Baycon 2011

Baycon 2011, a set on Flickr.

Random photos and unedited video from Baycon 2011

RIP Mark Haines - I will miss you

I will always remember Mark Haines as one of the few individuals on television who, just when I was thinking "I wish someone would speak up about fill-in-the-blank," actually did speak up about just that.  He made me laugh, he gave me hope that not everyone on television was a marketing automaton, and I will miss him.

Below is a link to Forbes' Eric Jackson excellent blog entry "Why Mark Haines was Special."

http://blogs.forbes.com/ericjackson/2011/05/25/why-mark-haines-was-special/

"Be The Change You Want To See In The World"

In any given time, there are numerous platitudes peppering the white noise of our lives.  They come from religious leaders, philosophers, famous athletes, song titles and all sorts of popular culture sources.  They shift from the ones in vogue in your parent's lifetimes to the ones that are sick in your children's.  What doesn't change is why they are there.  Like metaphorical Burma Shave signs, they hang out hoping the viewer will take action.  Most of the time, other than a small laugh or acknowledgement of a saying's "correctness;" we don't take action.  Most of the time, in fact, we do the exact opposite.

Consider:

"That which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger"
"Don't worry, be happy"
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"
"Time heals all wounds"
"Be the change you want to see in the world"
"Success is the best revenge"

How many times have you watched someone cling to one of those, almost like a life raft, only to need it once again just a short time later?  If they actually work; if they actually have power; should we need to repeat them again and again like a meditative mantra?

It's because we simply pay lip service to the platitude and focus on the problem that led us to the saying in the first place.  Whatever unhappiness, inadequacy, pain, suffering, lack - whatever unpleasant truth we have encountered; we clutch it to our bosoms and keep it alive much like an addict who promises himself he will seek help:  tomorrow.  Instead of embracing life and fighting for our happiness, we revel in sad songs, complaining about nearly everything and no matter how many bumper sticker self help sayings we know, we secretly believe this IS the best it can be.  Most of us are so negative that we don't even recognize it when we speak it.

So how about this?

Whatever platitude is currently stalking you, whispering to your subconscious for you to take action; why not follow the advice?   Just like we know that if we actually DO floss, it is better for your teeth.  Your mouth feels better, your breath smells better and your teeth last longer.  So what if an apple a day actually does make you "healthy, wealthy and wise?"  What if all of your combined suffering actually has made you like Captain America in a crisis?  What if the pain you feel from the boyfriend who dumped you really won't even be a blip on your radar next year?

Think about it.

If you knew that everything will work itself out and this too shall pass; if you really knew it like it had already happened; would you bother wasting your time grousing about it today?

Hell no.  You'd go out and enjoy the beautiful day with a song in your heart and a smile on your face.

So why not?

Go out into the beautiful day with a smile on your face.

I'm going to.

Of course, the platitude that has been dogging my footsteps?

"Be the change you want to see in the world . . . . "

Infinity Visuals - Israel Valencia Photography

Israel Valencia - Primavera-Rota


A good friend and wonderful photographer, Israel has photos on display currently at Bistro Sabor in Napa and will have a photo booth at the Earth Day Celebration in downtown Napa on Saturday, April 23, 2011.

Dear Woman

Video I found on the wall at Facebook.  Where some men may find it a little "touchy feely" or resist a message that, at least in the beginning, seems to blame men for all of the ills of the world; the video has an uplifting message and a vision that could greatly improve our world.

Johnny Smith The Slip.mov

Video for Johnny Smith's "The Slip" from the album "Gentlemen X."  A musician local to me, I have always been impressed with Johnny's voice, as well as his gracious and unassuming personality.  When trying to blip some of his songs at blip.fm, I saw that he didn't really have a lot of videos online so I donated this video and the photos to his cause.

"Fated" by S.G. Browne

http://sgbrowne.com/novels/fated/

"Rule #1: Don't get involved."

My entire life I have been told I think too much. While I'm not really sure that I agree that it is possible to think "too" much, perhaps only too "little;" I am pretty sure that author, S. G. Browne is a thinker. I don't believe he could have written this book without a fair amount of pondering about the meaning of human existence. "Fated" is a book where all of the elements work so well together, it almost felt like "deja vu" reading it. Which is not to say the story is predictable or you've read it before. Actually it is more like his description of all of the immortals in the book just feels so accurate; I found myself saying "yes!" aloud more than once. If you've ever been frustrated wondering why humans continually do the stupid things they do, you will immediately identify with Fate, who is forced to continually adjust his humans' fate after they make bad decision after bad decision.

While "Fated" may not shift you to the path of Destiny, it is a great read.