Blog Feed: The blog of a politically aware, radical socialist intersectional eco-feminist pagan and usually hairy hippie. Topics r..
| Home | My Account | Directories |
Happy Memorial Day
Published on 2012-05-26 01:49:00
Wishing you all a safe and happy Memorial Day, > read more
"Did You Ever Wonder..."
Published on 2012-05-25 23:12:00
"Half The People..."
Published on 2012-05-25 20:42:00
"The natural man has a difficult time getting along in this world. > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-25 19:36:00
"Cosmic dust clouds dim the light of background stars. But they also reflect the light of stars nearby. Since bright stars tend to radiate strongly in the blue portion of the visible spectrum, and the interstellar dust scatters blue light more strongly than red, the dusty reflection nebulae tend to be blue. Lovely examples are the wispy blue reflection nebulae near bright, hot stars Pi and Delta Scorpii (upper left and lower right) in this telescopic skyscape from the head of the constellation S [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, "The iPhone Way of Happiness"
Published on 2012-05-25 19:30:00
"The iPhone Way of Happiness"by Chet Raymo"Humans spend a lot of time thinking about stuff other than the activity they are currently engaged in, such as things that happened in the past, things that might happen in the future, or things that might never happen at all. Psychologists call this "stimulus-independent thought" or "mind wandering." I reckon it's what the rest of us call day dreaming. Presumably, it's this capacity of the human mind to wander that enables us to learn, reason and plan. [..] > read more
"Talk The Talk... Walk The Walk?"
Published on 2012-05-25 18:34:00
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-25 17:54:00
Gainesville, Florida, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"For Good Reasons..."
Published on 2012-05-25 17:45:00
"Our laws make law impossible; our liberties destroy all freedom; our property is organized robbery; our morality an impudent hypocrisy; our wisdom is administered by inexperienced or mal-experienced dupes; our power wielded by cowards and weaklings; and our honor false in all its points. I am an enemy of the existing order for good reasons."- George Bernard Shaw > read more
Tecumseh, "Live Your Life..."
Published on 2012-05-25 17:24:00
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.Trouble no one about his religion.Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.Always give a word or sign of salute when meetingor passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the l [..] > read more
"Hope..."
Published on 2012-05-25 17:19:00
“While there is life there is hope- > read more
Musical Interlude: Loreena McKennitt, "Dante's Prayer"
Published on 2012-05-24 22:23:00
Loreena McKennitt, "Dante's Prayer"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eKUdsUH3Gc"When the dark wood fell before me,And all the paths were overgrown,When the priests of pride say there is no other way,I tilled the sorrows of stone.I did not believe because I could not see,Though you came to me in the night.When the dawn seemed forever lost,You showed me your love in the light of the stars...Cast your eyes on the ocean,Cast your soul to the sea,When the dark night seems endless,Please remember me...T [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-24 18:48:00
“How much of Jupiter's moon Europa is made of water? A lot, actually. Based on the Galileo probe data acquired during its exploration of the Jovian system from 1995 to 2003, Europa possesses a deep, global ocean of liquid water beneath a layer of surface ice. The subsurface ocean plus ice layer could range from 80 to 170 kilometers in average depth. Adopting an estimate of 100 kilometers depth, if all the water on Europa were gathered into a ball it would have a radius of 877 kilometers. > read more
Chet Raymo, "To Each His Own"
Published on 2012-05-24 18:41:00
"To Each His Own"by Chet Raymo"Since I wrote about Elizabeth Mayer's book "Extraordinary Knowing" a few weeks ago I've been engaged in several discussions about the possibility, or even likelihood, that so-called paranormal phenomena might be real - ESP, remote viewing, communication with the dead, astrology, divinely answered prayers, miracles, and so on, all of which I have in one place or the other dismissed as- ah, bunk. Isn't it presumptuous of science to diss what it doesn't understand? sa [..] > read more
"Reaching Out Together..."
Published on 2012-05-24 18:05:00
"A thousand reaching arms, all from the same body;all stretching together for the betterment of that body.Stretching for sunlight, clamouring to feed the collective.This innate drive is also within all of us, the human collective.Imagine what we could achieve by following this true and natural calling;by reaching out together."- http://m1nute.net/ > read more
Satire: "U.S. Sends Emergency Shipment of Negative Ads to Egypt"
Published on 2012-05-24 18:00:00
"U.S. Sends Emergency Shipment of Negative Ads to Egypt"Aid to Fledgling Democracyby Andy BorowitzCAIRO (The Borowitz Report – "In what it is calling a mission to support a fledgling democracy in the Middle East, the United States this week sent an emergency shipment of negative ads to Cairo. Explaining the secret mission, a State Department official said that with its first democratic elections getting underway, “Egypt had no access to the mother’s milk of any working democracy: vicious c [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-24 17:28:00
Villars-sur-glane, Fribourg, Switzerland. THanks for stopping by. > read more
David Icke, “This World Is Utterly Insane!” (Viewer Discretion Advised)
Published on 2012-05-24 17:22:00
David Icke, “This World Is Utterly Insane!” (Viewer Discretion Advised) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzb73VIMCMQ&feature=player_embedded#!- http://beforeitsnews.com/story/● Rather than getting into a discussion of it, here's a FREE online version of "The Greatest Secret." Read it, and decide for yourself what to believe. From the introduction: "David Icke's most powerful and explosive book so far. Every man, woman and child on the planet is affected by the stunning information [..] > read more
"Fukushima Reactor No. 4: Human Civilization On The Brink?"
Published on 2012-05-24 16:50:00
"Fukushima Reactor No. 4: Human Civilization On The Brink?"by Mike Adams"The news you are about to read puts everything else in the category of "insignificant" by comparison. Concerned about the 2012 U.S. presidential election? Worried about GMOs? Fluoride? Vaccines? Secret prisons? None of that even matters if we don't solve the problem of Fukushima reactor No. 4, which is on the verge of a catastrophic failure that could unleash enough radiation to end human civilization on our planet. (See th [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-24 16:12:00
“The Criminalization of the US Banking System”
Published on 2012-05-24 15:56:00
The Universe
Published on 2012-05-24 03:33:00
“There are no accidents. If it's appeared on your life radar, this is why: to teach you that dreams come true; to reveal that you have the power to fix what's broken and heal what hurts; to catapult you beyond seeing with just your physical senses; and to lift the veils that have kept you from seeing that you're already the person you dreamed you'd become. There are no accidents. > read more
"One Vile Task After Another... Give Some Back..."
Published on 2012-05-23 22:34:00
"In life you have to do a lot of things you don't ****ing want to do. > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-23 22:31:00
“Bright clusters and nebulae abound in the ancient northern constellation of Auriga. The region includes the open star cluster M38, emission nebula IC 410 with Tadpoles, Auriga's own Flaming Star Nebula IC 405, and this interesting pair IC 417 (lower left) and NGC 1931. An imaginative eye toward the expansive IC 417 and diminutive NGC 1931 suggests a cosmic spider and fly. > read more
“The Burden of Thinking”
Published on 2012-05-23 21:55:00
“The Burden of Thinking”by Chet Raymo“Let me speak for gray. Not black or white. Good or evil. Truth or falsity. Yes or no. Let me speak for maybe. Sort of. More or less. I think so. I am reluctant to speak for gray for fear of being considered wishy-washy. Indecisive. Unprincipled. But lately it seems as if we are surrounded on every side by zealots, and it's not a pretty sight.We are surrounded by people who are so certain of their Truth that they are willing to strap bombs to their ches [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-23 21:40:00
Penang, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"What Frustrates Us..."
Published on 2012-05-23 21:30:00
"Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter, so that the world will be at least a little bit different for our having passed through it. What frustrates us and robs our lives of joy is this absence of meaning... Does our being alive matter?"- Harold S. Kushner,"When All You Ever Wanted Isn't Enough" > read more
"The Status Quo: Life as We Know It"
Published on 2012-05-23 21:23:00
"The Status Quo: Life as We Know It"by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM"Our lives can sometimes become status quo and that is ok as long as we aren't keeping it that way on purpose. When our lives are going well, and sometimes even when they aren’t, we may find ourselves feeling very attached to the status quo of our existence- life as we know it. It is a very human tendency to resist change as though it were possible to simply decide not to do it, or have it in our lives. But change will come and [..] > read more
"No Price Is Too High..."
Published on 2012-05-23 21:15:00
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you’ll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."- Arthur Gordon > read more
"Addiction and America's Fat Problem"
Published on 2012-05-23 20:11:00
"Addiction and America's Fat Problem"By Susan Cheever“When it comes to our national obesity epidemic, the elephant in the room is getting so fat that he can hardly stagger into the den to watch his favorite programs. From medical pundits to life coaches to health websites to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to First Lady Michelle Obama, theories abound about why we can’t stop gaining those ugly pounds. "The Weight of the Nation," a four-part HBO documentary about the many costs [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-23 17:15:00
Musical Interlude: Seal, “Crazy”
Published on 2012-05-22 23:19:00
Seal, “Crazy”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fc67yQsPqQ&ob=av2e•Seems so at times, doesn't it? - CP > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-22 23:17:00
"It was a typical Texas sunset except that most of the Sun was missing. The location of the missing piece of the Sun was not a mystery - it was behind the Moon. Sunday night's partial eclipse of the Sun by the Moon turned into one of the best photographed astronomical events in history. Gallery after online gallery is posting just one amazing eclipse image after another. Pictured above is possibly one of the more interesting posted images - a partially eclipsed Sun setting in a reddened sky behi [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, "Head In The Cloud"
Published on 2012-05-22 23:08:00
"Head In The Cloud"by Chet RaymoNew York Times columnist Thomas Friedman had some things to say the other day about the way the internet is empowering individuals "to publish your own book, start your own company and chase your own dream." He was visiting with Amazon.com's founder Jeff Bezos, and grooving with the young entrepreneur's vision of the future. "I see the elimination of gatekeepers everywhere,” Bezos says. For a nominal fee, everyone has access to the most powerful computing and st [..] > read more
"Foaming At The Mouth..."
Published on 2012-05-22 22:58:00
"I am a person who is unhappy with things as they stand. > read more
“The Psychopaths Killed Another American”
Published on 2012-05-22 21:54:00
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-22 19:40:00
El Carmen, Cartago, Costa Rica. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Overachieving and Overreaching: A Sign of Imbalance"
Published on 2012-05-22 19:33:00
The Poet: Edwin Muir, "The Way"
Published on 2012-05-22 18:05:00
"The Way""Friend, I have lost the way.The way leads on.Is there another way?The way is one.I must retrace the track.It's lost and gone.Back, I must travel back!None goes there, none.Then I'll make here my place,(The road leads on),Stand still and set my face,(The road leaps on),Stay here, for ever stay.None stays here, none.I cannot find the way.The way leads on.Oh places I have passed!That journey's done.And what will come at last?The road leads on."․ ~ Edwin Muir, > read more
Musical Interlude: Justin Hayward, “Celtic Heart”
Published on 2012-05-22 17:53:00
Justin Hayward, “Celtic Heart” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYVw7YYcNAw > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-22 17:42:00
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-21 21:24:00
"What surrounds the florid Rosette nebula? To better picture this area of the sky, the famous flowery emission nebula on the far right has been captured recently in a deep and dramatic wide field image that features several other sky highlights. Designated NGC 2237, the center of the Rosette nebula is populated by the bright blue stars of open cluster NGC 2244, whose winds and energetic light are evacuating the nebula's center. Below the famous flower, a symbol of Valentine's Day, is a column of [..] > read more
"US Internment Camps Inmate Classifications: Which One Are You In?"
Published on 2012-05-21 17:37:00
"US Internment Camps Inmate Classifications: > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-21 17:25:00
Round Rock, Texas, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Maybe..."; "Survivors"
Published on 2012-05-21 17:10:00
The Poet: Theodore Roethke, "The Waking"
Published on 2012-05-21 16:59:00
"The Waking""I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.I learn by going where I have to go.We think by feeling. What is there to know?I hear my being dance from ear to ear.I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.Of those so close beside me, which are you?God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,And learn by going where I have to go.Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;I wake to sleep, and take my waking [..] > read more
"In the Name of My Father"
Published on 2012-05-21 16:47:00
"In the Name of My Father"Requiem and renewal in the shadow of Wall Street, > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-21 16:37:00
Karl Denninger, "The Tide Is Turning"
Published on 2012-05-21 16:12:00
"The Tide Is Turning"by Karl Denninger“Well well what do we have here? > read more
“On Taxes and Freedom”
Published on 2012-05-21 15:53:00
“On Taxes and Freedom”by Louis James and Doug Casey“The always-outspoken Doug Casey addresses a broader view of taxation and its costs to both individuals and society in general in this interview with Louis James.Louis James: We get a lot of letters from readers who know about your international lifestyle and wonder about the tax advantages they assume it confers. Is this something you care to talk about?Doug Casey: Yes; something wicked this way comes, indeed. But first, I have to say tha [..] > read more
"To the Class of 2012"
Published on 2012-05-21 15:42:00
"To the Class of 2012"by Bill Bonner"Down, down, down… Day after day for the last 2 weeks…almost everything has been grinding down. Stocks, oil, copper, bond yields… It looks as though the whole world economy is slowing down. China, India, America, Europe. All are slowing. How much longer can this slow down continue? A lot longer! We should have some bounce in the markets this week. But beware. Our “Crash Alert” flag is up.Meanwhile… We spent the weekend in Charlottesville, VA…at t [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Athena - Return to Freedom”
Published on 2012-05-20 20:20:00
2002, “Athena - Return to Freedom”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-uY6GIr1l8&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-20 20:11:00
“The 16th century Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan and his crew had plenty of time to study the southern sky during the first circumnavigation of planet Earth. As a result, two fuzzy cloud-like objects easily visible to southern hemisphere skygazers are known as the Clouds of Magellan, now understood to be satellite galaxies of our much larger, spiral Milky Way galaxy. > read more
"The Only Question..."
Published on 2012-05-20 19:47:00
“Life is an end in itself, and the only question as to whether > read more
Chet Raymo, "Stretching The Imagination"
Published on 2012-05-20 19:31:00
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-20 19:21:00
Siler City, N. Carolina, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Satire: "Blind Chinese Dissident Already Sick of Kardashians"
Published on 2012-05-20 19:14:00
"Blind Chinese Dissident Already Sick of Kardashians"Sisters’ Omnipresence ‘Troubling,’ Says Chenby Andy BorowitzNEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) - "In his first interview since arriving in America, blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng told reporters today that he is grateful to be in the United States but is already “sick of these Kardashians.” “Who are they, and what do they do?” Chen asked. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-20 17:00:00
"Ending the Mindset That Gets Us into War"
Published on 2012-05-20 16:05:00
"Ending the Mindset That Gets Us into War"by David SwansonMILITARIZED CHICAGO - "Next month in Baltimore they're going to celebrate the War of 1812. That's what we do with wars. We say they're the last resort. We say they're hell. We say they're for the purpose of eliminating themselves: we fight wars for peace. Although we never keep peace for wars. We claim to wage only wars we have been forced into despite all possible effort to find a better way. And then we celebrate the wars. We keep the w [..] > read more
"Hell Yes: The 7 Best Reasons for Swearing"
Published on 2012-05-20 14:43:00
"The Tune..."
Published on 2012-05-20 14:24:00
"Life calls the tune, we dance."- John Galsworthy, “Five Tales” > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-18 19:55:00
"A mere 2.5 million light-years away, the Andromeda Galaxy really is just next door as large galaxies go. So close, and spanning some 260,000 light-years, it took 11 different image fields from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite's telescope to produce this gorgeous portrait of the spiral galaxy in ultraviolet light. > read more
Chet Raymo, "In The Beginning"
Published on 2012-05-18 19:35:00
"In The Beginning"by Chet Raymo"A creation myth from Egypt of the third millennium B.C. has God bring the world into being with a sneeze. It's not a bad image for the Creation as currently described by astronomers. Fifteen billion years ago the universe began with an outward explosion of pure energy. A blaze of gamma rays, x-rays and light. Then particles, atoms, stars and galaxies. A spray of material creation. Ahh, ahhh, ahhhh-CHOO! The Big Sneeze. Better than the Big Bang. More poetic, more f [..] > read more
The Poet: Paul Fisher, "The Boat"
Published on 2012-05-18 19:26:00
"The Boat""Maybe the eyes of a dragon or goddessglare from its prow.More likely it leaks, loses an oar,and reeks of rainbows awash on a sheenof gutted salmon and gasoline.If it’s a liner, we lash ourselvesto whatever will float or sell.No matter which. We choose. We’re aboard,icebergs or no, as we plowthrough the songs of the siren stars-one boat, black water, dark whispering below."- Paul Fisher, > read more
“Subconscious War”
Published on 2012-05-18 19:18:00
“Subconscious War”by Tuffie“We are a culture dependent on media for gratification, creating the illusion of experience on our psyche. Real knowledge is gained through experience. A film like this can only point towards something. What you got from this film comes with responsibility. ‘If we don’t use our intelligence, on a daily basis, to wake up, strive to seek clarity and coherency, than all the other stuff is just neutralized.’” – John Trudellhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pA [..] > read more
"What's It For?"
Published on 2012-05-18 19:15:00
“To be human is to keep rattling the bars of the > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-18 19:04:00
St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Life Is Lumpy..."
Published on 2012-05-18 19:00:00
“One of life's best coping mechanisms is to know the difference between an inconvenience and a problem. If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you've got a problem. Everything else is an inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy. A lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat and a lump in the breast are not the same kind of lump. One needs to learn the difference.” > read more
Satire: "Greece No Longer a Nation; Announces Plan to Become Social Network"
Published on 2012-05-18 16:17:00
"Greece No Longer a Nation; Announces Plan to Become Social Network"IPO Imminent for "FetaBook"by Andy BorowitzATHENS (The Borowitz Report) – "After struggling for months with an intractable financial crisis, Greece announced today that it would cease to exist as a sovereign nation and would instead reboot itself as a social network. The new entity, FetaBook, is expected to raise much-needed billions in an upcoming IPO.The social network formerly known as Greece announced that it would cancel [..] > read more
The Internet: "ICSI Netalyzr"
Published on 2012-05-18 15:58:00
"ICSI Netalyzr"by UC Berkeley > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-18 15:14:00
"Go down to the Justice Center and that's what you see, just us..."- Richard Pryor > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-17 23:08:00
“The largest canyon in the Solar System cuts a wide swath across the face of Mars. Named Valles Marineris, the grand valley extends over 3,000 kilometers long, spans as much as 600 kilometers across, and delves as much as 8 kilometers deep. By comparison, the Earth's Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA is 800 kilometers long, 30 kilometers across, and 1.8 kilometers deep. > read more
"So Great..."
Published on 2012-05-17 22:02:00
"So great has been the endurance, so incredible the achievement, > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-17 21:38:00
Bakersfield, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Heavens Proclaim”
Published on 2012-05-17 21:33:00
“The Heavens Proclaim”by Chet Raymo"Four centuries ago, Francis Bacon said that what a person would like to be true, he preferentially believes. Is there a way to truth that escapes the constraints of personal preference? Can we know the world as it is and not as we wish it to be? Perhaps not. Certainly there is no such thing as Truth with a capital T, final and absolute. But Bacon was instrumental in inventing a way to reliable truth with a lower case t - tentative, partial, evolving truth. [..] > read more
"Trying to Please Others, Living for Ourselves"
Published on 2012-05-17 20:01:00
"Trying to Please Others, Living for Ourselves"by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM"We may not realize until we are adults that we are living our life to make our parents happy. Most of us come to a point in our lives when we question why we are doing what we are doing, and many of us come to realize that we may be living our lives in an effort to make our parents happy. This realization can dawn when we are in our 20s, our 40s, or even later, depending upon how tight a hold our family of origin has o [..] > read more
Satire: "A Letter from Mark Zuckerberg About Facebook’s IPO"
Published on 2012-05-17 19:54:00
"A Letter from Mark Zuckerberg About Facebook’s IPO"by Andy BorowitzMENLO PARK, CA (The Borowitz Report) – "On the eve of Facebook’s IPO, Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg published the following letter to potential investors:Dear Potential Investor:For years, you've wasted your time on Facebook. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-17 19:48:00
LEAP/E2020, GEAB 60: "Global Economic Crisis: The USA, An Insolvent and Ungovernable Country"
Published on 2012-05-17 19:35:00
LEAP/E2020, GEAB 60: "Global Economic Crisis: > read more
"The U.S. 'Will Be Simultaneously Insolvent And Ungovernable'"
Published on 2012-05-17 19:20:00
"California’s Day of Reckoning"
Published on 2012-05-17 18:39:00
"California’s Day of Reckoning"by The Independent"Taking a deep breath, California's most powerful man strode to a lectern and unveiled the fiscal policy that he hopes will keep America's most populous state from falling into bankruptcy. "You name it," he declared, "and we've got to cut it!" It wasn't the most nuanced announcement. But this is no time for subtlety. After years watching his state fall deeper and deeper into the red, Governor Jerry Brown used a gloomy Monday night press conferen [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-16 21:44:00
“The largest, most violent star forming region known in the whole Local Group of galaxies lies in our neighboring galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Were the Tarantula Nebula at the distance of the Orion Nebula - a local star forming region - it would take up fully half the sky. > read more
“Four Topics About Fear”
Published on 2012-05-16 21:28:00
“Four Topics About Fear”by Chandresh BhardwajPosted by Paulo Coelho “The origin of fear lies in the unknown. Be it the darkness, ghosts, weather calamities or whatever is unknown to the man is feared the most. If you are walking in darkness, you are afraid to go ahead, fearing what will come next. However, as the light appears, the fear tends to settle down. Fear, thus, is just a manifestation of your imagination ruled by cowardliness. When we get certain information on our fears, we get r [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-16 19:00:00
Falmouth, Maine, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, "Six Memos"
Published on 2012-05-16 18:39:00
"Six Memos"by Chet Raymo"Italo Calvino, the famed Italian storyteller, died in 1985, just before he was to deliver the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures at Harvard. He had written five of the six lectures he proposed to give. The title of the series: "Six Memos for the Next Millennium." Each lecture was devoted to one of the qualities Calvino believed literature should aspire to. Lightness. Quickness. Exactitude. Visibility. Multiplicity. Consistency. Qualities, perhaps, we could all aspire to.Light [..] > read more
"Courage..."
Published on 2012-05-16 18:22:00
“God grant me the courage not to give up what I > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-16 17:47:00
“Jon Corzine – What’s Going On?”
Published on 2012-05-16 17:46:00
“Jon Corzine – What’s Going On?”by Sydney Williams“It pays to be rich, powerful and a Democrat with friends in Washington. While Anna Gristina, a Connecticut mother accused of being a New York “madam” sits in a cell on Riker’s Island, Jon Corzine, the former CEO of MF Global sits at home in his New Jersey mansion. MF Global had been a publically traded securities firm with $40 billion in assets, but with liabilities even larger, filed for bankruptcy late last year, after being ac [..] > read more
The Economy: "Correction Fighting: How Feds Prolong Economic Depressions"
Published on 2012-05-16 17:31:00
"Correction Fighting: > read more
James Baldwin, "No Mercy..."
Published on 2012-05-16 17:25:00
"People don't have any mercy. They tear you limb from limb, in the name of love.Then, when you're dead, when they've killed you by what they made you go through,they say you didn't have any character. They weep big, bitter tears - not for you.For themselves, because they've lost their toy."- James Baldwin, “Another Country” > read more
"Sometimes..."
Published on 2012-05-16 17:04:00
"When people are ready to, they change. They never do it before then, and sometimes they die before they get around to it. You can’t make them change if they don’t want to... just like when they do want to, you can’t stop them."- Andy Warhol > read more
"A Look To the Earth"
Published on 2012-05-15 21:16:00
“How much of planet Earth is made of water? Very little, actually. Although oceans of water cover about 70 percent of Earth's surface, these oceans are shallow compared to the Earth's radius. > read more
The Poet: William Stafford, "Ask Me"
Published on 2012-05-15 21:12:00
"Ask Me" by William Stafford"Some time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made.I will listen to what you say.You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait. We knowthe current is there, hidden, and thereare comings and goings from miles awaythat hold the stillness exactly before us.What t [..] > read more
“The Sixth Day”; "The Pale Blue Dot"
Published on 2012-05-15 18:50:00
“The Sixth Day”by Chet Raymo"Anthropologists pretty much agree that all modern humans had their ancestral origins in Africa, and spread from there to the other continents in a great exodus beginning about 60,000 years ago. Which is not to say that there were not already other members of the human family in Europe, Asia, and in what is now the island of Indonesia, the descendants, presumably, of earlier migrants from Africa. The origin of these pre-modern humans - Neanderthals, Denisovans, Ho [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-15 18:36:00
"Terribly, Grievously Wrong..."
Published on 2012-05-15 18:27:00
"The Lie Of A Pipe Dream..."
Published on 2012-05-15 18:20:00
"To hell with the truth! As the history of the world proves, the truth has no bearing on anything. It's irrelevant and immaterial, as the lawyers say. The lie of a pipe dream is what gives life to the whole misbegotten mad lot of us, drunk or sober."- Eugene O'Neill, “The Iceman Cometh” > read more
"Expectations, Previous Experiences Influence Perception Of Pain"
Published on 2012-05-15 18:15:00
"Expectations, Previous Experiences Influence Perception Of Pain"by Connie K. Ho"For many people, pain and needles go hand in hand. They shudder at the thought of going to the dentist or the doctor because of those pointy items. A new study looks at these preconceived notions of pain and needles, looking specifically at how these thoughts can affect a patients' experience. The project, completed by a group of German researchers, states that past experiences with needle pricks, combined with info [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-15 16:30:00
"Ever Have One Of Those Days?"
Published on 2012-05-15 16:19:00
Me too, lol... - CP > read more
The Economy: “My God, Common Sense Showing In Europe?”
Published on 2012-05-15 16:13:00
Musical Interlude: Michael Franti, “Hey World (Don't Give Up)”
Published on 2012-05-14 22:21:00
Michael Franti, “Hey World (Don't Give Up)” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01FE9cPXE3M&feature=related > read more
Musical Interlude: Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, "Don't Give Up"
Published on 2012-05-14 22:03:00
Song by Peter Gabriel, video produced by Barney Hilton Murray.- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHcIHKqoij4&feature=fvsr > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-14 20:15:00
“A jewel of the southern sky, the Great Carina Nebula, also known as NGC 3372, spans over 300 light-years, one of our galaxy's largest star forming regions. Like the smaller, more northerly Great Orion Nebula, the Carina Nebula is easily visible to the unaided eye, though at a distance of 7,500 light-years it is some 5 times farther away. > read more
"In-Groups, Out-Groups, And The Psychology of Crowds"
Published on 2012-05-14 20:10:00
"In-Groups, Out-Groups, And The Psychology of Crowds"by Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D"It's a well-known principle in social psychology that people define themselves in terms of social groupings and are quick to denigrate others who don't fit into those groups. Others who share our particular qualities are our "ingroup," and those who do not are our "outgroup."Sometimes groupings are determined by factors intrinsic to who we are (sex, age, race/ethnicity) but in many other cases they are arrived [..] > read more
Satire: "Hoping for Knockout Punch, CIA Sends JP Morgan Execs to Infiltrate Al-Qaeda"
Published on 2012-05-14 19:53:00
"Hoping for Knockout Punch, > read more
“Idiocy as WMD”
Published on 2012-05-14 18:07:00
“Idiocy as WMD”by Linh Dinh“Borges writes, "dictatorships foster oppression, dictatorships foster servitude, dictatorships foster cruelty; more abominable is the fact that they foster idiocy." As a preeminent mind, Borges rightly considers the mind to be a man's greatest asset, for without mind, a man is nothing. The more oppressive a political system, then, the greater its assault on its subjects' minds, for it's not enough for any dictator, king or totalitarian system to oppress and expl [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-14 17:03:00
Morro Bay, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Dark Night”
Published on 2012-05-14 16:55:00
“The Dark Night”by Chet Raymo“I first read Soren Kierkegaard's “Fear and Trembling” at about the same age as Kierkegaard was when he wrote it - thirty. The young philosopher was wrestling with his dark demons, including the death of his father, a sternly religious man who demanded absolute obedience from his son. He was torn between the opposing demands of faith and reason, certainity and doubt. In the opening pages of the book, he takes us with Abraham and Isaac on that terrible journ [..] > read more
The Poet: John O'Donohue, "For a New Beginning"
Published on 2012-05-14 15:54:00
"For a New Beginning""In out-of-the-way places of the heart,Where your thoughts never think to wander,This beginning has been quietly forming,Waiting until you were ready to emerge.For a long time it has watched your desire,Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,Noticing how you willed yourself on,Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.It watched you play with the seduction of safetyAnd the gray promises that sameness whispered,Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,Wondered would you [..] > read more
"Truth..."
Published on 2012-05-14 15:42:00
“Truth is like the town whore. Everybody knows her, > read more
Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet, on Death"
Published on 2012-05-14 05:43:00
"You would know the secret of death.But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.Tru [..] > read more
"Missing Our Old Habits: Enduring Discomfort"
Published on 2012-05-14 05:36:00
"Missing Our Old Habits: Enduring Discomfort"by Madisyn Taylor"Sometimes when we break a habit or addiction we find ourselves missing it like a dear friend. Whenever we make the effort to free ourselves of an addiction or a habit we no longer need, we are often surprised to find ourselves missing the old pattern as we would a familiar friend. This sounds counterintuitive, because we think we should instinctively gravitate toward that which is good for us. And yet, it makes a lot of sense when yo [..] > read more
The Universe
Published on 2012-05-14 04:07:00
"Sometimes, lifetimes are chosen to be with friends. And sometimes one friend agrees to be off balance and the other balanced. One teaches stability, the other teaches spontaneity. Win-win, cool-cool. Gets kind of wonky though, if either starts thinking they're more important to the other, than the other is to them. Every nut needs a cracker and every cracker needs a nut, metaphorically." "You know?" > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-13 21:34:00
"Many spiral galaxies have bars across their centers. Even our own Milky Way Galaxy is thought to have a modest central bar. Prominently barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672, pictured below, was captured in spectacular detail in image taken by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. > read more
Chet Raymo, "The Great Silence"
Published on 2012-05-13 21:31:00
"The Great Silence"by Chet Raymo"If there is one word that should not be uttered, it is the name of - no, I will not say it. Any name diminishes. In the face of whatever it is that is most mysterious, most holy, we are properly silent. It is appropriate, I think, to praise the creation, to make a joyful noise of thanksgiving for the sensate world. But praising the Creator is another thing altogether. When we make a big racket on His behalf we are more than likely addressing an idol in our own im [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-13 21:21:00
Burbank, Illinois, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"How It Really Is: Happy Mothers Day!"
Published on 2012-05-13 17:35:00
Mark Twain, "Truth..."
Published on 2012-05-13 17:33:00
"Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't. It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense."- Mark Twain > read more
"A Curiosity: 'The Lone Gunmen Pilot': 9/11 Predictive Programming?”
Published on 2012-05-13 17:18:00
“The Lone Gunmen Pilot: 9/11 Predictive Programming?”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3WW6eoLcLI•The pilot episode for the FOX series "The Lone Gunmen" which first aired on March 4, 2001. The plot envisioned the US Government hijacking a plane and crashing it into the World Trade Center. Sometimes truth and warnings come from unexpected sources and places, if you're aware enough to see it. Full pilot episode is here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRtqQLMAZek&feature=related > read more
"Fukushima Reactor No. 4: Doomsday Scenarios Spread"
Published on 2012-05-13 16:51:00
"Fukushima Reactor No. 4: Doomsday Scenarios Spread"By Hideo Sato"When Ron Wyden, a Democratic senator from the U.S. state of Oregon, visited the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant on April 6, he spent about an hour looking at a building constructed under strict anti-quake standards and observed the facility that processes water contaminated by radiation. Although he was driven by car past the reactor buildings, he did not actually enter any of the reactor buildings, according to officials of T [..] > read more
The Poet: Wendell Berry, "Circles of Our Lives"
Published on 2012-05-12 00:48:00
"Circles of Our Lives""Within the circles of our liveswe dance the circles of the years,the circles of the seasonswithin the circles of the years,the cycles of the moonwithin the circles of the seasons,the circles of our reasonswithin the cycles of the moon.Again, again we come and go,changed, changing. Handsjoin, unjoin in love and fear,grief and joy. The circles turn,each giving into each, into all.Only music keeps us here,each by all the others held.In the hold of hands and eyeswe turn in pai [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-11 22:42:00
"Sun vs. Super Moon: The Super Moon wins, by just a little, when its apparent size is compared to the Sun in this ingenious composite picture. To make it, the Full Moon on May 6 was photographed with the same camera and telescope used to image the Sun (with a dense solar filter!) on the following day. > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-11 22:23:00
Ocala, Florida, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Rain, Cleansing Nature"
Published on 2012-05-11 16:13:00
"Rain, Cleansing Nature"by Madisyn Taylor"On the next rainy day, imagine the rain washing away and cleansing your emotional body. There are times when we might feel the need to wash away all of our troubles and call forth freshness into our lives. Since perhaps the most cleansing substance on this earth is water, we can think of the joy rain brings as an energetic bath, rejuvenating our minds, bodies and souls. Just being able to spend a few moments every time it rains to become aware of the hea [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, "Final Exam: Philosophy 101"
Published on 2012-05-11 15:58:00
"Final Exam: Philosophy 101"by Chet Raymo“Among the collected aphorisms of the poet Wallace Stevens is this: "The thing seen becomes the thing unseen. The opposite is, or seems to be, impossible." Discuss.The first question to ask is whether this aphorism, or any of Mr. Stevens aphorisms, means anything at all. Stevens is known for his tricky opacity, his oblique glance, his wry twists. All of this sometimes makes him seem profound, and fine fodder for the critic, but one has to ask: Does it r [..] > read more
"Children of Hope..."
Published on 2012-05-11 15:35:00
"Children of Hope, to life we fondly cling,Though woe on woe bitter hour may bring;the spirit shrinks, and Nature dreads to brave,The doubt, the gloom, the stillness of the grave.But what is death? – a wing from earth to fee –a bridge o’er time into eternity."- Michelle, in “The Fear of Death Considered” > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-11 15:30:00
"Rearranging the New World Order"
Published on 2012-05-11 15:12:00
"Rearranging the New World Order"by Bill Bonner"The new Japan is China. It’s an export economy with too much capacity…like Japan in ’89. The new Greece is Spain. It’s got mortgage debt up the kazoo… The new Ireland is the old Ireland. Yes, Ireland is now exporting people again…at the fastest rate since the 19th century. Our old friend Jim Davidson says the new America is Brazil. But what happened to the old America? It’s the new Argentina. Whoa! What a topsy-turvy world! The US is [..] > read more
Bertolt Brecht, "A Fable"
Published on 2012-05-11 14:49:00
"A Fable"by Bertolt Brecht "A man living alone answers a knock at the door. There stands Tyranny, armed and powerful, who asks, "Will you submit?" The man does not reply. He steps aside. Tyranny enters and takes over. The man serves him for years. Then Tyranny mysteriously becomes sick from food poisoning. He dies. The man opens the door, gets rid of the body, comes back to the house, closes the door behind him, and says, firmly, "No!" > read more
Taylor Caldwell, "Honoria"
Published on 2012-05-11 14:33:00
"Honoria"by Taylor Caldwell“This is a true story about a nation which was once great. At the outset, we will call that nation "Honoria;" but you will readily guess her true name, as the story unfolds. Honoria had always been distinguished by a strong, sturdy, industrious middle class, composed of farmers, artisans, shopkeepers- virtuous and sane and devout. But the middle class presented a threat to an all-powerful government, determined to protect the rich and the strong- and the worthless, t [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-10 22:24:00
“Beautiful island universe M94 lies a mere 15 million light-years distant in the northern constellation of the hunting dogs, Canes Venatici. A popular target for astronomers, the brighter inner part of the face-on spiral galaxy is about 30,000 light-years across. > read more
Satire: "My School Days, By Mitt Romney"
Published on 2012-05-10 22:17:00
"My School Days, By Mitt Romney"by Andy BorowitzNEW YORK - (The Borowitz Report) - "Today, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney released the following open letter to the American people:Dear Friends:This week, The Washington Post reported an incident from my high school days in which I bullied a gay classmate by pinning him to the ground and cutting his hair off. > read more
"Three Words..."
Published on 2012-05-10 22:10:00
Chet Raymo, "The One And The Many"
Published on 2012-05-10 21:59:00
"The One And The Many"by Chet Raymo"Near the end of Mary McCarthy's "The Company She Keeps," the protagonist - Meg Sargent, a stand-in for Mary - and her therapist steer away from talking at length about her childhood, "for it suggested...that the universe is mechanical, utterly predictable, frozen, and this in its own way is quite as terrible as the notion that the universe is chaotic." And there you have it, really, the balancing act each of us must maintain if we are to stay sane - call it, i [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-10 18:33:00
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Lysander Spooner vs. the USPS"
Published on 2012-05-10 18:23:00
"Lysander Spooner vs. the USPS"by Joel Bowman"I gave a letter to the postman,He put it in his sack.Bright and early next morning,He brought my letter back."- “Return to Sender”, > read more
"A Melting Pot..."
Published on 2012-05-10 16:45:00
"America is a melting pot, the people at the bottom > read more
"The Revolving Door of Insanity, or From the Frying Pan Into The Fire"
Published on 2012-05-10 16:25:00
"The Revolving Door of Insanity, > read more
Psychology: "Positive Dissociation, and its Importance"
Published on 2012-05-10 16:12:00
"Positive Dissociation, and its Importance: > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-10 15:49:00
Blah, blah, blah, ad infinitum... - CP > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-09 19:53:00
“Large galaxies grow by eating small ones. Even our own galaxy practices galactic cannibalism, absorbing small galaxies that get too close and are captured by the Milky Way's gravity. In fact, the practice is common in the universe and illustrated by this striking pair of interacting galaxies from the banks of the southern constellation Eridanus (The River). > read more
Chet Raymo, "Second Law"
Published on 2012-05-09 19:45:00
"Second Law"by Chet Raymo"Cartoon in last week's New Yorker: Kid in his incredibly messy bedroom says to his frowning mother at the door, "I blame entropy." Well, yes. The universe is a mess, and destined to get messier all the time. That's what happens in isolated systems. Like a universe. Like a kid's room. But here and there we buck the trend. We take advantage of not being in an isolated system. We take advantage of the fact that the Sun is getting messy big time to build pockets of order he [..] > read more
"Don't Look At Me..."
Published on 2012-05-09 19:35:00
“I apologize because of the terrible mess the planet is in. But it has always been a mess. There have never been any ‘Good Old Days,’ there have just been days. And as I say to my grandchildren, ‘Don’t look at me. I just got here myself.’” - Kurt Vonnegut, > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, "What Can I Say?"
Published on 2012-05-09 19:20:00
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-09 17:44:00
Kingsmead, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Satire: "North Carolina Weighs Ban on Electricity, Soap"
Published on 2012-05-09 17:29:00
"North Carolina Weighs Ban on Electricity, Soap"Amendment One Supporters Push New Lawby Andy BorowitzNORTH CAROLINA (The Borowitz Report) – "Flush with victory from yesterday’s statewide vote, supporters of North Carolina’s Amendment One today moved forward with a bold proposal to ban electricity and soap. Cal Pinckton, a leading proponent of Amendment One who has helped craft the new law, says the principles behind it are simple: “If the Bible doesn’t mention something, it’s against [..] > read more
"The Return of Son of Underwear Bomber"
Published on 2012-05-09 16:15:00
"The Return of Son of Underwear Bomber"by Kevin Barrett"The Guardian has revealed that Underwear Bomber II, who was about to blow up a passenger jet with an undetectable explosive codpiece when he was somehow detected, was actually a CIA agent. Based on a number of interviews with those involved (zero is a number, right?) and my expertise as a Ph.D. Arabist and terror expert, I can tell you pretty much what happened.Underwear Bomber II - let's call him Kharah Ibnulkilab - was a CIA agent provoca [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Moody Blues, “Don't You Feel Small?”
Published on 2012-05-09 15:54:00
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjICZoqspv4Moody Blues, “Don't You Feel Small?”Lyrics:"Ask the mirror on the wallWho's the biggest fool of all,Bet you feel small,It happens to us all.See the worldAsk what's it for,Understanding, nothing more,Don't you feel small,It happens to us all.Time is now to spread your voice,Time's to come there'll be no choice,Why do you feel small,It happens to us all.Look at progress,Then count the cost,We'll spoil the seasWith the rivers we've lost.See the writin [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-09 15:49:00
"GDP Growth: The Civic Duty of Every US Consumer"
Published on 2012-05-09 15:43:00
"GDP Growth: > read more
Musical Interlude: Brulé, “Awakening”
Published on 2012-05-08 23:14:00
Brulé, “Awakening” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mihsYu-F9Sw&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-08 22:55:00
“Gorgeous spiral galaxy NGC 3521 is a mere 35 million light-years away, toward the constellation Leo. Relatively bright in planet Earth's sky, NGC 3521 is easily visible in small telescopes but often overlooked by amateur imagers in favor of other Leo spiral galaxies, like M66 and M65. It's hard to overlook in this colorful cosmic portrait, though. > read more
Chet Raymo, "If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play On"
Published on 2012-05-08 22:50:00
"If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play On"by Chet Raymo“Tiziano Vecelli, who we know as Titian, was in his early twenties when he painted Three Ages of Man. Could he already be thinking about old age and death? I don't think so, but more of that in a minute. What he was surely thinking about was - well, check out the young woman on the left of the painting (click to enlarge) and you'll get the picture.But he no doubt wanted a lofty theme, and give him this: His three ages of a "man" included wome [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-08 17:19:00
Suva, Central, Fiji. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Report: "Global Temperatures Could Rise by More than 2°C by Mid-Century"
Published on 2012-05-08 17:14:00
Report: "Global Temperatures Could Rise > read more
"Be Who You Are..."
Published on 2012-05-08 17:00:00
Satire: "Why Mitt Romney is No Longer the Worst Person in America to Run for President"
Published on 2012-05-08 15:24:00
"Why Mitt Romney is No Longer the Worst Person > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-08 15:14:00
"Like Drunkards..."
Published on 2012-05-08 15:05:00
"We all look for happiness, but without knowing where to find it: > read more
Robert Reich, “Connect The Dots”
Published on 2012-05-08 14:55:00
“Connect The Dots” by Robert Reich“The first thing is to connect the dots, to see how one frustrating or outrageous thing is connected to all the other frustrating and outrageous things. If we’re going to make progress on this, we’ve got to see the big picture.”- http://robertreich.org/post/21230466829•Robert B. Reich, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named him [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-07 21:34:00
“Peculiar spiral galaxy Arp 78 is found within the boundaries of the head strong constellation Aries, some 100 million light-years beyond the stars and nebulae of our Milky Way galaxy. Also known as NGC 772, the island universe is over 100 thousand light-years across and sports a single prominent outer spiral arm in this detailed cosmic portrait. > read more
“Mortal Soul”
Published on 2012-05-07 19:56:00
“Mortal Soul”by Chet Raymo“Once, many years ago, I made my way to the hillside farm in New York's Catskill Mountains were John Burroughs was born and where he was buried in 1921 at age 84. He was one of the two John's who established the genre of nature writing in America: John Muir was "John o' Mountains", and John Burroughs was "John o' Birds."It was a hardscrabble farm. Burrough's grave had to be blasted out of the Devonian sandstone with dynamite. Not much farming thereabouts today; wh [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Moody Blues, “Live at the Royal Albert Hall”
Published on 2012-05-07 18:18:00
Moody Blues, “Live at the Royal Albert Hall” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8474UHL-dk&feature=g-vrecThe entire concert, folks, 2 hours and 41 minutes. Enjoy! > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-07 17:21:00
Tbilisi, Dushet'is Raioni, Georgia. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"In Your Own Shell..."
Published on 2012-05-07 17:17:00
"The Awe-Inspiring Universe Of Magic..."
Published on 2012-05-07 17:11:00
"This is the awe-inspiring universe of magic: there are no atoms, only waves and motions all around. Here, you discard all belief in barriers to understanding. You put aside understanding itself. The universe cannot be seen, cannot be heard, cannot be detected any way by fixed perceptions. It is the ultimate void where no preordained screens occur upon which forms may be projected. You have only one awareness here - the screen of the magi: Imagination! Here, you learn what it is to be human. You [..] > read more
"Undistracted Energy: Pure Thoughts"
Published on 2012-05-07 17:03:00
"Undistracted Energy: Pure Thoughts"by The DailyOM"The longer we are able to hold a positive thought, the stronger that energy around us becomes. If we make no effort at all, our thoughts usually scatter in a vast array of directions. They start and stop and move in surprising ways from one second to the next. If we try to follow our thoughts without controlling them, we will be amazed at how truly inconsistent they are. Yet, if we apply our minds to a specific task, especially one that interest [..] > read more
"Life, Not Art..."
Published on 2012-05-07 16:48:00
"It is now life and not art that requires the willing suspension of disbelief."- Lionel Trilling > read more
“America Has Become a Piñata…”
Published on 2012-05-07 16:39:00
“America Has Become a Piñata…”by Addison Wiggin“America’s national government has moved way beyond a political spoils system,” wrote Charles Goyette in his book "The Dollar Meltdown." “A spoils system leaves the host alive so that a politician’s occasional ne’er-do-well brother-in-law can be put on the payroll.” In contrast, Goyette suggested, “America has become a piñata: Everybody gets a crack at it. Presidents and other elected officials pass the big stick around as a [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-07 15:18:00
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-06 21:48:00
"To some, the outline of the open cluster of stars M6 resembles a butterfly. M6, also known as NGC 6405, spans about 20 light-years and lies about 2,000 light years distant. M6 can best be seen in a dark sky with binoculars towards the constellation of Scorpius, coving about as much of the sky as the full moon. > read more
Chet Raymo, “In Place of Belief”
Published on 2012-05-06 20:37:00
“In Place of Belief”by Chet Raymo"A lightning storm the other night. For an hour we sat on the terrace and watched the northern sky blaze with pyrotechnics, the best we'd ever seen, almost continuous rivers of electricity streaming between the clouds, clouds heaped like mountains and lit from within. After some particularly sky-filling explosions we could not resist applause. From horizon to horizon the streamers ran, trailing their rumbles of far-off thunder. So much energy! Energy entirely [..] > read more
Satire: "Fox News Reports: France Joins America in Electing Socialist President"
Published on 2012-05-06 20:09:00
"Fox News Reports: France Joins America in Electing Socialist President"Two Comrades to Merge into ‘Obamalande,’ Says Hannityby Andy BorowitzPARIS (The Borowitz Report) – "The Fox News Channel reported today that French voters have followed in the footsteps of their American counterparts by electing an openly Socialist man to the office of President. According to Fox host Sean Hannity, the two Socialist Presidents, Francois Hollande and Barack Obama, are expected to work closely together b [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-06 16:17:00
Saint-maur-des-fossés, Ile-de-France, France.Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Neuroscience: "Who's in Charge - You or Your Brain?"
Published on 2012-05-06 16:09:00
"Neuroscience Believes Humans Governed By Unconscious Processes, > read more
"How It Really Will Be..."
Published on 2012-05-06 15:44:00
"We Evolve..."
Published on 2012-05-06 15:34:00
”We like to think that we are rational beings; humane, conscientious, civilized, thoughtful. But when things fall apart, even just a little, it becomes clear we are not better than animals. We have opposable thumbs, we think, we walk erect, we speak, we dream, but deep down we are still routing around in the primordial ooze; biting, clawing, scratching out an existence in the cold, dark world like the rest of the tree-toads and sloths. There’s a little animal in all of us and maybe that’s [..] > read more
"Fukushima Fuel Pools Are an American National Security Issue"
Published on 2012-05-06 15:19:00
"Fukushima Fuel Pools Are an American National Security Issue"by WashingtonsBlog"After visiting Fukushima, Senator Ron Wyden warned that the situation was worse than reported and urged Japan to accept international help to stabilize dangerous spent fuel pools. An international coalition of nuclear scientists and non-profit groups are calling on the U.N. to coordinate a multi-national effort to stabilize the fuel pools. And see this.Fuel pool number 4 is, indeed, the top short-term threat facing [..] > read more
Posting
Published on 2012-05-05 15:48:00
Due to personal matters there will be no posting today. Regular posting will resume tomorrow. Thanks for your patience and understanding. - CP > read more
"Something You Already Know..."
Published on 2012-05-05 00:54:00
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you' [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-04 21:48:00
“Jets of streaming plasma expelled by the central black hole of a massive spiral galaxy light up this composite image of Centaurus A. The jets emanating from Cen A are over a million light years long. Exactly how the central black hole expels infalling matter is still unknown. > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-04 21:41:00
Lancaster, Wisconsin, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-04 18:18:00
“Jim Rogers’ Warning: Riots Coming To America”
Published on 2012-05-04 18:16:00
“Jim Rogers’ Warning: Riots Coming To America” by EFT Daily News"Dominique de Kevelioc de Bailleul: Speaking with the "Wall Street Journal" on Friday, commodities trader Jim Rogers of Rogers Holdings said riots such as the ones witnessed in Greece and reported as widespread in China will hit the United States and again in Europe as the next leg down in the financial crisis takes shape (after the election, he speculates in previous interviews). "I’m more worried about those kind of proble [..] > read more
Karl Denninger, “Right On Cue...”
Published on 2012-05-04 17:46:00
“Right On Cue...”by Karl Denninger“Oh do come on...MOSCOW – "Russia's top military officer has threatened to carry out a pre-emptive strike on U.S.-led NATO missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe if Washington goes ahead with its controversial plan to build a missile shield. President Dmitry Medvedev said last year that Russia will retaliate militarily if it does not reach an agreement with the United States and NATO on the missile defense system. Chief of General Staff Nikolai Mak [..] > read more
Bill Bonner, “Economic Recovery Education”
Published on 2012-05-04 14:28:00
“Economic Recovery Education”by Bill Bonner“Feelings…Whoa, whoa, whoa…feelings…”— Morris Albert“Our plane got delayed. This left us in a small waiting room for longer than we wanted to be there. The two large TV screens were inescapable. Who watches this stuff? Poor schmucks. The more they inform themselves by watching TV news, the less they really know. If they watch long enough, their brains must become like a zombie city, populated by zombie characters they’ve seen on TV [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Supertramp, "The Logical Song"
Published on 2012-05-04 03:37:00
Supertramp, "The Logical Song"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3JVfxluFU > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-03 19:58:00
"Close to the Great Bear (Ursa Major) and surrounded by the stars of the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici), this celestial wonder was discovered in 1781 by the metric French astronomer Pierre Mechain. Later, it was added to the catalog of his friend and colleague Charles Messier as M106. Modern deep telescopic views reveal it to be an island universe: a spiral galaxy around 30 thousand light-years across located only about 21 million light-years beyond the stars of the Milky Way. > read more
Paulo Coelho, “A Saint In The Wrong Place”
Published on 2012-05-03 19:55:00
“A Saint In The Wrong Place”by Paulo Coelho“‘Why is it that some people can resolve the most complicated problems really easily, whilst others agonize over every tiny crisis and end up drowning in a glass of water?’ I asked. Ramesh replied by telling the following story: ‘Once upon a time, there was a man who had been the soul of kindness all his life. When he died, everyone assumed that he would go straight to Heaven, for the only possible place for a good man like him was Paradise. [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, "Zoom"
Published on 2012-05-03 19:26:00
“Zoom”by Chet Raymo"There are a couple of book on the shelf at home by the illustrator Istvan Banyai that I enjoy looking at now and then, ostensibly children's books, but really engaging for all ages (or maybe I'm just a child at heart), called Zoom and Re-Zoom. Not a word of text, just exquisite, colorful drawings on the recto pages, facing all-black versos. The idea of both books is the same. Begin with a small detail, almost anything at random, and zoom out. The detail becomes part of a [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Adiemus, "Adiemus"
Published on 2012-05-03 19:15:00
Adiemus, "Adiemus" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL8kZ-iVk90&feature=related > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-03 19:14:00
Ash Shu`aybah, Ash Sharqiyah, Saudi Arabia.Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"In Order To Learn..."
Published on 2012-05-03 18:50:00
"In order to learn, one must change one's mind."- Orson Scott Card > read more
"A Warmer World and Weather Gone Wild"
Published on 2012-05-03 17:07:00
"A Warmer World and Weather Gone Wild: > read more
"The Return of Cheap Oil?"
Published on 2012-05-03 16:56:00
"The Return of Cheap Oil?"by Bill Bonner"Will new energy discoveries and new technology sink oil prices? Will lower oil prices rescue the world from the Great Correction? Maybe, say Porter Stansberry and a good number of the analysts and experts here. We’re attending an investment conference — for professionals only. It’s a beautiful place for one. The island is a barrier island, mostly sand…surrounded by ocean or marshland. There is a golf course…tennis courts…bocce courts… Maybe [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-03 15:58:00
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-02 18:25:00
"What Is or Should Be the Law?"
Published on 2012-05-02 18:22:00
"What Is or Should Be the Law?"by Jeffrey Tucker"It seems that the president is frustrated with Congress. What kind of legislature is this, he asks, that fails to immediately enact the will of the executive? The executive has been using a slightly different approach these days: He uses an executive order. Forget all that stuff you have read in the civics texts about checks and balances and the branches of government. The executive order bypasses them all.The White House even has a name for this: [..] > read more
Satire: "Romney Pays Surprise Visit to his Money in the Cayman Islands"
Published on 2012-05-02 16:53:00
"Romney Pays Surprise Visit to his Money in the Cayman Islands"No Timetable for Withdrawal, Says Presumptive Nomineeby Andy BorowitzCAYMAN ISLANDS (The Borowitz Report) - "In an uncharacteristically emotional scene for the presumptive GOP nominee, Mitt Romney today paid a surprise visit to his money in the Cayman Islands. Speaking in a bank vault surrounded by stacks of cash, Mr. Romney praised his money for "the brave work you have done in the never-ending fight for freedom from Federal income [..] > read more
"The First Amendment Is Now a Felonious Criminal Act"
Published on 2012-05-02 15:59:00
"The First Amendment Is Now a Felonious Criminal Act"by Mac Slavo"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." > read more
"A North American Union And A One World Economic System?"
Published on 2012-05-02 15:36:00
"Homeless Boy Steals The Talent Show"
Published on 2012-05-02 07:29:00
"Homeless Boy Steals The Talent Show" “One cannot help but be moved to tears by this amazing young man; Sung-bong Choi. When Sung-bong decided to sing on the Talent Show "Korea's Got Talent" he had no idea that he would win the hearts of millions all over the world! His story of his childhood is so moving that even the judges had a hard time keeping their composure. He told the judges that even though he didn't think he could sing very well, he sang because it made him happy. They couldn't hav [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Leonard Cohen, "Anthem"
Published on 2012-05-01 23:06:00
Leonard Cohen, "Anthem"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ssZ32ahjGM > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-05-01 22:50:00
“The best known asterism in northern skies, The Big Dipper is easy to recognize, though some might see The Plough. Either way, the star names and the familiar outlines will appear in this thoughtfully composed 24 frame mosaic. Dubhe, alpha star of the dipper's parent constellation Ursa Major is at the upper right. > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-05-01 18:18:00
Weatherford, Texas, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"The Empire Strikes Back: Attack of the Drones"
Published on 2012-05-01 18:12:00
"The Empire Strikes Back: Attack of the Drones"By John W. Whitehead“The means of defense against foreign danger historicallyhave become the instruments of tyranny at home.”- James Madison"Drones—unmanned aerial vehicles—come in all shapes and sizes, from nano-sized drones as small as a grain of sand that can do everything from conducting surveillance to detonating explosive charges, to massive “hunter/killer” Predator warships that unleash firepower from on high. Once used exclusivel [..] > read more
"Courage..."
Published on 2012-05-01 18:03:00
"Failure is unimportant. > read more
Joseph W. Martin Jr., “A Perplexing Cluelessness?”
Published on 2012-05-01 16:23:00
“A Perplexing Cluelessness?”Joseph W. Martin Jr.“One has to wonder just who is in charge over at the Obama campaign, particularly as to the selection of slogans. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-05-01 14:30:00
“Fukushima Reactor 4: Life On Planet Earth in the Balance”
Published on 2012-05-01 14:23:00
“Fukushima Reactor 4: > read more
"If It Ain't, It'll Do..."
Published on 2012-05-01 14:05:00
"What Is America’s Economic Breaking Point?"
Published on 2012-05-01 14:00:00
"What Is America’s Economic Breaking Point?"By Mac Slavo"If there exists a single factor that can put enough pressure on the whole of the American economy and force it to crumble under its own weight, it’s the price the average American pays for gas. Extreme up side gas price swings have preceded seven of the last eight American recessions, most recently in the summer of 2008 when drivers were forced to pay an all time high in excess of $4.50 per gallon at the pumps. What followed this spike [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-30 22:11:00
"M78 isn't really hiding in planet Earth's night sky. About 1,600 light-years away and nestled in the nebula rich constellation Orion, the large, bright, reflection nebula is well-known to telescopic skygazers. But this gorgeous image of M78 was selected as the winner of the Hidden Treasures 2010 astrophotography competition. Held by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the competition challenged amateur astronomers to process data from ESO's astronomical archive in search of cosmic gems. > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-30 20:13:00
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"On A Long Enough Timeline..."
Published on 2012-04-30 20:11:00
"On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero." > read more
Chet Raymo, "Free As A Bird"
Published on 2012-04-30 20:07:00
"Free As A Bird"by Chet Raymo"All afternoon I have been watching a pair of hummingbirds play about our porch. They live somewhere nearby, though I haven't found their nest. They are attracted to our hummingbird feeder, which we keep full of sugar water. What perfect little machines they are! No other bird can perform their tricks of flight - flying backwards, hovering in place. Zip. Zip. From perch to perch in a blur of iridescence. If you want a symbol of freedom, the hummingbird is it. Exubera [..] > read more
"Curveballs..."
Published on 2012-04-30 19:55:00
"Just when we think we figured things out, the universe throws us a curveball. So, we have to improvise. We find happiness in unexpected places. We find ourselves back to the things that matter the most. The universe is funny that way. Sometimes it just has a way of making sure we wind up exactly where we belong."- "Dr. Meredith Grey", "Grey's Anatomy" > read more
“Humanity Will Never Have Truth Until Criminal 1% Arrested. Will YOU Demand It?”
Published on 2012-04-30 16:45:00
“Humanity Will Never Have Truth Until Criminal 1% Arrested. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-30 16:30:00
"Plunder..."
Published on 2012-04-30 16:26:00
"The WSJ: There Are No Civil Liberties. Suck It America"
Published on 2012-04-30 16:07:00
"Interesting Facts About the Student Loan Debt Bubble"
Published on 2012-04-30 15:54:00
"Interesting Facts About the Student Loan Debt Bubble"by Bill Bonner"Nothing much happened last week. Except that Ben Bernanke told investors that the fix was in…and the stock market went up. The chief of America’s central bank told the world that he was prepared for more QE whenever it was needed. When will it be needed? When the stock market goes down! So, why not? Why not buy stocks? What can you lose? If they go up, you keep the gains. If they go down…ol’ Benny will be there with wad [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-29 21:39:00
“Large, dusty, spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is seen edge-on near the center of this rich telescopic image. The field of view spans nearly 2 degrees, or about 4 times the width of the Full Moon, toward the expansive southern constellation Centaurus. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Whence Ourselves?”
Published on 2012-04-29 21:28:00
“Whence Ourselves?”by Chet Raymo“My post of yesterday took me back to David S. Goodsell's "The Machinery of Life," and I found myself reading the book again. There is nothing I didn't already know, but it's worth reading again for the same reason one might read, say, Anna Karenina or Moby Dick several times in the course of a life. In fact, Goodsell's book would be a good candidate for the one science book I would recommend to someone stuck on a desert island.Step by step he takes us throu [..] > read more
Satire: "Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy"
Published on 2012-04-29 19:26:00
"Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy"Could Imperil Reelection Hopes, Experts Sayby Andy BorowitzWASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – "In the first term in office, President Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the previous eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say. New polls indicate that millions of Americans are put off by the President’s unorthodox verbal tic, which has Mr. Obama employing grammatically co [..] > read more
"Three Musts..."
Published on 2012-04-29 18:26:00
"There are three musts that hold us back: > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-29 18:15:00
"Good Or Bad..."
Published on 2012-04-29 18:08:00
"Good or bad, everything we do is our best choice at that moment."William Glasser > read more
“H.L. Mencken Was Right”
Published on 2012-04-29 16:17:00
“H.L. Mencken Was Right”by Jim Quinn"H.L. Mencken was a renowned newspaper columnist for the Baltimore Sun from 1906 until 1948. His biting sarcasm seems to fit perfectly in today’s world. His acerbic satirical writings on government, democracy, politicians and the ignorant masses are as true today as they were then. I believe the reason his words hit home is because he was writing during the last Unraveling and Crisis periods in America. The similarities cannot be denied. There are no jou [..] > read more
"US Companies Are Furiously Creating Jobs... Abroad"
Published on 2012-04-29 15:54:00
"US Companies Are Furiously Creating Jobs... Abroad"by Tyler Durden"Whatever one thinks of the practical implications of the Kalecki equation (and as we pointed out a month ago, GMO's James Montier sure doesn't think much > read more
A Moment With Nature: Ralph Zurmühle, "Sonora In My Heart"
Published on 2012-04-28 22:54:00
Ralph Zurmühle, "Sonora In My Heart"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YK-Zd_fPQs&feature=watch_response•This is where I live, folks... - CP > read more
Musical Interlude: David Schombert, "A Space Journey"
Published on 2012-04-28 22:31:00
David Schombert, "A Space Journey"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un5SEJ8MyPc&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-28 22:23:00
“What's going on in the center of this spiral galaxy? Named the Sombrero Galaxy for its hat-like resemblance, M104 features a prominent dust lane and a bright halo of stars and globular clusters. Reasons for the Sombrero's hat-like appearance include an unusually large and extended central bulge of stars, and dark prominent dust lanes that appear in a disk that we see nearly edge-on. Billions of old stars cause the diffuse glow of the extended central bulge. > read more
The Poet: Linda Pastan, "Carnival Evening"
Published on 2012-04-28 22:19:00
"What We Want" > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-28 22:15:00
Painesville, Ohio, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"The Human Condition..."
Published on 2012-04-28 22:10:00
"I think it's unfair, but they have the right as fallible, > read more
Chet Raymo, “Caught In The Middle”
Published on 2012-04-28 22:00:00
“Caught In The Middle”by Chet Raymo"It doesn't take a genius to recognize that human males have a propensity for intergroup violence, and that the killing is often accompanied by rape. One need only read the newspapers. The only question is to what extent these tendencies are innate or culturally inculcated. Nature or nurture? Or both? A new book, "Sex and War: How Biology Explains Warfare and Terrorism and Offers a Path to a Safer World," by population biologist Malcolm Potts and science wr [..] > read more
"What It Is..."
Published on 2012-04-28 21:46:00
"Life is not what it's supposed to be. It's what it is. > read more
“A Thief In The Night of America”
Published on 2012-04-28 18:51:00
“A Thief In The Night of America”by Michael Kindt“Let’s say you’re trying to fix your screen door. Last night, let’s say, it was terribly windy and the door came open and flapped back and forth uselessly, much like a politician’s tongue. Perhaps you were away visiting family or something and weren’t home to halt the destruction. So the screen door is all loose and a little bent and will no longer shut. It’s hanging there, screaming WHITE TRASH to the neighborhood. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-28 18:25:00
The Poet: Lynn Ungar, “Boundaries”
Published on 2012-04-27 23:51:00
“Boundaries”“The universe does notrevolve around you.The stars and planets spinningthrough the ballroom of spacedance with one anotherquite outside of your small life.You cannot hold gravityor seasons; even air and waterinevitably evade your grasp.Why not, then, let go?You could move through timelike a shark through water,neither restless or ceasing,absorbed in and absorbingthe native element.Why pretend you can do otherwise?The world comes in at every pore,mixes in your blood beforebreath [..] > read more
Bill Bonner, “Risky Investments in a Market Full of Conmen”
Published on 2012-04-27 23:35:00
“Risky Investments in a Market Full of Conmen”by Bill Bonner"Dow up more than 100 points yesterday. Gold up $18. Google…Apple…what more do you need to know? “Blah, blah, blah…don’t you feel you’re wasting your time?” Our friend was being sympathetic. She gave us a look of pity, tightly controlling her face muscles; as if it might slide into contempt at any moment. After spending so much time with rocks, dirt, cement…cattle, grapes…doing such real things, we admitted that wr [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-27 22:25:00
"The dark Horsehead Nebula and the glowing Orion Nebula are contrasting cosmic vistas. Adrift 1,500 light-years away in one of the night sky's most recognizable constellations, they appear in opposite corners of the above stunning mosaic. > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-27 22:06:00
Tangerang, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Don't Give Up..."
Published on 2012-04-27 22:03:00
"The Purpose Of Life..."
Published on 2012-04-27 22:02:00
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Seat of the Soul”
Published on 2012-04-27 21:47:00
“The Seat of the Soul” by Chet Raymo"It was not my first visit. I had been there once before to talk with the great man, to the Castle of Cloux, near Amboise, in the valley of the Loire. He had been living there since 1516, at the invitation of Francis I, king of France. He was 67 years old, bundled up in a thick fur wrap by a roaring fire. His face showed age but not infirmity. Long white hair fell about his shoulders. White beard. Thick, downswept brows shaded his eyes like awnings. A stro [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-27 15:25:00
Oh, we so deserve everything they're doing to us... - CP > read more
"Who Takes the Gold for Tax Avoidance in 2011?"
Published on 2012-04-27 15:16:00
"Who Takes the Gold for Tax Avoidance in 2011?"by Paul Buchheit"This is tax time, or in the case of many big businesses, just another time without taxes. These companies deserve to be recognized. With the help of SEC data and the results of several excellent research studies, PayUpNow.org has selected the ‘winners’ of the 2011 Tax Avoidance Awards.First a review of last year’s results. The top spot went to General Electric, which made pre-tax profits of $44 billion from 2008 to 2010 but re [..] > read more
"Bank Bailouts Explained"
Published on 2012-04-27 14:53:00
"Bank Bailouts Explained" by Omid Malekan"The story of the bank bailouts, and what we've gotten so far in return."www.omidmalekan.com- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yipV_pK6HXw&feature=youtu.be > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-26 23:22:00
“Drifting through the one-horned constellation Monoceros, these dusty streamers and new born stars are part of the active Monoceros R2 star-forming region, embedded in a giant molecular cloud. The cosmic scene was recorded by the VISTA survey telescope in near-infrared light. Visible light images show dusty NGC 2170, seen here just right of center, as a complex of bluish reflection nebulae. > read more
Chet Raymo, "Splat!"
Published on 2012-04-26 23:18:00
"Splat!"by Chet Raymo"In Stephen Crane's American classic, "The Red Badge of Courage," young Henry Fleming goes off to war fired by dreams of heroic sweep and grandeur. "He had read of marches, sieges, conflicts, and had longed to see it all. His busy mind had drawn for him large pictures extravagant in color, lurid with breathless deeds." In the war to preserve the Union he would mingle in one of the great affairs of the earth. He longs, yes longs, for the symbolic wound, the blood-red badge of [..] > read more
The Poet: Arthur O’Shaughnessy, "Music and Moonlight"
Published on 2012-04-26 21:13:00
"Music and Moonlight""We are the music makers,And we are the dreamers of dreams,Wandering by lone seabreakers,And sitting by desolate streams;World-losers and world-forsakers,On whom the pale moon gleams:Yet we are the movers and shakersOf the world forever, it seems…We, in the ages lyingIn the buried past of the earth,Built Ninevah with our sighing,And Babel itself in our mirth;And o’erthrew them with prophesyingTo the old of the new world’s worth;For each age is a dream that is dying,Or [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-26 20:58:00
Pine River, Minnesota, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
H.L. Mencken, "Democracy..."
Published on 2012-04-26 20:55:00
“Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby. Democracy gives the beatification of mediocrity a certain appearance of objective and demonstrable truth. The mob man, functioning as citizen, gets a feeling that he is really important to the world—that he is genuinely running things. Out of his m [..] > read more
“Internal Revenue Service Laying Claim To $18 Trillion Sitting In 401(k) Accounts?”
Published on 2012-04-26 20:43:00
“Internal Revenue Service Laying Claim To $18 Trillion > read more
"If My Answers Frighten You..."
Published on 2012-04-26 20:34:00
"If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions."- Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield, "Pulp Fiction" > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-26 16:51:00
Jim Quinn, “Epic Fail- Part One”
Published on 2012-04-26 16:31:00
“Epic Fail- Part One”by Jim Quinn, “The Burning Platform”“Facts are to the mind what food is to the body.” > read more
"The TSA's Mission Creep Is Making The US A Police State"
Published on 2012-04-26 15:53:00
"The TSA's Mission Creep Is Making The US A Police State"by Jennifer Abel․ "Thus did a handful of rapacious citizens come to control all that was worth controlling in America. Thus was the savage and stupid and entirely inappropriate and unnecessary and humorless American class system created. Honest, industrious, peaceful citizens were classed as bloodsuckers, if they asked to be paid a living wage. And they saw that praise was reserved henceforth for those who devised means of getting paid e [..] > read more
Derrick Jensen, “Love Does Not Imply Pacifism.”
Published on 2012-04-26 04:08:00
“Love Does Not Imply Pacifism.”by Derrick Jensen“The people in power will not disappear voluntarily; giving flowers to the cops just isn’t going to work. This thinking is fostered by the establishment; they like nothing better than love and nonviolence. The only way I like to see cops given flowers is in a flower pot from a high window.”- William S. Burroughs“Many hundreds of pages ago, and now for me many years ago, I wrote that this book was originally going to be an explorati [..] > read more
The Poet: Robert Frost, "The Woods Are Lovely..."
Published on 2012-04-26 00:17:00
"A Maze Or Labyrinth..."
Published on 2012-04-25 23:20:00
"The difficulty in dealing with a maze or labyrinth lies not so much in navigating the convolutions to find the exit but in not entering the damn thing in the first place. Or, at least not yet again. As a creature of free will, do not be tempted into futility."- Vera Nazarian > read more
Chet Raymo
Published on 2012-04-25 22:03:00
“The Journey”by Chet Raymo“Here's a deep-deep sky map of the universe from "Nature." The horizontal scale is a 360 view right around the sky; the vertical gaps at 6 hours and 24 hours are the parts of the universe that are blocked to our view by the disk of our own Milky Way Galaxy. The vertical scale - distance from Earth - is logarithmic (10, 100, 1000, etc.) measured in megaparsecs (a parsec equals 3.26 light-years). Across the top is the Big Bang, and the oldest and most distant thing [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-25 21:54:00
"Did you see it? One of the more common questions during a meteor shower occurs because the time it takes for a meteor to flash is typically less than the time it takes for a head to turn. Possibly, though, the glory of seeing bright meteors shoot across and knowing that they were once small pebbles on another world might make it all worthwhile, even if your observing partner(s) could not share in every particular experience. > read more
"Nuclear Peril: Why Fukushima is a Greater Disaster Than Chernobyl"
Published on 2012-04-25 18:14:00
"Nuclear Peril: > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-25 17:41:00
Coppenbrügge, Niedersachsen, Germany.Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“The Truth Revealed About Debt and Deficits”
Published on 2012-04-25 17:24:00
"How Employment and Economic Growth are Hindered by Politics"
Published on 2012-04-25 17:08:00
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-25 12:08:00
The Universe
Published on 2012-04-25 03:38:00
"A main "Criterion of Consciousness" for the human experience is never having all you want. For as one dream comes true, another swiftly takes its place. Not having all you want is one of life's constants. And learning to be happy while not yet having all you want is the first "Criterion of Joy." Nail it, and for the rest of your life people will be asking what it is about you. Yeah, as if they weren't already asking.""Desire is a beautiful thing." > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-24 22:33:00
"Big beautiful spiral galaxy M66 lies a mere 35 million light-years away. About 100 thousand light-years across, the gorgeous island universe is well known to astronomers as a member of the Leo Triplet of galaxies. In M66, pronounced dust lanes and young, blue star clusters sweep along spiral arms dotted with the tell-tale glow of pink star forming regions. > read more
“Japan Reactor Core Damage Worse Than Thought”
Published on 2012-04-24 20:47:00
“Japan Reactor Core Damage Worse Than Thought”By Joe Carroll and Michio NakayamaThis article, originally posted on May 20, 2011, provides excellent information about the current situation, which is relatively unchanged, certainly not under control. - CP“Tokyo Electric Power Co. said one of the reactor cores at its stricken Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant is more seriously damaged than previously thought, setting back the utility’s plan to resolve the crisis. Fuel rods in the core of [..] > read more
"Meltdown: What Really Happened At Fukushima?"
Published on 2012-04-24 20:42:00
"Meltdown: What Really Happened At Fukushima?"by Jake Adelstein and David McNeill"It’s been one of the mysteries of Japan’s ongoing nuclear disaster: how much of the damage did the March 11 earthquake inflict on Fukushima Daiichi's reactors in the 40 minutes before the devastating tsunami arrived? The stakes are high: if the quake alone structurally compromised the plant and the safety of its nuclear fuel, then every other similar reactor in Japan is at risk.Throughout the months of l [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-24 18:42:00
Santa Rosa, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Kurt Vonnegut: Quotes And Comments"
Published on 2012-04-24 18:40:00
"Kurt Vonnegut: Quotes And Comments"by > read more
Chet Raymo, "Like Rubies Ringed With Gold"
Published on 2012-04-24 18:33:00
"Like Rubies Ringed With Gold"by Chet Raymo"Here's a new Hubble Space Telescope composite photograph of two colliding galaxies in the constellation Corvus. Click to enlarge or look for large image on the link.Each of the three books of Dante's "Divine Comedy" ends with the same words: "the stars." The Inferno concludes with distant stars glimpsed through the narrow exit of hell. "We emerged," says the poet, "and saw the stars." The poet's journey through Purgatory ends on Earth's highest mountai [..] > read more
"PTSD and Child Sexual Abuse"
Published on 2012-04-24 18:03:00
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-24 16:11:00
"Congress"
Published on 2012-04-24 15:59:00
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-23 21:37:00
“Some 60 million light-years away in the southerly constellation Corvus, two large galaxies collided. But the stars in the two galaxies, cataloged as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, don't collide in the course of the ponderous event, lasting hundreds of millions of years. Instead, their large clouds of molecular gas and dust do, triggering furious episodes of star formation near the center of the cosmic wreckage. > read more
Chet Raymo, “When Scientists Turn”
Published on 2012-04-23 21:32:00
“When Scientists Turn”by Chet Raymo"The renowned psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton was the speaker at Stonehill's commencement. The most recent of his books I have read is “The Nazi Doctors” (Basic Books, 1986), an account of the the Nazi perversion of medical science during the middle of the past century, It is a book that every scientist (indeed, evey human) could read with profit as a cautionary tale.Not that many of us are likely to turn science to such evil purpose. In the face of the [..] > read more
"Illusions..."
Published on 2012-04-23 21:18:00
"I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, > read more
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "The Apple Orchard"
Published on 2012-04-23 21:05:00
"The Apple Orchard""Come let us watch the sun go downand walk in twilight through the orchard's green.Does it not seem as if we had for longcollected, saved and harbored within usold memories? To find releases and seeknew hopes, remembering half-forgotten joys,mingled with darkness coming from within,as we randomly voice our thoughts aloudwandering beneath these harvest-laden treesreminiscent of Durer woodcuts, brancheswhich, bent under the fully ripened fruit,wait patiently, trying to outlast, [..] > read more
"Cell Phone Study Suggests Female Relationships Shape Society"
Published on 2012-04-23 20:55:00
"Cell Phone Study Suggests Female Relationships Shape Society"By Daisy Yuhas"An analysis of 1.95 billion cell phone calls and 489 million text messages reveal how men and women follow different relationship patterns during their lifetimes. The researchers argue that women's friendships in particular drive the process of finding a mate and supporting the next generation. The data could also undermine traditional notions about how humans like to organize themselves. "There has been a view in anthr [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-23 17:18:00
Kansas City, Kansas, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Derrick Jensen, "No, We Can't Have It All"
Published on 2012-04-23 16:51:00
"No, We Can't Have It All"by Derrick Jensen"We all face choices. We can have ice caps and polar bears, or we can have automobiles. We can have dams or we can have salmon. We can have irrigated wine from Mendocino and Sonoma counties, or we can have the Russian and Eel Rivers. We can have oil from beneath the oceans, or we can have whales. We can have cardboard boxes or we can have living forests. We can have computers and cancer clusters from the manufacture of those computers, or we can h [..] > read more
“The Aftermath of Deepwater Horizon”
Published on 2012-04-23 16:37:00
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-23 16:29:00
"Poverty In America: Defining The New Poor"
Published on 2012-04-23 13:35:00
"Poverty In America: Defining The New Poor"by NPR Staff"Welfare changes in the 1990s helped slash cash benefit rolls, yet the use of food stamps is soaring today. About 15 percent of Americans use food stamps. The program has become what some call the new welfare. A big reason why is a deal struck between President Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress in 1996. At that time, the number of Americans who received cash payments — what's often thought of as welfare — was at an all-time [..] > read more
"Willingness to Feel: Opening to Understanding"
Published on 2012-04-23 04:49:00
"Willingness to Feel: Opening to Understanding"by The DailyOM"When we are resisting something based on a limited understanding, we must then open ourselves to willingness. There are times when we may find ourselves struggling or even fighting with our thoughts and emotions. We may feel that something must be done in a certain way or not at all, or there may be some other situation that feels absolutely black and white. But life is not this way—it’s the way we are looking at our experiences t [..] > read more
"A Moment With Nature: Jan Mulder, “Sailing Sunny Seas”
Published on 2012-04-23 04:29:00
Jan Mulder, “Sailing Sunny Seas”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1jJphqNhcM > read more
"If The Earth Were Only A Few Feet In Diameter..."
Published on 2012-04-23 04:22:00
"If the earth were only a few feet in diameter, floating a few feet above a field somewhere, people would come from everywhere to marvel at it. People would walk around it marveling at its big pools of water, its little pools, and the water flowing between the pools. People would marvel at the bumps on it, and the holes in it, and they would marvel at the very thin layer of gas surrounding it and the water suspended in the gas. The people would marvel at all the creatures walking around the surf [..] > read more
"See Yourself..."
Published on 2012-04-23 04:03:00
"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them."- Marcus Aurelius > read more
Musical Interlude: Chuck Wild, “Liquid Mind V: Serenity - Awakening.”
Published on 2012-04-23 00:40:00
Chuck Wild, > read more
Chet Raymo, "Ancient Mother Of The World"
Published on 2012-04-23 00:19:00
"Ancient Mother Of The World"by Chet Raymo"'Nature Unveiling Herself To Science,' created by Louis Barrias in 1899, stands on a pedestal in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. The sculpture gives expression to one of the oldest themes in philosophy - and one of the most enduring. Sometime in the early 5th century B.C., Heraclitus famously said "Nature loves to hide." Forget for the moment that this three-word fragment of Greek text (phusis kruptesthai philei) lends itself to various translations. "Natur [..] > read more
"What We Really Conquer..."
Published on 2012-04-22 20:48:00
"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."- Sir Edmund Hillary > read more
"Meanwhile, On Mars: Barchan Sand Dunes"
Published on 2012-04-22 20:33:00
"When does Mars act like a liquid? Although liquids freeze and evaporate quickly into the thin atmosphere of Mars, persistent winds may make large sand dunes appear to flow and even drip like a liquid. Visible on the above image right are two flat top mesas in southern Mars when the season was changing from Spring to Summer. A light dome topped hill is also visible on the far left of the image. As winds blow from right to left, flowing sand on and around the hills leaves picturesque streaks. The [..] > read more
"Doing The Best They Can..."
Published on 2012-04-22 19:53:00
"Reality is much more complex than any judgment of right and wrong encourages you to believe. When you really understand the ethical, spiritual, social, economic, and psychological forces that shape individuals, you will see that people's choices are not based on a desire to hurt. Instead, they are in accord with what they know and what world views are available to them. Most are doing the best they can, given what information they've received and what problems they are facing."- Michael Lerner > read more
"Experiment: Microwaved Water Killed The Plants In Just Days"
Published on 2012-04-22 19:40:00
"Experiment: Microwaved Water Killed The Plants In Just Days"by Marco Torres“f you're a regular reader of any type of website that thrives to educate on natural and toxic-free living, then you probably disposed of your microwave long ago. If you still use a microwave and just stumbled on this information, pay close attention as all the information on this page will eventually lead you to throw out your nuker and get back to old fashioned heating methods which are far more effective for your lo [..] > read more
"Man's Best Friend: Dog 'Dominance' Theory Wrong"
Published on 2012-04-22 02:47:00
"Man's Best Friend: Dog 'Dominance' Theory Wrong" by PhysOrg"A new study shows how the behaviour of dogs has been misunderstood for generations: in fact using misplaced ideas about dog behaviour and training is likely to cause rather than cure unwanted behaviour. The findings challenge many of the dominance related interpretations of behaviour and training techniques suggested by current TV dog trainers. Contrary to popular belief, aggressive dogs are NOT trying to assert their dominance over th [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-21 19:52:00
"Despite their resemblance to R2D2, these three are not the droids you're looking for. Instead, the enclosures house 1.8 meter Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) at Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert region of Chile. The ATs are designed to be used for interferometry, a technique for achieving extremely high resolution observations, in concert with the observatory's 8 meter Very Large Telescope units. > read more
Chet Raymo, "Because I Dread The Loss of Heaven And The Fires Of Hell"
Published on 2012-04-21 19:48:00
"Because I Dread The Loss of Heaven And The Fires Of Hell"by Chet Raymo“The fun thing about the Irish Times is that opinion pieces spill over onto the letters page and sometimes the discussions go on for weeks. We are still getting reaction to the World Atheist convention that was held in Dublin shortly in June, 2011. Richard Dawkins was the most prominent participant. In an opinion piece this past week, the eminent theologian James Mackey took Dawkins, et. al. implicitly to task for profferin [..] > read more
“The Farewell”
Published on 2012-04-21 19:24:00
“The Farewell”“Farewell to you and the youth I have spent with you.It was but yesterday we met in a dream.You have sung to me in my aloneness, and I of your longings have built a tower in the sky.But now our sleep has fled and our dream is over, and it is no longer dawn.The noontide is upon us and our half waking has turned to fuller day, and we must part.If in the twilight of memory we should meet once more,we shall speak again together and you shall sing to me a deeper song.And if our ha [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-21 17:51:00
Welland, Ontario, Canada. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Absurdities, Atrocities..."
Published on 2012-04-21 17:01:00
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."- Voltaire > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-21 16:24:00
"What If the Greedy Rich Paid Their Share?"
Published on 2012-04-21 16:20:00
"Unplugging Americans From The Matrix"
Published on 2012-04-21 15:57:00
"Unplugging Americans From The Matrix"by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts"China is often a country about which Washington’s moralists get on their high horse. However, China’s “authoritarian” government is actually more responsive to its people than America’s “elected democratic” government. Moreover, however incomplete on paper the civil liberties of China’s people, the Chinese government has not declared that it can violate with impunity whatever rights Chinese citizens have. And it is n [..] > read more
"Bottom-Bouncing Economy"
Published on 2012-04-21 14:30:00
"Bottom-Bouncing Economy"By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com “Bottom-bouncing” is the term John Williams of Shadowstats.com uses consistently to describe the true state of the economy. > read more
"Cat and Mouse"
Published on 2012-04-20 22:52:00
"Truth is, you're always going to lose when you > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-20 22:41:00
“Except for the rings of Saturn, the Ring Nebula (M57) is probably the most famous celestial band. Its classic appearance is understood to be due to perspective - our view from planet Earth looks down the center of a roughly barrel-shaped cloud of glowing gas. But expansive looping structures are seen to extend far beyond the Ring Nebula's familiar central regions in this intriguing composite of ground based and Hubble Space Telescope images with narrowband image data from Subaru. > read more
"Hope..."
Published on 2012-04-20 22:37:00
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. > read more
"Why Is It Necessary To Turn The United States Into A Prison Camp?"
Published on 2012-04-20 22:17:00
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-20 19:42:00
Athens, Attiki, Greece. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Paulo Coelho, “Searching For Meaning”
Published on 2012-04-20 19:38:00
“Searching For Meaning”by Paulo Coelho“At such a moment it is not the physical pain which hurts the most (and this applies to adults as much as to punished children); it is the mental agony caused by the injustice, the unreasonableness of it all.” - Viktor Frankl“Terrible as it was, Viktor Frankl’s experience in Auschwitz reinforced what was already one of his key ideas. Life is not primarily a quest for pleasure, as Freud believed, or a quest for power, as Alfred Adler taught, but a [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics”
Published on 2012-04-20 19:25:00
“The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics”by Chet Raymo“Before I leave John Updike's bouquet of odes to natural processes, let me share these lines from "Ode to Entropy": > read more
"A Mad World..."
Published on 2012-04-20 19:13:00
“Where does one go from a world of insanity?Somewhere on the other side of despair.”- T.S. Eliot• > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-20 15:39:00
“Free $10 Million Loans For All!”
Published on 2012-04-20 15:27:00
“Free $10 Million Loans For All!”by Matt Taibbi“Have been on deadline this week, but wanted to post a few interesting links: > read more
The Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The Past"
Published on 2012-04-20 00:51:00
"A Choctaw Prayer"
Published on 2012-04-20 00:26:00
Musical Interlude: George Harrison, “What Is Life”
Published on 2012-04-20 00:14:00
George Harrison, “What Is Life” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XFfUt7HQWM > read more
"One's Past..."
Published on 2012-04-19 21:20:00
“One's past is what one is. > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-19 21:15:00
"Here lie familiar shapes in unfamiliar locations. On the left is an emission nebula cataloged as NGC 7000, famous partly because it resembles our fair planet's continent of North America. The emission region to the right of the North America Nebula is IC 5070, also known for its suggestive outlines as the Pelican Nebula. Separated by a dark cloud of obscuring dust, the two bright nebulae are about 1,500 light-years away. At that distance, the 4 degree wide field of view spans 100 light-years. > read more
Chet Raymo, "Philosophy 101"
Published on 2012-04-19 21:10:00
"Philosophy 101" > read more
Paulo Coelho, “Closing Cycles”
Published on 2012-04-19 21:00:00
“Closing Cycles”by Paulo Coelho“One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents’ house? Gone to live abr [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-19 18:36:00
Lytham, Lancashire, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"A Caveman’s Account of 'Civilized Society'”
Published on 2012-04-19 18:32:00
"A Caveman’s Account of 'Civilized Society'”by Joel Bowman"Freedom has a thousand charms to show,That slaves, howe’er contented, never know."- William Cowper, "Table Talk""Emblazoned across the lucre-basted exterior of the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington DC, reads one of the most intellectually polluted quotes any free mind is ever likely to encounter: “Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.” Its effortlessly officious author, associate Justice of the Unite [..] > read more
"Our Yesterdays..."
Published on 2012-04-19 18:26:00
"Our yesterdaysAre like a lonely and a ruined landWherein a breeze of recollection sighs-A fading land to which is no return."- Henry Abbey, "Invocation to the Sun" > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-18 22:47:00
“NGC 3314 is actually two large spiral galaxies which just happen to almost exactly line up. The foreground spiral is viewed nearly face-on, its pinwheel shape defined by young bright star clusters. But against the glow of the background galaxy, dark swirling lanes of interstellar dust appear to dominate the face-on spiral's structure. The dust lanes are surprisingly pervasive, and this remarkable pair of overlapping galaxies is one of a small number of systems in which absorption of light fro [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “Ad Deum Qui Laetificat Juventutem Meam”
Published on 2012-04-18 22:31:00
“Ad Deum Qui Laetificat Juventutem Meam”by Chet Raymo“And so it begins. On the woodland floor. The first paired leaves of the wild-lily-of-the-valley. The nodding blossom of the bellwort. The five-petaled gift of the wood anemone. The planet leans into the Sun. That old random tilt. Twenty-three-and-a-half degrees. It could have been more, or less. It could have been zero. If it had been zero, our lives would have been different in a myriad of ways. Not just the transformation of our physi [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-18 22:20:00
Coos Bay, Oregon, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“When the Good Do Bad”
Published on 2012-04-18 22:15:00
“When the Good Do Bad”By David Brooks"It’s always interesting to read the quotations of people who knew a mass murderer before he killed. They usually express complete bafflement that a person who seemed so kind and normal could do something so horrific. Friends of Robert Bales, who is accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians, have expressed similar thoughts. Friends and teachers describe him as caring, gregarious and self-confident before he — in the vague metaphor of common usage — [..] > read more
“How Wealth Reduces Compassion”
Published on 2012-04-18 22:01:00
“How Wealth Reduces Compassion”As Riches Grow, Empathy For Others Seems To Declineby Daisy Grewal"Who is more likely to lie, cheat, and steal—the poor person or the rich one? It’s temping to think that the wealthier you are, the more likely you are to act fairly. After all, if you already have enough for yourself, it’s easier to think about what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true: as people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other peo [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-18 19:52:00
From The This Is Just Too Stupid Dept: "Marines Return to Being 'Crusaders'”
Published on 2012-04-18 19:46:00
"Marines Return to Being 'Crusaders'”by Chris Rodda"In 2008, when Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 was preparing to deploy to Iraq, the unit’s commander, Lt. Col. William Lieblein, did something very wise and sensible — he changed the nickname of the unit from “Crusaders” back to its former name, the “Werewolves.” Stating the obvious, Lt. Col. Lieblein said, “The notion of being a crusader in that part of the world doesn’t float.”But now, under new leadership, the unit is g [..] > read more
"The Fundamental Structure of Money"
Published on 2012-04-18 19:21:00
"The Fundamental Structure of Money"by Washington’s Blog“The first 47 minutes of this video from Claremont Colleges’ Center for Process Studies’ conference, “Money-Creation in a Finite World,” is Carl Herman’s presentation to explain how credit and monetary reform, and their trillions of dollars in annual benefits for Americans, are only possible when the 1%’s criminals who manage this system are removed from power. This conclusion is from personal experience of both parties’ p [..] > read more
“Iran: The Trap of Financial Warfare”
Published on 2012-04-18 18:21:00
“Iran: The Trap of Financial Warfare”by Hera Research“One of the key reasons why the U.S. has yet to experience a sovereign debt crisis is that the world reserve currency status of the U.S. dollar supports demand for the U.S. dollar and for U.S. federal government debt. > read more
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, "Moment of Grace, Part 1"
Published on 2012-04-18 02:07:00
Liquid Mind, "Moment of Grace, Part 1"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I61vm_nLNYg&feature=related > read more
"More Of A Challenge..."
Published on 2012-04-18 01:54:00
"Today, befriend a stranger, > read more
Ayn Rand, "Free Will"
Published on 2012-04-18 00:20:00
Chet Raymo, "Ratchet"
Published on 2012-04-18 00:13:00
"Ratchet"by Chet Raymo"My MacBook laptop has been annoying me with glitches that are signs of old age (or planned obsolescence). Am I sorry? Not really. At last I can justify buying what I've wanted for several years - a MacBook Air. And here it is, in my trembling hands, in a package so sleek and slim that one wonders where there is room for the circuitry, flash drive and battery. For my money, the Air is the most sublime manifestation of human technology on the planet today.As a graduate stude [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-17 23:27:00
“To the eye, this cosmic composition nicely balances the Bubble Nebula at the lower right with open star cluster M52. The pair would be lopsided on other scales, though. Embedded in a complex of interstellar dust and gas and blown by the winds from a single, massive O-type star, the Bubble Nebula, also known as NGC 7635, is a mere 10 light-years wide. > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-17 22:54:00
Saint George, Utah, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-17 18:45:00
Satire: "Fox News Wins Pulitzer for Fiction"
Published on 2012-04-17 18:21:00
"Fox News Wins Pulitzer for Fiction"Prize Committee Praises Imagination, Inventivenessby Andy BorowitzNEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – "In an unprecedented honor for the Rupert Murdoch-led network, the Fox News Channel today won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. In its official statement, the prize committee praised Fox for exhibiting “an imagination and inventiveness that rival the best of Charles Dickens and J.R.R. Tolkien.”In hailing Fox, the committee singled out the network’s fourteen [..] > read more
"Terms..."
Published on 2012-04-17 18:15:00
"If you haven't the strength to impose your own terms upon life,then you must accept the terms it offers you."- T.S. Eliot > read more
"So What’s The Matter With Just A Little Bit More Police State?"
Published on 2012-04-17 18:09:00
"So What’s The Matter With Just A > read more
"No Mercy..."
Published on 2012-04-17 03:05:00
"People don't have any mercy. They tear you limb from limb, in the name of love.Then, when you're dead, when they've killed you by what they made you go through,they say you didn't have any character. They weep big, bitter tears - not for you.For themselves, because they've lost their toy."- James Baldwin, “Another Country” > read more
Psychology: "Truth, Lies and Self-Deception"
Published on 2012-04-17 00:58:00
"Truth, Lies and Self-Deception"by Dr. Stephen Diamond"'Folie a deux' is an idiomatic French expression meaning "craziness of two." This fascinating syndrome is referred to diagnostically in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV-TR as Shared Psychotic Disorder, one of several types of psychosis. How common is this condition, what causes it, and what can it teach us about the nature and perils of self-deception?A delusion is, by definition, a psychotic symptom: a fixed, false, irrational [..] > read more
The Poet: T. S. Eliot, “The Hollow Men”
Published on 2012-04-16 23:46:00
Chet Raymo, “The Devils Inside”
Published on 2012-04-16 22:17:00
“The Devils Inside”by Chet Raymo“I know it's unworthy of me, but sometime I wish he would just go away - Nicholas Kristof with his reports in the New York Times from the war zones of the Congo and Sudan. The gratuitous violence he describes churns the stomach and brings tears to the eyes. One feels helpless, and a little bit guilty. And shamed by those brave souls - I know several young people, the children of friends - who take themselves to the killing fields to do something for the vict [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-16 20:27:00
"From afar, the whole thing looks like an Eagle. A closer look at the Eagle Nebula, however, shows the bright region is actually a window into the center of a larger dark shell of dust. Through this window, a brightly-lit workshop appears where a whole open cluster of stars is being formed. In this cavity tall pillars and round globules of dark dust and cold molecular gas remain where stars are still forming. Already visible are several young bright blue stars whose light and winds are burning a [..] > read more
Kahlil Gibran, “The Asylum”
Published on 2012-04-16 20:24:00
“The Asylum”by Kahlil Gibran"I was strolling in the gardens of an insane asylum when I met a young man who was reading a philosophy book. His behavior and his evident good health made him stand out from the other inmates. I sat down beside him and asked: ‘What are you doing here?’He looked at me, surprised. But seeing that I was not one of the doctors, he replied: ‘It’s very simple. My father, a brilliant lawyer, wanted me to be like him. My uncle, who owns a large emporium, hoped I [..] > read more
"Fight or Flight: Who Runs Your Life?"
Published on 2012-04-16 20:17:00
"Fight or Flight: Who Runs Your Life?"by Tony Schwartz"Think, for a moment, about the life you're living. You skitter from activity to activity. The consequence is that you don't do anything particularly well. You're easily distracted and have difficulty paying attention. You rarely read anything challenging, if you read much at all, which is why so much of your knowledge is superficial. The same is true of your relationships. How does that description strike you? Have I got it pretty much right [..] > read more
Paulo Coelho, “The Bird And The Cage”
Published on 2012-04-16 19:55:00
"A Lunatic Asylum..."
Published on 2012-04-16 19:50:00
"My own view is that this planet is used as a penal colony, lunatic asylum and dumping ground by a superior civilization, to get rid of the undesirable and unfit. I can't prove it, but you can't disprove it either. It happens to be my view, but it doesn't challenge any of the findings of Darwin or Huxley or Einstein or Hawking."- Christopher Hitchens > read more
Rumi, "Secret Places"
Published on 2012-04-16 18:38:00
"Secret Places"․ "Lovers find secret placesinside this violent worldwhere they make transactionswith beauty.Reason says, Nonsense.I have walked and measured the walls here.There are no places like that.Love says, There are.Reason sets up a marketand begins doing business.Love has more hidden work.Hallaj steps away from the pulpitAnd climbs the stairs of the gallows.Lovers feel a truth inside themselvesThat rational people keep denying.It is reasonable to say, SurrenderIs just an idea that keep [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Live, “Overcome”
Published on 2012-04-16 05:16:00
Live, “Overcome”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnkRTneZNnE > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-15 21:21:00
"Fantastic shapes lurk in clouds of glowing hydrogen gas in NGC 6188. The emission nebula is found near the edge of a large molecular cloud, unseen at visible wavelengths, in the southern constellation Ara, about 4,000 light-years away. Massive, young stars of the embedded Ara OB1 association were formed in that region only a few million years ago, sculpting the dark shapes and powering the nebular glow with stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation. The recent star formation itself was li [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “Doing Good”
Published on 2012-04-15 21:14:00
“Doing Good”by Chet Raymo“The New York Sunday Times Magazine had an article about Professor Robert George of Princeton University, a Roman Catholic who has become a leading intellectual light of Catholic bishops and conservatives generally. George has been particularly effective in providing philosophical ammunition against abortion rights, embryonic stem-cell research, and same-sex marriage. It is not my intention to discuss these issues here; there are other more appropriate forums. I wo [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-15 21:04:00
Show Low, Arizona, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“Beyond Outrage: How Did These People Make So Much Money?”
Published on 2012-04-15 20:45:00
“Beyond Outrage: > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-15 20:35:00
"Snarling Banker"
Published on 2012-04-15 20:30:00
"Snarling Banker"by Jim Hightower "Woody Guthrie wrote a song titled "Jolly Banker," a perfect-pitch parody of the propensity of Depression-era bankers to feel good about gouging their small borrowers. Woody's song could also apply to the gouging we're getting from today's national chain banks, except the song's title should be "Snarling Banker." Only a couple of years ago, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and others were quite jolly, because they were piling up mountains of profit [..] > read more
Rumi, "Reason..."
Published on 2012-04-15 20:20:00
"I grabbed reason by its ear and said: > read more
Maya Angelou, “A Brave and Startling Truth”
Published on 2012-04-15 17:05:00
“A Brave And Startling Truth” > read more
"This Is Your Brain on Rose Colored Glasses"
Published on 2012-04-14 23:37:00
"This Is Your Brain on Rose Colored Glasses" > read more
"Not Enough..."
Published on 2012-04-14 22:14:00
"I love the valiant; but it is not enough to wield a broadsword, > read more
"The GOP Budget In One Chart"
Published on 2012-04-14 21:56:00
"The GOP Budget In One Chart"A Budget to Benefit the 1 PercentBy ThinkProgress War Room"Tax Day is coming up on April 17, so it’s worth remember who will pay more in taxes under the Ryan-Romney Republican budget — the poorest Americans — and whose taxes will be cut in dramatic fashion — the very wealthiest Americans.If the percentages aren’t shocking enough, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that the Ryan-Romney budget would give each millionaire a $265,000 tax cut on [..] > read more
"The Real Measure..."
Published on 2012-04-14 21:52:00
"The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money."- > read more
The Poet: William Stafford, "Just Thinking"
Published on 2012-04-14 21:36:00
"Just Thinking""Got up on a cool morning. Leaned out a window.No cloud, no wind. Air that flowers heldfor awhile. Some dove somewhere.Been on probation most of my life. Andthe rest of my life been condemned. So these momentscount for a lot- peace, you know.Let the bucket of memory down into the well,bring it up. Cool, cool minutes. No onestirring, no plans. Just being there.This is what the whole thing is about."- William Stafford > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-14 21:00:00
“How many moons does Saturn have? So far 62 have been discovered, the smallest only a fraction of a kilometer across. Six of its largest satellites can be seen here, though, in a sharp Saturnian family portrait taken on March 9. > read more
"The Wine, The Leaves..."
Published on 2012-04-14 20:57:00
"The wine of life is oozing drop by drop,The leaves of life are falling one by one."~ Omar Khayyam > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-14 19:18:00
San José, San Jose, Costa Rica. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Sword And The Scimitar”
Published on 2012-04-14 19:14:00
“The Sword And The Scimitar”by Chet Raymo“Just before daybreak on June 20, 1631, two ships manned by Barbary pirates and a force of Janissaries - elite troops of the Turkish Ottoman empire - slipped into the harbor of the fishing village of Baltimore, not far from here on the southwest coast of Ireland. With muffled oars they rowed ashore, surprising the villagers in their beds. The village was put to the torch, and nearly two dozen men, thirty-four women and fifty children - mostly Englis [..] > read more
Psychology: “Attachment vs. Detachment: Finding the Psychological Golden Mean”
Published on 2012-04-14 18:24:00
“Attachment vs. Detachment: > read more
"Addicted to Nonsense"
Published on 2012-04-14 01:26:00
"Addicted to Nonsense"By Chris Hedges“The chatter that passes for news, the gossip that is peddled by the windbags on the airwaves, the noise that drowns out rational discourse, and the timidity and cowardice of what is left of the newspaper industry reflect our flight into collective insanity. We stand on the cusp of one of the most seismic and disturbing dislocations in human history, one that is radically reconfiguring our economy as it is the environment, and our obsessions revolve around [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Moody Blues, “The Voice”
Published on 2012-04-13 23:38:00
Moody Blues, “The Voice” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0fYmW2pHI > read more
"Mountains: Keeping Things in Perspective"
Published on 2012-04-13 22:52:00
"Mountains: Keeping Things in Perspective"by The DailyOM"From the top of a mountain, we are able to witness life from a different perspective bringing us a new awareness. Mountains have always captured our imaginations, calling us to scale their heights, to circle and worship at their feet, and to pay homage to their greatness. Mountains can be seen from thousands of miles away, and if we are lucky enough to be on top of one, we can see great stretches of the surrounding earth. As a result, moun [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-13 22:23:00
“The most distant object easily visible to the unaided eye is M31, the great Andromeda Galaxy some two and a half million light-years away. But without a telescope, even this immense spiral galaxy - spanning over 200,000 light years - appears as a faint, nebulous cloud in the constellation Andromeda. In contrast, a bright yellow nucleus, dark winding dust lanes, gorgeous blue spiral arms and star clusters are recorded in this stunning telescopic digital mosaic.Click image for larger size.While [..] > read more
Satire: "North Korea Expelled from Axis of Evil
Published on 2012-04-13 20:43:00
"North Korea Expelled from Axis of Evil-Ahmadinejad Cites ‘Lack of Evil’"by Andy BorowitzPYONGYANG (The Borowitz Report) – "Just hours after an embarrassing launch of a rocket that crashed to the ground in a little over a minute, North Korea suffered another blow to its prestige as it was expelled from the Axis of Evil. The decision was announced by the presiding Chairman of the Axis of Evil, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who cited as the reason for the expulsion North Korea’s e [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “Another New York Experience”
Published on 2012-04-13 19:47:00
“Another New York Experience”by Chet Raymo"On the evening of Holy Saturday I happened to be walking down Amsterdam Avenue on the upper west side, near Columbia University, and passed the Anglican cathedral of St. John the Divine, a massive, never-finished, architectural mish-mash of Romanesque and Gothic that seems to have had for its only purpose out-doing the Roman Catholic cathedral downtown. I stepped inside. And there, in the vestibule of the un-illuminated church, white-robed celebrant [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-13 17:47:00
Puyallup, Washington, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Paulo Coelho, “Frogs Being Boiled”
Published on 2012-04-13 17:31:00
“Frogs Being Boiled”by Paulo Coelho“A lawyer friend of mine, Renato Pacca, sent me an interesting text: Several biological studies have shown that a frog placed in a container along with water from his pond, he will remain alive while you heat the water. The toad does not react to the gradual increase of temperature (change of environment) and only dies when the water boils, swollen and happy. On the other hand, if a toad is thrown into that same container when the water is already boiling [..] > read more
"Afformations: Change Your Life!"
Published on 2012-04-13 17:26:00
“Thoughts That Win”by Medical Express“Back in high school, on the soccer field, poised to take a crucial penalty kick, "I always had a lot of thoughts going on in my head; I think most people do" says sports psychologist Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis. "I was setting the ball and planning my shot; I was the captain and never missed those types of shots; then I had that thought striking me that it was not going to be good. I knew I was going to miss," he recalls, "and I did miss." Even then, [..] > read more
"You Realize..."
Published on 2012-04-13 16:57:00
"Do not think of a painful experience as a dark time in your life. You emerge out of everything learning something or becoming a better person. You realize who your real friends are, and how much your loved ones mean to you."- Colleen Ho > read more
“October 1307: An Unlucky Friday the 13th”
Published on 2012-04-13 02:49:00
“October 1307: An Unlucky Friday the 13th”King Phillip IV, Pope Clement V, and the Fall of the Knights TemplarBy Christopher Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon“King Phillip IV of France set his sights on the fabled riches of the Knights Templar. His aim was to destroy the Templar Order and confiscate all their treasuries and properties in France, but he had to achieve it legally. The one surefire way was to accuse them of crimes so heinous that, if proved, no one would dare come to their rescue. [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-12 22:55:00
“This complex of beautiful, dusty reflection nebulae lies in the constellation Scorpius along the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. Its overall outline suggests a horsehead in profile, though it covers a much larger region than the better known Horsehead Nebula of Orion. > read more
"Feeling Lonely: An Incomplete Understanding"
Published on 2012-04-12 22:42:00
"Feeling Lonely: An Incomplete Understanding"by The DailyOM"When we are feeling lonely, we have lost the idea that we are all one and none of us are separate from the whole. We all have days when we feel lonely, but the very idea of loneliness comes from the false notion that we are separate and isolated parts in a world filled with other separate, isolated parts. In truth, we can no more be separate from our world than a fish can be separate from the water in which it swims. When we really begi [..] > read more
"Character..."
Published on 2012-04-12 22:38:00
“You can easily judge the character of a man by > read more
"What is Heading Our Way?"
Published on 2012-04-12 22:27:00
"What is Heading Our Way?"by Charles Goyette․ “Caution is the eldest child of wisdom.”- Victor Hugo "Perhaps it's like shouting an alarm, unheard above the engine noise of two trains on a collision course. Or, screaming helplessly as a car slips its brakes and rolls toward a toddler playing at the bottom of the driveway. It is gruesome imagery and I apologize for invoking it. But if anything, it may be inadequate to the prospect before us. One only has to ask, "What is heading our way?"Hea [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-12 22:18:00
Sioux Center, Iowa, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Psychology: "Being in Power Does Not Always Magnify Personality"
Published on 2012-04-12 22:16:00
"Being in Power Does Not Always Magnify Personality"by ScienceBlog“If you want to test a man’s character, give him power,” said Abraham Lincoln. It’s a truism that power magnifies personality—but is it true? A new study says no. “Before, people thought that disposition is linked to will; it’s mainly internally driven,” says University College London psychologist Ana Guinote, who conducted the study with Mario Weick of the University of Kent and London doctoral student Alice Cai. [..] > read more
“Viking Robots Found Life On Mars In 1976, Scientists Say”
Published on 2012-04-12 22:01:00
“Viking Robots Found Life On Mars In 1976, Scientists Say”by Irene Klotz"New analysis of 36-year-old data, resuscitated from printouts, shows that NASA found life on Mars, an international team of mathematicians and scientists conclude in a paper published this week. Further, NASA doesn't need a human expedition to Mars to nail down the claim, neuropharmacologist and biologist Joseph Miller, with the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, told Discovery News. "The ultim [..] > read more
"Angels..."
Published on 2012-04-12 21:47:00
"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another." > read more
Chet Raymo, “Breaking The Grid”
Published on 2012-04-12 21:26:00
“Breaking The Grid”by Chet Raymo“While in New York City this past weekend I had the chance to the see the 8-foot-long, hand-drawn plan adopted by the Commissioners exactly 200 years ago for the future development of the city. The map (a portion of which is shown below) is the centerpiece of an exhibit called "The Greatest Grid" at the Museum of the City of New York.The colonial and post-Revolutionary city had developed more or less willy-nilly at the southern end of Manhattan Island. The n [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Renaissance, “Song of Scheherazade”
Published on 2012-04-12 02:04:00
Renaissance, “Song of Scheherazade”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GVEDSMFXMk•If you don't have time for the whole thing, at least skip to the last 6 minutes, and enjoy the absolutely astonishing high note Annie Haslam, she of the 5 octave voice, hits at the end. > read more
"The Night Pleases Us..."
Published on 2012-04-11 23:00:00
“I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-11 22:16:00
“The Fireworks Galaxy, also known as NGC 6946, a big, beautiful spiral galaxy located just 10 million light-years away, behind a veil of foreground dust and stars in the high and far-off constellation of Cepheus. From our vantage point in the Milky Way Galaxy, we see NGC 6946 face-on. > read more
Chet Raymo, “ID”
Published on 2012-04-11 21:54:00
“ID”by Chet Raymo“I have this fantasy of arriving at the Pearly Gates. Saint Peter checks his online ledger: "Yep, you're in," he says. I look over his shoulder and see a vast white building stretching into the distance. A big sign on the roof reads "ID Inc.""Is that building what I think it is?" I ask. > read more
Psychology: "What Do Men Really Want?"
Published on 2012-04-11 19:35:00
"What Do Men Really Want?"By Eric Jaffe"The study of male sexuality really should have ended in 1989. That year psychologists Russell Clark and Elaine Hatfield reported the results of a social experiment conducted on the campus of Florida State University. For the study they recruited young women to approach male students at random and have a brief conversation. Average-looking women, mind you—"moderately attractive," even "slightly unattractive"—in casual clothes. No supermodels; no stilett [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-11 18:27:00
Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"13 Ways the Government Tracks You"
Published on 2012-04-11 18:24:00
Satire: "'The Recovery Is Here!"
Published on 2012-04-11 18:05:00
"'The Recovery Is Here,' Reports Underemployed Man > read more
"Why the Fed Will Be Powerless to Stop The Real Crash"
Published on 2012-04-11 17:49:00
"Why the Fed Will Be Powerless to Stop The Real Crash" by Graham Summers"Over the last two years, I’ve been caught into believing a Crash was coming several times. In some ways I was right: we got sizable corrections of 15+%. But we never got the REAL CRASH I thought we would because the Fed stepped in. So what makes this time different? Several items:1) The Crisis coming from Europe will be far, far larger in scope than anything the Fed has dealt with before.2) The Fed is now politically toxi [..] > read more
"How It's Really Getting To Be"
Published on 2012-04-11 15:09:00
Musical Interlude: Simon and Garfunkel, “The Boxer”
Published on 2012-04-10 22:31:00
Simon and Garfunkel, “The Boxer”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKjEHfHINQ > read more
"Setting, Rising..."
Published on 2012-04-10 22:09:00
"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light, > read more
Charles Eisenstein, "A Gathering of the Tribe"
Published on 2012-04-10 21:40:00
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-10 21:35:00
“Drifting through the one-horned constellation Monoceros, these dusty streamers and new born stars are part of the active Monoceros R2 star-forming region, embedded in a giant molecular cloud. The cosmic scene was recorded by the VISTA survey telescope in near-infrared light. Visible light images show dusty NGC 2170, seen here just right of center, as a complex of bluish reflection nebulae. > read more
"Pass It On..."
Published on 2012-04-10 21:29:00
Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet: Self-Knowledge "
Published on 2012-04-10 19:27:00
"And a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.And he answered saying:Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.And it is well you should.The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to y [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-10 18:46:00
Oakhurst, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Sic Et Non”
Published on 2012-04-10 18:37:00
“Sic Et Non”by Chet Raymo“Richard Capobianco's explanation of what philosophers do - or should do - strikes me as on the mark. "So, to put it simply, good philosophy keeps our unknowing in view, and therefore keeps us thinking, keeps us questioning, keeps us wondering. Good philosophy keeps us unsettled in our knowing."Yes, it would be good to have a department in every college and university whose function is to remind us of the limitations of our knowing. There is enough dogmatism to go [..] > read more
"Our Choices..."
Published on 2012-04-10 18:30:00
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we really are, > read more
“How Dangerous is the Radioactive Wave Headed Toward the US?“
Published on 2012-04-10 17:27:00
“How Dangerous is the Radioactive Wave Headed Toward the US?““Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear, joins Thom Hartmann. California beware! A radioactive wave is headed toward the West Coast of the United States courtesy of the Fukushima nuclear disaster? So with nuclear power still wreaking havoc on the environment - why are the Japanese about to flip on more of their nuclear reactors?”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nJISxqqE-oA#! > read more
Alex Noble, “Lessons In Water, In Rock”
Published on 2012-04-09 23:58:00
“Lessons In Water, In Rock”by Alex Noble“The light focuses, a pattern emerges. You can be sure that most of your questions will resolve themselves eventually. Nothing is harder than this: > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-09 22:33:00
“How and why are all these stars forming? Found among the Small Magellanic Cloud's (SMC's) clusters and nebulae NGC 346 is a star forming region about 200 light-years across, pictured above by the Hubble Space Telescope. A satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is a wonder of the southern sky, a mere 210,000 light-years distant in the constellation of the Toucan (Tucana). > read more
Chet Raymo, "The Ogre And Us"
Published on 2012-04-09 22:30:00
"The Ogre And Us"by Chet Raymo"A passage from H. G. Wells' "Outline of History," 1920: "We know very little of the appearance of Neanderthal man, but this...seems to suggest an extreme hairiness, an ugliness, or a repulsive strangeness in his appearance over and above his low forehead, his beetle brows, his ape neck, and his inferior stature...Says Sir Harry Johnston, in a survey of the rise or modern man in his Views and Reviews: "The dim racial remembrance of such gorilla-like monsters, with c [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-09 22:12:00
Yreka, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“The Fuel Pools of Fukushima: The Greatest Short-term Threat To Humanity”
Published on 2012-04-09 20:41:00
“The Fuel Pools of Fukushima: > read more
"What Does Harm..."
Published on 2012-04-09 17:43:00
“If any man is able to convince me and show me that I do not think or act right, > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-09 17:30:00
•“There's class warfare all right, but it's my class,the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning.”- Warren Buffett•"You know, I've been around the ruling class all my life, and I've been > read more
Paul Krugman, "The Empathy Gap"
Published on 2012-04-09 16:59:00
"The Empathy Gap"by Paul Krugman"In general, I’m a numbers and concepts guy, not a feelings guy; when I go after someone like Paul Ryan, I emphasize his irresponsibility and dishonesty, not his evident lack of empathy for the less fortunate. Still, there are times — in Ryan’s case and more generally for much of his political tribe — when that lack of empathy just takes your breath away. Harold Pollack catches Ryan calling his proposed cuts in Medicaid, food stamps and more welfare reform [..] > read more
"Brush Fires..."
Published on 2012-04-09 16:51:00
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, > read more
The Economy: "There's No Painless Way Out"
Published on 2012-04-09 16:43:00
"There's No Painless Way Out"by Tyler Durden"Uncle Sam's bills of almost $4tn per year relative to his income of just over $2tn means that he does what most American's do - he borrows money - and it is this simple fact that underpins the reasoning that there is no painless way out of the mountain of debt that we have amassed over the last few decades. While none of this is new, the straightforward nature of this video's message makes it hard to argue, from anything other than an ivory tower, tha [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Yanni, “Acroyali/Standing in Motion”
Published on 2012-04-08 21:04:00
Yanni,“Live at the Acropolis,” “Acroyali/Standing in Motion”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67sx66QV0eI > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-08 17:50:00
“How big is Jupiter's moon Io? The most volcanic body in the Solar System, Io (usually pronounced "EYE-oh") is 3,600 kilometers in diameter, about the size of planet Earth's single large natural satellite. Gliding past Jupiter at the turn of the millennium, the Cassini spacecraft captured this awe inspiring view of active Io with the largest gas giant as a backdrop, offering a stunning demonstration of the ruling planet's relative size. > read more
"The Difference..."
Published on 2012-04-08 17:48:00
"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-08 17:37:00
Covent Garden, Westminster, United Kingdom.Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “All Night, In The Dark”
Published on 2012-04-08 17:32:00
“All Night, In The Dark”by Chet Raymo“Why do we so admire the poetry of Mary Oliver? She is not the most technically proficient poet around, and there is a disquieting sameness to her work. But we come back to her again and again. My volumes of Oliver's collected poems are the most dog-eared of any on my shelf. I think it is something about the way Oliver is able to get out of her body and into the skin of a hummingbird, a swan, a snake, or a black bear. She is a shape-shifter, a shaman. W [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-08 16:39:00
"On Roses"
Published on 2012-04-08 16:27:00
"On Roses""Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright. He dares not say ‘I think,’ ‘I am,’ but quotes some saint or sage. He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose. These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God to-day. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence. Before a leaf-bud has burst, its whole life acts; in the full- [..] > read more
“Let Me Not Pray..."
Published on 2012-04-08 15:54:00
“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,but to be fearless in facing them.Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,but for the heart to conquer it.Let me not look for allies in life’s battlefield,but to my own strength.Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved,but hope for the patience to win my freedom.Grant that I may not be a coward,feeling Your mercy in my success alone;But let me find the grasp of Your hand in my failure.”- Rabindranath Tagore > read more
"The Joy and Glory of the Climb..."
Published on 2012-04-08 15:44:00
"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."- Sir Winston Churchill > read more
Edward Abbey, "Benedicto"
Published on 2012-04-08 15:33:00
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets' towers into a dark primeval forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl, through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone [..] > read more
Happy Easter
Published on 2012-04-08 03:57:00
For those celebrating the holiday I wish you all a very Happy Easter.To all, a very good and happy day. > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Heart of the Nile”
Published on 2012-04-07 22:16:00
2002, “Heart of the Nile” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFVxudmqwNo&feature=related > read more
Alex Noble, “Final Flight”
Published on 2012-04-07 21:28:00
“Final Flight”by Alex Noble“And death shall have no dominion.Dead men naked they shall be oneWith the man in the wind and the west moon;When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,They shall have stars at elbow and foot;Though they go mad they shall be sane,Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;Though lovers be lost love shall not;And death shall have no dominion.”- Dylan Thomas“One spring when I was in New York, my friend Eric and I decided to be extrav [..] > read more
"An Interactive Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-07 18:33:00
"An Interactive Look to the Heavens" > read more
"Peak Civilization: MIT Research Team Predicts Global Economic Collapse and Precipitous Population Decline"
Published on 2012-04-07 18:18:00
"Peak Civilization: MIT Research Team Predicts Global > read more
"What is Hope?"
Published on 2012-04-07 17:43:00
"What is Hope?"by Rubin Alves > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-07 17:34:00
Juneau, Alaska, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, "Global Warming"
Published on 2012-04-07 17:31:00
"Global Warming"by Chet Raymo"Goodness," thought Alice to herself, "what a very strange place this is." Only a moment before, the sun had been shining brightly and Alice was quite comfortable in her pinafore. Now the snow was falling furiously, and lay on the ground as high as her waist. "I shall catch my death of cold," she said to no one in particular. No sooner had she spoken than the sun burst through the clouds and the snow melted away. Soon she was standing up to her ankles in water."What [..] > read more
Paulo Coelho, "Rebuilding The World"
Published on 2012-04-07 17:16:00
"Rebuilding The World"by Paulo Coelho"A father was trying to read the newspaper, but his little son kept pestering him. Finally, the father grew tired of this and, tearing a page from the newspaper – one that bore a map of the world – he cut it into several pieces and handed them to his son. ‘Right, now you’ve got something to do. I’ve given you a map of the world and I want to see if you can put it back together correctly.’He resumed his reading, knowing that the task would keep the [..] > read more
"Whatever Your Fate Is..."
Published on 2012-04-07 17:07:00
"Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need.” It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment- not discouragement- you will find the strength there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. Then, when looking back at your life, you will see [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Karunesh, “Journey Of The Heart”
Published on 2012-04-06 22:11:00
Karunesh, “Journey Of The Heart”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taNhPSXlXf8&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-06 19:43:00
“The small, northern constellation Triangulum harbors this magnificent face-on spiral galaxy, M33. Its popular names include the Pinwheel Galaxy or just the Triangulum Galaxy. M33 is over 50,000 light-years in diameter, third largest in the Local Group of galaxies after the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), and our own Milky Way. About 3 million light-years from the Milky Way, M33 is itself thought to be a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy and astronomers in these two galaxies would likely have spectacu [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “Diving”
Published on 2012-04-06 19:38:00
“Diving”by Chet Raymo“For my own part, I am pleased enough with surfaces - in fact they alone seem to me to be of much importance. Such things for example as the grasp of a child's hand in your own, the flavor of an apple, the embrace of friend or lover, the silk of a girl's thigh, the sunlight on rock and leaves, the feel of music, the bark of a tree, the abrasion of granite and sand, the plunge of clear water into a pool, the face of the wind - What else is there? What else do we need? [..] > read more
A Japanese Proverb: "A Teaching on Heaven and Hell"
Published on 2012-04-06 17:53:00
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-06 16:34:00
Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
The Poet: John O'Donohue, "Fluent"
Published on 2012-04-06 16:31:00
"Fluent""I would love to liveLike a river flows,Carried by the surpriseOf its own unfolding."~ John O'Donohue > read more
Psychology: “The 'Us-Them' Quiz"
Published on 2012-04-06 15:25:00
“The "Us-Them" Quiz:The Same Thing that Makes Us Love Makes Us Hate”Quiz yourself on your acceptance of other points of view.by Stanton Peele"A TV program staged a scene where a woman in Middle Eastern garb tried to buy bread in a store, and the clerk (planted by the program) berated her for her Arab sympathies. Most customers ignored the scene, but a few people jumped in to join the clerk in attacking the woman, including holding hr accountable for 9-11 and the Iraq War. Only one man active [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-06 15:04:00
"19 Signs Of Very Serious Economic Trouble On The Horizon"
Published on 2012-04-06 14:45:00
"19 Signs Of Very Serious Economic Trouble On The Horizon"by Michael Snyder"Most Americans have no idea how much economic trouble is heading our way. > read more
"Who Benefits From the Organized Violence of War?"
Published on 2012-04-06 07:42:00
"Who Benefits From the Organized Violence of War?"By Ed Kinane"A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny." > read more
"America Slides Into Fascism"
Published on 2012-04-06 05:03:00
"America Slides Into Fascism"by George Washington"The U.S. Supreme Court, based on the urging of the Obama administration,- has ruled that any prisoner - even those arrested for offenses such as dog leash laws, peaceful protests, and driving with an expired license - can be subject to a routine strip search upon entering prison. The government is also openly saying that it will use all of our smart devices, internet connections, and tv to spy on Americans.President Obama has issued an executive [..] > read more
Greg Hunter, "Weekly News Wrap-Up 4.6.12"
Published on 2012-04-06 04:52:00
"Weekly News Wrap-Up 4.6.12"By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com President Obama attacked the Supreme Court, this week, over his health care bill. > read more
"Litany Against Fear"
Published on 2012-04-05 22:34:00
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. > read more
Leo Buscaglia, “Loving Each Other”
Published on 2012-04-05 22:25:00
“Loving Each Other”by Leo Buscaglia“Emotional detachment, maintaining our distance from others, is being prescribed as a solution for avoiding pain. Neglect and abuse of children and the aged is a growing problem. Social and religious institutions, which in the past helped to set standards of behavior and brought people together in companionship, are actively downgraded. Individualism, independence, and personal freedom are valued above love, commitment, and cooperatio [..] > read more
Free Download: Joseph Campbell, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces"
Published on 2012-04-05 22:23:00
"Carl Jung, Modern Media & The Hero With A Thousand Faces"by Sensei"In the long run, the most influential book of the 20th Century may turn out to be Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With A Thousand Faces." It's certainly true that the book is having a major impact on writing and story-telling, but above all on movie-making. Aware or not, filmmakers like John Boorman, George Miller, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola owe their successes to the ageless pattern that Joseph C [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-05 22:12:00
"Sweeping from the eastern to western horizon, this 360 degree panorama follows the band of zodiacal light along the solar system's ecliptic plane. “Dust scattering sunlight produces the faint zodiacal glow that spans this fundamental coordinate plane of the celestial sphere, corresponding to the apparent yearly path of the Sun through the sky and the plane of Earth's orbit. The fascinating panorama is a mosaic of images taken from dusk to dawn over the course of a single night at two differen [..] > read more
The Poet: William Stafford, “A Message from Space”
Published on 2012-04-05 22:10:00
“A Message from Space”“Everything that happens is the message:you read an event and be one and wait,like breasting a wave, all the while knowingby living, though not knowing how to live.Or workers built an antenna - a dishaimed at stars - and they themselves are its message,crawling in and out, being worlds that loom,dot-dash, and sirens, and sustaining beams.And sometimes no one is calling but we turn upeye and ear - suddenly we fall intosound before it begins, the breathingso still it wa [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-05 19:51:00
Swansea, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Summary”
Published on 2012-04-05 19:49:00
“Summary”by Chet Raymo“Back in January, writing about Montaigne, I mentioned a column I wrote for the college newspaper nearly fifty years ago, called "Under a Skeptical Star." I took the title from a quote of the Scots poet/scholar William MacNeile Dixon: "If there be a skeptical star I was born under it, yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment." All these years later, that quote could be the epigram for this blog. I wrote in January: Skepticism and astonishment. Doubt every [..] > read more
"So Necessarily Mad..."
Published on 2012-04-05 19:41:00
"Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad > read more
Musical Interlude: Brulé and The American Indian Rock Opera
Published on 2012-04-05 04:11:00
Brulé and The American Indian Rock Opera at Aboriginal day 2009in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canadahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9s7eVvgl3o&feature=g-vrec&context=G29d2638RVAAAAAAAABw > read more
"We Are All Free..."
Published on 2012-04-05 03:53:00
Oriah Mountain Dreamer, "The Invitation"
Published on 2012-04-05 03:19:00
"The Invitation" "It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for,and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk lookinglike a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to knowif you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened bylife's betrayals or have become shriveled [..] > read more
"The Way"
Published on 2012-04-05 03:10:00
"The Way""Friend, I have lost the way.The way leads on.Is there another way?The way is one.I must retrace the track.It's lost and gone.Back, I must travel back!None goes there, none.Then I'll make here my place,(The road leads on),Stand still and set my face,(The road leaps on),Stay here, for ever stay.None stays here, none.I cannot find the way.The way leads on.Oh places I have passed!That journey's done.And what will come at last?The road leads on."~ Edwin Muir > read more
“The Great Depression II: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”
Published on 2012-04-05 02:17:00
“The Great Depression II: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” By James Quinn“Human history seems logical in afterthought but a mystery in forethought. Writers of history have a way of describing interwar societies as coursing from postwar to prewar as though people alive at the time knew when that transition occurred.” – Strauss & Howe, "The Fourth Turning""Watching pompous politicians, egotistical economists, arrogant investment geniuses, clueless media pundits, and self- proclaimed experts [..] > read more
"The Dangerous Myths of Fukushima"
Published on 2012-04-05 01:37:00
"The Dangerous Myths of Fukushima"by Joseph Mangano and Janette Sherman․ "The myth that Fukushima radiation levels were too low to harm humans persists, a year after the meltdown. > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-04 23:06:00
"What's the closest active galaxy to planet Earth? That would be Centaurus A, only 11 million light-years distant. Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy is also known as NGC 5128. Forged in a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies, Centaurus A's fantastic jumble of young blue star clusters, pinkish star forming regions, and imposing dark dust lanes are seen here in remarkable detail. > read more
"The Trouble With Most People..."
Published on 2012-04-04 22:52:00
"The trouble with most people is that they think with their > read more
The Poet: Lucille Clifton, "We Are Running"
Published on 2012-04-04 22:43:00
"We Are Running" "We are running,running andtime is clocking usfrom the edge like an onlydaughter.Our mothers stream before us,cradling their breasts in theirhands.Oh pray that what we wantis worth this running,pray that what we’re runningtowardis what we want."~ Lucille Clifton, "We Are Running"- http://www.panhala.net/Archive/we_are_running.html > read more
Satire: "Citing Safety Concerns, Somali Pirates Refuse to Board Cruise Ships"
Published on 2012-04-04 22:28:00
"When We have Time..."
Published on 2012-04-03 22:38:00
“How small a portion of our life it is that we really enjoy. In youth we are looking forward to things that are to come; in old age, we are looking backwards to things that are gone past; in manhood, although we appear indeed to be more occupied in things that are present, yet even that is too often absorbed in vague determinations to be vastly happy on some future day, when we have time...”- Charles Caleb Colton, “Lacon” > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Suddenly Yours”
Published on 2012-04-03 22:25:00
2002, “Suddenly Yours”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQn4U-IxDL8&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-03 22:20:00
“Many stars form in clusters. Galactic or open star clusters are relatively young swarms of bright stars born together near the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. Separated by about a degree on the sky, two nice examples are M46 (upper left) 5,400 light-years in the distance and M47 (lower right) only 1,600 light-years away toward the nautical constellation Puppis. Around 300 million years young M46 contains a few hundred stars in a region about 30 light-years across. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Brain/Mind”
Published on 2012-04-03 22:16:00
“Brain/Mind”by Chet Raymo“The brain is flesh. A softball-sized clump of meat. Blood and burger. But, oh, what meat! An estimated 100 billion neurons. Each neuron reaching out with spidery arms to touch thousands of others. Or almost touch, at connections called synapses. Each synapse in any one of about ten levels of excitation. One hundred trillion or so synapses, spidery tendrils almost touching.The mind, we'll agree, is inseparable from the brain. Or perhaps we should say that the mind [..] > read more
Paulo Coelho, “10 Lessons from Einstein”
Published on 2012-04-03 22:07:00
“10 Lessons from Einstein”by Paulo Coelho1. Follow Your Curiosity: “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”2. Perseverance is Priceless: “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”3. Focus on the Present: “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”4. The Imagination is Powerful: “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attraction [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-03 21:59:00
San Bernardino, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Radiation Levels in California Rain Recorded at 506% Above Normal"
Published on 2012-04-03 21:55:00
"Radiation Levels in California Rain Recorded at 506% Above Normal"by The Intel Hub"A radiation test carried out after a storm swept through Southern California has recorded radiation at 506% above normal background levels. The EnviroReporter, through their Inspector Alert nuclear radiation monitor, has conducted over 1,500 radiation tests with the most recent one being by far the highest levels seen.As noted in the YouTube description, the rain tested was composed primarily of sea mist formed o [..] > read more
"Are We Oppressed by Technology?"
Published on 2012-04-03 21:33:00
"Are We Oppressed by Technology?"by Jeffrey Tucker"Do we really need an iPad 3 after it seems as if iPad 2 was released only a few months ago? Was it absolutely necessary that Google give us Google+? Do phones really have to be “smart” when the old cell phones were just fine? For that matter, is it really necessary that everyone on the planet be instantly reachable by wireless videophone?The answer to each question is no. No innovation is absolutely necessary. In fact, the phone, flight, the [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-03 17:53:00
Satire: "Supreme Court Replaces Annual Physicals with Strip Searches"
Published on 2012-04-03 17:49:00
"In Controversial Decision, Supreme Court > read more
The Poet: James Broughton, “Having Come This Far”
Published on 2012-04-02 22:26:00
“Having Come This Far”“I've been through what my through was to be.I did what I could and couldn't.I was never sure how I would get there.I nourished an ardor for thresholds,for stepping stones and for ladders.I discovered detour and ditch.I swam in the high tides of greed.I built sandcastles to house my dreams.I survived the sunburns of love.No longer do I hunt for targets.I've climbed all the summits I need to,and I've eaten my share of lotus.Now I give praise and thanksfor what could no [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-02 22:12:00
“What's lighting up the Cigar Galaxy? M82, as this irregular galaxy is also known, was stirred up by a recent pass near large spiral galaxy M81. This doesn't fully explain the source of the red-glowing outwardly expanding gas, however. Recent evidence indicates that this gas is being driven out by the combined emerging particle winds of many stars, together creating a galactic superwind. > read more
Chet Raymo, “At Home In An Infinite Universe”
Published on 2012-04-02 22:08:00
“At Home In An Infinite Universe”by Chet Raymo“They are questions that bedeviled thinkers for thousands of years: Is the universe infinite or finite, eternal or of a finite age? It is certainly hard to imagine a universe that extends without limit in every direction, or a universe without a beginning or end. It is equally difficult to imagine a finite universe; what is beyond the edge? Or a beginning or end in time; how can something come from nothing? how can what is cease to be?The probl [..] > read more
"Cree Indian Prophecy"
Published on 2012-04-02 21:59:00
The Economy: "45 Facts"
Published on 2012-04-02 21:44:00
"45 Signs That America Will Soon Be A Nation With > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-02 20:42:00
Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“10 Signs It’s Time to Let Go”
Published on 2012-04-02 20:39:00
“10 Signs It’s Time to Let Go”by Marc“Holding on is being brave, but letting go and moving on is often what makes us stronger and happier. Here are ten signs it’s time to let go: > read more
"The Choices You've Made..."
Published on 2012-04-02 20:31:00
“If you’d like to know what your choices have been, look at yourself > read more
"Obligations: To Others and to Ourselves"
Published on 2012-04-02 20:20:00
"Obligations: To Others and to Ourselves"by The DailyOM"When we schedule too much in our lives trying to meet our obligations, we only end up draining our energy. We all encounter obligations in life, from spending time with family and friends to being present at important functions in the lives of the people who form our community. Many times, the obligations are actually fun and fulfilling, and we want to be there. At the same time, we all sometimes experience resistance to meeting these oblig [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-04-02 20:16:00
"There Is A Moment..."
Published on 2012-04-02 01:16:00
"There is a moment before a shape hardens, a color sets.Before the fixative or heat of kiln.The letter might still be taken from the mailbox.The hand held back by the elbow,the word kept between the larynx pulseand the amplifying drum-skin of the room's air.The thorax of an ant is not as narrow.The green coat on old copper weighs more.Yet something slips through it -looks around,sets out in the new direction, for other lands.Not into exile, not into hope. Simply changed.As a sandy track-rut chan [..] > read more
"Native American" Musical Interlude: Brulé, “Stomp Dance”
Published on 2012-04-01 22:04:00
Brulé, “Stomp Dance” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=709JVTnUN1Y&feature=relatedTurn it up! - CP > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-04-01 21:54:00
“In this alluring night skyscape recorded on March 26, a young Moon stands over the distant western horizon in conjunction with brilliant planet Venus. In the foreground, the Colorado River glistens in moonlight as it winds through the Grand Canyon, seen from the canyon's southern rim at Lipan Point. > read more
Paulo Coelho, “We Are The Revolution”; "Declaration Of Principles"
Published on 2012-04-01 21:48:00
“We Are The Revolution”by Paulo Coelho“My literature is totally committed with a new political attitude – human beings in search of their own identity. My books don’t talk about the old and used up process of the right/left but there is a revolution that is slowly rising up which the press doesn’t seem to have detected yet. If I had to sum up the whole idea in only one expression, I’d say that the new political attitude for our era is to “die alive and commited.” In other words [..] > read more
Archaeology: “From Foraging To Farming: The 10,000-Year Revolution”
Published on 2012-04-01 21:18:00
“From Foraging To Farming: The 10,000-Year Revolution”by PhysOrg“Excavation of 19,000-year-old hunter-gatherer remains, including a vast camp site, is fuelling a reinterpretation of the greatest fundamental shift in human civilisation – the origins of agriculture. The moment when the hunter-gatherers laid down their spears and began farming around 11,000 years ago is often interpreted as one of the most rapid and significant transitions in human history – the ‘Neolithic Revolution’ [..] > read more
“Optogenetics: How to Use Light to Control the Brain”
Published on 2012-04-01 21:07:00
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-04-01 18:35:00
Tehachapi, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"A Video Moment With Nature"
Published on 2012-04-01 18:24:00
Ralf Illenberger and Budi Siebert, "Falling Water"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FtBxYy-7PY > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “Evidence”
Published on 2012-04-01 18:18:00
“Evidence”“Where do I live? If I had no address, as many peopledo not, I could nevertheless say that I lived in thesame town as the lilies of the field, and the still waters.Spring, and all through the neighborhood now there arestrong men tending flowers.Beauty without purpose is beauty without virtue.But all beautiful things, inherently, have this function -to excite the viewers toward sublime thought.Glory to the world, that good teacher.Among the swans there is none called the least,or [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “Walking Wary”
Published on 2012-04-01 17:50:00
“Walking Wary”by Chet Raymo“Virginia Woolf called them "moments of being," those unanticipated encounters with something in nature (including, of course, human nature) that sets one back on one's heels, drops the jaw, sends chills up the spine. I use clichés, but the experiences are anything but clichés. What makes them special is the way they break through and illuminate what Woolf calls "the grey cotton wool" of everyday experience.Sylvia Plath describes these rare and precious encount [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, "Remember Now"
Published on 2012-03-31 23:28:00
2002, "Remember Now"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq4qjI8VVzg > read more
"California Slammed With Fukushima Radiation"
Published on 2012-03-31 22:45:00
"California Slammed With Fukushima Radiation"by Washington's Blog"The Journal Environmental Science and Technology reports in a new study that the Fukushima radiation plume contacted North America at California “with greatest exposure in central and southern California”, and that Southern California’s seaweed tested over 500% higher for radioactive iodine-131 than anywhere else in the U.S. and Canada. Projected paths of the radioactive atmospheric plume emanating from the Fukushima reactor [..] > read more
"This I Believe..."
Published on 2012-03-31 20:44:00
"This I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual."- John Steinbeck > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-31 20:26:00
“Big, beautiful, barred spiral galaxy NGC 1300 lies some 70 million light-years away on the banks of the constellation Eridanus. This Hubble Space Telescope composite view of the gorgeous island universe is one of the largest Hubble images ever made of a complete galaxy. > read more
"Who Are You? How Do You Know?"
Published on 2012-03-31 20:15:00
"Go without a coat when it's cold; find out what cold is. Go hungry; keep your existence lean. Wear away the fat, get down to the lean tissue and see what it's all about. The only time you define your character is when you go without. In times of hardship, you find out what you're made of and what you're capable of. If you're never tested, you'll never define your character."- Henry Rollins > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Dark Night”
Published on 2012-03-31 20:03:00
“The Dark Night”by Chet Raymo“I first read Soren Kierkegaard's “Fear and Trembling” at about the same age as Kierkegaard was when he wrote it - thirty. The young philosopher was wrestling with his dark demons, including the death of his father, a sternly religious man who demanded absolute obedience from his son. He was torn between the opposing demands of faith and reason, certainity and doubt. In the opening pages of the book, he takes us with Abraham and Isaac on that terrible journ [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-31 19:56:00
Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Anyway..."
Published on 2012-03-31 19:54:00
“People are often unreasonable,Illogical, and self-centered;Forgive them anyway.If you are kind,People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;Be kind anyway.If you are successful,You will win some false friends and some true enemies;Succeed anyway.If you are honest and frank,People may cheat you;Be honest and frank anyway.What you spend years building,Someone could destroy overnight;Build anyway.If you find serenity and happiness,Others may be jealous;Be happy anyway.The good you do today [..] > read more
"Why Does The Department Of Homeland Security Need 450 Million Hollow Point Bullets?"
Published on 2012-03-31 19:38:00
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-31 15:47:00
How very convenient for the 1%... - CP > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-31 00:53:00
“Hitler’s Blackberry”
Published on 2012-03-31 00:10:00
“Hitler’s Blackberry”by Dan Denning"Poor old Ben Bernanke has a deflation phobia. He sees it everywhere the way the kid in The Sixth Sense saw dead people. And Bernanke is equally terrified of falling stock prices (and their effect on consumer confidence). Falling stock prices are what some people call deflation, or asset price deflation. Bernanke, the governor of the US Federal Reserve, believes the Fed made the Depression a Great Depression by raising interest rates too soon during the U [..] > read more
Greg Hunter, "Weekly News Wrap-Up 3.30.12"
Published on 2012-03-30 23:46:00
"Weekly News Wrap-Up 3.30.12"By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com A budget has been passed in the House of Representatives by the Republicans that cut $5.3 trillion over the next 10 years. > read more
Back, Regular Posting Resumes Shortly
Published on 2012-03-30 23:44:00
OK, back from the mini-sabbatical, regular posting will resume by Monday, sporadic until I can catch up with the world. Commenting is restored. Thanks for your patience, folks, I hope you're all well. - CP > read more
No, Not Back...
Published on 2012-03-26 17:07:00
No, I'm not back from my little sabbatical, today's posts are just a quick check in and update. I hope you're all well, will see you again in a week or so.- CP > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-26 17:05:00
"Everybody's a Target in the American Surveillance State"
Published on 2012-03-26 16:44:00
"Everybody's a Target in the American Surveillance State"By John W. Whitehead“Everybody’s a target; everybody with communication is a target.”- A senior intelligence official previously involved with the Utah Data CenterIn the small town of Bluffdale, Utah, not far from bustling Salt Lake City, the federal government is quietly erecting what will be the crown jewel of its surveillance empire. Rising up out of the desert landscape, the Utah Data Center (UDC)—a $2 billion behemoth designed [..] > read more
"A Revolutionary Idea..."
Published on 2012-03-26 16:44:00
(The image of Uncle Sam used here is suggestive of the concept of"We, the People," not that out-of-control monstrosity in Washington, D.C. - CP) > read more
"You Are the One You Are Waiting for: Turn to Yourself"
Published on 2012-03-26 16:44:00
"You Are the One You Are Waiting for: Turn to Yourself"by The DailyOM"Ultimately, you are the one. We spend a lot of our lives looking for role models, mentors, teachers, and gurus to guide us on our path. There is nothing wrong with this and, in fact, finding the right person at the right time can really help. However, it is important to realize that in the absence of such a figure, we can very safely rely upon ourselves. We carry within us everything we need to know to make progress on our pat [..] > read more
“Preparing for the Unimaginable”
Published on 2012-03-26 16:44:00
“Preparing for the Unimaginable”by Dave Pollard “One of the lessons of Nassim Taleb’s “The Black Swan” is that the events that have caused the greatest changes (and collectively most of the substantive change) to our civilization and our way of life were completely unexpected, unpredictable “black swan” events. His new book argues that rather than trying to plan and prepare for a future we can’t predict, we should do things that improve our resilience, and create systems that a [..] > read more
"Energies Of Life..."
Published on 2012-03-26 16:43:00
“Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scareyou unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.” > read more
"It's a Dead-Man-Walking Economy"
Published on 2012-03-26 16:43:00
"It's a Dead-Man-Walking Economy"By Doug Casey, Casey Research"In an interview with Louis James, the inimitable Doug Casey throws cold water on those celebrating the economic recovery. [Skype rings: It's Doug Casey, calling from Cafayate, Argentina. He sounds tired, but pleased with himself.]Doug: Lobo, get out your mower; it's time to cut down some green shoots again, and debunk a bit of the so-called recovery.Louis: Ah. I have to say, Doug, the so-called recovery is looking more than "so-calle [..] > read more
"The Great Puzzle..."
Published on 2012-03-26 16:43:00
"I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!" - Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland" > read more
"Time Out"
Published on 2012-03-22 18:29:00
I'll be away and offline for the next 10 days or so attending to personal matters. This is not permanent, I will be back. Meanwhile, there are 18,441 posts here for your consideration, and the "Favorites" side bars have links for literally everything that may be of interest. Commenting is disabled to deter those pesky live-link Comment spammers. Questions or comments may be directed to my email, CoyotePrime@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by, folks, and please do be kind to each other, we really [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Kodo Drummers, “Live at the Acropolis”
Published on 2012-03-13 23:19:00
Kodo Drummers, “Live at the Acropolis” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97nLUXQS8hY&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-13 21:46:00
"Over 400,000 light years across NGC 6872 is an enormous spiral galaxy, at least 4 times the size of our own very large Milky Way. About 200 million light-years distant, toward the southern constellation Pavo, the Peacock, the remarkable galaxy's stretched out shape is due to its ongoing gravitational interaction, likely leading to an eventual merger, with the nearby smaller galaxy IC 4970. IC 4970 is seen just below and right of the giant galaxy's core in this cosmic color portrait from the 8 m [..] > read more
Rumi, "This Prison For Drunks..."
Published on 2012-03-13 21:39:00
"All day I think about it, then at night I say it. Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? I have no idea. Who says words with my mouth? Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul? I cannot stop asking. If I could taste one sip of an answer, I could break out of this prison for drunks. I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way. Whoever brought me here, will have to take me home. My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there." [..] > read more
The Poet: Barbara Crooker, "In the Middle..."
Published on 2012-03-13 21:28:00
"In the Middle...of a life that's as complicated as everyone else's,struggling for balance, juggling time.The mantle clock that was my grandfather'shas stopped at 9:20; we haven't had timeto get it repaired. The brass pendulum is still,the chimes don't ring. One day you look out the window,green summer, the next, and the leaves have already fallen,and a grey sky lowers the horizon. Our children almost grown,our parents gone, it happened so fast. Each day, we must learnagain how to love, between [..] > read more
Satire? The Onion, "Close Your Facebook Account!"
Published on 2012-03-13 21:10:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3sThcwmx3rs > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-13 17:43:00
Frodsham, Cheshire, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “A Paring Of Adam's Nail”
Published on 2012-03-13 17:36:00
“A Paring Of Adam's Nail”by Chet Raymo“Darwin convinced us that all life on Earth is related by common descent. It was a stunning overturning of the convention wisdom of simultaneous creation. The task then was to discern the familial relationships of all species of life on Earth, including the many extinct organisms known through the fossil record. Biologists did this on the basis of morphological similarities. A zebra is presumably more closely related to a horse than to a elephant, and [..] > read more
"Life..."
Published on 2012-03-13 17:06:00
"Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats." ~ Voltaire > read more
"I'd Pick More Daisies"
Published on 2012-03-13 16:58:00
"I'd Pick More Daisies"by Don Herold (1953) "Of course, you can't unfry an egg, but there is no law against thinking about it. If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes. I would relax. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things that I would take seriously. I would be less hygienic. I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less bran.I would have more actual troubles an [..] > read more
"How It, Tragically, Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-13 15:06:00
Musical Interlude: Nickelback, “If Everyone Cared”
Published on 2012-03-13 00:10:00
Nickelback, “If Everyone Cared” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IUSZyjiYuY&ob=av3e > read more
Wendell Berry, "Remembering Now..."
Published on 2012-03-12 23:50:00
“You think you will never forget any of this, you will remember it always just the way it was. But you can't remember it the way it was. To know it, you have to be living in the presence of it right as it is happening. It can return only by surprise. Speaking of these things tells you that there are no words for them that are equal to them or that can restore them to your mind. And so you have a life that you are living only now, now and now and now, gone before you can speak of it, and you mu [..] > read more
Paulo Coelho, "You Are Going To Die In 30 Days"
Published on 2012-03-12 23:31:00
Paulo Coelho talking about how the doctor told him that he was going to die in 30 days.http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kvDC3_daEHQ#! > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-12 23:16:00
“Large galaxies and faint nebulae highlight this deep image of the M81 Group of galaxies. First and foremost in the wide-angle 12-hour exposure is the grand design spiral galaxy M81, the largest galaxy visible in the image. M81 is gravitationally interacting with M82 just below it, a big galaxy with an unusual halo of filamentary red-glowing gas. Click image for larger size.Around the image many other galaxies from the M81 Group of galaxies can be seen, as well as a lucky satellite glint strea [..] > read more
"This Day..."
Published on 2012-03-12 23:06:00
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays.”~ Ralph Waldo Emerson > read more
“Hurry, Hurry, Step Right Up...”
Published on 2012-03-12 23:00:00
“Hurry, Hurry, Step Right Up...”by Chet Raymo“When P. T Barnum said "There's a sucker born every minute," he got it wrong. The people who came to his American Museum, and later to his various traveling shows, weren't suckers. They knew exactly what they wanted to see. They wanted to see freaks. Or at the very least, they wanted the biggest, the smallest, the strongest, the hairiest... Barnum gave 'em what they wanted. The mummified Fejee Mermaid was a popular attraction, until it was expos [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-12 17:48:00
Wesley Chapel, Florida, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Interesting Times"
Published on 2012-03-12 17:29:00
“Unjust Wars, Then and Now”
Published on 2012-03-12 17:16:00
“Unjust Wars, Then and Now”by George F. Smith"According to the Federation of American Scientists, nine countries account for the approximately 20,500 nuclear weapons known to exist, with the United States having 8,500 of these. Iran has none. Between 150–200 B61 nuclear bombs, the primary thermonuclear weapon in the United States, are deployed in Europe at six bases in five countries, one of which is Turkey, a border state of Iran. By contrast, Iran has no known military bases in Canada or [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-12 15:17:00
"The Power of Disengagement: Playing Mind Games"
Published on 2012-03-12 04:55:00
"The Power of Disengagement: Playing Mind Games"by The DailyOM"Life should not be lived through a series of mind games, but from truth and looking deep within. For better or worse, many people have been raised to believe that communicating in an honest and open way will not get them what they want. They have learned, instead, to play mind games or go on power trips in the service of their ego’s agenda. People stuck in this outmoded and inefficient style of communication can be trying at best a [..] > read more
"The Rhythm Of Living..."
Published on 2012-03-12 00:28:00
"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change -this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear;out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress."- Bruce Barton > read more
"Recipe for Greatness"
Published on 2012-03-12 00:18:00
"Recipe for Greatness"by Zane Grey"Recipe for greatness — To bear up under loss, to fight the bitterness of defeat and the weakness of grief, to be victor over anger, to smile when tears are close, to resist evil men and base instincts, to hate hate and to love love, to go on when it would seem good to die, to seek ever after the glory and the dream, to look up with unquenchable faith in something evermore about to be, that is what any man or woman can do, and so be great." > read more
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Society Of Dreams”
Published on 2012-03-11 23:30:00
Liquid Mind, “Society Of Dreams”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1swN4D9gXE&feature=related > read more
Robinson Jeffers, "Love That (Not Man Apart From That)"
Published on 2012-03-11 23:20:00
"Love That (Not Man Apart From That)" "Then what is the answer?— Not to be deluded by dreams.To know that great civilizations have broken down into violence,and their tyrants come, many times before.When open violence appears, to avoid it with honor or choosethe least ugly faction; these evils are essential.To keep one’s own integrity, be merciful and uncorruptedand not wish for evil; and not be dupedBy dreams of universal justice or happiness.These dreams will not be fulfilled.To know this [..] > read more
Kahlil Gibran, “Children of Gods, Scions of Apes”
Published on 2012-03-11 23:05:00
“Children of Gods, Scions of Apes” by Kahlil Gibran"All that you see was and is for your sake. The numerous books, uncanny markings, and beautiful thoughts are the ghosts of souls who preceded you. The speech they weave is a link between you and your human siblings. The consequences that cause sorrow and rapture are the seeds that the past has sown in the field of the soul, and by which the future shall profit.My Soul gave me good counsel, teaching me to love what the people abhor and [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-11 22:09:00
“Big, beautiful NGC 5584 is more that 50,000 light-years across and lies 72 million light-years away toward the constellation Virgo. The winding spiral arms of this gorgeous island universe are loaded with luminous young star clusters and dark dust lanes. Still, for earthbound astronomers NGC 5584 is not just another pretty face-on spiral galaxy. Click image for larger size.Home to some 250 Cepheid variable stars and a recent Type Ia supernova explosion, key objects for astronomical distance [..] > read more
"Half The World..."
Published on 2012-03-11 22:04:00
"Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it." - Robert Frost > read more
Satire: "A Letter from Rick Santorum: Introducing SantorumCare™"
Published on 2012-03-11 21:54:00
"A Letter from Rick Santorum: Introducing SantorumCare™"by Andy BorowitzNEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – “Today, former Senator Rick Santorum issued the following letter to the American people.Dear American People:When I think about government-mandated healthcare, I have the same response that any mature adult would have: it makes me want to throw up. That’s why, on my first day as President, I will repeal ObamaCare. Well, actually, on my very first day I’m going to repeal the Renaiss [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-11 20:17:00
Owyhee, Nevada, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"The Only Animal..."
Published on 2012-03-10 21:40:00
"Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are, and what they ought to be." - William Hazlitt •Graphic: MC Escher, “Humanity” > read more
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Terra, Earth”
Published on 2012-03-10 21:00:00
Liquid Mind, “Gold In The Shadows”, “Terra, Earth” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5IWJWEOIDg&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-10 20:55:00
"Big beautiful spiral galaxy M66 lies a mere 35 million light-years away. About 100 thousand light-years across, the gorgeous island universe is well known to astronomers as a member of the Leo Triplet of galaxies. In M66, pronounced dust lanes and young, blue star clusters sweep along spiral arms dotted with the tell-tale glow of pink star forming regions. Click image for larger size.This colorful and deep view also reveals faint extensions beyond the brighter galactic disk. Of course, the bri [..] > read more
"Daylight Saving Time 2012: Change Your Clocks!"
Published on 2012-03-10 20:42:00
"Daylight Saving Time 2012: Change Your Clocks!" by National Institute of Standards and Technology“As if you weren't already sleep deprived, you'll get an hour less shuteye Saturday night no matter what time you turn out the lights. At 2 a.m. local time Sunday, daylight saving time, that harbinger of spring, arrives with the promise of longer, light-filled days well into the evening. Turn that clock ahead — remember, spring forward — before heading to bed Saturday night to avoid the panic [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-10 16:13:00
Trabzon, Turkey. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“Pitching One's Mansion In The Place Of Excrement”
Published on 2012-03-10 16:05:00
“Pitching One's Mansion In The Place Of Excrement”by Chet RaymoStephan Pastis's comic Pearls Before Swine had a couple of strips recently about Donny the Dung Beetle. The gist of which was: If you think you have problems, Donny has it worse...Click image for larger size.Which reminded me of an episode in J. Henri Fabre's book “The Sacred Beetle and Others,” published in English in 1918. I've written about dung beetles before, and about Fabre. Fabre was the Homer of the insect world. He s [..] > read more
"I Learn..."
Published on 2012-03-10 15:52:00
"This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.What falls away is always. And is near.I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.I learn by going where I have to go."- Theodore Roethke, "The Waking" > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, "Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches?"
Published on 2012-03-10 15:43:00
"Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches?""Have you ever tried to enter the long black branches of other lives-tried to imagine what the crisp fringes, full of honey,hanging from the branches of the young locust trees, in early morning, feel like? Do you think this world was only an entertainment for you? Never to enter the sea and notice how the water divideswith perfect courtesy, to let you in!Never to lie down on the grass, as though you were the grass!Never to leap to the ai [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-10 15:16:00
"Everything..."
Published on 2012-03-10 13:41:00
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."- Marcus Aurelius > read more
Musical Interlude: Mike Oldfield, “Tubular Bells Side A”
Published on 2012-03-09 21:00:00
Mike Oldfield, “Tubular Bells Side A” (Part 3/3)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5gDGcXIEQE&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-09 20:31:00
“Colorful NGC 1579 resembles the better known Trifid Nebula, but lies much farther north in planet Earth's sky, in the heroic constellation Perseus. About 2,100 light-years away and 3 light-years across, NGC 1579 is, like the Trifid, a study in contrasting blue and red colors, with dark dust lanes prominent in the nebula's central regions. Click image for larger size. In both, dust reflects starlight to produce beautiful blue reflection nebulae. But unlike the Trifid, in NGC 1579 the reddish g [..] > read more
The Poet: David Whyte, "The Opening of Eyes"
Published on 2012-03-09 20:28:00
"The Opening of Eyes""That day I saw beneath dark cloudsThe passing light over the water,And I heard the voice of the world speak out.I knew then as I have before,Life is no passing memory of what has been,Nor the remaining pages of a great bookWaiting to be read.It is the opening of eyes long closed.It is the vision of far off things,Seen for the silence they hold.It is the heart after years of secret conversingSpeaking out loud in the clear air.It is Moses in the desert fallen to his kneesBefo [..] > read more
"Logic..."
Published on 2012-03-09 20:20:00
"Contrariwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be;and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."- Lewis Carroll, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-09 20:16:00
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"The Whole Of Life..."
Published on 2012-03-09 18:05:00
"The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it's as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues."- Terry Pratchett, "Moving Pictures" > read more
Chet Raymo, “Yet”
Published on 2012-03-09 17:31:00
“Yet”by Chet Raymo“I mentioned here several times recently Ursula Goodenough's “The Sacred Depths of Nature.” I just noticed a line in the book that I underlined when I first read it a dozen years ago: "It's all very complicated." It's in the chapter on Sexuality, and we all know that sex is complicated. However, the same sentence might have been in any other chapter of the book - Origins of Life, say, or Awareness, or Emotions and Meaning, or Multicellularity and Death. It's all very [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-09 14:51:00
Greg Hunter, "Weekly News Wrap-Up 3.9.12"
Published on 2012-03-09 14:33:00
"Weekly News Wrap-Up 3.9.12"By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com "The big story was the meeting between the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of the United States on Monday. Netanyahu told Obama in no uncertain terms that he was tired of waiting to attack Iran over its nuclear program. Iran has said repeatedly it is for the peaceful production of energy, but Israel is not buying it. Netanyahu did not announce it would attack but, also, did not mention a word of letting the sanctions wo [..] > read more
"Government Mandated Population Growth"
Published on 2012-03-09 14:25:00
"Government Mandated Population Growth"by Joel Bowman"What happened to all the Japanese? And where did the Russians go? Can you imagine, for one horrifying second, a world with no sushi and no vodka? We can’t. We can imagine a Hell of such description, yes. A fire and brimstone purgatory of infinite and unbearable pain. But not a world…at least not one in which we’d choose to live. Well, get used to it anyway, say demographic trends.By 2050, according to an ambitiously speculative forecast [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Elysian Fields”
Published on 2012-03-09 01:09:00
2002, “Elysian Fields” > read more
"Things As They Are..."
Published on 2012-03-09 00:04:00
"We must always think about things, and we must think about things as they are, not as they are said to be." - George Bernard Shaw > read more
"Everyone Is A Genius..."
Published on 2012-03-08 21:43:00
Douglas Adams, "A Theory..."
Published on 2012-03-08 21:41:00
"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."- Douglas Adams > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-08 20:59:00
A broad expanse of glowing gas and dust presents a bird-like visage to astronomers from planet Earth, suggesting its popular moniker - The Seagull Nebula. This portrait of the cosmic bird covers a 1.6 degree wide swath across the plane of the Milky Way, near the direction of Sirius, alpha star of the constellation Canis Major. Click image for larger size.Of course, the region includes objects with other catalog designations: notably NGC 2327, a compact, dusty emission region with an embedded ma [..] > read more
Paulo Coelho, “The Dead Man Who Wore Pajamas”
Published on 2012-03-08 20:54:00
“The Dead Man Who Wore Pajamas”by Paulo Coelho"I remember reading a piece of news on the Internet that a man was found dead in Tokyo on 10 June 2004, dressed in his pajamas. So what? I imagine that most people who die wearing their pajamas either a) died in their sleep, which is a blessing, or b) were in the company of their relatives or on a hospital bed – death did not come quickly, so they all had time to grow used to “the undesirable one,” as Brazilian poet Manuel Bandeira called i [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, "Natural Philosophy”
Published on 2012-03-08 18:09:00
"Natural Philosophy”by Chet Raymo“What is the most important scientific idea of all time? Obviously, the answer to so rich a question is up for grabs, but let me opt for uniformitarianism, the idea that the present is the key to the past and future. Uniformitarianism assumes that the same laws and processes we see operating in the world today were at work also in the past. If we want to understand the history of the universe, the Earth, or of life, we create our explanations using the world [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-08 17:34:00
Limestone, Tennessee, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Questions..."
Published on 2012-03-08 17:31:00
"There are no foolish questions, and no man has become a fool until he stops asking questions."- Charles P. Steinmetz > read more
“The Most Astounding Fact About the Universe”
Published on 2012-03-08 17:01:00
“In a 2008 interview by TIME magazine, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was asked what he thought the “most astounding fact” about the Universe was. Never at a loss for words, the famed scientist gave his equally astounding answer. His response is in the video below, set to images and music by Max Schlickenmeyer.It’s the best three minutes and thirty-three seconds you’ll spend all day.”- http://beforeitsnews.com/Neil DeGrasse Tyson, “The Most Astounding Fact About the Universe” > read more
Musical Interlude: "Ah Nee Mah - Sun Circle"
Published on 2012-03-07 23:10:00
Diane and David Arkenstone,"Ah Nee Mah - Sun Circle", "Ancient Voices" http://www.discogs.com/Ah-Nee-Mah-Ancient-Voices/release/572324 > read more
Mark Twain, "Letters From the Earth"
Published on 2012-03-07 22:25:00
"Letters From the Earth"by Mark Twain"This is a strange place, an extraordinary place, and interesting. There is nothing resembling it at home. The people are all insane, the other animals are all insane, the earth is insane, Nature itself is insane. Man is a marvelous curiosity. When he is at his very very best he is a sort of low grade nickel-plated angel; at is worst he is unspeakable, unimaginable; and first and last and all the time he is a sarcasm. Yet he blandly and in all sincerit [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-07 21:33:00
"You don't have to be on Reunion Island to see this week's planetary conjunction. Only if you want to see this picturesque seascape as well. To see the conjunction from just about anywhere in the world, look to the west after sunset. The first planet you may notice is Venus, the brightest object in the western sky. Above Venus, the second brightest object is Jupiter. The hardest planet to spot is Mercury, which is visible only briefly after sunset as a faint dot just above the horizon. Click im [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, "A New Creation"
Published on 2012-03-07 21:28:00
"A New Creation"by Chet Raymo"The famous C-major fortissimo chord of Haydn's "The Creation" oratorio, the glorious sunburst of sound that comes in response to the whispered words, "And there was light," is an apt evocation of the modern astronomer's big bang. Still, we have learned a lot since Herschel's time about the universe's beginning and probable end. Maybe it's time for a musical update.For example, Haydn's triumphant C-major chord comes five minutes into the oratorio, after a prelude of [..] > read more
Satire: "Overjoyed Romney Celebrates Voters Hating Him Marginally Less Than Santorum"
Published on 2012-03-07 21:18:00
"Overjoyed Romney Celebrates Voters Hating Him Marginally Less Than Santorum"Mitt: ‘Voters Want the Lesser of Two Evils, and I am Lesser’by Andy BorowitzBOSTON (The Borowitz Report) – "Moments after squeaking out a razor-thin victory in Super Tuesday's crucial Ohio primary, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was in an exuberant mood, telling supporters in Boston, “I stand before you tonight as the man people hate slightly less than Rick Santorum.” Mr. Romney said that he hoped t [..] > read more
"What We Know..."
Published on 2012-03-07 21:12:00
"It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so."- Will Rogers > read more
“Is Life Meaningful?”
Published on 2012-03-07 21:08:00
“Is Life Meaningful?”by Meanings of Life"In his “Essays”, Montaigne tells us a curious story. Pyrrhus, an ancient philosopher of the sceptic school, and several men and a pig were in a boat facing a storm at sea. Because of the storm the men felt anguish and fear and lost their manners, whilst the pig showed superior indifference and serenity. The moral of Montaigne’s story: our conscience and intelligence are often a malediction. To meditate and be conscious of our weakness and misfor [..] > read more
The Poet: Derek Mahon, "Everything Is Going to Be All Right"
Published on 2012-03-07 20:57:00
"Everything Is Going to Be All Right""How should I not be glad to contemplatethe clouds clearing beyond the dormer windowand a high tide reflected on the ceiling?There will be dying, there will be dying,but there is no need to go into that.The poems flow from the hand unbiddenand the hidden source is the watchful heart.The sun rises in spite of everythingand the far cities are beautiful and bright.I lie here in a riot of sunlightwatching the day break and the clouds flying.Everything is going to [..] > read more
Kalidasa, "Look To This Day..."
Published on 2012-03-07 15:35:00
"Look to this day for it is life,the very life of life.In its brief course lie allthe realities and truths of existence,the joy of growth ,the splendor of action,the glory of power. For yesterday is but a memory, And tomorrow is only a vision.But today well lived makes every yesterday a memoryof happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.Look well, therefore, to this day..." - Kalidasa > read more
"Basic Instructions: How To Reveal A Shocking Truth"
Published on 2012-03-07 15:04:00
Click image for larger size.- http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/ > read more
"The Secret History of Government Debt- Tally Sticks?"
Published on 2012-03-07 00:48:00
"The Secret History of Government Debt- Tally Sticks?"by Matt Collins"One of the biggest lies in history is the idea that government debt is a “safe haven.” Today we’re going to revisit one of the greatest heists in history for the real scoop. The scene? London, 1660. The perpetrator? King Charles the II of England. The loot? All the gold he could con out of the country's goldsmiths, bankers and businessmen in a lifetime. The tool? A stick. A Tally Stick. Tally Sticks were a brilliant inve [..] > read more
"A Video Moment With Nature: Ralph Zurmuhle, 'Epitaph'"
Published on 2012-03-06 22:33:00
Ralph Zurmuhle, "Epitaph" "Epitaph" solo piano composition by Ralph Zurmuhle coupled with wilderness spirit imagery by Cecil Whitt. Video produced by Sam Henegar of Still Waters Imagery And Media, Inc. > read more
"That Dreadful Universal Thing..."
Published on 2012-03-06 22:05:00
“The more one analyzes people, the more all reasons for analysis disappear. Sooner or later one comes to that dreadful universal thing called human nature.”- Oscar Wilde > read more
"Now We Must Look..."
Published on 2012-03-06 21:59:00
"Now we must look upon each other as brothers and sisters. Only by joining together in a spiritual peace with love in our hearts for the Great Spirit and Mother Earth shall we be saved. If you have a way to spread the truth, tell what you know to be true. Should we succeed, we will realize our mistakes of the past and return to the true path- living in harmony as brothers and sisters, sharing our Mother, the Earth, with all living creatures. In this way we could bring about a new world. A [..] > read more
"The Dark Hours Of My Being..."
Published on 2012-03-06 21:53:00
"I love the dark hours of my being.My mind deepens into them.There I can find, as in old letters,the days of my life, already lived,and held like a legend, and understood.Then the knowing comes: I can opento another life that's wide and timeless.So I am sometimes like a treerustling over a gravesiteand making real the dreamof the one its living roots embrace:a dream once lostamong sorrows and songs."~ Ranier Maria Rilke > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “River of Stars”
Published on 2012-03-06 19:36:00
2002, “River of Stars” > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-06 19:27:00
"Is this a painting or a photograph? In this beautiful celestial still life composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula NGC 2170 shines near the image center. Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars, NGC 2170 is joined by other bluish reflection nebulae, a red emission region, many dark absorption nebulae, and a backdrop of colorful stars. Click image for larger size.Like the common household items still life painters often choose for their subjects, the clouds of gas, dust, and hot stars pictu [..] > read more
"Sacrifices..."
Published on 2012-03-06 19:23:00
"Too often going after what feels good means letting of what you know is right. And letting someone in means abandoning the walls you took so long to build. There are days that make the sacrifices seem worthwhile. And then there are the days where everything feels like a sacrifice. And then there are the sacrifices that you can’t even figure out why you're making. Of course, the toughest sacrifices are the ones we don't see coming ; when we don't have time to come up with a strategy, pick a si [..] > read more
"Things to Think"
Published on 2012-03-06 19:15:00
"Things to Think""Think in ways you've never thought before.If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a messageLarger than anything you've ever heard,Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.Think that someone may bring a bear to your door,Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a mooseHas risen out of the lake, and he's carrying on his antlersA child of your own whom you've never seen.When someone knocks on the door,Think that he's aboutTo give you something large: tell you you're forgiven,Or t [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “In The Presence Of Ineffable Mystery”
Published on 2012-03-06 18:59:00
“In The Presence Of Ineffable Mystery”by Chet Raymo“An acquaintance who knows of my admiration for Thomas Merton sent me this quote, from Merton's “A Search for Solitude”: “I must get to know something of modern physics. Even though I am a monk, that is no reason for living in a Newtonian universe or, worse still, an Aristotelian one. The fact that the cosmos is not quite what St. Thomas and Dante imagined it to be has after all some importance. It does not invalidate St. Thomas or D [..] > read more
The Economy: “What the Greek Rescue is Really About”
Published on 2012-03-06 03:30:00
“What the Greek Rescue is Really About”by Dan Denning"In today’s Daily Reckoning, we’ll do something we can barely stand to do: we’re going to write one more time about Greece. If you can stand to read it, you may come to the same conclusion we reached. That conclusion is simple: what’s going on Europe has nothing to do with solving a debt crisis and everything to do with preserving a corrupt system based on limitless debt and growing government power. The sooner you understand that [..] > read more
The Poet: Czeslaw Milosz, “The World”
Published on 2012-03-05 21:09:00
“Hope”“Hope is with you when you believeThe earth is not a dream but living flesh,That sight, touch, and hearing do not lie,That all things you have ever seen hereAre like a garden looked at from a gate.You cannot enter. But you're sure it's there.Could we but look more clearly and wiselyWe might discover somewhere in the gardenA strange new flower and an unnamed star.Some people say we should not trust our eyes,That there is nothing, just a seeming,These are the ones who have no hope.They [..] > read more
"A Look From The Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-05 21:00:00
“Many wonders are visible when flying over the Earth at night. A compilation of such visual spectacles was captured recently from the International Space Station (ISS) and set to rousing music. Passing below are white clouds, orange city lights, lightning flashes in thunderstorms, and dark blue seas. On the horizon is the golden haze of Earth's thin atmosphere, frequently decorated by dancing auroras as the video progresses. The green parts of auroras typically remain below the space station, [..] > read more
Satire: "Satan: ‘We Are Terminating Our Relationship with Rush Limbaugh’"
Published on 2012-03-05 20:57:00
"Satan: ‘We Are Terminating Our Relationship with Rush Limbaugh’"Radio Host Loses Longtime Sponsorby Andy BorowitzCOLUMBUS, OH (The Borowitz Report) – "Embattled radio host Rush Limbaugh suffered another major desertion today as he lost the support of one of his longtime sponsors, Satan. The usually reclusive Prince of Darkness announced his decision at a hastily called press conference in Columbus, Ohio, his unofficial headquarters on Earth. “Due to remarks of his that we consider unacc [..] > read more
"Sanity..."
Published on 2012-03-05 20:51:00
"Sanity is not truth. Sanity is conformity to what is socially expected. Truth is sometimes in conformity, sometimes not."- Robert M. Persig > read more
Chet Raymo, "Epistemology"
Published on 2012-03-05 20:43:00
"Epistemology"by Chet Raymo“As an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame in the 1950s I took a course in epistemology, the study of knowledge as knowledge: How do we know what we know? To what extent can we be confident in what we know? I can't say that I remember the details of the course, but by the time I graduated I had been exposed to knowledge derived in at least five ways - intuition, pure reason, empiricism, tradition, and revelation - offering, purportedly, varying degrees of c [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-05 16:36:00
Fort Myers, Florida, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"The Fool's Life..."
Published on 2012-03-05 16:33:00
“The fool’s life is empty of gratitude and full of fears; its course lies wholly toward the future.”- Epicurus > read more
Musical Interlude: Justin Hayward, “The Way of the World”
Published on 2012-03-05 16:17:00
Justin Hayward, “The Way of the World”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1QUrpqOAXY > read more
"Criminalizing Free Speech: Is This What Democracy Looks Like?"
Published on 2012-03-05 16:08:00
"Criminalizing Free Speech: Is This What Democracy Looks Like?"By John W. Whitehead“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”—First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution"One of the key ingredients in a democracy is the right to freely speak our minds to those who represent us. In fact, it is one of the few effective tools we have left to combat [..] > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, "In Blackwater Woods"
Published on 2012-03-04 22:29:00
"Look, the treesare turningtheir own bodiesinto pillarsof light,are giving off the richfragrance of cinnamonand fulfillment,the long tapersof cattailsare bursting and floating away overthe blue shouldersof the ponds,and every pond,no matter what itsname is, isnameless now.Every yeareverythingI have ever learnedin my lifetimeleads back to this: the firesand the black river of losswhose other sideis salvation,whose meaningnone of us will ever know.To live in this worldyou must be ableto do three [..] > read more
“Nevada's Mysterious Cave of the Red-haired Giants”
Published on 2012-03-04 22:21:00
“Nevada's Mysterious Cave of the Red-haired Giants”by Terrence Ayn“Many Native American tribes from the Northeast and Southwest still relate the legends of the red-haired giants and how their ancestors fought terrible, protracted wars against the giants when they first encountered them in North America almost 15,000 years ago. Others, like the Aztecs and Mayans, recorded their encounters with a race of giants to the north when they ventured out on exploratory expeditions.Who were thes [..] > read more
"The 17 Foot Tall Insectoid Robo-Warriors From the Planet Zandor"
Published on 2012-03-04 22:16:00
So... we're spending a TRILLION dollars a year "defending" ourselves. Who or what, exactly, are we "defending" ourselves from? Russia, as an example, spent $71 billion last year on their military. Besides the always lurking nuclear threat, they're no threat to anyone but themselves at this point. China? Our best-friends-forever trading partner and financial master? Not likely. OK, who's left? The CIA says there are no more than 50 Al-Quaida guys running loose in Afghanistan causing all that mess [..] > read more
"I Did My Best..."
Published on 2012-03-04 22:05:00
"I did my best, it wasn't much,I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch.I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you.And even thoughIt all went wrongI'll stand before the lord of songWith nothing on my tongue but hallelujah..."Leonard Cohen, "Hallelujah"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Fkuq5Lf0Q > read more
"A Process Of Learning..."
Published on 2012-03-04 21:40:00
"There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning."- Jiddu Krishnamurti > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-04 21:32:00
“How did spiral galaxy ESO 510-13 get bent out of shape? The disks of many spirals are thin and flat, but not solid. Spiral disks are loose conglomerations of billions of stars and diffuse gas all gravitationally orbiting a galaxy center. A flat disk is thought to be created by sticky collisions of large gas clouds early in the galaxy's formation. Click image for larger size.Warped disks are not uncommon, though, and even our own Milky Way Galaxy is thought to have a small warp. The causes of [..] > read more
“Sullivan Ballou’s Letter Home”
Published on 2012-03-04 19:54:00
“Sullivan Ballou’s Letter Home”, from Ken Burn's "The Civil War"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrC-ipke9s&feature=related > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-04 19:35:00
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Silence And Speech”
Published on 2012-03-04 19:18:00
“Silence And Speech”by Chet Raymo“The poet Jane Hirshfield was last evening's guest of the college. As I read her work in anticipation of the visit, I found myself thinking of Rainer Maria Rilke, and in particular of the Duino Elegies, among my favorite poems. "Does a poem enlarge the world,/ or only our idea of the world?" asks Hirshfield in one of her poems. She wrestles with the central paradox of artistic creation, a paradox that also concerned Rilke.I recall reading somewhere that the [..] > read more
"Only What Is..."
Published on 2012-03-04 18:59:00
"The "what should be" never did exist, but people keep trying to live up to it." There is no "what should be," there is only what is." - Lenny Bruce > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-03 21:19:00
"The best known asterism in northern skies, The Big Dipper is easy to recognize, though some might see The Plough. Either way, the familiar outlines appear in this thoughtfully composed 24 frame mosaic. Dubhe, alpha star of the dipper's parent constellation Ursa Major is at the upper right. Together with beta star Merak below, the two form a line pointing the way to Polaris and the North Celestial Pole off the top edge of the field. Click image for larger size. Notable too in skygazing lore Miza [..] > read more
"Say When..."
Published on 2012-03-03 17:56:00
"I have an aunt who whenever she poured anything for you she would say 'Say when.' My aunt would say 'say when," and of course, we never did. We don't say when because there's something about the possibility, of more. More tequila, more love. More anything. More is better. There's something to be said about a glass half full, about knowing when to say when. I think it's more of a floating line, a barometer of need. Of desire. It's entirely up to the individual, and it depends what's being poured [..] > read more
“One Day At A Time..."
Published on 2012-03-03 17:40:00
“One day at a time- this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”- Author Unknown > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-03 17:34:00
Mountain View, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Moral Robots- An Oxymoron?”
Published on 2012-03-03 17:31:00
“Moral Robots- An Oxymoron?”by Chet Raymo"A new book reviewed in Nature (January 29, 2009) asks if machines can have a conscience: “Moral Machines: Teaching Robots Right From Wrong,” by ethicist Wendell Wallach and philosopher Colin Allen. The book will be worth reading when I get back to my college library nook, but for the moment the theme sparked a lively dinner table conversation with my son-in-law, a robotic engineer, and my daughter, an editor with a fictional work on her forthcomi [..] > read more
"Part Of Being A Winner..."
Published on 2012-03-03 17:21:00
"Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that's more productive."- Donald Trump > read more
"Questioned By Life..."
Published on 2012-03-03 15:16:00
"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life - daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual...Th [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-03 15:05:00
“Cowboy Schools A Congressman”
Published on 2012-03-03 13:26:00
“Cowboy Schools A Congressman” by JoeBtfsplk"A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in Montana when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced toward him out of a cloud of dust. The driver, a young man in a Brioni® suit, Gucci® shoes, RayBan® sunglasses and YSL® tie, leaned out the window and asked the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give me a calf?" Bud looks at the man, who obviously is a yuppie, then l [..] > read more
“Keystone Pipeline Means Dearer Gas, Few Jobs”
Published on 2012-03-03 13:05:00
“Keystone Pipeline Means Dearer Gas, Few Jobs”by Jonathan Alter“I’ll get us that oil from Canada,” Mitt Romney said in his victory speech after the Michigan primary. He was referring to Keystone XL, the crude-oil pipeline that has become a top-tier campaign issue for Republicans. Problem is, the tar-sands oil in that pipeline wouldn’t be coming to “us.” It would go directly from Canada to refineries in the Gulf region en route to export markets in Latin America and Europe. The U. [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Enya, "Boadicea"
Published on 2012-03-02 21:13:00
Meditative landscape shots & Enya's beautiful song "Boadicea" from the album "The Celts".- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKQwgpaLR6o&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-02 21:03:00
“On the right, surrounded by blue spiral arms, is spiral galaxy M81. On the left, marked by red gas and dust clouds, is irregular galaxy M82. This stunning vista shows these two mammoth galaxies locked in gravitational combat, as they have been for the past billion years. The gravity from each galaxy dramatically affects the other during each hundred million-year pass. Click image for larger size.Last go-round, M82's gravity likely raised density waves rippling around M81, resulting in the ri [..] > read more
"Do Not Believe..."
Published on 2012-03-02 20:57:00
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the go [..] > read more
The Economy: Paul Krugman, “Four Fiscal Phonies”
Published on 2012-03-02 19:15:00
“Four Fiscal Phonies”by Paul Krugman“Mitt Romney is very concerned about budget deficits. Or at least that’s what he says; he likes to warn that President Obama’s deficits are leading us toward a “Greece-style collapse.” So why is Mr. Romney offering a budget proposal that would lead to much larger debt and deficits than the corresponding proposal from the Obama administration? Of course, Mr. Romney isn’t alone in his hypocrisy. In fact, all four significant Republican presidenti [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-03-02 16:10:00
Commerce City, Colorado, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Big Kill”
Published on 2012-03-02 16:07:00
“The Big Kill”by Chet Raymo“Here's an interesting graph from the May 11, 2006, issue of “Nature,” from a paper by R. Dale Guthrie titled "New carbon dates link climatic change with human colonization and Pleistocene extinctions." The red-black columns left-to-right represent carbon-dated Alaskan and Yukon Territory fossils of mammoths, horses, bison, elks, and moose, respectively. The blue dots at right represent dated evidence of human presence, mainly hearth charcoal). The vertical s [..] > read more
"The Joy And Glory Of The Climb..."
Published on 2012-03-02 16:00:00
"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."- Sir Winston Churchill > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “Evidence”
Published on 2012-03-02 15:44:00
“Evidence”“Where do I live? If I had no address, as many peopledo not, I could nevertheless say that I lived in thesame town as the lilies of the field, and the still waters.Spring, and all through the neighborhood now there arestrong men tending flowers.Beauty without purpose is beauty without virtue. Butall beautiful things, inherently, have this function -to excite the viewers toward sublime thought. Glory to the world, that good teacher.Among the swans there is none called the least, o [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-03-02 14:06:00
"Facebook: World’s Most Appalling Spying Machine"
Published on 2012-03-02 13:42:00
"Facebook: World’s Most Appalling Spying Machine"by Madison Ruppert “A report published by the London Sunday Times has revealed that Facebook has been accessing and reading the personal text messages of users of their social networking app. Unfortunately the report itself is locked behind a pay wall, but the report has been partially summarized by Fox News (let’s just hope it’s more accurate than most of their reporting). Facebook has reportedly even admitted reading the text messages, c [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-03-01 22:28:00
“Look through the cosmic cloud cataloged as NGC 281 and it's almost easy to miss stars of open cluster IC 1590. But, formed within the nebula, that cluster's young, massive stars ultimately power the pervasive nebular glow. The eye-catching shapes looming in this portrait of NGC 281 are sculpted columns and dense dust globules seen in silhouette, eroded by intense, energetic winds and radiation from the hot cluster stars. If they survive long enough, the dusty structures could also be sites of [..] > read more
“Humility In The Face Of Complexity”
Published on 2012-03-01 22:25:00
“Humility In The Face Of Complexity”by Chet Raymo"In the September, 2009, issue of "Harper's Magazine," contributing editor Mark Slouka has an essay titled "Dehumanized: When Math and Science Rule the School." The title and subtitle say it all. Education in America today is all about preparing Americans to compete in the global marketplace, says Slouka, all about inflating the nation's GNP. Math and science are key to making our kids competitive. He quotes everyone from Bill Gates to Thomas [..] > read more
"A Better Place..."
Published on 2012-03-01 22:12:00
"I hope that my achievements in life shall be these- that I will have fought for what was right and fair, that I will have risked for that which mattered, and that I will have given help to those who were in need; that I will have left the earth a better place for what I've done and who I've been." - C. Hoppe > read more
Apologies...
Published on 2012-03-01 18:51:00
Apologies for falling off the world so suddenly without posts, the dreaded "real life" sometimes rears itself and requires attention. All's well, regular posting will resume asap. Thanks for your patience and understanding. - CP > read more
"The Power Of Words..."
Published on 2012-02-28 22:28:00
"Of the powerful arms of destruction that man has been able to invent, the most terrible- and most cowardly- is the word. Fists and firearms at least leave some blood remaining. Bombs destroy houses and streets. Poisons can be detected. The master says: “The word can destroy without leaving a clue. Children are conditioned for years by their parents, men are impiously criticized, women are systematically massacred by the words of their husband. The faithful are kept away from religion by those [..] > read more
"Two Roads..."
Published on 2012-02-28 22:19:00
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."- Robert Frost > read more
Paulo Coelho, “Convention For Those Wounded In Love”
Published on 2012-02-28 21:50:00
“Convention For Those Wounded In Love”by Paulo Coelho“General Provisions:A – Whereas the saying “all is fair in love and war” is absolutely correct;B – Whereas for war we have the Geneva Convention, approved on 22 August 1864, which provides for those wounded in the battlefield, but until now no convention has been signed concerning those wounded in love, who are far greater in number;It is hereby decreed that:Article 1 – All lovers, of any sex, are alerted that love, besides bei [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-28 20:05:00
“Why does Comet Garradd have two tails? Visible on the left, Comet Garradd's dust tail is composed of ice and dust bits that trail the comet in its orbit around the Sun. Visible on the right, Comet Garradd's ion tail, is composed of ionized gas blown directly out from the Sun by the solar wind. Most comets show two tails, although it is unusual for them to appear to point in nearly opposite directions. Click image for larger size. Comet Garradd is currently showing opposing tails because of th [..] > read more
"The Poetry..."
Published on 2012-02-28 20:01:00
“He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realize.” - Oscar Wilde > read more
"In The Arena..."
Published on 2012-02-28 19:54:00
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself i [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “A Few Words Inspired By The Tomato Plant”
Published on 2012-02-28 19:46:00
“A Few Words Inspired By The Tomato Plant”by Chet Raymo"Mostly we think of life in terms of individuals - this person, this tomato plant, this frog, this oak tree, this gnat. And we talk about birth and death as the beginning and ending of life. But there is another sense in which life is just one thing, whose beginning is lost in the depths of time and whose end is not in sight. Life in this sense embodies itself in matter, temporarily, as a tomato or a frog, puts on matter and puts off mat [..] > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “The Leaf and the Cloud: A Poem”
Published on 2012-02-28 18:52:00
"Flare, Part 12""When loneliness comes stalking, go into the fields, considerthe orderliness of the world. Noticesomething you have never noticed before,like the tambourine sound of the snow-cricketwhose pale green body is no longer than your thumb.Stare hard at the hummingbird, in the summer rain,shaking the water-sparks from its wings.Let grief be your sister, she will whether or no.Rise up from the stump of sorrow, and be green also, like the diligent leaves.A lifetime isn't long enough f [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-28 16:35:00
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Chief Seattle's Response"
Published on 2012-02-28 16:32:00
"Chief Seattle's Response" > read more
"Tips For Dealing With Sadness and Depression"
Published on 2012-02-28 04:20:00
"Tips For Dealing With Sadness and Depression"by Vijai P. Sharma, Ph.D“Depression with its characteristic sad face, stooped posture, and slow movements is universal; it is found not only in humans in all cultures, but even in animals, notably, monkeys, chimpanzees, and dogs. In the English language, we have even invented a metaphor to describe a sad face, the "hang dog" appearance. Everyone now and then feels sad, unhappy or disappointed because of a thought, memory, behavior or spoken words. [..] > read more
"Sons Of The Cosmos..."
Published on 2012-02-28 00:21:00
“We are sons of the cosmos, but our conscience, our soul, make us strangers in that same cosmos, from which we were produced, and which still remains secretly intimate to us. Earth life is unique, or at least particularly rare in the cosmos, and our conscience is perhaps solitary in the living world. Man is a marginal creation in the animal world, the development of which has increased his marginality. We are alone on the Earth, among the known living beings. Our thought, our conscience, gives [..] > read more
“The Horror! The Horror! Must-See War Films”
Published on 2012-02-27 22:51:00
“The Horror! The Horror! Must-See War Films”By John W. Whitehead“You can’t show war as it really is on the screen, with all the blood and gore. Perhaps it would be better if you could fire real shots over the audience’s head every night, you know, and have actual casualties in the theater.”- Sam Fuller, film director and author."War is a grisly business, a horror of epic proportions. In terms of human carnage alone, war’s devastation is staggering. For example, it is estimated that [..] > read more
"What Is Pashtunwali?"
Published on 2012-02-27 22:37:00
"What Is Pashtunwali?"by Josh Alley“I took my revenge after a hundred years,and I only regret that I acted in haste.”- A Pashtun proverb."I have had the privilege of getting to know more about my hosts here in Khost, Afghanistan. The Pashtun tribes are one of the oldest people-groups on earth, having lived in these mountains, the Hindu Kush, for about 6,000 years. I have undertaken (call me crazy) to learn to speak Pashto (also called Pashtu or Pakhto). Pashto is a pretty simple language, fu [..] > read more
"The Most Beautiful Sentence in the English Language?"
Published on 2012-02-27 22:30:00
"The Most Beautiful Sentence in the English Language?"by William Crawley"Earlier this week, I tweated a link to the 100 Most Beautiful Words in the English Language (as chosen by Dr. Goodword). This prompted some twittering from my esteemed followers. Steve Goddard, over at Ship of Fools, has been in touch with news that he's been encouraging his readers to construct a sentence using those same beautiful words. Money quote:"Demurely, I gambolled in my bucolic bungalow, brooding on a dallian [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, "Breathe in Me"
Published on 2012-02-27 20:28:00
"Breathe in Me" from "Liquid Mind VIII: Sleep" by Liquid MindOfficial Website: http://www.liquidmindmusic.com > read more
"A New H5N1 Flu Virus? This Research Should Stop Now"
Published on 2012-02-27 19:56:00
"A New H5N1 Flu Virus? This Research Should Stop Now" by Edward J. Sylvester and Dr. Lynn C. Klotz"The risks to world health from research to make an extraordinarily lethal avian flu virus contagious in humans have finally caught everyone's attention after months of warnings from us (Lynn Klotz*) and many other experts. The Atlantic online (Feb. 16) features this question: Shouldn't regular citizens be able to weigh in on whether scientists are allowed to play with a virus that could kill a thir [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-27 17:58:00
“Big, beautiful NGC 5584 is more that 50,000 light-years across and lies 72 million light-years away toward the constellation Virgo. The winding spiral arms of this gorgeous island universe are loaded with luminous young star clusters and dark dust lanes. Still, for earthbound astronomers NGC 5584 is not just another pretty face-on spiral galaxy. Click image for larger size. Home to some 250 Cepheid variable stars and a recent Type Ia supernova explosion, key objects for astronomical distance [..] > read more
"The Eternal Silence of Infinite Spaces..."
Published on 2012-02-27 17:38:00
"The eternal silence of infinite spaces frightens me. Why now rather than then? Who has put me here? By whose order and direction have this place and time have been ascribed to me? We travel in a vast sphere, always drifting in the uncertain, pulled from one side to another. Whenever we find a fixed point to attach and to fasten ourselves, it shifts and leaves us; and if we follow it, it eludes our grasp, slips past us, and vanishes for ever. Nothing stays for us. This is our natural condition, [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Burden Of Thinking”
Published on 2012-02-27 16:46:00
“The Burden Of Thinking”by Chet Raymo“Let me speak for gray. Not black or white. Good or evil. Truth or falsity. Yes or no. Let me speak for maybe. Sort of. More or less. I think so. I am reluctant to speak for gray for fear of being considered wishy-washy. Indecisive. Unprincipled. But lately it seems as if we are surrounded on every side by zealots, and it's not a pretty sight. We are surrounded by people who are so certain of their Truth that they are willing to strap bombs to their che [..] > read more
"Honesty, Maturity..."
Published on 2012-02-27 03:18:00
"Honesty consists of the unwillingness to lie to others; maturity, which isequally hard to attain, consists of the unwillingness to lie to oneself."- Sydney J. Harris > read more
Geopolitics: Terrell E. Arnold, "Let’s Give Iran a Break"
Published on 2012-02-27 03:02:00
"Let’s Give Iran a Break"by Terrell E. Arnold"As of this writing, the United States has been badgering Iran for almost sixty years. Openly declaring the beginning of that cycle, in March 2000, then Secretary of State Madeline Albright is reported to have stated: “In 1953 the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular Prime Minister, Mohammed Mossadeqh.” Her modest portrayal of the act left unstated the fact that the CIA had overthrown th [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Icarus”
Published on 2012-02-26 23:11:00
“Daedalus fashioned a pair of wings of wax and feathers for himself and his son. Before they took off from the island, Daedalus warned his son not to fly too close to the sun, nor too close to the sea. Overcome by the giddiness that flying lent him, Icarus soared through the sky curiously, but in the process he came too close to the sun, which melted the wax. Icarus kept flapping his wings but soon realized that he had no feathers left and that he was only flapping his bare arms. And so, Icaru [..] > read more
"Master Of The Whole World..."
Published on 2012-02-26 22:51:00
"He who does not think that what he has is more than sufficient, is an unhappy man, even if he is the master of the whole world."- Epicurus > read more
"The Human Condition"
Published on 2012-02-26 22:30:00
"The Human Condition"by Meanings of Life"Man remains largely unknown of himself. What are we, in our innermost recesses, behind our names and our conventional opinions? What are we behind the things we do in our lives, behind what we see in others and what others see in us, or even behind things science says we are? Is man the crazy being about whom Carl Gustav Jung spoke ironically, when he demanded a man to treat? Is man the Dr. Jerkyll that contains in himself a criminal Mister Hyde, and more [..] > read more
“Rescreening Dr. Strangelove”
Published on 2012-02-26 21:26:00
“Rescreening Dr. Strangelove”By Hugh Iglarsh"A friend of mine saw Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” when it first opened in Paris in 1964. He and his American army friends were rolling on the floor throughout. The French audience, however, sat in stony silence. It wasn’t a comedy to them; it was a documentary. What is it now? In general, Hollywood is America dreaming – but Strangelove is something different, a “nightmare [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-26 19:05:00
"Why are there faint rings around this spiral galaxy? Possibly because the galaxy, NGC 4911, is being pulled at by its neighbors as it falls into the enormous Coma Cluster of Galaxies. If NGC 4911 ends up like most of the galaxies in the central Coma cluster, it will become a yellowish elliptical galaxy, losing not only its outer layers, but dust, gas, and its cadre of surrounding satellite galaxies as well. Currently, however, this process is just beginning. Click image for larger size.Visible [..] > read more
Free Download: Krishnamurti, "The Book of Life"
Published on 2012-02-26 19:00:00
"You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems and suffer and understand, for all that is life."- Jiddu Krishnamurti Freely download “The Book of Life” by Jiddu Krishnamurti, here:http://www.google.com/ > read more
"A Riddle..."
Published on 2012-02-26 18:43:00
"A Riddle..."“This thing all things devours:Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;Gnaws iron, bites steel;Grinds hard stones to meal;Slays king, ruins towns,And beats high mountain down.”- One of Gollum’s riddles for Bilbo in“The Hobbit,” by JRR Tolkein.•Answer:Time > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-26 18:36:00
Neptune, New Jersey, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"No Smooth Roads..."
Published on 2012-02-26 03:15:00
"Life has no smooth road for any of us; and in the bracing atmosphere of a high aim the very roughness stimulates the climber to steadier steps, till the legend, over steep ways to the stars, fulfills itself." - W. C. Doane > read more
"Compassion..."
Published on 2012-02-26 02:57:00
"The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized. Anyone can criticize.It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands."~ Arthur H. Stainback > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Spirit Moves”
Published on 2012-02-25 21:45:00
“This is a video from the DVD/CD set by 2002 "A Word in the Wind", with performance clips of the band layered into the composition. The song is called "Spirit Moves". It features Randy Copus on guitar (Stratocaster) and Pamela on her transverse flute. It has a hypnotic, sultry, jazz feel.”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmwGjLx5bOo&feature=related > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-25 21:14:00
“The first identified compact galaxy group, Stephan's Quintet is featured in this eye-catching image constructed with data drawn from the extensive Hubble Legacy Archive. About 300 million light-years away, only four of these five galaxies are actually locked in a cosmic dance of repeated close encounters. The odd man out is easy to spot, though. The interacting galaxies, NGC 7319, 7318A, 7318B, and 7317 have an overall yellowish cast. They also tend to have distorted loops and tails, grown un [..] > read more
"A Cherokee Expression"
Published on 2012-02-25 21:10:00
Honor"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."- A Cherokee Expression > read more
Chet Raymo, “A Fishy Tale”
Published on 2012-02-25 20:55:00
“A Fishy Tale”by Chet Raymo"As dumb as a goldfish. I mean, what could be dumber than swimming around in murky water all day - glassy eyed, slimy scaled, cold blooded - waiting for someone to sprinkle food flakes into the pond or tank. On a scale of smarts, goldfish would seem to fall somewhere between a limpet and a stone.Conventional wisdom has it that fish have a memory span of about a second. But conventional wisdom, it turns out, is wrong. Goldfish are not the dummies they are made out t [..] > read more
"All Man Can Do..."
Published on 2012-02-25 20:46:00
“All man can do is lose one life, but also keep in mind that all we have is one life, so that the longest life and the shortest life amount to the same thing. Our only loss is the passing minute which is every man's equal possession for he cannot lose what is already passed nor what he does not possess in the future. Only the present can be lost for this is all that is man's. Also remember that the cycles of the world exhibit the same recurring pattern, so it makes no difference how long you [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-25 20:31:00
Cane Hill, Arkansas, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"The Only Difference..."
Published on 2012-02-25 20:24:00
“The only difference between the Republican and Democratic parties is the velocities with which their knees hit the floor when corporations knock on their door. That's the only difference.” - Ralph Nader > read more
I Wonder... A Comment
Published on 2012-02-25 17:57:00
You may have noticed a bit of rather harsh cynicism at the end of a post below, "Uncle Sam’s Fire Sale. Minimum Investment: $1 Billion". Well, I wonder about a lot of things, maybe you do too. Maybe it's just me, too stupid to get the "big picture", but I wonder... I wonder why there are 47 million people living in poverty in this country, while a few have millions, even billions of dollars, while kids go hungry at night all over this country. I wonder why there's millions of homeless, living [..] > read more
"When Your Beloved Pet Dies, "Until We Meet Again," "The Rainbow Bridge"
Published on 2012-02-24 22:44:00
"When Your Beloved Pet Dies, "Until We Meet Again," "The Rainbow Bridge"A friend recently told me about her beloved dog, a loyal and loving companion of many years, who is now nearing the end of her life. I hope this might comfort you when you need it, as it has me. - CP․ "Until We Meet Again"Author Unknown"I know what you're thinking. You think I'm dead. Because you cannot see me with your human eye, cannot feel me with your hands or hold me in your arms, you think I am gone forever. You rec [..] > read more
"The Ten Commandments of the Native American Indians"
Published on 2012-02-24 22:32:00
"The Ten Commandments of the Native American Indians" > read more
"A Video Moment With Nature: Brulé, “Spirit Horses”
Published on 2012-02-24 22:22:00
Pictures from Eldorado Canyon State Park (outside of Denver), Colorado.Brulé, “Spirit Horses”, from “We The People” > read more
Langston Hughes, "Hold Fast To Dreams..."
Published on 2012-02-24 22:11:00
"The Otters Of The Universe"
Published on 2012-02-24 21:26:00
“We are game-playing, fun-having creatures, we are the otters of the universe. We cannot die, we cannot hurt ourselves any more than illusions on the screen can be hurt. But we can believe we’re hurt, in whatever agonizing detail we want. We can believe we’re victims, killed and killing, shuddered around by good luck and bad luck.”“Many lifetimes?” I asked.“How many movies have you seen?”“Oh.”“Films about living on this planet, about living on other planets; anything [..] > read more
"Sex: Subliminal Mind Control Techniques"
Published on 2012-02-24 21:19:00
"Sex: Subliminal Mind Control Techniques"by Vigilant CitizenWell, that title certainly got your attention, didn't it? Sex is one of the most used subliminal advertising techniques, as we shall see. For fun, do a Google search for "subliminal seduction" and examine the large size images. You'll be astonished at what you see, and don't normally see. - CP"Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people (for example, polit [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-24 16:50:00
“Rich in star clusters and nebulae, the ancient constellation of Auriga, the Charioteer, rides high in northern winter night skies. Composed from narrow and broadband filter data and spanning nearly 8 Full Moons (4 degrees) on the sky, this deep telescopic view recorded in January shows off some of Auriga's celestial bounty. The field includes emission region IC 405 (top left) about 1,500 light-years distant. Also known as the Flaming Star Nebula, its red, convoluted clouds of glowing hydrogen [..] > read more
The Poet: Fernando Pessoa, “Tobacco Kiosk”
Published on 2012-02-24 16:47:00
“Tobacco Kiosk”I am nothing I shall always be nothingI cannot wish to be anything. Aside from that, I have within me all the dreams of the world.Windows of my room, The room of one of the world's millions nobody knows about (And if they knew about me, what would they know?) Open onto the mystery of a street continually crossed by people, To a street inaccessible to any thought, Real, impossibly real, certain, unknowingly certain, With the mystery of things beneath the stones and beings, With [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Where The Stars And Moon Play”
Published on 2012-02-24 16:24:00
“Pamela and Randy Copus are the duo known as 2002. Randy Copus plays piano, electric cello, guitar, bass and keyboards. Pamela Copus plays flutes, harp, keyboards and a wind instrument called a WX5. Both musicians also provide all of the vocals on their albums, recording their voices many, many times and layering them to create a "virtual choir" with a celestial, angelic quality.”2002, “Where The Stars And Moon Play”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMqLFemZOOg&feature=related > read more
Chet Raymo, "Science And Technology"
Published on 2012-02-24 16:21:00
"Science And Technology"by Chet Raymo"In my last post I spoke of how "science and scientifically-based technology" have changed the world. I had originally written "science and its corollary technology," which seems to suggest that all technology flows from a scientific understanding of the world. This is not true. Technology preceded science. The stone tools of our hominid ancestors were based on trial and error, not on any knowledge of the crystal structure of stone.Fire-making, cooking, metal [..] > read more
“Dancing Around War With Iran”
Published on 2012-02-24 02:02:00
“Dancing Around War With Iran”by Addison Wiggin“The Iranian nation has never pursued and will never pursue nuclear weapons,” declared Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. “The Islamic Republic, logically, religiously and theoretically, considers the possession of nuclear weapons a grave sin and believes the proliferation of such weapons is senseless, destructive and dangerous.” Heh.“No one buys Iran’s claim that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes,” declared CN [..] > read more
“The Sunburn: The Weapon That Could Defeat The US In The Gulf”
Published on 2012-02-24 01:35:00
“The Sunburn - Iran's Awesome Nuclear Anti-Ship MissileThe Weapon That Could Defeat The US In The Gulf”By Mark Gaffney"A word to the reader: The following paper is so shocking that, after preparing the initial draft, I didn't want to believe it myself, and resolved to disprove it with more research. However, I only succeeded in turning up more evidence in support of my thesis. And I repeated this cycle of discovery and denial several more times before finally deciding to go with the article. [..] > read more
Roger Waters, “The Tide is Turning”; "A Message To the 'Elite'"
Published on 2012-02-23 23:27:00
Roger Waters, “The Tide is Turning”"A Message to Our Elitist Oppressors"by Matthew Herrin"Your days are numbered. We are legion. We are no longer afraid. "What'cha gonna' do when we come for you", en masse? "There be no shelter here." No quarter shall be given. Your well runs dry. All your 'plans' end in failure. The time has come, at long last, for you to face your final judgement. "I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid... you're afraid of us. You're afraid [..] > read more
Bill Bonner, "How Austerity Hinders an Economy Recovery"
Published on 2012-02-23 13:53:00
"How Austerity Hinders an Economy Recovery"by Bill Bonner"This will be our last Daily Reckoning until April 17th. So, what well-chosen words can we leave you with? How about “if,” “but” and “maybe?” Yes, dear reader, if everything continues to clunk along as it is today…maybe the world financial system will hold together until we get back. We certainly hope so. We’ve been waiting years to watch the final crack up of the phony-money system. We don’t want to miss it! But you nev [..] > read more
The Economy: “Janet Tavakoli - MUST SEE Internet TV”
Published on 2012-02-23 13:26:00
“Janet Tavakoli - MUST SEE Internet TV”by Karl Denninger“Another "must see" segment...Stay out of hot tubs and small private planes Janet...”- http://market-ticker.org/ > read more
William Stafford, "You Reading This, Be Ready"
Published on 2012-02-22 23:20:00
"You Reading This, Be Ready""Starting here, what do you want to remember?How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?What scent of old wood hovers, what softenedsound from outside fills the air?Will you ever bring a better gift for the worldthan the breathing respect that you carrywherever you go right now? Are you waitingfor time to show you some better thoughts?When you turn around, starting here, lift thisnew glimpse that you found; carry into eveningall that you want from this day. This interv [..] > read more
Free Download: Hermann Hesse, "Siddhartha"
Published on 2012-02-22 23:15:00
"Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse"Siddhartha" is a novel by Hermann Hesse that deals with the spiritual journey of a boy known as Siddhartha from the Indian Subcontinent during the time of the Buddha. The book, Hesse's ninth novel, was written in German, in a simple yet powerful and lyrical style. It was first published in 1922, after Hesse had spent some time in India in the 1910s. It was published in the U.S. in 1951 and became influential during the 1960s. Hesse dedicated "Siddhartha" to [..] > read more
"A Light In The Darkness..."
Published on 2012-02-22 23:11:00
"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being."- Carl Jung > read more
"Ice Age: Back to 18th Century?
Published on 2012-02-22 21:15:00
"Ice Age: Back to 18th Century?by Igor Siletsky"In the near future the mankind will face a new ice age not a global warming. That is the forecast which has been made by Habibullo Abdussamatov, the head of Space research laboratory at the Saint Petersburg-based Pulkovo Observatory, who is a well known global warming skeptic. According to him the coming cold will be caused by a decline in solar activity. Last time our planet experienced it in mid-17th century until the early 18th century. Neverthe [..] > read more
Buddha, "Someone Who Is More Deserving..."
Published on 2012-02-22 20:58:00
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.”- Buddha Chuck Wild, Liquid Mind, “Find Your Way Home” > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-22 20:31:00
“NGC 3314 is actually two large spiral galaxies which just happen to almost exactly line up. The foreground spiral is viewed nearly face-on, its pinwheel shape defined by young bright star clusters. But against the glow of the background galaxy, dark swirling lanes of interstellar dust appear to dominate the face-on spiral's structure. The dust lanes are surprisingly pervasive, and this remarkable pair of overlapping galaxies is one of a small number of systems in which absorption of light fro [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Enigma, "Return To Innocence"
Published on 2012-02-22 17:31:00
Enigma, "Return To Innocence" > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-22 16:24:00
Paw Paw, Michigan, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Stronger than You Know: Getting Ourselves Worked Up"
Published on 2012-02-22 16:22:00
"Stronger than You Know: Getting Ourselves Worked Up"by The DailyOm"Often we get anxiety for no reason as we are almost always stronger and more capable than we believe ourselves to be. Our capacity to cope successfully with life's challenges far outstrips our capacity to feel nervousness. Yet in the weeks, days, and hours leading up to an event that we believe will test our limits, we can become nervous. While we may have previously regarded ourselves as equal to the trials that lie ahead, we r [..] > read more
"A Very Apt Description..."
Published on 2012-02-22 16:16:00
“While washing dishes after the family supper tonight, I was listening, rather idly, to BBC Radio 4, some radio play or dramatization. And suddenly I heard, in passing, what struck me as a very apt description of life itself: "It felt intimate, surreal and meaningless, all at the same time."Postscript: Looked it up later; the line came from the dramatization of a story called "The Warrah," by Lucy Catherine.”- http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/frontpage.html > read more
Cusco, “Native American Ghost Dance: Power Drums, Spirit Pride”
Published on 2012-02-20 21:19:00
Cusco, “Native American Ghost Dance: Power Drums, Spirit Pride” > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-20 21:04:00
“Many spiral galaxies have bars across their centers. Even our own Milky Way Galaxy is thought to have a modest central bar. Prominently barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073, pictured below, was captured in spectacular detail in this recently released image taken by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. Visible are dark filamentary dust lanes, young clusters of bright blue stars, red emission nebulas of glowing hydrogen gas, a long bright bar of stars across the center, and a bright active nucleus tha [..] > read more
Chet Raymo, “Nature”
Published on 2012-02-20 20:46:00
“Nature”by Chet Raymo"Shortly after I return to New England in late March I'm scheduled to give a talk on the theme "Let Nature Be Our Teacher." So I've been pondering what nature might teach us, and why we should want to know it. First of all, I am a big believer that nature is our only reliable teacher. I have little confidence in pure reason as an avenue to truth, and no confidence in revelation. The entire enterprise of science is based on the idea that the final arbiter of truth is a cl [..] > read more
"The Two Greatest Obstacles..."
Published on 2012-02-20 20:25:00
"The two greatest obstacles to democracy in the United States are,first, the widespread delusion among the poor that we have a democracy,and second, the chronic terror among the rich, lest we get it."- Edward Dowling > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-20 18:26:00
Lorain, Ohio, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Satire: "CNN Says Nuclear Attack by North Korea Would Not Affect Whitney Houston Coverage"
Published on 2012-02-20 18:23:00
"CNN Says Nuclear Attack by North Korea Would Not Affect Whitney Houston Coverage"Wolf Blitzer Promises No Interruptionby Andy Borowitz․ NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – "As North Korea ramped up its threats to attack South Korea, CNN reassured its viewers that a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula would have “no effect whatsoever” on its Whitney Houston coverage. “As viewers, you have come to trust us to deliver the news whenever it happens, wherever it happens, as long as that news i [..] > read more
"Essential Books For Surviving In A Post-Disaster World"
Published on 2012-02-20 17:01:00
"Essential Books For Surviving In A Post-Disaster World"by George Ure and Gaye Levy"We are not suggesting it will happen, but suppose in March something goes terribly wrong and there is a major terrorist attack in a big city. If this happened, there would be a tremendous ripple effect going forward in time for the entire country. Perhaps because of a recent death (Whitney) but one such city comes to mind: Houston.The Nightmare Scenario: Let us imagine a national nightmare moment. One of our nu [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-02-20 14:07:00
"Borrowing Your Way Out of Debt and Other Normal Abnormalities"
Published on 2012-02-20 14:02:00
"Borrowing Your Way Out of Debt and Other Normal Abnormalities"by Bill Bonner"Dow up 45 points on Friday. The 10-year T-note right on the 2% yield mark. Almost all the news is good. It looks like recovery is finally here. Or, are we just getting used to a punky economy…where even a little improvement looks like a boom?As far as we know, the US economy is still in a Great Correction…with plenty more correction ahead. But people get used to correction…and used to the feds pumping in cash an [..] > read more
"LEAP 20/20: GEAB N°61, Global Systemic Crisis"
Published on 2012-02-20 13:53:00
"LEAP 20/20: GEAB N°61, Global Systemic Crisis: 2012: The Year Of The Great Global Geopolitical Change”by LEAP 20/20"2012 will be the year of the great global geopolitical change: a phenomenon which will undoubtedly create serious difficulties for most of the planet but which will also allow the emergence of the geopolitical conditions conducive to an improvement in the situation in the years to come. Unlike previous years, 2012 will not be a "wasted" year, stuck in the "world of before the c [..] > read more
Michael Franti, "Hey World (Don't Give Up)"
Published on 2012-02-19 22:00:00
Michael Franti, "Hey World (Don't Give Up)" > read more
Music For Your Soul: Liquid Mind, "Laguna Indigo"
Published on 2012-02-19 20:41:00
Liquid Mind, "Laguna Indigo (Planets)" Part 1.- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFYid8IERC8&feature=related•Liquid Mind, "Laguna Indigo (Aurora)" Part 2.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfvKD_SaQdQ&feature=related > read more
"A Message To the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-19 20:15:00
"What are these Earthlings trying to tell us? The below message was broadcast from Earth towards the globular star cluster M13 in 1974. During the dedication of the Arecibo Observatory - still the largest single radio telescope in the world - a string of 1's and 0's representing the above diagram was sent. This attempt at extraterrestrial communication was mostly ceremonial - humanity regularly broadcasts radio and television signals out into space accidentally.Even were this mes [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-19 19:05:00
Saint-genis-laval, Rhone-Alpes, France. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Cultivating Delight”
Published on 2012-02-19 19:01:00
“Cultivating Delight”by Chet Raymo“As an epigraph to one of the chapters in her book ‘Cultivating Delight: A Natural History of My Garden,’ Diane Ackerman quotes Oscar Wilde: "The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible." Of course Ackerman agrees. While most people in world, like our remote and superstitious ancestors, go on assuming that the only things that matter are invisible - God, gods, angels, demons, immortal souls, the spirits of the dead and ancestors, an [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-02-19 18:49:00
"Life..."
Published on 2012-02-19 18:46:00
"Life is never easy for those who dream."- Robert James Waller > read more
The Poet: David Whyte, "Sweet Darkness"
Published on 2012-02-19 17:47:00
"Sweet Darkness""When your eyes are tired the world is tired also.When your vision has gone no part of the world can find you.Time to go into the dark where the night has eyesto recognize its own.There you can be sure you are not beyond love.The dark will be your womb tonight.The night will give you a horizon further than you can see.You must learn one thing: the world was made to be free in.Give up all the other worlds except the one to which you belong.Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet [..] > read more
Post # 18,000: Paulo Coelho, “The Meaning of Life”
Published on 2012-02-19 14:45:00
Paulo Coelho, “The Meaning of Life” > read more
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Starwalkers”
Published on 2012-02-18 21:10:00
2002, “Starwalkers”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW_bmQoUG-A&feature=g-vrec&context=G2f68e10RVAAAAAAAABAYou may recognize this piece, used in the Carl Sagan PBS series “Cosmos”... > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, "The Poet Dreams of the Mountain"
Published on 2012-02-18 21:05:00
"Sometimes I grow weary of the days with all their fits and starts.I want to climb some old grey mountain, slowly, takingthe rest of my life to do it, resting often, sleepingunder the pines or, above them, on the unclothed rocks.I want to see how many stars are still in the skythat we have smothered for years now, forgiving it all,and peaceful, knowing the last thing there is to know.All that urgency! Not what the earth is about!How silent the trees, their poetry being of themselves only.I want [..] > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-18 20:57:00
"This rugged road through the dark Atacama Desert seems to lead skyward toward the bright stars and glowing nebulae of the southern Milky Way. If you follow the road you will get to Cerro Armazones peak in Chile, future construction site for the 40-meter class European Extremely Large Telescope. The scene is dominated by the reddish glow of the Great Carina Nebula, one of our galaxy's largest star forming regions. Click image for larger size. In fact, the remarkable skyscape is not a composite o [..] > read more
"Salt: This Forbidden Indulgence Could Actually Spare You a Heart Attack"
Published on 2012-02-18 20:51:00
"Salt: This Forbidden Indulgence Could Actually Spare You a Heart Attack"by Dr. Mercola"Salt has long been a treasured staple for humans across the globe. In ancient times, salt was literally worth its weight in gold, as African and European explorers would trade an ounce of salt for an ounce of gold. Roman soldiers were also paid in salt, hence the modern word "salary" (sal is the Latin word for salt) and the expression "worth his salt" or "earning his salt." Far from being harmful, high-qualit [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-18 20:23:00
Aztec, New Mexico, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Astrophysics: "A Preview Of Our Galaxy's 'Cosmic Train Wreck'"
Published on 2012-02-18 20:19:00
"A Preview Of Our Galaxy's 'Cosmic Train Wreck'"By Clara Moskowitz“Our Milky Way galaxy is on a collision course with its neighbor galaxy, Andromeda. In about 5 billion years, the two galaxies are set to merge in a giant cosmic train wreck. To understand what's in store for our galaxy, scientists have compiled a photo database of various colliding galaxies at different stages in their mergers. "We've assembled an atlas of galactic 'train wrecks' from start to finish," said astronomer Lauranne [..] > read more
"You're A Target..."
Published on 2012-02-18 17:45:00
"If you're doing well, you're a target, nobody's interested in you except how you can be of use to them."- Richard Grant > read more
Chet Raymo, “Very, Very, Very, Very, Very...”
Published on 2012-02-18 17:39:00
“Very, Very, Very, Very, Very...”by Chet Raymo"In a short story that was published posthumously in the New Yorker earlier this year, the inestimable Primo Levi meditated on the limits of language. The story was called “The Tranquil Star.” He writes "The star was very big and very hot, and its weight was enormous," and realizes immediately that the adjectives have failed him: “For a discussion of stars our language is inadequate and seems laughable, as if someone were trying to plow wit [..] > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-02-18 14:08:00
"The Washington Clown Show"
Published on 2012-02-18 14:06:00
"The Washington Clown Show"by Financial Armageddon"Based on the President's public pronouncements, things look to be getting better by the day: "We've got an economy that is showing some positive signs. We've seen many consecutive months of private sector job growth." (12/23/11). "We’re moving in the right direction. We have made real progress. Now is not the time to stop." (1/6/12). "The economy is growing stronger. The recovery is speeding up." (2/3/12). "We are seeing signs that our econom [..] > read more
The DailyOm, Alex Noble, "Below the Surface: Finding Deep Strength"
Published on 2012-02-17 22:01:00
"Below the Surface: Finding Deep Strength"by The DailyOm"When we look back on our lives we see that we have survived many trials and often to our own amazement. We have all faced moments in our lives when the pressure mounts beyond what we feel we can handle, and we find ourselves thinking that we do not have the strength to carry on. Sometimes we have just gotten through a major obstacle or illness only to find another one waiting for us the moment we finally catch our breath. Sometimes we endu [..] > read more
Musical Interlude: Vangelis, "Hymn"
Published on 2012-02-17 20:48:00
Vangelis, "Hymn"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB7fnZ-AQNE&feature=fvwrel > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2012-02-17 17:41:00
“Are the nearest galaxies distributed randomly? A plot of over one million of the brightest "extended sources" detected by the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) shows that they are not. The vast majority of these infrared extended sources are galaxies. Visible above is an incredible tapestry of structure that provides limits on how the universe formed and evolved. Click image for larger size. Many galaxies are gravitationally bound together to form clusters, which themselves are loosely bound [..] > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2012-02-17 17:11:00
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, "Tuning In"
Published on 2012-02-17 16:58:00
"Tuning In"by Chet Raymo"I have mentioned here before my friend and neighbor Dwight, he of the preternatural powers of observation. To walk with Dwight is to realize that I go through life half blind, missing half of what there is to see. It's like living in one of those picture puzzles we enjoyed as children, an ordinary scene that hides images of puppies, pumpkins and tin drums. He teaches me lots of other stuff too, like how to change brake pads. In return I share some of my knowledge, such a [..] > read more
"8 Reasons Why You Act Against Your Own Better Judgment"
Published on 2012-02-17 16:41:00
"8 Reasons Why You Act Against Your Own Better Judgment"by Mark Sisson"We all make poor choices against our better judgment. It’s kind of what makes us human – the tendency to actively and willfully make decisions that will result in unfavorable outcomes. Sure, the candy bar tastes good, but you know you’ll feel awful after eating it. Yeah, that blog is fun to read, but you know you’d be much happier if you finished that essay for class first. And yet five minutes later, a candy bar wrap [..] > read more
"Some Say..."
Published on 2012-02-17 16:20:00
"There is a place, like no place on earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say, to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. Which, luckily, I am." - Lewis Carroll, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"•Hat tip to some artist person in California for this material. > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2012-02-17 14:24:00
Priorities, don'tcha know? - CP > read more
Greg Hunter, "Weekly News Wrap-Up 2.17.12”
Published on 2012-02-17 14:18:00
"Weekly News Wrap-Up 2.17.12”By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com"The big story is the continued threat of World War III in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, this week, sanctions are not working on Iran; and the U.S. Senate is talking about a “time table” to stop Iran’s nuclear program. A new bi-partisan resolution says that containing a nuclear armed Iran is not an option. These are just two more signs that war in the Middle East is approaching. The only [..] > read more
"2012: Gerald Celente On Year's Top Trends"
Published on 2012-02-17 14:14:00
"Gerald Celente, the founder of the Trends Research Institute gives RT's Marina Portnaya his predictions for the headlines of tomorrow. OWS movement, US presidential elections, economic embargo on Iran are among the issues discussed.""2012: Gerald Celente On Year's Top Trends"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PG6Fh0SWMJs#! > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-07-05 22:30:00
“Beautiful island universe M94 lies a mere 15 million light-years distant in the northern constellation of the hunting dogs, Canes Venatici. A popular target for astronomers, the brighter inner part of the face-on spiral galaxy is about 30,000 ligh > read more
Post # 15,000: Aristotle, "Excellence"
Published on 2011-07-05 22:25:00
“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habi > read more
Neurology: “In Eyes, a Clock Calibrated by Wavelengths of Light”
Published on 2011-07-05 22:06:00
“In Eyes, a Clock Calibrated by Wavelengths of Light”By Laura Beil“Just as the ear has two purposes — hearing and telling you which way is up — so does the eye. It receives the input necessary for vision, but the retina also houses a networ > read more
Thomas Merton, "Every Moment..."
Published on 2011-07-05 21:43:00
"Every moment and every event of every man'slife on earth plants something in his soul."- Thomas Merton > read more
Psychology: “What Doesn’t Kill You Really Does Make You Stronger”
Published on 2011-07-05 21:23:00
“What Doesn’t Kill You Really Does Make You Stronger”by Benedict Carey“Character is a fine thing to admire, all right — once the storm has passed and the rigging is repaired. But when people are truly sinking, because of job loss, illness, > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-07-05 17:21:00
Mercato San Severino, Campania, Italy. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Psychology: “New Research Shows That We Control Our Forgetfulness”
Published on 2011-07-05 17:17:00
“New Research Shows That We Control Our Forgetfulness”by Lund University“Have you heard the saying "You only remember what you want to remember"? Now there is evidence that it may well be correct. New research from Lund University in Sweden sho > read more
Henry David Thoreau, "A Greater Miracle?"
Published on 2011-07-05 17:13:00
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?”- Henry David Thoreau > read more
“Thirst for Fairness May Have Helped Us Survive”
Published on 2011-07-05 16:58:00
“Thirst for Fairness May Have Helped Us Survive”by Natalie Angier“Among the Ache hunter-gatherers in eastern Paraguay, healthy adults with no dependent offspring are expected to donate as much as 70 to 90 percent of the food they forage to the > read more
Pema Chödrön, "Compassion"
Published on 2011-07-05 16:53:00
"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our s > read more
John F. Kennedy, "A Great Future..."
Published on 2011-07-04 21:48:00
“I look forward to a great future for America - a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose.”- John F. Kennedy > read more
"America: Stardate 2011.07.04"
Published on 2011-07-04 21:41:00
"America: Stardate 2011.07.04" How we're fond of viewing ourselves...How most of the world views us...The truth, of course, lies somewhere between these opposing points of view...- CP > read more
Mark Twain, "Your Decision..."
Published on 2011-07-04 21:09:00
“Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, bot > read more
Hamilton Fish, "Worth Living For"
Published on 2011-07-04 20:46:00
“If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace.” ~ Hamilton Fish > read more
“Dixie's Land: The Confederate Anthem”
Published on 2011-07-04 20:34:00
“Dixie's Land: The Confederate Anthem”“The American Civil War (1861-1865), also known as the War Between the States was a civil war in the United States of America. 11 Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and fo > read more
"Sullivan Ballou's Letter Home, April 14, 1861"
Published on 2011-07-04 20:01:00
"Sullivan Ballou's Letter Home, April 14, 1861" > read more
Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty..."
Published on 2011-07-04 16:38:00
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775 > read more
“Duty, Honor, Country” by General Douglas MacArthur – May 12, 1962
Published on 2011-07-04 16:17:00
Today is not the day to discuss politics, foreign policy, or the causes and responsibilities of war. To honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of all branches of our military, as a former United States Marine I offer the Marine Co > read more
James Baldwin, "America"
Published on 2011-07-04 15:53:00
"I love America more than any other country in this world; and,exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." ~ James Baldwin > read more
Tom Clay, "What The World Needs Now"
Published on 2011-07-04 15:36:00
Tom Clay, "What The World Needs Now" > read more
Musical 4th of July Interlude: James Brown, "Living In America"
Published on 2011-07-04 02:23:00
Happy 4th of July!
Published on 2011-07-04 02:21:00
Have a safe and happy 4th of July, folks! > read more
Zhuangzi, "I Dreamed..."
Published on 2011-07-04 00:07:00
"I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?"- Zhuangzi > read more
Chuck Palahniuk, "Your Choices"
Published on 2011-07-03 23:59:00
“This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.Every breath is a choice.Every minute is a choice.To be or not to be.Every time you don't throw yourself down the stairs, that's a choice.Every time you don't crash your car, you re-enl > read more
Sandra Sturtz Hauss, "May You Find Serenity..."
Published on 2011-07-03 21:46:00
"May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. A > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-07-03 21:02:00
“The closest star system to the Sun is the Alpha Centauri system. Of the three stars in the system, the dimmest - called Proxima Centauri - is actually the nearest star. The bright stars Alpha Centauri A and B form a close binary as they are separa > read more
"How Else Could We Discover the Stars?"
Published on 2011-07-03 19:38:00
“I haven't a clue as to how my story will end. But that's all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, you don't conclude the road has vanished. And how else could we discover the stars?” - Author Unknown > read more
The Poet: Amelia Peart Macdonald, "Upward Reaching"
Published on 2011-07-03 18:50:00
"Upward Reaching""The soul of man, to what end is it striving?What is the destiny, what is the goal?This constant upward reaching of the soul–What force behind it does the ceaseless driving?Upward reaching but implies a questUnending, for the thing > read more
Jose Ortega y Gasset, "To Begin To Understand"
Published on 2011-07-03 18:44:00
"To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand."- Jose Ortega y Gasset > read more
Psychology: “Looking For Ingredients of Happiness Around the World”
Published on 2011-07-03 17:39:00
“Looking For Ingredients of Happiness Around the World”by ScienceBlog“In 1943, American psychologist Abraham Maslow proposed that all humans seek to fulfill a hierarchy of needs, which he represented with a pyramid. The pyramid’s base, which > read more
Musical Interlude: Nickelback, "If Everyone Cared"
Published on 2011-07-02 23:37:00
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:57:00
“Seen as a seagull and a duck, these nebulae are not the only cosmic clouds to evoke images of flight. But both are winging their way across this broad celestial landscape, spanning almost 7 degrees across planet Earth's night sky toward the conste > read more
Jonathan Swift, "Warnings"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:51:00
"How is it possible to expect mankind to take advicewhen they will not so much as take warning?"- Jonathan Swift > read more
Psychology: "Why Do 'Normal' People Talk to Themselves?"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:48:00
"Why Do 'Normal' People Talk to Themselves?"By C. Claiborne RayQ. Why do “normal” people talk to themselves?A. The old joke is that it is the only way to be sure of having an intelligent conversation, but it has some real uses. “Young childre > read more
Chet Raymo, "The Song of Amergin"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:44:00
"It is commonly called "The Song of Amergin," and it is reputed to be the first poem composed in Ireland, by one of the "Milesian princes" who colonized the island several hundred years before the birth of Christ. "The Song of Amergin"∙ "I am th > read more
Marie Beyon Ray, "Like A Snowflake"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:40:00
"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand- and melting like a snowflake..." - Marie Beyon Ray > read more
"Dogtown: Happy Face!"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:35:00
"It's not just a sanctuary - it's Dogtown! Dogtown is the most welcoming place on earth. They may have been homeless, but none of the dogs here are sad and forlorn. Everywhere you go, you're greeted with wagging tails, whelps of excitement and big, f > read more
Paulo Coelho, “The Bird And The Cage”
Published on 2011-07-02 21:27:00
“The Bird And The Cage”by Paulo Coelho“Once upon a time, there was a bird. He was adorned with two perfect wings and with glossy, colorful, marvelous feathers. One day, a woman saw this bird and fell in love with him. She invited the b > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:14:00
Tokyo, Japan. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Oriah Mountain Dreamer, "The Invitation"
Published on 2011-07-02 21:06:00
"The Invitation""It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.I want to know what you ache for,and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.It doesn't interest me how old you are.I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-30 05:54:00
"Sculpted by stellar winds and radiation, the star factory known as Messier 17 lies some 5,500 light-years away in the nebula-rich constellation Sagittarius. At that distance, this degree wide field of view spans almost 100 light-years, courtesy of E > read more
“Reflections of Self: We Are All Mirrors for Each Other”
Published on 2011-06-30 05:46:00
“Reflections of Self: We Are All Mirrors for Each Other”by The DailyOm“People you feel drawn to reflect your inner self back at you, and you act as a mirror for them as well. When we look at other people, we see many of their qualities in innum > read more
Martin Luther King, Jr., "Nothing In The World..."
Published on 2011-06-29 21:04:00
“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”- Martin Luther King, Jr. > read more
"Should Math Be Taught In Schools? Umm...Maybe?"
Published on 2011-06-29 20:49:00
"Should Math Be Taught In Schools? Umm...Maybe?"by Abby Zimet- http://www.commondreams.org/further/2011/06/27-1We are SO doomed... - CP > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-29 19:53:00
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Gregory David Roberts, "Fate"
Published on 2011-06-29 19:46:00
“Sooner or later, fate puts us together with all the people, one by one, who show us what we could, and shouldn’t, let ourselves become. Sooner or later we meet the drunkard, the waster, the betrayer, the ruthless mind, and the hate-filled heart. > read more
“Surprise! Boeing Overcharged Pentagon”
Published on 2011-06-29 19:07:00
“Surprise! Boeing Overcharged Pentagon”by Marcus Baram“Despite bipartisan outrage over Pentagon spending in the 1980s - remember the $600 toilet seat? - such contracting abuses continue to take place. Boeing overcharged the U.S. Army up to 177, > read more
The Economy: "Police Forced Out Due to Budget Crisis"
Published on 2011-06-29 18:32:00
"Police Forced Out Due to Budget Crisis"by Addison Wiggin“We had to do something drastic,” says Jerry Flowers, a city councilman in Alto, Texas. Lately, we’ve find ourselves in the curious habit of collecting stories of impending calamity from > read more
"How It Really Was, Is, And Always Will Be"
Published on 2011-06-29 14:08:00
Kurt Nimmo, "In America"
Published on 2011-06-29 14:04:00
"In America the criminally insane rule, and the rest of us, or the vast majority of the rest of us, either do not care, do not know, or are distracted and properly brainwashed into acquiescence."- Kurt Nimmo > read more
“Let It Flow: Tears”
Published on 2011-06-28 23:12:00
“Let It Flow: Tears”by The DailyOm“Tears are as natural to us as breathing and there is beauty in allowing yourself to be open to the pain of tears. How wonderful it feels to give in and let tears flow when we are overwhelmed with emotions, whe > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-28 21:52:00
“Sometimes galaxies form groups. For example, our own Milky Way Galaxy is part of the Local Group of Galaxies. Small, compact groups, like Hickson Compact Group 87 (HCG 87) shown above, are interesting partly because they slowly self-destruct. Inde > read more
Bronnie Ware, "Regrets of the Dying"
Published on 2011-06-28 21:32:00
"Regrets of the Dying"by Bronnie WareFor many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People gro > read more
Chet Raymo, “Science”
Published on 2011-06-28 21:14:00
“Science”by Chet Raymo“In her book “The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science,” science writer Natalie Angier says: "I like science I trust it. It makes me feel optimistic. It adds rigor to my life." That about says it. > read more
Kahlil Gibran, “I Pity You Too.”
Published on 2011-06-28 21:05:00
"Said a philosopher to a street sweeper, “I pity you. Yours is a hard and dirty task.” And the street sweeper said, “Thank you, sir. But tell me, what is your task?” And the philosopher answered saying, “I study man's mind, his deeds an > read more
“The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant: Fukushima in Nebraska?”
Published on 2011-06-28 20:30:00
“The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant: Fukushima in Nebraska?” Raging Flood Waters Threaten Nuclear Catastropheby Kurt Nimmo"Once again, the corporate media is ignoring a potentially deadly nuclear situation, this time right here in the Uni > read more
Isaac Asimov, "Eureka!"
Published on 2011-06-28 20:08:00
“The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.”- Isaac Asimov > read more
The Daily "Near You?'
Published on 2011-06-28 19:10:00
Umm Al Fahm, Haifa, Israel. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Robert Green Ingersoll, "The Grandeur of Thought"
Published on 2011-06-28 18:59:00
"Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, at least, you are without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and depth; that there are no walls nor fences, nor prohibited places, nor sacred corners in all the v > read more
Nutrition: "Everything About Fat"
Published on 2011-06-28 18:41:00
“Everything About Fat”Probably More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Fatand Thought You Already Knew, But Didn't by Doug DiPaquale“Ideas seem to have a way of ingraining themselves in mass consciousness such that it is difficult, if not > read more
The Universe
Published on 2011-06-28 03:27:00
“The odd thing about the often long and lonely path of life is that when you get to the end of it and look back, you'll find that it was neither of these. Stranger still, by and large, no matter where it's taken you, its memories will be so sweet, > read more
Musical Interlude: Moody Blues, "You and Me"
Published on 2011-06-28 02:07:00
Leo Buscaglia, "Opportunities"
Published on 2011-06-27 22:46:00
“The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people > read more
Erich Fromm, "Automaton Conformity"
Published on 2011-06-27 22:34:00
"Automaton Conformity"by Erich Fromm"In the mechanisms we have been discussing, the individual overcomes the feeling of insignificance in comparison with the overwhelming power of the world outside himself either by renouncing his individual integrit > read more
Fukushima Meltdowns: "Coming Soon To A Store Near You: Radioactive Fish?"
Published on 2011-06-27 22:19:00
“Coming to a Store Near You: Radioactive Fish?“by Washington’s Blog“As I pointed out in April, the FDA is refusing to test fish for radioactivity, even though water currents will eventually bring debris from Fukushima: The debris mass, > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-27 21:12:00
“Cosmic dust clouds sprawl across a rich field of stars in this sweeping telescopic vista near the northern boundary of Corona Australis, the Southern Crown. Probably less than 500 light-years away and effectively blocking light from more distant, > read more
Genetics: “Genetic Modification Gone Wild”
Published on 2011-06-27 21:06:00
“Genetic Modification Gone Wild”By The Economic Collapse Blog “Did you know that today scientists are actually producing mice that tweet like birds, cats that glow in the dark, "monster salmon", "spider goats", cow/human hybrids, pig/human hybr > read more
George W. Bush, "My Line of Work"
Published on 2011-06-27 20:43:00
“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.”- George W. Bush > read more
“What's Victory? The Orwellian Propaganda Terms That Define Our War State”
Published on 2011-06-27 18:31:00
“What's Victory? The Orwellian Propaganda Terms That Define Our War State”By Tom Engelhardt“Now that Washington has at least six wars cooking (in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, and more generally, the global war on terror), Ame > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-27 18:00:00
Temple, Texas, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“Dr. Seuss”, "Don't Give Up!"
Published on 2011-06-26 23:05:00
"Don't give up! I believe in you all.A person's a person, no matter how small!And you very small persons will not have to dieIf you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!"- Theodor Seuss Geisel, “Dr. Seuss” > read more
E. E. Holmes, "Hope"
Published on 2011-06-26 21:50:00
“While there is life there is hope- and while there is hope there is life.”- E. E. Holmes > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-26 21:29:00
“Magnificent spiral galaxy NGC 4565 is viewed edge-on from planet Earth. Also known as the Needle Galaxy for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop on many telescopic tours of the northern sky, in the faint but well-groomed constellation Com > read more
Chet Raymo, “Humility In the Face of Complexity”
Published on 2011-06-26 21:19:00
“Humility In the Face of Complexity”by Chet Raymo“In the September, 2009 issue of Harper's Magazine, contributing editor Mark Slouka has an essay titled "Dehumanized: When Math and Science Rule the School." The title and subtitle say it all. Ed > read more
Kahlil Gibran, "Judging Others"
Published on 2011-06-26 21:02:00
“You may judge others only according to your knowledge of yourself. Tell me now, who among us is guilty and who is unguilty?”- Kahlil Gibran > read more
Amiel, "Life"
Published on 2011-06-26 20:24:00
“Life passes through us; we do not possess it.”- Amiel > read more
“Science Confirms It: Whining Is The Most Annoying Sound Ever”
Published on 2011-06-26 20:06:00
“Science Confirms It: Whining Is The Most Annoying Sound Ever”by Time“Finally, empirical evidence has arrived that whining is one of the most annoying noises ever. (As if you needed proof.) In fact, childish whining is more distracting th > read more
Psychology: “Shyness: An Evolutionary Tactic?”
Published on 2011-06-26 19:58:00
“Shyness: An Evolutionary Tactic?”by Susan Cain“A beautiful woman lowers her eyes demurely beneath a hat. In an earlier era, her gaze might have signaled a mysterious allure. But this is a 2003 advertisement for Zoloft, a selective serotonin re > read more
The Daily "Near You?'
Published on 2011-06-26 16:31:00
Faversham, Kent, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Rachel Carson, "Planning For Our Own Destruction?"
Published on 2011-06-26 16:27:00
"The aim of science is to discover and illuminate truth. And that, I take it, is the aim of literature, whether biography or history or fiction. It seems to me, then, that there can be no separate literature of science…The winds, the sea, and the m > read more
'A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-25 23:45:00
"Perhaps the most famous star cluster on the sky, the Pleiades can be seen without binoculars from even the depths of a light-polluted city. Also known as the Seven Sisters and M45, the Pleiades is one of the brightest and closest open clusters. The > read more
Chet Raymo, “Augmented Reality”
Published on 2011-06-25 23:37:00
“Augmented Reality”by Chet Raymo“’THE WORLD WLL NEVER LOOK THE SAME AGAIN’, shouts the headline in the Tech & Net section of the London Sunday Times. Then, slightly more subdued: "Augmented reality glasses take what you see and add what > read more
"The Wisdom of Satchel Paige"
Published on 2011-06-25 23:13:00
“Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.”“Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you.”“Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common.”“Money and women. T > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-25 22:28:00
Seattle, Washington, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Psychology: “5 Online Tests Actually Worth Your Time”
Published on 2011-06-25 15:55:00
“5 Online Tests Actually Worth Your Time”by The Huffington Post“Wasting time on the Internet doesn't have to just mean Facebook and YouTube videos. This compilation of smart, accurate and perceptive online tests will actually allow you to use p > read more
William Bowles, “This Is What Empires Do”
Published on 2011-06-25 15:22:00
“This Is What Empires Do”by William Bowles“I'm sure that somewhere, in a university or institute, researchers have produced an analysis that measures the rise in the number of armed conflicts as a ratio of the increase in economic instability a > read more
"How It Really Is"
Published on 2011-06-25 13:23:00
John Maynard Keynes, "Capitalism"
Published on 2011-06-25 13:15:00
“Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.”- John Maynard Keynes > read more
“Third World America: Drowning in Debt and Choking on Lies”
Published on 2011-06-25 12:59:00
“Third World America: Drowning in Debt and Choking on Lies” by Janet Tavakoli“If a drunk driver crashed his speeding rental car into your house and killed your spouse, you would be outraged if law enforcers took bribes and refused to give > read more
Bill Bonner, “Bubble to Bubble, Dust to Dust”
Published on 2011-06-25 12:46:00
“Bubble to Bubble, Dust to Dust”by Bill Bonner“So far, this century has been a delight. From tech bubble to tech bubble in scarcely 10 years. On our recent trip to China, all of a sudden we felt 10 years younger. For in the coffee bars of China > read more
Rabindranath Tagore, "Time Enough"
Published on 2011-06-23 06:22:00
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.”- Rabindranath Tagore > read more
“Reversed Perceptions: Being Projected Upon”
Published on 2011-06-23 05:46:00
“Reversed Perceptions: Being Projected Upon”by The DailyOm“When we take ownership of our thoughts we are less likely to project our issues or disowned qualities onto others. We all have issues, as well as undesirable qualities or traits that we > read more
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “Some Questions You Might Ask”
Published on 2011-06-22 23:25:00
“Some Questions You Might Ask”‧ "Is the soul solid, like iron?Or is it tender and breakable, likethe wings of a moth in the beak of an owl?Who has it, and who doesn't?I keep looking around me.The face of the moose is as sadas the face of Jesus. > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-22 21:28:00
“Young suns still lie within dusty NGC 7129, some 3,000 light-years away toward the royal constellation Cepheus. While these stars are at a relatively tender age, only a few million years old, it is likely that our own Sun formed in a similar stell > read more
Charles M. Schulz, "Really?"
Published on 2011-06-22 21:23:00
“Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.'”- Charles M. Schulz > read more
The Borowitz Report: “Obama Says US Not Deserting Afghanistan
Published on 2011-06-22 20:56:00
“Obama Says US Not Deserting Afghanistan: ‘We Will Continue to Follow You on Twitter’”Promises Strong Social Networking Ties with Afghan Peopleby Andy BorowitzWASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) “Announcing a drawdown of American troops, > read more
Chuck Palahniuk, "The Future"
Published on 2011-06-22 19:57:00
"When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?"- Chuck Palahniuk > read more
“How They’d Spin the Titanic Today”
Published on 2011-06-22 19:50:00
“How They’d Spin the Titanic Today”by Mike Adams(NaturalNews) "What would all the world's experts and authorities say today if the Titanic were sinking but nobody was willing to admit it? The U.S. economy, after all, is sinking and taking on an > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-22 18:32:00
Redwood, New York, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Hunter S. Thompson, "Life"
Published on 2011-06-22 18:29:00
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely inone pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside,thoroughly used up, worn out, shouting GERONIMO!"- Hunter S. Thompson > read more
Chet Raymo, “A Credo”
Published on 2011-06-22 00:22:00
“A Credo”by Chet Raymo“John Burroughs - John-o'-the-Birds - America's most beloved nature writer, was just my age when in 1910 he wrote in his journal: "Joy in the universe, and a keen curiosity about it all - that has been my religion. As I gr > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-21 23:05:00
“A celestial prelude to today's solstice, the June 15 total lunar eclipse was one of the longest in recent years. It was also one of the darkest, but not completely dark. Even during totality, a somber, red lunar disk could be seen in the starry ni > read more
James Kavanaugh, "Searchers"
Published on 2011-06-21 21:53:00
"Some people do not have to search -they find their niche early in life and rest there,seemingly contented and resigned.They do not seem to ask much of life,sometimes they do not seem to take it seriously.At times I envy them, but usually I do not un > read more
Derrick Jensen, "What Right?"
Published on 2011-06-21 18:00:00
"To reverse the effects of civilization would destroy the dreams of a lot of people. There's no way around it. We can talk all we want about sustainability, but there's a sense in which it doesn't matter that these people's dreams are based on, embed > read more
"'Shocking' Report Warns Of Mass Extinction"
Published on 2011-06-21 17:47:00
"State Of The Ocean: 'Shocking' Report Warns Of Mass Extinction From Current Rate Of Marine Distress"by Travis Donovan“If the current actions contributing to a multifaceted degradation of the world's oceans aren't curbed, a mass extinction unl > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-21 17:00:00
Madrid, Spain. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Do You Love Yourself?" Don Miguel Ruiz: "The Four Agreements"
Published on 2011-06-21 16:55:00
"Do You Love Yourself?"by timethief“You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are… and that’s alright. (They are entitled to their own views and opinio > read more
Herman Hesse, "Time"
Published on 2011-06-21 16:47:00
"If time is not real, then the dividing line between this world and eternity, between suffering and bliss, between good and evil, is also an illusion."- Herman Hesse > read more
"Kurt Vonnegut: Quotes And Comments"
Published on 2011-06-21 16:42:00
"So it goes." Unlike many of these quotes, the repeated refrain from Vonnegut's classic 'Slaughterhouse-Five' isn't notable for its unique wording so much as for how much emotion—and dismissal of emotion—it packs into three simple, world-wear > read more
“Staying Afloat Amidst the Spin: Taking Things Personally”
Published on 2011-06-21 16:33:00
“Staying Afloat Amidst the Spin: Taking Things Personally”by The DailyOm“Try not to take everything personally, things that people say and do don’t always have anything to do with you. Every time you interact with others, you have > read more
Robert Anthony, "Courage"
Published on 2011-06-19 23:09:00
High-steel workers, New York City, early 1930's."Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway."- Robert Anthony > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-19 22:28:00
“Why are there faint rings around this spiral galaxy? Possibly because the galaxy, NGC 4911, is being pulled at by its neighbors as it falls into the enormous Coma Cluster of Galaxies. If NGC 4911 ends up like most of the galaxies in the central Co > read more
Chet Raymo, “I Don't Know”
Published on 2011-06-19 22:19:00
“I Don't Know”by Chet Raymo“Humphry Davy was one of the best known and revered British scientists of the early 19th century. His specialties were chemistry and electricity, both in their infancy as experimental sciences. Davy is remembered as t > read more
Thomas Huxley, "Learning"
Published on 2011-06-19 22:11:00
“Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every conceived notion, follow humbly wherever and whatever abysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing.” ~ Thomas Huxley > read more
“Earth May Be Headed Into A Mini Ice Age”
Published on 2011-06-19 21:58:00
“Earth May Be Headed Into A Mini Ice Age”by Lewis Page“What may be the science story of the century is breaking this evening, as heavyweight US solar physicists announce that the Sun appears to be headed into a lengthy spell of low activity, wh > read more
“Ghostly Rainbow Floats Over Washington”
Published on 2011-06-19 20:48:00
“Ghostly Rainbow Floats Over Washington”by OurAmazingPlanet“A colorful apparition materialized over Washington this week; the rarely glimpsed, rainbow-tinted specter appeared and vanished in the space of just minutes. Fortunately for anyone who > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-19 18:38:00
Binghamton, New York, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Compassionate Intensity: Balancing Your Warrior Spirit"
Published on 2011-06-19 18:24:00
"Compassionate Intensity: Balancing Your Warrior Spirit"by The DailyOm"When called to explore the way of the warrior, we can exhibit strength without sacrificing tenderness. The human soul is dynamic, adapting readily to the changing conditions we en > read more
Isak Dinesen, "Difficult Times"
Published on 2011-06-19 18:07:00
“Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever.”- Isak Dinesen > read more
Published on 2011-06-19 17:58:00
“Thought Control, Mind Control, and Other Naughty Things”by Moss David Posner, M.D“We are controlled everyday, in every way, continuously, and without any recognition of what is taking place. Much of this is deliberate, and is in part by > read more
Charles Frazier, "Thirteen Moons"
Published on 2011-06-19 02:35:00
"These days, Bear's old question - 'If you're to die tomorrow, do you spend the time praising Creation or cursing God?' - seems much less theoretical than it did back in the winter house. In the old days within Featherstone's recollection, befor > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-18 21:47:00
“Thunderstorms almost spoiled this view of the spectacular June 15 total lunar eclipse. Instead, storm clouds parted for 10 minutes during the total eclipse phase and lightning bolts contributed to the dramatic sky. Captured with a 30 second exposu > read more
Tenskwatawa, "Thus Were We Created"
Published on 2011-06-18 21:42:00
"Thus Were We Created""Our Creator put us on this wide, rich land, and told us we were free to go where the game was, where the soil was good for planting. That was our state of true happiness. We did not have to beg for anything. Our Creator h > read more
"The Power of Love: Christian the Lion"
Published on 2011-06-18 20:49:00
Chet Raymo, “A Heraclitean Fire”
Published on 2011-06-18 20:38:00
“A Heraclitean Fire”by Chet Raymo“Cloud-puffball, torn tufts, tossed pillows/ flaunt forth, then chevy on an air-built thoroughfare:heaven-roysterers, in gay gangs/ they throng; they glitter in marches. Down roughca > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-18 19:56:00
Mount Juliet, Tennessee, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
"Cognitive Dissonance And the Human Mind"
Published on 2011-06-18 19:51:00
"Cognitive Dissonance And the Human Mind"by Dan Eden"When “Robbie” the robot was told to shoot a weapon at a man in the movie Forbidden Planet, his electronic brain sparked and short-circuited. His creator had programmed him to never harm a hu > read more
Frederick Buechner, "Compassion"
Published on 2011-06-18 19:43:00
“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling whatit is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is theknowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for meuntil there is peace and joy finally for you too.” - Freder > read more
Paulo Coelho, "The Chess Game"
Published on 2011-06-18 19:32:00
"The Chess Game"by Paulo Coelho"A young man said to the abbot from the monastery of Melk: "I’d actually like to be a monk, but I haven’t learned anything in life. All my father taught me was to play chess, which does not lead to enlightenment. > read more
Neuropsychology: “How Did Humans Become Empathic? “
Published on 2011-06-18 19:28:00
“How Did Humans Become Empathic? “by Rick Hanson, Ph.D.“Empathy is unusual in the animal kingdom, so empathy must have had some major survival benefits for it to have evolved. What might those benefits have been? Empathy seems to have evolved i > read more
Joseph Epstein, "How We Live"
Published on 2011-06-16 23:53:00
"All men and women are born, live, suffer and die;what distinguishes us one from another is our dreams,whether they be dreams about worldly or unworldly things,and what we do to make them come about...We do not choose to be born.We do not choose our > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-16 21:53:00
“Only 11 million light-years away, Centaurus A is the closest active galaxy to planet Earth. Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy, also known as NGC 5128, is featured in this sharp color image. Centaurus A is apparently > read more
John Gillespie Magee Jr., “High Flight”
Published on 2011-06-16 21:48:00
“High Flight”“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of EarthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of - wheeled and so > read more
“Fukushima: It's Much Worse Than You Think”
Published on 2011-06-16 21:37:00
“Fukushima: It's Much Worse Than You Think”by Dahr Jamail"Fukushima is the biggest industrial catastrophe in the history of mankind," Arnold Gundersen, a former nuclear industry senior vice president, told Al Jazeera. "Fukushima is the bigge > read more
Tom Clancy, "The Difference"
Published on 2011-06-16 21:19:00
"The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense."- Tom Clancy > read more
“Does Driving a Porsche Make a Man More Desirable to Women?”
Published on 2011-06-16 20:11:00
“Does Driving a Porsche Make a Man More Desirable to Women?”by ScienceBlog“New research by faculty at Rice University, the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) and the University of Minnesota finds that men’s conspicuous spending > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-16 19:01:00
Freeport, Texas, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Elvis Presley, "That's A Fool"
Published on 2011-06-16 18:57:00
“Somebody does somethin' stupid, that's human. They don't stop when they see it's wrong, that's a fool.”- Elvis Presley > read more
“Fukushima Reactor Meltdowns: Japan May Become Uninhabitable Forever”
Published on 2011-06-16 18:02:00
“Fukushima Reactor Meltdowns: Japan May Become Uninhabitable Forever”by Independent Australia“So far the plume of radioactivity from Fukushima has mainly been blowing out to sea. The concern expressed by many is about what happens if the p > read more
J. Krishnamurti, "A New Consciousness"
Published on 2011-06-16 17:26:00
“A new consciousness and a totally new morality are necessary to bring about a radical change in the present culture and social structure. This is obvious, yet the Left and the Right and the revolutionary seem to disregard it. Any dogma, any formul > read more
The Universe
Published on 2011-06-16 04:25:00
“Earth is for champions, heroes, and lovers. Winners of an ancient race won in realms long forgotten against fear, doubt, and vagueness. You're here because you prevailed. You saw clearly. Strong in spirit, deep in character, and fast to fall in lo > read more
Max Ehrmann, "A Prayer"
Published on 2011-06-15 23:21:00
"A Prayer"․ "Let me do my work each day; and if the darkened hoursof despair overcome me, may I not forget the strengththat comforted me in the desolation of other times.May I still remember the bright hours that found me walkingover the silent hil > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-15 23:06:00
“Featured in this sharp telescopic image, globular star cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) is some 15,000 light-years away. Some 150 light-years in diameter, the cluster is packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun. Omega Cen is the > read more
Robert Cody, "The Courage To Live"
Published on 2011-06-15 22:12:00
"Have the courage to live. Anyone can die." ~ Robert Cody > read more
Genetics: “Humans Evolving Slower Than Expected”
Published on 2011-06-15 22:04:00
“Humans Evolving Slower Than Expected” by Jennifer Walsh“Humans might be evolving slower than scientists had thought, according to a new analysis of the genomes of two families, but there is a huge variance between people. The researchers, repo > read more
Life Skills: "Affirmations: Creating Our Positive Outlook"
Published on 2011-06-15 18:50:00
"Affirmations: Creating Our Positive Outlook"by Barry Bittmann, MD"Did you ever notice how negative some people have become? You really don’t have to search far and wide. In fact, if we look close enough, it’s sometimes apparent in ourselves. Fro > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-15 18:42:00
Corrimal, New South Wales, Australia. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
The Poet: John Keats, "The Human Seasons"
Published on 2011-06-15 18:37:00
"Four Seasons fill the measure of the year;There are four seasons in the mind of man:He has his lusty Spring, when fancy clearTakes in all beauty with an easy span:He has his Summer, when luxuriouslySpring's honied cud of youthful thought he lovesTo > read more
Health: "The Stunning Consequences of Sleep Deprivation"
Published on 2011-06-15 18:29:00
"The Stunning Consequences of Sleep Deprivation"by Allison Ford"Nothing feels worse than hearing your alarm clock ring in the morning when your body is screaming for a few extra hours of rest. Given the opportunity, who wouldn’t get more sleep? If > read more
Politicians: Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
Published on 2011-06-15 18:06:00
“Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire.”["A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him."]- Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux > read more
Mary Anne Radmacher, "Live"
Published on 2011-06-15 01:48:00
"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness.Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends.Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.”- Mary Anne Radmacher > read more
Paulo Coelho, "Be Like a River"
Published on 2011-06-15 01:31:00
"Be Like a River"by Paulo Coelho“A river never passes the same place twice,” says a philosopher. “Life is like a river,” says another philosopher, and we draw the conclusion that this is the metaphor that comes closest to the meaning of li > read more
Christopher Hitchens, "Dogs and Cats"
Published on 2011-06-15 01:11:00
"Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affe > read more
"Wisdom of the Micmac"
Published on 2011-06-15 01:00:00
"Wisdom of the Micmac"“I am truly astonished that the French have so little cleverness. They try to persuade us to convert our poles, our barks, and our wigwams into their houses of stone and of wood that are as tall and lofty as these trees. Very > read more
Arthur C. Clarke, "Information"
Published on 2011-06-14 22:18:00
“The Information Age offers much to mankind, and I would like to think that we will rise to the challenges it presents. But it is vital to remember that information — in the sense of raw data — is not knowledge, that knowledge is no > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-14 22:07:00
“What does the universe nearby look like? This plot shows nearly 50,000 galaxies in the nearby universe detected by the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) in infrared light. The resulting image is an incredible tapestry of galaxies that provides lim > read more
Chet Raymo, “An Earthly Paradise?”
Published on 2011-06-14 21:18:00
“An Earthly Paradise?”by Chet Raymo“A few lines from a poem, "Ode to Entropy", by John Updike:․ 'Death exists nowhere in nature, not in the minds of birds or the consciousness of flowers, > read more
W. H. Auden, "The Others"
Published on 2011-06-14 21:08:00
"We are here on earth to do good for others. What the others are here for, I don't know."- W. H. Auden > read more
David Chandler, "The Search for Truth"
Published on 2011-06-14 21:00:00
"The Search for Truth"By David Chandler“Some people might wonder what motivates a physics teacher to get up and talk about religion and world issues. I am not a professional political scientist or sociologist or theologian. But I am a concerned cit > read more
George Bernard Shaw, "The True Joy In Life"
Published on 2011-06-14 20:49:00
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailm > read more
Carl Sagan
Published on 2011-06-13 23:59:00
“It is not a question of whether we are emotionally prepared in the long run to confront a message from the stars. It is whether we can develop a sense that beings with quite different evolutionary histories, beings who may look far different from > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-13 22:21:00
“On the upper right, dressed in blue, is the Pleiades. Also known as the Seven Sisters and M45, the Pleiades is one of the brightest and most easily visible open clusters on the sky. The Pleiades contains over 3,000 stars, is about 400 light years > read more
"The Subconscious Mind: The Wizard Behind the Curtain"
Published on 2011-06-13 21:27:00
"The Subconscious Mind: The Wizard Behind the Curtain" by Bruce Lipton“The subconscious mind is an astonishingly powerful information processor that can record perceptual experiences (programs) and forever play them back at the push of a butto > read more
Mr. Spock
Published on 2011-06-13 20:49:00
"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true." - Mr. Spock > read more
The Poet: Walt Whitman, "Miracles"
Published on 2011-06-13 17:21:00
"Miracles""Why, who makes much of a miracle?As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the > read more
"The Chauvet Cave: I Am Human. I Am Here."
Published on 2011-06-13 17:14:00
"I Am Human. I Am Here."by HandFacts․ "The Chauvet cave in the south-east of France contains the oldest known cave paintings in the world. The most common themes in cave paintings are large wild animals, such as bison, horses, aurochs, and deer > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-13 17:09:00
Roseville, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
“Plunging Into The Deep: Life Can Be Scary”
Published on 2011-06-13 15:04:00
“Plunging Into The Deep: Life Can Be Scary”by The DailyOm“No matter how brave, strong, or levelheaded we are, sometimes we all get scared. Life can take us on a roller coaster ride full of highs and lows and twists and turns. Even for those of > read more
Hunter S. Thompson, "The Real Power"
Published on 2011-06-13 14:50:00
"It would be easy to say that we owe it all to the Bush family from Texas, but that would be too simplistic. They are only errand boys for the vengeful, bloodthirsty cartel of raving Jesus-freaks and super-rich money mongers who have ruled for at > read more
"SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen"
Published on 2011-06-13 14:36:00
"SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen"By John W. Whitehead“He [a federal agent] had his knee on my back and I had no idea why they were there.”-Anthony Wright, victim of a Dept. of Education SWAT team raid."The militarizatio > read more
Marcus Aurelius, "The Object of Life"
Published on 2011-06-12 22:35:00
“The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority,but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”- Marcus Aurelius > read more
Life Skills: "Living In The Moment"
Published on 2011-06-12 22:29:00
"Living In The Moment"By Frederic Premji "I was going through the excellent book by Eckhart Tolle, "The Power of Now" (which is one of my all time favorite books) and I came across an interesting passage about the amount of time and energy people > read more
Leo Buscaglia, "Without You..."
Published on 2011-06-12 22:26:00
"Love yourself- accept yourself- forgive yourself-and be good to yourself, because without you the rest ofus are without a source of many wonderful things."- Leo Buscaglia > read more
Sylvia Browne, "The Weeds"
Published on 2011-06-12 22:21:00
"The weeds keep multiplying in our garden, which is our mind ruled by fear. Rip them out and call them by name."- Sylvia Browne > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-12 21:08:00
"The Sleeping Beauty galaxy may appear peaceful at first sight but it is actually tossing and turning. In an unexpected twist, recent observations have shown that the gas in the outer regions of this photogenic spiral is rotating in the opposite dire > read more
Alex Noble, "Surviving Beneath Ice"
Published on 2011-06-12 21:04:00
"Surviving Beneath Ice"by Alex Noble"The image… a pond, deep in the woods, black water, a few fading autumn leaves, floating like feathers, rust red, yellow. You are deep underwater now, looking up, and you watch the leaves dance in the wi > read more
Advanced Life Skills: "Be Happy: Unchain Yourself from Conventional Thinking Myths"
Published on 2011-06-12 19:07:00
"Be Happy: Unchain Yourself from Conventional Thinking Myths"by Jonathan“What if I said that conventional thinking is at best only a beginning, and often just leads to a dead end? Not only that, but what if I also said that it has a way of limiting > read more
Miguel de Cervantes, "The Maddest Trick;" Dylan Thomas, "Do Not Go Gentle..."
Published on 2011-06-12 18:23:00
“'Tis the maddest trick a man can ever play in his whole life, to let his breath sneak out of his body without any more ado, and without so much as a rap o'er the pate, or a kick of the guts; to go out like the snuff of a farthing candle, and die m > read more
"Judgement at Nuremberg: Janning's Sentencing"
Published on 2011-06-12 17:28:00
"Judge's Delivery of Janning's Sentencing by the Court"This speech is from the film "Judgement at Nuremberg," made in 1961. Consider the principles discussed here, and how far from them we've strayed..."Judge Dan Haywood's (Spencer Tracy) sent > read more
The Poet: Carl Sandburg, "What Shall He Tell That Son?"
Published on 2011-06-12 17:20:00
"What Shall He Tell That Son?""A father sees a son nearing manhood.What shall he tell that son?'Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.'And this might stand him for the stormsand serve him for humdrum and monotonyand guide him amid sudden betrayalsand tig > read more
“The Economic Crisis May Lead to Civil Unrest”
Published on 2011-06-12 03:40:00
“The Economic Crisis May Lead to Civil Unrest”By Washingtons Blog“CNN’s Jack Cafferty notes that a number of voices are saying that – if our economy continues to deteriorate (which it very well might) – we are likely headed for violence, > read more
"35% Spike in Infant Mortality in Northwest Cities from Fukushima Fallout?"
Published on 2011-06-12 03:11:00
"35% Spike in Infant Mortality in Northwest Cities from Fukushima Fallout?"by Washington's Blog“As I've previously noted, infants are much more vulnerable to radiation than adults. And see this. However, radiation safety standards are set base > read more
“The Abilene Paradox”
Published on 2011-06-12 02:46:00
“The Abilene Paradox”by The Daily Omnivore“The Abilene paradox is a paradox in which a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is counter to the preferences of any of the individuals in the group. It involves a common bre > read more
Running Hawk, Lakota Nation
Published on 2011-06-11 23:37:00
"The Avoidance of Suffering"
Published on 2011-06-11 23:33:00
"The Avoidance of Suffering" by Carolyn Baker‧ "In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Sigmund Freud cultivated a very dark perception of humanity as he assessed the baser instincts largely repressed in the human unconscious > read more
Bob Moawad, "An Amazing Journey"
Published on 2011-06-11 23:25:00
“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. T > read more
Alex Noble, “A Journey Through Rivers, Time and Rock”
Published on 2011-06-11 22:52:00
“A Journey Through Rivers, Time and Rock” by Alex Noble‧ "You wake up at 4:30 AM, light the small beeswax candle on your desk, and begin writing. As you write, the images present themselves, like stately emissaries from distant galaxies, > read more
Paulo Coelho
Published on 2011-06-11 22:43:00
“There is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth. To realize one's destiny is a per > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-11 22:30:00
“Where do spiral galaxies keep their supernovae? Near their massive star forming regions, of course, and those regions tend to lie along sweeping blue spiral arms. Because massive stars are very short-lived, they don't have a chance to wander far f > read more
Marcus Antonius
Published on 2011-06-11 22:25:00
"Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man- yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned to thee, live rationally, and part with life cheerfully, as drops the ripe olive, extolling the season tha > read more
Carl Sagan, "The Cosmos"
Published on 2011-06-10 22:01:00
“The size and age of the Cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding. Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. In a cosmic perspective, most human concerns seem insignificant, even petty. And yet our species is y > read more
Vangelis, “Albedo 0.39”
Published on 2011-06-10 21:52:00
Vangelis, “Albedo 0.39”"The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us — there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation of a distant memory, as if we were f > read more
Chet Raymo, “Exile”
Published on 2011-06-10 21:30:00
“Exile”by Chet Raymo “Are we truly alone With our physics and myths, The stars no more Than glittering dust, With no one there To hear o > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-10 21:08:00
"Why are there faint rings around this spiral galaxy? Possibly because the galaxy, NGC 4911, is being pulled at by its neighbors as it falls into the enormous Coma Cluster of Galaxies. If NGC 4911 ends up like most of the galaxies in the central Coma > read more
The Borowitz Report: “Supercomputer Fails to Translate Palin Emails into English”
Published on 2011-06-10 20:01:00
“Supercomputer Fails to Translate Palin Emails into English”Not a Recognizable Language, Says IBM’s Watsonby Andy BorowitzNEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – “Hours after the state of Alaska released 24,199 emails written by Sarah Palin during > read more
Rabindranath Tagore, "Optimism"
Published on 2011-06-10 18:57:00
"I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can't make it through one door, I'll go through another door - or I'll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present."- Rabindranath Tagore > read more
Psychology: “Cognitive Dissonance: Avoidance, Denial, & Rationalization”
Published on 2011-06-10 17:55:00
“Cognitive Dissonance: Avoidance, Denial, & Rationalization”by TruthMove‧ “Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be acce > read more
Paulo Coelho, “Covering the Sun”
Published on 2011-06-10 17:24:00
“Covering the Sun”by Paulo Coelho“A disciple went to Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. “I shall not continue with my studies of sacred texts,” he said. “I live in a small house with my brothers and parents, and never have the ideal conditions fo > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-10 14:02:00
Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Albert Einstein, "A Question"
Published on 2011-06-10 13:59:00
"A question that sometimes drives me hazy:am I or are the others crazy?"- Albert Einstein > read more
Bill Bonner, “The Central Bank Stock Market Indicator”
Published on 2011-06-10 06:56:00
“The Central Bank Stock Market Indicator”by Bill Bonner“Bernanke comments keep equities in check,” says a headline in "The Financial Times." Sure enough. The Dow ended down again – 21 points down. It’s been going down for five weeks. But > read more
Kurt Vonnegut, "Requiem"
Published on 2011-06-10 04:31:00
“The crucified planet Earth, should it find a voice and a sense of irony,might now well say of our abuse of it,"Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do."The irony would be that we know what we are doing.When the last living thing has > read more
"Japan Admits “Worse Than Meltdown” - Nuclear “Melt-Through” In 3 Reactors"
Published on 2011-06-09 23:26:00
"Japan Admits “Worse Than Meltdown” - Nuclear “Melt-Through” In 3 Reactors"by Washington’s Blog/Alexander Higgins"The Telegraph reports today: The nuclear fuel in three of the reactors at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant has melted thro > read more
Free Download: Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"
Published on 2011-06-09 22:46:00
"The Prophet"Presented by Paul Coughlin"When I first came across this text I was deeply touched by it's wisdom and spiritual depth - it seemed to offer that timeless advice just at the right moment... I've used it when I couldn't find the words to ex > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-09 21:28:00
“A jewel of the southern sky, the Great Carina Nebula, also known as NGC 3372, spans over 300 light-years, one of our galaxy's largest star forming regions. Like the smaller, more northerly Great Orion Nebula, the Carina Nebula is easily visible to > read more
Chet Raymo, “The Chicken-Little Syndrome”
Published on 2011-06-09 21:12:00
“The Chicken-Little Syndrome”by Chet Raymo"Patient: Doc, I'm telling you, my fear has become compulsive. Can't sleep. Can't eat. Can't work. I go around looking up at the sky. Yesterday I was almost run down in the street while gazing upward.Doct > read more
Thich Nhat Hanh, "A Miracle"
Published on 2011-06-09 20:57:00
"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize:&nbs > read more
The Poet: James Russell Lowell, "The Vision of Sir Launfal, Prelude to Part First"
Published on 2011-06-09 20:20:00
“Earth gets its price for what Earth gives us; The beggar is taxed for a corner to die in,The priest hath his fee who comes and shrives us, We bargain for the graves we lie in;At the devil's booth are > read more
Climate Change: "Summers Are Going To Get Hotter”
Published on 2011-06-09 19:16:00
"Summers Are Going To Get Hotter”by Joanna Zelman"The summer season has not even officially started yet in the U.S. and already people are cranking up the a/c, boxing away the sweaters, seeking out the best swimming hole, and plotting how to avoid > read more
Geoscience: “Keeping an Eye on Yellowstone's Supervolcano”
Published on 2011-06-09 16:28:00
“Keeping an Eye on Yellowstone's Supervolcano”by Natalie Wolchover“It's no mere doomsday pseudoscience: The Yellowstone supervolcano really could be the end of us all. When the Yellowstone Caldera - the name of the national park's geographic st > read more
“Enjoying the Ride: The Flow of the Universe”
Published on 2011-06-08 23:15:00
“Enjoying the Ride: The Flow of the Universe”by The DailyOm"Many people live their lives struggling against the current while others use the flow like a mighty wind. The flow of the universe moves through everything. It’s in the rocks that form > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-08 22:19:00
“Drifting through the one-horned constellation Monoceros, these dusty streamers and new born stars are part of the active Monoceros R2 star-forming region, embedded in a giant molecular cloud. The cosmic scene was recorded by the VISTA survey teles > read more
Eckhart Tolle, "Watching the Thinker"
Published on 2011-06-08 21:45:00
"Watching the Thinker" by Eckhart Tolle"What exactly do you mean by “watching the thinker”? When someone goes to the doctor and says, “I hear a voice in my head,” he or she will most likely be sent to a psychiatrist. The fact is that, in a ve > read more
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "Sherlock Holmes"
Published on 2011-06-08 21:37:00
"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "Sherlock Holmes" > read more
Neuroscience: “Apple Causes 'Religious' Reaction in Brains of Fans”
Published on 2011-06-08 21:19:00
“Apple Causes 'Religious' Reaction in Brains of Fans”by Digital Trends“People have often talked about "the cult of Apple", and if a recent BBC TV documentary is to be believed, there could be something in it. The program, “Secrets of th > read more
“Fukushima Is Worse Than Chernobyl”
Published on 2011-06-08 21:02:00
“Fukushima Is Worse Than Chernobyl”by The Explorer“In a recent statement by Dr. Gabriel Cousens, MD, MD(H), he speaks frankly about the overdue acknowledgement worldwide that the Fukushima crisis continues to worsen beyond even Dr. Helen Caldic > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-08 20:52:00
Oneonta, Alabama, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Afghanistan: "Dying for What?"
Published on 2011-06-08 19:21:00
"Dying for What?"By Brian Cloughley"As I write the news comes in that two more British Royal Marines have been killed in Afghanistan. Seven Americans died last week in a single Taliban bombing attack. What did they die for? Did they give > read more
Alan Carr, "Change"
Published on 2011-06-08 18:28:00
“All change requires effort and sacrifice. Sometimes action plans fail because they are based on the idea that there is a 'magic bullet' which on its own can solve our problems.This is not true. Complex human problems typically require complex solu > read more
“A Rare Day In June”
Published on 2011-06-08 16:11:00
“A Rare Day In June”Author Unknown"Have you ever considered an answer to the ongoing question, “What is so rare as a day in June?” Rhetorical or not, do you know who first asked it? It is snipped from an opus from the poet James Russell Lowel > read more
Kahlil Gibran, "My Friend"
Published on 2011-06-07 23:38:00
"My Friend"by Kahlil Gibran"My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear - a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.The "I" in me, my friend, dwells in the house of silence, and there > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-07 21:47:00
"What surrounds the florid Rosette nebula? To better picture this area of the sky, the famous flowery emission nebula on the far right has been captured recently in a deep and dramatic wide field image that features several other sky highlights. Desi > read more
The Poet: John Clare, “I Am”
Published on 2011-06-07 21:38:00
“I Am”by John Clare“I am: yet what I am none cares or knows,My friends forsake me like a memory lost;I am the self-consumer of my woes,They rise and vanish in oblivious host,Like shades in love and death's oblivion lost;And yet I am! and live w > read more
Denis Waitley, "Choices"
Published on 2011-06-07 21:23:00
"A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with therealization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences.You are responsible for your life,and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make."- Denis Waitley > read more
Taylor Caldwell, "Honoria"
Published on 2011-06-07 21:19:00
"Honoria"by Taylor Caldwell“This is a true story about a nation which was once great. At the outset, we will call that nation "Honoria;" but you will readily guess her true name, as the story unfolds. Honoria had always been distinguished by a stro > read more
J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Road"
Published on 2011-06-07 18:23:00
"The Road goes ever on and onDown from the door where it began.Now far ahead the Road has gone,And I must follow, if I can,Pursuing it with eager feet,Until it joins some larger wayWhere many paths and errands meet.And whither then? I cannot sa > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-07 18:16:00
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Chet Raymo, “Globalization and the Language of Life”
Published on 2011-06-07 18:11:00
“Globalization and the Language of Life”by Chet Raymo"Communication makes civilization possible. Words. Winks. Nudges. Scowls. Emoticons. If we didn't have ways to communicate with one another societies could not exist. Of course, that's a truism > read more
Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
Published on 2011-06-07 17:09:00
"When you don’t know what you believe, everything becomes an argument. Everything is debatable. But when you stand for something, decisions are obvious."— Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson > read more
Paleontology: “Did A Massive Solar Proton Event Fry The Earth?”
Published on 2011-06-07 17:00:00
“Did A Massive Solar Proton Event Fry The Earth?”by Space Daily“Close to the end of the last ice age there was a sudden disappearance of many mammalian species which some paleontologists say was the most severe since the disappearance of the di > read more
Bernard Edmonds
Published on 2011-06-06 23:35:00
"To dream anything you want to dream. That's the beauty of the human mind.To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will.To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed."- Bernard Edmonds > read more
Paulo Coelho, "The Wounded by Love Agreement, General Provisions"
Published on 2011-06-06 23:30:00
"The Wounded by Love Agreement, General Provisions"by Paulo CoelhoA] Considering that it’s absolutely correct the saying that states that “all is fair in love and war”; B] Considering that in war we have the Geneva Convention, adopted in > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-06 21:49:00
“Big, beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 1055 is a dominant member of a small galaxy group a mere 60 million light-years away toward the intimidating constellation Cetus. Seen edge-on, the island universe spans about 100,000 light-years, similar in size t > read more
"Grey's Anatomy: The Truth"
Published on 2011-06-06 21:45:00
"The truth is painful. Deep down, nobody wants to hear it, especially when it hits close to home. Sometimes we tell the truth because the truth is all we have to give. Sometimes we tell the truth because we need to say it out loud to hear it for > read more
Chet Raymo, “Exploring Earth’s Past Climate- From Muck”
Published on 2011-06-06 21:03:00
“Exploring Earth’s Past Climate- From Muck”by Chet Raymo“How can one tell anything about the Earth's past climate from the compacted muck of the ocean floor? Here’s one way. Oxygen atoms come in basically two kinds - isotopes - oxygen 16, w > read more
"Fukushima: Total Meltdowns at 3 Reactors Confirmed"
Published on 2011-06-06 18:10:00
"Fukushima: Total Meltdowns at 3 Reactors Confirmed" by Washington's Blog"For months, Tepco and Japanese officials refused to admit that there had been any meltdowns at Fukushima. Then they said there were meltdowns at reactors 1, 2 and 3 ... bu > read more
Psychology: “Attention and Awareness Aren't The Same”
Published on 2011-06-06 17:38:00
“Attention and Awareness Aren't The Same”by Association for Psychological Science“Paying attention to something and being aware of it seem like the same thing - they both involve somehow knowing the thing is there. However, a new study, which w > read more
Yoda, "Try?"
Published on 2011-06-06 17:24:00
“Try? What is try? Do or do not… there is no try.”- Yoda > read more
“The Rise of the Second-String Psychopaths”
Published on 2011-06-06 15:41:00
“The Rise of the Second-String Psychopaths”by David Schwartz“The great writer Kurt Vonnegut titled his final book “A Man without a Country.” He was the man; the country was the United States of America. Vonnegut felt that his country had di > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-06 15:24:00
Hayden, Idaho, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
Don Miguel Ruiz, "The Right To Be You"
Published on 2011-06-05 23:00:00
"We don't need to know or prove anything. Just to be, to take a risk andenjoy your life, is all that matters. Say no when you want to say no,and yes when you want to say yes. You have the right to be you."- Don Miguel Ruiz > read more
Daily Living: "Freedom from Fear"
Published on 2011-06-05 22:56:00
"Freedom from Fear"By Sheila DeButler"The greatest barrier to happiness in the world today is… fear. Fear keeps us from living our lives fully; it locks us behind doors, too frightened to take chances, so afraid of losing what we covet that we can > read more
Life Skills: “16 Harsh Truths That Make Us Stronger”
Published on 2011-06-05 22:53:00
“16 Harsh Truths That Make Us Stronger”by Marc and Angel Hack Life Blog“It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more manhood (or womanhood) to abide by thought-out > read more
"A Look to the Heavens"
Published on 2011-06-05 22:30:00
"The Virgo Cluster of Galaxies is the closest cluster of galaxies to our Milky Way Galaxy. The Virgo Cluster is so close that it spans more than 5 degrees on the sky - about 10 times the angle made by a full Moon. With its heart lying about 70 millio > read more
Jim Valvano, "Three Things"
Published on 2011-06-05 22:26:00
“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have y > read more
Chet Raymo, “A One Minute Course in the Philosophy of Science”
Published on 2011-06-05 21:42:00
“A One Minute Course in the Philosophy of Science”by Chet Raymo“There was a time in my life, many years ago, when I immersed myself in the philosophy of science. I wanted to understand what science was and on what basis it could lay claim > read more
Viktor Frankl
Published on 2011-06-05 21:14:00
“The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity — even under the most difficult circumstances — to add a deeper meaning to his life. It may remain br > read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Published on 2011-06-05 21:07:00
Ceres, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by. > read more
William Blum, “God Bless America. And its Bombs”
Published on 2011-06-05 20:30:00
“God Bless America. And its Bombs”by William Blum “A terrorist is someone who has a bomb but doesn't have an air force.”- C. Douglas Lummis“’When they bombed Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, El Salvador and Nicaragua I said nothing because > read more
Chuck Palahniuk, "The Stage"
Published on 2011-06-05 20:22:00
“If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character... Would you slow down? Or speed up?” - Chuck Palahniuk > read more