The Infamous Ink

I haven’t posted in awhile; primarily because I haven’t had time nor anything intelligent to say. However, I lost my ferret, Asriel, and wanted to reproduce a post from sayahda.com. It is a brief description of the symbolism a ferret has and why I am adopting it as my personal totem.

The Ferret

The ferret is a member of the weasel family. They are happy playful animals with the curiosity of the raccoon and the gentleness of a kitten. Archaeological and historical sources suggest that ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years. Historical documents from Greece mention the ferret about 450 BC, and Roman documents mention the use of ferrets to hunt rabbits at about the time of Christ. Adept at tunnel hunting it is believed that the ferret was used by the Egyptians as well as farmers and mariners to control rodent populations in barns and on ships. However, the history of the ferrets domestication is speculative without actual proof giving this little animal an illusive quality.

Ferrets are opportunists They will steal anything they can drag away hiding it in a safe place to be used at a later date. Intelligent and crafty this little animal teaches us how to use our ingenuity to create a safe haven for ourselves. They remind us to stock up on necessary provisions that might be needed. Always well prepared for any situation that might appear the ferret is a helpful ally in times of hardship.

The ferrets eyes point forward straight down their nose. Extremely focused on what is in front of them they remind us to stay centered on our goals to reach a desired outcome. Ferrets hold the power of observation. Their keen sense of smell coupled with their ability to see clearly in the darkness links them to the underworld where the secrets of creation are stored. Its intuition is sharp and its sensitivity acute. Ferret has the ability to see and know the hidden meaning behind all things and can assist those with this medicine in understanding themselves, their lives and the experiences they have more clearly.

Those with this totem need to remember to use all of their senses equally. If this medicine is underdeveloped the tendency towards tunnel vision is common. Rigid consciousness creates unnecessary worry and anxiety so caution is advised. Playful activities and a lighthearted attitude is helpful.

When frightened or excited the ferrets tail bushes up and a musty scent is excreted. Although this scent does repel some predators the ferret does not feel completely safe until it has burrowed deep inside its tunnel. In man this symbolizes the need of a secure home life. A place for reflection and nourishment is mandatory for those with this totem.

Ferrets are incredibly fast and agile and show us how to move with lightning speed to avoid danger. Do you need to move more quickly in some aspect of your life? Are you stuck in rigid thought patterns that limit your view of the bigger picture? Have you created a safe haven for yourself? Is your power of observation a hindrance or a help?

Always remember that the ferret is a powerful ally and can help you discover a hidden part of yourself. Buried deep beneath the surface are the answers to life’s mysteries. If you are having trouble understanding some part of your life invite the ferret into your meditation, listen to what it has to tell you and then act accordingly.

Urban Spelunking

I haven’t figured out how to directly post images to the site so, forgive me; but, if you click on the hypertext a psychogeographic map of the Chicago Urban Spelunking League’s first adventure of the summer should open in another window.  If you have problems please let us know.

The Infamous Ink

The South East Environmental Task Force or SETF is a not-for-profit community advocacy group located in the Chicago neighborhood of Hegewisch. The group, in its current form, is relatively new as it developed out of several groups that were all striving for similar changes in city and state policy concerning land use, open space and rampant ecological problems. It originally started out, according the organization’s webpage, as an “arm of State Representatives Clem Balanoff’s office,” in order to coordinate the efforts of more than two-dozen community groups “to stop a garbage incinerator from being built in the area”[i]. Once the incinerators were stopped, the members of SETF “continued to function on a voluntary basis” to prevent further environmentally destructive policies and land use proposals including Mayor Daley’s proposed Lake Calumet Airport[ii].

In 1994 SETF sought and was granted an incorporated status and has continued to organize Chicago’s southeast side neighborhoods (including those of historic Pullman and Hegewisch) and urban suburbs against landfill expansions and future waste facility development; further ecological degradation of Hegewisch Marsh, Wolf Lake, Lake Calumet, the Calumet River System and other bodies of water/wetlands. SETF has also played a leading roll in promoting progressive and ecologically sustainable redevelopment of existing brownfields. In 1999 SETF was granted 501(c)3 or not-for-profit status and was able to hire a full time staff of urban planners, ecologists, researchers and lobbyists[iii].

In addition to advocating for its own members and stewards, SETF maintains a close relationship with other important community organizations, leaders, businesses and educational institutions including Chicago State University, Kent College of Law, Ford Motor Company, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, The Sierra Club of Illinois, The Chicago Steel Heritage Project and the City of Chicago. In 2005, SETF was granted the “Environmental Hero of the Year” award by Illinois Lieutenant Pat Quinn; and, in 2006 it proved its “environmental heroism” once again by securing the first ever $750,000 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service[iv].

The $750,000 grant was used to help fund the joint efforts of SETF, The Chicago Architectural Foundation and Ford Motor Company to further develop plans for the recently approved Ford Calumet Environmental Center located near Hegewisch Marsh. Much of the grant money went toward the removal of invasive or non-native species, the replanting of native species, biological and ecological research and community education programs. The center, once built, will act as a cultural, educational, conservation and research facility open to both the public and academics[v].

With the need for more ecological forethought in public policy and urban planning, it is good to know that organizations like SETF exist. Not only does their Executive Director, Alan Mammoser, have the southeast side’s environmental concerns close at heart but he understands the need to preserve those cultural nodes that have led to the ecological mishaps that, in turn, led to SETF’s founding. Mr. Mammoser and SETF also understand the need for communities (and especially young people) to take accountability for their own and our city’s less than sterling ecological footprint(s). According to SETF’s own mission statement they will “continue to serve both children and adults through [their] Civic and Environmental Education program[s]. [And] hope to see Southeast Side residents educated about issues that affect the health of their environment, be able to contribute to the redevelopment of the region, and respond to environmental threats”[vi].

A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.

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Your credit card company always seems to be screwing you over, doesn
’t it? They charge you an exorbitant interest rate and then penalize you with fees for being unable to meet your minimum payments. They send you those convenient little cash advance checks and then include the nasty details in print so fine that you can barely even find it….

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The first time Li Gengxuan saw the dump trucks from the nearby factory pull into his village, he couldn’t believe what happened. Stopping between the cornfields and the primary school playground, the workers dumped buckets of bubbling white liquid onto the ground. Then they turned around and drove right back through the gates of their compound

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