A Little One

Seemingly unstoppable, 
the dimension of our own making. 
There is never enough yet 
you are taking too much. 
Always running out of, 
I just want to yell time out.

Thanks

Thanks for stopping by. I am working long hours for a while so might not get to make anymore post in a while. I can tell you though there is plenty of stuff to make me want to. Keep coming by and I will put something up for you to read soon.

Just a Little Rant for You

I can't recall being this completely disgusted with the US government since Ronald Reagan was in office. The only word that properly describes what our government has turned into is an Idiocracy. Everything our politicians say gets repeated with the term "Job Destroying" tacked onto it. Every government agency that was intended to protect the citizens has had its funding cut to the point that it is totally useless. Over 50% of the tax dollars collected are going to the "Defense Budget" and that is the only thing that seems to not be getting much in the way of cuts. Looking into my crystal ball I can see that the way things are going there will be even a higher percent of the tax dollars going to defense and that is one thing that I don't think I can live with.

I am secretly shopping for a new country to live in just in case it gets any worse.

Another Poem

Step Off


when all words have lost their meaning
the only sound that I can hear
is the gentle breeze of your breath
that swirls wildly down my collar.

my thoughts washing out with the tide
exposing the sands of frustration beach
placing my palm on my cheek
I look down in disbelief.

Weathering the Weather

This has been an unusually hot summer this year which brings about all kinds of wonderful questions about what could be causing the extreme weather. I really enjoy reading and hearing about all kinds of theories and myths about this place we live and what lies ahead. I am, however, rapidly losing my sense of humor about our politicians denying we have some problems that need to be solved and they should stop worrying about which public action committee is going to give them money so they can get elected again. The most annoying part is watching them try to enforce austerity measures while our economy is barely moving. Putting the pinch on the less affluent citizens is not exactly where I would be getting the money to pay the bills. Since we have record profits being made by companies that are creating jobs overseas while so many are out of work here it would only seem logical. Then again, these are the same anti-science politicians that deny our climate is changing, why would I even think they understand math.

Weekend of Rest

For a long time I felt that I had to make the most of the weekends and that is one thing I still abide by. I made the most of the weekend past by catching up on the sleep that I have missed out on for the last several months. Being somewhat famous for being an insomniac, it is such a treat to be able to spend an entire weekend actually getting sleep. What a joy to sleep late and then follow it up with a nap which is celebrated with yet another nap. There are tons of opinions about where or not you can catch up on sleep or not but I really detest these kinds of assumptions. Sleep is sleep and you either can or you can't. For those whose all too often can't it is best to do so when you can. Sleep is about healing and should be done so as needed.

Sleep is such an interesting topic to discuss with people because you can hear all kinds of stories. Some people absolutely must have their X hours a night or they cannot function. There are also those who manage to get by on  sometimes very little for days at a time. Some people even wake up more tired than they were when they went to sleep. I am one of those people. I have done sleep studies and bought equipment that is supposed enhance my sleep experience and I still find it to be elusive more than not yet there are times that I can sleep for the better part of a day without a thought. How do you sleep?

How Things Change

At the beginning of the year I began a project to visit at least 10 cities to give me some writing projects. This project seems to have morphed into something really different. The project has turned into meeting as many of my facebook friends as I can this year. I have traveled to many places already this year and have even more on the schedule as the year progresses. The biggest trip so far has been my trip to Switzerland and Germany back in May. I have posted many pictures on facebook and have neglected my blog, I have regrets but I will soon try to establish the routine of updating again. I will try to get some pictures and stories from each of the trips posted some time soon. My apologies to those who have stopped by to find I have done nothing in several months. I have a new desire to work on my blog so hopefully I will give you lots of new stuff soon.

One Place I Will Not Go

Odd Start for 2011

My apologies for not keeping up. This year has started a bit odd for me. I do have some travel stories to tell but and still in the middle of sorting out some other issues. Hopefully I can get something posted before too much longer. The malcontent travel project is off to the races though, should be a fun year once I get everything organized.

Eccentricities in Ten Cities

I thought a great way to start out 2011 is to create a contest. That seems to be a popular thing to do on blogs. I am too much of a procrastinator to mail stuff to anyone so what should I do for a contest? Well, I have some vacation time I will need to use later this year. I also have friends that live in some interesting places around the world. Ah yes, I have the contest and how to make it possible for several people to all win. I can't promise everything will work out but I am going to make an effort to follow through if at all possible.

Here is the contest.

Leave me a comment telling me about something close to where you live that I should travel to and visit followed by me writing about the experience. This is a really open contest because if I chose to go where you suggest, you have the option of going along, meeting me for coffee, or just telling me how to find it and not meet at all if that is more comfortable. I am after the experience of seeing things I would likely never know about otherwise. So, you ask what kind of information does he need to select the winners? First I need a little information about the place of thing I should see. Second I would like for you to decide which way I write about it, as the malcontent, as the lonely traveler, or as something experienced with friends. Of course the amount of winners will be determined by how I can schedule the trips and how many I can afford. I am willing to attempt a few hops around Europe if there are some good suggestions.

Why is he willing to spend money to go somewhere like this? Being a world class procrastinator I have a really difficult time trying to decide on where I should vacation. If someone can peak my interest in going to see something the I am willing to consider it. There are a few places that are automatically on the list as far as cities but I am open to specific things with  in the city that you might feel worthy of some commentary. My goal is to visit 10 different place that someone else suggested in the year 2011. I actually got this idea when talking to someone about Flat Stanley and a trip this friend was taking him on for someone else. Well I'm far from flat, but I would like to see things I have never see, take pictures and document the experience.

Now, I'm sure that this is a new experience to have someone volunteer for you to tell them where to go but I'm going to make a best effort to accomplish as much as possible. Everyone have a little fun here and let's see what we can come up with. I also welcome my blogger friends to engage in a similar project, even if you just post where you plan to go and have people tell you what to see when you are there. Let's make it a smaller world. I am really looking forward to seeing new things and hopefully letting the malcontent see a few things around the world. Comment away and I will try to keep this updated fairly often.

End of Another

My most sincere apologies for my extended delinquency in posting more content. I have been completely engrossed in research on the topic of procrastination, dilly dallying, and other methods of avoiding what one should be doing. I suppose in actuality I have been distracting myself to avoid most of the holiday goings on which I typically find as annoying as the cold weather that comes around the same time. Now we are just a few hours shy of beginning another year which brings me to the focus of my dread. Designated beginnings and endings are something I'm not exactly fond of because from my perspective it's just a continuation

A quick note from the malcontent:

Happy New Years and what is your resolution for the new year? That is an awful lot of pressure to put on someone. I mean, what if I am still working on the one from 3 years ago or something. Perhaps I have a much larger scope resolution that requires an entire lifetime to complete.  Maybe I haven't thought of anything at all because I have been so busy dodging deadlines of various kinds that I forgot to study for this little examination. Let's just stick with the general pleasantries and not cause anyone to have to think about anything as astronomical as "What are you going to change over the next year?". While we are at it, is it really a requirement for it to be happy? I have many friends who seem to prefer to spend their time wallowing in their on misery and self-loathing. Being the self-proclaimed malcontent, I will settle for "Have an not angry New Year".

Back to the regularly scheduled dribble:

Seriously, I have had a wonderful 2010. I have had some major improvements in my health which in itself is enough to have made it a fabulous year. I have also taken up these little excursions into my own thoughts that I have posted here under the guise of writing. I have learned how to be happy again after so much of my life being wasted with hate and bitterness.I was finally after 5 years able to decide on which car I would own next, of course I had to wait for them to make one I liked first. I have made many new friends that will be with me a long time. There were also some less that spectacular moments through the year. The passing of some old friends is always sad. Grief and heartbreak seem to be best dealt with by embracing them rather than resistance so I guess I have learned a lot more about living at the same rate at which life slams into me. Acceptance and forgiveness being 2 things that have a new meaning for me now.

I have no predictions for what 2011 has to bring and really have no desire to speculate on the what ifs that seem to being hovering around. My plan is to focus on being a better me that I was this last year. I have concluded that it is not really an act of conceit to say you are the best, as long as your goal is to be the best you that you can be. I have now chosen to hold all those around me in an esteem equal to that of a hero or movie star in hopes that everyone will make the effort to be a little better and not get discouraged along the way. I definitely plan to allow the inner malcontent to express many things in the coming year since I get a laugh out of it and hope a few others do too. I wish everyone to have the opportunity to be the best they can be for 2011 and thank you for reading my blog.

P.S.  Be kind to animals, even human animals but especially the ones we are given the responsibility to watch over. Too many unwanted pets and too many wild animals trying to be kept as pets in this world. 

Kindness and Generosity

For a bitterly angry malcontent I have found that one can still be a positive person who is pleasant to be around. I generally try to keep peace in my heart, happiness in my thoughts, kindness in my words and generosity in my actions, when I am dealing directly with people. When I find myself motivated to write, I typically have a burning desire to express what is keeping me from the four things I listed. I am trying to spend a little more time writing with I have these aspects in order. That being said I will now begin with the rant that has been building up for the weekend.

I have a definite problem with people who gather in protest at another person's funeral. Regardless of what the reason this is the one place that someone should never bring anger. I am especially upset about this when the group is organized in the name of their church or religion. There have been many protest taking place at funerals in the last year and it has to end. Protesting someone else's choices in life is a really bad idea at any point as long as it brings no harm to another. Choices are exactly that and nobody should be condemned for them. This last such protest was attempted at the funeral of a woman that had been very public with her personal battles including breast cancer. I didn't bother to try to find out what the issue they were attempting to protest was but I have hope for the group that made a human chain to block them from doing what they intended.

A quote from a favorite movie of mine, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, "Nothing like hard times to flush the chumps". It seems that when unemployment is at it's highest is also when insanity is at it's peak as well. Perhaps the nuts don't act out as much when they are at their job or are too tired to act out. The society is bound to it's black and white thinking and not allowing for many shades of gray. The unwillingness to find a mutually agreeable solution for problems has gotten to the worst it has been that I have knowledge of with the exception of the events leading to the Civil War. I am really sad that groups form at a church and bring hate to others as much as it makes me sad that the poorest people seem to be the most concerned about a tax increase on the wealthiest people. I find a lot of conflict in trying to resolve the differences I am seeing projected these days.

I often wonder how the world would be if everyone spent 1 day a week trying to have the four aspects I mention earlier. After all, it is a choice which attitude one has and attitudes spread like a wild fire. It takes someone willing to let go of their own negativity and to have the inner strength to not be brought down by their surroundings. I understand anger and hate very well, well enough that I try to keep it from taking over my life and causing me to do things I regret. I find I have no regrets when I speak with kindness and act with generosity. Even on the occasion that someone takes advantage of my generosity, I am able to stay focused on where the generosity comes from rather than how it was received. If you can find peace in your heart, the rest is easy to follow through with. Finding peace was a very long road for me but today am can say I know as much about being happy as I do about being angry and the choices involved with both.

Big Cats Need Love Too

Now that the secret is out of the bag that I am a sucker when it comes to cats, I should share with you what has become my new obsession. I have been aware that the big cat population around the world has been on the decline for quite some time now. Thanks to a new friend of mine I have been given a little more insight into the issues that lions, tigers, and all the other types of wild cats face. We have a responsibility to not only our planet but to all the occupants on it and we really need to look out for those that are being destroyed by our negligence. My beloved cat, Spike, is related to all the other cats on the planet and because he brings me so much joy I feel it is up to me to try to help his cousins as much as I can.

Domestic cats have adapted well to living with humans be developing a symbiotic relationship. Cats were allowed into the house as a trade of warmth and food in exchange for keeping some of the pest under control. Cats have a way of showing their humor a type of affection that makes them a unique member of the family almost immediately. Cats also are able to provide a lot of entertainment with the various games they like to play whether chasing a string or hide and seek. It is very comforting to have a cat sit in your lap and start purring when you pet them, it gives your actions meaning because of the pleasing response you get.

Big cats are also very playful but they aren't safe to keep as a pet because they are wild and do not share the need for humans in the same way as their indoor cousins. Even the smaller wild cats have a need to live as a wild cat even though some people think they would make a good pet. Bobcats are commonly taken as kittens because they are cute and cuddly as kittens but as they age the wilderness calls and they become a serious danger to their keepers and in many cases become caged or chained in an attempt to control them. Keeping wild animals confined is essentially then same as a person being imprisoned for their beauty. Large cats require a great deal of expense to properly set up a habitat for and to maintain. Even when all of the best preparations are made it is still common for a cat to have health issues as a result of being kept in an unnatural environment.

The world cat population is on the decline for many reasons but one that is the most serious is as the humans use up more resources and continue to overpopulate the planet, we are destroying the homes of numerous species of life in the progress. One thing that sticks in my mind is the plight of the horned toad that used to be very plentiful in Texas which lived on a diet of red ants. As people began to develop neighborhoods they wanted to rid their yards of the red ants due to the uncomfortable experience of the sting. In destroying a large number of red ants, the horned toad population began to dwindle as a result because their food source was removed. This is happening with way too many species and it makes me sad that the worlds population of large cats are down to numbers that can easily be counted. These majestic animals need love as much as the furry little guys we keep in our houses, but they need a different kind of love. The large cats need to be shown the respect to be able to live and prosper in their homes without having to migrate into other area to find food, water and shelter.

The delicate balance of the food chain is teetering on the possibility of collapse. Use of chemicals is destroying bees which we depend on to handle the task of pollinating the plants that we use for food, without bees we become much like the horned toad because even the meat we eat relies on the plants to live. The use of paper is destroying the forest and driving its residents into urban areas where they are considered pest and are subject to some type of control. The development of new neighborhoods is constantly destroying the habitats for many species driving them towards extinction. The food chain is just that, in order for us to live we require a very complex system of other forms of life to sustain us. This makes it increasingly important for us to help the other species survive otherwise will can will this planet to the cock roaches that will be here to clean up after us.

I ask you to think about the things you do with consideration to how it impacts other lives, not just the humans. We consider ourselves the keepers of this planet and it is too late in most cases for us to make a difference but we really must try now to save what we can. Their future is our future.

Friends with Fur

I have alway had at least one cat when it was possible and find them to be very entertaining. Cats are my favorite pets because they are of a predatory nature and the stalking is part of how they play and interact. I am also drawn to cats because each one has a very unique personality when you get to know them. With dogs you can pretty much train them to play the way you want to, cats however require that you learn along with them what rules there are to the games.There is a lot of debate about how cats show affection or if they do. Some thoughts are that cats have mastered how to get fed and that they really don't care about there human until they want something to eat. There are some wonderful animations at the other end of the following link that show this point of view very well.

Simon's Cat

Occasionally there is a cat that gains a little more fame and for good reason. The cat in the following link is one that shows a fantastic amount of bravery (or stupidity) in protecting his place.

Cat vs. Alligator 


Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed seeing the cat videos.

Free

Over the last few months I have heard enough references to "Freedom" to last me for a life time. I say this because the people who continually bring it into the conversation have little or no experience with being free. It shows in their eyes that they are bound by their own ideas and convictions, incarcerated by their expectations, and restrained by their own ignorance. I say this as an observer who recognizes these imprisonments through my own attempts to let go of them. I am not wholly convinced that being free is really what anyone is after anyway since most people have a need for the acknowledgment of others to verify their existence.

Favorite Picture

I had a cat named Tucker for about 15 years. He was the best cat anyone could ever hope for. He was one of the few cats that would do tricks on command. It's been almost 3 years since he died but I still think of him with a smile quite often. This picture is of him sleeping the way I would see him every afternoon when I would get home from work.

Tucker was not a big fan of the lights shining in his eyes, me either really, so he adapted to make napping work well for him. 

He was such a joy to be around, even though he was a large cat he could somehow find his way onto the top of the entertainment center. I am glad to have had 15 years of his company.

Post Election Post

Now that the election is over I'm hoping to find something else to amuse myself with. The results of the election is going to be analyzed until everyone is unhappy with the new guys. All of the people that appeared on my ballot who I voted for won, so technically everything that is within my realm is good. Seeing how some of the other states came out, I have my concerns about where we are going next with this bunch of nuts. We have a considerable amount of people that are new to governing that will be taking some important roles. Seems like a few years ago there was a lot more who had actually studied law or political science, now it seems the most popular have never even read a book. The thing that keeps me from getting upset about the whole situation is that I know we are a strong country and we can get through what ever mess they come up with.

Enough about the politics. About a year ago I bought the Rosetta Stone program for learning French as I was preparing for a trip to Montreal last year. I got far enough along that I was able to understand a little and order food and now it seems to have all faded from my memory. I keep thinking that I need to go back and try to finish  learning the language, thinking that I would be able to expand my vocabulary or find a better way to say a few things. I fear the downside would be that if I don't use if often then I will not be able to retain much. Secretly I think I just want to learn how to swear in French because it seems to be so much more expressive, or it at least sounds more civilized. Realistically I am actually trying to break from using profanity which has been a serious challenge considering my blue collar and entertainment background. I have found that I am capable of being plenty profane without having to use foul language.

Lately I have been taking inventory of most of the aspects of my life, something I do from time to time. I am really evaluating the quality of the relationships with the people I am around these days. I find myself less than content with most, I think all of this started when I went to visit my old friends a while back. It seems that the current group of people I surround myself with is not building the kinds of memories that I need to make myself feel like I am "involved" in life. I am finally to a point that I can't hide behind my health issues anymore and I have been trying to get out more often. This has pointed me in the direction of considering an academic environment to spend some time around. I find that most of the conversations I have had recently are equally as satisfying as talking to my cat, it's a nice feeling for a bit but it doesn't last very long. I need an intellectual challenge and most of my friends can talk about sports all day long but give me that look if I try to get into something of substance.

With the holidays coming up, I am thinking that since prefer to travel to see family on the off schedule so that things aren't so nutty. This leaves me with some time off work that I need to find something to do. My twisted line of thinking is suggesting that I should present my friends within a reasonable difference with a contest to win me as a guest for the holidays. In theory it seems like a great idea but it actually doesn't work out too well since I typically don't enjoy sitting around with a bunch of people where I might know 2 or 3 while family dysfunctions play themselves out in front of me. Whichever way this plan for the holidays works out, I'm sure it will provide plenty of inspiration for me to get creative again soon. I am pretty sure I am boring you by this point so I'm going to close this post, get something to eat and prepare for a little late night work I must do.

Election Night Recycler

Since it is election night and I am going to spend most of the evening watching the results I decided I should recycle some old post that are related to politics or at least my view of them.

Starting with the first post.
Don't Ask "We the People" Until You Have Done for Yourself

More of the same.
Collective Selectiveness
Politics and Religion

Now it is time for me to settle in and monitor the election results, well after I grab some dinner. I hope to soon find my creativity and write some new stuff and even try to crank out another poem or two. I need to find a little poem theory to study up on so I can give it a serious try, any suggestions?

Oh yeah, I found my autographed dollar today. It was a nice gift from a friend of mine who spoke at an event with the Secretary of the Treasury a while back.

The Non-Political Political Rally

Today I attended a rally down at the nations Capitol that was put on by our favorite political humorist John Stewart of The Daily Show fame. They did an excellent job of leaving the politics out and focused on reminding everyone that as Americans we work together everyday and solve a lot of problems and this bitter devisiveness that is going on is being fueled by the media of which they are considered part of. They had a great message about how the majority of our country are able to come together and be tolerant of others. It has become a sad day when the media coverage is spent on the extremes rather than the majority. The favorite quote for today was "If we amplify everything, then we can hear nothing." The suggestion they presented was when you feel yourself getting disgusted with what you are seeing on the cable news channels, grab the remote and switch to something else. It is very obvious why John Stewart is the most trusted person to deliver political news even though he makes it out to be comedy. John is the only person that will ask the hard questions and not let anyone get away with anything regardless of which side they come from. It was a great day if you overlook the standing in a crowd for several hours and the bit of sunburn I got, I will add a couple of pictures of the crowd later.

This says it best:
Jon Stewart being Serious

An Attempt at Something Different

In the eyes of one I have not yet  

met I see the lies of my life 

projecting onto me the struggle 

each must face to find the freedom 

to release.

It is time to fortify the fingers of 

fate and let loose the force held in 

bondage of expectation, restrained 

expression reaching for peace.

Feeling the presence of a billion

souls bound by their own belief,

aching for a breath of air not

fouled, to drink the water of truth.

Found remnants of a dream long 

dispersed, wanting more while 

taking less, enslaved by 

attachment to that which 

cannot be obtained.