He's mad at someone

It's the middle of the week, and I'm busy again. So I direct your attention to an older post of mine. You can thank Minou for reminding me of this past rant:

Mind Virus

G-d must have been mad at someone yesterday, it wasn't me.


All is OK here. The storms were close, but far enough away to limit the damage we had. These apartments are down the road a couple of miles. We only had flooding at my place.

The second picture was a skating rink and daycare center that was full of kids when the tornado hit. That's our Governor walking thru the debris.

And lastly, some humor, it's almost Friday:

The five best things to say if caught sleeping at your desk:

5. "They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen."
4. "This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time management course you sent me to."
3. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time."
2. "Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?"

The best thing to say if caught sleeping at your desk:

1. Raise your head slowly and say, "...in Jesus' name, Amen."

Bastards

There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job was to process all the mails that had illegible addresses. One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.

The letter read:

"Dear God, I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check.

Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me?

Sincerely,
"Edna"

The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars.

By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman. The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends.

Christmas came and went. A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened. It read,

"Dear God,
How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift.

By the way, there was $4 missing. I think it must have been those bastards at the Post Office.

Sincerely Yours
"Edna"

Shining

BBC reminded me of this amusing kids song, my kids loved this when they were younger. I found a video for it: The Cat Came Back

If you know the song, it is based on this Irish Folksong, that sounds like it could of come from the hills and mountains of Appalachia: The Moonshiner

m'expulser

Today I received a viral e-mail from a friend. This message was adorned with American flags and gave supposedly patriotic justification on why everyone in the U.S. should be forced to speak English, and if don't agree, you should leave.

I need to be deported, becuase I don't agree with this BULLSHIT.

The Text of the message went like this:

I'm sorry, but after hearing they want
to sing OUR National Anthem in Spanish - enough is enough!
Nowhere did they sing it in Italian,
Japanese, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German, Portuguese, Greek, French, or any other language because of immigration.
It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it
was written. The news broadcasts even gave the translation - not even close.
Sorry if this offends anyone, but this is MY COUNTRY - IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY,SPEAK UP!

I am not against immigration -
just come through like everyone else.
Get a sponsor;
have a place to lay your head;
have a job;
pay your taxes;
live by the rules;
and
LEARN THE LANGUAGE
as all other immigrants have in the past
and
GOD BLESS AMERICA!

PART OF THE PROBLEM
Think about this:
If you don't want to forward this
for fear of offending someone,
YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
Will we still be the Country of choice
and still be America if we continue
to make the changes forced on us by
people from other countries who came
to live in America because it is the
Country of Choice?
Think about it!
All we have to say is, when will
Someone do something about
MY RIGHTS?
We've gone so far the other way,
bent over backwards to not
offend anyone, that I am now
being offended.
But it seems no one has a problem
with that.

It is Time for America to Speak up
If you agree - pass this along;
if you don't agree - delete it ...
and leave the country !

My Response:

I just can't believe this kind of intolerance and prejudice still exists in the U.S. today, disguised as patriotism.

I won't pass on this kind of bigotry and ignorance. Does that mean I have to leave the country? When will the police be breaking down my door to take me away to the island of "People we don't agree with".

Why don't I agree? Liberty. It is a greater ideal than language. It is a founding principle of the U.S. Yes, it is unpatriotic to demand this kind of obedience on those coming here seeking liberty and the pursuit of happiness from countries where they might not have had those freedoms.

Do you want to deport the people who have to speak in Sign Language. I have learned it, it is not even close to English. How one communicates doesn't dictate what kind of person they are, or to whom they hold allegiance.

I understand and emphasize that learning English will only help you get ahead in the U.S. today. It is the language of business in the global economy and it is the language used to teach most higher education classes in the U.S.. It is also the most common language used in the U.S., but not the only one.

Learning English will only benefit those wishing to do well in the U.S.

BUT to demand immigrants to learn English is kind of, um, FASCIST.

Immigrants are coming to this country and landing jobs easily without needing to learn English. To get ahead in this country, to make their lives a bit easier, they could learn English and learn some technical skills. But if they are happy where they are at and with what they are doing, why should we force education on them. Let them be happy!

I'll never understand how the redneck nationalist culture think they are improving the U.S. by forcing their backward ignorant ideals on those that have not grown-up in their selfish, all-about-me, stay-stupid society. They like to talk about "Freedom" while they keep becoming more fascist, dictatorial, and authoritarian by wanting to take freedoms away from people.

This is not YOUR country, it is OUR country. Start treating people in OUR country the way you would want to be treated if you had to immigrate to feed your family, or to escape a violent or unjust government.

Please think about this when you talk about protecting everyones rights. They are not your rights, they are the rights of the citizens of this country. There is a higher authority, and it demands human rights.

Some people are just too selfish and Nationalistic to see that sometimes that liberty and tolerance can go both ways. Those non-english speaking immigrants now have to put up with closed minds and bigoted opinions of how they should live, something they were probably trying to escape when they came here.

".... little pink houses for you and me, oh yeah......"

Time to crawl back into my hole.......

The Friday Thing

I'm still busy recovering from being overworked this week. Today I have off, but I'm trying to catch up on all the chores I have ignored all week. I hope to have time to make a decent post this weekend. Saturday's looking kind of busy, also.

Over at bsb's blog, she trying to start an new annual observance.
I'm all for this: Go give someone a squeeze.

For the Friday post, I urge all of you strenghten your faith in Dog.

This week's spirituality book link:

If you were hoping to see a cute dog picture today, I don't have one. May I suggest on older of post of mine: Just let me sleep!

Hugs!

Heaven or Hell

Believe it or not, this did not come from some southern recipe, or from some American State Fair midway food booth. This is a Scottish idea:

Deep-Fried Pizza

That is unbelievably. How to make a piece of junk food even worse for you. Occasionally I do partake of a gourmet homemade pizza with shrooms, veggies, and anchovies. But how did anyone come up with the idea to batter it up and deep-fry it is beyond my comprehension.

But I am wondering what it tastes like.......

Temptation is wicked.

Response

So Mr. President, what do you think of the results?

I'm kind of busy this week and don't have time to write. Hopefully I'll get sometime this weekend.

Have a great day!

Favorite Ape?

Remember to Vote! If you don't like the way the Gorillas have been handling things, then vote in some other apes to take control. I think they all know how to throw shit, is one much different from the others?

Who do you like,

Republicans

Democrats

or the Independents?

I think the Independents have much better hair. That's my reason to vote for them.

Democrats Beware! Cheney is going hunting on Election day!

Band Aid

My weekends are usually set around some kind of running event, if I'm not off somewhere hiking. I usually try to find some worthwhile cause, or popular event, just to be around people who are like me, addicted to running.

Yesterday I went and participated at a run to raise money for a High School band, the High school was way out in the country. When you get out of the city of Montgomery and into the Alabama back country, you meet folks that treat you like they're your best friends just minutes after meeting them. I love those people, and their southern accent is so wonderful, I love talking to them just to hear them speak. Old and young, no matter the race, all are just extremely pleasant people. Contrary to popular myth, those back country folk ain't so dumb. They might act or speak like they don't have good schoolin', but they are very clever, these are the people I want on my side. I thank the folks from Beulah High School, Beulah, Alabama, for an enjoyable Saturday.

If you have a chance to vote on funding for public education, please vote to raise it, wherever we can. Public Education is incredibly underfunded, and the U.S. pays such low taxes. It doesn't matter if you have kids in the public schools or not, everyone in the community benefits from well-educated young people. These are the people that are going to be in charge when we get older, the doctors, lawyers, politicians, technicians, and educators. I want them to have a chance to the best education they can get. In the U.S. we have become too self-centered. Just because you pay for your kid to go to some "academy", doesn't mean you have to ignore the education of the rest of the children. Even if you have no kids, and never plan to have any, you still benefit from a well-educated public.

For your Sunday Spiritualism: Skidboot, the Amazing Dog

P.S. Skidboot's owner is just like those wonderful country folk I met at Saturday's run.

Friday Blogging

From Big Dog Blog - 101 Pictures of Gentle Giants

If Dog was your teacher you would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps. Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout... run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

AND last but still important..........

Never trust anyone until you sniff their . . .well you know.

This week's spiritual guidance link:

Willie

Willie's commentary on CNN:

Willie Nelson: We have a lot to learn from horses

I love this quote from him:

The most superhuman thing about horses is the contrast between their unearthly strength and inherent gentleness. Humans abuse their power while horses use theirs only for good. I'd rather be a horse.

He also notes: Will Rogers said, "You know horses are smarter than people. You never heard of a horse going broke betting on people."

The picture below is of Scarlett Johansson from The Horse Whisperer

Facade

Bush claims the economy is doing great. It is all a facade. We are robbing future generations to create a false sense of security and prosperity.

It is unfair of us to burden future generations.

David M. Walker is the head of the General Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress that audits and evaluates the performance of the federal government. He is the Comptroller General.

He is not running for office. He has nothing to lose or gain by this next election. His job is secure.

He claims that the U.S. economy is on a course set for disaster. The vast majority of economists and budget analysts agree: The ship of state is on a disastrous course, and will founder on the reefs of economic disaster if nothing is done to correct it

It is a dirty little secret that everyone knows in Washington, but no one talks about.

Read the whole story: America The Bankrupt

Now I will talk politics. Our current leader is responsible for this fiscal mess. He is not a conservative, he is a Nationalist. His fiscal irresponsibility has put the future of the U.S. in graver danger the terrorists ever did.

Where are these conservative values of the "Republicans"?
Personal Responsibility
Fiscal Responsibility
Religious Liberty
Less Government
Liberty

All of these values have been lost by the Nationalists now in power, who try to keep us scared, while they line their pockets. They sing "God Bless America" while they are destroying values on which the U.S. was founded.

It is time to get rid of the current political parties, who answer to big money and special interests group. We need to regroup and create a government that values their people, and humanity, ahead of big corporations and big commercialized religious groups.

Friday DOG Blogging

For the Friday thing, I decide to focus on spirituality. Hey, I do what Dog tells me to do.

We all need to become more pawtriotic.

Clicking on the picture will take you to Amazon.com. I get no royalties, I just like dogs and books and I'm a sucker for books with dogs.

See Jon Katz on Amazon for some great reads about dogs.

Fools

Very small collection of foolish quotes, remind you of anyone?

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. ~ Douglas Adams

You don't have to fool all the people all of the time; you just have to fool enough to get elected. ~ Gerald Barzan

The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way. ~ Josh Billings

A fool always finds a greater fool to admire him. ~ Nicholas Boileau

Get the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. ~ Frank Dane

A man who cannot reason is a fool,
a man who will not reason is a bigot,
and a man who dare not reason is a slave. ~ William Drummond

Note: Please leave insults and call me names, it flatters me when you waste such energy on a fool like me, I've already forgiven you.

Black & White

Believe or not, in this day and age, segregation still exists in Alabama. What do the majority black or white High Schools do when the drama department wants to do a play like To Kill A Mockingbird? This has always been one of my favorite stories.

Two schools in Birmingham earned a visit from the reclusive author, Harper Lee: Black, White Schools Unite To Stage ‘Mockingbird’

What did you say?

CAUTION? This is a Sunday Sermon. If you don't want to hear about G-d, then skip today's post, it'll make the believers rebel and the non-believers think. But no thinking is allowed. Sit down, shut-up, and hold-on. After the sermon is over, send all donations to someone who needs it.

G-d is all about the creation of the universe and the life within. The opposite is the destruction of the “creation” and the life within. Are you for G-d or not? When you destroy life, you destroy a part of G-d. Not just human life, all life. Animal, Plants, and the environment required for them to survive. Are you for that or against that? Evolution is G-d's plan. Yes, it is that simple.

It’s not in a book, or a man, telling me how to live my life, that is just humans trying to control humans, and rationalizing human's endless greed, "bloody deeds", and selfishness. Its does not matter how you live your life, what matters is how you influence others to live a life that protects and creates more life. The only thing that matters, the only thing that will still be around after you're long gone, is how you’ve influenced others.

Now the important part. All is forgiven. Everyone is forgiven. No matter what you do, or what you’ve done in the past, you are forgiven. Your soul has been saved. In the end, we all end up in the same place.

How do you respond to extreme evil acts of violence against you or your beliefs? With a greater acts of forgiveness and kindness! It is the only answer that is possible from anyone, any group, anything that is on the side of G-d.

That, my friends, is it. Peace. NOW DAMMIT!!!!! The voice has spoken.

That is the end of my Sunday sermon. The most important message of our times.

You’ve all been saved, no need to go the religious churches anymore, no need to give your cash to the bigoted capitalist religions. Create your own church.

Now stay off the roads on Sunday, I need to do my shopping.

Literate Cats

I have a funny story for the Friday Cat blogging people.

In the apartments where I reside, we have several friendly cats. Frequently when I'm out on my porch, one of these cats, a small young black cat, will come by for a warm lap or just a scratch behind the ear, or to see if I'm having some tuna or salmon to share.

I have several neighbors, mostly young women, who are afraid of any animals. When this cat walks up to these people, they try to shoo it away, or they will sit in there car until the animal goes away. I don't understand how anyone can be afraid of this small friendly cat who wants nothing more than to rub against your leg and say "Hi". It is a very vocal cat, and will meow several times when it first greets you.

One of these young women has a brand new over-sized SUV that she keeps very clean and shiny and she parks away from everyone else so that no one "touches" her precious piece of shit. I heard her talking to another neighbor, upset, because that cat had been walking on the hood of her car, making dirty tracks on her clean car and one day the cat was sleeping on the roof of her car, and she had to call someone to get it off before she could go near her car. I mentioned to her that I happily remove this evil menace from her car anytime I'm here, because the cat is super-friendly and doesn't mind being handled. She snapped at me, telling me that the next time she's going to call animal control so they can take it away and put it down. That is the typical "Montgomery" attitude. I now know not to be friendly to her anymore.

Here's the funny part. The next day, as I was finishing up a run, I passed by her car. She had a sign taped to the inside of the windshield, "No Cats on Vehicle".

Yes, these people walk amongst us.

The thing is, if that cat can read, don't you know it's going to climb up there just for spite and get her dirty little paw prints on that shiny clean wax job. It's the attitude thing, cats have loads of it.

-----------------------------------------------------------
OK, I'll post a picture for those you addicted to cat pictures.


I hope that doesn't get the cat people too excited, it is a rather "sensual" photo.

Just 5 more minutes..........

I think some of you might have a problem, so in your best interest; here are my 7 steps to curing your blogging addiction…

It starts out so innocently. The desire to have a creative outlet. To vent. To connect with people who may be like minded. To get that affirmation when you say something brilliant.

You start writing pithy and insightful observations. You surf others's sites similar to, and not so similar to, your place. You notice this little thing called a site meter. Hey, they've got 7326 hits. And they've only been blogging for 3 months! What the hell. And she's got 14, 587 hits! And at least 34 comments PER post! Why do I have no comments? I want comments. I want hits. So subtly, you have been lured.
.
Sound familiar? Hmmmm? Or are you in denial about your ~~whispered~~ little blog problem

The above was scraped from an older post at Blogher and Captain Me Planet. I've been a little overworked lately and don't have the time write.

When will it end?

Excuses

Has any of our corrupted criminal politicians currently leading the country in the executive branch of our government thought about how useless it is to have a “War on Terror”. It is just a phrase they use to justify their immoral, unethical, unpatriotic behavior.

The “War” on terror cannot be successful. You might eradicate it in one place, but it will just pop up in another place, perhaps in another form. The September 11 hijackers were successful because they assimilated into American life, wore the clothes of our culture, had the same habits and everyday tasks. They became so much like us, they just blended in. Now the authorities know what to look for, do you think they are going to use that tactic again? Doubtful!

Terror is much like a common cold or influenza virus. The cure cannot be found for those viruses or germs because they evolve, they change their form. We can fight the current rash of flu bugs, but those “cures” won’t work next year because it will not be the same exact virus. The same happens with the terrorist organization.

We are trying to fight an enemy without a country, without a land to capture, without any need to worry about United Nations Sanctions. As we focus on Iraq, a place The United States caused to become a terrorist state, the terrorists we thought we successfully eradicated from Afghanistan are slowly retaking that country. Anyone can see that our actions are making terrorism worse. We are using traditional warfare to fight idealism, it can’t work.

There is no war in Iraq; there is nothing to fight for. We have taken out the leader, we have installed our proxy government. We occupy a country which is at war with itself. The religions are fighting each other, as they were for hundreds of years. Religions are metastasizing malignancies that are much like the cancers that destroy animals. These are the same groups which brought it’s ousted ex-leader to power.

And they ignore Darfur, just like they ignored Rwanda.

If we only had a authentic leader....

Sunday Insights

Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man -- living in the sky -- who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do..And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! ..But He loves you. - George Carlin

I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing. - Douglas Adams

The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason. - Benjamin Franklin

Religion is unusual among divisible labels in being spectacularly unnecessary. If religious beliefs had any evidence going for them, we might had to respect them in spite of their concomitant unpleasantness. But there is no such evidence. To label people as death-deserving enemies because of disagreements about real world politics is bad enough. To do the same for disagreements about a delusional world inhabited by archangels, demons and imaginary friends is ludicrously tragic. - Richard Dawkins

"It ain't the parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand" - Mark Twain

We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes. - Gene Roddenberry

You keep believing, I'll keep evolving.- Bumper sticker

"Faith" means not wanting to know what is true. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.- Isaac Asimov

The intelligent beings in these regions should therefore not be surprised if they observe that their locality in the universe satisfies the conditions that are necessary for their existence. It is a bit like a rich person living in a wealthy neighborhood not seeing any poverty. - Stephen Hawking

Why do you write to me "God should punish the English"? I have no close connection to either one or the other. I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of His children for their numerous stupidities, for which only He Himself can be held. - Albert Einstein

The essence of Christianity is told us in the Garden of Eden history. The fruit that was forbidden was on the tree of knowledge. The subtext is, All the suffering you have is because you wanted to find out what was going on. - Frank Zappa

Blind faith is an ironic gift to return to the Creator of human intelligence. - Unknown

Faith? Yes, I have faith. I faithfully believe in truth, not religion. - ME

Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense. - Chapman Cohen

Fear

In honor of Friday the 13th.

Our current leaders love to keep us afraid, but there is already too much fear. I couldn't find a fear of a Bad President. How about Bushitophobia.

The five most common phobias are:

1. Fear of snakes (ophidiophobia)
2. Fear of giving a speech (glossophobia)
3. Fear of heights (acrophobia)
4. Fear of rodents (musophobia)
5. Fear of flying (aviophobia)

Following closely are phobias about confined spaces (Claustrophobia), thunder (Astrapophobia), nighttime (Noctiphobia) and dogs (Cynophobia).

Sure, it’s amusing to think someone can be afraid of colors (chromophobia), but how do these people buy fruit?

Papaphobia—fear of the pope.
Scorodophobia—fear of garlic.
Pteronophobia—fear of being tickled with feathers. (Please hurt me)
Ranidaphobia—fear of frogs.
Philematophobia—fear of kissing.
Aulophobia—fear of flutes.
Ostraconophobia—fear of shellfish.
Graphophobia—fear of handwriting.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia—fear of long words (seriously, you're afraid of the word that describes what you're afraid of)

Blennophobia—fear of slime.
Gerontophobia—fear of old people.
Peladophobia—fear of bald people.
Geropeladophobia—fear of old, bald people.
Phobophobia—fear of developing a fear.

Complete List: http://phobialist.com/

Ending on a serious note:

"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself" - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fear-mongering and bad leadership are the only real threats to our National Security.

Mad World

Melancholy creeps in....

I haven't had much desire to write lately, but I want to keep the blog current.

Video: Mad World, Tear for Fears
(Gary Jules cover, from the movie Donnie Darko)

all around me are familiar faces
worn out places
worn out faces
bright and early for the daily races
going no where
going no where
their tears are filling up their glasses
no expression
no expression
hide my head i wanna drown my sorrow
no tomorrow
no tomorrow
and i find i kind of funny
i find it kind of sad
the dreams in which i'm dying are the best i've ever had
i find it hard to tell you
i find it hard to take
when people run in circles its a very very
mad world
mad world
children waiting for the day they feel good
happy birthday
happy birthday
and i feel the way that every child should
sit and listen
sit and listen
went to school and i was very nervous
no one knew me
no one new me
hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
look right through me
look right through me
and i find i kind of funny
i find it kind of sad
the dreams in which i'm dying are the best i've ever had
i find it hard to tell you
i find it hard to take
when people run in circles its a very very
mad world
mad world
enlarging your world
mad world

Flower

We make restless efforts to achieve, improve, and strive. We always want to go somewhere, like restless hunter-gatherers, or, negatively, like wanderers doomed to scavenge the earth.

That is why the image of the flower in nature is such a calm and reflective alternative to the sense of restlessness. The flower makes us pause and wonder at its beauty and its utter simplicity but more importantly at the startling fact that it has done nothing in order to be or become the way it is. No one has intervened on its behalf to bring it about. A flower is a chance occurrence of soil and wind, of rain and sunlight.

Here is the beginning of a philosophy of nature and life that is easy to grasp yet inexhaustible in its profoundness. Can we be like the "lilies of the field"? We are scattered seed upon the earth.

Can we discover the optimum conditions for a simple and fruitful life, nurtured by the elements of nature, not by contrivance, artificiality, or intervention?

The seed does not sprout in places it was not meant to. We are where we are because of some ineffable circumstance, and we may never know why. That is the source of our restlessness. Can we selflessly follow the wise pattern of the flower's growth and beauty and decay, which occurs irregardless of what it might "try" to do? How many mystics have given up on the "why" in order to throw themselves, like scattered seed, at the deeper solution: the ineffability, the mystery, the emptiness!

A field of flowers is impressive, and a bouquet of flowers has its charm, but it is the one solitary flower in the forest or the meadow or the trashheap that teaches best.

From: Hermit's Thatch

From Blueberry

This is hilarious, now you MUST Worship Dog: In Dog We Trust

Dog Bless You

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -Teddy Roosevelt

Remember to support the troops. How about buying one of those magnetic ribbons that everyone is using to show how much they have sacrificed to support the "War" effort.

This video will show exactly where to stick that magnetic sticker:
stick-a-yellow-ribbon-up-your-suv

For Montgomerians

Police Memorial Run for Keith E. Houts

Release

As a nation, we can learn much much from the way the Amish community is handling the recent evil act of random violence. They forgive the man who took their children from them. They won't let their faith become tainted with bitter feelings and evil vengeance. They have true faith. They know in their hearts that those children are in a better place.

I might not agree with their religion, but I respect their faith and their ability to follow the teachings of their faith, even when their own flesh and blood is torn from them.

Look at how we have responded as a nation to the evil act of random violence that has torn us apart, eating away out our principles, turning "Christians" into blood-thirsty murderers.

Would we see the same outpouring of grief if Islamic children had died in random acts of violence in Iraq or Lebanon? It has happened and is still happening.

I cannot understand how this "monster" could commit these acts of hatred and evil against innocent victims. It is even hard for me, an uninvolved bystander, to forgive it.

The "monster" I speak of is not only the one that murdered the Amish girls, it is also the the "monster" that has taken so much life in our "War on Terror". The "monster" is the inability to forgive.

"Fear is a powerful thing
It can turn your heart black you can trust
It'll take your God-filled soul
Fill it with devils and dust"

Hot Air

Albuquerque Dreaming.....

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - October 6-15

Question

Why do we never get an answer
When we're knocking at the door
With a thousand million questions
About hate and death and war?
'Cos when we stop and look around us,
There is nothing that we need,
In a world of persecution
That is burning in its greed.

Why do we never get an answer
When we're knocking at the door
Because the truth is hard to swallow
That's what the war of love is for

It's not the way that you say it
When you do those things to me
It's more the way that you mean it
When you tell me what will be

And when you stop and think about it
You won't believe it's true
That all the love you've been giving
Has all been meant for you.

I'm looking for someone to change my life,
I'm looking for a miracle in my life
And if you could see what it's done to me,
To lose the love I knew
Could safely lead me through.

Between the silence of the mountains,
And the crashing of the sea,
There lies a land I once lived in,
And she's waiting there for me,
But in the grey of the morning,
My mind becomes confused,
Between the dead and the sleeping,
And the road that I must choose.

I'm looking for someone to change my life,
I'm looking for a miracle in my life
And if you could see what it's done to me,
To lose the love I knew,
Could safely lead me to
The land that I once knew,
To learn as we grow old
The secrets of our soul.

It's not the way that you say it
When you do those things to me
It's more the way you really mean it
When you tell me what will be

Why do we never get an answer
When we're knocking at the door
With a thousand million questions
About hate and death and war?
'Cos when we stop and look around us,
There is nothing that we need,
In a world of persecution
That is burning in its greed.

-- Justin Haywood (Moody Blues)

Farm Aid = Healthy Food

John Mellencamp has always been one of my favorite musicians. Mellencamp, along with Neil Young, are two artists that never sold out to corporate sponsorship. With Willy Nelson they began Farm Aid to educate America about why family farms are so important.

John Mellencamp never figured Farm Aid would still be needed now, 21 years after its debut as one of many moments of musicians trying to do good in the 1980s.

"We started out trying to save the family farm," Willy Nelson said at a pre-concert news conference in which the rockers sat among farmers. "Now, it looks like the family farm is going to save us.

The rest of the story: Farm Aid Aims to Educate on Healthy Food

Doubly Blessed

I haven't had much time to write this week, work has been busy and my addiction has been controlling my life lately. The voices have been quieter than usual, but I see they are working overtime on BBC. Reminds me of a bullfrog named Jeremiah. ;>)

The cooler weather has led to some longer runs, and I'm overdosing on endorphines this week. I was blessed with a rainbow on Sunday Morning, and another one at the end of my evening run today, this time a sunset rainbow, and cool shower just as I was finishing the run. The wind and the rain cooled me down just at the right time, and now I'm feeling great. The natural high that started on Sunday morning has not let up, I better enjoy it while it lasts. I know the voices will be back soon. And I can't get "The Rainbow Connection" song out of my head.

I scan the news. Man, this world is getting crazy! WHY! Sometimes I just want to hide away from the world. Get a cabin in the woods and be another Thoreau, but I could never match his poetic words and his wit. I would need Internet access, also. I don't think he would approve.

Peace, Love and Happiness.

Where is the outrage?

“At a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act” —George Orwell.

From 42:
Ariel Dorfman in the Wa-Po:

Can’t the United States see that when we allow someone to be tortured by our agents, it is not only the victim and the perpetrator who are corrupted, not only the “intelligence” that is contaminated, but also everyone who looked away and said they did not know, everyone who consented tacitly to that outrage so they could sleep a little safer at night, all the citizens who did not march in the streets by the millions to demand the resignation of whoever suggested, even whispered, that torture is inevitable in our day and age, that we must embrace its darkness?

Are we so morally sick, so deaf and dumb and blind, that we do not understand this? Are we so fearful, so in love with our own security and steeped in our own pain, that we are really willing to let people be tortured in the name of America? Have we so lost our bearings that we do not realize that each of us could be that hapless Argentine who sat under the Santiago sun, so possessed by the evil done to him that he could not stop shivering?

Not much else to say about that, is there?

Connection

What a wonderful Sunday! Amidst all these ugly, expensive, man-made diversions, nature shows its wonder and beauty that cannot be topped and even equalled.

I arose this morning before dawn. It's supposed to be a warm rainy day, I love rainy days. So I sat this morning checking messages and reading news with the blinds open waiting for the day to start. It was a hot humid night, and windows were all fogged up. I wanted to see out, but I couldn't see anything because of the condensation. I had nothing better to do, so I walked to the grocery store to pick up some fresh veggies for dinner. I wanted to get the shopping done before the crowds start.

On the way to the store, the planet gave me a full bright, beautiful sunrise rainbow. I was almost at the store and it seemed to get brighter and more brilliant. I couldn't stop looking, so I delayed my entrance into the store and watched, looking up at the western sky. Other people walked by. A mother and her small son turned to see what I was staring at and remarked "Pretty", then rushed into the store because it was drizzling (misting, for the Scott Adam's fans). The rain felt good in the warm air. A young overweight woman passed by and looked at me strange, I pointed at the rainbow, she quickly turned her head then kept walking to the store with a disappointed look and a roll of her eyes. She wasn't impressed. It was obvious she had more important things on her mind, she needed more food. Others passed by and just looked at me like I was a nut, I quit making eye contact and just let them pass. I surprised no one called 911 to report a man standing in the rain looking at the sky.

Then the rainbow started to dim, the rainbow's reflection disappeared and the light started to fade, then it was gone. Big sigh! I went into the store and got my produce.

I walked home in the rain, it started to rain a little harder. While the church people rushed from their apartments and homes with newspapers and umbrellas over their head, I slowly walked by and waved at them and enjoyed the rain. I imagined one of them returning "Good Morning" or a "Hi" with a "looks like its going to rain all day", and I would say "I know isn't it great, some days are so wonderful" and they would frown and yell "No", and I would just smile and give a quick chuckle. But, as always, they only gave me weird looks.

I got back to my hovel and put away the vegetables. I had a free Sunday with nothing planned. I was going on a long run tonight after a cold front had moved thru, so I couldn't go running now. What to do, what to do. I check the weather radar, and heavier rain was coming. Then it was going to be windy and cooler tonight. I just wanted to go out in the rain. So I didn't look like a complete freak just standing out in the rain, I washed my car. My thought was that if I washed the car in the rain, I wouldn't have to dry it, and since I wasn't planning on going anywhere today in my car, it wouldn't get dirty because of the wet roads.

So there I was washing my car in the rain, waving at my neighbors as they drove past on their way to church. (Everyone goes to church in Montgomery, including yours truly, sometimes. I have atheist friends that go every Sunday without fail, it's "THE" thing to do in this wretched town. The worst traffic here is the after church traffic on Sunday.) Again I was imagining what the neighbors were saying as they drove past. "Mom, why is the freaky fast-walking guy washing his car in the rain?", "Oh Look honey, there's that guy who always out running, doesn't he know its raining?", "You've got to be kidding me". Well folks, I'm out here because I enjoy it and I'm tired of doing what I'm "supposed" to do, instead of what I like to do.

I suppose that the rainbow was a bit of natural pornography and that the rain was the planet giving me some loving. I sure do feel good afterward. Should I feel guilty about being so self-indulgent this morning?

What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Click here for the song: The Rainbow Connection

Missing State

Thanks to a comment I left on Minou blog's, I was reminded one of my favorite columns from New Mexico magazine.

One of our 50 is missing.

A little humorous diversion from my attempt to save the world.

And while your there, take the photo tour: New Mexico Photos

Craving Vengeance Part 2

Part 1: Once upon a time.....

Did you think I forgot?

There is no ending. That story just keeps going on and on, as it has been going on for centuries. "the movie never ends, it just goes on and on and on unending...".

Fear is a prison. Vengeance is never just.

When a belief becomes a reason to kill and destroy, that belief is not holy and it is not of G-d. Jews, Christians and Muslims have proven to the world that their "gospel" is anti-spiritual and it the opposite of creation, the opposite of G-d. Creation and evolution of this world and universe, and all else beyond that, is beyond the comprehesion of the limited minds leading todays religion. They need to take my voice's advise from my previous post and destroy their religious identities to save humanity. The U.S. leader, Mr. Bush is your prophosied beast, "Christian" label, but the mark of something evil.

50,000 to 100,000 innocent lives lost in retaliation for 3,000. When does it stop?

It is one thing to be a role model, representing a better way. It is totally different to be a bully, demanding your way.

Go Jump in a Lake!

Don't Read This. It's Crazy. Please skip today's post.

I have voice in my head telling me that I need to get a message to all the people of the Jewish (Judeo), Christian, and Islamic faiths. I don't usually do what the voices in my head tell me to do, but this one is different, it won't go away until I have finished sending this message. I have asked the voice if this is G-D, but it just gives me riddles when I ask, so don't ask me. I also get this sharp pain in the groin every time I question the voice, so I'm not asking anymore.

THE MESSAGE:
A revelation is coming. There is one way for everyone on the planet to be saved. You must ask for forgiveness, then be ceremoniously cleansed of your transgressions against humanity and nature. The coming years will consist of torture and despair on this planet. In order for you to be saved, this is what you'll have to do:

After you have asked to be forgiven, find the nearest body of water, and submerge yourself, all the way. Don't hold your breath, breath in the water, its time to come home. If you don't have a body of water close by, then use any method you can to achieve this baptismal. Fill a tub with water. You need to be completed submerged. If you have to travel to get to the water, then start out now.

I told you this was crazy. You would have to be insane to listen to a voice in my head. I told the voice that it was cruel, and the voice said no it wasn't; "If they truly believe, they have no reason to fear. The water will make the journey a very pleasant, peaceful journey."

I am a skeptic. There is no reason to believe me or a voice in my head. If you read my blog, you know that I think religious conformity is irrational and unnatural. It is my opinion religions that were developed from the Bibles based on Moses' writings of the word of G-d are just following ancient folklore and myths that religious leaders have misinterpreted and abused for their own personal reasons. But I also believe that every one should follow their own heart, so if those religions make sense to you, that is okay by me, as long as you don't try to force your beliefs on others.

The last thing the voice said to me: "Open your heart and mind to see G-d differently and more truthfully and you will see no fear, no punishment, no judgments, no conditions for love, no requirements of sacrifice, no blaming with sin and no threats of any kind. You will see pure love, pure peace, pure kindness and a solid desire to do all that is necessary to help us undo what we have done to ourselves. Just say, "I choose to see more clearly.", and your path to seeing and experiencing unbiased truths will begin."

The Caffeine Effect

I see everyone is obsessing on religion, again. BIG SIGH! Don't you guys have anything better to blog about, we need to ignore the religious narcissists and egomaniacs, they already have too much vanity and pride in themselves. It’s fun to point out their faults, but then they take it the wrong way and start violent and murderous rampages that only shows how anti-spiritual they really are. We need spirituality that is aimed at preserving life and the environment required for life, anything that destroys that is not of G-d.

Uh-oh. A new voice has just popped into my head. This voice sounds wise and just. The voice is telling me to quit worrying, everything is good, everything will work out. This voice is not like any other voice I’ve had in my head before, I try to ignore it and it only gets louder. “I won’t be ignored” blares in my head;

niCk: Who is this?
Voice: I am what I am
niCk: What does that mean.
Voice: 42
niCk: Huh? You read that book, too
Voice: I’ve read all books, I know everything.
niCk: You mean, this is G-d.
Voice: What you call me is not important, do you feel that.
niCk: OUCH! Goddammit that hurt. OUCH!!!!! Fuck that really hurts please stop.
Voice: Now do you know.
niCk: Just tell me, is it you, or am I just going schizoid
Voice: How’s this.
niCk: That is so good, do that again.
Voice: You only get the good stuff once, otherwise you just become a addict
niCk: DOH!. How about turning my coffee into beer, just this once.
P-P-P-P-leaasssee.
Voice: NO! Listen I have an important message I need you to communicate to the world.
niCk: Huh! People don’t listen to me, I’m nothing.
Voice: I know. That’s way I choose you.
niCk: I don’t get it! If you want to get a message to the people, you should pick someone everyone’s listens too, like, a big star, or one of those important people who address the UN and have it broadcast all over the world.
Voice: They are hacks, they don’t know what their doing.
niCk: I don’t know what I’m doing, why me?
Voice: Because you know me better than most humans. It can’t be easy, people have to find the message. I can just speak into everyone’s mind, but I don’t, I want the people to find the answer. If they are enlightened, and are worthy they will find the message.
niCk: You have more faith in humans then they have in you.
Voice: We’ll see. Now I need to build a really big boat, an Ark.
niCk: WoooH!, I’m going to be the next Noah?
Voice: Noah? Medammit, I already tried that plan. Deucalion, Noah, that plan hasn't worked well. I’ll be right back, I have a better plan I just have to find it.

(Several hours later)

Voice: I’m back.
niCk: I’m trying to concentrate on a problem at work, can you get back to me tomorrow.
Voice: (Deep Laughter) Good One. Lets get serious, I have the plan.
niCk: The Plan? Sounds like you given this some a lot of thought.
Voice: I don’t have thoughts, I just am. Now you need to concentrate and get this right. Humanity depends on you. You got to make up for the horrible story you wrote last week.
niCk: What? Horrible? I was doing it for you.
Voice: Yeah! There is no me, there is just what there is. Let this voice do the storytelling next time. Now listen.
niCk: Hhmmm!
Voice: This message is just for the Jews, and their children, the Muslims and the Christians. Tell them the rapture is coming and I need them to do something to be saved.
niCk: OH No! The world is ending, I got to go, I have a lot to do.
Voice: No, No, NO! I just want you to tell it to those Moses religions. I can’t get through to them and I need to cleanse the earth.
niCk: Cleanse the earth! Sound like your going to get wipe us all out.
Voice: NO! Now stop thinking and just listen, trust the voice.
niCk: I think someone put something in my coffee this morning.
Voice: Yes, it was I. A little spiritual wake-up with your caffeine.

At this point, the voice told me the plan. It’s so ingenious. If only it will work.

My next post will be the Voice’s plan. Stay tuned.

(he-he). Cliffhangers, don’t you love them!

Freak

Yes, hiking up North was wonderful, it's getting cooler and I love getting out in the early morning, before other annoying humans are out, and just be with nature. Wildlife is still roaming about early in the morning and its the best chance to see them. It's amazing how much tension is released when one gets away from civilization and all the fuss they have to put up with. You tend to do a lot of thinking about what is really important.

"Sunny Day, Sweeping the clouds away......."

Then you come back to read about everything that you missed in the world, and you just want to go back to the woods and hide. The world is still full of shit-throwing human monkeys, and Mr Bush is still their leader. Sigh. Still in this nightmare. The Pope being mis-interpreted by Islamists. No need to insult Islam, they do it just fine themselves, as do Christians and Jews. What a bunch of clowns. No surprise, Bush trying to change the Geneva Convention so that his "interrogations" will be legal. What? Violence in Iraq is getting worse, now they want to build moats around Bagdad (I thought it was a joke, but that is real news, what's next, catapults with flaming bodies, dumping hot oil on enemies?). An alliance is forming against the U.S. , (as expected), and on and on and on goes the human circus........ Thanks Mr Bush, look at this mess.

Monica Lewinsky, we need you to visit the oval office again.

(Sarcasm ON)

Ya'll play nice now, y'hear. Don't hit each other. If I catch anyone hitting someone else I'll beat the crap out of all of you.

Morality, who needs it, just become a Conservative Christian and everything you do is good, you can do no wrong when you become "saved", become born again and you never again have to worry about those pesky teachings of Jesus, after all, he was a bleeding-heart liberal.

(Sarcasm OFF)


I also went and visited a friend this weekend, but I picked a bad time to visit. A football game was on that he "needed" to see. I tried to watch this "game" with him. American football is such a boring waste of time. There was nothing entertaining about it. They play for a few seconds, argue about the play, hold a meeting to decide how to play the next few seconds. They spend more time analyzing and planning then playing. That isn't a sport, that sounds like work. I want to have fun when I play, I want to play the game, i want to get away from the shit I have to put up with at work, the meeting, the planning, blaming people for your mistakes. Then the whole team gets substituted when the ball changes sides? What the hell is that. Can't the same guy play offense and defense? I'll stick to REAL football, you know, soccer, where they spend their time actually playing a game and not talking about playing. It sounds like corporate America came up with the rules to American football. All I know is that Auburn won, but I couldn't tell you which team played better, because I never saw anybody actually playing, because I blink too much. How can anyone find it entertaining? Maybe he doesn't want me visiting him anymore, and thats why he subjected me to the punishment of having to watch this non-sport. OKAY, message received! AND, all he had to drink was that tasteless corporate piss-water beer, I can't tell the difference, its Bud or Miller or Coors or something like that, all the same weak just-get-me-drunk beer. It is an insult to call this beer, I've tasted real beer, it's not even close.

I'm back from the woods, and I see humans in their so-called "environment". What a waste. Damn I whine a lot, don't I?

I'm so glad I'm a freak of nature.

Once Upon a Time........

I was sick last night and couldn't sleep, I was in a bad mood, so I wrote a story.

YES, It's Story Time. Today’s story is titled Craving Vengeance.

---------------------------------------

It’s a beautiful day in your neighborhood.

(Whistle that tune for a minute before starting to read).

You are very wealthy and successful, and are well respected and admired. You live in a very diverse neighborhood. All religions and ethnicities are represented. Some are rich, others are poor, and some in the middle.

One of your neighbors belongs to a religion that is very vocal and strict. He always complains that everyone else is wrong, that we all and heathens and are going to hell. His religion believes that it’s okay to kill those who don't agree with your religion, but you live in a country where believe you are safe. You support his business by buying his goods, thinking it’s okay for people to disagree, as long as they don't infringe on others citizen’s liberties. But your neighbor, because of his religion, believes he is above the law.

Now, because your neighbor religion defines you as a heathen, you neighbor plots acts of violence against you, and one day he sends his son over to your house to blow himself up and kill as many of your family as he can. Your house is damaged and your son is killed in the attack, never having a chance to defend himself. Your neighbor believes this was a holy religious act, and that his son is now in a fantasy paradise land, and that he is looked now upon very well by his Creator. According to the law of the land, however, this was a cowardly criminal act. Your neighbor knows he will be wanted and goes into hiding, all the best police cannot find him.

Because you don't want him or his family in your neighborhood again, you destroy his house and kill many of his families’ members and many innocent bystanders in the process.

But your neighbor still cannot be found.

There are many other families in the neighborhood that are the same religion as the guy that killed your son and damaged your home. They don't agree with the way he practiced his religion, they are not as extreme as your former neighbor was, they are friendly and do not disturb others on your neighborhood. You don't care, you never liked them anyway and because they are the same religion, and had communicated with the neighbor in the past; you see them as the same. You want them out of the neighborhood. When they refuse to leave, you destroy their houses, killing many of them, and lots of innocent bystanders.

Your neighbor that killed your son is still in hiding. He is not really free, because he cannot go anywhere he wants, he is in a prison of his own making, but he has not been brought to justice.

In the meantime, you spy on all your neighbors making sure that none of them are plotting against you. You feel you are justified because a bad thing happened to you. You continue to try to control your neighbors that were the same religion that hurt you, even though they have left you alone and they are now fighting amongst themselves, killing each other and destroying properties because of the religious beliefs. Because you have been so unjust in your reprisal, they are plotting against you, hoping to destroy you, for their own safety. You use that information to become even more violent and intolerant, and continue your doctrine of evil and hate against people of this religion, even though they originally did not support the neighbor that committed crimes against you. Events continue to escalate, and more and more innocent bystanders are killed in the process. Most of your neighbors are against the way you handled this whole episode and demand you stop, but you continue, listening to no one, doing your own thing, against the advice of others with experience in handling these kinds of affairs. You continue even though you have failed to stop the violence. You continue, when the whole neighborhood, except for a few, want you to stop. You continue, even though the guy that killed your son was never found, and probably will never be. You continue, even though you infringe on the liberties of citizens, liberties that you once believed in, but you stop believing because a guy from a different religion, who didn't like you having those liberties, and wanted you to throw them in the trash, hurt you. You gave them up to be safer, but now even more people want to hurt you.

The guy who killed your son was successful in changing your ideology, but he never changed his.

The wealth you once had is gone, the respect is gone, and the admiration is gone. The Liberties you once enjoyed are gone. More people want to hurt you now than ever before, you spend all your time and money trying to defend yourself from these “enemies” and trying to remove them from the neighborhood, but when they leave one place they just move into some other place.

And many innocent bystanders are being killed, to avenge your son’s death, but your son is still dead. Your neighbor completed his goal of trying to change the way you live. You have become like him, but you kill more people.

Will this story have a happy ending? Will your neighbors stop your bloody reign? Will you face justice? The answer is _____.

I have a believable ending for this story, but you don’t get that yet. You first must think about what has happened, and let your emotions develop.

Dueling Banjos

I'll be hiking up in North Georgia this weekend. So I thought I'd give you all a taste of that country.

Dueling Banjos

Woo-Hoo, I can embed videos:

Going to Church

Ok, those of you that know me can stop laughing. I'm not talking about Church run by the capitalist religions we have in the U.S. Those people know nothing of spirituality, their church is a place they can gather people, tell them what they want to hear, and empty their pockets. One church here in Montgomery actually tracks how much you attend and how much you give. "Satan is laughing with delight" Satan being a metaphor for the opposite G-d, or those that destroy life and and make life miserable for those who want to be spiritual.

Ok, now that I got my rant off, I can get back to the original purpose of today's post.

I went to church yesterday. It was an eight mile run in pouring rain. It was very good. I was soooo high and felt spiritually cleansed. The planet was giving it's love. I started out just going for a walk in the drizzle, and it started raining harder and the wind started to blow, so I started running to keep from getting chilled. Once I start running and I can stay nice and cool, I can run for a long time. The rain energizes me. I can keep going and going and going..... The euphoria from a long run is incredibly stimulating and quite addicting. No poisonous chemicals, just all natural high, one that comes from within yourself. Yes, it fuels the libido also. Too bad all the females runners were inside on treadmills watching Oprah make love to a warm Krispy Kreme Doughnut. Uh-oh, I'm starting to rant again.... (another story for another time).

Running isn't a religion, but it can feel like one sometimes, and only runners can know what I mean. The late great running philosopher George Sheehan M.D., author of "Running & Being", once said that his wife tells people "My husband used to be a Methodist. Now he's a runner". Running is a place to get away from your worries and crisises. A place to commune with nature, with G-d and yourself, a place for psychological and spiritual renewal. A church is not defined by a building (and G-d is not defined by a book, blah, blah, blah). It is a place where people of shared beliefs gather to connect with themselves, those around them, and give thanks for the blessings the universe is sharing with them. The roads and trails are my church, sometimes the church is full, sometimes I'm the only one in attendance, it doesn't matter. I reflect, I dream, I meditate, and I give thanks.

To paraphrase George Sheehan, "(This) glimpse of heaven is available to anyone, anywhere, anytime."

Write or Get Wet?

Writing relaxes me! Sometimes issues of the day, work, politics, or humans just being humans , make me tense. Writing is the only way I know to eliminate the tension. If feels so much better to write about what the pent voices are yelling about in my head.

I tried to take a shortcut today and use a blog entry that I wrote back in spring. I didn't think I ever published it, but I did. So I deleted today's previous post. The one I was thinking about was another one that I still haven't decided to post. It's very personal for more than myself and involves people I know and situations that are embarrassing, but funny, when you look back on it. Maybe one day I'll get up the courage to tell you THAT story.

It is raining in Montgomery today. YEA! I love rainy days here. I need to get out and go for a long walk or run in the rain. I'll most likely spend the rest of the day out in the rain. No umbrella, never use them, I like the feel of the rain. This summer has been so dry here and this rain is the drizzly, all day rain that everyone has been hoping for all summer.

Got to run. Time to shower in the planet's love.

Shuffle

Isn't it great when your mind picks random memories from way back in your past, and plays them for you in a dream? A dream that lets you wake up so happy that nothing can bother you all day. Not only did I have great dreams last night, but my mind played a song for me, and I can't get it out of my head. It was a song that I hadn't heard in years (or maybe decades). It was not even a song that was ever a favorite of mine, but today the song is running thru my head, sparked from a dream.

I don't know what I did to uncover this buried treasure, but tonight I'm having some more of that chili yesterday. :>)

I went for a run this morning, and I couldn't think of anything, this song just kept playing in my head. Six miles went by in no time at all, and the run felt great, helped out by cooler temperatures (finally), a nice breeze, and an old song.

The song was Three Dog Night's "Out In The Country"

Whenever I need to leave it all behind
Or feel the need to get away
I find a quiet place, far from the human race
Out in the country.

Before the breathing air is gone
Before the sun is just a bright spot in the night time
Out where the rivers like to run
I stand alone
And take back something worth remembering.

Silent Respect

On Monday, many will be marking the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. I will not honor the terrorist religious fundamentalists that killed because their G-d told them to do it. I will be remembering the lives lost, the families they've destroyed, and the loss of innocence. The terrorists shamed themselves by "shooting" their "enemies" in the back. These were but mere criminals looking for attention, believing that they were righteous because of words from a book, and the rant of superstitious leaders.

The world stood with the U.S. on that day.

Our political leadership's response to this attack started out honorably, to bring those to justice who murdered so many innocent victims on that day. But instead of sorrow, many people turned to anger and vengeance. And instead of justice, many wanted revenge. The U.S. shamed themselves by turning to evil and hatred.

The world no longer stands with the U.S.

The U.S. has shamed itself and disrespected those lives lost. The leadership of the U.S. took the same irrational approach to fundamental differences as the terrorists did. They want to fill you with fear of more attacks, and so do the terrorists. They want you to give up your freedoms, and so do the terrorists. Thanks to the U.S. leadership, the terrorists keep many in the U.S. and the world afraid. This fear has caused blindness to logic and reason among many U.S. citizens.

Many think that the way to remember Sept 11, 2001, is to show the attacks over and over again. That is wrong, that only fuels anger, that keeps people scared, that lets the terrorists control our fear. That is not the way to honor the innocent lives lost that day.

Be silent and think about those who have lost their presence in our world because of those that don't understand what G-d is, and choose to live their lives based on irrational, repulsive words from books and ravings of anti-spiritual religious leaders. They are not only from Islam, those repulsive ideas come from Christian and Judeo leaders also. They all are responsible for the murders of innocents in the name of their mythical G-d.

The way to honor the lives lost, is to be silent and think about those people who will never bless us with their gifts, their discoveries, their company, their laughter, their intelligence and their spirituality.

I will be silent that day.

"So it is that we might almost say silence is the tribute we pay to holiness; we slip off words when we enter a sacred space, just as we slip off shoes. A "moment of silence'' is the highest honor we can pay someone; it is the point at which the mind stops and something else takes over (words run out when feelings rush in). A "vow of silence'' is for holy men the highest devotional act. We hold our breath, we hold our words; we suspend our chattering selves and let ourselves "fall silent,'' and fall into the highest place of all." - Pico Iyer: The Eloquent Sounds of Silence

Zimmerman

Highly Recommended: Modern Times - Bob Dylan

Naked Town in Winter

Update to the Naked Town story. The judge in the case has decided to let nature handle it, "winter is coming..."

Vt. town to let nature deal with nudity

It didn't stop these guys:

Delusion

Naked Town

Civil Disobedience, Vermont Style?

Makes sense to me, excuse me while I go protest something............



NOTE: Okay, this guy is a little younger than I. You wouldn't want me to post a picture of myself. I want you to laugh with me, not at me. :D

The Hunter

I was shocked and saddened by the news this morning of the passing of Steve Irwin, "The Crocodile Hunter". He taught the world to love and respect the animals of our planet, and to "hunt" them without destroying them or their environment. We have all sat amazed as we watched him tempt fate. He raised awareness and educated a whole generation to the beauty and wonder of the animal kingdom. He was killed doing what he loved, he will be missed.

Beta Trouble

I apologize to those of you who aren't able to comment. I switched to the "New" Blogger in beta. The commenting problem is a known issue:

"Users who have not switched to Blogger in beta will not be able to login to comment on blogs that have been switched. Commenting using the "anonymous" or "other" options will still work."

Had I known this, I wouldn't have switched yet. Once your converted, there is no turning back. I have been working with the software development and Information Technology field for two decades, I would think that any conversion to new software, or upgrade, would include an "uninstall" or some kind of backout strategy if the functionality does not meet your requirements, but the folks at Google left that part out. Once you've switched, you can't go back to the old blogger. Yes, they do warn you about this before you convert, and I should have investigated the knows issues first.

Other Known Issues

White Noise

The other day BBC put link to Olympic National Park in his daily blog. I went to the Park's website and looked at the beautiful pictures, the mountains, rocky shorelines, thick woods and people hiking. I just want to start over somewhere like that and make a living exploring places like Olympic National Park, The European Alps, the whole country of New Zealand, the list goes on and on. So I've been sitting and daydreaming about being able to do that while I'm stuck in a place where people don't even say "Hi" to each other, the temperatures are only tolerable in the winter, the nearest place to go hiking is hours away and devoid of wildlife, and people think your wierd becuase you don't want to work all day, everyday.

Why do I stay here? It's not my home, but I never really had a place to call home. Born in Germany and promptly left before I was six months, then spent my life as a military brat moving every couple of years or being sent halfway across the world to leave with one or the other of my divorced parents, and their destructive families. Then joined the military and was moving about every three or four years. Now I'm out of the military, but as soon as I've been in a place for more than 3 years, I get restless. I always loved New Mexico, and I had a chance to make it my permanent home about six years ago, but I left NM to chase a dream. The dream turned into a nightmare that caused me mental damage. Now I look at pictures of the places I love, and I'm not able to focus on work or writing. I just need to go and start living again, and that is scaring me. What will happen? Wonderful things will happen, but I need to take that first step instead of just running around in circles. That first step is scaring the hell out of me.

The other day azgoddess wrote in her blog "i woke up this morning with a feeling of peace". I envy her. I hope you have lots of peaceful days in your life. I have those days, but I also have days where everything, even the things I like, and friendly people, everything, irrates me. I can't even listen to my favorite music, everything just annoys me. Then I have those days where everything is right with the world, nothing bothers me and I feel peaceful. Those days are great. I wish I knew how to wake up like that everyday. Is it something I ate? Was it the wonderful dream? All my dreams are great, and I do have a lot. I'd like to know the reason why I sometimes wake up at war with the world and sometimes "i woke up this morning with a feeling of peace". I want the peace everyday.

Reading all these blogs is causing a lot of the voices in my head to become active again. I have been turned on to some new blogs from my commentors, and I'm greatful to them. I'm finding a whole new crowd of "kindred spirits". But I think some new voices have moved in to my head and its causing a lot of noise recently. When I say I'm having trouble collecting my thoughts, it is because I have so many voices to sort out. "write about this today", "No, write about this other thing", " that sounded stupid", and on and on and on. I try to sort it out and I can't focus on a single idea, and I can't write about a hundred different ideas at once. So, you just get me like this, just rambling hoping some of the noise in my head will clear and I can direct my energy more positively.

You all have a great Saturday, I wish you Peace. I got to run, my shoes are calling my name.

Difficulty

I'm having trouble collected my thoughts today and putting them to blog. So I just give up and give you humor.

Things That Are "Difficult" to Say When You're Drunk.

Things That Are "Difficult" to Say When You're Drunk:
Indubitably
Innovative
Preliminary
Proliferation
Cinnamon

Things That Are "Very Difficult" to Say When You're Drunk:
Specificity
"Cogito ergo sum."
British Constitution
Passive-aggressive disorder
loquacious
transubstantiate

Things That Are "Downright Impossible" to Say When You're Drunk:
Thanks, but I don't want to have sex.
Nope, no more booze for me!
Sorry, but you're not really my type.
Good evening, Officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight.
Oh, I just couldn't - no one wants to hear me sing!

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that this time it was.The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous -- yes.The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar ! -- effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed."Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children--things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.""If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for thethings that are important to you.Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing.! There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the car. "Take care of the rocks first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."

Do you remember your first beer?