ARIZONA VETO

The recent attempt by Arizona to pass a law allowing citizens and businesses to refuse public services to gay Americans on religious grounds was vetoed by the Governor. 

All should realize that this was not a policy of Republicans in general, but was wholly driven by the Fundamentalist Christian Religions.   Politicians have parroted this bigoted rhetoric to garner support from Christian Fundamentalist – including the Catholic Church.  

Had this law gone into effect it could have yielded resulted beyond effecting just the Gay community: it would have  return the state of  Arizona to the days of Jim Crow where people with  religious objections could refuse service to a mixed race couples, women who have had abortions, doctors that have performed abortions, atheist, non-Christians etc.    It would have been possible for an Arizona hotel to refuse President Obama and his children accommodation on the religious grounds that they are the products of miscegenation.  

We have a glimpse of a future under a Christian theocracy: Abortion would be criminalized, birth control would be banned, homosexuality would be criminalized, books, movies and music would be censored and racial taboos would be enforced.   You would not find a great difference between a Christian theocracy and the Muslim Taliban.  

Our only protection against the religious right’s drive to establish America as a Christian Nation is Article One of the Constitution. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridge the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

To paraphrase George Carlin: The Christians are coming and they are not very nice people.  

Our separation of church and state is meant to protect us from the fanaticism of religions; but systematically the Christian religion in America has been chipping away at our guaranteed freedom from religious domination.   We have In God We Trust on our money; prayers open most public meetings; there is a Congressional Chaplin; zealots post the Ten Commandments in public buildings; public officials constantly reference God’s Law over Civil Law; and let’s not forget that most bigotry and hatred grows from the roots of religion.

 It is a form of bigotry to speak out against religions; and I have stated before that individuals have a right to their personal beliefs.  

The insidious way that religion (Christian religion) functions in our country endangers our individual freedom, and as such should be confronted and condemned at each attempt to impose Christian doctrine as the law of the land.   

We should not rail against Republican bias on social issues; but address the fact that Republicans are only the spokesmen for the Christian Religious Right; and that it is the Christian religion, not a political party, that is attempting to enforce draconian rule.  

  the Ol'Buzzard

2 CELLOS

I have posted this duo once before but I can never get enough of them.  I hope you have stereo - turn up the volume and enjoy.
the Ol'Buzzard

and what a fantastic venue!
O'B 

PLEASE SPREAD THIS POST ON YOUR BLOG!!!!

PLEASE SPREAD THIS POST ON YOUR BLOG!!!!

Blog Fodder is a Canadian living in the Ukraine.   He has not posted for a number of months but today with the breakout of Civil War in the Ukraine he has posted an update on what is actually occurring on the ground - first hand - along with a background explaining the politics of the government and Russia's involvement.  

The link to his post follows:


BLOG FODDER

the actual link:

http://dablogfodder.blogspot.com/2014/02/ukraine-i-break-radio-silence.html?showComment=1392939402105#c8655039905705496306

Please offer his link on you blogs.
the Ol'Buzzard

WHO'S THE OUTLAW?

North Carolina is presently in the news for coal ash pollution of major watersheds.   It is one thing to watch the story evolve from afar and marvel at the what seems like an obvious connection between the state government and the coal industry; but for the people of the rural Appalachians this is just business as usual. 

Being an old Kentucky boy, I understand the connection between coal and the people.   Coal has been a major part of life for the people of Appalachia and for the economy of the state.   Those not familiar should understand that a young man can graduate (or drop out) from high school and step into a fifty-thousand dollar a year job in the mines.  Miners understand that companies like Peabody Cole provide their standard of living and without the mines they (the miners) are not trained or qualified for comparable salaried jobs – jobs that do not even exist in the rural areas where they live.

Appalachian miners are proud people and their roots run deep in the mountain culture.   Most miners have followed the tradition of their fathers, grand-fathers and great grand-fathers in the mines; and as distasteful and dangerous as coal mining may be, to the people of Appalachian West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina it is their culture and they are willing to overlook ecological dangers and safety shortcomings – and by protecting the mines they are protecting their culture and way of life. 

Some of these rural communities can appear rough to outsiders and the law often turns a blind eye to minor law-breaking; but when you are speaking of a coal mining community you’ve got to ask yourself ‘Who's the outlaw?’

the Ol’Buzzard

THINKING AND BELIEVING

There is often a difference in what we believe and what is factual.   That component is logical thinking.    We often choose to believe a premise without consciously employing our though processes.   In religion it is known as Faith.   Faith is to accept something because others believe it and the premise is comforting.

Faith based initiative for instance, by definition, require no connection to fact.   They are intended to be accepted on the desire that they are true.   Faith based initiatives in government are a step toward religious theocracy.  There are those who believe that their personal theology should be accepted as the one true belief, and made the law of the land.

Christian fundamentalist in our country never reason that had they been born in Saudi Arabia they would be praying to Ali; had they been born in India they would pray to one-hundred gods; had they been born in Tibet they would be Buddhist; had they been born in Israel they would be Jews; had they been born in China they would be Taoist…   We can truly say that religion is a matter of birth – nurture over nature.  And, to claim that one personal belief system is superior to another is simply a matter of faith and has no foundation in fact.

It would be hard to argue that these people lack belief

There are people in my family that are exceedingly religious.   That they have consolation and contentment from their belief is all that matters.   But, it should stop there.  

I only protest against Christianity because Christianity is in my face every where I turn.    I chose to think rather than believe.

the Ol’Buzzard 

SAVING GRACE

Everything about religion seems ridiculous to me because it can't stand up to the light of scrutiny.  

But

The music that comes out of the black churches makes it almost worth while.  I love good gospel music.

From the movie Lady Killers

Enjoy

the Ol'Buzzard

WARNING: THIS POST IS R-RATED

WARNING: THIS POST IS R-RATED: CONTAINS SEXUAL REFERENCES AND LANGUAGE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE IMMATURE.

On my last post I wrote that I was not concerned with any snow fall I could measure with my dick.   I went back to edit the post and almost change the analogy – and then didn't. 

I have little patience with people that get incensed over a word.   How words are used – when words injure - can be objectionable; but the words dick is just a scribbles on a page or uttered sound that has some identity in our language but means absolutely nothing throughout the rest of the non- English speaking world.

A TREATISE ON PENIS:

Since I brought it up lets consider the penis.   Men have numerous words to describe what hangs between their legs: There is Willy, John Thomas, Dick, Johnson, Cock, Wing-Wang, Junk, Pee Pee, Ding Dong, Trouser Snake, Man Meat, Prick, Little Soldier… and the list goes on.

It is unfair: we have these innocuous names for our junk but the names men attach to the female’s vagina are mostly insulting and crude.   For some reason women don’t return the insult in kind.  This is probably because men are rude vile pigs by nature and women aren't.

Women don’t have the same relationship with their nether parts as us men.   A young boy discovers his penis is fun about age seven; and if you don’t think you little son or grandson is yanking off like a rabbit every chance he gets you are naive.   Of course, he can’t ejaculate until about early teens – this is when mamma starts finding the stiff socks - but the gratification is there.   Most young boys and a lot of men name their penis – and we all talk to it: ‘looks like you’re going to get lucky tonight’ or after three of four beers when you have to piss like a race horse and you whip it out but nothing happens – then you cajole it: ‘Come on.  You can do this…’   

Regardless of what you call it - to us our appendage is a little person – a mini-me – a friend with a life and mind of its own. 

No apologies. 

the Ol'Buzzard

SNOWMAGEDDON

The south has been has been overwhelmed by Snowmageddon.   Two inches in Georgia brought traffic to a standstill – people abandoning their cars – families were separated and the routine of normal life interrupted.  

In the Carolinas three to four inches of something resembling snow (the suspicion is that the military, on the orders of President Obama, is experimenting with a new weather weapon) caused traffic crashes, stranded people in their cars for hours, and sent the fundamentalist Christians streaming to church to plead with God to forgive them for not opposing homosexuality more stridently.

Up here in western Maine I watch the TV weather with fascination.   Any snow that I can measure with my dick I don’t consider as a storm of note.   I don’t even bother to clear my driveway if the snowfall is less than four inches.    It is not until I hear that mystical word Noreaster that I get the least concerned.  

A Noreaster occurs when a low pressure system skirts the southern coast of Maine and the counterclockwise rotation of the low pulls moisture from the Gulf of Maine and drives it across the state with high winds coming out of the north east. 

A Noreaster came through yesterday dropping about sixteen inches of snow here in western Maine by eight-o-clock this morning.   It took me three hours with the snow blower, the shovel and the roof rake to finally dig out from the storm. 

The problem with this storm was that the temperature rose to thirty-two degrees making the snow thick and heavy to move.   Being in my mid-seventies I was pretty much exhausted by the time I got the area secured.    However, a pizza, two glasses of wine and a short nap – along with a BC powder when I got up has the Ol’Buzzard back flapping his wings again. 

We are pretty comfortable with snow storms up here in Maine.   It is the ice storms that take out power lines that most people fear.   Having lived much of our married life in the wilderness, my wife and I have prepared our cabin for all contingencies.    Loss of power, to us, is an inconvenience but no big deal. 

Needs a new mantle.

Gas lamp upper right.

  We have propane gas lamps mounted in the living room and kitchen; we have a wood stove for heat, a gas range in the kitchen and we keep six gallons of water stored in the bathroom cupboard to flush the toilet.   When we hear an ice storm in imminent we break out the flashlights, put oil in the oil lamp, check our firewood supply and kick back for a time of reading and playing games.  

And we still have our solstice tree to brighten the dark and dreary winter days.  We will take it down at the Spring equinox.  

NUCLEAR CONTAMINATION OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN

If you haven't read Microdot you should check his post on the Fukushima power plant melt down and the Japanese handling of nuclear waste water.

THE REVENGE OF GODZILLA. 

the Ol'Buzzard

THE LAST NAKED BUDDHISM POST

After the previous post that addressed the conscious effort necessary to understand the problems and the causes of confusion and stress in our life; and after realizing how simple meditation is preformed; the final step in Naked Buddhism is living a productive life through the Buddha’s teachings. 

Whether or not the actual Buddha prescribed the Eightfold Path is inconsequential.    Like the Bible, the Buddha’s teachings were past from oral tradition through hundreds of translations.   I would like to think that the Buddha suggested these guidelines for living a fulfilled life, but regardless of the origin they seem to me a path worthy to strive and to follow. 

The eight aspects of the path, also known as the Eightfold Path, are: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right meditation.  

Note - in other religions restrictions are laid down: though shall not…   In Buddha’s teachings the Buddha simply insisted that you inherently know what is right and wrong, and that you always choose the right over the wrong action.   Instead of laying down laws the Buddha described a path that can help in leading a fulfilled life on this earth.  

Grumpy cat - a true Naked Buddhist - accepts nothing on faith.

1.    RIGHT VIEW:   The Buddha recognized that the world is in a state of constant change – constant flux - and to hold a rigid view or concept or belief or opinion is to become entrenched in dogma.   We should clear our mind of preconceptions and view the world and situations as they actually are in the moment.  Accept change and adjust accordingly.

2.    RIGHT INTENTION:   Interact with the world selflessly – for the good of all – not self centered.   Begin each day with compassion for others and a realistic understanding of what the outcome of our actions will have on others. 

3.    RIGHT SPEECH:   Speak the truth as you perceive it, but never speak to injure others. 

4.    RIGHT ACTION:   Following charismatic leaders and becoming entrenched in doctrines and dogma is relinquishing you free thought and will.   Be your own person - do what you know to be right.

5.    RIGHT LIVELYHOOD:  The ideal job would be one that we would enjoy.  This is what we all wish for; but in reality few are so fortunate.   In our material world we work at jobs strictly in order to live a lifestyle that we desire.  We have to meet the basic requirements of food, shelter and security; and of course it is our nature – and not bad - to want more; provided that an obsession to succeed doesn’t distract us from living each day to the fullest.      It is also important that we not knowingly work in any occupation that causes harm to others.   Therefore, because we must work, we should try and be conscious, productive and satisfied with our labor,   Change the things we can change and except the things we can not.

6.    RIGHT EFFORT:   We should make an effort to live in each moment.   We should also realize that the things we do effect others and we should endeavor to cause no harm.  Living in the NOW requires we step away from our preconceptions, prejudices and social conformities and address each issue anew – making decisions as needed; all the time striving to appreciate the beauty and  wonder of the moment – being aware of the privilege of being alive. 

7.    RIGHT MINDFULNESS:  We should seek to be conscious in each moment.  We should be aware of the distractions that seem to demand our attention and realize that it is the NOW that is important.   We should consider how we are actually engaged in the world from moment to moment and recognize that unconscious stress (duhkha) is the cause of discontent - and only by identifying the cause can we except the problem and move beyond it.

8.    RIGHT MEDITATION:  Right meditation is making meditation an integral part of our daily life.   We should take time each day to meditate – if only for a few minutes.  Through meditation we clear our minds of distractions and become focused.   By meditating we relax our body and give our mind down time – a rest period – a reboot. 

There is much more to Buddhism: Buddhist stories, sayings, concepts and art.  But the naked basic teaching of the Buddha is to live productively in the moment – fully aware each day – and to appreciate the beauty and mystery of our short life.   All the rest is distraction.  

the Ol’Buzzard

HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING AND LOVE THE ATOM.

Why should you fear the neighbor’s dog when there is a tiger in your back yard?    

I don’t mean this to be more doom and gloom but…   what the hell; we love doom and gloom.   The ratings tell us that the movies with extreme violence, graphic bloodshed, rape, carnage and chaos are the movies people tend to pay to see. 

Global warming is a fact.   Ninety-three percent of all environmental scientists agree (the other seven percent have a religious or corporate agenda.)   We are experiencing the changes at this time.   Weather patterns are disrupted as oceans warm and the ecology adjusts.  But, at sometime in the distant future (perhaps decades) the change will have completed and the earth will stabilize with a new ecosystems. 

But, there is a more pressing danger:

 

NUCLEAR PLANTS IN THE US

Nuclear plants exist across our country.  These plants were designed to operate for thirty years.   Many are operating on an extension.   The nuclear wastes produced by these plants are extremely hazardous and will remain so for thousands of years.  The plants themselves have to be sealed after their life span; and the physical plants and the land they occupy will be uninhabitable for thousands of years.   

Unbeknownst to the public, nuclear waste from operating nuclear plants are being constantly transported on our highways and railroads to storage facilities.  These storage facilities will have to maintain these materials for thousands of years – what could possibly go wrong?  

We have had a number of nuclear emergencies: the two most noteworthy are Chernobyl

 An there is the human cost:

And Fukushima.

The radioactive waste water from the Fukushima plant is, at this time, draining into the Pacific Ocean.  The Japanese government claims that the volume of radioactive water to the vast Pacific Ocean will result in no discernible danger to the ecosystem. 

Our government’s energy plan includes building more nuclear energy plants and building new nuclear weapons to replace our aging stockpile.  We are looking at short term, government subsidized, energy programs with long term pollution and disaster potential.  

But again: what could possibly go wrong?

the Ol’Buzzard  

YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID

According to Rachel Maddow there are people down south (I didn't have to write that – you could have guessed the location) that are blaming President Obama for the snow storms across the southern states.   One of the comments posted on a web site stated that the ultimate military weapon would be able to control the weather; and that in fact the military caused the storms across the south with fake snow (no shit: a chemical snow that can’t be melted with a flame) in order to cover up the bills politicians are passing that are designed to take away our freedoms. 

 My only question is: how have these people survived for so long?  They are each prime candidates for a Darwin Award. 

And, how long before Republicans in Congress have investigations led by Derrell Issa to discover the Presidents culpability in the erratic weather across the country – and particularly the snow down south?

There is no hope for the United States because the idiots have escaped the asylums and the Republicans are taking over the government.

the Ol’Buzzard 

A NEWFOUNDLAND MUSIC VIDEO

Newfoundland is a different culture: a different mind set.

If you haven't seen the movie The Shipping News you should check out your video provider...It is worth a viewing.   A real insight to life in Newfoundland and the Newfoundland people. 

One of my most favorite movies.   

the Ol'Buzzard 

MANKIND'S CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING - AGAIN

Throughout our history there have been times when people felt despondent and helpless about their immediate future: The civil war; first and second world wars; times of plague and pandemic sicknesses.  

But now, in our unique age, we have the ability to predict future calamities not immediately identifiable with mankind’s bungling.

Another trait of mankind is the ability to ignore circumstances that do not affect our immediate condition.   Such is global warming.

The saying goes that ignorance is no excuse: but I disagree.

The partnership that exist between business and government and the influence of money wielded by big business and the idea that religion trumps science results in laws, public records and even opinions skewed to the interest of business and religion over facts and reason. 

Mankind’s contribution to global warming has never before been and issue, or even on our radar, until the last twenty-five years – and there is a concrete reason.   

Our world population did not reach one billion until some time between 1915 and 1920 – around 1970 our world population exceeded three billion.  Today our population has exceeded seven billion people: both China and India each have a population greater then the entire world population of 1915.  

The pollution caused by this burgeoning population and the industrialization of third world countries cannot be denied as the obvious responsibility for climate change in the form of global warming over such a short timeline. 

We can ignore this problem as green house gasses increase and scientist warn that the earth is beginning to destabilizes that delicate balance that allows life on our planet; but we do it at our own peril – for the hand that reaches out of the mire to grab us will be worse than anything imagined by the inventive mind of man.  

the Ol'Buzzard

NEWFOUNDLAND

I spent two years in Newfoundland and it was the wildest two years of my life....    Recently we had a Newfy band play in our area: If you haven't heard The Irish Descendants then pour a shot of rum (preferably Newfoundland Screech) and sit back and enjoy.

The Irish Descendants play Uncle Dan.

the Ol'Buzzard

CLIMATE DENIERS

WHAT IS THERE WE DON’T UNDERSTAND ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?





The optimum word is CHANGE. People deny global warming by saying that there was snow fall in Georgia or the coldest winter on record in bumfuck Egypt. We shouldn’t be focusing on the word warming in Global Warming and expect our freezers to start defrosting on their own.



We are in the midst of climate change and change is chaotic. A world without change could expect relatively reoccurring weather patterns each season in a particularly place. But, in the midst of change – the midst of the earth getting hotter on average – we can expect unprecedented and unpredictable swings in temperatures, precipitation, storms and weather patterns throughout the world until the temperature again stabilizes: warmer – with its predictable results.



the Ol’Buzzard

NAKED BUDDHISM THE BEGINNING

Balloons break, love affairs wanes, we all have to visit the dentist.   Life is not perfect.

Surya Das

The Buddha-dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) describes the Four Truths – this is where we must start to understand Naked Buddhism.

The First Truth: Shit happens.   There is no idyllic - perfectly happy life.  Problems in relationships arise, people get sick, financial and personal worries exist, accidents and sickness cause physical pain and death is inevitable.

The Second Truth: Life can fuck with us.  We always like to feel in control.  When trauma descends on us it can send our lives into a tail spin.  Buddhists refer to this as duhkha (doo-ka) which loosely translates as a wheel out of balance.   I like this analogy: if we lose the little balancing weights on our automobile or motorcycle tire the wheel will start to wobble and the vehicle will be undrivable.  

The Third Truth: Suck it up.  If we can step back from our problems and diagnose them…look at their origin…acknowledge their possible outcomes then we can deal with them.  If we allow situations to take control of us we become miserable.   We can change the things that can be changed and learn to accept the things we cannot change.  We only go around one time – we only have this life today.   It is important that we keep problems in perspective and move on. 

The Fourth Truth: Life will move on.    You can never stand in the same river twice.  If we free our minds; if we focus on the now we can overcome depression and despondency and live this insubstantial life to the fullest.   Buddhism offers a way to free our mind through meditation and we can bring about a cessation of duhkah by living a wholesome life as prescribed by the Buddha’s Eight Fold Path.  

I will cover the Eight Fold Path in my next naked Buddhism post. 

A Buddhist story:

A farmer comes to the Buddha for advice.  The farmer says ‘I like farming, but sometimes it doesn't rain enough and my crops fail.  Last year we nearly starved.  And sometimes it rains too much, so my yields aren't what I’d like them to be.’

  

The Buddha listened patiently.

‘I am married also,’ said the man.  “She is a good wife, but sometimes she nags me too much and I get tired of her.   I have kids, and sometimes they do not show me respect.’  

The man went on like this with all his difficulties and worries, finally winding down as waiting for the Buddha to say the words that would put everything right.

“I can’t help you,’ the Buddha said.

‘What do you mean,’ asked the farmer. ‘I thought you were a great teacher.’

‘Everyone’s got problems,’ said the Buddha.   ‘In fact we all have eighty-three problems; and there is nothing we can do about it.   If you work really hard on one you might be able to fix it but another will pop into its place.    Your problem is that you want to have no problems and I can not help you with that.”

the Ol’Buzzard