The truth rides in on half a horse.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
2007 State of the Universe Address
Swami Beyondananda’s 2007 State of the Universe Address
"Note. This year, the Swami insisted on delivering the State of the Universe Address on February 2nd, Ground Hog Day because “it’s the closest anyone comes to seeing their shadow all year.” Said the Swami, “Look at us. America is the most heavily armed country in the world, and still we’re afraid of our own shadow. We seem stuck in a state of emergency, so we must declare a state of ‘emerge ‘n see’ instead. Like the ground hog, we must emerge from our separate little holes and see we are all in this together. And we must see our shadow -- otherwise, we’re in for another long season of darkness."
Swami's Wisdom Re: Political Changes: An evolutionary upwising is gathering esteem all across America, and not a moment too soon. Confidence in the powers that be in power hit Iraq bottom last year....... the unarmed forces won an important victory in November. As predicted, the evolution was officially launched when the first big shot was fired the day after election day. And the farce was with us as well. The last two Republican Senators to concede defeat were Burns and Allen, and more than a few corrupt Congressfolk were shown the door and told to “say goodnight, disgracie.”
Swami's Wisdom Re: Dwelling in Peace and Abundance: Our cells may be smarter than we are. At least they’ve figured out how to live together in peace and harmony. According to cellular biologist Bruce Lipton, we have a thriving 50 trillion cell community under our skin where every participating cell is cared for. Universal health care, full employment -- truly no cell left behind....
Swami's Wisdom and Warning Re: Global Warming: If you thought “The Man Without a Country” was a sad story, wait until you see “Man Without a Planet.” Maybe we should start with One Suggestion: “We’re all in it together.” And perhaps instead of waiting for some Higher Power -- or for that matter, some hired power -- to save us, maybe it’s time to embrace the world as a fixer-upper instead of rejecting it as a tearer-downer.
Swami is a man of conviction who has thought deeply about the State of Our Universe. Shall we heed his words of (sometimes schmaltzy) wisdom? Or shall we continue on our present course, and in the words of the Great Swami continue to "flunk third dimension." Total extinction of all life forms on this little blue sphere of the universe, that would be the evidence that we flunked, but we wouldn't be around to feel bad about failing. Maybe that is some small consolation to contemplate in our final hours before the Doomsday Clock strikes 12. How about a game of Stop the Clock? Go here to get started:
http://www.envirolink.org/ Click the link for Actions You Can Take. Challenge your friends. See Ya in 3-D!
http://www.wakeuplaughing.com/index.html
"Note. This year, the Swami insisted on delivering the State of the Universe Address on February 2nd, Ground Hog Day because “it’s the closest anyone comes to seeing their shadow all year.” Said the Swami, “Look at us. America is the most heavily armed country in the world, and still we’re afraid of our own shadow. We seem stuck in a state of emergency, so we must declare a state of ‘emerge ‘n see’ instead. Like the ground hog, we must emerge from our separate little holes and see we are all in this together. And we must see our shadow -- otherwise, we’re in for another long season of darkness."
Swami's Wisdom Re: Political Changes: An evolutionary upwising is gathering esteem all across America, and not a moment too soon. Confidence in the powers that be in power hit Iraq bottom last year....... the unarmed forces won an important victory in November. As predicted, the evolution was officially launched when the first big shot was fired the day after election day. And the farce was with us as well. The last two Republican Senators to concede defeat were Burns and Allen, and more than a few corrupt Congressfolk were shown the door and told to “say goodnight, disgracie.”
Swami's Wisdom Re: Dwelling in Peace and Abundance: Our cells may be smarter than we are. At least they’ve figured out how to live together in peace and harmony. According to cellular biologist Bruce Lipton, we have a thriving 50 trillion cell community under our skin where every participating cell is cared for. Universal health care, full employment -- truly no cell left behind....
Swami's Wisdom and Warning Re: Global Warming: If you thought “The Man Without a Country” was a sad story, wait until you see “Man Without a Planet.” Maybe we should start with One Suggestion: “We’re all in it together.” And perhaps instead of waiting for some Higher Power -- or for that matter, some hired power -- to save us, maybe it’s time to embrace the world as a fixer-upper instead of rejecting it as a tearer-downer.
Swami is a man of conviction who has thought deeply about the State of Our Universe. Shall we heed his words of (sometimes schmaltzy) wisdom? Or shall we continue on our present course, and in the words of the Great Swami continue to "flunk third dimension." Total extinction of all life forms on this little blue sphere of the universe, that would be the evidence that we flunked, but we wouldn't be around to feel bad about failing. Maybe that is some small consolation to contemplate in our final hours before the Doomsday Clock strikes 12. How about a game of Stop the Clock? Go here to get started:
http://www.envirolink.org/ Click the link for Actions You Can Take. Challenge your friends. See Ya in 3-D!
http://www.wakeuplaughing.com/index.html
Monday, March 12, 2007
Don't Want to Pay for War? Buy Some Peace!
IRS Owes Americans $20 Billion from Illegal War Tax
ARVADA, Colo. – March 12 – Martin Sheen, Larry Hagman, Desmond Tutu and several other celebrities launched a "Refunds for Good" campaign today to benefit the PeaceJam Foundation and two other leading non-profit organizations. "We've scoured the planet for some of the most compelling charities around," Sheen said. "This is a unique, one-time opportunity to help the planet and to make a powerful statement at the same time." ........
Sheen explained that, "The IRS owes the American public approximately $20 billion from an illegal 'War Tax' that has been around for over 108 years. I didn't know this, maybe you didn't know this; now, we both know this, and you will see this refund opportunity on your tax returns this season. I just want to encourage you to use this one-time refund to support one of the excellent non-profit organizations on this website." .....
Due to five recent court rulings, $10 billion is owed by the IRS to American businesses, and another $10 billion to individual citizens. This refund is only being offered during this current tax season. The average individual refund will be between $30 to $60, and businesses could be eligible for potentially tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. ......
See Common Dreams for more....
What kind of world would we be living in if all the tax monies collected by the governments of every country were used for the benefit of people, the planet we live on, and the creatures who share the world with us? Can you imagine? A world not so much weary and sick of war, but a world embracing the possibilities of diversity and abundance. Who might we claim for friends in such a world?
Come On In, My Friend!
We're All In This Together
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Becoming A Master of Intention
The Power of Intention
A lesson from sports champions: The power of intention changes reality. Your health. Your career. Your world.
"Seven weeks before Muhammad Ali met World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman for their “rumble in the jungle” at Kinshasa in 1975, Ali practiced his punches as if he couldn’t care less, taking a few desultory swipes at his sparring partner as if distractedly popping a bag. Mostly he’d lie against the ropes and allow his opponent to pound away at him from every angle.
In the latter years of his boxing career, Ali spent much of his training time learning how to take punches. He studied how to shift his head by just a hair a microsecond before the connection was made, or where in his body he could mentally deflect the punch so that it would no longer hurt. He was not training his body to win. He was training his mind not to lose, at the point when deep fatigue sets in around the 12th round and most boxers cave in. Ali’s most important work was being done, not in the ring, but in his armchair. He was fighting the fight in his head.
This is how Ali remained “the greatest.” He drew upon the power of intention for strength in the ring. And I think we could all learn something from him. After poring over data from many people who use the power of intention successfully in their own lives, I believe the art of intention can enhance our performance in many activities, and even affect our health."
This is a fascinating article. Our brains may not distinguish between a well-designed mental rehearsal vs. the action. Ali was a master of mental rehearsal. We underestimate the power of our minds.
Auther is Lynne McTaggart
This article appeared in Ode Magazine, issue: 40
A lesson from sports champions: The power of intention changes reality. Your health. Your career. Your world.
"Seven weeks before Muhammad Ali met World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman for their “rumble in the jungle” at Kinshasa in 1975, Ali practiced his punches as if he couldn’t care less, taking a few desultory swipes at his sparring partner as if distractedly popping a bag. Mostly he’d lie against the ropes and allow his opponent to pound away at him from every angle.
In the latter years of his boxing career, Ali spent much of his training time learning how to take punches. He studied how to shift his head by just a hair a microsecond before the connection was made, or where in his body he could mentally deflect the punch so that it would no longer hurt. He was not training his body to win. He was training his mind not to lose, at the point when deep fatigue sets in around the 12th round and most boxers cave in. Ali’s most important work was being done, not in the ring, but in his armchair. He was fighting the fight in his head.
This is how Ali remained “the greatest.” He drew upon the power of intention for strength in the ring. And I think we could all learn something from him. After poring over data from many people who use the power of intention successfully in their own lives, I believe the art of intention can enhance our performance in many activities, and even affect our health."
This is a fascinating article. Our brains may not distinguish between a well-designed mental rehearsal vs. the action. Ali was a master of mental rehearsal. We underestimate the power of our minds.
Auther is Lynne McTaggart
This article appeared in Ode Magazine, issue: 40
And A High Windy Gallows To Him
“There is a cloud over the vice-president . . . And that cloud remains because this defendant [Libby] obstructed justice,” Fitzgerald told the jury. .....
"....So not only has Cheney lost Rumsfeld and Libby, and lost the argument temporarily over Iraq, Iran and North Korea, he lives under the cloud of the special prosecutor Fitzgerald. The jury has been deliberating for days, and still hasn’t reached a verdict. If Libby is convicted, he could possibly tell Fitzgerald some more. Even if no crime emerges, Cheney’s reputation for “the dark side” of domestic politics will not increase his stature in a White House trying to achieve a kinder, smarter legacy than it has recently garnered."
Over the past year or so, a poster using the name Fitzmas has posted this comment on a number of blogs: "I will bring Dick Cheney to his knees." Well, it looks like ol' greedy, Dirty Dick is off-balance and seems to be stumbling. Is he going down?
Attitude of Gratitude
“When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.” Chief Tecumseh
Dimensions and Perspectives of Gratitude
Co-Investigators: Robert A. Emmons, University of California, Davis
(contact: raemmons@ucdavis.edu; 530.752.8844)
Michael E. McCullough, University of Miami
(contact: mikem@miami.edu; 305.284.8057)
Co-Investigators: Robert A. Emmons, University of California, Davis
(contact: raemmons@ucdavis.edu; 530.752.8844)
Michael E. McCullough, University of Miami
(contact: mikem@miami.edu; 305.284.8057)
Excerpt:
Gratitude Interventions and Psychological and Physical Well-Being
In an experimental comparison, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).
A related benefit was observed in the realm of personal goal attainment: Participants who kept gratitude lists were more likely to have made progress toward important personal goals (academic, interpersonal and health-based) over a two-month period compared to subjects in the other experimental conditions.
A daily gratitude intervention (self-guided exercises) with young adults resulted in higher reported levels of the positive states of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy compared to a focus on hassles or a downward social comparison (ways in which participants thought they were better off than others). There was no difference in levels of unpleasant emotions reported in the three groups.
Participants in the daily gratitude condition were more likely to report having helped someone with a personal problem or having offered emotional support to another, relative to the hassles or social comparison condition.
In a sample of adults with neuromuscular disease, a 21-day gratitude intervention resulted in greater amounts of high energy positive moods, a greater sense of feeling connected to others, more optimistic ratings of one’s life, and better sleep duration and sleep quality, relative to a control group.
In an experimental comparison, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).
A related benefit was observed in the realm of personal goal attainment: Participants who kept gratitude lists were more likely to have made progress toward important personal goals (academic, interpersonal and health-based) over a two-month period compared to subjects in the other experimental conditions.
A daily gratitude intervention (self-guided exercises) with young adults resulted in higher reported levels of the positive states of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy compared to a focus on hassles or a downward social comparison (ways in which participants thought they were better off than others). There was no difference in levels of unpleasant emotions reported in the three groups.
Participants in the daily gratitude condition were more likely to report having helped someone with a personal problem or having offered emotional support to another, relative to the hassles or social comparison condition.
In a sample of adults with neuromuscular disease, a 21-day gratitude intervention resulted in greater amounts of high energy positive moods, a greater sense of feeling connected to others, more optimistic ratings of one’s life, and better sleep duration and sleep quality, relative to a control group.
Plant Powered
The Politics of Veganism
By Brian Dominick
excerpted from the pamphlet "Animal Liberation and Social Revolution"
(Critical Mess Media, 1997)
(In Progress, but published for the link)
Timelessness and Competence
"The gates of attention allow very few things to come in."
- Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiGo With The Flow
From Wired -Issue 4.09 September 1996
"According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, great Web sites are not about navigating content, but staging experience"
By John Geirland
"According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, great Web sites are not about navigating content, but staging experience. A compelling Web site transforms a random walk into an exhilarating chase. The key, says psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is a finely tuned sense of rhythm, involvement, and anticipation known as "flow." Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced "CHICK-sent-me-high-ee"), a professor at the University of Chicago, has spent more than 25 years researching flow, a state of "intense emotional involvement" and timelessness that comes from immersive and challenging activities such as software coding or rock climbing. His work is studied by marketing specialists like Vanderbilt University's Donna Hoffman and Thomas Novak, who write that flow is "a central construct when considering consumer navigation on commercial Web sites." In books like Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention, Csikszentmihalyi explores the implications of flow for personal and societal evolution."
Judge Walton's Memorandum
From CNN
Libby Trial Judge Writes Memorandum Outlining Reasons Behind Decisions On Evidence
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The judge in the criminal trial of Lewis "Scooter" Libby is making it clear for the historic record that he thought the defendant would take the stand, and that the presumption figured strongly into his decisions about classified material he would have allowed into evidence.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton also suggests the defense could have improved the prospects for acquittal of their client had they called Vice President Dick Cheney to the stand.
The jury has deliberated eight days so far on a five-count indictment against Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff.
Walton's comments were made in a "memorandum opinion" written to "memorialize" the basis for some of his decision-making during the trial. Although somewhat unusual, the written record elaborating on bench discussions may help an appeals court explore his decisions should any jury verdict be challenged. --From CNN's Paul Courson (Posted 2:06 p.m.)
Libby Trial Judge Writes Memorandum Outlining Reasons Behind Decisions On Evidence
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The judge in the criminal trial of Lewis "Scooter" Libby is making it clear for the historic record that he thought the defendant would take the stand, and that the presumption figured strongly into his decisions about classified material he would have allowed into evidence.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton also suggests the defense could have improved the prospects for acquittal of their client had they called Vice President Dick Cheney to the stand.
The jury has deliberated eight days so far on a five-count indictment against Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff.
Walton's comments were made in a "memorandum opinion" written to "memorialize" the basis for some of his decision-making during the trial. Although somewhat unusual, the written record elaborating on bench discussions may help an appeals court explore his decisions should any jury verdict be challenged. --From CNN's Paul Courson (Posted 2:06 p.m.)
Two Presidents Bush or The Hounds Are Howling
Bush Doesn't Think Father Knows Best
by Helen Thomas (Published on Friday, March 2, 2007 by The Seattle Post-Intelligencer )
....."there is persistent belief in the country that Bush decided to invade Iraq as an act of vengeance, having once said of Saddam Hussein: "After all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad." The president shouldn't talk like that because it suggests that he went to war against a Middle East country -- causing an untold number of deaths -- for a medieval-style vendetta. Say it isn't so."
To President Bush, being The Decider means listening to none but the inner Higher Father. Ah, but how to tell the voice of that Father from the voices of hubris and delusion? We have been led to the gates of Hell by a man who lacks discernment. The waiting hounds are howling. Can you hear them?
Let Them Eat (GM) Cake
Sick People Used Like Laboratory Rats in GM Trials
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Published: 04 March 2007
"Genetically modified potatoes developed by Monsanto, the multinational biotech company, have been fed to sick patients in an experiment. Rats that ate similar potatoes in the research suffered reductions in the weight of their hearts and prostate glands.
Dr Michael Antoniou, reader in molecular genetics at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, said use of humans was "irresponsible and totally unethical, especially when already ill subjects were enrolled. These people truly were guinea pigs." Other scientists said the trials were too short, on too few people, to give meaningful results of long-term effects.
Monsanto said the vegetables were safe, and the researchers conducting the experiment said effects on the rats were within "permissible" limits......"
So, what are we, chopped liver? Ah, now I understand - We are guinea pigs for Monsanto! We exist to serve the interests of the corporation. I hope people find their way to Mr. Lean's article and I hope many, many people find it disturbing. Of course, when not thinking of us as guinea pigs, Monsanto thinks of us as consumers, categorized into various markets which must be deeply penetrated. Anyone else object to being reamed and sent home with a bag of time-bombs, er, potatoes?
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Published: 04 March 2007
"Genetically modified potatoes developed by Monsanto, the multinational biotech company, have been fed to sick patients in an experiment. Rats that ate similar potatoes in the research suffered reductions in the weight of their hearts and prostate glands.
Dr Michael Antoniou, reader in molecular genetics at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, said use of humans was "irresponsible and totally unethical, especially when already ill subjects were enrolled. These people truly were guinea pigs." Other scientists said the trials were too short, on too few people, to give meaningful results of long-term effects.
Monsanto said the vegetables were safe, and the researchers conducting the experiment said effects on the rats were within "permissible" limits......"
So, what are we, chopped liver? Ah, now I understand - We are guinea pigs for Monsanto! We exist to serve the interests of the corporation. I hope people find their way to Mr. Lean's article and I hope many, many people find it disturbing. Of course, when not thinking of us as guinea pigs, Monsanto thinks of us as consumers, categorized into various markets which must be deeply penetrated. Anyone else object to being reamed and sent home with a bag of time-bombs, er, potatoes?
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