It's all a paradox

Awakening Through the Body by Julie Wester

2010-07-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

Waves of emotion are energy. Sensations in the body are all energy. We begin to discover by our own direct experience that our essential nature is this flow, this river of aliveness.

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There are many languages which invite us to the freedom of being present. The great mystics and poets of the ages point to what can only be experienced directly, and inspire us to find entry points for coming home to the intimacy of this moment.

In our practice of mindful awareness, instead of thinking about life, we drop below the level of words into the direct experience of life.

If we choose to bring our practice of awareness to the immediate experience of life in the body, it requires of us that we shift our attention from our usual focus on trying to be comfortable every moment, and instead become curious about our actual experience.

What is amazing and liberating is that as we gradually begin to drop out of our ideas about life into directly experiencing life—sensing life instead of thinking about it—we begin to discover that all this activity is energy. Thoughts are energy. Waves of emotion are energy. Sensations in the body are all energy.

We begin to discover by our own direct experience that our essential nature is this flow, this river of aliveness. We are not as solid as we seem. We are made of energy, a field of energy in all its changing forms. And the nature of energy is to flow; it is by definition alive.

As we practice awareness, we learn to bring a quality of attention to our moment-to-moment experience in which there is not so much demand and not so much expectation. We develop a capacity to meet life with awareness that is spacious and inclusive. We discover that the energies which we have imagined to be so solid, so seemingly permanent, are not separate in the way we have imagined. We begin to experience our bodies as a flow of changing elemental sensations: spacious, solid, warm, cool, vibrating, pulsating.

In the language of the Buddha, this is anicca, change, impermanence. My teacher’s teacher, the Burmese master U Ba Khin, focused his teaching right here at this point. He said if we just notice that an experience is pleasant or unpleasant or something in between, and then—instead of following the story—if we stay with the energy level and follow the changing sensations, we can have a taste of freedom.

By staying with the sensations, breathing with and feeling into them, we can begin to live in the unfolding present. As we relax and live more in the direct experience of life in the body, there can be an unwinding of the accumulations of conditioning in the body.

This brings us to the heart of the practice of awareness in the body: who we think we are begins to loosen up. Just as we discover that the sensations in our bodies are energy, we also begin to discover that anger is energy; fear is energy; sadness, grief… all the waves of emotion, and all the stories are a flow of changing aliveness.

I invite you to take a moment—just now—to allow yourself to sit and breathe and feel the direct experience to which these words are inviting you. What do you notice about your capacity to relax into the moment and feel the flow of aliveness in your body?

Joanna Macy, one of the wise women in our tradition, reminds us that all of our sensations are signs of life, which tell us of our true nature and our deep interconnectedness.

Our moment-to-moment experience of life in the body tells us how inseparable we are from each other and from the natural world. We are made of the same elemental energies as the forests and the hills and the oceans.

What connects us to all other beings on our small planet is so much more fundamental than what may appear to separate us. We are all dependent upon a certain delicate balance of energies. However our views, opinions and life stories may seem to divide us, who we really are always comes back to this elemental level.

When I heard this teaching, a deep loneliness in me was healed: I realized that I belong here—I am made of the same stuff. I began to recognize that at this primary level of reality, I am never alone.

So much of our suffering comes when we lose touch with this elemental connection and forget that we are inextricably woven into the web of life.

Returning to the intimacy of sensing life in our bodies, we relax into a field of changing energy and aliveness, which is always available to our direct experience. We discover that through this entry point, we can rest in our true nature in any moment.

2010 Unpublished manuscript, Julie Wester.

Julie Wester is a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council. Dedicated Practitioners’

Fun web links and propaganda to inspire your summer…

2009-07-04T03:02:00.000-07:00

Yes it’s SUMMER if you didn’t notice, maybe even in San Francisco too. What does this mean? To me it means more sun/ longer days, an abundance of free time to socialize and play, and more creative energy to open up to new experiences and new people. In essence, it means more freedom...to explore the infinite possibilities of life...to ignite our internal flames...break free of our routine lifestyles...and truly take hold of our existence.

We are all blessed to simply be alive during this magnificent period of our civilization. We have so much access to information and experiences unimagined even by those just a generation before us.

So get out there into the real world, let your curiosities run wild and your unique personalities bloom free. Whatever you do, don’t give up the present in exchange for an imaginary future that may never arrive...

With that said, check out some of these useful websites for exploring the joys of life in the Bay Area:

Here is excellent guide to live concerts in the Bay Area representing all genres...many more than suggested on the page heading:

http://jon.luini.com/thelist/date.html

No better one-click resource for dance club events that I now of:

http://www.nitevibe.com

But wait, we’re in the Bay Area, there must be better opportunities to get our groove on outside of nasty clubs:

http://homepage.mac.com/zpine/ss/calendar.html

Can always trust Scott to know the best musical events and community gatherings around the Bay:

http://www.planttrees.org

SF Tribes still holds down a unique list of off-the-beaten path events:

http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/events

Spoken word and poetry nights galore:

http://www.creativeideasforyou.com/onepagelinklist.html

Not bad either:

http://squidlist.com/events

If all else fails, just create your own social gatherings and/or interest groups…or attend someone else’s….

http://www.meetup.com/cities/us/ca/san_francisco

“Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.” Henry Miller

“People in the west are always getting ready to live.” Chinese Proverb

“Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.” Linus Pauling

“You are what you love, not what loves you.” Charlie Kaufman

Oh, and a few of my favorite individual events to check out:
http://ecstaticdance.org
http://www.symbiosisevents.com
http://www.sfzc.org

Enjoy.

Update on the california green movement

2009-04-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

This PBS/ Nova special does a pretty good job of laying out the facts behind what California is doing to take the lead in cutting carbon emissions. It outlines the challenges that lie ahead and what Scientists are doing to overcome them. Don't fear the Exxon Mobil sponsorship...the program seems clear of any obvious bias.

High quality stream video link:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/energy/program.html

Become Yourself

2009-04-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Everybody wants to know,

What can I do? We all want to save the planet,

pick up the garbage, free our brothers and sisters,

stop war and bring the millennium

but what can I do, seriously?

Okay, seriously:

get to reality,

get to your own reality,

become yourself,

become incredibly high and real and influence

everyone around you with your vibrations,

no matter how difficult it is,

drop everything else and

start doing the most fantastic, real things you

can think of-

become yourself

get to your own reality."

-Paul Williams
Das Energi

Tim's 2008 "GMO" Mix

2009-03-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

I just put the finishing touches on a mix I conceptualized during my time in south florida this winter. It includes a lot of new music I came across in 2008. It will be my last mix that doesn't include some of my own production work :)

Kinda Rocky; sort of electronic; somewhat ethereal; partially poppy.

Just click the link to download it from a server I uploaded it to (one click and about 3 minutes to download the entire mix with my Internet Connection): Tim's 2008 "GMO" Mix

2008: Albums I enjoyed most – w/ free download links (that I have now taken off)

2008-12-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Maps - We Can Create

DNTEL – Dumb Luck

Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals

Dodos – Visitor

Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree

Architecture in Helsinki – Places Like This

The Universe - The Outer Void Intrepid Sailor

Beach House – Devotion

Yeah, some of them were produced in 07’…took me a while to pick up on them.

Enjoy!!! And do support their live shows if you like what you hear!

A conversation about One Laptop per Child

2008-11-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

Free online movies and TV programs galore!!!

2008-11-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

As many of you already realize, the Internet has been exploding with free movies and television programs lately. Here are some of the gems I’ve come across in the past few months:

This website provides links to a wide variety of important documentaries – both mainstream and of the radar stuff exploring many important social issues. The list is impressive, but beware that some of the films may have low video quality. http://freedocumentaries.org/index.php

Wow, have you seen how many PBS shows are available online for free these days: http://www.pbs.org/video This doesn’t list the Charlie Rose show, which now puts all it’s shows online: http://www.charlierose.com/schedule

This website has and GIGANTIC array of free movies and popular TV programs from present day to years past. Many of the videos stream from Japan, and may clip in and out at times. You should be ok if you have a high download stream from your Internet provider: http://www.surfthechannel.com

There are an estimated 50,000-100,000 free, legal, full-length TV programs and movies available online from the major TV networks. http://www.hulu.com and other similar sites have contracts with networks and Hollywood studios to broadcast their material online for free. In addition, almost all of the major TV networks release many of their programs on their own websites. Read the article “The Best TV on the Web” for further information and a long list of content online: http://www.pcworld.com/article/148944/the_best_tv_on_the_web.html

Top 73? reasons why I love San Francisco (in no particular order)….

2008-11-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

I’ve been meaning to put the finishing touches on this writing for a while. We San Franciscan’s have so much to be grateful for in our little progressive bubble. In the mist of a new progressive boom for America, maybe we should start to think more about all that is great about our city (as well as what’s wrong) and lead the march towards a better future for our entire country...

Many of my points are questionable, so take them with a grain of salt:

Most highly educated population center in the country.

So many of the people you meet here are involved in meaningful professions or all sorts!

Independent and experimental styles of music thrive here.

So many beautiful parks dotted across the entire city. Dolores Park and Golden Gate are amazing...

Tons of unique cafes all over the city, mostly independently owed, and each with their unique character. 6 within a 2-block radius of my house...

The city is composed mostly of mom and pop stores...with a extremely limited amount of corporate chains (aside from union square) due to strong government restrictions.

Universe healthcare for everyone employed in San Francisco.

A very strong funded social services system beyond any other U.S. city – disadvantaged populations are well taken care of.

Tons of groundbreaking nonprofits working on local causes…but also tons more working on national and international causes!

Strong rent control laws protecting renters.

Strong laws and infrastructure to support biking!

Medical Marijuana is legal and is available to virtually anyone interested. And decriminalized even if you’re not a “patient.”

Strong anti-discrimination laws supporting minority populations.

Homosexuality is widely accepted. Same-sex marriage is legalized by the city itself.

Sanctuary city – the city government refuses to work with federal immigration officers in seizing immigrants.

Freedom of assembly – event permits are given out relatively easily and events are rarely cancelled as a result of lame excuses made by most U.S. cities.

Anti-militarism ideals including no JRC in schools, strong opposition to the war.

Laws limiting billboards and public advertisements.

Employee rights are strong. More vacation time, short workdays and work weeks for many. Causal dress styles accepted. Very high minimum wage.

Political campaigns are very regulated and must adhere to fair practices.

Big business and special interests don’t dominant most elections…the people have a real voice here!

Beautiful hills with ocean and bay views all over the city.

Community gardens nestled throughout the city and legally protected from development interests.

Great outdoor recreation all around us for camping, hiking, biking, rafting, skiing…and much more!

A deep focus on the arts. Tons of galleries, artist spaces, publically funded projects, art festivals, and tons of great schools.

Many great museums.

Thriving theatre culture.

Home of a incredibly array of social movements that still greatly influence the area today – Beat Generation, Hippie Movement, Gay Rights movement, Silicone Valley pioneers, Green Movement, Electronic music culture.

Incredibly large spiritual community. Tons of spiritual/ religious traditions with lots of community centers for anyone to join in. Meditation centers, Yoga, retreat centers of all sorts...

City College - great teachers, diverse class selections, incredibly low tuition for all!
Amazing choice of college’s and graduation schools – both public and private.

Fire’s allowed on Ocean Beach.

Nudity allowed on Baker Beach. Really anywhere in the city...

Humane police force that actually serves the people instead of suppressing their interests and lifestyles.

Farmer rights. Strong laws preventing inhumane agricultural processes and
inhumane treatment of livestock.

Fair trade and local products available are easily accessible.

Tons of organic and sustainable food products available.

Electric and hybrid bus system.

Wide array of music collectives holding a amazingly diverse assortment of music gatherings!

A wide array of annual street fairs.

Home of Burning Man. Home of tons of groups who own sound systems and can’t contain their urges to throw parties throughout the entire year!

Home of so many incredible regional music festivals of all varieties.

Tons of free, independent publications including SF Guardian, The Onion, Common Ground, Open Exchange, SF Weekly, and many others representing a wide array of unique social scenes and activist agendas.

Home of the one of the most important web exchange sites ever created: Craigslist - which is particularly strong and effective here.

Dogs have it good here, laws in their favor.

Great restaurants with a wide range of cruise’s and creative dishes.

Rainbow food grocery!

More independent movie houses than mainstream movie theatres.

Anti-materialistic values are more predominant here than in any other U.S. city I know of, a lot of people are aware of the harms of rampant consumerism...

The residents officially voted to impeach George W. Bush and sent their proposal to the Federal government.

Diverse ethnic groups.

An incredible diverse array of active countercultures to this day.

Incredibly unique areas of town that all have such distinctive character: Haight-Ashbury, Mission district, North Beach, Union Square, Chinatown, Japantown, Presidio, Marina, and many more.

The technology capital of the world (Silicon Valley).

Home of Apple Computers.

Hookah bars.

Drum circles.

Workshops and educational seminars galore.

Why do I know so many people who don’t own TV’s in this city.. ☺

A 7X7 mile city…can easily bike, bus, or drive anywhere relatively easily!

Great public water.

Great air quality.

The wonderfully bizarre and progressive city of Berkeley is so close!

Mild winters – 40 degrees is about as cold as it ever gets (ok, the fog and ever-chilly climate can get annoying sometimes).

People are generally friendly, relaxed, and caring enough to indulge in conversation in public if you are able to somehow “break the ice.”

Diverse lifestyles! People have an incredible sense of freedom to conduct their lives in ways that are most appropriate for their unique personalities.

A very sexual population.

Freedom of expression is flexed widely.

Many women are conscious and independent enough to resist shaving unnecessary body parts ☺

Creative dress styles.

Gotta love the random array of yard/ corner sales that pop up around the city every weekend.

And the “leave your used items on the street and someone will come take them and use them” culture.

And many, many, many more reasons I failed to think of.......

Barack Obama is 'President of the world'

2008-11-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

(CNN) -- Around the world, media reaction to the Democrats' victory has poured in, as newspapers and broadcasters reflect on the Barack Obama campaign and the global impact his win will have.

The International Herald Tribune said that America had "leaped" across the color line, calling Obama "a 47-year-old black man who made history both because of his race and in spite of it."

The Times of London said Obama had revitalized U.S. politics. "The immense turnout in yesterday's election was testament to the energy, excitement and expectations of a rejuvenated American democracy, as well as the fears of a nation standing at a crossroads of history," the paper said.

It added that Obama's inheritance would be challenging. "The new president faces economic and social convulsions at home, conflict abroad."

Also in London, The Guardian focused on the historic nature of the Democrats' win, saying: "Victory in the end came as easily as the polls had predicted," and comparing Obama's achievement with Roosevelt's of 1932 and Reagan's of 1980.

In Germany, Der Spiegel's Gregor Peter Schmitz, writing from Chicago, called Obama's rise "astonishing," adding that his "curious ability to remain untouched by all the razzmatazz around him is likely to prove a source of strength."

Al Jazeera said Obama had "surfed to power on a wave of voter discontent generated by the failures of President George Bush and the Republican Party" and added that he faces "unique challenges." It continued that he must "act quickly" to restore confidence in the economy and with his country "sick of war" is "unlikely to make any additional major overseas military commitments."

The Jerusalem Post said that the transition in Middle Eastern policy from the Bush administration to Obama's would be "'evolutionary, not revolutionary,' according to diplomatic assessments in Jerusalem."

Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz called the U.S. election an "example of democracy at its best," citing Americans' "plethora of opportunities" to learn about the candidates' policies and stance on key issues. It also paid tribute to Obama's unifying influence, saying, "Whites and blacks, Jews and Muslims, all decided to give their votes to a candidate who is young, black and lacking in governmental experience," and expressed its hope that the President-elect would "rehabilitate the status of a superpower that remains unrivaled in its influence over the peace and welfare of all humanity."

Jordan's English daily, The Jordan Times, wrote an article entitled: "The American leader we need," in which the writer said: "Around the world, America's presidential election campaign has attracted as much attention as domestic political controversies in each of our own countries. The interest the world has taken in America's vote is the best example of America's soft power, and a lesson in democracy from the world's only superpower. If only we could all vote as well as watch and listen, because the outcome is vital for everyone around the world."

UAE Arabic daily, Al Khaleej considered in its editorial that "whoever is the winner, Israel had guaranteed that the White House will be biased to her."

In Tunisia, the Arabic daily Al Chourouk said: "Today America elects "The President of the World."

China Daily wished Obama well, saying that although it was elated at his landslide win, he faced "daunting challenges." It cited the economic crisis and the Iraq war as the driving factors behind the Democrats' victory, adding: "We have every reason to anticipate a more cooperative and talk-savvy new America."

And The Asia Times heralded the "End of a subprime era," calling the Bush administration "classic American salesmen" for whom "selling was their passion."

The Times of India called Obama an "advocate of strong partnership with India," saying the President-elect had "made it clear India poses no threat to Pakistan." But it also expressed concern about Obama's references to discouraging outsourcing, a policy it says would have an adverse effect on India.

The Kenya Times said Kenyans were "exuberant" and called Obama "the foremost blaze-trailing son of this land," adding that "[he] has convincingly shown that the world could be better through diplomacy than intimidation and arm-twisting tactics."

Japanese news agency Kyodo said Obama's task to repair the economy was "daunting," saying the American sub-prime meltdown had "sent global financial markets into a tailspin."

In Russia, Pravda was ecstatic, announcing that "Eight years of hell are over." It proceeded to catalog George W. Bush's perceived failures and slights against Russia and criticized the cost of the "grand American soap opera" during a time of economic crisis.

Over in Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald paid tribute to the Obama campaign, calling it a "stunning grassroots political movement, powered by massive multi-million dollar fundraising." It said his "stunning ascent" to the leadership of a nation "still riven by racial divides" would close an "eight-year era of turbulence under Bush."

Phone Banking for Obama, Tuesday, October 28 from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

2008-10-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hello friends....what may very well be the most important election of our lives is less than a month away. I don't know about you, but I want to look back and know I did my part to participate in one of the greatest grassroots campaigns ever conducted.

It appears that Obama has a strong lead...but we cannot let ourselves stop fighting too early. There is no telling what kind of tricks the republicans have up their
sleeves. We need a landslide victory to be safe from fraud or other unpredictable factors.

As you know, the Obama campaign has been empowered by votes and activists willing to volunteer for the campaign and reach out to swing voters. The McCain campaign has relied on smear ads and big business to fuel their campaign. His campaign is bound to get stronger in the final weeks whereas our people based campaign has a chance of getting weaker if we let our lead make us withdraw our individual efforts.

So please come out for a few hours and make some calls to swing voters in important battleground states. It will be fun and greatly rewarding to work closely with others on such an important cause.

***Please RSVP so we can have the right amount of call lists ready for attendees.

***Make sure to bring your cell phone - and your phone charges as well if possible. If you’re able to bring your laptop it will be useful, but it is not necessary. Food and snacks will be provided!

***Also, feel free to forward this message to others in the area and have them RSVP.

No need to fear making calls. Talking points and adequate information will be provided for you to make the calls. Besides, all you need to do is think about your most important/ most passionate reasons for voting for Obama over McCain, and then simply share your opinion.

See you there!

Tim, Patti, Christine, Nelson and you

"It's not that all Republicans are stupid, it's that all stupid people are Republicans."

Time: Tuesday, October 28 from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Host: Tim, Patti, Nelson, Christine, AND YOU

Contact Phone: 510-326-1747

Location:
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts - Art Studio D (San Francisco, CA)
2868 Mission St.
(between 24th and 25th street)
San Francisco, CA 94110

Part 1 - Zegee.com Future of food. Genetically modified organisms, patenting of life.

2008-10-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

Very important info you need to be aware of! Unregulated and untested GMO's, patents on seeds, risks of contamination, terminator seeds, conflicts of interest within government and industry...yikkess. The video takes a couple minutes to start, but will be smooth sailing from there.
http://www.livevideo.com/video/C4E5C9ADA5E74330977E7CB24A843DD4/part-1-zegee-com-future-of-f.aspx

Part 1 - Zegee.com Future of food. Genetically modified organisms, patenting of life.

OneEarth.Org : ECO : Connections

2008-10-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

In ECO's second powerful & heart-touching message, Academy Award winning actress Linda Hunt shares the oft-repeated message (written by screenwriter & professor Ted Perry, but often erroneously attributed to Chief Seattle) that "man did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves" & beautifully reminds us that people around the world are connected & live a day in much the same way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7oRk986HLs

Architecture In Helsinki - Heart It Races

2008-10-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

The video for the first single from the new Architecture In Helsinki album Places Like This.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZjpWs1h7pU

Dntel - The Distance

2008-10-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Distance from Dntel (Jimmy Tamborello of the Postal Service) is directed by Adam Bizanski and features the guest vocals of Arthur & Yu. The song comes from Dntel's new album Dumb Luck on Sub Pop Records.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DNtA6vjx_E

Paul Hawken, Blessed Unrest and WiserEarth

2008-10-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Paul Hawken's speech at the bioneers conference on the worlds largest movement, the hundreds of thousands of grassroots organizations that address social and environmental justice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fiubmOqH4

McCain unsure how many houses he owns

2008-10-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

By JONATHAN MARTIN & MIKE ALLEN | 8/21/08 5:13 PM EST Updated: 8/21/08 5:13 PM EST
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12685.html

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Wednesday that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own.

"I think — I'll have my staff get to you," McCain told Politico in Las Cruces, N.M. "It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you."

The correct answer is at least four, located in Arizona, California and Virginia, according to his staff. Newsweek estimated this summer that the couple owns at least seven properties.

And a Politico analysis later in the day found McCain's family owns at least eight properties, according to property and tax records, as well as interviews.

In recent weeks, Democrats have stepped up their effort to caricature McCain as living an outlandishly rich lifestyle — a bit of payback to the GOP for portraying Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as an elitist, and for turning the spotlight in 2004 on the five homes owned by Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Pro-Obama labor groups have sent out mailers highlighting McCain’s wealth, and prominent Democrats have included references to it in comments to reporters.

Twice in the past two weeks, those Democrats have focused on McCain’s houses.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Politico’s Ben Smith that it was McCain “who wears $500 shoes, has six houses and comes from one of the richest families in his state."

And David Axelrod, Obama’s chief strategist, referred in an interview with Adam Nagourney of The New York Times to an imagined meeting of McCain strategists “on the portico of the McCain estate in Sedona — or maybe in one of his six other houses.”

The Obama campaign seized on the house issue Thursday with an ad called "Seven," claiming that's the number of houses McCain has.

The ad closes with a shot of the White House and the narration: "Here's ONE house American can't afford to let John McCain move into."

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said in response: "Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people 'cling' to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?

“The reality is that Barack Obama’s plans to raise taxes and opposition to producing more energy here at home as gas prices skyrocket show he’s completely out of touch with the concerns of average Americans.”

At a campaign appearance in Chester, Va., on Thursday morning, Obama said: "Somebody asked John McCain, 'How many houses do you have?’ And he said, I’m not sure. I’ll have to check with my staff. True quote: I’m not sure, I’ll have to check with my staff. So they asked his staff and he said, at least four. At least four! ...

"If you’re like me and you’ve got one house – or you were like the millions of people who are struggling right now to keep up with their mortgage so that they don’t lose their home — you might have a different perspective. By the way, the answer is: John McCain has seven homes. So there’s just a fundamental gap of understanding between John McCain's world and what people are going through every single day here in America."

McCain’s comments came four days after he initially told Pastor Rick Warren during a faith forum on Sunday his threshold for considering someone rich is $5 million — a careless comment he quickly corrected.

In the interview, McCain did not offer an alternate number, but had a new answer ready.
“I define rich in other ways besides income,” he said. “Some people are wealthy and rich in their lives and their children and their ability to educate them. Others are poor if they’re billionaires.”

McCain, by anyone's measure, is well-off, if you account for his wife's fortune. Cindy McCain inherited control of her father’s beer distributorship, the largest in Arizona, and has an estimated worth of more than $100 million.

Carrie Budoff Brown and Ben Smith contributed to this article.

Rupert Murdoch Says Obama Will Win

2008-10-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Posted May 29, 2008 | 01:20 AM (EST)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hilary-rosen/rupert-murdoch-says-obama_b_104018.html

Carlsbad, CA -- Tonight at the "All Things Digital" conference sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch -- Chairman of News Corp, new WSJ owner, and longtime torchbearer for conservative politics -- said this about Barack Obama: "He is a rock star. It's fantastic" "I love what he is saying about education." "I don't think he will win Florida.....but he will win in Ohio and the election". "I am anxious to meet him." "I want to see if he will walk the walk."

About the presumptive Republican nominee, Murdoch said, "McCain is a friend of mine. He's a patriot. But he's unpredicatble. Doesn't seem to know much about the economy. He has been in Congress a long time, and you have to make a lot of compromises. So what's he really stand for?... I think he has a lot of problems."

Here is the video of Murdoch's appearance at the All Things Digital Conference:

A $16 Billion Problem: Chevron hires lobbyists to squeeze Ecuador in toxic-dumping case. What an Obama win could mean.

2008-10-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Toxic: Indigenous workers in western Ecuador

By Michael Isikoff | NEWSWEEK

Published Jul 26, 2008

From the magazine issue dated Aug 4, 2008
http://www.newsweek.com/id/149090

Few legal battles have been more exotic than the lawsuit tried over the past five years in a steamy jungle courtroom in Ecuador's Amazon rain forest. Brought by a group of U.S. trial lawyers on behalf of thousands of indigenous Indian peasants, the suit accuses Chevron of responsibility for the dumping (allegedly conducted by Texaco, which Chevron bought in 2001) of billions of gallons of toxic oil wastes into the region's rivers and streams. Activists describe the disaster as an Amazon Chernobyl. The plaintiffs—some suffering from cancer and physical deformities—have showed up in court in native garb, with painted faces and half naked. Chevron vigorously contests the charges and has denounced the entire proceeding as a "shakedown."

But this spring, events for Chevron took an ominous turn when a court-appointed expert recommended Chevron be required to pay between $8 billion and $16 billion to clean up the rain forest. Although it was not the final verdict, the figures sent shock waves through Chevron's corporate boardroom in San Ramon, Calif., and forced the company for the first time to disclose the issue to its shareholders. It has also now spawned an unusually high-powered battle in Washington between an army of Chevron lobbyists and a group of savvy plaintiff lawyers, one of whom has tapped a potent old schoolmate—Barack Obama.

Chevron is pushing the Bush administration to take the extraordinary step of yanking special trade preferences for Ecuador if the country's leftist government doesn't quash the case. A spokesman for U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab confirmed that her office is considering the request. Attorney Steven Donziger, who is coordinating the D.C. opposition to Chevron, says the firm is "trying to get the country to cry uncle." He adds: "It's the crudest form of power politics.

Chevron's powerhouse team includes former Senate majority leader Trent Lott, former Democratic senator John Breaux and Wayne Berman, a top fund-raiser for John McCain—all with access to Washington's top decision makers. (A senior Chevron exec has met with Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte on the matter.) Chevron argues that it has been victimized by a "corrupt" Ecuadoran court system while the plaintiffs received active support from Ecuador's leftist president, Rafael Correa—an ally of Venezuela's Hugo Chávez. The company says a loss could set a dangerous precedent for other U.S. multinationals. "The ultimate issue here is Ecuador has mistreated a U.S. company," said one Chevron lobbyist who asked not to be identified talking about the firm's arguments to U.S. officials. "We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this—companies that have made big investments around the world."

But Chevron's foes are not without their own resources. Just recently, Donziger and other trial lawyers in the case retained their own high-profile D.C. superlobbyist, Ben Barnes, a major Democratic fund-raiser. And they have tapped a capital connection that may pay off even more. Roughly two years ago, when Donziger first got wind that Chevron might take its case to Washington, he went to see Obama. The two were basketball buddies at Harvard Law School. In several meetings in Obama's office, Donziger showed his old friend graphic photos of toxic oil pits and runoffs. He also argued strongly that Chevron was trying to subvert the "rule of law" by doing an end run on an Ecuadoran legal case. Obama was "offended by that," said Donziger. Obama vetted the issue with Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy (who has long worked on Latin American human-rights issues), and in February 2006 the two wrote a letter to the then U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman urging the administration to permit the Ecuadoran peasants to have "their day in court."

The Obama letter, written before the senator had even announced his run for president, is now the wild card in the Ecuador-Chevron dispute. Donziger said he has had no further discussions with Obama on the issue (although he has co-hosted a New York fund-raiser and, together with his wife, raised between $40,000 and $50,000 for Obama's campaign). An Obama spokesman last week said the senator "stands by his position" that the case is a "matter for the Ecuadoran judicial system." So now the prospect of an Obama presidency has given additional urgency to Chevron's plea for help in Washington. Waiting until next year could leave the oil giant at the mercy of a judge in the Amazon jungle.

Clarification (published Aug. 7, 2008): NEWSWEEK's Aug. 4 story "A $16 Billion Problem" contained an imprecise statement about Chevron's disclosures to shareholders regarding a lawsuit against the company in Ecuador. The story should have said that a recent court recommendation prompted Chevron in May of this year to include details of the suit in a quarterly report, marking the first time the potential liabilities were disclosed to shareholders in a document filed with the SEC. Chevron had previously referenced the suit in proxy statements to shareholders.

Letter From Chevron (published Aug. 7, 2008)

NEWSWEEK's Aug. 4 article, "A $16 Billion Problem," omits key points highly relevant to Chevron's case in Ecuador.

Most importantly, the comments attributed to an unnamed lobbyist working for Chevron do not reflect our company's views regarding the Ecuador case. They were not approved by the company and will not be tolerated.

Historic Victory for Net Neutrality

2008-10-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

August 1st, 2008 by mtady

http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2008/08/01/historic-victory-for-net-neutrality/

Comcast tried to stop it. Telecom-funded politicians tried to discourage it. Big Media tried to de-legitimize it. But nothing could stop the people-powered movement to hold Comcast accountable for illegally blocking Internet content. Today, the FCC issued a punishment that has Network Neutrality opponents cringing and the rest of us popping champagne.

In a landmark decision, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein approved a bipartisan “enforcement order” that would require Comcast to stop blocking and publicly disclose its methods for manipulating Internet traffic.

Tests by the Associated Press and others showed that Comcast blocked users’ legal peer-to-peer transmissions by sending fake signals that cut off the connection between file-sharers. Today’s decision follows a months-long FCC investigation, launched in response to a complaint from Free Press and Public Knowledge urging the federal agency to stop Comcast’s blocking.

In response to the victory, Josh Silver, Free Press executive director, said: “Comcast’s history of deception and continued blocking shows brazen contempt for the online consumer protections established by the FCC. We commend Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps and Adelstein for standing up for internet users and working across party lines to protect free speech and the free market.”

Martin Stands with the People

Traditionally a friend to industry, even Martin couldn’t deny Comcast’s culpability.

In his statement this morning, Martin compared Comcast’s blocking practices to allowing the post office to discriminate against mail “Would you be OK with the post office opening your mail, deciding they didn’t want to bother delivering it, and hiding that fact by sending it back to you stamped ‘address unknown – return to sender?’” he asked. “Or if they opened letters mailed to you, decided that because the mail truck is full sometimes, letters to you could wait, and then hid both that they read your letters and delayed them?”

Despite the cable giant’s Hail Mary effort to shame and pressure Martin into bending to their will, Martin stuck by the wisdom that allowing ISPs to block and discriminate against online content is bad for America.

Today he stands with the public. Activists, bloggers, consumer advocates and everyday people have shown a relentless effort in lobbying the FCC to punish Comcast. The people who use and love the Internet have successfully brought Comcast to justice for trying to stifle consumer choice on the open Internet.

The Fight Continues

This precedent-setting victory sends a powerful message to phone and cable companies that breaking Net Neutrality rules will not be tolerated. And it marks a milestone in the fight to preserve a free and open Internet – and the first time the FCC has enforced the peoples’ right to see and hear what they want on the Internet without blocking or slowing down content.

This victory is monumental. But the fight to safeguard Net Neutrality is far from over.

Commissioner Copps recognized the struggle ahead, and called for the FCC to adopt a principle that commits the FCC to a policy of network openness. “A clearly stated commitment of nondiscrimination would make clear that the Commission is not having a one-night stand with net neutrality, but an affair of the heart and a commitment for life,” he said in a statement.

Already, more than 1.6 million people have contacted the FCC and Congress to protect Net Neutrality. The calls, petitions and e-mails must not stop. Now is the time to flood our policymakers with the message that we demand an open and free Internet now and always.

Obama's In Control: No More Lobbyist Contributions To Democratic Party

2008-10-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

The Huffington Post | June 5, 2008 10:23 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/05/obamas-in-control-no-more_n_105407.html

ABC News reports:

It's been less than two days since he crossed the delegate threshold to become the Democratic presidential nominee and Sen. Barack Obama's mark on the party is already being felt.
On Good Morning America Thursday, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported "the Democratic National Committee will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists, will no longer take contributions from PACs" in keeping with Obama's well-publicized policy.

UPDATE: DNC issues a statement:

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

What’s UP With me Lately (5/30/08)….

2008-10-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

I’ve been feeling very balanced and peaceful over the last several months. I refocused a lot of my personal reflection and meditation practices at the end of 2007. After almost two years of focusing my attention on a Tibetan based Buddhist practice (Kadampa Buddhism), I decided to experiment with another Buddhist practice (Zen Buddhism). So far it seems to be a lot more complimentary to my unique personality and mindset. Yet I know I learned a lot from the Tibetan Buddhist practice and will continue to integrate it into my life as much as possible.

Zen Buddhism (vs Kadampa) seems to be aimed directly at obtaining a peaceful state of mind. It’s less about analyzing thoughts and ideas, less about trying to understand or control our life. The primary basis seems to be about accepting the inevitable complexities of life and being open to all possibilities. It’s about realizing the paradoxical nature of all phenomena. It’s about always maintaining a beginner’s mindset in which we never let ourselves actual believe we know something for sure. It’s about being at peace with constant change. It’s about awakening the mind to see the awe and beauty in all situations. Zazen is the primary tool - a sitting mediation that focuses specifically on calming the mind while breaking down our conditioned responses and preconceived ideas. Achieving such a goal aims to help us to continually experience reality with a fresh perspective and empower us to make more conscious choices.

I’ve definitely come to notice that my mind is more at peace/ less agitated. My mind no longer gets stuck on analyzing past events and preparing to control future scenarios like it once did. My intellectual thought processes have significantly subsided from my mind. If my mind is clear and in-the-flow, I seem to gain access to insights beyond the level of my intellect. Everything just seems to sort itself out without much effort. I’m usually quick to accept whatever happens to me as necessary for my personal growth and well-being. I take things less seriously and have been able to laugh and smile at the infinite complexities of everyday experience.

Do yourself a big favor

2008-10-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

Yes this means you…. take a 1/2 hour of your life….

Grab a pen and paper, list anything and everything you are grateful for in your life: experiences, parental influences, attitudes, personal attributes, material objects, people, places, things, ideas, life situations, natural resources, foods, hobbies, inspiring art and music, personal freedoms, natural abilities, books, inspirations in general, and on and on and on…brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm, there is no wrong way to affirm what you are grateful for in our life. Any determined person can easily come up with over 100 entries within a ½ hour. Or maybe it will be better for you to simply affirm 30 - 50 of the things you are most grateful for in your life. It’s your choice. Make it happen.

That’s it. You’re done. Just keep the list and review it whenever you feel like you are forgetting all the reasons why you should be happy. The physical and mental benefits of this simple exercise are extraordinary. Any and all psychologists and sociologists will agree that recognizing what we are grateful for is key to a happy and healthy life.

I think most of us have come to realize the obvious: As a result of societal pressure, it has become commonplace for most of us to consistently crave more for our lives. We have come to believe that happiness will come once we achieve certain life goals. It becomes so easy to forget how blessed we really are in the mist of all that we crave. We must correct this situation if we want to reach a true state of happiness. What better way to start then to simply make a list of all that you are grateful for….???

We are ultimately in control of our thoughts. It just takes a lot of motivation and responsibility on our part - thus many of us simply choose to ignore our ability to do so.

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.” Buddha

Favorite Quotes and Personal Mantras (for the time-being) 11/9/07

2008-10-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

“All the arts we practice are apprenticeship. The big art is our own life.” M.C. Richards

“An unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates

“We must never hope to perceive or understand anything fully.” David Baird

“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” Joseph Chilton Pearce

“Happiness is wanting what we already have.” Buddhist philosophy

“Happiness is an inside job. Do not seek it without.” Buddhist philosophy

“Very happy people differ markedly from average people in one principal way: a rich and fulfilling social life.” Martin Seligman

Be yourself. Reveal your unique personality to people without restraint. Be proud of who you have chosen to be. Don’t try to be everything to everyone.

“Love people by wishing them to be happy, not by requiring them to make us happy.” Kadampa Buddhism

“People in the west are always getting ready to live.” Chinese Proverb

Live life now. Don’t give up the present in exchange for an imaginary future.

“There is no such thing as truth. There is only perception.” Gustave Flaubert

“Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.” Linus Pauling

“Humility makes us see rightly; pride and arrogance blind us to see the way we would like to see.” Swami Amar Jyoti

Love others for simply being able to maintain positive emotions and exchanges of energy in such a harsh, relentless world of challenges. Everyone is doing the best they can to be happy and remain free from suffering.

“When somebody actually listens to us, it creates us, it makes us unfold and expand, and ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life.” David Baird

“Accept there will always be pain and challenges in a noble life. Pain is an undeniable sign of growth.” Unknown

Accept that we will always have some emotional baggage present in our life no matter how good every other factor may be at any particular point.

“We are quick to realize what people do not do right. But we rarely recognize what they do right.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

“Those closest to us will hurt us from time to time, as we will hurt them. Make apologies well in advance.” Unknown

“Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus

“Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.” Henry Miller

Get out of your head and enjoy the abundance of beauty all around you.

“Have much, be confused.” Lao Tzu

Always try to keep your thoughts positive. Acknowledge the fact that what we hold in our mind manifests itself more frequently into our physical reality.

We must learn to generate bliss within ourselves through the use of our imagination or through reflection on past experiences. We must not require specific physical causes to generate specific positive feelings.

Tantra – “to free ourselves from the attachment of external pleasures by empowering ourselves to generate bliss through our own mind.” Kadampa Buddhism

Tantra – “to bring more bliss into all of our life experiences through our own mind – to add fuel to the fire of ordinary experiences.” Kadampa Buddhism

If we can’t generate a feeling of love towards someone, we must at least feel compassion for them and treat them with love. Everyone deserves compassion for simply being able to sustain their lives in this harsh, unjust world full of relentless challenges.

“The love you make is equal to the love you take.” John Lennon

Always be aware that many unperceivable forces and unknown variables govern people’s choices. We must never let ourselves jump to conclusions or judgments based on our limited ability to fully understand or perceive. Instead, we must remain open to an infinite amount of possibilities that may be influencing a choice made by another.

Focus more on loving than on being loved. Instead of asking “what can I do to get people to care about me,” ask “what can I do to show I care about others.”

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” Mohandas Gandhi

“Television is the opiate of the masses.” Unknown

“Repetitive rhythmical movement was thought essential to build up the moment of ecstatic union with the deity.” Erowid.org

Use ecstatic dance as a source for healing. Dance to connect to the source.

“As individuals it’ easy to put limitations on others and expect that they abide by them. However, we should remember that we were all blessed with the freedom of choice and that such limitations will only end up placing the very same boundaries on our own life.”

“In applying standards and criteria to others, we create these very same standards and criteria on ourselves in our own subconscious, which then applies to us.” Dr. Murphy

“Those who are free from resentful thoughts surely find peace.” Buddha

“There is nothing permanent except change.” Heraclitus

“Grant me the power to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr

We must begin to live our lives “in the flow.” Don’t let ourselves get stuck in a constant state of anxiety, a constant state of “what’s next.”

Always remain open and proactive to random interactions with people we do not know. Break the ego open, and give up control of how others perceive you.

“We think everything is important because it is important to us. We think we are the center of the universe. Everyone else disagrees.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Every individual viewpoint and perspective is paradoxical, both right and wrong at the same time. There are always too many angles to perceive something from. It takes a wide range of perspectives and viewpoints to begin to really understand something. Thus, a plurality of perspectives and viewpoints must be sought out before one can feel justified in firmly believing a certain belief and/or idea.

Much spiritual growth can be found through dialogue with others from all walks of life. Understanding people’s unique viewpoints help to bring our own viewpoints into balance. The more holistic and integral are viewpoints are, the more real our life becomes.

Happy Independence Day.......but.....

2008-10-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Its great to celebrate our accomplishments of the past....we have come a long way to get where we are today. Yet, a new revolution must be addressed, a revolution to reconquer our own minds. As you all know, now more than ever before in history, we are being bombarded with relentless streams of media produced by the wealthiest, most powerful sector of our population. The majority of this upper-upper-class of people identify themselves with similar beliefs about the world, and want to maintain the status-quo so that their beliefs will remain justified. These beliefs are subtly portrayed (or sometimes more obviously portrayed) in all mainstream news, TV, movies, commercials, magazines, video games, websites.....and in the words of the people we directly associate with. If we truly desire to be free, it is up to each and every one of us to decipher the biases behind every media message we consume...or, to wisely choose which media messages we want to allow into our unconscious. Lets face it, the facts are undeniable. The media we consume affects our life actions and attitudes to a degree beyond what we ever imagined possible. So the choice remains for you to make; The freedom to think for yourself. The freedom to be happy. The freedom to construct your life they way YOU want to. Do you really want your freedoms? It is all up to you.

Hope that makes sense.....or maybe it sounds too obvious to you already. Most certainly, I have over-simplified the matter. It is a complex issue and many other factors remain to be considered. Maybe you should take the time to understand the issue further? I would polish up my writing a bit more but it is indeed Independence Day.