An important centennial is a terrible thing to waste.  Some historic anniversaries can change the way we look at life and help us reevaluate our values and behavior.  One such anniversary arrives on January 11.  On that day a century ago, a group of women walked out of a textile mill to march in the streets of Lawrence, Massachusetts.  During the following days and weeks, thousands of workers, most of them immigrant women, joined them.Massachusetts militiamen with fixed bayonets surround a group of strikers. (Wikimedia)

The strikers were led by a radical young union, the Industrial Workers of the World, but their demands were humble: a reduction working hours from 56 to 54 hours a week and a pay raise of two cents an hour—from 16 to 18 cents.

The strike lasted for two months. The workers marched daily, singing union anthems, and later listening to organizers. They faced clubs, bayonets, and frequent arrests.  Many were hauled off to jail, children in tow.  One, Annie LoPizzo, was shot and killed by the police.

Mill owners remained unmoved.  But national sympathy for the impoverished strikers grew. Workers as far away as New York and Vermont took in the strikers’ children to harbor them from violence, hunger and hardship. American newspapers were moved to support the workers’ cause.  Finally, in March, the mill owners cried uncle, conceding to the strike demands.

The strike is commonly referred to as the “Bread and Roses” strike, because some women were said to have held up a banner declaring, “We want bread, and roses, too!”

Judy Collins popularized a song about the strike, titled, of course, “Bread and Roses.”

Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew,

Yes, it is bread we fight for but we fight for roses too!

James Oppenheim’s poem, from which the song was taken, was actually published before the Lawrence strike and was inspired by another strike.  One verse would make it a suitable anthem for the Occupy protestors:

No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes…

The final line:

Hearts starve as well as bodies, give us bread but give us roses.

Hearts starve as well as bodies.  We do not live by bread alone.  It’s an old message with wellsprings deep in our religious traditions, and one the Bread and Roses centennial calls back to our attention.  And it’s a message we should not forget. 

For half a century after the Lawrence strike, Americans fought for both higher wages—bread—and shorter hours—roses. Time to smell the roses.  Time for “art and love and beauty,” time for families, for nature, for learning, for friends and community, for reflection, rest and regeneration, time to meet non-material needs that deliver happiness, time to love and be loved.  Yet somehow, we came to believe we could live on “bread” (stuff) alone, and the roses are left to wilt.  

At one time, American workers had the highest pay and the shortest working hours of any people in the world. But these days, the American worker hears this: “You need to work more hours, for less pay. Or your job goes overseas.” It is the old laissez faire refrain: Let the unregulated market determine wages and work hours.

You get what you measure.  And we have neglected to measure non-material sources of happiness.  Our prime economic indicator of success—the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—measures neither real bread nor roses, but only what we spend on final products and services. If it is bought and sold it counts; otherwise, it’s worth nothing.

Crash your Escalade and end up with insurance, legal, medical and repair bills, and you’ve had a stellar GDP day. Walk in the woods, volunteer, garden, spend time with your kids, and you’ve done nothing economically useful, despite the happiness these activities provide. Robert Kennedy got it right back in 1968. He observed that the Gross National Product (as the GDP was called then) “measures, in short, everything but that which makes life worthwhile.”

We are constantly told that economic growth is the solution to our economy’s woes. But what kind of growth? We need new measurements to tell us if our economic activities are adding benefits or costs, whether they are delivering or destroying bread and roses. Around the world, new indicators of success are emerging.  The nation of Bhutan and the City of Seattle measure “happiness.” Norway assesses its “natural capital.” Baltimore examines “social capital.” Maryland has a Genuine Progress Indicator.

But first, to get started, we need to ask ourselves: “What’s the economy for, anyway?” What are our goals? The centennial of the Lawrence textile strike reminds us to value the roses and count them.  It calls us to be gardeners of happiness, awakening our senses and watering the roses again.

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David Batker (Chief Economist and Executive Director) completed his graduate training in economics under Herman Daly, one of the world’s foremost ecological economists. Dave has taught in the Training Department of the World Bank, and has worked for Greenpeace International, specializing in trade and international finance. He also worked for two years with the Rural Reconstruction Movement, a Philippine non-profit group dedicated to ecologically sound community-based development.

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WHAT IS IT about roses that is so endlessly fascinating?

Perhaps it is their myriad petals — or perhaps their myriad forms: hybrid teas, floribunda, miniature, bush, old, wild, rambling, climbing. Or perhaps it is their unparalleled fragrance.

Our Mediterranean climate is well-suited to growing roses, assuming one’s garden has a protected space with five or six hours of sun each day. Roses require sufficient sun to thrive.

This is the time of year when bare root roses are available at local nurseries. I’m thinking about planting a new rosebush in a sunny spot as a specimen plant: I can see a large bush of yellow roses there. But before I plant another one, it’s important to tend to my existing roses. And so should you.

First, go through your rose bed and pick all the old leaves off the plants. The next few months, rose plants should go dormant, resting and getting ready to grow again in spring. If the rose plant is not supporting those last, clinging leaves, it will become dormant more quickly. Similarly, pull the petals from the faded flowers, but don’t cut them off. By leaving them on the plant, it encourages the formation of rose hips before they go dormant. Later, you can gather the rose hips and use them to make tea.

I have several roses that are budded roses, that is, flowering canes grafted onto root stock. January is a good time to prune them. I will not prune my miniature rose

bush, or the ramblers down in the corner of the garden (those not grafted onto root stock) because they bloom on current growth. If I prune them now, I will be cutting off this season’s potential blooms.

For the others, it’s best to prune off the dead branches, twiggy growth and crossing branches. Since the leaves have been removed, it’s easier to see the skeleton of the plant and decide how you want to encourage it to grow. Look carefully at the bud and consider the future shape of the bush: buds facing outward away from the center of the plant will increase the width of the plant as they grow. Buds facing inward toward the center of the plant will create a more compact shape. I cut ¼ inch above a bud on a downward slant away from the bud, so rainwater will drain. I remove a third to half of the plant. Then take the opportunity to spray each rose with dormant oil to eliminate pests.

After you’ve finished pruning, pick up all the leaves and petals and dispose of them. This act of good garden hygiene prevents pests developing in the discarded foliage, pests that would be well-positioned to attack my plants in spring.

Now for a new rose bush. At the nursery, I will examine the bare root roses — looking a lot like brown sticks — and choose one with several healthy canes growing above the bud union, the location at the base of the plant where a bud producing blooming canes was grafted onto the rootstock. I also will look for a substantial bundle of roots to support my plant. Since the plants have no leaves or flowers, you have to rely on the little metal tag attached to one of the canes to indicate the rose. Although the nursery may be selling plants dipped in wax, avoid buying any of them. The wax keeps the plants from drying out during shipment, but it also prevents the plants from breathing properly once they are planted.

Before planting the new rose, trim off any broken roots and dead twigs and soak the entire plant for 24 hours in a bucket of water to rehydrate it. Add 1 cup of household bleach to 5 gallons of water to create a solution that can kill any microbes the plant is carrying.

When planting, dig a hole large enough to spread the roots out nicely. I like the old saw “put a 50-cent plant in a $5 hole” to describe the hole’s relative dimensions. Before replacing any dirt in the hole, mix it with compost. Since the soil in my garden is clay — that is, composed of a lot of small particles that clump together — mixing in compost lightens the dirt and allows it to drain better.

In the bottom of the hole, I often build a cone of my newly mixed soil, high enough so that when I put the plant on it, the bud union will be about 3 inches above ground. I then spread its bare roots over the mound so they will support the plant from all directions. Then I fill in the rest of the soil mixture, carefully tamping it down. I add mulch around the stem of the plant, covering the bud union to keep it from drying out. The mulch should be removed after six weeks. In the next few months, the mound of soil under the rose will compact and the plant will sink, so the bud union will be just above the ground. I build a small dike around the plant and water it well — my father used to call it “puddling in.”

Our winter rains will probably keep a new rose plant watered, but if we have a dry spell, make sure to keep the plant moist. By spring, it will be ready to grow. If you have planted a budded rose, it should bloom the first year. If you have bought a rose growing on its own roots, don’t expect any blossoms: its job this first year is to develop healthy roots and become established. In either case, you can anticipate many beautiful blooms in years to come.

For more information on how to care for roses in Marin, check out the Marin Rose Society website, www.marinrose.org. The Society encourages those who are interested to attend their meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Livermore Room of the Marin Art and Garden Center at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross.

The University of California Marin Master Gardeners are sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension. For questions about gardening, plant pests or diseases, call 499-4204 from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays, or bring in samples or pictures to 1682 Novato Blvd., Suite 150B, Novato.

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PRAIRIE ROSES: To Hennepin County (Minn.) District Judge Lloyd Zimmerman for refusing to hear cases at suburban courtrooms until stronger security is in place. The judge is one of several who have been trying to raise awareness of the danger judges and courtroom personnel face in courthouses that do not have adequate security measures, including metal detectors. The incidence of guns getting into courtrooms is up across the nation. Judges, lawyers and others are increasingly at risk. Some have been killed. Zimmerman’s action might seem over the top, but he is calling attention to a real problem in some suburban Twin Cities courthouses. Many counties have taken the threat seriously and installed metal detectors and other security measures. But many have not, in part because of budget constraints. But courtroom security should be a priority. Zimmerman is right to raise a flag of concern.

PRAIRIE ROSES: To the unknown shoplifter who, after nearly 40 years, paid the Straus Clothing store $100 for stealing a sweater. The theft occurred in the Grand Forks store, which has been closed for years. The payment came to the owners of the Fargo store last week. The five $20 bills were accompanied by a note that admitted the theft of the sweater 37 years ago. While shoplifting losses are a part of doing retail business, it’s a rare happening to have a shoplifter pay up, especially after so long a time. It was a nice touch as the holiday season winds down.

PRAIRIE ROSES: To state Rep. Kathy Hawken, R-Fargo, who has changed her mind about stepping out of the North Dakota House of Representatives. She will seek re-election this fall. Hawken, one of the Legislature’s strongest voices for children’s issues, education and women’s issues, changed her mind after talking with friends and colleagues and after state Sen. Tom Fischer, R-Fargo, died. They were friends, and during the last legislative session, Fischer urged her to seek re-election. Hawken has been in the House since 1997 and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her public service. She also is not one to parrot the party line when it’s out of line with her values and priorities. That’s a rare quality in lawmakers.

Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper’s Editorial Board.

Tags:
opinion, editorial

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Kate Middleton‘s 30th birthday came a little early yesterday.

Kate turns 30 today but was lavished with best wishes and roses, as our picture shows, when she attended last night’s gala premiere of Steven Spielberg‘s film ‘War Horse’ in London.

The film features a number of Irish actors. But Kate and husband William were the centre of attention when they arrived.

FULL REPORT: PAGE 5

Irish Independent

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Roses to all who allowed me to share your stories with readers in 2011. If you have an idea for a column, give me a call.

Onions to flat tires, cold soup and scorched popcorn.

Roses to my Mom’s 90th birthday on Dec. 5. More than 150 in our small hometown attended her party, and she had a grand time.

Onions to the ravages of old age and disease, which rob strength, courage and dignity from our elderly loved ones.

Roses to friends who care and the comfort of prayer.

Onions to leaky hot-water heaters, broken bones and gas grills running out of gas before the burgers are cooked.

Roses to the memory of Andy Clarke, a Jackson Sun sports reporter, who was killed in Jackson on Dec. 18, 1981, by a drunk driver. And extra roses to each of us who lost loved ones and friends in 2011.

Onions to those of us who take life for granted and fail to be thankful for each new sunrise.

Roses to my wife, Lisa; son, A.J.; and daughter, Becca; who put up with my computer illiteracy, outlandish belching and Beach Boys renditions. Their love keeps this former sports editor rolling.

And Roses to you, our readers. May this be your best year yet.

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• Van Halen Album Details and Tour Dates (top story)

• Dave Grohl Teams With Ratt Members (top story)

• Saliva Replace Josey Scott (top story)

• Zakk Wylde In Guns N’ Roses? (top story)

• Pink Floyd The Wall Reissues Filled With Rarities (top story)

• The Doors To Premiere Previously Unreleased Song On Monday (top story)

• Black Country Communion Plan Third Album (top story)

• Van Halen Debut New Old Song at Club Show (top story)

• Killers Releasing New Album This Year (top story)

• Chevelle Announce North American Tour (top story)

• Shinedown Find Their Vision With New Album (top story)

• Soundgarden Comeback Album Coming (top story)

• Michael Schenker Recruits Former Scorpions Members for Tour (top story)

• King’s X To Launch First Church of Rock and Roll Tour (top story)

• Ryan Adams Rocks Ratt Classic (top story)

• U2′s Spider-Man Musical Makes Broadway History (top story)

• Previously Unreleased Janis Joplin Live Album Coming (top story)

• Queen Documentary Release Date Moved (top story)

• U2 Achtung Baby Documentary Coming This Month (top story)

• 13-Year-Old Wins Robert Johnson New Generation Award (top story)

• Man Overboard Announce Tour Plans Including Warped (top story)

• Corey Taylor Shares His Love For Stephen King (top story)

• The Day Carly Simon’s Vain Song Hit The Top (top story)

• Killswitch Engage Part Ways With Howard Jones (top story)

• Nearly 700 Unreleased Thin Lizzy Tracks To Be Released (top story)

• David Gilmour Shoots Down Pink Floyd Reunion Rumor (top story)

• No Revival Of Creedence Clearwater Revival (top story)

• Zakk Wylde To Release The Bible of Stupidity (top story)

• Metallica Set New Release (top story)

• Steve Perry Plotting His Return (top story)

• Stone Sour’s Next Album Pink Floyd Meets Alice in Chains? (top story)

• Creed Expand North American Tour Plans (top story)

• Red Hot Chili Blur Supergroup Gearing Up For Shows and Album Release (top story)

• KISS Finishing New Album This Week (top story)

• Anthrax and Testament Tour (top story)

• Jack White To Appear In American Pickers (top story)

• New All-American Rejects Song Coming This Month (top story)

• Iron Butterfly Guitarist Larry ‘Rhino’ Reinhardt Dead at 63 (top story)

• Transfer Announce Tour Dates With Kaiser Chiefs (top story)

• Ginger Wildheart Almost Gave Up Music (top story)

• Black Pyramid Releasing New Album This Month (top story)

• Bad Seeds’ Barry Adamson Solo Album and Intimate Show Announced (top story)

• Big Shoes: Walking and Talking the Blues Album and Film Coming (top story)


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Giffords visits grocery store site of massacre for first time

(NEWSER) – A year after she was rushed, clinging to life, from a Tucson Safeway, Gabrielle Giffords yesterday returned to the scene of the shootings that killed six people, reports Reuters . Giffords and husband Mark Kelly also visited the intensive care unit where she was taken, and a nearby hiking trail, which has since been re-named in honor of her slain aide, Gabe Zimmerman. “Gabby just visited the Safeway for the 1st time since 1/8/11,” tweeted Kelly. “It’s been a tough year, but we’re lucky to have so many people standing w/us.” More»

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Pruning roses is necessary to produce high-quality flowers and keep the plants productive for years. Pruning also keeps them healthy, promotes new growth, removes unwanted canes and/or trains plants into desired shapes.

Today I’ll present some basics on pruning roses, but pruning different roses can be hard to visualize. For a closer look, you might want to attend the Las Vegas Valley Rose Society pruning demonstration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 1112 Oak Tree Lane. These hobbyists will show you the basics and even let you prune a bush so you capture the important principles. For more information, call 646-6048.

You need to know the different types of pruning and when to prune. The popular floribunda, grandiflora and hybrid tea roses need heavy pruning during January when rosebuds begin swelling. Old-fashioned roses and climbers produce flowers on last year’s wood. If you prune them now, don’t expect any blooms this season, so prune them after they bloom. Even if you just about murder these bushes, they will recuperate to produce flowers next year.

There is one cardinal rule with all roses: Remove any dead, diseased or damaged wood on any rose at any time.

Prune with clean, sharp bypass hand pruners, loppers and a pruning saw. Dip these tools in a solution of isopropyl alcohol or Clorox to minimize disease transmission. And by all means, be sure to wear sturdy gloves, because rose thorns can get mean.

Certain pruning techniques are appropriate for all roses. First, remove any damaged wood and save the vigorous, healthy canes. Examine a cross section of canes to check for any sign of discoloration. You want white plump canes. Remove discolored canes down into healthy wood even if it means removing the entire cane.

Open the rose’s center to increase air circulation and to stimulate new cane growth from the crown. Whenever two canes cross, remove one. Cut a quarter-inch above an outside facing bud on a 45-degree angle. New growth comes from the bud below this cut to further spread out the bush. During the summer, always remove spent flowers but make a diagonal cut just above a five or seven-leaf branch down on strong stems. Seal all large cuts with wood glue to prevent cane borer entry.

Hybrid teas, floribundas and grandifloras: Prune them hard if you want larger blooms and premium flowers. Eliminate all but three to five of the healthiest, most vigorous canes about 15 to 18 inches from ground level. Get rid of any spindly canes thinner than a pencil. In September, cut them back by about one-third of their height. This generates beautiful fall bloomers.

Climbing roses: Old-fashioned rambling roses and one-time spring-blooming climbers produce best flowers growing off 1-year-old wood. Cut away the oldest canes, leaving five to seven strong canes untouched. Remember, flowers come from 1-year-old canes on your climber, so the stems you save will bear next year’s roses. Some climbers bloom on the current season’s growth, so prune them more severely.

Old garden roses: They do not need hard pruning. If you do, it ruins their graceful shape and severely reduces flower production. Preserve their informal habit by removing no more than one-third of each bush. Normally, remove only the oldest canes. Most old roses bloom only once, so prune them after the bloom to keep them under control and vigorous.

Miniature roses: Trim them lightly or tip-prune several times a year, because they flower on new growth.

I could continue with more techniques, but instead here are some things to keep in mind: Never make a cut without a good reason. Try to understand how roses grow and produce flowers.

Finally, to get the latest information on how to prune right, attend the rose society’s pruning workshop Saturday. They’ll also cover fertilization, dormant spraying and mulching.

HERBS IN POTS

Growing Herbs in Pots will be the subject at noon Tuesday at the Sunset Garden Club at Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. Master gardeners Jeanne Marie Toscano and Lisa Mosbey will show how to spice up your patio with herbs in containers. This event is free.

PRUNE DESERT LOVING ORNAMENTAL TREES

Prune with confidence. This workshop covers how to prune to train, maintain and improve growth in your desert adapted ornamental trees. The workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. today at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Call 822-7700 for more information.

Linn Mills writes a garden column
each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@ springspreserve.org
or call him at 822-7754.

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Shivering in the cold wind, she held 10 roses and asked for kisses from male passers-by, with a friend standing nearby holding a board saying, ‘Kiss me for a rose in exchange’.

It also said ‘I’m an HBV (hepatitis B virus) carrier, I also long for love’.

According to Changjiang Times, Wen is 30 and unmarried. Ten roses were handed out within one hour in exchange for kisses, China Daily reported.

She also got hugs from passers-by who were moved by her courage and honesty.

The event was to raise awareness about the misunderstanding and discrimination against HBV carriers and letting people know that HBV is not so horrible.

Source-ANI

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Looking at New Year’s traditions across the globe

Published 9:25am Saturday, January 7, 2012

Column: Pat Mulso,  Preserving the Past

Here we are ushering in another new year. As a child I remember we always had ribs and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day, watched the Tournament of Roses Parade and then watched football. There are many American New Year’s traditions, they all have one thing in common: to help usher in a happy and prosperous new year. Some New Year’s traditions have their roots in ancient superstitions, while others have origins that are more recent. When I researched New Year’s traditions this is what I found:

Pat Mulso

American Traditions

“Auld Lang Syne”: This song was originally put on paper by Scotsman Robert Burns in 1788, but the song itself is believed to be much older. The song gained popularity in America when big band leader Guy Lombardo used it in his 1950s radio and television broadcasts. It is now tradition for this song to play as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Kissing at midnight: When “Auld Lang Syne” begins to play, it is a long-standing tradition for you to kiss someone you love. The tradition stems from the superstition that you must start the New Year off being affectionate to your loved ones, or the rest of your year will be loveless.

Champagne: Popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly at midnight is another tradition based on superstition. It sets a festive tone for the coming year and brings prosperity.

Father Time and New Year’s Baby: Father Time represented by a bearded old man who carries a staff and an hourglass, symbolizing the movement of time. The baby is the symbol of rebirth. They are symbolic of the ushering out the old year for a new year filled with new chances and opportunities. The idea of a baby as a symbol of fertility goes back to the ancient Greeks, but the image of the Baby New Year is distinctly American. These images first appeared in the late 1800s in magazines and gained popularity in the early part of the 20th century.

Hoppin’ John: Eating this dish, prepared with black-eyed peas and ham hocks, is said to bring wealth because the peas resemble coins and they swell when they are cooked, which is considered a sign of prosperity.

Ball drop: Whether you watch it in person in Times Square in New York City or on television, seeing the ball drop is how millions of people ring in the New Year. The tradition originated in 1907, the original ball was made of iron and wood. Now the ball is made of Waterford crystal, is six feet in diameter and weighs more than 1,000 pounds.

Fireworks: This tradition is based on Eastern superstitions. In Asian cultures, fireworks are a common part of New Year celebrations. It is believed that the sound of fireworks chases away evil spirits.

Resolutions: This custom is based on the early Christian belief of reflecting on the previous year and striving to improve and change in the coming year. Many people start the year off vowing to exercise, eat right or give up bad habits.

Tournament of Roses Parade: The Tournament of Roses parade dates back to 1890. The 1954 parade was the first nationwide color broadcast in America. Interestingly, the Tournament of Roses parade cannot be held on a Sunday, thanks to an 1893 rule by the parade’s organizers. The parade predates the Rose Bowl football game, which began in 1902 as a way to help pay for the parade.

Football games: Several college football bowl games are held New Year’s Day. Like the Tournament of Roses parade, these games are rescheduled to Jan. 2 if the New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday.

Foreign Traditions

The Spanish ritual on New Year’s Eve is to eat 12 grapes at midnight. The tradition is meant to secure 12 happy months in the coming year.

The Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the street and launch fireworks. The fires are meant to purge the old and welcome the new.

It’s a longtime Finnish tradition to predict the coming year by casting molten tin into a container of water, and then interpreting the shape the metal takes after hardening. A heart or ring shape means a wedding in the New Year; a ship forecasts travel; and a pig shape signifies plenty of food.

During the New Year’s Eve celebration of Hogmanay, “first-footing” is practiced all over Scotland. The custom dictates that the first person to cross the threshold of a home in the New Year should carry a gift for luck (whiskey is the most common).

Round shapes (representing coins) are thought to symbolize prosperity for the coming year in the Philippines.

Many Danes ring in the New Year by standing on chairs and then jumping off them together at midnight. Leaping into January is supposed to banish bad spirits and bring good luck.

In Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela, it’s considered lucky to wear special underwear on New Year’s Eve. The most popular colors are red and yellow: red is supposed to bring love in the coming year, and yellow is supposed to bring money.

Whatever your family tradition is, we hope you had a safe and happy celebration and that 2012 will be a prosperous year.

As we begin 2012 at the museum we want you to know that it will be a year of many changes. We begin the year with the traveling exhibit, “Electrifying Minnesota” made possible by Legacy Funding. You may view this exhibit through Feb. 12.

We will also host a special exhibit to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts and co-sponsor, with the Albert Lea Public Library, an author visit to the museum in March. As we move into spring we will be moving forward with the building expansion and there will be fundraising events, school tours, bus trips and all our regular events, plus some new projects are in the planning stages. So if you have not renewed your museum membership, you will want to do so, it will be an exciting year!

We are also seeking Girl Scout items to use during our special exhibit. If you have items that you would be willing to let the museum use please contact us at 373-8003 or stop by the museum during our regular hours.

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.

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