First Snows in October

NEARLY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

In the flurry of preparations for voting and now for attending the Continental Congress 2009, I have neglected Nearly Wordless Wednesday terribly. This week, mother nature, courtesy of El Nino-Southern Oscillation has provided first snows, and early to boot!

The very first snowfall that actually stuck to the ground in Sedillo this year came on Monday morning.

Here, tree stump and century plant alike are decorated by the dusting of snow.

On our moring walk, we could see the house from Los Pecos Loop, likewise sprinkled on top with a powdering of the white stuff. The trees show a very light frosting as well.

It was all gone by mid-morning Monday, and the sun warmed the porch, but a chill north wind was the harbinger of the cold front to come.

Tuesday dawned clear and sunny, but a steady west wind carried the cold front through, and by late afternoon, the unsettled clouds came across the Sandia Front. Last night, we saw a ring around the moon.

Very early this morning, I took Lily out --poor thing had an unsettled stomach--and I saw a glow of white over the mountains, as the lights of Albuquerque reflected off the descending clouds. The snow started a few hours later, when we rose to begin the day. By 7:30 AM, the driveway was covered. The Engineering Geek barely got the truck up the drive. He drove the car into town, as it has new snow tires on the drive wheels.

As the large white flakes fell, quickly covering Sedillo with three inches of snow, the Boychick got a few rounds off as he practiced against the target with his new rifle.

The rule is no school until the snowplow comes. I have yet to see it. The county was probably caught unprepared this time, even though we heard yesterday that we could have snow. Our road to "Ye Olde 66" is both windy and has some relatively steep grades (5-6%) and is treacherous in the unplowed state. And Albuquerque drivers are problematic in the rain and positively dangerous in the snow. Mixed snow and rain does not bear even thinking about down there!

The clouds lifted a bit mid-morning, and currently we are seeing sprinkles of snow, but we expect to get two more inches of new snow by evening, bringing our total to 5 inches.

And now the question of the hour: Whatever happened to Global Warming?

This is a very early first significant snowstorm for our laditude even given our altitude!

The climate change gurus rely too heavily on climate models which currently cannot even predict the cyclical El Nino (ENSO), which changes our weather every four years approximately. In addition, those models do not take into account sunspot activity, which has a great influence on global weather.

Geologists tend to see things differently, taking into account what we know from paleoclimate reconstructions. The recent warming was a tiny blip on the graph of global temperature, lasting less than half the time of the Medieval Warm Period. And the Medieval Warm Period saw temperatures that were significantly higher than those we saw during the recent warming. The recent warming may not be climate change at all, and certainly does not of itself portend global disaster. Rather, it may be part and parcel of the North American 50-year drought cycle, or another oscillation in the Little Ice Age. It is almost certainly an affect of solar cycles as well.

In the meantime, break out the skis! Looks like we'll have a good snowpack this year.

The Days are Packed with Constitutional Reading

Between getting ready physically for the Continental Congress, the work I have before me still as a BSA Troop Popcorn Kernel, and my part in getting Retake Congress up and running, time for housework and time for reading has become scarce.

Fortunately, three years ago when we moved to this house, I began the habit of an early morning reading period after walking the dogs and eating breakfast, which I am determined to keep, regardless of how busy the days become. This habit is now serving me well, and I am getting more reading time in before walking the dogs, as well. This is because the Engineering Geek rises at 5:45, and now it is too dark to walk the dogs until a little after 7 AM. Meaning that I have been dressing between 6:30 and 7:00, which gives me an additional 45 minutes reading time in bed. (Alas, that will change with the move back to Standard time next week).

Last night, as we took the dogs for their last walk, we felt a chill damp wind from the south, and smelled the moisture in the air, as clouds covered the sky from south to north. Sure enough, this morning saw the first snowfall of the season for Sedillo.


My reading time was therefore spend in the flickering warmth of the Pellet Stove, with a light snow falling outside. It is now mostly gone, but certainly was a promise of things to come.


At the moment, I am reading up on primary texts for the Continental Congress. This weekend, while spending the night at the synagogue to help with Interfaith Hospitality Network, I began reading The Anti-Federalist Papers. I had read The Federalist (in part) in high school, and all through in college (nearly 30 years ago, now), but I had never read The Anti-Federalist. However, a more complete understanding of the intentions and debates of the Constitutional Covention of 1786-87 being important to the mission of the upcoming Continental Congress, I am now reading it, and then I will go back and read The Federalist.


Today, I finished the first chapter, an introduction that discusses the issues confronting the Constitutional Covention of 1787 and the thought of the time regarding the power of government, as well as a desciption of the federalists and anti-federalists and their differences. Although the federalists won that debate, the anti-federalists almost did, and their handiwork is also present in the United States Constitution, and particularly in the first ten amendments.


What caught my attention this morning was that the anti-federalists were particularly concerned with keeping representation as locally oriented as possible. They believed that the representatives should resemble the people they represent, that they should not become a class unto themselves, far removed from the people. Therefore, they argued that representative government should be "inextricably tied to something like a town meeting directness" and that the districts ought to be "a town, ward or region conscious of its own particular identity, rather than being some amorphous, arbitrary geographic entity." (p. 17).


The first statement made me think about how Sarah Palin was treated by the media elite, the people who really have elected our government of late. Although I disagreed with many of her arguments, their attack contained precious few arguments; rather they were a series of smears based on Palin's very resemblance of the people she wished to represent. What the elite press, which panders to the Washington elite rather than informing the people, seemed to resent about Palin was her status as a member of the hoi polloi and her truly American sense of life.


Secondly, I thought about how our federal government has increasingly been concentrating power at the top, and has sought to take that power to the level of a "new world order" (and in the proposed Copenhagen Climate Treaty, a new world government) that is completely the opposite of the ideals and ideas of our Founders. This has been particularly true of the present administration, but previous such from Lyndon Johnson (at least) on cannot be exempted from this criticism. Our Founders, and the anti-federalists in particular, must be spinning in their graves!


In the conclusive paragraphs to Chapter 1, I read the following, which requires a great deal of pondering given today's political bread and circuses inside the Beltway:


" . . . (T)he anti-federalists thought the goal of the American Revolution was to end the ancient equation of power where arrogant, oppresive and depraved rulers on the one side produced subservience and a gradual erosion of the self-respect, capacities, and virtue of the the people on the other side. The result was an increasing corruption and degeneracy in both rulers and ruled. Unless this cycle could be broken, Independence would mean little more than the exchange of one tyranny for another. The aspirations of the federalists for commercial growth, westward expansion, increased national power, and effective world diplomacy, were in some ways attractive and worthy, but they also fitted and ominous and all-too-familiar pattern of "great, splendid . . . and consolidated government" and "Universal Empire" that the American Revolution had been fought to eradicate. Many anti-federalists were unwilling to abandon this ideal and the hope that the New World might be a different and better place to live." (All quotes from: Ketchem, R. (1986). The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates: The Clashes and the Compromises That Gave Birth to Our Form of Government. New American Library, New York.)


Given the truth of this statement, it seems that certain stated goals of the party in power (mostly honored in the breach) and other such put forth by the opposition party (also so honored), seem to be anti-federalist, it is the libertarianism that is arising out of R3volution, that is wholly and consistently anti-federalist.


Very interesting reading indeed.

Continental Congress: A Fundraising Appeal

Yesterday evening, I finally received the long awaited Memo about Continental Congress. This memo began with a more comprehensive charge for the Congress, and also discussed arrangements for the Delegates and what we must do to prepare.

Because fundraising goals have not been met for the National We the People Foundation, some changes have been made. The Congress will meet for 11 days instead of 14, and those delegates who are able have been asked to step and pay for their own room and board in order that all delegates can be accomodated and the live-streaming (very expensive!) can still take place. Each state has also been asked to raise funds to assist their own delegations.

After a quick conference with the Engineering Geek and the Boychick, I sent the following e-mail back to JW at National:

"I received the Memo just a few minutes ago. After a family discussion in which everyone pledged to a much reduced Hanukkah and Secular New Year celebration this year, we determined that we will step up to pay for my lodging and meals for the Continental Congress.
We feel this is a very appropriate use of the funds that would generally go towards our celebration. After all, the Maccabees lived in the fields and the swamps of Judea and the Galil while fighting for the freedom to retain their identity and their obligation to the Eternal. They fought both spiritually and with arms in order to repel the tyranny of the Syrian King Antiochus, who called himself "Epiphanes", a god-made-manifest. Our battle will be, with the blessings of the Eternal, only a spiritual one at the Continental Congress. Our family wishes to make this small payment to restore the Constitution and the Republic and to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our children from generation to generation.

Yours in Liberty, . . ."

And it was signed by me.


There is indeed a part of all of us that wants to camp out in the snow in tents at Valley Forge, but the commitment we are being asked to make is much less . . . rigorous.

The New Mexico Delegation is raising funds through New Mexico Patriot Alliance. Our website will soon have a fundraising option so that people can contribute there.

And, yes, this is an appeal to all my readers, especially those from New Mexico.

Are you a Patriot? Prove it.

Every dollar counts toward helping us represent the Patriots of New Mexico at the Continental Congress. Click on the link and make your contribution. A small donation from every patriot will do wonders towards our travel (by car caravan) and food and lodging during the Congress.

Thanks in advance.

Continental Congress: New Mexico Delegation

The 2009 Continental Congress will be convened in St. Charles, Illinois, on November 8, 2009 and will deliberate until November 21, 2009.

Each of these United States will send a delegation of three citizens who are not politicians to this historic endevor.

From the Purpose, Format and Outcomes Document:

"The purpose of Continental Congress 2009 is to determine a legal and peaceful means to stop the violations of The Constitution of The United States of America and to restore Constitutional governance."

and

"Specifically, the delegates will consider:

• The framework, content and meaning of the Constitution as originally intended;


• The provisions provided for The People to hold the government accountable to the Constitution;


• Violations to the Constitution and their devastating impacts on America and her people and resources;


• The Record of Petitions for Redress, (over fourteen years), directed to federal and state government for violations to the Constitution and government’s response;


• The Vision for America if we followed it – what would our Nation/life be like if we were wholly obedient to the Guarantees of the Constitution rather than the whims and assurances of elected officials;


• A template for transition to Constitutional governance in America;


• Peaceful and legal means through which a critical mass of The People can
  push back and stop the violations and restore Constitutional obedience in America.
  The upcoming Continental Congress is being called by The People, not to amend our Constitution, but to defend the one we now have. This is not a Constitutional Convention. "

I am honored to have been elected as one of three delegates to the Continental Congress from New Mexico. Our delegation consists of two men and one woman (me) who have been politically active in the past, and who share knowledge of and concern for the current state of the United States, in which our Constitutional form of government is honored mainly in the breech. There are daily violations of our Constitutional rights by the politicians in our federal government, and daily violations of the limits the Constitution placed on our federal government.

The three of us are:

David Batcheller: State Chair of the Consitution Party, author and Chair of New Mexico Patriot Alliance;

Michael Lunnon: Organizing Chair of the McKinley County Republican Party, small businessman, and Constitution activist;

and me,

Elisheva Levin: Libertarian, scholar, scientist, President of Common Sense, Inc. (the parent company of Retake Congress), and Treasurer of New Mexico Patriot Alliance.

Our alternate delegate and member of the We the People Administrative Team (IT) is:

Raymond Powell: libertarian, producer of Revolution Broadcasting, organizer of the R3volution March, and CEO of Retake Congress; in short, Professional Revolutionary.

More information about us can be found at the New Mexico State Page, including contact information, should citizens want to discuss their concerns and ideas about the restoration of the Constitution and the Republic of the United States.

The outcomes of the Continental Congress are not predetermined, but as Dr. Edwin Viera, noted Constitutional scholar who also consults with the Committees of Safety , wrote:

“The delegates must be open to a full, fair, and frank discussion of all credible points of view, with the goal of creating a documentary and testimonial record of indisputable facts from which to draw legal conclusions and upon the basis of which to propose responsible courses of political action. The delegates should be bound by no rigid prior agenda that they must follow, no preconceived conclusions to which they must agree, and no unalterable plans for future actions that they must adopt. All decisions of the “Continental Congress” as a whole must be made by open and recorded roll-call votes.” (Memo to the Jekyll Island Project, May 2009).

I am very excited to be part of the New Mexico delegation to the Continental Congress. At the same time I recognize that by doing so, all of us; the delegates and the administrative team and scholars-in-residence, are identifying ourselves for the world to see as part of the Freedom Movement. This is a great honor and a great responsibility. By making this stand we are pledging to each other to uphold the Constitution of the United States with "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

May the Eternal Author of Liberty give us the strength and wisdom to uphold this pledge for the honor of the Republic.

Nothing Gold Can Stay: Technicolor Autumn

NEARLY WORDLESS SPECIAL

This was supposed to be posted Wednesday . . .

This year, the weather has been perfect for the production of those technicolor leaves that break you heart when the sun hits them. We had rains followed by an early first snowfall on the heights. And that was followed by two frosts just at the freezing point, and in turn those blue and golden days of Indian summer with their cold nights and warm days.

45. Populus fremontii var. wislezenii (Rio Grande Cottonwood). This one is positively glowing near Gordon's, a long a wash destined to become part of San Pedro Creek on North New Mexico 14. On the other side of the Sandia, down on the Rio Grande, these Cottonwoods are an indicator species of the Bosque--a cottonwood forest, also populated by New Mexico Olives and other trees. Up here in the high country, they are more sparse, and grow alongside stands of Aspen.





Scrub Oak (Quercus gambelii var.) at the edge of Sedillo Canyon in the upper meadow. This picture was taken Wednesday morning and by this morning the gold of them had become a deeper orange and brown, as scrub oak are wont to do. "Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold . . ." the poet Robert Frost wrote. "Nothing gold can stay." (I previously identified Gambel's Oak for One Hundred Species in 2007).

A river of gold in Tijeras Canyon: 46. Populus tremuloides (Aspen) and Rio Grande Cottonwood light up the folded and fractured rock of Tijeras Fault.

A curious mix of gree, gold, orange and brown on the scrub oak in the back yard against the backdrop of the Pinyon-Juniper woodland, punctuated by patches of orange oak. Fall in Sedillo.

Tremulous gold of a young Aspen, leaves shimmering in the wind, unmatched as yet by the nearby cottonwood in Tijeras Canyon, just outside the old Tijeras Land Grant.

No matter how busy, as we go to and from our duties, we are momentarily transfixed by the technicolor brilliance of the mountain trees against stark rock, the soft greens of the predominantly evergreen forests, and the deep blue of a New Mexico October sky.

But each turning leaf and tree reminds us that "nothing gold can stay." Winter is coming hard upon the heels of this year's fall glory. It is expected to be early and snowy here in the high country. Today the Engineering Geek and I enjoyed the colors on the way to the purchase of a woodburning fireplace insert to replace our propane fueled fireplace. Winter is coming seasonally and saecularly. With hard times ahead, we want to be as self-sufficient as possible.

Music for the R3volution

I've been busy this week . . . in spite of good intentions. We are getting Retake Congress off the ground, and that has required Fed Ex, conference calls and other work.

Meanwhile as we wait for the final results of the Continental Congress Elections, the coordinators have been discussing music for the R3volution.

Here are some of the suggestions from our discussion:

Fish: State of Mind




An Oldie but Goodie, Buffalo Springfield: For What It's Worth




Jordan Page, a rising star in the Campaign for Liberty, and one of my favorites:
The Pendulum (from Liberty Unleashed)




And my own recomendation and another favorite, Muse: Uprising (from The Resistance)



Enjoy!

End of Sukkot: It Was All Good

This year, I seem to be talking about the Fall Holidays at the end of each. This has truly been an upside down year. I have been working very hard on New Mexico Patriot Alliance Retreat and the Continental Congress Elections. The Retreat was last weekend and the election took place over the past week for mail-in voting, and the in-person voting yesterday. So Sukkot, the Festival of the Ingathering Harvest, was also the first harvest of the NMPA efforts that began at Passover last March.



This Sukkot has also been cold and windy, foggy and even rainy! We did not get any snow, though, like we did last year. Between the retreat last week and the weather last week, we have not had much chance to enjoy our Sukkah this year.


On the first night of Sukkot, we did have the opportunity to spend time with a newlywed friend and his bride in our Sukkah. Last Sunday and Tuesday evening we had hurried dinners in the Sukkah (due to wind and weather), although the Boychick did not join us on Tuesday because he was sent home with the H1N1 flu.

This morning, the last day of the Festival (Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah), dawned foggy and very cool, and the Engineering Geek and I stayed in bed until after 7 AM for the first time in weeks and weeks. We took a long leisurely walk in the meadow and the woods. I took along my camera, and got some pictures: above is upper Sedillo Canyon in fog, and below, the EG with Lily and Shayna. (Shayna thought I wanted to play as she does when I aim the camera in her direction).








Breakfast was inside, as it was still foggy and windy, but later when the fog burned off and the wind died down, we were able to sit in the Sukkah. This year's Sukkah was very plain, but it was beautiful today in the sunshine.


We had a good Sukkot luncheon out there, Turkey Soup (from the Rosh Hashannah bird), fresh-baked French bread and butter, and sweet cider.








Of course we had a Lulov and Etrog (Arba Minim) for the holiday, pictured above on the table. We waved it everyday, as prescribed and sang songs from the Hallel (certain Psalms) as we did so.

But this afternoon, it was finally calm enough to take some pictures of the EG following the actual waving ritual. Today being Simchat Torah, we sang "Adonenu, Hoshianah" as well as about the Torah. We missed dancing with the Torah at the synagogue because of the Boychick's illness. So we made our own rejoicing here.

This afternoon we also went out and picked up my great buy of the year. I have been looking--for three years--for a sideboard that would blend with my Thomasville dining room, but that set is in the Louis Philipe style, which is not real popular right now. Yesterday, the Chem Geek Princess found a piece that would work at American Furniture. She was very excited when she pointed it out to me. And so was I. And I was even more excited about the price. It started at over $1300. But it was part of a set and the set had sold, so it was marked down to $799.99. But it also had some minor damage, and so was marked down further to $399.99. When I said I would buy it as it, the manager took another hundred bucks off, so this was a real steal!

It does not perfectly match my original set, but in the picture you can see it next to a dining room chair. It blends more beautifully than I had even imagined when I saw it at the store.

The Chem Geek Princess has always been good shopping Karma, but this is the best yet. I am really, really glad she is living in town and will still be there when she and her new husband move into their new home in December. I am glad for many reasons greater than the shopping Karma, but as you can see, yesterday was a lucky day for me!

All in all, this was one of the strangest High Holy day seasons I have ever had. But it was good, in a very different way. It's all good, as one of my friends likes to remind me. I need to be reminded. So I'll say it again. It is all good.