Well, nobody commented on the cute little youtube video i linked to in the last post. for those who you who haven't seen it, you're missing out on something special!

From time to time i check out this blog and i'm frequently surprised in a delighted kind of way when i spot new comments. heerz one from a beloved friend:



great insight, amigo. you see, if our desires are bad, then something's seriously wrong. (i firmly believe that everything is perfectly right in the long run, btw.) but buddhism points to an important fact still: this fact is that we have desires but we can't completely fulfill them in this world. but that doesn't make desires wrong. it just means that our desires have to be postponed a little while. it's called delayed gratification, and it's the foundation of maturity. being mature means waiting for the things you want because you know you will be better off having them later. and this involves a certain amount of belief in the idea that there is some kind of existence that transcends our perceptible time/space universe. for many scientists, this is unthinkable. for some reason there is a powerful group of secular humanists who do not want to even consider the idea that anything exists outside of our perceptible realm, and so anything relating to God or spirituality is automatically shunned as irrelivant and worthless. Sadly, this leads to the kind of short-term thinking that says, "Well, I'm getting ripped off here, so everything must be against me and I'll just go buy a gun and start blowing away people because I feel so mistreated." Thank you, secular humanists. Thank you, atheists. Thank you, darwinists. Because again and again, your poisonous philosophies lead to tragedies that are unimaginable. The Jewish Haulocost came from Naziism, which was a direct result of Darwinism. The Virginia Tech tragedy resulted from a student who obviously had no moral compass whatsoever. Hellooo-oooo!! I'm sure mister Cho could easily have been an atheist and/or secular humanist. Because if he wasn't, then the things he did would have seriously conflicted with his own personal beliefs. To be honest, it's really very hard to shoot innocent people several times in a cold, calculated way if you have any kind of sense that what you are doing could be wrong. but according to the moral relativity that is propogated today, what mister Cho did was probaby completely acceptable by the rules he chose to embrace. However, there are greater rules involved here. these rules do not come from this realm. they transecnd this realm. and these rules will have their effect no matter what happens in this tiny corner of the universe. the purpose of our lives here is very difficult to determine, but the irony is that the purpose of our lives here is incredibly more important than we can understand. that's part of the reason why i seem to be so antagonistic toward middle-eastern citizens- because there is often such an overwhelming devaluation of human life. but i'm not here to promote any particular ideology (except mine, of course [ha ha]). choose your religion, and i assure you you're gonna be apologizing for something down the line. that's the nature of our limited understanding. we all have such limited understanding that we would truly be devistated by the full knowledge of our limitations. and im not just talking about a certain group here. if you're breathing, this is the truth. but my purpose here is to inspire others to look beyond the limitations imposed by those who imagine they are the rulers over the rest of us. for example:

did you know that the mighty movers in the "scientific" community have come to the conclusion that the observable universe only accounts for five percent of the effects of gravity and energy around us? how ironic. these scientists will shun any non-physical sources without the least consideration, but they're willing to put their trust in two very unknown and mysterious forces called "dark matter" and "dark energy" which have no relation to our observable universe at all. what they're really saying is that there's something out there that affects the gravity and energy in this universe, but they don't know what it is. however, they choose to believe that this is some invisible kind of matter that doesn't exist outside the physical realm, because if it did, then their own observations would become very subjective and they wouldn't get the kind of government grants that they love so dearly. scientist just hate to lose their money and power. that's how piltdown man came to be. but propaganda wins over true science, as evidenced by the fact that al gore got a prize for his incredibly unscientific lies. it's all politics in the end. it's not about what is true, but what you can make people think is true. ironically, in a few years time we're gonna all look back and see how much money we've put into "carbon control" and see how the global temperature is doing whatever it wants in spite of the paranoia that has taken hold today. did you know that our oceans are the greatest producers of carbon dioxide? so let's f*cking start regulating the oceans, dammit!!! but back to our original buddhist thoughts. buddhism isn't bad if it helps us delay our personal gratification so we can experience greater gratification in the long run. this requires waiting...

Category: General

In order to break things up a bit since the subjects discussed here have been of a pretty serious nature, I offer you the following humorous video. (My apologies to anyone who has had their kidney stolen!):

(Click on the picture to watch the video.)

Category: General

Okee dokee. thanks for both of your comments. roadhzrd, it's nice to know that someone else senses the same feelings of dislike that i sense. i tell you, if an arabic driver held the door open for me or put out his hand to shake mine i think i'd crap my pants! truly, they have an entirely different set of rules. they seem to place a very low value on human life and especially the lives of women and children. They often seem very arrogant and disrespectful. You say "the different sects have been killing each other since the start of different religions." That's so true! Do you know what the difference is between the Sunnis and the Shia? The only difference is that each group had a different opinion about who should be the successor to Mohammed. That's it! That's what all this damned fighting that has gone on for centuries is about! American soldiers are getting killed in Iraq because of a disagreement that Muslims had hundreds of years ago. Kinda sad, ain't it? Really, we don't even live in the same world as these people, and so i agree with you that we have no business being in that country (as atriz256 probably agrees:)

Now atrix256, you have some great bytes of wisdom. i gather from what you say that you believe people often use religious differences as an excuse to hate others. this is true. when it comes down to it, i think we'd both agree that it's not so much what people *say* they believe as how they treat their neighbors. (and in this respect i think many of us fall way short. i myself very much, at least...) you cite buddhism as a religion that doesn't judge others and so it would be a good way to bring about peace among the nations of the world. the one great truth about buddhism is that it recognizes that desires are the root of suffering in this world. but the one great downfall of buddhism is that it seeks to eliminate desires. you speak about not judging, but the ironic fact is that buddhism is based on judgement at its very foundation. what is the noble eightfold path of buddhism?

Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort/Exercise
Right Mindfulness/Awareness
Right Concentration
Right Thoughts
Right Understanding

these are noble goals indeed, but they all require *judgement*. what is *right* in any of these cases? right speech, right action- aren't these things incredibly subjective from our pov? who can say what is right? when we do this, aren't we making a judgement?

Furthermore:



I've never met a buddhist monk. but I have to question this, young paduwan. Jesus taught that if you look upon someone with anger in your heart you are guilty of hurting them. Do you believe this is true? I believe it because it comes from the Tao. And so the thought that *any* buddhist monk *never* had a bad feeling toward *anyone* is quite inconceivable. oh yes, i'm sure there are many monks who have abstained from doing violence to others. but then again, there are many monks who have taken up arms against their enemies.

frankly, i don't have the good of humanity in mind. i'm too busy trying to work out how to live each day in peace with my neighbors. it's a very difficult job. it's not so hard with buddhists, though. atheists aren't really that hard because you just have to avoid talking about god. mormons and jehovah's witnesses are pretty easy too. christian scientists are another matter. and fundamentalists can be a complete pain in the ass at times! muslims and hindus live in a different universe altogether. scientology isn't even a subject. blah blah, blah blah. and so we leave you all with one last question. Do you believe there are no absolutes? Are you *absolutely* sure??!!

Category: General

OK, this ain't tv, but it's still a must see. if you use microsoft windows and you haven't updated since today (4/10) you *need* to update asap. there's a slim chance you might go to a nasty website that exploits the security holes they found, but if you like to click on pop-ups you're a lot more likely! in either case, just go get updated, okay? Here's the link:

microsoft security updates center

oh yeah, and if you missed my previous blog entry, it's a good'n:

(Cool blog entry)

Category: General

I wanted to mention a couple of websites that my son has. He's a game programmer, but these sites are not dedicated to games per se. This first one is kind of a general site that he uses for promotion and other interests. It's a very beautiful site- very clean and attractive graphically. He really shows his artistic talents here!

And here's his other site. It's got tons of cool pictures from his adventures in the wilderness and a bunch of other great stuff!

Category: General

Okay, I admit I went a little overboard on that last post. My son brought this to my attention:



yes, we should all consider each other innocent until proven guilty. this is indeed the cornerstone of civilization. my son is an intelligent person and he got me to thinking about this issue, just like many other things. i realize that i have some prejudices i need to deal with. just because i see a person dress a certain way or speak with a certain accent, i shouldn't automatically make up my mind about them. just because there are certain people of a certain ethnicity who are currently indulging in senseless acts of violence, i should not condemn the rest of them. After all, just look at the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Halocaust of the Jews, the Bosnian tragedy, etc. yes, it would be truly unjust to require each other to prove that we *don't* side with any groups like these. and so i must apologize for making such a statement. *however*, as i've thought about this issue, i realize something about my encounters with people from the middle east. first, these encounters have not all been negative. for example, i played in a band one time that had two brothers, a guitarist and a bassist, who were born of iranian parents. the brothers didn't wear turbans, though. they didn't bow down to mecca several times a day, as far as i knew. and their house seemed like any other house in the suburbs where we lived. and they were very friendly, outgoing guys. so how can i be prejudiced against people from the middle east? well let me ask you drivers something. who here has ever driven in new jersey? if you've driven there, i don't need to say anymore. but for those of you who haven't been there, you need to understand something. there has never been a more cut-throat, malevolent, self-centered, selfish, idiotic, dangerous, foolish, and moronic group of motorists anywhere else on the face of this earth!. (oops, i'm sorry... i meant to say "commuter challenged"!) seriously, there are people driving the streets there that should be arrested for attempted assault because of how they drive. but does that mean i should look down on everyone i meet who comes from new jersey? certainly not. but if they *do* hail from jersey, it should be understood that they have a *reputation* that they're gonna have to deal with. it's not because the individual did anything wrong. no, it's because there is a significant amount of *other* individuals in that group that does the wrong things.

*statistics matter*

and so, with people from the middle east i try to keep an open mind, but i also have a certain amount of subjective evidence that enters into the equation. for instance, let's look at the people who run conevnience stores. i've encountered many of them of different nationalities. i've encountered whites, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. i've encountered hispanics, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. i've encountered blacks, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. i've encountered asians, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. and i've encountered people from the middle east, who have been almost universally aloof and unfriendly. the worst example i've had recently was when i was buying something at a convenience store and i asked the clerk (middle eastern) a question and he just turned around and kept talking to his friend as if i wasn't even there. and then there was another one who i asked if there was anywhere i could mail a letter and he just said "at the post office" and turned his back to me. (just to let you know, most truck drivers don't have access to a post office. usually we're trying to find some mail box in the local area that we can use, because a lot of post offices can't be accessed by an eighteen-wheeler.) i know this is just subjective, but i have to say i've had a *bunch* of subjective encounters like this. i see drivers walking around with turbans now and then. they don't look at me. there is a definite arrogance in their attitude. now granted, this may be part of their culture, but if so, then their culture needs to be changed, imho. we have a certain culture in this country, and if you want to *completely* ignore it then be ready to face the consequences. (i'm sure we would be expected to comply with the cultural expectations in *your* country!) i meet plenty of other drivers that i talk to all the time- black, white, hispanic, asian- you name it. but i tell you the truth, i would probably fall over on the spot if a middle eastern driver even said "hi" to me.

so if i eventually have any kind of personal encounter with another person from the middle east, i might have to really fight against the temptation to condemn them with the hoards of other negative middle-eaterner people i've met. i believe in freedom of expression, but with liberty comes responsibility. if i walked around with a nazi symbol on my arm, i shouldn't be shocked that people would spit in my face. and if someone walks around with a turban on their head, in light of the thousands of people who have died due to the actions of people from the middle east, then what should *they* expect? by wearing turbans, are they proclaiming their freedom of expression, or flauntingly mocking the freedoms we love? i guess this is where the freedom of expression settles the issue. let everyone express themselves however they want. but eventually the truth will come out...

Category: General

And continuing in our effort to be so politically correct: Here we have a truly offensive picture:



My God! Aren't you offended?! Okay, maybe not, but here's a link to a bunch of similar pictures, all portraying Mohammed in various ways. (Keep in mind that what I'm doing would deserve the death penalty in many Middle Eastern countries.) But I'm all about freedom of speech. Which we have in this country, for a short time, but which many other countries don't have, and they're very jealous of us. But before I get carried away too far, here's the link to the pictures:

Mohammed Pictures

Look at these pictures, my Muslim friend. They all show someone who is just a man. So what's the problem? Why are pictures of this man offensive to you? Oh, okay, you're saying this picture tempts you to worship the image of the man instead of the holy person himself? Well, can I ask you a very simple question? Why don't you just look away from the damned picture to begin with. When you see it and you have this strong desire to worship it, why can't you say, "I will look away and not worship this image"? I'll tell you why. Because you can't. You truly have no ability to find freedom from idolatry, and you use all the means at your disposal to keep this religious illusion going. You don't want truth and you don't want freedom. All you know is bondage and that's what you want for eveybody else. I see your adhereants driving trucks with the rest of us. You wear your turbans so proudly. But you forget something. You forget that your fellow Muslims are responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in this country. Yes, you get out of your truck and tighten the wrap of your turban to make yourself presentable. You wear the clean white shirts that most other drivers don't wear. And you feel like you're so much holier than the rest of us. But I have to tell you something, my Muslim friend. Your fellow Muslims have killed thousands of innocent Americans. If you really respect the rest of the people of this country, I think the least you could do would be to wear some kind of memorial- a black armband or something, to show your grief at what your fellow Muslims have done. But I have seen none of that, in the very least. You seem to mock us, even. You proclaim your rights to religious freedom in this country, even though the freedoms of your religion are the most abusive kind of tyranny that has ever existed. So wear your stupid turbans. You aren't fooling us. We truck drivers know the score. If you want to be part of us, you gotta show us you really are part of us. Be a part of our community and we will accept you. But try to shove your religious principals down our throats and you're in for one hell of a fight, mister. Believe me, we have a lot of fights out here, and you're just one more thing we want to get behind us. Please, my Muslim friend, take some responsibility for what your extremist buddies have done. If not, then publicly distance yourselves from them. Otherwise, you have sided with the extremists by default. And don't be surprised by the negative treatment that you receive...

Category: General

Here's the latest from the current state I'm in (besides denial):



Okay, first off- why isn't the Tacoma PD going after these people? The people who took the stuff out of this house are criminals! If they were brought before a judge, what could they say in their defense? "Well, judge, we saw it on the internet, so we just assumed that it was true." Yeah, right. That will really convince the judge! I think he might ask them, "What right did you have to come into this house and take this person's property? Did you do anything at all to make sure you had permission from the legal owner?" (Of course none of these people did.) It's just like this: Imagine someone goes out late at night and puts a sign up in front of a grocery store that says, "All items inside are free. Break all the windows and take whatever you want!" And so hoards of people break in and pillage the store. Come on now. That's just downright ridiculous. But that's exactly what the Tacoma PD is allowing in this case. So the first point is that the Tacoma PD is guilty of major negligence in not going after the people who looted this house. But then there's a second point that is much subtler but maybe even more significant. This lady owns a home that she was renting to her sister. Apparently she and her sister could not get along, so Laurie Raye evicted her sister from the house. At this point, what would common sense indicate Laurie Raye should do? I have a suggestion. The moment Laurie Raye evicted her sister, she should have gone to the house to make sure her sister had left and then locked all the doors and put up signs saying "Keep out. Trespassers will be prosecuted!" I believe that the laws in this country still say that if you break into a locked building you are commiting burglary! Unfortunately, Laurie Raye has had a momentous wake-up call. Scorned relatives are the worst enemy you could ever have. Besides the Tacoma PD, that is.

Category: General

Safe trips to you all out there. I've noticed something lately, and I don't know if I'm the only one. But it seems that there's been a whole bunch of problems lately in one particular place. The place I'm talking about is the Middle East. Recently Iran has been acting up like a spoiled, irate little child and it's making everyone else's life hell. It's really getting to be a drag, and I want to use this opportunity to point out something: We live in such a golden age of "tolerance", but the downside of tolerance is that noone wants to offend anyone else. It's a real losing situation because people are going to be offended *no matter what*! If people want to be offended, they'll be offended dammit! And certain groups tend to be more offended than others. One of the most easily offended groups appears to be Muslims. Iran is full of Muslims and they're just *itching* to be offended. They want any excuse at all to claim they've been treated unjustly. Never mind that they have untold wealth due to their oil reserves. No, that's not enough. As long as there are other countries that have any semblance of freedom like America and the UK, they just will not rest. *We* offend them just by existing and so they want to get rid of us or make our lives miserable at the very least. You don't think Muslims are easily offended? Consider this. China and several other countries recently celebrated the Asian New Year. They have a twelve year cycle in which each year coincides with a different animal. Well this year just happens to coincide with the boar, or pig. Now China is a Communist country, right? But the ironic thing is that the Chinese Government realizes there are many Muslims within their borders. And since pigs are "offensive" to Muslims, the government of China issued guidelines suggesting that pictures of pigs should not be shown during the new year celebrations. Can you believe that??!! Do you realize that showing a picture of Porky Pig is offensive to Muslims? To me this seems extreme, but in the interest of "tolerance" I'll grant the Muslims their extremist attitudes for now. The truth is, they'll be offended no matter what we do. Terrorists want to be terrorists so that they can create terror. They don't want peace. They don't want solutions. They are just looking for any excuse to create terror. And this is precisely where Iran is coming from. One day our country will realize the truth of it all and not give in a single inch to the extremists! There will always be suicide bombers. The best thing we can do is to realize that we won't stop them and then go on to live our lives in as much freedom as we can. They covet our freedom and that's why they're trying to take it away from us. So Iran caught some Brittish prisoners and they're trying to rub it in our faces. Big deal! Oh sure, do whatever you want with them, Iran, and I guarantee you're going to pay for it some day. But you still can't take away our freedom. We will defend our freedom to the death! In fact here's one freedom I want to share with you right now. It's a freedom that is seriously lacking in many middle eastern countries. It is called freedom of expression. So here is my freedom of expression:



Now many people won't find this picture offensive. *I* certainly don't. I know it's my right in this country to display a picture like this without fear of retaliation. But there's a very important reason I chose this particular picture. This is a picture of the prophet Mohammed, painted by a Muslim artist. And devout Muslims are *offended* by any depiction of Mohammed, so I am confronted by a problem. Do I excercise my freedom of expression and possibly offend Muslims in the process? Or do I buckle under the threat of extremist violence and surrender my own freedoms in the process? To me the answer is clear. I am not a Muslim, and so I have the freedom to depict Mohammed any way I desire. And if it is offensive to Muslims, then they just don't have to look at it! Let them wear their turbans in this country. Let their women hide their faces behind veils. Let them build mosques. Let them bow down to mecca in prayer. They have that right in this country. And I have the right to express my own beliefs. I believe that it is perfectly acceptable to display a picture of Mohammed. If any Muslims are offended, then that is their right too. Many of them just want to be offended anyway. I'm just giving them the opportunity...

Category: General