morningambassador’s posthaven

Continuing to think about the
Two sides of the coin
Thing

Always there in our world of duality
Until it's not.

I love this piece of goofy humor
From the black and white days of
The three stooges

Here they're sorting out difficulties
In a shared and peaceable fashion

One of the first things taught to our children
So many of us still find it hard to share.

Sometimes I catch myself not doing it so well

... and try to learn something after shaking off the disgust at
A lesson unlearned - but for lifetime(s) it takes:
Of noticing first... and then taking action.

Interesting that the only really hurtful thing
In this one clip doesn't come from the three
At all, but from 'the girls' - hey!
There's guys too!

For fun... mostly <wink, wink, nod, nod>

Click here to open in new full browser window

This video clip can be found on iPeace, and embedded below.
Should you want to check out their many facets and media.

While I watched Ms. Gow's performance - the amazing
Music, Concentration and Location came together to produce
This recognition in me - another 'two sides of the coin' type
Of insight.

This is just my experience, and I was reminded of it yesterday
Whilst trying to do three simple steps over and over 60 times,
And having all manner of success and difficulty.
It was quite a challenge to do a repetitive series of computer steps for me
(That's what macros are for!)

It reminded me of playing kirtan, a repetitive chant of Indian heritage,
On the harmonium, an instrument with bellows and keyboard that
Has its own fascinating journey and history to follow...
But see what I mean? It is just too easy to get distracted. It's hard for me.

Multi-tasking... my jury is still out on that...
And maybe I'm in a special position to look at it,
Having once been able to do it very well...
And now having to focus in order to accomplish
Anything. I notice different things when I focus on them out of the stream.

Okay - so contrasting the difficulty in keeping up a repetitive motor action
With the ease of repetitive mental and emotional habits to pop up and
Interfere with sanity over and over and over again.

Seems like an odd juxtaposition to me.

But looking at it more closely - makes sense as that way
One can call attention to the other
Like repelling off two surfaces to climb back down.

Hope you like harp music...
Maybe I'll also post a clip of Harpo today.
Love that man.

"Phamie Gow's composition, 'Dancing Hands' was inspired by discovering that the energy in your hands when playing the harp, is the same intensity as when you practice Tai Chi. Here Phamie performs her composition in the Parque Guell, designed by the famous architect Gaudi. This track is taken from Phamie's latest (5th) album, La Vida Buena - The Good Life inspired by the mediterranean lifestyle and experiences she absorbed whilst living there."

Here is the trailer for the film, "Skin,"
I'd heard of it for a while in the periphery.
"My little world" is small sometimes - other times larger.
It depends on my ability and willingness to
Investigate inner or outer worlds.

I joined iPeace over a year ago, and have been
Receiving emails of  information and media for all that time.
Only once in the beginning did I open one.The rest of the time, I left them in my inbox, unread.

So, this morning, I decided to follow one of those emails
Down the rabbit hole, and wander around the site.
I'm sure there will be a number of my postings that come from
Sharing it with you this morning...

Let's get that out of the way and on the table,
Just so you know.

This film comes out in 2009, and explores the development
of individuals and groups to accept what 'seems' like 'Other,'
Always an important part of ourselves and OUR world.

It's a true story.

Here is the Rottentomatoes page for the movie,
Though the film won't be released for another month,
End of September

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10011284-skin/

Soon you'll be able to read others' opinions there of how
Well the project turned out, but looking at the trailer,
It seems to me that the intent was there, at the very least...
And it's pulled off at least a hand-picked selection of moments.

Could turn out to be a powerful message we need to hear
Again and again - well, I need to be reminded to go against
The most basic level of base instincts to become who I'm meant to be.
Like "Rabbit-Proof Fence" or - and I know there's debate about this,
But at least maybe we can all agree there was good intent in "Crash."

I feel a great amount of love for humanity right now,
Something I don't always feel, I'll admit it, as I watch ourselves
Implode in so many ways.

But it's all smoke and mirrors
It matters... but in a higher way than maybe we thought
Maybe, just I thought. Maybe everyone else is cool - out there.

It is Earl-Iy-Ay.

Photos by: John Dominis and John Loengard

Consult any news source today, and you will
Now know that Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Passed away at age 77.

I admire the man. I thought that he had
Managed to come back from the cancer
That threatened him at the perfect time
To get his work finished.

And he did; just not in the way that I thought.
Denial happens, but influence & inspiration live on.
May his passing reinvigorate a healthy debate
On the major issues of our time.

Mostly I would like to let the man speak for himself
In this post about his life and work.

If you don't want to read my sad ramblings,
scroll down to his video and quote.

There will be many blog posts remembering:
How he was the youngest of the Kennedy brothers, who
Took on the family mantle after his brothers were killed.

He also had a car accident where a woman died.
That will be mentioned too, most likely, as the cause of
Clinching the public opinon that he was not up to the
Level of promise that his brothers had before him.

I only mention it at all because I know it will be out there.
Yet he's the one who wound up STAYING...
Who lived to be 77 and develop a record and
Body of work and  inspiration
Toward so many important goals for all those many years.

What I HOPE you will hear most
Are the many things he did
For this country in his numerous
Years of public service.
And the many serious struggles for decency
On so many fronts. The list goes on and on.

To try to help to motivate a
Just and caring society...
One with integrity and heart.

Whatever may have transpired in his private life,
Those many bills written and/or supported,
Speeches given, mindfulness offered,
Travel taken, and hours devoted to a better USA
Bear witness to some of the most successful
And compassionate programs we've enacted.

It's true he came from a complicated family,
Who gave and lost much for their
Interpretation of what the United States means.

The first time I remember hearing of him was when
President Kennedy was killed in Dallas, 1963.
Or maybe in a slight reference before on the TV
Or by my parents, talking.

There were the conflicting images of the formal
Funeral for his brother, John F. Kennedy,
Escorting his sister-in-law, now a widow in
Procession with her children, and then
Doing it over again for his brother, Robert Kennedy,
All too soon after.

With the image of the Chappaquiddick car incident
Where Mary Jo Kopechne drowned...
Along with his good, clean name for a number of years.

But he was a lion nonetheless - and worked
On many of the core programs we count on today.

Look at all that I do and not only what I say,
Though words have great power as well.

That was me talking... my hope for people in general.
Despite our own challenges to help us work through
This existential way-station of life.

His words are pasted below the video.

Fare thee well, Senator Kennedy, and
Safe journey on.

Thank you for your labors and thoughtful  actions.
You need no forgiveness from me for anything.
My feeling is: all's left to the karmic balance.

I'll continue to celebrate what you've shown it
Is possible to do with a lifetime here on Earth.

~This is the cause of my life. It is a key reason that I defied my illness last summer to speak at the Democratic convention in Denver—to support Barack Obama, but also to make sure, as I said, "that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American...will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege." For four decades I have carried this cause—from the floor of the United States Senate to every part of this country. It has never been merely a question of policy; it goes to the heart of my belief in a just society. Now the issue has more meaning for me—and more urgency—than ever before. But it's always been deeply personal, because the importance of health care has been a recurrent lesson throughout most of my 77 years.

— Ted Kennedy

"The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters" from "Los Caprichos"
by Francisco de Goya

Well, here we find ourselves again
Vertical instead of the recommended
Horizontal placement of the body,
So everything can rest and rebuild.

During the Circadian dark night...

That's what you have to deal with
When you evolve in a single moon
Planetary orbit...

It's only 1:30 am... Late for me these days
Though it used to be early with the far-off Dawn,
Which by the way, does come sooner
When up for hours or awakened early.

It can take forever on the flip side...
Trying to GET to sleep.
I find myself in that cage now.

Cough cough horizontal cough cough
Swine crew.

"Candle in a Cage" by John Fitzgerald

Thanks, one and all - this post, such as it is
Will finally put me to sleep, I should think,
Judging by the angle of my head to my neck.

Here's the actual song,
El bolero de Ravel
Should you like some actual Bolero
With your musings on Bolero.

Animation has come a long way
But cherished childhood revelations
Keep the early iterations alive.

Still, it is so different yet familiar
From what I've carried around somewhere
In a broom closet of my memory.

And it's not completely a match for my
First post before this one.
Still, the song remains the same,
And my musings do as well.

I'm thinking of the cartoon rendition
Where evolution and complexity go
Hand in hand, constantly moving
Forward, one step in front of the other...
In a most linear fashion.

One foot in front of the other.
None of this 'two steps back'
Kind of thing.

What's the necessary thing to experience:
That missing piece in the puzzle -
I bet we're all over the map and not
So orderly, lined up in neat rows.

But there is no one to take bets that
We can see. At least not me.

A bit o' fun, but really
While some friends are
Meant to drift away.

ALL are precious
Inside and out
All our lives

This just reminded me of
Facebook this morning
The phenomenon, the means...

The motive is all yours!

But please, don't throw
A pie in my face after
I've taken my shower...

There's a professional music video
Of this song, "Say It's Possible."

I like this acoustic more amateurish
One ever so much better...

There's so much more of the human
That we share...

I can see it all there.... the biological, psychological,
As well as our Story elements - all the building blocks
Have that same human-ness to them,
But it truly IS what we choose to do with them
If you believe in choice at all...

...That makes us so different.
Divergence can engender compassion.
Or it can tip over into change, which I
Know can be hard, for me at least.

I say it's possible too.
Even if it seems like it's way late
For us sometimes... like we crossed the line
Of the guardianship of ourselves,
Our companions, our planet.

I hope.
For the children of others
For the experiment of this form
And design of being,

But say it's possible that
Whatever form we take when our
Time here is done,

Now and Then'll have its own
Special Beauty.
And growth too.

I'm cheering myself up at 2:41am
Last flickers of the lightning storm
I just posted about.

Thanks to jguth3 for the whole series of songs from this show...
That person has this to say:

"This is a real treasure and a heart felt joy to put together. Arlo and Pete played Wolftrap August 8, 1993 with all four of our kids, Abe, Cathy, Annie, Sarah Lee and Abe's band Xavier. Pete's grandson Tao Rodriquez/ Seeger also joined us. The video is a live mix and the sound track is from the double CD titled, More Together Again, re-mastered and soon to be released at Carnegie Hall in November. This year at Carnegie, we will do another Pete and Arlo show with the family! Tickets will go on sale soon, so get your tickets fast before we sell out.
www.risingsonrecords.com"

But of course, that was then...
Ticket-wise and others...

You'd need a time machine.

But in my very own memory,
I remember this tour, I think it was
This year - that I was lucky
Enought to see these folks
Perform TOGETHER at least once
In my life.

In New Jersey.

What a boon.