Man is
and remains
an animal.
Here a beast of prey,
there a housepet,
but always an animal.
~~Joseph Goebbels (German Nazi propagandist)
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/281832.Joseph_Goebbels)

It's been decades since I read Siddhartha but it had a strong effect on me.  In my youth I was a philosophy major and a seeker, trying on different religious and spiritual approaches.  Eventually I arrived at myself, at the now, at the goals of non-attachment, awareness, compassion, adaptability.  I adopted bits and pieces of many philosophies, ( Read more... )

Without battle no victory, without deprivation no enjoyment, without cleansing no healing."
--Johann Shroth 1789-1856, rival of Priessnitz

notes from November OFJ lecture by Jacqueline J West, PhD
The Shadows and Gifts of American Narcissism
Friday 11/12/10 organized via www.ofj.org
also some notes on Narcissism taken from a variety of sources
( tidbits feed ideas about American apathy )

There are two ways to live:
you can live as if nothing is a miracle;
you can live as if everything is a miracle.
--Einstein
( more )

( Read more... )

Gross but fascinating article here:
http://history.howstuffworks.com/historians/cannibalism.htm
Don't go if you don't want to know.

I can't tell you how many times I've been taught the Heimlich maneuver in CPR and first aid classes. Plenty. Well over 20 years worth of certifications and re-certifications. So I've been trained. In my last recert (2009) we were taught back slaps for infants, and they called the uncorking procedure used on adults "abdominal thrusts". It seems ( Read more... )

Big news in Europe: the Swiss have consitutionally banned new minarets ( Read more... )

Click to view

( notes )