Socialist Christian Hippie QC

Welcome Back!

2009-01-29T18:20:00.000-08:00

Though I am writing bigger and better things, I have finally found time again to pick back up the blog.

Also, it seems, that socialism is in the zeitgeist.

What can I say? The republicans yanked the wheel so far to the right we've wound up on the left side.

Peace to all!

Bye bye to the old America.

Maybe we can even adopt the Euro.

100 th post! (Reply to my Friend O'Shea)

2008-06-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

alright, let's try to be simple and respectful, but truthful.

People came here, because here was where the money was. This is where the stuff was. Stuff that we stole from Indians and exploited black people, Chinamen...etc. to get.

These people lived in sucky conditions. Millions died in sucky conditions. A few got rich.

Around, about 1950 many more white men got rich because 20 million soviet subjects died to stop nazis along with many Americans and other Europeans.

Because many white men got rich, their children were happy, tried drugs, and believed in peace.

We used resources by the ton.

Now, we are running out of resources. The country is being sold off. Civil Rights are a thing of the past. We are no longer much of a "free" country, but a near police state where, soon, in order to leave, one must have a photo ID and a number assigned to themselves.

We are extremely hostile to foreigners, and have off shored our exploitation of children and poor people.

The idea that we should conserve what little resources that we have left so that millions around the world don't die (possibly even a few million Americans) isn't too much to ask, is it?

Capitalist say what?

2008-06-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

You know, I love hearing "The Market will solve the problem".

I challenge you to show me an instance where the "market" solved any "problem".

Selling crap and lying about it doesn't seem to me to "help".

I'm open to be proven wrong, though.

Graduation Edition

2008-05-18T11:31:00.001-07:00

I hear a lot nowadays about education being "the key" to... insert whatever goal here.

This is not true. Doubly so in America.

The key to a great life is...enjoying life. Enjoying life includes a lot of learning. Learning is fun. Going to school is miserable. This should teach you something.

Many of the smartest, happiest people I know have the least amount of formal education.

Many of them are not rich...scratch that...most of them are not rich.

Many of them have children.

The other thing I've learned is that nice people often look "different". Mostly because they dress the way they want to. They behave in ways that are nonjudgemental and fun. They go barefoot alot. They have tattoos and piercings. They have long hair or no hair. They wouldn't be pictured in any fashion magazine.

So, dear graduates, go into the world happy. Do what you want. You can't make everyone happy, so don't try. Make yourself happy and most people will love you for being you. Make yourself happy and you will have no need of money, fame, status or degrees. People will like you because you are authentic. No matter what that is.

Never change your loves, sexuality, joy, sorrows, outlook on life for anyone. You can only regret it later. Simply live and then life will be its own reward.

So Jesus said "Take all your possessions and give them to the poor." and the man went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Here endeth the lesson.

Will I?

2008-04-05T08:09:00.001-07:00

Alright...easy one...show me free will exists without resorting to a deity.

It seems to me that, from a purely materialist perspective, it is nearly impossible to come up with a theory of how free will would operate. The ability to do otherwise than physical reality (or lets say...outside of causation) would appear to have to be on an extremely micro level (we're talking nearly no mass) AND would somehow have to have access to a null point an empty point. Without access to a null point, you'd just be stretching causation back to a point where we don't understand it. (not outside of causation).

Personal responsibility and free will are nice, and one can argue useful illusions. However, they are just that.

I'd even have trouble, being a Christian, with a Christian argument that supports free will.

All truths may be subjective, but truths nevertheless.

The poor bail out the rich

2008-03-15T12:16:00.001-07:00

We are letting the government give millions to the rich on the backs of the poor.

Lower interest rates are saving millionaires, speculators and financial institutions.

In the meantime, the poor see their credit rates hold steady (if you're lucky) or rise.

The interest rate cuts that are saving speculators are also driving up the price of oil.

Millionaires can drive where they please, while poor and middle class people see their dollars buy less and less. Essentially, driving down income.

A salary that bought you 5 gallons of gas/hr. five years ago, now would get you 2.

Meanwhile, the CEOs of mortgage banks that caused this fiasco are filling up their Mercedes as the government funnels billions to undo the damage they caused.

Billions for Bear Stearns not a dime for the working man.

I'm back

2008-03-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

It has been a miserable winter in many different ways, and I have been busy in many different ways. Life probably will not settle down for another month or so.

It's tough being a socialist hippie in a tight economy.

Although...in some ways it is much easier.

The rich, and the corporate burn the energy then charge us for the pleasure. The rich and the corporate destroy the economy, cut the jobs and lay the burden on the poor.

The poor refuse to stand up for themselves. Trapped by fear and an education system that prepares one NOT for independent life, but corporate dependency OR perpetual slavery to the castrating educational system itself.

The University is the new church. Conservatives dressed as liberals deceiving themselves whilst reading socialist books.

It's winter.

The hippie grows weary.

Spring is bound to come.

Spring is bound to come.

Thankful Sunday

2007-12-22T20:30:00.000-08:00

Thank you for the darkness in our lives. I find in revelatory that I was watching Sweeney Todd as the Solstice came. Movies are lights in the darkness, I suppose. Let's hope that we can all make it to church and those of us celebrating Yule can make it to those celebrations. (The Ice has just started bouncing off the windows here at the commune)

Thank you for gifts. Making gifts is hard. Thinking about the perfect gift is harder. May there be forgiveness in your life from those who don't get what they want. May all come to realize what we don't need. Especially me.

Thank you for Christmas Carols. Believing or not, and when I did and did not, there were carols with me all the while. Take time and seek out my favorite, "The Cherry Tree Carol" if you get the chance. I loved it from the moment I first sang it in high school. An American carol in every way.

This is not my last xmas post. Be sure to tune in for more.

Happy last Sunday in advent all!

Be sure to share your thanks.

Holiday Advice

2007-12-21T22:58:00.000-08:00

Do not go to a 10pm screening of Sweeney Todd, and then, because you're sooooo close, just drop in at a wal-mart at midnight. Amazingly, the lines are still waitingforthepope long at that hour, and no one's in a hurry.

You see, after seeing Sweeney, bad thoughts go through your mind anyway and, trust me, the Wal Mart experience does little to slake them. Very little.

Very bad thoughts.

We try to be helpful here.

Go see Sweeney Todd, by all means. Right now.

Just watch, and then go home...straight away. Do not linger in public places. Especially, annoying, polluting, under paying, open 24 hours public places.

Bad thoughts.

Here endeth the lesson.

Year End Bests

2007-12-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

Since everyone else is doing one...I thought I'd throw one in too. Why not, eh?

Best Show in QC: "Dracula" production by Ballet Quad Cities. This was the most awesome thing that I've seen on stage in the Quads, perhaps...ever. Wonderful movement and excellent use of the stage. Stunning. I had to keep checking to make sure that I was sitting in Davenport. Wow.

Best Movie: Well, "No country for old Men". Easy one there. Not that I get to see that many movies, but Cormac meets Coen...who could ask for anything more (perhaps Tim Burton and Stephen Sondheim)

Best Book: "How to Read the Bible" by James Kugel. An absolute must read for anyone interested in Biblical history or interpretation. Interesting, funny, infomative...what else can one ask?

Best News Website(s): Actually, most of them have gone downhill. Qconline and Qctimes have decided to make finding stories more difficult. Qctimes has picked up a great blogger in Art Pitz. However, they make me push a tab to find Melissa Coulter's stuff, and press another tab to get to the Letters to the Editor. No longer is this stuff right there on the front page.

Michael Romkey (Writing and Romkey) is probably my favorite blog...though Art Pitz is gaining. Both are intelligent and rarely visited by blather.

Cnn.com has gone WAY downhill. Their front page is starting to look like the National Enquirer. Nytimes, NPR, and BBC are all we got left for good news. Money and News seem not to mix to well.

anyway...I may have more of the year's roundup as time goes on.

Enjoy the holidays.

Check out some live music this weekend.

visit capitalist's corner for some last minute or late gifts.

Hare Krishna to all, and to all a good night.

A note and a plug or two.

2007-12-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

What a great ice storm.

The trees looked awesome, though it seemed rather dangerous walking around the neighborhood as everything melted.

It's Xmas. A very busy time of year for musicians.

If you have the time...check out one or both of the following:

December 16th at 3PM at St. John's Lutheran (off the one ways in Rock Island near the Moline Border) there will be a "Warm Winter" concert featuring Hersong and with the Bethel Wesley UMC, Moline Bell Choir as guests. Admission is free with a blanket donation. This is to benefit Churches United.

December 22nd at 3PM (popular time) at Bethel Wesley UMC (1201 13th street, Moline, IL)
There will be an "Informal Christmas Recital". An hour, or perhaps a little more, of Christmas music. All kinds. Sung and played. If there is time and the spirit...perhaps a sing-along. Come as you are. Admission is free. Refreshments to follow

and While we're at it:

The Prenzie Players will have a fund-raiser on January 4th 8-11PM at the Masonic Temple (420 18th Street) in Rock Island.

And the I've added new products to the Capitalist corner.
It's right where capitalists belong at the bottom of this page.

Open for comments

2007-12-09T19:52:00.001-08:00

Just a technical announcement. I have reopened the blog to all comments.
I had some trouble with spam posts a while back, but I hate to shut down comments from those "just stopping by". So, I'll throw it wide open again, and try to handle the spam as it comes.

Thank You...regular programming will resume shortly.

Thankful Sunday

2007-12-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks to winter. It's exceptional beauty makes the miserable cold seem almost bearable, and makes the summer days twice as sweet.

Thanks to all of those hostile and militant about celebrating Xmas. It reminds me how wonderful it is to meet and celebrate different faiths or no faith at all. It makes me explore my own strange faith and change something about it so I remember that it is impossible to know truth, God, or everything. I used to think I could. That existence is about as miserable as it gets.

Thanks to all those who help the consumerist machine run at its lowest levels. The Superstore Clerks, The Mall workers, the tellers...the service workers who have a busy Christmas, and see the underside of the holiday with a smile on their face. Commercialized, exploitative, maybe even the essence of a kind of evil...yet...it is Christmas. I love it. I find my own meaning in it. For all those who celebrate...whatever you celebrate...

HAPPY ALLOFIT!

From SCHQC

Remember, there is a "Capitalist's Corner" at the bottom of this page for your shopping ease! Give a Socialist for XMAS!

64 is 25

2007-12-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

no less than cnn.com is marking the 25th anniversary of...

THE Commodore 64!

Never had one. My best friend did though. I think it was around the same time that I was messing around with my favorite computer...the Timex Sinclair 1000.

My friend had hundreds of games. The C64 was fairly easy to hack, and, if you really needed to, you could go out and buy software that would pirate the disks you couldn't pirate yourself.

Nowadays, I can play Zork on my gametap account and marvel at what used to be the cutting edge.

Many summer afternoons were spent in my friend's basement playing the C64. Then at school I used to stay late in the computer lab with a bunch of friends and play on the TRS80 model IIIs that they had. Usually, the janitor would kick us out at 5 or 5:30.

I'm old, aren't I.

Happy Birthday!

What are we afraid of?

2007-12-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

We are taught to be afraid.

We are sold fear.

We refuse to help each other because we find fear useful.

Fear teaches efficiently.

We Buy fear.

We hope that the corporation will protect us from fear.

We have thousands of nuclear warheads for fear that ... well... I have no answer

I have no reason.

I am not afraid except of those who fear.

Suppose we lived without fear?

What great evil would befall us?

Perhaps evil itself is not there.

Then there is nothing to fear.

Is there?

Capitalist School/Hospital etc.

2007-12-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

This time of year you see a lot of articles and bickering about the holidays and school.

Which leads me to the capitalist conjecture as it applies to school.

School is about #1 Money, #2 Power (in some cases it is reversed), and #3 education ONLY as much as it gets you #1 and #2.

Now...Teachers are mostly lovely people who are, mostly, fairly altruistic. They have my sympathy. They are crushed between #1 and #2 without much to do with it or about it.

When the schools have a "Christmas" program. They are making their power known. When they have a "Holiday" program, they are again, making their power known. There are so many God/Secular fights at school primarily because they have taken what power they can from parents and desire to turn children into product.

Again, this is not even on a consious level, but when money is the goal, and power is the tool what is one to do?

Hence, the "socialist" in my blog name.

Look at the health system Socialized medicine was recently maligned in the River Cities Reader by a guest columnist.

But, capitalist medicine, uncontrolled, has led to the most inefficient and expensive delivery of medical care on the planet. Not to metion the increase in suffering the current system causes even in those it "cures" but burdens with debt.

The capitalist education system does the same thing at the University level. Our higher ed system is also the most inefficient and expensive in the world.

Our public school system only lags behind because of government mandates that it not charge disabling fees and educate "everyone" (which it patently does not, but that's another column).

Overall, money gets in the way. The church, the school, the hospital...none of them can deliver on their core promise because of money and the trend, unfortunately, is to turn these places into a "Business!"

Even this socialist is burdened with making the payments to keep the show on the air.
(see the fun stuff you can buy at the bottom of this page).

So lament, lament. Many of Jesus' teachings were taken up with money.

We're about to blow a load on Christmas (something that, I'm sure, embarrasses the namesake to no end).

Capitalism may be the lesser evil. Though, with its friend power along for the ride, it tends to be a great evil.

So let's give the school's to the students for Christmas, and the hospitals to the patients for Solstice. Maybe Santa can even bring Jesus to the Megachurch.

God Bless.

(Boy, you'd never guess I was in a good mood tonight. Which I am.)

Thankful Sunday

2007-12-01T20:01:00.001-08:00

What a great week it has been.

Thanks to my son, who had a birthday.

Thanks to the ice that made its own Christmas decorations on our trees and kept me indoors listening to Christmas music and writing.

Thanks for tiny moments. The smallest moments that I may have missed. Moments while standing in line. Moments when one is alive and not having to notice, just waiting.

Bless you all, again you may leave your thanks.

SCHQC

They hate us.

2007-12-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

They hate us, they hate our freedoms, they hate our ideas.

They will kill us if we let our guard down.

If you question us they will win!

Over and over again.

I don't know if in my 37 or so years on this Earth that I've had a day without that rhetoric being barked from somewhere.

Usually from people with guns who think more guns will stop the hate.

Oh, BTW, Putin, GW's buddy, has decided to start massing troops on his European border.

War on terror!

The US terrorizes me.

Buy the Revolution

2007-11-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, friends, SCHQC has gone capitalist.

Buy the revolution!

Even socialists need a little $$$ come the holiday season.

Show your friends that you are part of the revolution!

Get some fun artwork, or cool pictures for the walls of your meeting house.

Why, you can even DRINK the revolution in the schqc.blogspot.com coffee mug.

Send a Socialist Christmas card to ring in the season.

New Items added every day.

Remember every $ you spend brings the revolution closer to the day when there will be no need to spend your $.

Rise up and buy! Just scroll down!

(Please use organic option for t-shirts)

Thankful Sunday

2007-11-25T19:57:00.000-08:00

Alright, not too difficult this week:

1. A good friend turned 38 yesterday. One of my longest standing friends. Happy Birthday guy.

2. No Country for Old Men . Great stuff all around. Not for the Forrest Gump croud.

3. Thanks to all those who challenge and chide and make me think a little more. There's been quite a bit of that this week in many different ways.

Enjoy your week and, as always, be thankful, grateful, and joyous.

Feel free to leave your thanks here.

SCHQC

Happy day of Conquest

2007-11-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

Let us strive to be truly grateful as we remember the inidans, slaves, children, women, immigrants and those who do not have the day off. Let us remember those who labor in factories in China and other countries under conditions that we would never put up with ourselves, or would ever believe any human should toil under in the 21st century. For they toil, and have toiled to give joy to their masters with the cash and the guns.

We will soon celebrate the coming of the one who blessed the world with a message of sacrifice and love by handing out multitudes of items made by or picked by those who work in misery.

I do it myeself.

It is the way of the world.

The richness of our table's bounty comes not from our hands alone, but from the hands of many unseen and unknown to us. Soon that richness may dwindle as the slave above all other slaves (the Earth) is stripped of its finery for simple lucre.

A truly grateful people would be mindful without ending of the sacrifice made of others, of economic injustice and of the destruction of forests, plains, and even mountains. Ripped from children's hands.

Who would work for such a rude master as we are to the planet?

How long before the exploited rise up to return what they have been dealt?

Are we truly thankful!

Let us strive to be so.

Enjoy the turkey.

Certifiable

2007-11-17T08:25:00.000-08:00

But then we knew that.

Just don't click on the thing.

Yes, this blog is officially Genius level.

We do not borrow, read, lease or rent the mind, we TAKE the mind!

Yes, I haven't been blogging too much lately. Photography and my novel have taken up time (is there a blogger who ISN'T writing a novel?).

There's a great article in Harpers about capitalism and the nihlism (see, "nihlism", that's mind taking) of belief in America.

Corporate capitalism sucks your soul!

Remember, if you can read this...

The Answer

2007-10-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

No one wanted it to happen
No one made it happen
Yet...there it was

Thankful Sunday

2007-10-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

I've been far too busy.

Which is bad and good in its own way.

First thanks to the new 4H Magical Muggles Club. They let me be a guide on the trails at their Harry Potter themed ball, and I had a lot of fun as did my family.

Thanks to everyone in my children's choir at church. They did a superb job today.

Keeping with the spirit of the season, thanks to those who have come and gone back to the universe from which they came. Far too many to list here.

Again, you are invited to add your own, and to live your life in radically thankful way...and barefoot. Though it is starting to get too cold even for dedicated hippies to shed the shoes.

Have a great week!

SCHQC

Just what we need!

2007-10-12T17:28:00.001-07:00

Illinois, in probably the most insane moment of the session (that says alot) has decided that school should start with a moment of silence.

Its like Abu Gharib. You let people have control over a powerless group, and they do silly things with them.

Silvis says they do it right before they recite the pledge of allegiance.

So they are doing two useless things just to prove that they can make a captive audience do what they demand.

We wonder why democracy rots when the first thing we teach is to do what the government tells you to!

Ayn Rand Vs. Groucho Marx

2007-10-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

A comment on another blog has got me thinking. That...and an article in the paper this morning from the "Ayn Rand Institute" that says we need to celebrate "WESTERN CIVILIZATION" on Columbus day.

I don't think Ayn Rand would put up with the pap that comes from her institute.

The blog, on the other hand, was discussing western thought.

Groucho Marx showed up in the middle of it.

As well he should!

The Marx brothers, especially in Duck Soup. Go about destroying western thought in rather neat ways. What bit of language cannot be turned against itself. What is power when all power can be shown to be ignorance.

Monty Python is another group that shows the end of western thought and civilization. The "Michael Ellis" episode and "Meaning of Life" are the best.

What ground is there to stand on, friends? What is great about "WESTERN CIV"!.

And yet, today, I cast about for an argument to support my "musical elitism". So called.

Isn't it amazing that those defending western ideas, and western civilization are nearly completely ignorant of the art and theater of the "WESTERN CANON"?

As if "WESTERN CIV" is some kind of indoctrination. Which is what "WESTERN" thought is against.

If there is western thought...

Whatever it is, I'm against it.

AND

You'd better hope there's intelligent life
Somewhere out in space
'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth.

Did Shakespeare say it better? Not that's there's anything wrong with that.

Wheeeeeeee!

2007-10-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

Bicycling is fun.

Bicycling at night...doubly so.

Bicycling at night during early fall...well, that's heaven.

Just in case you didn't know.

Thought that I might just...ya know...clue you in.

That, and I HATE cars.

I hate what cars have done to our society, to the Earth, and to my pocketbook.

That's all.

I got to ride my bike to church tonight. It's a trend I've tried to keep up all summer. I think more peole should try it.

Have fun!

Our Heritage

2007-09-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

What disturbs me about Heritage Wesleyan.

It is hard to say.

I am an open, do your own thing type of Christian.

I am not envious, nor jealous.

I suppose I am slightly disturbed by "contemporary" churches in that they seem to promote a kind of "capitalist" Christianity that bothers me.

They remind of CCM magazine and Worship magazine. Two "Christian" periodicals that are about selling stuff more than getting me to love "Jesus".

Its also that I have a strong negative history with mega-churches. I was asked to leave one in Houston once because my 18 month old cried once. This could be picked up by the mics used to broadcast the service.

We could have left here in the "Children's Area" where we would exchange our child for a number, much like one does with one's coat.

That's not it either.

I mean, if they are introducing people to Jesus, and caring about each other, and working for peace and giving away their money and stuff...that is Great!

It is a difficult balance. Evangelizing, and talking about the Christian life.

Evangelizing is easy, trying to be a Christian is amazingly hard.

I don't presume to be judge, and my Christian life is quite the failure.

I probably would make a better Catholic, really.

I guess, that's it, though, at the bottom of it.

I don't believe in a successful church. There is no such thing. Churches are monuments to the failure of Christians. That is why I belong to one, work at one, even.

Working for the day when we realize that we don't need anything to get the message of Christ. CDs, TVs, Cars, money all tossed aside.

When does the pursuit of excellence replace the pursuit of the broken heart that Christ desires? When does support of the community surpass fellowship behind walls?

Follow the money

2007-09-27T18:35:00.001-07:00

Hey, a twofer for today.

The thing I most find frustrating about this ignorant war is the obviousness of its intention. Unfortunately, most people are missing it.

Who profits? Probably the first and only question in most wars. That has been mostly ignored in this one.

Who profits? Oil companies (the Bushes and Cheney's best friend). Halliburton (Dick Cheney's company). That's it. Pure and simple. All else is lies and cover.

That is the cover up. That is what we're going to learn in 30 years. Privatization of the military and endless war gives money to the rich and the super rich. The ultimate exploitation since it is primarily the poor and lower middle class who fight the war and suffer from the cost. Cost that puts profits in Exxon's hands, and Blackwater's and Halliburton's. Had they not been such fools, Enron would be reaping record profits along with all or Bush's cronies.

Get out of Iraq now.

Wake up!

Concerns with "Individual mandates"

2007-09-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

I am concerned that the democrats are making a big mistake.

That is called "individual mandates".

Requiring everyone to carry health insurance. This is like auto insurance, they tell us.

Except: One can always take away one's drving priviliges. Exactly what will happen if you don't get health insurance? What do you take away? Would every man, woman and child carry a card to prove coverage?

Then there's the idea of making a giant database of Health histories. A database, one would assume, the government would have access to.

As a user of "alternative" health services and as one who rejects the concept of mandatory vaccination, I am concerned that I could be punished for personal health care choices.

Single Payer could avoid these problems. That is why I still strongly support "single payer" coverage. Individual mandates, it appears to me, may even be unconstitutional.

Arts

2007-09-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

The state cuts art funding.

Another local blog has chosen to celebrate.

Already, the Quad Cities is full of talented people who give so much time and energy to the arts. Few, if any of these people, are seeking to get rich on it. Many not only give away their time and talent, but also their money.

What do the Quad Cities get in return?

Renown! Exposure! Tourism! Big $$$.

As does the whole state of Illinois.

Artists need to complain to their legislator. Artists need to complain to the governor. Artists need to stand up for what they give to this state.

Comment on local blogs. Write letters to the paper (as I will). The arts in the Illinois Quad Cities need to come together on this issue.

Arts enliven the community at such a low cost already! Imagine if you had to pay the true cost to watch a musical, play, listening to WVIK or watching WQPT?

You couldn't afford to see a show if artists charged what they were worth.

We get so little from the state. Without that tiny support, though, see how many groups can continue to enrich the business of the community.

Thankful Sunday

2007-09-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, what to be thankful for this week...

The change in seasons. Fall is my favorite time of year.

Teachers and students at Audubon School in Rock Island. (Fight the good fight!)

For all those who will do one thing at all this week to help preserve the environment. Especially by NOT burning leaves. Let them rot! Give them to me! The world could always use more compost.

Have a great week.

Peace.

SCHQC

What could be worse?

2007-09-20T16:16:00.001-07:00

1.2 million Iraquis dead.

They are free now.

One hates to be terribly cynical, but there seems to be no way out.

Except to leave.

Already there are 1.2 million dead.

2 million displaced.

"If you leave, it will be terrible!"

What is it now?

We warned you.

Many Thanks!

2007-09-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Yurt is DONE! (well, nearly, a few minor things to play with).

A Massive thank you to all who helped (you know who you are).

A huge thank you to all who took the time to read my column in the QCTimes. I can't believe how supportive they have been of me this year. I really appreciate it. I especially liked the commentary sent to me personally, put up on this blog or put up at the QCTimes web site.

Peace!

Hello!

2007-09-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

I'd like to welcome anyone who jumped on over or who was curious after reading my column in the QCTimes on Saturday.

Take your shoes off and relax!

I am pretty busy this weekend. Hopefully, we will be finishing building a yurt on my little piece of property. This was supposed to be done on labor day, but we had to answer the question "How many college degrees does it take to figure out a generator?". Thankfully, we have made good friends with the farmer up the road who was glad to quickly point out the error of our ways. (Insert rant about the school system here)

If you want any hippie living advice, or have any thing that's bugging you, are interested in socialist christianity, or just want to hang out...please go ahead and post.

I like to think of this page as a little commune. All are welcome.

SCHQC

Thankful Sunday

2007-09-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

This is kind of evil, but, I've got to let it out of me every once in a while:

Thank you to Appalacian State!

Well, to be less evil,

Thanks to Michigan,

and Thanks to my new Dog Euripedes, and the old dog Hannibal who is no longer with us.

Again, you are encouraged to post your own!

Have a great weekend!

What the hey?

2007-08-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

Destroy the Constitution of the US.

Support Torture.

1000s dying every year.

Billions wasted.

Bridges falling down.

New Orleans is still a wreck.

More people without health care.

Housing bubble collapsing.

These can wait.

Lewd Behavior in a public bathroom (is there any other kind of behavior in a public bathroom?)
and why, the machinery of the Republican party rolls as fast as anything.

God bless America*

(perverts don't count)

Here endeth the lesson.

John Edwards

2007-08-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

www.johnedwards.com

I must say, that I have changed my mind. Having been an Obama fan for quite some time, I have already switched horses, jumped ship...whatever.

I have just been so impressed by what John Edwards has said and continues to say. Given that. I am strongly endorsing him for the Democratic ticket.

He seems to be the only candidate willing to fight corporate greed and environmental degredation head on. He is the only one who speaks for the lower classes and understands the fight we are in against the rich.

The government, and even the democrats are too beholden to business interests and not to We the People.

Please support his candidacy in any way you can. Especially at the ballot box.

Turn on the infinite money feature please!

2007-08-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

Harry Butter as promised.

Also, take a look at the following article:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/science/14tier.html?em&ex=1187409600&en=2599bf4760a9a447&ei=5087%0A

I've always suspected as much.

Thankful Sunday

2007-08-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Alright, here's a thankful Sunday the day before I'm heading out to the Iowa State Fair.

Thanks to all my farming friends who have made the pasture hay a successful venture this year, thanks to the audiences that have supported community theater this summer, and thanks to the QCTimes, and all the bloggers who were at the meeting this past Tuesday. It was great having a face to face discussion and, although I disagree with some of the times policies, at least they let us come and offer our opinions on such things. Thanks (I know, I'm over the limit AGAIN) to those who mentioned reading this blog. I don't get tons of comments, and that's because I tend not to be so "in your face" about things, so the occasional feedback is very appreciated.

Have a good week. I'll save you an Elephant Ear or a deep fried twinkie! I'll try to bring back a picture of the butter Harry Potter.

SCHQC

My school (at the invitation of Moline Schools)

2007-08-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, I was reading the Dispatch (Hard to believe, but true), and in it the Moline Superintendent (at least that's who I think it was) wanted people to call/write/whatever with their ideas for what the "perfect" school would look like.

Nearly 60 years ago this was done for me by A.S. Neill in a book called "Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing". This book described a school in England that was based on radical Child Centered learning, and true Democracy. This school can be found at this http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/ website. We have our own version in America. We call it the Sudbury Model. The American school can be found here http://www.sudval.org/.

These sites and A.S. Neill's book will cover the territory better than I ever could.

I just would also add, in passing, that we have had the same grade based, graded, Germanic style of Education for well nigh 100 years (if not more). Isn't it time to try something different?
We build New Schools, fill them with New Tools, give New Tests, Change the Curriculum and the Textbooks, yet we still teach, primarily, like the Prussians did in the 19th century.

I mean, if Summerhill is a little too Radical for you (shouldn't be, but there you go), then look at Howard Gardner's ideas. Or Montessori's. Let's decide whether education still needs to be about creating sheep to work in factories, or if it should be about leading children to lead fulfilling lives beyond that of "consumer".

Let's try Apprentice programs for kids who don't fit in the classroom. Let's try asking the kids what THEY want to learn. You'd be surprised. Let's try integrating students with the society around them, not locking them up in an artificial environment that has nothing to do with real life. Until we address the foundation of education, everything else is window dressing and lies to keep your jobs and wrest more money from taxpayers. More and more of whom are homeschooling.

Falling in Love again, what am I to do

2007-08-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

It is Hillsdale, the object of my love. A little town. A very little town. I've been riding my bike around it and just enjoying the fun and the flatness. I'm amazed these towns haven't become thriving meccas for the overly-stressed city dwellers. I think these towns are the future. With computers connecting us every which way, there is no need to be surrounded by the city's chaos. Such little gatherings of buildings, and railroads, and sky and fields just get my creative juices flowing, and clear the senses. So does riding my bike. If I didn't hate cars before, I loathe getting in my car now.

We'll see what happens come winter.

Oh, I also had the joy of eating our own, home grown sweet corn last night. Finally, though the Japanese beetles did descend upon it, they were too dang late! The deed was done, the silks, by the time they were eaten, were no longer needed. Looks like we'll have some pumpkins and a watermelon this year too.

Anyone else for small town, and farm living? Let's leave the cities and head back to the country. A few good hippies could take over a town like Hillsdale.

Another Thankful Sunday

2007-08-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Alright...this Sunday.

Those who made and maintain my biking roads, "Hearts of Space", and all those who have spurred me to anger and indignation (I wouldn't know how to waste my time without them)

I encourage visitors to add their three to the list. It's fun and easy and anons are always welcomed.

(How strange, "O Holy Night" just popped up on my CD player. A singer I don't recognize. Right after some Native American music I was listening to)

Ohhh, PS...Come see the Frogs at Genesius Guild.

Turtle Spirit Guide

2007-07-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

I have had a recurring thought about a turtle running around in my head. It is like a native american spirit guide has come for me, and I don't know why, exactly. I have read about spirit guides and have read much about the Lakota and visited lakota holy places. Yet, nothing ever bothered me the way this turtle seems to be.

Anyway, it seems one way to go about these things is hoping that someone will come accross this post and know what I should do next. I am open to many different spiritual experiences. From my reading, and my own beliefs, I have not found Christianity and belief in the Great Spirit to be exclusive of each other. The more I've read about animism and the Native American belief in the spirit-ness of nature the more I've come to that point of view.

Yet, again, I urge that the turtle thoughts are out of nowhere.

Maybe its nothing, but it is nagging.

Serious responses encouraged.

Zero and One

2007-07-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

What fun. The political landscape is simmering and becoming boring and I've been working on a column for a couple of days, so I thought that I'd get philosophical:

What is the nature of the universe?

Zero and One.

At the beginning was there nothing.

Had to have been, eh?

Well, yes. Then...define nothing. What did it look like? What quality did nothing have?

No qualities, you say.

Then what is nothing? Was there one nothing? Or were there lots of nothings?

No Qualities!

Then nothing is undefineable.

Was there everything? What is everything? Everything including nothing?

Everything that could be? or Everything that is?

Where did everything come from? Nothing?

Most people give up. Scientists push back the veil of the known and try to guess. Though there guessing just leads into new problems. Before the big bang, we were sitting on two different Branes that bumped into each other.

What's a brane? Space/Time itself. What made the branes? Where did they come from? Don't be silly, what kind of question is that?

So I believe in zero/one.

The universe, now, is just as much nothing as it was. The universe, now, is everything it is going to be. Which is very little.

There is no truth, only experience. That is...the universe is always becoming. This state of becoming is called "reality". However, that is a misnomer. I would say that we exist on a bubble where "something" happens. This something is connected, vaguely, to what went on before, and what is possible.

Space/Time is possibility. It is a canvas. Gravity is the paint on the canvas. A folding of space time. Wrinkles. A dynamic nothing would fold back on itself. Examine itself. Define itself. Become...

That's what we do. We are nothing examining itself, or everything that nothing can conjure from itself. Which of course is nothing.

We might exist.

This is why we get strange events on either extreme. Black holes where gravity rules! Black holes nearly are! It requires an infinite amount of nothing to make something. Something that is creating itself out of nothing. And it is defined as the most destructive thing of all in a way that almost describes nothing for it is the ultimate paradox. A great nothing. A nothing that exists!

The same thing happens at the other end. Particles that slip into nothingness. Impossible to define except by the fact that they move. One must guess where they are. Time and space seem to break down as they are barely defined.

In between, we live in reality. A "slow-motion" version of either extreme. We cannot flit through the universe, yet we are more defined. We do not "exist" but have an understanding of existence and live in a bubble, as it were, travelling through space time. Slowing things down so that we can grasp them.

The universe is an eye blink. All time is here and gone, but that geometry slows it down. Form is all there is. Form captures. Form defines. We are a geometry of nothing.

Thankful Sunday

2007-07-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

1. Medea at Genesius Guild. Quite wonderful. Great art! Great Direction! A greek antiquity of great beauty that is absolutely free to enjoy!

2. Joseph at Music Guild! What fun it has been performing this year. And with my daughter to boot!

3. All those that have encouraged me to blog, those who helped diagnose and repair my old computer, and for biking at night. May it be allowed in the hereafter.

(I know, I cheated...cramming all those into number 3)

What a great day it has been! Hope yours has been the same.

Peace

Freedom is free

2007-07-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

...or it's not freedom.

Just would like to say that to day.

Not to dis the army (though I am a pacifist. To each their own)

I just hate the phrase "Freedom isn't free".

Of course it is.

Enjoy your freedom.

BTW, maybe we should look at the "alter or abolish" thing a little more closely. Who says we have to put up with 18 more months of King Dick and Defender of the faith George!

The last guy we declared independence from was named George too.

Then of course, we picked another George to be our first President.

Let's see...this Bush would be...George the Third, right? If you count Washington as George the First.

Down with George the Third.

I'm just being patriotic.

Peace to you, love and forgiveness.

Free speech

2007-07-02T20:03:00.001-07:00

So, free speech.

According to the the Constitution: Congress shall make NO LAW (emphasis mine) abridging the right of free speech...or the free excercise thereof. *

(Unless you are under 18 and attend school)

Free speech for those with money.

Media costs a lot these days. Try excercising your right to freedom of the press, and see if anyone pays attention.

Then, there's the Quad City Times. A bastian of unbiased press.

From the Editor's blog:

Our policy starts off with the following: “Our journalistic ethics are treasured and should be above reproach. We must maintain our independence and avoid conflicts of interest to safeguard the public’s trust in us. That is why newspapers are given special constitutional freedoms.”
To me, these aren’t shallow words. I believe them and Suggested headline: Journalists and political donations don’t mix.

Journalists and political donations don't mix, eh? What about the owners? Can they donate to politicians? I asked, and have not received a reply.

What does it matter if individual journalists can't express their political leanings if the paper's owners are free to? What conflict of interest does that reflect? What if the paper's columnists are bought off by the government (as has happened)? What if news and advertising are subtly blended? Is that ethical?

What about civic boosterism? Maybe in order to get an unbiased view of the community we should only hire journalists from India.

Freedom of speech for them who can afford it, and who can pay to silence those they please.

What more could one ask of heaven

2007-06-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

As I stood on my small farm this evening, as it has on other evenings, this question comes: What more could one ask of heaven? My body, such as it is, does its purpose well, and generally without complaint. There is ever changing beauty to see anew each day. I lack for...well, nothing, mostly.

My complaints and fears are what get me up in the morning. My desire for novelty and for repitition.

Who would want to dwell in heaven, and have naught to seek, naught to care, naught to worry, and a full understanding of all awe and mystery?

I will lose this feeling, I am sure. Though, when it comes, it seems that to have these moments is worth any suffering I have had to get to this moment.

The thing that comes to me, though, the stick in the mud. It is what I do not do, and have not done that pushes me onward again. I gain advantage from those who must work, doing things that I would not, and could not stand.

My lifestyle is built on the desperation of millions in slums and in sweat shops.

Even, come the day, that I could call myself "self-sufficient". The country itself survives on the pain and suffering of others that we do not see, and so do not bother with.

That they could one day stand in a field, or sit in a warm apartment, or share their thoughts, hopes, and dreams on a network such as this.

I stand aghast. How can we bring them to this brink of heaven where we live? What is the secret?

That is what I would ask. Heaven is here for all. That is the kingdom. How can we make it?

How odd the world

2007-06-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

What a strange world it is, and to be back in it is quite something.

The computer took a vacation, and staunchly refused to stay on for any decent length of time. So, an organ transplant occurred and we are back with much the same thing we started with. A little more fleet of foot, a little different, but here I am posting at the same spot.

We need things so desperately.

Money especially.

I wish one could solve the problem of money, but it is not to be. We live in a country where socialists must be at least decently paid.

One might as well bang one's head against the wall, but one does go on doing so.

This is not a sad thought, but a rather happy one that I hope says something about the nature of the universe itself.

It tries and struggles to be...and here we are...but, at the bottom of it all, it seems to be nothing. We must convince ourselves of our own lives on some level every day.

And so...life was quieter without a computer. Though, it seemed, more of a life.

Much more time to think.

Now I must share.

That is a life too.

Such as it is.

SCHQC

Pro Choice? Not in Iowa, not in Illinois

2007-05-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you who think this land of ours is free. For those who think that obeying the law at all times is the right thing to do. For those who think that the health care system we have works...listen up!

A blow has been struck against reproductive freedom. A midwife of our acquaintance has been accused of practicing medicine without a license.

What has she done? Delivered babies. Which is considered practicing medicine.

What doe this mean?

It means that birth options are being limited by the state. For many women there is no choice but a hospital. Birth=Sickness.

Choice means, now, abortion or birth. However, choice of provider for the delivery of babies is limited to OBs and their minions. Or, you can do it yourself. In Illinois, the choice is stark. In Iowa, apparently it is becoming so too. The Nytimes a while back had an article about the decline in VBACs. This is something that women can turn to midwives for that most OBs won't offer. Women are, in some cases, waiting until the baby is in the birth canal before entering a hospital to deliver so that OBs don't have a repeat c-section as a choice.

Should women not have the choice to have a baby ANY WAY they want?

Isn't that what Roe V. Wade was supposed to give women?

Yet, when lay practitioners, actively sought by clients can be charged with felonies, than we have less choice.

Had a C-Section before? Good luck finding a VBAC. The state will then let you terminate a pregnancy, have your abdomen ripped open again or let you have the baby on your own.

Yes, it is legal for you to have a baby at home, with no attendant, but ask for a midwife at home and...well...you're asking someone to break the law for you.

Which, thank goodness, many heroic midwives will do.

Just so women can have a natural, non-medicalized, safe birth.

Having help, though, is impossible. No one can do it legally. Unless we allow lay-midwives freedom to practice.

It is imparative that we seek a federal law allowing freedom of choice for pregnant women. Freedom to choose when, where, with whom and how they give birth. Only through federal law can true choice be gained.

Here is a link:

http://www.nofelonyformelanie.org

where you can donate to the legal defense fund of a local midwife. Also, if you are in Iowa, please right to the attorney general and your state reps so that these providers are not driven from the state or thrown into our overpopulated jails.

SCHQC

Very busy

2007-04-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

I've been fairly busy lately, and also haven't heard much to post about.

Also, I've been very busy our at the farm.

This is our second year with the 6 acres. We have a wonderful pasture planted with help from "real" farmers. (There is nothing more embarrassing than having to pull a Craftsman garden tractor up next to a $100,000 John Deere.)

We are also going to try to get a jump on the Japanese beetles this year.

Our garlic wintered over very well, and has now been divided. We planted several potatos, five willow trees, lettuce, spinach, peas and our asparagas is coming up (although it is only in its second year). Our raspberries and strawberries look good. Looks like one of the apple trees is dead.

We're waiting for a Yurt to come from the Pacific Yurt company. It'll be a place to stay from time to time on the land, and give us a place to hang when we're working there.

I'm also thinking about rehab-ing the barn.

Good luck with your gardens all!

And since I probably won't get back before Sunday...

I'm thankful for the rain this week, the warm weather, and the Chicago Cubs.

Feel free to add stories about your garden, and your thanks.

Peace!

Free art zone!

2007-03-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

I was just inspired by QCImages to post on this. A positive move on the Davenport riverfront. Incorporating the Skate Park all the disperate elements and The Figge.

How about a "Open Art" or "Free Art" area. Interactive, public works of art. Areas to display new art created by young and/or local artists. Allow everyone to help decorate the skate park. Build a small stage and allow cheap/free access to musicians/comedians and theater groups. Turn the length of the river into an art fair every summer. Performing artists, street theater, grafiti art, ever changing.

When Bix Festival starts, everything is Bix and Bix themed.

Blues Fest, Blues themes.

Sports/Human/Figure themes near the Ballpark. Invite young artists to compose pieces out in the open.

Start an art festival at some point to center the whole year around.

It would work great and enhance the farmer's market, everything that goes on down there. It would draw people from free public art displays into the museum. The skybridge could lead from one art zone to another, and art all the way through it. Not just colored lights, but use the sky bridge as a blank canvas. Artists could come and decorate it the way they like!

I am totally into this idea! Imagine hearing all types of performers and seeing all types of artists interacting with the river. That could put Davenport on the map!

Thank you QCImages.

Here is my positive input!

The Actors Studio SCHQC style part II

2007-03-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a good article on a tangental topic to what I discussed earlier:

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=331681

When it comes to doom and gloom about local arts, I would add in the fact that Friends of Chamber Music has folded altogether.

On the bright side...as I often say...Prenzie Players has become one of the best theater groups in the area...if not the region.

A new chamber music group has opened up, but it is mostly...if not completely...Symphony run and organized.

One of the big things is generational. There aren't many people in the Baby boom generation taking on arts groups. Neither are there many younger people.

Artists, there are a-plenty. However, the race has gotten tougher. More people come from two career households. Often people work 50+ hours a week. The younger/wealthier people here (are there any?) aren't as interested in the arts. Those that are fly to Chicago and New York. The lack of a middle class, single career household has eliminated the "do it yourself" pulic artists from getting a foothold.

Some of the fault also lies wth people who have hung onto these art groups for way too long. People who haven't groomed a replacement to take over.

Then, the final blow is the professionalization of Arts leadership. Instead of looking for someone with passion, connection to the area, and knowledge of the area, we look for a degree in Marketing, or Arts Management or such the like. Someone who says what the board wants to hear and then uses us as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

We need to go back to a local focus on arts. We need to support local arts groups. I think the media plays a big role in that (see previous posts). Artists need to reach out to a younger generation, but not pander to them. The community has to put their money into organizations and not buildings.

As always, would love to hear from you.

Peace!

PS It is Sunday.

I am thankful for this weather, I am thankful for my children, I am thankful for the visitors who have stopped by this past week, and the time I've had to work on this blog (dang that's four. Oh well)

Free Photos/$500k toilet

2007-03-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I'll throw some pictures up on the side. I am an amateur photographer (who isn't nowadays) and I am told that some of my pictures can be cool. Who's to judge? I like them.

I'm going to throw my voice in on the $500k bathroom whilst I'm here.

What a waste.

There still is no coherent vision for the River/Downtown Davenport etc. All this stuff does is force upkeep costs on those least likely to afford it; The property owners staying in Davenport. Mostly homeowners. Davenport puts up all this infrastructure and the people who use it come from the other side of the river, or LeClaire, Bettendorf, and Blue Grass. The main commercial growth in Davenport is actually occurring on the other side of town. Kick out the Casino and what kind of job base are we going to get in Downtown Davenport?

Galena has a wonderful downtown with shopping integrated with the riverfront. Davenport has very little in the way of Downtown Attractions that would feed off of the Stadium (abandoned 75% of the year) or the Art Gallery (not a huge draw), or the Band Shell (abandoned 95% of the year). The skate park, apparently, is a draw, but how much money do skaters have? That's not a slam on skaters, it's just a bit of truth. Having no money is pretty cool in my book.

So we have skaters, a bridge accross the river a usually abandoned Stadium, a usually abandoned bandshell, an actually abandoned freight house, an Indoor skating rink with no windows, and no ties to the river. Then a lot of parking for the Casino and the bandshell and the stadium that sit empty most of the year. A bridge that my kids like and is kind of fun, especially for the cost (free), but that makes no money and looks like its going to be a constant headache to maintain. Especially when the boat leaves and it really leads nowhere. Oh...we've got a bike path.

Now, we're going to add a $500,000 bathroom with treats. We hope the skaters will buy some nice treats. They'd have to be nice especially to pay for the upkeep. And when it does flood? What happens to the skate park then? What happens to the treats?

Who pays? The people too poor to get out of dodge. The people who will no longer have money to go to the Art Museum, or the Stadium because their taxes are too high.

Go die! (Cartoons Redux)

2007-03-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Alright, so I forgot a great comic. Shane reminded me of it, though he didn't know he was. A little help from B. Metcalf didn't hurt none neither. So...without further ado...go check out GO DIE!

http://www.godie.com

The QC Actor's studio

2007-03-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

I have been ranting over on QCTImes on "The Burke Show" blog (or something like that) about his recent trip to California to undergo a "journalism/theater boot camp".

See the introduction to the series http://www.qctimes.com/blogs/?p=299

I have tried to get a conversation going and have mostly failed. It appears to me that the trip was a waste of time and energy. It seems to me that time would have been better spent interviewing theater artists in the Quad Cities and finding out what their needs are. Instead, he went to see theater in California. What that will do to improve theater coverage in the Quad Cities I fail to see.

I've not been asked, but I'll put out some ideas that I think will help Quad Cities Theater/Arts coverage.

1. Support "classical" and "fine" arts as much as you support rock/country/pop acts.

2. Support local acts over national acts. When a national act is in town it dominates coverage getting front page coverage before and front page reviews after.

3. Educate critics (locally of course). There is one great critic and one or two good critics in the area.

4. The media should get more involved in local arts, and local arts more involved in the media. Again, 8am on Saturday isn't a big time slot to build an audience with, neither is page 3 or 5 in the Go section. Especially when theater shows are all mashed together under one headline.

There are other quibbles, but mostly the above 4 are a problem.

If the media would work with local artists we could build a nice "scene" in the area. We do have plenty of arts groups, but many are struggling. Excellence seems to be put down, not rewarded.

This can change. I enourage you to get involved in Mr. Burke's conversation. I encourage those bored newspaper writers/editors who may drift over here to spend some time going behind the scenes locally and asking/working with local artists to expand the arts scene which should reward the community and the paper equally.

A few good words is one thing. Media paired with artists is a driving force that we could use to promote the whole area and could be an engine for some economic expansion.

Anyway, just my rant for today, I suppose.

Peace all

Just a fun morning

2007-03-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have the day off of work so I get to spend the whole morning writing!

Working on an Easter Drama and a longer work that is the most fun I've had writing in a long time.

So, I'd better get back to it.

Hope you all are having fun.

Post about your day, or anything off the wall.

(pic by me/caption by B. Metcalf)

Qconline takes on Radish

2007-03-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

Go to this article http://radishmagazine.com/stories/display.cgi?prcss=display&id=328583 read it and then go back to the top of the article and look just to the right to see what ads qconline has put with this article.

Peace...enjoy

driving vs. standing still

2007-03-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

All sorts of peple are spewing invective at a woman who may not be the greatest mother in the world (of course, he who throws stones...etc.) but, apparently, did not break the law either.

A child died.

Now, the strange thing is: Which is more dangerous? A moving car on the highways and byways of our land? or A car sitting in a parking lot?
Do more kids die on the highways and byways of our land or in a parking lot?

In Iowa, it is child abuse, to leave your car in a stopped vehicle. Yet, I would bet, it is still much more dangerous to have your child in a moving car with both parents inside than leaving them alone in a parked car. I would bet. If it is not, please correct me. I would like to see the statistics. (I don't have the $$$ or the time that professional journalists have).

As George Carlin says: They want to ban toy guns...and KEEP the REAL ones!

Peace. Good job Walter Braud! The law is the law and it takes a good judge to stand up to the mob. Even with the law on your side.

What we walk by

2007-03-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

I haven't been blogging much because of lack of response, and more interesting writing duties. Those few who do read seem to be enjoying themselves and I am happy with that.

I am taking time to bring up something that I have noticed recently, and something that I may write more on in some other forum. So I won't do much more than a summery here.

It is simply the beauty that we walk by every day. We pass by newness and beauty just because we refuse to look for it, and are drawn into recognition and "same old/same old" type of thought process.

Yet every day, every hour brings a new landscape whether you are flying to a new country or walking down the neighborhood street, or passing that house for the 30th time.

Take time to find something new, and relax. Same old/same old seems stressful, confining and boring. New beauty is relaxing and satisfying.

Again...more later. Would love to hear your thoughts.

peace

Cartoon Ideals

2007-02-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

I got into a discussion on another blog about Cartoon strips.

I left a fairly long reply.

So let's talk cartoons:

1. Bloom County. None better. Nuff said.

2. Bob and Dave (see www.dailyillini.com)

3. Far Side

4. Calvin and Hobbes

5. Peanuts

Honorable: Get Fuzzy, Pearls before Swine, Fox Trot, Boondocks, Artsy Fratsy (just try to find it...I dare you...I double dare you...then tell me where you found it!)

There is obviously no debate here. No argument. No discussion.

I still do "Opus" sometimes but its methodone to the Heroin of true Bloom.

Time to mourn and celebrate and keep the flame

2007-01-31T19:48:00.000-08:00

Molly Ivins passed away. True sadness.

Yet, I'm sure she would not want us to mourn. She would want us to redouble our efforts to stop the madness that is our guv'ment.

Impeach the SHRUB!

She's probably up there telling God a thing or two about the way he should run the world.

Please, pleasantries only. Fond memories. Mourning thoughts.

Today, this is a no snipe zone.

Peace

Love the US

2007-01-27T19:13:00.000-08:00

You know, certain people think that hippies, pagans, homsexuals, transgendered, socialists and liberals hate the USA.

Not so, quite the opposite. You can find no more abiding love for this country among these groups.

We may not be patriotic, but we live in a great country where one need not be "patriotic". We love the constitution, and what else is this country if not the laws upon which we agree.

Which is patriotic, just not "PATRIOTIC".

I love the US of A. I also love all citizens of the world. I also love that I am not made to love the US of A.

Inconvenient truth gets my oscar

2007-01-23T14:50:00.000-08:00

Just saw it last night on DVD.

The most important and obvious point takes place fairly early on, where in order to follow the projected line of CO2 increase, Al Gore gets on a lift in order to rise to the point where CO2 will be in fifty years.

In comparrison, we are given the difference between the temperatures that, nearly exatly, eerily, follow the CO2 level that would result in 2 miles of ice being on top of Manhattan. The difference is, about, 2 feet between this cold world, and the world we lived in when CO2 was in normal range. Now, he had to move up several feet on said lift to show where CO2 would be. At least 10 ft. up. About 5 times the difference that had occurred naturally over the past several hundred years.

This combined with the fact that in all peer reviewed articles ranomly sampled (I believe there were over 900), every single one accepted global warming as happening.

Now, for those who want to know...peer review means that it just isn't any old study, but one that has been looked at by other scientists and found to be goood enough to be put into a journal. So good, that these other scientists put their names behind it.

The movie overcomes any doubt, better than I could, so I simply encourage you to watch, before you dismiss it. Watch before you vote. Read other science journals. Read a science article on global warming, it is scary.

Remember, for 30 years + the tobacco industry told us that smoking was safe and did not cause cancer.

Thankful Sunday

2007-01-20T19:27:00.000-08:00

Allright, it's thankful Sunday.

My three things I'm thankful for:

QCMediaghost, QCTimes, and "Breakfast At Victory" (great book) from which I take this quote from the beginning of a chapter:

"I sought God for thirty years until I realized that I was the one being sought" -Anonymous Sufi (this is a paraphrase, I will check the book as soon as I found what I did with it)

I invite all to join in with their three (max) thanks for the week.

Blessings Peace Shalom

SCHQC

Why do Christians hate peace?

2007-01-19T20:05:00.000-08:00

It intrigues me.

People profess themselves to be moral, loving, upright, Christians and then they go about denying every possible precept and shouting down those who speak up to say that the world could be more loving, accepting, caring and just.

I do not judge these people. They are quite welcome on the road to peace. They are worthy, excellent human beings.

One just wonders where the problem lies, exactly.

I am often told to live in the "real" world.

Yet, even science has yet to find this place. The world, as far as logic and science can take us, is just about as unreal and fanciful as it could possibly be.

This "real" world is also filled with people saying "Be true to yourself!", "Love one another!", "do the RIGHT thing".

We do not seek riches, we seek the "real" world. Many of us share what we have with others when we can.

We are not perfect people. Far from it. But many are open to all possibilities of life, and open to all different kinds of people; Fat, thin, rich, poor, injured, blind, ugly, pretty. Doesn't matter.

Stand up for these people! Stand for inclusion! Welcome all comers! Preach the gospel of PEACE!

And you're shouted at. Stolen from. Made fun of. Belittled.

Of course that's what the bible says would happen.

It's just weird seeing it come from people who claim to base their life on the book you got these ideas from in the first place.

Do any Christians agree? Disagree? How about other faiths? or Non-faiths?

We the people

2006-12-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

Christmas time is past. Thank goodness. Now we can get back to being nice to each other. Does anyone else think that Xmas has become a misery? Money, blather, and triumphalism ruining the arrival of a Messiah who abhored all of the above?

Anyway, I was listening to a little Pete Seeger today as a palate cleanser, and that got me thinking.

Unionism is quite dead, but the ideas of solidarity, and brotherhood/sisterhood live on, or do they?

I was reading in Harpers about black power and the civil rights movement. They are dead too, but why is all that gone?

We the people. Most of us scraping by. We want health insurance, we want more family time, we want better communities. And the best community I was with this holiday season was at a pagan party. So there you go. A close second was the party at my church where we celebrated Las Posadas. We were having a pseudo spanish/hispanic party when real immigrants/hispanics showed up. They shared their carols and songs with us. Showed us how to have real fun with a pinata, woke up what would have been, otherwise, a boring, white, old people's party. It was unexpected, and it was bonding, and it was fun! One million words on immigration and on the "meaning of Christmas" were best expressed by pagans giving gifts and enjoying being a community, and spanish speaking members of our community invading our xmas celebration.

Yet, we too often drift to things to make us happy. I do it myself. When, we the people. We the non-judgemental, easy going, party happy, fun-loving people just need to open our hearts to others, instead of walling ourselves up with fear, greed, and things.

Jesus says "Take all that you have, and give it to the poor". Not just to help them, but to knock down the walls between the two.

The Gospel of Thomas has Jesus saying "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first until we all become one!" There, is the kingdom of God. Here, and now. We can have it, they just don't sell it anywhere.

Here endeth the lesson. Happy New Year!!!!!

Christmas Music

2006-12-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

What's your favorite?

I'm torn between a couple of songs...Wachet Auf (Wake, oh Wake!) as an Advent carol that I adore. Also, The Linden Tree Carol is excellent. Then there's The Cherry Tree Carol which is probably my absolute favorite (AKA When Joseph went a walking).

The Cherry Tree Carol is an American carol, oddly enough, and it is about Mary asking Joseph to gather cherries, wherupon Joseph says "Let the Father of the Baby" gather cherries for you. Then Jesus speaks out of Mary's womb commanding the trees to bow down.

Mary does not rebuke Joseph, but simply rejoices in the miracle, and draws his attention to it "Oh, look now Joseph, I have cherries at command".

Then I've heard two different endings. One just repeats the opening phrase (When Joseph was an old man, he married virgin Mary...etc)

another has Joseph breaking down, and asking forgiveness of God.

I go back and forth between which I like better.

What are your favorites, and why? I would love to hear about them.

The Peace on Christmas

2006-12-13T19:23:00.000-08:00

Those who claim a "war on Christmas" are wrong, no matter who they speak for. All sides have lost. Peace rules!

You see I believe:

My God is large enough to embrace Pagans, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Athiests.
He appears to each as they can find him.
My God celebrates the Solstice, the Yule, Ramadan, Hannukah, Yom Kippur.
My God speaks through the bible, the torah, the Koran, Dr. Seuss, Yeats, Kipling, Stephen King, Rumi, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gnostic Gospels, through my children.
How dare you say that Christ is the son of a God who can only hold one religion.
Christ is who I follow to discover the truth of the beauty of God.
"My House has many rooms!" says God.
Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the light". What a great play on words "I am" is the name of God, and "I am" being a call to find your own way, and "I am" being a call to follow his way.
My God is the God of contradiction.
My God sent his son to die for life. My Goddess takes care of the Earth. My God is in all people. My God rules over the dogs and comforts them. He is with my rat, even though my rat is 10 years gone.
She is the start of all creation. He is creativity, reminding me that all things are beautiful.

Merry Christmas! Wolcum Yule! Happy Solstice! Happy Channukah! Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Darwin, Einstein, Freud, Skinner and Sacks! Alleluia brother and sisters! Love all, hate none, fear no evil for God is good!

Thanks!

2006-11-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate the white man's invasion of "America". Let us give thanks. So come one, come all. Thanks Sunday is extended: Post all week, please limit to ten (the normal limit of three is also lifted) the things that you are most thankful for this year.

My favorites:

1. Thanks and love to all those who have hated and argued with me over the past year. Especially those who loathe the socialist road to freedom and love.

2. My Family and friends

3. Borat

4. Brit-Coms

5. Peace that surpasseth all understanding.

6. My lovely, six acres of land, lovingly thieved from the indians around 150 or so years ago.

7. My pets that teach me what it means to be a loving, forgiving being by waking me up at 3am.

8. Opera Quad Cities, The Genesius Guild, Prenzie Players

9. Unitarian Universalists everywhere.

10. Gorillas

Of course, one should be thankful for all things. Extreme thankfulness brings one joy, and shows, quickly, what little money should really mean in this world.

Praise Be, Peace, Shalom, Enjoy the Turkey!

Minorities, John Deere, and $$$

2006-11-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

An interesting article in the NY times. Concerns a local co. you may know. Check it out!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/11/business/11watts.html?hp&ex=1163307600&en=99ea41a020e94379&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Peace.

2006-11-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

Today I remember those who died for peace: Jesus, Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., numerous members of workers', and socialist movements. The anonymous who die every day in factories and mines, not just our soldiers but the soldiers of the "enemy", many also poor and anonymous. Does Haliburton give $1. to the family of those who died so that they could have obscene profits? What about Exxon?

Let us pray for the day when we free ourselves from the tyranny of riches, and the folly of justified violence. When thankfulness and forgiveness will reign. And all life is equally sacred.

Real Terror

2006-11-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

Suppose terrorists killed 35000 people a year.

Think about what a blow that would be to this country. Thousands of innocents dead every year. Maybe 10 X that many hurt. Many paralyzed, or losing a limb. What rights would we give up then?

Suppose the war in Iraq cost 35000 lives a year. We'd be approaching, what, 150000 deaths? What support would there be in this country for that? And what if many of them were children? Pregnant women?

We have a ban on Euthanasia.

Yet, the automobile does what the above cannot, and we sit, and we do nothing. 35000 dead. There were two pile ups on the I 74 bridge. Thank God, no one was hurt.

Hey, here's a test...who do you know who died in a terrorist attack, or in a war, or was hurt in either. Now...who do you know who died in a car accident or was hurt in one.

Given today's technology, our car addiction is a crime. Wrecking thousands of lives and costing the economy billions. Given the computing power that can be brought to bear, we should be able to have a personal, public, computerized, safe transportation system. But we absolutely refuse to put our money or give up our "freedom" to suport such a thing. We are like a primitive tribe. Sacrificing to the Gods for our self involved desires.

Would you be a Christian if it meant giving up your car?

Look, and I'm not even getting into the environmental damage.

We can go there too.

What do you think? Defend your transportation choice to the mother of a dead child.

Investigative Reporting?

2006-11-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

QCTimes says that it was the Progressive Clergy, the Dispatch says it is Churches United, and goes further, printing contact information for Churches United.

Knowing both of these groups, it sounds to me, from who is quoted in the article, that it is the Progressive Clergy. This would be a fairly sizeable gaffe for the Dispatch as it is front page and includes, then, wrong contact information.

The second thing I notice in the Dispatch is the WiMAX article. It seems that BHC has sold its EBS to QCO. Given your and my property tax dollars support BHC, I would be interested in more 411.

We are told the FCC approved the sale of BHC's EBS to QCO. Yet, such a partnership, yea, near monopoly that this will create should have had a lot of public oversight. How will this affect the digital divide? Are there other options for using the EBS? How does this not give MDPC a great advantage in the delivery of content, phone service, video service and music service, without hardly any investment in infrastructure. DSL will allow the MDPC to be a phone service provider over public infrastructure. All for, what, under $100,000 a year? That, and it doesn't seem that anyone in the community will benefit from this partnership. Except the pocketbooks of those at MDPC who have just hit the jackpot.

Anyone else a little baffled, today?

I made the list!

2006-10-30T21:23:00.000-08:00

Wow, after over a month of trying, I made the QC Online blog list. Happy days! I am proud to welcome all visitors to the home of off the wall and dead serious thought. I believe the two go together. Well, I am quite surprised, and will have to get moving and get more posts up.

A brief intro:

I am socialist, in that I believe a society rises and falls together. Poor and rich are all Americans. Everyone helps to make this land great. Except, perhaps, GW, but that's another issue.

I am a Christian, in that I follow the teachings of Christ. I believe in his social vision, and most of my moral philosophy arises from my long and continuing Christian roots. I believe in radical thankfullness, and radical forgiveness. I also believe in working on myself as much, if not more so, than preaching to others.

I am a hippie in that I go barefoot as often as possible, believe in peace, love my tiny farm, sing, unschool my kids, and have been known to have long hair, listen to folk music, and wear tie dyes.

Welcome, friends, all are friends here, and all are welcome!

Freedom Opera

2006-09-26T10:24:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Germany-Opera-Islam.html

This shows where "sensitivity" leads to censorship. I am all for being sensitive, BUT freedom of speech wins. It is nice to see this debated in Germany. It is nice to see an opera staging choice debated in any nation. Hopefully, someday, the US will catch on to making opera current.

Even if pushing the envelope may wind up offending, the pushing is not wrong. It is needed by open and free societies.

Discuss.

Socialist Christian Hippie

Freedom Opera

2006-09-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

This shows where "sensitivity" leads to censorship. I am all for being sensitive, BUT freedom of speech wins. It is nice to see this debated in Germany. It is nice to see an opera staging choice debated in any nation. Hopefully, someday, the US will catch on to making opera current.

Even if pushing the envelope may wind up offending, the pushing is not wrong. It is needed by open and free societies.

Discuss.

Socialist Christian Hippie

Greedy for truth

2006-09-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

We are all greedy for truth. I, myself, am often selfish and greedy for truth. We often want to better ourselves, and the value of our truth by putting it on others. I do this all the time.

So, as part of being thankful, and embracing radical thankfulness, I am going to work on building truth by looking outside of myself for it.

What do you think truth is?

What is the paradise you seek?

Thank you for your input.

I will not respond until most of the responses are done.

A couple of brief caveats: I understand many people believe truth begins and ends with a savior, prophet or book. I am looking beyond that to what about that prophet, savior or book is attractive to you. What stirs your heart when you desire the truth of Wicca, or Islam, or Jehovah.

For me, the idea of radical thankfulness, pacifism, and egalitarianism leads to less violence, less envy, less jealousy and a strong sense of community that allows each person to find their place and to feel a part of something larger and joyous.

(anyway, that's as far as I go. But that's what I'm looking for. What would heaven on Earth look like? What does Allah want of his servants? What world would the goddess love to see? What would the world look like if you made it in your dreams?)

Take time, expand on it, leave multiple responses.

The Socialist Christian UU Hippie

Resonse to the Pres, and those who fear

2006-09-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

I am infinitely. INFINITELY more in danger of dying in my car than from islamic terrorism.
Also, I never, ever claimed that Bush didn't protect us on 9/11. I don't blame anyone for 9/11. It is an outgrowth of years of miserable cold war foreign policy, and our greed for oil.
Continued miserable foreign policy and greed for oil will not solve the problem.
The President takes an oath to "defend the constitution of the United States". Not me. Not you. Not the guy down the block. The oath says "defend the constitution of the United States".
On that part of his oath. The main part of the oath. He has FAILED.
As to MY privacy. I give away my information to those I please. If I leave my computer unprotected and Joe Blow tracks my computer, that's my problem (and soon his when I sue him). However, the government cannot track my computer unless I give my permission OR a court finds enough evidence otherwise to grant a warrant. Thus, we are protected.
As a socialist, I am concerned that I am monitored. As someone who has been with people who use drugs recreationally, home school, or violate our dumb medical licensing laws (God bless them, I have a healthy child because people will violate the law), or who non-violently protest, or who violate various code statues in an attempt to have a green lifestyle, or who are naturists, or who occasionally violate the hunting laws, or who don't want their livestock tracked by the FDA, or who don't vaccinate, and on and on.
Or people who discuss these things, such as the dream day when the socialist revolution will overturn this capitalist oligarchy.
I would hate to wake up without the constitution's protection, in a foreign country, under torture because of something I said. It chills free speech, free expression, free association, free press, for heaven's sake.
If you don't believe it, talk to the New York Times, go in a Mosque, talk to someone who is black, or latino. I have friends who can't go places in this country because of their race. TODAY. And they are scared, because the government will walk all over their rights!

Vote Obama!

2006-09-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

Simple post today. Please contact Senator Barak Obama and urge him to run for President. His views, record and charisma could take the democrats back to the promised land! Dan Hynes may be backing him for various political reasons, but a continued drive by voters to "draft" him will give us the best shot to get him into the campaign. Run Barak Run!

Beauty and Truth

2006-09-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Here is something that I wrote responding to the question of evil on the Unitarian Universalist listserv that I belong to. I thought that this might be a good place for it. It represents my main philosophy:

Actually...truth and beauty exist, where evil does not.
Truth is the solid state, what is known, the past, simplicity, hard to say...impossible to reach...one is always on the way to truth.
Beauty is "truth in action". Change, novelty, variety, experience, the moment...now.
Evil is simply a misinterpretation of truth and beauty. Believing one knows "truth" causes two things to happen:
1. You then need to enforce truth regardless of consequences.2. Beauty ceases to exist. If truth becomes static and known, then beauty ceases to concern you. You race towards truth.
Truth sits in the middle of a many faceted jewel. There are so many facets, and infinite number of lifetimes would be required to view it from all of them. One wanders through this jewel, seeing glimpses. As one gets closer the light of truth grows, until it becomes blinding. Yet, the path is still before you. You still have not seen it all. Yet, the blinding light makes you feel as if you've seen it all. But as you get closer it is easier to make a mistake, see truth in entirely the wrong way. Go wandering on a dead end.
Christ solves this problem in an interesting way. He say "This is Truth. I am the way. Follow me!" Yet...he understands we cannot...will not go. So then he says FORGIVE we are all on this path and we all make mistakes, so forgive each other. Hold to what is beautiful in life. Forget about truth. I am truth. The way is truth. Don't worry about truth. Worry about each other.
This is beauty. Beauty main be painful, dark, sad...and yet without pain there is no joy. Without anger, no reconciliation. Without losing, no winning. Dynamic truth. Wonderful.

The Socialist Christian Hippie

Muslims Welcome!

2006-09-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

I extend a hearty welcome and extend the hand of peace to all Muslims in the Quad City Area. There are many people here who are happy you are with us in our community. If it weren't for Islam the western world would be very deprived, and would have never crawled out of the dark ages.

Peace.

9/11 remember, but no change...really

2006-09-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

It's time to remember 9/11 and mourn the horrific leadership of this country since then.

I was against the war in Afghanistan, as well as the war in Iraq, and I still am.

On 9/11 the world turned strange for a little while. My day started with the Today show, and then cartoons for my daughter. Until my mother called saying that something had hit the World Trade center. Then it was back to the Today show for the worst few minutes of reporting ever. Katie was in deep denial. Even after the 2nd plane hit, she went on babling about a "navigational error".

I was screaming for the Pres. to ground all flights right then. The instant after the second plane hit. Billions of dollars for defense, and we didn't have an Air Force ready to protect us.

Anyway...we had a midwife appointment that morning for my 2nd child.

Then I watched as fighters criss crossed over our small metropolitan area. The overreaction had begun.

But, aside from increased governmental paranoia, and a feeling that my world is shrinking as our civil rights have eroded significantly, my life, personally, was untouched. Thankfully.

But, yet, there must be millions of us. Millions of people with lives that weren't that shaken, but for a week, or so, we will be convinced that they were.

In a way, our government took the deaths of 3000 innocents, and now has turned that into nearly 150,000 more. ...and untold into the future we go. Throwing the tantrum of war. Hurting ourselves, hurting others, and not helping the pain to go away. Nursing it. Living off the pain. Making money from it. Neglecting ourselves.

Peace, Peace, Peace!

The Socialist Christian Hippie

Almost Sunday

2006-09-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's not Sunday, yet, but this has been such a depressing week that I think I will start Sunday early.

So, I will thank the Crocodile Hunter, My Friends at Opera Quad Cities, and the staff at my local pizza place, who prepared a great dinner for me tonight.

I encourage all to add three more things to the list.

The sky,
The land,
The farm sits
Waiting for me.
With its endless variation.
Each second, an inspiration.
Each inspiration an infinity of ideas.
A few shining ones I pick lazily
Floating on its ocean.
As time's beach waits
For me.
Like the farm.
The sky.

I am constantly amazed

2006-09-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

The Chief Illiniwek problem plays on and on and on.

What is stunning is the general lack of knowledge of history that people show.

1: It seems that many people believe that there is an Illini "tribe" in existence. Not true.

2: People think that white people do not still benefit from the Indian lands we stole. We do...quite a bit. We owe them untold billions. Why untold? We decided not to keep records on how much we owe them. Every American pretty much lives on what was Indian land. I have been to South Dakota many times, and people are still making lots of $$ in the Black Hills. An area that the Indians would like back. An area that the indians in the area held as holy. Imagine if someone came into the vatican and painted an image of four shieks onto the Sistine Chapel. That's what we did in the Black Hills with Mt. Rushmore

3. White people are the dominant race in America, and in the world. China has not taken over yet. White people, white Christians if we want to be more specific, have plundered the riches of more people the world over than any other race of men. The riches of Asia, Africa, Jews, Muslims...name me another group, and white Europeans have stolen from them, raped them, killed them, and made off with their land, gold, silver, oil rights, and on and on.

Then, we go, "Why are they mad at us?"

Well, Jesus says..."Love your enemies". And I try. I fail, but I try.

God says that you shouldn't have any Idols before God.

We lost that battle ages ago. How many mainline churches have services that occur during NFL games? How sneaky that all these services get out at or right before noon on Sunday.

Hmmmmm.

You know, whilst we're on history, we worship Christ on Sunday because the emporer Constantine saw the image of the cross in the Sun? He thought he'd honor them both in one go.

So, get out there and read. If you are confused as to why we have to get rid of the chief, don't hide your head in ignorance. Read our history. Read about Indians ("On the Rez" is a good book about modern indians).

If we're in a war you don't understand, and you want to vote with a clear conscience, ask a historian about America's involvement with foreign countries in the 1980s.

It is enlightening.

Blessings upon you!

Keep barefootin' it! It isn't that cold yet!

SCHQC

On Freedom

2006-09-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

We are not free in this country. We are less free every day. With more cameras, and phones, and cars, and soon rfid tags tracking our every purchase and movement. The government has now shown it has no problem monitoring this extensive data of the mundanities of our lives. Look at WHBF deciding what words we can hear. Look at the schools? What are they best at teaching? How to give in and suck up to a police state. It works! Most of the population is fearful, even of their own bodies. We beg corporations to improve our lives, whilst losing the knowledge every person used to have as to how to build things, and grow their own food. We have become babies of the corporations, and we beg for more.
Well, now the corporations have taken over. So we pay to wear their signs on our bodies. We let them control the government for fear that, if we didn't, they would take their jobs and go...where, exactly, I've never figured out. They've already taken all the jobs they could and found people to work them for less $$.
We live in a corporate facist state.

We live in fear of our bodies, and their interaction with the world around us. We are told all nudity is sexual and gross. Even going barefoot is banned as much as possible, and frowned upon otherwise. Pregnancy is controlled by doctors. Oddly, mostly male doctors have taken over pregnancy, and women are told that it is a horrible thing to give birth. People are ashamed of not having the "perfect" body. We put on clothes when we go to the beach!

What freedoms America once had, and were once held as dear, or at least as tolerable, have been erased. We have zero tolerance policies on everything, because we let fear rule. Not until we accept fear, accept terrorism, or, as Christians everywhere should understand, accept death will we be able to live our lives fully. Until then, we live in a fascist state. Be that state only our fear filled minds.

Railroading

2006-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well, my visit to the Iowa State Fair wasn't totally fruitless. I won the railroading gift package! My son will be very happy.

Trains are something that we need a lot more of. Get traffic off the dang interstate. Clear the streets of cars. What would be more awesome than a light rail system connecting the Quad Cities. What would be better than a train from the Quad Cities to Chicago. We'd get there faster than driving.

Yet, even though the interstate system and the airport system in this country are supported with billions upon billions of tax dollars. In the case of automobile transport, it also kills thousands, and costs billions upon billions of private money to support it.

Amtrak wants a couple billion, and "WHOA! WHAT TAX SUCKING LOSERS!"

Look around you. The tax sucking losers are the oil companies, the car companies, and the airliners dumping their pension plans on the taxpayer.

2004 revisited

2006-08-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

An article in the New York Times reports that irregularities have been found in ballots for the 2004 election in Ohio. A judge should issue a ruling in a couple of days on whether the ballots may be kept from being destroyed.

Here is a link to the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/washington/31ohio.html?hp&ex=1157083200&en=2c27830c9886f1c1&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Many of us on the left have called for an investigation, only to be called all sorts of names. Well...proof is in the pudding. Many "obvious" problems have been found before (such as misleading flyers, and problems with machine availability at Urban voting precincts). Now there is evidence that ballots were tampered with.

Rise up, people, reclaim your own country, for heaven's sake. How criminal do the Republicans have to be?

(Did you know: Elections in the US does not meet or exceed the international standards that we impose on nations like Sudan and Iraq?)

The Lillies of the Field

2006-08-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

Barb Ickes talks about bums, and many bloggers respond in a strange way. Then there is a letter in the Quad City times about Obama's trip to Africa/personal responsibility, and they respond in the same, odd way.

"Why don't they get off their lazy b*tts and get a job"

First of all, being a bum isn't easy, or everyone would be doing it. Of course, working is like being a bum, nowadays, just steadier pay. What is sitting in front of a computer and putting ideas on paper. Work? If some rich guy is paying you for it...yeah. If you are begging for money yourself (being an entrepeneur)...yeah. Being an entrepeneur is just begging on a different level. Listen to Paul Harvey, for Pete's sake, he says stuff on the radio that he gleans from someone else's newspaper or from a wire service reporter, and he states the most lowest common denominator commentary that one can find, and then tells you to buy a bed from the guy who gives him a buck or two.

Let's make this easy... Almost NO ONE in this society creates wealth. It is a very few who have stolen enough wealth that enslaves the rest of us.

The most honest work is government work. In that, the government is controlled by the people (or we could control it, if we behaved the way owners should) and therefore government work is working for yourself. Taxes become money you pay yourself. And if you do your government job well, you benefit yourself.

Being a greeter at Wal Mart is not a real job. It's you trying to make the guy (Sam Walton and his heirs) look nice so you can scam a few $$ off him. Writing for Time Magazine, isn't a job. If you are so smart, start your own magazine, but then you have to beg people to buy it.

Let's put it this way...Bums are honest. They beg for money. A guy standing on a street corner in a clown outfit with a sign (happens, ironically enough, usually close to where the "honest" bums are) is only doing it for the money that he can spend on dope, booze, property taxes...whatever. He's getting less than the bum, because he can't afford the overhead.

What does the chamber of commerce do? Beg rich people to bring their jobs to our area. Why don't the people of the chamber of commerce create wealth, instead of begging for it from rich corporations?

Jesus says: See the lillies of the field? They neither toil nor spin, and yet...the Lord cares for them. Why worry aobut yourself? Don't you believe that God will care for you?

I am a bum...and proud of it. Hopefully, someday, I'll have enough faith to get off my lazy b*tt and trust in the Lord.

The lessons of Conan

2006-08-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

It is time to reveal the truth. Though I am a Socialist CHRISTIAN hippie, there is a small part of my heart that still belongs to Crom.

There are pages upon pages written about being a Christian, but not many, if any, pages devoted to what we can learn from "Coanna the Barbarian"

One: What are the best things in life?

To Kill your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

(That is, if you are a barbarian, or follow a morality similar to that of the current president. As a Christian Hippie whilst I enjoy the premise for an action adventure film, be sure, my life is Not based on this)

What really makes Vulsa Doom grieve?

Killing his snake.

Thou shalt not kill (especially Mr. Doom's large snake)

Where does Crom live?

In his mountain. Where he is waiting for the riddle of steel.

Jesus has no such test, though if you've found the answer to the riddle of steel, he might like to hear it. Or not. Hard to tell. One of Jehova's many mysteries.

What does the God of the four winds think?

He laughs at Crom.

Jesus would laugh at Crom. He's a pretty funny guy, sitting in his mountain.

We should remember always, that God is in all things. Even in films written by Oliver Stone.

"Crucify him on the tree of Woe"

Speaking of that, with all this rain, it seems the tree of woe came down on my back fence. I must go and tend to it with the "Insurance Adjuster" from the ninth level of hell.

Sunday Thanks

2006-08-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

Again, I encourage any and all visitors to leave three (and only three) things they are thankful for.

For me: Bare feet, Rain Barrels, and the staff at Comer Children's Hospital.

A Poem this Sunday:

Stars above, so far away
What do you have to teach today?
How small I am
How large you are
Yet both so tiny from afar

Together we light up the night
In different ways
Both great and slight.

Accross the sky
I see a dance
And think about the slightest chance
That I will join you
Quicker than thought
And understand what God hath wrought.

The Socialist Christian Hippie

I'm Back

2006-08-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

The hippie has been hangin' at the IA state fair, and up in Chicago. I'm back, and the Quads are in need of me again.

What made Rock Island ever think that tearing down Schneider's, a church, and a quaint apartment complex and replacing them with suburban boxes of garbage was a good idea? Now, we're going to try tearing out houses and putting in a (third) hardware store. It will go well with the (third) auto parts store in the neighborhood that will sit on Memorial Heights former location.

Now, shock of shocks, Panera Bread may NOT be coming. If only ACE would follow suit.

My farm has been doing pretty good. Soon we'll have tons o' spaghetti sauce. It's a fun thing to do with all the tomatoes we've been hauling in.

Death to the Japaneese beetles!

Can't wait to see "Snakes on a Plane"

Keep to the left!

Check it out!

2006-08-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

The Sounds of the Socialist Christian Hippie. Check out my music page!

http://www.myspace.com/shimmeringimages

4 downloadable traks. Mellow art. Pic of the Hippie! My alter ego's name and bio.

That Socialist Christian Hippie feeling

2006-08-17T21:37:00.000-07:00

Many people ask me, so...what is it that you have to be a socialist, Christian Hippie?

One: It's Catchy! Say it three times as fast as you please. Now run outside barefoot run onto the neighbors lawn, and lay down on the dewy grass. Smile. Think about all it means to be there. How your neighbor has such a beautiful lawn, how the sky is fun to watch, and how thankful you are for everybody being who they are. So much so that you desire to share the wealth of the world with them. That's that catchy socialist Christian Hippie, showing me the way.

Two: It is most important! Zero equals One. That is not the truth, but it is as close as we can get.

Three: Christian, because, after much searching (I've seen it all man) I found that most of my morality was Christian in origin. Jesus was the original hippie dude. He was cool, collected, thankful, slacker, open to beauty, and loved his fellow man. He was a dude we should all desire to emulate. Science and philosophy are excellent, and so is Jesus. Open your mind to all three. I do.

Mellow out, kick off your shoes. Share the love. Show your peace! We take all kinds here. I am just your host.

The Socialist Christian Hippie of the Quad Cities

Germany, Germany, Over Everyone

2006-08-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

I am a pacifist. Just like many of the Germans were in Davenport. Before they were run out. Nevertheless, they get the last laugh. Germania now welcomes people to Gaines St. An Aryan statue in front of one of the most "diverse" parts of the city.

$45000 can buy a lot of house a few blocks up that hill. It could also buy a lot of food and heat for winter for those up there. I also wonder how the gateway handles flooding. Will it float?

Then there's the great, shrinking FIGGE. Now bring us some art for Figge, Now bring us some art for FIGGE, now bring us some art for Figge, and bring it right here!

We won't go until we get some,
We won't go until we get some...

Well, you get the idea.

By the way, I saw a City of Davenport vehicle at the Iowa State Fair. We'd better cancel the next council meeting.

Thanks for Sunday

2006-08-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we will give thanks. Please give thanks for 3 and only 3 things. Also, since it is Sunday, we'll give the vitrol a rest, and always say something positive. Today...a poem!

O God,
Welcome me home.
Just as I am.
Warts and all

Let there be no shoes in heaven.
Let us sit in joy together.
Let me sit by my enemy,
Shake their hand,
And watch the Earth turn.
As we make plans for a new world.
A new form.

A place free from fear.
A place of celebration.
A place to rest before trying again.

We will decree that all may partake of the bounty together.
We will decree that all may sing and take part in the choir.
We will decree that large women may reign
And dwell where they please.
What a world that shall be.

All praise, and peace, and thanks to all

The Socialist Christian Hippie

Welcome to the Quad City Home of Peace and Love

2006-08-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

Love and Support to you! May this missive find you blessed!

Yes, I am the socialist, Christian Hippie of the Quad Cities, and welcome to this blessed land. I am here to fight for truth, equal justice, liberal religious thought, self sustainable environmentalism, and the occasional whacked out, freaky, good time. All are welcome in my house.

So what's on tap for today?

CEASE FIRE

No, not the Davenport city council. The UN hasn't figured out their problem yet. Rather, I am speaking of Israel and Hezbollah, and Lebanon. Those who are fighting over a glorious land, about the size of Rock Island County. Imagine a bunch of Port Byron seperatists, launching a bunch of missiles at Aledo. Then you've got the picture. Actually, you've got a good idea. But...we're all for peace here, and that, my friends, is what we have.

Cease Fire!

As of ohhh, midnight Monday, all fighting is to cease. The Bekaa valley will sound as quiet as Downtown Davenport on a Tuesday night. The UN will run an army into this area, the size of Rock Island County, and assume control. No more missiles, tanks, or harsh words to be flung furthermore.

Do I believe that? No.

What is the Socialist Christian Hippie's take?

Well, peace is welcome, brother. Yet, what the Israeli army cannot stop, the UN will? The UN will give cover...unwittingly...for a Hezbollah rest, recovery and re-arm fun time. They will also give political cover to Lebanon. Yet, sooner or later, the Hezbollah will launch a missile and some poor farmer, down Aledo way, will get his/her head removed and then we're in BIG MESS land. Now you'll have Hezbollah, Israel, the UN, in a three-way. With poor hippies in the middle.

Easiest way to stop the real problem: GW picking up a stupid phone and calling Omert and telling him to KNOCK IT OFF, or NO MORE BOMBS, PLANES, or Patriot Defense systems. BTW, where are the Patriot batteries that we heard so much about 10 years ago? Where are they? Not a peep. Is that cause THEY DON'T WORK? Billions of dollars wasted on a stupid "anti-missile" system, and some 15 years after their glorious debut in GW I (gulf War one) they are MIA.

Stay tuned to this space for more fun reading, and I'll tell you more about me in the next few daily (hopefully) collumns!

Peace Brothers and Sisters
The Socialist Christian Hippie of the Quad Cities