I cast my vote over a week ago by mail. Almost everyone I know has voted, even those who don't normally vote. But we're waiting for results coming in starting tomorrow to know-- Will we continue as the imperfect democratic republic that we are? Or will we succumb to lies and hate and become a fascist autocracy or even an oligarchy run by ( Read more... )

Well... this is certainly timely, given what else I've been experiencing this last year and will be reporting upon more as we go forward ( Read more... )

I will be updating Spiral's end next week. This post will be added there as well.

The article below is a review of a book called 'American Cosmic' and it follows the stories of several anonymous 'high-up' corporate leaders and scientists who secretly believe that aliens who pilot UFOs are real and may even be here actively.

theoutline.com/post/7215/ ( Read more... )

I have some pet peeves with many feel-good semi-spiritual pursuits of modern Americans. For example, the way Westerners tackle "peaceful paths" like Buddhism, Yoga, and other hippie-dippy practices. I'm not saying all people who study or practice Buddhism or Yoga are unworthy of respect, but rather that some of the collective understanding of how ( Read more... )

I know, I know-- I'm a terrible fangirl. I'm going to discuss another Greer post-- this time from his esoteric blog, The Wall of Galabes.

Link to post in question here:

galabes.blogspot.com/2015/02/changing-of-gods.html

The topic of discussion is Religion. I love the beginning:

"I’m thinking just now of a conversation I had just after a class ( Read more... )

Most things that get over-inflated (bubble pricing) pop or crash eventually. Not so with higher education for many years, but that may be changing.

I found this helpful article, among others:
davidstockmanscontracorner.com/the-higher-education-bubble-begins-to-pop/Most of the issues surrounding this are well discussed in this article. What I ( Read more... )

I've always had friends from many faiths. Many sects of Christianity, Buddhism (2 or 3 sects of that as well...), Judaism, Islam, many many Neopagans of all stripes, and plenty of Raving Rationalist Atheists (who are just as devoted to their faith that nothing exists beyond the material world we can measure and understand as any dogmatic religious ( Read more... )

Greer needs to stop yanking my chains, dammit!

From his Christmas post this year:

"Here are the passages I found in which Jesus tells his followers that they have a duty to take care of children, the poor, and other vulnerable people:

Matthew 18:6, 18:10, 19:21, 23:14, and 25:31-46; Mark 9:36-37, 10:21, and 12:40; and Luke 10:30-37, 11:41, 12:33 ( Read more... )

I thought I'd take some extra time in these last few days before the new year to go over those lessons that really struck home for me in the last year. I want to discuss the themes and thoughts that invaded my heart and mind and took root ( Read more... )

I posted a follow up to my 2 previous comments to JMG regarding festival culture, etc.

"Hey JMG, no reply necessary to this. Just a follow up on my earlier 2 comments to this post.

An example of what I mean by the festivals perhaps spawning something more has already happened in Britain:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2210747/21st- ( Read more... )