We try and sometimes we fail and we try again.
Category: Touchy Subjects
The things that should never be discussed much less published by non-professionals.
The largest terrorist organization ever was an American group
Having grown up familiar with this terrorist group, I forget that our children may be completely unaware.
Questions of a Wanna Be Buddhist
As I explore a topic, I generate questions. I often record these questions in a notebook. As I explore Buddhism, I am recording my questions here.
At SGI-USA I have read about the Gohonzon which lends a bit of an answer to question 3 "when can I chant?" and specifically "can I chant while cooking bacon?" The Gohonzon is a replica of the scroll on which Nichiren Daishonin inscribed Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and his signature. The Gohonzon is used as a focal point for daily practice or gongyo. Further answering question 3:
The Japanese word gongyo literally means "assiduous practice." The practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and recite portions of both the second (Expedient Means) and the sixteenth (Life Span) chapters of the Lotus Sutra in front of the Gohonzon. This is the fundamental practice of Nichiren Buddhism, performed morning and evening. [Source, Soka Gakkai Interational-USA, Gongyo]
Question 8: Does chanting have to be aloud or in a crowded space is it sufficient to chant silently within your head? Based on my own experience, I would say either is acceptable but chanting out loud is more effective.
Who is cousin Roofoo? (okay..that one was a joke) Kosen-rufu means to spread widely. "[Shakyamuni Buddha] meant that the spread of the Mystic Law would bring about peace in society and nature." [Source, SGI Library Online, kosen-rufu]
Questions of a Wanna Be Buddhist
I’ve had an eclectic spiritual upbringing. My father was Catholic and my mother was Southern Baptist. My family moved every 3-4½ years and I thought this nomadic pattern would continue after I graduated from UT but Knoxville grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. So our church pattern, if I recall correctly, after moving to a new city we would not go to church for about a year, then my folks would start shopping churches which felt like a year long process of visiting various churches (although we never tried a synagogue, Greek Orthodox, or Mormon church), then we would spend about a year in a particular church, usually Presbyterian or Methodist, before moving onto another city and repeating the pattern. In college, I had a roommate who was a practicing Wiccan and religious studies major and one of my best friends was Mormon. We had some very interesting conversations. One particularly memorable one involved a chalkboard, a figurine from Disney World that we named Jaboody – Decider of Fates, and Purgatory. In short, I’ve been exposed to a lot of different views regarding religion and spirituality.
Awhile back I thought I’d learn a little about Buddhism and read a book (which has gone awol so I cannot reference it right now) that described Buddism from a historic perspective, discussed the different branches, and defined terms. Shortly after reading that book, I became involved with Seesmic as one of its first 1200 users for alpha testing. Also in that group of early adopters was someone named Jason Jarrett. After some fun conversations, I noticed his profile referenced a website called A Buddhist Podcast which sounded interesting and I clicked over. Jason and Karen Jarrett produce a wonderful podcast. They are well spoken, fun to listen to, have great content and a well formatted show. However, I’m not sure if at that time in my life the show would have grabbed me and held onto me had it not been for clicking into a reading of The Buddha, Geoff and Me
Question 1: So what is Buddhism about? I like Jason Jarrett’s words:
Buddhism is about revitalizing humanity, and transforming the world we live in from one dominated by greed, anger, and stupidity into one of peace and happiness. [Source, Jason Jarrett of A Buddhist Podcast, A Buddhist Podcast – Bodhisattvas of the Earth, 2:46-2:58]
The Soka Gakkai International-USA explains that the daily practice of Nichiren Buddhism involves faith, practice and study. So far, I’ve learned how to chant..sort of. I have a long way to go to get to the study part. My understanding of Buddhism has come almost solely from A Buddhist Podcast. For me, Jason Jarrett has made an incredibly positive impression of Buddhism. He flabbergasted me and even offered to make an international call to me one day. I was blown away because it felt like Harrison Ford offering to call me out of the blue and discuss how to be an actor in Hollywood. I just didn’t see how I could be worthy of his time and felt guilty at the possibility of causing him the expense of a call for something that I potentially was just trying on for size. I’ve since learned, that’s kind of how it works. I’m not describing a conversion to a religion but more of sharing of knowledge in a way similar to how Stephen R Covey would encourage you to teach time management to others
Update: The kind people at SGI Knoxville have contacted me. There is an active chapter in Knoxville.
Question 2: Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy? If I recall correctly, the book which I cannot seem to lay hands on right now referred to Buddhism as a philosophy. However, Jason Jarrett and Karen Jarrett and their guests have referred to Buddhism as a religion. So that leads me to part a of question 2: Does it matter? and part b of question 2: Can a Baptist, Native American, Jew, Muslim, Catholic, Atheist, Wiccan, or anyone of any other religion also be a Buddhist? (and again, does it mater?)
Question 3: When can I chant? I started trying to learn to meditate at an early age. In my early teens I read book after book on hypnosis and self-hypnosis hoping for some means of reaching a deeper calm. I never could seem to figure out how to meditate through any process. That’s not entirely true. I’ve always been able to escape with juggling. I have often spoken of juggling as a transcendental and spiritual activity for me. Through juggling I can lose myself into a very meditative state but that’s often a sweaty process and I wanted some om’s and ah’s in my life! Nichiren Buddhism introduced me to chanting Daimoku and it came very naturally for me. As a matter of fact, this method of chanting is so straight forward that my 6 year old girl picked it up and often asks me to chant with her as she drifts off to sleep. My 3 year old boy has participated too. Chanting Daimoku works for me. It calms my mind, focuses my thoughts, center or grounds me, and I do feel happier when chanting. Daimoku is a Buddhist prayer made up of 6 syllables in these words "nam-myoho-renge-kyo." The wikipedia article gives a technical interpretation by I like Jason Jarrett’s plain English version better:
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the Buddhist prayer that means I dedicate my life to bringing out the very best in myself and in all people. [Source, Jason Jarrett of A Buddhist Podcast, A Buddhist Podcast – Bodhisattvas of the Earth, 24:17-26:12]
I keep that written in a notebook that I carry with me at all times. When I slip, I look at that note as a reminder. Amy, on her own accord, has done the same (although technically her notebook remains by her bedside). So, now that we know what chanting is, when can I do it? Can I chant while cooking bacon? Is Buddhism a PETA thing? The stereotypes in my mind say Buddha Vegan while The Buddha, Geoff and Me tear down those impressions. Can I chant while driving the car? My cluttered mind loves a drive. Yes, I should be paying attention to the road and not running through the mazes in my brain. Chanting while driving down the road could help me focus on the road more by driving off those random thoughts. Or, does chanting require a specific time, in front of an alter in a distraction free quiet space?
Question 4: If I use Buddhism to seek happiness, do I have to fire my therapist? I would say I have easily spent ¾ of my life soul searching. I would say that despite having a life full of joyful moments, I have been fundamentally unhappy, and downright angry, that same ¾ of my life. If you had a Buddhist teacher (see question 5), at what point does it become abusive to that person’s time to have them try to help you onto a path of happiness and shouldn’t they just throw up their arms and shout out, "Get on prozac. Get a psychologist. And call me in the morning!" Honestly, I struggle to keep myself in check and not over bemoan my existence to my friends. I often re-read Reality Me and think that I should have handed the keys to the blog to someone else for that week. Where’s the line between seeking spiritual enlightenment and grasping at straws in hopes someone else will magically solve your problems?
Question 5: Where’s Mr Miyagi or Caine? As a child I was a Bruce Lee fan and a David Carradine (Kung Fu) fan. My Of Grasshoppers posts are a bit of an homage to Kung Fu. I loved the martial arts movies. One of the consistent elements of these movies that I liked (besides the fighting and awesome stunts) was the master, the teacher, the wizened sage like Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid. I always hoped such a mystic would sneak into my life. In hindsight, I knew several Caines and Mr. Miyagis. Even today, they surround me but I won’t realize this until tomorrow. Does learning Buddhism require a teacher?
Question 6: What about me has to change to practice Buddhism? Must I give up possessions? What about the things I find pleasurable in life? Do my views on life and death have to change?
our view of death has a profound affect on how we view life. If we think we only have one life then we are often hedonistic or pessimistic. [Source, Twitter, @jasonjarrett]
Question 7: When can you declare yourself a Buddhist? I’ve never been clear on question regardless of what the last word is. When can you declare yourself a Catholic? When can you declare yourself a Wiccan? When can you declare yourself _____? Is there a test? Do you even have to say you are a Buddhist? Can’t you simply be practicing Buddhism? How do you become a member of the Soka Gakkai International? I don’t see a join us form on the website or a purchase membership option.
I’ll stop there. This has been far too many words for most people to read but then again this post is mostly directed to me. My next post on Buddhism has already begun being written in my mind. It will be titled I don’t have the strength or discipline to be a Buddhist.
Update: Question 8 has its own post.
Speaking of marriage…
Apparently this is an ad on the back of Kentucky’s Leo Weekly.
10 breasts, not 64 boobs
It took a lot of staring, but after careful consideration, I believe there are 5 women, not 32, in the naked women with chainsaws cutting down trees picture. When I first looked at the picture, for some reason I didn’t see their boots.
32 naked women with chainsaws
As a Scout leader, one of my biggest concerns for the young scouts is accidentally running into 32 naked women cutting down trees (NSFW). No child should witness the horror of a healthy tree being killed!
Update: After careful consideration, I believe there are only 5 women in this picture.
US could insure everyone by reducing bureaucracy
By adopting Canada’s system of administration, the cost savings would allow all uninsured people in the United States to have medical care.
USA wastes more on health care bureaucracy than it would cost to provide health care to all of the uninsured … Administrative expenses will consume at least $399.4 billion out of total health expenditures of $1,660.5 billion in 2003. Streamlining administrative overhead to Canadian levels would save approximately $286.0 billion in 2003, $6,940 for each of the 41.2 million Americans who were uninsured as of 2001. This is substantially more than would be needed to provide full insurance coverage. [Source, Medical News TODAY]
The benefit to the single payer plan is the reduced overhead and associated costs of managing the health care system. France has issues but it may be a better model for the US health care system.
The American health care model, [Houston native Jennifer Hua] says, is too expensive and too insecure. France offers her family good medical treatment, better insurance, more convenience and no worries about how to pay medical bills if her husband’s job changes.
French model encourages people to put health ahead of economic anxiety.
As America seeks a better way to provide medical care, France offers an example of a system where everyone has government-provided, basic health insurance – citizens and immigrants alike. Expenses for such chronic illnesses as cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis are covered entirely by the state so patients can focus on treatment rather than financial ruin.
[Source, Dallas News, Is French health system a model for U.S.?]
I personally think I’d live longer and contribute more to our society if I wasn’t constantly worrying about how I will be able to pay for my family’s health care. The worry makes me more ill than anything else.
Lovin’ the black censor bar!
When I posted I’m moving to France! I saw today’s post in the comments. Btw, if you haven’t watched I’m moving to France!, go do it now and for added fun start both videos at the same time!
Today’s video reminds me of college for some reason. These people are so happy! I bet there’d be no terrorism if more people played with the black censor bar. The guy in the cowboy hat at the end of the video is my new hero!
The BPA – Toe Jam Featuring David Byrne & Dizzee Rascal
Uploaded by TheBrightonPortAuthority – See the latest featured music videos.
(I replaced this fuzzy Youtube video with the much clearer DailyMotion video that appears to actually be placed by The BPA)
This is the "Toe Jam" video by Fatboy Slim featuring David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal. I find it altogether too amusing. When I first discovered this one there were just over 6000 views. It’ll be interesting to see how fast those numbers grow.
Update: Some information about this hit video from the Fall of 2008. The Toe Jam song was released July 15, 2008 by The BPA (Brighton Port Authority an alias for musician Norman Cook who is better known as Fatboy Slim. I am becoming a Fatboy Slim fanboy as I was in awe of his Weapons of Choice video featuring Christoper Walken. Toe Jam is a collaboration with David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal. The video is directed by Keith Schofield (Keith Haverbrooks, Eric Schoman and Jeff Mayfield). The Toe Jam song lives on the I Think We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
The BPA also ran a contest which ended March 1, 2009 allowing people to download the Toe Jam song and make their own videos as a promotion for their album release. Although the contest has ended, Toe Jam is still available for download.
Internet has ruined nudity!
The human form, particularly the female form, is beautiful! All shapes sizes colors. It doesn’t matter. They hang in our art galleries, appear in photographic journals, hang on the walls of our homes (most fun thing to say at a friend’s house “so, is that your wife?” answer “yes”), are used in advertisement, sculptures, and so many other places. Nudity is art. I think religion was first to try to ruin the human body. Granted, some Pagan religions actually celebrate nudity. But the Internet succeeded where religion failed. How? Religion made it taboo and that raises curiosity actually making the forbidden object/fruit/alcohol/drug more desirable. The Internet threw it in our faces making it meh.
When I was a child to understand the human body, you had to sneak a peek at your friend’s father’s 2 or 3 adult magazines (if you could find them), or squint your eyes at the fuzz on the scrambled Playboy channel (how do you think The Magic Eye pictures
What brought me here today? A leg cramp. Last night my left calf spasmed nearly bringing tears to my eyes. I sat up in bed and grabbed my leg pressing my palm hard against the muscle. I tried stretching the muscle and relaxing the muscle, pointing the toes down and up, and it laughed in my face and wriggled beneath my palm as if infested with a thousand alien worms. I needed water and a banana. This seemed to go on forever and deemed a post. I sought a picture to accompany the post by Googling calf muscle. Clicked a link (NSFW). And uttered these words aloud: Oh, I like the bridge! Apparently, I now see dolphins again.
H1N1 Swine Flu Map
UPDATE! The maps are now being updated at http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/ and the embedded maps below are no longer being updated.
Remember, wash your hands frequently. Avoid public places until this passes. What will you buy in preparation for the swine flu? Be sure to follow djuggler on Twitter.
View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map
View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map
Map Legend: Pink markers are suspected cases, Purple markers are confirmed cases, if there is no black dot someone has died, yellow markers indicate tests came back negative. Map created by Niman of Biomedical Research in Pittsburgh, PA USA.
See also: HealthMap – Global disease alert map. Mashable explains how to track swine flu online.
Update: US declares public health emergency for swine flu
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. declared a public health emergency Sunday to deal with the emerging new swine flu, much like the government does to prepare for approaching hurricanes. [Source, CourierPress/Associated Press]
Update: U.S. prepares for possible swine flu epidemic as global cases rise
(CNN) — The United States stepped up preparations for a possible swine flu epidemic, and Canada confirmed its first cases on Sunday as researchers worked to determine how contagious the virus could be. [Source, CNN Health]
Update: Swine flu: Twitter’s power to misinform
Update: Another map which actually shows the number for each area affected. The data is by The Guardian and looks to be lagging behind Niman who just really seems to be on top of it.
Update 27Apr2009: Swine Flu in Mexico Linked to Poorly Managed Factory Farms
Investigations now reveal that the swine flu epidemic that began in Mexico and spread worldwide is probably connected to pollution caused by unsanitary pig breeding farms in the region. [Source, ecoworldly, Swine Flu in Mexico Linked to Poorly Managed Factory Farms]
Update 28APR2009: Swine flu creates controversy on Twitter (I don’t agree with the tone of this article. To me it sounds like John D. Sutter doesn’t get Twitter.)
CNN has a map!
The World Health Organization on Monday raised its pandemic alert … from level three to level four on the WHO’s six-level threat scale means the world body has determined the virus is capable of significant human-to-human transmission — a major step toward a flu pandemic [Source, CNN, WHO raises pandemic alert level; more swine flu cases feared]
Update: Obama Seeks to Ease Fears on Swine Flu – "the president said there was ‘not a cause for alarm.’"
Swine Flu in Mexico- Timeline of Events
The dirty farm in Mexico which is the apparent source of the flu is 50% owned by American company Smithfield.
Update: Sebastian blogs from Mexico.
Update: Interesting sickness tracker based upon Twitter references: Knoxville, Nashville, and USA. Thanks to Michael Silence and Ben Cunningham of Taxing TN for the link.
New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden reports many hundreds of school children sick with suspected cases of Swine Flu.
Update: Cuba closes borders to travel from Mexico. Swine Flu
Update: First person in Mexico with Swine Flu identified.
Seen on a bumper sticker
Based upon this, I’d say I’m very spiritual.
A religious person is a someone who is afraid of Hell; a spiritual person has been there and back.
In fact, I’m so spiritual I keep going back for more!
Let’s Talk Tea
I was going to sit this one out but there has been so much misinformation on the Tea Parties that I feel compelled to make some commentary. Let’s discuss these things:
- I love protests even if I disagree with you
- Do you really know what the hell teabagging is?
- Bob Krumm is wrong.
- The Boston Tea Party was not about eliminating or reducing taxes.
I love protests!
First off, I love a good fight. I love a good cause. And I’ll step up for my beliefs. I am an activist and happy to live in America where I have that right. I respect your right to fight for your beliefs even when I disagree with you and if I choose to protest your protest I am not saying you don’t have the right to express your views, I am just offering an opposing view (which also happens to be a freedom of speech).
Do you remember all the protests under George W Bush? Probably not because when they happened, the protesters were cordoned off away from the main activity and the press was limited in their ability to report.
Free speech zones were used in Boston at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. The free speech zones organized by the authorities in Boston were boxed in by concrete walls, invisible to the Fleet Center where the convention was held and criticized harshly as a “protest pen” … Reporters are often barred by local officials from displaying these protesters on camera or speaking to them within the zone.[Source, Wikipedia, Free speech zone]
Granted, free speech zones are not a new development. They have existed since the 1960s but were most heavily used by George W Bush’s administration.
For the record, I will not be participating in today’s Tea Parties nor will I be counter protesting. Quite frankly, I find it rather amusing that so many people are eagerly running around declaring they’ll be participating in a mass orgy of strangers plopping their nuts on each other’s faces. And that brings me to my next question.
Do you really know the definition of teabagging?
Last week I beat around the bush about the meaning of teabagging. I am betting that many of the protesters have missed the double entrendé. I think it is time to be direct.
Teabagging is a slang term for the act of a man placing his scrotum in the mouth or on or around the face (including the top of the head) of another person, often in a repeated in-and-out motion as in irrumatio. The practice vaguely resembles dipping a tea bag into a cup of tea. [Source, Wikipedia, Teabagging]
This is a vile, demeaning image and not a term that should be thrown around in mixed company and splattered all over the news in such a way that children are compelled to learn and teach their peers its meaning.
I was very vocal about my disagreement with George W Bush and my belief that his administration was causing long term damage to this country. My words and thoughts are immortalized in this online publishing. Although I was harsh on GW, I do not think I did anything to disparage the office of the presidency. And I will strike that out the moment someone reminds me with a link to something I wrote. We are a democracy and even though our favorite candidate does not always get into office, that person IS still the president of our country and deserves certain respects. I do not think it speaks highly of someone to say you want to put your balls on the face of the president. I do not think that speaks highly of your country!
Bob Krumm is wrong.
Bob Krumm wrote "There is no high-profile Farrakhan-type organizer or a well-funded Brady Campaign organization behind today’s protests" but Lee Fang has documented that corporate lobbyists are the driving force behind the Tea Parties as a Anti-Obama mechanism specifically Freedom Works (the GOP version of MoveOn) and Americans for Prosperity.
Despite these attempts to make the "movement" appear organic, the principle organizers of the local events are actually the lobbyist-run think tanks Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works. The two groups are heavily staffed and well funded, and are providing all the logistical and public relations work necessary for planning coast-to-coast protests. [Source, Think Progress, Spontaneous Uprising? Corporate Lobbyists Helping To Orchestrate Radical Anti-Obama Tea Party Protests]
Jane Hamsher at The Huffington Post has more explanation and commentary about the lobbyists. Momocrats has this video (note the testicular image behind the reporter) which flat out says "Not a spontaneous uprising. The people who came up with it are a familiar circle of Republicans including Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey."
They oppose Mr. Obama’s tax rates which will be lower for most of them and they oppose Mr. Obama’s tax increases for the rich whose taxes will skyrocket to about 10% less than it was under Reagan. [Source, Youtube, David Shuster GOP Going Nuts For Teabagging, But They Need A Dick Armey]
The Boston Tea Party was not about eliminating or reducing taxes.
I’m hearing people, even relatives, spout of various reasons for the Tea Parties. No one seems to be on the same base. Momocrats is also trying to figure it out. Mostly I have heard people say they do not want their taxes increased and have tried to draw a parallel to The Boston Tea Party. As the video above pointed out, The Boston Tea Party was about representation and rights.
The protest movement that culminated with the Boston Tea Party was not a dispute about high taxes. The price of legally imported tea was actually reduced by the Tea Act of 1773. Protestors were instead concerned with a variety of other issues. The familiar "no taxation without representation" argument, along with the question of the extent of Parliament’s authority in the colonies, remained prominent. Some regarded the purpose of the tax program—to make leading officials independent of colonial influence—as a dangerous infringement of colonial rights. This was especially true in Massachusetts, the only colony where the Townshend program had been fully implemented. [Source, Wikipedia, Boston Tea Party]
I also hear mutterings about Obama in his short time in office being responsible for today’s tax rates. As the video points out, this just isn’t the case.
The taxation rates that they will all be protesting are the George W Bush Republican taxation rates. [Source, Youtube, David Shuster GOP Going Nuts For Teabagging, But They Need A Dick Armey]
I think it is important to remember that TARP was a 2008 program that "allows the United States Department of the Treasury to purchase or insure up to $700 billion of "troubled" assets." That’s the mortgage bailout. The economic situation the United States faces did not start on January 20, 2009.
As you talk about the successes of your Tea Parties, please be aware that the goal of the Tea Parties is not to reduce or change taxes but to try to find a chink in the Obama armor as a means of getting the GOP back into control of the presidency in 2012.
Update: See also: Interesting discussion at Reddit- Where were the anti-tax tea parties when George Bush was wasting Billions in Iraq, on the Prescription Drug Bill, and providing handouts to Oil Companies? and Don’t Drink the Tea; Taxes Benefit Everyone.
2nd Place: “Women Were Designed For Homemaking”
Maybe the Creationists are onto something!
Jonathan Goode (grade 7) applied findings from many fields of science to support his conclusion that God designed women for homemaking: physics shows that women have a lower center of gravity than men, making them more suited to carrying groceries and laundry baskets; biology shows that women were designed to carry un-born babies in their wombs and to feed born babies milk, making them the natural choice for child rearing; social sciences show that the wages for women workers are lower than for normal workers, meaning that they are unable to work as well and thus earn equal pay; and exegetics shows that God created Eve as a companion for Adam, not as a co-worker. [Source, OBJECTIVE: Ministries, Fellowship Baptist Creation Science Fair 2001 Article by Dr. Richard Paley & FBCSF Staff]
Other winners:
- Elementary School Level
- 1st Place: "My Uncle Is A Man Named Steve (Not A Monkey)"
- 2nd Place: "Pine Cones Are Complicated"
- Middle School Level
- 1st Place: "Life Doesn’t Come From Non-Life"
- 2nd Place: "Women Were Designed For Homemaking"
- High School Level
- 1st Place: "Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria"
- 2nd Place: "Maximal Packing Of Rodentia Kinds: A Feasibility Study"
The Creation Science Fair honorable mentions are equally as great with my favorite being a tie between "Pokemon Prove Evolutionism Is False" and "Thermodynamics Of Hell Fire."
Lucky snake!
Alternative Title: Is that a tentacle growing out of my wife’s chest?!
Incase you’ve forgotten the baseball metaphors for sex they are explained at student.com and teenwire.com.
Thank you xkcd! 
