This Is Real Freedom

                                 THIS IS WATER  from The Glossary on Vimeo.

Learn more about the late David Foster Wallace

Bonne Chance, Justin

All the best to new Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.  

For anyone who doesn't follow Canadian history Justin's father  Pierre Trudeau was the 15th Prime Minister, and the elder Trudeau was a very pivotal political figure for Canada.  As much as he is respected and championed for adding The Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the Canadian Constitution, he is still vehemently hated in pockets across the western provinces related to distribution of oil wealth, and perceived favoritism towards eastern Canada.  Not surprisingly, this is the first ghost of the past the Conservatives hope to resurrect to taint his son's reputation. 

At the outset of his decision to run for Liberal Party leadership, Justin spoke out early regarding the anticipated attacks from the conservatives:

"I am quite confident that what I’ve heard from Canadians across this country about people being tired of negativity, of bullying, of cynicism means that the Conservatives are going to discover that the one thing they know how to do really well is no longer working for them."

True to his prediction it's hard to believe this ad can be produced and endorsed with a straight face by the Conservative party.  The Harper Conservative public relations team isn't just known for bullying and negativity (see the scandal they roused about Jack Layton's time in a massage parlour 15 years ago, for which he wasn't even charged)  they will use any red herring of information they think they can manage to spin into doubt.     

The soundbite in the ad about people from Quebec being "better" is weak at best, and really closer to pointless at this stage in his candidacy.  Most Candians know all about provincial pride from British Columbia, Alberta to the Maritimes, and even if it's equally painful to listen to, they agree it's usually good natured rivalry.  I don't think the majority of reasonable voters would allow a comment like that in a casual interview to entirely discount Mr. Trudeau's character.   This first round is only minor damage, but the new Liberal leader is up against a formidable opponent in Stephen Harper, whose greatest strength is often how unapologetically stealthy he can be .

Justin's worst crime can only be his age and inexperience, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still have the ability to push a minority Conservative government in the next election.   He may have learned volumes from his father, but it also seems that he is tapping into some of indomitable optimistic spirit that Jack Layton used to connect so profoundly with the Canadian public and topple the Liberals into third party status.  

It seems after so long under the fear-mongering, dour and awkward Harper government the electorate has become much more open to someone like Trudeau.  Many are still rightly wary of nepotism, yet a new party leader deserves room to prove himself.  Besides, who can really hate the idea of a schoolteacher having a chance to become Prime Minister? 

For more information, this article from CBC covers pretty much everything on how the new leader is handling his post. 

*Thanks also Monsieur Robert DeGruchy, a brilliant cartoonist and rabid Habs fan.  

Playing Cards

Foxy Ace of Spades by Skia

Mathiole's Ace of Wands 

A true Queen of Hearts by NoahW

Ner-Tamin presents the Wonder Tarot

History Repeating

Using the statistics from the beginning of the clip, that would bring the total to nearly over 300,000 Iraqis killed between The Gulf War and the Iraq War.  This does not account for what might be 500,000 to 1 million more who died as a result of sanctions imposed on Iraq by the United Nations over the course of 10 years until 2001.  These sanctions were justified in the name of minimising Iraq's ability to produce weapons of mass destruction.  We know now that Iraq had no WMDS, but it's also been speculated that ultimately the United States and UK continued to support the sanctions to incite regime change.  

Half of April 2013 alone recorded over 150 civilian casualties. 
As of February 2013  6, 648 US service members have died as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After 10 years, many powerful images have been captured of Iraq following the invasion. 

 I implore you to imagine yourself or your children in the place of any Iraqi or allied soldier. These are the numbers in your newscast.  

A wounded 4 year old Iraqi girl (March 29th, 2003) had been screaming for her dead mother while her father begged to be freed from plastic cuffs so he attend to his terrified daughter 

- The Atlantic (Reuters Damir Sagolj)   

Samar Hassan covered in her parents blood after American soldiers opened fire on her family's van in January 2005.  Sadly, photographer Chris Hondros died in Misurata, Libya in April 2011.    

Six years later, Samar still lives in Iraq with relatives.  

Other photo collections documenting the war from 2003 - 2013

Warning - Graphic Content

Reuters Slideshow 

The Atlantic

Buzzfeed

Photos from the abuse of detainees Abu Ghraib.

"I didn't think of Iraqis as humans. . ." 

Pin-Up Boys

Photographer Rion Sabean exposes our discomfort with gender swapping using classic pin-up poses.  The results are hilarious and thought provoking.

There are plenty more clever takes on the theme in the entire series. 

As reference, I stumbled across these via an article from Beauty Is Inside.

Caffeine and Crash Courses

John Green achieves a near perfect balance of fast-paced and funny delivery covering key points in the development of socialism and capitalism.  
Follow through to his youtube channel for more crash course. 

If you liked John's style you might also enjoy the rapid-fire explanations of CGP Grey

His talents are aptly demonstrated below, exposing all the reasons I'll never give up coffee.

Bradley Manning - After 1000 Days

A very short but well edited film by Laura Poitras and Jenny Perlin containing an excerpt from Bradley Manning's comments made in court regarding the reasons behind his leak of the Collateral Murder video.   Until these proceedings he has spent over 1000 days in prison.   In his full statement he talks about some of what he found in the the War Logs and the US embassy cables.   Prior to these statements public understanding of Manning's motives had been limited to  a conversation with a hacker he thought he could trust, which became the evidence that led to his arrest.

There are plenty who believe he deserves little more than severe punishment, there are also Nobel Prize Winners who wholeheartedly support him.  No matter how you judge his ethics and his actions, he has provided a window how war and world politics are conducted that is almost unprecedented.   

For full transcripts and other streaming audio visit Press Freedom Foundation.

Manning's entire statement:

Welcome To Scarfolk

I'd absolutely love to meet the proprietors and creators of the content at Scarfolk Council.  This begs to be made into a film or series (a Fallout kind of Wicker Man), maybe even a game?

My favourites below, and follow through at the end to do your own sightseeing. 

Visit Scarfolk Today!

    

Echoes

The secret of a full life is to live and relate to others as if they might not be there tomorrow, as if you might not be there tomorrow. It eliminates the vice of procrastination, the sin of postponement, failed communications, failed communions. This thought has made me more and more attentive to all encounters. meetings, introductions, which might contain the seed of depth that might be carelessly overlooked. 

This feeling has become a rarity, and rarer every day now that we have reached a hastier and more superficial rhythm, now that we believe we are in touch with a greater amount of people, more people, more countries. This is the illusion which might cheat us of being in touch deeply with the one breathing next to us. The dangerous time when mechanical voices, radios, telephones, take the place of human intimacies, and the concept of being in touch with millions brings a greater and greater poverty in intimacy and human vision.

Anais Nin

What about the main thing in life, all its riddles? If you want, I'll spell it out for you right now. Do not pursue what is illusionary -property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life -don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn for happiness; it is, after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing. 

It is enough if you don't freeze in the cold and if thirst and hunger don't claw at your insides. If your back isn't broken, if your feet can walk, if both arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if both ears hear, then whom should you envy? And why? Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub your eyes and purify your heart -and prize above all else in the world those who love you and who wish you well. Do not hurt them or scold them, and never part from any of them in anger; after all, you simply do not know: it may be your last act before your arrest, and that will be how you are imprinted on their memory. 

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Charles Bukowski

The Experiment Requires That You Continue

Skip to 0:55 for best results. 

Metaphysics Sampler

If you find the beginning a bit slow moving - have faith. It gets even more interesting at the 19:00 mark.  There's also some unexpectedly terrifying cornstarch in water at about 23 minutes in.  Why they chose that particular piano piece I can't imagine.

For a semi-narrative covering similar ideas: What the Bleep Do We Know?  

I know some of you would rather just listen - so if you've already covered Alan Watts, you might like Robert Anton Wilson.  

Chogyam Trungpa's cautionary essay for anyone who might be feeling a bit clever about their progress in meditation, their mastery of any spiritual practice, or personal philosophy.
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism 

SEED magazine explains how neuroscience is beginning to show support for many of Buddhism's tenets concerning the nature of mind.

No Phone

I was born in 1982, so I'm in the strange position of remembering what it was like living with just a landline phone, and yet still being young enough to have transitioned smoothly into the use of smartphones.  For most of my young adult life I was a poor student and could not justify owning even a basic mobile phone.   When I was 22 I still only had a voicemail on my home phone and if I wasn't there - you just couldn't reach me.

I think about how my boss(es) would call me in on short notice because someone had gotten sick or quit on the spot and I was guilt-tripped into coming in to cover for them because I had accidentally answered.   I lived a bit in fear of that ringing phone, but as long as I didn't pick it up during certain times of day then I was off the hook (no pun intended).  I was obviously not contactable and I was only forced to listen through a message which I could ignore.  I mean, I could be anywhere right?  Who was to know why there was no answer.  Certainly no one expected you to.  

Think about that for a moment.  In the late 90s and early 2000s even calls among friends were still a hopeful dial, not a sure thing.   Probably like many of you, by 2003 I was slowly bullied into getting a cell simply because everyone claimed I was aloof and un-contactable, and workplaces began exclusively requiring you to have a pager, if not a work mobile.   Today,  I have joined the growing majority who rely on their smartphone alone, and use their landline only for a speedy internet connection. 

Everyone knows that your phone is in your pocket or your purse,  usually checked every half-hour when not at work, but I'd guess you've probably got your personal mobile sitting next to your keyboard during the day.  Personal calls still ruffle office etiquette, but replying to personal texts is easily accepted.  If we are called on a day off,  a supervisor simply knows we are ignoring them (and may even draw conclusions about our lack of ambition and commitment) when calls go unanswered.  If you put them off long enough, maybe even on vacation, that frustration turns to worry.  Has there been an accident?   Are you out of range?  Does anyone have Jim or Jen's personal mobile - I mean... just to be sure they're ok?  

When I consider the multitude of social nuances in this new constantly connected environment, I find I'm quite literally despondent and frustrated.  I don't want to be concerned people in my life might take my radio silence personally.  If there are two immediate replies exchanged between friends, they may be anticipating another quick response (unless maybe you've had a sudden stroke in the two minutes between our texts) and find themselves waiting expectantly for an answer.  I know, it's happened to me as to the majority of you and it's a natural reaction based on previous mediums of communication, but it also happens exactly because we understand the dynamics of texting and use of smartphones.  We can't mix and match old expectations to new technology.  To begin with, it's going to become necessary to re-assess how we react to the perils of seemingly instant connection.

It's all too easy to come to absurd and unnecessary assumptions  about the reasons for not hearing back from  a friend or colleague (for matters of the heart multiply this effect  at least ten-fold)  These imagined slights can undermine all types of relationships.  I surely wouldn't want it assumed for a second that I were specifically avoiding someone, becoming a shut-in, a flake or that I might even be upset due to the time I take to respond.

Occasionally we should be entitled to day(s) where we put our phone away, turned off, upstairs in a drawer.   No phone.  There was a time when this was possible without social or professional discomfort.   Taking breaks and only checking your phone once or twice a day might also dial down the risk of other issues related to constant connection that are being considered, such as  slipping into a dependence on the notification validation that it brings to our naturally fragile egos.    The amazing potential in mobile technology should be working for us, not feeding neuroses and wasting our time or wreaking havoc on our relationships.

This is not to say that all the other aspects of the device haven't done huge favours for us, but the benefits are often from the apps; the maps, music, Kindle and of course, games.  I also like the convenience of the camera, but I find I take much fewer photos than I used to as I started to get tired of seeing my life through the screen.   After a deciding to explore Instagram,  I also now feel distinctly ridiculous and vapid taking a "selfie" unless there is something significantly outstanding and unusual about my appearance or surroundings at that particular moment.

I know all about the 'emergency' argument for the use of mobiles, and checking our phones regularly during the day.  It is frustrating when you need an answer, and you know you might be ignored, or the dreaded waiting-for-a-text-from-your-crush butterflies hinging on that next chirp or vibration.  I'm willing to forgo that frustration for choosing to use the phone almost exclusively to organize IRL meetings with friends or actual phone calls.  Hearing a voice, and at minimum, being able to gauge tone, whether they really want to hang out, how they're doing, and actually having a clear determination of where and when we intend to find each other.

I also have recently adopted a policy of not (well, almost never) discussing any emotionally loaded topic via text. There is too much margin for grievous error when it is simpler to let them know that depending on the urgency of the problem, you will talk to them when you see them, or to when they are free to take a phone call.  It's tempting to fire off those quickly tapped replies, able to say things that seem so much easier to put into words than be forced to speak.  But while might work once or twice, but when it goes bad - it's devastating, and one person is usually left in silence.  I can almost guarantee you won't regret having the patience to wait to truly see, or at least hear, how you both feel.   

Considering all of this, I go back to the beginning to note my place in time and feel deeply glad that I did not grow from a child into a teen during during the last fifteen years.  It's well known that interconnected social media and smartphones are now often used to amplify and increase the ease of bullying,  I can't begin to get my mind around that kind of hell.   At least home after school used to be the last safe haven for those who suffered most.  Likewise I'd hate to navigate the ambiguity of making your first tentative moves in the realm of young love by deciphering text shorthand ackronyms, 'x's, photos.  Multiplying the emotional intensity of puberty with an instant message system connected to your fingertips at the slip of a thumb to the "send" button just sounds like an equation for disaster.

At this point any kids I might have will probably be beyond my advice in those areas when they become teenagers.  By that time perhaps we will be able to connect directly by sending a real-life emoticon, a whole physical sensation.  Maybe that would help clear up all our communication problems entirely? I won't begin to think about that yet, but right now I do continue to feel very fortunate to be one of the last who will be able to talk about when we were really free, before the phones.    

Not So Smart Phone - Psychology Today
Original Study on Effect of Social Media - ScienceNewsline

Zhuzhu

Digital artist, zhuzhu creates large portions of his extremely diverse portfolio using iPad and iPhone.  

In terms of subjects, there's something for everyone.  Many are fine detailed, but with the majority - the closer you look you realize that the amazing impression you are getting is held together by some very loose and broad strokes.  

The Overview Effect

Take 20 minutes to shift your perspective.

                             

The Overview Effect, first described by author Frank White in 1987, is an experience that transforms astronauts’ perspective of the planet and mankind’s place upon it. Common features of the experience are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

Planetary Collective
Overview Microsite
The Overview Institute
Fragile Oasis

Also, the effect described by one astronaut:  Savikalpa (and Samadhi)

Sweetness in Colour

Whimsical and vibrant digital paintings from
 Aquasixio, A.K.A, Cyril Rolando 

and Dreamworks Animator Goro Fujita (and be sure check out Travisty's Beard)

Both of these were stumbled upon via pretty much the only thing in my Facebook feed that doesn't feel like wasted time (though in terms of wasted time, it meets the artistic equivalent of the Wikipedia rabbit hole).