"Heaven has a road, but no one travels it; Hell has no gate, but men will bore through to get there."

Friday, February 29, 2008

BRING ON THE EXORCIST!

Much like the Republicans and zealots of the Religious Right who support them,
and who apparently like to swipe a little guilt from the Catholics...

"The Devil wants to make us believe we are so ugly that even God can't love us."

Father Merrin, The Exorcist 25th. Anniversary Edition

Tricky! & I thought they didn't like psychology?

Let me just slip out and grab some sunscreen so I can bask in the gentle rays of some nuclear judgment.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

C'est possible? Conservative... And Intellectual In The Same Sentence

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23370714/?GT1=10856

I had the pleasure of meeting William F. Buckley several times while organizing political forums, discussion groups and even an episode of his award-winning PBS program Firing Line. He once played Chopin on a dilapidated little piano in our student union for my boyfriend who had always idolized him while waiting to take the podium at an event.

His spirit represents something we see very little of today- intelligent, tolerant, reasoned, non-judgmental and yes- wise conservatism. A world view more about preserving what is best rather than bending the world to our views and excoriating those who disagree. In the ranks of today's conservative milieu, Buckley would be a giant among pygmies, both intellectually and as regards character. His delightful and often playful ironic wit would totally confound most Republicans at a cocktail gathering. He had traveled the world, was "omni-accomplished," loved life and the variety of human experience and was curious about and interested in everything. His beliefs grew out of recognizing that many grand liberal schemes actually were contrived contrary to human nature and spiritual laws and had had their fair runs. They were also heavily influenced by World War II and the ensuing Cold War and he was a shrewd observer of the tendency of power to corrupt- regardless of who was holding it.

One can only imagine what excesses of the conservative movement and the Bush administration could have been checked and limited had Mr. Buckley exercised his characteristic courage and turned the big guns of his intellect and prose on some of his own in recent years. But he was too loyal for that and would be the first to remind us that loyalty is a virtue.

I would have settled for a Firing Line with Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove et al. on the panel, and Bill asking each of them to explain how they could possibly call themselves conservatives? Then he could continue by inserting the silver-tipped barb of his tongue into the cold hearts of Rush Limbaugh and Anne Coulter- surely from his point of view annoying, shrill and mean-spirited pretenders to the commentator's chair.

Then I would have asked him to play me some Chopin and tell me about his latest sailing adventure and expressed my desire to smoke a joint with him in international waters.

Au Revoir Mr. Buckley!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Today's News- Pretty Music and the Quickest Presidential Rise in History

N.Y. Philharmonic plays in North Korea (APTN)
*AND- Obama is closing in on ONE MILLION people who have become part of his campaign by donating. Many of them have volunteered as well, some traveling many miles away from home at their own expense to work for Barack in key primary states. This grassroots mobilization brought about by a simple "get to the people" strategy, positive message of substantive change and cutting edge viral communication tools is largely responsible for the Senator's astounding momentum while going up against more seasoned rivals.

Frontier Family

This is the conclusion of one of my poems about the many transitions from growing up in rural Kansas and ending up on the very urban eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

This sustains me amongst friends and offspring,
As I look out my window onto the street
At the shivering crack dealer-
His wanton, narrowed face and hollowed grin.
Wondering if he sees the morning star begin?
Amidst a family of real diversity-
Black, Latino, hippies, weed,
And holy-rollers with Ennui.
He sits in the heartland’s Red Line Tap,
Tortured by the tv screen,
As a shadow of terror peeks out
From behind the news
Like a waiting predator
Beside Laura Bush’s placid face,
And questions all security.
With all I’ve gained and felt,
Am I found or lost?
As I gaze across the lake
And try hard to see
Past the gruesome, though politically correct,
Post-modernity,
And queer folk hypocrite preachers
Under drooping willow trees,
Amidst the cancers of extremes.

cjk 06

"Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity." ~ Christopher Morley (1890 - 1957)

Monday, February 25, 2008

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP... IMAGINE!

Please visit the site or the radio show featuring the fabulously learned and passionate Amy Goodman on real issues facing the world outside the shores of our often too self-involved realm at DemocracyNow.org

And more specifically, listen to Samantha Power who is Barack Obama's Senior Foreign Policy Advisor if you want to catch a breath of intelligence and light already streaming from a cabinet member whose cabinet does not as yet exist, but who still manages to show wisdom and discernment regarding the global issues that face America on a higher level than we have dared hope for in the past seven years:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/25/barack_obamas_senior_foreign_policy_adviser

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/25/samantha_power_on_chasing_the_flame

From Dennis Cooper-

** CK, Hey, welcome. It's a lucky break that I saw your comment because I almost never check the comments on the older posts. Your blog is terrific, and I bookmarked it for regular visiting. The other petronious petting zoo blog link didn't work, I don't know why. I'd like to check it out, if possible. Gosh, if only I were the master of hookers, but thanks for the compliment. Yeah, do hang out more if you feel like it. **

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN

http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20080224/sc_afp/norwayarcticenvironmentwarmingcrops.html

OPERA FOR EVERYONE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f876_Xw-LYA

CHARLIE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKfxKWDMVQc

QUESTION IT, CHANGE IT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

More On Personality

For a fantastic look at the fullness of human character, please make your next giant book to read:

Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human

-Harold Bloom, 1998

Note from Kristin~

In response to a kind note from one of my spiritual mentors about blogging, I sent the following:

I am glad that you "feel" in it the energy that I have been trying to let move into it from my real self- with all the odd and interesting pieces (mostly light/a little dark) that are part of the world view from my own development that I am trying to share... I do not know what is going to come of it, but it is an invitation set out for the Universe that I am hoping will catch fire and start a dialogue I can then build on and continue to share and involve more people. Kind of "viral self-help"- but where people catch something good and nourishing in whatever way they need. I think the key for me is to start showing ever so subtly and then more boldly how diverse and deep and multi-faceted people can be so they will want to "be" more like that- more expansive. And I am starting to realize it is not just about spirituality, but personality as well and starting to deepen it. Working on it with the way the blog technology is set up is very much like keeping a journal, and the record/progression of one's thoughts is easily RIGHT THERE for all to see. The book writing was a dead venue. At least for now.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

CELEBRATE!

Okay- so my last post was #100!

In the spirit of celebration and happiness, let's talk about drugs for a minute...

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

MY ALL-TIME FAV MUSIC VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgSrMUQyhwQ

PERFECTO

*The selection of upcoming poems that I will be posting are my own from a collection entitled:

Home From The Millennium 1986-2006

Look for "Perfecto" next...

'Conservatives'-

Do not turn the vices of ignorance and stubbornness into the supposed virtue of commitment!

A SIDE NOTE-

The last several quotes I have used here are from a collection used in Stephen R. Covey's (of Franklin/Covey fame- as in "I stole my management and success techniques from a 200 year old Founding Father who can't sue me!") The 8th Habit. The previous 7 habits were meant to help us all get organized to be fodder for the corporate crunch machine that so many are unfortunate enough to work for. Telling for me is that after each one of these amazing quotes, there is a horrible little diagram of some type of "Success Equation," i.e.- if you do these things then you too can duplicate the success of others. Regardless of questioning why anybody would want to do that, the 8th Habit which according to Covey involves finding your true gifts, passion and voice, should really be about individual inspiration and an expression of the Divine in a beautiful yet uncertain universe that is totally impervious to whatever management paradigm we might foolishly try to overlay on it. Although action is always involved on our parts, it's not about process- or even results. It's about faith unfolding in reality- whatever that might be for each of us. Please put the guru texts down and proceed with your life! That goes double for Ken Blanchard and "Situational Leadership?" While true leadership is a concept which may be displayed in many forms, the essential quality of leading is both eternal and transcendent. Managing only the situation or even the actions totally misses the point of addressing the whole person- a task neither of these fellows seem quite deep enough to handle. What they seem to be best at is managing us out of our money, and their efforts have gone far indeed to re-drive the wedge and enlarge and sharpen the disconnect between productivity and happiness- the main ingredient of real prosperity.

BM GETS RELIGULOUS!

check out my friend Bill's new website & definitely the note about his new documentary film-

http://www.billmaher.com/?page_id=3

Currently, Bill is in production with critically acclaimed director Larry Charles (“Borat”) on “Religulous,” a documentary that examines religion. Scheduled for a June 2008 release, teasers of the film shown at the Cannes and Toronto film festivals were met with critical praise (and hysterical laughter). The documentary will take a deep look at the presence of religion in some of the major news stories in recent years, and religion’s effect on society as a whole.

Another Marianne-

... equally powerful and mysterious words from Marianne Williamson, which I think she paraphrased from Nelson Mandela~

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask oursleves, 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

GO FORTH AND LIBERATE!

Witches Song

Danger is great Joy

Dark as bright as Fire

Happy is our Family

Lonely is the World

-Marianne Faithfull

AQUARIUS

I forgot my bday post on 2/17 so-

There are so many gifts
Still unopened from your birthday,
There are so many hand-crafted presents
That have been sent to you by God.
The Beloved does not mind repeating,
"Everything I have is also yours."

-Hafiz

Wind In The Wires

... one more from Patrick~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7ukDMnTfkE&NR=1

Friday, February 15, 2008

B&W

"Both read the Bible day and night,
But thou readst black where I read white!"

-William Blake

MY WRITING IS MY WORK

My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where need and love are one
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the future's sakes?

-Robert Frost

On Conforming-

Much madness is divinest sense,
To a discerning eye-
Much sense the starkest madness.
Tis the majority in this
As in all prevails.
Consent and your are sane,
Demure-
You're straightway dangerous,
And handled with a chain!

-Emily Dickinson

LEVIATHAN EATS ITSELF

In another astounding gesture of party unity, the Republicans are devouring themselves along with any chance of winning the presidential election. They are also, once again, doing a fantastic job of demonstrating why a group of people so bitter, mean-spirited and averse to any kind of positive change unless it is rolled out of their sad old bag of tricks, should never be allowed to hold any substantial amount of political power.

While it is obvious all the oxycontin further eroded Mr. Limbaugh's brain, we can only hope any continued use would deprive him of the ability to use his mouth for evil.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23176099

Thursday, February 14, 2008

EDDIE REDMAYNE

*Snogging Hugh Dancy is one thing- a three-way with Hugh and Julianne Moore playing your mother is an extra-special Valentine! X O

Look for Saving Grace- out in May 2008

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117950877.html?categoryid=2169&cs=1

http://technorati.com/tag/Eddie+Redmayne

http://community.livejournal.com/eddie_redmayne

The Yearning of Youth- or not?

"I think there is a yearning for truth, a desire to find great fundamental truths again. The next big voice who changes everything is going to be someone who can absorb the past, but also speak to the moment. Reality is extremely traumatic right now. You wonder how a nascent artist in his or her adolescence can psychologically process a culture that's so split between the hedonistic carnival of pop and the horrors of terrorism and war- skyscrapers incinerated, bodies dragged through streets, hostages decapitated. There was a similar crisis in World War II, but Americans were much more united. War is always a mutilating and brutalizing experience, so perhaps this generation of young people will be creatively delayed. We might not hear from their strongest voices until they're in their late twenties or thirties. My advice is never to lose will and aspiration. If young people feel dwarfed, eclipsed, or silenced by our omnipresent commercial culture, they should model themselves on marathon runners- keep observing, keep storing up experience and speak later."

Camille Paglia in Interview

CR

"The younger gays are politically unmotivated and are turning to drugs and sex that aren't just fatal- they're boring. I meet young gay men and I think, 'what are you doing with your life?' Their fascinations seem to be so petty and they cling to their adolescence and I want to say: Grow Up! I'm not interested in the crystal-snorting dance floor boys. And instead of multiple dips in shallow pools of one-night stands, I prefer to explore a deep ocean with the one person I love."

Christopher Rice in The New York Blade

Coming in 2008-

*new Battlestar Galactica
*new Dr. Who
*
new Weeds
*new from Christopher Rice
*& from Anne Rice

*
Indiana Jones

*X Files Movie II

*Star Trek- 2009

COMPOSITION

Life used to be contained in a village.

Today, I can talk to someone anywhere in the world instantaneously through my computer on the sofa.

But increased options do not necessarily lead to more satisfaction.

Eddy in AbFab says: "I don't want more choices, I just want nicer things!"

Montaigne says:

"If you have known how to compose your life, you have accomplished a great deal more than the man who knows how to compose a book. Have you been able to take your stride? You have done more than the person who has taken cities and empires. The great and glorious masterpiece of one's life is to live to the point. All other things- to reign, to hoard, to build- are, at most, but inconsiderate props and appendages."

In Response to My Friend Brad in Arizona-

a-fuckin-men!! to such a delightful Clinton defection... sends a good strong message to latinos and women... he should follow this up with some proposals for women in high office- leak a tentative cabinet roster! or think about a woman VP- OR- get John Edwards on board as running mate NOW! which would be the end of Hillary as far as delegates go and then start team campaigning way before the nominating at the convention- along with weekly releases on proposed new polices (domestic & foreign). he should be covertly reaching out to Congress and making plans for 2009, along with countering the fading Bush agenda at every turn prior to the election- spinning it as tired, failed and false. shock and awe their asses with so many fresh ideas they will strain themselves struggling to respond, while at the same time further awakening the interest and passion of the electorate. again with the Kennedy thing, but if you become the role, you will be the President. and let's not underestimate the power of good looks and charisma in our media-drenched society! why am i not advising these people? hopefully they will figure it out. i grow more excited for and hopeful of quantum change with each passing day. a ludicrous whoppin victory in Tex-Ass would be mighty pleasing as well! YE-HAA!! take THAT Winshield Cowboy!! POW!!!

Monday, February 11, 2008

MICRO TO MACRO

Last year around this time I was working on a friend's campaign to replace our current Chicago Alderman. If anyone elsewhere is unfamiliar with this position, there are 50 of them in the city and they pretty much control everything (along with Mayor Daley of course!) through their acute powers of pandering, distorttion, corruption and influence-peddling. Occasionally, they do some work. Many sleep in council meetings and the rest are just content to simmer in self-righteous anger. One or two are so old they really need to expire. At any rate, below is a letter I wrote on behalf of my friend who ran to offer a different alternative than this ugly, gray hulking machine. As I reread it yesterday, I noticed how much the basic political values represented in this tiny election would serve our entire republic:

I would like to write this letter to express my absolute and wholehearted support for Jim Ginderske for 49th Ward Alderman in the upcoming Feb. 27th election.

First off, I will say that while I firmly resist labeling, it is sometimes necessary to establish a point of reference. I am a gay man who fully supports equal rights and treatment for all people. However, for me, this does and should not translate into pandering solely for the purpose of vote-getting targeted at any minority group. I think this type of profiling and ghetto-ization of groups of people does great disservice to individual identity, freedom and the unity of our civil society. I also take exception to the current view that if you are not incessantly grandstanding about “tolerance” about gay causes, you are somehow de-facto “intolerant.” This is a limited and rather childish view and reminds me of choosing up sides on a playground- an odd concept when the acknowledgement of difference should be but one step on the path toward the final goal of common humanity and shared interests. For me, it has always been a matter of personhood first, sexuality second.

In accordance with this view, I am supporting Jim Ginderske in this respect, not for any sloganeering or focus on any single community, but for his more all-embracing concern, compassion and desire to serve us all. I have found that when somebody truly believes in something, they live and demonstrate it everyday in their interactions with whomever they may encounter. No simple and shallow lip-service is needed. I might add, that applied from a larger perspective, Jim puts all of his principles into action. Through getting to know him, with regard to any issues of “equal rights,” Jim deeply believes the following which informs all of his decision making:

At the most basic level, we are either all free, or none of us is free and whatever we try to accomplish in society will fail if we do not recognize and act upon this fact. In addition, it is an alarming contradiction, in Jim’s words, that “there is so much intolerance for those people who have learned to be MOST tolerant of others.”

Jim has welcomed all people into his genuinely grassroots campaign, not because they wear a particular label, but for who they are and what they can bring to the endeavor of making positive change amidst difficult circumstances. Jim supports each member of his diverse set of friends and he “gets it” when it comes to an understanding of how such diversity enriches a community. He has supported numerous causes to fight crime, improve education and support the creativity so necessary to thinking outside the box about complex problems- even building an art studio to allow the talented people he has met to express themselves. Jim is wonderfully suited to the character and personality of our ward.

Because he so values all people, Jim has a corresponding desire to work for their betterment, which is why he took on the monumental task against entrenched and powerful opposition to stand up and courageously run for Alderman- enlisting the aid of all those who respect him and pooling the collective talents of the neighborhood to serve this cause in amazing ways. For me, it is safe to assume he would bring the same talent to the office of Alderman- uniting rather than attempting to divide our community along racial and economic lines. He is a whole person of great integrity who desires to foster this kind of personality in others. He is about building a neighborhood that is whole, safe and thriving. This race for him is not a cynical construction manipulated by moneyed interests, but much more organic, about linking compassion to problem-solving to address the concerns of those who live in this unique community. He has had an
integrated plan to do this available on his website for nearly a year. The incumbent and his other opponents have laundry lists of lackluster accomplishments from the past, or poorly thought out schemes for the future. Jim provides a very clear contrast to the superficial fear-mongering coming out of other campaigns and most of the base chatter coming from the local blogosphere.

Given the current political environment in our country, I think the reason people are slow to respond to the idealism needed to animate and empower our political process is because they have become conditioned in cynicism, believing at a fundamental level that political idealism has somehow become bad taste through lack of any positive examples of its execution. There can therefore be only a very few Kennedys or O’Bamas or Martin Luther King Jrs when the public would hardly recognize them or give them a chance to attempt to do good if by some miraculous stroke of good fortune they might happen to already be in our midst.

In short, I support Jim because he supports me – as a spiritually committed person, citizen, neighbor and yes, a gay man, who cares passionately about the welfare of others. This kind of support for the community at large is evident in Jim’s work on healthcare, crime reduction, affordable housing, poverty remediation and enhanced business development. He has also proposed a Boys and Girls Club of American for the 49th ward to transfer hope, optimism and the promise of accomplishment to our youth as an alternative to the streets.

Jim has shaped his idealism into a compassionate and holistic approach to deal with the neighborhood’s complex problems honestly and for the good of its residents and not some underhanded and self-aggrandizing motivation. He has put his own money where his mouth and heart are and to me, that is the ultimate measure of concern and involvement. In response to the commitment I have seen from him, I chose to take a month off from my usual work to support Jim’s vision. He cares for his neighbors and recognizes the importance of fulfilling the promise of opportunity not only for those who can afford it, but for minority, impoverished and disenfranchised residents as well.

In conclusion, I am concerned that Jim’s obvious superiority for this position has not been more fully recognized and applauded by everyone in the 49th ward and outside it who seek real and meaningful change. Jim is ideally suited to the higher cause of healing and uniting our community behind genuine leadership, and creating an example for the rest of our city, state and country of how inspiringly good ideas and yes- some joy- have the ability to lift and empower all our friends and neighbors.

Because of Jim, we need not be afraid for, but excited and hopeful about the future of #49!

MAKE A PATH

https://www.mertoninstitute.org/

Sunday, February 10, 2008

CHILL...

Although Google is a very handy tool, please keep in mind the following should your brain ever get nastily ruffled by excessive internet or other searching in life:

"The things that are really for thee gravitate too thee. Oh, believe as though livest, that every sound that is spoken over the round world, which thou oughtest to hear, will vibrate on your ear. Every proverb, every book, every by-word that belongs to thee for aid or confort, shall surely come home through open or winding passages."

Emerson in The Oversoul

SOMETHING SWEET

http://www.nme.com/news/madonna/33006

FLUFF

http://www.mostbeautifulman.com/sambagblog/178.shtml

THE BELIEVER

If liberals/progressives could be this smart, passionate and articluate we would not have to fear for our liberties-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRUjy1Dhx-k

STATESMANSHIP

While I will not be voting for him, John McCain who is a truly admirable citizen, should sieze his moment of "no other choice" to not only take control of the tragedy which is the Republican party but boldly lay claim to a better future my once and for all banishing the True Believers from its ranks... some refernec points are provided for him below:

West Wing-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSWE-PHnj-s


Eric Hoffer-

http://books.google.com/books?as_auth=Eric+Hoffer&ots=eguknE9GtM&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=author-navigational&hl=en

backstory- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Hoffer

and- http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Eric_Hoffer/


"Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power. "

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Happy Birthday~

We are all equally responsible for the condition of our world. Global change begins at home. How you live, the quality of your thoughts, speech, and actions has a profound effect upon all life on this planet. Since change can happen from within the system or outside of it, only you know the proper path for you. Aquarian success comes from connecting to the needs of your generation and making your life a testament to upliftment.

from-

http://www.astrowisdom.com/thisnewmoon.htm

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

YES WE CAN

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/yeswecanvideo

VOTE!

"Mentre che la speranza ha fior del verde."

La Divina Commedia, Purgatorio, III -Dante

"By curse of theirs, man is not so lost that eternal love may not return so long as Hope returneth aught of green."

Monday, February 4, 2008

BREATHE...

IN WITH GOD, OUT WITH PEACE.

ALL IS IN DIVINE ORDER-

except when-

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=34154

Friday, February 1, 2008

WHOLISTIC

Please check out the the sites below. They belong to two bright and compassionate lights that have glowed next to me during this past year of transformation in Chicago, and look for more to come regarding new ideas for personal wellness and healing.

Kristin Ecklund
www.moonwaterhealing.com

John-Michael Korpal
www.flyingdolphin.org

"LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF"

Danish Boys- in 1978? God! we be slow ova here~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-a7GcEUdrc&feature=related

Gay Boys & Jesus (take THAT Mitt Romney!)~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rCae7gUjBM&feature=related

Shakespeare in Portland, Rome & the desert~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2pT37FDiPY