Anonymous

I apologize if I offended anyone who does allow anonymous comments. There is a place for them. sometimes for entertainment value. Sometimes for free speech. I guess what bugs me the most is that because I am computer literate, those who arent seem to think its my civic duty to help them with all their ridiculuous computer problems free of charge. Sorry I cant do that. I would be happy to help friends but do you ask a mechanic on the street how to drive you f*ing car? Most of the time they f*ed up their own damn computer so why the hell should I help them. Sure I like to help FRIENDS but not morons in blogdom who think I owe it to them. Especially when they challenge me.

Jerks

I just deleted most of my other blogs. I wasnt monitoring them and some anonymous dickhead decided to say I was unChristian because I didnt respond to what looked like comment spam to me.

Back then I didnt have the sense not to allow anonymous comments.

Church of Stop Shopping

I been hearing about Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping. He has a movie called What would Jesus Buy. Some find him blasphemous. I havent seen the movie but I find the idea intriguing. If we can, we may go up to Portland to see this movie sometime this weekend. Thats as close as it gets to here. at least for now. If you want to know more, its

http://www.revbilly.com/

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I am thankful for:

My relationship with God
My wife
My family (parents etc)
My dog

The fact we have a place to live.

That I dont have to work today

That I have a job to not have to go to today.

That I am reasonably safe

That compared to most of the world, I am filthy rich

May you have a safe and happy day

Christmas

Ok since I am a Christian I should be all happy joy joy about Christmas right. Nope. Here is the deal. Here is what I have a problem with. Dec 25 is generally a nice quiet day but...

People seem to see the need to become small talking social animals this time of year. For Gods sake. its cold, rainy (or snowy depending on where you are) and dark all the time. This is the time of year that people should hibernate not socialize. I am an introvert. That doesnt mean I am super shy. I relate well to people I like in small groups. I can even speak in front of crowds but I cant stand being superficially nice at parties with people I really cannot stand. Work parties are the worst. I get along with co workers but for the most part, I dont want to know them well. I have made friends at every job I have been at. But not with the whole group.

My other big problem is Christmas music. It sucks. Makes me naucious. Triggers me into some hideous childhood memory. I can be in a great mood and if I hear Jingle Bell F'ing rock, its depression city for hours.

The whole Christian aspect. I have read the Bible many times and if you can show me where Jesus said "Celebrate my birthday and give gifts to one another". If you can show me that, I will dress up like santa claus and spray whipped cream and hawaiian punch on my head and go to work that way. What the hell does the fat man have to do with Christ? Just call it Walmart appreciation day or bow down to the gods of retail profit margins. WTF???

People talk about putting Christ back in Christmas. I say take him out. Christmas is an abomination (man I love using that word) to what Jesus taught. Its a holiday glorifying and worshipping the love of money. I dont even think Jesus was born in December. Christmas was a pagan holiday long before Christ came to earth. You cant put Christ back in. He was never in it to begin with.

Christmas cheer and happiness is mostly superficial BS.

Sure I will celebrate in some way. My wife and I and probably my mom will enjoy a nice quiet day.

Its getting to the point I cannot listen to any commercial radio or watch any commercial TV because the bastardized jingles increase the risk of of a cleanup on aisle 5.

So have a happy 4th quarter profit day. May the execs in your company get fatter at your expense. May the almighty dollar be exalted. May the Chinese sweat shop elves make more toys for your brats. May you trample many in your quest for a PS3 or whatever the hell you want.

"God money Ill do anything for you"

"Bow down before the one you serve. Your going to get what you deserve"

Now was that a rant or what. If you dont see my sarcasm then you may be offended. Otherwise it should be a good laugh.

HAVE A MERRY CAPITALISM (uhh Christmas) SEASON

If you are a Christian, find some other day and spend time with Christ.

In all seriousness. I am not Ebenezer Scrooge. I believe in doing good things. You know Peace on Earth good will to men (and women) . Oh wait. Jesus said that. Man that dude said a lot of cool stuff. And to think. I thought Walmart invented all those sayings.

ENJOY. I will shut up now

Ubuntu

You may have heard of Ubuntu as a Linux distribution. In fact Ubuntu is the operating system I am running right now as I type. I love Linux. Yes its weird and less compatible but its the ONLY OS that is free and supports creativity not corporate greed. There is no bottom line. Ubuntu is not a company. Linux is not a company. Linus Torvalds doesnt make a red cent off this free OS. which I must say has proven to be more stable than Windows has been, Especially Vista. I wont debate the Mac people. after all Mac OS is Darwin Linux under the hood. Lets not go there.

Anyway, Ubuntu is more than an OS. The OS is named after the African Philosophy. Basically it is a philosophy of community and doing good to one another. Many people say Jesus had Ubuntu (of course he ran the Christian Edition. LOL> Only real geeks will get that reference). Anyway. Here is what I found about the Ubuntu philosphy as described by Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Here is what Nelson had to say:

A traveller through our country would stop at a village, and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but Ubuntu has various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not enrich themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to improve?

Here is what Desmond said:

A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.

I think the OS is in the spirit of Ubuntu but I believe if the world practiced Ubuntu it would be a better place. I plan to research this more. I find it intriguing. It kind of does go along with the words of Jesus "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". You may have heard that even if you arent a Churchgoer. its known as the Golden Rule. Some people would say it as what goes around comes around.

Anyway just my weird thoughts of the day. Be blessed.

Metolius Pics

The Metolius just down from its source. A beautiful tranquil spot, Mt Jefferson in the distance. An active volcano. Though it hasnt erupted lately (like 100s of years)












The head of the Metolius. Literally I turned around from the other pic. It just starts as a river from this spring











The Metolius River about a mile downstream from the head. This is near Camp Sherman, Oregon












Now a quick political plug. The area around this river is privately owned. Vote YES on Measure 49 to make sure it stays the way it is. That is if you are an Oregon registered voter

I got away

I got what I needed yesterday. A few hours away from this place. We went over the mountains to the head of the Metolius River and Camp Sherman. A few weeks ago I heard about this place while listening to NPR. It sounded like a little piece of heaven. That wasnt far off. A beautiful stream in a pine forest that comes out of a mountain as a river. In the distance a snow capped peak. so quiet that when the dog barked it echoed thru the air.

I did take pics. I just need to get them off the camera. I will post them.

If you get a chance, I highly recommend goign there. You can hear yourself think. Though dont tell too many people. I dont want it to become touristy.

I am much more at peace now.

Now the big question, what do I want to be when I grow up? hmmmm

Election Rambling

So all I hear about on progressive radio and NPR is election election election. Keep in mind the election is a year away.

Anyway a few things. I am tired of voting for Tweedledum or Tweedledee. The lesser of two evils. Vote for this one cause that ones worse.

I listened to James Dobson today (quite by accident). I cannot stand him but I admire the fact that he is so firm in what he believes that he is actually encouraging the religious right to vote for a third party if Rotten Rudy or any other pro-choice candidate gets the nomination for the GOP. I dont agree with him on much but this guy has the balls to say the lesser of two evils is not good enough.

Also Dobson may fracture the GOP which would cause a democrat to win and I like that. Well maybe

Personally I think many progressives are ready to nominate Hillary just because they feel she can win the election against Rotten Rudy or Mitt the Mormon. I think Hillary says some good things but her plan for health care is abysmal. She is a corporatist republocrat. We deserve better. So I urge you:

Register democrat if you live in a closed primary state like Oregon. Vote for who you think would be the best president, not who you think can win. I am voting for Kucinich.

I am a registered Green but I am going to re register as a dem so I can vote for Kucinich in the primary. Then I will register Green again.

This lesser of two evils mentality is ruining our country. If Hillary wins then we will have two families having controlled the white house for over 20 years. How is that a reflection of the American people.

Way to go Dobson. You have fractured the GOP. Now maybe someone other than Hillary can win so now progressives, do something. Dont put up with th lesser of two evils. The lesser of two evils is still evil.

Now as far as Obama. I think he would be better than Hillary just for the sheer fact that he is not a Clinton or a Bush. I dont trust him either. He seems to be mroe of a corporatist than a real person.

Perspective

I have come to the conclusion that part of my depression is that I am expecting too much. I became depressed because I cannot find the Perfect Church like I posted about earlier. I became depressed because the democrats are more like "republocrats" and are corporate fakes too. I became depressed because I want to change the world and feel like as one person said like I am hurling toothpicks at a monster. I became depressed because my new job though much better than my last is still at a for-profit corporation and the bottom line is all that matters. They will do the same evil things other corps do.

I cannot look at things like this anymore. I will get severely depressed. Perhaps the problem is I expect perfection or better yet demand it. Maybe I should look at the good things and try to do my part to change what I can. I dont want to say I cant do anything so I will just be ignorant and content. There has to be some middle ground.

I hope though it may not happen to go to the Metolius river in Central Oregon and try to get some peace and perspective.