Meditation Posture.

When I was first studying Buddhism I was daunted by meditation because I read so much about having the right posture, sitting in the "correct fashion." I read about the Full Lotus position the Half-Lotus position and the Burmese position. I was over-whelmed by the detailed nature of meditation positions and I was worried that I was going to "make a mistake" I read about teachers who would hit you on your head or back if your posture didn't adhere to the complicated "rules."

I was so intimidated that I didn't attempt meditation for a long time. I don't know how many times I tried the different "sanctioned" positions, only to fall off the cushion. I heard about monks who meditated for days on end in these positions and I wanted to sit like those great monks that I was reading about. I thought that If I didn't sit like a master Yogi then I wasn't a "good Buddhist." Or that I wouldn't realize "Enlightenment." That was before I understood more about the nature of so-called "Enlightenment." By the way, I prefer saying "Awakening" as Enlightenment is such an over-used, little understood word.

But let's face it, not many of us are contortionists so we have to find a position that is both relaxing yet still beneficial to our meditation. I'm not a very flexible person and have short legs and a long torso/back so the first thing that I set out doing was to find the right cushion. I tried many different ones and finally settled on The Mountain Seat Zafu from The Monastery Store.

The Monastery Store store set out to design a revolutionary series of meditation cushions in response to over-whelming demand for cushions that minimize discomfort for those who have injuries or are not so flexible like myself. Their final products were the result of extensive orthopedic research which align your spine while maintaining optimum comfort. The cushion starts with the familiar buckwheat base which helps cradle your hips and weight with a top layer of memory foam that conforms to your backside to assist in maintaining a restful meditation posture.

I chose the large size which is a taller cushion than most (it's their tallest size). It is recommended for those with less flexibility, chronic injuries and knee problems. It relieves back stain for those of us with long torsos. These cushions are a bit expensive but I found it worth the price as it has helped my hip strain (I have bad hip joints) greatly. Plus, I went through regular meditation cushions like Kleenex tissue so in the long run this is a better buy and it's made out of quality material so it is built to last.

I then experimented with different postures and finally settled on just sitting simply on the front end of the cushion with my legs crossed in a basic fashion. It was more comfortable and reduced fidgeting throughout my meditation and thus keeping me from being able to focus on my breath and center myself. So my advice is to find your own way of sitting if you can't do the traditional styles. Don't let anyone tell you that you MUST meditation a certain way. I understand that there are "recommended" positions but no one body is the same.

Here's another tip that I discovered to be useful for me. Don't worry about sitting absolutely still like a statue because not many people can do that I personally do not think that is the most important aspect to meditation. Of course sitting still is important to help maintain a feeling of calm, balance and focus on one's breath and the present moment. However. If your leg falls asleep then by all means, PAY ATTENTION TO IT!!! Meditation isn't about suffering, after all the point of meditation is to alleviate suffering not create more. If you leg falls asleep (goes numb) then just simply extend it out to bring the circulation back to your leg and return to your breath. Then when your leg feels less numb and more comfortable then you can fold it back with the other leg again or just keep it out front. Similarly, if your hip hurts, then rub it a bit and breath deeply to connect your body to your breath. Or stretch your back out for a few seconds if you feel your muscles strain or tighten.

It is OK to pay attention to your body this way, a big part of meditating it to pay attention to subtle changes in the body and mind. If you leg is sore in the present moment then that's fine, give it a gentle, loving rub. The present moment is full of any number of varied experiences. Once your feel your body relax a bit more after rubbing the sore area then you can fold your hands together again. The main thing is to be aware--awareness through being mindful of all the changes around us during meditation is part of awakening and liberating the mind.

If you can do the traditional meditation postures then by all means maintain that routine but only if you it doesn't hurt your body so bad that the pain is all that you can think about during your session. Suffering through pain is not what meditation is about. No one is a "better Buddhist" because they can sit through shooting pain, that's just stubborn and (in my opinion) a waste of time. So find what works best for you and enjoy!!

Oh and more one item. I don't want to make a big deal out of this but if you would like to make a donation to the blog then you can find the button to do so below my profile on the right hand side of the screen. Thank-you in advance for your donation should you be so kind to offer it.

Addendum:

I felt like I needed to add something to this post to clarify some things that have been mentioned in the comment section. I didn't mean to come off as an ordained teacher. I was just offering up some tips that I have found useful in my humble practice. I'm by no means any kind of Enlightened Master, just a well meaning practitioner.

I can't meditate in the formal, traditional manners. So I developed my own style to enable me to meditate. Otherwise I most likely wouldn't sit at all. And i know that this might not be acceptable to some but I am just trying to do my best. So right now this is my best, sitting the way I described.

Maybe in my next incarnation I'll inherit a body more flexible but until then I'll meditate the best way that I know how. All I know is that many have taught me to "start where you are" and well, this is where I am.

~Peace to all beings~

Barack Obama: An Inspiration to the World.

Don't worry, even though this post is about U.S. Senator Barack Obama, who is running for president here in America, and despite the fact that I am supporting him and plan on voting for him in the primary, I am going to try hard to not talk too much politics. I try to limit political talk here on this blog, I have another one for that stuff.

I want to instead talk about Barack Obama the person. There is no debate that Mr. Obama is a brilliant, gifted man and he could have taken any number of jobs in the private sector making a lot of money. However, Barack felt his talents were needed elsewhere and that he felt a calling to help others. So instead of taking a lucrative position at a prestigious law firm he went to work with the people in the poverty stricken, violent neighborhoods of Chicago. This wasn't always easy for him as many didn't show up to his meetings intended to motivate community leaders such as church pastors. But Obama kept at it.

He has a deep, ingrained gift of listening to people, truly listening and realizing that their suffering was his suffering. In many cases, people who are struggling just want to be heard by someone. They want to feel like someone understands their situation and has faith that they aren't stupid, lazy or worthless because they are poor, sick or homeless. Obama has a way of uplifting people and leading them to a place where they can believe in themselves again. He gave these people hope that better times were possible and that united with others, they could improve their lives and regain their dignity once more. His compassion is on full display, he couldn't hide it even if he wanted to. The very fact that he went to work for those who often have to voice to seek assistance shows that this man has a deep reservoir of compassion and loving kindness. His smile glows that kindness and when his eyes smile you can see his love for others. This is a talent that he still has today, when I hear him speak I feel inspired, uplifted, filled with hope, compassion and yes sometimes tears of joy from feeling understood. He is the first politician that upon hearing them speak, I felt chills of inspiration throughout my body.

Working in those neighborhoods stricken with just about every problem imaginable, Obama was able to bring people of all races, ethic backgrounds and religions together to work as a united unit of people to bring the change that they all so desperately wanted and needed. He understand what we call in Buddhism, oneness, inter-being or interconnectivity. He knew that society is only as strong as the "weakest" link in the chain. He knew that he couldn't feel content knowing that others were suffering and realized that his happiness and that of others is intermixed with the lives of others. He is a rare person that is able to channel many people's hopes and dreams for a better community, a better country and a better world.

To hear him speak is to be inspired to be a better person and a better member of society. He speaks with convincing sincerity that change is not only possible but inevitable just like the Dharma teaches us. He understands that we all too often fear change and only see the bad side of change but he has a way of uplifting people to see the greatness in change, to see the great possibilities in change. His infectious, positive energy beams brightly like a lighthouse in a world so depressed, cynical, tired and lost in the darkness of fear and delusion. It is hard not to feel uplifted by his unflinching optimism and faith in humanity. He has convinced me to believe again that our greatest days as a society are still ahead of us. He is not only inspiring but stands firm as a rock in the face of negativity, criticism and fear. His confidence is admirable as he isn't arrogant about it. Instead, understands how to channel it into the lives of others to assist them in finding their own confidence and greatness that is already there but hidden under layers of fear, self-doubts and pain.

Standing for equality for all people is in his DNA. He is the product of a mixed marriage, his mother white and his father black. He understands the ignorance and fear that motivates people to want to divide society into separate groups. He spent several years during his youth living in the diverse country of Indonesia where he gained further insight into how different yet similar the world can be. He spent time in Kenya with his grandmother and came to know and take pride in his African roots. He may not be a Buddhist be he understands and lives many of the Buddha's teachings, one major one being understanding that all sentient beings are equal and have worth.

Like the Buddha, Barack Obama learned in his early adult years as a community organizer that poverty is the root of much suffering in the world. He saw how poverty seeps into people's lives like a poison that drives people into a life of crime and overall suffering. He understands that to bring people out of poverty is to improve society as a whole. He is known as a uniter, he is quite gifted at being able to bring about compromises that work for all sides involved.

Unlike many politicians he has faith in ordinary citizens and sees them as equals and the foundation of his movement, unlike many others who see ordinary citizens as worthless and tokens to amass to gain money and power. He knows that he wouldn't be where he is in life without countless others. He doesn't forget his roots and where he came from and I think that helps him remain humble and grounded in reality. This is practicing the Dharma teaching of no-self or selflessness where despite having great confidence in himself and seeking power in the government he realizes that his power is nothing without using it to vastly improve the lives of others. He understands that his mission in life isn't just about him but rather about us, everyone. I can see in his eyes and hear in his words and know in his actions that he doesn't think he is above or below anyone else.

In dedicating his life to serving others he is a great example of Right Livelihood. He could have been a very successful, wealthy lawyer and helped many people but his sights were set higher knowing that serving in public office he could help even more beings. That kind of self-sacrifice is rare and very admirable.

He tries to adhere to Right Speech when he speaks because he uses his words to uplift rather than destroy, to heal instead of hurt. True like all of us he sometimes doesn't say the right thing but overall I believe he understands the power of words and weaves them in a way that is helpful and not hurtful.

Barack is a man of peace and you can see that in his eyes and loving smile. When many others were for the Iraq war, he stood on the side of peace. He understands deeply that peace must be
a key aspect to a thriving and loving society. I can feel that this peace stems from a vast pool of peace within his essence, that he is at peace with himself and therefore able to help others feel at peace as well.

Barack Obama may not be a Buddhist (he's Christian and of course Christians share these same values) but he lives many of the teachings of the Dharma and I think that is a big reason why he is the inspirational figure that he is today.

~Peace to all beings~

Three Little Pigs

The story of the three little pigs was first published in the early 1800's. It was a lesson about wasting time and playing instead of working hard and achieving goals. The two silly pigs were almost eaten by the Big Bad Wolf but managed to get to the house made of bricks and safety.
In 2007 some elementary schools in England changed the story to "The Three Little Puppies",so they wouldn't offend the Muslims.
Muslims consider pigs as unclean. They also consider dogs as being unclean but maybe the schools didn't get that memo.

Yael Naim: "New Soul."

I love this video and decided to post it here as a musical interlude. It is so happy and light, I also like the lyrics. You U.S. readers might recognize this song from the Apple computer commercial advertising their new thin laptop, air. In addition, the t-shirt giveaway is still taking names for the drawing. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this video/song as much as I do:

~Peace to all beings~

Arctic Ocean IV: The Gates of the Arctic

Around 40 miles north of Coldfoot the landscape changes dramatically. Coming around a bend in the road Sukakpak Mountain suddenly dominates your field of vision. Massive marble cliffs rise up out of the ground for three thousand feet. This is the Brooks Range, the most northern extent of the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide.It's also a strong signal that you've arrived at Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.


Sunkakpak Mountain. About 6 hours after taking this picture, i came across that car on the road. It was flipped upside down in the tundra with the lights still on, but no body was inside.


A close up of Sukakpak's marble and metamorphosed limestone cliffs.


Sunkakpak Mountain behind a veil of rain


Shining wet in the sun.

In the 1930's a guy called Robert Marshall spent a lot of time up here and came up with the name of the park (which wasn't established until 1980). He called two specific mountains, Frigid Crags and Boreal Mountain, the Gates of the Arctic. That was a few valleys over from where i was but Sukakpak Mountain is impressive enough be called a sentinel if not a "gate". It is one of those distinctive possibilities of nature that burns an image in a mans head. That being so, it is no surprise that the mountain has functioned as the historical boundary between the Eskimo and Athabaskan cultures of the Arctic.


The rock began to look more like limestone.



The impressive mountains continued, and the massive grey cliffs and overthrust characteristics reminded me of Banff and Jasper National Parks in Canada. Opportunities for rewarding exploration were present in nearly every side valley that i drove past. Tree line was very low, and streams coming from side valleys were contained in flat, braided gravel beds that made for easy access up the valleys. Farther north, the rock seemed to be changing from metamorphosed rock into more limestone looking stones. I've been looking for limestone in Alaska for years. The cliffs were far from me, but if they were limestone then that opened up the possible existence of caves.


Small braided streams seemed to offer easy access to wild valleys.




A fresh looking landslide large enough to have possibly damned the valley's stream.

I kept finding great places to camp and hike but kept deciding to continue on. I wanted to get where i was going first, then come back at a more leisurely pace and do some hiking. The weather was a little ominous anyway. Eventually i made it up to Atigun Pass. It was typically cold, rugged and windy for a mountain pass, put unusually small for a road to be going over. It was much smaller than many passes that i have walked over on small trails. I was stunned at how completely different things were in the land on the other side of the divide.. Truly, i had gone through the gates.


I didn't know it at the time but these would be the last trees i would see for a few days.


At the level of Atigun Pass, metallic tinted gravels were covered in nearly fluorescent green moss.

"Free Burma" T-Shirt Giveaway.

During the terrifying yet hopeful protests in Burma recently, I wanted to show my support for the cause and immediately began blogging during those intense days trying to bring awareness to as many as I could. Yet I wanted to do more and since there weren't any demonstrations against the military junta crackdown in my area, I looked for other ways to show my solidarity.

I wanted those in my relatively sheltered community who tend to be disconnected with the rest of the world to know of the crimes occurring on the opposite side of the world against the Burmese people and sangha. This led me to buy a "Free Burma" t-shirt so that I could show my support and hopefully raise awareness. I found a site online which sold a nice looking one and ordered it. However, when it arrived I realized that not only was it the wrong size but that it was a girl's t-shirt. I'm a somewhat bulky guy and a girl's shirt wouldn't even fit over my head!! So obviously It wouldn't work, therefore I contacted the online store and told them of the mishap. They were very helpful and said that they would exchange it for the right size if I sent it back. However, I didn't get around to sending it back within the allowed time frame so now I'm stuck with this shirt.
I want someone who really cares about this issue to have it and wear it so I decided that I would like to give it away to one of my readers here. I would like to extend this opportunity to all of my readers around the world but I can only afford to ship it to someone in either the United States, Canada or Mexico. That being said, I would be more than willing to send it to any other country than the three mentioned above but I can not afford the shipping costs. So if you would like the shirt and live outside the USA and Canada then just send me the money to pay for the shipping via Paypal. Please know that you can trust me that I'll indeed send you the shirt. I would never steal your money. I'm not perfect but I like to think I'm a very honest person and a faithful Buddhist and so please take my word that your trust in me will be taken as sacred.

I wondered what would be the best way to select the "winner" (I hate that word, it's so exclusive) of this t-shirt so I figured the easiest thing to do would be to place everyone's name who is interested into a hat and just pull a name out. I would do this with the utmost confidentiality and honesty. In fact, I will have my wife pull the name out of the hat as she is one of the most honest and unbiased people I know.

Therefore, if you wish to enter the drawing then just post a comment and I'll use your screen name, write it on a piece of paper, fold it in half several times and place them into the hat. If you're an anonymous person then just use whatever name that you want but don't just use "anonymous" because there are others that might use the name "anonymous" as well. I will then hold the hat just above my wife's head and have her reach her hand up and pull a name/piece of paper out of the hat. And that will determine the "winner." I hate to use that word "winner" but it's the only one that I can think of. I've leave the contest open for two weeks or so.

Let me give you a few more details and measurements for the shirt:
It is a U.S. women's xxl (2xl) red t-shirt with yellow/orange lettering which blends to a deep orange red (see photos). The website says it is fitted which means that it is tighter around the body and maybe smaller than the size says. They didn't have the exact measurements for a woman's xxl fitted t-shirt. So here are the measurements for a regular woman's xxl shirt, I'm hoping that they are quite similar. Anyway, here is the information: Chest size: 52 inches, Length: 30"

Good luck to all participants!!

~Peace to all beings~

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Extra Special This Year.

I'm sure Dr. King would be very proud to see the first viable African American candidate for president in Senator Barack Obama. Who also became the first African American candidate to win the Iowa caucus.

It is a huge achievement for a country that has been so bitterly divided by race and we should not fail to note how important this is regardless of who wins the nomination for the Democratic Party.

We know, however, that there is still much to do when an entire city of mostly African American citizens is flooded and left helpless by an out of touch government. We know that there is still much to do when we see a noose hanging from a tree in a school yard in that same state. We know that there is still work to be done in knowing that our prison system is disproportionately filled with young African-American men. We know that we still have mountains to climb when the confederate flag still flies in South Carolina and Mississippi.

Dr. King was a humble man who was friends with the Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh and would nominate the meek Buddhist for the Nobel Peace Prize. Which showed how selfless King was as he was already a great man of peace himself at that time. But like Nhat Hanh King was bigger than his ego and that is what made his efforts into a movement that literally changed a country.

It is a wonderful reminder of oneness, that we can not accomplish great things in this world without joining together and living the reality of inter-being. It was no wonder that King and Nhat Hanh bonded in friendship as Buddhism fits beautifully into the civil rights leaders vision of a united community of brother and sisters.

May we keep Dr. King's dream alive and keep striving forward for greater equality amongst all people.

Let us not become complaisant and lull ourselves into sleep thinking that racism and segregation do not exist in 2008. Let us join hands and unite to continue to bring this country and world together as one and never cease to break down walls of injustice and discrimination.

I will close this post with the words of the great man of peace himself, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior:

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Spewker is Going Dark Until February 4, 2008

This is the last article on The Spewker until February 4, 2008. If you could see my house, you'd know why.

The dishes are no longer simply piling up in the sink. This morning I saw creepy little bugs crawling around the dish drainer. And the laundry! Don't get me started on the laundry. There's always another pile that needs sorting and washing. Maybe I could see the light of day if the children would hang up all the clothes they pull from their closets and reject. But since they're too lazy to put clean clothes back on the hangers, and since they clean up their rooms by stuffing all the clothes scattered across their floors in their laundry baskets, I think I'd better start getting used to the dark.

Mind you, I would hang the darn clothes up myself if they didn't stew with the stanky stuff for umpteen days. Their laundry baskets are filled with gym socks, underwear, and moldy looking junk I can't decipher. I'd beat the kids silly and take away their cell phones if I thought it would change their scuzzy hygiene habits. Where did they learn such infuriatingly disgusting habits, I wonder. Oh. Right. Our house. Never mind.

I'm also starting to have nightmares about the inch and a half of dust building up on the heating baseboards. Is something like that bad for one's health? I know. I know. I should hire a cleaning service. Well, good services are hard to find. The last one I had drove me to drink. Constant new personnel, interminable lateness, and couldn't care less attitudes. I kissed them goodbye without so much as a whimper.

Ah, navel gazing. Thrilling for the writer to unload, boring for readers to view. I'll bet half the people who started this article surfed to something else after my diatribe against the children. Were you one of them?

Oh, crimey, you couldn't be one of them if you made it this far, now could you? I don't know what's more stupid, me asking a question like that or someone responding to it.

Mona is now nudging me saying this article is truly starting to sound weird. "If you don't stop," she's warning me, "we're going to lose a lot of subscribers." Moan has a tendency to be right about such things, so I suppose I will stop. If I've offended anyone, I sincerely apologize and beg forgiveness. It worked for Gene Simmons with The Donald, right?

A few random thoughts before I sign off for the rest of this month.

Conservative talk radio blows. No, I mean it. It didn't before, but now it does. It's like all the conservative talk show hosts have bandied together and decided the only Republican candidates that make sense to them are Romney and Thompson. Maybe, maybe Giuliani if he would just get out there and campaign in the early primary states. The votes of little states don't seem to figure into Rudy's political strategy, or so they say. Not wanting to look positively thick, the conservatrons are barely mentioning his name. Rudy is not out of this race, fellahs, remember that!

Also, I'm getting fed up hearing every single one of them say, "I still think Hillary is going to become the nominee, even though I don't want her to become the nominee, I really think she's going to get the nomination." Those blithering idiots! If they really didn't want Billary to become the nominee, none of them would be saying that. Every single one of them would be too scared to come out with such a prediction for fear of being wrong. They're only repeating the Billary mantra because they want the Democrats to nominate her. They know she can't win against any of the Republicans and that's a fact.

Believe it or not, and I say this most sincerely, Obama at least has a shot at becoming our next president. He's likeable, his sound bites are right, and he plays to his own party. Hardly any Dem is going to jump ship if Obama becomes the nominee. That's exactly what the conservative talk show hosts are afraid of, mark my words.

Moving on. The presidential election. I've decided to stop blogging about it. My thoughts about the election and the candidates are pissing too many people off, probably because I'm such a moderate. I don't understand where these people are coming from. My legal training allows me to see both sides of a controversy without becoming emotionally invested. Not so for the majority of people I've met on the Internet. Either I agree with them and align myself with their point of view, or they target me as the enemy. Divisive politics is counterproductive, antithetical to my inherent nature as a people person, and not worth the animosity it engenders. I'm tempted to remove all the "political commentary" articles from the topix list in this blog, but that would be capitulating to the bullies. One thing about yours truly, I don't back down on issues I truly believe in and care about.

In fact, I care so passionately about these issues -- *sniff* *sniff* -- I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if I didn't *sniff* *sniff* care about these things so very passionately. I'm only trying *sniff* *sniff* to help *sniffle* the American people (smattering of water in the eyes) when I blog about political issues *sniff* because I care so unbelievably passionately (clearing throat) and want to make the world a better place for the children, the dear precious children, bless their tiny little hearts and souls.

Finally, social media. It's huge, very powerful and impressive. Each day I become more emersed in it, I am energized by a newfound ability to reach people from all walks of life and nationalities. I don't have to actually meet these people. I only have to somehow connect with them. When I do I feel the same way as if we had connected at a bar or a convention. Sometimes such chance encounters become lasting friendships. I'm debating whether to post articles about social media when I return. They wouldn't be research or anything intellectual, just my own thoughts and impressions. If anyone is still reading this article, let me know what you think about social media and whether you think it may compliment the existing "American media" category here at The Spewker.

Thank you, whoever is left, for your interest, time, and patience. Please subscribe or bookmark this site and return on February 4th. You won't regret making the commitment, I promise.

Update: 2.25.08 The 2008 presidential election has been way too exciting to ignore. Despite my best efforts, I continue to blog about it. If the articles piss people off, so be it. At the end of the day, I have to be true to myself. Besides, I'm a believer in the cliche, if you build it they will come. There's a place for a political moderate on the Internet. The Spewker should be a place similarly minded people can call home.

Impressive Sixty Second Videos from the 2008 Orange British Academy Film Awards

I'm a sucker for awards events. The swirl of glitterati, red carpet bursting in a thousand bulbs of flash, paps shouting "Over here! Turn left! Give me a smile!", stars gently nudging along at the behest of their nondescript handlers with an occasional entourage in tow, wannabes clamoring for interview crumbs. When awards season hits the scene, so does my inner stalker. Luckily for all involved, a big screen TV and cable are more than enough to send my demons packing.

Of course with all the Hollywood upheaval, this awards season is shaping up to be a hot steaming bath of dung. Case in point: The 65th Annual Golden Globes. I don't know about you, but if I glanced away from the screen just to scratch my foot, Mary Hart and whats-his-name had already announced a category winner and were racing on to the next. Yes, there is something to be said for condensing what used to be at least a three hour telecast into thirty or less minutes, but if I had my druthers I'd take fashion and glitz.

No wonder the announcement of 2008 nominees for the Orange BAFTAs left me pinging with excitement. The name itself is rather intriguing...don't you think? Orange? Is there a Purple BAFTAs too (as a Ravens fan I had to ask)? The event's location in the UK is huge! No striking writers or picket lines and unlike the Oscars, fans will not have to contemplate possible letdown.

Normally, I would not give the Orange BAFTAs a second thought, but now everything is different. Now, stars are hungry to walk a red carpet in glam. Now, gobs of people need a celebrity stalker fix. Now, plenty troll videos of last year's award shows just to gossip about Jack and Johnny. If I had known last summer what I know today I would have paid far more attention to the MTV Movie Awards. Bring back the snark!

Over to BAFTA's website I traveled.

Since my modus stalkerendi is not the Orange BAFTAs, I have no idea whether their traditional format includes an award for Short Film Making Iniative. If not, it should. This is an amazingly cool category tailor made for the web. Aspiring film makers submit sixty second videos embodying a pre-chosen theme. This year's theme is "unite." Visitors can rate and vote for their favorites. The Academy chooses fifteen regional winners to rub elbows with real tinsel at the February 10th telecast. A grand prize winner is announced at the ceremony.

There's even something for the little people. More Magazine is running a contest with Nicky Clarke to style one lucky winner's hair. Benefits include grazing with the A-list on the day of the show.

I don't know how many sixty second shorts the British Academy received. Probably thousands. Could be millions. At sixty seconds a clip, I could afford to view some. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon one's point of view, new job responsibilities prevent me from fully devouring this cinemagraphic cornucopia. If you have a lot of time on your hands, I strongly urge you to run -- not walk -- to their website and begin watching. Online voting starts on January 28, 2008 and ends midnight on February 3, 2008. You may need the January 28th lead time just to view all the entries.

While you're there, don't forget to vote for the Orange Rising Star Award. My spyware program popped a phishing warning, so you may not want to divulge your true e-mail address with your vote. Don't tell anyone, but I made something up and voted anyway.

If you don't have time to kill on videos, here are ten fairly impressive film shorts with something for everyone in no particular order:

The Photo Man - Clever use of cinematography reaffirms the power of love.

Santa's Unite - Engaging mockumentary on the herding rituals of Santas.

Lady Peaceful - Horror noir lives happily ever after.

Love Hurts - A brief encounter between a robot and cactus produces something beautiful.

Common Ground – A single photograph unites the heartbreak of women.

Peek-A-Boom - Worlds play cat and mouse, then collide in a burst of brilliance. My nomination for best make-up.

Directions - Souls collide in an unexpected manner.

Hound(ed) - A man struggles to understand why society seems united against him.

Red Herring - Excellent use of the color red leaves much to the imagination.

number 88 – Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Jonathan Ross will host this year's Orange BAFTAs at London's Royal Opera House on Sunday, February 10, 2008.

Out In The Tules

"Out in the tules" is an old term meaning 'far away'. The word derives from the indigenous Mexican word tullin, a thick water grass common to the marsh areas of Mexico City and the central valley of California.
8"x10" acrylic on canvas panel $150

An Important Plea.

Colin of Awakening the Buddha Within Us came to me with a special plea and I am passing it on to you as well:

To: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

THE 100 MILLION MANI RECITATION RETREAT was held annually by Kong Meng San
>Phor Kark See Monastery of Singapore (PKS) for some 5 years, and have since
>became an inseparable part of our spiritual lives. Unfortunately, there's
>news that PKS might not hold the Retreat this year 2008. This year's
>retreat was shadowed by His Eminence Drubwang Rinpoche's passing away in
>Singapore, a day before the Retreat itself.

>He had passed away on the same
>day he landed in Singapore. Despite bad health and much dissuasion from
>other Rinpoches, Drubwang Rinpoche insisted on his journey to Singapore
>lead the Retreat. It was specifically explained by His Eminence Garchen
>Rinpoche during the Retreat that it is Drubwang Rinpoche's wish for the Om
>Retreat to continue year after year, after his passing. I personally
>believe his choice to pass away a day before this event has great
>significance and he might have foreseen that after his passing, this
>greatly beneficial event will end abruptly.

I also felt strongly Rinpoche's
>love for all beings. His teaching and message put forth through his actions
>are too profound and wide for me to put into words here. Please send the
>message to all who cares for Dharma to appeal to the management of Kong
>Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery NOT to let this annual Retreat end. Email
>them, write to them, approach and talk to them. Let them recognize that this
>is no longer just a PKS event, but a precious inheritance left behind by
>Drubwang Rinpoche and PKS management has the responsibility to keep it
>alive.

>Sincerely,
>The Undersigned

Please forward to your friends this message, ask them to sign this petition:

If you have a blog, do post it on your blog to spread awareness to it. If you can, please forward this message to your friends so more people can show support and keep the OM Retreat alive. Thanks!

>May peace be with you,
>Colin
>____________________

Wasting Away Again in Bloggeritaville

Anyone who thinks blogging is an easy way to make a living is dead wrong. Creating a blog of even modest distinction takes time, dedication, spunk, a little je ne sais qua, and a tremendous amount of know how. Lately, I've been short on the latter. One cannot spam people into becoming subscribers, nor can one force others, after clicking a paid link, to like what they see. Design is good, but content is king. More and more that's a mantra I recite in my sleep.

It seems like every few months, this blog undergoes another upheaval. This time, though, it's for good reason. The Smuckers peanut butter and jelly goobers is practically empty, laundry is piled up the wazoo, every bowl in our cabinets is soaking unwashed, yet here I sit blogging for no particular purpose other than to connect with all of you.

All seven of you, wherever you are.

What I'm trying to say in as many words as I can cram together, is that after five months of honing my writing skills, I was finally offered and accepted a job. A real live job. To write. And make money. So I won't have to live off of Smuckers. Woot woot hooray!

Whether it turns into a permanent paying position in anybody's guess. The trick will be balancing my new assignment with development of The Spewker. Nothing up my sleeve...presto. Erm, here's hoping in time everything will somehow fall into place.

For a short while, these articles may seem unfocused, hackneyed, you know, the kind of navel gazing you hate to read. Bear with me. The blog won't be that fuzzy forever. Probably before you've even realized how the demands of a paying position have left me completely out of touch, I'll be raring to go back in tip top form with the blather you've come to know and love. Okay. Maybe not love, but enjoy. Trust? Uh, not that either?

Well then, why in heaven do you drop by? Surely it can't be for Moan? What? It is? In that case, you've got nothing to worry about. Our other features, including reports from Moan Quivers, will continue to update just like they have in the past.

All execpt for next week when the blog will go completely dark. What? You're unhappy you're the last one to know? Pshaw. We haven't even told Moan. She thinks she's going on celebrity assignment to Hawaii. All expenses paid.

Won't she be surprised when she finds out it's a one-way bus ticket to Poughkeepsie?

Writers Strike Kicks Golden Globe Awards in the Teeth

The entertainment industry is in trouble when my children begin complaining about the current wasteland that is television.

For more than ten weeks, the Writers Guild of America has taken its cause to the streets, going head to head with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, giving the evil eye to late night TV hosts, putting the kibosh on sexy award shows, and digging their heels in for the long haul. ABC Studios recently ratcheted things up a notch by terminating writer development agreements and work contracts. Things seem to be going south fast.

The reasons behind all this misery are not difficult to understand. For anyone still in the dark, a humorous explanation from former SNL alumna Tim Kazurinsky should clear up any misconceptions.



Last night, one of the premiere award shows, the Golden Globes, was reduced to a press conference with video clips. Tinseltown continues to mourn. Calling the format entertaining would be a stretch, although seeing the whole program in under an hour definitely had its advantages. Sure, I missed the red carpet, the glitz, the dresses, and all the interviews, don’t get me wrong. However, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t spend an entire evening glued to a television set just to find out the names of the winners. There's something to be said for streamlined viewing.

Sadly, the Academy Awards may fall victim to the same fate. Advertisers are scouting alternatives. Things have gotten so precarious, the cavalry is headed for Dodge. All around nice guys Tom Hanks and George Clooney have offered to mediate. No word on whether the feuding Hatfields and McCoys have decided to come in from the rain.

As a writer myself, it’s hard not to sympathize with the WGA. They just want their piece of the pie, not a kick in the crack. Writers suffer stints of unemployment like everyone else and need residuals to help carry them through. Studio heads insist they aren’t turning a profit on the Internet, yet they’ve been whistling a different tune to their shareholders. Writers deserve better.

Offering a cut of net profits is not the solution. Creative accounting techniques can make profits look like deficits. No, the studios must cough up a percentage of gross advertising revenue to end the strike. The Guild recently negotiated similar deals with Worldwide Pants, David Letterman’s production company, United Artists, and The Weinstein Company.

If it’s too much to ask fat cat media conglomerates to follow their lead, then conglomerates will have to suffer the consequences. Just like when television exploded in the 1950’s, thereby relegating radio to a back seat, so too will the Internet explode. Television could then head into a tailspin from which it may never recover. Public viewing preferences will change.

When the dust settles, I have a feeling the writers will land on their feet. They can jump ship to the Internet if that’s where the audience lands. But studio heads may not be as lucky. Their ships may become empty vessels.

Time is Not a Factor.

Munindra-ji used to say that in spiritual practice, time is not a factor. Practice cannot be measured in time, so let go of the whole notion of when and how long. The practice is a process unfolding, and it unfolds in its own time. It is like the flowers that grow in the spring. Do you pull them up to make them grow faster? I once tried to do that with carrots in my first garden when I was eight years old. It does not work. We do not need any particular length of time for this process of letting things be. --Joseph Goldstein, Insight Meditation.

James: Don't let anyone tell you how long you're supposed to meditate and/or chant mantras, etc. There is no "one size fits all" in Buddhism. Most days I meditate for 20 minutes because that feels right for me. However, other days I go for 10-15 minutes, it just depends on how I feel and the circumstances that I can not deny in that present moment.

In many religions this life is it and if you don't get it "right" (whatever the hell that means) than you will suffer for making the littlest mistake forever and ever. To me that isn't motivation but unnecessary stress that creates more suffering. It is easy to do things for the wrong intention when one follows such a path because the intention is often out of fear whereas in Buddhism there is no one waiting to punish us. This takes the pressure off so that we can concentrate on the issues that our preventing our peace. Rather than forcing ourselves to do something without understanding it first simply because we want to please someone else. Contrary to what many will say, this is not the only path to follow. There are many combinations to unlock the puzzle of samsara.

In Buddhism, we create our own suffering and therefore have control over how deeply we suffer. There is no "Satan" out there to tempt us and mislead us down the path of spiritual destruction. We are the ones in charge of whether we experience peace and freedom or suffering and fear. We are in charge of our own destiny rather than feeling at the mercy of two "Gods" fighting over the dominion over our "souls." Such a situation can easily lead one to feel fated to the outcome of things that are beyond our control which leads to deep despair and often times bitter resentment.

The beauty of Buddhism is that we can go at our own pace and if we need some more time after this life then it is granted to us. There is no need to rush because everyone will achieve liberation at some point along this beautiful journey. In Buddhism we all have a common foundation but due to our different karma, no one path is the same as the next. I am not saying that those different paths are wrong but rather pointing out that there are many ways to find one's peace with all things. Listen to your heart and find what works best for you. So take a deep breath, smell the flowers and smile--for you are a Buddha to be.

~Peace to all beings~

Arctic Ocean III: Coldfoot

The tiny settlement of Coldfoot was my mid-day destination during my second day of travel. You don’t know what to expect when you get to Coldfoot, halfway up the Dalton Highway and above the Arctic Circle in the foothills of the Brooks Range. You don’t know what there is to do, what there is to eat, or how big it is. But you know one single thing is certain, and that is the fact that you are going to get some gas at Coldfoot. If you pass by Coldfoot (a 7 second endeavor), a very blunt road sign alerts you that the only place to get gas after Coldfoot, in fact the only other place at all, is at Deadhorse, another 240 miles up the dirt road. Not surprisingly, there can be a line at the gas station. That's about as far as i could ever go in my truck during city driving, and unfortunately I've never gotten more than 260 miles on the highway in it. By the way, if anyone reading this knows of a sign that beats out "Next Services 244 miles" i'd be interested in knowing about it.


The pipeline just north of the Arctic Circle heads towards Coldfoot.

As I was filling up, a group of motorcycle riders on the other side of the pump were taking turns filling up their dozen or so bikes. I couldn’t help notice that they had very, very nice bikes. BMW touring bikes covered with lots of exciting looking stickers. I had recently seen such bikes in that Long Way Round film that i mentioned last time. The bikes of these riders in front of me looked similarly official, and were being driven through similar terrain, so I just had to ask these guys what they were up to. I was glad I asked.

“Top to bottom”, as they called it, is the longest organized motorcycle tour in the world. The total driving distance is around 17,000 miles. Bikes are flown into Anchorage from the UK. From there the group travels up to Prudhoe Bay, turns around, and then rides all the way down to Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. The trip is done once every two years and takes up to five months to complete the journey.


Kevin Sanders – Owner, Leader, will not hesitate to get naked in order to break a record, and he will command you to do the same.

The company is Globebusters Motorcycle Expeditions (www.globebusters.com). Tour leader Kevin Sanders and his wife Julia started the company after achieving a Guinness World Record in 2003 for the fastest motorcycle ride from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego. The previous year the couple had broken another world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by motorcycle, and the fastest overland vehicle ride around the world. I later looked this stuff up to verify his claims, and sure enough, he's my kind of maniac.

Kevin enjoyed talking about world records. In fact, he claimed that they had just that morning set a world record for the largest number of naked motorcycle riders swimming in the Arctic Ocean at one time. They showed me (more like forced me to watch) video to prove it.



Participants of the tour come from all walks of life. This years’ group happened to all be citizens of commonwealth nations. Although the trip was just beginning, they seemed to already be having the time of their lives. One couple on the trip, Lisa Fairhurst and Steve Gondy from Suffolk, England, was even planning to get married during the trip in Arizona.

Advanced motorcycle skills are not required. Before the expedition starts, clients must first fly to England, where they attend a two day BMW training class in the South of Wales. Globebusters is a partner with the World of BMW, where Sanders is also Chief Instructor & Director for BMW Rider Training (www.bmwridertraining.com). Linley Sullivan-Pavey, the owner and operator of BMW Offroadskills, (another part of the World of BMW site in South of Wales) was also on the trip. Linley and her husband Simon Pavey trained actor Charlie Boorman for his Dakar Rally race attempt. If you don't know, the Dakar Rally is the most bad ass vehicle race on the planet.


Jeff Condon – First assistant and "fixer" (mechanic/problem solver)

I had lunch with the group and everything was just nuts. Here i was thinking about Long Way Round and then i actually run into the people that trained the two actors for the trip! It's just crazy who you can find in the middle of nowhere.

Globebusters’ Trans -America’s expedition was recently featured on the National Geographic Channel in a feature called “The Ride” and is now available on DVD. Both he and his wife are available through email at the Globebusters website.

Next Time: The real trip begins at the Gates of the Arctic.

Premiere Hollywood Event Showcases Talent of Johnny Grant, Dead at Age 84

Another end of an era. Glitterati across America are in mourning over the death of the unofficial Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. He was 84 years old.

Grant was unmarried. He did not leave behind any children. Some might say the entire town of Hollywood was his family. Grant was a human dynamo, a relic of a bygone time. Show business pulsed through his veins. He transformed a moribound event no one would attend into a world famous bells and whistle ceremony known as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. An actor himself, Grant may hold the record for hosting the most public events as master of ceremonies. He loved the spotlight, people, and hobnobbing with the powers that be. Johnny Grant was civic minded as well as patriotic. In the tradition of Bob Hope, he traveled overseas to encourage and entertain our troops.

I did not know Johnny Grant, nor did we ever meet in person. I'm sure he was the kind of guy I would have liked from the getgo. Last summer, I came across the hands and feet ceremony for Ocean's 13. Very early on in the video, an obnoxious paparazzo screams directions at Brad Pitt. Pitts's churlish reaction was not well received and event monitors quickly snuffed out a fire. Still, the harassment continued. Tensions started to mount. Johnny never missed a beat, not even when the front of his podium fell apart. He kept the crowd calm, put the paparazzi in their place, ad libbed when it was needed, and moved the ceremony along. Despite the common behavior of certain cameramen, the event remained quite classy.

I kept thinking to myself, Hollywood doesn't have a mayor. Who is this odd little man and why is he with all those glitzy Tinseltown superstars? He doesn't seem very glitzy himself. Yet anyone can see from this video that Grant evoked tenderness and respect from the highest echelons. I've never seen a man off the street so revered. Now, in his passing, I realize Johnny Grant was no ordinary man.

Go in peace and tranquility, little mayor of a town who will forever remember you as a man of great stature. May your embedded star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame serve as a beacon of light for all who dream of riches and immortalty.

As he once thought about Mickey Rooney, if Johnny can do it, anyone can.

Changes to The Buddhist Blog.

Some of you may have noticed the lovely banner image at the top of the blog with the blog name on it. It is the hard work and effort of David from Buddha Day blog. If you are looking for a great header then I highly recommend his impressive work. He has a lot of talent. His site that handles the themes is called, Free Wordpress Themes.

I am extremely satisfied with this new look and think it has a nice, classy appearance. It turned out better than I imagined. It is nice to spice the blog up a bit and I wouldn't have been able to do it without David. Thank-you again for this wonderfully generous gift my friend!!

However, I do have a problem with being able to link the banner/header to my homepage so that readers can return back to the the main page once finished reading a specific post. I had to chop some code out of the template to get the image to work. I guess I don't know html as much as I thought. I use the classic template and refuse to switch. It's what I know and prefer.

So this is my plea, can someone help me fix this problem? David was so kind to offer his help but he's not so familiar with blogger. I have looked all over the google help group for assistance but still can't figure this out. I will post the code that I have below to help you know what I'm working on. If that isn't enough to help understand and repair the problem then I can give someone my login information and I'll just change my password once the work is done.

I'd prefer not to use that option but I trust my readers. :)

I'd be so very grateful for any help that you might be able to give me.

Here's the code that ends with the beginning of the content code:

/* Header

----------------------------------------------- */

#header {

width:100%;

margin:0 auto 0 auto;

padding-top:0px;

height: 200px;

background: url(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/2179140994_e5f3b75362_o.jpg) no-repeat center;

border-bottom:0px dashed #ccc;

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/* Content

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~Peace to all beings~

Bill Gates Last Day at Microsoft Video

Big news flash. Bill Gates is retiring from Microsoft to devote his attention to The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Oh. You already knew. Well some of us have a life. Some of us sometimes spend time doing other things besides surfing the Internet. Some of us are just not so fabulouso.

I'm referring to our virtual Hollywood correspondent, Mona extraordinaire. Moan has been slacking on the job. Something about death and taxes. Don't ask.

But I'm here to make it up to all you faithful Spewklets. Bill's last keynote address at the 2008 International CES convention included a hilarious crossover vid spoofing his retirement. Yes, better quality versions are floating around, but we thought you'd enjoy the same experience as people attending the premiere.

We here at The Spewker wish our very best to Bill Gates. Not that he will need it, but hey, it never hurts to spread the good vibes.

Bridge to Terabithia Brings Children's Book Classic to Life

My children must be the few left on the planet who’ve never read the book, Bridge to Terabithia, either because their teachers never assigned it, or Nickelodeon never made it into a full-length feature cartoon.

On one of my rare nights out at the movies, the trailer splashed across the big screen. I tucked the fantasy images into the back of my mind but, as always, awaited the critical reviews. These days, only top of the line films can coax me into a movie theatre.

Despite all the promise of a new Disney film classic, the movie barely passed critical muster. A tepid C+ rating from the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Combined worldwide box office receipts and DVD rental fees hovering under $200M. Only the lead actress, AnnaSophia Robb, received any critical acclaim. By conventional standards, the film was a big yawn.

Now, having finally screened the DVD, I am puzzled by the laisez-faire critical reaction. Certainly, the themes of Katherine Paterson’s book -- imperfect home lives, being an outcast, building relationships, learning tolerance and trust, appreciating ourselves for who we are, discovering our own place in the world, and striving to be one’s best -- are vividly brought to life. Where did the adaptation go wrong?

The story unfolds through a child’s eyes when the world was an oyster waiting to be cracked. Jesse Aarons is a talented young artist locked in the body of a fifth grade boy. Like most children, he lives in a world where others define his identity. His blue-collar parents mean well, but are too busy making ends meet to give him the special recognition he craves. Other kids pick on him. Older sisters torment him. Teachers barely notice him. Jesse is a wooden soldier who barely dares to dream.

Then, quirky Leslie Burke moves next door. The only child of well-to-do writers, Leslie effortlessly creates a world of her own through the power of imagination. She sees life the way others can only dream. Jesse is drawn to the way she handles adversity. No matter what you do, the eighth grade bully will try to put you down, so have fun with it, Leslie advises. A stick of gum can make life taste better. Helping another person is a way to help your self. The two rapidly become fast friends.

Leslie’s life affirming perspective turns possibilities into reality. Jesse slowly begins to follow her lead. Together, they transform a swath of land behind his parents’ property into the fantasy kingdom of Terabithia. “We rule and nothing crushes us” becomes their motto of invincibility. Life as Jesse knows it begins to change.

In Terabithia, Leslie teaches Jesse to do for the sake of enjoyment rather than outcome Together, through the power of collective imagination, the two share whimsical and magical adventures. Terabithia is everything the fantasy life of kids should be. When the heartbreak of reality rears its ugly head, Jesse is left with a life altering decision. Will he vanquish the unwelcome intruder or will he retreat back into his mind-numbing world? Ultimately, Jesse must decide which bridge to cross. By doing so, he chooses his own identity.

If you haven’t read the book, don’t expect a spoiler. Also, do not be deceived by the film’s PG rating. Its life lessons are unsuitable for younger children. The Disney classic, Old Yeller, immediately comes to mind. Finally, do not expect to be wowed by the special effects of WETA, the studio created by Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame. Critics were understandably unimpressed by the animation hype. Perhaps that’s the reason they considered the film such a disappointment.

If so, the critics got the movie all wrong. Bridge to Terabithia is not about the special effects. It’s about the story. Really look hard and keep your mind wind open. If you do, anything is possible. The message may not be unique, but the journey is sure worth the ride.

Big Boy

Between 1830 and 1948 there were more than 40,000 steam engines built to pull passengers and goods. The largest engines were called "Big Boys" and pulled 32 tons of coal as fuel and 20,000 gallons of water to create steam. Their mileage was pretty poor tho, burning 1 ton of coal and almost 1,000 gallons of water per mile. They had to stop and refuel every 25 miles but the "Big Boys" could develop 7,000 horse power and pull a train of cars a mile long.

The guage of the tracks in the U.S is 4ft 8 1/2 inches and can be traced back to the width of the Imperial Roman army war chariots. The chariots had to be pulled by two horses side by side. The chariot wheels had to be spaced far apart to avoid the hoof marks yet not protrude past the flanks of the horses to avoid entanglement with passing traffic or roadside vegetation. Since all chariots were made be Imperial Rome the size was always the same. That measurement has continued for more than 2,000 years.

water color 9"x12" $85.00 If you are interested in buying this original painting contact me.

Fifth Season of The Wire Skewers Baltimore Media

Terrific. She Who Must Not Be Named is vowing to fight to the end. The Clintonoms are dancing in the streets. For goodness sakes, it was only a three-point lead.

Here’s the real story. When Mrs. Clinton wins a primary, it’s tooted from the highest media mountaintops. When Mr. Obama ran away with Iowa, it was just another day. The Obama primary victory was historic. Black man wins where traditionally no blacks reside. Last Friday, the local rag ran a small front page column begrudgingly mentioning, “Obama, Huckabee win Iowa Caucuses.’ Today the headlines jump out and scream, “Clinton Rallies, McCain Cruises.”

One would be hard pressed to find a more blatant example of bias in the national news media.

This past Sunday, the heavily anticipated television program, The Wire returned for its fifth and final season on HBO. This time around, the show targets Baltimore media. Not surprisingly, the show’s creator and head writer, David Simon, finds himself the talk of the town.

Finally, a hometown story where celebrities and politics overlap and here I am stuck without a clue. I should be kicking myself while moving on. Instead, I am determined to add my voice to the din.

As a native Baltimorean and long time resident, I consciously resisted The Wire’s siren call. Time is a precious commodity I dole out to television judiciously. Not many shows make the cut. This has nothing to do with product or quality. It’s more about getting sucked in. No need, I rationalized, to start watching a television program with stories lifted from the local rag. Besides, if I have a hankering for murder and mayhem, east Baltimore is a hop, skip, and a jump away. Kinda scary, actually. The last thing I need is a TV program to remind me of the crime lurking next door.

I remember when Simon reported for The Baltimore Sun, that’s how long Charm City has been a one-paper town. Word has it he is using the show to wage his own personal vendetta. Among other gripes, Simon bemoans the paper’s lack of journalistic integrity. One can envision him practically spitting into the receiver during a telephone interview with another reporter. Simon's low regard for Baltimore media translated into new fictional characters for the show. Some say the characters are not all that fictional. If I actually watched the show, I might be inclined to agree.

To its credit, The Baltimore Sun is slowly undergoing a transformation. Since Simon’s departure in 1995, the local rag is on its third editor. In the wake of a takeover of its parent company and the rise of a rival paper, The Examiner, the local rag is running a tighter ship. Its columns, stories, and designs are much better. I no longer peruse the headlines for five minutes, then throw it in the trash in disgust. From my perspective, that’s progress. It’s probably much different than the story lines in Simon’s show.

Media bias is no longer a daily blatant occurrence, although just last week, I became incensed by a photograph depicting an Israeli soldier and unarmed Palestinian youth. The Israeli Army executed a mission to stop missile fire from neighboring Palestinian border towns into Israel. The soldier could have been directing the boy out of the area. Instead, the photo depicts the soldier as an oppressor of a defenseless young boy. Someone made the decision to run that photo without an accompanying story. One or two lines of description did not fairly put the photograph into context.

Such blatant bias has no place in a newspaper aspiring to journalistic integrity. Apparently, some things at the local rag haven’t changed enough. Perhaps by The Wire series finale, it will have the guts to get it right.

LED Christmas Lights are the Latest Fashion in Home Decor

The holidays have ended, but the beat goes on. Celebrities continue to make fools of themselves. Politicians continue to trade verbal slings and arrows. The writers strike continues to infinity and beyond. And bloggers continue to rise to the challenge of a new media, exploring different opportunities while engaging their passion, whatever that passion may be.

So, with no further ado, wrap your mind around this. What if you kept a little piece of the holidays around all year long? What if those Christmas lights had every day uses? No more need to pack 'em up and pack 'em out year after year. Imagine skipping the onerous task of inspecting each individual bulb while winding, winding, always the incessant winding, carefully, carefully, oh so very carefully so that another light doesn't break and slip your mind until it's too late to beat the crowds at the malls.

Introducing LED Christmas lights. These little buggers are mighty impressive feats of engineering ingenuity. LEDs are encased in epoxy rather than glass, so they're nearly indestructible. They're energy efficient, rust proof, less likely to ignite nearby material, and last almost a hundred times longer than ordinary Christmas lights. They also come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, PLUS, one burnout won't kill an entire strand.

A product like that deserves to become a fixture in people's lives. In doing our part to keep the holiday spirit alive, we brainstormed five every day uses for LED Christmas lights:

1. String red ones across the top of your bedroom walls and turn them on when you're seriously trying to turn someone on.

2. The white ones would look lovely wrapped around an outside gazebo or trellis. If you like to gather outside in the evening, they're a great way to save on electricity without having to sacrifice ambiance.

3. If you're like me, you probably hate wasting electricity to make a one or two minute trek to the basement. String a set of crystal white raspberries around the bannister and take all the guilt out of going downstairs.

4. These multi-colored icicle lights would look gorgeous as a centerpiece. Add some products from your local art supply store to create something truly unique.

5. Do you decorate your walls with framed paintings or prints? Showcase your art with LED rope lights. Your guests will be impressed by the museum-quality effect. Turn the other lights down low and get the added atmosphere of a genuine party.

LEDs. They're not just for Christmas.

We all Contribute to the Beauty and Prosperity of the World.

The creatures that inhabit this earth--be they human beings or animals--are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.

~His Holiness the Dalai Lama

James: Being someone who deals with chronic depression and other mental health difficulties from living with schizo-affective disorder, I sometimes wonder what I have to contribute. It is easy to feel isolated in this busy, hectic world and feel small and insignificant. This stems from a deluded society that focuses on the accolades of the individual. Thus since not everyone can be millionaires and Nobel Peace Prize winners, it is easy to feel that we are worthless, bland and unworthy of respect, admiration and value. This is an illusion a very convincing illusion but a false reality none the less. A dangerously deceptive mirage.

If we focus on the bigger picture we can see that just like pixels on a big screen television which on there own seem tiny and insignificant but when seen as a whole create a profound, beautiful and vibrant reality. So too our seemingly small and limited life when seen as apart of a bigger essence is suddenly seen as critical to this grand project we call existence. Nothing and no one is out of place in this intricate tapestry. The circle of life is broken and degrades quickly when just one thing is taken away. This in Indras net that allows for each jewel to add their brightness to the group so that the overall light will shine brighter and stronger.

Try as we might, we can not separate ourselves from the tapestry that we are interwoven through. Each one of us is an important part of a large, complex and important machine. Some of us are small screws or nails and some of us are larger components but can we say that a washing machine is a washing machine without one of its parts whether big or minute? Of course not.

Here's another example, an automobile. Can an automobile work and help make life easier without the tiny spark plug? No. So if even the littlest plant adds beauty and life to the world through turning poisonous carbon dioxide into fresh, life giving and life sustaining oxygen then without a doubt each one of us makes this time and place better, happier and brighter.

We may never know how many lives we touch and have touched. The slightest talk with a total stranger could change their life completely and inspire them to shine brighter than they might not otherwise not be able to accomplish. I think about many people in the history of my life who have done such things for me without asking anything in return and usually not knowing how deeply they impacted me to be a better, happier, kinder, more compassionate and confident person.

When I get depressed I sometimes feel that my life has been a complete waste because I am disabled and have to stay at home because of my condition. I have too many times longed for what could have been, a professorship to teach history. However, that was not meant to be and just because things don't turn out the way we want does not mean that our life is ruined and worthless. Yes I haven't achieved many of my dreams but I have still made a big impact on many lives and society in general. Through this blog I have touched many and helped people feel a greater importance in their lives. Who knows but if this is my true calling and without having this disabling illness I wouldn't have the time necessary to devote myself to this blog and my readers.

I think about the squirrels and birds that I feed at our house and how important I have become to their lives. They rely on the seeds that I leave out for them during the brutally cold winter. Think about your pets if you have any, they rely on you for so many things and they give so much back to you in return. They wouldn't even be alive without you. Do you think that they don't have any value because they do not do any of the things that society deems "important" and "valuable?" Or because they don't talk and make money? Absolutely not. They give us unconditional love in return and that is worth more than gold. They teach us how to be sincere and full of love not only for others but also for ourselves and self love and appreciation is so important to our well being.

In addition I think of my wife who was very timid before meeting me and I helped her gain confidence in herself and now like the lotus, she has broken through the mud of self doubt to bloom into a strong and successful person. And perhaps if she had not met me she wouldn't have achieved all that she has. Just by being born and entering this world my mother has told me that I have changed her life for the better. It is o.k. to be proud of yourself sometimes because it helps you remember your Buddha Nature, your true importance to the big picture.

We just don't know what impact we have on others. So don't give up, you are adding value to this world and many lives whether you realize it or not.

~Peace to all beings~