Once again, this blogger named Kendall Pearson puts his words to a wonderful purpose. Because I am busy with a project please have a look at his beautiful post. Peace and unity!
Boko Haram Terrorism Continues
29 Nov
Boko Haram terrorism continues in northern Nigeria. The group responsible for kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls in the spring has struck again. On Friday, terrorists bombed a mosque in Kano killing 81 people at prayer. The Boko Haram group is suspected.
The bomb attack on a mosque in Nigeria killed dozens. Why would Islamic militants bomb a mosque? Because they say the Muslims in Nigeria are corrupt. One former governor preaches for people to stand up against these kidnappers, and strike back against this group that enslaves girls. Fridays attack was not the first, last year 40 worshipers were killed in Borno.
Boko Haram is now into suicide bombings, even using females to attack a market, which killed 21 people. A bus station suicide bomber killed 40 people. The Nigerian Army was successful in removing Boko Haram within two weeks after they had claimed Mubi, a large town of 200,000. Civilian vigilantes supported the army, which struggles with leadership, mutinies, and desertion.
It was world-wide news last spring, when the militant group terrorized a community by burning a school, and then kidnapping almost 300 school age children, whom were never to be seen again. One escaped by jumping off the vehicle, driven by the Boko Haram, after they burned out her school. They took the girls deep into the forest. She didn’t know if she would make it, but she did.
Her name is Mercy Paul, and now, she is in America. Ann Curry, from NBC has interviewed the 18 year old with her therapist present. She has made it all the way to a school in Oregon on the west coast, where she is learning English, and hopes to be a doctor. She relayed in the interview that Boko Haram instructed, if they ran, they would kill them. Mercy decided to jump and so did dozens of others.
Boko Haram wants northern Nigeria to be Islamic and keep President Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Christian, from controlling them. He plans to run for re-election in February. Some Nigerian officials believe Boko Haram is like the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
Britian may send military trainers to assist Nigerians and their government to help push back, contain, or restrict these Boko Haram militants. Though, the Nigerian Army did retake the town of Mubi, some feel they are outclassed in operations, capacity, and motivation.
More than 2,500 people, military and civilians, have been killed this year alone. The Red Cross says a million people have fled their homes due to this violence. Many have gone to Cameroon and set up small villages or camps. Economic advancement has been stalled, tourists are not coming, while parks and merchants suffer monetary losses.
But more than 200 schoolgirls remain missing. Boko Haram made a video and blasts that the girls are now Islam converts, being sold to men. The world responded with slogans of bring back our girls, especially, social medias. Michelle Obama has been videotaped in support of the outrage against these tragedies in Nigeria.
A scholarship has been set up at the United States boarding school, where, Mercy Paul, now attends classes and lives. She misses friends, still over there, and prays for their release. She prays for the captors, too, and that they give in to what is right and release the kidnapped girls.
While the struggle continues in Nigeria, and the missing schoolgirls remain unaccounted for, one girl has made it out. It is expected a few of her friends will join her in Oregon. This is good news, and maybe ‘hope’ for the ones still missing.
By Kim Troike
Share this:
The Sydney Opera House
11 Nov
Architecture and structural design innovation, set upon a peninsula in the Sydney Harbor, make this 1973 landmark ‘The Sydney Opera House’ an endearing masterpiece for Australians and the world.
This “world class performing arts centre” began in 1957, when a jury of international selectors or judges found a Danish architect named, Jorn Utzon, to design this iconic building. Utzon had limited experience and was not from Australia. The competition brought much worldwide interest, but it was his bold designs that won without any engineering advice for the structure.
Utzon, the designer, believed the engineering and construction processes would not present a problem, if the same principles of architecture in building boats were applied.
Sixteen years later and ten times the cost, it officially opened with Queen Elizabeth II present to mark the event.
The location on Bennelong Point is remarkable. It is the focal point in Sydney Harbor and is immediately recognizable with massive white shells, shaped like sails atop a red granite base. This beautiful vision of elegance and grandeur escapes no one on its world stage surrounded by water on three sides. The Sydney Opera House is not only for opera as it operates with respect to concerts, theater productions, plays, operas and a recording studio. First class performers showcase talents reflective of the leading visionary who designed it.
Tiles catch light all day long, in fact over one million of them in white. The tiles were designed with a transparent gloss, so as not too show dirt. They are durable, weather resistant, and non-corrosive.
The interior design began in 1966 by Todd, Hall and Littlemore. Utzon’s desire was that it be festive with color. Murals, curtains, color, red velvet seats were commissioned. Birch ribbing panels are suspended and match the floor while black is the color of the ceiling.
German, French, Australian, and the Danish assisted in the interior with the curtain tapestry reflecting Australia’s cultural life. These took three years alone and were made in Aubusson, France from Australian wool. Curtain of the Sun and Curtain of the Moon are two mural pieces contained in The House.
Recently, upgrades were made and one of those has been in the going green category. This has enabled them to reduce the overall electrical cost by 75 percent.
The upcoming schedule for The Sydney Opera House presents as follows:
Tori Amos; November 11th, and 12th,
Ben Folds Orchestra Experience; November 14th and 15th,
Chelsea Handler; November 20th,
Ian Anderson; December 11th and 12th,
Damon Abarn Music at the House; December 15th and 16th,
and Violent Femmes; December 29th.
This is Part One of a Two Part Post on The Sydney Opera House. Click the Sydney Opera House link below for tickets.
By Kim Troike
Google Picture Credits
YouTubeVideo Credit
Share this:
Oktoberfest Celebration
21 Sep
Welcome to my blog theivorytide … I’m so glad you made it here. This is my newest blog (I have a troika) and this is where the storybook party is.
I’ve got some pictures, music videos and a whole lotta happiness from me as I’ve hit a milestone. I’ll share that at the end. Enjoy!!
Take a break from the football game, cooking, or whatever you are doing and feel the festivities of fall; right here in cyber-land where imagination and laughter rule!
Did you know that women play football? Somewhere down the line I heard that but have never seen it and I’ve been to more than a ladies share of games. I’m married to a Fantasy Football Freak!
Wait this lady means business; I love it!! Also check out the abs on number five … I just haven’t figured out why they are playing in bikinis. I am in to promoting women in their endeavors and I applaud these football revelers. They are doing something I don’t think I could do nor would want to.
Seriously, what’s a party without some beverages? I’ve ordered up a few beers! They make so many flavors this time of the year but that’s another blog post with all those festivals around the world. These ladies look healthy and happy! Beer is good for you, did you know that? It has B vitamins and grains and hops, but, of course, too much of a good thing is not good for anyone.
George Washington made beer and so have many a dad’s with kits given to them as Christmas presents. Have you ever smelled beer cooking in your basement? It wafts up the staircase and permeates the house with a very distinct odor; it smells like burning sugar cane with bread baking in the oven. Then you have to wait for weeks to taste the final product or you could go to the store and buy an Oktoberfest Ale.
And now for the music … I almost feel like I’m in Germany; do you?
Here is a treat. This will make you smile and might even have you clapping with the folks in this video. I don’t understand one word, tell me if you do.
I had to watch that video twice; I just love those girls on roller blades playing the accordion! Are you smiling yet? Do you wonder why I invited you?
I invited you to a party to celebrate my novel, my finishing of that novel. I have the final edit to do but the imagination, the grueling writing process and the storyline are finished. I have an artist painting a cover and once again I’ve sent a query letter. This dream I had began years ago and after I began trekking forward, well, I had to make it the best I could.
If all goes well we should see a late Fall release either self-published or by an agent/publisher. The title is “Into the Vines” and 120-130K words. This post isn’t about the contents of my book. Nope. This is the celebration, the fireworks, well, the fun anyway!!
I have skipped the main course and went right for the dessert … it’s apple pie. We certainly do celebrate events with food and drink~then we have to watch our weight or rather work-out. I just had a thought, in cyberspace we don’t eat but we do sit. Maybe with these new watches (ie: phones) it will make us more portable, moving again. 🙂
Thank you so much for coming and looking around. Please leave a comment and tell me what you love about Fall, your favorite food or drink, or possibly what book you are currently reading. I love winking around the net. A favorite person of mine from my youth used to wink at me and I loved it. Maybe it’s the attention! 😉
I leave you with the Harvest Moon …
If you have the time here’s a Neil Young video from the Ryman Theatre in Nashville with him singing The Harvest Moon. It’s an absolute piece of perfection with distilling words of simplicity.
by Kim Troike
Google Images Credit
YouTube Video Credit
Share this:
Hilary Clinton Urges Unified United Nations Response
14 Sep
Hilary Clinton met with an audience on Friday after discussions about women and their empowerment in the world. The Ford Foundation held a two day conference and Hilary Rodham Clinton, former Secretary of State, was a speaker. She is also a potential candidate for the presidency of the United States of America in 2016. The faces of women and girls in times of normalcy are showcased here in the following photos.
Clinton is deeply concerned about women and girls where terrorists are concerned and wants the United Nations to do even more on a global scale. She sees that terrorists and especially two groups, Boko Haram and Islamic Militants are a direct threat to women and girls in Africa and parts of Iraq and Syria. These groups use women by kidnapping and other violent acts of war.
She would like to see a tracking mechanism done very early maybe through the Security Council and more unification from the United Nations. The kidnapping of over 200 Nigerian school girls, which occurred in March, is still ongoing and some governments have not shown a serious enough concern, she feels. Areas of concern for Hilary Clinton are of course previous war zones and terrorist sites such as North Africa, Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan and now areas across Africa where Boko Haram threatens.
Syria and Iraq have come to the forefront with ISIS, or ISIL, spreading fear through evil acts put across social media. Now a third victim has fallen for all the world to see, meanwhile three families have seen their worst nightmare realized from sheer horror at what ‘monsters’ can do. This is now the world where our young children grow up. An adult can not even process the terror, let alone the mind of someone who trusts them to know right from wrong. Unfortunately they get to “see” the evil and it becomes a part of their day. Women and girls are vulnerable in places where they have yet to realize true freedoms because they are female.
John Kerry, Secretary of State, says the United States is at war with the ISIS group. He urged everyone to not get “war fever” over the terminology as it can be confusing. He further states in an interview with CBS “Face the Nation” that just like we oppose and fight al Qaeda, we will do the same to ISIS. Saturday a video was released by ISIS with its terrorists’ act against an aid worker from Britain.
Humanitarian aid workers and journalists who’ve been captured are now being killed by terrorists; they show these monstrous actions for the world to see. John Kerry has met with leaders in Egypt to hopefully build a coalition against ISIS. This is Obama’s strategy and they feel Egypt could have an influence over the region. Egypt has 25% of the Arab people. Kerry says the ideology of ISIS has “nothing to do with Islam.” The message of hate is not what a Muslim is about.
Kerry will attend a conference in Paris on Monday in which the international community will address the Iraq crisis. In addition the UN will discuss this crisis also. Retired General John Allen and Deputy Secretary of State Brett McGurk have been appointed to lead this US coalition against ISIS. Women and girls are at risk around the globe and Hilary Clinton urges the United Nations to be more broad and encompass this growing conflict, that puts women at risk during times of crisis, terror and war.
Opinion by Kim Troike
Google Images Credit
Share this:
Ebola Outbreak Getting Relief
10 SepThe Gates Foundation announced Wednesday they would commit $50 million for increased efforts to stop the Ebola virus. The Ebola outbreak is getting relief in the form of money, which will be spent upon ways to contain and deliver care for the people who need it.
Specifically, they want to contain and prevent further transmission in West Africa. The CEO, Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellman held a Twitter chat @12:30 pm Eastern time on Wednesday after the big announcement. The Twitter chat is in text form and can be viewed on a mobile device. Her initials SDH followed her thoughts, representing directives from the Gates Foundation. The doctors background is in Research and Development from Genentech and she also was a chancellor from The University of California at San Francisco.
The priority is set on patient care with supplies and help to those on the forefront in the field. She wants faster development of drugs and vaccines, while working closely with emergency response teams and respective care centers. Over all this sounds like increased coordination as well for the recent Ebola outbreak..
The Gates Foundation works closely with others like Unicef, CDC and WHO.
One should know that transmission occurs by inadequate protection from a person who has symptoms. Before an individual presents with symptoms they are NOT contagious.
The Unites States has committed $22 million which will fund a 25 bed treatment center and supplies, though not personnel. The U.S. has contributed a $100 million over all.
Atlanta once again was the recipient of a patient with the Ebola virus. The male American citizen came from Sierra Leone and will be treated at Emory University Hospital. An ambulance ride by air transported him though his name has not yet been released. The total death toll is now known to be 2,300 cases from Ebola, with 4,200 known cases reported.
The deadly Ebola virus causes fevers and internal bleeding in organs. Humans can catch the virus through body fluids of other infected humans or animals. More trained staff are needed in the way of doctors, nurses and physician assistants. USAID has a website for people to sign up to go work there. The UN has said when a treatment center opens it floods with patients right away. Fear is spreading along with the real threat.
Stephen Doe, a street artist has made a mural to help communicate the symptoms to his people in Monrovia, the capitol of Liberia. Simple and to the point it showcases these symptoms of Ebola using pictures. The wall is painted red like blood.
Scientists are not sure but suspect fruit bats have infected monkeys and other rodents, which then migrated and brought Ebola from Central Africa to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The Democratic Republic of the Congo likely contains the most animals infected with the Ebola virus. An Oxford study is predicting more Ebola outbreaks in 15 other countries surrounding The Democratic Republic of the Congo. For now, the Ebola outbreak due to the deadly virus is getting relief from organizations and foundations from around the globe and the hope is for containment of new cases with proper care of the people sickened by Ebola.
By Kim Troike
Google Images Credit
Share this:
Ebola Spread Fires Need For International Intervention
3 Sep
Places like airports have now become screening areas for the deadly virus called Ebola. These places are called temperature checks where a infrared gun is used to calculate if you are allowed to leave the country. This sounds like a movie from ten years ago. However, this is the current Ebola spread in West Africa, which is firing a need for international intervention.
West Africa is the source of this apparent Ebola epidemic. What is an epidemic? An epidemic is a disease that goes beyond the community and shows up in other places. SARS, sudden acute respiratory syndrome killed 800 people in 2003. A pandemic is much more severe, think HIV/AIDS or the Spanish Influenza which globally killed 40-50 million. The CDC and World Health Organizations will be extremely busy in attempts to contain and control further spread of a potentially fatal virus.
The countries affected are Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, along with a smaller outbreak and different strain in the Congo. South Africa has closed their borders to citizens from known Ebola outbreaks. Even airlines are not going into these places. Three airlines; Air France, Brussels Air and British Airways halted trips to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Though fever is an early sign, it can take up to three weeks for symptoms to become apparent with one week or so being average. The temperature, a simple little vital sign, usually taken with a blood pressure and pulse by a nurse is now an important factor for travel in addition to questions about flu-like symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, pain or malaise.
Doctors Without Borders and The United Nations are taking steps and making an appeal for international intervention to address West Africa’s Ebola outbreak. The secretary general of the UN, Jan Eliasson, informed her colleagues that this is “a test to international solidarity.”
Fifteen hundred deaths and more than 3,500 cases in West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone confirm this epidemic. The Democratic Republic of Congo has 53 cases alone.
Dr. Margaret Chan, The World Health Organization head believes it will get worse and that it has been underestimated. The virus was first detected back in 1976. Dr. Joanne Liu, the president of Doctors Without Borders told The United Nations we need to set up mobile laboratories and hospitals for treatment.
The CDC Director, Dr. Tom Frieden, warns of the Ebola epidemic worsening. Another American doctor caring for pregnant women and their deliveries has contracted Ebola in Monrovia. He isolated himself and is recovering.
Twenty five million dollars has been awarded in a contract form for Mapp Bio-pharmaceutical Inc.; The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services want the experimental Ebola drug availability expedited.
Recently, the experimental drug was given to two American patients which were treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Both patients were isolated, given the drug and cared for by intensively trained personnel. Both have recovered and gone home to their respective families. One of the patients has described the virus and accompanying symptoms as though he might die.
Opinion by Kim Troike
Google Images
Share this:
Ebola
20 Aug
It has been reported on August 19th, that 1200 people have succumbed and lost their lives in West Africa, including parts of Liberia, Guinea, Liberia and mainly Sierra Leone due to Ebola. A photographer named John Moore went to Monrovia to find out how bad this apparent outbreak really is. John Moore is a photojournalist from New York.
John Moore points out that this is not an air borne virus but one of bodily fluid exchange or transmission. He describes burial teams, workers wearing protective equipment or gear going around to homes collecting the infected or dead victims. Clinics and hospitals are closed due to infected workers and fear set by the public.
Doctors Without Borders has a new treatment place and John has gone out on a trip with them to photograph a village. Unicef is also in place going from residence to residence, urging ways how people can stay well. It’s all about education. Mr. Moore has a driver who has helped other journalist before him. There is another large individual accompanying them when they are out searching to ward off any threats.
Mr. Moore goes on to say that people here are not in a panic mode, which is what you would think they’d be. Numerous poor people mistrust their government and think it is all made up. This only makes the situation worse.
He did go out to a home after a woman was reportedly dead from Ebola. First she was tested and then they arrived after confirmation. With permission from the family he took pictures so it could be shown to the world what indeed is happening in West Africa. Apparently, some families went to get their family members out after receiving no treatment; they later died. Security forces came Wednesday and are keeping people from leaving or entering Monrovia, which is in Liberia.
Ebola is a very deadly disease. There is no treatment or cure and family members who care for the sick and then bury them when they die, can contract the virus by touching these tainted bodily fluids.
The World Health Organization has these guidelines about Ebola. The Ebola virus has a death rate close to 90%, humans and chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys can be affected. The very first time it was reported was back in 1976 along the river Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and an area in Sudan.
Fruit bats could be the host and contagion. Like HIV or AIDS, infection occurs from bodily fluid secretions such as stool, urine, saliva or semen but also linens or needles used on patients could contaminate others.
WHO suggests treatment of the infected should be in a hospital where trained personnel, doctors and nurses can properly care for this often fatal illness called Ebola.
Signs and symptoms of this severe illness are fever, weakness, sore throat, headache and even muscle pain. Then it progresses to diarrhea, rash, vomiting, and follows up by kidney and liver impairment. Bleeding on the inside and outside of the body can occur. Treatment of Ebola includes re-hydration and supportive care. Some recover and many do not; isolation is key. A vaccine is being developed for Ebola, which so far has killed over 1200 people in West Africa.
By Kim Troike
Google Images Credit
Share this:
Margaret Mitchell House
16 Aug
The Margaret Mitchell House is the museum where the Pulitzer Prize winning author wrote her famous novel ‘Gone With the Wind’ back in the 1920’s. Published and released on June 10th, 1936 after years of typing this epic historical romance, it later became a film produced by David O. Selznick. It is considered the king of movies and plays out at three hours and 58 minutes on screen.
Margaret Mitchell was married at the time and wrote Sunday articles for The Atlanta Journal Sunday Magazine. You can view an article at the museum from the paper. When one visits “The Dump” as she affectionately called her place shared with her husband, John Marsh in the 1920’s, she created the most read novel of all time. Margaret typed out each page from a typewriter onto paper relentlessly over more than four years.
I recently toured this museum with my home schooled daughter and I learned about the author behind the best-selling novel. Prepare to step back in time, all the way to the 1920’s. Things were more simple back then and this museum showcases just how she lived, where she wrote tirelessly on and on in this small flat. She was recovering from an accident, therefore was home-bound. Her husband encouraged her to write the book. The museum guide was especially thorough and gave you a sense, a feel, of how she accomplished this overwhelming fete.
This is the 75th anniversary of Margaret Mitchell’s novel and the Premiere of ‘Gone With the Wind‘ which was held on December 15th, 1939 in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta held a parade back then for the premiere and its cast of stars. A visitor to the museum can view movie clips of this enormous event and also the painting of Vivien Leigh ‘Scarlett’ in the beautiful blue velvet dress which adorned the library wall in the movie. The painting contained the actual tear where Clark Gable ‘Rhett’ threw a glass in a fit.
The film was presented at the 12th Academy Awards in 1940 and obtained ten Oscars after 13 nominations. Hattie McDaniel became the 1st African American to win an Oscar, however, due to segregation at the time she was not allowed to attend certain events held in the gala and excitement of this movie. With a budget of 3.85 million and produced by MGM and Selznick International Pictures, it took in 390 million at the box office. For all the adjustments it remains the ‘most successful film in box office history.’ Selznick had purchased the Pulitzer Prize winning novel one month after it was published for 50,000 dollars but it took over three years to secure actors and cut the script down for viewing.
The Margaret Mitchell House which is run by The Atlanta History Center is also on the National Register of Historic Places. What people don’t know and I certainly did not is the philanthropic work that Margaret contributed to after her success allowed her to do this. She gave back to Atlanta by giving financial support to the Family Welfare Society, The Florence Crittenton Home for Girls and volunteered with the American Red Cross.
She gave money for medical students tuition in scholarship form to Morehouse College and contributed to the Grady Memorial Hospital for African Americans to have access to an emergency room. This woman and author, Margaret Mitchell, contributed vastly through her creativity and spirit to the world.
By Caroline Clemens
~picture credits to Google Images
Margaret Mitchell House Tour
ivorytidepub 