Clipmarks | bignosemousie's clips

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: I decided last week that I would like to live more generously. I find that I clutch things (my money, my time, my love) too closely to my breast, and this is from fear. My fear cripples my joy.

I am going to uncage my joy.

Clip Source: artfiles.art.com

Clip Source: www.wikihow.com

Being generous begins with treating each person as though they have already achieved the potential for greatness that is in every one of us. It is in essence a sincere desire to make others' lives easier or more pleasant.

Extend this thoughtfulness to strangers, even if all you do is smile and say hello, or let them on to the highway in front of you.

Clip Source: changing-personal-habits.suite101.com

Generosity, it seems, brings more happiness than selfish indulgence. Giving just a few dollars or a few minutes to someone else may help you live longer, be happier, and be healthier.

"You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give." ~ Winston Churchill

Clip Source: maymay.net

The thing about being strong is that being strong means not getting what you want or what you need and yet being okay anyway.

When I was young, my father would regularly tell me to be generous. The thing about being generous is that it makes it easier to be strong.

That’s really a very smart thing to teach a child.

Tags: on being generous

The Butterfly Effect

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:01:29 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

IN JULY LAST YEAR, a butterfly landed on my shoulder while I was taking a break from my office for a few minutes one afternoon to talk business with a colleague. I was sure the butterfly would soon fly off.

After half an hour or so, with my new friend still perched on me, I decided that I should have a picture taken to record the

butterfly's remarkable arrival out of nowhere.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

At 19th and M, with the butterfly on my shoulder, I hailed a cab. I immediately asked the driver to put up the windows so the butterfly wouldn't fly out.

Gina immediately pronounced the butterfly a reincarnation. It was someone from a past life who had come to visit. "He's trying to tell you something," she said.

"It's telling you to slow down. Come home earlier. Pay attention to what's really important in life."

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

So began a period of more than a month during which Poppy appeared 25 times.

Tags: slow down and notice what is important

Rosenberg on Glenn Beck

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:58:23 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: ROSENBERG: I’m not saying that we are definitely going to see the total fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38 and 39 prophecy in our lifetime.

GLENN: But you are not not saying it, either.

ROSENBERG: You couldn’t rule it out based on the trajectory which seems to be accelerating. Look at it. That Bible prophecy that we’re talking about, Glenn, talks about Russia coming from the north with its allies to attack Israel. Now, take out a map. Go to Moscow. Go straight south and before you get to Israel, where do you drive right through? Georgia.

Transcript.

Clip Source: flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com

GLENN:

Do you, first of all, believe that Israel will attack Iran before Bush leaves office?

ROSENBERG: Well, I wouldn’t want to predict it, but the signs are looking increasingly like that’s what the Israelis are preparing for.

GLENN: Putin thinks that he can control? ?I really think he’s looking at the Middle East as fuel. Not only control of oil but I mean actual fuel. He will use the Middle East to get his, you know, his dirty dealings done, but he really believes that he can control these crazies in the Middle East, doesn’t he?

ROSENBERG: He does. Putin, like many in the West, fundamentally misunderstands the nature and threat of the evil that is this particular regime in Iran.

I distinguish the regime from the Iranian people, 70% of whom roughly have turned away from Islam and actually are quite pro American.

Now, Putin, I think because he is not a religious person and because he comes from a communist atheist system, just doesn’t understand that Ahmadinejad and Khomeini are crazy.

Tags: rosenberg, beck, epicenter, politics

Wear it and share it

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:13:36 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: $2 from your purchase will support a worthwhile charitable cause.

Clip Source: www.sparkletees.biz

"How can we say there is peace when so many go hungry?" — Oscar Arias Sanchez

Our peace sign tee supports America's Second Harvest to help feed our country's hungry*. Available in black and white.

So everyone has a place to call home on earth.

Purchasing an earth tee will help Habitat for Humanity house those in need*. Available in brown.

Enlightening young minds, one book at a time.

Proceeds from Sparkle's dragonfly tee will help enlighten our country's children through the Reach Out and Read Foundation*. Available in white.

Hope blooms... wear a flower, grow a dream.

When you purchase a flower tee, you'll help grow a dream for a child through the Make-a-Wish Foundation*. Available in tangerine and leaf.

Tags: every little bit helps

Humanity in print

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:28:00 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: How do you feel about books?

I find them very companionable. They are excellent teachers and fine friends. A great book on a rainy day, curled up in a far away place...

Clip Source: www.bluewillowbookshop.com

"Books are the carriers of civilization. . . They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print."

- Barbara W. Tuchman

Clip Source: www.fromoldbooks.org

Tags: every book is a passport to another's life

Unchain your dogs

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:38:23 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: Lots of information at the source. Photos that will break your heart.

Unchain your dog, please.

Clip Source: www.unchainyourdog.org

What is meant by "chaining" or "tethering" dogs?

These terms refer to the practice of fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake, usually in the owner's backyard, as a means of keeping the animal under control. These terms do not refer to the periods when an animal is walked on a leash.

Why is tethering dogs inhumane?

Dogs are naturally social beings who thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. In the wild, dogs and wolves live, eat, sleep, and hunt with a family of other canines. Dogs are genetically determined to live in a group.

A chained animal is caught in a vicious cycle; frustrated by long periods of boredom and social isolation, he becomes a neurotic shell of his former self—further deterring human interaction and kindness. In the end, the helpless dog can only suffer the frustration of watching the world go by in isolation—a cruel fate for what is by nature a highly social animal.

Tags: animals need love and protection

Baconify your bourbon

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:46:07 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: Bourbon purists, avert your eyes.

But really, everything is better with bacon, even bourbon.

Clip Source: www.theagitator.com

What you’ll need: A 750 ml bottle of good bourbon.

To make it, cook up 3-4 strips of bacon. Retain a fluid ounce or so of the rendered fat, letting it cool but not solidify. Discard of the bacon in the manner of your choosing (I’m sure you’ll think of something). Pour the fat and bourbon into a glass jar and let it sit to taste, a matter of hours if the bacon is strong enough.

Now you’ve got a very greasy looking jar of bourbon. To make it ungreasy, put it in the freezer over night. The fat will conveniently congeal for easy straining, and you can clean it up even further with a run through a coffee filter.

If all goes well, your bourbon will now taste and smell distinctively like your bacon. Drink it neat, or try out PDT’s breakfasty Benton’s Old-Fashioned, a version of which is pictured above:

2 oz bacon bourbon
1/4 oz maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir with ice and pour into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a twist of orange. Enjoy.

Tags: bacon, bourbon, recipe, thanks jason

Cupcake pop ideas

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:12:59 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: From Bakerella. These are such cute ideas! I have to say that the original recipe for cake balls (red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting) is so delicious. I have made cake balls several times now and next time I will have to try these cake pops and/or cupcake bites (no stick).

The blue cake is an amazing color.

Clip Source: bakerella.blogspot.com

help kids go back to school

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:40:27 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: These cupcake pops are cute!

Clip Source: howaboutorange.blogspot.com

Ms. Bakerella emailed me about an opportunity to help kids living in poverty get ready for school. Nickelodeon is taking back-to-school suggestions for parents on their website at giveback.parentsconnect.com. For every back-to-school tip or recipe you give, they'll make a donation to Feed the Children’s Kid's School Basics Program. You can leave tips on their site through September 25th. And if you leave a tip, be sure to say so in the comments on this post at Bakerella, because you could win a Nickelodeon prize pack.

Tags: charity, tips

Piecing your life together

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:37:02 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: by Mary White, a Texas quilter

Clip Source: annamariahorner.blogspot.com

You can't always change things. Sometimes you don't have no control over the way things go. Hail ruins the crops, fire burns you out. And then you're just given so much to work with in a life and you have to do the best you can with what you got. That's what piecing is. The materials is passed on to you or is all you can afford to buy....that's just what's given to you. Your fate. But the way you put them together is your business."

Tags: make every piece count

Big Russ & Me

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:47:28 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: I just started reading this and I really like it so far.

Anyone else read it? What are your thoughts?

Clip Source: www.bigrussandme.com

Tags: tim russert, books, reading

Called to help the poor

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:58:44 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: Do you hear God's message about caring for the poor in your church? I can't say I hear it very often.

Clip Source: www.shaungroves.com

Last night at my gig I said something about how we’re saved to bring the kingdom to earth, to fix what’s broken, and part of that is caring for the poor. I pointed out that 80% of American pastors say they’ve never spoken about the poor, though there are more verses in the bible concerning the poor than there are concerning heaven and hell - and there’s no shortage of talk about those two places.

Ezekiel tells us it’s the Spirit of God who moves us to obey God’s commands and so anyone with the Spirit in them is not immovably opposed to the will of God or the words written down under the guidance of the Spirit. The task for the person speaking about the poor (pastor, blogger or whatever) is to frame the discussion spiritually, not politically or in purely humanitarian or financial terms - to illustrate persuasively that caring for the poor is deeply inseparably Christian.

The girl in the window

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:04:21 GMT

clipped by: bignosemousie
clipper's remarks: This story is upsetting. If you can stomach it, be sure to watch the video and listen to the audio that accompanies this story.

Clip Source: www.tampabay.com

Just before noon on July 13, 2005, a Plant City police car pulled up outside that shattered window. Two officers went into the house — and one stumbled back out.

"Unbelievable," she told Holste. "The worst I've ever seen."

"It sounded like you were walking on eggshells. You couldn't take a step without crunching German cockroaches," the detective said. "They were in the lights, in the furniture. Even inside the freezer. The freezer!"

He turned the handle on a door, which opened into a space the size of a walk-in closet. He squinted in the dark.

At his feet, something stirred.

Her name, her mother had said, was Danielle. She was almost 7 years old.

She couldn't tell anyone what had happened, what was wrong, what hurt.

Danielle's was "the most outrageous case of neglect I've ever seen."

Tags: neglect, hope