Today I celebrate my mind. My mind used to think and act to please everyone else, frantically panting to the rhythm of everyone else’s approval. Now it stays mostly quiet, constantly evaluating the rightness and health of each incoming moment, listening to none but its own inner voice. My mind used to be anxious and …
Jonathan Kent, from Superman the Movie: “You can do all these amazing things, and sometimes you think that you will burst wide open unless you can tell someone about it, don’t you? There’s one thing I know for sure, son. And that is, you are here for a reason. I don’t know what it is, …
According to Wikipedia: “The conservation ethic is an ethic of resource use, allocation, exploitation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its forests, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to protect the natural world.” When …
There’s news this week about the National Security Agency collecting records of millions of American phone calls. Here’s the New York Times link:http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/washington/12nsa.html Many people probably don’t even know about this stuff. Many people probably are happy that they don’t know about this stuff. Many people will vote in the next election not knowing anything …
I am your student. You are my teacher. I need your patience as much as you need my determination. In order to learn from you I have to trust you. I have to trust you not to betray me. Don’t just tell me what is right and what is wrong. Tell me why. Praise will …
I like this change of paceof my body breaking down to force itself to rest alreadyof my mind getting so numb and tiredthat it pukes out every other bullshit thoughtand focuses instead on FIVE THINGS THAT NEED DOINGtoday. No arguments, no second-guessing,No passive-aggressive behavior or “what if” thoughtsNo inuendos, no rumors,and certainly no TV shows …
I always felt like 40. Last week I actually got there. At least for me, it is an age that looks back at past mistakes and smiles. There is enough distance now, thank God, and those who would point to my mistakes more than ten years ago have not been paying attention to my achievements …
Jazz and Dixie were rescued animals from Animal Match Rescue Team. They are my birthday gifts from Kristie. Jazz is a light pomeranian, Dixie is a black pomeranian. They are brother and sister, around 8-9 years old, and are happier when they’re together, which is why I got both of them. Jazz and Dixie were …
This was posted on a MySpace discussion group: “No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Someone then asked, “What about when labor degrades human dignity”? Then I remembered this story: When I worked as an office intern …
In 2001: A Space Odyssey, HAL9000, a computer in charge of piloting a ship and monitoring and regulating the life systems of a hibernating spaceship crew, winds up killing all but one member of that crew. It turns out that HAL9000, built as a sentient machine, received incomplete information that also conflicted with his original …
Like a jazz song, I’m going to begin writing this piece with a certain theme and direction, then go off into a tangent and talk about something else somewhat related while trying to stay within the overall theme, then come back and finish up cleanly. Hopefully. I saw Luther Hughes and the Cannonball-Coltrane Project play …
I drew the above tonight. Click on it and you’ll see the whole picture. Hadn’t drawn like this in 15 years. I’d found some old school supplies from college—markers, pencils, sketchpad—and decided I should try to have fun drawing again. When I was a boy, I would get sick a lot. During those times, I’d …
On the MySpace Buddhism discussion group, this question was asked: If there is a really negative situation, how do you function within that situation? How do you attempt to bring positive energy into the negativity? My answer: As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that many negative situations are based on my perceptions and ego more …
What is the meaning of the word “discovery”? Regarding the book and documentary about 1421: The Year China Discovered America: From Columbus’ page on Wikipedia: “His voyage marked the beginning of the European colonization of the Americas.” “While Columbus had always given the conversion of non-believers as one reason for his explorations, he grew increasingly …
This is my opinion. This is my experience. This is my voice. I was at the Sterling Art store in Irvine, California, browsing through aisles of art supply last weekend, when I stopped in front of a glass case. I saw my half-silhouette staring back at me, with my sweatshirt and baggy jeans, my uncombed …
I remember, when I was young, watching foreign movies in which old men who wore old hats sat in wooden chairs, usually with newspapers either in their hands to signify that they were reading the news, or those same newspapers used and folded on the table, to show that they had just read the news. …
There is a justice for every tragedy. There is a redemption for every wrong. On Thursday night, my friend and I watched Benny Golson play two sets, each about an hour long, at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City. The theater’s capacity was 215 seats but only a bit more than half were taken. A …
The bear is a straightforward creature, with singular intentions. It wakes up in the morning, knows that it needs to eat, and goes about looking for food. It is a strong animal that can destroy anything in its path, and isn’t reluctant to do so. Approaching a bear in physical combat, even while holding a …
Some thoughts after returning from yet another movie where somebody decided to talk out loud while the movie was playing. I should thank these people sometimes, because if it were not for them, I would have less to write about: This poor man probably never got enough attention in his life, and his only voice …
Chances are I won’t be able to buy all the right things for everyone this Christmas, just like every other Christmas, just like every year. Chances are I’ll forget someone on my Christmas list and when I run into them at a party without having something to give them, it will be awkward. Chances are …