http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/world/americas/1...

Visitors to a remote village in Colombia can get a glimpse into a four-decade experiment to alter civilization’s dependence on finite fossil fuels and industrial agriculture.

This is inspiring!

This has been forming in my mind for several years, developing.  It's time to share it.

In the Bible, it is said that on the Judgment Day, people will come to Jesus (who is to preside over it all) saying "Lord, Lord," and that Jesus will say he doesn't know them.  They will object, saying "But Lord, we have healed the sick, cast out demons in your name..."  He will maintain that he doesn't know them, saying "You saw me naked and didn't clothe me, saw me hungry and didn't feed me."  Then they will exclaim, "When did we see you hungry and not feed you, see you naked and not clothe you, Lord?" At that, Jesus will reply, "Whatsoever you have done to the least of these, my brothers, you have done unto me."

"MY BROTHERS."  No room for translation errors.  Jesus, the Son of God, continues to refer to us as his brothers and sisters, even after returning to life after 3 days in the tomb, even after ascending to heaven for thousands of years.

That's just one very strong point.  There are others.

Jesus said of himself "I am but a Messenger and servant of God."

When the man calls him "Good Master" Jesus rebukes him, saying "there is none good, but the Father in Heaven. 

There are many more examples, and there's the example of his entire recorded ministry, during which he only ever pointed to God, the Father.  Jesus NEVER said he was God, nor did Jesus tell people to pray to him.  In fact, he taught people to pray to God.  At a point, he tells his disciples to ask in his name, and the Father will give it to them, he also says "There will come a time when you don't need to ask in my name, because the Father will give it to you just because He loves you."

Jesus came to the Jews, one of them, a nation surrounded by pagans, polytheists, and godless people.  He chastised the established church, speaking contrary to their claims, telling the people that they didn't need to go through the priests (who got quite fat off of the offerings,) that there was no enmity between God and Man, that they could talk to God, their heavenly Father, as they would speak to their earthly fathers.  He held "church" outdoors, on a hillside, at the beach, in nature, and said "God does not live in temples built with men's hands." 

Interestingly enough, the Messenger Mohammed also spoke dimly of buildings as churches.  When a wealthy man went fishing for a compliment, asking Mohammed "Prophet of God, what do you think of this mosque I have built," the prophet (who himself slept in a place so small that he ran into his wife's feet when he prayed) replied "I think building buildings is one of the two dumbest things people do with their money."

It would seem that these two well revered religous leaders didn't think too highly of things that made it complicated or difficult to get to God.  They also didn't think much of the trappings of religion, including huge buildings.  How much less would they think of the buildings of today, huge expensive constructs that stand unused and purposeless most of the week? 

There are far more questions than there are answers to be found in Christianity.  What is plain and clear, spoken in plain and direct language, is that Jesus never said he was God, nor did he elevate himself above his fellow men.  The churches did that, just as they invented the Trinity Doctrine at Constantine's urging (more on this another time.) 

We see many Christians who are zealots.  They BELIEVE, even when doing so is unreasonable.  They twist the meaning of a word or phrase, take it out of context and use it to suit their purposes, all the while ignoring the overall message that this Jesus was giving.  They spew hatred and persecution, and try to use God as their justification. 

I'd like to remind them of their "Lord and Savior"'s words: "Whatsoever you have done to the least of these, my brothers, you have done unto me."

Think long an hard about that one before you yell "faggot," or "nigger" or "spick" or "kike" or try to deny others the same rights and liberties you would have for yourselves.  There is no justification for such behavior.   God does not need you to enforce for him, and if there IS an issue, that's between that individual and his Creator, not your business. 

Jesus' message was to be loving to one another, to forgive, to care for each other and tend to each others' needs.  He never once stood in judgment or condemnation of others.  He never said he was God.  He never said to pray to him or to worship him.  Not once. 

The flowery "The Father and I are One," was simply to say that they were of one heart, one accord.  It goes along with "The Father would never forsake me, because I always do what's pleasing to Him."  Yet a very short while later, so the story goes, Jesus is dying on a cross, crying out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"   Interesting question, and an interesting point.  Even then, Jesus was crying out to his Creator, his GOD.  All of these references in plain language, and the Christians hold fast to a vague statement and choose to ignore all of the other statements that are spoken plainly, returning to the cryptic "The Father and I are one."  Why?  It might support their position, while the rest of Jesus' message denies it.

If the church is wrong about this, what else are they wrong about?

Take the four Gospels.  Read Jesus' words, the part in red ink.  Look at the love.  Look at his "new commandment" given on the day of ascension: Love God above all else, and love each other as yourselves.  It's really quite simple. 

Next time someone tries to make God complicated or claim that Jesus was himself both God and Man through some "mystery," remember this post.  Remember Jesus' own words about himself... and remind yourself that if they were wrong about that, they're very possibly wrong about most everything else.  And if all else fails, follow the money.  

Meanwhile, follow Jesus' command: Be loving to each other (and don't try twisting those words to mean that you should be condemning others for their own good.)  It's very simple, so just do it.  it just doesn't get much easier than that.  Do it.  Do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm1s2I4Iix4

This has to be the best, most moving and original version of any Michael Jackson tune I've heard yet! Jay, you're always good, but sometiimes you're f***in' amazing! What a beautiful tribute! Thank you!

I guess some people aren't capable of figuring out where the lines need to be drawn, where a public post written in generalities becomes personal because one has inside information that lends it intimacy not intended when the blog entry was written.  To then use that as a weapon is somewhere between petty and childish, but says plenty about the person doing so... but I digress.

From now on, blog posts which allude to events of a personal nature will be Friends Only, owing to that a couple people have crossed that line.  No offense is intended to the well-intended readers, but if you're not on my Friends list, some of the posts will be unavailable to you from now on.

If you're one of the two people who brought this on, please respect the privacy of all parties involved, deal with your issues (and any time we have a hard time dealing with life as it actually is, they're our own issues,) and stop trying to place blame on someone besides yourself.  It is your life, and ultimately only you are responsible for what you allow to occur within it.  I understand a sense of loss, but that's not justification to go about trying to hurt someone you claim to care about.

Finally, I wish us ALL the very best, which will come to us, if we let it, and when the time is right.

JT

"The opposite of war is not peace.  It's Creation." -- Jon Larson

I'm officially pissed.  I've been on the phone for two days,
talking to every agency I could think of, to get access to a doctor, a
"primary care physician" who will work with me on this medication for
the diabetes. I've explained that the surgery and subsequent loss of
work have left me tapped.  Doesn't matter.  Still no doctor to get the
meds and insulin right.



There are clinics in the county that are NAMED in Spanish (yet funded
with US dollars).  There are state programs for every f-ing minority
known to man.  There are Federal programs like Medicaid which will help
someone over 60, someone disabled, pregnant or children, but not one
thing is available for the men who PAY for it all.  (It may also be the
case with women who aren't pregnant and don't have children under 18 in
the household.) 



This isn't a Dem or Rep issue.  NEITHER of them has addressed it in all
these years.  Further proof that SOME sort of public health system
needs to be put into place that will provide for basic healthcare for
EVERYONE.  Yeah, yeah, socialized, blah, blah... none of that changes
the simple FACT that the only ones who can't get any of these services
are the very people who are working and producing, paying for them. 
Something majorly wrong with that picture.



Am I sounding like a Conservative or a Liberal, or just a thinking person?

There are definitely some major issues for our country to address about health care.  That it's all about money is too apparent... in most cases.  When I needed to have the nerve in my elbow moved, that was clearly all about money, even though not doing it meant losing use of two fingers.  Gratefully, though it's still a HUGE industry, diabetes doesn't seem to be ALL about the money.

I was diagnosed yesterday.  What I already knew became official, on a medical chart, pre-existing, and no way out of it.  Fine.  So what.  Even without insurance, there are programs to make it affordable.  Most companies give out the testing machines, or make them very affordable.  At least one also knocks off $25-50 a month for test strips that they use.  I'm told there are several state and county-level programs to assist in the cost of insulin (if needed) and my monthly oral tablets are now a whopping $4 (thanks to Walmart, King Sooper, etc.) in generic.  In light of that, I'm glad I went in to the ER and got it handled. 

In my case, the symptoms only became evident after the aforementioned surgery to relocate the nerve.  Immediately after the surgery, (presumably from the stress of having it,) the diabetes kicked in .  Drinking gallons of water a day, urinating every 30-60 minutes... and then my vision went south.  At first I didn't even realize it, because I was in bed or indoors, looking at things that were nearby.  When I went out and everything was a little blurry, signs across the street included, I put the pieces together. 

I cut the carbs way low, but that didn't help.  My eyes were getting worse (though I no longer needed reading glasses for stuff up close) from the glucose trapped within them.   I tested blood glucose levels with one of those machines.  300-500 range, when normal is 85-100!  I even got bold and tried a little insulin.  When  the glucose levels didnt' respond, it was finally time to concede the point, to go in and deal with the consequences later.  Why?  Because high blood sugar levels cause damage to our organs.  Because I didn't want to lose my vision.  Because the winning answers were beyond my immediate control, and the price of losing was just too high.

Now what?  Now I take a tablet once or twice a day, watch the carb intake, and go back to living, feeling and thinking like a healthy person.  In retrospect, I wish I'd done it long ago... but I didn't know it could be affordable, and was so afraid of pre-existing conditions meaning I'd never get affordable insurance.  Then I was waiting for Obama's healthcare reform. 

Don't wait.  If you THINK you've got high blood sugar levels, get it checked out.  If they're abnormal (over 140 in the morning, after "fasting", for example) talk to a doc, let 'em do some simple painless diagnostics.  I might have been feeling better long ago if I'd done that when I noticed I was lethargic and putting on weight... and I'd be able to see across the street already, too!  These days. diabetes just isn't that big a deal.

Peace & Creation,

JT

http://www.e-water.net/viewflash.php?flash=irishbl...

These beautiful words and poetic prayer/wishes are simply too inspiring and humbling not to pass along.

I wrote this in reply to a teen who happens to be gay and felt "horrible" about lying to people, saying that he is 18 when he's actually just turning 17 in a few months. To me, it's an indictment against our society that these young people should have to live with such pressures and be made to lie about who and what they are, for fear of being thrown out of their homes and shunned by the people they've loved and trusted the most. But this isn't about us adults right now. I wrote this for that one teen, who is trying hard to live with it all:

When Alexander conquered the world, he did so with an army of lovers. But they weren't just physical loves, fuck-buddies. They were philosophically, mentally and emotionally bonded with each other as well. That's a high aspiration, and yet it's worth pursuing. I don't believe we make such bonds overnight, or form them in bed. They take time to forge. The worthy partner is willing to wait until all of the other pieces are there and in place before expressing that love physically.

Do I think you're a horrible person? I'm smiling now, as I shake my head from side to side in the negative. No, you're not a horrible person. You're a good person in a sometimes horrible position. You're "caught between a rock and a hard place," as They say. What's not fair is a world that puts us in that position. There's is NOTHING wrong with two people doing whatever they want with each other, so long as both consent to it. But this world will not acknowledge that you can consent... not quite yet. Very soon though.

If you focus on it, stare at it, a pot of water seems to take forever to boil. Go on about your business though, and all TOO soon, it's boiling over. While you were living the rest of life, that pot of water boiled up. Growing older is like that. The busier you are living life fully, the faster time passes... or so it seems. Soon enough, you will be of legal age. Though all of this may seem monumental now, all too soon it will be part of the past, a painful memory that you will have, one that will remind you of how tough it felt at that time in your life, so that you will be able to tell the next generation what I'm telling you now.

There IS progress. Think on this: It wasn't all that long ago, less than your life's time so far, that people didn't even have cell phones that they could afford to take everywhere. There was no TM, and no SD for you to go to. In my adolescent years, there was no Internet, no place to meet anyone or talk with anyone about it... and Chatting was what young girls did when they got together, all yammering and, well, chatting away, talking about nothing of importance. Point is, we are progressing, and it IS getting better and easier. You've grown up with Clinton and Bush. Both of them were able and willing to utter the word "gay". The presidents before them would not. The Reagan era, under which AIDS became an epidemic, refused to even speak the name of the disease, as it spread like wildfire through this country and the world. Here, it was considered the gay plague, but in Africa and Europe, it was mostly straight people who got it... and yet the name of that disease never left his lips in public. The OTHER Bush was pretty much the same way, even though he'd been head of the CIA and was clearly no idiot. (No idea what happened to the son. Must've been the drugs that he did... which also says something about growing up under repressive prick fathers.)

So here you are at the end of 2008, with the last Bush leaving office and a very intelligent black man taking his place... a man who believes in the promise of our Constitution for ALL people, and dares to say, in his acceptance speech, with the whole world watching, that he will be a president that brings that promise to ALL people, "Black, white, gay, straight... " What an amazing time to be growing up in!

It WILL get better. Like most things that hurt, it takes time to heal. What hurts you now? Perhaps it's that you feel that the people you grew up trusting and loving unconditionally would not love you back the same way, if they knew of your deep, dark secret. And you may be right. They might very well throw you out, cut you off, save themselves the tuition money. But deep inside, perhaps buried so deep that they ACT like they don't hurt from it, they still love you very much. They can't do otherwise. They've known you your entire life. They've wiped your ass, cleaned up after you, held you when you were scared, watched over you when you were sick... at least dozens of times, back before you even remember. They've been proud of your steps and achievements as you grew up along the way, even if they didn't always tell you that, or complained that you could do better. Even your father, who is hard on you and a prick sometimes... those are HIS issues, not yours, left-overs of his own disappointments in growing up. So you're feeling a bit betrayed by them now. This, too, will pass. But it will take time, and probably some distance.

When you're autonomous, on your own, and not dependent upon them for support, you will feel stronger, safer, and more free to be yourself, without hiding who and what you are all of the time. That's why it's so important to just live all the other parts of your life for now. Live and embrace them fully, and that time will fly by. The pot WILL boil without you watching it, and before you even realize the time has passed, you'll be a legal adult, able to associate with whomever you like, love whom you like, fall in love with whomever you like. Life still won't be easy. There will always be challenges... balanced by adventures. There will be highs and lows and many days that are somewhere in between. But you'll be free to face those challenges and experience life, know people honestly. It's really just a very short distance away, just a little bit down the road, just a short while before that pot of water is boiling. Hang in there. Soon enough, you'll be bitching about all of the responsibilities that go with being a legal adult. Between now and then, go ahead and enjoy being a legal kid.

Know that we've all been there, where you are now, and some of us in worse times and circumstances... yet we've all come through the other side. It CAN be done.:)

You can talk to me or write to me or chat with me any time you like. I'm not going to judge you. If I disagree with something you say or want to do, I'll discuss that with you, but you don't have to worry about me freaking out over something you do and blowing you off. I'm just not that kinda person. As to the rest? Give it time and we'll see. Meanwhile, remember that I know who you are, and you're okay -- no, more than okay, you're pretty cool -- in my book. You're just like the rest of us, and we're all doing the best we can with what we've got to work with at the time.

Yesterday, November 23rd, 2008, a White House spokesperson said that the Oval Office has heard no word about Citgroup bank making any sort of bailout deal with the Federal Government.

Today, November 24th, 2008, the news reports that the U.S. government is providing a THREE HUNDRED BILLION dollar bailout to Citigroup. Yes, you read it right. We're eating $250 Billion in "toxic" loans they've made, plus handing them another $20 billion in operating capital, in addition to the $25 billion We The People handed them last month. What do we get? A 7.8 percent equity stake in Citigroup.

It's about time we started playing hardball. Seriously. If we're going to pour HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS into these for-profit corporations to save them from being worth nothing and going belly-up, we should be getting a lot more than 7.8 percent for taking the risk.

"Experts" keep flapping their keyboards and gums about market confidence, and that if we don't do this, the market will crash, a dozen hells will descend upon us, and life as we know it will end. HOGWASH!

If they went belly-up on $306 billion in "toxic" debt, that's 306 billion dollars that US citizens won't be burdened with, plus that other $45 billion in bailouts that out to make a pretty good sized dent into forming a proper bank that can manage to stay liquid for longer than a month on $25 billion.

They say they believe in the free market system... but they rush to bail out their big buddies -- with OUR money -- and give us a measley 7.8 percent for the bother. Yes, there were some minor concessions. Other shareholders' dividends are capped at a penny per share for the next three years, but... uhm... For $300 BILLION dollars, we can buy our own freaking bank!

Bush has no idea, he was off in Peru (apparently sampling the local crop) and the next day we've given away the farm, along with all the stock, oil, gas and mineral rights. But it's okay, they're going to kick us down 7.8 percent, so it's all good. Uhm, somebody besides Bush is getting a snow job.

According to the U.S. Census projections, we're currently a nation of 305,732,300 people. That means that every man, woman and child in the U.S. just handed Citicorp $981.25 each. Our 7.8 percent of their net equity, which we get in return? Well let's see. They were broke. We gave them 300 billion, after which they have $16 billion liquid. They're worth about 5.3 percent of the $300 billion we gave them, and we're only getting 7.8 percent of that! But what about the equity that we helped them save? Rembember that word, Toxic? As early as 2001, Citigroup put in a billion and made nothing back on it. This losing billions of dollars isn't a new idea for them.

What likelihood is there that handing them $300 billion (that's nearly half of a very unpopular $700 billion bailout) will solve their problems or ours, let alone get us our money back sometime in this lifetime? Let's just leave it at that it isn't looking good. Some think this will make the Market feel better about the economy. As an outsider, a bysitter, I'm thinking "If they need bailed out to that kinda number, they are screwed, gone already. " When the government does things that radical to try to save a sinking ship, it's pretty clear that OUR ship is floundering as well. If *I* feel less confident, rather than more confident, it just doesn't make sense that the Market is going to see all of these Free money bailouts as a good sign -- especially when they were just at our door with their hat in their hand a month ago, and that $20 billion didn't do any good.

Ford managed to stay liquid while GM and Chrysler are begging to be bailed out. They did so by good management, by building products we need, by being sturdy, and by thinking ahead.... but mostly by thinking about doing their part to reduce gas consumption and become environmentally friendly -- and all that long before it was PC or mandated. It IS possible to do it right. If after decades of being in business GM and Citigroup can't manage to catch up, catch on, and get it right, that's called Natural Selection, and it's best that they're left to pass in peace.

For my part, I won't miss much. My old favorite 1968 Pontiac Firebird is a thing of the past, and GM hasn't made a car anything like it since 1980. Since, my Fords have gotten me excellent mileage, proven nearly literally bulletproof, and remain my trusty steed. Hell, in 1993, Ford was making me the Escort Wagon that gets 30+ miles per gallon -- IN 1993! In more recent times, Ford hocked themselves to the hilt to acquire a line of credit, to ensure that they'd have ample working capital. That already in hand, they're set. Meanwhile, GM and Chrysler are unable to move or breathe in today's credit crisis, because they didn't have the sense to do so back when they still could have gotten credit. Yet again, Ford proves they have the right stuff, while GM and Chrysler wallow in their shortsightedness. C'mon, folks! Just how long do you keep on backing that gigantic a pair of losers?

So why are we doing it? Follow the money. Big players at Citigroup are doing a dance in their $3000 shoes over $100 lunches and $500 dinners, compliments of our Uncle Sam... at a time when the rest of us are stocking up on macaroni and chese.

Have you had enough of this snowjob?

This limerick came to mind after reading a blog entry by Dick Cavett, entitled "The Wild Wordsmith from Wasilla." While I take exception to him connecting her in any way to our noble profession, Cavett's reference was clearly sarcastic. Since he is a highly decorated chief amongst us, I'll overlook the slight. Meanwhile, it dawned on me that perhaps a Palin Limerick Contest is in order. In honor of Governor Palin's own style, no rule of language or meter will be expected. The sole rule: Begin your piece with "There once was a wench from Wasilla." Here's one to start us off:

There once was a wench from Wasilla
In her youth, her looks were quite killa.
She carried her hate to the low forty-eight,
Ruined McCain's plans with words by Godzilla.

Her eloquence unequaled since,
Not one unscripted word made any sense
Obama won over dumb hockey mom's Rover.
Why is cretin-wench not yet past-tense?

The true story is sad as it's old,
(Though the GOP hasn't been told):
When you put a moose in the role of papoose
Neither lipstick nor wardrobe will hold.

Now the shame has returned to Alaska
Where she'll answer for crimes even fasta
Fate favors the bold, but this time our votes told
Now the election is over, so Basta!

Let the thought-challenged wench and her drama
Fade faster than her oft missing comma.
Let her legacy pass -- who wants nightmares to last?
Our future is Barack Obama.