Become a Conscious Warrior - Today.

An incredible person, friend, human being, athlete and thinker has published an incredible book; The Conscious Warrior's Manual. The author Ben Musholt is a physical therapist and good friend. I recommend this book to anyone seeking inspiration, ideas, or invigoration in their life. It is an easy read, entertaining and challenging. Ben addresses your personal health, the health of our civilizations, mental, spiritual, and global health in a scintillating convalescence of right mindedness and simple truths.

I just can't say enough about this book or the author, so figure it out for your self and click on the link to the right that I added to my template, or on the link above. You can buy this book online direct from the publisher (and as a one off, direct sale, this is one of the least environmentally taxing methods of book distribution possible). Enjoy the read and your future good health.

The Greenstigator

Damn it Chavez... why?

I've been a pro-leftist for years and I think I will always be, and then there are days. I understand the anti-Imperialist stance of nations, and I understand the use of that position pollitically. I also believe that many leaders use this catch phrase as a means to another end, a pollitical scapegoat or catch-all, that can be used to justify any action against an Imperial nation. And also, please remember that Americans in general are NOT Imperialists, just the one's that Republicans like to elect.

For instance, Chavez of Venezuela is a very left leader and I have supported his desire to set the course of Venezuela without the heavy handed influence of the US. That is their right as a country. And I understand many of the viewpoints in the Middle East that want the US out of their affairs as well.. some for very reasonable and righteous reasons, and some for political and often aggressive purposes. I think the conflict that is arising (politically, NOT militarily) with Iran is being argued on these levels. But that this is sometimes used as afalse front as an attempt to use a valid argument to further a dangerous, and possibly catastrophic, plan of action.

Recently the president of Iran met with Chavez and they spoke out together against the US imperialists. Understandable when coming from Chavez, who has felt directly the covert operations of the US secret service, and not so secret services. However this is not as reasonable when coming from someone who touts freedom with one lip and hatred with the other! Ahmadinejad is an outspoken anti-Semite who is actively pushing for the destruction of Israel and all Jews. Is this the kind of ally anyone should be making (anyone who is not a racist I mean)? Chavez has his hands full diplomatically with the US and the UK and probably the EU to a lesser degree, so why would he lend his support to someone with even worse relations?

"My enemies enemy is my friend" as the adage goes... a philosophy that speaks volumes about this strategy, and ultimately a strategy that works in wartime but not in times of peace. And that is what this is all about. Peace. Chavez, I want peace between all nations, and between Venezuela and the US is a good place to start. There are many people here in the US who support your efforts towards equality and freedom, and this is HURTING your cause, and mine.

I hope that this sentiment reaches your ears or eyes and you can review your choices to work with this man whom I believe is touting dangerous and hateful positions. Please do not facilitate this further degradation of your position or of the attempts to find peace between all peoples and all religions.

Ahmadinejad is a dangerous man and not someone to ally with until he changes is stance.

Donate to this:

I found this article on Rawstory, and it links to this site called EDGE. EDGE stands for Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally Endangered... yea, stick with the acronym guys. I think it is amazing, and maybe you do too? Look at the creatures on this site and realize the value of diversity. I was shocked to learn that the blue whale, on of the great giant mammals of the world is on this list, and is critically endangered. Can you donate too? I just did.

Greener than thou

Has anyone else noticed how sustainability is showing up everywhere now? And the long term greenies are getting a bit anxious... because their once strong and secure position in a field ignored by big business is becoming eroded... and this is exactly what they have been fighting for!

It's a double edged sword with a poison handle. So recognition is due and I'm not the one to do it. But others will. And even more will co-opt this incredibly enlightened position and take the money and the power that comes with being involved with a trend of this magnitude. For instance, GE just 'released' an electric car!!!! The Chevy Volt. CRAP! A press release so full of lies it is unconciousable to consider this a step forward. GE has been doing EVERYTHING in their power to hinder the advances in the electric car industry. If you want more proof see "Who Killed the Electric Car" because it's incredible just how low these people are, and sad how they have an open door into the wonderful field that has been sown by so many brave, sacrificing individuals.

But we are a community, and we are strong and it is not the time to be guided by fear.

Innovation knows no bounds so let us move forward again.

Great list of Green Thinking

Check out this link from my favorite online magazine Resurgance which is also available in print. It's a new year, and time for new thoughts. I will make an effort to post to this site once a week, with thoughts, updates and dreams for the new year, and our new future. Happy renewal and jolly winter warmth to you all.

Non-Smoking Bars in Portland

Non smoking bars in Portland:
Downtown:
Berbati's Pan - (2) reviews
Aura - (17) reviews
Barcode - (9) reviews
Bettie Ford Lounge - (34) reviews
Champion's - (2) reviews
City Sports Bar - (15) reviews
Crystal Ballroom - (4) reviews
Dan & Louis's Shucking Room - (2) reviews
Driftwood Room - (2) reviews
H2O - (1) reviews
Heathman - (5) reviews
Jax - (0) reviews
Kells - (7) reviews
Portland City Grill - (5) reviews
Thirsty Lion Pub - (9) reviews
XV

Southeast:
Aladdin Theater - (1) reviews
AudioCinema - (0) reviews
Bar Pastiche - (5) reviews
Blue Monk - (6) reviews
C-Bar - (11) reviews
clarklewis - (3) reviews
Crush - (7) reviews
Doug Fir Lounge - (63) reviews
Empire Room - (0) reviews
Holocene - (3) reviews
Imbibe - (4) reviews
Leipzig Tavern - (1) reviews
Madison's - (1) reviews
Nick's Coney Island - (0) reviews
No Fish Go Fish - (2) reviews
Skybox Pub

Northwest
Apotheke - (8) reviews
Brazen Bean - (16) reviews
East Chinatown Lounge - (6) reviews
Emanon - (0) reviews
Ground Kontrol - (0) reviews
Henry's Tavern - (8) reviews
Life of Riley Tavern - (2) reviews
Manzana Rotisserie Grill - (1) reviews
On Deck Sports Bar & Grill - (0) reviews
SoLo - (3) reviews
The Caddy Shack Pub - CLOSED - (0) reviews
Vault Martini

Equality and Balance

In an effort to swing the balance of wealth back towards the middle after centuries of incredibly subjugation by Colonialists Evo Morales told about 10,000 supporters in a plaza in La Paz "It is not possible, my friends, to have so much land in so few hands, and so many hands without land" . This may sound extreme to you, but if it does, I beg you to consider the extreme actions that resulted in this situation... Hundreds of years of colonial killing, molestation, subjugation, crime, and evil. And now, extreme measures are taking back control of a country that once thrived in peace.

Earth 2.0 -- The Big One

Ok, this is it, my first online exposure of the biggest idea to hit the Earth from my brain.

Earth 2.0. You may as well throw a Google in front of that, but don't, not yet... just wait for it and hear me out.

This idea comes from many others and from sources beyond my understanding, but I believe it is an important idea and certainly the wave of the future. Let's start simple; GPS is about as ubiquitous as cotton candy now, and as user friendly. You have a display in your car, it shows your location just like in all the video games with the word "strategy" in the description. That old top down, birds eye, axonometric view of the world. Strangely morphed to fit into a rectangular screen, but ultimately easy to understand and nearly intuitive. On said GPS driving aid devices, there are locations listed, and connections made. Let's leave this thought here for a moment and move on to the next step.

Google.com makes it oh so easy for us to find business and physical locations... they've even gone so far as to enable the world to build 3D models on free software (that's Sketchup for those not in the know) and upload them into Google Earth! You can add your house, or your office, or anything you want! Maybe even make believe 3D buildings, or if you are a history buff, and you want to add some historical scenery, whatever you want. I am sure there is some oversight but probably not enough to ensure accuracy.

I think you are ready for Earth 2.0 if you've gotten this far. Earth 2.0 is a user populated environment that is viewable on your computer, mobile device and eventually through a visual overlay in a real time vr environment. Glasses, goggles, contacts, whatever technology provides, this is my idea about the interface.

Imagine there exists an overlay of hyperinformation whenever you want. Or a completely different image if you so desire. A beacon of light locating your destination and 3D arrows directing you there, with distance remaining, and any GIS information you want. Linked to your own sensors and computer you carry with you, heart beat pulsing in the background or in a small corner showing your health and oxygen levels. You pass a bilboard and a rectangle overlays the shape in your vision, you click on the button and the link is bookmarked for future reference, or you are transported directly to their online store where you can purchase the item... you walk past a store, and their hours pop up, or an ad and inventory and price list.. or you turn that off for a little visual peace and quiet your pop up blocker running full time.

This is the beginning of my first sci-fi future history, that I will be writing over the next decade. It will extend into the near solar system, and the psychological realm of the sensile divide.

Ok, since you asked, the Sensile Divide is the chasm between our senses and our mind. The difference from seeing a word and knowing. The difference between hearing a phone number and having knowledge of a phone number without hearing it, or reading it. The difference between using your eyes to see, and pumping visual data directly through your optical nerve. It's the facade of our senses and the reality of our mind-dream.

Some possible scenarios:

The Helio has finally introduced the buddy beacon, something I thought up years ago. Simply a GPS device enabled in your cellphone that allows you to locate another cellphone via the same system. I haven't seen it work, but I hope it's just a 3D arrow and a distance. Wouldn't that be useful if you had a chip in your car, on your pet's collar, maybe your keys? Or your house... you see where i'm going with this? You can locate any destination or device with this and you can choose a simple arrow or a map, or when you get close enough the map switches to an arrow, or maybe just zooms and the proportions change. The problem? Your cellphone is the screen through which you use this interface. Earth 2.0 starts there, but the real move is in VR.

Semapedia is on to something relating to this, the first step.

New, Green, and Greener!

Well, here's the big news... I have decided to join a firm and take a job. I have just started working with BOORA architects as a full time Architectural Intern and i'm totally satisfied with my decision. It took some hard thinking and ultimately a gut decision, but why not check out their web site BOORA.com and see for yourself just who I'm with.

While my first day was slow it was good. I enjoyed meeting many of the new faces and sat in on some design meetings on my first project, a K-12 school in Happy Valley, Oregon. I had some extra time and came across a great article about the Green 50, a listing of companies that are pushing the envelope on Green. I think you'll like it but if you're short on motivation or time for reading, check out this slideshow while you eat your granola.

More soon, I promise.

The most amazing thing i've seen in too long

Thank you Tarek. You always give me the best technology.

Is this the way we create a better world?

I am outraged by everything I see our government doing. I officially
rename the democrats the GOP because they are the party trying to
stop this monster from destroying everything good about America. And
there are many good and great things. More than I could possibly
document, but I might try.

But for now, take this article http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/
2006/10/05/america/NA_GEN_US_Airline_Screening.php about how Evo
Morales, the president of Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in
the hemisphere, is on a no-fly list here in our own country. His
people have bothered us never, and never will! They have a navy in a
lake, because they are proud people who have been struggling for
centuries to get the very same damn rights we profess are for
EVERYONE! And now, our pretenident has put him on a list with
terrorists. I demand change. I am tired of W sullying the once good
name of this country. Aren't you? What about you, Mr. Republican?
What does America mean to you? Freedom? Gone. Truth, honesty, even
dare i say, good-Christian behavior? GONE.

We are the scum of the world. Lower even than the poorest and most
deprived contries. Perhaps now that we've been brought down so low
we will be able to find the damn terrorists that have attacked our
country, but only because we are on the same sad level they exist on.

Good luck to us all, and hope. Hope to bring us back to the peaceful
belief in others and hope that one day we may find truth, freedom,
and comfort once again.

Our Allies to the South

Have you seen in the news lately headlines like "Our Enemies to the South" or "Chavez Sowing Discord - Danger"?

I have. And I am enraged by the inaptitude and arrogance of our government and it's position towards South America, and more to the point, South American Democracies. Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, Lula, etc... all democratically elected leaders, all by a larger voter turn out than our "flagship" democracy can boast. It is absurd. These countries have every right to use their assets and resources strategically, the same as us. And to claim that they do not, that their actions are subverting our positions shows us even more clearly how weak we are as a country. To call them enemies because they choose to do what they will with their resources in a non-violent and non-aggressive way is utterly preposterous. It makes us look weak, it makes us look petty, and it makes us look down right stupid. Which I believe our government either is, or is actively trying to achieve the image of. End results - same.

So, I have a proposal. Treat these incredible nations, and even more friendly and wonderful people that make these nations as equals. Treat them as WE would like to be treated. Does this ring a bell anywhere? It's called the golden rule and is a central tenant of nearly every faith known. George W. Bush claims to be a Christian, but by his actions he is anything but. South America could be an amazing ally, of free, democratic, people. The kind of people we crave to be once again. Let us support them in this quest, instead of hinder them.

Our name calling has a grave effect. It de-humanizes the people of these nations, and will forever sully our name and reputation among these people. If we spent the same money we use demonizing them to help them the international situation would be one of hope, and mutual trust and respect. Instead it is a situation of anger. Of name calling, of humiliation, of de-huminizing terror. And we are the terrorists.

Is this your vision of our country? Is this your vision of the world? Of Christianity? Of hope?

This is my kind of article

Well, it´s not every day I find something useful in my Google Alert: Moon Base email, but today I got a great link to an article about life escaping the earth. Unfortunately all of the great refrences in this article are not links so if you want to do a bit of searching, you´ll have to google on your own, or check back here later when I have done a bit of my own. But if you want at least one head start check this article about the extraterrestrial imperative.

WAKE UP AMERICA You have been warned

Greetins fellow Americans,

If you are not aware and enraged then you are not American, or simply unaware, but now you have been warned. One of the most basic principals that makes us Amercian is Democracy, and that very foundation of our culture and socitey has been completely undermined and eroded by the very government we create and support. Please read this article and realize that your votes do not count. It is time to take back this country. Huge and complete reform is needed. Let´s make it happen now.

Remember how I said our country is going to hell?

See, I did say that. But what I want to show you is this, and I hope you´ll join me in boycotting this property ownership.

Check out this article on a banned piece of clothing and then join me in a boycot of Simon Property Group Inc.

So now it´s inciting a riot to speak for peace. This has been the way our own (!!!) Government has kept the people from speaking for years. Peace equals violence. Well I´m not taking it anymore. Peace means peace and you had better expect I´ll be doing more peacful protesting when I get back.

I hope you´ll join me.

Windmills...

What´s the purpose of technology? Is it to make our lives better, easire, more complex? Answer for yourself, that´s the purpose. It´s many things good and bad. So consider this article about some big new wind farms ready to go in (lot´s of projects, and kw and dollars) and a military study about windmills effect on radar. It´s sort of blankent ban the energy speculators claim and some say politically motivated. Makes sense in a way, we´re fighting a war over oil now, so it doesn´t really make much sense to subert the price and competition for oil.

But let´s forget about all the politics for a moment and consider the effect on the landscape. Imagine open prarie or rolling hills, rivers, forests. Covered in windmills. Can we still consider this open space? How will the presence of such devices affect our perception of nature?

Wind energy is one of the most abundant and clean energy sources we know of. The materials needed to construct a windmill are not exceptional. The resource they are drawing from is (seemingly) immense and even infinte, well wind speeds are picking up!

How will windmills effect habitit if expanded to a great range? Perhaps this is our best solution, the landscape peppered with giant peacful giants, and energy aplenty, but I don´t think any solution that takes on the present demand is efficient or sustainably, and reducing demand is always the best solution.

And I think i´d rather have a windmill in my backyard than a nuclear plant over the hill.

Old Idea, New Life

One of my favorite people and I were having a discussion a while ago about the state of the world and we both decided it could be better. One of the main ideas we tossed about was the idea of new governments. Governmentes based in space, in new forms (without land or property?), or without extant populations. I really like this idea and think it works on many levels.

Why be part of a government that you don't believe in? Why not form your own or sign up for one that guarentees you the rights you want? Pay taxes to them, get defense and rights from them. Be part of a collective, or a mutual.

The easiest way to see this happening is if there is an orbiting platform that houses the governemnt and acts as the "land" for the country. The other easiest option is Lunar establishment, with the oportunity for colonization.

Ken Macleod writes about these ideas in his Fall Revolution series, the first being The Star Fraction wherein there are areas on Earth governed by Space, and when entering one of these areas you literally enter space territory.

So why can't we have these now? Why can't we have a government that is totally new, of totally new ideas, and open to anyone who wants to be a part of it? If the USA and other countries are already using mercenary forces for protection and offense, then this government can too. So you tell me why or why not.

Viva Freedom!

Now i'm scared

So, if you're not scared by this, they you should join the army. World War 3 and if you still think Bush is a good president (or even person) you should definitely join the army. Right now.

So I've been thinking... a lot

So many thoughts and so much to think about.

Some were generated while sailing aboard Northern Light with my aunt and uncle Deborah and Rolf. I read many good books, learned how to sail (somewhat) saw some amazing things, and had a great amount of time to just be and relax. When I got back to La Paz through some serious events, traumatic and beautiful, I took more time to recognize what was going on within. Then I read Cosmic Trigger and my mind was opened to some other possibilities.

But let's talk green for a second.

La Paz is a city of extremes. Up and down, poor and (moderately) wealthy, but like any city or civilization considered modern, La Paz has a pyramid shaped demographic. So many of the people here are on the low end of an economic slope that is traditionally unclimbable, that survival needs have dictated a sustainable lifestyle, and it's only those few on top who are riding the western wave of SUV's and waste.

Now that's not to say that there aren't sustainability problems that saturate life for all in La Paz, but it's just less likely that someone making less than a dollar a day will waste anything. One big problem here is plastic and other non bio-degradable waste and litter. The city has novel approaches to this problem, but recycling and reusing of typical disposables is needed here in a big way. There is some recycling but nothing universal or consistent throughout the city.

So what would it take to make a city like La Paz, where so much is already reused, recycled, and run down? Clean energy, and a local and less polluting fuel source for vehicles. Elimination of the ubiquitous plastic bag (that is a certain part of the economy here), and education. It sounds like a lot to do but it's nothing! Really! Compared to what we must overcome in countries with the horrendous and despicable consumption problems like the good ole' USA, Bolivia could be the first, and best country in sustainability with much greater ease.

What does this mean? Globally, and here, where I sit, in La Paz, Bolivia. Perspective shift. Change of vision. New Vision, and no programs. The people of Bolivia are some of the most mobile minded people in the world. They have had 30 changes of power in 25 years, and for the first time they have a president who is loved by the people, respected by his peers, and unafraid of pressure from outside.

I say it now, Evo Morales, you have a chance to be the leader of the world in National Sustainability. How would that feel? For one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere to lead the world with vision?

Amazing. Great. Proud, and above all, hopeful.

Blogging will be slow here... but not....

Hi you faithful blogger type happy people!

I'm back on the internet but i've got to tell you that i won't be posting here much... well, that could change but for now check out my other blog Bolivia Bound as it is where i am (bolivia) and is what i'm writing aboutl. Hope you enjoy it and i hope you are living and feeling as green as possilbe!

Best,

Eli