Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving and the Absence of Gratitude and Manners

Dog Poet Transmitting.......

May your noses always be cold and wet.

(If the love we awaken in other people is an example of our value to life then Nastatia Nietzsche was priceless. She passed to a higher plane just the other day. This should be a reminder of how temporary our time is and an inspiration to do the very best we can. In that sense Nastatia excelled and left a deep imprint on the hearts and lives of those who knew her. Seeing her with the big cats is a touching affair. She was a regular visitor to these blogs and some of you might have been aware of her. She was the recipient of a deep love from Marilyn and Jabari who rescued her from the darkness in which they found her. Rest in peace, the ineffable Nastatia.)



We are definitely in the calm before the storm. When you seek to understand the movements of war you have only to first look at the economic indicators. You can ignore the saber rattling. It's the markets that you have to watch, because conflict and the deaths of many are their escape hatches into more enduring periods of abuse.

The psychopathic indifference of people capable of things like this and this, tells you that anything and everything is on the table. Now, the people are rising up around the world and the vicious thug, hirelings of the dark side, are performing on video for the startled eyes of an awakening world. Then there is the telling and accidental irony of cosmic humor wafting above the stink of reality; new world is coming, old world is going and the ripping sounds of hard separations and the click of easy release attend the phenomena of transformation. Rise to the call or be jerked from your beds. The decision is in your hands.

Today is Thanksgiving for those resident in the lands torn from the hands of the Native Americans. Despite that, I like Thanksgiving, because gratitude is one of my most valuable possessions. If you do not possess gratitude you are in serious trouble, even if nothing has happened yet, it will. You can count on that. Be grateful in every moment it may occur to you. Let tears brim at your comprehension of how much you have to be thankful for. One of the secrets of gratitude is that those who practice it are given reasons to be grateful. Comprehend this! It is important. It is only fitting that I include my Thanks giving poem on this day, beautifully rendered by the inimitable Patrick Willis:

Patrick Willis: Thanksgiving, The Day After


One of the things you notice in a culture, terminally afflicted by materialism and especially in the latter days, is the absence of gratitude. Gratitude is replaced by whining demands and assumed entitlement. It expresses itself in pushing and shoving, tailgating, car horns and middle fingers through the windshield. The lack of manners is a general condition. I miss the practice of manners as an automatic function of the human state. It's worse for those who have let them go. Certain things make you human and the lack of them sends you 'down' the road.

There are certain inflexible rules to the smooth running of the cosmos. We don't completely apprehend them in their fullness. It is this partial knowledge that leads to so much confusion in our lives. You may not believe in a divine hand and you may not believe in anything but the meat puppet format. That's not important to the understanding of what I am saying. You know, somehow, that there are rules in life and I don't mean the ones the overlords use to steer and control you. Somehow you know there is such a thing as Karma. I watch you wherever I am. I watch how you move and stand and the rest and it tells me things. Humans fascinate me from the standpoint of a cultural anthropologist. I can watch them all day long. There is so much that is predictable and then there is what is not predictable. In times of material darkness, the predictability factor goes up because the chains and leashes that bind people to the wheel are heavier and stronger. That's another reality or rule that operates in the universe. It's related to negative electro-magnetism which, if the process were more comprehensively understood could transform this world in ways that beggar the imagination. Heh heh, I almost wrote 'bugger'. I see so much rape going on all the time that it is a constant feature of my perceptions. I know there are those of you who like rap. My displeasure with it is the overall effect on the society. It is very often a rape soundtrack. It accompanies and juices the act; lubriciously speaking and, yes, I know there's inspired work in that format, however rare it may be so you don't have to point this out (grin).

The callipygian proprietor of our collective attractiveness, seems to yearn for the temporary completeness of being filled with something and the world is happy to provide that through its ass bandit reps. The reversed Kundalini accounts for some of this. Kundalini reverses or gets trapped in the elevator at certain floors, when the pull of materialism outweighs the pull of its natural course; quite understandable in these times. Proper operation of the Kundalini allows you to run around with tigers, like Nastatia. In India, yogis at a certain level of awareness and possessed of particular siddhis, frolic with the wild life or simply live alongside them. This is so widely known within that culture, or what used to be that culture before Bollywood turned into Godzilla, that I don't need to say any more about it.

It's all about controlling your animal. Once you get to that, well, there you are and a host of interesting capacities are at your disposal. I would think that this would be a much greater attraction than the shit people get all hot and bothered about but, that's just me. At this time, the animal side is preemptive and that bodes no good for society at large. However, those who have the other side of their nature preemptive can move through any kind of jungle when needed, not that they would choose to be there in the first place but, shit happens and sometimes you do it because it's the right thing and that includes 'taking one for the team'; should such a high honor be accorded to you. Of course, you don't have to believe any of the things I say. I've proven them to myself and that's the important thing. There is that big difference between intellectual apprehension and visceral awareness and it's a biggie.

I've said many times that life is for the purpose of demonstration. Sometimes the presentation of it becomes surreal and absurd, as it is now and very important people are given the opportunity to show their true colors AND make a complete fool of themselves in front of the whole world AND show how inhumane and vicious they can be with such a casual indifference to the act and the consequences ...and there will be consequences. It is the most amazing kind of arrogance among the privileged that they believe they cannot be touched and then, out of nowhere... and it's not really nowhere; they just weren't paying any damn attention or thought themselves to be behind protective glass, well, good luck with that.

The thugs in Egypt are using nerve gas on the people, while publicly proclaiming they are protecting the people and serving their interests. It's really evident in the testimony of the Khmer Rouge at their trial; no remorse, just excuses and always inclusive of their acting on the public's behalf. Denial is an amazing thing but it's also another thing you can't take with you when you go (grin).

Yeah, that calm before the storm. As the economic indicators go haywire, the blood quotient thermometer is rising. The shredded flesh barometer, is also showing signs of a high pressure front. People never get as violent and (operating out of reinforced ignorance) insane as when they are protecting something that is meaningless and worthless in the cosmic scheme of things. It's like jumping into a fire to rescue colored stones that they became convinced were more valuable than their lives. Like I said, watching people is a fascinating enterprise and it involves a great deal of shaking one's head. Even when you directly point things out to people they routinely continue as they were going. Some years ago, in Nigeria I think, a gasoline tanker crashed and people were out there, with their buckets, going nuts for some gas and then it caught fire and a lot of people bought it in a gruesome way. A few years later, in the same country, wherever it was and... recently, the same thing happened again and people were out there doing it again and then it caught fire again and people got burned again.

The disappearance of manners and gratitude is tied to values. When one's values become crass and preeminently superficial, gratitude and manners go out the window. They become like homeless beggars searching for a welcoming hearth but there's no room at the inn. Gratitude should be an honored guest; kind of the reverse of The Rothschilds setting an empty chair for their honored guest. That all comes down to values too. Your destiny and fate are determined by what you value and you are going to be seeing that in spades all over. We're going to see the worst and the best in us on display with relentless frequency and you won't have to ask Kenneth what that is.


End Transmission.......

Some people have been doing some interesting collaborations and I thought you might like to see them. Here is a lady named Erin Parsley dancing to a poem:



...then there is Patrick Willis and The Level Shift collaborating on another piece:



This week's radio show is now up for download. Meanwhile, have a wonderful day!

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Les. That was beautiful!

Anonymous said...

.....One of the secrets of gratitude is that those who practice it are given reasons to be grateful.....
How beautiful, how simple, how true.
The Universe does work in wonderous ways and for that I am
very grateful
Happy Thanksgiving
Linda

thelevelshift said...

Here is a love song to the One:


Much of This Story is Left Unsaid

Thank you.

Robin Redbreast said...

Gratefully grateful Les :)

Your words are so ....
Holistic -
Covers everything.
Everything covered...

Gratitude in
Serving others
Serving self
Serving divine.

Observing/watching others -
I love people watching :)
Mannerisms,
Movements,
The eyes...
Also: so often you can tell a man/woman from what he has to say (or doesn't say)

Serving and grateful every moment for it all.
All is good and to plan
Interesting times -
'I'm loving it' :)

(PS We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Wales (nor UK), but I do try to practice gratitude in every breath - and it pays dividends!!!!).

Also, please think of us - we are striking on Wednesday...)

LLPP xxxx
Robin

Visible said...

Something we can all approve of.

Anonymous said...

For all that you do in the future Les, please take care of yourself.

Anonthy

gurnygob said...

Les about the petition. My wife and daughters and most other women I know; and some men, love these sorts of programmes ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’, big brother, I'm a celebrity get me out of here and a host of other soul sucking, mind numbing TV programmes I can barely mention. Their names are on the tip of my tongue but I can’t bring myself to say them. The psychopathic indifference of people you talked about in your post today is certainly an indicator. The indifference shown by those around us who prefer not to be bothered by such crimes taking place in the world because they are more interested in “Keeping up with the Kardashians “ and such, must surely be another indicator of the times. Maybe I shouldn’t be saying this about my own, but it the truth. (grin)

About gratitude. Gratitude is a rare thing these days especially in young adults as well as young children. As you said, they just assume they have the right to get and take whatever they want. No respect Les, that’s the problem.

I remember on year I was in a shopping mall and I was looking over the balcony at people busy with Christmas. They all seemed to be moving in some sort of hypnotic state. “I must spend, I must spend, I must spend.” Nice shiny gift shop, wallet, money, buy, thanks, would you like a bag for that madam, next!
It’s a mad mad world.

gurnygob

kalima said...

Your words gave me goosebumps--one thing I have noticed, being a teacher, mother and grandmother, is that gratitude (or lack of it) is taught. Like all essential ingredients for humanity, gratitude should be as integral to a person as a strong sense of self-worth (which is not being nurtured in the young, either). People show surprise when my two small granddaughters use the uncommon civility of manners out in public--it is becoming a rare but still beautiful sight to see these days. I am grateful for gratitude...it is truly a lifeline. Thank you, Les.

gurnygob said...

Sorry I forgot to say thanks.

Thank you for your great post today Les.

gurnygob.

Anonymous said...

i'm not really a rap guy either, but wanted to send this to you as I think you would appreciate the content:

http://youtu.be/sVQE0LPgOIY

collapse by akahik ancestorz

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Les. I clicked this on your sidebar:
Goon Squad
"I wouldn't feed that to my dog, but I will feed it to YOUR kids!"

And am now so very grateful that I have no turkey. Happy Red Thursday to all from Minnesota.

f8te said...

I know I am thankful for Les Visable and this surprising post today. Thanks Les. Hope you have a wonderful day/night.
Oh yeah, I'm also really sorry about your recent loss. I lost a 22 yr old kitty, Woodie, in sept. It's amazing how much they teach us about ourselves, what is really important and the world around us.

Thank you for what you do Les.

Erik said...

Hi All,

New Radioshow is available here:
http://visible-radio.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-20.html

A Happy Thanksgiving All ;)

Visible said...

This week's radio show is now up for download.

Hank said...

Ah yes, the gift of gratitude. The orgasm of the giving process. The joy of giving is not in the giving, but in the receiving. It's the gratitude for the gift, whatever form that may take, that provides the real gift. There is no joy in giving without it.
For the longest time I felt bad at christmas if someone gave me a gift and I didn't have one for them in return. That's when the real crime occured. I chose to wallow in my guilt and ended up witholding the real gift. The gratitude.
I have found that life, like people, don't give for no reason. If you are receiving a gift, then somewhere along the line you have done or chosen NOT to do something to deserve it. As a wise man once said, push all thoughts out of your head, and allow yourself to non judgementally bestow the true gift, and indulge for the sake of the giver in gracious acceptance.
Les, it's good to touch base with you once again, and to you and all here, have a happy day of giving thanks.

PS..As usual I have many thoughts about the current state of 'things', and I feel compelled to share them. I'll be back real soon. Peace to all.

Erik said...

@ The Level Shift

Wow Kristian, i really love this one

http://thelevelshift.co.uk/track/take-me-in-again

Visible said...

Good to see you again Hank!

siamkatt said...

Haha Kenneth what is the frequency? Didn't some nutter accost Dan Rather with this famous line? (on the mean streets of Gotham City)
Yes Les Gratitude is all important, like the old adage count your blessings instead of sheep etc.

thelevelshift said...

Thank you Erik.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to you and a gratitudinous day to all.

mayaseri said...

Les,
I loved that story about the spilled oil tanker I was in Zimbabwe in May that story literary happened in front of my eyes people were trying to scoop up spilled gasoline before it erupted and burnt them all.
Sad but true.
Thank you Les.
c.j

Gregory F. Fegel said...

My condolences on the loss of Nastatia. Reminds me of a cat I know who amazes us with her perception, communication, sincerity, and affection. Being grateful includes showing appreciation to all such friends.

Regarding rap: Gil Scott-Heron showed us how to speak poetry to music; and it can still be done. I wonder if, on some subtle level, the mechanization of music into electronica, lacking the human touch on instruments, facilitated the banality of much rap versing. Banal electronic music combined with banal spoken messages. A devaluation of the art of music and of poetry. Not always -- but certainly, far too often. What's needed are new artists in the manner of Gil Scott-Heron, to reassert what good poetry is, and a move away from mechanical electronica and back to hands-on musicianship.

Pertinent to animal friends, states of consciousness, the use of language, and to gratitude, I want to recommend a 50-minute NOVA documentary video to you and your readers. It's called "My Life as a Turkey," and it's available to watch for free at the pbs.org website -- just enter a websearch for "My Life as a Turkey." The video is not about Thanksgiving or eating turkey. It's about the consciousness of animals. If you pay attention, it's a heavy-duty mind-blower and question-raiser.

Gregory F. Fegel said...

Correction: "My Life as a Turkey" is on Nature, not NOVA.

PJ London said...

Hi Les,

I have been reading your columns for some time now. Sometimes I get it and sometimes I don’t. I haven’t commented before as I have not felt in disagreement.

With regard to Rap, why would any one with discernment, be willing to sit through hours of that hurtful destructive noise and language, on the off-chance that there may be some nugget of value. I have watched interviews with some Rappers, they were articulate, intelligent and sometimes perceptive, and I wanted to scream “ why don’t you sing (figuratively speaking) in the way you speak, why descend to the lowest possible denominator.” I guess there is more money down there, but Oh, the cost to the society and the individual.

I have done a number of “Kind” or “Charitable” things in my life. Many of which have incurred considerable effort and cost. Some for relatives, some for strangers. Some expressed gratitude and I asked them please not to. I did not do it for them I did it for me. To maintain my “self-image” is a poor word, it feels more like “Self-value”. My brother is/was a Methodist minister, (in a very poor area) when he asked a man on a Sunday morning why he was not coming to church, the man replied that he had no shoes and was too embarrassed to enter the church. He gave him his shoes and Paul held the service in his socks. More importantly he made no mention of it. The man benefitted from Paul’s action, but Paul did it for his own reasons, for the benefit to himself, to maintain his own integrity, his interior-world-view of who he is.

Some times, you best serve others by denying them or opposing them. Do not expect gratitude. What I miss terribly and would wish for (as mentioned by another commenter) is graciousness. Gracious acceptance of a gift or service, Gracious acceptance of a refusal to serve or give.

I would be happy if my epitaph was “He was a Gentleman”

Please keep the columns coming.

Kind regards

Pete

Visible said...

Graciousness is an extension of manners, or the other way round.

Smyrna said...

I'm sure the Prince of Darkness fosters Rap and Reality TV just to reassure himself of the reach and depth of his power. Climate Change was for a different demographic. How he must laugh. He has a wicked sense of humour indeed.

DaveR said...

@Gregory F. Fegel said...

" Regarding rap: Gil Scott-Heron showed us how to speak poetry to music; and it can still be done. I wonder if, on some subtle level, the mechanization of music into electronica, lacking the human touch on instruments, facilitated the banality of much rap versing. Banal electronic music combined with banal spoken messages. A devaluation of the art of music and of poetry. Not always -- but certainly, far too often. What's needed are new artists in the manner of Gil Scott-Heron, to reassert what good poetry is, and a move away from mechanical electronica and back to hands-on musicianship."

Far be it from me to interrupt somebody on his soapbox, but I'm wondering at this point if our friend and music critic Gregory can tell us all just what constitutes "good" or "good" poetry. And by what leap of imagination does he intuit that electronica is created absent the hand of the artist? Perhaps he can point us to his own musical creations demonstrating these principles.

I've been asked many times how to tell good music from bad and I always say "Good music is music you like." If you've got something more definitive than that, then you are doing better than all my teachers in music school(s).

Anonymous said...

Happy T-Day, Vis.
Being able to read your work is one of the many things I am so very grateful for.
From the outside looking at me, I am a decrepit, poor old fool, but from my vantage, I am a prince, buoyed by the thoughts and energies of countless others who share the globe with me.
I sometimes get tears in my eyes as I think of all the blessings that have fallen upon me.
I am truly grateful, and I am reminded of that fact so many times a day.

Neal said...

The erased part sings to the ones that live forever. These mountains were beaches, and vice versa, and have the fossils and real time quakes to prove it. Far shores are like that, not really confusing, just shaking it for all She is worth. Erosion and Entropy are just words for what is happening, we don't buy into those rules,, but Tulpas is what happens from these kinds of responses. Maybe that is just being the sneaky bastards that show up at the right time, at the last breath.

I think I saw you once, and ran, being scared and being amazed are probably just a way to play this thing out.

Gregory F. Fegel said...

To DaveR:

Note that I am not alone here in criticizing rap. Visible and P.J. London have also done so.

Of course, broadly speaking, all sound is music, including the jackhammers outside your apartment and the eardrum-splitting sound of an aerial bombardment. So, in that sense, I agree with you that "Good music is music you like." And you are just as entitled to like what you like as I am entitled to like what I like.

It's my opinion that mechanically repetitious electronic beats do not have the artistic touch that real musicians give to real instruments. Let real musicians play the same notes as a beat machine and see which sounds better. The beat machine literally lacks "soul." No one has recreated the sound of a symphony orchestra with synthesizers.

Visible wrote that rap "is very often a rape soundtrack" and P.J. London commented that rap lyrics often "descend to the lowest possible denominator." I suggest that the mechanical sound of the electronic beat machine contributes "soulless" music that suits the spiritually-degraded rap lyrics. Overamplified beats that are actually intended to hurt the listener's and bystander's ears are a form of musical sado-masochism.

I like some of Public Enemy's music, some of Immortal Technique, and a quite a few other rappers. My nephew, DJ Wicked, has been turn-tabling and spinning for nearly two decades, backing Cool Ice, Potluck, and others. I don't dislike all rap music -- just the crudely mechanical and repetitious, over-amplified, and low-intellect stuff.

Yes, I am a singer and I play an instrument, both for the past 45 years. I've written more than 120 songs, one of which contains a rap.

Rebel 4E said...

Music Snobs..

Don't ya just love em (0__o)

Music carries it's own message to the listener.

Rap, Poetry, Who gives a toss ? Coded Language

Rob in WI said...

anon@10:51,
I found your comment most appropriate. The Divine provides us with an infinite panorama. Opportunities for learning. For this, I am most grateful, not just today, but everyday. Thanks, and happy TG to all, each in their own way. Rob

Anonymous said...

"we are definitely in the calm before the storm" This may be true, for those sailing placid waters. For the love of dog, we've been in the storm before the calm since the (w)hole thing began.
Be of good cheer! The calm before the storm scenario is a tried and true method of subtly instilling fear. Cold war, hot war. Take your pick. No, I'm not buying it. The complete destruction of the notion of God, and moral conduct based upon the alleged rules of the eternal sanctuary man must be extinguished, and this still takes time. We're getting closer, as the abortion mills confirm. Creating a generation who will be as indifferent to the elderly as the previous were to the unborn. We cater to a mannered, sterile, and civilized termination of creation.
Society is to be degraded into a sanctuary in which what is deemed permissible is defined by what is "illegal" and "legal" and the notion of transcendent laws and moral codes terminated once and for all.

Like Irene Zisblatt, I'm so happy right now I'm shitting diamonds.

Anonymous said...

pierre said...

Ta, Ta
not Tut Tut

Toot Toot!
..pierre

wv: parion . carry on a parody of a life worth living (food for the carrion).

Emmanuel said...

Thanksgiving and Christmas are suppose to be designated days to celebrate and reflect upon the altruistic and virtuous aspects of humanity. But like people who occasionally go to church to absolve themselves from their road rage filled days and then continue their road rage unabated immediately after leaving the sermon, the holidays mimic this. I think that during my childhood many years ago there was a sense of delving into a state of compassion and grace on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. But as we as a society descend into less manners, less grace, and less couth, this compassionate spirit has all but faded into the back. In its place is not to practice gratitude or reflect upon the deeper awareness of ourselves, but to strategize being first in line for black Friday discounts and to cover the point spread of football games. I would like to see the day arrive (god I want to see that day) when we evolve to a state of enlightenment that everyday is a Thanksgiving and Christmas day.

People mainly give thanks for things or conditions afterward if their desires transpire. I give thanks for the best possible outcome in advance for whatever endeavor or activity I embark on. By the power of my intent I am grateful for the best possible outcome and accept whatever happens as such. There is a poem that I have memorized and recite daily in the morning before I start my day. I cannot recall the source or author of this poem at the top of my head as I am composing this comment away from home where I have it. Perhaps someone will recognize it.

From the god/goddess of my being, I give forth thanks for the love that I am.
For the love in my life and the love that surrounds me, thank you.
Thank you for the miracle of life that I am, and thank you for the miracle of life I see reflected all around me.
Thank you for the gift of life that I am.
Thank you for this perfect body, my health, and well being.
Thank you for the abundance that I am, and thank you for the abundance reflected all about me.
Thank you for the riches and richness of my life.
Thank you for the river of money that flows to me and through me.
Thank you for the excitement and adventure of the countless wonderous possibilities and wondrous probabilities thank you.
Thank you for the wonderment and thank you for the joy.
Thank you for the beauty and harmony.
Thank you for the peace and tranquility.
Thank you for the laughter and thank you for the play.
Thank you for the opportunity of sharing and serving the gift that I am.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Visible, for being a bright source of Light, and thanks to all those that maintain the flicker of light in this age of darkness. Gratitude.

Anonymous said...

Yes, gas like Janet Reno used on
Waco.... the Egyptian youths were
holding up emptied canisters to camera phones to make sure we saw they
were made in USSA and obviously
sent with Obama's love to the Egyptian
dicktatorship.

Anonymous said...

Great writing, Les, thanks!

"Count your blessings,
name them one by one,
and it will surprise you
what the Lord hath done."

My mom taught me that as a child. It just came back to me and I can hear her singing it.

I am ecstatically grateful for many things, but today especially grateful for my nine cats:

Funnytail
Priscillapuss
Taggie
Chasey
Grayson
Blondie
Dot
Shorty
Two-Tone

Mo visible said...

Thank you Les.
Mo Visible

Unknown said...

I continue to read your blogs and have not missed one since and your words continue to carry me on through my days :) Its Thanksgiving today so I felt I should thank you for all that you do for your readers; its a constant breath of fresh air :) Thank you and all the best to you and everyone else here :) Much love,

Kswan

Sooke said...

Anon 10:51:00 PM:

You are beautiful.

William Freeman said...

Les, another great great one. Thank you.
Speaking of Rap, I'm not that much of a fan but I really do like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO18F4aKGzQ
Brother Ali - Uncle Sam Goddamn.
Even mentions Smoking Mirrors at the beginning.

Cheers

William Freeman

WV: endst......alle bitte austeigen, endstation.

Erin Parsley said...

Dear Visible,

If through my dance I may reflect back to you some of the beauty and inspiration you offer to us all, then I am humbled and grateful. If you look here you will see what I said.

I am so happy to bring Love through Dance to the Land of Visible! (where the new world is birthing...)

Yours,
Erin

the BCth said...

Gregory and Anon 6:09,

Here's a Youtube classic showcasing some true musical talent in the hip hop scene: Hip Hop Violin - Paul Dateh and inka one (instrumental)

Visible, you are a tool of the divine in the highest sense. Deepest gratitude to the One for sending you, and to you for your tireless endeavour to let its presence and power flow through you and assist others to do the same. Thanks for the latest radio show - a feast for the soul.

Heartfelt thanks also to James, Erik, amarynth, The Level Shift, Erin aka LifeinCreation, PatrickW, and everyone who gives of their hearts and minds here, too many to list. You all are amazing, and I'm blessed to be here with you.

In loving gratitude,
William

Anonymous said...

Hi all,
surprised but grateful to find a new episode here today. Having eight children and a dozen grandchildren I have passed through days where I needed to remember that just having my children around me in this war worn country was plenty to be grateful for. I have tried to teach my husband and my young'uns the healing power of gratitude and as you said--that being grateful attracts more to be grateful for. Of course none of us really bats a perfect score but there is still some time left. And to be fair I do have plenty to be proud of and thankful for in that department.
I thank you for brightening my day.
Grateful to not be in the US of Oz.
Grateful to not have a stupid turey on my table, and grateful for the comfort and good company here at your sites.
Love from Lebanon where
weare.one

herbal vaporizer said...

I loved that story about the spilled oil tanker I was in india in May that story literary happened in front of my eyes people were trying to scoop up spilled gasoline before it erupted and burnt them all.

Visible said...

A new Petri Dish is up-

The Hermit Crabs of Leviathan.

serimaya said...

Herbal Vaporiser,
Am I missing something?I made a similar observation earlier identical to the one you made November 25th 2011 at 11:08am while you reported from India I did observe from Zimbabwe was that in bad taste?I was trying to confirm Les' statement maybe that did not come out right, as I indicated sad but true.

c.j

Anonymous said...

Somewhat off topic, but in whole essence, on topic:
From the December American Conservative cover story "Monsanto's Monsters":
"What can we do about this transgenic
fixation in our culture?
1)Don't buy food with transgenics in it. That means buy organic, buy local, buy unprocessed, and know your farmer.
2)Develop a study group in your place of worship to examine what the apologists for transgenics
say against the tenets of your faith
tradition.
3) As a culture, we should admit our error in parenting life, and criminalize this insidious slavery in which one being owns another.
4)Look in the mirror and decide:
Am I biological or mechanical? Is
my deepest essence a machine or not?
-- Ex Seventh day Adventist.

Gregory F. Fegel said...

To Rebel 4E:

There are all kinds of music snobs. Most people that I know can't stand listening to Indian classical music, or to Western classical music, or to various kinds of ethnic music, which I love. The Portland Bach Society has an awesome free concert several times each year, but hardly anybody I know wants to go. Recently I attended the concert of an Indonesian soprano, backed by a choir of seven voices and a fifteen-piece gamalan orchestra. The music was Heavenly -- it made me think of emigrating to Indonesia. But the hall was only half full; people don't know what they're missing.

Music appreciation and music tastes can be expanded by being open-minded, patient, and listening. Thirty years ago my friend, who was studying Indian classical music, insisted that Indian classical music was the only "spiritual" music. Her opinion antithetically inspired me to immerse myself in Western classical music, which became my favorite genre. Most of my ten desert island discs would be Western classical -- Debussy, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Ravel, and Canteloube's Songs of the Auvergne. Most of the music snobs that I meet are stuck on various genres of modern popular music.

Currently the sound on my computer isn't working and I can't hear any music on it, so I've cached the link you posted to Saul Williams, and I'll listen to it later, whenever I get my sound back. It looks interesting. So does the BCth's link to Paul Dateh and inka one, which I've also cached for future listening.

Caltus86 said...

I am real sorry to hear of your loss.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and for your indulgence towards some of us.

Peace, love and Blessings

Anonymous said...

via Homer..

How might anyone not love Schubert?

Anonymous said...

via Homer

My cousin Frank passed this Thanksgiving Day, 2011.

Frank was 7'3" and 390lbs. Incredibly good natured (lucky us) and he possessed an intelligent inquiring mind.

He played basketball for the New York Knicks and in Italy.

He was a biologist and a botanist who explored metaphysics through word of mouth, books, chemicals and elements, plants, elixirs and tinctures of every type and form which he produced, mixed and imbibed.
We all did and still do.

Sometimes he would even chant Hare Krishna with me and he always greeted me with this.
I'd tell him "Frank, that's powerful medicine from on high" and he'd laugh his big grinning laugh and light up a little toke or two.

Frank had a 160 acre farm outside of a small town in Pa. and he grew wheat and sweet corn, millet and all sorts of vegetables.
He loved those beets and that red clover! And honey.

When he was in his prime he was famous for the sound his axe would make from such a powerful swing. You could hear it ringing through the woods a mile away.
Big Frank, people would say!. An understatement!

We'd be sitting at Frank's farm around the pot belly stove and Frank would get up out of his chair and we'd just start applauding. We'd laugh and so would Frank, at the spectacle of him just standing up!

Frank shared a lot of his wealth of plants and remedies with me, with everyone, as well as his garden and his metaphysical musings.

I thank you and love you for this, Frank.

Hare Krishna, Francis!

I always told you it would pay off, if even just a little bit.

I know it did..

ChewyBees said...

Why don't people just smile anymore? I walk around my town (the town of Normal, maybe that explains it)and you would think everyone was dying of cancer. I guess maybe they are.
I find myself smiling at people in spite of them. Glum turned down and tired faces are the answer. Except the elderly and the young. There is still a spark there. For the middle aged materialistic vain of the world, a smile might just mean you aren't conforming to the soulless drones of TV land.
Smiling, laughter, joy, feelings of love, those are what keeps us all alive. It is a chance to show gratitude to someone without saying anything or material exchange.
The lack of smiling, the pursed lips and eternal gaze of mild to major discomfort are pathetic, but reflective, of the material masters of this age.

Caltus86 said...

I give thanks continually and especially for having Visible and all the people that help to keep the flame of truth burning so bright. Whatever I am today, I will be better tomorrow because of you. My Condolences for your loss of Nastatia.

Peace, Love and Blessings

Visible said...

There is a new Visible Origami up now-

Loss and Recovery in the Stream of Life.

no more lies said...

Yes, I've been inundated with similar suspect "studies" by those who are desperately trying to prove that homosexuals make better parents.

Any child w homosexual parents has to overcome a whole lot in order to survive.


For one thing, children often have to prove that they are not homosexual, like their "parents", by acting out sexually, at a far too young age.

Identifying by your sexual obsession is not a healthy ego structure.

Sex is not sport. Sex is not personality. Sex is supposed to be moral for a reason that links to the order of society. Sex is special that way bc it is the only way that the species can propagate.

But, if you are morally bankrupt, such hedonistic activities and ego identification would be seen as "normal".

Anonymous said...

Zionist trial runs of "6 Million" Holocaust propaganda in 1911 - and 1919



Max Nordau (1849-1923) was the co-founder of the World Zionist Organization together with Theodor Herzl.

Have a look at this Max Nordau quote from Ben Hecht's book 'Perfidy' - which is available for free in PDF format at
http://www.hirhome.com/israel/perfidy.pdf (on page 232 of 261):

Quote:
In the Zionist Congress of 1911, 22 years before Hitler came to power, and three years before World War I, Nordau said, “How dare the smooth talkers, the clever official blabbers, open their mouths and boast of progress. . . . Here they hold jubilant peace conferences in which they talk against war. . . . But the same righteous Governments, who are so nobly, industriously active to establish the eternal peace, are preparing, by their own confession, complete annihilation for six million people, and there is nobody, except the doomed themselves, to raise his voice in protest although this is a worse crime than any war . . .” unquote.

____________________________________________________________________

And take a look at the article from The American Hebrew, October 31 1919

(see attached reproduction below), prophesying a 'holocaust' of 'six million':

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_H._Glynn

http://www.jrbooksonline.com/images/091031crucifixion.gif

The Crucifixion of Jews Must Stop!
By Martin H. Glynn
(Former Governor of the State of N.Y.)

From across the sea six million men and women call to us for help, and eight hundred thousand little children cry for bread.

These children, these men and women are our fellow-members of the human family, with the same claim on life as we, the same susceptibility to the winter's cold, the same propensity to death before the fangs of hunger. Within them reside the illimitable possibilities for the advancement of the human race as naturally would reside in six million human beings. We may not be their keepers but we ought to be their helpers.

In the face of death, in the throes of starvation there is no place for mental distinctions of creed, no place for physical differentiations of race. In this catastrophe, when six million human beings are being whirled toward the grave by a cruel and relentless fate, only the most idealistic promptings of human nature should sway the heart and move the hand.

Six million men and women are dying from lack of the necessaries of life; eight hundred thousand children cry for bread. And this fate is upon them through no fault of their own, through no transgression of the laws of God or man; but through the awful tyranny of war and a bigoted lust for Jewish blood.

In this threatened holocaust of human life, forgotten are the niceties... etc etc etc

Portable herbal vaporizer said...

I have gone through this blog and i feel that this kind of situation makes a person to go towards smoking. When a person in confusion and stress he looks for smoking.





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