Happy Thursday, dear friends. Today, I am reminded of patience and faith. In the late spring, my sister-in-law gave me some tomato seedlings. It was past time to get them into the garden, so I simply put them in flower pots on the front steps. Friends told me I would never get tomatoes on them because it was too late in the season, but I had faith in these little plants.
Yesterday, as I was raking leaves away from the steps, I saw a huge red tomato on the vine. I am so glad I did not listen to the advice of others and give up on these little plants, or I would have missed out on a delicious treat.
I think Mother Nature was trying to remind me that we all need patience and faith in our lives as we flow with this changing new world.
Today we focus briefly on political changes in the US, post mid-term elections, and then we bounce around from there.
American voters show their anger over the economy and change the balance of government.
Economic indicators show a strengthening of the US economy, but most politicians are the first to admit the average American does not reap the benefits of this strength. The median income is currently thousands of dollars less than it was in 2007 before the recession that ended a few years ago.
A majority of voters came out in anger demanding a change in the current direction of the government. This created a shift in power at the state and federal level. Republicans control the Senate for the first time in Obama’s presidency, and increased their majority in the House of Representatives.
The president vowed to work with the Republican majority in a news conference today, to address key issues such as trade and taxes. He also called a meeting on November 7th with key congressional leaders, to begin working in a bipartisan manner. While the power may have shifted to a different political party, it will be interesting to see if the voice of the public will be heeded through this transition.
Voters are often asked to take exit polls as they leave polling locations. Researchers can take the pulse of the voting population in this fashion. Exit polls, conducted yesterday, indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the current government, especially among conservative voters. Those aligned with democrats were more likely to indicate that things were going well. The following link shows the questions asked of voters and analyzes the results.
Voting Exit Polls for US on CNN
Additional US states vote to legalize marijuana.
The national campaign for the legalization of marijuana received a boost during the elections, as 3 of the 4 referendums on state ballots were passed. Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia approved certain forms of legalized recreational use of the plant. A measure to legalize medicinal marijuana in Florida failed to receive the 60% votes needed to become law.
Marijuana is classified as a schedule 1 narcotic, along with heroin, though the classification is under review by the FDA and DEA. It is illegal at the federal level, but the US Justice Department indicated that they would not interfere with state level laws governing its use. Advocates for legalization of this highly useful medicinal herb say the move would benefit the government and people on many fronts.
Marijuana Use Legalized With Oregon, Alaska, D.C. Votes by Alison Vekshin on Bloomberg News
Moving on…
The Million Masks March hits the UK.
The Million Masks March, organized by the Anonymous group, held protests in the UK, Canada, Cambodia, America, Chile, and Mexico today. The protests received little main stream media coverage.
Protestors in the UK came out in force to tell the government that they want significant change related to austerity and infringement of personal rights. Celebrity activist Russel Brand was present at the London demonstration, and the protestors chanted “one solution, revolution” as they passed by Buckingham Palace.
The BBC facilities were in “lock-down,” and surrounded by riot police as the demonstrators unfolded outside the facility.
Thousands take part in London ‘Guy Fawkes’ protest on BBC News
This article shares more background about the demonstrations along with additional photographs.
14 Stunning Images From The Million Mask March on Huffington Post UK
A Florida man was arrested for feeding the homeless.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, recently passed a city-wide ordinance that forbids the feeding of homeless people in public places. Arnold Abbott, a 90-year old advocate for the homeless, went ahead and fed them anyway. He now faces fines and jail time for his generous actions, along with a number of other individuals.
Abbott is used to court challenges related to his care for the homeless in the area, as he sued the city in 1999 for banning him from feeding the homeless on the beach. He won the case, and he feels that he has a good chance in overcoming this challenge as well.
He believes it is his duty to help those in need to the best of his ability, even if it means going up against the local government in a court of law.
90-year-old Florida man arrested for feeding the homeless by Bob Norman on khon2 news
And finally…
A rare lion fell down a well and gets some help from humans.
The people of Amrapur village, India, received a shock this week when a rare Asiatic lion fell down a well. The Asiatic lion is an endangered species, with only about 400 individuals recorded to be living in the area in a 2010 audit.
The cat fell down the 60-foot well, which was supposed to be covered with a protective rim to stop such accidents. Villagers called the local forest service, who came and rescued the big cat using rope lassos. The animal was taken to a local sanctuary to check for injuries, before being released into the wild.
Lion falls in to 60-foot-deep well in India, gets rescued by local authorities on Yahoo Canada News
That’s the news for today. Have a joyful day. I hope to see you back here tomorrow for more news.
Be Well. Be Joy. Be Love!
Alex