Light! Even in a Dark Age!

"Light and darkness, life and death, and right and left are siblings

of one another, and inseparable. For this reason the good are not good,
the bad are not bad, life is not life, death is not death.

Each will dissolve into its original nature,
but what is superior to the world cannot be dissolved for it is eternal,"

The Gospel of Philip, from the Gnostic Gospels of Jesus, by Marvin Meyer.

Contained within many of the world's various philosophies, religious writings and texts, as well as spiritual documents, resides the concept of "light and darkness," and throughout recorded history, we can see where these themes are interwoven in the tapestry of mankind on Planet Earth.

It seems there have always been two major forces at work, light and darkness. Each is seen with its own attributes and characteristics. Most often light is seen as positive and good, and darkness is viewd as negative and bad, but as our introductory quote says, "Light and darkness are siblings of one another, and inseparable. For this reason the good are not good, the bad are not bad...Each will dissolve into its original nature." Interestingly, this is the first time I have run accross this concept, but as I think about it, it certainly makes a bit of sense.

Now what is it that makes a bit of sense to me? Well, that everything is connected and interconnected, and all things comes forth from the Source, Universe, Cosmic Consciousness, or whatever one may chose to call it; a place from which everything originated and emerged. So, if everything emerges from this so-called Source, sooner or later, it will return.

Thus, as the quote says, "Each will dissolve into its original nature," and in my mind, that means everything dissolves back into that from which it came from; I should think. However, there are other opinions regarding this which may differ somewhat, with most being pretty similar, whether its the Kabbalah, or other ancient teachings, and that is we all originate from a creative source and from that source we may return.

However, living in this moment of time and physical space, we are confronted with many challenges, or forces of negativity, which seem to be pummeling us on an almost moment to moment basis. According to the many ancient wisdom teachers these positive and negative events are cyclic events which occur periodically throughout time.

Sharron Rose writes, "According to the ancient texts, this cycle of the ages begins with a Golden Age [Krita-Yuga] of beauty, harmony and grace, an age in which we are all, both male and female alike, fundamentally connected with our own divinity, living lives of total truth, fully aligned with the universal spirit. As the ages progress metaphorically from gold to silver [Treta-Yuga], to bronze [Dvapara-Yuga], and finally to iron [Kali-Yuga], the mass of humanity draws further and further away from the numinous and radiant light of spirit. We move towards an age of total materialization and concretization, a time of ignorance and delusion, a time in which the bright light of spirit is all but extinguished. The ancients called this age the Kali Yuga, the Age of Iron."

Ms. Rose goes on to say, "As this dark age [Kali Yuga] progressed into it's fullness, industrialization appeared with its factories, toxins and pollutants. In Europe, at the beginning of the industrial revolution, or machine age, the total rape and pillage of the planet was in full swing. This was the complete manifestation of the Age of Iron. It was at this time that we collectively entered our current age of materialist science and intellect, of rationalism and externalization. A dark age, which has been characterized by the destruction and devastation of the feminine, and the very earth that gave us life." http://tinyurl.com/26qvruo

One doesn't need to be an Einstein to "see" that we are in the throws of a dark age where toxins, pollutants, inhumane acts towards others, and eco-disasters are the order of the day. The planet is indeed being maliciously raped daily and plundered by the greedy robber barons, politicians, and banksters, who are taking us one step closer to the collapse of our environment and species.

One of my major concerns with all of this, however, is how such a vast majority of the people, in this country, are just laying-back and allowing all of these horrific things to occur. They're breathing in toxic air, drinking water and beverages filled with chemicals and drugs, eating food that's loaded with hormones, pesticides and whatever, and then giving it to their kids. Sad!

Is it any wonder that a growing number of children and adults are being plagued by all sorts of physical and mental problems. If anyone did random blood analysis on people it'd blow their minds, but as I mentioned, the worst thing, to me, about all of this, is that people are allowing all of these things to happen, and even in some cases contributing to, and participating in it.

As some learned people have already stated, we have reached a "tipping" point, a tipping point that we cannot go back from. Sadly, there's no way that the Gulf of Mexico can be returned to its original and naturally pristine state, in any near probable future. NO WAY, it's too late, especially with the Corexit dispersants, Lye and other chemicals that have been mixed-in. No matter what any politician or expert says the Gulf is a toxic sewer! It's simply too late, and the eco-disaters continue! The other day a barge ran into a closed oil rig in the Gulf, and guess what? More oil spewing from the now damaged "capped" oil well!

Our newest oil spill in the US is now right here in Michigan, which shows no area is immune to an eco-disaster! On Tuesday, July 27, 2010, an estimated 850,000 +/- gallons of oil spilled into the Kalamazoo River, and this river "bisects the city of Kalamazoo and meanders to Saugatuck, where it empties into Lake Michigan." Isn't it great! "Drill Baby Drill!" "Lay more pipelines!" RIGHT! http://tinyurl.com/27ppaev

So, here we are, living in the Kali-Yuga, the Age of Iron. Witnesses to the ravaging of our planet, virtually helpless to do anything, but, there is always something we can do, even under the most dire of circumstances, and what may that be, one might ask?

Wake people up! Osho says, "99.9% of the population of the planet are either asleep, or drunken." This leaves .1%of the population who most likely have some awareness as to what's going on! If so, then we need to reach out, find those people, and let them know, they have the power within them to initiate change; even in a dark age!

Change occurs when people come together under the premise of working together for the benefit of everyone, without thought of race, religion, education, sexual preference, or anything else, and simply realizing that we're all just people trying to make a decent life for ourselves.

Another important aspect to initiate change is by encouraging people to think, realizing the importance of health and well-being, and help people get out of the box they've been in for most of their lives. The formula is relatively simple, it's just getting people together in mutual harmony, away from their own agendas, and committed to the welfare of all. It can happen, but if it will, remains to be determined!

"For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will bloom again, and that the tender branch thereof shall not cease."

There is always Light, even in the darkest dark age!

From the Unreal, Lead me to the Real

FROM THE UNREAL, LEAD ME TO THE REAL:
from Darkness lead me to Light

Mankind has been exhorted by the ancients, and their writings throughout time, to seek-out knowledge which would elevate a person to a higher state of consciousness and being; bringing one closer to the essence of that which really is.

The following is an old Sanskrit verse:

“From the unreal, lead me to the real;
From darkness lead me to light;
From death, lead me to immortality,”
Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, 1.3.28.

So, how is it that we, who live in this post-Modern world, which is literally filled with distortion, misinformation, and fabrication, able to find that which is real?

The plain and simple answer is "think!" It means that we use our minds to critically analyze what we see and read, and not just accept anything that is presented to us.

Any article may have a tiny kernel of knowledge embedded somewhere within its content, and this kernel may seem to give the whole of what is written credibility. Yet, this kernel may oftentimes be simply a siren’s call. A siren’s call which often masks the overall distortion contained within the written material.

The ancients have left guide-posts for us to follow, if we but use them, and are, indeed, sincere in our quest for knowledge and wisdom. These guide-posts will, indeed, lead us from the unreal to the real.

One of these important guide-posts is known as discernment, or in some cases as differentiation, or discrimination, and is a technique that may be used in finding out what is real. Discernment, itself, may be defined as a keen perception of judgment. Discernment is vitally important for a person to be able discern the difference from what is implausible and that which is plausible.

In Sanskrit, discernment is termed Viveka, and most often means discerning or discriminating between what is real and what is unreal. What is an illusion, or false, and what is true. So, why is it so important to exercise our mental ability? The importance is that through discernment we may, indeed, gain enlightenment, and see “beyond” the illusory world we live in, and into that which is real.

Discernment also comes through the practice of making choices by deciding what is rational and makes sense from that, which does not. “Discernment has been central to the life of faith, at least since Biblical times, and is referred to in the Hebrew Scriptures and the writings of the New Testament…it is most closely associated with Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Jesuit order,” writes Kris Haig.

To embrace anything without first thinking about it, applying discernment, or verifying it in some way is called blind faith, and there is a reason the word “blind” is used. Michael Simonson says, “My definition of blind faith is to ‘believe in something you know nothing about.’ The act is reckless, senseless, thoughtless, mindless, short-sighted, unthinking, and an absolutely lazy approach to your thought-life.”

So the next time you read or see something, or perhaps even something you may have already read, and it seems a “little” bit out there, practice discernment and see what happens, and as the old Sanskrit verse goes, “From the unreal, lead me to the real.”

© Roger Allen Baut

Update 60+ Days in Deepwater: Karma Coming to America?

Since the post of 06•20•10, entitled 60+ Days in Deepwater: Karma Coming to America, a few other pieces of information have been revealed themselves seriously concern me, and that is there are more "hidden" aspects to this Deepwater eco-tragedy, than one might think.

Yesterday, I was made aware of an article by Lynn Hasselburger and Leslie Scales that revealed more "horror" about this whole Gulf disaster and scandal! Yes, scandal, and that's exactly what it is, because I cannot believe that everyone in our legislative, judicial and executive branches of government were all unaware of the "nightmare" aspects of Corexit 9500, and that using it would cause such widespread damage to our land and people! If they were "all" unaware, that would be one thing, but if any of them knew then it's another, for "knowing" would be tantamount to allowing the outright "poisoning" of the land and people of the United States of America! Please take the time to take a look at Ms. Scales site http://www.earthspeak.org/ for related information on how toxins have been affecting people in this country for some time now.

So, what's so dastardly about Corexit? Nancy Chuda, with LUXECOLIVING, writes in her article entitled, "Does EPA Mean Business as Usual?" that as far back as 1989, and the oil spill from the Exxon Valdex that Corexit was used. Particulary noticable was the fact that during the clean-up from the Valdez oil spill, biohazard suits and masks were worn by those working in the clean-up process. So, the information on how toxic this stuff is, has been around for quite a while!

Now, with that information, come down to the present day where thousands upon thousands of gallons of Corexit 9500 have been dumped into the Gulf of Mexico, think about what that means! Now think about clean-up crews in the Gulf without proper biohazard gear and breathing its vapor in. No wonder a lot of workers had to be taken to the hospital. Now think about what the Corexit will have upon the aquatic life, marshes and southern states. Ms. Chuda writes, "...the use of Corexit during the Exxon Valdez oil spill caused respiratory, nervous system, liver, kidney and blood disorders in people." As I mentioned before, if anyone knew about the insidious effects of Corexit, it would be tantamount to allowing the outright "poisoning" of the land and people of the United States of America! Now, think about that.

Some of the ingrediants in Corexit include: Arsenic, Cyanide, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, et cetera. I am including a link to Ms. Chuda's article so you may read her more in-depth perspective of what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico. Also, please take a look at the people walking on the beach with the oil stream on it. Source: http://tinyurl.com/2cmjqmd

60+ days ago this whole tragedy began, and I don't think many us garden variety citizens, realized the disaster of epic proportions that was about to occur. Thinking back over these days, it reminds me of some really bad "B" movie the SyFy channel might be playing. To me, one of the worst parts of all of this, are the blantant "lies" that this administration has been perpetrating from the beginning of the oil spill! Keep the citizenry ignorant of facts is obvious, but that's the game the D.C. oligarchs have been playing for 10 years now. "Smoke and mirrors!" "Mirrors and smoke!" Shame on our elected officials and administration. I wouldn't trade places with any of them no matter how wealthy they are, for though the "hammer of karma" may not fall upon them today, it will soon enough! As the saying goes, "The sun shines equally upon the just and the unjust!" and so shall the toxic Corexit/oil rains fall upon all of us.

It also seems that no one is "learning" from this 60+ day disaster, as I found a new article, today, entitled, "Despite Spill, Deep Water Drilling is Here to Stay!" by Steve Mufson, of The Washington Post. According to Mr. Mufson, "Willie Sutton robbed banks because that's where the money is. And oil companies venture into deep waters for exploration because that's where the oil is." Source: http://tinyurl.com/2dexkel

There seems to be nothing short of a total eco-collapse that is going to stop these greedy, materialistic oligarchs who seem to care about nothing but stuffing their pockets and bank accounts, full of worthless US$! And, the US$ has to be worthless, especially if gold is riding on the $1,200 to $1,500 an ounce level!

So, it looks like Shakespeare was right when his character Puck said in A Midsummer Night's Dream, "Lord! What fools these mortals be!" But, as the ancients have said, this is the Kali Yuga, the Iron Age: The Age of Chaos!

Sharron Rose writes, "In our current Age of Iron, dominated by the forces of chaos and confusion, entranced by the flickering vibrations and images of our technological wonders, pumped full of pharmaceuticals and food additives to enhance our sensations or ease our pain, we have not only lost our fundamental virtue and integrity, but we have literally lost our minds."

Ms. Rose goes on to say, "Whether we are in the final phase of the dissolution or, as some teachings argue, merely the beginning of the end, it makes no difference. Regardless of our exact location in the great cycle of time, as luminous spiritual beings in material form, as Keepers of the Light, we must remain true to the divine principles of honesty and righteousness. Our task in this time of darkness and oppression is to journey to the depths of our beings and rediscover the essential light and power that has always been hidden there by the veils of corporeal existence." Source: http://tinyurl.com/25xegd2

So, there is indeed a ray of hope, that even in this time of chaos and confusion, something brighter and better will emerge for mankind in the future! Karma? Certainly karma for those who have perpetrated horrendous acts upon Planet Earth, and all life that exists here! But, let's not forget those who have, and are doing what they can to "make a positive difference" in this world.

As Osho has said, "99.9% of those living on the planet today are asleep or drunk," but that still leaves .1% of the population who aren't! One person can still make a difference in this world. "If we want the world to change, we must first begin with ourself," Koichi Tohei-sensi.

60+ Days of Deepwater: Karma Comes to America?

Today, is the 62nd day since the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Two months of a tragedy that will leave Planet Earth devasted for a very long time, not to mention its impact on Homo sapiens, which has for a long-time been headed down a cataclysmic path paved by greed, aquisitiveness, and self-absorbtion.

Ever since the parade of colonizers first came to the shores of America, there has been a series of nightmares perpetrated upon the indigenous peoples living here. Whether it be the British invasion of the Eastern coast at Plymouth, the French invasion of Canada and Louisana, the Spanish in Florida, California, Mexico, Central and South America, and there has often been a bloody path of decimation by fire, sword, and disease of epic proportions. The missionaries sent to "Christianize" the natives were oftentimes as bad as their military counterparts, but that's another story.

For those who extol the United States of America for its freedom, opportunity and might, lest we forget, it was the U.S., as well as other colonizers, that stole or fought for one parcel of land after another from the Native Americans. The U.S. broke almost every treaty it initiated with the Native Americans and pushed them further and further from their native lands, and into oftentimes desolate pieces of "junk" lands and territories. The infamous and pathetic "Trail of Tears" was one of the most brutal and heartbreaking periods of U.S. betrayal.

The slave/indentured trade from the colonial period until the Civil War, with it's in your face "slavery," displayed how this species attacks, plunders and abuses others of its own species. No other species on this planet treats its kindred as this one does.

And, was it such magnominity upon the part of President Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves, or was it the fact that the North was losing the war and needed more troops to fill its ranks? Little known to most Americans is the fact that President Lincoln, had he lived, was preparing to ship all the former slaves back to Africa, to the U. S. inception known as Liberia.

The concept of karma may be defined as the total effect of actions and conduct during the successive phases of an entity's existence, regarding as determining the entity's destiny. So, is there, indeed, karma at work here? Is the U.S., and world, finally getting a "payback" for all the damage it has done to the planet and itself? Is the Deepwater Horizon event the tipping point that will lead to a Doomsday scenario for the U.S. and mankind?

If the "hammer of karma" is indeed coming down upon these United States and the world, what other circumstances might have contributed to it, especially since the Gulf is in our very own backyard? Here's an abbreviated outline of some of our ignominious history.

• 1838-39 the Trail of Tears whereby Native Americans were stripped of their rights and relocated. The Cherokee nation was made to give up their lands East of the Mississippi. Approximately 4,000 Cherokee died as a result of their removal.

• U.S. Annexation of Texas 1845.

• Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, which was a result of the annexation of Texas.

• Convention of Kanagawa 1854, which compelled/coerced the Japanese into opening trade with the U.S. by Commodore Perry and his Black Fleet.

• U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865.

• Spanish-American War which occurred between the U.S. and Kingdom of Spain in 1898 as a result of the Battleship Maine being sunk in Havana Harbor. The alledged reason for U.S. involvement in Cuba, being Cuban independence. The U.S. gained temporary control over Cuba and indefinite control over Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.

• WWI

• WWII included the U.S. and its allies fire bombing Dresden, Germany, and the U.S. fire bombing Tokyo, Japan, in 1945, with explosives and incendiary devices. It is reported 100,000 people died in Tokyo. The U.S. Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was responsible for more wounding, maiming, and killing of numerous civilians in 1945.

• The Korean War, 1950-1953, was a conflict between North and South Korea. South Korea was supported by the United Nations, and in particular the U.S.

• Iran, 1953, the U.S. plays a significant role in the overthrow of Iran's popular Prime Minister and restores the Shah of Iran to power.

• The Vietnam War, was a cold war military conflict which occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia between 1955-1975. The U.S. became involved first, in the early 1960s with military advisers, then in 1965 U.S. combat troops were deployed. The capture of Saigon in 1975 put an end to U.S. involvement in Vietnam. It was during the Vietnam War that the U.S. used Agent Orange, which was an herbicide and defoliant contaminated with TCDD (a dioxin with a carcinogenic effect).

• Persian Gulf War, (Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm) 1990-1991. A Coalition of nations led by the U.S. began over a dispute between Iraq and Kuwait, which lead to military intervention to restore Kuwait's sovereignty. A feature of this war was "Gulf War Syndrome" affecting civilians and military personnel who were near conflicts or were downwind of chemical depot demolitions.

• Afghan War 2001-present, is an ongoing military initiative in response to the attacks on the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001. It is now the longest ongoing war in United States history.

• Iraq War 2003-present. The U.S. and several allies invaded Iraq based upon a false and misleading premise that Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Iraq's "supposed" connection to the September 11, 2001 incident; hyped by the Bush administration to substantiate a preemptive attack on Iraq. Features of this war were the "shock and awe" bombarding of Baghdad, Massive Ordinance Air Blasts (MOAB), also known as the Mother of All Bombs which were of 21,000 lbs of ordinance, cluster bombs, as well as the debated use of White Phosphorus (WP), and their use against insurgents.

Karma? Karma also alludes to the concept of actions and deeds, and results in the entire cycle of cause and effect. Interestingly, this blog was stimulated by several articles I have read, and one in particular by Maryann Tobin entitled, "North America faces years of toxic oil rain from BP oil spill chemical dispersants."

It has been becoming more and more evident over these past 60+ days that the oil spill catastophe is not going away, nor is it going to be cleaned up. It is going to spred far and wide in the Gulf and other areas of the planet by wind, wave, air and water. We have been getting the proverbial "smoke and mirrors" from BP as well as our own administration. This eco-disaster is only the cherry on top of a cake of deception and lies we the people have been fed, from the recession/depression, to Wall Street shysters, to the bank robber barons, "Don't Ask Don't Tell," GITMO, landmines, universal health care, transparency, and on and on.

Karma? Yes, I think we're in for some big ass karma caused by the oligarchs of this nation and the world! Some points from the article by Maryann Tobin:

• When you pour millions of gallons of toxic chemical disperants on top of an oil spill, it just doesn't disappear.

• BP's oil spill dispersant (Corexit9500) has been banned in Europe, as it is one of the most environmentally enduring toxic chemical dispersants.

• As the water in the Gulf warms the dispersant goes through a molecular transition and changes from liquid to gas, which is readily absorbed by clouds and eventually released as toxic rain. This chemical-laden rain then falls on crops, reservoirs, animals, and of course people.

• What makes "Corexit rain" so freightening are the carcinogens it leaves behind on everything it touches.

• Is it futile to belive we can keep "Corexit rain" from occurring - it has already been released and the molecular tranisiton has begun. We have set off an unprecedented chain of events in nature that we cannot control.

Source: Maryann Tobin http://tinyurl.com/36oyk5p

Karma? Methinks it's coming our way, and in my humble opinion, it won't be simply North America. This is a planet where everything is connected and interconnected; as is everything in the universe. Unfortunately, mankind has lost sight of its connection with all things on this planet. Earth changes? Yup, lots of earth changes on the way! Species changes are on the way too! Hopefully, the next hominid group to inhabit this planet will be more wise than this one has been.

© Roger Allen Baut

Numerology: Plain and Simple II

In Numerolgy, the first vowel and consonant, in a name, are key indicators as to how that name is manifesting vibrationally. As we study Numerology we find that each letter has a meaning as well as a numerical equavalent. In analyzing a name both are taken into consideration. By looking at the meaning of the first vowel and consonant we may get a thumbnail sketch about a name and the person who possesses it.

The birth path is another aspect that gives us insight into an individual, and this indicator looks at the nature and career of an individual.

Both the first vowel and consonant and birth path have been added to the Numerology page for those interested in the subject of Numerology.

As Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Yes, Sir Shakespeare it would smell as sweet, but with another name, it wouldn't be quite a Rose!

Numerology: Plain and Simple

Numerology: Plain and Simple

Foreword

I've dedicated this blog to the subject of Numerology and in it will be posting some of my thoughts and reflections regarding it. I am also planning on featuring a mini-course series of my studies, on the Numerology page, and give those interested in this ancient science a nice, plain and simple overview of Numerology. After going through the material, and doing some of the assignments, one may have a rudimentary understanding of Numerology. One doesn't have to jump into the ocean first, to learn how to swim, but may learn in the convenience of a pool to get the basics down. I have found many books on shelves and the internet that are way too complex and filled with a lot of "implausible" material. If you have read my articles in the "Metaphysics" page you may gain a broader understanding of my personal view regarding this.

To begin with, I thought it might be worthwhile to provide you, the reader, a bit about myself. I first recall reading about Numerology somewhere between the ages of 9 to 11. I found the subject to be quite interesting, even though mathematics was not one of my favorite subjects in school.

I’m not quite sure where my original interest springs from, but I remember finding a book on it in the library many years ago. I found it tremendously interesting that letters had a numerical equivalent that could be interpreted, and that one could get a better understanding of oneself, or another by breaking down the letters into their basic numbers.

My fascination with Numerology just kept going until I took a class with Elaine Lewis, co-director of the former Michigan Metaphysical Society (MMS), in Berkley, Michigan. Mrs. Lewis was an exceptional teacher, researcher and Numerologist, and had studied under a rabbi to gain much of her knowledge. She was practical, realistic, and most importantly, “down-to-earth" about her subject, and professional analysis, as well as being the business head for MMS.

Her no-nonsense, or no “hocus-pocus” approach to her work, and metaphysics, was definitely one I appreciated, since I have always been repelled by those individuals who think of themselves as “experts,” “gurus,” masters,” “swamis,” or “whatever.” What many people have forgotten, or might never have been aware, is that we are simply sojourners expressing life on earth, a spirit or soul, inhabiting a physical body for a very short period of time. We have all originated from the same source, and from that source we shall return. During my earthly sojourn I have not met anyone who I would consider to be a "true" master or expert, in anything, although many have taken these titles in a very "cavalier" manner. I once heard a definition of master, that I totally agree with, and that is a genuine master is one who has mastered himself, or herself.

I can attest to using Numerology in many circumstances, but most especially when I first meet people. It’s sort of automatic now, with my mind going to the first vowel and consonant in a person’s name. This first vowel and consonant carry a very strong bearing upon the character of an individual, and it is these first two letters that I always focus on. It is also interesting to note that when the first name begins with a vowel it carries the most strength in regards to the corresponding vibrations.

The information on Numerology presented to you, and how I work and teach it, is based upon Mrs. Lewis’ system, with my own personal research added in. This is indeed a “plain and simple” approach to Numerology, so that one may get as clean and plausible information as possible, and helps one to not get tangled-up in a lot of complex equations, implausible theories, or something that one needs to be physicist to understand.

The first section appears on the Numerology page, and I hope to continue with it there, however, I've had some challenges with that page, so I may have to reconsider how to present it. In any event, I want this information to be available to those present-day seekers of light, wisdom, and knowledge.

© Roger Allen Baut

USA Titanic

The world thought the HMS Titanic was unsinkable, it sank! The world thought the USA was invincible after WWII, it wasn't and Viet Nam proved that! Now, after a series of many foolish mistakes, one right after another, the mighty USA is crumbling, as did the Roman empire in 410 A.D.

Faced with incredible debt incurrred from misbegotten wars, greed, failed foreign policy, pollution of air, land and sea, the USA Titanic is poised, as was the HMS Titanic, to slide into the icy depths of the sea.

Each day new headlines confirm this, in "America's Most Polluted Cities," MSN brings the information collected from Forbes.com to the forefront, and shines a light on ozone pollution and how it is affecting people in various parts of the country. Forbes also lists the 25 worst cities for ozone pollution. Personally, I knew ozone was bad, but not as bad as this, "...inhaling ozone is akin to 'getting a sunburn on your airways,' says Dr. Norman H. Edelman, the ALA's (American Lung Association) chief medical officer." Source MSN/Forbes http://tinyurl.com/22jm4k3

Listed as Forbes #1. "worst city" is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA; followed by #2. Bakersfield, CA; #3. Visalia-Porterville; CA #4. Fresno-Madera, CA; and #5. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City, CA & NV. For the other 20 cities and various medical problems related to them please go to http://tinyurl.com/2aftaas

Also, the oil rig catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico continues in the headlines, along with its tragic consequences. On Saturday, May 15, MSNBC quoted the New York Times (NYT) that reported scientists had found giant oil plumes in the Gulf, one of which was 10 miles long, 3 miles wide and 300 feet thick! "...the leak from the broken undersea well could be substantially worse than estimates that the government and BP have given." says the NYT. No surprise here with the BP and government estimates!

The NYT goes on to say, "The plumes are depleting the oxygen dissolved in the gulf, worrying scientists, who fear that the oxygen level could eventually fall so low as to kill off much of the sea life near the plumes." Full article http://tinyurl.com/29vhbnb

Today, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) reported, "Coast Guard officials have found nearly two dozen tar balls on Key West shores but have not determined if they came from the Gulf of Mexico's massive oil disaster." So where else might the tar balls come from? Are there other leaking undersea wells we're not aware of? Hmmm, very interesting! NWF article http://tinyurl.com/2aj7jb4

In another article from the NYT, relative to the plumes, it reported that, "Dr. Samantha Joye [University of Georgia] 'said the oxygen had already dropped 30 percent near some of the plumes in the month that the broken oil well had been flowing. “If you keep those kinds of rates up, you could draw the oxygen down to very low levels that are dangerous to animals in a couple of months,'" she said Saturday. "That is alarming!"

Alarming indeed! We may be witnessing one of the greatest eco-tragedies in recorded history, as well as its affects on the United States and the world! Is it possible there may be a glimmer of hope, somewhere, for the USA Titanic? Is it possible that it's citizenry will wake-up, before the Great Ship of State takes its final plunge into the icy seas? Is it possible?

On a Collision Course?

When are we going to learn? This seems to be a good question to start this blog. The answer, at this point in time seems to be, never. Mankind is on a fast approaching collision course with an eco-collapse of epic proportions, and faster than it can imagine. It just cannot stop doing damage to all life inhabiting this bio-sphere.

As I've said before, Homo sapiens (moronus) is the most virulent species, that is known to have inhabited this planet to-date. It destroys and poisons the air, land, water, flora and fauna with chemicals and toxins; attacks, injures, maims, and kills other members of its own species; not to mention (on occasion) members of its own immediate family units. Is everyone so blind they can't see this, and try to do something to stop the insanity?

The mildest of today's articles was the report of a Venezuelan natural gas exploration rig sinking in the Caribbean sea. Supposedly there was no leakage from the rig as it sank beneath the waves. However, there have been other situations in the past, which haven't been as mild, but of course, we only know that we are told. Venezuela has had a series of problems in the past with fires, and problems with its refineries; see full article here http://tinyurl.com/35knnqc

Cleaning up the Gulf oil disaster! Well, in my humble opinion, I feel it's going to take the planet to clean-up all the mess created by this species, and that'll have to take place over thousands of years.

Miles Grant of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) wrote in the Huffington Post (on Wednesday, May 12)in an article entitled, "Dispersing spilled oil...with Formula 409: As an environmentalist, my first reaction was, putting Formula 409 in the ocean?! Then I realized BP has dumped over 300,000 gallons of chemical dispersant on the spill. Replacing one tablespoon of that with Seventh Generation wouldn't help matters. While they're not identical, both Formula 409 & BP's dispersant are essentially detergents...causing the oil to clump & sink. Some of the disperant ingredients are considered trade secrets, but many are voluntarily disclosed."

Nothing eco-friendly about Formula 409 or their equivalents. So what does that do?

"You're transferring the pollution, if you will, but under the right circumstances it's probably favorable," said E. Eric Adams, who specializes in environmental fluid mechanics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "You use it when you are more concerned about [life] on the surface and shorelines than in the water column. It's a tradeoff," said Adams, who was on a National Academy of Sciences panel that investigated dispersants in 2005.

Yup! Some tradeoff! Makes "non-sense to me!" Sink it to the bottom where it can eventually do more mischief!
"Well offshore is the best place to use it," added Beth McGee, a water quality scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation who was also a member of the National Academy panel. "You may be creating a toxic environment for fish, but you are preventing it from washing up on shore, which would have a much greater environmental impact. In the case of the gulf...you do everything you can to prevent it from reaching the shore."

Great! "Toxic environment for fish!" It'll affect all acquatic life and eventually people. Something definately "wrong" with this "B" movie! For more on this please go to http://tinyurl.com/39n9jsl.

Finally, another sad story, that talks about the Amazon Rain Forests, "...RIO BRANCO, Brazil — Until now, civilization's march into the Amazon forest has followed a predictable pattern. Loggers make way for cattle ranches that make way for farms. The next step: Shopping mall."

It's the rain forests that gives us the clean oxygen that we need folks, and they're being mowed-down every day! On a collision course with an eco-collapse? Sooner than any of us can imagine! Rain forests to malls http://tinyurl.com/2ur3nj8.

America the Polluted, or Don't Drink the Water!

The first item of news that took me aback today was the fact the United States Department of Interior, "...exempted BP's calamitous Gulf of Mexico drilling operation from a detailed environmental impact analysis last year, according to government documents, after three reviews of the area concluded that a massive oil spill was unlikely."

Well, this certainly seeems like another brick in the wall of either governmental myopia, nonchalance, stupidity, or something else. What that something else may be, well, there's a long list of things that one may chose from. A day late and a doolar short, "...environmentalists and some key senators are calling for a reassessment of safety requirements for offshore drilling."

It was reported yesterday on Dylan Radigan's program, MSNBC, that other wells are "seeping," oil. Seeping may not be a volcano of oil, but it is a leak and a danger to aquatic life in, and of itself. Something is so wrong with this picture that I'm sure it gives sane people migranes. Source: MSNBC/The Washington Post.

As troubling as the Gulf of Mexico disaster is, another one that is particularly disturbing is one that is related to the Boeing Company, near Seattle, WA. "To resolve a multi-party federal lawsuit, the Boeing Company will pay $2 billion to remediate environmental damage in Seattle’s Duwamish waterway, the ancestral grounds for the Duwamish, Muckleshoot, and Suquamish Tribes." Talk about a mess!

The $2 billion is "...to fund the cleanup of the site where Boeing built many of the B-17 bombers used during World War II. Solvents, oils and other chemicals polluted the property and leached into groundwater that migrated to the Duwamish waterway."

The number of new and ongoing eco-tragedies is really disheartening, and no matter what anyone says, there is no way to totally eradicate, clean-up, or return land or water to its original prisitine environment. Chemicals, and/or other pollutants which have gone into our air, water, ground, plants and wildlife are simply absorbed, and will eventually be ingested by people. Only nature, over thousands of years can cleanse the planet from the pollutants and toxins, that a greedy and self-absorbed Homo sapiens moronus has dumped into it.

America once a beautiful and pristine land has become a trash heap! If you don't believe me look at the photo in the following link (Source: Native American Legal Update)

America the polluted! Don't drink the tap water! I don't!

Oil Spill Eco-Tragedy 2010!

The question now becomes, "What is it going take to wake people up?" Almost every day there is some new problem for people and the planet. Not to mention, all those ecological and societal problems that have been created by mankind over the past years.

As Naomi Wolf has so aptly said, we have reached several "tipping" points as a nation, and once that tipping point has been reached it is difficult going back, and/or correcting whatever has occurred. If you are not familiar with her work, I would suggest you to go to: http://www.endofamericamovie.com/ and find out what she has to say about the "End of America."

Environmentally, we have also reached a tipping point with our latest oil spill disaster. America has been on a collision course with an eco-tragedy for many years; it looks like it may be here now. As our esteemed caesar now says, "...we are dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster." Well, yeah! Wake-up for God's sake and smell the coffee (see full article: MSNBC) http://tinyurl.com/2ckqrfq

No amount of clean-up is going to restore the Gulf of Mexico to its original pristine condition. Water, fish, plants, birds, et cetera are all being affected. As a matter of fact, there is already "dead" zone in the Gulf. Yup, a dead zone, check this out from smm.org http://www.smm.org/deadzone/ on the Gulf area that cannot support aquatic life.

As the old cliche goes, this is a "train wreck in slow motion," except the train wreck has been going on for years. Planet Earth has been turned into a polluted garbage dump by Homo sapiens moronus! The list of atrocities that mankind/governments have perpetrated on this planet is a long one. I need not go into all the gory details, but I am always reminded about the 10,000 +/- pieces of debris floating around our planet by our glorious space program.

So, who's responsible for all of this mess? None other than American people, who have NOT demanded accountability, responsibility, or transparency from their elected officials/administration. It is the American people, for the most part, have allowed their government to do whatever it wants. Why? Because they're often too busy being self-absorbed with their phoney baloney celebrities, junk television, junk food, junk beverages, and lost inside some computer screen either self-stimulating themselves mentally, or physically. When the USA Titanic goes down, it's gonna make a BIG splash folks!

No need to tell you what can be done to SOS (Save our Ship)! You already know, but if you don't, it's simply this: if you want to make a difference and stop the eco-tragedies and loss of our civil liberties from happening, you just have to get up and take a stand, and STOP the insanty and the greed.

Return our government to one that is really a representative one, and one that is, "...of, by, and for the people." This government was set up to provide for the necessities of its people, not vice-versa! It's now up to all of us to STOP the mismanagement of this nation, or we will all suffer the consequences, and those consequences will impact us forever!

The tipping point has been reached!

Of oil spills and E. coli

The latest piece of big, "bad news," is the oil spill which occurred in the Gulf of Mexico from the Louisana oil rig disaster of April 20th. Now, 9 days later, it's become a real crisis as the spill has moved toward the Mississippi River, Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Breton national Wildlife Refuge, and rich oyster grounds.

One fisherman was quoted as saying, "The oil come in everywhere, the shrimp die, the crabs die, the fish die. What do I do?"

MSNBC reports that, "If the well cannot be closed, almost 100,000 barrels of oil, or 4.2 million gallons, could spill into the Gulf before crews can drill a relief well to alleviate the pressure." The size of the oil spill is now, "...600 miles in circumference and about 23 miles offshore." Think about the ecological significance of this event.

A "...decision to burn some of the oil came after crews operating submersible robots failed to activate a shut-off device that would halt the flow of oil on the sea bottom 5,000 feet below." Now where do you think all those toxic fumes are going? Correct! Right into the atmosphere.

Late yesterday, Wednesday, a lawsuit was filed that, "...seeks at least $5 million in compensatory damages, plus an unspecified amount of punitive damages against Transocean, BP, Halliburton Energy Services Inc. and Cameron International Corp." Hmmm, Halliburton, doesn't that name sound very familiar? Why yes, come to think of it, this administration is still playing "patty-cake" with them, in a number of different ventures? Yes, siree!
It will be interesting to see what transpires with this latest environmental situation as it progresses. Unfortunately, no amount of money is going to eradicate, or return the Gulf or animal life to what it was before the spill. Sources: The Baltimore Sun http://tinyurl.com/2bfmx2c and MSNBC http://tinyurl.com/24tyhay

Now, on to another topic: food! It was announced today that the State of New York is now linked to an E. coli O145 Outbreak in Michigan and Ohio! It is reported that as many as 47 have now sickened in three States, in the Marler Blog http://www.marlerblog.com/ The Marler Blog is an excellent resource for finding out about what food/health-related challenges are presently occurring.

So, what is E. coli? Well, for the most part, it's the name of a type of bacteria that lives inside the intestines. Most types of E. coli are quite harmless. However, some types can cause illness and diarrhea. One type causes travelers' to have diarrhea. The worst type of E. coli causes bloody diarrhea, and may sometimes result in kidney failure and even death. Needless to say, it's something that one doesn't want to contract.

How do People contract E. coli? Well, one may contract it by drinking contaminated water, eating fruit or vegetables that have been watered with contaminated water, drinking unpasteurized milk, or eating undercooked ground meat. An E. coli infection may also be caught by coming into contact with others who are infected with it, or by working in environments where one might come into contact with human or animal feces.

At this point in time, it is not known for sure, whether or not this outbreak is from hamburger or some leafy green vegetables such as lettuce, or spinach.

So, there you have it, some new issues that are causing a bit of havoc for the planet and Homo sapiens! It seems to be an ongoing saga. Hmmm, I wonder what the final outcome will be?

Oh, by the way, here's a recommendation for some late night reading, for you: The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman, a fascinating book that asks us to envision the Earth without us. Think about it!

Earth Changes: A Fungus Among Us!

I'm not quite sure how I got into the "Earth Changes" mode, but it seems I keep bumping into articles that relate to them. The one I am addressing at this time is as significant as any, as it relates to a fungus known as C. gattii, that somehow got into North America near the end of the last century, and may be as lethal to human life, and other life forms, as any volcanic eruption, earthquake, tsunami, et cetera.

As a Health.Com article relates, "The fungus hails from the tropics and may have been brought to North America on imported plants or trees. It is believed to have first emerged on this continent in 1999, on Vancouver Island off the coast of British Columbia. It ultimately infected more than 200 people, killing nearly 9 percent of them."

Symptoms of this fungal infection have been found to include chest pain, persistent cough, shortness of breath, fever, and weight loss. The fungus has also been found to cause meningitis, or inflammation of the membranes lining the brain. The infection may be treated with antifungal drugs. C. gattii is found in soil and trees, but experts haven't as yet determined how humans contract it.

Researchers have found a new strain, that is likely to move into Northern California and other neighboring regions. Other strains of the fungus have been found in people in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and in a bottlenose dolphin as far south as San Diego. It seems the fungus is on the move.

This new strain "...seems to have mutated relatively recently, and has appeared in humans as well as in cats, dogs, and other animals. (In animals, symptoms include a runny nose and breathing problems, and other strains have been seen in ferrets and llamas too.)"

"The mutation '...is causing major illness in the region, and it's different from what's causing disease on Vancouver Island,' says Christina Hull, PhD, an assistant professor of medical microbiology and immunology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in Madison."

Edmond Byrnes III, a doctoral student in molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke University says, "There are no real precautions you can take, because it's hard to tell which areas would be more infected or where levels of C. gattii could be higher."

I found the following comment by Philip Alcabes, Ph.D., an infectious diseases epidemiologist at Hunter College, in New York City, who says "...genetic changes such as those described by Byrnes (re: the fungus) are 'a pretty normal, expectable evolutionary event in nature that has a slight amount of human fallout.'" In my opinion, whatever "human fallout" there is, is too much, and says a "lot" about Dr. Alcabes.

So, there we have it, another disease that has manifested and reared its ugly head, along with all the other earth changes that are occurring. After reading and thinking about this blog, it becomes obvious there are many things that people can do to correct some of the diseases, or planetary events, that we are experiencing these days.

In regards to infectious diseases, people can simply start by improving their personal hygiene! People are known to be excellent spreaders of disease! Simply having good hygiene is a step in the right direction. Maybe one day people won't need a sign in the lavatory that says: Please Wash Hands Before Leaving!

Source: CNN/Health.com http://tinyurl.com/3ajszoq

April 22, 2010: un-HaPpY EARTH DAY!

Yes, here we have the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day! 40 years and what do we have to show for it? Air and water that's more polluted than it was 40 years ago! Chemicals and additives in foods that mess with the bodies biological systems. Sugar coated this, sugar coated that! Cola, M & Ms, deep fried twinkies, doughnuts, you name it! It's all garbage concocted to make money for some greedy shyster who cares nothing about the environment or the people people who consume it. Children's toys that are dangerous, either from construction or from the toxic paint that is applied to it! Red dye this, blue dye that! Mad cow disease! Oh you think it's gone, well if you do, I've got a bridge to sell you!

Here's a nice little piece from MSNBC: Plastic, sweat pants and more found in dead whale: http://tinyurl.com/y6sy5wm

At this point this is a relatively short blog, but how much needs to be said about things we already know, that this species, Homo sapiens, has done more than any other species to mess things-up on this planet! About a species that not only destroys itself, but trashes the planet that sustains it. Nuclear waste, human waste, garbage, islands of plastic floating in the oceans, and every day there's more and more of it.

Note: As of today's date, a report was released by MSNBC regarding the Louisana oil rig disaster of Tuesday, April 20th. Approximately 100 workers made it to safety at a nearby supply boat, after their rig exploded. A number of workers were injured, with 11 still missing. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry said that crews saw a 1 mile by 5 mile sheen of what appeared to be a crude oil mix on the surface of the water.

"The well could be spilling up to 8,000 barrels of crude oil a day," the Coast Guard said, and the rig carried 700,000 gallons of diesel fuel." Needless to say, occurances like this are devasting to human as well as marine life, and toxifies the water. For further information on this, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/29x38cu

I'm well aware there are people and organizations who "try" to make a positive difference for our planet and environment, but there need to be more! I am constantly reminded about the number of careless, lazy, and lackadaisical people there are, everytime I go out on a photoshoot, or hike. Today was no different; empty plastic bottles, food wrappers, you name it, and in places one wouldn't expect to find litter. The planet is fast becoming the garbage dump of the solar system! Oops, and let's not forget while we're at it the 10,000 +/- various pieces of debris circling our planet from various "space exploration" projects.

Is it too late? Only time will tell!

Earth Changes: 2010 A Year of Change

Earthquakes, tsunamies, cyclones, vulcanic eruptions! Vulcanic eruptions? Oh, yes, how could I forget that another major factor in Earth changes are volcanoes. Especially, when on March 20th, Iceland's volcanic region under Eyjafjallajokull glacier erupted after almost 200 years of silence; the last eruption occurred in 1821. This particular volcano is located about 75miles/120kilometers east of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Iceland is a nation of approximately 320,000 people, and is a volcanic area of activity in the Atlantic's mid-oceanic ridge. Volcanic episodes are often triggered by seismic activity (earthquakes), as the planet's tectonic plates move. Magma/lava is forced-upward from the planet's molten core, and then ejected in an eruption (often violent) spilling onto the surface; often accompanied, or preceded, by clouds of smoke, gases, minute particles and water vapor.

A more significant eruption occurred on Wednesday, April 14th, almost a month after the March incident. This new eruption occurred under the ice cap, and was reported by scientists to be 10 to 20 times more powerful than the one in March.

Since Wednesday, travelers across Europe have been grounded owing to the ash and tiny glass particles that are part of the material being expelled from the volcano, and a potential risk for airlines flying through the volcanic clouds. As to when this volcanic activity will cease; no one is certain.

There is also some concern about another relatively close volcano, known as Katla, which has been known to erupt in tandem with Eyjafjallajokull. Katla is situated beneath the vast Myrdalsjokull ice cap, with its last major eruption occurring in 1918; scientists say a new eruption is long overdue.

With the large amount of earth-related activity that has been occurring since the beginning of 2010, it would be sound advice for people to become a little less self-absorbed and take a look around at what's going on in their world, and perhaps prepare themselves for an emergency should it occur. (Source: YAHOO News).

Earth Changes Continue

Since my first post on "Earth changes," which was updated on March 4, there have been several more earthquakes of various magnitude, that have occurred in many areas of the world.

As recently as Easter Sunday, April 4th, there was a 7.2M earthquake in Baja California, Mexico, followed by the April 6th, Sumatra, Indonesia, earthquake of 7.7M. Earthquakes of a destructive magnitude seem to be occuring with a more and more regular frequency. It would seem that the planet has entered in a very active stage of global geographic change.

Now a week later a 6.9M earthquake has rocked Yushu county, in the southern part of Qinghai, China, near Tibet, with reports from CBS saying there are over 400 dead and 10,000 injured http://tinyurl.com/y6jlmse (reference).

What does all this mean? It means that this is a time for people to wake-up and realize that the planet is, and has always been in constant change. We in the United States erroneously "assume" that tomorrow will be "exactly" as it has always been, and that it's "business" as usual. It's no longer business as usual for the people of China. It's no longer a time to be "unconscious!" Time to wake-up!

Earthquake Magnitude Scale

Since we are in a time of Earth changes I thought it might be helpful to post a scale to help us all remember the severity of earthquakes as they occur.

Magnitude Earthquake

9.0M or greater
Megathrust
Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter.

Examples:
• 1964 Alaska earthquake 9.2M
Megathrust
• 2004 Indian Ocean 9.1

8.0M or greater
Great earthquake.

Example:
• 2010 Chile 8.8M
Also considered by some a MegaThrust.

7.0 to 7.9M
Major earthquake.
Can cause serious damage.

Example:
• 1950 Costa Rica (Nicoya Pennensula) 7.7M

6.1 to 6.9M
May cause a lot of damage in populated areas.

5.5 to 6.0M
Slight damage to buildings.

2.5 to 5.4M
Often felt but w/minor damage.

2.5M or less
Usually not felt, but may be recorded.

Sources: UPSeis, Wikipedia, MSNBC.

Earth Changes

Earthquakes seem to be making the news rather frequently these days. On March 4, 2010, a strong earthquake hit Taiwan (6.4M), injuring approximately sixty-four people, disrupting communications, and triggering a fire. It is alledged to be the biggest earthquake to hit this region in more that a century, and unrelated to the Chilean earthquake 6 days earlier.

On February 27, 2010, an impressively strong earthquake (8.8M) hit Chile and generated several tsunamis, causing mild to moderate damage in that country. A short while before, on January 12th, Haiti was rocked by a (7.0M) earthquake, while the Sumatran earthquake (9.1M) of 2004 generated a massive Indian Ocean tsunami killing thousands of people. Everyday there are earthquakes of various size and magnitude that occur in different areas around the globe.

Unfortunately, many people don't even give a second thought to earthquakes, or the earth changes that occur as a result of them, unless they are directly affected by one. The problem with a compalcent attitude, is that people believe that tomorrow is just going to be another another day, and life will continue as it is.

This, however, is an erroneous assumption, since our planet is in a constant state of movement and change. The environment, continents, oceans, air, plant and animal life changes from moment to moment, depending upon what is going on in our biosphere. If Homo sapiens is going to continue its life on earth, then it needs to wake-up and become conscious as to what is occurring within its realm of being.

Richard Gross, a geophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said, “The length of the day should have gotten shorter by 1.26 microseconds (millionths of a second),” he went on to say in an e-mail reply to questions. “The axis about which the Earth’s mass is balanced should have moved by 2.7 milliarcseconds (about 8 centimeters or 3 inches).” He added, “The Sumatran earthquake shortened the day by 6.8 microseconds and shifted the axis by about 2.3 milliarcseconds."

Although this may not seem like a great deal of earth change, we must remember that even the tinest shift in the earth can result in significant changes in the planet's environment as we move forward in time, and with more significant earthquakes, the amount of change in axis and length of day may be compounded.

Earth is a delicately balanced bio-sphere, and even the slightest imbalance can cause unknown consequences and effects in the weather, seasons, et cetera. It is time for people to wake-up to this fact and realize there is much they can do, to reduce the damage that Homo sapiens is doing to the planet.