Cinn Daz Blog

Dragon Socks

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We recently returned from our annual vending trip in the Colorado mountains. This year we set up our booth in a  beautiful valley. It rained about an hour a day (it always rains in August) but the rains kept the temperatures pleasantly cool.

This was the first time we offered socks including dragon, cat, bat & skull patterns. The response was great. Look for more decorative socks at our other shows and on the web in time.

Now time for my digressions.

Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico a lot of oil is still lurking. The good news about the still capped well continues, but the oil already leaked and not yet picked up will continue to slowly poison this environment. I just hope that the American people will not too quickly forget. A complete cleanup  may take years and a lot of money. Do we have the will to stick to a long-term clean up program?

Religious freedom.

The controversy about allowing a mosque and Islamic center to be built two blocks away from the 9-11 site  shows just how prejudiced and ignorant many people are. We brag about religious freedom, but when it comes to practicing it with an unpopular minority, too many politicians eagerly cave in to those who do not understand the issue. Either we practice religious freedom for all, or we change the US constitution.

The victims of 9-11 deserve our compassion and sympathy. However, we do not ease their pain by allowing them to torpedo our basic right to religious freedom. Too many people do not like any religion, except their own. Some don’t want Catholics, Jews,  Buddhists, Hindus or Pagans building churches or temples in their neighborhood. The issue is always the same. Either we allow religious freedom for all religions or we give up pretending to be better than other nations and cultures. Too many people have already died in religious wars. Wars fought for empire and wealth make more sense. Avoiding wars, whenever possible, make the most sense.

        Green Man Pennant

We are getting ready for a vending trip to Colorado. New merchandise has been ordered  & packing will seriously begin early next week. New items include tops & caftans from Karuna Arts, Celtic & Gothic jewelry from Alchemy, lots of dragon & Green Man trinket & jewelry boxes, plus many dragon, Green Man & other pennants, & banners. Of course, we will have a large selection of sarongs and  colorful, light-weight tops made from them.

Now that takes care of business, so I can digress into other subjects.  I along with many others anxiously watched the integrity tests BP performed on its “temporary”well  cap last weekend. Now they need to complete the relief well’s connection with the damaged well. Until the damaged well is plugged with with tons of heavy drilling mud, the leak will not be permanently stopped.

Then it will be time to pause and consider the damage that the Bush administration’s policy of unrestricted drilling has caused. Republicans say that Bush’s policies should no longer be blamed for major problems with the economy, oil leaks and the national deficit. In truth, you can not undo eight years of Bush with one & a half years of Obama. Maybe toward the end of Obama’s second term, blaming Bush for what’s wrong will  no longer apply.

As for the Tea Party, I believe it is populated with many white racists. Part of the Tea Party popularity is its unstated (but implied) goal of taking back the country for the white people. I’ve lived in small mostly white towns for the  majority of my adult life and know what is too often said in private conversations. Every bad stereotype of minorities is accepted as fact without any  questions. Do any of these people actually look at objective academic  studies? No, they just remember a couple of examples supporting their racial stereotypes and endlessly repeat them.

The really is that the United States in the future will have a minority-majority population just as New Mexico has today. Life is still good here. Maybe this small poor  rural state can help teach the rest of the country to reject racism.

Enough said.

Jim Heyser

We are resting here in Albuquerque during July. Our next event is a large festival in Colorado in early August. We will increase our stock for this one, of course. Warm decorative socks are one item we hope to add.

Every day I feel that we are moving into new territory, as the Gulf oil spill just keeps chugging on. In time, the wind & currents will spread it far & wide. Will life, as we know it, cease? I don’t think so. Future weather forecasts may include tar ball counts on the once pristine beaches along with temperatures & hurricane warnings. We humans are so adaptable in accepting the problems we create.

Two things I believe are certain. First , some endangered species may go extinct in their natural environments. A few of their members may be kept alive in zoos & aquariums.

Second, BP will never pay the full costs of the damage caused by their oil spill. They would go broke, if they really tried. Instead, the US taxpayers will pay a portion of the true costs. A degraded environment may be a lasting legacy. Some beach communities may just let the tar balls accumulate, because they do not have the funds to shovel them off the beaches every day.

I just hope that we never get to the point where  stepping on tar balls does not bother us.

Sarongs and Tops Made from Sarongs

June 21 is  the summer solstice, when the sun is at its peak height and power in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a time to relax, avoid the heat, and enjoy life.

Cinnamon Dazzle has always been a seasonal business with most of our vending done outdoors from April to October. Sarongs (see above picture) have been a specialty with us for several years. They are so versatile - going from instant clothing (they can be wrapped and draped in over 100 ways) to curtains, wall hangings, and table cloths.

Sarongs are a perfect symbol of summer.

This summer is different. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has not only damaged wetlands, turtles, pelicans, and the local fishing industry. It has also chased vacationers away from perfectly clean Gulf beaches, and ruined the economy is towns that depend on these summer tourists.

I find it ironic that many people, who say that they wish they could go and clean oil off of turtles and pelicans (if only they didn’t have to work) , are reluctant to spend their vacations on a Gulf beach.  Sure tar balls may wash ashore, but only an insane local community would  allow them to accumulate.

Live your lives without a fear of oil spills. Mean while, remember that it was the loose regulatory policies of the Bush administration allowed BP to recklessly drill. Obama inherited this mess and knows that only stricter drilling regulations (that are actually enforced) will prevent future major oil leaks.

 

  Isis Pennant

In a couple of days we will load our travel trailer and head for the  SCA’s Outlandish at Torrance County Park about 30 miles east of our home in Albuquerque. We will vend, of course, and socialize  too. I like this event because I have no responsibilities except as a vendor. The park is a flat piece of land with scattered pinons and junipers. These small trees offer little protection from the winds which often blow. In spite of this we should have sunny weather, and no snow (or rain??), I hope.

The Gulf of Mexico oil leak may soon qualify as America’s greatest environmental disaster. President Obama is likely to get blamed , because BP can not stop the oil leak. The risky deep water drilling, and lack of a credible BP plan to stop the leak are a direct result of the Bush administration’s policy of giving big oil whatever it wanted.

I don’t remember the risks of deep sea drilling being discussed in the 2004 presidental election. At that time, drilling in any location that a drop of oil might be found was the Republican mantra. It was called energy independence. Saying I told you so is not enough. People need to learn that big oil and big business have only one goal. That is to maximize profits.  IF BP goes bankrupt over this spill, I say that would be the best punishment. Still that fate will not stop the leak.

In fairness, other forms of energy production also involve environmental and safety risks.  Coal mine disasters are one consequence of our dependence on coal. Nuclear power plants can leak radioactive wastes, and beside, no one wants  such a plant in their neighborhood. Are wind and solar energy completely safe? Those who oppose these new technologies point out that birds are killed by spinning turbines The manufacture of photovoltaic cells uses harsh chemicals.

I think that proper placement of the wind turbines will cut down on the bird kill.  Solar power technologies are rapidly evolving and a proper disposal of the resulting manufacturing wastes is a reasonable solution.

Still oil and gas are likely to be a part of our energy production for a long time. We need to strictly control their production to make it safe for humans and the environment.

I and many other people have commented and posted pics of this year’s Beltane (May Day celebration) held in the East Mountains near Albuquerque.

It is the third time in 11 years that it snowed at Beltane, but the first time it snowed on all 3 days of the event. I am proud of the other vendors. We all just zipped up our booths when the weather turned bad, and reopened when the snow stopped. The last day it just snowed nonstop, so we broke down our booths in a heavy wet snow. Keeping all our goods dry was almost impossible.

The next event for me and many other merchants is the SCA  al-Barran’s Outlandish held May 26- 31 at Torrence County Park east of Albuquerque. Medieval and Renaissance dress are the norm. I hope people like the hand made period tunics that we will be selling.

Politics is a few words. The new Arizona immigration law is just plain racist. Most of the violence attributed to all immigrants is in fact due to a relatively small  number of drug dealers fighting among themselves to control a lucrative drug trade. Native born Americans love their illegal drugs, and so  the fight is on to exclusively supply them to us.

Cinnamon Dazzle now offers basic Renaissance tunics. These are hand made in the USA from 100% cotton gauze and come in small, medium and X-Large sizes. Colors include burgundy (shown here), green and white. These tops make a perfect item for SCA, Pagan, Renaissance and other festive events. Both men and women can wear them. Cost is $30 each.

2012 and Independents

I’m not really in a ranting mood, but here are two topics that deserve further analysis.

2012 is supposed to be the end of the world according to an ancient Mayan calendar. Too many New Age believers (including some Pagans) are taking this prediction as gospel truth. I don’t.  Some day this earth may get smacked by a large asteroid. The resulting chaos will end life as we know it. By why should this happen in 2012? The paths of asteroids, meteors, and other cosmic debris can be predicted years ahead. No scientists have said that 2012 is a year to worry more about cosmic debris.

I remember 2000, a year for which may dire predictions were made. Nothing happened! Now the same New Age crowd is telling us to worry again. I will not.

Independents

An increasing percent of the US population defines itself as politically independent.  That means they are equally likely to vote for Republicans as Democrats. Apparently they ignore opposing ideologies of the two major political parties.

The Republicans (if you believe their rhetoric, which I do) want to return the US to the laissez faire capitalism of the 19th century. Government would not be involved in health care, social security, welfare, unemployment benefits, etc.

The Democrats are timidly  promoting a form of social democracy that is found in much of Europe.  The government’s role as the provider of social services would be greatly expanded. This is not socialism. Capitalism thrives in these countries, but it has to comply with more government regulations. Most of these protect the rights of the workers employed by privately owned industries.

Endless conflicts result  when elected the Republicans and Democrats each stand on their opposing principles. There are few elected independents, so that any attempt to increase the role of governmental services is automatically opposed by all elected Republicans. When Republicans had the majority, attempts were made to privatize social security. Fortunately, the Democrats successfully opposed this reduction.

I say that the governmental stalemate is made worse by Independents who think that by voting for the best “man or woman”, regardless of party,  they are improving our  politics. It is the ideology espoused by the candidate, not their charming personality, smile, or appearance that matters.

Pick your side and fight for it I say. Enough for now

I am actually surprised that some form of health care reform passed. That it was so close shows how entrenched big business (and many small businesses) are in the political process. Eventually 32 million more people will be insured. That leave 16 million uninsured & covering them is the next goal.

In Albuquerque, we have just had a sensational story about a young woman who stabbed to death a man along a trail in the foothills. She told that police that she was a Wiccan and had used a “Wicccan dagger” to kill the man, who she feared  was going to rape her.  No body in the local Pagan community (which includes Wiccans and other variation of modern Paganism) knew her.

She claimed that they were heading to a Wiccan Beltane celebration. However, this religious holiday happens around May 1, not March 22. A lot of us wrote to the various media and objected to the portrayal of this as a ritual murder.

Gradually the police agreed. Now this is just another murder case and the woman’s claim of self-defense will be considered on their own merits.  The police chief acknowledged that no connection between the Wiccan religion and this woman could  be established.

Two positive outcomes are good reason for being thankful at this time of year.

Today, March 22, begins the countdown for Beltane (a May Day celebration). Ordering new clothing, jewelry, sarongs, statues, etc is on my mind. We traditionally vend at a large private May Day celebration held  in the East Mountains near Albuquerque. In a few weeks we will have our Beltane stock in house and available for sale.

Also, I am somewhat amazed that a health care bill actually passed congress. As I understand it, people such as my step-son Eliot will qualify for government subsidized health insurance in a couple of years. He has been busy starting his own business for the past couple of years. Paying for his own health insurance was not a realistic option. A young healthy adult may spend $300 or more a month for a minimal policy. An adult with any prior medical problems may spend double that or not qualify at all.

This health bill is far from perfect, but it is a start for the US to join the rest of the developed world where universal health  insurance is a right taken for granted. Let’s hope that this becomes the case here within the next ten years.  All the conservatives who now take the government’s Medicare and Social Security for granted may well assume that government-sponsored health insurance is a basic right as well.

Finally we are getting out to vend just as the weather warms. This Saturday and Sunday, we will be set up in the lobby at the Sandia Courtyard Hotel near Eubank and I-40 (just behind the Owl Cafe on Eubank).

The event is Oritenal Potpourri , a series of belly dance workshops given by experienced teachers. The vending are is free! Hope to see some local folks there.

Jump into Spring with our colorful tops, sarongs and decorative jewelry.

On the political front, I am seeing ads again against universal health care that are sponsored by the insurance industry. The ads try to make people worry about a trillion spent over ten years on health care. Never mind the we are spending a trillion a year on foreign wars now! Reducing the latter expense would free up money for something more useful, such as health care.

Jim Heyser

Cinnamon Dazzle