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Saturday 30 November 2013

Peerage


.


Mucem reflection (Marseille): photo by Yannis Bautrait (yaya13baut), 20 August 2013

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (King James version, 1611)


A time to embrace, a time
to refrain

from embracing
one's own reflection

in the wetspot
in the parkinglot

of the Mini Mart
when the party's over




24 Hour Mini Mart (MacArthur Maze, Oakland): photo by efo, 26 July 2013


Friday 29 November 2013

Lacuna


.

Arnett YMCA: autochrome photo by Charles C. Zoller (1854-1934), between 1907 and 1932 (George Eastman House)


..
 .He stopped going out
Stopping in was the final mistake,
..The stairs too steep

Retreated to a nulliverse
where, dwelling within
the oneirotaxia of
an out of focus twilight
and watching the flags ripple
imperceptibly

in the faint breeze that played
through the rafters of the Arnett YMCA
on the lit up screen
above the organ,
he spent his last days



Thursday 28 November 2013

Beer: street wisdom (a story about the Pilgrims)


.

One Stop Darker (Berkeley): photo by efo, 9 November 2013


Hey man, have you ever wondered why you were not told in school that the Pilgrims invented beer in order to drive the Indians crazy?




Beer (Beer Bottle Crossing, Idaho): photo by efo, 17 November 2013

I once heard of a man who gave beer to a pig, but I have never heard of a pig who gave beer to a man.
 



Good Kids (Oakland): photo by efo, 12 October 2013

And winter's coming on now, man. 




Refinery complex (Emeryville, California): photo by efo, 9 November 2010

I don't know how anybody out here is going to stand it.




Help (Alameda Point, Alameda, California): photo by efo, 24 February 2013

That night we returned againe a ship board with resolution the next morning to settle on some of those places. So in the morning, after we had called on God for direction, we came to this resolution, to go presently ashore again, and to take a better view of two places which we thought most fitting for us; for we could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our Beere...

-- William Bradford, on the decision of the colonists aboard the Mayflower to drop anchor at Plymouth Bay in the first week of December, 1620

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Sacrificial Rite


.



 White House ceremony to receive the 40th annual Thanksgiving Turkey: photographer unknown, 23 November 1987; image 17 October 2012 (Ronald Reagan Library/US National Archives)


The anthems of thanks that rise...... 
from the dark barns
where the artificially
......................conceived,
systematically
mutilated, permanently
confined,
.............methodically

brutalized factory
farm food animals
 .................are hidden away
from the light of day
amid fear and squalor

in panic maelstrom
throughout their brief not-quite lives
 
may be counted as equal 
in number to
the tweets of praise 
Allah receives
......................from Gitmo 
when a brother is hung up
by his thumbs
three nights
and three days
......................but then  
questions put to living tissue
from above
..................can't be answered
 
from below
the karmic line
that separates "us"
from the sentient universe
..........................so easily





 President John F. Kennedy receives Thanksgiving Turkey from Poultry and Egg National Board, accompanied by Senator Everett M. Dirksen: photo by Abbie Rowe, 19 November 1963; image 2 August 2012 (John F. Kennedy Library/US National Archives)


Happy Thanksgiving (from  a bunch of turkeys); photo by Paul Armstrong (wiseacre photo), 28 November 2008
 

Post turkey: photo by David Talley, 24 November 2011



Butterball Abuse 21: photo by Mercy for Animals, 8 December 2011
 

Butterball Abuse 20: photo by Mercy for Animals, 26 November 2011
 

Butterball Abuse 4: photo by Mercy for Animals, 1 December 2011


Butterball Abuse 1: photo by Mercy for Animals, 26 November 2011


Butterball Abuse 3: photo by Mercy for Animals, 30 November 2011


Butterball Abuse 14: photo by Mercy for Animals, 9 December 2011


 Broiler chicks in Canadian factory turkey farm: photo by Twyla Francois, 10 October 2010


 Broiler chicks in Canadian factory turkey farm: photo by Twyla Francois, 10 October 2010


 Broiler chicks in Canadian factory turkey farm: photo by Twyla Francois, 10 October 2010
 



  Dead broiler chicks in Canadian factory turkey farm: photo by Twyla Francois, 10 October 2010
 

Cruel loading of turkeys at Granny's Poultry Cooperative slaughterhouse in Blumenort, Manitoba: photo by Twyla Francois, 9 May 2011



Granny's catcher mooning us between throwing turkeys. Blumenort, Manitoba: photo by Twyla Francois, 10 May 2011
 



The load Sophie and Katie escaped. Overloaded transport truck, Granny's Poultry Cooperative, Blumenort, Manitoba: photo by Twyla Francois, 9 May 2011
 

  Overloaded, untarped Granny's turkeys en route to slaughter. Blumenort, Manitoba: photo by Twyla Francois, 9 May 2009
 

  Overloaded, untarped Granny's turkeys en route to slaughter: photo by Twyla Francois, 9 May 2009
 

  Overloaded, untarped Granny's turkeys en route to slaughter: photo by Twyla Francois, 9 May 2009
 



 Katie and Sophie grooming on first day outside after rescue by Canadians for Ethical Treatment of Food Animals from Canadian factory farm transport truck: photo by Twyla Francois, 17 May 2011


 Katie enjoying a dust bath: photo by Twyla Francois, 18 August 2011


Tom Turkey in full mating display. Just before sunrise, Catskill Mountains, New York state: photo by William Dalton, 4 May 2007


Turkey and pedestrian (Novato, California): photo by efo, 5 September 2007

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Fear


.

El rejoneador Rodrigo Santos recoge un clavel. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 27 April 2009

 
Not that being one of them
ever softened the view
.........................but pain
makes it clearer
the fear
seen in their eyes
as they inflict suffering
upon something living, well
it's natural --
it's plain
it's clear

that they have cause
that they have reason
to be afraid




Caballo de picador. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012
 


  Subalterno con el capote. Un subalterno prepara al toro con su capote antes de que el matador entre en escena. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012

 
Subalternos antes de la corrida. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012


  Subalterno detrás de un burladero. Un subalterno observa atento el desarrollo de la corrida detrás de un burladero. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012



  Subalterno. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012
 

  Subalterno. Un subalterno expulsa el aire nervioso después de haber lidiado con un toro.Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012
 

  Subalterno con cigarro. Si bien el cigarro es pésimo para la salud y la condición física, a este subalterno le ayuda para calmar los nervios y la exitación antes del inicio de la corrida. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012
 

Afuera de la petetera antes del inicio de la fiesta. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 12 February 2013
 

  Jaripeo en el toro de once. El toro de once se llama así porque anteriormente iniciaba a las once de la mañana. Ahora comienza alrededor de la 1:30 de la tarde, cuando viene llegando la cabalgata que ha salido desde el centro de Colima. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 13 February 2013
 

  Charro ingresando a la plaza. Como todas las tardes, los charros entran con sus caballos para el Toro de Once. Ellos lanzan los toros para regresarlos al corral después de que los jinetes los montan Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 16 February 2012
 

Octavio García. Octavio García "El Payo" toma un respiro y un descanso para bajar la adrenalina bajo los tablados de la plaza. Puede apreciarse la construcción de esta a base de palos, mecates y petates. A "El Payo" le ha costado trabajo matar a su toro y lo ha dejado exhausto. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 12 February 2012
 

Vuelta al ruedo de Diego Silveti. Diego Silveti recibe un obsequio del público mientras da la vuelta al ruedo por cortar una oreja. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 12 February 2012
 

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza. Retrato de Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza en La Petatera antes de iniciar con su faena. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 19 February 2013



Picadores. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012
 

Picador al caballo. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012
 

Capilla de la plaza de toros de La Petetera, en honor a San Felipe de Jesús. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 12 February 2013
 



People at the plaza. Villa de Álvarez, Colima, México: photo by Emigdio Salgado (Millo Salgado), 14 February 2012