It’s been awhile. I’ve been washing a lot of dishes and thus been absent. The festival is up and running and we just finished the poster for it today so I figured I’d post it so you could all preview(if I even have any readers left). You can read all about the festival at the website provided on the flyer. Adios for now mis amigos.

….for the record I have no idea why it isn’t showing up. It should be…I’ll try and fix it later.

It has been a strange last week or so. It started last week with my car and computer both shitting the bed on nearly the same day. I was so mad, frustrated and exasperated. I became pretty bummed out because I have a lot of money invested in those and I use them both a lot. I went home after nearly fixing my car and turned on the news and saw some young Iraqi boy who had only one leg and part of an arm from a bomb. For some reason or another that hit me square in the face. It led me to thinking about the Mexicans I work with who left everything they ever knew to come to America to make a better life. Most of them are my age and I tried to imagine myself being them. The closest thing I can even relate to was switching schools which at that age would have scared me immensely. I realized I was being a spoiled little brat about the whole situation. I was lucky enough to have a car and a $2500 laptop and I was being pissy because some things went wrong. Since then I’ve made it a point of trying to make the best of each day no matter how bad I perceive it to have gone. I was sitting in my room wondering that if I didn’t wake up in the morning, would I be happy with the last day I spent on Earth? It’s really cliche, but so true. The only moment we have is now, and we should be thankful for every breath we are given. I don’t know why it took a car and computer to make me realize that…but I guess the vehicle through which the message was delivered is really unimportant in the scheme of things. I went for a run tonight and went into my daily meditation mode like I usually do when I run. I was really happy, and there are plenty of things to be unhappy about right now. The way I see it though, is if the good outweighs the bad, you can’t really complain, because someone somewhere has it worse than you. So I’ll leave you with this: Let us all rise up and be thankful, For if we didn’t learn a lot at least we learned a little. And If we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick. And if we got sick at least we didn’t die.

I know it’s hard to take yourself out of the moment, but if people could do that and step back and look at the larger picture, life would seem much more a gift than a day in and day out grind.

well it’s almost midnight and I’m half a bottle into the whiskey…so here it goes. My friend who moved to a town north of Wilmington called me to check the local newspaper of that town. Apparently the huge development they’re planning on putting in there which includes a 200 boat slip marina and two 15 story condo buildings is going to get a big fat no for the Florida located developer. Huge victory. Shiiiiitt….maybe the Bills will go on to make the playoffs and the movie I’m waiting on will be shot afterall. If nothing else, this is one for the good guys…Will Stout(the developer) can go somewhere else, because in the end he doesn’t care about the city, he cares about the profit.

another article from a UNCW professor about the environmental devastation all this “economic growth” is having on our local ecosystem…or lack there of. Here’s a reader’s response to that article, and I might add it’s the typical attitude down here. Notice when the writer says the trees are “unsuitable” and the formerly tree laden landscapes are transformed into something “attractive.” Attractive my ass. That attitude is what bothers me greatly about living in this area. It’s a lost cause. The mere thought of staying here and fighting for a few trees that are slated to be cleared for a new condo/apt building is a hopeless dream. The people here don’t care, and the bureaucrats certainly don’t. It’s all about profit. Using the land for the highest profit, not the highest good. For all the good people can do, it amazes me in this day and age we still have the potential to do so much harm without even wincing. It seems to me that a people that consider themselves so “advanced” socially and technologically would be able to live in harmony with fellow residents of the Earth and the Earth itself. Let’s see where this great idea of capitalism takes us in the next hundred years.

I know I’ve been an asshole for not posting something worthy myself lately. I’ve been shortcutting by linking articles I want you all to read. Oh well, it’s all the same I guess, as long as you are doing my reading assignments you will be somewhat prepared. Here’s another one.

One more great read from Orion Magazine, which seems to just churn out these though provoking and insightful essays and articles. This one is one condo building on the waterfront. I live in a condo, near the water…hmmmm…..

WARNING: DON’T WATCH IF YOU FEEL AT ALL UNEASY WITH SEEING A COW SLAUGHTERED. WAIT, ON SECOND THOUGHT, WATCH IT. YOU SHOULD FEEL UNEASY WHEN WATCHING AN ANIMAL GET BUTCHERED. We as a society have gotten so far away from the act of killing and harvesting our own food we forget that beef and other meat actually has to come from an animal which is alive. I don’t like watching this, or many other videos I see online. However, I force myself too because I know that if I eat meat I am responsible for this activity. Not to mention one should never get too comfortable and become blind to the world’s problems. I’ve seen videos of executions online among others. They are absolutely horrific. But you know, it is happening. People are dying, and to pretend like it isn’t and stay in a nice little bubble is completely irresponsible. That goes out especially to you war mongers(even moreso to those who support the war and won’t go fight it even though they are able bodied). People die in war and you should have to watch it. Then and only then do you realize the cost. That goes the same for a burger. It’s tasty alright, but when you watch the conditions and suffering and animal is put through to make a big mac, is it worth it? I’m certainly not innocent of this, I eat meat. I also know how it’s done and watch the slaughter. It’s not so much that one should stop eating meat or write off all war, but rather be accountable and knowledgeable about the processes and actions that it takes to get there. Blood is blood, animal or human animal.

Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission–to be of service to them whenever they require it… If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
– Saint Francis of Assisi(See I’m not a total asshole when it comes to religion)