The Limitless Sky of Pure Being.

This journey that we find ourselves upon is like floating through the limitless sky. Sometimes it is blue as the bluest eyes as far as one can see and other times there are amazing sights to see such as rainbows but the sky behind them remains the same. other times it is cloudy blocking out the sun but the sun is always there, just above the clouds.

Sometimes it is black with little twinkling stars that shine at us as if especially for us but they do not belong to anyone or anything, they just are. Nor do they remain motionless although it may seem to our limited mind to be thus, they are in motion perhaps subtle motion in orbits but constantly changing position just as all things change. Our own planet twirls around in constant patterns much like ones mind follows habitual patterns. Even our giant galaxy is in flux.

Despite all this knowledge learned through science it is all empty of any inherent form or definition. In the final analysis, we really know only a tiny dust particle resting upon a pin head worth of information about the mysterious Universe. This information is nothing more than symbols that our limited minds use to try and explain our place in the Universe.

Yet try as hard as we might our place is forever in motion rotating other planets and galaxies that in turn rotate around us. We are constantly chasing the mysteries of the Universe that will always be a step ahead of our minds because mind can not perceive the totality of the vastness of Pure Being. It is like what the Native Americans say is, "Chasing the wind." It is nice to understand some of the physics of our Universe and I am indeed partly a man of science and appreciate Buddhisms embrace of science. However, sometimes science can become an obsession and an attachment to the ego that forever chases which often ends up frustrating us and creating despair and feelings of isolation.

Each moment we breath we are constantly arriving at a new present moment in this limitless sky of emptiness pregnant with beauty and joy. Sometimes we only see the dark clouds and turn around thinking that we can never make it through them. We perceive them as impenetrable obstacles that will surely crush us into a million pieces. However once we let go of our perceptions and begin to move toward them we realize that even the largest, darkest cloud (painful emotions, stress, etc.) can be penetrated and we emerge out the other side to continue on our journey. Yes passing through these clouds can be bumpy and scary at times but with a mind concentrated upon the true nature of that cloud we can realize right understanding. We can see that these clouds/obstacles are mostly made of nothing and can fade away into the limitless sky as quickly as they formed.

Perhaps some of these clouds knock us around enough that our bodies do break apart (cancer, heart attacks, etc.) and die but that is merely the end of the body, not the end of the Universe which our energy will always be apart of. We came from star dust and will return to star dust. Just like planets are born and die only to be reborn again somewhere else within the limitless Universe, so too then there is a good chance that we too will be reborn in one form or another.

Perhaps that will take the form of a gas that creates a new planet to sustain sentient beings or perhaps we will take the form of a rock, a mineral to benefits other sentient beings. Still too we could be reborn again as a sentient being living in some form not recognizable by humans off on a distant planet from Earth. The possibilities that exist within this great project of the Universe and beyond into the indescribable parinirvania are limitless.

Nothing to be or not be, this is the Self.

PHOTO CREDIT: "Light of the Dharma" by Anya Langmead. Her other works are brilliant and just as beautiful. I hope to buy a print one day. Check out the rest of her stunning work here.

~Peace to all beings~

Live Blog of Celebrity Apprentice 2.28.08

Moan Quivers usually reports live from the red carpet on Celebrity Apprentice. But for some reason, Twitter is down. Moan is crying and cursing and kicking up a storm. Okay. Okay. No problem, Moani, move over to the blog. So, for what it's worth, we're allowing Moan to live blog right here. Have fun, ya'll!

9:05: All systems down. Twitter bot will not work. I'm taking this show to the blog. Hello world!

9:19: The last time Twitter worked, Omarosa was chickening out of being PM and the Donald kind of dissed her because he said Carol was the last woman left standing. Carol and Tito are the two PMs.

9:20: As I had started to say on the Twitter bot, Carol should have been fired last week, but instead it was Marilu. They're both so skinny I hate them. But at least Carol is stepping up to the plate this week. I'm glad a woman is taking charge. It's an ad campaign for a beauty product. This is right up Carol's alley.

9:23 The show went to commercial. Wow, Twitter is really messed up tonight. I finally got back into the account, but it looks totally weird. Did I miss getting the memo about shake up at Twitter? Or is someone hacking into my account? Hard to tell what exactly is going on.

9:25 Yes, Omarosa, women want to see hot men. They don't want to see you. Vamoose!

9:27 Tito's team, Empressario, is doing a hot shoot. But will it sell the product? I'm not so sure. This shoot doesn't make me want to buy dial beauty soap. It makes me want to call an escort service.

9:28 Piers says the fact that Redbook women want to have sex is not a problem at all. Piers probably hasn't gotten any in weeks. Hydra is doing soft porno for dial. I say throw Lennox in that shot too. A threesome! Sex it up, guys.

9:30 Agreed, Stevie B. The shoot is a risk for Empressario. Clean, healthy, trusted, wholesome, family. These are the words right out of the dial exec's mouths and Tito would be wise to listen. Stevie B. is pretty intuitive for a preacher man.

9:34 Prediction: If I had to guess, I would say that Tito will somehow revamp the shoot. If not, the team is going to be toast and either Tito or Stinkaroma will be fired.

9:36 I usually like British accents, but when I hear Piers speaking, I think about his fatherless children and feel all sick inside. Hydra's campaign is focusing on health. The model is biting Carol's shoulder. This might be too racy for them.

9:38 What's up with the dial exec's tie? Bob? That guy in the blue has no taste whatsoever. His tie looks like a jigsaw puzzle.

9:39 Omarosa's claim to fame is that she's a "Reality Star" Hahahaha. I love that. Now one can be a star just by being on a reality show, even if you have no other talent whatsoever. Tito's presentation was pretty poor.

9:40 The Donald asks the execs who they liked more. Going out on a limb here during the commercial and going to say they liked Carol's team, Hydra, better. We'll see when the show returns.

9:44 Already they are going into the boardroom. Drat. I wanted to hear more from the guy with the bad tie.

9:45 Tito was nervous at the presentation, Donald, because he's usually pounding people in the face, not trying to speak. Don't use Tito as a speaker if you want to sell your product. Lession learned. Use him as a person to pound out your opponent...or to be bitten in the ring, as The Donald just pointed out.

9:47 I for one do not think that the hot model biting Carol's shoulder was a problem. Piers is dissing the other side's ad. He says it was boring. Trace is not boring, Piers. If you want boring, look in the mirror.

9:49 I'm not sure why it matters if the teams look at each other's ads and rips them apart. Of course the other side is not going to like each other's ads. The Donald just said that what he likes doesn't matter.

9:50 Yes! I got it right. Hydra wins. Carol is going to get $20K for charity. Love how Celebrity Apprentice gives money away. Such a good part of this show.

9:51 I wish someone would shut Omarosa up. Tito is the nicest guy ever and she is fighting with him, pushing the PM on him, pushing her stupid opinions on him. She really needs to be fired. Why is The Donald keeping her?

9:53 Omarosa, Omarosa, Stinkaroma. You are a liar. No one likes you. You are 0 and 2 on the tasks. You have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. You lied and said you wanted to be PM, even though we all heard you push it on Tito. And now you are going to try to hang Tito out to dry. If The Donald doesn't fire you this time around, I am going to go on some kind of protest. I mean it. And it will be big. Like Adrian Grenier. I'll grow a beard. Or let my unshaven legs grow more hair. Something dirty and stinky, like you.

9:55 Okay, they're back. I doubt anyone is going to be asked to leave the room. Not enough time.

9:56 Pray with me everyone. Pray. Fire Omarosa. Fire Omarosa. Go George! There was no concept. It's all Omarosa's fault.

9:57 Noooooo. Trace. DO NOT stick up for Omarosa!!!!

9:58 Maybe she cooked herself afterall. Stevie B. is really the one who knocked down the racy picture and Omarosa just told The Donald she would fire Tito.

9:59 Tito has no idea what the word "exonerate" means. Tito just said that Omarosa shouldn't be fired because she worked the hardest. This is soooooo wrong!!!

10:00 Darn! I'm gonna have to grow hairy legs. The Donald just fired Tito, but he felt so sorry for him, he gave him $50K for St. Judes. Classy. Oh well, Stinkaroma misses the ax again. Tune in next week for incredibly hairy legs and more swipes at Stinky.

A Barack Hussein Obama by any Other Name Would Still Smell as Sweet

Can I just say what I want to say without linking to anything? Because I'm so tired of backing up everything I say with fact checking links, I won't write this article if I can't just speak my mind. Why should I waste my time researching what I know other people are saying so that readers can fact check me and think, hmmmm, maybe she does know what she's spewing about. If that's what it takes to get intelligent life to pay attention, then good, I don't care, they can go read the same thing somewhere else.

Little do they know the same thing somewhere else doesn't exist. Yet. That's because I'm the original, the original thought, the original spewminator. Okay, maybe not. I just rolled out of bed. I'm sick. I'm tired. I'm sick and tired.

Good gracious, what time is it? Did I really just admit rolling out of bed at 4:00 p.m.? That was the time I started this article. So much has happened since then and I'm still in my pajamas.

The political campaign trail is heating up. It's starting to get good. The gloves are coming off and the candidates are finally out there swacking. About time. I was wondering when the dirt would start to fly.

Barack Hussein Obama.

That's the latest flap. The Republicans are getting trashed for repeating -- very slowly -- repeating the mid-dle-name of the lock nominee for the Democrats.

Oh, but I'm not counting Hillary out, no, better dare not count out She-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named, lest someone think I don't know what I'm talking about. The Clintons won't be done until America cuts off every hairy head they sprout, like the Hydra team on Celebrity Apprentice. Until there are no heads left to vanquish and the body keels over dead, a lifeless massive hulk, only then will people finally proclaim

Barack Hussein Obama

the lock Democratic nominee. Links aside, this point about not counting out She-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named, I saw someone else touch upon this subject and it was rather good. They compared Billary to the shark in Jaws, and right then and there I knew no one of any substance would dare call her out of this race -- yet. Just when you think you've pounded the slick oily beast in the head enough times to see it slink to the bottom of the ocean never to be seen again, just then, the million-toothed monster flies up out of the spray, "Auuggghhh! Auuuuggghhh!," gnawing at the boat it broke in half right before you were lucky enough to beat it back into the waves, "Auuugggghhh! Auuugggghhhh!," and you're thinking to yourself, "I thought I killed that thing. Wha jus happen't?" as it lunges for the boat and rips out your jugular.

Are we there yet?

When the Democrats can finally sing "Ding dong, the witch is dead," only then will we all be able to sit cross-legged in a big circle, strap our headbands across our foreheads, drink herbal tea, stand together, lock our arms in solidarity and sing Kumbaya.

This train is a rolling down the tracks, people. Not you, not me, not even William F. Buckley, may he R.I.P., can stop this train 'cause itsa come'n. Truth be told, I don't want to stop this train. I'm so giddy at the prospect of shaking off the stench of the Clintons, I'm right there in that circle singing "Praised Be! Glory glory hallespewya! Bring it on!"

Barack Hussein Obama

is going all the way. Barack is a lock. No matter what happens this Tuesday, the momentum of his campaign has morphed into something so much larger than the way it began. So epic, so Nostradamic, so second coming in proportions that the super delegates have already defected in droves, bowing to the will of the mighty masses no matter what wool Ohio Republicans try to pull over the people's eyes. Clinton has made mistake after mistake after mistake, in fact, she's made so many ridiculous mistakes over the course of her campaign, it would take a witch doctor to revive it. The blundering monstrosity that characterizes her campaign proves she would run this country right into the ground no matter what kind of praises people want to heap upon her.

And by the way, I was dismayed to see one of the entertainers I admire most, Tina Fey, practically gush over Billary's good qualities this past Saturday on SNL. B**ch is not the new black. Catholic school nuns scare me. There are other good, less terrifying ways to learn the capital of Vermont.



Sorry, Tina (by the way, in case you live in an oppressive dictatorship, that isn't Tina, it's a reenactment I stumbled upon), but in this case, backing the devil we know is not a good idea.

Barack Hussein Obama.

What's the problem, people? That's the man's name. That's the name his mother and father chose to give him. What? He should change it? He shouldn't be proud of his own name, is that what you people are saying? What? Other people shouldn't speak his name because it will make stupid people think he's a Muslim? Since when does the intelligentsia censure for the sake of chowderheads?

Oh my gee dee! I'm going to have to dis my own request and link to something more intelligent than this twaddle. I can't believe I'm doing this for the sake of morons. Take that! And that!And this!

Barack Hussein Obama!!!

Get used to it.

Whew. I'm tired. Will somebody bring me some coffee? And a couple aspirins? Make that Motrins, aspirin isn't supposed to be good on an empty stomach. Drat. Nobody's around. The kids are all in school. I thought for sure one of them stayed home and slept in when I went back to bed. And that husband of mine. How dare he go to work and actually earn a living when I'm home sick in bed. I think it's the flu. Or maybe the clap. I can't tell the difference. Oh yeah. One of them is more itchy.

Another Government Wipe Joke

Not so funny, but the fact that someone actually took the time to think this up and write it all down made me chuckle. Talk about working from the punchline backward. I wonder how long it took to work their way back to the opening.

A Montana cowboy is overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advances out of a dust cloud towards him.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give me a calf?"

The cowboy looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Sure, why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany.

Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer, turns to the cowboy and says, "You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves."

"That's how many animals I have alright. Well, I guess you can take one of the young 'uns," says the cowboy.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then the cowboy says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is will you give me back my animal?"

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"

"You're a congressman with the U.S. government," says the cowboy.

"Wow! That's correct," says the young man. "But how did you guess that?"

"No guessing required," answered the cowboy. "You showed up here even though nobody called you. You want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter you are than me. And you don't know a thing about cows. . . this is a herd of sheep. . . . Now give me back my dog."

I am what I am and that's all what I am...

Avast and ahoy!! Popeye and spinach, what a kickass combination, huh? I've done some watercolor Popeye's but this is the first acrylic. Kinda' Pop Art-ish me thinks.

11"x14" acrylic on board If you're interested in purchasing this painting leave a message.

Healing Our Environment and Ourselves.

In one sitting meditation, when I focused my attention on my heart--breathing in, I am aware of my heart, breathing out, I smile to my heart--suddenly I realized that this is not the only heart that I have. I have many other hearts. Suppose that I look at the sun in the sky. I know that it is also another heart of mine. If this heart failed I would die right away. But if the other heart, the sun, explodes or stops functioning as the sun, I would also die right away.

~Thich Nhat Hanh, The Mindfulness Bell, winter/spring issue 47, 2008.

James: Another heart is our planet Earth, it is literally alive and very much like our own bodies. For example, most of our planet consists of water just like the human body. Deep inside the Earth a constant movement of hot liquid rich in iron keeps the planet alive much like our blood (also rich in iron) keeps us in health. If this plasma like layer where to cool and harden then life would eventually cease, not unlike too much blood loss causes the heart to stop.

The Earth's ozone and magnetic field act as shields that protect life here from harmful radiation emitted from the sun. Radiation is important and helpful in some respects but in small doses just like some bacteria is helpful in our bodies but again in small doses. If too much bacteria grows within our body then our white blood cells are stimulated to neutralize the dangerous levels of bacteria to return our body back to a stable, balanced environment. In that regard the Earth's atmosphere acts as those white blood cells to maintain the right balance to enable life to flourish on this planet.

So when seen through mindful openness an intricate interconnection unfolds within this Universe from the tiniest molecules to the largest stars until it can no longer be described and becomes parinirvana which is beyond our limiting labels, concepts and knowledge.

But let's return back to the present moment as I look out the window and gaze upon the gentle breeze dancing through the branches of the mock pear tree out front. That tree is apart of me as it relies upon the same sun to grow as I do, therefore if I do not care for that tree and millions like it then I will in turn die off. Trees thrive off of the carbon dioxide that we emit from breathing oxygen which is in turn partially created by those very trees and other plants. This leads to recycling.

We humans have not existed in harmony with the other organisms that share this planet with us, we have not been good neighbors over time. We have become in many ways a parasite or a cancer on the Earth because we have taken so much and given so little back to the circle of life that is our environment. Yet all is not lost, we can heal the scars that we have inflicted and return our lovely celestial body back to a more balanced state of being by recycling and using renewable energy sources.

In our city we have a recycling program that we participate in. We save our plastic bottles and recyclable metal and plastic containers in one bin and all our newspapers and paperboard waste such as old pasta boxes go in another bin. Then once a week a truck comes along and picks it all up to be sorted through at the recycling factory who then sell the metals and paper back to companies to make more metal and plastic containers and paper products and the cycle continues. Every time I put those bins on the curb I smile in peace knowing that I am giving back to my fellow organisms that share this planet with me.

The same goes with renewable energy, we harness the abundant clean energy available to us in using solar power, wind power, water, geothermal and others to meet our needs without harming the very body (Earth) that we are apart of. Through these measures we begin to cease being the separate, destructive cancer and return to being just another variation of being on a vast and beautiful heavenly body.

It is true that we can not prevent the eventually destruction of Earth but we do not want to have the karma of speeding up that process by our less than skillful actions. Life ebbs and flows of it's own accord and it is not our right to take life away from any living being and that includes our living Earth.

The Deer Park Monastery in the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh threw the switch that makes their property environmentally friendly. They are now completely off the grid, what a great example for the rest of us!!

~Peace to all beings~

Hollywood Magic Masks Sarah Silverman Jimmy Kimmel Relationship Blues

Jimmy KimmelJimmy Kimmel Sarah SilvermanCelebrity Gossip Sarah SilvermanJimmy Kimmel LiveJimmy Kimmel Video


What happens when, in Adam Sandler-speak, "one fine looking Jew" vegetarian and meta-bigot comedienne reaches the end of the line in a five year dalliance with an Italian meat cooking Christmas loving late night TV show host?

They milk it as the biggest free publicity stunt in the anals of show biz lore, packaged as one of the most hilarious spoofs ever played by a We Are the World A-list cast of characters formerly sidelined by the WGA.



It's side-slapping to watch the big names who participated. And yet somehow, I can't help but feel badly for Kimmel and Silverman. Clearly, something is whacky in relationshipland. Apparently, I'm not the only one feeling their pain.

Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel began dating shortly after she stepped on the stage of a Hugh Hefner roast and lambasted Kimmel as "fat" with "no charisma." Lovely way to kick off a romance. Tender and gentle in an "I'll stomp you so don't mess with me" kind of way.

In November 2005, Silverman flirted with other men at the wrap party for her money-making movie, Jesus is Magic. Kimmel made fart jokes at Silverman's expense.

The couple was living together in May 2007 when Kimmel trotted Silverman out on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He outed her unshaven legs, complained about farts, and wondered aloud about the red stuff on her lips (it was lipstick) as if she had never before worn any in his presence. This, mind you, as a build-up to Silverman's famous skewer of Paris Hilton at the MTV Movie Awards and simultaneous Maxim cover debut. Silverman was poised to hit the big time and was coming into her own, yet Kimmel didn't seem particularly enthused or proud of his significant other's accomplishments.

Silverman either has an amazing sense of humor or she's the biggest patsy who ever walked the face of the planet. If my boyfriend treated me like that on national TV, I would have taken his puckered lips at the end of the segment and pushed them down his pudgy throat.

But what appears to be the final straw was yet to come. Kimmel publicly embarrassed Silverman on his show in October 2007 by insinuating she was a man and nipping her suggestion of marriage in the bud. At one point, Silverman dropped to her knees in mock proposal while Kimmel tried desperately to cut away to commercial. Nervous banter aside, the only one laughing was the audience.

I'm afraid what we are now witnessing is the beginning of the end. Silverman fired the first shot in January 2008 by getting Kimmel to play a video in honor of his fifth anniversary show. Her professed love affair with People's Sexiest Man Alive, Matt Damon, was an immediate Internet sensation, registering millions of hits and quickly raising her profile around the blogosphere. This week, in the spirit of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Kimmel countered with his own musical spoof, professing undying love and covert shtuping with Ben Affleck, Damon's cohort and confidant.

Both Damon and Affleck are married to women and each of them is raising a child. Damon also helps raise a step-daughter. And as long as people want to start keeping tabs, the Silverman spoof is a rip-off. Check out Damon in these highlights from Eurotrip. Chalk up one for the Kimmel in this battle of lilting love.



It's wonderful to see the funny folk of Hollywood therapeutically hash out their problems through the production of jocular entertainment. Kind of in the vein of "If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em," Kimmel and Silverman are getting the last laugh on the tabloids and I say "good for them."

But what I see lurking behind their side-splitting antics is far from good. A sad spectacle of romance on the rocks. To their ingenious credit, these videos are the talk of the tabloids rather than their more obvious relationship blues.

Maybe that's just as well.

Post Oscar Celebrity Legal Briefs

With the glow of Oscars fading in the west, it's reality check time. Oh yes, even the stars have their share of legal woes. Submitted for your approval, a sampling of today's civil matters in the world of entertainment

In the "Here We Go Again" department, Pamela Anderson is seeking an annulment from husband number "I can't keep track anymore" Rick Salomon. Can't imagine why the Baywatch babe is claiming fraud, although what did she expect getting married on a whim?

Jessica Seinfeld's ex, Eric Nederlander, is a two-time loser. He's agreed to vacate the "hate nest" of wife number two just weeks after the birth of their first child. Apparently, Number Two's training as a child psychologist was all for naught.

The sad saga of Britney Spears will remain in state court. An attorney claiming to represent the embattled pop princess tried to move the case to federal court by alleging violation of her constitutional rights. By the time all the lawyers are done picking apart this pie, there may not be much fame and fortune left for her to squander.

The Maccas have been told to clear their calendars for March 17th. That's when a British judge is tenatively scheduled to award Heather Mills a financial settlement in the couple's hotly contested divorce. Sir Paul had hoped to keep the lid on the details, but refused to buckle to m'lady's demands. A public airing of their dirty laundry will likely occur when the judge issues his final ruling.

After having his day in court on charges of defamation, paparazzo Jamie Fawcett was ordered to pay legal fees to the Sun-Herald. A jury found the newspaper liable for defamation, however, the paper called Nicole Kidman as a witness and successfully established it had only reported the truth.
A bank is foreclosing Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. The King of Pop has until March 19th to pay off an overdue balance of about $25M.

Rambo wants revenge. Anthony Pellicano, the private investigator scheduled to go on trial for illegally wiretapping the phones of celebrities, intercepted Sylvester Stallone's private calls in February 2002. Although settled, the interceptions occurred about the same time Stallone sued his former business manager over losses related to the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain.

Alfred Beardsley, the memorabilia dealer caught up in the O.J. Simpson snafu, filed suit against Thomas Riccio, the mastermind behind the Simpson TMZ video. Beardsley is claiming unspecified damages for invasion of privacy, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unjust enrichment. In September, 2007, Simpson and friends raided Beardsley's Las Vegas hotel room and seized several items Simpson claimed as his own. Criminal charges remain pending.

The John Ritter wrongful death trial is now in its fourth week. The beloved actor's survivors are suing a cardiologist and radiologist for $67M. Many tearfully testified about Ritter's sudden demise, including then co-star Katey Sagal, son Jason Ritter, and personal assistant Jessica Pilch-Samuel.

Countering a copyright case filed by video game maker Capcom, producers of the Dawn of the Dead films are fighting back. MKR President and chief shareholder Richard Rubinstein believes Capcom's Dead Rising video game is a knock-off of key plot elements in the popular movie franchise.

Producer's of America's Hot Musician, the non-profit organization American Youth Symphony, filed suit against Canadian all-female metal band "Kittie" for $5M. Countering show related threats of legal retaliation, the producers hit back claiming tortious interference with business practices, fraud and libel.

THIS JUST IN:
R.I.P. William F. Buckley, sage political commentator, dead at the age of 82.

Live Blogging 2008 Ohio Democratic Debate

Too ill to blog tonight's Democratic debate, but I'll be watching. The two candidates left standing are facing off again, this time at Cleveland State University. Many are hoping for a knock down drag-out winner take all outcome. Break out the NyQuil.

Follow these live blogs for a blow by blow analysis:

ABC's Rick Klein
Guardian America's Alexander Belenky
The Swamp's Lisa Anderson

More to be added as the evening drags on.

What do you know, my candidate endorsed Barack Obama. It's official then. There's no turning back.

Arctic Ocean VI: The Surreal

I eventually, grudgingly, left the mountains, but was happy i had once i saw what was ahead. The world opened up into an incredibly vast landscape of rolling plains crowned by primal, surreal mountains. Empty plains stretched on forever to the north and west. It was extremely exciting. Alaska is so covered in mountains that to actually be able to go somewhere that is unobstructed to the horizon is surprisingly refreshing. To the east were crazy, completely barren white mountains that look liked they should be on the moon.


A painters landscape. Look at those mountains! This is a super-desolate, empty place.

It was kind of funny because every time i entered a new region i though "yes, this is as desolate and empty as things get." But i'm going to take a stand now and say that the stark white mountains that lay to the east were definitely as barren as mountains get, in my experience. I just can't imagine anything more lifeless. The absence of any snow or ice made them look even more unearthly than what you'd see in Antarctica, because Earth has water on it. If there was a way to get closer, details of life might emerge, but even through binoculars i could see only barren rock. I didn't notice any Mongolians hanging around but still, i couldn't believe i was in America. I felt like getting a herd of Yaks and becoming a nomad.






The land nearby was shaped into surreal, primitive geometric forms

"The Arctic Refuge... can challenge and inspire even the most experienced backcountry user. Be prepared to handle any situation completely on your own.Wear life jackets when...crossing rivers, lakes and lagoons. Survival time is brief in the icy waters of the arctic. Learn the rhythms of the place-the light, the wildlife and the weather-then adjust your pace and schedule to meet them."

It's true. what would you do here if you lost your footing crossing a small river and got soaked. Start a fire? Where's the wood? What if the wind picked up? Here the temperature can drop below freezing on any day of the year. Where would you seek shelter? There's no shelter at all. Dig a hole to hide in? Good luck, you'll hit ice a few inches under soil. Go find help? Hope you've got a satellite phone.


Tiny vehicles make their way through a vast landscape.



By this point i was at just about 70 degrees of latitude above the equator (out of a possible 90), and soon i would be farther. Far enough north to come across the bones of a long lost explorer from the golden age of arctic exploration. I've read numerous books about old ill-fated naval expeditions to find the northwest passage. Most of the stories that are written have the ships being crushed in the ice by the middle of the account, stranding the crew on the sea ice (after previously being stuck for more than two years in some cases). The rest of the books are then about the ordeal of surviving after being stranded. Some of the crew of one expedition, the Jeannette, walked to shore and followed rivers inland for weeks looking for Eskimo settlements and food. They found neither, and starved to death. Maybe they didn't know that winter is so bad on the plains that all the food sources head into the barren mountains for protection. It's actually better weather in the mountains than on the open plains during those coldest months.


This bird flew towards me from some distance away, checking me out. The picture kind of captures the mood of the place.

Since then not much has changed at this latitude. There are no other roads in North America from this latitude. You'd have to cross the Atlantic and make it to Norway before you'd encounter a road system to the east, and to the west it looks like you could go 1,000 miles before coming across a usable road that went anywhere in Siberia. The circumference earth is only around 8,600 miles at 69 degrees latitude.


One of only a few small glaciers i saw in the Brooks. All of them were similarly thin looking, attesting to the dry climate.


Who knows what obstacles lie between here and there..


To the west there's not another usable road for at least 1,000 miles. I'm not sure if it's connected to a national road/rail system or not.


To the east there's not another road for 4,000 miles. No kidding.

When i arrived on the high plains i thought maybe i could see the ocean, since it was only 100 miles away. It was strange, like everything else, but i couldn't actually make out the horizon to the north. The earth just faded off into bright light. The plains slowly evened out into flatlands, and eventually i began to suspect that i was seeing coastal clouds where the horizon should be. After a few more hours it became clear that was indeed the case.


I began to hallucinate badly. The sudden appearance of stakes along the road told me i was near the end.



The end of the world is always obscured by a wall of fog, if not regions of fire. I think "regions of fire" are typically associated with going to far south. Fog is more comfortable. I was lucky. This fog was literally a wall moving east to west. You could stand 100 yards away from it and it would maintain it's position. It must have been sorcery.

It was approaching midnight when i entered the fog. It was a darned cold fog, and thick. I passed the corpse of a caribou in the grass. I was feeling kind of like i was in Time Bandits, when they are walking across endless foggy wastelands and suddenly smack up against the end of the world. I knew i had to be close, because i was nearly out of gas.

What had to be Deadhorse finally took shape around me. I was pretty delirious and couldn't wait to get into a bed. I had started the day way back at the Yukon River, and honestly, had seen too much for one day of travel.

Rush Limbaugh Endorses Hillary Clinton for President

Do I have your attention?

No, I mean, DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?!

Because if I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I wouldn't believe it myself. There I was, propped up on the couch in a semi-groggy almost comatose state, barely able to breathe through one nostril, when the parody played over the airwaves.

Much as I like and admire Rush Limbaugh -- say what you will about him, the man is a media mogul -- I refuse to join the ranks of "Rush Babies," people who subscribe to his 24/7 website providing full access to live "Ditto Cam" reports, the fabled "Stack of Stuff" newsletter, political parodies from Paul Shanklin, and latest gimmick grabber, the "O.O.C." sheriff badge proudly affixed to the lapel of African-American "Official Program Observer," James Golden/Bo Snerdly, their "Official Obama Criticizer."

As a result, I have no links to today's parody. Nonetheless, it has etched its wretched mark in my mind, looping over and over in a fuzzy haze like that time when I was five years old and got locked into a backyard shed during a family get together. Yes, it did happen, but the details get muddled over time. I'm so coked up on cold medication, the finer points of today's EIB program are no longer accessible. But this much I know. Rush Limbaugh and his ilk are terrified by the prospect of running John McCain against Barack Obama in November.

There's a parody floating around out there somewhere and when I get my grubby paws on it, you'd better believe I'm linking to it. But for now, trust me. Just trust me.

Limbaugh, Coulter, my own local Bruce Elliott, they're all praying, hoping, desperately desiring a Hillary nomination. And the smart money knows why. Because she isn't electable. Not even against decrepit politics as usual John McCain.

Today on his program -- if I could swear I would swear -- I heard Limbaugh endorse Hillary Clinton for president. Maybe he just wants her to claim the Democratic nomination so Republicans can beat the crap out of her in the fall, I can't be certain. I immediately turned off the radio to concentrate on other matters such as this blog. Hey, I know this article sounds sophmoric, addled, disjointed, but what do you expect from a sick person?

The point is -- and there is a point in all of this so I'm going to make it -- the point is, Republicans are so worried about winning in November, they're now hatching a nefarious plan to keep Hillary's candidacy alive. I wish Republicans would take a good hard look at themselves and decide whether early support of John McCain is to blame. Numbers and statistical impossibilities aside, of all the presidential hopefuls, he seemed the least likely to become their come back man from behind. Giuliani, Huckabee, yeesh, a disaffected Democrat like me might have even given Romney a second glance, but McCain? Why has he emerged as their front runner? His hardball stance against abortion? When is the "moral majority" going to get the loud and clear message that the majority of Americans believe a woman has and should always have a right to choose?

Most of McCain's other policies don't mesh with the right wing, we all know that. What the Republicans seem to be missing, and what Limbaugh very clearly emphasized today is that McCain's policies don't mesh with disaffected Democrats like me either. Unlike Ann Coulter who honestly rubs me the wrong way, the only way I and probably legions of other "third party Democrats" will ever consider casting a vote for McCain is if our party nominates Billary. I whole heartedly agree with Limbaugh, something I don't do very often, when he posits McCain is a lock if the Democrats back the Clintons.

As an aside, this dribble about Florida's liberal Jewish voters is just that. Liberal Jewish voters comprise a tiny almost infinitesimal fraction of the electorate, hardly a force to behold inside the Democratic elite. And this laughable conjecture about African-Americans, give me a break. If the party backs the Clinton, my guess is a good portion of that vote will stay on the job November 4th.

Now I'm no expert on state primaries, but I'm worried about crossover votes and the impact Texas and Ohio voters will have on this election. Is it really fair to pressure super delegates into a Hillary nomination when the Republicans are hatching a strategy to keep her candidacy alive? For their own nefarious reasons?

The majority of Americans are tired of the divide, sick of the bitter infighting, tired of the haves getting fat while the have-nots struggle to stay alive. These labels I hear bandied about, liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat, drive-bys, neocons, and Limbaugh's divisive tactics, they're not working. They're not bringing us to a better tomorrow. If anything, they're leading us over the cliff like lemmings too stupid to realize they're about to die.

Barack Obama will have plenty of media scrutiny in the months ahead, this much is certain. The media is not about to give him a free pass to the presidency. For now, the American public is mesmerized with the man from Illinois because he speaks a message long since forgotten. Hope, connection, togetherness, vision, prosperity, peace. Obama says he can make it it so. Many are willing to roll the dice and let him try.

Come up with something better, Republicans, and you too shall have a shot at the White House. But John McCain? Puh-leeze! Republicans will have to do better than that.

Peacefulness.

Peaceful be heaven, peaceful the earth, peaceful the broad space between. Peaceful for us be the running waters, peaceful the plants and herbs! Peaceful to us be the signs of the future, peaceful what is done and undone, peaceful to us be what is and what will be. May all to us be gracious!

-Atharva Veda 19.9

PHOTO: My wife took this picture in 2003. This lake is up in the tall mountains north of us here in Colorado where we backpack into. It's deep into the forests and high into the mountains. You usually don't see another human being for days up there but you see plenty of animals: Moose, deer, elk, coyote, birds/hawks/eagles/owls, fish, and some bears I've heard but I've never seen one. I have a special spot up there where I sit between dense pine trees and meditate listening to the wind flow through them creating a sound that is like hearing the trees whisper all together in unison. It's pure peace to be up there.

I haven't been up there in a few years because I have gained some weight from the medicine I take and because of those drugs I have a hard time keeping my weight down even when I exercise. This is because the pills act like a fat pill but they are necessary to keep me alive. It takes a lot of work getting up there as you have to carry 40 pound packs on your back with everything you would need to survive for a week. I do hope to return again someday soon.

I guess I say all of this to bring up the point that we can be anywhere we feel like being through meditation and mindfulness on pictures, memories and writings describing the atmosphere and energy of a place. As we know we are interconnected with all places so that like Thich Nhat Hanh says, wherever we are--that is home.

There is something else that I'd like to mention on this topic and that is feeling happy with where we currently find our bodies living. I tend to daydream about traveling to new and exotic places often and forget to see the wonder where I live currently. It is important for me to rediscover the great aspects of where I live. I have a home, live in a realitively stable country, live in a safe place in regards to crime and environmental disasters and get to enjoy slices of nature even in my urban location. There is a delightful, noble pine tree across the street that I can see out my front window as I'm typing. So whenever I gaze upon it mindfully I can easily see myself up at that special place in the mountains and the peace of that pristine land washes over me as if i was literally there at this moment.

I also have animal life right here out my window that I am honored to experience. Yes I don't get to see live moose walking around but I have a wonderful opportunity to watch the little birds eatting at our bird feeder, listen to their joyful songs and watch their adorable antics. I also get to watch the squirrel who comes daily to eat the peanut and hazelnuts that I leave out for him every morning. Squirrels are so cute, full of life and I love to watch how playful they are, watching them flick their bushy tails and jump from tree branch to tree branch. Yes I live in a great place. I do enjoy visiting new places and feeling the greatness of them but I truly am home where ever I find myself.

~Peace to all beings~

Sean Penn Hooks Up With Petra Nemcova

Aw shucks. We can't get the gossip scoop on anyone. Recently separated actor Sean Penn showed up with model Petra Nemcova at Elton John's post-Oscar bash. Yada yada. Moan Quivers reports Sir Elton's hair looks like tufted rooster head feathers. Love the charity ball, hate the hair. At least Sir Elton didn't cancel his annual fundraiser out of spite...unlike disgruntled actors/directors who were nowhere to be found on Oscar's red carpet.

Celebrity Politics Morsel From Heaven

With no intention of slowing down, we troll cyberspace collecting morsels of celebrity politics wherever they may hide. Only when we have amassed enough hard copy evidence of this troubling trend, only then will we consider our mission accomplished. How much is enough? I don't know. It's an instinctive "I'll know it when I see it" intuitive knowledge kind of thing.

Luckily, every now and then, one of these morsels falls into our laps. I say luckily because we just wrapped Moan Quivers' live blog of the Oscars and still have work to do. Put another pot of coffee on the stove! It's going to be a long and lonesome night.

The mixture of reality and fantasy in this Billary article was too good to pass by. Last Saturday's SNL, first live episode since the writers went back to work, hit a high note. Funny skits. No noticeable mistakes. Tina Fey should be proud. Now, one of the all-time best episodes of SNL -- one of my all-time favorite TV shows -- holds a place of high honor in the raison d'etre of this blog.

America is fast becoming a culture of superficiality and fluff while the majority of us are too distracted to care. Another drop in the bucket. Our mission continues.

Spewker Live Blogs The Oscars 80th Annual Academy Awards

Early? Catch the Worst Dresses in Oscar History.

Late? Here are the winners.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for tonight's live blog of the Oscars. If you enjoyed our site, tell all your friends and subscribe, subscribe. We're in the process of developing a regular weekly show for Moan Quivers and we provide daily updates on celebrity politics at our blog. Have a great night!

80th Annual Academy Awards Live Blog Oscars

We're watching the 80th Annual Academy Awards on TV and allowing our virtual Hollywood correspondent, Moan Quivers, to live blog the Oscars. Anyone who's interested is urged to stick around. Moan couldn't be any more excitied. She's wearing her best red dress, drippy diamonds, and prowling the red carpet looking for celebrity victims to disparage. Moan is kind at heart, but loves to skewer.

Moani also plans to make some predictions and gossip. The TV channels her comments will be related to are:

TVGuide
ABC

Hope everyone has a great time tonight. Moan is loaded and raring to go. Ciao!

Groovy Ghoulies

In the early 1970's, Filmation produced "Sabrina And The Groovy Goolies" an animated series based on the Sabrina character in the Archies comics. The Goolies were a bunch of hip monsters who took off from the most popular monsters of the 1930's films, Frankenstien, The Wolf Man, The Mummy and Dracula. I was an animator on the series and after production was finished I was able to grab this B.G out of the dumpster. It's a shame so much good art work was thrown away but a half hour series would produce volumes of animation drawings and cels, layouts and backgrounds; so what else could they do?

Spewker Virtual Hollywood Correspondent Will "Live" Blog Oscars

As we've been hinting for months, The Spewker is developing a new feature for our virtual Hollywood correspondent, Moan Quivers. Yes, Moani is in negotiations for her very own interactive webcast, tenatively titled "It's Moan Quivers."

Um...erm...still working on that title.

Moan's interactive premiere won't be via webcast. Instead, she'll live* blog from the conveniently located pink Twitter bot stationed here in the middle column. Tune in this Sunday to chat with Moan (we hope) as she reports live* from the virtual red carpet at the Kodak Theatre. Twitterphiles can enable Oscar tweets directly from the horse's, uh, Moani's mouth.

The Spewker's Virtual Hollywood correspondent Moan Quivers will live* blog the Oscars this Sunday, February 24, 2008, beginning 7:15 p.m. EST.

*Moan Quivers is a pending trademark of The Spewker, all rights reserved. Moan is is a fictional virtual personality who exists strictly on the Internet. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental and is not meant to suggest any relationship to such persons.

Don't Forget Burma. Plus, Announcing the "Free Burma" T-Shirt Recipient.

Perhaps the greatest chance for change in Burma lies with the very military that oppressed the non-violent protests of monks and civilians.

The probability of a Burmese soldier also being a Buddhist is great considering an over-whelming majority of Burmese citizens follow the religion. This means that probably most of these soldiers know that in their hearts that their violent actions not only create suffering amongst the people but within themselves as well and perhaps more importantly their family members. Surely many of these soldiers have family members who are devout Buddhists and maybe even have a family member who is a monk or nun. I think that these connections with their devoted Buddhist families will eventually wear down their loyalty to the government just like the soft strength of water erodes through the hardest rocks. It is true that Buddhism is very passive but it's strength lies within its devotion and unflinching love of everyone whether "enemy" or friend. It has been my experience that change for the better can only come when anger is matched with love and compassion.

It is only a matter of time before the average soldiers suffering becomes so great that they stage a massive desertion of the military and when that happens the violent government will collapse from it's own weight. This is because without their soldiers (who are increasingly conflicted) they are nothing. A major abandonment from the military is the best chance to end the suffering with the least amount of violence. If the majority of soldiers refuse orders to engage in hurting their friends and family as well as revered Buddhist monks and nuns then the Schwe inner circle has no one left to defend and fight for them. They would be over-whelmed by the masses that wouldn't be stopped by the soldiers which would quickly lead to throwing the sycophants into prison. Yes some people would surely die as the inner forces within the government would surely use violence to try and beat back the tide of change. However, if the majority of the military is with the people then that would be the best option in keeping deaths and injuries down to a minimum.

May peace come to the people of Burma sooner rather than later.

I just passed my 500th post here at The Buddhist Blog so I thought now would be a great opportunity to announce the recipient of the "Free Burma" t-shirt. And the name that I pulled out of the hat was Marie Roshi. Email me Marie (jaymur-at-gmail.com) with your address so that I can send it out to you. I hope that you wear it often and keep the Burmese cause alive.

~Peace to all beings~

Free State Outreach to Texas and Ohio Voters Before Democratic Debate

I am an undefined bit of fluff, a zygote in a swelling tide of democratic debate. Thoughts and opinions, what much do they matter coming from tiny insignificant me? Well, I do read, think, and have many years of serious legal training under my belt. For what it's worth, here are the thoughts swirling around in my muddled mind as America heads into tonight's face-off between Clinton and Obama at the University of Texas.

According to Bill, Texas and Ohio are his wife's last stand. You matter, wonderful people of the north and south, can't you see how much you matter? Bill hopes you will self-inflate, thereby carrying the little missus to certain victory. Can't help but focus on another famous Lone Star do-or-die battle cry, "Remember the Alamo," and think tonight's debate could go down in history as "Remember Obama's Show."

I never watch daytime TV. Too many too full of themselves talking heads. Too much distraction. Scouring the Internet for any sign of life outside the University of Texas, I am sorely disappointed. Desperate, I flip on the television, wasteland of last resort. The airwaves are crowded with a McCain lobbyist scandal. Impropriety denied. Huckabee angling for opportunity, yet mum about the rumors and what they may mean. What about the anticipated lines outside the Recreational Sports Center? Where is the streaming video when you need it?

Obama-mania hits Texas. Par-TAY! Can you dig it? Can't get a seat at the rec center? No problem. Party on.

It's not over until it's over. Texas and Ohio hold the fate of this election in their poll-driven hands. Wondering how it feels to have that kind of electoral power. The historic turning tide of the Potomac Primaries long since forgotten, pundits now hammer away at the nature of the election process and clout of big states. My sense of fundamental fairness wants the majority of states, even little states, to decide. My knowledge of America's election process says otherwise. Big states decide because they contain the majority of the population. That's understandable and acceptable. But, the issue becomes more problematic when examined from the preconceived notion of "one vote one voice." Nevertheless, a Texas vote counts more than a vote from the nation's capital because America is a democratic republic, not a utopian democracy. Try explaining that to my 16-year old and his eyes begin to glaze over. I hate my diminished capacity to elect the next president, but you'll never catch me moving to Texas. Just too darn hot.

There will be riots. So muse those in the know with 1968 Chicago visions dancing in their heads. Will CSN&Y reunite to compose another song?

Michelle Obama is not unpatriotic, contrary to popular sentiment. America needs to understand where Michelle Obama is coming from. Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes. And before you can abuse, criticize and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes. The real story is the Clinton camp's outrageous attempt to sling mud at Michelle Obama. A wife's attempt to characterize the message of her husband's candidacy misses the mark. So what? Let's examine the other junior Senator's remarks about America, shall we? Better yet, let's examine voter reaction to Clinton-Politics-As-Usual.

Hillary's plagiarism attack against Obama had me in stitches after reading this manifesto. Movie lines direct from a Nicholson movie, the actor claiming Billary is the best man for the job, recently regurgitated as campaign rhetoric? Be still my heart. That's gold, Jerry, gold for a tiny celebrity politics blog bobbing about, trying to stay afloat against the relentless swell from atop the food chain.

Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama will participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate at The University of Texas at Austin tonight, February 21, 2008, from 7-8:30 p.m. CST.

Feeling Like Peter Frampton After Thirty Plus Years

Peter FramptonGEICO commercials

No way! No way, man! GEICO convinced Peter Frampton to pull out his hair!



Still cheeky after all these years.

And yes, I feel like you do. Hair today, gone tomorrow. What a ride!

Crowds Flock to Cult of Obama in Battle for Texas and Ohio

I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told. I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles such are promises. All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest...

If you believe in magic come along with me. We'll dance until morning, just you and me and maybe, if the music is right, I'll meet ya tomorrow so late at night...

I see the world, feel the chill. Which way to go, windowsill? I see the words on a rocking horse of time. I see the birds in the rain...

Yeah, but even if, honey, I told you daddy now. You wouldn't believe me anyway, no, no, no. Maybe you will now. I've changed a lot somehow. Let me do what I say...

With nods to Simon and Garfunkel, John Sebastian, Pearl Jam, and Janis Queen of R&B, in that order, themes of belief, hope, magic, and change have long held a special place in the hearts of Americans.

Now Barack Obama rides a wave of popular immortalization. Last night on Nightline, el Lay columnist Joel Stein spoke of the "Cult of Obama" as the program compared this political phenom to craze propelled Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and yes teeny boppers, Hannah Montana. Can he live up to the hype? Can anyone?

I can't wait to see the line outside the Thompson Conference Center tomorrow. Maybe the masses will start lining up tonight.

Obama has racked up impressive victories throughout the land, a perfect 11-0 since the Super Tuesday Tossup. Billary continues to battle from against the ropes, badly bloodied and limping toward the Texas and Ohio primaries. FYI, Vermont and Rhode Island also head for the polls on March 4th, but no one seems much to care. To the larger amount of delegates goes the glory.

Meanwhile, official murmurs of "down for the count" begin to emanate from the press. Dare we dream this little shoestring budget of a blog is more widely read than imagined? I understand the whole "great minds think alike" thing, but lately, the amount of idea grabbing on the Internet is veritable cause for pause. More about this, ahem, another time.

As the press makes hay from Obama's roll in Wisconsin and Hawaii, I remain as confused as everyone else about the Washington State primary. This much is clear, however, yesterday's outcome is largely symbolic. Nary a word from the national news media on the subject which is why the general public thinks only two states voted. Pity. The outcome in Washington State comprises Obama's 11-0 tally, meaning the true number of successive wins deserves a serious do-over. One would think more journalists would care.

Getting back to themes of dreams, belief, once in a lifetime, directions, change, and political fluff, here's some flotsam from BETH Productions that kind of hits the spot. Election 2008 just cast Obama in the part of Troy. Casting for the part of Sharpay are still in negotiations.

...but if you get lost and lose yourself, what does it really mean...

Animal Cruelty. Enough is Enough.

WARNING: If you are sensitive to any description of animal abuse then you might not want to read this post.

If you don't know by now, there has been a massive meat recall here in America because of treatment of sick and crippled cows. There was an undercover investigation at a slaughter house including hidden video which showed horrific and inexcusable treatment. I didn't want to post the video here on this blog but if you really want to see this disgusting video then click here. I warn you though that the images are very disturbing and shocking. Don't see watch this video if children are present and can see the screen. It is not fit for children's eyes. It's not even fit for the eyes of adults but those who are perhaps a bit out of touch as to what goes on in slaughterhouses--I suggest you watch it.

In one part a crippled co is picked up by a forklift and dumped later onto the ground from about 4 feet in the air. Other clips from the video show lame, undernourished cattle being poked and prodded with an electric pole. Still another shot shows a worker kicking a crippled cow in the head over and over. In addition it shows a cow lying on the ground being pulled across the ground by it's leg which has been tied to a chain in an awkward and clearly painful manner. Then there is footage of cows being blasted in the eyes and noses with high power water hoses which keeps them from being able to breath properly and ends up drowning some.

Not only are these animals being treated with the most cruel intentions possible but their meat is possibly very dangerous as their sick and cripple bodies lie in their own fecal matter which can contaminate the meat with salmonella, mad cow disease and e-coli just to name a few.

The news agencies are reporting that these animals aren't being slaughtered in a humane way which begs the question, "How is there a humane way to slaughter an animal?" In my opinion there is no humane way to kill animals because it is murder in my eyes. Would we consider killing and eating the flesh or another human being humane and justified? Absolutely not and so if you believe in interconnection then we are in fact not only killing animals when we eat meat but also killing apart of ourselves in the process--not the least of which being our compassion and love for all beings.

The company has a contract with the government to ship the meat to schools for children's lunches as well as used to feed the needy and elderly. It is shameful that American tax payer dollars have been paying this company as the business has been abusing these animals and as if this incident wasn't bad enough, this kind of practice occurs in many slaughter houses across the country.

When will we stop abusing and torturing our animal friends who have at one time been our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and children if you believe in rebirth and inter-being. I am not here to condemn those who are meat eaters but let me just say this one thing, think about that meat which you are eating and sincerely ask yourself, "Could I kill the animal who's flesh and muscle I am eating?" If the answer is no then you might want to make a change in your eating habits. I know I'm being a bit in your face meat eaters with this post but I needed to speak up on the animal abuse that goes on every minute of every day.

Avoiding eating meat is in keeping with Right Livelihood because if everyone stopped eating meat then no one would have to work in the business of killing animals. Buddha didn't mandate that Buddhist be vegetarians but it is strongly recommended to avoid adding to the suffering of all sentient beings. In specific, the Mahayana branch of Buddhism urges those wishing to follow the Bodhisattva path to avoid eating meat to build more compassion in one's heart.

In this day and age there are plenty of eating options that still give you plenty of protein without having to eat meat. If you want to know of some of those ideas then email me and I will give you some suggestions.

~Peace to all beings~

Super Delegate Controversy Explained

Confused about the ensuing controversy concerning the Democratic nomination for president? Think a super delegate is a comic strip hero? Unaware three more states will hold primary elections this week? Couldn't care less?

Meet Joshua Marshall, political blogger extraordinaire, whose website I frequent for serious political commentary. Lately, I've noticed TPM Media's foray into videos which, surprisingly, have been rather...well...yawn.

I'm one to talk with this puny, unattractive (but clean looking) blog, no original videos to speak of, and pathetic traffic, I know. Still, I can't help thinking an enjoyable blog like TPM deserves riveting stream. If temporary boredom is not a deterrent, watch Josh Marshall weigh in on the super delegate controversy.



I hope Mr. Marshall never reads this because I honestly like his blog. That sucking sound you hear is me trying to extract my nose from the brown.

Jenny Craig Tells Spokesperson Kirstie Alley to Take a Hike

Celebrity News and GossipCelebrity Gossip Blogs

Weight loss conglomerate, Jenny Craig, recently dumped Cheers breakout and Scientology devotee Kirstie Alley from its popular ad campaign. No, the people at Jenny Craig have more tact than to tell the dazzling starlet to go take a hike. Of course, the rumor mill has been working overdrive hinting weight gain is to blame.

I'm all for Kirstie packing on the pounds. Couldn't get enough of Fat Actress, the comeback vehicle Showtime predictably yanked from its lineup as she began the incredible shrink. Episodes spun around deep fried corn dogs and Kid Rock made my mouth water. Out of work guest stars and invented storylines were over the top funny too. Never knew who or what might get skewered next.

For a short time, Kirstie made me believe an overweight actress could still find fulfillment in Tinseltown. But, like the Fat Actress storylines, the myth didn't hold water. Everyone knows el Lay is a mecca for the cult of gaunt. With this latest pink slip, however, Kirstie gets a second chance to show the rest of the world what she's made of. I'm hoping that includes deep fried corn dogs.