The Tree Leaves Folk Fellowship

Flash News Update: Colorado Springs 3rd Infection

photograph by Steve Carlin

The Third Annual Colorado Springs Zombie Crawl and 80's Dance Party
Every October * Downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado *

Every year, the zombie clans of Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs, Denver, and surrounding areas take over the streets of majorly populated city centers in Colorado. Some say it's an active re-occuring flu-like flesh-eating variant of the swine flu, others say it's a zombie apocalypse, while many just embrace it as a new annual tradition around the world. Yes, Zombie crawls happen in almost every major city on the globe. They are growing phenomenally in population and occurence. Some say this is a sign that the end times are near and is a training routine for the zombie apocalypse. Are you prepared? Basically a Zombie Crawl is either an organized or unorganized assembly or flash mob of people dressed like zombies or the undead. Its primarily advertised by word of mouth, the internet, and social networks as it is meant to be a surprise event on the public. It is a mass group improv theatrical performance. It mutates annually to involve not only the living dead, but zombie hunters, and victims. Some are staged as spoof political rallies organized "to raise awareness of zombie rights". Often you find a combination of all the above. The First zombie walk to hit North America, took place in 2001 on the streets of Sacremento, California. This replicated in 2002. Then October 2003 the zombies hit Toronto, Ontario. Frequency started to occur throughout North American cities. On October 29, 2006, 894 participants gathered at the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh, which served as the set of the classic zombie film Dawn of the Dead setting the Guiness Book of World Records. A zombie march in Brisbane, Australia on May 25, 2008 set an unofficial record of over 1500 participants according to media reports. On June 21, 2008, a zombie march took place in Chicago with a reported of over 1,550 zombies, setting a new unofficial record. Close to 50 cities worldwide participated in World Zombie Day on October 26, 2008 with over 7,500 zombies estimated. On October 30, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the largest site of zombies anywhere in the world. Even though the official tally was at 3,370 zombies, well over 4,000+ zombies showed up to this event. [wikipedia] On 3 July 2009, a zombie walk in the Fremont neighboorhood of Seattle broke the previous record set by Grand Rapids - Guinness World Records officially recorded 3,894 zombies, though local news claimed 4,277 participants (I was there and have to say there were hundreds of zombies who didn't want to stand in line for the official registration count so I believe the latter).

photograph by Jeff Kallaus

After attending the 2006 Denver 1st annual Zombie Crawl, Leaf McGowan decided to start and become founder of the Manitou Springs, Colorado on October 17, 2007 [roughly 45 zombies]; and continuing with the one in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 28, 2007 [with 67 zombies] that was put on by his shop "The Tree Leaves Oracle." In addition to the Tree Leaves' Oracle, the Manitou Springs Crawl was also sponsored by the Ancient Mariner where the after party was held. The Colorado Springs one was also sponsored by the Underground Bar's Goth Night. It was so successful that he continued them in 2008. [ Manitou Springs 2008 Zombie Crawl and Party with est. 70 zombies ] [ Colorado Springs 2nd Annual Zombie Crawl & 80's Party with 150+ zombies ] The 2008 Manitou Springs after-crawl social was held at the Ancient Mariner and the 2008 Colorado Springs crawl party was held again at the Underground with the amazing 80's tunes by DJ Gypsy. This year, the crawls and parties took place again - in Manitou Springs on October 12th with 45 zombies braving freezing cold ice-rain conditions and ending their party at the Townhouse Lounge that hosted live entertainment and drink specials for the brave souls bearing winter conditions. This year's Colorado Springs Zombie crawl took place on Friday, October 23, 2009 at the Underground Bar on the corner of Kiowa and Nevada. They openened their doors for the crowds to have a warm place to do make-up and costume help at 6:30 pm, from which they crawled from at 8 pm down Nevada, Bijou, Tejon, and Kiowa - returning back to the Underground for a spectacular 80's dance party with music by the amazing DJ Gypsy. The party lasted until 1:30 am. It was estimated to have had 209+ participants this year. This year's crawls came out to be a complete success with no known injuries, accidents, or issues. To become part of next year's crawls, with a possible addition of a Spring crawl, visit the following network sites: http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/events/zombie.html; Manitou Springs: http://www.myspace.com/manitouzombiecrawl or http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139839019208; Colorado Springs: www.myspace.com/coloradospringszombiewalk or http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139839019208. Also in Colorado, organized by completely different Monsters is the Denver Annual Zombie Crawl and the new Boulder Zombie Crawl.

photograph by Steve Carlin

Third Zombie Outbreak in Colorado Springs
uWorld News Press: October 24, 2009: 0300 - Colorado Springs, Colorado

photograph by Steve Carlin

This has been the 3rd reported outbreak of zombie virus (feH1N1z) in Colorado Springs. This small city thought they were done with it. But each year, it seems to re-surface. First in 2007 with roughly 65 contaminated, the disease reared its ugly head again in 2008 with 150+ infected, this outbreak this year is purported to have over 209+ ill with the virus (estimated from the uCDC's head count of unique faces in photographic evidence of the outbreak). It is feared that it could spread in mass quantity to Denver later this afternoon if not properly quarantined.

photograph by Steve Carlin

Apparently, a lab technician involved in the spread of the virus in Manitou Springs two weeks prior, who was believed to be in remission and over cantagion re-infected and began on a rampage through the day at his lab eating the brains of his co-workers and neighbours. He setup a fake vaccination clinic at the Underground at 110 N. Nevada in downtown Colorado Springs with the false advertisement of having a cure and preventative for the disease. He even had a doctor endorse it. However, it was a staged trap. Everyone who entered the Underground became infected enmass, and within hours burst through the door of the Underground onto the streets of quiet Colorado Springs. Families, women, children, men, and city workers were infected. Tamed and gentle 'zombies' still infected from the previous year passed out fliers for solidarity and unity amongst zombies. A bloodbath still occured in the depths of the Underground nonetheless. The crowd of flesh craving zombies crawled down Nevada, Bijou, and all along Tejon streets of the downtown area. Passerbys and citizens didn't know what to think - from terror and screams to smiles and kodak moments. More of Colorado Springs became infected. The uCDC quarantined as many as they could back into the Underground for containment and treatment with cocktail specials laced with antidotes. The zombie mashing tunes of DJ Gypsy kept the zombies contained on the dancefloor while the bar entertained the rest. It was quite an affair until 2 am when the antidotes finally set in. However, it is believed several zombies escaped containment and treatment currently enroute for Denver.

photograph by Jeff Kallaus

Tree Leaves' Oracle Bodypainting and Tarot Booth @ 2009 Dreamtime Festival

* July 16-19, 2009 * Paonia, Colorado * www.dreamthefuture.org * www.treeleavesoracle.org

Our first time at Dreamtime Festival in Paonia was definitely a hit for some incredible designs and paintings, as well as some phenomenal oracles and tarot readings. It's true that we haven't been out as a booth to many festivals as of late, minus a few theme stations or camps at Apogaea, Burning Man, and a couple of local club gatherings. But its time to stir the cauldron of change as we evolve into a new blossom for the coming next few years. We decided Dreamtime would be the place to whisper the dream. Our primary bodypainting artist and diviner Leaf McGowan enchanted the space with his omens, oracles, and artwork; a collective of faeries, herbs, arts, crafts from our old Ruxton street shoppe were displayed along with Colachi Arts and their inspirational ritual boxes who shared our booth. While we didn't break even with the costs of the venue, as could be expected with today's recession and economic downturn, we had many visitors and made new friends. The photogallery below displays some of the bodypainting designs we brushed out ... with guest bodypainter Kathy Nutt who blew us away with her amazing work. (Thank you!!!)

painting of a tree
handpainted acryllic by Leaf McGowan

Leaf bodypainting tribal designs

( more bodypainting )

photo by Kathy McNutt
Face handpainted by Leaf McGowan
Arms handpainted by Kathy McNutt

Bodypainting Jam @ the Blue Sky Collective
* 9635 W. Colfax, Lakewood (Denver), Colorado * blueskycollective.org * 303-238-0959
Once a month usually on the 4th sunday at the Blue Sky Collective in Denver, local bodypainting artists gather to share their talent and art with those who attend ... Held in the Blue Sky Collective which resides in a beautiful historic building along West Colfax where people attend live music, poetry readings, RPG games, shop at a used bookstore, record/vinyl store, visit the artist co-op, get a dose of healing from the healers, dance in the dance studios, indulge in the candy and tea shoppe, or for a precise pinning within the acupuncture clinic. Always bustling with concerts, author readings, concerts, jams, poetry, tournaments, exhibits, life drawing circles, and classes you will always amaze yourself at this locale. Now while I have yet to explore these absolute treasures, I have attended and participated in the Body Paint Jam as a painter. It's a wonderful concept to get artists to network with one another and share the art as well as to create masterpieces. Everyone should drop on by! Amazing art walks through these doors!
( Read more... )

Saturday, 6th June 2009

Lake George, Colorado

Travelogue: Apogaea, Day 3 [ Apogaea - Colorado's Regional Burn, June 2009

Partying at the Crop Circle Cantina * Fawn and Kerri Anne dancing up a storm

Another morning rising early ... hanging in the hammock, enjoying the rising sun, and the multi-colored goats across the way. As Camp Chaos (Goes Capricious) with their technicolor baby goats that you could cuddle and learn about goat-raising. They threw milking lessons at 9 am and 5 pm each day so anyone could take some raw milk back to their camps to share.

Technicolor Goats

The group had another big breakfast and enjoyed catching up and social conversations as we were all pretty hungover from last night's parties. Noah wandered out in this risque' ninja turtle suit with his package hanging out ... too funny. Special Bacon breakfast up on the hill for the Apogaea newbies. In addition Mr. Mojo's had a Reggae Pancake and Bacon breakfast as well ... so no excuses for not having breakfast. Early, I started in on the painting, and I went for a half-gold, half-silver paint job for wandering around. Testing that "if you're painted solid gold you won't breathe and suffocate" myth and quite proved it to be innocent. Well, I did feel a little lightheaded, but I'm sure it was the sun and not the paint. I got to paint my youngest canvas ... a 2 year old who was very squirmy as I tried to paint straight outlines of the insect he wanted on his face. That was tough! Allison went for flames. The XPAT Alien Camp was having a rockin' party with booze aflowin' all day long. Had an incredible blast. Thank you Xpats! One of the top parties for the entire event! Hoop it Forward had their annual decorate and create your own hula-hoop workshop which I unfortunately missed as I was distracted elsewhere. Then come dark it was time for the sacrifice of the virgin to the Volcano as it opened up with ritual performances by Colorado's spectacular Fire Conclave as they spun wildly before and during the explosion of the volcano into embers ... dancing around the madness and wild partying all night long. What a blast!

Volcano burn

( more photos .. )

2nd Annual Colorado Beltania Festival: Day 2 and 3

www.beltanefestival.com * Parrish Ranch * Outside of Fort Collins, Colorado * Living Earth aka Highlands Ranch Pagan Meetup *

Friday-Sunday, May 8-10, 2009

"Living Earth" which is formerly known as "Highlands Ranch Pagan Meetup" has begun to host an annual celebration of the Pagan Sabbat of "Beltane" or "May Day". On their 2nd annual run of the three day festival, this nonprofit event on a private ranch brings festivity to the season with open rituals, classes, workshops, children's activities, and service projects. Beltania offered its attendees a large outdoor stage with some incredible acts, an indoor 3000 square foot lodge, hundreds of acres of outdoor space, restrooms with cold water showers, workshops, activities, rituals, a traditional Maypole dance, sweat lodge ceremonies, all-night drum circles, catered breakfasts/dinners, merchant area, RV/camper's hookups, wild camping area, quiet camping area, skyclad areas, a swimming river, and much more. Over the course of the three days, the festival saw over 700 guests in attendance.

May Pole Procession:

Read Day 1 Review

Day 2:

Saturday was the heartbeat of the festival. Saturday was a day of frolick for me so I didn't get to attend any of the workshops. Presented were workshops and classes on "Sacred Voice", "Exploring Feminine and Masculine Energies through Hatha Yoga", "The Charge of the Goddess", "Timing is Everything", "Magic and the 4 Elements with Wendy Rule", "Earth Vision Trance Mission", "Mead Making", "Becoming One with the Sun and Earth", "Interpretive Tarot Workshop",. with other activities such as "hayrides", "facepainting", "bodypainting", "breakfast", "Laughing Monkey Chant", "Kids Magic Show", dinner, and the rituals which I did get a chance to participate in such as the Maypole Procession, May Day Ritual, May Pole Dance, all night drum circle/bonfire, and the fabulous performances and concerts by "Skean Dubh", "Cheri Shanti", "Tuatha", "Wendy Rule", and "Lunar Fire". Hundreds attended the May Day ritual and Dance which brought fertile May Showers for the evening. Regardless with the pouring down rain, the concerts still prevailed with some amazing acts and a fantastic end performance with Lunar Fire. Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

Day 3:

Sunday saw a wrapping up of a fabulous festival with a few workshops such as "Men's Mysteries of the Bluff", "Wise Woman Traditional Herbal Medicine", "Druidry", and activities such as "Kids coloring", "Women's Mysteries Ritual", "Cuddle Celebration", an Open Drum Circle, Witnessing each other Ritual, Adults Only Skinny Dip, Yearbook, All ages River Splash, and a loving Mother's Day Ritual and Closing Rite. While many packed up early, the festivities still prevailed. The sun gleeming and the rain drenched grounds drying up ... peacocks babbling and festival-goers exchanging contact information. Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.

May Day Dance and Ritual:

2nd Annual Colorado Beltania Festival: Tree Leaves' Bodypainting

www.beltanefestival.com * Parrish Ranch * Outside of Fort Collins, Colorado * Living Earth aka Highlands Ranch Pagan Meetup *

Friday-Sunday, May 8-10, 2009

It was a last minute decision for The Tree Leaves' Oracle to decide to show up to Beltania 2009, and while pretty sure that entering as a last minute merchant/venue wouldn't fly, they figured they would try it anyhow. Of course, merchant row was too full, so it was just camping and festival fun. I decided to setup the camp anyhow, a place where people could come for free to paint themselves or get painted, just like we do at Apogaea and Burning Man. We were having too much fun running around dancing, frolicking, swimming, and merrymaking, but did get a few dynamic designs in ... here they are ....

Leaf as the "Green Man"
hand-painted with acryllic

Allison as the River Spirit
handpainted acryllic by Leaf

( more bodypainting )

Saturday, 09 May 2009
Parrish Ranch, Colorado

Rustling out of the tent rather early, dawn of the new morning, and the peacocks making their strange howls. Oh, did I mention how many peacocks are on the Parrish Ranch? Friggin' noisy. The meadows were sparkling with morning dew. I spent a good portion of the morning in the hammock. Pretty early on me and Allison pulled out the bodypaints and started to paint ... she assisted in painting me green as I was going for the Green Man for the May Day celebration, and I painted her as a river spirit. We had fun painting each other and a few others came by for a dose of painting. Painted Joshua and he added to my back a pretty wicked tree. Wandering around in the merchant area, a few soft-serve vanilla ice cream cones for the heat of the day, concerts on the green, frolicking in the woods, splashing and swimming in the river ... Why can't life just be like this? I thought my Green Man came out spectacular as did the River Spirit? Whatcha think? The concerts were good, and before long I was volunteering to be one of the 6 men to carry and plant the May pole with the May Queen straddled atop it. Think the ritual magic act of making fertility. For me, that would the prosperity of career, personal growth, and finances to be abundant this year. (I don't need another kid after all since i'm finished raising my one, so hoping fertility stays dry in that arena from these magical rites. Prosperity NOT fertility, or fertility of the wallet - that's fine. ;)

Leaf as the "Green Man"
hand-painted with acryllic

The May Pole procession was a hell lotta fun as we paraded the May Queen up and down the village streets, stopping every now and then to balance her as she managed not to fall off the pole the whole journey. Of course with princes to here both sides propping her up through her straddle job of the pole ... it would have been quite difficult. A comical and erotic planting of the pole into the hole brought traditional waves of the old days to its own blessing. Then the massive May Pole erected with a beautiful crown that the May Queen did plant, with hundreds of ribbons spiralling down from the top of the pole, hands in all by the attendees. The dance was quite lively, though was interrupted by the over 100 dancers getting confused with the weaving, and whether or not to weave under or over, and the music / drumming / and chanting was interrupted too many times during the course of the dance since it took forever. Continuity people! Keep the dancing flowing and the energy spiralling! Given those pitfalls, it still was an amazing rite and dance and the weave on the pole was spectacular even if the crown didn't fully come down the shaft. Many wore out through the dance and swapped or dropped out. I stayed for the continuous dance and glad I did from beginning to end, what a blessed time. May Days and May Poles have got to be my most favorite rite and specialty, making May Day my most favorite holiday next to Samhain. Magical. Mystical. Orgasmic.

May Day dance and ritual

After the May Day dance and more ice cream, a cool splash in the river, we were soon off to our camp to make dinner. I made veggie bacon BLTAs (Veggie Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avacado) sandwiches for me, Allison, and two other guests. Then on to the Absinthe for some dancing with the Green Fairy as we held our own little Absinthe Ritual for fairy sight. The rains started coming down pretty heavy, threatening to interrupt with the spectacular concerts and performances planned for the evening. I'm guessing these "fertile" rains were no doubt prompted by the magic we wove this afternoon. Fun and Frolick in the sun soon led to frisky fodder in the rain. This is the beauty of variety and spice involved with heathenism. So we sought refuge in Damian's tent to do some absinthe ritual fun with him. Then braving the rain, bodypaint melting through the course of the wandering, me and Allison made it to the main stage to catch Wendy Rule, Lunar Fire, and others for some incredible performances. The magic and awe of these performers made the rain invisible as we stripped down to the skin and watched the paint wash off of us. Before i knew it I was paint free - better than several showers at home. Dancing, flirting, and frolick ... the night was alive. After Lunar Fire's performance, and soaking attempts to stay warm by the fire afterwards, I gave in after the music was done to find warmth in the tent and calling it a night. What a spectacular day!

Allison as the River Spirit
handpainted acryllic by Leaf

( more story and photos )

Friday, 08 May 2009
Parrish Ranch, Colorado

Awaking at 6:00 am with the task of finishing packing as I was soon off to Beltania Festival a few hours north, up by Fort Collins, Colorado. I packed up my car in preparation for possibly setting up a bodypainting tent with hopes I'd get in as a last minute merchant entry. With this upcoming layoff, I had no idea whether or not the end of this month would bring unemployment, and therefore need to make as much money as possible. Plus, end of July ... me and Allison are looking into taking a 2-3 week trip to Ireland and Scotland, so much to save up for.

dusty road to Parrish Ranch

Hitting Denver, I had to have a pitstop off for a late breakfast / early lunch at my favorite fast food restaurant - healthy Japanese fast-food "Tokyo Joes". Peanut Skewers and the Unagi Bowl, my usual, and hit the spot very nicely. Downtown Denver was a mess, as they were setting up for some street festival so had to take an awkward detour around to get to the downtown branch of Joe's.

It's been a long time since I've been to a specific "Pagan" festival. Its been all Burning Man, music festivals, art festivals, and Faerie festivals as of late. It would be nice to hit some spirituality this weekend and good rituals, even if not my exact branch of faiths. Plus May Day is my most favorite holiday next to Samhain. I certainly need Fertility and Prosperity magic in my life right now with this upcoming lay-off. Weave some magic to get some green going. Literally. Of course, as usual with these sorts of festivals, down through some rural area and roads, to some ranch in the middle of nowhere - always wondering if you are on the right road as you rarely see other cars until you actually approach the event - half/ass confused where you are driving. This one was no different. Soon enough though, Parrish Ranch loomed up ahead of me, seeing numerous cars, and pulling up to the gate with festive-faerie or witchy types greeting you with directions of where to park and register. Since I wasn't pre-registered, I actually got to drive on ahead, and line-up with registration. Volunteers at the booth a bit unfamiliar with the tasks assigned to them, stumbled along to get me my guide, wristband, volunteer shift, and directions. I checked about vending, but alas, after speaking to a couple of people, finally found the right person to discover they had no open spaces for additional vendors, and it was a no-go. Oh well, time to just enjoy the festival. Sucks I over-packed bodypainting / tarot reading gear. I'm sure I'll still break it out for fun even if not for income.

Main stage

Drove out to the "Wild Woods" meadows where the all-night partying and drum circles would be to find a suitable campsite for me and Allison (who would be joining me later when she got off work). I camped next to a cool fellow Burner named Damian (didn't expect to find other Burners at this festival) who was setting up a "Cuddle Camp" tent. Some cute girls camped next to me helped me bring some of my gear over to setup. That was really nice of them. I was lucky to discover that I had a moving-dolly oddly enough in my car that was very useful to move gear to the camp. I decided to setup bodypainting afterall, maybe for donations or who-knows. After setting up camp, I bodypainted myself as a tribal elf. As I wandered through the merchant area, ran into Tiffany who makes some of the most amazing costume masks, elven ears, and costume accessories. I prepared to purchase some leather elven ears from her, but she insisted that I trade her a tarot reading for them. Sweet! I attended the Opening Ritual and breathed in the fresh magical air. I had hoped to attend the "Sacred Body Painting" workshop by the river, but got distracted by some very pretty girls, and never made it to the location. Some lounging in my hammock, I headed off to the stage area to catch "Ariana Saraha and Friends". While watching them, had a feeling that Allison was arriving, so ran over to the registration booth, and sure enough, she was checking in. Settled her into camp, and went to watch the "Mountain Trance Medicine Band". The concert was followed by a Full Moon ritual which was enchanting and charging. We met a few other friends who joined us for wandering around out and about. The final concert for the evening was "Muse of Turiya" which was pretty good. Then all night drum circle in the Wild West Meadow. It lacked energy when I first got there, and given I was exhausted, I called it an early night while Allison and the group of new friends went partying there most of the night. Good times!

Chillin' in the Hammock

( more story and photos )

Part 1: Lady of the Rhine, Quest of Ring:

• 
  Chapter 1: Preface
  
• Chapter 1: Gargrave to Malham
  
• Chapter 1b: Night 1 in Malham
  
• Chapter 2: The Faerie Queen of Janet Foss
  
• Money Trees, Folklore, Faeries
  
• Janet's Foss and the Queen of the Faeries
  
• Chapter 3: Scrambling Gordale Scar and looking for the Roman
  
• Chapter 4: Malham Tarn, Cove, & Beck; Comb Scar; Sacred Pools
  
• Chapter 4b: Lady Marion, Villages of Malham & Settle; The Naked Man ...
  
• Chapter 5a: The Trek from Malham to Arncliff along the Monk's Trail ...
  
• Chapter 5b: Kettlewell & The 100 Dwarves ... An Ingredient of the Spell gained
  
• Chapter 6a: Kettlewell to Grassington ... back to the Royal Family
  
• Chapter 6b: The Ruins of Bolton Abbey, More Money trees, Dairy 99, and Curry .
  
• Chapter 7: The Road to Avebury and Stonehenge ... breaking the Enchantment ...
  

Part 2: Lady of the Rhine, Quest of Key:

• 
  Chapter 1: Preface & Rock Art messages about the key (Colorado, USA)
  
• Chapter 1B: Packing up at Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado, USA)
  
• Chapter 2: Colorado's Snow Storm (Denver, Colorado, USA)
  
• Chapter 2B: Making the Air Dragon Court (Denver, Colorado, USA)
  
• Chapter 3: Arriving in Dusseldorf (Dusseldorf, Germany)
  
• Chapter 3B: Settling into Dusseldorf, the Kas Bah, the Pretty Vacant (Dusseldorf, Germany)
  
• Chapter 4A - Fresh Bread, Dusseldorf, The Adventure Party Gathers, Xanten (Xanten, Germany)
  
• Chapter 4B: Xanten Archaeological Museum; the Roman Baths, Ancient Keys (Xanten, Germany)
  
• Chapter 4C - Xanten Archaeological Park; the Temple, the Amphitheater (Xanten, Germany)
  
• Chapter 5 - Exploring Dusseldorf, Games, Alcohol (Dusseldorf, Germany)
  
• Chapter 6 - Exploring Dusseldorf, K21, THe Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising (Dusseldorf, Germany)
  
• Chapter 7, Morning - Exploring Köln, Köln Cathedral, April Fools (Cologne, Germany)
  
• Chapter 7, Afternoon - Exploring Koln, Chocolate Museum (Cologne, Germany)
  
• Chapter 7, Late Afternoon/Evening - Exploring Koln, German Roman Museum, Italian Restaurant (Cologne, Germany)
  
• Chapter 8 - Dusseldorf, Gothic clubbing at Pulp (Duisburg, Germany)
  
• Chapter 9 - Quest to Worms, Searching for the Key, Faun Concert (Worms, Germany)
  
• Chapter 10, Part A - The Keys of Worms, The Nibelungen (Worms, Germany)
  
• Chapter 10, Part B - Nürnberg: Graveyards, Gamers, and Drinking (Nurnberg, Germany)
  
• Chapter 11, Part A - ‘Palmbosch’n', Lichtenau and Castles (Nurnberg, Germany)
  
• Chapter 11, Part B - Lord Christian’s Farm, Ansbach, the Palace … (Ansbach, Germany)
  
• Chapter 12, Part A - Lord Christian’s Farm, Leaving Ansbach (Ansbach, Germany)
  
• Chapter 12, Part B - Wurzburg and Castle Marionburg, Return to Dusseldorf (Ansbach, Germany)
  
• Chapter 13, Part A (4/7) - Duesseldorf, Planning, the Key, Keinohrhasen, The Secret (Dusseldorf, Germany)
  
• Chapter 14, Part A (4/8) - Contemplations on Life and Death; losses of friends (Dusseldorf, Germany)
  
• Chapter 14, Part B (4/8) - Off to Amsterdam, Zeeburg, hostel (Amsterdam, Holland)
  
• Chapter 14, Part C (4/8) - Amsterdam, Red Light District (Amsterdam, Holland)
  
• Chapter 14, Part D (4/8) - Amsterdam, Waag, Dam Square, Cafes, Fair, RLD Tour (Amsterdam, Holland)
  
• Chapter 15, Part A (4/9) - The New Amsterdam Free Tour (Amsterdam, Holland)
  
• Chapter 15, Part B (4/9) - The New Amsterdam Free Tour, pt. 2 - Begijnhof, Amsterdam Miracle, Dutch Courtyards & Paintings, Multatuli, The Bird (Amsterdam, Holland)
  
• Chapter 15, Part C (4/9) - Amsterdam Pub Crawl (Amsterdam, Holland)
  
• Chapter 16, Part A (4/10) -Leaving Amsterdam for Mons, Belgium to the “Trolls et Legendes” festival … (Mons, Belgium)
  
• Chapter 16, Part B (4/10) - “Trolls et Legendes” festival … Day 1 (Mons, Belgium)
  
• Chapter 17, Part A (4/11) - Legos, “Trolls et Legendes” festival … Day 2: The Fair, Artists (Mons, Belgium)
  
• Chapter 17, Part B (4/11) - “Trolls et Legendes” Festival - Market, Woodland, Faeries (Mons, Belgium)
  
• Chap 17, Pt C (4/11) - “Trolls et Legendes” Festival - Concerts & the Sacred Key (Mons, Belgium)
  
• :: FIN ::
  

Trying to post this days journey and stuck on this folk custom .... Does anyone know the answer or history of this practice?

Lichtenau, Germany

Question: Does anyone know what this custom is of spreading fresh foliage across the doorway on April 5th?

Lichtenau, Germany

Black Friday, 28 Novembre, 2008

Boulder, Colorado

Ah, what a day. The story to be told on Black Friday leading to irresponsibility and debauchery. Uggh. I have a headache just thinking about it. The morning awaking in the cottage, nestled up against Cheyenne Mountain, with snow covering the ground and the roads a bit icy, deer prancing in the yard looking for splotches of grass peering through the icy cover. I packed up my red coat with white fluffy lining, white beard, and red santa hat ... bag of misfit toys and packed it into the Matrix. Awoke and rustled Doug from the couch and off in a jiffy we were in Manitou to meet Jess and Cody for crepes and goodies at the European Cafe. Delicious. A walk around downtown Manitou Springs to find they were not really amped or open for Black Friday. A sigh of relief, and off in a bolt, I was onwards to Denver to meet up with Viktoria for a massage to start out the day. We grabbed some veggie cuisine at the Krishna temple Govinda buffet and after a delicious fill and a muscle relaxing massage, was off to Denise's to don the red coat. Vodka bottle in hand I was released of any responsibilities as was given the gift of a non-drinking designated driver who would care for Santa in his plight of drunken debauchery. 'Tis always a danger when Sinterklaas is given a sleigh he doesn't have to drive and a bagful of booze and misfit toys where there is no limitation or responsibility of care, and soon enough felt the pangs of that evolution, as he ended his night hugging a tree as a bad santa would when the booze doesn't agree with the body in it flows.

A short drive from Broomfield to Boulder, we found the La Casa Mexican restaurant in the strip mall where the Santa Clauses and Elves were to gather. Bags of candy canes and naughty toys in hand, we walked through the doors to find a handful of santas already imbibing in the two-for-one Margarita's and beer that they offered exclusively to those donned in Xmas cheer. Afterall Thanksgiving is over, and its time for the red caped wonders to unwind and prepare for December's payload of chimney swooping and gift giving chores. Every 10 minutes the restaurant was invaded by mystical misfits of North Pole origin. Some of the patrons who were seated in the territory were soon outnumbered and scared from their seats, unaware what toil was soon to take place. Drinking and merriment with chorus of ho-ho-ho's; Santa was in da house with Elvis santas, credit card santas, elves, reindeer, and comical santas galore. A few children dining with their parents were confused as to why there were so many santas together some quite frightenely dazed by the red glare and glimmer. Especially as misfit toy plunder was dished out on the tables for each santa to grab and add to their bags.

The fearless Santa leader with antique boom-box in hand, led the red crowd into the parking lot for some mischievious broadcasts of bad santa humor and songs as we paraded away to the city mall around the corner. A security truck spied the sleigh of 75+ santas entering in Macey's and organized their ambush for our exit on out. Parading through Macey's - quite dead for Black Friday, we hit santa's booth and invaded it for a photo session, then on out of the store with intent of visiting and shopping around the rest of the mall, was met with intense discrimination for being red skinned and white haired ... a security cop with a cowboy hat tried to stop the crowd and warn for us NOT to give out anything to anyone. Aggravated and irritated that this crowd wasn't paying him much attention, told the merry-makers this is private property and we were not welcome. So off we complied and deciding not to wait for the bus, headed over to a bar afterwhich security, for some unknown reason, since we were listening, called the cops and sent them flashing after us. Full in our right, to dress as we wish, and walk where we wanted, we headed on off for more margaritas and salsa. Dance party in the bar with frolick and flirtations flying.

From the bar to the bus stop, where 75+ of us piled in like sardines onto the public bus metro on towards Pearl Street Mall. The few bus patrons in wide-eyed amazement and claustophobia were quite anxious to get off on the next stop and the merry santas and elves imbibed in a dance party as the bus crawled and bolted for the walking mall. Upon the famous Pearl Street Mall we invaded, dancing in merriment to totally wrong songs. Handing out misfit and naughty toys to those caught in our path with anquished looks of dismay or amusement to the items passed out. XXXmas carols followed as we danced in a circle around the city fountain and Xmas light displays. We made out way into and through a hotel lobby, and onward through another as we invaded a posh Salsa dance party - with santas dancing and spinning to the live band a'playing, drinking and handing out more toys of desire. Good times and good sins were soon to be had.

From the hotel we wandered to more bars and pubs, by this point I had 6 margaritas, 6 oz. of vodka mixed with energy drink, and several shots of rum - my head was spinning and I was quite cheery. A pool-shark fratboy was not quite happy with the red invasion of his bar as he spouted out much dismay about WTF was going on, ready to brawl until his friend pacified him - as the friend was ready to join our crowd and flirt with our elves. Before I knew it, as we were off to another bar, I wandered outside and embraced a tree out front, not remembering much more, but quite thankful that my designated driver took good care of me as the Santas were successful with their snow dances bringing on the first heavy snow of the season ... 'twas a good twenty-seventh night before Xmas ....

Photo by BoulderSantaCon.org
Me drunk n' tree hugging

( more photos )

www.myspace.com/coloradospringszombiewalk

Come join us in your tattered clothes, blood splattered skin, and do a foot dragging crawl down Tejon Street, in downtown Colorado Springs for a zombie crawl you'll never forget ... Meet between 7:00 and 7:30 pm for costume assistance, and 8 pm sharp for the beginning of the crawl, as we awaken from the depths of the Underground Pub (corner of Nevada and Kiowa (110 Nevada)) for a walk up and down the sidewalks of Tejon. We'll return to the Underground for social fun and a 80's zombie dance party at 9 pm to the spinning of DJ Gypsy with drink specials. Kids welcome pre-crawl, and for the crawl, after crawl welcome in the Underground until 9 pm. At 9 pm - It's an 18+ party, $5 cover for 18-21 and free for 21+.

( map and rules )

The Dead Arise in Manitou Springs, Mass plague begins, Citizens urged to stay indoors

Manitou Springs, Saturday 4th Octobre 2008
Herald Press

It was around 3:00 pm when bypassers noticed a handful of blood-splattered individuals in historic Soda Springs park, downtown Manitou this last saturday when they called an ambulance. By the time the ambulance arrived, the injured victims were gone. Apparently there was a blood bath in Soda Springs park. These were not ordinary public but apparently some rambling individuals from a nearby Halloween party where a vial of the deadly Tetrodotoxin virus from Haiti was spilled brought to the party by the mad hatter Doctor, infecting all the party goers, causing their flesh to disintegrate, splay blood, and thirst for blood and brains. As these recently dead victims of the virus crawled out of the manor where the party was held, they made their way to the local cemetery, somehow infecting the ground causing the dead to arise from the earth. They bound together and made their way to Soda Springs park, infecting everyone they touched and attacked, biting and gnawing on the flesh of those around them, killing them, and re-animating them into flesh seeking zombies joining their mob as they crawled down Manitou Avenue. Shoppers and bystanders did not know what to think, especially as several standing near them were attacked and converted. A mad doctor led the undead into the Ancient Mariner pub where they invaded, chomping on brains, and drinking more toxins as they convened about a mass take-over of Denver and Colorado Springs. Not fully understanding why there were people out there to kill them some were concerned and scuttered off to the shadows of society to remain in hiding. A group re-convened at a cottage in the woods under the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain and N.O.R.A.D., surrounded by private governmental property as they sought refuge from the zombie hunters to watch Resident Evil: Apocalypse while imbibing more toxins and food. An interesting day and evening, these zombies, who now feel alienated from society, are still out there and planning more invasions to spread the virus. Citizens are asked to stay indoors in the evening and avoid congested areas in the larger metropolises of Colorado Springs and Denver. A total of 67 different zombies was spied and counted from media taken of the incident.

The undead walk down Manitou Avenue Manitou Springs 2nd Annual Zombie Crawl October 4th, 2008 4:00 pm Manitou Springs, CO

Banana Bride attacks Spiderman Brad and eats his brains Manitou Springs 2nd Annual Zombie Crawl October 4th, 2008 4:00 pm Manitou Springs, CO

A recently risen corpse from the grave Manitou Springs 2nd Annual Zombie Crawl October 4th, 2008 4:00 pm Manitou Springs, CO

Bride and Groom, still happy, yet Dead Manitou Springs 2nd Annual Zombie Crawl October 4th, 2008 4:00 pm Manitou Springs, CO

The core contaminants
Manitou Springs 2nd Annual Zombie Crawl
October 4th, 2008 4:00 pm Manitou Springs, CO

( more photos )

Manitou Springs 2nd Annual * 2008 Zombie Crawl
Saturday, October 4th, 2008: promptly 4:00 pm.

Meet either in the Soda Springs park or along the sidewalk if already activities in the park, near the Mate' Factory on Manitou Avenue.

Volunteers will be there at 3:30 to assist with makeup, but as blood and makeup is limited and donation based, we ask everyone to show up pre-zombified.

At 4:00 pm, we'll act like the walking dead, dragging feet and moaning, processing along Manitou Ave, up and down the sidewalks. Please abide by all traffic laws, as you will be responsible for your own actions as anyone would walking down the street.

This event is a free-form, flash mob with no organizer, but various artist sponsors, theater students, and adlib performers.

The procession will be roughly 20-45 minutes long. So don't be late!!!

Gathering at a local eatery afterwards for fun and festivities ... We'll be having our Zombie after-crawl get together at the Ancient Mariner right after the crawl for food and drink. Kids welcome till 9.

Various get togethers in the evening to celebrate zombie style ...

Map will be posted on the Myspace page by Thursday evening ....
www. myspace. com/manitouzombiecrawl

Click Here To View Event and RSVP

Thanks Rita!!!

Free-Range and Organic Meat, Eggs, and Dairy Products: Conning Consumers?

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A Gallup poll revealed that most Americans support the better treatment of animals who are factory-farmed for their meat, milk, and eggs.(1) As people become more aware of the horrors of factory farming, companies are responding by labeling their products “all-natural,” “free-range,” “free-roaming,” or “organic.” But these labels are misleading. Most “free-range” animals are still mutilated and forced to endure long trips to slaughterhouses without any food or water. They all have their lives violently cut short and are denied the opportunity to engage in everything that is natural and important to them.

‘Free-Range’

Companies want consumers to believe that products labeled “free-range” or “free-roaming” are derived from animals who spent their short lives outdoors, enjoying sunshine, fresh air, and the company of other animals. Labels—other than “organic”—on egg cartons are not subject to any government regulations, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not regulate “free-range” or “free-roaming” claims for beef products.(2)

The USDA requires that “free-range” animals have access to outdoor areas, but there is no provision for how long they must spend or how much room they must have outside. The Associated Press reported that the USDA’s regulations don’t “require the birds to actually spend time outdoors, only to have access.”(3) Even if a farmer opened the door to a coop with thousands of birds inside and then closed it before any chickens went outside, he would still be able to use the free-range label.(4)

Because of genetic manipulation, even if an outdoor area is available, many chickens do not take advantage of the so-called “access.” One farm expert explains that chickens raised for meat in the United States are “not bred for mobility. They’re bred for hogging down food” and adds that because they simply cannot walk, the birds rarely venture far from the feed trough.(5) A study of about 800,000 chickens kept on free-range farms in the United Kingdom found that even though U.K. regulations require birds to have access to outdoor areas for at least 8 hours a day, “the maximum number observed outside during daylight hours at any one time was less than 15% of the total flock.” The study explained that “chickens prefer ranging areas with trees [and] they avoid bright sun” and that “[a] wide open field is simply not a preferred habitat.” The researchers explained that domesticated chickens, much like their wild ancestors, need a habitat that provides shelter from wind, sun, and predators and that free-range operations should provide birds with more protection if they want to entice them to roam outside the barns.(6)

Regardless of what the egg cartons may say, most hens raised for their eggs are subjected to cramped, filthy conditions until their egg production begins to wane—when they are about 2 years old—then they are slaughtered.(7) More than 100 million “spent” hens are killed in slaughterhouses every year.(8) When they are not being raised for their eggs or flesh, chickens can live for more than a decade.(9) Male chicks are also victims: Every year, millions of male chicks are killed—usually in a high-speed grinder called a “macerator”—because they are worthless to the egg industry.(10,11)

'Organic’

Meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products labeled “organic” have been regulated by the USDA since 2002 and must “come from animals [who] are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.”(12) Farms, processors, and distributors must be inspected by the USDA before they are allowed to use the “organic” label. However, only 1 percent of dairy cows and less than 1 percent of chickens are raised in accordance with these standards.(13) One cattle rancher complained, “Organic is a straightjacket with too many constraints.”(14)

The USDA cautions consumers that the “organic” label should not be confused with or likened to “natural” or any other label, and it “makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food.”(15)

Like the “free-range” label, the “organic” label does not guarantee that animals were treated any better than animals raised in conventional factory farms. An eyewitness revealed that on a so-called organic farm that advertised that its hens were raised in a “natural setting,” the birds were actually crammed “wall to wall—6,800 chickens with one rooster for every hundred hens. They never set foot outside.”(16)

Other Labels Regulated by the USDA
None of these labels addresses animals’ living conditions or their welfare during transport or slaughter:

• “Certified”: Meat that has been stamped with this label has been “evaluated” by the USDA “for class, grade, or other quality characteristics.”(17)

• “Natural”: Use of this label is permitted if the product contains “no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed.”(18)

• “No Hormones”: This label applies only to beef. Since hormones are not supposed to be given to pigs or chickens, pork and poultry products cannot legally be tagged with this label without the disclaimer “Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.”(19)
• “No Antibiotics”: This label can be used on beef and poultry products, provided that the producer supplies “sufficient documentation … that the animals were raised without antibiotics.”(20)



Industry-Sponsored Programs

The Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP), a program that the National Pork Board offers to U.S. pork producers, is a voluntary program for farmers “to objectively assess and benchmark the care and welfare of their pigs”; the program is not enforced and does not offer farmers any incentive for implementing its standards.(21)



The United Egg Producers (UEP) devised a scheme to use an “Animal Care Certified” label that was supposed to indicate that hens were treated humanely and inspected daily, but legal action forced UEP to remove this misleading label. Instead of treating hens better, the UEP has now begun using a new label that reads, “United Egg Producers Certified.”(22) This program is also not regulated or enforced, and investigations have proved that companies using this label do not treat chickens any differently than conventional factory farms do. Visit eggscam.com to view photos taken at a Maryland farm that stamped its egg cartons with the “Animal Care Certified” label.


What You Can Do

Because there are so many different labels with inconsistent definitions and regulations, it’s difficult to determine which products are the most “humane.” Since none of the labels applies to transport or slaughter and none prohibits bodily mutilations such as debeaking, tail-docking, ear-notching, or dehorning, the worst cruelty continues to be completely unregulated.



From the “free-range” hen who smells fresh air for the first time on her way to the slaughterhouse to the “humanely raised” dairy cow whose male calf is taken from her and sold to veal farmers, all animals who are raised for food suffer. The only truly humane option is to choose vegan alternatives to meat, eggs, and dairy products. Call 1-888-VEG-FOOD or visit GoVeg.com to order a free vegetarian starter kit that contains information on faux meat, alternatives to eggs, and vegan cheese.


References

1) The Gallup Organization, “Public Lukewarm on Animal Rights,” 21 May 2003.

2) Food Safety and Inspection Service, “Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms,” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Aug. 2006.

3) Jeremy Iggers, “Demand Increasing for Free-Range and Organic Chickens,” Associated Press, 19 Jul. 2003.

4) Charles Stuart Platkin, “Basics of Meat Labels, Part II,” The York Dispatch 6 Sep. 2006.

5) Judith Blake, “Advocates Say Both Chickens and Consumers Benefit With Free Range,” Seattle Times 26 Aug. 2003.

6) Marian Stamp Dawkins et al., “What Makes Free-Range Broiler Chickens Range? In Situ Measurement of Habitat Preference,” Animal Behaviour 66 (2003): 151-60.

7) Tuan A. Meunier et al., “Commercial Egg Production and Processing,” Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Perdue University, 4 Apr. 2003.

8) Barbara Olejnik, “Dwindling Spent Hen Disposal Outlets Causes Concern,” Poultry Times 15 Sep. 2003.

9) Molly Snyder Edler, “Chicken Love Leads to Book Deal,” OnMilwaukee.com, 26 Sep. 2002.

10) Joy A. Mench and Paul B. Siegel, “Poultry,” South Dakota State University, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 11 Jul. 2001.
11) John Summers, “Sexing Chicks as 7-Day-Old Embryos,” Poultry Industry Council Factsheet #90, 1996.

12) Agricultural Marketing Service, “Organic Food Standards and Labels: The Facts,” The National Organic Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Apr. 2002.

13) Economic Research Service, “Organic Production,” U.S. Department of Agriculture, 15 Dec. 2006.

14) Doreen Muzzi, “Cattleman Wants to Bypass Middleman,” Delta Farm Press, 14 Oct. 2003.

15) National Organic Program.

16) Karen Davis, “Free Range Poultry and Eggs,” United Poultry Concerns, Inc., 11 Feb. 2004.

17) Food Safety and Inspection Service.

18) Food Safety and Inspection Service.

19) Food Safety and Inspection Service.

20) Food Safety and Inspection Service.

21) National Pork Board “Swine Welfare Assurance Program,” Pork.org, 2006.

22) Nelson Hernandez, “Egg Label Changed After Md. Group Complains. Federal Inquiry Into Advocates’ Charge of False Advertising Is Dropped,” The Washington Post 4 Oct. 2005.