I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.

Alan Watts

Imagination is the key to my lyrics. The rest is painted with a little science fiction.

~ Jimi Hendrix

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

~ Mark Twain

Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.

~ Bradley Millar

Things do not change; we change.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Social Security does not and never has added a single dime to the federal deficit. Social Security is paid for through the payroll tax. Currently, the payroll tax raises way more money than Social Security pays out and things are projected to keep going this way for another couple of decades.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? They add to the deficit. Tax breaks for billionaires? They add to the deficit. Subsidies for big oil? They add to the deficit. Bailing out Wall Street adds a lot to the deficit.

Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.

—Juvenal

The purpose in life, then, is not the gratifying of appetites nor of any selfish desires, but it is that the entity, the soul, may make the earth, where the entity finds its consciousness, a better place in which to live.

Edgar Cayce Reading 4047-2

"More than one-third of the freshman lawmakers in the 112th Congress are millionaires, and as many as 15 are likely to rank among the richest Members of Congress this year..." don't expect any breaks for the middle class - you are NOT represented.

Never judge a book by its movie.

~ J.W. Eagan

Enjoy every sandwich.

~ Warren Zevon

To be of use to the world is the only way to be happy.

~ Hans Christian Andersen

I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.

~ Dr. Seuss

I have heard all of the other party’s talking points about “tort reform” and interstate licensing of insurance companies. They want them because the lobbyists want them. They want tort reform because the insurance companies want tort reform. They want interstate licensing because the insurance companies want interstate licensing. If the insurance companies wanted a pony, the Republican leaders would try to give them a pony. Alan Grayson

The huge deficit was a preexisting condition...

Conceive of Nothing While you live And I give you Heaven.

~ Jack Kerouac

Giffords; The Power of Propaganda and the Religion of Money

You reap what you sow....

Despite rhetoric coming from the Republican (Regressive) Party there is not an equivalence of equals in regard to the vitriol spewed by those seeking power on the so-called right, and those taking untenable positions to get elected in the face of the propaganda machine that is our corporate media.

The right wing loves their guns and they are itching to use them. The liberals are not forming militias, or even buying weapons. We don't hunt, we don't like to kill people or animals. You can disagree with our lifestyle but we don't waive guns in your face for doing so.

The right wing is violent, paranoid and threatened by those who reject their selfish, money hungry, hypocritical bible thumping versus their dog eat dog actions, every man in it for himself ways. Sorry but the religion of money is cold, heartless and quite frankly even dead wrong according to the very bible that their heroes use to get elected. That is what I find most galling. They bible thump and then commit heinous crimes, and strike heinous attitudes all in the name of the mythical lone rider that over worn western cowboy imagery that even Clint Eastwood debunked in his movie Unforgiven.

There is a news flash that everyone must get right now: the liberals, the left, the HIPPIES are NOT-NOT- represented by anyone in congress or the mainstream media.

We are quietly going on about our business trying to lead by example praying those vying for power and profit don't ruin it for the rest of us.

Some of us vote but we are not represented OR their wouldn't be subsidies to oil companies, ridiculously massive amounts of military spending, tariffs on cheaper pharmaceuticals, lower (unequal) tax rates for the hyper rich, or the massive spread of pesticides on our food, the killing of Wolves from helicopters, the gun show loophole, the 1872 mining law, the annihilation of our environment, the pollution of our water, the ruining of our health, the rise of cancer, the destruction of our forests, the destruction of our fisheries, the elimination of mid-size family farms, factory farming, American Imperialism, the demonizing of labor unions, hundreds of military bases stationed in other peoples countries, the absence of the fairness doctrine, the removal of the glass steagall act, for profit health care, and the destruction of our public educational system.

If we were represented we would have a "we" society instead of a "me" society. A society that was fairer and less violent (as the fairer societies are).

Lets have a little intellectual honesty here and use our common sense.

"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war" Albert Einstein.

So good luck justifying greed, war, poverty, ignorance, hate and hunger in this world when its completely unnecessary, counter productive and fixable if we championed fair and equitable societies. But we don't in fact we champion the opposite the rugged individual, the screw you mentality, and to hell with everyone else. Its not very considerate now is it...or what your mama taught you growing up (to share), and the homeless elderly are on the rise - what a country.

Personally I blame all the politicians for not standing up to the special interest of the profit first crowd. They could easily band together (unionize) and do the right thing but because they put themselves first (gotta get reelected) above the country as a whole we stumble and fall. Its quite pitiful actually....and like I said you reap what you sow. An age of glorifying greed and selfishness has littered our political landscape with sociopaths railing against homosexuals while secretly being one soliciting sex at a public restroom, but heck they go to church so they must be all right.

No one should be surprised that the sign that said "next time we're coming armed" was fulfilled in what six months...congratulations mankind - your ignorance is personified.

Those of us on the left are wondering when the rabid are going to calm down, recognize everyone in the world belongs, and live and let live?

But keep concentrating the wealth into the hands of the 1% since they fund the legislature it will continue unless the 1% get paranoid and realize the haves vs the have nots is whats coming next, and that they are outnumbered. But they have the armies and police force and know the (right thinking) - left - abhor violence and guns. Only minor changes will come after Gabby the gun rights activist that she claims to be heals. Education might get better and the social safety net such as it is with the mentally disabled wandering the street able to purchase guns is left in tact.

No not until WE all agree fair and equitable is the safest way to go for a better country and world will we ever straighten out the messes of the money worshipers. Until then they are running roughshod over the very idea emblazoned in our founding document...."WE" the People...is what it says not we the profit margin...the people come first.

Happy New Year!

Well I am just now getting around to wishing everyone a happy new year. It's hard to imagine that another decade has gone by and that we still have low information voters falling for the fraud they see on television. We have got to do a better job in this Country and the World by becoming a "we" society of man as opposed to a "me" society of screw you individuals. It's the root cause of all our problems.

Somewhere along the way we were sold a bunch of hokum about the rugged individual, the lone cowboy as noble but that shtick can only take a person so far. For maintiaing and creating a civilized world it is a complete failure to arm everyone and call them all sherif. It will be one big showdiown at OK Corral for Planet Earth and mankind if thats the way we go.

A society, a world needs government by the people and their representatives to have oversight of the markets, the environment and the civility. To make sure those going rouge don't try and take everything for themselves through the artificial demand for increasing profits or ruin it for the rest of us in pursuit of those individual goals and profits. Those who have set up a nice gig for themselves shouldn't get it taken away by a gun or an army but certainly called to task if their efforts are causing global, national or regional calamity - like up stream water pollution from run off or mountain top removal, oil spills, products that cause cancer or the monopolizing of markets and political power to prevent innovation and advancement for the betterment of society and the world as a whole.

Like it or not we are an integrated and connected group of individuals SHARING the Earth and its resources and developing our technologies. Our technologies must work in cohesion within the frame work of the Earth itself including all the animals. We are now all aware of how vitally important the modest Bee is to our survival and enrichment in this existence. We can not afford to be callous towards the network called Earth itself to which we were born, and understand that only the applications that fit within the Earths framework and parameters will be successful.

I did not put this Earth here. You did not. It was here when we got here waiting for us. We can not, and no one individual can justify destroying it with reckless impunity in the name of profit, greed or the pursuit of power. We need the Earth more than the Earth needs us.

The arrogant who have clawed their way to the top as if life was a game or mountain to conquer justify destroying the Earth and each other so they can be powerful, big shots and have the kiss asses bow down to them. It's ridiculous but Government is our means of reigning those people in, catching the outlaws who are ruining it for the rest of us and enacting rules and regulations to protect our shared resources, grandma's retirement account and our general health and well being.

Remember the first lines of the Declaration of Independence are WE the People.

A We society is how we successfully negotiate this existence together. We are all in it together whether we like it or not. The false religion of money and the hysterical myths of the invisible hand of the free market and trickle down policies are elaborate justifications for a life style void of compassion but heavy on greed, violence, tyranny and bullying.

Fair and equitable societies are more peaceful, successful, healthier and more fulfilling.

This year we take another step towards a vision of peace, harmony and success for ALL. In spite of the 1% trying to hoard it all for themselves and giving us cancer in the process. There is a better way.

Happy New Year "Everyone"

If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.

~ Woodrow Wilson

He who plants a tree / Plants a hope.

Lucy Larcom

The practice of art isn't to make a living. It's to make your soul grow.

~ Kurt Vonnegut

We are all here on earth to help others.

~ W.H. Auden

Countries with wide income inequality are unstable: they have large underclasses, high rates of crime and little opportunity. It’s the corporations and the very wealthiest against all the rest us and we're loosing.

By the street of by-and-by, we arrive at the house of never.

~ Miguel de Cervantes

A.I.G. Prepares to Sell U.S. Stake With its recapitalization plan largely in place, the American International Group is looking toward the next step in regaining its independence: selling off the federal government's 92.1 percent stake in the company.

Wall Street traders discouraged by declining bonuses this month can take solace: They still earn much more than brain surgeons and four-star generals.

“Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.” - Jerry Garcia

If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a society, or whatever you need, whatever quality you need, real character, we would make an effort to really address the wrongs in this society, righteously. Jerry Garcia

America is still mostly xenophobic and racist. That's the nature of America, I think. Jerry Garcia

Beauty is whatever gives joy.

~ Hugh Nibley

Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.

~ Thomas A. Edison

My goal in life is to be a person as good as my dog already thinks I am.

~ Unknown

Animals give me more pleasure through the viewfinder of a camera than they ever did in the crosshairs of a gunsight. And after I've finished "shooting," my unharmed victims are still around for others

~ Jimmy Stewart

"The idea of wilderness needs no defense. It only needs more defenders."

–Edward Abbey, American author

It is still possible, for $21.80, to by a t-shirt that reads "we came unarmed (this time)." "There is no way to interpret that except as a threat of violence

One-day sales of handguns in Arizona jumped 60 percent on Jan. 10 ....if you get comfort from strapping on a gun you're an idiot....

What I have to say about this book can be found inside the book.

~ Albert Einstein

At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.

~ Jean Houston

When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I've finished, if the solution isn't beautiful, I know it's wrong.

~ Buckminster Fuller

Strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hands.... :)

Thank you Robin for the quotes!

You just can't beat the person who won't give up. ~Babe Ruth

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
~Dr. Seuss

Fall seven times; stand up eight. ~Japanese Proverb

Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth ~Mark Twain

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.

~ Ben Williams

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.

~ Aristotle

In your heart, you already know.

~ Zen saying