- Live Fearlessly, Compassionately and Honestly
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Coyotes

7/31/2010

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Here's a great article about coyotes. I didn't know they usually pair up for life, but if one dies the other one will search out a new mate. I saw the coyotes pictured below on my drive to Denver a couple of days ago. There were three of them playing in a meadow. They looked like they were chasing some small animals. They'd jump up and pounce on the ground similar to how a cat might do. It was fun to watch. I rarely get to see coyotes. I hear them around my cabin sometimes and I've seen one a few times, but I always enjoy a sighting of these beautiful wild dogs.

On the news recently a lot of people have expressed anger about the coyotes encroaching on their suburban homes and killing small pets. I don't know what the answer is. I wish the coyotes could be relocated to an area where they'd have food, shelter and enjoyment. I don't like to see them be looked at as villains.
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photos by B. Seeton
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Colorado Rocky Mountain Marmot

7/30/2010

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Collage by B.Seeton

Marmots are related to the ground squirrel. They hibernate and are very social animals who communicate with a whistle sound especially when alarmed to notify each other of potential danger. They like rocky areas.

I learned from Wikipedia that these animals are also called woodchucks and groundhogs. They are covered with two coats of fur: a dense grey undercoat and a longer coat of banded guard hairs that gives the groundhog its distinctive “frosted” appearance.
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Marmot - by B.Seeton
I stopped along the roadside about 20 miles from my cabin today and found a rocky hillside where the marmots flourish! I have always been intrigued by these critters, but never had the good fortune of being around them except for a quick glance here or there.

One of the young babies let me photograph without running off to hide. Momma marmot was not nearly so bold and neither were the siblings. But this little fellow was quite welcoming. He's missing his right ear. It looks like it's healing, but the wound is fairly fresh.

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Marmot - by B. Seeton
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Marmot - by B. Seeton
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Pika - by B.Seeton
This little guy was on the rocks near the marmots. I saw him the next day too. He looks like a stuffed animal to me!
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Mommy Marmot - by B.Seeton
I went back the next day and got to photograph the same marmot family and I saw the Pika again. I watched the mommy marmot even nurse her baby! It was like my very own nature show. Money can't buy the joy I get from seeing wild animals and getting to interact with them. The little baby without the ear let me take photos for over twenty minutes! I was about five feet away at times.

All images are for sale at my online art gallery as postcards, greeting cards, calendars, and framed or matted prints. Email me for custom orders or questions.
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PUT POSITIVE THOUGHTS INTO ACTION

7/27/2010

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Inside the prayer wheels are scrolls with mantras written on them. It is believed that by turning the prayer wheels the thoughts contained in the mantras will spread out into the world.

As with the mantras inside prayer wheels, there are thoughts inside our minds.

Focusing positively on what you want and visualizing positive outcomes will change your life accordingly.

“You can close the windows and darken your room, or you can open the windows and let light in. It is a matter of choice. Your mind is your room. Do you darken it or do you fill it with light?”—Author Unknown
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Taken on my 1st day in Nepal
I had a dream a couple of nights ago that was very sci-fi and nightmarish. When I was going over the details that I could remember the next morning, and as typical with my dreams, there were a lot of things I could recall, I asked myself to put a few words together that would summarize the meaning of the dream. As dreams often are, it was entirely bizarre and I wondered what on earth everything meant. But as I began to decipher it I came up with one statement: There's power in positive thinking.

There was a part toward the end of the dream where I was so frustrated with the events and the feeling of being captive that I discovered if I just used my thoughts I could protect myself and use them as a power against all the evil that was around me. I could go through walls, and move through inanimate objects without being hurt.


I share this message since it's one that may benefit others.  My best guess for how this dream applies to my waking life  is that my subconscious is telling me to remain strong in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Thought has energy. Stay focused. Think positively. 

Easier said, than done .... but I'm working on it ...
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Jasper And The American Flag

7/21/2010

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Jasper on Flag Patrol - by Betsy Seeton
 The photos of Jasper with the American flag are not done in photoshop. All images are straight out of the camera with some minor lighting adjustments and cropping. I've trained him to hold flags.

This is part of a series with Jasper, Chippy’s son born last summer. Also see him with Bear.
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JUST HANGING OUT

7/19/2010

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It was a good day ....
I always have nuts in my jean’s pockets when I'm at my cabin because of all my critters. Today I looked up from my computer and saw Half Tail (one of my chipmunks) walking across the clothes line. He was checking my pockets! Since my animals come to me and I can teach them things … it gave me this idea ….
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Chippy Just Hanging Out - by Betsy Seeton
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Pocket Full of Jasper
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All images are for sale at my online gallery. Images come as  postcards, greeting cards, or framed prints.
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PROTECT THEIR INNOCENCE

7/19/2010

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“If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.”
~Marian Wright Edelman
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photo by B. Seeton
I have a friend in France, Amely-James KOH BELA, a truly remarkable African born woman who endured a brutal childhood as both a domestic slave and incest survivor. She was a slave from the age of 4—the same age as the girl in this photograph.

Amely got an education and went undercover as a private investigator for twelve years exposing the dark underworld of child sex slavery and has authored two important books on the subject. She currently goes village to village in Africa educating her people about the rights of children and is dedicated to ending child trafficking. You can read more on my website about this remarkable woman.

Take a piece of paper. Write down these numbers. Two. Seven. Comma. Zero. Zero. Zero. Comma. Zero. Zero. Zero. Now read it. That’s how many people are slaves on the planet. And children are half of all the people trafficked (bought/sold, stolen, forced, kidnapped) worldwide for sex and domestic slavery. Those are the statistics.

27,000,000 is the number of human beings who are at this very moment living lives as slaves. And I mean slave in every sense, in every horror of the definition, and every imaginable way and then some. These people (mostly women and children) have no choice about the way they live their lives. Not ‘no choice’ as in you have a crummy job you want to change and you wish your car was newer. I mean NO CHOICE and they’re brutalized in countless ways all the time. Many have no choice over their own bodies. They have no say about who touches them or how. Many are repeatedly raped day in and day out. They are often beaten, starved, and in addition to the physical abuse, most are emotionally tormented. They do not have control over where they work, how long they work, or where they live or when or what they get to eat—if they get to eat.

Then there are child soldiers …

“Gilbert did not mean to kill anyone. He did not even intend to go to war. He was 10 when a relative enlisted him in a rebel army in eastern Congo and 12 when he led a raid in which his cousin died. ‘I was ordered to kill the son of the leader in my village. I was put in charge of the group, and ordered to fire as people fled. The leader was my uncle; his boy was six years old.” A news story by Mary Ridell. Read more ...

Please get informed about child trafficking. You can begin helping by insuring the products you buy are slave free. Look for the free trade certification. Start by buying only slave free coffee, chocolate and cotton. These are small steps, but steps in the right direction. (Nestle has been one of the worst offenders of child slavery.) When consumers begin demanding ONLY slave free products, manufacturers and retail operations will begin to care.

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A Stroll Through My Neck of the Woods

7/19/2010

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"To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but to so love wisdom as to live according to its dictates a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity and trust." 
Henry David Thoreau
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Flowers, bees and butterflies ...
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To My Brother Charlie

7/17/2010

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Chippy's babies 2010 -- My first pics of them!
My brother suffered a stroke four years ago. It left him partially paralyzed on one half of his body and he is now basically bedridden. Since the stroke, his favorite memories are of being in the Colorado mountains where we grew up. He has a similar love for wildlife that I do. He's been enjoying all the pictures of Chippy and the Crew. 

He and I used to have a pet chipmunk when we were children. My brother rescued baby "Chippy"  from the bottom of an old, wet, and rusty can. I was his little shadow -- going everywhere he did.  

I was two years younger and adored my brother. I grew up with three older brothers; I was the baby of the family and the only girl. Charlie was always good to me. I was his little helper building tree houses. We did a lot of stuff together: rafting the little creeks in homemade contraptions, camping out with friends, driving around in old 3-wheel mail scooter and exploring on our minibikes. We hiked and fished and played with our dog. Ahhh.... so many good childhood memories.... 
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One of Chippy's babies taken July 17, 2010 by B.Seeton

Hi Charlie,


It was great talking to you today! After I got off the phone, I noticed Chippy's babies for the first time! Two of them were on the hillside behind the cabin. I've been on the look out for them for two weeks! They've gotten big. Last year's litter made their debut above ground on July 4th. I got to experience their first day exploring life around the cabin. It was so adorable. They were smaller than the chipmunks at that time. Thought you would appreciate seeing these new pics. 

You're in my thoughts often. Miss you and love you sooo much!

Your sis,
Betsy
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Two of Chippy's babies taken July 17, 2010
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One of Chippy's babies - July 2010
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This chipmunk saw me feeding Chippy and talking to the babies and came up for a nut!
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This one just came out of her burrow...
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The babies always experiment with what they can eat....
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This baby found an empty nut shell and was so excited! It's cute watching them figure out what's good to eat and what isn't.....
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TIME

7/16/2010

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"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity." 
Henry David Thoreau 
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Boy Chip Pondering - I thought this was the perfect image for this post. (photo by B.Seeton)
As you head into your weekend I'll leave you with this ...

Time is precious. Don't always feel the need to fill it though. Try being reflective and find your own way of being meditative. I have no doubt you'll find new value in your time. For those going the speed of light to get everything done .... slow down. Make time for quiet. Try listening to the sound of your own heart beat or breath. Let your thoughts, those that are buried deep within, percolate to the top of your conscious mind. 

American culture is obsessed with being sooooo busy and feeling value only when their day is jam packed and when they've got their list all checked off.  Time is worth so much more than that. Explore new ways to experience time ...  

Tell me about what you find...
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Petitions Letters Links: A WORLD IN SUCH NEED!!

7/15/2010

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Nearly every day I sign a petition (or several) or send a letter to a politician or post something on this website that needs action taken or do all of the above. Today, for some reason, was a bit overwhelming. In fact, the past few weeks have felt overwhelming. There are just so many causes ... so many things that need attention and so much change that desperately needs to happen. I have broken into tears countless times after watching a video or reading a story ... my emotions are raw and I don't quite understand. I've been doing this type of work for a long time. I usually find balance, but not today. Not yesterday. It's getting to me...

Today's headlines told of more women being sentenced to death by stoning in Iran. It's a  barbaric crime against humanity!! Then America's Wild Mustangs were rounded up this past weekend in Nevada by the BLM and their ignornant methods and timing killed some of the horses. The animal activists (me included) are fighting to stop these round ups. It's outrageous what's happening and how politically motivatated this stuff is. 

Children are being stolen and forced into being young killing machines as soldiers in wars that shouldn't exist. More children are being sold into a life of sex slavery. Other children are forced into labor under horrendous conditions and some are dying as a result. Exotic pets are able to be owned and used for profit making and if they are abused or neglected our laws fail terribly at punishing the wrong doers. 

Sighhh....... I find it hard to process all this stuff sometimes. It's hard to find that fine line between caring and carrying the burden of so much pain. I'm driven to keep this website going because it's one way I feel like I have a chance at helping. But it does feel dismal at times. I can't even get many of my Facebook friends to join in and sign things that I know they care about ... why is that? It doesn't take much time to click and sign ... It does if you have to find the causes yourself, do all the research and write and post articles... but not just to click and sign something that a friend has posted.   
 
I signed the petition "Captivity is cruel - don't go to a show!". I'm asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 100,000 signatures. I care deeply about this cause, and I hope you will support our efforts. Click to get more information and sign the petition.

Here's the pledge to sign:

Dolphins have evolved over millions of years, adapting perfectly to life in the ocean. They are intelligent, social and self-aware, exhibiting evidence of a highly developed emotional sense. Here are just a few of the issues with captivity.

- Captures of dolphins are traumatic and stressful and can result in injury and death of dolphins. The number of dolphins that die during capture operations or shortly thereafter are never revealed in dolphinariums or swim-with-dolphins programs. Some facilities even claim their dolphins were "rescued" from the ocean and cannot be released. This claim is almost invariably false.

- Training of dolphins is often deliberately misrepresented by the captive dolphin industry to make it look as if dolphins perform because they like it. This isn't the case. They are performing because they have been deprived of food.

- Most captive dolphins are confined in minuscule tanks containing chemically treated artificial seawater. Dolphins in a tank are severely restricted in using their highly developed sonar, which is one of the most damaging aspects of captivity. It is much like forcing a person to live in a hall of mirrors for the rest of their life their image always bouncing back with no clear direction in sight.

Join us and pledge that you won't go to a dolphin show.

Here is a list in no particular order of captive dolphin facilities that were closed or never opened. These success stories were accomplished by ordinary people like yourself who actually showed up to protest these dolphin abusement parks. Join us and pledge that you will not go to a dolphin show or any swim-with-dolphins facility.

Here's what I added to the pre-written letter:

Birds don't belong in cages, dolphins and whales don't belong captive in tanks, and no animal should be forced into entertaining humans such as we see in circuses and road side shows. And while I'm on the subject, exotic animals belong in the wild -- not in someone's home! Exotic animals aren't intended to be domesticated. They belong free to live in their natural environment. The whole attitude towards animals needs to change. Animals should not be the property of humans for profit - period.

Signed,
Betsy Seeton


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Baby Bird With Mom and Dad

7/14/2010

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It's been my own little nature show around here. I've been watching mom and dad bird feed their babies for two weeks. The nest is about 30 feet from the ground, so I don't get a great view but I can climb onto the hillside and get a little better perspective. I've been hearing the baby birds chirp for over a week and today one of them popped a head out after mom fed the babies what looked like a mouthful of red ants.
 
This nature stuff makes my day! I know it must seem so insignificant in the grand scheme of life, and maybe even boring to city dwellers, but not to me; this is what feeds me and makes life make sense when there's so much crazy in the world. 
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WHY CARE ABOUT ECO FRIENDLY SUNSCREEN?

7/14/2010

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California Surfer 2010 - by B.Seeton
In June of 2008, Peter Fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer wrote an informative article about how certain sunscreens and body lotions are washing off people into the ocean and bleaching (killing) coral reefs. This important article has now resurfaced and is recirculating. I missed it the first time around and maybe you did too.

Directly quoting from Peter's article, "
Sun care products, including lotions and lip balms, bring in an estimated $1 billion a year in the United States alone, and a lot of it is used in tropical vacation spots. As much as 6,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in the coral reefs where people swim and snorkel every year, according to estimates by environmental groups and the World Trade Organization."

READ WHAT THIS IS DOING TO AQUATIC LIFE ....


The bottom line is to look for eco friendly products that when washed down the sink and washed off our bodies in the ocean, they don't contaminate our environment.

READ PETER'S ARTICLE : WHICH SUNSCREENS ARE OCEAN FRIENDLY?

"..... people should demand to know more about the chemicals in sunscreen and other products so they can make informed decisions.

The more we know about these chemicals, the more consumers can ask for less harmful products," Choksi said. "We can have wastewater treatments plants that are more advanced and take out these products if we decide that's what we want."

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Godwit in California 2010 - by B.Seeton
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Pacific Beach, CA - by B.Seeton
Please think about how interconnected everything and everyone is on this planet. As consumers we need to care about the entire chain of production from what's in our products,  to who made them (child slaves?), to where they come from (destructive manufacturing) and choose only to purchase products made with fair labor practices and items that are environmentally healthy. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD APATHY. BEGIN TO GET INFORMED ABOUT PRODUCT LABELING AND HOW TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES.
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Colorado Indian Paintbrush

7/13/2010

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This is a Colorado Indian Paintbrush that I shot in macro a couple of days ago. A great link for information about how to grow this plant or transplant it is at GardenWeb.com.
 
I miss lush vegetation of the more humid climates. I love being immersed in flowers and surrounded by beautiful color ...
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I found this tale at intangibility.com:

The Paintbrush evoked the Native American legend of a young brave who tried to paint the sunset with his warpaints. Frustrated that he could not match the brilliance of nature, he ask for guidance from the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit gave him paintbrushes laden with the colors he so desired. With these, he painted his masterpiece and left the spent brushes in fields across the landscape. These brushes sprouted the flowers we now so wonderfully love! 
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Ant Battle

7/13/2010

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I was digging and laying my collection of flat walkway rocks this morning in my front yard (a project long sitting on the back burner) when I saw this ant skirmish next to me. I am fascinated by the insect world. I've decided my next investment will be into a macro lens so I can capture the incredible detail of this amazing world.

"Some kinds of ants are quite aggressive in protecting their nest or food resources. The fight is continued until the enemy's body is dismembered or it dies." (source)
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Ant Battle July 13, 2010 - B.Seeton
Even ants of the same species sometimes show aggressive behavior if they come from a different nest. When ants of the same species meet outside the nest, they smell each other using their antennae. This allows them to distinguish their fellow ants from those belonging to a different nest. (source)

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Chipmunks and Squirrels Again ...

7/12/2010

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Yesterday's photostream is having technical difficulties so I posted a few of the images here. The rest can be viewed (and are for sale) at my online ART GALLERY. Inside the gallery click on Precious Moments to see more from the series below.

I get three months out of the year with these little critters, so I make the most of it. They climb in my lap and come when I call and let me pet them. Often one is climbing on me while I'm taking a picture. I've had them sit on my head while I'm focusing my camera. Yesterday two of the chipmunks met up with me on my walk. I was taking a picture of some wild flowers and I felt something on my foot. I looked down and it was Half Tail .... my little chipmunk with a scar on his head and a half a tail from some brawl.

Life in the woods is quiet and probably entirely boring to most people, but it's therapeutic and soul feeding to me. The world is so full of crazy these days that I have a hard time processing it. This peaceful world away from it all ... restores my balance. I don't know why I write about it... I was pondering that question today. I'm still pondering it...
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Precious Moments

7/11/2010

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"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. 
Live the life you have imagined."
 Henry David Thoreau 

(Technical problems viewing in IE (Internet Explorer) Try Google Chrome or Firefox while this is being fixed if the photostream does not appear.)
I took most of these photos today. Boy Chip stars in 7 out of the 8. You can read all about him and all his buddies in Life In The Woods. 

All photos can be purchased as postcards, greeting cards, or matted or framed prints. The quality in the printing is excellent. I can customize any picture with text at no additional charge. (My name is not printed on the front in the photos for sale.)

 This is a small sample out of hundreds of photos that are for sale. All proceeds go to help fund this website. Thank you for your support! 

Visit my art gallery online at Livehonestly.
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STONED TO DEATH

7/10/2010

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I woke up this morning thinking about a woman I've never met who lives in Iran. Today was the day she was to have been put to death by the barbaric method of stoning her to death. I desperately googled to see if there was any news and to my great relief there was. This crime against humanity has been stopped due to the worldwide petition drive along with the pressure from the huge outcry reported in the media.  But this Iranian woman still faces death by hanging, so please keep reading.... and click on STONED TO DEATH to get more informed.

According to Amnesty International, the Iranian penal code specifies that "stones are large enough to cause pain, but not so large as
 to kill the victim immediately." Article 102 of the Penal
Code states that men should be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts for the purpose of execution by stoning. Article 104 states, with reference to the penalty for adultery, that the stones used should "not be large enough to kill the person by one or two strikes; nor should they be so small that they could not be defined as stones."
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PHOTO CREDIT SEE BELOW
Worldwide media attention is making a difference.  If you sign a petition and voice your outrage, you might just save a life. You really can help ... you really can make a difference with a few keystrokes. 

Thank you for reading this! Please, please pass this along ... add it to facebook and your website and send out emails to your friends and family.

PHOTO CREDIT OF WOMAN BEING STONED: An Iranian woman at a protest in Brussels highlights the barbarity of death by stoning, in which women are buried up to their necks in front of a crowd of volunteers. Photograph: Thierry Roge/Reuters
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INTRODUCING JASPER THE AMBASSADOR OF ANIMAL WELFARE

7/7/2010

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“Until one has loved an animal, 
a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” 
~ Anatole France
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Jasper In Scotland - by Betsy Seeton (Not photoshopped)
Jasper is the little Ambassador for World Animal Welfare and Rights. Here he is with the Royal Banner of Scotland. His mission is to raise awareness about endangered species, animal abuse and animal trafficking. Today his message is about the endangered Scottish Wildcat.

Look for Jasper's own blog where you can read about his work around the globe as he and his volunteer crew led by Chippy help to raise awareness about the plight of animals worldwide. 

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ABOUT JASPER, CHIPPY AND THE CREW....
For those readers unfamiliar with these adorable little animals, here's a little background. These are wild ground squirrels (and there are chipmunks) who live year round in the area near my cabin in Coloraodo. Chippy gave birth to four babies last summer. Jasper is one of her sons. Boy Chip is the daddy. All these little guys  feed from my hand. They come when I call and will sit in my lap or crawl all over me. I've taught them to hold flags! They are curious about everything. This is my 5th summer with Chippy. She's queen around here! Click for last summer's pics and story...
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by B. Seeton - Chippy with the flag of the United Kingdom
For more animal photos holding flags visit my art gallery. Jasper, Chippy and the crew have been photographed with flags from around the world. CLICK HERE
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The 4th of July With My Granddaughter

7/5/2010

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Yesterday I was up early with my 4-year old granddaughter and after a pancake breakfast and time with a make shift coloring book, we went on a long, steep hike up to an old mining site behind my cabin. She's a little trooper. Not once did she whine to turn around and go home even after tripping three times with some good slams to the ground. I figure lessons were being learned about how to navigate through a forest full of dead timber with branches sticking out all over the place and the occasional outcropping of rocks. She loves becoming a "mountain girl".  I love that she loves it so much.

The place we headed to was where miners had built a “cabin” around their mining shaft to conceal it from other miners. The door in the picture above led to the caved in mining shaft.

My granddaughter felt rewarded for all the steep climing when she found old tin cans and some nails. She promptly made drums out of them. We hauled them back home where her next project was painting her new drum set! An old railroad spike made the perfect drum stick!


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I let her mix her own paints to come up with different colors and she discovered, much to her disappointment, that mixing a bunch of colors together turns out a yucky shade of brown. Cheers to hands on learning!
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After painting cans for a couple of hours she took a break to feed peanuts to Jasper. I take different opportunities to impart my feelings about animal rights and I've read passages from Jane Goodall's books to her.
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I’m introducing insects to my granddaughter as we go on hikes and hoping to stir her curiosity as well as develop her respect for all living creatures. All too often people are fearful and children copy what they see. I want her to look with wonder … not fear ... We saved two house spiders by capturing them in a glass and letting go outside.
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The evening ended with a hot bath to soak off all the paint. I turned off the lights and lit candles. She loved the ambiance. I think she would have stayed in the tub for hours if I let her! I introduce the concept of meditation and breathing in moments like that. I use it at bedtime too. She watched All Dogs Go To Heaven and then we read a story about a mommy and her new baby. She went to sleep without another peep. It was a good 4th of July ...

And today, July 5th, is a good day too, even though she had to go home early. We played catch for about an hour. I could see her begin to learn what it means when I would say like a mantra, "keep your eye on the ball."  As soon as she actually followed the ball with her eyes, her hands began to grab the ball. It was fun to witness the smile on her face and that twinkle in her eye when she experienced success! Then I let her be my "leader" through the forest and we hiked for about another hour completely off road. She loves navigating up steep embankments! I love watching her work on her balance and persevere. When she reaches the top she beams. Being a grandma is such an amazing experience. I'm more present with her than I was with my own children. I'm more patient. I feel like I see the bigger picture ....
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My granddaughter took this of me on July 4, 2010
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Our lunch with candle light!
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summer of 2009 - her first day fly fishing
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Camping out summer 2009!
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summer 2009
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2009
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HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

7/4/2010

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"Freedom can't exist without the right to be different."
by Betsy Seeton
Please don't download my photos without my permission.  Any commercial use is prohibited. I support educational purposes, but please ask my permission first.

I have a lot more photos of these darling animals holding flags. Pictured below is Jasper, a golden mantled ground squirrel, holding the U.S. flag. I have flag photos with Chippy (Jasper's mom) and Albert and Alberta, chipmunks who help Jasper in his campaign for animal rights and welfare. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ANIMAL PHOTOS HOLDING FLAGS.
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Jasper on Flag Patrol - by Betsy Seeton
Photo is for sale as a greeting card, post card, matted print or framed print. Contact Betsy. This is not photoshopped or manipulated. Jasper is really holding the American Flag. He's the new Amabassador for Animal Welfare and Rights. Look for his own blog to begin this week.
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DELIVERING SCHOOL SUPPLIES IN LAOS

7/2/2010

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School Children in Laos - by B. Seeton
I was reminiscing this morning about a time in my life when I was doing what I loved. I'm not in that place these days. (My daughter is critically ill and she's in a horrific battle for the custody of her beautiful daughter. I need to be at her side.) I visualize a time when she and I will both get to lead the lives we love. Meanwhile, I sometimes relive those good times. Below is an excerpt from one of my postings called DELIVERING SCHOOL SUPPLIES. I was in a small village in Laos having traveled by bus for about three hours from Vientiane, the capital of Laos. I was delivering school uniforms, paper, pencils, books and sporting equipment.

When I was on that smothering hot, smelly bus, crammed full of sweaty travelers; our bodies jammed up against each other because there were too many people, I curled up in my tiny section of seat, wrapped my arms around my folded legs that acted as props for my chin, put my ear plugs in and turned on my IPod. To the sounds of Del Amietre and U2, I was inwardly smiling at the irony.  I was miserable in the physical setting, but I was completely at peace and happy. I clearly remember thinking:  "This is what I'm meant to do." I'm really good at coming up with creative ideas and making things happen. There I was in a foreign country and by asking around I found good people to assist me to pull it all together. Everyone has their special talent. Just figure out how what yours is and go for it. It changes your own life as much as those you're helping.

For full article with pictures go to DELIVERING SCHOOL SUPPLIES...
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Village Children in Laos -- by B.Seeton
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Laos Village Children -- by B.Seeton
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Outside school teacher's home - by B. Seeton
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School teacher (center), her mother and baby and my interpreter (R)
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To Peace

7/1/2010

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“When you find peace within yourself, you become
 the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” 
 Nietzsche
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At the Tibet Refugee Camp -- by B.Seeton
Peace is the message I want to send out into the universe today. Our planet is in such great need of it. My own sense of inner peace has been knocked off kilter lately. I'm focusing on ways to restore it. I'm seeing an acupuncturist, eating well and trying to get enough rest. I'm making time for my creative side.  I'm also sort of meditating and really working hard on letting go of what I cannot control. 

The letting go that is needed in my life right now is hardest when it involves witnessing the pain that someone with a selfish and mean spirit is inflicting on people I love. The worst part of all is that circumstances are preventing me from protecting my loved ones. 

This dark hearted person in my life meets the definition of evil. I don't mean evil as in the devil, but as someone who thrives on control and manipulation to intentionally hurt others for the pure satisfaction of doing it. This person takes great delight in, and feeds off of, hurting others. I don't know what goes into making someone like this.

Some days have been nearly insurmountable. Tears are surface level and will spill at the smallest thing. I'm a peaceful person by nature. I don't hold grudges. I don't feel vengeance. But the anger that rises from watching my loved ones be hurt redefines torture. My faith that karma will take care of this person is wavering. It's not my place to pray that karma be more timely, but I would be grateful if it were sooner than later.

Sigh... this is when I know it's important to seek peace in my own heart and not let the darkness of someone else's actions leave a mark on me. I will rise above  .... I will survive and so will my loved ones. 

Here's to peace for all my loved ones and the world over.
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photo of my Tibet peace symbol -- by Betsy Seeton -
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