Is it today again?

Everyday there are thousands of accidents around the planet.
People die daily in automobiles, planes, boats, and so
many other types of mishaps.

Do you suppose that any of the people who don't live til
sunset wake up and say 'Well today is the day I'm going
to die.'

One never knows what any given day will offer. It would be
foolish to expect or anticpate the worst kind of calamity.
What one can do is pay attention, appreciate the moment
and be prepared for everything.

You and 'you'

Unknown to speakers of some languages like modern
English is the formal or polite manner of addressing
another person common around the world. Languages
such as German, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian,
Portugese and many others use two forms of 'you'.

In English, for example, 'you' is how one refers to
another person, any other person and is singular as
well as plural. Anyone you meet or talk to is 'you'
no matter which socio/economic or familial strata
they come from. In other languages 'you' has a
Formal Form and an informal one and also a singular
form and a plural form. There are the Sie, usted,
vous polite forms in German, Spanish, French and the
du, tu, tu, familiar forms.

With friends and family, the familiar form is fine but
to use the familiar form of 'you' with anyone else would
be not only egregiously incorrect, it would be an insult.
One would never address a stranger with a familiar 'you'
or any one, in fact, who is not a relative or close friend.

For today's English speakers having such demands seems
odd, confusing and even stilted. Of course, many aren't
aware that 'you' used to be the polite form and 'thee',
'thou' and 'thy', phased out long ago, were actually the
familiar form of the second person singular, never the
formal.

Egalitarian movements pushed aside traditions and cultural
mores and perhaps 'you' separations in language forms as
well. Maybe 'you' became the commonly used form because
of ease and convenience, sort of a one size fits all.

Languages are always changing and in times of exanded
international interaction and communication, languages
are impacted on a regular basis. For the same reasons
that 'thee' and 'thou' disappeared, the two forms of
'you' are being converted into one in Brazil and in
some Spanish speaking countries.

Older generatons possibly would not accept a change
utilizing only one form of 'you', but younger
generations, connected to the world through the
internet, cinema, television and telephony, might
have no problem with it at all. While stepping away
from tradition and accepted structure, it certainly
seems logical to have one pronoun that in the same
friendly form applies to everyone.
Do 'you' agree?

Roman Empire

The influence of the Roman Empire on history and
on the present has been profound. Governments,
architecture, engineering, art, science all are in
many ways a continuation and variation of original
Roman models. If it seems that the Roman empire
never really left, it didn't. It still exists.

The Roman Republic was replaced by the Roman Empire
and dictators started their reign which lasted until
around 500 AD when foreign invaders overan the city.
When the empire collapsed as a ruling government, it
can be perceived that it continued but in another form.

The empire was no more. Organization and structure
changed, but Roman based influence over the world's people
continued, even expanded. Transition was made by taking
control via people's basic fears of the unknown and by
their beliefs in a deity, always a convenient source of
power. Rome thus continued its role as home of an
empire, but this revised version was based on religion
and called the Roman catholic church. The revised
version of the emperor, in effect, was called the pope.

Roman catholic church rituals were held for centuries
in the Roman Latin language as Rome maintained its seat
of power. This Roman empire has directly controlled or
influenced kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers,
nations world wide for two thousand years. Successions
of popes have in various degrees shaped world policy,
new world exploration, guided the inquistition, crusades,
science, literature, set laws, forced wars, directed
family life, thought, and on and on.

With one billion followers worldwide the pope of today has
a span of influence emperors of the past only dreamed of.
The pope, always one of the most planet's most recognized
figures, is still based in Rome and Rome still influences
humanity on all continents.

Coexisting harmoniously with governments today as an
accepted world power, the Roman church insures the
perpetuation of the Roman empire in ways Julius Casesar,
the first dictator of the empire, could only marvel at,
amazed at the expansion and duration of control which
continues thousands of years after his death.

Oblivious

If you've ever walked in the woods and someone in front of you
pushes a branch out of his way, lets it go and it slaps back
and hits you right in the face, then you have a perfect example
of 'oblivious.'

Being unaware of the consequences of one's actions, having
no thought of anyone but oneself when doing something
that eventually can have a negative impact on others is
one of the great and selfish wrongs any person can commit.

And it's not only insensitive actions, it can be words
that have impacts the speaker might never have realized.
Being aware of what you say and do are tasks we usually
thinkwe do automatically but that's not necessarily
accurate. We can know what we are doing, but not
appreciate how our action affects anyone else if our
span of attention is confined to our own little space
and to ourselves.

Paying attention is the key to living and paying attention
to not only what we think, say, do is important but also
how we are impacting others.

To give another, though a bit contrived, example of being
oblivious, I could write to you now that the most important
thing for you to know in your entire life is to is to
always remember that if you

tie one off

Hasn't the necktie had an amazing run as a clothing
requirement for men? Not wearing a tie would
be the same in some environments as not wearing pants,
but isn't it time for that decorative strip of cloth
to be retired?

Someday, of course, the necktie will pass into history
and no longer be a a part of the suit/uniform. When
that will happen, and what, if anything, will replace
ties as an internationally accepted - if not demanded -
part of men's apparel is anyone's guess.

Like fashion styles from previous centuries such as
the powdered white wig or stove pipe hat or even the
bow tie, the necktie will turn from a clothing standard
into a quizical piece of history.
"Did people really wear those things?"

Of course in retiring the necktie, there will be an
instant dilemma created. What will wives, girl friends,
children, grandchildren be able to buy as an all purpose,
last minute, always acceptable, one size fits all, gift?
Maybe that's the ultimate reason the necktie has lasted
so long.

Thank you for your support

A handful of new democracies are struggling to build
a foundation for the future. They have held elections
and written constitutions and seem to be attempting
to create stability and government legitimacy as
dictatorships are replaced. Individuals running
for office and new to the electoral process will
quickly learn to use the tools of politicians in
other countries.

One of the most important techniques for political
success is to convince voters that what one says is
true no matter what the claim or promise. It's all
about perceptions. Voters have to be moved onto a
positive path regarding the candidate and onto a
negative path regarding an opponent.

A successful politician never admits to making a
mistake. If there is a problem or many problems,
the blame must fall on political opponents.

Successful politicians in new or old democracies
don't have to win voters' minds and hearts or long
term loyalties. What they want and must have is
more immediate and more transitory and is the only
thing a voter has of value. That is one vote.

Maybe new democracies will recognize the flaws inherent
in traditional techniques of voter manipulation and
bypass them in favor of a new and open approach
toward connecting with voters. Rather than the reverse,
perhaps these new democracies can, in the end, influence
older ones. Ways of the past can possibly be replaced by
creatively fair approaches to democracratic elections
which serve the population and are based on clarity
and integrity. If that were to happen, it would be a breakthough.

ism

totalitarianism, despotism, nationalism,
chauvinism, jingoism, militarism,
unilateralism, colonialism, imperialism,
theism, fundamentalism, fanaticism,
racism, sexism, ethnocentrism,
elitism, egoism, seperatism,
negativism, pessimism, defeatism

humanism, positivism, idealism

Old and Young

Congratulations! You're as old as you've ever been.
In your entire life. Right this second. All those seconds,
minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years have been
leading up to this very instant of your existence.
In your personal timeline, you're at the peak of your
life. You are alive. Way to go.


Congratulations! You're as young as you ever will be.
Right this second. No matter what happens to you in the
rest of your life, at this moment - right now - you are
as young as you can be. You will never be any younger than
you are right at this instant. Your life is ahead of you.
In your personal timeline, you're at the peak of your
life. You are alive. Way to go.

Now and Then

Physics theory says 'Now' started right after the
Big Bang. Now continues. It hasn't stopped since it
started. How long is 'Now'? When is 'now'?
It never isn't.

'Now' is now. It's not here it is, there it goes.
Now is always 'now'.

Everything, everywhere viewed from human perspective
happens in relationship to the 'constant present'
with time references being the way we relate to
everything that isn't 'now'.

There have always been many things I wasn't able to
comprehend, but now I'm beginning to understand.

Executions

It was reported today (Aug 17, 2006) that the British
government officially pardoned 306 soldiers who
had been executed for cowardice in World War I.
Recent studies have found that most suffered from post
traumatic stress syndrome,an unknown condition at the time.

For years it has been a question for many: how can a
government kill its own people no matter what their
crime? Isn't murder murder, no matter who does it or
what name you call it? The act, when performed by a
government, changes from murder to another term like
execution or termination since it has become officially
sanctioned and stamped with legal authority and approval.

Is official killing done for revenge or is it a policy
intended to promote fear and control? The few
governments still killing prisoners have different
crimes that warrant execution and different rules for
committing official state murder.

Some countries shoot kneeling prisoners in the back of the head
one day after conviction. Some hang prisoners by ropes,
some inject them with poison, some electrocute them.
Some countries use stoning as a way to kill. Others
behead criminals with swords.

State murder is forbidden in most nations in the 21st
century but certainly not all. If a government kills,
it is supposedly representing the population and killing
for them. Is every citizen in effect an accomplice to murder?

This is not a new argument, but one that will be asked until
the killing stops: how can a government of the people
justify killing its citizens no matter what the crime?

execution = murder = barbarism

Transcending the Dilemma

Everyone has faith. Not necessarily recognized as such,
but we all have it. We have faith when we drive that
other drivers won't try to crash into us; faith that each
step we take will land on solid surface and not turn into
oatmeal and so on. Faith based on knowledge and experience.

Blind faith is different. It's faith for faith's sake.
It often requires acceptance of life changing values
based on what someone else said is true. Blind faith
needs no authenticity or verification.

This type of unwavering acceptance affects billions of
people across continents. Total belief and absorption
into a faith can be responsible for how lives are lived
from birth to death, owing to rules provided by
organizations that control and manipulate the faithful.

Such believers are often at odds with other blind faithful
who have a similar total acceptance but of a different
dogma. Throughout human history until the present day,
multitudes have been slaughtered in defending or expanding
a particular belief. Blind faithful are always right,
and those other Blind Faithful are always wrong. The
role for the non-believer, according to each side, is to
convert to the true path or be eliminated or at the very
least be tolerated and viewed as a threat.

Experiments with rats have shown that test subjects,
manipulated to respond to controlled stimuli, will
continually attack subjects from a different group until
only members of their own group survive. The human
equivalent of the lethal rat stimulus might be blind faith.
It certainly has too often led to the same result with people.
An historical view of this human maze seems to indicate
the maze has no exit.
But of course it does.

Having the Family over for Dinner?

Cows, dogs, horses, human beings,
pigs, sheep, deer, and many other
animals are all mammals.

Doesn't being in that same group makes
it seem like we are all related in some
way, maybe distant cousins?

Isn't the idea of eating others in your
group - even those extended mammal relatives
- actually cannibalism?

My feeling is that if some living being can
look you in the eye, it shouldn't be
considered as a meal.

This is another case of just because we can,
doesn't mean we should.

Now to Enjoy

Somethings you read stick in your mind. This is a buddhist
koan that has been my companion for years.

A monk is walking in the mountains and is attacked by a
gang of murderous thugs intent on killing him. He is chased
to the edge of a steep cliff where he loses his balance and
falls over. As he falls, he manages to reach out and grasp
a small bush. Rooted into a small space between rocks, the
bush starts to pull out of the soil because of the monk's weight.

He looks down and several hungry tigers have gathered in
rocks at the base of the cliff. They stare up at him,
ravenously waiting for him to fall. Above the gang of
killers wave swords at the monk as they plot ways to get to
him. The roots of the bush pull a bit more out of the soil.

The monk looks up at the killers, down at the tigers,
then at the small bush he is hanging onto. He notices
some red berries growing on the bush. They are
ripe and juicy. He plucks one and eats it. He smiles
warmly. It is the best berry he has ever eaten.

Judge me, Judge me Not

Do you have to sit here? Of all places,
someone like you has to sit right here? People like
you... Why are you like that? And you're all alike.
I can tell about you just the way you're sitting.
The way you're dressed and your hair and skin and eyes
and height and weight. All of it. You're like an open
book, you and your kind.

I can tell a about you just by the way you're reading
this. Word by word. Am I right? Of course.
Why are you people like that? You're all so...well
you know how you are. Why are you here? Can't you just go
someplace else and bother the people there? Why here
and why now? Why don't you just get out of here and
leave me and my kind alone. Why can't you...
Oh? What's that? What? hmmmm....
What? No! It can't be!
There's no one else here? You mean that's me? That's me I'm
talking to? I'm talking to myself?
Must be the shadows.
Must be these new glasses.

Well, that doesn't change anything. I thought you looked
familiar. And I was right all along. You can't fool me.
I still know what kind of person you are just from your
looks. Looking at you still makes me uncomfortable.
Well if you're not leaving, I'm getting out of here now.
I'm not going to sit around someone like you. If you're
staying, try not to do the things that your type normally
does. Why are you people like that? You're all the same.

Church of Billy?

In a few thousand years, more or less, when the current gods
have been outgrown by mankind, do you think people will
create new gods as replacements? Or will they just chuckle
at the old ideas of super power dieties.

Maybe future generations, if they still haven't pushed
aside all fears and superstitions, will introduce new gods,
even on a regular basis to feed massive demands of the
technology charged populus. To keep things interesting and
exciting for a world audience hungry for new input,
they'll probably have to invent free-flowing religions
that keep changing. That might lead to the extreme
of having different gods picked by the masses on a
regular basis. If a god matches the needs of the
times, keep it. If not move on.

As future wirelessly-connected pop cultures crave new
and newer, it could happen that there is a new god
ever year, than every month and why not? Eventually
every week.

To maximize interest in new techno-religions, religious/
corporation/government leaders might try to create massive
world interest by producing a spectacular weekly media event.
The world gets to watch as an average person is selected
to become god. God for a week! The show would be highlighted
by a lottery style drawing with celebrities, music and dancing
girls. It would be viewed by billions:
"And the winner and your new God is....Billy Bob M. from
Memphis!!! Come on down and Bless us, Billy Bob!"

Normal

Congratulations! You're normal!

The term 'normal' is a description that does require
some exploring, because my personal feeling is people,
who might otherwise seem normal have quirks, oddities,
maybe obvious or not. In my opinion no one really is a
living version of what is generally considered normal.
Everyone is irregular, some more than others, but if
everyone is a bit off center, than natually, irregularity
becomes normal. That brings us full circle: a human being
with flaws is what is normal.

So if you think you're a bit odd or have hidden or secret
dimensions or think you don't really fit in, you do.
You are just like everyone else, because everyone feels that
way to one degree or another. Everyone you meet and think
is a stereotypical, normal person actually is. Just like you,
that person is acting out a role and probably trying to fit
in and feeling isolated but still connecting and most likely
doing a great job of it. Just like you.

So congratulations! You are as normal as anyone.

Nothing serious

If, as the expression reports: 'nothing lasts forever',
doesn't that imply that nothing is actually something?
Before the Big Bang, before this universe and any other
universes, there was nothing. After all universes down
to the last bit of cosmic dust and space stop existing,
won't nothing be still be around? After all, where
can it go?

Does this mean we are somehow, some way, all products
of nothing? Can you make something from nothing?
Must be so. If there was nothing then something, the
something must have come from nothing. Since
Everything must come from Nothing, If you believe
in Nothing, then you must believe in Everything too.
Everything and Nothing are the same.

Obviously, Nothing doesn't get enough recognition.
I don't want to start a movement or a cult or anything,
but before and after time and space, Nothing endures.
Nothing prevails! No thing forever! Long live Nothing!

After reading all of the above, I conclude the topic
has hardly been given enough study. It needs more
research. Excuse me but, there's work to be done.
This is not for the faint-hearted, but if you are up
for the challenge, I invite you along. It's time now
to spend some valuable time doing research.
It's time to think about nothing.

Relative

It's all relative. For example standing still.
Seems like an easy idea. You are standing and
not moving. Or are you?

The Earth you are standing on is rotating at
1,070 miles per hour. (Should you hold on to
something while standing and sprinning?) The Earth
itself is moving in orbit around the sun at 65,000 mph.
Our Solar system is in the Milky Way galaxy which
is moving too, at 600 kms per second. The universe
is expanding which means everything in the universe
is expanding too. So the planet, solar system, galaxy,
universe are moving and taking you, who is just
standing there, along for a tremendous ride.

While you are 'standing still' - and also careening
about the universe - your body is not static. It is
churning away, a machine in action. Heart pumping,
blood flowing, lungs breathing, in fact all organs
systemactically working efficiently while trillions
of cells making up all your body parts are
harmoniously moving about in their little worlds.

Inside each of the trillions of your body's cells are
atoms each with electrons spinning around nucleii.
All that constant motion from infinitesimally small
to universe-sized is happening inside you and outside
of you and you're moving, moving, moving...all while
you were just apparently standing motionless.

So you're standing quite still, staring into space
and not moving which is, of course, impossible.
It's all relative.

Which side are you on?

Grim new reports sometimes make it seem that people
need to hate, that everybody hates everybody else.
Could that be true? Hate isn't a species wide phenomenon
is it? Do you hate anybody?

Probably it's just some in this group who hate some in
that group or maybe that type of person over there or
some other kinds someplace else. A calling for revenge
for some act is often expanded and exploited. Maybe
leaders with agendas stir up their supporters by
promoting hostility toward others locally or nationally
or even internationally.

Whatever it is that highlights the separation between
some people is exagerated and stoked to galvanize
emotional responses and at the same time to unify the
group doing the hating. Makes for self importance,
self righteousness and at the same time, creates a sense of
being connected to a group on the 'right side of things'. This
kind of driven fury fuels the power of the leaders, which is
maybe what it's all about in the first place.

The belief which allows all types of hatred to fester and expand
is essentially 'We are us. They are not us. We are good. They are
bad.' Sometimes 'they' become not just objects of hatred, 'they'
become the enemy.' Hatred like this can lead to open hostility,
hostility to violence. In too many places, too many times the
resulting, collectively held, hate-driven attitude becomes:
'We must destroy the enemy. Kill them!'

Based on what's happening around the world, hating doesn't
seem that difficult to start and expand, but how does hatred stop?

Ecstasy

It might be possible to be ecstatic all the time.
When there is physical pain, or emotional distress
or any kind of hardship or heartache, it seems
unlikely to be able to feel good. But it is possible.

One just has to know that it's all impermanent and
feeling bad can be considered a temporary experience.
Recognizing that and being aware of possibilities,
one might adjust one's perception and attitude
to not only cope with bad times but to feel good
in spite of them.

It's always a person's choice how to feel, so why not
choose to feel good. Or Great. Or Ecstatic!

What do I know?

If you think you have all the answers, or you meet
someone who you think has all the answers, and
maybe that person even thinks he/she has all the
answers, it is my experience and viewpoint that
no one has all the answers.
Some people might have glimpses, but...
Who knows?
Nobody knows.

Oh yeah! What do you know?

Being negative is an easy attitude to cultivate. Cynicism slides
in just a bit behind that. Being judgemental fits in this group also.
Naturally there are certain situations that will elicit negative
responses, but when negativity becomes a condition or a habit
rather than an isolated response, it can be debilitating and infectious.

Attacking or routinely criticising mentally, verbally or otherwise
denigrating is habit forming and in the long run, self-diminishing.
Some people even match up with others through common
grounds of negativity and use it as bonding agent. All of these
traits are often self-aggrandizing at the expense of whatever
is the target of the negativity be it a government, a person,
group, activity, style, attitude, etc.

It's easy to feel cynical or negative about some government
figures or certain situations or upsetting incidents. We can of
course even feel negatively at times toward ourselves. That thing
to keep in mind, however, is recognizing that negativity feeds on
itself and can become a dominant, guiding force in a person's life.
Negativity certainly can be controlled but that is a mission
requiring constant attention.

Ideally, we might look for the good and find it.
Keep on the sunny side.

Ben Franklin is still right

Among the many memorable quotes that Benjamin Franklin
gave us is this:

'If a lie is told often enough, some people will believe it as true'.

Aug. 7, 2006 news headlines reported today that:

'Half of Americans think Saddam Hussein's government
in Iraq had weapons of mass destruction in 2003 which
justified the U.S. invasion.'

Historic Reality:

In 2004, after 16 months, a $900 million investigation by
U.S. weapons experts found Iraq had ended its chemical,
biological and nuclear arms program in 1991. U.N. inspectors
had declared Iraq free of all weapons in 2002-3 and the
American investigation confirmed the U.N.'s findings.

It's in The Book

Religious sects of all sizes have a holy book that they accept as
the basis for their existence. Major religions maintain a 'holy
scripture' which is believed to have been written by or
directly influenced by a god or gods in ancient times. Every
member of a particular belief is obliged to accept without
question the 'holy scripture' as real and true. Professional
corps of clerics are paid to advise followers to think and act
according to their interpretation of the directions they say
are given by the god or gods in 'The Book'.
Of the many books supposedly written by gods, according to
the faithful, there is only one true book. Which one is that?
It depends on who you're talking to.
Has a god written anything lately? Any updates? In the past
thousand years or maybe the last few hundred years? Have any
gods considered a sequel?
These are high tech days of instant communications. Why not
be up front and accessible? Maybe come out with a video?
Or a weekly tv show? An infomercial?
Hey, better yet, how about a blog?

Horizon

With so many armed conflicts around the planet,
it seems that the human species is in dire trouble.
It may in fact be, but while such continued violence
is catastrophic and the future seems grim, we might
remind ourselves to not forget the beauty, joy and
potential of humanity: A lover's sigh, a painter at a canvas,
a soccer game, a mother and child, climbers on a mountain
peak, a smile from a stranger, a song.
There are so many moments of joy experienced by the
6 billion human temporary residents of the planet that we
might remember not to be overwhelmed by the negative.
Believe in hope on the horizon. While idealism can breed
cynicism in some, it generates hope and positivism in most.
Maybe if we try to change what can be changed with an
outlook based on good will, negativity and its associated
consequences will be pushed aside.
Good will can be contagious.

Progress in Weaponry/Regression in Humanity

Each side probably has produced excellent
explanation, rationalization for their actions, but...

From news reports (Aug 4,2006):

One Israeli air strike hit a farm near Qaa,
close to the Syrian border in the Bekaa Valley where
workers, mostly Syrian Kurds, were loading plums and
peaches on to trucks, local officials said.
They said 33 people were killed and 20 wounded.

Hizbollah guerrillas fired more than 100 rockets into
northern Israel, killing three people and wounding several,
medics said. Rockets killed eight Israelis on Thursday.

Where's the Light Switch?

When a person reads what someone else has written,
for a moment there is a connection between reader and
writer although the writer is likely in another place or perhaps
even dead. A link is brought to life between reader and writer.
So here I am inside your mind.
Anybody home?

An Idea

Where do ideas come from?
Where does creativity begin?
How does a thought start?
Chemical reactions in brain matter jumping
around and producing electrical wave patterns?
From internal computer-like electro-neural functions
resulting from interaction of body parts and brain?
What starts the process? And what exactly is a mind?
Got any ideas?

Where have you gone, Zeus and Thor?

In ancient days, Zeus was the chief of gods in Greece and
everyone in that region believed and prayed to him. Centuries
later, Thor was the chief of gods in the viking world.
Along the path of humanity, there have been many, many other
gods and godesses from fire, to the sun, to pharoahs and kings,
and on and on and on.
Are there people today who still believe in some of those
supplanted gods of the past? Is there an active Zeus temple somewhere?
Or a Thor church? Or maybe a Druid meeting hall? A Mayan corn god altar?
Recognizing humans and their needs and habits, would it be
surprising if some or all of the old faiths somehow perservered?

Gotta have servants

There are more than more than 600 billionaires in the world.
There are more than 2.27 million American millionaires,
and 7.7 million milionaires in the world.
One billion children in the world live in poverty.