Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Politics Today And My Vote - These are The Seats for the Senate



                                          © Cristina Homem de Melo

Friday, November 7, 2014

people



"You don't hate people...


you hate what they DO !...


GOD didn't make any bad people."

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Revolutionary Speech


"I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine- the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, thereby those important events of the past usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat.

There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?

Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission.

How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.

Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives.

So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot."

STOP !


Monday, November 3, 2014

Sunday, November 2, 2014

androcles and the lion


The earliest form of the story is found in the fifth book of Aulus Gellius's 2nd century Attic Nights. The author relates there a story told by Apion in his lost work Aegyptiacorum ("Wonders of Egypt"), the events of which Apion claimed to have personally witnessed in Rome. In this version, Androcles is given the Latin name of Androclus, a runaway slave of a former Roman consul administering a part of Africa. He takes shelter in a cave, which turns out to be the den of a wounded lion. He removes a large thorn from the animal's foot pad, forces pus from the infected wound, and bandages it. As a result, the lion recovers and becomes tame toward him, acting like a domesticated dog, including wagging its tail and bringing home game that it shares with the slave.

After several years, the slave eventually craves a return to civilization, resulting in his imprisonment as a fugitive slave and condemnation to be devoured by wild animals in the Circus Maximus of Rome. In the presence of an unnamed emperor, presumably either Caligula or Claudius, the most imposing of these beasts turns out to be the same lion, which again displays its affection toward the slave. The emperor pardons the slave on the spot, in recognition of this testimony to the power of friendship, and he is left in possession of the lion. Apion then continues:

"Afterwards we used to see Androclus with the lion attached to a slender leash, making the rounds of the tabernae throughout the city; Androclus was given money, the lion was sprinkled with flowers, and everyone who met them anywhere exclaimed, This is the lion, a man's friend; this is the man, a lion's doctor." (read more)


Friday, October 31, 2014

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Break Time


Last night I dreamed I was abducted by aliens – little old grays, in fact. 

Lately, I've been been thinking a lot about how I sort of want to meet some aliens, and maybe talk with them about a diplomatic, friendly, and productive way to introduce them to the world. I think we could work out a way to live together, harmoniously and with respect for everyone’s free will, here on earth.  I think I'm the kind of person who should be involved in that movement, helping shape that type of partnership.  My mind was sort of whirling when I fell asleep.

It started with an impression, rather than an image. 

In the dark, perhaps somewhere in my house, I stand across from three aliens.  They look strange but feel familiar. I've seen this type of person before:  slightly shorter than me, wrinkled gray skin and big, imploring eyes.  They're grays.  The scientists.  I'm a little scared, but feel only an invitation and a warm welcome. I am relatively prepared for this.

In the next instant, I’m on a spaceship wearing a silver and white uniform. I sit at a long, comfortable, silver table in a classroom with a bunch of other humans. I don’t know any of them, but we’re all pleased to be there together. I feel like maybe we’re friends.  If not, I would like to become friends with them.  Each exude confidence, compassion, and a sense of leadership.

It’s break time. I head to the restroom, just for a chance to wander around. Instead, I reach a machine at the end of a hallway. It seamlessly protrudes from the wall over a neat little table. I peer into it and then become distracted: there’s a popcorn machine to my right! I love popcorn!

That’s going to make me thirsty. 

Oh! Here’s a strange fountain machine. Little screens demonstrate colors and hint at flavors I don’t recognize. Green . . . Gatorade thing?  The liquids all look like they come from plastic squeeze-bags, which grosses me out.

I want to taste them all before I decide. A squirt abruptly plops into a small cup, which is suddenly in my hand – why does this not startle me? and find that I don’t like any of the flavors. Finally, the word water appears, written in a barely legible black script. Perfect!

But there, on my left, is a coffee machine. Man, this is just what I want! There are two choices. One of the buttons actually has my name on it! Could it be that they somehow replicated exactly how I make my favorite cup of coffee? I have to try it. Dark and fragrant, it pours into my cup at a perfectly drinkable temperature. Fresh brewed. Mmm…

I look around for cream and sugar, but all I can see is a transparent square tube with a faintly blue button underneath. There is nothing printed on the button. I push it, and out plops a little brown bug! Right into my coffee cup! Ick!

On my left is a box of sugar. I think I glimpse heavy cream in the corner of my eye. 

I would like to remember this! I wonder what happens next! What were we talking about in that room? Everything is fuzzy, confusing, and sleepy. 

Late into the morning, I wake, slightly groggy. I stretch, feeling sore and tired. I close my eyes, breathing deeply and trying to remember my dreams.  Identifying symbols and interpreting them is habit I picked up years ago.   

My cat meows, sticks her fluffy little paw into my water glass, and splashes water onto my face.  It's time to get up. I head to the kitchen to ponder and plan how I will spend my day.

After drinking a glass of water, I open the cupboard and grab a bag of my favorite freshly ground organic coffee.

Only then do I remember my dream about aliens.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

die well



Then out spake brave Horatius,


The Captain of the gate:


"To every man upon this earth


Death cometh soon or late.


And how can man die better


Than facing fearful odds


For the ashes of his fathers


And the temples of his gods."


Monday, October 20, 2014

Zond 3: Frame 25


This is frame 25 from Zond 3 on a lunar flyby in 1964. It is one of the first photographs taken of the far side of the moon. Frame 25 captured this image of a 22 mile high structure on the limb of the moon.
(see more) (zond 3)

stranger at the pentagon

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Thursday, October 16, 2014

haiku




Worker bees can leave


Even drones can fly away


The queen is their slave

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

war on peace



the "war on drugs" got us more drugs


the "war on poverty" brings us more poverty


the "war on terror" brought us more terror


maybe we should have a "war on peace" !

...

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Robert Wadlow with his father


Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940) also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois, is the tallest person in history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. The Alton and Illinois monikers reflect the fact that he was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois.

Wadlow reached 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) in height and weighed 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to hyperplasia of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone. He showed no indication of an end to his growth even at the time of his death. (read more)

The Watchers (MisterEThoughts and Jon Mix) -GOD- (41 FLY)

Monday, October 6, 2014

Saturday, October 4, 2014