Never Done ~ Sometimes Do

To get what we've never had, we must sometimes do what we've never done.

Me Thinks

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is no match for nuratal stidutipy!

Tonic of Wilderness

To live in the ways ...to which I aspire, you must feel the need for the Tonic Of Wilderness -- desiring to sojourn in places of great Peace and Peace of mind -- where Mother Nature takes you into the comfort of her folded arms, so that you may feel wanted, needed, a part of it all -- and loved, forever young.

Does anyone ever get enough love... ?

A Task So Difficult?

Is loving me properly (like living your life), a task SO difficult as to have never been attempted before today?

Me Wonders.

When LOVE becomes TOXIC !

Virtuous sexual behavior is the most important quality in the woman whom I could admire -- whose love and body I would desire. For a woman's betrayal of her man is just as serious as a man's betrayal of his woman. But perhaps worse? Because she has her virtue to lose, and a woman such as she (whose company I did aspire to share), must have many virtues!

A woman's betrayal causes a mounting of his rage. And his pain (that terrible hurt within) is voiced as his anger. It impels a truly GOOD man to endure her violence of the heart -- with his mind, and this occurs without any violence of the hand and fist.

Thus, his complaint is contained, expressed as anger. The sage will see that his courage (over such containment) is actually a proof by demonstration, of his wounded love...

For her!

Her opposition to his sincere gifts of love and her disdain of his simple needs is perhaps merely a semantic distinction (but ones that must be explored). By juxtaposing (contextually) her sexual obsessions and her withdrawal from the relationship (through her lies, and under the many guises of the feminine way) -- at least he can retain his dignity, identify, his innocence while amplifying her guilt by doing nothing -- as he continues to love...

Her!

But when a betrayal occurs -- LOVE dies and becomes TOXIC!

Me Feels.

Pinning a tail on the Donkey vs Elephantitis

Whatever the results tonight, it won't have been the Republican campaign that did it...

The Republicans will have won or lost this election a long time ago. If they hold onto the Senate, it will be because the redistricting levees built by Republicans ("over" the past six years) were strong enough to withstand the backlash ...that their failed policies have built ("under" the past six years). If they get ousted, it will be for running the country into the ground. We'll find out soon enough -- whether the Anti-Bush hurricane is a Category 3, 4, or 5 storm -- and whether it lost any force passing by last week's temporary low: Massachusetts Senator, John F. Kerry's "Kerry Carnage". He was out in California, tells a joke -- it backfires. Now, he's walking around saying that he botched the joke, adding that he was trying to tell a joke about Bush. I'm telling you, that guy could lose elections he's not even in. Then, President Bush warned Democrats not to celebrate victory too early. Yeah. Right. Lest we forget, that talk is coming from the guy that put up the 'Mission Accomplished' sign three years ago.If Republicans survive the storm, it won't be because they saw it coming. If they lose, it will be because they had it coming.

Team Bush and their Congressional enablers have enmired the nation in unceasing war, debt, and scandal. It's tipping-point time: hopefully, the Dems will rock the House and roll the Senate. But I'm willing to eat this: the House for now, the Senate later.

It's gonna be a "doggie eat dog day, all wrapped-up in a doggie-bag -- a free lunch".

Me Thinks.

Right Questions

What is important in life, isn't knowing if you have all the right answers -- it's knowing if the all of the questions were ... (right).

(Thanks for sharing HK...)

"The Greening of Americans"

Money is the root of all Wealth.(What did you think that I was going to say?)

"Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think, and the barometer of a society's virtue." -Ayn Rand

On Money & Wealth - Russian born American novelist Ayn Rand is originator of the philosophy of "Objectivism". You can learn more about her life and philosophy at the Ayn Rand Institute. "Francisco's Money Speech", an excerpt from "Atlas Shrugged", Copyright ©1957 Ayn Rand. Reprinted [see link] with permission from the Estate of Ayn Rand:
http://www.congregator.net/topical/money-speech.htm

Part-II "I want a Ring & Nearby Living"

See also, Part-I [below]

It seems there's a bevy of women who hanker-after a wedding ring as a top priority. Why? Because they simply want the wedding? Perhaps they're just obsessed with the venue -- the dress, the flowers, the food, and the glamour of it all?

Well maybe. But maybe it's ALL about money?

Have they forgotten about the true values of marriage? What happened to love, commitment and "till death do us part"? Sadly they are sometimes so caught up in the notion of personal security and safety and affluence -- that they also get caught planning the fairytale wedding long before they've even met "the one" -- "Prince Charming" on a white horse (in a convenient parking lot).

Holy Tiara!

Ride him Cowgirl!

These days, and everywhere you look -- couples are tying the knot, and the hotties are cashing in their 'tits'. Oops. 'Scuse me ... their 'c-h-i-p-s'.

Women are sporting bling-bling rings, snazzy see-through dresses (I recall reading that Nicole Kidman's was worth a reported $100K. SWEET! ). All want to revel around and around, waltzing into dreamland by dancing like a "Princess for a Day".

So why the wedding obsession?

Perhaps it's all thanks to a mix of little-girl desires, savvy marketing and the lure of a Tiffany-esque ring, but either way, it seems the desperate desire for a wedding (felt by so many modern women) is spiraling out of control.

In the film "Muriel's Wedding", Muriel, a 22-year-old girl obsessed by marriage, lies, steals and then marries a man she doesn't love -- just to experience the transformative thrill of marching down the aisle. And it seems that despite women being more assertive in the Boardrooms of the World (and also in the bedroom), this sort of behavior is still running rife. (OK, where's my rifle? -ed)

While I agree that there's certainly nothing wrong with a bit of fantasy (what little girl doesn't dream of being a bride at age 8?). But what's at the root of such motivation?

Is it: To love, honor and obey, in sickness and in health, till death do them part?

Or is it: To have the best darn wedding possible?

Or is it; Simply the lure of flowers, showers, dresses and of course -- a HUGE diamond ring?

"Oh, definitely the ring," scoffed one of my male friends (who admitted that he was "forced" to buy a HUGE ring for his ex-fiancée). She gave him the dreaded ultimatum:

"Marry me, or else we are at a 'dead end', and I will (unstated: sleep with someone else)!"

"She kept demanding a big ring," he said. He added, "But once I proposed and she'd gotten 'what' she wanted, it was like she no longer cared for our relationship. She certainly wasn't interested in me anymore. It was like all she wanted was a big fancy wedding, a big fancy dress and a big fancy ring to show off to all her non-married friends. The actual meaning of marriage was lost on her. When it came down to our relationship, it felt like it meant nothing to her." In his case, he called it quits "before it was too late". (He didn't get the ring back. -ed).

In our culture obsessed with weddings, it comes as no surprise that reality TV shows hit our airwaves like swarms of bees. Titles like: "Suzie's getting Married". The show aims to marry-off an insecure female nick-named, "Sue". Her dress is chosen; the venue is booked; the caterers have their menus; and the drinks are decided on. There's only one tiny little catch: Suzie opted to 'dead end' the man of her dreams.

Yep, there's no groom and no Good man in sight. That's why she's got the whole team at (Focker) Family Channel behind her -- to find her one such groom (same religion of course) -- and they've got just a few more years do it, and must make sure he's who he says he is -- AND -- he has to be rich! Quite the order to fill, Me Thinks.

And while that's just fantasy on Reality Television, the trend is very, very real. Often nicknamed "Bridezillas" (AKA "Monsters"), even Oprah is on that trend-line -- devoting entire shows to women who've become so obsessed with their wedding, that the obsessions evolve towards being more important than any thoughts of actually pleasing their poor down-trodden groom-to-be.

But guys, don't fear -- because not all women are wedding-obsessed. A quick dip into the BLOG-O-Sphere found this comment from a bride-to-be: "I wish we could actually skip the wedding, go to Vegas and just get married -- like I wanted to do in the first place!

"Did I just hear a cheer of, "Amen !!!" over by the slot machines?

By so doing, the Road to Riches can be green (indeed).

To close, and as for fitting advice? Neither a gambler... nor a lover be.

Get an appartment nearby, buy a "Mercedes Benz SL 500", drive by her house daily.

Part-I "Honeymoon Over & The Itch"

See also, Part-II [above]

What's the best part of any relationship? Ah ...the spin-up, "honeymoon" period, of course! But once the conjoined baths, public smooching, and non-stop canoodling are over, the relationship can come to a screeching halt. Someone announces a "dead end" (cul de sac).

That's when she starts to feel the itch.

According to experts, sometimes it's not merely a "rough patch" (to scratch), but THE inescapable "love crisis point" that occurs (it's a point in time when an "EXODUS" is no Book of the Bible). She is CONVINCED that the grass is sure to be greener on the other side. More often than not, the grass does all the damage. More often than not, all that is grass is NOT green. Maybe it's money, maybe it's sex (a romp in the hay), maybe it's true incompatibility -- but there's that itch.

It always gets touched by someone. (Itched.)

In the classic film "Seven Year Itch", lead man (Richard Sherman) who has been married for seven years meets 22-year-old lead lady (Marilyn Monroe). And he is petrified. Why? He had recently stumbled across a phenomenon known as the 'seven-year itch' -- the time in a relationship when a significant proportion of men and women have extra-relationship affairs. And while he doesn't succumb to scratching the itch, it seems he's not alone in feeling it.

Ah, the itch. "I felt it after just 3-years." revealed Ms. "X".

She's a self-employed professional who recently found herself placed on the outside of a three-year union by a boy friend who demands zero impropriety in the form of consistent decency and irreproachable moral behavior (at all times) -- and the total absence of abuse and violence in a home.

Well, "Now, it's alive and real.", " I will do whatever I want. It’s a free world. For both of us." (The itch.)

It was all running smoothly between the two of them, and then BAM (wambam, AKA marriage wampum?). She hit the mark and everything went pear-shaped from there.

"He broke things off due to my behavior, and things have been lousy for me ever since.", she said.

"The problem now, is that I'm petrified this will happen again, because she can't contain herself.", he said.

Research shows the median time for an enduring relationship is approximately, 7.2 years. So why all the malice at the 3-year point?

People change naturally over the years (anyone who broke off a marriage after about seven years) ought to know. Life works in cycles and everything changes (about every seven years). Suddenly, you wake up with someone that you weren't with those (few) years ago. So you need to make an effort to get to know that person again.

The itch occurs when people think 'I cant be bothered to do anything about the problems that we have to surmount, and I'm just not going to accept a mediocre relationship." (The itch.)

Yet the seventh year isn't the only blimp on the relationship radar. Oh no. Sometimes this occurs during the 6th, 5th, 4th, or even the 3rd year!

Those "love crises points" are the times (in every relationship) where things get a little unpleasant. Some relationships have more, others less. Experts (and serial "candy shop" daters), say there's the one-month itch, the one-year itch (when the honeymoon period is over and reality slowly starts to creep in), the 2-year itch (when realities surface), and the third-year itch (usually at the point where the couple is actually thinking about being together for the long haul) -- but each interval leaves couples out in the cold... shivering and stark-naked, their souls bared.

Within that three-year period, the initial euphoria has worn off and each person is getting down to the business of 'How can we be together?", "What must we do with our lives to make that possible?", "How are we going to coordinate our work and home lives to care for our children?", "Are we going to get to travel and enjoy love and life together?", "Or will it be all work, and no play?

"A girl just wants to have fun? So let's forget about the seven year conundrum for just a moment.

How do we scratch the three-year itch? After all, no-one wants the honeymoon to end after just three years, right?

Perhaps we can look to Hollywood for some answers?

In the film "The Break Up", Jennifer Aniston's character finds the perfect solution for her relationship itch. So how does she get character Vince Vaughn's attention? She opts for Brazilian bikini wax. And yes, according to my friends, it works wonders...

Have you felt it? How do you prevent the itch?

And so Bikini wax it is...

"KNOW IT ALLS"

People who THINK that they KNOW EVERYTHING, generally annoy those of us who do...
(jest jestin')

Teach Tolerance

Even moderation ought not be practiced to excess.

Teach tolerance anyway!

Shaming & Blaming & Ridicule (of Truth)

Personal INSULTS are the "last resort" of an exhausted mind -- when confronted with undeniable Truth.

9/11 Economics ~ What if?

Week of 9/11, 2006 ~ five years after the events...

Let us never forget the devastating human cost of the 9/11 attacks. All too poignantly, those memories (impaled into our hearts and minds 5 years ago) were relived (and rehashed) through the medias (and in premier position) this week. There was no escaping total recall, nor the ongoing impact.

Hence, we marked the 5th anniversary of that terrible day.

While taking-on a certain distance from the human cost, the economic costs of 9/11 have also been staggering. But I've wondered, what would the world economy look like if September 11th, 2001 had never happened?

Those attacks changed our perspectives about violent death, and what was possible in the way of new "crimes against humanity". The world economy was altered in two distinct ways, Me Thinks...

First, there was significant, unthinkable, and immediate damage back in 2001. We responded with the closing of America's borders, a halt on international travel. Soon thereafter, the "CNN Effect" on consumer spending sent growth into a veritable nosedive (that ill-fated September)! That gloomy month contributed to one of the worst 3rd Quarters in years -- with U.S. gross domestic product declining 1.4 percent. In retrospect, it seems clear that the U.S. wouldn't have had an official recession that year (since there might have only been one quarter of negative GDP growth in 2001, the first).

By following that chain of events forward, the US Federal Reserve aggressively reduced interest rates to levels not seen since the 1950s and held them low for some time. As spending by businesses plummeted, housing demand was stimulated by the low interest rates, keeping the economy afloat. (Looking back, it seems likely that we might be talking less of a collapsing housing bubble today if 9/11 had never happened.)

Just as significant, has been the varied, yet intangible damage to the economy.

The attacks taught the world that the risk of becoming a victim to the ideologies of another person, group, or country was far higher than we believed. That realization has made market participants a great deal more risk averse. That increased risk aversion has driven up the prices of assets that are perceived to be safe and depressed those of assets that may be more exposed to a sharp decline if another terrorist attack occurs. In this way, intangible damage leads to visible symptoms.

Some examples...

Assets and prices? This has helped boost the price of gold and other commodities, as well as of government bonds. The yield on the 10- year U.S. Treasury, which closed at 4.77 percent on Sept. 8th 2006, is about three-quarters of a percentage point lower than in June 2001. Given that the economic-growth and inflation rates are both higher than they were back then, we might well expect interest rates today to be as much as a percentage point higher than they now are. Flight to safety because of fears of terrorism probably explains much of the difference. The avoidance of volatility is also seen in stock valuations. The price-to-earnings ratio of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index spent the first two years of this millennium ranging from 23 to 40.
Last week, that ratio was about 17. Again, it is likely that a good bit of that change is attributable to risk aversion that was heightened by 9/11. The index would have to rise 37 percent to reach the lowest P/E level in the two years before the terrorist attacks of 2001.
Middle East?

Equally significant may be the impact of the attacks on the economies of the Middle East. Many Middle East nations share a common trait -- their relative political oppression. Indeed, they rank among the least politically free countries in the world, according to the annual World Freedom survey conducted by various organizations that track the spread (or decline) of freedom throughout the world. The surveys rank countries by political and civil freedom on a scale of 1-to-7, with one being the most free and seven the least. For context, the average world rating for both measures of freedom is about 3, or "closer to free" than not.

Saudi Arabia (home to most of the September 11 hijackers), and Syria (a state-sponsor of terrorism), received a rating of 7 for both political and civil freedoms -- a distinction they share with only six other countries, including North Korea and Sudan. Is anyone surprised?

Freedom ranking of countries? According to the Index of Economic Freedom, these nations differ in economic freedom as well. Ranked on a scale from 1-to-5, with a lower score representing "greater freedom" -- half of the nations examined were freer than the world average, while half were less free. Iran, for example, received a score of 4.5, the second worst in the index -- while Jordan received 2.8, a score reflecting a freer economy than the world average of 2.98. By comparison, Hong Kong was ranked as the freest economy in the world with a score of 1.28, while the U.S. was tied for 8th at 1.84.

There is ample evidence that a "lack of freedom" undermines economic growth, and the miserable standard of living in most Muslim-dominated Middle Eastern countries can be attributed to their position in these rankings. Once again, that comes as no surprise (or shouldn't). Indeed, the International Monetary Fund recently released a careful analysis of the Arab growth deficit. Except for oil, things look very bad indeed.

Are some counties "immune" to acquiring Freedom? Compare the [above] findings with the rest of the world. The past few decades have seen an enormous spread of Freedom across the globe, from Asia to the former Soviet Union, and with Freedom has come striking improvement in economic well-being. The Middle East continues to be more or less immune (vulnerable) to these forces of Good, well being, and dare I say it... Democracy!

The decline of totalitarian regimes elsewhere in the world suggests that their existence is perilous at best.

The world's citizens prefer Freedom.

Osama bin Laden has doubtless, had a one-man, negative-effect on the spread of economic freedom. His radical agenda gave repressive regimes in the Middle East an excuse to tighten their grips on power, thwarting the spread of liberty that has brought prosperity to so many other regions of the world.

That leads to my second point.

Regardless of the damage Bin Laden inflicted on western economies with his heinous attacks on 9/11, the harm his network has done to the standard of living of the Muslims throughout the Middle East is far worse. If 9/11 had never occurred, we would all be better off ...but the biggest economic winners might have been the world's Muslims.

Is that not a bit of an irony? Me Thinks, yes.

Meanwhile, I'm really not prepared to begin reading the Qu'aran (Koran) in lieu of the Wall Street Journal and the NY Times just yet...

And so it is.

Ravioli, Ravioli, Ravioli...

Some years ago, when I was living in Europe, I came to like making and eating "Ravioli" -- from out of a can, or made from scratch! It was pasta made "wonderful'a"! I like Ravioli! My kids like Ravioli! We were crazy about Ravioli! We liked making Ravioli ..."ra-ra-ra-Ravioli"! We're probably making Ravioli right now! We're making meat Ravioli, cheese Ravioli (and no Italian "Mama mia" is gonna show us how to make Ravioli)! Making Ravioli is a colorful addition to one's life, loves, and living. We even reminisce about eating Ravioli. My first Ravioli experience was exquisite! I suppose when thinking about it, making Ravioli is a learning experience similar to any. Just like reading a manual. There are steps which you need to follow but no advice you need to take. I knew about a few things. The dough needs to be nice and elastic, it needs to be very thin, and what else? Of course the pasta will be cooked al dente. And oh yes, and I learned this the hard way... "La Femme Nikita", played by Anne Parillaud (French film, directed by: Luc Besson, 1990) loved Ravioli! When do we get to go out to eat... Ravioli ?

The Art (of Love) Touch

Touch transposes a warm feeling into our hearts...
(to be lost in the other's charms)
Touch sings a melody chanted like a mantra within one's thoughts.
(deep comfort, wrapped within the cocoon of four arms)
Touch can cause the heart to skip a beat...
(although the heart beats pure & fast)
Touch is what true love does "for" you (not "to").
(fingertips caress, as passions rise & last)
Touch is what I want to feel when I'm with you.
(to have you near, held tight, wanted most)
Touch me, and I fall inside of your warm embrace.
(the body aches to join with the other close)

Touch is a taste of tender lips.
(embraced to feel that sweetest nectar, refined)
Touch is what I feel whenever I'm thinking of you.
(while thoughts as soft as multicolors, drift gently into my mind)
Touch, is that explosive oneness, while waiting.
(forever messages conveyed through, best "wanting"...)

And I can wait.

When Two Equals One

Given that, a = b
It ensues that, a² = a b
Hence also, a² - b² = ab - b²
Clearly, (a + b) (a - b) = 2b (a - b)
And, (a + b) (a - b) = b (a - b)
Divide both sides by (a - b), they cancel each other out...
Then, (a + b) = b
And since a = b, then logically (a + a) = a
Restated, 2a = a
Dividing by "a", 2 = a/a
Therefore 2 = 1

Where is the error? Is there an error? What is the error?

Touch Me (Touched by You)

Were you here... I could measure the soft of thy skin with but one finger. Touch conveys thoughts as smooth as velvet ~ gently drifting... into the mind. Each stroke, reminiscent of becoming lovers ~ and our place in all time. Touched. We make memories... As ever skin will do. As ever touch will do.

My body aches to hold you close, My heart beats pure and fast. I embrace the feel of your sweet taste, To have you here again... at last! As ever I shall do. As ever you will do.

Fingers caress, as our passions rise... The love we make shines brightly, softly through our eyes. Deep within, each becomes lost in the other's charms, And the place my heart desires is the comfort of your arms. As ever we could do. As ever we should do.

Touch me, remind me of who I want to be. Touch me, remind me of who I can be. Touch me, remind me of who I am. The matching of your hand in mine comforts the Spirit, dear (wo)man. As ever Spirits should do. As ever our Love will do.

The Rose as Art?

Poetry is the written evidence of life. If our life is burning well, poetry is the flame, not the ash. Poetry is a mans' rebellion against being what he is not. Poetry surrounds us everywhere. But placing it on paper is (alas) not so easy as the reading of it. Poetry is the music of one's soul ~ above all, the symphony of great and feeling souls. Poetry is the art of substantiating shadows. I do not create poetry, I create myself. For the reader, the poems are but one pathway towards me...

-ooOoo-

The Rose as Art

In my hand I bear a rose, soft and red, single yet whole.
In a field of flowers I stand, beneath skies of vivid hues.
Sweet air I breathe, I breathe again.
Embraced I am by waves of color, by waves Of light.
My eyes behold In all its beauty, a lone blossom 'cross the field.
A splash of lips, amid endless seas of tears.
Within my mind Is born a thought, made fertile by desire.
Forsake but which? Partake of which?
This rose I bear? Or that which tempts?
I fear that should I forsake this rose, so rare, so fine.
For another I'd find Its petals frayed, stained, withered and dry.

9Lives@ShortTime2Live-Long2StayDead.Com

Often, history reminds us of just how beautiful the saga of our universal humanity can be. The distant past is an ancient story of love ...and it is alive and well (love still transforms everything it touches). Sometimes that story is not quite so pleasant. And it forces us to face cultural baggage that we’d rather leave stored away in the basement of human experience...

For example, examine these facts about: Israel & Jerusalem.

1. Israel became a state in 1312 BC (2 millennia before Islam).

2. Arab refugees from Israel began calling themselves "Palestinians" in 1967, two decades after (modern) Iraeli statehood.

3. After conquering the land in 1272 BC, Jews ruled it for a thousand years and maintained a continuous presence there for 3,300 years.

4. The only Arab rule following conquest in 633 AD lasted just 22 years.

5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem was the Jewish capital. It was never the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even under Jordanian rule, (East) Jerusalem was not made the capital, and no Arab leader came to visit it.

6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the Bible, but is not mentioned at all in the Qur'an (Koran).

7. King David founded Jerusalem. (Mohammed never set foot there.)

8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem; Muslims face Mecca. If they are between the two cities, Muslims pray facing Mecca (backs turned, with respect to Jerusalem).

9. In 1948, Arab leaders urged their people to leave, promising to cleanse the land of Jewish presence, and 68% of them fled (without laying eyes on an Israeli soldier).

10. Virtually the entire Jewish populations of Muslim countries has fled (as the result of violence targeted at them).

11. Some 630,000 Arabs left Israel in 1948 -- while close to a million Jews were forced to leave the Muslim countries.

12. In spite of the vast territories "at their disposal", Arab refugess were deliberately prevented from being assimilated into their host countries. Of 100 million refugees following World War II, they are the only group to have never integrated to join their co-religionists. Most of the Jewish refugees from Europe and Arab lands were settled in Israel (a country no larger than New Jersey).

13. There are 22 Muslim countries (not counting Palestine). There is only one Jewish state.

14. Arabs started all of the wars against Israel and lost (or were losing), every one of them.

15. The Fatah and Hamas constitutions still call for the destruction of Israel.

16. Israel ceded most of the West Bank and all of Gaza to the Palestinian authority, and even provided it with arms.

17. During the Jordanian occupation, Jewish holy sites were vandalized and were off limits to Jews.

18. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian holy sites are accessible to all faiths.

19. Out of 175 United Nations Security Council resolutions up to 1990, 97 were against Israel; out of 690 general assembly resolutions, 429 were against Israel.

20. The U.N. remained silent when the Jordanians destroyed 58 synagogues in the old city of Jerusalem. It remained silent while Jordan systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, and it remained silent when Jordan enforced "apartheid-style" laws, preventing Jews from having access to the Temple Mount and Western Wall.