Giving Thanks

Another Time I Neglected To Say Thank You

I’ve been thinking about going back to my roots. I mean really going back to my roots.

Roots as in ancient plants and other life forms that lived in the ooze millions of years ago. Those viruses, fungi, and bacteria are thought to be the building blocks of just about every living thing on this planet. The DNA of those original microbes is part of our DNA.

With that in mind, let me share a personal experience that I had when contacting my inner roots:

In 1975 I tried an experiment with music. I had been taught that music was a universal language and learned that that was very true during my travels as a performer.

I wondered if it was possible to musically speak to my origins. In other words to talk to nature herself and be answered?

I sat on a stump in the backyard of an East Palo Alto home rented by a good friend of mine. While sitting there with my guitar I experimented with different chord patterns and strums.

We had a dog and cat, chickens and a lot of plants, flowers and other growing things.

I found a set of chords that was mesmerizing in a soothing way and strummed them in a repetitive sequence for a while. At some point I looked up from my reverie and saw the cat, (Pepper), the dog, (Dreamer) and the chickens had all gathered around my feet to be close to the sounds the guitar.

I tried different chords, different rhythms, different patterns and discovered that some were understood and some were not. It was then that reality struck me. I was speaking to another species. That old trope about music being the universal language was proving to be true, at least to me.

One of the more interesting effects of the music was when a swarm of bees were lazily buzzing round and round in a 4 foot diameter ring just inches above me.

This happened as I was playing a certain set of chords and rhythms that apparently spoke to the bees. Don’t know what I was saying with the music, but they seem to like it. When I stopped they flew off and went on about their bee business.

I have read that plants can speak to each other and that experiments show that certain plants respond well to certain kinds of music. That 1975 experiment was my first live experience of continuing projects demonstrating that music is connected to all of our known universe.

Of course it is. It is vibrations it is the movement of molecules, atoms, electrons. The very essence of this universe, of the cosmos, of life itself! Music is a reflection of and addition to perceived reality.

I am thankful to be a composer, performer, scientist, naturist, sometime scallywag and part of a family at a time and geographical location that has allowed me to flourish.

Today’s Video;

This young lady was already tuned in at age 2. I am humbled.

 

Be Kind

We Are Still A Democracy For The Holidays

There are interesting events scheduled between now and January 20

One such event is the sleazy swindler going to court over his phoney university

Not to mention, some of the 2,800 law suits by vendors and contractors the deadbeat developer didn’t pay after they did the work.

Or the lawsuit for non payment from his last team of lawyers

Trump is not the leader of the free world, yet. He remains just bluster until January 20

We still have our democracy intact for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Enjoy!

Relax and enjoy America now. All is well until after the illiterate blowhard is sworn in.

A Moment Of Sanity

Okay, Several Moments

Opening theme song: http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/aphh

A nice photograph I took this week;

“Blaze”

Blues ukulele with James Hill;

A view of Mount Shasta from behind Shopko;

Mount Shasta with new snow 11 3 16

In case you haven’t been paying attention lately, some FBI agents have been assisting Julian Assange in publishing emails, documents, kitchen sinks and most anything else they can find or forge to stop Hillary from being elected president of the United States.

It hasn’t worked. If you are voting this Tuesday, be sure to vote for the constitutionally literate and proven public servant; Hillary Rodham Clinton. The free world is counting on your vote for sanity and balance.

Eye of The Tiger

I have been admiring Hillary and her dedication to public service ever since she helped bring down Nixon. The republicans have spent more time and money (2 billion dollars the last time I checked) trying to destroy Hillary than they have spent on education.

The right wing republicans are freaking out! In spite of all their hate, misuse of power, corruption of government agencies, and repetitive investigations, it looks like Hillary is going to be the duly elected president of the United States of America. (A sigh of relief will be heard around the earth when they know she is elected)

A heartfelt song that needs to be heard now and again, sung and played by musicians all over the world, (including the author);

Also of importance when you vote Tuesday, we must get rid of the unqualified minions of the right wing agenda, the tea party republican congressmen, mayors, governors, senators, and supervisors who only do what the racist right wing leaders tell them to.

Elect Democrats, (They listen to people who vote for them, not just the big money donors).

Earth needs you to vote for Hillary

I Didn't Notice The Disparity

Because I'm A White Male 

Privileged? You Bet. 

Did I know it? Not A Clue.

How Could I Not See That I Was One Of The Oppressors? 

For many years It didn't occur to me to reflect upon the rudeness of my entitled behavior. 

I am astonished by my ingrained attitudes. I actually consider myself to be a champion of equality in American society!

Most men of all races have yet to realize what unenlightened jerks we really are.

I know that I am still on the long road to awareness. It's a start.

Today's Video;



Still Learning

Killers On The Roads

Should Be More Terrifying

I was reading the Friday Cheers and Jeers diary on Daily Kos and saw this combined data that answers the question; “Why are there more Traffic deaths in the first half of this year?”

“Number of people who died on U.S. roads in the first half of 2016, up over 10% from a year ago, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 18,000

Extra miles Americans drove between Jan. and June 2016 vs. the same period in 2015: 50.5 billion”

I had seen and heard the statistic that there were more deaths on the highways in the first half of 1016, but without the additional statistic letting me know that we drove an extra 50.5 billion miles during that time I was another sucker for speculators.

Unless you have been in a Fox news/talk radio coma, you have likely determined that the man running for president is a repellent misogynist among his other disqualifying shortcomings. If you have any doubts as to his civility and veracity, you will have an opportunity to see him on Sunday as he and Hillary Clinton answer questions from people in St. Louis.

I hope that there will be fact checkers there to stop candidates from lying. Perhaps the moderator could have a kill switch for the microphones.

Fact checking would save thousands of viewers the cost of replacing their TV sets when they throw stuff at the TV in outraged frustration.

Hurricanes in Florida? Yes, and people will without fail, wait till the last minute to prepare.

Why don’t Floridians have storm shutters on their houses and businesses anymore like they had for the previous 400 years?

How about something to collect rainwater instead of buying bottled water when they get more plywood and nails each year to cover their unprotected by storm shutters windows? 

After all there will be plenty of free fresh water falling relentlessly from the sky to satisfy even the thirstiest family's water needs.

Luckily for some of them, my brother Jerry, (a certified FEMA estimator), will probably be there soon to help them get funds to rebuild their homes and businesses again, (without storm shutters or rainwater collection devices, no doubt).

Today’s Video;

On The Good Ship Planet Earth

Shady Deal?

My Bank And Me

I am wondering about the trustworthiness of my bank. I have a credit card account that I use to buy things I feel I need at the moment.

There are reasons why small loans like this work for me.

• By the time I would have saved up for the item, it’s usefulness would be diminished by the time I could buy it.
• Opportunities usually require immediate action and I can budget monthly payments.
• Having the right tools for the the task that has presented itself is essential.
• There is a limit to how much money a person retired on social security can have in savings before one loses benefits.

From 1995 to 2014 I had the good fortune of a mentor and financial manager who trained me to be punctual and responsible with bills and loan payments. (She was a good piano player, too) She oversaw my finances and acted as a loan officer providing interest free loans, if I made a good case for the amount and repayment was always regular and on time.

When I became my own CFO, I opened a credit card account with the bank to provide the additional funds that are sometimes needed for expenses beyond rent and food. This is okay, though the annual percentage is obviously more than the 0% I had been accustomed to.

So here I am, knowing exactly where I stand with my credit card debt. I pay a little more than the minimum monthly payment and the amount I owe gets smaller each month.

Offers associated with my bank appear now and then. They tell me I can  borrow money at lower interest to pay off high interest credit card balances. This raises warning flags in my mind.

I ask myself the question; “Why would the bank encourage me to take a low interest loan to pay off my card when the bank is already making money on my monthly payments for the balance owed?” Why haven’t they been using that same low interest rate on the card?

If I were to take out another loan to pay the one I have budgeted for seems like some kind of shady business. I can’t get the idea out of my head that if I did this extra loan thing, I would somehow end up with more payments a month than I can afford.

I don’t think this loan offer is out of the goodness of their heart. Thanks but no thanks.

Today’s Video;

The Loan Banker Rides A Gain

Terrorists Under The Bed

Donald Drumpf’s Campaign of Fear

To cause fear is to terrorize.

Nice Tuesday at Shasta Dam

America’s most frightening terrorist is Donald Drumpf.

His deplorable followers and the media are responsible for spreading those fears.

For years, media has been amplifying Drumpfs message of hate your neighbors.

Happy driveway rose

Terrorists don’t have to send armadas of ships and warplanes to vanquish enemies...

They just have to blow up a cooking pot or shoot a bunch of people they don’t like.

Then Donald Drumpf will tweet and call in to CNN to complain that Obama is letting Syrians, Iranians, Mexicans, Asians, and Africans into our country so they can kill us all.

Mount Shasta as seen from Lake Shasta on Tuesday

“They’re pouring in all over our borders to kill you and Obama is doing nothing to stop them”, Drumpf shouts.

His fearmongering bullshit is broadcast and reprinted day in and day out, 24/7.

Another happy driveway rose

The most powerful weapon terrorists have is fear.

Beautiful day at the lake

Our fear is diminishing freedom in America.

We are vanquishing ourselves with our fear of “the other”.

Mine on a lakeside hill

Want to feel safer and more secure? Turn off cable news and talk radio for starters.

Love your neighbor and respect yourself

Sexist Behavior Continues Unchecked

Women Still Not Treated As Equal

The latest example comes as Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton leaves a 911 memorial program early because she doesn’t feel good.

Cue the right wing conspiracy machine, again. Tabloid headlines become major media “stories” filled with supposition. Her opponent, fake billionaire misogynist deadbeat Donald Trump, tweets “she’s unfit to be president” and other unsubstantiated stuff. Breaking news on Fox and CNN have her at death’s door.

At least the soap opera dialogue has moved on from her underestimation of the % of deporables in Trump’s basket. Polls reveal that the number of racists, misogynists and right wing extremists is a larger portion than half of Trump’s supporters.

What got my goat was reading the updated reports after her doctor stated that Hillary has been taking antibiotics since Thursday to treat pneumonia.

I can specifically recall being on tour, singing at various west Texas high schools while taking antibiotics for “walking” pneumonia. (at least that’s what they called it back then) If she is giving speeches and making appearances, her bout of pneumonia is not the life and death event that the headlines claim.

If you have ever taken antibiotics, you may have discovered that being in the hot sun does not make you feel good while taking them. I know this from personal experience. Some of you know this. Some doctors even advise you to stay out of the sun. That would explain everything to every ones satisfaction, if she were a man.

However, I just read a BBC bulletin that stated this;

Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington

“George HW Bush once vomited on a Japanese prime minister. His son fainted in the White House after nearly choking on a pretzel. Franklin Roosevelt hid his serious health conditions, and John F Kennedy never spoke of his debilitating back condition.” (Link to source)

He then goes on to write how worrisome it is that Hillary has pneumonia and how that may make people feel she is unfit to be president when they vote in November.

WTF! If she were a man, they would be writing about how brave and strong he is for getting back out on the job after a short rest.

Today’s Video;

People with clenched fists can not shake hands.

~ Indira Gandhi ~

A Good Day

Only 107 Today

Red with background greenery

A few of tonight’s images were sized for this blogspot location a week or so ago. Since this blog is a time machine, you could be seeing it in the daytime or next year though I am writing what you are reading at a different time - it can become a circular trap if one thinks about it too much.

Gypsy Rose rose

This is the last week for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. It is/was on Comedy Central where 800,000 viewers weren’t enough to keep it in the lineup. It was a good show. One of the shows I somewhat regularly watch on the internet.

Rose and light post

I received a republican voter survey from the RNC last week. I completed it. I also corrected the misleading sentence structure on some of the multiple choice questions and pointed out those that were based on false or disproven information. Then I stuck on a stamp and mailed it in.

One of the CDF water bombers on the Oasis fire

I am sure they didn’t mean to ask loaded questions in a survey of republican voters, so they will probably thank me and send out new surveys. (Note to Mr Trump; “That is what is known as sarcasm”)

Damselfly or darning needle

The fire bomber image is from this evening and the Damselfly is from this afternoon by the mail room. So I have compressed 8 days into this one post. A time machine for sure.

CDF plane on way to airport during moonrise

Sometimes, if I take enough pictures, I will get lucky.

So it was today. At least my today. This blog being a time machine tends to mess with the actual time, based upon when you are reading it. Time and place becomes even more curious if I am one of the future readers. I think I will quit while I am ahead of myself.

Today’s Video;

Be Kind