A Voice in the Wilderness

Stand by me & One Love - Playing for change

2009-05-04T06:58:00.005-06:00

Playing for Change - explained

One Love - Bob Marley

Youth of the Nation - P.O.D.

2009-04-17T07:00:00.008-06:00

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today." - Stacia Tauscher

First two victims of the Columbine high School massacre

Youth of the Nation
Lyrics - P.O.D.

Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known
Cause I didn't kiss my mama goodbye

I didn't tell her that I loved her and how much I care
Or thank my pops for all the talks
And all the wisdom he shared

Unaware, I just did what I always do
Everyday, the same routine
Before I skate off to school

But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest
Instead of taking a test
I took two to the chest

Evacuation of the building - 20 April 1999

Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running
But I couldn't hear nothing

Except gun blasts, it happened so fast
I don't really know this kid
Even though I sit by him in class

Columbine High School Killers

Maybe this kid was reaching out for love
Or maybe for a moment
He forgot who he was
Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was
I know it's because

[chorus:] We are, We are, the youth of the nation

Evacuated Columbine students react

Little Suzy, she was only twelve
She was given the world
With every chance to excel

Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell
She might act kind of proud
But no respect for herself

She finds love in all the wrong places
The same situations
Just different faces

Changed up her pace since her daddy left her
Too bad he never told her
She deserved much better

Johnny boy always played the fool
He broke all the rules
So you would think he was cool

He was never really one of the guys
No matter how hard he tried
Often thought of suicide

It's kind of hard when you ain't got no friends
He put his life to an end
They might remember him then

You cross the line and there's no turning back
Told the world how he felt
With the sound of a gat

[chorus:] We are, We are, the youth of the nation

Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim
No matter what you say
It don't take away the pain

That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leading the blind

I guess that's the way the story goes
Will it ever make sense
Somebody's got to know

There's got to be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists

We are, We are, the youth of the nation

We are, We are, the youth of the nation

We are, We are, the youth of the nation

We are...

Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell

2009-03-17T10:10:00.006-06:00

"Outliers: The story of success" is a book in which, Malcolm Gladwell makes some cogent arguments regarding hard work, being in the right place at the right time with a mixture of environmental determinants that all come together to create for extraordinary individual achievements. However, some of his arguments are less convincing than others.

I suppose it is true that it does in fact, "take a village" in concert with favorable milieu of environmental, social and economic conditions which encourage an individual to thrive.

The book's progression was fluid until the final pages when Gladwell injected his family's personal history and sort of clunked at the end with his closing remark; a self-focused query - arguably a personal representation for his books basic premise.

While Gladwell is no doubt, successful in his own right, to borrow from Lloyd Benson during his vice-presidential debate with Dan Quayle when he quipped, 'You are no John Kennedy [in this case, 'Malcolm Gladwell is no Bill Gates'] - maybe Gladwell was referring to the 10,000 hours??

The book seemed to stop when a certain predetermined number of pages had been written. Thus, its end seemed quick, abrupt and therefore, incomplete.

Considering what I just wrote about Gladwell, you might not think I'd be recommending it, I am. His work is entertaining and thought provoking enough for me that i have already picked up his book, 'The Tipping Point.' Gladwell is a good information gatherer so his work is as much entertaining for me as it is a resource for further examination.

I still maintain that so much is happening in our world that the people who can gather the information, make the appropriate connections and assimilate it all are the people who are indespensable because they are connecting the dots for the rest of us.

Happy 19th Birthday Lance Gilbert Kowalski

2009-03-13T21:19:00.009-06:00

This post is in memory of a kid I never met - a kid I came to know about through his mother, Justine Saylors who passed away last year. Lance died on 23 October 2003 - he was her world and the pain of living without him was too much to bear.

I wrote a couple of times in the past about Lance and Justine.

A friend of mine created a sculpture that was - coincidentally delivered to me the day Justine died. It was created the same year Lance was born (1990) and the first time I saw the sculpture was in 2006 shortly after I heard Justine's collection of music that she put together in memory of her son was featured in the Washington Post. The sculpture immediately reminded of Lance and Justine and I resolved to purchase it.

The sculpture consists of two rings, broken in two that appear - at least to me - to be the figures of two people embracing. What I see when I look at it is a mother and child embracing. Other people who have seen the sculpture see a symbolic relationship between the creator and Humanity.

Because it is such an abstract piece, it is open to interpretation. It sits in my back yard and will forever remind me of Lance and Justine.

The day I received the sculpture, I intended to e-mail Justine and that was when I received a comment to a previous post I made in homage to Lance. That is how I found out that Justine had died.

I wish she had seen it before she died. You can read my previous here for Lance and here for Justine.

Happy Birthday - in memory of Lance Gilbert Kowalski.

Religious Zealotry

2009-03-09T17:25:00.000-06:00

It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
Alfred Adler

A great deal of what passes for current Christianity consists in denouncing other people's vices and faults.
Henry H. Williams

Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others.
Jacob M. Braude

American Prometheus - Kai Bird & Martin Sherwin

2009-03-08T16:03:00.038-06:00

'I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.' - J. Robert Oppenheimer; words he is said to have uttered when he witnessed the test atomic bomb detonation in the New Mexico desert at the Trinity nuclear explosion site on 16 July 1945 - this quote originally came from the Bhagavad Gita

Very interesting reading.

This is a compelling story of ambition, intrigue, jealousy and the attendant devastation visited upon J. Robert Oppenheimer ('JRO' aka 'Oppie') - whose direction and guidance brought about the most destructive weapon available to Humanity. Oppenheimer's contribution earned him the name, 'father of the Atomic Bomb.'

This book traces Oppenheimer's life, documenting a series of personal blunders and mistakes he made along the way. They ultimately proved to be as destructive for his career as the weapon of mass destruction he helped to create. It is a captivating story about the acrimony and alienation he cultivated among his rivals because of the Bomb project.

Oppenheimer was eloquent, quick-witted and brilliant in spotting critical nuance. He had a great capacity for assimilating information and creating a collaborative environment which encouraged others to reach greater intellectual accomplishments as a result. Despite his brilliance, he also had an intolerant streak for intellectual laziness. Recipients of his derisive, caustic responses perceived him as vainglorious and arrogant. While he engendered deep loyalties and profound respect from the majority of people he made contact with, his incisive criticisms created lifetime enemies as well. For at least two, their hatred for JRO became a life's ambition with total commitment to undermining and destroying his character.

"A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green" - Francis Bacon, Poem 'Of Revenge'

I never particularly liked Edward Teller - leader of the Hydrogen bomb development - I dislike him even more after reading this book. I recall hearing him lecture at the University of New Mexico back in the early eighties. By then, he was an old man and had come around to Oppie's thinking regarding Nuclear proliferation. His rhetoric had softened and he spoke more like a pacifist and not the war hawk of his earlier manhood. He was traveling the University circuit as a visiting lecturer so, I felt fortunate to sit in the lecture hall as he delivered his thoughts on the Nuclear Age.

As a student of history, I was aware of his involvement in Oppenheimer's fall from national grace. But, I was never cognizant of what lengths he went to in order to advance his own cause - developing the H-Bomb. It is evident the slight he felt when Oppie flatly rejected his efforts to develop a bomb 1000 times more powerful than those detonated in Japan never let Teller rest until his ego was assuaged - first with detonation of the H-bomb and finally - in contributing to Oppie's political demise by testifying against him.

Owing to philosophical differences with Teller, Oppenheimer opposed advancement of H-Bomb development - presciently fearing a nuclear arms race with the Russians would ensue. He called for transparency and world regulation of Nuclear Armaments as a means of avoiding wholesale destruction of life due to the indiscriminate destructive capacity of nuclear weaponry. He expressed serious doubts about the destructive power of such a weapon after having come to the realization that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were essentially strategic decisions made by President Truman who wished to effect an unconditional surrender from Japan before the Russians had an opportunity to become involved and thus, assert their influence over Japan, and the pacific Corridor's post-war fate. The Japanese were ready to meet the US' terms for unconditional surrender. Nonetheless, Truman ordered the Atomic bombing anyway.

Unfortunately, Teller's ambitions dovetailed with American businessman and politico, Lewis Strauss who - like Teller was a friend-turned-enemy after tangling with the eminent Scientist. Together, Edward and Lewis made Oppenheimer's character assassination their life's ambition. Though separate and apart from eachother, both colluded with the FBI's Director, J. Edgar Hoover and ultra Right-Wing war hawks to thwart Oppenheimer's influence over developing the nascent American Nuclear arms policy by precipitating cancellation of his security clearance.

They did so by questioning his political allegiance to America - a feat accomplished by inciting fear of Communism, using personal smear tactics and manipulating the legal process under the guise of national security.

Neither Teller nor Strauss however, came away unscathed for their acrimonious efforts. History set the record straight - within their lifetimes. Their underlying motives came to light and they suffered the same retribution brought about by their zeal to destroy Oppie. Teller became a pariah in the scientific community and Strauss' national career came to an end when his flagrant disregard for Oppenheimer's right to due process was exposed in relatively short order after the hearings concluded and the decision was made to pull Oppie's security clearance.

Like the bomb which Oppenheimer guided into creation, political antipathy reached a critical mass for destruction of his public persona at the height of the Red Scare. The books title is appropriate as it makes reference to the Greek mythological Titan, Prometheus who stole fire from the Gods and gave to Humanity. The price for his deed was to suffer eternal condemnation of being lashed to huge stone and having his liver completely eaten away by an great eagle. According to the story, Prometheus' cycle self replicates daily because his liver regenerates every night.

Symbolically, Oppie's fate was the same. He endured never-ceasing scrutiny. despite his innocence, the Liberal-thinking, socially conscious scientist's name was forever tied to Communism. His efforts to inject rationality into the debate for arms control never came to fruition. This intellectual giant who had unleashed nuclear power - the explosive core energy - of the sun to mankind was doomed to suffer the same metaphorical fate as the mythological Greek Titan, Prometheus. For J. Robert Oppenheimer, the albatross of communism was forever tied to him - and his personal character was cyclically destroyed and regained for the rest of his life because of the Republican war hawks.

This book was a fascinating character study of a man who was brought down by people who, being more politically astute never compared to the man in intellectual prowess.

My Mom has a Spanish saying that translates, "Even for the tallest pine, there is an axe." Oppie's story is a sober reminder of this. I suppose there is another important lesson to be learned:

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou, poet

The story is worth re-visiting in light of the recently past administration of George W. Bush & Company which pushed the limits of executive power and used such tactics from the past to destroy political enemies during the 42nd president's tenure in office.

It is my hope that Oppenheimer's history serves as warning for future generations to recognize ambitions of ideologues who abuse position and power. That we remain vigilant for those who seek to settle vendettas invoking false appearances of patriotism and national security.

It is a lesson all of our great leaders such as President Obama can benefit from because it was lesson that Oppenheimer was forced to learn the hard way; regardless of how tempting, never deny a person - either by action or word - his dignity or respect.

Oppie himself felt that clearing his name had come, 'too little, too late,' posterity has nonetheless cleared Robert Oppenheimer of the communist smears attached to him during the McCarthy era.

This book's title of 'American Prometheus' is apropos for this brilliant, compassionate, forward-thinking and highly controversial historical figure.

On Fools and the Hypocricy of Self Righteousness

2009-03-01T20:32:00.015-07:00

Something to ponder - regardless of what corner of earth one may be in...

The injury we do and the one we suffer are not weighed in the same scales.

Aesop, Fables

The Shack - William P. Young

2009-02-21T21:31:00.035-07:00

"The Shack," came highly recommended by someone who assured me it was a 'transformational' book. So, I approached it with enthusiasm.

It isn't a bad story but it certainly will not rise above its contemporaries as one of the preeminent books of our time. Regardless, I am sure it 'speaks' to certain people who may find their lives in turmoil as they seek to make sense of suffering and pain. While the story offered potential insight as to the 'thinking' or mindset of a deity, I did not come away completely convinced with the book's overall message.

Even so, I was sufficiently impressed with the story line that I abandoned all other reading (I usually have five to seven books going at any given time) and devoted all my reading time to this one story.

Aside

One of my pastimes is to update my reading list - a recent obsession - at a website called, 'Goodreads.' One feature includes reader ratings on a scale ranging from one star to five stars.

Review

This book received a 2-star rating from me - not that it should mean anything to you - this is merely my arbitrary assessment of where the book ranks in relation to others I have read. In other words, it gets a "D" rating on an "A" through "F" scale.

Part of the low rating is because this variety of religious mythology attempts to color religiocentric beliefs with anthropomorphism. Its been done before. if this were a meal, I would describe it as under-prepared and overcooked - the religious equivalent of a fast food gourmet burger.

It seemed like the book's ultimate goal was to proselytize. Its global approach with descriptions invoking the Christian Trinity as the godhead as its central theme seemed a bit disingenuous because it made a grab for all of the world's great religions and lumped them all into the Christian description of the diety. William Young cast such a broad net that all this book lacked was a little new-age crystals to be tossed in the mix as a means of pandering to the subset of New Age spiritual seekers searching for the meaning of life as well.

I suppose this is what happens when one is, '...raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was New Guinea." This revelation sits at the bottom of the book's back cover. Ahh G_d bless those 'fishers of men' who bring the word of salvation to ignorant 'uncivilized' people in the world. I suppose it explains the usage of the universal net; you catch more 'fish' that way. There is a certain arrogance about it when one group of people looks upon another and decides it is in the 'inferior' group's best interest to be changed.

It reminds me of Mohandas Gandhi's quote, "I like your Christ. I do not like his followers." I think he might have at least been referring in part to the 'bait and switch' conversion approach.

The book started off slow and a bit clumsy with token foreshadowing. However, the story was engaging and entertaining in exploring Humanity's relationship with the universal god most familiar to Christians.

It did so following a fantastic story line; a grieving man got to spend three days with G_d in the shack - apparently for dramatic effect - where the last evidence of his missing daughter bloody dress was discovered after her disappearance/abduction while on a camping trip some four years prior. The three-day encounter serves to lift what is referred to as a 'Great sadness' from the man who doesn't necessarily come to understand the 'why' behind Human suffering but he realizes the promise if faith as an afterlife is revealed because of the contact with Human representations of the creator of the universe.

The dialogue was engaging and thought-provoking. I found it to be enjoyable because it provided insights and perspectives I hadn't recently really given much thought to in quite some time. I looked forward to picking up the book because, while the book had obviously religious overtones, it was not immersed in scripture. Thus, its message seemed more fresh - less regimented.

Foreshadowing was clumsily weaved in the introduction thereby diminishing the story's profound and fantastic claim. The set-up was unnecessary and only served to detract from the body of work which easily stood on its own. It didn't require - at least in my opinion - any sort of preemptive discussion. I should have skipped it altogether.

While the book doesn't make any claims other than to offer that an unbelievable story awaits, it does have a definite agenda of religious conversion in mind. It became eminently clear at the end of the book in the post-script; where a hefty bit of promotion for the book followed with suggestions and offerings by way of websites created solely for discussion of the book itself, encouragement for advertising by word of mouth, blogging, offers for mass purchases of the book and encouragement for participation in discussion groups like "The Missy Project" etc. The author even offered his availability to be scheduled for paid public appearances ostensibly to discuss the book with the author - for a price - oh bother. All this to bring people into the Protestant fold of Christianity.

The entire post-script smacks of a marketing gimmickry and thus lost some credibility with me because of it. I cannot imaging C.S. Lewis subjecting his craft to such proselytizing, promotion and marketing. Like the television evangelism and the rise of mega-churches, this book smells of old fish in a new wrapper - like Rick Warren's much vaunted, 'Purpose Driven Life'.

To my way of thinking, this book is a call to action for believers to deliver the Christian message of salvation once the story has been told - not during, but after the story's completion- when the author's agenda is revealed in the post-script.

'The Shack' is a good enough read however, I think I would direct my fellow readers to forgo spending money the book and go to a local library to check it out instead. It certainly falls short in comparison to great spiritual thinkers like St. Augustine, or St. John of the Cross or contemporary writers like C.S. Lewis and Forrest Church.

Abraham Lincoln once said something like, "This is a great book for for those people who like this kind of book." That is a fair assessment for "The Shack" because it revisits some of the imponderables and basically preaches to the proverbial choir - the religious following of G_d the father, Son and Holy Spirit.

While I admire Young's faith and the creative effort that went into this convoluted yet simple story, it reminds me of a Protestant convert to Catholicism who eventually rose to the level of Cardinal, John Newman who said - regarding faith - nearly a century ago; "For those who have believe, no explanation is necessary - for those who do not, no explanation will suffice." I am paraphrasing here but I think the spirit of his words has been captured nonetheless.

I am not here to challenge anyone's faith. All I am saying is this book is not a keeper for me. Moreover, just because a book has G_d as the subject, doesn't necessarily make it a 'good' book (worthy of G_d).

A Valentines Day Song - Kina Grannis

2009-02-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

If you must falter, be wise - Disturbia

2009-02-12T09:38:00.015-07:00

Disturbia
Rihanna

What's wrong with me?
Why do I feel like this?
I'm going crazy now...

No more gas - in the red; can't even get it started
Nothing heard - nothing said; can't even speak about it
On my life, on my head - don't wanna think about it
Feels like I'm going insane, yeah

It's a thief in the night to come and grab you
It can creep up inside you and consume you
A disease of the mind - it can control you
It's too close for comfort - oh

Put on your pretty lies - you're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice - watch out you might just go under
Better think twice - your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter - be wise

Your mind's in disturbia - it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia - am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia - ain't used to what you like?
Disturbia - disturbia

Faded pictures on the wall - it's like they talking to me
Disconnecting phone calls - the phone don't even ring
I gotta get out or figure this sh** out
It's too close for comfort - oh

It's a thief in the night to come and grab you
It can creep up inside you and consume you
A disease of the mind - it can control you
I feel like a monster - oh

Put on your pretty lies - you're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice - watch out you might just go under
Better think twice - your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter - be wise

Your mind's in disturbia - it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia - am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia - ain't used to what you like?
Disturbia - disturbia

Release me from this curse I'm in
Trying to maintain but I'm struggling
If you can't go-o-o
I think I'm gonna ah, ah, ah, ah

Put on your brake lights - you're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice - watch out you might just go under
Better think twice - your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter - be wise

Disturbia - it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia - am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia - ain't used to what you like?
Disturbia, disturbia...

An acoustic interpretation - performed by Alejandro Manzano of Boyce Avenue

Peace Train - Cat Stevens

2009-01-20T00:00:00.003-07:00

May today be the beginning of the greatest era in the history of America.

Peace Train
Cat Stevens

Now I've been happy lately,
thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be,
something good has begun

Oh I've been smiling lately,
dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be,
some day it's going to come

Cause out on the edge of darkness,
there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country,
come take me home again

Now I've been smiling lately,
thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be,
something good has begun.

Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the peace train
Come on now peace train.

Get your bags together,
go bring your good friends too
Cause it's getting nearer,
it soon will be with you.

Now come and join the living,
it's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer,
soon it will all be true.

Now I've been crying lately,
thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating,
why can't we live in bliss?

Cause out on the edge of darkness,
there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country,
come take me home again.

Arlington - The Wailin Jennys

2008-12-23T07:16:00.004-07:00

Arlington lyrics

Where do you go little bird
When it snows, when it snows
When the world turns to sleep
Do you know, do you know
Is there something in the wind
Breathes a chill in your heart and life in your wings
Does it whisper 'start again'
Start again

Where is the sun in the night
Is it cold, is it cold
Does it feel left behind
All alone, all alone
Does it wander through the dark
Does it wait for the dawn, wish on a star
Does it stray very far
Very far

Where is your home restless wind
Is it there, is it here
Do you search for a place to belong
Search in vain, search in fear
Or is your spirit everywhere
Is your voice every tree
Your soul of the air
If there's no home is there no death
Is there no death

One With the Light

2008-12-21T06:52:00.057-07:00

21 August, a Sunday morning; he awakened with a start because a recurrent dream which followed him since he could remember had again visited upon him.

However, this time, it didn’t end in the usual manner; in a fit of fear and intense anxiety. No, this time, the nightmarish flux of chaos evolved into a brilliant flash of cool, calm light. This time his nightmare had been quelled by collection of shadows reaching toward him with hands outstretched. Unrecognizable and yet familiar as they beckoned him to come forth; he no longer felt paralyzed by the grip of fear which usually terrorized him into a wakeful state of angst, loneliness and inutile solitude – a solitude which was anything but comforting.

This time, he opened his eyes and he was not afraid, he looked toward the ceiling as he lay with a smile on his face. The alarm clock cast a soft light blue hue in the room and he felt a wash of peace embrace him in the tiny room where he lay. Despite the dull pain in his left arm and the slight difficulty he felt when he inhaled, he felt a sense of mystery as though the puzzle of his life was falling into order. His routine assessment for aches and pains revealed that - other than his arm and slight pain upon inspiration - he was okay.

Slowly, he raised his gaunt frame from where he had slept. The routine was always the same; roll over to the left while curling up his body and bending the knees. Resting upon his left elbow and tilting his weight at the fulcrum of his hip, his frame became rigid, with knees locked, he then relied on gravity to do its job of pulling his legs slowly to the floor. Flowing with the momentum of his legs, he used his arms to raise his upper body. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he rested for a moment before shifting his weight over his knees and gently rose to a hunched stance.

The Cancer had worn his once muscular frame to a withered bony composition that he might scarcely recognize - but for the three years he had to witness the deconstruction - since he was first diagnosed at Saint Joseph's Hospital three agonizing years ago. Firsthand was his knowledge of the path his brother, his father and sister had taken in their final journeys as they too succumbed to Cancer.

Twenty seven short shuffles and he’d ambulated to the bathroom where he clung to the walls because he felt light-headed as he reached toward the tub to prepare his bath. Feeling for warmth as the water flowed, his weakened condition compelled him to sit at the toilet while the tub filled.

He turned the water off and the pain which ebbed earlier in his arm now stabbed deep into his chest – an intense pain. He clutched his arms together in what appeared to be an embrace and by sheer force of will made the pain subside. A cold, clammy sweat came upon him and he decided perhaps he needed to lie down so he slowly rose and began walking back to his bed. Reaching for the bathroom door jamb, he moved forward but his feet wouldn’t keep up. He leaned forward but the wall was too far – he had miscalculated the distance and now found himself tumbling, in slow-motion and his fall was broken when his right cheek caught the door knob. Despite the deep gash in his face, he simply did not feel it because the fall itself was a surprise.

Rising to a crawl, he realized he was much too dizzy to walk and besides, the pain in his chest was now excruciating but, Jose Abran was a man whose entire life was guided by discipline and willpower; he bowed to no man and remained steadfast in his intent to live according to his own terms. He again overcame the pain and crawled toward his bed. He paused only briefly to pay attention to the blood which steadily dripped from his face; it was soaking into the brown carpet. He touched the warmth seeping between his fingers. Feeling a sense of urgency, he attempted to raise himself from the crawl. He reached for the wall. However, willpower alone could not muster the necessary strength to stand this time. He had grown accustomed to the betrayals his aged body delivered with annoying predictability; he abandoned the effort, 'and besides,' he reasoned, 'the bed is only five feet away.' He resumed his crawl.

Reaching his destination, it came upon him that he was now dying as the pain in his chest felt just short of paralyzing. He was a proud man and resolved, “I will not die on my knees – not like this.” Fixing his eyes upon the pale blue ceiling, he said, “God, help me up.” Gripping the bed rail with his once powerful left hand, he began to rise, bearing his full weight on his left leg and grabbing the sheets with his right. He stood and slowly looked about the room and his eyes fixed upon the window above his bed.

This morning was greeted by the sun - it was rising over the purple silhouette of the Sandia Mountain and the light was interrupted by the same cool light he had seen earlier in his dream. He squinted into the light and was able to see the outstretched hands moving toward him. As the distance between them closed, the faces were familiar; his beloved mother Adelina with her long red hair flowing. His father, Pedro, whose curly locks and shocking blue eyes revealed a man whose charm and kindness Jose Abran had all but forgotten , his sister Zenaida her sweet and gentle face which was always filled with forgiveness and always brought him comfort. There too was his brother, Bernabel who shared so many childhood experiences – ‘Bernie’ the brother whom he deeply loved.

Dropping slowly to his knees, clutching at his heart after he crossed himself he uttered, “[En el] nombre del padre, el hijo y el espiritu santo…[in the name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit], “I am ready” he thought. Again he embraced himself, patting his left shoulder as though offering comfort and reassurance - he spoke with his eyes closed, “Tata Dios, cuida mi esposa, mis hijos y todo mi familia [Daddy God, watch over my wife, my children and all my family].” In an instant which most assuredly was heaven-sent, time froze - allowing him to remember them all, one-by-one, “…y que me perdonan por todos mis ofensas [and may they forgive me for my offenses]” He rested his head against the mattress - his breaths grew shallower.

From the rising sun, he felt the warmth of the morning light upon his back and his final breaths subsided - they freed him to bridge the distance between himself and allow him to move toward those sent to accompany him to the place which separates a life from the spirit in a single breath - the place where spirits become one with The Light.

What a Wonderful World - Katie Melua, Eva Cassidy

2008-12-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

Mission Accomplished - Duck! duck! Shoe!!

2008-12-15T14:49:00.006-07:00

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue...

Ahem, didn't Bush & Company say we would one day be welcomed in Iraq as liberators?

I suppose this is one possible rejoinder for the Iraqis to the chicken hawk Toby Kieth's lyrics, "...we'll put a boot in your ass. Its the American way."

So much for your farewell tour Dubya!

It was truly a Kodak moment as our Commander in Chief boldly ducked for cover.

Priceless.

Here is a collection of jokes from Daniel Kurtzman's - About.com Political Humor Guide

"George Bush is over there in Baghdad saying goodbye to the troops, and this Iraqi journalist heaves a couple shoes at the President. And we thought, hopefully that's just a one-of-a-kind episode. Unfortunately, however, the news coming out of the Middle East is that Iran is developing a long-range loafer." --David Letterman

"People are still discussing the shoe-throwing incident at our president. ... It was reported today that the Iraqi journalist who threw the shoes at President Bush had his arm broken when security subdued him. And even worse, it was his shoe-throwing arm. That guy is out for the season." --Conan O'Brien

"President Bush announced before he leaves office, he wants to visit the poorest regions of the world. You know, any place where people can't afford to buy shoes." --Jay Leno

"That Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush the other day said he planned his attack for months. Planned it for months? That's what he said! I mean, take off one shoe. You throw it. You throw the other shoe. He planned it for months. And he still missed both times!" --Jay Leno

"The guy is being called a hero in the Arab world. So, he has this plan and it's a failure. And he's a hero. You know, if that's the standard, Bush would be the biggest hero in the Arab world." --Jay Leno

"Today, President Bush told reporters that the shoe-throwing incident was one of the weirdest moments of his presidency. Yeah, Bush said the only thing weirder was the time he got re-elected." --Conan O'Brien

"Have you watched this tape? Some people are criticizing the Secret Service, because the shoe thrower caught them off guard. The man was able to throw a second shoe. A spokesman for the Secret Service said, 'Sorry, but we were laughing our asses off.'" –Conan O'Brien

"This is the country we thought had nuclear weapons. It turns out they have a pair of size 9 Hush Puppies instead." --Jimmy Kimmel

"It's not just President Bush, today somebody threw a pair of shoes at Sarah Palin. And she was very upset. She said, 'Do you have these in black?' and threw them back." --Jay Leno

"I've got to give President Bush credit for this, because he's taking it all pretty well. He says that he's actually happy about the shoe-throwing episode, because he says it proves finally that Iraq does, in fact, possess foot wear of mass destruction." --David Letterman

"It turns out this guy was described as a hot head. He's a guy who is an Iraqi journalist. They say he's a hot head with poor journalistic skills. Well, no surprise, today he was offered his own show on Fox News." --David Letterman

"Well, folks, looks like we finally found something President Bush is good at. Dodgeball!" --Jay Leno

"As you know, yesterday in Iraq, President Bush was attacked by a 'shoe-icide' bomber. President Bush was speaking at a news conference in Iraq when a journalist threw two shoes at him [on screen: the video of Bush having shoes thrown at him]. You see what President Bush did? You see what he did to keep from being hit? Something he's never done before. Lean to the left. He's never done that." --Jay Leno

"You got to admit, whatever you think of the guy, he's got good reflexes. Even Bill Clinton was impressed. You know, Clinton's an expert at ducking shoes, ashtrays, lamps. Everything." --Jay Leno

"Now, here's my question, and no offense here, but where was the Secret Service? I mean, shouldn't they at least have jumped in front of the second shoe? I mean, you know what I'm saying? Come on. Seriously. Aren't these guys supposed to take a bullet for the president?" --Jay Leno

"See, that's when Bush realized he was on his way out, when the Secret Service are going, 'Yeah, we're guarding the new guy now.'" --Jay Leno

"Well, here's my favorite part. Cable news just over-thinks this. On CNN, they brought in an expert on Iraqi culture. And he said, 'Let me clarify what happened here.' He said, 'In the Arab world, throwing your shoes at someone's head is considered an insult.' Oh, really? As opposed to here in America, where it's a huge compliment." --Jay Leno

"Well, the interesting thing was the journalist who threw the shoe was immediately arrested, and then offered his own show on MSNBC." --Jay Leno

"Bush is in Baghdad, he's having a press conference, and a guy, a reporter from Iraq jumps up and starts heaving shoes at the guy. And in Iraqi, or Arabic, he starts screaming, 'Here's your farewell kiss, you dog!' That's what the guy says. I mean, it was the same goodbye I got from NBC." --David Letterman

"Right now, they're trying to find out, they arrested the guy, trying to find out if he's a Shoe-ni or a Shoe-ite. But it's the same old story. You hear this over and over again, a guy, this crazy guy, goes into a Payless store, he purchases a pair of Rockport shoes, and they didn't even do a background check on him." --David Letterman

"You've got to give Bush credit. I mean, the guy moved pretty quickly. ... Too bad he didn't react that way with bin Laden or Katrina, bin Laden or the mortgage crisis, bin Laden or Afghanistan, bin Laden or the Lehman Brothers." --David Letterman

I don't think Bush really has dodged anything like that, well, since the Vietnam War." --David Letterman

"Yesterday, at a press conference in Baghdad, an angry Iraqi threw his shoes at President Bush's head. Yeah, when he saw the shoes, President Bush said, 'See, I knew you guys had weapons of mass destruction." --Conan O'Brien

"The man who threw his shoes at President Bush is being hailed as a hero in Iraq. In fact, when he dies, he'll be greeted in heaven by 72 podiatrists." --Conan O'Brien

"The shoe-throwing incident has made Sarah Palin want to be president even more. Free shoes! You betcha!" --Craig Ferguson

"Of course, the big story over the weekend is that President Bush had that press conference in Iraq, which turned into 'Shoe-pocalypse Now.'" --Craig Ferguson

Proposition 8 - The Musical

2008-12-07T11:16:00.001-07:00

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Palin Pardons Turkey - Post Pardon Interview

2008-11-23T08:48:00.003-07:00

Republican Alaska Governor and former Vice-presidential candidate Sara Palin gives an interview - at a local turkey processing farm - after commuting the death sentence for a lucky turkey - Thank heaven the turkey will live to see another day - or, will it???

Look at what is happening in the background...

Happy Thanksgiving Sara!

Purpose of Life - Leo Rosten

2008-11-14T07:51:00.003-07:00

"I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all."

Leo Rosten

A Request to Comcast internet provider reference their Bias

2008-11-10T07:50:00.007-07:00

Out of frustration, I just sent the following e-mail to my internet provider, Comcast Communications.

I am tired of paying good money in order for them to be foisting their biased neo-con agenda on their subscribers. I think the e-mail is self-explanatory.

I remain convinced it will go nowhere.

Hopefully anyone who googles 'Comcast' along with those who regularly read my posts will be feeling the same and will take the time to contact Comcast in order to register their shared discontent.

It is only a hope of mine that Comcast will change but, I am resigned to the notion that this corporation is way too big to give a damn about a single customer's satisfaction - especially when such a subscriber is shouting the call from outside the moat.

To whom it may concern,

I find it particularly frustrating when I am viewing video news and am prevented from jumping onto another video such as a news clip because the buttons are disabled as I am forced to watch an advertisement. I pay enough money each month to be spared your forced-feeding of advertisements.

I also find the continued offerings of FOX - Faux news network 'stories.' I am sufficiently tired of the subtle aims at manipulating my thinking that I am looking elsewhere for an internet provider who is less inclined at using the 'fair & balanced' velvet hammer approach.

I am certain this e-mail will go nowhere but I can only hope. Perhaps if enough people like me voice their dissatisfaction and register the same with their pocketbooks, monoliths like Comcast will pay heed and do what they do best; provide good reliable internet access.

I have been repeatedly disappointed with the 'National Enquirer' styled teases and offerings which do nothing more than reveal an neo-conservative agenda.

Here's my advice; change your ways or you are going to lose market share. While you may not feel my individual loss, my prediction is you are going to feel the cumulative effect if you don't get with the times - be responsible and neutral or suffer the consequences.

Here's hoping you will pay heed and change your ways.

A faithfully paying customer,
Joe

A Tientas - Duncan Dhu

2008-11-08T09:53:00.012-07:00

A Tientas
Duncan Dhu

Pienso en otonos que ya fueron,
I think about autumns that are already gone
pienso en inviernos que volvieron,
I think about winters that have returned
sin ti… No es igual.
Without you ... Its not the same.

Busque en tus ojos mi destierro,
I searched in your eyes for my exile,
sigo tus pasos voy a tientas,
I followed your paces - I'm going to bullfights
di… A donde vas.
I asked, 'where are you going?"

Y quise llorar… Por ti y por mi,
And I wanted to cry ... for you and for me
un dia mas… Oh na, nara na.
Another day...

La luna esconde su mirada
The moon hides your gaze
y yo, yo quiero conquistarla,
and I, I want to conquer it
ya ves… Todo sigue igual.
and you see... Everything stays the same

Un llanto lento, un llanto amargo,
A lingering flood of tears, a bitter flood of tears
un llanto al fin desesperado
A flood of tears ending in desperation
y yo… no, no se llorar.
and I... don't, don't know how to cry.

Y quise sonar… Por ti y por mi,
And I wanted to dream.. for you and for me,
un dia mas… Oh na, nara na.
one more day..

Y no me asusta gritar, tu nombre en la obscuridad,
And and it does'nt frighten me to scream, your name in the darkness
en este exilio que, me has obligado a compartir.
in this exile which you've obliged me to share.

Es como un filo de navaja,
Its like the sharpened edge of a knife,
este camino que ahora sigo,
this road which I now travel,
amor… No volvere.
My love... I will not return.

Y quise llorar… Por ti y por mi,
And I wanted to cry ... for you and for me
un dia mas… Oh na, nara na.
Another day...

Barack Hussein Obama - 44th President of the United States of America

2008-11-04T20:45:00.012-07:00

Let Freedom RingCongratulations Mr. President

"...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring."

Martin Luther King - "I Have a Dream" Speech - March on Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963

Don't Forget to Vote

2008-11-03T22:03:00.010-07:00

Wave if you see me around Albuquerque tomorrow - I'll be driving from jobsite to jobsite.

God bless you President Obama
Your time has come

Big Oil Thanks You - Thanks Republicans

2008-10-03T08:54:00.000-06:00

Baby got Book

2008-09-29T16:26:00.002-06:00

I like your Christ. I do not like his followers - Gandhi

Baby Can I Hold You - Tracy Chapman

2008-06-02T22:06:00.003-06:00

Sorry
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like sorry like sorry

Forgive me
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like forgive me, forgive me

But you can say baby
Baby can I hold you tonight
Maybe if I told you the right words
At the right time you'd be mine

I love you
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily