The Good

It's 2h30 am and the thoughts are running wild. Listening to Pink Floyd, having another smoke and trying to untangle this knot of thought into a coherent post. It has to be a post, see, since i cannot leave rip anyone on top for too long ... just wrong you know? Besides, too many other things that are wanting attention. Also living things ... ideas ... thoughts .... dreams. Aquila ka Hecate did a post about the year gone by. It's something i also should do, perhaps. I'm not the sentimental sort, pushes me more in the "mental" direction than anything else, reflecting on oneself too much leads to unfortunate perspectives.

This year has been anything but about me, which is either fortunate or not as per your perspective. Family foremost ... then toyrun, friends, work and daily life, then me. I suppose there should be a sub heading "problems" there somewhere, although i think it's safe to accept its synonimity with family. That warrants a grin, one can approach life armed with nothing but humour, but that also requires a large measure of truth in it to be effective.

I've looked at the year past, briefly already, the less said the better. I'm looking at now, and forward, the year to come, 2011 i'm reliably told, Anno Domini. Me in a small country at the south end of the most brutal continent on earth, a young(?) white guy with a family and bills. And a head full of silly ideas. That sums me up quite well, doesn't it? *chuckle* I have achieved very little to date, not do i have ambitions of any sorts, save to be left alone as much as possible, and the occasional bouts of sex, drugs, rock n roll and philosophy. And i get around on a motorbike. Which combines all 4 of the above (trust me on this). My zen is coming along nicely the christianity not so much. They're the same thing on so many levels, can't something just be simple for once? And why on earth would i get stupid ideas (ANY) about the future, least of which my part in it?

The reason pure and simple is "good". I use that word because it's simple, and accurate. But it's an adjective, usually, so i need to point out that its more of a noun, in this sense. A goal, an attribute, state of mind even, something that creates more good. You create what's around you because you stamp your mark on whatever is closest to you, and when in a time-based ritualised, closeted life, as we are, it is very difficult to be anything other than bland, and it is the blandness which drives the insanity. To strive for the good, and be the good, and produce good is good. And it's good, God said so when it was good. We never get anything that right, but as His (Her) creation it's a simple enough bar to stand against, be good.

Arete, that's the word. Good, that's all. And i have to be good, because that is the highest which i can attain to, and quite simply must. If the year past has taught me nothing else, it's that there most certainly is a bad, which frankly is stupid, ugly, and counter productive. So we go forward into the nether with humour, and idealism, a desire for truth, and a hatful of reasons to take the easier way. It's such a bloody HUMAN way to be. My cup gets filled daily with mud, and i can be all zen like about having a cupful of mud as opposed to anything else, but it's still a cupful of mud, you know? And "here boss keep it" didn't go down too well last time. You have to smile, accept the mud and THEN figure out what the hell to do with it. Traffic, radio, people ... too many of the damned things round here, they keep getting in each other's way ... i digress. Too much mud, to be polite, and all you want is a cup of clear cold water.

We all have it, and we all have our way of expressing it, and dealing with it. My taoistic approach has been working well, the less i interfere the better stuff works. Crazy isn't it? But how to do nothing, and still produce quality? Not do nothing, but not initiating, accept what comes my way with an open mind. But there's this demon driving me lately, it's telling me to go out and accomplish something. I'm stuck between a fear of the possible implications, and a very real fear of failure. Just because haven't achieved anything before doesn't mean i've never tried. My personal most glorious moments were all accidental, and usually i was the only one who ever knew. You walk your path, and assume all things as afternoon rain.

Put it this way, i'm really hoping that my path includes a glorious victory for doing nothingness, in the form of many smiling people, and perhaps a career more suited to my abilities, outlined above (motorcyles and associated). Of course, i do not choose my path, i merely follow it ... :D

I made a zen garden, and my boy wants to make a sky lantern (if he survives the new skateboard, one of the with only 2 wheels, i ask you???). I've sorted through the family holiday photos, some will appear here soon, and wifey has painted many, many things in this last week. By wifey i mean the wife AND the entire family. My eldest daughter is embarking on high school, and more importantly, she's doing a home cooking course from a series of recipes courtesy of her granny. I'm looking forward to eating i mean watching that. The youngest is just herself, a stunning example of how to BE and how to be GOOD. I think that's the other reason i'm closer to the ideals lately, i have such an excellent example living with me. Always singing, asking, offering and smiling.

And it it like this that i wait for the sunrise. There will be a sunrise soon, a great big fire in the sky, just sitting there, and we're flying around it at thousands of kilometres per hour, spinning and wobbling the whole time. This universe is a freaking bizarre place.

I'm done, thanks for listening. As a small reward, please accept the following beautiful, if leeched photoshop item. I can say it was tumblr, but i don't have the exact addy, so i can't give proper credit. Give tumblr a browse, very visual, try onestonedcrow.tumblr.com for starters, he's gotfantastic images, with particular focus on alice, and the hookah smokin catapiller.

I'm having hell with this keyboard, so i apologise for all the typos.

peace and love

RIP Ziggy

I wasn't going to post anything, and certainly didn't imagine i'd post this.

Ziggy died on christmas morning, of what we understand was a viral infection. Apparently it can be inocculated against, but we didn't know about it. We were also told that there was nothing we could do. He died over a 5 day period, and while obviously not well, he didn't show too much discomfort, we medicated and cared for him as best we could. I summed it up quite well for wifey: he not feeling well, he knows we know he's not feeling well, he knows we're doing what we can.

Hard hearted me is more upset than i'd let on, wifey is taking it very hard, for various (complicated) reasons, and the kids have all been distracted, i think they'll realise it today (we were out all day yesterday).

They grey lourie is a beautiful bird, hated by hunters because it is such an effective sentry for all wildlife. Hunters call it the "go-away " bird for this. I'll never hear the distinctive "kwaaaa" again without pausing a moment, and remembering. Smart, affectionate, inquisitive, bold and more, a really interactive bird that caught the fancy of all who came to visit, especially children.

Back to the one ... a small spark of life gone back the all and is now what we breathe, think and live out forever more. Ziggy was a link, a living piece of puzzle that creates this world, and it's impossible to convey the depth of meaning this little bird generated in his short life.

I'll miss him, i do already.

Note

It's a rather ... particular time of year, with all manner of things clamouring for our attention; year ends, parties, family, christmas, shopping, holidays and all the other glitz of the season.

I'm seeing this time now as year end, and renewal ... hopefully, a resetting of the clock ... which clock i'm not sure, but i'm reliably told there is one. It's been a year full ... of everything really, highs and lows in abundance, speaking about it here now, i cannot even pinpoint anything and say THAT was the bad or good thing. It all just flowed through us in an unceasing wave of experience, bringing both the life giving water and the flotsam it carries.

I have to express my deepest gratitude to people this year. Thank you. Without the people who surround me i would have had a much more unpleasant year. Bringing advice, friendship, company, assistance, and all other things we shared. Even to my bloglist sites, those people who put something "out there" at their leasure for our enjoyment, thank you. To the people who touched my life, thank you too.

I would say the highlight was about 6pm on the day of the toyrun. My duties had been carried out successfully, and while the toyrun wasn't entirely over, my part was done, and 28 000 children received a small token of love from a stranger. That alone is reason to smile, and more reason to be grateful for that which you do have.

I went out last night for coffee with a friend, and coming home around 12 i'd missed a massive amount of rain, as evidenced by the volume of water on the roads. The skies were heavily overcast, but not in a grey foggy blanket, but with the almost full moon highlighting all the cracks in the clouds, all the linings that silver colour. Brilliant white lightning added to the sky's display of grandeur, and an immediate pulse of ... adrenalin? or pride? or even lust for life surged through me. Our thunderstorms, like life, are both beautiful and dangerous at the same time. How can we approach them both with the right respect, enthusiam, and zest as they deserve?

I have no fixed idea really, that part of me is still debating the "best" way for me, but caring is part of it, and loyalty to self a second part. Saying NO a lot helps too.

This year rendered all my plans and schemes to dust. I sit and reflect on what could easily have been, what i thought i would do and achieve, and what actually transpired. What emerged is a different set of circumstances and rules and goals and materials, but there's something still begging for release inside me. A seed that has germinated, but now needs soil to be planted in, and so can grow in real terms outside of me.

I don't think of one thing when i say that, what i mean is more ... i have to make an impact. Something i've been avoiding for too long. It's a hope, a goal (even though i hate that word) ... it's a direction. Walk in the direction of the rising sun for 365 days, and you shall find the answers to your questions. So the wise voice in my head tells me ... i think he's having me on.

Peace and love ... i keep saying it, and it risks becomg a bland excuse for saying nothing, but i mean it. Everytime i say it, i think about it, and try my best to mean it. Peace ... may your heart be at ease with the world, and Love ... may you know it, feel it, and share it with others.

peace and love

Whale and Petunias

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Thank you http://thisisnthappiness.com/

Metaphysics of Quality

i feel like the screen on Tetris, and i'm doing ok for now. All these strange shapes dropping into place and forming a picture of their own, utterly unique. The pieces are ideas, concepts and facts, all seemingly unconnected and seperate, but ultimately having to fit into some sort of picture. Of the universe, my world, of me and you and how we share this place and time ... all very ... abstract.

The problem itself is age old, you have science and you have art ... and as per current thinking you cannot have both. But they are inextricably linked? The human experience ... on opposing ends, the look at the same "object" and give a totally different interpretation ... the chair as it is ... or as we understand it to be?

Enter Mr Robert Pirsig, a man who i am more and more beliving to be a true "prophet" of our times. His stories are surreal, more dreamlike than most, but here is the curious thing, his "novels" are so close to his life as to be indistinguishable from history. There are several investigations that have been performed on the book Zen, and everything reported, sights sounds places and so on are completely true to life. This is noteworthy i think, in a world where fiction is preferred, to have someone diguise reality as fiction.

There's a terrible sense of URGENCY in his books, of sincerity that is very often misunderstood, for sarcasm perhaps. Reading Pirsig, i can't help but feel his burden for us all, he cares, and that care was called insanity at one point. Obviously he was ill, manic, but that same mania that he lived, he used as a basis for both his major works. And probably the LEAST "woe is me" attitude of any other writers who have spoken of their experience as mental inmates.

His battle cries are QUALITY and VALUE, 2 words we've most come to associate with "discount shopping" ... and yet what an unfortunate place for two such grand words? Almost makes it appear intentional ... a conspiracy against quality. It would be silly, if it were not for this great dilema before us, of the differences between here and there, subject and object, that pervade everything from our daily interactions to atomic sciences and beyond. The problem is that we picked a pair of glasses, which worked well as a magnifying glass, but now we cannot see further than our hands. But when you try point out that the glasses are faulty, you are shown the last 500 years worth of innovation as proof that the glasses are not faulty.

The second part of the problem is that the scientific world cannot even conceive of taking the glasses off, as they argue that will render them unable to continue the last 500 years worth of innovation. Of course, the many things that science cannot perceive with the glasses on is said to be worthless ... when clearly it is not.

There is a serious problem here, and one that to scientific reality in NOT solvable. However, scientific reality is bound within certain laws of the glasses. The glasses being more than anything, a means of communication ... seeing the secret of the universe is worthless unless you are able to logically describe it to others. At some point both science and art have to touch us, otherwise it's like watching mental masturbation. And when they are both touching us, they are touching each other, and that is when truth and beauty become one ... and it not only makes sense, but beautifully so.

Subjects, Objects, Data and Values
by Robert M Pirsig

Print it out ... it's hard to read, as it's a presentation more than a book, and the topics are quite deep. But it nails exactly where the problem lies, and alo i believe, how to fix it. Not like a roadmap, more like a compass really.

It's something i'm going to dig deeper into ... there's so much here. It's also sobering to contemplate exxactly how far behind our philosophy is. Einstein warned of this, where the science is not balanced by morals, or values. We have almost reached that ... where science has no relevance to us past "convenience" and gimmicks, and science itself has forgotten it's own value systems, in the days of GLOBAL WARMING, no CLIMATE CHANGE, no, CLIMATE DISRUPTIONS, no ... the real worlkd vs our silly ideas of it.

peace and love

Reality

I've been having the most surreal time lately. Real indeed, but almost like a postcard scene, almost too perfect. No complaints from me ... just a rather bewildered admission.

I have new bike tyres, what an awesome improvement!! And i managed to fix a problem i've had for over 2 years now. The spark plugs caps had cracked, and i was experiencing a "missfire" when opening throttle, it's been really annoying for years, suddenly fixed. The magic of knowledge.

I haven't posted much, just thoughts that creep into my mind and swirl the colours and patterns for a while, most relaxing. But the mental winds and tides still flow, sometimes stronger sometimes weaker, bringing all sorts of smells, sounds and sights to me. Always shifting the perspective, always re-evaluating past concepts and seeing if perhaps there's a [i]better[/i] view of all this.

Better ... such a flighty word, so loaded with expectations. And of course the inevitable [i]here[/i] that needs improvement. Reality is. Not much we can do to change it. But our consciousness isn't fixed, it's driftwood on the open seas, sometimes up, sometimes down, always moving, swirling rolling towards some distant shore.

My post earlier this week, "Back to reality" was a thoughtless heading, but strangely apt. And when i read an essay by Robert Pirsig on reality, and escaping therefrom, well it synched in many unexpected ways.

Cruising Blues and Their Cure
By Robert Pirsig, Esquire, May 1977

If this is so, then it follows that those who see sailing as an escape from reality have got their understanding of both sailing and reality completely backwards. Sailing is not an escape but a return to and a confrontation of a reality from which modern civilization is itself an escape. For centuries, man suffered from the reality of an earth that was too dark or too hot or too cold for his comfort, and to escape this he invented complex systems of lighting, heating and air conditioning. Sailing rejects these and returns to the old realities of dark and heat and cold. Modern civilization has found radio, TV, movies, nightclubs and a huge variety of mechanized entertainment to titillate our senses and help us escape from the apparent boredom of the earth and the sun and wind and stars. Sailing returns to these ancient realities.
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But we cannot live in the reality of planet earth anymore. We are bound to playing this charade of civilised life day in and day out. Among a people who believe rain is to be avoided at all costs, well you could hardly imagine it being "reality" any more than reality tv. But it IS real, every day you get up and ... things happen. My reality is fairly pleasant, mostly. But the problem is in the escape, where i wish to be elsewhere, doing something else, being something different too. Which is the escape, and which the reality?

Most of our 9-5 is escaping reality, facades for the office, inventing relationships for profit, and speaking of surreal concepts which nature, humanity, and me feel absolutely fuckall for. Reality. Return to. Just give me some of that old time reality, and i think i'll be ok. A snarling dog, a screeching car. And suddenly your brains screams LIFE!!! At all costs. Rain, wet and cool and fragrant ... a small flower, your child, beaming as she discovers some hitherto unknown insect.

So i'm going to keep on living a little ... looking for that QUALITY in life. Making dynamic decisions that embrace myself and my challenges in to one unbroken form.

I wish you a fantastic day!!!

Simply Be

The philosophy of Lao Tsu is simple: Accept what is in front of you without wanting the situation to be other than it is, Study the natural order of things and work with it rather than against it, for to try to change what is ..... only sets up resistance. Nature provides everything without requiring payment or thanks and also provides for all without discrimination — therefore let us present the same face to everyone and treat all men as equals, however they may behave. If we watch carefully, we will see that work proceeds more quickly and easily if we stop "trying," if we stop putting in so much extra effort, if we stop looking for results. In the clarity of a still and open mind, truth will be reflected. We will come to appreciate the original meaning of the word "understand," which means to stand under" We serve whatever or whoever stands before us, without any thought for ourselves. Te—which may be translated as “virtue” or "strength"—lies always In Tao, or "natural law." In other words: Simply be.

Create Culture

"We have to create culture, don't watch TV, don't read magazines, don't even listen to NPR. Create your own roadshow. The nexus of space and time where you are now is the most immediate sector of your universe, and if you're worrying about Michael Jackson or Bill Clinton or somebody else, then you are disempowered, you're giving it all away to icons, icons which are maintained by an electronic media so that you want to dress like X or have lips like Y. This is #-brained, this kind of thinking. That is all cultural diversion, and what is real is you and your friends and your associations, your highs, your orgasms, your hopes, your plans, your fears. And we are told 'no', we're unimportant, we're peripheral. 'Get a degree, get a job, get a this, get a that.' And then you're a player, you don't want to even play in that game. You want to reclaim your mind and get it out of the hands of the cultural engineers who want to turn you into a half-baked moron consuming all this trash that's being manufactured out of the bones of a dying world." — Terence McKenna

Worthless vaccines

Myths and Facts: Study Verifies That There Is No Value In Any Flu Vaccine

"...industry funded studies were published in more prestigious journals and cited more than other studies..."

"...reliable evidence on influenza vaccines is thin..."

"...there is evidence of widespread manipulation of conclusions..."

The authors found that vaccines administered parenterally, that is, outside the digestive tract, usually meaning by injection, reduced influenza-like symptoms by 4%. They found no evidence that vaccination prevents viral transmission! (There goes the whole herd immunity argument!) They also found no evidence that they prevent complications, either.

In spite of the limited reporting on adverse effects, the authors did find some, including 1.6 Guillain-Barré cases per million.

The question that must be asked is: How can influenza vaccinations be justified when there is virtually no benefit—not even the oft-cited dubious herd-immunity—and cases of severe harm are documented, in spite of disgustingly limited reporting of adverse effects?

It is long past time to end the travesty of jabbing adults and children without a shred of evidence showing real benefit in spite of trying to find it, and with evidence of crippling harm, in spite of trying to mask it.

Back to reality

Yes, i've been away from reality. 800 kilometres away in fact, on the Natal south coast. An absolute break from the everyday humdrum. All day to swim, read, walk on the beach, and very little else.

The kids were brilliant, well behaved and enthusiastic about everything, and my youngest got to see the sea for the first time ... it's really mind boggling when you see it from her young perspective.

Stopped in at my cousin pn the way home, haven't seen her for 20 years or so ... how easily we continued where we left off, even though i now had a whole family. She'd met the elder two, but not the youngest, her kids are all grown up now too. Unreal how fast life happens when you're not watching.

Got back to family, at the seaside, which is always a different set of peceptions. Different time frames, different space, different attitudes. Nothing fancy of course, just simple and clear cut.

I read a few books, and had a whole bunch of thinking nothing at all. I'm going to post some ideas and maybe some pictures here soon, keep an eye out for it!

Peace and love

Toyrun

It's over, thanks be. Months of work, phoning, organising, begging and some more creative thinking came to a climax on sunday. Numbers were down, attendance, gifts, money spent, all down on last year. Sign of the times i guess. No incidents though, save one poor bloke who tried to cross the bus lane ... it didn't work.

28 000 toys ... i cannot tell you how awesome it is to stand before it, and know that each toy will make a smile. Helluva lot of smiling kids. The whole event has a way of warping your sense of space and time. It's too big, too short, and WAY too busy when comparing with normal life. The noise, dust, heat and myriad sparkling pointa of chrome. The 20 trikes and trailers, headed up by santa himself ...

The volunteers, literally slaving away at intersections in the sun, waving and smiling at the passing metal. Nerds-on-site ... here's some free advertising. Their team got stuck in and worked. Helpful, friendly, resourceful. If you need some help with your computer "stuffs" ... give them a shout.

Just a few pictures here, we didn't get too many this year, i was too busy for a camera, although it would have been nice. The kaleidascope of colours shapes and spectacles is incredible! I'll try add some links as i find them, Think Bike has a few, and toyrun will have some up by december end i hope. Makro was also phenomenal in having toys available to puchase on site, and had really great prices.

I think that's it ... so much to say ... but much has already been said. I'll leave you with a few pics that caught my eye. Please, if you can, buy a toy, or a few, and just give it to some kid who won't get anything this year. I don't care where in the world you are, within 10km is a needy kid, show you care.







EDIT: So now i'm getting e-mails from some of the homes (already) with kids and toys ... and each one has a great big smile. I can't post these pics, legal reasons (underage in special care homes) but um ... first time i'm just about in tears.
THAT's why we do this. All becomes so simple. A kid, and a toy. What's so hard to understand?

Peace and love people.

Be that friend ...

Thank you Clock at Think Bike

Every year we gather at memorial runs to remember our friends and family members who have passed before us. It is God’s will.

But, it is NOT God’s will if we knowingly taunt our own mortality. We love speed, we love the feeling of the open road – but let it be the open road where we do not endanger others or ourselves.

We love a beer or two or three or more – but let us do it in an environment where we know we will be safe.

Let us all be the guardian angel of the other.

Let us not point fingers but use that hand with the pointing finger to grab and hold on to those who stray from reality. It is our responsibility, yours and mine! Educate our youngsters and let them know the dangers we face every day on our bikes.

Warn them about the cars that surround us. Educate them on the use of the all powerfull right hand on the throttle!

In a year, which is probably the worst we have seen in many years, we have lost too many of our fellow riders!

YOU must be the wind of change

One person cannot change a community’s behaviour or attitude – but one person, you and I, can make a difference – one person, one day at a time – and with time, we can make so many more people aware.

You can be the person who tomorrow can lays his hand on the shoulder of a friend and ask him or her to either sleep over or get a lift home – you can be the person who takes a walk around a friends bike and check the chain, or if the tire is worn, or to check if a nut is loose – SPEAK!!

You are the one who can speak to the motorist – wife, son, daughter, mother or father - and ask them to please use their indicators – or to wait those extra few seconds at an intersection. Many motorists misjudge the speed of an oncoming motorcycle.

You can be the one who speaks to the neighbour’s daughter or son on a scooter, those with shorts and takkies or mini-skirt – tell them what a roastie feels like – tell the father or mother what their child will look like if not dressed properly

Ask your friend to be more carefull with the girl on the back - fasten the helmet – wear the gloves and ride carefully – she is someone’s daughter or sister!

Speak to your child – and be the example – YOU make the decision – make the decision to just think!

You don’t have to be a public speaker, a politician or a millionaire to help a friend or family member to be safe – just care about them!

Help Think Bike to get the message out there – SPEAK WHEN IT IS NECESSARY AND BE THAT FRIEND!!

TSA

Can't even say i know offhand what those letters represent, in language. But in life they represent backscatter xrays and sexual assault.

One guy with time fucked them around so much they let him go. Curiously, they have no "rights" to do this, they are bullying people into it. But bullying is only the start, what follows is ... disturbing. Got nothing to do with terrorists, further than the people are terrorized? He who uses violence to instill fear is a terrorist. And the blame passing doesn't pass muster. It's the ay-rabs ... gawd-damned ay-rabs ruinin' our cuntry. So why are muslims exempt?

The following blog outlines some of the basic concerns, from a medical perspective. Anyones else noticing how many are dying from cancer lately? Or even "surviving" it?? Everyone, just about. It wasn't always a problem? Anyhow, this is what we know about these machines, as told to us by the suppliers:



http://myhelicaltryst.blogspot.com/2010/11/tsa-x-ray-backscatter-body-scanner.html

"Our overriding concern is the extent to which the safety of this scanning device has been adequately demonstrated. This can only be determined by a meeting of an impartial panel of experts that would include medical physicists and radiation biologists at which all of the available relevant data is reviewed."
"The X-ray dose from these devices has often been compared in the media to the cosmic ray exposure inherent to airplane travel or that of a chest X-ray. However, this comparison is very misleading: both the air travel cosmic ray exposure and chest X-rays have much higher X-ray energies and the health consequences are appropriately understood in terms of the whole body volume dose. In contrast, these new airport scanners are largely depositing their energy into the skin and immediately adjacent tissue, and since this is such a small fraction of body weight/vol, possibly by one to two orders of magnitude, the real dose to the skin is now high."
"In addition, it appears that real independent safety data do not exist."
"There is good reason to believe that these scanners will increase the risk of cancer to children and other vulnerable populations. We are unanimous in believing that the potential health consequences need to be rigorously studied before these scanners are adopted."
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And much, much more ...

EDIT: Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/30286

"Obama not only endorses the enhanced security screening, but the measures outlined in this directive to be taken in response to public objections.

For “any person, group or domestic alternative media source” that actively objects to, causes others to object to, supports and/or elicits support for anyone who engages in such travel “disruptions” at U.S. airports (as defined above) in response to the enhanced security procedures, the [applicable DHS administrative branch] is instructed to identify and collect information about the persons or entities, and submit such information in the manner outlined [within this directive].

It would appear that the Department of Homeland Security is not only prepared to enforce the enhanced security procedures at airports, but is involved in gathering intelligence about those who don’t. They’re making a list and most certainly will be checking it twice. Meanwhile, legitimate threats to our air travel security (and they DO exist) seem to be taking a back seat to the larger threat of the multitude of non-criminal American citizens who object to having their Constitutional rights violated."

Something Nice

I have this overwhelmiong urge to post something, nice. But i got nothing to say ... *chuckle*

Nothing bad, just quiet, you know? It's going to be a hell of a week, toyrun is this weekend. I want it over now ... too much stress, too many variables, too many things that are now fixed. Bring it on, let's DO this thing.

I'm off to make last minute frantic phonecalls, settle the work, as i'm taking a few days off for this, and trying to keep sane meanwhile.

Peace and love peeps, have a groovy week.

Aha ... found it. Your happy thought for the day:

http://saphotographs.blogspot.com/

Added to blogroll under South African.

School killings

IOL

Soshanguve teachers are fearing for their lives after three gunmen stormed into a school, terrorising staff, in the wake of the deaths of three people in shootings the day before.
______________________________________________________________

I feel sick. And one (stupid) dead rich foreigner gets more media. Come to South Africa, it's really safe here. If you don't go to Gugulethu ... or school.

Why I Ride

Why I Ride
By: Bill Hicks

Riding along on my two wheel machine
the pavement takes from me the painful reprieve

Thoughts and fears leave my "brain cloudy" mind,
but only those that are worried or unkind

The sky expands my horizons, inner peace and compassion's
my soul rides beside me and intercepts all distractions

Reality is around me, but I have a cleansed mind to confront it
frustration is behind me, the foe that cloaked and compounded it

Please understand that this is my sanction
its not the chrome or image or acceleration

It's not an escape or a good place to hide
it's approaching Zen that makes me ride

If this touches close to why you must ride
you are my brother or sister in kind

And I hope to share a few miles or a friendly high sign
as we pass while I'm out "untanglin my mind"

The Kraken Wakes

The Kraken Wakes
by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Below the thunders of the upper deep,
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides: above him swell
Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;
And far away into the sickly light,
From many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumbered and enormous polypi
Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green.
There hath he lain for ages and will lie
Battening upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by men and angels to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.

I found the book by John Wyndham. I'm enthralled, but also just a little freaked out. Like with the cthulu stories, it digs so deep into the subconscious ... primal fears. Astounding story though, and the common sense attitudes of 50 years ago are a breath of fresh air.

As an aside, i discovered that my most famous ancestor was good friends with Lord Tennyson. A very strange affair, since my ancestor was a hymn writer.

Daily satmaps

I FOUND IT.

Been looking for this blasted page for yonks.

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/#Africa

Now what that does .... go lookee ;-)

:D :D :D

letter from the interwebs

Posted today ... ATS ... by scott ... in arizona ...

In the interwebs talk, i ROFLMAOLOLD


I hear ya MrWendal!

If they come - they come. If they blow - they blow! If we die - we die!

I have my guns, my ammo, my portable solar panel, my Berkey water filter, my iodine tablets, my MRE's, my dried beans and about 25 bottles of peanut butter (don't ask).

I feel more than prepared, and I really don't care anymore what happens or when. I realized that spending time with the ones I love was more important than worrying about impending doom or waiting for some advanced entity to save us all.

We are all on this ride - when it ends it ends. It is still fun to look everyday and see where this is all going. I admit - at times on here I have done some wacky posts just for fun. I have also been caught up in the specific event dates and have worried at times. But, my wife grounded me (thank God). So whatever comes our way is going to come our way - there is no stopping it - no predicting or channeling has ever helped anyone. It is always a minute -day to late.

So, I am going to enjoy my life - and look at this site everyday just to be entertained or - on occasion maybe have a leg up on what might come - or not. Like everyone else says - it is better to be informed and prepared than to be naive and oblivious.

Cheers -

Record

Much of what i say here is for purely personal record. Feel free to comment but i just need to get someting out there.

November the 6th 2010 is a day of great importance. I'm not sure why though. It's new moon, always nice, but it's the most energetic period in my memory. ENERGY. Plenty of it. I can't say good or bad, guess as ever both. But noteworthy anyway.

It feels like someone has just untied a balloon, and today the pressure is being released. That pressure is going to drive action. I can feel it. I was up last night reading online, ats and various news, info sources. For the first time in my knowledge, several totally differing sources agree on this period as having great influence, and i mean politically, financially, socially, astrologically too.

Almost like a kite, how high must one's mind climb to see above the smog of our day? And how thin is the string? And what happens when you get there, and realise that the view is awful. Sometimes.

Obaman is in India for the biggest weapons deal in history. Not only that, but to cement the US missile grid around the globe. More war, more terror for millions. It's being put into place right now. It's being sold as "jobs for the us and india".

It runs so deep, the conspiracy against us, the non-limits of their greed, it's almost impossible to pinpoint, since it's so pervasive. Tracing all it's myriad twistings probably makes you mad ... staring into the abyss. But today a light comes out of the abyss, a blinding light that has purpose, and menace. It will reveal the landscape to many many people who have been lost in darkness. But will bring much sorrow too. Especially.

It's not the end of the world, won't be for a while still. But i can hear a tiktok and the scratch of a spring as it winds down. Maybe it's just me, but it's getting louder.

So there you have it, stare into the abyss and you blabber on blogs.
peace and love ;-)