Wisdom & Inspiration

I’ll get it later is the photographer’s worst enemy. We ended up returning via a different route, and I wasn’t able to get the photo I wanted. My first lesson learned: never ever think “I’ll get it later”.

This comes from an article on photographing disaster scenes. In this case he (Neil Creek) was shooting the devastation of the recent fires in Australia, but no matter...

Just when you thought life could not POSSIBLY get any better... I just came from the grocery store wherein there was on display, for my and other potential consumer's consideration........ a Lindt Gourmet CHILI infused chocolate bar. Say WHAT??? Yes. You read that right, Chocolate AND Chili in one convenient package. Damn but it was good.

I claim no responsibility for what anyone may do with this information.

- NonE

The arrogance we humans have regarding our position as "holders of the light" of intelligence, morality, and general top-of-the-heap stuff quite amazes me at times. This article just blew me away. Read it. It'll tickle you if nothing else.

The female California two-spotted octopus swam to the top of her tank, disassembled a valve with her powerful arm, and released at least 200 gallons (757 liters) of seawater into nearby exhibits and offices.

- NonE

I just ran across a post on a blog about the work of Lynn Margulis. We've had some discussions here regarding the precision with which words "should" be used, and I found this particular post to be relevant as it discusses this issue as it impacts research itself. Jorge, you may find it of interest. I also wish to say that it does not necessarily form an excuse for any shortcomings I may have in my own communication skills, I just thought it well written and important to consider.

The idea of Customary Law has been informing my thoughts now for several years, since first I read in Bill Bradford's (R.I.P.) "Liberty" magazine about the Somali Customary Law.
Today at Lew Rockwell's place is an article by Lila Rajiva which really bears reading as it reflects upon the very nature of law and how humans behave in social settings.

It's really easy to make a fool of myself. Really. I do it on a regular basis. (I'm sure this is not news to any who have been paying attention!)

But I must say, it's fun and enriching to do so, and that is why I continue this pursuit.

So I'm in the line at Safeway this afternoon. I bought two pineapples, 2 bags of cranberries, a small bag of fresh string beans, and a honeydew melon. I had this stuff on the belt. I look behind me, and the lady next in line is loading her stuff on the belt behind my stuff. She had a pineapple, 2 bags of cranberries, a small bag of fresh string beans, and a honeydew melon. Now, I will admit that I had TWO pineapples and she only had one, but.... come on now. Has that EVER happened to you? EVAR?????

Happy F'ing Holydaze!

I know this. Good things are always all around us. It’s true despite the economic uncertainties I have been entirely too focused upon of late. It’s true despite the weather, despite how wealthy or impoverished one is, despite how healthy or ill one is.

It’s just that we often focus on getting from one point to another, from one condition to another, from one goal to another ... and in the focus on the getting, we forget about the being. Being present to our lives as we’re living them.

Yesterday, I was very pleasantly reminded of a very good thing—an intriguing person with whom I’d become acquainted at the Freedom Summit when I spoke there a few years back. That was an abundance of goodness all by itself, but there’s more; he offered an essay for my consideration for publication here. It is so beautiful and profound (and timely) I simply couldn’t say no.

I hope you enjoy Time Is Money (not) as much as I do. It’s by NonEntity—yes, he of Strike the Root fame. (As is the custom on guest essays, comments are welcome here rather than on the essay page.)

I see more good things ahead, too. Short term, more blackberry picking with the snolfs today, and longer term ... well, the possibilities abound. I see a few more clearly than others, but all will be shown in time. Thank you, NonEntity.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. — Aristotle

In our country, the lie has become not just a moral category but a pillar of the State. — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Freedom and independence are waiting for us to get over the ego trip. — Pat the Pagan

There are four questions of value in life ... What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love. — Johnny Depp

I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. — Mohandas Gandhi

We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be. — Kurt Vonnegut

Results should not be too voluntarily aimed at or too busily thought of. They are sure to float up of their own accord from a long enough daily work at a given matter. — William James

A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life. — Muhammad Ali

The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance—it is the illusion of knowledge. — Daniel Boorstin

Our greatest foes, and whom we must chiefly combat, are within. — Miguel de Cervantes

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. — Winston Churchill

If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. — Vincent Van Gogh

Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason. — Samuel Adams

It is foolish to be convinced without evidence, but it is equally foolish to refuse to be convinced by real evidence. — Upton Sinclair

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. — Benjamin Franklin

School is like starting life with a 12-year jail sentence in which bad habits are the only curriculum truly learned. — John Taylor Gatto

How strangely will the tools of a tyrant pervert the plain meaning of words! — Samuel Adams

Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence. — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

[Y]ou only have 12 notes. Do what you want with them. — Eddie Van Halen

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. — Лев Толстой

It is hard to change and grow if we are stuck in the same potted soil depleted over the years, regardless of how much light and water we get. — Pint of Stout

The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.—John Maynard Keynes

What I want is a matter of desire and emotion — but what is best for me is a matter of exploration, discovery, reasoned choice, and action.—Peter Saint–Andre

The universe cannot show you anything which you’ve intentionally chosen to block from your reality.—Steve Pavlina

Tradition is the greatest enemy of progress, and consensus the greatest enemy of truth.—Mike Gogulski

Ideas are forces; our acceptance of one determines our reception of others.—G.H. Lewes

Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can’t trade for your heart’s desire is your heart.—Lois McMaster Bujold

The key to freedom is accepting my own autonomy as an individual, and respecting the autonomy of other individuals, with all of what that means — whatever that means.—B.W. Richardson

When the situation is as bad as it is, the tiniest improvement can make you come away feeling like you’ve won the lottery.—Wolfie’s momma

It takes the best part of a lifetime to find out what you don’t want.—Isabel Paterson

The belief that there is only one truth and that oneself is in possession of it seems to me the deepest root of all evil that is in the world.—Max Born

To rely on coercion to achieve progress is like relying on bulldozers and steamrollers for routine transit.—Jim Bovard

Success is the sum of a lot of little things done correctly.—Fernand Point

The plan, the direction, and the focus come from me, not the tools.—NeoWayland

Life should be more than just the passage of time; it should be the enjoyment of time as it passes.—Lobo Tiggre

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.—Edmund Burke

Love flowers best in openness and freedom.—Edward Abbey

I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.—Thomas Paine

I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.—Robert A. Heinlein

[F]reedom should be fun!—Mike Hoy

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.—Epictetus

I’ve been thinking about Joey’s response in our ongoing conversation about getting free and personal freedom, but have been too busy and/or distracted to write a proper response. As a placeholder—and foreshadowing—I will quote from The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. The context is Prof. Bernardo de la Paz speaking to Wyoming Knott [emphasis in original]:

“... I will accept any rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”

Any товарищи got a problem with that? ;-)

I recently stumbled across a quotation I’d written on a slip of paper some time ago. I didn’t record any reference along with it, so I don’t know where I encountered this statement by Ferdinand Protzman on love. Since reading it, it’s occupied a fair amount of space in my mind ... but I can’t really compose a well-crafted summation of my responses to it.

Anyone who cares to share their responses is welcome to do so in the comments. I’ll join in, as I can: much of my day will be spent in the kitchen, making truffles and caramels. Here’s the quote:

Love can alter people’s lives in positive ways .... It can also break their hearts, crush their spirits, and kill them.

One thing that occurred to me is that we never know where our loving someone might go; even when love starts out as a positive thing, it can lead to enormous pain.

In a very good post on quitting (the comments on it so far are good, too), Kirsten incidentally offers this bit on compromise:

By compromising again and again ... we ended up with lives that were tolerable but nothing close to what either of us really wanted.

Oh boy, can I relate ... and many thoughts and questions spring to mind as a result, but I’ve a lot of things to do today, so it’ll have to wait for another time.

I’m trying to live this way ... but I confess, right now I’m finding it a bit challenging.

Make the best use of what is in your power and take the rest as it happens.

From Epictetus—who has a lot of good quotations on that page, but a few clunkers as well.

Everybody assumes they know what the social contract is, but no two people agree on it in every particular. That tends to make a mockery of the “conform or leave” arguments.

From Bacchus of Eros blog.

A topic that comes up often in the counseling I do is forgiveness. That was a serious part of my hospice work as well, and I've learned much about it over the years - both in my work and in my personal life.

We all have a complex mixture of experiences, old hurts and misunderstandings, resentments and fears. Most of us have at least some serious trauma - physical and/or emotional - from our past, and most fear such trauma from future events as well.