Happy Holidays – Open Discussion

Caterpillars, moths, butterflies, and all creatures great and small,

Happy holidays to everyone!

1632025-bigthumbnailMay you have peace and joy in your heart and household. May your every step leave a footprint of love and kindness, and may your life be filled with blessings.

I’m taking a break from posting articles but will still no doubt post comments.   With personal business and the holidays, it means more to do in less time to get it done.   You can post your thoughts, news, and whatever is on your mind on this thread. It will probably run until after the 25th.

For blogging, it’s been a good and bad year. It was very hard keeping up with deaths.   There are so many killed by gun violence, and by law enforcement, that I can barely memorize one name before there is another name. The media reports in so many bits and pieces that I seldom blog about specific cases unless it is announced that an investigation has completed, or a person charged.

There are some hard working bloggers who do keep up with each little bit, and I generally tweet out links to their posts. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @XenaBb7. My account is protected; not because I tweet out confidential information or great secrets of the universe, but as a good-faith attempt to prevent internet extortionists from engaging me. There’s too much to do; too much to learn; too much to discuss here, so I choose to avoid Twitter drama as much as possible.

Keeping with our tradition, we’re looking to cover trials in the coming year. If anyone has ideas, throw them our way.

By the way, I heard from Kindheart who said for me to tell everyone “hello.” She has not been online in months and does not plan to return. Keep her in your thoughts and if you’re a praying person, in your prayers.

See you in the comment section.

 

Posted on 12/21/2015, in open discussion and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink. 58 Comments.

  1. crustyolemothman

    May each and every one of you here on this blog have a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!!! 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    • yahtzeebutterfly

      Wishing all you in our wonderful community here a joyous holiday!

      Kindheart, I have been missing you here. Please know that you will be in my prayers. *hugs* Knowing your love for cats, this is for you:

      Liked by 4 people

    • yahtzeebutterfly

      Mothman, my friend, may you have a great Christmas and New Year, too!

      Liked by 4 people

    • Good seeing you Mothman! It’s good seeing you smile. Thank you for bringing that smile to my face. Happy Holidays.

      Like

  2. NavyDad0007

    Merry Christmas Everybody! 🙂 Hopefully the New Year Will Bring Peace & Justice To all

    Liked by 4 people

  3. Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year
    🎅🎄🍭❄⛄

    Liked by 3 people

  4. “There are so many killed by gun violence, and by law enforcement, that I can barely memorize one name before there is another name. The media reports in so many bits and pieces”

    Me too, and it bothers me..

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hey Mindyme!
      It can be overwhelming. The bits and pieces can also be overwhelming because to keep up with situations via blog, it might require 3 blogs the same day. I’m also finding that Youtube is not what it used to be. The news sources present videos on their sites that cannot be embedded on Word Press. Some of the news channels eventually post their vids on Youtube, but it can be days after the actual “news.”

      Like

  5. Happy Holidays everyone! Please tell Kindheart we miss her.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. First of all………Merry Christmas & The Best New Year to everyone here. What social media warriors all of you are. This is a great place to be and express one’s self.

    You are absolutely correct on the gun violence. I find it unfathomable in this day and age, when as a society, we are supposed to be more civilized and evolved than ever yet there are those who feel carrying a gun is the answer………or a pre-emptive strike solves their issues or sends a message.

    But I have faith that those here and site’s like it will continue and eventually prevail. After all, we have God on our side.

    PEACE & LOVE to all…………….

    From me & my family to all of you

    Liked by 2 people

  7. The Mall of America in Bloomington, MN has filed for a temporary restraining order asking the court to order Black Lives Matter protesters not to protest in the mall. A ruling is expected on Dec. 22nd.

    http://www.kare11.com/story/news/2015/12/21/moa-files-for-restraining-order-to-stop-protest/77699342/

    See the following link for a copy of the petition for a restraining order.
    https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2650360-MOA-Filed-Restraining-Order-Against-BLM.html

    Protesters say that they will conduct the protest, restraining order or not. It reminds me of private business owners who refused to serve Blacks in the South during Jim Crow, and how demonstrators were beaten and put in jail. Without those sacrifices, unconstitutional race discrimination might still openly exist in the South today.

    Like

    • I’m pretty sure this restraining order violates something in the Constitution..

      Liked by 1 person

      • Racer,
        No news yet on the judge’s decision. The Mall of America’s argument includes that it is private property. It’s private property that is open to the public so it seems that the right to peacefully assemble would apply. In a previous court decision when protesters were arrested for trespassing, the court took the side of Mall of America. Owners of private property who do not want people present have the option of contacting law enforcement to remove “trespassers.” That is what Mall of America did last year. So, I do not know if the court is willing to issue a restraining order to prevent “trespassing.”

        Like

        • Since it is “The Mall of America” I say let the Americans decide and I say…….let ’em express themselves………….after all, they are Americans and are in pursuit of “American Dreams”

          Liked by 1 person

    • yahtzeebutterfly

      Excerpt from article linked below:

      Three alleged leaders of Black Lives Matter have been prohibited by a judge’s order to join in a demonstration planned for Wednesday at the Mall of America.

      Hennepin County Judge Karen Janisch agreed to the mall’s request to a restraining order against Miski Noor, Michael McDowell and Kandace Montgomery to demonstrate on mall property, attached skyways or parking facilities.

      However, the judge denied any restraining order against the entity known as Blacks Lives Matter. And she denied other requests by the mall, including a demand that BLM post a message to stop people from attending Wednesday’s demonstration and tell them the event has been canceled.

      http://www.startribune.com/hennepin-county-judge-prohibits-for-alleged-leaders-of-black-lives-matter-from-demonstrationg-at-mall-of-america/363292701/

      Like

      • Thanks for the update. It’s a fair order. People who cannot be identified in a petition cannot exercise due process to defend themselves. It’s also not a good idea for courts to order people what to post on their social media.

        Like

  8. yahtzeebutterfly

    Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) weighed in on a Texas grand jury’s decision not to indict jailers or anyone from the county sheriff’s office in the death of Sandra Bland, a black woman who died while she was in police custody in July.

    Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, said that Bland would be alive if she were white.

    “Sandra Bland should not have died while in police custody. There’s no doubt in my mind that she, like too many African-Americans who die in police custody, would be alive today if she were a white woman,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “My thoughts are with her family and loved ones tonight. We need to reform a very broken criminal justice system.”

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-sandra-bland_56795c3ce4b0b958f657e13d

    Liked by 1 person

  9. More than 50 police officers involved in fatal shootings this year had previously fired their guns in deadly on-duty shootings, according to a Washington Post investigation.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/for-55-officers-involved-in-fatal-shootings-this-year-it-wasnt-their-first-time/2015/12/22/435cb680-9d04-11e5-a3c5-c77f2cc5a43c_story.html

    Like

    • Sooooooooooooooo, what you’re saying is……..”Repeat Offenders” ???

      Liked by 1 person

    • “For one officer, it was his forth.”

      Whaaaaaaaa………Does that cop think it’s a contest or something?? Let me set this straight.

      “To Protect AND To Serve”

      Do some of them think “To Shoot AND To Maim” is the motto now ??

      Like

  10. This just in and I haven’t read the entire news article but Virginia has voted that they will no longer recognize concealed carry permits from 25 or so states. I believe, if memory serves correctly, that is every, or almost every CCW state.

    It’s a move in the right direction……………..so………..Fogen, I guess that cancels that trip North eh??

    Liked by 2 people

  11. yahtzeebutterfly

    Santa’s Elves:

    Liked by 2 people

    • yahtzeebutterfly

      Schedule (according to an earlier CNN article) of the Baltimore Trials in 2016:

      January 6 – Ofc. Goodson

      January 25 – Sgt. White

      February 9 – Ofc. Miller

      February 22 – Ofc. Nero

      March 9 – Lt. Rice

      And now the retrial of Porter—

      June 13 – Ofc. Porter (Retrial)

      Like

  12. chuquestaquenumber1

    “If Sandra Bland were a white woman,she’d be alive today.” 2016 presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Chuquest,
      I’m looking for the video where the head-man in charge said that the officer arresting Sandra violated protocol. That might be very important in January when the court addresses whether her arrest was lawful.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Liked by 1 person

  14. yahtzeebutterfly

    Wishing all of you a bright, wonderful morning! 🙂

    So on we go
    His welfare is of my concern
    No burden is he to bear
    We’ll get there
    For I know
    He would not encumber me
    He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

    May this holiday season and the coming year be witness to the miracle of people being uplifted when hands reach out to touch them, making their world a better place.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Happy Holidays! Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year to each and every one of you and your family.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Happy Holidays Xena.. thank YOU for all that you share.. Enjoy your Holidays Love and Blessings..

    love Sue ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Merry Christmas everyone. You are the best. Hope you keep safe and inhale lots of peace and love.

    PS: Xena I have a question because I don’t wanna take credit for a Tweet that isn’t mine. Only a few are lol…. But when I copy and paste one of your Tweets do I include your name and date also? As in copy/paste the entire thing?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hey Shyloh! Merry Christmas to you too. Sorry for the late response.

      Just copy and paste the tweet. I don’t need credit.

      If it’s a tweet of a link from another blog, if you go to that blog and click the Twitter icon, you can tweet it directly from that blog and the blogger gets the “hit” to their blog. It’s an extra step but I know it will be greatly appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. yahtzeebutterfly

    Liked by 1 person

  19. yahtzeebutterfly


    Precious moment when souls are bathed in light

    Awakenings

    Possibilities

    Wonders

    Fullness

    Deep joy

    Connected Hearts

    Liked by 1 person

  20. yahtzeebutterfly

    ‘Baby Jane’ gets Christmas miracle after 44 years
    Jen Chevrin found her biological parents through social media and DNA

    Newborn Baby Jane who was found wrapped in two blankets on the doorstep of a hospital 1971 has now reunited with her family with the help of people on social media.

    Excerpt:

    This Christmas, Jen feels a glow of peace after a journey that began about 18 months ago. That’s when she turned to social media for answers about her family history.

    A Christmas Angel on a tree inside Jen Chervin’s home, Dec. 14, 2015 (KOIN)
    A Christmas Angel on a tree inside Jen Chervin’s home, Dec. 14, 2015 (KOIN)
    “From my story I had a woman reach out to me. She sent me a message and she said, ‘Do you have a search angel working with you?’ Well, what is a search angel?”

    There’s a network of people, she learned, “almost like this underground world,” who are willing to spend their own time and resources to help research and connect the dots.

    The rest of this moving story can be found at this link:
    http://koin.com/2015/12/25/baby-jane-gets-christmas-miracle-after-44-years/

    Like

  21. yahtzeebutterfly

    Beautiful story of a five-year-old boy who had his Christmas wish come true with the help of the Make-A-Wish foundation:

    http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/local/lancing-boy-s-christmas-wish-made-reality-1-7123013

    Like

  22. yahtzeebutterfly

    Tears welled up in my eyes as I read this moving story that took place Christmas Eve 1944.

    “Voices: An unforgettable Christmas act of kindness”
    8:02 p.m. EST December 25, 2015

    http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2015/12/25/voices-unforgettable-christmas-act-kindness/77904108/

    Like

  23. yahtzeebutterfly

    For those of you who are celebrating the first day of Kwanzaa:

    I wish all of you many blessings.

    Like

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