A tribute to my two sons

Tomorrow night my two sons, Paul, and Wesley, will graduate from Centennial High School in Bakersfield. I am so proud of both of my sons. It has not always been easy for either one of my two sons during their high school years. Their mother and I divorced when they entered junior high and I have not lived with my two sons for the past six years. I have tried to remain close to my sons over the years and we have spent a lot of time together...but...it is hard not having your father around when you need him at times...but...despite, the disadvantages and numerous challenges, they both have hung in there and did what they needed to do to graduate. Both of my sons will be attending Bakersfield Junior college next year. Wesley will move in with me after graduation and his brother will live with his grandparents who live only about a mile away...I have many fond memories of the times my sons and I have spent together over the past six years...our three week trip to Canada...our three week trip along the Oregon and Washington coast...going to movies together...moving into my new house last year...and, many, many, more...Congratulations, Paul, and Wesley, you have accomplished a great milestone in life and it is my hope and prayer that you will both find your niche in life and accomplish your hopes and dreams. I am proud to be your father and I love you both...very...very much...Listed below are some of my favorite pictures of my two sons.

It is getting rediculous

I have got to vent just one more time about the recent gas price surge. On Tuesday morning I bought gas for 3.75 at a gas station near my house. This morning, four days later, gas is now 4.09 at the same station! That is a whopping increase of 34 cents in four days!...when...is this going to stop? I have read conflicting reports over the past couple of weeks regarding gas prices. Some suggest this current surge is a bubble just waiting to burst and that the current market forces estimate gas should be about 75 dollars a barrel at the present time. Others suggest, it is headed towards six dollars a gallon. I hope and pray the bubble burster senario is the correct one because if it is not than inflation and recession are headed our way. Living in California can be a real drag because many of our cities are so spread out and many of us car pool long distances to work. In my case, I travel almost 80 miles to work each day. Thank goodness summer vacation is almost here. This year I may have to forgo going anywhere because of the outrageous gas prices. I guess I can get just ride my bike up and down the neighborhood and watch Planet Earth/National Geographic on my big screen t.v. and "pretend" I am on vacation.

Who Said What?

So, do you think you are smart?...then, see how you do on my latest, but not my greatest, quiz called,who said what?....Listed below are 10 famous quotes by 10 famous people. If you want to play, than reply by matching the number with the correct letter and I’ll get back to you to see how well you did. Good luck. Please don’t cheat…or, I’ll send you to the principles office....P.S. You get a bonus point if you can guess whose picture is portrayed above.

1. I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us
as equals.

2. Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one;
enemy to none.

3. When you stare into the abyss the abyss stares back at you.

4. Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we
fall.

5. Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds

6. The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend."

7. "Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don't walk behind me, I
may not lead; Walk beside me, and just be my friend."

8. Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."

9. "Give me a museum and I'll fill it."

10. In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the
silence of our friends"

ANSWER KEY…..Aristotle, Augustine, Martin Luther King, Confucius,
Nietzsche,Franklin, Churchill, Einstein, Camus, and Picasso.

3.80 and Rising

In 2000 during George Bush’s first year in office the price of a barrel of oil cost 27.18 cents. Earlier today a barrel of oil reached 130 dollars. That is an increase of almost five fold…so…what’s going on and when is this going to stop? Well, from where I sit it will only stop or slow down when… the value of the dollars stops dropping… the oil investor/speculators decide the price of oil can’t go any higher and they opt out and look for some other investment industry to ruin. Apparently ruining the housing industry didn’t satisfy their unquenchable thirst to make a quick buck …or…we become serious about creating new alternative sources of energy. Personally, I am not optimistic about the price of gas coming down soon anytime, if ever, and I can imagine in the near future that gas may reach six or seven dollars a gallon. By near future, I mean, a year or two…Advocates of the free market believe that market forces will eventually lead to alternative sources of energy because there is too much money to be made. That may be true…but…the oil companies and certain sectors of the auto industry also have a stake in the use of oil and high gas prices. So, when will the market forces eventually lead us to the promise land of alternative energy sources. That is the million dollar question, now isn’t it? Only time will tell…In the meantime, we all need to hold on tight, conserve as much as we can and hope that our government officials from the top down realize that our government has a role and stake in doing what they can to move us as quickly as possible to alternative sources of energy…before…we are not only paying six or seven dollars for gas, but are also paying four dollars for a loaf of bread and five dollars for a gallon of milk.

Feelings

Sometimes we don't have the words to describe how we feel so we have to rely on images or the words of others. Today is one of those days.

I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you

I have run I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
But yes I'm still running
You broke the bonds
You loosed the chains
You carried the cross
And my shame
And my shame
You know I believe it
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for

Summer Movies

The summer movie season officially began a couple of week-ends ago with the release of Iron Man. My two sons and I went to see Iron Man the other day and the film was as entertaining as the critics advertised. I don’t know if the film deserves the 95% approval rating it received on Rottentomatoes but it was satisfying to see a film that wasn’t totally mindless super saturated with special effects… I have not particularly looked forward to the summer movie menu for some time now because summers have increasingly become the season of sequels for the corporate driven movie industry. Twenty two to be exact last summer and let’s just say watching the second, third, or fourth installment of Shrek is not how I generally want to spend my precious free time. Over the past three summers it has gotten so bad I have pretty much tuned out what’s out there unless I hear from friends or some of “my people on the street” about a must see film. This summer has it’s fair of sequels or ongoing storylines but there are a few films out there that look “potentially” interesting. Here is this summers line up with a few brief comments.


May 16th….Prince Caspian, the sequel to the Chronicles of Narnia. The trailers for this film look very good. I love the story and thought the studios did a good job of adapting the book to film which is not easy to do. This sequel has the potential to be even better than the first film. Let’s hope so…

May 23…Raiders of the Lost Ark…I loved the original series, except for the second film. Generally, I don’t like 20 year sequels because the new and supposedly potential improvements can never live up to expectations…Think Star Wars…I haven’t heard or read anything about this film, one way or another, but the trailers look like a rehash of the classic trilogy which may satisfy the longings of the nostalgia crowd who don’t mind seeing Harrison Ford doing his thing one more time…but… I’ll wait to see what the fans have to say before I spend my hard earned money on this classic blast from the past.

June 13….The Incredible Hulk and M.Night Shyamlan’s The Happening….I actually liked the first Hulk movie even though it wasn’t a huge fan favorite The sequel looks quite different than the first installment with different special effects and different actors. Edward Norton plays in the sequel and I am a big fan of his so hopefully Norton and the special effects crew will bring us something that is at least worthy of the price of a matinee ticket…I am a huge fan of the work of M.Night Shyamalan. I love all his films except for the last one which I didn’t think was as bad as everything thought….Even though his last film was not on par with his earlier work he always brings us a unique story and interesting characters which creates a sense of anticipation for me…so…while his last film wasn’t a winner I still anticipate his next film which will arrive in theatres in about six weeks.

July 4th….Hancock…My son brought this film to my attention. I know absolutely zero about the film and have not seen any trailers…but…the combination of Will Smith and Charlize Theron is enough to get me to take a hard look when the film arrives in theatres on our nations birthday.

July 11….Hellboy II: The Golden Army….The first Hellboy didn’t get as much attention of some of the other Marvel comic book blockbusters. Personally, I liked Hellboy, more than I thought I would, and I especially loved the performance by Rod Perlman, who played Hellboy. I anticipate this film will be bigger and better than the last because the director Guillermo Del Toro has been perfecting his craft and is a rising star in the film industry. While Hellboy is not as dark as some of his other Gothic dark fantasies like Pan’s Labyrinth, his mastery and reputation with the critics and serious fans of the fantasy genre has increased with each film. Let’s just hope this trend continues.

July 18…The Dark Knight…I am not a huge fan of the Batman series but I really did like the last Batman film. I found the history behind Batman fascinating. I just hope they don’t screw up the next Batman by making it more about special effects than the story. The trailers are full of shoot em up, explosions, but lets just hope this is your usual run of the mill marketing technique to wet the whistle of those movie junkies awaiting their next adrenaline rush.

July 25….The X-Files….I am withholding my enthusiasm for one of my all time favorite television series. I loved the X-files but did not like the previous X-file movie. The story of alien abduction and the never ending government conspiracy theory has gotten old for this X-file fan. They need to go back to some of the other interesting paranormal stories…and…If they rehash the alien abduction storyline one more time than expect this X-File fan to stay away from the theatre and spend my time watching X-file reruns.


August 22….Crossing Over…Crossing Over stars Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, and Sean Penn….I am not a huge Harrison Ford fan, because I consider his acting abilities somewhat limited…but….I do really like Ashley Judd and Sean Penn. Crossing Over is a story about immigration. The story is set in L.A. and from what I can gather, the plot involves exploring how difficult life is for immigrants who come to this country. I haven’t heard any initial rumblings about this movie but the subject matter and the combination of acting talent intrigue me, so I’ll be keeping my eyes open to stories in the weeks and months to come regarding this film…

My Contribution to Peace

Whoever fights monsters….should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster”…Friedrich Nietzsche

“One always becomes the thing one fights the most”…Jung

Yesterday while participating on another blog a fellow blogger made the following comment regarding what McCain might do if he were elected president. “If McCain is the guy, I think we’re in for what could turn into WW3 depending on who gets involved, but that is what needs to happen. Leadership in Iran has got to go down, and some things really are worth fighting for. Theocracy + Ignorance = a lot of pain for a lot of people.”….When I read the part “that this is what needs to happen”, I was stunned and speechless…Last week Hillary Clinton warned that if Israel were attacked by Iran, and if she were president, she would “obliterate” Iran….and…John McCain awhile back laughed while he sang the lyrics, bomb, bomb, bomb… bomb, bomb, Iran… to the melody of a Beach Boy song…Do any of these people understand or even care about the “potential” implications of another World War? Were they awake during their history class in high school or college?...Here are a few facts that might send shivers up your spine. 72 million people died during World War II and 47 million of those were “civilians.” Over the last two centuries of war, half the casualties were civilians…and…how many more might die in another World War?...32 million people died during WWI. That number was doubled during WWII. If the number of casualties is doubled again due to World War III, then we might expect the death of at least 140 million people, including a civilian death total as high as 90 million. I am deeply concerned by what I consider a very cavalier attitude regarding the potential cost of war to human life from both our politicians and the general public…and…it is beyond my understanding why so many people would apparently be so eager to support a war with Iran and thus risk the potential outbreak of another world war.

Why are so many people apparently eager to risk life and our national treasury? Is it because we have been insulated from the effects of war? It is true that Americans have been largely insulated from a significant amount of the cost and effects of war. We didn’t enter WWI until the last year and we have never been invaded or suffered the human and collateral damage that ravished Europe during the first two world wars. Whatever the reason, a significant majority of American’s appear to be willing to support going to war, especially, if they think the war is justified.

In the last six years we have spent billions and billions of dollars but more importantly, thousands of Americans, and tens of thousands of Iraqi’s have lost their lives in a war that could have been avoided. While most American’s want us to get out of Iraq there are those in high places who are currently beating the war drums again. I hope I don’t come across as an alarmist but I am becoming increasing frustrated by a series of conversations with friends, colleagues, and bloggers regarding the nature of war…so…in an effort to do my part, I intend to write and pass along information from those who believe our government foreign policy ought to restrain itself and seek alternative non-violent solutions…before…it is too late. I’ll leave with these words from Walter Wink, a theologian who has devoted much of his life to the cause of promoting peace through the use of non-violent actions.

Nations seem to be sucked into wars like dust into a whirlwind. Reasons of state are a smoke screen, and change as propaganda requires. War is the work of the gods Mars and Venus. Those who consider war become possessed by these Powers. They insulate themselves from dissenting views. They are exalted by the heady prospects of victory, heroism, and the display of toughness. They usually underestimate the difficulties and duration of the fight. Their minds are darkened. Prohibitions against harming or killing others dissolve. Reasoned arguments are silenced by an atmosphere charged with a collective will that sweeps everyone along with it…

Once children have been indoctrinated into the expectations of a dominant society, they may never outgrow the need to locate all evil outside themselves. Even as adults they tend to scapegoat others ( The Commies, the Americans, the gays, the straights, the blacks, the whites, the liberals, the conservatives), for all that is wrong in the world. They continue to depend on group identification and the upholding of social norms or a sense of well-being.

Evil is contagious. No one grapples with it without contamination…and….When we resist evil with evil, when we lash out at it in kind, we simply guarantee its perpetuation, as we ourselves are made over into its likeness.

Holy Ignorance

In his book, The Soul’s Religion, Thomas Moore has some interesting things to say which I would like to pass along for everyone’s consideration…These excerpts are from his chapter entitled, Holy Ignorance…

Moore writes…

Holy ignorance asks that we confess our limitations.

With holy ignorance we don’t have to berate ourselves for not knowing everything. There is no one to blame. We can even feel relief at not having to know everything. It is obvious, anyway, that we can’t handle our most basic problems….To know that we don’t know the ultimate secrets of human existence should give up hope, because the failure confirms that our efforts by themselves are incomplete. There is still room for that which is beyond comprehension and for a way of knowing that is profoundly satisfying instead of only superficially workable.

Our problem with knowledge is largely an emotional one. Above all we don’t want to be wrong. The secular form or scientific knowledge, in bracketing out mystery, and mysticism, leaves us on shaky ground…because…Only part of intelligence is engaged, the part that works with facts and measurement. Since that approach is incomplete, it leaves us worried, because intuitively we know that there is more to be considered.

Insecurity can also derive from a failure of faith. Everyone needs a philosophy of life and a religious position that is worth the risk on one’s life. A religious imagination that satisfies intelligence and inspires with honesty can give a person confidence and stability, but only if a degree of mystery is allowed.

Anxiety stems from a weakness in imagination. Instead of living courageously at the edge of understanding, knowing that they don’t know everything, many latch onto a system of belief that answers any and all questions. These answers then become a protective fence around a nervous core. But this illusory edifice creates false certainty. The failure to find a satisfying solution to mystery translates into extravagant claims and an attitude of righteousness.

Acknowledging basic ignorance offers a measure of security. We can be as ease in our honesty, admitting that we don’t know much about the most important things. Pretending that I know more may make me feel superior, but the price is deep anxiety. Owning our uncertainty, we can laugh in our ignorance and enjoy the cosmic nature of our puny efforts. An ironic trust in life comes into existence at that liminal point between knowing and not knowing. Take away the ignorance and there would be no room for the faith that keeps us going and the humor that keeps us sane.

Knowledge always has a wedge of ignorance in it, because the only way to be wise is not to understand everything. Ignorance, too, should have a wedge of intelligence so that it isn’t mere stupidity. Real understanding is a creative mixture of certainty and unknowing. The trick is to know even when you don’t understand.

Rooted in holy uncertainty, we are left with approximations…our language for God is like a polygon made of many tiny straight lines passing for a true circle…and…If we look closely at our reasonings, we find that for all their brilliance, in the end they come up short.

The holy person is the one who has broken through self deception and knows nhow much they don’t know. The point in thinking is to reach the far edge of understanding and to stand there in wonder

We are only approximately correct when we speak about spiritual matters., the part that remains unknown and unspoken gives our words and ideas the emptiness they require. If there is no respect for that edge of illusion, then we left with literalism and fundamentalism.

The sensation of knowing offers a certain kind of security, but it can easily be challenged. Religious and spiritual people are forever defending their beliefs, often with a belligerence that is unbecoming to themselves.

On the verge of.....

After tonight’s big victory in North Carolina and a close second in Indiana it now appears to this armchair political junkie from the Conservative Capital of California that Barack Obama is now on the verge of wrapping up the nomination of the Democratic party. I don’t expect Hillary Clinton to quit, lay down, or resign the nomination to Obama in the next few days or week but from where I stand I think it’s now a done deal…it's over...it's finished...I don't want to gloat or announce that I told anybody so, but tonight Obama has proven, to me at least, and I suspect many other super delegates, that he "is" the candidate. ...the people have spoken.... Personally, I feel gratified on tonights monumental victory because despite all the criticism and negative publicity over the past two weeks Barack Obama has demonstrated that he has what it takes to "stay in the kitchen"...but...equally important...the American people have demonstrated that they are able to move past and rise above the political nonsense and trivia that has flooded the airways over the past couple of weeks...This is very encouraging...and...I confess, while I never had any doubts about Barack Obama's abilities during this most difficult time of his campaign, I wasn't sure if the American voters would be able to rise to the occasion...but...they have...and...all that remains is the coming out party of the super delegates which I expect to began in earnest as early as tomorrow...It is also very satisfying to see that political gimics, negative campaign tactics, comments taken out of context, and guilt by association strategies apparently no longer carry the day...so...while my hope has somewhat wavered over the past three or four weeks it is now good to feel a new surge of hope again.

IRON MAN

"Summer 2008 is here – and it is here to kick our ass with a beautiful iron boot." Harry Knowles Aint it COOL News

My son asked me the other day if I would take him to see Iron Man this week-end.I hesitated, and then replied, "We'll see...let me see what my people on the street are saying about this movie." This morning I got up and checked to see what my people on the street were saying about Iron Man...and...I was surprised to read that Iron Man has the highest rating to date on Rottentomatoes. ...A whopping 95%!...Those are the kind of numbers generally associated with The Lord of the Rings, Schindler's List, The Godfather, etc...After reading a number of reviews I took a step back and realized this film is not in the league of the films I just mentioned but apparently the vast majority of the critics around the country do believe the film is entertaining enough to warrant the high ticket prices these days...So, if you are up for some entertainment this week-end and don't mind spending somewhere between 7.50 to 10.00 bucks for a couple of hours of entertainment you might want to check out this summer's first blockbuster....IRON MAN...

Here is what "my people on the street" are saying about IRON MAN...

Iron Man has equal parts brain, brawn, and balls, but what it doesn't want you to know is that it has an equally bleeding heart.

Based on yet another Marvel series, Iron Man has plenty of things going for it, the main assets being an enjoyably sardonic Downey, his hardware, and the downturned mouth of his new metal visage - a warning that this self-styled messiah means business.

A slightly-better-than-average popcorn epic featuring a performance from Downey that is so funny and inventive and entertaining that he pretty much winds up carrying the entire movie on his shoulders.

It's as if someone snuck a hefty slug of bourbon into your cherry cola; all of the sugar and flavor and fizz you expect from a well-made comic-book movie are there, but there's something a little more grown-up going on behind them.

Iron Man is the rare comic-book movie that makes the prospect of a sequel seem like a promise instead of a threat.

[It's] an absolute blast to watch, a consummate piece of popcorn entertainment made with wit and class, and it leaves you so pumped for a sequel that it is practically guaranteed to become a huge hit. The bar for the summer movie season has been set.

The ticklish fun of Iron Man comes from watching a happy cast in fighting trim make a concept that should sink like a lead dirigible do cartwheels on the ground and barrel-rolls in the sky.

Industrial-strength comic book moviemaking of the most entertaining order, Iron Man is darn near invincible fun, a perfect mix of high-tech dazzle and good old-fashioned charisma that's bound to leave audiences begging for more.

One of the hippest, best-written and best-directed superhero movies ever -- a splendid way to kick off the summer movie season.

[M]ight well be the perfect comic book movie... It's just pertinent enough to feel like it's set in something like the real world and just tongue-in-cheek enough not to get too heavy about it, but it's got enough self-respect to be sincere.

Despite several adrenaline-pumping moments, Favreau and Downey stay focused on the real story -- about a man learning to take responsibility for his actions. For all its firepower and CGI slickness, that's what really makes Iron Man fly.

Beneath the requisite spectacle is an issue-laden storyline with heart to go along with its brains.

Brilliant first hour, but then becomes like some strange legend about a Norse god who descended into the molten core of the earth and forged upon a mighty anvil...a Crosby, Stills and Nash album.

The combination of its realistic backdrop, boy's own adventure and Robert Downey Jr makes for a blast of a new style comic book hero in Iron Man. Above all, humour is what elevates this highly entertaining fantasy into something beyond our expectations.

Iron Man may not make the A-list of Marvel Comics' stable -- home to Spider-Man, X-Men and the Hulk -- but he may be the cinema superhero for the rest of us.

How much awesome was tonight’s screening of IRON MAN at the Alamo Drafthouse South with Jet Pack Man? It was like freebasing pop tarts. Ridiculously Fucking Awesome Fun.

This is the very first time in film history that a Comic Book movie wasn’t made by a Hollywood Studio, but by a Comic Publisher that decided to make movies on their own properties. MARVEL COMICS made IRON MAN. Paramount has done a fantastic job selling the movie, but MARVEL COMICS developed it, paid for it and made the film.
They have made the very first 100% uncompromised perfect SUPERHERO movie.

Six Popular Myths of Pacifism

True pacifism is not unrealistic submission to an evil power...it is rather a courageous confrontation with evil by the power of love, in the faith that it is better to be the recipient of violence than the inflicter of it, since the latter only multiplies the existence of violence and bitterness in the universe, while the former may develop a sense of shame in the opponent, and thereby bring about a transformation and change of heart."

Martin Luther King


Over the past three or four days I have been engaging fellow bloggers on the topics of Barack Obama and pacifism. While I hope some fruit has come of my efforts, it has been frustrating at times having to respond to the various“caricatures” of what it means to be a pacifist….so…in an effort to not allow others to define what “I” and other pacifists “actually” believe, I am submitting a series of blog entries on the topic of pacifism for everyone who reads this blog consideration. My first entry is on the topic of the Myths of Pacifism.

Myth number one: Pacifism means you don’t do anything in the face of evil, except maybe stand around holding a protest sign while singing Kumbaya….

Apparently a lot of people associate pacifism with becoming a doormat and allowing others to run over you. Theologian Walter Wink asserts that the teachings of Jesus encourages us to, “Stand up for yourselves, defy your masters, assert your humanity; but don’t answer the oppressor in kind. Find a new, third way that is neither cowardly submission nor violent reprisal…Jesus says…Do not continue to acquiesce in your oppression by the Powers; but do not react violently to it either…Jesus in short, abhors both passivity and violence. He articulates, out of history of his won people’s struggles, a way by which evil can be opposed without being mirrored, the oppressor resisted with being emulated, and the enemy neutralized without being destroyed…Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez…and countless others less well known—point us to a new way of confronting evil whose potential for personal and social transformation we are only beginning to grasp today.”….Pacifism is pro-active…subversive…and…at times confrontational and coercive. Wink goes on to state, “Jesus is not telling us, in his admonitions to obey the government, to submit to evil, but to refuse to oppose it on its own terms. We are not to let the opponent dictate the methods of our opposition. He is urging us to transcend both passivity and violence by finding a third way, one that is at once assertive and yet non-violent.”…and…finally, Wink tells a an interesting story of a boy who creatively exhibited the “third way” of which Jesus’ teachings and actions imply…According to Wink there was a boy who rode a bus and was picked on every day by a bully. “The child was too slight of build to fight the far sturdier bully. But he has a weakness that he made into a strength: chronic sinusitis. One day, exasperated a the bully’s behavior, he noisily blew a load of snot into his right hand and approached his nemesis, hand outstretched, saying, “I want to shake the hand of a real bully” The bully retreated, wide-eyed, to his seat…and…That ended the career of the bully. Those sinuses were the ultimate weapon, and they were always at the ready!”

Myth number two: Pacifists are naïve

What seems naïve to me is the notion that we can solve our international problems/challenges by emphasizing and flexing our military muscles. We have spent around 21 trillion dollars since the 1960’s on our military and are we any closer to peace today than we were fifty years ago?...In fact, it seems from where I sit that we are not any closer to peace today than we were 50 years ago…and…I don’t see any correlation between peaceful societies and military might…In fact, one can argue the opposite might be true…and…the more we use our military muscle the more isolated from the international community we seem to become…Maybe if we had spent four or five trillion of those dollars on helping countries with poverty or rebuilding their infrastructures maybe we just might have created some friends and allies for life. Just a thought.

Myth number three: Pacifism doesn’t work or it exclusively only works in countries which are Democratic

I used to adhere to this myth before I, and the rest of the world, witnessed in utter amazement, the transformation of Eastern Europe and Russia through peaceful means. Some want to assert that Regan’s military arm race with Russia is what brought the once mighty communists down but this assertion negates and is a slap in the face to the heroic efforts of everyone from Lech Walesa, the Pope, the Solidarity Union, Gorbachev, and the millions of brave citizens who took to the streets for weeks and months.

Myth number four: Pacifists are narcissists who only care about their own personal comfort

This assertion was leveled at me personally during a recent online discussion about the war in Iraq…but…nothing could be further from the truth. Pacifists are trying to save lives of both civilians and soldiers alike. What is narcisstic about that. This assertion makes no sense…None..

Myth number five: Pacifists are all the same.

No one generally make this assertion explicitly but when I hear people talk about pacifism the caricature of a pacifist sounds pretty much the same which implies that all pacifists must think and act alike. While it is true that all pacifists are committed to non-violent actions the means in which that vision is carried out dramatically varies from one group or individual to another. Some are much more confrontational…others are willing to use coercive measures…some more traditional…while some lean towards more indirect subversive methods…in other words, the methods used by pacifists are much more fluid than what most people understand or suspect.

Myth number six: Pacifists are naive regarding human nature

Many critics assert that pacifists don’t take seriously the dark side of our human nature because if they did they would realize that pacifism doesn’t work in the face of evil. While it is true that not all pacifist methods work equally the same in all situations that does not prove that one cannot find a way to penetrate even the hardest of hearts or the most evil regimes. Many cite Nazi Germany as an example where pacifism would never work but one cannot, imo, make such an assertion because Germany was a militarist society where pacifism was not a part of the cultural ethic to begin with…and…if millions of Germans would have taken to the streets like they did in Eastern Europe and Russia as they did in the late 1980’s I propose Hitler wouldn’t have been able to stop them any more than the leaders of Eastern Europe…

Translucent Revolution: Part II

This is part of two of my miniseries on Tranlucent thinking. It is not my intention to endorse or proselytize others into jumping onto the latest and greatest spiritual bandwagon, but rather, to pass along, hopefully, some food for thought. Here are some more quotes and sayings from Arjuna Ardagh,s book The Translucent Revolution.

Translucents do not choose between spirit and the world.: They embrace both or they have neither fully. Spirit is expressed in form, and form only works when it is infused with spirit. The inner life is incomplete without material life, like a metal untested by fire. Material life is incomplete without spirit, like a cathedral without an altar. To be successful in a rapidly changing world, you need to be at the source of your experience, awake to who you really are. Translucents embrace life, inclusive feelings and sexuality, the shadow as well as the saintliness, the failures as well as the triumphs.

Translucents are in their bodies, and care for the body as a sacred garden. They practice yoga, martial arts. They play tennis, ski, and surf, for sheer joy of being embodied, not to achieve anything. They dance as a sacred art form. And translucents are generally very sexual and sensual: they experience the body as a doorway to the real.

The tendency to resist life, to become a pattern of interference, is so strong in all of us that it takes considerable awareness, honesty, and willingness to feel what is uncomfortable, to not resist it. This is the pivotal difference between contemporary translucents and traditional mystics….and…unlike many traditional practitioners of spiritual life, translucents are not interested in running away from anything or amputating any part of their experience. In fact, they have learned to walk toward what they have previously run away from.

Translucents embrace spiritual practice not as a means to achieving a future goal but as a way to a more fully lived present moment, with open heart, open mind, and open body.

In the maturing beyond dogma and the rules of tradition, translucents have also grown beyond hierarchy. The tradition setting of one Enlightened, one sitting on a raised podium, answering questions from differential devotees, is being replaced by the sacred circle, where wisdom is everywhere in the room at the same time, where meeting is eye to eye, heart to heart. Realizing the deepest truth of who we are may occur on the mediation cushion or in a cave. To discover our potential to live as radiant love and humorous art requires involvement with other people. Through the alchemy of meeting with others in honesty and trust, we can take our inner wisdom for a test-drive and find out what happens when the rubber meets the road.

Tranlucents are lions, not sheep. They walk alone, although sometimes in each other’s company.

Translucents display willingness to be wrong, to let go and move on. Their perception of their identity is the way we might experience a crazy uncle who can be tolerated, enjoyed, even loved. There is no reason to change your mad uncle, but there is also no reason to defend him or apologize for him. If he disturbs the neighbors, a little damage control is simply intelligent.

Translucents have a natural interest in forgiving and moving on. Forgiveness is no longer a moral virtue, or something we need to practice, but the effortless by-product of no longer needing to protect an identity with a story attached to it. The past is not healed: it simply ceases to be useful….A translucents forgiveness is neither a moral quality nor a cultivated virtue, but the natural and inevitable consequences of knowing oneself as something more than the past.

Translucents have fewer beliefs to protect; They are comfortable with not knowing what to do until they really know. They have less need to think and dramatically less need to be right. When we are acting translucently, our actions come from a different place within us. Instead of reflecting a system of belief, they are a direct response to the situation as it is…Often we talk and take action based on preexisting set of beliefs about what is right and wrong. Our behavior is predictable and they almost always meet the present moment based on our past…and…having developed a complex system of beliefs, we become more interested in defending them than in knowing what is true. The actuality of life becomes secondary to the principle of the thing.
The role of a translucent teacher is to relax and allow a deeper part of the questioner to tell her what she already knows but cannot hear. This is the deeper role of a teacher; not to deliver a precooked set of dictates and theories but to be used by the Great Knowing…The key to accessing a deeper source of thought and action is the willingness to relax and wait...rather than accept the statue quo notion of avoiding “I don’t know” at all cost. Translucent action requires the wisdom of “I don’t know” as its firm foundation….

It's Official

Drum roll please.....It's now official... Guillermo Del Toro has signed a contract to direct the Hobbit and he will be joining forces with producer Peter Jackson over the next four years in New Zealand to bring us the much anticipated prequel to the Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit is tentatively scheduled to arrive in theater's in 2011...but...here is the interesting part...there is a sequel...In 2011 the team of Del Toro and Jackson will release the "long discussed theoretical middle story" that connects the Hobbit to the Lord of the Rings. There is no book explaining these two stories but apparently Tolkien left behind hundreds of notes and concepts that will used to bridge the gap between these two stories...

Del Toro has a reputation of potentially being the next great fantasy film director in the league of Jackson, Speilberg, and Lucas. His background is steeped in the world of fairy tales and he has already directed some very interesting and critically acclaimed fantasy stories such as Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone, Hellboy, Mimic, and the upcoming Hellboy II: Golden Army...and...he is currently working on a film called Saturn and the End of Days, which is a story about a young boy who witnesses the rapture and the Apocalypse and apparently lives to tell the story...I have heard an in depth interview with Del Toro and he does seem to possess the creative/fantasy genes in spades.

I am excited and jazzed...but...apparently not everyone thinks this is a match made in heaven. Andrew Heir of Salon, who interviewed Del Toro at Cannes in 2006 asked Del Toro what he thought about Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and Del Toro said, "I was never into heroic fantasy. At all. I don't like little guys and dragons, hairy feet, hobbits -- I've never been into that at all. I don't like sword and sorcery, I hate all that stuff."....Hehir goes on to say this about Del Toro, "His aesthetic is darker, more Gothic and more grotesque than the Tolkien-via-Jackson universe; it derives more from the medieval mire of middle-European fairy tale than from the high-toned, pre-modern northern European epics Tolkien was channeling."...While it is true that many of Del Toro's films do lend themselves to the "dark side", that doesn't mean he can't suck it up and do one for the team...which is my hope...As far as the challenge of two heavy weights working together, that remains to be seen, but Peter Jackson has always come across to me as a lovable current day hobbit who is easy to get along with...and...if my take on Jackson is correct and Del Toro works his magic on his end than the fans of the Middle Earth may be rewarded with another great adventure in a couple of years...

The Translucent Revolution: Part I

Over the years I have identified myself at different times as a Reaganite, Evangelical, Christian Anarchist, Baby Boomer, Country bumpkin from Bakersfield, mystic, Pomoxian, Obamamaniac, and modern day hobbit. Personally, I don’t like labeling others, but I don’t mind labeling myself as this or that if it stimulates conversation. I also enjoy the shock value but I also don't mind making fun of myself either.

Recently I have been reading a book called, “The Translucent Revolution”, by Arjuna Ardagh. While I can’t relate to some of the Eastern leaning philosophy I do identify with a number of the characteristics of a Translucent Revolutionary. So what is a Translucent Revolution and what are the primary characteristics of someone who fits the definition of a Translucent Revolutionary? …Rather than try to explain the answers to these questions I will include a series of quotes from the book that define the questions at hand…


Some definitions:

“Webster’s dictionary defines translucent as “letting light pass through, but not transparent” A transparent object, like a clean sheet of glass, is almost invisible. You see everything through a transparent object as if it were not there at all. An opaque, on the other hand, blocks light completely. A translucent object allows light to pass through, but diffusely, while maintaining its form and texture. Objects on the other side cannot be distinguished. A crystal is translucent. So is a sculpture of frosted glass”….A translucent person is an individual who has undergone a spiritual awakening deeply enough that is has permanently transformed their relationship to themselves and to reality, while allowing them to remain involved in ordinary life in a process which is evolutionary and endless.

Characteristics of today’s Translucents

“Today’s translucents live for the most part outside the context of organized religion and hierarchy. They no longer need to have one teacher or teaching, but rather have many teachers or experiences of life as a teacher. Ram Dass speaks of no longer being a Buddhist but being a generalist. Richard Holloway, a retired bishop of Edinburgh, has reevaluated his relationship to the Christian church since recognizing God to be everywhere, both behind the eyes and in front…Cynthia, who has attended events with the Dali Lama, Wayne Dyer, and Thomas Moore, says, I think I’m as much a Buddhist as a Christian, or maybe I’m just all of it and none of it” Right now I’ve got Eckardt Tolle, The Tao Te Ching, Cosmopolitan, and a thriller on my bedside table. They seem to be getting along just fine”

“Today’s translucents have fallen in love with the present moment and the possibilities of living right now as a gift of love, as a work of are. They’ve lost interest in potential future states. Translucents have seen past the dangling carrot of future enlightenment. They live for now, and now, and now”

Translucents speak of life as a rivering, a process without end. Like a fountain that is always pouring forth, it is an endless and spontaneous enlightening, not a fixed state. Unlike the goal- oriented self improvement industry that has dominated our culture for so long, this process is an endless unfolding of discovery and delight. There is no attempt to fix a problem or to achieve a final higher state. Translucence is more a direction than a destination. Like heading East, the process doesn’t imply a specific point of arrival. It is a way of living life with art and humor, returning continuously to here, and here, and here, always steeped in the vastness of the view and blessing each moment with a gift of creative presence.

Translucents are always evolving, but they also display an extraordinary and often humorous acceptance of themselves just as they are… Translucents have canceled their subscription to the self-improvement industry; They no longer pin their sense of well-being, their connectedness and peace, on the process of fixing themselves. Yet they fully recognize the dysfunctional habits that hurt people and create separation, and they take a tremendous amount of energy from the simplicity of this moment, from being able to live fully and acknowledge the gift of life.

Translucents delight in color, sex, children, blood, dance, and music as the very expression and demonstration of divinity in flesh. Art, music, images, and sensations are just as sacred as words.

The Season of Hope

Today was a beautiful day so I went out in the neighborhood and took some pictures of flowers. It has been spring like for the past month but it has only been the last week or so that the flowers and other plants have reached full bloom. The neighborhood is currently bursting in reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, and purple and it is the most beautiful time of the year. It’s hard to imagine that in two months we Bakersfieldians are going to be sweltering in the heat and the beautiful flowers and other plants are going to be hanging on for dear life and at the mercy of local homeowners who decide when and how much to water.

Spring is important because it reminds us that winter is over and that which was dormant or at deaths doorstep now has new life… As I ponder my own life there are some areas in my life which are currently dormant or feel dead…so…the flowers remind me that life has it’s cycles and that which currently appears dead or dormant will in time come back to life. Flowers represent hope and without hope life is unbearable. If you want to see more photographs of flowers go to Bilbo’s Picture World and you can see
a large collection of photographs I have take of flowers on my various trips on the west coast.

World Wide Suicide

Sometimes one listens to a song and hears the music...and...at other times one hears a song and "feels" the music. Tonight while I was at the gym listening to Pearl Jam's song World Wide Suicide I found myself "feeling" the emotional force behind this song...then...later I found my mind pondering why I sometimes feel like we are at the brink of a World Wide Suicide...and... Here are 15 reasons why I sometimes feel the existential angst behind this particular song.

When I am reminded of the war in Iraq and the loss of American and Iraqi lives.

When I continue to hear one bad story after another regarding the economic situation in America and the potential implications for the rest of the world.

When I am reminded of the story of a woman I know who was raped by her father who was a deacon in the church and a leader in the community.

When I see people I know who have been legitimately victimized and can't break themselves from the shackles and bondage of the victim mentality.

When I see politicians willing to do "almost" anything to win an election.

When I see so much money spent on the nomination process.

When I am channel surfing and come across one of those ridiculous reality shows. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I "hate" all these shows...for the record.

Whenever I hear one more story about the Reverend Wright and the guilt by association implications that come from some quarters.

When I see people I know who are caught in the destructive web of workaholism.

When I visited my mom's vacant house and discovered gang bangers had tagged the entire inside with graffiti. I almost threw up.

When I drive around town and see house after house after house either for sale, rent, or in the process of being foreclosed.

When I am overwhelmed with such powerful emotions like fear to the point where I feel like I am having an out of body experience.

When I hear idiots who have not stepped into a classroom in twenty or thirty years assert they know and understand the terrible plight of public education in this country.

Anytime I allow myself to listen to talk radio...and...remember that millions of people listen to this "shit"...pardon my French...

And finally, whenever I hear a anyone assert that Barack Obama has no substance and anyone who follows or supports him is simply caught up in a "cult of personality"

Soulful Relationships

Over the past 10 years I have spent a significant amount of time reading, thinking, and pondering about relationships. Divorce has a way of getting one's attention on the subject. Anyway, I want to introduce a new blog I have created on the subject of relationships. The blog is called Soulful Relationships and the site is devoted to the topic of the nature of relationships. The blog which will be updated from time to time will contain many quotes from my favorite authors on the subject and some of my own personal ponderings and commentary. The site is neither a personal record of any of my relationships nor is it a self help guide to relationship bliss...but...rather a collection of thoughts by myself and my favorite authors which will hopefully stimulate and inspire your own imagination regarding one of the most important aspects of our lives. So, if you are either curious or seriously interested in the "dance of relationships" than check out my new blog from time to time...

I've noticed I haven't updated my blog for a couple of weeks now. No particular reason...I have been busy with other things including practicing with my new camera, working on a new blog which I hope to launch very soon, and following closely the Presidential campaign. Speaking of the campaign...Did you happen to catch Obama's speech on race yesterday?...Just amazing, both in terms of content and ability to deliver a nuanced message which simultaneously addresses the legitimate concerns of both white and black Americans and empathizes and humanizes controversial figures like Pastor Wright...and...in my lifetime, I have not witnessed a politician or any other nationally know public figure who has been able to pull off what Obama has been able to do regarding such an explosive issue. Obama appears to be the real deal and is a fresh of breathe air to the political landscape which imo has been on the decline for most of my adult life....other news...went up to see my mom who is currently in a rest home. She is now 93 years old and is still hanging in there. Each time I see her I wonder if it will be for the last time but both myself and other relatives have written her off many times before and she just keeps making a comeback...She is no longer able to walk and is confined to a bed, probably for the rest of her life and it is my hope and prayer that she die a quiet peaceful death in her sleep when the Good Lord decides to take her home. In the meantime, I try to see her whenever I can and remember all the sacrifices she has made for me...On the sports front...There is currently a lull in the action for me until the basketball play-offs start. I am a huge Laker fan and I am excited that the Lakers are back near the top of heap but have no assurances how far that Lakers will go this year considering the Western Conference from top to bottom is the strongest in history...in fact...I don't remember, ever, in any sport where you literally have the top eight teams that are pretty much on equal footing...which...I hope translates to an exciting play-off run...March Madness starts on Thursday which will give me something to watch. I don't have a favorite college Basketball team so I will probably root for the west coast teams. I have always really enjoyed the College Basketball tournament because it provides one of the rare opportunities in sports where the little guy and the unknown are allowed to play on the big stage with the big guys...and...every year there are some big surprises....Well, that' it for now, I need to get out and get some exercise and get some work done....

Obamamania

I've got the fever. Obamania has finally reached the Shire. It took awhile but I now have all the classic symptoms of Obamania. You know the signs...Checking the internet at least three times a day to see the latest poll numbers on what is happening in Texas and Ohio. Watching at least two news programs when I get home just in case I missed something on the internet...checking out the other Obamania bloggers off an on all day…and…the final act…volunteering to work for Obama’s run to the White House…. I didn’t jump on the Obama bandwagon until about a month ago after listening to a speech by Barack Obama at his home church but now that I am on the bandwagon I intend to stay there until Obama reaches the White House, Lord willing. While it was the speech that got my juices going it was the two recent debates that sealed the deal for me. Let’s just say I was impressed, particularly by his attitude…. Today is a big day and according to most pundits, if Obama can win Texas than he will probably get the nomination…but…it is also an important day for me because, if Obama wins Texas today then I will make a trip to the local Democratic headquarters and sign up as a foot soldier and join the growing legion of Obamaniacs who are ready to do our part to help Obama reach the White House later this year. I know it may be a bit premature to count Hilary out if she does win Ohio and Rhode Island but I really don't see "how" she has a chance if she loses Texas tonight. She can fight until the end, and she may, but losing Texas tonight will, imho, send her into a wormhole that she will never find her way out of....

Superman?

Ten straight victories, eleven if you count the out of the country voters. A blow-out in Wisconsin last night...and...now some political pundits suggest Hilary Clinton may have to win as much as 65 percent of the votes in the remaining primaries to get enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination. It certainly looks like Obama now has the upper hand. I won't declare victory at this time but it sure looks like Hilary Clinton's only chance is to complete a couple of "Hail Mary" passes...I haven't said much about the primaries up to this point but I have been following the this particular election year for some time now and decided to support Barack Obama about three weeks ago. I do find this particular election year the most interesting in my lifetime but am cautious because I have become increasingly cynical about politics as I have gotten older. So, why have I decided to jump on the Obama bandwagon? Probably, for some of the similar reasons a lot of other folks have stated. For me, the bottom line is that I think he has the "best chance" of bringing about some long needed changes on the political front. I think he has the best chance because Obama does represent a new "attitude" towards the political process. I am not talking about his message of hope but rather the general demeanor he has modeled during the campaign and the debates. Obama "genuinely", imo, repeatedly appears to acknowledge common ground with his opponents...and...I don't think it is a calculated political ploy on his part but I believe it is just the nature of his personality and worldview....Another bottom line...While Hilary and McCain obviously have a lot more experience than Obama I don't think their experience will be able to handle the gridlock in Washington as well as Obama's ability to work with others...and...I think Obama's oratory prowess will put pressure on congress to make some long needed changes...At this point I do believe Obama has all the momentum and I expect him to be the next president of the United States but whether he is able to bring about the kind of change he talks about will have to wait for the next chapter in the book. And,as much as I like Obama and find his message inspiring and his demeanor refreshing he is just a man and the power of the President is limited by the power of Congress and the will of the people...and...that is why our Presidents don't wear Superman capes or jump over tall buildings now matter how much we want or hope they can....

U-2/HD/3-D

I just got back from L.A. I drove down today to see the new U-2/HD/3-D concert. It was electrifying and inspiring. Nothing like seeing Bono and the rest of the band up close. I have never attended a live U-2 concert but I can't imagine I could get any closer to the action than I did tonight. At one point Bono and my hand touched, well kind of...Got to love those 3-D glasses. Old fashioned virtual reality...While the concert was the shortest U-2 concert I have seen to date, every song was a winner. No fluff, just pure energy from beginning to end. U-2 has again set the bar so high that all any other band can do at this time is look up and shake their head...in awe... and U-2 has again solidified their stranglehold on being the best live band on the planet. I just wish I could have shared this moment with someone. I couldn't get anyone to go so I went solo. Everything about the performance and the production was great. U-2 is at the top of their game right now and I don't know if they can get any higher...so...I recommend you checking this concert out because this kind of performance is so rare you might not see this kind of band again in your lifetime...I went down at noon to catch the early showing but it was already sold out so I had to occupy myself until the six o'clock showing...so...it was a long day...but a Beautiful Day...Thanks U-2...You never disappoint.

Blogging is in my blood

While I have been quiet lately in regards to posting anything on this particular blog my life has been anything but quiet. I won't bore you with the personal stuff but while I have not posted much here, lately, I have been working on two other blogs I intend to introduce in the weeks or months to come. I guess you could say that blogging is now in my blood. The new blogs will revolve around the "nature of relationships" and some of the influential books I have read...I haven't launched either blog yet because I am going to try a new strategy. I am writing and saving a number of blog entries before I launch the blogs, that way, I won't feel pressured to always write new material. I enjoy blogging but I don't like to feel like I "have" to keep up with blog entries and since I will have four blogs going at the same time I suspect it will be a challenge. I generally try to blog when I have the time and I "feel" like it, but that sometimes leads to no blog entries for weeks at a time which I don't like either...so...I'll see what happens with this new approach...

I have also been spending a significant amount of time experimenting with my new SLR camera. I am reading books, taking a class, and going out to take pictures. At the present time I don't have any pictures to share but when I do I'll probably post them over at my blog, Bilbo's World in Pictures

Regarding politics...I have been following the primaries, particularly the race between Obama and Clinton. I have decided to support Obama but I won't be crushed if he doesn't get the nomination because whoever is the next president is going to inherit some serious problems and I won't be surprised if the next president is booted out after only one term. My biggest fear is that the democrats will win and get blamed for the mess created by the last administration and the Republicans will come back with a vengeance in 2012. I admit this is a pessimistic approach to politics but I do feel strongly that the numerous problems we face as a nation are as serious as any time in recent history since the 1960's...I hope I am wrong by the way...Monday I am headed to L.A. with my two sons to see the new U-2 HD/3-D concert at the IMAX theater. I can't wait...In the meantime, I am heading out to take some pictures and I'll probably post something about the concert when I get back....

The Words of a Prophet

Today is Martin Luther King's birthday and I was reminded how important this day is by fellow blogger Kansas Bob Thanks Bob for reminding me of the significance of King's vision. I don't really have anything to add about King that probably hasn't been said by others so I'll add my tribute by leaving you to ponder some of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King.

The words of a modern day Prophet......

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

A riot is the language of the unheard.

All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.

Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.

Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

My new Camera

Well, today I took the big plunge and bought me a new SLR camera. Specially, I purchased a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI with a telephoto 17-85 IS Image Stabilizer lens. I've been thinking about buying an SLR camera for some time I have a hard time letting go of my cash for something that is essentially a hobby interest of mine...and...I almost couldn't bring myself to buy this camera, "until", I went on line and found the camera for half the price all the local camera shops were asking...and...I got a deluxe carrying case and tri-pod, to boot, for free. Thank God, for the internet....I am also going to take a photography class at a local camera shop to learn how to use the camera. It's not particularly difficult to use an SLR, especially if you operate it on Auto focus but I want to learn about exposure, shutter speeds, and how to use the camera manually...I am really excited about this new purchase and hope to post some pictures on this blog and my photo blog in the weeks and months to come....

Bilbo's New Blog

Today I launched a new blog called Bilbo's World in pictures. I am very excited and proud of what I have put together. It is a collection of some of my best photographs that I have taken over the years. Many of these photographs have appeared on this blog from time to time but I have decided to put them together in a one place for others to observe and enjoy. I was inspired by fellow blogger Julie Bogart who launched her own photography bl. og project last year called Julie Unplugged 365...Thanks Julie...I will be adding new pictures on a regular basis. I currently have a rather extensive collection of photographs I intend to post in the days and weeks to come...and...I will adding to my old pictures with new pictures whenever I take a photograph that I consider worthy of my blog. Also, because I am excited and inspired about what I am doing I am also thinking about purchasing a new camera. Right now I am considering either purchasing a Canon Sure Shot SD87V15 with 8.1 pixels or a EOS Digital Rebel XTI SLR. The Rebel model is much more expensive but I feel ready to move up to the big boys because I really do enjoy taking pictures....so...if you are so inclined check out Bilbo's World in Pictures and let me know what you think....

A Sleeper

At the recommendation of film critic Michael Phillips I watched the movie Once last night. Phillips listed this movie as one of his top ten films of the year and even asserts it is one of the great music movies of all time. I wouldn't go this far but I did really, really, like this film and recommend it for anyone who likes an independent film with some really great music. The story is set in Ireland and is a story about a blue collar Irishman who works for his dad during the day fixing vacuum cleaners while playing music at night on the streets. It is his dream to one day record a couple of songs in an attempt to make a living as a musician. One day he meets a young woman who loves his music and inspires him to follow his dream. And the rest of the story is about the two working together to make his dream come true. The movie has a lot of music but I wouldn't consider it a musical in the traditional sense because all the songs flow with the story line. If you like Irish, folksy, meat and potatoes music I suspect you might like this film. This is the second musical film I have seen this year, the other, Across the Universe. These two films are very different and both are great in their own way but I think I like this film better... and...for whatever it is worth, this film received a 98% approval rating over at Rottentomatoes...and...I really love the soundtrack which I bought yesterday.

Pillow Talk

I've been working on my bachelor pad today. I went out and bought some decorative pillows for my bed. Left to my own devices I probably wouldn't have gotten such fancy pillows but I know the "Daughters of Eve" like this sort of thing. So, if you are a Daughter of Eve who happens to stumble across this blog entry these pictures are for your eyes only. The guys can check it out too but I suspect they won't be as impressed...Just call it a hobbit hunch.