I satisfied my lust for power last night. It was exhilarating! You should have seen me; I was on top of my game. I had hundreds of creatures in dread and cautious of my every move. Allow me to tell you a riveting story. Last night I was running down the boardwalk in Long Beach minding my own business and I happened to pass a massive gaggle of shifty-eyed seagulls with a chip on their shoulder, unruly pelicans with an attitude, and beady-eyed red/black birds looking for trouble. They were all over the sand acting like they owned the place! Yes, they were crowding me! I looked toward the ocean they were all standing around, posturing, looking like little street birds, sagging. I could tell that they were up to no-good. As I ran passed the fowl I noticed many had foul smirks, sneers, and disdain written across their smug faces. I couldn't believe it, I looked over my shoulder and heard them laughing at me like a pack of hyenas.
Ohhhhh they can’t fool me, ohhh no, I know exactly what they were thinking. They were thinking, “Those mere mortals, they run in circles, they run back and forth, up and down those stairs, they are so limited and slow, they are such fools. They chase meaningless materials and fuss and worry over nothing and everything all the time, they are nothing like us. We don’t worry about cloths, cars, houses or even our next meal, we fret about nothing; we enjoy the land, air, and sea, all the time. We own the skies! We are sooo superior!”
Sure, the beady eyed birds had a good laugh at my expense, but not for long. As they yukked it up, I snapped and turned around with malice in my heart. I was bound to ruffle-up a few feathers. The beach was no longer big enough for me and a bunch of trouble-makers. I chased those rascals around, in circles, back and forth, and up and down, for 15 minutes. They fought hard to hold their ground but in the end their persistence did not pay. The condescending fowl had to fly away. I’ll bet they had a foul taste in their mouths when they left. That pack of fluff and feathers may own the skies but I owned that patch of sand, for 15 minutes.
I no longer have need to command legions of men as I am now completely satisfied with chasing, in circles, back and forth, and up and down, a mass of wise-guy birds. I was the superior life form on the beach tonight, for 15 minutes.
Why stop to smell the roses when you can run and chase the birds?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Hari Krishna
Chant this in series of 16:
Hari Krishna
Hari Krishna
Krishna Krishna
Hari Hari
Hari Rama
Hari Rama
Rama Rama
Hari Hari
Its purpose is simply to clear, open, and prepare the body and mind to talk to God.
Hari Krishna
Hari Krishna
Krishna Krishna
Hari Hari
Hari Rama
Hari Rama
Rama Rama
Hari Hari
Its purpose is simply to clear, open, and prepare the body and mind to talk to God.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Lost Keys
A number of people have emailed me recently requesting news, views, and reviews of the Jake’s feeble interpretations and understandings.
I live to please. I shall begin by giving some deep and profound advice. I give a personal guarantee that if you listen and practice this advice with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength you will eventually learn to be less like me. So here we go (again).
Last Saturday I ran 23 miles and finished dog tired, thirsty and hungry. I moseyed on over to a great little fresh fish restaurant in San Pedro and ordered the yellow- tail fish dinner. As I began stripping and changing from my wet running cloths I noticed that people were watching (shame is for the cold and huddled masses, not me). I immediately told the children to close their eyes and the woman to look over here with 20’s between their teeth (for stuffing my speedo’s). I notice that the keys in my hand were impeding the strip tease. I set my keys down and proceeded to entertain the woman folk, all to the dismay of the hostilemen. After the standing ovation and collecting all the 20’s laying about I sat down to eat my lunch. All was fine in heaven and earth until it was time to leave.
My keys were gone! I immediately began to convict every breathing creature in the establishment for intentional, devious, and underhanded thievery. I could tell, for sure, he did it because of those beady eyes, that one for his shifty nature, this one must have ripped-me-off because he had poor eye contact, absolutely it had to be that guy with the one long eyebrow, it was a dead give away. Just as I jumped into my kung fu stance and was about to kung fu everybody in the restaurant, Laura, the waitress calmed me down so we could start the key hunt. I dug through all the trash cans, searched high and low, they were not in the car, the restaurant, my pockets, the trash cans, or the bath room. They vanished! Where did they go? Did I just witness a nonsensical miracle?
After 45 minutes of intensive searching I decided that I had to call a lock smith to come and unlock the car and make me a million keys (for millions of denero). Laura gave me some change to use the pay phone (cell was locked in the car). I walked over to the pay phone and bent over to tie my shoe lace. To my dismay I heard a jingle. What? Where? Angeles? Insanity? My pockets are empty but I check for the 50th time. Am I so tired that I’ve become delirious? I bend down again pretending that my tied shoe was untied. Jingle. Now I’m cursing and foaming at the mouth! Are evil spirits conspiring just to mess with me? I bend down again to tie the tied shoe string for the third time. Jingle! Jingle! What the F&#K!
Only a finely tuned mind like mine could dissect this intriguing mystery. No, the butler didn’t do it, but I did accuse the waitress, of course. After careful contemplation, the genius finally figured it out! All that hard earned education finally paid off! Are you ready for this one? I don't think you are. I would feel more comfortable if you turned off your computer right now, go meditate for a few hours and come back later when your mind is better prepared. Okay, your back, you will never ever guess where my keys were, I'm embarrassed to admit it but...okay, okay, here we go...The keys were literally sitting on top of my head the whole time.
Apparently when I took off my cap to change shirts I set the keys in the baseball cap. After changing shirts I put the cap back on my head with the keys inside the cap. I didn’t feel any keys (only 6) konck me on the head.
I usually despise untied shoe laces, but in this case I will forever be grateful, that shoe lace saved this weary body a bundle of time and money. I literally had my keys sitting on my brain but couldn't figure out where they were.
Some profound advice: The next time you loose your keys and you’re running around like a rabid dog looking everywhere and the same places for the 50th time, be sure to check that they are not sitting on top of your head. Forever more that will be the first place I check.
I live to please. I shall begin by giving some deep and profound advice. I give a personal guarantee that if you listen and practice this advice with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength you will eventually learn to be less like me. So here we go (again).
Last Saturday I ran 23 miles and finished dog tired, thirsty and hungry. I moseyed on over to a great little fresh fish restaurant in San Pedro and ordered the yellow- tail fish dinner. As I began stripping and changing from my wet running cloths I noticed that people were watching (shame is for the cold and huddled masses, not me). I immediately told the children to close their eyes and the woman to look over here with 20’s between their teeth (for stuffing my speedo’s). I notice that the keys in my hand were impeding the strip tease. I set my keys down and proceeded to entertain the woman folk, all to the dismay of the hostilemen. After the standing ovation and collecting all the 20’s laying about I sat down to eat my lunch. All was fine in heaven and earth until it was time to leave.
My keys were gone! I immediately began to convict every breathing creature in the establishment for intentional, devious, and underhanded thievery. I could tell, for sure, he did it because of those beady eyes, that one for his shifty nature, this one must have ripped-me-off because he had poor eye contact, absolutely it had to be that guy with the one long eyebrow, it was a dead give away. Just as I jumped into my kung fu stance and was about to kung fu everybody in the restaurant, Laura, the waitress calmed me down so we could start the key hunt. I dug through all the trash cans, searched high and low, they were not in the car, the restaurant, my pockets, the trash cans, or the bath room. They vanished! Where did they go? Did I just witness a nonsensical miracle?
After 45 minutes of intensive searching I decided that I had to call a lock smith to come and unlock the car and make me a million keys (for millions of denero). Laura gave me some change to use the pay phone (cell was locked in the car). I walked over to the pay phone and bent over to tie my shoe lace. To my dismay I heard a jingle. What? Where? Angeles? Insanity? My pockets are empty but I check for the 50th time. Am I so tired that I’ve become delirious? I bend down again pretending that my tied shoe was untied. Jingle. Now I’m cursing and foaming at the mouth! Are evil spirits conspiring just to mess with me? I bend down again to tie the tied shoe string for the third time. Jingle! Jingle! What the F&#K!
Only a finely tuned mind like mine could dissect this intriguing mystery. No, the butler didn’t do it, but I did accuse the waitress, of course. After careful contemplation, the genius finally figured it out! All that hard earned education finally paid off! Are you ready for this one? I don't think you are. I would feel more comfortable if you turned off your computer right now, go meditate for a few hours and come back later when your mind is better prepared. Okay, your back, you will never ever guess where my keys were, I'm embarrassed to admit it but...okay, okay, here we go...The keys were literally sitting on top of my head the whole time.
Apparently when I took off my cap to change shirts I set the keys in the baseball cap. After changing shirts I put the cap back on my head with the keys inside the cap. I didn’t feel any keys (only 6) konck me on the head.
I usually despise untied shoe laces, but in this case I will forever be grateful, that shoe lace saved this weary body a bundle of time and money. I literally had my keys sitting on my brain but couldn't figure out where they were.
Some profound advice: The next time you loose your keys and you’re running around like a rabid dog looking everywhere and the same places for the 50th time, be sure to check that they are not sitting on top of your head. Forever more that will be the first place I check.
La La Land Marathon
We're running the La La Land Marathon on Sunday. I emailed my friends the following message: I’ve been resting so much I now have blisters on my arse. I can’t wait to run! I’m chomping at the bit, a bat released from hell, a spider on the fly, a Romanian race horse at the gate, a Siberian, an Alaskan, perhaps a Malamute harnessed to a stationary sled, Gee! Haw! I can’t wait to run! I’ll probably take-off at sub 5 minute miles; Prefontane will be smiling at me from the grave. I'll run so fast I might meet him there. Who knows, I’m liable to break a world record. I’m gonna....Jake! Jake! Calm Down! SLAP! Calm Down! SLAP! You’ve got the Almighty Catalina in two weeks! SLAP!.....Many moments later..... Okay, okay, after the attitude adjustment and careful reconsideration, I’ve decided that the world record is safe, this time.
Instead, I plan on tying a ball and chain to my leg to slow me down. If you see me out there, dragging a ball and chain, but still running like the wind, please do your utmost to Mary Decker trip me. At all costs I must run slowly to avoid spending all my energy, Catalina affords no mercy.
Ahhhh.....on second thought, forget all that running stuff, I think I’ll just kick my feet up, smoke a cigar, drink some coffee, and a little later go take a nap and dream of fantastic feats, it's easier. I'll look for yall on the tellie.
Good luck all.
May the WIND always be at your back,
Jake
Instead, I plan on tying a ball and chain to my leg to slow me down. If you see me out there, dragging a ball and chain, but still running like the wind, please do your utmost to Mary Decker trip me. At all costs I must run slowly to avoid spending all my energy, Catalina affords no mercy.
Ahhhh.....on second thought, forget all that running stuff, I think I’ll just kick my feet up, smoke a cigar, drink some coffee, and a little later go take a nap and dream of fantastic feats, it's easier. I'll look for yall on the tellie.
Good luck all.
May the WIND always be at your back,
Jake
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Clover Fields
Where the buffalo graze in clover fields without the sound of guns and the red sun sinks at last into the hills of gold and peace to this young warrior comes.......
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Red Eyed Whiskey
Graveyards in my Head
A Heart of Tombstones
Long Lost Forever Dead
Cold Dark Dust Bones
Problems with no Solution
Nothing the Same
A Circle of Confusion
Something Somebody to Blame
Signs of Treason
Gently Fade Away
Pain for No Reason
Don’t Go Please Stay
Empty Bread of Life
Neal and Pray
Gods Will
So they say
Forgotten Peace
Untouched Caress
A Life on Lease
The Failed Test
A shadow can set me free
To stay I must go
Mountains washed to Sea
Whats Above Whats Below
I Bleed to Know I'm Alive
Red Eyed Whiskey
For the Pain
A Heart of Tombstones
Long Lost Forever Dead
Cold Dark Dust Bones
Problems with no Solution
Nothing the Same
A Circle of Confusion
Something Somebody to Blame
Signs of Treason
Gently Fade Away
Pain for No Reason
Don’t Go Please Stay
Empty Bread of Life
Neal and Pray
Gods Will
So they say
Forgotten Peace
Untouched Caress
A Life on Lease
The Failed Test
A shadow can set me free
To stay I must go
Mountains washed to Sea
Whats Above Whats Below
I Bleed to Know I'm Alive
Red Eyed Whiskey
For the Pain
Monday, February 11, 2008
StoryofStuff.com
I started the practice of releasing the desire for, and the possession of, materials a few years ago. About 15 months ago this burning amber was rekindled. Moreover, my practice was significantly amplified while visiting India recently. Perhaps I will sustain little value in our siciety because I own and buy little, but I now embrace the scenerio and can easily live with such a stigma.
I recently stumbled across a really cool 20 minute video. Annie Leonard has composed a strong message and the format, content, and delivery are excellent. When you have a spare moment you can judge it for yourself. I believe that you will appreciate her work and message, if not; it will certainly prove thought provoking.
Planned and Perceived Obolescence? The Golden Arrow? Externalized Costs? Dioxin? Work/Watch/Spend Treadmill? Sustainability and Equity? Find out how Annie describes these terms at:
www.storyofstuff.com
I recently stumbled across a really cool 20 minute video. Annie Leonard has composed a strong message and the format, content, and delivery are excellent. When you have a spare moment you can judge it for yourself. I believe that you will appreciate her work and message, if not; it will certainly prove thought provoking.
Planned and Perceived Obolescence? The Golden Arrow? Externalized Costs? Dioxin? Work/Watch/Spend Treadmill? Sustainability and Equity? Find out how Annie describes these terms at:
www.storyofstuff.com
A Sign of Better Days
To realize their objectives, our coaches, Steve Mackel and Gary Smith consistently employ a passion for a heart felt mission of fitness, express a mantra of compassion and love for one another, and execute their cause of chi-running, yoga, and meditation with deliberate intentions. Their prescription for good health (body, mind and soul) seems to have matured into a “Beach Runner” community that is ripe with joy, energy and passion.
Steve practices a beautiful way of life but mostly his life is his practice. His quality of life and coaching methods can be characterized as “Zen and the Art of Health and Fitness.” Steve has a lovely disposition and a passion for people and coaching beyond measure. His warm nature and radiating charm are self-evident.
The arms of Gary's heart embrace and wrap around all those who cross his path. He has a gentle, generous, loving, metaphysical, intellectual, insightful, spiritual and philosophical approach to people, places and things. Gary’s karma is pleasant and enticing, he has much to offer.
As a dynamic duo, Steve represents the dove and Gary the olive branch that was carried back to the ship, giving all those aboard a tangible and positive sign of a better day. The ocean of troublesome circumstances that often swells from a life in the "City of Angeles” can take a heavy toll on those who are unconditioned. The ark of health and fitness that Steve and Gary have built has helped to shelter me from a life of dark clouds and stormy weather that poor health, muddled thinking, and a compromised spirit brings. To find the promise land, I am practicing and utlizing meditation as a lighthouse for direction, chi-running as the or for propulsion, and yoga as the rudder to maneuver.
These wonderful tri-trainings have helped me to navigate through the fog of three years of rough and turbulent waters. The current is now moving my ship in the right direction, my compass bearing is strong, and the stars and wind are pleasantly aligned. Moreover, through my practice of their coaching and teaching of chi-running, yoga, and meditation I have started to peel away the outside layers of myself, a person that I didn’t even know, to become and reveal the person that I was meant to be. I have loved this voyage and am eternally grateful.
Thank you Steve, Gary, Lili, and India………
Steve practices a beautiful way of life but mostly his life is his practice. His quality of life and coaching methods can be characterized as “Zen and the Art of Health and Fitness.” Steve has a lovely disposition and a passion for people and coaching beyond measure. His warm nature and radiating charm are self-evident.
The arms of Gary's heart embrace and wrap around all those who cross his path. He has a gentle, generous, loving, metaphysical, intellectual, insightful, spiritual and philosophical approach to people, places and things. Gary’s karma is pleasant and enticing, he has much to offer.
As a dynamic duo, Steve represents the dove and Gary the olive branch that was carried back to the ship, giving all those aboard a tangible and positive sign of a better day. The ocean of troublesome circumstances that often swells from a life in the "City of Angeles” can take a heavy toll on those who are unconditioned. The ark of health and fitness that Steve and Gary have built has helped to shelter me from a life of dark clouds and stormy weather that poor health, muddled thinking, and a compromised spirit brings. To find the promise land, I am practicing and utlizing meditation as a lighthouse for direction, chi-running as the or for propulsion, and yoga as the rudder to maneuver.
These wonderful tri-trainings have helped me to navigate through the fog of three years of rough and turbulent waters. The current is now moving my ship in the right direction, my compass bearing is strong, and the stars and wind are pleasantly aligned. Moreover, through my practice of their coaching and teaching of chi-running, yoga, and meditation I have started to peel away the outside layers of myself, a person that I didn’t even know, to become and reveal the person that I was meant to be. I have loved this voyage and am eternally grateful.
Thank you Steve, Gary, Lili, and India………
Baby Drive My Kar
The bucket, ride, short, wheels, battle-ax, chic magnet, clunker, hot rod, vehicle, automobile, The CAR.
The CAR is The Ultimate Oxymoron
You are moving yet you are sitting
You are outside yet you are inside
You arrived somewhere yet you haven't moved
The driver must be a tall, short, skinny, fat man.
The CAR is The Ultimate Oxymoron
You are moving yet you are sitting
You are outside yet you are inside
You arrived somewhere yet you haven't moved
The driver must be a tall, short, skinny, fat man.
Tale of Woe
Every wild animal known to mankind was exhibiting foul intentions that fateful night. There was snarling, growling, gnashing of teeth, bushes and trees rustling in the pierce and howling wind. Yes, danger was thick as thieves that frightful evening my friends. I quickly set-up a meditation, it was imperative that I steady and prepare my mind and body for the perilous feats that I was about to encounter. After rounding the first corner I realized that weaponry would be needed. I found a sharp rock and fashioned a spear from lightening struck, heat treated, wood lying about. With Zeus and Apollo as my witness, a large but rather slow witted dragon pounced on the running trail just before me, breathing fire, swiping with a powerful tail and 8 inch claws. My chi and yogabonda immediately engaged. I don't remember much, however, judging from the blood, a slayed dragon and my bone tired muscles, I'm confident that I fought well. After this epic battle all noises and intimidation from unruly and hostile animals ceased. I was free to save the damsel in distress. The damsel was overcome with tears of joy as I threw her over my shoulder and carried her back to safety. I did not disclose this tale for fear of aggravating the damsel’s tender condition but she is now well. I feel compelled to share these events, not to brag of heroics, rather to prepare the way for those after me that are caught in the depths of Mordor unprepared in mind and body. Please, do not honor me as a hero, but a simple Knight without shining armor.
May Every Damsel Live Distress Free,
Sir Jake-a-Lot
May Every Damsel Live Distress Free,
Sir Jake-a-Lot
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Buffalo Chips
Jake ran the Buffalo half marathon in 2:13 yesterday. It was a 13.7 mile trail run on Catalina Island, most notable was the 8 miles of steep uphill. It was gruelling! How do you feel today Jake, a concerned Samaritan might ask. The Jake replies, "BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?"
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Red Cloud, Sioux Chief
"I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love."
Bull Fighting
Tauromaquia is the Greek word for Bullfighting, which came to the Spanish language through Latin, the language of Rome and the Roman Empire.
Bullfighting is the human attributes of intelligence, grace, and elegance versus animal brute force. It is an artful demonstration of sophistication dominating over violence and violent tendency. Bullfighting is the triumph of human cunning over brute force.
Bullfighting is a dramatic ballet dance with danger and death. As he would in dancing, the bullfighter must control his movements maintaining the rhythm, not of music, but of danger. Unlike the stage, in the arena a mistake could mean the death of the star of this drama.
A Spanish critic of this art form once said: “Anyone can bullfight if he can perform the technique, anyone who has courage. The difficulty lies in being able to fight like Belmonte or Manolete as if the bulls were made of glass and one were afraid to break them.”
Bullfighting is the human attributes of intelligence, grace, and elegance versus animal brute force. It is an artful demonstration of sophistication dominating over violence and violent tendency. Bullfighting is the triumph of human cunning over brute force.
Bullfighting is a dramatic ballet dance with danger and death. As he would in dancing, the bullfighter must control his movements maintaining the rhythm, not of music, but of danger. Unlike the stage, in the arena a mistake could mean the death of the star of this drama.
A Spanish critic of this art form once said: “Anyone can bullfight if he can perform the technique, anyone who has courage. The difficulty lies in being able to fight like Belmonte or Manolete as if the bulls were made of glass and one were afraid to break them.”
Navigate & Dial In
Sun GPS
Take a stick and push it into the ground straight up. Place a small rock on the tip of the shadow that it casts. Wait about 20 minutes and place another small rock on the tip of the 'new' shadow. Now draw a straight line between the two rocks. This line points east - west. Stand with your left toe on the first rock and your right
toe on the second. You are facing north. Think of it this way -- if the sun moves from east to west, then the shadow moves from west to east, right?
Sun Wrist Watch
Take a small stick, pencil or something in the fold between your thumb and hand. Hold your palm up and flat. Tilt the stick about 15 degrees toward the center of your hand. Face due east. Look at the point on your hand where the shadow falls. Divide the hand into 12 hours, starting at the wrist and moving clockwise around
to your index finger, 12:00 noon being about where your little finger meets your hand. The place where the shadow falls is the time of day.
Take a stick and push it into the ground straight up. Place a small rock on the tip of the shadow that it casts. Wait about 20 minutes and place another small rock on the tip of the 'new' shadow. Now draw a straight line between the two rocks. This line points east - west. Stand with your left toe on the first rock and your right
toe on the second. You are facing north. Think of it this way -- if the sun moves from east to west, then the shadow moves from west to east, right?
Sun Wrist Watch
Take a small stick, pencil or something in the fold between your thumb and hand. Hold your palm up and flat. Tilt the stick about 15 degrees toward the center of your hand. Face due east. Look at the point on your hand where the shadow falls. Divide the hand into 12 hours, starting at the wrist and moving clockwise around
to your index finger, 12:00 noon being about where your little finger meets your hand. The place where the shadow falls is the time of day.
The Run is Done
Romans, Statesmen, Friends and Countrymen...
Hear Ye... Hear Ye... Hear Ye...By written decree of his Majesty, the Emperor and Supreme Ruler of the Universe, Gaius Julius Octavius - Augustus Caesar, it is hereby confirmed that the Catalina 2008 Bufallo Half Marathon is finished and shall forever cease to exist. By hue and cry this affirmative declaration marks the last battle in Roma Catalina Colosseum. May you fight well and run with honor. Long Live Caesar! We have no King but Caesar! Hail Caesar! All Roads Lead to the Finish Line. (2 hours 13 minutes)
Hear Ye... Hear Ye... Hear Ye...By written decree of his Majesty, the Emperor and Supreme Ruler of the Universe, Gaius Julius Octavius - Augustus Caesar, it is hereby confirmed that the Catalina 2008 Bufallo Half Marathon is finished and shall forever cease to exist. By hue and cry this affirmative declaration marks the last battle in Roma Catalina Colosseum. May you fight well and run with honor. Long Live Caesar! We have no King but Caesar! Hail Caesar! All Roads Lead to the Finish Line. (2 hours 13 minutes)
Money, Money
During the course of a week, people kept talking to me about the dynamics of money, the meaning of money, and the philosophy behind it all. This was my rebuttal:
Money bewitches people. They fret for it, and they sweat for it. They devise most ingenious ways to get it, and most ingenuous ways to get rid of it. Money is the only commodity that is good for nothing but to be gotten rid of. It will not feed you, clothe you, shelter you, or amuse you unless you spend it or invest it. It imparts value only in parting. People will do almost anything for money, and money will do almost anything for people. Money is a manifestation of energy stored in its actual representation. Money is a captivating, circulating, masquerading puzzle.
Conceptually, anything generally acceptable as a medium of exchange is money. Anything that performs the function of money is money. Money is a medium of exchange, unit of account, and a store of value. As such a medium of exchange, money allows society to escape the complications of barter.
And because it provides a convenient way of exchanging goods, money allows society to gain the advantages of geographic and human specialization.
Historically, whales teeth, elephant tail bristles, circular stones, nails, slaves, cattle, cigarettes, and pieces of metal and paper have been used as media of exchange. In the United States, the debts of governments (governed by the 7 independent Board of Governors (the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the US)) and of commercial banks and other financial institutions are used as money.
Finally, the use of money as a common denominator means that the price of each product need be stated only in terms of the monetary unit. It permits buyers and sellers to readily compare the prices of various commodities and resources. Such comparisons aid rational and reasonable decision-making.
Forrest Gump’s mother taught little Forrest,
“Stupid is what Stuped duz.”
Whelp I proclaim and add “Money is what Money does.”
Money bewitches people. They fret for it, and they sweat for it. They devise most ingenious ways to get it, and most ingenuous ways to get rid of it. Money is the only commodity that is good for nothing but to be gotten rid of. It will not feed you, clothe you, shelter you, or amuse you unless you spend it or invest it. It imparts value only in parting. People will do almost anything for money, and money will do almost anything for people. Money is a manifestation of energy stored in its actual representation. Money is a captivating, circulating, masquerading puzzle.
Conceptually, anything generally acceptable as a medium of exchange is money. Anything that performs the function of money is money. Money is a medium of exchange, unit of account, and a store of value. As such a medium of exchange, money allows society to escape the complications of barter.
And because it provides a convenient way of exchanging goods, money allows society to gain the advantages of geographic and human specialization.
Historically, whales teeth, elephant tail bristles, circular stones, nails, slaves, cattle, cigarettes, and pieces of metal and paper have been used as media of exchange. In the United States, the debts of governments (governed by the 7 independent Board of Governors (the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the US)) and of commercial banks and other financial institutions are used as money.
Finally, the use of money as a common denominator means that the price of each product need be stated only in terms of the monetary unit. It permits buyers and sellers to readily compare the prices of various commodities and resources. Such comparisons aid rational and reasonable decision-making.
Forrest Gump’s mother taught little Forrest,
“Stupid is what Stuped duz.”
Whelp I proclaim and add “Money is what Money does.”
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Message In Sand
A Good (Winter) Evening,
I was a Romanian race horse. I ran on the boardwalk at the beach tonight (1/9/8). It was dark, cold, and deserted. It was a most special run because it was effortless. If I had walked the route it would have required more effort than running. I was complete, free and fully alive. I became a race horse for a day. My breathing had a rhythm and sounded as if a musical score should spring from it. It was the type of soothing sound that would put an infant to sleep. I was purrring down the path. My foot steps were silent and I felt as if I could run past the horizon.
There was nobody on earth but me, God and the Queen Mary. All of humanity was silent and waiting for me to finish my run before re-engaging in its busy work. All was quiet and calm on the western front. I looked at the sky, the ocean, the sand and the ship, joy swept over my body. The lights on the ship appeared as stars come to earth to glow a golden hue solely for my soft eye and foot to embrace.
I looked up to the heavens and said out loud "Thank You God." A moment later, as I turned my head towards the Queen, I saw in the sand, letters scooped out twenty feet in length and one foot in depth, they read, "GOD LOVES YOU."
Coincidence? Timing? I accept the former, the latter, and especially the MESSAGE. He does and I do. This was a good winter night, I will sleep well.
May You Live Long, Strong, and Happy, Jake
I was a Romanian race horse. I ran on the boardwalk at the beach tonight (1/9/8). It was dark, cold, and deserted. It was a most special run because it was effortless. If I had walked the route it would have required more effort than running. I was complete, free and fully alive. I became a race horse for a day. My breathing had a rhythm and sounded as if a musical score should spring from it. It was the type of soothing sound that would put an infant to sleep. I was purrring down the path. My foot steps were silent and I felt as if I could run past the horizon.
There was nobody on earth but me, God and the Queen Mary. All of humanity was silent and waiting for me to finish my run before re-engaging in its busy work. All was quiet and calm on the western front. I looked at the sky, the ocean, the sand and the ship, joy swept over my body. The lights on the ship appeared as stars come to earth to glow a golden hue solely for my soft eye and foot to embrace.
I looked up to the heavens and said out loud "Thank You God." A moment later, as I turned my head towards the Queen, I saw in the sand, letters scooped out twenty feet in length and one foot in depth, they read, "GOD LOVES YOU."
Coincidence? Timing? I accept the former, the latter, and especially the MESSAGE. He does and I do. This was a good winter night, I will sleep well.
May You Live Long, Strong, and Happy, Jake
Gettysburg
I went to hear a reading by celebrated poet Mary Oliver. This is my very first poem, I scratched it out in 10 minutes the next day. Here ya go..........
Hallowed Ground
60 thousand passed under one sun
A darkness that will never see light
Listen to their souls men
They killed my brother with malice in their hearts
A green field painted red
Struggle Survival
Victory Defeat
A Crows Sanctuary
A woman cries into an empty pillow
In the back porch a boy looks at a mans shoes
A house divided by infinite loss
They fought the same fight we're fighting today
If we don't take a lesson from the dead
We too will be destroyed
Hallowed Ground
60 thousand passed under one sun
A darkness that will never see light
Listen to their souls men
They killed my brother with malice in their hearts
A green field painted red
Struggle Survival
Victory Defeat
A Crows Sanctuary
A woman cries into an empty pillow
In the back porch a boy looks at a mans shoes
A house divided by infinite loss
They fought the same fight we're fighting today
If we don't take a lesson from the dead
We too will be destroyed
Nothing? Something? Everything? What?
A blog about nothing? How can this be? An absence of nothing is still something isn’t it? By being a state of nothing, it’s inherently and actually something, it's nothing. So the axiom arrived at is: “Nothing Is Something.” Often, from nothing comes something and something finally is reduced to nothing. So this blog is about nothing and something. However, the logical extension of this circular reasoning is that a combination of nothing and something is ultimately everything. So, at the end of the day, my blog is about nothing, something and everything. Therefore, you can expect nothing, something, and everything from it, or me, because I am it and it is me. Twiddle-dee Twiddle-dum.
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