chuck kottke

:stunned:Same as the ones I've run across here!

Does frodo have a ring of invisibility today?:rolleyes:

Hmmm.. Patel - that's the last name of a family from India that owns a chain of motels here - some members of which are still (unfortunately) locked into the caste system from my experience, and are not enlightened. (and a bit confused no doubt living here in the US, where to some they would be a "lower caste"! :laugh3:Haha - what an irony - jokes on them! May they learn not to discriminate, by those who discriminate against them. - to be in the shoes of those of whom they see as lower - a twist of fate;)..)

Right Here, Right Now, Watching The World Wake Up From History...:smart::shame::dance:

yes Yea, it is a lot like "bad dog, bad dog! you're born a bad dog, and only if you grovel to an all-cruel God and buy into the cult with the blinders on, will you be allowed to be "saved", and breath a sigh of relief!":laugh3: I lost interest in this fire-and-brimstone approach of religion's, as it is so very narrow-minded, and based in the assumption that we're awful, deserve punishment, and only if we listen to the one cult belief will we be allowed to feel OK about ourselves. It's fear-mongering, that's for sure!;) ...I think is was one of the reasons I used to listen to AC/DC as a young lad - just to drive out their message of cult indoctrination.:rolleyes: Long live rock, be it dead or alive!:P

no more guilt for being born human. We are not born into sin - we are simply born. A virtual blank slate, we pick up much of who we will be from the influences of others, from childhood on. So yes, we are born self-interested, and must learn to deal fairly with others, and in turn share in the common harvest by playing our part in the mix of things. We must learn selflessness when appropriate, and yet need times of self-absorption to become fully human. Yes, we want everything as children, and need a great deal, as we are growing - but slowly we evolve to understand that sharing and altruism have rewards in their reverberations with others that outweigh our selfish needs, and learn to give of ourselves. To be reminded of this is essential, and in time, the lessons become a part of who we are. Lessons with logical reasoning make the most sense, and positive as well as negative lessons shape who we are, More positive lessons create greater harmony, but all lessons are good ones. And as well need to be relieved of the stresses of life at times , humor is an essential part of our interactions - necessary to stay healthy, as is sleep, exercise, diet and water for life. The horses need a good work-out, and need food and water; rest and play in the evening before bed, to rise the next day refreshed and ready for work again..

Heaven is what you make of it. Imagine there's no heaven above us; Imagine there's no hell below. Only sky above us; and only ground below. Imagine there's no country. Nothing to live or die for; and no religion or posession too.. It isn't really hard to do.. Imagine all the people, living day to day; (living life as one.) You hoo hoo, hooehoo You may say, I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one.. Some day, you will join us, And the World Will Live as One. John Lennon, who's message and spirit lives on within us all. Heaven is the best world we can shape for our friends, families, societies, and ourselves out of the fabric of earth. Our wisdom creates an environment where the average outcome gets better; where the odds of happiness improves if we understand what happiness is, and how we are all connected. And as we learn and grow. We are never fully aware of what we are, as the picture is grand, and we are here to unravel the mystery of understanding. Enlightenment is heaven, and all of life is part of that heaven. To continue on a path of enlightenment, as our spirit is simultaneously individual and shared through our connectedness - we are born, we live, and we cease only in the biological sense, as our spirit as a connected part of all of humanity's spirit flows on through the river of time and space, to arrive at a new confluence and a new delta down a timeline through life and culture itself. So, we are a reflection of what we wish to see; seeing a positive future of advancing enlightenment means understanding ourselves and others; creating a positive attitude that is both just and enduring; loving and nurturing, challenging and progressing to a higher state. Along that path it is good to feel loneliness to know how someone else feels, and to comfort those in need. To feel what it is to be hungry, unwell, or unsure of ourselves to help those in need. To see what makes for a more sure-footed path in life, so others, as well as ourselves can move along that path towards an enlightened future. As surely as the spirit of life has given us hearts to feel, hands to work, and feet to move, so it has given us minds to think and eyes to see; and there are many paths in life - none more or less essential than the next to further human advancement. And in every new leaf that humanity turns over, more of god's universe is unveiled to us as a gift of our efforts - the secrets to unlock yielding treasures to the mind unequal to anything else. ..And Pooh Bear thought to himself, "what is the best part?" After a time, the answer came to him - it wasn't the eating of the honey that was the greatest thing, but the moment just before. So, as I see it, we all share in this great culture of progress; heaven is what we do our best to create for everyone's sake - and for the generations to come. It is the collective passion, fairness, enlightenment, patterns, template, works, and motivations that lead to a healthier future for all humanity's sake. Those things which are selfish to too great an extent, not well thought out, or are unfair towards others lead us backwards, and are more learning lessons to show us what not to choose. To choose a better path is to choose heaven.:)

One could say Radiohead grows on you - like moss grows on a roof (actually, I like moss growing on a roof, and I like a bit of Radiohead's works too!) Just that it's mood dependent with me - sort of like much of surreal music's effect on the mind and spirit.. Good messages to the medium. Coldplay - well, their music is very well done, and with great feeling.. They are big supporters of fair trade, and that's something I believe puts them on par with a "movement" band - a worthy cause to support. Plus the music is part of me.:) They go on tour all over the earth - and studio efforts take time for their depth of sound . BTW, Hey Briggins, when is your next album due out then? Hmmm?;):P

Since I'm a leftist, left was the choice that changed my life - the left is going to control the US politically (whew!), and we leftists need to stand together! Viva ze' revolution!!:thumbsup::sombrero::smash:

And Here's A Happy Birthday Wish To You, Chris!:hat::thumbsup: from Chuck.

Your poems are exceptional in their vivid description of the setting and circumstances Miss Snicket!;) It's a sensitive subject, to relate how someone feels, and how we see through observation what someone is thinking - and you are very good at doing just that - good work!

What, with all that German Engineering, Rick, you ought to be able to make your own!:) (actually, many enthusiasts have done just that - it's really not all that hard..) I've been looking at the Finnish sites for woodgas, and have considered adding a wood gasifier to my pickup - does that count as a hybrid, if it also runs part of the time on gasoline?;)

Time is always running, but never running out (unless the meter is about to expire..):P Moody Blues - Afternoon.

sometimes! Got lots to choose from, so that's complex.. Have you seen the space station in the night sky?:)

Since U2 had such a good turn-around with Brian Eno, I'm feeling Coldplay will too - it just makes sense. It would be difficult to imagine it any other way, really...:sunny:

It's cool here, but warmer than yesterday! Light snow falling today - then end of winter is near!! YEA!!!:)

Pardon me! I was merely using a figure of speech - no offense to baboons (except the naughty ones!:P) Well, so what you're saying is that Canada simply allows insane people to inhabit rental properties, and has a slow eviction process because Bedlam is full up?:laugh3: I can only imagine - 4 weeks of hell! Then bliss! I hope you weather the storm well, and keep seeing the light at the end of the month, Tracie!;) Bestalucktoya!

Tracie, I agree about veal. We have quite a few veal operations here - I even worked bagging up feed for the "farms" once - it really is sad what they put the young calves through.. Interesting point about lobster! So, they fall asleep in warm water - I suppose I might as well, if I were a lobster.. Hard to relate emotionally to a lobster (crustaceans are on a par with insects), so I haven't much trouble with seeing them as food. I suppose, there is the bioaccumulation trouble with all the pollution in the oceans, though.. Better to go to Sierra Club, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, or Mother Jones' website and check out the seafood watch list to see what's safe, what's not, and which choices are better per the environment and workers. Anyhow, I eat lobter once in a blue moon. Most meals here are beans, rice, spaghetti, chicken, eqqs and squash, lentils, soups, etc.:chef:

neighbors.. Are these the same neighbors that have been driving you nuts for what by now must seem like eons, Tracie?:laugh3: (pardon - I just think it's funny - shame they can't all just be sent to juvenile detention centers, and be rehabilitated as more mature baboons. (& no offense to baboons..)). Primates are interesting animals - have you considered releasing them back into their natural habitat? Are they gainfully employed, or just dealing for a living? Anyhow, wish you could find better settings - such is life in the big city, though.. keep ear-plugs and big stick handy.:P

Is time travel really necessary, if we're all just on an endless loop..;) and, by golly, I'm still able to lift drywall sheets!:smug:

Truth behind the wolves' coat of Adam Smith Inn.. "According to a 1992 internal Phillip Morris memo written by Craig Fuller of Phillip Morris , PM worked with ASI (Adam Smith Institute) on creating an international center to train journalists to be "ideologically" consistent with PM's issues and interests. "The journalist training center model was based on similar programs successfully implemented a the PM supported National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C." excerpted from http://www.sourcewatch.org. look for Adam Smith Institute, and get the real deal on this monster of an outfit.

I'll check on the Adam Smith Institute's funding (what little they might disclose). I'm betting it's a shell operation for agri-chem-investment and global agricultural firms, who want to squash all competition.;)

Wolves in sheeps clothing.. I am immediately alerted to the name of the institute - "The Adam Smith Institute" - and if anyone knows what Adam Smith believed - essentially that the "silent hand" of the market raises all boats, and unfettered free trade did the best for everyone. Basically, laissez faire trade - it's a recipe for making the rich richer, the poor poorer; sullying the environment, and mistreating the workers. (because no regulation means no government oversight - i.e.- no referee in the process) So, coming from a so-called "highly respected right-wing think tank" should have everyone's antennae up - that's like saying a "highly-respected crime organization" that thinks about our well being! I would trust them no further than you can throw their bosses! Recalling one "highly respected Right-wing think tank" called the Hudson Institute, and their smear campaign on Organic food, I can only say that they are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. They act and sound official and honest, and are instead a front for the corporate monsters damaging the planet's ecosystems, the workers, and the consumers! Another bunch of bad apples. So, it's all lies I'm betting, especially since the "Right" has an agenda to stop fair-trade, and diss anyone involved in it. Perhaps the shade-grown coffee and cocoa beans are seen as hurting workers, because they would argue it's better to just clear all the forest, spray with their toxic brew of pesticides, and use artificial fertilizers galore to pump up industry profits? Sure, the wildlife, worker's health, and the healthiness of the product suffers - but perhaps the workers would get 1 cent more per hour (and cancer)? Is that improvement? Fair Trade was set up to address some of the practices which are deplorable - recalling that without Fair Trade, there were slaves used to grow some of the crops - hence, the "free market" BS they try and say raises all boats! Ya, what a bunch of bunk! To me, the only right way is to have honest governments and organizations, that work for the people to do their bidding, and act as referees, overseeing the honest practices which stand the test of ethical behavior which should be allowed to enter the marketplace - to reward the good companies, and punish the bad ones, and allow competition based on ethical standards to be in play. Which is actually what Fair Trade really stands for. So, anytime someone puts qualifiers like "the Respected Right-wing Think Tank" in their name, begin to question it. It's a trap, to convince us through language that they're on the side of justice, when often they're really anything but that! And they lied about Organic Agriculture, so they'll lie about anything else they damn well please!

our foreign policy is your nightmare! Somehow, I'm just not shocked anymore - seems like colonialism is the pattern, and it's been that way for a long, long time.. Maybe we will see a transformation soon.

I've never heard of Mike Oldfield! Coincidental name, that's amusing! I'm still hearing the reverberations of Credence Clearwater Revivals "Better Run Through The Jungle":juggle::dance::guitarist: