Deepak Chopra : Occupy Together is Unstoppable. We Are the 100%

CLICK HERE TO READ: Deepak Chopra : Occupy Together is Unstoppable. We Are the 100%

Privatization Nightmare: 5 Public Services That Should Never Be Handed Over to Greedy Corporations

CLICK HERE TO READ REVEALING ARTICLE: 


Privatization Nightmare: 5 Public Services That Should Never Be Handed Over to Greedy Corporations | Economy | AlterNet

PsychiatryOnline | Psychiatric News |Michelle Riba, M.D., M.S.

Written by Michelle Riba, M.D., M.S.


I was reminded of the ever-changing nature of psychiatric practice after reading a recent e-mail exchange between an APA member and a fellow Board of Trustees member. The e-mail touched on recent developments that affect our practice and our patients. Specifically at issue are the trends toward the increasing managed care—like management of pharmacy benefits and the increased assault on inpatient psychiatric care.

It is not necessary to elaborate on the utility of medications in contemporary treatment. Yet, it is undeniable that costs for medications have increased at a......

CLICK HERE to read......

Discovering the magic of paper

Exquisite craft!

CLICK HERE TO READ: Discovering the magic of paper

Thankful for the Memories: This Year's Top Five Moments of Conservative Crazy

What am I thankful for this year? I am thankful the conservative movement has stopped trying to pretend to be something that they are not.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING: Thankful for the Memories: This Year's Top Five Moments of Conservative Crazy | AlterNet

A Day of Gratitude from the view of Jeff Brown.....

It is no secret that Jeff Brown, and his beliefs and writings which 

emerge from a rich tapestry of life, are in my top go-to's in these 

times.  In these challenging times, I strongly believe that daily, if not, 

minute-by-minute whispers of gratitude for even the simplest events 

in our lives ..... creates the most momentous transformation in each 

of us.

I read Jeff's link on his site about his own gratitudes.  Deeply moved by content? Sure! But what really entered my soul was his "framework" (how's that for a sanitized word?!) for his gratitude.  Likely none who read this would know the names he lists.  However, he is very clear about the relationships those names have to his life.  It was almost impossible not to have a lump in my throat as he included events which he might have interpreted as negative.  Now THAT is a true, ripped from the soul, gratitude list.  I offer it to you on this national day of thanks, because the only way we transform is to scrap the "national day, per se....and make this, at the very least, a daily occurrence.

As much as I exercise and whisper gratitude, Jeff has certainly provided me with a wonderful nudge towards increased consciousness and joy in fashioning my own list!

Gratitudes

Honoring and actualizing our divine purpose is both an individual and a relational process.To be sure, so much of the work happens in the interior of an individual where the decision is made, time and time again, to do the painstaking work to identify and embody the paths we are here to walk. We call that ‘Divine Perspiration’ in the Soulshaping soulpod. At the same time, this dance of sacred expansion is also a relational one, where we learn together and where we are supported on our journeys by the efforts of others, seen and so often unseen. When I was young, I imagined myself a lone wolf warrior, doing my souls bidding all alone in the barren wilderness. As I grew older and my lens clarified, it became clear that I had been supported throughout my journey. The Divine Mother was with me every step of the journey, as were so many wonderful others. The following are just some of those gratitudes, taken from the gratitudes section in Soulshaping, and beyond…

Gratitude to those who encouraged me before I could encourage myself—my parents, Valentia Lee, Miriam Blumstock, Graham Northcott, David L. Mandel, Sharon E. Lavine, Rocketdog, Wendy Yamamoto, Judith (Leslie) Greenbaum, Nella Starai, Janice Nishimoto, Nicholas Brinckman, Sue Bennett, Arthur and Carol Back, Gloria Robbins, Ova Back (and her warm chocolate pudding), Joelle Glasroth, RJB, Dr. Ralph Kilmann, Esther Climans, Eileen Greene, Randy Richmond, Amy Baumal, Little Missy, Gary Schilling, Jackie and Shani Feldman, Dawn Stephenson, Lisbie Rae, Jill Goldblatt, Tony Melaragni, Fatima Lobo, Naomi Goldsmith, Louise Frechette, David (Skinny) Sniderman, Marta Cuellar, Janet L. Bomza, Amy Burke, Michele Spicer, Edmond Timmerman, Dr. Leo Shack, (Auntie) Judy Haid, Bibbles Ganoush, Dr. Tom Greening, John Pothiah, Avi Zimmerman, Abigail McClure, (Auntie) Mitzi O’keefe, Auntie Tilly, Martin and Stanley Resnick, and Uncles Ricky and Teddy Perlove. Thank you all from the bottom of my soul.

Gratitude to those lite-dimmers, double-crossers, space invaders, and plain old nasties who attempted, in word or deed, to force my light under a bushel. Your hurtfulness was grist for the soul mill, gifting me with the painful lessons I needed to learn. Without you to push against, I might never have found my way home. Glory to the school of heart knocks. 

Gratitude to those bodysoul workers and healing places that supported my healing and expansion: Sandra Finkelman, Marika Pollak, Marilyn Morinis, Jim Bean and Beverly Yates, Dr. Christopher Hassel, Janice Greene, Rainah, Cora, Kathleen Mckay, Barb Towns (and her band of renown), Ruth Whalen, Laurie Ward, Lindsey Syred, Meenakshi, Esther Myers, Blake Carter, Katharine Beet (Yoga Space, Toronto), Angie Toccalino, Sarah Tomlinson, BarnCat, Downward Dog Yoga (Toronto), Jivamukti Yoga (Toronto), Rosa Laborde, Ramona Ng, the Kid, Redpaw Data Services, Yellow Brick Road, Deanna Villa, Diane Gordon, Clinic I Need, Barb Dewar, Suzuki Shiatsu, Anne Harris, Odette Schywiola, Jennifer and Chris Italiano and everyone at Live Health Cafe (Toronto), Christine Matheson, Fresh Restaurants (Toronto), Omega Institute (Rhinebeck, NY), Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts, Harbin Hot Springs, Samasati Nature Retreat, Saybrook Graduate School.

Gratitude to those soul blazers and champions who have touched and elevated my journey, reminding me of what I inherently knew all along: Rumi, Ram Dass, Alexander Lowen, Seane Corn, Coleman Barks, Robert Augustus Masters, Eddie Greenspan, Oprah Winfrey, Jean Houston, Jeanne Achterberg, Bhagavan Das, Anodea Judith, Sean and Robin Wright Penn, JFK, Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack (for Serendipity), David Wolfe, George Kaufman, Deva Premal and Miten, Amma, John Wayne, Natalie Portman, Penelope Cruz, Mary Oliver, John Pierrakos, Stan Lee, Wah, Nelson Mandela, Ron Kurtz, Krishna Das, Rocky Balboa, Drew Barrymore, Chantal Kreviazuk, James Hillman, Thomas Moore, Van Morrison, Abraham Maslow, Seabiscuit, Christopher Cross, Wayne Gretzky, Muhammad Ali, Terry Hunt, Forest Whitaker, Jessica Lange, Jack Kornfield, Stanislav Grof, Steve Carter, Captain America, James Taylor, Yvan Cournoyer, Guy Lafleur, Neem Karoli Baba, Cinderella Man.

Gratitude to dear friends and seeming strangers that helped to keep this book-writing expedition afloat by word or deed: Granny Franny, Elizabeth Lesser, General Scribbles, Michael Payer, Kathryn Graham Wilson, Spicy, Jeffrey Abrams, (Auntie) Corrine Wilks, Kathryn Bint, Glen Newbury, The Open Heart Gang, Maggie Zellner, Edna Khubyar, editors RonniLyn Pustil, Catherine Dees, Diane Darling and the brilliant David Ord, Jean Christian, Sharon Sephton, Nancy Loucks-McSloy, Oliver Kinghorn, Alexander K. Rai, Tena Moore, Ken Preston, Tony Everest, Uncle Joe Perlove, Sophie Brown, the customers of Academic Glass Ltd., Kay Wong, Gilligan, Roberto Diamanti, Rachel Larabee, Faith Davis, Jongrok Choi, Jessica Weiser, Warren Sheffer, T. Wally, John and Jack A. Armstrong, M.J. Bogatin, Ethan Dann, Coach House Press, Monte Gagne, cousin Rocky Polson, Naomi Lir, Angela Spagnuolo, Yumee Chung, Sharon and Gordon Resnick, Swaha, Jennifer Berezan, Wade Imrie Morissette, Wah, Lama Gyurme, Aeoliah, Snatam Kaur Khalsa, Zoey Shamai, Larry Back, Carmella Hatter, Joey Rappaport, that homeless woman on St. Clair Avenue who told me I had it in me when I looked downtrodden, Auntie Annie and Uncle Manny Perlove, Jerry Gladman, you.

Many thanks to Peter Beren and Mark Ouimet for supporting my work and landing me in the right hands. And profound gratitude to the lovely people at North Atlantic Books (Richard, Emily, Jon, Kathy, Susan, Sarah et al.) and Random House, for giving Soulshaping a larger set of wings and a better chance to fly.

Profound gratitude to my niece, Naomi Lir. So grateful that your warrior spirit overcame the obstacles and that you found your way back into my life. I honor your brilliance and your faith in this challenging but ultimately delicious human dance.

Hugs of gratitude to my spirit kid, Vanessa (Hot Tamale) Lees, for always reminding me that I am needed for what I bring. Your courageous insistence on living from your heart always brings me back to my own. May you love yourself, as Ragus loves you. Rave on, Tamale, rave on.…

Profound gratitude to Tarini Bresgi, master of the subtle realms, courageous path-traveler. Despite the challenges we have faced, we continue to do God’s work, in one form or another. Your contribution to Soulshaping has impacted on so many lives already. I bow to your determination and courageous willingness to seek the needle of truth in an often confusing karmic haystack.

Boundless gratitude to Zeydl Hemrend, the greatest friend this soul could ever hope for, whose unwavering love and patience keeps my sails aloft on this often-hazardous ocean of meaning. Without your divine wisdom and support, Soulshaping might well have sunk to the bottom of that ocean, perhaps never to be seen again. Let’s keep moving, Bauble. Let’s keep shaping our souls.

Eternal gratitude to my grandparents, Bubbi and Beela Perlove. Bringers of the light, you stood beside me, in front of me, and within me every step of the way. I continue to inhale all the love you left behind. When I lose my way, I take a big breath of you, and the path becomes clear. You are forever woven into the seams of my soul. I felt you the other day, when that truck almost hit me, and suddenly diverted. You have been busy these last years, holding me safe.

A former criminal lawyer and psychotherapist, Jeff Brown is the author of "Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation," recently published by North Atlantic Books. Endorsed by authors Elizabeth Lesser and Ram Dass, "Soulshaping" is Brown's autobiography -- an inner travelogue of his journey from archetypal male warrior to a more surrendered path. You can connect with his work at www.soulshaping.com

HUMANIFESTO by Jeff Brown

Jeff Brown is a multi-faceted gemstone....during 

these challenging times, he helps us to focus on 

what is REALLY important.  I say, 

"He helps...", because the impulse must begin 

with us.  I believe that if you examine his site, you 

will be captivated by his depth and perspectives.

At the heart of the SOULSHAPING philosophy is the belief that every individual came into this life with divine purpose, however humble it may outwardly appear.We are not random concentrations of stardust, nor are we accidental tourists. We are divinely inspired, purposeful, and essential to the dance of sacred imagination that is this life. Satisfying our purpose is entirely dependent on our ability to recognize and honor our soul-scriptures for this lifetime. Our soul-scriptures are the unique combination of experiences, callings and archetypal pathways that live at the heart of our transformation. They are the lessons we came here to learn, the soulshape we are here to grow into. When we embody our scriptures, we expand our soul one step closer to wholeness.

We made it through because we are needed here. We are each here to participate in this sacred dance, stepping on each other’s toes and turning each other toward God one clumsy step after another. Although the ultimate romance is with your own soul, it is our experiences together that give birth to the essential lessons. Every soul-scripture is a buried treasure, essential to the advancement of the collective soul. If we get off the dance floor, we postpone others’ lessons too.

Through this lens, we endeavour to make the presumption of essence in those we encounter. We look beyond the disguises and defenses, and honor the precious being living at the core. Rather than judging our seeming differences, we celebrate them as archetypal way-stations, unique and essential learning posts on the path to wholeness. There is a place for everyone on the trailways of transformation, in every soulshape, at every stage of karmic expansion.

Standing in our way are many factors that blind us to who we really are. They include our adaptations and disguises, unresolved emotions, misguided self-concepts, patterns of self-distraction. They also include external influences: an over-stimulating culture, economic reality, others’ opinions, the weight of the world. There can be a lot in the way. We have to be realistic about this, otherwise our spirituality will be ungrounded and our moments of ascension soon followed by a harsh thud on Mother Earth. We need to ascend with both feet on the ground, with one eye on the sky and another on the earth. From sole to soul.

It is my mission to help others identify and clear the obstructions in their way. It is my mission to remind others of their inherent magnificence and encourage them in the direction of their true-path. It is my mission to invite others to trust their truth-aches, excavate their soul-scriptures, answer the soulular phone whenever it rings. It is my mission to use my gifts as fodder for the mill of human expansion, to provide karmic nourishment to those who have momentarily forgotten their significance.

If my time at the School of Heart Knocks (the school of life) has taught me one thing, it is that we are so much more than we know. How small we sometimes imagine ourselves, how quickly we hide our light under a bushel of shame. Yet beyond the echo of our egoic distortions lives a bounty of wonder. We are each so brilliant, so gifted, libraries of unlimited possibility, soul-scriptures waiting for us on every inner shelf. Our divine purpose may be hidden from view, it may be covered in dust, but its’ still in there, sparkling with infinite possibility. We may have to work hard to bring it to light (divine perspiration!), but we must never lose faith in our brilliance, no matter what the world sends our way. When you are ready, look inside and your magnificence will rise to the surface on the wings of the inner dove. I tell you, it’s that close…

After years spent traveling on the pathways of self-avoidance, I am delighted to be embodying and humanifesting my divine purpose. If my work can help to remind you of your own, then I have lived well. I am grateful for the opportunity.

A former criminal lawyer and psychotherapist, Jeff Brown is the author of "Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation," recently published by North Atlantic Books. Endorsed by authors Elizabeth Lesser and Ram Dass, "Soulshaping" is Brown's autobiography -- an inner travelogue of his journey from archetypal male warrior to a more surrendered path. You can connect with his work at www.soulshaping.com

How OWS woke up our civil society

The horrific treatment of protesters shows how "free speech" is now reserved for corporations and the wealthy....

CLICK TO READ: How OWS woke up our civil society

Pay Attention: How Big Pharma Contrived the Great American Adderall Drought

During the Great Ritalin Scare of 1993, shortages prompted thousands to switch to Adderall. Now, Shire is contriving an Adderall drought to convert patients to a new ADD drug.....

CLICK HERE: Pay Attention: How Big Pharma Contrived the Great American Adderall Drought | Drugs | AlterNet

Pay Attention: Big Pharma Crafted the Great American Adderall Drought

During the Great Ritalin Scare of 1993, shortages prompted thousands to switch to Adderall. Now, Shire is contriving an Adderall drought to convert patients to a new ADD drug....

CLICK HERE TO READ: Pay Attention: Big Pharma Crafted the Great American Adderall Drought | Drugs | AlterNet

Why are Right-Wing Christians Obsessed with Paranoid Notions of Liberal Politicians as the Antichrist? | | AlterNet

Alleged would-be presidential assassin Ortega-Hernandez reportedly called Obama 'the Antichrist'. So who put that idea in his head?  (Click link below to read....)

CLICK HERE TO READ: Why are Right-Wing Christians Obsessed with Paranoid Notions of Liberal Politicians as the Antichrist? | | AlterNet

It's Morally Indefensible and They Know It!

CLICK HERE TO READ EXCELLENT ARTICLE!

Penn State and the Culture of Rape | AlterNet

In May of 2009, as President Barack Obama prepared to replace retiring Justice Anthony Souter on the Supreme Court, he let something terrible slip–something that could threaten the very fabric of our civilization! He would try and pick a new judge for our highest court that possessed “empathy,” or the ability to identify “with people’s hopes and struggles” when making decisions that would intimately affect their lives.

CLICK HERE TO READ: Penn State and the Culture of Rape

Mc Donald's Cruelty: The Rotten Truth About Egg McMuffins / You Tube

See this link at Huffington Post for more details:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/mcdonalds-animal-cruelty_n_1101519.html

Daughters Too Benefit from Influence of Good Dads | Womens eNews

By Peggy Drexler

WeNews guest author
from:

Sunday, June 19, 2011

When Peggy Drexler's daughter went to work with her husband at his clothing retailer, she saw how it transformed her. In this Father's Day excerpt from her book "Our Fathers, Ourselves," Drexler raises questions about the influence fathers may have on their daughters......

CLICK HERE TO READ: Daughters Too Benefit from Influence of Good Dads | Womens eNews

Shocking Video of Second Iraq War Vet Wounded by Oakland Police | AlterNet

This video displays nearly diabolical and provocative treatment by the police in Oakland. I can only hope this vet sues, and settles big!!!!  Hopefully, they are put on unpaid leave, and are raked over by Oakland PD IA!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH: Shocking Video of Second Iraq War Vet Wounded by Oakland Police | AlterNet

Verizon Pays a Negative Federal Income Tax Rate, Then Pursues More Tax Breaks | AlterNet

CLICK HERE TO READ "HEAD-SHAKING" REPORT!!!!!!

Heavy Meth Use Linked to Schizophrenia: MedlinePlus

Researchers say the drug may trigger the mental disorder in susceptible people......

By Robert Preidt

Thursday, November 10, 2011

CLICK HERE TO READ: Heavy Meth Use Linked to Schizophrenia: MedlinePlus

What's Romney Hiding? Investigation Finds Staffers Destroyed Emails, Covered Digital Tracks....What's going on?????

Somehow there is no record of emails from Romney's office during 2002 to 2206........

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING: What's Romney Hiding? Investigation Finds Staffers Destroyed Emails, Covered Digital Tracks | News & Politics | AlterNet

The Great GOP Primary Crash and Burn: 5 Republican Would-Be Saviors Flame Out in Hilarious Ways

The GOP's "anyone but Romney" strategy has backfired......

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING: The Great GOP Primary Crash and Burn: 5 Republican Would-Be Saviors Flame Out in Hilarious Ways | News & Politics | AlterNet

What to Make of New Polling on Support for the Occupy Movement? | Occupy Wall Street | AlterNet

Americans have a long tradition of holding protesters in disdain, even when they are later proven to be on the right side of history.....

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE......

OCCUPY WALL STREET ANTHEM: "I AM the 99"

"WE ARE THE MANY!" by Makana...WONDERFUL!!!!

Makana Sings at Occupy Honolulu Encampment

By Sanjeev Ranabhat 11/16/2011

Sanjeev Ranabhat, Special to Civil Beat

Makana, the local singer whose pro-Occupy protest song before world leaders at an APEC dinner becameglobal news, performed at the Occupy Honolulu encampment Tuesday evening.

About 60 people, including a few children, gathered to listen to Makana’s renowned protest song, “We are the Many.”

Occupy Honolulu protesters said they were inspired by Makana’s song and called him a hero.

The song has more than 130,000 views and thousands of comments on YouTube. The song has already been translated into many foreign languages, Makana said. He said he's overwhelmed by the response, and happy he's been able to inspire people with his song.

His song is below....to read the entire article from Honolulu Civil Beat, go to this link:

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/16/13907-makana-sings-at-occupy-honolulu-encampment/

6 Burning Questions About the Violent Crackdowns on Occupations Around the Country | Occupy Wall Street | AlterNet

In the aftermath of a city-by-city crackdown featuring hundreds of arrests and evictions of Occupy encampments, plenty of questions demand answers.

CLICK TO READ THE DISTURBING ELEMENTS......

How Conservatives Exploit the Myth of "Wealthy Elderly" to Justify Gutting Social Security | | AlterNet

Right-wingers somehow think that seniors with incomes under $30,000 a year must sacrifice to balance the budget....

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING ARTICLE........

What Is The Most Important Message Women Need To Send To Our Politicians?

CLICK HERE TO SEE MESSAGE........


FROM MOVEON.ORG

Open Letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York by Kevin Powell

It is my honor to post a letter from Mr. Kevin Powell to Mayor Bloomberg....... NOTE: This blog can also be found at http://www.kevinpowell.net/blog/2011/11/open-letter-to-mayor-michael-bloomberg-of-new-york/ Open Letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York by Kevin Powell Tuesday, November 15, 2011 Dear Mayor Bloomberg: I was awakened in the wee hours of this morning by texts and calls from friends and associates distraught that Occupy Wall Street protestors were being forcibly removed from Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan. Even more troubling is that you chose to make a mockery of the First Amendment of our United States Constitution by not only evicting the peaceful activists, but also by blocking media outlets from recording the police raid. This is America, Mr. Bloomberg, a nation that through much effort, tears, blood, and, yes, deaths, has evolved from a slaveholding country that also destroyed much of Native American culture, to one where women, people of color, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, the physically challenged, Jews, Muslims, White ethnics from places like Ireland and Italy, and so many others have been able to gain some measure of freedom and democracy. We are not the nation we ought to be, yet, but we are also not the nation we once were, either. We do that history, and ourselves, a great disservice when we in leadership positions resort to tactics used to deny freedom and democracy, in the old America of Jim Crow laws, in the old South Africa of apartheid. As I watched the amateur video made of the raid online this morning, I got very choked up. I am a big supporter of Occupy Wall Street because it speaks directly to my history as a Black person in America. The occupation is nothing more than the bus boycotts, freedom rides, and sit-ins of the Civil Rights era. The nonviolent approach harkens back to the principles of Dr. King, borrowed, of course, from the great Indian leader Gandhi. The use of technology to spread the Occupy Wall Street messages is no different than how W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, and other visionaries used the media at their disposal in their day to communicate with the masses. So when we choose to walk down the path of repression, of removing and silencing those who would speak out, Mr. Mayor, we are saying that we are choosing to be on the wrong side of history. That we are choosing to be in bed with the devil, instead of on the side of God, of the noble promises of our America. As I said, I am a supporter of the Occupy Wall Street movement, here in New York City, and across America. I have been a part of many rallies and marches the past two months. I have spent much time talking and listening to participants, at Zuccotti Park, at planning meetings, and in private one-on-one sessions with some of the leadership. They are mostly good and decent Americans and I have not witnessed a movement like this since the anti-apartheid protests of the 1980s when I was a college student. It is the same energy, the same sense of purpose, and the same fire-in-belly belief that what they are doing is right. They are not anti-American. They are not anti-business. They are not anti-wealthy folks. They are not anti-police. They are not anti-you, Mr. Mayor. They, we, merely want to see our nation be a place where people, regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, or educational level can have an opportunity to have an opportunity; to not struggle to get or keep a job or career; to not struggle to pay for an education which should be our birthright; to not suffer through housing woes, including foreclosures; to not have to spend our entire lives in debt, broke, or broken spiritually and emotionally because of our finances. But what message are we sending, Mayor Bloomberg, when we come like the thief in the night to remove people by extreme force? What message are we sending when we inhumanly destroy a community built to show what democracy can look like in our era? How condescending and nearsighted are we to state these people are dirty and unfocused, that they somehow are more of a public nuisance than certain banks and corporations that have wrecked the lives of so many Americans? How arrogant are we to assume, just because we may have a certain financial background, status, or title, to think we are above relearning lessons of democracy at various points in our American lives? And how can we ever again say it was not right for militaries in Middle Eastern and North African nations to crack down on the democracies there, then we turn around and do the same on our own shores, only months later, and to our own children, to our own people? Mayor Bloomberg, you said on your weekly radio show, several weeks ago, that it was inevitable for Americans to take to the streets because of the state of our economy. But is the solution to beat these people back with batons and gloved fists, or is the solution to listen to their voices, hear their concerns, and figure out a way, together, for us as a people, all people, to transform America for these times and beyond? I know somewhere in your person, Mayor Bloomberg, you have a soul and a moral conscience. You are going to have to ask yourself, billionaire or not, mayor of New York City or not, whose side you are on, because the Occupy Wall Street movement is here to stay, and will only get bigger and stronger when leaders like you attack the protestors, as you've done. Justice, Mr. Bloomberg, is not on the side of those who would misuse and abuse their power. Justice is, forever, on the side of those who would even sacrifice their own bodies because they believe so deeply in their cause. Those are the kind of people and the kind of Americans I stand with, Mayor Bloomberg. Those are the kind of people I know, from their tents, blankets, and makeshift occupied communities, will do for America exactly what those Civil Rights workers did with their shoes, overalls, songs of freedom, and voter registration cards a generation ago. And so it shall be, and so it shall be- Respectfully, Kevin Powell Kevin Powell is an activist, public speaker, and author or editor of 10 books. His 11th book, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and The Ghost of Dr. King: And Other Blogs and Essays, will be published by lulu.com  in January 2012. You can reach him at kevin@kevinpowell.net, or follow him on Twitter @kevin_powell

Michael Stone: Love and Shadow in the Occupy Movement....excellent!

Here is a burst of optimism from a spiritual perspective about what the Occupy movement can accomplish.

Michael Stone (psychotherapist, yoga teacher, Buddhist teacher, author and activist) talks about the powerful shift that this movement is trying to re-imagine in our world.

It goes beyond corruption on Wall Street….......


CLICK HERE FOR...excellent BRIEF VIDEO: Michael Stone: Love and Shadow in the Occupy Movement

"The Four Agreements" /Don Miguel Ruiz/You Tube

This video is accompanied by the music of Enigma, one of my favorite groups.  The song is, "Return to Innocence".  The time is NOW!!!  Only LOVE prevails.......

Problem Solving EFT Ho'oponopono Guided Meditation/ YouTube

The Shift to Unconditional Love

Penn State Grad: “I have fully lost faith in the leadership of my parents’ generation”

When I read this article, I was aware that I am of the generation of this young person's parents  ..... and I am in complete agreement with him.


The Penn State scandal comes on top of a total breakdown in ethics and accountability in government and beyond. A Penn State grad and member of Sandusky's foundation discusses his generation's loss of faith in his parents' generation.........

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.... | AlterNet

Obama: Kids Stuck in Foster Care Due to Deportation a “Real Problem”

From Alternet:

In a briefing last week, President Obama directly acknowledged that his administration’s immigration enforcement practices break up families.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE:

5 Hilarious Parodies of the Current Presidential Candidates | | AlterNet

The best spoofs include Tim Heidecker's "Cain Train," the Second City on Michele Bachmann, and of course, Baracka Flocka Flame.

CLICK HERE for: 5 Hilarious Parodies of the Current Presidential Candidates

A MUST READ article from Kevin Powell! "Joe Paterno, Herman Cain, Men, Sex and Power"

Kevin Powell: Joe Paterno, Herman Cain, Men, Sex, and Power

Joe Paterno, Herman Cain, Men, Sex, and Power
by Kevin Powell | special to NewBlackMan

Joe Paterno. Herman Cain. Penn State football. Presidential campaigns. Men. Sex. Power. Women. Harassed. Children. Abused.

These are some of the hash tags that have tweeted through my mind nonstop, these past several days, as multiple sexual harassment charges have been hurled at Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain; as Jerry Sandusky, former defensive coordinator for Penn State's storied football program, was arrested on 40 counts related to allegations of sexual abuse of eight young boys over a 15-year period. Sandusky's alleged indiscretions have not only brought back very ugly and unsettling memories of the Catholic Church sexual abuse mania a few short years ago, but has led to the firing of legendary coach Joe Paterno and Penn State president Graham Spanier, plus the indictments of athletic director Tim Curley and a vice president, Gary Schultz, for failing to report a grad assistant's eyewitness account of Sandusky allegedly having anal sex with a ten-year-old boy in a shower on the university's campus in 2002.

In the matter of Mr. Herman Cain I cringed, to be blunt, as I watched his press conference this week denying accusations of sexual harassment against him, which has swelled to four different women, two identified and two anonymous, for now. I was not there, so I don't know, only he and the women know the truth. But what was telling in Mr. Cain's remarks is that he was visibly defensive and defiant, rambled quite a bit about the media's smear campaign and, most curious, only once mentioned sexual harassment as a major problem in America, and it was just one quick, passing sentence. Then he went back to discussing himself, which he is particularly adept at doing.

What Herman Cain and the disgraced male leaders of Penn State have in common is the issue of power and privilege we men not only wield like our birthright, but which has come to be so inextricably linked to our identities. So much so, in fact, that many of us, regardless of race, class, religion and, in some cases, even sexual orientation or physical abilities, don't even realize what a disaster manhood is when it is unapologetically invested in power, privilege, patriarchy, sexism, and a reckless disregard for the safety and sanity of others, especially women and children.

Every single year, it seems, some well-known man somewhere gets into trouble because of sex, money, drugs, or violence, or some combination thereof (and God only knows how many unknown males do likewise). It is always the same themes, just with a new cast of characters. Yesterday it was priests of the Catholic Church. Today it is the male leadership of Penn State. Yesterday it was Anthony Weiner and Charlie Sheen. Today it is Herman Cain. I remember earlier this year, in fact, in the wake of Mr. Weiner's sudden and rapid fall from grace, a report was published that said over 90 percent of sex scandals in America feature us men as the culprits. That very few women engage in that mode of self-destructive behavior.

The question begs itself: Why not? I feel it has to do with how we construct manhood from birth. Most of us boys are taught, basically from the time we can talk and walk, to be strong, tough, loud, dominating, aggressive, and, yes, even violent, even if that violence is masked in tales of war or Saturday afternoon college football games. Without anything to counteract that mindset like, say, that it is okay for boys and men to tell the truth, to show raw emotions and vulnerability, to cry, to view girls and women as our equals on every level, we are left with so many of us, far into adulthood, as fully formed physically but incredibly undeveloped emotionally. And if you are a male who happens to have been sexually assaulted or abused yourself, and never got any real help in any form, highly likely you will at some point become a sexual predator yourself. And if you are a man who still thinks we are in pre-feminist movement America where it was once okay to, well, touch, massage, or caress a female colleague inappropriately, to talk sex to her, as she is either working for you or attempting to secure a job (and has not given you permission to do so), then you are also likely to be the kind of male who will deny any of it ever happened. Again and again and again-

The bottom line is that our notions of manhood are totally and embarrassingly out of control, and some of us have got to stand up and say enough, that we've got to redefine what it is to be a man, even as we, myself included, are unfailingly forthright about our shortcomings and our failures as men, and how some of us have even engaged in the behaviors splashed across the national news this year alone.
 
But to get to that new kind of manhood means we've got to really dig into our souls and admit the old ways are not only not working, but they are so painfully hurtful to women, to children, to communities, businesses, institutions, and government, to sport and play, and to ourselves. Looking in the mirror is never easy but if not now, when? And if not us in these times, then we can surely expect the vicious cycles of manhood gone mad to continue for generations to come, as evidenced by a recent report in the New York Times of a steadily climbing number of American teen boys already engaging in lewd sexual conduct toward girls. Where are these boys learning these attitudes if not from the men around them, in person, in the media, on television and in film, in video games, or from their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, older brothers, teachers, and, yes, coaches?

For sure, nothing sadder and more tragic than to see 84-year-old Coach Joe Paterno, who I've admired since I was a child, throwing away 46 years of coaching heroism and worship (and 62 total years on the school's football staff) because the power, glory, and symbolism of Penn State football was above protecting the boys allegedly touched and molested by Sandusky. Equally sad and tragic when Mr. Cain's supporters are quick to call what is happening to him a lynching when this man, this Black man, has never been tarred and feathered, never been hung from a tree, never had his testicles cut from his body, never been set on fire, as many Black men were, in America, in the days when lynching was as big a national sport as college football is today. Anything, it seems, to refute the very graphic and detailed stories of the women accusing Mr. Cain of profoundly wrong, unprofessional, and inhuman conduct.

But, as I stated, when our sense of manhood has gone mad, completely mad, anything goes, and anything will be said (or nothing said at all), or done, to protect the guilty, at the expense of the innocent. We've got to do better than this, gentlemen, brothers, boys, for the sake of ourselves, for the sake of our nation and our world. It was Albert Einstein who famously stated that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Then insanity may also mean men and boys doing the same things over and over again, for the sake of warped and damaged manhood, and expecting forward progress to happen, but then it all crumbles, once more, in a heap of facts, finger-pointing, and forgetful memories when convenient.

If any good can come of the Cain and Penn State disasters it is my sincere hope that spaces and movements are created, finally, where we men can really begin to rethink what manhood can be, what manhood might be. Manhood that is not about power, privilege, and the almighty penis, but instead rooted in a sense of humanity, in peace, in love, in nonviolence, in honesty and transparency, in constant self-criticism and self-reflection, and in respect and honor of women and girls, again, as our equals; in spaces and movements where men and boys who might not be hyper-macho and sports fanatics like some us are not treated as outcasts, as freaks, as less than men or boys. A manhood where if we see something bad happening, we say something, and not simply stick our heads in the sand and pretend that something did not happen. Or worse, yet, do something wrong ourselves, and when confronted with that wrongness, rather than confess, acknowledge, grow, heal, evolve, we instead dig in our heels and imagine ourselves in an all-out war, proclaiming our innocence to any who will listen, even as truth grows, like tall and daunting trees in a distant and darkened woods, about us.

A manhood, alas, where we men and boys understand that we must be allies to women and girls, allies to all children, and be much louder, visible, and outspoken about sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse and molestation. Knowing that if we are on the frontlines of these human tragedies then we can surely help to make them end once and for all, for the good of us all.

That means time for some of us to grow, and to grow up. Time for some of us to let go of the ego trips and the pissing contests to protect bruised and battered egos of boys masquerading as men. Before it is too late, before some of us hurt more women, more children, and more of ourselves, yet again-

***

Kevin Powell is an activist, public speaker, and author or editor of 10 books. His 11th book,Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and The Ghost of Dr. King: And Other Blogs and Essays, will be published by lulu.com in January 2012. You can reach him at kevin@kevinpowell.net, or follow him on Twitter @kevin_powell

What Do Herman Cain and Joe Paterno Have in Common? | AlterNet

I don’t give a damn about football.

I don’t care about Joe Paterno or his precious legacy as the winningest coach in Division I history. That he espoused honor and scholarship to his players, put Pennsylvania State University on the national map, made the school $52.3 million, or meant a lot to the 4,000morally deficient cult members students who literally rioted after the 84-year-old was fired for looking the other way while his defensive coordinator, Gerald “Jerry” Sandusky, allegedly raped, sodomized, fondled and manipulated young, poor boys under the guise of charity. 

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THIS BEVY OF SOCIOPATHS....

Well...THIS should go well!!! :-(

A Wall Street Journal article announces:

Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier will chair Penn State’s special investigation committee charged with investigating the “failures” that occurred at the school surrounding sexual abuse allegations against a former football coach.

Maybe it's just me, but a Harvard-educated attorney, who is the CEO of a Big Pharma company, and a Trustee of Penn State University?  I don't know but does anyone smell conflict of interest and a con-job coming??

My judgement is premature, of course, but....I'm just sayin'...........

The silver lining? If there can even be a silver lining to a sociopath repeatedly raping 10-year-old boys, while the 'boy's club' stands by with impotence (no pun intended...well, sort of....), this point is clear.  Between the Catholic church, and Penn State ... it is amazing to me how much the rape of males is given so much more attention than the rape of females and all those children and females in the sex trade industry.  Perhaps all will benefit from such scrutiny.  One can only hope our collective souls focus on the energy which seems so focused on violence to our children, and each other.

This article, by Katherine Hobson, from the Wall Street Journal is laced with "public relations", and the evolution of acts which had their genisis in something so dark....so evil....and the recurrent theme of sweeping the "nasty" under the carpet:

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2011/11/11/mercks-kenneth-frazier-no-stranger-to-public-debacles-heads-up-penn-state-investigation/?mod=google_news_blog

A Reminder for the Media: Sex Scandal, Sexual Assault, and Sexual Harassment Are Not Interchangeable Terms

From Alternet:


The recent accusations against Herman Cain gave us reason to remind the mainstream media of the differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Daniel Denvir writes:

TO CONTINUE READING, CLICK HERE:

What If The Country Isn't Really Broke??????

CLICK HERE, and see what you think.....

A Reminder, Ignored.......

The Sun Magazine | Last Night I Drove My Son Home

CLICK to read this wonderful story!

Rioting Penn State Students: "Sure, Children Were Raped -- But What About Our Football?!"

Sure, children were raped, but...

Football!

Seriously, Penn State students who are rioting because the board of trustees fired a man who helped cover up serial child molestation? You all should be ashamed. And if the comments on your school’sfacebook page are any indication of the level of intellectual discourse (and basic spelling and grammar skills) you’ve got going on over there, I would suggest you spend more time hitting the books and less time bleating about how Joe Paterno is a victim, too......

Click here to continue reading: Rioting Penn State Students: "Sure, Children Were Raped -- But What About Our Football?!" | AlterNet

3 Ways Elites Rig the System | Economy | AlterNet

From low capital gains taxes to stock buy-backs, here are the ways the elites ensure the markets benefit them......

CLICK TO CONTINUE READING....3 Ways Elites Rig the System | Economy | AlterNet

Why Bank Transfer Day (Today) Is Only the Beginning of Something Huge

The movement to make sure our money serves our own values rather than the bottom line of huge banks will only gain energy as small victories accumulate.

CLICK TO READ: Why Bank Transfer Day (Today) Is Only the Beginning of Something Huge | | AlterNet

Some Asthma Drugs Kill More People Than Asthma: Why Is Big Pharma Allowed to Hawk Deadly Pills?

CLICK TO READ: Some Asthma Drugs Kill More People Than Asthma: Why Is Big Pharma Allowed to Hawk Deadly Pills? | Personal Health | AlterNet

Extreme Poverty Is Now at Record Levels -- 19 Statistics About the Poor That Will Absolutely Astound You | | AlterNet

In 2010, we were told that the economy was recovering, but the truth is that the number of the "very poor" soared to heights never seen previously.

CLICK HERE TO READ: Extreme Poverty Is Now at Record Levels -- 19 Statistics About the Poor That Will Absolutely Astound You | | AlterNet

Beating Babies in the Name of Jesus? The Shady World of Right-Wing 'Discipline' Guides | Belief | AlterNet

There is a brutal movement in America that legitimizes child abuse in the name of God........

Click here to read article.....

Noam Chomsky Speaks to Occupy: If We Want a Chance at a Decent Future, the Movement Here and Around the World Must Grow / AlterNet

In a speech to Occupy Boston, the linguist and icon hailed the "unprecedented" first weeks of OWS. He cautioned protesters to build and educate first, strike later.....

Click here to continue reading.........

Character / Helen Keller

The Four Agreements