Burning Bridges

Night Owl Poetry - Dorinda Duclos

Photo via wall.alphacoders.com Photo via wall.alphacoders.com

 Through the smoke
I can still see you
Standing
On the other side

Your eyes ablaze
With the fire
Set upon the bridge
That now severs us

No chance to cross
As flames touch the night
The fear of being scarred
Ever fuels the heat, until

There is nothing but ashes
Burning embers
Absent confessions
Wafting away in the breeze

©2014 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved

View original post

I punched the man who broke into my home – it came naturally | Gia Milinovich | Commentisfree | The Guardian

Having spent most of my life feeling vulnerable to being attacked by a man, I now feel a great sense of freedom. Being strong and knowing how to punch has brought me something I wish every woman could feel: for the first time in my life I feel like a full human being. I am not a victim. I am not afraid. I am not trying to take up as little space as possible. I am not trying to keep my head down. I’m not trying to stay out of the way. I have a strong voice, a confident gait and, frankly, very sexy, strong arms. I know I have an absolute right to be wherever I am without threat and I can defend that right physically if I need to.

All women should take some sort of self-defence training. Yes, of course, it would be nice to live in a world where women weren’t assaulted and where there was no chance of waking at 5am to find a strange man in your house. But until that day, it makes sense to learn how to handle yourself in threatening situations. Self-defence training teaches not only practical skills on how to strike an attacker, but awareness, assertiveness and how to enforce your boundaries. Most importantly, it will teach you something far more valuable: it is possible to live without the fog of fear.

via I punched the man who broke into my home – it came naturally | Gia Milinovich | Commentisfree | The Guardian.

Lady Gaga’s Ultimate Little Monster Experience Gets Even Bigger – Look to the Stars

Curated by Lady Gaga, this first of its kind special event gives the five-time Grammy winner’s most devoted fans a behind-the-scenes all-access meet and greet and VIP experience at the art RAVE ARTPOP Ball Tour. In addition to the dinner with Chef Art, fans will get an in-depth look at the inner workings of a Lady Gaga concert.

For more information, click here.

The Ultimate Little Monster Experience includes:

• Gourmet dinner, including appetizers and drinks, prepared by Chef Art Smith

• An individual meet and greet with Lady Gaga during dinner

• An individual photograph with Lady Gaga

• A backstage Haus of Gaga tour including the wardrobe area, stage access, sound booth and more

• Premium up close and personal concert seating with optimal stage viewing

The IfOnly experience comes with very limited availability and will continue in the following cities. Advanced purchase is required:

• July 11th: Chicago

• July 17th: Dallas

• July 21st: Los Angeles

• July 30th: Phoenix

• August 6th: Denver

via Lady Gaga’s Ultimate Little Monster Experience Gets Even Bigger – Look to the Stars.

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | My Beautiful and Lovely Kandahar

I love the fresh fruit, the dry fruit: pomegranates,

raisins, figs. I love the kohl, henna and bangles,

the clothing, pottery, flowers, gardens. I remember

the village girls fighting, reconciling. I remember

wedding parties for our dolls, paper ships rising

on rainwater. I miss the stories from grandmothers,

handmade embroidery, the early morning birdsong.

I miss collecting wheat, miss flavors. I have questions

for the enemies of my city. Why do you plant poppies

instead of pomegranates? Why do you draw blood

instead of henna on the hands of girls? Why do you

put chains instead of bangles on our wrists? Was it

our fault? Is that why we have these coffins? I want

back my happy homeland, my smiling faces. I want

God to erase all this violence, these screaming mothers,

this sky of smoke. I am not weak and small anymore.

I will not let them destroy my city. I have speech

for those who would silence speech. My heart burns

to explain these problems, this terror, with honesty.

People are scared of losing their fingers if they vote,

scared of losing their sons if they work in the government,

scared of going outside. The Taliban will throw acid

in our eyes. Don’t think that I don’t see. You grow

narcotics in the yard, make us busy with them, sick

and useless. How will you hide from judgment?

You will not. I will work hard for my city. I will love

you until the end of my life. My beautiful and lovely

Kandahar, I will not let the hearts inside our people break.

By Shogofa Az

via Afghan Women’s Writing Project | My Beautiful and Lovely Kandahar.

1,512 suspected cases of chikungunya in addition to 5,698 confirmed cases of dengue – Fides News Agency

According to the Ministry of Health in El Salvador (MINSAL) there are 1,512 suspected cases of chikungunya in the State of El Salvador. Most of them in the department of San Salvador, with a total of 1,365; of these, 1,035 have been located in Ayutuxtepeque, 138 in Mejicanos, 73 in Apopa and 41 in the capital of the department, and in Ciudad Delgado. San Vicente is another department where there have been 118 cases of the virus, and 88 in the municipality of San Ildefonso. MINSAL has stated that the age of the people most affected by the disease varies between 10 and 19, with 395 cases. Compared to the situation of dengue in the territory of El Salvador, the Ministry of Health reported a total of 16.937 suspected cases and 5,698 confirmed cases. Compared to the same period of 2013 there has been an increase of 101%. Of the confirmed cases, 97 were severe dengue, 56% more than last year. MINSAL reiterates its appeal to the people to work together to prevent the proliferation of the mosquito aedes aegypti, vector of chikungunya virus and dengue.

via 1,512 suspected cases of chikungunya in addition to 5,698 confirmed cases of dengue – Fides News Agency.

Fifty Indian nurses forced onto buses in Tikrit | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR

Nearly 50 Indian nurses from the southern state of Kerala have been taken against their will from a hospital in the militant-controlled city of Tikrit in Iraq, India’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

The nurses were forced to board buses, Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told reporters at a briefing, but he declined to say who had ordered them aboard or where they were headed.

Asked if the nurses had been kidnapped, Akbaruddin said: “In zones of conflict there is no free will. This is a situation where lives are at stake.”

A senior aide to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who spoke to the nurses Thursday, told Reuters that “militants” had forced the nurses to vacate the hospital and board two buses.

Tikrit, the birthplace of former President Saddam Hussein, has been the site of fierce fighting this week as Iraqi troops battle to regain control of the city from Al-Qaeda splinter group the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS).

via Fifty Indian nurses forced onto buses in Tikrit | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR.

Water supply key to outcome of conflicts in Iraq and Syria, experts warn | Environment | The Guardian

Armageddon on the horizon?

The Euphrates River, the Middle East’s second longest river, and the Tigris, have historically been at the centre of conflict. In the 1980s, Saddam Hussein drained 90% of the vast Mesopotamian marshes that were fed by the two rivers to punish the Shias who rose up against his regime. Since 1975, Turkey’s dam and hydropower constructions on the two rivers have cut water flow to Iraq by 80% and to Syria by 40%. Both Syria and Iraq have accused Turkey of hoarding water and threatening their water supply.

“There has never been an outright war over water but water has played extremely important role in many Middle East conflicts. Control of water supply is crucial”, said Stephen.

It could also be an insurmountable problem should the country split into three, he said. “Water is one of the most dangerous problems in Iraq. If the country was split there would definitely be a war over water. Nobody wants to talk about that,” he said.

Some academics have suggested that Tigris and Euphrates will not reach the sea by 2040 if rainfall continues to decrease at its present rate.

via Water supply key to outcome of conflicts in Iraq and Syria, experts warn | Environment | The Guardian.

Mourning, And Rioting, Over Death In Jerusalem – NYTimes.com

As police tear gas wafted through his East Jerusalem neighborhood, the father of a slain 16-year-old Arab, the possible victim of a Jewish revenge attack, mourned with friends who had come to console him Wednesday on the enclosed porch of his two-story stone house. He had just spent seven hours with police investigators.

“I don’t expect any results,” the father, Hussein Abu Khdeir, 48, said of the investigation into the abduction and killing of his son Muhammad that morning.

via Mourning, And Rioting, Over Death In Jerusalem – NYTimes.com.

Fear as ebola ‘out of control’ in parts of west Africa | World | The Guardian

Described by virologists as a “molecular shark”, ebola is believed to be hosted by the fruit bat, a delicacy in Guinea and Liberia. The current strain is at least the fifth mutation since its discovery in 1976. Diagnosis is often complicated by the fact symptoms mirror those of malaria, common in the region, including fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Victims sometimes have horrific internal and external bleeding and most die of shock or multiple organ failure, although chances of survival increase dramatically if adequate treatment is received early on. No cure exists for ebola but confirmed cases are first quarantined before undergoing intensive rehydration therapy. Due to its high contagion rate, medical workers should wear head-to-toe biohazard suits even when dealing with dead patients.

via Fear and ignorance as ebola ‘out of control’ in parts of west Africa | World | The Guardian.

Suggestion by head of British drug foundation – Experimental Ebola drugs should be tried in Africa, disease expert says – Yahoo News

{Question should be, or rather statement should be, I am volunteering to take the drug to show it cannot do any harm!}

“If you had a 60 percent chance of dying tomorrow, and there was something that had been tested in healthy volunteers (but not yet tried in patients or approved), would you take it?”

via Experimental Ebola drugs should be tried in Africa, disease expert says – Yahoo News.

Second Look Behind the Headlines – News you can use…

Baldacchino di Perla

"Luce di parole, ombra di sogni."

Northern Desert Photography

Living on the Edge of the Sagebrush Ocean

Susana Cabaço

Spiritual Insights & Personal Empowerment

Barbara Picci

Artist & Art Blogger

craft journey

Furnicraft, woodwork, and art

musings corner

reveries and rants

Japão para Românticos

Bem Vindos a este espaço onde compartilhamos um pouco da realidade do Japão à todos aqueles que desejam visitar ou morar no Japão. Aqui neste espaço, mostramos a realidade do Japão e dos imigrantes. O nosso compromisso é com a realidade. Fique por dentro do noticiário dos principais jornais japoneses, tutoriais de Faça você mesmo no Japão e acompanhe a Série Histórias de Imigrantes no Japão. Esperamos que goste de nossos conteúdos, deixe seu like, seu comentário, compartilhe e nos ajudar você e à outras pessoas. Grande abraço, gratidão e volte sempre!

Leben als Mensch

Willkommen auf Elke´s Glücks-Blog

Sharpshot Nature .Com

- Specializing in the great outdoors, capturing nature at its finest!

Diane Ravitch's blog

A site to discuss education and democracy

Expansão e Percepção

Seu Guia de Inspirações e Reflexões Diárias

noga noga.

my-health-and-beauty.com/

Uğurcan'ın Ütopyası

Benim Gezegenime Hoş geldiniz !!!

AKILS

Blog de viajes y lugares

Ed Mooney Photography

The official blog of Ed Mooney Photography. Dad of 3, Photographer, Blogger, Powerlifter. Exploring the historical sites of Ireland.

everything Explored on the earth

It has new aidias,news, about education , motivation, social, historical, culture, marketing creation new aidias education of language science culture and history

Born to die

L'unico modo sensato di vivere è senza regole

Early Morning Memories

by Anuran (A) & Sayoni (S)

My thoughts

Fun for the Brain

Neo Vision College

An exemplary learning community.

Anthony’s Crazy Love and Life Lessons in Empathy

Loves, lamentation, and life through prose, stories, passions, and essays.

Episodic Squalid Rants

public tantrums by a non-two-year-old

The Street Art Directory

Public, street and urban art worldwide

Artie & Stu

all the rules of free form

Everyone read that they fell in love first

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2937106805202763" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

davidscottmoyer

Lapsed Painter, Occasional Photographer, Compulsive Writer

Health & Fitness

Health Blogs

Buildings Tell Tales

Exploring the hidden architectural heritage of Budapest

Divit kalem

Yaşamdan

Roy's Weblog

The third incarnation...

Thought Pukes

More than a thought less than a question

"بوصلة الحياة"

"بوصلة الحياة: مدونة متعددة المجالات، من السياسة إلى الرومانسية، ومن تطوير الذات إلى الأدب وأكثر!" بقلم مشاعر بنت عبدالرحمن

parallax

The view from here ... Or here!

ClearingSpace4Joy

Bringer and seeker of joy

Belladonna’s Flashlight

The One Where She Stumbled Through Her 40's and Faced Her Demons

~ Trivial Music Silliness ~

Baw wit da baw. Just sayin'.

mo mnsoor blog

Website storys

Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss

Welcome to the Anglo Swiss World

gnaddrig ad libitum

Querbeet und ohne Gewähr

Peace & Truth

KINDNESS IS FREE, sprinkle it all over the world, and 😁 smile

Ética de la vida diaria

Nuestra ética de todos los días...

Elizabeth Gauffreau

Fiction Writer in Poet's Clothing