trans - texas corridor

After first viewing and crying, I had to quickly wipe away my crocodile tears. Next, I Iaughed at the irony of Our present-day situation - and finally, I created this blog. Let me start by asking readers and viewers if they can rightly recall the very same people in charge (by way of financial backing) of the original expansion into and later, of the U.S.? Hint: they belonged to the same circle of groups in charge of orchestrating this Trans-Texas corridor. Yes, those exploitative bankers and the otherwise wealthy elite. Sadly, this really is nothing new.

Perhaps we should have paid closer attention? Because, these individuals had absolutely NO qualms about stealing this country from its native inhabitants. And later settlers also had NO qualms about doing so either. This is partially because they were brainwashed into believing the Indians were the “enemy”. All the while, it was actually they who were the invaders, the terrorists, as it were. The very idea of "enemies" is often as ridiculous as defining what is art and what isn't. Because both are ever-dependent upon which side people are on. No, the privileged didn’t care about humanity then and they certainly don’t care now, because the profit & loss of money – not people - are the only things which concern this group. When are we going to wake up?

Equally as bad as the outright land stealing was the plan and implementation of prison camps. Is this sounding in any way familiar? Those natives not killed or decimated through biological warfare, were forced into submission on reservations - equal, culturally to the inhabitants forced onto them, to prisons. During which time, bankers and the political policy makers not quite owned by them as now, violated the very human rights set up by them in Our own Constitution by importing a slave labor workforce to rapidly build the U.S. into a competitive power economy. This was done in order to earn "respectable" standing at the international table in order to able to "play ball". They then freely opened Our boarders to “foreigners” - not because they wanted to create a utopia, but because they needed more labor in order to continue building the country and to secure a stronghold, whilst they acquired the rest of the country, piece-by-piece.

They enticed immigrants with free land deals and with the promise of a ‘better life”. These same settlers who came, willfully chose to take part in the extermination and in the cultural decimation of the rightful people of this country. And even though these invaders knew the land belonged to others, they chose to take it anyway. You see, people will believe what's convenient to believe – even if they know it’s a lie. Truth, after all, is more difficult to take. The sardonically amusing part about this situation is all of these angry Texans talking about losing “the land which has been in their family for 200 hundred years” are the descendants of those who originally murdered to seize the very same land. Therefore, they’re only losing the land in which their ancestors was stole in the first place.

A few phrases come to mind. One being, "What goes around comes around." The other? It's from that book many so love to read and has been often quoted, "You reap what you sow." As the veil on false sense of security we've enjoyed for some time is slowly being lifted, we must commit ourselves to some resolute plans.

Now, if Americans don’t start waking up in terrifically rapid speeds of light, there’s no for us whatsoever. But where to begin? Taking a look at the history of our own country is a good start. If we go back, we can uncover the elites’ plans for OUR future (figuring for technology, of course). By examining the treatment and continued disdain of the Native American Indians, we will start to see how they plan on taking care of the rest of us. This is one of reasons why the humane treatment of our prisoners/undesirables is imperative for a healthy society. Today it’s “those (suspected) terrorists” being mistreated and illegally tortured, tomorrow it’s you and me. We need a collective wake up call, since the last 200 years seems to have slipped by unnoticed by the majority.

The trans-Texas corridor isn’t just about erasing boarders between Canada, America and Mexico to create a North American Union. This much We know. The end game is to control the people – WE THE PEOPLE. Cutting off access to rural locations via highways and roads accomplishes several things. By squeezing the life from small townships in this manner, a forced migration of once rural people to more central locations occurs. Because rural areas - and the people in them - are difficult to reach, they are also not easily controllable. Look no further than our own Swamp Fox to understand this. If not for this rural man, some believe We would not have won our sovereignty from the British. This is but one reason why knowledge and education are also extremely important. If We don’t know / understand our past, We’re doomed to repeat the same mistakes. The difference being, the power people are learning from their mistakes and have been fine-tuning their solutions. While the majority - We The People - have preferred to remain ignorant concerning our past. It seems to be our preferred choice to take the "easy path', because it's far easier to forget or to pretend things didn’t happen, or to manipulate events, than it is to learn from mistakes, right?

The time has come for people to wake up, shake it off and to stand together, damnit. It’s not about Black vs. White vs. Hispanic; or Catholics vs. Jews; or Christianity vs. Islam; or Israeli vs. Palestinian. It’s about the Haves vs. Have-Nots’ – PERIOD. And, there are more of US than THEM – a hell of a lot more. They only have power by way of the divide and conquer module. By keeping up the divisiveness, We continue to remain ignorant and therefore are choosing to be willing pawns. We’ve turned into a rather pathetic, lazy, ignorant bunch & that’s just where they want us. Except now, We're in the very same situation as the the First People's of America just a few hundred years ago. We're no longer a nation producing anything. All of our manufacturing has been shipped overseas for more profitable gains - and the People are the only losers in this shift. If We are a nation filled with no longer useful people, what is to be? Who will buy China's junk when people have no employ, or are spending any and all discretionary monies on filling in the ever-increasing gaps of inadequate health care? Or, on fuel to fill their ecologically harmful cars? Or, on the astronomical cost of food? The empire is falling in a way that even Chicken Little can't deny.

The time has come to make some very important decisions. As ridiculously misconstrued as the history of the Civil War has gotten in the fabric of our society, the southern states had the states rights angle correct. While the arguement to protect their right to own people was misguided, they were fighting for STATES RIGHTS – granted under Our Constitution. Losing the right to gain and to keep cession from the Union thus helped begin the systematic dismantling of our nation. Because the United States was initially founded as a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy. It is baffling to think 99% of Americans falsely believe our nation to be a “Democracy”, because this is entirely incorrect. In fact, the "founding father’s" thought the very worst form of government was that of a Democracy and thus spent considerable time and effort coming up with something new and never-before-seen. That "new" was creating a Constitution as the basis for a Constitutional Republic and was truly unique. The true definition of a Democracy is almost exactly the same principal definition of Fascism. And, it was Mussolini himself who said Fascism was not aptly named. He was often quoted always a more appropriate name would be a Corporatization.This is the position from which America now stands. We are no longer a Constitutional Republic, have moved from a Democracy and are now a bona-fide Corporatacracy.

Do you think the dismantling of America's Constitution - the very basis of our governing laws - has just been one huge mistake? If one tears down the foundation upon which an entire country is based and one purposefully and systematically dumbs - down a population by mis-education and abject propagandizing for long enough, People begin to believe the lies and mis-truths. Then, the truth actually becomes a lie. Orwell said it best, “In a time of revolution, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.". Under the Constitution - and because there was never an amendment passed - We’re not supposed to pay any taxes not equally apportioned. In other words, the Federal income tax is rendered unconstitutional and is therefore Constitutionally invalid. 100% of our federal taxes go toward paying the interest on the money Our government borrows from private bankers to print our own money. End the FED time is SINCE 1913 OVERDUE! The U.S. dollar is officially fiat - and not the zippy little Italian sports car variety either, folks. The gold and silver markets are being manipulated. All the Kings horses and all the King's men soon will not be able to put dear old Humpty - Dumpty back together again.

For real CHANGE, We must demand sweeping reform. The politicians are not for the People, they're for people who own them via campaign donation$. It is my hope that through this blog, People will be inspired to create real change. We must Demand campaign finance reform! Our government is NO LONGER a government for the People, it is owned by corporate lobbyists. Demand lobby reform! Get out there and do some research of your own! Start asking yourself questions! Stop believing everything you hear in mainstream media. Create a community organization! Ask yourself why the Patriot Act - under the cover of night and secrecy - was passed with such rapid-fire expediency? The Patriot Act is certainly not protecting US, it’s protecting THEM. As a matter of fact, America is less safe since its passing than today. But this hasn't stopped Bush & co. from using it as a manipulator's ruse to systematically strip Our Constitutional Rights for Our own "protection". No, the Patriot Act allowed over 16 of our Constitutional Rights to be TAKEN – poof! Just like that. We reside in a homeland - a word not used since Adolf Hitler. The dismantling of our Constitution has been a slow, but steady operation. However, if We don’t do something – and SOON - there will be no more Constitution and we will truly live in a “Democracy”.

“The Constitution? That’s just a god damned piece of paper.” ~ George W. Bush, 2007.

But remember, without realization, “None are more helplessly enslaved than those who believe they are free.” - Goethe.

The question being, what will YOU do to make yourself part of the solution? That is the definition of a true Patriot. Enjoy!

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

wipe the slate in 2008!

Photograph: "Liberty Chess", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.

A very happy new year to all. Since this is the first post of 2008, I wanted to pass along a neat little tradition I've been practicing for almost a decade. This idea sprung from the idea of having positive reinforcement on a daily basis, in the most simple way possible. As a purveyor of things, I began by thinking about of the great stuff we use on a daily basis, without even as much as a second thought. And you might be surprised at the sheer amount. Unfortunately, in today's hustle, we often neglect to recognize simple beauty. After all, everything essentially boils down to a series of "hi's" and "byes". Some are thoughtless - others, insignificant. Some first seem trivial, then turn highly relevant. Yet, when we actually take a moment to think, a lot surprisingly "stick": the good, the bad and the ugly. Though, if we're not careful, life can quickly pass. For, it does not wait. If life's all about those "hi's and "byes", then why not try and make them the very best? Thus, rather than coming up with resolutions I'd only feel guilty about not achieving later, such as -->blog daily<-- I committed to a yearly "motto resolution", instead. This highly scientific methodology is KISS all the way. Each year's motto must rhyme with the corresponding year, while remaining short enough to fit on a mobile phone. By roughly calculating the sum total of times one opens and closes one's mobile phone on a daily...a weekly...a monthly and ... on a yearly basis, one would be surprised by how quickly the numbers add up. A positive affirmation at the ready, subconsciously helps make those "hi's" and "bye's" all the more meaningful. It really can't get more simple than this.

Photo by: Artist, Teacher, Tamelyn. Original here. Check out more of her work.

Let me tell you, the contest was fierce. Unlike previous years, 2008 afforded a bevy of possibilities. Foregoing the risk of sounding every bit the cliche INXS song, some were: Don't be Late; Try Not to Hate; Love Your Mate ... even Fornicate in 2008, were contenders.

However, while all good practices, none exactly qualify as a "life philosophy". Then, serendipity hit: "Wipe the Slate in 2008!"! Over the years, a bevy of friends, family and associates have adopted this simple positive practice and it feels as though we've stumbled onto a sort of "pay it forward" idealogy. Change is always much more manageable in small chunks. Therefore, having ability to switch it every 365, allows each practitioner to consciously breathe fresh life into every new year. Feel free to use the practice, because the more people who do, the better it gets for everyone.

With January's end's fast approaching, this year's "simple" wiping has already proven more difficult than anticipated. Then again, nobody said simple meant easy and we all know it's more than a little difficult for a leopard to change its spots. After spending the last month or so figuring out how to practice what she preaches, this leopard's already feeling spent. Wiping our slates may help to keep things simple while and practicing it can be highly rewarding, it can also prove most difficult. In this, I'm no different. I've got clutter. We all have clutter. In fact, we have entirely too much clutter. We're surrounded by and bombarded with it - whether it be physical, mental or spiritual clutter. Thus, 2008's the year I've made a commitment to de-clutter. I'm wiping it, baby! All of it! And, if feels positively de rigeur!

Interior shot of my living room. The vintage indoor swing pays homage to more simple childhood days of growing up in the south. Sitting in and swinging, immediately takes me back to more leisurely days. The fact it's now in NYC - the very epitome of a non-relaxing environment, it allows for an instant daily shake-off. I always place fresh flowers - or an art installation - on the light box table. It's the first thing one sees upon entering and the last upon leaving. The Zen wall hanging is a recycled chip board door, painted red. For more info., visit: nycloft

Fortunately, the ancient Chinese figured the formula out thousands of years ago. By brilliantly combining the laws of Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life, those feung shui Masters truly left us a gift. Don't know about you, but I'll graciously accept most help coming my way. After all, something that can't hurt, can only help. At worst, it does nothing.

So?

Photograph: "Loft Living: Zen Style", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.

Two words spring to mind. Feng shui. The phrase literally translates into English as "wind-water". In fact, early practice relied on astronomy to find correlations between humans and the universe and was thus inseparable from the political power of pre-modern China. Hum. Seems the more things change, the more they really do stay the same!

Specifically, feng shui followers practice the art of arranging objects - such as the internal placement of furniture in a space - to achieve harmony with one's environment. It's also used for choosing the most suitable place to live; for plotting a burial site - even for agricultural planning. Proponents claim practicing the principals of feng shui can aide in positive effects of health, wealth & personal relationships. To others, it's a pseudoscience.
Photograph: "Loft Living: Zen Style", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.

The goal of today's feng shui is to situate the human built environment on spots with good qi. The "perfect spot" is both a location and also an axis in time. Some areas are just not suitable for human settlement and should be left in their natural state. For all its conjecture, it really is more manageable than one might think.

With this firmly in mind, I plan on delving more deeply into the practice. However, for now, I'll leave it to another post. But, I do firmly believe all things begin and end in the home. Often, when things in our personal lives don't seem to be "working", recognizing the root of our issues is a good start. This isn't as easy as it sounds. But, by understanding what's good and what not, what needs improving and what good staying put, the next step is to conceive a firm plan to begin simplifying our lives. By wiping our collective slates, lets hope we can all begin to gain some clarification and get some peace of mind. Bit by bit, we can all move onward and upward in 2008! What will you do to Wipe your Slate?

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: WIPE, the slate in 2008!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.