You know that we live in a sad world when news like this comes out. News broke yesterday that residents in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina are cutting down trees at an alarming rate to protect their land from an endangered woodpecker species. You’re probably wondering what kind of threat a woodpecker poses, residents in the area fear that if the woodpeckers nest in their trees it will be impossible to further land development in their area. Since February Residents have been swarming City Hall to apply for lot-clearing permits. The mentality behind the clearing is that if there are no trees to support the woodpecker habitat the federal Fish and Wildlife Service would not be able to set aside the land as a woodpecker habitat.

Currently the agency has issued a map marking 15 active woodpecker “clusters,” and announced it was working on a new one that could potentially designate whole neighborhoods of this town in southeastern North Carolina as protected habitat, subject to more-stringent building restrictions.

The red-cockaded woodpecker was once an abundant species in the region. They could be found in longleaf pine forests from New Jersey to Florida. Now the number of birds in the wild has been cut down to numbers as low as 15,000. What makes the red-cockaded woodpecker so distinct from other woodpeckers is that it nests solely in living trees.

Sadly the same people who are out to destroy potential homes for the red-cockaded woodpecker are the same people who created homes for it in the past. The trees that stood in the forest before it was turned into a town were used to collect sap to make turpentine. Locals carved V-shaped notches in the pines to drain the tree’s sap and collect it. These wounds allowed fungus to infiltrate the tree’s core, making it easier for the woodpecker to excavate its nest hole and probe for the beetles, spiders and wood-boring insects it prefers.

What makes this story even more saddening is the amount of time it takes for this woodpecker to even complete a nest. It can take a red-cockaded woodpecker up to six years to create a single nest hole. While this may seem like an extremely long time to create a nest the work is not done in vain. Unlike most birds the red-cockaded woodpecker actually passes down its nest generation to generation.

Pete Benjamin, supervisor of the federal agency’s Raleigh office told The New York Times that, “Landowners have overreacted. Having a woodpecker tree on a piece of property does not necessarily mean a house cannot be built there, Mr. Benjamin said. A landowner can even get permission to cut down a cavity tree, as long as an alternative habitat can be found. For the most part, we’ve found ways to work with most folks.”

While the federal Fish and Wildlife Service have an optimistic outlook on the woodpecker “problem” others are not so sure. A resident in the area named Bonner Stiller has been holding on to two wooded half-acre lakefront lots for the last 23 years. When the federal Fish and Wildlife Service put Boiling Spring Lakes on notice that rapid development threatened to squeeze out the woodpecker, Stiller stripped both lots of longleaf pines before the government could issue its new map. Stiller a Republican member of the state General Assembly told The New York Times, “They have finally developed a value, and then to have that taken away from you?”

For many this just sounds like a story of residents protecting their assets, but what most people aren’t looking at is the whole picture. While the residents have cut down the trees to prevent the woodpeckers from nesting they have also destroyed the homes and habitats of other species. What is to become of the insects and numerous other creatures that use these trees as shelter from the elements? Furthermore if they force the woodpeckers to other regions that do not provide the proper habitat they risk endangering the woodpecker further. By forcing it into areas that do not provide adequate nesting grounds or introduce new threats or predators to the species.

I stumbled upon this story at an interesting time in my life, as I am focusing much of my energy on becoming a better person and grounding myself in nature. I am currently thumbing through the pages of The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in The Rhythms of Nature by Starhawk. The book discusses many issues like this one. Stories where people focus solely on bettering the situation for themselves and do not think about the long term consequences their decisions may have on the land or on the people and animals that live on that land.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to find their place in the “Big Picture” that we call earth. The small section of the book I have already read has already opened my eyes greatly to the huge difference that small changes can make. For more information and to read a brief excerpt of this visit Amazon.com.

Well with just 37 days left until Halloween I finally have our music playlist for the Halloween party 99% complete. I am sure there will be more to add over the next few weeks after I get into our storage unit and get a few more CD’s out, but I think for the most part it’s complete. This year’s theme is VERY gothic and thus so is the music. With a nice mix of Goth, Dark Wave, EBM, and Electro it should keep everybody moving the night of the party. I have generated a four hour and fifty-nine minute long playlist that will last the duration of the night. So without further delay, here’s this years playlist!

1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Red Right Hand (6:11)
2. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Spellbound (3:18
)3. Depeche Mode – The Dead of Night (4:50)
4. The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection (4:56)
5. Echo & the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon [All Night Version] [Version] (5:46)
6. Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s Dead (9:33)
7. Girls Under Glass – Halloween (3:47)
8. HIM – Death Is in Love With Us (2:58)
9. VNV Nation – Intro (1:27)
10. She Wants Revenge – Tear You Apart (4:46)
11. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Halloween (3:42)
12. Inkubus Sukkubus – Samhain (4:22)
13. Big Electric Cat – Orchid Dreaming (6:48)
14. Paralysed Age – Bloodsucker (4:48)
15. Blank & Jones featuring Robert Smith – A Forest (3:34)
16. The Cruxshadows – Citadel [Absurd Minds Remix (3:49)
17. The Birthday Massacre - Black (1:29)
18. Funker Vogt - Cold War (4:46)
19. PaX - Catch My Fire (8:14)
20. Zeromancer - Clone Your Lover (3:48)
21. New Skin - Cherry Flowers and Bedroom Songs (Soil & Elcipse Mix) (3:46)
22. Razed in Black - Blush V.2 (6:13)
23. Covenant - Dead Stars [Version] (5:11)
24. Inertia – Hot Hot Hot!!! (3:49)
25. Orgy – Fiction (Dreams in Digital) (3:57)
26. Razed In Black – Disintegration (4:44)
27. Girls Under Glass – Hidden Track (2:17)
28. She Wants Revenge – Out of Control (3:39)
29. H.I.M. – Your Sweet Six Six Six (4:12)
30. Fear Cult – Girls & Boys (4:12)
31. Hocico – Instincts of Perversion (5:47)
32. White Zombie – More Human Than Human (4:26)
33. Leather Strip – Lullaby (4:04)
34. Apoptygma Berzerk – Fade to Black (5:02)
35. The Birthday Massacre – Prologue (0:38)
36. The Birthday Massacre – Horrow Show (4:06)
37. Claire Voyant – Majesty [Premonition Mix by Assemblage 23] (6:46)
38. The Last Dance – Once Beautiful (5:13)
39. VNV Nation – Darkangel (5:28)
40. Razed in Black – Sin (5:00)
41. 13 Ways – How Could You (3:57)
42. L’AME IMMORTELLE – The Truth Behind [Dumped Mix by Megadump (7:12)
43. The Birthday Massacre - Red (1:11)
44. Rob Zombie - Living Dead Girl (3:21)
45. Switchblade Symphony - Tears [Apoptygma Berzerk Remix] (5:35)
46. Neuroticfish – The Bomb [Single Edit] (3:46)
47. Anders Manga – Solitary Heaven (4:22)
48. Talla 2XLC – Revolution (4:58)
49. VNV Nation – Perpetual (7:53)
50. Tomcraft – Overdose (2:53)
51. Razed in Black – Oh My Goth! [Remastered Original Cut] (5:45)
52. X-Marks the Pedwalk – Never Look Back (4:02)
53. The Birthday Massacre – Lovers End (4:14)
54. Evanescence – Haunted (3:06)
55. Razed in Black – Overflow (4:53)
56. Apoptygma Berzerk – Love Never Dies, Pt. 1 (5:28)
57. Dkay.com – Neverland [In Strict Confidence remix] (5:02)
58. Marilyn Manson – Resident Evil (Main Title Theme) (2:09)
59. Mnemonic – Labyrinth [Razed in Black Remix] (4:25)
60. Razed In Black – Share This Poison (6:50)
61. The Dreamside – Spin Moon Magic (3:36)
62. Effcee – Perfect (4:10)
63. Cream Pipe – Resurrected (3:07)
64. The Birthday Massacre – The Dream (3:51)
65. Switchblade Symphony – Sweet [Apoptygma Berzerk Remix] (6:50)
66. She Wants Revenge – These Things (5:14)

No, it’s not the name of a new hip morning news show. It’s an outcry to the American people to start paying attention to what is going on around them. With September 11 still fresh in our minds it’s not hard to forget how vulnerable America can be. Now more than ever we face a global war against Terrorism and Anti-American extremists.

What most Americans don’t realize is it’s not Al Qaeda or Iraq that we really need to worry about. We are in fact surrounded by numerous enemies, some that aren’t too far from our borders and their numbers grow by the day.

For those of you who are paying attention you may have heard in the news recently about Iran’s President, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Both Presidents are heading up a strong Anti-American campaign, with Iran heading up a worldwide attack on the U.S. and its foreign policy.

You’re probably asking yourself at this point, why are they such a threat? We are America, we have the largest and strongest military, what do we have to lose? The truth is, if we don’t wake up, everything. Iran and Venezuela are just two small pieces in a very large puzzle. If Iran were to pose a military threat on the U.S. they would also have the backing of Venezuela and Hezbollah. This threat may also bring larger parties into the equation, parties that are just waiting for the prime opportunity to strike the U.S. Countries like North Korea, and possibly even China and Russia.

We are teetering on the brink of World War III, yet most of the American public is completely ignorant to what is going on. But what can America do at this point when we are already knee deep in poor foreign policy and high disapproval of our government’s action worldwide?

First, we need to focus on the war here at home. With mid-term elections just around the corner politicians aren’t going to touch the issue of immigration. We do not have a solid homeland security system in place if we cannot control our borders. Not just the Mexican borders, but all of our borders. America will not be secure until it puts in place a system that will prevent terrorists from entering our country where we are most vulnerable. Americans need to stop focusing on the negative effects this has on Mexican immigrants alone, and start looking at the whole picture. Whether you are here legally or illegally, whether you’re Mexican, American, or Canadian, if you live in this country a significant terrorist or military attack on the U.S. WILL effect you.

Second, while not all terrorists are Muslims the Muslim community needs to stand up and take their part in stopping the Muslim extremists. Too many Muslims are wasting their days claiming racism and prejudice, and not putting a stop to the actions of a few in their community. The percentage of non-extremist Muslims greatly surpasses that of the extremists, however the extremists and gihadists are quickly gaining numbers.

Recently, the first Muslim to be crowned Miss England warned that stereotyping members of her community is leading other Muslims towards extremism and terrorism. She said, quote, “Even moderate Muslims are turning to terrorism to prove themselves. They think they might as well support it, because they’re stereotyped that way anyway”.

This mentality has to stop. This mentality is what is causing the problem to begin with. Muslims need to unite as a religion and as a community and show the world that they are not going to let their religion and their livelihood be controlled and effected by the actions of a few. Glenn Beck, syndicated radio host and host of the Glenn Beck Program on CNN had a great monologue regarding this that aired back on September, 5. I am posting a transcript of his monologue below, because I think it sums everything up.

“Let’s just say I was profiled as a pedophile and every time I went to Disney World, the Disney police would stop me and say, “Uh you, not so much.” Here’s what I would do. I’d be annoyed. I’d probably stop going to Disney World, and I might even start hanging out with other people who were having the same kind of problem, provided they weren’t actual pedophiles.

I wouldn’t ever, however, say to myself, “Ah, you know what? Everybody thinks I’m a pedophile anyway. I might as well start downloading child porn and start molesting kids.”

Why wouldn’t I do that? Because I’m not an actual pedophile or child molester, but according to Miss England’s logic, I’d be perfectly justified in doing so.

This is a great example of why I think since 9/11, Americans have gotten so fed up with the “yes, but” Muslims. The “yes, but” Muslims are the ones who show up on talk shows and in the media and say, “Yes, terrorism is bad, but” — and then they go through a list of reasons on why we should try and sympathize with people who fly planes into buildings.

I also hear a lot about Islam being a religion of peace, that terrorists aren’t true Muslims. Fine. OK. I believe that. But if you do accept that, then you can’t really go along with Miss England and the rest of the “yes, buts” and say, “Oh, gee, maybe it is our fault. We’re making good Muslims go bad.” Which is it?”

“…The Muslim community better find a spokesman who isn’t a “yes, but” Muslim. They shouldn’t even understand the word “but”, because if they don’t, when things heat up, the profiling will only get worse, and the razor wire will be coming. That’s why.

Tonight, here’s what I know. We are sick and tired of the “yes, but” crowd. I don’t even care what precedes it. There’s no excuse for flying planes into buildings, kidnapping journalists and random beheadings.

You want the profiling to stop? Then here’s an idea. Stop murdering innocent people. Stop excusing the people who do. You do that for a while, and I guarantee you won’t have anymore any more problems at the airports. Stop blowing stuff up and the world just might be your oyster.

Otherwise, it’s going to be like that movie “The Siege”. You remember that movie? The Muslims will see the west through razor wire if things don’t change.

I also know the Muslim community is in trouble. Everybody seems to be in denial. It’s been reported that the FBI may be testing for radiation outside mosques in Dearborn. Is that the way Muslims want to live? I don’t think so. Look, I’m not saying all Arabs and Muslims are anti-American. Far from it. We should get to know these people and embrace the good Muslims, and eliminate the bad ones.

Here’s what I don’t know. I don’t know if the Muslim community will ever step to the plate like the Japanese-American community did during World War II. You know, it was absolutely disgraceful how we rounded innocent people up then and, sadly, history has a way of repeating itself no matter how grotesque that history might be. The Muslim community can prevent this if they act now.

But I also don’t know why Muslims everywhere aren’t kicking up dirt over what Miss England had to say. If Islam truly condemns terror, then why isn’t anybody coming out and saying, “No matter how bad things get, our religion forbids terrorism, period”? To the casual observer, the silence makes her appear to be right.”

Wake up America. This is what is going on around you. These are imminent threats that surround our country and if we don’t start acknowledging the threat neither will the government. If we stay the course we are bound to be caught off guard by these terrorists and Anti-American sentiments and will face the same destruction and life loss seen on 9/11/01 of not worse. Iran and the terrorists have already starting moving their pieces on the game board and began what could be the starts of World War III. We as a nation need to do all we can and start getting involved. We need to appoint people into our government offices that will actually act on the issues and the threat and not play “Politics as Usual”.