FULL INTEGRATION

Remember when going to a ballgame meant skipping the commercials endured while taking in the game via television or radio?  Remember when sweet trailers and posters for upcoming movies were the only advertising found at the theater?  We use to be able to "get away" to these places and others, able to remove ourselves from the "day to day".  While going to games and movies remain a few of my favorite activities, the money spent no longer pays for freedom from pesky commercial advertising.

We've identified the connection between professional sports and the US military in the past.  Though budget cuts may have ended "fly overs" for the foreseeable future, we have to expect continued, likely enhanced, use of wounded veterans of war in professional sports.  Honored for their sacrifice before the start of the game, throwing out the first pitch, flipping a coin on the 50 yard line, bearing the flag during The Star Spangled Banner, saying "gentlemen, start your engines."

Lets be clear on a point before moving forward.  Few respect the talents, efforts, technology, and power of the US armed services more than I do.  Few acknowledge the sacrifices made, understand the value of lost life, or respect the bravery of men and woman in combat more clearly than I do.  At the same time, I am among the very few are willing to dig deep and recognize the misuse and exploitation of these brave men and women, a member of the select few belonging to the un-silent minority willing to call a spade a spade and speak the truth about power misused and abused.   

As has been well established over the chronicles, the same corporate interests that run our government/military also own the mass media.  It should come as no surprise that Hollywood has once again romanticized American military activity, however this time, they've gone too far.  Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, film and television have been painting technicolor pictures to recount the toils of war.  From inserted just cause to exaggerated tales of heroism and valor, history has quite literally been re-told and re-sold as a big-budget blockbuster.

Many of us, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, found The Hurt Locker to be one of the great war films of all time.  In addition to collecting the Oscar for Best Picture, Kathryn Bigelow was awarded the Academy Award for Best Director.  Along with its technical and artistic merit as a film, it also served as one of the most accurate representations of our current conflict in the Middle East.  These elements combined to create the perfect platform for what was to come; telling the story of the events surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden.

Lets keep the framework simple.  The story of the mission was crafted and broadcasted in unison by the aforementioned architects.  Bin Laden shot dead in a CIA led operation by an elite Navy SEAL team, 1 round in the head, 2 in the chest.  Body taken to Afghanistan for identification, wrapped and dropped into the North Arabian Sea because no country would "accept his remains".  The President watched live on television via satellite.

This is the story that will soon appear in history books and encyclopedias.

Unquestioned.

Like clockwork, within 18 months, Zero Dark Thirty is produced, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture.  If the ramifications are not big enough, just prior to the announcement of Best Picture at this years ceremony, on the screen above the stage appears our nations First Lady.  Mrs. Obama delivering a message of congratulations to all the nominees and the Hollywood community in general.  The military has cooperated with Hollywood for years, providing aircraft, watercraft, hovercraft, tanks, trucks, weapons of all kinds, even servicemen and women in bit parts and as extras.  But never before has a feature film been so meticulously crafted by the CIA with such a resounding endorsement from the Hollywood community.

A precursor that should have foreshadowed this films arrival was another titled Act of Valor.  You may have noticed how television commercials for joining the military and those for combat video games like Call of Duty are almost indiscernible.  From music, to camera moves, to weapons and vehicles, it's tough to tell which is which until the end.  When I first saw the trailer for Act of Valor is when the theme of this entry was conceived.  I didn't know if it was another annoying movie theater TV commercial, an ad for joining an armed service, a video game, or a reality show.  Turned out is was none of the above.  It was a new breed, a feature film starring actual members of US Special Forces in a story "inspired by true events".

Full integration.

I watched Battleship for the first time on HBO a few weeks back.  Director Peter Berg is a good filmmaker who makes entertaining movies (though I think he wants to be Michael Bay).  It seems Berg, like Gary Sinise, is a huge supporter of our military, and more importantly, our veterans.  Though based on the board game from Hasbro, Battleship was largely an advertisement for the US Navy.  Army is also represented as the film takes place on Oahu, home to a base from each of Americas armed forces. 

Shortly into the film we meet angry Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales, portrayed by Colonel Gregory D. Gadson.  It turns out in real life Col. Gadson is actually a highly decorated combat veteran, having served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Joint Forge, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In May of 2007 he lost both legs and badly injured his right arm in a rode side blast in Baghdad.  He was retuning from a memorial service for 2 men in his brigade when the incident occurred.  The image of "Mick Canales" begrudgingly walking on his prosthetic legs is enough to stir the emotions of most viewers.  His frustration feels genuine, he even says "I lost my fight when I lost my legs."  As a viewer, I was already upset thinking about the price he paid and to what end.  My deep concern was that the general population would perceive his loss as "for a good cause" such as "protecting our freedom."  Things take a turn for the worse in the film when one of many aliens threatening civilian safety is within reach of Col. Canales.  He looks to the woman on his left and says "I got this," then precedes to charge one of the aliens, wrapping it up in a bear hug, striking it with a few head shots, grabbing it by its head, pulling towards his mechanical knee crushing its face shield exposing it to dangerous UV radiation.  From here the Colonial proceeds to pummel the alien with his fists, pugilist style, ultimately, effectively kicking the aliens ass.  So in this case, it seems Lt. Col. Canales has the advantage, perhaps his new legs are better than the old.

Message?

If you get cut in half on Uncle Sam's behalf, he's got new legs for you to stand on.  Keep your trust in him.  Prepare to go back out and fight for him with those new legs.  Continue to serve your fellow man and follow your nations interests without a second thought.  You witnessed it live at your favorite sporting event, you heard it in 6.1 surround sound on your car stereo, you got the message in the palm of your hand on your smartphone, you saw it on the big screen at the theater, and you saw it at home on your HD TV in 1080p.  

You've been fully integrated.

FRESH

Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change.  This is the rhythm of living.  Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope.  And out of hope, progress.  BRUCE BARTON

Finally the crunch of ice, snow, and slush under my boots as I walk to the train.  Dozens of unique footprints pattern the sidewalk from the morning commute.  The mixed frozen precipitation of the past four days has ceased and the temperature has remained low enough to preserve a canvas of white across the city.  The scene has resembled a Christmas card of late, a welcomed site, bolstering faith in natures four season balance which seems less and less predictable as the years go by.  As far as I'm concerned, snow is a part of life.  Though I'm many years removed from active winter sporting, the element is essential in my concept of a year.  I very much appreciate warm climates, but the variety of seasons is what makes each special.  What kind of life would be with no rain to counterbalance the dry seasons?  

Variety is vital in our lives, it enables growth. 

The older I get the more I appreciate new experiences,  the more I value exposure to original people, original music, film, art, thinking.  The patterns of the masses become more predictable as the follow the follower mentality continues to spread.  The internet and its social tentacles have streamlined popular thought and opinion into the simplest and fastest feed in history.  Word literally cannot travel faster than it does today.  Each member of the first world has a supercomputer in their pocket or handbag.  Every typed word, every site visited, all content explored now quantifiable should it be of interest to anyone for commercial or political reasons.  All thoughts and interests now calculated to absolutely understand the consumer/citizen.

How refreshing it is to meet people of unique and original taste, people who value the subtle differences found on the road less traveled.  Whether you ski or not, you must acknowledge the special circumstances required to generate snow.  You must appreciate what a rare occurrence it is, out of 365 days it might snow 20-30 times in a region known for it.  

Things rare are special.

When you hear about an up and coming athlete referred to as "a special talent" it means they have more than outstanding fundamentals.  A human being is born with characteristics different than every other person who has ever lived.  From appearance to fingerprints to motor skills, we are blessed with tools unique from everyone we will ever meet.  Only through the passage of time, exploring ourselves and our interests, do we discover who we are and what we're best equipped to do.  If you spend your time trying to be something or someone you're not, you'll end up being no one at all.  Take the gifts and skills you were blessed with and do something with them, big or small.  Make an impression, be yourself, present a fresh perspective.

They say no two snowflakes are alike.  
The same goes for us.  

Forget all you know about yourself; forget all you have ever thought about yourself; we are going to start as if we knew nothing.  It rained last night heavily; and now the skies are beginning to clear; it is a new fresh day. Let us start on our journey together with all the remembrance of yesterday left behind - and begin to understand ourselves for the first time.  JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI 

MOMENTUM

Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.  BEN NICHOLAS

It's the 4th quarter and the clock is counting down on the year of our lord two thousand twelve. Leaves continue to fall, temperatures continue to drop. Another season of our pastime concludes, the gridiron is packed, and roundball is back. The holidays approach, the New Year will be here before you know it.

2013 is coming.

The year is like an analog clock, each month represented by a number on its face. As our routines are organized by the yearly calendar, emotional momentum builds towards year’s end. Consideration of family and friends around Thanksgiving and Christmas, the end of one year and dawn of a new one, humanity steps to the forefront.

I've come down hard on the state of the average man's position since the beginning of these Chronicles. I've wanted more for him the same as myself. I've looked to mend broken methods and form new, more constructive ones. I've hoped to strengthen our resolve and belief in our unlimited human potential.

The great majority have found stride in their work and relationships, though to varying degrees of content. Like most of us, at times I grow frustrated with the routine that has us all caught up. As much as I'd love to rise above this rat race, we all must do what we have to. The trick, as we all know, is to focus on the highlights of the journey. The holidays make this easier for us, bring it into clearer focus. The agents of commerce do their best to put a price tag and material value on this period, but the older we get, the easier it is to compartmentalize this unfortunate attachment, and focus instead on the happy traditions and holiday elements of years gone by.

Not everyone is born into this world with the capacity to create or build, and that's fine. All of us should, however, posses the means to define our tastes. For example, the inability to design an automobile or skyscraper should not prevent you from admiring that craft as executed by others. Just because you cannot play the piano does not keep you from appreciating the symphony. The problem we face as a society is that too few who can create have the ability to get paid for it, and that those who appreciate others work seldom are able to make it part of their occupation. In short, we generally are not able to get paid for what we are most suited to do. More often than not, we work in fields that originally have nothing to do with our nature, only after molding our minds and routines do we claim a career. We are programmed from an early age that upon graduation, we are to "pick" a profession.

"What are you going to be when you grow up?"

Historically, society dictates that we are born to fall in line. We are given information and then tested on how well it's been ingrained, how much we remember. The US history taught, polished of many flaws and much of its controversy, provides a good framework for what once was and can be again. Though the truly lasting lessons learned in school are largely those associated with problem solving, how to work with numbers, order of operations, proper use of language, physical science and all the systems of our natural world. Yet all the while, our minds are geared towards choosing our own fate by way of occupation. While some instructors will look to your strengths and encourage you to follow your creative dreams, the overall theme is what can you do that will absolutely make money, what role you will play in the tested fields.

Only through absolute maturity, which many will never achieve, do we recognize the useless purpose to which much of our efforts serve. As tough as it may come to digest, when all jobs are broken down to their basic elements, more often than not an employee can be replaced by automation. The simple fact is that most work exists principally to continue what we know as "the economy". Even now I work in a position in which the majority would prefer to circumnavigate altogether with the assistance of the internet. And though many of my friends hold well paying positions, I would be hard-pressed to find one of them who feels a genuine sense of achievement at the end of each work day.

There is no easy solution for this situation, only a necessary gut-check on the theme. We will to continue to generate funds in which to survive and plan for the future while playing our perpetual roles in this global capitalist system. All I ask is we continue to more clearly define ourselves as unique individuals and attempt to sharpen focus on what truly drives us, what entertains us, and what inspires us. Recognize your strengths, what separates you from the crowd; acknowledge your independence and imagine making a living exploiting you best traits and tastes. Think of a world where each day we take another step towards achieving our potential, becoming who we were meant to be.

When I grow up, I'm going to be me.

The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.  FRANCES WILLARD

POWER OUTAGE

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.  ALBERT EINSTEIN

Think back four years to the months leading up to our last Presidential election. The Smog Chronicles had yet to begin, but those who knew me understood my position. This was the peak of Obamamania. Under George W. Bush our nation had endured eight long years of war and recession, dishonesty and corruption, almost everyone seemed eager to turn the page and move forward.

The United States had been introduced to its potential savior four years prior at the Democratic National Convention where Senator John Kerry accepted his party’s nomination. This was our first sign that the artificial, reality show nature of American politics was in full swing. Dangled in our view like the mechanical bunny in front of the Greyhounds at the dog track, was America's best "hope" of electing it's first black president.

Not long after taking office we saw our newly elected Commander in Chief transition from "yes we can" to "thought we could". It soon rang clear to those of sound mind that we'd once again been taken for a ride. One of our principles is awareness of the holographic nature of US government. The fact that in elections you are essentially presented two choices, frequently out of the blue, neither of which you helped place on the ballot. From these two choices you voice your opinion and receive a feeling of satisfaction from "helping elect" the nation's next leader. Once there is a change in the executive branch, we discover the same problems persist, we pick up right where we left off.

In reality, a vote could be compared to the effect of a person putting their all against a mountain in attempt to move it. For generations we've been disillusioned into believing we live in a true democracy. Our reality has been prescribed since the earliest stage of printed media. Agencies responsible for reporting the news are run by the same ones being reported on. Imagine yourself a popular musician performing a concert then receiving the task of reviewing your own performance, thereby influencing your own record sales. How can you expect a corporate owned media to give honest unbiased coverage of a government owned by the same corporations?

It doesn't add up.

Have we gotten so hypnotized by our digital baby rattles that reality has become less familiar than fiction? It seems as though wireless internet connections have become the new umbilical cords, living in an age where we've never been further removed from our mothers. While our technology enables us to be better informed and closer in-touch, it seems to be yielding something else entirely. Have you noticed how our latest political pawns like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan resemble virtual or artificial humans? Have you noticed how Americans are almost without feeling towards this upcoming election? I believe it's the combination of unconsciously recognizing the futility of believing in actual change combined with electronically infused pacification. Something along the lines of "I don't care who sits in the oval office as long as it doesn't interrupt my wireless digital freedom."

My grandfather used to say "everyone born after 1950 came out of the womb like this" (arm bent at the elbow, hand in a "C" as if holding a drink). He had an excellent point, one we'll cover another time. I submit that it seems these same people came out with their necks at an angle, other arm bent at the elbow with hand clasped (around a phone) in front of their chests.

What are we evolving into?

I've gone on and on for years about the importance of our connection to nature and how we're drifting from it. I've mentioned time and again how most everything we need to truly understand is available to us in our natural world. As time progresses, I see us growing less and less human. The more individualized we become, the greater we rely on digital communications, the weaker we become as a species. Only when this technology is used for organization or spreading the good word to a large audience can we lean back towards the righteous path. Our grip on reality will continue to slip until we awaken and begin to re-identify with what once defined us as us.

Men have become tools of their tools.  HENRY DAVID THOREAU

THE RAIN

Thank God for the rain which has helped wash away the garbage and the trash off the sidewalks . . . someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. TAXI DRIVER 1976

Weather is likely the most user friendly topic of conversation on planet earth. According to this age old discussion, there is a generally agreed upon air temperature and climate. If the temp falls in the preferred 15 degree window and there are no significant clouds in the sky, people will comment on how nice the weather is. Temperatures above or below this scale, any natural weather elements or wind will generate discontent.  

Water composes 75% of your brain, 83% of your blood, 22% of your bones, and 75% of your muscles. Most humans love oceans, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, hot showers, cool swimming pools, and hot tubs.  But when rain comes, the collective population cowers and complains in unison. We want the trees, plants, grass, and flowers to grow; we want clean air and fresh water; yet regardless of how many years in our species' existence, without fail, we continue to gripe about rainfall. Our planet depends on the water cycle just as people and other animals depend on drinking water. The rain must fall yet we don't want it.  We want life to flourish but resist what is necessary to facilitate it. It's like the person who wants to be rich but refuses to put in the necessary work, or the person who wants to be ripped but won't sacrifice the necessary hours in the gym.    

Cook county and the midwest at large are currently experiencing serious drought conditions. Irrigation, sprinklers, and hoses have served as lifelines for our abundant parks and gardens. Temperatures have hovered around 90 for weeks; rain of more than a few inches has fallen only half a dozen times this year. This entry was inspired by an unexpected spring shower a few weeks back. As the rain began, people began to cower and run for cover, shielding themselves with whatever they could find. I instantly recognized how rain compares to truth. 

Rain can be unwelcome, cold, and unexpected. It's different and far less frequent than clear skies. It forces you to step more cautiously and drive slower. It can interrupt plans and force you to make new ones. It has you think and interpret your situation differently; reevaluate circumstance. Like truth, rain can spoil your preconceived notions of the world around you.

But it cannot hurt you.  

Rain, like truth, nurtures, promotes growth and good health. Both are required for clear vision and a strong life force. I've written before about the satisfaction gained by appropriate outfitting to combat frozen elements, naturally I feel the same when it comes to fluid elements. Waterproof footwear, water resistant outerwear, ballcaps, rimmed hats, hoods, and umbrellas serve as excellent protection from wet socks, clothing, hair, et al. We live in an age where synthetic materials are so advanced, there is no excuse not to properly shield from dreaded precipitation. The key is not to avoid being affected by rain, but to appreciate its value while walking between the rain drops.  

The same goes for truth.

We must not drown in the bleakness of the world stage, but be aware of it. Our common sense is our greatest guide though many forces work daily to divert it. We must reach inside for our guiding light and work towards the healing necessary in our lives and in our world.  Let the rain fall all around you, watch as it brings fourth fresh new life while washing away corruption and decay from generations of imbalance. Bring fourth a true rain to purify our understanding and create a clean, life-rich canvas so that future generations might enjoy what we know can be.

That someday will be.

I am a being of Heaven and Earth, of thunder and lightning, of rain and wind, of the galaxies.  EDEN AHBEZ

BALANCE

Life is the result of the struggle between dynamic opposites.
Form & Chaos, Substance & Oblivion, Light & Dark,
and all the infinite variations of Yin & Yang.
When the pendulum swings in favor of one,
it will eventually swing in favor of it's opposite.
Thus the balance of the universe is maintained.
FIST OF THE NORTH STAR / JERU THE DAMAJA

For years I would meditate on six noble virtues: strength, health, patience, knowledge, peace, and ultimately, enlightenment. I practiced this prayer as frequently as possible, always accompanied by my Kata, breathing out over the Pacific or Lake Michigan. In my opinion these are the most important virtues in a human life. However, around a year ago, when I was feeling particularly off-centered, realizing what I had been in search of came over me like a blanket of warm sunlight.

Balance.

Though "Enlightenment" (the continued search for meaning in the world around us) remains a critical pursuit, I realized that day the rest of what I was truly seeking was optimum balance.

One of the amazing systems of nature is the built-in navigation mechanism of animals. From birds to insects to mammals, all maintain particular patterns with the changing of seasons. Whether flying south, burrowing deep underground, or migrating in search of food or water, something deep inside guides these creatures to sustainable surroundings nearly without fail. In the past we've covered how much human society stands to learn from natural cycles and systems, how simple observation of the living planet is our best guide for an enduring culture. However, a major inspiration for this entry is the interpretation and reaction of said creatures to unorthodox seasonal patterns, this season and year of great transition in particular.

Chicago is currently experiencing one of the mildest winters in its history. We received our fourth accumulation of snow last week and like the first three it amounted to about two inches and remained on the ground approximately 72 hours before melting away. The season leading up to this latest accumulation was generating a state of confusion in animals visible in Chicago, and for at least one of its human inhabitants.

One of the principle reasons I left the southwest for this great metropolis was a return to a 4 season set. A return to what my mind and body had been conditioned to understand as "normal" from growing up in a similar climate in New England. While climate change is undeniable, though it's causes are not clearly defined, the way in which different areas are affected at different times are unpredictable. No longer can you expect "X" amount of rain, snowfall, or sunshine in a particular season. After nearly 8 years of living without a "traditional" winter, I had prepared for the elements. As it turned out, I had over-prepared, I assumed, made the mistake of expecting, even depending on regular snowfall. I allowed my balance to pend on unpredictable natural events when I should have been focusing on personal balance, separate from the world around me.

Winter is one of the great settings on Earth. It provides a beautiful, clean white contrast to the other bright colorful seasons. It causes inhabitants to practice greater consideration regarding outdoor activities due to low temperatures and frozen elements. It generally yields greater appreciation for our warm homes and the people in which we choose to spend our time. It helps bring balance to some who have relied upon it since earliest memories.


But it is not guaranteed. 
There is no promise of winter.

Just as I was beginning to steam at this seasons lack of weather, I was fortunate enough to recognize the error of my ways. Snow came to Chicago, and the following day I went to see The Gray. A real-life mild winter storm in Illinois followed by a film depicting a life and death struggle against the rugged conditions of Alaska. I was reminded of the raw human connection to our planet. Reminded that our best mode is one prepared for all weather in any season.

The man who can endure the sweltering heat of summer and embrace the deep freeze of winter; the man who can appreciate the value of spring rain and recognize the beauty of ice . .

Is a man properly balanced.

One day a man was watching a professional football game on television. His five year old son kept bothering him so he took a page of the Sunday paper with a full page airline add on it with a picture of the world; the planet earth seen from space, he tore the page up into a dozen pieces and gave them to his son and he said: 'Here put this back together with some cellophane tape and show daddy how smart you are'. Then he went back to watching his football game. Within a surprisingly short time, the youngster had put the picture back together. 'Hey that's amazing', the father said, 'how did you put that together so quickly?'. And the little boy said: 'There was a picture of a man on the other side. I just put the man back together and then the world was all together'. The youngster was no doubt surprised by the warm hug he received from his father. 'That's right son, when the man's all together, his world's all together too.' EARL NIGHTINGALE

MOMENTUM SHIFT

Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm.   CC COLTON

It seems many people around the planet are unhappy with the actions and policies of the global financial system. The corporatocracy has successfully controlled the system for nearly 100 years, only mildly challenged by an idealistic audience over this period. The argument has to do with loans, fees, and other extractions from honest citizen's bank accounts while owners mismanage their "assets" and are rewarded with tens of billions of dollars in "bailouts" by their respective "governments" (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Federal Reserve Bank).

They are commonly known as the 99%, although the greedy and fraudulent upper class actually represents about one tenth of one percent.

The argument is simple and just.

America represents 5% of the world's population and consumes 24% of its energy. Roughly one third of the planet's people lack access to clean water . .

Life on Earth is out of balance, yet there is hope.

There is no telling what long-term impact this movement will have, nor how long it will last. It's too early to decipher its actual size based on television and internet coverage. There have been no changes in economic policy as of yet, but the movement has been verbally acknowledged by members of the government. No doubt this uprising will be spun in all sorts of different directions during the upcoming election.

Regardless of the long-term impact of this movement, there are clear signs of unity among people around the world. Believe it or not, some media outlets are actually covering the protests objectively. As unlikely as it sounds, it seems a mainstream news outlet is actually broadcasting unfiltered reality. Do not confuse this with a blind subscription to ANY individual information source, only that from a handful of observations it seems Dylan Ratigan of MSNBC is providing a stream of common sense. In the past on the same network, there were instances when Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow had impressed me with rants of different intensities blasting BOTH sides for their willfully damaging incompetence. Ratigan is a new breed. In a media consisting of clowns from the left like Bill Maher and Anderson Cooper, and jokers from the right like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity, MSNBC is the first national network I've seen placing shared blame on the corporate owned, equally ineffective American political parties.

The movement, with its many faces and ambitions, combined with breakthrough media coverage is the momentum shift. Of course we're not pretending all news outlets will now follow suit and begin telling it like it is; far from it. We're not saying "the lion sleeps no more" and the population has all at once become aware of the criminal nature of its leadership. What we're saying is that there have been a few signs of hope in a public arena. Decades have rolled by like a freight train leaving little room for questioning or detailed scrutiny by the people. Now, thanks in large part to the internet, pockets of enlightened citizens have begun joining forces to combat the injustices enacted by their leaders. Finally, retired members of our economic/intelligence apparatus and Armed Forces are coming out of the shadows to expose long kept secrets, ending years of guilt-ridden silence.

All those willing and able to tune into intuition and inner voices currently recognize early signs of a great shift on this planet. A shift that transcends politics and economics, goes beyond personal relationships and family heritage. There is a new era visible on the horizon destined to rise from the chaos of our current lifestyle and direction. The sound minds and righteous hearts are out there as far as the eye can see . .

The tide is turning worldwide.

How will we respond to this critical calling?

Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave.  MUHAMMAD

THE CONNECTION

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it. BUDDAH

Last weekend, I attended a gathering at a friend of a friend's house in New England. With all the happenings in our nation, my personal life, and the world at large, my mind was wide open . .

I walked out onto the deck and noticed a German Shepard crouching near a picnic table in the backyard. I'd already met a jubilant young mutt in the house, but this one was silent and cautious. As I approached to make the animal's acquaintance, I sensed fear. My first thought was that she was a rescue or had been abused. I extended one hand, then the other, she kept her eyes on me as she sniffed each individually. After determining I could be trusted, she moved in and allowed me to scratch her back and under her collar. It's important to note that dogs and other pets will be in your debt if you scratch these two inaccessible places. I walked back up the steps to the deck and asked my friend what he knew of the dog. He informed me that "Carmen" was an expert trained guard dog imported from Deutschland several years prior. I looked back out at her and recognized she was studying our every move, crouched to avoid attracting any attention, poised to attack without hesitation if necessary.

Since my earliest memories I've had a close connection with animals, dogs in particular. Before reading about "dark matter," or the space between all things, I was brought closer to nature by forming a kinship with canine. Relationships of back and forth, give and take, with an animal unable to communicate through the English language was a tremendous life lesson, though I didn't know it at the time. I've written of this unspoken connection before, and how it translates to human interaction. For a lifetime I've been able to get a sense of a person's attitude and intentions upon initial contact simply by opening my awareness to the micro-nuances and invisible energy shared between living things. In time it has matured into an awareness allowing me to decipher between reality and fiction in many arenas.

The weekend leading up to this encounter was crucial on several fronts. I had been observing and getting to know a number of new people, friends and family of one of my best friends. The most important connection, the inspiration for this entry, was a six-year-old boy named Keegan. I brought over the Aerobie Skylighter I had given to my friend as a house warming gift, and asked Keegan if he wanted to play catch. We threw back and forth a few dozen times under Carmen's watchful eye, before she finally snapped and engaged. She'd race over and pick up the disc anytime it hit the ground, releasing it upon my request. On the other end, when Keegan couldn't handle a throw and Carmen would scoop in, he would plead and whine for her to drop it. I explained how all he needed to do was to say her name with authority and she would release the disc. I explained how he was the boss and that Carmen was aware of this fact. It wasn't his size, age, or depth of his voice that alerted Carmen of her role; it was the projection of his energy. It was a great feeling watching Keegan's discovery of this inner power over his dog.

After Carmen's relentless pursuit of the flying disc got old, we brought her into the house. While up on the porch, people kept coming and going through the screen door. Naturally, some would pass through without sliding the door shut behind them. Keegan walked up to the doorway and slammed it shut. "I don't know why you people keep leaving this door open. We have an indoor cat that will escape if she gets the chance!" followed by a deep expressive sigh.

This young man had the greatest natural advantage of anyone at the party due to the simple fact that he's had less time on Earth than the rest. His media exposure has been so short, the shaping and manipulation of his mind so limited. His focus remains on what matters here and now. Surely the amount of information he's exposed to through technology dwarfs that of all preceding generations; perhaps dwarfing all preceding generations combined. Yet with such a short conscious time in this life, he remains tuned to nature and the reality that surrounds him. Social status, material goods, local, national, and world "news events" have not yet reached him. His mind is ripe and ready for information when offered by a trusted source, hungry for a greater understanding of how things work. What a world this would be if all children around this age were enlightened with the greatest, most valuable information at this "seed-time" for learning. If the children were made aware of their role in nature, the importance of balance, and how it can be achieved and maintained, they would be more than equipped to face all of the challenges afflicting mankind.

A second lesson was sparked from the interaction between Carmen and Keegan; it came to me in a flash. Carmen was born into this world on German soil two or three years ago. From her first days she was separated from her litter, from her mother, and trained by professionals for a very specific purpose. She is an excellent learner; a programmed animal. She is born from nature and therefore possesses ancient qualities of the heart, having the ability to show affection and loyalty.

She represents the system.

The brilliant, glowing, flying disc, gliding back and fourth across the yard represents liberty and justice. It is the honest, good-intentioned government by and for the people, built on progress, peace, and prosperity.

Keegan represents each of us.

The ultimate decision maker, unaware of his own strengths and abilities. The one with power to affect all human choices. The person who will inherit the Earth.  The boss. 

When the young boy (boss) tells the dog (system) to release what does not belong to her (all the marbles), she listens and obeys. We are responsible for our ruling class; if we no longer elect our leadership, it's our duty to find a way to reconstruct what we call democracy.  If we've lost confidence in our economic system, we have to design and implement a better one.  If we demand that corrupt leaders stand down we must prepare ourselves to fill their positions.

We are constantly reminded of how balance is established and maintained simply by watching the cycles of nature.  From weather, to vegetation, to animals; natural life cycles are constantly at work, wide open for our observation.  These cycles are designed for one purpose: survival.  They have no ego, no vanity, no government, no money, no media, no technology, no distractions, and no excuses.  Our bond with nature is the greatest connection we have.  The less we recognise it, the further we separate ourselves from our living planet, the less chance we have for survival.  Nature does not care if we remain and thrive, or consume ourselves into extinction.  Mankind's impact on Earth has not been a positive one.  Extreme weather conditions are our only competition in disrupting the cycle of life on our planet. 

We must embrace our responsibility and respect the simple laws of natural order.  We have all the tools required; we must find the wisdom to use them.  The fate of the world depends on it.     

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures & the whole of nature in its beauty. ALBERT EINSTEIN

CONDOR AND EAGLE

Nearly every culture I know prophesies that in the late 1990's we entered a period of remarkable transition. At monasteries in the Himalayas, ceremonial sites in Indonesia, and indigenous reservations in North America, from the depths of the Amazon to the peaks of the Andes, and into the ancient Mayan cities of Central America, I have heard that ours is a special moment in human history, and that each of us was born at this time because we have a mission to accomplish.

The titles and the words of the prophecies differ slightly. They tell variously of a New Age, the Third Millennium, the Age of Aquarius, the Beginning of the Fifth Sun, or the end of old calendars and the commencement of new ones. Despite the varying terminologies, however, they have a great deal in common, and "The Prophecy of the Condor and Eagle" is typical. It states that back in the mists of history, human societies divided and took different paths: that of the condor (representing the heart, intuitive and mystical) and that of the eagle (representing the brain, rational and material). In the 1490's, the prophesy said, the two paths would converge and the eagle would drive the condor to the verge of extinction. Then, five hundred years later, in the 1990's a new epoch would begin, one in which the condor and the eagle will have the opportunity to reunite and fly together in the same sky, along the same path. If the condor and eagle accept this opportunity, they will create a most remarkable offspring, unlike any seen before.

"The Prophecy of the Condor and Eagle" can be taken at many levels — the standard interpretation is that it foretells the sharing of indigenous knowledge with the technologies of science, the balancing of yin and yang, and the bridging of northern and southern cultures. However, most powerful is the message it offers about consciousness; it says that we have entered a time when we can benefit from the many diverse ways of seeing ourselves and the world, and that we can use these as a springboard to higher levels of awareness. As human beings we can truly wake up and evolve into a more conscious species.   JOHN PERKINS

Chicago's Green Festival was held at McCormick Place in the south side four months back. I rode 3 miles along the coast through a heavy mist in a light rain jacket to get there. It cost only $5 to get in due to my eco-friendly mode of transport. I was there to meet John Perkins.

Before telling the story of the condor and eagle, he spoke of how some indigenous cultures from North America believe that each of us are born into this world with a specific purpose, or "legend". They say we are born into certain surroundings among particular people and circumstances exactly when and where intended. We are born to spend our lives working towards the achievement of whichever specific purpose we were brought here to perform.

What a clear and uncanny perspective. How contrary to so much of what we've been led to believe in western culture. By now you're well aware that thinking is not taught, and far from encouraged in our society. Assimilation is the norm. Pick an established field based first on its expected paying salary, then on its interest to you, and fall in line. What if instead we were convinced of our unlimited potential at an early age, that those who blaze their own paths rather than following crowds have historically made greater progress and led more fulfilling lives? Quite simply, positive changes would emerge and the planet would begin to mature as a whole. They've always said one should decide what he or she loves most; then find a way to make money doing it. But how many of us actually do this? How many of us earn a living and feel rewarded with our labor at the end of the day? How many of us have jobs that truly make a difference? (other than numbers on the bank statements of those at the top of the pyramid) The answer is simply not many.

Somewhere along the line, emphasis went from progress to profit. We lost our way when materials began to take precedence over ideals. The outside became more important than the inside. The goal has become to acquire and amass; human achievement has become essentially a bi-product of our efforts.

The unification of the condor and the eagle is coming.

The choices we're offered are unacceptable. Left versus right is an invalid contest. The system is broken. Our decisions and actions must soon be based upon common sense and the common good. What works best in one nation need be what works best for the entire planet. A time is coming where fake politics and the economic shell game will be a matter of life and death.

Balance is what's required. Balance between light and dark, masculine and feminine, left and right, mind and heart.

The prophesy must come to pass; all other outcomes lead to failure.

Each time we choose a new way to deal with the challenges of life, our solution contributes to the diversity of human will that ensures our survival. As one of us pioneers a new creative solution to the seemingly small challenges of our individual lives, we become a living bridge for the next person who finds himself or herself faced with the same challenge, and the next, and so on. Each time one of us faces the condition that others have faced in the past, we have more options from our collective response to draw from. Relatively few individuals may create possibilities that become choices for the whole.  GREGG BRADEN

SYSTEM CHECK

Since the beginning, I've never needed to coax myself into logging a Smog Chronicle. Issues have simply sprung fourth, caught my attention, then been placed under fire. Much of the content published over the past few years has been personal venting over some of the vexing circumstances we endure and how they are misunderstood by much of the population. Two years back I moved to a point on the map directly between the two greatest concentrations of those close to me. Face to face conversation gone; telephone communications cut drastically. For years I'd been reading between the lines and sharing my thoughts freely with friends eager to listen. I had people readily available to absorb some steam that needed blowing off while in Los Angeles. Moving to Chicago with my one and only; I couldn't expect her to carry what had previously been spread amongst many . .

After years of thought and preparation, The Smog Chronicles were born.

Since inception late last year, Cloud City Sessions have provided another vehicle for my perspective. They've proven a more encouraging forum for my expression. Though the music contains a powerful message; listening can also be used to motivate production. Whether driving, working out, or thinking creatively; music can be transformed from sound to work. Taking a step back from focusing on manufactured news reports and contrived conflict, I've been working to explore and ingest as many musical forms and stylings as possible to provide the best possible radio.

My love for baseball has also found a groove with High & Tight; another healthy outlet of late. I've long credited MLB as my distraction of choice, my focus on it now yields an hour of discussion each week. Thanks to those of you who've taken time out to listen to my programing.

Balance is the key to all things; mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As involved as I may get into these distractions; they will not sway me from my true calling. Balance is the goal. Focus on discipline; constructive thinking and action. As natural earth events, international political and economic activity continue to unravel, an increase in creative thought and action is required to maintain balance. While I've leaned heavily towards audio of late; events have naturally drawn me right back to the soul of The Smog Chronicles.


In intelligence parlance a legend is defined as the complete cover story developed for an under or deep-cover operative. A trail or record has to be put in place over a long period to establish credibility matching the operative's assigned cover.

The Osama bin Laden that was killed yesterday was a straw man who, among other things, gave a significant boost to Barack Obama's 2012 re-election hopes. But I sense there is much more to the story than this. The first step in assessing the theater surrounding last night's late announcement is to not fall into the trap of analyzing it as if it were the truth.

Killing a legend made of lies requires an entire new set of lies, which present new, well-chosen options to control and influence public opinion. The second step is to not yield to the instinctive desire to find immediate explanations. It took me three years of totally dedicated research to conclude, argue and state that Dick Cheney and the United States government orchestrated and executed the attacks of September 11th as a pretext to seize oil reserves in the Middle East.

When a legend fabricated from lies dies the only way to kill that legend is to tell more lies, all in furtherance of a (perhaps new) specific agenda.
Michael C. Ruppert 5/2/11


Society has once again been served an assimilating event on which to hang it's hat. Though it's too early to dissect and determine the exact motive for this story and its construction; some components are obvious straight out of the gate.

The young white "crowds" featured on Sunday night and Monday morning celebrating the alleged killing were clearly assembled by the same agency responsible for generating "crowds" protesting the US and it's military action in Pakistan. This same agency invented the so-called "Al Qaeda" classification and has once again invented threats against the US and produced similar contrived "crowds" of bin Laden sympathizers for the news cameras to capture. Concentrated, televised groups (made to look like masses) serving the same agenda though separated by thousands of miles and international borders. Note the fresh-out-of-the-package American flags waived by our smiling youth on the streets of NY and DC; while burned at the same time by their screaming counterpart in the Middle East. Note the playing to the camera and stretching to fill the frame by all. Mr. John Perkins, the self-dubbed "Economic Hitman" has spoken and written extensively about this technique and it's use over the past half-century.

Those in charge acknowledged the power of media, the vulnerability of the people and how easily they could be manipulated long ago.

The story told thus far is based exclusively on hearsay via the White House and national media. No first hand accounts, no witnesses, and only a rumor of photographic evidence support the legend. More "information" is uncovered with each passing hour, much like the days following 9/11. The scene, the compound, the special forces team and it's accolades, the plan reportedly initiated by the president, the intelligence gathered leading up to the mission, what's been uncovered at the site, stories with new details released throughout the day. The script of "what happened" will continue to be written in the weeks ahead. I expect in the end an "official" timeline will be agreed upon and logged like The 9/11 Commission Report; the most insulting book in American history.

I implore you to find the courage to think independently, use your intuition and rational mind as your senses are barraged with details of this fable as it continues to unfold. We are living in a time of radically advanced thinking, learning, and accessibility to information. The history books our grandchildren inherit must contain the true accounts of events that unfolded creating the Earth they experience. Integrity is the most important lesson children can be taught, it is required that we lead by example.

The time is now.

INTERFACE

"You're beginning to believe the illusions we're spinning here, you're beginning to believe that the tube is reality and your own lives are unreal. You do. Why, whatever the tube tells you: you dress like the tube, you eat like the tube, you raise your children like the tube, you even think like the tube. This is mass madness, you maniacs. In God's name, you people are the real thing, WE are the illusion."  
 -HOWARD BEALE, UBS; 1976

The line dividing Internet from television is so fine at this point it's barely visible.  This same line separates computers from telephones.  The "tube" is now a High Definition video screen, or handheld touch screen.  

Does our modern digital access to the people we care about strengthen our connections with them?  Do we better understand our friends based on words and photographic updates on their social networking sites?  There's no right answer to this question, but it's well deserving of our attention.  

Imagine a polar graph; concentric circles each at a uniformed distance from a central zero point.  The center represents face to face human interaction, the original form of personal communication.  The first ring from center represents telecommunications; either traditional telephone or "skype" style video conference calls.  The next represents a hand written letter personally delivered by the postal service.  The 3rd ring represents computer generated e-mail's and cell phone text messages.  The 4th and final ring represents communications via Facebook, Twitter, and the like.  The further you get from the center, the less personal the connection.  It feels like the further your message is broken down to ones and zeros, the less heart-based emotive is transferred.    

Society's addiction to personal communication devices has been well documented here; the way in which a screen becomes an entity held on the same plateau as a living person.  In many cases, these devices take precedence over physical human presence.  Do you ever engage in drawn-out text message dialogues?  Do you feel a certain protective "shield" provided by having a conversation in such a fashion?  Have you experienced any changes in the fabric of relationships with family members or friends by moving communications further towards the outer rings of our polar graph? 

Most of us have access to computers at home and at our places of work.  It's amazing when you step back and take inventory of the people in your field of view focused on phone in hand; in the city it hovers around 50%.  I understand the comfort humankind finds in its handheld communication and GPS systems, but what if some outside force, perhaps in the form of solar storms were to disrupt the operation of satellites responsible for this personal guiding light?

Several years ago I had a conversation about the impending age when our telephones will contain all information and media that make us.  Our entire music and movie collections, rentals, internet, books, magazines, and cable television.  Facebook like interfaces, or "dashboards" become the operating system of this "all-in-one."  All of our preferences, tastes, and property will compile a personality profile.  All of our web activity, purchases, and general consumption will be monitored and calculated to paint a clear definition of us.  Like the scene in Minority Report when Tom Cruise's character walks through the mall barraged with holographic advertisements making sales pitches directly at him based on his shopping history and habits.  This happens currently in the virtual arena.  The web monitors sites you've seen and literally caters its ads to places you've been.  An obvious example of this is Facebook advertising, generated uniquely for you based on your "likes" and your friends.

We are now on the dawn of this "personal pod" era.  With the invention of the "iPad" and exponential advancement in digital technology, within a few years our cell phones will be the epicenter of individual existence.  

Imagine a dock at home, in your car, and at work.  Plug in at home to set your lighting and heating preferences, your music or television, movies or sports.  You're driving down the highway with your phone plugged in, the advertising on the radio, the billboards you drive past changing as you move along; catered to your preferences.  Every thing you buy, every word you say or type placed into a database designed to make you a perfectly predictable consumer.  Of course the device is also a telephone and video camera, easily activated when deemed necessary.  Think of the scenes in The Dark Knight when Bruce Wayne hands Luscious Fox a comprehensive digital map of Gotham, created by harnessing every phone receiver and using the sound to build a sonar grid of the city.

This example is no longer far-fetched or science fiction.  It's simply an example of the possibilities we face in our world of ever increasing technological advancement.  My dialogue on the "pod" topic was more mathematical than imaginative.  Most trends can be predicted with a quick study of history matched with popular culture.  The big brother scenario has evolved from fear of privacy in our homes, to fear of willingly turning ourselves into open books; predictable humanoid consumption units.  

This is not intended to be a lecture on technological dependence, but a commentary on social evolution.  The question is are we better off with our modern tools of communication?  Are our relationships more complete and fulfilling with the abundance of access we currently enjoy?

I will continue to reach out through this medium, but know if I had my choice, I'd prefer to keep it in the center of the graph.

COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

Are people out there evolving and learning to read between the lines? Is the media still operating at it's same old speed, up to its same old tricks? Does it seem like people are beginning to come around on the reality of our circumstance? Have you felt a weakening in the official story? Is there hope that people will learn to start brushing away the clouds created to distort their vision?

Though news stories and mass media continue to guide public perspective, times like these encourage people to reconsider the ancient laws of nature and common sense. As political, economic, and military movement continue down their dark path, people have started their transition back into classical, rational lines of thinking. I'm not speaking of the population represented in print and television interviews/surveys . . nor the hoards of people moving through the streets and popular trends like a flock of sheep.

I'm speaking of the people I meet.

More often than not, the people I meet are already halfway to understanding. Those who are oblivious to the information I share with them are almost without exception open and eager to learn more. The common response, which brings me great comfort, is the question of what can we do about it, and how can the word be spread most successfully . .

It's funny how easily people gravitate to truth when it's made available. It's almost like a secret handshake, a symbol of belonging to the group on the just side, not yet able to go public with it.

What a look of relief on the faces of like minded individuals presented with grounded perspective . .
Eyes wide open; freedom found within, unlike anything they've ever felt . .

The mental conflict experienced when people are presented with evidence that their beliefs or assumptions are wrong is known as cognitive dissonance.

On Columbus' first landing in the new world awestruck natives inquired how he and his men traveled to their land, they gestured to their fleet of ships.  The natives looked out on the water, squinted, adjusted their vision; all the while looking directly out at the ships. The natives were looking exactly where advised, ships plainly in sight, but invisible to them. The concept of such tremendous vessels, traveling across such a mass of water, was so foreign to these people, their minds could not translate what was directly in front of them.

Many souls exist under these same conditions today . . seemingly impossible to register reality as it unfolds . .

Recognition = Cognitive Dissonance.

It's only a phase.

An uncomfortable state of limbo between two roads.

One road has been traveled by the overwhelming masses since the dawn of the age. The other is uncertain; yet rich with opportunity clamoring for discovery.

Understanding a problem is halfway to its solution.

The road less traveled has plenty of room for travelers; fresh air and water, no traffic, no deception or confusion, no destination; just the promise of a peaceful future . . a balanced, fruitful age of clarity and growth . .

. . and transition.



I have lived on the lip of insanity
Wanting to know reasons
Knocking on a door, it opens
I have been knocking from the inside!
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī

A NEW TRADITION

"Christmas was close at hand, in all his bluff and hearty honesty; it was the season of hospitality, merriment, and open-heartedness; the old year was preparing, like an ancient philosopher, to call his friends around him, and amidst the sound of feasting and revelry to pass gently and calmly away." CHARLES DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, 1836

I vividly remember the feeling I had as a child, driving to and from church on Christmas Eve. From the dark and windy Daniel Webster Highway to downtown Nashua, Main Street lined with trees elegantly lit with white lights.  All radio stations' holiday music catalogs wide open, cheerful spirit across the board. A light snow falls from above, illuminated by headlights and streetlamps. 

Entering church; "halls" decked, large advent wreath with a single white candle hangs front and center wrapped in a large white bow. Stained glass windows back lit by floodlights, cast iron candle holders fashioned at the ends of each pew, 3 glowing white candlesticks in each. The full choir uniquely accompanied by the young bell ringers; pipe organ full tilt in the front, brass horns in the back.  The musky scent of incense throughout the cathedral.

It had been nearly a decade when I attempted to recreate this scene last December 24th. 

I've made quite a habit; indeed a ritual, of walking down memory lane as much as possible when visiting home. I suppose the older we get, the more we cling to those memories that want to fade as the years roll by. Lately, the Christmas season has assumed a different shape than the one built by the post-WWII baby boomers. The loving couple with their adoring 2.5 children remains the idealistic American vision; however with the changing times come changing traditions. As with most evolving traditions, it's best to recognize the motion of the times, and adapt . .

All things exist in cycles, the calendar year is a prime example. The energy felt in our daily lives is shaped by the days, weeks, months, and seasons constituting our year. I was just commenting the other day about how much our lives are geared around visits from, and to, our friends and family. As the years progress, relationships grow better defined, as does my appreciation. Time, distance, maturity, and evolution combine to generate understanding as traditions continue to spring fourth . .

It's a Wonderful Life, The Nutcracker, Bing Crosby, Charlie Brown, A Christmas Carol, Home Alone, The Polar Express, Nat King Cole, Star Wars, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Grinch, The Messiah, The Night Before Christmas, 24 hours of A Christmas Story, Die Hard, Elf; the list has no end . .

Traditions come about in all shapes and forms at all different times. What constitute holiday traditions in some homes are the furthest from in others. For me, the trick to keeping Christmas time special is the practice of separating the commercial from the genuine. When holiday goods are displayed in stores at the beginning of October, I smile and recognize the comedy of our economy. As cashiers continue to be replaced by automated self-checkout machines; as the morale of those who remain continues to decline; I relax and take peace in the fact that it's only capitalism.

It's not real.

As you watch the classic, golden tungsten Christmas lights steadily replaced by the futuristic, bluish "long-life" fluorescence around town; please remember that the true value of the holiday season is not found in external materials, but in the hearts and memories of all people.

While much of the world finds great comfort in the religious, faith-backed causes for the season; and they should . . 

I suggest a new tradition . . 

Let's recognise and dissolve all categories which separate us for this brief period of time; and recognise how easily this experiment could be stretched out over the entire year. Let's recognise the true value of our time and those most deserving of it. Let's look through the superficial, man made classifications which plague most of us . . and celebrate the unlimited opportunities available to us if we could only evolve to our true capabilities. 

Peace and Love to each and all of you.

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."             A Christmas Carol, 1843

LINCOLN FRAME OF MIND

“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.” 


Though less traditional as the years advance; I am pleased once again to watch the seasons progress as the holidays approach.

To begin most bike rides, I head a mile north, then east to the lake.  I do this because of the Lincoln statue that stands behind the Chicago History Museum.  The foliage surrounding the monument is a beautiful indication of the seasons; the statue itself is a marvel; and the man represented is one of the finest this nation has ever produced.

Upon approach, I develop a feeling of reverence; I adjust my energy, music, and imagination to embody the feeling a Union Soldier might have felt around the Commander in Chief during the Civil War.  I catch first glimpse of his silhouette 50 yards out; keep my eyes trained until I coast to the base of the monument . . 5 miles per hour; eyes fixed; I speak.

"I'm trying".

Lincoln's integrity resonates so deeply that knowledge of his very existence ennobles all willing to follow his example.  His legacy and influence bear such strength that those willing to recognize right from wrong and let their actions be motivated by the difference, should be considered equals.

Through reason and force, Lincoln unified the nation.

Veteran's Day has just past,
Thanksgiving is just around the corner . . 

The men and women of the United States Armed Forces are cherished for serving our country.  More accurately we salute the soldiers for fighting, risking their lives for the stars and stripes, and what they represent.  We express gratitude, feel remorse for their sacrifice, our hearts bleed for their pain and distress . .

Yet, we seldom ponder the roots of armed conflict; causes that lead us to perpetual battle on foreign land.  We honor those who have fallen, we commemorate some wars by name and the years in which they took place. The bloodshed and young lives taken make discussion of why we were involved in these affairs irrelevant.  When the topic does see the light of day, the reasons for our involvement are black and white, without room for interpretation.  Indeed, our nature has led us to a line of thinking where a human casualty strengthens a cause, and nullifies reason.

This entry was inspired largely by an idea that sparked in my mind a few weeks ago.  I realized that only through the invention of gun powder, and all technological advancement since, has this empire had the ability to reign over all nations.  Only through achievement in science does the current ruling body maintain control.  All styles of combat, all forms of martial arts from all nations and times were rendered obsolete once war was mechanized.  This isn't to say that the nation with the most toys wins regardless of circumstance; Vietnam was more than a lesson in this.  However, what it does say is that thousands of years of hand to hand combat techniques are brought to a level playing field when Uncle Sam opens his tool shed.  Men and women who've known nothing of war, nor their forefathers, are combat ready warriors with 6 months of training, and an automatic weapon.   

We've gone so far in advancing military technology; advertising for war based video games is nearly indistinguishable from that for the US Armed Forces . .

Call of Duty: Operation Enduring Freedom?

I propose that if President Lincoln had not been shot; had he lived to see his 200th birthday last year, he would have been strictly against all foreign intervention since his term in Washington.  He would demand an end to all comparison between him and the current president.  Abe Lincoln's name and image have been celebrated and honored for more than a century, yet few acknowledge how vehemently he would oppose the state of the union since his untimely passing.

A man like Lincoln, under no circumstance, would authorize the construction of an Atomic Bomb.

Or its use.

I would not presume to claim personal insight to the deepest thoughts of Lincoln.  Yet, I can say he was a man of reason; and based on the historical record, reason may have left the White House the same time he did.  

This is why I seek the Lincoln frame of mind.


"Every time that we state a truth, we must know that truth destroys all that is unlike itself and frees the thought of the one whom we wish to help and heal . . . Truth is, just as much as God is; and the whole world is coming gradually to the realization of it. Keep the truth within your own soul, lift your own self above the confusion of life, and then people will believe" Ernest Holmes

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Focus on the positive. The glass is half full. 
We are in a rough patch, it will pass . . .

Throughout the month of October, the most respected skyline in the western hemisphere is accented with pink highlights. Pink floodlights fixed on the tallest antennae, projection lighting panels switched from white to pink throughout the city.

America's modern distraction of preference, the National Football League, is also accessorized from head to toe with pink throughout the month.

I assume all who read this recognize that this "pink" represents breast cancer awareness in American culture, much like "red" represents aids awareness; and as of this year, "teal" represents ovarian cancer awareness.

For the sake of argument, please think of this white text on black background as awareness awareness.

As I grow older, the writing on the walls around me gets easier and easier to decipher. Some techniques are obscure, sometimes making me smirk with their clever deception. Others clamor so loudly, reek of such "bait and switch" corruption, that I can't avoid frustration.

The inception of this interpretation, and perhaps strongest example of this technique was the implementation of American flags on automobiles after the attacks of 9/11. The way in which "patriotism" was bolstered by such a disgusting, improbable operation deeply frustrated me. Each sticker represented another lost soul, clueless to the ramifications of that day, and who was truly responsible for those unspeakable acts.

The motivation for this entry was the influx of pink as I look around my city, and around the NFL. This is such a blatant shell game that it boggles my mind. Like the yellow "Live Strong" bracelets, Gap's "Red" initiative, and America's short lived "Text money to Haiti" craze . . . pink October reeks of yet another misappropriation of funds. While there's plenty of discussion about looking for a cure, in this instance, "awareness" indicates early detection followed by treatment. It goes without saying that I look forward to the eradication of all cancer; the principle argument is how we are best equipped to go about this.

Preventative measures are our strongest weapons against such afflictions. But there can be no nationwide rally around such a concept. If simple, straight forward diet and lifestyle advice were proven effective, would the powers that be broadcast these remedies? (please see attached link) If a cure were developed, would it be made available and spread to all people infected throughout the world regardless of cost?  How many billions of dollars are spent each year in the US alone to treat infected patients? How many hundreds of thousands are employed exclusively due to this process? How long until we recognize that money thrown at a problem is not converting to tangible work the way it's advertised?

Our perception is guided by cameras and computers, imagery and popular opinion. Our reality is, and has been, manufactured by architects of history far beyond comprehension, well beyond any traditional education. Promotion of free thought is all but lost in American society . .

The causes our nation rallies behind are determined by committees comprised of unelected officials. There is no vote, or quantifying measure to decide which challenges are worthy of our attention and united efforts. There's no convenient explanation why, for example; the earthquake that ravaged Haiti earned our genuine concern, while just a few years prior similar circumstances devastated island nations of southeast Asia yielding little more than media coverage . .

The truth is, there is an agenda. Causes that fit the agenda are embraced, exploited, and paraded from sea to shining sea. Events are fabricated and exaggerated to promote this Agenda.

The Agenda is Profit.
Profit equals Wealth.
Wealth equals Control.
The great awakening has begun . . 

It's Black & White.


http://www.naturalnews.com/030020_breast_cancer_awareness.html

EARTH

"We depend upon free inquiry and free access to knowledge. We humans have seen the atoms which constitute all of nature and the forces that sculpted this work and others. We have found that the molecules of life are easily formed under conditions throughout the cosmos. We have mapped the molecular machines of the heart of life. We have discovered a microcosm in a drop of water; we have peered into the bloodstream and down on the stormy planet to see the earth as a single organism." -Carl Sagan

I was up late the other night working on some music, studio monitor headphones plugged into my computer.  I paused the music and removed my headphones to discover an electrical buzz ringing throughout the apartment.  I checked the television: it was off.  I checked the stereo: also powered off.  Vibrations in the walls are sometimes generated from the building's heating and cooling system; I checked them: nothing.  Finally, I walked over to check the seal of our large, metal-framed windows, turned the latch, and the sound stopped.  Puzzled, I re-latched the window, began to step away as the buzz came back:  sharp, piercing . .  I looked up, eye level out towards the city, there it was . .  

Nearly 100 yards above the earth, on a window outside the 29th floor, a green, grasshopper-looking insect 2" in length.  I peered in for a closer look, flashlight in hand.  Antennae oscillating in circles, the sides of the torso pulsing rapidly in and out like the lungs of a fatigued runner . .

Have you ever watched an insect breathe? 

My last entry focused on changes in nature, many from our influence.  Much of the reading and research I've done since my move to Chicago has centered around the interconnected nature of existence . . the energy that surrounds and binds us to everything else.  I've also been learning about the connection between nature and time-- cycles and behaviors of life that we're only now beginning to recognize.  The unexpected and surprising habits of insects and animals have been clamoring for attention of late; what their actions are pointing towards is not yet clear . . . but certainly worthy of a closer look.

The idea of our entire planet forming a single organism flooded my head last Sunday morning.  I had embraced the notion years ago, but for some reason, on this particular morning, a crystal clear vision and understanding of this concept formed in my mind.  I was driving back to the city from a friend's lake house in Wisconsin when it came to me.  Perhaps spawned from some time spent away from the urban scape, or maybe thinking of new friends and my connection to them . . . probably a mix of the two.  

The literal concept quickly turned visual as I began to imagine positive energy created between my friends and I as glowing light.  I saw a moving image of dots on the globe, creative souls gathering together working towards a common goal, more and more light radiating as the dot collective increased.  This light represented positive change, healing, solving of problems, solutions to the planets ills.  The vision was the result of recognizing our capabilities as a human race unified . . . 

a greater understanding of "harvesting star light" as Carl put it.   

Imagine each earthly element playing the role of a single cell.  Just like cells of the human body, earth elements unite to create forms, perform specific functions, and combat obstacles.  Imagine an infrared satellite image of Earth from orbit . .  telescope in and focus on individual regions or bodies of land . . imagine the light you're zooming in on representing positive, nurturing activity and the people responsible for it.

The light in our model is only a stimulating symbol for an actual field of energy.  I'm not aware of any device capable of physically capturing an image of this energy, but its existence is concrete.  This force is perhaps the least understood and most important layer of existence.  The concept has been around since the earliest civilizations but like so many other great understandings, has yet to receive popular embrace in the new world. 

As darker, less predictable times approach it will become more and more important that we farm and harvest this star light . . .

Our destiny has our children, and children's children inheriting a planet requiring their illumination . . . 

We must work to understand our responsibility for this moment in time . . . and shine.