Embrace Your WOW! Factor Ladies
i do declare.....
we start a trend....
of sexiest women over age 40.
for enough of this
who is hottest
under 30 crap.
for it is indeed crap.
stinky garbage
of false words
said to make up
the truth
of what's ok
and what is not.
over 40 is where it's at.
so says i.
over 40 is hot hot hot
where mindless chatter
of perky bosoms
is not not not.
beauty can only rise
where experience
is gleaned.
for wisdom
is the result
of inner truth
meeting such experience.
so who again sayeth you loseth your hotness factor after 40?
not i.
not i.
***
so it isn't emerson. big deal. much better than the filth of financial news being batted around like an out-of-control pop fly.
9.24.2008
9.22.2008
Let's Stop Being Upset
You know how the line from "Listen To The Music" goes: "Don'tcha feel it growin', day by day. People, gettin' ready for the news. Some are happy. Some are sad. Let the music play."
By now, most of us have been able to feel that growing distress based on the sounds and sights of economic crumbling, not to mention the ongoing drama of yet another political election season. We feel it at every level: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Thought is energy and what we're doing is spreading heavy, unhealthy energy to one another.
It's time to stop. Take a deep breath. Slow it down some. And ask ourselves: Is any of this really all that surprising? By getting upset what we're really doing is expecting a different outcome. And yet, really, how can we really expect a different outcome by now? The game playing and manipulation are obvious. Time to remove the masks. Time to remove the expectations. Time to cease being so upset. Worry. Fear. Rage. These states of thinking and being only deplete us. They're not the catalysts for change. They keep us focused on what's not working instead of what COULD BE.
Of course, like the song lyric goes, some are happy. CEO's of companies like Walmart, the Elite Ruling Class, the Puppetmasters and their Puppets in Business, Government and "Secret" Societies" are calm and happy. Well ok maybe not happy in the way a healthy individual would describe as authentic happiness, but they certainly aren't worried or distressed. (Psychopaths and those incapable or unwilling to experience empathy are incapable of experiencing authentic happiness.)
Aren't you tired of reading about Wall Street? Worn out from following the election drama? Fed up with the news on the ongoing wars? I am. Diving in and swimming in that murky, dark, heavy filth isn't healthy. Preparedness and awareness have their place of course as long as a balanced state of mind/body/being is created.
So what's a person to do? Well to begin with, limit exposure to all of the chaos and ugliness. Scanning the headlines for a minute or two is sufficient enough to keep yourself in the know. Then spend the rest of your time normally devoted to the crap to understanding your needs, speaking with others about the same, and then create small communities of individuals to gather with regularly and talk about how we are going to go about meeting those needs.
We have a System that's been built on lies and darkness. However, that is just part of reality. Certainly that is just ONE potential reality in an endless possibility of others. When groups of people form together, creating new things (from how we feed/clothe/shelter/provide for ourselves for starters), and most importantly KEEP ON GOING, resisting outside influence peacefully and assertively, in time said System will have no choice but to change with the time. Or collapse altogether. People, the time is now to start recognizing our power, our hidden inner selves. The time is NOW to start relying on each other instead of on whoever has the most power, money and the most impressive title.
Whether it's people, other wordly beings, or combination of both who are displaying the Oz-like behavior, that need never stop us from doing what we know is possible: Turning this beautiful planet into a paradise. Like it or not, we're here. We chose to come here. Regardless of how falsely influenced we were in that decision, we made the choice. I don't know about you, but I have a deep sense of needing to take care of this planet and its inhabitants by helping us all remember who we really are and what can be. Such changes we desire to see may not happen in our lifetime, but once the awakening begins, it cannot stop. Like a pebble tossed out in the ocean, it carries an energy to it that never ends. It's already begun. Let's keep it going.
Through love in action we can have paradise. It's our potential. It's who we are and it's truly all we have.
By now, most of us have been able to feel that growing distress based on the sounds and sights of economic crumbling, not to mention the ongoing drama of yet another political election season. We feel it at every level: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Thought is energy and what we're doing is spreading heavy, unhealthy energy to one another.
It's time to stop. Take a deep breath. Slow it down some. And ask ourselves: Is any of this really all that surprising? By getting upset what we're really doing is expecting a different outcome. And yet, really, how can we really expect a different outcome by now? The game playing and manipulation are obvious. Time to remove the masks. Time to remove the expectations. Time to cease being so upset. Worry. Fear. Rage. These states of thinking and being only deplete us. They're not the catalysts for change. They keep us focused on what's not working instead of what COULD BE.
Of course, like the song lyric goes, some are happy. CEO's of companies like Walmart, the Elite Ruling Class, the Puppetmasters and their Puppets in Business, Government and "Secret" Societies" are calm and happy. Well ok maybe not happy in the way a healthy individual would describe as authentic happiness, but they certainly aren't worried or distressed. (Psychopaths and those incapable or unwilling to experience empathy are incapable of experiencing authentic happiness.)
Aren't you tired of reading about Wall Street? Worn out from following the election drama? Fed up with the news on the ongoing wars? I am. Diving in and swimming in that murky, dark, heavy filth isn't healthy. Preparedness and awareness have their place of course as long as a balanced state of mind/body/being is created.
So what's a person to do? Well to begin with, limit exposure to all of the chaos and ugliness. Scanning the headlines for a minute or two is sufficient enough to keep yourself in the know. Then spend the rest of your time normally devoted to the crap to understanding your needs, speaking with others about the same, and then create small communities of individuals to gather with regularly and talk about how we are going to go about meeting those needs.
We have a System that's been built on lies and darkness. However, that is just part of reality. Certainly that is just ONE potential reality in an endless possibility of others. When groups of people form together, creating new things (from how we feed/clothe/shelter/provide for ourselves for starters), and most importantly KEEP ON GOING, resisting outside influence peacefully and assertively, in time said System will have no choice but to change with the time. Or collapse altogether. People, the time is now to start recognizing our power, our hidden inner selves. The time is NOW to start relying on each other instead of on whoever has the most power, money and the most impressive title.
Whether it's people, other wordly beings, or combination of both who are displaying the Oz-like behavior, that need never stop us from doing what we know is possible: Turning this beautiful planet into a paradise. Like it or not, we're here. We chose to come here. Regardless of how falsely influenced we were in that decision, we made the choice. I don't know about you, but I have a deep sense of needing to take care of this planet and its inhabitants by helping us all remember who we really are and what can be. Such changes we desire to see may not happen in our lifetime, but once the awakening begins, it cannot stop. Like a pebble tossed out in the ocean, it carries an energy to it that never ends. It's already begun. Let's keep it going.
Through love in action we can have paradise. It's our potential. It's who we are and it's truly all we have.
9.20.2008
Freedom. Anyone Seen It?
I've often talked about the term "freedom" on this blog. One of the best definitions I've read comes from David Icke, who says, in a nutshell, that freedom is the right to live, do, be, consume, think, speak as one wishes in so long as that choice is not interfering with anothers right to enjoy the same freedom. (I like to add that freedom does not mean being free from being offended.)
With that definition in mind, anyone seen freedom? I know I'm in need of it. And yes, blah blah, I know others will say we have it better than other people in other parts of the world. No shit we do. And yet we still aren't free in the truest sense of the word and that in and of itself should royally have every one of us heated to our core, even those who like to pull the "yeah but we have it better than..." diatribe.
There are all sorts of movements underway, new talk, new ideas about what kind of a society we could have. Some of it lifts me. Some of it gives me pause for concern. To those who talk about powering our lives with cleaner technology such as the sun, water and the wind, I'm right there with ya. To those who speak of buying more locally, creating more communities who are mostly self-sustaining, again, right there with ya. To those who speak of vehicles that run on water, electricity and air, again, right there with ya. To those who speak of affordable homes (in the truest definition of the term that is) that are energy efficient/responsible, again, all for it!
But then there are those who think we have to go back to the days when everyone grew their own food or live in some little hut or who think we need to give up our vehicles and resort to foot and peddle power. There are those who think we need to stop consuming (no more tv, computer, video games, etc.). Such ideas concern me, if not outright offend me. The idea of everyone growing their own food is simplistic if not absurd. That takes a great deal of time and most people simply lack the land space to do that. And when in history has anyone ever been totally self-sustainable? We've always depended upon others in one way or another. Bring back bartering instead of thowing out the baby with the bath water. While I support the idea of people growing more of their own food (if space allows for it), I believe we can have a sustainable economy by having a small group of farmers growing the food for their local communities, certainly food that many simply wouldn't have the space for (wheat, cows/sheep/pigs/chickens, corn, etc.). And until we address the wage issue, we need to install a sliding scale fee on everything.
Giving up of our vehicles is also a ridiculous idea. As mentioned above, I am completely for vehicles that are environmentally friendly. I'm more than happy to give up my gas consuming vehicle for one that is earth friendly. And I also support the idea of smaller vehicles (although I do like the idea of having an old truck around to haul things). But to expect others to give up their vehicles altogether goes contrary to the principle of freedom. If my vehicle isn't polluting, what business is it of yours how I choose to transport myself? I'll tell you: it is none of your business.
Then there's the whole idea of consumption. How much is too much? And most importantly: Who gets to make that decision? I don't want someone telling me what I can and cannot consume, although I do believe we need to be conscientious of the products we buy. More on that in a bit. Personally, I enjoy my movies, my television, my computer, my music. I like my a/c during the hot days. I enjoy eating out now and then. I have no desire to give any of it up, nor should I or anyone else have to. What's more important to me is where these products are made and are the workers making a living wage (living wage amount for their area) and being treated with respect. If not, then that's an issue for my choice is contributing to someone not enjoying freedom in its truest sense. Obviously our choices presented to us today mean we're interfering with others freedoms. This must change.
I've taken numerous online quizzes about my carbon footprint. I've received different results with each quiz. Rather odd, isn't it? I've even tested some of these sites by saying I lived in a 5,000 square foot home that was energy efficient and used solar and wind to power it. One site claimed that reduced my carbon footprint in the sustainable zone while another said it mattered little how my home was powered--the size alone was too big for the planet. A little voice within reminded me that while there was some truthful insights to these tests, they were still being presented by people with an agenda and it is human behavior to do whatever it takes to convince others of our personal truths. You do it, I do it, we all do it.
I truly deeply believe to the core of who I am that we CAN enjoy our "creature comforts" and that such comforts can be created in ways that are sustainable and friendly to the planet AND to the people. We can enjoy lives of abundance, however we define that abundance (it will be different for everyone). We can have it all and enjoy it without guilt for knowing others have been enslaved to some master to present us such comfort/enjoyment. Embracing the concept of freedom must be part of the picture if we are to have anything lasting and peaceful.
The answers, I believe, rely on looking to one another to create things anew. Government and their like have their own agenda. I'm so tired of writing letters and supporting grass roots organizations whose focus is to install new parties, etc. That's been like watching grass grow. Enough of the wait. Let's gather now, rich and poor, young and old, and talk about how we can create a new system where we maintain a good standard of living by measures that support freedom. Let's examine the idea that we don't need government. We don't even need a country or states. Let's look within and remember how enlightened we really are, remember where we come from. Let's remember all of the rules and expectations and should's we place on one another are human made and most haven't a thing to do with our potential, our hidden selves.
Technology is not the problem. Irresponsible (and archaic) technology is the issue. Western living isn't the problem. Western living without conscious is.
With that definition in mind, anyone seen freedom? I know I'm in need of it. And yes, blah blah, I know others will say we have it better than other people in other parts of the world. No shit we do. And yet we still aren't free in the truest sense of the word and that in and of itself should royally have every one of us heated to our core, even those who like to pull the "yeah but we have it better than..." diatribe.
There are all sorts of movements underway, new talk, new ideas about what kind of a society we could have. Some of it lifts me. Some of it gives me pause for concern. To those who talk about powering our lives with cleaner technology such as the sun, water and the wind, I'm right there with ya. To those who speak of buying more locally, creating more communities who are mostly self-sustaining, again, right there with ya. To those who speak of vehicles that run on water, electricity and air, again, right there with ya. To those who speak of affordable homes (in the truest definition of the term that is) that are energy efficient/responsible, again, all for it!
But then there are those who think we have to go back to the days when everyone grew their own food or live in some little hut or who think we need to give up our vehicles and resort to foot and peddle power. There are those who think we need to stop consuming (no more tv, computer, video games, etc.). Such ideas concern me, if not outright offend me. The idea of everyone growing their own food is simplistic if not absurd. That takes a great deal of time and most people simply lack the land space to do that. And when in history has anyone ever been totally self-sustainable? We've always depended upon others in one way or another. Bring back bartering instead of thowing out the baby with the bath water. While I support the idea of people growing more of their own food (if space allows for it), I believe we can have a sustainable economy by having a small group of farmers growing the food for their local communities, certainly food that many simply wouldn't have the space for (wheat, cows/sheep/pigs/chickens, corn, etc.). And until we address the wage issue, we need to install a sliding scale fee on everything.
Giving up of our vehicles is also a ridiculous idea. As mentioned above, I am completely for vehicles that are environmentally friendly. I'm more than happy to give up my gas consuming vehicle for one that is earth friendly. And I also support the idea of smaller vehicles (although I do like the idea of having an old truck around to haul things). But to expect others to give up their vehicles altogether goes contrary to the principle of freedom. If my vehicle isn't polluting, what business is it of yours how I choose to transport myself? I'll tell you: it is none of your business.
Then there's the whole idea of consumption. How much is too much? And most importantly: Who gets to make that decision? I don't want someone telling me what I can and cannot consume, although I do believe we need to be conscientious of the products we buy. More on that in a bit. Personally, I enjoy my movies, my television, my computer, my music. I like my a/c during the hot days. I enjoy eating out now and then. I have no desire to give any of it up, nor should I or anyone else have to. What's more important to me is where these products are made and are the workers making a living wage (living wage amount for their area) and being treated with respect. If not, then that's an issue for my choice is contributing to someone not enjoying freedom in its truest sense. Obviously our choices presented to us today mean we're interfering with others freedoms. This must change.
I've taken numerous online quizzes about my carbon footprint. I've received different results with each quiz. Rather odd, isn't it? I've even tested some of these sites by saying I lived in a 5,000 square foot home that was energy efficient and used solar and wind to power it. One site claimed that reduced my carbon footprint in the sustainable zone while another said it mattered little how my home was powered--the size alone was too big for the planet. A little voice within reminded me that while there was some truthful insights to these tests, they were still being presented by people with an agenda and it is human behavior to do whatever it takes to convince others of our personal truths. You do it, I do it, we all do it.
I truly deeply believe to the core of who I am that we CAN enjoy our "creature comforts" and that such comforts can be created in ways that are sustainable and friendly to the planet AND to the people. We can enjoy lives of abundance, however we define that abundance (it will be different for everyone). We can have it all and enjoy it without guilt for knowing others have been enslaved to some master to present us such comfort/enjoyment. Embracing the concept of freedom must be part of the picture if we are to have anything lasting and peaceful.
The answers, I believe, rely on looking to one another to create things anew. Government and their like have their own agenda. I'm so tired of writing letters and supporting grass roots organizations whose focus is to install new parties, etc. That's been like watching grass grow. Enough of the wait. Let's gather now, rich and poor, young and old, and talk about how we can create a new system where we maintain a good standard of living by measures that support freedom. Let's examine the idea that we don't need government. We don't even need a country or states. Let's look within and remember how enlightened we really are, remember where we come from. Let's remember all of the rules and expectations and should's we place on one another are human made and most haven't a thing to do with our potential, our hidden selves.
Technology is not the problem. Irresponsible (and archaic) technology is the issue. Western living isn't the problem. Western living without conscious is.
9.18.2008
Ramblings of This and That and Well, Nothing, Really.
My body and mind seem to have done a sudden screeeeeech sloooooooooow dowwwwwwwwwn since our weather seems to have done the same thing. This sudden switch to needing the a/c to needing the heat is telling us Fall is here, a time to slow down, bundle up, look inward, reflect, prepare for winter's hibernation (I would have made an excellent bear). Time to make stews and soups and homemade breads.
While nature seems to be adjusting just fine, my mind and body seem to be a bit out of sorts. Maybe it's just my body doing it's normal monthly cycle. All I know is that in the last 36 hours, my physical self has said STOP SLOW DOWN REST ME. I thought exercise may do the trick. I was wrong. Not quite fifteen minutes into it, my body simply had had enough.
Perhaps it's also partly due to the barrage of depressing news (as if there's anything different) about the economy that's being slammed down our throats everytime you turn on any news channel or open up any paper. Maybe it's also due to the picking up of other people's mental states, which, unless you're one of the very few who are financially secure or living in a cabin in a remote area, is likely to be chaotic, unsure and frightened. The past couple of days I've been so overwhelmingly tired, I haven't really given much of a shit about the markets. Whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen. I'm content to curl up with my blankie and my free-trade dark chocolate for now.
On a lighter note, I'm getting new glasses. Soon I'll return to contacts. But for now, I'll finally be able to wear glasses that don't feel like a brick on my face. They're lightweight and stylish. Cool. Funky. I had quite the time trying on frames. I tried some of those styles that are all the rage now--the black/dark rimmed rectangular types. I laughed at myself upon seeing them sitting on my face. I looked like a stern school teacher about ready to launch into a lecture on abstinence only. Either that or I looked like I had wings and was ready to fly away. I tried on some round spectacles. I always thought John Lennon looked so cool in that style. But alas, they looked too small on my face. I tried on a variety of other frames, and either laughed or let loose an expletive. Frustration set in after about 20 minutes of this. I had done my research. I had learned what shape my face is: oval. I did this by measuring my face, putting little pencil dots at select points then measuring the distance. Those dots and my measuring tape said I was an oval, which according to all the sites, this is the ideal shape because I can wear most any shape. So then why was I having such a difficult time selecting a frame?
Oh well, I finally found a pair, a wider more squarish frame of the popular rectangular style. If that makes sense. I glanced at the price tag. Yikes. I had selected one of the most expensive frames. And the price didn't include the lenses OR the Transition coating I was adding. Oh well. I've often said I am a poor girl with rich girl tastes.
A girlfriend of mine, who used to blog, never shared much about her personal life in her entries, which was too bad. She's had a fascinating life. She kept her blog focused on social issues and the like. When I asked her why she never ventured more into the personal side, she said she wasn't that ego-centric. Hearing that had me question my own desire to share the occasional personal story. Was I some insecure, approval seeking loon? Maybe in a way, yes. But then I remembered something out of a line from one of my songs I wrote, about the stories we all have, the stories that somewhere within we all desire to share, but we don't out of fear. Instead, just as we do in person, we tend to talk about the weather, politics, religion, cars or about others. But our personal stories? Forget it. And that's sad, for it is our personal stories that really make us who we are. It's those things big and small that help paint the landscape of who we are.
Given fall is here and winter's headed our direction, and given the condition of our economy and the brewing storm, maybe it's time to start sharing those stories. It's time to really bond with one another. Instead of focusing on all that's crazy about the world, maybe it's time to talk about what's crazy and wonderful about ourselves.
Speaking for myself, I'm much more interested in such things than I am on what Oboo-boo/McPain/Shit/Murky said/did. Frankly my dear, I just no longer give a damn.
While nature seems to be adjusting just fine, my mind and body seem to be a bit out of sorts. Maybe it's just my body doing it's normal monthly cycle. All I know is that in the last 36 hours, my physical self has said STOP SLOW DOWN REST ME. I thought exercise may do the trick. I was wrong. Not quite fifteen minutes into it, my body simply had had enough.
Perhaps it's also partly due to the barrage of depressing news (as if there's anything different) about the economy that's being slammed down our throats everytime you turn on any news channel or open up any paper. Maybe it's also due to the picking up of other people's mental states, which, unless you're one of the very few who are financially secure or living in a cabin in a remote area, is likely to be chaotic, unsure and frightened. The past couple of days I've been so overwhelmingly tired, I haven't really given much of a shit about the markets. Whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen. I'm content to curl up with my blankie and my free-trade dark chocolate for now.
On a lighter note, I'm getting new glasses. Soon I'll return to contacts. But for now, I'll finally be able to wear glasses that don't feel like a brick on my face. They're lightweight and stylish. Cool. Funky. I had quite the time trying on frames. I tried some of those styles that are all the rage now--the black/dark rimmed rectangular types. I laughed at myself upon seeing them sitting on my face. I looked like a stern school teacher about ready to launch into a lecture on abstinence only. Either that or I looked like I had wings and was ready to fly away. I tried on some round spectacles. I always thought John Lennon looked so cool in that style. But alas, they looked too small on my face. I tried on a variety of other frames, and either laughed or let loose an expletive. Frustration set in after about 20 minutes of this. I had done my research. I had learned what shape my face is: oval. I did this by measuring my face, putting little pencil dots at select points then measuring the distance. Those dots and my measuring tape said I was an oval, which according to all the sites, this is the ideal shape because I can wear most any shape. So then why was I having such a difficult time selecting a frame?
Oh well, I finally found a pair, a wider more squarish frame of the popular rectangular style. If that makes sense. I glanced at the price tag. Yikes. I had selected one of the most expensive frames. And the price didn't include the lenses OR the Transition coating I was adding. Oh well. I've often said I am a poor girl with rich girl tastes.
A girlfriend of mine, who used to blog, never shared much about her personal life in her entries, which was too bad. She's had a fascinating life. She kept her blog focused on social issues and the like. When I asked her why she never ventured more into the personal side, she said she wasn't that ego-centric. Hearing that had me question my own desire to share the occasional personal story. Was I some insecure, approval seeking loon? Maybe in a way, yes. But then I remembered something out of a line from one of my songs I wrote, about the stories we all have, the stories that somewhere within we all desire to share, but we don't out of fear. Instead, just as we do in person, we tend to talk about the weather, politics, religion, cars or about others. But our personal stories? Forget it. And that's sad, for it is our personal stories that really make us who we are. It's those things big and small that help paint the landscape of who we are.
Given fall is here and winter's headed our direction, and given the condition of our economy and the brewing storm, maybe it's time to start sharing those stories. It's time to really bond with one another. Instead of focusing on all that's crazy about the world, maybe it's time to talk about what's crazy and wonderful about ourselves.
Speaking for myself, I'm much more interested in such things than I am on what Oboo-boo/McPain/Shit/Murky said/did. Frankly my dear, I just no longer give a damn.
9.16.2008
What's The Point?
I have moments when I wonder why bother to share what I know with the world. What's the point? People aren't waking up. Or when they do, they typically walk around like a deer caught in the headlights, only to return to the forest.
After 9/11, when I mentioned the idea of controlled demolition, I was met with a lot of hostility.
When I suggested that perhaps we take some deep breaths and THINK before acting. That perhaps the Government was not being truthful with us, that it seemed rather odd that within HOURS of the Twin Towers collapsing, Bin Laden's name was connected to it. That perhaps heading off to Afghanistan to blow up a bunch of shit in search of ONE PERSON was not a rational thing to do. Perhaps, I said, he wasn't behind it. Saying such things I was attacked yet again, this time from family and strangers alike.
When I said, 4 years ago, that the dollar would continue to decline and gold would reach upwards of $1,000 an ounce, I got criticized for thinking such thoughts, criticized even more when I suggested I was thinking of investing in some gold.
When I suggested a year ago that Hewlett Packard was gearing up to leave Corvallis, I got accused of spreading lies by some HP Employees on an online venue. I was threatened to keep my mouth shut lest I be accused of slander.
When I have spoken about the Health Care System, about Corporate Greed, the Corruption of our Two Party System, about NAFTA, The New World Order, Globalization, about living wage jobs, even about the idea that certain things need be RIGHTS instead of Privileges (such as home ownership, education, food, clothing, water and health care), meaning NOT BASED ON INCOME, it's a rare day I find support. The majority of the time I'm attacked.
I wonder what would happen if I were to stand on a podium and start sharing such thoughts. I wonder what would happen if I were to write this in a book and sell it. Begin speaking publically throughout the country on such issues. Would those verbal attacks turn in to the physical kind?
I keep having this need to SPEAK UP and WARN and UNITE and yet, now and then I stop and think what's the point? How can one person undertake such a task? I may look like an adult, but inside I often feel like I'm 5. People like John Lennon and Martin Luther King JR. had great support around them, people who believed in them. All the true leaders do. And yet, I have my spouse and a dog. It's a start, but it isn't enough. I need more. Real support, authentic support. Not the "I'll cheer you from the sidelines" rah rah type.
Oh well, until such time, I guess I'll just continue to type out my thoughts, trying to convince myself that when that miraculous moment occurs, when someone actually says "thank you for speaking for those of us who can't or don't", that this will continue to give me the spark, energy and motivation I need to carry on.
After 9/11, when I mentioned the idea of controlled demolition, I was met with a lot of hostility.
When I suggested that perhaps we take some deep breaths and THINK before acting. That perhaps the Government was not being truthful with us, that it seemed rather odd that within HOURS of the Twin Towers collapsing, Bin Laden's name was connected to it. That perhaps heading off to Afghanistan to blow up a bunch of shit in search of ONE PERSON was not a rational thing to do. Perhaps, I said, he wasn't behind it. Saying such things I was attacked yet again, this time from family and strangers alike.
When I said, 4 years ago, that the dollar would continue to decline and gold would reach upwards of $1,000 an ounce, I got criticized for thinking such thoughts, criticized even more when I suggested I was thinking of investing in some gold.
When I suggested a year ago that Hewlett Packard was gearing up to leave Corvallis, I got accused of spreading lies by some HP Employees on an online venue. I was threatened to keep my mouth shut lest I be accused of slander.
When I have spoken about the Health Care System, about Corporate Greed, the Corruption of our Two Party System, about NAFTA, The New World Order, Globalization, about living wage jobs, even about the idea that certain things need be RIGHTS instead of Privileges (such as home ownership, education, food, clothing, water and health care), meaning NOT BASED ON INCOME, it's a rare day I find support. The majority of the time I'm attacked.
I wonder what would happen if I were to stand on a podium and start sharing such thoughts. I wonder what would happen if I were to write this in a book and sell it. Begin speaking publically throughout the country on such issues. Would those verbal attacks turn in to the physical kind?
I keep having this need to SPEAK UP and WARN and UNITE and yet, now and then I stop and think what's the point? How can one person undertake such a task? I may look like an adult, but inside I often feel like I'm 5. People like John Lennon and Martin Luther King JR. had great support around them, people who believed in them. All the true leaders do. And yet, I have my spouse and a dog. It's a start, but it isn't enough. I need more. Real support, authentic support. Not the "I'll cheer you from the sidelines" rah rah type.
Oh well, until such time, I guess I'll just continue to type out my thoughts, trying to convince myself that when that miraculous moment occurs, when someone actually says "thank you for speaking for those of us who can't or don't", that this will continue to give me the spark, energy and motivation I need to carry on.
9.15.2008
Per$pective: All In A Day. Black Monday.
Given "black" is actually a GOOD thing financially speaking and being in the "red" is not, I don't see why they call days like today "Black Monday" when "Red Monday" is more appropriate. Likely the "black" means the higher ups, who already sold their stock, are getting out unscathed.
These are some of the things I heard today whilst the tv was on in the background.
*Dow takes biggest hit since 9/11.
*Lehman Brothers tanks and files for Chapter 11.
*Merrill Lynch is bought out (eaten up) by Bank of America.
*AIG (American International Group) is looking for some $$ to rectify its balance sheet.
*CNN News Anchor says conditions such as this haven't been seen since the start of the Great Depression. (You know when the word "Depression" is being tossed around by the MSM, it's already here. They're just simply preparing folks for more to come. I wonder if Big Pharma will start marketing anti-depressant's for the economy.)
*Talk Show spending an hour talking about surviving the financial crisis, where advice such as "sell the house" and "get another job" are the best tips the "experts" have to offer. Of course there is no mention of the SYSTEM or of the CONTROL'S put in place by BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE to CREATE such conditions.
*Walmart CEO was said to be spending the day giggling hysterically while prancing around one of his 25,000 square foot mansions, spitting on his hired help, knowing that the more the economy tanks and the more people become unable to spend their money on high-cost, quality products, they will start visiting their local Walmart in increasing numbers. He was also said to have made a call to one of his Sweat Shops in Bangaladesh, whereby he demanded the Manager hire more pre-teen girls to sew the clothes. Such labor costing Mr. CEO $1.00/day per slave, er seamstress, with a turn-around retail price of $16.95 per item.
All In A Day, In America.
Right now, I'm headed off to play with the puppy dog and make some spaghetti and a nice green salad for dinner. Do some praying and uplifting intentions. And continue to hope that people not panic and remember: We can make it through anything together. Where there once was a way of life, another can be built. Better. Stronger. Healthier. Happier. It is possible. It always has been and always will be.
N.
These are some of the things I heard today whilst the tv was on in the background.
*Dow takes biggest hit since 9/11.
*Lehman Brothers tanks and files for Chapter 11.
*Merrill Lynch is bought out (eaten up) by Bank of America.
*AIG (American International Group) is looking for some $$ to rectify its balance sheet.
*CNN News Anchor says conditions such as this haven't been seen since the start of the Great Depression. (You know when the word "Depression" is being tossed around by the MSM, it's already here. They're just simply preparing folks for more to come. I wonder if Big Pharma will start marketing anti-depressant's for the economy.)
*Talk Show spending an hour talking about surviving the financial crisis, where advice such as "sell the house" and "get another job" are the best tips the "experts" have to offer. Of course there is no mention of the SYSTEM or of the CONTROL'S put in place by BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE to CREATE such conditions.
*Walmart CEO was said to be spending the day giggling hysterically while prancing around one of his 25,000 square foot mansions, spitting on his hired help, knowing that the more the economy tanks and the more people become unable to spend their money on high-cost, quality products, they will start visiting their local Walmart in increasing numbers. He was also said to have made a call to one of his Sweat Shops in Bangaladesh, whereby he demanded the Manager hire more pre-teen girls to sew the clothes. Such labor costing Mr. CEO $1.00/day per slave, er seamstress, with a turn-around retail price of $16.95 per item.
All In A Day, In America.
Right now, I'm headed off to play with the puppy dog and make some spaghetti and a nice green salad for dinner. Do some praying and uplifting intentions. And continue to hope that people not panic and remember: We can make it through anything together. Where there once was a way of life, another can be built. Better. Stronger. Healthier. Happier. It is possible. It always has been and always will be.
N.
9.11.2008
New Age Movement: Simply Another Religion
I swear, I gotta get someone to help me market a t-shirt and bumper sticker venue so that I can tell the world: Religion: The Original Sin.
Religion of any kind. Christianity. Hindu. Buddhism. Muslim. Judiasm. Even New Age.
I was raised with only minor religious influence. My dad was adament that I not have anything church-like forced upon me. He wanted me to be free to explore this area of life on my own. Even though this was more about his own stuff than it was about my young, influential mind, I am grateful he made this choice. My mother, a Baptist (who is now a lax catholic, a term with which many catholic's end up defining themselves), wanted me to get in some Jesus training, so I hooked up with some girl's group at a small Baptist Church. I got into it for awhile. I longed for a gentle, kind male figure in my life, someone who didn't scare me for certain, and Jesus seemed to be it for me at the age of 9. I went through a stage whereby I would write "Smile! Jesus Loves You!" whenever I could. Like all stages though, I eventually grew out of it. Jesus didn't answer my prayers. He didn't calm my father's rage. He didn't get the kids at school to stop teasing me. Jesus has failed me, just like every other adult 'figure' in my life had. He had abandoned me.
Several years passed when I decided to check into the Catholic church. Something about the mass appealed to me. I found it oddly familiar. I decided to do the baptismal thing at 24, although unlike the other young adults up on the alter with me, I crossed my fingers behind my back when asked if I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I had wised up since childhood and realized Jesus, if he even existed, was a person, just like me. Surprisingly, I felt no guilt over this little white lie. I figure what I was doing was for me and me only and was between me and god or whatever it was I was a part of. All of my childhood unanswered prayers? All of that got buried, only to be uncovered and dealt later. After all, dealing openly with our pains was certainly not allowable back then. Suck it up was the mantra in my house. Either that or bury it and it'll go away.
It wasn't long, maybe 4 years, before I began to outgrow the entire Catholic religion. Going to church every week and being asked to donate money and shaking hands with people who wished me peace, but whom I knew would really not be interested in getting to know me in such a way as to learn what things I was actually in need of peace of had gotten old. Stale. Boring. Fake.
So off I dove into the New Age Movement. It was the mid 90's, the peak of the new age craze. I was a junkie. I got hooked on the idea that I was God. I had the power to shape my life any way I wished. Nothing could stop me with the right thinking, the right intention. Certainly nothing of an earthly nature. I and I alone drove my ship and nothing could stop me from what I wanted to do, how and where.
For awhile, my life began to flow really smoothly. I began making decisions for myself--big decisions--and began to discover the wonders of synchronicity. I was, in many ways, flying high. At the time a very well-meaning friend told me "Girl, you are lit up like a Christmas tree. But, you're not grounded. If you don't get grounded in reality, you're going to get hurt." I dismissed her thought. New Age books told me nothing could hurt me with the right thinking, the right level of intention.
Well, it seems as though just as soon as she told me those very powerful words, my life began to go to hell. Friends were suddenly betraying me, disappearing. Jobs were hard to hold onto. Emotional struggles soon followed. Suddenly I began really feeling these thoughts about how worthless I was. I began thinking my value was based on my income, certainly based on what I did instead of who I was. On and on this went until I sunk into a deep depression, one that continued on for a long time and still lingers a bit.
First Jesus had failed me. Then New Age had failed me. What else was there? What else was there for me to believe in? I hadn't a clue. Around this time, September 11, 2001 came and went. Prompted by an inner urging, I tossed aside all things religious and dove into the underworld of the new world order, the illuminati and the workings of our government and corporations. In doing so I began to see a reality that both the Church and New Age were neglecting to see. The idea that there are people who have intentionally taken away our right to free choice by limiting that choice. There are people who have created a system of enslavement all to serve the Elite Empire. Public Schools teach us to be good little sheep and fall in line by focusing on left-brain dominant learning and by filling our heads with government's version of history, of the world. Once Public School has done it's job, the System doesn't give an 18 year old much in the way of options. It's either flip burgers, pump gas, sign up for duty to support Uncle Sam's Industrial Military Complex/On-Going Global War or spend thousands of dollars entering the higher education system, whereby you may have a little more room to move and freedom (which means: professor isn't gonna call mommy and daddy if you don't show up for class), but other than that, free thought isn't encouraged, not in its purest form. Churches fill our heads with their LEADER'S VERSION of biblical events and truth. Mass Marketing using subliminal messaging directly accessing our computer-like subconscious mind with additional filth, such as you NEED Product X Y and Z if you are to be SOMEBODY. Corporate Food Giants putting toxic chemicals, hormones and pesticides into our food and water supply which creates a host of health issues, ranging from minor to serious and even deadly.
War. Poverty. Minimum Wage. Massive cover-ups into the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Skyrocketing cost of living factors. Monopolies galore with little government oversight.
The nightmare of our "free" market system.
And yet, the New Age movement said my reality was based solely and completely on my thoughts alone. I was to focus INWARD to learn that ALL of my own suffering and struggles were all about ME and ME alone.
What a crock of shit.
So for a time, I did the proverbial "throw the baby out with the bathwater". I wanted nothing to do with the New Age idiots. Nothing to do with anything labeled "christianity". Not even anything labeled God. And I stewed. I blamed. I judged. And then I started the process all over again.
But then I began to remember something I read years ago. You know how something will just stick with you like that? You read something, forget about it and then years later it revisits you? That's what happened to me. I had read something about balance. And I realized that pointing the finger outside of myself, looking purely outside of myself, wasn't the answer to end my pain. For in doing that I was giving away all of my power to forces outside of me. I then remembered the wise words of my friend about being grounded in reality while also being open to Source/Life Energy. I had gone from being solely focused on Source to being solely focused on all of the control's put in place on Earth.
The answer for me to escape this cycle was to be found through Balance.
And that's not something the New Age movement had taught me. Oh sure, it was discussed briefly, likely for effect. But damn, try and find some New Age freak who was willing to talk about the System and how it operates and influences our lives was met with the proverbial "I am going to go stick my head in the sand over here on that one" while walking away, fingers in ears, humming the "la la la la la" tune. Look to yourself alone for your own suffering, they say. Uh huh.
And Church people? No better. Pray to Jesus. That's about as in depth as they go.
Balance.
We affect one another. That's the truth. Others make choices that influence what we do, what we can do. I once remember a conversation with a New Ager who, when I asked what their thoughts were on the child who had his leg blown off by a roadside bomb said, in all seriousness (well, with that glazed la la all is ok look New Ager's seem to wear), "I cannot answer that. That is that child's journey. But they did ask for that experience. That is all I know."
Uh huh. Toddler's walk down the street saying "You know what God? I want to have my leg ripped off. I wanna know what that feels like."
Unbelievable.
When I presented the idea that, perhaps, this happened because some War Hungry Politician CHOOSE with his own FREE WILL to attack some nation because he felt it would make his dick, ego and bank account larger and as such, sent over brain-washed military young men to plant the bombs, who also CHOSE with their own FREE WILL (well, heavily influenced free will) to plant the bomb, she could only say "Nothing happens to us that we don't ask for."
Sorry folks. I don't buy it. It isn't that simple.
Let's insert some balance into this. Let's say person's X Y and Z make policies, create laws and the like and present them to Joe and Jane and little Sally and Bobby as their OPTIONS for LIVING. Joe, Jane and the little ones are told "this is what you have to choose from" and as such, the family takes it as is. However, this option may create some obstacles. Maybe this option is home ownership. This grossly unregulated system whereby home ownership is not just about providing the basic needs of others but is now seen primarily instead as some insane game to make as much money as possible has made it ever the more difficult to own a home. Joe and Jane are not able to afford a home where they live and so their only other option in their area is to rent. And yet, they desire to remain in their area and own a home. System says "No".
Or maybe the option is employment for Joe. Joe really wants to be a musician and make a living at it, enough to support his family, but the Record Companies all say Sorry, you're too old/Not skinny enough/Not what we're looking for (meaning not marketable enough for us to make millions of dollars off your work). Since there aren't any "Wanted Musician to entertain. $65,000/year with benefits and pension plan" job listings, he instead opts to work on computers and plays the clubs on the occasional weekend.
Or perhaps the option is energy. Joe and Jane don't wish to support their energy company and wish instead for more options, more companies in which to select from. They don't have that luxury. The System has made it such that only one company supplies electricity for homes in their area.
Sad. But that's just how things are is the mantra. However, in reality we KNOW the System doesn't have to be like this. We could have a society where everyone could own his/her own home. We could have a society where musician's were able to make a good living doing what they love. We could have a society where there were several ways of providing oneself energy, several companies in which to choose. (Isn't that what the free market is largely supposed to be about? Competition?)
System says "No". And anyone who wishes to mess with the System can get hauled off to jail, harassed, fine, even killed.
The System has influenced this family's life and has no regard for this family's wishes, needs or desires. Hence, it ignores their thoughts.
However, when one becomes aware of such things, one begins to reclaim his/her own power. You begin to awaken. You begin to get angry (if you aren't angry, you are not awake for anger is that wonderful emotion that tells us THIS IS NOT OK WITH ME). You see things do not have to be this way. You begin to KNOW there are UNLIMITED ways of living, and yet the Oz folks behind the curtain push back and say "NO" repeatedly to those seeking new ways.
That doesn't mean one must stop trying. Our thoughts are powerful. Put to action, together with others of like-mind, they take on even more power. What we put out with that pure intention, that pure knowing will pay us a visit eventually. Others, through their own free will, can either help or hinder that process. And yet, more and more are growing restless. If you're awake or are awakening, you FEEL that energy. And all that is is the thoughts of others in energy form. That is the beginning, the start of new things, new movements, awakening. For once the majority are awake and are embracing freedom and peace in their purest forms, we will want to help one another, we want to WORK TOGETHER to create what we want and desire AND need. Without being told "No". Without resistance. Resistance from the System is simply about fear--fear that the may have to start sharing and letting go of the control.
Together and awake. Focused and aware. 'Tis the way to change. 'Tis the new religion so desperately needed.
Religion of any kind. Christianity. Hindu. Buddhism. Muslim. Judiasm. Even New Age.
I was raised with only minor religious influence. My dad was adament that I not have anything church-like forced upon me. He wanted me to be free to explore this area of life on my own. Even though this was more about his own stuff than it was about my young, influential mind, I am grateful he made this choice. My mother, a Baptist (who is now a lax catholic, a term with which many catholic's end up defining themselves), wanted me to get in some Jesus training, so I hooked up with some girl's group at a small Baptist Church. I got into it for awhile. I longed for a gentle, kind male figure in my life, someone who didn't scare me for certain, and Jesus seemed to be it for me at the age of 9. I went through a stage whereby I would write "Smile! Jesus Loves You!" whenever I could. Like all stages though, I eventually grew out of it. Jesus didn't answer my prayers. He didn't calm my father's rage. He didn't get the kids at school to stop teasing me. Jesus has failed me, just like every other adult 'figure' in my life had. He had abandoned me.
Several years passed when I decided to check into the Catholic church. Something about the mass appealed to me. I found it oddly familiar. I decided to do the baptismal thing at 24, although unlike the other young adults up on the alter with me, I crossed my fingers behind my back when asked if I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I had wised up since childhood and realized Jesus, if he even existed, was a person, just like me. Surprisingly, I felt no guilt over this little white lie. I figure what I was doing was for me and me only and was between me and god or whatever it was I was a part of. All of my childhood unanswered prayers? All of that got buried, only to be uncovered and dealt later. After all, dealing openly with our pains was certainly not allowable back then. Suck it up was the mantra in my house. Either that or bury it and it'll go away.
It wasn't long, maybe 4 years, before I began to outgrow the entire Catholic religion. Going to church every week and being asked to donate money and shaking hands with people who wished me peace, but whom I knew would really not be interested in getting to know me in such a way as to learn what things I was actually in need of peace of had gotten old. Stale. Boring. Fake.
So off I dove into the New Age Movement. It was the mid 90's, the peak of the new age craze. I was a junkie. I got hooked on the idea that I was God. I had the power to shape my life any way I wished. Nothing could stop me with the right thinking, the right intention. Certainly nothing of an earthly nature. I and I alone drove my ship and nothing could stop me from what I wanted to do, how and where.
For awhile, my life began to flow really smoothly. I began making decisions for myself--big decisions--and began to discover the wonders of synchronicity. I was, in many ways, flying high. At the time a very well-meaning friend told me "Girl, you are lit up like a Christmas tree. But, you're not grounded. If you don't get grounded in reality, you're going to get hurt." I dismissed her thought. New Age books told me nothing could hurt me with the right thinking, the right level of intention.
Well, it seems as though just as soon as she told me those very powerful words, my life began to go to hell. Friends were suddenly betraying me, disappearing. Jobs were hard to hold onto. Emotional struggles soon followed. Suddenly I began really feeling these thoughts about how worthless I was. I began thinking my value was based on my income, certainly based on what I did instead of who I was. On and on this went until I sunk into a deep depression, one that continued on for a long time and still lingers a bit.
First Jesus had failed me. Then New Age had failed me. What else was there? What else was there for me to believe in? I hadn't a clue. Around this time, September 11, 2001 came and went. Prompted by an inner urging, I tossed aside all things religious and dove into the underworld of the new world order, the illuminati and the workings of our government and corporations. In doing so I began to see a reality that both the Church and New Age were neglecting to see. The idea that there are people who have intentionally taken away our right to free choice by limiting that choice. There are people who have created a system of enslavement all to serve the Elite Empire. Public Schools teach us to be good little sheep and fall in line by focusing on left-brain dominant learning and by filling our heads with government's version of history, of the world. Once Public School has done it's job, the System doesn't give an 18 year old much in the way of options. It's either flip burgers, pump gas, sign up for duty to support Uncle Sam's Industrial Military Complex/On-Going Global War or spend thousands of dollars entering the higher education system, whereby you may have a little more room to move and freedom (which means: professor isn't gonna call mommy and daddy if you don't show up for class), but other than that, free thought isn't encouraged, not in its purest form. Churches fill our heads with their LEADER'S VERSION of biblical events and truth. Mass Marketing using subliminal messaging directly accessing our computer-like subconscious mind with additional filth, such as you NEED Product X Y and Z if you are to be SOMEBODY. Corporate Food Giants putting toxic chemicals, hormones and pesticides into our food and water supply which creates a host of health issues, ranging from minor to serious and even deadly.
War. Poverty. Minimum Wage. Massive cover-ups into the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Skyrocketing cost of living factors. Monopolies galore with little government oversight.
The nightmare of our "free" market system.
And yet, the New Age movement said my reality was based solely and completely on my thoughts alone. I was to focus INWARD to learn that ALL of my own suffering and struggles were all about ME and ME alone.
What a crock of shit.
So for a time, I did the proverbial "throw the baby out with the bathwater". I wanted nothing to do with the New Age idiots. Nothing to do with anything labeled "christianity". Not even anything labeled God. And I stewed. I blamed. I judged. And then I started the process all over again.
But then I began to remember something I read years ago. You know how something will just stick with you like that? You read something, forget about it and then years later it revisits you? That's what happened to me. I had read something about balance. And I realized that pointing the finger outside of myself, looking purely outside of myself, wasn't the answer to end my pain. For in doing that I was giving away all of my power to forces outside of me. I then remembered the wise words of my friend about being grounded in reality while also being open to Source/Life Energy. I had gone from being solely focused on Source to being solely focused on all of the control's put in place on Earth.
The answer for me to escape this cycle was to be found through Balance.
And that's not something the New Age movement had taught me. Oh sure, it was discussed briefly, likely for effect. But damn, try and find some New Age freak who was willing to talk about the System and how it operates and influences our lives was met with the proverbial "I am going to go stick my head in the sand over here on that one" while walking away, fingers in ears, humming the "la la la la la" tune. Look to yourself alone for your own suffering, they say. Uh huh.
And Church people? No better. Pray to Jesus. That's about as in depth as they go.
Balance.
We affect one another. That's the truth. Others make choices that influence what we do, what we can do. I once remember a conversation with a New Ager who, when I asked what their thoughts were on the child who had his leg blown off by a roadside bomb said, in all seriousness (well, with that glazed la la all is ok look New Ager's seem to wear), "I cannot answer that. That is that child's journey. But they did ask for that experience. That is all I know."
Uh huh. Toddler's walk down the street saying "You know what God? I want to have my leg ripped off. I wanna know what that feels like."
Unbelievable.
When I presented the idea that, perhaps, this happened because some War Hungry Politician CHOOSE with his own FREE WILL to attack some nation because he felt it would make his dick, ego and bank account larger and as such, sent over brain-washed military young men to plant the bombs, who also CHOSE with their own FREE WILL (well, heavily influenced free will) to plant the bomb, she could only say "Nothing happens to us that we don't ask for."
Sorry folks. I don't buy it. It isn't that simple.
Let's insert some balance into this. Let's say person's X Y and Z make policies, create laws and the like and present them to Joe and Jane and little Sally and Bobby as their OPTIONS for LIVING. Joe, Jane and the little ones are told "this is what you have to choose from" and as such, the family takes it as is. However, this option may create some obstacles. Maybe this option is home ownership. This grossly unregulated system whereby home ownership is not just about providing the basic needs of others but is now seen primarily instead as some insane game to make as much money as possible has made it ever the more difficult to own a home. Joe and Jane are not able to afford a home where they live and so their only other option in their area is to rent. And yet, they desire to remain in their area and own a home. System says "No".
Or maybe the option is employment for Joe. Joe really wants to be a musician and make a living at it, enough to support his family, but the Record Companies all say Sorry, you're too old/Not skinny enough/Not what we're looking for (meaning not marketable enough for us to make millions of dollars off your work). Since there aren't any "Wanted Musician to entertain. $65,000/year with benefits and pension plan" job listings, he instead opts to work on computers and plays the clubs on the occasional weekend.
Or perhaps the option is energy. Joe and Jane don't wish to support their energy company and wish instead for more options, more companies in which to select from. They don't have that luxury. The System has made it such that only one company supplies electricity for homes in their area.
Sad. But that's just how things are is the mantra. However, in reality we KNOW the System doesn't have to be like this. We could have a society where everyone could own his/her own home. We could have a society where musician's were able to make a good living doing what they love. We could have a society where there were several ways of providing oneself energy, several companies in which to choose. (Isn't that what the free market is largely supposed to be about? Competition?)
System says "No". And anyone who wishes to mess with the System can get hauled off to jail, harassed, fine, even killed.
The System has influenced this family's life and has no regard for this family's wishes, needs or desires. Hence, it ignores their thoughts.
However, when one becomes aware of such things, one begins to reclaim his/her own power. You begin to awaken. You begin to get angry (if you aren't angry, you are not awake for anger is that wonderful emotion that tells us THIS IS NOT OK WITH ME). You see things do not have to be this way. You begin to KNOW there are UNLIMITED ways of living, and yet the Oz folks behind the curtain push back and say "NO" repeatedly to those seeking new ways.
That doesn't mean one must stop trying. Our thoughts are powerful. Put to action, together with others of like-mind, they take on even more power. What we put out with that pure intention, that pure knowing will pay us a visit eventually. Others, through their own free will, can either help or hinder that process. And yet, more and more are growing restless. If you're awake or are awakening, you FEEL that energy. And all that is is the thoughts of others in energy form. That is the beginning, the start of new things, new movements, awakening. For once the majority are awake and are embracing freedom and peace in their purest forms, we will want to help one another, we want to WORK TOGETHER to create what we want and desire AND need. Without being told "No". Without resistance. Resistance from the System is simply about fear--fear that the may have to start sharing and letting go of the control.
Together and awake. Focused and aware. 'Tis the way to change. 'Tis the new religion so desperately needed.
9.09.2008
We're Fucked
I'm tossing all of the "wise" "feel good" words of the other day for a few moments while I engage in some much needed bitching about how fucked we are as a nation. How do I know this?
Glad you asked.
I read an article where a cross-section of undecided voters were sharing their opinions on the prez candidates. Their responses clarified why I feel like such an outsider in this land o' the free. In short, I'm awake, wise and aware. And they're not. Politically speaking that is.
Excuse me while a take another sip of my mixed drink. I'm not a drinker, but tonight since I'm throwing caution to the wind with my mouth, I figure why not add in some alcohol to the party......
Ok. So where was I? Oh yes, ranting on the people who call themselves informed voters. Let's look up that term as it applies today in the official Nina Dictionary, shall we?
Ah, here we go. Hmm. That's interesting. It shows a picture of a donkey's ass with a monkey holding his hands over his eyes sitting on top. And hey, there's another holding his hands over his ears.
Sometimes no words are needed.
Back to the wisdom of the american voter.
Some were repukes. Others were democraps. Others, independent.
One guy claims to have voted for Nader one year and GW Bush in another. Really. Yes, I myself as well was wondering how in the hell is that possible? What was he smoking?
One of the females said one of the things she liked about Obama was how he wasn't surrounded by special interest groups the way some other politicians are. Good thing I wasn't eating when I read that one. The page may have become littered with spaghetti as a result.
There were folks who support the war in Iraq and think we're doing a good job. There were others who don't support the Iraq war but support the fighting in Afghanistan. It seems all were supportive of our desire to capture Osama and kicking his ass for 9/11, despite our own FBI not linking him with the hell of that day.
These folks came from a myriad of states. Most were between the ages of 28 and 50. There were blacks, hispanics, whites and asians. A variety of income levels and marital status were part of the make-up. In short, this was a representation of the American Voter.
Hence, we're fucked.
We're fucked because these folks fail to give any level of real importance to who is running the show and who wants to lead this nation. We're fucked because of the lack of intuition and inner exploration used by these people. We're fucked because of their lack of insight and their obviously lack of desire to question, search and then question and search some more.
Lack of time is no longer an excuse. Neither is ignorance. We can't afford another puppet to be put in place, certainly not voluntarily that is. But alas, that's what will happen in this presidential election year. And this time next year, I will do what I did when the democrats took over the congress two years ago, when pissed off democrats began saying "HEY! You guys and gals didn't fix a damn thing! What's up with that?" I will patiently and quietly say, "They're simply two sides of the same coin, supported by the same people, those people who dictate policy." Only this time I won't be so patient. Or quiet. This time I may just say those words I usually refrain from saying in such situations: "I FUCKING TOLD YOU SO!"
Glad you asked.
I read an article where a cross-section of undecided voters were sharing their opinions on the prez candidates. Their responses clarified why I feel like such an outsider in this land o' the free. In short, I'm awake, wise and aware. And they're not. Politically speaking that is.
Excuse me while a take another sip of my mixed drink. I'm not a drinker, but tonight since I'm throwing caution to the wind with my mouth, I figure why not add in some alcohol to the party......
Ok. So where was I? Oh yes, ranting on the people who call themselves informed voters. Let's look up that term as it applies today in the official Nina Dictionary, shall we?
Ah, here we go. Hmm. That's interesting. It shows a picture of a donkey's ass with a monkey holding his hands over his eyes sitting on top. And hey, there's another holding his hands over his ears.
Sometimes no words are needed.
Back to the wisdom of the american voter.
Some were repukes. Others were democraps. Others, independent.
One guy claims to have voted for Nader one year and GW Bush in another. Really. Yes, I myself as well was wondering how in the hell is that possible? What was he smoking?
One of the females said one of the things she liked about Obama was how he wasn't surrounded by special interest groups the way some other politicians are. Good thing I wasn't eating when I read that one. The page may have become littered with spaghetti as a result.
There were folks who support the war in Iraq and think we're doing a good job. There were others who don't support the Iraq war but support the fighting in Afghanistan. It seems all were supportive of our desire to capture Osama and kicking his ass for 9/11, despite our own FBI not linking him with the hell of that day.
These folks came from a myriad of states. Most were between the ages of 28 and 50. There were blacks, hispanics, whites and asians. A variety of income levels and marital status were part of the make-up. In short, this was a representation of the American Voter.
Hence, we're fucked.
We're fucked because these folks fail to give any level of real importance to who is running the show and who wants to lead this nation. We're fucked because of the lack of intuition and inner exploration used by these people. We're fucked because of their lack of insight and their obviously lack of desire to question, search and then question and search some more.
Lack of time is no longer an excuse. Neither is ignorance. We can't afford another puppet to be put in place, certainly not voluntarily that is. But alas, that's what will happen in this presidential election year. And this time next year, I will do what I did when the democrats took over the congress two years ago, when pissed off democrats began saying "HEY! You guys and gals didn't fix a damn thing! What's up with that?" I will patiently and quietly say, "They're simply two sides of the same coin, supported by the same people, those people who dictate policy." Only this time I won't be so patient. Or quiet. This time I may just say those words I usually refrain from saying in such situations: "I FUCKING TOLD YOU SO!"
9.06.2008
Wake Up Crowd Needs Some Waking Up, Too
I was inspired to write this after reading a piece from what I call the "wake up" crowd--those of us who believe there's a global agenda for continual war, global domination and the reduction in the human population, amongst other things. In fact, my original idea for a new blog entry was going to contain some rather insulting and hurtful jabs at those for whom I believe are giving way too much attention to this Palin teen pregnancy situation. But something called me in a different direction instead.
Back to these wake up crowd pleas. These pieces I read are very passionate and full of great thoughts. Behind each one is a plea to those not in the wake up camp to WAKE UP AND JOIN OURS.
An understandable plea. One I've engaged in myself. And as mentioned above, something I almost did again today, even though it was perhaps spouting a different sort of pov.
Today wasn't anything new for me, for such new thoughts have been prompting me for the last several months, causing me to look at my own behavior in all of this. I've been studying things such as cause and effect and perception. As such, despite my own cries to others to 'wake up', I have also needed some of my own 'waking up'. The following are some such thoughts that have been allowing me to further expand and awaken.
Point number 1:
When trying to influence someone to view things from your pov, it's helpful to know your motivation(s). What do you wish to accomplish? This is a thoughtful activity, one requiring complete honesty, self-discipline/effort requiring the release of judgment for self and others, and importantly, not to be done when already distressed/upset. This takes great effort, but I believe it's well worth any potential pain and struggle.
Point number 2:
If one of your motivations is to truly influence others to view things from your perspective, to agree with you even, well then casting insults, name calling and other (potentially) hurtful behaviors ultimately fails in the end. Human defensiveness kicks in and insults are tossed back to the other side and continue like a ping pong game. The original topic and agenda usually gets lost and hurt takes center stage. See point number 1 and perhaps rethink your motivation/agenda, for sometimes while your original motivation may have been to seek camaraderie through peace, our own issues sometimes kick in, followed by old behavior. But hey, it's all a great opportunity to heal some of those old wounds and I think that's pretty important in this ongoing movement to create a free and peaceful world.
Point number 3:
Truth is a tricky thing to nail down. Conclusions are, in the end, formed from perspective. Perspective is formed from a persons experiences and is the result of ones values, beliefs, morals and the like. Take an issue. ANY issue. It doesn't matter. You will always have people arguing their pov to the end, each side offering up studies and statistics and other things to back up their opinion. As someone I know brilliantly said: "Even Hitler was right. According to his own beliefs and such, he was right." While most would agree he was ill, many even saying a puppet, his agenda absolutely contrary to the concepts of peace and love, you simply cannot truthfully say he was wrong not when you embrace that how we view life is based on perception.
Point number 4:
Continuing along that train of thought, there is no right or wrong. Again, it's opinion based on perception. The only creatures who judge and label are people. Certainly that's what life has shown us anyway. If The Universe/God/All There Is/whatever you to call It really cared about what we humans do, cared in such a way as to form strict guidelines for what is right or wrong, we would either all be banned from inhabiting this planet by now, or at least be banned from wearing these physical bodies whereby we would be sitting in some ethereal classroom or solitary confinement being taught how to love. Certainly life already allows for this awakening--on our own--without external judgment from that energy we're all a part of.
All of the above being said, I'm certainly not advocating that we sit back and do nothing when we believe we are witnessing any sort of harm or abuse. Our passions speak to us for a reason. They tell us who we are. They motivate us to seek love and peace and all of those behaviors and characteristics these entail--respect, tolerance, kindness, freedom etc.. While they may originally make themselves known in anger and the need to control and dominate, ultimately the core motivation is love. The main point I'm trying to make here is that trying to convince someone who is absolutely set in his/her belief to change it is a very difficult task. But it can be done. And I believe that recognizing and embracing the previous 4 points (there are likely others) introduces the behaviors of compassion, acceptance and openness into the dialogue. And that is what is needed to defeat any sort of destructive agenda, for these behaviors UNITE. While for some occasions quick action is needed to ensure the harm and abuse against an unwilling person or persons is stopped, if peace is what we really want, we all need to know that peace, feel it, believe it and live it.
While I can't say with complete truth and absolute certainty that Love Is All There Is, I can say that this is what I want and wish for.
Back to these wake up crowd pleas. These pieces I read are very passionate and full of great thoughts. Behind each one is a plea to those not in the wake up camp to WAKE UP AND JOIN OURS.
An understandable plea. One I've engaged in myself. And as mentioned above, something I almost did again today, even though it was perhaps spouting a different sort of pov.
Today wasn't anything new for me, for such new thoughts have been prompting me for the last several months, causing me to look at my own behavior in all of this. I've been studying things such as cause and effect and perception. As such, despite my own cries to others to 'wake up', I have also needed some of my own 'waking up'. The following are some such thoughts that have been allowing me to further expand and awaken.
Point number 1:
When trying to influence someone to view things from your pov, it's helpful to know your motivation(s). What do you wish to accomplish? This is a thoughtful activity, one requiring complete honesty, self-discipline/effort requiring the release of judgment for self and others, and importantly, not to be done when already distressed/upset. This takes great effort, but I believe it's well worth any potential pain and struggle.
Point number 2:
If one of your motivations is to truly influence others to view things from your perspective, to agree with you even, well then casting insults, name calling and other (potentially) hurtful behaviors ultimately fails in the end. Human defensiveness kicks in and insults are tossed back to the other side and continue like a ping pong game. The original topic and agenda usually gets lost and hurt takes center stage. See point number 1 and perhaps rethink your motivation/agenda, for sometimes while your original motivation may have been to seek camaraderie through peace, our own issues sometimes kick in, followed by old behavior. But hey, it's all a great opportunity to heal some of those old wounds and I think that's pretty important in this ongoing movement to create a free and peaceful world.
Point number 3:
Truth is a tricky thing to nail down. Conclusions are, in the end, formed from perspective. Perspective is formed from a persons experiences and is the result of ones values, beliefs, morals and the like. Take an issue. ANY issue. It doesn't matter. You will always have people arguing their pov to the end, each side offering up studies and statistics and other things to back up their opinion. As someone I know brilliantly said: "Even Hitler was right. According to his own beliefs and such, he was right." While most would agree he was ill, many even saying a puppet, his agenda absolutely contrary to the concepts of peace and love, you simply cannot truthfully say he was wrong not when you embrace that how we view life is based on perception.
Point number 4:
Continuing along that train of thought, there is no right or wrong. Again, it's opinion based on perception. The only creatures who judge and label are people. Certainly that's what life has shown us anyway. If The Universe/God/All There Is/whatever you to call It really cared about what we humans do, cared in such a way as to form strict guidelines for what is right or wrong, we would either all be banned from inhabiting this planet by now, or at least be banned from wearing these physical bodies whereby we would be sitting in some ethereal classroom or solitary confinement being taught how to love. Certainly life already allows for this awakening--on our own--without external judgment from that energy we're all a part of.
All of the above being said, I'm certainly not advocating that we sit back and do nothing when we believe we are witnessing any sort of harm or abuse. Our passions speak to us for a reason. They tell us who we are. They motivate us to seek love and peace and all of those behaviors and characteristics these entail--respect, tolerance, kindness, freedom etc.. While they may originally make themselves known in anger and the need to control and dominate, ultimately the core motivation is love. The main point I'm trying to make here is that trying to convince someone who is absolutely set in his/her belief to change it is a very difficult task. But it can be done. And I believe that recognizing and embracing the previous 4 points (there are likely others) introduces the behaviors of compassion, acceptance and openness into the dialogue. And that is what is needed to defeat any sort of destructive agenda, for these behaviors UNITE. While for some occasions quick action is needed to ensure the harm and abuse against an unwilling person or persons is stopped, if peace is what we really want, we all need to know that peace, feel it, believe it and live it.
While I can't say with complete truth and absolute certainty that Love Is All There Is, I can say that this is what I want and wish for.
Must Read: Market Spin
I recently wrote to Kashi foods, inquiring as to whether they use any GMO ingredients. The following is their reply (with my comments in brackets).
Thank you for contacting us about our products and the use of genetically modified organisms. At Kashi Company we believe in providing pure, minimally processed foods for our consumers. [My definition of pure means we do not mess with mother nature.]
The basis for our product line is our proprietary blend of Seven Whole Grains & Sesame. The whole grains include oats, long grain brown rice, hard redwinter wheat, rye, buckwheat, barley, and triticale. None of these grains that are commonly harvested using genetically modified organisms. [Their products contain soy, a crop that is notoriously known for being GM. I find it rather insulting that they instead focused on the basis for their line.] We do not voluntarily source ingredients that are genetically modified. [So then they don't check the SOURCE of their ingredients. Is it just me, or is this disturbing?] Due to the potential for cross-contamination, cross-pollination and other factors outside of our control, we can not 100% guarantee that our non-organic line of products are GMO free. [Outside of their control? How about getting ingredients from Organic Farmers who do not use GMO ingredients?]
To learn more about our Organic Promise™ products please click on the following link:
http://www.kashi.com/products/organic_promise_cereal_autumn_wheat
We wish you the best with your health and wellness goals and appreciate the time you took to communicate with us.
In other words, blah blah blah gibberish gibberish gibberish marketing spin marketing spin marketing spin. It would have been much more appreciated by yours truly if I had been told this instead: We don't check all of our product sources. We choose not to buy from non-GMO sources. We use soy, which is largely GM'd. So odds are, you've been eating GM ingredients as a result of using our products.
Thank you for contacting us about our products and the use of genetically modified organisms. At Kashi Company we believe in providing pure, minimally processed foods for our consumers. [My definition of pure means we do not mess with mother nature.]
The basis for our product line is our proprietary blend of Seven Whole Grains & Sesame. The whole grains include oats, long grain brown rice, hard redwinter wheat, rye, buckwheat, barley, and triticale. None of these grains that are commonly harvested using genetically modified organisms. [Their products contain soy, a crop that is notoriously known for being GM. I find it rather insulting that they instead focused on the basis for their line.] We do not voluntarily source ingredients that are genetically modified. [So then they don't check the SOURCE of their ingredients. Is it just me, or is this disturbing?] Due to the potential for cross-contamination, cross-pollination and other factors outside of our control, we can not 100% guarantee that our non-organic line of products are GMO free. [Outside of their control? How about getting ingredients from Organic Farmers who do not use GMO ingredients?]
To learn more about our Organic Promise™ products please click on the following link:
http://www.kashi.com/products/organic_promise_cereal_autumn_wheat
We wish you the best with your health and wellness goals and appreciate the time you took to communicate with us.
In other words, blah blah blah gibberish gibberish gibberish marketing spin marketing spin marketing spin. It would have been much more appreciated by yours truly if I had been told this instead: We don't check all of our product sources. We choose not to buy from non-GMO sources. We use soy, which is largely GM'd. So odds are, you've been eating GM ingredients as a result of using our products.
9.05.2008
UFO Over Corvallis Skies Last Night
Mr. N and I decided to lay out under the skies last night and star/satellite/ufo gaze. We do this quite often during the warmer months. Most of the time we only see a shooting star or two and some satellites. Last night though, you can add in a UFO. Mr. N saw it first. At 11pm in the NNE, heading south, he saw what looked to be like a satellite or two moving in unison. He told me to look in that direction and at the same time, we both saw point of light #3 and saw it was a triangle shaped object. And it was massive. We immediately jumped up off of our sleeping bag and watched it for several and I mean several minutes. It was moving very slowly to the south. After a few minutes we saw a faint white glow along the edges and then it left the atmosphere.
Trying to ascertain the size of such a craft is very difficult. The way we describe it to others (this is UFO triangle #4 for us) is to put your forefingers together and your thumbs together and form a triangle. That is the approximate size as we see it in the skies. Now considering a regular jet liner may take up the size of a pinky tip, you know what we saw and have seen is massive indeed. Trying to ascertain the elevation is even more difficult. It was definitely higher in elevation than any jet liner. Given how vast the universal skies are, I am not even going to venture a guess.
For those who have never seen anything of the kind and wish to do so, my advice is to sit outside at night and plan on being out for at least 30 minutes. Pick an area or two in the sky and simply focus on it. That's how we've seen such objects. Most of the objects we've seen have been after 10pm. And each one has caught us by surprise. That's probably the best part, when you aren't expecting to see it!
Trying to ascertain the size of such a craft is very difficult. The way we describe it to others (this is UFO triangle #4 for us) is to put your forefingers together and your thumbs together and form a triangle. That is the approximate size as we see it in the skies. Now considering a regular jet liner may take up the size of a pinky tip, you know what we saw and have seen is massive indeed. Trying to ascertain the elevation is even more difficult. It was definitely higher in elevation than any jet liner. Given how vast the universal skies are, I am not even going to venture a guess.
For those who have never seen anything of the kind and wish to do so, my advice is to sit outside at night and plan on being out for at least 30 minutes. Pick an area or two in the sky and simply focus on it. That's how we've seen such objects. Most of the objects we've seen have been after 10pm. And each one has caught us by surprise. That's probably the best part, when you aren't expecting to see it!
9.04.2008
Pre-Election Humor To Inspire
Pre-election humor. Pre-electile dysfunction. Call it what you want. Going through my vast collection of writings in an attempt to put together something resembling "organization" so that I may actually DO something ($$) with it, I stumbled upon this little piece I wrote, um, well I'm not sure when I wrote it. It was obviously written after 2001, given I did not carry this level of awareness or anger politically speaking prior to that time. Maybe the folks at The Daily Show could use it. It's a poem, lyrics if you will, inspired by Twas The Night Before Christmas. Here ya go...
Twas The Night Before The Election
Twas the night before the election
and all through Uncle Sam's house...
Not a creature was stirring
except for a real louse.
Stealing from the stockings
of the poorest of the poor...
While grinning and chanting
"Gimme more! Gimme more!"
Pork barrel programs.
Tax relief for the rich.
Lavish conventions and parties
and other useless shit.
Until that day
when a new breeze began to blow.
Mr. and Mrs. America began to shout
"We ain't gonna take this anymore!"
This is our land.
Our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
We're taking it back
and we're prepared to fight.
For we outnumber you.
We're awake and we're strong.
You may think you own this land.
But we're here to tell you: YOU ARE WRONG.
(c) Me 2000 something.
Twas The Night Before The Election
Twas the night before the election
and all through Uncle Sam's house...
Not a creature was stirring
except for a real louse.
Stealing from the stockings
of the poorest of the poor...
While grinning and chanting
"Gimme more! Gimme more!"
Pork barrel programs.
Tax relief for the rich.
Lavish conventions and parties
and other useless shit.
Until that day
when a new breeze began to blow.
Mr. and Mrs. America began to shout
"We ain't gonna take this anymore!"
This is our land.
Our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
We're taking it back
and we're prepared to fight.
For we outnumber you.
We're awake and we're strong.
You may think you own this land.
But we're here to tell you: YOU ARE WRONG.
(c) Me 2000 something.
9.02.2008
Who Is Behind That Organic Label?
Shit.
Ok, I thought I was an educated consumer in the area of food, especially organic. Recently, however, something prompted me to do some research into the food I was buying. I started off in search of companies who don't use ANY genetically-modified (non-GMO) ingredients. What inspired me to do this with a sense of urgency, besides my own intuition and common sense radar that says GMO BAD, was reading of a study that was done that involved a researcher/scientist, a lab and some potatoes. The Scientist grew his own potatoes in this lab, both of the regular variety and genetically modified. Upon harvest, he fed them to the proverbial lab rats. The results shocked him. The rats who ate the genetically-modified potatoes showed significant changes to their health, noticably smaller brains (!!) and damage to the kidney and liver.
!!!!!!
His conclusion was GMO products were not safe, or at least, he could not give them the safe to consume label. More testing needed to be done. Much more testing. As he concluded, "I would not eat these potatoes I grew." Refusing to comply with pressures from his superiors who wanted a different answer, superios who were pushing for the genetically modified movement, the Scientist was fired.
How's that for a bedtime nightmare story?
GMO foods have always made me nervous. Everything in me has given me the red flag warning when I first heard about this movement. It changes protein in the foods. No one can say for sure HOW the human body will respond to this effect. Studies that show the damaging effects on rats are destroyed. The FDA gave cart blanche approval for food manufacturers to use GMO ingredients in their foods several years ago, DESPITE the damaging, buried reports and DESPITE any real long-term studies.
Whatta they want? Human studies? Well then ok. Let Nina organize it. We have a huge number of political and business leaders who don't utilize their time responsibly or ethically. Let them take on the challenge. Let the nominations begin...
I digress...
I mean come on. We're not talking about a GMO golf club or computer. We're talkin' food here. That little thing we ALL NEED FOR SURVIVAL.
So I went on a mission to find the lists of non-gmo food suppliers. The most current I could find was in 2003. I can say with 99.999% certainty that the entire population of the US of A has been eating GMO foods. If this doesn't top and I mean top the list of crisis needing resolved immediately, I don't know what is. War can wait. Global warming. Political and biz corruption. This is our food production we're talking about. The FOOD WE EAT. What we cannot live without.
Christ...
Upon doing this research, I discovered something that made me feel, once again sick on the inside. Sick. Betrayed. Abused. Fucked. All without someone asking for a kiss first. All without someone asking for my permission.
Buying organic makes people like myself feel good inside. We feel we're supportin' the little guy. We're supporting the healthy food movement. We're saying "NO" to chemical and heavily processed crap and "YES" to good health, healthy food. Foods that SUPPORT our health rather than foods that damage it. Foods made by folks who care about the environment. I thought I was doing this when buying organic. I thought I was supporting the small business, dedicated to the health of its consumers and environment as priority number one.
Wrong.
I discovered many of the organic labels I buy are actually owned by Big Corporate food producers, such as Kraft, Coca-Cola and the like (ilk).
Check this out FMI.
And if that weren't enough...
Not only have I been very conscientious of the food I put into my body, I'm equally conscientious of the make-ups and lotions and shampoos I slather on my body. I've discovered an independent company that makes pure mineral make-up that is very friendly to my sensitive skin (contrary to the bare minerals and other celebrity-endorsed infomercial outfits who use some ingredients that can be irritating and damaging to the skin). The lotion I use comes from an equally small, independent company called earthworm herbals. The ingredients are pure and organic and absolutely positively NOTHING artificial. We're talkin' hemp oil, olive oil, aloe, chapparal, mugwort, chamomile and other REAL OF THE EARTH stuff. Zero colors. Zero perfumes. Amazing stuff. I love it and would not go without. The shampoo I use, made by a family owned company--rather large, but still independently owned, has very few ingredients, including none of the sodium laureth crap in it. Since I began using it, I've noticed my hair is so much softer, I often don't need conditioner, which of course is the same manufacturer of my shampoo.
And last but not least, on my lips, I use Burt's Bees products. They're great for moisturing my lips and they add the perfect touch of natural color. Again, I thought I was supporting a small, independent company.
Wrong again.
Burt's Bees is now owned by Clorox.
The bleach people.
The chemical people.
The bad for your skin, eyes, mucous membranes, people.
The bad for the planet chemical people.
FUCK!!!
When will this monopolization end? And why in the hell do these small businesses sell themselves out like that?
In the end, was it money and money alone they were really after?
I expected more from them. In the end, they weren't really part of the solution. While they may have begun that way, they turned into being part of the problem called monopoly. What was once an innocent child's game has turned into a nightmare. And I am royally pissed about it.
Ok, I thought I was an educated consumer in the area of food, especially organic. Recently, however, something prompted me to do some research into the food I was buying. I started off in search of companies who don't use ANY genetically-modified (non-GMO) ingredients. What inspired me to do this with a sense of urgency, besides my own intuition and common sense radar that says GMO BAD, was reading of a study that was done that involved a researcher/scientist, a lab and some potatoes. The Scientist grew his own potatoes in this lab, both of the regular variety and genetically modified. Upon harvest, he fed them to the proverbial lab rats. The results shocked him. The rats who ate the genetically-modified potatoes showed significant changes to their health, noticably smaller brains (!!) and damage to the kidney and liver.
!!!!!!
His conclusion was GMO products were not safe, or at least, he could not give them the safe to consume label. More testing needed to be done. Much more testing. As he concluded, "I would not eat these potatoes I grew." Refusing to comply with pressures from his superiors who wanted a different answer, superios who were pushing for the genetically modified movement, the Scientist was fired.
How's that for a bedtime nightmare story?
GMO foods have always made me nervous. Everything in me has given me the red flag warning when I first heard about this movement. It changes protein in the foods. No one can say for sure HOW the human body will respond to this effect. Studies that show the damaging effects on rats are destroyed. The FDA gave cart blanche approval for food manufacturers to use GMO ingredients in their foods several years ago, DESPITE the damaging, buried reports and DESPITE any real long-term studies.
Whatta they want? Human studies? Well then ok. Let Nina organize it. We have a huge number of political and business leaders who don't utilize their time responsibly or ethically. Let them take on the challenge. Let the nominations begin...
I digress...
I mean come on. We're not talking about a GMO golf club or computer. We're talkin' food here. That little thing we ALL NEED FOR SURVIVAL.
So I went on a mission to find the lists of non-gmo food suppliers. The most current I could find was in 2003. I can say with 99.999% certainty that the entire population of the US of A has been eating GMO foods. If this doesn't top and I mean top the list of crisis needing resolved immediately, I don't know what is. War can wait. Global warming. Political and biz corruption. This is our food production we're talking about. The FOOD WE EAT. What we cannot live without.
Christ...
Upon doing this research, I discovered something that made me feel, once again sick on the inside. Sick. Betrayed. Abused. Fucked. All without someone asking for a kiss first. All without someone asking for my permission.
Buying organic makes people like myself feel good inside. We feel we're supportin' the little guy. We're supporting the healthy food movement. We're saying "NO" to chemical and heavily processed crap and "YES" to good health, healthy food. Foods that SUPPORT our health rather than foods that damage it. Foods made by folks who care about the environment. I thought I was doing this when buying organic. I thought I was supporting the small business, dedicated to the health of its consumers and environment as priority number one.
Wrong.
I discovered many of the organic labels I buy are actually owned by Big Corporate food producers, such as Kraft, Coca-Cola and the like (ilk).
Check this out FMI.
And if that weren't enough...
Not only have I been very conscientious of the food I put into my body, I'm equally conscientious of the make-ups and lotions and shampoos I slather on my body. I've discovered an independent company that makes pure mineral make-up that is very friendly to my sensitive skin (contrary to the bare minerals and other celebrity-endorsed infomercial outfits who use some ingredients that can be irritating and damaging to the skin). The lotion I use comes from an equally small, independent company called earthworm herbals. The ingredients are pure and organic and absolutely positively NOTHING artificial. We're talkin' hemp oil, olive oil, aloe, chapparal, mugwort, chamomile and other REAL OF THE EARTH stuff. Zero colors. Zero perfumes. Amazing stuff. I love it and would not go without. The shampoo I use, made by a family owned company--rather large, but still independently owned, has very few ingredients, including none of the sodium laureth crap in it. Since I began using it, I've noticed my hair is so much softer, I often don't need conditioner, which of course is the same manufacturer of my shampoo.
And last but not least, on my lips, I use Burt's Bees products. They're great for moisturing my lips and they add the perfect touch of natural color. Again, I thought I was supporting a small, independent company.
Wrong again.
Burt's Bees is now owned by Clorox.
The bleach people.
The chemical people.
The bad for your skin, eyes, mucous membranes, people.
The bad for the planet chemical people.
FUCK!!!
When will this monopolization end? And why in the hell do these small businesses sell themselves out like that?
In the end, was it money and money alone they were really after?
I expected more from them. In the end, they weren't really part of the solution. While they may have begun that way, they turned into being part of the problem called monopoly. What was once an innocent child's game has turned into a nightmare. And I am royally pissed about it.
9.01.2008
Labor Day. Religion Day?
Labor Day. The day dedicated to workers. The day that is to be free of work. While I am all for days free of any type of work, especially if that work is being used to make another wealthy, this got me to thinking. How about a day free of religion? A Religion Day. Rest from Religion.
No preaching. No quoting from the bible or whatever text you read/follow. No leaving little leaflets on the doors of sinners yet to be saved. No standing in front of a pulpit screaming about hell fire and sin whilst that vein on your forehead threatens to burst open. Even a day of no focused prayer.
Imagine that!
Religion of course infiltrates all parts of society, but lately I've noticed it more than usual. With the upcoming election, each candidate tries to one-up the other with biblical quotes and how much they love Jesus Christ and follow the tenets of Christianity. While I would love to hear just one candidate say "My religion is love" or "My religion is truth", or even "YOUR CHURCH LEADERS HAVE BEEN LYING TO YOU", this is doubtful to happen here in America.
We watched a documentary on some of the top events that could equate to the end of life on earth as we know it. It had my interest until words and terms like "the bible" and "armagaddeon" and "God's wrath" began to be incorporated into it. Yep. If life on this planet ends, it will be due to God's will. Excuse me, God's wrath.
I hesitate gatherings of new folks for this very reason. I inevitably end up meeting someone and given who I am, I like to talk about things outside of the cocktail party dialogue, I encounter someone who is Christian and then, when I mention things like God or the Universe, they automatically assume I am Christian, too. Nope. Sometimes there's a questioning. But you believe in God.
Uh huh.
And you believe in the message of Jesus.
Uh huh.
But you're not Christian. ??
That's right.
How can that be is the look received.
Do you have a few hours? Let me explain...
I need to design a t-shirt for such events in my life. Something with a saying like "Religion is the Original Sin" or "God Is Cool. Your Church Is Not."
Religion Day. A day free of religion. Instead we think for ourselves and ourselves only and share what we uncover with one another. This removes the need to judge and fear and brings us closer to peace.
Even Jesus would give that a mark of approval.
No preaching. No quoting from the bible or whatever text you read/follow. No leaving little leaflets on the doors of sinners yet to be saved. No standing in front of a pulpit screaming about hell fire and sin whilst that vein on your forehead threatens to burst open. Even a day of no focused prayer.
Imagine that!
Religion of course infiltrates all parts of society, but lately I've noticed it more than usual. With the upcoming election, each candidate tries to one-up the other with biblical quotes and how much they love Jesus Christ and follow the tenets of Christianity. While I would love to hear just one candidate say "My religion is love" or "My religion is truth", or even "YOUR CHURCH LEADERS HAVE BEEN LYING TO YOU", this is doubtful to happen here in America.
We watched a documentary on some of the top events that could equate to the end of life on earth as we know it. It had my interest until words and terms like "the bible" and "armagaddeon" and "God's wrath" began to be incorporated into it. Yep. If life on this planet ends, it will be due to God's will. Excuse me, God's wrath.
I hesitate gatherings of new folks for this very reason. I inevitably end up meeting someone and given who I am, I like to talk about things outside of the cocktail party dialogue, I encounter someone who is Christian and then, when I mention things like God or the Universe, they automatically assume I am Christian, too. Nope. Sometimes there's a questioning. But you believe in God.
Uh huh.
And you believe in the message of Jesus.
Uh huh.
But you're not Christian. ??
That's right.
How can that be is the look received.
Do you have a few hours? Let me explain...
I need to design a t-shirt for such events in my life. Something with a saying like "Religion is the Original Sin" or "God Is Cool. Your Church Is Not."
Religion Day. A day free of religion. Instead we think for ourselves and ourselves only and share what we uncover with one another. This removes the need to judge and fear and brings us closer to peace.
Even Jesus would give that a mark of approval.
8.31.2008
Spin, Perception, The Matrix. Where's my blankie??
Listening to our washing machine run through the spin cycle earlier was an appropriate sound as I read through some blogs and headlines. Everyone has an opinion. Usually, that opinion is spun to match ones perception. Left, right, centrist, doesn't matter. Who knows what the real truth is anymore. For nearly every opinion/conclusion one finds, no matter how much "science" and "research" and "facts" are behind it, you can find the very opposite opinion with just as much information to back it up.
At times like this, I'm much more interested in what CAN be instead of what IS. I still spend some time (too much) keeping up on current happenings and blogging about them, then I hit this wall that says "Enough. What do you want?" Right now? To rest and feel better.
David Icke sends me a portion of his weekly newsletter in my e-mail box every week. Recently he talked about denying reality, being blind to reality, especially when that reality is too painful. He wrote it in such a way that felt rather insulting and demeaning to those who catch that glimpse then go running off back to the safety of their former self.
We're all different. Some are much more sensitive than others. And as such, certain "realities" (a term that is in so many ways left to interpretation-at least in terms of a persons behavior-for even though one may have a huge pile of evidence on the behavior or another, NO ONE can know with 100% certainty the motivation of another) are simply too much for the mind to grasp. It isn't about being lazy or unmotivated. It usually comes down to the mind not being able to handle the new information. This was brought up in The Matrix when Neo is grasping his awakening truth and his new surroundings. I absolutely love the scene in which he sees things as they really have been for the first time. He vomits then passes out. Despite this basic human reaction, the scene is nonetheless very powerful in its simplicity. Today I can't watch it without weeping. He also spent months resting and adapting, being healed in a very loving, supportive environment. There weren't the pressures of making money to provide himself (and family) with shelter and food and the basic needs of survival. There were no bills to pay. No children or family to worry about. No outside demands for his time or attention. In addition, he had a lot of support by like-minded people who had gone through the same experience. Not everyone has that. It is very unlikely Neo would have come into his full truth WITHOUT any of this support.
Anyway, back to the movie. Later on, Morpheus tells Neo they have strict rules on age in terms of "waking" people up. The mind has a difficult time understanding and letting go. Cyprus is the character that shows this to us.
This needs to be understood by those who have, for lack of a better term, and speaking metaphorically, woken up from The Matrix and at times spend time screaming at, badgering and otherwise insulting those who are still in the Matrix or have taken a step or two only to return. It's understandable, given this sense of urgency to WAKE UP NOW and DO SOMETHING NOW. However, letting our knowing sink in is a process. Some process quickly. Others more slowly. But eventually, we ALL come into our knowing. That being said, the knowing may not happen in one's lifetime. The demands of life interfere with this. Afterall, despite The Matrix being a very powerful movie full of some very deep insights into life, it's still a movie.
When it comes to the Matrix, there are a myriad of opinions on just what the matrix is and who is behind it. Some claim there is an alien/reptilian influence while others say that's simply nonsense. Some claim there's a God, others claim there's nothing while others claim it's again, alien influencing our thoughts. There's a general consensus that current politicies aim to create a One World Government. Some view that as something dark and sinister while others view it as a new awakening, a new age of enlightenment and peace. The result of such a thing is of course left up to the motivations and intentions of world leaders and more or less, to we the people and what we will and will not tolerate, all based on our desires, wants and needs and of course, our KNOWING the aforementioned.
Something tells me this post really makes no sense and is just a bunch of rambling. But I don't really care about making sense today or writing some brilliant put together piece. Purging ones mind is usually messy. And besides, the dryer just buzzed, letting me know my blankie is warm and dry, waiting to wrap itself around me so I can give my body and especially, my mind, a rest.
At times like this, I'm much more interested in what CAN be instead of what IS. I still spend some time (too much) keeping up on current happenings and blogging about them, then I hit this wall that says "Enough. What do you want?" Right now? To rest and feel better.
David Icke sends me a portion of his weekly newsletter in my e-mail box every week. Recently he talked about denying reality, being blind to reality, especially when that reality is too painful. He wrote it in such a way that felt rather insulting and demeaning to those who catch that glimpse then go running off back to the safety of their former self.
We're all different. Some are much more sensitive than others. And as such, certain "realities" (a term that is in so many ways left to interpretation-at least in terms of a persons behavior-for even though one may have a huge pile of evidence on the behavior or another, NO ONE can know with 100% certainty the motivation of another) are simply too much for the mind to grasp. It isn't about being lazy or unmotivated. It usually comes down to the mind not being able to handle the new information. This was brought up in The Matrix when Neo is grasping his awakening truth and his new surroundings. I absolutely love the scene in which he sees things as they really have been for the first time. He vomits then passes out. Despite this basic human reaction, the scene is nonetheless very powerful in its simplicity. Today I can't watch it without weeping. He also spent months resting and adapting, being healed in a very loving, supportive environment. There weren't the pressures of making money to provide himself (and family) with shelter and food and the basic needs of survival. There were no bills to pay. No children or family to worry about. No outside demands for his time or attention. In addition, he had a lot of support by like-minded people who had gone through the same experience. Not everyone has that. It is very unlikely Neo would have come into his full truth WITHOUT any of this support.
Anyway, back to the movie. Later on, Morpheus tells Neo they have strict rules on age in terms of "waking" people up. The mind has a difficult time understanding and letting go. Cyprus is the character that shows this to us.
This needs to be understood by those who have, for lack of a better term, and speaking metaphorically, woken up from The Matrix and at times spend time screaming at, badgering and otherwise insulting those who are still in the Matrix or have taken a step or two only to return. It's understandable, given this sense of urgency to WAKE UP NOW and DO SOMETHING NOW. However, letting our knowing sink in is a process. Some process quickly. Others more slowly. But eventually, we ALL come into our knowing. That being said, the knowing may not happen in one's lifetime. The demands of life interfere with this. Afterall, despite The Matrix being a very powerful movie full of some very deep insights into life, it's still a movie.
When it comes to the Matrix, there are a myriad of opinions on just what the matrix is and who is behind it. Some claim there is an alien/reptilian influence while others say that's simply nonsense. Some claim there's a God, others claim there's nothing while others claim it's again, alien influencing our thoughts. There's a general consensus that current politicies aim to create a One World Government. Some view that as something dark and sinister while others view it as a new awakening, a new age of enlightenment and peace. The result of such a thing is of course left up to the motivations and intentions of world leaders and more or less, to we the people and what we will and will not tolerate, all based on our desires, wants and needs and of course, our KNOWING the aforementioned.
Something tells me this post really makes no sense and is just a bunch of rambling. But I don't really care about making sense today or writing some brilliant put together piece. Purging ones mind is usually messy. And besides, the dryer just buzzed, letting me know my blankie is warm and dry, waiting to wrap itself around me so I can give my body and especially, my mind, a rest.
8.29.2008
McCain's "Surprise" VP Choice: Tell Me Another One
Honestly, none of these folks are already pre-picked before you and I hear the names. Honestly.
So here we have this dude named John McCain. He's running for President. He's said to have been in search of a running mate for months. Last night, he meets with this chick from Alaska named Sarah Palin. He has a question for her. Would you like to be on the ticket as my Vice President?
Now here's the deal. Sarah's a mother of 5 little ones, including a newborn with special needs just having been born this past year. And yet, the very next day, she announces to the world that yes, she will accept McCain's offer.
I wouldn't even buy a piece of furniture that fast, let alone take a job. Common sense says I would have taken the time, like any normal human being, to discuss it over with my family. You know, go over those pesky details like moving across country, uprooting the kiddies from their schools, friends and all that they've ever known, not to mention buh-bye to their private life sans Secret Service Personnel, plus being in a position to possibly run the show if McCain is "elected" and if so, if the old dude doesn't survive. Plus, working out the details to ensure that precious newborn baby receives the care it is going to require.
And yet all of those details and questions, magically solved, in about 12 hours, minus hours for sleep.
And people say miracles don't happen.
So here we have this dude named John McCain. He's running for President. He's said to have been in search of a running mate for months. Last night, he meets with this chick from Alaska named Sarah Palin. He has a question for her. Would you like to be on the ticket as my Vice President?
Now here's the deal. Sarah's a mother of 5 little ones, including a newborn with special needs just having been born this past year. And yet, the very next day, she announces to the world that yes, she will accept McCain's offer.
I wouldn't even buy a piece of furniture that fast, let alone take a job. Common sense says I would have taken the time, like any normal human being, to discuss it over with my family. You know, go over those pesky details like moving across country, uprooting the kiddies from their schools, friends and all that they've ever known, not to mention buh-bye to their private life sans Secret Service Personnel, plus being in a position to possibly run the show if McCain is "elected" and if so, if the old dude doesn't survive. Plus, working out the details to ensure that precious newborn baby receives the care it is going to require.
And yet all of those details and questions, magically solved, in about 12 hours, minus hours for sleep.
And people say miracles don't happen.
8.28.2008
Words and Phrases I'd Like To See Less...And More Of
I picked up some dental floss that holds the claim "Hi-Tech". Wow. Now I spent some time looking over the container. I pulled out a couple of feet of the floss, carefully observing along the way. It has a minty flavor and it's waxed. I expected it to floss my teeth on it's own, or at the very least flashed some pulsating lights while playing disco music, but alas, I discovered it was just floss.
Hi-Tech. An over-used phrase. One I would like to see less of.
Another phrase I'd like to hear less of. This one comes out of the mouths of our politicians. "The American People". Usually this phrase is followed by the word "want". When was the last time we had any visible politician who really knew what we wanted, or even cared for that matter?
This next one is a personal pet peeve. Fashion writer demagogues who say "Women, if you're over 40, do not wear___". Fill in the blank. I've heard them say anything from cropped pants to shorts above the knee to mini skirts. Hey, if Arnold Schwarzenager can wear a speedo in public and not be arrested for public indecency, then I can wear a damn mini skirt already. Back off! And lighten up.
"The Gateway Drug". Oh, fanatical politicians, teachers, church leaders and those DARE folks love to spout that phrase. Usually the drug they refer to is that deadly refer stuff. Scary stuff, eh. Never killed anyone. The worst thing that happens if you "overdose" is intense paranoia or sleep. Or an empty pantry followed by the morning after thought of "what happened to all of my food??" Come on. We ALL know what the real gateway drug is. Sugar. Kids simply cannot get enough of it. They always want more. And in time, when that fix isn't enough, they get in on the caffeine action by getting ahold of one of those energy drinks. After that, it's all downhill.
"Oh My God." Now before I head off into this little rant, I need to humbly admit I say this phrase at times. It was ingrained into my subconscious during the 80's by classmates and by watching those valley girl movies and tv shows. That being said, can't we say something else instead? Maybe we can do an Elaine. You know, from Seinfeld. When she hears news she cannot believe, she shoves the person by putting her hands on their chest and pushing while saying "Get OUT!" While it may result in some boo boo's, there will be no annoyance factor to the ears.
Now that I've shared what I'd like to hear less of, here's what I'd like to hear more of in our world:
"How are you? No, really, I mean it. How ARE you?" (I got asked that for the first time yesterday. And I answered truthfully. It was very refreshing.)
"You're really wonderful, you know that?"
After 10pm: Silence.
When I turn on my television and some pseudo-journalist or politician or corporate big wig is speaking, all one hears is: blah blah blah. blah blah blah. and turning to other news, blah blah blah. blah blah. (Hey, I wonder if someone can make something like that. We have mute buttons and all, but it would be a real hoot to have a "blah" button too, huh?)
"I love you." Embarassing to say at times, but like Louis Armstrong sings "I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do. They're really saying I love you."
Hi-Tech. An over-used phrase. One I would like to see less of.
Another phrase I'd like to hear less of. This one comes out of the mouths of our politicians. "The American People". Usually this phrase is followed by the word "want". When was the last time we had any visible politician who really knew what we wanted, or even cared for that matter?
This next one is a personal pet peeve. Fashion writer demagogues who say "Women, if you're over 40, do not wear___". Fill in the blank. I've heard them say anything from cropped pants to shorts above the knee to mini skirts. Hey, if Arnold Schwarzenager can wear a speedo in public and not be arrested for public indecency, then I can wear a damn mini skirt already. Back off! And lighten up.
"The Gateway Drug". Oh, fanatical politicians, teachers, church leaders and those DARE folks love to spout that phrase. Usually the drug they refer to is that deadly refer stuff. Scary stuff, eh. Never killed anyone. The worst thing that happens if you "overdose" is intense paranoia or sleep. Or an empty pantry followed by the morning after thought of "what happened to all of my food??" Come on. We ALL know what the real gateway drug is. Sugar. Kids simply cannot get enough of it. They always want more. And in time, when that fix isn't enough, they get in on the caffeine action by getting ahold of one of those energy drinks. After that, it's all downhill.
"Oh My God." Now before I head off into this little rant, I need to humbly admit I say this phrase at times. It was ingrained into my subconscious during the 80's by classmates and by watching those valley girl movies and tv shows. That being said, can't we say something else instead? Maybe we can do an Elaine. You know, from Seinfeld. When she hears news she cannot believe, she shoves the person by putting her hands on their chest and pushing while saying "Get OUT!" While it may result in some boo boo's, there will be no annoyance factor to the ears.
Now that I've shared what I'd like to hear less of, here's what I'd like to hear more of in our world:
"How are you? No, really, I mean it. How ARE you?" (I got asked that for the first time yesterday. And I answered truthfully. It was very refreshing.)
"You're really wonderful, you know that?"
After 10pm: Silence.
When I turn on my television and some pseudo-journalist or politician or corporate big wig is speaking, all one hears is: blah blah blah. blah blah blah. and turning to other news, blah blah blah. blah blah. (Hey, I wonder if someone can make something like that. We have mute buttons and all, but it would be a real hoot to have a "blah" button too, huh?)
"I love you." Embarassing to say at times, but like Louis Armstrong sings "I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do. They're really saying I love you."
8.26.2008
Sexism
Well, I gotta tell ya, I'm pretty pissed off at the moment. After reading this piece, I've found myself pretty miffed regaring our species' overall views on sex. In this piece, Democrats are accusing Elizabeth Edwards of being equally complicit in the "sin" of adultery committed by husband John.
Can we please visit this subject in an open-minded manner? Forget for a moment about the idea that this is being used to cover-up current political corruption. Forget for a moment about the idea that it's being used to overlook the sins of Obama and Biden. Let's take this apart and look at the crux of the issue: Human sexuality.
More than half of all marriages end in divorce in this country, many due to the very same "act of sin" committed by John Edwards. That's part one of the sexism issue. It's (eventually) forgivable when We The People engage in the wild thing with someone other than our partner. It's unforgivable if one is a public figure. Please. Can we get past the child-like antics?
Part two: When men commit this act of "sin", they're considered pigs. However, when woman commit this very same act, all sorts of excuses are offered up. "Oh, her husband must have been a jerk/abusive/emotionally and sexually absent..." Fill in the blank. While there is certainly some truth in stereotype (or it wouldn't exist to begin with), stereo-typing like this never offers up the full picture.
You know what all of this judgment is really about? It comes down to our own failed acknowledgement of our inner-most thoughts about sex. We're sexual beings. Men and women both. While single men are more applauded for their sexual conquests and single women are instead labeled as sluts, sexual energy doesn't carry a gender with it. It is HUMAN CREATED opinions that do this.
Sex is beautiful when it's pure and surrounded with love. It's surrendering to All That Is, a letting go act of pure trust. I read the most beautiful passage about sex in one of the Conversation's With God books (book 1, I believe). It talked about what happens when two people meet and there's that chemistry, that attraction that both feel. You desire to know that person, be close with them. If you don't block this energy, it only builds until the two connect in an estatic union of celebration. Ok, I am doing this a great injustice with my own paraphrasing, but trust me, it is beautiful. And no, I am not advocating a free-for-all or wild orgie. I'm talking about pure sexual energy and love and respect. We need to be past our human control dramas and issues before we could ever engage in such behavior (more about that in a bit).
Unfortunately, religions and governments and schools and other parts of the System have completely removed the beauty out of sex and instead pulled a Nancy Reagan by offering up the "JUST SAY NO" slogan to all who aren't married. And heterosexual. Add in Hollywood and other media outlets who have taken the beauty and purity out of this act and made it about power and control. And need I even mention the porn industry, who has still utterly failed at showing women and men both as beautiful beings, completely failing generations of primarily young boys and young men into embracing the act of sex being about both love and lust, eroticism and beauty and ultimately, RESPECT. This doesn't even mention the fact that 99% of their advertising shows naked women on their magazine and dvd covers instead of men or both.
Monogamy is hard, if not rather silly. Find me one person who has not had the desire to have sex with someone else outside of his/her partner and I will call that person naive. I once read something interesting, about past civilizations that weren't monogomous. While people did partner up, engaging in the act of sex was something that was not considered a "sin" if done with someone other than your partner. The piece went on to say that it takes a very enlightened being to embrace such a concept, one who does not have the usual insecurities of jealousy and control and underlying sense of lack of worth. I certainly don't see that as a possibility today, although considering the number of people who do "cheat" on their partners, I would say the desire is certainly there. And as such, it's worth exploring. Without judgment. Without blame. Without child-like antics and tantrums. Instead, it's time to visit this subject in a loving, open manner. Afterall, we continue to have these examples as the "Edwards Affair" shoved into our faces as a society. Instead of taking sides and engaging in shouting matches, let's use it as a chance to explore our own sexuality, both as individuals and as a society.
Can we please visit this subject in an open-minded manner? Forget for a moment about the idea that this is being used to cover-up current political corruption. Forget for a moment about the idea that it's being used to overlook the sins of Obama and Biden. Let's take this apart and look at the crux of the issue: Human sexuality.
More than half of all marriages end in divorce in this country, many due to the very same "act of sin" committed by John Edwards. That's part one of the sexism issue. It's (eventually) forgivable when We The People engage in the wild thing with someone other than our partner. It's unforgivable if one is a public figure. Please. Can we get past the child-like antics?
Part two: When men commit this act of "sin", they're considered pigs. However, when woman commit this very same act, all sorts of excuses are offered up. "Oh, her husband must have been a jerk/abusive/emotionally and sexually absent..." Fill in the blank. While there is certainly some truth in stereotype (or it wouldn't exist to begin with), stereo-typing like this never offers up the full picture.
You know what all of this judgment is really about? It comes down to our own failed acknowledgement of our inner-most thoughts about sex. We're sexual beings. Men and women both. While single men are more applauded for their sexual conquests and single women are instead labeled as sluts, sexual energy doesn't carry a gender with it. It is HUMAN CREATED opinions that do this.
Sex is beautiful when it's pure and surrounded with love. It's surrendering to All That Is, a letting go act of pure trust. I read the most beautiful passage about sex in one of the Conversation's With God books (book 1, I believe). It talked about what happens when two people meet and there's that chemistry, that attraction that both feel. You desire to know that person, be close with them. If you don't block this energy, it only builds until the two connect in an estatic union of celebration. Ok, I am doing this a great injustice with my own paraphrasing, but trust me, it is beautiful. And no, I am not advocating a free-for-all or wild orgie. I'm talking about pure sexual energy and love and respect. We need to be past our human control dramas and issues before we could ever engage in such behavior (more about that in a bit).
Unfortunately, religions and governments and schools and other parts of the System have completely removed the beauty out of sex and instead pulled a Nancy Reagan by offering up the "JUST SAY NO" slogan to all who aren't married. And heterosexual. Add in Hollywood and other media outlets who have taken the beauty and purity out of this act and made it about power and control. And need I even mention the porn industry, who has still utterly failed at showing women and men both as beautiful beings, completely failing generations of primarily young boys and young men into embracing the act of sex being about both love and lust, eroticism and beauty and ultimately, RESPECT. This doesn't even mention the fact that 99% of their advertising shows naked women on their magazine and dvd covers instead of men or both.
Monogamy is hard, if not rather silly. Find me one person who has not had the desire to have sex with someone else outside of his/her partner and I will call that person naive. I once read something interesting, about past civilizations that weren't monogomous. While people did partner up, engaging in the act of sex was something that was not considered a "sin" if done with someone other than your partner. The piece went on to say that it takes a very enlightened being to embrace such a concept, one who does not have the usual insecurities of jealousy and control and underlying sense of lack of worth. I certainly don't see that as a possibility today, although considering the number of people who do "cheat" on their partners, I would say the desire is certainly there. And as such, it's worth exploring. Without judgment. Without blame. Without child-like antics and tantrums. Instead, it's time to visit this subject in a loving, open manner. Afterall, we continue to have these examples as the "Edwards Affair" shoved into our faces as a society. Instead of taking sides and engaging in shouting matches, let's use it as a chance to explore our own sexuality, both as individuals and as a society.
8.22.2008
Feds Solve Reason Behind Building 7 "Mystery" Collapse
Try and read this one with a straight face.
Open up and say "ah", America. The Government's shoveling more bullshit propaganda down our throats.
"GAITHERSBURG, Md. (Aug. 21) - Federal investigators said Thursday they have solved a mystery of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks: the collapse of World Trade Center building 7, a source of long-running conspiracy theories.
The 47-story trapezoid-shaped building sat north of the World Trade Center towers, across Vesey Street in lower Manhattan. On Sept. 11, it was set on fire by falling debris from the burning towers, but skeptics have long argued that fire and debris alone should not have brought down such a big steel-and-concrete structure.
Scientists with the National Institute of Standards and Technology say their three-year investigation of the collapse determined the demise of WTC 7 was actually the first time in the world a fire caused the total failure of a skyscraper."
Other "first time in the world" news:
Woman Pulls Golden Pig Out Of Her Ass.
World Leaders Destroy Military Weapons. Declare World Peace.
Walmart Now Paying Associates $35/Hour.
Bill O'Reilly Leaves Fox. Starts "O'Reilly And Friends: Liberal Central" Chat and Love Hour on PBS.
Ralph Nader Elected President.
Open up and say "ah", America. The Government's shoveling more bullshit propaganda down our throats.
"GAITHERSBURG, Md. (Aug. 21) - Federal investigators said Thursday they have solved a mystery of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks: the collapse of World Trade Center building 7, a source of long-running conspiracy theories.
The 47-story trapezoid-shaped building sat north of the World Trade Center towers, across Vesey Street in lower Manhattan. On Sept. 11, it was set on fire by falling debris from the burning towers, but skeptics have long argued that fire and debris alone should not have brought down such a big steel-and-concrete structure.
Scientists with the National Institute of Standards and Technology say their three-year investigation of the collapse determined the demise of WTC 7 was actually the first time in the world a fire caused the total failure of a skyscraper."
Other "first time in the world" news:
Woman Pulls Golden Pig Out Of Her Ass.
World Leaders Destroy Military Weapons. Declare World Peace.
Walmart Now Paying Associates $35/Hour.
Bill O'Reilly Leaves Fox. Starts "O'Reilly And Friends: Liberal Central" Chat and Love Hour on PBS.
Ralph Nader Elected President.
8.21.2008
What Defines A Leader
I was inspired to post this again after reading some of the Letters to the Editor in the Corvallis Gazette-Times. The McCain and Obama supporters have dug in their heels and are at it for another round of political bickering 101. Upon realizing we have yet again :::sigh::: another Presidential Election Season where only the controlling (monopoly, anyone?) two-party system candidates are receiving all of the attention (both by the MSM and the American People), it's time to ask voters to take a step back from their political labels and think about the term "Leader". What is a leader? Don't we want a President to reflect the traits of a leader? I'm sure we can all answer in the affirmative to that. As such, the following is something I wrote about 8 years ago, something I post from time to time when major political elections are underway. Hopefully, someday, We The People will actually elect folks who display these traits. I'm ready for a new day. Aren't you?
1) Excellent Communication skills. The ability to express oneself articulately in such a manner so that the listener understands what is being said.
2) Thoughtfulness. The ability to think an idea through carefully before forming an opinion. This requires the ability to see all sides of an issue; realizing life is a myriad of shades other than just black and white.
3) Listening skills. The ability to put aside one’s own agenda in order to hear differing opinions.
4) Cooperation. This trait allows for one to see the people of our world as an “US” rather than an “US vs. THEM”.
5) Flexibility. This allows for one to realize that life is rarely certain. Opinions and agendas at times must change in order to accommodate such uncertainty.
6) Humbleness. This allows for one to recognize his/her own flaws, own up to them, and to take responsibility for his/her own words, behavior and choices.
7) Loyalty. This trait reminds the individual who they were elected to represent and to never let outside interests sway them from that truth.
8) Gratitude. This allows for one to truly appreciate, honor and respect the incredible role they have been elected to serve.
These are just a few traits. As you sit down to mark your ballots, my hope is that you read through this list and ask yourself if the candidate of your choice has such traits.
1) Excellent Communication skills. The ability to express oneself articulately in such a manner so that the listener understands what is being said.
2) Thoughtfulness. The ability to think an idea through carefully before forming an opinion. This requires the ability to see all sides of an issue; realizing life is a myriad of shades other than just black and white.
3) Listening skills. The ability to put aside one’s own agenda in order to hear differing opinions.
4) Cooperation. This trait allows for one to see the people of our world as an “US” rather than an “US vs. THEM”.
5) Flexibility. This allows for one to realize that life is rarely certain. Opinions and agendas at times must change in order to accommodate such uncertainty.
6) Humbleness. This allows for one to recognize his/her own flaws, own up to them, and to take responsibility for his/her own words, behavior and choices.
7) Loyalty. This trait reminds the individual who they were elected to represent and to never let outside interests sway them from that truth.
8) Gratitude. This allows for one to truly appreciate, honor and respect the incredible role they have been elected to serve.
These are just a few traits. As you sit down to mark your ballots, my hope is that you read through this list and ask yourself if the candidate of your choice has such traits.
8.20.2008
Let's Make A Deal: Election Year 2008
I awoke this morning with this skit (for lack of a better word) going through my mind. Read it or not. I'm not so much interested in the political scene these days, but creative types know: once you have an idea, if you do not run with it, the idea will nag the mind for hours if not days. So here it is.
The Scene: Let's Make A Deal gameshow. Host Monty Hall has selected an oddly dressed person from the audience to choose a Presidental Candidate from behind the three closed curtains on stage. Unlike the original gameshow, all three curtains are opened, one at a time, before the contestant makes a choice.
Curtain Number One Opens. The Announcer is heard saying the following:
"We have for you today Political Puppet Number One." Cheers are heard.
Dressed in a three piece suit with a pin of the American Flag at the lapel, Puppet Number One flashes his brilliantly white smile whilst waving at the crowd of cheering Americans. He loves to say he supports the free market, the american dream, the american worker, reduced the tax burden on the individual, quality education, affordable health care and gun control. He says he will "fight hard" to end homelessness and hunger and poverty.
Net worth: $500 million.
Funded by: GE, Morgan Stanley, Walmart, Chase Manhattan, etc. etc.
Has read The Constitution, but shows little sign of understanding it.
Announcer is then heard saying:
"Behind Curtain Number Two, we have for you Political Puppet Number Two." Cheers are heard.
Dressed in a three piece suit with a pin of the American Flag at the lapel, Puppet Number Two flashes his brilliantly white smile whilst waving to the crowd of cheering Americans. He loves to say he supports the free market, public education, the american worker, reducing the tax burden on Corporations, affordable health care and the 2nd Amendment.
Net worth: $750 million.
Funded by: Ditto. (See above.)
Has read the Constitution (perhaps was even around when signed) but like Puppet Number One, shows little proof of understanding it.
Announcer is then heard saying:
"Behind Curtain Number Three we have for you, uh, we have for you, ummm...." Silence. The curtain is fully opened. No one knows who this person is. Why?
He's the Independent Candidate. No one knows who he/she is because none of the media outlets give them the time of day. However, here's where he/she stands on the issues:
Stop The Outsourcing of American jobs.
Return the tax burden where it belongs, the way the Founders intended: Commerce.
Eliminate the Minimum Wage and replace it with a Living Wage (or return to the days when minimum wage WAS a living wage).
Abolish Health Insurance Companies and put the power of health care where it belongs: Between doctor and patient. Establish a single payer System.
Stop Invading Sovereign Nations. Defensive action will only be taken when invaded and/or attacked by another nation. And at that, all means of Peaceful Non-Violent Conflict Resolution will be sought first.
Get out of NAFTA and the WTO.
Abolish The Federal Reserve and return to a gold/metal backed currency.
Put An End To Corporate Bailouts.
Impeach and charge with War Crimes every single member of the current administration and congress who has voted for and continued to vote for the War In Iraq.
Fix The Nation's Infrastructure.
Create Energy Independence. Wind. Solar. Hemp. Create a Panel to study Tesla's brilliant ideas.
Tell the Lobbyists and other "Special" Groups (i.e. those really in charge) to go to hell.
Funded by: The People.
Net worth: $150,000.
Has read the Constitution. Understands it. Lives it. Abides by it.
The people are stunned. Who IS this person? Why, it's who they've been waiting for for years. And yet, he/she has been there the whole time, just waiting for The People to put down their remotes, question the System and go in search of someone who reflects THEIR values and THEIR best interests.
Imagine, that person being here, right now.
The Independent Candidate.
Monty Hall asks the contestant to make his choice. He isn't sure what to do. The show fades away to commercial...
Ok voters, you're the contestant. What will your choice be? It's up to you.
The Scene: Let's Make A Deal gameshow. Host Monty Hall has selected an oddly dressed person from the audience to choose a Presidental Candidate from behind the three closed curtains on stage. Unlike the original gameshow, all three curtains are opened, one at a time, before the contestant makes a choice.
Curtain Number One Opens. The Announcer is heard saying the following:
"We have for you today Political Puppet Number One." Cheers are heard.
Dressed in a three piece suit with a pin of the American Flag at the lapel, Puppet Number One flashes his brilliantly white smile whilst waving at the crowd of cheering Americans. He loves to say he supports the free market, the american dream, the american worker, reduced the tax burden on the individual, quality education, affordable health care and gun control. He says he will "fight hard" to end homelessness and hunger and poverty.
Net worth: $500 million.
Funded by: GE, Morgan Stanley, Walmart, Chase Manhattan, etc. etc.
Has read The Constitution, but shows little sign of understanding it.
Announcer is then heard saying:
"Behind Curtain Number Two, we have for you Political Puppet Number Two." Cheers are heard.
Dressed in a three piece suit with a pin of the American Flag at the lapel, Puppet Number Two flashes his brilliantly white smile whilst waving to the crowd of cheering Americans. He loves to say he supports the free market, public education, the american worker, reducing the tax burden on Corporations, affordable health care and the 2nd Amendment.
Net worth: $750 million.
Funded by: Ditto. (See above.)
Has read the Constitution (perhaps was even around when signed) but like Puppet Number One, shows little proof of understanding it.
Announcer is then heard saying:
"Behind Curtain Number Three we have for you, uh, we have for you, ummm...." Silence. The curtain is fully opened. No one knows who this person is. Why?
He's the Independent Candidate. No one knows who he/she is because none of the media outlets give them the time of day. However, here's where he/she stands on the issues:
Stop The Outsourcing of American jobs.
Return the tax burden where it belongs, the way the Founders intended: Commerce.
Eliminate the Minimum Wage and replace it with a Living Wage (or return to the days when minimum wage WAS a living wage).
Abolish Health Insurance Companies and put the power of health care where it belongs: Between doctor and patient. Establish a single payer System.
Stop Invading Sovereign Nations. Defensive action will only be taken when invaded and/or attacked by another nation. And at that, all means of Peaceful Non-Violent Conflict Resolution will be sought first.
Get out of NAFTA and the WTO.
Abolish The Federal Reserve and return to a gold/metal backed currency.
Put An End To Corporate Bailouts.
Impeach and charge with War Crimes every single member of the current administration and congress who has voted for and continued to vote for the War In Iraq.
Fix The Nation's Infrastructure.
Create Energy Independence. Wind. Solar. Hemp. Create a Panel to study Tesla's brilliant ideas.
Tell the Lobbyists and other "Special" Groups (i.e. those really in charge) to go to hell.
Funded by: The People.
Net worth: $150,000.
Has read the Constitution. Understands it. Lives it. Abides by it.
The people are stunned. Who IS this person? Why, it's who they've been waiting for for years. And yet, he/she has been there the whole time, just waiting for The People to put down their remotes, question the System and go in search of someone who reflects THEIR values and THEIR best interests.
Imagine, that person being here, right now.
The Independent Candidate.
Monty Hall asks the contestant to make his choice. He isn't sure what to do. The show fades away to commercial...
Ok voters, you're the contestant. What will your choice be? It's up to you.
8.18.2008
Late Night Musings
I was thinking how much time I use, or waste, depending upon how I look at it, sitting in this chair, pondering what fascinating things I can share in this little space. Probably too much time is used trying to jump-start the creative brain cells. Tonight was no exception, despite being artificially enhanced by peanut M & M's. (plug for Mars, Inc.)
Speaking of the artificially enhanced, if you've ever wondered just what in the world makes Rachel Ray so perky, it's caffeine. I read where she drinks at least 10 cups of coffee every day.
10 cups. How completely superficial of her. And all this time I thought she just had an amazing natural level of energy. Is nothing real anymore? Can I cry now? Geesh.
10 cups. I can't even imagine. I once had caffeine overdose on 3 cups of strong Irish coffee. True story. At the time I thought it was decaf. I will never forget the reaction I had. Horrible. Started off with a pounding heart, dizziness and a need to jump up and down repeatedly. Anyway, I don't "do" caffeine. Well, unless it's in peanut M & M's. But doing the wake up and chug down coffee is not my thing. Being wired/buzzed/whatever--not my thing. All of the buzzing of our modern world puts out enough energy for me to pick up on, I certainly don't need more of the buzzing racing through my blood. I know most of our culture is into that jolt first thing in the morning, but not me. Let me ease my way into the day with a bowl of oatmeal, whole grain english muffin and fruit. Starting no sooner than 10am.
Yeah, I'm a bit of a health nut, save for the peanut M & M's, although usually when I do the chocolate bit, it's organic dark chocolate. I rarely drink soda, rarely drink alcohol, although when I do, I'm a cheap drunk. One drink and I am good to go. I watch the MSG and avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague (stomp on the head to Donald Rumsfield and his Aspartame poison). I avoid corn syrup when I can afford it (and with the price of good quality bread, sans corn syrup, going for at least $3 a loaf, this is becoming more difficult TO avoid). I eat a lot of greens. In the summer I could live on grilled corn on the cob and watermelon.
I tend to be a picky eater at times too. I have a fairly small comfort zone in this regard, so trying new dishes is something I do with hesitancy. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, like when I tried seaweed in the form of a California Roll at Amotsu or however you spell that restaurant downtown. I was also tickled when I first tried saffron, although I quickly learned some people over-do it. And when they do, well, yikes on my taste buds and tummy. I remember the first time I ate authentic Indian food. I should have asked to be hooked up directly to the water fountain. Glasses of water were not sufficient in putting out the flame raging on my tongue.
Speaking of heat, I am so grateful relieved giving thanks to the gods and goddesses of nature that the sub-tropical 100 degree heat is G O N E. And hopefully never to return! I have a friend who lives down south, so days like this one aren't uncommon in her neck of the woods. She's on me now and then to move down there.
After this stretch of weather, that has been ruled out completely.
I cannot recall a time when the days were so hot and muggy only to be followed by evenings that were every bit as uncomfortable. When those wonderful, awesome thunder and lightening storms kicked in, we hung outside under the eaves, putting our legs out in order to let that cool refreshing rain wash over them. If the storm had been minus the lightening, I would have fully emersed myself in a full body rain dance.
Well, now that I've enlightened you all with the mundane, I'll finish up with something more punchy.
*If I have to endure the sight of another political ad, I'm going to, well I don't know what I'm going to do, my thought train is running on empty at this late hour, but trust me, I will do something.
*These assholes intent on war around the globe need to take their shit and exit our planet. They've lost the right to live here. Period. End of story on that.
*Above assholes can take their Corporate Monopolistic (Is that even a word? I've been using it a lot lately and I rather like it. It's catchy and it sounds sophisticated to my ears.) buddies with 'em.
*Let's start over again and provide everyone with an acre of land and a yurt.
*Let's eliminate the 40 hour work week, highly processed foods and fast food ANYTHING and instead create a lifestyle that is focused on connection and purposeful intent, which means fast fast fast go go go accomplish accomplish accomplish will go, to quote an SNL skit "buh bye", for one cannot truly connect with anyone and live with purposeful intent on high speed. I mean honest to god, I know I gripe about this at times in this space, but really, it is quite insane to me that the fast-paced antics of modern living are so embraced, and done by so many, day in and day out. I really don't understand this one. Nor do I want to. The world's in a state of panic and hyper-speed and adding in caffeine to the mix to keep up is not healthy or sustainable.
Ditch the coffee.
Ditch the multi-tasking.
Slow down.
Breathe. From the diaphragm.
And dance naked in the rain now and then. It'll do ya a world of good.
Speaking of the artificially enhanced, if you've ever wondered just what in the world makes Rachel Ray so perky, it's caffeine. I read where she drinks at least 10 cups of coffee every day.
10 cups. How completely superficial of her. And all this time I thought she just had an amazing natural level of energy. Is nothing real anymore? Can I cry now? Geesh.
10 cups. I can't even imagine. I once had caffeine overdose on 3 cups of strong Irish coffee. True story. At the time I thought it was decaf. I will never forget the reaction I had. Horrible. Started off with a pounding heart, dizziness and a need to jump up and down repeatedly. Anyway, I don't "do" caffeine. Well, unless it's in peanut M & M's. But doing the wake up and chug down coffee is not my thing. Being wired/buzzed/whatever--not my thing. All of the buzzing of our modern world puts out enough energy for me to pick up on, I certainly don't need more of the buzzing racing through my blood. I know most of our culture is into that jolt first thing in the morning, but not me. Let me ease my way into the day with a bowl of oatmeal, whole grain english muffin and fruit. Starting no sooner than 10am.
Yeah, I'm a bit of a health nut, save for the peanut M & M's, although usually when I do the chocolate bit, it's organic dark chocolate. I rarely drink soda, rarely drink alcohol, although when I do, I'm a cheap drunk. One drink and I am good to go. I watch the MSG and avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague (stomp on the head to Donald Rumsfield and his Aspartame poison). I avoid corn syrup when I can afford it (and with the price of good quality bread, sans corn syrup, going for at least $3 a loaf, this is becoming more difficult TO avoid). I eat a lot of greens. In the summer I could live on grilled corn on the cob and watermelon.
I tend to be a picky eater at times too. I have a fairly small comfort zone in this regard, so trying new dishes is something I do with hesitancy. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, like when I tried seaweed in the form of a California Roll at Amotsu or however you spell that restaurant downtown. I was also tickled when I first tried saffron, although I quickly learned some people over-do it. And when they do, well, yikes on my taste buds and tummy. I remember the first time I ate authentic Indian food. I should have asked to be hooked up directly to the water fountain. Glasses of water were not sufficient in putting out the flame raging on my tongue.
Speaking of heat, I am so grateful relieved giving thanks to the gods and goddesses of nature that the sub-tropical 100 degree heat is G O N E. And hopefully never to return! I have a friend who lives down south, so days like this one aren't uncommon in her neck of the woods. She's on me now and then to move down there.
After this stretch of weather, that has been ruled out completely.
I cannot recall a time when the days were so hot and muggy only to be followed by evenings that were every bit as uncomfortable. When those wonderful, awesome thunder and lightening storms kicked in, we hung outside under the eaves, putting our legs out in order to let that cool refreshing rain wash over them. If the storm had been minus the lightening, I would have fully emersed myself in a full body rain dance.
Well, now that I've enlightened you all with the mundane, I'll finish up with something more punchy.
*If I have to endure the sight of another political ad, I'm going to, well I don't know what I'm going to do, my thought train is running on empty at this late hour, but trust me, I will do something.
*These assholes intent on war around the globe need to take their shit and exit our planet. They've lost the right to live here. Period. End of story on that.
*Above assholes can take their Corporate Monopolistic (Is that even a word? I've been using it a lot lately and I rather like it. It's catchy and it sounds sophisticated to my ears.) buddies with 'em.
*Let's start over again and provide everyone with an acre of land and a yurt.
*Let's eliminate the 40 hour work week, highly processed foods and fast food ANYTHING and instead create a lifestyle that is focused on connection and purposeful intent, which means fast fast fast go go go accomplish accomplish accomplish will go, to quote an SNL skit "buh bye", for one cannot truly connect with anyone and live with purposeful intent on high speed. I mean honest to god, I know I gripe about this at times in this space, but really, it is quite insane to me that the fast-paced antics of modern living are so embraced, and done by so many, day in and day out. I really don't understand this one. Nor do I want to. The world's in a state of panic and hyper-speed and adding in caffeine to the mix to keep up is not healthy or sustainable.
Ditch the coffee.
Ditch the multi-tasking.
Slow down.
Breathe. From the diaphragm.
And dance naked in the rain now and then. It'll do ya a world of good.
8.15.2008
In Honor Of Yang Peiyi: The Real Singer At The Opening Olympic Ceremonies In Beijing
This doesn't classify as good enough? This adorable, precious child doesn't classify as pretty or presentable?
Major doses of shame on the big wigs of China's politburo for refusing to allow this beautiful child the right to sing this song for the world to see. This is ugly enough when we see the same types of narrowed focus aimed at adult women. But to do this to a child? The actions not only deplorable but those of individuals so narrow in their thinking, so full of prejudice, so lacking in the ability to see beauty from the heart and from an expanded perspective. As such, I honor this beautiful, immensely talented little girl, not only in this post, but forever more on my blog as my new avitar. Forever will your beauty reign, sweet girl!
The Walmart Empire
I watched a Robert Greenwald documentary on Walmart last night. While I don't shop there and while I have heard and read much about this corporate giant's business practices, I learned some things, things that appalled me, so I thought to post them there.
Some little known facts about Walmart you may or may not know about:
For starters, here's what you can expect as a Walmart employee, or "associate" as they are referred to:
*To begin with, if you're a Walmart associate, your pay averages around $4,000 below the federal poverty level. While Walmart claims close to 75% of their workers are full-time, their definition of full-time is around 30 hours a week.
*Once hired, you will be expected to work any hour, any shift, including assigned days off. You're basically on call during all store hours. If this causes distress in your home, too bad. You don't show, you're fired.
*Don't be surprised if your Supervisor changes your time sheet. Walmart has a strict "no over time" policy. If you happened to work over-time, Supervisor's are guided to remove the hours to avoid the extra pay.
*If Walmart offers you health insurance, the premiums are usually too expensive for you, so therefore you do what Walmart stores all over the country tell you to do: apply for Medicaid. And hey, they'll have the forms and everything for you.
*If you're female, you can forget about getting into Management, regardless of all the promises you're given by your Supervisors upon hire.
*Walmart associates have cameras at their work stations and in employee break rooms. And if that weren't enough monitoring, Store Managers are told to watch out for employees who are found talking together, only to stop talking when the Manager approaches them. Some managers have been known to fire such employees, on the spot. Why? This little employee pow wow could signal some sort of behind the scenes plan for employees to, you know, actually work together to create a fair work environment and expose the lies they were all told upon hire.
Here's some of the financial stats behind the Walmart Empire:
*The earnings of CEO Lee Scott: $27,207,799.00 (2005 stats)
*The earnings of the avg. employee: $13,861.00
*The Walton family (the family behind Walmart) has assets exceding $100 billion. If they took just $10 billion of that, this would ensure every associate received health care and a living wage.
*The Walton family gave $2.4 million in campaign contributions in 2005 alone and yet they've given less than 1% of their income to charity.
*Walmart has what's called a Critical Need Fund, which is used by Walmart employees in times of emergencies. In 2004, employees donated over $5 million. The Waltons? $6,000.
*The Waltons received a federal tax cut of $91,500 per HOUR in the 2004 tax year.
*In order to avoid returning money back to the community in terms of sales tax revenue, Walmart has been known to close an existing store and build another one, sometimes just a couple of miles away, outside of the city limits. And think the abandoned store then gets reused? Think again. As of recent stats, there are now 26,699,678 square feet of EMPTY Walmarts across the country. That could house a lot of people, educate a lot of children stuck in portable classrooms, grow food inside with climate controlled greenhouses or tear down the store and grow food or hemp, use the land for wind turbines, etc. etc.
*And hey, if you're Walmart, the city will likely dish out a nice little subsidy in the hundreds of thousands once you construct a new store. Overall, cities pay over 1 billion in such subsidies. Kaching! Kaching! Think mom and pop stores receive such subsidies? Nope. Zero. Nada. None. Read on for more what happens after Walmart enters a new city.
What happens when Walmart moves into a new city?
*Former upper echelon employee said upon entering a new city, he and another wig big would go down streets and point to local small businesses and make comments such as "See that place? It will close up in 6 months. That place over there? A year." This happens in every city Walmart sets up shop. And their predictions, sadly, are very accurate. Sadly if you happen to have a working conscience.
Walmart's Environmental Record:
*In 2001, the EPA levies a fine against Walmart for $1 million in TX, OK and MASS for violations of the Clean Water Act.
*In 2004, the EPA fines them again for $3.1 million for similar violations in TX, CO, CA, DE, MICH, S.D., TN, UT and New Jersey.
*In 2005, Connecticutt EPA fines them $1.5 million for Clean Water Act violations in 22 of its stores.
Doing Business Overseas: Where Do Those Fine Products Come From?
China:
*Walmart CEO Claims that China has "strict standards" of employment and sanitation. In reality...
*Walmart Factory workers in China often work 14-15 hour days, 7 days a week.
*Dorms are allocated for the workers and rent is deducted from their paychecks. However, even if you choose not to live in one of the provided dorms (which are cramped, confined spaces with beds no bigger than a cot), the rent is still deducted from your paycheck.
*The factories are hot and there are few fans.
*The meals provided to Factory Workers were described as "disgusting".
*The average pay for a Walmart Factory Worker in China is $3.00/day. There is no time off allowed.
*During inspections, Walmart Factory Workers are told to lie about how many days they work and most of them comply, due to fear or punishment and/or termination. In fact, if a Worker successfully lies, he/she is rewarded.
*$18 billion in products was imported from China in 2004.
Bangladesh and Honduras:
*Factory conditions very similar to those in China.
*Female factory workers in Bangladesh make clothes and work from 8am-10pm, 7 days a week. Their wage averages between $.13 - $.17/hour.
*The Cost for a factory worker to assemble your typical product: $.18, which is then sold for a retail price of $14.96.
What happens if an Inspector actually does his job and reports the truth of working conditions overseas?
*You face retaliation and you're fired.
Watching all of this, reading it, can be overwhelming. Walmart is obviously on a mission to monopolize the Retail Economy of our country and they're receiving plenty of financial incentive, support and help from our Government at every level. They seem unstoppable. However, you can stop a giant. Residents in local cities and towns have been banning together the past several years to stop Walmart from setting up shop. And they have been successful in hundreds of communities. With persistance and in numbers, this Empire can be put out to pasture.
Of course, all of this is merely a reflection of much larger problems: wages that have failed to keep up with the COL, the nightmare of NAFTA, the eroding of Unions, and basic survival needs such as food, housing and health care costs skyrocketing at ridiculous levels. For many people, shopping at Walmart isn't always about mere choice. It's about necessity. Why pay $52 for a toaster when you can buy it at Walmart for $45? For many families, that $7 is like $5,000 to the upper class. Sure, we can remove Walmart but what about the other stores? The Sam's Clubs. The Costco's. The Dollar Tree stores. They offer low prices on their products and import most of them from China and other countries, from factories that employ the same deplorable conditions as described above. Removing these stores is only half the battle. At the same time, we must bring back the mom and pop stores of years past, stores that offered full health insurance benefits, pensions and living wages. We must demand our removal from NAFTA. We must demand political figures who represent the people. We must STOP the complacency by voting for status quo puppetheads, simply because "there's no one else to choose from". Like hell there isn't! Look around and research. There are ALWAYS a huge variety of other people running. You can't just sit in your armchair and expect the MSM to inform you of who they are--because, well, they aren't going to do that.
I know, I know, lots of "yeah but's" and other words of scepticism. All duly noted and all understandable. However, as one of the business owners driven out of business by the invasion of Walmart said (paraphrasing), "If something isn't done soon, this nation is going to be ruined. At some point, there will be a revolution if monopolies like these aren't stopped." We can be complacent or we can be active. If small bands of people in select communities can hang in there and shout "NO" to Walmart and be successful in their efforts, we can do ANYTHING.
Some little known facts about Walmart you may or may not know about:
For starters, here's what you can expect as a Walmart employee, or "associate" as they are referred to:
*To begin with, if you're a Walmart associate, your pay averages around $4,000 below the federal poverty level. While Walmart claims close to 75% of their workers are full-time, their definition of full-time is around 30 hours a week.
*Once hired, you will be expected to work any hour, any shift, including assigned days off. You're basically on call during all store hours. If this causes distress in your home, too bad. You don't show, you're fired.
*Don't be surprised if your Supervisor changes your time sheet. Walmart has a strict "no over time" policy. If you happened to work over-time, Supervisor's are guided to remove the hours to avoid the extra pay.
*If Walmart offers you health insurance, the premiums are usually too expensive for you, so therefore you do what Walmart stores all over the country tell you to do: apply for Medicaid. And hey, they'll have the forms and everything for you.
*If you're female, you can forget about getting into Management, regardless of all the promises you're given by your Supervisors upon hire.
*Walmart associates have cameras at their work stations and in employee break rooms. And if that weren't enough monitoring, Store Managers are told to watch out for employees who are found talking together, only to stop talking when the Manager approaches them. Some managers have been known to fire such employees, on the spot. Why? This little employee pow wow could signal some sort of behind the scenes plan for employees to, you know, actually work together to create a fair work environment and expose the lies they were all told upon hire.
Here's some of the financial stats behind the Walmart Empire:
*The earnings of CEO Lee Scott: $27,207,799.00 (2005 stats)
*The earnings of the avg. employee: $13,861.00
*The Walton family (the family behind Walmart) has assets exceding $100 billion. If they took just $10 billion of that, this would ensure every associate received health care and a living wage.
*The Walton family gave $2.4 million in campaign contributions in 2005 alone and yet they've given less than 1% of their income to charity.
*Walmart has what's called a Critical Need Fund, which is used by Walmart employees in times of emergencies. In 2004, employees donated over $5 million. The Waltons? $6,000.
*The Waltons received a federal tax cut of $91,500 per HOUR in the 2004 tax year.
*In order to avoid returning money back to the community in terms of sales tax revenue, Walmart has been known to close an existing store and build another one, sometimes just a couple of miles away, outside of the city limits. And think the abandoned store then gets reused? Think again. As of recent stats, there are now 26,699,678 square feet of EMPTY Walmarts across the country. That could house a lot of people, educate a lot of children stuck in portable classrooms, grow food inside with climate controlled greenhouses or tear down the store and grow food or hemp, use the land for wind turbines, etc. etc.
*And hey, if you're Walmart, the city will likely dish out a nice little subsidy in the hundreds of thousands once you construct a new store. Overall, cities pay over 1 billion in such subsidies. Kaching! Kaching! Think mom and pop stores receive such subsidies? Nope. Zero. Nada. None. Read on for more what happens after Walmart enters a new city.
What happens when Walmart moves into a new city?
*Former upper echelon employee said upon entering a new city, he and another wig big would go down streets and point to local small businesses and make comments such as "See that place? It will close up in 6 months. That place over there? A year." This happens in every city Walmart sets up shop. And their predictions, sadly, are very accurate. Sadly if you happen to have a working conscience.
Walmart's Environmental Record:
*In 2001, the EPA levies a fine against Walmart for $1 million in TX, OK and MASS for violations of the Clean Water Act.
*In 2004, the EPA fines them again for $3.1 million for similar violations in TX, CO, CA, DE, MICH, S.D., TN, UT and New Jersey.
*In 2005, Connecticutt EPA fines them $1.5 million for Clean Water Act violations in 22 of its stores.
Doing Business Overseas: Where Do Those Fine Products Come From?
China:
*Walmart CEO Claims that China has "strict standards" of employment and sanitation. In reality...
*Walmart Factory workers in China often work 14-15 hour days, 7 days a week.
*Dorms are allocated for the workers and rent is deducted from their paychecks. However, even if you choose not to live in one of the provided dorms (which are cramped, confined spaces with beds no bigger than a cot), the rent is still deducted from your paycheck.
*The factories are hot and there are few fans.
*The meals provided to Factory Workers were described as "disgusting".
*The average pay for a Walmart Factory Worker in China is $3.00/day. There is no time off allowed.
*During inspections, Walmart Factory Workers are told to lie about how many days they work and most of them comply, due to fear or punishment and/or termination. In fact, if a Worker successfully lies, he/she is rewarded.
*$18 billion in products was imported from China in 2004.
Bangladesh and Honduras:
*Factory conditions very similar to those in China.
*Female factory workers in Bangladesh make clothes and work from 8am-10pm, 7 days a week. Their wage averages between $.13 - $.17/hour.
*The Cost for a factory worker to assemble your typical product: $.18, which is then sold for a retail price of $14.96.
What happens if an Inspector actually does his job and reports the truth of working conditions overseas?
*You face retaliation and you're fired.
Watching all of this, reading it, can be overwhelming. Walmart is obviously on a mission to monopolize the Retail Economy of our country and they're receiving plenty of financial incentive, support and help from our Government at every level. They seem unstoppable. However, you can stop a giant. Residents in local cities and towns have been banning together the past several years to stop Walmart from setting up shop. And they have been successful in hundreds of communities. With persistance and in numbers, this Empire can be put out to pasture.
Of course, all of this is merely a reflection of much larger problems: wages that have failed to keep up with the COL, the nightmare of NAFTA, the eroding of Unions, and basic survival needs such as food, housing and health care costs skyrocketing at ridiculous levels. For many people, shopping at Walmart isn't always about mere choice. It's about necessity. Why pay $52 for a toaster when you can buy it at Walmart for $45? For many families, that $7 is like $5,000 to the upper class. Sure, we can remove Walmart but what about the other stores? The Sam's Clubs. The Costco's. The Dollar Tree stores. They offer low prices on their products and import most of them from China and other countries, from factories that employ the same deplorable conditions as described above. Removing these stores is only half the battle. At the same time, we must bring back the mom and pop stores of years past, stores that offered full health insurance benefits, pensions and living wages. We must demand our removal from NAFTA. We must demand political figures who represent the people. We must STOP the complacency by voting for status quo puppetheads, simply because "there's no one else to choose from". Like hell there isn't! Look around and research. There are ALWAYS a huge variety of other people running. You can't just sit in your armchair and expect the MSM to inform you of who they are--because, well, they aren't going to do that.
I know, I know, lots of "yeah but's" and other words of scepticism. All duly noted and all understandable. However, as one of the business owners driven out of business by the invasion of Walmart said (paraphrasing), "If something isn't done soon, this nation is going to be ruined. At some point, there will be a revolution if monopolies like these aren't stopped." We can be complacent or we can be active. If small bands of people in select communities can hang in there and shout "NO" to Walmart and be successful in their efforts, we can do ANYTHING.
8.13.2008
Man Distrusts Paper Money. Pays For Truck With Coins.
Well, he paid half with coins. Never the less, he's my kind of human. He sounds a bit like my late Uncle, who refused to get a credit card until he realized his ability to travel (something he loved to do) and rent a car was not going to happen unless he did. Maybe I'm holding on to his memory by refusing to buy a cell phone. Anyway, I had my first lesson in money, or of its reality I should say, when I was a child playing Monopoly with my parents. It suddenly dawned on me: monopoly money was no different than "real" money. Both were paper, both dyed with ink.
"Mama, what's the difference between your money and monopoly money? Why can't I spend this monopoly money on candy?" I don't remember her answer, but I do remember the look on her face. What's that saying today? "Priceless"?
That would make for a funny/ironic spot on the realities of money, plus a nice little dig on the credit card companies. Little Johnny and Susie are playing monopoly with mummy and daddy. Smiles are glued on everyone's faces, big popcorn bowls sit between the parents and children, glasses of lemonade with large, perfectly formed ice cubes placed beside each of them. TV Screen asks:
Cost of Monopoly Game? $15.
Cost of popcorn and lemonade? $8.
Cost of Johnny and Susie realizing there is no difference between monopoly money and the greenback? PRICELESS.
"Mama, what's the difference between your money and monopoly money? Why can't I spend this monopoly money on candy?" I don't remember her answer, but I do remember the look on her face. What's that saying today? "Priceless"?
That would make for a funny/ironic spot on the realities of money, plus a nice little dig on the credit card companies. Little Johnny and Susie are playing monopoly with mummy and daddy. Smiles are glued on everyone's faces, big popcorn bowls sit between the parents and children, glasses of lemonade with large, perfectly formed ice cubes placed beside each of them. TV Screen asks:
Cost of Monopoly Game? $15.
Cost of popcorn and lemonade? $8.
Cost of Johnny and Susie realizing there is no difference between monopoly money and the greenback? PRICELESS.
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