My Blog

My New Photo Business Model

karlb — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:08:00 GMT

Looking at the world and it’s problems, it really seems to me that the Capitalist model needs to evolve from it’s current expression for the sake of the planet. The need for constant growth and expansion is unsustainable and can only lead to depletion of resources and pollution. Corporations are soulless entities, legally required to maximize shareholder profit as the first priority. They can actually be sued if they make any meaningful sacrifices intended for the greater of mankind, except as publicity or charitable gestures. The model of competition by all practical means concentrates more power with the powerful and creates a disincentive to consider the best interests of Community. The Problem with positive change, of course, is that it inevitably seems to require people to sacrifice some of their wealth, power or comfort for the sake of others and for the future. Naturally, everybody believes that sacrifice needs to start with somebody else. I try to ask myself, particularly around the holidays, “What big or small thing do I have to offer my community of humans? How can I “Be the Change” I would ask others to contemplate? One of the things I do is landscape photography. Living in Yosemite affords me beautiful vistas that I can capture at their best. Around the holidays in the past I’ve often run a “dirt-bag” special that suggested that I’d sell prints to people on a sliding scale, based on what they felt like they could pay. I felt good about that but I’m afraid many folks might not have felt comfortable negotiating with me for a lower price. It occurred to me that maybe I should just have more faith in people and give just a bit more. So for the rest of the holidays, and perhaps even forever, I want to try something different. I’m going to reduce the price of all my prints in all my galleries to the cost of printing and shipping alone without any profit for myself. For example, an 8x10 that used to cost $27.99 (plus shipping) now costs $3.56 (plus shipping) My customers can supply my profit later by using paypal to karlbaba@yahoo.com or by mailing me a check. Karl Bralich PO Box 2184 Wawona, Ca 95389 They don’t need a paypal account to send me cash. My customers can supply the “profit” portion of my work once they have received their print and when they can afford to. For folks who need a baseline to guage things with. I’m including a list of what my prices used to be Here: http://peaklightimages.com/oldprices.html Use it if you need it but be aware, I expect people with little money to pay far less, and people who are blessed can pay more. This is basically the model of shareware software. There will be some tempted to abuse a system like this and they can abuse my offer. That’s ok. I don’t have a lot of money and often use shareware that I haven’t contributed to. It’s only fitting for me to give something to those folks that are in my shoes. I’m acting on faith here and won’t allow businesses to order large numbers of prints for resale without contacting me first. My main reservation is that making art affordable to all according to their means will further undercut the livelihood of other starving artist photographers. I regret if this deal contributes to that phenomena but I have seen the writing on the wall. Digital Photography and Internet distribution has already begun to radically change the business of outdoor photography. Just as any band can produce their own CD and distribute it via cyberspace, without the endorsement of a record company. Any talented photographer can sell and distribute work without a gallery. Of course the most talented and business savvy musicians and photographers will always have a lucrative niche at the top. On the other hand, community minded people may like to support the musicians and artists they know locally. I envision a time when the structure of our empire begins to crumble and when people look to each other for contributions, each according to their skills and capacity. The future is in cooperation, contribution, and collaboration, not competition. I just redid my photo site. Check it out and the new prices at www.printroom.com/pro/peaklight This is one way I’m experimenting with contribution. Peace and Happy Holidays Karl PS for holiday shopper types, here’s the deadlines my printer gave me. First class mail: order by December 12, 2007 to arrive in time for the holidays. Priority mail: order by December 17, 2007 to arrive in time for the holidays. Overnight mail: order by December 19, 2007 to arrive in time for the holidays.

The "Loising Point"

karlb — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:02:23 GMT

I have an internet friend named Lois. She just doesn’t “get it” sometimes. The truth is we all don’t “Get it” to different degrees about something or another. But Lois embodies obtuseness in such a way that I realize that a certain threshold of blindness is a cosmic principle in human relationships. We can talk until we are blue in the face but some people will never, ever, ever, ever, Ever “get it” Get used to it. “Hey Lois, can you see the nose on your face?” “I don’t see it. Everybody else’s face seem to have a nose but I can’t see one on me” “Lois, look way down above your lips, you gotta see it.” “All I see is a blurry blob. It doesn’t look anything like the nose on your face.” “Come on Lois, when you have a cold, what’s all the snot come out of?” “Oh Lord, when it’s cold season my cat gets a cold and her nose drips all over my clean sheets. But me, I’ve never heard anything about any nose that might be on my face” “Yeah Lois, but I searched on the internet and I found 12 examples of people telling you about the nose on your face.” “You never can be too sure of anything. I heard of a man whose nose was shot off by his ex-wife, I bet he still get colds and he didn’t have a nose. What do you mean by nose?” I could go on and on, and it does go on and on. But the point is simple. And that is When you’ve gone around and around trying to communicate something to someone, made your case clear, logical, documented and presented it from every conceivable viewpoint. And that person can’t even acknowledge the issue to disagree on. And when their responses inevitably turn into a self-referential feedback loop That person will never your point But you’ve reached theirs You’ve reached their “Loising point.” Any further discussion will only deteriorate into the “Loisification” of the subject. The self-referential feedback loop will imprint excess bandwidth hum over any further progress in the debate. Don’t go there. When you reach someone’s “Loising Point” stop engaging. The discussion and only be “Loised-up” at that point. If you take somepoint to the Loising point. Step Away From The Computer!

Return of the Dragon, 2007 Burning Man Trip Report

karlb — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:56:44 GMT

My 2007 Burning Man Trip Report is here: http://www.peaklightimages.com/dragonreturns I hope you enjoy it Peace and love Karl "Baba"

Burning Man Images on the Abraxas Tribe

karlb — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:27:05 GMT

I just posted another 25 images from Burning Man 2007 on the Abraxas tribe at http://tribes.tribe.net/abraxas More coming all the time, Check em out there

Tribes, Culture, and Elitism

karlb — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 04:04:22 GMT

I posted this on a thread on the Bass Necter tribe in a discussion about class/image consciousness in the festival/music scene. http://bassnectar.tribe.net/thread/dd651650-f7fd-4109-b39a-d84927f17a75 The original poster sums up his writing with 5 questions 1) Is looking "hot" a primary value of this scene? 2) Does looking "hot" (as defined by appearance - age, body type and dress) give one more access and power in this scene? 3) Does helping people look "hot" and creating opportunity for people to look "hot" give one more access and power in this scene? 4) Does having more money make it easier for one to look "hot"? 5) Have you noticed a trend (and i'm sure there are exceptions) that the "hotter" the person (which i would argue ends up correlating with social status or popularity, since we try and surround ourselves with as many hot people as possible) the less open they are to everyone who walks by, but in contrast the less hot people are more open (especially to the hot ones)? [note: This disregards including resentment for being ignored for being less "hot" or "lower class" as a reason to be closed off to hot people (because i don't believe in reverse classism just like i don't believe in reverse racism). I thought I would blog my response since I'm lazy and like to get good mileage for my efforts. I also like anything that makes me question myself and my culture. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This is a great topic, as it makes us look at ourselves as well as at others. I feel like I have a certain perspective as an outsider since I have only associated with this scene since the 2006 Burning Man and suffer from being Damn Old Not Burning Hot Not Rich Yet, I feel like I have a certain Spirit and I have Love. I can certainly relate to the dynamic expressed in the original post. I’ve been thinking of it since I had a conversation with a woman friend who is totally hot and totally fashionable, who yet said she felt a cool distance coming from a certain crowd (who looked just like her) that she described at the “Galactic Supermodels” It put me on the lookout for elitism and thinking of this subject. What I’ve noticed so far: 1. The further the distance you look at another tribe, the more elitist they look. The more I was able to hang out with different crowds. The more wonderful and cool I found them to be. I found it hard to find real elitists up close, only from a distance. 2. That all tribes are filled with individuals with varying strengths and weaknesses. Some have the vision and heart to see beneath the surfaces and some feel insecure and need to protect their social status through association. 3. There is a certain element of protecting personal space and time in running with your own tribe. A friend who is in a famous band might have an invisible aura of being hard to approach because hundreds of folks would enjoy cozying up to him, and that would make life hard. Really beautiful women can often feel safe and unmolested when then stick within their tribe which values respectful and consensual connections. 4. Our projections of insecurity and rejection create that reality in our social interactions. We connect easier with those who we expect will accept us. 5. Whether in others, or ourselves, our false illusion of personal identity and status (positive or negative) is a slave master that limits our love and joy. I remember being on this art car at BM 2006 where they were turning riders away due to the fact they could only take so many folks and they had a big camp. They were beautiful folks and I'm sure some felt rejected. Yet I saw these same folks go out of their way and take extra time to get help for total "uncool" strangers that they found confused or dehydrated. I’m grateful and blessed to have met such amazing people within the subcultures I frequent. It takes time and openness. The more my acquaintances know me, the more I’m trusted and become friends. I am torn by the demands of fashion. I hate the idea of conforming to fit in with those I like to hang with. On the other hand, it seems that folks look for these external cues of fashion to affirm that a person is acquainted with the values and culture of a certain tribe. It feels safer for a woman to know that if she meets a guy with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek, that he won’t follow her around like a dog in heat for the rest of the night. So I strike a balance. I find some feathers in nature when she blesses me with some, buy some interesting fabric on my world travels, but won’t wear leather pants. Fact is, all cultures have fashion cues, even the jeans and T-shirts crowd. The enlightened ones in any group stay open and value the expressions that are different than their own norm. Peace and Love Karl "Baba"

Premature Immolation

karlb — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:40:42 GMT

I was out on the playa at the temple photographing the Full Lunar Eclipse last night about 3 am when a notice big flames accross the playa. THere was a lot of smoke and this pyrotechics didn't seem too "Green" to me. Then I realized it was the MAN! I biked over an checked it out. It was a trip as a crowd gathered and many of the usual aspects of the usual man burning assembled themselves. Art cars gathered around. Somebody yelled "Save the Man!" as usual and fire trucks came and actually did try to save the man! He's fully charred but the whole structure below him didn't burn, which is good because there was elaborate stuff down there that wasn't intended to burn. Many in the crowd wanted to just let the whole thing go up in smoke but in general things were orderly and folks volunteered to keep the crowd at a safe distance and everybody complied. It's an incredible coincidence (or not) that the Man burning during the peak of the full lunar eclipse. I talked to somebody who saw him catch fire and he said he heard electrical noises and saw sparks and pops before the man caught fire. It obviously wasn't a yahoo with a torch but somebody who know how the man is wired to burn could possibly have fired him up. Who knows? They don't know here in Media Mecca where there's a press conference in 30 minutes. Nobody who really knows anything (if they do) is talking. In any case, in Asia they regard these eclipses as dangerous energetically and often to rituals and takes baths to protect themselves. Perhaps it's superstition but the Man going up early last night felt like a meaningful omen. I felt like it fortold challenging and intense times approaching but heck it was 3am and I was already very sleep deprived. Nobody is saying yet what they are going to do about having a burning man burn this year. I don't care because I love the people and the energy, not the ritual, but the ritual is powerful. It will definately give us all something to think about and talk about. And that's a good thing. We all need to wake up Much love to all

Fear!

karlb — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:40:03 GMT

I’m a climber Climbers are always in relationship to fear. Fear is one of the most powerful ruling emotions humans experience and mastering it is one of the greatest lifelong accomplishments. There are two basic categories of fear. 1. Instinctual protective fear (fear of burning your hand around fire, falling off a cliff) This fear should never be eliminated, but can be managed, acted in the face of, and channeled. 2. Psychological fear. Often of the future, conditioned by the past. There's this in climbing as well. Fears of failure, inadequacy, and many, many other things. There can be a physical component related to instinctual fear as well, fear of permanent injury and it's consequences and so on. There are many faces to fear. Men like to think they are brave and may risk death but would do anything to avoid facing their emotions and talking about them. So it's a broad topic. I wrote this for a climbing bulletin board but I think we often skip this topic in our minds when we should face it, face it, face it. In the Castaneda books, the Shaman calls Fear the first enemy of a man of knowledge. FWIW Peace Karl

Unsolicited Advice

karlb — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:01:09 GMT

I sent this to a wonderful friend who was experiencing stress. Maybe it will help somebody here. "Just putting some unsolicited advice out there in hopes of nourishing you. No need to respond. Just be open to receive rather than always giving. 1. See the sentence above. 2. Resistance to pain is always more painful that the pain itself. Accept reality and make the best of it without denial or even overly wishful thinking. 3. Know that life is perfect and that you'll be fine as long as you don't make self-punishing or self-judging decisions. You can't make a bad decision with the best of intents unless you are hiding the truth from yourself. Your life reflects you and you will be fine no matter what way anything goes. 4. You don't "need" anything or anybody that you can't have. 5. The universe will not challenge you beyond your ability to handle it. Lessons can be difficult to accept, but that's what we're here for. 6. Happiness is within anyway, so take care of yourself, nourish yourself and find peace within. The rest will take care of itself. If you address the outside before the inside, the outside will only reflect the imbalance within. 7. If everything is a bit too much, reduce commitments and obligations. What you accomplish while stressed and pained carries those negative vibes anyway, so better to simplify rather than push too hard. (There can be exceptions to this once in awhile but your inner judgment will know the exceptions to all these not-hard and not-fast rules) 8. There is rarely change without loss. Accept loss and allow change to bless. 9. We are all too hard on ourselves in general. Love and accept yourself or otherwise it's like a negative judgment on all those around you who aren't even as good as you try to be. 10. Don't try to make it to 10. Give yourself a break when needed." peace Karl

Yosemite Photo Shoot

karlb — Sat, 26 May 2007 16:44:11 GMT

Check out the gallery from my recent photo shoot with Analia in Yosemite. It's pleasure to work with somebody who knows her craft. Pro Photogs can contact me for her info. Check out her Gallery by pasting the URL Below http://www.tinyurl.com/36vkrb

The problem of Evil and God

karlb — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:18:31 GMT

This is a post from a climbing forum that was discussing the “Problem of Evil and God” (which is why you’ll see the climbing analogies) The misunderstanding is that this world is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. This planet is more of a sphere of tough lessons and evolution by experience. Climbing is also dangerous and painful but we do it for the adventure and experience. Amazingly, there is a perfection to our life here. It's "Karma." An honest look into yourself will see that your life is a reflection of your inner attitudes and feelings and that everything that ever happened to you has brought you to where you are today. Change yourself and everything changes around you. Take the evil and hell out of yourself and it stops tormenting you from outside. If you see that this is true for you, you'll find it easier to accept that it's true for others as well. God is beyond all conception and not some cruel bastard in the sky. It takes light billions of years at 182,000 miles per second to traverse God's physical universe. Just as we create worlds in our dreams, this world is the dream of God and countless other worlds exist as well, (I'm told most aren't as rough as this place) If you wake up in Gitmo, and think it's the only place in the world, you'll think the world sucks, but it’s the prison that sucks. The difference is that this world is more geared to rehab. God is not judging us. We judge ourselves. (note that Jesus said "judge not, lest ye be judged") It's an automatic process built into our consciousness/awareness. We create our life. Imagine a system of perfect justice, where motive and intention count the most and cannot be concealed. There are no loopholes. Imagine this system spread out over lifetimes, so that evolution can have time and the burdens of heavy lives are shed for a fresh start just like we need to sleep after a big day. Even some of older Christianity believed in past lives and justice demands it. You may see that we're living such a system. It's an obstacle to see all pain and loss as bad or evil. Much of it is to teach or results from our attachment. It's often easy to look back and see how hard times have taught us lessons. If our loved one dies, perhaps they need to move on to a new experience but we want to hang on and have them live to 150. It turns into a negative experience for you but not necessarily them. Imagine crying because you're getting pounded by a storm on the face of a giant cliff and the party next to you tops out and walks down. You just see them disappear from the stone you're on and think they've got it bad. These are just thoughts and analogies to think about. They are not complete as the world and life are beyond our rational and judgmental ideas. Take full responsibility for everything that happens to you and accept all pain without resistance. Search yourself for your own attitudes and assumptions and clear them out. Don't judge life by its compliance with your desires. Then see if there is a rhyme, reason and poetry to life or if God is giving you the shaft. Peace karl

Medical Tourism Trip Report

karlb — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 04:37:36 GMT

It’s been said that there is a leisure class on both ends of the socio-economic spectrum. Fortunately, I’m in the leisure class. Unfortunately, I’m on the wrong end of the spectrum. Fortunately, once the expensive plane ticket is purchased, India is a fascinating and cheap place to enjoy a winter vacation while the snow piles up on my cabin. Suspecting that the $900 in dental work that my state-side dentist recommended to me was only partly necessary, I figured I’d get a second opinion in India and get it done at a fraction of the price. I searched the net and found a Dentist trained in London whose website was in impeccable English. Dr. Arun was a minimalist and only wanted to do what was necessary. He spent a good deal of time explaining my situation and how I could avoid future negative outcomes. I did need a filling and Dr. Arun suggested that we try it without any anesthetic! That made me nervous. I’m in India and this guy wants to drill in my mouth without Novacaine? Dr. Arun assured me that if I felt any pain, that I could make a sign and we’d stop and administer the drugs. OK fine. Amazingly, the pain never came and I received the least painful filling I EVER had. The fact that I never had to suffer a needle in my gums nor a swollen, numb mouth for hours afterwards was a real bonus. Since my dental X-Rays, Scaling, Filling and consultation rang up a bill totaling almost $35, I felt like I had some cash to spare. While searching for dental services online, I noticed India had clinics doing Custom Lasik Eye surgery for a fraction of what it would cost in the West. It had never dawned on me before that Laser surgery would be within the reach of my leisure (economy) class budget. It costs something like $3000-$5000 in the states. I had the time, opportunity, cash and motive to take the big step in India, my initial consultation would be $5. Naturally I had a critical eye when I assessed the first clinic I went to. The gear seemed a little primitive, there were no other patients, and the staff seemed a tiny bit reserved, sullen. I was told they could operate that very afternoon. It felt sketchy enough that I checked out another clinic down the street. It seems like in India similar businesses like to group together. It’s not unusual to see a line of bike shops in a row, followed by another group of vegetable sellers. The next place had a much more upbeat feel. The staff seemed bright and enjoyed each other. The equipment was up to date. There was plenty of other patients and they looked OK to me. (waiting for flights in airports, I liked to note whether my fellow passengers looked doomed or not) On the downside, the consultation was $8, but I figured nothing heavily discounted was too good for my eyes. The Laser eye surgery has advanced in recent years. Now my farsighted condition was treatable with the machines. A computer scans the profile of your eyes and determines just what zapping is required to sculpt the eye back to perfection. Dr. Choudury received training in Japan and Canada and had been doing the procedures for 13 years in New Delhi. I’m not against taking some risks in life. I went for it. They scheduled me for 3pm the next day. On the way back to my hotel from the clinic, a blind beggar asked for some money while we were stopped at a traffic light. For the rest of my trip, I made sure to give a little support to the blind folks for whom I was the upper end of the leisure class. The next day I arrived at the waiting room for surgery downstairs and was pleased to note a very large uninterruptible power supply dedicated to the eye zapping machine. The power goes out regularly in Delhi and there is hardly a worse time for the electricity to fail than when it’s powering your delicate surgery. I should warn you that even surrounding state of the art technology, the Indian standard of paint, trim and building is lower than the West. The old India traveler subconsciously learns to tune out his Western expectations but new traveler might be disturbed. After some waiting it was my turn and I removed my shoes and entered the prep area where I donned the cap and gown to graduate from my eyeglasses. As a climber and a photographer wearing glasses for distance and other glasses for reading was a pain in the eyes. They felt like a barrier between me and the world, and often between me and other people. Contact lenses were an imperfect solution that required a substantial expense and I had to learn to poke myself in the eyes on a daily basis to get them in and out. Finally I was laying on the table with a large machine looming over me. What was I doing?! Dr. C. put a few drops of anesthetic in my eyes and proceeded to insert a speculum in my right eye. No happy drugs! This required all the relaxing power I had, The speculum is a device that forces your eyes wide open while they cut, slice, burn and zap them. It’s a device that would seem right at home in a horror movie torture chamber. I felt a sense of relief when they managed to wrassle it into my eye. Then a tube descended into the speculum and I felt a discomforting pressure. It’s too close to focus on the blade that cuts a flap of your cornea and folds it back to expose an inner layer of your eyeball, but I could see it happening in a blurry way and feel it in a numb way. I was playing for keeps by now and summoned my power of letting go and tried to relax further. My only responsibility was to keep still and focus on a red light to the lasers lined up so would be as accurate as possible. You can imagine that I took those responsibilities seriously. Once the cornea flap is folded back, everything gets very blurry and down the rabbit hole you go. The zaps of laser energy sculpting my eyeball were painless but I could feel my eye heating up and I could smell the burning eye-flesh in the air. Relax, relax, relax…. Each eye only takes about 10 minutes, but it sure seems longer. Once the first eye was done, I continued pretending to be relaxed and calm for the repeat performance on the left eye. After each eye, the doctor informed me that the procedure had gone well, but I suspected he said that to everybody he zapped. I was led back to the prep room where I was given sun-glasses, eye drops, and an appointment for the next day. The doctor told me that everything would be misty for the rest of the day and that I should try to stay in a dark place with my eyes closed. Not a problem since my cheap Delhi hotel room had no windows. They fetched me a cab home and I spent the evening listening to audio-books on my Ipod. That night I had the most vivid dream of wandering the streets. Suddenly I was able to see the posters, street signs and menus without any eyeglasses. It was such a clear experience that I completely forgot I was dreaming. I celebrated the perfect success of my procedure that enabled me to see the world clearly without the hindrance of spectacles. Until I woke up anyway. Ugggh! It was a dream! My hotel room was pitch black. I could be blind for all I knew. What did my dream know of how I would see? My eyes had been closed. Time for the moment of truth. I switched on the light and voila, it was all true! I could see clearly just like in the dream! Ahh. How sweet it was. I constantly had to readjust my habit patterns to my new status. I was constantly reaching for glasses or expecting not to be able to read a menu or see text; but I could. The doctor told me that I would definitely need glasses for reading after the surgery, which was only able to cure the distance element of my vision, but hey, I could read the newspaper text if I tried. I attended my next appointment and they gave me a plethora of drops that needed to go in my eyes 4 times a day for weeks. Some drops I needed to use for months. One of my clients whose profession was service and support of these machines suggested that I should be faithful using these medications and I was. It was too precious a gift to lose. If there could be a physical analogy for enlightenment, this seemed like it. One day the world was hard to see with my bare eyes, and the next day it was much clearer. I felt so blessed and grateful to be freed from the tyranny of glasses and contacts. Later in the trip, I cut off my long hair as well. That was another habit pattern I discovered. When I woke up in the morning, I figured I’d need to fix my messy hair but I didn’t have messy hair, and then I’d feel like reaching for my glasses to start the day, but I didn’t need ‘em. Talk about simplicity. Finally, I have to ask myself why I choose do a fairly uneventful write-up of this experience. I don’t think it’s for everyone, as there are risks involved. I think I just want to express my gratitude for a blessing in my life and provide food for thought to those whose health needs conflict with their leisure class status. Dr. Arun’s Dentistry website is http://www.delhidentist.in Dr. Choudury’s Vision website is http://www.spectacleremoval.com I wish you all well. Peace Karl

The inner Journery to True Self

karlb — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 05:06:00 GMT

I wrote this for one of my rockclimbing forums that were arguing about religion. I thought I'd post it here too: The inner Journery to True Self An expansion of our capacity to Love and discovering inner peace of mind are both thoroughly worthy goals whether you think there is a God or not. After all, Happiness and fulfillment are totally inner states. We all know beautiful people, talented people, and rich people who are tortured within…unhappy inside. Funny thing is, once you untwist the twisted human condition, the reality of the Spirit is right there. It doesn't require a leap of belief at all, just a resolution of the basic human misunderstanding. God isn't unavailable, God is just clouded by the pile of crap our ego has stuck to it. What's that mean? The basic human misunderstanding is this: We have collected a series of ideas, thoughts, concepts and opinions of ourselves that we believe to be our Identity. We whip this illusion into being with an incessant internal dialog referring to the collective memory of our personal history, our fears, and our projections regarding the future. Our tenuous self worth and fears all power the witches brew of insecurity and angst that make up this phantom self. This mentally created self can never be truly happy for long because it's just a fake idea we assume to be ourselves. When we calm the mind, and remain present in the here and now (this happens climbing sometimes you'll notice) this phony self fades and we have moments of peace and ease. The idea of Meditation, prayer and everyday mindfulness is to break the habit of clinging to a false identity and acquire a new habit of resting in our real self, which is pure, sweet awareness, always linked to "God" the Universal Being. No faith required. The effort in seeking this is never wasted because curing the mind in this life brings happiness regardless of "God" or "non God." The only drawback is that it requires some sincerely and persistence because it’s a lifelong habit deeply ingrained that has to be loosened. Opening to unconditional Love similarly transcends the phony identity and places us in natural harmony with ourselves and others. Many paths lead to this same discovery and there are certainly "Christian" ways of going there and doing that. But you can't get far while holding on to your anger, hatred, and twisted attachment to your ego ideas. (and in this way, thinking badly of yourself is just as twisted as proud and prideful ego) Happiness comes from within. Even if you transcend your false idea of Self through selfless charitable work, you're still curing the bogus idea of Self that you are habituated to. The peace is experienced within. This life is the ultimate mystery and finding Truth is the ultimate "climb." Whether you think you are on a Path or not, Life is going to churn your experience and show lessons to you. Are you going to take the challenge to explore yourself or just ignore it and try to squeeze some shallow pleasure out of life on the short trip to old age and death? Just some food for thought PEace Karl

Losing the Country

karlb — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:53:48 GMT

Sorry for the political Post I just got back from India where where I got to ignore politics for awhile. I had hoped that the Democrats, having gained power of both houses of congress and with the people behind them, would have arrested the momentum of the Bush and Neocon war machines and taken back some power to the people. Maybe even set un on a course to deal with some of our real problems instead of being distracted and drained by threats that hardly exist. I see that nothing like that has happened. Even with the public against the war, the spineless wimps in congress are too cowed to do anything about the pointless waste of life in Iraq that has no chance of turning around, and have done little to prevent Bush from perhaps trying to salvage his legacy with a strike on Iran. We're still not even talking with our potential enemies. I'm disgusted. Check out his article by Paul Craig Roberts who was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. http://www.rense.com/general75/lost.htm The same media owned by big business that has America convinced that the most interesting people in the world are Brad Pitt and Paris Hilton, has us locked into inaction and stupor. It's a daze that it will take a disaster to wake us from, but perhaps it will be too late by then. We're not producing much but living on borrowed money, we're acting like the lords of the world, attacking countries that haven't threatened us, and our lifeblood of energy is about to get scarce and our only response has been to violently steal the remaining reserves under false pretenses. I'm very happy in my life right now and it's seems twisted to come out with such a negative, cynical view, but I have to call them as I see them and do my tiny weak part to wake us up before we're too far gone. Are there those of you who support the way we're going? How does it add up in 20 years in terms of energy, economy, and world peace? Is there any bone I can be thrown except denial? I'm left praying for a miracle. Peace Karl

India

karlb — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 12:59:46 GMT

Greetings from the Banks for the Ganges in India. India is an amplified totality of much greatness and evil. Anybody who knows it well will likely have a love-hate relationship. I accepted that before I came so it's all good for me. Even the fever and chills that come from an accidental sip of Ganga water that I"m experiencing now. First thing when I got to India, I had C-Lasix eye surgery. Now I rarely need glasses to read or see, except for really small print. I can't tell you what a blessing this is. It feels like a miracle. Glasses were a pain for climbing and photography and felt like a barrier when loving people with my eyes. I'm so grateful to see. Went on a 10 day journey to the Khumbha Mela in ALlahabad and also Varanasi. Intense places where the sea of humanity meets the holy river. Getting at home in India is like scuba diving, You have to equalize the change in pressure and then you are comfortable in a new environment. Now I"m parked in a naturally beautiful and peaceful spot on the banks of the Ganges at the foothils of the himalaya. I enjoy spending a lot of time in one place as you make friends, really feel at home and truly know what might just be a fleeting impression. It's a good place to take stock of life and polish up a little reflection time. Sending out lots of love to whomever might read this. PEace and Love Karl

Pilgrimage

karlb — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:24:28 GMT

I'm headed off to India on Saturday, and, given that we just passed New Years, it feels appropriate to lay out an intention behind my pilgrimage. Sadly, I'm not always appropriate and sometimes our intentions are just rationalizations. I felt a call to visit India, so I'm going. There is something there for me and I don't know what. I've been there before and know that Love and Light is within and also within the hearts of many on this continent. I don't need to go there for enlightenment and renewal. Or do I? I'll let you know when I get back. It's true that a very long and dear relationship is in transition for me. The last time I went to India in 1998, I had just committed to it, and now we're letting it go. That change has been gradual and full of love, acceptance and understanding. I like to think that the events of life have their own poetry. A pilgrimage to India now seems to frame a stage in my life like a paragraph with a punctuating pause that honors the past and future with a holy bath in the present. I go to Love and bathe in the Light of the source that inspires me. I call in all those who can feel the presence of Being and celebrate it. I wish you all great Love, Peace and Joy as I prepare for the next epic adventure and expansion. I'm not leaving the past behind, but enclosing it with my love as I allow it to follow it's own path with freedom, support and well wishes. Many Blessings Karl

Where I will be here and now soon

karlb — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 06:51:09 GMT

I'm about to go on a huge travel binge the next 4 months. Sometime next week I'll visit my folks for Christmas, passing through the Bay Area coming and going. Then I fly to India from Fresno, Jan 6 to Feb 25th. Arriving in Delhi. I'll probably visit the half Kumbha Mela in Prayag and hang out in Rishikesh or Goa a bit, but, in reality, once I'm there, I'm going to go with the flow. I'll hang in yosemite for a week or two when I return, then visit my folks again in Ukiah, saying hello to my Bay buddies on the way. Then I'm flying to Hawaii from SFO on March 13th to April 17th. Staying in South Kona with maybe a backpacking trip on Kauai. After I get back from Hawaii, I'll be back in Yosemite for the rest of Spring through next Fall with the exception of a few weeks in Joshua Tree National Park. If I start to ge slow answering some tribe messages this winter, that's why. I hope to keep in touch with folks and visit in the Spring or sooner. Peace Karl

My 2006 Virgin Burning Man Trip Report

karlb — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:23:56 GMT

I wrote a trip report about my virgin Burning Man experience. It's more or less intended to give non-burners a perspective on Burning Man but should have something for anyone to think about (or argue about, and tell me I'm full of it!) Lots of pictures too. http://peaklightimages.com/dragon Enjoy Friends Peace and Love Karl "Baba"

We are at war becausee we want to be at War

karlb — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 17:36:02 GMT

I wrote this in response to folk who tell me that the US is at war because we have enemies that "Hate our Freedom" We are at war because we want to be at war. We choose our enemies out of self interest and ignore the enemies we don't want to engage. We provoke the ones we can exploit and the other attacks are usually blowback. What follows is an excerpt from a speech delivered in 1933 by General Smedley Butler, USMC. General Butler was one of the few Americans to be twice awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. "War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses. . . . "There isn't a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its "finger men" to point out enemies, its "muscle men" to destroy enemies, its "brain men" to plan war preparations, and a "Big Boss" Super-Nationalistic-Capitalism. "It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty- three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle- man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. "I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service. "I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912 (where have I heard that name before?). I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested. "During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents." He said that in 1933 before the rise of the military-industrial complex. Of which, another Republican general said this in his fairwell speech as president. ".... Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations. This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together." All Generals, all Highly decorated, all experienced. Must be left wing pansies eh? Peace karl

Symbiosis this weekend

karlb — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 13:11:57 GMT

I'm headed to Symbiosis this weekend. Can't arrive until Friday evening. Say hello if you see me! NEXT WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 21st - 25th SYMBIOSIS GATHERING An Arts, Music, and Concious Lifestyle Gathering www.symbiosisgathering.com

Blessing from my Friend's Wedding.

karlb — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 05:55:09 GMT

I was asked to give a blessing in the beginning of my great friend's wedding. I first thought to talk from inspiration in the moment but when I found out nobody besides the minister and I were speaking, I decided to be safe and write something. This is what I said. I thought I'd share it, for what it's worth. Peace Karl ++++++++++ I’d like to welcome us all home together, on a sacred day, amidst great beauty. There are two aspects to having a wedding, a legal aspect and a spiritual aspect. Since I’m told there are already a number of lawyers present, I’ve been asked to talk about the Spiritual Aspect. Kate and Chris aren’t here to make a deal, they are here to make Love. I’m afraid some weddings can be empty rituals, framed around the expectations of society and family, where social obligations are cemented and fulfilled. But a wedding can also be a spiritual moment, where everyone present is blessed with the holy presence of something we call Love.; a love that resonates from the source of us all. Kate and Chris didn’t invite us here to fulfill their duty. Kate and Chris invited us to share their love with us. I’m told my role in this sacred ceremony is to share a blessing. I can’t expect you to accept any wise words that I might say on faith alone. It is only real if you can feel it. I want you to feel it, so just listen for a moment and let’s experience for ourselves today if it is true or not. I’d like to suggest that Real Love is part of our innermost essence. That Love is who we are. I really believe that if you can set aside your personal history and expectations, and let your busy mind unwind in nature’s beauty, just for a little while, that you will find yourself in a state of Love. Love is who we are under all the layers of responsibility, worry and fear that overtake our day-to-day existence. We are all drops in the ocean of Love of God. That’s one big reason why we have this ceremony out here in the beauty of nature. In our everyday lives we get domesticated by our routine, by the manmade environment and by a culture fashioned by commerce and ambition. The rocks and the trees, the earth and the sky, this has been the natural, primeval home of humans for thousands of years. The beauty here is not contrived to sell us anything, or lure us. It is a beauty that reflects the creator and source of us all. I can speak about the glory of Love on and on but it’s a fact that most of us have suffered deeply around the subject of Love. Love is so precious that it is agonizing when we lose it. We tie our hopes and fears to our love. We bundle our desires and expectations into with our love. We hope our Love can overshadow our insecurities and self doubt, and then we blame Love when those things cause us pain. Love is beyond all those things that bring us pain. In fact, Love can heal our pain if we let it. If we allow our hearts to open once more. Kate and Chris are going to kindle their love together on this sacred day and we can all warm ourselves around their fire of Love if we let ourselves. Let’s be the Love with them. All we need to do is drop our cares and concerns for a few hours, and just BE in this sacred moment of Love together. One special kind of prayer is voicing a intention that we don’t wish to remain closed any longer. We invite the sacred back into our lives. Can we make that decision together right now to open our hearts to Love so we can share in a real spiritual moment with Kate and Chris today? Let’s just take a minute of silence in which I encourage you to invite Love into your hearts. Decide that today you will open your heart to Love. Let’s be silent together in that Moment Now. When we lose someone dear to us, we feel it strongly because of all our Love. They adventure back into the Heart of Love but we miss them. Today our friends are getting engaged, having babies, and yes, getting married, and it’s all because of our love. Let’s just take one more moment and think of a few of those special ones that we love, who we are thinking of right now. Send out your love to them. Just one more moment, right now Kate and Chris aren’t here to make a deal. They are here to make love, and together to make a world where love can thrive. Let’s take our Love and give it to them and each other, for the rest of today. Let this be a blessing and renewal of our Spirit and our Love from this day forward. I wish you all great Love.

Burning Man

karlb — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 17:38:58 GMT

I'll be at Burning Man starting Wednesday sometime. I'll be at Ball Camp 3:30 and Anxious or Eamon will know where i went. I have a commercial Still Photo permit if anybody want to propose a photo ideas. I'm going to be super discrete non-buzz-kill about taking pictures Maybe I'll see ya Karl

Universal Knowledge Legislation

karlb — Tue, 16 May 2006 20:23:17 GMT

Universal Knowledge Legislation Let’s say you were shipwrecked on a desert island. One of the passengers finds out where fresh water is but keeps it a secret, selling the water to other passengers for favors, food and privilege. Is that OK? How about if that same passenger knows where a radio is located to call for help, but keeps it a secret so he can remain the most important person in the island society? Is that Ok too? A few weeks ago, a trusted friend told me that he knew somebody who had worked on an 80 MPG car back in the 70s. He reported that the project was successful but had been bought out by an oil company. Most of us have heard stories like this. Are they urban legends or is there truth in some of those stories? As the world oil supply begins to wane as demand ever increases, I believe it’s time to shake the trees and find out what’s true before we get too far behind to make the changes we need to survive without oil. What if a pharmaceutical company were to discover that some cheap combination of generic drugs cured cancer, but withheld it because their business depended on expensive chemo treatments? As it is, their responsibility to their shareholders would make it virtually illegal for them to make that information public. We are all shipwrecked on this Earth together and some knowledge is so essential that I believe it would be criminal to withhold it for the sake of profit. I want to call that universal knowledge, that mankind has a right to share, albeit profitably. It is information that should never be repressed in the name of preserving obsolete products and commodities. I believe, as gas prices approach 100% gains in a few short years, that the public is beginning to understand that when oil begins to run short, our lives and economy will be at stake. I propose we lobby our representatives for “Universal Knowledge Legislation” or “SOGOP” (Crap Or Get Off the Pot) The basic idea is this: Knowledge and technology that could save lives, public health, or energy should not be patented or withheld from public knowledge for the purpose of keeping it off the market. I believe a law should be passed to that effect. The question I would like help with is in structuring language and programs to put the concept into action so that it pays for itself, so that the government and industry don’t exploit loophole in it, and so that it provides a fair return for industries and businesses that are forced to give up rights to energy and lifesaving technology. Here are some ideas: 1. Give industry and individuals 18 months to survey their patents and proprietary knowledge and report to the government about what they have which could violate “SOGOP” principles. They should assess and prioritize what items could make the greatest contribution and which are minor helps. Flooding the government with information to stall the process is unacceptable. 2. During the period of surveying, there will be amnesty for all discoveries which are disclosed but afterwards, penalties will be assessed for violations which could range from mere fines to life in prison. (What should the penalty be for withholding the cure for a deadly disease?) 3. A independent commission, not beholden to industry, should evaluate the technology and make it available to firms who would be capable and willing to utilize it. Arbitrators would mediate contracts of royalties and licenses to compensate the originating company as fairly as possible without pricing the use out of range of practicality. 4. A portion of the royalty/licensing fee of the technology (or fines out of violation of the program) would go towards financing the commission that mediates the process. (The whole thing could more than pay for itself) I believe the government should have to submit it’s own suppressed technology to a body that is not under its direct control to evaluate what info it needs to disclose as well. “National Security” goes both ways. If our economy crashes from too many 20 mpg cars in the US and China depleting energy out of affordability, that’s not security. The Model T got better mileage than that. How about it? The market isn’t free if corporation and governments suppress progress. What needs to be added and subtracted to make this work? Who can we lobby for it? What “devil in the details” do we have to beware of? Let’s make sure that important technology is not being suppressed. I can’t think of another way to do this. Can you? Peace Karl

Thoughts on science and spirituality

karlb — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 23:20:14 GMT

Everything that has a physical manifestation has a parallel subtle component. That's the way abstract consciousness become form. The brain has it's capacity for memory with the ego juggling revelant information from the past. And the awarenesss that uses the brain as it's vehicle retains the vibration of strong impressions made on it by experience. (Samskara) Those impressions work their way back into our lives and we call it Karma. I think there is a value in recognizing what both science and spiritualy tell us in spades, that the world is not as we see it. That recognition makes further exploration possible without which, the mystery of our existence becomes taken for granted. To know how life would be different if we were clearer on the ultimate questions is just speculation until you know some answers. Science has already broken down matter into a vast sea of the same vibrating energy. For science, it's ultimately all one. Somehow this power finds order and becomes this illusory universe with it's curved space time and sentient life within. That in itself could define it as consciouness. The question becomes the nature of that organizing force. It is the confluence of natural laws or a reflection of the conceptual power of that organizing power? Where would the natural laws come from. Was there really a beginning when linear time started? Will it end? How could something like that get started and is there a time googles and googles of years previously? Can those ideas be squared with curved time? Is anything outside of time? Is anything outside the universe? Do the possibilties reflect the sensibility of science or spirituality? Which has to ignore the the implications of it's theories? Both? I'm not trying to restate intelligent design here. Evolution could also reflect the way consciousness organizes time and manifestation. Food for thought. If getting too deep into these questions blows your mind. Just stay there a while. Peace karl

Voting Machines hacked-Diebold CEO Resigns

karlb — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 07:00:04 GMT

Our Democracy is being hijacked. Spread the awareness. Diebold Voting Machine proved to be hackable with minimal access and no password: http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/1954/15595.html Diebold CEO resigns: http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=175001748 Peace Karl

Criminals and the Death Penalty

karlb — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 01:43:00 GMT

I've listened to a lot of talk about the death penalty lately. Particularly in reference to a killer who has since reformed and done a lot of good. I think that a guy in charge of armed gangs that use force and violence to enforce turf and power, well, I also believe that such a guy DESERVES death, even if they try to keep the violence targeted against the rival gang. I just think it's sad that we recongize that when Tookie does it but somehow our own government is exempt. I imagine Tookie cross with Saddam on one side and GWB on the other. Fair enough? Two thoughts come to mind: One: most of the folks calling for his death only really know scant details of his reformation and the impact of his acts in prison. I believe that his programs, writings, and actions have actually saved the lives of youth who have been helped to resist or leave gangs by Tookie. That also saves the potential victims of the would-be gang members. Therefore, justice or no justice, society benefits itself by letting Tookie live. The only guy with the total credibility on the street to speak against gangs is the guy whose "been there, done that." So we should let Tookie live for our own selfish reasons. Second, I have really experienced the 'grace' that comes from forgiveness and loving your enemy. It doesn't require 'faith' on my part anymore. I see it work. So I'm all for not killing him and letting God deliver any final justice to Tookie (or GWB) that's beyond my wisdom to inflict when the time comes. In the same way, I hope our own country reforms it's gangster ways and that we don't suffer the exacting justice and retribution that might be due to us for invading a country under false circumstances and killing thousands of innocent bystanders (flyby shootings?). I want to skate the rap, don't you? That's why we invaded Iraq the first time, remember? Because they invaded Kuwait. It will be interesting to see what Arnold does. Remember that he's from Austria where the death penalty is verboten. You might recall that many countries around the world have got carried away with the death penalty in the past (particularly Nazi past) and DNA evidence has shown that we have our own problems with it. I used to be all for the death penalty. Let God sort em out. Not a big deal. But the DNA scandals and, then looking deeper into it, the unfair and unequal justice dispensed in this country, (Texas in particular), I can't buy it anymore. The rich walk. Look at OJ and Robert Blake. Justice for all, even it it means God dispenses it later to the ones who slip through the cracks peace Karl