The Terrorist Within

A very interesting story today about young Somali-American men disappearing from their American homes only to re-appear in Somalia, where they are being trained as islamic jihadists. The implications of this intelligence are obvious; terrorist jihadists raised in America, that know America, will likely become American 'cells' for the organization in the future. Some of the young men have actually called home to tell their parents what they're up to, and to wish them good-bye declaring, "[they] will see them in Heaven."
I remember a long time ago in a secret room, in a building that is classified and thus requires a security clearance to enter, watching a film that was titled 'The Enemy Within'. The thrust of that film was the danger of traitors within the Intelligence world. These young men would probably not be admitted to the Intelligence world; their backgrounds too closely tied to their immigrant roots: too many overseas relatives, etc. But they could become the 'terrorists within' by simply returning to the US and waiting for their orders.
I'm sure in the future the issue will come up as to whether or not these young men should be allowed to return to the United States. Is it against the law to be kidnapped/ run away to Somalia to fight in a holy war? Under any circumstances should these men be allowed to bring that fight here?? Have they renounced their citizenship, or declared America the great Satan?
Unfortunately, there is no reconciliation between Islam and Christianity, or any other religion, I imagine. You either believe in the savior for the chosen religion, or you are an infidel and doomed to hell. Not much room for negotiation. Therefore militant jihadists should be denied entry to the country. But...
IF I was an American who spoke English as my first language (or at least without a noticeable accent) and I wanted to return to America without being noticed, could America keep me from crossing the Mexican-American border?
We better spend some of that recovery money on a real border with Mexico, or be prepared for horror stories from abroad.
'Terrorists within' are like paratroopers that don't have to be dropped from the sky. Their use bring forth visions of the worst. Especially since these brainwashed religious warriors could be controlled by anyone, are willing to do anything, and as God's warriors need show no conscious in their self-righteousness. Who knows what doom will befall us in a move to change policy, sway American opinion, or (God forbid) if we are actually attacked from a Foreign source from a cave.
Regardless of who the true perpetrator is, you can be sure of this; future terrorist attacks are coming. The jihad is not going to go away, religious zealotry is not going to suddenly disappear, and devastating acts done in the name of God are not going to end in the near future.

ZEITGEIST...SEE IT TWICE

Slammin' Obama

What you gonna do?
We don't have to wait for the President-elect to get into office to start forgetting campaign promises. He is already back-peddling and the oath is still eight days away... terrible that 'Change We Can Believe In' is already shackled by reality.
I thought the President-elect said he would "bring the troops home"? Not shift thirty thousand from Iraq to Afghanistan, not start talking delays and logistics; Home is Home. If there is a problem in Afghanistan, We can bomb it... Period. We don't need Americans there guarding oil routes and pipelines. With an overwhelming majority of the American people disapproving of the Bush administration and it's policies, NOW is the time to walk the walk.
We don't need to occupy Afghanistan or Iraq to fight the War on Terror. We ARE the Terror in many aspects. Bring the Troops home.
A news report today stated that Obama was advised by Vice-President Cheney recently that the President-elect should examine the intelligence collected first and then consider closing Guantanimo Bay, to which he agreed... ???????????
Why didn't Obama say, "After I'm elected, and then after being advised by Vice President Cheney, I'll decide whether or not to close Gitmo"? The above is not the same as "I'll close Gitmo and stop the torture."
Additionally, all over the news is the Gay Bishop offended that the Right Wing Mega-church pastor was invited to do a prayer, when the mega-pastor guy has made disparaging comments about gays, and Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah....I've said it before.
Anyway, I've already written Senator Obama a letter telling him that "just in case those right wing religious fanatical maniacs don't disappear in one glorious moment of ecstasy and leave it all to me, then after [he's] elected [he] should institute a 'No Representation without Taxation' clause regarding the separation of Church and State clause and change the laws to keep these Stone Age Fear-mongers out of Politics. You Know, people like Sarah Palin."
Separation of Church and State; since both these guys represent churches they should be banned from anything to do with State affairs. Period. No representation without taxation. In God we Trust, but all 'Church' affairs should be kept separate from 'State'.
Why doesn't Obama just have them swear him in and start the Jazz? It's ridiculous to give these guys more air time; it's insulting to the Muslims they don't get a prayer, and how about the Buddhists? Don't they get a 'Ommmmmmm'? Will we have a moment of blasphemy for the atheists?
Bunch of Bullshit. Tell 'em all to pay taxes and then they can whine! Better yet, they should buy their spot.
One last thing; 'Change we can believe in'......... IF the Obama administration has the courage to investigate George Bush for High Crimes and Misdemeanors then that will be 'Change' we can believe in. Other wise it's like the song, 'Same old Bullshit, Same old Rock and Roll'.

The Cygnus Rift...‏

Recognize the name? It must be the middle of the Universe because The Cygnus Rift is the background for the Sun on 21DEC2012 at sunrise.The day the sun is supposed to cross the middle of the Universe. The day the Mayan calendar ends. Judgment Day. The day the poles are supposed to reverse.
...Or maybe the Sun goes cold in the Cygnus Rift; from what I understand, a dark spot in the Galaxy.
Nostradamus predicted dire consequences on the date, in the MURKY, not quite certain way that Nostradamus predicted everything. In this case he shows the Tree of Life being clubbed.
Watching the History Channel address the matter last night, I learned that the Pyramids line up to point to the same spot in the sky where the Sun rises on 211212. Now that is something to think about. The Pyramids were out of this world? We still can't explain how they moved some of those rocks. So what knowledge were they exhibiting when they lined up those pyramids to point at Sunrise 21 Dec 2012 ?
The date on the cycle was important to them, but why?
It's Armageddon week on the History channel this week so it'll probably be a lot of doom and gloom. Tonight is 'The Seven Signs of the Apocalypse'. Good Shit!
When I think about it...what IF the world knew of some calamity that would end Life, or The day GOD would arrive (or Aliens) three years before it happened. That's what I'm talking about; Countdown. Now that would be some drama!
Anyway, this Cygnus Rift is serious shit in some people's minds, but (the way I see it) we've passed this spot before about 26,920 years ago. So far I haven't found anything significant about 24,000 BC. At least not as Earth shaking as a visit from God.
A visit from an Asteroid is much more statistically probable. As a matter of fact, odds are, some uncharted boulder with no intent, or malice, will bring the whole show to an end. I can hardly believe it will be planned. More like 'a chip off the old block' and junior's planet is decimated. I'd bet that is not the scenario the Mayans foresaw.
After watching the second night of 'Armageddon Week' on the History Channel; 'The Seven Signs of the Apocalypse' was last night's show, I realize that people whom like to worry, have a lot to be concerned with. There are Plague, Pandemics, Asteroids, God's wrath, and the Sun crossing the mid point of the galaxy.
That's not seven. There's more. Why go on? If you're religious, YOU know GOD controls everything. If you're not religious, YOU realize it's out of control. Ask the Dinosaurs.
You know what I think? I think people really want the place to end during their own lifetime, so they don't miss anything, that's why they spend so much effort trying to see and even induce the END.
Fear runs the world. Don't be afraid of what you can ignore.
Where the hell did this go? I'm supposed to be contemplating Timelessness and the Cycles of the Universe in relation to Man and Eternal life. Here's one conclusion... the individual life cycle on this planet is so brief in relation to the cycles of the Universe, it is hard to believe our very existence could be significant without feeling like I'm flattering mankind.

The Mall

We were at 'The Mall' last week. The Mall is a good place to observe Holiday Bliss. It's full of Bliss; decorations everywhere, party dresses on hangers, stacks of sweaters on sale, and people everywhere buying things for others... things others don't need. It was business as usual. The Holidays.
As my son and I walked through Macy's I noticed the strapless party dresses; short, with frill around the bust. They reminded me of the dresses from the roaring twenties. Do women really wear those 'party' dresses? Are there really parties where people dress like that? I decide it's time to buy new teeth and try to meet the Jeffersons. The excess. The bliss. Don't people in the city watch the news? Is the story different?
The orgy is over. America is now broke. We don't have the money to finance our desires anymore. People are losing homes. Banks are failing. Automakers need a bailout. Real estate lost 2 trillion dollars in 2008. China owns us. Am I the only one worried about the future? Am I needlessly worried about nothing?

Looking around I realize I'm the oldest person in the mall . Or at least it seems so. Now I am depressed; not only do I feel like a killjoy, but an old humbug of a Grinch too.

Thirty years past my prime mall carousing days, I can only wish I was young and handsome and attractive to the numerous young women that 'eye' my son and ignore me. I'm happy and proud for my son. I tell him enjoy every minute of being young. I think that life is too short and youth (the shortest segment of life) is way too short. The hell with growing old gracefully. Nobody at the Mall is living in reality except the minimum wage store employees waiting to get off work and join the consumer orgy of Bliss themselves.

So I decide I'll join the fantasy... I give a wink to a young women looking in my son's direction, and Boom Baby, Like a Bomb reality slaps me almost as quick as that girl could twist her neck and look in the other direction.
Worse yet my son sees what happens and chastises me for not knowing how to act. So much for Holiday Cheer and Good Will. She could have humored me a little. I didn't want to marry her. I didn't even care if I knew her name. I just wanted to be thirty years younger, dumber, cooler, and irresistible. And she could have done all of that with an air kiss or a wink.

Instead it was whiplash.

Not that I would have believed she was sincere, but later when I was alone, the male ego could make anything reality. Oh Well.

I start to think about how if I'd only known how Austin men don't age gracefully, I would have tried harder to be a good husband. Shocked back to the ugly truth, I try smiling at an older women looking at the party dresses; she looks me up and down and walks away, obviously not impressed with my dress and lack of obvious wealth. Damn, I was only trying to make her feel good about being old, too. I could never be interested in anybody whom would actually buy and wear one of those silly dresses.

I tell myself, "You've known love, romance, passion. You had your day. Aren't you a little old for such shallow measures of worth?" But the Annie L song 'Stay Young and Beautiful' keeps popping into my head.

Now, too old and poor and ugly for the Mall, I feel like a spaghetti western without Clint Eastwood. I tell myself it's not too late. I'm not all washed up. I realize I can still have all the love and desire that money can buy, and the male ego can make it real.

All right, now we're getting in the Holiday Spirit. The Bliss.

Later, lamenting to my son about the emphasis put on attractiveness, and how it's making me feel old....

He says, "I know, I started going to city college and met lots of new girlfriends. When I started at Berkeley, I met 'the bomb' and dropped the others. I lost the bomb in pursuit of the BA, but got the degree. And with every degree the quality of my women goes up. I can't wait to pursue my Law degree, or Masters." ...All for the desire of an education.

And then I was happy. None of us get forever on this earth, but it is fulfilling to see the evolution and immortality of ourselves in our descendants.

I hope When you are at the mall this year you'll think of this letter and remember : The orgy is over. America is now broke. We don't have the money to finance our desires anymore. People are losing homes. Banks are failing. Automakers need a bailout. Real estate lost 2 trillion dollars in 2008. China owns us.

And then find the money and pretend. Join the Bliss. It's Christmas and life. Especially youth, is way too short. Happy Holidays.

By the way, YOU look marvelous... Wink, Wink!

The Third Year

Saturday. The Shack in southern Oregon is 2 days away from it's second birthday and the start of year 3. It's raining outside, just as it was two years ago. Unlike two years ago there now is an insulated house with plumbing and hot water, a toilet, a kitchen, and a shower. Life is good, time to sell. Fall is most beautiful here. Deciduous trees mixed in with the Evergreens combine to make a spectacular array of Autumn colors. The waterfalls in back and on both sides of the house are starting to drip, and soon the pond will be full. The firewood is stocked for the first half of winter, and a plan is had for the second half of winter. If I had an oven I'd bake something and Life would be full. I love listening to the rain hit the roof while the house is cozy. Inside the Shack it is a different world than out in the raw wilderness that surrounds it; like a Hobbit hole, with the security and warmth of the fire. I have a Pipe too. In the beginning it's tranquil and serene, after thirty days it's cabin fever. Now though, it's serene.

Sunday. Football. Two years on the Hill complete. It's been raining for four days now. The five day forecast is rain for five more days. The raindrops are softly tapping on the roof, lulling the less wary into forgetting the waters true nature, and force; Erosion. Even the soft tapping becomes monotonous, then aggravating; gently taunting the "cabin fevered" with it's wet reminder that it's raining. I check the Pacific Satellite map at the weather channel website. It will be time for some 'doom and gloom for the valley' predictions soon. Is it sunny and warm today in California?

Monday. Happy Birthday Bradland. It's raining. The weather channel talks about this storm and that storm, in the rain forest the only way to tell is the different temperatures of the rain. Today's has turned cold. This is the fifth day of rain, and the five day forecast calls for five more. Great concealed weapon, weather. I see that Mammoth Mountain in southern California is going to open it's slopes today; no need to ask if it's snowing in the Sierras. The Shack seems to be holding the heat this year. Halleleujah for insulated floors. I'm looking forward to snow on the ground for six weeks this year. It's soundless. Sometimes it all seems worth it. You really have to define 'all' and 'it', and what choices that you have.

Cross Eyed Fish

This last week I was in that large California city in the valley where the rivers meet, and it was hot. And the City; fast and furious with busy people, crowded, young and amped on testosterone, impersonal and hard, began to feel uncomfortable and dangerous to me. I felt old and slow and disoriented. I visit my friends and they seem old and tired and unsure of their footing. There are those that aren't disoriented though; they realize their world, and time, and life's opportunities approaching. These are the twenty-five year olds I know.
Those my own age I tell,"Get up and go!" At our age we're the ones that have less to risk. How long do the mortal live?
I feel good. I am on an adventure. Life is exciting, challenging, rewarding, and fun. Well... it isn't desperate anyway. Life is wonderful, every miserable moment. It is good living another adventure at fifty. It has to be; I'm here and the best course to stay appears the one I'm on. Additionally, the longer I live as I do the more comfortable my life becomes. Only affirmed more and more by the city's decreasing attractiveness as I become acclimated to the rural life.
Here, in the mountains, on a still day, Time stands still. Almost always Time crawls and life is elongated here, but when the forest is entirely still, time doesn't move at all. The world looks two dimensional, as if one is standing in a picture. Time to learn how to plane jump.
If the answers are in-between the parameters, then humans must be looking at the world wrong. Not in a philosophical manner, but in their actual vision.
Juggling supposedly increases Brain Mass three percent. Probably due to forcing the mind to focus on ones peripheral vision and reacting. I think looking at the world cross eyed to force one's mind to see, and mentally respond to one's entire peripheral vision might be the next evolutionary step. Like driving down the road with one eye on the rear view mirror and the other on the road, digesting both pictures and responding; building brain mass.
Be careful though... with everything to live for, watch your 'road'.
Next time I see you though, if you're looking cross-eyed and seeing everything, like a fish with eyes on different sides of it's head... well, I'll know that you know a good idea when you hear it.

2 out of 5

The beginning of November will be the start of my third year here in Oregon. If the progression of the improvements on the property continue at the rate they have the previous two years, by this time next year the shack should be complete. In three more years the place should be paid off, or paid down to less than what you paid for your last car.
Life is good. I'm adapting to the new world and the lifestyle changes. I need a few goats and some chickens, a 'Sea-Land container' filled with MRE's and a ton of rice and beans. A little more ammo and fishing lessons and I'll be ready for the Apocalypse.
The last thirty days I've had caretakers at the house to feed the dog and watch the property: Randy and Jacob. The three of us Insulated underneath the shack, water-sealed the exterior, dug trenches and helped the Plumber plumb the place. It's a whole house now, or at least a whole shack. When we weren't working, or they weren't fishing, I was riding the motorcycle back and forth to California. It was good to have someone watch the dog and guard the property while I rolled a little. But alas, all good things come to an end; last week Randy went to his mother's in Portland. Today Jacob returned to Sacramento. It's back to me and the dog.
It'll be nice to have the shack to myself again for a while, but it will be lonely far too quick.
I look at pictures of my sons and kick myself in the ass for not video recording our every moment together. I try to talk them into coming and living my life with me, but they want their own lives. They are exactly whom I thought they should be in many ways...what the hell did I know? They're Worldly, Educated, the Beneficiaries of learning from my mistakes, I feel like the ultimate loser on Jeopardy around them.
It was a good year. Three more to go, this base will be paid for, and I'll be able to start the next Five year plan: buy a 36 foot sail boat and become a Asia coastal trader for five years while I pay for the Boat. But I won't think about that for the moment...
Don't live for the future, Live for the NOW, you get more done that way. Yours must be a busy, enjoyable world.