666 Tattoo Revisited

Had an interesting response to my post about Anti-Christ Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda and his Growing in Grace Church. Here's what one of his followers emailed to me:

"Let me tell you that I know for a fact that Jose Luis DeJesus is the 2nd coming of Christ.

First, let me correct you guys: He has never asked us for money, jewelry (rolex watches). I know that for a fact because my husband gave him one as a present...It´s difficult for people to understand that we are so thankful and therefore choose to make up stories (perhaps it´s because to them,there is not much to thank God for... still see themselves as sinners, still think the Devil is around, still think they can be lost and if they ever earn their ticket to salvation it´s because of their own effort...that´s some "loving Father"!.)

I honestly don´t know how did people come up with the "giving all of our money" idea...if you´d investigate us you´d conclude that we are very prosperous (how could we give Him those presents if not???). Remember that woman in Jesus of Nazareth´s day that gave Him a perfume worth one year´s sallary? perhaps you could stop and think what did Jesus do for her that she was so thankful?.

Second. About Honduras...think about it, if it wasn´t that He is saying truths that the religious

system doesn´t want to hear He wouldn´t be banned.

Third. I display my tatoo with pride because it always makes people ask me about it...then I can explain that it means, religion has been the one who has frightened people with the number when what´s written about it is that there´s wisdom here(but religion always tries to forbid all kind of science and wisdom and make it seem "deeds of the devil"). I´m very very proud to say that God is among us. I invite you to study His teachings. Go to www.CEGenglish.com."

Call me crazy, but this writer makes a few good points. Bear with me. In the Bible, there was a woman who used very expensive perfume to cleanse Christ's feet, and even his disciples considered this a waste. With that in mind, who says you can't buy a Rolex or other gifts for your pastor? Even in the "normal" churches I've attended, collections were often taken for the pastor and his family. True, I didn't give an expensive gift, but aside from the amount, what's the difference?

The writer apparently has a 666 tattoo to show her devotion and allegiance. This may sound crazy to most of us, but is it any different than marking your forehead during Ash Wednesday? Yeah ok, it's not permanent but I'm talking about outward, public displays of religious faith. Lots of people get tattoos for worse reasons.

So I emailed the writer back and apologized. For the reasons above as well as this: I've just spent several months in a shamanic mystery school with a stranger who I'm paying to "teach" me stuff. I haven't given him any gifts and he hasn't asked me to tattoo myself--but really, am I any different? My concern is hucksters, frauds, those who prey on people for their own, selfish ends. I like to think that the facilitator of my shamanic workshops isn't in that category, and he seems decent enough. But where do you draw the line? If this Jose guy gives this person hope, who am I to judge? Seriously. I may disagree and think his followers are all deluded, but there are plenty of people who would say I am just as deluded.

So, been thinking a lot about free will. Not only does it mean you get to choose as you like, but it also means you take the risk of being a complete fool. And does anyone have the right to take that away? I suppose I'm prejudiced against this Jose guy because of all the Christian undertones, but my response says more about me than it does about the truth of this guy's claims or his followers' sanity.

666 Tattoo Revisited

Had an interesting response to my post about Anti-Christ Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda and his Growing in Grace Church. Here's what one of his followers emailed to me:

"Let me tell you that I know for a fact that Jose Luis DeJesus is the 2nd coming of Christ.

First, let me correct you guys: He has never asked us for money, jewelry (rolex watches). I know that for a fact because my husband gave him one as a present...It´s difficult for people to understand that we are so thankful and therefore choose to make up stories (perhaps it´s because to them,there is not much to thank God for... still see themselves as sinners, still think the Devil is around, still think they can be lost and if they ever earn their ticket to salvation it´s because of their own effort...that´s some "loving Father"!.)

I honestly don´t know how did people come up with the "giving all of our money" idea...if you´d investigate us you´d conclude that we are very prosperous (how could we give Him those presents if not???). Remember that woman in Jesus of Nazareth´s day that gave Him a perfume worth one year´s sallary? perhaps you could stop and think what did Jesus do for her that she was so thankful?.

Second. About Honduras...think about it, if it wasn´t that He is saying truths that the religious

system doesn´t want to hear He wouldn´t be banned.

Third. I display my tatoo with pride because it always makes people ask me about it...then I can explain that it means, religion has been the one who has frightened people with the number when what´s written about it is that there´s wisdom here(but religion always tries to forbid all kind of science and wisdom and make it seem "deeds of the devil"). I´m very very proud to say that God is among us. I invite you to study His teachings. Go to www.CEGenglish.com."

Call me crazy, but this writer makes a few good points. Bear with me. In the Bible, there was a woman who used very expensive perfume to cleanse Christ's feet, and even his disciples considered this a waste. With that in mind, who says you can't buy a Rolex or other gifts for your pastor? Even in the "normal" churches I've attended, collections were often taken for the pastor and his family. True, I didn't give an expensive gift, but aside from the amount, what's the difference?

The writer apparently has a 666 tattoo to show her devotion and allegiance. This may sound crazy to most of us, but is it any different than marking your forehead during Ash Wednesday? Yeah ok, it's not permanent but I'm talking about outward, public displays of religious faith. Lots of people get tattoos for worse reasons.

So I emailed the writer back and apologized. For the reasons above as well as this: I've just spent several months in a shamanic mystery school with a stranger who I'm paying to "teach" me stuff. I haven't given him any gifts and he hasn't asked me to tattoo myself--but really, am I any different? My concern is hucksters, frauds, those who prey on people for their own, selfish ends. I like to think that the facilitator of my shamanic workshops isn't in that category, and he seems decent enough. But where do you draw the line? If this Jose guy gives this person hope, who am I to judge? Seriously. I may disagree and think his followers are all deluded, but there are plenty of people who would say I am just as deluded.

So, been thinking a lot about free will. Not only does it mean you get to choose as you like, but it also means you take the risk of being a complete fool. And does anyone have the right to take that away? I suppose I'm prejudiced against this Jose guy because of all the Christian undertones, but my response says more about me than it does about the truth of this guy's claims or his followers' sanity.

Daily Distraction: Keanu Reeves

I've always had a crush on Keanu, and he's still looking good! Love the beard, too. He's doing some photos for "Vogue Hommes International" (via Towleroad). And boy, with the way my Monday is going, I sure NEED a distraction in order to hang on to what shred of sanity I have left! Thanks, Keanu, and thank you "Vogue Hommes!"

Daily Distraction: Keanu Reeves

I've always had a crush on Keanu, and he's still looking good! Love the beard, too. He's doing some photos for "Vogue Hommes International" (via Towleroad). And boy, with the way my Monday is going, I sure NEED a distraction in order to hang on to what shred of sanity I have left! Thanks, Keanu, and thank you "Vogue Hommes!"

Mexico's Stunning Crystal Cave

Wow--I bet those things could balance your chakras in no time!

Have you heard about this place? Guess I've been out of the loop. It's a cave beneath Mexico's Chihuachua Desert, filled with giant crystals, some over 30 feet long. The cave was identified several years ago, but the crystals weren't uncovered until the water was pumped out and exploration began sometime in 2007. "National Geographic" ran a story , with excellent photos.

The giant crystals were formed as a result of essentially perfect conditions--mineral-rich water, a steady temp over 100 degrees and lots of gypsum (calcium sulfate).

Lately, I've been rediscovering and indulging my fascination with crystals, and these are stunning. Click here for even more amazing photographs. Fortunately, nature is prohibiting the cave's development as a tourist attraction. The intense heat keeps people away, and it isn't easy to reach, either. A steel door has been placed at the entrance to keep out the adventurous and stupid. Here's hoping this cave is seen only in photographs---you just know some crazy crystal hunter will start trying to chip off pieces for his magic wand!

Mexico's Stunning Crystal Cave

Wow--I bet those things could balance your chakras in no time!

Have you heard about this place? Guess I've been out of the loop. It's a cave beneath Mexico's Chihuachua Desert, filled with giant crystals, some over 30 feet long. The cave was identified several years ago, but the crystals weren't uncovered until the water was pumped out and exploration began sometime in 2007. "National Geographic" ran a story , with excellent photos.

The giant crystals were formed as a result of essentially perfect conditions--mineral-rich water, a steady temp over 100 degrees and lots of gypsum (calcium sulfate).

Lately, I've been rediscovering and indulging my fascination with crystals, and these are stunning. Click here for even more amazing photographs. Fortunately, nature is prohibiting the cave's development as a tourist attraction. The intense heat keeps people away, and it isn't easy to reach, either. A steel door has been placed at the entrance to keep out the adventurous and stupid. Here's hoping this cave is seen only in photographs---you just know some crazy crystal hunter will start trying to chip off pieces for his magic wand!

Latest Shamanic Weekend: Vibrations, Venus and Voice--or, What I Liked

Last weekend I attended the 5th in a series of 7 shamanic workshops through a local teacher. These weekends seem to be growing in intensity, and it's difficult at times to communicate what I've experienced. Wish I could just do a Vulcan mind-meld! So I'll split this into 2 posts: here, what I liked, and later, what I found challenging or just plain cuckoo.

Express Yourself
Since we're following the chakra system, this workshop focused on the throat chakra, which allegedly influences not just our breathing and voice but also our self-expression. I think my throat chakra was in good working order since I showed up wearing my kilt, eye liner and glittery nail polish! Hey, if you can't get bizarre during a shamanic weekend, when the hell can you? So we discussed the importance of speaking with integrity in life as well as how free expression helps us tap into our true selves and avoid the filters that our culture imposes upon us.

Here's a good video that explains it better than I can:


Do-Re-Mi!
From there, we discussed the various ways the voice is used in singing, chanting, humming and so on, and how importance these kinds of expression are to every culture and religion. Things like Gregorian chants, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Tibetan throat chanting--things we take for granted but which by their very sound have the ability to inspire us, change us. How is this possible? Why does it work? Herein lies the power of the throat chakra--and the power of sound.

Good Vibrations
It's not just a Beach Boys song! We have all kinds of slang for how sound affects us: "good vibes," "striking the right chord," "being in tune" and so on. So just take a little shamanic jump--and welcome to the world of sound healing. It's the theory that certain sounds can affect us physically, even heal us, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I know how easy it is for a favorite pop song to put me in a good mood, so I was game.

We played with various Tibetan bells, chimes and--my favorite--the singing bowls. They produce such lovely, entrancing sounds. Just listening calms me down. But can it heal cancer? Well.... Anyway, the idea was to reconsider how sounds affect us and how beneficial they can be.

The really fun part was when we began using tuning forks. Here the idea is that each chakra corresponds to a different octave. So get a set of tuning forks and get to work! We paired up, one person lying on a massage table while the other person activated various tuning forks and then placed them by the ears. It was interesting to note the physical reactions I had to each fork and its corresponding tone. For example, the "E" fork, corresponding to the solar plexus chakra, felt very calming and stabilizing to me. Both the "A" and "B" forks, corresponding to the third eye and crown chakras, literally made me twitch and tremble, as if something inside was being shifted into place.

Here's a good brief explanation of why this is supposed to work. No endorsement but just liked the explanation. There are also special tuning forks that produce the "om" sound and forks that, when activated and place on a bony part of the body, are supposed to enhance healing. That exercise certainly was soothing. I'm sure plenty of skeptics would call this nonsense, but I wouldn't mind purchasing a set of forks and playing around with them, just to see what happens.

All Aboard for Venus!
Now it gets really crazy--and to post in detail would take forever. So here are the highlights. In past workshops, we've had shamanic journeys (you may prefer "guided meditations") to the sun and moon; this time, we visited Venus. The connection to the voice here is this: Many contemporary sound healers are interested in the esoteric concept of the Hathors, who are allegedly interdimensional beings who often communicate through tones and chanting. Tom Kenyon is the most well-known "channel," if you will.

Well, the Hathors apparently live on Venus, so we paid a visit. Yeah, this is where it got bizarre for me, and more about that in another post.

Suffice to say, my first journey was uneventful. The second was interesting, and several themes or messages kept coming up. Earlier in the day, I realized I was taking this all too literally--just like I did when I was a Christian. Big mistake. I was attracted to paganism and shamanism because of the opportunity to "play," and by that I mean bring joy back into my spiritual practice.

In my journey, I had quite a conversation with another "being" about the nature of reality, what is real and what isn't. Is love real? Is all the money in your 401K real? Is God real? Then I was directed to what turned out to be Chinese shadow puppet theater. Now, I 've never seen one of these in real life, but it showed up on Venus!

Here's a nice video; I enjoy the old-fashioned elegance.

So what does his have to do with anything? Play! Those images in the puppet theater aren't real, but they pull us in, teach us lessons and inspire us. Just like going to the movies today or when watching television. And the woo-woo part? When we were all done, the very first person who shared about their journey said she had received the very same message! What are the chances?

Ceremony in Sound
The last major highlight was our final "blessing ceremony." Each workshop has ended with one, but this one was particularly moving. We were seated in a semicircle, facing the two facilitators. We were to close our eyes and hum a particular tone while soothing music played in the background. At random, an assistant would bring us forward. In the meantime, assistants would come by and use tuning forks to tone a "perfect fifth" by our ears. They also moved around the room ringing chimes. As each of us went forward, we hugged the facilitators and hummed "ah" together. Just all these sounds blending together was entrancing and enchanting.

The facilitators also gave each of us a blue aquamarine stone to represent the throat chakra, and then spoke a special word to us. Mine were: "wise" and "this is real."

I forgot to mention that seated nearby were 5 other participants. They happened to have either the astrological sign of Pisces or--oh, darn, I forget! Anyway, there's apparently 2 zodiac signs that are allegedly clairaudient, meaning they can hear sounds or words from other sources. Woo-woo! So if any one of these 5 had a special word for us, they were to present it before we took our seat. As I stood there, all 5 embraced me in turn. Now, I don't remember anything specific, but it was all loving and quite inspirational.

In fact, when I got back to my seat, emotions swirled and bubbled to the surface. I felt I was going to burst into tears, from exhaustion, love and a feeling that I was on the right path. It seemed so much had led me here, so many things had come together, pointing the way. I kept it together, mostly, a few sniffles. As I sat there, eyes closed, drinking it all in, an assistant or two quietly approached from behind and whispered, "You are loved" and "You are music to the universe."

If you read this far, thank you! I'm sending good vibes your way! There was so much more in my weekend, but these were the best parts. Stay tuned for what I didn't like.

Latest Shamanic Weekend: Vibrations, Venus and Voice--or, What I Liked

Last weekend I attended the 5th in a series of 7 shamanic workshops through a local teacher. These weekends seem to be growing in intensity, and it's difficult at times to communicate what I've experienced. Wish I could just do a Vulcan mind-meld! So I'll split this into 2 posts: here, what I liked, and later, what I found challenging or just plain cuckoo.

Express Yourself
Since we're following the chakra system, this workshop focused on the throat chakra, which allegedly influences not just our breathing and voice but also our self-expression. I think my throat chakra was in good working order since I showed up wearing my kilt, eye liner and glittery nail polish! Hey, if you can't get bizarre during a shamanic weekend, when the hell can you? So we discussed the importance of speaking with integrity in life as well as how free expression helps us tap into our true selves and avoid the filters that our culture imposes upon us.

Here's a good video that explains it better than I can:


Do-Re-Mi!
From there, we discussed the various ways the voice is used in singing, chanting, humming and so on, and how importance these kinds of expression are to every culture and religion. Things like Gregorian chants, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Tibetan throat chanting--things we take for granted but which by their very sound have the ability to inspire us, change us. How is this possible? Why does it work? Herein lies the power of the throat chakra--and the power of sound.

Good Vibrations
It's not just a Beach Boys song! We have all kinds of slang for how sound affects us: "good vibes," "striking the right chord," "being in tune" and so on. So just take a little shamanic jump--and welcome to the world of sound healing. It's the theory that certain sounds can affect us physically, even heal us, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I know how easy it is for a favorite pop song to put me in a good mood, so I was game.

We played with various Tibetan bells, chimes and--my favorite--the singing bowls. They produce such lovely, entrancing sounds. Just listening calms me down. But can it heal cancer? Well.... Anyway, the idea was to reconsider how sounds affect us and how beneficial they can be.

The really fun part was when we began using tuning forks. Here the idea is that each chakra corresponds to a different octave. So get a set of tuning forks and get to work! We paired up, one person lying on a massage table while the other person activated various tuning forks and then placed them by the ears. It was interesting to note the physical reactions I had to each fork and its corresponding tone. For example, the "E" fork, corresponding to the solar plexus chakra, felt very calming and stabilizing to me. Both the "A" and "B" forks, corresponding to the third eye and crown chakras, literally made me twitch and tremble, as if something inside was being shifted into place.

Here's a good brief explanation of why this is supposed to work. No endorsement but just liked the explanation. There are also special tuning forks that produce the "om" sound and forks that, when activated and place on a bony part of the body, are supposed to enhance healing. That exercise certainly was soothing. I'm sure plenty of skeptics would call this nonsense, but I wouldn't mind purchasing a set of forks and playing around with them, just to see what happens.

All Aboard for Venus!
Now it gets really crazy--and to post in detail would take forever. So here are the highlights. In past workshops, we've had shamanic journeys (you may prefer "guided meditations") to the sun and moon; this time, we visited Venus. The connection to the voice here is this: Many contemporary sound healers are interested in the esoteric concept of the Hathors, who are allegedly interdimensional beings who often communicate through tones and chanting. Tom Kenyon is the most well-known "channel," if you will.

Well, the Hathors apparently live on Venus, so we paid a visit. Yeah, this is where it got bizarre for me, and more about that in another post.

Suffice to say, my first journey was uneventful. The second was interesting, and several themes or messages kept coming up. Earlier in the day, I realized I was taking this all too literally--just like I did when I was a Christian. Big mistake. I was attracted to paganism and shamanism because of the opportunity to "play," and by that I mean bring joy back into my spiritual practice.

In my journey, I had quite a conversation with another "being" about the nature of reality, what is real and what isn't. Is love real? Is all the money in your 401K real? Is God real? Then I was directed to what turned out to be Chinese shadow puppet theater. Now, I 've never seen one of these in real life, but it showed up on Venus!

Here's a nice video; I enjoy the old-fashioned elegance.

So what does his have to do with anything? Play! Those images in the puppet theater aren't real, but they pull us in, teach us lessons and inspire us. Just like going to the movies today or when watching television. And the woo-woo part? When we were all done, the very first person who shared about their journey said she had received the very same message! What are the chances?

Ceremony in Sound
The last major highlight was our final "blessing ceremony." Each workshop has ended with one, but this one was particularly moving. We were seated in a semicircle, facing the two facilitators. We were to close our eyes and hum a particular tone while soothing music played in the background. At random, an assistant would bring us forward. In the meantime, assistants would come by and use tuning forks to tone a "perfect fifth" by our ears. They also moved around the room ringing chimes. As each of us went forward, we hugged the facilitators and hummed "ah" together. Just all these sounds blending together was entrancing and enchanting.

The facilitators also gave each of us a blue aquamarine stone to represent the throat chakra, and then spoke a special word to us. Mine were: "wise" and "this is real."

I forgot to mention that seated nearby were 5 other participants. They happened to have either the astrological sign of Pisces or--oh, darn, I forget! Anyway, there's apparently 2 zodiac signs that are allegedly clairaudient, meaning they can hear sounds or words from other sources. Woo-woo! So if any one of these 5 had a special word for us, they were to present it before we took our seat. As I stood there, all 5 embraced me in turn. Now, I don't remember anything specific, but it was all loving and quite inspirational.

In fact, when I got back to my seat, emotions swirled and bubbled to the surface. I felt I was going to burst into tears, from exhaustion, love and a feeling that I was on the right path. It seemed so much had led me here, so many things had come together, pointing the way. I kept it together, mostly, a few sniffles. As I sat there, eyes closed, drinking it all in, an assistant or two quietly approached from behind and whispered, "You are loved" and "You are music to the universe."

If you read this far, thank you! I'm sending good vibes your way! There was so much more in my weekend, but these were the best parts. Stay tuned for what I didn't like.

My Muse: Lady GaGa!

Can't get enough of Lady GaGa's dance-club hits or her crazy outfits! I love that she shows up only wearing plastic bubbles!

Sure, some are haters, but what do they know? Is anyone going to remember THEM? I love GaGa's over-the-top sense of style and fun. We need more of that in this gloomy world of economic collapse and terrorist threats.

She's like some crazy, reincarnated artsy chick from the '80s!

If you haven't heard them yet, check out "Just Dance" and "Poker Face."

And GaGa is scheduled to perform on "American Idol" next week, April 1 (geez, I hope that isn't some April Fool's Day joke!).

My Muse: Lady GaGa!

Can't get enough of Lady GaGa's dance-club hits or her crazy outfits! I love that she shows up only wearing plastic bubbles!

Sure, some are haters, but what do they know? Is anyone going to remember THEM? I love GaGa's over-the-top sense of style and fun. We need more of that in this gloomy world of economic collapse and terrorist threats.

She's like some crazy, reincarnated artsy chick from the '80s!

If you haven't heard them yet, check out "Just Dance" and "Poker Face."

And GaGa is scheduled to perform on "American Idol" next week, April 1 (geez, I hope that isn't some April Fool's Day joke!).

Would You Tattoo Yourself with '666?'

Apparently, followers of Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda are. Ironically, they're excited about his claim to be the AntiChrist, and are following his example by tattooing "666" on their bodies. I can appreciate that they're reclaiming, if you will, such a disparaged number; when I growing up, Christians I knew took great pains to avoid any association with this "mark of the Beast." But it's all rather silly, don't you think?

Jose thinks he's Jesus or the AntiChrist or both! He does say that sin and the devil don't exist--so I agree with him on that. He also says that his followers must give him Rolex watches, and that's where I'm puzzled. Why do some people fall prey to these characters? If you want to tattoo "666" on your arm and give some religious person all your money, I suppose you have that right. But why are people so gullible? Why do they look to others to provide "salvation" or affirmation?

Jose's Growing in Grace church is worldwide and growing, but Honduras is taking up the welcome mat. Seems Jose has all sorts of financial and legal troubles here in the States, including a messy divorce, and Honduras is saying "Stay out!" Sorta dims the sparkle on all that religious glitter, don't it?

Just been pondering lately all the spiritual and religious stuff out there, including my own interest in pagan stuff, shamanism and druid revival movements. My take is, look, as long as you're not hurting anyone or being taken advantage of, believe what you want. But please, if I ever decide to get a "666" tattoo--someone please stage an intervention!

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda

Would You Tattoo Yourself with '666?'

Apparently, followers of Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda are. Ironically, they're excited about his claim to be the AntiChrist, and are following his example by tattooing "666" on their bodies. I can appreciate that they're reclaiming, if you will, such a disparaged number; when I growing up, Christians I knew took great pains to avoid any association with this "mark of the Beast." But it's all rather silly, don't you think?

Jose thinks he's Jesus or the AntiChrist or both! He does say that sin and the devil don't exist--so I agree with him on that. He also says that his followers must give him Rolex watches, and that's where I'm puzzled. Why do some people fall prey to these characters? If you want to tattoo "666" on your arm and give some religious person all your money, I suppose you have that right. But why are people so gullible? Why do they look to others to provide "salvation" or affirmation?

Jose's Growing in Grace church is worldwide and growing, but Honduras is taking up the welcome mat. Seems Jose has all sorts of financial and legal troubles here in the States, including a messy divorce, and Honduras is saying "Stay out!" Sorta dims the sparkle on all that religious glitter, don't it?

Just been pondering lately all the spiritual and religious stuff out there, including my own interest in pagan stuff, shamanism and druid revival movements. My take is, look, as long as you're not hurting anyone or being taken advantage of, believe what you want. But please, if I ever decide to get a "666" tattoo--someone please stage an intervention!

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda

Your Body Is Still Useful After Death

Things are hectic once again in the workaday world. But yesterday in the mail, I received my ID/instruction card for donating my body to the local medical school. No, not right away! This is all part of plans for what do with whatever's left when I pass on from this consensual reality. I've decided to donate my carcass to science.

When I was in high school, we visited a medical school, and I was fascinated by the cadavers and what the med students were doing. In fact, when I first entered college, I was going pre-med, but then changed my mind (too much chemistry! ugh!). While others in my class were totally grossed out, I was totally engrossed.

So that's part of why I wanted to donate my body. Science is so important, and we still have so much to learn about how our bodies work. So maybe I can help contribute in this way--reveal how a process works or how a disease unfolds or simply just allow a student to discover and experiment.

Seems most medical schools have similar bequeathal programs, but if you're interested, do your homework since they might have specific restrictions or instructions for your body. For example, in my case, my family or estate will have to pay for transportation costs of my body to the school. And the school prefers to do the embalming since they have different needs than your average funeral home. And there can't be a body present at a funeral showing since the school will need the body right away before it gets all juicy and smelly. Kinda takes away from the classroom experience, you know. And if you're mangled in some woodchipper accident, that renders your body unacceptable--so be careful!

I was previously an organ donor, but giving the entire body seems like it might do more good in the long-term. Maybe this sounds harsh but I seem to value understanding and knowledge more over saving a life. Someone may need a kidney, but maybe it's their time to go. I'm not always a fan of extending life by any means possible. Truth be told, they'll eventually die anyway (see, told you it was harsh). But knowledge lives on and can help countless numbers of people. I had to decide between the two since the local medical school won't accept a body bequeathal if organs (except eyes) have been removed (and my eyes are already shot).

I've told my family and my partner about my decision, and they're cool with it and have signed their consent forms. Once the medical school is done with me (2 weeks to up to 2 years), they'll cremate the remains and return the ashes to the family. So eventually, yeah, I'll be ground up.

I've never wanted an expensive, fancy casket anyway that's just going to be put into the ground. Seems a waste of resources and money. Of course, some say cremation of embalmed remains does release harmful chemicals, including mercury from silver dental fillings. And some say concerns are overblown. I'm hoping to offset this by banking instead on what med students will learn using what's left of me. And cremation ideally takes up less space, depending on what you ultimately do with the ashes.

So that means that I won't have a viewing of the body (always found that creepy and slightly silly: "It looks just like her!" Really? Were you expecting someone else?). Instead I want just a memorial service with photos of me when I was alive and kicking. Seems more appropriate.

What about my ashes? I'm still trying to figure out what to do with those. As I've said before, you need to have plans or you'll end up on someone's closet behind the old board games. More later.

Your Body Is Still Useful After Death

Things are hectic once again in the workaday world. But yesterday in the mail, I received my ID/instruction card for donating my body to the local medical school. No, not right away! This is all part of plans for what do with whatever's left when I pass on from this consensual reality. I've decided to donate my carcass to science.

When I was in high school, we visited a medical school, and I was fascinated by the cadavers and what the med students were doing. In fact, when I first entered college, I was going pre-med, but then changed my mind (too much chemistry! ugh!). While others in my class were totally grossed out, I was totally engrossed.

So that's part of why I wanted to donate my body. Science is so important, and we still have so much to learn about how our bodies work. So maybe I can help contribute in this way--reveal how a process works or how a disease unfolds or simply just allow a student to discover and experiment.

Seems most medical schools have similar bequeathal programs, but if you're interested, do your homework since they might have specific restrictions or instructions for your body. For example, in my case, my family or estate will have to pay for transportation costs of my body to the school. And the school prefers to do the embalming since they have different needs than your average funeral home. And there can't be a body present at a funeral showing since the school will need the body right away before it gets all juicy and smelly. Kinda takes away from the classroom experience, you know. And if you're mangled in some woodchipper accident, that renders your body unacceptable--so be careful!

I was previously an organ donor, but giving the entire body seems like it might do more good in the long-term. Maybe this sounds harsh but I seem to value understanding and knowledge more over saving a life. Someone may need a kidney, but maybe it's their time to go. I'm not always a fan of extending life by any means possible. Truth be told, they'll eventually die anyway (see, told you it was harsh). But knowledge lives on and can help countless numbers of people. I had to decide between the two since the local medical school won't accept a body bequeathal if organs (except eyes) have been removed (and my eyes are already shot).

I've told my family and my partner about my decision, and they're cool with it and have signed their consent forms. Once the medical school is done with me (2 weeks to up to 2 years), they'll cremate the remains and return the ashes to the family. So eventually, yeah, I'll be ground up.

I've never wanted an expensive, fancy casket anyway that's just going to be put into the ground. Seems a waste of resources and money. Of course, some say cremation of embalmed remains does release harmful chemicals, including mercury from silver dental fillings. And some say concerns are overblown. I'm hoping to offset this by banking instead on what med students will learn using what's left of me. And cremation ideally takes up less space, depending on what you ultimately do with the ashes.

So that means that I won't have a viewing of the body (always found that creepy and slightly silly: "It looks just like her!" Really? Were you expecting someone else?). Instead I want just a memorial service with photos of me when I was alive and kicking. Seems more appropriate.

What about my ashes? I'm still trying to figure out what to do with those. As I've said before, you need to have plans or you'll end up on someone's closet behind the old board games. More later.

"Battlestar Galactica": Angels, Mitochondrial Eve and the Divine Plan

Can't let the series end without one last post--even though I'm not quite sure what to say. Mostly my mind is elsewhere due to a busy and intense weekend (but more on that later!).

Although I would change a few things, overall I really liked how BSG ended. We finally got to see what all that fuss was about visions of an "opera house" and how it tied into protecting Hera and the future of humanity (as well as the Cylons). Of course, we still don't who was orchestrating all that, do we? However, I feel like, once again, the Cylons get a bum rap. Sure, the Centurions got their freedom and they went off to live happily ever after. And the 2s, 6s and 8s stayed around New Earth--except we really don't know if they intermarried with the humans or what. In the end, it was all about the humans. Nice touch, though, with half-breed Hera turning into Mitochondrial Eve. And with all the death and destruction, at least my man Helo survived!

Biggest Surprise: Starbuck simply vanishing! Still don't know what she was--but that's ok. The finale didn't answer every question (no surprise), but I think the writers gave us enough satisfaction without explaining everything.

Saddest Moment: Roslin's death. We all knew it was coming, and it still brought a tear to my eye. Great characters (Adama, too) and great actors!

Most Spine-Tingling: Starbuck realizing those colored notes Hera gave her correspond to jump coordinates for Galactica! The editing in this scene and the music were incredible, and it wove together so much of Starbuck's character--I feel that I should've seen it coming but just didn't, and that made it so much sweeter

Funniest Moment: Chief strangling Tory! She kind of deserved it, don't you think? And for 2nd place, the realization by Caprica and Gaius that they could each "see" their respective angels (they are angels, right?). Anyway, I laughed out loud when they said, "You can see them?"

Which brings me to my favorite part, how the writers wrapped up the storyline between Caprica and Gaius. I liked the mystery of it all, and I liked learning more about how Gaius gave Caprica access to those defense system files because, well--gosh darn it--he was falling in love! Twisted, sure, but heartwarming nonetheless. And then we get to see the angels 150,000 years in the future, once again pondering the fate of humanity. Kinda creepy how they mixed in images of modern-day robotics--makes you wonder!

I did think it was a bit preachy--you know, humans are horrible creatures incapable of anything but destruction and need divine guidance. Sure, there's evidence for that just as there's evidence that we are also loving, caring creatures who do just fine without worshipping some unseen being that may or may not exist.

My favorite line: When Caprica says, "Don't call him God. You know he doesn't like that name."

Gaius had some great lines, too. He insists there was a divine force at work, behind the scenes, and it certainly appears that way. In his pivotal speech to Cavil, here's what stood out to me:

"God's not on any one side. God's a force of nature, beyond good and evil. Good and evil, we created those. Want to break the cycle? Break the cycle of birth, death, rebirth, destruction, escape, death? Well, that's in our hands and our hands only. It requires a leap of faith. It requires that we live in hope, not fear."

I love this! And I think it's so true. And this weaves in so well with things I'm experiencing and learning in my own life---it's scary! I have cycles of my own I'm trying to break.

All in all--a fantastic ride. I'll miss these characters and this show. Not because I can't find other sci-fi material to enjoy but because of the intelligent, timeless questions BSG pondered. I totally get off on that.

Here's an interesting take on BSG from a religious/spiritual perspective that I found.

Fortunately, there's the new "Caprica" series starting in the fall--as well as a 2-hour show from the Cylon perspective! Ooooooh--that should be good!

Well, for not knowing what to say, I sure took up some bytes. Thanks for reading!

"Battlestar Galactica": Angels, Mitochondrial Eve and the Divine Plan

Can't let the series end without one last post--even though I'm not quite sure what to say. Mostly my mind is elsewhere due to a busy and intense weekend (but more on that later!).

Although I would change a few things, overall I really liked how BSG ended. We finally got to see what all that fuss was about visions of an "opera house" and how it tied into protecting Hera and the future of humanity (as well as the Cylons). Of course, we still don't who was orchestrating all that, do we? However, I feel like, once again, the Cylons get a bum rap. Sure, the Centurions got their freedom and they went off to live happily ever after. And the 2s, 6s and 8s stayed around New Earth--except we really don't know if they intermarried with the humans or what. In the end, it was all about the humans. Nice touch, though, with half-breed Hera turning into Mitochondrial Eve. And with all the death and destruction, at least my man Helo survived!

Biggest Surprise: Starbuck simply vanishing! Still don't know what she was--but that's ok. The finale didn't answer every question (no surprise), but I think the writers gave us enough satisfaction without explaining everything.

Saddest Moment: Roslin's death. We all knew it was coming, and it still brought a tear to my eye. Great characters (Adama, too) and great actors!

Most Spine-Tingling: Starbuck realizing those colored notes Hera gave her correspond to jump coordinates for Galactica! The editing in this scene and the music were incredible, and it wove together so much of Starbuck's character--I feel that I should've seen it coming but just didn't, and that made it so much sweeter

Funniest Moment: Chief strangling Tory! She kind of deserved it, don't you think? And for 2nd place, the realization by Caprica and Gaius that they could each "see" their respective angels (they are angels, right?). Anyway, I laughed out loud when they said, "You can see them?"

Which brings me to my favorite part, how the writers wrapped up the storyline between Caprica and Gaius. I liked the mystery of it all, and I liked learning more about how Gaius gave Caprica access to those defense system files because, well--gosh darn it--he was falling in love! Twisted, sure, but heartwarming nonetheless. And then we get to see the angels 150,000 years in the future, once again pondering the fate of humanity. Kinda creepy how they mixed in images of modern-day robotics--makes you wonder!

I did think it was a bit preachy--you know, humans are horrible creatures incapable of anything but destruction and need divine guidance. Sure, there's evidence for that just as there's evidence that we are also loving, caring creatures who do just fine without worshipping some unseen being that may or may not exist.

My favorite line: When Caprica says, "Don't call him God. You know he doesn't like that name."

Gaius had some great lines, too. He insists there was a divine force at work, behind the scenes, and it certainly appears that way. In his pivotal speech to Cavil, here's what stood out to me:

"God's not on any one side. God's a force of nature, beyond good and evil. Good and evil, we created those. Want to break the cycle? Break the cycle of birth, death, rebirth, destruction, escape, death? Well, that's in our hands and our hands only. It requires a leap of faith. It requires that we live in hope, not fear."

I love this! And I think it's so true. And this weaves in so well with things I'm experiencing and learning in my own life---it's scary! I have cycles of my own I'm trying to break.

All in all--a fantastic ride. I'll miss these characters and this show. Not because I can't find other sci-fi material to enjoy but because of the intelligent, timeless questions BSG pondered. I totally get off on that.

Here's an interesting take on BSG from a religious/spiritual perspective that I found.

Fortunately, there's the new "Caprica" series starting in the fall--as well as a 2-hour show from the Cylon perspective! Ooooooh--that should be good!

Well, for not knowing what to say, I sure took up some bytes. Thanks for reading!

Happy Alban Eilir!

Spring is called by many names, and everyone is glad when the trees bud out and the first flowers appear.

Best wishes to you all--may this spring bring new growth and color into your lives.

I'll be away this weekend at another shamanic workshop but hope to post again early next week!

Happy Alban Eilir!

Spring is called by many names, and everyone is glad when the trees bud out and the first flowers appear.

Best wishes to you all--may this spring bring new growth and color into your lives.

I'll be away this weekend at another shamanic workshop but hope to post again early next week!

2 Little Words and Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!

I had a moment last night. A good one. Was it the yummy seafood pasta for dinner? Our favorite waitress at our favorite restaurant? Was it the 2 cosmopolitans? Was it the guitarist singing in the background? Was it those 2 little words my partner said?

My partner has had a good turn of fortune this week, so we went out to dinner to have a little celebration, just the 2 of us. To our favorite restaurant. Fairly typical, nothing out of the ordinary, really. But good food, as usual. And our favorite crazy waitress who always makes us laugh.

I noticed my partner had a piece of food on the side of his mouth, and he didn't realize it. I didn't say anything, wanted to wait, give him time to notice. Since his stroke, he often can't feel when food he's eating might be sticking to his face. It's been a point of conflict for us, however. Usually if I tell him to wipe his mouth, he gets upset, no matter how kindly I bring it to his attention. I guess it's a reminder of what he's lost.

So I waited a while but finally told him. Sure, it's a little embarrassing for me, but I also don't want people to stare at him and wonder what's wrong. So he wiped his mouth and then said 2 little words: "Thank you."

He's never said that before. Never. Never in almost 2 years since his stroke. Yes, he's thanked me in general for being there and helping him and that sort of thing. But never thanked me for this one little gesture.

It meant the world. And I took it to mean that he and I are making progress.

We kept eating and then, when we were almost ready to leave, I found myself looking around the restaurant. Everyone there seemed to be in good spirits, smiling, laughing, hugging their friends and neighbors. Our waitress kept stopping by to share a joke. The female guitarist's voice seemed to wrap us all in a warm, caring embrace. This sounds so cheesy, but y'all, I felt tears welling up in my eyes, simple tears of joy.

That moment was beautiful. Nothing fancy, just good food, laughter, a beautiful voice accompanied by guitar--just those simple things. And I was about to lose it! I kept tearing up--and when we finally got into the car to leave, the dam burst! My partner asked what was wrong, and I said, "Do you know how much I love you?"

We talked for a bit, and I also mentioned that this new spiritual path I'm on is making a difference, but I didn't go into much detail. We had a great rest of the evening watching television on the sofa.

So if you ever find yourself in one of these moments, hold it, cherish it, commit it to memory and be grateful. That, I think, is the best life can offer any of us.

2 Little Words and Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!

I had a moment last night. A good one. Was it the yummy seafood pasta for dinner? Our favorite waitress at our favorite restaurant? Was it the 2 cosmopolitans? Was it the guitarist singing in the background? Was it those 2 little words my partner said?

My partner has had a good turn of fortune this week, so we went out to dinner to have a little celebration, just the 2 of us. To our favorite restaurant. Fairly typical, nothing out of the ordinary, really. But good food, as usual. And our favorite crazy waitress who always makes us laugh.

I noticed my partner had a piece of food on the side of his mouth, and he didn't realize it. I didn't say anything, wanted to wait, give him time to notice. Since his stroke, he often can't feel when food he's eating might be sticking to his face. It's been a point of conflict for us, however. Usually if I tell him to wipe his mouth, he gets upset, no matter how kindly I bring it to his attention. I guess it's a reminder of what he's lost.

So I waited a while but finally told him. Sure, it's a little embarrassing for me, but I also don't want people to stare at him and wonder what's wrong. So he wiped his mouth and then said 2 little words: "Thank you."

He's never said that before. Never. Never in almost 2 years since his stroke. Yes, he's thanked me in general for being there and helping him and that sort of thing. But never thanked me for this one little gesture.

It meant the world. And I took it to mean that he and I are making progress.

We kept eating and then, when we were almost ready to leave, I found myself looking around the restaurant. Everyone there seemed to be in good spirits, smiling, laughing, hugging their friends and neighbors. Our waitress kept stopping by to share a joke. The female guitarist's voice seemed to wrap us all in a warm, caring embrace. This sounds so cheesy, but y'all, I felt tears welling up in my eyes, simple tears of joy.

That moment was beautiful. Nothing fancy, just good food, laughter, a beautiful voice accompanied by guitar--just those simple things. And I was about to lose it! I kept tearing up--and when we finally got into the car to leave, the dam burst! My partner asked what was wrong, and I said, "Do you know how much I love you?"

We talked for a bit, and I also mentioned that this new spiritual path I'm on is making a difference, but I didn't go into much detail. We had a great rest of the evening watching television on the sofa.

So if you ever find yourself in one of these moments, hold it, cherish it, commit it to memory and be grateful. That, I think, is the best life can offer any of us.

A Stiff Neck, The Hanged Man in Tarot and a New Perspective

Insight--finally! But for how long, how extensive? This will ramble on a bit, just like my thoughts, but don't feel obligated to read. Just gotta get it out.

This image here is of The Hanged Man, the 12th card in the Tarot's Major Arcana. Been coming up a LOT for me lately, like, woo-woo, all the time, what does it mean? Really seem to connect with it I do (now I'm talking like Yoda).

"The Hanged Man appears to encourage us to sacrifice our perspective in order to gain wisdom."
That's what was written. Does it apply to the conflict with my partner? Would such a sacrifice make a difference? How do you sacrifice a perspective? Not obvious, maybe blind.

"Surrender yourself to the situation," it said.
Which situation? Can I do that? Can understand "surrender," but it there benefit? "In doing so, you find that you are able to move on to the next level of enlightenment." Ah, well, sounds great. Enlightenment cool and all.

But very metaphysical, too. Things like:
"It's time to literally turn things on end. In doing so, we will find that our 3rd eye is wide open, and the true universe is revealed."
Again, cool--but skeptical. Can't help it. For real? Don't dash my hopes upon the cruel, craggy rocks of reality. But what is reality, exactly?

So, driving home yesterday, in traffic, neck stiff from stress, at computer all day. I turn my head to the left and right to ease out stress. At right, everything suddenly looked different! Realized I rarely stretch my neck this way. Cars, traffic, streets--it all looked VERY different.

And then it hit me...

My perspective had changed--and that had made all the difference. Sitting in my truck, it all rushed in. The Hanged Man, my shamanic workshops, religion, spirituality, work, consensus reality, my partner--all of it. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free!" What? Yes, I now understood what "sacrifice your perspective" meant!

Sometimes I can see beyond this mundane world of bills and clocks and responsibilities, see beyond into something more essential, more subtle. Didn't know what to do with it, however. Which goes back to what was written about The Hanged Man:
"We completely absorb the experience, whether or not we can define it."

Can't define it. Still can't. But understand better. In order to live more in that middle place, I must sacrifice the perspective that has carried me thus far in my life. Chuck it! Dump it! Let it go! Once gone, everything will change, maybe make more sense, have more value, more color, more song and more life.

Sacrifice comes with consequences, of course. Must give up one thing to gain another, right? Ok, can do that. Loss is relative, possibly an illusion. Probably. Most assuredly.

I need to sacrifice how I see everything in my life: my partner, my work, home, social standing and image, friends, purpose. Even though I like to think I have done so, I really have not. Not really. Just playing around. Now's the time to get serious. It was also written:

"You have learned your lessons but you are holding yourself back by hanging on to your old ways. The only thing in the way of moving on to the next level of understanding is yourself. Everything that has come before has been leading up to this moment; we are now fully prepared to take the 'first steps' of the journey that will lead us to its completion."

You may not get it, but I get it. Like how this page explains:
"It is as if he's hanging between the mundane and the spiritual, able to see both. It's a dazzling moment, dreamlike yet crystal clear. Connections he never understood before are made, mysteries are revealed. But timeless as this moment of clarity seems, he realizes it will not last. Very soon, he must right himself, and when he does, things will be different. He will have to act on what he's learned."

Yes to all that!

Hanged Man is "about suspension ... You must stop resisting change, and allow yourself to be vulnerable and naive, sacrifice your perspective and begin to gain illumination. Learn to see the world from a viewpoint other than your own."

All makes sense now. Vulnerable and naive? Usually not a good thing. But this is another way of seeing things, another way of being.

Sacrifice.

Surrender.

Let it go.

And act.

A Stiff Neck, The Hanged Man in Tarot and a New Perspective

Insight--finally! But for how long, how extensive? This will ramble on a bit, just like my thoughts, but don't feel obligated to read. Just gotta get it out.

This image here is of The Hanged Man, the 12th card in the Tarot's Major Arcana. Been coming up a LOT for me lately, like, woo-woo, all the time, what does it mean? Really seem to connect with it I do (now I'm talking like Yoda).

"The Hanged Man appears to encourage us to sacrifice our perspective in order to gain wisdom."
That's what was written. Does it apply to the conflict with my partner? Would such a sacrifice make a difference? How do you sacrifice a perspective? Not obvious, maybe blind.

"Surrender yourself to the situation," it said.
Which situation? Can I do that? Can understand "surrender," but it there benefit? "In doing so, you find that you are able to move on to the next level of enlightenment." Ah, well, sounds great. Enlightenment cool and all.

But very metaphysical, too. Things like:
"It's time to literally turn things on end. In doing so, we will find that our 3rd eye is wide open, and the true universe is revealed."
Again, cool--but skeptical. Can't help it. For real? Don't dash my hopes upon the cruel, craggy rocks of reality. But what is reality, exactly?

So, driving home yesterday, in traffic, neck stiff from stress, at computer all day. I turn my head to the left and right to ease out stress. At right, everything suddenly looked different! Realized I rarely stretch my neck this way. Cars, traffic, streets--it all looked VERY different.

And then it hit me...

My perspective had changed--and that had made all the difference. Sitting in my truck, it all rushed in. The Hanged Man, my shamanic workshops, religion, spirituality, work, consensus reality, my partner--all of it. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free!" What? Yes, I now understood what "sacrifice your perspective" meant!

Sometimes I can see beyond this mundane world of bills and clocks and responsibilities, see beyond into something more essential, more subtle. Didn't know what to do with it, however. Which goes back to what was written about The Hanged Man:
"We completely absorb the experience, whether or not we can define it."

Can't define it. Still can't. But understand better. In order to live more in that middle place, I must sacrifice the perspective that has carried me thus far in my life. Chuck it! Dump it! Let it go! Once gone, everything will change, maybe make more sense, have more value, more color, more song and more life.

Sacrifice comes with consequences, of course. Must give up one thing to gain another, right? Ok, can do that. Loss is relative, possibly an illusion. Probably. Most assuredly.

I need to sacrifice how I see everything in my life: my partner, my work, home, social standing and image, friends, purpose. Even though I like to think I have done so, I really have not. Not really. Just playing around. Now's the time to get serious. It was also written:

"You have learned your lessons but you are holding yourself back by hanging on to your old ways. The only thing in the way of moving on to the next level of understanding is yourself. Everything that has come before has been leading up to this moment; we are now fully prepared to take the 'first steps' of the journey that will lead us to its completion."

You may not get it, but I get it. Like how this page explains:
"It is as if he's hanging between the mundane and the spiritual, able to see both. It's a dazzling moment, dreamlike yet crystal clear. Connections he never understood before are made, mysteries are revealed. But timeless as this moment of clarity seems, he realizes it will not last. Very soon, he must right himself, and when he does, things will be different. He will have to act on what he's learned."

Yes to all that!

Hanged Man is "about suspension ... You must stop resisting change, and allow yourself to be vulnerable and naive, sacrifice your perspective and begin to gain illumination. Learn to see the world from a viewpoint other than your own."

All makes sense now. Vulnerable and naive? Usually not a good thing. But this is another way of seeing things, another way of being.

Sacrifice.

Surrender.

Let it go.

And act.

And Speaking of the United Nations--U.S. to Join Declaration Decriminalizing Gays!

Really, I wish I didn't even have to post on these things--but this is good news! After the Bush administration refused to give U.S. approval to a UN declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality around the world, Obama has said he will! Finally, a president who has some sense!

Here's an excerpt:

"We join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people ..." said a White House official, who added that the U.S. was concerned about "violence and human rights abuses against gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual individuals" and was also "troubled by the criminalization of sexual orientation in many countries."

Bet they're talking about Burundi, which I posted on back in 2008. I find it so surreal that places like this still exist. Thank you, whatever gods there are that I wasn't born there! Just this week, 20,000 people marched in Burundi--in favor of making homosexuality a criminal offense! Hmmm, guess Burundi gets crossed off the list for the next White Party.

So much fear, so much drama and so unnecessary...

And Speaking of the United Nations--U.S. to Join Declaration Decriminalizing Gays!

Really, I wish I didn't even have to post on these things--but this is good news! After the Bush administration refused to give U.S. approval to a UN declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality around the world, Obama has said he will! Finally, a president who has some sense!

Here's an excerpt:

"We join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people ..." said a White House official, who added that the U.S. was concerned about "violence and human rights abuses against gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual individuals" and was also "troubled by the criminalization of sexual orientation in many countries."

Bet they're talking about Burundi, which I posted on back in 2008. I find it so surreal that places like this still exist. Thank you, whatever gods there are that I wasn't born there! Just this week, 20,000 people marched in Burundi--in favor of making homosexuality a criminal offense! Hmmm, guess Burundi gets crossed off the list for the next White Party.

So much fear, so much drama and so unnecessary...

Collision of Worlds! "Battlestar Galactica" Lands at the United Nations

No, it's not a Cylon invasion--although there are some critics out there who may think the UN is run by robots. Just some Battlestar Galactica creators and actors heading to the UN to discuss heady stuff like human rights, armed conflict and terrorism.

Kind of odd having actors do this, but hey, with the moral quandaries the actors have brought to life on the show, why not? The UN needs all the help it can get. Besides, these actors aren't any worse than you or I spouting off about these things. We need Mary McDonnell (Roslin) to show 'em how it's done anyway!

Even odder, Whoopie Goldberg is moderator! Who better for that job than Guinan?! (I miss her.)

Only 3 days left til the end! Will you be ready??

Collision of Worlds! "Battlestar Galactica" Lands at the United Nations

No, it's not a Cylon invasion--although there are some critics out there who may think the UN is run by robots. Just some Battlestar Galactica creators and actors heading to the UN to discuss heady stuff like human rights, armed conflict and terrorism.

Kind of odd having actors do this, but hey, with the moral quandaries the actors have brought to life on the show, why not? The UN needs all the help it can get. Besides, these actors aren't any worse than you or I spouting off about these things. We need Mary McDonnell (Roslin) to show 'em how it's done anyway!

Even odder, Whoopie Goldberg is moderator! Who better for that job than Guinan?! (I miss her.)

Only 3 days left til the end! Will you be ready??

Color and "Music" to Brighten the Day, Courtesy Painter Jules Olitski

It has rained for 4 days straight--ugh. My mood is suffering, so I thought I'd post a few images from one of my favorite painters, Jules Olitski. He's known for his work in color field painting, which is one of my favorite styles.

I could post image after image and never get enough. The colors evoke so many emotions for me--a sense of calm or anger, or perhaps just overall energy and exuberance.

Some people don't understand color field painting--they think it's just coloring a piece of canvas, and that's it. For me, it's the emotions I sense in each work. Oftentimes when I look at a color field painting--I hear music! Just in my head, I hear a tone or a sound of some kind, which pulls me in further. No, I'm not crazy--it's a real phenomenon called synaesthesia, and it can take a variety of forms.

Olitski's web site doesn't really showcase what I consider his most well-known works. Like any great painter, his style and subject matter changed over time, and so if you lined up all his works, you might think, at first glance, that they were done by several different artists.

Hope these inspire (and maybe you'll even "hear" something!).