Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Sleeping In The Forest
I thought the earth remembered me,she took me back so tenderly,
arranging her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds.
I slept as never before, a stone on the river bed,
nothing between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths
among the branches of the perfect trees.
All night I heard the small kingdoms
breathing around me, the insects,
and the birds who do their work in the darkness.
All night I rose and fell, as if in water,
grappling with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.
by
Mary Oliver
Friday, November 21, 2008
Pink Floyd - The Great Gig in the Sky (1988)
The Floyd is, hands down, the best concert that I have been fortunate enough to have ever attended... music, the sound of the soul.
After having attended The Division Bell tour, all I can say is that it was indescribable. Whenever I ran into other people who had also seen the concert, the response was always, invariably, the same, "it was awesome" ... then, silence, while staring into one another's eyes, trying to find more words, when there simply were no others to describe the experience. Just... awesome.
I was touched by the fact that there was no generational barrier... music, to stir the heartbeat... lyrics, to stir the mind. There was my generation, my father's generation, as well as my son's generation... all come together.
While watching a bit, recently, on the making of The Dark Side of The Moon, it was shared how Clare Torry (the first one up) came to be on, here. She was told, simply, to think of pain, desperation, loneliness (can't remember all the descriptive words, you get the point)... and this was the result. The best part, when she came out of the recording room, she apologized for what she thought had been a big fuck up... while everyone else had been in awe and dumbfounded.
Perhaps this is the sound of our universal consciousness, in response to the sad state of this world.
This past September, Richard Wright, who was one of the co-founders, as well as keyboardist, lyricists, and vocalist, passed on to that great gig in the sky. I think that things will never be the same.
I truly believe that music is one of those universal connectors, that ties to the heart strings of humanity... further, to the universe... and that music can change things, for all time.
Pink Floyd has certainly been that, for me. Music, for all time.
After having attended The Division Bell tour, all I can say is that it was indescribable. Whenever I ran into other people who had also seen the concert, the response was always, invariably, the same, "it was awesome" ... then, silence, while staring into one another's eyes, trying to find more words, when there simply were no others to describe the experience. Just... awesome.
I was touched by the fact that there was no generational barrier... music, to stir the heartbeat... lyrics, to stir the mind. There was my generation, my father's generation, as well as my son's generation... all come together.
While watching a bit, recently, on the making of The Dark Side of The Moon, it was shared how Clare Torry (the first one up) came to be on, here. She was told, simply, to think of pain, desperation, loneliness (can't remember all the descriptive words, you get the point)... and this was the result. The best part, when she came out of the recording room, she apologized for what she thought had been a big fuck up... while everyone else had been in awe and dumbfounded.
Perhaps this is the sound of our universal consciousness, in response to the sad state of this world.
This past September, Richard Wright, who was one of the co-founders, as well as keyboardist, lyricists, and vocalist, passed on to that great gig in the sky. I think that things will never be the same.
I truly believe that music is one of those universal connectors, that ties to the heart strings of humanity... further, to the universe... and that music can change things, for all time.
Pink Floyd has certainly been that, for me. Music, for all time.
debt consumes
Money makes (only) debt.
The economy defies explanation because . .
what needs to be done isn't rational . .
if you don't understand how
responsibility relates to rulers,
those pretending power over . .
that is over powered . .
owes the balance.
. . that suggestion depends on value appreciation . .
finding the credit that supports generously . .
to justify excess proving no need . .
the heart beats redistribution . .
The economy defies explanation because . .
what needs to be done isn't rational . .
if you don't understand how
responsibility relates to rulers,
those pretending power over . .
that is over powered . .
owes the balance.
. . that suggestion depends on value appreciation . .
finding the credit that supports generously . .
to justify excess proving no need . .
the heart beats redistribution . .
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
"He who makes a beast of himself Gets rid of the pain
Of being a man."
Dr. Johnson
Via
Hunter S Thompson
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Without conceptual conflict
Each man is like all other men;
Each man is like some other men;
No man is like any other man.
And yet, there is no paradox.
Each man is like some other men;
No man is like any other man.
And yet, there is no paradox.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
That Sinking Feeling
Anyone else losing sleep?There's no mistaking the steep cliff over which we may very well plunge in the world economy. With today's news of money denied to the US automakers, they stand in danger of bankruptcy and we stand on the brink of a national depression and then subsequent international depression. The financial markets remain frozen in spite of the commitment of $700 billion dollars of taxpayer money and as everyone holds their collective breath, the entire economy suffocates.
This is what philosophy has brought us: leaders too boxed in to make the bold decisions necessary to lead us out, people baffled by nightly news soundbites and, soon enough, skyrocketing unemployment as a result.
I find myself lying in bed awake at night thinking about all this. Where would one begin to clean up the mess?
The incoming Administration signaled strongly today that they're going to begin with healthcare by tapping Tom Daschle at HHS. That's a gutsy move, but gutsy moves, it seems to me, are what's called for now.
Either way, we're in for a load of hurt this holiday season. Not even Tom Daschle will manage to stave off that sinking feeling I've got.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
For the full blog, Visit Rants, Raves and Rethoughts.
This is what philosophy has brought us: leaders too boxed in to make the bold decisions necessary to lead us out, people baffled by nightly news soundbites and, soon enough, skyrocketing unemployment as a result.
I find myself lying in bed awake at night thinking about all this. Where would one begin to clean up the mess?
The incoming Administration signaled strongly today that they're going to begin with healthcare by tapping Tom Daschle at HHS. That's a gutsy move, but gutsy moves, it seems to me, are what's called for now.
Either way, we're in for a load of hurt this holiday season. Not even Tom Daschle will manage to stave off that sinking feeling I've got.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
For the full blog, Visit Rants, Raves and Rethoughts.
There Is No God
And no Santa Claus and no Tooth Fairy and no Easter Bunny. The agnostic has nowhere left to hide after the devastating logic on display in Dawkins is allowed a forum in your brain.
While I'm a spiritual person, I can no longer ignore the sound reasoning of Hitchens and Dawkins and must come out as an atheist. Should you disagree, I challenge you to give this book or Hitchens' God is Not Great a fair read and come to the same conclusion. If we are to take the next step as a human race towards the amicable resolution of the festering wounds religion has inflicted on the world, we must first confront the animal in us that still trusts in the myths of childhood.
Time to move on.
For more, visit Richard Dawkins here.
Read the full blog: Rants, Raves and Rethoughts.
While I'm a spiritual person, I can no longer ignore the sound reasoning of Hitchens and Dawkins and must come out as an atheist. Should you disagree, I challenge you to give this book or Hitchens' God is Not Great a fair read and come to the same conclusion. If we are to take the next step as a human race towards the amicable resolution of the festering wounds religion has inflicted on the world, we must first confront the animal in us that still trusts in the myths of childhood.
Time to move on.
For more, visit Richard Dawkins here.
Read the full blog: Rants, Raves and Rethoughts.
One's fellow men
For while religion prescribes brotherly love in the relations among the individuals and groups, the actual spectacle more resembles a battlefield than an orchestra. Everywhere, in economic as well as in political life, the guiding principle is one of ruthless striving for success at the expense of one's fellow men.......Albert Einstein.
Words can hurt
You're stupid.
Loser.
Chink.
Jackass.
You're a bitch.
Freak.
Prick.
Redneck.
I don't need you.
Faggot.
Jerk.
Wetback.
Fuckin' retard.
Ugly.
Cracker.
You're fat.
Asshole.
Heeb.
I hate you.
Go fuck yourself.
Towelhead.
Whore.
Dickhead.
Wop.
Go to hell.
Nigger.
You motherfucker.
Cunt.
Kraut.
Shithead.
Lazy.
Hillbilly.
Eat shit.
Queer.
Shut the fuck up.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Good Thoughts For Lee
I just wanted to mention that one of our members lives in an area where the fires have been, in California... he made one small posting with a video, to which I responded, briefly... then he edited that same post, with more info... so, I assumed all was ok and responded again... yet, he hasn't responded back, while he usually responds, quickly... so, just wanted to ask for positive vibes towards our friend, Lee. Thanks!
Put on the Brakes
I've written previously about my stance on these government bailouts and how they're being handled, and I see no reason to revise those earlier positions.
But I do see a need to stop all this now before we waste anymore money on this Administration and it's utter incompetence.
While we continue to stress the importance of immediate action to save various industries around the country (believe me, the auto industry is the tip of a rather large and looming iceberg), and while many rightly call for sufficient oversight and regulation for those taxpayer dollars, we seem to be missing a central problem in all this mess: we're asking it of the Bush Administration.
The next perilous two months will be a waste of money if we're asking this government to do it. Ironically, we demand that the auto industry fire its upper management in order to get this money, but we fail to realize that the people replacing those management folks, or at least overseeing them, are the same people who allowed Katrina to devolve, who turned the Iraq War from a mess to a catastrophe and the same people who've bungled everything from education to economics to torture. How can we possibly justify that?
There's no doubt that we're headed off a steep cliff, but I'd at least like to be driven by someone with their eyes pointing forward...
For more, visit Rants, Raves and Rethoughts
But I do see a need to stop all this now before we waste anymore money on this Administration and it's utter incompetence.
While we continue to stress the importance of immediate action to save various industries around the country (believe me, the auto industry is the tip of a rather large and looming iceberg), and while many rightly call for sufficient oversight and regulation for those taxpayer dollars, we seem to be missing a central problem in all this mess: we're asking it of the Bush Administration.
The next perilous two months will be a waste of money if we're asking this government to do it. Ironically, we demand that the auto industry fire its upper management in order to get this money, but we fail to realize that the people replacing those management folks, or at least overseeing them, are the same people who allowed Katrina to devolve, who turned the Iraq War from a mess to a catastrophe and the same people who've bungled everything from education to economics to torture. How can we possibly justify that?
There's no doubt that we're headed off a steep cliff, but I'd at least like to be driven by someone with their eyes pointing forward...
For more, visit Rants, Raves and Rethoughts
Focus on money
On November 22, 2008 there will be a nation wide rally to show our disgust for the Federal Reserve. They sit printing money with no backing, simply arbitrary numbers on papers, then charge our government in the United States interest for these monies they are making up.
These rallies have support from Ron Paul and other political and radio personalities. We are also including local news stations in each area of peaceful dissent. To find out if your city is supporting the downfall of a tyrannical system visit Endthefed.us. The issues we have with our Federal Reserve affect everyone on a global level, which is why it is so important to bring down the Fed - think globally, act locally.
The description from the site is as follows:
As the Fed induced financial collapse unfolds, We the People face both the greatest dangers to our Freedom, Sovereignty and Prosperity as well as the greatest opportunity to reveal the true nature of the Federal Reserve System and organize to bring about its End. Thank you for being one of those who choose to take up the challenge of these difficult and dangerous times.
These rallies have support from Ron Paul and other political and radio personalities. We are also including local news stations in each area of peaceful dissent. To find out if your city is supporting the downfall of a tyrannical system visit Endthefed.us. The issues we have with our Federal Reserve affect everyone on a global level, which is why it is so important to bring down the Fed - think globally, act locally.
The description from the site is as follows:
As the Fed induced financial collapse unfolds, We the People face both the greatest dangers to our Freedom, Sovereignty and Prosperity as well as the greatest opportunity to reveal the true nature of the Federal Reserve System and organize to bring about its End. Thank you for being one of those who choose to take up the challenge of these difficult and dangerous times.
On The Journey
What a beautiful piece on the journey. It reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a friend about past, present and future.
We spend so much of our time planning and grasping at the future. We spend so much time reveling and regretting the past. We forget this moment. I love how the graphic art shows the present in the mind of the main focus of the piece. We are here, in the now, and we know we can change the future, but we must start in the present and work our way forward, if done correctly and slowly, to be sure of accuracy, we have the future in our hands. Let us not allow it to slip through like water.
We spend so much of our time planning and grasping at the future. We spend so much time reveling and regretting the past. We forget this moment. I love how the graphic art shows the present in the mind of the main focus of the piece. We are here, in the now, and we know we can change the future, but we must start in the present and work our way forward, if done correctly and slowly, to be sure of accuracy, we have the future in our hands. Let us not allow it to slip through like water.
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