Citizen Blogger

Happy New Year?

2005-12-29T19:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

It has been a weird year this old '05--I'm looking forward to the New Year with hopefully more time in town and in the blogosphere.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Michael

Rant or BIF?

2005-06-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post about some Centrist views in contrast to the extremes of the far left and far right, or maybe about the selling of America's corporations to China, then there was the whole eminent (we'll take your house if we want to) domain thing--oh yeah! there's always room to ramble on about how our global democracies (their governments and voting public) delude themselves into believing they can succeed with rampant waste, collusion and corruption. I even entertained venting the angst one has over moving into a new house. But alas, I cannot--So here are a few "Blog it Forward" links to some interesting places.

James Cumes' thoughtful mind is available to all at Lakatoi

Marybeth's opinion, because she says so, at Random Thoughts

Conann FitzPatrick's thoughts and works of art: Conann.com

Author/Editor Terry Whalin's insight on The Writing Life

Enjoy!

WHEN THE TERRORIST CRIES

2005-06-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

You stand on the corner
worrying for the next generation
and hell bent on making it better
with murder and destruction.

Do you have a thought to call your own?
So many minds are deciding
what is right and who is wrong,
but there you stand all alone.

Waiting to die,
bleeding for lies.
There are no tears in the eyes
when the terrorist cries.

Your self proclaimed leaders
with their twisted sense of peace
have you running scared
through your own beliefs.
They're interpreting your fears
and numbering your years.

So with one hand in your jacket
a clinching fist sweats on the flame,
and you'll burn the problem
as the heat decides the blame.

How many more will you kill?
Do you want to take us all?
Why place such hate in a God of good?
Why believe God's will is to see us fall?
Sometimes I find it hard to believe
that you believe in a God at all.

We are not the demons they tell you we are!
Not killing to improve life, destroying what’s new.
So to the hunter, from the hunted, I want you to know
that God's path for me involves a sorrow for you.

To all who carry faith in God, in all Religions and in all languages,
may God's love strengthen your heart and protect it from Mans' hate.
-'86, Anonymous

When I recently read the above, it reminded me of an
old favorite quote from the end of Walden; it makes a
nice companion piece:
"The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us"
-1854, Henry David Thoreau

Mainstream Media's Inability To See The Forest For The Trees

2005-06-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

How do Bloggers take control of defining the medium of blogging to the general public?

Before reading my first blog, my initial impression of them came from how the Mainstream Media (MSM) defined the Blogosphere (that whole pajama wearing, ne'er-do-well thing), but soon after my attention turned to the Blogosphere, I saw it as a beautiful garden where free thought and free speech grew like never before: The Forest.

In Peggy Noonan's article at the WSJ, she makes a valid point that the MSM may have "freedom envy" of Bloggers, but it may also be that mainstream journalists, and their employers, suffer simple bouts of fear from their belief that certain blogs threaten their particular subject of expertise. If they journalistically cover a political, current event, business, or technical beat, etc., they mostly see only those blogs which cover similar subjects and represent a threat to their livelihood: The Trees

To eliminate the threat, MSM often defines all blogs by those few threatening trees, mocks them as being irrelevant (and consequentially the entire Blogosphere) and at best chooses to ignore the forest and at worst willing to burn it down. When is the last time you read a newspaper article heralding the virtues of blogging as free speech?

Free Thought and Free Speech are the cornerstones of Free Societies and Free People. In toto, the medium of blogging (its programming and formatting) should be considered an invention that stands on its own and, to me, ranks with the printing press, telephone and the Internet itself when it comes to historical milestones of free speech and movement of information. Paper, inks and books existed before there was the printing press, but the press made information more accessible and allowed those with the means to publish in mass; computers and the Internet existed before there were blogs, but the technology used for blogging allows information and interests to be easily shared by anyone willing. And whereas there will be advancements in weblogs, the invention of personal, professional and societal expression via inexpensive self-publishing, with the ability to interact and link to references that support ideas, is already here. One day, the creators and nurturers (the Winers, Sifrys, Gillmores, Searls, Johnsons, Itos, boing-boingers, and many others) of this great invention will be duly and historically recognized by the general public for their pioneering work in self-publishing as free speech. And if the MSM doesn't get a grip on what they're doing, they may be historically recognized as the "status quo" who tried, but failed, to derail a beacon of free speech.

So, I see two points of action Bloggers can take:
1) Encourage MSM to embrace the forest of free speech and promote the Blogosphere to the general public for the beauty it represents and not dismiss it for the pain it causes them. Bloggers, don't allow MSM to go unchallenged when they pick on a few trees and define the whole of blogs by them--all great inventions can be used well or misused; we can read an inspirational essay or a hate speech in books, but we don't condemn books on the whole; when we place a phone call, we can access assistance or a scam, but we don't debase telephones. Bloggers can help MSM see the magnificent forest that blogs represent while lessening their focus on fear of loss; mainstream journalists count on free speech, and they are an important part of its future success; they will remain the professional spearhead (due to influence, power, and access) in moving information and news. And together, Bloggers and Mainstream Journalists can provide a valuable balance for one another as we all race toward a better future.
2) Step out of the Blogosphere and help define the grandeur of it to the population at large. From Internet websites to the campus commons to the Town Square, Bloggers can promote and define blogging and the Blogosphere in toto beyond what MSM does. Let everyone know that weblogs are an important and historical milestone of free thought and free speech. Suggest to others how a multitude of subjects, expertise and personalities are involved in the Blogosphere to where almost anyone can find something to enchant them. And when a writer like Kevin Maney at USA Today delivers a jab at blogs by belittling the trees in order to dismiss the forest, bloggers should be quick to correct them in public and help them see the bigger picture. It shouldn't matter if blogs are personal or political; it's not important if someone blogs about food or technology; blogs offer the freedom to express and interact that's unmatched by any other medium or invention, and if MSM wants to call that a fad or novelty, bloggers should help MSM find an appreciation and desire to support the highest level of free speech for all.

For those who doubt and demean the importance of Blogs, I hope you'll read about Jozef Imrich who risked life to escape communism and lived to express his thoughts; and see what blogs mean to Sharon Brogan who finds great passion in life from blogging since her illness has weakened her; or listen to the sincerity of a lone voice in Baghdad attempting to connect to the West. Their thoughts and links can be found on the "Why I Blog" page at DeepBlog.com--and for an even wider spectrum, check out the many voices at Global Voices Online who are speaking out around the world in order to improve our planet.

So, I'll ask again: How do Bloggers take control of defining the medium of blogging to the general public? How about a concentrated effort to encourage all Bloggers to promote the Blogosphere to the world through publicity, promotions and advertising? Here are a few ideas to create the tools needed and if you have additional ideas please send them to info at deepblog.com.
1) A flyer contest: Bloggers design and submit a flyer that promotes and defends the Blogosphere in toto as a historical milestone of free thought and free speech.
2) An Audio PSA (15sec. or 30sec.) contest: Bloggers write, record and submit an audio public service announcement that promotes and defends the Blogosphere in toto as a historical milestone of free thought and free speech.
3) A Video PSA (30sec. or 60sec.) contest: Bloggers create a short video public service announcement that promotes and defends the Blogosphere in toto as a historical milestone of free thought and free speech.
The flyers and PSAs can be created from any region and in any language. Bloggers can vote for their favorite entry, and a few good prizes can be awarded.

Why a contest? A contest can create publicity and coverage. As well, the above flyers and PSAs can be downloaded and circulated by any blogger for promotion almost anywhere (events, schools, governments, personal, etc.) And with a little help and good luck, we may even hear and see them on the radio and television. The first phase of DeepBlog.com was to combine great ease with great Blogs so that newcomer's will have a good first impression of the Blogosphere while developing a simple understanding of it. The above represents the beginning of phase 2 where we'll reach outside the Blogosphere and try to encourage those who know little about blogs to approach, investigate, appreciate, and support them. If bloggers get involved, DeepBlog.com will create additional pages to be used for organizing contests and information, and I'm pretty sure that OurMedia.org will provide storage for files.

Lastly, throughout history, many great inventions have been misused by those who want to profit from them or attacked by those who won't profit from them. As far as the first goes, bloggers do a pretty good job at policing themselves, but free thought and free speech, and the great inventions that provide new possibilities for them like the Blogosphere, sometimes need a little help in thwarting those who choose to reduce its potential. Bloggers shouldn't let MSM be the only voice to define blogs to the general population--especially when MSM refuses to see the proverbial forest for the trees.

Soon

2005-05-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Please excuse my lack of attention here, it has been consumed elsewhere. I apologize for your wasted time in connecting to a blog with nothing new for the moment. If this is your first time here, please scroll down to previous essays and posts. I will return soon, and I hope you will too.

Tennis, Anyone?

2005-05-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

A friend, Steve Paper, is the head pro at a private Golf and Tennis Club in Los Angeles, and they have arranged a special event to benefit Tsunami relief in honor of Beulah and Orlantha Ambrose.

Press Release:
The tennis professionals at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California are teaching tennis to raise funds for Tsunami relief on Saturday and Sunday, May 14th –15th, 2005 in honor of Beulah and Orlantha Ambrose, friends who perished in the December 26th Tsunami.

Stephen Paper and Golan Sassoon, the El Caballero coaches, will be teaching the majority of the lessons and will be helped by various other pros from around the city, including Cezhan Ambrose, the son of Beulah, a former tennis coach at El Caballero and now a financial adviser.

There will be a special appearance by Vijay Amritraj, former Top Ten Tennis player at 3PM on Saturday, May 14th

All Donations will go Directly to aide Sri Lanka, are tax deductible and consist of two charities: Strings by the Sea-a fund originally set up by Orlantha Ambrose to bring children together through the common language of music.

Strings by the Sea is now raising money to fund a Center for Performing Arts in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This “new home” for Strings by the Sea, which is scheduled to open on December 26th 2005, will provide a location for children from various backgrounds to learn and play music; and The Poorna Health Care Trust, first line responders to the crisis in Sri Lanka, who previously were supplying necessities such as tents, cooking pots, blankets, food, medicine, mosquito nets and potable water to the displaced people of Sri Lanka, and now are concentrating on reconstruction.

Suggested donations are: $50 per half hour lesson and $100 per hour lesson. Lessons can be booked at (818)654-3045 or (818)784-2612
Make your checks payable to:
Strings by the Sea or Poorna Health Care Trust.
c/o El Caballero Country Club
P.O. Box 570338, Tarzana, Ca. 91357
All Donations Welcome.

Goodbye, Dad! I Love You

2005-04-26T00:57:00.000-07:00

My father, F.W. Schaefer of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away yesterday. America has lost yet another proud veteran of WWII. He is loved and missed.

Until I return, I'll leave this thought that keeps floating around my head; know and cherish your blessings everyday.

M.F. Schaefer

Sweet Synthesis, Where Have You Gone?

2005-04-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

There are a few things I would like to discuss over the next few weeks:

1) The influence of an Ego-Driven Life on sociopathic behavior and the death of the Superego.

2) The Philosophical Science of "Old" Rhetoric (Logos, Ethos, Pathos) as applied to understanding the manipulation in contemporary communication.

3) And the loss of synthesis and universal progress generated from a Hegelian Dialectic (thesis, antithesis, synthesis) or what some might call commonsense.

Please chime in with your thoughts on "what's happening in our world?"

First up is Sweet, Sweet, Synthesis.
In the early 1800s, GWF Hegel offered us his concept of the Dialectic:

According to Hegel, a thesis (idea) contains incompleteness that reveals an antithesis (opposition), which is a conflicting idea. As a result of the conflict a third point of view arises, a synthesis, which overcomes the conflict by reconciling at a higher level the truth contained in both the thesis and antithesis. This synthesis becomes a new thesis that generates another antithesis, giving rise to a new synthesis. In this way intellectual or historical development progresses. Reality is understood as the Absolute unfolding dialectically in a process of self-development. (Columbia Encyclopedia)

With all the discord and division sweeping the globe, are we rapidly losing track of our universal commonalities and with it our desire to find higher ground through synthesis? To me, synthesis seems to be a necessity of a healthy democracy. Conveniently, we have been able to overcome this lack of synthesis with such intellectually giant comments as "can't we just agree to disagree?" (he said sarcastically) and "let's play crossfire!" (again, sarcasm). Now, I enjoy a good political joust like the next guy, but it must be for a greater purpose than just rallying support for one side and not hearing the other. How did we lose the ability--maybe we never had it--to encourage the best part of the idea to rise to the top? And more important, how have we convinced ourselves that we'll achieve any great progress without it. The hallmark of dialectic grandeur should be found in our grand halls, Congress, the UN, etc., but it appears that the best idea isn't as important there as convincing their peers to agree with bad ideas, pork programs, or even corruption. Man, I sure would like to see that wheel come to a grinding halt. Alas, I pine.

So, do we leave it alone and continue to separate into screaming camps of entrenched delusion? Or do we stand up, speak out, and make damn sure our leaders know that We Want Synthesis? Write them, call them, text "fricken" message them if you can! Let them know: Hannity and Colmes, We Want Synthesis not man worship. Crossfire, We Want Synthesis not brow beating and name calling. East and West, Young and Old, Rich and Poor, Dems and Reps, Religious and Secular: We Want Synthesis! We want the best of all your ideas--but not only your ideas. How do we get it? How about self synthesis? A sincere look inward to authentically care more about humankind and life than ego and lifestyle. I know, you're saying: "not my lifestyle, though!" You see, there's the root of the problem.

We will surely rust if we allow the disingenuous to further cripple the best ideas for mankind because they have a self-serving horse in the race; I hope we become wiser to their ways of ignoring and thwarting the benefits of synthesis. The Ego-Driven Life leads us to care more about our handful of sand than a universe of souls.

Try synthesis.

And then there's this reason to have a Living Will

2005-03-24T05:27:00.000-08:00

So let's just say that you fall down and hit your head, God forbid, and become comatose or awake in a vegetative state. Boy, that's a hard sentence to start a story with, isn't it? The point here being, you are unable to speak for yourself. Now let's say that you do have a right to live and you would like to exercise said right with hopes that friends, family, citizens, judges, and doctors will fight for you to stay alive. So far, so good?

Okay, here's where the scenario gets wild. You didn't put your wishes in writing, and the one who is legally able to speak for you is also the one who has a vested interest in you never speaking again. Wow! Maybe it's because of something they know that you know, anything, that could hurt them. It doesn't have to be that they are the one who contributed to your falling down, but it could be, or it could be some other extravagant reason like a divorce would be too costly (see Scott Peterson) or a fortune could be inherited, or, --you get the point. Now, as the story continues, I know you're having a really bad day, and I hate to pile on, but let's say the doctors, politicians and judges believe this guardian person when he or she says: "I know what 'insert name here' really wants, even though there is no living will, and I can definitively tell you that 'insert name here' would rather be dead."

But some good news happens: Your parents arrive to your aid, and then your brothers and sisters, and your friends from High School, and--you get the point. But sorry, they don't matter because somehow, legally, some arrangement you made in life gave this incredible power to this other person--did I say that this person wouldn't mind you being dead? And soon, half of the known universe is chanting, "Let 'insert name here' die!, Let 'insert name here' die!" I know, I know, this sounds like a bad plot to some futuristic sci-fi flick, but, for some unfortunate others, that future may already be here.

So, in order to save your life, if for some bizarre reason you actually respect life over life style and are hopeful instead of hopeless, legally spell out a trustworthy guardian to speak for you perchance the horrific happens. And they should know your wishes in writing. Finally, if you're not sure who to trust, just put a big red check in the "YES, keep me alive" box in your living will, advance directive, power of attorney, or whatever applies--then sign your name, put it in triplicate, and hope your lawyer or safe-deposit box security guy isn't the one who will benefit from your passing. I say all this in rough jest of a serious subject, I mean no offense--but it is to a point; you do get the point? Oh yeah, if you would rather they stop assistance, put that in writing too! Welcome to the 21st Century: It's a wide open funkfest out there, be wise, whatever your wishes are.

For any interested, I suggest Jack London's "Martin Eden" for a good narrative on desire, and if you make it all the way to the end, there's a pertinent comment on Mans' desire to stay alive even though our words, thoughts, and deeds are to the contrary.

Lesson found at Congressional Hearing for MLB

2005-03-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hidden behind the "bouncing policy" two-step shuffle and the "see, hear and speak no evil" song and dance of those in Major League Baseball, Dr. Nora Volkow offered a forthright waltz on the floor of Congress during steroid hearing:

Beyond her direct and knowledgeable testimony, Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, offered a good life lesson when asked about cognative skills and aggressive behavior being enhanced by steroids, and it seemed to me to be a comment that extends far beyond baseball, congress, and steroids. Here is a link to the recorded version of her testimony (go to 1:19:00 on counter).

In understanding that our cognitive ability pertains to the function of the brain's frontal cortex, Dr Volkow said:

"Aggression, is in fact related to the activation of an area we call the amygdala (uh mig' dull uh), and when the amygdala gets activated the frontal cortex gets deactivated and that's why I always say to my staff, please do not comment if you're angry because your cognitive abilities are not going to be as sharp, so yes in deed if you're very very angry your ability to do the right thing and make proper decisions is going to be markedly markedly impaired."

In a way, it reminds me of the general wisdom dispensed by Moms everywhere, but because it's forgotten by so many, this is a good opportunity to remind us all again. And the scientific context seems to make it all the more obvious--something to ponder in private and public.

Likewise, I hope the Congress will recognize that MLB and its Players are not what needs to be saved; the truckloads of money are still rolling in, and that is obviously their priority. The first and only social (Congressional) concern is that of the young lives destroyed. Rep. Jose Serrano, New York, a baseball fanatic, couldn't resist a nostalgic plea to save his memorable "days of summer." If these hearings are about saving MLB, Congress has taken their collective eye off the ball.

This Experiment in Democracy Idea

2005-03-13T19:12:00.000-08:00

Can a Blogosphere Democracy arise and exist? A proposition must be put forth then amended as participation evolves; it may be a worthwhile effort.

My interaction with Blogs and Bloggers at DeepBlog.com (a site put together to help newcomers to the blogosphere find a good first impression of it) has left me with profound respect for this medium and the expertise and personalities in a multitude of subjects found within it. To me, Blogs are much more than a technology driven trend, political device, or social journal; in toto they represent Mans' desire and right to express at will. As well, I guess I am naive enough to believe in all this lofty speech buzzing around the "Sphere" on the wonderful attributes of both self-publishing and democracy.

No doubt, I have become an advocate for this medium and the historical milestone of free speech it represents. But in observing the reaction to blogs by MSM and the egocentricity within the Blogs, I began to think that "The Blogosphere" could benefit from democratic support and protection. And with electronic connections, digital data, and big bloggers and engines disseminating and collecting information, etc., the idea of a collective democratic voice for bloggers may be possible. At best, this idea should be debated and on its merit, and if furthered, adopted by others as their own; the idea will either ring true or not on its own. My intent is that the five sites of the "Blogosphere Democracy" be in the hands of the Foundation Board to where I will have no effect or influence on how a union of bloggers amend this idea and develop their Democracy. By nature, the Blogosphere exists under the notion that logic and truth (logos) will be found in the words expressed by any blogger. Some gain greater character (ethos) and others speak with high-passion, appealing to the emotional (pathos), but in the end, the Blogosphere should always remain wide open to any idea by any voice.

As an idea put forth, my reasoning is simple and clear: two branches of Bloggers (foundation and congress) to balance position and decision, one group blog (Guild) to express the beauty of blogging to the public outside the blogosphere, one group blog (Union) to interact with Bloggers for help and concerns, and one group blog (Bureau) to utilize the talents of bloggers who are born researchers and investigators. In organization, form follows purpose, each area of this proposition simply fits a useful purpose by utilizing existing talent, interest and energy. For instance, one of the issues Bloggers will face is Journalistic Privilege; Do they deserve it? Have others achieved it without being part of professional media like self-financed documentarians and writers of nonfiction? Is there precedence? These are questions Blogger researchers can find answers to and organize for the betterment of the Blogosphere. And there are other issues for concerned Bloggers: election laws as applied to free speech; access to news and information; uncovering perfidy and vetting facts in order to establish a bona fide Blogosphere; advertising on blogs, and new ones will arise.

So I'll put forth this experiment in Democracy for the medium of Blogging. An attempt to see how Bloggers will react both pro and con, and both positions are telling in an experiment. As well, I am curious to see who at the top of the existing blog-chain is forthright in all their lofty posts of self-publishing as Free Speech, Democracy, and what is good for all bloggers versus who is just blowing smoke up our collective ---! At this blog, I'll try to point out who posts what regarding this idea, both pro and con, as well as those who know of it and remain silent. A Democracy doesn't belong to me, and this experiment is not personal for me, but it is telling of others by their reaction or lack of it. Everything benefits from sunshine.

A Blogosphere Democracy will fail or succeed on the involvement of top bloggers and all bloggers who become engaged. To that, and to remain positive, I removed a paragraph from my original posting (statement) at The Blogosphere Democracy site regarding "Apathy and Internal Oppression" (a look at how all emerging Democracies suffer from internal oppression). Part of the observation included how apathy, slander and mocking (beyond the obvious elements of deliberate collusion, repressed aid, and resistance) of democratic propositions by the more influential in a group can be internal oppression. One needs not agree with this idea of how to achieve a united and democratic voice for bloggers around the globe: those who have a vested interest in the well being of the medium now and in the future--but to mock or remain silent of the attempt furthers nothing. A few suggestions: try to add to the debate-"is a Blogosphere Democracy a good or possible idea?", help correct the flaws of the proposition, don't be a social nihilist to support your own ego, and let other bloggers know of the proposition so they can choose whether it's worthy to move forward. To that end, I'll ask all to reflect upon hypocrisy and disingenuousness whenever you prattle on about Democracy, Free Thought, Free Speech, and the virtues of blogging.

Gauntlet down,
Michael

To Blog

2005-03-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

In attempting to Blog (developing the muscles to write regularly and purposefully) my first criteria will be to express myself respectfully. I hope you'll do the same if you choose to comment.

Michael

The Blogosphere

2005-03-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Why, with eight million bloggers, does the MSM remain the one to define Blogs, Blogging, and Bloggers to the world? Can we not organize a presentation outside the hallowed halls of the sphere? I would like to suggest that with so many companies capitalizing here, a genuine paid for ad/promo campaign which extols the grandeur of the Blogosphere and Free Speech is within reason. Perhaps a Blogosphere Democracy can harness the energy for such needs.