2013 by the pixels

Anne and I inflict our decorating enthusiasm on a gingerbread tree

Three generations of McLellan women

Back in San Diego, Jimmy and I take in "The Del"

In which Jimmy and I devour (fabulous) fried scallops in Catalina

My wonderful parents in the dock cafe at Lake Tahoe

A tree in Tahoe teaches us humility

My team

Jimmy and Lucy make their way in Mammoth Lakes

Lucy and I in the tall grass, by the cool water

Career anxiety

Asteroids by Dave Makes

places to hide

let me ball it up

a tiny orb

my pebble in David’s slingshot

send it to sleep among the asteroids

mute and grey

let’s starch and iron it

flat, white

a cotton dress

tuck it in my quiet closet

whisper with the wool

and silky shawls

help me build an all-consuming blaze

that will take it, yellow and blue-silver

Swoosh.

sweep it away with tired embers

smoky ash

close it, solemn

as a heavy tome

one line:

It is finished.

slide it spine-side-out in line

lean into the mirror just to watch it

fold itself in crows feet

become my eager smile

ring in laughter

melt away

CML

7-2-13

"Taken" and the Real Global Market for Persons

I saw Taken for the first time this afternoon. Like most people who saw this film, I was incredibly disturbed. I'm also embarrassed to report that it took seeing this film to get me to commit time to researching the real global market for people. The video below was one of the better issue primers I found on human trafficking. It also offers actionable suggestions for those of us who want to become involved but who probably will not commit our entire careers to anti-trafficking work.

One of the most striking facts Sorvino shares is that the trafficking of human beings is the second most lucrative illicit activity in the world, second only to narcotics trafficking. The United States government, however, spends more money in one month on the war against drugs than it has ever spent to end the trafficking of persons.

Like most worthy pursuits, stamping out human trafficking and supporting trafficking survivors takes a lot of time and money, both which are in woefully short supply.



Mira Sorvino; "Using Your Gifts to End Slavery" from Not For Sale on Vimeo.