I have been watching the gathering of Davos, Switzerland of the business, financial and political leaders of the developed world. The setting is beyond beautiful in the snowy mountains, these are the glamorous, wealthy and powerful people of the world. These people have the power, they shape what really happens.
I am watching for the Warrior. Imagining at this gathering he might standout and make himself known. The cycle of power that the corporations hold at the moment is so strong and it makes sense that they will not willingly give up control. That is why we need a Warrior for change. That is if you are part of the 99% left out of power structure.
I learned about the need for a Warrior in the book, IN THE NEW GOLDEN AGE. Barta uses six different social cycles to explain events of human change. Instead of just studying economics he incorporated these other indicators to do his predictions and his record is extremely successful. In evolution that is about to happen in the next few years in this country, we need the Warrior. Of course, Barta says things have to get worst before they get better and we may not quite be at the moment yet.
Now that is a list, the negative events list, that is easy to follow. Supreme Court ruling last week is important addition. The Pew poll showing the lack of understanding of Americans toward the basics of how our government works is important, that came out yesterday. The voting public in the '30 and '40 during the last major financial crises of this nature were much better educated. Anything beyond a sound bite can not hold the attention of the majority of citizens today, it seems. These signs along the way are important because they show our race to the bottom. The cycle of power that the corporations hold at the moment is so strong that they will not willingly give up control, that is why we need this Warrior, before we can enter the Golden Age.
Obama is unlikely to be the man. He is black and liberal, too much of the community activist personality. I saw the reruns of Obama before the GOP group, he is too logical and polite. Besides, he has circled himself with the same Wall Street minds that brought this mess to us. There is, also, a very deep racist attitude in this country, too many people can't follow his lead about anything.
I am beginning to believe the Warrior maybe more of a radical, military, white guy that will appear to wrestle away power from the Wall Street gang. I imagine the Warrior has to appeal to the fear level in this population. I will hope that we don't need a Mao, Stalin or Hitler but honestly our population has grown so uninterested in any thing that is thoughtful I am beginning to wonder. I am losing faith in our citizens. Over 45 % believe that humans have been on earth only 10,000 years. That denies science. If you don't believe in science, turn off the lights, get on the horse and go live off land.
In the meantime, I am looking out for the Warrior. I am also keeping my list of signs that we are racing to the bottom.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Seeds
When is it time to throw out a package of seeds? I am going though my box of seeds this morning and trying to decide.
It is easy to buy seeds. This year I have received about eleven catalogs and each is better and more selection than what the mail brought last week. It is common wisdom today that organic seeds are likely to have less pest problems than GMO seeds. The goal of finding the most unusual, little know variety is part of the hunt but blending that with the successful seeds of last year is always a challenge. My habit of package seed saving is a problem . I hear those seeds inside as I shake the package and feel an obligation to keep the little envelope of potential life. Isn't it true that seeds from the tombs of Egypt germinated?
Living in the Pacific Northwest we have a long growing season but less heat that the middle of the country. We have companies that specialize for our climate but that can be boring. I found Kitazawa Seed Co., it is focused on Asian vegetable seeds now after starting out only with Japanese seeds. With some of the weather changing patterns, it is interesting to expand out view of the plant world. I sent them an order last year. It did not work out so well, I plant some squash seeds in the front yard but rabbits loved the tender plants and I forgot to water them enough, I think. I have enough seed left over, I think I will try again in a different local.
My favorite read is Fedco Seed Co. It is a 140 pages of comments by growers that caution, encourage, compare, and share secrets. The order I put in to them each year is simply to make sure I get the reading for the next winter. It is an old fashion type company that have very set rules about ordering and frankly tells the customer among their many rulers, they don't rush orders. It is a co-op and they are from Maine. It is probably more famous for the prose than the seeds.
I no longer have much interest in flower seeds. I have roses, lilies and lavender growing in the yard to keep the bees around during the summer, strong fragrant flowers are favorites at this point. In a previous period of my life I was very interested in flowers for bouquets but that was when I entertained a lot. Now I work outside so much during the day I enjoy my flowers and they give me pause.
Gardening is never mastered as a form, one is always a student. Thomas Jefferson quote is so wonderful, “Though an old man, I am but a young gardener” .
It is easy to buy seeds. This year I have received about eleven catalogs and each is better and more selection than what the mail brought last week. It is common wisdom today that organic seeds are likely to have less pest problems than GMO seeds. The goal of finding the most unusual, little know variety is part of the hunt but blending that with the successful seeds of last year is always a challenge. My habit of package seed saving is a problem . I hear those seeds inside as I shake the package and feel an obligation to keep the little envelope of potential life. Isn't it true that seeds from the tombs of Egypt germinated?
Living in the Pacific Northwest we have a long growing season but less heat that the middle of the country. We have companies that specialize for our climate but that can be boring. I found Kitazawa Seed Co., it is focused on Asian vegetable seeds now after starting out only with Japanese seeds. With some of the weather changing patterns, it is interesting to expand out view of the plant world. I sent them an order last year. It did not work out so well, I plant some squash seeds in the front yard but rabbits loved the tender plants and I forgot to water them enough, I think. I have enough seed left over, I think I will try again in a different local.
My favorite read is Fedco Seed Co. It is a 140 pages of comments by growers that caution, encourage, compare, and share secrets. The order I put in to them each year is simply to make sure I get the reading for the next winter. It is an old fashion type company that have very set rules about ordering and frankly tells the customer among their many rulers, they don't rush orders. It is a co-op and they are from Maine. It is probably more famous for the prose than the seeds.
I no longer have much interest in flower seeds. I have roses, lilies and lavender growing in the yard to keep the bees around during the summer, strong fragrant flowers are favorites at this point. In a previous period of my life I was very interested in flowers for bouquets but that was when I entertained a lot. Now I work outside so much during the day I enjoy my flowers and they give me pause.
Gardening is never mastered as a form, one is always a student. Thomas Jefferson quote is so wonderful, “Though an old man, I am but a young gardener” .
Friday, January 15, 2010
Millie
Since I met Millie, I have like that name.
She was about twenty years older than me when I met her in the early '90's on a group tour of Costa Rica. Actually, it was her husband that first caught my attention. As Bob read each page of his paperback book, he torn off the page. I was sitting on the bus across the aisle from him and I could not believe what I was seeing. This couple were unique in many ways this being the less of them.
Millie explain to me in a boring factual manner, "Oh, Bob, never feels the need to pass on books and he is eliminating the weight of the book as he read it."
If I have met anyone person in my life that embodied wisdom and fun, openness and self acceptance, it was Millie. She was so full of life and yet she had a heart condition, had challenges and blessings of both extremes. Many of things she told during that tour are precious sentences that have stayed with me.
On fashion, "I would not know where to start in a department store, it is too confusing and time consuming. I go to the local village woman's shop. The lady there teaches me how to tie a bow, what necklace to wear with each dress. "
On retirement, "We seriously look at different spots and honestly we could have settled anywhere there was a college. In the end, we stayed in our home, because our only grandchild lives a block away. "
Bob and Millie had two children, Bob ran a Wall Street large investment fund and Millie started a reading clinic in Harlem in the late sixties after her younger one was settled in boarding school. Those were the years after Harlem had the riots. I asked her if she had any incidences where she was frightened. She answered twice.
"Once sitting on the empty subway late in the evening, the door open and a gang of kids, loud and running, came on the car. I realize my mistake by sitting at the end of the car instead of the middle and became conscious of being totally alone in the subway car. They were coming toward me when suddenly, a girl spoke, 'Miss Millie, remember me, I am Emmy, I was in your school.' Oh, was I happy to see her!"
The other time involved a her battery of her car was dead and she walking in a bar about 10 clock, explained to the bartender while a full bar of black men looked on. He and a couple men arranged everything for her. Needless, to say her husband was panic that night waiting for her.
Two of the volunteers at her reading clinic were John and Caroline. Millie liked both of them and said they always introduced themselves by using only their first name.
The other political story she told involved Clinton. They did not contribute to campaigns. At first, she said they did not have that kind of money, then she said, well, maybe it has more to do with choice where to spend money. One of Millie's neighbor's was hosting a fund raiser for the Clinton's for his first run and it was turning out to be the party of the year. She still declined on the principle of not being a political donor. In the end, Millie was asked to host at the front door. The neighbor wanted them there money or no money.
As the evening processed Bill asked Millie where she was from and she replied with her slight southern accent West Memphis. Clinton said he could not believe that because that was all black share cropping country. Millie explained that her father, a young lawyer died leaving his wife and three daughters with only one asset, some land. Millie's mother was determine to learn to grow cotton so they moved to West Memphis . All the daughters went to Vassar on scholarship. Millie said the magic of Clinton is simply that, when he speaks to a person, the rest of the room no longer exists.
A couple years after our trip. John and I spent an evening with Millie and Bob at their home. I sensed something had happened because our corresponds dropped off for no reason. Millie explained the joy of their daughter's marriage had followed a year later with a deformed, mentally handicap child. The next year her pregnancy was terminated after they realized the fetus had no brain.
Sadly, the young couple had honeymooned in Costa Rica because of the Millie and Bob's review of the country. While on that trip the daughter had pet a wild cat at the B&B infecting herself. She was not capable of having healthy children.
It was a sweet, sad evening. I felt Millie's deep pain. Her daughter-in-law was close by but a workaholic and little interest in her child. Millie was hoping for healthy grandchildren to full her last years.
They lived as any older people often do in two rooms all day, the kitchen and a sitting room with lots of sun for reading and the radio and a little t.v. Millie had no interest in cooking so food was an issue, the deli or a cook on Saturday for a weeks worth of meals prepared. Their world had peeled down to each other and contact with their family. Shortly, after that visit, I knew that our friendship would fade. Ironically, this is the neighborhood where the Clintons now own a home.
Millie is one of the reasons I love to travel.
She was about twenty years older than me when I met her in the early '90's on a group tour of Costa Rica. Actually, it was her husband that first caught my attention. As Bob read each page of his paperback book, he torn off the page. I was sitting on the bus across the aisle from him and I could not believe what I was seeing. This couple were unique in many ways this being the less of them.
Millie explain to me in a boring factual manner, "Oh, Bob, never feels the need to pass on books and he is eliminating the weight of the book as he read it."
If I have met anyone person in my life that embodied wisdom and fun, openness and self acceptance, it was Millie. She was so full of life and yet she had a heart condition, had challenges and blessings of both extremes. Many of things she told during that tour are precious sentences that have stayed with me.
On fashion, "I would not know where to start in a department store, it is too confusing and time consuming. I go to the local village woman's shop. The lady there teaches me how to tie a bow, what necklace to wear with each dress. "
On retirement, "We seriously look at different spots and honestly we could have settled anywhere there was a college. In the end, we stayed in our home, because our only grandchild lives a block away. "
Bob and Millie had two children, Bob ran a Wall Street large investment fund and Millie started a reading clinic in Harlem in the late sixties after her younger one was settled in boarding school. Those were the years after Harlem had the riots. I asked her if she had any incidences where she was frightened. She answered twice.
"Once sitting on the empty subway late in the evening, the door open and a gang of kids, loud and running, came on the car. I realize my mistake by sitting at the end of the car instead of the middle and became conscious of being totally alone in the subway car. They were coming toward me when suddenly, a girl spoke, 'Miss Millie, remember me, I am Emmy, I was in your school.' Oh, was I happy to see her!"
The other time involved a her battery of her car was dead and she walking in a bar about 10 clock, explained to the bartender while a full bar of black men looked on. He and a couple men arranged everything for her. Needless, to say her husband was panic that night waiting for her.
Two of the volunteers at her reading clinic were John and Caroline. Millie liked both of them and said they always introduced themselves by using only their first name.
The other political story she told involved Clinton. They did not contribute to campaigns. At first, she said they did not have that kind of money, then she said, well, maybe it has more to do with choice where to spend money. One of Millie's neighbor's was hosting a fund raiser for the Clinton's for his first run and it was turning out to be the party of the year. She still declined on the principle of not being a political donor. In the end, Millie was asked to host at the front door. The neighbor wanted them there money or no money.
As the evening processed Bill asked Millie where she was from and she replied with her slight southern accent West Memphis. Clinton said he could not believe that because that was all black share cropping country. Millie explained that her father, a young lawyer died leaving his wife and three daughters with only one asset, some land. Millie's mother was determine to learn to grow cotton so they moved to West Memphis . All the daughters went to Vassar on scholarship. Millie said the magic of Clinton is simply that, when he speaks to a person, the rest of the room no longer exists.
A couple years after our trip. John and I spent an evening with Millie and Bob at their home. I sensed something had happened because our corresponds dropped off for no reason. Millie explained the joy of their daughter's marriage had followed a year later with a deformed, mentally handicap child. The next year her pregnancy was terminated after they realized the fetus had no brain.
Sadly, the young couple had honeymooned in Costa Rica because of the Millie and Bob's review of the country. While on that trip the daughter had pet a wild cat at the B&B infecting herself. She was not capable of having healthy children.
It was a sweet, sad evening. I felt Millie's deep pain. Her daughter-in-law was close by but a workaholic and little interest in her child. Millie was hoping for healthy grandchildren to full her last years.
They lived as any older people often do in two rooms all day, the kitchen and a sitting room with lots of sun for reading and the radio and a little t.v. Millie had no interest in cooking so food was an issue, the deli or a cook on Saturday for a weeks worth of meals prepared. Their world had peeled down to each other and contact with their family. Shortly, after that visit, I knew that our friendship would fade. Ironically, this is the neighborhood where the Clintons now own a home.
Millie is one of the reasons I love to travel.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The African Word
So many things freshly marketed, at this age, I fight because I feel comfortable in my routine. If it is new, I probably do not want it on the simple principle I have seen enough changes, struggled with learning new skills and feel comfortable as life is.
For a couple years, the scorn toward Microsoft company and products I have from heard my brother, Phil, as he fills me in about his computer club. He has always discuss the advantages of Linux and often uses the word Ubuntu. That last word has meant little or nothing but I knew is was a computer program. For most of us that have had computers at less 10 years or have been investing in the last numbers of years would remember the term, Red Hat. It was going to undo Windows program years ago. Well, in a way, it has achieved it, at less for all of us that now use Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a word from southern Africa that means openness, availability, focusing on relationships with generosity. The Zulu people use the word, Mandel's tribe, but others have a version of the term. It relates to welcoming strangers with water, food and comfort without being asked. What a perfect word for using the connections that make our computers work for us.
For over a year, Ken as asked me when I want to change to Ubuntu. I really saw no need, even as he told me that there are no known Linux viruses and my computer will never crash. It was free and would make my computer faster and allow me to have up to date computer for at less five more years. I would have to copy and paste some documents that I had saved on Window Office and I would have to think about the bookmarks that were my favorites which I would also have to cut and paste. It did not seem like an adventure worthy of my time.
My suggestion now is, find someone to help you with the switch if you can't do it yourself! It is like going from the wood burning stove to electric heat, it is the like going to a digital camera from the film model and finally, think in terms of street car to a bullet train.
Sometimes new things are just wonderful. Ubuntu what a perfect word for this open, constantly updated, viruses free more secure way of connecting to others in the world.
For a couple years, the scorn toward Microsoft company and products I have from heard my brother, Phil, as he fills me in about his computer club. He has always discuss the advantages of Linux and often uses the word Ubuntu. That last word has meant little or nothing but I knew is was a computer program. For most of us that have had computers at less 10 years or have been investing in the last numbers of years would remember the term, Red Hat. It was going to undo Windows program years ago. Well, in a way, it has achieved it, at less for all of us that now use Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a word from southern Africa that means openness, availability, focusing on relationships with generosity. The Zulu people use the word, Mandel's tribe, but others have a version of the term. It relates to welcoming strangers with water, food and comfort without being asked. What a perfect word for using the connections that make our computers work for us.
For over a year, Ken as asked me when I want to change to Ubuntu. I really saw no need, even as he told me that there are no known Linux viruses and my computer will never crash. It was free and would make my computer faster and allow me to have up to date computer for at less five more years. I would have to copy and paste some documents that I had saved on Window Office and I would have to think about the bookmarks that were my favorites which I would also have to cut and paste. It did not seem like an adventure worthy of my time.
My suggestion now is, find someone to help you with the switch if you can't do it yourself! It is like going from the wood burning stove to electric heat, it is the like going to a digital camera from the film model and finally, think in terms of street car to a bullet train.
Sometimes new things are just wonderful. Ubuntu what a perfect word for this open, constantly updated, viruses free more secure way of connecting to others in the world.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Shoemakers
I don't remember why I put the book on reserve at the library, off of what list I got it or what interview mentioned it but after reading it, SACRED DEMISE: WALKING THE SPIRITUAL PATH OF INDUSTRIAL CIVILIZATION'S COLLAPSE by Carolyn Baker, I have firmed up my belief that we are bound to survive by way of our local community and our own skills.
She speaks some hard truths about this nation and goes beyond the charts, statistics and data demonstrating the realities of our situation. There is a state of denial, "technology will come see us though this problem,", "this is America and we are the shining example to the world", "we deserve better and somehow it will all work out".
Baker explain in very clean terms that no elected official can do enough to change the -corporatocracy-- we have become. Only those ruling few elite can do it. The small measure we take to stop or delay the collapse of our society only makes it worst. In the other words, the collapse is the next stop in our evolution, transitions us to the fullness our humanity.
For us that have read Jared Diamond's book COLLAPSE: HOW SOCIETIES CHOOSE TO FAIL OR SURVIVE, this new book is not as surprising to read. Diamond's book takes in to account societies though out human history and tells about how their decisions on social order, nature, food and commerce pointed to their own survival or suicide. Great countries are not destroyed by enemies but by suicide. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it.
Baker's book focuses on the change of consciousness that is needed to reach a place of accepting that our future is going to be like living 150 years ago. Communities would form that support each member in the group, people will be valued for skills like growing or preserving food, making clothes or furniture, medical homeopathic knowledge, forging in the wild. Commerce is going to focus on local products, local solutions and local needs. These will be the people that survive. In reality, I know many people that actually are on the path of living this way now in this area and I believe they have had the insight to feel this coming. It may appear as fringe to those that live in big urban sittings but there are many people who are the quietly transitioning to this lifestyle.
The question is, can you make your own shoes?
Mostly, SACRED DEMISE is about the spiritual path that is necessary to be peaceful with nature and the spiritual world. This is not about 20th century religion but about our connection to spiritual world in the sense of ingenious people. It is a must read for all of us.
She speaks some hard truths about this nation and goes beyond the charts, statistics and data demonstrating the realities of our situation. There is a state of denial, "technology will come see us though this problem,", "this is America and we are the shining example to the world", "we deserve better and somehow it will all work out".
Baker explain in very clean terms that no elected official can do enough to change the -corporatocracy-- we have become. Only those ruling few elite can do it. The small measure we take to stop or delay the collapse of our society only makes it worst. In the other words, the collapse is the next stop in our evolution, transitions us to the fullness our humanity.
For us that have read Jared Diamond's book COLLAPSE: HOW SOCIETIES CHOOSE TO FAIL OR SURVIVE, this new book is not as surprising to read. Diamond's book takes in to account societies though out human history and tells about how their decisions on social order, nature, food and commerce pointed to their own survival or suicide. Great countries are not destroyed by enemies but by suicide. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it.
Baker's book focuses on the change of consciousness that is needed to reach a place of accepting that our future is going to be like living 150 years ago. Communities would form that support each member in the group, people will be valued for skills like growing or preserving food, making clothes or furniture, medical homeopathic knowledge, forging in the wild. Commerce is going to focus on local products, local solutions and local needs. These will be the people that survive. In reality, I know many people that actually are on the path of living this way now in this area and I believe they have had the insight to feel this coming. It may appear as fringe to those that live in big urban sittings but there are many people who are the quietly transitioning to this lifestyle.
The question is, can you make your own shoes?
Mostly, SACRED DEMISE is about the spiritual path that is necessary to be peaceful with nature and the spiritual world. This is not about 20th century religion but about our connection to spiritual world in the sense of ingenious people. It is a must read for all of us.
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