Blog Your Blessing : She Who Heals

Art Work from FirstPeople.us


She Who Heals


Mother, sing me a song
That will ease my pain,
Mend broken bones,
Bring wholeness again.

Catch my babies
When they are born,
Sing my death song,
Teach me how to mourn.

Show me the Medicine
Of the healing herbs,
The value of spirit,
The way I can serve.

Mother, heal my heart
So that I can see
The gifts of yours
That can live through me.

An American Indian Healing Prayer



The Blue Panther Experience is host for Blog Your Blessings Sunday. Visit the blog, grab the blogroll code, add it to your blog, and leave a comment on Blue Panther Experience. Next Sunday, post your blessing. We are of all faiths, creeds and races, so everyone is welcome. Join us on any Sunday as we blog our blessings.


Happy Thanksgiving

Find more great graphics at Pat's Web Graphics

GM and Nissan Worst Family-Friendly Advertisers

Parents Television Council (PTC) issued their annual ranking list of the best and worst advertisers. The PTC ranking is based upon the content of the shows that are sponsored by top companies. Emphasis, of course, is on family-friendly content rather than with sexual content, violence or profanity.

Number 1 and 2 on the worst list were GM and Nissan, respectively, followed by L'Oreal, Pepsi-Cola, GlaxoSmithKline, Reckitt Benckiser, Target, Kohl's, Verizon Communications and Toyota.

On the flip side, these companies sponsored the best shows (according to PTC) were: Coca-Cola, Clorox, Century 21 Real Estate, H&R Block, Ferrero; CVS Caremark, Whirlpool Corp., Hershey, State Farm and Hewlett-Packard.

Parents Television Council President Tim Winter had this to say:
The role that television advertisers play in determining what type of content comes into every home in America cannot be overstated. We commend the advertisers on our best list that have chosen to associate their hard-earned corporate brands with positive programming that the entire family can watch together.
Read the article: Parents Television Council Pillories GM and Nissan - Advertising Age - News

I agree with the rankings. There is nothing worse than watching a family-friendly show and have an off-color commercial break. If the advertisers realize they are hurting their bottom line, maybe they will rethink their sponsorships.

Do you agree or disagree with Parents Television Council? Would you rank advertisers differently?


Blog Your Blessing : Iroquois Thanksgiving

The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.

Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.

Now our minds are one.

The Fish

We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one.

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.

Now our minds are one.

The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

Closing Words

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

Now our minds are one.

Iroquois Thanksgiving Prayer
by Ohenton Kariwahtekwen



This is a Thanksgiving prayer from one of the First People. May we all learn to live in harmony with the Earth, to appreciate all the gifts of the Earth, to realize we are all connected to everyone and everthing else in the universe.

~ Happy Thanksgiving ~


The Blue Panther Experience is host for Blog Your Blessings Sunday. Visit the blog, grab the blogroll code, add it to your blog, and leave a comment on Blue Panther Experience. Next Sunday, post your blessing. We are of all faiths, creeds and races, so everyone is welcome. Join us on any Sunday as we blog our blessings.


DDOS Attacks More Sophisticated

The Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report, produced annually by Arbor Networks, found that distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks are becoming more powerful and sophisticated. The largest attacks can be over 40 gigabits, up from less than half a megabit over the last seven years. Internet attackers are now using networks of hijacked computers to overwhelm large web sites and corporate networks with DDOS attacks.

View the press release here: Arbor Networks Publishes Fourth Annual Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report | Arbor Networks

Or download the computer report here: Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report

Make sure your computer is secure with firewall, and protection against viruses, spybots and malware. Otherwise, YOUR computer could be used to perform part of a DDOS attack. Make sure you set the programs to automatically update or you should manually update them 2-3x a week.

I use ZoneAlarm, Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, and Norton Anti-Virus. These are direct links and the download are free of any type of trojans or tracking cookies.


The Faster the Speed - The Bigger the Mess

Warning: graphic wreck



This is the most effective advertisement for slowing teen drivers down on the road I have seen. It is extremely graphic, but for teens who are playing video games that show guts and blood and heads rolling, it will shock them.

If you do not have a reckless teenager driver, PLEASE skip watching this video. If you have a teen like mine that thinks going 110 mph is "fun," email it to him or her.


Blog Your Blessing : Solitude and Difficulty


. . . we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence,
in order to reach forth to the enchanted place
where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song--
but in this dance or in this song there are fulfilled
the most ancient rites of our conscience in the awareness of being human
and of believing in a common destiny.

Pablo Neruda Toward The Splendid City


This particular passage struck a chord with me. I have been so ill for so long that I have forgotten that it is our difficulties and our pain that makes us human. I await my turn to dance.


The Blue Panther Experience is host for Blog Your Blessings Sunday. Visit the blog, grab the blogroll code, add it to your blog, and leave a comment on Blue Panther Experience. Next Sunday, post your blessing. We are of all faiths, creeds and races, so everyone is welcome. Join us on any Sunday as we blog our blessings.


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Next Government Bailout?

Y! is trading for $10 per share. BigG is priced under $300. Do you think the next governmental bailout will involve search engines?

Scary thinking about it. Where does it stop? Everyday Americans are expected to pay their debt or to lose their cars and homes or to open themselves to lawsuits and garnishment of wages.

Federal agencies, automobile manufacturers, and quasi-governmental entities are bailed out by the government.

It is time for everyone, every agency, every company, every CEO and board, to become fiscally responsible for the actions of their respective organizations. There should be no more bailouts.

Perhaps if we held the bigwigs responsible and attached their personal fortunes to the health of their organizations, honesty in business would become the byword.

We can hope.

Veteran's Day and Remembrance Day

I am a baby boomer. I was born in peace time and enjoyed an uneventful childhood and adolescence. Then there was war. Most of the young men and many of the young women of my generation joined up with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines ... most of them flew or sailed out of my life ... forever. Some returned, weary and battle scarred to a country that did not appreciate their sacrifice. Today, November 11, 2008, I remember them.



For all veterans of all conflicts, whether alive and well or lying in the Fields of Flanders, inscribed in the Wall in Washington, or buried in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery:

God Bless You. Thank You. We Will Remember ...


Bloggers Unite : Refugees United

Bloggers Unite

From Hurricane Katrina we learned that not every person has a personal vehicle in which to evacuate, many people do not want to leave their home to be looted or flooded, governmental agencies charged with emergency management do not always fulfill their role, and race can be a factor in the level and timeliness of services provided.

The survivors of Katrina were scattered to the four winds, becoming refugees in their own country. No system to unite families or body identification existed. In fact, the website of Katrina Blankenship in Virgina was pressed into services as an ad hoc location service.

This scenario is not unique. It has been the experience of refugees the world over. Refugees United is a service that began to help refugees find their families. It is an anonymous service where family members of refugees and refugees may register and provide information that may help unite them. The service is free, not tied to any governmental entity and is open to refugees of any conflict.

This post is made in support of Bloggers Unite and Refugees United.


Blog Your Blessing : Common Good

God of all nations,
Father of the human family,
we give you thanks for the freedom we exercise
and the many blessings of democracy we enjoy
in these United States of America.

We ask for your protection and guidance
for all who devote themselves to the common good,
working for justice and peace at home and around the world.
We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants,
those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges,
those in the military and law enforcement.

Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord,
with a common purpose, dedication, and commitment
to achieve liberty and justice in the years ahead for all people,
and especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst.

Prayer After An Election, Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit


I felt moved to find and post this prayer. I have read such hate-filled comments and blog posts about our president-elect. I was in grade school when JFK was assasinated in Dallas and high school when RFK and MLK were taken out of this life. I truly believe life would be very different today in the USA if these leaders had lived out their natural lives. That is my wish for President-Elect Obama.


The Blue Panther Experience is host for Blog Your Blessings Sunday. Visit the blog, grab the blogroll code, add it to your blog, and leave a comment on Blue Panther Experience. Next Sunday, post your blessing. We are of all faiths, creeds and races, so everyone is welcome. Join us on Sunday as we blog our blessings.


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Contributors, Lurkers and Abstainers

According to a survey of web users in the USA, conducted by Rubicon Consulting, approximately 80 percent of the user generated content on the web, including comments and questions is produced by 9 percent of users.
  • 65 percent of web users contribute 20 percent of online content, contributing rarely.
  • 9 percent of web users are pure lurkers, never contributing any content.
  • 17 percent are community abstainers.
This survey is of great importance to marketers. You may download the entire survey in PDF here or read it online and comment or bookmark the different sections. Start with the Introduction here,

With money for advertising becoming tighter, marketers will want to leverage their use of social networks and take advantage of the 9 percent of Internet users who generate most of the online content, including product reviews.


The 44th President of the United States

The election of Barack Obama shows that the America of opportunity is not gone, that apathy has not destroyed our interest in how we are governed and political campaigns may be run with honor. This was the kindest, gentlest campaign that I can remember. The GOP got a little dirty the last few days, dragging up the preacher in Obama's church again. By then, the momentum that Obama had built was steaming on to the White House and nothing was stopping him.

I would also like to recognize how gracious John McCain was in his concession speech. He is a gentleman of honor and personal integrity, a true American hero. God bless him.

God Bless America!

Want More Links? More Readers?

MasterNewMedia.org has updated their listing of directories, RSSTop55 : Best Blog Directory And RSS Submission Sites.

If you are a new blogger or if it has been awhile since you spent some time submitting your blogs to directories, you should visit MasterNewMedia.org and get busy!

Before you start, make sure you have your blog keywords and a good blog description for each blog you plan to submit.

Make sure you pick the best category for blog. Most directories DO NOT want you to use the category as keyword.

If the directory requires a reciprocal link, make sure you put it on your blog immediately. Most directory sites have bots check your blog within hours for the link. You submission may be human approved in a few days, but the link needs to be up within hours.