Thousands of years ago, all the way up until now, the common world has looked for some type of attachment, and ideal that could help us gain some sense of purpose. A man made imaginative of something perfect, and ideal, that one could long for, to give us purpose and meaning. This has been known as religion. With this the rich and the powerful have used this as a means to gain more. The Crusades… about land and property for example, to such recent pompous expectations as the Roman Pontiff, “It ALONE has the right to ensure the respect due to the Successors of Peter, and therefore, to protect the figure and personal identity of the Pope from the unauthorized use of his name and/or the papal coat of arms for ends and activities which have little or nothing to do with the Catholic Church.” (Emphasis added), as well as the numerous things I have encountered in my many years and experiences in faith based religion.
Recently there was a broadcast put out by CNN and Boing Boing
This is only a redirection of the same thing. A person looking for an ideal. Recently, Japan, has become know for it’s certain little oddities. Strange game shows, anime, hentai, as well as technology. Much of this is due to the huge decrease in satisfaction-al relationships many Japanese have (this is of course based on numerous resources, not my own experience) due to over-work and less focus on the traditional family values, as well as the time one is willing to take to build a family under “SUPPORTING” a family.
This is only a precursor of what is to come in the US. Cost of living increasingly goes up. Families, unless they are in the upper echelon, can afford to survive on a single person income. Many times both parental figures are typically working, than actually raising their family, except through TV or toys.
I know, as a single male, how difficult it is to survive on your own,without a housemate, a partner, or a wife. I can’t really afford medical care, I drive over 60 miles a day for a “EH (Under 30,000)” paycheck. How could I even imagine attempting to taking care of a spouse, neverless, a family.
Technology has become our out. Things like “Love Plus”, Second Life, The Sims, IMVU, Facebook, Myspace as well as so many other programs, have become a substitute for something lacking in so many peoples lives, much like religion had become.
The difference between Religion and Technology, is at least technology admits it’s a lie, and that it is not real.
Here is just another example of what I am talking about. If this doesn’t get you thinking… All I am stumped with is… “HUH!”
I started looking back over the past years, and I can’t think of the last time I ACTUALLY celebrated Christmas. I have usually either been working, short of funds, or to far away.
I have to admit, it would be righteously cool to have one of these, to bad they did get projected onto your desktop, but would be really cool for camming with people.
On the other hand I am waiting for this movie to come out on DVD, officially on my wishlist for my B-day
Alright here we are with another day in the single digit temperatures. So I figured I would pull myself out of my hole in the wall, get the truck warmed up and get me some grub. I was actually thinking pizza would be perfect, plus it makes great left overs. So I headed over to Palermo’s Pizza over on Lowell in Westminster, it’s right around the corner and has had some good reviews. ACKKKKK!!! It’s closed, no longer open.
OK, up to 72nd Ave, has to be some Pizza along the way. Mexican!! More Mexican!!! There is another Mexican Restaurant. At Peco’s and 72nd, has to be one here. Papa John’s…. Gaaah!! That’s not pizza, at least not to a New Yorker. I look right, then back left again, and I catch a glimpse of what the sign says.
PAPA JOHNS: Order from us, we need the dough.
This must be some new strategy, either that or a true sign of the times. Although I can’t say I am disappointed. Papa John’s isn’t the only large corporate entity feeling the crunch. The Blockbuster up in Longmont is having a huge clearance sale of it stuff. Wouldn’t it be great to see the return of small Mom and Pop Pizzeria’s and Video Stores? If only the same thing could happen to Wal-mart.
Doesn’t look like pizza tonight. So I headed to one of my favorite Asian places. Woody’s Wings and Things. Yep you heard me right. They have a huge menu of from from Lao, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, along with some great reviews, although a bit tucked away off the main strip. Check out the link and you can even see the old location of Palermo’s Pizza as well.
Knowing how something is done, is not the same as knowing how to do something. It takes action to develop a skill, not just knowledge. – Unknown Source
So how is it that people that KNOW, make less than the people that know?
You’d think with this much experience it would warrant a degree…No?
This is no way a complete list, but is evolving. While to today’s society, being so diverse is not the norm, nor accepted, I am rather quite proud of my experiences. While I do greatly miss some specific things, I would not trade my experiences for the world.
OCCUPATIONS (No specific order):
Raphan Carpet: Sales, Warehouse
Friendly’s: Waiter/Dishwasher
HESS: Attendant
Sears: Sales (paint)
Bavarian Inn: Dishwasher
Radio Shack: Ass’t Manager/Sales
Centereach Fire Department: Volunteer FF
Brewer Fire Department: On Call FF, Ladder Truck Driver
Orono Fire Department: On Call FF, Hazmat
Capital Ambulance: EMT/Driver
Front Row Video: Sales
Weathervane Seafood: First Cook/Line Cook/Dishwasher
Bronson Productions: Rigger/Spot Op/Stage Crew/Security
Toys ‘R Us: Sales/Bike Assembly/Stock
Bangor House of Pizza: Cook/ Delivery
Not Just Hair: Stylist
Picasso Hair Salon: Stylist/Colorist
Anthony D’Franco Hair Salon: Chemical/Colorist Apprentice
Town & Country Limousine: Driver/Mechanic
Eckerd Youth Alternatives: Senior Counselor/Teacher
DEC/Digital/Citicorp: Logistics/Migration Engineer/Onsite Helpdesk
Computer Surgeon: Computer Technician
DataPath: Network Technician
Ocean Rock: Lead Climbing Instructor
Road to Emmaus: Web Design/Sales
Charter Communications: Cable Technician
Shiloh House: Treatment Counselor
EXPERIENCES:
USMC
2.5 years living in the woods
Hiked 2167 miles on the Appalachian Trail, Georgia to Maine
Franciscan Friar: 6 years
Mission Trip to Honduras
Started and ran “Loaves & Fishes” Street Food Ministry in NYC and Philadelphia
Chrysalis: Lay Director
Worked at the Avianca plane crash
Cultivate harmony within yourself, and harmony becomes real;
Cultivate harmony within your family, and harmony becomes fertile;
Cultivate harmony within your community, and harmony becomes abundant;
Cultivate harmony within your culture, and harmony becomes enduring;
Cultivate harmony within the world, and harmony becomes ubiquitous.
Live with a person to understand that person;
Live with a family to understand that family;
Live with a community to understand that community;
Live with a culture to understand that culture;
Live with the world to understand the world.
A friend showed me this story a short bit a go. It comes in many versions, but all the same message. For some reason it has always stuck with me.
A confused girl came before a wise Man who adored her. She felt that to give in to him would mean she would open her heart to unbearable pain should he ever leave her. She hungered for him and needed him, but was ready to walk away in panic.
The gentle Man knelt her before him and started a tale of love and devotion. As she looked up at him his arms began to widen and open like a large tree stretches its branches to the sky. At that moment the Man appeared rooted to the floor and his impressive size towered above her like a giant tree. Then he began to speak…
I’m here for you… now and always no matter how far time and space takes us… Whether you walk away from me today or you stay with me I will not turn from you. I am as patient as time itself; I will take not from you unless you give freely and completely of yourself, but I give onto you regardless– for what I give is unconditional…
Like the olive tree that can both feed you and shade you, I am there seemingly eternal to your short life on this earth. If you need my fruit to feed your hunger I will give you all the fruit you need. If your skin grows dry and loses its luster, the oil from my fruit will restore it and make it glisten. When you need comfort my leaves will gently caress your face with the slightest breeze. If you just need my shade to protect you from the sun, my branches will shade and protect you. If you need warmth at night my fallen branches will fuel the fire to keep you warm and safe. If you need a refreshing breeze my leaves will fan you and cool you. You are my gardener.
When you come to me, you tend that which keeps me vibrant and full of life. When you kneel under me and till the soil, you give breath to my roots. When you water me, my sap flows strong through me raising my limping Branches. When you soil yourself collecting fertilizer with your bare hands, you strengthen and humble me with your devotion.
Although my life will go on, life would not be the same without you. Your dedication and unconditional care for me will keep me vibrant and nurtures my very core. The sustenance and protection I give you seems little reward for your gift of yourself. Still the gardener serves the tree from her heart and the tree gives to her heart all that he can!
I am planted firmly on the ground and cannot follow you if you walk away from me…. But be assured I will survive. One hundred years later and two of your lifetimes; I will still be there, waiting for you in the same spot to offer you all that I do now.
Stay with me and be my gardener. You cannot get lost in me for we are complementary to each other. I am your devotion, and you give meaning to my existence. Apart we live life and survive; together we bloom eternally!
… As the Man finished his last words the girl cried herself to sleep at his feet. That night, he stood planted there like the Olive tree offering her himself unconditionally his love and protection as she slept. As she would tend to him with her devotion the next day… and everyday thereafter!
Withdraw now from the invisible pounding and weaving of your ingrained ideas. If you want to be rid of this invisible turmoil, you must just sit through it and let go of everything. Attain fulfillment and illuminate thoroughly. Light and shadow altogether forgotten. Drop off your own skin, and the sense-dusts will be fully purified. The eye then readily discerns the brightness.
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