hopes to recoup the entire amount from FEMA, Mandel said. But the city decided to move ahead before securing any funding guarantee.
"Long Beach is known for its boardwalk," Mandel said. "So, this is a symbol that Long Beach will recover from Sandy."
The boardwalk was first built in 1907, as Long Beach's founders looked to create a destination to rival Atlantic City. Elephants from Coney Island were used during the original construction, said city historian Roberta Fiore.
At first, the boardwalk was private, Fiore added. Visitors needed to secure a special invitation to enjoy the boardwalk and its adjoining amenities, like tennis courts.
Parts of the boardwalk were rebuilt in the late 1930s after a fire, Fiore said. Since then, the boardwalk has survived numerous storms and hurricanes, remaining the focal point of the waterfront community.
A special ceremony attended by city officials and residents will mark the start of demolition Saturday.
"It's part of their heritage, part of them, part of their blood," said Terri Powers of Oceanside.
"I look forward to walking here again," said Kevin McCormack of Lynbrook as he took pictures of what was left of the boardwalk.

Friday, January 04, 2013

Top 20 interesting people of 2012 | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun

Top 20 interesting people of 2012 | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun



Top 20 interesting people of 2012 

0

joe-warmington
BY  ,TORONTO SUN
FIRST POSTED: | UPDATED: 



I started 2012 covering the disgraceful mass murder of four women and ended it with the equally despicable gunning down of 20 first-grade students and six school staff members.
It won’t be a year I will soon forget.
What I do each year-end is offer a list of my top 20 interesting people — folks I covered over the year.
Here’s mine for 2012:
20. Nik Wallenda: Even though he was wearing a harness it was still a great feat to cross over Niagara Falls on a wire — the first to do so in 100 years.
19. Georges St. Pierre: For his big UFC comeback win in Montreal. St. Pierre has become one of Canada’s biggest stars while the hockey players drift into obscurity.
18. Don Cherry: This guy was hot in 2012. Always in the news, always telling it like it is, never shying away from saying what he thinks and not getting the Order of Canada. This will have to do, Grapes.
17. Kristen Stewart: It was brilliant the way she and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson used her infidelity to help sell their movie and careers. But at the Toronto International Film Festival she was classy with her fans and for that she’s on my 2012 list.
16. Dr. Alok Mukherjee: It takes a big man to say he’s sorry and although it took a long time, the chairman of the Toronto Police Services Board did just that on the TPS’s poor handling of the 2010 G20 Summit. It was the right thing to do for all the people wrongly jailed, shackled and strip-searched.
15. Spiceman Naveen Polapady of the Maroli Indian Cuisine on Bloor St. W., who like David Chen of the Lucky Moose defended his property but ended up in handcuffs. Spiceman still has his trial to come to see if he was right or wrong using spices to fend off what he thought was a burglar. I like him either way.
14. Ontario is lucky to have ombudsman Andre Marin, who keeps the powerful honest. It’s a good thing for some that he doesn’t have the authority to lay criminal charges.
13. Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos threw Yunel Escobar under the train in his so-called gay bashing scandal but I think Anthopoulos has put together a potential championship team for 2013. If that happens, all is forgiven.
12. The discovery of missing 17-year-old Mariam Makhniashvili’s body on the Don Valley Golf Course in March concluded a Toronto mystery. It has been deemed a suicide but I still am not convinced.
11. Conrad Black finally got out of prison and gets on the list because he did his time and used it to teach fellow inmates how to read.
10. You know the name Jayesh Prajapati? He gave his life in September to save Shell Canada from losing $112 in a stolen tank of gas. He was run over and didn’t get so much as a flag at half mast while police still search for murder suspect Max Edwin Tutiven.
9. Hotel cleaning staff supervisor Nighisti Semret, 55, was murdered in a lane near Cabbagetown Oct. 23. Det.-Sgt. Gary Giroux is still searching for her vicious killer. Help him if you know. Special hats off to Det.-Sgt. Terry Browne for the quick arrest in the shocking Little Italy murder.
8. The Shafia sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, and their stepmom Rona Amir — all murdered in the Rideau canal in a heinous “honour” killing. Spent weeks at the trial in Kingston that wrapped up in January and learned they were executed in an evil plot as a result of them simply being female. Disgusting anywhere. Disturbing in Canada.
7. My Canadian entertainment hope for 2013 is Toronto band July Talk, whose self-titled debut album is awesome. Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay are a very interesting duo I predict will have a good year. Runner-up is classical singer Giorgia Fumanti, who was singing like an angel at Dundas Square during the Eaton Centre shooting. The Italian-born, Montreal resident is some special star too.

6. Jackie Wylie is a Mississauga woman whose rare cancer treatment was not yet approved in Ontario. Rather than just die, she and husband Peter of Cabbagetown Boxing Club fame started the fight on behalf of all such patients slipping between the cracks. They won.
5. The Barbi Twins, Sia and Shane, who used their centrefold fame with the help of a shy ex-marine to try to track down the alleged Internet kitten killer, who turned out to be Eric Newman, aka Luka Magnotta. He will face trial on the murder of Jun Lin. Perhaps if people had paid more attention to the twins, who knows?
4. Teachers: Taking away support for extracurricular activities for Ontario students as a weapon in a contract dispute gets a failing grade. Fix that in 2013. Special hats off to all the brave teachers in Newtown, Conn.
3. Derek Clarke: Or should that be Randy Gumbley? Glenn Gumbley? I have lost track. A group with Georges Laraque involved tried to form a union for CHL players but it turns out there was confusion over who was in charge.
2: Joshua Yassay, 23, and Shyanne Charles, 14. You died in the Danzig St. barbecue shooting in a city where some leaders had their heads in the sand about Toronto’s dangers and gang activity. Thanks to Chief Bill Blair’s special patrols your deaths may have helped save others from the same fate. Rest in peace. Also, the same sentiment to all of those precious 20 children killed in Newtown.
1. My No. 1 story? Not Eric Newman. Instead, to end on a positive it’s a team: The 2012 Grey Cup champion Toronto Argos. What a year. The stuff of movies. Toronto won’t soon forget the 100th Grey Cup.
Who knows, maybe a Maple Leafs Stanley Cup in 2013? There will be another team at the top of the list if it happens.
Anything is possible.
Happy New Year, everybody. Scrawler out.