It just occurred to me that when I edit my blog entries before posting them I should read them for consistency with the stoic advice I have started including on these page.
It won’t do me any good to offer stoic advice on correct living if my blog posts are out of step with those messages. That said, I will try and present my posts in a manner consistent with my own advice, at least as best I can at this stage in my evolution.
A pair of twins are holding a discussion with one another inside the womb. One fetus says to the other, do you think there is anything after this life. The other laughs and says, why would you ask that? The first replies, there must be something else after this life, this life is too perfect. The second twin sneers and says, that’s true, we have everything we need here, why are you complaining? The first says, yes, but we can’t stay here forever, there has to be more than this. The second says there is only darkness and uncertainty outside of this world. Then, one day there is a cataclysm, the second twin is freightened and looks at the first twin and asks what is happening, the first twin replies, we are evolving.
There’s a question for you. I think the answer to that has been constantly evolving over the course of my lifetime, so all I can say is what it possibly means right now. I am a seeker of wisdom (short of that, learning). Sometimes successful, often struggling with little success. I am happy with that. After all, to quote a good friend, I’m just a hard working 81 I.Q. With that in mind, it would seem that I’m doing just fine.
I probably read a lot for someone of my advanced years. i’m actually rather proud of that. There is one problem, though, I have books on my bookshelf that I haven’t actually read. Worse, I have books on my bookshelf that I have read and I don’t remember that I’ve read them.
There’s probably a drug for that. I’m not sure I want to go there. Anyway, I pulled a book off my shelf titled Turning To Stone: Discovering The Subtle Wisdom Of Rocks, by Marcia Bjornerud. Obviously, it’s a book about geology. I’m not exactly sure what possessed me to buy it, but there it was, so I opened it up and started reading. I was blown away. It contains some of the most beautiful writing I’ve encountered in quite some time. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. There are wonders to be had all around us and sometimes they appear where we least expect them. Still, a beautifully written book about geology? I’m going to try to remember this one.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is reportedly trying to use AI to ferret out national security employees that are not deemed politically acceptable to the MAGA agenda. To do this she is trying to gain access to emails and text messages of all national security employees. Watch out. We are witnessing the birth of a new repressive era. Without a huge stretch of the imagination, this could also be used to profile every U.S. citizen.
During the McCarthy era, the stated purpose was to find communist sympathizers inside the U.S. government (with only very rare exceptions, there were none). Today is different in both scope and purpose. Today this paranoia and lust for power is being turned on law abiding U.S. citizens. We are watching first hand the death of personal and political freedom.
I spent the better part of two years deciding if I should have a tattoo. After carefully considering the choice, I decided it was the right decision for me. Not just any tattoo, not art for art’s sake, I wanted something that would remind me every time I looked at it who I am and what I should be doing. I’m happy to say I fulfilled that goal.
I would like to visit Main Street in old town Bastrop Texas. There’s a little bookstore there owned by Ryan Holiday. He is one of the world’s bestselling Philosophers.
From almost no investment in alternative energy sources (about 10% of the world’s total investment) to climate change denial, to the food we eat, America is living for today with no care for tomorrow. We are killing ourselves and not leaving anything for our children.
Now Trump is pandering to Christians. People I’m quite sure he is courting on not because he sees himself aligned with them religiously or morally, because he sees them as targets for manipulation.
“Christians, get out and vote!” Trump told supporters in Florida at a July event. “Just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years. You know what? It’ll be fixed! It’ll be fine! You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you, Christians!”
Trump added, “You gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote.”
What exactly is meant by “You don’t have to vote again?” Let me guess, Trump doesn’t intend to leave office at the end of his second term as is written in our Constitution. Shameful and un-American, not to mention ignorant.
Yes. By all means. Get out and vote, just not for the man that wants to end Democracy.
Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg, when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, said: “I didn’t play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel. I played it right because that’s what you’re supposed to do—play it right and with respect.”
So if you are not a baseball player how do you find meaning in life?
It does not come from marching under someone else’s banner (Lenin, Mao, Hitler, Trump) you have to believe there is a natural moral order that applies to all of us. Once that is realized, we have to be willing to apply that order to all our actions.
It’s not about my preference or your preference as many people today would have it, it’s about which preferences are best for society as a whole. That is how the game should be played.
To paraphrase Bertrand Russell:
If you want to establish a Fascist State, the first step you need to take is to entertain the fools. Once you have them firmly captured and fascinated you then silence the intelligent.
This is Trump’s playbook. The only problem I have with this is that I find it difficult to believe Trump has read Bertrand Russell.
Body, mind, and spirit therapy… Also know as Pickleball.
Classically trained Chinese Masters studied painting, poetry, philosophy, herbal medicine, and Martial Arts (Tai Chi among other schools). World Tai Chi day is the last Saturday in April. I’m planning to start Tai Chi training. (I’ll let you know how it goes.) I enjoy poetry and philosophy too. You don’t have to be good at them, just appreciate them.
Is Trump running the country, or is he just a pawn and doesn’t realize it. I believe he is so self-centered that he really doesn’t care about anyone or anything other than himself. I think the country is being run by people that have his ear, and even some that don’t. He isn’t smart enough to be a good leader. All he has are some outdated opinions and prejudices.
Amazing. I can’t deny it. I’m happy. The world is an ugly place but a beautiful one. All things considered, I’ll take the beauty and leave the ugly for other people to complain about. That doesn’t mean I turn a blind eye to the ugly. Quite the opposite. I aspire to do what I can, in my own small way, to make the world less ugly. That said, I don’t let the things I can’t control affect what I can control — first-and-foremost, my happiness.
“I have lived with several Zen Masters. All of the cats.” —Eckhard Tolle. You’d think I were more Zen than I actually am. After all, I live with a Zen Master that is continuously teaching me (and leading me to his food dish).
Some people have to be right, even when they are wrong. Not knowing you are that sort of person is worse than being wrong.
Continuous growth and learning are what bring enduring happiness.
I’m becoming a big fan of Japanese Whiskey. I was just thinking this morning that I should quit drinking, not even an hour has passed and I’m having second thoughts. One glass occasionally can’t hurt, right?
A war with Iran (a war with any country under the current Administration) would jeopardize American Democracy. The Administration would use such an event as a tool to restrict the freedoms of Americans. They are likely looking for ways to do that even without using war as an excuse.
The six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for humans… we needn’t go into that yet since I’m still managing those on my own… But that got me thinking, what are my cat’s six ADLs? Clearly this is a matter of some importance since my cat owns the house and by virtue of that owns me. Were it necessary to put him into assisted living I would have to move in with him and I’m not yet ready to make a cat assisted living home my place of residence…
Well, here they are, I am monitoring all of these very closely:
I’m not complaining, I’m just not looking forward to spending my golden years in an assisted living home full of cats because I have a feeling I’d probably end up at the beck and call of the entire house.
What’s Wrong With American News Media?
I remember when I was a kid growing up, I thought the news was dry and boring. That’s because basically it was. The news was brought to us without opinion and we were allowed to draw our own conclusions. The news today is another matter, not only do we get reporting (sometimes fact based, often not) we are also told what to think about it as we are receiving it.
Kale, Blueberries, Banana, all good stuff and good for you. I’ll skip the beef tallow, I’m not a big RFK fan.
We are always standing at a fork in the road. The thing that dictates which path we choose is our attitude. Our perception is more deeply impacted by our thoughts than by our experiences. Experiences are wonderful things and they can lead to lasting memories, but what determines the type of day we’re having is our thoughts. Celebrate the moment you’re in and try and make it as positive as possible.
Crater Lake Rock-n-Rye and Crater Lake American Straight Rye, mixed one-to-one. Cheers!