parsimonious

Presidential elections bore me like none other. You want to see change? Get used to thinking like a geologist and living in their type of time lines...let's all sit around and watch the mountains erode because that is the pace at which politics (the untrue and untruthful) runs it's worthless little course. Fuck politicians they're all owned and served like a happy meal. Politicians do not serve the people, they serve themselves. That's a personal choice I usually would have the option to just walk away from. No matter, you’re entitled to what you think serving the people means, but don't mind me while I ignore every virtue you claim to possess. However when it involves the government, things become your problem eventually. You hate politics, you hate politicians, you'd rather be watching the dumbing down of music and art, sink in to another brainless spewing of pretentious dialogue, cookie cutter effects, and cheap gaming style animation. But when it comes time to choose a master, you'll find a master has already chosen you. Did you forget to pay attention?

When American business chose to take business elsewhere for the sole purpose of saving tons of money by moving to low cost countries-they sold their own red, white, and blue down the toilet. Now everyone wants to blame a stupid puppet for the countries problems. Take a look in the fucking mirror-nobody wants to really have to pay for a better economy. If the economy stinks, ah well we'll just pick up and leave. What do the people care? Their too busy stuffing their gullets with big macs and sucking down fuel with huge SUV's to care. Everyone is too busy, or satisfied with mediocrity. Global Warming...well now instead of addressing that subject let's spin it into a big money making scam and claim scientists haven't a clue. I know people who are completely convinced Al Gore and his movie are generating the largest scam ever conceived. I didn't see it. I don't need to. It is not the origin of this debate. It is a distraction. I need to ask a question while all you dumbshits are wasting oxygen debating that: you ever heard of pollution? You ever heard of cancer, asthma, birth defects? Are you still gonna laugh when someone close to you, or perhaps you yourself find you have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease? One of those diseases you'll come to find is "rare" or linked to pollution? Why not pick up a pack of smokes and embrace the over 70% of lung cancer patients that...smoked.

It is not my world, and it is not your world. We all live here collectively. I don't give a shit if your American, Middle Eastern, Asian, European, or any other nationality-your role here has influence beyond you, yourself, and you. You feel pain? So do millions of others. You’re bitter? Well fucking suck it up because millions of people feel bitter. Tragedy? Look around, there are tragedies in every corner of the world at every second of a day. How big are your problems really, if you chose to live with your head down?

contrite

Rough weather makes me feel alive. I can't get enough of thunderstorms to ever be tired of them. I'll stand outside even if I can feel the electricity in the air, just to hear the strange pattern thunder makes when tearing a path through clouds. Grunts, grumbles, hissing, sizzling, popping, churning and turning like a rotating speaker. It's fucking beautiful. I vividly remember standing at the window as a kid, watching the most amazing forks of lightning streak across the sky over the fields of my grandfathers farm in North Dakota. Pitch black nights would be lit up like it was 12 noon for as far as the eye could see. There are reasons why some need such things. Perhaps it reflects what's going on inside - makes one feel as if they are not alone. I feel a kind of kindred spirit when lightning and thunder are near. Like an old pal has come to visit. In Southern California this pal doesn't come often enough.

Travel for this year is looking bleak. I know I'll be spending time on the Oregon coast in August. Surfing this summer at Seal beach. The annual Big Bear trip. I'll be up there this weekend, but the weather may dictate staying indoors with a cozy fire. I'm thinking about San Diego for 4th of July. International trips still in my book include Kadavu Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Moorea Tahiti (not likely...USD to Euro = less adventure), Costa Rica, and the rest of Central America for surfing. Puerto Rico has been catching my eye lately. All in all, the travel outlook partnered with rising airfare and shrinking airline schedules might make for a good year to plan a local road trip instead. I have never been to Sadona Arizona. Could be a pleasant food and wine trip. Add hiking. The weather there in November should be primo. Or, a winter trip to the mountains may be in order instead of a secluded island in the middle of the Pacific.

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"Living at the end of a string of one way tickets." - now that sounds like living.

The Dirty Dozen

Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Is, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Is, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St.Vincent, Tuvalu.

CDNN Top Story

Sickened and outraged by Japan's state-sponsored cruelty, travelers worldwide are boycotting Japan and "The Dirty Dozen" — the 12 sleezy banana republics it bribes to support "sustainable (sic) whaling".

ACT NOW: BOYCOTT PALAU

While Palau promotes itself as an eco-friendly dive destination committed to the protection of marine wildlife including dugongs, dolphins and whales, it is colluding with Japan to block the establishment of whale sanctuaries and reverse the ban on commercial whaling.

Such money-driven hypocrisy is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by the global scuba diving community. Join the diver-led boycott of Palau and make a difference.
Go to CDNN ACT NOW: Boycott Palau

ACT NOW: BOYCOTT CARIBBEAN NATIONS THAT COLLUDE WITH JAPAN TO BLOCK THE CREATION OF WHALE SANCTUARIES

In a desperate bid to overturn the moratorium and boost its whaling industry, Japan is extorting six Caribbean nations with offers of aid. Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and St. Vincent all vote with Japan at annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings to block conservation measures such as the creation of whale sanctuaries in the South Pacific. Ironically, these same six Caribbean nations are largely dependent on tourism industries that lure travelers with eco-friendly promises of pristine reefs, whale watching and dolphin encounters. Join the diver-led boycott of Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and make a difference.
Go to CDNN ACT NOW: Stop Whaling

ACT NOW: SAVE THE MAUI (NORTH ISLAND HECTOR'S) DOLPHIN!

The critically endangered Maui dolphin (aka North Island Hector's dolphin) of New Zealand is on the brink of extinction. Only about 100 of these extraordinary animals have survived the onslaught of commercial and recreational set net fishing, the primary threat to the world's rarest marine mammal. Last August, New Zealand's Minister of Fisheries wisely banned commercial and recreational set netting within most of the dolphin's range, however, the fishing industry succeeded in overturning the ban in High Court and set netting has resumed. In the last year, six more Hector's dolphins have drowned in fishing nets. The New Zealand government has delayed acting on a proposed marine sanctuary that represents the last chance for the Hector's dolphin and may be caving in to commercial fishing interests. Join Cyber Diver Society and conservation activists around the world and make a difference.
Go to CDNN ACT NOW: Hector's Dolphin

Sunflower

I can't explain what happened to me. I can tell you that things became reckless and self-destructive. In the midst of achieving my best achievements, I also achieved my all time lows. They both coincided with the loss of an anchor.

Hindsight is 20/20. But when thinking about what me, myself, and I want - there is still what should be.

I remember the orchestra more than anything. And warm summer nights in the desert. "The Right of Spring" - Stravinski! What a pleasure to hear such a monumental work from the front rows of the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion with Salonen conducting. Nothing can replace those moments.

It is a work that is almost 13 years old. I completed it on August 3rd, 1995. It is a hard piece to re-visit. I have to re-write most of it. It isn't acceptable to leave it as it was when all was unknown. It has been answered.

Melancholia - 5 Movements for Solo Piano was already complete. I hope I can find a pianist that will grab it by the throat and move some earth.

"Sunflower" - flute, piano, cello, percussion (vibes, waterphone, crotales, oceanharp).