Brick by Brick

It takes a lot longer
to build a building

Than it does
to tear it down.

~

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

Food Pyramid

This is the food pyramid that was developed by nutrition researchers at the F.D.A. in the late 1970's

It was later suppressed by corporate intervention and the current "food pyramid" you might see on food packaging is virtually meaningless.

If you follow the serving column on the left you will have a diet that is "One gram of Fiber for every one hundred calories."

Eat intelligently.  Be healthy.  Live life.

Graphic design by myself.
Information by freedom of information.

Peace.

~

copyright(c)2014,2015

William A. Schaeffer

Can you suffer ?

This is something that we all know,

yet most of us pretend to forget.

When someone is suffering and in pain,

and you cannot immediately relieve the pain,

they do not want your opinion.

They do not want a strategy,

a plan of action,

or a statistic.

They do not want an analysis,

a directive,

or a dictate.

All they want is genuine understanding,

someone else who is willing to feel the pain,

who can sit with the pain and just feel it also,

They don't want someone who is 

judgmental, 

superior, 

aloof, 

better, 

distant, 

removed, 

or safe.

They just want a companion in their suffering.

THAT is a friend and nothing less.

If you can't suffer with them, you are NOT a friend.

Sorry, that is life.

Unless you can share someone's suffering, 

you are not of any use to them, 

and you should probably just go away.

~

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

Drums on the Beach and Anarchy in the USA

The Venice Beach Drum circle is a good example of how Anarchy works in social organization.

Every Sunday, musicians and dancers assemble to play drum music on Venice Beach.   Twenty years ago, when I started attending, the group was small, about 10 drummers and 20 dancers or other participants.   Now the group can get as large as 200 people with up to 50 drummers and 150 dancers or other participants.

The curious thing is that there is no formal organization.  There is no group membership at all and we don't even know who most of the other people are.   We don't even know their names.  There is no organizing committee, no mailing list, and no advance planning.   

Furthermore, there is no music, no sheet music, no songs, no conductor or formal organization.   There is among humans however, a long cultural tradition of drumming and drum making.  At Venice we do use a common ending pattern to end specific jams, but even this is not required, or followed every time.

And yet, people show up with drums.   They coordinate their activities and manage to create enjoyable drum music every weekend.   They figure out how to play together at the same rhythm in a pleasing manner without anyone telling anyone else what to do (for the most part).   There are even people that clean up the debris and empty cans afterwards, and encourage people to maintain civility while the circle is progressing.

This is a perfect example of how Anarchy actually works in our society.   The group manages to continuously produce a drum experience every weekend.   But the funny thing is that there IS NO GROUP.  This is just ordinary people spontaneously organizing themselves to solve a problem.   In this case the problem is how to have fun playing drum music.

It could be easy to be critical of this type of organization by comparing certain aspects of the performance to other types of group organization, but that is not the purpose of this essay.   The point is to show that this is a viable example of Anarchy in social organization that has continued to work for twenty years.  

Interesting to ponder the thought.   At least in a limited context,  Anarchy can work to allow people to organize themselves, without outside interference, to effectively solve their own problems.

This concept might be generalized by the philosophically brave to say in other words, "Leave people alone and they will figure out what is best for themselves, by themselves."

And all these years at Venice Beach, I just thought that I was learning to play drums better and enjoy my time with people of a similar mindset.   How could I know that I was getting a political education at the same time?!?

(Apologies to the Venice Beach Drum Circle.   This is an avowedly non-political organization where people almost never talk about political issues or events.   People generally do not talk about anything except the most basic issues of sunset, water, garbage bin, and percussion instrument.    People don't talk, because they are not there to talk.  They are there to drum.  Talk is cheap.  Drumming has value.)

~

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

Rise and Shine

Yesterday, I had a 5:30 AM call time and had to wake up at 4:00 AM to finish all preparations to arrive "on time."   Later that day I remembered being a construction worker thirty five years earlier and having to wake up at 5:00 AM every day to make it to the construction site "on time."   One of the reasons that I quit and returned to college was so I wouldn't have to wake up early for work.  And now, almost every job I work has an early call time.   I have started waking up at 4 AM automatically every day, whether I need to or not.

My new friend Don said that one reason he became an actor was so he would not have to wear a suit and tie for work.  And now all he does is wear a suit and tie in the portrayal of formal and business situations.

~

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

Infinite DADA

Infinite DADA


DADA with love and humor is Art.
DADA without compassion is savagery and brutality.

DADA for sale is DADA confusion.
DADA for free is DADA whatever.

DADA for loan is DADA unveiled.
DADA for ever is DADA for now.

DADA.
Nothing but DADA.

~

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

Don't wait

"Don't wait for the other shoe to drop.
  Steal the shoe and run away."

- Mr. Atwater

~

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

The Love Calculator

The Love Calculator



Pick One:

1. Ugly
2. Stupid
3. Crazy

~

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

Moral Behavior

It is my understanding that the fundamental basis of morality and moral behavior is the concept that, "the ends do not justify the means."   A moral code is a set of laws governing behavior that remains constant regardless of circumstance or convenience of application.


Any costs benefits analysis of behavior, or desired outcome justification, is not a moral argument, but a pragmatic argument.   Moral behavior is rarely the most efficient or practical way to solve an individual problem.   Moral behavior is however, the behavior that will generally yield the least harmful results for all parties involved (not just the principle acting party) over the course of time.


The reason for moral behavior is the behavior itself and not the prospect of any desired outcome, although a favorable consequence is frequently the result with consistent application of principle.

~

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

speed is economy

"If time is money, then speed is economy." - Mr Atwater

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

Santa Claus is Dead This Year

Santa Claus is Dead This Year
- by Bill Schaeffer


All the world is shocked and grieved
At the News there is to hear.
Who would have thought? Who could believe,
That Santa Claus is dead this year?

There won't be any singing
And there won't be any cheer.
There won't be any Christmas Time
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any Holly Wreaths
And no frosting on the mirror.
There won't be any Festive Tree
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any angels
With voices singing clear.
There won't be any happy children
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any Christmas Cards
Or Merry Wishes to hear.
There won't be any Mistletoe
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any Yule Time Log
Or the Family Gathering near.
There won't be any Presents at all
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any Christmas Goose
And there won't be any Beer.
There won't be any Hot Plum Pudding
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any Elven Sleigh
Pulled by Eight Reindeer.
There won't be any stockings hung
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any Peace on Earth
Or Carols to calm our fears.
There won't be any Brotherhood
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

There won't be any Red and Green
And no Memories to hold dear.
The world will all be Cold and Gray
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

All the Elves will be standing round
Rubbing their eyes, filled with tears.
The Reindeer's heads will be bowed
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

Mrs. Claus will be a horrible sight
Wailing and warbling, sounding queer.
The North Pole will draped in black
Because Santa Claus is dead this year.

But even though the Old Man's dead
And laying on his Funeral Bier
I suppose I'll raise a glass to toast
That Santa, who is dead this year.

Because he has done his job so well
In many a bygone year,
I guess I'll try, in his stead,
To be my own Santa Claus this year.

I'll make a list and check it twice

for friends and family dear

and get them each a special gift

for Christmas time this year.

I'll buy some cards and mail them out

to spread some Christmas Cheer

to all the ends of the Globe they'll go

at Christmas time this year.

and then I'll bake some special treats

and share them without fear

for everyone will be my friend

at Christmas time this year.

And lastly, I'll make a point

to help the unfortunate dears

whose luck has just run out

at Christmas time this year.

And maybe if enough of us

do Santa's chores each year

there still might be a Christmas

for years and years and years.

But as I think it occurs to me
That the News must be a lie.
Someone has pulled an awful prank
Because Santa Claus can't die.

For where ever a child's face
Lights up with fresh surprise
And smiles at the new fallen snow
Then Santa is there, alive.

And if young lovers are lost in thought
Gazing deep in each other's eyes,
Then there the Christmas Spirit is
And Santa Claus is there, alive.

And when a family sits around a table
With heads bowed in reverent prayer.
And even though they know it not
Old Santa Claus is there.

So even though the times are tough
And bills leave your wallet bare.
As long as you can laugh, once more
Then Santa Claus is there.

The Spirit of Christmas is always here
As long as you take your part
And Santa Claus will always live
In the smiles of the young at heart.

copyright 1998, 2005, 2014

William A Schaeffer

A moment of silence

"Without music, life itself would be a mistake" - Frederich Nietzsche

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

I find myself

Trapped
in a prison
of my own making.

Nevertheless,
I cannot
get out.

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

Take a Haiku

It is 6 A.M.
Let's take a hike at the park.
Invigorating.

copyright (c) 2014 

William Schaeffer

Like an insect molting

I bought a new smart phone.

I still keep my old phone

on the desk.

I am reluctant to put it away.

Like an insect --

staying near his old skin,

when it is no longer of any use to him.

~

copyright (c) 2014

William Schaeffer

My recurring dream as a child

My recurring dream as a child

There is one dream that I had at least three times, and possibly more, between the ages of 6 and 10 (or so).   The dream is always the same, identical.   I wake up startled with the memory and impact of the dream, but it is foreign and somewhat meaningless.   Today, while looking at an image of Shiva, the Hindu god, I was reminded of a significant element of the dream that I never could understand.

The dream is always the same and starts out where I am on the floor against the wall of a dark room.  I am a prisoner, or held captive.   The room is about 10’ x 15’ (or larger) and the back wall is a significant way from the door.   It is windowless and dark and I am alone.  The floor is wood and the walls are metal; riveted metal.   There is some straw scattered on the floor.   My back is against the far wall, facing the only door, which is a metal sliding door hanging on a track or rail.   It is daylight outside and light spills through the crack in the door and faintly illuminates the room.  

I am waiting for a long time and suddenly the door opens and a figure stands looming in the doorway.

It seems that I am on a ship and the man is the captain of the ship.  It is daylight and I can see we are on a river and there is a line of trees on the bank of the river, along the edge of the water.   The captain of the ship is dressed like a pirate sea captain with a long coat.   On his shoulder is perched a giant cobra snake with the hood flanged out like it is about to strike.  Instead of a parrot perched on his shoulder, this captain has a cobra perched on his shoulder in exactly the same configuration as the cobra in the classical illustrations of Shiva that I saw earlier today.

I cannot say if the cobra was real, or possibly a brass statue, but it was perched on his shoulder just like a parrot would be perched on a pirate’s shoulder.   The captain stood motionless and menacing in the doorway silently looking at me.   I see him with the cobra on his shoulder silhouetted against the bright sky.  Then, I wake up.

This dream was somehow different from the other dreams I had as a child and I have forgotten most of those.

As a young man, thinking about this early dream, I noted a curious similarity to “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad.  Possibly the dream was a memory of a previous life? If so, it seems remarkably like the memory of a newly captured slave destined for slave markets on the coast; being transported down a tropical river, in a cargo hold where livestock was also kept.  This room seemed to be on the level of the main deck and not below decks.  The door opened onto the side of the boat (Starboard side).  The pirate would be the trader and captain of the ship.  The ship seemed to be a steam or diesel ship and not a sailing ship.

However today, I am baffled by the Shiva image.   I have seen this image of Shiva numerous times since college and today for the first time I notice the cobra sitting on his shoulder in exactly the same configuration that the pirate in my dream carried a cobra on his shoulder all those years ago.  The realization really struck me. I have no idea if this, or the dream itself means anything, but it is a curious memory.

Addendum: I became aware of this Shiva image because for the past two weeks, the exact same Shiva video has been showing up in my suggested playlist on youtube.   Every time a video ends, no matter what the video is about, this same Shiva meditation video is presented as one of the next options.  The music is nice, and I enjoy listening to it, but it was kind of spooky how the exact same video always appeared as an option.   And now, watching the video and looking at the simple animation, I am reminded of this dream I had as a child all those years ago when I see the cobra perched on the shoulder of Shiva just like the cobra perched on the shoulder of the pirate.

~

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

How to Plant Flowers

How to Plant Flowers

by Bill Schaeffer

1) In the late Winter, or early Springtime, choose the spot where you would like to have flowers.   There must be some minimal dirt and sunlight.   Generally, the more sunlight the better.   Wild flowers are hardy and they can take the sunlight if they have enough water.   You might have a small flower pot, a patch of dirt between sidewalks, or some bare dirt in the corner of the yard.   Anywhere is fine, as long as there is some direct sun.

2) Buy some seed packs of mixed wild flowers.   Buy about four times the recommended amount of seeds for the area.   Buy a few different packs by different manufacturers.   Buy seeds of local wild flowers.  

3) You can plant the seeds anytime you like, but for best results:  Choose a day when it is not supposed to rain for a couple days.   Clear the area of debris and plants.   Add some black dirt topsoil if you like.    Remove the stones if you like.    Wait till late afternoon and broadcast the seeds (scatter the seeds evenly over the dirt, by gently flipping them out of the palm of your hand).   Interesting note: the radio term “broadcast” was coined in WWI by a sailor who grew up on a farm.   As a boy, his chores included feeding chickens by broadcasting seed.   As a radio operator he used the term and it stuck.

4) Gently water the seeds.     Just water enough to barely wet the soil.    Touch the soil to judge the moisture.   It should feel moist and not muddy.   Do not water too much.    Do not soak the dirt.     Never over water.    It is always better to water too little.

5) Check the flowers every day, or at least five days a week.   Touch the soil to see how moist it is.   If it is dry and cracked, the flowers need water.    If it is dry and dusty, the flowers need water.   If the soil is slightly moist and clinging, the flowers are just fine - do not water.   If the dirt is muddy, or soupy, there is too much water.   If you need to water the flowers, just sprinkle the dirt with water.  Just barely soak the soil and then stop.   

6) You might want to weed isolated blades of grass and wide broad leaf plants (pull the plants out by the roots and destroy them), but generally you should leave the flowers alone and just water them when the dirt is very dry.   Check the dirt every day.

7) Wait,  relax, enjoy.    Watch the life cycles of different plants.    Watch the bees and butterflies that are attracted to the flowers.    Look at the other insects enjoying the plants.

8) Try to not pick the flowers or arrange them.   Leave the plants to flower naturally and only cut the dry dead flowers from the living plants to give energy to the remaining flowers.   Interesting note:  According to Charles Alexander Eastman, in the book “Soul of an Indian,” the original Native Americans never picked flowers for decoration.    For celebrations, they used boughs, or wreaths, of green leaves, but never flowers.   They left the flowers to bloom naturally on the plants.

~

Copyright (c)2008, 2014 

William Schaeffer

What world is it?

I used to think we were god’s chosen people living in the greatest country on earth.   And I thought I was more than happy to do my fair share, to work hard and help build a just society for all men and women to enjoy and pass on to their children in perpetuity.

But now I see that the whole world is just a bunch of shitty little assholes trying to kill their neighbors and take their money and fuck their teenage girls and then blame it on someone else while living an outwardly sanctimonious and respectable lifestyle.

And, I am confused.   Where do I fit into this new world?

copyright (c) 2009, 2014 Wm Schaeffer

What is Philosophy?

To my understanding, Philosophy is the speculative musing about intellectual concepts for no other reason than to examine truth and consider the ramifications of the concepts examined.  Philosophy is not pragmatic, political, or religious.   Philosophy has no ax to grind or agenda to fulfill other than reflection on the process of thought and truth itself.

~

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

What a beautiful world it would be...

p. 106

"His [William Carlos Williams] poem 'Classic Scene', written in 1937, addresses the pervasive industrial ambience of the poet's own milieu in the north-east.



A power-house
in the shape of a red brick chair
90 feet high

on the seat of which
sit the figures
of two metal
stacks - aluminum

commanding an area
of squalid shacks
side by side -
from one of which

buff smoke streams while under
a grey sky
the other remains

passive today -


..."

p. 107

"...But a vaguely unsettling conflict exists in 'Classic Scene' between the unsightly shacks and the assertive power plant, between the active and the passive aluminium stacks.  As with Sheeler's industrial scenes, we struggle to assess this seemingly straightforward description.  In the detached, objective language, an understated voice proclaims a dissonant message about a world totally dominated by industry.  The realm it commands is eerie, squalid, and deathly still.

Indeed, William's 1954 essay on Sheeler's work interjects a surprisingly pessimistic note with regard to the industrial subject.  He describes the power of Classic Landscape as resulting from 'a realization on the part of the artist of man's pitiful weakness and at the same time his fate in the world'.
Finally, we glimpse what the 'contemporary dilemma' meant to Williams.  The creative individual's fate -- especially in America -- is to live in a mechanical age, a fact that cannot be denied.  The artist must address this in his art, but in doing so, he finds that the machine remains alien and aloof; humanity is pitifully weak in its domain.  Williams apparently maintained faith in the artist's ability to create vital expressions in the face of such challenges, however, because he concluded the essay with a more positive, if incongruous , thought: 'These are the themes which under cover of his art Sheeler has celebrated.'

Sheeler, when asked to explain the diminished human presence in his industrial scenes, advanced yet another, possibly ironic, explanation: 'Well, it's my illustration of what a beautiful world it would be if there were no people in it.'"


from "Charles Sheeler and the Cult of the Machine" by Karen Lucic, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass 1991

Myopia

Expanded from a response to a Stephan Molyneux video on youtube:

Perhaps psychological Myopia is the sane mind's attempt to stay sane in the face of the forced demand to conform to contradictory social ideals.  This strategy is to "remain focused" on one's immediate surroundings and then willfully "ignore" the philosophical problem areas of belief that are off "in the distance."

Given the situation where one is commanded to believe a new fact that "must be true," even though it is obviously false.  Additionally, when the penalty for being discovered "promoting" the falsity, or lack-of-truth, of the new fact is a painful corporeal punishment (i.e. physical torture or imprisonment) and almost equally painful social censure (poverty and homelessness); the mind struggles for a rational solution.  

Assuming that the healthy mind seeks to avoid internal contradictions and inconsistencies of facts, this mind finds it difficult to accept new data "as true" that contradicts all prior evidence.  One possible solution to this dilemma is to relax conditions of truth and reliability, in effect refusing to judge or discriminate truth from falsity.   But this is not satisfactory because then nothing you believe has any validity and it could lead to very serious consequences in other areas of activity.   You could die.  If you no longer trust you ability to evaluate, then you no longer can reliably avoid peril, because you cannot discriminate peril.   Eventually you will be a victim to a hazard that might have otherwise been avoided if you had just learned to "trust your instincts."

Another possible solution is to accept the new data as irrefutably true and discard all previously know facts that contradict this "new data," but this is not acceptable either because it devalues your own sense of evaluation and self reliability.  Ultimately, this also degrades the previous truth value of the facts that you know to be true.  You are forced to doubt what you know to be true once again. You are forced to doubt your ability to ascertain truth and once again the consequences can be serious.


About the only solution that the sane mind can accept, and remain sane, is to "not think about" the philosophical contradictions posed by this "forced belief"and instead concentrate on the immediate world close at hand.   In this way, the consistency of thought and action can be maintained without struggling with the philosophical and social dilemma of trying to refute an obviously untrue "fact."   Any contradictions between personal philosophy and social dictates to conform can be largely avoided most of the time.

copyright(c)2014

William Schaeffer

Love happens over the telephone

Love happens over the telephone.

IF someone hears of your misfortune, or your success, and they do not call on the telephone, or visit in person, then they don't really care.

No matter WHAT they write in an email, or a text, or tell you in a chance encounter later on; if they do not call on the telephone, or visit in person, then they don't really care.

In this society, where almost all promises seem eternal, and then evaporate on closer examination, it is important to know who cares and who does not.

Love happens over the telephone.
If they do not call, they do not care.
If they do not call, they are not true friends, just acquaintances.
If they do not call, you really are on your own.

You can call them again if you like and pass some artificially pleasant time in your uncertain suffering, or you can just face the truth.   They don't care.


Because, love happens over the telephone.
And now you know, if you haven't already figured it out already.
Why chase a fantasy?
The real people, who you can count on, who really love you, will call you on the phone.
Just wait and see.

Love happens over the telephone and don't let anyone tell you differently.

~

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

From the Book of Enoch

From the Book of Enoch LXXXIII 3-8:

"3. I had laid me down in the house of my grandfather Mahalalel, (when) I saw in a vision how the heaven collapsed and was borne off and fell to the earth. 4. And when it fell to the earth I saw how the earth was swallowed up in a great abyss, and mountains were suspended on mountains, and hills sank down on hills, and high trees were rent from their stems, and hurled down and sunk in the abyss. 5. And thereupon a word fell into my mouth, and I lifted up (my voice) to cry aloud, and said: 'The earth is destroyed.' 6. And my grandfather Mahalalel waked me as I lay near him, and said unto me: 'Why dost thou cry so, my son, and why dost thou make such lamentation?' 7. And I recounted to him the whole vision which I had seen, and he said unto me: 'A terrible thing hast thou seen, my son, and of grave moment is thy dream-vision as to the secrets of all the sin of the earth: it must sink into the abyss and be destroyed with a great destruction. 8. And now, my son, arise and make petition to the Lord of glory, since thou art a believer, that a remnant may remain on the earth, and that He may not destroy the whole earth."


From the Book of Enoch trans R. H. Charles, D. Litt., D. D., 1917, London

In the Middle of the Night

In the middle of the night -

Laying in my bed
in Hollywood;
I hear screaming
and yelling,
out on the street,
in the distance -
muffled.

And I cannot tell
whether someone
is in distress
or they are having fun.

Then there is silence.

I'll never know.

A helicopter flies overhead
but it keeps on flying,
over the hill,
and into the distance.






copyright(c) 2014 Wm Schaeffer

Integrity

"Nothing at last is sacred but the integrity of your own mind."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson from the "Essay on Self Reliance"

copyright(c) 2014

William Schaeffer

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

So, so you think you can tell 
Heaven from Hell, 
Blue skys from pain. 
Can you tell a green field 
From a cold steel rail? 
A smile from a veil? 
Do you think you can tell? 

And did they get you to trade 
Your heros for ghosts? 
Hot ashes for trees? 
Hot air for a cool breeze? 
Cold comfort for change? 
And did you exchange 
A walk on part in the war 
For a lead role in a cage? 

How I wish, how I wish you were here. 
We're just two lost souls 
Swimming in a fish bowl, 
Year after year, 
Running over the same old ground. 
What have we found? 
The same old fears. 
Wish you were here.


(Waters, Gilmour)

The Dexterous Butcher by Chuang Tzu

“The Dexterous Butcher”

by Chuang Tzu: 

From the Inner Chapters

Ting the cook was cutting meat free from the bones of an ox for Lord Wen-hui. His hands danced as his shoulders turned with the step of his foot and bending of his knee. With a shush and a hush, the blade sang following his lead, never missing a note. Ting and his blade moved as though dancing to “The Mulberry Grove,” or as if conducting the “Ching-shou” with a full orchestra.

Lord Wen-hui exclaimed, “What a joy! It’s good, is it not, that such a simple craft can be so elevated?”

Ting laid aside his knife. “All I care about is the Way. If find it in my craft, that’s all. When I first butchered an ox, I saw nothing but ox meat. It took three years for me to see the whole ox. Now I go out to meet it with my whole spirit and don’t think only about what meets the eye. Sensing and knowing stop. The spirit goes where it will, following the natural contours, revealing large cavities, leading the blade through openings, moving onward according to actual form — yet not touching the central arteries or tendons and ligaments, much less touching bone.

“A good cook need sharpen his blade but once a year. He cuts cleanly. An awkward cook sharpens his knife every month. He chops. I’ve used this knife for nineteen years, carving thousands of oxen. Still the blade is as sharp as the first time it was lifted from the whetstone. At the joints there are spaces, and the blade has no thickness. Entering with no thickness where there is space, the blade may move freely where it will: there’s plenty of room to move. Thus, after nineteen years, my knife remains as sharp as it was that first day.

“Even so, there are always difficult places, and when I see rough going ahead, my heart offers proper respect as I pause to look deeply into it. Then I work slowly, moving my blade with increasing subtlety until — kerplop! — meat falls apart like a crumbling clod of earth. I then raise my knife and assess my work until I’m fully satisfied. Then I give my knife a good cleaning and put it carefully away.”

Lord Wen-hui said, “That’s good, indeed! Ting the cook has shown me how to find the Way to nurture life.”

Translated by Sam Hamill and J.P. Seaton
 (The Essential Chuang Tzu, 1998)

Sumerian proverbs

Six thousand years ago saw the rise of the Sumerian culture in the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers.   This is considered by many to be the first true Empire and the first State, even though the oldest cities on archaeological record date back to ten thousand years ago, or older.

All knowledge of Sumerian culture or history was lost to time, until several libraries of cuneiform tablets were unearthed and translated in a herculean effort of scholarship.

In the Bible, there is no mention of Sumer, although Abraham was from Ur, which was one of the great cities of the Empire.  Also, the Sumerian myth "Epic of Gilgamesh" has a flood narrative that is almost identical to the story of Noah, except the names and a few small details are different.

Here are a few Sumerian proverbs from that time; from the Time LIFE book on "The First Cities," 1973, p. 105;

"For his pleasure -- marriage;
on his thinking it over -- divorce."

"He who has not supported a wife or child has not borne a leash."

"When a poor man dies do not try to revive him."

"Wealth is hard to come by, but poverty is always with us."

"Possessions are sparrows in flight that can find no place to alight."

"Don't pick it now; later it will bear fruit."

"Tell a lie; then if you tell the truth it will be deemed a lie."

"Into an open mouth a fly enters."

" Who has much silver may be happy;
   Who has much grain may be glad;
   but he who has nothing can sleep."

Law of Physics

Law of Physics

By Bill Schaeffer


In the science of Physics we learn that there can be no Force without an

equal and opposing Force. For example, the force of movement is opposed

by the force of friction, and the force of impact is opposed by the structural
force of the material being impacted.

It seems that the practical application of this fact is the realization
that you cannot do anything important in life without encountering
some significant opposition. In fact, the strength of the opposition

can be thought of as a measure of the significance of your ideas.

Or, as Albert Einstein once observed, "Great spirits have always

encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

So don’t worry if it seems like the whole world is against you,

it is just their way of telling you that you are on the right course.

copyright ©2007, 2014 William Schaeffer

Tongue of Wood by Stephen Crane

There was a man with tongue of wood
Who essayed to sing,
And in truth it was lamentable.
But there was one who heard
The clip-clapper of this tongue of wood
And knew what the man
Wished to sing,
And with that the singer was content.

- Stephen Crane

Poems by Stephen Crane

A man saw a ball of gold in the sky;
He climbed for it,
And eventually he achieved it --
It was clay.

Now this is the strange part:
When the man went to the earth
And looked again,
Lo, there was the ball of gold.
Now this is the strange part:
It was a ball of gold.
Aye, by the heavens, it was a ball of gold.


***

The wayfarer,
Perceiving the pathway to truth,
Was struck with astonishment.
It was thickly grown with weeds.
"Ha," he said,
"I see that none has passed here
"In a long time."
Later he saw that each weed
Was a singular knife.
"Well," he mumbled at last,
"Doubtless there are other roads."


***

To the maiden
The sea was a blue green meadow,
Alive with little froth-people
Singing.

To the sailor, wrecked,
The sea was dead grey walls
Superlative in vacancy,
Upon which nevertheless at fateful time
Was written
The grim hatred of nature


- Stephen Crane

The Nutty Fruitarian

Health Riddle

Q:       I don't eat meat and yet I am not a Vegan,
           I'm not a Vegetarian, either.    So... What am I?

A:     I'm a "Nutty Fruitarian!"  

Facts

Fruit has on average more fiber, more calories, and more nutrients per gram than vegetables.  Tree Nuts have fiber fat and protein and are perfectly balanced nutrition for human consumption.

Idea

Join the Nutty Fruitarians.   Change the world.


Get regular, be extreme.     Become a "Nutty Fruitarian" now.

copyright(c)2014 William Schaeffer

Dr Oz Checklist

Dr Oz Checklist


Calcium
Magnesium
Zinc

Essential Minerals.
Ready for lift off.




copyright(c)2014 Wm Schaeffer

Dr Oz Cheat Sheet

Dr. Oz Cheat Sheet

omega 3          fish oil
omega 5          coconut oil
omega 7          macadamia nut
omega 9          olive oil

Healthy cooking oils.
Blast off into health.





copyright(c) 2014
Wm Schaeffer