My Blog

R.I.P written a couple nights ago

Wildman — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:26:45 GMT

George Carlin died this morning. Age 71. Chest pains, heart attack 4, 5, 6? He used to be at the head of the curve for living comedians with heart attacks he would say. I realize was my first teacher, my first guru, the guru of my youth. It was him and Jim Morrison back then. Satire and music my two favorite senses. Sometime basically around when I was 15, he just became what I listened to some guys listened to Steve Martin and some guys listened to Carlin. What I learned from him was the righteous irreverence of the ridiculous. I loved that man he was like a father figure. His way the way he changed from a young conservative to a seer of the actual truth. He was the pinnacle of out spoken. He taught me that the hypocrisy that was like fluorescent paint to my youthful spirit was well known so well known that some guy could see it too and call it out bold faced and not holding back. I memorized his words like a prophet like Christ, like Kennedy or King. Or Obama, yeah, no. There are things right now that are pushing that line, that new “I’m Voting Republican” viral video. But listen to Carlin from last year on Youtube damn, straight up. Right on. Amazing. I loved that man and it makes me think again about the only bane of death at the end of life is that men like him are gone from the Earth and their presence was of the utmost real significance in the struggle to call the kettle black. His was loud voice of truth not likely to be matched in the near future. I have heard that he was about to be honored with a Mark Twain award of life achievement and I realize that the onluy way to account for the loss of such people is for me or some one else to steo into their place with the new voice of that vein. If I could create a personality perfectly mixed between Twain, Carlin, and Hartmann I would have a feeling of ultimate achievement because these men have the voices of resistance that speak to me and from the center of the revolution against the Nuevo-Aristocracy and the fascist dictatorship that facilitates it. Carlin’s voice and his clarity of truth is the kind that I or any true patriot could only hope for. To hear Carlin’s Gulf War I bit from ’92-‘93 in 2002 and you would experience one of those so funny you could cry moments as the whole thing repeated itself with all the same players with different job titles. Live in New York chapter 3 verse 7: “Just look at the names of who’s in charge of this war Dick Cheney and Colin Powel, somebody is getting get fucked in the ass” and that was in ’92, oh, and then again in 2002. Just laugh and cry. That’s I think what George wanted us to do. “George-or-geor-geor-ge it never ends man.” Laugh cause it heals and cry cause it heals and when you cry from pain and irony and satire it will turn into power, tears of motivation, that more honest and cynical clarity that will speak the truth in way that will make us laugh. That honesty that is so true you can’t agree in words you can only laugh, because it is true. And as we all know if the truth hurts you better change something.

Written last night about yesterday...

Wildman — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:16:32 GMT

This has been a week of firsts, today even more so. Last Thursday after returning to work and home from visiting my friend Gwenn in Portland and encouraged by some real early Summer weather I ran the ran the Emerald Forest Loop (which is 4.7 miles) for the first time and to my amazement I ran it in less than an hour. The new Dandy Warhols (Earth to the Dandy Warhols) record that accompanied me on the run had not even finished. I guess I was encouraged and today being my day off I decided to go out for my first serious bike ride of the year. After sleeping in just a bit and being encouraged to join the ranks of the waking by the regular visit by my friend and neighbor John which was followed by the making by John of a pot of Earl Grey and then some guitar jams and the wearing off of last nights whiskey. The morning was turning into yet another warm clear late Spring day, which by my count makes five in a row, I recognized the blessing that the weather had held for my day off at noon I left on Rountree’s old Mt. bike that has become as mine up hwy 46 toward the pass with the big shuffle on my ipod as copilot. I rode on past where I had previously turned around intent on reaching the pass on 46 and to witness the snow that had turned back many an uninformed guest in the last month who had hoped to come the back way here via Estacada. And I made it. I made it to the pass by bike for the first time. I witnessed the spectacular view of Pahtoo (Mt. Jefferson) with Dynamo Peak directly in the fore ground. This view is marred only yet significantly by the giant power lines that stretch from western to eastern Oregon. There at the pass the Willamette National Forest becomes the Mt. National Forest and the intersection of Rd. 4220 to Breitenbush Lake and the Rapdidan trail occurs. I am very excited to explore the Radipan as soon as this year’s epic snows recede further. It and 4220 booth were still cogged with what quickly became a couple of feet of snow. Just a little further up Hwy, 46 I found the snow that is still claiming the road as its own and sending people four hours back around to Salem to get to us. It started just before road 3650 and extended almost half a mile on and off. It appeared that one large truck had recently been the first to brave the snow patch and be the first to break winter’s blockade. Using its tracks I became possibly the second to cross it and maybe the first by Mt. bike to do so. The snow was so deep that my Teva clad feel drug in the snow as I pedaled through. Exhilarated, I continued on partly to see if there was another snow patch and partly just because I could. I made it to Rd. 380 which contains the Red Lake Trailhead, the pedestrian gateway to the Ollalie Lake District and its 99 lakes. Throughout this most incredible winter many, many times did my thoughts and daydreams envisioned the day that I could get to that very trailhead again and either hike or snowshoe up and into the Lake District. And somehow suddenly there I was a mile from the trail head and traveling by bike no less. My legs and Rountree’s old bike quickly consumed the mile which was filled with visions of my first triathlon of the year, biking to the trailhead hiking up the trail and swimming in Red Lake. With the bike safely ditched in a thicket I proceeded up the trail toward the lake. Soon though snow was encountered and then more snow and still yes, more. Until after hiking most of a mile the snow became too thick to follow the trail any more and too abundant for my Teva clad feet to continue. So I hiked back to the trusty bike and rode the mile back to the pavement, followed the pavement back to the snow and before the great decent from the pass stopped to drink from a beautiful rushing creek of snowmelt before commencing the 40 mile per hour decent toward home. When I got home I was stoked and ready to rest so I decided to pick up and start Thom Hartmann’s only Novel that I had ordered some months ago which is subtly titled “The Greatest Spiritual Secret of the Century.” I took it and my wicker rocker out on to my double-decker front porch with its view of our river and its young layer of Alder leaf shade and read the whole book 263 pages in an evening, just before writing this here blog. It’s he first time I think I have ever read a book cover to cover in an evening. It was a very fluid and imaginative story of the sudden and unexpected spiritual quest of a young New Yorker named Paul. Who yeas by the end did discover the greatest spiritual secret of the century. What is this secret you ask? Well, you’ll just have to read the book. I bet you could read it in a day…

Shocked & Bummed

Wildman — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:56:45 GMT

☹ John Edwards has dropped out of the race. ☹ That’s the news I woke up to today. All I could do was pace around the yurt and like grunt and stuff while listening to the news as it aired. I can still barely believe it. I yelled at my radio. I wondered if he or his family was being threatened. Now I fear, instead of beating the drum for his issues for the next few months even if he doesn’t get the nomination we’ll now only hear of what the two media darlings want to talk about. Or more accurately what the media wants them to talk about. This, to me, is way too early, before Super Duper-Tuesday? He could have had a lot of delegates gathering under his wing. His populism could have been heard on the national stage up to and at the convention. Who is our populist now? This is way weird timing to me. Every since South Carolina John was saying he was going all the way to the convention. Why stop now less than a week before the biggest day? If he had stayed in we would have had an interesting race. He certainly could have surged at the end. I fear his departure is our departure from a real debate and leaves us with only a horse race. A or B. All this time I didn’t have to be one of the people supporting Clinton or Obama because the messages of Kucinich and Edwards speak to my values so much more. Now I have no choice but those two, both of whom are alright but neither of whom have been my favorite so far. What does this mean to you people who care about this stuff? Or, is this why you don’t care about it if you don’t? Which of these candidates is planning to get us out of NAFTA and the like? That’s what I want to know. Which one will fight destructive corporate monopolies, especially those in the media? Which one is for single payer universal health care? The far left and the left have just been pulled into the mainstream campaign and we need to make the democrat party fight for us. Our (the left’s) candidates have been ignored sufficiently by corporate media that they have left the race. Everyone is saying that Edwards’ supporters are evenly split between Clinton and Obama which means we need to make them fight for us. “Who is the more progressive?” is now the question. A question I doubt would be asked without the voices of Kucinich and Edwards. We Kucinich and Edwards supporters are the majority makers now for the democrats. We need to let the two candidates know where we stand and that they should bend toward us if they want us. Don’t commit to one or the other right away in fact vote for John Edwards in your primaries. Then they’ll know they need our numbers to win. So now vote for Edwards if he is on the ballot, vote for Kucinich if his name is there and that’s who you like the most. It will be a vote for the progressive arm of the democrat party making it stronger at the convention and more appealing to the two remaining candidates. So Edwards has suspended his campaign he did not withdraw his candidacy. So that may mean he can keep his delegates into the convention. It seems like there is some party power plays are being made here. Can Edwards hold on to his delegates until the convention? Will he still be on the ballots in every state? If his supporters still vote for him does he get to keep those delegates? We might as well still vote for him. This is just the primary. Then Edwards could give his delegates to whoever had shifted toward Edwards on campaign issues at the convention. Likely, Obama. Then of course the there is the Vice President position. Is Edwards now running for VP? The timing explanation I have heard is that he wanted out before the debate tomorrow. Also his funds might have been too lean to go up against the other two war chests on Super Duper Tuesday because he used public financing. I say stay in and debate! Who cares if you win primaries? He must have a plan. I’ll keep trying to find out what it is. At least even the republicans couldn’t push through a snake like Giuliani again. ☺ Bring on your thoughts.

Hunkered down at Breitenbush

Wildman — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:28:42 GMT

It is snowing so much here today. The yurt is half buried in snow. Really. Branch-alanches are common, pouring snow onto the yurt roof which slides the snow that has collected on the roof creating piles of snow rising to half the height of the yurt. Two tree tops have snapped and fallen near the yurt one actually came to lean upon it. My sleep has been really erratic. Last night I slept three hours, woke up and watched three one hour documentaries starting with a lecture by Noam Chomsky about globalization. It was not what I thought it was going to be but I have to say I just kept watching it because Noam is just an amazing individual. He holds so much knowledge and history in that head of his, I admire him and learn so much from him even though it is a lot like listening to an android. After that I watched “Zeitgeist” the movie. It was spectacular. Not long ago Storm told me he thought I would really like it. All of the discussion groups I read have been buzzing about it for months and even Thom Hartmann has opined on it during his show. “Zeitgeist”, which means “the spirit of the times” in German, is a really well done analysis of our culture, our society, and who is in charge of all the string pulling. I loved it. It like much of what I have been reading and watching lately is something I wish everyone could see. Although I know that some people could not handle ideas as blunt as the ones put forth in “Zeitgeist”. “Zeitgeist” is extremely thought provoking and would be for anyone. The third piece I watched was a Werner Herzog film (the narrator of Grizzly Man) called “Lessons of Darkness” which was filmed in 1992 in Kuwait after the first gulf war. Amazing cinematography of lakes of spilled oil in the desert dotted with burning oil wells. The images were seemingly unreal, the environmental devastation was staggering, suggesting some greater metaphor of human impact on the earth. Having just re-watched An Inconvenient Truth two nights ago with John and Smooth, the images of burning oil wells and the smoke they produced filling the atmosphere looked to me as if every car in Houston had been buried tail pipe up in the desert of Kuwait. To me it was the most environmentally devastating imagery next to nuclear blast footage. “Lessons of Darkness” has the kind of footage that I want to show people who think that humans have no effect on climate change or greenhouse gas.

Voter ID's

Wildman — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:01:48 GMT

Since this is just one of the tactics employed of late (and of old) to disenfranchise poor voters of which I already wrote today. Tell me what you think about the cases the Supreme Court is hearing right now on the issue of requiring ID's to vote. I think it's just another scheme to keep poor people from voting. ID's cost money. Requiring the purchase of an ID to vote makes the cost of that ID a poll tax (voting tax) such taxes were common in the south until declared illegal. Of course some will say that non-citizens will vote, but there is no indication that any sizable amount of that is occurring. If you want to know more about: Here is what the ACLU is saying about the cases they brought: http://www.aclu.org/votingrights/gen/33555prs20080109.html?s_src=RSS Here is what I found from the latest issue of the Nation: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080128/epps It was even a topic on today's Democracy Now! http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/10/will_your_vote_be_counted_in wow, two on the same topic in one day. Tis the season...

Disenfranchisement

Wildman — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:56:36 GMT

The elections were stolen, we all knew it and now we know how. I just watched American Blackout, the story of Cynthia McKinney and the reporting of Greg Palast of the BBC and Harpers. I watched it after seeing it on Mr. Palast’s website which I visited after finally reading his book “Armed Madhouse” over the holidays and let me tell you it’s not the most holiday friendly of reading. Greg discovers that 5 months before the election Katherine Harris and Jeb Bush remove 57,000 people from voter roles using intentionally faulty lists. George Bush won Florida by 534! That’s all. 80% of the 57,000 were innocent minorities. 534 for the “win,” 45,000 votes blocked, known in politics as “caging” and it is illegal. The Republican National Party was fined and sanctioned for caging in the 60’s. In 2004, 125 voting machines were removed from minority filled Columbus, Ohio despite the fact that 105,000 more voters registered for 2004. Giant lines formed which often only led to provisional ballots that were never counted. This movie is the key. Every vote needs to be counted. If you want to know the exact extent of the disenfranchisement in 2004, read “Armed Madhouse” I have been meaning to blog about having read Greg Palast’s masterpiece for almost two weeks. In it among other things he documents the tactics of how votes were and will be blocked in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, and Louisiana. His investigation for the BBC leads him to estimate that 3.6 million votes cast in 2004 weren’t even counted! Were not ever counted! His estimate is shown to be very accurate according to the Federal Election Commissions own number of 3.5 million votes not counted. This is the scary kind of ridiculous. No charges of illegal vote casting have been filed, not one. So why are we not counting all the votes? Someone is committing fraud so that less votes get counted and it doesn’t matter which party does it, it’s wrong. I didn’t just find this out either. If this isn’t news to you, I heard about it too, as it was happening but not on mainstream media. I heard about the Congressional Black Caucus, Cynthia McKinney, and Maxine Waters. I’m writing now because this movie is so well done everyone should see it. It shows that there is a way to push back and people, some of our Representatives are already doing pushing back and they need us. We need to join them in their pushback, let them know we are with them and we should let our own representatives know we want verifiable, fair, and transparent elections like Oregon has and count every vote. Watch this movie and know that we didn’t fail in 2004 as a society by re-electing George Jr. We just didn’t finish counting. There are people trying to right these wrongs and they need We the People behind them. The Cynthia McKinney story and the American Blackout is the most heart wrenching film I have seen since watching “Who Killed the Electric Car” last March. For my wonky readers: remember the “Don’t taser me bro” kid from the John Kerry rally last fall? He was the kid that stood up at the Kerry rally and said “hey, why didn’t you insist on counting all the votes in Ohio like your running mate John Edwards wanted to?” But then he asked a couple more questions about impeachment and a campus security guy comes up and tasers him. Well I found out that that kid was holding a copy of Greg Palast’s book “Armed Madhouse” and when Greg found this out he found the kid and hired him as an investigator. “Don’t taser me bro” guy now works for Greg Palast. We don’t have to start a revolution we just have to join it.

My analysis of Iowa Caucuses results

Wildman — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:55:32 GMT

Wildman on the Iowa caucuses I think it’s really good that Barak Obama got the most delegates in Iowa he deserved it in Iowa because he figured out the game in Iowa. It seems to me that Iowa’s system is way more popularity contest than vote, but hey it is democracy. I am really glad that more people were with John Edwards than for Clinton. John needed to beat Clinton. Barak won the lead because his team made the most politically savvy effort in the state by rallying the young vote that by now is overwhelmingly Democrats. Which is why almost 3 times as many people showed up to the caucuses. So bully for him. I like him enough but there are some things that worry me that I hear about where his money comes from and that his health care plan still panders to corporate health profiteers. I digress. Senator Clinton scares me. For one I don’t want a former Wal-Mart board member in the White House. That just seems cheap and crappy, like Wal-Mart. But I also cannot justify putting another Clinton in there because the last one while doing some things well, like passing balanced budgets, the things he did wrong were so unprogressive and corporatist, (Telecommunications Act, NAFTA, GATT, WTO, and Rwanda) that I think of him as a mediocre President at best. I think we need a great President like a FDR, or a Teddy, or a Lincoln, or a Jefferson! That’s what I see in John Edwards. He is speaking truth to power. He knows that unrestrained (deregulated) corporatism enriches the very few on the backs of the many and steal democracy from the hands (and minds) of We the People. I have heard him speak in person and like him. I know him as a person who can take on abusive corporations and win. That’s what he did as a “trial lawyer” as they call him. I call him a corporate accountability lawyer and that’s why the media pushes Clinton and Obama so hard, because they are not John Edwards. I want someone as President who scares the oligopoly of media conglomerates that decided what you and I get to see and whose opinions we get to hear. The other good thing about Obama coming out the leader is that along with Huckbee’s lead the main stream media is falling over itself to call the results in Iowa a “demand for change.” Well, duh. This last Presidency has been the most ridiculous mockery of democracy this Nation has ever known. I take great note of the good Christian republicans of Iowa saying “we don’t want another huge money Regan look alike in Romney.” Nor do they want the smarmiest adulterer profiteer New York has produced in recent memory in Giuliani. So much so that we will go to the extreme of a Baptist Preacher Governor who once pardoned Keith Richards (yeah of the Rolling Stones). “Maybe at least he won’t just keep fleecing us to enrich the rich and if we’re really lucky he’ll do something about our being the most in debt nation in the world.” I think John Edwards is capable of the change we need most. Maybe Obama is too, I hope, but the big media is not scared of him so I doubt him. What I have yet to find in my looking, but I would really like to know is, how many Republicans showed up to the caucuses and how many Democrats showed. That would tell me who was most motivated by their candidates, that’s what I would find pretty telling. I am really disappointed that Biden and Dodd dropped out. They are important intelligent voices to have in on the debate. They could’ve had and effect on the debate and therefore the positions of the leading candidates. My man Kucinich won’t quit though. Despite that he has already been blocked from a Democrats debate since Iowa. Kucinich has the real progressive positions. Why more progressives don’t support him is not because of his positions as far as I can tell they just don’t want to get behind someone that mainstream corporate media is always scoffing at and branding “unelectable.”

So someone was watching the Caucuses too.

Wildman — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:51:07 GMT

So someone was watching the Caucuses too. Yeah one of my good conservative friends was also following them, I showed him the blog I had written (it's the one posted right before this) and received the following response. Amazed and pleased I wrote back, which is also included. Here is his response: Hey M.: I was working in the recording studio all day, but did have a chance to follow the caucuses. I noticed that Sen. Kucinich's choice (if he doesn't do well), Sen. Obama, did very well at over 38%, with Edwards at 30% and Sen. Clinton at 28%. I also know what the GOP did, but won't bore you with those results. I try very hard to study and hear both sides of the issues...or should I say both sides of the aisle. I was a devout Democrat until President Johnson, even though I voted later for Carter. However at the end of his administration I haven't voted Democrat, and judging from the representatives now in the race, won't. Their issues are not my issues. The ones I am opposed to for your information are: abortion, taxes, healthcare, immigration, and the war in Iraq. I will try to be brief and state my position on each: 1. Abortion - I'm proud my Mother and Dad chose to have me, as I have lived a wonderful life. I often wonder how many Beethovens, Einsteins, and Lincolns have been aborted before they grew up to display their talents and life a free life. I simply don't believe we should allow women or men to rob fetus' of that journey. Plus, I believe in my heart of hearts it's wrong. 2. Taxes - People can put down the Bush administration, and say what they want. However, unemployment is at an all time low, people are in better financial condition than they were 8 years ago. We live in a "capitalistic" society, it's based upon men and women doing their best to perform services, grow products, manufacture products, and sell products for a reasonable profit. It's true there are those who do these for higher or unacceptable profits, but generally our system has worked for over 200 years very good. Cutting taxes helps the economy to grow, taxes make people hesitant to invest. They tend to "rat-hole" their profits and hope for a "windfall"...which usually doesn't come. 3.Healthcare - I believe every man, woman and child in this country should have some form of equitable Healthcare. I just don't believe it is the U.S. Goverment's responsibility to "pay-for-it". We learned a bitter lesson with the "Welfare" program. It doesn't work. The goverment should limit people's ability to "sue" hospitals and Doctors, in the amounts they are able to receive. If that were done, the Hopitals and Doctors insurance would go down and we would see decreases in Healthcare costs. That isn't to say people and facilities shouldn't be held responsible...they should. But limits should be implimented. 4. Immigration - I have no problem with Hispanics, or any other ethnic group coming to live in our country. I've traveled to Europe 33 times, and everyone I've ever talked with while there wanted to live in the USA. We live in the greatest country in the world. A country where a man can become a Country singer and make a living, or work at a resort called Breitenbush if that's what he wants to do. In other countries of the world these type of choices are not possible! That's why people want to live here. And I have no problem with that. The problem or problems I have with the situation today, is that what they have done is illegal. If you or I broke the law, we would surely be held accountable for what we did. I believe the aliens should too. They should be sent back, or at least stand up and be registered and apply for citizenship the way our forefathers did when they arrived at Ellis Island. I don't believe the 20 to 30 million now here should be given free entry. And last but certainly not least... 5. The War in Iraq & Afganistan - Having been a soldier in the U.S. Army, it's difficult for me to hear the rhetoric that is spouted in Congress and the Senate concerning Iraq and Afganistan. Whether it was "right" or "wrong" for us to get involved in either country and their problems is up to historical evaluation...not mine. However, our men and women are serving there and we should "support" them in their service. We should not send our troops, right or wrong, to foreign soil where some die fighting for the cause which they were sent there for, and to hear our Senators and Congressmen say they should come home. They believe if they are brought home it will be a case of "losing"...not "winning"...if so, why did their buddies die? Why are the people of both countries happy we're there (I said people...not the politicians and Mulahs who want to rule "their way"). The "surge" in Iraq is working, an d believe me...Iraq will be one of the TOP 3 ISSUES in this Presidential campaign...Healthcare, Immigration and Iraq are the 3 top issues, with taxes being 4th. Well Matt, that's how a man of 70 sees this world. I would venture a guess that when you reach 70 you will see the world in a totally different light than what you see it now. Because of the experience and experiences you've had in your journey. It is said "if we don't learn from the past failures we will have to live them all over again." Tommy P.S. By the way, I consider myself a member of the "Middle Class"...and even though Mr. Hartmann thinks so, I don't feel I've been "Screwed"...a man makes his own bed, and he has to lie in it...good or bad. Bottom line...I'm responsible for what I do, or don't do! This was my response: Wow! Thanks for writing back Tommy. What you wrote is really cool. I really appreciate the time you spent detailing your issues and reasons for them. I find people that have really strong opinions but can't explain why pretty annoying. I can only hope and agree that my experiences will lead me to a have lots of the wisdom that goes with age someday. I certainly can already feel differences from four years ago and eight years ago when I registered Green cause I liked Nader but voted for Gore. For one I have acquired the wisdom of "agreeing to disagree." I have struggled, and continue to struggle, to have opinion based discourse that is not hostile. So it is OK with me that you and other good family members and I have differing opinions. That's great, that's democracy that says we can both have our own opinions. Only tyranny would say that "there is only one right opinion and all others shall be banished." And I don't think anyone in my family is intentionally "pro-tyranny." And so I keep searching for and testing the roots of my opinions. By reading things recommended by people I mostly agree with, and chatting with people with whom I differ (as long as they are good natured and fun about it), admittedly I don't read much from them because I only have so much time to read. But I have been developing a good natured discourse with my Dad (Larry) whom I believe you would get along well with though he is 6 years younger and also with my other conservative Uncle (Steve of my Moms' side) because he appreciates that I am trying to understand my positions and history and the whole crazy world for that matter. I would call myself a true lover of democracy. I would guess that you see yourself the same way and I would agree. I wonder if explaining my positions to you is worthwhile if you've already "been there and done that" you may already know why I feel this way. I would love to discuss philosophies with you, not with any idea of changing your mind but just because discourse is itself useful, maybe especially so when from differing angles. And if I can explain how I think and feel to you effectively, I should be able to with anyone. If you are interested I will go into my thoughts on these same issues of yours or on my own top 5 or my into my views on the caucuses. Hey so tell me what you think of the Republican field this year. I hope this conversation continues!

Iowa Caucuses

Wildman — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:49:55 GMT

So here I am in the city following my favorite hobbies Politics and History online while listening to Portland’s own Progressive talk station, while they and I follow the Iowa Caucuses. Are any of my friends out there doing the same?

Happy New Year

Wildman — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:38:13 GMT

I have had a wonderful Solstice weekend and winter holidays time here at the bush. I have met all kinds of cool and fun people (guests) this season. The morning after Christmas I took 25 guests sledding on the new land sledding hill surprising even myself at my sudden facilitation of good times, normally a Summer time role for me here. The only injury of the day was my own as on the final run of the day I slid down the then very fast chute head first only to barrel role 5 or 6 times with my camera in my coat pocket which did a very effective job of seriously bruising or cracking a rib or two on my right side. Which makes hauling wood for the wood stove and shoveling snow a bit of a challenge to say the least. We have had more than two feet of snow here since Christmas. I was hoping to hit Eugene and maybe Portland for New Years but it's not looking like good driving conditions to get out of here. We'll see about that. May this next year bring kindness, love, and peace to each and every one of us!

Another Hartmann book read.

Wildman — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:31:15 GMT

What Would Jefferson Do? By Thom Hartmann This is yet another fantastic book by Thom Hartmann. This book is an exploration of the values and priorities or ideology of one of the most remarkable people in the founding of the U.S. Citing a 20 volume set of the complete writings of Thomas Jefferson printed in 1900 that Hartmann found in the carriage house attic of the last house he purchased in Vermont Hartmann explains what the values of Jefferson were, what type of democracy he envisioned in the forming of the constitution and bill of rights and that these are exactly what have been eroded so systematically that we are indeed in danger of losing our democracy. Hartmann being Hartmann has also referenced many of that books that the Founders were reading at the time which is also crucial to understanding how Jefferson’s opinions were formed. He also shows that the same forces that caused Jefferson’s/our democracy to rise up and form this nation in order that we the people are protected from tyranny and serfdom by and to the very wealthy are alive, stronger than ever, and threatening our liberty, democracy, and freedom to have both in a very real way. He does this by comparing current events and Jefferson’s writings on these dilemmas in his day. A great read for and fans of Jefferson, Hartmann, democracy, liberty, and freedom but also if you don’t know that much about those guys that founded our nation and all that stuff but you’d like to know more without like being bored to tears by dense inaccessible history tomes. The key to democracy is an informed electorate, this book is an inspiring way to inform your self.

Independent Primary

Wildman — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:13:28 GMT

I just cast my vote for Dennis Kucinich vote at IndependentPrimary.Com . It's a new website that allows independent and independent-minded voters to have our voice in the 2008 Presidential Elections. It's exciting to see that independent and independent minded voters are doing something about American democracy. I sent this to you so that you could cast your vote as well. You can vote for any party's candidate. It's easy! Just go to http://www.independentprimary.com and let your voice be heard.

What's this? A hair as white as a ghost!

Wildman — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:11:17 GMT

Last Wednesday I finished reading (at the insistence of on E. Starrlily) Tom Robin's Jitterbug Perfume. A grand and epic tale that explores such minor philosophical ideas as: aging, death, and the hand off of power from one eras God to the next. All that along with all the beets you can eat. I see now why Robins comes so highly recommended by practically every one I've ever talked books with. His wit and use of language is quite pleasing and his story telling and characters practically turn the pages themselves. Read it for "a good time."

The Final Forest

Wildman — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:04:14 GMT

Right after Thanksgiving I finished reading what is a very informative look at the North West's timber industry's evolution from the late 1960's through the early 1990's. The Pulitzer Prize winning author, William Dietrich tries for an unbiased look at a situation that has many places for blame to point his finger. The history in this book is the recent history of forests in this Great Pacific Northwest I cherish as a home. The reshaping of the timber industry here is crucial to any history told of Oregon and Washington in the 20th century. This book is apparently required reading in the University Forestry Classes of Oregon and Washington I found out as I ran into oh at least six guests or community members here at Breitenbush. It also explains why there were like 100 copies for around $2.00 a piece on amazon.com (where I purchased my copy.) Read it if you want to know more about our region or if you want if you want to know what the whole deal with the forests was in the 1980's and how the spotted owl saved most the last virgin and ancient forests of the North West.

The view from the little window in my office

Wildman — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:10:43 GMT

The views out my office windows are impressive. Right now I look out not the big window above the big book, but the smaller one just over the corner of this computer monitor. The forest I see is heavily shaded, creating a whole range of muted greens with patches of gray-brown bark. In a few places light sneaks through illuminating random vine maple leaves and long dangling moss beards and the hairy moss leggings on the skinny maples below the towering conifers. The glow this sneaky light creates seems supernatural or perhaps ultra-natural. Thats my view this afternoon and my writing of it.

Wild Trees

Wildman — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:01:46 GMT

So last week I finished "The Wild Trees" by Richard Preston. It was a fun and very inspiring book about the first people to climb redwood trees and about the ecosystem they found up there in the canopy. The other story it told was of the guy who decided to go out and find the real tallest trees in the world deep in the last unexplored canyons of the few Redwood Parks that are left. As a lover of giant trees I found it very motivating to get out and visit more of the last remaining pockets of Ancient Forest that our great state still has to offer. I spent last night with a bunch of friends camping on the edge of the Jefferson Wilderness on Triangulation Peak a place I have visited many times. I got to do by first mountain top EDGU session and watched the last of the meteor shower as well. Good times.

So where was I?

Wildman — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:57:19 GMT

I certainly have been racking up blog worthy adventures lately but with no new blogging. Time to remedy that. So a couple of weeks ago I read another great book concerning my latest area of study: other ways of living and alternate cultural views that could save the world. The book was called "Original Wisdom: An Ancient Way of Knowing" by Robert Wolff. It was recommended to me by Thom Hartmann. In the book psychologist Robert Wolff describes his time living in Malaysia studying the Sengoi who are the aboriginal people of those islands. He explores their social structure and culture and of course it is in great contrast to the western culture of consumerism that most of us are all too familiar with. He (and I) was fascinated with their way of knowing things. Which seemed to be evidence of the deeper connection to the Earth or God that their culture nourishes. The book is a fun and easy read and I would recommend to any one looking to learn a thing or two about alternatives to the norm. Let me know if you want to borrow it. :)

I finished Matt Love's first book

Wildman — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:08:20 GMT

The other night I finished Matt Love's "Grasping Wastrels ve Beaches Forever Inc." This book is a collection of articles published in an Oregon Coast Alternative Magazine from what I hear. It is an inspired Oregonian's look at what became the early days of progressive land management that Oregon is cherished for. Matt was recently here at Breitenbush for a talk and slide show we'll be having him back again. Peace, Wildman ps books and dvd's are the new free press.

Ah Midsummers Night!

Wildman — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:14:37 GMT

So what are people's plans for the Summer Solstice?

Still in Love with Thom Hartmann (what can I say)

Wildman — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 18:47:38 GMT

Last night I finished reading "Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights" by yes again Thom Hartmann. It is a very well researched look at how Corporations have defied the framers of the constitution and using the law passed to give slaves equal rights claimed human rights for themselves despite their being anything but humans ironically turning all free people into slaves of Corporations. Pretty heavy reading but very important knowledge to have when accessing the current very messed up world situation. (WTO, Wal-martism, the Bush family, ect.) Oh yeah so in case people don't know Thomas Jefferson was like the best thing since Jesus. So I picked up some lighter reading to rest from such an information windfall. I started the first book by local Oregon writer and historian Matt Love whom I recently hosted here at Breitenbush for an evening history talk and slide show. He is an awesome guy, the kind of guy I think of when I think of a real Oregonian. His book I am reading now is "Graping Wastrels vs. Beaches Forever Inc.: Covering the Fights for the Soul of the Oregon Coast." It's a small book I am sure I'll be reporting on it here soon.

No Time Like The Present

Wildman — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:01:15 GMT

So thrust upon me of late has been so much great reading. Last week I read "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. Having just finished two Thom Hartmann non-fiction books I thought it would be nice to spice it up with a "fiction" book Thom recommended. How perfect was is it to read as a follow up! "Ishmael" is a fascinating interpretation of Culture and Culture's effect on Religion and we Human's and the Earth herself. "Ishmael" has shot straight to the top of my favorite books list, if you have read it I'd love know what you thought of it and if you haven't do your self a favor and read it then let me know what you thought. It's great to feel so inspired! Wildman

I love Thom Hartmann

Wildman — Thu, 31 May 2007 04:20:24 GMT

I just finished the second Thom Hartmann book in as many months today. "The Prophets Way" is like a biography of Thom's spiritual search. Kind of like his own "Autobiography of a Yogi" except he's not a Yogi and he wrote the book himself. It is a very inspiring look at non-demoninational (my word not his) spirituality, which is something I can get behind. The book of his I read last month was "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight" it is a must read for people like us and people almost like us in my humble opinion.

A great week of Music

Wildman — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:58:35 GMT

I finally saw the Black Angels Thursday night at the Doug Fir. If you like the kind of music I do then I would certainly recommend last years Black Angels record "Passover." Last night I hosted a show that i've had in the works since January here at Breitenbush, a reggae band from Portland called The Instigators who basically blew the roof off the Lodge here and the show became a great dance party. Check em' out if you like the reggae. Good times.