May 11 2013: I like and agree with what you are saying. American Idol is un-natural. The kids that go on that show sign a contract that says they will sell their soul in trade for a shot at fame and fortune. Music is a gift offering and we go out on a limb when we ask money for it. We are then at risk of judgement of our gift (product). We commercialize everything in our society. Look at christmas for instance. What a mess it turned out to be. Here is a link to an article that touches on this subject. It is from the perspective of a night-club owner who hires live bands.
This and American Idol shows the loss of innocence; what I would call prostitution. Our society puts too much emphasis on money. We would all probably like to become millionaires in order to shed the shame of what we are forced to do when making a living. I try to keep my innocence and pride intact.
Mar 8 2013: I read a book called 'Games People Play'. The book itself seemed to be confrontational in nature but in it he described the human mind as having three 'ego states' (Parent, Adult and Child). As people interact, the ego states switch back and forth, normally in a 'healthy' dynamic no matter what ego state they are each in. He called this 'transactional analysis'. When the dynamic becomes 'unhealthy' is when someone is getting hurt (a game). There is theoretically a reward for both parties as they willingly continue this game.
What opened up my eyes later in life was the wisdom that my oldest brother told me. He said "It's one thing to become a victim in life but it is masochistic to re-live the hurt over and over again". I then related what he said to the book.
As I thought about it I realized that our parents are all very concerned about the lesson of right and wrong but what is seldom taught to us is the paradox of right and wrong which is forgiveness. How do you explain that dynamic to a child without undermining the lesson of right and wrong?
But there it is. Remaining a victim of a transgression is a game. Forgiveness is the healing cure.
If we think about a model like the middle east it possibly becomes easier to see the theory; suicide bombers becoming the ultimate victim model, masochistic and heroic like a child hoping to get it's parent's approval with rewards later to come in heaven.
Mar 6 2013: As we see the rules being bent here in LA south, maybe he will start a trend that could take over North America. It would be great for kids with the exercise, community spirit and healthier eating. Healthier food stands would be great too. I love the look of a garden. Change the status quo. We live in the north and we bought a small greenhouse (10X12) last year. We are buying another even smaller greenhouse this spring. I'm gonna include my young niece and nephew in the maintenance this summer. Last year was delightful in our garden. It was a breeze to maintain. Happy gardening.
Mar 2 2013: I like your analogy Dr. Hariharan. The sugar aspect rings true with me. Here is why.
When I was in school we studied 'populations'. We did an experiment where we put fruit flies in a jar with unlimited amount of food (honey). We counted the fruit flies (living) everyday and presented the data on a graph. The shape of the graph was an exponential curve (X=Y squared) starting with 2 fruit flies and curving upwards in a dramatic increase until one day there were suddenly no fruit flies. The reason why they all died suddenly was pollution. We were told that other experiments with various living things had the same results: exponential population growth ending in sudden and complete death.
Is capitalism sustainable? Capitalism is the same expression as the fruit flies devouring the honey. It is gluttony. It is nature and it is frenzy. We are more natural than we are intelligent. Everything we do today is refined and perfected and purified like a powerful drug and like honey. Our food is full of sugar to a point that it is killing us. But what is really going to kill us is pollution. If we graph our population numbers we see the curve is rising along with an atmosphere of frenzy and the silent killer, pollution.
Feb 26 2013: When I was young my mother wanted a small landing and set of stairs built from the back of the house. Growing up without a father sometimes can prove to be cruel. Of course I didn't have a clue as to how to begin. I was ridiculed very harshly. Much later in life I built a large deck by myself complete with two sets of stairs onto the back of my home after reading a book from the library. Stairs are fairly complicated if you are to create the most comfortable (safe) ratio of rise and run while making them level too. I'd like to hug the man that wrote that book. God bless him.
Feb 22 2013: To be realistic I think there is good AND bad about pipelines in anyones country. I think the reason it's going to Houston and north eastern US is because of the refineries there. They don't refine it for free. There's money there. The obvious negative is the potential for a spill. Nobody wants that. I don't think they are transporting 'muck' though. It's oil product that has to be refined. The product that is going to be piped to BC is raw and headed to China. I don't see the connect that you should be angry at enviromentalists in a different country that have the same concerns as you. They are also concerned about spills just like you. Sounds like they are your friend. You make some good points about earthquakes and tornadoes. That could prove disasterous for sure. I think you and I will find that we will have no influence on whether or not the pipelines will go through. It's bigger than us. I'm on your side by the way. We are all fruit flies in a jar.
Feb 21 2013: It depends on who you are. Lots of Albertans want the pipeline I would assume. It would mean jobs for pipeline builders and oil sands workers. That means money. Our Prime Minister and his government is conservative currently. The conservative agenda is economics. The Prime minister came from Alberta at one time so he is showing loyalty to Alberta oil industry. Like most things it's always good to have balance. The province west of Alberta is British Columbia. They lean to the left politically. They don't want a pipeline to go to their coastline because of environmental concerns. Large oil tankers would be navigating through treacherous waterways that are pristine now. Economically there isn't much advantage for them to host a pipeline and port for the oil. I'm pretty sure they will build another pipeline in an easterly direction to eventually enter north-eastern US to refineries there. There was also talk about a pipeline to go north into the arctic and to a port to be exported probably to China. It depends on who you ask as to who wants these pipelines. It's about money and environment, but the current canadian government is all about industry and not so much about the environment.
Feb 20 2013: Hi Crystal, I love your post. You are very courageous. Most people are tuned into making money. Making money is actually creative too. Not everyone is creative at making money. Don't let others define for you what success is. The artist is someone who takes in their environment and lets it resonate with their genetics and their life experience and creates something original. Passion can propel you for many years. It's a good thing to have. The artist is sensitive. The artist is the 'canary in a coal mine', overly sensitive compared to others. That's how they resonate with their world. Art is a mirrored reflection of the world. It is like anthropology in the sense that the rest of the world can't see what you can see until you reveal it to them in your own way. It is a lonely battle and you are courageous. Make it work. Education will give you permission to do what you want to do and more. A future father in law once asked me . . ."When do you think you will become successful?" I replied "I feel successful right now!" He said "Touche".
Feb 9 2013: When we live in a democracy we want to believe that it is the right way to live. All countries are experiments in progress I believe. We have seen many versions of civilizations through history. In my opinion to worship a gun and make it part of your religion has taken America down a path of ignorance and it's leading it to a demise. I have watched people state that they are correct because of the fact they have a gun. The theory is; it's in the constitution so it must be right. I think America's military exploits are a manifestation of it's 2nd amendment. It's like when Jesus said, "You're either with me or agin me".
Feb 8 2013: We have an opportunity to learn from this conflict. In fact if we don't learn from this we are destined to repeat it. I see this situation as being like a family household. The human mind is made of 3 parts; the parent, the adult and the child egostate. This is actually healthy unless someone is getting hurt. In that case it becomes 'sick'. The rule is 'don't hurt anyone'. It's a very simple rule that should apply to any religion or political background. Both sides see themselves as victims. It is sick to see yourself as a victim because it relives injury. It is masochistic and hurtful. It breaks the rule of 'don't hurt anyone' because victims hurt themselves by wearing their badge of hurt with childlike pride for their parent's approval. The suicide bomber is the ultimate representation of a self-destructive child. It's like when we were children and we wanted our parents ruling as judges in order to win our case. What we forget to teach is forgiveness and that is the key to all true conflict resolution. I would ri-iterate what Kate and Uri said below. I loved the FB page that Kate talks about. It represents the 'loving child' egostate. We need an Arab spring movement along these lines.
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A comment on Conversation: Integrating music into our everyday lives.
http://onstagemagazine.com/open-letter-from-a-bar-owner-to-musicians/
This and American Idol shows the loss of innocence; what I would call prostitution. Our society puts too much emphasis on money. We would all probably like to become millionaires in order to shed the shame of what we are forced to do when making a living. I try to keep my innocence and pride intact.
A comment on Conversation: Attitudes; share some worthy ideas of how we can change them?
What opened up my eyes later in life was the wisdom that my oldest brother told me. He said "It's one thing to become a victim in life but it is masochistic to re-live the hurt over and over again". I then related what he said to the book.
As I thought about it I realized that our parents are all very concerned about the lesson of right and wrong but what is seldom taught to us is the paradox of right and wrong which is forgiveness. How do you explain that dynamic to a child without undermining the lesson of right and wrong?
But there it is. Remaining a victim of a transgression is a game. Forgiveness is the healing cure.
If we think about a model like the middle east it possibly becomes easier to see the theory; suicide bombers becoming the ultimate victim model, masochistic and heroic like a child hoping to get it's parent's approval with rewards later to come in heaven.
A comment on Talk: Ron Finley: A guerilla gardener in South Central LA
A reply on Conversation: Is capitalism sustainable?
When I was in school we studied 'populations'. We did an experiment where we put fruit flies in a jar with unlimited amount of food (honey). We counted the fruit flies (living) everyday and presented the data on a graph. The shape of the graph was an exponential curve (X=Y squared) starting with 2 fruit flies and curving upwards in a dramatic increase until one day there were suddenly no fruit flies. The reason why they all died suddenly was pollution. We were told that other experiments with various living things had the same results: exponential population growth ending in sudden and complete death.
Is capitalism sustainable? Capitalism is the same expression as the fruit flies devouring the honey. It is gluttony. It is nature and it is frenzy. We are more natural than we are intelligent. Everything we do today is refined and perfected and purified like a powerful drug and like honey. Our food is full of sugar to a point that it is killing us. But what is really going to kill us is pollution. If we graph our population numbers we see the curve is rising along with an atmosphere of frenzy and the silent killer, pollution.
A comment on Conversation: What is the most important thing you've learned on your own?
A reply on Conversation: Keystone Pipeline - Good idea or bad idea
A comment on Conversation: Keystone Pipeline - Good idea or bad idea
A reply on Conversation: What are the challenges that gifted and creative individuals face at present?
A reply on Conversation: For those of you who live in other countries, how do you feel toward the United States?
A comment on Conversation: How do we make peace between Israel and Palestine?