A second epiphany

A few years ago, I had what I feel was an epiphany.  A startling realization that my very existance was other than what I thought it was, and that where I was going was to a better place.

The other day I had another epiphany.  We don't get many of these in life, so this always makes me pause and think.  It came after watching the documentary on Netflix titled "The Corporation".  It basically outlined how American corporations had taken over our lives in just about every way.  The part that struck me was that corporations have become so powerful, and have permeated the running of our lives, that I singularly can do almost nothing to impact that corporate affect in our/my life.

In essence, only a Ghandi, a Martin Luther King, Jr, or a Franklin Delano Roosevelt could possibly stop the corporate juggernaut's trampling of peoples' health, happiness and welfare.

So what shall I do while I await this unknown leader?
I've decided to back off from all my activism and all my efforts to awaken the world around me.  I shall, instead of attempting to rouse the sheep and make them see the danger, stop and instead, enjoy the beauty yet unspoiled in the world around me.  There is hopefully yet enough time for me in this life, to come to a fuller appreciation of all the blessings bestowed upon me. 

One should attempt to live a live that takes nothing away from the world, but instead leaves it just a tiny bit better than when one arrived in it.
Starting with this holiday season this boy is going to make a greater effort to make those around him smile.  To minimize my footprint upon the grasses and flowers of this planet.

Here I go!

Just read this editorial comment and cartoon from the New York Post and thought it bared repeating here.  Quite to the point:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2010/10/20/c_10212010.gif
Don't look now
Yes, I succumbed to temptation and mentioned George W. Bush in a post yesterday. Some commenters seem to think it bad form for a liberal to 'look backwards', apparently considering looking backwards to be their special zone of operations. They blissfully inhabit a butterfly-filled historic meadow of founding fathers, Ronald Reagan, who any day now will BE a founding father in their minds, and an imagined version of the Constitution (I'm not absolutely certain that Christine O'Donnell has actually read it) of crystalline simplicity.
If you close your eyes, like they do, you can picture them bounding (backwards) through that meadow, which exists without memory of Native Americans, slavery, the Great Depression, legally mandated segregation, the working conditions that gave rise to unions, or any of the other factors that actually shaped the America they think is the one they used to live in before liberals made everything so complicated.
So George W. Bush's visage of belligerent perplexity is currently airbrushed out of the special collector's edition commemorative display plate version of the past, because... well, because not only was he a blistering embarrassment to the conservative movement, but because his policies are the exact ones they want to vote back into office two weeks from now. --Tom Toles

Still catching up

I still have not had time to move over the blog notes from the old blog, but hope to do so soon.
I should have lots to say regarding the upcoming Nov. 2nd elections.  Much to note, much to read, much to consider.  While President Obama has been slow to implement some of his promises (some not at all yet), he has accomplished a lot. 
I guess its just a matter of priorities and where yours are.  He has accomplished much in health care reform, but thanks to the "loyal" opposition, and his less than loyal Dems, he has even more yet to achieve.  Basically, this November's election amounts to either 1) continuing the hope and move forward, or 2) stopping the hope and going back to the very policies that put us in this horrible recession and political/war quagmire we have found ourselves in since 2007 and earlier.
More on that later. . .

Interim

The week's almost over.  This weekend, besides the lawn and the picket fence, I plan to copy several blog posts over from my myspace blogs to here.  I'll try to keep them chronological, and dated if possible.

Thanks to those of you who've been so kind and have already become followers of this blog.
I'm eager to not disappoint.

-Tim

A beautiful September week.

Well, summer is almost gone, having only another week or two to go.  The kids have been back for about a week now, and the weather has finally cooled down to the lower eighties, after a summer of 90's and 100's.
I just realized that I still have two weeks of vacation to use before the year is up, and if I don't use any of it for sick leave, I should be able to make good use of it.  I'm thinking this might be a good year to travel the length of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and Skyline Drive.   I've been meaning to visit the six or so caverns there.  Should be fun.
This month will include what promises to be a fun private concert in Hampton, and October will include taking daughter and son-in-law out for a birthday night out in Annapolis.  Can't wait!