A Time of Festivity and a Greater Appreciation for the Wisdom of our Ancestors

Today is the 21st of December - the winter solstice. It's a time of celebration be it with family,friends,and I would say community but unfortunately there's not much of that left nowadays. All the same the holidays are here whether it's Hanukkah if you're Jewish or Christmas if you're a Christian even if it's just culturally so. Christmas is my favorite holiday due to it being in winter and the fact it's an amalgamation of older traditions (mainly European and to a lesser degree Persian). I enjoy the cool breeze as I'm walking to my favorite coffee shop,the smell of coffee brewing,and the smiles and laughter of those I cherish most only makes this holiday all the better. While such times aren't as numerous as they once were I appreciate being with those special to me.
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One particular Christmas season that's most memorable was when I was still in high school. Not that the Christmases prior to that one weren't good but this one really struck a chord. I think some of it's due to the fact I was at an age where I was coming into a sense of independence and having a girlfriend that really meant something to me. I remember sitting in the back of a Chevy Blazer one evening when a song came on that from that moment on was "our" song. It was when our hands first touched. It was magical for me .... and probably her as well. It was a beautiful time both personally and the fact that it was a better era. That might seem clique to say but it's true. The overall culture was better and that was reflected in the music and fashion.This was of course before hip hop and rap regularly played on the radio.

Modern "culture" has digressed and there's no point denying it. It's getting uglier out here by the minute. I could go into detail but I probably won't. One day I might. I have my views and know what I know. I'm not exactly p.c. and that's a okay with me but probably not with most people and all I have to say to that is - oh well. They need to heal and deal. For a long time I cared too much what others thought and while it does matter to some degree seeing all the decay that's taken place over the years (and the overall attitudes and lifestyles of most people) just proves that I overvalued their opinions. Most of the vileness in people is the result of decades of social engineering. We've been led to reject the wisdom that the ancients had accumulated over the ages and while at first it seemed "progressive" and fun the results have proven disastrous. The ancients had their guidelines for a reason. It worked. What we're doing out here isn't. Their rules or better yet - guidelines were for the benefit of society as well as the individual. It held the communities together which is what allowed people the extra time needed to gather their thoughts and apply them in experimental ways and not just in their daily routines such as farming,fishing,and etc.


Most people often dismiss the ancients as being superstitious but new research supports some of those beliefs especially in regards to the value of a woman's youth and virginity. It was deemed ideal as far as rearing children goes and apparently science agrees. Even if telemetry hasn't been proven in humans there's still the case of micochrimerism. Women absorb the d.n.a. they share with babies they're pregnant with and it's passed on to other children she'll have whether with the same man she had children with before or the children of any other men. So think about this for a minute. There's a reason with the ancients were adamant about not breeding with women that weren't virgins and it wasn't simply to make bonding with this woman easier. In other words  - if Mike has a child with Stephanie and Stephanie already has children with Bill and Fred then Bill and Fred are essentially d.n.a. donors to Mike's child with Stephanie.Think about that for a minute.

This of course opens up a whole can of worms. Since we know what we're doing as a society doesn't work then how do we go about implementing the knowledge of the ancients and making it work for us? Well ..... it won't fair out well trying to force the genders to live in accordance to their natural roles and placing these stricter  guidelines on people's lives as the damage is already done and likewise chaos would surely ensue.

 It's implementation will have to be gradual and in stages. Ideally it would take place by forming segregated communities where children could be reared in a more harmonious manner as the wisdom of the ancients intended. It's likely those playing the parental roles and such will have to live double lives - due to the fact that they're not of such character having been raised in such decadence themselves. This seems extreme and almost impossible to implement and its not even a well thought out concept on my part. 

As for now all anyone can do is make the best of life and work on themselves. Not enough people have the insight to see how screwed up everything is (and on so many levels) and for those that do many tend to have a skewed solution on how to go about "fixing" it - whether it's the s.j.w. p.c. types on the left or the evangelical Christians on the right. Neither is a viable solution and would only lead humanity backwards.

 I've long since given up the illusion that marriage and long term romantic relationships were for me. I enjoy having friends and spending time with them - quality over quantity of course but that doesn't mean I'm a loner. I'm just not as social as I used to be. Not sure how much of that is due to the excess distraction of such devices like a mobile phone,tablet,a computers,and etc. All I know is that I feel less a part of this society each passing year. I'm not feeling suicidal or anything but ..... none of this makes sense. The lack of a real sense of community has been on the wain for decades but it really seemed to pick up pace in the past decade.

So with that I bid everyone Seasons Greetings and a farewell .... for this year at least. Remember to appreciate what you have and enjoy it to the fullest because life is short even if you live for a hundred years. Excess junk in your life will only weigh you down and less truly is more. 

The Winding Down Effect

Wind down (from the Merriam-Webster dictionary)

 verb

Definition of wind down

intransitive verb

1: to draw gradually toward an end the party was winding down

2: RELAX, UNWIND - wind down with a good book

transitive verb

: to cause a gradual lessening of usually with the intention of bringing to an end.

________

It's like a drawing in.  A slowing down. A cocooning. Less socializing. Less interest in what's going on outside one's own surroundings and it's happening not just on a personal level but a collective one as well. I've noticed it and so have the few people that I still interact with on a somewhat regular basis.

What's the cause? Mainly high speed internet that can easily be accessed via smart phones,tablets,Google Home,Amazon Echo,and of course computers. I wrote about this in my last posting but social changes has increased significantly since then and that was just a few years ago. It's become quite noticeable in my own current demographic domain. The Hispanic population has grown by leaps and bounds and it's now common to hear Spanish spoken on a regular basis. In addition to that blight now claims the bulk of the towns in my area. It's not that I didn't see the handwriting on the wall it's just now it's so apparent.

Change has always been in the air but it's become too hard to ignore. On a personal level - I've lost loved ones - one that I was in regular contact with and one that I wasn't. I'm talking about my dad that past away this past May and my grandmother that passed away in late August. It's sad. Not just because they were family and I knew them on a personal level but because they were born and grew up in more intact societies. Their numbers are quickly dwindling. It's bizarre because the man I most admired growing up is no longer here and my grandmother who was the embodiment of  what it means to be a real lady (very nurturing and thought of others before herself) is now gone. While that's just how it goes and part of the cycle of life it still doesn't mean there's not an empty space in your life whenever they're gone.

"Love is like a flower, even the most beautiful kind dies." - Till Lindemann

Just observing one's surroundings and it's quite apparent that things are coming to a close and what's in store for me individually and for society at large is anyone's guess but it looks pretty bleak. When you turn on the radio what little new "music" playing is utterly atrocious - lacking any real forethought or talent. This isn't just me getting older either. It's definitely digressed and I've noticed the same in fashion or rather - the lack of it. Not sure if these are signs of a social collapse or something much worse - leading to a stone age or the opposite - a technocracy. It's depressing if you think about it too much but I'm not one to stick my head in the sand and pretend everything is okay.

So while I'm not backtracking on my disdain for the positive thinking movement and trying to convince myself that everything is hunky dory I just can't dwell on the negativity. It's too much. When things weren't this degraded both socially and economically it was easier to ponder the likely gloom and doom of it all but as we draw nearer to that probability the overwhelming realization that that's our possible fate is a bit much for me to stomach. 😕 This used to be a wonderful country as did most other countries but decades of social engineering, diversity, and fiat currency has changed that. It might be deemed offensive for some to accept but it doesn't make it untrue.

So to bring this posting to a close - my aim is to focus on more upbeat topics as much as possible as well as my adventures in this game called life. 😉

Less Clutter,Few Gadgets,and Living in the Moment

It's become increasingly difficult finding balance in a system promoting dualism. As would be expected people's mindsets are becoming more rigid. The liberals are getting loonier and the conservatives are getting kookier. This particular presidential race is the most entertaining circus of all. Then again it's all a horse and pony show and whoever "wins" we're all losers. I don't get all bent out of shape about since I know it's a total sham.

To my buddies who might've called and wondered why it takes me awhile to respond - my phone's service is Wi-Fi only and since I'm transitioning into more of a minimalist (within the grid and outside of it) it ranges from several hours to a few days before I'm able to check messages and call back. Don't take offense. The internet is fun but I'm no one's (or no thing's) tool.

Perhaps being suspended from work (for bogus reasons) for two weeks plays a role but if so it's minimal. I was already downsizing before then and my craving for less gadgets and other distractions has been growing. The statement less is more is true. .I'll probably continue to look for ways to de-clutter. I long since uploaded my music to the cloud and most of my movies have been converted to digital files and are stored on external hard drives.

 All this is somehow connected to my observation of others (and myself) becoming more distracted and less focused on the moment. I first noticed it around the fall of 2002 when cell phone usage became the norm. It annoyed me to be out in public when I was hanging out with acquaintances and their phones would ring and they'd start chatting away. It was seen as rude back then and no one was under any illusions about it. As time went on it became the norm and now no one thinks anything of it.

I've noticed the amount of people that hang out at coffee shops and book stores has been steadily declining for about a decade. The economy hasn't been stable for years but I know that's not the reason. People prefer the virtual world over the here and now and to say it's disturbing is an understatement. People's attention spans are waning. I know mine has and I've never been known for being someone that could focus for long bouts of time. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child if that means anything. Some people think this diagnosis is a myth and it wouldn't surprise me if it is but I can't help but to think there's some truth to it - although it's severity is probably exaggerated. I notice when I eat healthier for long periods of time with plenty of intake of fish oil,ginkgo biloba,and with regular exercise I feel more focused.

On one hand hand it saddens me that there's less people to hang out with but on the other hand it's liberating. It's like there's no more excuses to keep distracting myself with music,activities,and whatever else. I periodically reactivate my social networking profile and it serves as a reminder of why I left it to begin with. It's a time waster - keeping one from getting out and living a real life. I'd rather be lonely traveling about here and there than "socializing" for hours on end on social media. I prefer the old days of the internet when people communicated via email, message boards,or chat rooms and used the internet for a group meet up. It was straight to the point without all the unnecessary bells and whistles. We're overstimed. Distractions. Distractions. Distractions. People will do what they're going to do but for me - keeping it simple is what I prefer.



So I guess it's safe to say that my leave of absence from blogging has finally come to an end (for the time being). Hopefully I'll resume regular postings from here on out. That's the plan anyhow. So until next time - bye bye. 

An Approaching Demise or the Adventure of a Lifetime

 It's been awhile since I made a posting and I'm unsure of what to write about other than my current residency will soon end. People who are lucky enough to have family that actually gives two cents about them and/or have acquired the right skills in life to be self supportive often don't realize how fortunate they are. A harsh abruptness is coming my way this fall. Facing a harsher environment combined with not being in the best health is a recipe for disaster.

 It's more a lack of motivation than will power holding me back from getting my life together. It's difficult to overcome while in times past it wasn't.The reasons being -  the benefits of self improvement were high then as opposed to now. It's not too often that I seek help and it's unlikely I'd know who to ask it from. This isn't a good position to be in especially when I look at all the homeless walking by who have next to nothing but have their health and can easily walk to and fro at ages well above their 50s and 60s. If I can get to that point without shocking my system then the bulk of my struggles are gone. It's a no brainer that I never should've let myself get to where I'm at now but that's easier said than done.

 Those already established in life or from the older generations rarely understand how hard it is to just maintain. It simply costs too much to live nowadays. The current broken socioeconomic infrastructure is something the generations past had no concept of. They didn't realize how good they had it. The basics of life - adequate food,shelter,savings,spending money,a sense of family/community  - that was a given for any man of sound mind and in decent enough health. Working any ole job was enough to have all that and more. What lead from that to now was a gradual process and the subject for another posting.

So is this an approaching demise or a swift push into taking the best possible adventure ever? Twenty years ago it could've brought about a life of traveling with little care in the world (once I stopped worrying about what others thought and the shock of having no permanent place to lay my head wore off) . Coulda, shoulda,and woulda. Unless something damn near miraculous happens my likely fate looks dreadful.

So what adventures (if any) await me remains a mystery. Perhaps I'll get to travel westward as stated on my Yahoo profile. There's places I simply can't afford to visit if I tried to do it the old fashion way of saving up and taking a vacation. That's not feasible on my wages. This reminds of a time when I was riding a city bus in Tacoma,Washington. I struck up a conversation with a young man around my age who asked me point blank if I worked. I said yes and his response was - that's slavery. I agreed then and I agree even more now.

All these years of working was simply to keep myself afloat. I lived frugally but that didn't change the fact that every cent I made was barely enough to keep myself afloat. I played by the system's rules and it got me no where. All those years were a waste. If I had it all to do over. I'd have left it all and just lived the life of a bum. Not that that's the life I'd prefer but it's better than working all kinds of strange hours of the day and night with nothing left to get out there and experience life. To have a family of one's own is a privilege of the well to do nowadays and it's been that way for over 20 years. What's frustrating about all this is that so few see it even though they're living it themselves. Over the years I've tried informing people of this among other harsh realities. It's only recently that people have been receptive to it. All hail the "free" market and all that jazz.

  So with that I bid everyone a good day. Thanks for taking the time to read my recent posting. Hopefully things in your life won't be so bleak.

Seasons Greetings

It's been awhile since I've posted anything and hopefully next year this won't be the case. I wish my friends and readers a merry Christmas and a happy New Years.

    

New Hipster Music Versus The Crap on Mainstream Radio Stations

 Has there been a revival of quality music taking place for a good decade or longer? I'd say so but it's been forced "underground" due to a pandering of  industry created performers that all sound the same - and likewise sound horrid. I'd venture to say it's not merely my "opinion" that the quality of sounds emanating from the airwaves isn't quite up to par to musical acts of the not too distant past.

  "Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include indie pop, jangle pop, C86, and lo-fi, among others. Originally used to describe record labels, the term became associated with the music they produced and was initially used interchangeably with alternative rock. As grunge and punk revival bands in the US, and then Britpop bands in the UK, broke into the mainstream in the 1990s, it came to be used to identify those acts that retained an outsider and underground perspective. In the 2000s, as a result of changes in the music industry and the growing importance of the Internet, a number of indie rock acts began to enjoy commercial success, leading to questions about its meaningfulness as a term." - Wikipedia

 While there's elements of the early 60s,later 1970s funk,and early 80s post punk (early New Wave) - it's largely a revival of the late 1980s ethereal end of New Wave that never caught on due to the emerging garage rock movement (that became known as grunge) that quickly grew to prominence. There's nothing edgy about the new "alternative" music.  The only thing independent about it is that its not the horrid crap that the music industry tries to pass off as top 40. What's currently playing on most radio stations might be deemed "popular" but if that was factual then why do so few people listen to it? People have little choice but to turn to the internet and/or satellite for a quality musical experience ESPECIALLY if they're craving newer stuff that's worth a damn.

In other words - had radio been allowed to keep playing quality music instead of all the bubble gum,screemo, and hip hop crap then what's deemed "indie" or the "new" alternative music would simply be quality pop rock - nothing more but nothing else either. That's not to say I don't like the new hipster sound. Im quite fond if it actually.  I just have to call it for what I see. Its great music and its what deemed "alternative" but there's no reason why it shouldn't be playing on mainstream stations. It's not crude or lewd in any way. Why it's relegated to mostly the internet is beyond me.
Maybe something sinister is at work here. Hmmmmmm.

Perhaps there's a method to the madness so to speak and it's a conspiracy to promote the lowest common denominator as far as "music" goes but if that's so it's a failed attempt and you'd think the manipulators lurking in the shadows would rethink their strategy as they're failing miserably. Then again - that could be giving the douche bags within the music industry too much credit. Their desire to control,manipulate (while making money at the same time) promoting their "pop" stars isn't working as they'd like us to think. I can't stomach the crap that's peddled as "music" these days and it's steadily gotten worse since the mid 90s. By the early 2000s it had reached a new low that's continued to digress each passing year.

    So as far as newer music goes bring on the indie and post rock,the down tempo,and the neo jazz. The more the merrier. Thank goodness most businesses offer free wi fi.  It's now about a portable tablet (with good music apps) as opposed to the standard mp3 player (with fm radio). Either that or  I need to move to one of the few areas left in this country with decent radio stations. Knowing my luck I'd up and move to such a place and the only radio station worth listening to will shutdown within a few months of moving there. So this is where I type "LOL" and and finish this blog posting making light of the fact that radio sucks and there seems to be no hope in sight of any improvement.

Feeling Connected

I'm residing in Tea bagging country where fundamentalist Christianity and Republican politics run supreme. Any deviation from this could lead to a heated debate and possibly loosing one's job. It's been bad here for awhile but I've noticed that the small minority of open minded folks are nowhere to be seen. Going to a coffee shop or a bookstore was where more accepting people used to congregate. That hasn't been the case in three years or longer. It's sad. To say I no longer feel connected is an understatement. That's not to say there isn't good people here but the prevailing tunnel vision that's the norm in these here parts has become more than I'm willing to tolerate.

 People have a right to their religious views (and lack-there-of). I occasionally share mine but it's not the focus of my blog nor the focal point guiding my life. To me religion (or whatever you choose to call it - faith, a relationship with a particular deity,and etc.) is a private matter and not something to be shared with just anyone. This stance serves me well in areas that are dominated by fundamentalist Christians and Muslims. After all - I'm still in the Bible Belt. I might loosen up a bit once I'm traveling and have made my primary residence out west some place where people tend to be less pushy with politics and religion.



“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” -  Linus van Pelt (Peanuts featuring Charlie Brown) 

   All in all - life in general has become increasingly challenging in more ways than one and I'm attempting to deal with it. Where my life is going is yet to be seen. I'm trying to stay in the moment as much as possible. That's easier said than done. I'm just taking one day at a time. As some of my friendly acquaintances know - I've been staying with my uncle and helping him out. In return I paid little rent and was able to live on the minimal income I received from my mcjob. Now that I'll be paying full rent I'll be lucky to have enough left over for groceries and upkeep on my vehicle much less enjoying the luxury of having anything left over to put in savings.

 

 It's sad that so many people in this country are oblivious to the fact that the typical job no longer pays sustainable wages and hasn't in quite some time. I know so many men (and some women) who live with family because if they didn't they'd wind up as street urchins. These people are in their 20s,30s,40s,and even 50s. But I've said enough about that. I've already made postings on the devaluing of our currency and don't feel the need to elaborate on this any further.

 With that said - I bid each and every one of you a great day, a wonderful week,and a marvelous month.

The Ending of Things

This is my first posting in awhile. It's a bit overdue I suppose. Things in my life have taken a turn and it's not going to be easy adjusting. My time doing as I've been doing for the past decade or so is about up. I can't say that I'm happy about it. Most people (in their right mind) wouldn't be. It's here though and I'm attempting to adjust to what is most likely the inevitable outcome to this change. I know we've all heard that change is good - but is it? To say that I don't agree with that statement's accuracy is an understatement. Yes change can be good but not always.

So I begin walking yesterday and I was quickly made aware of just how bad my health had digressed just in the past year. Hopefully I won't procrastinate and will keep with it. I need to. My life depends on it. I can't afford to go on a strict diet or join some fitness club. I'm trying to do the best I can on a limited income.

 So here I go. Trying to adapt to a change that I always suspected was possible but haven't been prepared to deal with in awhile. I have some time so I'm gonna make the best of it and prepare for the inevitable.

 If all works out the possible adventures awaiting me could be the material for future blog postings. Perhaps I'll get the chance to see the places I've always wanted to but (because of a lack of money) have never done. When one is barely maintaining a roof over their head and the basics of life due to working a low wage job they can't afford to move,travel,or participate in various social outings. At the same time if one is in the same economic situation and they loose what little they struggle to hold onto they have no reason to stay put where they're at UNLESS that's where they want to be.

So the the meaning of my blog's name will finally be realized and be what it's intended to be - about my adventures traveling. I never understood why people agreed to a rigged game and playing "responsible" when most jobs no longer pay enough to afford the basics of life - shelter,a stay-at-home mate,a family,adequate spending and savings,and et cetera. It's one thing to work low wage jobs when that's all there is but agreeing to participate in what the system expects from us with no adequate compensation is preposterous.

 Had it not been for people in my life helping me out (from time to time) I would've long been where I'm soon to be - without a permanent place to call home. I know so many people living with family because most of the jobs don't pay enough to live on and those that do find better jobs rarely have the luxury of previous generations - enjoying job stability. So they might be making good money for the time being but the likelihood of being laid off in a few years or so are high.

Times are changing but most are oblivious to it. It amazes me the magnitude of people's blindness to what's going on. The lack of the media's mention of how broken the economy is largely the cause of it. So many people tend to think that they're own misfortunes in life are purely of their own making. That's not true. When you're participating in a rigged game no matter how hard you try and get ahead you'll fail. I hope more people realize this in the not too distant future. Then again - most might never come to this awareness and if that's the case - things stand little chance for improvement.

I'm not gonna self delude myself with the positive thinking jargon or drowning my troubles with booze. That's not my style. I'd rather stay awake and focused on the harsh reality of life while still trying to make the best of my life all the same. I hope everything works out for the best. I'm nervous but I just can't give up. Life is too short as it is and I want to live it to the fullest - even if it's living life as a wanderer, a pan handler,or as a street urchin.

 

The Lack of Community and a Living Wage

I've recently disconnected my internet service for a variety of reasons but the primary reasons were to save money and to keep myself from constantly being "plugged in". I have nothing against this technology and I'd be lying if I said I did. It's great. However, I can't help but to notice that people don't seem to congregate and socialize one on one like they used to and to attribute this soley on the economy is silly. It's mostly due to the easy access to the internet and how easily we're able to stay connected. Again, that's not a problem in and of itself but most of society has yet to realize just how stiffling this is and how it's attributing to an ever increasing sense of isolation. When was the last time you had a casual chat with a neighbor? Do you see children playing outside?

 This is the primary cause for a weakening sense of community but certainly not the only cause. I'm not going to gloss over the fact that we're in an economic down turn. The lack of industry and jobs (blue and white collar alike) is largely due to outsourcing which (along with technology replacing workers in many fields) has led to a lack of disposable income. 

We all deserve an enriching life regardless of our creed,breed,gender,and etc. There are many factors leading to the total subjugation of humanity - rendering us powerless. Unfortunately this leads to ever increasing draconian control . One such method being implemented is the destruction of humanity's diversity. None dare call it genocide but that's exactly what it is. It's wrong no matter what the social engineers would have us think to the contrary.

So be free like a bird I say. Learn to want less and that will be the beginning of of one's journey to a better life. That's easier said than done but it's possible. How much do any of us really "need" anyhow? That's not to say we can't want and have more than the basic requirements for survival but why want too much? It's not freeing and it's certainly not the way to go about having a truly fullfilling life.

With that said I bid each and everyone of you a great day. 

Foggy Thinking & Mercury in Retrograde

The accuracy of astrology is amazing. I remember years ago (when I was a bit more skeptical) not giving it much thought either way. I knew very little about it and the idea that the stars could impact upon the affairs in my life troubled me - epecially when my girlfriend at the time reminded me (on more than one occassion) that our astrological signs wern't compable and that our time together wouldn't last. That's just not something I wanted to hear. It was true and as a result she helped spark my interest in this ancient art and for that I'm very grateful.

  I didn't have much to blog about and with it being Mercury in retrograde it didn't help any. Communication is especially bad right now especially considering that we're in the astrological house of Pisces. It's wise to use caution during this time. Thankfully, it's 2/3rds of the way over with and we're offically out of it on the 18th of this month.

  On the flip side it's an especially good time to be in a creative frame of mind. If painting,drawing,and writting is your specially now is a great time to delve in and start writting a short story, start painting again, or just go out and take photographs of random things that spark your imagination.


Click here to better understand how Mercury being in retrograde differs depending upon the astrological sign.
   




 

The Year of the Snake Approaches

 Soon we'll be in the year of the snake.  The tail end of the dragon didn't end in diseaser like the Mayan calendar seemed to predict. That's not to say all is well and good. The world economy seems to be on the brink of a possible economic melt down. The unemployment rate in the U.S. is still high and probably more so than the offical stats seem to suggest.

 It's good to be prepared for diseaster should it strike and not limiting one's self to a single news source. In other words - the mainstream media is probably a good place to get information on the lattest pop culture craze,weather, or any new techno gadgets on the market but that's about it. The free press is a joke and probably always has been. It's  more so now than in times past.

 It's a shame that so few know how to farm,identify wild edible/medicinal plants,and lack basic hunting skills - especially in today's shaky economy. The rise in backyard gardens has been taking place for several years now and is likely to continue. The more we can be self sustainable the better.It's not a matter of if so much as a matter of when a major disaster strikes with pralyzing effects on the world at large - possibly leading to a world depression OR worse.

This could lead to a postponing of our way of life taking decades (or longer) to get back to where we are now if a more environmentally sound way isn't implemented on a global scale. Sadly, greed and complacency is what keeps us from being able to make the transition to a more sustainable way of life. It's likely that future generations will look back on this era with utter disdain at our lack of foresight and unwillingness to stand up and do what needs to be done.

That's not to say that these doom and gloom scenarios are unavoidable.Contrary to many naysayers I believe it's possible to avoid disenting into a dark age where technology and civilization disintegrates to dystopic proportions. It probably will require a paradigm shift in our way of thinking to avoid a total ecopnomic collapse but in the worst case scenario (should it lead to that); it's unlikely it would be permanant. Perhaps a massive shock causing a temporary ending to our way of life is exactly what's needed to snap people out of thier apathy and to realize how frivilous excessive consummerism is along with silly pop culture associated with it.

If I'm giving the impression that the people in general are at fault for how they think and live then I need to make it very clear that's not the case. Socio-economic engineering has done a thorough job of creating a society of complacency,shallownes,and utter depravity. This is exactly what the ruling elites want. They want people smart enough to be their slaves but dumb enough not to question; going along with the status quo.They work all angles of the political spectrum to their advantage.

You'll be hard pressed to find a group of individuals or an organization that truly embraces balance. A perfect example here in the U.S. is the Democratic and the Republican parties. Good luck finding a party that represents both gun rights and is also pro union or values the environment and likewise doesn't cater to special interest groups - liberal or conservate. It's not going to happen. It doesn't fit into their agenda of duality. They want us fighting amongst ourselves. It keeps us from focusing on the real manipulators of our collective "reality".

 What is the main tool used to control us? It's money. What's worse is that the worth of our currency has decreased leading many to work longer and more hours to bring home less than those in previous generations. I can't emphasise that enough. Many don't realize just how serious this is. When my parents (and more so their parents and their parents before them) were my age the average job paid enough to live on.

 It used to be the norm that a one income family was sufficent and could afford a man a house paid off in less than a decade, a vehicle,children,a stay at home wife (domestic engineer) with money left over for savings,recreation, and etc. Not anymore. In addition to the currency loosing buying power; most of our manufacturing jobs have gone overseas leaving this a service oriented nation. The typical mcjob just doesn't pay enough to live on.

 Forget about paying rent and having enough money left over for other necessities like food,transportation,and clothing - much less starting a family of your own. The days of owning your own home, having reliable transportion,and being able to start your own family are just not feasible anymore. What's amazing about it all is how so few people realize this. Is it any wonder why more people are single and living with their parents (or other family) well past their 20s and even 30s? Still think hard work pays off? Think again. All you'll get for your hard work is exploitation. There's simply too many people and not enough jobs to go around but even if that wern't the case you'd just have more employed people working their butts off and not making ends meet.

   It makes more sense now than ever to just let it all go. I'm not saying that we all have to quite our jobs. If everyone did that mass starvation would sky rocket. Better methods of living need to be discovered (or re-discovered) and implemented. Long gone are the days that we could be rugged individualists earning our own way with little to no help from others. For most people it costs too much just to live. Busting one's butt off at some mind numbing job that pays sub human wages doesn't work and it's long overdue that we stopped fooling ourselves into thinking it does.

People shouldn't be expected to work 2 or even 3 jobs just to get by. That's ridiculous. Humanity in general deserves better than this.We're constantly being told (inone way or another) that we're lazy and not worth our salt just because we demand to be treated decently and paid a living wage.

We should question it all as it's not working for the well being of humanity at large. The rift between the "haves" and the "have-nots" continues to widen. Perhaps more of us should just cut back to one full time (or even part time) job and accept the fact that we're not living in an age of prosperity any more. If that means saving up for a small travel trailer and parking it in our parent's backyard then so be it. The truth may hurt but it's more hurtful pretending that kissing our boss's ass or going into debt for a college degree will magically provide us the opportunity that was once standard for the typical highschool drop out not so long ago.

Allthough I've never had much I've already downsized quite a bit and I plan on doing more. Eventually, I might just let it all go and wander into the wild blue yonder - working odd jobs,panhandeling,and just enjoying life in the here and now. Perhaps I'll go moneyless. I'm not sure. I'll cross that bridge when it comes. With that I bid everyone a happy new year and I hope this year proves to be better than the one before.

  

Minimalsim and Peace of Mind

Practitioners of minimalism vary in their degree of extremity - with sadhus and monks being it's most loyal adherants.  I've felt drawn to ths way of life for quite some time. I think living without excess all these years helped bring it about. Was I resentful of it? To some degree I was but that waned a bit as I got older. I experienced how free-ing it was.

As the economy continues to weaken some of the people I'm aquainted with (of all income levels) have also realized how shallow and unfullfilling excessive materialism is. This seems to be happening on a collective level and as much as one's ego might find pleasure in thinking that they're "unique" and "special" in their ability to see through all this pettiness; it's simply not true. 

 Just imagine letting it all go OR at least most of it. Not being attached to it. Having little to weigh you down.. Most people take for granted the impoirtant stuff until it's gone. Meaningful relationships,good 
health,the ability to communicate with others,peace of mind and the ability to up and go with ease - now that's freedom.

 Time is way too short for these restrictions and all too often we feel obligated to a job,paying bills,and to other people who often aren't that fond of us. It's sad.

Adopting a life of minimalism isn't necessarily limited to places or things but to people as well. It's easier to let others go that are constantly putting us down - leaving us in a sour mood. It's those we cherish (and likewise bring joy to our life) who are harder to let go of. Sometimes they're the very people we have to release - especially if they don't feel the same way for us as we do for them. It's painful but in situations like this it's for the best. I know this to be true. When people don't want your companionship (romantically or otherwise) it's best to let them go.


Here's some quotes of famous minimalists:

1954. Sandra Cisneros. “But I deal with this by meditating and by understanding I’ve been put on the planet to serve humanity. I have to remind myself to live simply and not overindulge, which is a constant battle in a material world.”
1948. Jackie French Koller. “There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.”
1947. Linda Breen Pierce. “Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual.”
1943. Tenzin Palmo. “One of the advantages of being born in an affluent society is that if one has any intelligence at all, one will realize that having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside.”
1940s. Duane Elgin. “The intention of voluntary simplicity is not to dogmatically live with less. It’s a more demanding intention of living with balance. This is a middle way that moves between the extremes of poverty and indulgence.”
1940s. Richard Foster. “We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy.”
1940. Doris Janzen Longacre. “The trouble with simple living is that, though it can be joyful, rich, and creative, it isn’t simple.”
1936. Tom Robbins. “Any half-awake materialist well knows – that which you hold holds you.”
1936. Richard Bach. “The simplest things are often the truest.”
1935. Harold Kushner. “Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth, or power. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter.”
1935. The Dalai Lama. “If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements.”
1926. Thich Nhat Hanh. “Smile, breathe and go slowly.”
1920. Elise Boulding. “The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.”
1918. Vernon Howard. “You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.”
1911. E.F. Schumacher. “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.”
1900. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
1899. Edwin Way Teale. “Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.”
1895. Lin Yutang. “Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.  The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”
1886. Mies Van Der Rohe. “Less is more.”
1879. Albert Einstein. “Make things as simple as possible but no simpler.”
1879. Will Rogers. “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
1879. Katharine Fullerton Gerould. “Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life.”
1876. Francis Jourdain. “One can furnish a room very luxuriously by taking out furniture rather than putting it in.”
1872. Bertrand Russell. “It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.”
1836. Anna C. Brackett. “We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties.”
1834. William Morris. “Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
1834. Charles Spurgeon. “You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”
1828. Leo Tolstoy. “There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.”
1817. Henry David Thoreau. “Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Things do not change, we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.”
1817. Baha’u'llah. “Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge.”
1813. Henry Ward Beecher. “It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.”
1804. George Sand. “Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit experience and the last effort of genius.”
1783. Joseph Brotherton. “My riches consist, not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.”
1774. Elizabeth Ann Seton. “Live simply so that others may simply live.”
1771. Hosea Ballou. “Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.”
1562. Lope de Vega. “With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.”
1452. Leonardo da Vinci. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
1380. Thomas a Kempis. “Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.”
864. Wu-Men. “If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, then this is the best season of your life.”
570. Muhammed. “Poverty is my pride.”
330. Saint Basil. “If one had taken what is necessary to cover one’s needs and had left the rest to those who are in need, no one would be rich, no one would be poor, no one would be in need.”
55. Epictetus. “Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.”
—
1 BCE. Seneca. “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
5 BCE. Jesus Christ. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”
6 BCE. John the Baptist. “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
341 BCE. Epicurus. “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”
469 BCE. Socrates. “The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
500 BCE. Lao Tzu. “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
551 BCE. Confucious. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
563 BCE. Buddha. “To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.”

 So what are you waiting for? A life of simplicity is yours if you want it and it doesn't necessarily equate a life of doing without. It just means not feeling like you have to have more than you need. If you're honest with yourself - you really don't want much more than you need anyhow. Remember when you were a kid and you got a shiney new toy and how much you enjoyed for a few days before growing bored of it and not touching it for weeks,months,years,or ever?

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." - 1 Corinthians 13:11

The Meltdown Draws Nearer All The Time

  This video reveals what I've suspected for quite some time. I've known that America's (and the world's) heydays were numbered. The middle class has been dying a slow but very painful death for awhile now. I noticed something wasn't quite right as far back as the early 1980s. That's when I first noticed the blight taking place.

A few years later I noticed that the pace had picked up quite a bit with abandoned buildings and crumbling roads becoming the norm. The infrastructure continued to break down over the years with whole sections of select large cities and many smaller towns across the land being abandoned. The division between the "haves" and the "have-nots" continues to widen with no hope in sight.

 I knew this day was coming. It's not a matter of if but rather of when. The whole economic infrastructure is crumbling around us and the real issues are not being addressed. In my opinion this ongoing global economic melt down is being allowed to happen - but I digress. That's another topic for another time. 


The best thing one can do is liquidate as much of their assets that's feasibly possible - without going to extremes as many of the fear mongers seem to suggest. You got to be practical in these matters and keep a clear head. It's not time to panic BUT you need to take precautions so when the shit does hit the fan so to speak you'll be prepared. If it's so bad that the whole system collapses and society comes to a fault - leading to a full blown state of anarchy in a matter of months then it's not gonna matter anyhow. I just don't see that happening. If it does get that bad then it'll probably happen gradually over a 5,10,or even 20 year process. That still gives people time to prepare.

  Anyhow, with all that paranoia aside it's best to start preparing a relocation to a local that you've always wanted to go to OR that you simply feel you stand a better chance to live a comfortable life aka a climate you're more acclimated to racially and the such. Likewise it's best that this locale also be more in line with your political leanings. For example if you're left leaning liberal that does better in colder weather then places like Canada,the pacific Northwest or even the upper new New England are is you're best bet. Then again, if you have a pretty good tolerance for hot muggy weather and tend to lean more to the right politically then one of the Dixie states might be to your liking.

Maybe this could be an opportunity to just stop whatever it is you're doing and smell the flowers - to live in the moment and to live one day at a time. Maybe the rat race isn't all that's cracked up to be.
 

Streamlining and Minimalism

 I've been busy streamlining. I've cleaned out my closets; getting rid of things I neither want or need. I've converted all my music to audio files on Google music and most of my movies and other videos have been converted to mp4 format. I'm tired of all the bulk - the clutter. I want it gone. I feel driven; like it's a necessity - to get rid of excess crap. Perhaps I'm a bit paranoid I'll wind up homeless and I don't want to loose what I have. Then again it could be that I'm going through an o.c.d phase.

  

There's a lot of distractions in this day and age. It can be a bit overwhelming. How many gadgets do we really need? People have t.v.,radio,computers,video games,smart phones,and etc. All for the sole purpose of distracting us and and not focusing on the here and now.  It's pathetic. No one talks to anyone anymore. Anti-social behavior is becoming the norm. I've noticed less people willing to engage in small talk with one another. It's like everyone is in a hurry - to do nothing and or everything. I don't like the direction we're heading - but where that is I haven't the slightest clue. Perhaps a cyborg reality of sorts. It doesn't seem too promising.

I feel this ever increasing sense of urgency to get my life in order and prepare for the time when I really do let it all go.I hope it's by choice and not because of the ever growing "recession" that the "experts" refuse to call it - a global economic melt down. I suspect it's being allowed to happen by design. Whether it's conspiracy or just greed intertwined with stupidity matters not because it doesn't look good. 

I can worry about every one else but it won't do me any good. I have little choice but to look out for number one because if I don't no one else will. It's not that I don't care for the well being of others but my responsibility is first and foremost myself. Is that selfish? Of course it is. There's a time to make yourself your first priority. I'm in no position to do otherwise. Hopefully that will change - not just for me but for everyone else. If not then we're in
for a world of hurt.

Friendship and the New Year

 It's 2012 and the year of the water dragon. A 12 year cycle has come and gone. It seems like not long ago I was celebrating my 30th birthday and spending time with friendly acquaintances - in addition to rekindling a relationship with an old flame.Things were looking up and like this year, it too was a year of the dragon. I hadn't been this content with life in awhile. I had a full time job, buds,and a girlfriend I cared deeply for. It wasn't perfect but what is?

 As with the course of time - things change. I still have the buds but we're not as close as we once were. As for the girlfriend - it's history. It was fun but we both knew it wouldn't last. She helped me become more emotionally honest with myself (and others) as well as sparked my interest in astrology. Need I say that she was born in a year of the dragon?

I have no idea what this year has in store for me. I'm trying to eat healthier and get more active. I hope I follow through. There's places I'd like to go and things to do. Whether that actually happens or not is largely dependent on doing what needs to be done. I'm currently finishing up my reading. I really feel this is an important year and a mild (but calm) sense of urgency seems to be my motivating factor.

I can honestly say that I've never fit in with mainstream society. Having a family and being in a romantic relationship with the "ideal" woman isn't for me. It doesn't help that society is depraved and the economic infrastructure is broken. All the same - I'm a confirmed bachelor and now that I'm in my 40s people can see it and accept me for it. It no longer seems like some form of pity party or self loathing.
 
  I see couples with their kids and their amazing careers and it just doesn't appeal to me. I don't see this as the ultimate human experience. It seems so primitive. So ...... low frequency. Thank goodness most people don't view it as I do or our species would be going extinct right now.

Life is short. Not everyone fits neatly into some mold and the longer a person tries to convince himself otherwise the less time he has to just get out there and live the life he was meant to live. That's not to say that anyone can be a doctor, or an engineer, or have some other high powered and high paying job but to stay put some place just because of some undue sense of loyalty or fear of change is self stifling and you'd have only yourself to blame. 

Be free. Be free like a bumble bee or a bird flying high in the wild blue yonder. Think they're worried about paying the mortgage on time every month? Or holding down some mind numbing job? Feel you have to have that 50 inch flat screen plasma t.v.? Really need that gas guzzling sports utility vehicle? What's up with trying to keep up with the Joneses anyhow? What's the point? Do you really think they give a damn about you either way? Is your sense of self worth really dependent on others' opinion of you? 

Nope. It's not for me and I'm not afraid to say it either. This is potentially my year to get my act together and that's what I plan to do. I might be a looser in the eyes of the average lemming out here but so be it. My path differs and where it leads is the goal but it's the journey I'm most looking forward to. 

Yuletide Yippiness

It's that time of year again. People are getting together with loved ones - friends and family alike. It's a time when some contemplate the deeper meaning of life while simultaneously basking in the festivity of this ancient winter tradition. It's largely a Christian tradition now but in times past it was very much pagan as are most traditions. The story of Christ's birth; the new born savior bringing greater light into the world is the personification of the the days getting longer from the 25th of December onward. It's a time to celebrate new life and hopefully learning from past mistakes. As for me, I'm hoping it leads to better lifestyle choices,making better connections with the people I most value, and traveling.

Yet there's a downside to this most cherished of holidays. For several decades it's been way too materialistic. Instead of just enjoying the pretty lights, the decorations, the yuletide caroling,and the crisp winter air people are stressing over how much stuff they feel they have to buy for others - often times for people they don't even like and who make more money than they do. People continue to ruin their credit just to make an impression and not to appear like a cheapskate. This is the unfortunate downside to capitalism and how how corporations have managed to make this a holiday of commerce more than anything else.

I suspect this will change over time BUT not without much resistance - not just on the part of the mega corps (who stand to loose a profit) but also by people at large who simply don't earn sustainable wages. The gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" continues to widen with the middle class well on it's way to utter oblivion. What's even more disturbing is the fact that roughly half of all Americans now live at the poverty level or below. Without a manufacturing base and massive illegal immigration continuing at an alarming rate; there's simply not enough jobs to go around. What few exist are mostly service oriented and don't provide living wages for it's employees - part time or full time. 

Regardless of one's religious views (or lack there-of) I see no reason why this tradition has to end. Sooner or later, the materialistic bent it's taken will come to a halt. We're simply not as wealthy of a nation we once were. That's no reason why we can't enjoy a large gathering with our friends and family BUT it's gonna have to be toned way down - monetarily speaking. Imagine not worrying about buying gifts and having to rush to the mall and dealing with all the traffic. Instead you enjoy playing card games with close friends and relatives,sitting by the fire place singing songs and sipping apple cider.

A little bit of minimalism can alleviate a lot of undue stress due to unnecessary attachments. Have what you need but not much more. If society at large did the same this would be a better world. It doesn't mean you have to be a vagabond lacking transportation and a few electronic gadgets here and there BUT feeling pressured to have the latest smart phone or plasma t.v. is ludicrous. Most people now see having cable and/or satellite service as a necessity. It's pathetic. It's not only an economic drain but it's highly distracting - leading to poor social skills among other unsavory things. It's just not worth it.

“Live simply so others may simply live.”
― Mother Teresa

With that I bid everyone Seasons Greetings and a happy new year. 

Conservative Kookery and Liberal Lunacy

 
 I don't know about you but liberal loons irritate me just as much as a Bible beating fundie or libertarian type - just differently. Much of what's promoted is out of sync with humanity's nature. From my travels across this country it seems the polarization of both liberals and conservatives has become more extreme with less tolerance for those disagreeing with them ideologically and economically.

On the left you have the liberals - pandering more to "minorities",feminism, and multiculturalism. Yet this is the very group of people that also support better wages and better working conditions in addition to equal rights for everybody - left wing,right wing, or anything in between.. As with anything - it's ideology has some validity intermixed with absurdity.

Then you have conservatives - pandering to fundamentalist Christians and big business alike. Neither wing on this bird of prey has the people's best interest at heart. Adhering to partial truths and promoting absurdities at the same time is what's wrong with the current system. Sadly, there's big money behind both groups and unless people en mass realize the extent of their manipulation things will get worse before they get better.

Let's get one thing straight; there's nothing compassionate about conservatism and there's nothing liberating about liberalism.Within both these ideologies the bad outweighs any good. It doesn't matter whether there's a Republican or Democrat in office because the socioeconomic infrastructure will continue on it's downward spiral. Each year that passes this nation looks and feels more like banana republic than the greatness it once was. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer with the middle class close to extinction.

The corporations finance both parties. What little differences that exists between the parties is all talk. In truth - each candidate (regardless of political affiliation) is gonna do the bidding of it's financial backers. It's been this way for a long time and without enough people understanding this and networking with one another and working for REAL change it's only going to get worse.

For more information on the Occupy Together movement click here .

 The 1%-ers don't give a damn about us. We're just goyim to them -just a number. Think it's any wonder why they promote the "virtues" of a "free" market? They know the economy is rigged because they're the ones rigging it. They own the media, the banks, the publishing companies,and all politicians (to varying degrees). Anyone saying hard work and perseverance (alone) is enough to enjoy a life of opulence is a bold face liar. They know that in order to keep the populace at bay (and content with the status quo) people need hope even if it's false hope.

The leveling of the playing field is taking place but it's not something to celebrate as the conditions of the third world gradually become the norm in every top rate city,nation,and continent on the planet. Alas, the vassals will regain total control as the masses compete for unsustainable wages - all in the name of free enterprise and "progresse". It's disgusting but it's exactly where we're heading. The adherents of "unbridled" capitalism (as promoted by the Ayn Rand and Milton Freedman) will have a rude awakening when they learn that the very model that they held in high esteem was a farce and that they were merely played for fools by those born into money.

 The current system isn't working for the benefit of mankind as a whole and it's long overdue that we considered other models. No system is "perfect" - whatever that means. I'd like to see the implementation of a resource based economy. However, the one promoted by Jaque Fresco and Peter Joseph seems a bit lacking. While too much power in the hands of the few isn't good the same be said of it's lack. A strong central government with laws and etc is essential to keep order. To think mankind can live in some utopian dream and self govern him/herself all on their own is a bit naive and foolish as far as I'm concerned.

It's all about balance and the acceptance of truth , most of which has been deemed politically "incorrect" nowadays although true all the same. Is it hopeless? No. It's unlikely we'll be moving in the right direction until things get much worse. Until then, try to enjoy life the best you can and learn to be as unattached to things and places as possible. Stay in contact with loved ones (family and friends) and if you're in a posiiton to start storing food,water,and other essentials then by all means start doing it - sooner rather than later.